Officers of the Nigerian police in Taraba State have once again apprehended a suspected child trafficker identified as Mary Yakubu.
Mary Yakubu who had been previously arrested twice for trafficking was apprehended on Sunday with 27 children.
In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in Taraba, David Misal disclosed that this is the third time security officers will arrest Yakubu. He noted that a total number of 60 children have been rescued from her.
The PRO explained that the 27 children rescued from her on Sunday at Tashan Takalma community in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State include 14 boys and 13 girls.
Misal stated that while the suspect is undergoing court trial, 33 children have been reunited with their family so far.
He said the 27 children rescued during Sunday’s arrest have been handed over to the Ministry of Women Affairs in Taraba State.
On February 26 2020, detectives from Bali Police Division first arrested Yakubu for child trafficking while trying to transport 23 children to an unspecified destination.
The suspect was again arrested on March 4, which led investigation police officers to rescue another 10 children at Mararaban Donga, In Donga LGA of Taraba State.
British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. SIMON DAWSON / POOL / AFP (File Photo)
UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to intensive care on Monday April 6 2020, days after he went into self isolation since testing positive for coronavirus.
Johnson’s Downing Street Office said “Over the course of this afternoon, the condition of the prime minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital.”
Officials also noted that the Foreign Minister, Dominique Raab is to take over Mr. Johnson’s duties where necessary.
The government explained that Johnson was transferred in case there was a need for him to use a ventilator.
The PM was admitted to London’s St Thomas’ Hospital last Sunday having developed a temperature and a cough. He tested positive for coronavirus on March 27, making him the highest ranked world leader to have contracted the disease that is rapidly spreading across the world.
Johnson who is 55 years old had been in self-isolation in his Downing Street apartment until Sunday evening when he was moved to a state owned hospital on the advice of his doctor.
When questions were raised about whether Prime Minister Johnson could still run the country, government officials explained that the move was only a precautionary step.
At the initial stage and as the virus spread, the British Government refused to order that its citizens stay at home like the country’s European counterparts did.
The Prime Minister who only ordered a nationwide lockdown 2 weeks ago had in early march said that he was still shaking hands with people.
It is now feared that the UK might be heading towards a serious outbreak with over 50,000 cases and more than 5,000 deaths recorded so far. The daily death rate is now put at 439.
Other high profile leaders in the UK who had been infected with the disease are Health Secretary, Matt Hancock and Heir to the throne, Prince Charles. They have both recovered.
On Sunday night, the Queen, Elizabeth II made a rare public address that evoked the spirit of World War II. In her remarkable speech, she urged Britons to stay unified.
“We will be with our friends again, we will be with our families again, we will meet again,” she said.
The Nigerian Army has arrested two of its soldiers who threatened to rape women in Delta State in a viral video.
The media had reported that two soldiers in the 26 seconds viral video claimed that residents of Warri, Delta State killed a soldier last Thursday, which was day two of the coronavirus lockdown ordered by the state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa. The video also revealed how the two rogue soldiers threatened to attack women in Warri as a revenge for an unconfirmed and unproven killing of a Soldier.
The video threat came hours after some soldiers killed a 28-year old man on Thursday leading to a faceoff between security officers and residents of the area. The soldiers were said to be members of a team deployed to the area to enforce the stay-at-home order by the State Government to combat the ravaging coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Police Command has confirmed that the deceased, identified as Joseph Pessu, was shot dead by soldiers. The Police also confirmed that no soldier was killed in Delta.
In the viral video, one of the rogue soldiers wearing a military camouflage could be heard saying in Pidgin English “Warri people, una don buy job! Una kill soldier, baa?
“Your mother…. I’ll make sure she carry HIV! Your daughters will carry HIV, your wives will carry HIV!”
The Police Command in Delta described the video as detestable adding that it is much of a video the deadly Boko Haram terrorist group could have produced. They however assured residents that the incident is under investigation.
The Nigerian Army on Friday, posted on its official Twitter page stating that the soldiers in the video have been arrested at 9 Brigade Ikeja Military Cantonment Lagos.
The post read – “The general public should be assured that the investigations will be swift and fair in accordance with applicable military laws. The outcome of the investigations will determine the most appropriate disciplinary measures that can be taken in the circumstances.”
The Army did not disclose the rank or identity of the soldiers but stated that they are being investigated.
Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta State (File Photo)
The Delta State Government has called for investigation to unravel what led to the alleged killing of a 28-year old man by security agents in Warri.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, the state government said it is worried about the incident.
While the government decried the alleged killing of the victim by security operatives, Aniagwu enjoined residents to remain calm.
The Commissioner stated that a state government delegation has been instructed to visit the home of the deceased and condole with the family.
Aniagwu added that military authorities have been tasked with conducting an investigation into the matter.
On Thursday, day two of the lockdown order by the state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, news had broke out that military operatives deployed to enforce the restriction had shot down the victim in Ugbuwangue community in Warri South Local Government Area (LGA) of the State.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Onome Onovwakpoyeya confirmed the killing. She said “yes, it is true, it just happened today, as I was told”, she however noted that details of the incident were still unclear
Veteran Nigerian singer Queen Salawa Abeni has exposed an unidentified individual for threatening to upload her nude pictures on the internet.
The 58 years old waka musician, who came to lime light in 1976 with a debut album titled Late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed took to her verified Instagram page to condemn at attempt to blackmail her for money.
Salawa, whose debut album became the first recording by a female artist to sell over a million copies in Nigeria had revealed the blackmail on Wednesday April 1, 2020.
She wrote “I am very disappointed that someone somewhere will try to tarnish my image and threaten to destroy my career of over 45 years. This morning, I received messages from somebody threatening to expose very old pictures of me and in the process, blackmailing me for money.”
She noted that the pictures which the alleged blackmailer claimed to possess could have been taken while on hospital bed or with her partner many years ago.
The queen of Waka pleaded with Nigerians to be careful stating that “our current situation has made people very desperate. I am almost 60 years old, I have worked very hard and made a name for myself for somebody to believe that they can threaten and trample on my feelings, this is very sad.”
Salawa explained that she had uploaded the pictures herself for everyone to see so as not to be bullied by a blackmailer.
“Thank you and God bless you! For you the blackmailer, I refuse to be bullied by you as I’m sure that I’m old enough to be your MOTHER!!, “ she added.
Meanwhile, prominent Nigerians who responded to the call-out have encouraged and praised the Waka crooner for daring to be bold and not yield to intimidation by faceless elements.
Celebrity publisher, Dele Momodu wrote “Blackmailers are usually COWARDS… Well my very dear @officialsalawaabeni”.
In their reactions, celebrated Nollywood thespians Ajoke Silva and Mercy Aigbe wrote respectively- “Well done girl. You took the power away from the fool” and “Now this is how you do it….. Respect ma! You are an epitome of strength! A Queen in all ramifications! Nothing and no one can bring you down! Sending you lots of love ma.”
In a show of respect and love for Abeni, others advised that the phone number of the faceless individual be reported to the authorities for investigation in a bid to make the blackmailer face the wrath of the law.
Wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun has declared support and unwavering commitment to the plight of Widows in Ogun State through the provision of skills acquisition, financial management and emotional management programmes.
Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun made the declaration while addressing Widows from all Local Government Areas in the state at the commemoration of the International Widow’s Day 2019 that was held at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta the State capital.
In her speech, the First Lady reiterated the commitment of the current administration in the state to address and improve the welfare of the people.
She said: “This administration brings to you a renewed sense of hope to prosper, a supportive community and a sincere action towards achieving fulfillment and recognition for our mothers, sisters and daughters who have been neglected in the society.”
Her Excellency, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun noted that the present government has a strong will to end the scourge of poverty and disabuse that widows often experience.
“We are committed to empowering our widows by providing them with the tools, skills and support necessary to create a life for themselves and their children following the death of their husbands.”
To develop specific need-based programmes that will directly improve the lives of widows, Mrs. Abiodun stated that: “It is important to this administration to have good knowledge and understanding of their needs.”
We will be meeting with widows’ representatives from various communities across all Local Government Areas.”
The First Lady ceased the occasion to announce her upcoming plans that is aimed at eradicating poverty and emotional sufferings amongst widows in Ogun State.
She stated as a critical enabler of her programmes, “the creation of a database where all widows in Ogun State will be registered.”
“The ministry of women affairs will be responsible for ensuring that this database is up to date”, Abiodun added.
For proper coordination, Mrs. Abiodun said: “Wives of Local Government Chairmen will ensure to have quarterly meetings with all widows in their local governments so as to monitor and track their development.”
This will also foster a sense of community and sisterhood among widows in all Local Governments.”
While lamenting the neglect of widows who go through the effect and limitations of poor emotional and mental well-being and issues such as grief from the loss of a husband, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun pledged that never again will such abandonment happen.
She said: “We will be taking on mental and counseling programmes across various communities in all Local Government Areas.”
Before the end of the year, there will be a 2day workshop for widows below the age of 55 on financial literacy and tips to manage personal finance as well as to develop and manage business activities.”
Her Excellency, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun further reiterated her commitment to ensuring a successful implementation of these programmes by partnering with private organizations and private individuals who will sponsor widows in Ogun State.
The event, which was first of its kind in Ogun State was graced by the Executive Governor of the State, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
In his address, the governor disclosed that his administration will soon begin a Micro-Credit Scheme for women traders, which will cut off challenges associated with raising funds from commercial financial institutions but give them access to grants.
The scheme which is tagged Oko’wo Dapo, is one of the welfare programmes of the governor Dapo Abiodun led administration.
Governor Abiodun stated that “our government is committed towards eradicating the rate of unemployment among youths in the state.”
He assured the people that the process to enable government establish a Job Creation and Youth Employment Agency is in line.”
He said further that the agency will be saddled with developing a portal that will house the database of youths across the state, indicating their skill set for the purpose of matching such with employments.
The event, which was themed Renewed Hope for Widows was organized by the Office of the First Lady of Ogun State in line with the United Nation’s objective of drawing attention to the voices and experiences of widows and to galvanize the unique support that they need.
Dignitaries who attended the event include the Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako Oyedele; newly sworn in officials- Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olatokunbo Joseph Talabi and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Shuaib Afolabi Salisu.
Others are Wife of Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Mrs Victoria Oluomo; Wife of Head of Service, Alhaja Oluyemisi Bisiriyu; Olori Bimpe Gbadebo; wives of Honourable Members of the State House of Assembly; wives of permanent secretaries and other invited guests.
A file photo of men of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).
By Tobiloba Kolawole.
A Nigerian music artiste, Ugochukwu Stephens popularly known as Ruggedman has charged Nigerians, who through social media actively advocated justice for the slain Kolade Johnson, to attend the hearing of the case against the killer cop, which comes up on Monday.
In a post he uploaded on social media, Ruggedman admonished interested persons to take the advocacy against extra judicial killings by officers of the Nigerian police force outside social media.
The rap star who is one of the few celebrities that has lend their voices to protest the killings of Nigerians, especially youths by police wrote on his Instagram handle @ruggedybaba:
“Forget social media brouhaha, the man that killed Kolade Johnson will be in court tomorrow at Ebute Metta. Are you all mouth and no action? All of you that have hashtagged #justiceforkolade I hope you will be in the court tomorrow morning.”
He also noted that “revolution won’t start with you behind your keypad.”
The hearing will hold inside Court 14 at Ebute Meta Magistrate court at 9am.
The alleged killer, former Inspector of police, Olalekan Ogunyemi was found guilty in April at an orderly room trial conducted by the Nigerian Police Force after an outcry against the murder of Kolade Johnson in Lagos.
At the end of the trial, the adjudicating officer, CSP Indyar Apev ruled that the accused officer, Olalekan Ogunyemi was found guilty of shooting and killing Kolade Johnson.
Apev described Ogunyemi’s act as a discreditable conduct that is prejudicial to discipline in the Nigeria police Force.
He said Ogunyemi is guilty of “unlawful and unnecessary exercise of authority by using unnecessary violence, by using AK 47 rifle on the deceased in total neglect to the provisions of Force Order 237 on the use of Firearms.”
Apev described Ogunyemi’s act as a discreditable conduct that is prejudicial to discipline in the Nigeria police Force.
He said Ogunyemi is guilty of “unlawful and unnecessary exercise of authority by using unnecessary violence, by using AK 47 rifle on the deceased in total neglect to the provisions of Force Order 237 on the use of Firearms.”
Governors of the 36 states of Nigeria have been tasked on the need to justify the existence of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and the about N360 million expended annually to run its secretariat.
A legal practitioner, Adedayo Edun made this demand today in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital when he spoke to frontpage.ng on what is expected of governors.
Edun lamented that the NGF, which ought to be a rallying point for cross fertilization of ideas bothering on development and good governance aimed at uplifting the lives of Nigerians, has been reduced to a mere political machinery.
He said: “It’s all about politics, how do we win this and that, which is of no concern to the electorate. The electorate wants something that will impact on their lives.”
The legal practitioner emphasized that Nigeria is in critical need of good governance for any meaningful development. He stressed that the current make up of the NGF is more of a merry making platform for the governors since the impact of such entity have not been seen on the masses.
He stated further that: “If they are converging at all, it is precisely to create a synergy. And what is the synergy? To answer this question is to say it is to make positive impact on the citizenry, that’s the purpose of that convergence.
Unfortunately, they have missed the purpose for which they are in office. They tend to see their position as an opportunity to amass wealth, to exercise authority, particularly arbitrarily.”
Their objective for me should be how we make positive impact on the people we are governing. So each governor will share experiences on how to make the people happy. How do we create purposeful governance in our respective states? And what is the opinion of those citizens in relation to their governance” he said.
Although, Edun believes that the N360million naira expended out of the billions they receive from the Federal Government annually would have been insignificant if it was used to better the lives of citizens in their states.
“If they are attaining positive ends with that amount, and what I mean by positive ends is what really concerns and affects the populace in their respective states; maybe we may say that it is justified. This is because we would see prompt actions and outcomes from their forum that clearly deals with how to make citizens in their states happy”, he said.
Edun added that: “If you have spent 360million in a year in 36 states, well, that is still reasonable to make your people happy. What they collect in a year put together is over N40 billion. So N360 million in itself would be insignificant if what they have been able to achieve is to make their people happy.”
He lamented that nobody is happy: “Look at electricity; they can do it in their respective states. If they are so determined to give their people electricity they can do independent power projects and the citizenry will know that these governors are working.
But unfortunately, they are all on a frolic of their own. They determine what is good for the citizenry by their own opinion and that’s not the thing. It is not your own opinion that matters. You must determine where the shoe pinches the citizenry to understand their needs and decide to address the problem”, Edun said.
The Nigeria Governors Forum had come under severe criticism. It had been referred to as a boys club especially because of its heavy politicking over leadership and the tendency to become machinery for divisive politics as experienced during the Jonathan administration.
However, in his reaction, the Head, Media and Public Affairs, Nigeria Governors Forum, Abdulrazaq Bello-Barkindo refuted claims that the forum is merely a boys club.
He disclosed that as part of the induction ceremony that was held in the week for governors-elect, there was a spouses day aimed at bringing together for the purpose of training male or female spouses of elected governors.
Barkindo noted that: “The reason for which the Nigeria Governors Forum was set up is imperative.”
He explained that: “We can’t have governors come together as individuals just fighting for different things at the same time. So the governors in 1999 thought they needed to come together.”
We took a cue from the National Governors Association in the United State where governors come together, rub minds and put together a certain front that will emancipate their people from their own problems”, Barkindo Said.
He said further that the NGF is concerned about eradicating poverty, mis-governance, hunger and starvation, which is why it has 6 key mandate areas that include infrastructure, policy, economy, environment and security.
He stated that it is “preposterous” for Nigerians to say the NGF has not had positive impact on the lives of the people across the nation.
He said: “Over time we have seen improvement in how governors relate to each other. Today there is no bickering among governors, they are all together and they approach matters in a uniformed solution seeking way.”
One of the arguments against the forum is that the peer review function that it tries to sell to Nigerians has not changed the way governors deliver governance in their respective states. This has fueled questions as to what role the NGF plays in the running of states.
Barkindo however disclosed that: “We are a service intuition that serves from a consultancy point of view. We serve every governor according to his specific needs. What we try to do is to provide tailor made services that governors need at a particular time.”
The NGF official also revealed how the forum is funded.
“The NGF is funded by dues from the governors; dues of only N10 million per annum. That will surprise you, that there is not a lot of money that comes into the services of the NGF”, Barkindo noted.
In order to prepare incoming and returning governors for the task of delivering purposeful and effective governance, the NGF organized a 3day induction event which started last Monday and ended on Wednesday.
Speakers at the event include the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria, Ibukun Awosika and other notable local and global leaders.
As the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly draws close, some politicians have taken a different view from that of the APC chairman, Adams Oshiomhole on how the leadership election of the Senate and House of Representatives should be approached.
Days after the public declaration by the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, saying that his party has the numbers to take all the key positions of the national assembly without the help of the PDP, some politicians think it is alright to discus and negotiate with the opposition.
While responding to questions on a breakfast show in Lagos, a member of the Bauchi state House of Assembly, Ibrahim Bala Hassan said:
“Politics is all about discussions, listening to people and coming to terms with using diplomacy to agree on certain issues. So you have to agree to disagree.”
Hassan, who referred to himself as a strong party man who believes in the supremacy of the party stated that In the case of the upcoming national assembly leadership elections a number of things would happen.
He said: “There has to be series of discussions, there has to be series of disagreements, and what we expect in the upcoming election is to have less rancorous kind of election unlike the 2015 elections whereby there were series of rebellion against the party as we call it.”
Hassan noted that all candidates put forward by the APC leadership were only mere recommendations and not an imposition on the incoming 9th National Assembly.
“So Senator Ahmed Lawan and the house leader, Femi, they were not imposed, they were recommended. It is left for the two candidates to convince their colleagues that they are after the task to be the speaker and the senate president of the Federal Republic”, Hassan said.
The Bauchi state House of Assembly member reiterated that lawmakers at both the state and national level have the right to decide for themselves without being dictated to.
“Even if the party chairman, with all due respect, has his own position, as members of the national parliament we have our own opinion about how to make our party to win the leadership. We are not arguing with the chairman but there has to be a different approach’, Hassan said.
In his own reaction to the issue, the Spokesperson of the Turaki Vanguard, Chris Nwaokobia expressed worry that the concept of party supremacy, which according to him is only an element of parliamentary democracy, is imported into a presidential democracy like Nigeria’s.
Nwaokobia said “Very often you hear people in presidential democracy talk about party supremacy, you wonder what information they are leaving our children with. Party supremacy is primarily a dogma of parliamentary democracy.”
That is why in this country we have seen a speaker of the House of Reps from a minority party, Ume Ezeoke in the second Republic, also a senate president from a minority party. That is why we have the uproar about whether the APC can do it alone or they would have to negotiate and discuss with the PDP”, he said.
Nwaokobia explained that “the party, based on how we practice our democracy appears to be supreme. But in a presidential democracy, that is why when you talk about the leader of the APC, you talk about either President Muhammadu Buhari or Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you are not calling the chairman.”
To drive home his point that the idea of party supremacy that is being sounded aloud by the APC National Chairman does not hold in Nigeria’s presidential democracy, Nwaokobia made effort to distinguish the parliamentary democracy.
He said: “I’ll give you a practical example. You do not perhaps know the name of the Democratic Party chairman in the United States of America, the name of the chairman of the Republican Party, even in Ghana. This is because they run a presidential democracy.”
It is simply about the people. I am not saying that the party position should not be respected. In parliamentary democracy basically, the party that wins forms government and follow in totality the ideology of the political party”, he explained.
Chris Nwaokobia also stated that while the APC chairman, Adams Oshiomhole insists on having APC members taking over all leadership positions at he National Assembly, he advises that the Nigerian people and the nuances of governance under the country’s current presidential democracy should rather be supreme.
He noted that: “In the United States of America, you must go into proper negotiation with the opposition parties. You must understand that in the chamber what you have are representatives of the people. And the representatives of the people must decide who becomes Speaker of the House of Reps or the President of the Senate.”
I am not throwing away the fact that the party has policies of programmatic that it needs the speaker and the senate president to push. But I am saying that the grand standing, the headmaster-pupil proclamation of the chairman of the APC, the nuances and body language of the APC does not run in tandem with the normative of presidential democracy”, Nwaokobia said.
Nigeria with about 200 million people is at the risk of a national disaster that could stem from diseases associated with open defecation.
An environmental activist, Hamzat Lawal, who spoke to TVC News in Lagos on Monday stated that a situation where over 60 million people cannot access toilet facilities is dangerous.
In November 15 of 2108, the Federal Government through the Ministry for Water Resources led by Engineer Suleiman Hussein Adamu launched a strategic document for Open Defecation Free Campaign.
It is however worrisome that according to current information on the website of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria is ranked second highest in the world with cases of open defecation.
The environmental activist stated that to avoid an uncontrollable breakout of cholera, government needs to declare a state of emergency to tackle open defecation.
Lawal said: “they need to consolidate on their effort and this is not the sole role of government alone. As much as government needs to put in place policies and regulatory framework, this presents an opportunity here.”
I think we all shy away from the fact that this is shit business; we need to ensure the private sector is involved. If you look at our major cities today, they don’t have mobile toilets where citizens can have access”, Lawal said.
He emphasized the need for a policy roadmap that will encourage private sector investment in dealing with open defecation because government effort alone is not enough.
“I think most importantly someone has to pay the price. We need to look at the investment chain, create an enabling environment to bring in the private sector’, Lawal said.
He expressed worry that many Nigerians still do not understand the health Implication of open defecation.
“Today we are experiencing cholera outbreak in most rural communities because where they defecate is the same place they have streams, which goes to the river bank and people will drink this water and use it to cook food.”
Nigeria is battling with infant mortality, if we don’t deal with open defecation, particularly at the grass root, especially rural communities, we will keep losing lives and value for money”, Lawal said.
He also spoke on how quickly the menace of open defecation should be dealt with and meeting the 2025 target for eradicating the scourge.
“I think we need to decentralise. What I mean is that Federal Government must not only lead the effort. What are our local institutions doing, what are our state governments doing, most importantly how much is government budgeting at the local, state and national level?”
Also, how much of this budget are being released and how are civil societies able to track the effective use of public resources?”
I believe if we can effectively ensure that public resources are put to public use, then we will ensure that every citizen has access to public toilet facility.”
Frontpage recalls that in 2016, during the 6th National Roundtable Conference on Community led Total sanitation, which held in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, the Ministry of Water Resources launched a campaign document titled Making Nigeria Open Defecation Free by 2025.
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