Okogie: Our politicians wouldn’t mind dragging Nigeria into another civil war

Olubunmi Okogie, archbishop emeritus of the Catholic archdiocese of Lagos, says Nigerian politicians would not mind dragging the country into another civil war.

The cleric said this in reaction to recent political events in the country.

Okogie said Nigerians elect persons who are leading them on a fast track to disintegration because they are in the habit of looking for a messiah, a leader who would fit into the job description of Mr Fix All”.

While he condemned the recent practice of vote-buying during elections, Okogie said it is a well-known fact that the electoral process is riddled with corruption as it is oiled with money taken from the treasury.

He also described the blockade of the national assembly on Tuesday by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) as immoral and a desecration of the sacred space of Nigeria’s democracy.

“Politicians are grazing like herdsmen from one party to another because of their insatiable appetite for power and money,” he wrote in an open letter.

“In a dangerous game, and in gross violation of the principle of separation of powers, security agencies which ought to be loyal to citizens of Nigeria, show loyalty only to politicians in power, and are being used by the same politicians to fight their opponents.  Our politicians are dragging security agencies into their war, and that is extremely dangerous for this country.

“In their inordinate ambition, those in office would use every means to remain in power, while those who are outside would do everything to get into power.  Our land is witnessing a divorce of politics and morality.  Our politicians would not mind dragging Nigeria into another civil war.  They are in urgent need of conversion.  They need to make a U-turn on the way that leads to bloodshed.

“Nigeria, by her size, diversity and complexity cannot be fixed by one strong man.  Placed in the hands of one man, Nigeria’s problems assume increasing complexity, especially where the strong man is a man of many weaknesses surrounded by self-serving hero worshippers.” - TheCable

Cross River pastor allegedly raped, killed

An Assistant Pastor with the Assemblies Of God Church, Obudu road, Ikom, Cross River State, Pastor Esther Neji, has been murdered after allegedly being raped.

It was gathered that Neji, a recently engaged bride-to-be, was allegedly overpowered and raped to death at her apartment.

Speaking to journalists yesterday in Ikom, Rev Solomon Ajuk, a senior cleric in her church, said: “We only discovered that since Sunday, we’ve not seen her.

“During the course of the week, we decided to visit her to ascertain if she was well. On getting to her house, we perceived an offensive odour with her door still locked.

“We contacted the police who came and we forced the door open, only to see her lying between the parlor and her room with a pool of blood on her bed.

“Her forehead had a wound where she was hit. A wrapper was on her neck, her pant was carelessly thrown suggesting that she was rapped and killed. That’s the police preliminary investigation.”

Ajuk added that her house was scattered, suggesting that there was a struggle before she was over powered, raped and killed.

Confirming the development, the Divisional Police Officer of Ikom Police Station, Aluyi Abdulazez, said a team of medical doctors who carried out an autopsy on her, stated that she was raped.

“We are now carrying out detailed investigation to unravel those behind the act,” he said. - Daily Post

Human Right records 1m cases of violations in 2 years

The National Human Right Commission (NHRC), on Saturday, said it recorded about one million cases of human rights violations in the country between 2017 and 2018.

Mr Anthony Ojukwu, the NHRC Executive Secretary, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen at a Judicial Actors Coalition meeting in Maiduguri.

Ojukwu attributed the numerous cases recorded to the spate of conflicts, which include the Boko Haram and herders/farmers conflicts in some parts of the country.

He said that the commission had recorded more than 100,000 cases of human rights violations and abuses in Borno, where Boko Haram had wreaked so much havoc.

He listed some of the cases to include sexual abuse, child molestation, gender base violence, torture, extra judicial killings and other numerous ranges of violence.

According to him, there are quite a number of cases, especially here in Borno state.

“There are more than 56,000 unclaimed children in the IDPs camps, who are deprived of their rights to health, education and so on.

“There are more than 25,000 women widowed by Boko Haram, many of these women had suffered degrading and inhuman treatment and other forms of violence.

“It is the firm belief of the commission that working with the Search for Common Ground in the past 5-6 years; so many conflicts have been prevented in the communities through timely monitoring, investigations and peaceful resolution,’’ he said.

However, due to the fact that these conflict were prevented and not allowed to snowball into full scale hostilities, most people, including key government personnel sometimes lose sight of the contributions to peaceful development through the effort of the commission and other partners.

The billions of Naira spent by government to contain some conflicts could have been worst without effort of organisations like NHRC and Search for Common Grounds.

“It is in the light of this and other factors that poor cooperation from some security agencies to the work of the commission and the partners is deplored.

“All of us, be it government agencies or our partners, should be seen by security agencies have a joint responsibility with the commission for protection of human rights,’’ he said.

Ojukwu said that in spite the challenges faced by the commission, it had not relented on it efforts of protecting human right in the country.

“The greatest challenge of the commission to implement its mandate has been poor budgetary provisions of 2018, but the provisions are still dare cry for what the commission requires to operate optimally.

“The commission is poorly funded when compared to the funding of the NHRIs in smaller countries like South Africa, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda.

“We urge other development partners to seize the opportunities and challenges of the moment offered by human rights challenge in the North East, North Central, South South and South Eastern parts of the country, to assist the commission.

“Such assistance can be in the nature of capacity building, infrastructure, computers, vehicle for monitoring and vehicles for investigation of violations, furniture, building for state offices,” he said.

Other demands included building shelters for women and children domestically assaulted and violated and funding projects of concern like monitoring and facilitating the mainstreaming of human rights into the resolution of herders and farmers conflicts.

Ojukwu also stressed the need for monitoring and protecting the right of refugees from Cameroun and other displaced persons in South South, North Central and North East Nigeria and digitisation of the operation of the commission.

Homeless man lay dead in tent outside Weston-super-Mare for nearly a year

A homeless man lay dead in a tent for up to a year before being found, police have revealed.

The body was discovered near Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, in such a state of decomposition that officers have been unable to identify for certain who he was.

A member of the public made the gristly find after coming across the tent – hidden in a thicket of trees off the A370 – and peaking inside.

PC Andy Henderson, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: “This is a really sad case of a man who appears to have been sleeping rough and whose death seems to have gone unreported.

“It would appear he had been dead for up to a year before he was found and due to the condition of the remains it has been extremely difficult to establish who he is.”

He added that documentation including a driving licence and birth certificate were found when the corpse was first discovered on 15 August last year.

They suggest the man may have been called Peter Thomas Harrison and was probably from Birmingham. He may have been aged 59 or 60.

However, because the body had deteriorated, it has been impossible to confirm for sure.

Nearby homes and businesses all told officers they had been unaware of the tent or its occupant.

Police are now appealing for anyone who might have known the man to come forward after all other leads were exhausted.

PC Henderson added: “We also believe he was a driver by trade and had spent recent years living in and around the Weston area.

“We’d rather his next-of-kin not find out about his death in this manner but feel strongly that, given the length of time, it is important they know.

“If you are the man’s next-of-kin, or have any information which could help us identify them, please contact our investigations unit.” - Independent

FRSC disclaims Facebook account announcing recruitment

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has issued a disclaimer on a fake Facebook account announcing recruitment into the organisation.

In a statement on Saturday, the corps said its attention has been drawn to the fake social media account which is using the name of Bisi Kazeem, its public education officer, to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

Kazeem warned the public to desist from patronising “such fraudsters”, saying the corps “does not engage in recruiting through any of its staff’s social media account”.

“The attention of the Federal Road Safety Corps has been drawn to a fake facebook account fraudulently operated by some mischievous and unscrupulous elements who are bent on defrauding unsuspecting members of the public using the name of the corps public education officer, Bisi Kazeem, presently going rounds on the internet,” the statement read.

“This is to alert the public and warn applicants to beware and desist from patronising such fraudsters as the FRSC does not engage in recruitment through any of its staff’s social media accounts.

“All publications relating to recruitment in the corps are done through the following official platforms : www.frsc.gov.ng, www.facebook.com/federalroadsafetycorps and www.twitter.com/FRSCNigeria.

“For further information and inquiries,visit the aforementioned sites.

“Think Safety! Act Safety! Drive safely and remember, your family needs you alive.” - TheCable

Armed hoodlums rape I6-year-old sales girl in Delta

Four armed hoodlums who double as rapists and have been terrorizing Michael Obianuju’s crescent around Asaba International Airport in Delta state, on Friday night allegedly raped a 16-year-old sales girl identified as Chioma Iso after gaining access to her room.

It was gathered that the armed rapists allegedly had a swell time with their victim after a power failure. They allegedly moved into the victim’s room to execute their mission.

Eyewitness, Judith Chimeze told DAILY POST that immediately there was power outage a Toyota Corolla car stopped in front of the house with four men emerging from the vehicle armed with Ak47s riffles, while one the shot into the air sporadically.

She said “All of a sudden, I heard them ordering the neighbours to go into their rooms and face the ground, they immediately told the girl to start undressing without delay.

The victim, a daughter of a prominent politician in Edo state, moved into Asaba early this year to resume at the Federal College of Education (technical) Asaba after working as a sales girl in Benin.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Andrew Aniamaka who confirmed the incident to DAILY POST said, “The hoodlums did not take anything from her, they raped her serially. After they had completed the evil act, one of them left his phone which the police is using to ensure they are brought to book. The victim has been rushed to the FMC Asaba where he is currently on admission.”

Penultimate Monday, these group of Rapists allegedly raped a 300 level student of the Delta state-owned University, (DELSU) Awai campus during nightfall on her way home around Camp 74 and dispossessed her of her GSM handset worth N45,000

The student who spoke to DAILY POST on condition of anonymity said, ” The hoodlums manhandled me when they dragged me into the bush at gunpoint. I have visited the hospital twice to get myself back, I cried to no avail. ”

But DSP Andrew Aniamaka, however, assured Deltans of the police commitment to ensure the hoodlums are brought to book. - Daily Post

Junior police officers lament injustice in promotion

Junior officers of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) comprising of those of the rank of Inspectors and below have decried high level of injustice in the promotion exercise carried out by the force headquarters recently.

The concerned officers alleged that rather than following due processes, the promotion was lopsided and was based on “cash and carry”

In a statement signed by leader of the affected police officer, Abdulmajeed Lukeman, the officer alleged they were denied the right to be promoted while those promoted were not qualified.

“We are writing on behalf of Inspectors, Rank and File of the Nigeria Police Force, to draw the attention of Police Council and the Police Service Commission on our ordeal and injustice that is ongoing within the Nigeria Police system.

“In the year 2015, the Nigeria Police leaders at that time in their wisdom saw a need to upgrade inspectors, Rank and File with Higher Educational Qualifications. Based on that, they called for Aptitude Test (Examination) and screening of officers with University Degrees and HND certificates to be upgraded to the Rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), reference to POLICE WIRELESS MASSAGE (Signal) CB:7510/DTD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.7/11, DTO151800/06/2015 PROMOTION GENERAL Dated 06/2015.

“The examination and the screening were done by the Police authority in conjunction with Police Service Commission in various State and Zonal Commands respectively. After the examination and screening, fifty (50) successful candidates were shortlisted from each state of the federation including FCT Abuja according to their States of Origins and Local Government Areas, including supplementary which make up to 2,226 candidates.

“Eventually, in December 2015, the Police authority called for the final screening   at   the   FHQ   Abuja   by   signal   No.  CB: 7510/DTD FHQ/ABJ/VOL.7/66 Dated 5th December 2015. This final screening was not even supposed to come up again because we have already been screened by representatives of Police Services Commission and FHQ in both Zonal and State Commands. However, to our utmost surprise, at the peak of the screening exercise at FHQ we were told by the Police authority that, we should go back to our various Commands/Formation for further directives.

“Furthermore, January 22, 2016 on Friday, the Leadership Newspaper published that, the Senate Committee on Police Affairs said it is in custody of names of successful candidates to be upgraded to the Rank of Assistance Superintendent of Police (ASP) base on Educational Qualification from the former Inspector General of Police Mr. Solomon Arase, and the committee promised, it will make sure that there will be no lopsidedness in the promotion.

“While we were still waiting hoping to be called, the Police authority differs the   laid   down   procedure   of   appointment   into   the   rank   of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) as seen in section 39 part IV of Police act and regulation. They decided to call for recruitment of civilian graduates as cadet ASP, without any recourse to us! The serving members who were earlier screened, waiting to be promoted. The above provision of the police act and regulation Provides that vacancies in Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP cadre can only be filled up with   candidates   from   outside   the   Police,   by   the   reason   of UNAVAILABILITY   OF   SUITABLE   CANDIDATES,   from   within   the force.

“About three months ago we wrote a letter of complaint to the Chairman Senate Committee on Police Affairs Senator Abu Ibrahim representing Funtua Senatorial Zone Katsina State, with some attached documents and publications done in respect of this issue, such as Open Letter to Mr. President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria published by Daily Sun Newspaper dated Wednesday 18 October, 2017 page 5and The Punch Newspaper page 8 of the same date with The Sun Newspaper, but no any responds.

“On 07/08/2016 the current Inspector General of Police IGP Ibrahim Idris was interviewed in Niger State Minna Government House by some members of the press about the issue of the Inspectors Rank and Files Promotion exercise, he promised to meet with the Police Service Commission to discuss over it, but nothing has been done. Also on the 06/04/2018 the Inspector General of Police visited Taraba State Police Command, a Police officer asked him a question related to this issue the IGP promised to look into it, but up till date no action has been taken.  

However, Special Promotion is going on each and every week at the Force Headquarters for both Senior and Junior Officers, some special promotion with backdating date of 2016 / 2017, today, about 95% of police officers that are enjoying this special promotion does not deserve it, as most of the Special Promotions are not based on merit, seniority or breakthrough while on duty, it’s favors the highest bidder and nepotism.

“We kindly request the new Chairman of the Police Service Commission and its board members as a matter of urgency to get the names of all those who have benefited for the special promotion, and find out what have they done to deserve the special promotion.  When this is done the truth will be revealed, while we the Graduate Police Inspectors, Rank and Files with our High Qualifications relevant to police job such as Criminology and Security Studies, Sociology, L.L.B, Psychology, Accountancy, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution and among others, with fifteen (15) years and above in service are being abandoned and our Service Register/Confidential Files still at the (E) Department at the Force Headquarters Abuja, for more than three (3) years and no action has so far been taken on it.

“We welcome the former IGP, Alhaji Misiliu Smith and the new Board members of the Police Service Commission (PSC) as you formally assumed duties with a promise to reposition the Nigeria Police Force for optimum efficiency and effectiveness. We pray God gives you divine wisdom to pilot the Nigeria Police Force in a good direction as we also draw your attention to rectify the injustice that has been melted on us.

“We equally plead with the following: the Police Council, the Police Service Commission (PSC), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Chairmen Police Committee in both the Senate and House of Representatives, the Traditional Rulers in Nigeria, National Human Right Commission (NHRC) and all well-meaning individuals to take a second look at this issue and address it appropriately. As a discipline organization, steps must be taken to preserve such discipline to which we are in forefront. While doing our work of maintaining Law and order, protection of lives and property among others the bases for which is to ensure that justice prevailed, it will be absurd that we are pegged on injustice as we try hard to ensure justice for others.

“Finally, the current Inspector’s Rank and Files have done nothing to deserve this life of servitude. If this trend is allowed to continue, there will be greater dejection and indiscipline in the organization” - The Nation

17-year-old girl cuts off boyfriend’s manhood in Jigawa

A girl identified as Ramatu Tafida, has allegedly cut off the manhood of her boyfriend, Mr Abdullahi Sabo, 25, in Jigawa.

The spokesman of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state, AC Adamu Shehu, who confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Saturday, said the incident occurred in Babura Local Government Area of the state.

Shehu said the victim, a resident of Kofar Gabas and a teacher at Government Girls Secondary School Babura, was engaged under the N-Power programme.

He said, “The incident occurred on Thursday in Babura when the attention of our officers was drawn by a good Samaritan who informed them that some youths were about to lynch a girl in Kofar Arewa, the residence of the suspect, to revenge for their friend.

“Immediately the officers swung into action and went to the scene and whisked the girl away to the office for safety, but they still followed her.

“It was upon reaching the office that we realised what led to the whole matter.

“Ramlatu confessed to have used a knife to cut off the manhood of her husband-to-be.

“According to her, Abdullahi is the love of her life and he was even introduced to her family members and has equally given the sum of N30,000 as an introduction fee.

“And because of that, she was free to be with him almost all the time. As a result they became too intimate that they engaged in sexual relationship.

“However, Ramlatu later learnt that the victim has planned to dump her for another girl since he has already known her as a woman. And that was what made her to plan and execute her attack,” he said.

Shehu added that the suspect further confessed that it was while they were together and about to start their usual affair that she confronted the victim with the issue and he responded in the affirmative.

“And already, she had a knife with her without his knowledge which she brought out and chopped off his manhood.

“After committing the offence, she ran to her parent’s house to inform her mother. And it was while she was there that the youths stormed the house.”

The spokesman said that after learning of the situation, the officers rushed to the scene and took the victim to Babura General Hospital for medical attention.

The victim was later referred to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano.

Shehu said that the suspect had already been charged to court and remanded in prison until Sept. 6 for further hearing. - Daily Post