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Couple torture housemaid to death, hangs her body in alleged suicide

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Couple torture housemaid to death, hangs her body in alleged suicide

Lagos couple arrested for the death of their housemaid ; They claim she committed suicide, her family say she was beaten to death!

A man and his wife have been arrested for the death of their 19 year old housemaid.

Mr and Mrs Fortune Stephens, were arrested by Operatives of the Lagos State Police command for the death of Joy Okom Adole, at their home at number 18 Ogundola street, in the Bariga area of the state.

The couple called the police to report that their housemaid hanged herself at their home on April 20th following a misunderstanding. The couple was taken to the station for questioning and during preliminary investigation, a different story emerged of how Joy may have met her untimely death.

Her family believe that the couple beat Joy to death and staged her death to look like suicide.

Narrating what he believes happened to LIB, a cousin of late Joy, Philip Ejeh, said ;

What really happened is that on April 20th at about 4pm, I received a call from the village that our sister, Joy, is somewhere at Bariga where she is working as a househelp but that she is now dead. I never knew she was in Lagos. So I made enquiries and they sent the agent’s number that brought her to that place to me. I called the agent who narrated what happened.

The agent said it was on Sunday evening April 19th that they called her that the girl is misbehaving and that she should come and take her away. Actually when the girl started working on the 10th of January, they began by paying her N10, 000. Subsequently the couple refused to pay her salary and she decided to stop working. Joy said she wanted them to open an account for her so they can be paying her salary to her directly and that if they are not ready to do that, she is no longer ready to work.

They started complaining that the girl wasn’t working as they expected her to work.

On the 10th of April, they asked her to leave their house since she wasn’t ready to work with them again. She packed her things and went to the bus stop but couldn’t find a bus due to the lockdown. She had to go back to their house. The couple saw her and were like they had told her to go, why is she still hanging around. They called the agent who pleaded with them that since there is a lockdown, they should bear with her and manage Joy pending when there is free movement so she can come and move her away from their house.

They allowed her to enter their house but on the 19th, they chased her again and were like if the agent doesn’t come to pick her, they never want to see her around their house again. At that point, they were beating her again. They called the agent who pleaded with them to still keep her since there is no movement. She told them to please keep her until Monday April 20th that she would find her way to come and pick her up. The agent heard the husband telling the wife that she should stop beating the girl and that the beating is okay. In the process, the phone went off.

On Monday April 20th around 7am, they called the agent and was trying to make some enquiries about the girl. The agent was like any information you need about the girl, ask her and she would supply you with the information. They continued to insist. It was around 11am that they opened up to her that Joy is dead. The agent was like what happened. Who killed her? What killed her? The couple said she was supposed to wake up and that she did not wake up so they had to go and check her room only to find her hanging. The agent was like this is not possible, you should tell me that you beat her to death.

They told her that they were saying the truth and that at the moment, they have moved the corpse to the police station and then to the mortuary. They sent the photo where she hung herself. The agent forwarded the picture to us.”

Phillip said Mrs Fortune alleged that she found out that the deceased stole her indomie noodles and some of her other personal belongings.

Joy’s family members are however insisting that their sister was killed by Mrs Fortune. They questioned how somebody can commit suicide by hanging and still have her legs touching the floor.

Righteousness According to St. Sowore

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Righteousness According to St. Sowore

By Odoh Duru

I don’t envy the lifestyle of some people. People clad themselves as superhuman, empty pride and feel they are the authors of knowledge or wisdom. In their narrowmindedness, the innate foibles of humanity are captured and defeated by their smartness.
It’s impossible to even align such people with any mortal sin. Therefore, they boldly proclaim their inculpability for the sins of our first parents on earth, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. They don’t accept the Biblical truism of inheriting the sins of another man. They are not tethered to the imperfections of other beings and must not share in the general guilt of the universe.

The publisher of SaharaReporters (SR) and the 2019 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress ( AAC) is in self-delusion of grandeur, in words and actions, which in nuances devalues the self-worth of the rest of us. He thinks himself a sinless, stainless and faultless being, who descended straight from the procreation oven of the Creator Himself.
Sowore’s associates and admirers fete him with multiple identities. His fans garb him in very enticing and scintillating populist identities as former University of Lagos student union activist, politician, fearless journalist and publisher. Others adore him as the doyen of righteousness’, the voice of the masses, a pro-democracy campaigner and finest breed of an activist.

And I still recollect that at the peak of his 2019 campaign stunts for Nigeria’s presidency, Sowore boastfully said in an interview that, anything he touches becomes gold. And that he makes breakthroughs on any project he lays his blessed hands upon, citing the example of the success of his personal online news portal- the Sahara reporters.
Its good because God Almighty has blessed human beings differently. People are endowed in diverse ways and patterns. But the claim to know-all on every aspect of existence is akin to the cliché of “jack of all trades, but master of none.” It’s even worse, when some of us feel, others are less human and less endowed to add even an ounce of wisdom or knowledge to what we know.

Overtime, I have analyzed Sowore’s persona silently and realized that his greatest weakness is the haughty feeling of superiority above others. He constantly seeks to re-deconstruct and reorder the entire world to his peculiarly defined taste in a very arrogant and pompous manner.
And that’s why he goes to the palace of Ooni and traduces the basic Yoruba time-honoured culture and tradition, by refusing to prostrate to greet an Oba. Even when he is reminded, Sowore casually shrug his shoulders in dismissal of it as nonsensical.
But an average human being is prone to sin, if considered from the religious perspective and an offence, when we place the secular world into consideration.

Astoundingly, Sowore’s consistently postures as flawless in outsmarting everyone in his interactions with a communal world.
The Holy Scriptures reminds us in Romans 3: 23 that “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” It is a sound reminder of our vulnerabilities and inadequacies as homo sapiens. But I am afraid, this is not the in the thinking or vocabulary of Sowore.

And because he thinks himself a righteous man, he has the erroneous perception that everyone in his home country, Nigeria is unrighteous. And so, he aligns with external forces to destabilize and pull down the walls of Nigeria to erect a “Sowore fiefdom;” perhaps, peopled by saints cloned from the udder of Omoleye Sowore alone.

Therefore, it will not escape the mind of a keen observer that Sowore uses his online publication for only the twine reasons of imposing the agenda of his external paymasters and settling personal scores with his perceived enemies in Nigeria.
There was a time, I researched into the background of the New York-based SaharaRreporters, Sowore established in 2006. I discovered very interesting links and connections. SR started with the grant of $175,000 donated by the Ford Foundation and the Global Information Network and later on, the Omidyar Foundation donated a sumptuous $450,000 to it.

These foreign organizations’ have continued to financially support SR, which has made it an in-house policy never to accept adverts from the Nigerian Government. All over the world, media organizations eagerly seek for advertisement revenues, a veritable means of funding operations.

Its simplistic for anyone of us to presume the SR’s advert policy on Nigerian Government is in pursuit of a sacred quest for editorial independence. Or dust-off influence of any kind. I hold such perspective in serious revulsion.
We all know the politics surrounding ownership and sponsorship of media organizations’ globally. No matter the depth of public pretensions to fairness and balance, the owners still pander or tilt to service their interests.

My heart winced and redirected my attention to it when I read SR’s mission statement and Sowore’s public outbursts, particularly when he contested the 2019 presidential elections, finishing poorly with just 33, 000 votes. Sowore has portrayed SR as a combative enemy army against the FGN, as against a mere medium of mass communication.

I was nauseated when I noticed the discrepancy in SR’s mission statement and the utterances of Sowore, its publisher. It betrayed the real concealed motive of the coming into being of his online news portal.
SR’s mission statement says aptly that “ SaharaReporters.com is an outstanding, groundbreaking news website that encourages citizen journalists to report ongoing corruption and government malfeasance in Africa. Using photos, text, and video dynamically, the site informs and prompts concerned Africa citizens and activists globally to act, denouncing officially-sanctioned corruption, the material impoverishment of its citizenry, defilement of the environment, and the callous disregard of the democratic principles enshrined in the constitution.”

It sounds captivating and lofty to me or anyone else. But in practice and the glaring manipulative mindset of the publisher in tandem with his foreign sponsors, SR functions outside even its own set guiding principles. We may even suspend interrogation into its conformity with general journalistic ethos.

But let’s look at certain developments concerning the operations of SR. It shocked me that in 2018, when Sowore launched his presidential campaigns’, he told the Amsterdam News in an interview that; “I am such a Fela disciple. He was one single activist who took on the system all by himself using music,” he said. “I didn’t have a good voice, so I couldn’t sing, but I am using media, I am using my body, my skills, and I am using the internet to fight the government.”
The verb “fight” articulates and connotes combativeness. It is not the simple journalistic undertaking of dissemination of information, reporting or exposing the ills of public governance. Here is a man who colonized a profession and has devoted its power illegally to “fight” government. This is yawningly at variance with the enunciated ethics of journalism; much as its conflicts with SR’s publicized mission statement.

What struck my senses instantly when I saw excerpts from that interview was that, it dawned on me why Sowore went all out to plot a #RevolutionNow protests in Nigeria against a democratic government. It also signified clearly that Sowore was a proxy or front, as there were other shadowy figures pushing and sponsoring this agenda of “fighting” the government with a revolution plot.
But had Sowore sought wise counsel from others, he would have been intimated that the job of journalists is not to fight governments; but inform, educate and entertain the people as well as expose the ills in society. Perhaps, his obtuse arrogance and pomposity of I know-all compelled him to shoot himself in the foot. No wonder, SR has a basketful of lawsuits on charges of defamation filed against it in American courts.

And juxtapose Sowore’s saintly posture and the I know-all syndrome, the discovery that he was not smart enough to avoid the pitfalls and traps set for him by the national executive of his political party left me gasping for breath. His AAC party members pointed accusing fingers at Sowore for refusal to account for N150 million campaign funds handed over to him for the 2019 presidential campaigns. Could he really be unaccountable?
It was bad enough, that someone seeking to lead us would have such scars on his body early enough. Sowore allowed his name to be dragged into the mud and that’s the innate failings of humanity. And that’s why our good Lords reminds that all of us have sinned and fallen short of the salvation of God, except we show remorse, humble ourselves and genuinely atone for our wrongdoings.

It likely Sowore may not hear me. He may even brand me with offensive names; just because Sowore believes everyone is wrong, except himself and his partners in the US. But do I care? I have passed a message to him and his followers. Recently, I watched Sowore on YouTube lamenting that he has no house and was suffering.
But it should not have been enough reason for him to pull the strings against President Muhammadu Buhari by attempting to unlawfully destabilize his government. I hear public stunts that Sowore deployed his SR to assist President Buhari win the election in 2015, on the promise of making him Nigeria’s Ambassador to US, but the President has violated the promise.
So, Sowore has been under this deceptive illusion and hell must be let lose against the Nigerian Government. Let me remind Sowore lastly that he is not the only wise man and reasonable person in Nigeria and should not conspire with foreign allies to take us for granted.

Duru is a member, OurMumuDoneDo and wrote from Abuja

COVID-19 Lockdown: Inter-state travellers intercepted in Enugu, turned back

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COVID-19 Lockdown: Inter-state travellers intercepted in Enugu, turned back

In strict adherence to directives of the Enugu State Government closing all land boundaries and inter-state transportation, among other precautionary measures, to contain the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in the state, the Nigeria Army, at its checkpoint in Nsukka, intercepted over 30 vehicles loaded with passengers who were passing through the state.

The intercepted passengers were consequently escorted out of the state by the military with the assistance of the police.

Some of the passengers who were mostly from Northern parts of the country, according to the security officials on duty, disguised and covered themselves with bags of food items, which are allowed into the state as essential commodities.

One of the intercepted passengers, Peter who was coming into the state from Benue State revealed to newsmen that they trekked from the state land boundary from Amalla to Obollo Afor in Udenu Local Government Area, where they boarded bus to their destinations.

Other offending passengers from Port Harcourt heading to the North, disclosed that they passed through the Bonny River to cross the Rivers State’s land boundaries to be able to board buses through Enugu State, to their destinations, stressing that they are desirous to return to their native homes and face the inherent challenges occasioned by COVID-19.

The security officials who escorted the passengers out, warned other intending travelers to stay at home and keep away from Enugu State, as the security agencies in compliance with the directives of the state government will not condone further breaches of the lockdown order in the state.

 

Three Armed Militia Killed as Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke Destroy Camps, Recover Cache of Arms in Benue

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Three Armed Militia Killed as Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke Destroy Camps, Recover Cache of Arms in Benue

Three armed militia men have been crush as Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE made up Sector 2 deployed at Katsina Ala, Ukum and Logo LGA’S of Benue state and those of Sector 4 drawn from parts of Taraba state at about 0430hrs on 22 April 2020 carried out a special raid operation on a suspected militia camp located at Anku Mbagen in Atera-Jange Torov Council Ward of Ukum LGA of Benue state recovering a large cache cache of arms, ammunition and other items.

The operation the Nigerian military said was sequel to a timely and credible information received on the activities of Tiv armed militia operating around the border areas of Benue and Taraba states.

The armed militia on sighting the troops opened a barrage of fire on own troops while the Special Forces troops responded swiftly and neutralized Three gang members prompting others to abandon their position and weapons fleeing into the bush with gunshot wounds.

Items recovered include One 81mm Mortar gun, five 60mm Commando Mortar gun, Seven locally fabricated Mortar tubes guns, Three SMG rifles, Three Double Barrel rifles, Two locally made rifles, One G3 rifle, One locally made pistol, Five AK 47 magazines, 166 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, One car battery, Fifteen rounds of locally made ammunition, Two bags of gun powder, Nine pairs of Camouflage uniforms, One generator, Three motorcycles, One cellular hand set, charms and assorted hard drugs. There was no casualty on own troops.

Coordinator Defence Media Operations Major General John Enenche said in a statement restated the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to restoring peace in all parts of the country. While requesting the general public for credible information which will assist the military to rid the country of criminal elements.

   

Nigerian Troops Destroy Compounds Housing Boko Haram Commanders in Air Strikes at Bulawa In Borno State

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Nigerian Troops Destroy Compounds Housing Boko Haram Commanders in Air Strikes at Bulawa In Borno State

The Nigerian Military through the Air Task Force of Operation LAFIYA DOLE, has destroyed compounds housing Boko Haram Terrorists’ leaders at Bulawa on the fringes of the Sambisa Forest in Borno State.

The air strikes were executed on 21 April 2020 based on credible human intelligence reports as well as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions that led to the identification of the target compounds within the settlement.

Fighter jets dispatched by the Air Task Force to take out the compounds scored accurate hits in the target area leading to the destruction of some of the structures as well as the neutralization of some of the terrorists occupying the compounds.

Boko Haram fighters, who attempted to reposition to engage the attacking aircraft, were mopped-up in follow-on attacks by the jets.

Coordinator Defence Media Operations Major General John Enenche said in a statement that: “The Armed Forces of Nigeria, in furtherance of the objective of restoring peace and security in the North East, will sustain the offensive against the enemies of our Nation.”

Ijebu man vows to trek from Lagos to Maiduguri if Shekau is captured alive

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Ijebu man vows to trek from Lagos to Maiduguri if Shekau is captured alive

A native of Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, Deji Oladimeji, has vowed to march from Lagos to Maiduguri should the Nigerian Army capture Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau alive.

Oladimeji, who resides in the Ajah area of Lagos, disclosed this while reacting to the Army’s recent feat against the fleeing terrorists.

In the last one week, the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, have shown aggressive gallantry and bravery, crushing the jihadists at every instance.

No fewer than 150 lost their lives when an attempted attack turned soar in Buni Gari, Yobe State, as they met superior fire from the troops.

At the thick of things is Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General T.Y Buratai, who recently relocated to the Theatre of Operations to lead the final clearance.

There are reports, however, that Shekau suffered heavy bruises from the multiple offensives which has so far consumed some of his top generals.

Military authorities reveal that Shekau’s body language is that of one ready to surrender.

“If you talk about body language, the body language is there. If he makes any move in that regard, you will know but from the onslaught from troops, they can’t hide anymore”, Coordinator of the Directorate of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major General John Enenche, said.

Although the military added that there was no official contact with the terror leader yet, Nigerians have kicked against such move, calling on the troops to finish him once and for all.

However, Oladimeji, who is a popular businessman in his neighbourhood wants Shekau captured alive.

Should that happen, the 40-year-old promised to hit the road in a victory walk from Lagos to Maiduguri.

“I must commend our troops for recording such incredible momentum at a time there is crisis in the world. They have given us something to cheer about,” he said.

“I’ve always believed in the COAS. He has shown to be a man that is fearless and ruthless even though he is very jovial. He is dedicated and committed to correct the ills of previous governments.

“ However, as the world can see, victory is already sealed with Shekau begging for settlement. I wish he can be captured and made to pay for his sins gradually.

“If that can be achieved, I will trek from Lagos to Maiduguri even if it takes me one year.”

The Fear of Buratai’s Onslaught, The Beginning Of Wisdom For Boko Haram

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The Fear of Buratai’s Onslaught, The Beginning Of Wisdom For Boko Haram

By David Onmeje

“A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.” -Gen. Douglas MacArthur, US Army.

The surge of anger in Nigeria’s numero uno soldier, Lt. Gen. TY Buratai against Boko Haram criminals and their buddies, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists is palpable and explosive. The Chief of Army Staff and leader of the counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria is smoldering and has gone for the broke against tormentors of the country in whatever configuration.

About mid-April 2020, Gen. Buratai surprised Nigerians when he suddenly announced his decision to relocate to the trenches in the Northeast, lead the anti-terrorism combats from the frontlines and remain rooted on the battlefield until terrorists are completely routed out of Nigeria.

It’s understandable that the Army Chief now goes ruthlessly tougher on the Boko Haram criminals and bastards. He has tried both military and peaceful options, or what others have known as “stick and carrot” approach. But the bloodcurdling bastards, still market themselves in fake bragging might.

Gen. Buratai believes, terrorists of whatever hue cannot repress the African totem of excellence in war-the Nigerian Army or turn Nigeria into a conquered territory insofar as he breathes life.
Like others of like minds, a veteran and dexterous war philosopher, Gen. George S. Patton believed that “Always do everything you ask of those you command.”

Therefore, the vexatious Gen. Buratai laced his boot and hopped into the theatre of war, leading the offensives against terrorists himself.  He has not taken the action merely for expletives. Its not the first time; but the difference now is his vow never to return to Abuja until Boko Haram dissipates completely out of Nigeria.

So, as a prelude to his current outing, Gen.  Buratai embarked on operational tour of troops locations in the Northeast theatre of war, refreshed or updated his intelligence reports, met, interacted and patrolled together with troops in the warzone.
It was American war veteran and diplomat, Colin Powell who said, “The most important thing, I learned is that soldiers watch what their leaders do. You can give them classes and lecture them forever, but it is your personal example they will follow.” So, Gen. Buratai has elevated his style of leadership by example to a new realm.
To clairvoyant minds, Gen. Buratai had conquered terrorists some four years ago.

That thrice, insurgents fruitlessly attempted to sniff life out of him in ambushes in the Northeast, where most of them perished in gun battles and his demystification of Sambisa forest, Boko Haram’s most dreaded enclave are ample evidence of the defeat of terrorists. Gen. Buratai and Nigerian troops are out now for the final interment ceremony of remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists, which will come easy and seamlessly soon.

So, he is personally in the frontlines to lead the funeral of terrorists, grasshopping from territory to territory with troops, coordinating, leading an avalanche of assaults and combing the vestiges of terrorists in all identified hideouts. The results in less than a week have been exceptionally marvelous and still counting. Gen. Buratai and troops have colonized all insurgents’ hideouts on the fringes of the three focal states of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa Northeast. It has thrown terrorists in irrecoverable disarray.

In almost simultaneous operations against terrorists, Nigerian troops of Sector 2, Operation Lafiya Dole neutralized over 105 insurgents at Buni Gari village in Gujba LGA, Yobe state and their weapons confiscated.
With eyes still fixated on Yobe and on revenge, the terrorists again amassed to attack Geidam; but troops of 159 Battalion in Sector 2 in collaboration with the Air Task Force of OPLD met the criminals fire for fire.  And it was another black day for terrorists as at least 13 of them were killed in the encounter and weapons seized, as the few lucky survivors, who lost the strength to battle hastened for escape and were hotly chased. Terrorists retrieved no weapon, but lost everything they brought to the battlefront.

Day and night, Gen. Buratai leads troops to engage Boko Haram insurgents in intensified onslaughts and fierce gun battles to ensure they are finally dislodged and ousted from Nigeria.

Gen. Buratai’s presence in the theatre of operation has ensured, no Boko Haram hideout is impenetrable to Nigerian troops or an adversity too strong to surmount by the Army. Former US Secretary of State & Secretary of Defense Gen.  George C. Marshall, once opinionated that; “The truly great leader overcomes all difficulties, and campaigns and battles are nothing but a long series of difficulties to be overcome. The lack of equipment, the lack of food, the lack of this and that are only excuses; the real leader displays his quality in his triumphs over adversity, however great it may be.”

So, the warmonger does not romance any obstacle; no bulwark mounted against Nigeria troops in the warfront is too difficult to break; the rough terrain of the Northeast has rather become an added booster of strength to Nigerian forces. The leader of the counter-insurgency operation’s only obsession now is the ruthless burying of the final ghost of Boko Haram and its allies in Nigeria.
And the bells are resonating loudly in this direction and terrorists’ camps, together with their sponsors are shuddering endlessly. The phobia of the last day of doom for terrorists’ honchos and top commanders’ inches nearer with each passing day. It is scary and dreary to the bloodsuckers, who have decoded Gen. Buratai’s lucid language of “no retreat, no surrender.”

Scared to his pants, the formerly “invincible” factional leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau is pleading for a chance to ceasefire reticently. He is pleading to chicken out of the battle for a soft-landing now that it is irremediably raining bullets and his camp are suffering casualties on the frontlines.  Shekau’s only fortress, the Timbuktu triangle in Borno is assailed by Nigerian troops.
Shekau is prepared and so desperate to surrender. He has been making frantic efforts through proxies who have mounted pressures on some International Non-Governmental Organisations to anchor an armistice deal with the Nigerian Government towards granting him amnesty.

Some Nigerians who are perpetual doubting Thomases may think the news reports are a ruse and mere propaganda stunts. But they have missed the gist.  Since Gen. Buratai assumed leadership of the counter-operations in Nigeria, the previously haughty, vicious and audacious Abubakar Shekau has never found his operations of festering the evil against Nigerian smooth any longer.
Not only that the momentum and frequency of Shekau’s videos of boastful and horrendous killings of Nigerians as the people grieved have scaled down almost to zero,  but he has also lost the nerve and energy to partake in gruesome operations, preferring to use foot soldiers who have consistently and generously met their waterloo in the hands of Nigerian Army on the battle turf. Nigerians; Shekau has lost incredible top commanders, foot soldiers to the Nigerian military these past years.
Today is not the first time Shekau would wail loudly about his declining fortunes in the extremist war he wedged against Nigeria. For instance, in one of Shekau’s released videos’ in 2017, after Nigerian troops gave him hard kicks on the ankles by serial defeats, he publicly lamented his frustrations about the inevitable possibility of defeat in the war, as he became a loner in the war.

In another February 2018 video, Shekau who became a fugitive and remained in the cooler for nearly a year, feebly threatened Nigeria by pleading with his foot soldiers to unleash attacks on infidels in major cities of the country like Abuja and Lagos among others. Neither himself nor adherents have been able to execute this threat.
Not long ago, Shekau again bemoaned publicly how Gen. Buratai was killing them (terrorists), who are Muslims; but claims to be a Muslim. His latest clandestine attempts to surrender the war and himself to the Nigerian authorities is just one of his several preceding signs of death as echoed by Shakespeare that “a coward dies many times before his death.”

But unfortunately, Nigerians are thinking that Abubakar Shekau’s contemplation of truce and surrender to the Nigerian Government for a possible amnesty is a little bit belated. And having abused earlier gestures of truce and reconciliation, Gen. Buratai appears to be too angry now beyond appeasement and mulling ceasefire now is unwise. An opportunity once lost, most times, is never regained.
Besides, the COAS has renewed his order that Abubakar Shekau be captured alive at the cost of anything.  And the Army Chief looks poised to prove a point to Nigerians.  It seems the fear of Buratai, the “Peoples General,” as he is feted, is the beginning of wisdom. The situation looks very grim for Shekau.

If gleaned from the mindset of the Nigerian Military, Abubakar Shekau is welcomed to surrender after defeat and exhaustion in the years of internecine war he unleashed against his compatriots. But he must not forget that he will not be welcomed with pomp and pageantry into the communal life of Nigerians.
But he is assured that only the volley of wailings of the innocent souls he initiated, participated and supervised their gruesome mass deaths will be waiting for him at Eagle Square, Abuja to tear him into shreds. No one is scaring him not to surrender; but it is also nice for him to know the fate which awaits him from Nigerians in the event he surrenders.
Like Capt. Bill Murphy said at end of every briefing to soldiers deployed to fight in 2003 Iraqi war; “Good luck, Godspeed, and come home safe;” Gen. Buratai and Nigerian troops, good luck and come home safe with the terrorists’ honcho, Abubakar Shekau. Nigerians awaits him!

Onmeje wrote this piece from the United Kingdom.

ASF and the real agenda of France in Nigeria

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ASF and the real agenda of France in Nigeria

By Abe Kolawole

Avocats Sans Frontières France (Lawyers Without Borders France), ASF France, recently released a statement indicating that security agencies in Nigeria are violating the rights of citizens in the enforcement of the COVID-19 lockdown. I read the report with utter disbelief. I could not, as a first, place, the rationale for such diatribe in this critical time in the country.

I concluded that it was of poor taste and somewhat an attempt to cause a distraction to the efforts of our security agencies in the country in this critical assignment they are tasked with. ASF did not only goof, and they also displayed hatred and ignorance at the same time.

As a first, they stated that “It is disheartening that the brutality of security agencies in the course of enforcing the COVID-19 lockdown has resulted to more deaths than the pandemic.” if this isn’t an insult to our sensibilities as Nigerians, I do not know how else to describe it. It is my considered opinion that it was indeed a joke taken too far in the feeble attempt to cause a distraction that would ultimately serve the purpose of their paymasters.
We must admit that from all indications, France seems to have some grudges with our security agencies with regards to the war against terrorism in Nigeria. It is on record that France has been covertly fueling the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria through the sponsorship of groups to distract and paint our security agencies in a bad light.

Back to the ASF, it is sad that such half-truths could be circulated in the media with impunity regardless of whose ox is gored. They have decided to turn the truth on its head in fulfillment of their nefarious mandate. Is the ASF telling us that they are not in the know of the various efforts of our security agencies in ensuring that a code of conduct guides security personnel on duty?

Is the ASF not also aware that our various security agencies have issued advisories on how to go about reporting issues of excessive use of force by security personnel? I recall that the Nigerian Army issued directives and availed the citizenry hotlines to report cases of excessive use of force by its personnel. This was a move that was widely commended by all and sundry.

In the light of the posturing of the ASF, I dare to say that there is more than meets the eyes. The position of ASF reeks of a dubious and fraudulent attempt to cry wolves where none exists. I dare to state that ASF, in their wisdom, is acting out the script of their paymasters holed up in France and not happy with the various efforts of the Nigerian government in the containment of the further spread of the Coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria.

In their mischief, they could not do their homework well by stating that the brutality of security agencies in the course of enforcing the COVID-19 lockdown has resulted in more deaths than the pandemic. This is an apparent lack of common sense and an indication that their paymasters in France have mandated the ASF to cause maximum damage in Nigeria.

From all indications, ASF is nothing but the intellectual wing of the French interest to destabilize Nigeria, in addition to their demonic activities in North-East Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region. The presence of groups like the ASF in Nigeria is ultimately to serve one purpose, which is to destabilize Nigeria. And this much they have begun with the disjointed and illogical accusation of security operatives violating the rights of Nigerian citizens in the enforcement of the COVID-19 lockdown.

The Nigerian government must rise to the occasion to ensure that dubious groups like the ASF do not succeed in heating the polity and poisoning the minds of Nigerians. We do need such distractions for now as we continue in our efforts towards halting the further spread of the Coronavirus.

There is nothing like brutality and extra-judicial killings of civilians by security agents in Nigeria, and the ASF cannot claim to know more than Nigerians. We are Nigerians, and we know what is happening in Nigeria. The ASF and their paymasters should do well to leave Nigeria to handle its issues. They should quit playing to the gallery and not in a period where countries are batting the further spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The ASF should instead look to France where Police fought running battles in at least five suburbs of Paris with residents who accused officers of using heavy-handed tactics to enforce France’s strict coronavirus lockdown where residents burnt cars and shot fireworks at police, who responded with rubber bullets and tear gas in the northern suburbs of Villeneuve-la-Garenne and Aulnay-sous-Bois.

This much the ASF should concentrate on instead of distorting facts about human rights violations and what have you in Nigeria. This despicable attempt failed woefully as it is clear that it is nothing but a puerile attempt in courting public attention to the detriment of the peace and tranquility enjoyed in Nigeria since the implementation of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Having stated the above, it must be stated that the ASF must do well to enlighten us about brutality and where such brutality occurred in Nigeria. They should also do well to inform us about flagrant abuse and excessive use of force by security agents during enforcement. They should also tell us about what is happening in France compared to Nigeria and make an informed decision. The ASF should understand that their antics can’t fool Nigerians.

Charity, as they say, must begin from home. As such, the ASF must remain committed to assisting victims of human rights abuses, and help their families seek justice in France where there are widespread cases of excessive use of force and brutality by French police on French citizens.

I wonder when France would give up on their nefarious plot against Nigeria. This recent diatribe by the ASF is just one of those many attempts at destabilizing Nigeria since they could no longer make any headway in North-East Nigeria through the sponsorship of groups parading themselves as International NGOs but actively involved in espionage activities.

The ASF is no different from these dubious groups, and this much they have displayed through their recent attempt that was dead on arrival. This much we know.

KOLAWOLE is former Public Relations Officer, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

Avoiding dissents in final onslaught against Boko Haram

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Avoiding dissents in final onslaught against Boko Haram

By Vincent Amah

Recently, the news from the north east has been very good and encouraging. The given continued successes of our troops against the combined evil of Boko Haram and the so-called Islamic State of West Africa Province in places like Geidam and Gonori, just to mention a few, are good music to our ears. However, it is really unfortunate that at this time when the Nigerian Army, led by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai are conducting the final onslaught against the remnants of Boko Haram and the so-called Islamic State West Africa Province jihadists, there are some people that are not pleased at all for reasons best known to them. Therefore, it is important that every Nigerian should rise up in support of our gallant troops, pray for their success and discourage distractors and saboteurs.

Recently, the Chadian army claimed it has killed 1,000 Boko Haram fighters during an operation announced by the country’s Army spokesman, Colonel Azem Bermendoa Agouna; who also said 52 troops died during the operation, which was launched on 31st March 2020.

When the news broke, it was celebrated by lots of persons. The story made headlines on local and international newspapers, the social media was not left out too. The frenzy among some Nigerians was unimaginable. This encouraging news however has not been independently verified till date.

Many well informed persons and experts in security matters have argued that if the success recorded by Chadian troops against the Boko Haram terrorists is anything to go by, then it would be that the Chadian forces used a new approach that had never been deployed before.

The attack was adjudged a success because the Chadian troops killed many of the insurgents, destroyed five of their bases and recovered thousands of weapons.

While not attempting to take the shine away from the gallantry of the Chadian troops, one pertinent question to ask is, where are the local and international NGOs that have always gone against similar success stories of the Nigerian troops? Where is Amnesty international that is always quick to comment negatively or issue demoralizing statements against our troops on any reported encounter? Have they suddenly lost their voice?

Recall how Amnesty International have severally written reports against the Nigerian military forces and in particular the Army, accusing it of so many imaginable infractions including extrajudicial executions, war crimes and other serious human rights violations in north-eastern Nigeria. These cooked up reports by the NGO almost always come in at the heels of troops’ notable successes against the jihadists whose only agenda is to kill and maim.

Any discerning mind will raise the question: why does Amnesty International always rush to accuse our troops of war crimes each time it turns the heat against the terrorists? Who is the Amnesty International backing? Are they afraid of Nigeria winning the war against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists?

It is now obvious that there are people who don’t want to see anything good about our military who have been giving their utmost best to secure the nation to the point of laying down their lives in defence of all Nigerian citizens and residents therein.

How do you explain that the same Amnesty International who in one of its reports, alleged that Boko Haram detainees’ throats were slit one by one and dumped in mass graves by men who appear to be members of the Nigerian Army and the “Civilian Joint Task Force” (CJTF), state-sponsored militias, but suddenly went quiet when Chadian Chief Prosecutor Youssouf Tom announced that a group of 44 suspected members of the Boko Haram captured during the recent operation were found dead in their prison cell, apparently poisoned? Has the Amnesty International suddenly gone on vacation? Or are they turning blind eyes to these facts?

If Amnesty International is to have it’s way, it would wish that Nigerian troops were slaughtered while having sympathy towards the terrorists. I am yet to come across any report by Amnesty International condemning attacks by Boko Haram terrorists on Nigerian troops.

It is a known fact that the insurgents are renegades of the terrorists who fled Nigerian territories and crossed over to Chad, Cameron and Niger Republics after being mauled by Nigerian troops in the renewed wave of operations since Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai took over the command of the Nigerian Army some years back. Chad turned a blind eye on their continued presence but suddenly woke up after a breach which led to the death of close to 100 Chadian soldiers.

If the Chadian Army claimed they have killed 1000 insurgents, the questions begging for answers are, where are the bodies of these insurgents, was there a mass grave for the bodies? No one seems to be answering these questions.

This act is indeed worrisome and should give all well-meaning persons a reason for worry because as it stands, we are not only fighting terrorism in Nigeria, but fighting conspiracy from collaborators.

It is very important to note that Nigeria is far ahead of Chad and other countries in the fight against insurgency. History has shown at different levels that Nigeria has been the leader in many counter insurgency operations across the continent including in the Multinational Joint Task Force currently fighting the Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.

Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai, the Nigerian Chief of Army Staff has been leading the fight from the front since he was so appointed in July 2015. He has personally participated in drills and other military exercises with fighting troops, talked and interacted with them directly and led operations in the theatres of war.

Buratai has been able to win the war by adopting tactics and strategies that suits particular geographical locations which he is quite familiar with.

Troops confidence has further been boosted with the keen interest he has shown in the improved welfare of soldiers and instilling in them a high sense of patriotism.

Nigerians must now unite and give our troops the much needed morale booster as they take the battle to the enclaves of the remaining and badly beaten insurgents. It is time to free our nation and the people of the north east from those who wished we are held captives by terrorists.

Make no mistake, Amnesty international is not our friend, especially in this war against terrorism. Nigerians must watch out for their antics in the final days of the insurgents. As the Nigerian Army move in for the final and decisive victory against our enemies, well meaning Nigerians should watch out for another damming Amnesty International report against our brave troops. Then we will know who the real enemy is. May God help our troops in this final encounter with our staunch enemies.

Vincent Amah
Social Commentator
Writing from Ikeja Lagos
22nd April 2020

Nigerian Navy Rescues Three Beninoise From Fishing Boat Fire in Lagos

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Nigerian Navy Rescues Three Beninoise From Fishing Boat Fire in Lagos

The Nigerian Military High Command on Wednesday, said that its troops successfully rescued three Beninoise after their fishing vessel caught fire at the Lagos anchorage.

Coordinator of the Defence Media Operations (CDMO), Major General John Enenche made the disclosure in an operation update released in Abuja, and obtained by Television Nigerian.

General Enenche said, the crew were rescued by the Nigerian Navy Ship BINI after a distress call was sent out at past midnight on April 21.

“On arrival at the scene, the fishing boat with a call sign SHORT TAIL was completely engulfed by fire, one of the crew member was severely burnt in the incident. The crew members who could not communicate in English were given first aid at the naval Base Medical Centre where they were stabilized and treated”. he said.

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