News You Can Use 2023

November 24, 2023

December 2023

November 2023

11.20.23

Bandits Kill Policeman, Abduct District Head’s Wife, 14 Others In Zamfara
By Adeniyi Salaudeen
ABUJA FCT – Armed bandits have killed a mobile policeman attached to the Maru Police Division in an attack on the Ruwandoruwa community of Maru Local Government Area in Zamfara state The bandits also reportedly abducted 15 persons including the wife of the district head of the community. Although the police authorities in the state are yet to comment on the latest attack, a resident of the community Abdullahi Ruwandoruwa told Channels Television in a phone conversation that the assault happened early around 12:30 am on Sunday. He said the assailants unleashed gunfire indiscriminately after they stormed the community. According to him, a mobile policeman was fatally shot in front of the district head’s residence while attempting to defend the house. While the bandits initially planned to kidnap the district head, they could not locate him, he added. Consequently, they seized the district head’s wife. “They found their way to the district head’s house after which they shot a policeman in front of the house,” he said. “They did not meet the district head at home, but they found his wife and took her away.” Ruwandoruwa said the bandits are yet to contact the community for ransom regarding the abducted individuals………… READ MORE

NAF Bombs Boko Haram Commander’s Hideout In Kaduna
By Chimezie Enyiocha
ABUJA FCT – The air component of Operation Whirl Punch, operating in the North-West and North Central zones, has successfully targeted and eliminated several terrorists in an air bombardment in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The Director of Public Relations and Information for the Nigerian Air Force Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet confirmed this in a statement on Sunday. He said the operation was initiated based on intelligence indicating the presence of a terrorist kingpin known as Boderi along with his brother Nasiru and other members at their hideout in Tsauni Doka village in the area. “The Nigerian Air Force aircraft under Operation Whirl Punch have sustained air strikes against terrorists operating in the North-West and North Central regions of the country, leading to the decimation of several terrorist elements at Tsauni Doka in the Igabi local government area of Kaduna State. “Subsequently, air strikes were carried out on the location in the early hours of November 16th, 2023, with devastating consequences on the terrorists,” the statement read. “Similar strikes with positive outcomes were also carried out at a location about 500 metres east of Boderi’s hideout, believed to be the hiding place of Boderi’s brother, Nasiru. Both strikes were termed very successful as several terrorists were neutralised and their motorcycles.” …………………. READ MORE

Floods Displace 650,000 Nigerian Children in 7 years – UNICEF
By Timi Owolabi
LAGOS – Floods have displaced 650,000 Nigerian children, making the country the second most affected globally by climate change impacts on children. The displacement occurred from 2016 to 2023, as highlighted in a press release by the United Nations Children’s Education Fund, UNICEF, on Monday, which coincided with the 2023 World Children’s Day. The UN agency emphasised that over 110 million Nigerian children are at risk due to rising temperatures, floods, droughts, and severe storms. Dr. Salisu Dahiru, Director General of the National Council on Climate Change, stressed the urgency of a swift and inclusive response, particularly considering the needs of vulnerable populations like children and women, in decision-making and implementation. Similarly, Christian Munduate, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, underscored the need to provide a platform for children to express their concerns about climate change, towards shaping a collective path toward a sustainable future. Meanwhile, stakeholders in education, the environment, media, and relevant organizations converged at Evolution Hotel, Gombe, for the launch of the Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC) in Nigeria, marking the 2023 World Children’s Day. UNICEF Bauchi Field Office streamed the launch live, highlighting key climate risks to children and outlining multi-sectoral climate actions planned for Nigeria from 2023–2027. ………….READ MORE

Jihad Attacks in Nigeria: Why are Nigerian Women Ravaged by Terrorists Forgotten by the World?
WASHINGTON D.C. – Nigerian women and children, ravaged by terrorists, matter to the world? U.S. and international authorities wavering in their support for Israel following the infamous October 7 Islamic terrorism have long ignored similar jihad violence plaguing Africa’s largest nation by population, Nigeria. Rhoda Jatau, is still in jail 18 months after posting to social media in protest of the stoning death of a young female student accused of blasphemy by her peers and letters written to Nigerian authorities by multiple U.N. rapporteurs about her case have gone unanswered. Meanwhile, recent groundbreaking reports by TruthNigeria show Islamic terrorists are using mass rape and sex-slavery to terrorize indigenous Christian farming communities and force them from their lands. Thousands of Nigerian women and girls held captive by jihadists are still missing, tens of thousands have been widowed and orphaned, and millions more—by some estimates between 4-6 million—are starving and left languishing without help from their government or others who deny the crisis has grown to such extremes. Similar to terrorist attacks in Israel that earned immediate international attention, attacks in Nigeria are well-armed, heavily manned, and religiously motivated. They involve mass killings, beheadings and slaughter, rapes, and hostage-taking. The victims are men, women, and children including the elderly and infants. ……………….. READ MORE

A Save the Persecuted Christians Webinar
Jihad Attacks in Nigeria:
Why are Nigerian Women, Ravaged by Terrorists,Forgotten by the World?

11/13/23

Nobody Will Be Spared – Aisha Yesufu Warns Of Impending Protest Worse Than Endsars
By John Owen Nwachukwu
ABUJA FCT – Socio-political activist, Aisha Yesufu, has warned of a more devastating protest than the 2020 nationwide protest, tagged ‘End SARS’. DAILY POST reports that EndSARS was a decentralized social movement, and a series of mass protests against police brutality in the country. The slogan called for the disbanding of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a notorious unit of the Nigeria Police. The protest, which started on Twitter, resulted in mass demonstrations occurring throughout the major cities of Nigeria and accompanied violence, leading to the death of many young Nigerians. Aisha Yesufu, who was one of the activists at the center of the protest, said Nigerians might just be caught unaware of what is coming. Yesufu noted that there is a simmering anger in the land fueled by the impunity and brazenness of the corrupt politicians and rulers who have rigged their way into power. “Nobody saw the #EndSARS protest coming. Nobody will see the next uprising coming,” she wrote on X. “Sadly, it might end up being violent. There is a simmering anger fueled by the impunity and brazenness of the corrupt politicians and rulers who have rigged their way into power. Nobody will be spared.” ………….. READ MORE

Social Media Regulation Bill: Gagging Free Speech or Taming Monster?
By Rotimi Agboluaje
ABUJA FCT – As the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) prods the National Assembly to regulate the social media space through a bill, ROTIMI AGBOLUAJE reports that just like in previous attempts, there are strong oppositions to the enactment of such law in a democratic environment. Before now, the Federal Government had made various spirited attempts to regulate social media and online platforms. For instance, in 2015, the National Assembly started a campaign against the abuse of social media and attempted legislation to regulate it. On June 4, 2021, the Federal Government also banned Twitter after the social networking application deleted a post it considered offensive by the former president, Muhammadu Buhari. Again, on June 13, 2022, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) released an 11-page document, which it called a draft Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries. However, all the attempts couldn’t sail through. Just recently, Mr Dele Alake, who was the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Special Duties, Communications, and Strategy, during his screening at the Senate for a ministerial post, advocated the strengthening of laws to regulate the use of social media. Alake said the downside of social media is detrimental to a good and decent society, pointing out that, “even victims of libel, aspersion, defamation and all kinds of negativity hesitate to apply the existing laws on the culprits.” Even though Alake was not assigned to the Ministry of Information, the NBC, which is an agency in the ministry, is not relenting in its bid to push through the plot to regulate social media platforms. From all indications, the Federal Government seems bent on regulating the sector, as the NBC recently disclosed that a bill to regulate social media platforms had been sent to the National Assembly. …………..READ MORE

Women Suffer Rape After Murder of Husbands in Nigeria’s Benue State
By Masara Kim, Jos, and Adakole Daniel, Makurdi
MAKURDI, BENUE STATE – As U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken huddled with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on November 5, Ms. Mbapuun Uwa was groaning from injuries caused gang rape in Benue State, Nigeria. Uwa is among 2 million citizens of Benue forcibly displaced by Muslim terrorists, and among dozens of women gang raped by terrorists, yet her situation stands in high contrast to Western media uproar over displacement of Palestinians in Israel. Blinken, who is advocating for a humanitarian pause of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza made it clear during his meeting with Abbas that “Palestinians must not be forcibly displaced,” NBC reports. The visit followed after Palestinian officials claimed an Israeli strike on a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip killed 47 people and wounded dozens more on November 5. Fighting broke out after Hamas terrorists killed more than 1,400 people in unprovoked attacks in Israel on Oct. 7. The house-to-house raiding terrorists took as many as 242 hostages triggering brutal response by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza has claimed at least 9,448 Palestinians have been killed in the war. In the occupied West Bank, more than 140 Palestinians have been killed in the violence, with the U.S. authorities taking steps to ease tensions. Blinken previously had held talks in Israel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who insisted there could be no temporary cease-fire until all hostages held by Hamas are released. President Joe Biden suggested Saturday that progress is being made on the humanitarian pause. Yet, terrorists besieging towns 3,200 miles away in Nigeria, committing mass killings and sexual assaults on vulnerable women, have gone unnoticed by the U.S. authorities. ……………….READ MORE

Bishop Of Minna: “We Live In Difficult Times, But We Remain Strong In Prayer. Nobody Wants A Bloody Revolution”
MINNA, NIGER STATE – “Our country continues to experience situations of conflict, both in the Church and in society in general”, writes the Auxiliary Bishop of Minna, Luka Sylvester Gopep, to Fides regarding the escalation of violence, crime and corruption that is rampant in Nigeria. “We are all in a really difficult context. The political ecosystem is saturated with litigation and counter-litigations while the poor people are suffering. The removal of fuel subsidies and crashing of the naira against the dollar has brought untold hardship to small and medium scale businesses. Our parishioners are really facing hard times and the government does not seem to care. This is made worse by activities of armed bands, armed robbers, commercial kidnappers leading to increased fear and suspicion”. The Auxiliary Bishop describes the serious crisis that the country is experiencing in all regions. “While the north-east is being contained with Boko Haram, the north-central is facing untold attacks on farmers by suspected Fulani herders”, he explains. The north-west has become a territory besieged by gun-wielding bandits, the far south is in conflict with the separatist movement Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which seeks to restore the old Republic of Biafra, and IPOB’s paramilitary organization, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). We can say without a doubt that what we are going through is a combination of economic hardship and insecurity which had created a Hobbesian state of nature where what reigns supreme is the survival of the fittest and the elimination of the unfit. So, the times are hard, but we remain strong in prayer”, Bishop Gopep emphasized. Nevertheless, the ongoing general insecurity with attacks, murders or kidnappings of priests and religious is alarming. Recent cases include the murder and burning of a young seminarian in the diocese of Kafanchan (see Fides 8/9/2023), the kidnapping of priests and seminarians in the dioceses of Minna and Enugu (see Fides, 22/9/2023) and of three monks in Eruku (see Fides, 20/10/2023). (AP/LG) (Agenzia Fides, 31/10/2023. ……………….. READ MORE

‘Nigeria Ever Ready To Welcome You’,
Tinubu Assures Saudi Investors

ICON & PSJ – DATA & REPORTING
– INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Nigeria is in trouble. The problems and concerns are immense, but we need both Nigerians and the global community to be informed and engaged. International Committee on Nigeria (ICON) and International Organization for Peacebuilding and Social Justice (PSJ) launched the International Religious Freedom Roundtable in Nigeria back in 2019. The first IRF Roundtable established out of the USA, the Nigerian IRF Roundtable has consistently provided a forum for all faiths and leaders to provide updates and information with the ability to ask for support and collaboration.

11.6.23

Inside IDP Camps In Nigeria: the True Story
By Mike Odeh James

ABUJA FCT – It’s rare when Nigeria’s prestige press tells readers the real reasons why 3.6 million Nigerians are languishing in squalid camps for the Internally Displaced People (IDPs), situated on farmlands that are the envy of the world. But conventions Nigerian journalism require that atrocities be known only through the language of abstraction. Hence, the Premium Times, which prides itself on investigative journalism explains the causes of the crisis of food insecurity this way: “Major factors contributing to food insecurity include poverty, climate change, conflict and insecurity, increasing population, poor policy implementation, inefficient agricultural practices, post-harvest losses and low budgetary allocation to agriculture , among others.” Conflict reporters who have interviewed the victims of coerced displacement tell a different story: “In the heart of Nigeria’s Benue state, terrorists have laid siege to hamlets sheltering farm families but now target internally displaced persons (IDPs) starving in camps,” reported Masara Kim and Adekole Daniel on Oct. 23 in TruthNigeria. “Ms. Blessing Ortseega, a survivor of one of the attacks, shared her harrowing experience with TruthNigeria, recounting how a group of terrorists brutally murdered her mother and pregnant sister before her eyes on October 2 while they were working in their farm. “We were weeding our yam farm around 12:30 pm three weeks ago and all of a sudden, many Fulani people with guns and machetes surrounded us,” said Ortseega in a telephone interview. “We all started to run, but my mother and sister – who was seven months pregnant – could not go far,” Ortseega recollected. Kyle Abts, Executive Director of the International Committee on Nigeria (ICON) explains why the government is understating the number. “The Federal Government is understating the true number of the IDPS in Nigeria to avoid the country being termed unstable,” Abts said. “We believe that the current IDP figure in Nigeria is above 5 million,” Abts added. “From the figures given by the Benue Governor alone, coupled with those of Plateau, Nasarawa, Southern Kaduna, Taraba, and Niger States, we have close to 5 million IDPs, and if you add those of the Northwest and Northeast, we have way over 6 million IDPs, “ according to Azzaman. “However, the government of Nigeria does not want people to know that Fulani herdsmen are killing local farmers and indigenes, who are mainly Christians. …… READ MORE

US Alerts Citizens Of Threat To ‘Major Hotels In Nigeria’
By Ignatius Igwe

ABUJA FCT – The United States has alerted its citizens in Nigeria of threats to major hotels in the “larger cities” of the country. The US issued this warning in an emergency information for American citizens dated November 3, adding that the Nigerian security agencies are working to counter the threat. It also advised US citizens to exercise vigilance at major hotels, be alert of their surroundings, keep a low profile, and review the travel advisory for Nigeria before checking into any hotels. “The U.S. Government is aware of credible information that there is an elevated threat to major hotels in Nigeria’s larger cities,” the advisory read. “The Nigerian security services are working diligently to counter the threat. The U.S. Department of State advises U.S. citizens to consider this information when arranging lodging or visiting major hotels in Nigeria.” The advisory also provided the addresses and telephone numbers of the US embassy in Abuja and the consulate in Lagos, should any US citizen require help. This comes a month after the US advised all its citizens worldwide to exercise restraint when travelling to various locations around the world……… READ MORE

Boko Haram Kills Ten Farmers In Borno State
By Wim Bitrus

BORNO STATE – Boko Haram terrorists have killed ten farmers in some communities in Borno State. Some of the farmers died in Kwashabe – a rice plantation where over forty farmers were killed three years ago in the Zabarmari district of Jere Local Government Area, others were killed in Kakut village in Mafa Local Government Area. According to one of the farmers in Zabarmari, trouble started when three farmers were kidnapped on Friday and a ransom of N600,00 was being demanded for each of the three kidnapped persons. Being unable to extract more money than the N120,000 paid for for the three persons, the terrorists mopped up fifteen more farmers who were working on their farmlands on Saturday only for a rival terrorist group to come attempting to kidnap the fifteen farmers. A gun battle ensued among the two factions leading to the escape of thirteen farmers. One person was shot dead in the gun battle while another sustained injuries. On Sunday evening, according to the same source, the terrorists went to Kakut village, a farming field, and shot several farmers dead. ….……. READ MORE

2 Killed, 2 Hospitalized After Explosion, Fire at Canadian High Commission in Nigeria
By Peter Zimonjic
CANADA – An explosion at the The Canadian High Commission in Nigeria’s capital of Abuja killed two people and sent another two to hospital, according to the FCT Fire Service that responded to the call. “A tanker that was inside the generator building exploded … killing two men who worked for the company managing the generator,” Mercy Douglass of the FCT Fire Service told CBC News. “Two people outside the building were injured by the explosion,” she added. “They are in hospital having treatment.” An eye witness who tweeted a video of the fire captured large plumes of black smoke billowing up from behind the white cube-like building. Douglass said the FCT fire service got a call at 11:55 a.m. Monday reporting the tanker explosion inside the generator building on Diplomatic Drive in the city’s central business district. The fire service in Abuja subdued the fire and were back at the station by 1 p.m., Douglass said. Douglass was unable to confirm whether any of the people killed or hospitalized as a result of the explosion and ensuing fire held Canadian citizenship. CBC News has reached out to Global Affairs Canada asking details about the incident but has yet to receive a response. …….. READ MORE

CDS, Gen Musa Insists There’s No Coup In Nigeria

October 2023

10.30.23

A seminarian in the Diocese of Kafanchan was killed last month when a rectory was set on fire in a botched kidnapping attempt. (photo ACI Africa/CNA)

Boko Haram May Wipe Nigeria Off The Map, Zulum Raises Alarm About Insurgency
By Wim Bitrus
ABUJA FCT – The Borno State Governor Professor Babagana Zulum has raised the alarm that the Boko Haram insurgency is threatening to consume the nation if the humanitarian crisis in the North-East is not contained. Professor Zulum says the continuous existence of IDP camps in Local Government Areas of Borno State is a potential time bomb as they serve as a recruitment ground for Boko Haram and ISWAP. “The position of Borno State on the map of Nigeria is very important to all of us. Borno State is bordering Chad, Cameroon, and Niger Republic. Our borders are so porous and therefore maintaining security in the North-Eastern subregion entails maintaining the security of the entire country,” he saidwhile hosting the reconstituted management board of the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) at the council chambers of the Borno State Government House in Maiduguri on Monday. “While North-West and North-Central and others are speaking about banditry, kidnapping, and others, ours is Boko Haram and ISWAP. It’s better for us to control it, not for the sake of Borno State. The hub of Boko Haram and ISWAP is Borno State. We have to control them. “We have to stop the younger ones from being recruited into Boko Haram and ISWAP, otherwise, in the near future, the entire Nigeria will be wiped off the map.” While lamenting the number of people in IDPs, Zulum said the development has worsened the plight of the people. “And then in Borno State, in the year 2012, about 3.5 million people were displaced. We returned many but still, we have over one million people: internally displaced people living in IDPS camps – that is increasing prostitution in IDP camps, that is increasing procreation without care in the IDP camps. There is drug abuse in the IDP camps,” Zulum added. ……. READ MORE

Boko Haram Kills Chief Imam, Sets Islamic Books Ablaze in Borno
By Ndahi Marama
Maiduguri BORNO – Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists on Monday morning invaded Beneshiekh town, the headquarters of Kaga Local Government Area of Borno state and killed the Chief Imam, Sheihk Baba Goni Muktar Malumti. The terrorists also set ablaze some Islamic Books belonging to the deceased. The deceased before his untimely death was a renowned Islamic Scholar and Chief Imam of Jumaat Mosque, Beneshiekh. This is as another group of terrorists invaded Makinta Kururi village of Beneshiekh and abducted two hunters in a separate renewed attacks. Recall that last month, the younger brother of the Chief Imam was also killed by insurgents. Beneshiekh is about 70 km drive from Maiduguri and located along the major Kano-Damaturu-Maiduguri highway. Confirming the incident, the Caretaker Chairman of Kaga council area, Hon Mustapha Bukar Baima in an exclusive interview with our Correspondent in Maiduguri on Monday expressed shock over the renewed attacks by terrorists which claimed many lives, especially the killing of the Chief Imam of Beneshiekh, his brother and abduction of two hunters in the area. “Yes, we received a distress call that Boko Haram terrorists gunned down our Chief Imam of Beneshiekh Jummat Mosque in his house at about 1:15 am on Monday. “The terrorists first invaded the house of one Islamic Scholar (names withheld), but when they realized the picture they were carrying for execution did not resemble that of the Chief Imam as a target, they asked him to go back to the house and remain quiet. “Thereafter, they went to another house where the Chief Imam was praying. The terrorists then opened fire on him after realizing that the picture they were carrying had resembled their target. …… READ MORE

UN Rapporteur Demands Release of Christian Mother Jailed for Blasphemy in Nigeria’s Bauchi State
By Masara Kim
ABUJA FCT – A United Nations Special Rapporteur has expressed “deep concern” over the criminalization of blasphemy in Nigeria contrary to international human rights law and standards. A recent joint report by the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief Nazila Ghanea and others queried the rising cases of violence relating to accusations of blasphemy targeting religious minorities in Nigeria by mob attacks and killings under democratic regimes. “We would like to bring to the attention of your Excellency’s Government information we have received concerning the killing of Ms. Deborah Emmanuel, following accusations of blasphemy in relation to insult of the Prophet Mohammed, at the hands of a mob,” according to the report. “We have also received information regarding the arrest and alleged prolonged arbitrary detention of Ms. Rhoda Ya’u Jatau on the allegation that she had shared a WhatsApp video condemning the lynching of Ms. Emmanuel,” says the report, jointly issued by Nazila Ghanea and four others. “Both cases appear to be related to the legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and of freedom of opinion and expression. Both are members of a religious minority,” the report stated. Judge Fatima Jibrin on October 16 scheduled November 27 to continue trial for Mrs. Rhoda Ya’u Jatau following a compelling application by defense attorneys seeking to void all charges against her. The mother of five was arrested from her hometown in the Warji county of Bauchi State on May 20, 2022 after she shared a video of a man criticizing the mob lynching of a Christian college student 470 miles away in Sokoto state the week prior. ………READ MORE

Clergy are ‘Soft Targets’ in Nigeria’s Kidnapping Industry
by Ellen Teague
LONDON – Nigeria’s Catholic bishops warned in September that Nigeria has effectively been taken over by insurgents, militia and criminal gangs, with Catholic priests among the most frequent victims – insurgents describe them as “soft targets”. The Catholic Diocese of Ilorin appealed for prayers for the safety of three men kidnapped from their monastery by Fulani bandits on 17 October. Novice brother Godwin Eze and two postulants – Anthony Eze and Peter Olarewaju – were taken from the Benedictine Monastery at Eruku in the early hours of the morning. The diocese notified security agencies and asked for prayers and for their release. While Anthony Eze and Olarewaju were set free on 21 October, the 31-year-old Godwin Eze was shot and his body thrown into a river a day after his kidnapping. Fr Joseph Ekesiobi, a former novice director at the monastery, confirmed the news of the murder of Eze, whom he described as “very jovial”. “Brother Godwin lived a contemplative life. I remember him as a very easy-going young man. He was very jovial and very prayerful,” Ekesiobi said. The Diocese of Ilorin serves Kwara State in North Central Nigeria, which is bordered by states including Kogi and Niger which regularly experience attacks by Fulani herdsmen. This was the latest in a series of kidnappings and murders in Africa’s most populous nation involving clergy, seminarians, religious and other Christians. In 2022, 30 priests were kidnapped in Nigeria and 39 killed. At least 13 clergy have been taken captive this year and later freed, including two Missionaries of Africa in August, who were left traumatised after 20 days in captivity….……. READ MORE

Sheikh Gumi Says, “Christians
Should Not Be Allowed To Lead In Nigeria”

TRUTH TO POWER – EPISODE 16
Sheikh Gumi Say Christians Should Not Be Allowed To Lead In Nigeria.
GUEST – Edward John Auta, Activist & Youth Leader
HOST – Ehis Agbon

10.23.23

Gunmen Kill 8 Persons, Including 3 Police Officers, As Otukpo Witnesses Deadliest Violence
By Mike Odeh James
(Otukpo, Central Nigeria) – Heavily armed gunmen stormed Otukpo town police station in Benue State on Friday afternoon, October 20, 2023, and gunned down between 8 and 14 persons, including three police officers, while disarming other police officers, eyewitnesses told a Truth Nigeria reporter. According to Agaba Idabi, an Otukpo resident who witnessed the attack, about 10 heavily armed men who wore hoodies drove into the premises of the police station in three Hilux vehicles and a small car at about 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon and started shooting at the police station. He said the gunmen proceeded to the office of Homeland Defense and shot two members of the local vigilantes before heading to the Commercial Business District of Otukpo. On arrival at the Commercial District, the gunmen headed raided four banks: Access Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank, United Bank for Africa, and Zenith Bank. “When they drove into the place where the banks were located, the gunmen started shooting at the cars that were parked in front of the banks, and people started running up and down, according to another witness, Odeh Anyorpe, who spoke to the Truth Nigeria. While some of the gunmen were shooting indiscriminately into the air and, at times, at those running away, other gunmen went into the banks, detonated explosives, and carted money from the bank vault into their Hilux vehicles. He said the armed group operated for nearly an hour without interference from security agencies, having killed or disarmed members of the Nigerian Police Force. “From what I saw, about seven people were killed at the UBA, two at Zenith Bank, and two at Stanbic IBTC, while about three people were killed at the Divisional Police Headquarters in Otukpo, which is located directly opposite the main branch of First Bank in Otukpo town ……. READ MORE

Nigerian, Kenyan Governments Accused of Violating Own Laws Over Nnamdi Kanu’s Abduction
By Seun Opejobi
LAGOS – Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, on Tuesday accused the Nigerian and Kenyan governments of violating their own laws over the agitator’s arrest. Ejimakor said Nigeria and Kenya violated their own laws and international treaties they were parties to concerning the repatriation of an accused to face prosecution in his own country. To this end, Ejimakor said Kanu’s unconditional release is the only option left for Nigeria and Kenya regarding the illegal abduction and extraordinary rendition of the IPOB leader. Posting on X, the lawyer insisted that Nigeria and Kenya failed to follow the procedures for repatriation as provided for in the law when Kanu was “abducted in Kenya and renditioned” to Nigeria since June 2021. Kanu has continued to languish in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, despite the ruling of an Abuja Appeal Court that ordered his immediate and unconditional release. Discharging Kanu of all 15 counts of treason preferred against him, the court faulted the manner in which the IPOB leader was renditioned to Nigeria, declaring that it violated all known international protocols on repatriation. …… READ MORE

Nigerian Troops Kill 4 Bandits, Arrest 120 Others in Plateau, and Kaduna
By Ibrahim Ramalan
ABUJA FCT – Troops of Operation Safe Haven, OPSH, Special Military Task Force maintaining peace in Plateau and parts of Bauchi and Kaduna States, have neutralised four suspected bandits. Capt. James Oya, the Media Officer of the operation made this known in a statement on Monday in Jos. The troops, he said, also arrested 120 others over various criminal acts within its areas of operation between Oct. 16 and Oct. 22. Mr Oya said that some of the suspects were arrested for alleged kidnapping, armed robbery, cattle rustling and drug peddling, among other criminal acts. He explained that other suspects were arrested over illegal possession of arms and ammunitions, adding that it rescued four kidnapped victims during the operation. ”Within the period under review, we neutralised four suspected bandits, arrested 73 suspects with arms and ammunition and 37 others for kidnapping. ………READ MORE

US Court Refuses to Order Release of CIA, FBI Dossiers on Tinubu
By Ameh Ejekwonyilo
An American had applied for the US court’s order FBI, CIA and other relevant law enforcement agencies to release confidential information on investigations involving President Bola Tinubu. The United States District Court for the District of Columbia has declined an emergency application seeking to compel top US law enforcement agencies to hasten the release of confidential information on President Bola Tinubu. The judge, Beryl Howell, refused the application on Monday. An American, Aaron Greenspan, had filed a suit in June under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) against the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, Department of State, Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI), Internal Revenue Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In his complaint, Mr Greenspan accused the law enforcement agencies of violating the FIOA by failing to release within the statutory time “documents relating to purported federal investigations into” President Tinubu and one Mueez Adegboyega Akande, who is now deceased. According to Mr Greenspan, the records being requested were from the Northern District of Illinois and/or Northern District of Indiana “involving charging decisions” against Messrs Tinubu and Akande….……. READ MORE

10.16.23

BREAKING: 27 Women, 4 Boys Kidnapped in Kaduna

By Daniel Daniel
ABUJA FCT – At least 27 women and 4 boys have been kidnapped in Southern Kaduna by bandits. POLITICS NIGERIA reports that this was disclosed by the women’s wing of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) in a statement on Monday. SOKAPU National Women Coordinator Mrs Jemutu Katarma said hundreds of villages in Southern Kaduna have been sacked and some taken over by bandits, while many people have been rendered homeless. Katarma also said that the bandits have been targeting women and children and that one of the kidnapped women, Kauna Ali, had died in captivity. “Of particular note, we want to bring to the attention of His Excellency, Gov Uba Sani about a terrible development that happened to his citizens on 2nd October, 2023 in Kachuwe, close to Sarkin Pawa in Niger State. After their villages suffered several invasions from bandits in Chikun, they decided to move to Kachuwe, which they thought was safer to start life all over again by farming,” Katarma said. “Unfortunately, armed bandits stormed the village on 2nd October, 2021 and killed 13 male adults and a young girl. Among those killed is a grandfather (1) Baba Barda Kariya. The names of the rest are: (2) Ali Nariya, (3) Zakariya Nariya (4) Markus Nariya, (5) John Nariya and (6) Haruna Nariya. Others are: (7) Iko Ali, (8) Vincent Ali, (9) Amos Zakariya, (10) Habila Zakariya, (11) Smalis Markus, (12) Timothy John (13) Victor Markus and (14) Godiya Markus, the only female killed.” “After committing the crime, they looted the village of foodstuffs and animals. They then burnt down the village. They spared the lives of the old women and sick old men. Then they took away the following females and boys” ……… READ MORE

Nigeria’s Inflation Hits 26.72% as Food Prices Rise
By Mary Izuaka
LAGOS – Nigeria’s annual inflation rate rose to 26.72 per cent in September from 25.80 per cent in the previous month, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Monday. The statistics office said the September 2023 headline inflation rate showed an increase of 0.92 per cent points when compared to the August 2023 headline inflation rate. The NBS said on a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 5.94 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in September 2022, which was 20.77 per cent. “This shows that the headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in September 2023 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., September 2022),” it said. According to the report, the food inflation rate in September quickened to 30.64 per cent on a year-on-year basis, which was 7.30 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in September 2022 (23.34 per cent). Food prices have been on the rise across Nigeria in recent years. The situation deteriorated due to the impact of government policies such as the removal of subsidies on petrol, among others. President Bola Tinubu on 29 May during his inauguration, announced the removal of subsidy on petrol. This development has caused hardship for many Nigerians with its attendant increase in the prices of goods and services. Over the past four months, the naira has depreciated by over 50 per cent at both the authorised and unauthorised market segments, after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced in June that it had collapsed all forex windows into the Investors and exporters (I&E) window. ………….. READ MORE

Gov Kefas Seeks Army, Navy Support to Tackle Insecurity in Taraba State
By Great Ozozoyi
JALINGO – Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has reiterated his administration’s commitment to join forces with the Nigerian Armed Forces (NAF) in order to ensure that the state remains peaceful and calm. He made the commitment on Monday when he stormed the Defence Headquarters in Abuja to solicit a helping hand from the Chief of Defense Staff, General Chris Musa. The governor, who made the pledge via a press statement made available to journalists in Jalingo by his Chief Press Secretary, Yusuf Sanda, expressed dissatisfaction over the activities of the Cameroonian Ambazonians in the state. He urged the CDS to, as a matter of urgency, increase troops to make the state safer. He assured that his administration is going to assist the military in whatever capacity to succeed in addressing the security challenges presently bedevilling the state. On his part, the CDS was said to have assured the governor that the armed forces are going to put in all that is required for Taraba to be peaceful. He noted that measures to address Ambazonian threats in some parts of the state, are already in the pipeline. In the same vein, the governor was also said to have reached out to the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, to demand the establishment of a naval base in the state to combat security challenges. The governor, who also stressed his administration’s readiness to collaborate with the navy to safeguard the lives of the people of the state, said navy is key in providing desired security to the state considering the presence of tributaries of rivers across the state, and involving the navy became imperative. “Taraba State shared borders with six states and the Republic of Cameroon, hence, the need for adequate security strategies,” he said. ……….. READ MORE

Over 2 Million Nigerians are Displaced by Farmer-Herder Conflict in Benue State
By Stephen Khan
For the past decade many residents in north and central Nigeria have lived in a perpetual state of fear. Conflicts between pastoralists and farmers, land disputes, cattle rustling and mass violence have driven millions of people from their homes. In total, more than 3.6 million people in Nigeria have been displaced. Many have sought refuge with relatives in neighbouring communities and in internally displaced persons camps. Benue State in north central Nigeria (its major local government areas include Guma and Gwer-west) has borne the brunt of this crisis. The United Nations says there are 2.1 million internally displaced people in Benue State alone; the majority live in internally displaced people camp facilities within host communities such as Abagana and Daudu. A great deal of attention is focused on the conflict and on people’s displacement. But that isn’t the end of the story. Both state and non-state actors offer ongoing support for people who have been displaced by herder-farmer conflict. As a researcher investigating people’s experiences of victimisation, I wanted to find out what form this support took, what displaced people thought of the interventions and whether this support was helping them to reintegrate into their original communities. The resulting study revealed a complex relationship between reintegration decisions and experiences with displacement support and return settings. In Benue State, displaced victims have four primary support systems: individual, government, faith-based groups and NGOs………. READ MORE

ICON INTERVIEWS – Dr Cosmas Maduka (Coscharis Group)

Dr. Cosmas Maduka is the Founder and President/CEO of Coscharis Group. Dr. Maduka is passionate about business and development, but also about Nigerian concerns. In this interview he shares his vision and hope for Nigeria. Coscharis Group is wholly Nigerian-owned and spans across various sectors: Automobile, Medical, Foods & Beverages, Information Technology, Engineering, and Agriculture. It strives to develop a progressive ecosystem with collaborations at the local and international world-class levels.

10.9.23

Over 28,997 Lives Lost To Insecurity In Benue
By Peter Duru
MAKURDI—No fewer than 28,997 persons are reported to have lost their lives to insecurity in Benue State, even as over 54,476 houses and farm produce valued at over N21 billion were also destroyed in the state. A don, in the Department of Economics at the Federal University, Wukari, Dr. Vincent Gisaor, made this known, while presenting a paper at the symposium, organised by the Benue State government, in Makurdi, titled: ‘The Socio-Economic Development of Benue State: The Journey Ahead’. Dr. Gisaor who referred to “the combined effect of the records of Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, between 2010 and 2022, the Nigeria Police Force from 2009 and 2022 and the Report of the Benue State Committee on Conflict Resolution and Peace Building of 2014”, pointed out that insecurity in the state had collapsed the rural economy of Benue state and left the people impoverished. According to him, “over 28,997 persons are reported dead in all the recent insecurity incidents in the state. Some deaths have not been officially reported while some deaths are even on-going up to this moment of presentation.” He stated that the crisis also led to the burning down of five Police stations and 33 markets in parts of the state; “and the burning of Police Stations and markets further entails the suspension of law and order and all economic activities relevant to production, distribution and exchange hence the net effect has been the intensification of poverty and pauperization among the Benue people. According to Dr. Gisaor “the destruction of lives, homes, crops, farms, domestic trees, seeds and seedlings makes it difficult for the affected people to restart their life supporting activities. “Hence the total collapse of farming and other economic activities has raises the prospect of rural unemployment, farming and starvation in the affected communities. “Farm produce destroyed has been estimated at over N21billion while over 54,476 houses have been reportedly destroyed excluding thatched houses.” ……… READ MORE

Terrorists Kill Ten, Abduct Several Others In Fresh Zamfara Attack
By Mohammed Babangida
Ten people were killed and several others injured when terrorists attacked a convoy of vehicles on Magami – Gusau road in Zamfara State on Saturday. Several passengers were also abducted while the terrorists burned three vehicles in the convoy. The attack occurred around 3:00 p.m. at Dogon Tsauni, while a convoy of several vehicles was moving from Magami to the state capital, Gusau. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the wounded vigilante and other passengers have been rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Gusau. The bodies of those killed in the attack have been deposited at the centre’s mortuary. “We took ten corpses into the mortuary yesterday (Saturday). Five of them were vigilantes. The level of injuries suffered by some of the people brought into the hospital is sickening,” a nurse at the hospital told PREMIUM TIMES. He asked for anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press. He said some of the wounded had bullet wounds with bruises while others were trampled on in the commotion …………… READ MORE

Restricted Grazing: Key To Ending Spiraling Violence In Middle Belt
By TruthNigeria.com
Regrettably, armed attacks on farming communities often are blamed on cattle herdsmen who chiefly belong to the Fulani ethnicity. The great Fulani people as a whole do not deserve this mean stereotype. Nonetheless, the regular attacks on unarmed farmers and their families are misattributed by Nigerian Mainstream media [NMSM] to “farmer-herder clashes,” a term that greatly distorts and conceals the political and sectarian motivation of radical jihadist mercenaries. As is well known, the herding class is almost a synonym with Fulani, the most prolific herders in West Africa. These attacks have scarred the Middle Belt for decades and left a traumatic stain on Nigeria’s Independence Day celebrations in Plateau and Benue States. Reprisals against herding groups are rare but sometimes happen. It’s a fact that the displacement of farming families by land-grabbing terrorists has made the Middle Belt a cauldron of misery for 4 million displaced people. However, a novel solution dubbed “Livestock Alimentation and Rural Management Initiative” (LARMI) promises a compelling solution to and could usher in a new era of peaceful coexistence. Nigeria’s current beef industry relies upon open grazing of livestock, which entails large herds of cattle straying or deliberately herded into crop farms, where the blood, sweat and tears of countless farm families are despoiled. Farmers who dare to defend themselves against the unexpected invasions of herds have been gunned down in their fields or have endured “reprisal attacks” months later. The herders carry automatic rifles with impunity in a nation that strictly enforces gun control laws against non-herders.……. READ MORE

Nigeria’s President Challenged Over Alleged Diploma Forgery
By Rédaction AfricaNews with AP
Nigeria’s main opposition said Thursday it will present new evidence to support its court challenge seeking to overturn this year’s presidential election, saying it can show the declared winner provided faked academic credentials to authorities. President Bola Tinubu forged a diploma from an American university that he presented to Nigeria’s election commission before the February vote and should be removed from office, first runner-up Atiku Abubakar and his lawyer alleged in a briefing with reporters. They cited records obtained from the university in a U.S. court hearing and shared with The Associated Press. Abubakar previously has argued Tinubu should not be president because the election commission did not follow due process in announcing the winner and Tinubu was not qualified to run, citing allegations of dual citizenship and of a criminal indictment in the United States. Tinubu has denied those claims. He did not comment on the new allegation, but his spokesman denied it. “A man cannot forge the academic records he possesses,” Temitope Ajayi, Tinubu’s media aide, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. The challenge is being closely watched by many Nigerians following a divisive election that saw Tinubu win with less than 50% of the votes, a first in Nigeria’s history. Abubakar is one of three candidates who are in court seeking to void Tinubu’s election victory. Kalu Kalu, Abubakar’s lawyer, said they are set to present “fresh evidence” in the case pending before Nigeria’s Supreme Court. “A party at fault cannot be allowed to enjoy the fruit of his illegality,” Kalu said…………. READ MORE

“PRESIDENT TINUBU HAS POTENTIALLY COMMITTED IDENTITY THEFT/FRAUD” – DAVID HUNDEYIN

“The Registrar of Chicago State University has said multiple times that the University did not issue President Tinubu’s diploma,” -David Hundeyin “President Tinubu has potentially committed Identity Theft/Fraud, I’m not sure I need to explain why that is a big problem for the reputation of Nigeria and the national security of Nigeria “ -David Hundeyin

ICON & PSJ – DATA & REPORTING
– TOGETHER FOR CHANGE

Facts and statistics are important. Figures of the incidents, deaths, and those displaced in Nigeria are staggering. The International Committee on Nigeria (ICON) and the International Organization for Peacebuilding and Social Justice (PSJ) have been advocating for the persecuted and vulnerable Nigerians by collecting, collating, and reporting on the details of incidents and events.
• Since 2009, there have been over 350,000 deaths due to the Boko Haram / ISIS terrorism conflict
• And over 13,000 churches were attacked or destroyed
• Since 2015, there have been over 25,000 deaths due to Fulani militant bandits, and nearly 2/3rds of those deaths are Christians
• Over 3 million displaced and over 10 million school-age children unable to attend school.
• Call on the US government to return the designation to Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (or CPC)
• Request the US Government to send a Special Envoy for Nigeria (and Lake Chad Basin)
• Address the worsening food crisis
• Assist displaced people, rebuilding houses of worship, etc.
• And finally fight for religious freedom for all

10.2.23

Tinubu Vows To Eliminate Terrorism, Criminality, Poverty In Nigeria
By AriseNews.com
LAGOS – Nigeria President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s commitment towards eliminating poverty, terrorism and all forms of criminality in the country. Already, the President who also doubles as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said government is currently implementing programmes and policies that would empower Nigerians to combat the challenges of poverty, criminality and terrorism. President Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, gave the pledge on Saturday during the passing-out parade of Cadets of the 70 Regular Course, Direct Short Service Course 27 (Army) and Direct Short Service Course 31 (Air Force) of the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna. Presenting the President’s address titled, “The Heroes of Nigeria’s Path to Prosperity and Security,” at the passing-out parade, the Vice President said, “every day, every minute, we are reminded of the consequences of economic and social disintegration around us. This is why we favour cooperation and the formation of bilateral and multilateral alliances to create opportunities for our people. “We are implementing programmes and policies to empower our citizens to combat the challenges of poverty, criminality, and terrorism. From preparing for the food security crisis triggered by the Russian-Ukrainian war, to responding to banditry attacks on farmers, natural flood disasters, and the repercussions of military coups, this administration has remained vigilant in devising solutions to mitigate their impact and enhance national security”. As part of moves to deal decisively with the criminal elements, President Tinubu noted that his government has embarked on a new era in the country’s national defence and security strategy. This, he said, would be driven by a resolute commitment to confront the substantial threats and challenges that confront us within the West African sub-region. He said: “I have directed all heads of defence and security institutions to unite in their efforts to protect our nation’s integrity and well-being, and as Chairman of the ECOWAS, we are diligently working to enhance our regional conflict management and development mechanisms. To forge a path towards greater peace, stability, and progress across West Africa and beyond is not negotiable” The President noted, however, that in tackling poverty inflicted on Nigerians by activities of the terror groups, he would treat every region equally and give them a sense of belonging in his government. His words: “Justice is the mainstay of prosperity, and so we are going to be fair to each region”. …….. READ MORE

Statement Regarding Leah Sharibu’s Status
By News Desk
JOS, PLATEAU – Recent reports on Leah Sharibu, the young girl taken captive by ISWAP terrorists over five years ago, is both confusing and disheartening. Confusing because there have been unsubstantiated rumors and scant information regarding the whereabouts of Leah. There were a few reports by those who were released or had escaped claiming that she might have been married off and given birth to two children. No pictures, audio or video has ever surfaced and, if anything, these were assumptions based on her age and condition of captivity. Leah Sharibu as she appeared in a 2018 photo. Courtesy of Sharibu family. Why should we believe, “Local security sources made this revelation in a report”? If they have intelligence on Leah’s whereabouts and any information, then where are the Nigerian armed forces? Why isn’t the government involved in securing her release? Disheartening because only so often do we hear anything on Leah Sharibu. On the two-year anniversary of Leah’s capture President Buhari said that, “…we redouble our efforts for Leah’s return, we can never allow the terrorists to divide us…”. Nathan and Rebecca Sharibu are asking, “What happened to that promise?” Buhari left office without fulfilling that promise of rescuing our daughter Leah. Our family remains grief-stricken by our daughter’s capture and ongoing imprisonment, even as the Nigerian government has been unsuccessful in securing her release. In March 2020, Leah’s father, Nathan Sharibu, pleaded, “I have not heard anything from Federal, state and local governments since my daughter was abducted. I am even confused now. I need your assistance to put pressure on the Federal Government to do something about the release of my daughter”. We recall that on February 19, 2018, Leah Sharibu was kidnapped along with 109 of her classmates from the Government Girls Science and Technical School in Dapchi, Yobe State, Nigeria by ISWAP, a faction of Boko Haram. Most were released (five lost their lives); but Leah – because she refused to renounce her Christian faith – has remained in captivity over five years, during which time she has been forced to bear two children by her captors. It is so sad that abductions of students are still ongoing even under this new administration. About a week ago we woke up to the news of students abducted from Zamfara. This is very shameful and disheartening to Nigerian parents. Alongside the terrible economic hardship of today’s economy, parents still have to grapple with the safety of their children in school. ……. READ MORE

Your Speech Empty, Bereft Of Ideas – PDP Slams Tinubu
By Francis Ugwu
ABUJA FCT – The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has slammed President Bola Tinubu over his 63rd Independence Day address to Nigerians, claiming it was empty and bereft of ideas. The PDP also said the speech by the President was merely aspirational in the wrong direction, especially in the face of the harrowing experiences being encountered by Nigerians under the All Progressives Congress, APC, administration. According to the party, “Tinubu’s admission in his speech that his administration is responsible for the current excruciating hardship in the country validates PDP’s position that the Tinubu-led government lacks the competence, capacity, required skills and humaneness to effectively run the affairs of the nation”. This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba. The PDP insisted that Nigerians do not need to pass through agonizing hardship as it claimed was being excused by the President if the nation is run by a government that has the required vision and skills to harness and manage the nation’s economic potential and national comparative advantage. “The expectation of Nigerians on a day like this was for a Presidential speech that will provide concrete solutions to critical challenges of the nation, including security, as well as the crisis in the electricity and petroleum sectors. “Indeed, any serious government with requisite capacity and vision will set a Marshall Plan on every critical sector which has the capacity to galvanize and stimulate the economy through job creation. “The party holds that the manifest non-preparedness and hasty implementation of ill-planned policies by the current APC administration triggered a catastrophic economic failure with unprecedented crippling effect on the productive sector and agonizing hardship on Nigerians,” the PDP said. ……. READ MORE

Police In Adamawa Dislodge Terrorist Network, Recover Arms
By Amos Tauna
ABUJA FCT- The Adamawa State Police Command on Monday dislodged a criminal network terrorizing Gurin, Muninga, Wuro Kesum, Parda and Boggel Districts of Gurin in Fufore local government areas in the state. The Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Sulaiman Nguroje, in a statement, explained that the operation was executed by operatives attached to the Gurin Division in a joint operation in conjunction with hunters. According to the statement, “The outcome of this successful follow-up on Collaborative Community Policing/ Rescue Operations strategy adopted by the command to checkmate cases bordering on kidnapping, armed robbery, cattle rustling, unlawful possession of firearms, amongst others, has yielded the desired result. The operation led to the interception of three kidnappers.” The statement further explained that the suspected kidnappers upon sighting the security personnel, engaged them in a gun duel, saying that as a result, one of them was neutralized while others escaped with bullet wounds. The statement said two of the victims, Muhammed Maikano and Abubakar Maikano were rescued, adding that one AK-47 rifle, 25 rounds of ammunition, amongst others were recovered. CP Afolabi Babatola expressed delight with the DPO Gurin, his men and hunters for the gallant performance displayed and directed them to give serious chase to those on the run in order to bring them to book. He called on the populace to always inform the police of the whereabouts of criminals and their hideouts, especially those on the run with bullet wounds if seen, saying that the police would not hesitate to ensure their arrest and prosecution. ……. READ MORE

Nigeria Has The Highest Rate Of Kidnap-For-Ransom Cases | WION
Kidnapping for ransom has become a national security threat in Nigeria. How it’s done varies from targeted individuals to indiscriminate kidnappings and mass kidnappings in schools and communities. There’s been a growing body of research on this as well. The Nigerian government last year outlawed ransom payments.

Naira In The Gutters, Tinubu In Paris, Nigerian Passport Devalued; Arguments Over Certificate – Pt 2
Naira commodification is a failure. Nigeria’s unemployment level is estimated at least 33%. Resulting in at least 50 million youths unemployed.

September 2023

9.25.23

BREAKING: Supreme Court Complex On Fire
By Francis Ugwu
ABUJA FCT – A section of the Supreme Court complex is reportedly on fire. DAILY POST reports that the cause of the fire on the nation’s apex court in Abuja is yet unknown as of the time of filing this report. Offices of three Justices have allegedly been burnt down. ……….. READ MORE

Gunmen Kill 14 and Kidnap 60 In Northern Nigeria Attacks
By Fidel Rahmati
LAGOS – Gunmen in Nigeria fatally shot eight individuals on Sunday and kidnapped at least 60 more in separate attacks within two communities in the northwest region of Zamfara state. These incidents occurred just two days after armed men abducted numerous individuals from a university in the same state. In northeastern Nigeria, suspected Islamist insurgents ambushed a convoy of vehicles escorted by the military, resulting in the tragic deaths of two soldiers and four civilians, according to reports from a police source and an eyewitness. During the attack, the assailants also set five vehicles ablaze and made off with one truck, as reported by Reuters. President Bola Tinubu has yet to outline his strategy for addressing the pervasive insecurity in Nigeria, even as his economic reforms, such as removing a costly fuel subsidy and the liberalization of the naira currency, have raised the cost of living and generated public dissatisfaction. In a related development, on Sunday, gunmen made an unsuccessful attempt to attack an army base in the rural Magami community of Zamfara, a state severely affected by the scourge of kidnapping for ransom perpetrated by local criminal groups known as “bandits.” Gunmen, operating in three separate groups, launched coordinated attacks on an army base and the neighbouring communities of Magami and Kabasa, according to an unnamed local traditional leader citing security concerns. According to Reuters, the report states that 60 individuals, predominantly women and children, were abducted during these incidents. Shuaibu Haruna, a resident of Magami, described the assailants as heavily armed individuals riding numerous motorcycles, firing their guns and other weapons indiscriminately during the attack,” as reported to Reuters via telephone. The attack resulted in four confirmed casualties, with four fatalities and several abductions reported by Isa Mohd from Kabasa………….. READ MORE

Tribunal Affirms Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s Victory
By Daniel Daniel
JOS, PLATEAU – The Plateau State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has affirmed the election of Caleb Mutfwang of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as Governor of Plateau State and dismissed the petition filed by Nentawe Goshwe of the All Progressives Congress (APC). POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Goshwe had approached the Tribunal challenging the declaration of Mutfwang by INEC as Governor of Plateau State, alleging that Mutfwang was not qualified to contest the election because he was not validly nominated and sponsored by the PDP, as the party had no structure at the time of the election. However, in its judgment on Friday, the Tribunal dismissed the Petition for lacking in merit. The Tribunal held that the PDP had a valid structure in place at the time of the election and that Mutfwang was duly nominated and sponsored by the party. The Tribunal also held that the APC failed to prove its allegations of electoral irregularities. ……… READ MORE

Naira Depreciation Pushes Nigeria’s External Debt From N19 To N33 Trillion
By Tayo Elegbede
LAGOS – The continuous depreciation in Nigeria’s naira has pushed the country’s external debt to N33.25 Trillion from N19.64 trillion. Naija News reports that the naira devaluation has jacked up the nation’s external debt by 40.24 percent, which translates to a difference of N13.38 trillion. According to data from the Debt Management Office (DMO), the total external debt increased by $490 million between the first quarter of 2023 and the second quarter of 2023, which caused a significant increase in naira value. The DMO data showed that Nigeria’s external debt was $43.16 billion in Q2 2023, from $42.67 billion in the previous quarter. In naira terms, the debt rose to N33.25 trillion in Q2 2023 from N19.64 trillion in the preceding quarter, showing an increase of N13.61 trillion due to the naira depreciation. Recall that in June, President Bola Tinubu directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to unify the nation’s foreign exchange rates.
The CBN directed Deposit Money Banks to remove the rate cap on the naira at the official Investors and Exporters’ Window of the foreign exchange market, to enable its free float against the dollar and other global currencies. This move, rather than more borrowing, has pushed the external debt to soar significantly in naira terms. ………….. READ MORE

Tackling Insurgency: CSOs Commend Military’s Non Kinetic Approach In Gombe State

9.18.23

US Says Nigeria Lacks Macroeconomic Framework to Attract Dollar Denominated Foreign Investment
By Chike Olisah
LAGOS – The US Deputy Secretary of Treasury, Wally Adeyemo, has said Nigeria lacks the macroeconomic framework to attract more dollar-denominated foreign direct investments into its economy. Adeyemo noted that the government needs to develop a macroeconomic framework that demonstrates its commitment to the fundamentals and this will in turn help attract foreign investors to the country and help the country’s economy thrive. Adeyemo made this known while speaking at the Lagos Business School (LBS) at a forum with business leaders in Lagos on Monday, September 18, 2023. Adeyemo, who spoke on the US-Nigeria Economic Relationship, praised the early steps taken by the government in terms of fiscal policy and unification of the exchange rate. More needs to be done. The US top official stated that more needs to be done, noting that as companies around the world become more comfortable with the approach of Nigeria, the country would be a destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)…………..READ MORE

Pray, Vote, and Stand for Nigerian Christians in the Shadow of Genocide
By TruthNigeria.com

JOS, PLATEAU – “The world needs to know, and the Nigerians deserve their stories to be told,” Saul said. The unabated killing of Christian believers in Nigeria has been called a genocide by The International Committee on Nigeria and The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, a U.S. government watchdog group. TruthNigeria from the outset of publication in June has saved lives by publishing security alerts about impending terrorist attacks drawn from confidential sources on the ground. All alerts were followed by deadly assaults within 48 hours. Unlike mainstream media in Nigeria – and the West – TruthNigeria holds military and security forces accountable for deliberate failure to protect vulnerable Christian populations suffering brutal night-time attacks by radicalized Muslim mercenaries. Award-winning war correspondent Lara Logan, a mentor of Truth Nigeria reporters, has given her endorsement: “Truth Nigeria is out on the frontlines of one of the most important stories in the world, risking everything every day knowing they may not live through this. The genocide of Christians in the isolated villages of northern Nigeria is a historical fact because of the work of these journalists to simply expose what is unfolding in front of them, honestly and accurately. These are uncomfortable truths in today’s world, but without them, the world would be deaf, dumb, and blind to this terrible reality.” ……… READ MORE

Defence HQ Probes Video Of Soldiers In Dialogue With Bandits
By Emmanuel Egobiambu

ABUJA FCT – The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) is probing the video of soldiers dialoguing with bandits in Katsina State. While the clip had caused a stir on social media, the DHQ says an investigation has started to authenticate the video. “The attention of the Defence Headquarters was drawn to a video clip in circulation across the social media handles of some soldiers engaging with bandits somewhere in Katsina State,” the Director of Defence Information, Tukur Gusau, said in a Monday statement. “The DHQ is investigating the video to confirm its authenticity as regards the soldiers seen in uniform. The DHQ is aware of the resolve of some bandits to repent and hand over their weapons to the authorities. This is yielding good results and is ongoing. “The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa assures Nigerians that the AFN will engage in every lawful means possible to ensure peace and stability reign in our dear nation. “The DHQ assures Nigerians that its non-kinetic measures aimed at restoration of peace are yielding results, with several bandits and other criminal elements surrendering to authority.” He said governments across all tiers “are encouraged to allow bandits genuinely willing to surrender to do so while the window is still open. “Defence Headquarters is doing everything possible to restore peace and tranquillity all over the country and urge all citizens to remain calm and be law-abiding,” the statement added. ………. READ MORE

Bandits Kill Two, Kidnap Three Others In Fresh Kaduna Attack
By Chimezie Enyiocha
ABUJA FCT – No fewer than two people have been killed and four others kidnapped by bandits in a fresh attack at Dogon Noma-Unguwan Gamu Community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Several residents of the community were said to have sustained injuries from gunshots during the attack. The police in the state are yet to confirm the attack, but a community leader at Kufana, Musa Yaro told Channels Television that the incident happened in the early hours of Friday when the bandits invaded the community and started shooting sporadically, during which they shot two people to death and took three others away. According to the source, the names of those killed are Bala Laya and Gimbiya Coaster while the kidnapped victims are Set Alkali, Saviour Christopher, and Sico Nicholas. For several years, Kajuru Local Government Area has been in the news for the wrong reasons due to frequent attacks by bandits. One such deadly attack was on March 11, 2019, where 52 people were killed and over 200 houses burnt down, while hundreds of people were sacked from their homes by the attackers. ‘We’ve Shut Over 200 Churches, Lost 23 Pastors In Four Years’ – CAN The latest attack is coming just a few days after the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said that over 200 churches were shut down and 23 pastors killed as a result of frequent attacks by bandits in some parts of Kaduna State within the past four years.. ……… READ MORE

One Dead As Catholic Parish House Burnt Down By Bandits In Kaduna State
Armed bandits on Thursday, launched a brazen attack, setting ablaze the Parish House of Fadan Kamatan in the Catholic diocese of Kafanchan, Kaduna State. One seminarian was reportedly killed after he was caught in the flames.

9.11.23

Killing of Seminarian in Kaduna, A Reminder Nigeria Yet to Win War Against Insecurity
by Jesupemi Are

Daniel Okoh, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), says the killing of Stephen Naman, a seminarian in Kaduna, shows Nigeria is yet to win the war against insecurity. The CAN president spoke on Sunday at the second plenary meeting of the Catholic bishops’ Conference of Nigeria which was held in Abuja. On Thursday night, bandits invaded Kamantan and Sabon Kaura in the Zangon Kataf area of the state, killing two people. Residents of the community reportedly killed one of the bandits. In retaliation, the bandits set the parish where Naman was hiding ablaze. He was consumed by the inferno. Speaking at the meeting, Okoh, who was represented by Samson Fatokun, CAN general secretary, commiserated with the bishops over the killing. “This plenary session is coming at a time when Nigerians are still going through excruciating pains arising from harsh economic policies, recklessness of past governments, banditry, and kidnapping. Prices of necessities have skyrocketed beyond the reach of ordinary people, and there appears not to be any respite in sight,” he said. “The living conditions of average Nigerian families today are better imagined than experienced. In addition, the new wave of military coups among our close neighbors and calls from certain quarters for military action against the coupists raise fears that living conditions may worsen in our country if that option is eventually taken by the Authority of the ECOWAS Heads of Government. It is indeed a time to worry! “In all these, I believe that God Almighty will use faith leaders to fix this country if we do not give up. As you go through this meeting, it is my sincere prayer that you will rise from this meeting with more strategic ways to engage those in government in order to get better solutions to our myriad of problems in our nation. Nigeria will be great again.” The CAN president said Nigeria is still buffeted on all sides by issues that threaten its collective existence. ……… READ MORE

Kaduna Governor Urges Capture and Prosecution of Church Attackers
By News Desk

The Governor of Kaduna State, Sen. Uba Sani, in a remarkable departure from the example of his predecessor, Nasir el-Rufai, has condemned the Sept. 7 attack on a Catholic Church in Southern Kaduna and called for the immediate arrest of the murderers. Former Governor el-Rufai was infamous for incendiary comments against the people of Southern Kaduna and has been accused of inciting ethnic cleansing in the area. A coalition of Nigerians in the UK demanded for El-Rufai’s arrest, and prosecution over inciting comments.Gunmen stormed St. Rachael’s Catholic Parish, Kamantan, Zangon Kataf County Thursday and set the parish ablaze, killing 31-year-old seminarian, Danladi Namaan. It was yet another grim development to visit the Catholic Church in Kaduna state, central Nigeria, notorious for the kidnapping and killings of Catholic priests. Gov. Sani however, in a statement issued Sept. 8 and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mohammed Lawal Shehu, announced: “Kaduna State Governor, His Excellency Senator Uba Sani, on Friday 8th September 2023, condemned in the strongest possible terms the recent attack on the Fadan Kamatan Parish (sic) – Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, located in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State. ………….READ MORE

IG Sets Up Gun Licensing, Regulations Committee
By Abiodun Sanusi

In line with the Firearms Act and other extant laws, in the interest of public safety and general security, the acting Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has announced the establishment of an ad hoc committee tasked with the comprehensive review of firearms licensing and regulations by the Nigeria Police Force. Egbetokun, on Monday, revealed that the committee’s mandate will encompass a thorough assessment of current firearms licensing procedures and regulations, with the aim of enhancing their effectiveness, transparency, and accountability. The Force Headquarters also said the police will engage with relevant stakeholders, including legal experts, civil society organisations, and experts in the field, to ensure a holistic and well-informed review. The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi revealed in an official correspondence on Monday. Adejobi said, “Similarly, in furtherance of his zeal to tackle all forms of insecurity in the country, the IG has issued a stern warning to all individuals involved in the wrongful possession of arms and light weapons, reiterated that illegal proliferation of firearms and light weapons poses a significant threat to the peace and stability of our nation…….. READ MORE

Tinubu’s Reforms Have So Far Harmed the Nigerian Economy – Experts Say
BY CHINEDU OKAFOR

According to the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the reforms initiated by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s president have so far stunted the growth of the business sector in the country. The reforms which include the unification of the country’s currency rates and the removal of gasoline subsidies have in the three months since its introduction been detrimental to Nigeria’s economy. This information was relayed by deputy-president Gabriel Idahosa who represented the president of the LCCI, Michael Olawale-Cole, during the half-year economic review organized by the chamber in Lagos recently. Michael Olawale-Cole noted that the Nigerian economy has suffered numerous setbacks since the year began owing to a number of complex issues, as reported by the Nigerian news outlet, The Punch Newspaper. “Business conditions and operating environment in the first half of the year were largely difficult due to rising interest rates, inflationary pressures, foreign exchange volatility, and the liberalization of the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry,” he said. Other industry experts present at the event shared similar sentiments, noting that the president’s initiatives have done nothing but derail the growth of the Nigerian economy because of how poorly they were executed. ……… READ MORE

9.5.23

Planned Strike Will Cripple Nigeria, Senate Appeals To NLC
By Soonest Nathaniel
LAGOS – Amid the impending nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Senate has issued an urgent plea, requesting that the labour union reconsiders its planned action. The Senate’s appeal stems from a deep concern about the strike’s potentially drastic impact on everyday Nigerians, warning that the nation could be plunged into a state of extreme hardship. Addressing the situation, the Senate on Monday expressed that while the legislative body respects the NLC’s right to protest, it is crucial to weigh this against the potential fallout that could greatly affect citizens’ daily lives and livelihoods. With the Nigerian economy still reeling from the effects of the global pandemic and the ongoing recovery efforts, a widespread labour strike could further strain the economy, leading to inflation, scarcity of goods and services, and significant inconvenience to the populace. As the nation watches the developments unfold, the collective hope is for a peaceful resolution that prioritises the welfare of workers and maintains economic stability. With the proposed strike looming, the call for dialogue and understanding has never been more critical. ……. READ MORE

Atiku Speaks Ahead of Presidential Election Tribunal Judgement
By Adekunle Dada
ABUJA FCT – Presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has spoken about his expectations ahead of the presidential tribunal’s judgment on Wednesday, September 6. Atiku and his party have filed a petition challenging the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The former vice president, through his lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), argued that President Tinubu was not qualified to contest the 2023 presidential election, having submitted “forged certificates,” including Chicago State University and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate with the name ‘Adekunle,’ Daily Trust reported. Atiku said he and his party expect nothing else than victory. PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates! The PDP candidate said the tribunal’s judgment should align with the 1999 Constitution as amended and the Electoral Act 2022. Speaking with Daily Trust, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, said: “We expect that the PEPT will render justice in line with the 1999 constitution as amended and all the other bodies of law that guided the election.” ……….. READ MORE

Gwoza Christians Seek the Teaching of CRK in Borno Schools
By Onimisi Alao
YOLA STATE – Christian indigenes of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State are asking for the introduction of Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) in schools across the State. The Christians articulated their advocacy during the Inaugural National Conference of Gwoza Elite Forum in Maiduguri, according to the communique at the conference. The communique said the conference resolved for the setting up of a delegation to visit the Governor and Commissioner of Education “and engage them to consider CRK to be taught in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.” The conference also decided on a visit by Gwoza Christian leaders to the leadership of the Assembly to address the exclusion of CRK as a subject in Borno schools. According to the communique, the Gwoza Elite Forum Conference noted that the issue of CRK being a subject of learning in Borno schools has lingered for a very long time despite several attempts by successive leaderships of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to get the issue positively addressed. “As a follow-up, the government should deploy qualified teachers to teach the subject,” the communique said. …………….. READ MORE

Nnamdi Kanu is a Time Bomb in the Hands of His Captors – Archbishop Onuagha
By Chimaobi Nwaiwu
ABUJA FCT – Methodist Archbishop of Okigwe Archdiocese and Bishop of Okigwe Most Rev. Biereonwu Livinus Onuagha has warned that the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a time bomb in the hands of Nigeria and the people holding him. Archbishop Onuagha who was reacting to the alleged media publication that the Ohaneze Ndigbo is pleading with the Northern elders and Asari Dokubo for the release of Mazi Nandi Kanu, described such plea coming from any Igbo group as arrant nonsense, saying that Ohaneze Ndigbo as led by Chief Emanuel Iwuanyanwu or any responsible Igbo group cannot beg Northern elders or a Niger Delta ex-militant who is still publicly brandishing AK 47 for the release of Mazi Kanu. Archbishop Onuagha said that Mazi Kanu did not commit any offense and the courts of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria have cleared him of Al the charges leveled against him and therefore there is no reason to plead to anybody for his release. Describing Mazi Kanu as a hero and voice of Ndigbo, Archbishop Onuagha said that the only crime Mazi Kanu has committed is just being an Igbo man and standing up like no one in recent times to demand what rightly belongs to Ndigbo. The Methodist Archbishop wondered why over fifty years after the Nigerian Biafra Civil War ended the Nigerian state and Nigeria are still bearing grudges and treating Ndigbo as if they are not part of the country. According to Archbishop Onuagha, “I read today in a newspaper that the Ohaneze Ndigbo is pleading with Northern elders and Asari Dokubo for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and I wonder if such report is correct.” ……… READ MORE

How Niger’s Coup Might Lead to War
West Africa might be on the brink of war as the regional bloc ECOWAS has threatened military intervention should the military junta refuse to step down. So in this video, we’ll explain what’s happened and why conflict looks like a real possibility.

PART 4: Help Vulnerable Christians in Miango Village to Access Clean Drinking Water

Fulani militants continue to attack their homes and farms, leaving no access to clean water. These displaced villagers – affecting many women and children are getting sick or dying from water-borne diseases. Please help us to raise $5,000 in order to drill a much-needed borehole, install a pump and solar panels, buy pipes, and provide storage tanks for these desperate people. PART 4 – We are hoping to raise $500

August 2023

8.28.23

Dogo Gide’s Bandits in Northwestern Nigeria Potentially Aligning With Jihadists
By Jacob Zenn
On August 16, one of northwestern Nigeria’s most notorious bandits, Dogo Gide, released a video in which he claimed his fighters were responsible for downing a Nigerian Air Force helicopter in Shiroro, Kaduna State; this attack killed 20 soldiers and three senior military officers (premiumtimesng.com, August 16). Shiroro is where Ansaru, an al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)-loyal faction, attempted to recruit villagers and establish hideouts in 2021 (dailytrust.com, June 28, 2021). Ansaru also employed the same tactic when it shot down another Air Force helicopter en route from Kaduna to the Nigerian capital of Abuja in 2020 (punchng.com, February 6, 2020). These factors combine with reports of Dogo Gide allying with Ansaru to lend credibility to Gide’s claim that his group brought down the helicopter as mentioned earlier. Dogo Gide had also been associated with Ansaru because of the group’s attempts since 2019 to recruit bandits to its cause and convince them to adopt their jihadist ideology—all the while, Gide’s men have won over civilians by threatening bandit groups who would exploit the local population. Ansaru, however, has been unable to sustain the momentum of either its recruitment of bandits or its fight against them and is therefore currently operationally dormant for the most part in northwestern Nigeria (vanguardngr.com, August 5, 2022). The Shekau faction remains in disarray, having lost its footing in the northwest since the group’s late, eponymous leader Abubakar Shekau died launching a suicide attack during a fight against Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) in 2021. Previously, Ansaru had competed with the rival Shekau faction for recruits in the northwest. Shekau had deployed fighters to northwestern Nigeria to expand his group’s operations there; the most visible result of this was the kidnapping of 300 schoolboys in Kankara by Katsina State-based bandits. The bandits shared their claim of the attack with Shekau in a video in 2020 (Flip TV, December 15, 2020). In addition, Shekau’s faction began releasing videos of new loyalists in the northwest, further supporting the argument that he had successfully expanded his operations in that region before his death (see Terrorism Monitor, January 15, 2021). If Shekau faction loyalists had sought new affiliations after his death, Ansaru could have seen some benefit, but it does not appear that Ansaru has succeeded in attracting any significant number of the late Shekau’s militants. …………… READ MORE

Cardinal Onaiyekan on Niger: No to war, No to killings
By Deborah Castellano Lubov
Cardinal John Onaiyekan has made an adamant appeal for peaceful solutions in Niger, and against solutions that bring death and war. In an interview with Vatican News, the Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja expressed this, as he offered an update on the current situation in Nigeria, especially for Christians, and reflected on West Africa at large. Reuters has reported that the African Union (AU) has suspended Niger from all its activities following last month’s military coup there and told its members to avoid any action that might legitimize the junta. The coup, the agency maintains, has caused alarm among Western allies and democratic African States who fear it could allow Islamist groups active in the Sahel region to expand their reach and give Russia a foothold to increase its influence. While the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, has been trying to negotiate with the junta, it says that, if diplomatic efforts fail, it is prepared to send troops into Niger to restore constitutional order. The African Cardinal offers Vatican News an examination of the migration phenomenon in his country, in a particular way, he draws attention to all those displaced within the country. He addresses what ought to be done for them, and for those who feel a better future lies outside the borders, but find themselves disappointed by the often grim reality. He also mourned all those who died along the journey, after chasing a false narrative. Frequently, Nigerians, including clergy, are abducted and killed. “The increase in kidnappings, murders, and general violence against civilians, including members of the Catholic clergy in many parts of Nigeria, is a scourge that is yet to be properly addressed by the local authorities,” ACN reported. While the Cardinal draws attention to Christian suffering, he says, all, including Muslims, have their own issues caused especially by bad governance, and warned against Christian politicians, who, he warned, are “only Christian in name.” …… READ MORE

US, UK Organisations Release Report On How Ex-President, Buhari Allegedly Funded Ebube-Agu In South-East To Kill Residents, Used Imo, Ebonyi Governments As Executors
By SaharaReporters.com
A special investigative report by some research groups in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria has revealed how former President Muhammadu Buhari allegedly used the Ebube Agu security outfit to harass and kill thousands of innocent Igbo residents and push for a radical Islamic agenda in the South-East region. The report was published as a collaborative effort of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), the Ekwenche Research Institute, Chicago, Illinois, USA, the Global Igbo Leaders Coalition (GIL), United Kingdom, and the Rising Sun Charities Organisation, Newark-New Jersey, USA. The organizations noted that the “Ebube-Agu Security arrangement” was also a channel through which illicit small arms and light weapons were proliferated in the region, adding that the Imo and Ebonyi state governments were particularly culpable in the implementation of the Jihadist Fulani and Islamic agenda. The report was signed by researchers including; Emeka Umeagbalasi for Intersociety; Ositadinma Agu for Ekwenche Research Institute, Chicago, USA; Prof Justin Akujieze, Board Chairman, Ekwenche Institute; teNze Amadiebube Mbama for Global Igbo Leaders Coalition, Georgia, USA, and Bridget Okafor, Rising Sun Charities Organisation, UK. The report stated that the remote reasons behind the rising and proliferation of more than 20 armed killer entities in r Land, especially South-East and Igbo parts of South-South Nigeria since 2015 and January 2021 (when escalations and proliferations heightened) were traced to “Buhari’s bent on laying siege, conquering and enslaving the Igbo Land, her defenseless populations and properties for purposes of radical Islamism and politics of hate, segregation and exclusion.” …….. READ MORE

Over 1,800 ‘Terrorist Attacks’ in West Africa in 2023: ECOWAS
By AlJazeera.com
West Africa recorded more than 1,800 attacks in the first six months of the year resulting in nearly 4,600 deaths with dire humanitarian consequences, which according to a top regional official is just “a snippet of the horrendous impact of insecurity”. Omar Touray told the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday that half a million people in the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are refugees and nearly 6.2 million are internally displaced. Without an adequate international response to the 30 million people in need of food in the region, that number could increase to 42 million by the end of August, he added. Touray, who is president of the ECOWAS Commission, blamed organized crime, armed rebellion, unconstitutional changes of government, illegal maritime activities, environmental crises, and fake news for driving insecurity in the region. He said the region is worried about the resurgence of the military, with three countries – Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea – under military rule. “The reversal of democratic gains runs parallel to insecurity that West Africa and the Sahel have been facing for some time now,” said Touray, a former Gambian foreign minister. Between January and June 30, there were 2,725 attacks in Burkina Faso, 844 in Mali, 77 in Niger, and 70 attacks in Nigeria that all led to 4,593 deaths, according to Touray. United States Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood told the council the US “remains gravely concerned by democratic backsliding across the region” and is “deeply concerned by the spread of instability in coastal West Africa”. He accused the Wagner Group of “committing human rights abuses and endangering the safety and security of civilians, peacekeepers and UN.. personnel”. ……… READ MORE

Shaping the US-Nigeria Strategy: Recommendations from the Diaspora
This event aims to foster collaboration between the United States and Nigeria, leveraging the insights and expertise of the Nigerian diaspora community.
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
6:30 PM 8:00 PM
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
901 G Street Northwest
Washington, DC, 20001

8.21.23

I’ll Stop Open-Grazing in Abuja – FCT Minister Wike Vows
By VanguardNGR.com
The newly sworn-in minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has vowed that he would put an end open grazing in Abuja. Wike made this vow while speaking upon his assumption of office as FCT Minister in Abuja on Monday. The immediate past Rivers state governor said herdsmen can rear their cattle outside the city but would no longer be allowed to graze on the grasses used for the beautification of the city. He said, “We will consult with the herdsmen to see how we will stop [open grazing] because we can not allow cows inside the city. “They can be outside the city because the grasses are outside the city. The grasses in city were planted to beautify the city. It is not that one that they would eat. “So, we will discuss. Let us say it, you are trying inside the [presidential] Villa for example, and you see about 20,000 to 40,000 goats, if foreigners see that, how would they feel?” Wike also vowed to crack down on illegal markets in the FCT. “We are not going to tolerate the issue of everywhere is market. Yes, I know that things are difficult, but that doesn’t mean you should cause crises for other people. You are looking for what to put in your stomach, it must be done within the framework of the law. “In a city, people are selling with umbrellas under the trees. These things caused insecurity. We can not allow it,” he said. ………READ MORE

Jihadists Ambush, Kill 13 People in Nigeria’s Two Attacks
By Agence France-Presse
Suspected Boko Haram jihadists have killed 13 people, including three soldiers, in two separate attacks in northeast Nigeria, local militias told AFP Sunday 13 August 2023. Gunmen launched a predawn attack on Saturday on a base in Wulari, a village near the town of Konduga in Borno State, according to two anti-jihadist militias working alongside the military. “The Boko Haram terrorists used the cover of darkness and cornfields that are nearing harvest to launch the attack on the base,” said Ibrahim Liman, one of the militia leaders. “The soldiers engaged them in a fierce battle in which three soldiers were killed before the attack was subdued and the gunmen forced to withdraw,” Liman said. Another militia leader, Babakura Kolo, gave the same toll. Late on Saturday, suspected Boko Haram jihadists also rounded up ten farmers and shot them dead as they were working in their field in Maiwa, a village five kilometres (just over three miles) outside the Borno state capital of Maiduguri. “All the ten farmers bore gunshot wounds,” said militia leader Umar Ari.Four more farmers are still missing and presumed to have been kidnapped by the jihadists, said Liman, who gave the same toll. Boko Haram and the rival Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have increasingly targeted loggers, herders, farmers, fishermen and metal scrap collectors in their violent campaign, accusing them of spying and passing information to the military and the local militias fighting them. Western officials and observers have commented that last month’s coup in Niger came at a precarious time when several Islamist terror groups, including Boko Haram, were regaining strength. …………… READ MORE

Fuel Price Increases by 215.95% in One Year – NBS
By Omono Okonkwo
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed a 215.95% increase in fuel prices between July 2022 and July 2023. This was stated in the NBS Premium Motor Spirit Price Watch Report for July 2023. According to the report, Nigerians paid N190.01 per litre for fuel in July 2022, meanwhile, they paid an average of N600.35 per litre in July 2023. The report further stated that comparing prices from June 2023 and July 2023, showed that the average retail price increased by 9.99% from N545.83. It is important to note that fuel pump prices are not uniform across the country. Considering this fact, there were price ranges across states between July 2022 and July 2023. Fuel prices have since increased from the average of N185 per litre since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office in May 2023 and removed fuel subsidies which have seen Nigerians purchasing fuel at cheap rates. The first increase occurred immediately after subsidy removal in May 2023 when the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited said that market forces have started to determine prices. Meanwhile, when global crude prices started to rise in recent times, the fuel pump price increased further, creating an additional burden on Nigerians who are struggling with rising food and transportation costs. Regular citizens are being urged to make sacrifices and support the government to revive the economy, however, some Nigerians have expressed disapproval over some decisions made by the political elite which will further increase government spending while the masses wallow in poverty and heavy financial burdens as a result of the fuel subsidy removal. ……… READ MORE

Bandits Claim 37 Army Lives After Ambush in Niger State
By Douglas Burton & Masara Kim
The Nigerian Army has recovered the bodies of 37 military personnel killed in a bandit ambush on August 13 and a helicopter crash Aug. 14, Truth Nigeria has learned. A Nigerian army force was ambushed by bandits on August 13 in Rafi County by a large bandit group, killing 26 soldiers, according to a Nigerian law enforcement officer speaking to TruthNigeria on background. Onyema Nwachuckwu, the army spokesperson confirmed the fatalities in statements to Nigerian media on Aug 15. “I can confirm that there was an incident in Wushishi [County] of Niger state. Our gallant patriots paid the supreme price when they ran into an ambush staged by insurgents,” he said. “They were courageous till the end. (“Army Chief to visit Niger state after ambush on troops”) They stood their ground and defended our great country with their lives,” Nwachuckwu said. An evacuation helicopter picked up 11 deceased soldiers and 7 wounded on Aug. 14 but went down that same day, killing the 7 wounded soldiers and 4 airmen, according to the informed source. “The helicopter crashed at about 1 pm near Chukuba village in Shiroro LGA of the state according to Nigerian Airforce spokesman Edward Gabkwet, who announced the event in a statement to media on Monday. “The evacuation- relief departed Zungeru Primary School en route to Kaduna, but crashed near Chukuba village for unknown reasons, “Gabkwet said. “The helicopter likely went down as a result of mechanical failure or because of the load,” the informant said to TruthNigeria. On Tuesday the bandits’ released a video of the wreckage of the helicopter in a wooded area of Shiroro County approximately 50 miles west of the border with neighboring Kaduna State,” he added. Two other helicopters were dispatched from a base in Kaduna State to investigate a crash and found the site was a stronghold of the Boko Haram insurgency as well as an area in which bandit gangs operate freely in Niger State. ……… READ MORE

Attack by Bandits Results in Death of 37 Military Personnel

Nigerian Air Force aircraft has crashed near Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. NAF spokesman, Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the accident happened at about 1pm on Monday. The aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School en route to Kaduna.

Niger’s coup is the 7th in the Sahel region since 2020

The ousting of Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum marks the seventh coup in the region in just three years. The military leadership that’s now in control of the government says persistent insecurity is the main justification for seizing power.

8.7.23

Save the Children: Abduction, Killing of Farmers Worsening Food Crisis in Nigeria
by Deborah Bodunde
Save the Children says attacks on farmers are affecting food supplies and pushing Nigeria deeper into a food crisis. In a statement on Monday, Famari Barro, the charity organisation’s director for Nigeria, said armed groups killed more than 128 farmers and kidnapped 37 between January and June. Barro said the increased attacks have led to displacements, market disruptions and loss of livelihoods, adding that there is an urgent need to stop the trend. “These violent attacks against farmers in Nigeria are exacerbating the already dire hunger crisis in the country, especially in the north where millions of children do not know where their next meal will come from,” he said.“Armed groups committing these ruthless acts are not only disrupting food production but also pushing children to the brink. “Urgent action must prioritise the needs of children to stop this devastating trend and protect innocent lives. If not, armed groups will continue to carry out brutal attacks, drive food prices, and push more families to starvation.” Bulama, a 35-year-old farmer in the north-east, told the organisation that attacks by bandits are affecting farming activities. He said extreme weather events due to climate change have also worsened the hunger crisis in his community. “Armed groups have attacked and kidnapped farmers who are our friends and brothers, requesting ransom – most times it’s an amount no villager can afford,” he said. “They have killed our farmers and stolen our farm produce, leaving us helpless and with nothing to take home. The hunger and starvation most of us suffer in this community are because insurgents deprive us of accessing the farmlands, and even when we risk our lives in our fields, they steal everything and allow us to starve. ……………. READ MORE

West African Leaders to Meet after Niger’s Military Junta Fails to Reinstate Ousted President
By Sam Mednick
NIAMEY, Niger — West Africa’s regional bloc says heads of state will meet Thursday to discuss their next steps after Niger’s military junta defied the bloc’s deadline to reinstate the country’s ousted president while its mutinous soldiers closed the country’s airspace and accused foreign powers of preparing an attack. State television reported the junta’s latest actions Sunday night, hours before the deadline set by regional bloc ECOWAS, which has warned of using military force if the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum isn’t returned to power. A spokesman for the coup leaders, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, noted “the threat of intervention being prepared in a neighboring country,” and said Niger’s airspace will be closed until further notice. Any attempt to fly over the country will be met with “an energetic and immediate response.” The junta also claimed that two central African countries were preparing for an invasion, but did not name them, and called on Niger’s population to defend the nation. International airlines have begun to divert flights around Niger’s airspace, which the United States and others had seen as the last major counterterrorism partner in the vast Sahel region, south of the Sahara Desert, where groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group are expanding their influence. lso Monday, Mali said it and Burkina Faso, both neighbors of Niger run by military juntas, were sending a delegation of officials to Niger to show support. Both countries have said they would consider any intervention in Niger as a “declaration of war” against them. The Associated Press saw several security officers from Burkina Faso at a hotel in Niger’s capital……….. READ MORE

Soldiers Open Fire at Protesters Near Nigeria’s Jos, Killing Three
By Doug Buirton & Masara Kim
JOS—Soldiers of a recently formed military task force in Nigeria’s Plateau State on August 7 opened fire on civilian residents who were protesting a terror raid that killed four people the previous night. Among the victims of the shooting is a pregnant woman who was co-leading the protest, witnesses told Truth Nigeria. Several other protesters were injured in the military shooting in Mangu town, located 42 miles south of Jos, the State capital. The military fired their anti-aircraft guns in the air as their truck rolled through the crowd of protesters at 11 am local time, crushing a demonstrator earlier killed, all witnessed as it happened by TruthNigeria. The masses of local residents expressed outrage over what leaders said was the late arrival of soldiers to repel a terrorist assault on August 6 on Nchiya village just one mile from the forward operating base. The brutal attack on August 6 lasted two hours before the military arrived, protestors told Truth Nigeria. A mass funeral for four killed in Nchiya village was held Monday morning. A local community leader said dozens of skilled terrorists drove terrified women and children out of the village hours before soldiers arrived on the scene. The protests erupted in Mangu at 7 am Monday, August 7 following the attack, with thousands of women and youths blocking roads and waving branches as they sang solidarity songs…….. READ MORE

Niger’s Deposed President Writes From Detention, Says Boko Haram, Other Terrorist Movements Will Benefit From Coup
By SaharaReporters.com
Niger’s ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum has said that if the coup launched against his government by a military faction is successful, it will have devastating consequences for the country, region and the whole world. He asserted that Boko Haram and other terrorist movements will surely take advantage of Niger’s instability, using their country as a staging ground to attack neighbouring countries and undermine peace, safety and freedom around the world. Mohamed Bazoum who made this known in a letter titled ‘My country is under attack and I’ve been taken hostage,’ said Niger’s security situation is significantly better than that of our neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso, whose governments, both installed by military takeovers, support the illegal coup. He explained that rather than addressing security concerns by strengthening their own capacity, they employ criminal Russian mercenaries such as the Wagner Group at the expense of their people’s rights and dignity. The ousted President stressed that with an open invitation from the coup plotters and their regional allies, the entire central Sahel region could fall to Russian influence via the Wagner Group, whose brutal terrorism has been on full display in Ukraine. The letter reads, “I write this as a hostage. Niger is under attack from a military junta that is trying to overthrow our democracy, and I am just one of hundreds of citizens who have been arbitrarily and illegally imprisoned. This coup, launched against my government by a faction in the military on July 26, has no justification whatsoever. If it succeeds, it will have devastating consequences for our country, our region and the entire world. “Our government came to power through a democratic election in 2021. Any attempt to overthrow a lawful government must be opposed, and we appreciate the strong and unequivocal condemnations of this cynical effort to undermine the remarkable progress Niger has made under democracy. “The United States, the African and European Unions, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have been loud and clear: This coup must end, and the junta must free everyone they have unlawfully arrested………. READ MORE

RABBI COOPER (USCIRF) –
Dire State of Religious Freedom in Nigeria

Chaired by Rep Christopher Smith, the House Foreign Affairs Committee member Rep French Hill questions USCIRF Chair, Rabbi Abraham Cooper – who shared the serious concerns in Nigeria.

CBSNews.com
Niger in Face-off with Other African Nations Over Coup
The Economic Community of West African States warned it could take military action against coup leaders if Niger’s ousted president was not reinstated by Sunday, but the military junta in control of the country ignored the warning and closed Niger’s airspace. The BBC’s Chris Ewokor is in neighboring Nigeria and has the latest.

July 2023

7.24.23

Lawmakers Demand State Reverse Course on Nigeria, Restore Blacklist Label
By APNews.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Lawmakers from the House Foreign Affairs Committee met Tuesday on Capitol Hill to demand that the US government return Nigeria to the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list and appoint a Special Envoy. The same call was voiced by the chairman of the Bipartisan United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and leading human rights watchdogs. Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-R) hosted the hearing on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, joined by Representatives French Hill (AK-R), Rich McCormick (GA-R), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-R), Susan Wild (PA-D), Sara Jacobs (CA-D) and Brad Schneider (IL-D). The dire situation in Nigeria has brought together decisive voices calling for action on the US-Nigeria policy. These voices are demanding that the US government return Nigeria to the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list, considered a list of human rights violators, and appoint a Special Envoy. As many as 2,500 unarmed Christians have been murdered by terrorists in Nigeria since the beginning of 2023 and potential attacks were predicted by TruthNigeria.com. The HFAC hearing included expert panelists, notably, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Chair USCIRF, Eric Patterson, Ph.D. President Religious Freedom Institute, and Honorable Rashad Hussain Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom U.S. Department of State. The hearing examined the global religious freedom violations that have been on the increase –specifically the deteriorating crisis in Nigeria. “President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria needs to be told that we [the United States] take religious freedom seriously,” Rep Smith said. ……………….. READ MORE

Plateau Governor Brands Ongoing Violence as Genocide
By CSI-int.org

JOS, PLATEAU – Caleb Mutfwang, the new governor of Nigeria’s central Plateau State, has spoken out against the wave of killings there, referring to an orchestrated plan to wipe out the resident population. He is the first elected Nigerian official to use the term “genocide” in connection with the attacks. On its official website Plateau refers to itself as “the home of peace and tourism”. But this region that was once a tourist magnet has become a hotspot of violence in recent months. According to Intersociety, an NGO that collates figures on jihadist attacks, Plateau recorded 502 deaths of Christians in the six months from January to June. Intersociety puts the death toll for Nigeria as a whole at 2,500. Speaking to Channels TV on June 9, Governor Mutfwang referred to a policy of “pure genocide” being carried out against the people of Plateau. At least 150 residents had been killed in the previous three weeks, he said, and 30,000 people were now living in camps, having been driven from their homes. The recent killings were largely concentrated in the north of the state, the governor said, including in Mangu local government area. Mutfwang, a politician with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, was chairman of the Mangu Local Government Council before being elected governor of Plateau on May 29. Mutfwang repeated his claims in a separate interview reported by the Nigerian Independent newspaper on June 23. “What we are seeing is a clear genocide… a deliberate and orchestrated plan to wipe out numbers of people,” he said. ………………. READ MORE

Killing Of 103 #EndSARS Protesters In Lagos Is One Of Buhari Era’s Hidden Atrocities
By SaharaReporters.com
ABUJA, FCT – Former federal lawmaker and social critic, Senator Shehu Sani, has described the planned mass burial for 103 #EndSARS victims in Lagos as one of the hidden atrocities of the Muhammadu Buhari era. SaharaReporters had reported that a letter from the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency confirmed a move by the state government to carry out a mass burial for 103 victims of #EndSARS close to three years after their deaths. But the state government has said the 103 casualties of #EndSARS that it plans to conduct a mass burial for are not victims of the Lekki toll gate shooting. According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr Olusegun Ogboye, the casualties are from across the state. The letter dated July 19, 2023, and titled ‘Letter Of No Objection. Mass Burial For The 103. The Year 2020 EndSARS Victims’ was addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and signed by the Director General of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Mr. Onafowote Fatai Idowu. Senator Sani in a post on his Twitter handle on Monday asserted that the spirits of those murdered whether for ‘blocking’ the road in Zaria or ‘blocking’ the Lekki toll gate will continue to haunt this country and hang over its skies until justice is done. He wrote; “In 2015, over a thousand members of the Islamic Movement were massacred in Zaria on the orders of the then military COAS and publicly supported by the then Governor of Kaduna State. “The general public was encouraged through hateful propaganda to march and dance on the corpses of the victims and search for anything valuable in their pockets. …………………….. READ MORE

Despite Losses To Terrorists, Nigerian Citizen Guards Stand Firm
By Masara Kim

JOS, PLATEAU – In the face of relentless attacks by terrorists and the harrowing threats posed by the Nigerian military itself, Nigerian citizen guards in Plateau State are demonstrating a remarkable display of unwavering bravery, according to Kyle Abts, executive director of the International Committee on Nigeria. “There is no doubt the citizen guards are saving lives in Plateau,” Abts told Truth Nigeria. Abts points to the crucial role of volunteer citizen guards, dubbed “vigilantes,” in many states of Nigeria “Vigilante groups in Nigeria have been around for many years and exist to help defend specific communities,” Abts, wrote to Truth Nigeria in a text message. “They were originally unarmed and stopped common crimes, social violence, and arrested suspected criminals and handed them to police. However, over time with the increased weapons of terrorists, militants, criminals, and bandits they needed to carry weapons – often locally made single-shot 12-gauge type. The Nigerian government officially recognizes them and works with the security forces to protect their communities,” Abts said. Undeterred by the tragic loss of comrades and the constant presence of danger, these courageous self-defense volunteers have taken it upon themselves to protect their communities, risking their lives to resist terrorists aiming to take their lands according to lawmakers and town leaders speaking to Truth Nigeria. As of 21 July, more than 30 villages south of Jos the State capital are at risk of terrorists attacks according to credible intelligence obtained by Truth Nigeria…………… READ MORE

7.17.23

Nigerian Army Charged with Extrajudicial Killings
By Douglas Burton in Washington, DC & Masara Kim in Jos, Nigeria
The killing of three neighborhood watchmen in Central Plateau State by Nigerian soldiers has outraged citizens in Plateau State and human rights observers as far away as Washington, D.C. The Nigerian soldiers don’t’ deny the killings and announced on July 12 that three armed men killed in Panyam, a village 42 miles southeast of Jos were bandit terrorists who set up an ambush in the east of Mangu County in an area called Ampang East. But witnesses of the killings who declined to give their names for fear of retribution tell Truth Nigeria that the young men killed were heroic defenders against terrorists. They are known locally as “vigilantes,” but in fact are neighborhood watchmen who only use weapons to defend their villages from attacks. The vigilantes were attacked after dismounting from a disabled motorcycle on a local highway during a routine patrol, the witnesses said. A series of Islamic terrorist attacks in Central Plateau counties has claimed more than 350 deaths since 16 May according to town leaders. The incident prompted a leader of the Plateau State Assemblyman to call for a public investigation of the killings. “I call for a thorough and impartial investigation into the alleged human rights violations committed by the Nigerian military in central Plateau State,” said Del. Dewan K. Gabriel in a one-on-one interview with Truth Nigeria, referring to what he termed “the recent reported murder of three self-defense volunteers, who were shot while courageously protecting Christian villages from terrorists.” The killing of the three vigilantes has sparked calls for a probe of war crimes by the military against helpless residents struggling to survive a mass of terrorists attacks in the State…………….READ MORE

Plateau, Benue Killings: Are They Reprisal or Calculated Attacks?
By Emelike Obinna
ABUJA FCT – With the new wave of killings, particularly in the north-central states of Plateau and Benue, it seems another season of bloodbath has commenced in the country. As well, if you had watched the plenary session of the House of Representatives on Tuesday where Dachung Bagos of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Plateau, with almost tears, moved a motion of urgent public importance on the killings in Plateau State, you would have seen the helplessness of the lawmaker over the issue. “There has been an increase in the rate of insecurity and killing of innocent souls including some communities within my constituency,” the lawmaker lamented. During his campaigns, when he said he would continue from where President Muhammadu Buhari would stop, many Nigerians looked at him with the tail end of their eyes. They wondered what he meant. In many areas, the Buhari administration was a disaster, and for anybody to say he would continue in that trajectory tingled the ears. President Buhari had helplessly watched killings in Plateau and Benue States to appoint that fingers were pointed at him as being complicit. He only concerned himself with issuing of press releases to condemn the killings each time they happened. They were almost happening on a monthly basis. Despite his castrated threats to rein in the monsters, he exited office without addressing the issue. The then-governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom strongly believed that the killers had a big brother in Aso Rock. He was furious about the Federal Government’s lackadaisical attitude to the carnage in Benue that he employed harsh words against Abuja. He was consequently declared a person-non-grata at the Presidential Villa. Since Buhari left office, the killers have continued in their bloody campaign in Benue and Plateau State…………………READ MORE

Insecurity: Nigerian Lawmakers Seek Space Force to Track Terrorists from Orbit
By Vanguard.com
ABUJA FCT – The House of Representatives has called for the establishment of a Defence Space Force (DSF) to tackle the barrage of insecurity ravaging the country. Rep Babajimi Benson, Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee on the screening of service chief nominee made the call during the screening of the Service Chiefs in Abuja on Monday. He said, “Nigeria must tap into and harness the potential of having a Defence Space Force, like in the United States of America. He, however, acknowledged the immense contributions of the Defence Space Administration (DSA), adding that there was a need for a full-fledged DSF. This, according to him is to adequately handle potential threats from cyberspace and provide intelligence support to other services. He expressed delight with the successes recorded so far, especially in the last year, adding that the country acknowledged the robust achievements. He said it was proof of the level of professionalism often displayed by the military in the discharge of their duties while calling for effective collaboration with sister security agencies. This, he said would ensure that all security threats were completely neutralized, and Nigerians could live peacefully. “Dear nominees, the role of securing the lives and property of Nigerians is a collective task for all arms of government. “As a parliament, we are required to legislate for the good and peaceful governance of the country. This is a responsibility that the 10th House of Representatives is keenly committed to,’’ he said. …………..READ MORE

As Nigerians Grapple With Escalating Poverty
By ADEZE OJUKWU
The excruciating pain and penury arising from soaring food and fuel prices have left many Nigerians seething with anger and rage. Since independence, the country has had a history of bad governance, characterized by graft, tribalism and unrest, due to political, cultural and religious vulnerabilities. But never in its chequered history has the society been embroiled in such massive levels of imbroglio, which peaked during the eight-year devastating hegemony of the immediate past administration. The minimal gains of the previous governments were virtually thrown overboard by transactional politics, financial rascality, nepotism and incompetence of the Buhari-led administration. Governance was left in the hands of incompetent people, leading to a reign of impunity and anarchy, from the corridors of power in Abuja to the hinterlands. The inglorious season further plunged over 133 million citizens into unacceptable poverty brackets and extreme deprivation. As a parting gift, the brutal executive bequeathed a most disputed general election, a polarised polity, a staggering debt profile, a comatose public service, and an intractable savagery. The atrocities of the cruel era and their traumatizing perils have continued to elicit national and international scrutiny. However, hopes for a much-anticipated socio-economic relief were dashed by the current administrators, who are already displaying insensitivity to the plight of the masses, with their unwarranted demonstration of ostentation. For instance, the sudden removal of fuel subsidies without adequate welfare plans for citizens is not only brazen but absurd. The spiraling effect of this policy has plunged the nation into more hardship. Such a sensitive national issue should have been accompanied by social safety nets and palliatives to cushion the harsh effects of the new regimen. Given the controversies of legitimacy and credibility surrounding the inauguration of the current administration, its reported flagrant display of opulence and clannish moves are ominous signs of foreboding misfortunes. ……………. READ MORE

Please join us for the following events:

US-NIGERIA POLICY MUST ADDRESS THE SILENT SLAUGHTER

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The U.S. government has declined to criticize the government of Nigeria’s appalling religious freedom violations and broader disregard for human rights – and particularly the slaughter of Christians. Nigeria has been ranked one of the world’s worst-governed nations, and nearly every region faces a security crisis – from kidnapping to extremist insurgencies. According to ICON, Nigeria has deep roots in faith and religion but is at extreme risk for increased violence and implications on vast religious communities. In the South, Muslim minorities face discrimination, but not on the scale of Christians in the North and North-Central who face continued violence and massacres.

Report: Attacks in Benue State (Nigeria) 2023

Foundation for Justice Development and Peace (FJDP) shared this video report in Washington DC outling ongoing attacks in Benue State Attacks. Foundation for Justice Development and Peace (FJDP) is a faith-based, non-profit organization that was established in 1971 and incorporated in 2013. FJDP is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization that adopts a rights-based approach to programming with a view to promoting and protecting in totality, the rights and dignity of persons especially those with extreme vulnerabilities. The organization has a strong network of presence and a premium reputation for intervening in hard-to-reach communities with preferential options for the poor and extremely vulnerable. See more –https://fjdp.org/new/main/index/mission

MEDIA ADVISORY – PRESS CONFERENCE – JULY 19TH D.C

US-NIGERIA POLICY MUST ADDRESS THE

SLAUGHTER OF MILLIONS

WASHINTON, D.C.— The U.S. government has declined to criticize the government of Nigeria’s appalling religious freedom violations and wider disregard for human rights – and particularly the slaughter of Christians. Nigeria has been ranked one of the world’s worst-governed nations, and nearly every region faces a security crisis – from kidnapping to extremist insurgencies. According to ICON, Nigeria has deep roots in faith and religion but is at extreme risk for increased violence and implications on vast religious communities. In the South, Muslim minorities face discrimination, but not on the scale of Christians in the North and North-Central who face continued violence and massacres.

You are invited:

What: Towards a US-Nigeria Policy
When: Wednesday July 19^th, 11:30am
Where: Rayburn House Office Building, Rm 2200, 45 Independence Ave SW, Wash, DC 20515
Who: Rabbi Cooper (USCIRF), Eric Ueland (USICRF), Frank Wolf (USCIRF), David Curry (Global Christian Relief), Segun Sowunmi (PDP Nigeria), Robert Destro (Catholic University), Stephen Enada (ICON)
###

7.10.23

BREAKING: Armed Herdsmen Kill Farmer at Wedding Ceremony In Nasarawa State
By Afemai Reporter
ABUJA FCT – Suspected Fulani herders struck again and killed a farmer in the Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The deceased farmer, Solomon Yusuf, was attacked by the suspected herdsmen during a wedding ceremony in the Rakpami community in the LGA when the suspected herders stormed the area. A statement signed in Lafia on Saturday, July 8, by the Secretary of the Gbagyi Cultural Renaissance Foundation in the state, Musa Emmanuel-Dnasuwa, said: “The attention of the Gbagyi Cultural Renaissance Foundation has been drawn to the activities of some disgruntled Fulani herdsmen who are poised on distorting the relative peace enjoyed by the good people of Toto LGA.” He said that the suspected herders have continued unabated to kill and maim people at will, adding that they destroy farmer’s crops with impunity and, at the slightest provocation, threaten the life of whoever dares to confront them. The statement also pointed out the uncultured and uncivil behaviour of the herders in the area. He stated that though they learnt that the community vigilante arrested a suspect and, after that, handed him over to the police, they are watching keenly to see as the law takes its course. The group expressed gratitude to the Osu Yelwa, Musa Abu-Shekwo, for his timely intervention that doused the tension and prevented the youths of the area from taking laws into their hands. . ……….READ MORE

Again, Gunmen Attack Benue State Communities, Kill 24 Residents, Burn Several Houses
By SaharaReporters.com
ABUJA FCT – Some gunmen have reportedly killed 24 residents in Zaki Akpuuna 1 and Diom communities of Mbaterem district in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, North Central Nigeria. SaharaReporters gathered the killing occurred on Saturday morning, when the terrorists invaded the communities around 8am. Locals, who spoke to The PUNCH on the latest attack, said that the attackers did not only massacre the residents including women and children but also burnt down several houses in adjourning villages. One of the locals, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the gunmen attacked Zaki Akpuuna Saturday morning and killed 24 people The local said, “You know that the three local government areas in Sankera axis had long been under these local bandits headed by Gana, and since he was killed his men have divided and been controlled by their leaders. “The cause of this morning attack is not known yet but the information we heard was that some gunmen numbering about 20 invaded Akpuuna and other villages in Ukum local government and killed many people and burnt down several houses. “At least, 24 bodies have been recovered and the search is still on to find missing people.” …………. READ MORE

ISWAP Terrorists Ban Farmers, Fishermen From Eight Borno Communities For Spying For Nigerian Military
By SaharaReporters.com
It was gathered that ISWAP vowed to eliminate anyone found within the general areas of Katikime, Bulungahe, Kutukungunla, Chikun Gudu, Tumbumma, Guma Kura, Guma Gana and New Marte, after accusing them of spying on their activities for the Nigerian military, Daily Trust reports. The Islamic State of the West African Province (ISWAP) terrorist group has banned all farmers, fishermen and herders within its areas of presence in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State. It was gathered that ISWAP vowed to eliminate anyone found within the general areas of Katikime, Bulungahe, Kutukungunla, Chikun Gudu, Tumbumma, Guma Kura, Guma Gana, and New Marte, after accusing them of spying on their activities for the Nigerian military, Daily Trust reports. The announcement was made after the terrorist group suffered strings of heavy losses from relentless airstrikes coordinated by the Nigerian military in some identified hideouts in Marte. The strikes led to the elimination of top commanders of the ISWAP, scores of foot soldiers, destruction of their logistics, VBIED factory and vehicles. ……………… READ MORE

Nigeria’s First-Quarter Capital Inflows Drop 28% From a Year Ago

By Emese Oru
Capital inflows into Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation declined 28% in the three months through March to $1.1 billion compared with a year ago, while they rose 6.8% from the previous quarter, according to the statistics agency. The largest capital imports came from portfolio investors, which accounted for 57.3%; “other investment” was responsible for 38.31%, while foreign direct investment was 4.2%, the Abuja-based National Bureau of Statistics said in a statement on its website. The United Kingdom accounted for the highest capital importation by country of origin at 59.5%, followed by the United Arab Emirates and the US with 9.6% and 8.4% respectively, it said. Foreign investment inflows have slowed in the West African nation in the past years owing to tight capital controls, rising insecurity and poor infrastructure that deter external investors. However, the new government led by Bola Tinubu has been on a drive to revive the economy and boost inflows. He has ended a fuel subsidy that cost $10 billion last year, removed a controversial central bank governor, eased foreign-exchange controls and initiated an overhaul of the nation’s chronically inadequate power industry…………. READ MORE

TruthNigeria.com
Truth to Power – Religious Persectution

Help Vulnerable Christians in Miango Village to access clean drinking water. Fulani militants continue to attack their homes and farms, leaving no access to clean water. These displaced villagers – affecting many women and children are getting sick or dying from water-borne diseases. Please help us to raise $5,000 in order to drill a much-needed borehole, install a pump and solar panels, buy pipes, and provide storage tanks for these desperate people. PART 1 – We are hoping to raise $500

7.4.23

Security Alert: for Plateau Villages in Riyom LGA
By Douglas Burton
JOS, PLATEAU – Several hundred terrorists in Central Plateau State have targeted the villages of Tahoss and Jebu approximately 27 miles southwest of the capital of Jos, according to security experts speaking on background to Truth Nigeria. There is a high probability of an attack on the evening of July 4,” according to the source, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution. “The attackers are massing in the Fulani ethnic settlement of Bangai, approximately 4 miles from Tahoss. They are moving on motorbikes, 3 men to a bike, and may number as many as 800,” the source said. Tahoss is a large village of approximately 3,000 residents; Jebu has approximately 200 residents. The two villages are located no more than a mile away from the Sector Six Military Base, where soldiers and armored personnel carriers are housed, according to the source. The region is well known for its rich farmland and abundant deposits of tin as well as minerals. Many of the local residents are artisanal miners of tin. “As far as we can tell, the residents of Tahoss and Jebu are sheltering in place. We sent the security alert to them around 6:20 p.m., the same time that we notified the Sector Six officers, “ the source said to Truth Nigeria. They have neighborhood watchers armed with single-shot rifles, but they will be vastly outnumbered by the hundreds of attackers, if they do attack,” according to the source. ……….READ MORE

Over 2,500 Christians Slaughtered By Fulani Jihadists And Allied Others In The First Six Months Of 2023
By DeniseBlogs
ONITSHA – The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Nigeria’s leading research and investigative human rights, rule of law, and security and safety advocacy Organization since 2008 has comprehensively reviewed its special investigative reports on the genocidal situation of Christians in Nigeria and the Imo mass atrocities issued on April 10/June 12 and May 21, 2023. On the situation of Nigerian Christians, it is deeply disheartening and shocking to note that the genocidal footprints (State Jihadism Project) of the out-gone central Government of Retired Major General Muhammad Buhari (29th May 2015-29th May 2023) have continued to hunt down Christians and non-Muslim others including their ancestral lands, dwelling houses, places of worship and learning and other properties belonging to them. Our general review has shown that the grisly and State protected and conspiratorial Jihadist attacks have left 31,700 defenseless Christians dead between June 2015 and June 2023 and 53,750 hacked to death since the 2009 Boko Haram uprising. It was also found that no fewer than 18,200 churches, 1000 traditional religious sanctuaries and 800 Synagogues/related others, and 2,200 Christian schools have been burned down or wantonly destroyed-with 1100 Christian communities uprooted, 50m Christians forced out of their ancestral homes and lands into displacement and homelessness. Hundreds of thousands of Christians have been forcefully converted to Islam while tens of thousands of non-menopausal Christian women have become victims of rape or sexual abuse or enslavement. Not less than 15m Christian IDPs/Refugees have been generated and forced into internal or regional/international border homelessness-with Benue State being the worst hit accounting for at least 2.5m Christian IDPs………. READ MORE

Nearly 60 Die in Bloody Weekend, Unmetered Power Customers Reach 7 Million
By SBMIntel.com
ABUJA – Five people have been killed and 11 others injured after suspected jihadists fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a town in Borno, two anti-jihadist militia commanders told AFP on Sunday. Scores of fighters attempted to invade the town of Damboa late last Friday but met stiff resistance from the anti-jihadist militia, a paramilitary outfit that works alongside the armed forces, the militia said. The five dead victims were buried on Saturday while the injured were flown to the regional capital Maiduguri aboard a helicopter for medical attention. Gunmen on Saturday attacked two communities, Teng and Pwaskop, in Mangu local government area of Plateau, killing two persons. The attack, which lasted for several hours, saw the assailants also burnt several homes. On the same day, gunmen stormed a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) parish in Ogun, killing the pastor and abducting seven worshippers. The Ogun State So-Safe Corps Commander, Soji Ganzallo, confirmed the incident, saying his officers rescued seven church members and killed one of the kidnappers. In Taraba, at least 50 people have been reportedly killed and several houses burnt as fresh communal clashes erupted on Saturday in Karim Lamido Local Government, witnesses said according to Premium Times. Power distribution companies installed a total of 560,965 meters in 2022, as the number of unmetered registered electricity consumers increased to 7,017,235, the Federal Government has said. The latest figures were obtained from the new fourth quarter 2022 report of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. Data collated by The Punch from the regulators’ fourth, third, second and first quarter reports showed the slow pace of metering by all the 11 power distribution companies despite the various metering programmes in the power sector. An analysis of the reports showed that in the fourth, third, second and first quarters of 2022, the Discos installed 164,612 meters, 142,887 meters, 167,956 meters and 85,510 meters respectively…………READ MORE

Ongoing Violence in Nigeria is a Sore Trial for Christians
By Cruz Staff
ABUJA, FCT — At least five people are dead in Damboa, Nigeria, after suspected Islamic militants fired a rocket-propelled grenade into the northeastern town fifty miles south of the regional capital, Maiduguri, on Friday. Reports say at least eleven others were injured in the attack, which apparently also saw scores of Jihadist fighters attempt an incursion into the town. Agence France Presse reported Sunday that anti-Jihadist militia operating alongside regular Nigerian government forces pushed back the invasion attempt outside the town. A spokesman for the militia called the RPG attack on the town “an act of desperation,” launched “from a distance.” In northeastern Nigeria, Boko Haram and other rival Jihadist groups not only terrorize local residents but also fight each other, as well as government regulars and militia forces. Insurgencies in Nigeria’s northeast have been operating for nearly fifteen years and have killed as many as 40,000 people. More than 2 million others have fled their homes. Nigeria is a country divided sharply along religious lines, between Muslims who live mostly in the north, and Christians in the south and south-east.Violence in Nigeria continues to be especially hard on Christians throughout the country………. READ MORE

Nigeria’s Inflation Rate May Rise By 25% End Of 2023 – World Bank

June 2023

6.26.23

Outrage Erupts After Man Accused of Blasphemy is Stoned to Death in Latest Mob Killing in Nigeria – Outrage from Activists Worried About Growing Threats to Religious Freedom

By CHINEDU ASADU (AP)
ABUJ, FCT – A man was stoned to death after being accused of blasphemy in northwest Nigeria, authorities and activists said, sparking outrage on Monday from rights groups worried about what they said were growing threats to religious freedom in the region. Usman Buda, a butcher, was killed Sunday in Sokoto state’s Gwandu district after he “allegedly blasphemed the Holy Prophet Muhammad” during an argument with another trader in a marketplace, police spokesman Ahmad Rufa’i said in a statement on Sunday night. Local residents shared videos that appeared to be from the scene showing a large crowd that included children pelting stones at Buda on the floor as they cursed him. Rufa’i said a police team was deployed in the area but when they arrived, “the mob escaped the scene and left the victim unconscious.” He was later declared dead at Usmanu Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital in Sokoto, Rufa’i said. The killing was the latest attack rights campaigners have said threatens religious freedom in Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim northern region. Blasphemy carries the death penalty under Islamic law in the area. Amnesty International Nigeria’s office said the failure to ensure justice in such cases would encourage more extrajudicial killings. “The government is not taking the matter seriously and that has to change,” Isa Sanusi, acting director of Amnesty International Nigeria, said. Sokoto Gov. Ahmed Aliyu said local residents should not take laws into their hands. But he also warned that his government would “deal decisively” against anyone found guilty of blasphemy. “Sokoto people have so much respect and regard for Prophet Muhammad … hence the need for all the residents to respect (and) protect his dignity and personality,” Abubakar Bawa, his spokesman, said. Many of those accused of blasphemy never make it to court for trial. Last year, a student in Sokoto was beaten and burnt to death for alleged blasphemy while a man was killed and set ablaze for the same reason in the capital city of Abuja also in the northern region. …………READ MORE

Police Rescue 6 out of 7 Abducted Unijos Students
By NewsDesk
The Police Command in Plateau has rescued six out of the seven students of the University of Jos that were kidnapped by gunmen on Monday. DSP Alfred Alabo, the spokesman for the command, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Jos. According to Mr Alabo, five of the students were rescued, while one escaped from the kidnappers’ den unhurt. ”The Police command is pleased to announce to the general public that six of the seven victims who were kidnapped on June 13, have regained their freedom. ”The command swung into action immediately after the incident was reported, and worked tirelessly in collaboration with its Anti-Kidnapping unit, family members of the victims, and the community to secure the release of the victims. ”Five of the victims were rescued, one escaped from the kidnapper’s den, while one victim is still in captivity,” Mr Alabo said. He said that the commissioner of Police in the state, Bartholomew Onyeka, has ordered the Area Commander Metro, and the Divisional Police Officer Nasarawa Gwong, to ensure that the seventh victim is rescued unhurt and the perpetrators arrested ………. READ MORE

Muslim Terrorists Slaughter Record Numbers of Christians in Central Nigeria
By Douglas Burton (DC) & Masara Kim (Nigeria)
JOS—In Nigeria’s killing fields, grief and miracles go hand in hand. On Wednesday, June 21 a Plateau State mother wept a river of tears at the burial of her son who died defending his hometown. He was among 7 civilian guards armed with rabbit guns who went up against Muslim terrorists firing AK 47 rifles. After a decade of radical Muslim terrorist attacks in Central Nigeria, he knew the odds. At least 1,100 Christians have been killed in Nigeria by Islamic terrorists since the country’s Presidential inauguration on May 29, according to a Nigerian think tank. The victims of the ongoing attacks — concentrated in the country’s Muslim-dominated north — including 20 pastors and priests, reports the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (INTERSOCIETY), an international nonprofit focused on tracking crimes. Yet there are miracle survivors. Eight-month-old Manni survived two rifle bullets through her back while cradled in the arms of her mother who died along with her father and 50 other people, in a hail of bullets in Mango town in Plateau State 35 miles south of Jos on May 16. Without detailed explanations from Nigerian authorities and largely unremarked by Nigeria’s own news agencies, the helpless citizens of Central Plateau State are without answers and assurance that the chaos of murder will ever end…………READ MORE

Nigeria’s Public Debt Hits N49 Trillion
By NewsDesk
ABUJA, FCT — The Debt Management Office, DMO, said the total public debt stock of Nigeria as at March was N49.95 trillion (108.30 billion dollars). According to a statement obtained from the DMO official website on Sunday, the total debt stock comprises the external and domestic debts of the Federal Government, the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the country’s total debt for the preceding period 0f Dec. 21, 2022, was N46.25 trillion (103 billion dollars), indicating an increase of about three trillion Naira. The total debt stock, however, excludes the Federal Government’s N22.719 trillion Ways and Means Advances of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, whose securitization was approved by the National Assembly in May. According to the DMO, the Ways and Means will be included in the debt stock of the Federal Government from June. Meanwhile, the DMO recently released the Market Access Country-Debt Sustainability Analysis (MAC-DSA) to promote transparency. The MAC-DSA is a World Bank/IMF tool for best practices in public debt management, which the DMO adopted and has implemented over the years. According to the DMO, it is an annual exercise anchored by it, with the participation of key Federal Government agencies………. READ MORE

Sacrifice A Little More For Our Survival,
Tinubu Tells Nigerians

Democracy Day messages.

6.19.23

Governor El-Rufai’s Tenure Characterised by Massive Killings, Decimation of Christian Areas – MBF
By HeadTopics.com

The Middle Belt Forum, MBF, has alleged that the eight years of Nasir El-Rufai as governor of Kaduna State was characterized by massive killings and The forum noted that the former governor acted unconcerned with the genocidal attacks on communities located in the south where scores of towns and villages were decimated and tens of thousands killed, including deploying religion to subjugate the… The forum noted that the former governor acted unconcerned with the genocidal attacks on communities located in the south where scores of towns and villages were decimated and tens of thousands killed, including deploying religion to subjugate the area by denying the indigenous groups political appointments. Dr Isuwa Dogo, the National Publicity Secretary of the forum, in a statement on Sunday, condemned the pronouncements by the former governor while addressing a select group of Islamic clerics after the conclusion of the presidential and governorship polls. Former governor El-Rufai had in the meeting with Islamic clerics, told the preachers how he, with others, plotted to enthrone the same-faith ticket in the state that was later successfully replicated at the Federal level…………..READ MORE

Bandits Kill Chief, Four Children in Zaria
By Amos Tauna

ABUJA FCT – Suspected armed bandits invaded Dorayi in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State, over the weekend, and killed a Fulani Chief, Kewaye of Zazzau Emirate, Alhaji Shuaibu Mohammed, and his four children. A family source told the DAILY POST that the bandits numbering about five stormed his residence on Saturday at about 10 pm. The source said, “The wife of the deceased, Malama Halima Shuaibu explained that her husband was brought out of his bedroom and shot twice in the head by the bandits; he died instantly.” He stated that according to the woman, the bandits went from room to room in the compound and killed her four children who are married with children. The names of the children are Adamu Shuaibu, Musa Shuaibu, Abubakar Shuaibu, and Ibrahim Haruna, saying that after attacking the compound, the bandits also rustled over 100 cattle. The only survivor of the attack among Ardo’s children, Abdurrahman Shuaibu, while narrating the incident explained that the bandits shot two other people on their way out of the village……………… READ MORE

Gunmen Abduct Policeman, Two Mourners, Demand N1.7m Ransom in Benue
By TSJ Reporter
Unknown gunmen have abducted three persons including a policeman and two other victims on Tuesday at the Ahume end of the Naka/Makurdi Road in Benue State. Sources said that the victims were on their way home from a burial when the suspected gunmen waylaid them in the evening on the expressway and took them away to an unknown location It was gathered that following the abduction, the suspects contacted the relatives of their victims and demanded N1.7m ransom. The Chairman, Gwer West Local Government Area, Andrew Ayande, who reacted to the development on Wednesday, noted that the area was notorious for criminal activities, as he confirmed the incident. LG chairman said that, “This incident happened on Tuesday; we lost one prominent person around the place on Monday and they took the corpse home on Tuesday. “The people (gunmen) came as usual and they attacked the people in one of the vehicles. “A policeman and two others were kidnapped around 4pm at Ahume, Naka/Makurdi Road, and the vehicle in which the victims were in has been taken to Naka Police Station. “The abductors were demanding N200,000 from the family of the police, N1m from the woman and they also demanded N500,000 from the other victim.”………. READ MORE

Plateau Community Under 24-Hour Lockdown Following Killings
By Daniel Daniel

he Chairman of the Interim Management Committee in the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Markus Artu, has issued a strict 24-hour curfew after a deadly assault on residents Sunday night. POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Artu declared, “All vehicular movement is hereby suspended until further notice. Only authorised security personnel and essential workers will be permitted to travel.” Tragically, the attack resulted in numerous fatalities and the wanton destruction of properties worth millions of naira. According to a reliable source who spoke with Sun newspaper, the violence erupted when a corpse was brought into a local mosque, triggering a wave of machete-wielding attackers who indiscriminately targeted innocent residents. “Our house is located near the mosque, and by God’s grace, we narrowly escaped being victims of the brutal machete attacks,” the source recounted while seeking refuge at the Palace of Mishkaham Mangu, in close proximity to the Mangu Police Station. “We are anxiously waiting, relying on divine intervention to protect us.” Mr. Lawrence Kyarshik, the National Director of Public Affairs, confirmed the disturbing incident, stating, “Mangu town is currently in a state of confusion, gripped by fear and uncertainty.” Speaking with journalists, Bala Fwangji, the representative for the Mangu South constituency, further validated the gravity of the situation. He expressed deep concern, revealing, “Our people are under siege in Mangu. They are mercilessly attacking and killing innocent individuals without remorse. The violence began in the Bwai community earlier today, spread to Mangu town, and has now engulfed Sabon Gari.” Fwangji urgently pleaded for assistance, emphasising, “Our people are in desperate need of help. In response, the Local Government authority has implemented a 24-hour curfew across the entire LGA to contain the situation.”………… READ MORE

Nigeria Boat Capsize: More Than 100 People Feared Drowned
At least one hundred people are feared dead after a boat capsized. It happened on the Niger river between Niger and Kwara states. Witnesses say the vessel was carrying people returning from a wedding ceremony in Niger State. About 50 bodies have been recovered.

6.12.23

Nigeria’s Democracy Still in Bondage, says Atiku

By James Agberebi
ABUJA FCT – Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25, 2023 election Atiku Abubakar has said Nigeria’s democracy is still in bondage. Atiku said this in a statement released on Sunday as Nigerians mark the 2023 Democracy Day on June 12. According to Atiku, the occasion of Democracy Day is a time for Nigerians to reflect on the country’s journey to becoming a democratic society. “Democracy without a corresponding commitment to the principles of fairness and fidelity to the rule of play by stakeholders in the processes of conducting elections still leaves the people prostrate to tendencies of dictatorship. “For our democracy to be fully fledged, it must constantly evolve away from the current practice where the governing elite determines the outcome of elections. “Democracy and the process of democratization is a constant work in progress. While what we celebrate today is a return to civil rule in Nigeria, the desire to make our democracy self-sustaining and independent of anti-democratic elements is the new frontier of participation by all democrats. “The challenge ahead of us and the future of our democracy will rely heavily on what we do or fail to do today. “As I congratulate Nigerians on this day, in celebration of the return to civil rule, I also call our consciousness to the reality that democracy in Nigeria remains in bondage and it will need the energy of all of us to rescue it.” ……………… READ MORE

Days After El-Rufai’s Islamic Comment, Gunmen Kidnap Catholic Priest in Kaduna
By Ochogwu Sunda
KADUNA, KADUNA STATE – Yet to be identified gunmen have kidnapped the parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Karku in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Reverend Father Jeremiah Yakubu. The Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Reverend Father Emmanuel Okolo confirmed the development in a statement on Monday. He said Father Yakubu was whisked from the parish rectory in Kauru LGA at about 11pm on Sunday night when the gunmen invaded the area. While calling for intense prayer for the quick and safe release of the priest, the Chancellor appealed to the parishioners to refrain from taking laws into their hands This is coming a few days after the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai made a controversial comment against the Christians in the state. The former governor had in a viral video, made comments in Hausa language that many considered inciting against Christians in the state. He had said, “Why did I pick Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe to be my deputy in 2019? First, I did a thorough calculation that most of those that are not Muslims don’t vote for our party. Most of them. So, why should I give them the deputy (governor) position? His comments had generated controversies across the country with many concerned citizens asking stakeholders to caution him before his comments set the nation ablaze………. READ MORE

Gunmen Attack Bauchi Community, Kill 1, Abduct 2 Leaders
By Ibrahim Ramalan
The Police Command in Bauch State has confirmed that gunmen killed one person and abducted three others, including two community leaders in the Ningi Local Government Area of the state. The Spokesman of the command, SP. Ahmed Wakil, confirmed the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Bauchi. He said that the gunmen attacked a community known as Balma, killing one person and abducting three others, including two community leaders late on Saturday. Mr Wakil said the two community leaders were a village head in Balma community and a ward head in Bakutunbe community as well as one other person who was also abducted. The spokesman said that the command had on Sunday received a report from its Balma outpost that gunmen had attacked the village. “They shot sporadically and took away the village head, Hussaini Saleh, who is 48 years old. Wakil said that the village head was abducted alongside one Idris Mai Unguwa and another man named Ya’u Gandu Maliya, who is 45 years old. “One Haruna Jibrin was however, shot in the head by the gunmen. “When the police received a distress call, a team was drafted to the scene, they rescued the victim and rushed him to General Hospital, Ningi where he was receiving treatment but he was later confirmed dead………………… READ MORE

Nigerian Government Terrorizing Biafra Nation, Nnamdi Kanu
By Seun Opejobi
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has accused the Nigerian Government and security agencies of terrorizing its militia arm, the Eastern Security Network, ESN, and the “Biafra nation” IPOB claimed the Nigerian government was carrying out a form of terrorism against its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Emma Powerful, the spokesman of the group, claimed the government went as far as arming some criminals operating as unknown gunmen to heighten the insecurity situation in the South East. The statement reads partly: “The Federal Government of Nigeria sponsored and sustained the persecution and blackmail against IPOB, and ESN, targeted at our leader, is a form of terrorism. “Nevertheless, the world knows that IPOB members are the victims of oppressive government and their murderous Security Agents. “Ever since ESN was launched in December 2020 to tackle the menace of Fulani terrorists nicknamed herdsmen, the Fulani Government of Nigeria has sponsored sustained security and media campaigns against ESN, IPOB, and Mazi Nnamdi KANU both locally and internationally.“They even recruited the so-called repentant Boko Haram terrorists into the Nigeria Army and deployed them to the Southeastern Region. These soldiers have been seen killing innocent people and burning their houses as is in their nature as terrorists.”………… READ MORE

Leah Sharibu – Friend’s Account of Captivity
Leah Sharibu was taken from her school on February 19, 2018. 109 other classmates were taken captive along with her, but a few friends escaped. This is their account of what happened that fateful night. She has been in Boko Haram terrorist captivity for over five years and this year she will turn 20 years old. She was 14 years old when she was captured and you have been praying and advocating for her release every day. While Leah has been enslaved by terrorists her nation of Nigeria has continued to fall into chaos and confusion. We need to help girls like Leah be released and attention to the persecution of other Christians in Nigeria.

6.5.23

Don’t Set Nigeria on Fire – APC Chieftain Warns El-Rufai Over Fresh Claims
By Amos Tauna
KADUNA STATE – A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Plateau State, Samuel Kwamkur, on Sunday, in Jos, warned former Governor Nasir El-Rufai not to set Nigeria on fire with his careless utterances. Speaking at a press briefing, Kwankur, a former National Director of the Christian Association of Nigeria, was reacting to statements credited to the former Kaduna governor. El-Rufai had allegedly told his audience before handing over to his successor that the Islamic dominance in Kaduna had been successfully carried out in Nigeria and that it shall continue. He alleged that El-Rufai equally told his audience that in the course of the electioneering campaigns, when Christians tried to ask questions on the Muslim/Muslim ticket, they deceived ‘them’ that it was not for religious dominance but that in reality, the tickets both at the state and the national level were for Islamic dominance. ……………… READ MORE

Plateau Crisis: Governor, Stakeholders Meet To End Attacks
By Ado Abubakar Musa
JOS, PLATEAU STATE – In a bid to end frequent farmers-herders clashes in villages of Mangu and Riyom local government areas of Plateau State, stakeholders have met to find solutions to the problem. Villages of Mangu came under attack by gunmen recently where over 150 people including women and children were killed, igniting retaliatory attacks. In a bid to end frequent farmers-herders clashes in villages of Mangu and Riyom local government areas of Plateau State, stakeholders. The stakeholders including the state governor, Caleb Mutfwang, his deputy, Josephine Piyo, traditional rulers of Mangu, leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in the area, among others on Friday, met to find a lasting solution to the clashes……… READ MORE

Kidnapped Reverend Father freed in Anambra
By Chinagorom Ugwu
ABUJA, FCT – The church through Mr Ezeogu had earlier announced that Mr Mbamara, attached to the Nnewi Diocese, had been abducted by gunmen. A Catholic priest, who was abducted on Friday evening in Anambra State, has been freed. The cleric, Stanislaus Mbamara, a reverend father, was abducted while he was returning from Awka, the state capital, to Nnewi. Mr Mbamara, who works with the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, is also a student at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The Chancellor of the diocese, Raphael Ezeogu, announced the release of the cleric in a statement on Sunday night. His release comes exactly two days after his abduction. With joy, Nnewi Diocese is announcing that today June 4, 2023, Rev. Fr. V Stanislaus Mbamara, kidnapped two days ago, has been liberated,” Mr Ezeogu, also a Catholic priest, said in the statement. “We sincerely thank all who joined us in prayer for God’s intervention. Please join us in happily acknowledging God’s compassion once again palpably manifested,” he added………….READ MORE

Nigeria’s Security Situation Has Got Worse: What Tinubu’s Administration Needs To Do About It
By Sallek Yaks Musa
LONDON, UK – Nigeria’s new president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has promised to make security a top priority of his administration. In his inaugural speechhe promised, among other things, to provide security personnel with better training, equipment, pay and firepower. The new president has read the mood in the country well. A recent survey showed that 77% of Nigerians felt unsafe in their country. The security situation in Nigeria has deteriorated over the past eight years. Every region of the country is affected. Data compiled by this author, from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project shows that there were 59,279 fatalities from security related incidents between 29 May 2015 when President Buhari assumed office and 18 May 2023. This is opposed to 34,066 of such fatalities recorded between 29 May 2007 and 28 May 2015. (See table 1). Boko haram, which has existed in various forms since the 1990s, was for many years the country’s biggest security challenge. The insurgency, which started in Borno State, was concentrated in the north-east region. But now, other non-state armed groupsare spreading violence all over Nigeria. At least 7,222 Nigerians were killed and 3,823 abducted as a result of2,840 violent incidents between January and July 2022. Buhari made a number of promises to address Nigeria’s chronic security problems. But he failed to effectively address them………… READ MORE

Addressing The Incessant Attacks On Communities In Plateau State
For decades, there has been repeated mass and isolated attacks by armed men on farming communities in the Plateau state, north central Nigeria While this has become a tragic trend, it usually escalates during each farming season when all the farmers increase the tempo of agricultural work on their farms. Apart from these attacks against the poor rural farmers, the farming communities are also ravaged by the persistent violent ethno-religious conflicts that routinely break out in the Plateau Metropolis.

Leah Sharibu – Let Your Light Shine
Leah Sharibu was taken captive as a 14-year-old girl on February 19, 2018. She has celebrated 5 birthdays in captivity and will turn 20 years old this year on May 14, 2023. Five years a captive is too long.

May 2023

5.29.23

Petrol Queues Resurface After President Tinubu Announced Fuel Subsidy Removal
BY SaharaReporters.com
ABUJA, FCT – Petrol stations in Lagos started witnessing queues a few hours after President Bola Tinubu announced that “fuel subsidy is gone”. Some Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) stations in Ikeja, Alausa were crowded by motorists who rushed to buy the product. Many private stations were not selling as of the time of filing this report, Daily Trust reports. SaharaReporters earlier reported that the newly inaugurated Nigerian president officially announced the removal of fuel subsidy, saying that there was no provision for it. Tinubu said this on Monday during his inaugural speech at Eagle Square in Abuja. He had said he was informed that there was no provision for fuel subsidy, adding that it could no longer be justified. He said, “Fuel subsidy is no more. The subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources. “We shall instead re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care, and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions. “No provision for fuel subsidy.” He said there would be a “thorough house cleaning,” adding that the interest rate would be reduced. ……………… READ MORE

Insecurity: New Kaduna Governor Pledges to Actualise State Police
By Marcus FATUNMOLE
THE NEWLY-SWORN in Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, has promised to work with other governors in Nigeria to make state police a reality. Sani stated this on Monday, May 29, in his inaugural address. He said insecurity was a local problem that required local solutions. Sani promised to prioritize the Kaduna people and ensure equal opportunity for all. “The prevailing security situation in the country demands a significant shift in the current structure. In this regard, I will work with my colleague governors and members of the National and State Assemblies to make state police a reality. “I was at the forefront of advocacy for state police in the 9th Senate. I strongly believe that state police are the panacea for our perennial security challenges. Security is basically a local affair, and it demands a local approach,” he said. The ICIR reports that coincidentally, the new President Bola Tinubu, who also assumed office on Monday, May 29, in Abuja, had severally canvassed for state police to combat insecurity challenges in the country. Sani promised to prioritize the Kaduna people and ensure equal opportunity for all…….. READ MORE

How British Special Forces Secretly Operated in Nigeria, 18 Other Countries
By Theophilus ADEDOKUN
A REPORT by a United Kingdom (UK)-based research organization, Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), has revealed how Britain’s Special Forces secretly participated in hostage rescue efforts in Nigeria, including an incident in which a Briton and Italian died. The report, released on Tuesday, May 23, revealed that the British Special Forces secretly operated in Nigeria and 18 other countries in the past 12 years. Titled ‘Britain’s Special Forces on service in at least 19 countries since 2011’, the report covers the exfiltration activities of Britain’s Special Forces between 2011 to 2023. The report questioned the degree of transparency and democratic consent involved in the activities of the British Special Air Service (SAS) and other European countries’ special forces activities across the 19 countries. It noted that the British SAS had operated secretly in Nigeria, Algeria, Estonia, France, Oman, Iraq, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Cyprus, Pakistan, Somalia, the Philippines, Russia, Syria, Ukraine, Yemen, and Sudan. The UK research think-tank, AOAV, further identified Burkina Faso, Oman, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Djibouti as countries where the British Special Forces had either trained foreign forces or based their forces before launching into another country……………..READ MORE

How Inefficient Police Aid, Sustain Bandits and Kidnappers
By Joe Keshi
Revered Father Michael Ifeanyi Asomugha, a priest of the Catholic diocese of Okigwe, in lmo state, was kidnapped on the evening of Saturday, April 15, 2023. Father Ifeanyi from childhood wanted to be a priest, and was overwhelmed when he was ordained on September 18, 2021 and posted as assistant priest of St. Paul’s parish, Osu, lsiala, Mbane local government area of Imo state. But as fate would have it, he was kidnapped along Ofriagu-Obodo road, while on his way back from a Diocesan Diaconate ordination. He was kidnapped while trying to remove a huge stone right in the middle of the road – an innocent act of a good citizen that could have cost him his life. His brother priest, who was in the driver’s seat, managed to escape, reporting to his superiors and later to the police. It took some time to find the appropriate police unit to report to, and of course in his words, ‘l spent money’. The Nigeria Police’s reaction to the incident was not like its counterparts anywhere in the world. There was no sense of urgency. Rather than activate the system, alert other police formations in the state, appoint an investigator or hand over the case to a team of experienced crime busters like police in advanced countries would do to track the kidnappers, the Catholic Church was advised to ‘start putting money together’. Nothing more was done. As the church broke the news to the family of the kidnapped priest, who had given his life to serve God through the church, it advised the family to start looking for money because the church of Christ, as a policy, does not pay ransom. This, perhaps, is the marked difference between the Catholic Church and the Baptist, whose Primate was rescued from captivity at the pricey sum of N100 million………… READ MORE

Victims, Survivors Of Mangu Massacre Narrate Heart-Rending Experiences
People on the Plateau in Nigeria and the people are running and scared as more than 130 persons have been killed by terrorists in Plateau State within the last week. Fulani militant attackers also burnt houses, farms and stored agricultural inputs, adding that the latest attacks took the death toll to 200 in the past four months. Victims and survivors of Mangu massacre narrate heart-rending experiences after the needless attack and killings of natives #ManguKillings

5.22.23

Over 125 Persons Reportedly Killed In Attack On Mangu LGA Of Plateau State
BY DANMASANI DANKWADA
JOS, PLATEAU STATE – They also told journalists in Jos, the State capital that the situation is a clear indication that the police have demonstrated low capacity and political will to secure minority tribes in Nigeria as several people are still missing after the deadly attack. The attack and killing of dozens of people in a number of communities which lastest for four days has continued to send shock waves across the entire state with the affected areas making demands for a special court that will address their grievances and deliver justice. The group also lamented over the humanitarian crisis in the affected communities, describing it as overwhelming with a call on the government to take full responsibility for the education of children below 10 years who have lost their parents as a result of the deadly attack. Meanwhile, the State Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Muhammad Nura has responded to insinuations that Fulani herders are responsible for the killings by saying they are equally victims of the violence engulfing the communities. He is calling on the authorities to find a lasting solution to the killings ……………… READ MOREPresident Buhari-Led APC Government has Failed – Ogbaru Diocesan Synod
By Chimaobi Nwaiwu
ABUJA, FCT – The Church of Nigeria Diocese of Ogbaru, (Anglican Communion) has described the President Muhammad Buhari-led All Progressives Congress, APC, government in Nigeria as a total failure, saying that the government came in 2015 with lots of hope, and promises but ended up doing nothing. Diocese of Ogbaru also accused the government of weaponizing poverty which enabled it to retain power at the just concluded general election, saying that Nigerians should not expect anything better, but should expect worst because the democracy they yearned for is not what they are getting. The Diocese of Ogbaru disclosed this in the Presidential Address presented by its Bishop Rt. Rev. Prosper Amah to the 2nd Session of the 6th Synod of the Diocese of Ogbaru held at Basilica of St James the Great Cathedral Atani, Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State. The Ogbaru Diocese also accused the present administration in the country of being passive and not reactive to the allegations that kidnapping, killings and other atrocities in parts of the country including the recent one in Ogbaru are being perpetrated by herdsmen and foreigners who were imported into Nigeria, dressing and disguising as Military and Police personnel…………… READ MORE

Christian Student’s Killers Released Unprosecuted as Murder Anniversary Passes
By Douglas Burton and Masara Kim
The killers of Nigerian college student Deborah Emmanuel were released in January due to the deliberate refusal of Sokoto state prosecutors to charge them, The Epoch Times has learned. Four days after Deborah Emmanuel was stoned at the entrance to Shehu Shegari Teachers College on May 12, 2022, the Sokoto Police announced they had apprehended and brought two suspects to court in connection with the murder. Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunci were presented before a local magistrates court in Sokoto, were charged with incitement and public disturbance, and later charged with murder. Court documents reviewed by Sahara Reporters document that the accused killers were released at the end of January 2023. “Nigeria is sliding down the slope of intolerance and bigotry as one religion is seen and promoted as more superior to others,” wrote Kyle Abts, the president of the International Committee on Nigeria (ICON). “Deborah Emmanuel’s brutal murder was cause for concern in a supposed democratic country that espouses freedom of religion. “Yet, when an innocent female student is harassed and murdered for being a Christian amid the Sokoto Caliphate, it’s as if it were a stain on Nigeria and Sunni Islam,” wrote Abts to The Epoch Times in a text message. “Witnesses who saw exactly which male students carried out the heinous act of stoning Deborah to death and setting her body on fire, apparently were threatened and silenced,” he wrote……….. READ MORE

Armed Herdsmen Sack Benue State Community, Kill Scores Of Residents, Four Soldiers, Burn Houses

By SaharaReporters.com
Armed Fulani herdsmen have attacked yet another Benue State community, killing scores of residents including four Nigerian soldiers, and burning down villages. SaharaReporters reliably gathered on Monday that the attack took place on Sunday at Iyer village in Uvir Council Ward in the Guma local government area of the state. Community sources told SaharaReporters that the terrorists Fulani herdsmen invaded the community at about 5pm on Sunday and opened fire on the residents. Many people according to sources were burnt alive inside their houses. One of the sources, who gave his name simply as Barnabas told SaharaReporters that the four soldiers who were killed, came to the community after they received distress calls to repel the attackers but they were outgunned by the herdsmen numbering over 50. “This is the seventh time Fulani herdsmen would be attacking communities in Guma local government area in one month. This very attack happened at about 5pm yesterday (Sunday) Fulani herdsmen with suspected Nigeria soldiers accompanying them launched an attack in Iye village in Uvir council Ward, Guma local government of Benue State. They killed several people including four soldiers. Ten bodies have been discovered and so many houses have been burned.”Another source who did not want his name to be mentioned in print decried the instant killing of residents and burning of the corpses……… READ MORE

Many Feared Killed As Suspected Herdsmen Attack Benue IDPs
The Benue State Police Command has confirmed another attack on one of the Internal Displaced Person (IDP) camps at Agan in the Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue with many killed by suspected herdsmen.

Killing of Over 100 People in 48 Hours Sparks Outrage in Plateau State
There is fire on the Plateau in Nigeria and the people are really running and angry. A member of the House of Representatives, Solomon Maren said more than 100 persons have been killed by terrorists in Plateau State within the last two days. Maren, who represents Mangu/Bokkos federal constituency in the North-central state, said the attackers also burnt houses, farms and stored agricultural inputs, adding that the latest attacks took the death toll to 200 in the past four months.

5.15.23

Nigeria Election: The Mystery of the Altered Results in Disputed Poll
By Chiagozie Nwonwu, Peter Mwai & Karina Igonikon
ABUJA, Nigeria – A BBC investigation has found evidence suggesting some results from Nigeria’s presidential election may have been manipulated. The winner Bola Tinubu is due to be inaugurated on 29 May but the opposition is challenging this. The BBC has uncovered significant anomalies in Rivers state, a key battleground, although not sufficient to change the overall national outcome of the election, which took place in February. There are also questions over the identity of an election official who read out some of the unexplained results. On 25 February, Nigerians cast their votes at thousands of polling stations across the country. At each polling station, the votes for the party of each candidate were publicly announced and the results sheets were taken for collation first at the ward level, then at local government (LGA) centers. An election official from each LGA then traveled to the state capital, where these results were officially declared. For the first time in a Nigerian election, photographs of the polling station results sheets were published online by the electoral commission. This made it possible to add up all the polling station sheets and to compare them with the results declared at the state level…………… READ MORE

U.S. Imposes Election-Related Visa Restrictions on Nigerians
By Reuters.com
WASHINGTON, May 15 (Reuters) – The United States has imposed entry restrictions on more Nigerians for undermining the democratic process during the African nation’s 2023 election cycle, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday. “These individuals have been involved in intimidation of voters through threats and physical violence, the manipulation of vote results, and other activity that undermines Nigeria’s democratic process,” Blinken said in a statement. Additional details were not provided. The action is the latest in a series of visa restrictions imposed on Nigerian individuals in recent years. Nigeria’s election tribunal this month was to begin hearing opposition petitions challenging president-elect Bola Tinubu’s victory in the disputed February presidential vote, court records showed………… READ MORE

Military Officers Write Presidency, Senate, Others, Vow To Force Radical Change To Save Nigeria If ‘Evil Continues’
By SaharaReporters.com
ABUJA, F.C.T.- Some Nigerian military officers under the platform of ‘Concerned Patriotic Military Officers’ have threatened to force a radical revolution to save Nigeria if the ‘monumental corruption’ in the military is not checked forthwith. The group which gave the warning in a letter to the Presidency, Service Chiefs and Senate on Sunday, called for the probe of service chiefs and the former ones irrespective of their political affiliation because according to them, they are the ones failing this country. They accused service chiefs (former and current) of buying refurbished equipment as new. “Only soldiers and officers who serve in good places pay their ways to good places and foreign missions. The remaining just continue to fight war or serve in remote areas. Some are gods they are too precious to even serve in places that have bad weather. Too bad for this country,” the group said. The group advised the ‘President-elect’, Bola Tinubu to be careful so that the country would not be buried under him. According to them, there are killings across the country because some military men are colluding with criminals and only after their pockets and the interest of their godfathers and godsons……… READ MORE

Bandits Abduct 40 Church Worshippers As 15 Escape In Kaduna
by Isaiah Benjamin
ABUJA, FCT – No fewer than 40 worshipers at Bege Baptist Church, Madala along Buruku Baringi road, Kaduna in Chikun local government area of Kaduna state were abducted during church service on Sunday. Kaduna State Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chairman Rev. John Joseph Hayab who confirmed their abduction said, the worshippers were in the Sunday service in the Church when around 9:30 am when all of a sudden, they started hearing sporadic gunshots very close to the Church, adding that “The gunmen attacked the Church and went away with 40 worshippers. “But thank God when they were going, somehow 15 of the kidnapped persons escaped, 25 of the worshippers are still in captivity without any word from their abductors” he stressed. Meanwhile, he said efforts are being made to get in contact with the abductors concerning the remaining people and prayed that the abductors would be merciful to release the remaining 25 back to their families. Some of the church members said the attack was more like a horrifying film because they came in their numbers and operated unhindered because they were heavily armed Kaduna State government and the police command were yet to issue any official statement on the incident and when contacted, the state Police spokesman, DSP Mohammed Jalige did not pick his calls and failed to respond to his missed calls as at the time of filing the report………..READ MORE

Terrorists Kill Women, and Children In Fresh Attacks On Plateau State Community
By SaharaReporters.com
Suspected terrorists have attacked and reportedly killed many residents, including women and children at Kubat village in the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State during an assault on Monday night. The terrorists invaded the community when the villagers were asleep. Governor Simon Lalong, who confirmed the incident, described it as a sad development and directed security forces to pursue and apprehend the attackers. According to Dr. Makut Simon, Lalong’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, the governor also directed the State Emergency Management Agency and the Peace Building Agency to visit the area and assess the humanitarian needs in order to provide assistance to those affected while an investigation was conducted. The spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Alabo Alfred, is yet to respond to the inquiry by Daily Trust on the casualty figures as of the time of filing this report. SaharaReporters had recently reported that scores of residents were killed by gunmen who invaded at least four communities in Mangu and Bokkos Local Government Areas of Plateau State. The suspected bandits stormed the communities two Sundays ago, unleashing a wave of violence. Although the exact number of casualties has yet to be determined, several residents were believed to have died in the attack…….. READ MORE

Leah Sharibu – Let Your Light Shine – Happy Birthday
Leah Sharibu was taken captive as a 14-year-old girl on February 19, 2018. She has celebrated 5 birthdays in captivity and turned 20 years old on May 14, 2023. Five years a captive is too long. ICON and the Leah Foundation along with our friends: Lord David Alton, Baroness Cox, Lela Gilbert, Bishop of Yola Diocese Most Rev. Stephen Dami Mamza, Ambassador Rhoda Jahota, Ambassador Elizabeth Ajegena, Kyle Abts, and others were hosted by Leah’s mother, Rebecca Sharibu, and Dr. Gloria Samdi-Puldu #FreeLeah

Christian STONED For Saying Jesus And NO ONE CARES
Deborah Emmanuel, a 25-year-old Christian college student from Nigeria was stoned to death and burned for saying Jesus by her classmates who claim she was being “blasphemous”. Deborah was murdered by her Muslim colleagues for allegedly blaspheming their religion No one has been found guilty or charged for her murder. #Justice4Deborah

5.8.23

Fulani Herdsmen Kill 12 Christians in Central Nigeria
By MorninStarNews.org
ABUJA, NIGERIA – Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists on April 16 killed 12 people in attacks on predominantly Christian villages of central Nigeria that continued until April 19, sources said.
The assailants burned down the house of a pastor and other homes belonging to Christians in the attacks on Tattara Mada, Migini, Angwan Barau, and other villages in Kokona County, Nasarawa state, area residents said. “The house of the pastor of the ECWA [Evangelical Church Winning All] local congregation in Tattara Mada village was burned down, and dozens of other houses belonging to Christians there were also destroyed by the herdsmen,” the Rev. Danladi Ndoh, village resident and chairman of the ECWA Angwan Takwa District told Morning Star News by phone. “Hundreds of our church members have been displaced, and this is aside from the 12 Christians killed.” Area resident Chorio Musa identified the assailants as Fulani terrorists. “The victims were murdered like animals, while some inhabitants of these communities are still missing,” Musa said in a text message to Morning Star News. “Valuables worth millions of naira have been lost. More than 50 houses have been burnt down to ashes, and food and cash crops were burnt to ashes, too.” Survivors were stranded without any assistance from the Nasarawa state government, he said…………..READ MORE

Nigeria Customs Arraigns Three for Illegal Importation, Forgery of Documents
By Ishola Oludare
ABUJA, F.C.T.- The Ikeja Zone ‘A’ Federal Operations Unit (FOU) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Tuesday, arraigned three suspected smugglers before a Federal High Court sitting in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. They were arraigned for alleged illegal importation of goods as well as forgery of documents. The three accused persons, Ismail Shaibu Kolo, Jimoh Yakubu and Abdullahi Muazu were arraigned on two separate counts bothering on forgery and conspiracy to commit wits by forging the NCS documents, particularly the Service’s “Exit Note” to evade the necessary duties payable to the government. While arraigning the accused before the court in suit number: FHC/AB/31C/’23, the prosecuting counsel and an NCS Assistant Legal Adviser, Bar. Vivian Aigbadon told the court that the accused persons committed the offenses between January and February 2023 around Owode-Idiroko road, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State. In the charge sheet, the prosecutor told Justice Demi Ajayi, that the three accused persons “conspired to forge Nigeria Customs Service documents Exit Note declaration form: Ports & Terminal Multi-Services Limited (PTML) Provision Assessment form, knowing the documents to be false and with the intent that may in any way, be used and acted upon as genuine.” .……… READ MORE

Terrorists Release Another Three Government College Girls In Kebbi After Two Years
By SaharaReporters.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Terrorists have freed three of the remaining seven girls of the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State, who were being held in their captivity. Those released are Elizabeth Ogechi Nwafor, Esther Sunday and Aliya Abubakar. The chairman of parents of the Abducted School Girls’ Forum, Malam Salim Kaoje explained that the newly released girls arrived Kebbi on Monday afternoon. “Yes they released three of the school girls to us on Sunday evening. They are already with the State Government”, Kaoje said. He did not state if any ransom was paid.
SaharaReporters had on April 22 reported that the terrorists, locally dubbed as bandits who abducted dozens of schoolgirls from Federal Government College Birnin Yauri in Kebbi State two years ago released four of the remaining 11 girls in their custody. The four girls released by the notorious bandit leader, Dogo Gide had been named as Bilha Musa, Faiza Ahmed, Rahma Abdullahi and Hafsa Murtala, Daily Trust reports. Recall that in January 2023, Kaoje had confirmed that they were negotiating with Dogo Gide after they sought intervention through the mother of the bandit. The girls and their teachers were abducted by the bandits when they attacked FGC Birnin Yauri on June 17, 2021. Recall that 96 of the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, were abducted when the school was attacked. The parents had said they paid an undisclosed amount of money to secure the release of the four girls after they sold their properties and a fundraising that saw many Nigerians assist the parents financially..……..READ MORE

Tribunal Adjourns Hearing In Atiku, APM’s Petitions To Thursday, Asks Lawyers To Harmonise Documents
By Aina Ojonugwa
The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) sitting at the Appeal Court, Abuja, has adjourned the pre-hearing session in the petitions filed by Atiku Abubakar, and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) till Thursday, May 11, 2023. THEWILL earlier reported that the Court, on Monday, commenced a pre-hearing session of the petitions filed by political parties and their presidential candidates against the President-elect, Bola Tinubu. However, at the resumed sitting of the court on Tuesday, a five-member panel of the court led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, adjourned the hearing in Atiku and APM’s Petitions till Thursday. While the APM will be taken by 9am, the joint petition filed by Atiku and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will be taken at 2pm on Thursday Justice Tsammani also ordered lawyers to parties in the petition to meet and harmonise their positions in respect of documents to be tendered, those to be objected to and those to be allowed in without objection. Justice Tsammani, who told all the parties involved to consolidate their issues for determination to avoid duplication and waste of time, directed the parties and all respondents in the petition to identify major issues for consideration ahead of the hearing. Earlier, lead Counsel to Atiku and the PDP, Chris Uche (SAN), informed the court of its application for permission of the court to televise the coverage of court proceedings on national television and other news media. He described the application as very important and urged the Lord Justices to intervene with the urgency it required. Lawyers to the respondents – Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) for INEC, Akin Olujinmi (SAN) for Bola Tinubu, and Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) for the APC, said they will file their responses within the time allowed by the rules of the court. Atiku had, in his joint petition with the PDP, marked: CA/PEPC/05/2023, applied for the withdrawal of the Certificate of Return that was issued to Tinubu by INEC.Aina Ojonugwa……. READ MORE

Leah Sharibu – Let Your Light Shine – May 14, 2023
Leah Sharibu was taken captive as a 14-year-old girl on February 19, 2018. She has celebrated 5 birthdays in captivity and will turn 20 years old this year on May 14, 2023. Five years a captive is too long. #FreeLeah

5.1.23

Nigerian Army Charged With Complicity After Brutal Attack Near Jos
By Douglas Burton and Masara Kim
JOS, NIGERIA – Thousands of Nigerians rallied near Jos, the capital of Nigeria’s Plateau State, on April 26, in the biggest protest yet against what citizens called “complicity with terrorists.” Protesters told The Epoch Times that, despite multiple advance warnings, battalions of soldiers stationed nearby have failed to defend them from terrorist attacks. The 12-hour protest, the second of its kind in two years, was sparked by the murder the previous day of six unarmed young men working at a tin-mining camp at Turu, 8 miles south of Jos. Human rights groups have called the one-sided conflict between terrorists of Nigeria’s Fulani tribe and the tribes farming Nigeria’s Middle Belt a “silent slaughter.” Critics of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari have faulted him for allowing tens of thousands of armed militia from his own Fulani ethnicity to murder and pillage across a vast area in order to replace small-plot farmers with migrating Fulani herders. A text message warning all residents south of Jos to expect an attack by radicalized terrorist militia had leaked from a secret intelligence network and was passed on to the military hours prior to the attack but with no noticeable response. The frequent loss of life compelled more than 5,000 women and young people to march on a major highway in the southwestern outskirts of Jos on 26 April. “Traitors,” the protesters shouted as they burned tires and waved tree branches. “We don’t need you.”…………..READ MORE

Nigerian Americans Seek Co-Sponsors for H.Res.82 and Advocate for the Persecuted in Nigeria
By ICONhelp.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Encouraged by recent legislation of Representatives Christopher Smith (R-NJ) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX), titled H.Res. 82, the International Committee on Nigeria and other Nigerian Americans were hosted for a legislative briefing on Capitol Hill. There was an appeal for other U.S. Representatives to sign and designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, as well as to appoint a Special Envoy to Nigeria (and Lake Chad region). Nigeria is experiencing an escalation in religious violence. A recent report highlights that Nigeria accounts for 89% of martyred Christians worldwide, but the U.S. State Department excluded Nigeria from the Countries of Particular Concern list. Nigeria’s recent election has increased concerns about the commitment to religious freedom and the protection of minority groups, including Muslims. Representative Chris Smith stressed the importance of H.Res.82 and was joined by former Congressman Frank Wolf, and former Assistant Secretary of State, Robert Destro. They agreed this administration’s policy regarding Nigeria is a failure, adding if this was happening anywhere in Europe, the U.S. government would react differently. As a Commissioner of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Wolf upholds USCIRF’s strong support for CPC designation and appointing a Special Envoy. He implored the Nigerian American leaders in attendance, who represent thousands of Nigerian Americans, to contact their legislative leaders and have them sign this resolution so we can quickly stop the killings in Nigeria.……… READ MORE

European Parliament Condemns Blasphemy Prosecution Against Nigerian Sufi Musician
By Sean Nelson
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, the European Parliament nearly unanimously passed a resolution condemning the prosecution of a Nigerian Sufi Muslim musician, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, for allegations of blasphemy and calling for his immediate release. The resolution is the strongest statement yet from an international body against Nigeria’s blasphemy laws and could lead to Sharif-Aminu’s release. Sharif-Aminu has been imprisoned for more than three years. He was accused of blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad when he shared a handful of lyrics peacefully describing the beliefs of his particular sect of Sufism on WhatsApp in February 2020. A mob set his home in Kano State in Northern Nigeria on fire, and he was sentenced to death by hanging only a few months later, even though he was not afforded a lawyer at his trial. While his conviction was eventually overturned, Sharif-Aminu was ordered to a retrial where he would face the death penalty once again. He has appealed his case now to the Nigerian Supreme Court, challenging for the first time the constitutionality of the death penalty blasphemy laws that exist in Nigeria’s 12 northern states. The European Parliament’s resolution pulls no punches. It calls for Sharif-Aminu’s immediate and unconditional release and declares that Nigeria’s blasphemy laws “are in violation of its international human rights commitments, the African Charter, and the Nigerian Constitution.” It stresses that Sharif-Aminu’s case is “an unprecedented opportunity to lead the way towards abolishing blasphemy laws.” And it calls on Nigeria to repeal its blasphemy laws at both the federal and state levels.……..READ MORE

Fulani Kill 18 Christians, Wound Pastor in Plateau State, Nigeria

By MorningStarNews.org
ABUJA, Nigeria (Morning Star News) – In 11 days of attacks through Wednesday (April 26), Fulani herdsmen killed 18 people and wounded others in predominantly Christian villages of Plateau state, Nigeria, sources said. The herdsmen attacked 11 communities in Jos South, Riyom, Barkin-Ladi, Mangu, and Bokkos counties. Three Christians in Darwat village were wounded in attacks as they worked on their farms on Wednesday (April 26), Dalyop Solomon Mwamtiri, an attorney with the Emancipation Centre for Crisis Victims in Nigeria (ECCVN), said in a press statement. “The attackers were identified by Christian victims as Fulani terrorists,” said Mwamtiri, adding that “Gyang Danbwrang, Joshua Gyang, and Mark Gyang were shot and injured by the terrorists.” The Rev. Gwong Dachollom of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Darwat was ambushed, shot, and cut with a machete along the Darwat-Wereng Camp route at about 3 p.m. on Monday (April 24), area resident Rwang Tengwong said. “The pastor was hacked and his motorcycle carted away by his attackers,” Tengwong said in a message to Morning Star News, adding that his injuries are life-threatening. “He’s presently receiving medical attention at Vom Christian Hospital of the COCIN.” In Farin Lamba village of Jos South Local Government Area, Fulani terrorists killed six Christians on Tuesday (April 25), said area resident Ron Thomas Gyang in a message to Morning Star News. Mwamtiri said in his statement that while the “burial of the six Christians killed [April 25] at Farin Lamba of Turu in Vwang was ongoing, another tragic incident of armed attack was carried out against Christians in Gako community in Riyom LGA, where a Polytechnic graduate, Mr. Philip Bitrus, was shot dead by Fulani militias.” Tengwong said that on Sunday night (April 23), “Fulani militias” killed six Christians and wounded two others “during coordinated attacks on residents of Wereng community and Bachi District of Riyom LGA as well as Tapo village of Heipang District in Barkin Ladi LGA.” “Two Christians were killed in Wereng village of Riyom Local Government Area, while the other four persons were killed in Tapo village of Heipang in Barkin Ladi LGA,” Tengwong said. The attacks were simultaneously coordinated between the hours of 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., he said. ……. READ MORE

Leah Sharibu Remains In Captivity Five Years After Abduction
The family of Leah Sharibu and civil society organizations continue to call on the federal government to secure the release of Leah Sharibu who has been in captivity since Feb 19. 2018. Her birthday is on May 14, 2023, when she will turn 20 years old.

Leah Sharibu – 5 Years Captive – February 19, 2023
February 19, 2023, marked the 5th year of Leah Sharibu’s captivity with Boko Haram terrorists. We remain optimistic but without hearing any updates from the Nigerian government, we are slowly losing hope. THANKS FOR JOINING US … to pray, remember and hope for Leah’s release ICON & LEAH FOUNDATION are working together to hold the Nigerian government accountable to protect each individual and provide opportunities to unite citizens in the pursuit of their dreams and aspirations.

April 2023

4.24.23

It’s Time for America to Remember Nigeria
By Lela Gilbert
For many years, and in ever-escalating numbers, Nigerian Christians have been enduring horrific violence in their communities, churches, and homes. This bloodshed has been imposed by Islamist groups Boko-Haram, Fulani radicals, and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Meanwhile, tragically and inexcusably, the Christians’ need for protection has been largely ignored by Nigeria’s state and federal government authorities. And, although religious freedom activists have continued to appeal for an end to the murderous terrorism, the devastation has only increased. In recent days, Intersociety — an organization based in Nigeria that reports on Islamist violence — released a shocking and heartbreaking report about the surging anti-Christian violence that continues to devastate Nigeria’s faith communities. Consider the following highlights:

5,068 citizens were massacred for being Christians in Nigeria in 2022
1,041 more slaughtered in the first 100 days of 2023
Since the 2009 Islamic uprising, 52,250 Christians and 34,000 moderate Muslims have been butchered or hacked to death. And since 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari’s radical Islamism has arguably led to the killing of 30,250 Christians and to attacks on 18,000 churches and 2,200 Christian schools.
Since 2009, 14 million Christians have been uprooted and forced to flee their homes and 800 Christian communities have been attacked.
Benue State was worst hit in the first 100 days of 2023, with 380 Christian deaths as Nigeria’s military air-bombed over 100 in Niger State. Christians of Benue, Kaduna, Plateau, Taraba, Niger, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and Kebbi were the worst affected in the attacks.

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous and prosperous nation. And the U.S. is Nigeria’s key trade and defense partner, with substantial influence over its leadership. With this in mind, why has the pattern of slaughter and anti-Christian terrorism been allowed to prosper so long and so extravagantly? Why is America turning a blind eye to the soaring death toll in Nigeria?……………READ MORE

Surging Terror Raids Following Controversial Elections in Nigeria Renew ‘Caliphate’ Fears
By Masara Kim
JOS, Nigeria—A wave of terrorist attacks following Nigeria’s presidential elections has terrified Christians and renewed fears of an Islamic caliphate in Africa’s most populous nation. At least 1,041 Christians have been killed across the country since January by Islamic extremists, according to Emeka Umeagbalasi, a respected criminologist and genocide researcher. Umeagbalasi said the attacks are influenced by the outcomes of the presidential elections, which produced a Muslim president and vice president-elect for the first time in the country. Umeagbalasi is the board chairman of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), an organization that tracks and reports genocide in Nigeria. He told The Epoch Times in a phone interview that, “70 to 80 percent of the attacks occurred a week before the elections or shortly after.” According to Umeagbalasi, Boko Haram and ISIS terrorists seeking to establish an Islamic state are responsible for the attacks, together with militants from the Fulani ethnicity. The Fulani are a large ethnic group in West Africa that claims up to 20 million members in Nigeria. Militants who identify as members of the tribe include village-raiding semi-nomadic herdsmen and kidnap-for-ransom bandit terrorists besieging the northwest and north-central regions. Attacks by the Fulani militants have claimed six times more lives than Boko Haram in recent years, according to the HART Foundation, a nonprofit organization in the UK. And Fulani terrorists are responsible for more than half of killings this year, claiming the deaths of more than 528 Christians as of April 10, said Umeagbalasi. The attacks in Nigeria are genocidal against Christians according to Solomon Maren, a member of the Nigerian House of Representatives. Kyle Abts, the president of the International Committee on Nigeria, has called for international sanctions to be imposed on Nigerian officials for encouraging killings. “The world must hold the Nigeria government accountable for the egregious manner in which it is destroying its citizens and their democracy,” wrote Abs to The Epoch Times in a text message. “The Nigerian government lied to the world that they would be able to conduct a free and fair election and that the terrorism would stop. Neither happened and we have returned to violence, kidnappings, and killings,” he wrote. ……… READ MORE

Gunmen Kill Labour Party Ward Chairman, Others During Ambush In Benue State
By SaharaReporters.com
The Chairman of the Benue State ward chapter of the Labour Party, (LP), Mr. Nathaniel Ochoche, has been reportedly killed by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen at Ankpali village in Edikwu District of Apa Local Government Area of the state. It was learnt that the Mr. Ochoche was among the four mourners killed at the weekend in an ambush that left many injured and several others missing. The incident was confirmed in a statement signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Tersoo Orbunde, noting that the deceased was the Edikwu Ward 2 Chairman of the party in Apa. The statement reads in part; “It is with rude shock that the Benue State Secretariat of the Labour party received the news of the gruesome murder of its Chairman in Edikwu Ward 2 in Apa LGA, Nathaniel Ochoche, who was ambushed and killed by armed Fulani militia. “Until his death, Mr. Ochoche was a consummate party man who worked assiduously hard for the growth of his community, constituency and country both in words and works. ……..READ MORE

USCIRF Condemns Funeral Attack, Rising Violence in Northcentral Nigeria
By USCIRF.gov
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today condemned the recent attack on a funeral in Benue State, Nigeria, which killed dozens of mourners in a region where violence often falls along ethnoreligious lines. “All Nigerians have the right to practice their faith and mourn their loved ones in peace and safety,” said Commissioner Frederick A. Davie. “This attack on a sacred, communal religious ceremony is atrocious and reprehensible. Armed actors in this region frequently show disdain for worshipers and government officials routinely fail to provide justice to faith communities targeted with violence.” This is just one of the attacks that have impacted religious communities in northcentral Nigeria since the beginning of the year. Other examples include an April 7 attack on internally displaced persons that killed 74 people and January’s bombing of a cattle market that killed 50 people. These incidents serve to further escalate tensions in a region where violence exacerbates ethnoreligious divides and erodes interfaith trust, threatening Nigerians’ freedom of religion or belief. Despite government rhetoric calling for interfaith unity, the Nigerian government has generally failed to enact meaningful policy reforms and changes to address the drivers of violence impacting religious freedom. “The Nigerian government must be held accountable for protecting the safety and religious freedom rights of its citizens,” said Commissioner Frank Wolf. “The U.S. government needs to give higher priority to religious freedom in its Nigeria policy, at the bare minimum by naming Nigeria a country of particular concern (CPC) and appointing a Special Envoy to the region.”………. READ MORE

“I Fear for Her Life”: Husband of a Nigerian Woman Imprisoned for Blasphemy
Rhoda Ya’u Jatau, a Christian nurse from northern Nigeria, was detained on blasphemy charges, according to Joel Veldkamp, head of international communications at persecution watchdog Christian Solidarity International (CSI). “She’s in prison for blasphemy,” Veldkamp said, noting she was arrested after sharing video of a Muslim man speaking out against the stoning of a Christian woman named Deborah Emmanuel Yakubu. As Faithwire previously reported, Yakubu, a 25-year-old Christian college student, was stoned last May by Muslims after claims she, too, was accused of blasphemy. “[Deborah’s story] was big news in Nigeria and lots of people were sharing their opinions about it and … a Muslim person in Ghana, a neighboring country, made a video saying, ‘This murder was terrible,'” Veldkamp explained. “Deborah should never have been murdered and this Nigerian Christian woman named “Rhoda shared that video, and then she herself was accused of blasphemy for sharing the video saying that Deborah should not have been murdered.” Blasphemy charges could end up stemming from any accusation, Veldkamp said. Watch him explain the ordeal.

ICON & PSJ – Fight for Nigeria – Together for Change

The International Committee on Nigeria (ICON) was founded by Stephen Enada and Kyle Abts in 2017. Friends since 2000 we have both been working in Nigeria to fight for the persecuted and vulnerable while advocating for religious freedom and being a voice for the voiceless. The International Organization for Peacebuilding and Social Justice (commonly known as PSJ) began soon after in 2018 when colleagues and friends of ICON were encouraged to initiate their own organization in Nigeria…and subsequently in the United Kingdom, too. Together, ICON and PSJ are working to defend the vulnerable and persecuted while advocating for human rights and religious freedom in Nigeria and West Africa. Thank you for your support and for helping us to win this fight, we can do it together.

4.17.23

27 Feared Killed as Bandits Unleash Mayhem in Kaduna Community
By The Cable
KADUNA – Gunmen have killed several residents in an attack on Runji community, Zango Kataf LGA of Kaduna state. The gunmen were said to have invaded the community around 10 pm on Saturday and opened fire on the villagers, most of whom were asleep. Some of the victims were said to have been burnt alive as the bandits set houses ablaze. Samuel Ache, president of the Atyap Community Development Association (ACDA), confirmed the incident. Samuel Aruwan, the commissioner for internal security and home affairs, spoke on the incident on Sunday but did not state the casualty figure. The commissioner said “Several lives were lost”, adding that preliminary reports indicate that “an unspecified number of houses burnt down”. “The military has informed the Kaduna State Government of an attack in Runji village, Zangon Kataf LGA, in which several lives were lost on Saturday night,” Aruwan said. The gunmen were said to have invaded the community around 10 pm on Saturday and opened fire on the villagers, most of whom were asleep. Some of the victims were said to have been burnt alive as the bandits set houses ablaze. Samuel Ache, president of the Atyap Community Development Association (ACDA), confirmed the incident……………. READ MORE

Soldiers Protecting Fulani Herdsmen Killing Us – Benue Youths Cry Out
By Sunny Green Itodo
MAKURDI – Youths of Apa, Benue State have raised an alarm that operatives of the Nigerian Army posted to the area are protecting the killer herdsmen ravaging the local government. Recall that suspected herdsmen recently murdered no few than 100 people in Apa local government area, including traditional chiefs. The attack prompted a mass protest by youths of the area who blocked the Oweto-Loko/Abuja expressway. A youth leader in the area, Ahmed Ocheje who spoke to journalists called on the Commandants of the NASME Barracks and 72nd Special Forces Battalion Makurdi to tell Nigerians what they sent their men to do in Apa. The youth leader said despite the presence of the military the marauding herdsmen still carry out their terror acts without any resistance. He said, “I’m from another community called Ikobi. Since the 2nd of January, we are being attacked by herdsmen. Nobody from that community can reside in these places. We have been in the local government headquarters [Ugbokpo]. More than how many communities in Ikobi; Okpa, Olopka, Ijaha, Igbobi, Imana, and Akpete have been deserted? All these places I mentioned have been deserted. Which government will not protect its citizens?………….. READ MORE

Over 50,000 Christians Killed in Nigeria by Islamist Extremists
By Lisa Zengarini
According to the report “Martyred Christians in Nigeria” issued by Intersociety, over the past 14 years at least 52,250 Nigerian Christians have been brutally murdered at the hands of Islamist militants.
Over 50,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria since the outbreak of the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency in 2009, a newly-released report published by a Nigerian non-governmental organization has revealed.
The report, titled “Martyred Christians in Nigeria”, has been published by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), a Nigerian-based research and investigative rights group, which has been monitoring and investigating religious persecution and other forms of religious violence by State and non-State actors across Nigeria since 2010. 52,250 Nigerian Christians murdered since 2009. According to its findings, over the past 14 years at least 52,250 Nigerian Christians have been brutally murdered at the hands of Islamist militants, more than 30,000 of whom during the eight-year presidency of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, often criticized during his tenure for not doing enough to combat growing insecurity in the country. 18,000 churches set on fire. In the same period 18,000 Christian churches and 2,200 Christian schools were set ablaze. Approximately 34,000 moderate Muslims also died in Islamist attacks.
The outlook for 2023 does not seem any better, with over 1,000 Christians killed since the beginning of the year………….. READ MORE

Near-Bankrupt States, Unviable Projects Await 18 New Governors
By Geoff Iyatse
ABUJA – Heaps of debts to tattered revenues, unsustainable wages to poorly-equipped civil servants and dead assets to loads of contingent liabilities, the 18 new chief executives of states who will be taking oaths of office on May 29 have their jobs clearly cut out for them. But it may not be rosy reception for the majority of them as legacy fiscal burdens wait patiently for their resumption. While some of them may be looking forward to making exceptional marks in the affairs of the states to stand a chance of re-election or scale up their credentials for higher offices, a myriad of decade-old challenges created by their predecessors are hard nuts they will have to crack. Whereas debt is a major source of financing public expenditure, the outgoing governors are not leaving behind heaps of debts but also tattered revenues, which could potentially impede the debt sustainability risks of most of the sub-national units………. READ MORE

33 PEOPLE KILLED IN FRESH KADUNA ATTACK

No fewer than 33 people have been killed in a fresh attack by terrorists on Runji Village in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The attack occurred around 10 pm on Saturday night. Several houses were razed down and people were burnt beyond recognition. Our correspondent NISSI Gabriel reports that members of the village are vacating the area for fear of more attacks by the terrorists.

ICON & PSJ – Data & Reportng – Together for Change

ICON and PSJ have provided reports and testimonies to various policy-makers in the US and UK. Often, we provide additional intelligence to an ongoing situation or provide added details to other incidents and events. Crises and catastrophes continue to occur around the world but places like Nigeria are being ignored. Please do not ignore Nigeria, as the implications could affect not just Africa but Europe and the USA.

4.3.23

Gunmen ‘Kill Four’ In Adamawa Village
By Kabiru R. Anwar
LAGOS – Four persons have been killed and property destroyed in an attack on Dabna community in Adamawa State. Residents of the area reported that a group. Four persons have been killed and property destroyed in an attack on Dabna community in Adamawa State. Residents of the area reported that a group of armed men riding on motorcycles attacked the village in the early hours of Monday, firing guns as they looted drugs and foodstuff shops. A vigilante member said “four civilians” died in the attack. He stated that one of the attackers also lost his life during an exchange of fire with some vigilantes, but his corpse was taken away by members of his gang. Suspected Boko Haram insurgents had launched an attack on Dabna in July 2021 in which several people died. A statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer in Adamawa, Sulaiman Nguroje, condemned the attack, stating that a team of policemen had been dispatched to the area. “The CP warns that attacks on innocent souls would no longer be tolerated under whatsoever guise as the command holds the lives of citizens sacrosanct and such unwarranted attitude would be strictly treated in accordance with extant laws,” the statement read……………… READ MORE

Three Arrested over Kiilling in Kaduna Communities Published
By John Gabriel
ABUJA – The Kaduna State Government on Monday, said three suspects have been arrested following the violence that resulted in the killing of two persons in Nassarawa and Trikania communities. DAILY POST recalls that the state government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Nassarawa and Trikania due to violence that erupted in two communities, leading to the killing of two persons. Six persons were injured, while several cars and properties were destroyed. Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, in a statement, said after an emergency meeting with security agencies, and traditional and religious leaders over the incident, the state government announced the immediate ban on social activities in the two communities; Kidan Bishi, Kidan Gala, hunting expeditions……………… READ MORE

APC Asks US Government to Ignore Election Petition
By Adebayo Folorunsho-Francis
WASHINGTON DC – The United States chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Monday wrote the President of the United States, Joe Biden, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kelvin McCarthy, to ignore a petition written by some aggrieved Nigerians allegedly discrediting the 2023 presidential election. The request is coming three days after authorities in the US administration granted permission to some diasporans in the country to use its park on April 3 to protest the outcome of the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria. The permit, which was sighted by The PUNCH, allows only a hundred protesters to converge at the iconic Lafayette Park in Washington D.C. for just four hours. There was a clear warning on the permit that the participants must “comply with all of the conditions of this permit and with all reasonable directions of the United States Park Police.” The planned demonstration is expected to be led by a group in the diaspora under the aegis of Nigerian American Coalition for Justice and Democracy Inc., under the leadership of Franklin Ekechukwu. Ekechukwu had earlier disclosed in a memo that the demonstration was their own way of protesting INEC refusal to “follow their guidelines and rule of law in accordance to democratic principles.” But the Chairman of the United States chapter of the APC, Prof. Tai Balofin, stated that the sovereignty of Nigeria since independence had been working…………. READ MORE

Suspected Terrorists Reportedly Kidnap 56 Residents In Niger Community, Demand N200 Million Ransom
By Sahara Reporters
LAGOS – According to residents of the community who shared the incident on their social media pages, the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of N200 million in order to release the abducted residents. Suspected terrorists have reportedly kidnapped no fewer than 56 people during a fresh attack on Adara town in the Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger state, north central Nigeria. The attack occurred in the middle of March, while residents of the community and its environs were mourning the death of Rev Fr Isaac Achi, who was brutally murdered by suspected assassins in the state in January. According to residents of the community who shared the incident on their social media pages, the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of N200 million in order to release the abducted residents. In a Facebook post, Edward Simon Buju lamented how the attack has harmed the community’s socioeconomic situation, claiming that farmers in the area no longer go to their farms for fear of being attacked…………. READ MORE

2023 Elections:
Activist Calls Out UK’s Ambassador For Telling Nigerians To Be Proud Of The Presidential Election –
African Diaspora News Channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56vWvXBx4vc

March 2023

3.27.23

US Representative John James (R-MI) Meets With Concerned Nigerian Advocates
@RepJames
WASHINGTON DC – Today Congressman John James (R-MI) met with Nigerian Christian leaders. They relayed accounts of violence and persecution in their home country of Nigeria, which remain heartbreaking. As Christians, they referred to having Jesus as an example of having righteous anger. Congressman James simply stated, “I’m angry”, adding, “I do not intend to end this [118th] congressional session without addressing these issues!”………………. READ MORE

Election Tribunal Grants Atiku, Obi’s Request To Interrogate INEC
by Kunle Olasanmi and George Agba
ABUJA – The presidential election petition tribunal sitting at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, has granted the request by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, to inspect the election materials used during last Saturday’s presidential poll. Shortly after the results were announced, Atiku and Obi refused to concede defeat in the February 25 presidential election, vowing to recover their mandate in court. The two candidates rebuffed the gesture of reconciliation made by the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, who in his acceptance speech after he was declared the winner of the poll on Wednesday, asked them to support him in the task of building the nation. Atiku and Obi spoke at separate news conferences in Abuja on Thursday. Making real their vow, they approached the tribunal yesterday seeking permission for the inspection of election materials used during last Saturday’s poll. But the court on Friday granted both candidates’ request to have access to all the sensitive materials INEC deployed for the presidential election won by All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu………….READ MORE

In Nigeria’s Elections, has Obi’s Labour Party Become a Formidable Force?
By Ben Ezeamalu
LAGOS – Nigeria’s 2023 general elections broke away from the traditional two-horse contest with the introduction of a third – and seemingly formidable force – into the contest: the Peter Obi-inspired Labour Party (LP). From having a zero chance at winning a state assembly seat eight months to the elections, the LP returned home from the National Assembly polls on 25 February 2023 with eight seats in the Senate and 36 members in the House of Representatives, the third-largest haul after the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)………… READ MORE

ABUJA – A Commander of the Islamic State of the West African Province (ISWAP), Abu Muhammed, has reportedly executed his immediate deputy, Abu Darda. Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert disclosed this in a series of tweets. According to Makama, Darda was killed by the ISWAP leader for enabling military operation into their camp in Mukdolo and Bone villages which led to the killing of 41 fighters including Abu-Zahra Munzir. It was gathered that the deceased was eliminated by the angry commander in the presence of other fighters in Kajeri Dogumba village in the Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State. “Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that Abu Muhammed accused Abu Darda of leading the failed attacks of March 19th, in Mafa which resulted in the killing of scores of the terrorists and capturing of two of their gun trucks,” he tweeted…………. READ MORE

UK High Court frowns at Nnamdi Kanu’s rendition to Nigeria
By Don Silas
LONDON – The British High Court has made an unconventional ruling in a significant human rights case centred on a British national and the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. Kanu had approached the High Court to challenge the government of the United Kingdom for not defending him despite being a citizen of the country against the Nigerian government. Kanu’s legal team, led by John Halford, Head of Public Law and Human Rights in Blindsman LLP had said back in June 2021 that Kanu was kidnapped from the airport in Nairobi, Kenya, by Nigerian security services and was detained and tortured for around ten days in Kenya. Kanu was then flown, blindfolded, on a private plane to Nigeria. In a statement released by Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to Kanu and IPOB, on Thursday, he said though the High Court kicked against his rendition to Nigeria, it, however, ruled that the Foreign Secretary didn’t have to intervene………….. READ MORE

3.20.23

#NigeriaDecides2023: States of Violence
By SBM Intel
The 18 March governorship and Houses of Assembly elections—held three weeks after the presidential and National Assembly elections—were characterised by poor turnout rates, but many had hoped that the 2023 elections would be better given the initial widespread enthusiasm. However, SBM’s pre-election survey showed that only 34.53% of Nigerians were invested in the gubernatorial elections, so we sent only two researchers to the 28 states having such and relied on open-source intelligence (OSINT) for states with only legislative elections. Our research shows that logistical issues and violence resurfaced, and Nigeria’s elections risk normalising ethnic-based voter suppression. Lagos State was especially affected as non-Yoruba residents were disenfranchised, and some Yorubas were asked to confirm their ancestry before voting. The Cross River Young Progressives Party (YPP) deputy governorship candidate was kidnapped for political or other reasons. Thugs hijacked and burnt election materials in Ogbia, Bayelsa, making the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials flee to Yenagoa for safety. “Iceland” members were accused of threatening non-PDP voters in Rivers, while supposed YPP thugs forcefully demanded access to election materials in Akwa Ibom. In Chiranchi ward, Kano, suspected political thugs were hostile at the NNPP candidate’s home ward, while the Kano line Managing Director and two others were arrested for allegedly destroying ballot boxes in Dala LGA. In Kokena North, Kebbi, some party agents demanded that voters display their ballot papers before casting their votes, while in Dongo LGA, Taraba, APC thugs disrupted the voting process. In Enugu, a thug attacked Obiagu Primary School polling unit and lunged at a voter who tried to capture the incident. In Akpa Ozzi, Nsukka, some party representatives ordered that voting be suspended until security agents were available to monitor the process and protect voters. And in Enugu South, the PDP local chapter chairman reportedly harassed voters and the opposition with his thugs. The most striking examples of violence are from Lagos and other states where a long-standing ruling party wants to stay in power forcefully. However, we find the prevalent ethnic bigotry particularly disturbing………………. READ MOREEU Mission Knocks INEC, Says Violence, Vote-buying Marred Gov Polls
By Gift Habib
ABUJA – The European Union Election Observation Mission to Nigeria 2023 on Monday knocked the Independent National Electoral Commission for failing to live up to expectations in Nigeria’s electoral process. The Chief Observer, EU Election Observation Mission, Barry Andrews, in his preliminary statement of the EU EOM on the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections said Nigerians hungered for democracy and were ready to be involved in the country’s democracy. However, he noted the appetite was lost due to failures by the political elite and INEC. Andrews said, “Throughout the mission, we saw that Nigerians have a great appetite for democracy and are keen to engage in various civic activities. However, in many parts of the country, their expectations were not met. Many were disappointed and we witnessed voter apathy that is in part, a clear consequence of failures by political elites and, unfortunately, also by INEC. “Public confidence and trust in INEC were severely damaged on 25 February due to lack of transparency and operational failures in the conduct of the federal level polls. “Up until the postponement, INEC continued to abstain from providing information, limiting its communication to a few press releases and ceremonial statements and hence failing to address public grievances and rebuild confidence in the electoral process…….. READ MORE

Kaduna: Bandits Kill Chief Imam’s Senior Wife After 2 Million Naira Ransom Paid
By John Gabriel
Bandits have shot dead the senior wife of the Chief Imam of Nomadic Central Mosque in Rugan Ardo, Isyaka Adamu. Mrs Hulaira Hussaini Ardo was shot dead after the bandits collected 2 million Naira as ransom. DAILY POST recalls that bandits had on February 11, 2023, Kidnapped four wives of Malam Husaaini Ardo, at Rugan Ardo in Kagarko LGA, and killed the Chief Imam of Nomadic Central Mosque in Rugan Ardo, Isyaka Adamu. The Madaki of Janjala, Samaila Babangida, confirmed the killing and said the community was mourning the killing of their chief’s wife, adding that the bandits refused to release her corpse. According to him, the ransom of 2 million Naira was paid for the release of the four wives, but the senior wife was shot by the bandits, while the remaining three were released. He said it was after the ransom was taken to the bandits with the assurance to set free the four wives of the chief that the leader of the bandits shot and killed the senior wife and set free the remaining three. “I boarded one of the motorcycles that took the money and foodstuff to them. It was after they collected the money that their leader opened fire on the senior wife,” he said………. READ MORE

Terrorists Kill Three, Abduct 70 Others in Niger Communities
MINNA – Three people, including a village head, have been killed and 70 others abducted in six communities in Munya and Paikoro local government areas of Niger State. It was learnt the Village head of Beni was among those killed while the son of the village head of Kwagana was also killed with one other in Adunu community in Paikoro local government area. According to a member of the Adunu community in Paikoro, John Lazarus, the terrorists began the attacks around 8 am on Tuesday and held the communities hostage till 3 pm. He said that people had to stay in the bush all through the night in fear of another launch of attacks by the terrorists. Calling on the government and security agencies to come to their aid, Lazarus said the attacks have been sustained in the past three months and the government seems not to be doing anything about it………….. READ MORE

Waves of Attacks Displace Catholic Natives in Central Nigeria
By Douglas Burton
WASHINGTON DC – The controversial presidential election on Feb. 25 still dominates Nigeria’s main news. Meanwhile, recent terrorist raids in Benue, a predominantly Catholic state in north-central Nigeria, are getting scant mention. Six counties in the Middle Belt state have seen deadly attacks by Fulani militants since the election, according to Mike Uba, the county chairman of Guma, adjacent to the state capital of Makurdi. The affected counties are both in the north and southern borders of the state. One of the most recent attacks, on March 7, left at least 20 residents dead in the village of Tse Jor after about 40 attackers with machetes arrived on motorbikes and slashed defenseless men, women, and children for at least two hours, Helen Tikyaa, an aid worker employed by the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, told CNA. Tikyaa said she drove to the village during the attack but dared not go in until the killers had departed. Women and children from Tse Jor and surrounding villages are still streaming into internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Naka, 20 miles west of Makurdi, Tikyaa said……………READ MORE

2023 Elections Flawed:
European Union & International Observers Declare Nigeria’s 2023 Presidential Election ‘Not Credible’

ICON & PSJ – DIASPORA – Together for Change
Nigerians need a voice. You can be that voice. You are that voice. The Nigerian diaspora needs a platform for all individuals, organizations, and places of worship to advocate and build a coalition of concerned citizens fighting for their Nigerian relatives and friends back in Nigeria. We need these Nigerians living abroad to raise their constituent voices and engage their elected officials to explore solutions against the continuing violence and religious persecution, in their Nigerian homeland.

3.13.23

Death Toll Rises To 17 In Kaduna Village Attack
By Chimezie Enyiocha
KADUNA – The death toll in Saturday’s attack by gunmen suspected to be Fulani militia herders on the Ungwan Wakili community in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State has risen to 17. This was confirmed to Channels Television by the Executive Chairman of the local government, Francis Sani, who said that two of the injured victims gave up the ghost on Sunday at different hospitals in Kafanchan and Kaduna where they were being treated. Earlier, the Chairman disclosed that 15 persons died after the gunmen attacked the Ungwan Wakili community on Saturday night. However, the latest report shows that two more people died from severe injuries from gunshots and machete cuts. Meanwhile, the council boss told our correspondent that the burial of the victims will take place after the council might have consulted with their families……… READ MORE

I’m Challenging INEC’s Electoral Process And Tinubu’s Declaration As Winner – Obi
By Donatus Anichukwueze
LAGOS – The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has revealed the focus of his petition at the Presidential Elections Tribunal (PET). In a tweet on Monday, Obi said he wants to challenge both the electoral process of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its declaration of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the president-elect. “Following my response to a question while appearing on Arise TV earlier today, I want to state categorically that at the Presidential Elections Tribunal (PET), I am challenging the INEC electoral process that led to the declaration of Tinubu as president-elect as well as the Declaration itself,” Obi’s tweet read. Following my response to a question while appearing on Arise TV earlier today, I want to state categorically that at the Presidential Elections Tribunal(PET), I am challenging the INEC electoral process that led to the declaration of Tinubu as president-elect as well as the Former Lagos State governor, Tinubu, was declared the winner by INEC in the hotly contested election that saw the Labour Party candidate coming second behind Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Both Obi and Atiku have since rejected the declaration of INEC and have gone to court to challenge the outcome of the election……………..READ MORE

INEC Must Redeem Its Image On March 18 Polls for Governship & State Assembly
By Joshua Odeyemi
ABUJA – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must redeem its image in the gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and Yiaga Africa have said. The National Chairman of IPAC, Yabagi Sani and the Chairman Board of Yiaga Africa, Hussaini Abdu, made this submission on Sunday night while speaking on Channels Television’s political programme. Abdu expressed disappointment over the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV)’s failure during the presidential and National Assembly elections. He accused INEC of not “speaking to anything” about why the portal failed. Abdu said INEC must design a strategic plan on what to do when something goes wrong, adding that the electoral umpire must do a self-auditing of the presidential election to know what went wrong. On his part, the National Chairman of IPAC lamented that INEC was not telling Nigerians the truth about BVAS, arguing that there should be a backup in case of any failure. He said INEC was like Titanic with a lot of promises but crashed on its first voyage…………READ MORE

U.S.-Nigeria Policy Must Prioritize Religious Freedom
BY MOHAMED MAGID AND FRANK WOLF
WASHINGTON DC – At the start of the new year, armed gunmen in northern Nigeria invaded the home of Father Isaac Achi, a Catholic priest in Niger State, setting his residence ablaze and burning him to death. The attackers also shot and injured his colleague, Father Collins, as he tried to escape. Days later, when the state’s minority Christian community marched angrily to protest security force inaction at the local police station, authorities called in reinforcements and responded with force. This is just the latest example of Nigerian security forces failing to ensure security for religious minorities and other vulnerable communities. Yet, the U.S. government refuses to publicly criticize the Nigerian government’s atrocious religious freedom record and broader disrespect for human rights. Nigeria ranks as one of the countries with the highest risk for atrocities, according to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Early Warning Project. In a country with such high religiosity, this atrocity risk has significant impacts on religious communities. In the north, Christian minorities face violence and harassment. In the south, violent actors target Muslim minorities based on religion and ethnicity. In the center of the country, intercommunal violence often falls along sectarian lines and aggravates religious tensions, leading to thousands of civilian deaths. As symbols of social and political power, religious leaders in particular are targeted with violence and abduction, impacting communities’ abilities to worship and threatening their sense of safety. While many of the perpetrators of violence are nonstate actors, the Nigerian government’s response to growing atrocities has been insufficient if not outright counterproductive. The government says capacity constraints restrict its ability to respond, yet security forces are frequently able to mobilize forces and political will when their own members are under threat…….. READ MORE

Cash Crunch: Kaduna Residents Resort to Street Begging
By John Gabriel
KADUNA – Following the unending scarcity of new naira notes and the attendant hardship on citizens, some Kaduna residents have taken to begging on the street. Neatly dressed young ladies and men between 29 and 35 years old are now seen at various popular joints and traffic lights begging for alms in the city of Kaduna. According to DAILY POST findings, these beggars, who gather in groups of twos and threes, target car owners and commuters on bikes. They operate between 10 am and 2 pm and disappeared only to appear again between 6:30 pm and 10 pm. Some of the females looked married, and responsible, while others were seen with their babies. One of them, Mrs. Halima Abdullah told the DAILY POST “it’s better to beg than to steal,” adding that she is facing serious hardship as a married woman because her husband is not working. Also, a 36-year-old lady, Mrs. Salamatu Abdullahi who stood in front of Barrau Diko Specialist Hosptial Kaduna, said as a mother of five children who lost her husband to kidnappers and who had no source of living, she chose to beg than engage in prostitution. According to her, none of her neighbours is aware of her travails as she always leaves home well-dressed and only told her children she would soon be back. When asked how much she realised from begging, she said: “Sometimes, if luck is by my side, I get between N2,000 and N3,500.” She said some car owners sometimes mistake her for a prostitute………READ MORE

Train Accident:
53 Survivors Discharged, 43 Victims Still Admitted – Lagos Govt

ICON & PSJ – FIGHT FOR NIGERIA – Together for Change
There is a fight for the future of all Nigerians. The International Committee on Nigeria (ICON) was founded by Stephen Enada and Kyle Abts in 2017. Friends since 2000 we have both been working in Nigeria to fight for the persecuted and vulnerable while advocating for religious freedom and being a voice for the voiceless. The International Organization for Peacebuilding and Social Justice (commonly known as PSJ) began soon after in 2018 when colleagues and friends of ICON were encouraged to initiate their own organization in Nigeria…and subsequently in the United Kingdom, too. Together, ICON and PSJ are working to defend the vulnerable and persecuted while advocating for human rights and religious freedom in Nigeria and West Africa. Thank you for your support and for helping us to win this fight, we can do it together.

3.6.23

Risch: U.S. Shouldn’t Rush to Embrace Nigerian Election Results
By Foreign Relations Committee

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign RelationsCommittee, today released the following statement on Nigeria’s recent elections: “The ongoing electoral process in Nigeria is widely viewed as deeply flawed by election observers and many Nigerians. It is disappointing to see the administration rush to embrace the result while the full picture of what occurred during this electoral process is yet to be seen. “I’ve expressed similar concerns related to other areas of our relationship with the Nigerian government. I worry this rush to judgment will undermine our ability to be an effective partner to all Nigerians, especially given their longstanding desire for democracy. “With Nigeria heading into state-level elections in just a few days, it is important that the United States be more concerned with supporting the Nigerian people and their democratic aspirations than embracing the Nigerian government.”……… READ MORE

Restoring Trust in Nigerian Elections – INEC Must Respond to Allegations and Discrepencies

By ICON

WASHINGTON – A coalition of organizations of Nigerians in the diaspora (IRF Roundtable, RNI, ALG, ICON, PSJ, etc.) including multi-faith groups, are standing with Nigerians all over the world and calling on INEC to audit the 2023 Nigerian Presidential elections, as an open letter from the International Committee on Nigeria. In a formal letter signed by numerous entities and addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the coalition is demanding that a credible audit be conducted expeditiously and completed well before a specified deadline. Nigerian voters deserve to know the truth regarding their vote and the process of reporting and collation by the INEC. Nigeria is the most populous and wealthiest nation in Africa but is at the precipice of chaos, as it already endures ongoing killings, violence, kidnappings, unemployment, and inflation. The 2023 Nigerian Elections were meant to bring hope to the masses and restore democracy, but if anything, it has helped to deepen citizens’ distrust in the voting process, the government, and its security forces. The 2023 Electoral process has featured unprecedented allegations of voter fraud, intimidation, violations, and lax enforcement of election law, as well as other voting irregularities despite the huge taxpayer’s funds invested into this venture. In the letter to INEC, the coalition asserts among others that election integrity is a national and international concern. An audit would improve the faith in Nigeria’s electoral process and would significantly enhance the legitimacy of whoever becomes the next President. The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, owes that to Nigeria (full text of the letter is available)………. READ MORE

VP Candidates from PDP and LP – Vice Presidential candidates of PDP and LP, Ifeanyi Okowa and Datti-Ahmed, demanded the cancellation of the elections.

Bandits Attack Local Govt HQ In Zamfara, Kill DPO, Two Others

By Soonest Nathaniel

GUSAU – Armed bandits attacked the headquarters of Maru Local Government of Zamfara State on Saturday night, killing a divisional police officer and two others. The gunmen who in their numbers stormed Maru, shot sporadically, forcing residents to scamper for safety. Upon getting the information of the attack, the Divisional Police Officer of the Local Government, Kazeem Raheem, mobilized his men and some local vigilantes to repel the bandits. However, the DPO, a sergeant named Rabiu Bagobiri, and one vigilante official identified as Shehu Chuka, were killed in the process of the counter-offensive. Zamfara State Police Command spokesperson, SP Mohammed Shehu while speaking with Channels Television on the telephone said police authorities in the state are currently in Maru for an on-the-spot assessment. “We are currently in Maru, I will get back to you when we returned to Gusau,” SP Shehu told our correspondent. A source from the local government headquarters confirmed to Channels Television that an unspecified number of residents were also abducted in the attack. “They abducted people, but no exact number so far, they are still searching for people that ran for their lives,” stated the source who chose to remain anonymous. Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State is about 84 kilometers from the state capital Gusau and is one local government area in the state highly troubled by bandits………….. READ MORE

Gunmen Kidnap Taraba State Traditional Ruler’s Wives, Son

BY SaharaReporters.com

JALINGO – The incident occurred at midnight when the gunmen suspected to be kidnappers broke into the monarch’s palace in Ibbi Local Government Area and took away his two wives and a son to an unknown destination there was no contact between the kidnappers and the family yet. Gunmen on Friday night attacked the residence of Chief of Sarkin kudu in Taraba State, Dansalama Adamu, and kidnapped his two wives and a son. The incident occurred at midnight when the gunmen suspected to be kidnappers broke into the monarch’s palace in Ibbi Local Government Area and took away his two wives and a son to an unknown destination there was no contact between the kidnappers and the family yet. It was gathered that the monarch had traveled out of his chiefdom when the kidnappers attacked his palace. Confirming the incident to Daily Trust, the Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Usman Abdullahi, said some suspects had been arrested in connection with the abduction. According to the police spokesperson, efforts to rescue the monarch’s abducted family members were ongoing. He added that the suspects arrested have provided useful information to the police which could lead to the rescue of the kidnapped victims. …………. READ MORE

Obi Supporters Hold an Edo protest Today Against Presidential Poll Results

By Michael Egbejule

BENIN CITY – Obaseki slams APC for accusing him of sponsoring a demo Group, under the aegis of the National Coalition of Edo Voters (NCEV), yesterday, called on admirers of the Labour Party to occupy the National Museums ground in Benin City today in a peaceful protest against the declaration of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the winner. The group made the call at a press conference in Benin City, titled, “A total, unequivocal rejection of the 2023 Presidential election results, announced by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.” The spokesperson for the group, Olu Martins, said the occupation of the museum is intended to express their dissatisfaction with alleged fraud and irregularities that characterized the conduct and announcement of the presidential election results. Martins, who said the occupation of the city would be devoid of the normal protest, noted that it would be a replication of the 2012 fuel subsidy protest when some Lagosians occupied the Freedom Park. “We have decided that by tomorrow (Friday) morning, we will be converging at the National Museum ground in Benin City in protest against INEC and the declaration of APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the winner of the election…..

February 2023

2.27.23

Yiaga Africa Decries INEC’s Logistics Challenges
by Chibuzo Ukaibe
Foremost election monitory body, Yiaga Africa has decried the significant logistics challenges which delayed the opening of polls across the country last Saturday. This was contained in a preliminary report by Yiaga Africa co-signed by Chair, Watching The Vote Working Group Dr. Hussaini Abdu, and Executive Director Yiaga Africa Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo. The body said it deployed 3,836 observers across the country including 3,014 parallel vote tabulation (PVT) observers who deployed early in the morning in pairs to a random, representative statistical sample of 1,507 polling units where they remained throughout the day. The report said, “Once again INEC has fallen short of expectations. As a result, elections didn’t hold in some polling units due to INEC’s inability to deploy, insecurity, disruption, or malfunctioning BVAS. Yiaga Africa notes that in 18 sampled polling units elections were not conducted. Yiaga Africa also received reports from two polling units in Kano and Delta states where voting was suspended and INEC indicated the process will continue on Sunday, 26th February……….. READ MORE

Turn the Country Around’: Nigerians Hope for Change after Elections
by France24.com
After Saturday’s election, in which fears of widespread violence failed to materialize, many Nigerians are hoping that whoever is declared the winner will help solve some of the long-running and deep-seated problems facing the country, including corruption, insecurity, and a faltering economy. The election has been billed as Nigeria’s tightest in more than two decades. FRANCE 24 spoke to voters about their hopes and aspirations for Africa’s most populous country…………. READ MORE

Fire Engulfs Maiduguri Market, Goods Worth Billions of Naira Destroyed
BY MICHAEL OLUGBODE
Borno State Governor Zulum in a statewide broadcast on Sunday morning announced an emergency relief of N1 billion. A large part of multi-billion Naira Monday Market in Maiduguri, perhaps the largest market in the Northeast was razed by strange fire before breaking of dawn on Sunday. The fire was said to have broken out at about 2 am and could not be quenched until about 10 am, leaving several billions of Naira worth of ware destroyed. Many of the marketers who spoke to journalists on the incident were bewildered not knowing what could have happened, some of them suggested that it might have been as a result of short-circuiting of electrical connections in one of the shops shortly after midnight. …………. READ MORE

2023 Presidential Results
By Stears.com
– The winning candidate must secure the majority of the vote and at least 25% of the vote in two-thirds of the states.
– These results are sourced from INEC’s result viewing platform (IREV) and LGA collation centers and should not be taken as final results.
– Progress is based on total votes counted so far
Stears’ mission is to become the world’s most trusted source of African data, insight and data collection tools for businesses, financial and policy professionals…………… READ MORE

2.20.23

Nigeria Election 2023: Fact-Checking Claims by the Candidates
By BBC News
With Nigeria’s presidential elections looming, candidates seeking to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari have been making claims about key issues. We have looked at statements by Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), as well as by opposition politicians Atiku Abubakar from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party’s Peter Obi. The World Poverty Clock, which tracks progress made by countries in ending extreme poverty, first showed Nigeria ahead of India in terms of people living in extreme poverty in 2018. The latest estimates are that Nigeria has 71 million people in extreme poverty (living on less than $1.90 per day) compared with India’s 44 million. The government is also experiencing other security-related challenges – among them banditry, kidnappings, and conflicts involving pastoralists and farming communities, as well as a separatist insurgency in the south-east. “Overall, Nigeria remained one of the most violent countries in Africa last year,” according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) ……….. READ MORE

Five Years in Captivity: Christian Leaders Berate Buhari Over Leah Sharibu, Calls for Her Release
By Collins Nnabuife
Abuja – Christian leaders have expressed disappointment over the inability of President Muhammadu Buhari for keeping to his promise of releasing a Christian girl, Leah Sharibu who was adopted in Yobe State. Recall that in February 2018, about 110 girls were kidnapped from the Government Girls Science and Technology College, Dapchi, Yobe State by a terrorist group, Boko Haram. It was reported that the girls were released afterward while Leah Sharibu, was not released for reportedly refusing to denounce Christianity. During a special prayer event organized at the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Abuja, the CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh said Leah has become, to Christians, a symbol of courage and faith in the face of severe persecution. Okoh who was represented by Reverend Dr. Gideon Para-Mallam said the Christian community has made several appeals both to her captors and the federal government to ensure her safe return all to no avail. The President of the Leadership Empowerment Advocacy Humanitarian (LEAH) Foundation, Dr. Gloria Puldu said it is a shame that the government had not rescued Leah Sharibu despite all its promises. She said Leah’s Parents are pleading with the international communities and the Nigerian government to ensure the safe return of their daughter. “It is a shame that 5 years down the lane we are still calling on the government because this is like a broken promise, they have given us a promise 5 years ago that they are going to release Leah, but down the lane, it has not been fulfilled, they have less than 100 days in office to go, as far as we are concerned, it is a broken promise, but they still have time, they can still get Leah released………… READ MORE

Soludo Orders Review of Cases of Alleged Secret Killings, Rights Abuses
By David-Chyddy Eleke
Awka – The Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered a review of the cases of human rights abuses, killings, and sales of human parts in the state. Soludo ordered the Attorney General of the State to call for a review of case files with allegations of human rights abuses by some Police personnel in Anambra State. There have been recent revelations of alleged killings and sale of human parts by top police officers at Police Zone 13 Headquarters, Ukpo, and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), in Awkuzu. In a statement signed by the Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Christian Aburime, said that his attention had been drawn to media reports on alleged criminalities involving some police officers. He said, “Preliminary inquiry has revealed that the Inspector General of Police has set up a Special Investigation Panel to investigate the allegations at the end of which a report would be issued………….. READ MORE

US Embassy Issues Security Alert on Nigeria’s Elections
By Sharon Osaji
The United States Embassy in Nigeria has issued an advisory to its citizens in Nigeria alerting them of possible violence ahead of the forthcoming general elections. In a notice on its website, titled ‘Possible Protests Leading to Elections and Restricted Movements on Election Days – February 25 and March 11’ the embassy urged its citizens to avoid rallies as “they can turn violent with little or no notice.” Stating that movements would be restricted during the period, the advisory further stated that citizens should have food and water supply for at least three days at home, in case movements are restricted beyond election days. “The Government of Nigeria will restrict the movement of all personal vehicles on election days across the country. Information from the Government of Nigeria indicates that only law enforcement personnel and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)-accredited election observers will be allowed to move freely along the roads………….. READ MORE

Five Years Captive – Leah Sharibu
February 19, 2023, marked the 5th year of Leah Sharibu’s captivity with Boko Haram terrorists. We remain optimistic but without hearing any updates from the Nigerian government, we are slowly losing hope. THANKS FOR JOINING US … to pray, remember and hope for Leah’s release ICON & LEAH FOUNDATION are working together to hold the Nigerian government accountable to protect each individual and provide opportunities to unite citizens in the pursuit of their dreams and aspirations.

2.13.13

BREAKING: DSS invites Fani-Kayode over alleged Coup Plot by Atiku
By Politics Nigeria
The Department of State Services, DSS, has invited a spokesperson of the Bola Tinubu/ Shettima Campaign Council, Femi Fani-Kayode over claims that the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar met with some Service Chiefs and was planning a ‘Coup’. Confirming his invitation on Social media on Monday morning, FFK wrote; “3 days ago, on the day that I tweeted about newspaper reports alleging that Atiku was secretly meeting with Army Generals, I got a text message from someone who claimed to be DSS asking me to report to them on a matter of national security. “I dismissed the invitation because it was vague and I was not sure whether it really came from the DSS. In any case, I had no intention of going anywhere unless I was formally invited. To my surprise, I received a formal letter from them to report to their office without fail 2 days later, which was yesterday evening. I put a call through to them & was advised to take the matter very seriously & report to them on the stipulated day and time otherwise the worse may happen.” “I found it interesting that a call came from one of Atiku’s dogs for me to be arrested by the security agencies yesterday and had it not been for the fact that the DSS had actually sent a text to me two days earlier I may have thought that they were acting on the instructions of what can only be described as a hopeless and desperate presidential candidate, opposition party and PCC who are clutching at straws, drowning fast, seeking to silence those that give them sleepless nights, shivering in despair and staring defeat in the face in the upcoming presidential election.”……….. READ MORE

Bandits Kill DPO, Four Other Police Officers in Niger State
By Bala Yahaya
The Niger State Police Command has disclosed that the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Paikoro local council of Niger State, SP Muktar Sabiu, and four other Police officers of the division have lost their lives as a result of gun battle with bandits around Kwakuti-Dajigbe villages of Lambata, in Gurara local council. According to a statement issued to newsmen in Minna, Saturday, by the Command spokesman, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, that information was received on February 11,2023 by the division that armed bandits were sighted around Kwakuti- Dajibge villages in an attempt to attack some communities in the area. The statement explained that a combined team of Police from Gawun Babangida division and Paikoro division, Military, and vigilante members were drafted to the scene, adding that the hoodlums were engaged in a gun battle and repelled with scores of them escaping with bullet injuries. It stated that DPO Paikoro division; SP Muktar Sabiu and four other Police officers from the division lost their lives during the gun duel. It further disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Niger State, CP Ogundele.J.Ayodeji had led a reinforcement team to the scene and recovered the bodies of the deceased personnel…………. READ MORE

Islamic Forum Calls For Postponement of Elections
By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh
The Islamic Forum of Nigeria has called for the postponement of the forthcoming national population census, describing it as ill-timed. The Forum with its National Headquarters in Kano, however, said the idea of having a national population census remains imperative, but must be shifted. A Statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Prof. Salisu Shehu, indicated that: “The Forum commends the Federal Government of Nigeria for its resolve and commitment to conduct the exercise this year as it has been long overdue. Similarly, the Forum also appreciates the effective preparations being done by the National Population Commission in order to ensure successful conduct of the exercise. “The Forum has, however, noticed with serious concern the time scheduled for the conduct of the National Population Census 2023 by the National Population Commission this coming month of March/April 2023. “The exercise as it were is always a very rigorous one involving travels across the entire regions of this our great Country. Ad-hoc staff as is usually the case can be posted to any part of the country and indeed to very remote places far away from their places of origin…………. READ MORE

Chinese Port in Lagos Could Threaten Continental US With Missiles: Congressman
By Douglas Burton
China’s newly inaugurated billion dollar port in Lagos, Nigeria, will be a “game-changer” for the African nation’s economy, according to Chinese ambassador Cui Jianchun on Jan. 23. Gushing media promoted his promise that up to 200,000 jobs will be created for workers living near the Lekki Free Trade Zone, approximately 23 miles southeast of Lagos. The port is 75 percent owned by China and 25 percent owned by the Nigerian Port Authority, which will assume ownership in 45 years. But Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), the new chairman of the House Subcommittee on Military Readiness sounded an alarm to The Epoch Times. The new Chinese port in Lagos puts the United States on the back foot, according to Waltz.

Epoch Times Photo — (Google Maps/Screenshot via The Epoch TImes)

“President Xi of China is seeking to displace us as a superpower and extend China’s global military presence with this new port. They could put a ballistic missile system in that port that would give the United States only minutes to prepare for a nuclear attack,” Waltz told The Epoch Times. “That would put our bases in Jacksonville, Florida; Norfolk, Virginia; and Washington, at risk. Going forward, we need a more aggressive, economically driven agenda for Africa,” he said. Under construction for six years and costing $1.5 billion the Lekki Deep Sea Port is Nigeria’s first deep seaport and is expected to be the container transportation hub for all of Africa, according to Nigerian trade media ……… READ MORE.

Nigeria Election 2023: Who are the Presidential Candidates?
By BBC.com
Nigeria is holding general elections on 25 February. Here is a list of all 18 presidential candidates:………….. READ MORE

ICON & PSJ – ELECTIONS – Together for Change
Nigeria is facing an uncertain future. Nigeria is hoping that the 2023 Elections will be free and fair The International Committee on Nigeria (ICON) and the International Organization for Peacebuilding and Social Justice (PSJ) believe that Nigeria must advance in democracy by empowering its citizens on a personal level. People must be able to raise their voices without fear, participate in a free and fair political process, and build their democratic destiny ICON and PSJ believe that each Nigerian is entitled to a peaceful and prosperous future, a posterity of hope. If the 2023 elections fail, there may be no future for Nigeria. We need to ensure credible elections and for democracy to prevail.

ICON & PSJ – FIGHT FOR NIGERIA – Together for Change
ICON / PSJ MEDIA
There is a fight for the future of all Nigerians. The International Committee on Nigeria (ICON) was founded by Stephen Enada and Kyle Abts in 2017. Friends since 2000 we have both been working in Nigeria to fight for the persecuted and vulnerable while advocating for religious freedom and being a voice for the voiceless. The International Organization for Peacebuilding and Social Justice (commonly known as PSJ) began soon after in 2018 when colleagues and friends of ICON were encouraged to initiate their own organization in Nigeria…and subsequently in the United Kingdom, too.

2.6.23

US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Introduce Resolution H.RES.82: Designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern and Appoint a Special Envoy for Nigeria and the Lake Chad Region
By ProPublica.org

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need to designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern for engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, the need to appoint a Special Envoy for Nigeria and the Lake Chad region, and for other purposes. Mr. Smith of New Jersey, (Mr. Cuellar of Texas, and Mr. Hill of Arkansas submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the need to designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern for engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, the need to appoint a Special Envoy for Nigeria and the Lake Chad region, and for other purposes………… READ MORE

Death Toll in Katsina Terrorists, Vigilantes Clash Rises to 102
By Mohammed Babangida

Residents of the communities where members of vigilante groups were massacred by terrorists last Thursday have said the number of those killed had risen to 102 as of Sunday night. The terrorists ambushed members of local vigilante [security] groups from Bakori Local Government of Katsina while they were chasing the terrorists to retrieve the livestock they rustled from their communities. Though the police claimed 41 people were killed, residents said the number of those actually killed in the ambush more than doubled the number given by the police. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the communities affected are under the Guga, Kakumi, Kandarawa, and Jargaba wards of Bakori, one of the areas worse hit by the activities of terrorists in the state. A community leader in Guga village, who asked not to be named for security reasons, told PREMIUM TIMES over the phone on Monday that 72 bodies had been retrieved and buried as of Sunday night. “We’ve counted 102 of our people that have been killed but in the three wards of Guga, Kakumi and Kandarawa, we’ve buried 72 people. We couldn’t retrieve the other dead bodies because most of them have decomposed while those who followed the terrorists deep into the bush were killed and we couldn’t go since the bandits are still lurking around,” he said. Residents said some of the dead bodies couldn’t be retrieved from the forest because the terrorists are still in the area………… READ MORE

Tinubu Alleges Plot To Disrupt Elections, Introduce Interim Government
By Agbeyo Babajide
The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has alleged a sinister plot to cause a crisis that will lead to the postponement and disruption of the February 25 polls in Nigeria. He stated this at the presidential campaign rally at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Friday. “They want to provoke you to violence, so that election will be disrupted and postponed, and they can cunningly introduce an interim government, that’s their plot. But this will backfire because we are wiser,” the former Lagos governor said. The APC presidential candidate asked the people to stand firm and resist any negative plot by destroyers. He also advised the electorate to ensure they have their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and not give in to any plot by destructive elements to install an interim government after causing an undue crisis. Describing Ekiti people as respected intellectuals, Tinubu promised that his administration will not relegate them if elected President. He added, “Have you collected your PVCs? They want to hoard them and not give them out to you. Continue to be on their neck, please. Don’t worry, those who locked up your money will also release them.” ………… READ MORE

Nigeria Election Violence Tracker – Situation Summary
By ACLEDdata.com
In the months leading up to general elections in Nigeria, violent events involving political parties tend to rise as contestation rises within and between groups vying for power. Leading up to the February 2023 elections, violence targeting political party supporters has trended upwards since early 2021. Violence targeting political party groups reached the highest number of events in the last quarter of 2022 since the previous general election in early 2019. The high number of events targeting civilians based on political party affiliation has been consistent each month since October 2022, primarily involving the two main parties of the APC and PDP. In the last year, the third most violence has been directed at the Labour Party despite the party’s lack of representation in national-level politics. The Labour Party has gained momentum since Peter Obi, a former PDP governor of Anambra state, joined as a presidential aspirant in May 2022. Intra-party clashes dominated the political landscape as Nigerians continued to count down to the 25 February presidential poll. Socio-economic considerations also came to the fore in response to the Central Bank’s deadline to return old Naira notes, resulting in an increased demand for cash and concerns over disadvantages for unbanked parts of the population. Additionally, several court cases and subsequent judgments arose in response to election-related petitions, with the most consequential being a tribunal decision to reverse the July 2022 Osun State governorship election. Finally, a growing number of security-related incidents, including attacks against both a presidential candidate and the current president, continued to demonstrate the scale of the challenge ahead of government officials aiming to ensure that the polls proceed without disruption………….READ MORE

IRF Summit: Side Event – Denial of IRF-Women
DENIAL OF IRF-WOMEN
Focus on trafficking and abduction, forced conversion, and marriage of women and girls in Pakistan, Nigeria, and Egypt. Creating a powerful coalition of organizations that operate together for the cause of religious freedom around the world. Increasing public awareness and political strength for the international religious freedom movement.

January 2023

1.30.23

Pastor Killed After Being Abducted from Home in Nigeria: ‘Major Loss to the Body of Christ
By Morning Star News
ABUJA — A church pastor in northeast Nigeria was slain last Thursday, and anti-Christian violence continued to grow in the southern part of the country with the killing of two Christians in Delta state, sources said. In northeast Nigeria, Pastor Jerry Hinjari of Christ Nation International was abducted from his home in Yola, Adamawa, state around midnight on Wednesday, and his body was found on a roadside in the city the next day. The assailants were unknown, though Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) members active in the region were suspected. “Pastor Jerry Hinjari was kidnapped on Jan. 25, and his remains were discovered the following day,” Yahaya Nguroje, spokesman for the Adamawa State Police Command, said in a statement. “The commissioner of police, Sikiru Akande, has ordered an investigation to unravel those behind the dastardly act. We assure the good people of the state that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.” Several area Christians notified Morning Star News of the death in text messages. Resident Elijah Sambo said Pastor Hinjari’s death left the Yola Christian community in shock………… READ MORE

Nigeria Bets on Chinese-Funded Port to Drive Economic Growth
By Devdiscourse.com
ABUJA – Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has marked the opening of a USD 1.5 billion, Chinese-funded deep seaport in the commercial hub of Lagos that authorities hope will help grow the West African nation’s ailing economy. The Lekki Deep Sea Port is one of the biggest in West Africa and will create hundreds of thousands of jobs in addition to easing cargo congestion that costs billions of dollars in annual revenue, Lagos Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu said Monday. The port — whose container terminal is able to handle at least 2.5 million 20-foot standard containers per year — will be operated as a joint venture between the Nigerian government, Lagos state, Singapore-based Tolaram Group, and state-owned China Harbor Engineering Company. Both foreign companies own a majority stake of 75 percent in the project. Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy but growth has been stalled for many years because of poor infrastructure and mismanagement. Although it has six major seaports, more than 80 percent of the country’s imports are handled by just two of the ports in Lagos, where congestion has led to a massive loss in revenue as cargoes are often diverted to other West African nations. Authorities say the new deep seaport on the eastern edge of Lagos would divert traffic from congested ports and shore up earnings, with expected economic benefits of more than USD 360 billion. Experts, however, argue it would make a “minimal difference” if existing pitfalls are not removed, including ensuring connections between ports and inland areas………… READ MORE

Insecurity Could Derail Nigeria Polls, Election Commission Warns
By AlJazeera.com
ABUJA – There have been 50 recorded attacks on offices of the electoral commission nationwide between 2019 and 2022. Nigeria’s general election in late February could be canceled or postponed if insecurity is not tackled, the electoral commission has said. “If the insecurity is not monitored and dealt with decisively, it could ultimately culminate in the cancellation and/or postponement of elections in sufficient constituencies to hinder the declaration of elections results,” said Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s Board of Electoral Institute, on Monday. President Muhammadu Buhari, who steps down after two terms, is leaving the office without addressing insecurity that continues for 13 years due to armed groups like Boko Haram in the northeast, increased abduction, and killings by bandits and herders in northwestern and central states, as well as separatist tensions in the southeast. This could “precipitate [a] constitutional crisis”, he said, adding it “must not be allowed to happen and shall not be allowed to happen” before the February 25 vote. Security personnel and election officials needed to be fully equipped to deal with “any challenge at all times”, he said…………READ MORE

Terrorists Reject Old Naira Notes As Ransom In Northwest Nigeria
By Abdullahi Abubakar
ABUJA – The terrorists demanded new naira notes as against the old on Wednesday, Jan. 25 in exchange for the bride and her wedding guests who were kidnapped on Dec. 29 last year. A terror group responsible for the kidnap of a bride has rejected the ransom payment of NGN3 million made in old notes. This took place in Masama-Mudi village, Zamfara State, Northwest Nigeria. The terrorists demanded new naira notes as against the old on Wednesday, Jan. 25 in exchange for the bride and her wedding guests who were kidnapped on Dec. 29 last year. The rejection of the old naira notes followed a series of failed negotiations between the bride’s relatives, whom HumAngle spoke to, and the terrorists. Last year, the Central Bank of Nigeria announced a redesign of its three highest denominations of Naira notes in an effort to stall the flow of cash among terrorists through ransom payment. According to this new policy, by Jan. 31, the old naira notes will become obsolete. Even though not enough new naira notes are in circulation, the deadline stands. Yusuf Mamman, a relative of the bride, told HumAngle that “the armed gang earlier demanded N30 million as a ransom for the abducted bride. And we had nothing close to even a million naira in our family…………….. READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM SUMMIT
By ChurchinNeed.org
WASHINGTON DC – Creating a powerful coalition of organizations that operate together for the cause of religious freedom around the world, ICON partners, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) have been invited to speak on two very important panels at the Summit, increasing public awareness on the international stage. ACN representatives, Edward Clancy and Marcela Szymanski will be speaking on topics: How Governments & Civil Society Can Work Together to Promote Religious Freedom and Tolerance, and Atrocities being perpetrated around the world and acting to suppress and stop further atrocities. Nigeria and Pakistan are just two countries that experience atrocities against Christians and religious each day………….READ MORE

1.24.23

PFN Condemns Murder of Catholic Priest
By Ademola Adegbite
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria on Sunday condemned the killing of Isaac Achi who was until his untimely death the Kafin Koro Deanery of the Minna Diocese of Niger State and the Reverend Father in charge of St Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Kafin Koro. According to a statement from the office of the PFN National President, Francis Wale Oke, the association expressed great sorrow on the killing of the Catholic Priest. Oke said, “I am deeply saddened and outraged by the recent burning to death by bandits of Rev. Father Isaac Achi. This is just one out of many senseless and dastard killings that have characterized Nigeria today. “Many Christians have become victims of violence in the nation and this has earned her the reputation of being one of the most dangerous places to live for Christians. “These heinous acts of violence have no place in any society and they are an affront to the sanctity of human life and the teachings of Jesus Christ.”……….. READ MORE

Nigeria Accounts for 89% of Martyred Christians Worldwide – Report
By Sinafi Omanga
NIGERIA accounts for 89 percent of Christians martyred worldwide, according to the latest report on global Christian persecution. The Open Doors World Watch List 2023, released on Tuesday, January 17, said out of the total of 5,621 Christians killed for their faith during the reporting period, Nigeria recorded 5,014, marking the country as one of the most dangerous places “to follow Jesus”. The report tracked the period from October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022. Open Doors said the data was compiled from grassroots reports by more than 4,000 of its workers across over 60 countries. Urging the United States State Department to reconsider Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, the report said if not addressed, persecution against Christians “will soon trigger a vast humanitarian catastrophe across the continent”. It added that the year under review “has also seen this violence spill over into the Christian-majority South of the nation” while “Nigeria’s government continues to deny this is religious persecution, so violations of Christians’ rights are carried out with impunity”. “Violence against Christians is most extreme in Nigeria where militants from the Fulani, Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and others conduct raids on Christian communities, killing, maiming, raping and kidnapping for ransom or sexual slavery”, the report added. In a repeat of last year’s ranking, Nigeria ranked No. 1 in the World Watch List (WWL) subcategories of Christians killed, abducted, sexually harassed, forcibly married, and physically or mentally abused…………. READ MORE

1,773 CJTF Die Fighting Boko Haram/ISWAP Terrorists in North East in 10 years
By Olayemi Esan
At least 1,773 members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) have died while fighting Boko Haram and the Islamic State of the West African Province(ISWAP) terrorists in the North East, the group’s overall Chairman Babashehu Abdulganiu has said. Abdulganiu who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Saturday in Maiduguri said most of them paid the supreme price while fighting the terrorists along with the military in their enclaves in Sambisa Forest and the Lake Chad. He said that some of them died while repelling attacks in Maiduguri, some came under ambushes attacks by the terrorists while others sacrificed their lives by hugging suicide bombers during attempts to attack innocent people. He explained that the number of deaths was part of the record they had between 2012 and 2022, noting that in spite of the high casualty figure, the Civilian JTF remained resolute in their determination to ensure that they rid the state of Boko Haram elements and bring back the lost glory of the state as a home of peace. According to him, the group is a non-profit organization born out of necessity to stamp out bad elements that usually cause havoc within the Maiduguri metropolis. “It started in 2012 when our youths picked up sticks and said no more Boko Haram and we successfully push the terrorist group out of Maiduguri to their enclaves in Sambisa Forest and Lake Chad. “In 2015, the Borno state government established the Borno Youths Empowerment Scheme(BOYES), where the 23,000 Civilian Joint Task Forces were enlisted as security vanguards, trained by the military and screened by the Departments of State Security…………… READ MORE

What of Women in the 2023 Elections?
By SBMIntel.com
Although women make up 47% of Nigeria’s 84 million voters and 49% of its 200-million-strong population, they make up only 4.17% of those elected into its government at the last elections in 2019. To put this in perspective, only 62 women were elected from the 2,970 women who ran across all offices in the election, or 11.36% of 26,145 candidates. What makes this appalling statistic even worse is that this is a decline from 2015, where women formed 5.65% of elected officials; when this proportion is disaggregated, women held 5.6% of Senate seats and 6.4% of seats in the House of Representatives, ranking it as 180th among 190 countries around the world in terms of the proportion of women in parliament. At Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, only 1.82% (28) of 1,533 elective offices (excluding local government offices) were won by women; when local government chair offices and councillorships are added, the proportion reduces to 1.62%. This increased to 4.2% in 2003 and rose to a peak of 6.4% in 2011 before dropping in the next two general elections to its current level. This is far below the global average of 22.5 percent, Africa’s regional average of 23.4 percent, and the West African sub-regional average of 15 percent. This very low proportion of women is not exclusive to elective offices, but also appointive ones as well: between 1999 and 2015, only 6% of local government councilors, 24% of federal judges, and an average of 17% of each type of high-level government officials and senior administrators with decision-making power were women…………READ MORE

Hear Their Voices – Derek Christopher (Kaduna)

Derek Christopher (Kaduna) As a resident of Kaura LGA in Kaduna State, Derek Christopher has led advocacy efforts on behalf of his people during the ongoing crisis. He wants the world to know that the crisis is not merely ‘Farmer-vs-Herder. The violent attacks, vicious killings, and arrogant land grabs are much more than mere clashes they are designed and orchestrated by Fulani militants against local farmers

1.16.23

King Attends Inauguration of Nnamdi Azikiwe in Nigeria
By KingInstiute.Standford.edu
In November 1960 Martin Luther King traveled to Lagos, then Nigeria’s capital city, to attend the inauguration of Nnamdi Azikiwe as Nigeria’s first governor-general of African descent. Azikiwe, who later became the first president of Nigeria and was a life-long advocate of African independence, personally invited King to take part in the official inauguration festivities in a letter dated 26 October 1960. When King traveled to Nigeria in 1960 the liberation struggles there and in other African nations were having a profound impact on the American civil rights movement. Noting that Azikiwe and other African leaders were “popular heroes on most Negro college campuses,” King called the African liberation movement “the greatest single international influence on American Negro students,” offering the young people hope and guidance in their own struggle for freedom (King, “The Time for Freedom”). Azikiwe was elected the first president of Nigeria in 1963, but was removed from office by a military coup in 1966…………. READ MORE

Don’t Meddle in Nigeria’s 2023 Elections, Buhari Warns International Community
By AriseNews
As Nigerians prepare to elect another government at the general elections on 25th February 2023, President Muhammadu Buhari renewed his call to foreign government representatives not to meddle in the country’s internal affairs. The President spoke while receiving Letters of Credence from Ambassadors of Switzerland, Sweden, the Republic of Ireland, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Republic of Senegal, and the Republic of South Sudan, at the State House. Buhari told the ambassadors Nigeria is working closely with the regional bloc ECOWAS to deal with insecurity in the West African region as well as implementing strategies to contain the spate of unconstitutional changes in government. He however acknowledged the support of the respective countries in his Administration’s campaign to deal with the challenges of insecurity and climate change in the Lake Chad Region………….. READ MORE

Bandits Attack Church, Kidnap 25 Worshippers In Katsina
By Godwin Enna
Gunmen suspected to be terrorists, on Sunday morning, attacked New Life for All Church in Kankara local government area of Katsina State and kidnapped 25 worshipers. The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Aminu Bello Masari on Christian Affairs, Rev. Ishaya Jurau, disclosed this on Sunday. He said: “Bandits attacked New Life for All Church in Jan-Tsauni, Gidan Haruna in Kankara local government of Katsina State today (Sunday) around 10am. “They abducted 25 worshippers and left the church pastor with injuries while they were conducting service this morning.” According to him, security personnel in the State have heightened their effort to seek the release of the kidnap victims………… READ MORE

Chatham House Speaks on Why Atiku Did Not Join Its Conversation Like Tinubu and Obi
By Nnenna Ibeh
Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is yet to respond to an invitation by the Chatham House institute This was disclosed by the director of the Africa Programme, Alex Vines, at the institute on Monday, January 16 According to Vines, the Independent National Electoral Commission’s chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP will be at the institute on January 17 and 18 The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar failed to honour an invitation for a Chatham House conversation, the director of the Africa Programme, Alex Vines, has said. Vines said that the institute had earlier sent an invitation to Atiku for a conversation just like it did with Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Bola Tinubu of All Progressives Congress (APC). The Chatham House had earlier hosted the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress and is currently hosting Peter Obi at the institute. They added, “We have sent an invitation to the candidate of the PDP Atiku Abubakar but he is yet to reply to our invitation.” …………READ MORE

MLK Influences ICON’s Work in Nigeria
The world celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. as a leader, motivator, and influencer. ICON’s efforts in Nigeria have been heavily influenced by MLK as we bring attention to the violence and persecution. Our campaigns give a voice to the vulnerable as we fight on the global scene.

1.9.23

Kidnappers On Rampage In Edo, Abduct Customary Court President – along with Train Passengers

By Aina Ojonugwa
Barely 72 hours after gunmen attacked a Train station in Edo state and abducted 31 travelers (see more), the President of Igueben Area Customary Court, Mrs. Precious Aigbonoga, has been abducted. Earlier on Monday, THEWILL reported a former member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Festus Edughele, was abducted on Monday, by gunmen in Ubiaja, while on his way from Orhionmwon to Benin City, the state capital. A statement by the Nigeria Bar Association Publicity Secretary, Festus Usiobaifo, said Aigbonoga was kidnapped on Monday morning in Ugoneki, on her way to court in Igueben. The statement said the NBA was working closely with the Edo State Police Command to ensure Aigbonoga regained her freedom from the kidnappers. “The President of Igueben Area Customary Court, Mrs. Precious Aigbonoga, was kidnapped on Monday morning around Ugoneki area, on her way to court in Igueben Local Government Area, Edo State. “She is the wife of our colleague, Mr. Afebu Aigbonoga, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Etsako West Constituency.“The Chairman of the Lion Bar, Chief Nosa Edo-Osagie, is deeply saddened by this news and condemns, in strong terms, the worrisome insensitivity of these bandits in kidnapping Mrs. Precious Aigbonoga; an easygoing, gentle, and hardworking judicial officer. “The executive of the NBA is in close touch with the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dankwara. By the grace of God Almighty, His Honour shall be rescued unhurt, and the bandits brought to book, Amen………… READ MORE

2023 Elections: Voter Turnout Will Rise
By SBIntel
In the lead-up to the 2023 elections, SBM surveyed 6,588 respondents mid-way into INEC’s PVC collection time-table to ascertain how Nigerians who desire to vote, and who have completed the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) process are faring as regards the collection. The survey’s findings showed that 97% of respondents desire to vote. Of this figure, 94% completed the CVR process (physical capture); 90% tried to pick up their PVCs and 79% successfully picked up their PVCs. This data suggests that more Nigerians are willing to vote in 2023. Crucially, a very significant 43% are first-time voters, mostly young people. However, in trying to pick up their PVCs, 24% of respondents encountered violence and only 30% were able to get their PVCs the first time they tried. Regarding location, there are more first-time voters in the more urbanized locations like Abuja, Kaduna and Anambra, except in Lagos where the trend is reversed. Also, 42% of respondents were transferring their PVCs, with Lagos and Oyo leading. This indicates success on INEC’s part as regards streamlining the process. Meanwhile, Cross River, Imo and Anambra had the highest number of people registering for PVCs for the first time. As regards completing physical capture at INEC offices, 30% of the Ebonyi respondents were unable to do so. This correlates with 31% of them saying they have not tried to pick up their PVCs. In addition, 55% of those who tried to pick up their PVCs in Ebonyi were unable to get them, while Anambra’s stood at 42%. Over 30% of the respondents in Ogun, Abuja, Bauchi and Cross River could not pick up their PVCs when they tried, while Rivers and Kaduna had above 20%. These locations require urgent attention from INEC and Civil Society Advocacy groups………….READ MORE

OIC Food Security Project: Islamization Agenda And Matters Arising
By Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi
Accusations and their counters trail our membership in OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation). Opinions are divided regarding who enlisted us in the organization but that isn’t our headache for now. Suspicion has marked our lives and faith as the family of Christ in Nigeria. Existentially, we are no doubt threatened species, hunted like sparrows in Southern Kaduna and all states in Northern Nigeria. We are rendered homeless on our ancestral lands for refusing a policy that suggests advantage given to migrating tribes from outside Nigeria. We were forewarned by Femi Adesina our brother in the faith and pastor in the making, but we took the counsel of a man worthy to be the President’s mouthpiece for granted and didn’t forearm ourselves. We are victims of our distractions more than that of the intentions of our oppressors. Are we up against an organized international agenda? Yet disunited, disorganized Mammon-influenced Ministries showing no concern! In the week leading to Christmas was the massacre in Kaura town, in Kaduna State few days to Christmas, which fell on a Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were the Christmas holidays. Rumour had it that the land-grabbing beast of a bill that sought to take the land away from the people was going to be visiting the House of Representatives on Wednesday, 28th December to run President Buhari’s errands knowing the majority of Christian lawmakers were going to be away to their villages, was Gideon Gwani the minority Whip in Kaura like several of his colleagues in the National Assembly? ……………READ MORE

Uneasy Allies: West backs Nigeria’s War on Extremists, and Backs Off on Human Rights
By DAVID LEWIS, READE LEVINSON and LIBBY GEORGE in LONDON
The U.S. and the UK have long struggled with a dilemma in Nigeria: How to support the government in its war with Islamist insurgents while holding the military to account for mounting evidence of abuses against civilians. Washington and London continue to back the military as security worries – and geopolitical and economic considerations – repeatedly prevail. In the southeast corner of the city of Maiduguri, the command centre of Nigeria’s war against brutal Islamist insurgents, lies a sprawling barracks and detention facility where the army is accused of wielding its own ruthless tactics. Giwa Barracks, a compound featuring razor-wired walls, bland buildings and squalid conditions, has been the site of some of the Nigerian government’s worst abuses in its 13-year war with extremists, according to current and former U.S. officials, human rights groups and former detainees. In many ways, Giwa crystallises the failures of the international community, time and again, to hold Nigeria’s military to account for its wartime abuses of civilians, including women and children.Diplomats in the United States and the United Kingdom, two of Nigeria’s staunchest backers in the war against Boko Haram and its Islamic State offshoot, said the Reuters findings on abortions and targeted child killings were new to them. But the response so far – international calls for action, Nigerian denials and uncertainty in world capitals about how to follow through – fits a pattern seen throughout the war………….READ MORE

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1.2.23

Kaduna: Lawmaker Decries Killings in Kagoro Chiefdom, Calls for Concrete Steps to End Attacks
By Amos Tauna
KADUNA – Member, House of Representatives, representing Kaura Federal Constituency, Mr Gideon Gwani, has called the federal and Kaduna state governments to take decisive steps towards bringing an end to the series of attacks in Southern Kaduna that have claimed lives and properties. Speaking to newsmen on Sunday during the Kagoro Chiefdom prayer summit in collaboration with Global Peace Foundation Nigeria, the lawmaker noted that the insecurity situation following the series of attacks the people are going through has made life unbearable for his constituents. According to him, “The recently renewed attacks is what one can not really understand but on our part, we are talking to the people to always be law-abiding and allow the security personnel to do their constitutional duties by ensuring the perpetrators of the deadly acts are made to face the full wrath of the law.” As a representative of the area, he explained that he has moved motions in the House of Representatives, saying that there are resolutions but it is left to the government to ensure that concrete steps are taken to bring peace and sanity in the entire Southern Kaduna. He added, “Following the various attacks, many communities have been vacated while the affected people are left to carry their cross with nothing coming from the government to resettle them for them to continue with life.” ……….. READ MORE

Obasanjo’s Endorsement Of Peter Obi Speaks Volume
By Victor Edozie
EMOUHA – Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has said that the endorsement of the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the forthcoming election speaks volumes. The governor made the statement at a road project’s flag-off in Emouha Local Government Area of the state. Wike added that a bad product is always difficult to sell, arguing that the former president ought to have recommended Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to Nigerians having worked with him, instead Obasanjo choose to endorse another presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi. Governor Wike insisted that if ex-president Obasanjo had refused to recommend Alhaji Atiku, then something must be fundamentally wrong. He opined that Alhaji Atiku should be more concerned about that loss of confidence from his former boss, and his coming election. The governor further took a swipe against those accusing him and Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State of frustrating the micro-zoning of the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the South-East. Governor Wike said he had always believed in and supported concerted efforts towards ensuring that the presidency was zoned to the south………….READ MORE

Vote Selling, Buying, Crime Against Humanity – Bishop Ajakaye
By Rotimi Ojomoyela,
ADO-EKITI – Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Most Rev. Felix Femi Ajakaye, has called on Nigerians to shun vote selling and vote buying. Bishop Ajakaye, said “as individuals and groups, we must never allow the incessant inglorious vote selling and vote buying at this year’s elections “We must get back our beloved country, Nigeria, from the few who think they are owners. We, the people, are the original owners”. The Catholic Bishop made the remarks in his new year message titled: “2023: Year of Practical Decision”, saying vote selling and vote buying are sins, they are crimes against humanity. Ajakaye appeal to the eligible voters who have not collected their voter’s cards to make the necessary sacrifice to collect them from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, within the specific period. He expressed concern at the untoward attitudes of some politicians whose stock in trade was circumventing the rule of law, for their personal interest. According to the Cleric, “they engage in fake primaries and want to win elections by all means. They get to power crudely and behave true to type – selfish and treasury looters”. “We tend not to be having people with sterling qualities to lead. Instead, we are being ruled by selfish and incompetent people devoid of positive and meaningful ideas……………READ MORE

Terrorists Kill Over 470 Maize Farmers In Buhari’s Home State In Three Years, Disrupt Harvests, Destroy Farms
By SaharaReporters,com
No fewer than 470 maize farmers have been reportedly killed in Katsina State, Northwest of Nigeria in the past three years. Katsina is the home state of the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. SaharaReporters reports that Katsina is one of states in the Northern Nigeria that Islamic terrorists have ravaged with so many communities sacked and residents forced into becoming internally displaced persons. The development had also affected grievously maize farmers in the state with many sacked from their farms, while many farmlands remained inaccessible because of the presence of terrorists This is just as farmers across North-West experienced a low yield of maize in 2022 despite the efforts of the government through the Anchor Borrowers Program (ABP) implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The Chairman of Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Katsina State, Lawal Garba, who spoke to Nigeria Tribune in an interview, lamented that farmers who benefited from the ABP in the state were faced with a series of problems ranging from insecurity, drought, and insect infestation. Garba said over 470 farmers had been killed in the past 3 years, while many had abandoned their farms for terrorists and relocated to the major cities to seek refuge. “Apart from insecurity, the only thing I can say that our farmers are facing in Katsina state in the last four years is natural factors such as drought and insect infestation. “Our farmers were affected by insecurity in Katsina state. We have records of our farmers who were killed. We have a record of more than 470 farmers killed in the past 3 years…………READ MORE

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Because of your generous donations we were able to raise the second installment of $500 for Mrs. Comfort Biniyat!!! These gifts will hopefully help her to begin Targeted Drug Therapy (injections) to increase her ability to survive – an estimated cost of $17,000. Thank you!!!Learn more at DonorSee.com

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ICON Volunteer, Lawrence Zongo continues to help train vulnerable and displaced women – many of who are widows – with skills that can provide a sustainable incomeLearn more at DonorSee.com