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‘Buhari Must Go’ protesters block Abuja International Airport Road
Some protesters, on Monday morning, blocked the Umaru Yar’Adua Way leading to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The protesters who were displaying banners with the inscription, #BuhariMustGo, stormed the area at about 5:30am.
According to reports, the protesters made bonfires on the ever-busy road, making it difficult for civil servants living in Lugbe, Kuje, and other areas along the Airport to access their places of work in the heart of the city.
A Nigerian human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore tweeted the development on his official Twitter handle.
The tweet reads, “#BuhariMustGo protesters blocked the road to international airport in Abuja as early as 5:30am Monday morning in Abuja #RevolutionNow “.
When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Mariyan Yusuf was unable to take her calls and could not respond to text messages forwarded to her.
More to follow…
June 21, 2021
Troops massacred Over 20 BokoHaram/ISWAP Terrorists
Nigerian Army troops of Sector 2 Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI in conjunction with the Air Task Force on Sunday 20 June 2021 inflicted heavy casualty on Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) Terrorist groups who were camping around Wartek in the general area of Lambom Forest.
Acting on credible intelligence, the troops with close air support from the Nigerian Air Task Force component swiftly carried out a simultaneous land and air offensive, penetrating deep into Lambom forest in Borno state.
“The troops overran the position of the terrorists with a heavy volume of fire from both land and air, killing over 20 insurgents,” army spokesman, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu stated in a communique early on Monday.
The troops also captured heavy fire weapons and arms, including three Anti Aircraft Guns, three AK 47 Rifles, and two Gun Trucks, aside from two other Gun Trucks that were destroyed by the troops.
General Nwachukwu disclosed that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Major General Faruk Yahaya has congratulated the troops for the successful conduct of the operation.
The COAS enjoined the troops to sustain the ongoing offensive under Operation HADIN KAI, until the insurgents are completely surmounted.
He reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Army under his leadership to bring terrorism and insurgency to an end in the North East.
In a similar vein, troops of the Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) deployed at the Forward Operational Base (FOB) of 152 Battalion, Kumshe in Borno State have on Sunday, foiled an attempted attack by Boko Haram terrorists.
The terrorists mounted on four gun trucks and several motorcycles attempted to infiltrate and attack the camp through the northern part of the troops’ deployment but were met with fierce fire by the highly alert troops, resulting in the instant killing of six terrorists.
Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
According to Nwachukwu, the troops, who remained dogged and sustained heavy gunfire on the terrorists during the encounter, routed and forced the terrorists to flee in total disarray, leading to the capture of six AK 47 Rifles, one handheld grenade, assorted drugs, and other first aid items.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Major General Faruk Yahaya was at the Theatre Headquarters Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) on his maiden operational visit to the Theatre from 16-19 June to assess the operational and welfare state of the troops.
During his visit to the hospitals, he assured troops of adequate medicare and support in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations.
The COAS gave the assurances on Friday, 18 June 2021 when he visited the 7 Division Hospital and University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) to commiserate with the sick and wounded in action troops recuperating at the medical facilities.
The COAS also prayed for their speedy recovery.
While at the hospital, the COAS took time to interact with the soldiers and assured them of proper medical care and welfare, adding that their medical care is of utmost importance to him.
He averred that the nation is indeed proud of the soldiers’ selfless service and sacrifices towards restoring peace to the North East region.
June 21, 2021
Gov Ikpeazu and his kinetic Agalaba Ring Road
By Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu
When the residents Agalaba constituency in Obingwa Local Government Area of Area State were ratttled from their sleep by the buzzing of bulldozers early last year, they did not envisage that the highly celebrated Agalaba Ring Road would come to fruition such early.
The continuous felling of trees and shrubs by the bulldozers, the piling of red earth, laying of stones and asphalting of the once dilapidated roads came in quick succession.
What equally could constitute or add to one of the wonders of the earth is the speed by which the characterised by deep gullies, valleys and rough edges were made plain and smooth. Were the scriptures to be replicated here, ” every valley was made plain, and the mountains brought low, the rough ways made smooth”.
Recently, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu in his kinetic projects mode commissioned the first phase of the Agalaba Ring Road. One glowing tribute expressed by the governor in that occasion was the conduct of the youths in the course of the construction of the project. No construction worker was harassed nor construction equipment tampered.
This is a strong indication that security has been strictly restored to the state, especially Obingwa which was before the emergence of Gov Ikpeazu a flash point.
The benefits of the Ring road to the residents of the five wards constituting Agalaba constituency cannot be overemphasized. These communities are predominantly peopled by farmers who need unfettered access to the nearest city, Aba to sell their produce. With the ring road, the difficulty previously faced by these communities in accessing markets is a thing of the past.
To compliment his efforts to offer these helpless farmers lifeline, Gov. Ikpeazu has undertaken critical interventions on the once highly dilapidated Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road. The craters and gullies that once litter major spots on the road are now gone.
Aba- Ikot-Ekpene Road is strategic to the economy of Abia State. The road links Aba, the economic heartbeat of the state to Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers State and extends to the neighbouring Central African country, Cameroon. Traders from these neighbouring states form bulk of the businessmen that patronise various businesses in the commercial city.
It will be recalled that previous efforts in addressing the perennial dilapidation on Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road failed woefully. The road project was reportedly awarded in 2009 to Brent Investment Ltd, by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration at the cost of N2.9 billion with a completion period of 20 months. The contract was meant to reconstruct the failed section of the highway. It has been alleged that inadequate budgetary provisions in the past years has been responsible for the delay and the gradual failure of the road hampering economic activities in the commercial city of Aba and other cities in the Southeast. For example, the federal government did not make budgetary provisions for Aba-Ikot Ekpene road in 2013 budget, and so the contractor did not do much in terms of coverage and project completion. Also, the 2014 budget which was tagged all inclusive with a provision of N120 billion for the Federal Ministry of Works for capital projects could not proffer the solution.
The deplorable state of the road was exerting serious negative impact both on the Abia economy and citizens of Aba, especially those communities located on the fringes of this federal highway such as Alaoji, Ntigha, Umuafukwu, Ohanze, Umuokpo, and Onicha Ngwa, just to mention but few.
These communities are mostly agrarian communities and depend, to a greater extent, their farm produce for a living. For these communities to access Aba, which is their nearest commercial city, is akin to the proverbial “camel passing through the eye of the needle”. For them to access the town, they swim like amphibians and engage in a more tortuous odyssey than that of the “Magi” in T.S Elliot’s “The Journey of Magi”.
Also, sometimes ago, an AfDB team accompanied by another team from the Federal Ministry of Works, Abuja had on the spot assessments of the road .The inspection tour offered them the opportunity of first-hand information of the level of decay of the roads and the trauma and suffering of the residents and travellers in and around the road. AfDB did a technical analysis and studies of the roads before releasing funds for repairs of the road. The visit offered new hopes that the road would be fixed but to no avail.
With the construction of Agalaba Ring Road and the rehabilitation of Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road, a Daniel has come to judgement in Gov.Ikpeazu. That is why when his second term winds up on May 2023, his Agalaba (Obingwa East) kinsmen will not be in a hurry to forget his reign.
June 21, 2021
Miyetti Allah gives Southern Governors conditions to accept ban on Open Grazing
Miyetti Allah has said that the ban on open grazing by the Governors of Southern Nigeria will remain ineffective until an alternative to grazing is provided for the herders.
South East Chairman of Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Gidado Siddiki, said this in response to the call by former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, on all the states Houses of Assembly in South East Nigeria to enact anti-grazing law in their respective states.
Gidado Siddiki mentioned that they were not opposed to ban on open grazing but that the public hearing on constitution review should grant all parties the right to make submissions for a law against open grazing.
“We were not given the chance to go for the Constitution review public hearing, we went there but nobody gave us an audience to talk. We did not submit a petition,” he said.
He noted that the South East leaders are yet to provide ranching as an alternative for herders in conducting their business, hence the reason such decision will remain ineffective.
Siddiki said: “Our position is that we are not opposed to the ban on open grazing, but at least we need an alternative.
“You know when somebody is doing business and you stop him from doing that business, he would be given an alternative on what to do.
“When you say that you have banned open grazing, you need to tell us how we should graze our cows because what we know is grazing. If there is an alternative, there is no problem, and that is the only thing we are begging for.”
He urged the governors to call on all parties in making laws in respect to open grazing, adding that there is no provision for ranching in most states which poses a problem to herders.
“If open grazing is bringing problems, let us find ways we can coexist.
“If there is provision for ranching, we can do ranching but I do not think there is provision for ranching in states. Even Benue State that banned open grazing, I don’t think there has been any ranching in Benue State in all these years.
“So, I don’t know if there is provision and that is our own problem,” the Miyettl Allah leader said.
June 21, 2021
Kebbi Abduction: Troops Rescue Another Teacher, Three Students
Troops of the Nigerian Army operating under the auspices of Operation Hadarin Daji supported by the Nigerian Air Force component have rescued more abductees of the Federal Government College Birnin Yawuri in Kebbi State.
A statement signed on Sunday by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed that one teacher and three students were rescued on Saturday at Makuku in the ongoing search and rescue operations.
According to the statement, the troops also killed one bandit, recovered nine motorcycles and four phones from the fleeing bandits.
Nwachukwu also noted that additional troops have now been deployed to dominate the forest.
Two teachers and five students had been rescued on Friday by the gallant troops in a coordinated firefight with the kidnappers.
The incident is the latest in a series of increasing school abductions across the country.
Bandits had attacked the school in the early hours of Thursday, whisking away a yet to be confirmed number of students and teachers.
The Deputy Force Commander of the Joint Taskforce in the Northwest zone, Air Commodore Abubakar Abdulkadir, in a communique on Friday said the troops came in contact with the bandits in the early hours of the day and engaged them in a gun duel which forced them to abandon five students, and a teacher.
One of the abducted students of the college, unfortunately, died.
“In the early hours of this morning, we have come across the kidnappers. They came to our blocking point, and we engaged them,” Abdulkadir said.
He added, “At that point, they abandoned five of the students and one of the teachers. Unfortunately, I think we have lost one of the students.”
Air Commodore Abdulkadir also disclosed that 11 trucks of rustled cows were also intercepted in Zamfara State.
He said troops got credible intelligence about the rustled animals and were instructed to lay an ambush which led to the recovery of the cattle.
June 21, 2021
Buhari now ready to dialogue with South-East over agitations – Ngige
The Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige has said President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the adoption of dialogue to address agitations in the South-East.
Ngige revealed this on Sunday, while speaking with State House correspondents, after meeting with Buhari in Abuja.
There have been agitations from parts of the South-east for secession, with the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) well in the forefront of the fight.
However, Ngige claims the federal government is working out some modalities to ensure that the people of the region do not “feel unwanted” in Nigeria.
“We also looked at the security situation, especially in my zone, the south-east, and we made some proposals to him based on the yearnings of the people, and what the government also wants.
“We are following up with dialogue, which at the end of the day, is what will happen. We have to talk; we have to discuss. Part of the discussion starts tomorrow. The minister of defence, minister of interior, and service chiefs were in Enugu last Saturday and we’re going to do follow-up meetings on that.
“We briefed him and he accepted that dialogue is the way to go in all this,” Ngige said.
June 21, 2021
Six Boko Haram members dead as troops foil attack in Borno
The Nigerian Army has confirmed six dead as the troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) foiled an attack by Boko Haram insurgents in Kumshe town, Borno State.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Nwachukwu said the soldiers deployed at the Forward Operational Base (FOB) of the 152 Battalion, Kumshe, gallantly dealt with the terrorists who attempted infiltrating into their camp.
He disclosed that the terrorists, mounted on four gun trucks and several motorcycles, were met with fierce fire while attempting to infiltrate and attack the camp through the northern part of the troops’ deployment.
Security operatives foil attack by bandits, recover 300 cattle in Zamfara
This resulted in the killing of six of them.
“The troops during the encounter remained dogged and sustained heavy gun fire on the terrorists and forced the terrorists to flee in total disarray.
“They captured six AK 47 Rifles, one hand held grenade, assorted drugs and other First Aid items,” Nwachukwu said.
June 21, 2021
Village head shot dead by bandits in Southern Kaduna
By Gabriel Udeh Kaduna
A village head has been reportedly killed by armed bandits Sanga Local Government Area of Southern part of Kaduna state, according to second Kaduna security updated on Sunday.
Security agencies reports stated that the armed bandits shot and killed one Anja Mallam, the village head of Dogon Daji,in Sanga local government area.
According to the report, the bandits raided the residence of the village head and shot him at close range, resulting in his death instantly, according to release by the state internal security and home Affairs commissioner Mr Samuel Aruwan.
“Governor El-Rufai expressed sadness at the report, and prayed for the repose of the soul of the village head.
“The Governor sent condolences to the family of the deceased, and the entire community of Dogon Daji over the shocking and brutal killing”, it added, as Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
June 20, 2021
Stop threatening us with war, we are ready to give our lives for Biafra Republic – BNL tells Buhari
Biafra Nations League, BNL, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari against threatening secessionist groups in the East with war.
The BNL said the people of the Gulf of Guinea are now wise enough to be used against the secession of Biafra as it was done in 1967.
The group said this while announcing its intention to hold a two-day convention to address issues affecting the Biafra struggle.
Chief of General Staff of BNL and Leader of Displaced Bakassi Peninsula Youths, Linus Asuquo Essien said this in a statement on Sunday.
The group said it was worried over the lack of awareness and consultation at the grassroots, especially outside the Igbo speaking areas.
The BNL said most people are still ignorant of the reasons why they are fighting for the creation of the Biafra Republic, adding that the convention which will hold by the end of July will come up with solutions as to how they should engage other areas at the grassroots,
The group said ignorance could lead to the sabotage of the struggle “especially when people don’t understand why you are doing what you are doing.
“President Buhari was trying to limit the struggle to the five Southeast States by describing the agitators as a dot in a circle without access anywhere
“[We] distance ourselves from the President description. Buhari is a joker who lacks the powers to decide where is Biafra and where is not Biafra.
“There was Eastern Consultative Assembly which consulted the people before Biafra was declared. Biafra and Igboland should not be mistaken.
“Igboland is in Biafra, while Biafra is situated in the Gulf of Guinea and cannot be blocked from accessing anywhere.
“BNL has a strong presence around the Igbo speaking areas in Rivers and Delta State. The people of Bakassi Peninsula are now well informed more than other areas being the headquarters of the group.
“The people are backing the struggle because they receive attacks from Forces in Cameroon and they don’t feel part of Cameroon.
“With the level of sufferings in Bakassi today, our people are ready to give their lives for the Biafra Republic, we can’t continue to face torture from a foreign country, even the Nigerian government have abandoned the Greentree Agreement so why should we not back Biafra to secede when we know that if we succeed, sovereignty over Bakassi would return to Biafra and entire Efik people”.
He said the BNL is capable of sabotaging the maritime activities of both Nigeria and Cameroon in the Gulf of Guinea, adding that they have access to anywhere, both at the Ejagham land borders and the Peninsula and can acquire anything they want through their areas of influence.
“Buhari should not threaten Biafra agitators with war because the people in the Gulf of Guinea are wise enough not to be used against the secession of Biafra as it was done in 1967.
The group recalled the Marua Agreements in 1970 end of the Biafra war between Nigeria and Cameroon over the Bakassi Peninsula which saw the defeat of Biafra as the main inspiration, adding that the BNL has all it takes to destroy the presence of the Federal Government in the Peninsula.
June 20, 2021
PDP, Afenifere blast Buhari on restructuring, dialogue
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has said restructuring is in the best interest of Nigeria and its citizens.
They argued that since calls for restructuring and national dialogue had gained traction, the Federal Government ought to act speedily on them.
The PDP and Afenifere were referring to the dismissal of the calls by President Muhammadu Buhari during the launch of the Kudirat Abiola Sabon Gari Peace Foundation in Zaria, Kaduna State at the weekend.
Buhari, represented at the event by the Executive Secretary, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Alhaji Mohammed Shehu, had described the advocates of restructuring and secession as “not only naive but mischievously dangerous.”
The President also told those calling for a national dialogue that his government had no time for any “obscure conference.”
He added that that amounted to seeking the balkanisation of the country.
But the PDP, in a statement on Sunday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Buhari missed the point in dismissing the calls with a wave of the hand.
Stating that restructuring and national dialogue had become imperative and more compelling for the corporate existence and continued survival of Nigeria, the main opposition party, cautioned the President against pushing the nation towards the precipice.
It described Buhari’s remarks as arrogant, dictatorial, and inflammatory.
The statement reads in part: “It is appalling, and to say the least, despicable, that Mr. President and his party (All Progressives Congress), that came to power in 2015 on the promise of restructuring, have not only reneged, in utter duplicity towards Nigerians, but also turned around, six years after, to label restructuring as warfare and Nigerians demanding for it as mischievously dangerous.
“President Buhari should be tutored to know that even the quest for an efficient local government system as well as an effective judiciary, which he alluded to as a focus, can only be achieved through a constitutional restructuring that directly confers and vests the required powers and control in them.
“Only recently, President Buhari confessed how he asked some state governors who came to him on issues of security to go back to their respective states and face the challenge.
“The amendment or alteration of the constitution to permit state police as widely demanded by Nigerians is, therefore, a form of restructuring that will adjust our policing system without creating a war”.
Afenifere, on its part, said it was stunned that in spite of Governors and former Nigerian leaders lending their weights to the calls for restructuring, Buhari was thinking otherwise.
Afenifere, through its Secretary-General, Sola Ebiseni, said: “We are at a critical stage where children, particularly in states with the highest population of children out of school in the world can no longer go to school at all for fear of being kidnapped for ransom.
“State governments are demanding the powers to establish state police to deal with insecurity and prominent traditional rulers, especially Emirs have called on their people to rise in their own defence and some uninformed government officials are threatening us with war if we seek restructuring or self-determination. It is so nauseating.
“In any event, restructuring of the political architecture of the country in the interest of the people, their security and general wellbeing is not going to be at the pleasure of the President or the whims and caprices of his uncouth officials.”
June 20, 2021