The Nigerian Army has killed five members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the Arochukwu area of Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State.
According to a source, the IPOB members were killed on Thursday during an exchange of gunfire with soldiers around the palace of the community’s monarch.
He said the IPOB members were enforcing the sit-at-home order they declared to protest the unlawful detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The source said the pro-Biafra agitators took to the streets to celebrate the news that their leader had been brought to court.
He added that the IPOB members who were also in a jubilant mood that Kanu is alive, contrary to reports they had been getting about the safety of the separatist leader, marched on the streets.
On arriving at the First Bank axis of the town, the IPOB members engaged the soldiers in a gun duel, but five of them surrendered to the superior firepower of the troops.
He said the gunshots caused pandemonium in Arochukwu, leaving residents to scamper for safety into nearby bushes.
The Nigerians Railway Corporation has withdrawn train services from Abuja to Kaduna State.
This is coming on the background that trains were reportedly attacked by terrorists on Wednesday.
But the corporation said the suspension was to enable it conduct maintenance.
“We are withdrawing the DMU on Abuja Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) from Tuesday 19th-Thursday 21st October, 2021 for scheduled maintenance. The DMU will return back to operations on Friday 22/10/21. Tuesday 19th & Wednesday 20th will be four trips each (I:e AK1, KA2, AK9 & KA10).Thursday 21/10/21 will be 8trips ( AK1, KA2, AK3, KA4, AK7, KA6, AK9 & KA10) respectively, While full train service will return on Friday. Any inconvenience to our esteemed passengers is regretted,” NRC announced on its website.
Senator Shehu Sani had alleged terrorists “attacked the Kaduna Abuja railway with an explosive and opened fire on the train”.
But the Nigerian Police denied the claim made by the senator who represented the Kaduna Central senatorial district in the 8th Senate.
Speaking on the development, the State Police Spokesperson, Mohammed Jalige said, “That is not true, the command is not aware of anything. The train was faulty yesterday on its way coming from Abuja to Kaduna which caused a delay in people’s arrival time.
“They were no explosives denoted; there was no any attack.”
The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr Mele Kyari, has said that the elites, and not the poor masses are responsible for the theft of crude oil in Nigeria.
Kyari who said this on Thursday at the All-Nigerian Guild of Editors Conference described the theft of crude oil as a huge drain on the revenue of the government.
He said crude oil theft had made the corporation to enter into strategic collaborations with security agencies so to put a stop to the menace.
The GMD said before the NNPC’s collaboration without security agencies, the country was losing about 20 per cent of crude oil volume to theft.
Kyari who said the level of theft has been reduced to about four per cent, called on the media and other stakeholders to join the fight against the menance.
He said the need to address the issue of crude oil theft had become compelling, as the four per cent currently being lost is even higher than the internationally acceptable standards of 0.5 per cent.
He said, “We are pumping Petroleum products and until the intervention that I’ve just mentioned, we lose up to 20 per cent of the volume from that line without a spill.
“And I’ve said this in very many fora. There are many of the residences, accommodations and communities I see around that pipeline, with all respect they are essentially communities of thieves, because you do not see the spill.
“And today, I can also confirm that because of the interventions that we have commenced with all the relevant security agencies in the last one or so years, we have seen that fall from stealing from 20 per cent down to four per cent. That is significant.
“But when you say four per cent of 10 million liters which pass on a line every day, then this is still very significant. There is so much work that needs to be done so that we can close that gap to the tolerance level of 0.5 per cent. That’s what the industry accepts.
“Today, the losses are so huge that we are now moving forward with an alternative plan to ensure that we can secure these assets.
“I don’t want to call numbers because it can be very misleading in the international market, but I can tell you that we lose sufficient volume to crude oil theft in our country and we’re acting on it. And who steals crude oil? Well, it is not the ordinary man in the village. It’s the elites of society, and it needs all of us to fight them.
“So when we fight them, it is a survivor for all of us, but also for the ordinary people.”
On the rehabilitation of the refineries, the NNPC GMD told participants at the event that work is progressing on the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna Refineries project.
“Now I can confirm to you we have taken responsibility. We will fix these refineries, we have started the process, before the end of this year and you will see work will be delivered and we will deliver these refineries,” he added.
On the issue of energy transitioning, the NNPC Boss said that the implication is that it would lead to a reduction in demand for fossil fuels by 2050 so as attain the zero carbon emission level.
He added, “There’s something else happening in the world. It’s called energy transition. What that means is that there will be less focus on fossil fuels so that we can achieve zero carbon by year 2050.
“The implication of this is that you have to start reducing consumption or change the utilization of fossil fuel everywhere in the world. For us, its a very tall task. The reason is also very simple today as we all know we are energy deficient.
“We know that we are very far away from the jurisdictions that are advocating for energy translation. We can walk away from fossil fuels. The only resource we have that is very close to us and that is cheap is gas and we don’t develop it.We don’t put power on the ground. We don’t create gas based industries.
“We are no where near attainment of the zero carbon situation by 2050. And indeed the implication is deepening poverty and by implication also deepening insecurity which is also the theme this conference is trying to address.
“And therefore, it’s a very considered view that there must be energy justice. Energy justice means that countries will move in the pace that they can with the realities that they face, so that you can transit on the basis of your contribution to the carbons emissions.”
On the operations of the NNPC, Kyari said that things have changed now as the Corporation and it’s subsidiaries for the first time are being were allowed to do things the way it should be done.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has refused to grant the request for the transfer of leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, from the Department of States Services facility to the Nigerian Correctional Centre.
Kanu had pleaded not guilty to a seven-count amended terrorism charges filed against him by the federal government at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
After taking his plea, his lawyers led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor told Justice Binta Nyako that he had an application seeking his transfer from the facility of the Department of States Services to the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Kuje.
But the application was denied.
It was earlier reported that Kanu’s lawyer had objected to the seven counts preferred against his client.
Subsequently, Justice Binta Nyako adjourned to November 10 to hear the objection.
Ejiofor had said that his client needed to leave the DSS custody so that they could have unrestricted access to him.
After the court rose, the DSS whisked him away from a side entrance of the court.
Operatives of the Department of States Services (DSS) have produced the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
Our correspondent observed that the court room was manned by the operatives of the DSS and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
Few lawyers including Kanu’s lead counsels Ifeanyi Ejiofor and Alloy Ejimakor have been let into the court room.
The IPOB leader is being rearraigned on a seven count charge bordering on terrorism.
Turkish President, Recep Erdogan has revealed that the terrorists that tried to remove him from power are still active and resident in Nigeria.
Erdogan, who recently visited the country to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari was almost removed from Power in 2016 in a shocking attempted coup d’etat.
The arab leader accused allies of renowned cleric, Fethullah Gulen, who own Turkish schools and hospitals across Nigeria, of sponsoring the coup.
Speaking on Wednesday, Erdogan said; “As Turkey, we have been closely monitoring the development in Nigeria, our brotherly and friendly nation. The terrorist organisations, the armed gangs and the marine vendors are continuously active in Nigeria and the Nigerian authorities are continuously fighting them.”
“The sensitivity we show in fighting terrorism, I hope will be reciprocated by our Nigerian brothers and sister and our counterparts. The perpetrators of the heinous failed coup of July the 15 FETO are still very active in Nigeria. And we are continually sharing our intelligence with Nigerian interlocutors and authorities.”
He expressed optimism that the relations between Nigeria and Turkey would be further developed on the basis of a win-win situation and on the basis of mutual respect.
There is a thick cordon of security around the Federal High Court Abuja ahead of the rearraignment of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
The WHISTLER observed the presence of over 65 security operatives and not less than 10 patrol vehicles stationed around the court.
The operatives comprise of the Department of States Services, Nigeria Police, Civil Defense and the court’s security officials.
The DSS operatives are fully armed while anti-riot Police came with shields.
One of the DSS officials explained to newsmen that the barricade was “necessary”.
Reporters are yet to be allowed into the court premises as of the time of this report.
Recall that Kanu was formerly being tried on alleged treasonable felony charges.
But the federal government filed an amended seven count charges bordering on terrorism, insulting the president, treason, amongst other things.
The seven count charge reads :
Count One:
“That you Nnamdi Kanu, male adult of Afaraukwu lbeku Umahia North Local Government Area of Abia State being the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on diverse dates in 2014 and 2015 in London, United Kingdom, did broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu and other areas within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, preparations made by you and others now at large for states in the South-East and South-South zones and other communities in Kogi and Benue States to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a view to constituting same into the Republic of Biafra and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 41(c) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP. C77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Count Two:
“That you Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult, of Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area ot Abia State, on or about the 28th April, 2015 in London, United Kingdom did broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu, Enugu State and other parts of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, referred to Major General Muhammadu Buhari, GCON, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a paedophile, a terrorist, an idiot and an embodiment of evil, knowing same to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C. 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Count Three:
“That you Nnamdi Kanu, male adult of Afaraukwu lbeku Umahia North Local Government Area of Abia State between the month of March and April 2015 imported into Nigeria and kept in Ubulusiuzor in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra state within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court , a Radio transmitter known as TRAM 50L concealed in a container of used household which you declared as used household items and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 47 (2) of the Criminal Code of Act ,Cap C45, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Count Four:
“That you Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult. of Afaraukwu iIbeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State in London, United Kingdom between 2018 and 2021 Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu, Enugu State and FCT, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, professed to be a member of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organisation in Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 16 Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act.
Count Five:
“That you Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult, of Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State on the 22th of April, 2021 in London, United Kingdom on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu, Enugu State and other parts of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did an act of terrorism in that you incite the other members (followers) of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB}, a proscribed organisation in Nigeria, to look for security personnel, their family members through a Radio Biafra on 102.1FM monitored through the IPOB Community Radio and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (h) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act.
Count Six:
“That you Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult, of Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia Stale on the 16thh of May, 2021, in London, United Kingdom within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit an act in furtherance of an act of terrorism by making a broadcast that “In 2 weeks’ time, what will happen will shake the world, people will die, the whole world will stand still, mark my word” and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.
Count Seven:
“That you Nnamdi Kanu, male, adult, of Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State on the 31st of May, 2021, in London, United Kingdom within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did an act in furtherance of an act of terrorism by issuing a deadly threat that anyone who flouted your sit-at-home order should “write his/her will,” as a result banks, schools, markets, shopping malls, fuel stations were not opened for businesses and vehicular movements grounded and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.”
Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist, has told the Federal Government, to produce Nnamdi Kanu in court today, Thursday.
It will be recalled that the Department of State Services (DSS) failed to produce the Biafra separatist leader in court last time out, and many supporters of the 54-year-old are calling on the government to ensure Kanu appears in court today — for them to be sure he is alive.
Kanu’s organization, the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is a controversial group canvassing for the sovereignty of Eastern Nigeria, and Kanu has always run into trouble with Nigerian authorities.
“#FreeNnamdiKanu today asking for self-determination is not a crime! In particular, the Federal Govt must produce him in court early this morning #RevolutionNow,” Sowore wrote on his official Facebook page on Thursday morning.
Recall this newspaper reported earlier that the Federal Government slammed an amended seven-count charge against Kanu, while the Federal High Court issued a hearing notice for Thursday.
The notice titled “Federal Republic of Nigeria Versus Nnamdi Kanu” with suit number: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/15, was served on Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor and the prosecuting lawyer, Shuaibu Labaran.
Kanu is being tried on charges of treasonable felony.
Don jazzy and other Nigerian celebrities have reacted to a video making the rounds on the web of a taxi driver being pepper-sprayed directly in his eyes by a police officer after he refused to enter a black maria vehicle.
In the video, the man who is allegedly a taxi driver is imploring the policemen not to put him into the vehicle because he has not done anything wrong.
He goes ahead to call on people to help him while revealing that the police have also taken his car and he has no one in Lagos state that would help him out or come to bail him from the police station.
The police, however, did not heed to his cries and when the man kept resisting one of the policemen used a pepper spray directly into his eyes.
Following the incident, celebrities such as Don Jazzy and Mr. Macaroni have called on the Lagos State Governor Olajide Sanwo-Olu to do something about the unjust behaviour of the security operatives.
Mr. Macaroni reminded the governor that he stated that he would always support Nigerian Youths after inviting a comic artist known as Boda Taiye Oniyakuya to present a caricature representation of him.
AThe Instagram comedian asked the governor to put his words into action and show he is truly in support of the Nigerian youth.
Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed has said that the #EndSARS Massacre is False.
Mohammed, in a lengthy statement on Wednesday described the narrative that there was a massacre of protesters by Soldiers at the Lekki toll gate on October 20th, 2020 as ‘Fake News’.
Below is a full transcript of the statement;
Good morning gentlemen and welcome to this press conference.
PHANTOM MASSACRE AT LEKKI TOLL GATE
Today marks the first anniversary of the phantom massacre at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, which was the culmination of an otherwise peaceful protest that was later hijacked by hoodlums. At earlier press conferences, I had called the reported massacre at the toll gate the first massacre in the world without blood or bodies. One year later, and despite ample opportunities for the families of those allegedly killed and those alleging a massacre to present evidence, there has been none: No bodies, no families, no convincing evidence, nothing. Where are the families of those who were reportedly killed at the toll gate? Did they show up at the Judicial Panel of Inquiry? If not, why?
Sadly, the champions of a massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate, including Amnesty International and CNN, have continued to shamelessly hold on to their unproven stand. Recall, gentlemen, that after bandying different figures, Amnesty International finally settled at about 12 people killed. On its part, CNN went from 38 people killed to two to just one, after a supposed global exclusive even when the network had no reporter on ground at the Lekki Toll Gate on Oct. 20th 2020.
On Monday, the Judicial Panel of Inquiry that was set up by the Lagos State Government after the EndSARS protest wrapped up its sitting. During the sitting, CNN was summoned but it never showed up, thus missing a great opportunity to prove its allegation of massacre at the toll gate. Also, Amnesty International had a golden opportunity to convince the world, but it rather opted for issuing meaningless press releases.
In its latest attempt to grasp at straws and redeem whatever is left of its battered credibility on this issue, CNN has continued with its baseless report that soldiers shot at protesters. In a report currently running on the network, CNN brazenly and unashamedly held on to its flawed narrative, relying on an unidentified mother whose son was reportedly shot dead at Lekki, but without convincing evidence of who shot him dead. The same CNN that tweeted on Oct. 23rd 2020 that 38 people were shot dead at Lekki is now struggling to convince the world that one boy was killed at Lekki. What a shame!
The testimony of ballistic experts before the Judicial Panel of Inquiry in Lagos contradicts the tales by the moonlight by Amnesty International, CNN, a runaway DJ and their ilk. The experts, in their testimony, said inter alia:
”The Team finds that from the medical data examined, including the timeline of arrival at medical facility and the nature of the injuries sustained by the Victims, who were taken to the 5 medical facilities, that no military grade live ammunition (high-velocity) was fired at the protesters (emphasis mine) at Lekki Tollgate on 20th October 2020, within the timeframe of reference (18.30-20.34hrs). That the GSW (Gun Shot Wounds) injuries (4 in number between 19:05 and 19:45 hrs), which were examined by the Team, can be safely identified as being discharged by either low velocity caliber and/or artisanal/12-gauge firearms (artisanal firearms are locally-fabricated weapons). What is however certain is that had the military personnel deliberately fired military grade live ammunition directly at the protesters; there would have been significantly more fatalities and catastrophic injuries recorded. This was clearly not the case.” (emphasis mine)
The ballistic experts are not alone in reaching that conclusion. In its 2020 Country Report on Human Rights Practices, the U.S. State Department wrote:
“On Oct. 20th (2020), members of the security forces enforced curfew by FIRING SHOTS INTO THE AIR (emphasis mine) to disperse protesters, who had gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos to protest abusive practices by the Nigeria Police Force Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS)
“Accurate information on fatalities resulting from the shooting was not available at year’s end. Amnesty International reported 10 persons died during the event, but the government disputed Amnesty’s Report, and NO OTHER ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO VERIFY THE CLAIM (emphasis mine).”
With the preponderance of evidence against any massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate on Oct. 20th 2020, we are once again reiterating what we said one year ago, that:
i) The military did not shoot at protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate on Oct. 20th 2020, and there was no massacre at the toll gate. The only ‘massacre’ recorded was in the social media, hence there were neither bodies nor blood.
ii) Amnesty International, CNN, a runaway DJ and others like them should apologize for misleading the world that there was a massacre at the Lekki Toll Gate and for portraying the Nigerian military, police and other security agencies in bad light.
iii) CNN acted unprofessionally by relying on unverified, and possibly-doctored social media videos, as well as other open-source information, to conclude that a massacre took place at the toll gate.
iv) The Federal Government remains proud of the security agencies for acting professionally and showing utmost restraint all through the EndSARS protest and the ensuing violence, an action that saved lives and properties.
v) The six soldiers and 37 policemen who died during the EndSARS protests are human beings with families, even though the Human Rights Organizations and CNN simply ignored their deaths, choosing instead to trumpet a phantom massacre.
OTHER ISSUES RELATED TO ENDSARS
The National Economic Council (NEC), which comprises all State Governors and representatives of the Federal Government, and chaired by the Vice President, has already addressed other issues relating to the EndSARS protest.
At its meeting on 15 October 2021, the NEC received an update on the Reports of Judicial Panels of Inquiry into Allegations of Human Rights Violations against Members of Nigeria Police Force and other Security Agencies. Note that 28 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) – under the auspices of the National Human Rights Commission – had set up Judicial Panels/Commissions of Inquiry to investigate allegations of violations of human rights levied against members of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, especially members of the disbanded SARS.
Out of the 28 States, 11 States (Abia, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Plateau, and Rivers) have submitted their final reports to Council. Governors of other States have also indicated that their reports would be submitted soon. Following deliberations on the recommendations of the panels, NEC agreed/resolved as follows:
PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS
Each State, in collaboration with the Federal Government, shall establish modalities for the settlement of all monetary compensations awarded by the Panels. Already, as resolved by NEC, a number of States have set up Victims Compensation Funds, from which several victims have already received payments of sums awarded to them by the panels.
PROSECUTION OF INDICTED PERSONS (SECURITY PERSONNEL AND CIVILIANS)
Council directed State Governors to immediately forward copies of final reports of the panels to their Attorneys-General for prompt arraignment and prosecution of all indicted persons. Where incidents in the reports relate to matters of discipline, in addition to prosecution, NEC urged the Nigeria Police Force to take disciplinary action on the affected officers in line with the provisions of the Police Act 2020.
IMPROVED EFFICIENCY OF NIGERIA POLICE FORCE AND OTHER SECURITY AGENCIES’ ARCHITECTURE
NEC called on the leadership of the security agencies to ensure that –
a. Persons recruited into arms-bearing security agencies undergo psychiatric evaluations and drug tests before enlistment and periodically after enlistment to ensure that the personnel are psychologically fit to carry live weapons and to identify behavioural tendencies that may require psycho-social interventions.
b. Personnel of the agencies dutifully observe Rules of Engagement in the discharge of their functions/duties around and within the civilian populace.
c. While acknowledging the various initiatives introduced by the Federal Government to:
*strengthen police accountability through the Police Service Commission,
*sustain improved funding and budgetary allocation to the Nigeria Police Force and other securities agencies,
*and the lifting of the ban on recruitment of police officers, Council urged the Federal Government to give priority to the general welfare of police officers and personnel of other security agencies. In particular, it advocated the review of pension and gratuity of retired police officers and attainment of parity of remuneration by police officers with sister security agencies.
d. Undertake a comprehensive assessment of all police stations across the country with a view to ensuring that they are fit for purpose.
e. Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies should deploy cutting-edge technology in the fight against crimes.
f. Nigeria Police Force to, in line with the mandatory training provisions of the Police Act 2020, prioritize training of Police Officers on procedures for the entrenchment of Human Rights Provisions guaranteed by the Constitution and on the professional handling of weapons.
g. All those detained by the Police as a result of the EndSars protests are expeditiously processed with due regard to the principles of fair hearing.
h. The system established within the Nigeria Police Force for receipt and handling of complaints or petitions is strengthened, and all police officers on duty should be in police-approved uniform with their full names and force numbers boldly written for easy identification.
i.The States should, as resolved by NEC:
Properly utilize and support the community policing programme of the Federal Government, with active collaborative efforts and participation of traditional rulers, elders, youths, vigilante groups, etc.;
Establish standing committees under States Ministries of Justice to address human rights violations on a continuous basis; and
Take measures aimed at flushing out miscreants squatting in uncompleted buildings, and other blackout spots that serve as hideouts for criminals.
Of course, NEC also issued an advisory on public protests to mark the first anniversary of the EndSARS protest. While appreciating the role of lawful peaceful protests in the advancement of public discourse under democratic governance, the NEC strongly advised those planning public protests across the country to mark the EndSARS’ anniversary to consider other lawful alternative means of engagement, especially because of the current security situation across the country and the possibility of such protests being hijacked by armed hoodlums and other opportunistic criminals to cause mayhem.
Finally, NEC also pointed out the various actions already taken by Federal and State Governments to address the grievances that led to the 2020 protests, including:
the disbandment of SARS;
*broad police reforms;
*establishment of judicial panels of inquiries to investigate allegations of human rights violations by members of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies;
recommendations of which panels are already at various stages of implementation including the setup of Victims Compensation Funds from which several victims have received payments of sums awarded to them by the panels;
*and prosecution of police personnel indicted by the panels.
Gentlemen, I thank you for your kind attention.
