Nigerian muslims hoping to make the 2021 Hajj should forget about it as the Saudis have extended their ban due to COVID-19.
Saudi Arabia announced today that no more than 60,000 pilgrims would perform the Hajj in July.
And all of them will be residents of the the Kingdom.
Saudi Press Agency quoted the kingdom’s Haj and Umrah Ministry as making the announcement.
It said this year’s Haj, which will begin in mid-July, will be limited to those ages 18 to 65.
Those taking part must be vaccinated as well, the ministry said.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is honoured to host pilgrims every year, confirms that this arrangement comes out of its constant concern for the health, safety and security of pilgrims as well as the safety of their countries,” the statement said.
In last year’s Haj, 1,000 people already residing in Saudi Arabia were selected to take part in the Haj.
Two-thirds were foreign residents from among the 160 different nationalities that would have normally been represented at the Haj.
One-third were Saudi security personnel and medical staff.
Anthony Adeyinka, an aide of Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said Police in Ojota fired tear gas to disperse hoodlums, not June 12 activists.
Adeyinka, who is an SSA on sports, explained that the hoodlums were on course to hijack the protest at the Gani Fawehinmi Park in the Ojota area of Lagos State.
He commended the police officers on how they managed the June 12 protest across the state.
“I was impressed with the way the police handled that situation. It was not the activists, it was the hoodlums that wanted to hijack that protest”, he said in a newspaper interview.
“The people were at Ojota peacefully. The activists were addressing themselves that what they want is a peaceful demonstration but the hoodlums, the miscreants as we all know them wanted to hijack the peaceful demonstration.
“But the police rose to that occasion and made sure the thing was put in order.”
Adeyinka added: “The youths in Lagos are ready to work in synergy with the state government.
“The last #EndSARS showed how hoodlums hijacked a peaceful protest but we give thanks to God that the youths are able to come together and work together with the governor and make sure there is peace in the state.”
A heavy fight broke out amongst Pro-Buhari protesters under the aegis of the #iStandwithBuhari movement in Abuja on Saturday morning.
Leaders of the group were seen having a heated exchange of words over the sharing of monetary resources meant for organising the counter protests.
This is as hundreds of pro-Buhari supporters have arrived at the Unity Fountain to air their solidarity to the President, Muhammadu Buhari.
Society gazette earlier reported that the several protests against the Muhammadu Buhari administration are currently ongoing as the protesters are demanding better governance.
The situation in the Ojota area of Lagos is getting tense as June 12 protests get underway in some parts of Nigeria.
There are demonstrations, by mostly youths, in the nation’s capital, Abuja, Ondo, Osun, and others.
Several groups fixed rallies for today to express dissatisfaction with the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. They also planned to march against the annulment of the June 12 presidential election by the Ibrahim Babangida regime.
Moshood Olawale Kashimawo (MKO) Abiola, the presumed winner, was arrested in 1994 on treason charges after declaring himself President. The late business mogul died on 7 July 1998, the day he was due to be released from prison.https://twitter.com/thevyraltrendz/status/1403641369902555137?s=24
In Ojota, police operatives fired tear gas and shot in the air to disperse protesters while footage showed some officers dragging a civilian away.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos, Muyiwa Adejobi, told newsmen that officers are ensuring that peace is maintained across the state.
The state Police Command had warned against actions that may cause law and order.
After recording another massacre of no fewer than 90 people in Kadawa village in Zamfara, Governor Bello Matawalle has told his people to defend themselves and wait no more for security agencies.
He gave the advice at a prayer session in Gusau, just after French speaking bandits invaded Kadawa village in Zurmi Local Government Area.
Matawalle said:“The insecurity situation has defied solution, and as such, people should defend themselves.
“I am calling on the people of the state to defend themselves if bandits attack them. My government has approved that whenever the bandits attack you, do not wait for the security personnel to come to your rescue. You should rise up and protect yourselves.
“My government has also planned to recruit the locals from each community who will be in charge of monitoring their villages to ensure that bandits do not attack the people.”
Matawalle called on traditional rulers and community leaders to ensure that only people of “proven integrity” were recruited.
He also urged traditional rulers to fish out the bad eggs in their communities conniving with the bandits.
The police in Zamfara confirmed Thursday’s attack on Kadawa village, where over 90 people were killed.
The Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Shehu Mohammed, made the confirmation to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau on Friday.
“Yes, l can confirm to you that an attack took place at Kadawa village of Zurmi local government where bandits took advantage of the night to strike on unsuspecting people and killed them in cold blood.
“On getting the news of the attack, the Commissioner of Police, CP Hussain Rabiu, ordered combined units of security personnel to mobilize to the area, restore peace and confidence in the communities and track the perpetrators so that they can be brought to book,” Mohammed said.
“The CP, also in company of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Nasiru Magarya, were at the affected community to condole with bereaved families,” he said.
NAN had gathered from some eye witnesses in the village that the bandits invaded the village mid Thursday, speaking French and shooting at anyone trying to escape in the pandemonium.
One of them who simply gave his name as Lawali said 67 bodies were recovered within the village while 26 others were picked up at different locations on the outskirts of the village with several others wounded.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said he hopes Nigeria will be secure, prosperous and confident by the time he leaves office in 2023.
He made the remark in a 30-minute interview with the Nigerian Television Authority, which aired on Friday.
According to the President, he is committed to stepping down in 2023 and has no third term agenda, as the constitution allows for only two terms.
He added that the success of his administration will depend on the survival of his party, the All Progressives Congress, after 2023.
‘Security is Key’
The President argued on Friday that his administration was committed to securing the country from all forms of violence, including banditry and terrorism.
He said it was unfair to conclude that the police and military action currently ongoing in the South-East was a result of his dislike of the region.
“We have been deploying police and army to deal with bandits” in the North, the President said.
While stressing that security had improved since 2015, he said his administration still faces the challenge of acquiring the required weaponry and ammunitions to fight crime in all facets.
The number one thing is security, the President said, because if you don’t secure Nigeria, people will not invest.
He also condemned #EndSARS violence, noting that such actions were bound to drive off prospective investors.
Fighting Corruption
The President acknowledged that corruption remained a nagging problem and decried the difficulty of dealing with it under a democracy.
“It is difficult under this system,” he said. “When I was a bit younger, I arrested politicians and put them under restriction and told them they were guilty until proven innocent.”
However, he said majority of Nigerians believe his administration was doing its best under the circumstance.
He advocated for the creation of special courts to deal with corruption, noting that such an institution would speed up the hearing of financial misappropriation cases and ensure criminals do not cheat justice.
Grateful to China
The President said his administration has focused on building public infrastructure such as railways and roads, and acknowledged China’s assistance.
“We are grateful to China,” he said. “They have agreed to help us and they are helping us.”
He added that his administration has also prioritised the production of fertilizer in order to fight food insecurity.
The President said his administration’s decision to close the country’s borders for months has boosted agricultural production.
President Muhammadu Buhari will address the nation on Saturday, June 12, 2021, at 7 am to commemorate Nigeria’s Democracy Day.
A statement issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity)on Friday enjoined television, radio stations and other electronic media outlets to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority and Radio Nigeria for the broadcast.
A twenty-year-old France citizen identified as Damien Tarel, on Thursday revealed the reason behind his decision to slap the President of France, Emmanuel Macron.
However, his explanation was not enough to hinder the court from sentencing him to four-month imprisonment for slapping the president.
Recall that Tarel slapped the president on Wednesday while exchanging pleasantries with members of the public during a trip in France’s Drome region.
Tarel when brought before the court disclosed that he had thought of other ways to humiliate the president days before his visit to the region.
He disclosed that he had plans to throw eggs or a cream tart at the president, but disclosed that the slap was not his initial plan
“I think that Macron represents very neatly the decay of our country,” he told the court, according to BFM TV.
“If I had challenged Macron to a duel at sunrise, I doubt he would have responded.”
He added that he was angered by Macron’s “friendly” looks. The court handed him an 18-month jail term out of which 14 is suspended.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has asked Lagosians to disregard any sit-at-home order by any group who intends to carry out a protest in the state in commemoration of the 2021 Democracy Day on Saturday, June 12, as the command is not aware of any planned protest in the state.
The commissioner made these appeal Friday, in a signed statement by the command spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
CP Odumosu asked Lagosians to “disregard any sit-at-home order called by certain groups which is being circulated in the social media and go about their lawful businesses as the police and other security agencies have made necessary arrangements to maintain law and order across the state.”
In another development, the statement also revealed that the Commissioner of Police has formed special squads to go after traffic robbers who have been terrorising innocent members of the state, and get the state rid of such “miscreants.”
CP Odumosu equally released some crime fighting equipment and modern communication gadgets to the squads for efficiency and better service delivery as some of the identified areas like Eko Bridge, Apongbon, Cele, Ijora, Ojota/7up, Mile 12, Surulere etc, “must be cleared of miscreants and traffic robbers with immediate effect.”
While assuring the general public of adequate security of lives and property in Lagos State, CP Odumosu reiterated that “police personnel in the command will religiously discharge their duties within the ambit of the law.”
Some youths in Igangan have resorted to ‘self-help’ by patrolling with guns and searching vehicles that enter the area following gruesome attacks on residents by suspected Fulani herdsmen
Society gazette earlier reported that Herdsmen attacked Igangan, Ibarapaland, Oyo state on Sunday June 6th burning down a filling station, buildings including the Palace of the Asingangan(traditional ruler) and killing several people.
The gunmen stormed the community with over 20 motorcycles, killing about 15 people in the attack.
However, the youths of the community have resorted to securing the area against another possible attack. Governor Seyi Makinde, has since reacted to the incident stating that security operatives are on ground to handle the problem.
