Politics

BREAKING: Yoruba Nation Activist, Sunday Igboho Arrives Beninese Court Ahead Of Trial.

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Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho has arrived the Cour De’appal De Cotonou, ahead of his arraignment by the authorities of Benin Republic for immigration-related offences.

“Igboho may be arraigned for passport-related offenses in Benin Republic tomorrow. His Nigerian lawyers are here already. Yoruba leaders in the Benin Republic have been supportive as well,” a source had told SaharaReporters on Wednesday night.


The West African country had accused Igboho of illegally owning its passport.

Igboho was arrested at Cardinal Bernardin International Airport, Cotonou, Republic of Benin, with his wife on their way to Germany on Monday night.

He was declared wanted by the Department of State Services earlier in July after his Ibadan house in Oyo state was raided on July 1, 2021 by the operatives of the secret police.

Two people were killed by the DSS in the late night raid while 12 other persons were arrested and later paraded in Abuja.

SaharaReporters gathered that some Yoruba living in and around Cotonou on Thursday thronged the court awaiting the commencement of the trial.

They demanded that Igboho should not be returned to Nigeria, saying that he had committed no offence.

Politics, World News

1984 Extradition Treaty between Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana excludes political refugees – Sunday Igboho’s counsel

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Yomi Alliyu, Lead Counsel for arrested Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho has stated that the Extradition Treaty of 1984 between Togo, Nigeria, Ghana and Republic of Benin excludes political fugitives.

According to him, the treaty states that where the fugitive will not get justice because of discrimination and/or undue delay in prosecution, the host country (in this case Benin) should not release the fugitive.

The Federal Government of Nigeria had placed the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigeria Customs Service on alert to stop Igboho from leaving the country after the Nigerian secret police had raided Igboho’s Ibadan residence in the Soka area on July 1, 2021, arrestimg alt=’1984 Extradition Treaty between Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana excludes political refugees – Sunday Igboho’s counsel’ class=’img-responsive text-center’ style=’margin: auto;’ about 12 of his aides and killing two of them in a gun duel.

The FG then reportedly took Igboho into custody in neighbouring Cotonou on the night of Monday, July 19 while reportedly processing his extradition.

Now his lawyer says such Extradition is not legal in Igboho’s case.

“The Extradition Treaty of 1984 between Togo, Nigeria, Ghana and Republic of Benin excluded political fugitives.” He told PUNCH.

It also states that where the fugitive will not get justice because of discrimination and/or undue delay in prosecution the host country should not release the fugitive.

“Now, Article 20 of African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights to which the four countries are signatories made agitation for self-determination a fundamental right to be protected by all countries. This made Chief Sunday Adeyemo a political offender who cannot be deported and/or extradited by the good people of the Republic of Benin for any reason,” Alliyu said.

He also urged the government of Germany, Benin Republic and the international community “to rise up and curb the impunity of the Nigerian Government by refusing any application for extradition of Igboho.”

Politics, World News

Yoruba Nation Supporters In London Protest Over Igboho’s Arrest, To Storm German Embassy.

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The Yoruba Nation agitators have said they will, today Wednesday, stage a protest at 10 Downing Street, London, United Kingdom, to demand the release of Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, who was arrested by security operatives and detained in Benin Republic. This was confirmed by Olayomi Koiki, media aide to Igboho, on his Facebook live on Tuesday.

He called on all patriotic Yoruba indigenes in London to join in the protest as they would also take the protest to the German embassy.
Koiki claimed that since the attack on his principal’s house by operatives of the Department of State Services, some supporters had staged a protest in Central London on a daily basis.

He said, “Let’s give a bit more background. It is happening tomorrow in Central London. There will be a massive protest at 10, Downing Street. It will hold as planned. Please let’s make sure we bring ourselves down there. Igboho’s life was threatened. It was about to be terminated on July 1, 2021.

“Tomorrow also, if you individuals want to do picketing right in front of the German embassies across the world, let’s not wait for anyone. What you should know is that after the attack on Igboho’s house on July 1, some people have been protesting in Central London, they stay there for one, two, three hours. You might think they don’t get noticed but you can’t tell who saw them.

“We shouldn’t be intimidated or be cajoled or hide.”
He had earlier written on his Facebook page, ”I stand with Sunday Igboho (Oosha Baba). Release the innocent detainees now. CSI is not a wanted man. We need international justification as a matter of urgency! Buhari! Leave Chief Sunday Adeyemo Igboho alone. Nigeria is a failed ex Nation. 1999 Constitution of that ex Nation is a fraud. Amalgamation is over.”

Lifestyle, Politics, World News

How I Survived Military Jet Shot Down By Bandits – Nigerian Air Force Pilot.

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Dairo stated that his escape was orchestrated through the help of Almighty God.
Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, the Nigerian Air Force pilot, who ejected from an Alpha Jet who was shot down by bandits in Zamfara State, has given graphic details of the incident.
Dairo stated that his escape was orchestrated through the help of Almighty God.

SaharaReporters had on Monday reported that Dairo luckily escaped the Alpha Jet belonging to the Nigerian Air Force which crashed during an anti-banditry operation in Zamfara State.

The jet crashed on Sunday around 12.45pm while returning from an air interdiction mission between the boundary of Zamfara and Kaduna states.

The NAF Spokesman, Edward Gabkwet had said on Monday that the jet “came under intense enemy fire which led to its crash in Zamfara State.”

However, Dairo escaped and had been celebrated since then. In his submission, the combat pilot indicated that he had a premonition of the encounter, days before the Nigerian military assigned him on the mission.

He said, “Before Sunday I had been having dreams where I saw myself fighting and evading enemies like real-time war, day in day out, like nightmares. So when my jet got shot with the explosives and my flight controls were destroyed and I had no choice but to eject, I just said ‘God, finally, here we go.’

“As I was flanked by the bandits, I kept praying and I kept telling God to answer your prayers because I knew you were all praying for me. I love you all. And I thank God for bestowing his love on me and saving me from death several times within that period.

“I will still share my testimonies but truly, God ordered my steps, the bandits (meanwhile they are ruthless like Boko Haram, I don’t know why we still call them bandits) were more interested in capturing me than shooting me at (even at point-blank range). Eventually, they got neither.

“It’s now I’m feeling all the pains I suffered from the ejection (including a fracture in my neck and painful back and chest), but God didn’t allow those pains to slow me down for the bandits to capture me.

“NAF platforms overhead also helped to deter them a lot by making some of them to pin down while I kept running, and when they got close to me, I was still able to evade them by camouflaging (I was wearing green Federal Government suits – in the green forest) and concealing myself.

“I ran into plenty spiders and I laid down several times out of weakness not knowing if anything poisonous would sting or bite me. All glory is to God, all glory. I have not been your most righteous brother, but I felt God’s hands in everything. Even in every decision I took immediately I was shot, all the decisions worked together to save my life.

“In the village I eventually entered at night, I told God that the first person I see and call should favour me and that happened. They dropped me with their Emir who with pride and joy called the Nigerian Army men to come and meet me (they all had sleepless nights).

“NAF helicopters also came to pick me up from there. There is so much to say. All thanks to God, thank you so much, love.”

Politics, World News

French president Emmanuel Macron’s phone number found in list of spying targets along with WHO chief and presidents of South Africa and Pakistan.

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French president, Emmanuel Macron’s phone number has been found among potential targets of a huge international spying operation.

According to Mail Online, Macron is among 50,000 politicians, journalists, and human rights activists around the world said to have been identified as ‘people of interest’ by clients of Israeli firm NSO, developer of a surveillance system called Pegasus.

President Imran Khan of Pakistan and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa as well as World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. are also among potential targets found on a list of numbers leaked to Amnesty and the Paris-based journalism nonprofit Forbidden Stories.

The Paris prosecutor’s office is investigating suspected widespread use of Pegasus spyware and an official in the president’s office said: ‘If this is proven, it is clearly very serious.’
Investigator Laurent Richard said on French TV: ‘We found these numbers but we obviously couldn’t do a technical analysis of Emmanuel Macron’s phone to determine if it had been infected with a spying device.’

Last night the NSO Group denied that it had ever maintained ‘a list of potential, past or existing targets’

‘The unprecedented revelation… should send a chill down the spine of world leaders,’ Amnesty’s secretary general, Agnes Callamard, said in a statement.

Three current prime ministers and the king of Morocco, Mohammed VI, are also on the list, The Washington Post reported.

The Post said none of the heads of state would offer their smartphones for forensic testing that might have detected whether they were infected by NSO’s military-grade Pegasus spyware. Thirty-seven phones identified in the investigation were either breached or shows signs of attempted infection, it has reported.

The Post and 16 other members of a global media consortium were granted access to the leaked list. Another member, the French daily Le Monde, determined that 15 members of the French government may have been among potential targets with Macron in 2019.

The Paris prosecutor’s office is investigating the suspected widespread use of NSO’s military-grade Pegasus spyware to target journalists, human rights activists, and politicians in multiple countries.
Also Sunday, Amnesty released a forensic analysis of the alleged targeting that showed Amazon Web Services was hosting NSO infrastructure.

In response, Amazon said it shut down NSO accounts that were ‘confirmed to be supporting the reported hacking activity.’ Amazon said the accounts had violated its terms of use.

Another U.S. company identified by Amnesty as hosting NSO servers was DigitalOcean. When contacted by The Associated Press, DigitalOcean neither confirmed nor denied whether it had identified or cut off such servers, the report said.
‘All of the infrastructure outlined in the Amnesty report is no longer on DigitalOcean,’ it said Tuesday, without elaborating, in an emailed statement.

Lifestyle, Politics, World News

Obi Cubana: “Shame on anyone who supports what happened in Anambra and still complains about this country” – Governor Yahaya Bello’s media aide says.

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The Senior Special Assistant to Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello on New Media, Atuluku Victor Levi has said that anyone who supports the display of wealth during Obi Cubana’s mother’s burial has no right to complain about Nigeria.

“Shame on anyone who supports what happened in Anambra and still complains about this country…no be for moon those guys make dem cash, na for dis same Naija!” he wrote.

Politics, World News

Ex-Army Chief, Buratai Lobbies Beninese Government To Extradite Sunday Igboho To Nigeria.

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SaharaReporters was told that Buratai, who was appointed Nigerian envoy to Benin in June 2021, was also instrumental to the arrest of Sunday Igboho.

The Nigerian Ambassador to the Benin Republic, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), is in the forefront of the desperate efforts by the Muhammadu Buhari regime to get Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Igboho, extradited to Nigeria.

SaharaReporters was told that Buratai, who was appointed Nigerian envoy to Benin in June 2021, was also instrumental to the arrest of Sunday Igboho.


A top security source in the Benin Republic revealed that Buratai had secretly written a letter to the Beninese security agencies to arrest Igboho wherever they found him.

“At the moment, Buratai is leading other Nigerian officials and lawyers together with the Interpol to ensure that Igboho is returned to Nigeria as soon as possible. He wants to make that his first success,” a source noted.

“Buratai since the declaration by the Department of State Services sent a secret letter to the Beninese government to be on the lookout for Igboho. There were feelers that Igboho was in the small West African country and some of Igboho’s associates also gave him away,” the source added.

Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.)

Buratai’s memo was behind the arrest of Igboho and his wife, Ropo, at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou, the largest city in the French-speaking country.

Recall that three weeks ago, the Department of State Services declared Igboho wanted for allegedly stockpiling arms, an allegation he had since denied.

Politics, World News

Buhari happy with NYSC’s impact, gifts corps members 2 cows.

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The corps members also got 20 bags of rice and the sum of N1 million.
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his full backing for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme which he says is a great tool to unite the country.

There have been recent agitations to scrap the NYSC, a programme for Nigerian graduates who are posted across the nation and paid a monthly stipend of N33,000 by the Federal Government.

The programme was launched in 1973 primarily to foster national unity following a devastating civil war, but many critics argue that it is now outdated.

There’s even a bill currently in the House of Representatives proposing that the programme be scrapped.

However, Buhari said he feels a deep attachment to the programme when he hosted corps members in his Daura home in commemoration of Eid-el-Kabir on Tuesday, July 20, 2021.

The 78-year-old said the NYSC programme broadens the horizon of citizens, opens up opportunities and enhances understanding of cultural differences.

The president urged the corps members to use the platform to understand different climates, cultures, languages, and views on life.

“I feel very strongly about the NYSC and I am wishing you all the very best.

“I assure you that you will be much better as Nigerians after your experience,” he said.

He gifted the corps members two cows from his livestock farm, as well as 20 bags of rice and the sum of N1 million.

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, announced last month that President Buhari plans to launch a 20,000 yearly graduate job fellowship for corps members post-service.

The fully-paid internship is billed to last for 12 months, with beneficiaries posted to reputable private and public sector organisations.

Politics, World News

Republican lawmaker, Marjorie Taylor suspended by Twitter over ‘misleading’ COVID-19 posts.

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Republican lawmaker, Marjorie Taylor Greene has been suspended by Twitter for posting “misleading” information about Coronavirus.

Greene was suspended for 12 hours after she posted messages that violated Twitter’s policy against sharing misleading information about the Coronavirus.

In two tweets on Monday July 19, she argued that vaccines should not be required, and that COVID-19 was not dangerous for people aged under 65 who are not obese. Both posts are still on display, but have been tagged by Twitter as “misleading”.

A Twitter spokesperson said;

“We took enforcement action on the account @mtgreenee for violations of the Twitter Rules, specifically the Covid-19 misleading information policy.”

The congresswoman has been an outspoken opponent of vaccines and masks as tools to curb the pandemic.

Greene’s tweet comes at a time when COVID-19 cases are once again on the rise across the U.S. as the more infectious Delta variant of the virus takes hold and the uptake of vaccines begins to stall.

Georgia, the congresswoman’s home state, is now reporting an average 1,000 new COVID-19 cases a day compared to an average of around 340 cases a day exactly one month ago.

Reacting to her suspension, Ms Greene said Silicon Valley firms were attacking free speech with support from the White House.

The statement made available to New York Times read;

“These Big Tech companies are doing the bidding of the Biden regime to restrict our voices and prevent the spread of any message that isn’t state-approved.”

Twitter took action after President Biden called on social media companies to do more to combat the spread of vaccine misinformation on their platforms.

On Friday July 16, Mr. Biden said sites like Facebook were “killing people” by allowing misinformation to flourish unchallenged, adding, “Look, the only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated, and that — and they’re killing people.”

Politics, World News

EXCLUSIVE: Yoruba Freedom Fighter, Sunday Igboho Arrested in Cotonou.

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Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has been arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic by security operatives in the West African country.

Igboho was arrested Monday night after fleeing Nigeria to evade arrest by Nigeria’s secret police.

A source privy to his departure from Nigeria said he had perfected plans to secretly escape from Nigeria through Cotonou and was heading to Germany.

He was, however, nabbed by security operatives in the neighboring country.

Speaking with SaharaReporters, a source privy to the incident, said, “Sunday Igboho has been arrested in Cotonou. He was arrested about an hour ago.

“He was supposed to travel to Germany through Cotonou this night. He wanted to leave Africa through Cotonou. He was arrested by security operatives in Cotonou.

Sunday Igboho

“They are planning to bring him back to Nigeria.”

Recall that the Department of State Services had declared Igboho wanted after its operatives carried out a bloody midnight raid on his residence in the Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State.

Politics, World News

87-Year-Old Leads Protest Over Abduction Of Anambra Community Ruler.

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The octogenarian, while speaking to journalists said the community demanded to see their monarch.

An 87-year-old man, Ichie Nwachukwu, has led the people of Amanuke Community, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State in protest against the abduction of their traditional ruler, Igwe Dennis Ezebuiro.

Nwachukwu led the community in demonstration to the Federal High Court arena and Awka streets.

According to Daily Post, the protesting people totalling over 200, stated since two weeks their monarch was kidnapped in Abuja by unknown persons, he had not been seen to date.

They marched around the area carrying placards with different inscriptions, such as, ‘we need peace in Amanuke’, ‘kidnappers please release our monarch for us’, ‘Governor Obiano help us’ among others.

The octogenarian, while speaking to journalists said the community demanded to see their monarch.

Also, the spokesperson for the protesters, Moses Afum, said their monarch was elected by his people, adding that someone had been parading himself as the traditional ruler of the community

He said, “Those involved in this dastardly act should please bring our Igwe back to us. We want Governor Willie Obiano to help the people of Amanuke in securing the release of their monarch

“Our people do not know the person parading himself as the traditional ruler of the community. We are in pains over our missing king.”

The women leader of the community, Victoria Ofuora said, “We don’t know whether they have killed our monarch, even at that, they should release his corpse to us. They went to Abuja to kidnap our monarch who we suffered to install.”

Politics, World News

Nigeria’s Broadcasting Commission Wants Us To Call Bullets, Groundnuts, Call Gunshots, Fireworks—Shehu Sani Slams New Directive.

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NBC had given a new directive to media outlets to apply caution in their reportage, saying too many details may negatively affect the efforts of security agencies fighting insurgency in the country.

A former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has condemned the directive from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) instructing television and radio stations to stop divulging details in their reports about the activities of bandits, kidnappers and insurgents in the country.

Shehu Sani while reacting to the directive, wrote on his Twitter page, ”When you see bullets on the ground, NBC wants you to say it’s groundnuts.

”When you hear gunshots, NBC wants you to say it’s fireworks. When you see blood, they want you to say it’s lipsticks. When you see bandits, they want you to say it’s masquerade.”

NBC had given a new directive to media outlets to apply caution in their reportage, saying too many details may negatively affect the efforts of security agencies fighting insurgency in the country.

“The Commission, therefore, urged broadcasters to collaborate with the government by not giving details of either the security issues or victims of these security challenges so as not to jeopardise the efforts of the Nigerian soldiers and other security agents,” the order read.

Politics, World News

Lagos Court Grants 49 Yoruba Nation Agitators Bail, As They Face Charges For Murder, Treason, Others.

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The defendants, who were arrested in connection with the Oodua republic mega rally, were further detained by an ex parte order granted for 21 days.

The Yaba Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, has granted bail to the 49 Yoruba Nation agitators.

The Lagos State Police Command on July 3rd arrested the agitators at Ojota, Lagos while protesting in support of the actualisation of the Yoruba Nation and demanding the freedom of Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho.

The defendants include Olasunkanmi Tanimola; Kabiru Lawanson; Chinemerem Emmanuel; Rasaki Musibau; Lukman Olalade; Olasanmi Oladipupo; Bashiru Shittu; Taofeek Abdusalam; Olamilekan Abata; Abdullahi Sikiru; Tosin Adeleye; Babatunde Lawal.

Others include: Abiodun Taiwo, Adagunodo Babatunde, Oluwafemi Adeleye, Oloye Taiwo, Saheed Kareem, Adebayo Waheed, Akinbode Sunday, Lawal Akeem, Samuel Ire, Ogundile Dare, Oba Tajudeen Bakare.

A motion for their bail application was filed by human rights lawyers led by Olasupo Ojo and Oladapo Kayode.

The court in a ruling on July 5 failed to grant bail to the 49 Yoruba Nation agitators arrested and detained by the Lagos State Police Command.

The defendants, who were arrested in connection with the Oodua republic mega rally, were further detained by an ex parte order granted for 21 days.

The 21-day ex parte order will expire on July 26, 2021.
A part of the order read, “I, Inspector Atagahmen Richard, Nigerian citizen/ police officer attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, under the Lagos State Police Command do hereby depose on oath and state as follows:

“That I am the above-named person and address, that I am part of the team of investigating Police officers currently investigating a case of conspiracy, murder, treason, felony, unlawful possession of firearms and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace against the defendant and every fact deposed herein came to my knowledge in the course of execution of my duty by virtue of which I am conversant with the facts of this case.

“That the Police arrested the defendants at Ojota while rampaging, protesting and causing mayhem and panic to the public peace. That the suspects are seriously indicted. That the police are by this application requesting for the remands of the defendants for the 21 days to enable the police to conclude their investigation.”

Politics, World News

Bandits Kill 13 Policemen, Two Others In Zamfara.

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Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed 13 mobile policemen and two residents of Kurar Mota village in the Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara state.

A source told SaharaReporters that the police officers were ambushed by the gunmen, when they went to the village in their patrol vehicles.

The gunmen were said to have opened fire on the officers, killing 13 of the them while injuring others.

“Bandits killed 13 visiting mobile police who were on special duty, in Kurar Mota village, Magami district, Gusau Local Government Area. Two villagers were also killed.

“There corpses have been taken to a mortuary in Yariman Bakura Special Hospital, Gusau,” the source told SaharaReporters.

Deadly attacks have raged across Zamfara state where bandits have thrived.

Farming and herding communities in the state have long been terrorised by gangs who raid villages, stealing cattle and kidnap residents for ransom.

In 2019, the state government entered a peace agreement with the gunmen.
About 15 brand new Hilux vehicles and cash gifts were also given to leaders of different ‘repentant’ gangs of bandits by the governor in 2020.

Despite all these, communities in the state are still being attacked and residents kidnapped and/or killed.

Politics

Osinbajo charges leaders in Nigeria to remain calm in times of adversity

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The Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday charged Nigerian leaders to remain calm even in times of adversity.

Osinbajo, according to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, stated this in his keynote address at the 25th anniversary conference of the Redeemer’s International Leadership Academy.

He said: “It is in times of adversity or hardship that leaders are most relevant and most needed.

The leader cannot afford to lose his cool or his focus. He must calm himself down and calm the people down as well.

“When all is well, there is no need for guidance, encouragement, or instruction but it is especially in the midst of wars, conflicts, insurgency, famines, danger, and fear, that people look to leadership.”

He made references to the Biblical Moses and the Israelites, saying the prophet looked up to God for help and God spoke to Him.

The Vice President added: “But note that Moses first gave the people confidence in the power of God to deliver and fulfill His promises.

“He had not yet heard from God on this particular problem, but because he knew the God he served, he was able to say this with confidence.

“In adversity, especially where the future looks bleak, people want to give up, retreat, go back and they certainly don’t want to go forward.”

Politics

COVID-19 still around in Nigeria –NCDC

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The Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. ChIkwe Ihekweazu, on Saturday, warned Nigeria against a false sense of COVID-19 eradication in the country.

Ihekweazu spoke on the COVID-19 pandemic at a webinar for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) 2021 Batch B members in Abuja.

He called for collaboration with corps members to ensure sustenance of the measures aimed at checking the spread of the virus across the country.

The NCDC chief said: “The mistake we can all make is to think the COVID-19 virus has gone away.

“Corps members have to work collaboratively with us to sustain the goals we have made in mitigating the risk of transmission in orientation camps.”

Politics

Why I walked out during Senate debate on e-transmission of election results –Ubah

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The Young Progressive Party (YPP) governorship candidate in the November 6 governorship election in Anambra, Ifeanyi Ubah, on Saturday explained why he staged a walk out during the Senate debate on the electronic transmission of election results.

Ubah was among the 28 senators who abstained from physical headcount on the electronic transmission of election results at Thursday’s plenary.

In a statement titled: “Setting the records straight on electronic transmission of election results debate,” the Capital Oil chief said the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, prevented him from raising a point of order on the matter.

He said: “In line with parliamentary practice, I walked out of the Senate Chambers in protest to register my displeasure; hence my absence during the voting session.

“Before walking out of the Senate Chambers, I didn’t fail to tell the Senate President how disappointed I was by his action.

“It is my earnest belief that the use of technology in elections can significantly improve the efficiency and transparency of electoral conduct in Nigeria.

“Undoubtedly, the adoption of electronic transmission of electoral results can serve as an effective/viable solution to the chaotic, manipulative, and violently disruptive process that has characterized manual collation of votes in Nigeria.

Furthermore, I have always consistently advocated that electronic transmission of results directly from the polling unit to INEC’s central server will significantly reduce rigging and brazen manipulation of electoral results at the collation centres.

Conclusively, I wish to reassure my constituents and Nigerians at large of my unwavering commitment to deepening Nigeria’s democracy through the instrumentality of the Legislature.

“I will continue to support and fashion out legislative interventions that will consolidate the democratic gains recorded so far in Nigeria’s electoral process.

“For the purpose of clarity and people spreading misinformation about my purported absence at the Senate Chambers on Thursday; July 15, 2021, please find attached a video of my appearance at the plenary on the same Thursday.

” I wish to unequivocally state that I support and have at all material times, supported the proposed amendment of the Electoral Act to allow for the electronic transmission of results by INEC.

As a member of the Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission that reviewed the amendment bill, I championed the cause for the amendment of the bill to allow INEC to transmit results electronically in line with the wishes of my constituents and my party the; young progressives party.

“During the Plenary, the Senate Leader moved for the consideration of Business Rule 3 which was the INEC Committee report and I rose under Order 43 to make a personal explanation expressing my support for the electronic transmission of votes.

“Unfortunately, I was overruled by the Senate President and denied the opportunity to express my view on the subject matter.”

Politics

Amotekun commander killed, as unknown gunmen in military fatigues attack Igangan

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The town of Igangan was in chaos on Friday, as unknown gunmen masked in military fatigues attacked the ancient town, killing four residents.

Ripples Nigeria gathered that the attack was repelled by a coalition of local security operatives and operatives of the Amotekun corps which resulted in the loss of the life of a commander named Muri.

According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen besieged the town in two Hilux vans, an 18-seater Hummer bus, and a Toyota Sienna bus wearing military and customs camouflage uniforms.

The convener, Igangan development advocate, Oladiran Oladokun confirmed the attack saying the incident was an attempt to invade the state through the axis, a border community but was resisted by the local security operatives.

Oladokun said although, the suspected herders came in customs and military camouflage to deceive the people and change the narrative that it was security operatives who stormed the town in search of those who engage in smuggling activities, a practice that is alien to the people of the community.

He expressed disappointment over inadequate security despite the recurrence of the attacks.

An Amotekun operative who spoke anonymously said the quick intervention of the local security operatives forced the assailants to retreat, but not without killing some residents as they escaped through Abeokuta axis.

Politics

IPOB vows to declare war on South-East leaders for silence on Kanu’s arrest

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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has vowed to declare war on all politicians and traditional rulers from the South-East region, saying they would know no peace until its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is freed by the Nigerian government.

In a statement on Friday by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, the proscribed group berated the South-East leaders over their silence despite Kanu’s ‘current travail.’

The statement read in part, “All along, IPOB has been peaceful while our members are being abducted and killed by security agents. Now, they have abducted our leader and these so-called [Biafran] leaders are keeping sealed lips. It is either they stand with the people or be counted among our enemies.

Our leader cannot languish in detention while these people will pretend that all is well. Their northern counterparts are shamelessly defending Fulani bandits and terrorists rampaging communities across the country yet these weaklings cannot speak out against the injustice against their own. Enough is enough! No more sitting on the fence. Everyone must declare his/her stance now.

“As long as our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, remains incarcerated in Abuja, all the politicians from ward level to the federal level, including traditional rulers, stakeholders, and religious leaders will never have peace till he comes out except they wake up now.”

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