The Imo State Government has dismissed as false, claims that Miyetti Allah vigilantes have arrived in the state to help security agencies in combating crime. Commissioner for Information in the state, Declan Emelumba, said at no time did the state government give any approval to a vigilante group to operate in Imo as claimed by a report making the rounds. Emelumba said that the objective of the allegations he said was authored by desperate opposition, was to cause ethnic tension in the state. He said, “This is to alert Imo people that there is no truth in the story being circulated by the opposition which has become more desperate. The government is not aware of any Miyetti Allah vigilante.” He further stated that the government will not refrain from intimating the people of any security arrangements it was making but certainly not outside established security agencies. Recall that some media reports had alleged that Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria said that its members had teamed up with security agents to tackle unidentified gunmen and suspected criminals in Imo State. The report also said a chieftain of the group, Sarki Makao, revealed this, saying the partnership with security agents was approved by the state government. Meanwhile, the Indigenous People of Biafra has vowed to stand against any attempt of the Miyetti Allah to constitute vigilante group in Imo State or any part of the South-East. The group said this on Tuesday in a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful. IPOB stated that the vigilante groups should first go and help their governors fight terrorism and banditry in the North before thinking of going elsewhere.

Binta Nyako, judge of an Abuja federal high court, has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to allow Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to change his clothes. Previously, Nyako had directed the DSS to allow the IPOB leader to have a bath whenever he wants to, change his clothes, eat properly and practice his faith. However, at the court session on Tuesday, Mike Ozekhome, Kanu’s lead counsel, complained that his client is still being subjected to poor treatment in DSS custody. He said Kanu is still being kept in solitary confinement and that any other detainee who greets him is also kept in solitary confinement. Shortly before adjourning the matter, Nyako reminded the defendant that a detention facility is not a five-star hotel. However, she reiterated her previous order that the IPOB leader should be allowed the maximum comfort possible, including changing his Fendi outfit with which he was brought back into the country in June 2021. “I don’t want to see him in these clothes again. This one is almost off-white. Also, make sure that you allow him to exercise,” Nyako added.

Some youths suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Tuesday, invaded a Catholic church in Onitsha, Anambra State. A worshiper in the church, who recounted her experience to DAILY POST, said the young men, who brandished weapons including clubs and fuel, invaded the church while the morning mass was on, demanding an explanation from the presiding priest why he was holding mass on the day Nnamdi Kanu was scheduled to appear before a court. DAILY POST gathered that worshippers fled in different directions to avoid the attack. The suspected IPOB members also burnt a tricycle found on the road, while beating its driver to a pulp. “This morning I went for the 5:30 am morning mass in my church, St Theresa of Kalkuta Parish in Awada, it is close to the Ukaegbu junction. “We were halfway into the mass when some group of boys suspected to be member of IPOB entered the church. They were carrying sticks and even fuel. They went straight to the altar and were almost halfway there. “They approached our parish priest, Rev Fr Joseph and asked him why he was celebrating Mass on a day when their master was going to court. They were quite a number of them and were visibly angry. “Everybody in the church took to their heels. There would have been a stampede because there were a lot of people in the mass today. I ran to a building close to the church. “Father Joseph told them we were holding mass today to pray for the release of Nnamdi Kanu. He used diplomacy to talk to them, and even asked them if they were really for Ndi Igbo or against Ndi Igbo? They now said okay, that if so, the people in the church was for them. “They now called back everyone to continue the mass that they were now convinced that the church people were Biafrans. Some of us were so afraid that we could not return, so we went home from there. They apologized to the priest and left. “The same group went out and saw a tricycle rider. No one knows why the man was outside because, on sit at home days, you hardly find a tricycle outside. They beat up the man and burnt his tricycle, and the tricycle is still there now smoking,” the source recounted.

The Senate on Tuesday resumed plenary after its Christmas and New Year break. The Upper Chamber immediately dissolved into an executive session as soon as the Senate President Ahmad Lawan took his seat at 10.46am. It is not clear what issues the Senators are deliberating upon but it is believed that the amendment of the Electoral Act 2010 is likely to be one of them. President Muhammadu Buhari had vetoed the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill passed and transmitted to him for assent. Buhari had cited the limitation of political parties to the use of direct primary in nominating candidates for election as a major reason for rejecting the Bill passed by the National Assembly. Details shortly…