Seriki Fulani in Ibarapaland, Alhaji Saliu Abdulkadir, who was evicted from his Igangan residence this day last year says the daring nature of Sunday Adeyemo, a Yoruba youth leader better known as Sunday Igboho, is why he is opposed to his release.
The evicted Sarkin Fulani who has relocated to Ilorin, Kwara State since the incident while speaking on the earlier quit notice issued by Igboho prior to his eviction, explained that he did not handle the eviction notice with levity. According to him, he got assurance from the Oyo state government after the quit notice but he was surprised that Igboho carried out his threat without anybody challenging him.
He told Daily Trust in a report published on Saturday: “For those seven days, the state government sent 14 police officers to us and they were guiding us but the police officers were overpowered by Sunday Igboho’s men. This is why I don’t support the call for the release of Igboho.
“I am sure he must be regretting his actions now. Any Nigerian can live in any part of the country and I have always said that there are criminals everywhere. There are criminals among Yoruba just like we have among the Fulani people. This is where we expected the government to come in and fish out those who are criminally minded.”
Abdulkadir said one year later, he still hoped that justice would be served and he would be compensated for the properties lost during the crisis.
Igboho is currently being detained in a prison facility in the Republic of Benin, after he was arrested with Ropo, his wife, at Cardinal Bernardin International Airport, Cotonou, while on his way to Germany in July 2021. He had been declared wanted by Nigerian authorities for his separatist activities.
Fighting raged for a third day Saturday between the Islamic State group and Kurdish forces in Syria after IS attacked a prison housing jihadists, in violence that has claimed over 70 lives, a monitor said.
The assault on the Ghwayran prison in the northern city of Hasakeh is one of IS’s most significant since its “caliphate” was declared defeated in Syria nearly three years ago.
“At least 28 members of the Kurdish security forces, five civilians and 45 members of IS have been killed” in the violence, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
IS launched the attack on Thursday night against the prison housing some 3,500 suspected members of the jihadist group, including some of its leaders, said the Observatory.
Hundreds of jihadist inmates had since been detained and around 10 were believed to have escaped, said the Observatory, a Britain-based monitor that relies on sources inside war-torn Syria for its information.
“The exceptional situation continues in and around the prison,” said Farhad Shami, spokesman for the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The fighting on Saturday morning was taking place north of the prison, he added.
The jihadist group said in a statement released by its Amaq news agency that its attack on the jail aimed to “free the prisoners”.
IS has carried out regular attacks against Kurdish and government targets in Syria since the rump of its once-sprawling proto-state was overrun on the banks of the Euphrates in March 2019.
Most of their guerrilla attacks have been against military targets and oil installations in remote areas, but the Hasakeh prison break could mark a new phase in the group’s resurgence.
The Kurdish authorities have long warned they do not have the capacity to hold, let alone put on trial, the thousands of IS fighters captured in years of operations.
According to Kurdish authorities, more than 50 nationalities are represented in a number of Kurdish-run prisons, where more than 12,000 IS suspects are now held.
The war in Syria broke out in 2011 and has since killed close to half a million people and spurred the largest conflict-induced displacement since World War II.
Players from the women’s football team in the Minawao refugee camp attend an Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) game.Players from the women’s football team in the Minawao refugee camp attend an Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) game.
Young Nigerian refugees, who received tickets for the Nigeria-Sudan match, took a bus to Garoua in northern Cameroon to support the Super Eagles at the African Cup of Nations.
It has been years since they fled Nigeria and the abuses of the jihadists of Boko Haram, for years they have lived in a refugee camp in Minawao, in the far north of Cameroon. Nigeria beat Sudan 3 goals to 1, it is with a smile that Lucy recounts this adventure.
“Since the time that they informed us that we were going to support our team, Nigeria, we were very happy, Lucy recalls. As soon as we entered the car and started moving, we were smiling. And then they (Nigeria) won, and we were very happy with them. We are wishing they bring the cup to Nigeria.”
In their camp in Minawao, these young girls play football. They have set up a team and train when they can, with the means at hand. Opened in July 2013, the camp has 70,000 refugees, and the soccer field occupies part of this camp. Recently, a donation from German cooperation enabled the boys to obtain a few jerseys and balls, but nothing for the women’s team. To pursue their passion, these young people are waiting for equipment.
“Sometimes when we are playing, we don’t have shoes for playing. That is a problem. Sometimes we have pain in our legs, sometimes we don’t have jerseys, we just go and play with our clothes like that, so if it is possible, we need shoes and jerseys.” explains Christine David, a player from the Minawao camp.
Over time, situations like that of the Nigerians begin to be forgotten by the big donors. Camp officials are pleading for more resources because needs are changing and the conditions for development must now be created.
FIRSTBANK REWARDS CUSTOMERS IN TRANSACT AND WIN PROMO
Getting rewarded for spending money is a dream that is probably going to remain exciting for many people, but not for the Firstmonie Wallet users. In a two month Transact and Win campaign that started on November 22, 2021, First Bank of Nigeria Limited is rewarding several customers for carrying out transactions on its Firstmonie Wallet application.
The e-wallet is useful for conveniently paying utility bills, purchasing airtime and data, transferring and receiving money, and many other digital transactions. Just for using the mobile-friendly wallet app, Customers got rewarded with mouth-watering prizes both in cash and kind. The number of transactions done on the app determines the price a user could win.
100 customers who had done 1-15 transactions through Firstmonie Wallet within the month won N10,000 cash price; 53 25kg bags of rice and 50 units of standing fans were also won by customers who carried out 16 – 30 transactions with the Firstmonie Wallet; 2 units of power generating sets, 1 unit of Air Conditioning systems and 1 unit LED Televisions went to customers who carried 31 – 50 transactions; while 2 units of iPhone 12 were won by customers who had carried out over 50 transactions on the app within the month.
Victor Nnanna Onyedikachi, a student of the University of Abuja was one of the winners of the iPhone 12, and while receiving his gift, he admitted that he did not expect to win the prize. “I used the Firstmonie Wallet App, and just like that, I was told that I had qualified. I did not believe it until I saw it myself. I am truly grateful to FirstBank” he said.
Other winners also expressed their pleasure at being rewarded for using a completely user-friendly app. “There is no issue of service error when using it for any transaction. The service is seamless and the app is easy to use” one of them said.
The Group Executive, e-Business & Retail products, Mr Chuma Ezirim had noted that the promo was targeted at appreciating customers for their patronage; and in line with the Bank’s December-is-a-Vybe campaign. “This promo is hinged on the need to appreciate our customers for their patronage, especially as we have had an increased engagement and usages of the various services offered by our mobile-friendly wallet product,” Ezirim said when the promo was being launched.
Interestingly, the promo also includes new customers and users of the app. By simply downloading the mobile app from the play store, or using the *894# USSD string to sign up, anyone can qualify for the promo. The promo runs till January 22, 2022, so what are you waiting for as you could be the next winner of any of these fantastic prizes.
As the premier Bank in West Africa and the leading financial inclusion services provider in Nigeria for over 127 years, First Bank of Nigeria Limited has remained at the forefront of promoting digital payment in the country, and the Firstmonie Wallet is one of the channels for digital transactions.
Little wonder FirstBank was named “Most Valuable Bank Brand in Nigeria” six times in a row (2011 – 2016) by the globally renowned “The Banker Magazine” and “Best Retail Bank in Nigeria” for seven consecutive years (2011 – 2017) by the Asian Banker International. FirstBank also bagged the Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards and “Best Bank in Nigeria” by Global Finance for 15 years.
ACAMB Elects New Executives, as Bolarinwa Emerges President
The Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB) – an umbrella association of communications and marketing professionals, working in Nigeria’s banking sector – has elected new executives who will pilot the affairs of the Association for the next two years.
The hugely attended AGM/ election for key positions, saw Mr. Rasheed Bolarinwa, Head, Corporate Communications of Polaris Bank emerged the new ACAMB President.
First Bank’s Mr. Oze K. Oze was elected First Vice President; Mrs. Lola Egboh of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Second Vice President, while the new Secretary-General is Mr. Sipe Babajide of Ecobank.
The position of Assistant Secretary General was won by Mr. Omede Odekina of United Bank for Africa (UBA), while Mr. Patrick Osilaja of Fidelity Bank emerged the Financial Secretary.
Wema Bank’s Mrs. Funmilayo Falola is the new Treasurer while Mr. Abdul Imoyo of Access Bank will serve as the Association’s Publicity Secretary. Also on the new executive list is Mrs. Ozena Utulu of Heritage Bank as Social Secretary.
Four distinguished members of the Association namely: The immediate past President, a staff from CBN, NDIC and CIBN respectively are to serve as Ex-officios.
The election of the new officers held on Thursday, 19 January at the Bankers’ House, CIBN Building, Victoria Island, Lagos.
In his post-election acceptance speech, the new ACAMB President, Bolarinwa, assured members that he would reposition ACAMB as a foremost professional Association that they would all be proud of.
He added that his vision also includes innovating post-retirement strategy that ensures members have a sustainable livelihood long after exiting the industry.
“I will be committed to my vision, which is to reposition ACAMB as a foremost professional Association that encourages and ensures every marketing communications professional in the Banks aspires and attains the highest level of professional recognition and fulfillment on the job while at the same time being assured of a sustainable livelihood long after exiting the industry,” he stated.
Bolarinwa, who served in the past executive as a two-term Secretary General, restated his commitment to the upliftment of members in line with his electioneering promises anchored on the four-pillar themed PEAL: Partnership & Platform, Engagement, Advocacy, and Learning & Value-addition (PEAL).
The new President further assured that ACAMB under his leadership would seek partnerships and platforms among strategic institutions and stakeholders with a view to delivering value to members, as well as enhancing professionalism.
He also said his team would embark on advocacy aimed to deepen awareness and knowledge of the banking industry and its contributions to national socio-economic growth.
Earlier, Chairman of ACAMB Electoral Committee, Mr. Segun Shonubi said all aspirants for the advertised position had met minimum requirements as outlined in the Association Constitution and therefore qualify to stand for the election.
A 1996 graduate of Mass Communication, Bolarinwa holds a Master’s degree from the University of Ibadan and MSc degree from UNESCO-certified Mass Communication department of University of Lagos. He is a member of numerous professional bodies. These include Fellow of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN); Registered Practitioner, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), and Member, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
He has also attended several high- impact function-specific and leadership trainings at top business schools in Nigeria and overseas.
More than a dozen girls have been abducted by Boko Haram terrorists in their latest attack in a community in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State.
The insurgents broke into the town on Thursday night after shooting in different directions.
Civilians fled into the bush and surrounding villages when the gunmen struck at Pemi village, near Chibok. The insurgents were said to have torched not less than 20 houses, including a branch of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN) Church.
According to a resident, the leader of vigilantes in the community was the main target as the local guards have waged war against the insurgents in the axis.
The terrorists captured the vigilante group’s commander and slit his throat.
Eight of those abducted escaped, but 17 girls are in captivity.
Chibok came to prominence in April 2014 when Islamist fighters stormed a boarding school and kidnapped 276 girls, causing global outrage.
Fifty-seven girls managed to escape in the immediate aftermath but some are still being held and have not been seen since they appeared in a Boko Haram video in May that year.
A Senior Secondary School 2 student, identified as Umar Goni has been arrested by operatives of the Borno state Police Command for allegedly attempting to murder one of his junior colleagues.
It was learnt that the incident happened behind the hostel of a popular private school, El-Kanmi College of Islamic Theology in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, on Wednesday night.
Goni was said to have used a razor blade to slit the throat of Jibrin Sadi Ramadan, his younger colleague, after a minor disagreement.
A source said that the victim, who is of about 12 years, was sent on an errand by his senior, but Ramadan didn’t go, and later on, the senior boy called him to a quiet place where he used razor blade to severely cut his neck.
The source added that the victim was found lying unconsciously in a pool of blood at the backyard of their hostel.
He was subsequently rushed to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.
DAILYTRUST reports that the victim, who is currently at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital, is still in critical condition.
A staff member of the school, who described the incident as unfortunate, lamented the attitude of some teachers towards the pupils because most of the boarding students are from rich and influential backgrounds.
He alleged that indiscipline is rife in the school due to “material things that staff get from parents of students”.
The suspect is said to be currently at the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department.
Also speaking Nasiru Mato, an uncle of the victim, said, “From our own findings, one SS2 student known as Fairoz dragged our child behind their dormitory and used razor blade to cut his throat from different angles.
“Our son eventually fainted and the culprit ran away, thinking that the child was already dead… We received a distress call from the school management on Wednesday morning on the development and we rushed to Maiduguri Teaching hospital and found our child in a sorry state. At the moment, he is surviving on tracheostomy even as the doctors said it is difficult for him regain his voice after having some of his veins cut.
“We demand proper medical attention for the child, the school and law enforcement must also take necessary measures to investigate and prosecute the perpetrator.”
Mato also said the family is not satisfied with the way the school management is handling the matter.
He added that the school only told them that the culprit is under police custody but refused to speak much about his identity.
Another family member doesn’t want to be named said the school management has convinced the child’s step father who his their close ally not to take the matter up.
Nigerians have called for justice and gross punishment of the alleged killer of Hanifa, a five-year-old pupil who was reportedly abducted by her teacher, Abdulmalik Tanko, and eventually killed after 47 days in captivity in Kano State.
The child was returning home from school earlier in December when she was waylaid by her teacher and other suspects who promised to take her home in a tricycle but fled with her, the pupil’s uncle, Suraj Zubair, told Humangle.
Eventually, Hanifa was allegedly poisoned to death and her body cut into pieces and put in a polythene bag.
According to the Kano State Police command, the suspects had demanded N6 million ransom for her release.
Following an investigation by the police command, the girl’s decomposed body was discovered and the prime suspect’s arrest made public on Thursday.
Nigerians who reacted on social media called for death penalty for the suspect as contained in Kano Anti-Kidnapping Law.
As of Friday morning, #JusticeForHanifa was trending at number two spot on Twitter with over 14,000 reactions on the microblogging app. Below are some of their reactions:
@Yazeed_Zeezah said, “May Allah (SWT) grant the family of this beautiful girl the fortitude to bear the loss. The culprit should be dealt with severely or even executed, what is this world turning into? This is just not right, my heart is so broken. #JusticeForHanifa #JusticeForHanifa”.
@Iam_bayyah said, “Wondering how he poisoned her, how he watched her struggling to die and how he cut her into pieces. Is he really human?”.
@HilarySeiyefa said, “Hearing how this beautiful child was killed in a gruesome manner brought chills down my spine. Some Humans are really heartless and shouldn’t be considered as living things. Such evil & demonic act the perpetrators should be killed #JusticeForHanifa”.
@the_scholar1 said, “Noble Kids school should be demolished to the ground, the school authorities should bear part of the consequences”.
@cbngov_akin1 said, “SAD NEWS Kano Anti-Kidnapping Law should be apply here. This animal should face CAPITA PUNISHMENT for killing this little Girl, HANIFA, death penalty should be the gain for all the barbarians that kidnapped & killed this little angel We should ALL voice out”.
@MFaarees_ said, “Whoever says these terrorist bandits and kidnappers do not deserve death penalty is a f**king hypocrite. Every killer of an innocent soul deserves to be k!lled. That’s the only punishment they deserve”.
The police had however said that the case will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.
Two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State reportedly engaged in a bloody fight on Thursday, January 20.
It was gathered that the party members engaged in a brawl in Yenagoa, the state capital over the choice of candidate to contest the position of member of the Federal House of Representatives come 2023.
Naija News learnt that a car belonging to one Ada Morris, an aide to the State Governor, was wrecked and set ablaze during the process.
The political hoodlums reportedly attacked each other with matchet and deadly weapons and as well set many cars of the opponent group ablaze.
2023: Cars Burnt, Scores Injured As PDP Factions Clash In Bayelsa
PDP Rivalry Clash in Bayelsa 2
The development is understood to have thrown residents of the Kpansia community into panic. According to Daily Post, the supporters involved in the bloody clash belong to two rival camps, one for the State Commissioner of Health, Newton Aguele and a member of the State House of Assembly representing the constituency, Oforji Oboku.
Campaign music and dance performance around the Kpansia area by supporters of the State Health Commissioner, Newton Aguele is said to have triggered the chaos as the angry rivals launched an attack.
Naija News, however, learnt that some of the burnt vehicles have been towed to the State Police headquarters following the arrival of the force to calm the situation.
Reports also had it that the key actors in the clash have been summoned by the State Commissioner of Police for an emergency meeting.
On his part when contacted, the spokesman of the Bayelsa Police Command, SP Asinim Butswat said the force has responded to the clash and that there is an ongoing investigation to understand the motive behind such violence.
2023: Obasa hints on type of leader Nigeria deserves
– Says Tinubu laid foundation that makes Lagos a successful state
– Lists competence, knowledge and experience as characteristics of a good leader
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, on Thursday said Nigeria desires a leader with an experience of success in previous assignments.
Dr. Obasa said this at the Anchor University’s first Distinguished Public Lecture of the faculty of Humanities in Lagos stressing that leaders can only succeed when they have the requisite capacities to meet the desires of their followers.
Noting that Nigerians currently yearn for more from their leaders in the face of daunting challenges, Obasa expressed hope that the country would meet the collective dream of the citizens soon.
“If you place our country side by side some countries and compare developments in the last 50 years, you would agree that we have challenges.
“However, we are all leaders in our various spheres. Leadership has to do with the roles you play in your various communities.
“Today, people choose to go to Dubai instead of some other countries. Look at their development in the last 50 years. We heard stories of how their leaders visited Ibadan for medical checkups.
“Now, what do we have? Nigerians visiting the country and others for medical reasons.
“Today, China is a super power because of its growth and development.
“That is why we have to talk about leadership and the most important thing for us now is to have a leader who understands and can handle our situation such that a man living in a corner in Ipaja, who does not have interest in who the leader is, enjoys what should be simple amenities of life,” he said.
The Speaker Obasa argued that fixing Nigeria requires good governance and that the country currently has an opportunity to get it right ahead of 2023.
“And as you are aware, if anyone applies for a job, the first things that are asked for are the person’s credentials and experience.
“So in chosing who would be our leader in 2023, we need to ask questions about who is competent enough and had done something similar to what we desire.
“We can still remember that not long ago, we had someone in Lagos State who laid a solid foundation, particularly in relation to revenue. We know that without revenue, there is hardly anything we can do.
“We had that person who used his intelligence to move the revenue from just N600 million to billions of naira and today, the State gets multi-billion naira revenue for development.
“See the infrastructural development in Lagos State now and you will agree that we need people who are experienced and highly exposed for leadership positions.
“Leadership is not about who is old or young. We have had some young governors who have no positive thing to show about the development of their states,” he stressed.
Obasa, who was honoured by the institution, promised a robust relationship between the university and the government. He also urged the management to assist the government by making suggestions that would help the State.
The guest lecturer at the event, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju, corroborated the Speaker’s position emphasising that the right leadership is what Nigeria needs.
The Professor of History and Strategic Studies at the University of Lagos, also commended the Lagos State government for the giant strides recorded so far.
