A civil society organisation, ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), has said that about 57 communities in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) kill twins, triplets and albinos as part of culture.

Ene Obi, country director of AAN, made this known during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

Lamenting the practice, Obi said that before now, the agency was not aware that such were in practice in the FCT environs.

“We know that the killing of twins was a practice in some parts of Nigeria. But little did we know that sitting in the FCT here and around us, twins, triplets, quadruplets, albinos, down syndrome children and those who lose their mothers at childbirth are considered evil and are killed.”

He explained that a centre had been created with support from the European Union to help cater for some of the children rescued from such communities.

Another not-for-profit organisation in Abuja, Vine Heritage Home Foundation, Kuje, said the practice was prevalent in the FCT and neighbouring communities.

Stephen Olushola, founder of the foundation, said last week that these communities killed twin babies, albino children, children with cerebral palsies, babies with growing teeth from the top of their gum, and babies whose mothers died during childbirth.

He stated that the tribes responsible for such act cut across Abaji, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali and some parts of AMAC.

Olushola added that there were 67 communities carrying out the act but through several interventions, 10 of them had agreed to put an end to the act.

Historically, the killing of twins is prevalent in the southern part of Nigeria. Mary Slessor, a Scottish missionary, is said to have abolished the practice in Cross River State in the 19th century. However, the state is not the only place where such acts are perpetrated in Nigeria.

Aside from killing of twins, in some part of Africa, albinos are killed either for rituals or for respite, according to several reports. Sometimes the albinos are amputated by ritualists, a report by the Human Rights Watch states.

In 2019, about 10 ‘witchdoctors’ were said to have been arrested by the Tanzanian authority in connection with killing and amputation of albinos, most of which were children.

The United Nations notes that the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the UN agency that deals with human rights issues, reported in 2016 that albino hunters sold an entire human corpse for up to 75,000 dollars, while an arm or a leg could fetch about 2,000 dollars. (Thenigerialawyer)

The Senate has urged the Federal Government to immediately review the ECOWAS protocol of free movement as a way to checkmate the infiltration of criminal elements into the country.

The call on the Buhari-led administration was made amidst resolutions reached by the upper chamber after an exhaustive debate on a motion on the general insecurity in Nigeria. 

Sponsor of the motion, Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice (APC – Ondo North), noted with sadness reports of killings, and kidnappings in Ondo State, Edo State, Oyo State, Imo State, Kaduna State, Zamfara  State, Niger State, Nasuawa State, Kebbi State and in other parts of the Country.

“Aware of reports of kidnappings and killings in Ibarapa axis and other parts of Oyo State consequent upon which eviction notice was given to Fulani herdmen on 16th January, 2021, sequent to which houses and cars belonging to Fulani herdsmen Were burnt in Igangan, Ibarapa North LGA of Oyo State; 

“Aware that in January, 2021, gunmen invaded Kaduna communities, killed the traditional head of Baranje Village, Dogara Yahaya  and another resident in Baranje village near Buruku in Chikun Local Government Area of the state.  Similarly armed bandits killed one person after failed attempt to kidnap him at Ungwan Sada in Giwa Local Government Area,a herder was  also killed by armed bandits  along Kangimi axis on the Kaduna-Jos  Road in Igabi Local  Government  Area.

“Further aware that on Friday, 29th of January, 2021, gunmen clad in military uniform intercepted some vehicles at Idon village in kajuru Local Government Area on Kaduna-Kachia Road in Kaduna State, abducting no fewer, than 19 travellers and taking them in to the forest. Just like the dangerous Kaduna Kachina road, there are still reports of kidnappings on the Kaduna . Abuja expressway; 

“Notes that in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, on Saturday, 24th of January, 2021, armed men attacked Rachael orphanage in Naharati, Abaji Area Council, kidnapped seven children of age range 10 to 13 years and also kidnapped a staff member of the orphanage. Like this abduction, there are also pockets of reports of abductions in Abuja; 

“Notes also that in Ondo State, kidnappers often operate freely on Akure Owo road, Owo Akungba road, Akure Ilesha expressway, Ise Akoko Isua Akoko Road and other parts of the State. Recently, gunmen killed a first class traditional ruler, the Olufon of Ifon, Oba Isreal Adeusi; 

“Notes further that mass killings and banditry in Kebbi State hitherto localized in four (4) Local Government Areas in Zuru Emirate have extended to Shanga (Yawuri Emirate) and Koko-Besse, Bagudo and Maiyama Local Government Areas (Gwandu Emirate); 

“Notes again that in Nasarawa State, On Monday, 4th of January, 2021, gunmen killed the former education secretary of Nasarawa Local Government Area of the State Malami Salihu and Kidnapped 20 people along Mungi Sharp Conner Buga Gwari, Gadabuke area of Toto Local Government Area; 

“Further aware that in Ogun State, on Monday, lst February, 2021, suspected hoodlums set ablaze the house of Seriki Fulani in Eggua, Yewa North LGA, killing one person and scores of cows; 

“Notes that in Delta State, in January, 2021, gunmen killed 3 mobile policemen, carted away AK-47 rifles and 120 rounds of ammunition in Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area of the State; 

“Notes also that in Niger State, between 6th December and 12th December, 2020, gunmen invaded and launched multiple attacks in Ogu and Tegina communities in Rafi Local Government Area, 19 persons were kidnapped and a pastor with the Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, Jeremiah Ibrahim was killed in Chukuba, Shiroro Local Government Area of the State; 

“Further notes that in Zamfara State, killings and kidnappings have continued unabated. On Friday, 8th of January, 2021, armed kidnappers invaded Kadauri village in Maru Local Government Area and kidnapped Six children from one family; 

“Aware that in Imo State, unrest ensued on 25th of January, 2023 at Orlu when armed members of Eastern urlty Network (ESN) clashed With security agents, this led to many killings and burning of properties.”

The lawmaker further recalled that, “few days ago, armed members of members of Eastern Security Network (ESN) invaded the camp of Fulani herdsmen Isiukwuato, chasing them away and killing dozens of cows;

“Aware that in Edo State, kidnappers often operate freely on Benin-Auchi road as well as Benin Bypass with the recent kidnapping of Chief Dennis Abuda, a US based Nigerian who was returning to the US after the yuletide on the 31″ January, 2021 and was killed afterwards after ransom has been collected from his family; 

“Concerned that security challenges have led to issuance and counter issuance of eviction notice by some ethnic entrepreneurs and groups posing as ethnic nationalists and champions; 

“Further observes that even though many perpetrators of killings, kidnappings and banditry in Nigeria are illegal immigrants, they are harboured and nourished by Nigerian informants, collaborators and arm suppliers; 

“Concerned that many Nigerians have injected ethnic sentiments into insecurity issues and this is capable of plunging the Nation into ethno-religious crises of ominous proportions; 

“Further concerned that if the present state of insecurity across the Nation is not curtailed, it will lead to food insecurity and famine as many farmers can no longer access their farmlands; 

“Observes that the Nation is entering a very dangerous phase in its governance trajectory characterized by manufactured conflicts, fueled by ethnic and religious entrepreneurs with divisive rhetorics, and amplified by irresponsible social media activists and platforms; 

“Notes that it is the responsibility of leaders at all levels to address the security challenges of Nigeria; the local actors and authorities should not absolve themselves of responsibility; 

“Further notes that President Muhammadu Buhari has nominated new Service Chiefs for Senate’s consideration and hopes the new Service Chiefs will rejig and reinvigorate the security architecture for optimal efficiency and maximum effectiveness; 

“Condemns extra judicial killings, banditry, robbery, kidnappings and other forms of violent behavior in Nigeria; and 

“Maintains that Section 43 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) is sacrosanct, as every citizen of Nigeria has the right to live and acquire properties in any parts of the country.”

Accordingly, the Senate in its bid to address the spate of insecurity in the country, adopted a resolution by Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP – Enugu North), urging President Muhammadu Buhari to review the ECOWAS protocol of free movement of peoples of West Africa to checkmate the infiltration of criminal elements into Nigeria. 

The Upper Chamber also urged the President to direct the National Security Adviser and the newly nominated Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police to device a proposal to rejig the nation’s security architecture and disposition of forces for more effective counter measures against the current security challenges, particularly in the rural areas.

It also called on State Governors to reinvigorate rural governance and convene state-wide inter-communal conclaves and dialogues to promote local conflict resolution and inter-ethnic harmony; and implement the National Livestock Transformation Plan to prevent farmer-herder conflicts and activate highly productive livestock sector in Nigeria.

While urging Security Agencies to actively deploy drones and helicopters to monitor forests and ungoverned areas in Nigeria, to identify illegal camps of armed bandits; the Upper Chamber called on the Federal Government to immediately embark on an operation to checkmate proliferation of firearms and enforce the laws against their illegal possession by arresting, disarming and punishing anyone in illegal possession of arms. 

The Upper Chamber also urged the Federal Government to resuscitate and inaugurate the National Task Force Commission to combat the proliferation of light weapons, Small Arms and Ammunition; and to adequately equip the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to police and monitor our borders using technology to check illegal immigrants, and checkmate smuggling of fire arms and light weapons.  

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, in his remarks, warned politicians against ethnicising the spate of insecurity in the country, warning that doing so was capable of inciting widespread bloodshed among the various ethnic groups in Nigeria. 

According to him, the issue of insecurity remains one that the National Assembly will continue to debate, as it affects the welfare of Nigerians. 

He, however, emphasized the need for more funding to the military to enable it tackle the spate of widespread insecurity in several states across the geo-political zones, as a result of the growing activities of Boko Haram, bandits and kidnappers.

He said, “There’s no better investment today in Nigerian by government, than making more resources available to our security agencies because security is the major thing that government can do to change the lives of the people for the better.

“So, we will continue to discuss an debate it here. This will not be the last, but the tone, the issue, the main theme should change. That maybe by the time we discuss this kind of thing here again, it should be that we have made a shift; that we have moved positively, that we are trying to only make it better.”

“We should not be frustrated, we should not be discouraged. What we are talking here is being listened to, even when it appears to us that there’s no sufficient implementation of what we are doing. 

“But the Executive listen to what we are talking about, and Nigerians also listen. And, of course, some Nigerians will not understand that we don’t have execution power, but we can continue to oversight, continue to insist and be persistent that these are real issues that our government – including us – must address,” Lawan added. 

The Senate President underscored the need for increased partnership between the Federal, States and Local Governments in the fight against insecurity. 

“I also believe that there must be better and more intense partnership between the Federal Government and the States. We cannot expect the Federal Government alone to address the insecurity in the country.

“I believe that at one point, the state governments are closer to the people, and in fact, even the local government. 

“Some of the issues can be better settled at the local level, because the Federal Government cannot go and settle two communities fighting in a state or local government. But the Local Government Chairman, or even the Councillor could come in. 

“But what the Federal Government can do  is to arm the security agencies properly and well, so that they are able to deal with any situation that needs their attention,” he said. 

Lawan further warned politicians against making unguarded comments capable of throwing the country into flames and dividing Nigerians along ethnic lines, adding that the fight against criminality remains the responsibility of security agencies to address. 

“Recently, in most parts of the country, political leaders have decided to throw caution to the wind. 

“Political leaders must be careful of what we say in a very incendiary environment, because the people listen to us as their leaders. 

“So, if we appear to be divisive, they will find justification in taking actions that all of us will regret. 

“Nobody is saying the situation is okay; the situation is not okay. If you have criminals occupying areas they shouldn’t be, of course, the security agencies must take the necessary steps to ensure they address the situation.

“But these are criminals, and that is a specialized criminal activity. All other criminals must be flushed out, otherwise, how do we have peace? 

“We have to address criminality, we have to defeat criminality, but we also have to nip in the bud that desire and excitement sometimes of people speaking as champions of their tribes and ethnic groups.

“We are simply leaders, and the people of this country expect us to keep them United, and this is a responsibility that we will account for to the people, and to God Almighty who created us and made us leaders,” the Senate President said.  (Everyday)

Traffic stopped in all directions by cattle allowed to freely graze from along the airport road, where visitors of all kinds enter Abuja, down to the middle of the Federal Capital City (as seen in photo above).
They have also been spotted in military formations in the city. Laughably, the cattle, with tenders in tow, have been seen climbing and using pedestrian bridges in Abuja.
The territory’s administrators bark feebly, once in a while, and then generally turn a blind, seeing no evil in the worsening aberration. The question remains, is there a minister in Abuja?
Do you have more thought-provoking photos like this? (Everyday)

By our Special Correspondent

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, granted an order defreezing accounts of 20 #EndSARS protesters.

The court ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to immediately defreeze bank accounts linked to promoters of the protest, which rocked the country for about 12 days in October 2020.

The court set aside its order freezing the accounts which were frozen on November 4, 2020 at the instance of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), following withdrawal of the suit by the apex bank.

Counsel to the CBN, Aondoakaa (SAN) at the resumption of proceedings, Wednesday, informed the court that he had discussed with the counsel to the defendants to discard all the processes filed in the matter since the freezing order had expired on February 4, 2021.

Aondoakaa said he had the instruction from his client, the CNB Governor, Godwin Emefiele not to ask for extension of the order in the spirit of reconciliation.

Consequently, he withdrew the application and added that, “We are not asking for extention of the order to allow everybody to go home peacefully.”

Counsel to the defendants, Femi Falana (SAN), corroborated the submissions of the counsel to the CBN, adding that since the ex-parte order of the court had expired, the motion to have the order quashed had been overtaken by events.

“We therefore pray the court to allow us withdraw the same motion and that will also affect all the motions filed in this matter,” Falana told the court.

The order, which was for 180 days, was to enable the CBN investigate the defendants of alleged crime.

Although the order was supposed to be renewed upon an application by the CBN, however following the decision of counsel to the CBN to withdraw his earlier application for extension of time, the judge subsequently struck it out.

“All processes filed deemed to have been withdrawn in the spirit of reconciliation, the suit is hereby struck out.

“The order of Nov.4, 2020 freezing the accounts of the respondents is hereby set aside.

“An order is made defreezing the accounts of the respondents immediately,” the judge said.

The apex bank had filed an ex-parte application on October 20, 2020, asking the court to freeze the accounts of the respondents, which was granted by Justice Ahmed Mohammed.

The court order was addressed to the head offices of Access Bank, Fidelity Bank, First Bank Nigeria, Guaranty Trust Bank, United Bank of Africa, and Zenith Bank.

The court directed the banks to freeze all transactions on the accounts on the list annexed to the CBN’s application as exhibit for a period of 180 days pending the outcome of investigation and inquiry by the bank.

The 180 days elapsed last week.

Some of the bank accounts holders included; Bolatito Oduala, Chima Ibebunjoh, Mary Kpengwa, Saadat Bibi, Bassey Israel, Wisdom Obi, Nicholas Osazele, Ebere Idibie, Akintomide Yusuf, Uhuo Promise and Mosopefoluwa Odeseye.

Others were Adegoke Yusuf, Umoh Ekanem, Babatunde Segun, Mulu Teghenan, Mary Oshifowora, Winifred Jacob, Victor Solomon, Idunu Williams, and Gatefield Nigeria Limited. (Theconclaveng)

Members of the community witnessed the October 20 shooting of peaceful protesters by Nigerian soldiers and had provided details of the incident

ByNicholas IbekweFebruary 10, 2021 2 min readADVERTISEMENT

Officials of the Lagos State Environmental Tasks Force accompanied by policemen and persons suspected to be thugs have burnt down a community whose residents witnessed the October 20 shooting of peaceful #ENDSARS protesters by soldiers at the Lekki Tollgate.

PREMIUM TIMES sourced some of its witnesses from the community for its groundbreaking investigation into the shooting, which revealed that soldiers and policemen shot directly at the protesters, killing some and injuring several others.

After originally claiming that soldiers deployed to the tollgate to disperse protesters were given only blank rounds and that “they merely shot in the air”, the army later admitted that the troops carried both live rounds and blank bullets.

Ahmed Taiwo, a major general, who represented the army at a judicial panel investigating the #ENDSARS shooting, argued that the soldiers carried live rounds “because hoodlums had infiltrated the protest”.

Residents of the community also accused the divisional police officer of the nearby Maroko Police Division, Raji Ganiyu, of shooting and killing some of the protesters. Mr Ganiyu denied the allegation.

A 24-hours notice

Residents of the community who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES said policemen and some officials of the environmental task force, arrived at the community on Tuesday and told them to vacate their residences within 24 hours.

The residents, who asked not to be named for fear of being arrested by the authorities, said they were still trying to gather their belongings on Wednesday morning when a contingent of taskforce officials, mobile policemen and “persons that looked like thugs” arrived and immediately started pulling down structures in the community.

They said while a bulldozer was pulling down the mainly makeshift houses, the thugs were setting fire to the fallen structures. Policemen chased residents who were still trying to salvage their belongings far into the banks of the lagoon, injuring some of them, witnesses said.

ALSO READ: #ENDSARS Lekki Shooting: Amnesty International accuses Nigerian govt of denials, cover-up

“People were scared and thought they were going to be arrested and ran towards the lagoon where they sustain deep cuts in their legs from broken bottles that were discarded there,” one resident said.

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‘Police mock residents over #ENDSARS’

Another resident said he and other residents were stopped and searched by the policemen who claimed they were looking for weapons hidden in the shanties.

He also said the policemen mocked residents of the shanty for participating in the protest and “for speaking to the media” after the indiscriminate shooting of peaceful protesters at the tollgate.

“They were laughing at us as we struggled to gather our properties. The policemen said: ‘Sheybi na una be #ENDSARS protesters abi?’”

No comments

When reached for comment, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Environmental Taskforce, Taofeek Adebayo, asked for 30 minutes to find out why the community was demolished and burnt.

When he was reached later, he directed this reporter to the police for comment.

Muyiwa Adejobi, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, said he was not aware of the demolition but promised to find out. He is yet to revert on this. (Premiumtimesng)

A delegation of Eastern leaders, led by the President of the apex socio-cultural Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide organisation, Ambassador George Obiozor as well as several frontline political has commended Julius Berger for the good works it’s doing so far at the second Niger Bridge.

The high-powered delegation which visited the site of the construction includes the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, former governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, and the Minister of State, Mines, Dr. Uche Ogah.

Other members of the delegation were Emeka Nwajiuba, Minister of State Education, former President of Ohanaeze, Chief Enwo Igariwey; Governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress APC, Senator Andy Uba, and Dr. Chidozie Nwankwo

The eastern leaders after a comprehensive tour and satisfactory inspection of the ongoing works were united in praise and appreciation for the contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, for the emerging indomitable engineering strength and excellent quality of the bridge and its developing ancillary road works.

Manifestly impressed with the superb quality of the engineering works which the contractor Julius Berger is implementing on the project, Prof Obiozor, the leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in his speech said the people of the Southeast would continue to be grateful to the present federal government for hearkening to the needs of Ndigbo.

In the words of the cerebral and highly respected Ambassador Professor George Obiozor: “We will remain grateful to the President Buhari administration and to the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for the good work being done”.

In his own address to members of Ohanaeze and southeast leaders present at the event, the Imo State Governor, Chief Hope Uzodinma said the Ndigbo had been begging for the second Niger Bridge since 35 years ago. While expressing the region’s leaders thanks to President Buhari, Governor Uzodinma said: “Today is a special day in Igbo land by allowing us to take ownership of the Second Niger Bridge which our people have struggled for since 35 years ago…. What was looking like a dream is now a reality. Every country must have its hero, and I make bold to say that President Muhammadu Buhari is the hero of Ndigbo. God will keep us alive when this project will be commissioned by the APC administration of President Buhari in 2022.”

The Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, toed the same line and said: “…the accomplishment of the Second Niger Bridge evidences a promise made and kept by the President Buhari government”. Informing the august visitors of the immediate benefits of the ongoing project, Engr. Adeyemo Ajani, the Federal Controller of Works in Anambra State, who represented the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, said: “Over 30,000 persons had been employed at the Second Niger Bridge, with no fewer than 1,600 persons being locals”. Ajani added that: “Already, the work had reached 53.82 per cent as of January 2021, and the completion date still remains 2022”.

There was a resounding synergy of opinion in appreciation and gratitude to President Buhari as well as certainly deserved commendation for the hardworking and visibly productive contractors, Julius Berger, by the visitors.

The National Vice President Ohanaeze, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene as well as the Imo State House of Assembly Speaker also attended the event in Onitsha. (Theleadnewsreport)

On 5 February 2021, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) issued a Reminder to banks, non-bank financial institutions and financial institutions that dealing in cryptocurrencies or facilitating cryptocurrency exchanges was prohibited, ordering an immediate stop to such transactions.

The apex bank further directed the immediate closure of bank accounts belonging to persons and/or entities transacting in cryptocurrency or operating cryptocurrency exchanges.

In response to heated and adverse market reactions, the CBN published a press release dated 7 February 2021 to justify the rationale behind its earlier regulatory directive on cryptocurrencies, reiterating that cryptocurrencies are not legal tender in Nigeria.

In our FinTech Update, we have set out what we consider to be recurring questions and have provided brief responses based on our understanding of the Letter and the regulatory landscape in Nigeria. (Templars)

Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, is reported to have been attacked again by people suspected to be herdsmen in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

In a video making the rounds, the herdsmen were said to have attacked Soyinka’s residence in the night of Tuesday.

They are however said to have been apprehended by the police.

In the video shot by a man riding on a motorcycle, policemen were seen around the entrance of the area leading to Wole Soyinka’s residence in the estate at Kenta-Idiaba area of Abeokuta, Ogun State

The video also showed a police station where the said herdsmen were said to have been detained.

When contacted on phone for confirmation, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi, said he had just been informed about the development.

He said he was trying to gather information about that and that he would make it available as soon as possible.

His words: “I’m just being informed. I’m trying to gather information about that and I will let you know as soon as possible.”

It is not the first time the residence of Professor Soyinka would be attacked.

One popular case is the one reported by Soyinka in April 2017.

Soyinka at the time described the attack as daring. (Thecrestng)