Fifty-eight people were killed in a fire that ravaged at a Covid-19 hospital in the Iraqi capital overnight Sunday, according to an official toll. “The number of deaths as a result of the Ibn al-Khatib hospital fire was 58, of which 28 were on ventilators” being treated for Covid-19, Ali Bayati, a member of Iraq’s Human Rights Commission, said. Details later… AFP
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has reacted to the killing of one of its leaders, saying Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, “will pay dearly”. The Nigerian Army on Saturday said it had led a combined team of security forces to raid “the operational Headquarters of the IPOB/ESN terrorists in Awomama Village, Oru East LGA of Imo State.” During the raid, Ikonso – who the Army said was the mastermind of the April 5 attacks on the Imo State Police Command and the Owerri Correctional Center, in addition to multiple attacks in the South East and South South regions – was neutralised along with six of his top Commanders. IPOB, in a statement signed by spokesman Emma Powerful on Saturday, said “the killing of the heroic innocent Biafrans protecting our communities and towns from Fulani terrorists herdsmen masquerading as cattle herders in cold blood is very painful.” The statement added that “the Supreme Court Administrator of Imo State Hope Uzodinma and all those who had a hand in this wickedness will pay dearly. “Hope Uzodinma and his cowardly Nigerian security agencies that cannot confront Fulani terrorists but only flex their muscles when they see Biafra agitators. For murdering Ikonso, the ESN unit COMMANDER in in cold blood, Uzodima has stirred the hornet nest! He should get ready for a sting. “Uzodima decided to kill Ikonso because he refused his offer to head Ebubeagu ghost security outfit formed by South East governors. Uzodima has tried but without success to lure ESN operatives into EBUBEAGU. He had made irresistible offers to them which were turned down, hence his resorting to elimination of these patriotic heroes who vowed never to betray Biafra. “Hope Uzodinma sent a lot of emissaries to beg Ikonso and other ESN officers to join EBUBEAGU security outfit. So, because of their refusal to betray Biafra agitation and our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the hopeless governor mobilized joint security forces to attack them today. “Contrary to claims by the cowardly security forces who flee from terrorists but kill innocent citizens, they were not able to peneterate into the camp of Eastern Security Network ESN. They only ambushed Ikonso but we promise them hell for this cowardly act! “Hope Uzodima has murdered sleep, so he should be ready to stay awake! FULANI terrorists pretending as cattle sellers in Enugu destroyed Police van and attacked Government officials on lawful duty with AK-47 but no Army, police or DSS attacked them till now. But ESN operatives defending our communities against the terrorists are being hunted like games everyday. The world has kept quiet over this atrocity until we begin our own madness. “Hope Uzodinma as you the body of Ikonso was paraded by Fulani Jihadists in police and Nigerian army, so shall it be your portion one day.”
Residents of Geidam have reported that Boko Haram insurgents are still engaging the Nigerian troops in a gun battle in Geidam town. The residents made the disclosure after military sources claimed that the troops had foiled the attack, which began on Friday. Some of the residents who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES Saturday morning said they were still in hiding because the gun battle was still raging. Idriss Geidam, in a whatsup message to PREMIUM TIMES reporter, said the insurgents had taken over Hausari Primary school in Geidam as their operational base. Another resident, who corroborated the report, said many of the insurgents gathered in the Hausari area on Friday after one of their vehicles broke down. “We gathered that one of their vehicles developed a fault at the Hausari area yesterday so it is possible they have taken over the primary school for their operational base,” the source said. Another source also said another group of the attackers have moved to the Fulatari area of Geidam town. A local vigilante told PREMIUM TIMES that dozens of Boko Haram fighters had been killed but added that innocent civilians too could be among the casualties. He said a military artillery fired in the direction of the insurgents hit a residential building, causing an unspecified number of casualty. “An artillery gun was dropped at a civilian residence at Aungar (area) Samanaka where an unspecified number of people are believed to have been killed. “That gun was fired in that place because the insurgents came and started engaging the military from that place. I am sure some Boko Haram too were killed,” the source informed. A security source also told PREMIUM TIMES that the insurgents had taken two gun-trucks to the Geidam police station and engaged the officers in a gun duel. Yobe lawmaker speaks ADVERTISEMENT Although the Nigeria Army says it inflicted heavy casualties on Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters who launched an attack on Geidam, Yobe State on Friday, a federal lawmaker disputes this. The lawmaker said the insurgents were still in charge of the town “while Governor Mai Mala Buni has called for more military presence in Geidam and the northern part of Yobe.” The spokesperson of the army, Mohammed Yerima, in a press release Saturday evening, had attributed the success of the operation to the “air component of Operation Lafiya Dole.” He said a gun-truck and assorted weapons were recovered from the insurgents during the fight. He also commended the efforts of the soldiers for successfully engaging the insurgents. However, the lawmaker representing Geidam, Yunusari and Bursari Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Lawan Shettima, said the insurgents were still in control of Geidam town. “Authoritatively I can tell you that these insurgents have taken over Geidam. You can see the videos and the pictures as they move about burning what they want,” Mr Shettima said. The lawmaker also said his constituents “have been under the mercy of Boko Haram for more than 24 hours without any credible challenge”. “My people are helpless, you can’t imagine that as a full Nigerian citizen you can be at the mercy of Boko Haram for the past 24 hours and nobody cares to do anything about it. They will send jet that will go and bomb innocent people instead of the Boko Haram. This is the kind of thing that is going on now. “The military formation that is stationed there does not care to react to what is happening or to counter them. They military are sitting at the western side of the town while Boko Haram are busy moving round town destroying government structures and other things belonging to our people, attacking or harassing innocent people sent out of their houses. The only word I can use here is that people are helpless in their motherland. This is very terrible,” he said. Credit: Premium Times
Suspected Fulani herdsmen, yesterday, allegedly attacked Yogbo – Mbayev Council Ward of Guma Local Council of Benue State, killing 17 persons. Several others were injured. A witness, who pleaded anonymity, said the attackers invaded the communities at about 2.00 a.m. and killed nine persons at Ajimaku, one at Ayeri, and four others at Tse Gborigyo, near Udei, all in Guma Local Council. But, former Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly, Makurdi, David Iorhemba, whose village was also attacked, attributed the upsurge to relaxation of soldiers posted there to maintain law and order. He advocated massive redeployment of operatives of Operation Whirl Stroke (OWPs), due to their familiarity with the people. He lauded Governor Samuel Ortom for footing victims’ medical bills.
The United States government has issued a travel advisory, warning its citizens against travelling to Nigeria over the worsening security situation in the country. This was posted on Tuesday, via MyTravelGov, a travel advisory platform managed by the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs. The advisory also identified some high-risk zones in the country, where kidnapping for ransom, terrorism and other security threats are recurrent. “Reconsider travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and maritime crime. Some areas have increased risk. “Do Not Travel to: Borno, Yobe, and northern Adamawa states due to terrorism and kidnapping Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Zamfara states due to kidnapping, 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,” the American government advised. It further stated that 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.” The advisory acknowledged the U.S. government’s limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Nigeria due to security conditions. Kidnapping for ransom has been on the rise in different parts of the country lately. In some cases, the victims are expatriates. TEXEM Despite several promises by security agencies and government officials to curb the menace, the situation has continued to worsen.
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Saturday said that the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in various camps in Benue State is over one million. He attributed the rise in the figure to the recent sustained armed herdsmen attacks on communities in the state. Governor Samuel Ortom made the revelation while addressing IDPs at Uikpam, one of the camps in the state. He called on donor agencies, philanthropists, and humanitarian workers to assist in addressing the plight of the IDPs. Governor Ortom said resources of the state had been overstretched, appealing that the government requires support to be able to cater to the needs of the affected people. He restated the resolve of his administration not to repeal the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the state contrary to the agenda of enemies of the state. Governor Ortom while thanking God for taking him to the age of 60, said he had also prayed for the restoration of peace to enable the displaced persons to return to their ancestral homes, pointing out that God would put enemies of the state to shame. The Governor who was accompanied by his wife, Dr. Eunice Ortom, warned against rape and violence against women especially those in the IDPs camps, saying his administration would deal decisively with culprits of such crime. Executive Secretary State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Emmanuel Shior confirmed that earlier statistics showed Benue had over 800,000 IDPs with some in camps and others living with their relatives, stressing that only the one at Uikpam has 27,000 IDPs. House of Representatives Member for Makurdi-Guma, Hon Benjamin Mzondu advised the youth to support security agencies posted to their areas for improved security. During the visit, the IDPs thanked the Governor for the constant care and support he has been giving them.
Farmers in Ekiti State have raised concern over their inability to go to farms, due to attacks and destruction of crops by herdsmen. A traditional ruler, the Alajowa of Ijowa, Ijowa Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Omopariola, during a meeting with the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), lamented that insecurity was one of the major problems facing farmers in the community. He said farmers were unable to recoup the money invested on their farms because cattle usually destroy their farm crops. Omopariola said due to this challenge, farmers in the community no longer plant crops such as maize, sorghum, cassava, and yam. They buy them at exorbitant prices. He appealed to NALDA to work for the benefit of both government and community, adding that the issue of herders invading farms must be addressed. A farmer, Mr. Alaba Sunday, appealed to NALDA to make farming implements and inputs available for the farmers. The Executive Secretary of NALDA, Paul Ikonne, said the government would reactivate an integrated farm estate on its just recovered 1,200 farmland in the state, adding that the estate, located on Okeako/Irele Ekiti in Ikole Local Council of the state, had been in existence for over 20 years. On insecurity and herders’ crises, Ikonne said the best way forward was to meet, discuss and dialogue with farmers and herders in the communities to prevent future occurrence.
The Governing Council of Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, has proscribed the four labour unions in the university. The workers’ bodies are the Academic Staff Union of Universities; Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions; and National Association of Academic Technologists. The council also announced the immediate closure of the university and ordered students “to vacate the campus forthwith”. A statement on Saturday by EKSU Head, Directorate of Information, Bode Olofinmuagun, titled, ‘Closure of the university’, said the action was “as a result of the continuous disruption of lawful activities on campus which have endangered lives and property in the last one week”. He stated, “To guarantee peace and orderliness on campus, all the four unions are hereby proscribed with immediate effect”. But the labour unions rejected the proscription, saying the state government, university council and management did not have such powers to proscribe unions, adding that the unions had reported the matter to their parents’ bodies. ASUU EKSU Chairman, Dr Kayode Arogundade, said, “Government or management has powers to close down their school, but they have no such powers to proscribe any union. Even, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Edward Olanipekun, is aware of this. But we want to assure them that we are not deterred”. Arogundade denied allegations that the unions stalled normal academic and non academic activities during the period of their protests which began on Monday, stressing that their actions were not violent. The ASUU leader said, “They are owing us and we asked them to pay what they are owing among other demands. All they could do was to claim they don’t have all the money”, he said. EKSU SSANU Chairman, Mr A Aguda, who corroborated his ASUU counterpart, said no one had unilateral powers to proscribe unions. Aguda, in a ‘Press Statement’ in Ado Ekiti, said, “The Union is categorical about the minimum thing that can make us rescind our decision to seek permission from the national body for industrial action, the process we had since commenced since Monday 19th April 2021. “They invited us to a meeting on Friday which ended in deadlock, as Council was insisting on government’s inability to meet with our demands immediately, while time table should be prepared on how to defray other outstanding. “Unfortunately, few minutes later, the news that Council had decided to close down the University and proscribe the unions got to us, but they have no such powers,” the SSANU chairman said. The four-week deadline given by the workers to the university council and management expired on Thursday. The demands of university workers included payment of salaries arrears and emoluments.
petroleum products in jerrycans or any other containers in some parts of the state. The move, the government believes, will help to curb the activities of black marketers linked to bandits in the state. “In furtherance of the efforts and steps being taken by the government of Zamfara state in tackling the recent upsurge in the activities of recalcitrant bandits in the state, the government found it necessary to ban the activities of petroleum products black marketters in the general area of Wanke, Magami, Dansadau, Dangulbi, Dankurmi, Bindin, Munhaye, Kizarah, kunchin Kalgo and their surroundings with immediate effect, until further notice,” a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, said. “All filling stations within the affected areas are hereby warned to desist from selling the petroleum products to Jerry cans or any other containers. “Only moving vehicles are allowed to take petroleum products from the filling stations, henceforth. “NUPENG and other associations on petroleum products are directed to advise their members to shun any act capable of sabotaging this government order. “Security agencies are by this order and announcement, directed to ensure full compliance. Anybody found violating this order should be dealt with, accordingly.” Zamfara in recent years has been a hotbed of bandit activities. At least 50 persons were killed in over six communities on Wednesday when armed bandits invaded over six communities in the state.
TRAGEDY struck Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma house as gunmen attacked his hometown in Omuma, Oru East Local Government Area of the state killing his guards. The attack on the house occurred early Saturday morning while the assailants were said to have deployed petrol bomb which resulted into a fire outbreak in the compound. An Imo government source confirmed the attack which saw sympathizers, villagers struggling to extinguish the fire. As of the time of filing this report, vehicles which were said to be official vehicles were in flames as a suspected lifeless body was also seen lying in front of the governor’s house. This is happening at a time the security in the South-East zone has deteriorated with serial attacks on police stations across the states. All the states in the SouthEast have experienced attacks by the unknown gunmen who have not shown any signs of halting the attacks. The Imo State Police Command has confirmed the burning of the house of the governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodima at Omuma in Oru East Local Government Area of the state. In a statement issued by the command and signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Orlando Ikeokwu Godson, said that the hoodlums attacked the governor’s house by throwing in a petrol bomb as a result of which two cars were burnt. He said that the hoodlums were successfully repelled, and none of the building was set ablaze. According to him one unarmed operative of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, was killed in the process, while a police sergeant and another NSCDC operative in their private vehicles at Mgbidi junction along Owerri-Onitsha express high way were killed, when the attackers were escaping. An eye witnessed told Sunday Tribune that the attackers stormed the place with their vehicles in there numbers dressed in black attire. The two vehicles, among which was a coaster bus, packed beside the gate and another car inside the compound were set on fire. The eye witness equally said that the situation had resulted in the blockage of Owerri Onitsha express highway and other adjoining roads by security personnel drafted to the area. However, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Declan Mbadiwe Emelumba, has described the unfortunate incident as a politically motivated one. In his statement issued on Saturday in Owerri, the commissioner said that gallant security operatives repelled an attack on the Omuma country home of the governor. He explained that “at about 9am today, Saturday, April 24th, a group of hoodlums numbering about 15 driving in a motorcade of three vehicles accompanied by a tipper loaded with used tyres, stormed the country home of the governor in Omuma, Oru East LGA and attempted to burn down the house”. He denied the setting on fire of the governor’s house, disclosing that vigilant security operatives attached to the house successfully repelled the attack and consequently minimised the damage they had planned to unleash. He added that during cross fire that ensued, a few casualties were, however, recorded. According to him, government had directed the relevant security agencies to expedite investigation on the incident and promptly apprehend the sponsors and their agents and bring them
