Benue Youths reject establishment of Vigilante group by Miyetti Allah

By Dansu Peter 

The Benue Youth Forum, BYF has received with concern and total rejection, plans by Miyetti Allah to establish vigilante groups across the country.

The BYF describes as very curious, a situation whereby a private group with known tendencies of violence which has taken responsibility for majority of the killings of innocent Nigerians, particularly in Benue State saying it wants to float vigilante group in the country. 

It will be recalled that the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah, Engr. Hassan Saleh had in an interview with International Center for Investigative Reporting, ICIR threatened that "the Fulani communities are mobilising their own security outfits and that their people will not be in thousands, but in millions" apparently to challenge the conventional security outfits.

He further boatsted that "it is the only way they can fight back the powers that be against them."

A statement by the President,  Benue Youth Forum, Terrence Kuanum  described it as a clear call to war against ethnic nationalities by the Fulanis who are using their proximity to power in Nigeria to disposses other tribes of their ancestral lands if such threats are taken lightly. This is one of the reasons that have persistently made Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom to keep calling for the arrest and prosecution of the leaders of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore for their avowed complicity in the invasion of Benue communities and gruesome murder of over 5000 unarmed people, as well as destruction of properties worth billions of naira and displacement of millions of people,  thereby creating a cruch humanitarian crisis.

"This is a reminder to all of a similar threat by Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore in 2017 who vowed that blood will flow in Benue State if the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law was not scrapped by the state. What followed thereafter was the killing of over 70 innocent persons in their sleep in January 2018. These killings have continued ever since. 

"The Benue Youth Forum sees this open declaration to establish private Vigilante Group across the country as another affront on the sensibilities of the Nigerian State. The Federal Government must not allow this blood thirsty group have their way. The Forum makes bold to say that Miyetti Allah as a tribal association has no legal rights to establish Vigilante groups when their members don't have definite location as wonders where the groups will be stationed.

"The Benue Youth Forum further notes that, the cattle breeders group want to create parallel governments in places they find themselves as they clearly said they were creating groups to fight against established security outfits as claimed by the Secretary of the Association.

"The Forum alleges that the Fulani group are simply on another voyage to legalise the incessant killings of Nigerians to take over their lands.

"We wonder what would become of our communities if they surreptitiously create a military wing under the guise of a Vigilante group when even now that members of Miyetti Allah have not officially formed Vigilante Group, their members bear prohibited arms and wage war against ethnic nationalities across Nigeria.

"For the avoidance of doubt, the Fulani as an ethnic group have no legal rights to establish Vigilante groups anywhere they find themselves, but should rather subject themselves to constituted authorities wherever they settle.

"The Benue Youth Forum calls on the cattle breeders to obey laws of states where they settle especially the anti-open grazing legislations if they have genuine intentions of living in those areas.

"The body calls on the Federal Government and all relevant security agencies in the country to arrest the leadership of Miyetti Allah so as to nip in the bud, this evil plan to float another terror arm in the name of a Vigilante group and unleash mayhem on the people.

"We therefore urge state governments across the country to be vigilant as the cattle breeders clearly want to convert their militia groups into a pseudo-security outfit to further expand their killing fields.

"The Forum is ready to resist any attempt to impose on the people a group of merchants of death disguised as vigilantes.

"Back home, we encourage Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state who has been the leading voice in exposing the hidden agenda of the Fulanis to once again, rise to the occasion, rally people of goodwill and forestall the impending disaster as usual" he said

Local Security: Youths want FG to grant request for arms procurement

By Dansu Peter 

Coalition of youths from across the country have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to grant the requests of Benue State Governor,  Samuel Ortom and his fellow Governors from across the states for the procurement of arms and ammunition so as to enhance local security in their respective domains.

The youths made this known in a statement signed by Hon. Goodluck Ibem,President General, Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL). Leader of COSMBYLA, Terrence Kuanum, Coordinator, Forum of Middle Belt Youth Presidents,  Shittu Waheed,Coordinator,  South West Youth Leaders Forum (SWYLF) and Tito Zokumor,President, South South Youth Forum (SSYF).

The youths said its part of efforts towards supporting the initiatives of the Benue State government and governments of states in the South-West to localise security in their areas based on the peculiarity of the challenges confronting their people.

The Coalition appeals to the president Muhammadu Buhari-led administrarion to grant the requests by Governor Samuel Ortom and his South-West counterparts to procure arms for the Benue Community Volunteer Guards, BCVG and the South-West security outfit, "Amotekun" to bolster security in their states.

They also  commended  the country's conventional security agencies for the frantic efforts they are making to tackle insecurity in the country even to the extent of occasionally paying the supreme sacrifice, but observes that there is need for states to have localised security outfits to compliment the mainstream agencies in the task of securing lives and property, hence the need to allow them bear arms to function optimally and without much threat to their own w9lives.)₩

"COSMBYLA also appeals to President Buhari not to listen to those who claim that the local security outfits would be used to intimidate political opponents, noting that those who are against the formation of BCVG and "Amotekun” should rather be suspected as part of the collaborators or allies of the perpetrators of heinous crimes in parts of the country.

"The Coalition observes that it won't be altruistic to sacrifice human lives and properties of Nigerians on mere speculations that the security outfits may be used as objects of oppression in the hands of the state governors to molest and intimidate their political opponents and the electorate during electioneering period and pose a threat to the electoral process. It posits that human lives should be given more preeminence than mere fear by political desperados at a time that lives are being snuffed out of people on a daily basis without cause.

"The Coalition of Southern and Middle Belt Youth Leaders Assembly also reminds relevant authorities that the fear that the Benue Community Volunteer Guards and the South-West version, "Amotekun" would misused arms at their disposal if allowed to bear weapons is unfounded, since they are fashioned to operate within the law, in collaboration with conventional security agencies for proper synergy, coordination and effective results.

"The Coalition makes it clear that the local security outfits were a creation of the law in the various states where they are domiciled and calls on security agencies who were carried along in the formation, recruitment, training and unveiling of the BCVG and "Amotekun" to throw their weight behind the demand to arm the local security outfits for sustained security in Benue State and the South-West.

"It enjoins states of the federation that are yet to establish local security outfits to take proactive steps towards having initiatives that would enhance local intelligence gathering and security so that the criminals chased from areas that have become hotbeds for them would not find anywhere in the country as a save haven for their nefarious activities.

"The group empathizes with the millions of people who have been displaced due to attacks by herdsmen and other terrorist groups, especially in Benue state and stresses that granting approval for the local security outfits to bear weapons would help in preventing further humanitarian crisis occasioned by the dastardly acts of those merchants of death who the people have been made to believe that are foreigners. COSMBYLA wonders why those who have made Nigeria a killing field are said to be foreigners, yet are not seen as a people on a dangerous mission to subvert the territorial integrity of the country even as they usually annex parts of the sovereign nation and hoist their flags as a mark of victory.

"It regrets that some people and groups are desperate to see that the BCVG and Amotekun are not allowed to carry arms for political reasons and calls on all those against moves to secure the people and their property to reflect on the importance of lives and property.

"The body states unequivocally that denying the local security outfits arms and ammunition may be a stumbling stone to arresting the humanitarian crisis occasioned by herdsmen and terrorist groups which have killed and maimed hundreds of people, destroyed properties worth billions of naira and displaced millions of people including women, children and the elderly who are now living in difficult conditions in Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs camps, a situation that clearly undermines their human rights.

"The Coalition of Youth Groups laments that the activities of herdsmen and terrorists groups have crippled the economy of various states in the federation as investors are scared of coming to invest and those who have been here are running away from the country for fear of putting their monies where they are not sure of security and return on investments. It also notes with pains that even those who are not displaced are not any better than those in camps for internally displaced persons, IDPs as their means of livelihood have been utterly destroyed.

"The Coalition of Southern and Middle Belt Youth Leaders Assembly reiterates its call for the arrest of the leadership of Miyetti Allah who have taken responsibility for the massive invasion and killing of people in Benue and some states in the South-West to at least, give a sense of justice to relations of victims of their callous acts. The group believes that a situation whereby the Miyetti Allah openly threatened to violently resist the law banning open grazing in Benue state by unleashing terror on Benue communities and made good the threat without being arrested is unacceptable. It also laments that the cattle breeders also vowed to resist attempts to regulate their operations in the South-West and they are keeping to their word by destroying lives and property in that part of the country and the entire Southern Nigeria.

"The Coalition commends Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state and his counterparts in the South-West states for taking bold steps towards safeguarding the lives of their people and encourages them to remain resolute in their resolve to protect the lives and properties of people in their states.

"The body pledges its support for the Benue State government and those of the South-West towards ensuring that they embrace ideas aimed at making the security and safety of their people a priority. It also calls on Nigerians to be unanimous in supporting the initiatives of the Benue state government and those of the South-West towards ensuring the protection of lives and property of the people as insecurity anywhere is insecurity everywhere" they said

Kuje Jailbreak: Nigerian Secret Police, DSS breaks silence on escape of personnel

By Dansu Peter 

The Department of State Services (DSS) has said none of its personnel escaped from the kuje prison during the bomb attack that rocked the facility on Tuesday night. 

In a statement issued and signed by its spokesman,  Peter Afunaya, the DSS said its attention has been drawn to an online Vanguard newspaper report of 6th July, 2022 captioned: Kuje Prison Attack: One Suspect Reportedly Caught After Hot Chase by Gallant Officers.

He said the report alleged that one of the escaping inmates who “claimed to be a DSS personnel was apprehended by NCS operatives near Kwali after a chase.” The report further stated that the so called DSS operative also claimed to be “carrying out a special mission in the forest”.

While debunking the report, Afunaya said the Service wishes to state that none of its personnel was involved in the escape episode.

" In fact, at the point of the attack on the prison, no DSS personnel was an inmate at the holding facility just as the claim of carrying out a special assignment was non-existent. The Vanguard report is not factual and therefore misleading. The public is advised to disregard it" he said

Again, Osakwe Charged With N130m Fraud Fails To Appear In Court

By Dansu Peter 

For the second time in two days, a property developer and managing director of Abeh Signatures Limited, Mr Cecil Osakwe, charged with alleged N130m fraud by the federal government has failed to appear before Justice Mohammed Idris of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory for his arraignment.

Though, his counsel, Orhakioyamhe Emmanuel Esq. , claimed he was not served with the charge.

Osakwe's lawyer assured the court that his client will appear before the court on September 19, 2022 to face his trial 

The accused person failed to appear before the court twice to face the criminal charge of fraud and criminal intimidation filed against him by the federal government.

His lawyer told the court that he was not in court because the police failed to serve the charge sheet on him personally but assured the court that he will produce him on the next adjourned date.

The prosecutor, Mr Una Matthew, during the proceedings told the court that Osakwe's counsel undertook to serve the charge on his client.

“The police told us that the charge has been served on the accused through his lawyer”, Mr Matthew said 

 But Orhakioyamhe denied signing any undertaking.

After it was established that the accused person was not served with the charge sheet, Justice Idris adjourned the case to September 19 for the arraignment of Osakwe.

On July 5, 2022, the court ordered Orhakioyamhe, to

appear before him to offer explanation why his client, Mr Cecil Osakwe, failed to show up for arraignment over alleged Fraud N130m.

Last month, federal government dragged Mr Osakwe, managing director of Abeh Signature Limited, a property development company before the court over allegation fraud.

The prosecutor, Mr Una Matthew, had told the court that the accused person, Mr Osakwe had been served the charge sheet through his lawyer, adding that there is proof of service before the court.

He called on the court to issue a bench warrant against the accused person.

 But Justice Idris in a short ruling ordered Osakwe's lawyer to appear before the court to explain his client's absence in court.

According to the court processes with charge number CR/244/2022, dated June 9, 2022 and filed on June 14, 2022, Mr Osakwe is accused of Advanced Fee Fraud punishable under section 3(1) of the Laws of the Federation 2004.

In the charge signed by Mr M. B. Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecution in the Federal Ministry of Justice, he was also accused of criminal intimidation of one Ms Asabe Waziri.

He was said to have threatened Ms Waziri with injury to her person and reputation with intent to cause harm and even death in order to cause her to stop requesting legitimately from him (Osakwe) her receipt for payment for the purchase of a unit of two bedroom flat with a maid’s quarters at Abeh Signature Apartments, Maitama Abuja.  

According to court documents, in February 2021, she entered and concluded a contract to purchase a two bedroom apartment at Maitama, and after full payment, Osakwe refused to issue her a receipt and sign the Deed of Assignment but rather began to threaten and make life miserable and unbearable for her.

The charge against the accused read, "That you Cecil Osakwe, male, adult of Abeh Signature Limited, sometimes in 2021 in Abuja, Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court obtained by false pretence and with intent to defraud, the sum of N130,000,000 00 (one hundred and thirty million naira) only being payment for the purchase of a two bedroom flat with a maid’s quarters at Abeh Signature Apartment, located at 1, Mekong Close, Maitama, Abuja from one Ms Asabe Waziri which property you failed to deliver neither did you refund her money. You thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3 (1) and punishable under same section of the Advance Fee Fraud, Cap. Ab, LFN, 2004.

That you Cecil Osakwe, male, adult of Abeh Signature Limited, sometimes in 2021 in Abuja, Nigeria within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court threatened Ms Asabe Waziri with injury to her person and reputation with intent to cause harm and even death in order to cause her to stop requesting legitimatety from you her receipt for payment for the purchase of a unit of two bedroom flat with a Maid’s quarters at Abeh Signature Apartment, 1, Mekong close, Abuja, from you and the deeds of assignment thereof. You thereby committed an offence contrary to section 396 (2) and punishable under section  397(a) of the penal code law (cap 89)

According to a letter of response signed by Yunusa Shuaibu, the Executive Secretary of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, (REDAN), as regards the membership of Osakwe, REDAN said Abeh Signature Limited is not their member. 

A long term member of the association said "The Association is bounded by strict rules and conduct such that  clients are treated with utmost regard, complaints are not taken lightly, hence, some developers who do not want to be regulated, shy away from joining the association for reasons best known to them."

End

Prison Break: Terrorists stole ₦82m, $36,000 during attack - Officials claim

Culled from People's Gazette 

Inmates held at Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja are threatening a deadly riot after officials claimed a large chunk of money kept for the prisoners had been carted away by Boko Haram insurgents who breached the facility on Tuesday night, two sources with information have informed Peoples Gazette. 

The money had been kept with at least five prison officials, including those manning the commissary, for several months, officials said. 

“One prison guard told 13 inmates this afternoon that all the money they kept with him had been stolen,” an official said. “He bluntly told them that the N26 million is no longer in his possession.” 

The prison, about 43 kilometres southwest of downtown Abuja, was breached at about 10:00 p.m. by suspected Boko Haram insurgents. While some detainees refused to take advantage of the jailbreak, all prisoners affiliated with Boko Haram escaped, according to defence minister Bashir Magashi.

At least 84 Boko Haram assets were believed held at Kuje prior to the attack, which lasted about three hours without any consequential intervention from security forces. About 600 inmates escaped in total, although officials said some had voluntarily returned. Actual roll-call statistics remained unclear as of Wednesday evening, nearly 24 hours after the attack.  

President Muhammadu Buhari visited the facility for a few minutes on his way to the airport on a foreign trip to Senegal Wednesday afternoon, inspecting the damage while assuring correctional managers of support. 

As the president departed the scene, prisoners began shouting that they’d lost money during the raid, while some threatened violence should officials fail to return their cash.

“Yes, that is the problem we’re confronting now,” an official said when asked for corroboration Wednesday evening. “Some people lost money in naira while some lost in dollars.”

The official said the money belong to wealthy individuals inside the prison. 

“It’s those big men that are more enraged because they kept millions with the warders,” the official said. “About N82 million was declared missing and four people are looking for $36,000.” 

“We don’t know what the prison management will do about the matter because the money was not kept with the warders officially,” our source added. The officials spoke under anonymity because they did not receive permission to comment on internal prison disputes. 

A corrections spokesman did not return a request seeking comments about the missing cash and threats of violence thereof. 

The facility holds politicians including former Taraba Governor Jolly Nyame and federal lawmaker Farouk Lawan. Disgraced police chief Abba Kyari is also held at the centre, as well as former pensions directorate grunt Abdulrasheed Maina. 

In a recent letter protesting his protracted incarceration before a federal judge, Mr Kyari said he was funding a lot of activities at Kuje prisons, including monthly cable TV subscriptions. 

Kaduna Train Attack: BoA MD, Alwan Hassan lied, paid ₦100m ransome for freedom

By Dansu Peter 

Fresh report according to Daily Nigerian suggests that the abducted Managing Director of Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Hassan may have lied about his freedom after his abduction in the recent train attack in Kaduna. 

According to DN, a close family source of the abducted managing director of the Bank alleged that a huge sum of N100m was paid to secure his release. 

Mr Hassan was released on Wednesday after spending about 10 days in captivity, following his abduction alongside hundreds of passengers of Abuja-Kaduna train on March 28.

Although the terrorists had claimed that no ransom was paid in a short video taken with the mobile phone of the managing director, which Mr Hassan also attested to and has also urged the government to give in to the demands of the terrorist, for the safety of the remaining abductees, but family sources said N100million was actually paid before they released him.

According to the source, the kidnappers earlier sent the family the video of the harrowing experience the captives were facing, including Mr Hassan, in order to raise the ransom stake.

“A few days earlier, they sent the video of their harrowing condition in order to raise their stake. Alwan was always saying ‘give them whatever amount they want’. So the family gave them what they insisted on… that is N100million,” said one of the family sources.

According to the source, the kidnappers first asked the family to take the money to a forest in Katsina on Tuesday before asking them to make a detour to another forest in Kaduna.

The source added that after the family emissaries journeyed for hours in the bush, the gunmen appeared fully armed in their hundreds and collected the money.

BREAKING: Kwara Governor's Aide arrested with hard drug, live bullets

By Dansu Peter 

A Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara state Governor, Comrade Musbau Eshinrogunjo has been arrested by Nigerian Police with drug and a live bullet.

A Facebook user, Kayode Ogunlowo posted few minutes ago. 

Details shortly. 

Nnamdi Kanu: A criminal suspect and not a political prisioner, By Alex Ndubueze

By Alex Ndubueze

With the deteriorating security condition in the South-East, one is inclined to call for a political solution to put an end to the burgeoning restiveness bedeviling the region. While bouts of criminal activities and bloodletting characterized the South East, the arrest and incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu have irrefutably aggravated insecurity in the zone with repercussions for socio-economic and political order. This has sparked desperation and entreaties by critical stakeholders and groups for workable resolutions to restore peace and stability in the region. Though these calls are intended for peace and greater good, the political solution being sought for is unfortunately not tenable and the reasons are not far-fetched. 

Nnamdi Kanu was arrested and charged with crimes of terrorism and treasonable felony. These crimes qualify him as a criminal suspect and not a political prisoner. This is more so that the internationally accepted definition of political prisoner is at variance with crimes committed by the outlawed group leader. A political prisoner is anyone detained for exercising their human rights under international law. Such rights include peaceful assembly, freedoms of religion, association, expression and advocacy for peaceable social and political change as well as criticize government policy or government official. Kanu was none of that or could have been one if he remained non-violent. He turned his IPOB group to a bloodsucking violent pack. The modus operandi of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra is also not in line with peaceful procedures as defined. Kanu is commonly known to aggressively advocate for civil disobedience, bigotry and fanning the embers of war to provoke anarchy and public disorder. He has on several occasions openly incited members of his group to take laws into their hands. 

 

Indisputably, the formation of IPOB’s military wing code named Eastern Security Network, exacerbated insecurity in the South East Zone. Attacks on police formations, correctional centres, homes of select personalities and other critical government facilities became widespread after the formation of ESN. IPOB is also suspected to have launched unprecedented attacks against security agents in the region leading to the death and maiming of innocent citizens. During the #EndSARS protest, Kanu was known to have incited the carnage and destruction of lives and property in Lagos State and some parts of the country. His broadcasts are filled with hate, bile, intolerance and propaganda against the State and its institutions. 

Similarly, the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe noted that a person can only be recognized as a political prisoner if the suspect’s detention is imposed purely for political reasons without connection to any offence. The activities of the IPOB leader falls within the context of crimes against the state which prompted security and law enforcement agencies to effect his arrest. In furtherance to this, Nnamdi Kanu was never a member of a political party neither is he being tried for expressing political views. He has never contested for election under any party or independent platform. Why then should he be referred to as a political prisoner? His offences – treason and terrorism¬ – are purely criminal; for which he is being charged and tried by a competent court of law.  

It is public knowledge that Nnamdi Kanu has been granted access to his lawyers, family members and medical doctors. He practices his religious beliefs unhindered despite the attempt by IPOB, subversive groups and individuals sympathetic to him to project otherwise. According to information in the public space, he is treated in accordance with provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). His legal team can attest to the veracity of this assertion. Additionally, a political prisoner is someone who is detained for many years without trial or under house arrest. Nnamdi Kanu was never detained under an executive order. The State has not also failed to take him to court after his arrest. He was promptly charged. So the argument of being detained as a political prisoner has no foundation. Nnamdi Kanu was a fugitive who jumped bail after his initial arrest. The severity of his charges, unrepentant disposition and history of jumping bail has diminished the chances of a Judge granting him bail again. Therefore, a political solution may not be feasible given the fact that Nnamdi Kanu’s case contradict the basis for being termed as ‘political prisoner’. His actions contravene both the country’s Criminal Justice system and international laws, thus the law must be allowed to take its full course. Nnamdi Kanu must face the music.

Rather than seek a political solution, stakeholders and promoters of a political solution in the Kanu matter should resort to social reorientation of its citizens to shun violent and divisive acts responsible for crippling security and socio-economic activities. They should also join hands with government and security agencies in restoring normalcy in the zone. Campaign for political solution is a blackmail that should not be allowed to fester. The Igbo elite should come out of its inertia and selective amnesia. It should face the problem and speak out in one loud voice against evil. Those struggling to plant in public psychology that Nnamdi Kanu is a political prisoner should stop that. He is simply a criminal suspect and should be seen and treated so. This achieves common good. Allowing Kanu and IPOB with their splinter groups to bestride the region with pervading violence will rub the region of many things including economic development and the Presidency of Nigeria. The time to act is now.

Ndubueze is a public commentator