Boko Haram: Terrorists burn down over 140 houses in Borno

 Over 140 houses reportedly razed by Boko Haram militants in Egiri, Zira 1 and 2 villages of Biu Local Government Area of Borno state in northeast Nigeria.

The militants carted away foodstuff and livestock, after displacing hundreds of people from the three settlements.

Biu is located in the southern flank of Borno about 187km from Maiduguri, the state capital.

Zira village where the incident took place is 5km away from Gur village which was attacked last Friday, leaving four persons dead.

Zira I and Gur community located North West of Buratai, the home town of the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, General T.Y Buratai, but poor telecommunication services delayed information from reaching people about the latest attacks.

A resident of Zira community, who fled and now taking refuge in Biu town, Ali Yusuf, told newsmen that, the attack happened on Sunday at about 7pm.

Yusuf said, “Luckily, almost all residents had fled out of the town, and the insurgents who came through Garin Mallam Village first attacked Egiri before proceeding to Zira I and II, as they wreck havoc without confrontation.”

Yusuf, however, said no life was lost as the insurgents met the all affected villages deserted, but notwithstanding, the attackers set ablaze about 20 houses in Egiri, 50 houses in Zira I and 75 others in Zira II.

“We are really terrified with the latest attacks by insurgents in our hitherto peaceful communities.

“Since the former Chief of Army Staff, General Yusuf Tukur Buratai bowed out of service; most surrounding villages of Buratai have been experiencing series of Boko Haram attacks without confrontation by security operatives.

“Just last Friday, armed insurgents invaded our neighbouring community of Gur and killed four persons and destroy properties. Two days after, another group of insurgents invaded our own villages of Egiri, Zira I & II and set ablaze over 90% of residential buildings.

“As it is, some of us took liver and went back to our affected communities on Monday, although, no life was lost as the insurgents met the affected villages deserted, but notwithstanding, the attackers set ablaze about 20 houses in Egiri, 50 houses in Zira I and 75 others in Zira II.

“We were lucky to have gotten information about the impeding attacks, so we quickly mobilized our family members including women and children and fled before the insurgents stormed these communities,” he said.

He appealed to government and other security agencies to come to their aid, as most of them are displaced with no means of livelihood.

Efforts to get confirmation from the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Edet Okon, did not yield any result.

- DAILY POST

Nigerian COVID-19 variant, ‘which may be resistant to vaccine’, discovered in UK

 

The United Kingdom has reported new cases of a variant of the coronavirus, said to have emerged from Nigeria.

Described as the B1525, a report by researchers at the University of Edinburg, traces the earliest discovery of the variant to December 29, 2020.

At least 29 sequences of the B1525 reported in the UK have been traced to Nigeria, with scientists insisting that there is a need for more research to understand its peculiarities.

According to The Guardian, “the variant has similarities in its genome to the Kent variant, B117, and it contains a number of mutations that have worried researchers, including the E484K mutation to the spike protein – a protein found on the outside of the virus that plays an important role in helping the virus to enter cells.”

Simon Clarke, an associate professor of cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, also explained that the new mutation may affect the efficacy of vaccines, but the degree of transmission and severity of symptoms have not yet been clearly determined.

“We don’t yet know how well this [new] variant will spread, but if it is successful it can be presumed that immunity from any vaccine or previous infection will be blunted,” Clarke was quoted to have said.

“I think that until we know more about these variants, any variants which carry E484K should be subject to surge testing as it seems to confer resistance to immunity, however that is generated.”

The development comes six weeks after John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), had said a new variant of COVID-19 had been reported in Nigeria.

In its report on the variant referred to by Nkengasong, a paper titled ‘Detection of SARS-CoV-2 P681H Spike Protein Variant in Nigeria’, published in the ‘Virological’ journal, with the collaboration of the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID); Redeemer’s University, Osun State; the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the Africa CDC, draws slight similarities between the variant found in Nigeria and that of the UK’s B.1.1.7, but puts it at less than two percent.

“At the moment, only about 1% of the SARS-CoV-2 genomes from Nigeria share any of the 17 protein-altering variants from the UK lineage of concern (B.1.1.7). However, this might change in the next few weeks when we sequence more samples from the recently reported surge of covid-19 in Nigeria,” a summary of the report, reads.

- THECABLE

Champions League: Draw for women’s round of 16 conducted [Full fixtures]

 

The draw for the women’s Champions League last 16 has been conducted on Tuesday.

Chelsea will face Atletico Madrid, while Manchester City takes on Fiorentina.

Holders Lyon, who have won a record seven titles and five in a row, have been drawn against Norwegian side Brondby.

First legs will be played between March 3 and 4.

The return fixtures are expected to take place between March 10 and 11.

FULL DRAW:

Wolfsburg (GER) vs LSK Kvinner (NOR)

Barcelona (ESP) vs Fortuna Hjørring (DEN)

Rosengård (SWE) vs St. Pölten (AUT)

BIIK-Kazygurt (KAZ) vs Bayern München (GER)

Manchester City (ENG) vs Fiorentina (ITA)

Sparta Praha (CZE) vs Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)

Lyon (FRA) vs Brøndby (DEN)

Chelsea (ENG) vs Atlético de Madrid (ESP)

- DAILY POST

Killer-herdsmen: Five governors meet Abiodun in Ogun for peace talk

 

Four northern governors, with the governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu met with Governor Dapo Abiodun and stakeholders in Ogun on Tuesday for a peace talk following sacking of communities.

Fulani herdsmen have killed about eight people in Ogun, causing tension in Yewa area of the State.

The four northern governors who had been to Oyo State arrived Ogun at 3:00pm and were welcomed by their Abiodun.

The Governors include: Bello Matawale of Zamfara; Atiku Bagudu, Kebbi; Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano and Abubakar Bello, Niger State.

Abiodun had on Monday disclosed that five governors were to hold a security peace meeting with him in Abeokuta, on Tuesday.

The Governor revealed this while leading the security chiefs in the state and some members of the State Executive Council to the troubled area in Yewa Local Government Council terrorised by suspected herders.

Abiodun, while addressing some aggrieved villagers at Oja-Odanand Igbooro where three to four villagers were reportedly killed and nine injured on Sunday night had a hectic time in calming them down over the development .

Some of the areas attacked by the Fulani herdsmen are: Eggua, Ketu, Igbooro, Iselu, Agbon-Ojodu, Asa, Ibeku, Imeko and Oja-Odan, all in Yewa area of Ogun State.

The governor, while speaking on the stakeholders meeting with five northern governors did not mention the governors, but, said those governors were of Fulani extraction who have people living in the state.

He also hinted that all the concerned groups and people would be represented with a view to chatting a way forward on the insecurity situation in the state.

- PM NEWS

Historic moment for human rights as federal high court scraps fees for filing cases

 The federal high court has scrapped all charges attached to filing cases that border on fundamental human rights.

This notice was issued in a circular signed by Jane Egbo, assistant chief registrar (litigation), and pasted around the Abuja court premises on Tuesday.

The circular is titled: “Re; Monetary claims and default fees in fundamental right applications.”

“I have been directed by the Hon. chief judge of the federal high court, Hon. justice J. T. Tsoho to inform all DCRs (deputy chief registrars) and station registrars that henceforth, monetary claims and default fees in respect of fundamental human right applications should no longer be charged. Be so informed and comply accordingly,” the notice read.

Just like civil matters or any other suit filed before a court, applicants in fundamental rights enforcement cases were expected to pay filing fees, among others.

There were also financial penalties attached to defaulting in filing processes within the time allowed by the court’s rules.

The development represents a turning point in the enforcement of human rights in Nigeria, as it will result in the prosecution of more cases by the country’s courts.

- THECABLE

Banditry: Niger Govt secures freedom of 10 out of 21 travellers kidnapped in Kundu

 

The Niger State Government says it has secured the release of 10 out of 21 travelers in the state-owned Niger State Transport Agency, NSTA, kidnapped last week in Kundu via Yakila in Rafi Local Government of the state.

The Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Alhaji Mohammad Dani Idris, made the disclosure in Minna at General Hospital shortly after doctors conducted an examination on three among those rescued to determine the stability of their health status.

He explained that the 10 persons were rescued through some ‘multiple strategies’ adopted by the state government.

According to him, ” Immediately after the incident, the state government assured to rescue them and they were rescued through multiple strategies and I assure you that Governor Abubakar Dani Bello’s administration will not rest until the rest victims are rescued,” he stated.

Idris, however, debunked the allegation of payment of N50 million ransom by the state government to secure the freedom of the victims.

“I can not reveal the strategies taken before the victims were rescued and if ransom was paid all of them would have been released by the abductors.”

The Commissioner also stated that worried by the increase in banditry and other criminal acts, Governor Sani Bello is into collaboration with neighboring states in the fight against the bandits and other criminals in the state.

Confirming the stability of the health status of the victims, the Managing Director of the General Hospital, Ma-ali Isah, explained that they were in a good condition.

According to him, “Three of the kidnapped victims recently kidnapped were brought this afternoon, two adults and a child who have been examined and they are in a stable condition.”

- DAILY POST

N69.4bn debt: Jimoh Ibrahim loses bid to vacate order seizing his assets

 

A Federal High Court in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Tuesday refused to vacate an interim order by which the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) seized properties belonging to a Lagos businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim for allegedly owing N69.4 billion.

Ibrahim, NICON Investment Ltd and Global Fleet Oil and Gas Ltd, approached the court seeking an order to set aside the order obtained based on “non-disclosure and misrepresentation of material facts”.

They further urged the court to order AMCON to pay N50 billion indemnity for alleged failure to conduct due diligence before obtaining the said order and for misrepresentation and concealment of facts.

However, Justice Rilwan Aikawa, in a ruling, delivered on Tuesday upheld the submission of AMCON’s lawyer that AMCON made “full and substantial disclosure of all material facts” at the time of obtaining the orders on November 4, 2020. Consequently the order subsists.

Justice Aikawa made the interim order on November 4, and on November 18, AMCON announced that it had effectively taken over 12 properties belonging to the businessman and his companies.

The properties included the NICON Investment Ltd building Plot 242, Muhammadu Buhari Way, Central Business District, Abuja; NICON Hotels Ltd building at Plot 557, Port-Harcourt Crescent, off Gimbiya Street, Abuja and the building of NICON Lekki Ltd also at No. 5, Customs Street, Lagos.

- PM NEWS

Fulani herdsmen crisis: It will become very serious, nobody will be spared – Gov Akeredolu

 

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has replied his counterpart from Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed who recently backed herdsmen carrying AK-47 and other weapons.

The Governor spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, questioning Mohammed’s comment at this point in time in the country.

Akeredolu condemned the statement by Mohammed who had last week defended the herdsmen who bear arms.

Bala Mohammed had while addressing newsmen in Bauchi, said that Fulani herdsmen have no option but to carry arms, adding that the herders were being attacked and killed and their cattle stolen.

And the Ondo Governor condemned the comment while commending President Muhammadu Buhari for directing the Nigeria Police to arrest any herdsmen seen with arms across the country.

Akeredolu further expressed worries over the deteriorating level of insecurity in the country, and lamented the recent killing of three prominent Ondo indigenes by herdsmen.

“How will a governor in this country today come out and say people should be allowed to carry arms when it is illegal? And not just arms he says they should carry double barrels and co. So people that are not licenced to carry guns, Bala Mohammed is suggesting to us that they should be able to carry it?” The Governor questioned.

“For what purpose? Bala Mohammed has even poured more petrol into the fire because his speech is unexpected of him. It will become very serious and nobody will be spared. So statements like that must be condemned and I condemn it.

“Bala Mohammed has not spoken like a statesman. He probably lost everything out, he lost out as to what his reaction should be,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Presidency on Monday directed the Nigeria Police to publish the list of Fulani herdsmen being tried for various crimes across the country.

- DAILY POST

INEC opposes NIN as requirement for voter registration

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has kicked against the proposed use of the national identification number (NIN) as a requirement for voter registration in Nigeria.

The commission informed TheCable that the move is not backed by law and it does not share its powers to register voters with any other government agency.

The federal government had announced last week that NIN is compulsory for most government transactions, including opening of bank accounts, payment of taxes and voter registration.

Isa Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, who announced this when he hosted the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, had claimed the policy is backed by law.

According to him, section 27 of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act criminalises benefitting from government services as a citizen without NIN.

“This is most important in the area of NIN, which is a mandatory number, based on the NIMC order of 2007 that has actively been neglected for years, ” he had said.

“There’s no identity that will define you as a citizen more than that number. It is mandatory. And it is mandatory for transactions such as opening bank accounts, paying tax, voter registration and many more.”

This minister’s comments unsettled many Nigerians who feared the move might disenfranchise millions of Nigerians who are yet to obtain their NIN.

INEC KICKS, SAYS MOVE ILLEGAL AND WOULD AMOUNT TO TAKING OVER ITS DUTIES

In an interview with TheCable on Monday, Festus Okoye, INEC national commissioner and chairman of its information and voters education, said such a policy is not recognised by the country’s electoral laws including the 1999 constitution and the Electoral Act.

He said the commission “does not share its voters registration constitutional powers with any other organ or agency of government… and no organ of government is permitted to expand or constrict the powers of the commission relating to the registration of voters”.

“No organ of government or agency can impose additional registration criteria other than the ones set out in the law. No section of the constitution or the Electoral Act makes the possession of national identity number compulsory for voters’ registration,” Okoye told TheCable.

“The commission will not accede to any request or directive that will amount to the violation of the constitution and the law. The commission is a creation of the constitution and the law and must at all times maintain fidelity to the laws of the land.

“The constitution and the Electoral Act did not make the possession of a particular form of identification compulsory. The commission is not empowered to impose additional registration conditions other than those imposed by the constitution and the Electoral Act.”

NIN ACT VS ELECTORAL LAWS

True to Pantami’s argument, section 27 of the NIMC Act of 2007 makes it compulsory for any Nigerian to have their NIN before they are registered to vote.

According to the section, “as from the date specified in that regard in regulations made by the Commission, the National Identification Number issued to a registered individual must be presented for the following transactions, that is- (a) application for, and issuance of a passport; (b) opening of individual or personal bank accounts … (j) payment of taxes; (k) such relevant Government services; and (l) any other transaction which the Commission (NIMC) may so prescribe and list in the Federal Government Gazette.”

However, neither the Electoral Act of 2010 and the 1999 constitution makes any document compulsory for voter registration. The Electoral Act instead gives prospective voters options any of which they can choose to adopt.

Section 10 (2) of the Electoral Act states: “Each applicant for registration under the continuous registration system
shall appear in person at the registration venue with ANY of the following documents, namely—
(a) birth or baptismal certificate; (b) national passport, identity card or driver’s licence; or (c) any other document that will prove the identity, age and nationality of the applicant.”

On the other hand, the constitution which is above any other law in the country, lists the attainment of 18 years of age and residence in Nigeria as the only requirement for citizens to register to cast their vote in elections.

Section 77(2) states: “Every citizen of Nigeria, who has attained the age of eighteen years residing in Nigeria at the time of the registration of voters for purposes of election to a legislative house, shall be entitled to be registered as a voter for that election.”

Therefore, unless the 1999 constitution is amended to accommodate the provision of the NIMC Act of 2007, the legality of the government’s plan to make NIN compulsory for voter registration will remain subject to debate.

- THECABLE

Kidnappers in Ondo forest speak Fulfulde – Gov Akeredolu

 

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has declared that most kidnappers in the State’s forest reserves speak Fulfulde.

Akeredolu, who spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, said the kidnappers were using Ondo forest reserves to perpetrate crimes.

According to the governor, “What we had to address in Ondo State is essentially our discovery that some criminal elements were using our forest reserves to perpetrate crimes and we said, look, we’re not going to stay by and just watch this happen.

“People are kidnapped, they are not kidnapped and taken into a house; most of those who were kidnapped have come back, and we have debriefed them, we’ve been briefed by all of them, and we know essentially the group of people involved and that they were taken into our forest reserves.

“How am I to know where they have come from? How did you allow them in, in the first instance. My duty is not to profile those who come into the country, but all I know very clearly is that those who are perpetrating this crime speak the same language, they have a common language like some people here in this country. That is where our problem lies.”

He added, “Most of them [kidnappers] were speaking Fulfulde, and there is no need for us to run away from it. This’s a common language that is spoken across the length and breadth, particularly in West Africa and North Africa. So, if they come in, how did they come in?

“Miyetti Allah doesn’t have to defend these people if they aren’t their members. There is no need to defend them; let us treat them as what they are –criminals and they (Miyetti Allah) themselves should support us in getting them out.”

- DAILY POST

New EFCC chairman Bawa from Kebbi like Attorney-General Malami

 Abdulrasheed Bawa, the 40 year-old nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari as substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is the head of Lagos office of the agency.

Bawa, is from Kebbi state, like the Attorney-general Abubakar Malami, who supervises the agency and has always wanted firm control.

Until his appointment, Bawa was deputy chief detective superintendent, a level 13 officer in the agency.

His position in terms of salary grading is equivalent to that of assistant commissioner of police, the minimum requirement for the office.

According to the EFCC act, a chairman ”must be a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police or equivalent; possess not less than 15 years experience.

It was not clear why President Buhari failed to recommend the acting chairman Mohammed Umar Abba, who has been acting since the other acting chairman, Ibrahim Magu was removed in July last year.

Abba is from Kano.

P.M. News learnt that Abba has done nothing wrong to be denied confirmation.

In a surprise move, President Muhammadu Buhari today asked the Senate to confirm Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa as substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

In a letter to President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, the President said he was acting in accordance with Paragraph 2(3) of Part1, CAP E1 of EFCC Act 2004.

Bawa, 40, is a trained EFCC investigator with vast experience in the investigation and prosecution of Advance Fee Fraud cases, official corruption, bank fraud, money laundering, and other economic crimes.

He has undergone several specialized trainings in different parts of the world, and was one of the pioneer EFCC Cadet Officers in 2005.

Bawa holds a B.Sc degree in Economics, and Masters in International Affairs and Diplomacy.

- PM NEWS

MAD MAN !!! Gumi: Herdsmen learnt kidnapping from Niger Delta militants

 

Ahmad Gumi, a prominent Islamic cleric, says herdsmen learnt kidnapping from Niger Delta militants.

He said if the government hold talks with herdsmen, they will assist in flushing out the criminals among them.

Gumi has been advocating amnesty for bandits.

He said the bandits are themselves victims of cattle rustling who took to crime to defend themselves.

Speaking when he featured on Africa Independent Television (AIT) on Tuesday, Gumi said just about 10 percent of Fulani herdsmen are criminals.

The cleric said the bandits learnt kidnapping from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), saying if militants could be granted amnesty, then the same should be applicable to the bandits.

He said if the federal government grants them amnesty, the other 90 percent of the herdsmen will reveal the identity of the criminals among them.

“We didn’t take a different route of trying to solve this problem and that is why we are still here today. And when we say amnesty, we don’t mean that anyone proved to be involved in murder should go free as such,” Gumi said.

“They learnt kidnapping from MEND. I do not see any difference. They were the first victims of rustling. Their cattle is their oil. What we are seeing now is more of an insurgency than banditry. I can say 10 percent of the herders are criminals not 90 percent, in the end, they took up weapons to protect themselves from extinction.

“They themselves can take care of the little remnants of criminals among themselves because they don’t want anybody to bring mayhem to them.”

- THECABLE

Woman abducted by Fulani herdsmen found dead in Ogun

 

One Mrs Ajoke Ishola, who was abducted on Monday by some suspected Fulani herdsmen has been killed by her abductors.

DAILY POST learnt that the lifeless body of Ishola was found inside the bush around 7pm yesterday.

A son-in-law to the deceased, Engr Aremu Rafiu, confirmed the incident to our correspondent in a telephone conversation.

Rafiu had earlier disclosed that his mother-in-law was kidnapped along Igbo-Ori around 11am on Monday.

He recalled how the abductors accosted the commercial motorcyclist conveying Ishola to farm, shooting him and injuring another woman on the bike.

On Monday night, Aremu revealed to our correspondent that, “We have found my mother-in-law’s dead body. The Fulani herdsmen killed her and dumped her body behind Obasanjo’s farm in our area.

“But, what we observed was that the killer Fulani herdsmen did not go away with their cows initially. The OPC members saw the cows while searching for Mrs Ishola. After the OPC operatives had combed the entire bush and left, the herdsmen came out of their hiding to drop her body and took away their cows.

“We made findings and discovered that the cows belong to one Fulani man called Orebe. So, those who committed that crime were Orebe boys.

“We have informed the police, but they said they won’t be able to visit the place at night, promising to be there on Tuesday.

“The police said they would take the corpse to the mortuary. I told them I don’t have any money to waste at the mortuary. We only informed the police to be witnesses.

“The corpse was dropped by these wicked people near Obasanjo’s farm along Oke-Irori village,” the distraught son-in-law told DAILY POST.

Aremu expressed sadness that the killing of innocent souls continue unabated in Yewa axis of the state.

No fewer than 12 persons have been reportedly killed in Owode Ketu, Ebute Igbooro, Agbon Ojodu and Imeko in the last one week.

Governor Dapo Abiodun was in the area on Monday to sympathise with the people.

Today, Abiodun said he would hold an all-important meeting with about five northern governors and other major stakeholders so as to find a lasting solution to the killings.

- DAILY POST

Man demands N500m compensation for detained wife, children

 

Mr Ohore Ogaga, the husband of a woman allegedly detained by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), has approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) panel, seeking financial compensation of N50o million.

The NHRC independent panel is investigating alleged Human Rights Violations by the defunct SARS and other units of the police to enforce his fundamental rights.

Ogaga, a trader, alleged that his wife, Bolanle and his two children were detained by the police for three days for no just cause.

The petitioner, through his counsel, Wisdom Elum filed a petition against one Edwin Patrick of the Intelligence Response Team, Abuja, and the Inspector-General of Police.

Ogaga also prayed that an additional N50,000 should be legally refunded to his wife, being money collected from her before she was and her two children were released on bail.

The counsel for the petitioner, earlier told the panel that on Jan. 12, 2020, three men from the Intelligence Response(IRT) Unit, Garki arrested his client.

”My client was watching a football match in the company of two of his friends and others.

” Every effort by the members of his family to have him released failed, His wife, Bolanle, went to the IRT to ask for his release.

” She was detained alongside her two children for three days. They were only released after she paid N50, 000.

“The Patrick told her that her husband has been killed. He also called the victim‘s father’s phone and told him the same thing,” he said.

Also testifying, the victim’s two friends, Maxwell Ekpo and Endurance Anyarimo confirmed that they were with Ogaga watching a football match when he was arrested.

”Three policemen came to the Arena Garden in Mararaba, Nasarawa, where we were watching a football match and arrested Ogaga.

”The three men came in a painted taxi and whisked him away,” Ekpo said.

After listening to the testimony, the chairman of the panel, rtd Justice Suleiman Galadima adjourned the matter until Feb. 25 for a continuation hearing.

- PM NEWS