Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has urged President Muhammadu Buhari administration to talk about the renowned Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, over his alleged link to bandits.
The Governor said this while speaking on the rearrest of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
Diri, who spoke on Tuesday, when he featured as a guest on Channels Television breakfast current affairs programme, Sunrise Daily, said Gumi had become somebody no one can touch, adding that it was very unfair.
Diri said, “Two things I have to say.
First, they should give him [Nnamdi Kanu] a fair hearing so that the trial will not be done in a way that everyone (especially the Igbos) will see it as oppression.
Second, as we talk about the IPOB, what about the boys (bandits and herdsmen) organising killings in the North and in the whole country? What of Sheik Gumi? He has become somebody no one can touch. That’s very unfair.”
Recall that Gumi had recently warned the government against the killing of bandits, insisting that the criminals were victims too.
The Islamic scholar insisted that no school was safe in the North West for now until the government negotiated with the bandits.
His recent statement has raised questions of his involvement with the bandits and why the Buhari’s administration has failed to summon him for questioning.
Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, has warned that there will be a “huge squawk” if the truth is known about how the Federal Government arrested the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu was arrested becomes known.
He said this during a recent interview with BBC Pidgin.
The eminent professor asked the federal government to show eagerness in arresting bandits and terrorists.
He said, “It’s not for me to tell the president to prepare itself because it’s going to be a huge squawk when the truth about how Kanu was arrested comes out. People are alleging this or that. That is one phase whether Nigeria has acted outside international law.
“The second issue, however, has to do with Kanu’s conduct outside the nation. There’s been a level of hate rhetoric which has been unfortunate, from Kanu. Hate rhetoric is an issue that can only be judged by the laws of any nation.
“Was it right ‘to have been kidnapped?’ You can say intercepted as much as you want but I think Kanu was kidnapped. That is wrong internationally and morally.
“The government can not wash itself clean on what seems to be a kind of comparative energy in pursuing the destabilised forces in the nation,” he said.
“If we take ourselves back, once when I threw a challenge to Buhari, what I expect from a true leader is to issue an order, give a deadline that any illegal occupant of any villages, farms is given 48hours to quit after which the mighty forces of the nation will be unleashed on them. It was ignored.
“Years later, he came to say ‘we will respond to these people in the language they understand’. This is what I expected him to have said years ago, at the beginning of the insurgency.
Kanu, who is facing an 11-count charge of treason, treasonable felony, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms, among others, jumped bail in 2017 and left the country.
The former London estate agent disappeared in 2017 after being released on bail, only to re-emerge in Israel and then in the United Kingdom.
He was re-arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday and ordered to be remanded in the custody of the DSS, while the case was adjourned till July 26 and July 27.
The Federal Government said security and intelligence agencies were on the trail of Kanu for over two years before he was re-arrested, adding that the head of the outlawed IPOB movement was detained again on Sunday – without giving details on the location of his arrest.
Kanu was initially arrested in late 2015 after calling for a separate state for Biafra, in South-East Nigeria.
His detention sparked mass protests and clashes with security services.
The Arewa Consultative Forum says it is disturbed by the lack of government’s proactive steps to halt kidnapping in the region.
The National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Emmanuel Yawe, who shared the concern of the northern body with one of our correspondents in a chat, noted that it is the belief of the ACF that government is not alive with intelligence gathering to stop kidnapping.
The ACF comment was made just as the total number of students being held by bandits increased to 348 with the latest abduction of 121 students in Kaduna State.
Out of the 348 students, three categories numbering 227 are still languishing in bandits’ dens, many weeks after they were abducted from their schools in Niger, Kebbi and Kaduna states.
The situation worsened on Monday when the hoodlums stormed the Bethel Baptist High School, Maraban Rido in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and abducted 121 students.
Amidst increasing attacks on schools, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation told The PUNCH that parents might no longer prioritise education of children and youths in the affected areas.
Reacting, the ACF Spokesman said, “The best way to handle the menace of kidnapping is for the government to be more proactive in intelligence gathering.
Once we have good intelligence we can act swiftly and stop kidnapping. The danger of allowing people to be kidnapped is that once this happens, getting them released through payment of ransom or military action becomes more complicated. This is the sad situation we are in on now.”
Meanwhile, The PUNCH gathered that abductors of Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic students were demanding a collective ransom of N22.5m for the two lecturers and eight students.
It was learnt that the kidnappers reached out to the families and the management of the Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic for each of the students and lecturers to pay N2.5m.
President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the collaboration between security agencies on the operations against Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho.
His spokesman, Garba Shehu, said they executed with great synchronization with arrests of individuals who had inflicted pain and hardships on fellow citizensShehu, in a statement, noted that Kanu and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leaders are known for murderous actions and virulent messagingHe confirmed the “international operation” against Kanu resulted in his hand over to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and then repatriation.
The aid said the violence inspired by IPOB has led to hundreds of fatalities, particularly targeted at Government assets and Law Enforcement Agents.
“There have been at last count, fifty separate violent attacks, heavily concentrated in the South-East, which heaped further hardship on our honest and hardworking citizens, preventing them from earning their livelihood and going about their normal lives.”
Shehu confirmed that the government had been monitoring the activities of IPOB and had strong cause to believe that their funding sources include proceeds of suspected illicit criminal activities.
The statement hailed the raid of the residence of Igboho, “who has also been conducting acts of terror and disturbing the peace under the guise of protecting fellow kinsmen”.
Shehu added that his seditious utterances and antics, publicly expressed, have overtime morphed into very hateful and vile laden speeches.
The government respects fundamental rights of citizens to express their views and recognizes this as a democratic tenet, he stressed.
“However, any attempt to build an armoury coupled with plans either subtle or expressed to undermine our unity as a nation will not be condoned.
“Mr. President’s directives to Security Services regarding anyone seen to be carrying arms, particularly AK-47 are clear and require no further illumination.
“Assault weapons are not tools of peace loving people and as such, regardless of who they are and where they are from, the Security Agencies should treat them all the same.”
Shehu said the successes of our security agencies must be commended as they have demonstrated significant deftness, guile and secrecy in carrying out these missions.
President Muhammadu Buhari has commended security agencies over the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Recall that Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), had last week revealed that Kanu was repatriated and subsequently arraigned. However, Malami did not reveal where the IPOB leader was repatriated from.
The IPOB leader was arraigned before Binta Nyako, and the judge ruled that he should be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), while the case was adjourned till July 26.
Speaking on the development in a statement signed by Garba Shehu, presidential aide, the presidency said it has been monitoring the activities of IPOB and believes that the funding sources of the group “include proceeds of suspected illicit criminal activities”.
The statement read, “Last week, we saw the enhanced collaboration of the Nigerian Law Enforcement Agencies, as they executed with great synchronization arrests of individuals who had inflicted pain and hardships on fellow citizens.
“The subversive leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) a group known for its murderous actions and virulent messaging was detained as a result of cross-border cooperation.
“This international operation was executed in a closely coordinated fashion following which he was handed over to our National Intelligence Agency, and then returned to Nigeria to face the Law.
“The violence inspired by IPOB has led to hundreds of fatalities, particularly targeted at Government assets and Law Enforcement Agents. Additionally, there have been at last count, fifty (55) separate violent attacks, heavily concentrated in the South-East, which heaped further hardship on our honest and hardworking citizens, preventing them from earning their livelihood and going about their normal lives.
“The Government had long been monitoring the activities of IPOB and had strong cause to believe that their funding sources include proceeds of suspected illicit criminal activities. By this singular action of our Security Forces, sanity, calm and peace has been returned to our communities who previously lived in constant fear of these misguided elements.
“In furtherance of continued diligent work, the State Security Service on Thursday, 1st July raided the residence of a militant ethnic Secessionist, who has also been conducting acts of terror and disturbing the peace under the guise of protecting fellow “kinsmen”.
“His seditious utterances and antics, which he is known to have publicly expressed, have overtime morphed into very hateful and vile laden speeches.
“It must be highlighted that the government respects fundamental rights of citizens to express their views and recognizes this as a democratic tenet. However, any attempt to build an Armoury coupled with plans either subtle or expressed to undermine our unity as a nation will not be condoned.
“Mr. President’s directives to Security Services regarding anyone seen to be carrying arms, particularly AK-47 are clear and require no further illumination. Assault weapons are not tools of peace loving people and as such, regardless of who they are and where they are from, the Security Agencies should treat them all the same.
“The successes of our Security Agencies must be commended as they have demonstrated significant deftness, guile and secrecy in carrying out these missions. This level of professionalism must be sustained and brought to bear as we focus on extracting from our society those who have found a new trade in targeting students, rural dwellers and our citizens in the North-West. The nation recognizes their efforts and sacrifice.“
Rev Fr Emmanuel Obimma (aka Ebube Muonso), the Spiritual Director of the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke, in Idemili North, Anambra State, has forecasted a shock result as the final outcome of the November 6 state governorship election, saying it will deviate from the expected result.
In an exclusive chat with Daily Sun on Monday, Ebube Muonso declared the coming election would end up as a surprise, given the political party and individual that would emerge the winner.
The Charismatic Catholic priest said that some parties and their candidates would end up wasting money on lawyers and lawsuits following the current disagreements in the major political parties over candidacy.
‘The Holy Ghost is telling me that the final outcome of the Anambra Governorship election will be a surprise to the generality of Anambra people and all those that are interested in the politics of the state. The Holy Ghost is saying that the outcome of the 2021 election will be a surprise to many.
‘Nobody should dispute what the Holy Spirit is saying because, as you can see, there are agitations and internal crisis in virtually all the major political parties. The leadership of political parties has succeeded in creating an atmosphere of confusion, which will ultimately enrich the lawyers and the court.
‘Anambra State is pregnant. Somebody that will emerge as governor will be a surprise to many. The internal party fracas will definitely affect many parties. In the coming election, there will be a lot of apathy, dissension and acrimony. Supporters of some political parties will work against their parties. That is where the expected outcome of the governorship election will be affected.’
COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEETING OF THE GOVERNORS OF SOUTHERN NIGERIA AT THE LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT HOUSE, IKEJA, LAGOS STATE, ON MONDAY, 5TH JULY, 2021 NIGERIA.
The Southern Governors Forum at the end of the meeting held on Monday, 5th July, 2021 reviewed the situation in the Country and focused on the current security situation, constitutional amendment, Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
Rising from the meeting, the Forum agreed on the following:
1. Re-affirmed their commitment to the unity of Nigeria on the pillars of equity, fairness, justice, progress and peaceful co-existence between and amongst its people.
2. The Forum reiterates its commitment to the politics of equity, fairness and unanimously agrees that the presidency of Nigeria be rotated between Southern and Northern Nigeria and resolved that the next president of Nigeria should emerge from the Southern Region.
3. Security
a. The Forum reviewed the security situation in the country and commends security operatives for their relentless efforts in restoring security and safety and commiserates with families and loved ones of those who have fallen in the line of duty;
b. Re-emphasised the need for State Police;
c. Resolved that if for any reason security institutions need to undertake an operation in any State, the Chief Security Officer of the State must be duly informed;
d. the forum frowns at selective criminal administration of Justice and resolved that arrests should be made within the ambit of the Law and fundamental human rights;
e. Set a timeline of Wednesday, 1st September, 2021 for the promulgation of the anti open grazing law in all member States; and
f. Resolved that Funds deducted from the Federation Account for the Nigeria Police Security Trust Fund should be distributed among the States and Federal Government to combat security challenges.
4. Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) Law:
i. The Forum commends the National Assembly for the progress made in the passage of the PIB;
ii. the Forum rejects the proposed 3% and support the 5% share of the oil revenue to the host community as recommended by the House of Representatives;
iii. the forum also rejects the proposed 30% share of profit for the exploration of oil and gas in the basins;
iv. However, the forum rejects the ownership structure of the proposed Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC). The Forum disagrees that the company be vested in the Federal Ministry of Finance but should be held in trust by Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) since all tiers of Government have stakes in that vehicle.
5. In order to consolidate our democracy and strengthen the Electoral process, the Southern Governors’ Forum reject the removal of the Electronic transmission of the election result from the electoral act; and also rejects the confirmation of exclusive jurisdiction in pre-election matters on the Federal High Court.
6. The Forum unanimously chose Lagos State as its permanent secretariat and appreciated the Governor of Lagos State for the wonderful hosting of this meeting while commending him for his good work in the State.
Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN
Governor, Ondo State and Chairman, Southern Governors’ Forum
The forum of Southern Governors have agreed that the next President of the Nigeria must come from the southern part of the country.
This was part of the decisions reached at the meeting of the southern states governors today (Monday) in Lagos.
According to the communiqué released, the forum also deliberated on insecurity, constitutional amendment, PIB and anti-open grazing law in all member-states.
Also, the Southern Governors set September 21, 2021, as the deadline for the promulgation of anti-open grazing law among its member states.
The forum commended lawmakers for the passage of PIB, but rejected in 3% set for the host communities.
Also, the governors unanimously chose Lagos State as their permanent Secretariat.
The Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) has said that one Onyearmy who is now in the custody of the Directorate of State Security Services (DSS) and claimed he is a member of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) is not known to the group.
The group also said that Onye Army claims that he joined ESN in 2019 is false, as the security outfit was formed on December 12, 2020.
In a statement issued by the IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful said that the group also denied that the security outfit killed for charms.
According to the statement, IPOB said it suspected that the man was forced to make those “fallacious claims by the DSS.
The statement read, “We want to make it clear that the purported ESN Commander is not known to us and we discovered that he is a mole planted by Government and security agencies into ESN.
“We know our commanders and they know us. The so-called man must be one of the criminals recruited by the Department of State Services to infiltrate ESN but our gallant men were at alert and smarter than the DSS.
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“It is obvious that the so-called ESN Commander and his likes were the saboteurs planted by DSS to assassinate our gallant Ikonso. After killing Ikonso, they are now trying to concoct a tale to implicate our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“We are not surprised that Nigeria took back their mole after the death of Ikonso the unit commander whom the so-called Onyearmy spied over before his death”.
IPOB said it is not, however, surprised that now that the Nigeria security has abducted their leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and put him into custody they will sponsor all manner of criminals to see if they can implicate him and puncture his global reputation.
“The question every sane person will be asking is: why now that our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is in custody that the so-called ESN Commander is making this ridiculous confessional statement?
Biafra Defacto Customary Government led by Asari Dokubo has aired their view on the arrest of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, calling on the Federal Government to adhere strictly to the rule of law in handling the IPOB leader.
The position of the group is contained in a statement issued by, Uche Mefor, the Head of Communication. The group noted that they are keenly observing and monitoring the proceedings within the confines of the conventional rule of law.
“Our official reliable source has it that citizen Nnamdi Kanu has been arraigned by the Nigerian authorities. The circumstances are yet to be clarified.
“The Government of Biafra reiterates that clarity, certainty and labeling of offences in the Nigerian criminal justice system remains an open question; hence must be proven beyond reasonable doubt.
“Therefore, the Government of Biafra is keenly monitoring the trends of things.
“The Government of Biafra distinguishes her immense contribution to fundamental human rights and present-day restoration struggle from any action of unnecessary recklessness and abetting of crimes by internal or external individuals, state agencies or groups.
“Rule of law and justice of which much has been given with the blood of Biafrans must prevail.” Mefor stated
