Benue killing field and the Nigeria's humans slaughter slabs

 

By Bolaji O. Akinyemi

Political distraction not withstanding, it is important that we keep the record of how bad insecurity became under APC ticket of Muslim/Christian pair of Buhari/Osinbajo.

Our eyes as Christians must in hope look for a more secured future. Making a hasty congratulatory message given the dispute surrounding our presidential electoral decision isn't a smart way to go. What will happen, in case the table turns? For now I think the declared winner should be proving himself to be presidential. A condolence message to Benue State and Nigerians in general should be followed by a visit to Benue and engagement with President Muhammadu Buhari to enable him hit the ground running peradventure the judiciary confirms his election. 

In the first 100 days of this year (2023) 1,041 people have been slaughtered like goats, 5,068 citizens in all massacred for being Christians in Nigeria in 2022.  This is the record the Muslim/Muslim ticket of Tinubu/Shettima is expected to better, so help them Allah!

Benue was worst hit in the first 100 days of 2023, contributing 380 Christian deaths out of the 1041 as military air-bombed over 100 in Niger State

…since the 2009 Islamic terrorists uprising 52,250 Christians and 34,000 moderate Muslims have been butchered or hacked to death. The docility of Mr President towards security decisions has given tactical encouragement to radical Islamism since 2015 leading to 30,250 Christians killed; 18,000 churches and 2,200 christian mission schools attacked.

International Report Of Nigeria's Intersociety, issued on Easter Monday, 10th April 2023 is worth our perusal and must inform new generation of christian leaders engagement with their political counterparts; nothing should be as important as keeping our faith in existence in the Nigeria of today. Part of the report read thus; "since 2009, 14m Christians have been uprooted and forced to flee their homes and 800 Christian communities attacked

…Christians of Benue, Kaduna, Plateau, Taraba, Niger, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and Kebbi were worst affected by the attacks

…Christian's in Eastern Nigeria worst hit in Nigerian military killings and property destructions on ethno-religious grounds

…hypocrisies of Nigerian Christian leaders may turn church buildings into Turkish church monuments in 50 years’ time

…progenitors of Christian converts were more protected during the Oracular Period under Pre-Christian Papacy than present.

 

International Report Of Nigeria’s Intersociety

Easter Monday, 10th April 2023, Onitsha-Nigeria

 

Dedicated To Chinwe Patrick, Abande Njoor, And 1,039 Others Killed By Jihadists In 100 Days

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) is emotionally dedicating this special investigative Report to 1,041 slain and disappeared victims of the Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and other Jihadists’ genocidal attacks carried out across Nigeria in the first 100 days of 2023. The underlisted slain and wounded victims also represent 5,068 others slain or caused to disappear without traces to date by Nigerian Jihadists in 2022. The 36 names listed below were among over 50 defenseless Christians slaughtered by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen on 13th March 2023 in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State while 16 underlisted others including three Igbo female Christian sisters (Favor Patrick, Peace Patrick, and Chinwe Patrick), represent 17 defenseless Christians hacked to death in Ungwan Wakili, Zagon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State on 10th March 2023. The six wounded others included in the list are mentioned to remember thousands of others heartlessly wounded or maimed in attacks carried out in Jan to Dec 2022 and 1st Jan to 10th April 2023. It is therefore in their names, spirits, and blood that this special investigative Report on “Martyred Christians in Nigeria” is dedicated. Their names are: “Abande Njoor, Iornum Sonter, Abraham Terna, Aker Shagba Achuna, Kendon Tyover, Ornguga Tyodoo, Ajoh Iorhemba, Orshio Msughter, Abe Nyam, Aker Ushahembas, Ayagwa Lunen, Apav Terhile, Jirbee Amaku, Aza Bem, Ahil Wende, Iormumbes Ashi Shimave, Terhemba Madom, Andyar Aemberga, Kundu Igba, Tarkper Adomko, Jirbee Amaku, Terlumun Swen, Terna Udam, Atighir Aondokula, Terfa Mbagbar, Terver Mbagbar, Terzungwe Chagh, Tyoazua Aondona, Kogh Aondowase, Akura Utoo, Iortsor Shaapera, Awuhe Terhemen, Lase Mbanengen, Kuku Terngu, Kuku Mzehemen and Hangeuir Iorwuese Kuta”- 36 of over 50 Christian victims of Kwande-Benue Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen massacre of 13th March 2023. “Daniel Soji, Emmanuel Ibrahim, Jummai Gajere, Aaron Thomas, Rahila Sunday Ishaya, Blessing Zakaria, Felicia Zakaria, Gloria Zakaria, Gaji Tonak, Elizabeth Tokan, Peace Token, Favor Patrick, Peace Patrick and Chinwe Patrick (three Igbo female Christians); Ruth John and Emmanuel John”.-16 of 17 slaughtered victims of Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen attack in Ungwan Wakili in Zagon Kataf Local Council Area of Kaduna on 10th March 2023. “Precious Timothy, Sunday Ishaya, Jessica Zakaria, Chison Ikechukwu (Igbo), Patience Matthew and Jessica Tokan”.-Six Christians surviving Christians wounded in the attack.

 

We Have Monitored And Exposed Persecution Of Christians And Minority Others Since 2010

Intersociety is globally known and respected for strongly advocating for end of religious radicalism through the propagation of radical Islamism and fanatical Christianity in Nigeria since 2010 and has issued not less than twenty special reports or publications associated with them. Intersociety has also earned a name and international respectability as Nigeria’s leading anti-Christian persecution and radical Islamism watchdog and was admitted as a member of the United States-base International Alliance against Genocide since 2020. We have been closely monitoring patterns and trends of anti-Christian persecution since 2010 and killing of minority Muslims and moderate others by nonstate actor armed Islamists and Muslim-dominated Nigerian security forces from 2015 to 2023. The patterns and trends of the state actors of religious butcheries under our close watch include the introduction of state radical Islamism policy by the outgoing Government of Nigeria in 2016, the introduction of Nigerian security forces dimension to anti-Christian butcheries across the country such as pro Islamic internal security operations in Eastern Nigeria since 2016 involving ethnic and religious profiling associated with atrocious military operations in the East and the military protected invasion of Eastern Christian forests, bushes and farmlands by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen since 2016. We have monitored and tracked massacre of Christians and burning down or destruction of their sacred places of worship, religious symbols, Christian schools and residential houses and farmlands across the country. These are done or carried out using research, investigation, documentation and publications. We also generate statistics from local and international media, religious, community, security, research, intergovernmental, nongovernmental, international? parliamentary organizations or diplomatic institutions.

5,068 Christians Hacked To Death In 2022 And Hundreds Disappeared Without Traces

In January 2022, Intersociety updated its special report, disclosing that ‘5,191 defenseless Christians were hacked to death in 2021 and 3,800 others abducted by Nigeria’s Islamic Jihadists’. Intersociety had also in its Special Report of 14th July 2022 stated that from January to June 2022, ‘no fewer than 2,543 Christians were hacked to death and 1,401 others abducted; out of which, 10% or 140 captured Christians were not capable of returning alive’. We had further disclosed in the report that ‘out of the 2,543 total Christian deaths, Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen accounted for 1,913’. In our report of 7th Nov 2022, ‘4020 defenseless Christians were slaughtered in Nigeria in Jan to Oct 2022 by the country’s Islamic terror Jihadists’ and Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and their regionally assembled allied Islamic terror groups accounted for 2,650 of the 4020 Christian deaths while ISWAP, Boko Haram and Ansaru Jihadists accounted for 450 and the Fulani (Zamfara) Bandits 370 deaths. The Nigerian security forces particularly the Nigerian Army accounted for no fewer than 550 deaths linked to killings on the ground of ethnic and religious profiling. In this report, it is found that the 2022 ended disastrously for Nigerian Christians with 5,068 deaths, from 4,020 in January to Oct 2022; an increase of 1,048 Christian deaths. Out of this, Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and Fulani Bandits (Zamfara Bandits) accounted for 528 Christian deaths, Boko Haram, ISWAP and others 200 deaths, Nigerian Military 100 deaths and “dark figures of crime” 200 Christian deaths. The ‘dark figures of crime’ of 200 Christian deaths’ include the abducted Christians that are most unlikely to return to their families alive. The 2022 special report of ours also identified Benue State as the worst hit with at least 560 Christian deaths, followed by Kaduna 520 deaths, Taraba 479 deaths, Niger 354 deaths; Plateau 348, Borno 340 and South-East 350 deaths (mostly occurred in Enugu). Bauchi State also recorded not less than 49 Christian deaths between Nov and Dec 2022.

 

Why We Are Adopting WWL Report Of 4,756 Abducted Nigerian Christians In 2022

Intersociety had noted in its Nov 7, 2022 report that ‘not less than 2,315 defenseless Christians were abducted from Jan to Oct 2022 and that ‘in 2021, over 3,800 were abducted’. Also noted was the fact that ‘not less than 1401 Christians were abducted between January and June 2022 and 915 between July and Oct 2022; totaling 2,315’; out of which 10% or 231 were incapable of returning alive to their families as they are likely to have been killed in captivity for refusing to convert to Islam or pay huge ransoms demanded. Not less than 700 Christians were abducted between Nov and Dec 2022; bringing the total to over 3000 abducted from Jan to Dec 2022. The abduction of Christians in 2022 ascribed the worst-hit States to include Kaduna, Niger, Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi, Imo, Enugu, etc. It must further be noted that the Nigerian military and the Nigeria Police crack squads also engaged in unchecked abduction and the permanent disappearance of dozens, if not hundreds of unarmed Eastern Nigerian citizens in furtherance of their ethnic and religious profiling “internal security operations” in Eastern Nigeria. Intersociety is adopting the statistical position of the Open Doors’ 2023 World Watch List (WWL) on abducted Christians in Nigeria which stated that “4,726 Christians were abducted in 2022, sexually assaulted or harassed and forcibly married or physically or mentally abused”. The respected international body also added that “Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith in 2022, with 5,014”. The reason for the adoption of the 2023 WWL figure is because it is possible that 3000 Christian abductions in 2022 recorded in our latest special report is under-reported with a shortfall of over 1,700.

 

1,041 Christians Slaughtered In The First 100 Days Of 2023, 707 Abducted

It has been investigated and found that no fewer than 1,041 defenseless Christians were hacked to death by Nigeria’s Jihadists in the first 100 days of 2023 or 1st Jan to 10th April 2023. The unveiled statistics showed that not less than 380 Christians were slaughtered by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen in 100 days in Benue, 102 in Kaduna, 150 in Christian parts of Niger State (Paikoro, Munya, Shiroro, Rafi, etc), 100 deaths in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa by BH/ISWAP); 32 Christian deaths in Plateau, 20 in Ondo, 11 in Edo, 10 in Delta as well as Kebbi 10 deaths, Bauchi 9 deaths, Taraba 14 deaths, Katsina 10 deaths, Enugu 6 deaths; and 60 deaths arising from the military killings in the East since Jan 2023 and others 50 deaths. Also, no fewer than 707 Christians were abducted within the same period; out of which Niger State recorded more than 200 abductions including 14th March 2023 abduction of over 100 Christians in Adunu (Paikoro). No fewer than 101 anti Christian abductions were recorded in Kaduna while other affected States are Katsina, Taraba, Edo, Ogun, Nassarawa, Kwara, Kogi, Borno, Yobe and Adawama (about 60 abductions by BH/ISWAP), Bauchi, Enugu, Imo, Kebbi, Gombe, Bayelsa and Cross River.

 

 

380 Christians Hacked To Death In Benue In 100 Days, 940 Since Jan 2022 And 2m IDPs Generated

Slaying of Christians by Nigerian Central Government protected Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen in Benue State has risen to an apogee. This is to the extent that in 2022, not less than 560 were slaughtered and in the first 100 days of 2023 or 1st Jan to 10th April 2023, the State has lost additional 380 defenseless Christians. The Federal Government protected Jihadist attacks have also generated not less than 2m internally displaced persons (IDPs). Apart from brazen conspiracy and lackadaisical attitudes of the outgoing Federal Government of Nigeria and federal security agencies, the outgoing Government of Benue State has also failed woefully to protect Christian citizens of the State. The State Government other than occasionally crying out, has failed woefully to put proactive measures in place to checkmate and tame such attacks; to the extent that the Jihadists now invade any Christian Community of their target at will and slaughter its natives and takeover their lands and properties at will. Available statistics have shown that apart from losing 560 Christian lives in 2022, not less than 12 Christians were slaughtered on 28th Jan in Kwande LGA, 9 in Guma LGA on 30th Jan, six in Apa LGA on 4th Feb, six in Gwer West LGA on Feb 9, eight in Gboko LGA on Feb 12, thirteen in Guma LGA on Feb 26, seven in Gwer West on Feb 28, 36 in Kwande on March 3, eight in Gwer West on March 7, over ten in Kwande LGA on March 8, seven in Guma LGA on March 8, three in Obi on March 13, over fifty in Kwande on 13th March, five in Agatu LGA and Oturkpo LGA on March 23, five in Guma LGA on March 26, seven in Apa LGA (six) and Logo LGA (one killed) on 1st April, 52 in Umogidi-Oturkpo LGA on 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th April, 47 in Ikobi-Apa LGA on 4th April and 36 in Mgbam, Nyiev ward of Guma LGA on 7th April 2023.

 

52, 250 Christians And 34,000 Moderate Muslims Or 85,250 Faith Believers Killed Since July 2009

Nigeria is most likely to have recorded ‘direct deaths’ of over 85,250 defenseless Nigerian citizens in the hands of Islamic Jihadists and their ‘esprit de jihad’ in the country’s security forces since 2009. As at July 2021, according to our special report of 4th August 2021, no fewer than 43,000 Christians were hacked to death involving: BH, ISWAP and Ansaru 18,500 Christian deaths, Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen 18,500-19,000 Christian deaths and others 6000 Christian deaths. The number of moderate Muslims killed for nonviolently professing Islam in Nigeria as at July 2021 was estimated at 29,000. Apart from about 1,300 Shiite Muslims shot and killed and thousands of Muslim women and children unlawfully killed by Nigerian Military in the North-East, the rest of Muslim victims were killed by Muslim jihadists. This is with the exception of Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen who specifically target and massacre Christians and wantonly destroy or burn down their sacred places of worship and learning; homes and farmlands. Going by our findings warranting this special investigative report, the number of Christians killed in the country for nonviolently professing Christianity between July 2009 and April 2023 has risen to 52,250 while that of nonviolent Muslims increased from 29,000 to 34,000; or a total of 85,250 religious deaths in all. The 52,250 Christian deaths in Nigeria in fourteen years recorded addition of 9, 250 Christian deaths from the July 2021 figure of 43,000; out of which, Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen accounted for 6000 Christian deaths and security forces, Jihadist Fulani Bandits, BH, ISWAP, Ansaru and others 3,250.

 

Radical Islamism Under Buhari Killed 30,250 Christians In Eight Years (2015-2023)

By our previous reports, BH, ISWAP and Ansaru killed not less than 11,500 Christians from July 2009 to May 2015 and Jihadist Herdsmen accounted for the death of 6,500 Christians within the same period. However, between June 2015 and April 2023, deadliest Christian deaths of 18,250 were recorded in the hands of Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen protected by the outgoing Buhari Government of Nigeria; involving: 650 Christian deaths in June-Dec 2015; 1,700 in 2016; 2000 in 2017; 2,400 in 2018, 1200 in 2019, 2500, out of 3,530 recorded Christian deaths in 2020, 3,700 of 5,191 in 2021 and 3,500, out of 5,068 recorded Christian deaths in 2022 and 600 of the 1,041 Christian deaths recorded in first 100 days of 2023. It is 30,250 Christian deaths when 8000 killed by BH, ISWAP, Ansaru and Jihadist Bandits as well as 4000 killed by the Nigerian Military including 2,500 in the East since August 2015 and others in Christian communities in Northern Nigeria since 2015 are added.

 

14 Million Christians Uprooted And Five Million Forced Into IDPs And Refugee Camps

No fewer than 50 million Christians majority of them in Northern Nigeria are facing serious threats from Jihadists for being professed Christians; out of which not less than fourteen million have been uprooted and eight million forced to flee their homes to avoid being hacked to death. About five million have been displaced and forced into IDP camps within Nigeria and refugee camps at regional and sub-regional borders. There are presently over two million IDPs in Benue State alone and close to 2m others are in the States of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Taraba; with the remainder scattered in Niger, Kebbi, Plateau, Southern Kaduna, Nassarawa, Kogi, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia and so on. Thousands have also become ‘urban refugees’ in foreign lands.

18,000 Churches And 2200 Christian Schools Attacked In Fourteen Years Or Since July 2009

By the findings of Intersociety, as much as 18,000 churches and 2200 Christian schools and other Christian learning centers are most likely to have been attacked by the Jihadists or destroyed in part or in whole including being razed or burned down. As at 2021, the number of churches attacked and destroyed or burned down rose to over 300 and from July 2009 to July 2021, about 17,500 churches and 2000 Christian schools were brutally affected. The number of Mosques and Islamic learning centers attacked by the Jihadists is minutely disproportionate when compared to number of churches or Christian schools attacked. While attacks on symbols of worship by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and Jihadist Fulani Bandits are 100 percent targeted at churches and Christian schools, those perpetrated by BH, ISWAP, Ansaru and others are mostly directed at churches and Christian schools with insignificant percent directed at Mosques and Islamic learning centers. The attacks on churches especially those belonging to the African Instituted Churches branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) by the Nigerian Military and the Police crack squads in Eastern Nigeria have also increased to over 300 since Jan 2021. The security forces have recklessly applied false labeling, stigmatization and false intelligence to target and unlawfully attack traditional religious sanctuaries leading to attack and destruction of not less than 500 of them in Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Delta, Rivers, Cross River, Kogi, Benue, etc. Such attacks are deceitfully coded or coated with “counter Biafra terror operations” but the original motives are driving towards castrating rural Igbo/Christians’ self defensive mechanisms and paving way for Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen invasion and massacre. The Nigerian Military had also egregiously and grisly targeted and rained air-bombs and aerial attacks on Christian village-killing several hundreds of rural Christians. The affected Christian communities include Kala-Balge Christian IDP camp in Borno (Jan 2017), Numan Christian villages (Dec 2017), Southern Kaduna (2018, 2019 and 2020) and Christian parts of Munya, Shiroro, Wushishi, etc and etc in Niger State (2022/Jan and March 2023). According to Ms Anna Mulder of the US based Open Doors, “between July 2009 and Dec 2014, a period of five years, BH killed 11,000-11,500 Christians in Northern Nigeria, forced 1.6m to flee their homes to avoid being hacked to death by the Jihadists who also burnt or destroyed 13,500 churches and 1,500 Christian schools”.

 

800 Christian Communities Uprooted By Jihadists Since 2009

No fewer than 800 Christian communities have uprooted and seized or taken over; with many of them renamed and Islamized by the Jihadists since 2009. BH, ISWAP and Ansaru and Jihadist Fulani Bandits have forced Christians out of their ancestral homes and communities in droves in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba, Kastina, Sokoto and Niger States while Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen have sacked and are still sacking hundreds of Christian communities in Plateau, Southern Kaduna, Benue, Taraba and Adamawa States. Over 150 communities have been affected in Southern Kaduna alone and in Benue, Plateau and Taraba States, Christian homes, churches and settlements have been destroyed and replaced with Mosques and Muslim settlements. Christian communities of Borno, Taraba, Niger, Adamawa, Plateau, Southern Kaduna and Benue States are the worst hit. Indigenous Christians used to be dominant in Southern Borno, Southern Kebbi, Northern Adamawa, and parts of Gombe, 40% in the entire Kaduna and over 80% in Southern part of the State and have 80% population in Plateau, over 90% in Benue and 60% in Taraba. They are also found in their large numbers in at least five Local Government Areas of Niger State including Shiroro, Munya, Paikoro, Rafi, etc. In Enugu State, not less than 22 communities are facing severe threats in the hands of the Nigerian Army protected Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and in Anambra’s Orumba North, Orumba South, the story is not different.

 

Progenitors Of Nigerian Christian Converts More Protected In Oracular Era than Present

It is the observation of Intersociety that the Nigerian Christian leaders have abandoned their spiritual calling as defenders of faith and protectors of their faith members and deeply engrossed in the pursuit of crude material wealth. They also pay more attention in building ‘palatial paradises on earth’ and little attention at protecting their churches and members of their laity; thereby exposing them to grave vulnerabilities to attacks by radical Islamists clandestinely funded by Muslim hardliners and hypocritical public office holders who pretend to be “Christians”. Most of them are so engrossed in the pursuit of material wealth that they have become ‘armed robbers’ using Holy Bible as their ‘AK-47s”. It is therefore no longer contestable that forefathers and foremothers of the Nigerian Christian converts were more protected and divinely guarded during the Oracular Period under Pre-Christian Papacy than they are under the present Christian leaders. The dry material quest and lackadaisical attitudes of the Nigerian Christian leaders are also forcing Christian converts to leave the Church in droves to embrace other non-Christian denominations. It must be warned that if extreme care is not taken to rescue the Christendom and the Church, the churches or church buildings in Nigeria will become the present day Turkish church monuments in fifty years time or less than that".

While leaders of our faith particularly in southern Nigeria are on the veranda of our faith's sanctuary waving at politicians, their foot soldiers are cracking our walls and setting the building on fire. Owo in Ondo State witnessed the smoke of their kindled fire against our faith on Sunday the 5th of June 2022 during a mass at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church. If nothing is done, is only a matter of time before the fire get to you and me.

OPINION: Owolabi - Murdered in Nigeria, buried in America

By

abiodun KOMOLAFE

On Nov 6, 2022

One of the greatest shortcomings of Nigeria’s existence is that she has never evolved into a nation. 

The amalgamation of territories, imposition of the colonial masters, the unfortunate intervention of the military and its attendant maladministration of the civil-society, and the corruption-infested politicians have not actually given the country that opportunity to realize her potentials. To be honest, it is because Nigeria’s handlers have different motives and a diametrically opposed understanding of the concept of development that her journey to nationhood has remained an illusion.

As we know, there is no generally acceptable interpretive understanding of the concept of development. For instance, part of the organic components of a nation is the understanding of the meaning of the concepts of citizenship. It is on this premise that a nation thrives. In other words, since no nation flourishes without its citizens, any nation that wants to thrive must have its organic components in place and the majority number of the population must share, intimately, the rudimentary knowledge and understanding of what it means to be a citizen, as agreed to, and enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria. Otherwise, it will just be as if one is running against the wind.

On July 28, 2022, Olugbenga David Owolabi was kidnapped alongside his staff, Rachael Opadele in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, by yet-to-be-identified kidnappers. Owolabi was a Nigerian-American who had come to Nigeria, to invest in the hospitality business in Ogbomoso, his hometown. On August 3, 2022, they were senselessly killed by their abductors, despite the payment of N5m ransom. Owolabi was buried on October 1, 2022 which, as fate would have it, coincided with a very important day in Nigeria’s chequered history. Opadele had earlier been buried in Ogbomoso, on August 5, 2022. Like the others, Nigeria has again succeeded in making the sun of three of her promising citizens set at dawn.

Olugbenga Owolabi is gone; and there’s nothing anybody can do to bring him back to life. But, if he had known that the country he called his own didn’t understand what it meant to be a citizen, he wouldn’t have come to Nigeria at all, not to speak of investing here. Let’s face it: the short time he spent in the USA – and he became a citizen – is now the only gift God has given him. From the time mappings for his life, all things being equal, if he had not come here, those unredeemed killers and haters who have turned Nigeria into a pool of blood would not have slaughtered him like a ram. Of course, they’d not have killed him without the American government deploying its entire arsenal for battle against his killers.

Typical of the Nigerianness in us, nobody is talking about who killed Owolabi; and neither Oyo State nor his Local Government has uttered a word; forget about admitting that the State has lost an illustrious son. Rather, it’s been business as usual, as if nothing happened. No justice! Not even a show of pretence for it! Sad that, even up to the point of the corpse being flown abroad, no Nigerian officials were seen to have shown any semblance of sympathy, either by words or actions. Well, that’s to show how horrible our system is. In our clime, the worth of a citizen has gone into a nosedive! Why then should one die for the country?

Owolabi’s unfortunate death is not the first; certainly, it won’t be the last either! Since his murder, several other unresolved murders have taken place. Yet, the heavens have not fallen! And who cares? After all, those who died did not belong to the families of members of the ruling class. So, life goes on! But, again, this is Nigeria! America takes care of her living and the dead! Nigeria does neither! Here in Nigeria, life no longer has any meaning! Ours is a generation of wasters, in a very dangerous country! Against the backdrop of our illimitable woes, the leaders _“daily call on the citizens to make sacrifices while they (the leaders) wallow in privilege.”_ Tragically, the leadership doesn’t even understand why and how the country is being led to a moral free fall in all areas.

The general assumption is that Nigeria is a sovereign state, but the current state of heightened insecurity only suggests that she may have already been stripped of her sovereign attributes. Otherwise, how do we describe events in the land which have only shown that our leaders are in a wide sea of uncertainty with regard to how a nation evolves; the inalienable rights of a citizen, and why he or she must be accorded such? Remember the 2013 Boston Marathon domestic terror attack and how the American government rose to the occasion! Remember how US Special Forces rescued Philip Walton, an American citizen held hostage in Nigeria in 2020! Here in Nigeria, the late Hamani Tidjani was only unlucky to have positioned his wind vane wrongly. And he paid dearly for it! On Owolabi’s gruesome murder, even the texture and essence of the _Nigerians in Diaspora Commission_ (NIDCOM) seem to have been seduced into compliance with sickening silence.

Had Oyo State Government been truly there for those it was elected to serve, somebody in government would have noticed the state administrative protocol gap in Owolabi’s unfortunate murder, and would have issued a statement on behalf of the government. That his remains were taken back from the land of his birth for internment in a foreign, adopted country was a big shame of unimaginable proportions. But again, how did we get here? For God’s sake, how does one belong to a country where human lives are not valued; where _“yesterday’s dreams have become the worst nightmares”;_ where _“very sharp pieces of broken promises”_ have become the new ideology? And, if we may ask: what is the functional relevance of Nigeria’s sovereignty? Isn’t that why a Leah Sharibu could still be languishing in the terrorists’ den even as the government continues to behave as if it never happened?

The social thoughts of a society, I was made to understand, undergird the thought flows of its citizens. For example, when President John F. Kennedy famously urged Americans “ask not what” their _“country can do for”_ them but _“what”_ they _“can do for”_ their _“country’,_ that became the mantra in the USA that even a kid in that _‘God’s own country’_ was always ready to die for the American flag. On the converse, have we asked why Nigeria now looks _“like a boiling pot that everyone wants to escape from”_ and why Nigerians are with misdirected aggression prepared to _‘japa’_ into certain deaths in Ukraine?

With happenings like this in Nigeria, national consciousness and the concept of patriotism are on the verge of losing both their meanings and relevance; of course, with huge national security implications! Nigeria may also lose investors and her capacity for economic growth will be hindered. To put it bluntly, what it means is that, once the central value of citizenship is lost, the entire country is lost. The more reason the handlers of Nigeria must do a new orientation programme that will teach Nigerians to be patriotic. In doing this, the government should lead by example. Otherwise, the scheme will fall like a pack of cards.

May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, rest the souls of the faithful departed and grant us peace in Nigeria!

 _*KOMOLAFE wrote in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State ([email protected]; 07087941459 - SMS only)_

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You can not dissociate Bola Hamed Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar from Buhari led APC failures

 WHEN WOULD SOME NIGERIANS GROW AND MATURE SOCIOPOLITICALLY?

Late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo once said, "If you are emotionally attached to your tribe, religion, or political leaning to the point that truth and justice become secondary considerations, your education and exposure are useless. If you cannot reason beyond petty sentiments, you are a liability."

Yesterday I watched a random survey in Ibadan, Oyo State, conducted by Marabox TV who, of the three major Presidential Candidates, Atiku Abubakar, Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi (in alphabetical order of their first names), the electorates may like votes for in February 2023. The surveyor did an excellent job asking each respondent if they have a PVC, which they all answered in the affirmative. By my count, 32 people were interviewed. 

Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi tied at 13 each, while Atiku was 3 and 3 undecideds.

Pause: If this is anything to go by, Southwest MIGHT be a straight fight between Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi. 

However, this is not my concern. What worries me is the reason the 13 responders of Bola Tinubu gave for wanting to vote Bola Ahmed Tinubu. None of them could provide a sound basis for voting Tinubu EXCEPT Yorubalokan/Emilokan. On further prompting, some said they didn't want to be seen as betrayers of their race. One stood out for me.

QUESTION: In the coming Presidential elections next year, which of the 3 candidates will you be voting for?

ANSWER: (with a broad smile on his face) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban

QUESTION: Why do you want to vote for Tinubu?

ANSWER: Because APC has disappointed us. This is not the change they promise us. We are suffering. (The tales of woes went on for a while.)

QUESTION: Do you know that Tinubu is a member of the APC, in fact, he is the leader of the APC party?

ANSWER: Yes, I know

QUESTION: And you still want to vote for him

ANSWER: Yes, because Tinubu is not Buhari, even though they are of the same party. Besides Tinubu is Yoruba and I am a Yoruba man!

 

The questionnaire could hardly disguise his disappointment as he visibly shook his head while thanking him for his answers.

 

MEE: So, they still want to vote for the leading player, the leader of the gang, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who aided and abetted APC/Buhari's disastrous government into power because he is Yoruba, all wrong forgotten. 

Chuba Okadigbo, quoted above, immediately came to mind at the end of the survey. Indeed, enslavement to tribal, religious, and other primordial sentiments has rendered our education useless and made us a liability to society as we cannot develop and progress at the pace we should be due to mutual distrust predicated on tribal and religious leanings. 

For example, the UK has just elected a PM of Indian lineage. German and Nigerian girls at the just concluded Under-17 women's world cup in India danced together to Buga song even though one of them came out victorious during the 3rd place encounter. Yet our fathers and mothers are still thinking of tribe and religion, celebrating and promoting failure to the detriment of our national cohesion and interests. 

How could one not see APC as the government in power is a total failure? A government that, as a political party in 2015 led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and defected PDPs, including Atiku Abubakar, employed deadly force via Boko Haram and kidnapping of innocent schoolgirls to remove a sitting government. 

We breathe, live, sleep, walk and talk about the failures of the APC administration. Yet someone said Tinubu is not Buhari and pinned his hope on Tinubu to do better than Buhari! HOW? APC administration elevated nepotism to a dizzying height. The dollar, as I am typing this, is N1000! The cost of living has tripled, if not quadrupled. Killings, maiming, kidnapping, rampaging and destruction of properties and communities have become standard. 

On the world's poverty Index, Nigeria is 121 out of 123, 2nd year in a row. Our debts have outstripped our GDP. Buhari and Tinubu are now printing Naira to pay debt and shore up our currency with no end in sight. Our security apparatus is in disarray even though APC/Buhari's kit and kin are in charge. They are providing coverage to insurgents, kidnappers, bandits and unknown gunmen. Our educational system has completely collapsed. 

Our economy is comatose, which Tinubu contributed hugely to when he recommended Trader Moni and school feeding programs to Buhari. Both programs failed woefully and plunged the nation into colossal debt. The list of woes of the APC administration goes on.

APC/Buhari's administration has inflicted more harm on the fabric of Nigeria than all other administrations put together except during the civil war. We are now more conscious of our divisions and differences than ever before. It is now them against us. The heightened demand by ethnic groups for self-determination is a clear testimony. Yet some Nigerians see no wrong. Instead, they attempted to disassociate Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar from Buhari even though Tinubu has vowed to continue Buhari's legacy.

 

Please, the Almighty God, in humble supplication to YOU, may this bitter cup of affliction pass us. May we fast and pray that Tinubu does not win, NEVER AGAIN. There will be no change. The only difference will be taking Nigeria from the bottom, where Buhari stops, to a rotten situation and then turning it into a bad one.

REJECT tribe and religion as they never augur well for any country. Remember Rwanda, Congo, Sudan, Angola and many others. Eschew ethnicity.          

THINK Pan Nigerian. 

THINK and VOTE Wisely. 

Vote for Integrity. Vote for Capability. Vote for Competence. Vote for Courage to do what is right. 

It

Vote For Sustained Economic and Physical Development.

 

Vote to Take Our Country, Nigeria, back from wolves parading as leaders who have turned the stealing of our commonwealth into statecraft. 

Vote to bring Nigeria back from the precipice.

Source - Social media

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Chinelo: “Are You Dead Now?” ( the wicked, insensitive & meanness of the Muhammadu Buhari regime)

One of the most despicable things that happened during the bombing and raiding of Kaduna bound train last week was the response to a medical doctor in distress, Dr. Chinelo Megafum, after she was shot on the train. She sent out a tweet stating that she’s been shot on the train and asked for prayers, but a group of mean spirited members of the infamous Buhari Media Centre "BMC" trolled her consistently until she fell silent. One of them named “Abolore” @ysone2 on  Twitter asked, “Are You Dead Now?” The answer is Yes, Doctor Chinelo died in agony while Abolore and other trolls mocked her and went to sleep afterwards. Several of those on the train including a two labour leaders of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC Secretary General  Comrade (Barr.) Musa-Lawal Ozigi as well as Chairman of the Kwara State branch Comrade Akin Akinsola were also killed in the attack and several other persons were kidnapped and are still  in captivity. 

These Twitter trolls are a reflection of the wicked, insensitive & meanness of the Muhammadu Buhari regime, since coming on board as Nigeria’s President in 2015 the Buhari regime and its officials have been asking Nigerians after shooting, stabbing and impoverishing Nigerians the same question, over and over again,  “Are You Dead Now?”

When the regime massacred Shiites in Zaria, it turned around and asked Shiites, “Are You Dead Now?”. When they turned they guns, blazing, on IPOB members in Nigeria''s South East, they asked them “Are You Dead Now?”

 When the Buhari regime killed peaceful “EndSARS" protesters at Lekki Toll Gate, the regime and its progenitord of hate turned around and mocked the dead and wounded, “Are You Dead Now?”  they asked, the regime went further and asked, "if you are dead, show is your dead bodies."

 When they visited the home of Sunday IGBOHO, the renowned Yoruyba agitator in the dead of the night, ransacked his compound and killed innocent civilians, they turned around and asked, “Are You Dead Now?”

They’ve treat Nigerians with the same disdain by inflicting hunger, starvation, abandoning them to their faith during the COVID-19 pandemic, they've mismanaged the economy, killed the national currency-Naira, ensured that they are no longer generating electricity, made fuel scarce deliberately in order to force Nigerians to pay through their noses, they brought massive unemployment, doctors and nurses have fled in droves and the regime is still asking you, the people of Nigeria “Are you Dead Now’?

By Omoyele Sowore

FLASH: GRAPHIC (VIDEO) Missing 22-year-old Girl In Lagos BRT Found Dead, With Her Private Parts Harvested

Devastating and Heartbreaking news just filtering in confirmed that 22-year-old Oluwabamise Ayanwole, who got missing after boarding a Lagos BRT Vehicle has been found dead with her private parts mutilated and harvested.

My God! what wrong did this young fashion designer who was coming from her working place do by boarding a Lagos govt bus with number 240257 going to Oshodi from Lekki? Nothing is Safe anymore even a govt bus? I'm so tired.

The name of the driver of the BRT that kidnapped and killed Bamishe for money rituals is NICE ANDREW OMININIKORON. He is still on the run.

Insecurity in this failed state called Nigeria has gotten out of hand, the fact it was perpetrated with a govt BRT bus shows how desperate and the audacity of these kidnappers, Ritualists, killers, Armed robbers etc.

They are everywhere, no one is safe anymore when will the cursed and thieving regime of Bokohari and Olosibanjo declare a state of emergency? 

Nigerian govt urged us to take BRT buses because it’s safe, yet bamishe was murdered inside a BRT bus and her private parts removed.

There should be a massive protest at all Lagos BRT bus stations. Either they provide the driver or they stop functioning. Bamishe's death cannot be swept under the carpet like others.

#JusticeForBamishe. 

May Bamish's Soul Rest In Peace 

Graphic Contents

Video:

By Isaac Obasi

Ngozi Okonjo Iweala: My mother was kidnapped because of fuel subsidy regime (VIDEO)

 

Abuja Court declares Bandits as a Terrorist Group

 An Abuja High Court on Thursday declares Bandits as terrorists group.

According to a judgement delivered by Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, the court outlawed the activities of some groups linked to banditry and declared their activities as acts of terrorism.

The  court ruling followed an ex-parte motion filed by Mohammed Abubakar, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Abubakar said, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the legal action, seeking an order declaring the activities of bandits as act of terrorism.

He said the court action has the goal of outlawing the Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups, as well as other terrorist groups in the country.

Abubakar said, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the legal action, seeking an order declaring the activities of bandits as act of terrorism.

He said the court action has the goal of outlawing the Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups, as well as other terrorist groups in the country.

In a supporting affidavit to the ex-parte motion, Aminu Kayode Alilu, from the Federal Ministry of Justice, who argued the motion ex-parte, explained why the Federal Government chose to approach the court for the order.

He argued that security reports have confirmed that bandit groups were responsible for killings, abductions, rapes, kidnappings, and other criminal acts in the Northeast, Northcentral, and other parts of the country.

The Government blamed the groups for an increase in “banditry, incessant kidnappings for ransom, kidnapping for marriage, mass abductions of school children and other citizens, cattle rustling, enslavement, imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, and other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings in communities and commuters, and wanton destruction of lives and proper property.”

It specifically argued that Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups, as well as other similar groups, were responsible for the deaths of soldiers, police officers, and other security agents across the country.

“The activities of the Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups, as well as other similar groups, constitute acts of terrorism that can lead to a breakdown of public order and safety, as well as a threat to Nigeria’s national security and corporate existence”, the motion claimedAfter listening to the argument on the application on Thursday,  the court ruled and specifically declared the activities of the “Yan Bindiga Group” and the “Yan Ta’adda Group” and other similar groups in any part of the country, especially in the Northwest and Northcentral geo-political zones, as “acts of terrorism and illegality”.

It equally proscribed the Yan Bindiga  and the Yan Ta’adda Groups as well as other similar groups in any part of Nigeria, especially in the Northwest and Northcentral geo-political zones, “either in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are calle

The court restrained “any person or group of persons from participating in any manner whatsoever, in any form of activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intention or otherwise of the Yan Bindiga Group and the Yan Ta’adda Group under any other name or platform however called or described

It  ordered the Federal Government to publish the prosecution order in the Official Gazette and two national dailie

Justice Taiwo said he was convinced that such orders were necessary in view of the nefarious activities of bandits and their effects on the people and the nation’s econom

The judge also proscribed all other groups in the country, irrespective of their names, but whose activities and objectives are similar to those of Yan Bindiga Group and the Yan Ta’adda Grou

The court  listed terror activities to “include, but not limited to banditry, kidnappings for ransom, kidnapping for marriage, mass abductions of school children and other citizens, cattle rustling, enslavement, imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings in communities and commuters and wanton destruction of lives and properties in Nigeria.”

Missing OAU MBA Student Timothy Adegoke Found Dead, Six Arrested - Osun Police Command

 The missing MBA student at Obafemii Awololowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Timothy Adegoke is dead, a statement by the state police Command confirmed it.

Adegoke was declared missing on November 7 2021.

According to a statement signed and made available to the press by Opalola Yemisi Olawoyin who is the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, the police said it was working to unravel the circumstances surrounding Adegoke’s death.

It reads in part: “The Commissioner of Police, CP Olawale Olokode, psc, wishes to assure the general public, especially the family of the deceased, students and management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, that the police command is working assiduously to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Timothy Adegoke, a master’s degree student of OAU who came from Abuja to sit for his examination at the OAU distance learning centre, Moro, Osun State.

“It would be recalled that, a case of missing person was reported on 7th November, 2021 at about 1630hrs, at Edun Abon police station and later transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation on 9th November, 2021. Immediately the case was received, detectives from SCID of the command swung into action and have arrested six (6) suspects in connection with the case while investigation is ongoing.

“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police is using this medium to appeal to the family, the sympathizers, students and management of the university to remain calm and be rest assured that, the police will do all within its constitutional responsibility to unravel the mystery behind his death.”

The police however did not state how he died or where his body was found.

Adegoke, was an Abuja-based student who travelled to Ife on November 5 to sit for an examination at the school’s distance learning centre in Moro, Osun State.

He was declared missing two days later when friends and family members could neither reach his phone line nor find him at the exam venue.

Insecurity: Nigeria's Army Chief Flags Off Army Exercise to Tackle Criminality

Nigeria has been a country immersed in insurgency and Insecurities posted by Boko Haram, ISWAP, Fulani Herdsmen, banditry, kidnapping for Ransoms among all shorts of criminalities bedeviling the so called the most populous Black Nation on earth and the giant of Africa.

The Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya flagged off three Nigerian Army Field Training Exercises in Emene, Enugu state, on Monday 4 October 2021 to further combat the Insecurities.

According to a statement signed by Director Army Public Relations Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the flag off, symbolically activated the exercises in four geopolitical zones of the country.

Read the Full. Statement: 

 COAS FLAGS OFF ARMY EXERCISES TO CURB INSECURITY

... Calls For Synergy among stakeholders

In a concerted and relentless effort to support civil authorities in tackling diverse security challenges bedeviling the country, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya has flagged off three Nigerian Army Field Training Exercises in Emene, Enugu state, on Monday 4 October 2021.The flag off, symbolically activated the exercises in four geopolitical zones of the country.

In his remark during the ceremony, Lt Gen Yahaya identified the exercises as Exercise STILL WATER, ENDURING PEACE and Exercise GOLDEN DAWN, which he pointed out, will be conducted simultaneously in South South, South East, South West and North Central Nigeria respectively. These exercises, he added would seek to confront the multifaceted and contemporary security challenges prevalent in different parts of the country. He noted that the exercises aim to restore law and order in the affected regions, as well as create enabling environment for socio-economic activities to thrive.

The COAS further charged officers and soldiers to remain professional, steadfast and diligent in the discharge of their responsibilities in consonance with the objectives of the exercises. He urged the troops to ensure respect and protection of the Fundamental Human Rights of the populace in conformity with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as they discharge their responsibilities. He however enjoined the citizenry to be law abiding and cooperate with security agencies in order to restore of law and order in the country. He stated that the exercises, which would later metamorphose into real operations would witness collaboration with other security agencies in exchange of ideas and sharing of intelligence.

“It will be conducted in collaboration with sister security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, Air Force, Immigration, NDLEA, NSCDC, FRSC, Federal Fire Service, as well as other stakeholders who will provide necessary support for the exercise,” he added.

Speaking also during the flag off, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, in a welcome address, assured the COAS of the readiness of the Division in conjunction with sister security agencies to combat all security threats and crimes within the region to ensure law and order. He warned all criminal elements to desist from their attrocious activities or face the wrath of the law.

In furtherance of the fulfilment of his pledge to empower Regimental Sergeant Majors ( RSMs) of the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff presented a Toyota Hilux vehicle to the 82 Division RSM. "This empowerment scheme", he noted, "will enable the RSMs to effectively carry out their duties as custodians of traditions and regimentation of the NA".

The flag off was witnessed by Commanders, heads and representatives of sister security agencies domiciled in Enugu state.

ONYEMA NWACHUKWU

Brigadier General

Director Army Public Relations

4 Oct 21

Jide Sowore's Burial: our Gratitude

Today, I am returning to you ALL for your support, companionship and sympathy extended towards our family over the untimely but gruesome murder of our beloved brother, Olajide Sowore.

 Of particular note are those early callers who commiserated with our family when this dastardly incident broke, we must here specially mention our comrades who took the risk to be physically present at his funeral and those who joined virtually across the world and stayed till my brother was interned at Kiribo, our home town.

We reserve a special place for pathologists, lawyers and a handful of law enforcement officers who though limited by prevailing incompetence on the police did their personal best to assist the family by fully cooperating to ensure that a befitting burial was done.

We send our regards to compatriots who defy our family rejection of fundraising to provide their token of support to our brother’s immediate family.

We are immensely grateful to each and everyone who took out tome to drop a comment, salutations and words of encouragement throughout this period.

 Finally we thank the authorities of Igbinedion University in Okada for their generosity in providing a motor hearse to convey our brother to his final resting place.

It is important to state that our commitment by oining in popular efforts to bring about revolutionary change in Nigeria remains unwavering.

Felix Olajide Sowore was killed near Okada in Edo state by the yet to be identify suspected herdsmen.

Insecurity under Major Gen Muhammadu Buhari led pro fulani herdsmen federal government has claimed uncountable lives.