TheNewsGuru

Tag: Indigenes

  • Ife indigenes invades OAU campus with charms, fetish objects

    Ife indigenes invades OAU campus with charms, fetish objects

    Some indigenes of Ile-Ife in Osun, on Monday allegedly invaded the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) campus, armed with charms and other fetish objects, protesting against the appointment of non-indigene as the institution’s Vice-Chancellor.

    It was gathered that the protesting Ife indigenes closed the university’s two major gates as early as 6.00 a.m, thereby preventing vehicular movement from coming into the campus, while those inside the campus were disallowed from leaving.

    According to reports, staff members, students and other stakeholders were also prevented from either coming into or leaving the university.

    Recall that the University Governing Council led by its Chairman, Chief Owelle Udoji, had on Thursday, shortly after the council’s meeting announced a Professor of Agricultural Economics, Adebayo Bamire, as the 12th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

    Mr Abiodun Olarewaju, the Public Relations Officer of the university, however, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday evening.

    According to him, determined to forcefully install an Ile-Ife indigene as the next Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, some indigenes of Ile-Ife have invaded the campus of the university with charms and other fetish objects.

    “Today, Monday, March 21, 2022, things took more dangerous dimensions as the indigenes beat up some OAU students whom they met at the gate, blocked the two major gates as early as 6.00 a.m, coming into the campus with charms, and other fetish items.

    “They assembled at the Motion Ground of the University Secretariat, dressed in all-white spiritual traditional attire, chanting incantations while performing rituals.

    “The protesting indigenes closed the university’s two major gates, thereby preventing staff members, students and other stakeholders from either coming into or leaving the university.

    “The protests by the Ife indigenes started last Thursday, March 17, 2022 shortly after the University Governing Council, led by its Chairman, Owelle Oscar Udoji, announced a Professor of Agricultural Economics, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, as the 12th substantive Vice-Chancellor.

    “The protesters, who initially blocked the main gate of the university on the first day and threatened staff and students to stay away from campus, became very violent the second day as they beat up workers, particularly the staff of the Security Unit, and vandalised their office at the Main Gate.

    “Some of the security staff had to be taken to the University’s Health Centre for treatment,” Olarewaju said in the statement.

    He said that the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board shortlisted 16 candidates for the interaction for the post of Vice-Chancellor.

    “The candidates whose names were arranged in alphabetical order were called in for interaction and each was scored by each member of the Selection Board.

    “The score sheets of each Assessor for individual candidates were dropped into an envelope and sealed, with the signature of the Chairman of Council on each one.

    “At the end of the interaction, the sealed envelopes were opened one after the other and announced to all the members.

    “The score sheets were thereafter passed around for sighting.

    “Then, the scores of the candidates were collated with Microsoft Excel and ranked from the highest to the lowest.

    “The candidate with the highest score was eventually announced as the Vice-Chancellor by the Governing Council.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, no member of the Board had foreknowledge of each candidate’s score before the final collation at the end of the interaction,” Olarewaju explained.

    He said that the university was aware of the false presentation of the alphabetical arrangement of the applicants as the authentic list of applicants’ performance where unfounded allegations have been made of changing the “leading” candidate.

    “The university hereby affirms that due processes were followed and merit was the basis for the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor.

    “The University Management implores the leadership of Ile- Ife to please call these protesters to order to ensure that the cordial relationship, which has been in existence, between the university and Ile-Ife communities is not jeopardised.”

  • 11 persons abducted by gunmen in Katsina community

    11 persons abducted by gunmen in Katsina community

    Eleven indigenes, mostly elderly women have been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen at Shinfida Village in Jibia Local Government Area of ​​Katsina State.

    They were kidnapped on their way to join other residents who earlier ran to a refugee camp for safety after their village came under attack by a group of gunmen suspected to be bandits.

    Sources revealed in a telephone interview on Saturday that the assailants invaded the village last night.

    According to the source, those kidnapped virtually lack the capacity to leave at the time most residents fled to safety due to their physical strength and some health conditions.

    He recounted that having carried out the invasion on Friday night, the assailants planned to set the entire village of Shinfida on fire at about 7am on Saturday.

    The source called on the relevant authorities to come to the aid of the people, including sending security personnel to the village to protect the residents and salvage what could be left of their properties.

  • Indigenes block Benin bypass over deplorable conditions

    Indigenes block Benin bypass over deplorable conditions

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    The popular Benin bypass in Edo State constructed 20years ago has been blocked by indigenes over its state of disrepair as captured in a trending video in the social media networks.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports the blockage by the indigenes started last Sunday and as at the time of filing this report, the bypass adjoining link roads to Delta State and Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi remains blocked.

    Feelers from Edo State indicate that the indigenes are insisting that until the Federal Government responds via renovation work on the bypass they won’t remove the barricade.

    This development as depicted in the trending video shows commuters trekking long distance from the axis of the Auchi-Ekpoma axis of the bypass.

    Watch video below:

  • Refugee Commission, Borno Govt Collaborate to Bring Back Indigenes from Neighboring Countries

    Refugee Commission, Borno Govt Collaborate to Bring Back Indigenes from Neighboring Countries

    The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) has commenced talks with the Borno State Government to bring back indigenes of the state from neighboring countries.

    The Honourable Federal Commissioner of NCFRMI, Senator Basheer Garba Mohammed stated this in an exclusive interview with a select journalists shortly after a meeting with a delegation of Borno State Govt led by His Excellency, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum at the Commission’s office in Abuja, Thursday.

    According to him, the commission in collaboration with its development partners like United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) is geared towards creating a lasting solution to the returning refugees of Borno State and any other state in the federation.

    “The Commission will do everything possible to bring back the indigenes of Borno State from our neighboring countries in accordance with International Humanitarian Law as we seek to put everything in place for an easy reintegration and rehabilitation back to safer communities for them”, Senator Mohammed added.

    “Nigeria has the second largest number of displaced persons in Africa and Borno State with a figure of 1.8 million displaced persons is the biggest in the country. Therefore, this means a lot to the government to bring back home the concerned persons to a life of dignity and prosperity”, the Federal Commissioner further stated.

    Senator Mohammed further stressed that, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari is deeply concerned about the general well being of all persons of concern in Nigetia and the neighbouring countries, and has directed that every Nigerian refugee should be returned home to a life of dignity in their states of origin.

    “Therefore, we at the Commission are taking this directive seriously and have gone far in this regard, as we have already secured 50 hectares of land in about 7 states, where we intend to build 500 household for resettlement, fully equipped with facilities and livelihood support schemes linked to clean water and health infrastructures”, he explained.

    “This is part of our focal project this year; the resettlement city, which is geared towards moving away from being just food providers to the refugees and displaced persons to finding sustainable solutions to their problems by transiting them into full and dignified settlements”, he concluded.

    On his part, the visiting Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum said, the reach out from the Borno State indigenes is positive and beneficial as the refuges themselves want nothing more than to come back to Nigeria as they have shown that there is no place like home for them.

    The Borno State Governor then commiserated with the Commission on World Refugee Day and commended the Commissioner for his hardwork and progressive efforts in making life much better for refugees and displaced persons in Nigeria.

  • One dead, four injured as Abuja indigenes, soldiers clash

    One dead, four injured as Abuja indigenes, soldiers clash

    One person has been confirmed dead and four others injured in a fresh clash between some indigenes of Abuja and soldiers over land at Tungan-Maje, an outskirt town in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Malam Tanko Sani, one of the community leaders who confirmed the incident in an interview with journalists on Wednesday at the scene, said trouble ensued when soldiers forcefully moved into the land and started work without the consent of the indigenes.

    He said one of the indigenes, a student, Hamza Usman, was killed at the spot by the soldiers for protesting against the action.

    The community head said four other persons were injured and are receiving treatment in a hospital within the area.

    He regretted the soldiers had never engaged the community members for a discussion since the disagreement between them started about three years ago.

    Female and male indigenes of the town blocked the ever busy Zuba – Gwagwalada road to press home their demand.

    The situation became worst as motorists plying the route were held in gridlock for over five hours before the intervention of some stakeholders.

    Reacting to the sad development in his palace, the Agora of Zuba, HRH Mohammed Bello, demanded that the indigenes should be compensated, urging them to be calm.

    Attempts to speak with the military personnel on ground failed as at the time of filling this report.

    There was also no official statement from officials of the FCTA.

    All efforts to speak with the FCT police command on the incident were futile as at when filling this report.

  • Release 180 Ebonyi indigenes incarcerated in Lagos prisons, Umahi begs Ambode

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has called on the Lagos State Government to unconditionally release 180 Ebonyi indigenes, incarcerated in Lagos for engaging in hawking.

    Umahi made the call on Thursday in Abakaliki, when he received a delegation of Ebonyi indigenes residing in Onitsha, Anambra, who visited him over the plight of its indigenes in the town and across the country.

    Umahi represented by his Deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe, noted that the government received with dismay, the gory ordeals of the victims as narrated by the Ebonyi Development Association in Lagos.

    “The 180 victims were accused of contravening a law of the Lagos Government on street trading, but the intriguing aspect is that they had been incarcerated before the law was enacted.

    “Most of them had spent over two years in incarceration before the law was enacted, but they were unfortunately charged under the same law.

    “I will immediately consult and interact with my Lagos counterpart to ensure the immediate and unconditional release of the victims,” he said.

    The governor remarked that the days of treating Ebonyi citizens as second-class citizens in the country were over, as the government would extend its empowerment schemes to its indigenes residing across the country.

    “The government would immediately procure over 130 tricycles to enable hawkers of Ebonyi origin in Onitsha and environs, quit the trade and be gainfully employed.

    “We would accommodate over 20 indigenes in Onisha in our empowerment scheme, which would offer them a grant of N250, 000 each, to quit street trading and be gainfully employed.

    “The beneficiaries would cut across the 13 local government areas of the state and would consist of 50 per cent male and 50 per cent females.

    “The empowerment scheme would be extended to over 300 indigenes in Anambra and would subsequently accommodate those in states such as Abia, Kano, Lagos, among others,” he said.

    Mr Mathew Njoku, leader of the delegation and the Governor’s Senior Technical Assistant, Onitsha Liaison Office, thanked the governor for the reception and pledged to contribute its quota in the state’s development.

    “We thank you for graciously including Ebonyi indigenes in Onitsha and across the country in your empowerment schemes because it would help eradicate the humiliating experiences they undergo while hawking and engaging in other menial jobs.

    “Ebonyi indigenes are ranked among the most successful exporters of goods in Onitsha, and are willing to transfer such business acumen to enhance the state’s economy,” he said.

    Njoku also pledged that the state’s indigenes in Onitsha would support the governor’s second term bid and also his future political ambition.

     

     

    NAN