Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Monday 1st February 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 01/02/21
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E2%80%93 Buhari’s APC Membership Revalidation With 10 APC Governors Wasteful, Disgraceful, Irresponsible – AAC
The African Action Congress has described President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress as disgraceful after 10 governors belonging to the party accompanied the President to revalidate his membership of their party in his hometown, Daura in Katsina State on Saturday.
Ahmad Lawan, President of the Senate, was also part of the President’s entourage.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, had disclosed the members of the entourage in a statement, saying, “The President’s registration exercise in Daura was attended by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; 10 governors, including the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, who is the Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee, and other party stalwarts.”
However, a statement on Sunday by the AAC, formed by the 2019 presidential candidate Omoyele Soyore, described the actions of the APC stalwarts as wasteful.
The statement by Ameen Abdul, Chairmen of the AAC, Federal Capital Territory, on Sunday, titled, ‘Buhari’s APC membership revalidation trip; A Crystal Display Of Resource Wastefulness, Cluelessness and Idleness By Buhari’s APC,’ also noted that the action was irresponsible.
It read in part, “The President has once again shown to the globe how idle and irresponsible he and his party men can be with taxpayers’ monies and national resources.
“The needless revalidation of membership of a clearly demystified and politically evaporated party like the APC, is a clear pointer and reminder that the current leadership lacks every human and technological know-how to move Nigeria and Nigerians to the desired next level.
“Buhari’s led APC has not failed to ridicule and disgrace Nigeria before the global community every time the opportunity supplies itself. A simple digital computation would have saved the country and her citizens this disgrace and wasteful adventure of taxpayers’ money.
“It would have also brought about verifiable data of Nigerians who are members of the APC and not their usual way of manipulating figures as accustomed with their nature.
“The governors would have been seen as responsible if only they had supplied such energy into development, security, employment and education of their constituents other than lazing around in Daura, while abandoning their constitutional responsibility!”
Beyond the issue of wastefulness, the party also frowned upon Buhari’s violation of the COVID-19 protocols, especially as the President had on Wednesday signed a new law prescribing six-month jail term for persons convicted for disobeying any COVID-19 guideline.
Although most of the provisions were already in place, the legal instrument provided a basis for the prosecution of defaulters.
As provided in the Quarantine Act, section 34 of the new law states that any offence under the regulation is punishable by a fine or a term of six months imprisonment or both.
The law provides for the maintenance of physical distance in gatherings, while all persons in such public places must, among other things, wear face masks, wash their hands and have their temperature checked before entering such venues.
It also restricts gathering of more than 50 persons in an enclosed space “except for religious purposes, in which case the gathering shall not exceed 50 percent capacity of the space”.
It further mandates institutions such as schools, banks and worship centres to enforce existing guidelines to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
However, the President failed to adhere to the protocols, thereby violating the law during the validation of his membership of the APC at Sarkin Yara Ward in Daura.
On the violation, the AAC said, “Aside from being a jamboree, waste of national resources, show of idleness, total cluelessness on the usage of technology and a concrete show of no vision, the President also went there to flout the order he signed recently to convict anyone seen in a public space without a face mask.
“It is clear that the APC has lost touch with the people and contemporary realities amidst poverty, insecurity, unemployment, educational bankruptcy, bad healthcare facilities and sardonic corruption in the land if Buhari’s major concern and priority is on membership revalidation and baseless trips.”
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Lagos Police Arrest Female Armed Robbery Suspect, 14 Others
Hakeem Odumosu
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 15 armed robbery suspects, including a lady, a statement on Sunday signed by its spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, read.
Ogunjobi, in the statement, said that the suspects were picked up at various locations in Lagos following reports on their criminal activities.
Hakeem Odumosu
“The police operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command, between Friday 29th and Saturday 30th January, 2021, arrested 13 suspected traffic robbers in Oshodi and Ketu (Alausa) areas of the state, as it intensifies efforts in mopping up criminals suspected to be attacking motorists and commuters in traffic,” it read.
“The arrest came on the heels of the four-day surveillance on blackspots in Oshodi and Alausa (Ketu) with a view to weeding out criminals in the areas where it was reliably gathered that the suspects, most of whom pretend to be load carriers in Oshodi, abscond with travellers’ loads at dawn and at night. It has also been gathered that they often attack and rob unsuspecting Lagosians, especially travellers and commuters, in the areas.
“The suspects were picked up by the Rapid Response Squad’s (RRS) Commander, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi-led team between 10:45pm on Friday and 4:30am on Saturday at Oshodi Oke and Alausa respectively.
“The suspects that were picked up in Oshodi included Tinuola Ajibola, male, (18); Adeniji Farouk, male, (16); Wale Ajetunmobi, male, (24); Chibueze Okasa, male, (17); Taiwo Goodluck, male, (36); Sodiq Timileyin, male, (23); Salami Alex, male, (21); Umar Abubakar, male, (20); Micheal Iroaja, male, (36); Abba Mohammed, male; (20) and Mukaila Fasepe, male, (43). While the other two suspects, Saviour Nwoko (21) and Ayomide David (19) were caught in the act by the team at different locations, with (a) machete and stolen phones in Alausa, Lagos.
“David, alias Sharwama, one of the suspects and ex-convict, has disclosed to the police that his gang used to operate along Olowopopo Road, Ojodu and Ojota.
“In another development, police operatives attached to the Meiran Division of the command arrested two suspected armed robbers at Ikola Ipaja Bridge, while on pin down point, on 27th January, 2021 at 11.20pm. The suspects were stopped on a motorbike before they were arrested and searched. Upon searching them, one locally-made pistol, charms and weed suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from them.
“The two suspects are Oluwadamilare Folami, male, 22 and Desire Chukwu, female, 21.”
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Crisis Rocks Kaduna PDP As Faction Emerges
All seems not to be well with the Kaduna State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a new faction known as the ‘Restoration Group’ has emerged with a plan to form a parallel leadership.
The new faction has a former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Dogara Mato, and former PDP senatorial candidate, Ubale, as members.
Addressing a news conference at the end of their meeting on Saturday, the group vowed to set up a parallel party secretariat if its members fail to see what they termed as the right approach and right attitude towards faithful and loyal members.
It faulted the last congress that produced the ward, local and state executives of the party, insisting it would not recognise the current chairman in the state, Hassan Hyet, and other executive members of the party due to what it termed as their illegal emergence.
The group also claimed that due process and adherence to the party’s election guidelines were not followed during the congress.
Therefore, according to the group, all the elected members will not be recognised as leaders of the party.
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E2%80%98honest-nigerian%E2%80%99-after-dad-claims-people-nigeria India Man Narrates Experience Hiring ‘Honest Nigerian’ After Dad Claims People From Nigeria Tend To Cheat
An Indian man, Adi Suja, has said his father warned him to be wary of people from Nigeria after he (father) got to know he hired a Nigerian.
Suja, who is the founder and Chief Growth Officer of The Growth Club, disclosed this on his LinkedIn page.
He said the Nigerian who has worked with him for the past 8 months has however proved his father wrong.
He said, “Yes, he’s from Nigeria. He’s one of our writers. Nigeria? Be careful. Nigerians tend to cheat. When we started offering content marketing services, one of our first content hires was a Nigerian.
“When we found him on Upwork, he’d been looking for work for months. We gave him a test task. Good writing. Research. He put time into his work.
“We hired him. Over the next 8 months, he created content for multiple clients & partners. Worked with us through cash slumps. Irregular deadlines & requirements.
“After a Skype call with him one day, my dad popped a question: ‘Who’s Rodgers? Saw you having a call with him. Where is he from?’ Yes, he’s from Nigeria. He’s one of our writers.
“Nigeria? Be careful. Nigerians tend to cheat. I didn’t know what to say. Couldn’t get my mind off it even after I got back to work. My dad was wrong. Gullibility & some bad experiences had caused my dad to not trust Nigerians.
“I know: They have a bad rep because of some scammers. But when we generalise an entire nation based on the actions of a few. We’re stooping down to the level of the dimwits who run the scams.
“I think it’s high time we focus on the qualities Africans should be known for: Hard work, passion & culture.”
Reacting, another Indian, Vishal Vasudev Nair, said, “Adi, I have been working in Nigeria for past 5 years, as in every country, there are good people and bad people. Let me say 90% of Nigerians are good and want to earn their money through hard work. They are the most hard-working chaps I have ever met.”
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EXCLUSIVE: Tension As Lagos Residents Burn Two Robbers To Death
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There has been palpable tension in Tolu area of Olodi Apapa in Lagos State after angry residents descended on two armed robbery suspects caught in the area and burnt them to death.
SaharaReporters learnt that the police at the Tolu division and the Area B command were currently searching for those who carried out the act, creating apprehension in the area as residents are afraid of possible raids.
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It was gathered that more police detectives had been patrolling the area which is also a flashpoint for cultism, street fights, robbery and other criminalities.
SaharaReporters learnt that the two armed robbery suspects were caught on Bale Street on Saturday and set ablaze.
A police report from the Tolu division obtained by SaharaReporters confirmed that one of the burnt robbery suspects was identified as Monday Okunomo while the identity of the other remained unknown as of the time of this report.
“At around 3pm, information was received that two suspected armed robbers were caught and set ablaze by some boys at Bale Street, Tolu. Policemen mobilised to the scene and met the corpses still burning. Immediately the boys sighted the police, they took to their heels.
“The photographs of the burnt corpses were taken and evacuated to the Mainland General Hospital mortuary, Yaba, for an autopsy. Effort is ongoing to track and arrest the perpetrators,” the police report partly reads.
A resident of the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told SaharaReporters on Sunday that while more policemen were needed to calm the tension in the area as well as arrest the street urchins, the operatives “should not raid innocent residents under the guise of looking for criminals”.
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NOUN Holds Virtual Convocation For 32,725 Students Due To Rising COVID-19 Cases
The National Open University of Nigeria has held a virtual convocation for a record 32,725 students who graduated in 2020 and 2021, but could not assemble together due to the rising COVID-19 cases in Lagos and Abuja.
The university held its convocation on Saturday where the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abdalla Adamu, noted that 24,300 students were drawn from 2020 and 8,425 in 2021.
It is the first time the institution, which has study centres across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, would hold virtual convocation.
Adamu, who is due to end his five-year tenure by February 10, said, “It became necessary to hold a combined convocation due to inability to hold the 9th convocation in March 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic.
“The virtual convocation is not the first in the country due to COVID-19 restrictions, but it is the most significant in being the largest single event mass graduation of students in the history of higher education in the country.”
President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the Visitor to the university, was represented by the National Universities Commission Deputy Executive Secretary, Ramon Yusuf.
He noted that “Open and Distance Learning mode” was becoming more acceptable to Nigerians in the country.
The NOUN Chairman, Governing Council, Prof Peter Okebukola, said the combined convocation was done to set a standard for other universities in the country.
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Hours After Buhari Shuns Face Covering, Social Distancing, Presidency Threatens Lockdown Over Non-compliance With COVID-19 Law
The Nigerian government has expressed concern about reports of non-compliance with the Executive Order that makes mask wearing and observation of social distancing in the public mandatory.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on Wednesday signed the coronavirus (COVID-19) Health Protection Regulations 2021 Act into law.
As provided in the Quarantine Act, section 34 of the new law states that any offence under the regulation is punishable by a fine or a term of six months imprisonment or both.
The law provides for the maintenance of social distancing in gatherings, while all persons in such public places must, among other things, wear face masks, wash their hands and have their temperature checked before entering such venues.
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President Buhari Violates COVID-19 Law Prescribing 6-month Jail Term For Defaulters
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It also restricts gathering of more than 50 persons in an enclosed space “except for religious purposes, in which case the gathering shall not exceed 50% capacity of the space”.
However, the President failed to adhere to the protocols, thereby violating the law on Saturday during the validation of his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Sarkin Yara Ward in Daura, Katsina State.
In some of the pictures that surfaced online, Buhari was seen discussing with some APC leaders without putting on a face mask or maintaining social distancing as stipulated by the new law.
The Presidency in a statement on Sunday by Garba Shehu, Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, however warned Nigerians to obey the law to avert a fresh lockdown in Nigeria.
The statement read, “The Presidency is worried by reports of non-compliance with the signed Executive Order that makes mask wearing and observation of social distancing in the public mandatory, appealing to Nigerians to give their maximum cooperation for success of the policy.
“President Muhammadu Buhari introduced the order with the best of intentions and not with any motive to punish citizens. The Presidency appeals to state governments, traditional rulers and religious leaders to play active roles in the sensitisation and enforcement of the Executive Order.
“To achieve this, COVID-19 task forces and committees should persuade members of the public to cooperate with the government in achieving compliance and avoid crude methods that may create resistance and resentment, thereby defeating the primary goal of the Executive Order.
“The Buhari administration is most reluctant to lock down the country and continues to emphasise the non-pharmaceutical measures and the only way to avert lockdowns is to observe these measures as put in place by the Presidential Task Force.
“Nigerians have come a long way from the dreaded lockdown and the administration is unhappy about any prospects of bringing it back as many citizens will not have food on the table without venturing out on a day-to-day business.
“Nigerians are required to wear masks, wash hands regularly with soap and clean water, and keep a safe distance with anybody not in your household, hoping that this will help check the spread of COVID-19.
“Though vaccine availability is within reach, the propensity of the public for noncompliance weakens the fight against the virus. Nigerians must ignore baseless conspiracy theories that seek to deny the reality of the pandemic by complying with the order to wear masks.
“We have a duty to protect ourselves and others in this difficult global health crisis; no one has immunity against this pandemic. Ignoring health warnings and refusing to comply with safety measures does more harm than good. The COVID-19 pandemic is a major threat to public health and wearing of masks, social distancing in public places and the basic hygiene are necessary measures that have to be taken to safeguard the well-being of our citizens.
“Nigerians must always have it in mind that the COVID-19 pandemic is not only a threat to the health of the population but it is equally so to the national economy, and to every aspect of our everyday life.
Protecting public health is one of the sacred duties of any responsible government and the administration will not abdicate that responsibility.”
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E2%80%99 BREAKING: Boko Haram Kills Policemen, Seizes Operational Van Despite New Service Chiefs’ Maiden Visit To Borno
Security sources have confirmed the killing of two policemen and a civilian by Boko Haram insurgents along the Maiduguri-Chabal- Magumeri Road in Borno State.
Though details of the incident are still sketchy, a senior military officer told SaharaReporters that the gunmen attacked police checkpoint along the road on Sunday and killed two policemen before abducting two others.
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He said the gunmen also seized a police operational vehicle and burnt another one.
“We just received a signal that Boko Haram terrorists attacked some police officer at Chabal community. A civilian Joint Task Force member was also shot dead. Soldiers from Maimalari Cantonment, 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri have been mobilised to the area,” the source said.
This unfortunate incident is coming on the day Lucky Irabor, the Chief of Defence Staff led Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Awwal Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Isiaka Amao, Chief of Air Staff to the Operation Lafiya Dole theatre command in Maiduguri, Borno State.
This is the first time the new Service Chiefs are visiting the state since their appointment by President Mohammadu Buhari last week.
It is also their first operational visit and is believed will redefine the fight against the insurgents.
They also met with Governor Babagana Zulum.More details later.
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E2%80%99s-eastern-security-network-invades-fulani-camp-abia-kills-many-cows Herdsmen Flee As IPOB’s Eastern Security Network Invades Fulani Camp In Abia, Kills Many Cows
Operatives of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) have reportedly invaded the camp of Fulani herdsmen in Isiukwuato, Abia State, chasing them away and killing dozens of their cows.
In a video shared by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and seen by SaharaReporters, ESN operatives were seen burning houses and cows allegedly belonging to the herdsmen.
“Video of men at work last night across all the towns and villages of the old Bende Division, especially Isiukwuato,” Kanu captioned the video shared on his Facebook page.
“ESN has commenced the combing of parts of Isiukwuato forests last night and engagement with the enemy is ongoing and will continue until they no longer present a threat to our communities along that axis.
“Our intel so far has revealed that those terrorising Isiukwuato are rogue elements in the Nigerian Army & police who pass on their victims to Fulani killer herdsmen. #ESN shall find and neutralise these murderers and kidnappers in the coming days, be rest assured.”
A lady was also heard in the video accusing the Fulani of being behind the rising insecurity in the Eastern region.
“We are here to tell these idiots, these stupid Fulani that this place is not for them, they must leave our land. We are formidable, we have dealt with them, their cows are dead, we have chased them away,” she said.
“They should leave our land, there is no place for them. We cannot allow you to stay in our land, you kill our people, you rape our women, you think you will go scot free, there is no place for you. These are their houses, we are setting fire on (sic) it. They should leave our land.”
Kanu had in December 2020 launched ESN to protect the people of South-East and South-South regions from terrorists and bandits allegedly trooping in from the North.
The IPOB leader described the outfit as a replica of the Western Nigeria Security Network, also known as Amotekun, earlier launched by the governors of the South-West to curb insecurity in the region.
“The sole aim and objective of this newly formed security outfit known as Eastern Security Network is to halt every criminal activity and terrorist attack on Biafraland,” Kanu had said.
“This outfit, which is a vigilante group like the Amotekun in the South-West and the Miyetti Allah security outfit, will ensure the safety of our forests and farmland which terrorists have converted into slaughter grounds and raping fields.”
SaharaReporters reported that the military search had been ongoing for days, and had no time frame, as the army was acting on “orders from above.”
From drones and hidden cameras believed to be installed by the ESN, a video captured the Nigerian Army helicopters and their vehicles and soldiers searching for the camp of the ESN to make arrests.
However, there have been clashes between the military and ESN operatives in Orlu, Imo State, leading to the death of at least five persons.
Recently, it was also learnt that some Nigerian soldiers resigned and joined the ESN, on the grounds that the ESN, being funded by both international and local donors, had better welfare packages for its officers than the military.
“The Kanu ESN boys are not a bunch of rookies and untrained fellows brandishing guns. I personally know five guys from my hometown in Anambra State who left the Nigerian Army to join the ESN. Two of them were formerly serving in Operation Lafiya Dole, Borno State, before they quit.
“We are being reliably informed that there are other soldiers, particularly of the South-East extraction, who will soon leave for other various reasons and they are likely to be recruited into the fold,” a military source told SaharaReporters.
In July 2012, about 356 soldiers in the North-East and other theatres of operation had resigned from the army – some on voluntary retirement, while others cited loss of interest as their reason for disengagement.
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Nigerian Army, Police Silent As Boko Haram Terrorists Kill Soldiers In Borno, Abduct Female Police Officers
About 48 hours after Boko Haram invaded Dikwa town in Borno State, killing at least three soldiers and abducting two female police officers, neither the Nigerian Army nor the Nigeria Police Force has officially spoken on the incident.
SaharaReporters had on Friday reported how Boko Haram terrorists engaged the Nigerian military in a four-hour battle to take control of Dikwa, a community that also houses over 75,470 internally displaced persons.
The attack happened few hours after Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai handed over to Major General Ibrahim Attahiru as the Chief of Army Staff.
The gun battle, which started at around 6:00pm, lasted till about 10:00pm however claimed many casualties, including soldiers.
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BREAKING: Boko Haram Currently Attacking Dikwa In Borno
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Two female police officers and many IDPs were also abducted by the insurgents.
Authorities of the Nigeria Army and the Nigeria Police Force have however been silent on the incident.
“The situation in Dikwa has caused tension within the operation. About three of our people were killed by the gunmen, some police officers and IDPs were also abducted by the gunmen. It’s really a sad one.
“The Army authorities yesterday contacted the families of the dead soldiers to inform them,” a senior military officer told SaharaReporters.
Dikwa is in Borno Central, where its Shehu, His Royal Highness Dr. Abba Tor Masta II, died last week after a protracted illness.
The late Shehu’s palace was hitherto taken over and declared by a top Boko Haram commander and his lieutenants as their base some years back before troops recovered it after a fierce battle.
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