Three Policemen Killed As Deputy Governor Of Nasarawa State Escape Death

Vehicle of the Deputy Governor

The level of insecurity in Nigeria has spread across to everyone, no matter your position or person, you can also become a target.

Suspected armed robbers on attacked the convoy of Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe on Tuesday, killing three (3) of his policemen and a civilian.

Akabe was on his way to Abuja on an official engagement when the convoy ran into the robbers who were operating few kilometers away from Akwanga at about 6pm.

ASP Usman Samaila, Police Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command confirmed the incident in Lafia.

Samaila, however, did not give details, saying the commissioner of Police, Bola Longe had led a team of officers to the scene to assess the situation.

"As I speak with you now, the Commissioner of Police, the Deputy Commissioner Operations and other high ranking officers of the command have gone to the scene of incident," Samaila said.

Meanwhile, one of those in the convoy said the armed robbers opened fire on the convoy before fleeing.

According to him, three policemen and a driver were shot and killed by the armed robbers and their corpses have been deposited at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital Lafia.

The deputy governor who was unhurt but looking shaky was at the hospital but did not speak to journalists on the incident.

Zoning May Not Work For APC In 2023 According To Ganduje

H.E. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Governor of Kano State

It is reported that the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said it may be impossible for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to adopt any zoning arrangement for the 2023 presidential election.

The governor said although he was not in the best position to decide for the ruling party, the zoning arrangement for the 2023 presidential election was still in the realm of "realism and idealism."

He also went on to say the Ruga policy should not be a national issue, arguing that imposing it on Nigerians would be tantamount to building a nightclub near a church or mosque.

He stated this in Abuja in a chat with newsmen to mark his 100 days in office. While speaking on the proposed Ruga settlement scheme and herdsmen's menace, the governor said.

President Buhari Urges The Military To Eliminate Any Bandit Troubling Nigeria's Peace

"A group was formed by the military to secure the geo-political zone from the activities of bandits.

Fundamentally, it is your responsibility to secure the country. As Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, I believe you are capable of doing it, words of the Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari.

I don't think you should spare any bandit, identify and eliminate them. Pursue them anywhere you can find them and eliminate them.

Nigeria deserves peace, the rainy season is good and we are already achieving food security, but we need peace. The money saved from food importation will be used to purchase arms for operations.

We will give you all the right equipment so that you can deal with them with dispatch. I appreciate all your efforts but you can do more, I don't want any bandit to be spared."

"Please give my regards to your families, the earlier you finish with the bandits, the earlier you will return and stay with your families."

Few Days After EL-Zakzaky Left Nigeria For India, Here Is The True Story Of Happenings

EL-Zakzaky inside Emirate flight

It would be recalled that the Court on 5th August, 2019 granted the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem EL-Zakzaky leave to travel to India for medical treatment. 

Consequently, the Government and its concerned agencies agreed to obey the order and immediately planned to achieve the success of the medical trip.

The government went further to arrange a private air-craft for the said movement and convenience of the parties but El-Zakzaky turned this offer down and instead preferred to travel on a commercial flight for which he chose the Emirates.

It may further be recalled that in line with the Court Order, El-Zakzaky was supposed to embark on the trip with State officials. His choice to be accompanied by his aides and personal doctors was not opposed by the government.

On 12th August, 2019, he and other members of the entourage set off on the journey to India via Dubai. It is to be noted that El-Zakzaky particularly chose Mendata Hospital, India. However, on reaching Dubai, El-Zakzaky began to display ulterior motives against laid down procedures.

EL-Zakzaky & Indian doctors

First, he requested that his passport be handed over to him but the State officials would not budge to his pressure. The situation became worse in India, El-Zakzaky had increased his demands. At this stage, he refused to subject himself to preliminary medical checks including laboratory tests.

He demanded free movement and access to visitors of all kinds. He requested to be allowed to check into a 5-Star Hotel instead of being admitted in the hospital. But the Indian authorities turned down his 5-Star hotel stay request on the ground that he came into the country for medicals and not as a tourist (more so that his VISA was issued on medical grounds and not on tourism). He demanded that police protection be withdrawn from him by the Indian authorities.

Against medical ethics and standard practice, he requested to nominate doctors of his choice to join the ones tasked by Mendata Hospital to perform medical treatment on him and his wife. This of course, created a stalemate for which the Hospital insisted that he would not dictate to or direct it on the choice of medical personnel to carry the required medical treatment on them.

EL-Zakzaky & Wife

Frustrated by his antics, the Indian authorities have expressed willingness to return him to Nigeria with immediate effect. This is on the account that they will not allow him use their country to internationalize his group's activities.

Against this background, the Nigerian government wishes to commend the stand of India and as well apologize to her for the unruly behavior of El-Zakzaky. 

Similarly, the attention of the public and indeed the international community is hereby drawn to these unfortunate developments.

The government also wishes to use this opportunity to affirm its readiness to undertake the prosecution of El-Zakzaky through due process if and when he is returned to the country. Therefore, his foul cry that he is being held in circumstances worse than he was in Nigeria should be disregarded.

These were revealed on 14th of August, 2019 by Deaconess Grace Isu Gekpe, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information.

Prostitution Has Become Worrisome In The Present Nigerian Society

The level at which our youths travel abroad within the past few year until present day is worrisome. This trend is more pronounced among young girls between ages 17 and 24 years. 

The continuous rise makes one wonder what actually is attracting them to travel across the border. Is it in search of white-collar jobs or just to study abroad due to our messed-up educational system? But none of the above could be the reason why these young girls want to travel abroad.

A closer look into this rising problem opens ones eyes to a sad reality which gave birth to the following questions! Why are our young girls travelling abroad at an early age? What are these girls looking for in UAE, Malaysia, Thailand and some other countries? They are being recruited into prostitution in the 'red-light districts' of the big cities in these countries by their handlers whom they call "MADAM" or "BOSS". 

But the disturbing part of this is that these girls are actually recruited willingly, and some with the knowledge of their parents. This is 21st century phenomenon unlike what it used to be in the 20th century, when girls were trafficked abroad with the promise of working in restaurants and hospitality industries but were actually taken into prostitution. Today's Nigerian prostitutes trafficked abroad are fully aware of what they are going over there to do.

But why is it no more a secret? Why are these so called "MADAMS" letting these girls know before they are trafficked? The truth is not far-fetched. These girls are already in the game of prostitution one way or the other back in Nigeria. You can see them in almost every metropolis and happening cities in Nigeria. Nowadays, you cannot differentiate between between a student and a prostitute because they also pose as students in school environments. They call themselves "RUNS GIRLS" and in social media they always have their motto as "SMALL GIRL WITH BIG GOD".

What is prostitution and why is it becoming the canker-worm eating deep into the fabric of our nation? According to definition: prostitution is the practice or occupation of engaging in sexual activity with someone for payment. Prostitution in Nigeria can be dated back to the pre-independence era when the good economic condition of Lagos attracted Nigerians from the rural hinterlands as a result of the seaport and being the capital city. In 1930s, prostitutes were called "ASHAWO" as they were linked with the notorious Jaguda and Boma boys. There were cases of forced prostitution and other vices, which led the government of the day to create the Unlicensed Guide (Prohibition) Ordinance and the Venereal Disease Ordinance in 1941 to curb it.

However, in the 20th century brothels started springing up in cities and street prostitution became popular in places like Ikeja in Lagos, Benin City in Edo etc. The 1980s was prevalent with the exportation of prostitution to Italy and other European countries by Nigerian girls of mostly Edo origin. Some of the strategies used by the traffickers were coercion, deceit and promise of huge income from working abroad.

Prostitution in Nigeria in this 21st century has taken a new shape and form. Unlike in the pre-independence and 20th century era. coercion is no more one of the popular strategies used by traffickers. Nowadays, they discuss with their victims and to some extent, also discuss with their victims parents before their journey. This is why it is frightening and would deal a great blow on any measure to curb it. The worst part of it is that majority of these girls are already "MASTERS" in the art of prostitution in Nigeria before moving abroad. They call themselves "RUNS GIRLS". You can find them mostly in Asian countries such as UAE, Malaysia where they can easily enter with a tourist or student visas.

Further probe into this issue led to interviews with most of these girls by our correspondent in Malaysia. For the sake of understanding, some of the interviews are reproduced here below with only their first names stated for privacy purpose.

Musky: Are you aware of your coming to Malaysia, and for what purpose?

Gloria: "Yes naw, my madam is a friend of my auntie. She called my auntie and discussed everything with her"

Musky: What exactly did they discuss?

Gloria: "The discussion be say make I come here come do runs naw...say I go make am for Malaysia pass Naija"

Musky: Was there any agreement between you and your so-called madam?

Gloria: "My madam brother carry me go one babalawo house for Ijebu-Ode. For there, the baba collect hair from my private part and one of my panties, he come say make I swear say I no go carry my madam money run"

The interview went on as to regarding the entire process before she embark on the journey.

Here is another excerpt from a victim known as Ella.

Musky: How did you end up here in Malaysia, were you aware of what you were coming to do?

Ella: "Yes of course, my madam is my friend from Nigeria. Na all of us been dey hustle together for Lagos before she come first me travel. She tell me say guys dey pay welwel here pass Naija. So I come tell am say make she find way for me na"

In one of the interviews, one of the girls said her real age was 17 before she traveled to Malaysia but her age had to be adjusted to 21 during the passport processing period, as she would be considered a minor to travel alone with her real age. 

In all the interviews, one thing was prevalent, these girls were aware that they were traveling to prostitute.

Most of their parents or guardian were aware too. The question here is why is it so? Why is it no more like they were deceived by the promise of working in factories, restaurants or hospitality establishments? They know they are traveling to sell their bodies for money.

President Buhari's Campaign Director And Others Defect To PDP

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari's campaign coordinator in Zamfara State in the 2019 general elections, Alhaji Bature Sambo and others top officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a ceremony in the Gusau Government House.

Other defectors who dumped the APC included the current Board Chairman, National Hospital Port Harcourt, Alhaji Muktari Anka, the immediate past Commissioner for Youth Development, Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed, the immediate past Special Adviser, Alhaji Ibrahim Ajala, and over 6,000 other APC supporters.

Sambo said he decided to dump the APC because of the performance of Governor Bello Matawalle within a few months of administration.

Bature also stated that Matawalle ended banditry in the state in less than two weeks of his tenure, which he said the past administration was unable to do.

He added that he and all his supporters would give the governor support and cooperation for him to succeed.

Matawalle, while receiving the APC defectors, assured them that they would be treated equally with other members of the party and warned supporters of former Governor AbdulAziz Yari to desist from creating "unnecessary tension" in the state or face "severe penalties."

Gunmen Attempt Stealing Gold Casket Of Michael Ibru In Agbarha-Otor

The home of the famous Ibru family, Agbarha-Otor is tensed up in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State after gunmen attempted stealing the gold casket in which remains of late business mogul, Olorogun Michael Ibru, was buried.

NewsElites gathered that the incident occurred at about 2am penultimate Friday when the hoodlums broke into the late Ibru's tomb to steal the ornamental gold casket, apparently along with the late tycoon's remains.

The gold casket with which Late Michael Ibru was buried is said to be valued for over #50 million. The tomb is situated behind the Ibru Clinic near the Michael and Cecilia Ibru University (MCIU) in Onah Quarters of Agbarha-Otor Town.

The renowned business tycoon and then patriarch of the Ibru dynasty died on September 6, 2016. He was buried December 14, 2016, his remains were committed to mother earth at about 1:40pm opposite the family compound in Agbarha-Otor.

It was learnt that police of the Ughelli B' Division at Agbarha-Otor Town, have arrested three security guards in ongoing investigations over the incident.

The community leadership has further imposed temporary curfew in the community. They restricts human and vehicular movement between 12mid-night and 6am.

The curfew was still in place as at on Thursday (July 8, 2019) while security has been beefed up around the Ibru quarters, particularly around the tomb.

It was gathered that the hoodlums had allegedly used acid to attempt breaking the grave open. It was learnt that the crack has been repaired as at on Thursday.

When reporters visited the community between Wednesday and Thursday, the matter was being discussed among villagers just as it was being discussed at the Agbarha Park in Ughelli with motorists, keke and okada riders expressing surprises.

Several sources including students of MCIU, staff of the Ibru Clinic and community leaders confirmed the incident.

A source told newsmen that "The gunmen broke into the tomb and poured acid on the slab in order to gain access into the gold casket. Their mission was possibly to steal both the corpse and the casket or either of them.

"The incident happened around 2am midnight. It was during the forceful entry of the tomb that workers at both the Ibru Clinic and MCF (Michael and Cecilia Ibru Foundation) noticed the strange movement of persons around the tomb yard and raised alarm.

"Knowing that people are already aware of their movements, the hoodlums fled the premises. On a close search, it was discovered that the gunmen had poured acid around the tomb to crack it to enable them remove the gold casket." 

Also confirming the development, a community leader who prefer to be anonymous said the community and the Ibru family have been desperate to keep the incident from public.

"We have imposed curfew in the community because of the incident. Our leaders felt very embarrassed with the development. Some tricycles (kekes) and motorcycles operators were arrested but were later released.

"The police are investigating the incident but for now, the security guards on duty on that fateful day have been arrested. At the moment, boys are patrolling the streets and around the MCF premises to forestall future occurrence.

"The acid container the hoodlums brought and other equipment they left at the tomb has been recovered by the police who are investigating the matter. That fateful day, the security guards were said to have resumed to their duty post late as those on day duty could not properly handover to them, hence they were arrested," as narrated by source.

A senior police officer at the Ughelli Area Command also confirmed the incident but declined to give details. The police source added that the arrested security guards were helping the police in their ongoing investigation.

When contacted, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, subtly declined comment on the incident after she earlier pleaded for time to investigate the matter.

Two hours after she finally get back to our correspondent, DSP Onome said, "I am sorry, I really don't have any information to that effect right now, thank you."

Effort also made to speak with the President General of Agbarha, Napoleon Ibodje, on the incident also proved abortive. When our correspondent visited the community on Thursday, villagers refused to give directions after sighting press sticker on the car used, as they affirmed the vehicle is that of journalist. It was confirmed that there were tight security around the Ibru estate area and the MCIU from a distant view.