According to Sahara Reporters, troops of the Nigerian Army and military aircraft searching for Major Christopher Datong, abducted by bandits during an attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna State, are reportedly having a tough time.
It was learnt that apart from the unfriendly weather which makes the terrain difficult for the military Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft, the bandits are reportedly to be firing at approaching military aircraft.
“Of course, there are several groups of bandits, and no one is 100 per cent sure which group is holding the Major. You cannot bomb them because you want to ensure you do not destroy the victim with the suspects. The weather is also not helpful. They shoot at military aircraft if you fly too low. They shot at our aircraft, including these ones conducting the search. So, the guys searching from air are not able to search all day,” one of the sources said.
When asked if the military was negotiating the payment of ransoms, another source said, “That is unconfirmed. No bandit can approach the military for ransom. That is the height of death. We cannot think it not to talk of paying ransom,” he replied.
It was reported on Wednesday that the Defence Headquarters, Abuja was coordinating a search and rescue operation for Major Datong.
The DHQ, in a release by Maj Gen Benjamin Sawyer, the Director, Defence Information, had stated this.
“Let me use this opportunity, to reiterate that the NDA authorities, acting on the directive of the Chief of Defence Staff has constituted a board of enquiry to ascertain the remote and immediate cause(s) of the breach of security with a view to sanction any personnel found culpable and also prevent future occurrence.
“Let me also assure that we shall continue to update the general public as events unfold as we are all aware the search and rescue of the abducted officer is still on. Troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria will continue with its operations to ensure all those involved in the dastardly act are brought to justice,” he had said.
Datong is still alive, according to a family source.
A family member of the officer had told reporters on Wednesday that contrary to reports, he had not been killed and he was still alive.
“He is still alive. I can confirm it to you,” reporters were told.
The Nigerian Defence Academy, the military’s foremost training institution in the country, had confirmed that gunmen, believed to be bandits, invaded the facility, killed two officers and abducted one other.
The NDA Spokesman, Major Bashir Jajira, in a release, had noted that the Nigerian Army and Air Training Command as well as other security agencies in Kaduna state had commenced a “pursuit of the unknown gunmen within the general area.”
Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige
The Federal Government has promised to clear arrears on the consequential adjustment of the minimum wage owed to members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, by the end of October.
Minister for Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, disclosed this at the end of a meeting between the Federal Government and the Joint Action Committee, JAC, of the two unions convened to examine the level of implementation of the Memorandum of Action, MoA, it signed with the unions in February 2021.
Ngige commended the unions for their understanding and maturity in cooperating with government to resolve their issues, emphasizing that government did not take them for granted.
The Minister disclosed that the meeting was a continuation of an earlier one held on 25th February 2021 at his instance, and at which agreements were reached on various issues concerning members of the unions.
He stated that the meeting agreed that the payment of the arrears be fast-tracked between now and the end of October, adding that arrears in salary and promotion had been captured in the 2021 Supplementary Budget.
Ngige stated that it was not Government’s intention to owe that payment, but that the delay was caused by the difficulty in getting the actual number of people qualified for the arrears, adding that a lot of people had joined the Service from 2020 up, while the period of the arrears spanned 19th April – 31st December, 2019.
On Earned Allowances by relevant organizations (universities, polytechnics, colleges of education), Ngige said the JAC would update the National Universities Commission, NUC, on the outstanding amount owed its members, while the NUC was given two weeks to do the appropriate reconciliation.
The meeting agreed to correct the anomalies in the payment of Hazard allowance, caused by an error in printing, which had seen all members collecting the same sum of money across board, with no distinction between senior and junior.
Regarding the Responsibility Allowance, where Heads of Unit were omitted, Ngige disclosed that their employers had been given two weeks to rectify the anomalies to enable the affected people get the appropriate allowance due to them.
On the issue of Renegotiation of FGN/SSANU/NASU 2009 Agreement, Ngige stated that the unions and NUC would agree on a date to meet, as the Secretariat of the Renegotiation Committee was ready.
The Minister stated that as the Visitation Panels for Universities, constituted by government, had finished their work and would present their reports next week, the meeting agreed that Government should, as soon as possible, issue the appropriate White Paper for implementation.
He also stated that the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation reported that out of 293 claims received, all had been processed with 273 paid, and the 20 outstanding would be paid as soon as possible.
The Minister disclosed that the meeting stepped down some issues billed for discussion because of the unavoidable absence of the relevant officers –Inconsistencies in IPPIS payments, and update on Teaching staff usurping headship of non-teaching units in clear violation if condition service and establishment procedures.
He said the meeting was adjourned to the end of October, adding that meanwhile, all the complaints would continue to be handled administratively, as timelines had been put on some of the outstanding issues.
Spokesperson of JAC, Comrade Peters Adeyemi, described the meeting as fruitful, and their interactions with government as a work in progress, which would continue till the agreements are fully implemented.
Prince Adeyemi said the meeting was essentially to take stock of the implementation of the agreements the unions signed with the Federal Government on 25th February, 2021.
Peters said that the issues they raised at the meeting were being looked into.
Present at the meeting were the President of SSANU, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, the President of NASU, some officers of the two unions as well as government representatives.
United States President, Joe Biden, has promised to hunt down and destroy the ISIS-K terrorists who killed 13 American service personnel and dozens of Afghans in a double suicide attack on Kabul airport.
He made the promise on Thursday, August 26, as he joined United Kingdom Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, in vowing to continue the evacuation efforts in Afghanistan despite a “continued” risk of further bombings by the terrorist group.
The ISIS-K, a terrorist group which is an enemy of the Taliban who are in control of the country, is an off-shoot of the terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS).
Last night, August 26, ISIS-K claimed responsibility for the double bombing, which is believed to have killed at least 90 people and injured more than 150 others.
About 11 U.S. Marines, a US Navy medic and another US service member screening evacuees at the airport gates were among the casualties.
The two locations targeted in the bombings were the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport, where US troops were screening Afghans for evacuation, and the nearby Baron Hotel, where thousands including Afghans, Britons and Americans, were told to gather in recent days before heading to the airport for evacuation.
Biden paid tribute to the “selfless heroes” who died helping the Afghan people to safety.
The Pentagon warned there is still an imminent threat of attack at the airport and have now been told to draw up strike plans to hit ISIS-K assets and leadership, despite being in the process of withdrawing all its forces from Afghanistan.
“For those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: We will not forgive, we will not forget,: Biden said in an address at the White House.
He added: “We will hunt you down and make you pay.”
The UK Prime Minister also condemned yesterday’s terror attack, which is not believed to have claimed the lives of any British troops or officials.
He also vowed to continue the rescue effort at Kabul airport, where last night brave British troops were seen sweeping the perimeter following the double bombing.
Legendary Nollywood actress, Rachel Oniga, has been buried in Lagos. The actress died from heart-related issues on July 30 at the age of 64.
A lying-in-state ceremony had earlier been held for the actress at the Catholic Church of Resurrection, Magodo Estate, Lagos.
Her remains were later committed to mother earth at a private cemetery in Lagos.
Oniga began her career in 1993, starring in the blockbuster movie, Onome. In the Yoruba sector of Nollywood, the actress starred in the hit movie, Owo Blow.
The recent movies she starred in include The Wedding Party, The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, 30 Days in Atlanta, Sango, Out of Bounds, among others.
See photos from her burial below (Credit: Bimpe Olajiga).
Pallbearers carrying the casket containing Rachel Oniga’s remainsPallbearers carrying the casket containing Rachel Oniga’s remainsA priest officiating the ceremony at Rachel Oniga’s burial
Spokesman to President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina, has said the media and haters of his principal portray the bandits’ attack on Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna as failure of the President’s regime.
Mr Adesina, in an article on Thursday, said the media slanted the attack on NDA that left at least two dead and one abducted to portray Mr Buhari as a failure.
“It is both sad and disheartening to observe the construct that some people try to give certain developments in the country. And that came out in bold relief in this week’s attack on the officers’ quarters of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), in which two people were killed, and one abducted.
“The news headlines, the slant of the stories, the analyses and discussions, all tended to paint a narrative of the humiliation of our military, the failure of government, and the fact that anarchy had been unleashed on the land,” Mr Adesina.
The polity has been awash with escalating concerns and rebuke of government’s security structure since bandits freely invaded Nigeria’s foremost military training institute to wreak havoc on Tuesday.
A former military intelligence chief, Kunle Olawunmi, who spoke on Channels TV in the aftermath of the attack, said the Buhari regime has been lethargic in going after insurgents because their sponsors are known top functionaries in Aso Villa while some are even governors and senators.
But Mr Adesina reckons that the reactions that greeted the NDA attack shows that the country is filled with “haters of government and humanity.”
“Watching, listening to and reading all the deliberate obfuscation of the matter reinforces the conviction once again that our country is filled with haters of government, of humanity, of good, and even of God. They deliberately muddy the waters, rejoice at evil and all forms of iniquity,” Mr Adesina said.
Blaming citizens for raising the alarm on increasing insecurity under Mr Buhari’s watch, Mr Adesina said, “What kind of people are we, really? Instead of rallying our military, encouraging them and spurring the government further into action, they say the foulest things that can come from the nether region. Government is incompetent.
“The military is no good. They’ve been humiliated, and they only stop short of doing a jig on television, spewing expletives and concocting conspiracy theories. They simply forget where we were coming from, and where we now are. Ungrateful. Unthankful. Ungracious,” he added.
Bandits attack on NDA comes barely two weeks after Mr Adesina claimed that insecurity is being played up to rubbish Mr Buhari’s achievements.
Peoples Gazette had reported that close to 50 peoples were killed across the country barely 74 hours after Mr Adesina claimed insecurity is being “played up.”
In order to allow for detailed work on sections of the project, Messrs Julius Berger Plc will commence a major road diversion on the Lagos-Shagamu Expressway on Monday.
According to the project team in charge, there will be traffic diversion at two locations of the expressway for the continuation of the ongoing bridge works at Eldorado and Lotto Junctions.
This will take place between July 26, 2021, and July 30, 2021, for the installation of cross beams on both sides of the expressway, after which both sides of the expressway will be reopened to traffic.
In addition, beginning from August 9, 2021, through to November 9, 2021, Phase 2 of the diversion will be implemented for the installation of deck slabs, parapets and hand railings on both sides of the Eldorado flyover.
Also, from July 30, 2021, Lagos bound traffic will be diverted to the Ibadan bound carriageway, from a section before Lotto Junction to a section at Deeper Life Conference Centre with two lanes each in opposite direction using temporary median dividers. The purpose of the diversion is to allow for the safe installation of cross beams, bridge deck slabs and parapets on the ongoing bridge work on the Ibadan bound carriageway, which will last for 12 weeks.
According to the Head of Media Relations Office of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, the LSE Project Team, Prince Moses Duku, being conscious of the road traffic implications, has finalised plans to put mitigating measures in place ahead of the commencement of works.
Duku further stated that they would provide flagmen and suitable illuminated diversion points at night, including flashing lights and sufficient reflective road signs.
An emergency response crew will be on standby for emergency response services with well-established lines of communication between various agencies including the Police, FRSC, TRACE and other relevant stakeholders that have emergency response teams.
The proposal by South-West governors for a six-region structure in the country is generating controversy in the region as Yoruba Elders rejected the proposal, insisting on a new Constitution rather than the amendment of the one currently in use.
Contrary to the position of the governors, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) said what the nation needs is not constitution amendment but a new Constitution that will give expression to the differences of the component units and reflect the yearnings and aspirations of the Nigerian people.
“The 1999 Constitution (as amended) from its very first sentence lied against itself by saying ‘we the people of Nigeria’, whereas we the people were never consulted”, the Secretary General of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Dr. Kunle Olajide, said.
The South-West governors had proposed the conversion of the present six geopolitical zones into federating units, as part of the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly.
The South West Governors’ Forum, in a document presented to members of the National Assembly from the zone, made other proposals to weaken the central government, while allocating more powers to states.
The proposals were reportedly presented to the South-West Caucus of the National Assembly penultimate Tuesday.
The governors had met with the lawmakers in Abuja behind closed doors.
The governors at the meeting were Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo State), who is also the Chairman of the South West Governors’ Forum; Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun).
After the meeting, Akeredolu had said the South-West would be approaching the Constitution amendment with a common front.
He added that the meeting had set a committee made of up senators, led by the Caucus Chairman, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the House of Representatives Caucus, led by Hon. Femi Fakeye, and attorneys-generals of the South-West states.
“The committee is to harmonise our position so that we can present it when necessary before the two Houses and, at the end of the day, have a Constitution amendment and have our serious inputs”.
Immoral
Olajide told Sunday Vanguard it is immoral to call the people of Nigeria, either through elected governors or lawmakers, to amend the Constitution they were never part of the making.
“The structure of Nigeria is highly defective and this is why we are against the devolution of powers they are talking about.
“Devolution of powers rarely means what the South-West governors are saying.
“Bringing power to the state, giving local government autonomy, that is anti-federalism.
“In a federal system of government, the local government should be the responsibility of the state; in fact it is not usually listed in the national Constitution.
“Each federating unit is supposed to have its own Constitution where the names of local governments are listed.
“Funding of local governments has to be through the percentage of the resources of the state government and, if any governor does not comply, it will be an impeachable offence under the state Constitution.
“National Assembly has no business with the funding of local government, so there is lack of understanding of this system because, if you allow the Federal Government to fund local governments directly, whatever political party is in power at the centre can undermine state governments in opposition through the funding.
“This is why in a proper federal system, local government business is entirely state business”.
Autonomy
According to the YCE Secretary, the South-West governors are proposing direct funding and local government autonomy, saying local government cannot have autonomy under Federal Government but autonomy under states.
“Then the resources must not come from the Federal Government; it must be part of the resources of the states. The state should hold a minimum of 50 to 60 per cent and pay royalty to the centre for a few services to be held by the centre”, he added.
“Let me ask you, what has Abuja got to do with primary school education? They have no business with it. What is the business of the Federal Government with federal roads in states in a federation? It should be inter states’ roads and the federal capital territory roads.
“What business has the Federal Government got with agricultural when they have no land? Land belongs to the federating units, so you can begin to see the anomaly and paradox in this Constitution.
“That is why this is the fifth amendment, and the amendments will go on indefinitely.
Peoples’ Constitution
“Let us have a people’s Constitution.
“The Constitution of USA was adopted in 1774. I think it has less than two dozens’ amendments; that is well over 200 years down.
“So, once the people sit down to write their Constitution, then each federating unit, in turn, will write its own Constitution.
“There will be no need for this ritual. This is a way to enrich our National Assembly members because, traditionally, it is the Deputy Senate President that heads the amendment committee and they vote billions there every year.
No fools
“So we must stop fooling ourselves, we are not fools in Nigeria, we need a brand new Constitution that will realise the diversity and heterogeneous nature of this country.
“Then our governors are talking about six regions, where did they sit with us to agree that we want to be a region?
“Even those of us in South-West states, we didn’t have any meeting, yes, we elected them governors but that does not give them the power of life death over us.
“For example, I know my Ekiti people don’t want to come down to Ibadan again and I’m sure about Ondo people too and I have many friends and governors in the North who swear they would never go to Kaduna.
“So these things are not as easy as our governors are presenting it.
Self-preservation
“It is an attempt at self-preservation, let us go back to the basics, let the Nigerian people elect people to the Constituent Assembly to write their Constitution, let us appreciate the fact that we are heterogeneous.
“We have over 250 ethnic groups, those who want to work together will voluntarily agree to work together, you don’t lump them together.
“There are Yoruba in Kogi and Kwara who don’t want to be there. We have Ekiti people in Kogi who want to join Ekiti, there are other ethnic groups in Kogi who want to join Osun, ditto in Kwara and then you haul all of them into a region.
“It doesn’t work like that. Then when you go far in the North, you discover that it is more complex.
“And it is much more complex than that, the governors’ proposal is too simplistic in approach.
Commercialised politics
“That Constitution (1999) establishes highly commercialised politics in Nigeria and puts it beyond the reach of Nigerians who genuinely want to serve their country, whereas politics is meant to be service and not a commercial venture; it puts politics far beyond them, because in the First and Second Republics we had college principals becoming governors, we had lawyers becoming governors, journalists becoming governors.
“For example, the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande, a renowned journalist was governor in Lagos.
“But the 1999 Constitution has pushed politics virtually far beyond almost all professionals except the highly privileged, who may one way or the other have had access to the treasury of this country or have godfathers who have access to the treasury or some, who are, in fact, criminals, like a former Inspector General of Police in the Senate who openly said that most of his colleagues in the Senate he had locked up for fraudulent cases in the past.
“So that tells you that we are having mostly the wrong people in right places.
“There are still some politicians, governors and ministers who have the interest of the people at heart but the majority are there to feather their nest. We need an all inclusive people’s Constitution.
“The various amendments recommended by the South-West governors will take a lot responsibilities rightly so away from the Federal Government to states and imagine if those amendments were done, then what would be the duties of about four hundred and ninety nine people at the National Assembly?
“So you can begin to see the paradox in this so-called amendment. This amendment is designed to preserve the privileged position of the political leadership because it appears that the bubble will soon burst
“But what Nigeria requires now is not amendment, we cannot have less than 10, 000 people feeding on more than 160 per cent of the resources of Nigeria.
“We should have a Constitution that will de-monetise the system”.
On his part, a former Ambassador to Philippines, Dr. Yemi Faroumbi, recalled that the agitation for six regions started in the 1955-56 Constitutional Conference, adding, “There are only two tiers, the centre and the federating unit, and if I go by the report of what the (South-West) governors said, they want to have the centre and the regions as the federating unit.
“So, how do you start talking about local governments, how do you start talking about states?
“They are irrelevant in a true federation and that’s the truth. I therefore don’t know whether their proposal is not just to aggregate the tendencies being canvassed in the open space rather than offering the best solution for moving forward.
“If we want to have a six-zone based federation, then we would only talk about the centre and the zones; we cannot be talking about states and local governments within the context of the same federation. It is contradictory.”
Illegal document
Also speaking on the issue, Chief Oludotun Akanni Koleoso, former Legal Adviser of Pro-National Democracy Coalition (PRO-NADECO), London, described the governors’ proposals of six regions, local government autonomy and resource control as “mere palliatives’ to the problems confronting Nigeria.
“The proposals are mere palliative, because these cannot solve the nation’s problems”, Koleoso said.
The 87-year-old lawyer said the cause of Nigeria’s problems is the 1999 Constitution which, according to him, is not a people’s Constitution, but drafted by the military.
“So, it does not serve the interest of the Nigerian people”, he noted.
He called the Constitution “illegal document”, stressing that everything that operates under the “illegal Constitution” is illegal.
“There is no legal thing that could be done with this illegal Constitution”, Koleoso stated.
According to him, the only solution to the Nigeria’s problems is the adoption of the Constitution that was in operation before the incursion of military into politics in 1965 through a coup.
Federalism
Meanwhile, Hon Ayo Fadaka said Nigeria is at crossroads, saying the challenges in our nation, particularly since 1983, are compelling to adopt a proper federalism.
“This development gave birth to the current six geopolitical zones that currently exist” he said.
“The unconfirmed information that South West Governors have now consulted with National Assembly members from the zone will actually be a step in the right direction”, Fadaka said.
“Nigeria’s independence was negotiated on the tripod of a federalist agenda that permitted then-three regions to develop their respective economic agenda they were sure will aid their development. “The regions grew respectively and were even sustaining the Federal Government on account of tax and contributions they were making to its coffers.
“The regions had absolute power on all resources within their sphere.
“There was no command structure as we currently have and there was no herdsmen crisis. The policies and style of the Buhari administration has indeed driven the need to resuscitate proper federalism in Nigeria and it remains the irreducible minimum of the conditions that will guarantee and sustain Nigeria as a nation.
“I am sure that if such a motion should surface in the National Assembly today, not only will it be successful as four of the six zones in Nigeria today will support it.
“Therefore the prospect of that action becoming the ground norm for the rebirth of a nation currently hanging dangerously on the cliff cannot be under estimated.
“Our nation is failing today because of over centralisation that continues to kill initiatives and industrialisation.
“When federal policies fail, the entire nation flunks and this is wrong. I personally look forward to that day when regions will begin to harness actions for the unique development they desire, an action that will challenge other regions to wake up from their slumber and rise to fulfill their manifest destiny.
“If Nigeria had not come under the ambit of the military rule and its attendant command structure, maybe today, nobody will be talking of a non-uniform cutoff mark for students desirous of admission to our Unity Schools and universities as every region would have properly established that in accordance with its defined agenda.
“The South certainly would have built ranches everywhere while the North will of course still be searching and protecting the grazing routes!
“If the core North remains disinterested in Western education and chooses Arabic, it would have perfected its desire and maybe there will be no Boko Haram today!
“Canada continues to remain a classical example of proper federalism, a part of that nation is French speaking while others are English speaking and the nation continues to remain in harmony.
“This is the time to entrench federalism, in the interest of our nation”.
The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice sitting in Abuja has given the Nigerian government thirty (30) days to respond to the suit filed by One Love Foundation through a human rights lawyer, Samuel Ihensekhien, seeking reparation for the family of Miss Jumoke, who was killed recently.
Jumoke, a female trader, was killed on July 3, 2021 by the police during Yoruba Nation rally in Lagos.
Jumoke, who was 14 years old, was allegedly killed by stray bullets reportedly fired by one of the police officers led by the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, while the police were dispersing the agitators at Ojota.
The foundation had in a suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/38/21 sought an order of court directing Nigerian government, who is the defendant in the case, to provide effective remedies and reparation of $1 billion to the parents of the deceased.
In a “Notice of Registration” dated 19th July 2021 sighted by SaharaReporters, the court asked Nigerian government to file a defence within thirty (30) days after service of the application.
The notice read, “Notice is hereby given that an application between Patrick Eholor and the Federal Republic of Nigeria was lodged by the applicant and registered by the court on the 19th July, 2021.
“You are required to lodge a defence within thirty (30) days after service of this application on you and take note that in default of your so doing, the applicant may proceed herein and judgement may be given in your absence.”
The suit is also challenging the clampdown on peaceful protests by different security agencies, which he said was in variance to Section 24 which guarantees the rights to freedom of expression and information in Articles 8 and 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
***Says leading lawyers in Benin Republic are now in charge
Adebanji Akintoye
A Renowned Historian and Leader of the Umbrella Body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Professor Emeritus Banji Akintoye, on Tuesday, confirmed the arrest of Yoruba Freedom Fighter, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, fondly called Sunday Igboho in Benin Republic adding that he, alongside other Yoruba patriots are currently working to provide assistance for Ighoho to prevent his extradition into Nigeria, saying “Benin Republic is a land that respects the rules of law.”
Akintoye, in a statement by his Communications Manager, Mr Maxwell Adeleye, called on all Yoruba people within and beyond the shores of Nigeria to ensure that their ancestral land is not defeated by invaders.
The statement reads: “I received last night the troubling information that Chief Sunday Adeyemo fondly called Igboho had been arrested at the Cotonou Airport.
“I and other Yoruba Patriots who are immediately available are now working to provide the assistance necessary to ensure that nobody will be able to do to him anything unlawful or primitive and to prevent him from being extradited into Nigeria which is strongly possible.
“Fortunately, Benin Republic is reliably a land of law where the authorities responsibly obey the law. We have secured the services of a leading and highly respected lawyer whom we can confidently rely on.
“What the situation now calls for is that the Yoruba nation at home and in Diaspora must stand strong, resolved that neither Sunday Igboho nor any other Yoruba person will henceforth be subjected to inhuman or dehumanizing treatment of any kind.
“We Yoruba nation are, by the grace of God, a very strong nation. We must arise now to show that strength.
“For a start, we must all see to it now that Sunday Ighoho will get his freedom back so as to be able to move and operate as a free person. We all know he has committed no crime.
“We know that some people are trying to suppress or even eliminate him only because he stood up to defend his kinsmen, women and children who are being massively killed and raped in their ancestral home Land; who are having their assets and means of livelihood destroyed, and who are facing ethnic cleansing and even genocide without having the benefit of protection by the rulers of their country.
“We know, furthermore, that for the protection of his people who are being brutalized, he has joined hands with many of his brethren to take the legally-appropriate step, namely to seek the intervention of the International Criminal Court.”
The Oyo State Government has said men of the Nigeria Customs Service raided Igangan and other parts of Ibarapa areas of the state on Friday night, and not unknown gunmen as widely reported.
Mr Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Seyi Makinde made the clarifications in a statement on Saturday in Ibadan.
Adisa said that the revelation was made known by Ibarapa community leaders during a fact-finding meeting between a team of the state government and political/traditional leaders of the affected communities on Saturday.
It was learnt that the gunmen who dressed in Customs uniform stormed the town around 8.pm and left after shooting sporadically.
Three people were allegedly killed while the shooting lasted.
But Adisa said, “The political and traditional leaders of Ibarapa extraction at the meeting, described the Friday raid on Igangan, Igbo-Ora and other communities in the area by men of the NCS as unnecessary and not well-thought-out.
“They called on the leadership of Customs Service to regulate operations of its personnel.
“It will be better if the authorities restrict them to border towns to end unwarranted attacks on innocent communities,” Adisa said.
The governor’s media aide said that Odukoya, who led the state government team to the meeting, had called for vigilance and calm among the people.
He said that police in the areas had confirmed the death of one Amotekun operative and two other persons, following the said raid.
The team accompanied by the traditional rulers and community leaders visited the scenes of the incident at Igangan, Ayete, Tapa, and Igbo-Ora.
The leaders, included the Olu of Igbo-Ora, Oba Jimoh Titiloye and the Chairman of Ibarapa North Local Government, Mr Adeoye Adedoyin.
Jumoke, who was 14 years old, was allegedly killed by stray bullets reportedly fired by one of the police officers led by the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, while the police were dispersing the agitators at Ojota.
