Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Sunday 28th February 2021

Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Sunday 28th February 2021

Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 28/02/21

*-marriage-will-never-happen-during-my-tenure%E2%80%94president-ghana Same-s** Marriage Will Never Happen During My Tenure—President Of Ghana

The President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, has declared that same-s** marriage will never happen during his tenure.
He said this at the installation program for an Anglican Archbishop held in Mampong on Saturday.

”I have said this before, and let me stress again that it will not be under the Presidency of Nana Akufo-Addo that same-s** marriage will be legalised in Ghana. “It will never happen. Let me repeat; it will never happen,” he said to the cheering audience.His declaration follows the recent closure of a recently opened LGBTQ+ office in Accra, the capital city.

S**

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E2%80%94dss Why We Arrested Salihu Tanko-Yakasai—DSS

The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed the arrest of Salihu Tanko-Yakasai, a former aide of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State.
There have been concerns over his whereabouts since his criticism of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

His father had earlier dismissed the reports that his son was missing, saying security operatives took him away.
In a Saturday statement, Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesman, said the former aide of Kano governor is under investigation.
“This is to confirm that Salihu Tanko-Yakasai is with the Department of State Services. He is being investigated over issues beyond the expression of opinions in the social media as wrongly alleged by sections of the public,” the statement read.

Group Accuses Federal Lawmaker Of Embezzling Taraba Varsity’s Development Fund

David Fuoh lawmaker representing Saruduna, Kurumi Gashaka Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives

The Taraba Concerned Citizens Forum (TCCF) has accused the lawmaker representing Saruduna, Kurumi Gashaka Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, David Fuoh, of attempting to sweep allegations of corruption against him under the carpet.
Fuoh was accused of siphoning hundreds of millions earmarked for the development of the Taraba State Polytechnic between 2015 and 2019 as bursar of the institution.

David Fuoh lawmaker representing Saruduna, Kurumi Gashaka Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives

Tarabatruthandfact.com

It was alleged that the lawmaker paid contractors for projects that were never executed, diverted funds into personal accounts, shortchanged staff of the institution, embezzled students school fees, among other gross financial misappropriations.
A visitation panel constituted by Darius Ishaku, the state governor in 2020 and led by Nicholas Namessan, had indicted the lawmaker of orchestrating withdrawal of unaccounted funds from the institution’s treasury alongside Daniel Mom, former rector, during the period under review.
But TCCF had accused the lawmaker of attempting to evade justice in the matter.
The group called on the state governor to make public the panel’s report and forward such to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for proper investigation and possible prosecution of Fuoh and others indicted in the report.
According to the group coordinator, Mansur Munkaila Jirgi, the report must be submitted to the anti-graft agency to ensure it was not a deliberate move by Ishaku’s administration to protect the indicted duo, whom he claimed, joined forces in setting machinery in motion to underdeveloped the institution.
Speaking during a press conference in Jalingo recently, Jirgi said that apart from making the report available to the EFCC, the group would also be “writing the National Assembly leadership where Fuoh is now a member to intimate them the report of the visitation panel which grossly indicted him.”
He added: “What happened in Taraba State Polytechnic between 2015 and 2019 must not be allowed to go down the drain because such is harmful to our future as a state. A visit to the State Polytechnic campuses in Jalingo and Suntai will show you the rots between 2015 to 2019 as exposed by the Visitation Panel Report, which powerful forces in the state are battling hard to cover up.
“The polytechnic was, during these years, deprived of the opportunity to grow and become a world-class institution. Our unborn generation will ask questions if those who perpetrated these lootings are not made to face the law irrespective of religion, tribe or political affiliations.
“The government must not be high handed regarding demanding accountability from these people in question. Again, this has nothing to do with politics; it’s a criminal offence to steal public funds. It’s immoral to conceal it either.”

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Residents Flee Communities As Bandits Kill Four In Sokoto

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Several communities in Sokoto State have been deserted following fresh attacks by bandits, which left four people dead.
The state Commissioner for Security Matters, Garba Moyi, who disclosed this, said livestock were also rustled in the process.

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According to the commissioner, three persons were killed at Bargaja village in Isa local government area, while one was killed in a community in Sabon Birni local government area.
DailyTrust reports that the attackers had invaded Bargaja around 2pm on Thursday, shooting sporadically.
A resident of Isa, identified as Surajo, said inhabitants of Bargaja, Tozai, Turba and Danzanke had all relocated to Isa town following series of attacks on their villages.
“They don’t sleep in their places any more. Only some of their men who have farmlands nearer to the village go back every morning to work on them and rush back to Isa town before sunset,” he said.
Another resident, identified as Malam Sanusi, said Gatawa in Sabon Birni local government is now flooded with refugees from neighbouring villages.
According to him, the villages include, Makera, Dankura, Burkusuma, Kumaro, Garin Tunkiya, Zangon Malam and Asha Banza.
He stated that one Malam Bilya Idris, otherwise known as Idi Gago, was killed at Dankura village, and Malam Abdulmajid Abdurrahman, Muhammadu Hatimu and Yazzid Sa’idu lost their lives during Zangon Malam’s attack some weeks ago.
He further explained that most of the people killed were either the vigilante group or those who lost their animals and decided to pursue the bandits.
“That is why we don’t encourage the villagers to engage them because we have our ways of recovering whatever they have stolen.
“We use their brothers who embraced peace to recover the animals and even their weapons as well as secure the release of kidnapped victims,” he said.

Insecurity

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Group Knocks DSS Over Arrest of Ganduje’s Media Aide, Calls For His Immediate Release

A civil society group, Concerned Nigerians, has called for the immediate release of the media aide to Kano State Governor, Salihu Yakasai. He was allegedly abducted by officers of the Department of State Services ( DSS ) a few hours after criticizing President Buhari’s handling of insecurity in Nigeria.The group noted that President Muhammadu Buhari-led government was becoming insensitive to criticisms, irrespective of the nature of such complaints.

A statement issued at the weekend by the coordinator of the group, Deji Adeyanju, said all over the world, criticisms are means by which governments are kept on the right track.The statement read, “It is even more alarming to note that Mr Yakassai is a member of the All Progressives Congress, the same party that produced President Buhari.
“If state actors can indiscriminately arrest members of the President’s party for criticizing the President, we shudder to imagine what they will do to members of the public and civil society organizations!”We also use this opportunity to reiterate our call for the release of Solomon Akuma, who the Nigerian Police Force has detained for over 350 days because he criticized President Buhari. Solomon Akuma, a young Nigerian pharmacist, has been held incommunicado because of a harmless tweet. This cannot continue! Nigeria practices a constitutional democracy where freedom of speech is one of the pillars upon which the nation is built. “However, it is not too late for the government of the day to retrace its steps and release Salihu Yakasai, Solomon Akuma and other prisoners of conscience. For every day that these innocent citizens remain in unlawful detention, the Buhari led government solidifies its place among pariah governments of the world.”

Human Rights

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#FREEDAWISU: Is Nigeria Back To The Dark Days Of Military Dictatorship? By Seun Awogbenle

Look, if before now, you needed any more evidence to accept that Nigeria has lost all pretence to democracy at least under President Muhammadu Buhari’s ruling government, then look no further, yesterday’s arrest of Tanko Yakassai popularly known as Dawisu, who is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Media aide (now sacked by the way) to the Governor of Kano State Abdullahi Ganduje, offers that poignant evidence and reminder.

The whereabouts of Dawisu was first declared unknown, following his criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari over his inept, clueless and incompetent handling of the security situation asking Buhari to resign if he does not have solution to the prevailing security situation. But it was not until Saturday morning that it was confirmed that the Department of State Security Services (DSS) had arrested and conveyed him from Kano to Abuja in a gestapo style arrest that is only a sordid reminder of the dark days of military dictatorship.
So, here is what is disturbing, Dawisu was arrested for only expressing his constitutional right to free speech and demanding accountability from a government that has a responsibility to secure the people. The other one is that, if Dawisu who is a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and erstwhile aide to the Governor of Kano State, can be arrested in such arbitrary manner, then one may need no further clarification on whether Nigeria has lost all pretence to democracy.
Let me start by offering this reminder to President Buhari and his proxies, that the right to free speech is not just constitutional, it is a God-given right that will never and has never been at the discretion of the state. It is the reason you will too often hear them say in the United States of America, that everyone is endowed by the Creator with certain inalienable rights (cannot be taken away), among these rights is Liberty and one of the most fundamental expression of liberty is the freedom of speech, the right to hold an opinion and impart idea. Sadly, what we have seen consistently under President Buhari’s government, just like in the case of Dawisu is that rather than guarantee the right of the people to free speech, what we have seen over again is the egregious abuse, violation and deliberate effort to criminalise dissent and intimidate (using brute force) those who demand better of their own government. For me, this can never be democracy; it is far from it, what is presently playing out under Buhari is borderline absolutism – an idea that is completely alien to true democracy.
If Dawisu, a member of the ruling Party who is demanding better of his own party can be arrested in such arbitrary manner, what then is the fate of the majority of Nigerians who do not have a voice and lack such access and close proximity to power.
Everyone should be worried, isn’t it scandalous, that after the government has failed to protect us, it is now doing everything to suppress and take away our right to express our dissatisfaction, if the right to expression is taken from us, what then is left of our humanity? I mean you cannot beat a child and then tell a child how to cry or react, that will be obnoxious and evil.
Under Buhari’s administration people are consistently arrested summarily without explanation or legal warrant for making demands of the government they put in power by their own “power” of legitimacy and mandate, it can only be in a dictatorship, certainly not in a democracy. If Buhari does not want to be held accountable for even the most fundamental responsibility of government like Security, then he has no business staying one more day as the President of Nigeria.
Just yesterday, over 300 school girls were kidnapped by bandits from their school in Jangede in Zamfara State, yet no explanation from the government, no accountability, no urgency, just the usual rehash of Buhari expressing “his shock” and sending love and light to those affected from his fortress in Aso Rock. SAD
I recall asking Buhari to resign last December over this same insecurity that has gone almost unabated. From farmer-herder clashes, banditry, abduction, killings and all forms of criminal activities, the level of insecurity across the country is alarming, most Nigerians can hardly barely boast of the slightest sense of safety. It is that bad.
The Security agencies that should rout the criminals have also suddenly become incommunicado and incoherent, safe for when it is time to arrest innocent citizens who are demanding better of the government. This is the reason it will never make sense to me that the same DSS that has failed in its function to gather the security intelligence that is required to stop the banditry, killings and terrorism is the same arresting people who criticise the government. SHAME
Buhari and his proxies may have chosen the path of executive recklessness, crass abuse of power and military-like dictatorship, but if there is anything I have come to know about democracy it is the fact that the power of the people will always TRUMP those of the people in power, as with any other time in history, time will tell again.

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B’Haram Currently Attacking Borno Community

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Suspected Boko Haram fighters have attacked parts of Damboa town in Borno State, a military source has said.
The source, who spoke with SaharaReporters on Saturday, said the town is currently under siege of the terrorists.

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This comes a few days after Boko Haram terrorists killed at least ten people by using rocket-propelled grenades.
Boko Haram militants reportedly launched the attacks from the outskirts of the north-eastern city of Maiduguri into densely populated areas.

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NDLEA Seizes 46kg Tramadol, 79kg Indian Hemp Worth Over N50m In Adamawa

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Saturday, said hard substances suspected to be Tramadol capsules weighing 46.8 kilogrammes worth N50 million had been seized in Mubi, Adamawa State.
The agency’s Commander in the state, Idris Bello, said the drug was seized in a house at Unguwan Madina, Mubi town.

In a similar vein, the command seized 82 blocks of compressed substance, weighing 79 kilogrammes, believed to be cannabis sativa, popularly known as Indian hemp, in Lafiya-Lamurde in Lamurde Local Government Area of the state.
He said, “The Adamawa Command of NDLEA, on February 19, successfully arrested a suspect, with 225mg of Tramadol tablets, 100mg capsules and Diazepam tablets, all weighing 46.8 kg.
“Similarly, the command, on February 24, also arrested a suspect, of Lafiya-Lamurde, in possession of 82 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa substance, weighing 70 kg, in Lamurde Local Government area.”
Bello explained that from January to date, the command had arrested no fewer than 136 suspects connected with drug-related cases across the state.
He also disclosed that during the period under review, 12 people were convicted, while 67 cases were still pending at the Federal High Court, Yola.
Bello attributed the achievements recorded within the period to what he called “dedication and sacrifice by the personnel, working in synergy with other sister agencies, vigilante groups and the communities.”
While acknowledging the support of the federal and state governments to the command, he added that with the help of stakeholders, NDLEA would continue to cripple illicit drug dealers’ activities in the state.
“I am warning illicit drug merchants to either leave the state or be arrested and dealt with accordingly,” he said.

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Northern Elders To Governors: Nigerians Have Lost Faith In Federal Government, Secure Your States

The Northern Elders Forum has called on governors, particularly from the northern region, to explore constitutional options of establishing policing structures.
The group stated that despite assurances from the federal government that it will end banditry and kidnapping, Nigerians’ lives are becoming more endangered daily.

The development comes after the recent kidnapping cases, with the lastest one being the abduction of 317 schoolchildren from Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Talata-Mafara local government area, in Zamfara state on Friday.
In a statement by Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, its director of publicity and advocacy, the forum said Nigerians have “lost faith that government will reverse the successes of the criminal against defenceless citizens”.
The elders advised governors to explore lawful avenues to improve citizens’ security and resolve issues behind the spread of banditry at local and community levels.
The statement read, “It has become painfully apparent that the federal government cannot muster the will or the capacity to limit exposure of Nigerians to violent criminals.
“Despite assurances from the federal government that it will end banditry and kidnappings, the life of the Nigerian is becoming more endangered by the day, and citizens have lost faith that governments will reverse the successes of the criminal against defenceless citizens.
“The forum advises particularly Northern governors to explore all lawful avenues to improve the security of citizens.
“While they should improve their support to the military, the police and security agencies, they should also explore avenues which give them more powers to secure citizens within the confines of the constitution which provides states with authorities to establish policing structures, including those with a specialization such as forest rangers should now be pursued as a matter of national priority.
“Bandits who refuse to submit to mediation and cessation of criminal activities should be treated in accordance with the laws of the country.”
The forum also said it is saddened by the negative effect of the abductions on education, encouraging parents not to stop their children from going to school.
It also called on governments at all levels to take firmer measures to secure schools.
“Apart from the likelihood of similar abductions re-occurring as bandits engage in copycat crimes in a region that is unprotected, these abductions will severely damage the poor state of education in the North, particularly girl-child education,” it said.

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Nigeria News Headlines Today

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Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Sunday 28th February 2021

Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Sunday 28th February 2021

*-marriage-will-never-happen-during-my-tenure%E2%80%94president-ghana Same-s** Marriage Will Never Happen During My Tenure—President Of Ghana

E2%80%94dss Why We Arrested Salihu Tanko-Yakasai—DSS

Top Stories Of The Day

Group Accuses Federal Lawmaker Of Embezzling Taraba Varsity’s Development Fund

Residents Flee Communities As Bandits Kill Four In Sokoto

Group Knocks DSS Over Arrest of Ganduje’s Media Aide, Calls For His Immediate Release

#FREEDAWISU: Is Nigeria Back To The Dark Days Of Military Dictatorship? By Seun Awogbenle

B’Haram Currently Attacking Borno Community

NDLEA Seizes 46kg Tramadol, 79kg Indian Hemp Worth Over N50m In Adamawa

Northern Elders To Governors: Nigerians Have Lost Faith In Federal Government, Secure Your States