Thugs Attack Igbo Traders In Sokoto

According to the sun newspaper and punch, Some unidentified youths, suspected to be hoodlums, on Saturday, carried out attacks targeted on Igbo traders, in Sokoto, the Sokoto State capital.

Our Correspondent reports that the attacks occurred around Old Market Road, Bello Way and Emir Yahaya areas of Sokoto metropolis, at about noon.

The frightened incident however forced other Igbo traders to closed down their shops and ran for safety against the backdrop of heightened security situation in other parts of the country.

An eyewitness who sighted the irate youths in their hundreds along Bello way said were armed with cutlasses, stones and sticks before l before razing down a building belong to some Igbo traders.

A victim who simply identified his name as Chief Gabriel Okafor told our Correspondent on phone that his house was reported razed down by some suspected arsonists.

“Right now, I just received a call from my wife that some youths have invaded my house and set it ablaze. My family narrowly escaped the attacks.” Chief Okafor alarmed.

Another victim, Mr William Emmanuel Usoh told Journalists that his Honda Civic car was touched by some unidentified youths along Emir Yahaya road.

Usoh explained that the timely arrival of men of the Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps (NCSDC), however stopped the youths in their attempt to further vandalize shops within the vicinity.

When contacted the President General, Igbo Community in Sokoto State, Chief Charles Uwaga, confirmed the incident.

He said reports reaching him indicated that some of his members have been attacks within the state capital. “A member just called me that his house have been razed down. There are also cases of shops vandalization.

However, there was heavy presence of security personnel that including Army, Police, Civil Defence Corps, especially within the state capital.

In a related development, Sokoto state government has urged all residents to go about their normal activities without fear of molestation, saying all arrangements have been put in place to ensure security of lives and property.

A statement issued by Malam Imam Imam, the spokesman to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, said what is happening in other parts of the country, especially the South East, will have no negative effect on residents of Sokoto.

“Governor Tambuwal has urged for calm. He has met severally with security agencies, religious and traditional rulers. He is also in touch with members of the resident communities.

“In addition, the Governor is in touch with his counterparts in other states to see how they can synergise to ensure that peace is maintained.

“Residents are thereby urged to report any suspicious activities to constituted authorities,” the statement added.

The statement praised the people of Sokoto for being their brothers’ keepers, and urged them to engage in acts that enhance unity, brotherhood and understanding at all times.

“We’re happy to note that so far, business premises, markets, worship centres and public gatherings have continued unhindered. This administration is committed to sustaining our cherished status as the most peaceful State in Nigeria,” it added.

Photos Of Police Officer Who Died In Ariaria International Market Police Station Attack In Abia State

On Thursday, 14th, 2017, unknown hoodlums reportedly attacked the Ariaria International Market Police division in Aba, an attack that left a station officer at dead.

According to reports, here are his photos; (Both in Hospital and in police uniform)

RIP

Read the initial report;



The city of Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State is on fire today as unidentified persons in the early hours of today attacked the Ariaria

Police Divisional Headquarters and burnt it.

Most markets in the city and other businesses have been closed and people stayed in their homes as youth unrest spread round the city like wild fire following rumours that went viral in the wee hours of today that soldiers burnt houses and killed some residents of Umuode near Aba and its environs, Sun reports.

Information about the attack as at the time of filing the report was sketchy, although sources said that there was no casualty.
It was gathered that following the attack, security has been beefed up at the Aba Area Command Headquarters and other Police Divisions in the commercial city.

The Area Command headquarters was cordoned off and vehicles were not allowed to enter the adjourning roads…. See Photos Here

“When Yar ‘Adua Fought Me, He Ended Up In The Grave, Goodluck Fought Me And Ended Up In Otueke” – Gov El-Rufai (Video)

Taking a swipe at former President, Goodluck Jonathan and his former late boss, Yar ‘Adua, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai during a peace meeting, said that when Yar ‘Adua fought him he ended up in the grave. The Governor who also talked about his fight with Goodluck Jonathan, said he ended up in his village, Otueke.

Nasir El-Rufai who warned his political opponents not to fight him, said;

“I had fought with two presidents,” Mr El-Rufai said at the Kaduna APC stakeholders meeting held at Murtala Mohammed Square, Kaduna, “Umaru Yar’Adua ended in his grave, while President Goodluck Jonathan ended in Otueke.”

“Let us forget our differences and work for the development of the party. If you are not willing to stop the fight, you should know that I am a dogged fighter,” he said.

The governor who later knelt before the Kaduna State APC Stakeholders who are all enmeshed in the party’s crisis, with two party senators, Shehu Sani and Sulaiman Hunkuyi and a number of members of the House of Representatives forming a formidable faction against the governor,apologized to the ward, local government and state excos, members of state and National Assembly and other stakeholders of the party for all his wrongdoings.

“I implore you to tell me the wrong I did to you and I will apologize. But if it goes beyond today, I will never tender apology,” he added

Nnamdi Kanu Flees, Goes Into Hiding After Terrorism Charge

Nnamdi Kanu, founder of the Indigenous People of Biafra, has fled and gone into hiding along with top leaders of his group after the Nigerian Army declared last Friday that IPOB and other Pro-Biafran groups were terrorists organizations.

Investigations by SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday revealed that Kanu and his top lieutenants had ‘disappeared’ from his country home in Afaraukwu near Umuahia and other places he frequently visited.

His father, Eze Israel Kanu, is the traditional ruler of the town.

Some IPOB members, who spoke on conditions of anonymity to Punch explained that Kanu and others were advised to go underground following the declaration by the Army and the decision of the South-East governors to proscribe activities of pro-Biafra agitators in the region.

An IPOB member said:


“We have to apply wisdom to whatever we are doing. We have realised that there is a grand conspiracy against Kanu and other top leaders of our group.

“Just imagine barely few hours after the Nigerian military declared members of IPOB and other pro-Biafran groups as terrorists, our own governors came up with their own outright ban of our activities.

“This definitely will give the soldiers and other security agencies the opportunity to arrest our leader and mount a deadly clampdown on all IPOB members. So, it is better to operate from a hideout for now.”

When contacted on phone on Saturday, Kanu’s younger brother simply identified as Fine Boy, refused to tell SUNDAY PUNCH where his brother was, adding that only the IPOB leader could disclose his hiding place.

He said:


“Only my brother can tell Nigerians where he is, I can’t. I don’t know why the Army should call IPOB a terrorist organisation, it is out of their desperation to arrest Nnamdi and frustrate the Biafran struggle. We have petitioned the United Nations and the European Union.

“The world knows that IPOB is a non-violent organisation, we don’t carry arms, we don’t kill, and we believe violence can never solve any problem.

“Nnamdi will soon disclose his current location and IPOB will also react to the proscription of the group by the South-East governors’ forum.”

SUNDAY PUNCH also adds that their investigations on Saturday also showed that security agencies were combing the South-East region in search of Kanu.

Findings by one of their correspondents in Abuja showed that the security agencies had been directed to arrest Kanu and other leaders of his group.

The security agencies that were given the directive, according to investigations, include the military, the police and the Department of State Services.

It was gathered that the government felt that it could be dangerous to leave Kanu a free man till the next adjourned date when his case would come up at an Abuja Federal High Court.

Nnamdi Kanu’s case is said to be coming up later in October.

Turkey Disowns Its Citizen Supporting Biafran Agitation

The Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Nigeria has said it was committed to the territorial integrity and political unity of the country.
It denied supporting the secessionist agitations in the country and further disowned a Turkish citizen, Abdülkadir Erkahraman, who has been drumming support for the Biafran agitation.

He has also posted videos online accusing President Buhari of committing genocide.
But the mission in a statement on Saturday said Erkahraman is not a Turkish diplomat or an official representative of the Turkish government.

Nigerian Army To Launch Operation Crocodile Smile In S’South, S’West

The Nigerian Army has said it would launch Operation Crocodile Smile II, which would cover the South-South region and some parts of the South-West as Operation Python Dance in the South-East region continues to generate controversy.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, said this in an interview with Signature TV on Saturday.

The army spokesman noted that “encouraging feedback” from the South-East after Python Dance I made the army commence Python Dance lI.

He said:


“Look, this is the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Nigerian military belongs to Nigeria and they have a duty to exercise in any part of the country. It is so sad that some people try to politicise these issues. They should have exercised patience and seen how this exercise would go.

“We had Operation Harbin Kunama II covering the North-West and parts of the North-Central this year. As soon as we are done with Egwu Eke II (Python Dance), we are also going on Crocodile Smile II that will cover the South-South and some parts of the South-West of the country.

“Operation Python Dance II came about based on the encouraging feedback we received as a result of Python Dance I held last year. This is especially because of the crimes during the ‘ember’ period in the region. You know that the South-easterners, who are enterprising and industrious people, have to return to their places at the end of the year.

“Unfortunately, some criminal elements take advantage of this period to perpetrate crimes. We have armed robberies, kidnappings, and communal clashes. But the Christmas of 2016 and New Year 2017 were the most peaceful in that part of the country, and that is attributed to the field training exercise, Python Dance I.”

The army spokesman said the activities of a group of “vocal people, out of mischief or ignorance trying to create violence” should not be taken as the stand of the South-East region.

“Dear Igbo People Don’t Allow Nnamdi Kanu To Mislead You” – Rev Father Mbaka

Charismatic Roman Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, has finally spoken about the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu and the agitation for secession.

In a three-minute video posted online, Mbaka insisted that Igbos were not hated.

The infulential cleric also stated that Kanu and the other Biafra fighters, should not be the ones in the forefront of the battle.

Mbaka said: “Nobody should deceive you saying that ‘Igbos are hated’. That’s how we (Igbos) believe nonsense. The poor masses are told to agitate for Biafra.

“There is nothing wrong in Biafra. But those that say they want Biafra now (or never) should come out let us see the crème of the Igbos then we all will push for Biafra.

“Let the crème de la crème among the Igbos be at the forefront while the poor masses that loiter the streets in the name of Biafra will support from behind.

“The right thing is for parents to protect their children from danger. I am not against Biafra but let the Igbo political elites; the Ubas of Anambra, Peter Obi, Ekwueme, Ekweremadu, Nnamanis, Sullivan Chime, Anyim Pius Anyim, I (Mbaka) etc should be the ones pushing for Biafra not our children who get killed on the streets every day.

“Where are the Igbo political elites? They are in hiding in Abuja and overseas.

“They have sent these children to push for Biafra and they have gone in hiding. That is not leadership. A leader should be in front to take bullets for his followers just as Christ willingly gave his life for his followers. A leader is not one who will sit and sacrifice the poor for his ambition.

“Anybody Found With Biafra Flag Will Be Arrested” – Abia Commissioner Of Police

Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Anthony Ogbizi, has warned that anybody found with Biafra emblem will be arrested and charged to court. .

Ogbizi who stated this while parading 7 suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, explained that with the proscription of the group by the South East governors, it has becomes illegal for anyone to operate under IPOB or adorn Biafra emblems. .

He lamented that one of the injured officers, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, serving at the Ariaria Police Station has died out of the injuries he sustained during the attack. Via: Vanguardngr