Chioma

Igbo youths under the aegis of Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, have raised concern over the safety of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. COSEYL demanded Kanu’s immediate and unconditional release, saying that Abuja has become very unsafe for him in view of the growing terror attacks in the Federal Capital City. The Igbo group expressed worry that Kanu could be a target of terror attack in Abuja where he is currently detained, and urged the Federal Government to release him to avoid plunging the nation into a tumoil in the eventuality of any harm coming on him. CLOSELY in a statement by its President General, Comrade Goodluck Ibem, also demanded the immediate implementation of the United Nations Opinion requesting Kanu’s unconditional release. The statement made available to Vanguard newspapers read in part:”There is serious attack in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja by Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Fulani Jihadists where Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is being kept. “We call on the United Nations to mount more pressure on the Federal Government of Nigeria to release Kanu from DSS custody because the refusal of the FG to release him unconditionally from custody is inexplicable. “The Federal Correctional facility, Kuje, Abuja was attacked by Fulani terrorists for over three hours and FG could not stop or respond to the terror attack. “Abuja is under siege and no longer safe hence, the need to expedite action for the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu from DSS custody. “A stitch in time they say saves nine. Now is the time to release Nnamdi Kanu from DSS custody. Enough said!” COSEYL described Nigeria’s reluctance to comply with the UN Opinion on Kanu as a letdown on the world body, and called on UN to take action. “It is therefore, a big letdown on the United Nations and the international community for the Federal Government of Nigeria to disrespect the evidence-based Opinion of United Nations mandating the Nigerian Government to release Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally from detention.” COSEYL expressed displeasure that the Federal Government has been reluctant to release Kanu, a freedom fighter but on the other hand, has constantly released terrorists and mass murderers. Source; https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/08/igbo-youths-raise-concern-over-nnamdi-kanus-safety/

The Police in Benue State has arrested one Samuel Achoho, who is the kingpin of a kidnap gang that specialise in abducting females in Makurdi town and environs. Two members of the gang were earlier arrested during their last operation which was foiled by the police. The property used for the kidnapping activities was also demolished by the State Government in line with the Benue State law on Cultism, Kidnapping and other related matters (2017). The building is said to belong to late Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Iorhemen Hwande. Speaking to journalists, Achoho Samuel, who is a brother to one of the other suspects, said women are easy to kidnap because they cooperate better when attacked. The suspect said he was a sales boy to the late CJ's son and has stayed with the family for over 15 years in the same house he used as a kidnapping den. He said he has been into the business for two years. The suspect said he regretted that his actions has led to the demolition of the late judge's house. Source; https://newspotng.com/police-arrest-kingpin-of-kidnap-gang-targeting-women-in-benue/

A Fulani professional group, Coalition of Fulbe Professionals in Africa, COFPIA, has distanced itself from a statement by Alhaji Alhasan Salah, National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, which claimed to be against the candidature of former Anambra State governor and the candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi, in the 2023 presidential election. They said Fulani will no longer be used for violence and extortion, as tackling the country’s issues and election matters have “gone far beyond religious and ethnic sentiments”. COFPIA enjoined Nigerians to disregard any statement from Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, saying the group did not speak for Fulani ethnic group or represent the Fulani in any way. Alhasan, who is the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, had in an interview with a national daily, said the Fulani nation would not support the candidature of Obi. Alhasan had described Obi as a tribal bigot, someone who hates the North and, by extension, the Fulani tribe. He said the leadership of the group had instructed every Fulani in the country not to vote for Mr Peter Obi, because “Obi is a tribal bigot and represents the Biafran interest which would not favour the Fulani nation in Nigeria.” The National Secretary-General of the Fulani socio-cultural group, had noted that “as far as Miyetti Allah is concerned, Obi is out of the options of persons to be voted for in the forthcoming elections.” “As far as we are concerned, we know those we cannot vote for. You see one that they call Obi or OBIdient, any Fulani man who votes for him must be questioned because he may not be a true son of the soil. “Obi represents the Biafran interest. So, we know those we cannot vote for and those that cannot be president of Nigeria. He is a tribal bigot,” he said. Alhassan claimed that when Obi was the governor of Anambra State, he “destroyed the businesses of northerners and chased plenty Hausa and Fulani people from entering Anambra.” Fulbe Professionals react But the Fulani group, operating under the umbrella of Coalition of Fulbe Professionals in Africa, picked hole in Alhasan’s claim. The Fulbe professional group, in a statement, Monday, by Prof. Mohammed Gidado, its National President and Hajiya Mairo Modibo, National Secretary, countered Miyetti Allah. While the group acknowledged everyone’s right to freedom of expression and opinion, it reminded “them that they don’t have the right to speak for the entire Fulani in Nigeria, especially when they have not lived up to expectations.” In a statement to this effect, COFPIA said Fulbe people all over Nigeria “will not be bound by that politically-sponsored statement of Miyetti Allah. “Our attention has been drawn to a sectional, unpatriotic, ungodly and senseless statement credited to one of our brothers, Alhajji Hassan Saleh, the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, the most controversial Fulani group in Nigeria, which no doubt is responsible for the bad name Fulani nation has been branded with in Nigeria. “The Fulbe all over Nigeria will not be bound by that politically-sponsored statement of Miyetti Allah anymore. “The Fulani people are wise now and cannot be used as tools of extortion and religious sentiment any more. “We will enlighten our people to vote for competence and capacity come 2023. We will never vote for any candidate who has nothing to offer. We have gone far beyond religious and ethnic sentiments. “We will vote for a president that will tackle poverty, and acute hunger that have held our people hostage for so long. “We will vote for a president that will fight insecurity with every commitment and unbiased mind, no matter who is in involved,” the statement read. The group said, “Our respected tribal group, Miyette Allah, should channel their campaign to redeem the bad image they have created for Fulani people in Nigeria rather than casting aspersions on Peter Obi, who has demonstrated capacity to rescue Nigeria from the current hopelessness. “We wish to also make it categorically clear that we have not endorsed Peter Obi or any presidential candidate in the forthcoming general elections and we are not Peter Obi’s mouthpiece. “But it’s wrong for our people to continue to brand Peter Obi as a tribal bigot and that he doesn’t like the North. “Available data has shown Peter Obi as an ardent nationalist that believes in the unity of Nigeria. “We, therefore, call on our brothers in the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, to only speak for their group, rather than misleading Nigerians that they are speaking for the entire Fulani people. “They lack the moral, spiritual, and religious rights to speak for the entire Fulani people in Nigeria, especially when they have reduced themselves to tribal bigots that has no regards for other tribes and faiths. “Nigerians have taken position in the forthcoming election to vote for the best man for the job and cannot be distracted by any selfish agenda and blackmail. “As campaigns start, we shall mobilise and enlighten Fulani young and old in every RUGA and town to sensitize our people so as not to be deceived by Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and its like,” the statement added. Source; https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/08/2023-fulani-group-disowns-miyetti-allahs-statement-on-obi/

Hassan Aliyu, one of the victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack who stayed in captivity with his Pakistani colleague, before they were released after a series of negotiations, says while in captivity, their abductors preached to them and encouraged them to pray. In an interview with Daily Trust, Aliyu said he had no problems with praying, as their abductors always asked them to pray for their release. He said, “There was no problem about prayers; we were never harassed in any way. It was just the feeling that you were not free because wherever you wanted to go you must take permission. Whatever you want to do you must ask for permission. The only time you don’t ask for permission is when you want to interact among yourselves.” Aliyu further narrated how their abductors preached to them, using the Qur’an. “I recall a particular issue where somebody said there was a verse in the Qur’an that, ‘You should call people to religion with wisdom.’ And asked why they were doing what they were doing. “The preacher replied that there were nowhere two verses collided in the Qur’an. That before anyone is labelled an infidel, such a person must have taught about Islam first. “We disagreed. It was quite interesting. They would come in the night or during the day and we would interact. They would ask questions or you ask them questions and they would answer happily.” On March 28, a Kaduna-bound train was attacked by gunmen, with several persons killed, injured and abducted. Relatives of the abducted victims have held several protests in the country, urging the government to rescue their loved ones. President Muhammadu Buhari, last Thursday, met with the relatives of the abducted victims in Abuja, where he assured them that efforts are on to ensure the safe rescue of the remaining 31 persons in captivity. Source; https://dailytrust.com/train-attack-our-abductors-preached-to-us-in-captivity-encouraged-us-to-pray-freed-victim

Players and officials of grassroots female football team have been reportedly abducted by gunmen in Uronigbe, a border community between Edo and Delta states in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo state It was gathered that the six victims were kidnapped around 6pm on Friday while returning from a game at Owa-Alero in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State. A source in the community said the kidnappers had contacted some families demanding a ransom of N5m each for the victims. He said: “They (footballers) went to Owa-Alero to play football match so, on their way back, they were kidnapped at Uronigbe area, the boundary between Delta and Edo State. “The victims include Mrs Precious Agbajor, one Abraham, Nancy, Beatrice, the driver and one other person. They are six in number that is in the kidnapper’s den. The matter has been reported to the Uronigbe police station. “The kidnappers have contacted the family of Agbajor and asked them to pay N5 million for his wife.” When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Delta state, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the kidnapping incident, adding that the incident happened in Edo State. His Edo state counterpart, Chidi Nwabuzor, said from the record available at the State Command, there is no information about the incident. “You know we transmit our records to Force Headquarters every day. There is no such record before us. From the command’s record, no such incident happened yesterday (Friday) so the police will not give an account of anything unreported. “It is only when an incident is reported that the police can act on it. In most cases, citizens are not aware of the powers to report incidents. So the record I have from the command is that no such incident happened yesterday (Friday), today (Saturday), and even the day before yesterday (Thursday). Source; https://punchng.com/edo-gunmen-abduct-female-footballers-demand-n30m-ransom/

The Management of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja, has debunked reports that there is an outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease in its facility. The Public Relations Officer, Sani Suleiman, made this known in an interview with our correspondent on Sunday. Suleiman was reacting to social media reports on the memo issued by the hospital to alert the staff of the hospital on the MVD and the surge in COVID-19 in the country. The memo titled ‘Outbreak of Marburg disease and COVID-19 virus infection’ sighted by our correspondent read in part, “The management of the Abuja University Teaching Hospital wishes to notify the entire hospital community of an outbreak of Marburg disease and an upsurge in COVID-19 infection. “Consequently, the attention of all Heads of Departments, and members of staff is hereby drawn to ensure adequate surveillance and hygiene by observing all protocols of prevention. “More details will be sent on our various social media platforms on the outbreaks in due course.” Suleiman, however, said the memo was misconstrued. He said, “Unfortunately, that memo was misconstrued, it’s meant to be an internal memo within the hospital community for our staff to be conscious incase there is an outbreak or incase patients are coming to the hospital for treatment. “They didn’t post the precautionary measures, rather they just posted the memo. “So, it was misconstrued by one of the staff. Infact, the hard copy has not even gone out, it was meant for the hospital community to be conscious of the disease. You know some people are still negligent of the COVID-19 and if the hospital personnel are not taking precautionary measures, it will spread. “We are just sensitising them to be conscious. So it’s not like there’s an outbreak. We haven’t recorded any case of Marburg. “People should disregard it and we are going to follow up with a correction.” The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has said that Nigeria is at moderate risk of an outbreak of the Marburg virus disease. The NCDC said this following an outbreak of the disease in Ghana confirmed by the World Health Organisation on July 17. The centre said it was on high alert given the proximity of Ghana to Nigeria as well as the World Health Organisation alert. https://punchng.com/uniabuja-hospital-debunks-outbreak-of-marburg-virus/ Source;

THE persistent rise in food prices unsettling majority of Nigerians and fuelling hunger may become worse as farmers have raised the alarm that terrorists were taking over their farmland and preventing them from carrying out their farming activities. In the North, where the bulk of commercial farming takes place given their vast arable land, some farmers in Zamfara, Katsina, Nasarawa and Benue states in interactions with our correspondents lamented that the insecurity had prevented them from taking maximum advantage of the rainy season, which would have boosted their harvest and crash the price in the market. Some of them said they had to pay levies to the terrorists to be able to access their farms. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mahmood Abubakar, noted during a recent ministerial briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team that attacks by terrorists had denied farmers access to their farms, especially in the North-West and North-Central. He however said the government was making efforts to address the problem. He had said, “That is one of the reasons why we have an arrangement for security agents known as agro-rangers, who are providing some measures of security so that the farmers will be able to access their farms. Truly, if they cannot completely access farms all over the country, you will expect a drop in production, but right now we are doing everything possible to make sure production is maintained through that security provision.” In May, Boko Haram members of the Islamic State West African Province faction reportedly invaded some farmland on the outskirts of Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State and killed over 50 farmers. There have been other attacks on farmers in different parts of the North. In the South, some farmers also complained about the invasion of their farms by herders. Meanwhile, in Zamfara State, where the slogan is ‘Farming is our Pride’, farmers lamented that due to attacks by the terrorists, farming was becoming almost impossible in the state. They said many farmers had been killed while some were kidnapped. A rice farmer in the state, Alhaji Nuhu Deme, told Sunday PUNCH that food prices might continue to rise and that there could be scarcity if nothing was done to address the challenge. He said this year’s farming season would have been the best in recent years given the improved rainfall but that terrorists had continued to attack, kill or kidnap farmers who dared to go to their farms. The insecurity in the state came to a head when the governor, Bello Matawalle, said in June that residents should protect themselves with guns, a move that was faulted by the police and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor. Deme said, “Despite the improved rainfall this year, bandits now addressed as terrorists invade our farmland at will and sometimes we have nothing to harvest. They go about with sophisticated weapons to monitor farmers and ensure that nobody cultivates their crops without first paying them. “The levy ranges from N100,000 to N1m depending on the size of the farm and it must be paid before a farmer could be allowed to go to their farm. That is not a guarantee the person would be spared in case they decide to launch an attack. Already, some farmers have paid the levy to the bandits and they are able to access their farm. That is why food is expensive because the farmer has to recoup every cost incurred, in addition to the high cost of transportation. “If a farmer does not have money, the bandits would take part of the crops after the harvest. They are that patient and it tells you they are on ground. If a farmer proves difficult, they will either destroy the crops by grazing their animals on the farm or they will kidnap the farmer. I can tell you that many farmers have fallen victim to their ungodly activities.” Deme said further that the terrorists sometimes ask communities to pay a certain amount if they want to go to their farms unhindered, and that the amount depends on the size and their assessment of the community. He added, “Some communities in Dansadau emirate in Maru Local Government Area were levied between N500,000 and N1m and many have found ways to pay because the farmers also need to farm to feed their families. He lamented, “One disturbing situation is that, sometimes the bandits could come back and destroy the crops after collecting the levy from the farmers. Sometimes, once they see people working on their farms, they will kidnap them and take them to their hideouts and demand for ransoms from the families. I can tell you that there are many farmers they have taken hostage for farming without paying the levy.” Another farmer, Aminu Jangeme, also told Sunday PUNCH that the attacks by the terrorists had left many farmers poor since they couldn’t farm, their only occupation. Jangeme added, “They took away our animals, they collected millions of naira from us as ransom for the release of our kidnapped relations and now they have refused to allow us to go to our farms. He noted that the incessant attacks had forced many farmers to flee the state and that some had dumped farming for other ventures. He expressed dissatisfaction over the inability of the authorities concerned to bring the situation under control despite a series of complaints from the affected communities. He added, “The government is well aware of our plight. We have complained both verbally and in writing. We informed officials of both the state and local governments but nothing has happened. Our emir had on several occasions notified the state government of this problem but nothing has happened. While noting that the security agents deployed to tackle the problem were grossly inadequate, he said many more farmers might dump farming, which would lead to scarcity. “Another consequence is that if the situation is not addressed on time, many of us farmers will migrate to other states to look for how to survive,” he added. In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, the Sarkin Noman Tofa, Mohammed Aminu, said, “We are pleading with the relevant agencies to come to our aid. We are in a hopeless situation here. Our people are leaving the villages en masse. We want the government to deploy more troops to Zamfara State, especially the rural areas where the bandits have completely taken over, so that farmers can go back to farm.” He however thanked the Zamfara State government for allowing the people of the state to carry arms and defend themselves. In Nasarawa State, which shares a border with the Federal Capital Territory, farmers also lamented how the attacks by bandits had hindered them from going to their farmland this rainy season. They described their condition as dehumanising as they appealed to the state government to intervene by providing adequate security to enable them to have bumper harvest at the end of the season. A farmer in Awe Local Government Area, William Yakubu, told one of our correspondents that farming in the area had been difficult, adding that terrorists in the area also collect money from farmers before allowing them to access their farmland. He said, “The Nasarawa State government has been trying to address this insecurity but the activities of the bandits seem to be increasing on a daily basis. If you don’t pay them, they may not allow you to enter your farm. That is how serious the situation has been. I am appealing to the government not to relent on this matter. They should put in more efforts to tackle the insecurity in the area to ensure food sufficiency in the state.” Another farmer from Obi LGA, Ibrahim Yunusa, said he stopped going to the farm since the beginning of the year because of the fear of being kidnapped. “I have stopped going to farm because I don’t want to be kidnapped,” he said, “I had to stop farming because I know that if I am kidnapped I will not be able to pay the ransom. The government should help us out of the situation.” In Katsina State, farmers highlighted the same problem, saying the raining season that should have brought them joy and increased harvest had witnessed severe attacks by the terrorists, which prevented them from going to their farms. A farmer in Batsari Local Government Area, Muntari Awwal, lamented that apart from being killed or kidnapped, farmers are sometimes forced to work on their (terrorists) farms along the forests that border Katsina and Zamfara states. He added, “Throughout last year and even this raining season, many of us who have farms in Nahuta, Dangeza and in nearby locations along the forests that border Zamfara State cannot go to our farms because terrorists always roam those places unannounced and some of them even have farms there. “What we do is to limit ourselves to the little grains we get from our smaller farms that are not far away from Batsari. This has affected us negatively and we pray to Almighty Allah to help us put an end to the activities of the terrorists. We also appeal to our security agencies to put in more efforts to defeat the terrorists.” Another farmer in Gurza, Danmusa Local Government Area of the state, Nuhu Gozarki, expressed similar concern, while calling on the Federal Government to save farmers from terrorists. He added, “The terrorists have taken our farmland and villages and you must be ready to do their bidding for you to be alive. Many of us cannot go to our farms again as one can easily fall into their hands while you are working on the farm.” The district head of Batsari, Muhammed Muazu, said many farmers had been forced to abandon their farms. He however urged the Federal Government and security operatives not to relent in their current efforts in checkmating the terrorists. He added, “We appreciate the efforts of the security agencies to tackle the terrorists but we urge them to do more and not relent. Many farmers in our district have been forced to abandon their farmland because of terrorists. Many farmers have left their villages and now settle in Batsari because of their safety. We also pray to the Almighty Allah to help us tackle the terrorists as their activities are affecting our farming activities negatively.” The chairman of the state chapter of the All Nigerian Farmers Association, Yau Gwajo Gwajo, did not answer his calls. He also did not respond to the SMS sent to him on the issue. In Benue State, which is the Food Basket of the Nation, farmers told one of our correspondents that they had lost a lot due to the incessant attacks. The state governor, Samuel Ortom, had about a week ago inaugurated the state Community Volunteer Guards, while he also wrote the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to give his approval for the corps to carry AK-47 and AK-49 rifles. A mechanised farmer, Vitalis Tarnongu, said he had lost over N20m as a result of his inability to access his farm. He said, “The invasion has affected me seriously because the place where I have my farm is now a no-go area. I’m talking about Yogbo in Guma Local Government Area. For the past four farming seasons, I have not been able to access the farm which covers 500 acres of land. “I planted corn and rice but nothing is going on there now. I have lost over N20m since I couldn’t access the farm.” Meanwhile, the state chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Saaku Aondongu, lamented the inability of his members to go to farm due to attacks. He added, “Some of our members can no longer go to their farms due to the incessant attacks and killings of farmers across the state. Most of our members have abandoned farming and taken to other menial jobs. Remember that aside from being unable to access their farms, some of them are now in internally displaced persons’ camps. Also, the immediate past President, Nigeria Cassava Growers Association, Isaac Adewunmi, stated that many farmers had abandoned their farmland and fled, as their farms had been occupied by bandits. He added, “We join in the call for adequate security deployment to tackle this high-level insecurity confronting us as a country, particularly farmers in Nigeria, because many of us in various states are scared of going to our farms due to the activities of these bandits.” Meanwhile, an economist and Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, corroborated the position of farmers as he stated that industrialists who use agricultural products were currently finding it tough to access the items due to the impact of insecurity on crop production. He stated that some agro-product users in Nigeria were now moving to other West African countries to source raw materials for production. Yusuf said, “The worsening insecurity in Nigeria is a major problem for investors in the economy. Many industrialists especially those who are in the agro-allied sector are grappling with challenges getting raw materials from the crop producing areas of our country. “This has continued to negatively impact capacity utilisation, turnover, cost of production and the value delivery to shareholders. Some now source raw materials from neighbouring West African countries. FAO warns The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has expressed concern over the looming food crisis in Nigeria, saying it may lead to instability. In a joint FAO-World Food Programme report, it stated that Nigeria and other countries were named as one of the 20 “hunger hotspots” where it feared that hunger might worsen. Recover farmland – AFAN When contacted, the National President, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kabir Ibrahim, said terrorists were taking over their members’ farmland but noted that since the past three weeks, security agencies had intensified the onslaught against the terrorists. He urged the Federal Government to sustain the tempo, as this had been the call by farmers for several years, adding that in some states like Katsina, some farmers were forced to pay levies to terrorists before being allowed to enter their farms. Ibrahim said, “If you had asked me about this about three weeks ago, I would have told you the same thing that our farmland are being taken over by bandits and that some of us pay them to harvest our crops, but we have asked the government to take the fight to the terrorists and the security agencies are coming up with results. “But even in my village in Katsina State, the farmers have to pay some kind of ransom to be allowed to go to their farms – that is the truth. But today as we are talking, the story is different. Farmers have been reporting some level of respite due to the fight against the terrorists and that there has been improvement in the past two weeks. So if the pressure is sustained on the bandits I’m sure it will make a serious impact on them.” Police react Given that the terrorists have spread to many states in the North, Sunday PUNCH asked the police what they were doing to address the problem. The spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, SP Muhammed Shehu, said the command was doing its best to provide security to all and sundry, including the farmers. “We are recording successes, we are stabilising many communities and villages and we have been making confidence-building patrols. Our men are on rigorous patrol and that has assisted a lot in ensuring the safety and security of Zamfara State.” In Nasarawa State, the police spokesperson, DSP Ramhan Nansel, said the police was doing its best to address the situation. Also, in Plateau State, the police spokesperson, DSP Alabo Alfred, said the commissioner of police had ensured that most police stations had been reopened. He added, “Some weeks ago, we opened a police station at Bassa, in Wase Local Government Area where banditry is about to kick off and cause the disruption of law and order within the plateau.” In Taraba State, the police spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Usman, said the police commissioner had reviewed the security architecture and made the response inclusive. He added, “We are working round the clock to make sure that every farmer can go about their business without being attacked and we also have what we call joint operations with the military.” Farms recovered – JTF The Force Commander, Multinational Joint Task Force, Major General Abdul Khalifah Ibrahim, has said many areas captured by terrorists in the last one year have been reclaimed. He said some of the communities recaptured in Nigeria include Banki, Baga, Doron Baga, Cross Kauwa and Malamfatori among others. Ibrahim added that Baroua in Niger amongst other towns, Amchide and Kolofata towns in Cameroon as well as Madai in Chad had also been reclaimed. These were contained in a statement on Friday by Chief of Military Public Information Office, HQ MNJTF, N’Djamena, Lt. Col. Kamarudeen Adegoke. The statement quoted the commander as saying, “He said there are remarkable improvements in security in the Lake Chad Basin and in the north-eastern part of Nigeria where massive and unprecedented surrenders of over 80,000 terrorists and their families have been recorded and are ongoing daily. He said the same though on a lower scale are being recorded in Chad, Cameroon and Niger.” Ibrahim noted that the MNJTF would continue to partner with neighbouring operations and other strategic partners in ensuring that total peace was restored to the Lake Chad Region. Source; https://punchng.com/rising-food-prices-to-worsen-terrorists-sack-farmers/

The Police in Benue State have arrested two suspected kidnappers who specialise in abducting females in Makurdi town and environs. The suspects were paraded before journalists while the building used to house the victims was demolished. Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Lt. Col. Paul Hemba (rtd.), said the duo were find of collecting huge ransom from the families of their victims. He said luck ran out of them during their last operation which was foiled by the police, adding that demolition of the property used for the kidnapping activities was in line with the Benue State law on Cultism, Kidnapping mad other related matters (2017). State Commissioner of Police, Wale Abass, who paraded the suspects, disclosed that they were picked up from their hideout along Gboko road in Makurdi on August 9. Abass said the suspects while fleeing the scene during their last unsuccessful operation dropped a phone which gave the police a lead to effect their arrest. He added that the suspects were members of a four-man gang, stressing that the kingpin and one other are currently on the run. The suspects; Solomon, 25 and .Achoho, 30, while answering questions from journalists confessed to committing the crime. Source; https://dailytrust.com/kidnappers-targeting-women-arrested-in-benue-hideout-demolished

The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Campaign Council and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, has tendered an apology to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria following his unpopular reference to the Holy Father, Pope Francis. Lalong, a papal knight has while speaking about his recent appointment by the APC said the Pope did not disapprove of it. His comment attracted heavy criticism from Catholic faithful across the country, with some calling for his suspension from the church. But while admitting his error in a letter to the CBCN president titled, “Letter of Apology” and dated August 12, 2022, Lalong begged for forgiveness and understanding from the Catholic Church through the Bishops’ conference. The letter read in part, “While many people commended me for the appointment and saw it as a way of remaining within the system to fight for our own interests, others cast aspersions on it on the grounds that our faith had been insulted and denigrated. In the course of this, many of my opponents turned the issue into a political weapon with some spreading rumours and questioning the integrity of my credentials as a Catholic and a papal knight. “During the week, in the course of defending myself, I had cause to make reference to my credentials as a Catholic and a Papal Knight. In the process, I made reference to the Holy Father. I now realise that this was an error on my part and has caused some level of concern and even embarrassment to many, especially the Members of the family of Papal Knights to which I belong. “I now understand that I may have overreached myself in the course of trying to defend my personal decision in accepting this appointment and thus, the reference to the holy father was not intended as an act of disrespect to his exalted and revered office. Your Grace, by this written letter, I wish to tender my unreserved apologies and ask for their understanding and forgiveness from my brothers in the Catholic faith and, through you, the entire members of the bishops conference, our fathers and our leaders.” Source; https://punchng.com/lalong-apologises-to-catholic-bishops-over-pope-comment/