TheNewsGuru

Tag: Freedom

  • Buhari's delegation meets Leah Sharibu's mother, reinstates commitment to her freedom

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has assured the families of kidnapped Dapchi schoolgirl Leah Sharibu and two abducted aid workers that the Federal Government will leave no stone unturned to secure their release.

    The minister gave the assurance on Friday when he led a three-member Federal Government delegation to Maiduguri in Borno State and Dapchi in Yobe State.

    In Dapchi, the delegation, which also included the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, who also oversees Women Affairs, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,

    Hajiya Abba Ibrahim, met with Mrs Rebecca Sharibu, Mother of Leah, as well as other members of their family at an emotion-laden ceremony.

    Mohammed said in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, that President Muhammadu Buhari sent the delegation as a follow-up to his phone call to Leah’s mother a few days ago, adding that the government will not rest until Leah has been reunited with her family.

    The statement said that excited students of the Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, from where Leah and about 109 of her colleagues were abducted on February 19, 2018, trooped out to welcome the delegation when the chopper that ferried them to Dapchi landed in the school premises.

    Earlier, the statement also said that delegation also met with the families of the three aid workers who were abducted in March 2018.

    At the meeting, which was said to have held in the Borno State Government House, Mohammed reassured them of the Government’s efforts to secure the release of the two that remained in captivity, Alice Loksha and Amina Liman.

    He also condoled with the parents of the third aid worker, Saifura Hussaini Ahmed, who was killed by her abductors last month.

    The minister said this is a trying time for the government and people of Borno State, but praised the government’s resilience in tackling the challenges arising from the Boko Haram insurgency.

    The Deputy Governor of Borno, Alhaji Usman Durkwa, who received the delegation, expressed gratitude to President Buhari for sending the delegation to the state, saying this shows that the President is a

    true leader.

  • Gunmen free kidnapped PDP chief

    After spending about four day in kidnappers’ den, the Ekiti State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Financial Secretary, Kayode Oni, has regained his freedom.

    Recall that Oni was abducted on Saturday at a location between Efon and Erio on his way to Aramoko, the headquarters of Ekiti West Local Government.

    The PDP chieftain was returning from Efon where he had supervised the conduct of the party’s local government congress.

    The local government congress was part of the process leading to the party’s governorship primary slated for May 8.

    Oni’s captors contacted family members and demanded a ransom of N30 million.

    Ekiti PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Jackson Adebayo confirmed the release of Oni to reporters yesterday.

    Adebayo said Oni was set free by his abductors on Tuesday night.

    He was however silent on whether any ransom was paid by the party or the victim’s family before he was released.

    Adebayo said the party is happy that Oni returned home unhurt and reunited with his family.

     

  • JUST IN: Nine days after, Bishop Matthew Kukah’s brother regains freedom

    Nine days after his abduction, the brother of the Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, and King of Ikulu Kingdom in southern Kaduna, Mallam Yohanna Sidi Kukah, has been set free by his abductors.

    Details on his freedom were not given, but a statement from the Ikulu Traditional Council on Thursday signed by one AllahMagani Yohanna reads: “With gratitude to God, we, the entire Ikulu Nation wish to announce the release of our Royal Father, HRH Mal. Yohanna Sidi Kukah, the Agwom Akulu this afternoon.

    “He was abducted by armed gunmen on the night of January 2nd, 2018 at his residence in Anchuna. He is hale and hearty.

    “We will like to thank the security agencies, various religious and traditional rulers, the media and the general public for their support, prayers and solidarity..

    Bishop Kukah could not be reached for comments, but another of the King’s younger brother, Samuel, was quoted on his Facebook page as having confirmed his release.

  • Hijab: I’m fighting for freedom of those coming behind me – UNILORIN law graduate

    Sequel to a brawl that occurred at the Nigerian Law School earlier in the week over the admittance of a graduate of the institute to the venue of the call to the bar ceremony for appearing in hijab (headscarf), the affected graduate, Firdaus Amasa, has said her insistence not to put off the hijab was a deliberate attempt to set those coming her free.

    Amasa, a graduate of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) was specifically refused entry into the hall for insisting to wear the wig on top of her hijab – a headscarf.

    The case has attracted significant attention on social media, with Nigerians divided on her decision and that of the authorities of the law school.

    Speaking in an interview with Premium Times on Saturday, Amasa said she remained resolute in her convictions to set a precedent for Hijab-wearing Muslims during the ceremony.

    In her words: “My major concern is the approval of Hijab so that every person coming behind me will be able to use it for the call to bar (ceremony).”

    Asked whether she was aware of rules and regulations that guide against the use of Hijab at the ceremony, she said there was none, stressing that it was merely based on conventions.

    “There is nothing like that (laws preventing the use of Hijab). When you ask them too, they tell you it is convention; that that is how it is done and it has to remain like that.”

    Asked what motivated her to take the decision, she explained that she wanted to change the narrative and give Muslim sisters the rights to express their constitutional rights as enshrined in the constitution.

    “I knew that was what was going to happen,” she said of the consequences of her decision. She, however, said she remained resolute in her convictions to speak for the recognition of rights of female Muslim law graduates.

    She explained further that the Law School has not said anything on the case, adding that the support from the Muslim community has been impressive.

    “My demand is that Hijab should be approved,” she affirmed.

    Efforts to get the reaction of the Nigerian Law School, on the issue was however unsuccessful as at the time of this report.

     

  • Finally! Lola Margaret regains freedom

    Embattled Nollywood actress, Lola Margaret who was arrested weeks back for alleged credit card fraud in the US has been released. TheNewsGuru reports that she was picked up at the bank where she had gone to withdraw the cash.

    After days of not sharing posts on Instagram, the light skinned damsel made her first public appearance. Lola shared a picture of herself on her Instagram page and captioned it:”Psalm 3″

    However, Psalm 3 says:“Lord, how are they increased that trouble me, many are they that rise up against me!”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BW2_tVaggBk/?taken-by=lolamagret

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BWk96QzgmZT/?taken-by=lolamagret

     

    Lola was born in Ilesa, a city located in Osun State South-Western Nigeria where she went on to complete her basic and secondary school education. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and International Relations after graduating from Lagos State University.

    Lola Margaret’s acting career started after she met Bolaji Amusan, a Nigerian comic actor who introduced her to acting.

    Her career came to limelight after she played the lead character in the movie Bisola Alan. Lola has also starred in several movies, including Eyin Akuko and Omo Oloro, a film she produced starring the likes of Fathia Balogun and Mercy Aigbe.

     

  • Kidnapped ex-Commissioner regains freedom in Calabar

    Kidnapped ex-Commissioner regains freedom in Calabar

    Former Commissioner for Information in Cross River, Mr Patrick Ugbe, who was kidnapped in Calabar on June 1, has regained freedom.

    Ugbe, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of Hit Fm 95.9, was kidnapped by gunmen at Ekpo Iso Street in Ikot Ansa, Calabar.

    ASP Irene Ugbo, Police Public Relations Officer in the State, confirmed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Calabar on Saturday.

    “As we speak, the CEO of Hit Fm has been released and he is right now with his family.

    “No ransom was paid, the combined efforts of security agencies in the state and the office of the State Security Adviser were on top of the matter to secure his release.

    “We thank God that he was released alive without any harm.

    “The police, in collaboration with other sister agencies in the state, would continue to work together to safe guard the lives and property of the citizens’’, she said.

    Ugbe also served as Chief Press Secretary and Commissioner for Youth and Sports in the eight-year tenure of Sen. Liyel Imoke as Governor of the state.

     

     

    NAN

     

  • JUST IN: Kidnapped Ondo Permanent Secretary regains freedom

    JUST IN: Kidnapped Ondo Permanent Secretary regains freedom

    The Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Niran Ikuomola, who was kidnapped along with his driver on Sunday evening has regained his freedom.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Dr. Ikuomola and his driver were abducted by unknown gunmen along the Lokoja/Abuja expressway on Sunday evening.

    As at the time of posting, it could not be ascertained if ransom was paid or not.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Thursday met with security chiefs and other stakeholders how to secure Ikuomola’s release from the kidnappers den.

    Details shortly…

  • Some abducted Chibok girls in Boko Haram’s den refused ‘freedom’ – Negotiator

    Some abducted Chibok girls in Boko Haram’s den refused ‘freedom’ – Negotiator

    …as presidency orders spiritual, psychological and physical rehabilitation of released girls

    One of the negotiators that facilitated the release of the 82 Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram militants from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014, on Monday said some of the girls voluntarily refused to be freed from the terrorist den.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that 82 of the girls were safely returned to the Nigerian Government on Saturday following the exchange of some suspected Boko Haram members imprisoned by the government.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that after their abduction in 2014, a number of the girls escaped after which Boko Haram freed 21 last October, after negotiations with the Red Cross.

    However, about 113 of the girls are said to still be in Boko Haram’s captivity. The Federal Government has assured the general public that negotiations for their release is in progress.

    A legal practitioner and mediator, Zannah Mustapha, said some of the abducted girls refused to join the train to freedom, fuelling fears that they had been radicalised by the jihadists, and might be afraid, ashamed or even too powerful to return to their old lives.

    “Some girls refused to return. I have never talked to one of the girls about their reasons,” said 57-year-old Mustapha, who acted as an intermediary in the latest negotiations between the Nigerian government and Boko Haram, while speaking with Reuters.

    “As a mediator, it is not part of my mandate to force them (to return home).”

    A Nigerian psychologist, Fatima Akilu, in chat with The Punch believed that the girls might preferred to identify with their captors instead of embracing freedom.

    “They develop Stockholm syndrome, identify with captors and want to remain,” said Akilu, who has run deradicalisation programmes for Boko Haram militants and women abducted by them.

    “Some are afraid of what to expect, the unknown. We don’t know how much influence their husbands have in coercing them not to go back,” added Akilu, head of the Neem Foundation, a non-profit group aimed at countering extremism in Nigeria.

    Mustapha explained that future talks between the government and the sect would extend beyond the release of the remaining Chibok girls in captivity and focus on negotiating peace in the conflict-hit North-East.

    His role as a mediator dates back to 2007, when he founded the Future Prowess Primary School in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State.

    When conflict broke out in 2009, the school remained open and was said to have even enrolled those children born to Boko Haram fighters.

    He added, “We are not just talking; we are still actively working towards peace.

    “Even though we have got (some of) the girls back, I don’t feel we have made much progress. After the (release of) the 21 girls, how many hundreds have been killed by suicide bombings?”

    “While Boko Haram may indeed hold out in releasing all of the hostages to maintain some form of leverage, the reality is that the girls have limited value to the sect outside of public relations capital and are likely placing a strain on resources.”

  • Kidnapped Ondo monarch regains freedom

    Kidnapped Ondo monarch regains freedom

    The traditional ruler of Iyani-Akoko, in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State, Oniyani of Iyani Akoko, Oba Joel Sunday Daodu, who was abducted last Saturday, has regained his freedom.

    The monarch arrived his palace 8pm Tuesday in company of his two colleagues, Olubaram of Ibaram, Oba Olusegun Atibioke and the Owa of Ogbagi-Akoko, Oba Victor Olasehinde.

    Youth, elders and women danced round the town to thank God for the monarch’s freedom.

    Governor of the State, Rotimi Akeredolu while reacting to the monarch’s freedom hailed the security agencies for their efforts in ensuring the release of the monarch. He also congratulated the monarch on his safe return while promising that his administration was “determined to make Ondo State unsafe for criminally-minded people”.

     

  • Two abducted Germans regain freedom

     

    A German archaeologist, Prof. Peter Breunij and his associate Johannes Buringer abducted by unidentified gunmen at Jenjela village in Kagarko local government area of Kaduna State on Wednesday have regained their freedom.

    According to a report by Premium Times, the release was authenticated by a senior police officer in Kaduna who spoke on condition of anonymity. According to the police source, no ransom was paid.

    “We are expecting an official statement from Force Headquarters , Abuja with details of their release,” the source said.

    Officials at the police headquarters in Abuja also confirmed the release, saying investigations are ongoing to arrest the kidnappers.

    “Investigations are very much on, and we believe we will get them (the kidnappers),” a senior officer knowledgeable about the investigations said in Abuja.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Germans were working at a site at Jenjela village on Wednesday when five gunmen appeared from the bush and ordered them to lie down and later abducted them to an unknown destination.

    The kidnappers later demanded a ransom of N60 million, while the Inspector General of Police on instructions from the Acting President, deployed special forces and aerial surveillance to secure their release.