Crime Facts

Suspected herders kill two residents in South-east communities

  Two people have been killed after suspected herders invaded two farming communities in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria’s south-east. The communities -Agu-Amede and Abor- were attacked on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. How the first attack happened A resident of Agu-Amede community, who asked not to be named, told this newspaper that some suspected herders entered the community in a truck on Wednesday at about 4 p.m. The herders, said to be armed with rifles, hid under a tarpaulin inside the truck, ostensibly to avoid being noticed, the resident said. They were said to have passed some military checkpoints in the area, but were intercepted on a bridge by some local vigilante operatives on stop and search duty along the road. The herders, it was learnt, jumped out of the truck and opened fire on the vigilante. The resident said the herders fled into nearby bushes after being overpowered by the vigilante during a shoot-out. The vigilante operatives afterwards set the truck ablaze. “If they (herders) had crossed that bridge, they would have distributed themselves the way they normally do to attack us,” he said. A video clip showing the truck in flames has gone viral on Facebook. The suspected herders, the resident said, later regrouped and attacked Agu-Amede, one of the communities, killing one of the residents. He identified the victim as Chinedu Odo-Idoko, a young man. He said the attack disrupted Eke Eha-Amufu Market, a local market in the area, with traders scampering for safety during the shooting. “Many people are running to communities in neighbouring Ebonyi State for safety. My community, Amede, is completely empty as I speak to you,” he said. Several residents who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES lamented the lack of security agencies in the area. They alleged that some soldiers manning military checkpoints in the area, opened fire on the vigilante operatives who stopped the suspected herders from entering the communities. The residents accused the soldiers of aiding and backing the herders to attack their communities. This newspaper could not, however, confirm the allegation against the soldiers. Second attack Jude Eze, another resident of the area, corroborated the report that some suspected armed herders attempted to enter the area in a truck before they were intercepted. Mr Eze told PREMIUM TIMES that the herders also attacked Abor community on Thursday, killing one other person. He said several houses were razed by the attackers. “This morning (Thursday), I saw a corpse lying on the road. But I don’t know the identity of the victim,” Mr Eze said. There are indications that more people would have been killed by the attackers. When contacted, the police spokesperson in Enugu State, Daniel Ndukwe, said he was not aware of the attacks. He, however, said he would “verify” the report of the attack and killings in the communities. Frequent attacks Mgbuji and other neighbouring communities in Eha-Amufu have been experiencing frequent attacks by suspected herders for some time now. The latest incidents occurred less than two weeks after suspected herders killed three persons in Agu-Amede, one of the communities in Eha-Amufu, in the council area. Suspected herders, in November, attacked the Agu-Amede community and other neighbouring communities, killing many residents. Following multiple attacks last month, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, through the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Simon Ortuanya, asked heads of security agencies in the state to deploy more personnel to the affected communities to prevent further attacks. ⓘ The governor said the state government would meet with the leaders of the herders in the area “to decisively resolve” the issues causing the attacks. Mr Ugwuanyi, subsequently released N10 million for the immediate needs of victims who have been taking refuge in some internally displaced persons camps in the communities. But the attacks have continued, despite the assurances by security agencies in the state as well as the governor.

2023: Our party has been reduced to a laughing stock – APC chairman

  The chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Rivers State said the party has been reduced to a laughing stock by some “disgruntled leaders” of the party who visit the state on Governor Nyesom Wike’s invitation to commission projects. “Sir, it is disheartening to note, that any time these disgruntled leaders of the party with anti-party activities running in their veins, which is their stock in trade, visits Rivers State, they will openly make condemnation and scurrilous remarks, thereby demoralizing the spirited and concerted effort of APC members in Rivers State, all in an attempt to please Governor Nyesom Wike, their pay-master,” state chairman Emeka Beke said in a protest letter to the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, on Tuesday. Mr Beke was reacting to comments made by the former National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, when they visited the state to commission projects executed by Mr Wike. Mr Beke in the letter demanded an “unreserved public apology” from Messrs Umahi and Oshiomhole for campaigning against the party in the state, or in the alternative the suspension of the duo for “anti-party activities.” According to Mr Beke, Rivers APC was not bothered about the regular visit of the party leaders but “they must stop talking trash and campaigning against APC Candidates in Rivers State because they want to over rich themselves anytime they visit Rivers State.” “Sir, most recently, particularly, on 16 November, Mr Oshiomhole visited Rivers State on the invitation of Governor Wike to commission the Rumuepirikorm-Ada George Fly-over. “During the commissioning, he said ‘I have seen the reason why Governor Wike used to win APC in Rivers State. Mr Wike has very strong and energetic youths he is working with, which he use to win my party. Wike, will you permit me to go with some of them from Rivers State to Edo State.’ “Subsequently, on 22 November, Dave Umahi, visited Rivers State on the invitation of Mr Wike to commission the Akpabu-Omudioga-Egbeda Road and he said ‘Governor Wike you have tried so much, the only day you will see me in Rivers State campaigning is the day we will come here for the Presidential Campaign, apart from that, you will not see me again because all other positions, you will win.” ⓘ Mr Beke said both statements were made on live television and that the party’s national leadership cannot pretend not to be aware of it. He questioned why the statements were made during the electioneering period and by those who are leaders of the party in their states and threatened retaliation if the matter is not properly handled. “Remember, we are not restricted from visiting Edo and Ebonyi States to reply Mr Oshiomole and Mr Umahi while also romancing with the opposition. “While thanking you in anticipation that our request will be implemented, we urge you to make haste while the sun shines as ‘A Stitch in Time, Saves Nine,’’’ Mr Beke said. NAHCON State AD NAHCON Tour Operator AD NAHCON Cargo Operator AD Kogi AD Rivers APC has witnessed an exodus of its members, including a former spokesperson, Chris Finebone, who also defected to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state where he was appointed Commissioner for Information a few weeks later. After the APC presidential primary where a former governor of the state, Rotimi Ameachi, contested but lost to Bola Tinubu, the party in the state has suffered many challenges. Mr Amaechi has remained in the party but has not been active in its activities. Like Mr Ameachi, the state governor, Mr Wike, was also a presidential candidate but lost to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the PDP ticket.

Nigerian newspaper publisher detained on Taraba’s gov order over report

  The Publisher of Taraba Truth and Facts and Chief Executive Officer of Rock FM Jalingo, in Taraba State, Ayodele Samuel, has been in detention for about nine days following a report accusing the governor of shoddy deals in the privatisation of government properties. He was charged to court and granted bail but the authorities have allegedly refused to release him. He was sent to prison on 5 December. The Taraba Truth and Fact reported on Thursday that their publisher has been detained for nine days with efforts being made to get him released. The publisher was arraigned before a magistrate, Garba Garba, in Jalingo, the state capital on a two-count charge of defamation and injurious falsehood by the state government. The government claims the newspaper’s report alleging corruption in the privatisation of the Mambilla Beverages Company and the sale of the state’s liaison office in Abuja is false and defamed the reputation of the state’s Governor. However, the defendant, Mr Samuel, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge. He was subsequently granted bail by the court. The bail conditions included a fee of ten million naira (N10,000,000,), and two sureties resident in Jalingo, Taraba State, with landed properties worth five million naira (N5,000,000) each. After meeting the bail conditions, it was not clear why Mr Samuel was not released but remanded at the police headquarters and subsequently in prison. Before he was arrested Mr Samuel had accused the state government of trying to arrest him. “The Taraba State Government is angry with some of our reports, specifically over a report where Governor Darius Ishaku had plans to sell the Taraba liaison office,” he said. He was arrested hours after making the statement and arraigned before the State Magistrate Court in Taraba allegedly without due process and legal representation and thereafter remanded in detention where he is being held without access to his lawyers or family. Meanwhile, a human rights activist, Bako Benjamin, and others have condemned Mr Samuel’s arrest.

Festus Okoye: INEC will soon release report on PVCs found buried… it’ll be shocking

  Festus Okoye, national commissioner for information of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says the electoral body will soon release a report on permanent voter cards (PVCs) found in questionable places. Okoye spoke on Thursday during a workshop on election reporting organised by the Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation (CNFJ). In the past weeks, there have been several reports of PVCs found under the ground and in the possession of individuals. In July 2022, a video showing several PVCs buried in Imo went viral on social media. At the time, INEC had said it is not taking the allegations lightly, and that it has “commenced immediate investigation and anyone found culpable in this diabolical scheme clearly intended to disenfranchise Nigerians will be sanctioned under the law”. Also in November, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) said 513 national identity cards and permanent voter cards (PVCs) were retrieved from foreigners in Katsina. Speaking at the workshop on vote buying and election manipulation, Okoye said “very soon, the commission will release a report relating to all the PVCs people said were found in gutters and on the streets of Lagos”. “This nation will be shocked,” he added. “Those who have bought PVCs thinking they can influence the result of an election are the ones who are opposed to the use of the BVAS. “We have made it very clear that if the BVAS cannot capture your fingerprint and face, we will not allow you to vote.” Okoye added that INEC will carry out mock accreditation in all the states of the federation and all the senatorial districts. “We did the same mock accreditation in Ekiti and we also carried it out in the Osun governorship election. We’ll do it so people can have a feel of the workings of the BVAS and how it will be deployed for the election,” he said.

Russia Frees Brittney Griner In Prisoner Swap

  Moscow confirmed Thursday it had exchanged US basketball star Brittney Griner, who had been jailed in Russia, for notorious arms trafficker Viktor Bout, who was serving a 25-year sentence in the United States. “On December 8, 2022, at the Abu Dhabi airport, the exchange of Russian citizen Viktor Bout for US citizen Brittney Griner… was successfully completed,” the foreign ministry said in a statement. Moscow said it had been negotiating with Washington to secure Bout’s release “for a long time” and that initially the US had “refused dialogue” on including him in any swap. “Nevertheless, the Russian Federation continued to actively work to rescue our compatriot. The Russian citizen has been returned to his homeland,” the defence ministry said. Bout was sentenced in 2012 to 25 years in a US jail after he was accused of arming rebels in some of the world’s bloodiest conflicts. Griner, 32, was arrested shortly before Russia’s February offensive in Ukraine at a Moscow airport for possessing vape cartridges with cannabis oil. Her lawyers confirmed to AFP on Thursday that the exchange took place.

Why food prices remain high — Lai Mohammed

  The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has insisted that Nigeria has produced enough food to feed the citizens through the policies and programmes of the Buhari administration. The minister however says the increasing prices of food currently being experienced in the country will come down as more food is produced. The minister spoke in Abuja on Thursday at the presentation of the scorecard of the administration in the mining and solid mineral sector from 2015 to 2023. Mohammed is unhappy that the achievement being made by the Buhari administration in the area of self sufficiency in most basic needs is not being drummed up but downplayed. Mohammed said, “There is a part of this Administration’s scorecard that has been largely downplayed, and that is the area of self sufficiency in most basic needs. Yes, we are not fully there yet but this Administration has done well since assuming office. I am sure many of us have seen video clips of empty supermarket shelves in the Western World, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war and the economic uncertainty which have all combined to disrupt global supply chains. “Long before these crises, however, President Muhammadu Buhari had, in a statement that has now turned out to be prescient, admonished Nigerians to grow what they eat and eat what they grow. “Then, many neither understood the importance of that admonition nor appreciated its relevance. Well, it turned out that the consequence of that statement, which made Nigerians to look inward and relied less on imports, saved Nigerians from hunger, especially during the prolonged global lockdown, when exporting nations shut their ports and borders and nations that relied on imports were struggling to meet their needs. “Imagine that Nigeria, during that period, had relied on imports to feed itself. In 2020, when the pandemic started, we were just 5 years into the Buhari administration’s food security programme. “But we had enough food to eat and enough fertilizer to farm, thanks also to the Presidential Fertilizer initiative. Recall, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, that even before the pandemic, our borders were closed and food imports were largely banned. “So if we can survive a pandemic with only 5 years of food security journey, just imagine what we can do in 10 years? This is just one of the many lasting legacies that Muhammadu Buhari, the President who saw tomorrow, will leave Nigeria with. “Our farmers are now part of our economy. Companies and factories are coming up to manufacture, process and distribute food. If you visit our markets and supermarkets today, what you will see mostly are ‘made in Nigeria’ products. This is a huge progress in such a short time. “May I remind you all that major contributors to our huge progress towards achieving food sufficiency include the increase in the number of fertilizer blending plants in the country from 10 in 2015 to 142 today, and the increase in the number of rice mills in the country from 10 in 2015 to 80 integrated rice mills today. ” To further highlight our progress in rice production, Nigeria was the number one export destination for rice in 2014, according to Thai authorities. However, by 2021, the same Thai authorities ranked Nigeria as number 79! “I know that many cynics will say ‘yes, there is food but the prices are high’. My response will be that as we engage more in local food production and move closer to achieving food security, prices will begin to fall. ” For now, we must acknowledge the success we have achieved in the area of food production and in scaling up made in Nigeria products. This will be an indelible legacy of the PMB Administration!”.

Knocks as Mercy Johnson declares support for APC

  Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson-Okojie, caused a stir on the Internet when she openly declared her support for the All Progressives Congress and its candidates in the 2023 elections. The actress had on Wednesday shared pictures of herself with the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announcing her membership as part of the APC women presidential campaign team. Her husband, Odi Okojie, is also an APC candidate for the Esan North East/ South East federal constituency in Edo State. Sharing the photos from the campaign, the actress wrote, “Earlier today, I joined His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the incredible women leaders that make up the APC ‘Women Presidential Campaign Team’ at the APC women Southwest Rally. “As a woman, wife to an APC candidate @princeodiokojie and mother, I am confident in the APC plan for women which is in line with the 35% affirmative action for women. “From the goodwill messages and conversations with the women leaders, I was opportuned to hear from the horse’s mouth and I have renewed hope and confidence in the good intentions, great plans and actions to follow for the women of Nigeria and for the people of Nigeria.” Her post, however, did not go down well with many fans who took to Twitter to condemn the actress’ decision, making ‘Mercy Johnson’ one of the trending topics on Thursday. A tweep, @odyloveth, said, “End Sars – Mercy Johnson will not talk. Flood in her state that half of her community people were dying, she was mute. Police brutality, she will not talk. “Today Mercy Johnson is telling us that APC have plans for us in 2023. I blame those rating these celebrities.” Advising the actress to focus only on her husband, @eseohe_k tweeted, “No one is saying Mercy Johnson shouldn’t support her husband’s political career. She should not just try to sell APC to us. Campaign for your husband alone. Talking about ‘as a woman, I’m confident in the APC plan for women’.” However, some fans stated that the actress was free to support whoever she wanted to, as they justified her actions. @isaacafrica_ said, “While I’m for Peter Obi, I wouldn’t expect Mercy Johnson to support a party other than her husband’s. It’s one of the reasons her marriage works. “This isn’t about party affiliation. It’s about who’s working in the best interest of Nigerians. Why can’t she be light within APC?” Another tweep, @mrlurvy, said, “Mercy Johnson’s husband is flying the flag of the APC in his constituency. But you expect Mercy to support another party right? So that she can get retweets and likes? “Many are mad and many are roaming on social media.”

Gunmen attack Anambra hospital, steal four newborns

  Some unidentified gunmen have allegedly attacked a maternity hospital in Nkpologwu in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, taking away four newborn babies. The motive for the attack has not yet being ascertained, but a source in the area confirmed the incident to journalists on Wednesday. Although, details of the incident are still sketchy, the source in the community disclosed that the incident happened late on Tuesday but was made known to members of the community on Wednesday. The source said, “It happened in our community on Tuesday night and people have been discussing it since Wednesday morning. They said some gunmen stormed the hospital (name withheld) and took away four babies from the hospital. “From the information we got from the residents around the community, no one was injured, and no one was killed in the attack too. The motive for the invasion of the hospital is not known to anyone. “Some people said they could have taken the babies to sell them to childless individuals, but others are saying it could be for ritual purposes.” When contacted, the Anambra State Police spokesman, DSP said the command was not aware of the incident yet but would make enquiries and get back. Ikenga said, “I don’t have such report before me now but I will make findings and get back please.”

Outrage as Iran carries out first hanging over protests

  This image grab from a UGC video made available on the ESN platform on December 5, 2022, reportedly shows closed shops in the Kurdish-populated city of Sanandaj in western Iran as protesters call for a three-day nationwide strike. – Unrest against the Islamic regime is approaching four months after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in police custody. (Photo by Basma BADRAN / ESN / AFP) / Israel OUT Iran carried out its first known execution Thursday over the protests that have shaken the regime since September, sparking international condemnation and warnings from rights groups that more hangings are imminent. Mohsen Shekari, 23, had been convicted and sentenced to death for blocking a street and wounding a paramilitary during the early phase of the protests in mid-September after a legal process denounced as a show trial by rights groups. At least a dozen other people are currently at risk of imminent execution after being sentenced to hang over the protests in recent weeks, human rights groups warned. Demonstrations have swept Iran for nearly three months since Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, 22, died after her arrest by the morality police in Tehran for an alleged breach of the country’s strict hijab dress code for women. The protests, described by the authorities as “riots”, are posing the biggest challenge to the Islamic republic since it was established following the ouster of the shah in 1979. “Mohsen Shekari, a rioter who blocked Sattar Khan Street in Tehran on September 25 and wounded one of the security guards with a machete, was executed this morning,” the judiciary’s Mizan Online website said. Amnesty International said it was “horrified” by the execution, which it said came just three weeks after Shekari was condemned in a “grossly unfair sham trial”. “His execution exposes the inhumanity of Iran’s so-called justice system as dozens of others face the same fate,” it added. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights (IHR), urged a strong international reaction, warning that otherwise “we will face mass execution of protesters”. “Mohsen Shekari was executed after a hasty and unfair trial without a lawyer,” he said, adding it had been carried out a mere 75 days after his arrest. Iran’s Fars news agency carried a video report of Shekari talking about the attack while in detention, which IHR described as “forced confessions” with his face “visibly injured”. – ‘Boundless contempt’ – Western governments echoed the anger of the rights groups. “The Iranian regime’s contempt for human life is boundless,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock tweeted, describing the legal process as a “perfidious summary trial”. But she added: “The threat of execution will not suffocate the will for freedom.” “This execution comes on top of other serious and unacceptable violations,” French foreign ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre told reporters, condemning in the “strongest terms” the execution. The revolutionary court in Tehran heard Shekari had been arrested after striking the member of the Basij paramilitary force in the shoulder with the blade, an injury that required 13 stitches, Mizan Online said. The judiciary said Shekari was found guilty of fighting and drawing a weapon “with the intention of killing, causing terror and disturbing the order and security of society”. It convicted him of “moharebeh” — or waging “war against God” under Iran’s Islamic sharia law — on November 1, said Mizan, adding he appealed the ruling but the supreme court upheld it on November 20. Iran executes more people annually than any nation other than China. IHR said earlier this week it had already executed over 500 people this year, a sharp jump on last year’s figure. – ‘Imminent danger’ – The largely peaceful protest movement has been marked by actions including removing and burning headscarves in the streets, chanting anti-government slogans and confronting the security forces. In a relatively new tactic, protest supporters staged three days of nationwide strikes up to Wednesday which closed down shops in several major cities including Tehran, according to rights groups. The security forces have responded with a crackdown that has killed at least 458 people, including 63 children, according to an updated death toll issued by IHR on Wednesday. An Iranian court on Tuesday sentenced five more people to death by hanging for killing a member of the Basij, bringing to 11 the number of people in Iran sentenced to death in connection with the protests, according to IHR. Freedom of expression group Article 19 said urgent action was needed “as the lives of others on death row in relation to the uprising are in imminent danger”. In a tweet, former Iranian football star Ali Karimi, a strong supporter of the protests, warned: “If we stay silent today, tomorrow we will be using the ‘Do not execute’ hashtag for other children of Iran.” Prior to the latest execution, Amnesty had said at least 28 people, including three children, could face the death penalty in connection with the nationwide protests. Iranian dissident Hossein Ronaghi, recently released after a spell in jail, warned the authorities: “The execution of any protester will have serious consequences for you. “Taking the life of one person is taking all of our lives,” he wrote on Twitter. “Do you have enough gallows?”

2023: I’m Ready To Debate From Morning Till Night – Tinubu

  All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said he is ready to debate from morning till night. Tinubu has been heavily criticised for staying away from interactive sessions attended by other presidential candidates. His absence at ARISE Townhall on Sunday had created a stir as his critics said Tinubu might have stayed away because he could not withstand the rigor. The main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had accused him of avoiding debates because he has nothing to tell Nigerians. But addressing some young Nigerians in London, Tinubu said debate was not an issue. “I am ready to debate with you from morning till night… and I’m speaking in London, not in Jigawa. It is great that you are alive to tell the story just giving the assurance never to give up… Broadband creation, energy that you talked about.. if they’ve taken our advice.. in the beginning of democracy in 1999, we brought in investment. My Deputy then is here.. and then so many other innovative things….,” he said. Fielding a question from the audience at Chatham House in London on Monday, on why he snubbed debates, Tinubu said, “I see myself as a marketable individual. You want to use me to make money and I’m saying no.”