Insecurity: Even Buhari not safe in Aso Rock – Nigerian Pastor asks President to resign

 

Senior pastor of Awaiting The Second Coming Of Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa has said that even President Muhammadu Buhari is not safe at the Presidential Villa going by the breakdown of security in the country.

He also said that Buhari’s high-handedness has caused a major setback to national advancement.

Giwa, in a statement to DAILY POST on Tuesday said Nigerians had chosen their destiny by allowing president Buhari to rule the country for another four years.

The cleric, however, urged Nigerians to stay strong.

He declared: “It’s unfortunate that we have a president who doesn’t listen to the yearnings of his people.

“President Buhari’s high-handedness has brought setbacks to Nigeria in all ramifications. If they could kill a first-class monarch in Ondo state, who is now safe in this country?

“If the wife of Ondo state Chief of staff could be kidnapped easily, who knows who is next? As of now, God is our security.

“Even Buhari is not safe in Aso rock because the citizens are not happy.”

- DAILY POST

ICPC uncovers $919,200 in ‘hidden account of court officials in Rivers’

 

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it has uncovered $919,202.07 hidden in a bank account allegedly operated by officials of the federal high court in Rivers state.

The commission said the discovery followed a petition against some officials of the federal high court in Port Harcourt over allegations of corruption.

Upon investigation by ICPC officials in Rivers state, the money was said to have been discovered hidden in an interest-yielding account allegedly run by the court officials.

The ICPC through Agada Akogwu, its lawyer, then filed an interim order of forfeiture of the money, which was granted by Mohammed Sanni of the federal high court, pending the final hearing on the matter.

According to a statement by the ICPC on Monday, the judge ruled that the court order directing the interim forfeiture of the money should be published in any newspaper within 14 working days for anyone claiming ownership to come forward with proof.

“The orders of the court directing the interim forfeiture shall be published in any daily newspaper within 14 working days for any person interested in the said property sought to be forfeited to appear before the court to show cause why the final forfeiture orders be not made in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria,” Sanni was quoted to have said.

The case has been adjourned till December 14, 2020 for reports and final forfeiture hearing.

- THECABLE

Christmas: FG warns churches against holding carol services

 

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has urged Nigerians not to conduct usual Christmas festivities such as carol services this year.

Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), stated this during the weekly briefing of the task force in Abuja on Monday.

According to Ihekweazu, Christmas carols, travels and other gatherings during the festive season, could turn out to be “super spreaders” of the coronavirus.

He said, “This is really to re-emphasise the call by the PTF that many of the traditional meetings that we engage in at this time of the year, whether they are Christmas carols or festivals, trips, family gatherings, each of those could end up being a super spreader event.

“So, we must take this into consideration as we make our choices.”

NCDC on Monday night announced 145 new cases of COVID-19 in the country.

The new infections take the number of cases in the country to 67,557.

- DAILY POST

Police arrest female armourer, 35 others for robbery, kidnapping

 

Nigerian police have arrested 35 suspects, including a woman for their involvement in cases of robbery, kidnapping and other heinous crimes in some parts of the country,

Also arrested were five jail breakers of the Oko Correctional Centre, Benin, during the ENDSARS protests.

Exhibits recovered from the suspects include: eight AK49 rifles, one Beretta Pistol with 6 rounds of live ammunition, three locally made pistols, 111 rounds of AK47 ammunition, 10 AK47 magazine, five live cartridges.

Also recovered from the suspects were seven Laptop computers, one anti-tracking device, one camouflage vest, eight stolen vehicles, one stolen trailer Mercedes Actros with reg. no. NNK 334 YT.

Among the jail breakers re-arrested was Onaruje Benjamin, who had earlier been convicted for conspiracy and Robbery and was on death-row at the time of escape.

There were also Adebayo Opeyemi, a dismissed soldier, Peter Felix Osas, Frank Odion Oloye and Alhaji Hudu Musa a.k.a Mai Cellular.

They were arrested by operatives of the FIB – Intelligence Response Team in Kaduna State for the offences of Armed Robbery, Car Theft and Unlawful Possession of Firearms.

Investigations reveal the suspects having escaped from the Correctional Centre, formed a new criminal gang and returned to their old criminal enterprise.

Indeed, Onaruje Benjamin, snatched a Toyota Corolla Car in Benin, 30-minutes after his escape from the Correctional Centre.

Five (5) vehicles earlier snatched from their owners at gun point in different parts of the country were recovered from the gang.

While Onaruje Benjamin is the leader of the gang and the arms bearer, Alhaji Hudu Musa is in charge of ferrying and disposing the stolen vehicles to Niger Republic.

Also arrested was one female suspect, Talatu Ibrahim, 40years old from Shinkafi LGA, Zamfara State from whom six AK49 rifles were recovered.

Her arrest led to the subsequent arrest of one Duleji Alhaji Abubakar a.k.a Ori jeje residing at Ekka village, Koro LGA, Kwara State. Findings reveal that Ori Jeje has been getting arms supply from Talatu Ibrahim to carry out series of kidnapping and armed robbery in Kwara State.

The operatives also arrested one Abdullahi Mohammed a.k.a ‘Governmenti’, a specialist in car snatching.

Investigation revealed that the suspect, within 90-days, August, September, and October, 2020 snatched 18 vehicles at gun-point from their owners in Jos and Bauchi States.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, has reassured citizens of the renewed commitment of the Force to their safety and security.

All the suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of investigations.

- PM NEWS

El-Rufai on widespread violence: I’m frustrated and almost helpless

 

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, has lamented over the insecurity in the country, saying he is frustrated and almost helpless.

Speaking when he featured on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, el-Rufai said many of his counterparts also feel frustrated.

He said governors are just chief security officers without having control over security agencies.

“I am frustrated in my state. Many governors are frustrated in their states. We are called chief security officers only in name, but we have no control over coercive instruments of state,” he said.

“We’re all frustrated. We are almost helpless. The #EndSARS protests clearly showed the limits to the control of governors over the police and the army. Some of us have more influence than others. But to a large extent, you ask the commissioner of police to do something, he has to clear with the IGP.”

El-Rufai said insecurity has grown from bad to worse because a sizeable number of police officers who should be fighting criminal elements in the country are involved in non-police duties like “carrying the bags of the wives of very important personalities”.

“We’ve always made a very strong argument that one centralised police in a federation does not work. Nigeria is the only country in the world that is a federation that has only one police force,” he said.

“We have made the argument that states should be allowed to have their own police and that even local governments should be allowed to have their own community policing.

“The number of policemen we have in Nigeria is inadequate; it is less than half of what we need and a lot of them are engaged in non-police duties like carrying the handbags of the wives of very important people.

“We need to have a large footprint of policing in Nigeria and the only way to achieve that in a fast-track manner is to amend the constitution and put police on the concurrent list as recommended by the APC True Federalism Committee so that we have more policing.

“In any case today, more state governments are responsible for the running cost of the police. The Federal Government only pays the salaries of the policemen but the running cost, the logistics, their vehicles, their fuel are all the responsibilities of state governments.

“So, what are we afraid of? Let us just amend the constitution and allow state policing and in fact, go further and allow the local governments to have their own police. That way, we will have more security footprints.”

- THECABLE

Boko Haram: Recruit foreign mercenaries to fight insurgents – Borno gov, Zulum begs Buhari

 

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to engage the services of foreign mercenaries in flushing out Boko Haram from Nigeria.

Zulum made the appeal while receiving a federal government’s delegation who were in the state to sympathise with them over the massacre of some rice farmers in Jere Local Government Area.

He urged the Buhari-led government to take more serious measures towards bringing an end to the issue of insurgency.

Zulum also made some recommendations to the federal government on how to put an end to the problem of insurgency.

He said: “One of our recommendations as possible solutions to end the insurgency is the immediate recruitment of our youths into military and paramilitary services to complement the efforts of the Nigerian forces.

“Our second recommendation is to engage the services of our immediate neighbours, especially the government of Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic, in clearing the remnants of Boko Haram hiding in the shores of the Lake Chad.

“Our third recommendation is for him to engage the services of the mercenaries to clear the entire Sambisa forest.

“Our fourth recommendation is for him to provide the police and the military, with armed resistant armoured personnel carriers and other related equipment.”

- PM NEWS

Police Brutality: Ogun Judicial Panel receives 105 petitions

 

The Chairman, Ogun Judicial Panel of Investigation, Justice Solomon Olugbemi on Monday revealed that the Panel has received a total of 105 petitions on police brutality and human rights abuses, saying the Panel has put an end to submission.

Justice Olugbemi who made this known while speaking with news men at the Magistrate Court 1, Isabo, Abeokuta said the Panel has in less than six weeks of its sittings, treated 19 out of the 105 petitions submitted.

Speaking on the deadline of petition submission, the Chairman revealed that, “our initial deadline for submission was 18th November, 2020 before it was extended to the end of November to give room for more petitions.

The Chairman added that the panel will do all in its power to ensure that nobody is witch-hunted, assuring that justice would be delivered based on evidences provided and adequate evaluation.

On his part, Barr. Femi Aina, counsel to Mrs. Fatimah Elegbede, one of the petitioners who in her petition alleged that some members of the disbanded Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) killed her husband unlawfully, expressed optimism that justice is near with the calibre of the Panel members and the kind of questions they were asking during cross examination.

On her part, the petitioner, Elegbede called on government to help her investigate the death of her husband and also support her financially so as to take care of her daughter adequately.

- PM NEWS

Call for medical panel to examine Buhari’s mental state

 

Former minister and presidential aspirant, Obi Ezekwesili has called for the setting up of a medical panel to examine President Buhari’s mental state.

Ezekwesili, Buhari’s staunch critic, made the call on Twitter Sunday, against the backdrop of massacre in North east, banditry and kidnapping around the country.

The constitution normally empowers the National Assembly to create such a panel, where a president, because of ill-health is unable to do his job.

But in a Twitter thread, Ezekwesili said “we the people”, as Nigerians can also push for such medical empanelling.

I think that at this stage and depth of fragility of the Nigeria-State, Privacy has to yield ground to our Right-to-know as citizens, the state of health of @MBuhari .

We really must assess the physical or mental capability of @NGRPresident to carry on the duties of office.�

Citizens can collectively push for an Independent Panel to help us make the critical medical determination of the state of mind and body of our President, @MBuhari .

The conditions of Nigeria have become too grave for us all to sit still and watch a train wreck in the making.

As an extremely concerned citizen, I hereby demand for a #MedicalPanelOnBuhari since we obviously cannot trust the State House Physician to provide us accurate information.

It is reasonable demand now for citizens to have full disclosure on the state of health of @MBuhari

- PM NEWS

Singaporean woman gives birth to baby with COVID-19 antibodies

 

A Singaporean woman, who was infected with COVID-19  during pregnancy, has given birth to a baby with antibodies against the virus.

According to Straits Times, a Singaporean publication, the baby was born earlier in November.

The birth of the child offers a new clue as to whether the novel virus can be transferred from mother to child.

Celine Ng-Chan, the mother of the child, was quoted to have said her doctor suspected that she transferred the antibodies to her child during pregnancy.

“My doctor suspects I have transferred my COVID-19 antibodies to him during my pregnancy,” she reportedly said.

Ng-Chan is said to have been mildly ill from the virus and was discharged after two and a half weeks in the hospital.

According to studies from China, antibodies that protect against COVID-19 are present in newborns of mothers who have had the the virus and possess these antibodies.

In transmission of the virus from mother to fœtus, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says it is unknown if a pregnant woman infected with COVID-19 can pass the virus to her fœtus or baby during pregnancy or childbirth.

The active virus has not been found in samples of fluid around the baby in the womb or in breast milk till date.

Photo credit: Straits Times

50-year-old caught raping 10-year-old neighbour’s daughter in Ondo

 

A 50-year-old man has been nabbed in Akure, the Ondo State capital for allegedly raping a 10-year-old girl.

The culprit, Kamoru Smaila committed the act at Adelabu street, Danjuma axis of Akure South Local Government area of the State.

Smaila, who was caught by neighbours after the victim raised an alarm, denied having canal knowledge of the girl but feigned ignorance of how semen and blood stain got to the girl’s body.

According to one of the neighbours, the suspect took the girl to an uncompleted building to perpetrate the evil act.

Meanwhile, the girl said the suspect was chasing her around and forcefully raped her. She added that he covered her mouth when she was trying to shout.

Following the incident which attracted onlookers, it took the intervention of the men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, to rescue him from mob action.

Confirming the incident via telephone, the Public Relations Officer of NSCDC in the State, ASC Olufemi Omole said the matter is under investigation, and the victim has been taken to the government hospital for medical check up.

- DAILY POST

66 Nigerians jailed in Bangladesh for fraud

 

Sixty-six Nigerians are spending various terms in prisons in Bangladsh for fraud and other crimes, a report by the country’s top newspaper, Dhaka Tribune said.

The Nigerians make up majority of the 86 Africans jailed across the country.

The other 20 prisoners are from Cameroon, Tanzania, Ghana, Algeria, Mali and Kenya.

There are 2927 people from 32 African countries now staying in Bangladesh.

Among them, 455 have already crossed their visa expiration dates.

Many Nigerians end up staying in Bangladesh past their visa expiration date due to the long visa renewal process.

There is no Nigerian embassy in Bangladesh, and visas have to be processed in New Delhi.

A total of 157 Africans are accused of fraud and some other charges, according to information from the Special Branch (SB) of police

The Dhaka Tribune said fraudsters from Nigeria have recruited Bangladeshi counterparts to join their crimes and have succeeded in scamming many victims

Several fraudsters from Nigeria have been detained by Bangladeshi law enforcement agencies over the past year, leaving honest members of Bangladesh’s Nigerian community feeling ashamed.

Members of the Nigerian community said the parlous economic condition in Nigeria led many of their countrymen to turn to a life of crime, including fraud.

Nigerian fraudsters come to countries like Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan as they see them as lands of opportunity, and they bring disrepute on the entire community when they are caught.

Asking to remain anonymous, a Nigerian student in Bangladesh said: “There are good people and bad people in every country. Please do not judge us because of the misdeeds of these criminals [Nigerian fraudsters].”

In raids on August 6 and July 22 this year and July 4 last year, a total of 16 Nigerians and two of their Bangladeshi associates were detained by law enforcement agencies.

On October 23 this year, Nigerian Chukwuemeka Samuel was detained from Dhaka’s Khilket area for fraud.

Most of the fraudsters travelled to Bangladesh on business visas. Several Nigerian students are in the country on student and player visas, but there are no allegations of criminal activities against them.

The scams used by the caught Nigerian fraudsters differed in minor details but shared a similar structure.

Bangladeshi fraudsters often play crucial roles in the scams by posing as local officials.

The scammers would usually make first contact with potential victims through fake accounts on social media platforms or messenger services, such as Facebook or WhatsApp.

After gaining the victim’s trust, the scammers would offer them a sum of money as a gift or prize.

Chukwuemeka Samuel would claim to be Coca Cola representative Richard Phillip and told his victims they had received a cash prize.

Some of the fraudsters would contact their victims while posing as female American soldiers in Syria who wanted to give away their money.

When the victims came to collect the money, usually at Dhaka airport or Chittagong port, they would be met by the Bangladeshi associates of the Nigerian fraudsters.

The Bangladeshi fraudsters, posing as customs officials, would demand that the victim pay a 10% “customs tax” before collecting the money.

The fraudsters sometimes threatened to file embezzlement charges against the victim if they did not pay. After collecting the “tax” from the victim, the fraudsters would disappear without giving anything in turn.

One victim lost Tk2 crore in this manner, after being told she had won Tk20 crore at an online art competition.

The fraudsters had initially contacted her through email and asked her to submit a painting.

Nigerian Jacob Frank, who owns a restaurant opposite Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka and has been living in Bangladesh for many years.

He helped many fraudsters from Nigeria with their entry visas, according to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Organized Crime unit Additional Superintendent of Police Zakir Hossain.

Most of the fraudsters who have been detained gained visas by claiming they were travelling for garment business purposes, Zakir added.

“Among the culprits, most of them lived in the Basundhara and Pallabi areas. There is no evidence of any crime by Nigerian students or those who are here on player visas,” the CID official continued.

Additional Superintendent of Police Zakir said there are two main reasons fraudsters from Nigeria target Bangladesh.

“First, there are a lot of uneducated people in Bangladesh and it is easy to cheat them, so they are easy targets.

“Second, there are quite a few people who are very greedy and the Nigerian fraudsters take advantage of this greed as well,” he said.

- PM NEWS

Donald Duke: Security operatives selling weapons to Boko Haram

 

Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River state, has alleged that security operatives sell weapons to Boko Haram.

According to the United Nations, Boko Haram killed more than 100 civilians in an attack on farmers in Borno state on Saturday.

Speaking on Channels TV on Sunday, the former governor said there is a need to investigate the source of the insurgents’ arms and ammunition.

He said most of the weaponry used by Boko Haram come from military armoury.

“Most of the weaponry used by Boko Haram come from our armoury. We will need to look into that. Why are we selling weapons to the enemy?” he asked.

Duke said there is a need for a “complete revamp of our security network” to avoid losing the country.

He said there should be police presence in every five kilometres, adding that their “presence is a deterrent”.

The ex-governor said graduates who can think like perpetrators of crime should be recruited into the force to improve intelligence gathering.

He asked the federal government to train and motivate policemen and soldiers fighting the insurgents.

“The level of people we bring into the force is a bit too low. Crime is a lot more sophisticated than that. We need people who can think alongside the perpetrators of the crime. We need to up the ante and train them and motivate them. There has to be an insurance scheme to look after them,” he said.

“Motivate the soldiers in the northeast. I think they are under-motivated. We need to task them on intelligence gathering. More of intelligence than firepower.

On the other front, by now, we need to develop a strategy on kidnap. Are the police properly motivated? I doubt it, and they don’t have enough weaponry.”

- THECABLE

Police arrest daughter who butchered her mother, sliced her body into parts in Uyo

 

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said it has arrested one Mary Ime, a resident of Umoh Obot in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, who reportedly butchered her mother, Eka Ime on Friday, 27th November, 2020, and sliced her body into different parts.

It was gathered that angry youths led by elders compelled her to park her mother’s parts into a basin and walked round the community in total condemnation of the incident.

It was further gathered that when the police came to arrest her, she said that she did not care if she was arrested or not

But the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Macdon, who confirmed the incident in Uyo, expressed surprise at the action.

He said no right thinking person would slaughter her own mother in such a gruesome manner, adding the police would conduct a test to certify her state of mind before she is charged to court.

According to the PPRO, “The story is true; she butchered her mum. We are suspecting that she is not of sound mind but we do not have any medical capacity yet to say so.

“Medical personnel will have to determine if she is of sound mind, because no right thinking person will kill her mother by butchering her.

“As we speak, we have her in our custody. We have gathered the parts of her mother and deposited in the mortuary. By the time we ascertain her state of mind we will charge her accordingly, we have conducted preliminary investigation and more discreet investigation is on the way and she will be charged to court immediately after that.”

- DAILY POST

Reports: Military informed ahead of Zabarmari attack, but did nothing

 

Residents of Zabarmari, where Boko Haram slaughtered no fewer than 43 rice farmers, informed the military ahead of the weekend attack.

But the military failed to heed the warning and protect the people.

A survivor named Abubakar Salihu, told Daily Trust, that the villagers foresaw danger after they arrested one of the Boko Haram terrorists and handed him to security operatives.

“We informed military beforehand that our members sighted Boko Haram in large numbers but nothing was done about it.

“It was a sad day for us in Zabarmari; it could have been averted but the military failed to act on the information we gave them,” he said.

Another rice farmer, Mohammed Alhaji, said the victims were busy harvesting rice when the insurgents summoned and assembled them.

“It was a deliberate act to ensure that we do not harvest our farm produce. We need the federal government to assist us and secure our lives,” he said.

The imminent attack came on Saturday, as Boko Haram terrorists rounded up farmers on rice fields and slit their throats or beheaded them.

A total 43 bodies were recovered in one location after the attack.

Bodies recovered from other locations have increased the death toll to 110.

- PM NEWS

Boko Haram: I admit, terrorists control many parts of Borno – Governor Zulum

 

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Sunday, admitted that the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram exists in many parts of the state and are threat to over six million people in the state.

The governor said the presence of the deadly sect still holding on Sambisa forest and the Lake Chad regions in northern Borno is worrisome.

The governor, who was speaking to farmers and fishermen after he attended the burial of 43 farmers killed by the insurgents on Sunday, said though his administration has launched a security outfit called ‘Agric -Ranchers’, which comprise military, paramilitary and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force and local Hunter, there is the need for collective responsibility especially from the parts of the Federal Government.

He also said governments of border countries of Chad, Niger and Cameroon Republic should work with the Nigerian government to address the lingering crisis in the region.

The governor lamented with regret the escalating killings perpetrated by armed insurgents in some parts of the state and assured that his administration will soon recruit additional Civilian Joint Task Force to complement efforts of the security operatives in the fight against Boko Haram.

“What happened in Koshobe community yesterday, is very sad and I can admit that the dreaded Boko Haram sect are still existing strongly in many parts of our state,” Governor Zulum said.

- DAILY POST

New COVID tiers 'have a sunset of 3 February', says PM

 

Boris Johnson has said the new coronavirus tiers have "a sunset" clause - or expiry date - of 3 February, as he tries to fight off a backlash from Tory MPs.

The prime minister has angered some of his party with a plan to impose stringent restrictions across much of England when the national lockdown ends on Wednesday.

In a letter to colleagues ahead of a Commons vote on the restrictions on Tuesday, Mr Johnson insisted the tiered measures for local areas will be reviewed every fortnight.

"Regulations have a sunset of 3 February," he writes.

"After the fourth fortnightly review (27 January), parliament will have another vote on the tiered approach, determining whether the measures stay in place until the end of March."

Mr Johnson said the first review on 16 December would consider the views of local directors of public health, with a final decision on whether any areas should change tiers made at a cabinet committee.

The changes would then come into effect on 19 December.

In a further olive branch to MPs, the PM committed to publish more data and outline what circumstances need to change for an area to move down a tier, as well analysis of the health, economic and social impacts of the measures taken to suppress coronavirus.

Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Mr Johnson warned there will be "disastrous consequences" for the NHS without the introduction of new tiered coronavirus restrictions.

He wrote: "We are so nearly out of our captivity. We can see the sunlit upland pastures ahead. But if we try to jump the fence now, we will simply tangle ourselves in the last barbed wire, with disastrous consequences for the NHS.

"So let's do the job properly. Let's work together, and with tiering, testing and vaccines let's make 2021 the year we kick COVID out, take back control of our lives and reclaim all the things we love."

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, appearing on Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday show, said the new tiered restrictions were necessary to "bear down" on COVID-19.

"The reality is that we want to come out of national lockdown and stay out of it," he said.

"We are starting with a more restrictive approach than previously with the localised approach, but that allows us to ease up when we are confident the virus is going down and stabilised - there's a review every two weeks."

In another broadcast interview, Mr Raab told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show there was a "risk" of a third wave of coronavirus infections "if we don't get the balance right".

And he refused to rule out a third national lockdown in England if there was another spike in cases in the New Year.

"We're doing everything we can to avoid that," he said.

According to a tally by Sky News, more than 60 Tory MPs have voiced their unhappiness over tiering or have said they are unlikely to support the measures when it comes to the vote.

Some 99% of England's population will fall under the two toughest tiers when the second national lockdown ends.

About 32 million people - covering 57.3% of England - will fall into Tier 2, and 23.3 million people - 41.5% of the population - are going to be placed in Tier 3.

Only the Isle of Wight, Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly will be under the lightest Tier 1 controls, while large swathes of the Midlands, North East and North West are in the most restrictive Tier 3.

Several Tories have said they will vote against the new tiers next week, including 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady, Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood and Poole MP Sir Robert Syms.

Steve Baker, deputy chairman of the COVID Recovery Group which has been critical of lockdown restrictions, said the "authoritarianism at work today is truly appalling".

"The government must publish its analysis of the impact interventions are likely to have on controlling COVID, as well as the non-COVID health impact and the impact on society, people's livelihoods and businesses," he said.

Sir Roger Gale, MP for the Kent constituency of North Thanet, criticised the decision to place all of the county in Tier 3, telling Sky News he fears people will "skip over the boundary" to go to a nearby pub in Tier 2.

But Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, urged MPs to think what the NHS might be like in January, saying: "You need to take the precautions now to ensure that the NHS doesn't get overwhelmed at what is always its busiest time of year."

Another 479 coronavirus deaths in the UK were announced on Saturday, taking the total to 58,030.

- SKY NEWS

Boko Haram: At least 110 civilians ruthlessly killed in Borno – UN

 The United Nations on Sunday added its voice to many calling and condemning the barbaric act perpetrated on innocent farmers at Koshobe village of Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State in the northeast Nigeria.

The UN also may have decided not to keep mum on the killings revealing that, at least 110 civilians were ruthlessly killed and many others were wounded in this attack.

Speaking for the UN, Mr. Edward Kallon, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria says he is outraged and horrified by the gruesome attack against civilians carried out by non-state armed groups in villages near Borno State capital Maiduguri.

His words: “In early afternoon of 28 November, armed men on motorcycles led a brutal attack on civilian men and women who were harvesting their fields in Koshobe and other rural communities in Jere Local Government Area. Reports we are receiving are indicating these innocent farmers were the victims of this callous violence.

“I extend my sincere condolences to the families of the civilians who lost their lives in this atrocious attack. I also wish a speedy recovery to those who were wounded in the incident.

“We have also received reports that several women may have been kidnapped. I call for their immediate release and return to safety. 

“My thoughts are also with the rural communities in the area, who are shocked by the brutality of yesterday’s attack and fear for their safety.” Mr Kallon said.

According to him, the entire UN system and the humanitarian community working to provide life-saving and development assistance to the most vulnerable in Borno State is outraged by the incident.

He said, such direct attacks against innocent civilians jeopardize the ability for the most vulnerable people to survive the adversity they are facing, and which the United Nations is striving to alleviate. 

“The incident is the most violent direct attack against innocent civilians this year. I call for the perpetrators of this heinous and senseless act to be brought to justice.

“It is unfortunately one of too many such attacks targeting farmers, fishermen and families who are trying to recover some livelihood opportunity after over a decade of conflict.

“I strongly condemn this attack and any act of violence against innocent civilians and I firmly urge all actors on the ground to respect international laws and humanity,” Mr. Kallon added

He observed that, rural communities in Borno State are facing untold hardships. 

“Helping them to farm land and rebuild livelihoods are amongst our priorities and the only way to avoid the looming food crisis in Borno State. They and all other civilians need to be protected and spared from any kind of violence.”

The humanitarian coordinator said, there is need for government and all actors in the humanitarian field to put its best to help victims of the crises who are mostly poor to survive challenges they are facing especially at this time when food insecurity in Borno state is high.

- DAILY POST

‘SARS victim’ narrates how he was thrown into the cell on his first day in Lagos

 Marc Chidebere Nwadi, a resident of Lagos, says he was detained and tortured by police officers hours after he arrived the state from the south-east in 1999.

Nwadi narrated his experience before the Lagos state judicial panel of inquiry and restitution for victims of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) on Saturday.

According to him, he left Abia state in May 1999 to see his brother in Lagos.

The petitioner said he arrived Lagos around 8pm, but when he found out that his brother no longer lived at the address sent to him, he decided to meet an uncle at Ojuelegba for assistance.

“I arrived Lagos at 8pm and was heading to Desert Street, Egbeda. It was late, about 9:30pm. When I got there, I was told my brother no longer lived there. The new occupants (a barbershop) didn’t know my brother’s new address,” he said.

“I begged them to allow me sleep in the shop and I slept there till in the morning.

“I carried my Malboro bag with me, trying to get to Ojuelegba from Oshodi to meet an uncle who could help, then a van drove by.

“People ran, but I was confused and before I could react, I was grabbed, beaten, and my head was hit with the butt of a gun.

“When I asked what I did, I was beaten and later taken to Idimu police station along with others.”

Nwadi alleged that a policeman named Friday, asked him and others that were arrested to pay N100,000.

The petitioner said although he showed his bus ticket to the police officers, Friday tore the paper, kicked him in the stomach and pushed him back to the cell.

Nwadi alleged that one month after his arrest, he was told to bring N10,000 but since he had no money on him, he was taken to SARS office at Ikeja by a man he said was called “Enyeama”.

He claimed that after three months, he was taken to a nearby court where he was charged with armed robbery and sent to Kirikiri medium prison.

“After three years, I developed partial blindness and deafness from the slaps I received. I did not know that telling the police you have no money makes them more angry,” he added.

He also said Eric, a national youth service corps (NYSC) member who was serving at the Kirikiri prison, helped contact his family.

Nwadi also noted that he was linked to a missionary who worked towards ensuring that he was finally released in 2004, with help from the Catholic church.

Nwadi asked for justice from the panel, adding that he still bears physical and mental scars of that experience.

After cross-examination by the police counsel, his case was adjourned till December 11, 2020.

- THECABLE