Category: News

BREAKING: Nigerians Warned As FG Finally Designates Bandits As Terrorists

 

The federal government has released the official gazette categorizing bandits as terrorists.

A federal high court sitting in Abuja had on November 26 proscribed Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda bandit groups and subsequently declared their activities as acts of terrorism.

THE WHISTLER reported that Justice Taiwo Taiwo, presiding judge, had granted the order following an exparte motion filed by the Director, Public prosecution (DPP), Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Abubakar.

According to the motion, “banditry, incessant kidnappings for ransom, kidnapping for marriage, mass abductions of school children and other citizens, cattle rustling, enslavement, imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings in communities and commuters and wanton destruction of lives and properties in Nigeria, particularly in the Northwest and Northcentral states in Nigeria are being carried out by Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups and other groups associated with or engaged in the same or similar activities as Yan Bindiga and Yan Ta’adda groups in Nigeria.”

On Wednesday, the FMOJ announced that the court proscription order is now cited as the Terrorism (Prevention) Proscription Short Order Notice, 2021.

“Consequently the general public is hereby warned that any person or group of persons participating in any manner whatsoever in any form of the activities involving or concerning the prosecution of the collective intentions or otherwise of the groups referred to in paragraph 1 of this Notice will be violating the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevent ion) Act, 2011 and liable to prosecution,” the document stated.

 

Organizers Of Teni’s Show Didn’t Apply For Security – Rivers Police

 

Rivers State Police Command has disclosed that the organisers of the music concert held in Buguma, Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Rivers State, which was disrupted when a popular Nigerian artist, Teniola Akpata, popularly known as Teni, was performing last week did not apply for security prior to the event.

The command denied reports that its operatives fired gunshots that scared the A-list musician and ended her performance abruptly.

Recall THE WHISTLER had reported that Teni, who was the star artist of the concert, was already on stage thrilling fans before a melee suddenly ensued from amongst the crowd.

The dispute which degenerated into a fight was later discovered to be a misunderstanding between two youths.

However, the organisers managed to whisk off Teni to safety.

Reacting to reports on the alleged attack, the spokesperson of the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, while speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt, insisted that no police officer fired a gunshot during the event.

According to Iringe-Koko, the organizers of a show of such magnitude ought to have applied to the Commissioner of Police for security, but said the command never received any application or request.

In her words: “No police officer from Rivers State Police Command fired any gunshot that day. Normally if they have such an event, they are supposed to write an application to the Commissioner of Police.

“Then the Commissioner of Police will direct the Area Commander covering that Degema axis, while the Degema Area Commander will also assign it to the Divisional Police Officer over there at Buguma that will cover that event.

“But there was no application of such. The DPO did not have any knowledge of it. Perhaps the DPO might know they have an event and say maybe his men should just stroll around on patrol. But there was no application of such to cover that event,” she explained.

 

FG Imposes N10 Per Liter Tax On Coke, Sprite, Other Carbonated Drinks

 

The Federal Government has imposed a N10 per liter excise duty tax on all non-alcoholic, carbonated and sweetened beverages.

The excise duty tax is one of the amendments made in the Finance Act 2022 which was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on December 31 last year.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this at the public presentation of the 2022 budget.

She said the purpose of the additional tax is to discourage the consumption of excessive sugar by Nigerians which contributes to diabetes and obesity.

The Finance Minister said the new measure is in line with the 2022 budget priorities which enables the government to introduce new sugar tax to raise revenue for health-related and other critical expenditures.

About four million Nigerians suffer from diabetes linked to excess sugar consumption.

Nigeria ranks the 4th highest soft drink consuming country globally, with over 40 million litres sold yearly.

 

Nnamdi Kanu: Ohanaeze ‘Attacks’ IPOB Over Ban On National Anthem, Cows

 

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has cautioned the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) stating that the move to ban the singing of the Nigerian National Anthem and the consumption of northern cows in the south-east region might be counter-productive.

A statement on Wednesday by the Ohanaeze Secretary-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro submitted that the move by IPOB might negatively affect efforts to secure the release of Biafra agitator who is also the group’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

Apart from that, Ohanaeze in its statement observed that the step taken by IPOB may put an end to the moves to actualize a 2023 Igbo presidency and also mislead the younger ones.

It also cautioned that the southeast region may be opened to military raids accompanied by fighter jets capable of inflicting hardships on the people of the southeast zone.

The Igbo socio-cultural body made its views known in reaction to the declaration by the proscribed IPOB banning cows reared by Fulani herdsmen for any social event in the Southeast as from April 2022.

The declaration by its Head of Directorate Mazi Chika Edoziem through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful also banned the recitation of the National Anthem in schools in the region, Naija News reports.

But Ohanaeze has now cautioned IPOB against plunging the southeast region into regrettable action that will pitch the region against the federal government of Nigeria and the other parts of the country.

Ohanaeze noted that the IPOB order “will affect the ongoing diplomatic efforts to free Nnamdi Kanu. Instead, the FG might unleash bitterness on the South-East.

“This order is also nonetheless destructive to the campaign for the Igbo presidency in 2023 and will give birth to avoidable military raids on all public schools in Southeastern Nigeria, with the ongoing ‘Operation Golden Dawn’.”

The Ohanaeze scribe added that “reciting of the Biafra anthem in public schools remains prohibited, forbidden and proscribed, as the South-East is still an integral part of Nigeria.

“We cannot afford to mislead and misinform our pupils into trending into paths that will attract grave consequences for Ndigbo.

“Ndigbo should flout such despicable orders of absurdity, as it will be the rationale for future deployment of military Tucano fighter jets to South-eastern Nigeria.”

Instead, Isiguzoro urged IPOB to “join Ohanaeze in the promotion of Igbo language, cultural heritage, and values in all South-East public schools. This is the best way to get our youngsters to remain committed and imbibe the cultural values and heritage of Ndigbo.”

He added that killer herdsmen disguised as normal cattlemen were responsible for the killings and general insecurity in the southeast.

“The recent security challenges in South-eastern Nigeria are created by killer herdsmen masquerading as cattlemen to perpetrate heinous onslaught against our local communities.

“The enforcement of the ban on consumption of Fulani cattle should be a protest against unhealthy and disease-infested cows being sold to Ndigbo,” he noted.

 

Traffic robbers attack Actress Kemi Afolabi  On Lagos-Ibadan Express

Kemi Afolabi with her damaged car

 

Popular Yoruba movie actress, Kemi Afolabi was injured by robbers at Arepo, Ogun State along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

 

It was gathered that the actress was attacked by cutlass wielding robbers on Tuesday night while she was returning home from a movie shoot.

 

In a post on Instagram, the actress revealed that she was left with a cut on her hand.

 

She added that her driver was alattacked and the windscreen of her vehicle destroyed.

 

She wrote, “I am in a state of shock! Traumatised!! I haven’t closed my eyes to sleep since yesterday.

 

“I also experienced the highly poor insecurity state in Nigeria which has become a norm. No matter how much we scream and cry, it always falls on deaf ears of those who govern us even when death is involved.

 

“My driver and I were attacked by armed robbers at Arepo where I went to film while in traffic on our way back home yesterday.

 

“They broke my windscreens, left my whole body with wounds and skin in pains because of the impact of the shattered glass which was forcefully broken while I was in the car.

 

“My arm was cut with cutlass, and they took my phones, belongings and ran off! Sadly my driver also took a hit to his head.

 

“Still, I am thankful because it could be worse! However, this is nothing compared to what I’ve been through in recent times.

 

“No matter what may come my way, I will forever be grateful to God for preserving my life.”

 

Watch the video below.

 

Woman Kills Herself And Her Two Children Over Husband’s Infidelity

A mother of three set her house on fire, killing herself and two of her children aged 4 and 2 years in Kenya.

The incident happened in Sirende Village in Lugari Sub-County, Kakamega County, on New Year’s day, January 1, 2022, after she accused her husband of cheating on her with another woman.

The woman identified as Hellen Vuyanzi, 35, is alleged to have doused parts of the house in petrol before lighting it up on Saturday night.

Her third child, aged 11, survived the tragedy after jumping out of the house through a window.

Lugari Sub-County Police Commander, Bernard Ngungu, told The Standard that Vuyanzi had accused her husband of infidelity.

“We had earlier counselled Vuyanzi and her spouse, Thomas Amito, after a domestic dispute arose between them. We understand that Hellen had accused Thomas of cheating on her with another woman.” said Ngungu.

Police say Vuyanzi might have bought petrol from a local filling station, and used it to set her matrimonial home alight.

Vuyanzi’s neighbour, who spoke to The Standard on condition of anonymity, said that the deceased and her partner had been having recurrent domestic wrangle.

“The two were quarreling now and again, with the woman accusing her husband of infidelity. We didn’t expect that their issues would end tragically,” said the neighbour.

Stephen Okila, the cousin of Vuyanzi’s husband Thomas Amito, said that Amito called him on Saturday night and informed him that his (Amito’s) house was on fire.

Amito was away from home at the time.

“I rushed to his house, and confirmed that it was true – that the house was on fire. Unfortunately, my cousin’s wife and her two children aged 4 and 2 years had already been burnt to death. We understand that the couple’s eldest child, a boy aged 11, managed to escape through the window,” said Okila.

Okila said he was not aware of any marital issues that his cousin, Amito, had with his partner.

“I was close to them (Amito and Vuyanzi), and I didn’t hear of any issues with their marriage.” he added.

Bodies of Vuyanzi and her two children were taken to Webuye County Hospital morgue.

 

Heavy Security Around Govt House As Uzodimma Names Sponsors Of Insecurity

 

There is palpable tension in Imo State as the Imo state governor, Mr Hope Uzodimma, is expected to reveal sponsors of insecurity in the state today, Tuesday.

Stakeholders have started arriving at the venue in Owerri to listen to the names the governor will call as people behind series of kidnapping and killing across the state.

Uzodimma had promised late last year to name the sponsors on Tuesday (today).

The Sam Mbakwe Executive chamber in the government house in Owerri, the venue of the sitting, has been cordoned off by heavily armed security agents as stakeholders have begun to arrive.

Some of the dignitaries who have arrived the venue of the sitting are the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Professor George Obiozor, the former Senator who represented Imo North senatorial district, Matthew Nwagwu, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Hussani Rabiu, former minister of Information, Walter Ofonagoro, speaker Imo State House of Assembly, Kennedy Ibeh, former deputy governor, Jude Agbaso.

Also present are the former Imo state House of Assembly, Speakers and Deputies, former and present members of the Imo state house of assemblies among others.
Details later…

 

Malami Reveals 3 Anti-corruption Bills That May Become Law In 2022

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has disclosed that three bills pending before the National Assembly are geared towards ridding Nigeria of corrupt practices.

The AGF revealed the pending bills while speaking on the activities of the Justice Sector in the year 2021 at NTA’s Good Morning Nigeria program on Monday.

He listed the bills as “Proceeds of Crime Bill, Witnesses Protection Bill, Whistleblowers Bill”, saying that the pending legislation is part of the federal government’s approach and solution to the anti-corruption challenge.

The bills may most likely to be looked into by the NASS in 2022.

Usually, a bill has to be agreed upon by the House of Representatives and the Senate after which the President assents to it, before it becomes law.

Malami further said that part of the success story of the FMOJ in 2021 was its exploration of judicial process to ensure the proscription of groups, association and individuals that have been posing terrorist threats on the nation.

 

Magodo Estate Shut Again As Residents Protest Presence Of Over 50 Armed Policemen

 

Residents of Magodo have taken to the streets again to protest the militarisation of the estate with at least 50 armed-to-the teeth policemen.

Recall policemen were said to have recently accompanied suspected land grabbers and members of a family who invaded the estate with bulldozers.

It was learnt that it took the intervention of the Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu before the gates were reopened as the Inspector-General of Police, Baba Usman, promised to withdraw the policemen.

The chairman of Magodo Residents Association Banjo Osinubi told journalists during the protest that the presence of armed cops was unacceptable.

 

“We called our people out to protest this morning. Over 50 policemen are living within the estate. We want the police out of our estate,” stated the Magodo resident association chairman. “There are no cases of kidnapping, rioting, but why are they still here? We want them out of our estate.”

 

Two gates leading to the estate were shut as placards-carrying residents continued their demonstration.

 

“Gov Sanwo-Olu, stop the illegal possession of Magodo phase 2 properties which were legally bought from LASG,” said a placard.

 

Another placard urged, “Lagos Attorney-General prosecutes those involved in the illegal invasion of Magodo Phase 2 you promised,” with yet another one stating, “Magodo Phase 2 has been under siege of the IGP’s anti-riot police squad for three weeks.”

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