Bauchi protesting youths block highway over eviction notice army served community

 Bauchi protesting youths block highway over eviction notice army served community 

The children are residents of communities sharing a border with the Shadawanka Army Barracks in Bauchi.

SAHARAREPORTERS

Children between the ages of three to eight years have formed a human barricade at Zaranda Hotel junction along Bauchi-Jos Road, Bauchi, to protest moves by the Nigerian Army to evict them from their communities. 

The children are residents of communities sharing a border with the Shadawanka Army Barracks in Bauchi.

With the approval of their parents and youths of the affected communities, they were seen lying down across the width of the very busy road on Saturday while also chanting protest songs, Vanguard reports. 

Their action has caused heavy traffic along the road, leaving many travellers stranded.

Meanwhile, some days ago, members of the community protested an order by the army to vacate their ancestral land. 

As stated by Arewa Voice, the large expanse of land occupied majorly by the army in the centre of Bauchi city was home to many Bauchi indigenes for several centuries before it was allocated to the military during General Yakubu Gowon's regime in the 1970s without compensation and resettlement of the occupants of the communities.

Army loses two officers, five soldiers, dozens of insurgents perish

Army confirms death of 2 officers, 5 soldiers in battle with Boko Haram

The Nigerian Army, Saturday, confirmed the death of two officers and five soldiers during gun-battle with insurgents in Borno on Friday.

There has been an unconfirmed report that two officers and five soldiers were killed in battle between the troopers and Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in Rann.

And the army spokesman, Brigadier General Onyema , in a Saturday  statement confirmed it.

Onyema said that the troops of Sector 1 Joint Task Force(JTF) North East(NE), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) neutralized scores of Boko Haram (BH) and Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists, who infiltrated Kala Balge town with mounted gun trucks and motorcycles on Friday, 3 December 2021.

He said: “The insurgents attacked troops deployed at the Forward Operational Base (FOB) Rann, a border town between Nigeria and Cameroon. Troops gallantly engaged the defiant terrorists with superior firepower, forcing them to abandon their mission and withdraw in disarray.

 “In the fierce battle for Kala Balge, troops defended the town and neutralized 26 BH/ISWAP terrorists. The gallant troops also captured terrorists’ combat vehicles, 18 AK 47 rifles and one M-21 rifle with large quantity of ammunition.

“Several other equipment were also destroyed by troops. Regrettably, two officers and five soldiers paid the supreme price, while three personnel who sustained gun shot wounds are currently receiving medical attention,” he said.

He said the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, has paid tribute to the departed heroes, who paid the supreme price in defending their fatherland.

“He has also commended troops for their gallantry in the North East, especially with the recent successes recorded in Gajiram and the Tumbus,” he said.

PIB: Diri  says Ijaw will not relent in opposing 3% allocation to host communities 

Governor Duoye Diri speaking on the Ijaw ethnic nationality question.

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has declared that Ijaw people would continue to oppose the the three per cent allotted to the host communities in the Petroleum Industry Act(PIB) until there is a change.

Diri said this while calling on Ijaw leaders not to relent in speaking against injustices and under-development facing Ijaw nationality until they are addressed.

Senator Diri stated this on Saturday at the All Ijaw Summit with the theme, “The Nigerian State and the Ijaw Question” in Yenagoa, the state capital.

The summit was organised by the Ijaw National Congress (INC).

In a press release by his Chief Press Secretary Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the governor was quoted as saying: “The Niger Delta people view the 13 per cent derivation from the prism of 87 per cent deprivation. The three per cent allotted to oil producing communities in the PIA is very paltry and we will continue to oppose it until it is addressed.”

He also said that the country for too long has operated a unitary system of government instead of true federalism and called for devolution of powers from the centre to the states.

When power is properly devolved, the governor advocated that the federal government would be responsible for currency, foreign policy and national security.

He urged the summit to interrogate issues of constitution amendment, particularly state police, additional local governments for Bayelsa and more states for the Ijaw nation.

The Bayelsa state’s helmsman urged the summit to also deliberate on matters of oil and gas exploitation in the Niger Delta and the inherent dangers to the people and environment in view of the ongoing oil spillage from the Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company Limited’s facility in Nembe.

 “I strongly believe that this summit should indicate clearly our stand with our people who are in imminent peril of extinction and impose stringent ethical responsibilities on oil exploration companies on our land.”

Reacting to Arewa youths that opposed his comments on the Nembe oil spill, Senator Diri stressed that he had never played politics with the health and development of his people and did not need to be a petroleum engineer to defend his people.

“I have never played politics with the health and development of our people and if the Arewa youths think that what I said is to over-politicise the situation in Nembe, then I want to believe that they are the most ignorant people on what is happening in the Niger Delta.”

In his remarks, Chairman of the occasion, former Justice of the Supreme Court and Pere of Tuomo Kingdom in Delta State, Francis Tabai, said it was paradoxical that while the Niger Delta people produced the wealth of the nation for over 60 years, they remain the poorest.

The retired jurist noted that the Niger Delta people who occupy the most difficult coastal areas deserve special attention as they have been responsible for the economic survival of the country.

Also, Chairman, Board of Trustees of the INC, Chief Edwin Clark, represented by Amb. Godknows Igali, said the Ijaws have been unfairly treated and called on the ethnic group’s leaders, particularly National Assembly members and other elected officials, to speak out on the injustices meted out to the Ijaw nation.

“We are the goose that lays the golden egg but we receive the other end of the stick. We will continue to shout about the injustice meted out to our people. We have been unfairly treated,” he said.

In his address, the INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, said the essence of the summit was to evoke a common understanding and build a concensus on the the way forward for the Ijaw people.

Prof Okaba, who highlighted a number of challenges confronting the people, noted that with the support of patriotic Ijaw leaders the Congress would continue to employ the tools of dialogue and persuasion.

Nasarawa wife narrates how she got pregnant for husband’s 17-year-old son

It was a cool evening at the Lafia township stadium on Thursday, November 26 and Mrs Justina Agbumi sat with other fun seekers to watch the evening training of Nasarawa United football players.

But while everyone else seemed to be having fun as they watched the professional footballers juggle the ball, the same did not seem to be the case with Justina as she sat quietly, looking sober.

Her pensive mien was in contrast with the gay mood of the nine-month-old baby in her bosom as he suck away playfully on a bottle of soft drink.

Justina has virtually turned into a recluse after the painful death of her husband and her abominable act with a young man her husband had with another woman outside wedlock.

 The late Godwin, Donald

Seeing that she was childless for 19 years after she got married to her husband, Donald Agbumi, and curious to establish whether she was indeed barren, she decided to put her fertility to test with the young man that was staying with them, not knowing that the young man in question is the biological son of her husband.

It was the culmination of a game of deceit between the couple as Donald had brought in the young man and introduced him to Justina as one of his relatives from the village.

The efforts our correspondent made for one week to speak with Justina after a hint of the incident was dropped by one of her neighbours finally yielded result on Thursday at the Lafia township stadium where she agreed to speak about the matter.

Justina revealed how their relationship which was once the envy of many became laced with frustration, hate and abuse, such that neighbours and friends became peacemakers before the marriage was dissolved.

In an emotive voice, she recalled that with assault, name calling, abuse and starvation, the past 15 years had been the worst of her life simply because they didn’t have a child.

“It got to a point that I asked myself if I was still living with the same man I married.

“He suddenly became a beast, calling me barren, harlot and useless, just because I couldn’t take in,” she said as she fought back tears.

She continued: “He was my best friend before we got married. We were ready to have children as quickly as possible so we could move on.

“But after five years and more, there was nothing. I didn’t take in, so I became worried.

“We went for several tests but we were told I had no problem but my husband had low sperm count and he needed to regulate his diet, which we did, but nothing changed.

“Because he is the only son, his mother had already become hostile to me, visiting regularly from the village while my husband also joined her in frustrating me.

“Before then, I visited places my faith would ordinarily not permit to, because all I wanted was a child. Yet nothing came out of it.

“That was how I started living alone. I cried daily but that didn’t bring any succour.

One day, I got an idea and decided to test my fertility with another man. I realised that would be adultery of the highest order, but I also felt it would be lesser sin if it was with my husband’s relation who was staying with us. I drew the young man closer and made him my best friend since my husband had stopped making love to me for close to seven months.

“Luring Godwin to start sleeping with me was a difficult decision but I was also considering my age.

“I had never cheated on my husband before, but I had reached the limit of my endurance and the circumstances around me was not in my favour.

“I concluded that I would test my fertility through Godwin.

“I had seem Godwin’s crotch during house cleaning, so I realised that his manhood was big enough to give me satisfaction, though he was only about 17 years old.

“I started admiring him anytime my husband went to work. I would summon courage and make advances to him, drawing him closer to me with petty items.

“In no time, he succumbed and we started having sex, though he was not too perfect because he had not been into it.

 “But I was teaching him. I also warned him never to reveal it and threatened to kill him if he opened up to anybody.

“We progressed in that direction, especially during my ovulation period. In no distant time, he was able to impregnate me. I missed my period three months after.

“I was very happy that the plan to test my fertility worked and that what my husband could not do for years, Godwin did within a short time.

“One fortunate thing was that Godwin himself did not know that he was responsible for it.

“Unfortunately for me, I didn’t know that Godwin was actually the biological son of my husband. The entire family hid it from me so that I would not victimise him.”

A twist had occurred in the matter when Godwin secured admission into the College of Education Akwanga and was travelling to commence registration when he had an accident that claimed his life.

“He died before I was delivered of a baby boy,” Justina said.

“When Godwin was buried, I did not attend his burial because I was not strong enough to travel to the village as I was heavily pregnant.

“But after his burial, I noticed  that my husband was sad and affected by Godwin’s untimely death. He was affected psychologically so much that it almost cost him his job.

“He ceased to be a happy man, even when I delivered a baby boy for him.

“I made several attempts to discuss with him about the future of our new born baby, but it never interested him, because deep inside him, he knew he was not responsible for the pregnancy and was only pretending.

“The man was not happy at all. One morning, precisely in October this year, my husband abruptly woke me up and broke down in tears,  but he was unable to tell me the cause of his misery.

“After about 40 minutes later, he was calm enough to tell me why he was crying.

“He started by apologising to me for not telling me from day one that the late Godwin was actually his biological son.

“He said that while growing up many years ago, he had an affair with a girl which resulted in pregnancy and the girl refused to abort it. She gave birth to Godwin and his mother brought him up.

“So when he met me and I showed serious dislike for any man who already had a child out of wedlock, he decided to hide it from me in order not to lose me.

“He said he didn’t know how to tell me about it all these years. He said he had wanted to reject the pregnancy but his parents took responsibility while he proceeded with his studies.

“He said that when he started working after his studies, he decided that the boy should come and stay with us so that I could train him. But he hid his true identity from me to avoid victimization.

“My husband again burst into tears that the late Godwin was his only son and that he knew full well that he was not responsible for the pregnancy that brought the new born baby boy.

“He pleaded with me to tell him the true father of the new born baby because we did not engage in any lovemaking in the period preceding the pregnancy.”

Justina said she realised at that point that lying would further complicate the situation, “so I decided to come clean.

 “I burst into tears and cried uncontrollably. I found it difficult to explain to him since he had been plain with me at the late hour.

“I knelt down before him in tears and confessed to him that the late Godwin, his own son, was the father of my new born baby

“I pleaded with him to forgive me of all my sins; that it was an attempt to save my marriage and bear a child for him, and that I thought that rather than going outside, I should test my fertility with his relation to know whether the fault was from me or from him.

“I pleaded with him to forgive me of all my sins, saying that I took that course of action to protect the marriage and the consolation is that the new baby boy would replace his son, since it is his late son’s blood.”

According to Justina, her husband’s initial reaction was anger as he said he could not imagine his son sleeping with his wife to the point of impregnating her, and his wife allowing such to happen under the same roof.

Since their mutual confession on October 2021, however, their life has not remained the same as their previous cat and dog relationship deteriorated further.

She said: “He (Donald) kept emaciating. He hardly talked and was not excited about the new baby.

“We hardly talked and he hardly responded to my conversation. At a point, I was afraid that he might kill my son. His aloofness really worried me, so I ran out of the house to one of my uncles who also stays in town.

“Two days after, precisely on the 27th of October, my husband slept and died in his sleep.

“Now his people are saying I might have been responsible for his death, and they are threatening to kill me too,” she said amid tears.

Justina added: “My brother, I am not myself. I am confused. I don’t deserve to be alive again, so I’m contemplating suicide because my effort to give my husband a child has ruined my life.

While it was difficult to confront the two families due to the calamity that befell them, our correspondent managed to speak with the late Donald’s mother, and she said: “She (Justina) killed my only son.

“From day one when we realised she could not conceive, we asked her to go but she refused.

“She brought instability into my son’s life which led to his death.

“My son told me all that happened before he died.”

She refused to talk further in spite of promptings from our correspondent.

Justina’s uncle, Mr Stephen, told our correspondent that he would not say anything “until after the burial of my sister’s husband.

“But for now, she is staying with me. Let them prove that she was responsible for her husband’s death.

“I will consult with our parents, particularly our father, because our mother is not alive.” The Nation

ISWAP, B/Haram insurgents injure baby in Maiduguri attack

The Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) on Saturday launched five mortar bomb attacks into Maiduguri from the outskirts.

Borno Police Commissioner Abdul Umar, who confirmed the incident to newsmen in Maiduguri, said the bomb attack injured a six-month-old baby but no life was lost.

The CP said the terrorists launched five mortal bomb from the outskirts of the town along the State University axis.

According to him, the bombs were dropped in five different locations within the city resulting to minor damages.

He said: “The first bomb landed inside a house belonging to one Ibrahim Abba-Fori, burning down a Honda Civic car while another destroyed a room in Alhaji Bukar Modu-Kullima house and injured the 6-month-old baby, Fatima Alhaji-Bukar.

 “Another one landed at Gambari Njimtilo Ward near the house of Ahmed Yahaya, where the fence of the house was destroyed.

“The last explosive landed in a farm at Shuwarin Atom Village.”

Umar explained that the 6-month-old victim was treated for minor injuries at the Umaru Shehu Ultra Modern Hospital and discharged immediately.

He disclosed that a detachment of more police and military personnel had been deployed to the outskirts of Maiduguri for monitoring and patrols so as to fish out the bad guys.

While stressing that security is the business of everyone, he urged residents to be on alert and report any suspected activities within their midst to security agents for timely intervention. The Nation

Maiduguri attack: Zulum encourages military to be more tactical

Maiduguri Estate Attack: Zulum asks Military to wake up as he visits scene

Borno Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has told the Nigerian troops to work harder and maintain adequate surveillance.

The governor, who visited the 1,000 units housing estate in Maiduguri which was badly hit, on Saturday morning by a rocket launcher, believed to have been fired by Boko Haram/ISWAP terror groups, stated this.

He also said he was setting up what he called “a small committee” to assess damages inflicted and advise the government on measures to avert future occurrence on the scene and other parts of the city.

Zulum who had been praising the military in the last one year was unhappy with the attack as well as the recent abductions.

He described the Saturday attack as worrisome and he called on the military to wake up from some instances of laxity.

He said: “It is very sad and unfortunate that this kind of attack and others are happening at this time. It seems the insurgents came very close to Maiduguri. Our military have to wake up and ensure adequate surveillance. This is something we should be able to avert. For the insurgents to have come so close to fire rockets, I think there is something wrong that we have to check”

“We have to fortify Maiduguri, as we will continue to do around other cities and towns across the state. We have to ensure adequate patrols on daily basis to avert future attacks.”

The explosives had hit a house at the estate, causing serious commotion around Ngomari Airport, Njimtilo, and Shuwari village which are near the estate. However, no life was lost.

Zulum, however, commiserated with all those affected and assured that government will take measures to hopefully avert any future occurrence.

He said: “I wish to sympathize with those affected by today’s attack, I will constitute a small committee to ascertain the level of damage and advise the government on how to avert future occurrence.”

Police laments Maiduguri ISWAP bombs, list damages, baby injured

ISWAP mortar bomb landed here in Maiduguri

The Borno Police Command said a six-month-old baby was injured when ISWAP terrorists fired five mortar bombs into Maiduguri on Saturday.

The Commissioner of Police (CP), Abdul Umar told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri that the terrorists fired the bombs from the outskirt of Ngomari Old Airport, behind Borno State University.

He said that the mortars landed in different locations within the city causing minor damages.

The CP said the first bomb landed inside a house belonging to one Ibrahim Abba-Fori, burning down a Honda Civic car.

Another destroyed a room in Alhaji Bukar Modu-Kullima house

and injured the 6-month-old baby, Fatima Alhaji-Bukar.

 “Another one landed at Gambari Njimtilo Ward near the house of Ahmed Yahaya, where the fence of the house was destroyed.

“The last explosive landed in a farm at Shuwarin Atom Village,” he said.

Umar explained that the 6-month-old victim was treated for minor injuries at the Umaru Shehu Ultra Modern Hospital and discharged.

No life was lost in the attack, the CP said, adding that more police and military personnel had been deployed to the outskirt of Maiduguri for monitoring and patrols.

He urged residents to be on alert and report any suspected activities that would be detrimental to peace while assuring them of the total readiness of security agencies to protect lives and properties in the state

Navy arrests 30 suspected oil thieves in Akwa Ibom

FILE PHOTO: Navy impounds with 16,000 litres of illegally-refined oil in Akwa Ibom.

The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area (LGA) of Akwa Ibom, has impounded four wooden boats laden with 16,000 litres of illegally-refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and arrested 30 suspects.

The Commanding Officer, FOB, Navy Capt. Mohammed Abu, disclosed this to newsmen in Ibaka on Saturday, when he handed over the exhibits and suspects to a representative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Abu said the Nigerian Navy Ship, Thunder, commanded by Navy Capt. Christian Akokota, intercepted four boats between Nov. 27 and 28.

He said the boats, laden with 16,000 litres of illegally-refined AGO and 12,500 litres of AGO mixed with water and 370 bags of fish, were handed over to FOB Ibaka on Nov. 29.

“We are gathered here for the handing over of suspects that were caught at sea infracting the economic policy of this country.

Continuing, the Commander said “The boats are right behind me, four in number, one of the boats was laden with 16,000 litres of illegal refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 12,500 litres of AGO mixed with water.

“The other boat was carrying 113 empty drums of 250kg capacity and the last boat was carrying 370 bags of fish.

 “The suspects are 30 in number, details of the handing over are contained in the handing over note that I am presenting to the NSCDC representative, and this is a demonstration of inter-agency cooperation.

“The arrest is premised on the directives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Auwul Gambo, of zero tolerance to all forms of criminalities on our maritime domain, particularly, smuggling, crude oil theft and other vices that are being perpetrated by individuals on our maritime domain.

“As a prosecuting agency, once they are done with the investigation and prosecution, they will revert back to the Nigerian Navy, the outcome of their investigation and prosecution,” Abu said.

Receiving the exhibits and suspects, on behalf of the NSCDC, Assistant Commandant of Corps, Adamu Jafa’aru, Head of Anti Vandalism Unit, Akwa Ibom Command, assured that the agency would carry out a thorough investigation and all those found culpable would be prosecuted.

“I have received 30 suspects and four boats and other exhibits on behalf of the NSCDC.

“The Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Audi, has ordered us to go after all forms of vandalism,” he said.

He warned vandals and all those sabotaging the economy of the nation to desist from their heinous crimes, as the agency would not relent in its mandate of protecting the government’s critical infrastructure.

He thanked the Nigerian Navy for their resilience in ensuring safety along the Nigerian maritime environment.