NEXT LEVEL KILLINGS !! How violence claimed 10,665 lives in Nigeria

Violence has claimed the lives of 10,665 Nigerians in 2018, a report conducted by the Nigeria Watch has revealed.

The research project monitors lethal violence, conflicts, and human security in Nigeria. It began in July 2006 and is based on the campus of the University of Ibadan with the support of the French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA-Nigeria) since July 2013.

The report released recently showed that there was a 1.4% increase in the number of violent deaths in Nigeria in 2018, as fatalities increased from 10,515 in 2017 to 10,665 in 2018.

According to the report, the main causes of violent deaths in Nigeria were crime, political issues, land issues, religious issues, cattle grazing and road accidents.

It said Boko Haram conflict killed 2,135 in 2018, less than the 2,829 fatalities in 2017, accounting for 28% decrease

The report said cult related killings accounted for 453 deaths in 162 incidents while 238 people were killed in 76 kidnap incidents.

Also, the report revealed that in 2018, 2,331 victims were killed in 350 lethal incidents involving security operatives.

Ogun State, according to the report, maintained its position in 2018 as the state with the highest prevalence of fatal road accidents.

The most dangerous states in Nigeria in 2018, the report said included Borno, Zamfara, Benue, Kaduna and Adamawa, as the states were mostly ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency, banditry and pastoral conflicts.

It added that Ekiti, Gombe, Jigawa, Osun and Kebbi States were relatively peaceful.

The report stated that 2018 marked a rise in general crime across the country, as banditry was prevalent in Zamfara and Kaduna States, while the first quarter of the year witnessed massive killings in Benue and Plateau States by alleged herdsmen, as Rivers and Lagos States also recorded large incidents of cult attacks in 2018.

“Delta, Ebonyi, Cross River and Akwa Ibom witnessed rise in inter-state and intra-communal clashes that resulted in several loss of lives and properties. Despite the fact that the overall number of fatalities, Boko Haram insurgency reduced in 2018, as many casualties were recorded in attacks on military bases in Tumbum Gini, Metele and Gashigar in Abadam LGA, Zari and Gudumbali in Guzamala LGA and Damasak in Mobbar LGA, Borno state, as well as in Kukareta in Damaturu LGA, Yobe State.

- PM NEWS

ICYMI: Nigerian-born teenager shot dead in London

Eniola Aluko, a teenager with Nigerian heritage, has been shot dead in Plumstead, London

According to Metropolitan Police, the force was alerted to a car park on Hartville Road, SE18 at 4:54pm on Friday and Aluko was found with critical injuries which later led to his death.

A post-mortem examination, held on Saturday at Greenwich Mortuary, gave the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the neck and chest.

The police said they had arrested an 18-year-old teenager on suspicion of murder while four others, who were arrested earlier in relation to the crime, have been granted bail pending the start of a trial in early July.

The police added that the deceased next of kin had been informed of the incident.

“I am continuing to appeal for anyone who was in the area at the time, who saw or heard anything suspicious to contact police,” John Marriott, a detective, said.

“The shooting took place not far from Plumstead Railway Station and I would urge anyone who was commuting to or from this station to come forward. It was also sunny at the time and a number of people would have been enjoying the weather in the area of Plumstead Gardens; I need you to come forward.

“Although we have now made five arrests I am continuing to ask for your help to progress this investigation.”

- THECABLE

How ex-boyfriend raped sickle cell patient in Lagos

A prosecution witness, Insp. Usman Sanni, on Monday narrated before an Igbosere High Court, Lagos, how he took the statement of a 31-year-old sickle cell anemia patient, who was allegedly raped by her ex-boy friend, one Imonitie Otuma.

Otuma, 34, is standing trial on a two-count charge of threat to life and rape, preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.

Otuma was first arraigned sometime in 2016, he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.

The defendant, however, violated his bail condition, was therefore remanded in prison.

The witness, who was led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Babatunde Sumonu, said that sometime in July 2015, the case was transfered from Maroko police station to him at Panti Investigating Police Department.

Sanni said that when the case was brought to their department, the victim was already on admission at Topz hospital, at Isolo.

He visited the victim at the hospital where he took her statement.

The witness said that the victim narrated to him how she met the defendant at the University of Lagos, where they were both students.

He said that the victim informed him that she was in a relationship with the defendant but broke the relationship when she discovered that the defendant had slept with one of her friends.

Sanni said that the victim narrated how the defendant called her on July10, 2015 and pleaded with her for reconciliation.

He said the victim and the defendant agreed to meet at a Mall at Adeniran Ogunsanya in Surulere area of Lagos.

The witness said both the victim and the defendant had a nice time at the Mall watching a movie, adding that they also attended a club somewhere in Lekki.

According to him, the victim got tired while at the club, therefore entered the defendant’s car and laid down at the back seat.

He said the defendant used the opportunity entered the car and forcefully had canal knowledge of the victim, NAN reports.

He said that the defendant threatened to kill the victim if she did not allow him to have sexual knowledge of her.

The witness narrated how the defendant beat up the victim and held her neck before raping her.

After listening to the witness’ evidence, Justice Adedayo Akintoye adjourned the case until Oct. 10 for continuation of hearing.

The prosecutor had told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offences sometime on July 10, 2015, at Lekki area of Lagos.

Sumonu said that the defendant raped the victim who suffered from sickle cell anemia, without her consent and threatened to kill her with revolver.

According to him, the alleged offences contravened Sections 171 and 258, of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

- DAILY POST

Brazil authorities seizes Neymar’s mansions, other properties

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker Neymar’s off-pitch woes continue to mount, as Brazilian tax authorities put a freeze on dozens of his mansions and other properties amid a long-running tax dispute.

A local Brazilian media outlet, Folha de S.Paulo newspaper, reported on Monday that Brazilian authorities blocked 36 properties in Brazil as they seek 69 million reais (£14 million) in back taxes.

They claim that amount is due in connection with Neymar’s 2013 transfer from Santos to FC Barcelona.

The action means Neymar can use the properties but not sell them.

Folha cited an unspecified court ruling as approving the action by Brazil tax authorities.

It was not immediately possible to locate the ruling.

Brazil’s tax agency did not respond to a request for comment.

Also, a spokeswoman for Neymar did not have any comment.

In addition to his tax fight, Neymar in recent weeks has been accused of rape, an allegation that Brazilian police are investigating.

A Brazilian woman accused the 27-year-old Neymar of raping her at a Paris hotel last month.

He denies the allegation and says the relationship was consensual.  

On Sunday, a report in L’Equipe said PSG were prepared to sell Neymar, as chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi warned that irresponsible behaviour from players won’t be tolerated anymore.

- DAILY POST

What may trigger Third World War in Nigeria – UN official

A United Nations official said on Monday that degradation and competition over access to land and water may cause war in Nigeria.

“Land restoration is about security, reducing clashes between farmers and herdsmen over access to land and water, which may trigger the Third World War”, Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ankara, Turkey.

“More lives have been claimed in conflicts over access to land and water than Boko Haram.

“Every day, you have more conflicts between people that are competing for access to land and water.

“The root cause of the competition is access to natural resources,” the UN official told NAN on the sidelines of 2019 World Day to Combat Desertification in the Turkish capital.

World Day to Combat Desertification is celebrated every year globally on 17 June to promote good land stewardship for the benefit of present and future generations.

The UNCCD head said that growing population with growing demand on resources, coupled with Climate Change and reduction of available land resources, were root causes of most of the bloody conflicts.

“So, the tipping point was reached long time ago; and most of the time this is also combined with bad governance at national levels,” Thiaw said.

He said that land restoration could not be left in the hands of governments alone, and called for a review of the land tenure system in order to mobilise private business investment into the programme.

“This means there should be some concession for the business sector to participate in land restoration.

“It means that if a business restores a land, it gets concession on the land for 50 years or more so that the land remains restored rather than leave it barren.  

“Otherwise, why would I invest in land restoration if I had no right on that land; if the land continues to belong to someone else, I won’t invest in it.

“Restoring land will reduce forced migration and keep people on the ground to generate their own incomes and live their own lives,” he said.

The UN official said that forced migration was the worst that could happen to countries where people were departing from.

“Most times, countries of destination see it as a problem, but countries they are departing from have a bigger problem because people involved in forced migration are educated and a big loss to their national economies,” he said.

Thiaw also said that although planting of trees was important and symbolic in land restoration, it was not the only solution to the problem.

“You can plant billions of trees, but unless you have good sensitisation, the trees will not grow or they clear off again.”

= DAILY POST

PL NEWS : Unai Emery is ”desperate” to offload Ozil, Mustafi

Unai Emery is struggling to find buyers for Mesut Ozil and Shkodran Mustafi as he tries to boost his summer transfer kitty.

The Arsenal boss wants to offload the pair to make room for potential new arrivals at the Emirates.

Emery has a limited budget of £45m with which to sign players, and sees Ozil and Mustafi as surplus to his plans.

He hoped to sell them both for significant fees but the Sun report he is yet to find any interested parties.

The Spaniard is particularly keen to get Mesut Ozil off the Gunners’ wage bill, and is willing to pay a portion of the German’s £350k per week salary to tempt other clubs into signing him.

Ozil had a disappointing season for Arsenal in the last campaign, and was criticised for his performance in the Europa League final.

There was some interest in the 30-year-old playmaker from Turkish side Fenerbahce, but they’ve since gone cold after admitting they were put off by his huge wage demands.

Mustafi is another player who struggled for form last season, with Emery now prioritising defensive reinforcements to replace the centre-back.

The Gunners will want to recoup at least some of the £35 million they paid Valencia for his services back in 2016, but there is yet to be an approach from interested clubs.

Arsenal are keeping tabs on RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamercano as they eye a replacement for Mustafi, but are thought to have been priced out of a move unless they can raise some extra cash.

Emery meanwhile has put his frustrations in the transfer market to one side to make changes in his backroom staff.

Loyal club servant Steve Bould has been removed from his post as assistant first-team coach, with Gunners legend Freddie Ljungberg stepping up to replace him.

Bould will now serve as under-23’s boss – the role Ljungberg was filling previously.

- PM NEWS

Fulani marauders must vacate Yorubaland now – Gani Adams

The Aare Onakakanfo, Gani Adams has ordered Fulani marauders killing people in the Southwest to vacate Yorubaland now or face the consequence as the Yoruba people will not fold their arms and watch their people being killed, raped and kidnapped.

Arising from a crucial meeting of the Aare Onakakanfo in Council, Adams warned that the Yoruba people would be forced to retaliate if the Fulani herdsmen continued to maim innocent people.

“We cannot continue to fold our arms and let these bandits continue to soil our land with the blood of the innocent. Consequently, we hereby ask these Fulani marauders to stop their murderous activities and vacate every inch of Yorubaland they currently ravage.

“Failure to reconcile themselves with these terms may warrant maximum retaliation as the principle dictates that a bully only respects a bully.

“The campaign of blood by Fulani herdsmen, who have been ravaging our land, kidnapping, killing, maiming and raping our people in recent years has become a serious source of concern for the Yoruba race; a race renowned for their staunch passion for peaceful coexistence, national cohesion and development.

“The threat posed to our existence by these blood-mongering marauders cannot be overlooked as we, as a people, believe that for peace and accord to reign among the multiplicity of people who occupy a common territory, all parties must play a role in ensuring that each and every unit in this country respect each other in all ramifications,” he stated.

According to Adams, it was disheartening and most embarrassing that the group, despite several appeals to their consciousness and common sense, had continued to wreak havoc in Southwest land, and forcibly planning to reap where they had not sown.

He said they had proven that they had come to steal, destroy, and kill; as evident in the unmitigated attacks on communities where their nomadic enterprise took them, adding that they had been plundering Yorubaland, and “we recognize evil when we see it. This is no exception.”

He said “as true spawns of Oduduwa, we are unequivocally forthright about this threat posed by this group which the federal government has turned a blind eye to by refusing to call a spade by its name, dubbing the Fulani marauders as criminals, bandits, and pillagers. Every true blood of the Yoruba race is at the risk of being haunted and slaughtered by this reckless group if we keep sugarcoating the bloody implications of their evil enterprise.

“We are acquainted with the nature of Fulani nomads in the past, and we know as a matter of fact that they were not carrying AK47s. It is because of this naked truth that we ask that these people be labelled as what they are. We are clamouring that the appropriate moniker should be used to tag them. They should be addressed as ‘Fulani bandits,’ for we believe that there is power in names.

“We strongly advise Obas and local Chiefs to show more than passing interest in the activities of people in their domains. They must know that they cannot be blameless for their failure to account for and monitor strangers in their areas of jurisdictions, particularly those whose activities run contrary to peaceful coexistence.”

Adams added that the Yoruba people could not continue to fold their arms and let these bandits continue to soil their land with the blood of the innocent and demanded concrete action from President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration over the activities of these murderous gangs.

“We are no longer comfortable with the continuing brutalization and murderous humiliation of our people. Government’s silence is distressing as it is emboldening the criminals. President Buhari must act now. They need to understand that their seeming stillness about this plague is a tacit alignment with the forces of evil,” he said.

Adams listed dark spots where urgent Federal Government’s intervention were needed to include Orile-Owu to Ijebu-Ode forest, Osun and Ogun States; Ilesha, Ife, Aramoko, Ijero, Esa-Oke, Ikire, Gbogan, Ode-Omu, Ifewara, Ibadan to Ife Road, Ife to Akure Road, Ikesha to Oshogbo, and environs; Osi, Igede, Ilupeju, Ikole, Ado, Ikere, and environs, among others.

- PM NEWS

How women can keep their husbands from flirting – Daddy Freeze

Critic, Daddy Freeze has dropped wise words for women in order to keep their husbands from flirting and running after other women outside the home.

Freeze is of the opinion that if women could spend less time in praying and fasting and devote enough time to dressing sexy at home, that would keep their husbands from looking outside for other women.

According to him, insinuations by some people that even if women would dress naked for their husband, those who would still cheat would do so, did not hold any water.

He wrote on his Instagram: “Dear women, if you spent the time you are spending praying and fasting, dressing sexy for your husbands, you will have less divorce cases and less unfaithful husbands.

“Some cretinous dingbats will say, even if you are naked a man that would cheat, would cheat. It’s the intellectual equivalent of saying everyone will die, so let’s just eat all the junk food we can lay our hands on.

“Do your bit first, pray, yes! fast, yes! nut make sure you are your husbands whore, so your job and position won’t be outsourced.”

- PM NEWS