Terrorism : Fulani herdsmen invade Tiv community in Nasarawa, kill six

Unknown gunmen, suspected to be herdsmen have invaded Jimin Nyaku in Aloshi chiefdom; and Guidan Ayua in Kadarko area of Keana Local Government, Nasarawa State, killing about six Tiv villagers.

It was gathered that the incident, which occurred during the weekend at Jimin Nyaku, left a father and his son brutally murdered.

One of the villagers, Terwase Adagher, who narrowly escaped, told Vanguard that the gunmen, who were said to be on a reprisal mission appeared from a nearby bush and opened fire on their victims, killing four persons immediately.

He said: “We were sitting in our compound at Gidan Ayua yesterday (Sunday) at about 7pm when some herdsmen, armed with sophisticated weapons in their large numbers, suddenly appeared from a nearby bush and started shooting into the air. I escaped by God’s grace, but four of my relations were killed by the attackers.”

Confirming the incident, President of Tiv Youth Organization in Nasarawa State, Peter Ahemba, said that the bodies of the victims have been deposited at the mortuary unit of the Dalhatu Araf Specialist hospital, Lafia.

The Police Public Relation Officer, Nasarawa State Command, DSP Idirisu Kenndy, who also confirmed the incident, however, said only three persons lost their during the attack.

He said, “The Command only received reports about three persons killed in the areas.” - Daily Post

GERRARA HIA !!! Fed Govt expresses worry over killing of Nigerians in UK

The Federal Government yesterday expressed worry over the spate of killing of Nigerians in the UK in recent time.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed government’s position on the matter in a statement by her Media Aide Abdur-Rahman Balogun in Abuja.

Balogun said Dabiri-Erewa had advised Nigerians to be careful and exercise restraint.

He quoted the presidential aide as saying “the increased killing of blacks, especially those of Nigerian origin in London was worrisome and disturbing.”

She said it was reported that more than 50 blacks, mainly youths, were either stabbed or gunned down in the first quarter of 2018 in London alone.

She added that Nigerian boys killed in the UK in the first quarter of 2018, mainly London, included Oluwadamilola Odeyingbo, 18, Taofeek Lamidi, 20, and Harry Uzoka, 25.

Others were Rotimi Oshinbajo, 26, Fola Odubiyi, 18, Niyi Shode, 24, Kelvin Odunuyi, 19, Abraham Badru, 26,  Israel Ogunsola, 18, and more unreported cases.

Dabiri-Erewa had last week written protest letter to the British High Commissioner in Nigeria, demanding justice and investigation into the matter.

She, however, advised Nigerians to continue to be good ambassadors of Nigeria by obeying the rules of their host country and not to take laws into their hands.

She condoled with the affected families and prayed unto God to comfort them.

She said government would continue to seek for justice and bring to book the perpetrators of the gruesome killings.

Police recover 2,753 illegal firearms from 13 states

THE Force Headquarters’ Joint Task Team, led by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Joshak Habilla, has recovered 2,753 illegal firearms from 13 states.

Following what was described as an impressive turnout of the exercise, Inspector General (IG) Ibrahim Idris has extended the ultimatum for recover of illegal arms to April 30.

The IG initially gave a 21-day ultimatum, which began on February 22 and will elapse on March 14, for members of the public to surrender illegal firearms in their possession.

Force spokesman ACP Jimoh Moshood, while parading the firearms at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, said the Joint Task Team was still collating the firearms from the states.

He said 425 illegal firearms arms were recovered by the team in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during raids, stop and search operations carried out by the team’s personnel.

Items recovered, according to him, are: two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), 114 AK47 rifles, eight SMG rifles and 301 other assorted guns.

He added that Abia recorded 1,380 recovered firearms so far followed by Lagos with 200 and Katsina with 198.

Moshood said: “So far, 1,380 firearms have been recovered from Abia State and that happens to be the highest recovery made. We recovered 200 from Lagos, 198 from Katsina State.

“Forty-six firearms were recovered from Benue, 32 from Borno, 70 from Kaduna, 35 from Nasarawa, 78 recovered by the FCT Command, 56 from Taraba, 140 assorted firearms from Rivers and 67 from Kogi.”

Moshood added that 14 firearms were recovered from Adamawa and 12 from Delta.

He also said the arms recovered would be investigated by the Force Armament Unit to ensure that the arms were not used for criminal purposes in the past.

Moshood said: “The Police Joint Task Enforcement Team, in compliance with IGP’s directives and working on actionable intelligence, swung into actions and embarked on mop-up, seizure and recovery of all illegal and prohibited firearms and ammunition from wrong hands, suspected militias, militants, criminal/unlawful gangs through search, raid and seizure from identified premises, hideouts, dwelling houses, buildings and sites where these illegal/prohibited firearms were kept based on reasonable suspicion and intelligence…

“This operation, which is still ongoing among other purposes, is aimed at the full enforcement of the Firearms Act, mopping-up and recovery of all prohibited firearms and illegally acquired weapons, will enable the Nigeria Police Force deal decisively with herders and farmers clashes, kidnappings, armed robbery, cattle rustling, militancy and terrorism.”

The Force spokesman, while noting that the operation would continue, urged the public to report to the police anyone suspicious of bearing the prohibited firearms across the country through the following lines; DIG, Department of Operations: 08037025670, O/C IGP Monitoring Unit: 08032451594, O/C IGP Special Tactical Squad: 08036783383 and O/C IGP Intelligence Response Team: 09098049333.

Moshood added: “They can also report such violations directly to the Commissioners of Police in various commands across the country through their phone contacts, attached hereunder.”

On the extension of the ultimatum, he said: “The IGP has graciously extended the ultimatum for another 21 days with effect from Monday, April 9, 2018 -April 30, 2018.

“This is as a result of impressive compliance by Nigerians across commands in the country and also to grant public request for an extension as recorded in some states of the federation.”

He allayed fears that the police would arrest anybody who willingly surrenders the weapons during the extended grace period. - The Nation

Labour raises minimum wage demand from N56,000

THE Organised Labour has presented fresh demand for the new National Minimum Wage for workers to the tripartite committee, using current economic indices as its yardstick.

It said the N56,000 earlier presented was no longer feasible.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) General Secretary Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, who spoke in an interview in Abuja, said the earlier demand by labour, which was presented two years ago, has been overtaken by the present economic realities.

The NLC scribe said that the fresh demand was submitted at the last meeting of the tripartite committee after an agreement among Labour leaders.

He said: “We have taken a position when we made the initial demand on the government, which is almost two years back. But then when we got to the tripartite committee and the committee called on all stakeholders involved  to submit a memorandum.

“In responding to the request for a memorandum, we then use current economic indices to make a fresh demand. So, what we place and what we demand is an outcome of analysis we carried out.

“We did the analysis using the current economic table and data of the nation and of cause that came to something different. We are going to maintain what is in the memorandum that we have submitted to the tripartite committee and it is not something or a figure we will be discussing in public.”

He said the fresh demand was contained in a joint memorandum by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), saying: “We have also formerly made the presentation to the committee and we have defended it and we have a different submission from the initial one. We have also taken account of changes between the first demand and the current position.”

He, however, did not disclose the new demand by organised labour. - The Nation

Biafra: Buhari’s govt too tribal, corrupt, may be Nigeria’s last President – MASSOB

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) on Sunday claimed that going by happenings in the country, President Muhammdu Buhari could be Nigeria’s last President.

This is as the group accused President Buhari of running a tribal and corrupt government.

The pro-Biafra group made the claims in a statement made available to DAILY POST by its leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, where he said Buhari was not fighting corruption but was favouring his kinsmen against other parts of the country.

Madu said rather than work as a leader for all the sections of the country, Buhari was pursuing ethnic and religious agenda.

He said in the statement that “President Buhari have shown to the world that he is an unrepentant and resolute promoter of Islamic fundamentalism.”

He further alleged that under the current administration, “the people of Biafra, Middle Belt and Oduduwa have watched, seen and experienced the unleashing of terrorist and genocidal wars, with the backing of Nigeria security agencies manned by Buhari’s kinsmen against the armless and innocent citizens of Biafra, Oduduwa and Middle Belt.

“The consciousness for survival of the the people of Biafra, Oduduwa and Middle Belt have been reawakened and charged for self-defense and self determination.

“We insist that President Buhari shall be the last president of this geographical expression called Nigeria because 2019 will surely manifest the last doom of Nigeria.”

On corruption in governance, Madu said “since the inception of democratic rule in Nigeria, the country has never be run in such high magnitude of illiterate tribal domination and corrupt tendencies.

“Records has it that President Obasanjo sacked his IGP Tafa Balogun for corruption. He backed the impeachment of the then Senate President, Adolfus Wabara for corruption allegations. He also sacked his own ministers, Fabian Osuji, S.M Afolabi, Hussein Akwanga, Tim Menakaya, etc for corruption cases. He also sacked Mrs Mobolaji Osomo for administrative infraction.

“The same way, late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua sacked Mrs Adenike Grange as Minister of Health for administrative infraction.

“It is on records that President Jonathan also sacked Stella Odua for corruption allegations, though she was one of the most powerful ministers in President Jonathan’s administration.

“President Jonathan also sacked Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina as the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reform for issues of corruption.”

“Who has President Buhari sacked for the reported cases of corruptions and infractions in his government?” He queried.

He added that “on the case of former SGF, Babachir Lawal, we wish to remind that the same President Buhari wrote the Senate, defended and exonerated Babachir of all wrongdoings leveled against him. It was the cries of citizens that forced him to sack Babachir and have him replaced with his own brother, Boss Mustapha. In other words, Mr. Babachir brought his own replacement.

“MASSOB wish to remind the citizens that president Buhari also re-appointed the sacked corrupt men as a compensation for being Fulanis after they were all sacked for corruption and violation of their oaths of offices.

“Abdulrasheed Maina was the chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reform. He was secretly recalled and reinstated by President Buhari. He was even promoted to the position of Director in charge of Human Resources in the Ministry of Interior. Maina was dismissed by President Jonathan in 2013 following recommendations by the Office of the Head of Service. He was accused of stealing about 100billion naira from the pension fund.

“Zakari Biu (CP) was dismissed following his complicity in the escape from police detention of notorious Boko Haram suspect, Kabiru Sokoto. He was reinstated and promoted to the rank of AIG by President Buhari before he was gloriously retired from active service.

“Prof Usman Yusuf (NHIS Boss) was accused of squandering over 997 million naira from the schemes intervention fund. Investigation was carried out and he was dully sacked by the minister of health, but because he is President Buhari’s brother, he was recently reinstated.

“We know that President Buhari is not fighting corruption or upholding rule of law, but using the estate called Nigeria to enrich and project his Fulani kinsmen against the rest of the citizens. President Buhari’s government has finally exposed the fraudulent foundation of the British establishment called Nigeria.” - Daily Post

End of a famous ponzi scheme — MMM announces ‘irreversible’ closure

The Mavrodi Mondial Movement (MMM) ponzi scheme has announced that it is shutting down — for good.

The scheme said on its website that the closure is as a result of the death of its founder, Sergei Mavrodi.

Mavrodi died in March after suffering from heart attack.

“After much deliberation, we have made the conclusion that continuing the system operation, without our leader and ideological inspirer, is impossible and makes no sense,” the message on MMM Nigeria website read.

“We all carried out the tasks he assigned to us, since we had no doubt in his genius and rightness of the path he had chosen. We are firmly aware of the fact that none of us has a full view of his conception’s profoundness and sequence of all the actions to achieve a final goal, declared in the MMM’s Ideology.

“Sergei Mavrodi’s broadmindedness scale is unprecedented. Therefore any attempts to continue the system operation without him are bound to fail.

“We respect him immeasurably and cannot afford to allow that our unskilled actions may cause profanation of his concepts. In view of the above, with deep sadness, we have to announce the ultimate and irreversible MMM closure.”

The scheme reminded its participants that they “were fully aware of the risks and read the warning and confirmed that by checking the relevant box when registering”.

Mavrodi founded his MMM financial pyramid in 1989. It was a typical ponzi scheme in which early investors receive their profits from subsequent investors.

He promised returns of 20 to 75 percent a month as well as lotteries and bonuses for investors.

As soon as the number of new clients stopped growing, the pyramid collapsed, reportedly causing huge financial losses for at least 10 million people.

In 2011, Mavrodi launched another pyramid scheme called MMM, calling on investors to purchase “so-called” mavro currency units in a bid to get rid of the “unfair” financial system.

Some 15 months later, Mavrodi halted the project.

From 2011 to 2016, Mavrodi launched ponzi schemes under the MMM brand in India, China, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria.

In most of those countries, Mavrodi’s scheme was ultimately shut down or suspended.

Three million Nigerians reportedly lost N18 billion to the ponzi scheme after it crashed in 2017. - Cable Nigeria

Arsene Wenger : Mkhitaryan may still play again this season

Arsenal boss, Wenger remains hopeful Henrikh Mkhitaryan will play again this season despite confirming the Armenia international suffered knee ligament damage against CSKA Moscow.

Mkhitaryan was hurt in the 61st minute of Arsenal's 4-1 win over the Russian side in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday.

The January arrival from Manchester United missed Sunday's 3-2 win over Southampton and will not be available for the return fixture against CSKA on Russian soil.

"He's got knee ligament damage," Wenger told the club's official website.

"He will not be available for Thursday and not for Newcastle and certainly not for the week after, when we play West Ham.

"I think he will miss these games for sure, but he could still play at the end of the season.”

In Mkhitaryan's absence, Danny Welbeck scored twice to help Arsenal extend their winning streak to six games in all competitions by seeing off Southampton at the Emirates Stadium.

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In Mkhitaryan's absence, Danny Welbeck scored twice to help Arsenal extend their winning streak to six games in all competitions by seeing off Southampton at the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger has already ruled the 29-year-old out of contention for the upcoming Premier League fixtures against Newcastle United and West Ham too, though he may yet be back for the run-in.