Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Thursday 15th July 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 15/07/21
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Bandits Killed Nearly 300 Nigerians in June, Highest Figure This Year
File photo used to illustrate story.
Groups of criminals, popularly known as bandits who have been terrorizing the northwestern part of the country, have killed no fewer than 283 Nigerians in June alone, according to a tally by the Civic Media Lab, a nonprofit organization based in Lagos.The deaths attributed to bandits in June were the highest in a single month since this year, based on the tally from the Civic Media Lab which tracks the figures from reported stories across the country.
File photo used to illustrate story.
More than half of the people killed by the bandits last month were in Zamfara State which had received much of the atrocities from the bandits along with Kaduna State.The increasing death toll shows that the terrorism by the bandits has outpaced that of Boko Haram/ISWAP and Fulani herdsmen which have been described as among the deadliest terrorist groups in the world.From January to June this year, bandits have killed no fewer than 952 people and kidnapped over a thousand Nigerians, according to a tally by the Civic Media Lab.In February alone, they abducted about 397 people, mainly students that were held in hundreds in one fell swoop.Then in March, they abducted no fewer than 281 people and 125 in April. While the abduction decreased to fewer than a hundred in May and June, they have murdered more people in the past two months.As the bandits took over the rein of terror from Boko Haram/ISWAP and Fulani herdsmen, the Nigerian government appeared to be clueless on how to deal with these terrorists who target vulnerable communities and farmers.Curiously, fewer than five deaths were attributed to Boko Haram/ISWAP in June while the Fulani herdsmen maintained their momentum of killings with no fewer than 86 deaths, in addition to the abduction of about 30 people.Overall, more than 400 civilians were killed across the country last month.
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House of Representatives Demand Suspension Of Navy Recruitment Dominated By Northerners After SaharaReporters’ Story
The House of Representatives has said the ongoing recruitment exercise by the Nigerian Navy is unfair and not in compliance with the federal character principle in the Constitution, asking the military agency to suspend the process.
This followed a report by SaharaReporters revealing how a supplementary list of successful candidates recently released by the Navy has only northerners in it.
The candidates on the list obtained by the newspaper were drawn from core northern states with only a few from North Central (Kogi and Niger states).
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REVEALED: All 44 Candidates On Nigerian Navy Supplementary List Under Buhari Government Are Northerners
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“Normally, after recruitment, they release a list and those people on that list will go for training, they divided the list into two, Batch A and B.
“They released a supplementary list recently. This has never happened before that all the names on that list will be from the North–44 candidates. They are not just from the North but mainly from the core North.
“In the normal recruitment list, every state is usually given equal number but I don’t know why this is different. This supplementary list Batch A has resumed, Batch B will resume in January. These are the few people that will join those that are already there. As far as it is supplementary, every zone and state should be included.
“The former ones they did, all states were included in equal numbers except the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); the FCT is the only one that usually gets lesser slots because most of those using FCT to apply are not from there.
“My question is, why is this supplementary list representing only the North. It should represent all parts, not just a particular region,” a source had told SaharaReporters.
REVEALED: All 44 Candidates On @NigerianNavy Supplementary List Under Buhari Government Are Northerners | Sahara Reporters pic.twitter.com/Pm9r2Issep— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) July 12, 2021
In a resolution on Wednesday, the lower chamber unanimously adopted a motion of urgent public importance to investigate the process of the Nigerian Navy Supplementary Recruitment of 44 candidates “for being against the principle of federal character and in gross violation of Section 14 of the 1999 Constitution.”
The House also requested the Navy to provide details of all recruitments from 2014 to date, showing their geographical spread.
Furthermore, it mandated the Committee on Navy to “investigate the exercise and recommend appropriate measures to avoid similar constitutional violations in all future government recruitment and report back within 12 weeks for further legislative action.”
Sponsor of the motion, Ben Igbakpa, said all the successful candidates that are to report for training in two batches at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School Onne, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, “are all from a particular part of the country, which negates the federal character principle of all-inclusiveness, equity and fair play.”
Igbakpa said, “The House is worried that in practice, the principle appears to have been observed more in breach. Appointments and recruitments into the various ministries, departments, and agencies both at the federal and state levels by successive administrations seem to be treated as a matter of political discretion, and those with the appointment and recruitment powers do not feel a legal duty to ensure an equitable spread of appointments and recruitments into the various government bodies.
“The House is further worried that this recruitment Supplementary list of 44 candidates since it became public knowledge, has created a lot of tension, apprehension, and discourse among the young and old from the deprived section.
“The House believes that adequate observance and implementation of the federal character principle will in no small measure allay fears of domination and denial by the ethnic minorities and invariably foster national unity.”
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Gunmen Abduct Kogi Monarch, Demand N30m Ransom
A traditional ruler in Kogi State, the Adogu of Eganyi in Ajaokuta Local Government Area, Alhaji Mohammed Adembe, has been abducted by unknown gunmen on Tuesday evening along Okene – Agogo road.
A source disclosed that the first-class traditional ruler was alone in his car on his way to the Eganyi community from Okene around 4 pm but was abducted between Ebiya and Eganyi by the gunmen.
It was learnt that the kidnappers established contact with the relatives around 1 pm on Wednesday and demanded a ransom of N30 million.
The incident has been confirmed by Police Public Relations Officer, Kogi State Police Command, Mr. William Ayah. He stressed that the police command had deployed a special squad to find the abductors.
Williams urged the public to assist the police with useful information to enable security agents to rescue the royal father from the kidnappers.
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Suspected Kidnappers Kill 40-Year-Old Businessman In Bauchi
A 40-year-old Bauchi businessman, Tasiu Tilde, has been killed by unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.
Tasiu was killed when the gunmen attempted to abduct him at his pharmacy on Tuesday evening in Tilden Fulani, the Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Tilden Fulani is about 100 kilometers from Bauchi.
It was learned that Tasiu, popularly known as Mai Kemis, was attacked by gunmen whose number has yet to be ascertained.
The gunmen reportedly shot sporadically to scare people away while trying to kidnap the victim.
In the process, Tasiu was hit by a bullet from the shootings and eventually died.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Police Command, Ahmed Wakil, who confirmed the incident to newsmen, said “Some yet-to-be-identified gunmen stormed Tilden Fulani in Toro LGA on Tuesday. Their main mission was to kidnap their target, one Tasiu Abdulkareem Tilde, who was operating his business in the area.
“A good Samaritan put a distress call through to our patrol team in the area, they immediately mobilized to the scene of the incident, but before they got there, the suspected kidnappers had fled, leaving their victim in a pool of his blood.
“The patrol team immediately evacuated him to the nearest Toro General Hospital where, on arrival, a medical doctor on duty certified him dead.
“Investigation is ongoing to apprehend the suspects.”
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E2%80%98eagle-eye%E2%80%99-app-ease-financial-crimes-reporting-promises-reward EFCC Launches ‘Eagle Eye’ App To Ease Financial Crimes Reporting, Promises Reward For Whistleblowers
he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday launched an application called Eagle Eye, to ease the reporting of economic and financial crimes to the commission.
This was disclosed by the EFCC’s spokesman, Wilson Uwajuren, in a statement sent to SaharaReporters on Wednesday.
The statement quoted the chairman of the commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa as saying the Eagle App application was designed to complement existing channels of reporting crimes.
Bawa said a unique advantage of the application was the elimination of a direct person-to-person interface in the reporting process, thereby guaranteeing anonymity and “an added incentive for effective whistleblowing”.
According to the EFCC chairman, the initiative is a clear demonstration of his pledge on the assumption of office, to run a technology-driven agency. “The Eagle Eye represents a new experience in information sharing and crime reporting between the public and the EFCC,” he said.
He appealed to members of the public to take advantage of the app in bringing cases of corruption and economic crimes to the knowledge of the EFCC.
He said, “With the App, those who hitherto were afraid to report corruption cases to the Commission either for fear of being identified by the culprits or having their identities revealed, can now do so with the assurance of full anonymity.”
He emphasized that the Eagle Eye App would go a long way in aiding the reportage of fraudulent activities of individuals, particularly in the case of money laundering through real estate.
“With the Eagle Eye, Nigerians and Non-Nigerians can easily take a picture of a property suspected to have been fraudulently or corruptly acquired and report through the App seamlessly,” he said.
He also said that as media practitioners, journalists occupy vantage positions not only in helping to bring the knowledge of the application to the public, but also making use of it and helping others to understand how it could be deployed to further the fight against economic crimes including corruption.
“With the Eagle Eye, you have at your fingertips a device that will ultimately ensure that there is no hiding place for the corrupt in Nigeria,” he further explained.
On how it works, the EFCC Chairman said, Eagle Eye is a user-friendly application, with features that can be navigated by any literate person. The first step, he said, is to download it to a device from either the Apple or Google play store.
He also noted that those who want to key into the Whistle Blowing Policy of the Federal Government can obtain a reward for reporting corruption.
Bawa said such persons should indicate in the information they are providing; just as he said that there are penalties stipulated in the laws, for giving false information that could mislead the commission.
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US Army Veterans Of Igbo Descent Blast Kenyan President For Aiding Kanu’s Arrest, Recall How Nnamdi Azikiwe Helped His Father
Uhuru Kenyatta with Buhari
A group, American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), has written a letter to Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta to find a means of facilitating the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
AVID expressed its displeasure with Kenyatta for abducting Kanu and extraditing him to the Nigerian government for seeking liberation for his Igbo people.
Uhuru Kenyatta with Buhari
The group, which comprises Igbo men and women that are serving or served in different security agencies in the United States, told the Kenyan leader that a Nigerian former President, late Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe saved his father, Jomo Kenyatta who was involved in similar agitation, from the same fate he was to suffer in the hands of British authorities.
They berated the leader of the East African nation for betraying Kanu, by handing him over to the enemies that want to prosecute him for defending his people.
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EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Government Asked Us To Abduct You – Kenya Operatives Told Nnamdi Kanu, Chained Him To Floor For Six Days
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AVID said this in a letter signed by its President, Chief Sylvester Onyia, dated July 10, 2021, which was made available to SaharaReporters.
Read the full letter below:
The American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) just received an urgent Intel we need to explore with you bordering on the kidnap/abduction of a political activist globally known as Mazi Nnamdi Kanu – a Biafra/British citizen within your country.
AVID is comprised of Igbo ethnic men and women who honorably served or are currently serving in different Armed branches of the United States Military. Under Title 38 of the U.S. Code, a veteran is defined as a “person who served in the Active Military, Naval, or Air Service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.
Veteran members of AVID are citizens from all the 50 states in the United States, born as Igbo men and women; and successfully served in the following United States Military Branches:
1. The United States Army
2. The United States Marine Corp
3. The United States Navy SEAL – Sea, Air, and Land specialists.
4. The United States Navy
5. The United States Airforce
6. The United States Coast Guard
7. The United States National Guard
8. The United States Space Force
9. U. S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps Officers
10. The United States Army Guard, Air National Guard, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve
11. The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.”
The organization further revealed in the letter how the agitation for Biafra began a few years after Nigerian Independence and what has transpired till now.
It also informed Kenyatta of how the Nigerian government sent its security agents to invade Kanu’s house in which people were killed in 2017, but the IPOB leader escaped.
The nation called Nigeria has never known peace since the amalgamation of the north and south by the British in 1914. You might be aware of the historic Biafran war which lasted from 1967-1970.
The war was a quest for self-determination of the Igbo people-an attempted emancipation from Fulani terrorist Muslims. Statistically, 2.5 plus million Igbo children, women, and defenseless men perished in that genocide.
Because of the gruesome rape of young Igbo girls and married women, unprovoked killings, land grabbing, massacre, maiming by the Fulani men with no accountability, Eastern Nigeria men pillaged, slaughtered en mass within their indigenous ancestral land with no consequences and grand plan by Nigeria Fulani Islamic-led Jihadist government to violently eliminate all Igbo Judeo-Christian ethnic people and repopulate our ancestral land with Fulani Muslims.
Nigeria government despicable act of support for Boko haram terrorists and Miyetti Allah Muslim Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN. This association is the leadership of Fulani terrorists’ groups disguising as cattle herders in Nigeria.
A credible Civil Rights Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (MNK) established the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and a security outfit called Eastern Security Network (ESN) to protect our people.
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been a target for assassination by the Nigerian Government. There has been the deployment of the Army to his home to kill him an operation (coded operation python dance.) His home was riddled with bullets, 25 young men were killed, but he miraculously escaped.
We are therefore upset and saddened by your collusion with Nigerian Terrorist Government to abduct/kidnap an unarmed son and a Liberation Political Activist (LPA) whom you should have protected and celebrated in support of democracy and freedom,” the letter continued.
The group went further to compare the fate of older Kenyatta whom Azikwe saved and how younger Kenyatta decided to hand over Kanu to his enemy.
Historical Underpinning:
A historical journey through memory lane shows that your father President Jomo Kenyatta was found guilty to be hanged by Britain because of his freedom agitation; same as Mazi Nnamdi Kanu whom you betrayed.
Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the premier of Eastern Nigeria, used money from the Eastern regional government, hired local and international lawyers, came to Nairobi Kenya, and pulled out the head of Jomo Kenyatta from the British hangman’s noose. There is a street and market named in honor of your father in Igbo land.
Your father was accused of leading a terrorist organization called Mau-Mau just as Mazi Nnamdi Kanu whom you betrayed. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe delivered your father from death by hanging, and you delivered Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to be killed by a terrorist Nigerian Government. Ironically, your name “Uhuru” means Freedom, but you stand against Freedom by your betrayal of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Do you not know that this Mazi Nnamdi Kanu whom you extradited to the Nigerian hangman is related to Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe who delivered your father from a British hangman?” The letter further said.
While closing, the group ordered the Kenyan President to find to correct his anomalies by making sure the pro-Biafra secessionist leader regain his freedom.American Veterans of Igbo Descent Understanding:
Your government kidnapped a foreign Civil Political Agitator Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (MNK) and handed him over to the Terrorist Nigeria Government who embraces internationally recognized terrorist organization known as Boko Haram.
Your violent abduction and extradition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu endangered his life for political views he shares with your late father. Your action tantamount to Ad ignorantum because you quickly forgot the help your father received from Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (brother of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu), and without that help, you may not have been born.
Your government hostile and violent action of MNK’s seizure and abduction within your territory is a slap on the face of all Igbo Ethnic Nationality. MNK’s abduction by your security agents has affirmed the consequence, which violates MNK’s United Nations stipulated Human Rights. How can you justify your dastardly action of kidnap and extraditing MNK to the Nigeria terrorist Fulani Muslim Cabal leadership?
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu did not violate any known Kenya law or international law. You must as a matter of urgency ameliorate this degraded condition within a reasonable time and call for the immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Thank you in advance for your esteemed response, consideration, and attention to this matter.
God bless you and God bless the Kenyan people.
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Buhari The Butcher Of Aso Rock Wanted For Terrorism By Bayo Oluwasanmi
Muhammadu Buhari
Domestic terrorism in Nigeria is not new. Nigerians have endured too often in recent years. What makes it more dangerous and more puzzling is when a sitting president, General Muhammadu Buhari The Butcher of Aso Rock, openly and proudly endorsed the butchering of Yorubas by his Fulani kinsmen herdsmen terrorists. By words and action, no doubt, Buhari is on ethnic cleansing mission.
The are two most lethal forms of domestic terrorism. First, ethnically motivated violent extremists like the Fulani herdsmen terrorists, the Miyetti Allah, with their representatives like the Gumis, the Garba Shehus, the Malamis, the El Rufais and other northern terrorist groups. Second, religious extremists – the Islamic fundamentalists like Boko Haram. The two terrorist groups have killed Nigerian citizens, damaged properties, destroyed livelihoods, displaced people from their homelands, turn Nigerians into refugees in their own country and caused many to flee to neighboring countries.
The Butcher of Aso Rock is continuously waging war against Yorubas, Igbos, and other non-Fulani ethnic groups. He once appealed to Nigerians to learn to live with these terrorists saying we should accommodate them. Buhari with equal zeal has gone after Christians. Hundreds if not thousands of Christians have been murdered because of their faith. Some pastors were beheaded. Many were decapitated. And others went missing. It has been a total ethnic cleansing and religious persecution never seen in Nigeria.
Muhammadu Buhari
These acts of terrorism have caused mass casualties, panic, and loss of critical resources to disrupt means of livelihood, vital services of the economy. Our tourist flows have been affected. Of course investments are at a stand still. Their terrorism activities have had heavy and long lasting impact on Nigerians. We have been dehumanized.
The terrorists have created terror, fear, intimidation, insecurity, poverty, violence, feelings of helplessness and hopelessness across the country. No one and no place is safe. Nigeria is a slaughtering field. Despite the anarchy in the country, Buhari like a conqueror coming from war with spoils of war boasting: “We are luck that we have remained one country (despite all the killings).”
The political implications of these terrorists’ attacks are obvious. Our democracy has been erased. Our freedom abbreviated. Our life uprooted. We have unraveling and abuse of existing structures in ways that work to the government’s advantage. Supporters and enablers around Buhari who favor authoritarianism are the greatest beneficiaries of a decadent system run by a bigoted tyrant.
For all these evils perpetrated by Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen terrorists, northern extremists and Islamic fundamentalists, approved and applauded by Buhari, the Nigerian people hereby declare Muhammadu Buhari the blood thirsty Butcher of Aso Rock wanted for crimes against humanity.
bjoluwasanmi@gmail.com
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IPOB Begs United Nations, African Union, Others To Intervene As Nnamdi Kanu’s Health Worsens In Detention
Nnamdi Kanu
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called on the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, and the Economic Community of West African States to defend its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to a statement obtained by SaharaReporters on Wednesday, the group’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the IPOB leader’s health has deteriorated.
Nnamdi Kanu
It urged human rights organizations to rise in his defense.
The secessionist group criticized the Nigerian government and operatives of the DSS, who have refused Kanu to have access to his medical doctors.
“We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), ably led by our great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wishes to alert the world and men of good conscience about the deteriorating health condition of our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in detention at the Department of State Services, (DSS) dungeon since his illegal abduction in Kenya and criminal repatriation to Nigeria.
“Every attempt by his physicians to gain access to him has been rebuffed by the DSS, thereby worsening his health condition,” the statement reads in part.
IPOB reiterated that Kanu was tortured for eight days by the Kenyan security operatives before being handed over to their Nigerian counterparts, who have continued to brutalize him.
“We are alerting the world about this anomaly to compel the Nigerian government to grant our leader’s doctors access to see him for a thorough medical examination bearing in mind the terrible torture he underwent for eight days (8) at the hands of the Kenyan security agents.
“We wish to unequivocally state that no harm should befall our leader as the consequences can only be better imagined. This is not a threat but a promise! Nigeria has been wining and dining with bandits and terrorists but dehumanizing and killing peaceful agitators and freedom fighters.
“We urge human rights organizations, UN, AU, EU, ECOWAS, and other relevant organizations across the globe to rise in defense of justice and compel the Nigeria government and her compromised security agencies to grant our leader’s doctors unfettered access to him. Our Leader must not die in DSS custody, neither should he suffer any serious health complications,” the statement continues.
In the statement titled, ‘IPOB Raises Concern Over Leader’s Health,’ the group stated Kanu had not committed any crime against Nigeria and Kenya, which have persistently abused his human rights.
“Our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has not committed any crime against Nigerian or Kenyan government to warrant being treated as a criminal. Human rights organizations and men and women of good conscience across the world should not watch idly while the wicked Nigerian security agents are dehumanizing our leader.
“Our leader’s fundamental human rights have been grossly violated by the Nigerian government and Kenya government and continue to be violated with each passing day under the illegal custody of the DSS.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu must be released to enable him to undergo a proper medical examination, having gone through the most horrendous inhumane treatment and torture at the hands of the Kenyan security agents,” the statement adds.
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E2%80%94-apc-chief-igbokwe-defends-government%E2%80%99s-clampdown Bandits Are Into Business, IPOB Is Calling For War — APC Chief, Igbokwe Defends Government’s Clampdown On Secessionists
Joe Igbokwe
An All Progressives Congress Chief and Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Drainage and Water Resources, Joe Igbokwe, has explained why the federal government has not extended the coordinated efforts towards the arrest of secessionist leader, Nnamdi Kanu to bandits and kidnappers.
In an interview with BBC Pidgin, Igbokwe stated that bandits were simply into “kidnapping business” and might not even be Nigerians while calls for secession are a passage to war.
Joe Igbokwe
He revealed that the Supreme Court does not allow discussions regarding secession stressing that calls for a separate region are not even ideal for Igbos who have businesses all over the country.
He said, “That is the argument of the weak human beings, you want to compare Sambisa Forest to the South-East that is smaller than Kogi State. Bandits come to kidnap for money, you pay them and they release you, that is their business, those people may not even be Nigerians. It is not war, it is not secession. In fact, in the Supreme Court of Nigeria when the issue of secession came up, the Supreme Court will not entertain it; we don’t discuss it.
“You don’t talk about it, tribes must die for you to build a nation? It is unheard of, we have made mistakes in the past, we don’t want to make them again. It is a delicate, complicated matter. Almost 400 young men lost their lives in two months.”
Igbokwe also spoke on why he rejoiced at the arrest of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Kanu.
In his words, “He (Kanu) said, on Radio Biafra, that if they see me, his boys, they should behead me and kill all my children, destroy my home and I played it down but I put my life in the hands of God and that of my family because I was asking myself, I was like has it gotten to this, that you cannot hear voices that are not saying no, we can’t go this way.
”I’m older than him, I saw the civil war, he didn’t see the civil war. I know what we went through, I couldn’t go to school during the civil war, I was in Primary 5 when the war started in 1967 and after the war, I started again from Primary 5 and I understand what played out, the casualties, the pain, the tears, the losses, my father lost his business and we said, do we have to go through this way again?
“Having seen it all because I know what he doesn’t know and I have seen what he has not seen, I have the experience, I have seen it all and I have the history behind me. Has it gotten to this that if you have dissent voices then the person has to be killed?
“It could have been worse, many people died. I am not celebrating death; I’m just thanking God that at least I may be a little bit free… Again, I’m looking at the big picture too; do we have to go this way again?”
Speaking on the marginalisation of the Igbos as a reason for the call for secession, Igbokwe noted that Igbos are not the least of the three major tribes in the country.
He said, “It’s not the option, you negotiate, you go to the conference table to negotiate because you may say we have been marginalized, yes because, after all, we have the least number of states if you compare us to other zones, it is denying us a lot of things but if you place the three major ethnic groups on the table, Igbo is not the last in terms of anything, education, wealth, cash, we are not the last. I won’t tell you we are the first but I won’t tell you we are the last.
“Enterprising spirit is our culture, our tradition but they are not doing the business in the southeast, across everywhere, Lagos, Kaduna, Sokoto. Igbos are widely travelled people, we need the space, we can go anywhere, why are you asking for a small space? There’s no ethnic group in Nigeria widely travelled as our people. An Igbo man will go to a place and start a small business and start booming.
“What I want is that the Federal Government should give Igbos additional states, I’ve been advocating for that for years now, just one state because we work hard in this country, we built Abuja, a sizeable part of Abuja, if all the governors gather here in Abuja, we will be the least — five others have six.
“Kanu’s arrest was serious international diplomacy, a delicate and seamless operation that must have taken years to plan. So, take the leader away and the followers will scatter.”
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It’s A Year After Nigeria’s First Female Combat Pilot, Tolulope Arotile Died. Will Justice Be Served?
Tolulope Arotile
Tolulope Arotile
A year after the death of Tolulope Arotile, Nigeria’s first-ever female combat pilot, justice has not been served.
Arotile died in an accident on July 14, 2020, at the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) base in Kaduna at the age of 24. Her family had called for a quick dispensation of justice in the case.
Tolulope Arotile
Her father, Akintunde Arotile, said if justice could be served as soon as possible, their minds would be put to rest.
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Father Of Late Combat Helicopter Pilot, Tolulope Arotile, Speaks On Daughter’s Last Moments, Says She Fulfilled Childhood Dream
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However, the circumstances surrounding Arotile’s demise remain challenging to comprehend, amid allegations that powerful forces conspired to eliminate her.
The deceased was renowned for her gallantry and skills, including flying fighter choppers to areas dominated by bandits and terrorists for aerial strikes.
Tolulope Arotile
A cross-section of Nigerians believes her contributions to counter-insurgency operations cost her life and continue to demand a probe.
But the answers they seek may not be provided soon with the seeming bungling of the prosecution of the person(s) arrested over Arotile’s death.
The NAF, according to former Director of Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, stated that its late officer was killed by a “reversing car.”
“She was inadvertently hit by the reversing vehicle of an excited former Air Force Secondary School classmate while trying to greet her,” Daramola said.
Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, had earlier rubbished NAF’s account of how Arotile died.
“The idea that she was killed after being knocked down on the Airforce Base by her friend’s car is nonsensical. I suspect that Tolu was murdered, the truth is being covered up,” he noted.
Gani Adams, Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, and socio-cultural organization, Afenifere called NAF’s “reversing car” explanation unfathomable.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, posed ten questions on the national tragedy to NAF.
Daramola declared that the military arm would not join issues with individuals or groups regarding the “spurious” claims of foul play in response to public outrage.
“Arotile was a pride of the NAF. It is ludicrous for anyone to even remotely insinuate malevolent intent on the part of the service against one of its most prized assets.”
The Magistrate Court in Kaduna discharged two of the accused – Folorunsho Igbekele and Gbayegun Deji in August last year.
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Court Discharges Two Suspects In Death Of Arotile, Other To Face Culpable Homicide
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The Magistrate, Benjamin Hassan, said the Kaduna Justice Ministry’s public prosecution department found nothing against them “other than being passengers in the vehicle of the 1st suspect”.
The first defendant, Nehemiah Adejor, was expected to be re-arraigned before a High Court for manslaughter on September 3, 2020. Curiously, the case has gone cold and tongues are wagging.
Tolulope Arotile hailed from Iffe in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi. She attended the Air Force Primary School, Kaduna (2000 to 2005) and the Air Force Secondary School, Kaduna (2005 to 2011).
The celebrated pilot gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna, as a member of 64 Regular Course, on September 22, 2012.
Arotile held a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the NDA and was commissioned into the NAF on September 16, 2017
She was winged as the first female combat helicopter pilot on October 15, 2019, after completing her flying training in South Africa.
Just two years into her career, Arotile acquired 460 hours of flight, an exceptional milestone that, among others, earned her commendation from President Muhammadu Buhari.
It is expected that the Nigerian leader will honor her memory by ordering a diligent prosecution of the death.
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SaharaReporters, New York
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