Metro News

It’s time to declare bandits, herdsmen, kidnappers terrorists, group tells FG

Published

3 years ago

July 23, 2021

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The Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU), has raised the alarm that there is a carefully planned and executed agenda to destroy the totality of livelihoods of its people, as it claimed that, over 100 people were killed and 12 communities displaced in the recent bandits’ attacks on Zangon-Kataf.

To this end, the union has called on the Federal Government to immediately declare bandits, armed herdsmen, kidnappers as terrorists following their devastating activities of killings and destruction of properties across the country.

The President of the Union, Jonathan Asake who made the call at a briefing in Kaduna yesterday, said the activities of bandits have taken a more worrisome state with the destruction of farmlands and other property.

SOKAPU argued that there seems to be a recurring vicious circle of violence meted on Southern Kaduna communities that always coincides with the commencement of the rainy season which has often culminated into massive destruction of lives and property, including displacement of thousands of people.

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According to SOKAPU President last year when the rainy season commenced in May, there were massive onslaughts of genocidal proportion across Southern Kaduna communities, particularly in Chikun, Kajuru, Kachia, Kaura, Kauru, Sanga, Jema’a and Zangon Kataf Local Government Area. These assaults left in their trail death, destruction and displacements, with a huge humanitarian crisis.

“Again, this year, with the commencement of another rainy season, the onslaughts have resumed which coincides with the period when our farming communities need to be on their farms. With particular reference are the recent attacks on communities in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area where no fewer than 100 people have been massacred within seven days, 12 villages completely decimated and over 90 per cent of Atyap land deserted by inhabitants over fears of frightening uncertainties.

“It is sadly unbelievable that 10 days after these massacres and displacement in our communities, from all observable indices, there appears to be a conspiracy of silence or a deliberate attempt by the government to downplay the severity of the atrocities and genocides being perpetrated by these attackers across our communities.

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“We call on the Federal Government to immediately declare these armed Fulani herdsmen, kidnappers, bandits or whatever name they parade as terrorists.

“Government must set up the machinery to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to book, return displaced communities to their homelands, rehabilitate and compensate displaced persons.

“Government should build IDP camps and direct NEMA, SEMA, among other agencies, to provide relief materials to displaced people.

“We call on the government to facilitate the formation of Civilian JTF across our communities to forestall incidences of fake security personnel going into our communities to unleash terror attacks on our people.

“We call on the military authorities to investigate claims by attacked villagers over the alleged involvement of their personnel that may have compromised their neutrality so as to preserve the reputation and confidence Nigerians have in them.

“We call on relevant security agencies to carry out a cordon-and-search operation in the Hausa-Fulani settler community of Zangon Kataf town where these attackers are said to operate from as it was done in Ladduga in 2014 with a view to retrieving deadly weapons in their possessions.

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“It is our considered view that the intractable security situation is due to the unwillingness by Governor el-Rufai to tackle the security challenges headlong. We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on Kaduna State.

“In conclusion, let me state here for the umpteenth time loud and clear, that whoever comes to our communities, either as individual or group, to kill, maim, rape, destroy and displace our people and take over our homelands, no matter how long it takes, every square inch of our lands will be recovered by our generation or future generations,” Asake said.

Metro News

Fubara visits scene of tanker explosions, promises support for families of victims

Published

2 hours ago

April 27, 2024

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Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, says the state government will support he families of victims affected by the multiple tanker explosion.

Fubara spoke on Saturday when he visited the scene of the accident alongside Olatunji Disu, commissioner for police in Rivers, and Maximus Nwafor, commissioner for energy.

On Friday night, tankers laden with petroleum products burst into flames on a section of the East-West road in Eleme, Rivers state, leaving an unspecified number of people killed.

The inferno which had also left travellers stranded for hours, engulfed over 50 vehicles, with some bodies found burnt beyond recognition in cars and in a nearby drainage.

The governor directed security agencies to conduct a thorough assessment of the accident to facilitate the provision of aid to families of victims.

“Yesterday around 7-8pm, we got information about a very serious inferno that was caused by a tanker conveying PMS,” he said.

“I got the information through the MD of Indorama and immediately alerted the security agencies. From what we are seeing this morning, it was not a very pleasant case.

“We recorded, from what I am seeing, a huge number of vehicles being destroyed and souls lost.

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“I have already asked the security agencies to give us a full brief. So that we can come into the situation fully by seeing how much we can support the families of the bereaved and see how we can cushion the effect of the losses.”

The governor also lamented the deteriorating condition of the Eleme section of the East-West road.

“We all know the situation of this road; it is unfortunate. Most of our people when plying this road do so with caution,” he added.

Metro News

Many feared dead in multiple petrol tanker explosions in Rivers

Published

6 hours ago

April 27, 2024

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An unspecified number of people have been killed after tankers laden with petroleum products burst into flames on a section of the east-west road in Eleme, Rivers state.

The incident, which left travellers stranded for hours, occurred on Friday night.

Some of the victims of the multiple explosions were said to have been trapped in their vehicles as the blasts raged.

The cause of the explosions are not clear at the time of reporting. However, eyewitnesses have pointed to “dangerous driving and negligence”.

The Nation quoted Segun Owolabi, an eyewitness, as saying that one tanker collided with a vehicle before bursting into flames, leading to a domino effect.

“I saw four dead bodies burnt. Some may have been in the bushes because many ran away. I saw a whole stretch of vehicles burnt down, trailers burnt down,” Owolabi said.

“There seems to be a truck carrying substances and it was as if it had collided with another vehicle that may have ignited the fire. Over 20 vehicles burnt down and several people trapped.

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“There may be more bodies. Oh my God this is a tragedy. A stretch of vehicles burnt.”

Another eyewitness said he heard a loud explosion from a petrochemical complex in the area.

“I heard a very loud sound about 20 minutes ago, and people were shouting,” he said.

“The sound came from the petrochemical company area. So when I came out I saw thick smoke with fire from a distance.”

The inferno reportedly raged for hours before it was put out by firefighters.

Metro News

EFCC arrests 34 suspected currency speculators for ‘FX fraud’

Published

6 hours ago

April 27, 2024

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says 34 suspected currency speculators have been arrested for foreign exchange (FX) fraud.

The EFCC, in a statement on Friday, said the arrest was carried out by its operatives attached to its task force on currency mutilation, dollarisation of the economy, and FX malpractice.

The anti-graft agency said the suspects were arrested in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, on April 26, in a sting operation following credible intelligence about illegal sales of dollars.

“Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, attached to the Taskforce on Currency mutilation, Dollarization of the Economy and Forex Malpractice, have arrested 34 suspected currency speculators for alleged foreign exchange fraud,” the EFCC said.

“The suspects are: Usman Mohammed, Abdullahi Nasir, Abubakar Saleh, Mohammed Kabir Ibrahim, Abubakar Ghadafi, Muktar Usman, Umar Abubakar Abba, Yakubu Sani, Aminu Abubakar, Muhammed Suleman Abara, Yusuf Tahir, Usman Lawal, Usman Lawal.”

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The agency also arrested Usman Umar, Amina Garba Rola, Muhammed Aliyu, Murtala Haruna, Sani Mohammed, Umar Farouk, Muhammed Sagiuru, Aminu Salisu, Lawal Bello, and Munzali Hashim.

Other include: Jamilu Suleiman, Mustapha Umar, Mubarak Tanimu, Adamu Garba, Mohammed Usman, Bello Musa, Saleh Mohammed Naseer, Zaharadeen Yau, Musa Umaru Adamu, Usman Machido, and Abdulaziz Abubakar Abba.

The EFCC said the arrest occurred following its ongoing efforts to clean up and stabilise the FX market, adding that the suspects will soon be arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigations.

On February 24, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the office of the national security adviser (ONSA) sealed a partnership to investigate and penalise those involved in illicit activities within the foreign exchange market.

The decision was on the backdrop of the unending depreciation of the naira and its accompanying negative impact on inflation and economic instability.

Following the partnership, which also involved the EFCC, the commission froze over 300 accounts linked to illicit FX trading.

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The EFCC had, on January 24, launched a probe on 52 companies over forex transactions.