Southwest Govs, Miyetti Allah Strike Far Reaching Agreement On Ways To Secure The Region

January 25, 2021

Governors under the umbrella of the Southwest Governors Forum have reached a far reaching agreement with the leadership of Miyetti Allah on ways to ensure security in the region, including the resolution that all herdsmen plying their trade in the various states should duly register with the state governments.

At a meeting today, January 25 in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the two parties resolved that underage herding should be banned across the region because it had proved to be inimical to security.

The meeting which was called at the instance of the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Dr Kayode Fayemi, following the executive order of Governor Akeredolu that all Fulani herdsmen illegally occupying the state forest reserves should register with the state government or vacate within seven days, with effect from last Monday, January 18, 2021, was attended by four of the six governors from the region including Governor Fayemi of Ekiti, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun and Akeredolu.

The meeting which lasted about three hours was also attended by the governors of Jigawa and Kebbi states, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar and Abubakar Atiku Bagudu respectively, who said the meeting became necessary to douse the tension over the vacation order by Akeredolu, saying the Ondo governor was misconstrued and misrepresented by some section of the media.

The meeting discussed vigorously and resolved and that the security and welfare of the people of Nigeria is the primary purpose of government as enshrined in the 1999 constitution of Nigeria while the stakeholders said they are committed to the unity and indivisibility of Nigeria.

They all agreed that insecurity is a national challenge and not peculiar to any tribe or region but must be addressed by the cooperation of all.

They noted that “the order of the Ondo State governor was misconstrued and misrepresented by a section of the media. He only ordered those occupying the forest reserves in Ondo State illegally to quit.”

The stakeholders agreed that criminals should be apprehended and punished, no matter their origin, class or status security agencies have been trying to stem the tide of criminality in the country but must step up their efforts in the fight.

They also stressed the need to build a partnership for peace and security with MACBAN and jointly wage war against criminality and maintained that “no one had sent anyone away from any state or region but all hands must be on deck to fight criminality.”

They, however, resolved in the communique issued at the end of the meeting that “night grazing should be banned henceforth while underage herding is inimical to security and hence be banned and occupation of state forest reserves illegally is condemned.

“MACBAN also suffers insecurity and kidnapping and thus desire peaceful coexistence and MACBAN is ready for any peaceful move by the states to engender security.

“There must be an enduring framework with MACBAN in a way that will help address security issues.

“That free-range grazing must be stopped to avoid conflicts between the farmers and the herders.

“Strengthening alternative security arrangements and make them complementary to the mainstream security agencies in Nigeria.

“MACBAN should embrace and be committed to modern breeding process by creating grazing reserves and practice ranching to prevent cattle roaming about.”

They also resolved that “standing committee comprising of farmers, MACBAN and the government should be set up in each state (where they don’t exist) to ensure synergy and result.

“We must create economic opportunities for our people and reduce opportunities for criminalities in our country.”

Speaking earlier, Fayemi said the emergency meeting was summoned to enable the leaders to address some matters of urgent importance in the survival of the region and the well-being of the people of the region and Nigeria as a whole.

He said: “Everybody recognizes the importance of this meeting to national to security, to peace and to national integration and development. The statement as regards the ultimatum by Governor Akeredolu have been misconstrued and it has generated a lot of reactions.

“Around about the same time that was happening, we also had similar development in Ibarapa in Oyo State which led to temperate reactions in the state, but the governor of Oyo State, Makinde immediately took the right step, made a broadcast to try and douse the tension in the state. I’m also aware that he has since sent a team being lead by the Security Adviser and Commissioner of Police in Oyo State to the area.

“All of these points to the same issue that we are witnessing across the country. We feel very strongly in the Nigerian Governors Forum that we all should be working for the peace of the country.”

Speaking on the misconstruction of Akeredolu’s order, Fayemi said “I speak without any hesitation or reservation that the governor of Ondo State, a seasoned lawyer, a former president of the Nigeria Bar Association cannot under any guise talk about Fulani herdsmen vacating Ondo State.

“Vacating to go where? Vacating where they’ve lived, that they’ve traded and invested in, that they’ve been law-abiding citizens in. We know MACBAN in this part of the country. The South-West is a very accommodating region and there are people in MACBAN who were born here. Among them, there are those who speak better Yoruba than I do. They have a stake here, most of them have invested all their lives here.

“My understanding of what transpired was the statement referred to the forest areas, the reserves. It wasn’t even about evacuation. It’s about registration if you are going to continue to operate within the bounds of the law within the reserve area. This is what appears to have generated the agitation we’ve seen. Unfortunately in the age of social media, things get out of hand very quickly. This is what needs to stop.

“For us in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, what we are after is the apprehension of criminals of any view, criminals that are Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani.

“We are not after Fulani herdsmen. But there is nobody who does not feel a sense of insecurity in our country today. This issue of banditry, kidnapping, of general insecurity, is all-pervasive. And we have to be tough on crimes.

“There is a question that members of MACBAN are victims of crimes too, the way we – who are not members – are equally victims. Fulanis are kidnapped, robbed and assaulted. We need to deal with this rather than profile any ethnic group as being the one responsible for criminalities across the board. So, we are against criminality of any kind but, we also know that MACBAN is against criminality of any kind too.

“The best way for us to apprehend people of the same ethnic identity who are involved in crime and criminality may sometime be to get intelligence from those who belong to that ethnicity.

“We also urged our security institutions to do their best not to cuddle crime of any kind. We can build roads, school but if there is no peace, nobody will be able to use them.”

Governor Seyi Makinde urged leaders and governors to create economic opportunities for the people in their various states, noting that this will go a long way to reduce criminalities the our country, and development thrives in a peaceful atmosphere.

Also speaking, the Jigawa governor, Badaru, saluted the courage of Governor Akeredolu and the governors of South-West for coming up to the challenge, noting that Akeredolu’s order was misrepresented.

“I can say this meeting is a successful one because the stakeholders have spoken with one voice but I want to appeal to the Fulani herdsmen in the state to adhere to the rules by registering with the state government. You cannot live in somebody’s house without them knowing you.

“The governor has not asked Fulani to vacate the state but ordered them to register with the state government and stop night grazing.”

The Kebbi governor, Abubakar who is the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) said: “we must not cause agitation in order not to compound our problems and this meeting shows we are all on the same page.

“I can assure you that MACBAN will work with all the authorities in all the 36 states so that we collectively defeat enemies of progress in the land either they are Fulani or non-Fulani.”

The National President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Alhaji Muhammadu Kirowa, while speaking, directed all Fulani herders in Ondo State and across the South-West region to put an end to both night and underaged grazing with immediate effect.

The MACBAN president also warned herders to desist from taking their cows to people’s farms for grazing, adding that the frequents farmers/herders clash is usually caused by the invasion of cattle to the farms and must be brought to an end.

“I want to plead with all our members to avoid allowing cows stray into farms and should stop small boys as a matter of urgency from going to grazing and night grazing must stop either in Ondo State, South-West or across the country.

“This is one of the reasons for the problem between the herders and the farmers. This has always been causing conflicts between farmers and herders. I can assure you of our support and cooperation,” he said.

He said the order given by Governor Akeredolu was not new, saying it was issued some two years ago, adding that those who wished to remain in the state and the government forest reserves should get registered.

While stressing that MACBAN is a peaceful association that values peace and condemned criminalities in any form, the president said MACBAN will continue to work with security agencies to fish out criminals.

He expressed the readiness of the herdsmen in the region to support the governors and the security agencies in bringing the criminals masquerading as herdsmen to justice.

The president, however, said the association was ready to abide by the rules and regulations of the government, saying Akeredolu never asked Fulanis to leave Ondo State but to get registered if they are illegally occupying the government forest reserves.

Akeredolu, however, said the order issued by his government is unambiguous, clear and precise, saying only herdsmen illegally occupying the state forest reserves were asked to vacate the forest.

Also present at the meeting are security agents across the South-West region.

Source: Tribune

Imo Gov Clamps Down On “Militants” That Unleashed Mayhem, Imposes Curfew

Editorial staff

January 25, 2021

The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma has clamped down on those he described as “militants,” who unleashed mayhem at residents of Orlu in the State, killing and maiming innocent citizens in the process.

The Governor has therefore imposed a dusk to dawn curfew in the affected areas, even as he ordered the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators without fail.

He said that the curfew is an interim measure to immediately restore the peace in Orlu area, saying that the curfew starts at 6 pm and end at 6 am daily. The areas affected are Orlu, Orsu, Oru East, Oru West, Ideato North, Ideato South, Njaba, Isu, Nwangele and Nkwerre local government areas of Orlu zone.

Addressing a newsmen today, January 25 on the matter, Governor Uzodimma said that the perpetrators of the carnage were out to paint a picture of near break down of law and order in Orlu area, noting that government condemns in its entirety acts of extreme hooliganism and brigandage.

The governor advised the residents of the affected local governments to cooperate fully with the curfew as anyone who violates it will be treated as a suspect.

Uzodimma said that security agencies have been directed to carry out a 24-hour patrol and that law abiding citizens can go about their businesses without fear of molestation.

The governor further condoles with the families of the bereaved and assured them that those who committed the heinous crime against them and their loves ones will not go unpunished.

Governor Uzodimma’s address read in full:

“This afternoon, I received a very disturbing report on the activities of a group of Militants who unleashed a shooting spree in the Orlu area of the state, killing and maiming innocent citizen in the process.

“I am totally appalled by this sad report which appears to paint a picture of near breakdown of law and order in the Orlu area. The government condemns in its entirety this act of extreme hooliganism and brigandage. This is completely unacceptable to this administration. Those behind this callous barbarism will surely regret their actions.

“Consequently, I have directed the security agencies to fish out without fail, all those behind the carnage and immediately bring them to book. Let no one be in any doubt that the perpetrators of this dastardly act will ever escape justice. I assure them that they will pay for their cruelty against a peace loving, innocent people.

“As an interim measure to immediately restore the peace in Orlu zone, a dusk to dawn curfew (6 pm to 6 am) is hereby imposed in the following Local Government Areas of Orlu zone; namely; Orlu, Orsu, Oru East, Oru West, Ideato North, Ideato South, Njaba, Isu, Nwangele and Nkwerre.

“All law-abiding citizens are advised to comply strictly with the curfew as announced. Anyone caught violating the curfew will be treated as a suspect.

“The government wants to assure all Imo people that the situation in Orlu area is under control. Security operatives have been deployed on a 24-hour patrol of the zone. Equally, every security measure necessary has been put in place to ensure that law-abiding citizens can go about their businesses in the affected areas without any fear of molestation.

“The government sincerely condoles with the families of the bereaved and all the victims of the unfortunate incident. I assure them that those who committed the heinous crime against them and their loved ones will never go unfurnished.

Coronavirus: International Labour Body Laments 255 Million Jobs Loss Worldwide

Editorial staff

January 25, 2021

International Labour Organization (ILO), a United Nations agency has lamented that four times as many jobs were lost last year due to the coronavirus pandemic as during the worst part of the global financial crisis in 2009.

ILO estimated that the restrictions on businesses and public life destroyed 8.8 per cent of all work hours around the world last year, adding that that was equivalent to 255 million full-time jobs, quadruple the impact of the financial crisis over a decade ago.

“This has been the most severe crisis for the world of work since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Its impact is far greater than that of the global financial crisis of 2009,” said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder.

The fallout was almost equally split between reduced work hours and “unprecedented” job losses, he said.

ILO noted that most people who lost work stopped looking for a job altogether, likely because of restrictions on businesses that hire in big numbers like restaurants, bars, stores, hotels and other services that depend on face-to-face interactions.

The drop in work translates to a loss of $3.7 trillion in income globally — what Ryder called an “extraordinary figure” — with women and young people taking the biggest hits.

The ILO report expects a bounce back in jobs in the second half of 2021, saying however that it would depend on a reduction in coronavirus infections and the rollout of vaccines.

Currently, infections are rising or remain stubbornly high in many countries and vaccine distribution is still slow overall.

Nigeria Will Never Know Peace Until It Is Restructured, Atiku Warns

Editorial staff

January 25, 2021

Former Nigeria Vice President and leader of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has sounded a warning that Nigeria will never know peace until it is restructured, saying: “this truth is staring us in our collective faces.”

According to Atiku who ran for the Presidency in 2019 under the PDP’s platform, in a statement he personally issued today, January 25, said that the current ethnic and religious clashes bedevilling Nigeria are symptoms of the disease, stressing that they are not by themselves the illness.

“We must address the root causes of the various symptoms of insecurity Nigeria now faces.

“Nigeria has foundational issues, which we have to resolve. Until we resolve those issues, our nation may not fulfil its potentials of being the beacon of light for the Black Race, even if we have the most righteous people at the helm.

“Nigeria needs peace, unity and prosperity. But all three of these virtues are dependent on Nigeria having social justice. Without justice, there cannot be cohesiveness in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation as Nigeria.”

Atiku remarked that many behavioural scientists have concluded that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.

“We have been operating from the same unitary foundation, and have given it several names since January 15, 1966. Other than slight name changes, the mould has remained the same, and the yield has changed little.

“Yes, there will be improvements and retrogressions here and there, due to the character and personality differences of the men and women at the helm. However, until the foundational fault lines are addressed, whatever progress one man makes, can be undone by his predecessor, often in a matter of months.

“If half of our people expend their energies pulling Nigeria in one direction, and the other half counter by pulling her in the other direction, our motherland will never know peace, unity and prosperity.

“Nigeria needs to restructure to avoid the various failed state prophecies, first advanced by an American think-tank against Nigeria in 2006. Most recently regurgitated by the Financial Times of London, about a month ago. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

“What is a failed state? A failed state is a political sovereign geographic territory whose government has deteriorated to a level where it cannot fulfil a sovereign government’s basic responsibilities, such as the security of life and property, and upholding law and order.

“Nigeria is not a failed state. However, we are at risk of becoming a failed state, if we do not resolve our foundational challenges that make it rather difficult for the central government to discharge her responsibilities effectively.

“We should have done this long ago. I can only point to the Chinese proverb that says “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

“We ought to understand that the collapse of Nigeria into a unitary system was an ad hoc temporary solution to a challenge that emerged after the January 15, 1966 coup decapitated the central and most regional governments. It was not meant to be a long term solution.

“Lessons have been learnt since that time, and nobody would be foolhardy enough to repeat such unfortunate actions that took Nigeria through such difficult periods. Moreover, our institutions are now much stronger than they were during our infancy.

“In proof of this assertion, I cite the recent multi-partisan rejection by the National Assembly of a certain nominee of the President. We did not have a strong Parliament to act as a check on the Executive in 1966. We had the institution, but we did not have the strength in the institution. Now we do.

“I believe that Murtala Mohammed was speaking prophetically of these times when he said on January 11, 1976 that “Africa has come of age”.

“Nigeria is now of age. It is now time to trust the component units of this federation with devolution of powers from the central government to handle issues such as policing, in tandem with the Federal Government.

“Because let us face it, if we keep on doing what we have been doing, we will keep on getting what we have been getting. Or worse, we will experience the law of returns.

“This is because the second law of thermodynamics is clear. The total entropy of a system either increases or remains constant; it never decreases.

“In simple terms, what this means is that, unless we halt the entropy, things will not improve.

“And the late Tai Solarin was an excellent example of this. We all remember the late Mr. Solarin as an educator, who happened to be one of the most altruistic Nigerians that ever lived. He was incorruptible and was a specimen of patriotism.

“If ever there was a good man, that person was Tai Solarin. He founded Mayflower Secondary School, which went on to be a world-renowned centre for sound education and the building of moral character in young people.

“He became an activist and an advocate for good governance, and was an acerbic critic of various governments, through his weekly column in the Daily Times, Nigerian Tribune and The Guardian Newspapers.

“However, when in 1989, Tai Solarin became the first chairman of the People’s Bank, we saw that being a good man alone could not help him make the bank good. The bank became rife with corruption, mismanagement and entropy.

“Why? Because good men, heading institutions without good foundations, will still produce destruction, taking us back to what Prophet Mohammed said:

“Do you know what is better than charity and fasting and prayer? It is keeping peace and good relations between people.”

“It is time to feel our nation’s pulse and steer the ship of state away from a failed state destination. Restructuring is the lighthouse that will guide the Nigerian state’s ship back to the safety of land.

“And it is not just for the big line items. Even in the little things, we must restructure, for the good of our people.

“Take a sector, like agriculture. Today, Nigeria is dependent on food imports for much of her food needs, primarily or even entirely because agriculture is controlled from Abuja. And that idea is preposterous.

“The states are better equipped, by reason of proximity, to handle agriculture. Yet, how many states have a ministry and an agriculture commissioner?

“And now, the disconnect between Abuja and the states leads to a situation where one of the most fertile and stable nations on Earth has to import food.

“In pre-colonial times, and during the First Republic, Nigeria had well marked out grazing routes. That ensured that grazers knew where to go and restricted contacts between them and farmers.

“Now, these routes have disappeared. Of course, when this happens, there will be conflict. Brazil and Argentina are the largest beef exporters in the world, and they have grazing routes.

“In fact, In Brazil, pasture land outweighs planted cropland by about five times. This is because all tiers of governments in Brazil have worked together to restrict these areas, not only to avoid conflict between grazers and farmers, but also to ensure that Brazil’s great forests, including the Amazon, are not deforested.

“If Brazil and Argentina can do it, we can do it too. We have to put in the political and intellectual effort.

“You see, the concentration of power at the centre affects every sector.

“We cannot have the mentality that it is better to reign in hell than serve in Heaven. No one can reign in hell. The heat is too great. The victories are too little. It is a lose-lose situation. We are all the better if we come up with a win-win situation. And the only way we all win is if we restructure, while we still have a foundation to stand on.

“We must always remember that we are all brothers and sisters born from the womb of one mother Nigeria and that when brothers fight to the death, it is their neighbours that inherit their father’s property.

“We must stop fighting each other as Nigerians, and we must start fighting for Nigeria. Arise o compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey. Nigeria is calling for restructuring. And I urge all Nigerians to obey our mother’s voice.”

Pastor Accuses Apostle Suleman Of Sleeping With His Wife; Police Wade In

Editorial staff

January 25, 2021

Police have begun probing allegations of extra-marital affair involving President of Omega Fire Ministries International Apostle Johnson Suleman.

A former subordinate to Suleman, Pastor Mike Davids accused Suleman of sleeping with his wife, threatening his life and denying him access to his three children.

Davids’ wife is Pastor Faith Edeko who heads the Utako, Abuja branch of the church.

Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, ordered the probe in a letter addressed to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Intelligence Bureau, Garki, dated January 5, 2021.

The letter, with reference number CB:7000/IGP.SEC/ABJ/Vol.515/561, was signed by the Principal Staff Officer II to the Inspector General of Police, ACP Iliya Doma.

The letter is sequel to a petition written by V.C Ezenagu & Associates on behalf of the aggrieved Pastor Davids.

In the petition he sent to the IG, Davids said he met Suleman in 2003 while he was in school. He said they became very close and he was eventually ordained a pastor of Omega Fire Ministries on June 9, 2006 by Suleman and served the church for over 15 years before his exit in 2019.

In three videos posted on Instagram on Sunday, the pastor accused Suleman of destroying his marriage.

He said that trouble began when he was posted to Osun State in 2010 shortly after the birth of his daughter, Michelle, in November 2009.

The petitioner said that Suleman was setting up a gospel television station and then said he would need the assistance of his wife who was an employee of NTA.

He said that it was during the visits to Suleman that he eventually slept with his wife but what made it more painful was that the act was done in the presence of their child.

Davids said: “My wife was a staffer with NTA Iruekpen, so Apostle Suleman reached out to her that they will need her to build Celebration TV and Rhema for Living. She would have to shuttle between Osun State and Auchi.

“She came back from Auchi to Osun State and said she wanted to talk to me that her conscience was pricking her. I asked what was it and she said that while in Auchi, Apostle Suleman lodged her at Uyi Grand Hotel and he came there and slept with her.

“And the moment she said that, the first thing that came to my mind was my daughter. I asked where was Michelle when this happened and she said Michelle was on the bed, pushed aside and I asked, ‘You mean you slept with a man with my daughter on the bed?’ I had to let it go because there was nobody I could tell and I couldn’t fight with Apostle Suleman… I forgave her but the amorous relationship continued. One thing I know is that my wife was hypnotised. This is not the woman I got married to, who I knew for 11 years.”

Davids said that his relationship with Suleman soon turned sour and he was suspended but after the suspension was lifted, he refused to return and then started receiving threats from Suleman.

He alleged that when he left the church in July 2019, his wife started to fight with him and then his wife left the house with their three children and they relocated to Abuja.

The pastor said though estranged, he and his wife remain married because their marriage has not been dissolved by a competent court.

But Pastor Davids’ wife Edeko, had described her husband’s allegations as cheap blackmail, adding that it was the petitioner that abandoned the marriage and when her relatives reached out to him, he refused to return home.

“There are recordings which I will upload. You told my brothers that I would crawl in the gutters. I told them not to do anything to you, that you are still the father of my kids. At some point, I contemplated suicide. I had written my suicide note, I had bought sniper because I could not fathom how I would live life in so much pain. I won’t drag you because of my children… you have done too much and it is enough. I am not hypnotised. I am not under a spell.”

Also speaking on behalf of Suleman, Resident Pastor, Omega Fire ministry, Headquarters, Joseph Iyare said that the accuser was “frustrated by his own evil deeds.”

Source. The PUNCH.

Blaming Particular Ethnic Group For Insecurity Breeds Disunity, Olubadan Cautions

Editorial staff

January 23, 2021

Apparently referring to the current attack on Fulani in parts of Oyo State by indigenes, led by one Sunday Igboho, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, has cautioned against blaming and attacking a particular ethnic group for the security challenges in any part of the country.

The monarch, who spoke today, January 23, at the Royal Festival of Praise organized by the Holy Ghost Royal House of Restoration Church in Ibadan, emphasized that blaming a particular ethnic group for insecurity in the country would only further breed disunity in the country and should not be allowed.

Olubadan, who was represented by Mogaji Okiti-Aresa, Chief Adeshina Olatunji, appealed to farmers and herders in Ibarapa and Nigeria, in general, to live in peace.

He also called on Nigerians to support the security agencies in the country in tackling criminal activities and refrain from taking laws into their own hands.

Olubadan counselled religious leaders and traditional leaders to complement the government’s efforts by preaching unity in their domains.

”As leaders, it does not mean we are above God, traditional rulers, religious leaders should know that they are not God and we must lead our people in a Godly manner.”

Nigeria Evacuates 600 Stranded In Saudi Arabia Next Week

Editorial staff

January 23, 2021

The chairman of the Nigerian in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa has said that the federal government will soon evacuate 600 Nigerians who have been stranded in Saudi Arabia for more than seven months.

In a series of tweets, Abike Dabiri-Erewa said: “Nigerian irregular migrants in Saudi Arabia are due to be evacuated on the 28th and 29th of January, pending any unforeseen issues.

“The evacuation is expected to be carried out in two batches of 400 and 200 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

She said that their evacuation was delayed due to issues relating to Covid-19, even as she appealed to Nigerians to resist travelling abroad without proper documents.

“It’s become very dangerous and more difficult.”

Dabiri-Erewa’s tweet appeared to confirm the scenes in the viral video, which showed bodies – wrapped in black polythene bags lying on the floor in a packed room.

“We are here more than three months, six months, seven months ago, without any action, no better information on transport to Nigeria,” the male narrator in the video said.

“According to the rules and regulations of this location, we are not supposed to be here for more than two weeks.

“Most nationals of other countries have been flown back to their countries. Only we Nigerians don’t have any source or way of getting back.

“I’m here on behalf of others to seek your assistance to get us back to our country.”

A Twitter user with the handle @KsaApc said some of the affected persons were not able to renew their residencies in the Muslim country.

“I spoke with one of the brothers and he told me that his brother was among the detainees,” the tweet said. “Part of them have ended their stays and do not have the ability to renew and the other does not have regular residencies.”

We’re Ready For War, Southwest Replies North

Editorial staff

January 23, 2021

The Southwest, represented by a Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has made it clear to the Northern Nigeria, represented by the Arewa Consultative Forum that they were ready for war, against the background of an attack carried out on the Fulani settlement in Ibarapaland, Oyo State by one Sunday Igboho and his supporters.

Afenifere, in a statement today, January 23 by its National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, said that the people of Yorubaland are not scared of war as insinuated in the statement by ACF, signed by its spokesman, Emmanuel Yawe.

Odumakin, who said that the the people of Yorubaland will not instigate war, said it was surprising that the ACF that had kept quiet while the Fulanis were attacking Yoruba sons and daughters now found it convenient to complain on the step taken by Igboho.

Odumakin said the steps taken by Igboho was not backed by Afenifere.

Afenifere, in the statement, said: “The attention of Afenifere has been drawn to the hypocritical tears of Arewa Consultative Forum(ACF) over clashes in Ibarapa Local Government Area of Oyo state occasioned by the inimical activities of Fulani herdsmen against indigenous Yoruba people.

“While we have gone to a great length to sue for peace and have appealed to our pained people to be law abiding even with the daily provocations of the Fulani and harassment of our people, we frown at the very arrogant and insulting ACF statement, especially their reference to the event of 1966.

“We must make it clear to them that they cannot threaten us with a war at this stage as we will not provoke war but never are we going to run for anybody on our land.

“We are miffed that a body like ACF that has never shown any remorse over the killing of our people can open their mouths anyhow now because there are consequences for the irresponsible actions of their people.

“We advise them to call their criminals to order and not expect our people to sheepishly wait to be killed by those who value cow lives more than human beings.

“We do not want a repeat of 1966 event but if there are people plotting such event again, the rain will be over their heads.”

North Warns: Civil War Looms With Attack On Fulani In Oyo

Editorial staff

January 23, 2021

The North, represented by a sociocultural group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has warned that civil war is imminent, with the attack on Fulani people, largely from the North, by Yoruba group led by one Sunday Igboho in Oyo state yesterday, January 22.

In a statement today, January 23, the ACF condemned the attack on Fulani in the southwest, warning that the country may go up in flames unless something is done urgently.

The national publicity secretary of the ACF, Emmanuel Yawe, in a statement entitled: “STOP THE DRIFT IN THE SOUTHWEST” accused the security agents of complicity in the attacks which saw the house and cars of the Sarki Fulani in Oyo State being burnt and members of his household chased away.

The statement reads: “This morning, we received reports of an attack by Yoruba Youths on Alhaji Saliu Abdulkadir, the Serki Fulani in Oyo State.

“In the reports, he was attacked and driven out of his house, eleven cars and his house burnt with his family members now living in the bush.

“There are allegations that one Sunday Igboho an agitator for the Oodua Republic and who issued an ultimatum giving Fulani people seven days to leave Yorubaland is the instigator of the attack.

“The most disturbing aspect of the attack is the allegation that the security agents who were earlier warned about its imminence stood by helplessly as the attack was carried out.“

The ACF is worried about this trend and calls on the Federal and State Governments in the South West to move quickly to avert a social upheaval that may destabilize the whole country.

“We recall that the civil war in the 60’s started with attacks and counter-attacks like this.”

“The governments must be proactive and stop history from repeating itself. Those who carried out these attacks must be apprehended and the due process of the law allowed to take its course.”

“If this is not done there maybe counter attacks in the north and the country will be up in flames. The authorities must act. The ACF is very worried and calls on them to act fast.”

How Kidnapping Becomes The Fastest Lucrative Industry In Nigeria, By Bulama Bukarti

Editorial staff

January 23, 2021

Last week, more than 70 bus passengers travelling from Kano to Aba were abducted in Kogi State. The victims included 27 Kano traders on a business trip to purchase shoes and textiles. The traders were released on Sunday following the payment of N25 million ransom to their abductors. Since the traders were small-scale, with capital of only around N300,000, their friends had to mobilise donations from family, friends and business associates in the market to raise the ransom, for which the negotiations were reported by news outlets.

This case isn’t isolated. It’s just the latest example of how transparent the ransom industry is in Nigeria. Our government no longer even pretends to be ashamed of its brazen failure; our security forces and intelligence agencies know very well when ransoms are negotiated; victims’ families know that it is the only way to secure the release of their loved ones; and Nigerians are no longer outraged because we have grown so desensitised. Not only do security and intelligence agents turn a blind eye when ransoms are negotiated, they are reported on occasions to have advised families to pay them. But perhaps that isn’t surprising when even police officers seized on duty have to pay ransom themselves.

Ransom payment has over the last few years been so normalised and institutionalised that it now bears some of the hallmarks of a legal enterprise except that it is more lucrative. Even in the best of times, very few businesses in Nigeria make N25 million in a matter of days. In any case, kidnappers don’t pay taxes, nor are they subject to the repressive regime of bank charges. But despite this, so long as they only target ordinary Nigerians, they hardly have to worry about paying for their crimes.

When they get arrested, they use a portion of their loot to bribe their way out. When they get tired of killing, kidnapping, robbing and raping, all they need to do is to claim they’ve repented; desperate governors will receive them with a grin in the government houses, pose for photos and hand them some additional cash to add to their hoards. Hardly surprising then that kidnapping has emerged as one of our fasting growing industries. Not a week passes without criminals extorting millions. Desperate families are forced to sell off everything they have or incur huge debts to save loved ones. Some crowd-fund offline and online to raise ransoms.

At this speed, I worry that we might soon begin to lead the world in the kidnapping economy. Our country has already become so crime-friendly that we’ve started to attract felons from neighbouring countries. Last Monday, the Katsina State government announced that it has returned nine Nigeriens kidnapped from their country and transported to the state. The government said the perpetrators were also Nigeriens, meaning these criminals believed that they were more likely to get away with their crimes if they hide in Nigeria.

In this situation, it is easy to forget that things haven’t always been like this. A little over five years ago, kidnap-for-ransom was alien to Northern Nigeria. It was something northerners heard of in the South and scratched our heads over. The North had struggled with armed robbers for decades, but those only blocked the highway, mostly at night, and were quick to flee at the slightest hint of police. Today, kidnappers confidently face soldiers and kidnap police officers moving in a group.

We are already in a terrible place, but it can get even worse. It will get worse if we continue to pay off criminals. The thing with kidnap-for-ransom is that the more you pay, the more and longer you keep paying; because with every payment, they build more capacity to aim for a higher target. With every operation, kidnappers glean more experience and get more sophisticated. The longer they survive, the more time and resources it would take to tackle them. In this way, criminals become more powerful than governments and begin to control territories where their laws, or rather lawlessness, reign supreme. We must work to stop this scenario from playing out or escalating and we’ve got to be decisive.

The government is the main player, but all Nigerians have a role. In addition to cooperating with security agents, communities have got to decide to stop paying ransoms and stand their ground no matter what. This is the toughest of decisions when the lives of your friends, family or neighbours are on the line, but I am afraid that it is the only way. The more we pay to save one of us, the more we embolden and empower our enemies, putting not only other families in a graver danger, but ours too. And if we keep paying off criminals while we default taxes, it’s only natural that offenders will keep getting more powerful than our security forces.

I firmly believe starving kidnappers of money is the best way for communities to take the wind out of their brutal sail. But one doesn’t need a crystal ball to know that many families can’t withstand the urge to save someone they love even if that means imperilling the whole world. We, therefore, need a federal law expressly criminalising and severely punishing not only those collecting ransom, but also paying it or aiding its payment. But such a law will only have moral authority if the security services start taking the fight to the terrorists and the criminals plaguing our country.

The bottom line is that we must resolve collectively that we shan’t pay ransom to anyone, no matter what. No ifs, no buts, no equivocation. This will temporarily distress some of us, but it will starve criminals of funds to purchase ammunition and even food, thereby ultimately making kidnapping unviable and saving us all. Conversely, if we keep paying, our danger will only escalate. The situation is a classic example of the Prisoner’s Dilemma. While our individual interest seems to suggest payment, our collective interest demands resilience – and if we all pursue our individual interest, we will all lose.

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