Again, Bandits abduct 70 Nursing mothers, their children and others in Zamfara

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March 4, 2021

Suspected armed bandits have invaded Ruwan Tofa village in the Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, abducting over 70 people, including nursing mothers and children.

LN247 gathered that the armed men riding motorcycles, attacked the village on Wednesday shooting sporadically.

According to a source, the bandits kidnapped at least 70 persons and carted away valuables, including foodstuffs and animals.

Houses and vehicles belonging to villagers were also destroyed and burnt.

“The attack lasted for several hours, the gunmen took at least 70 persons into the forest,” the source said.

The incident occurred few days after gunmen killed 40 persons and abducted over many others at Sabuwar Tunga, a neighbouring village in Maru LGA.

Deadly attacks have raged across Zamfara state where bandits have thrived.

Farming and herding communities in the state have long been terrorised by gangs who raid villages, stealing cattle and kidnap residents for ransom.

On Friday, 279 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in the Talata Mafara Local Government area of the state were abducted.

The gunmen were said to have arrived the school around 1 am and loaded the girls in buses.

The students were released after negotiations between the government and the kidnappers.

Bloody Reunion

The reunion ceremony of the 279 abducted students of Government Girls Junior Secondary School in Jangebe, Zamfara state and their parents on Wednesday, March 3, turned bloody after military officers allegedly fired shots at the agitated parents, killing one person while two other persons sustained serious gunshot injuries and have been rushed to the hospital.

According to reports, the anxious parents had gathered within the school premises waiting to reunite with their children.

Trouble started when the parents who were angry that the reunion ceremony was unnecessarily too long, disrupted the proceedings to hug their children and reunite with them.

LN247 had earlier reported that security agents at the reunion ceremony allegedly fired shots at the agitated parents who were against the prolonged ceremony organized to reunite with their daughters.

It was in the moment of the chaos that the military allegedly pulled their trigger, killing one person. Two others sustained gunshot wounds.

Sadly, one of the two injured victims later died. The other one according to Arise TV is still in the hospital.

In 2019, the state government entered a peace agreement with the gunmen.

About 15 brand new Hilux vehicles and cash gifts were also given to leaders of different ‘repentant’ gangs of bandits by the governor in 2020.

But despite all these, communities in the state are still being attacked and residents kidnapped and/or killed.

Freed Jangebe Schoolgirls reunion with Parents Marred by Shooting

By

faith Jegede

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March 4, 2021

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The joyful reunion of children and parents on Wednesday March 3, quickly turned sour as security official shot and killed at least 4 people.

The 279 kidnapped Zamfara school girls, had been in the care of the state government in the capital of Gusau receiving medical treatment before being handed over to the school.

Anxious parents were outraged by the delay after officials’ insisted that the girls be marched into the dinning hall first, and then be handed over to the local chief of Anka district, Attahiru Ahmad Anka before their parents got access to them.

Chaos ensued as parents marched into the hall snatching up their children amid tears and hugs to the consternation of officials present. The matter was further aggravated as crowds pelted regional parliament speaker Nasiru Mu’azu Magarya as he made his way out of the village. Security forces responded by opening fire at them, killing several.

Despite the tragedy, students and parents alike, expressed joy at the release of the school girls 5 days after their kidnap on Friday 26 of February.

Veteran actor, Sadiq Daba, dies

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Koko Lawrence

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March 4, 2021

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Veteran broadcaster and Nollywood actor Sadiq Daba is dead. He died on Wednesday evening at a Lagos hospital.

His last movie appearance was in Kunle Afolayan’s movie , ‘Citation’ which was released in October 2020.

The ace broadcaster went public with his illness in November 2017, revealing he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. This was coming barely months after he was hospitalised for months due to leukemia.

Mr. Daba expressed displeasure with the news of his illness making the rounds. He said that despite his ailment, he is not begging for financial assistance as speculated on social media.

One of Nigeria’s most loved television stars, the actor has had a long career in broadcasting with the Nigerian Television Authority.

He also appeared in early soap operas such as Cockcrow At Dawn and Behind The Clouds.

Banditry: Buhari’s Silence over Gumi’s Outburst on Military is an endorsement – CAN

By

Cleopatra Okohai

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March 3, 2021

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The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has criticised President Muhammadu Buhari’s prolonged silence on the profiling of soldiers by Ahmad Gumi, an Islamic cleric.

CAN expressed disappointment over what it described as the prolonged silence by President Muhammadu Buhari regarding the alleged move to polarise the military along religious divides by Sheik Abubakar Gumi.

Gumi was quoted to have said non-Muslim soldiers carried out orchestrated killings of bandits.

Reacting in a statement on Wednesday, CAN said anyone making such claims “does not wish this country well”, and does not want the war against terrorism and banditry to end.

CAN said if the statement had been made by a Christian leader, security operatives would have invited the person for questioning.

In a statement issued by the CAN General Secretary, Joseph Bade Daramola, on Wednesday, the association said that Buhari’s prolonged silence is tantamount to an endorsement of Gumi’s dangerous statement.

“We have not heard the Presidency react to this dangerous statement as they are supposed to do, cautioning this cleric who has thrown caution to the wind. Such a grave allegation is evil, divisive, unpatriotic, ill-wind and reprehensible,” it said.

“CAN expressed shocks, pains and disappointment in one Islamic leader, Sheik Ahmad Gumi, over his alleged profiling of military operatives recently while addressing some bandits in Tegina forest, a border town between Niger and Kaduna States.

“If what Gumi reportedly said was attributed to a Christian leader, the security operatives would have invited him or declared him wanted and the Presidency would have publicly condemned that Christian leader,” he said.

CAN recall how comments made by Apostle Johnson Suleiman, Dr Obadiah Mailafia, Prophet Isa El-Buba and of recent, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Dr Matthew Hassan Kukah’s statements were handled by security operatives.

According to CAN, the federal government equally reacted swiftly to statements recently made by the Christian religious leaders.

“Do we truly have sacred cows in the country now? We are curious to know how Gumi was able to locate the whereabouts of the bandits when our security agencies are giving us the impression that they are invincible.

“If the terrorists can be located, what hinders the police and the military from arresting them and bringing them to book? Is anyone in government conniving with the terrorists so that this insecurity might continue?

“We call on Gumi to immediately withdraw the unpatriotic and divisive utterances credited to him in the interest of peace and unity of this country,” it said.

Gumi was quoted as saying: “What I want you people to understand is, soldiers that are involved in most of the criminalities are not Muslims. You know, soldiers have Muslims and non-Muslims. The non-Muslims are the ones causing confusion just to ignite crisis.’”

CAN said anyone who is insinuating that it was the Christian soldiers who are attacking bandits does not wish the country well.

It also said that such a person does not want the war against terrorism and banditry to end in victory.

It added that such an unreasonable outburst is not only demoralizing but a plot to divide the Nigerian military into two along religious lines.

“It equally portrays the non-Christian soldiers as not being committed to fighting criminality.

“We still want to believe that Sheik Gumi was quoted out of context. But if it was true, then, the unity and peace of the country are being threatened by the sentimental statement of this cleric. We have not heard the Presidency react to this dangerous statement as they are supposed to do, cautioning this cleric who has thrown caution to the wind.

“Such a grave allegation is evil, divisive, unpatriotic, ill-wind and reprehensible. We ask again, is Sheik Gumi trying to polarise the military along the religious divides? Is he inciting the bandits against Christians? Is Gumi saying that the Muslim soldiers are on vacation in the ongoing war against terrorists, murderous herdsmen and bandits? What good will this statement do to the insecurity in the country? We are of the opinion that the government of Nigeria should seriously caution Gumi for his reckless and inflammatory statement,” CAN said.

Harry and Meghan urged to delay Oprah interview out of respect for Prince Philip

By

Cleopatra Okohai

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March 3, 2021

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been urged to ask CBS to postpone the airing of their Oprah interview while Prince Philip battles an infection in hospital.

Two trailers for the two-hour special, promising ‘shocking’ revelations, were released hours before the Duke of Edinburgh, 99, was moved to another hospital for checks on a pre-existing heart condition.

Senior royal sources claim the family is ‘pretty appalled’ by the idea of the ‘tell-all’ interview being broadcast while Philip is so unwell.

In a teaser aired on Sunday night Oprah suggested 39-year-old Meghan’s time in the Royal family was ‘almost unsurvivable’ and took the couple to a ‘breaking point’ amid a war with the British press.

Referring to the death of his mother Princess Diana, Harry, 36, says he had to take his family to LA because he feared ‘history repeating itself’.

With the royals praying for Prince Phillip after he was transferred to another hospital by ambulance, experts on the family are calling for the Oprah interview to be delayed.

Author of Prince Harry, Brother, Soldier, Son, Penny Junor, told the Sun: ‘It’s bad timing when they’re going to be saying “poor us”.’

Royal commentator and former editor of Who’s Who Richard Fitzwilliams said it would ‘surely be appropriate’ to postpone the interview, due to be aired on Sunday, given that it discusses the problems Harry and Meghan faced as working royals.

He told MailOnline: ‘Oprah is their friend and neighbour and would undoubtedly comply if asked and the gesture would I am sure be appreciated by the royal family.

If an interview has been extended, as this recently has, it can also be postponed, as this undoubtedly should be’.

Royal biographer Robert Jobson added: ‘With the Duke of Edinburgh clearly very unwell, the fact that the couple plan to go ahead with airing their self-indulgent, no holds barred interview with chat show queen Oprah Winfrey makes them appear heartless, thoughtless and supremely selfish.

‘For US broadcast network CBS this interview is a coup, all about securing big viewing figures and big advert sales around the airing of their exclusive interview.

So even if they wanted to Harry and Meghan probably couldn’t dictate terms to Oprah Winfrey and the network now. Too much has been invested.’

A TV industry insider told the Mirror: ‘CBS has sold millions of dollars worth of advertising around the interview, but bosses are aware of the delicacy of the Duke’s heath.” ‘They have no loyalty to the Royal Family, although some feel as though they do to Harry and Meghan.

‘For it to run if Philip’s condition worsened would be like setting off a diplomatic bomb. It would be grossly insensitive and hugely disrespectful.’

Public relations and crisis consultant Mark Borkowski warned that Harry and Meghan are at risk of a ‘real reputational mess’ if they go ahead with the broadcast.

He said: ‘The timing is just horrendous. Anybody who looks at this through the optics of a caring family, even a family who are estranged from one another, it’s very uncomfortable as you edge towards Sunday.’

ITV has reportedly won the bidding war to screen the interview in a deal said to be worth around £1million, according to MailOnline.

After airing in the US on Sunday, the interview is expected to be shown in the UK on Monday, March 8. Mr Borkowski added: ‘Harry and Meghan are supposed to be a sensitive, caring and empathetic brand… but they’re going ahead with this juggernaut.’

Watch interview teaser below:

Northern traders agree to resume north to south movement

By

Cleopatra Okohai

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March 3, 2021

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After about six days, the Leadership of Cattle and Foodstuff dealers under the aegis of Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria, on Wednesday, agreed to resume the movement of food supplies from the northern part of the country to the southern region.

It was gathered that the agreement was reached when the leadership of the trade union met with Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State in Abuja. Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode was also at the meeting.

About a week ago, northern traders had embarked on strike over the alleged killing of their members in the southern part of the country. Prices of food commodities like pepper, tomatoes, beef, yam, garri, amongst others, had gone over the roof with many southerners groaning and complaining about the increase.

The General Secretary, AUFCDN, Ahmed Alaramma, had said the President of the association, Mohammed Tahir, was with the Department of State Services over the blockade.

The northern traders had also called on the Federal Government to pay them billions in compensation while Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere; Activist Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, and others had threatened to launch a campaign against cows in protest against the development.

Laporta – Messi will leave Barcelona if I’m not elected president

By

Chris Ottah

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March 3, 2021

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Barcelona presidential candidate, Joan Laporta, has warned that the club’s captain, Lionel Messi, will leave Camp Nou if he is not elected president.

Laporta believes Messi is not guided by money and is hopeful the Argentine captain will agree to his offer when it comes to renewing his contract.

Messi almost sensationally quit Barcelona last summer in the wake of the club’s humiliating 8-2 defeat against Bayern Munich after growing disillusioned with proceedings both on and off the pitch.

His future at Barcelona is uncertain as he is yet to sign a new deal with the La Liga giants.

The 33-year-old’s contract with Barcelona will expire this summer.

But Laporta, who is favourite to win a second spell in charge of Barcelona when elections to replace Josep Bartomeu as president are held on Sunday, promised he would do everything possible to keep Messi at the Blaugrana.

“I have a great relationship with Leo [Messi], and he will consider whatever proposal I make,” Laporta said during a TV debate on Catalonian channel RAC1 on Tuesday with rivals Toni Freixa and Victor Font.

“If I don’t win, I’m sure that Leo will not stay at Barcelona.

“Messi will weigh up the offer we make him. I am convinced that if the other candidates win, Messi will not remain at Barcelona. He was not happy during Freixa’s time on the board.”

Insecurity: Stop calling for Buhari’s resignation – Presidency warns Nigerians

By

Chris Ottah

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March 3, 2021

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President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina has cautioned those calling for the resignation of the President.

Adesina said those calling for Buhari’s resignation due to the issue of insecurity in Nigeria were only exercising their freedom of speech, but such expression has its limitations.

He spoke on Channels Television’s programme, Politics Today, while responding to a question on Nigerians asking for Buhari’s resignation.

According to Adesina: “Under a democracy, people have freedom of speech. You have freedom of speech although that freedom also has boundaries.

“There is no freedom that does not have boundaries. The freedom that does not have boundaries will even injure the person who is utilising that freedom.

“So, if anybody says that kind of thing under a democracy, it is allowed but when it is bent on causing chaos, that person may be asked to come and answer certain questions”.

This is coming at a time when the leader of INRI Evangelical spiritual church, Primate Elijah Ayodele had called on Buhari and every other known politician to resign.

Ayodele had warned that they would soon be on the run.

Kill Sunday Igboho and watch another terrorist group rise in Southwest – Prophet Iginla warns Buhari

By

Chris Ottah

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March 3, 2021

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Prophet Joshua Iginla of the Champions Royal Assembly has warned the Federal Government against killing Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.

Iginla warned that killing Igboho will lead to the rise of another Boko Haram from the Southwest.

He was reacting to the attempted arrest of Igboho by some security operatives over the weekend.

A combined team of the Department of State Services, DSS, and police had attempted to arrest Igboho along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway over the weekend.

DSS, however, denied involvement in the attempted arrest.

Iginla urged the Federal Government to exercise caution and wisdom over the issue of Igboho.

The clergyman said: “Nigeria needs prayers, and not just prayers. Our leaders need prayers to take right decisions and not make expensive decisions.

“If the leader of Boko haram, Muhammad Yusuf was not killed in that gory manner, his followers won’t be angry and begin to move into what has metamorphosed into the dreaded sect.

“I advise and admonish the Federal government to cast restrain and work with caution over their intention of arresting Sunday Ighoho. The reason is if you kill him, you will have another Boko haram rising up from the western region. You should cast restrain, caution over his issue.

“Invite him, talk and advise him, share opinion with him will be better, any attempt to eliminate him will lead to another kind of problem we battling with in the north now. each time a leader spring up on behalf of his people, dialogue is important than violent approach.”

We won’t provide free land for ranching, it’s private business – Makinde

By

Chris Ottah

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March 3, 2021

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Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has said that private investors who wish to rear cattle in the state will have to procure land for ranching.

Makinde was commenting on the reactions that trailed his statement on the implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) in the state.

The NLTP was developed by states and adopted by National Economic Council to address the farmer-herder crisis in the country.

Speaking on Tuesday when he met with Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, his Kwara State counterpart, Makinde said the NLTP “which is already being implemented in Kwara state would be implemented in Oyo state leading to further collaborations between both states on economy and security”.

Some people, however, confused his statement with RUGA, a plan which was suspended by the federal government following a public outcry.

Clarifying his statement, Makinde said the NLTP will not be implemented as a whole.

According to him, only the aspect of the plan beneficial to the state will be implemented.

“My attention has been drawn to this tweet regarding the implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan during the joint security meeting, yesterday. For the avoidance of doubt, when I said we would implement the plan, I didn’t mean a wholesale implementation,” Makinde wrote.

“We will be taking aspects which are beneficial for our state. As I have stated on several occasions, our position in Oyo State is that ranching is a private business and should be carried out as such.

“Our admin won’t be providing land for free to private investors for ranching.”