Residents and cocoa farmers in Etung LGA of Cross River State have alleged that they are being assaulted by soldiers from Afi Barracks in Edor community of Ikom LGA.
They pleaded that the soldiers should stop attacking them, alleging that a rich cocoa farmer was behind their predicament.
Speaking to journalists on behalf of the cocoa farmers, the youth leader in Agbokim Waterfalls in Etung LGA, Comrade Williams Akan Takon, said there have been facing intimidation from the soldiers.
He called on the Nigeria Army 13 Brigade Calabar to caution its personnel from the Afi Barracks against intimidating the indigenes of the community.
The youth leader also reacted to the presence of military personnel in the community, noting that their numbers keep increasing on a daily basis.
The youth leader claimed that the residents of the community are always intimidated at the slightest provocation.
He cited an instance where the uniformed men stormed the community at an unholy hour, claiming they are looking one of the youths, Mr Akem Aganchawa.
According to the youth leader, the soldiers broke into Aganchawa’s house in his absence.
He lamented that the peaceful relationship that existed between the members of the community and the soldiers has suddenly disappeared.
“We used to have some peaceful military men who were friendly and approachable. They were like brothers to this community, unfortunately the reverse is the case now.
“The military personnel have been entering our community since July 2024. They now come with hostility, intimidation and sometimes would be flogging the community locals, especially if they were unable to apprehend the individual that had been penciled down for arrest.”
Also speaking on alleged harassment and intimidation, a farmer, Mr Asu Njoh, said it was unfortunate that people who were supposed to protect members of the community are now assaulting them.
Cocoa tussle: Indigenes of Cross River community cry out over intimidation by soldiers
Cocoa tussle: Indigenes of Cross River community cry out over intimidation by soldiers
PROTESTS: Python Dance would be a joke if the Russian flags were found with an Igbo man —Eedris Abdulkareem
Eedris Abdulkareem, a former band member of the defunct music group The Remedies, has said that operation ‘Python Dance’ by the Nigerian Armed Forces would have been a joke if the Russian flags were found with an Igbo man in the East.
The veteran musician, who was reacting to the shocking use of Russian flags by #EndBadGovernance protesters in a post on his Instagram page, said that the situation would have been different if Igbos were at the center of the act.
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According to multiple award-winning artiste, if that was the case, then, Python Dance would be a joke as it would be a ceaseless ‘gwo gwo’ dance in that part of town.
‘‘Let’s assume that the Russian flag was found with an Igbo man? Python Dance will be a joke, it would be a ceaseless ‘gwo gwo dance,’’ Eedris wrote on his Instagram page.
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Hardship: Calls for coup no longer acceptable – Abacha’s ex-CSO, Al-Mustapha
Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to ex-Military Head of State, late General Sani Abacha, has described the calls for a military takeover in the country.
Al-Mustapha described the calls as a misplaced priority, adding that there was no longer room for military intervention in Nigeria’s political affairs as democracy had come to stay in Nigeria.
Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja, he advised coup agitators to channel their energies into investing in military subordination to democracy.
He stressed that military rule was no longer fashionable around the world.
The retired Nigerian Army Major, intelligence officer, and politician, however, opposed both the parliamentary and presidential systems of government which Nigeria is practicing, saying it was strange to the historical backgrounds of the people of Nigeria.
He said he was now a Democrat and would not subscribe to any insubordination to democracy in whatever guise, asking those calling for a coup to drop the idea and rather work to deepen the nation’s democracy.
“I am by definition today, a politician. I am looking at this country today from a democratic sense. We have invested in it and we are investing in it. Our research is all towards the investment of democratic excellence in Nigeria.
“Military subordination to democracy is a clear direction as the world is today. But when you have democracy, the type that we are operating -presidential system,” he said.
Hardship: Calls for coup no longer acceptable – Abacha’s ex-CSO, Al-Mustapha
UK reassures Nigerians on safety amidst unrest
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, has assured the Nigerian diaspora in the United Kingdom of their safety following recent unrest in various cities across the country.
Montgomery gave the assurance during a meeting with the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
Montgomery, in a statement signed by one of the media and Public Relations Unit staff members of the commission, Gabriel Odu, on Wednesday addressed concerns about the disturbances affecting 12 towns in the UK.
He revealed that the UK government was implementing measures to restore order, including the establishment of a special task force of 60 courts with police and legal operatives to tackle the criminal activities linked to the unrest.
Montgomery emphasised the UK’s commitment to being an inclusive and tolerant society, reaffirming that the country will not accept discrimination or attacks against any community.
The British High Commissioner stated that the government is also taking steps to address online incitement and misinformation.
“We will not as a country accept discrimination or attacks against any community,” he was quoted to have said.
The statement noted that Montgomery reported that around 430,000 Nigerian visa applications were successful this year. He advised applicants to apply directly and be cautious of using agents.
Dabiri-Erewa commended the UK government for its swift response and noted that, to date, no Nigerians have been reported harmed or affected by the disturbances.
She reiterated the importance of the travel advisory issued by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and advised Nigerians in the UK to remain vigilant and cautious.
The meeting also included British Deputy High Commissioner Gill Lever, First Secretary Political Natalie Palmer, and staff members from NIDCOM.
Countries including Nigeria, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, and Canada have warned their citizens against travelling to the United Kingdom following violent riots across the country.
According to Reuters, the unrest began after a knife attack at a children’s dance class in Southport, northwest England, last Monday, which resulted in the deaths of three girls and injuries to ten others.
The incident has sparked widespread protests fueled by misinformation suggesting the attacker was an immigrant and radical Islamist. However, police confirmed that the suspect, born in Britain, is not being treated as a terrorist.
Foreign media reported that more than 420 arrests have been made as social media-fueled riots spread across the UK. In one instance, a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, near Sheffield, was petrol-bombed, leading to clashes with police and injuries to ten riot officers.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed to do “whatever it takes to bring these thugs to justice” as he addressed the nation on Sunday.
PRP condemns killings, warns against use of live ammunition
The opposition Peoples Redemption Party on Wednesday raised concerns over the use of lethal force against Nigerians who participated in the nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests.
The opposition party’s fear comes in the wake of a report that a soldier shot a 16-year-old protester dead in the Samaru community, Zaria, Kaduna State on Tuesday.
The teenage protester was identified as Ismail Mohammed.
According Online reported that the incident occurred when troops of the Nigerian Army received a distress call to help disperse some hoodlums, who were burning tyres and attacking security personnel in Samaru.
The mob had attempted to attack the troops, an action that made the soldier fire a warning shot to scare the hoodlums away.
But the bullet hit Mohammed leading to his death.
As of the time of filing the report, the Nigerian Army said the soldier involved has since been arrested and undergoing interrogation.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had said security operatives involved in the management of the #EndBadGovernance protest did not use live ammunition.
Reacting in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party, Falalu Bello, warned that peaceful civilians protesting against hunger in the country shouldn’t be the target of gun-totting operatives who are deployed to maintain order.
He said, “As protests are part and parcel of the plural democracy Nigerians have chosen for themselves, we demand a full investigation and accountability for the loss of lives and limbs through the use of live ammunition by the Nigerian security agencies in many locations where killings and maiming were reported.
“Moving forward, we demand of our legislatures in the National Assembly, legislation that defines rules of engagements of protesters in Nigeria with the security agencies during protests that, inter alia, should prohibit the use of live ammunition in all future protests.
“The use of live ammunition to control protests in Nigeria must be stopped.
“We, on the other hand, condemn, in very strong terms, the rioters who infiltrated the peaceful protests in places like Kano and Kaduna states to destroy public property and breach in shops and buildings to steal goods of ordinary Nigerians.”
Continuing, Bello condemned the flying of Russian flags and called for the return of the military, saying it was an ill wind that would do the nation no good.
The PRP national chairman said that though President Bola Tinubu may have disappointed many Nigerians with a nationwide broadcast that did little to assuage frayed nerves, the onus is on the youth who constitute a larger voting bloc in the country to vote him out at the next poll.
“In the ongoing protests, we have heard of some people calling for the Nigerian military to take over government in Nigeria.
“We in the PRP are against this call and believe strongly that the military should be restricted to their constitutional responsibility of protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria and assisting the Nigeria Police Force to maintain peace when called to do so.
“The Nigerian electorate, we believe, should be allowed to change any bad government through the ballot box.
“The APC government of President Bola Tinubu can be changed through the ballot box, and we call on the Nigerian youth, who constitute 67 per cent of registered voters of Nigeria, to massively come out in the next two years and eight months to bring a new government that would have empathy for its citizens and bring good governance to the nation, and this is possible,” he assured.
Rep Ugochinyere denies $1.7m bribery allegations, vows to fight corruption
Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere, Chairman of the House Committee on Downstream Petroleum, on Wednesday, vehemently denied allegations that he bribed the House leadership with $1.7 million to secure his position.
In a statement, he described the claims as “false, nonsensical, and childish” attempts to divert attention from the endemic corruption in the oil industry.
Ugochinyere expressed support for the Speaker’s decision to dissolve the joint committee investigating challenges in the oil sector, stating that he trusts the Speaker’s judgment.
He emphasized his commitment to transparency and reform, vowing to push for accountability in the oil industry.
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The lawmaker praised the Speaker and Deputy Speaker for their inclusive leadership style, which has maintained stability in the House.
He dismissed the allegations as a “smear campaign” by corrupt elements seeking to escape justice.
Ugochinyere reaffirmed his focus on fighting for good governance, undeterred by the attacks and allegations against him and the House leadership, warning that those behind the allegations will face the wrath of the law, including other smear campaigns.
“The allegation is a belated, nonsensical, childish, and unprofessional fiction work aimed at creating division in the House,” Ugochinyere said.
“We will not dignify the cheap attempt to distract and divert attention from the House investigation on corruption in the oil industry. I remain focused in my fight for good governance”, he added.
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CDS Musa urges ECOWAS Defence Chiefs to uphold democratic values
The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa, has called on ECOWAS Defense Chiefs to always uphold democratic values.
He gave this advice at the 42nd Ordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff in Abuja on Wednesday.
Musa decried military takeover in some West African countries, saying it has created unintended consequences and threatened democratic values in the region.
According to him, the threat of military takeover must be destroyed, adding that it negates the core values and responsibilities of the military profession.
He further stated that in democratic countries, the military must uphold democratic values in line with the principles of their constitutions.
Also speaking, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar; and his Foreign Affairs counterpart, Yusuf Tuggar; tasked the service chiefs from the regional bloc to tackle terrorism through effective collaboration to combat the illicit movement of small arms and light weapons in the West African sub-region.
The meeting held at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja has regional security as one of its agenda at a time the bloc is considering the establishment of a force that will counter security challenges.
Of the 15 defence chiefs expected at the meeting, those of Cape Verde, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Togo were absent.
At the end of the previous meeting last August, the defence chiefs had agreed to a comprehensive and holistic approach towards political, security and diplomatic dimensions in addressing the situation in Niger Republic.
The military regimes in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger had set up the mutual defence pact, leaving the wider Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) bloc in January.
In July, the three country’s leaders took part in the first summit of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), set up after pulling out of ECOWAS.
Their exit from ECOWAS was fuelled in part by their claim that Paris was manipulating the bloc, and not providing enough support for anti-jihadist efforts.
CDS Musa urges ECOWAS Defence Chiefs to uphold democratic values
Suspected herders attack farmers in Plateau, injure four
Gunmen suspected to be herders have attacked some farmers in Plateau State injuring four persons in the process.
It was learnt that the victims had gone to their farms in the Bachi community, Riyom Local Government Area when the gunmen attacked them.
The President of the Berom Youths Moulders Association, Solomon Mwantiri confirmed the incident to The According in Jos on Wednesday
He said the attack took place on Tuesday afternoon and that the injured victims had been evacuated to the hospital and were currently receiving treatment
He said, “At about 2: pm today, August 6, 2024, a group of over 20 well-armed Fulani attacked some natives of Lwa in Bachi District, Riyom LGA who were farming around the Seheng area of the village.
“As a result, four persons sustained varying degrees of injuries including one Caleb Bachen, who had a fracture in his hand”
One of the victims, Caleb Bachen who spoke from his hospital bed said, “I was at a different location from other farmers whom I heard them crying aloud for rescue from the gunfire that was all over the area.
“I never knew what was happening. On trying to run back home, some of the attackers holding arms, machetes, and sticks came after me and hacked me mercilessly despite repeated pleas.
“I screamed for help, and one man by the name Saddau, came and rescued me from the hands of the attackers whom I cannot figure out their number, but were more than 15. Other victims may know the actual figure”.
Another victim said, “We took permission from the Fulani some months ago before we went to cultivate our farms after many years of denial of access thereto.
“The Fulani started threatening us last week that we won’t be allowed to harvest our crops this year.
“So, while we were on our farms, I saw over 20 armed Fulani, who started shooting sporadically, chasing us away from the farmlands. Those carrying sticks beat and injured four of us, some of whom have been rushed for medical attention.”
The Spokesman for the Plateau State Command, Alabo Alfred, could not be reached when contacted on the incident as calls put to his mobile phone indicated that it was switched off
Zamfara denies budgeting N19.3bn for kitchen equipment
The Zamfara State Government has refuted the claim that it budgeted N19.3 billion for purchasing kitchen equipment in 2024, stating that fake news is intended to mislead the public.
On Tuesday, an online platform (not the According)) reported that a review of the Zamfara State budget performance document showed that the state budgeted the quoted amount to purchase kitchen and canteen equipment for the 2024 fiscal year.
In a response during a press briefing in Gusau, the the state capital, the state Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mallam Abdulmalik Gajam, expressed disappointment in the misleading report.
Gajam provided details of the breakdown of the N19.3 billion budgeted for projects under the Ministry of Education.
He said, “The news platform that peddled the fake news pushed half-baked statistics, omitting the vital information from the complete budget performance document.”
“The breakdown of 19.3 billion was budgeted under the Ministry of Education, and it is under the category of capital expenditure.
“The name canteen & kitchen is a fixed asset purchase the coded name of a particular category of multiple expenditures which contain a provision on the agile program, construction of zonal primary schools, provision of smart primary school in Gusau, procurement of kitchen utensil for all government school for 40 million naira, construction of teachers training centre and creation of teachers development funding scheme.
“All this put together is what constituted 19.3 billion.”
The commissioner further stressed that Governor Daudu Lawal’s administration came to reduce the abuse of public funds and block leakages.
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#EndBadGovernance protest: Plateau, Bauchi relax curfew
The Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, on Wednesday, relaxed the 24-hour curfew earlier imposed on Jos, the state capital.
Also, the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has announced the relaxation of the 24-hour curfew imposed on the Katagum Local Government Area of the state, following a significant improvement in the security situation.
Mutfwang’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, announced this in a statement, noting that residents in the affected Jos and Bukuru metropolis can now move freely between 2 pm and 6 pm daily until further notice.
The statement read in parts, “Following the improvement in the security situation within the Jos-Bukuru metropolis, the Plateau State Government has announced a relaxation of the earlier imposed 24-hour curfew. Effective from Wednesday, August 7, 2024, residents of the area can now move freely between the hours of 2 pm and 6 pm daily until further notice.
“Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, who ordered the relaxation after consultation with the security agencies, praised them for their diligence and commitment to ensuring strict compliance with the curfew.”
The statement added that the governor “emphasised the importance of maintaining vigilance to prevent any potential breakdown of law and order, and assured that the government would continue to review the curfew as the situation improved.”
The governor urged residents within the Jos-Bukuru metropolis to cooperate with security personnel and report any suspicious activities for prompt action.
On Sunday, the governor imposed a curfew on the affected areas following reported cases of looting of goods in the Bauchi Road community and Zolo Junction by hoodlums.
The Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Ibrahim Kashim, said on Tuesday that the curfew was relaxed to 12 hours, from 6 pm to 6 am daily.
“This decision comes as a welcome relief to the residents of Katagum who have been under a 24-hour curfew since the deterioration of the security situation in the area,” the statement partly read, adding that the “government’s swift response to the situation has helped to restore sanity and the relaxation of the curfew is a testament to the progress made.”
Mohammed equally “expressed his appreciation for the cooperation of law-abiding citizens and called on them to continue working with security agencies to maintain peace and order.”
Due to the destruction of public property, stealing and victimisation in the Katagum Local Government Area, the state government imposed a 24-hour curfew on Monday.