Joshua Odey

Chairman of the Katsina-Ala Local Government Area in Benue State, says the continuous activities of criminal elements within the council left many schools, markets and primary health clinics closed for more than one year. Shaku told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday on telephone that all social infrastructure within the council was also damaged. He explained that “over 20 schools, 23 markets and 13 primary health clinics remain shut, following the continuous activities of criminal elements in the local government.

Burkina Faso should urgently prioritise the protection of civilians amid its ongoing struggle with armed rebels, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said in a report. The NGO stated on Tuesday that the government put people at “unnecessary risk” during an armed group attack earlier this year. At least 133 people were killed by the al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) in August. The incident in the central part of the country was one of this year’s deadliest, as Burkina Faso continues to be ravaged by attacks by armed groups. Villagers in the Barsalogho commune, 80km (50 miles) from the capital, Ouagadougou, were forced to help security forces dig up trenches to protect security outposts and villages.

JNIM fighters then opened fire on them, according to witnesses quoted in the report. Many villagers, who were not compensated for digging the trenches, were reported to have refused to help, fearing they would be exposed to attacks. However, the report says they were forced by the military, using threats and beatings, to carry out the task. JNIM, which claimed responsibility for the August 24 attack, said it targeted the villagers because it viewed them as fighters affiliated with the state. HRW said it confirmed the killings through video analysis and witness accounts, adding that dozens of children were also murdered, and at least 200 more people were injured, calling the attack “an evident war crime”.

“The massacre in Barsalogho is the latest example of atrocities by Islamist armed groups against civilians whom the government has put at unnecessary risk,” said Carine Kaneza Nantulya, HRW’s deputy Africa director. “The authorities should urgently prioritise the protection of civilians.” However, Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala rejected HRW’s assertions, noting that forced labour is forbidden by law and that accusations that the military forced people to dig the trench “are not proven”. Fighters linked to al-Qaeda and the ISIL (ISIS) group have killed thousands and displaced more than two million people in Burkina Faso, with half of the country outside government control.

The violence resulted in two coups in 2022. However, the military government has struggled to meet its promise to end the violence despite seeking new security partnerships with Russia and neighbouring countries in West Africa. The government’s reliance on armed civilian groups, known as Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland, is also putting civilians in danger, Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at HRW, told The Associated Press news agency.

Source: Al Jazeera.

Hezbollah has announced Naim Qassem as its new head. Qassem, whose promotion from deputy leader was announced on Tuesday, replaces Hassan Nasrallah as secretary-general of the Lebanon-based armed group. Nasrallah was killed in Beirut in late September by an Israeli strike. Many other senior Hezbollah officials have also been targeted since Israel turned its focus on the group that month. In a statement, Hezbollah said Qassem was elected to take up the position due to his “adherence to the principles and goals of Hezbollah”. It added that the group would “[ask] God Almighty to guide him in this noble mission in leading Hezbollah and its Islamic resistance”.

The killing of Nasrallah, who embodied the Lebanese Shia movement in the eyes of its supporters and the wider region, was seen as having left a vacuum inside a group that had already lost much of its leadership as a result of months of Israeli assassinations. Nasrallah’s cousin Hashem Safieddine was previously viewed as the favourite to take the helm of the Iran-linked Hezbollah, but he died in an Israeli strike on Beirut shortly after his relative. The 71-year-old Qassem has often been referred to as Hezbollah’s “number two”. He is one of the religious scholars who founded the group in the early 1980s and has a long history in Shia political activism.

He was the most senior Hezbollah official to continue making public appearances after Nasrallah largely went into hiding following the group’s 2006 war with Israel. Since the former leader was killed, Qassem has made three televised addresses, speaking in more formal Arabic than the colloquial Lebanese favoured by Nasrallah. On September 30, he issued a defiant message, saying that Hezbollah remains ready to fight Israel and to win.

Source: Al Jazeera 

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the air component of Operation Hadin Kai, on October 25, eliminated scores of Boko Haram terrorists at two locations in Bula Marwa in Borno. This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, issued on Monday in Abuja. Akinboyewa said the NAF, having identified Bula Marwa as a high-level meeting site for Boko Haram’s notorious figures, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions further confirmed heightened terrorist activity.

He said the IRS revealed an influx of motorcycles and gatherings of combatants across the site. He said NAF fighter jets were dispatched to the location for an air interdiction mission.“On arrival, ISR footage captured suspected terrorists assembling at a rendezvous point on 12 motorcycles.“The motorcycles were then traced to a primary meeting location where additional terrorists had been waiting.“Accordingly, the first airstrike was executed, effectively engaging the target area.

“Moments later, ISR aircraft loitering in the vicinity observed several terrorists returning to assess the damage and evacuate their wounded combatants.“In response, NAF air assets conducted follow-up strikes, neutralising additional terrorists,” he said. Akinboyewa said additional ISR was conducted in the area the same day, identifying another group of terrorists gathering under a large tree at a second meeting site. He said that the NAF air assets launched a precision airstrike on the location, achieving a direct hit and neutralising numerous terrorists. (NAN).

Source: Daily Trust 

The national headquarters of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has congratulated all the 44 local government chairmen elected on the party’s platform on Saturday in Kano State. The party, in a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, AbdulSalam AbdulRazaq and made available to LEADERSHIP in Ilorin, Kwara State said:” Your dedication to serving the people of Kano state is truly commendable, and we appreciate your commitment to democracy.”The NNPP also hailed the verdict of the Kano people in the election which it said was widely acclaimed as free and fair.

“We also extend our gratitude to the good people of Kano state for exercising their right to vote and for being law-abiding during the electoral process. Your peaceful conduct is a testament to the state’s rich history and tradition of unity,” it added.The party restated its commitment to promoting the welfare and progress of Kano State and its people. “We will continue to advocate for good governance, transparency, and accountability. Once again, congratulations to our candidates and thank you to the people of Kano state,” the party said.

Source: Leadership

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has expressed his commitment to implement the recommendations and other matters arising from the final report of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission. In a tense warning, the governor said the government has resolved to sue International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in the state over unmitigated oil pollution for over six decades. He indicated that the government may pursue the legal redress outside the shores of Nigeria. He stated: “After a review of an advance copy of your report, I can affirm that it captures the essence of our trials while outlining a hopeful pathway toward resolution.“Your insights will serve as a beacon, guiding us toward actionable solutions and inspiring us to restore dignity and opportunity to our people.

“The report appropriately titled, ‘An Environmental Genocide: Counting the Human and Environmental Cost of Oil in Bayelsa, Nigeria,’ is truly alarming.”The governor who spoke on Monday in Government House, Yenagoa, on the occasion of the presentation of report of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission to the State Executive Council by the Chairman of the Commission, Rt. Hon. Lord John Tucker Mugabi Sentamu, said he will immediately create a dedicated body to oversee its implementation. Diri who formally dissolved the commission which was initiated by his predecessor, Sen. Seriake Dickson, expressed gratitude to the chairman, and the entire team comprising prominent personalities, researchers, scientists, and professionals in various fields, for the exceptional work in illuminating the state’s challenging circumstances.

He added that the meticulously crafted report does more than present data but also reveals the harsh and often obscured truths reality. The governor also expressed profound gratitude to his predecessor, Senator Seriake Dickson, whose vision led to the establishment of this commendable commission on the March 26, 2019. He pointed out that the event marks a momentous milestone in the history of Bayelsa State especially in the pursuit of environmental justice. His words: “This convergence serves as a formal presentation of the findings after robust interactions with various stakeholders including the University of Bradford and the House of Lords in the United Kingdom last year, by the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission, where I affirmed my resolve to act decisively on the recommendations and seek partners where necessary to ensure seamless implementation.

“After a review of an advance copy of your report, I can affirm that it captures the essence of our trials while outlining a hopeful pathway toward resolution. Your insights will serve as a beacon, guiding us toward actionable solutions and inspiring us to restore dignity and opportunity to our people.“It is heartbreaking to note for instance the paragraph which says the State, ‘…is estimated to have suffered over a quarter of total recorded instances of oil pollution.’“The staggering disparity underscores the inequitable distribution of environmental burdens. Bayelsa State bears 25% of Nigeria’s oil pollution.“The sheer scale of devastation paints a dire picture, disconcertingly reminiscent of an environmental Armageddon. Our once-thriving ecosystems, now ravaged by pollution, threaten the very survival of our communities.

I am equally appalled to read from a section of the report that, ‘The human impact has been just as devastating. One study estimates that in 2012 alone, oil spills in Nigeria, and predominantly in the Niger Delta resulted in over 16,000 additional neonatal deaths.’“While some may dispute these numbers, for us, even one life lost to accommodate the greed of oil exploration is one death too many.  “Again, imagine the horror that, ‘the oil contamination has been so heavy that according to estimates, as much as one and a half barrels of oil has been spilled in Bayelsa for every man, woman and child living in the state today.”The figures are even higher for some parts of Bayelsa, with, for instance, as many as six barrels of oil spilled for every person in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA).’

“The stark reality is devastating: every Bayelsa resident is affected, our lives perpetually endangered. The brutal implication: we are either already dead or waiting to die.“As we are well aware, a significant barrier to our fight against the environmental pollution we experience is exacerbated by the recalcitrant attitudes of International Oil Companies.“These companies often prioritize their own profit over international best practices. The International Oil Companies and the Federal Government have left our land and people to a gloomy fate.“We are grateful that the report amplifies our voices as it justifies the rationale behind the international intervention that we have been desirous of, for decades. “Adding insult to our injuries, they situate their administrative offices far from their operational base, depriving us of personal income and other taxes that could benefit our communities and state.

Furthermore, we are saddened to read that, ‘between 1970 and 2014, Nigeria earned an estimated trillion dollars in oil revenue. Since 2006, oil produced in Bayelsa generated over US $150 billion for the federal government and billions for the international oil companies that operate its wells.“On average, oil produced in Bayelsa is responsible for approximately US $10 billion in government revenues per year.“Your report not only acknowledges the struggles but also provides a hopeful roadmap for resolution, echoing the sentiment of Martin Luther King Jr.; “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” Your dedication to amplifying the voices of those affected and giving us hope is deeply appreciated.“As Desmond Tutu eloquently stated, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” “You have truly rekindled this spirit, and for that, we are deeply grateful.

Together, we can move toward a brighter future, transforming our collective challenges into opportunities for growth and resilience.  “Additionally, we are encouraged by the revelation of the report that “in most advanced industrialised countries, two basic principles – ‘polluter pays’ and ‘no fault liability’ – form the cornerstone of the legal regime for regulating extractive industries. Taken together, they mean that those that own and operate facilities are responsible for the damage caused by their pollution even if they are not at fault.“Distinguished Chair, I share your concern about the persistent issue of gas flaring in our communities.  This environmental hazard has continued unabated, five years after your commissioning, with a recent significant flaring incident occurring at Gbarantoru in Ekpetiama Kingdom, of Yenagoa Local Government Area, merely 150 meters from the palace of HRM King Bubaraye Dakolo, Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council.

“This recurring issue does not discriminate. The fight against gas flaring is a matter of life and death; we have the right to life, too. “The Commission’s recommendation that “concerted international action to generate and invest at least US $12 billion over the course of 12 years to repair, remediate and restore the environmental and public health damage caused by oil and gas and to lay the foundations for Bayelsa’s just transition towards renewable energy and opportunities for alternative livelihoods” justifies our persistent claim for reparation from the oil companies for the environmental havoc they have caused over these many decades.”

Source: This Day

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday convicted and sentenced five women to two years in prison each for illegally importing 6.96 kilograms of “Ghana loud,” a potent strain of cannabis sativa, commonly known as marijuana. The convicted women are Basirat  Olarigbibe (also known as Basirat Feyisara Olaribigbe), Fatima Garuba (aka Fatima Ladidi Abogun), Amudalat Adekunle (aka Amudalat Ajetunmobi), Oloye Arafat Awele (aka Akanni Balikis Oluwatoyin), and Ademola Bola (also known as Tolulope Oluwaseun Osibeluwo or Tolulope Ademola). Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke convicted and sentenced them after they all pleaded guilty to six counts of conspiracy and unlawful importation, charges brought by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency against them.

Earlier, the NDLEA’s prosecution counsel, Andover G. Yuanyam, told the court that the women were apprehended on August 21, 2024, at the Seme Border in Badagry Local Government Area, of Lagos State. Yuanyam informed the court that Olarigbibe was found in possession of 1.54 kilograms of the substance, while Garuba and Adekunle had 1.47 kilograms and 1.52 kilograms, respectively. He also told the court that Awele and Bola were also caught with 1.53 kilograms and 900 grams. According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 14 and 11(a) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (as amended).

After the women pleaded guilty to the charges, the prosecutor presented the facts of the case and urged the court to impose a sentence based on the guilty plea and evidence. But the defence lawyer, Oke Ojakovo, prayed the court for leniency, noting that all five women were first-time offenders and did not delay court proceedings. He highlighted that two of the women are widows solely responsible for their families, and requested either a non-custodial sentence or a fine. After confirming their first-time status, Justice Aneke sentenced each woman to two years in prison, with the sentences to run concurrently. However, he gave them an option of N500,000 fine and 100 hours of community service in lieu of imprisonment.

Source: The Punch 

A 17-year-old female student of the Imo State University, Owerri, Jesse Chidebere, has been arrested by the Orji Police Divisional Headquarters for faking her abduction and death. The police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, on Monday, in a statement, disclosed that the hoax caused “significant distress to her family and the university community.” It read, “Last Saturday, police received a distress call from concerned citizens reporting Chidebere missing. A message sent from her WhatsApp account claimed she had been abducted and killed, urging her family to go to the Orji Police Station for confirmation.

“In response, police operatives launched a search and discovered on Sunday that Chidebere was alive and had fabricated the story as a prank on social media. An investigation is ongoing to ascertain her motives for such mischief and she will certainly face prosecution.” The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, Aboki Danjuma, expressed concern over the behaviour he described as “irresponsible, which wastes valuable resources and causes public panic.” He urged parents to caution their children against engaging in dangerous pranks and spreading misinformation. Danjuma said, “The command remains committed to combating misinformation and ensuring a safe environment for all and sundry in the state.”

Source: The Punch 

Prominent Kenyan human rights activist Boniface Mwangi has been released without charge after being detained by police on suspicion of inciting violence, his wife told the BBC. She described on Sunday how six masked individuals forcibly took him from his home. His detention came after he called for an anti-government protest at a marathon in the capital, Nairobi, on Sunday. The police had confirmed that Mr Mwangi was in custody but did not provide further details. His detention caused outrage among his supporters, who demanded his release.

He had been rallying people on X (formerly Twitter) to demand the resignation of President William Ruto, using the hashtags #RutoMustGo and #OccupyStanChart, which referred to the Standard Chartered marathon, the official name of the race. He urged people to dress up in the colours of the national flag, wear bandanas with the message “RutoMustGo” and share protest chants online.”Stay calm and peaceful and have fun!” he added. Mr Mwangi has been arrested and released on numerous occasions over his campaigning.

His latest call for a protest was seen as an attempt to keep up pressure on Mr Ruto, who has faced growing public anger over the escalating cost of living and alleged police brutality during demonstrations earlier this year. The activist’s wife, Njeri Mwangi, told the BBC on Sunday that he was arrested at dawn that day at his home in Machakos County, about 40km (25 miles) east of Nairobi. A group of five masked men and one masked woman, all in plain clothes, roughed up her husband before taking him away, she said.

“They allowed him at least to dress up and then they walked him out,” Mrs Mwangi told the BBC. Hours later, police confirmed that Mr Mwangi was in custody at a police station in downtown Nairobi. Mr Mwangi’s lawyer condemned the detention as an abuse of power. Ruto was elected president in 2022 after he pledged to champion the interests of what he called the “Hustler Nation”, a reference to poor and unemployed people, especially the youth. But he faced mass protests in June and July after he announced plans to increase taxes.

He dropped the plans, and brought the main opposition party into the government in an attempt to quell public anger. Kenya’s parliament also impeached his deputy Rigathi Gachagua more than a week ago with the apparent backing of Ruto. Gachagua was accused of a raft of crimes – including fuelling ethnic divisions and violating his oath office. He denied the charges, and described his impeachment as a “political lynching”. Ruto says he is committed to governing in the interest of all Kenyans, and ensuring that the economy improves.

Source: BBC