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Pastor arrested for impregnating two sisters, defrauding their mum of N2m

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Pastor arrested for impregnating two sisters, defrauding their mum of N2m

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested one Prophet Ebenezer Ajigbotoluwa, the Founder and General Overseer of The Church of Lord, Olomore, Abeokuta, for defiling and impregnating two under age sisters (names withheld).

The suspect was arrested following a report to the police by the mother of the victims.

According to the spokesman of the Command, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the mother reported at Lafenwa Police Station that she fell sick sometimes in 2018 and was taken the church for spiritual healing.

She stated further that Ajigbotoluwa took advantage of her sickness and asked her entire family of six to move into the church premises to avoid being afflicted with the same sickness.

There and then, the prophet allegedly started having sex with her daughters, aged 16 and 13, unknown to her.

The pastor impregnated the two underaged girls and went on to procure abortion for them in a private clinic.

Aside from this, Ajigbotoluwa also defrauded the family of N2 million, which he took for what he called spiritual cleansing.

Upon the report, the DPO, Lafenwa Division, CSP Muraina Ayilara, led his men to the church, but the place had been deserted.

The CP then directed that the suspect be hunted for and brought to book.

In compliance with the CP’s directive, the DPO and his men embarked on intelligence and technical based investigation and their efforts paid off when the prophet was arrested on August 6, 2020 at about 5am.

On interrogation, the suspect confessed to the commission of most of the allegations leveled against him, adding that he ran away when he heard that police were looking for him.

Recovered from his home were assorted dangerous charms.

The Commissioner of Police, Edward A. Ajogun, has ordered the suspect to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation.

Ajogun also warned those hiding under the umbrella of religion to perpetrate evils to desist from it or meet their Waterloo.

The CP therefore appealed to members of the public to beware of those wolves in sheep skin masquerading as men of God as they were out to milk them dry before destroying their lives.

Zulum’s North-East Parley And Why Charity Must Begin At Home

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Zulum’s North-East Parley And Why Charity Must Begin At Home

By Adamu  Bulama

The recent appointment of the governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Zulum as the Chairman of the newly created North East Governors Forum is indeed a welcome development. It can only be hoped that the vision behind the creation of the forum is achieved given the security challenges in North-East Nigeria.

I have longed advocated for a body that would assist in finetuning strategies that would lead to the implementation of policies that would address the security challenges in the region as well as bring about the much-needed reconstruction of a region that has witnessed phenomenal destruction since the Boko Haram insurgent group began its violent campaign in 2009.

I do not know whose brainchild is this. However, if the motive behind the establishment of the forum is indeed for the best interest of the people and not an avenue to score political gains, then North-East Nigeria would be better for it.

I recall that in some forums, it has been speculated that one of the challenges of the region is the lack of commitment from the political authorities in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency. It was also posited that there had been a lack of cooperation from the governments of the states in the region with the military authorities in the prosecution of the war against Boko Haram insurgency.

I am glad the North East Governors Forum is coming up now even though there hasn’t been any clear cut mission statement other than the fact that the governor of Borno State was elected as its pioneer chairman for a period of two years and the headquarters of the forum situated in Maiduguri, Borno state.

Suffice to mention the meeting was attended by governors of Adamawa- Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, Gombe- Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya, Borno- Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, Bauchi- Sen. Bala Mohammed, Deputy Governors of Taraba- Engr Haruna Manu and Yobe, Idi Barde Gubana.

Like I mentioned earlier, this is a fantastic initiative but in all honesty, not the way to go because this is not the time for political grandstanding of any sort given the myriads of challenges in North-East Nigeria, with Borno State the worst hit.

I had expected that the emphasis should be more on asking critical questions on why the activities of Boko Haram insurgents have continued to fester in Borno state, unlike other North-Eastern states that have recorded fewer cases of Boko Haram attacks in the past years. We must ask critical questions because nothing happens in a vacuum. We must also ask questions as to what the governors of other states in the North-East states did that reduced activities of the Boko Haram group in their domains drastically.

Make no mistake, that Borno state remains the only state where Boko Haram has continued to operate raises a red flag. While some have questioned the political authorities in the state, some have also alluded to the fact that there may be some level of conspiracies that have continued to bolster the activities of the terror gang in the state.

This is my challenge and why I have issues with the governor of Borno State, who seems to be more interested in media grandstanding that facing the real issues on the ground. I expected that as a professor, he should have deployed his intellectual proficiency to researching on why Borno State has remained the haven for Boko Haram insurgents.

I also expected that the governor of Borno State ought to have done more by convoking a parley where Borno elites and technocrats would be in attendance to deliberate on the issues affecting the state and proffering a solution to it because as they say all politics is local.

I make bold to state that one of the reasons why the Boko Haram activities has festered in Borno State is a function of misplacement of priorities and living in self-denial. This is on the heels that other states in North-East Nigeria that experienced the nefarious activities of the Boko Haram insurgent group have been able to galvanize the needed support and resumed their normal lives while Borno State continues to make headlines for the wrong reasons.

The fact that the governors of Yobe and Taraba states sent in representatives indicate that they probably have moved on to other ventures in the task of delivering the dividends of democracy to the people. In contrast, Borno State has remained the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency despite the efforts of the Nigerian military.

My take is this: Governor Babagana Zulum and others of the Kanuri ethnic stock have either by commission or omission refused to come to terms with reality to understand that the task at hand is to ensure that Borno State becomes uninhabitable for the Boko Haram insurgents, just like other states in North-East Nigeria.

It must be realized that indeed charity must begin at home and home is Borno state because it is no longer tenable why other states in North-East Nigeria have nipped in the bud the activities of Boko Haram, while the state continues to make headlines for the wrong reasons. It is either the governor is accusing the military or undertaking ventures that does not address the issues at hand.

We cannot run away from our shadows because the Boko Haram members are not spirits. We cannot also walk before crawling. That would be the height of self-deceit and essentially my grouse with the governor of Borno State.

I had expected a more proactive approach that would translate the hopes and aspirations of the millions of Borno indigenes that have been displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency. I had also expected that the governor would have drawn from lessons from other states to find a lasting solution to the threats posed by the Boko Haram insurgent group in the state.

Charity must indeed begin and this much governor Babagana Zulum must come to terms with as the Chief Security Officer of the State. I dare say that the solution to the Boko Haram crisis in Borno State lies in Borno State and this much the political elites must admit. They must also acknowledge that the people have suffered untold hardship hence the need for the sincerity of heart and purpose in the governance of the state. I don’t want to believe that the political authorities do not know what to do in the state with regards to bringing the activities of the Boko Haram group to an end.

As mentioned earlier, the establishment of the North East Governors Forum is a good start but not the way to go for now. In my opinion, it should be the overarching medium for the entrenchment of peace and development in the North East region, but not after the Boko Haram insurgency has been adequately addressed in the state and the region.

The various stakeholders in Borno state should begin the process of convoking a summit to address the issues at hand. The religious and community leaders must be called to question, and they must justify the positions they hold in the state. The political leadership must also put the interest of the people at heart in the governance of the state. They must act where they need to and admit their shortcomings over the years instead of engaging in a blame game that serves no good to the deprived and famished people of Borno state.

They must also take a position to end the Boko Haram conflict in the state. Not after all of these are in place, nothing else would make sense to the people of the state that have witnessed years of sorrow, tears and blood. This is possible if only the governor spearheads the process of rebirth. He should look no farther because charity must indeed begin from home. This is my take.

Bulama is a UN trained peace facilitator based in Damaturu.

Resumption: Nigerian Academy of Education wants funds release directly to schools for COVID-19 protocols

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Resumption: Nigerian Academy of Education wants funds release directly to schools for COVID-19 protocols

The Nigerian Academy of Education (NAE) has called on Government to release adequate funds directly to the schools to cut off ‘middlemen’s taxes’, to enable them prepare for and sustain the care of the students who are preparing for exit examinations in the COVID-19 era.

NAE also appealed for public-Private arrangements to help with direct donations to schools, stressing that supplementary school feeding is needed at the time of examinations.

The Academy in a statement jointly signed by its President, Elizabeth Eke and Publicity Secretary, Owoicho Akpa made available to journalists in Abuja, advised that in the interim, the other measures on training of teachers and improvement of learning environments should take place before any other classes join.

According to the statement, COVID-19 has ushered in a new normal for all and there is need for adaptation of mentality to be able to cope for both private and public schools, their proprietors and stakeholders.

It said since all the examinations will be taken in the next four months, the total number of the children moving around and involved in different examinations will be huge and they must be properly cared for.

“On this occasion, parents have the final responsibility to decide whether their children return to school or not although with all the examinations scheduled, the temptation to follow the tide may be very strong. Those who decide to send their children should not be deterred from doing so for lack of funds to rather they should be enabled to follow through with their decision.

“The school authorities and management should ensure that the guidelines are followed. Orientation for teachers and students no matter how brief is essential. Students and teachers are expected to be tested. The school  as a whole should be sanitised (fumigated), social distancing observed especially in the examination arrangements, masks made available, sanitisers, running water and soap provided.

“For those schools without pipe borne water in the rural areas, tanks ought to be provided. Verification checks and continuous monitoring are necessary both through self-assessment and with external inspectors.Schools in areas that are physically insecure, should be provided with armed security.

“NAE is hosting 3 webinars from August to discuss comprehensive strategies for dealing with short and long term effects of the coronavirus”, it read.

NAE appreciated the Federal Ministry of Education decision which has saved the country the embarrassment of an open fractionalisation of the Nigerian front as some states exercised their concurrency rights in education and decided to send in their students for the WAEC examinations.

It observed that:”opinions are sharply divided as to whether or not the resumption should take place. As on the global scene, arguments hinge on balancing the health implications arising from the continuously spreading Covid 19 pandemic, especially in the face of inadequate response strategies and shortcomings in testing, against the need to make progress in education and reopen the economy.

“The fear is that the resumption may exacerbate the situation and lead to higher casualty. Some have even expressed fears about the heightened level of insecurity, the inadequacy of preparation for the examinations and shared concerns about mass failure with attendant consequences.

“We in the NAE do not wish away the profound arguments but we have the professional responsibility to accept the resumption and advise on how best to circumvent a worsening situation. As a people, we must also ensure that this decision turns out to be beneficial to Nigeria and does not lead to regrets. We note that schools’ resumption in other climes e.g. many states in the United States, worsened the spread of the virus. Out of those experiences, precautionary measures have been learnt.

“The FME has very detailed, well thought out and relevant guidelines. The dissemination of the contents and preparedness to follow them, however, cannot be guaranteed. Judging from government inability to enforce the general NCDC endorsed guidelines and many Nigerians’ tendency towards indiscipline and levity in obeying directives at this time, the guidelines may not be observed. Resumption of schools must be seen as a very grave responsibility by all”.

Go, defend Nation’s territorial integrity, national interests–PMB

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Go, defend Nation’s territorial integrity, national interests–PMB

The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, has charged the newly commissioned Nigerian Air Force (NAF) officers of Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) Course 29/2020 to positively deploy the knowledge acquired during their training to defend the territorial integrity and national interests of Nigeria.

The President gave this charge Saturday, 8 August 2020, during the Passing Out Parade (POP) of 114 DSSC officer cadets held at the NAF Base, Kaduna after 6 months of rigorous and intensive military training at the NAF’s Military Training Centre (MTC).

he successful completion of military training of the officer cadets, which comprised 2 medical consultants, 14 medical and veterinary doctors, 20 nurses and 78 other medical specialists, is another laudable step taken by the current NAF leadership as part of its human capacity building initiatives to meet the Nation’s security challenges.

While congratulating the newly commissioned officers for withstanding the rigours of the training, the Reviewing Officer/Special Guest of Honour (SGOH) at the colourful POP, who was represented by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Abayomi Olonisakin, reminded them that the occasion was just the beginning of yet another challenging but rewarding career as young officers in the NAF. He further reminded them that the military profession requires absolute discipline, loyalty and hard work, among other virtues.

He noted that these virtues were even more critical at this crucial point when the Nation is battling with the challenges of insecurity and the NAF, along with sister Services, is expected to secure the lives and properties of Nigerians to peacefully pursue their individual legitimate aspirations. “Such noble service demands exceptional courage, commitment and patriotism and Nigeria will continue to demand such qualities from you”, he added.

Speaking further, the SGOH emphasized that the Government was doing so much to confront the security challenges bedeviling the nation by taking necessary measures to safeguard lives and properties and to drastically cut off all forms of criminality. “I gladly inform you and indeed all Nigerians that the NAF is consistently supporting these Government efforts.

Therefore, as you graduate, I urge you all to positively deploy the training that has been inculcated in you to defend the territorial integrity and national interest of our dear country”, he reiterated.

The SGOH also urged the young officers to do their best to further enhance the NAF’s efforts towards boosting qualitative healthcare for personnel, their dependants and members of NAF’s host communities, including sustaining medical outreaches for civilians and victims of insurgency and banditry.

“This pragmatic approach to promote civil military relations will go a long way in winning the hearts and minds of the communities, thus assisting in timely containment of insurgency, banditry and other security challenges”, he said.

The newly commissioned officers were further reminded of the need to subject themselves to both military and civil laws and protect the Nation’s growing democracy.

While urging them to be vigilant and guard their utterances and conduct at all times, the SGOH also reminded them of the need to know the limits of their freedom of association and expression which must be matched with responsibility to maintain national security.

“You must also not allow yourself to be used by some elements in the society to compromise national security or act in ways capable of denting the image of the Armed Forces.

Your duty is to protect all Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic background or religious inclination. Your loyalty must therefore never be in doubt at any point in time as an officer”, he added.

The SGOH commended the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, for supporting members of the Armed Forces operating within the State. He also commended the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, for his judicious use of available resources and robust capacity building initiatives responsible for a disciplined, highly professional and timely deployable air force.

He equally extolled the efforts of the Commandant MTC and his team of officers and men for the successful completion of yet another training, whilst assuring them of his continued support to sustain their training efforts.

One of the highlights of the POP was the presentation of awards to deserving passing out cadets.

Among the award winners were Cadet (now Flying Officer) Mbam Ndubisi who won the President, Commander-in-Chief’s Award for coming first in order of merit, while Flying Officer Lekon Mustapha won the Honourable Minister of Defence Award for coming second in order of merit.

Other award winners were Flying Officer Samaila Yusuf, who came third in order of merit, winning the CDS’ Award, and Flying Officer Ummu Muhammed, who won the CAS’ Award for coming fourth, while Flying Officer Abdulkadir Ahmad won the Commandant MTC’s Award for exhibiting exceptional leadership qualities in the course of training.

After the colourful parade, the passing out cadets were conferred with the Presidential Commission into the NAF and decorated with their new ranks of Squadron Leaders, for the consultants, and Flying Officer, for all others, by their respective family members and well-wishers.

After administering the oath of allegiance on the newly commissioned officers, the SGOH presented them with their parchments of commission.

Another major highlight of today’s event was the Research and Development (R&D) Exhibition/Display which featured some of the recent R&D breakthroughs of the Air Force Research and Development (AFRDC).

These included a locally developed Hexacopter capable of carrying weaponized payloads; locally designed test bench for hydraulic accumulator diaphragm of the L-39ZA aircraft and a locally produced voltage/frequency converter for aircraft ground support activities.

Other R&D feats displayed were the 6-tube rocket launcher developed by AFRDC for the Bell-412 helicopter; locally produced heat shield protective cone for Alpha Jet rocket pods as well as the locally designed and produced 30.1mm rocket launcher/rockets.

The SGOH was also briefed on the progress of work on the development of 18-tube rocket launcher for the Alpha Jet aircraft as well as other Armament-related R&D efforts.

The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, was represented at the event by the Commissioner of Internal Security, Mr Samuel Aruwan.

Other dignitaries present were the Chairman Senate Committee on Air Force, Distinguished Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah; the Deputy Chairman House Committee on Air Force, Honourable Abbas Adigun; the Director Air Force, Ministry of Defence; Representatives of Chiefs of Army and Naval Staff and the Inspector General of Police as well as the Representative of the Emir of Zazzau, along with many other senior military officers and families and friends of the newly commissioned officers.

Other activities held in honour of the newly commissioned officers, as part of the week-long ceremonies, were the Regimental Dinner Night held on 4 August 2020 and the Beating of the Retreat, which took place on 5 August 2020.

I have been invited to rejoin APC ― Ortom

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I have been invited to rejoin APC ― Ortom
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Saturday confirmed that he was in consultation with the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2023 elections.
Ortom said that he had told the opposition party to allow him to make a consultation with his close allies.
Speaking at the State Congress of the PDP held at Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi, Ortom said that after consultations with some of his close allies and the vote of confidence on him by PDP, he would communicate his decision not to leave the PDP to his “friends” in the APC.
According to him, “it is true that the APC has invited me to come back to APC and they are propagating that (he is leaving the PDP) and this is far from the truth.
“I told them I’ll come and ask you (the state congress); Do you want me to decamp to APC?”
When the question was received with a resounding “No, no, no,” the governor said: “So, I am comfortable with my people (PDP) and I’ll remain in PDP and I will communicate this to my friends in the APC and I will tell them that I consulted with you and you asked me not to leave.”
Governor Ortom said that he was humbled by the vote of confidence passed on him by the congress, adding that, “I’ll not fail you or let you down and we shall be victorious.”
Governor Ortom also assured the party that by the grace of God, the party will sustain the gains of 2019, through to 2023, adding that the successes recorded were made possible by the support of party members.

Flood: Zulum goes out 6am to assess affected communities in metropolis

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Flood: Zulum goes out 6am to assess affected communities in metropolis

… Inspects two projects

Borno Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum went out 6am on Friday, traversing through different communities affected by recent floods in Maiduguri metropolis.

The Governor’s outing was basically to identify lasting solutions to the perennial flood that affects the state capital.

Communities visited by the Governor included Dala Dolori Tudu, Jiddari Polo, Galadima Area, Old Maiduguri and Bulumkutu General Area.

On Zulum’s entourage was the State Commissioner of Environment, member representing Jere federal constituency, and other members of the state Committee on the control of floods in Maiduguri and Jere.

During the visit Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has directed the ministry of environment to ensure timely completion of a feasibility study he had directed, which will be used to provide lasting solutions to floods affecting the state capital.

Recalled Governor Zulum, on 6th September 2019 directed a comprehensive research by the environment ministry in collaboration with the center for disaster risk management, University of Maiduguri.

Governor Zulum as a short term measure also directed for the desilting of water ponds around Bulumkutu and Dala.

Beside the flood assessment, Zulum also inspected the construction of new mega Secondary School at Old Maiduguri, and 10 km road and drainage network in Jiddari Polo.

Benue 2023: Abba Moro Makes Case for Idoma Governor

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Benue 2023: Abba Moro Makes Case for Idoma Governor

The Senator representing the good people of Benue South Senatorial District, Comrade Abba Moro, has called on the people of the state to support a candidate from Benue Zone C to become governor of the state in 2023.

Senator Moro made the plea on Saturday during the Benue State Congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to elect state Executives of the party.

The Lawmaker urged political leaders in the state to pick courage and support someone from Benue South to become governor so as to build an all-inclusive Benue State.

Since Benue State was created in 1976, nobody from Benue South axis has been elected as governor, a jinx Senator Moro said should be broken in 2023.

He called on the five royal families from Zones A and B to support somebody from Benue South for governor in 2023.

His speech below;

“Today is unique because it sets a stage for a milestone and, therefore, let me seize this opportunity to thank the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, who tenaciously ensures some level of cohesion in PDP that makes it a formidable party and a party to beat in Benue State.

“Today, I stand on behalf of the good people of Benue South Senatorial District to say that as we set the stage and march towards 2023, the good people of Benue South asked me, if I come here, to say that they crave the indulgence of the Benue people to support somebody from the Benue South Senatorial District to become Benue Governor in 2023.

“In 2007 when some of us contested for governorship seat, we were under the impression that Benue had three zones and that since zones A and B had produced governors of the state, it was the time for Zone C to produce one.

“This was unmindful of other permutations that were in the watch.

“Today, 2023 stares us in the face. I am saying because it will be very difficult for us to meet again in good time before other permutations to decide on where to go.

“And so, Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it’s my pleasure to say here that by all calculations that our amiable Governor is the fifth Governor of Benue State of the Tiv speaking area of the Royal families.

“I, therefore, plead with our brothers from Zones A and B to support someone from Benue South to become governor, even if it’s for just one term.

“Today, we are on the threshold of history and I urge our political leaders to pick up courage to support one of us to become governor, to build inclusiveness in the Benue State and the Benue of our dreams.

“I agree with the spirit that has pervaded the historical life of our Tiv brothers and sisters of ‘eating and giving to your brother’, that in the build-up to the new inclusiveness, let the people of Benue South become the ‘brother’ of the Tiv now.

“All of you know that a Tiv man, the revered JS Tarka, fought for the minorities, and, therefore, I call on our Tiv brothers and sisters to pick up from where our revered statesman stopped by making 2023 a year where Benue will build a new inclusiveness. A year where the Benue people will say ‘enough is enough’, that we are one people because we work together and together we stand stronger.

“Together we can achieve more. Together we can go far in the drive for us to make a new Benue a reality. A Benue where everybody is everybody’s keeper.

“God bless Benue State!”

Disparaging military efforts in Borno State, the act of ingratitude to Buhari – Youth forum

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Disparaging military efforts in Borno State, the act of ingratitude to Buhari – Youth forum

The Unity Youth Forum ( UYF) has warned Borno State governor and his officials that any attempt to disparage the military is an act of ingratitude to the troops on the frontlines as well as President Muhammadu Buhari.

The group expressed disappointment with Zulum over his incessant outbursts targeted at the military despite being a major beneficiary of its various operations since 2015.

Recall that the governor had lashed at the troops following a reported attack on his convoy after a visit to Monguno last week.

President of the forum, Comrade Isah Bello Isah, in a statement on Friday, said Nigerians are fed up with Zulum’s persistent show of emotions without putting in place the necessary strategic actions.

According to Isah, Zulum by his utterances has not shown appreciation for the efforts of  Mr. President to rid the nation of insurgency.

He added that the governor has lost touch with reality, especially after joining forces with ” unscrupulous elements to undermine a leader like PMB who has given his total best to the war against insurgency through constant attacks on the military”.

On behalf of the forum, Comrade Isah, however, advised: ” Zulum to stop acting like a sophomore undergoing training in leadership and learn to show more maturity”.

The Unity Youth Forum stated that there is ” more about governance than playing to the gallery”, urging the governor to give respect to whom it’s due.

Read the full statement below:

After years of monitoring the coordinated efforts by the current administration via the Nigerian Armed Forces, to dislodge Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in the Northeast and particularly Borno State, the Unity Youth Forum (UYF) is saddened by recent developments involving the military and the Borno State governor, Prof.Babagana Umara Zulum.

The Borno State governor was captured on camera trying to vilify the military by accusing them of being behind the attack on his convoy at Baga while returning from a duty tour of Monguno LG in Borno State.

Prof. Zulum, after the incident, was seen in a widely circulated video, challenging the military and querying how possible it is for Boko Haram to launch an attack in Baga when according to him there are over 1200 military personnel there.

His conclusion which was not as a result of any known investigation but basically made out of emotion has however come as the unkindest cut of all past and present attempts by a few to disparage the military.

This is because Borno, and by extension Zulum, has been the greatest beneficiary of military operations in the Northeast such that ordinarily, it should have been the last to join in any attempt to mock the military institution in Nigeria.

Since the Nigerian civil war which ended in January 1970, no state in the country has tasked the military and benefitted in terms of combat and defence operations like Borno State.

You will recall that it was the killing of some soldiers and civilians in communities bordering Nigeria and Chad in Borno State, that led then General Muhammadu Buhari to order a military operation that almost overran Ndjamena in the early 80s.

In the early 80s also, the military was deployed to Borno State following civil unrest and violence occasioned by the remnants of the Maitatsine sect that had taken refuge in Bulumkutu, a suburb of the state capital, Maiduguri.

During the reign of Col. Buba Marwa as governor when crime peaked in the state, it was the military that was used to flush out the criminal elements terrorising the state.

It was also in Maiduguri that the first confrontation between the police and the Boko Haram members occurred and when the conflict went out of hand, it was the military that was invited to intervene and it dutifully did that and even arrested the sect’s leader, Mohammed Yusuf, and handed him over to the police.

As the sect took up arms against the Nigerian State and made Borno the launch pad of their insurgency, the military more than any institution, has been at the forefront of trying to liberate the state and return normalcy in the entire Northeast region.

This has come with a heavy price on the part of the military as many of its personnel have been killed, many maimed and many of their families shattered due to the dislocation of their breadwinners.

Many young and vibrant officers, some of whom had just married have been dispatched to early graves all in the bid to secure the lives of citizens.

Though the military is not complaining as these incidences happened in the course of discharging its statutory function of defending the territorial integrity of the nation, it would be the height of ingratitude for anybody in Borno to raise voice against the military like the Borno State governor and some of his officials have been doing lately.

The Borno State governor has, without basis, in the recent past, accused the military of extorting money from motorists on the Maiduguri- Damaturu road.

He has also accused the military of abandoning their duty posts for people to be slaughtered by terrorists at Auno even though the allegation was not correct.

The military also clashed with Borno State government officials led by the deputy governor of the state, who insisted that people must be tested for Covid-19 before being allowed to enter the state against security advice.

Then the recent unfortunate outburst of the governor in Baga and his threat to use hunters instead of the military to fight Boko Boko Haram.

In all these occasions, the Borno State governor and his officials had come down heavily on the military without showing appreciation for the much it has done to save the state.

The Borno State governor has forgotten that were it not for President Muhammadu Buhari who ordered that theOperationall Headquarters of the fight against insurgency to move to the theatres of operations in 2015, that the insurgents had captured almost the entire northern Borno senatorial zone and were making attempts to take the state capital.

He had forgotten that were it not for the sustained military operations and the appointment of the current set of service chiefs, that many local councils in Borno would have still been under the control of the terrorists.

He has also forgotten that if not for the military intervention and the opening of a Situation Room for the Northeast in 2019, that the election which brought him into office would also not have been possible.

We, therefore, see the attempt by the Borno State governor and his officials to disparage the military as an act of ingratitude not just to the military, but to President Buhari who is doing his best to secure the nation.

Governor Zulum by his utterances has not shown appreciation for the efforts of  Mr. President to rid the nation of insurgency.

By joining forces with some unscrupulous elements to undermine a leader like PMB who has given his total best to the war against insurgency through constant attacks on the military, shows a disconnect from reality.

This is totally unacceptable and condemnable.

We call on Zulum to stop acting like a sophomore undergoing training in leadership and learn to show more maturity.

There is more about governance than playing to the gallery.

True leadership is also about giving honour to whom it is due.

Much has been done by President Buhari and the Nigerian Armed Forces to sustain the peace Borno State is enjoying now.

The Borno State government should not in the bid to gain applause scuttle it with careless and reckless statements.

Foreign Interests and the new terror propaganda against Nigeria

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Foreign Interests and the new terror propaganda against Nigeria

By Richard Murphy

There is nothing wrong with holding a media briefing, like the one held by the Commander of the US special operations command for Africa (AFRICOM) Dagvin Anderson. The United States’ military top brass warned that al-Qaeda, Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province now have presence in the northwest of Nigeria and that they are spreading their reach to the southern parts of the country.

But when viewed against the backdrop acceptable behaviour, Anderson’s action, which in reality is United States’ action, is wrong on more than one level. The US has advantage to glean intelligence on terrorists because sometimes these killers are its puppets, carrying out orgies of destruction while thinking they are in charge when in reality, they are implementing US programs. If the US became aware of al-Qaeda or Boko Haram incursion into southern Nigeria because of its participatory advantage, the responsible thing to do is called intelligence sharing. This involves making contact with the corresponding officials or desks on the Nigerian side.

This did not however happen. Rather, apparently as part of a grand script and conspiracy, the US – as represented by Anderson, rushed to a media briefing to disclose its finding. This action is not a mistake but a premeditated and calculated move to undermine Nigeria as can be seen from the automatic consequences that are already trailing the media reveal.

The most prominent consequence has been the terror sown in the mind of Nigerians, who erroneously place misplace confidence in the capacities of the US as a superpower. The thinking is that if the United States said it then it must be accurate but that is a fallacy. The Council for Foreign Relations, the destabilizing think tank through which the US undermines sovereign nations, had predicted that Nigeria will unravel in a 15 years timeframe, which lapsed five years ago. The Council has become livid over the failure of its projection and its marketing officer for Nigeria, John Campbell, a former ambassador to Nigeria, has been on the offensive in the past few months; knowing that CFR uses implanted operatives and deep state strategy, it will not be surprising that Anderson’s media briefing was crafted by the Council to advance its agenda following Campbell’s dismal failure at gaining traction in the quest to wreck Nigeria. So, sowing terror among the population was a major intent of that media briefing.

For a country that practically exploited local discontent to create first the Taliban and later al-Qaeda, the US update about terrorists’ push into southern Nigeria is more of a strategy for nudging their operatives and their terror cells in the direction their next round of crimes against humanity should take. There is the outside chance that the terrorists were not thinking of southern Nigeria short term, mid term and even long term but that briefing by Anderson has now put innocent people living in these areas within the cross hair of the terrorists. By the way, we should all be concerned about the nomenclature, “al-Qaeda” which is not an active brand name for the killers operating in Nigeria. If Africom is talking about the spread of a group that is not currently dominant in Nigeria, then questions should be asked whether the plan is to import them from Somalia or Egypt.

The Media briefing is a false flag operation, one that is intended to initiate the process of conferring legitimacy on the scums that the US plans to export into Nigeria to continue and expand the terrorist acts at which Boko Haram had failed. A rebranding into ISIS franchise, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), had also failed given the recent outcomes of their engagements with the Nigerian military. If the US plans to replace them with a repackaged terror group then it is natural that it resorts to al-Qaeda, its creation over which it seems to have better control than Boko Haram and ISIS.

Nigerian authorities should read the danger signs well. In all its decade old insurgency, Boko Haram and its ISWAP variant, have been more of consigned to the Lake Chad Basin and Sambisa Forest, which means it is not able to do much damage to infrastructure – the towns and caught in the orgy of destruction are usually rebuilt in short time. Hinting the terrorists to go south is asking them to go into the parts of Nigeria with the economic infrastructure and population density that will hurt the country badly if attacked. Is this big brother turning the screw on Nigeria for spurning its request to headquarter Africom on Nigerian soil?

The desire to see the terrorists move south has further disadvantages for Nigeria. The more built up southern Nigeria will be a major challenge for the military since that will call for urban warfare, something that few armies in the world have experience with. It must be noted that opening up a new frontier in the anti-terror war will spread the military thin in addition to throwing up human rights issues if such an unprecedented operation is allowed to become necessary.

It would have been reassuring to see Anderson, Africom and the US deny these possibilities. Unfortunately, other engagements of these entities have only gone further in lending credence to the possibility that the plot against Nigeria is being accelerated. Campbell’s meddling for instance has proven to be a part of a larger operation to promote discontent, which will create the distraction necessary to provide cover for the terrorists to move around undetected – like them travelling with those supposedly mobilizing for anti-government protests being organized by his associates. The onetime American Ambassador to Nigeria recently took part in a virtual conference where the dissent that is now being used as cover to ferry terrorists across the country was planned and agreed. He is also leading these so-called activists to run propaganda that targets government troops for demoralization while new pro-terrorists’ allies are being recruited into the cyber arm of Boko Haram. There has thus been a consequent spike in the number of articles and posts that attack the military as corrupt and incompetent.

By now, these foreign interests that are trying to spread terrorism across Nigeria should have learnt vital lessons. The first is the chain of unintended outcomes that accompany the destabilization of other countries over petty geo-strategic interest. There is the tendency for things to spread beyond what the plotter anticipates. We have seen that much in the Middle East where the terror grown by foreign interests is again exported to the countries that sought to destabilize others. There is also the risk that the puppet terrorists will eventually disown their masters and then get out of control as is the case with ISIS and those that sponsored them.

But since Nigeria’s detractors will not relent, the responsibility falls on the government to take precautions while citizens must rise up to defend their land from invasive forces that are sabotaging their country from afar.

Murphy is a security expert based in Calabar.

Insecurity: UK warns citizens against traveling to 20 states in Nigeria

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Insecurity: UK warns citizens against traveling to 20 states in Nigeria

The Government of the United Kingdom(UK) has issued a travel advisory to British nationals in Nigeria, citing worsening security situation.

It claimed that parts of the country were unsafe at the moment, stressing rising insecurity in the areas may be motivated by financial and political considerations.

“There’s a high threat of kidnap throughout Nigeria. Kidnaps can be motivated by criminality or terrorism, and could be carried out for financial or political gain.
“Anecdotal evidence suggests that the risk of kidnap increases after dark. The security environment in the north east has deteriorated since 2018 and there is a heightened risk of kidnap,” it disclosed in a statement published on the UK government’s website, dated August 4.

Hence, it listed certain areas that Britons in the country should be watchful of travelling to.

“The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to:

Borno State, Yobe State, Adamawa State, Gombe State
-Riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States Within 20km of the border with Niger in Zamfara State.”

The statement also added: “The FCO advise against all but essential travel to:

Bauchi State, Zamfara State, Kano State, Kaduna State, Within 20km of the state border with Kaduna and Zamfara states in Niger State, west of the Kaduna River Jigawa State, Katsina State, Kogi State, Within 20km of the border with Niger in Sokoto and Kebbi States Non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers State
Abia State.”

According to the statement, terrorist activities are reigning in parts of North and are likely to continue.

“Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Nigeria; most attacks occur in the north east, particularly in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.

” There have also been significant attacks in Gombe, Kano, Kaduna, Jos and Bauchi States and in the Federal capital, Abuja; further attacks are likely,” it added.

But a Presidential Spokesperson, Femi Adesina, had in previous weeks, maintained that though there were security challenges, the country’s security operatives were doing their best to contain it.

However, UK urged its citizens to be wary of moving around in the country as well as avoid large gatherings.

The statement further reads:

“Attacks could be indiscriminate and could affect western interests as well as places visited by tourists.

“You should avoid places where crowds gather, including political meetings, religious gatherings and places of worship, markets, shopping malls, hotels, bars, restaurants, transport hubs and camps for displaced people.

“Kidnaps in the north east have included humanitarian and private sector workers. There are also reports that Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) are continuing to actively plan to kidnap foreigners.

“As well as in north-east Nigeria, extremist groups operate in some northern and middle belt states including Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Kogi, Kaduna, Niger and Adamawa.

“If you’re working or travelling in these States then you should be aware of the risk of terrorist kidnapping.

“Before considering travel to areas to which the FCO advise against all or all but essential travel you should take professional security advice.

“Be vigilant at all times and keep others informed of your travel plans If you’re working in Nigeria you should follow your employer’s security advice, make sure your accommodation is secure and review your security measures regularly.

“Consular support is offered in Nigeria although limited in areas where the FCO has existing advice against all travel and all but essential travel (as set out above).

“Around 117,000 British nationals visit Nigeria each year; most visits are trouble-free.”

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