A group, Ogbunigwe Ndigbo, on Thursday reaffirmed its earlier position, that it would avenge the killings of South-East indigenes in northern Nigeria should the Boko Haram sect strike again.
Ogbunigwe Ndigbo, a new movement, also issued all northern Muslims residing in the South-East, a two weeks ultimatum to leave the region.
It said, “We can no longer guarantee the safety of such tenants in the face of this senseless killing of our people. We want to remind the Boko Haram sect that nobody has a monopoly of violence.â€
The leadership of Ogbunigwe told our correspondent in Enugu that it was a counter terrorist group sworn to the protection of Ndigbo.
It added that it would use extreme violence to protect the Igbo where necessary.
The leader, who identified himself as Gen. Red Devil Nwokolo, noted that the group was not new in the act of defending the Igbo.
“We have done it before and this time will not be an exception,†he said.
He added that members of Ogbunigwe had watched with pains the massacre of the Igbo in the northern part of Nigeria. Nwokolo said, “It is obvious that the Federal Government is not capable of protecting the lives and property of the Igbo. The recent Christmas bombings has strengthened our resolve to raise arms and defend our people.
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The Enugu State Police Command has arrested 25 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect, with dangerous weapons in Enugu.
Police sources said they were arrested at Okpuje Community, near Nsukka town on Friday with 27 different guns wrapped in fertiliser bags as well as axes, daggers, acid and other dangerous weapons.
The bus in which they were travelling had the inscription, ‘Zamfara State Government’, and registration number XA 581 MRD.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Over 150 Igbo citizens arrived Enugu from Maiduguiru, Borno State, on Thursday, three days after the same number of persons returned home due to the upsurge of Boko Haram activities in northern Nigeria.
The returnees, who arrived in batches, arrived Ninth Mile Corner, Enugu town, in free luxury buses provided by Igboville, an Igbo social network group.
The Igboville group comprises Igbo professionals in Nigeria and the Diaspora. The group provided the buses to be used in evacuating Igbos who are stranded in the North to Enugu.
Some of the returnees, who spoke to reporters, claimed they relocated to the bush for many days until they got hint of the free buses.
Mrs. Patricia Agballakwe, an indigene of Nnewi in Anambra State, said, “We came back because of Boko Haram. My family members and I were hiding in the bush until we heard that free buses had been provided for us and we quickly came out and returned home. As you can see, I am a happy woman now because I’m out of the Boko Haram area.â€
Founder of Igboville, Mr. Emeka Maduewesi, implored the returnees to quickly resettle in the South-East zone while the government sorts out the security situation.
Maduewesi, who spoke through Mrs. Nelo Fina, called on politicians and well-meaning Nigerians to assist in evacuating Ndigbo still left in the North from danger spots.
While reaffirming the group’s commitment to one Nigeria, Maduewesi urged the government to do more to secure the lives and property of Ndigbo and Nigerians in general.
He expressed optimism that Nigeria was not about to disintegrate, saying, “The country would soon get over the turbulent times.â€
He called on the South-East governors to ensure that school children among the returnees were absorbed into different institutions in the zone.
The Igboville founder said, “The evacuation of Igbo people would continue until every Igbo that is willing to leave is enabled to leave.â€
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Hundreds of Niger Delta ex-militants in Bomadi, Delta State on Thursday gave the Federal Government a 10-day ultimatum to return the arms taken from them.
The ex-militants stated that after several peaceful efforts to make the government see reasons why they should be included its the amnesty programme had failed, they were left with no option but to return to the creeks.
They accused the government through the Joint Military Task Force of deceiving them into submitting their arms, adding that several efforts to ‘’negotiate’’ with the Niger Delta Ministry had been fruitless.
While addressing the media, the ex-militants led by ‘General’ Para Ekiyes, Chairman of the state branch of the amnesty phase three displayed various certificates issued them by the army during their disarmament.
They had at different times barricaded the busy East-West road linking the South-West with Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River and Imo states to draw government’s attention to their plight.
But the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, had at various times said their protests were illegitimate, adding that they embraced the amnesty programme after the window had closed.
The ex-militants, who observed a one-minute silence in honour of the Late President Musa Yar’Adua, also demanded the immediate exit of all oil companies operating in the Niger Delta within 10 days or face the “consequences.â€
They said, “President Goodluck Jonathan and Kinsley Kuku know what we can do because they are from here. We were with Kuku in the creeks during the heady days of militancy. He knows what we can do.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The death of a commercial bus conductor, who was trying to evade arrest by the officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), yesterday caused a serious traffic snarl on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Daily Sun gathered that the death of the conductor simply identified as Wasiu resulted in a protest by street urchins popularly known as ’Area Boys’ who blocked the expressway causing traffic gridlock. An eyewitness who gave his name as Mutiu Alfred, a vulcaniser said:
“LASTMA officers pursued the commercial bus, with registration number XZ 76 AGL, that was coming from Oworosonki area heading towards the toll gate. The LASTMA officer just ran and pursued them before we knew it he dragged the conductor down from the bus with force and in the process he (conductor) hit his forehead on the ground before another vehicle crushed him to death.â€
He said the LASTMA officer who wore a uniform tagged Oshodi O. was apprehended by other motorists who beat him to a pulp before a police team patrolling the area came to rescue him from the mob that attempted to lynch him. According to him, “this is the second time LASTMA officials will kill people in this particular area. The first one was the case in which commercial motorcyclists also known as Okada riders killed their member and two BRT buses were burnt. Today again they have killed another person over the collection of N100 and N200 from these commercial bus drivers and Okada riders.â€
He further disclosed that the LASTMA officers always allowed the commercial drivers to stop and pick passengers under the pedestrian bridge on a settlement of N100 or N200, pointing out that the driver of the bus and conductor in question were trying to play smart on them. Daily Sun gathered that the conductor’s wife just put to bed few days ago and that the deceased was a peace loving person.
As at the time of filing this report, motorists were seen groaning on the traffic gridlock occasioned by the incident, while a combined team of LASTMA, police and road safety officers battled to redirect vehicular traffic to other feeder roads to ease traffic on the expressway
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The much-expected Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YOUWIN) programme, yesterday, took effect with the Federal Government officially signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with participating banks and other organizations.
The programme, which is expected to engage about 360,000 Nigerian youths with existing business innovative ideas will be supported by the Federal Government who is ready to develop their businesses and entrepreneurial skills for the next three years.
Recall that the YOUWIN programme was launched by President Goodluck Jonathan in October 2011 with the objective of assisting aspiring young entrepreneurs under the age of 40 years to start and grow their own businesses and even employ others.
The Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy Okonjo-Iweala who signed on behalf of the Federal Government in Abuja said: “This is a programme of the Federal Government which is spearheaded by the Ministries of Finance, Youth Development and that of Communication Techno logy with some partners and supporters from the World Bank, DFID and other private companies like Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, Pan African University Business Development programme, a UK –based University, SMEDAN and BOIâ€.
Others include, the First Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Access Bank, adding that up to 360,000 Nigerian youths with existing business ideas will be supported under the programme. “We hope to support these young entrepreneurs to create between 80,000 and 10,000 jobs in the economy, the idea is that instead of waiting to be employed, we want to grow their business where they have high Innovative ideas and then be able to employ others,†she said.
She noted that presently, government is expecting to start with about 1,200 young people. According to her, twenty four thousand Nigerian youths applied for the first phase of the completion and over 500 Nigerian youths from the Diaspora also applied. Out of this number, the best 6,000 of them were selected based on merit.
She explained that those of them that finally succeeded in the final phase were subjected to trainings to develop their business plans for the second stage, assuring that by the end of February 2012, it is hoped that out of the 6000, about 1200 final winners will be selected.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The burial of the 12 Adazi-Nnukwu citizens killed in Mubi Adamawa State yesterday threw up another round of calls for Ndigbo to stand up and take their destiny in their hands. Leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ra;ph Uwazuruike who was present at the funeral, told newsmen that Nigeria would hear from Ndigbo as soon as Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu is buried.
Uwazuruike who was in tears beholding the bodies of the 12 innocent citizens of Igbo land said, “You see am here, am not happy that this has happened to Ndigbo. I have to show presence, I have to show the solidarity the Igbo people have for the fallen heroes. I want to say that when we finish burying our leader Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, we shall come up with the position of Ndigbo regarding the massacre of Ndigbo in the Northern states.â€
Also speaking to newsmen, the National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh said what would solve the present problem of Nigeria is a national conference.
He said, “What happened is very unfortunate, Igbos have continued to take the major number of all casualties in matters like this principally because our people live everywhere in Nigeria. We have listened to the homily by the Bishop, he said it is not for us to choose when we will die or how we will die, the only thing we will do is to accept what has happened to this community and to the Igbo race with total submission to God.
“But people who are alive must take steps to protect themselves. We have continued to ask for national conference; it is only through a national conference that all the problems facing this country can be discussed.
A national conference is not about breaking up Nigeria, some people think is about breaking up Nigeria, it is not. It is an opportunity for all parts of Nigeria to come together and air their grievances, so that the government of Nigeria will find a lasting solution to the bickering and spate of violence engulfing this country from time to time. “We the Igbos we are the most oppressed in Nigeria, apart from the fact that we are killed the most every time in all parts of Nigeria, we are suffering the gravest injustice in this land.â€
In her own comment Hon. Uche Ekwunife said Ndigbo must wake up and put something on the ground to tackle what was happening to them in Nigeria. She said, “This is monumental loss we must look into what is happening, this thing is not going to stop. Where are we as Igbos, how prepared are we? Must we continue to loose our beloved ones? So if we say no, what plans do you have to maintain the no? It is more than saying no. When the time comes our stakeholders in the South-East must show us the way.â€
Secretary of the Alliance of Igbo Youths (AIY), Mr. Emeka Muoneme warned that Igbo youths have resolved that the blood of Ndigbo should no longer be sacrificed for the stability of the federal government where Ndigbo benefit nothing.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
FIFA has demanded a full report on the violence at the match in Egypt on Wednesday night that left more than 70 persons dead. Al Masry fans invaded the pitch after a surprise 3-1 win over Cairo club, Al-Ahly, in Port Said Wednesday night, with reports saying as many as 79 peersons died in the ensuing violence.
There have been claims that security forces and police did not do enough to intervene, and that the violence was tied up with the political power struggle in the country. FIFA, the game’s world governing body, yesterday asked the Egyptian authorities to explain exactly what happened.
FIFA said in a statement: “FIFA has asked the Egyptian authorities for a full report on the incident in order to evaluate what happened.’’ In a letter to Egyptian FA President, Samir Zaher, the world governing body’s President, Blatter, offered support and said: “Today is a black day for football and we must take steps to ensure that such a catastrophe never happens again.
“Football is a force for good and we must not allow it to be abused by those who mean evil. “I await further news from you concerning the circumstances of this tragedy.’’ Home fans reportedly armed with sticks and knives stormed the field after the final whistle. Reports suggested some Al-Ahly fans suffocated, trapped in a narrow corridor as they fled the violence. Al-Ahly coach, Manuel Jose, spoke of his sense of helplessness after watching his club’s fans die in front of him. Jose himself was among those who were attacked.
“I was hit and kicked on neck, head and feet,†said the Portuguese boss, 65, who has also coached Sporting Lisbon, Benfica and Braga in a career spanning more than 30 years. Jose was eventually taken to his side’s dressing room. “There, I saw our fans die before us and we are unable to do anything,†he told www.el-ahly.com. “Nothing happened to any of the players but we feel overwhelming sadness and the return flight was made in silence, full of respect for the lives of our fans who died.â€
Barny said there was very little security to prevent home fans bent on violence. “What happened was an unspeakable catastrophe,†he said. “From the beginning of the game, the fans of the opposing team were allowed to fire rockets and stones at us without any intervention.
“In the end, it turned into a state of madness without any role for the security in the stands. “We tried to save the lives of some of the fans, but many died before our eyes.†Al-Ahly announced Jose was returning to Portugal because he was “going through a bad psychological situationâ€.
Jose added: “I have to think about my life differently now. “Although, everybody loves me greatly, this experience has changed my life completely.†A minute’s silence will be held before this weekend’s quarter-final matches at the African Nations Cup in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
It was a dark Thursday yesterday in Adazi Nnukwu as the community helplessly committed to mother earth 12 of its citizens mowed down in Mubi, Adamawa State on December 28, 2011 and January 6, 2012 by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
Sorrow, agony and anger was written visibly on the faces of the thousands of citizens whose tears surged like flood as the caskets bearing the remains of the 12 victims were laid at the St Andrews’ Catholic Church, Adazi Nnukwu field for funeral mass.
The victims buried yesterday which included 35 year-old Mrs Ukamaka Aforka who until her murder was a staff of federal Polytechnic, Mubi are, 42 years old Mr Amaechi Onwukaike, 16 year old Obinna Okoye Akukwe, 52 year old Mr. Osita Aforka, 45 year old Mr. Uchenna Okpala and 48 year old Mr. Ugochukwu Ezenwekwe.
Others were 62 year old John Obiakonwa, 49 year old Mr. Patrick Aghachi, 35 year old Mr. Job Mgbemena, 56 year old Mr. Bede Anagbado, 47 year old Simeon Asor and 54 year old Mr. Sunday Okoye. By 8am the church field venue was already filled with people for the mass slated for 10am and security operatives had a herculean task controlling the crowd, majority of who were in all black attires.
Governor Peter Obi, the leader of Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh and Hon Uche Ekwunife led other Anambrarians and Ndigbo to the burial. In his homily at the mass attended by over 100 priests, the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Paulinus C. Ezeokafor warned that “enough is enough†of the senseless killing of innocent Nigerians especially Ndigbo, insisting that human life is sacred and must be respected.
He said, “We are gathered here with heavy hearts to commend into the Lord’s hands, 12 victims of senseless acts of violence that took place at Mubi, Adamawa State. Law abiding citizens of Nigeria, going about their legitimate businesses, were wantonly cut down by the assassins’ bullet in cold blood. Ten women were instantly made widows; scores of children rendered fatherless; a group of children lost both father and mother and untold hardship visited on countless other dependants whose breadwinners and lifelines were mowed down by those who ascribe to themselves the divine power of deciding who lives and who dies.
“The fact that all these victims are from one community, the Adazi-Nnukwu community, compounds the pain. As the chief shepherd of the flock of God in this diocese, I have come to condole with the families who lost their loved ones and with the entire Adazi- Nnukwu community for this great loss. I have come to mourn and pray with you for the repose of our brethren and to reflect with you, in the light of the Gospel, on the recent events in our country.
“Most countries in the world contend with natural disasters that take lives and damage properties. In Nigeria, what we face are mostly human disasters: human beings killing and maiming others for absolutely no just cause. The present human disaster in Nigeria is Boko Haram, an Islamic sect who claimed responsibility for the Christmas day bombing of St Theresa’s Church Madalla, Niger State, in which over 30 persons were killed and scores wounded. People who gathered to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ saw their joy turned into sorrow by reckless and lawless agents of hate and destruction. On Friday, January 20, 2012 the same group pulled off a coordinated bombing campaign in Kano which sent over 180 innocent Nigerians to their untimely death. We recall similar incidents of senseless killing in Borno, Bauchi, Kaduna, and Plateau States of Northern Nigeria.
“Faced with the events of the recent past, we are compelled to ask: when will all these barbaric, inhuman and animalistic behaviours end? What does the future hold for our dear country Nigeria? Who will save this country from an impending doom if the Boko Haram menace is not addressed decisively and very soon too? Where are our elected leaders into whose hands we have freely surrendered our live and properties? What are the security agencies doing to end this cycle of violence? Let our leaders and those entrusted with the security of the lives and properties of Nigerians remember that there continued failure in this regard will surely attract the wrath of God.
“Enough is enough! We cannot continue like this! Human life is sacred and must be respected. It is our responsibility to nurture and defend life and not to destroy it. Those charged with security in the land have to act fast to prevent the senseless shedding of human blood and the spread of pain, misery and hardshipâ€. In his speech at the funeral mass Governor Obi condemned the killing of his subjects who live in Mubi but urged the people to maintain peace.
He announced government scholarship for the children of the victims and N 1 million for each of the victims’ families as an initial package, just as he announced Adamawa State government’s initial package of N 1 million each for the victim families. Obi further said, “Though this affected many communities, Adazi-Nnukwu was the worst hit by the present unnecessary murder in a country that is supposed to always give protection to all of us. This murder diminishes our humanity. This indeed is a season of anomie.
“I am aware that some people have tried to compare this sad turn of events with what happened during the Nigeria civil war (1966-1967). I disagree. As opposed to what was the case in the wake of the Civil War, the Federal Government of today is responsive to the situation. At the same time, we should cast our eyes back to senseless killing in the past in countries like Sudan, Rwanda, Somali and Democratic Republic of Congo, among others. In all of these cases, the people only ended up diminishing their humanity and lowering their status as countries in the comity of nations. The same fate awaits us if we do not stop the present unwarranted killings.
“As we bury these brothers and sisters of ours, let us bear in mind that what their families need today is love, compassion and understanding. I have been informed of the difficulties some of their people encounter owing to the ugly situation. I assure them that the Anambra State Government will continue to assist them wherever she is supposed to do so. The victims were later buried at the church burial ground where again their family members especially wives and children cried their hearts out.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
IF Al Qaeda can be in Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan and North Africa, why can’t the Taliban be in Nigeria? However, whereas Al Qaeda retains its name wherever it goes, the Taliban in another country may adopt a different name. It is the agenda that matters, not the name.
In Nigeria, for instance, Taliban counterparts are known as Boko Haram.
Though both may derive inspiration from Al Qaeda, their agenda is not to fight the United States and its allies, but only to implement Sharia.
Boko Haram has killed almost 1,000 people in the country and is determined to continue its depredations until Nigeria is ruled by Sharia law. “We will consider negotiation only when we have brought the government to their knees,†Boko Haram spokesman, Abu Qaqa, said in an exclusive interview to The Guardian, recently – the first-ever to any western newspaper.
“Once we see that things are being done according to the dictates of Allah, and our members are released (from prison), we will only put aside our arms, but we will not lay them down.
You don’t put down your arms in Islam, you only put them aside.â€
Most recently Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the country’s deadliest attack that killed 186 people in Kano. And in their latest message the group’s leader Abu Bakar Shekau threatened to bomb schools and kidnap family members of government officials.
Qaqa declared that the rights of 70 million Christians would be protected in the Islamic state, but everyone must abide by Sharia law. “There are no exceptions. Even if you are a Muslim and you don’t abide by Sharia, we will kill you. Even if you are my own father, we will kill you,†he said.
And finally, he told The Guardian, “It’s the secular state that is responsible for the woes we are seeing today. People should understand that we are not saying we have to rule Nigeria, but we have been motivated by the stark injustice in the land. People underrate us but we have our sights set on (bringing Sharia to) the whole world, not just Nigeria.â€
Except for its ambition to spread Sharia throughout the world, is there any difference between our own Taliban and Boko Haram?
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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