Suspected Boko Haram terrorists staging an execution in Borno State. Photo: A screengrab from the video showing the execution of five men. Credit- Channels Television.
A video has surfaced online showing the execution of five persons by masked men in military camouflage, suspected to be Boko Haram fighters.
A voice was heard speaking in Hausa before the execution, saying that the five persons were working for infidels.
“Those of you that are being used by infidels to turn others to infidels, know this today oh, you who work for infidel groups, you satisfy their aims but they do not care about you and that is why when we catch you they do not show concern. Our call to you is to repent and follow Allah; we shall waylay you in all the roads that you follow and if you don’t listen, the fate of these ones will befall you,” the voice said.
The execution immediately followed his speech at the cue of another voice that said “bisimillah.”
The slain persons are believed to be aid workers captured during a raid in Monguno Local Government of Borno State on June 13, 2020.
They include staff of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, Action Against Hunger, Rich International, International Rescue Committee and a security guard.
The execution came after the insurgents demanded the sum of 500,000 dollars to release them.
A staff of the SEMA who pleaded anonymity identified his colleague among those executed, who had also featured in a recent video where they spoke from captivity pleading with the government to intervene.
Despite several air raids by the military and assurances by the Federal Government that many insurgents have been neutralised, they have continued to resurface, attacking communities, aid workers, and even military bases.
Last year, Jihadists aligned with the Islamic State group released a video showing a female aid worker and five male colleagues who had been kidnapped in an attack in northeast Nigeria.
Aid group, Action Against Hunger, had said earlier that one of its staff members along with three health workers and two drivers were missing after their convoy was attacked near the border with Niger.
One of the six hostages who had been held since July, was eventually executed in September, while four others were killed in December.
Thereafter, the French aid group, said it was “extremely concerned and called for the immediate release of its staff member, Grace, who was the only one left in captivity.”
President Muhammadu Buhari will on Thursday depart for Bamako, the Republic of Mali on a one-day visit.
This is according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina.
Buhari’s planned visit followed the briefing by the ECOWAS Special Envoy to the country, former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The statement adds that President Buhari and the ECOWAS Chairman, President Issoufou Mahamadou of Niger Republic had already agreed to meet in Mali to engage in further consultations towards finding a political solution to the crisis in the country.
The two leaders are expected to be joined by the Host President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Presidents Machy Sall of Senegal, Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana and Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire respectively.
“We will ask the President of Niger, who is the Chairman of ECOWAS to brief us as a group, and we will then know the way forward,” President Buhari was quoted as saying.
Earlier, Jonathan in the company of President of ECOWAS Commission, Mr Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, on Tuesday briefed President Buhari on the unfolding situation in Mali, necessitating the visit of ECOWAS leaders to consolidate on the agreements reached by various parties.
The former President had filled in President Buhari on his activities as Special Envoy to restore amity to Mali, rocked by protests against President Keita, who has spent two out of the five years, the second term in office.
A resistance group, M5, is insisting that the Constitutional Court must be dissolved and that the President should resign before peace can return to the country.
The crisis had erupted after the court nullified results of 31 parliamentary seats in the polls held recently, awarding victory to some other contenders, which the resistance group said was at the instigation of President Keita.
Riots on July 10 had led to the killing of some protesters by security agents, causing the crisis to spiral out of control, hence the intervention by ECOWAS.
File Photo: Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, flanked by the state's Deputy Governor, Femi Hamzat (L) and Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa at the Governor's Office, Alausa, Ikeja.
Another set of beneficiaries have emerged under the social inclusion programme initiative of the Lagos State Government which empowers indigent members of the society for economic independence and self-sufficiency.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, stated this during the disbursement of the funds to 217 beneficiaries at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Secretariat, Alausa.
The programme, tagged ‘Eko Cares’, is aimed at actualising the Greater Lagos project of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, through social inclusion and making Lagos a 21st Century economy.
She explained that the programme, which is designed as a form of financial assistance to 2, 000 beneficiaries from all the Local Governments and LCDAs, will grant each beneficiary the sum of N20,000 to invest in economic activities that would guarantee a quick turnover.
Adebowale stated that the impact of the exercise, which is being supervised by her office, is expected to stimulate micro-economic activities, promote a sense of belonging, reduce tension in the communities and enhance self-reliance.
She added that the beneficiaries would also be exposed to business and investment opportunities requiring minimal start-up capital.
Adebowale noted further that many companies producing fast-moving consumer products have keyed into the programme.
The Special Adviser, however appealed to the beneficiaries not to abuse the privilege, as successful participants will benefit more from mentoring from partners, who would closely monitor each beneficiary and give progress reports and recommendations for further empowerment funds.
In a similar development, the Lagos State Government says about 2,743 farmers in the state will next week Tuesday receive inputs and productive assets under the State Government 2020 Agricultural Value Chains Empowerment Programme.
The State Acting Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, who disclosed this on Wednesday, July 22, 2020 in Lagos, explained that farmers, agro-processors, fishermen, butchers and marketers would all benefit from the empowerment programme as productive assets peculiar to all the agricultural value chains would be made available to them at no cost.
According to her, the Agricultural Value Chains Empowerment Programme has been designed as a means of channeling the needed support to small-holder farmers who are actively engaged in the various Agricultural Value Chains thereby creating further wealth and job opportunities in farming communities.
Olusanya explained that the aim of the empowerment programme was to provide the necessary inputs and assets needed by farmers to improve food production in the State in an effort targeted toward increasing the State’s self-sufficiency to 40% of food needs by 2023.
“The overall aim of the Agric Value Chains Empowerment Programme is to provide the necessary agricultural inputs & productive assets to farmers as a means of achieving improved food production & supply as well as delivering optimum economic benefits to farmers and other operators.
“The Empowerment Programme would further contribute to the achievement of the vision of ‘Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy’ and also the attainment of United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 17 of no poverty zero hunger, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequality, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land as well as partnership to achieve the goal would be met”, she said.
File Photo: Nigeria's Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, during plenary at the upper chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja.
Nigeria’s Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has urged the President Buhari-led Federal Executive Council (FEC) to begin in earnest estimates for the 2021 budget and ensure it is presented to the National Assembly by the end of September this year.
Senate President Lawan stated this Tuesday in his remarks after President Muhammadu Buhari’s request on the 2021 – 2023 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) was referred to the Senate Committees on Finance; and National Planning for further legislative input.
Lawan, while charging both Committees to engage the Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning on the MTEF/FSP request, stressed the need for the panel to lend its support to Revenue Generating Agencies, where necessary, towards meeting expected revenue targets.
The Committees were given four weeks to report back to the Senate.
“The request of Mr. President C-in-C is referred to the two committees, Senate Committees on Finance; Budget and National Planning, with Finance as the lead Committee.
“This Senate is giving the Committee four weeks within which to work very closely with the Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, and particularly engagement with the revenue-generating agencies where we are expecting them to meet their targets.
“We need to ensure that they have all the support that they require from the National Assembly, particularly the Senate to meet their targets.
“Meanwhile, the executive should continue to work on the preparations for the 2021 budget, and by this, we are also equally committed to ensuring that we receive the budget estimates at the end of September and that we are able to consider the budget and get it passed before the end of December to repeat what we did for budget 2020,” Lawan said.
MD/CEO Designate, Fidelity Bank, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe (L); Outgoing MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank, Nnamdi Okonkwo.
Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe is expected to take over from Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc effective January 1, 2021.
The bank disclosed this on Monday in a notice by the Company Secretary, Ezinwa Unuigboje, to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the general public.
“In compliance with the bank’s succession policy, the board has approved the appointment of Executive Director, Lagos and South-west Directorate, Onyeali-Ikpe, as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer designate to assume office with effect from January 1, 2021.
“The approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been obtained for the appointment,” read the notice.
The statement added that the board has also approved the appointment of the bank’s current Chief Risk Officer, Kevin Ugwuoke, as Executive Director/Chief Risk Officer, subject to CBN’s confirmation.
The bank explained that Onyeali-Ikpe was appointed to the Board of Fidelity Bank in 2015 as Executive Director and currently oversees Lagos and South-west Directorate, noting that she has led the transformation of the directorate to profitability and sustained its year-on-year growth across key performance metrics.
“Onyeali-Ikpe has over 30 years experience from Standard Chartered Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Citizens International Bank Limited, where she held several management positions in Legal, Treasury, Investment Banking, Retail/Commercial Banking and Corporate Banking,” the statement said.
Okonkwo was appointed to the bank’s board in April 2012 as Executive Director and was named Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2014.
Senate President Ahmadu Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; have mourned the passing of President Muhammadu Buhari’s friend and political associate, Isa Funtua.
They all paid glowing tributes to late businessman and condoled with the family and the President.
Expressing his heartfelt condolences, Lawan said the news of Funtua’s death left him with profound sadness, describing him as business mogul, community leader, social and political activist and nationalist.
“He was a man who touched many lives and impacted the development of Nigeria with his foresight, industry, enterprise, boundless enthusiasm, magnetism, friendliness and accommodating spirit.
“Mallam Isa Funtua made friends across tribe, religion, generation and class in Nigeria, and touched many lives in public service as well as in his private life. He was a man of many parts who brought to bear his great intelligence, energy and integrity on everything that he did.
“Late Mallam Isa Funtua was a pioneer and trail blazer who established an authoritative national newspaper and a giant construction company through both of which he has left indelible footprints on the physical and sociology-political landscapes of Nigeria.
“Even in death, Mallam Isa Funtua’s presence will continue to be felt for a long time by Nigerians.
“I heartily commiserate with President Muhammadu Buhari who has lost a close friend, trusted ally and in-law as well as the Government and People of Katsina State over the loss.
“I pray Allah to comfort the loved ones that Mallam Isa Funtua left behind, forgive his sins and accept his soul in Aljannat Firdaus,” said senate president.
In his tribute, Gbajabiamila expressed sadness over the death of the former President of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN).
The speaker said Funtua, who was a lifetime patron of NPAN and the International Press Institute, lived a life full of service to humanity.
Condoling with Buhari over the loss, Gbajabiamila prayed Allah to give his family, the people and government of Katsina State the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Tinubu, on his part, described Funtua as statesman, nationalist and renowned businessman.
“The passing of elder-statesman, nationalist newspaper publisher and prominent businessman, Mallam Ismaila Isa Funtua, is a saddening national loss. He was a rare individual of immense talents, abilities and generousity.
“We spoke but two days before, as we often do. He spoke vibrantly, with his trademark logic and deep knowledge. We ended our conversation agreeing to resume soon again. There was no indication that this would be our last talk.
“I had the distinct honour of knowing this man for many years. Mallam Funtua loved our nation with uncompromising passion having served Nigeria with dedication and commitment at different times in many important capacities.
“He wanted the best for the country and its people and worked diligently in his private capacity to advance the course of Nigeria.
“As a long-time friend, associate and in-law of President Muhammadu Buhari, he served as a strong buttress of support for the president and for his progressive administration.
“I commiserate with President Buhari at this time for we have suffered the loss of another person of great intellect and extraordinary character. Our national family mourns deeply because of this unexpected departure, May Allah give our President the added strength and grace to overcome this loss.
I mourn with the immediate and extended Funtua family who have lost a father, patriarch and much more.
“My condolences to Governor Aminu Bello Waziri of Katsina State and the Funtua Community.
“We have lost too many outstanding Nigerians in such a short time. We cannot question why for the will of Almighty Allah is sovereign and supreme.
“Yet, we must dedicate ourselves to continue and to finish the work started by these excellent souls. We must carry on so that we lend even greater meaning to the lives they lived.
“I ask Almighty Allah to accept the soul of Mallam Funtua and admit him to Aljanna Firdaus. May Allah in His munificence also grant his family and all those he left behind the inner fortitude, peace and dedication to continue after him,” Tinubu said.
Sanwo-Olu described the death of Funtua as a great loss to Nigeria, happening at a time when the country is desirous of more men of good conscience to offer wise counsel in the nation’s drive towards socio-political and economic development.
The commiserated with the President over the passing of his close friend and political associate.
“Although the loss of a loved one is usually a painful experience, we should take solace in the fact that death itself is a natural occurrence and it is inevitable,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu added that late Funtua would be missed by a wide range of people and professional bodies, especially NPAN, noting that “the late elder statesman lived a life of purpose, championing the right causes such as a free press, which is the soul of democracy. He was a philanthropist of note, a well respected personality with a lot of knowledge and experience.”
The governor commiserated with his immediate family, the governor and people of Katsina State, praying Allah to grant the deceased Aljanah firdaus and give those he has left behind the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Also, Ogun State Governor has commiserated with Buhari, the government and people of Katsina State over the demise of elder statesman and Second Republic Minister.
Abiodun described the former NPAN president and chairman of Bulet Intentional Limited (an indigenous construction company) as “a quality icon who will occupy many good pages in Nigeria’s history. His footprints are in the public service, journalism, entrepreneurship and indeed all spheres of our national life and living.”
He added: “Mallam Isa Funtua was a man of honour and a great achiever. He lived an exemplary life; he was a democrat and a fine gentleman whose idea of power was that of being a tool to serve his6 fatherland and humanity. He was an elder statesman in the truest sense of the word in and out of Government – as a technocrat in Northern Nigeria and later Minister in the Second Republic.”
The governor qualified the late Funtua as “an ideal businessman and a big player in the construction industry and across the various boardrooms, where he served meritoriously. I respect him for his contentment and as a man who did not abuse the goodwill of his closeness to President Muhammadu Buhari. Of course, as a newspapers’ man, his contributions cannot be forgotten as a Life Patron of both the International Press Institute (IPI) and Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN). I commiserate with all the members of the fraternity of the pen on the death of this media colossus.”
Abiodun said Buhari has lost a worthy friend and brother, adding that Katsina State has not only lost a father-figure but one of its most prodigious products and Nigeria as a whole has lost one of her best.
“This is a further depletion of the tribe of quality Nigerians,” he said, adding that “Ismaila Isa Funtua was at once a frontline newspapers’ man, detribalised statesman, leading businessman entrepreneur and focused public intellectual rolled into one and he acted his parts perfectly.”
He prayed Allah to grant the soul of the industrialist a cozy place in Aljanah Firdaous.
Former president Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday met behind closed door to brief President Muhammadu Buhari over the peace efforts in Mali.
Jonathan, who was accompanied by President of ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, to State House in Abuja, also expressed appreciation to the Buhari administration for naming Itakpe-Warri railway complex after him last weekend.
The former president had updated Buhari on his activities as Special Envoy to restore peace in the nation over the protests against President Ibrahim Keita of Mali, who has spent two out of the five years second term in office.
A resistance group, M5, is insisting that the Constitutional Court must be dissolved, and the President resign, before peace could return to the country.
Crisis had erupted after the court nullified results of 31 parliamentary seats in the polls held recently, awarding victory to some other contenders, which the resistance group said was at the instigation of Keita.
Riots on July 10 had led to the killing of some protesters by security agents, causing the crisis to spiral out of control, hence the intervention by ECOWAS.
“ECOWAS can’t preside over the removal of an elected President. Not even the African Union (AU), or the United Nations (UN) can do it.
“Leaders must be elected and leave under constitutional processes, otherwise we would have Banana republics all over the place,” Jonathan told Nigerian President.
Responding, Buhari said he would consult with key leaders of ECOWAS countries in order to find a solution to the crisis rocking Republic of Mali.
“We will ask the President of Niger, who is the Chairman of ECOWAS to brief us as a group, and we will then know the way forward,” Buhari said, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.
He thanked Jonathan for his comprehensive brief on the situation in Mali, “which you had been abreast with since when you were the sitting Nigerian President.”
The former pesident also used the occasion to thank Buhari for providing a Presidential jet for the mission, “thus making our trips convenient and comfortable.”
He equally expressed appreciation for Itakpe-Warri railway complex named after him last weekend.
“It was a big present for me. Thank you very much,” he said.
The remains of President Muhammadu Buhari’s friend and political associate, Isma’ila Isa Funtua, would any momemt from now be committed to mother earth in Abuja.
Funtua, a prominent member of the alleged Aso Rock cabal, died Monday night at an Abuja hospital at the age of 78. He was said to have suffered cardiac arrest.
Reacting to the development after news of Funtua broke yesterday, Buhari said he received “with deep sadness on Monday evening information on passing of his longtime friend and associate, Malam Isma’ila Isa Funtua, who was Life Patron of International Press Institute and Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN).”
The President condoled with family members, government and people of Katsina State, and all associates of the former NPAN president, especially the media industry, on the loss, describing him as “greatly admired and respected.”
L-R: Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant Gen. Tukur Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ekwe Ibas and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar. (File photo)
Nigerian Senate has demanded that President Muhammadu Buhari sacks service chiefs for their failure to ensure security as the nation continues to grapple with terrorism, banditary and kidnapping.
The demand asking for the dismissal of service chiefs was made by Senators during plenary on Tuesday in reaction to a motion by Senator Ali Ndume.
Senators are concerned about the security situation in the country. (File photo)
Senator Ndume moved his motion on the back of the ambush of soldiers recently and the alleged voluntary resignation of soldiers.
According to the Senator, it is worrying that soldiers were ambushed recently in Katsina with several of them killed as well as allegations of unprecedented voluntary retirement of over 200 soldiers.
He says if this trend continues, it will have dire consequences on the country.
Despite his concerns about the security situation, Senator Ndume did not call for the dismissal of the service chiefs.
The call for their dismissal was an additional prayer to his motion in the course of deliberations.
In what appears to be a swift reaction to the resolution of the Senate, the Presidency in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, reminded the lawmakers that the issue of appointment and removal of Service Chiefs is at the prerogative of the President of the Repair of Nigeria.
“The Senate Tuesday adopted a resolution calling on the Service Chiefs to resign or be sacked due to the multi-pronged security challenges in the country.
The Presidency notes the resolution, and reiterates that appointment or sack of Service Chiefs is a Presidential prerogative, and President Muhammadu Buhari, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, will do what is in the best interest of the country at all times” the Staten read.
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in the October 10 election in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede, seems to have things looking bright for him ahead of the party’s primary election on Wednesday with 114 delegates backing his candidacy against others, one of which is the incumbent Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, who recently resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The endorsement is from delegates representing Akure South Local Government Area of the state, who pledged to vote for Jegede in tomorrow’s primary election.
In a remark by a former deputy governor of Ondo, Otunba Omolade Oluwateru, Jegede was described as having paraded the best qualities and deserved to win the party’s primary.
Jegede was said to be a trustworthy personality because he has sustained his loyalty to the PDP despite losing the governorship election in 2016.
Oluwateru, a former Nigerian Ambassador to Uganda and a member of the PDP Board of Trustees said:
“This is a golden opportunity for you, to tell the entire people of Ondo State that Akure has an exceptional son who can fulfill the yearnings and aspirations of the masses of the state.
“We have all been behind Jegede all this while because we can see ahead, that the people of the state stands to gain much in terms of employment generation, social infrastructure, agricultural revolution, solid health services, educational growth, among others,” he said.
Also, a legislator who represents Akure South/North Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Adedayo Omolafe, said Jegede was a leader who gives priority to the welfare of his followers.
Another lawmaker who represents Irele/Okitipupa Federal Constituency, Hon. Ikengboju Gboluga, disclosed that he was a beneficiary of the generous disposition of Jegede.
Jegede however, stated that the Deputy Governor of the State, Agboola Ajayi was not a threat to his ambition.
“In all my career, I have never been found wanting and I have overcome greed in any appearance.
“If you cast your vote for me in this primary election, and if I eventually win the governorship race, nobody will be forgotten in terms of spreading the dividends of democracy”, Jegede assured his supporters.
A statement emanating from the camp of Deputy Governor Ajayi’s campaign organisation, has warned against disparaging comments against any of the aspirants of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The statement, signed by the Director-General of the organisation, Dr Kola Ademujimi reiterated that the aim of all PDP aspirants was to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and not to fight one another.
Ademujimi, in the statement dismissed comments that Ajayi is a new member of the PDP. He noted that the assertion was incorrect, stating that Ajayi was a foundation member of the PDP.
“From 1998 when he joined the PDP, till 2016 when political exigencies drove him out of the party, he has conducted himself as a bridge-builder and a conscious networker in and out of party and politics.
“His humility, uncommon large-heartedness and generosity, palpable political dexterity and convincing demonstration of political sportsmanship have consummated his wide acceptance within a short period of his return to the party he helped uphold its umbrella for 18 years.
“We are thankful for this uncommon show of love and trust, which we at the Alfred Agboola Ajayi Campaign Organisation (3ACO) have enjoyed across the 18 LGAs during our statewide tour and assure you that we will never take it for granted.
“The ACO is proud of the untiring and creative strategies with which we presented our aspirant as a competent grassroots politician who rose through the ranks to serve in many executive positions at both the party and government levels.
“His legislative experience as a former member of the House of Representative added to his widely accepted political resume of over three decades among our party members.
“Our campaign issues were purely about positioning our party as a formidable, organised and victory-ready political platform for the sustainable development of party men and women as well as the non-partisan masses, technocrats and civil servants of the Sunshine State,” he said.
Ademujimi emphasised the need to have a rancour-free election that is truly democratic , transparent, fair and generally credible; urging members to pray for the process.
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