Abuja-Lokoja Road, Dozens Kidnapped And 3 Killed As Gunmen Waylay 14-Seater Bus

Numbers of passengers were taken away into the bush by suspected kidnappers, three (3) persons killed as well by the kidnappers along Abuja-Lokoja Express road on the evening of Sunday.

Reporters gather that the suspected kidnappers waylaid a 14-seater bus fully loaded with passengers and was heading to Abuja before the incident occurred.

It was also gathered that another two Toyota Sienna mini buses also loaded with passengers and a Volvo SUV ran into the scene and all the occupants of the vehicles were taken into the bush as well.

An eyewitness, a driver of a commercial bus who escaped the happening situation told members of the press who came to the scene that the three people that were killed failed to cooperate with the kidnappers.

He further state that has been the usual practice particularly on Sunday, giving a hint that a colleague of his was kidnapped last week with an undisclosed amount of money was paid as ransom.

Security operatives such as the Police, Army and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps were on ground at the scene of the incident.

Buba Galadima Says Corrupt Nigerian Leaders Can Be Attack, It's Part Of Democracy

Buba Galadima

A one time political friend of President Muhammadu Buhari, Buba Galadima, has said the attack on corrupt Nigerian leaders within and outside the country by angry Nigerians is part of democracy.

According to him, the attacks were part of Nigeria's protest against bad governance, adding that was also an expression of their demands for accountability from those in power.

Speaking with journalist, Buba said, "I want to assure you that even those of us who have nothing to fear or nothing to hide will be very apprehensive to visit certain places outside Nigeria because one is not sure when one will be attacked.

"I can tell you that these attacks on leaders are part of democracy. If somebody believes in himself, he has nothing to fear and would freely travel out to any country even if you are killed for what you believe. What am driving at is that our leaders should do better than they are doing or else, the law of Karma will catch up with them within or outside the shores of Nigeria.

"I am not supporting the treatment being meted out to the leaders outside Nigeria. What am saying is that the leaders should be very careful about their behavior while in office because the people are beginning to demand accountability from them."

On the expectations Nigerians should have on the performance of President Muhammadu Buhari in the next four years, the politician said. "It is my view that we have not seen anything yet. We have said many things severally and all of them have come to pass.

"The current leadership in Nigeria today is one of the most insensitive that this country has ever produced. It does not give a damn about anybody's feeling on any issue.

"However, the most important thing to note is that we have told the people severally that the man doesn't know what happens around him and it is manifesting.

"How can the president now say that all ministers who are recognized by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be reporting to an individual whose office is not even recognized by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

"Abba Kyari is the de-facto President of Nigeria even though the word chiefs of staff did not appear in any sentence in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

"In fact, it is even better than we have an Abba Kyari because if there was no Abba Kyari or Mamman Daura, only God knows what Buhari would have done."

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.