Nigeria records 11,277 violent deaths in one year – Report

 No fewer than 11,277 Nigerians have been killed in violent manner in 2019, a report by the Nigerian Watch has revealed.

The Nigerian Watch undergoes a research project which monitors lethal violence, conflicts, and human security in Nigeria.

The project is now supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the British Council’s Managing Conflict in North East Nigeria (MCN) Programme, the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta, the Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD) and others. 

In the 17-page report, titled: “Ninth Report on Violence in Nigeria (2019), fatalities from lethal incidents in Nigeria further inched up by 5.6% in 2019 after a 1.4% increase in 2018.

“There were 11,277 violent deaths in 2019 compared to the 10,665 recorded in 2018. Crime remains the highest cause of violent deaths in Nigeria as 3,425 people perished in banditry, cultism, armed robbery and other forms of crime,” the report said.

According to the report, banditry alone claimed 2,067 lives in seven states in the north, while there was an upsurge in kidnap for ransom across the country.

“Foreigners, humanitarian aid workers, commuters, students and the academics were targeted by gangs. While some victims were released after their ransom was paid, 115 others died in kidnap incidents across 22 states,” it added.

The report said there was a remarkable improvement in the number of fatalities from herdsmen-farmers clashes, as fatalities dropped from 1,882 in 2018 to 549 in 2019, but noted that grazing issues remained a major driver of pastoral conflict in Nigeria.

More so, Nigerian Watch reports that armed gangs were the main perpetrators of lethal violence across Nigeria in 2019, followed by the Army, especially because of its role in the counter-insurgency in the Northeast, while political organizations and cult groups were the other major stakeholders of fatal incidents in 2019.

The report had it that road accidents claimed 1,655 lives in 2019. The number went up from the record of 2018 when 1,380 people died in road crashes.

Ogun topped other states in road fatalities. Despite the ongoing construction of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, significant numbers of lethal road accidents still occur on this route.

In terms of number of violent deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, the reports said the list of most dangerous states remained the same in 2019.

They are: Borno (Boko Haram insurgency), Zamfara (banditry), Taraba (communal clashes between Tiv and Jukun), Kaduna (banditry and issues with Fulani herdsmen) and Ogun (road accidents).

- PM NEWS

NON-FULANI CRIMINAL !! Ortom: Army intercepted and killed Gana on his way to surrender

 

Samuel Ortom, Benue governor, says Terwase Akwaza, better known as Gana, who is alleged to be the most wanted criminal in the state, was intercepted by the army on his way to surrender.

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday after receiving some repentant criminals in the state, Ortom said he got a call that Gana was arrested in Gboko and immediately reached out to the army authorities.

The governor wondered why the army would arrest Gana because the security agencies are aware of the state government’s amnesty programme.

“It was around 4pm when we were waiting for the repentant militias that I received a call that Gana and others have been arrested close to Yandev roundabout in Gboko by soldiers,” he said.

“Many of the repentant militias had weapons in which they were bringing to surrender to us. The process of the amnesty programme was known to the security operatives, so I don’t know why they have to be arrested.

“Immediately I got the information, I contacted the commander of Operation Whirl Stroke, General Yekini, who told me that they were carrying out an operation and promised to get back to me, so I am still waiting for him.”

But the governor’s account runs contrary to that of the army.

Moundhey Ali, commander of ‘4 special forces command’, had told journalists that Gana was killed along Gbese-Makurdi road after an exchange of gunfire.

“At about 13:00 hours, there was an engagement with the convoy of Gana, a shoot-out ensued and the bandit was killed,” Ali told reporters.

- THECABLE

SPORTChelsea to give Willian’s No.10 shirt to Pulisic

 

Chelsea is set to reward winger, Christian Pulisic for a brilliant maiden campaign at Stamford Bridge by handing him the iconic No.10 shirt following the departure of Willian to Arsenal.

Willian had only inherited the jersey from Eden Hazard a year ago when the Belgium international moved to Real Madrid.

The Brazilian international opted to leave Frank Lampard’s side at the end of his contract and moved to Mikel Arteta’s side on a free transfer this summer.

His move has now created a vacancy for the No.10 shirt, which has also been worn by the likes of Mark Hughes and Joe Cole in the past.

According to The Athletic, Pulisic will become the latest player to take on the No.10 mantle, with the American international having displayed some spectacular performance in his first season at the club to earn the honour.

Pulisic wore the No.22 shirt last season, which will now go to the Blues’ new signing, Hakim Ziyech.

Meanwhile, Ziyech wore the No.22 shirt during Chelsea’s 1-1 friendly draw against Brighton last month.

- DAILY POST

COVID-19: Oxford varsity vaccine trial halted after participant falls ill

 

Final clinical trials for a vaccine developed by AstraZeneca, a UK-Swedish drug firm, and Oxford University, have been halted after a subject in the UK became sick.

In April, Oxford partnered the biopharmaceutical giant for the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, projecting it could begin supply in September if clinical trials were successful.

According to the BBC, AstraZeneca, on Tuesday, said it has now paused the late-stage trials of the experimental COVID-19 vaccine after a study participant developed an unexplained illness.

After successful phase one and two trials, the developers, on September 3, initiated the third trial, which is said to have involved about 30,000 participants in the US, the UK, Brazil and South Africa.

AstraZeneca described the pause as a “routine”, and it said the development is as a result of the trial being closely watched around the globe.

“We have no idea whether this is a big deal or not Science is hard. This is why we have to let the trials play out,” Ashish Jha, an Indian-American physician and academic, wrote on Twitter while commenting on the pause.

“I remain optimistic we will have a vaccine found to be safe and effective in upcoming months. But optimism isn’t evidence. Let’s let science drive this process.”

According to Worldometres, COVID-19 has claimed the lives of over 900,000 people globally.

- THECABLE

Enugu clash: You’ll pay heavy price – IPOB threatens Police, Army over arrest of members

 

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has warned security agents against the continued detention of one Mazi Ofornedu Okoafor.

IPOB warned that the Enugu State Police Commissioner and other security agents would “pay heavy price” should anything happen to Okoafor while in police detention.

The group, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Emma Powerful alleged that men of the Enugu State Police Command and soldiers had picked up Okoafor alongside his grandfather on August 23rd, 2020, while receiving treatment at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in the State.

IPOB called on the Enugu State Police Commissioner to release Okoafor from custody before it’s too late.

IPOB also alleged that Okoafor had been denied access to proper medical attention, hence should be released.

The group also alleged plot by security operatives to arrest Okoafor’s father, Mazi Longinus Okoafor.

According to IPOB: “We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) condemn in the strongest possible terms the continued inhumane, illegal and immoral detention of Mazi Ofornedu Okoafor who was abducted with his grand father at the (UNTH) Enugu where he was receiving medical treatment for bullet wounds inflicted on him by the same Nigerian Police and soldiers on the 23rd of August 2020 at Emene in Enugu State.

“Why an innocent man, grievously injured by the police, should be chained to the floor in a police cell rather than receiving treatment in a hospital defies logic and common sense. This brand of Janjaweed policing should be condemned by every right thinking person.”

Stressing that the victim had done nothing wrong before the law, the separatist group claimed that, “The Commissioner of Police wants him to die in police custody from the bullets wounds his men illegally inflicted on him.”

“The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State on whose order this recent abduction of Ofornedu Okoafor was made must understand the consequences of his actions. He must release Mazi Ofornedu Okoafor before it’s too late for him. The police must know that they would pay a heavy price should anything happen to Chinedu Okoafor or any of the innocent Biafrans being held illegally in their custody,” the statement added.

- DAILY POST

Missing underwear leads to marriage breakup in Ibadan

 A Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan on Wednesday dissolved a marriage involving a trader, Sadia Abass, and her husband, Azeez, over a missing underwear.

Sadia had petitioned the Court, seeking dissolution of her marriage over allegations that he had stolen her underwear for ritual.

She told Chief Ademola Odunade, the President of the court, that she feared that her life might be in perpetual danger if she continued to live under the same roof “with a man planning to use me for something diabolic”.

Sadia added that her husband’s attitude had made the marriage “so miserable and unattractive”.

“When the ill-treatment reached its peak, I discovered that my underwear suddenly got missing. I checked everywhere but did not see it. He also denied ever seeing it.

“Three days later, the missing underwear resurfaced where I had checked over and over and I made him realise his evil intention toward me.

“Only God knows what would have happened or might still happen to me because I have made it clear to him that I will not continue with the relationship.

“From day one when I got married to him, he has not been responsible.

“Even during my pregnancy and after, he never showed me care.

“Despite his irresponsibility, he usually attempt to rape me even when I’m not in the mood and I reported him to his parents.

“Besides, Azeez has been monitoring me all over the place,” Sadia stated.

Under cross examination, Azeez refuted all the allegations levelled against him.

Azeez claimed that the wife had continued to plunge him into debt.

“Sadia does not wish me well; all the money that I was supposed to spend on my business usually fall into her hands.

“Worse still, she always returns home around midnight.

“In fact, Sadia’s usual late homecoming affected our child negatively; his teachers told us that he sleeps when other children are learning.

“Most of the time, I buy food to eat when she refuses to cook.

“Every now and then, she nags and packs in and out of the house,” Azeez alleged.

Odunade, in his judgement, held that there was no more love between the duo and pronounced the marriage dissolved “in the interest of peace and harmony”.

He granted custody of the only child produced by the union to the plaintiff, and ordered the defendant to pay N5,000 monthly for the child’s feeding.

Azeez was also ordered to bankroll the education and basic welfare of the child.

- PM NEWS

NLC to Lai: Fuel price in Nigeria not low — minimum wage is just N30k

 

Ayuba Wabba, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), says the federal government did not factor in economic realities when it said petrol price in Nigeria is among the lowest in Africa.

Lai Mohammed, minister of information, said on Monday that despite the increase in the price of petrol, it remains among the cheapest in Africa.

Speaking to the PUNCH, Wabba said the government should have situated its argument against the devaluation of the naira and considered the N33,000 minimum wage being paid to workers.

Wabba said the comparison is faulty given that electricity tariff was also reviewed upwards and prices of commodities generally have been on the rise.

“That comparison cannot even stand because our currency has been on free fall and it has been devalued over and over again. So, the basis for comparison is faulty. If they (other countries) have stronger currencies, it means our currency is weak,” Wabba said.

“Not only petroleum products but all other commodities are also expensive in Nigeria because of the free fall of the naira. Can they also make the comparison on the basis of the stability of the currencies of other countries over the years and the instability of the Nigerian currency over the last five years? You can then get the answer.

He said it is insensitive of the government to increase the price of petrol and electricity at the same time, adding that Nigerians have been pushed to the edge.

“The point we have made is that many Nigerians have been pushed to the edge and it is insensitive to increase the prices of the two commodities at the same time-petroleum products and the electricity. You can see the impact already in the prices of bread which have increased from N250 to N300,” he said.

- THECABLE