President Muhammadu Buhari attended the Democracy Day celebrations at the Eagle Square in Abuja on Monday. Ahmad Lawan, senate president; Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker house representatives; Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, chief justice of the federation; former President Goodluck Jonathan, and Bola Tinubu, APC presidential candidate, attended the event.
A 22-year-old man, Osondu Ezemmaduchukwu, has been allegedly tortured to death by vigilantes at Ifite Nanka village, in the Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State. PUNCH Metro gathered that the victim was accused of theft. His elder brother, Ebere, while narrating the incident to our correspondent on Monday, said Osondu was arrested together with his immediate elder brother, Robinson, and other suspects. He noted that they were all locked up at the Ifite Village Hall for over nine days. He said, “The vigilantes arrested my brothers claiming that the said theft may have been perpetrated by them and their friends because they were seen smoking in an uncompleted building located at the back of the house where the incident happened. “They had first arrested my deceased brother and the security people asked my father to pay them N40,000 for him to be released. We started running around for the money and he was released after the money was paid. “But some days later, they came back again to re-arrest him and this time around, they picked two of my brothers and a neighbour. I am wondering why someone would be accused of committing a crime, arrested and detained by vigilantes, even when they did not have any evidence that he actually committed the said crime or see him with any exhibits. Yet, they did not hand him over to the police, but kept torturing him as they wished. “As we were waiting to know the next line of action, the next thing was that we received calls, informing us that my younger brother had died in the vigilantes’ custody and that he died after vomiting foams.” He called on the state government, the police and rights groups to wade into the matter and ensure that justice was served. He said Osondu’s corpse was taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, and the police were handling the matter. However, the Ifite village Chairman, Mr Mike Ezemmaduka, said Osondu died after the vigilantes took him to their office where he fainted after trying to escape with his elder brother, who allegedly broke off handcuffs and the protector of the hall where they were detained. Ezemmaduka claimed that after escaping, Osondu fainted halfway while his brother abandoned him and fled, adding that the brother’s whereabouts was unknown, as the vigilantes were still searching for him. He noted that the suspects were locked up in the vigilantes’ hall because the police told the group that they were no longer accepting or remanding suspects because of the security situation in the state. The state police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident, adding that two of the vigilantes were in custody. “Two persons are in our custody, while some persons mentioned are on the run. Investigation is ongoing and we will do everything possible to arrest the other persons and give the family justice,” he added.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Monday alleged security agencies were behind spate of armed robbery, rape, sponsor of kidnapping and other heinous crimes going on in Imo and other States in the Southeast. In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB called the attention of International community to the development, insisting that its silence was no longer golden. The secessionist group however hailed Amnesty International, Intersociety group and others for standing on the side of truth as they had previously covered and documented genocidal crimes against its members The statement partly reads: ” We wish to state clearly to all and sundry that the Nigeria Joint Taskforce comprising Ebubeagu, Nigeria Army, Police, Civil Defense Corp and DSS agents representing the image and interest of the evil Nigeria security outfit are evidently known as criminals and armed robbers, kidnap sponsors, arm runners lenders and murderers of the innocent citizens in Biafraland. “The JTF kidnapping enterprise established or revamped by evil politicians in Imo State and their new operation spots within where they lay criminal ambush and conveniently abduct for ransom. As their name implies, “Task force” they now kidnap all classes of people daily within Okporo, Umuna, Amaifeke, Owerrebeiri, Umutanze and Akata in Orlu LGA of Imo State. They continue their dangerous rape against our females and mothers in Orlu zone of Imo State. “It has become imperative to state that the Nigeria Government and her security operatives have turned the Kidnap and killing of IPOB and Igbo youths as a lucrative enterprise through which they generate revenue for the Nigeria Government. They are also deeply involved in harvesting the organs of our youths in Imo state and other parts of Biafraland. “Governor Hope Uzodinma, his Government and political party, APC ,are aware that IPOB is a peaceful movement and we call on him to recall the killing machine he assembled to exterminate our people.Our demand to him is to instruct the killing squad of “Military and Ebube Agu militia” to immediately desist from further killing of his people and vacate Orlu and entire Imo State. Telegram “We, the IPOB, have had enough of the criminality and murder being perpetrated by these murderous combined government militia because all those politicians behind this devilish activities would soon regret being involved in such wickedness. “We demand for an immediate halt to these operations and burning down of people’s properties and houses to avoid equal consequential resistance from IPOB which no one should blame IPOB when it will start because we would not continue to condone such barbarities. “We call again for you to note that the killings and abductions have increased exponentially and are being silently perpetrated by the security agencies as disappearance of young people in Igbo-land with harvest of their organs in Orlu, Imo State and killing of Biafra youths has become the order of the day in Biafraland. “We remind the International communities’ that their silent is not golden, rather their opinion and involvement speak volumes, therefore IPOB extends calls to the EU in Nigeria, US in Nigeria, UK in Nigeria, UN in Nigeria, African Union, Israeli in Nigeria, Russia in Nigeria, China in Nigeria, India in Nigeria, German Delegation, Canadian government ,All Diplomats, Diplomatic Missions, CHOGM and including all ambassadors and High Commissioners in Abuja and Lagos as well as Gov. “Hope Uzodinma and other States Governors in Biafraland occupied by Nigeria to the current wave of violent rape of our women and young ladies especially when they can not afford the ransom payment to their abductors most of whom are members of EbubeAgu and the military as testified by defenceless survivors. “IPOB remain resolute, disciplined and intact. Despite the provocations, we have remained focused and faithful to our fundamental objectives never allowing ourselves to be distracted or stampeded into criminal activities which is what the Nigerian government had hoped to achieve. “We are aware that the International communities’ representatives in Nigeria are not completely ignorant of the numerous unfolding criminal activities, state sponsored acts of terror and the Nigerian government direct/proxy involvement in almost all of these. ” They are also not unaware of the Nigerian government’s mission to exterminate Biafrans whose only demand is a democratically recognised and international accepted process of referendum which is our fundermental human right and the only political solution between Biafra and Nigeria face-off.”
A former Governor of Enugu State and the Senator representing Enugu East, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani, has expressed concern that the continued neglect of the South-East zone in the power equation is sending wrong signals that the region is unwanted in the Nigerian Union. Senator Nnamani spoke while featuring on a programme on Arise Television on which was monitored by our correspondent. He noted that since Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (Rtd) was eased out of the number two position under Military President Ibrahim Babangida, no South Easterner has been considered for either the President or Vice President. Nnamani lamented that successive administrations at the centre have ignored and jettisoned the power equation which traditionally recognised the South-East zone as one of the legs of the tripod in the power equation of the country. “This is the dilemma of the Igbo man. We have been shortchanged in the leadership of Nigeria. This is not the nation our progenitors negotiated for. It is against the spirit of a Nigerian union where tribes and tongues may differ but in brotherhood, we stand. “How can we (Ndigbo) be proud to belong to a union where we cannot aspire or be considered for top positions? ”If 2023 passes without the South East being accommodated in the power arrangements, we would have to wait for the next 16 years and will be out of power reckoning for 40 years from 1999,” he said. He said the PDP has a window of opportunity to correct the imbalance against the South East affirming that the zone has kept a clean slate and maintained political fidelity since 1999. The lawmaker also said the abysmal performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration was enough for a vote of no confidence on the ruling party. He listed foreign and domestic borrowings, rising unemployment, skyrocketing foreign exchange rates, inflation, insecurity, labour unrest, lack of infrastructure and resort to blame game as the trade mark of the APC government, which he said have brought the nation’s economy to its knees. “If we were under a parliamentary system of government, the APC would have received a vote of no confidence and be sacked for non-performance while the PDP should take a bow and be elected to govern Nigeria,” he said.
Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has described the claims linking the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) to the church attack in Owo as mere speculation. He stressed that no evidence has confirmed that the terrorists were responsible for the attack which claimed many lives and left several others injured. “I am not going to go into any speculation,” the governor said on Monday in response to a question regarding the position of the Federal Government during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily. “As far as I’m concerned, the statement that ISWAP or Boko Haram or whatever other institutions are responsible for this (attack) is purely speculative at this stage. I haven’t seen any evidence that concretely puts this in the corner of any of these rogue elements that we have. “And really it doesn’t – at this stage – matter, they have committed this crime, they have demonstrated the capacity to cause maximum damage to our people.” At least 40 people were killed and many injured when gunmen opened fire on worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, the headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State. The incident sparked widespread condemnation with various individuals and groups calling on the government to ensure the assailants were arrested and brought to justice. Amid controversy over who was responsible for the incident, the Federal Government linked the killings to the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP). Fayemi, who doubles as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), believes the position of the Federal Government is speculation. According to him, governors, as the chief security officers of their states, are privy to all manners of intelligence but not all of them are actionable. He explained that they have a responsibility to pass such intelligence to the relevant institutions who are expected to take necessary actions. “I don’t want us to jump the gun as far as this is concerned and that is why I am not going to go into any detail as to what intelligence we had and at what point we had it,” said Governor Fayemi. “Our duty as security officers is to ensure that this does not occur again and we go after elements of this nature, whichever organisation they may represent within our domains.”
The Labour Party (LP) Presidential flag bearer, Mr. Peter Obi, has said that it is an absurdity to misappropriate public funds and render the masses impoverished. Obi made this disclosure on Monday when he attended Lord’s Chose church crusade being held at the church’s headquarters in Ijesha Lagos. The Labour Party Presidential flag bearer requested prayers for God to make him a vessel to use the public fund for the public good in Nigeria. While decrying the state of poverty in the society, he prayed that God would use him to change the status quo for the public good. The crusade was one of the church’s flagship programmes held biennially to draw people closer to God and render supplications, petitions, and intercessions by worshippers that testified to the goodness of God in their lives and businesses. The event, which had people across the globe in attendance, was also used to offer prayers for countries undergoing a transition in governance and with a special prayer for Nigeria’s stability.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused security operatives in the South-East of selling the organs of the the youths they kill extra-judicially in the area on daily basis. The group stated this in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, circulated to journalists on Monday. It also alleged that the Ebubeagu outfit set up by some state governor in the zone was aiding and abetting in the genocide. It said, “We wish to state clearly to all and sundry that the Nigeria Joint Taskforce comprising Ebubeagu, Nigeria Army, Police, Civil Defense Corp and DSS agents representing the image and interest of the evil Nigeria security outfit are evidently known as criminals and armed robbers, kidnap sponsors, arm runners lenders and murderers of the innocent citizens in Biafraland. “The JTF kidnapping enterprise established or revamped by evil politicians in Imo State and their new operation spots within where they lay criminal ambush and conveniently abduct for ransom. As their name implies “Task force” they now kidnap all classes of people daily within Okporo, Umuna, Amaifeke, Owerrebeiri, Umutanze and Akata in Orlu LGA of Imo State. They continue their dangerous rape against our females and mothers in Orlu zone of Imo State. “It has become imperative to state that the Nigeria Government and her security operatives have turned the Kidnap and killing of IPOB and Igbo youths as a lucrative enterprise through which they generate revenue for the Nigeria Government. They are also deeply involved in harvesting the organs of our youths in Imo state and other parts of Biafraland. “Governor Hope Uzodinma, his Government and political party, APC ,are aware that IPOB is a peaceful movement and we call on him to recall the killing machine he assembled to exterminate our people.Our demand to him is to instruct the killing squad of “Military and Ebube Agu militia” to immediately desist from further killing of his people and vacate Orlu and entire Imo State. The statement added, “We, the IPOB, have had enough of the criminality and murder being perpetrated by these murderous combined government militia because all those politicians behind this devilish activities would soon regret being involved in such wickedness. “We demand for an immediate halt to these operations and burning down of people’s properties and houses to avoid equal consequential resistance from IPOB which no one should blame IPOB when it will start because we would not continue to condone such barbarities. While calling the attention of the International community to development, the secessionist group commended the Amnesty International, Intersociety group and others for standing on the side of truth as they had previously covered and documented genocidal crimes against them( IPOB memy) It said,” We call again for you to note that the killings and abductions have increased exponentially and are being silently perpetrated by the security agencies as disappearance of young people in Igbo-land with harvest of their organs in Orlu, Imo State and killing of Biafra youths has become the order of the day in Biafraland. “We remind the International communities’ that their silent is not golden, rather their opinion and involvement speak volumes, therefore IPOB extends calls to the EU in Nigeria, US in Nigeria, UK in Nigeria, UN in Nigeria, African Union, Israeli in Nigeria, Russia in Nigeria, China in Nigeria, India in Nigeria, German Delegation, Canadian government ,All Diplomats, Diplomatic Missions, CHOGM and including all ambassadors and High Commissioners in Abuja and Lagos as well as Gov. Hope Uzodinma and other States Governors in Biafraland occupied by Nigeria to the current wave of violent rape of our women and young ladies especially when they can not afford the ransom payment to their abductors most of whom are members of EbubeAgu and the military as testified by defenceless survivors. “IPOB remain resolute, disciplined and intact. Despite the provocations, we have remained focused and faithful to our fundamental objectives never allowing ourselves to be distracted or stampeded into criminal activities which is what the Nigerian government had hoped to achieve. “We are aware that the International communities’ representatives in Nigeria are not completely ignorant of the numerous unfolding criminal activities, state sponsored acts of terror and the Nigerian government direct/proxy involvement in almost all of these. ” They are also not unaware of the Nigerian government’s mission to exterminate Biafrans whose only demand is a democratically recognised and international accepted process of referendum which is our fundermental human right and the only political solution between Biafra and Nigeria face-off.”
Gunmen has abducted the Catholic priest in charge of St Anthony’s Parish, Angware community in the Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State, Rev James Kantoma. Kantoma who is the Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria in the council area, was kidnapped on Sunday night. According to a source, the gunmen went straight to the priest’s house immediately they stormed the community. The source added that Some youths in the area were informed about the attack and tried to stop them by giving them a hot chase into the bush. But the gunmen started shooting sporadically and whisked the Reverend Father away. Confirming the incident, Chairman of CAN in the state, Polycarp Lubo, described the incident as a sad one adding that uptill this morning, the abductors were yet to reach out to them.
The presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has bemoaned the state of the country, asking Nigerians to vote out the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in the forthcoming 2023 general elections. Expressing discontent over the failing system, Atiku appealed to Nigerians to come together and ensure that APC is defeated come 2023. Recall that the APC candidate and former governor of Lagos state, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, last week sent a strong message to PDP to step aside and be ready to be buried in 2023. In his words: We will roar! We will do it. The Poverty Development Party, PDP, should step aside, be ready to be buried and leave our country for us to rebuild for our children. “We will eliminate them, they depleted our resources for sixteen years. They are agents of poverty, terror, violence and lies. They are retrogressive. They left us with hunger. PDP don’t know arithmetic , join me to defeat them come 2023”, he said. However, in what can be described as a riposte, Atiku via his facebook handle, appealed to Nigerians to be ready for action, listing some of the sectors that has been crippled by the ruling party. According to him: “The darkness that has enveloped the nation in the last couple of days with the collapse of the national grid is a metaphor for the collapsing state of our nation: collapsing unity, collapsing security, collapsing economy, collapsing education, collapsing well-being and collapsing value of human life and dignity. “My expectation is that Nigerians will collapse the ruling APC in kind via the ballot and enthrone a viable pathway for the New Nigeria of our dreams that will be united and stable, prosperous and awash with opportunities; secured and inclusive. As One, we can get it done”.
Figures obtained on Monday from the Nigeria Electricity System Operator, an arm of the Federal Government’s power transmission company, showed that the national electricity grid actually crashed from a peak of 3,703 megawatts to as low as 9MW on Sunday. Nigeria witnessed widespread blackout on Sunday after the national grid collapsed around 6.49pm, before engineers from the Transmission Company of Nigeria strived to ensure the recovery of the grid. The PUNCH had reported on Monday that Sunday’s grid collapse was the fifth in 2022, a development that made many power distribution companies to shut down their various outgoing electricity feeders. Data sourced from the NESO on Monday in Abuja, which showed the performance of the national grid on Sunday, indicated that the peak generation on Sunday of 3,703MW was recorded at 5am. But this crashed to 9MW at 7pm on Sunday, according to the NESO, leading to the eventual collapse of the national grid. Various Discos including Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, among others, had confirmed the grid collapse in various messages on Sunday night. Although no official statement from TCN as per the grid collapse yet, it was gathered that its restoration reached an advanced stage on Monday, as power generation rose to 2,744.6MW around 6am on Monday. Nigeria’s power grid had collapsed twice in March and twice again in April this year. Power generation on the system had continued to fluctuate due to various concerns such as gas constraints, water management challenges, gas pipeline vandalism, among others. Following the instability in Nigeria’s power supply, experts and consumer groups in the sector urged politicians to desist from generating political megawatts as they woo voters ahead of the 2023 general elections. “Stop generating political megawatts. Stop generating electric power on the pages of newspapers and social media,” an industry expert, who doubles as President, Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Kunle Olubiyo, stated. He added, “‘I will increase power generation from 5,000MW to 30,000MW’. How do you intend to do that? Please let us know. Nigeria presently has grid sourced power generation capacity of 7,500MW, but only an average of 3,600MW gets to the end-users. “We also have 14,500MW installed generation capacity that our national energy quantum could be ramped up. There is available power on the grid that is usually rejected by the 11 electricity distribution companies and TCN.” “Yet the nation have been permanently configured into a vicious circle of distribution of darkness and perpetual energy crises due to gas constraints, market settlement crises, tariff and market shortfall, near-zero regulatory ecosystem, grid infrastructural limitations, technical deficits and broadly speaking – grid constraints.” Olubiyi said why was it that since December 2021, the power supply situation in Nigeria had gone beyond comprehension and most embarrassingly unpleasant. The consumer group president urged the presidential candidates of the frontline political parties to speak straight to the fundamental issues “and tell Nigerians how they will address the root causes of energy crises in Nigeria.” “And not by making bogus promises and claims as per the electricity sector. We need to be informed in specific terms how they intend to address the challenges bedeviling the power sector.” The spokesperson for the Electricity Consumers Association of Nigeria, Chijioke James, told The PUNCH that electricity consumers across the country were not happy with the low power supply. “Of course, we are not satisfied. Consumers want to have a steady and reliable power supply. We have not seen a remarkable improvement in electricity supply across the country, and consumers are not satisfied”, he said
