SHIEK OF BANDITS !! Banditry: Arrest Gumi now – NANS tells Buhari

 

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun State chapter, has called on the Federal government to immediately arrest and prosecute an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, for allegedly promoting banditry in the country.

The students’ body said it was not pleased with the manner in which the Federal Government is treating Gumi like a Messiah.

NANS opined that Gumi should be treated like a “criminal” for supporting armed bandits who have been kidnapping and terrorising the country.

DAILY POST recalls that Gumi has in recent times been negotiating with bandits, while also stating that most bandits are not criminals.

On Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari joined some northern governors in saying all bandits should be treated like criminals.

In a statement made available to DAILY POST by the Chairman of NANS in Ogun, Damilola Simeon, it was alleged that Gumi was justifying the criminal activities of armed bandits in the north.

Gumi, a renowned Islamic cleric had accused the Nigerian military of triggering the raging banditry in parts of the North.

The Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, who claimed to have been meeting with bandits in forests across Northern states, alleged that non-Muslim soldiers had carried out orchestrated killings in some communities, precipitating anger.

But, NANS described Gumi’s claims as baseless and false.

The NANS chairman expressed fear that Gumi’s recent comments and attitude could embolden the bandits and further jeopardise the peace and unity of the country.

The student leader called on the military and other law enforcement agents to investigate him for his association with “criminals and enemies of the State.”

“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately order the arrest of Gumi for his alleged support and association with armed bandits.

“Gumi should be treated as a criminal and not as a Messiah. His acts have further exposed the military and the entire country to further attacks by marauding bandits,” the statement read in part.

- DAILY POST

ICYMI: US convicts Nigerian student of fraud

 Oyindamola Akinrinola, a Nigerian studying in the United States, has been convicted after she pleaded guilty for her role in an international online fraud targeted at US-based citizens.

The 23-year-old Kansas-based student was granted legal permanent residency in the US in 2018.

But in a statement on Monday, the Kansas district office of the US department of justice said the Nigerian pleaded guilty to the charges against her when she appeared before a federal court.

Stephen McAllister, US attorney, said Akinrinola and her co-conspirator in Nigeria victimised “individuals, several elderly, through a variety of online scams.”

According to McAllister, the student’s co-conspirator in Nigeria “orchestrated several scams, such as tricking victims into believing they were eligible for fictitious awards or establishing purported (but false) romantic relationships with victims and exploiting their affections.”

The attorney added that the co-conspirator in Nigeria directed victims to send money in amounts ranging from hundreds of dollars to as much $20,000 to Akinrinola.

“While in Kansas as a college student, she received funds from the scam victims—in amounts ranging from hundreds of dollars to as much $20,000—via wire transfers, money orders, financial applications, Wal-Mart money grams, Western Union, the United States Postal Service, and various other means,” the attorney added.

“Akinrinola kept a portion for herself as her reward and sent the bulk of the funds to her co-conspirator in Nigeria. To do so, she generally used the Sendwave, WorldRemit, or Boss Revolution mobile applications.”

McAllister added that the Nigerian now faces “time in federal prison for her crimes. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of fraud schemes like these, no matter where they originate.”

The hearing of the case is billed for June 15, 2021, and will be presided over by Holly L. Teeter, US district judge.

- THECABLE

Attack on Northern schools are war crimes – Amnesty International

 

Amnesty International has described the attack on schools in the Northern part of Nigeria as war crimes and a hindrance to education.

The right group said this while condemning the abduction of students of the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Jangebe, Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State just few days after Kankara boys were kidnapped.

According to the group, the kidnap of students was a serious violation of international humanitarian law and undermined the right to education for children in the north.

Amnesty International urged the Buhari-led government to ensure that the students were safe and returned to their homes in due time.

Part of the statement read: “Amnesty International condemns this appalling attack, which is the latest in a string of attacks on schools in northern Nigeria. Attacks on schools and abductions of girls are war crimes.

“The abduction of girls at Government Secondary School Jangebe is a serious violation of international humanitarian law, and it undermines the right to education for thousands of children in northern Nigeria.

“The girls abducted are in serious risk of being harmed. Nigerian authorities must take all measures to return them to safety, along with all children currently under the custody of armed groups.

“Education is under attack in northern Nigeria. Schools should be places of safety, and no child should have to choose between their education and their life. Other children have had to abandon their education after being displaced by frequent violent attacks on their communities.”

- DAILY POST

Zamfara schoolgirls: Oby Ezekwesili calls for evaluation of President Buhari’s mental capacity

Oby Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education, has again called for the mental and physical evaluation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s health.

The former Minister made the call following the growing level of insecurity in the country and increasing rate of kidnapping in the North.

Ezekwesili, a former presidential aspirant in the 2019 general elections, said her demands went beyond asking Buhari and his government to bring back the missing Chibok girls, rescue the recently abducted students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, GGSS, in Zamfara and others.

She said there was the need to commence the process of checking the President’s mental and physical health.

Ezekwesili, by this call, may be suggesting that the President may have lost control of the security architecture of the country.

“My demand goes beyond asking @NigeriaGov of @MBuhari to #BringBackJangebeGirls,” she tweeted.

“My demand goes beyond asking Justice of Rescue for our schoolgirls.

“My demand is to commence the process for an independent medical evaluation of @MBuhari’s physical and mental capacity to govern,” she wrote.

- DAILY POST

Wike: ‘One guy carrying Ak- 47’ blocked my convoy

 

Governor Nyesom Wike on Friday alleged that a man who was not in police uniform but was armed with AK 47 blocked his convoy at Waterlines Junction, Port Harcourt and trailed his convoy until his security details  stopped him.

However, the Governor who made the unbelievable revelation when the new Rivers Commissioner of Police, Eboka Friday visited him in his office did not say whether the man was arrested or the action taken by his security aides against the suspect.

Nevertheless, he asked the new police commissioner to step up his game as incidents of crime are increasing in Rivers State.

He said, “Yesterday (Thursday), I was going out for inspection. We saw one guy carrying Ak47, not on Police uniform. He was on mufti, blocking us from Waterlines Junction when we went to inspect the Rivers State Assembly’s quarters on-going project.

“We moved on to inspect the Speaker’s residence project, and the man was still following us. So,the security wondered what’s going on and stopped him.”

Wike therefore urged the new Police Commissioner (CP) Eboka Friday, to shun politics and  stay within his professional mandate to fight crime without fear or favour.

Citing the abduction of over 300 school girls in Zamfara state on Friday, the governor said there is so much criminality in the society and professional Police Officers should not abandoned their duties of doing their best in protecting life and property for any other interest.

He added that nobody should be above the law and if any criminal is arrested, such person should be charged to court not even a politician demands for such favour.

“I will never come to you to say Mr. CP go and do what is illegal. I will never come to you to say so and so person is my friend,  he was arrested for kidnapping, so release him. In fact, I’ll even say take him away.

“Because if I support the person who is kidnapping, it may be my turn tomorrow, I won’t always be Governor.

“So, whatever you can do with your team, please I beg you in the name of God, provide security. Don’t come here and play politics.”

The governor said he is not unmindful that some persons  may have recommended him to be posted to Rivers State, but he admonished the CP to let his conscience guide him.

He commended the CP for reorganising the C4I  unit of the State Police Command and pledged to support the team to succeed in their task to combat crime.

Wike observed that the level of kidnapping in the State has increased because the immediate past CP  abandoned his duty and was hobnobbing with non-state recognised Chiefs.

He noted that innocent citizens are killed needlessly by such police officers and asked the new CP to rid the Police of such bad elements and ensure sanity is restored.

“The level of kidnapping has gone high in the society. Your former colleague abandoned the job and was being deceived by some people who feign that they are traditional rulers.

“It’s most unfortunate that the former CP will be going to traditional rulers to be hosting him. It’s a shame. Now,  Nigerians don’t have confidence anymore in security agents.”

Wike disclosed to the new CP that his administration has provided the State Police Command not less than 150 vehicles. But, he regretted that most of the vehicles have been mismanaged and some diverted.

In his speech, CP Eboka said he has dissolved the E-Crack team of the State Police Command because of the uncanny report against it and redeployed the officers to other units.

He told the governor that he needs an effective synergy with all stakeholders,  especially the Rivers state government to succeed on his mission of crime fighting.

“My duty, essentially in this State is to fight crime and criminality. I know I cannot do that work alone without synergy with other stakeholders.

“I want to assure you (Governor) that any assistance given to us will be used to improve the security of this State. I’ve told my men,  that there is no arm chair policing in my administration. My officers have been warned to shun corruption, be civil with the public, and we will not tolerate accidental discharge.”

- PM NEWS

Jangebe abductions: DSS ‘arrests’ Ganduje’s aide after he called APC a failure

 The Department of State Services (DSS) has reportedly arrested Salihu Tanko-Yakasai, spokesperson of Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano, after he called the All Progressives Congress (APC) a failure.

On Friday, Tanko-Yakasai expressed frustration at the news of the abduction of 317 schoolgirls from a secondary school in Jangebe, Zamfara state.

“Clearly, we as [the] APC government, at all levels, have failed Nigerians in the number 1 duty we were elected to do which is to secure lives & properties. Not a single day goes by without some sort of insecurity in this land. This is a shame! Deal with terrorists decisively or resign,” he had tweeted.

Clearly, we as APC government, at all levels, have failed Nigerians in the number 1 duty we were elected to do which is to secure lives & properties. Not a single day goes by without some sort of insecurity in this land. This is a shame! Deal with terrorists decisively or resign. https://t.co/L5YCvik1Eb

 — Peacock (@dawisu) February 26, 2021

Hours later, the whereabouts of Ganduje’s spokesman was not known.

But in a tweet on Saturday, an official of the Kano state government said Tanko-Yakasai is with the secret police.

“Alhamdulillahi we just confirmed @dawisu is at DSS office,” the official tweeted.

Alhamdulillahi we just confirmed @dawisu is at DSS office

— Abubakar (@sadeqhenry) February 27, 2021

 TheCable also made attempts to reach Tanko-Yakasai by phone but his lines were switched off.

Peter Afunanya, spokesman of the DSS, is yet to comment on the development.

This is not the first time Tanko-Yakasai has criticised the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

Last year, Ganduje suspended him for criticising Buhari.

At the height of the demonstrations against police brutality in October, Ganduje’s aide asked the president to address the country over calls to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) at the time.

“To speak to ur own ppl over issues that are bedevilling them has become something like a favour u’re doing to them. Over & over again, u cannot spare 5mins & address the nation to calm them down, the same people u went to the 36 states to beg for their votes, its heartbreaking,” Tanko-Yakasai wrote on Twitter.

He was later reinstated.

- THECABLE

BOY BOY GOVERNOR !! Ogun community remains under siege by Fulani herdsmen despite Gov Abiodun’s visit, promise

 

Fulani herdsmen have continued to attack Yewa community in Ogun State despite the recent visit of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

Consequently, stakeholders in the community have described the state government’s intervention as ineffective.

One of the community leaders, the CDA Chairman of Oke-Agbede, a village in Imeko-Afon Local Government of Ogun State, Prince Adebisi Peter Obaagbo, stated that, “the recent visit of Governor Dapo Abiodun to the affected areas, and his promise to provide adequate security are of no value.

Suspected-Fulani-Criminal

He explained that, “since the visit of the Governor on Monday 15th February, 2021, Fulani herdsmen have not stopped the killing and maiming of the people.

“For example, Mr Segun Abiodun, 32, sustained a machete cut injury inflicted on him by the herdsmen while on his farm at Asudodo village, Imeko-Afon Local Government on Tuesday, 23rd February, 2021, because he wouldn’t allow them to gain access to a well on his farm.

“The farmers in Asudodo village had warned herdsmen not to fetch water for their cattle from the community’s well as it is always drying up during dry season.

“Also, at a nearby Idufe village on Wednesday, 24th February, 2021, two farmers; Mr Adeogun and Mr Asebi were attacked because they told the herdsmen not to graze cattle on their farmlands.”

He further said, “on the same day, another farmer, Mr Ayinde Oguntade, a native of Imeko was beaten to stupor by herdsmen when he asked them not to enter his farmland at Olumoro valley in Imeko area.

“But presently, one of the suspected herdsmen is in the custody of the police at the Imeko police station,” Obaagbo stated.

When contacted, the DPO of Imeko, CSP Simon Odidi, confirmed the arrest of one of the suspects, adding that he will be charged to court for prosecution.

But the CDA Chairman added that, “the unfortunate thing is that the three victims were among the survivors of the last invasion by herdsmen but decided not to relocate to Republic of Bénin as others”.

One of them, Mr Adeogun regretted his decision to continue staying in Nigeria.

“Had I know that Governor Dapo Abiodun will not walk his talk of making provision for adequate security to protect us, I wouldn’t have endangered my life in the hands of Fulani marauders by trying to maintain my Nigerian identity,” Adeogun lamented.

DAILY POST reliably gathered that residents of Iwoye, Oke-Agbede, Moriwi, Wasinmi, Asudodi, Idufe, Jabata, Ogiri, Lafenwa, Bakinni, Igbo Igo, Igbo Nla, Onisugudu, Gbayin, Boogie, Janpa, are under terrible siege by marauder herdsmen who migrated from Igangan, Ijio, Agbaruru, Budo, Musa, Ayegun, all in Oyo State during the Sunday Igboho’s last month eviction exercise.

- DAILY POST