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.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Kaduna said he narrowly escaped being bombed near the Kawo bridge, while travelling to Katsina State in July 2014.
Buhari is on a state visit to Kaduna State.
Speaking at the newly constructed Kawo bridge executed by the Governor Nasir El-Rufai administration, Buhari recalled, “There was an attempt to bomb me here…there was a market nearby….” adding that his security escorts were vigilant.
As part of the visit to Kaduna, President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the ultra-modern sports and shopping complex at Murtala Square Kaduna.
The president reiterated the likelihood of making Kaduna his home after leaving office.
The president’s entourage was led by El-Rufai, and he would commission other projects in Zaria, the northern part of the state.
Buhari has, however, always used Kaduna as his home state before winning election in 2015. This is the first official visit to the state to commission public projects since his election.
Former President of Nigerian, Goodluck Jonathan, has commended the Super Eagles for qualifying for the knockout stages in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
The former leader in a post on his Twitter account stated that the Super Eagles have a resilient spirit in the tournament.
Jonathan charged the Nigeria football team to sustain their momentum at the tournament as they aim for the ultimate prize.
The former President wrote, “Well done @NGSuperEagles for advancing to the knockout stage of #AFCON2021.
“This is a clear demonstration of the Nigerian resilient spirit. I wish them more victories in the games ahead and urge them to sustain this momentum as we aim for the ultimate prize. -GEJ”
The Super Eagles qualified for the knockout stages of the tournament after winning all matches in Group D.
They defeated Egypt, Sudan, and Guinea-Bissau to qualify for the next round of the competition.
A spare parts’ building – CETECH- in the Ladipo area of Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, was on Wednesday afternoon gutted by fire.
Societygazette reports that although no life was lost, several items and valuables worth millions of Naira were destroyed.
The fire started around 4 pm. While its cause is yet to be ascertained, some residents linked it to electrical faults.
Emergency responders including National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and security agencies are at the scene of the incident battling to put out the fire as of the time of publishing this report.
Scores of residents, workers gathered at the entrance of the affected building, counting their losses and lamenting the disaster.
Others joined the firefighters to battle with the inferno while offloading goods in the building.
Media reports indicate that between 2019 and 2021, Nigeria experienced severe fire incidents, leading to 79 deaths out of 68 fires recorded in 18 months. Thirty-one of these were market fires and the losses are still being counted.
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to the 15 Count Charges bordering on Terrorism, POLITICS NIGERIA reports.
This was as the federal government brought documentary evidence to court.
The electronic devices were inspected by the lead counsel to the Federal Government of Nigeria, Shuaib Labaran.
Kanu was first arrested in 2015 but disappeared while on bail in April 2017.
His social media posts during his absence and his Radio Biafra broadcasts outraged the government, which said they encouraged attacks on security forces.
Security agents first produced him in court in Abuja on June 29, 2021 after detaining him in an undisclosed country.
His lawyer alleged he was detained and mistreated in Kenya, though Kenya has denied involvement. He has since that time appeared in court severally.
Kanu’s IPOB is agitating for the seccession and sovereignty of Eastern Nigeria. It accuse the federal government of marginalisation.
The Black Stars of Ghana have been eliminated from the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon.
Ghana suffered a 2-3 loss to Comoros in their final group game played on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.
The loss meant that Ghana would end the group last with just one point from three games.
The Ghanaians needed an outright win to boost their chances of qualification to the next stage only to be reduced to 10 men in the 25th minute.
Captain Andre Ayew was sent off and Comoros capitalized on their numerical advantage to go two goals up.
Ghana would fight for their continuation in the competition to level the scores at 2-2 but Comoros scored a late winner to send the Black Stars out.
After the game, Nigerians took to twitter to celebrate the elimination of West African rivals Ghana.
Key to the celebration was Ghanaian reggae-dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr whose stage name is Shatta Wale.
Shatta Wale faced the full brunt of criticism for his country’s exit from the tournament.
Shatta Wale stated recently that Nigerian artists do not promote their Ghanian counterparts.
This assertion by Shatta Wale resulted in retaliation by Nigerian fans on Twitter after Ghana exited the AFCON.
See reactions below;
While Ghana exited the tournament, Nigeria’s Super Eagles take on Guinea Bissau in their last group game scheduled for Wednesday, January 19, 2022, with qualification to the knockout stages already secure.
