We want referendum not asylum, IPOB tells UK

 

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) says it wants a referendum on self-determination for the south-east of Nigeria not asylum. 

A referendum is a vote on which the citizens of a country give their opinion or decide an important political question. Territorial referendum could lead to breakaway of a region from a country.

TheCable had exclusively reported that the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) released new guidelines on how to treat asylum applications by members of Biafran secessionist groups.

In the guidelines, asylum is to be granted to “persecuted” members of the proscribed IPOB and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

But in a swift response, the federal government said the plan by the UK to grant the group asylum undermines Nigeria’s security.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Emma Powerful, IPOB media and publicity secretary, said while the group appreciates the gesture from the UK, what members need is a referendum not asylum.

“We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great and indomitable leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has noted with satisfaction the news that the United Kingdom has agreed to grant asylum to persecuted Biafra agitators resident in the UK,” he said.

“While we commend them for this bold initiative, we wish to most graciously remind them that what we Biafrans need and cherish the most is referendum and not asylum in the UK.

“We are tired of living in bondage in the devilish contraption called Nigeria they single-handedly created.

“We would not wish our children, now and generations unborn, to share the same geo-political space with those that reward terrorists and criminalize law abiding citizens.

“We particularly thank the UK government for confirming what the rest of the civilized world already know that the great IPOB worldwide family are not terrorists but peaceful agitators and freedom fighters.

“That Nigeria is a country run by terrorists for the benefit of terrorists has been confirmed by this noble move by the United Kingdom.

“Aso Rock, the seat of power in Nigeria is a terrorist haven with serving ministers who are openly sympathetic to terrorists and their activities coming and going as they please, while freedom fighters are languishing in jail. We want freedom not asylum.”

-THECABLE

EPL: Mourinho blasted Tottenham players for four hours after he was sacked

 

Jose Mourinho ripped into Tottenham Hotspur’s players at the club’s training ground for over four hours after he was sacked, the UK Telegraph.

The 58-year-old was sacked on Monday and replaced on an interim basis by Ryan Mason.

Mourinho left Spurs in seventh place in the Premier League and had crashed out of the Europa League, throwing away a 2-0 win from the first leg against Dinamo Zagreb.

It is understood that Mourinho’s relationship with some of the players hit an all-time low following the Europa League exit.

Following a two-hour meeting with Tottenham senior officials where he was informed that he would be fired, Mourinho is said to have held a series of discussions with the players.

During the conversation, the former Chelsea and Manchester United boss told them “home truths” about their recent performances.

- DAILY POST

KILL AND PAY SCHEME !! Gunmen on motorcycles shoot 30 villagers dead in Zamfara

 

Gunmen on motorcycles have reportedly shot 30 villagers dead in a raid of four villages in Zamfara State.

The attacked villages were Gobirawa, Rini, Gora, and Madoti Dankule in Bakura and Maradun LGAs in the state located in the north-western region of the country.

Channels TV quoted eyewitnesses as saying that the gunmen arrived the villages in their large number and immediately opened fire on villagers.

The gunmen were said to have razed several houses in the villages before leaving.

According to Sole Administrator, Bakura LGA, Aminu Suleiman, more security personnel were needed in this area if farming was to be successful this season.

He told the Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Nasiru Magarya, who led a delegation of the state government to the affected villages, that over 30 people have been confirmed killed in the tragedy.

Suleiman said on Tuesday, the council prayed for 17 dead people in Rini and about 10 others in Gora.

“There were two incidents actually. The first attack that led to the killings of about more than 20 people and the reprisal (by the Yan-Sakai – local vigilante) that led to the killing of about 10 people as well,” he said.

- PM NEWS

Abductors demand $2million for 20 Greenfield University students

 

Abductors of students of Greenfield University, in Kaduna have made contacts with the families of the 20 students captured Tuesday night to demand N800 million as ransom.

This is about $2million going by the official Central Bank of Nigeria rate.

The terrorists have also threatened to kill the students if the ransom is not paid, according to a relation of one of the students who spoke with TheNation.

Twenty students, made up of 14 females and six males were captured by the terrorists on Tuesday night.

Two female staff of the university were also abducted.

The relation of one of the victim also claimed that the abductors have been beating the students, insisting on the urgency of the payment.

The abduction at Greenfield University was the second at a tertiary institution in Kaduna state since March.

On 11 March, 39 students of Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, in Kaduna were also abducted. Ten of them have been released.

Mr Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, said in a statement on Wednesday in Kaduna that troops have been deployed to the area of the university.

“After search-and-rescue operations, a staff member of the university was confirmed to have been killed by the bandits, while a number of students were kidnapped.

“The security operatives took custody of the remaining students, who have been handed over to the institution, as at noon, Wednesday 21st April.”

Aruwan said the actual number of students kidnapped is still being sought from the institution’s records.

“Troops and other security operatives are working in the general area, and the public will be informed of further developments,” Aruwan said.

- PM NEWS

Amazon to open African headquarters in South Africa

 

Amazon, a United States multinational technology company, has chosen South Africa as the headquarters for its African market.

This development comes a week after Twitter, US-based microblogging and social networking service announced the opening of its first-ever African office in Ghana.

The announcement has since generated reactions from some Nigerians on Twitter, as they have taken to social media platforms to register different opinions, especially on the choice of Ghana instead of Nigeria

Similarly, the German government said a new German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention will be located in Ghana.

BusinessTech reports that authorities of Cape Town, South Africa, confirmed that the headquarters will be located at River Club, a mixed-use development project in Cape Town that costs R4 billion (about $280 million).

In April 2020, Amazon, founded by Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest person, launched its first data centres for Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Cape Town. However, its e-commerce services are not yet available anywhere on the African continent.

City officials said 5,239 jobs will be created in the construction phase, alongside up to 19,000 indirect and induced jobs

The development is envisaged to take place in phases, with construction set to take place over three to five years.

“The city has carefully and thoroughly considered all of the submissions and concerns during the appeal process. We are acutely aware of the need to balance investment and job creation, along with heritage and planning considerations, ” said Dan Plato, major of Cape Town.

“It is clear that this development offers many economic, social and environmental benefits for the area. We are committed to driving investment to revitalize the economy, which is slowly recovering following the impact of Covid-19.”

The development design intends to create a 150,000 square metre mixed-use space, divided into commercial and housing uses across two precincts. The developer intends 31,900 square metres to be used for residential purposes.

The city said the development will include both market-driven and affordable housing opportunities – the latter of which will be physically integrated with the other residential units in the apartment complexes.

Reacting, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said the project has the potential to provide around 19,000 jobs for Capetonians.

- THECABLE

Al-Qaeda: Pantami not a repentant terrorist – Nnamdi Kanu

 

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has reacted to the controversy surrounding Isa Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Planning.

Kanu insisted that Pantami is not a repentant terrorist.

Pantami was recently linked to terrorists’ organisations like Al-Qaeda and TalibaThis followed the resurgence of an audio recording of his past teachings where he supported the terrorists organisations.

Since the audio was made public, Nigerians have been calling for his sack, over his past comments on Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

Following the backlash, the Minister had earlier distanced himself from such extremist groups.

He later admitted making such controversial comments but claimed his perception has changed.

Reacting to his comment, Kanu said such change is not possible.

In a tweet, the IPOB leader wrote: “In case you forgot, TERRORISM is a form of #Islamic ideology, as well as a religious duty for every Muslim that believes in JIHAD.

“Therefore, there can never be anything like a repentant terrorist, not even some Minister named Isa Pantami (@DrIsaPantami). Please be guided. I am.”

- DAILY POST

U.S. warns citizens to avoid 14 Nigerian states in travel advisories

 The United States, in its latest travel advisories warned its citizens to avoid some 14 Nigerian states, rife with terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

Although it approved travel to other parts, it urged its citizens to “Reconsider travel to Nigeria”.

In the updated advisory, the U.S. State Department added at least 116 countries this week to its “Level Four: Do Not Travel” advisory list.

The UK, Canada, France, Israel, Mexico, Germany and others are on the list, citing a “very high level of COVID-19.''

Before Tuesday, the State Department listed 34 out of about 200 countries as “Do Not Travel.” The State Department now lists 150 countries at Level Four.

Nigeria is categorised as Level 3.

Unlike countries categorised as Level 4, based on the advice of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nigeria has a good rating on COVID-19 prevalence.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 1 Travel Health Notice for Nigeria due to COVID-19, indicating a low level of COVID-19 in the country”, the State Department said.

It then listed areas the American visitor should avoid, while in Nigeria.

These are: Borno, Yobe, and northern Adamawa states due to terrorism and kidnapping, Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Zamfara states due to kidnapping.

It also banned American citizens from going to Coastal areas of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, and Rivers states (with the exception of Port Harcourt) due to crime, kidnapping, and maritime crime.

In a country summary on Nigeria, the U.S. State Department wrote:

“Violent crime – such as armed robbery, assault, carjacking, kidnapping, hostage taking, banditry, and rape – is common throughout the country.

“Kidnappings for ransom occur frequently, often targeting dual national citizens who have returned to Nigeria for a visit, as well as U.S. citizens with perceived wealth. Kidnapping gangs have also stopped victims on interstate roads.

“Terrorists continue plotting and carrying out attacks in Nigeria, especially in the Northeast.

“Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting shopping centers, malls, markets, hotels, places of worship, restaurants, bars, schools, government installations, transportation hubs, and other places where crowds gather. Terrorists are known to work with local gangs to expand their reach.

There is civil unrest and low-level armed militancy in parts of Southern Nigeria, especially in the Niger Delta region. Armed criminality, including kidnapping and maritime crime, is also pervasive in this region.

Violence can flare up between communities of farmers and herders in rural areas.

There is frequent maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Nigeria due to security conditions.

It offered its citizens security tips, while in Nigeria. These are;

*See the U.S. Embassy’s web page regarding COVID-19.

*Visit the CDC’s webpage on Travel and COVID-19.

*Carry proper identification, including a U.S. passport with a current Nigerian visa, if needed.

*Use caution when walking or driving at night.

*Keep a low profile.

*Review travel routes and times to vary your predictability.

*Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.

*Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs.

*Monitor local media for breaking events, and be prepared to adjust your plans.

*Be aware of your surroundings.

*Stay alert in locations frequented by Westerners.

*Avoid demonstrations and large political gatherings.

*Review your personal security plans.

*Have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance.

Borno, Yobe, and Northern Adamawa states – Do Not Travel

The security situation in these states is fluid and unpredictable due to widespread terrorist activity, inter-communal violence, and kidnapping. Security operations to counter these threats may occur without warning.

Terrorist groups based in the Northeast routinely target humanitarian camps, security forces, churches, schools, mosques, government installations, educational institutions, entertainment venues, and road travelLers. Approximately two million Nigerians have been displaced as a result of the violence in Northeast Nigeria.

Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Zamfara states – Do Not Travel

The security situation in these states is fluid and unpredictable due to widespread inter-communal violence and armed criminality, especially kidnapping and roadside banditry. Security operations to counter these threats may occur without warning.

Coastal areas of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, and Rivers states (with the exception of Port Harcourt) – Do Not Travel

Crime is rampant throughout Southern Nigeria, and there is a heightened risk of kidnapping and maritime crime, especially in the Gulf of Guinea. Violent civil unrest and armed militancy persist in these areas.

- PM NEWS