HOPELESS COUNTRY !! ‘Give Biafra agitators N100bn to avoid attacks’ – Ohanaeze speaks on FG’s negotiation with herdsmen

The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, on Wednesday, reacted to the alleged negotiation between federal government and the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to end kidnapping and killings in the country.

Following the meeting between MACBAN and a delegation of the Federal Government last week, reports had it that government planned to release the sum of N100bn to the group to set up cattle ranges.

Reacting, Ohanaeze in a statement by its President General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, expressed surprise over the federal government’s negotiation with Miyetti Allah over insecurity in the country.

They further called on the federal government to also dialogue with Biafra agitators who it said were not violent like the herdsmen for Actualisation of Sovereign States of Biafra (MASSOB) and other Biafra agitators to end the Biafra agitation.

The group urged President Muhammadu Buhari government to take advantage of 30th of this month when the Biafra agitators will be celebrating Biafra day as an opportunity to dialogue with the agitators.

The statement read: “We are surprised on the meeting between Federal Government represented by Minister of Interior Abdul-Rahman Dambazau and the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) where a huge carrot is thrown to the herdsmen group to help stop kidnapping and tackle insecurity and clashes between Herdsmen and farmers.

“The Federal Government should also extend the same gesture of N100bn to The leadership of Massob and Ipob. What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

“As Biafrans are celebrating the May 30th Remembrance day, the Federal Government has the opportunity and visible channel to negotiate with the leadership of MASSOB and other Biafra agitators.

“Reaching out to Biafra agitators are imminent to scuttle the mayhem likely to occur over the killings of Igbo’s in the North by Armed herdsmen and bandits. 

“It’s on record that about 167 Igbo have fell victims of Armed herdsmen and bandits in North West and East in the last few weeks, tension is building up in the South East ahead of May 30th Biafra remembrance day, Presidency should give Biafrans N100bn to avoid reprisal attacks.”

- DAILY POST

TERRORISM : Six killed in fresh Boko Haram attack in Borno

The Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on Wednesday confirmed that six persons were killed on Tuesday evening when Boko Haram struck at Moloi village in the outskirts of Maiduguri.

Mr Usman Kachalla, the agency’s Head of Rescue Operation, who confirmed the incident to newsmen in Maiduguri, stated that 15 other persons sustained injuries from the attack.

He said, “the deceased included four females and two males, the women were burnt to death inside their homes as a result of the fire set to the houses by the insurgents.”

Kachalla added that two males were hit and killed by stray bullets while trying to escape the scene of the attack.

He said that the insurgents set ablaze and destroyed residential homes, market stalls and carted away food items in the area.

Kachalla said the attack had displaced hundreds of persons in the area, but gave assurance that the agency would conduct emergency assessment to support the victims.

NAN reports that the Nigerian Army had on Tuesday said that its troops successfully repelled attacks coordinated by Boko Haram insurgents in Moloi.

Brig. – Gen. Bulama Biu, the Acting General Commanding Officer (GOC) 7 Division and Commander Sector 1, Operation Lafiya Dole, said that gallant troops repelled the attack when the insurgents attempted to infiltrate Moloi community.

Biu called on the residents not to panic, saying that the situation was under control.

- DAILY POST

Breastfeeding can prevent 13% of child mortality in Nigeria – Group

Technical Advisor, Policy and Advocacy, Alive & Thrive, Mrs Toyin Adewale-Gabriel, says if 90 per cent of mothers can practice exclusively breastfeeding, not less than 13 per cent of infant mortality can be prevented.

Adewale-Gabriel said this at the forum on “Media Coverage of the 2019 General Elections” organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Wednesday in Abuja.

She said that `’52 per cent of all the diseases affecting children in Nigeria were caused by malnutrition.

“ So, if we can address that through appropriate infant and child feeding habit, we will be able to increase the number of children’s safety in Nigeria.

“If we are to do exclusive breastfeeding alone, that alone has the potential to increase the lives of children saved in Nigeria by least 13 per cent.

“Children who are exclusively breast fed have six times greater chance of survival in early months of life than children who are not exclusively breastfed.

“If we can get 90 per cent of mothers in Nigeria to practice exclusive breastfeeding, an estimated 13 per cent of the death of children in Nigeria can be prevented.’’

Adewale-Gabriel said that apart from the fact that children who enjoyed exclusive breastfeeding were smarter than others who did not have it, there were also some economic benefits of breastfeeding.

“For every one dollar that you spend on breastfeeding, the gains are at least 19 dollars, as was calculated in a study called the Economic Cost of Breastfeeding, using World Bank formulae.”

She urged the media to sensitise Nigerians on the need for women to practice adequate breastfeeding of their babies and also patronise hospital facilities during childbirth.

“As media practitioners, it is important to ensure that in our front pages, we publish the information on the benefits of breastfeeding, as well as infant and young child feeding,’’ Adewale-Gabriel said.

- PM NEWS

You are not above the law, EFCC tells Saraki

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki that “he is not above the law”.

Acting spokesman of the commission, Mr Tony Orilade said this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

The spokesman was reacting to a statement, “EFCC, Stop Witch-Hunting Saraki”, credited to Saraki’s media aide, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu.

According to Orilade, the EFCC has taken note of the reactions of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to the Commission’s inquiries regarding his earnings as Kwara State governor.

Recently, the commission had begun investigation into the Senate President’s activities while he held sway as the Governor of Kwara State.

“While it is his prerogative to ventilate his views on the matter as he deems fit, the commission takes great exception at the desperate attempt to cast a slur on its investigative activities by portraying Saraki as a victim of persecution.

“Furthermore, the agency finds the attempt by the Senate President to tie our inquest to his International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) appointment and his approaching life out of power as misleading.

“This is knowing too well that the background to our current inquiries reaches several years back.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the EFCC is obligated by law to enthrone probity and accountability in the governance space and has supremely pursued this duty without ill-will or malice against anyone.

“It is in the interest of the public and for Saraki’s personal good, that he is not only above board, but be seen at all times to be so,” he said.

 - PM NEWS

I now cart my tithe to God in trailer loads – Bishop Oyedepo

Presiding Bishop, Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo says he now cart his tithe to God in trailer loads.

Oydepo said since 1982 till date, he had never failed in paying his tithe, noting that God had been faithful in lifting him up.

He said one did not need to steal to shine or rob to prosper, but that faithfulness in the payment of tithes would bring prosperity.

Oyedepo, at a recent sermon, added that starting or pastoring a church did not equate wealth.

According to him, “you don’t have to steal to shine, you don’t have to rob to prosper. If it is pastoring/founding a church that makes people prosper, there are many pastors/church founders who are paupers.

“You can’t go up except by tithing. From 1982 till date, my tithe hasn’t failed once; now I cart it to God in trailer loads,” he said.

- PM NEWS

Behold 15 suspected ‘Yahoo Boys’ arrested by EFCC in Port Harcourt

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Port Harcourt’s Zonal Office, have arrested 15 suspected internet fraudsters (Yahoo Boys) in a late-evening raid on Blue Chip Hotels, Rumuigbo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The suspects, who are between the ages of 18 and 30, were nabbed while relaxing in their hotel hideout. Their arrest followed surveillance and intelligence reports on their activities and a response to the resolve of the Acting Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu to rid the nation of internet fraudsters.

Among the suspects are five young ladies and ten young men.

They are: Tamunotonye Tolofari; Isaac Michael; Kingdom Ekekwu; Daniel Uwalaka; Godswill Agwu; Innocent Daniel; Prince Amaya; Tiemo Ipite; Nduah Gentle; Stella Gbarakoro; Christiana Cletus; Anita Jane; Best Noble, Nduah Precious and Emeka Chibuike Emeka.

Items recovered from them are laptops and phones. The suspects have made useful statements to the Commission and would soon be charged to court.

- PM NEWS