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  • Stop playing politics with Benue, Rivers massacres – Osinbajo warns politicians

    Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday warned politicians to desist from playing politics with the murder of innocent lives in Benue, Rivers and other parts of the country to avoid igniting another crisis.

    Osinbajo cautioned that under no condition should Nigerians allow anyone to create a religious crisis.

    The vice president sounded the warning during an inter-denominational church service to mark the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration at the National Christian Centre in Abuja.

    He insisted that due to the prevailing circumstance regarding the violence and loss of lives in parts of the country, President Buhari had ordered the police and the armed forces to deal decisively with the situation and ensure that the perpetrators were found and punished.

    He recalled that it was the politicisation of Boko Haram at the early stage of the group that gave rise to its heinous activities, and enjoined Nigerians not to fall into another trap regarding the problems associated with herdsmen.

    Osinbajo said: “We must recognise that as dangerous and as deadly and heartless as these killings are, there is also the danger of our allowing politics to play a part as this could lead to what we sometimes say “pour petrol into an already burning fire.”

    “We must not permit the politicisation of this tragedy. One of the reasons why for years Boko Haram thrived, was because of the politicisation of the insurgency.

    “There were those who are planning to benefit politically from the tragedy and they painted the opposition then as the perpetrator.”

    The Vice President continued: “Again, we see some today who want to benefit politically from the killing of women and children in Adamawa, Benue, Jos and several other places stoking the embers of ethnicity and religion.

    “By their hate speeches, they want to fix the criminal acts of the few individuals on who thrives and hold people and they would want to create a religious crisis if they are allowed.

    “Our obligation is to stop them from playing dangerous politics that could threaten our unity and stability just as we continue to enforce the peace in the troubled areas.”

    Vice President lauded the commitment and dedication of Nigerian military personnel to service, particularly the fallen heroes, stating that save for their efforts, Nigerians would not have been enjoying the peace.

    Osinbajo said: “I am especially honoured to be here today to join family and friends of our departed heroes to mark this day when we remember the incredible sacrifices that they made to fill the vacuum.

    “We have seen in the past few years how this rights have been challenged by the mindless extremism of the Boko Haram in the North East and how again our gallant military, the police and even the civilian population have risen jointly to rout these criminal combatants and restore peace to most communities in that zone.

    “We have also seen even recently the killings that have resulted from the attacks of herdsmen and farmers and communities and also where farmers and communities have attacked herdsmen.”

    “The president has also in almost daily meetings and strategic sessions with relevant security and law enforcement agencies work to find lasting and enduring solution to this issues,” he added.

    In his sermon, Bishop of Jos Diocese Anglican Communion, Bishop Benjamin Kwashi, who represented Primate Anglican Communion, Archbishop Nicholas Oko, noted that the Armed Forces remained the only institution of hope of Nigerians.

    According to him, the Nigerian military personnel laid down their lives against the Boko Haram terrorists ,against Fulani herdsmen, against kidnappers, against men and perhaps women who do not wish the country well.

    He urged Nigerians to intensify prayers for peace, unity and progress of the country, he regretted that many of the nation’s military personnel have died in line of duties in their commitment to keep the nation peaceful and safe for the citizenry.

  • Benue, Rivers Massacres: SERAP urges UN to convene, defend helpless Nigerians

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an urgent appeal to Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urging him to use his leadership position to “urgently call and/or facilitate the holding of a special session of the UN Human Rights Council to address persistent killings apparently by herdsmen in Benue State of Nigeria and other parts of the country.”

    The organization also urged Prince Al Hussein to “speak out strongly and condemn the killings apparently by herdsmen in the country, and make an official visit to Nigeria with special rapporteurs with relevant mandates to discuss the killings and concrete actions to end the killings and ultimately bring about significant improvements in the lives of farmers and their families as well as other citizens affected by violence across the country.”

    In an urgent appeal dated 6 January 2018 and signed by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organization said, “The UN Human Rights Council’s ability to successfully expose and hold perpetrators of human rights violations to account may be under threat if your office continues to ignore or pay little attention to the crimes and abuses apparently by herdsmen and other unknown perpetrators in Nigeria.”

    The organization said, “While we acknowledge that the council has made significant contributions to human rights elsewhere, we are concerned that the violence and killings in Nigeria rarely attract the attention of the UN and particularly, your office. It is time for your office to speak out strongly against the continuing killings by herdsmen in Nigeria for the sake of thousands of victims and their families who continue to lack access to an effective remedy, including truth, justice and full and effective reparation.”

    Suspected herdsmen yesterday killed at least 11 persons in a fresh attack on Tombu village in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State. This followed the alleged killing earlier in the week of at least 33 people apparently by herdsmen in the State.

    The urgent appeal read in part: “The killings in Benue State of Nigeria and the distressing situation of farmers and their families paint a stark picture of the grave abuses carried out apparently by herdsmen and the impunity that they continue to enjoy. The actions of herdsmen hinder meaningful progress towards stability, development and peace in the country.”

    “We also urge your office to facilitate the process of creating a commission of inquiry to investigate killings by herdsmen in Nigeria, and to uncover, name and shame cow owners that hire the herdsmen, as such owners may be criminally complicit in the killings. The involvement of your office will ensure solid investigations into the alleged killings, and help draw international attention to the problem, which in turn will go a long way in putting pressure on the Nigerian authorities to take concrete and meaningful steps to end the killings and bring suspected perpetrators to justice.”

    “SERAP notes that the Human Rights Council was created in 2006 to replace the failed UN Commission on Human Rights, which had largely been unwilling to address real human rights concerns in deserving countries.”

    “The council needs to be vigilant to avoid the problems that plagued its predecessor, including a loss of relevance from failing to speak out on human rights violations and abuses in deserving countries, such as Nigeria. We urge your office to seek full respect for the right to life, to personal security and dignity, to property, and other human rights of farmers and other Nigerians, consistent with the international human rights standards your office has sworn to uphold.”

    “Nigeria is a member of the Human Rights Council, and has ratified several UN human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Nigeria has also ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which has in fact become part of the national laws.”

    “The Human Rights Council cannot be silent when innocent citizens are caught up in violence such as the one going on in Benue State. The international community must strive to deliver justice to victims of human rights violations and abuses wherever they occur and ensure that those found to be responsible for such crimes are brought to justice.”

    “SERAP strongly believes that the holding of a special session on the violence and killings apparently by herdsmen in Benue State and elsewhere in Nigeria would contribute to a speedy end to the problem, and to peace and greater respect for human rights of farmers and their families as well as other citizens.”

    “The holding of a special session on the killings in Benue State will be consistent with the practice of the Human Rights Council regarding its previous special sessions on the Occupied Palestinian Territories; Lebanon; Darfur; Myanmar; the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the Global Food Crisis and the Global Economic and Financial Crises, among others.”


  • Benue, Rivers Massacres: Police deploy additional units to troubled areas

    The police say they have deployed additional five units to Benue and Rivers States, days after dozens of people were killed in the two states.

    At least 20 people died in two Benue communities when herdsmen raided the towns, while 17 people were shot dead in Rivers by gunmen on New Year’s eve.

    A police statement on Saturday said the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has approved the deployment of five additional units to the affected areas.

    They include mobile police special forces, police aerial surveillance helicopters and special police joint intelligence and investigation teams.

    The statement signed by the police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, said the commissioners of police and police personnel in the affected states were placed on alert.

    Mr. Moshood said the deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations was dispatched to Benue to coordinate and supervise the implementation of the new security strategies put in place by the force.

    The spokesman said that conventional police personnel, Counter Terrorism Unit, Police Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD) teams were also deployed to Benue and Rivers to work with the personnel on the ground.

    He said the deployments were to bring new energy to the efforts to end attacks in those states.

    He said that eight suspected gunmen arrested at the scene of the killings in Benue were being prosecuted.

    The other two suspects arrested at a different scenes of crime were being arraigned in court.

    He said the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 4, Makurdi, and Zone 6, Calabar, were mandated by the IGP to convene meetings in the affected states.

    Mr. Moshood said they were also to supervise police investigation and intelligence teams, and other police special squads deployed to the two states.

    “The Force implores the people to be vigilant and security conscious. They should promptly report suspicious acts or persons to the nearest police detachment or station for prompt action to avert untoward incidents,” he said.

    NAN

  • BREAKING: DSS, Army kill alleged mastermind of Rivers New Year killings, Don Wani

    BREAKING: DSS, Army kill alleged mastermind of Rivers New Year killings, Don Wani

    Igwediba Johnson, popularly known as Mr Don Wani, who is the suspected militant leader alleged to have masterminded the brutal murder of 23 persons in Omoku, Rivers, on Jan. 1, has been shot dead.
    A security source confirmed that he was killed in a combined operation by the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Army at a border town between Rivers and Imo.
    The source said the development happened at about 5 p.m. on Saturday.
    The Rivers Director of DSS, Mr Tosin Ajayi, declined comment on the information when contacted by a NAN correspondent.
    “No comment for now,” he said.

  • Oil companies responsible for Rivers massacre – Wike

    Governor Nyesom Wike has accused the international oil companies of being responsible for the murder of over seventeen (17) people returning home from the cross over service on New Year eve.

    The governor said the oil companies in the state were awarding surveillance contracts to cultists who in turn use the money to buy sophisticated weapons with which they terrorise the communities.

    The 17 were shot dead at Omoku, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area allegedly by cultists.

    The governor who spoke while receiving Interior Minister Abdulrahman Danbazzau claimed that the security agencies knew the cult kingpins terrorizing the residents.

    “The security agencies have the profiles of all cult kingpins in different parts of the state and they know their locations,” he said.

    He accused Police Inspector general Ibrahim Idris of failing to heed several requests made by the Rivers government for the deployment of special squads to tackle cultism and kidnapping in the state.

    He added: “There is no wisdom in the politicization of security. Insecurity can affect anybody. You can never know the next victim of insecurity.

    “The peculiar nature of Rivers State requires peculiar intervention.

    “Before now, I have been shouting that we need support to fight crime.”

    The governor attacked politicians whom he said were using the killings to play politics and make false allegations against the state.

    Danbazzau said he was directed by President Muhammadu Buhari to visit the state and assess its security situation because of the killing.

     

  • Rivers, Benue Massacres: IGP meets Buhari, insists ‘Nigeria is well secured’

    Rivers, Benue Massacres: IGP meets Buhari, insists ‘Nigeria is well secured’

    The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Friday maintained that despite the current security challenges, Nigeria is well secured.

    The IGP said this after a closed-door meeting President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    The IGP Idris briefed journalists on his discussion with the president.

    When asked if he believes there is breakdown of law and order in different parts of the country, Mr. Idris said he thinks “Nigeria is well secured.”

    Dozens of people were killed in separate attacks in Rivers and Benue in the new year. While that of Rivers is linked to cult violence; that of Benue is believed to have been carried out by herdsmen on farming communities.

    Read the full question and answer session the police chief had with journalists below.

    Q: What was the meeting with Mr. President about?

    IGP: You know any time we meet Mr. President, you know the area of discussion is how to have effective security of the Nation.

    Q: What are you doing about Benue?

    IGP: You know I deployed my DIG there yesterday and you know we have different stages of police, you have the AIG in Benue, Commissioner of Police in Benue and all of them are putting their heads together to see how we address this issue of community problems in Benue.

    Q: There seems to be break down of law and order in the different parts of the country at the same time – Rivers, Benue, Kaduna,

    IGP: Obviously I think Nigeria is well secured you have to be frank with us.

    Q: Really?

    IGP: Yes.

    Q: Why do you think herdsmen killings is escalating in parts of the country?

    IGP: Like I said, you know we have different levels of police in this country. We have the Commissioner of Police in Benue, the AIG of Police in Benue, and yesterday I deployed my DIG operations there and definitely we are doing all we can to see we maintain law and order in all parts of the country.

    Q: The police has been accused of being reactionary rather than proactive to stop the killings, how do you react?

    IGP: Let’s use the example of Benue, you know most of these states where you have several languages, you know is an issue of communal misunderstanding. I think what we should be praying for is for Nigerians to learn to live in peace with each other, I think is very important.

    Q: What did the president say after briefing him, was he happy with you or gave you a new charge?

    IGP: Of course every time we meet with the President he gives a charge. He said that we should go and take care and ensure that we tighten our security.

    Q: Any new measures you are deploying soon?

    IGP: There are so many measures. For instance in Benue we are going to deploy more units to support the efforts the police is making in the state to ensure we have adequate protection to the men and communities and members.

    Q: Are you assuring Nigerians that this will not repeat itself?

    IGP: Of course we are assuring that this will not repeat itself.

    Q: Is the country under-policed?

    IGP: I cannot say Nigeria is under-policed.

    Q: Maybe the question should be is the police overwhelmed?

    IGP: We cannot be overwhelmed.

    Q: Did you say that the Benue killings is that of communal crisis? We all know is herdsmen killing farmers.

    IGP: Obviously it is communal crisis, herdsmen are part of the community. They are Nigerians and are part of the community are they not?

    Q: On arrest of an online publisher by SARS, was that on your orders because he published something against you?

    IGP: Anyway I don’t need to send anybody but whenever you commit an offense it is our duty to ensure that we respond.

     

     

  • Your insensitivity to peoples’ plights caused killings in Benue, Rivers, others – PDP tells Buhari, APC

    The National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of being insensitive to the security of lives and properties in the country.

    This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the party spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan.

    The party described the massacre of defenseless Nigerians in the three states as extremely wicked.

    The opposition party further lamented what it termed the insensitivity of the APC Presidency, which it said, reacted to the ugly incidents only after the PDP and well-meaning Nigerians called them to task.

    The PDP also called on the Presidency to do some soul-searching with regards to its silence and loud indifference whenever citizens fall under such horrifying attacks.

    “What a way to start the New Year? The sheer insensitivity of the APC Government has continued to cause our nation a lot of pain and sorrow.

    “Is it not only a careless and inept leadership like the APC government that will ignore the danger signs in any part of the country and leave its citizens defenseless, just to be massacred by marauders?

    “If the APC Federal Government had effectively acted upon the danger signs and had provided adequate security in flash points across the country, particularly in Benue state, north central and Southern Kaduna area, this massacre of Nigerians, who were already impoverished by the APC’s misrule, could have been prevented.

    “Is it not a tragic trajectory of governance that while the APC Presidency was busy basking in its orchestrated New Year self-praise and empty promises, bandits were having a field day mowing down citizens in cold blood?

    “Is it not also an irony that when the government was prompted to react to the spate of killings, all its officials could do was to respond in manners most indifferent, nearly unconcerned and almost without compassion?

    “Indeed, the PDP aligns with Nigerians that the APC and the Presidency should have a serious soul searching on their clear indifference towards the persistent killings and maiming of citizens by bandits who constantly invade communities, slaughter the people and walk away with blood of our compatriots in their hands”.

    The party urged the government to show commitment by ensuring that the perpetrators of these killings were brought to book and made to face the full wrath of the law.

    It also urged the military and other security agencies to leave no stone unturned in the fishing out the perpetrators.

    “Nigeria belongs to all of us; every citizen has a right to life and no man should take the life of another for any reason or under any guise whatsoever,” the statement added.

  • Rivers, Benue Massacres: Atiku condemns killings, says Nigeria’s diversity, its strength

    Former Vice President of Nigeria and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has described as unacceptable the cycle of blood-letting that has led to the loss of precious lives across the country.

    Atiku Abubakar made the charge against the backdrop of recent killings in Rivers, Kaduna, Benue and other parts of the country including the Wednesday early morning suicide bombing attack, at Gamboru Mosque in Borno, barely three days into the New Year.

    The Waziri Adamawa, according to a statement by his media office in Abuja on Wednesday, said the killings in those states, and other senseless killings and reprisal blood-letting that has preceded them in the past across our country is ungodly, a throwback to the stone age, and a hindrance to the promotion of peace and unity in the country.

    Atiku Abubakar stressed that the diversity of Nigeria remains one of its strongest points, reminding leaders of all persuasion and at all levels to ensure that they promote the things that unite us rather than those that create divisions.

    “That the Almighty in His Wisdom made us a nation of different tongues and tribes; made us Africa’s most populous nation with more than 300 tribes is no accident. If well enhanced, our diversity should be our biggest strength.

    “There cannot be development when innocent lives are being lost in a seeming endless cycle of attacks and reprisals. While we should hold every life as precious, it is more painful that the victims of these attacks are women and youths – the demography that we depend upon to drive development.”

    Atiku Abubakar urged Nigerians to use the opportunity of the New Year to reflect on these needless killings and to resolve to live in peace and harmony.

    He prays for fortitude to the bereaved families.

  • Buhari condemns Kaduna, Rivers killings; urges peaceful coexistence

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday expressed shock and outrage at reports of killings of innocent persons in Omoku, Rivers State; and murders of the traditional ruler, the Etum Numana, Dr. Gambo Makama, and his wife in Sango Local Government Area of Kaduna State in the New Year.

    In a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, the President described the incidents as “reprehensible and unacceptable.”

    He directed law enforcement agencies in both states to intensify their current efforts in order to speedily bring the perpetrators to face the wrath of the law.

    “I have always maintained that nothing justifies the taking of the life of an innocent person.

    “People in our communities must learn to live peacefully,” he said.

    Buhari appealed to the communities affected not to embark on reprisal attacks, but to allow security agencies to carry out comprehensive investigations to properly punish the culprits.

    He commiserated with the families of the victims and wished the injured faster recovery.

  • Rivers killings: Fix security challenges or resign, Ameachi tells Wike

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Tuesday challenged Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to either provide adequate security in the state or resign from office.

    The minister, who is also a former governor of the state, said this in an interview with State House correspondents after a meeting he had with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He was reacting to the killing of 21 residents of the state on their way back from New Year’s crossover service.

    “It never happened when I was governor. We (the security chiefs and myself) ensured that we didnt sleep at night. We stayed awake for the citizens to sleep. I think the governor needs to do much more than that or quit the office,” he said.

    The minister said the governor needed to be more serious and stop encouraging the militant groups in the name of politics and election.

    He said while the issue of the 21 residents was in the public domain, two other persons were killed in Akutoru.

    He alleged that similar scenario played out in other local government areas in the state.

    Amaechi added, “I think there should be much more than age to qualify to be a governor because it takes much more than age.

    “I was governor of Rivers State, I did not play PDP/APC politics. Life is life, it has no symbol. Nobody has APC life or PDP life.

    “The first responsibility of a governor which is what the oath of office requires, is that you swear to protect lives and property.

    “When you don’t protect life and property, what do you do? It is impeachment. Unfortunately, there is no House of Assembly in Rivers State.

    “There is too much noise coming from Rivers State. The governor just wakes up and starts shouting, abusing people. That is all he does. Mr. Project painting roads.

    “The first thing you do is human capacity development and keeping human beings and we are losing lives every day.”

    The minister said Wike had no reason not to secure the state because he has everything working for him.

    “I just don’t know because the things are there for him to work with. He is not like me when during my second term, President Goodluck Jonathan took away Police, SSS. The Army brigade commander couldn’t visit me.

    “But in his case, everyone is disposed to him. He can see the Commissioner of Police, director SSS, unlike my period but we fought insecurity.

    “But because he needs these people for election purpose that is why they are still there, that is why they are killing, we need much more than that.

    “Unfortunately, I swore not to be talking about Rivers anymore but you don’t keep quiet in the face of 21 lives, you can’t just keep quiet.

    “I have said it that nobody should criticise his successor. But a successor that watches the lives of people go like that and does not care? God will bless him, ” he said.