COURT SEALS ILLEGAL IBADAN ABATTOIRS

One of the Sealed, Illegal Ibadan Abattoirs

The Government of Oyo State, on Wednesday, disclosed that a law suit has been instituted against operators of unlicensed and unauthorized abattoirs in Ibadan, and as a result, an interim order was issued by the Oyo State High Court, which was executed by court Sheriffs on Friday June 22 to seal Bodija market abattoir, Aleshinloye marker abattoir, and several other such unlicensed abattoirs across Ibadan.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural and Natural Resources, Prince Oyewole Oyewumi  stated that the state government has constituted a taskforce to enforce the relocation of slaughter services by all butchers to the central abattoir at Amosun Village, Akinyele Ibadan to ensure quality,  standards are met for commercial animal slaughter to protect citizens from obnoxious and unhealthy practices. According to him the taskforce comprises of Nigeria Police, Civil Defense Corps, DSS, Ministries of Environment, Agriculture, Physical Planning and Bureau of Investment Promotions with the responsibility to identify  and enforce the provisions of the Meat Law of Oyo-State and other relevant laws.

The Agric Commissioner reiterated that the government decided to relocate the abattoirs in Ibadan to finally curb the unhealthy process of slaughtering of animals, offer of dead, sick and unwholesome animals in various markets, backyard slaughter slabs and many contraptions and make-shift slaughter houses in unhealthy environment with obnoxious practices, stressing that the State Government had in partnership with the private sector established a 3000 per day capacity mechanized slaughter facility at Amosun village, Akinyele L. G. as a viable  and state of the art facility for all abattoir services within  Ibadan.

The Commissioner said that the government regretted that after giving the Butchers 4 years to wind up and paying no taxes, the Ministry of Agriculture observed that some unscrupulous persons among the Butchers Union in Oyo State, rather than wind up, were in fact establishing new slaughter locations in unhygienic environment with no certification of government, no veterinary presence for inspection of animals for slaughter, nor approval of the said abattoirs by relevant authorities of government.

According to Prince Oyewumi , “For the last 5 years,the Ministry of Agriculture has engaged all stakeholders in a bid to ensure cooperation of all parties with the new initiative meant to assure the  populace of the quality of cattle meat and other animals offered for sale in our markets. The Private sector Investment company, the OYSG, Local Government Councils/LCDAs in Ibadan, and the National Butchers Association (Oyo State chapter) held several meetings over the last 3 years leading to the final take-off of this initiative by the signing of a global Memorandum of Understanding between the parties by which the equity participation of all stakeholders were agreed, implementation plans accepted and commencement confirmed.

“Earlier in 2014, the OYSG had given all abattoirs operating in Ibadan a year to wind up their activities and relocate their slaughter operations to the new state of the Art abattoir at Amosun village. Since 2014, the state had ceased to collect due rates and taxes from all abattoirs in Ibadan, in order to encourage compliance and ensure that the operators wind up and comply with the meat law of Oyo State which makes it illegal for anyone to operate any slaughter slab, abattoir or slaughter house without the authority and license of government.

“Regrettably, even after giving the Butchers 4 years to wind up, paying no due taxes, the Ministry of Agriculture had observed that some unscrupulous persons among the Butchers Union in Oyo-State, rather than wind up, were in fact establishing new slaughter locations in unhygienic environment with no certification of government, no veterinary presence for inspection of animals for slaughter, nor approval of the said abattoirs by relevant authorities of government.

“This according to the Attorney-General occasioned the State filing the legal action against the operation of such illegally operating abattoirs being run without authorization and valid licenses. The Oyo State High Court had issued an interim order of injunction restraining the continued operations of all unlicensed and illegal abattoirs in Ibadan, and a mandatory order authorizing the Ministry of Agriculture to seal such places forthwith pending the determination of the suit filed.

“The said order was executed on Friday 22nd June by the Sherrif of the High Court who sealed up Bodija market abattoir, Aleshinloye marker abattoir, and several other such unlicensed abattoirs across Ibadan. However no sooner that the court Sherrif and police left some of these locations sealing them and pasting the court seal, orders and processes there, did the operators mobilize to breach and break the seal of court only to resume their illegal activities, particularly at the Bodija market,” Mr. Abimbola explained.

Mr. Abimbola said that at Tuesday’s proceedings, the court warned all parties to ensure they keep the peace and abide by the subsisting court order and avoid what can lead to contempt. The Attorney-General of Oyo State, Oluseun Abimbola Esq, leading a team of lawyers from the Ministry of Justice assured the court that government was only enforcing the provisions of the Oyo State Meat Law, Laws of Oyo State 2000 and extant laws of the state and no more, and encouraged lawyers for the faction of Butchers who were operating illegal abattoirs, to advise their clients accordingly to ensure they operate under the laws of the state.

“Some of the lawyers had indicated they were yet to be served with other processes in the matter which the Attorney-General undertook to ensure were served on the hitherto unknown persons, now showing their faces now. The court then by agreement of all counsel adjourned the matter to 24th October for pending applications,” he added.

The Commissioner for Justice warned all operators still surreptitiously illegally operating unlicensed abattoirs to stop such illegality immediately as the Ministry is poised to prosecute such offenders in criminal court, pointing out that operating an illegal abattoir is a crime under the Meat law of Oyo State.

BREAKING: ORJI KALU ATTACK OBASANJO AGAIN – STOP THAT COALITION MOVEMENT NOW; BUHARI IS GOD'S SENT TO MANKIND

Former Abia governor, Orji Kalu, on Thursday faulted ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter to President Muhammadu Buhari criticising his poor handling of the economy and advising him not to contest the 2019 presidential election.

Kalu told newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, Lagos, that Obasanjo lacked the moral right to comment on such national issues.

He noted that Buhari’s government may be slow in taking critical decisions, but had done well in tackling corruption, recalling high level of graft in the 16 years that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ruled Nigeria.

Kalu said Buhari had recorded modest achievements in his two and half years tenure, which necessitates his re-election.

The former governor listed the commencement of work on the Second Niger Bridge and other interventions in the economy as some of Buhari’s feats.

“I am not going to talk about former President Obasanjo’s letter because I am going to make some consultations with the United States, Germany, China and the United Kingdom, then I will come back and speak on that letter.

Former Abia governor, Orji Kalu, on Thursday faulted ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter to President Muhammadu Buhari criticising his poor handling of the economy and advising him not to contest the 2019 presidential election.

Kalu told newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2, Lagos, that Obasanjo lacked the moral right to comment on such national issues.

He noted that Buhari’s government may be slow in taking critical decisions, but had done well in tackling corruption, recalling high level of graft in the 16 years that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ruled Nigeria.

Kalu said Buhari had recorded modest achievements in his two and half years tenure, which necessitates his re-election.

The former governor listed the commencement of work on the Second Niger Bridge and other interventions in the economy as some of Buhari’s feats.

“I am not going to talk about former President Obasanjo’s letter because I am going to make some consultations with the United States, Germany, China and the United Kingdom, then I will come back and speak on that letter.

“I think Obasanjo’s letter is not in the best interest of Nigeria. I don’t want to reply him because I have given you example times without number.

“There are three express roads Obasanjo refused to build when he was the president of Nigeria; Port Harcourt-Okigwe-Umuahia-Enugu expressway. It is being built now by the Buhari administration.

“Another one is the Enugu-Awka-Onitsha Expressway. It is being built now by the Buhari administration. Obasanjo did not build it.

“Then there is the Onitsha-Owerri-Aba Expressway. The Buhari administration is building it now.

“Between Obasanjo and Buhari who should I call my friend in real terms? So Buhari is my friend; so he is a better President.

“I don’t wish to reply that letter because the former president has no morals that should qualify him to write that letter,” he said.

According to Kalu, Nigerians have also not forgotten the $16 billion wasted on building power plants by the Obasanjo administration which yielded no result.

He said it would therefore be unfair to the South East, South South and South Western parts of Nigeria not to support the second term bid of Buhari.

He however advised Buhari to speak on security issues in Nigeria because it was threatening the fabric of socio-economic cohesion of the country.

Kalu said the challenge of herdsmen/farmers clash was lingering in some states because their governors lacked the capacity to handle the situation.

MAN ARRAIGNED FOR INJURING WIFE'S EYE OVER ALLEGED SEX DENIAL

A 38-year-old, Victor Akpan, who allegedly kicked his wife in the eye for denying him sex, was on Wednesday charged before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

The accused, a trader, who resides at 8B, Budland St., Ojodu Berger, on the outskirts of Lagos, is being tried for assault.

Police Sgt. Innocent Odugbo, who is prosecuting the case, told the court that the offence was committed on June 16 at the accused residence.

Odugbo said the accused fought his wife, Uche, earlier in the day.

“The accused wanted to make love to his wife later in the evening and she declined. He then resulted in kicking her and injured her eyes.

“If the woman had not run out of the house, she would have lost her right eye because of the beating, ” he said.

Odugbo said the woman rushed to a nearby police station with blood stains on her face.

The offence contravened Section 173 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. (Revised)

The accused, however, entered a “not guilty” plea.

The Magistrate, Mrs S. K. Matepo, granted the accused a bail of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case until July 23.

BUHARI BATTLES SARAKI IN OFA POOL OF BLOOD

A thin white smoke swirled through the muzzle of the gun and the pregnant woman crashed face down, curling up like a beheaded giant millipede. One of the masked killers rushed into the banking hall and commotion preceded the ensuing graveyard silence as spines shivered, teeth gnashed, hearts skipped, sweat broke out on terrified faces tucked in trashcans and drawers…, the maniacal robber pulled the trigger and the automatic rifle began to sing another round of staccato dirge in Ofa. Welcome to Kwara State, the land of blood.

Ofa is an Ibolo-speaking Yoruba town of Kwara State steeped in the art of wrestling. If Ede had the great archer, Timi Agbale Olofa Ina, as its progenitor, Ofa’s illustrious cognomen also affirms the proud archery exploits of its forefather, Olalomi Olofa gan-gan. It equally highlights the combative nature of its people in these words, ‘Ijakadi loro Ofa,’ meaning – ‘wrestling is Ofa’s tradition’. Were Olalomi a white man, his surname would have been Archer. Were Ofa an English town, Arrow would’ve been its name. Ofa is a Yoruba word for archery. That was the Ofa of 1000 AD.

Today’s Offa is an adulteration, its spelling, O-f-f-a, is corrupt and very wrong. Linguistically, the existence of two consonants in succession i.e ‘ff’ or ‘tt’ or ‘dd’ or ‘rr’ in some words is an aberration to Yoruba morphology. Thus, Offa, Ebute Metta, Iddo, garri, etc, are modern-day wrong influences in the Yoruba Language. The correct and orthographic spelling of the land of peacocks in Kwara State is ‘Ofa’ and not Offa.

Similarly, the railway terminus on sand-filled Lagos Island is at ‘Ido’ and not Iddo. Ebute Meta is the place of three shores linking mainland Lagos to the three main islands of Victoria, Ikoyi and Lagos – hence the name Ebute Meta, and not Ebute Metta. Yoruba’s staple food, gari, doesn’t need another letter ‘r’ on its journey to the stomach. Ewedu, gbegiri, eja, bokoto, ponmo, panla and saki would make good enough company. So, it’s not only rain and electricity that cannot exist simultaneously in Nigeria, double consonants such as ‘ff’, ‘tt’, ‘dd’ and ‘rr’ cannot exist simultaneously in the Yoruba Language, too.

Corruption, violence and impunity shouldn’t coexist in Nigerian politics. The unexampled Ofa bank robbery, which witnessed the killing of over 40 innocent Nigerians in broad daylight, was a spinoff of years of rudderless, corrupt and insensitive leadership in the country. I’ve read a thousand and one stories and reactions on the early morning madness in Ofa and grief enveloped my heart over the soullessness of our politics. In a country with a soul, a national mourning would have followed.

According to media reports, one of the Ofa suspects confessed that he killed over twenty (20) victims. Another suspect said he killed nine (9), while a number of others confessed to killing over fifteen (15) people. How all these add up to 30 in the arithmetic of the police is inexplicable. While, the spurting blood of innocent lives meandered from Ofa to Abuja crying for justice, our leaders dip their paintbrushes in the blood, writing “Vote for me in 2019!”

Were Nigeria a sane country, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, wouldn’t have twice failed to parade Kayode, the arrested son of Chief Ayo Opadokun, an Afenifere chieftain, along with other suspects. Also, Idris wouldn’t have failed to parade the arrested armourer and gang leader, Michael Adikwu, a dismissed policeman, whose confessions had allegedly been embarrassing to the force.

It’s not enough for the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Aminu Saleh, to say that many people died in the robbery because of “intelligence breakdown”; Nigerians reserve the right to know the nature of the intelligence breakdown because effective policing in this age is neither achieved by alienating the public nor by churning out half-truths and falsehood. In a report published by The Punch on April 28, 2018, Saleh, who said the police had no foreknowledge of the attack, contradictorily added, “We had little information on the attack before it happened.” He woefully failed to disclose what the police did with the little information they got.

The shuddy police investigation into the robbery has left many questions unanswered. The questions include what the Ofa police did when it received ‘little’ information that some suspicious people were lodging at the Xontex Hotel along Igosun Road, Ofa, a night before the bloodletting. In a sane clime, police authorities would’ve made public the amount of money collected by the policemen, who stormed the hotel on investigation, the night before the genocide. As if those who died only went to the market and would return shortly, the police commissioner said, “What essentially went wrong is our response capacity. We’re going to correct all those anomalies and get our men to be more responsive.” In an ultimate verdict that exposes government’s utmost irresponsibility, Saleh said, “It’s true that we have a deficit of APCs in the state!”

But it’s by conducting a thorough investigation that the police will be seen as unbiased and not acting a nail-Saraki-at-all-cost plot. The trial shouldn’t be an extension of the power struggle between Buhari and Saraki for the Presidency in 2019.

In a sane country, Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Kwara State Governor, Ahmed Abdulfatah; his Chief of Staff, Abdulwahab Babatunde, would’ve resigned in ignominy for the fact that one of the leaders of the gang, Ayo Akinnibosun, openly established a connection between his group, Liberation Youths Movement in Kwara-South, and them. Akinnibosun, who stated that Saraki, Abdulfatah and Babatunde had no hand in the robbery, however, maintained that his group got two guns from Babatunde. He stressed that they got emboldened to participate in the robbery because some of them were political thugs to Saraki.

Akinnibosun said, “We’ve been working for him (since) when we were in the PDP, it has been long – when he was Governor of Kwara State. Where we can’t win, we scatter the election, the connection between me and the Senate President is that he’s the one that’s arranging everything for us. For example, this car was given to me by His Excellency (Abdulfatah) through the Chief of Staff as a gift from the leader, (Saraki).”

If a five-point resolution of the Saraki-led Senate could hold President Muhammadu Buhari accountable for the actions of his (Buhari’s) appointees, the Senate President, Abdulfatah and Babatunde, by the same token, should be held responsible for the killings of the Ofa robbery if it is proved that the arms or the ammunition they allegedly provided were used in the killing.

It is easy for some people to see the trial of Saraki as political victimisation because it wasn’t their relatives that were killed on Thursday, April 5, 2018. If it would take Saraki’s trial and imprisonment to stop this type of killings, so be it. With the recent jailing of two-term ex-governors and members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Jolly Nyame (Taraba) and Joshua Dariye (Plateau), more members of the APC, including Abdulfatah and Babatunde, should be jailed appropriately if found guilty. Some argue that all notable politicians across the country maintain political thugs, and that Saraki and Abdulfatah shouldn’t be singled out. I ask, were Dariye and Nyame the only thieving ex-governors in Nigeria? Let’s begin from somewhere, please.

“The dead cannot cry out for justice. It’s the duty of the living to do so for them,” says American speculative writer, Lois Bujold. I agree with her, absolutely.

SUSPECTED HERDSMEN KILL TWO SOLDIERS, INJURE FIVE OTHERS IN BENUE

Nigerian Soldiers

Two soldiers attached to the ongoing Operation Whirl Stroke have been killed by suspected armed herdsmen in Benue State.

The Deputy Force Commander of the operation, Group Captain Precious Amadi, confirmed this to Channels Television on Tuesday.

He also revealed that the suspects injured five other soldiers, including a captain who led the operation on Monday at Umenger branch in Guma Local Government Area of the state.

Group Captain Amadi made the disclosure when Governor Samuel Ortom, visited the injured soldiers at Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Makurdi in the state capital.

Governor Ortom, on his part, condemned the incident and directed that the bills for the treatment of the troops and all other patients at the hospital be sent to him for payment.

He also used the opportunity to echo his call on security agencies to arrest the leadership of Miyetti Allah in the state.

The governor noted that failure to do so, the country would continue to be at risk even with its security assets.

The Defence Headquarters had launched Operation Whirl Stroke in Benue, as well as Nasarawa, Taraba and Zamfara in May to counter armed herdsmen and militia groups operating within the region.

However, the incident occurred barely two days after suspected herdsmen invaded some villages in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, killing scores of people in the process.

President Muhammadu Buhari had condemned the attack when he visited Plateau on Tuesday and directed the security chiefs to be vigilant and ensure the lives and property of the people were protected.

He had also appealed to Nigerians to avoid inflammatory utterances that can endanger peace or promote conflicts, referring to the security situation in Benue.

“The Benue subsistence farmer knows that the Nigerian cattle herder that he knows doesn’t carry nothing more than a stick, occasionally sometimes something to cut grass to feed his cattle,” the President had said.

“But the present herder, I am told, carries AK47 and people are even blaming me for not talking to them because maybe (they say) I look like one of them. There is some injustice in these aspersions,” he added.

Credit: Channels Television

NIGERIA'S SUPER EAGLES OUT OF WORLD CUPS, ARGENTINA PROGRESS

Argentina’s forward Lionel Messi (C) and Nigeria’s midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo vie for the ball.
Photo: GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP

Nigeria are out of the World Cup after failing to overcome Argentina in their Group D clash at the St Petersburg Stadium.

Nigeria needed a win or a draw to progress, and came into the game with three points against Argentina’s one.

Victory would have guaranteed progress regardless of the outcome of Iceland’s clash with Croatia.

A draw for the Eagles meant they needed Croatia to defeat Iceland or earn a draw.

Although the game started with Argentina on the front foot, the Eagles grew in the game and were able to carve out a lot of chances.

Lionel Messi had put his side ahead in the first half, but Nigeria levelled scores in the 51’st minute. Progress was within sight for Nigeria but an 86th-minute strike by Marcos Rojo denied them progress.

Early pressure and possession form the Argentines paid off in the 14th minute when Messi latched onto an Ever Banega ball upfield and gave Sampaoli’s men the lead.

Nigeria were rattled but reacted well and grew in the game.

The Super Eagles felt hard done after the referee refused to award them a penalty for Marcos Rojo’s challenge on Kelechi Iheanacho in the 45th minute.

Four minutes into the second half Nigeria got some reprieve when Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir pointed to the spot after Javier Mascherano tangled with Oghenekaro Etebo at a corner.

Moses confidently stepped up to send Franco Armani the wrong way on his international debut and put Nigeria on course for progress.

Despite giving Argentina the lead, Nigeria were able to deny him the opportunity to influence proceeded as he does brilliantly for Barcelona.

There was further VAR controversy when Nigeria were denied a second penalty when Rojo headed onto his own arm before substitute Odion Ighalo fired wide. Many Nigerians fans would rue Ighalo’s miss.

Ighalo was not done, however, as he missed another glorious chance when he shot too close to Armani and Nigeria were made to pay for their profligacy from the most unlikely source.

Sergio Aguero had been thrown on from the bench to join Messi and Higuain in attack, but it was Rojo who produced a striker’s finish on his weaker right foot to spark delirious scenes of celebration among the tens of thousands of Argentines in the stands.

Although the Super Eagles are out, they put up a fight and matched Argentina for shots and chances.

They had a total of eight shots (three on targets and five off target), compared to Argentina’s seven shots (four on target and three off target).
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.

PLATEAU KILLINGS: HANDLE MIYETTI ALLAH SAME WAY AS IPOB – NIGERIANS URGE BUHARI

President Muhammadu Buhari

Nigerians on Social media have called for the arrest of Chairman, North Central zone of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Danladi Ciroma, for claiming that the Sunday attack on Plateau State villagers was in retaliation to the death of their cows.

News reports have it that the Chairman, North Central zone of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Danladi Ciroma, on Monday claimed that the killing of 86 persons in Razat, Ruku, Nyarr, Kura and Gana-Ropp villages of Gashish District in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area l of Plateau State was in retaliation to the killing of over 300 cows in the last few weeks by the villagers.

He was quoted as saying “These attacks are retaliatory. As much as I don’t support the killing of human being, the truth must be told that those who carried out the attacks must be on a revenge mission.

“There have been recent reports of cow rustling and destruction of farms between Berom farmers and Fulani herdsmen. The people carrying out these criminal activities are well known to the communities but the communities are hiding them.”

Reacting to the statement, Nigerians on social media called for justice on Miyetti Allah for the killings.

They asked that Buhari should declare them terrorists, wondering why the killers of innocent Nigerians were still walking freely.

Here are some comments from Twitter:

@Ogbenidipo “Miyetti Allah proudly defends the killing of over 300 people and nothing will happen to the group. IPOB did NOT go about killing people and setting villages ablaze but the group was proscribed and labelled a terrorist group. Bloody double standards and demonic hypocrisy.”

@Ody4real “I mean, IPOB didn’t kill a single person, yet Government treated them like Terrorists, killed innocent people and locked the South East down for a long time, but Miyetti Allah are openly admitting committing Mass Murder and that is about that.”

@Xantaplus “Dear @Mbuhari, Danladi Ciroma, the Chairman, North Central zone of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has taken responsibility for Plateau killings. He said it was a revenge for 300 cows stolen or killed in the last few weeks. What will you do?

@Segalink “Miyetti Allah like SARS will kill you and nothing will happen because they are above the law as empowered by the powers that be. I wonder how many people they asked who they support on Twitter before cutting their lives short. Let self-genocidal defenders take note.”

@Uncle Ajala “Miyetti Allah says Plateau mass murder is revenge for stealing 300 cows from herdsmen. IPOB that didn’t kill 10 people are terrorist group to Buhari’s FG, Fulani herdsmen that av killed over 500 people, & not denying it are not terrorist to Buhari’s FG. I hope you can see the hypocrisy.”

@Chreze “Miyetti Allah claimed responsible for killing almost 100 persons and till now no arrest has been made!
This is total madness!

@Goonvich “So what does it take for this Miyetti Allah guys to be declared terrorists?

@Leonardduggh “Declare Miyetti Allah as a terrorist group and treat them as terrorists. The same way IPOB were treated.

Remember, IPOB never attacked and killed innocent civilians while they sleep but were labeled terrorists.”

@Agorasblog “Why has the Army, police, and DSS refused to act against terrorist Miyetti Allah? Buhari & his Fulani people will NOT rule Nigeria forever. There will be a day of reckoning.Those who abandoned their duties will be jailed. ”

@Ayshatou “Shocked and disgusted by the barbaric killing of innocent lives in Jos how many more atrocities will it take before @MBuhari handle Miyetti Allah same way he handled IPOB.”

DESPERATE POLITICIANS BEHIND KILLINGS IN PLATEAU- PRESIDENT BUHARI

President M. Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, June 25, decried how desperate politicians have increasingly cheapened human life in their quest to establish a reign of instability and chaos in the country for political gains. President Buhari, who was reacting to recent clashes in Plateau, which left scores dead, said in a statement by his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja, that those behind the killings hoped that it would give them an advantage in the coming elections.

He said: “We know that a number of geographical and economic factors are contributing to the longstanding herdsmen/farmers clashes. But we also know that politicians are taking advantage of the situation. This is incredibly unfortunate. “Nigerians affected by the herdsmen/ farmer clashes must always allow the due process of the law to take its course rather than taking matters into their own hands." 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the presidency quoted security information which indicated that about one hundred cattle were rustled by a community in Plateau state, and some herdsmen were killed in the process.

The report also revealed that the state governor, Simon Lalong, had invited thepp aggrieved groups and pleaded against further action while the law enforcement agents looked into the matter. Less than 24 hours later, violence broke out. It further stated that some local thugs then took advantage of the situation, turning it into an opportunity to extort the public, and to attack people from rival political parties.

“There were reports of vehicles being stopped along the roads in the state, with people being dragged out of their cars and attacked if they stated that they supported certain politicians or political party. “On his way back to Jos after attending the All Progressives Congress (APC) Convention in Abuja, the state governor had to dismantle a number of illegal road blocks set up by these thugs. There were also a number of dead bodies thugs had killed, lying along the road," the report added.

The police command in Plateau had on Sunday confirmed the killing of 86 people in attacks on Razat, Ruku, Nyarr, Kura and Gana-Ropp villages of Gashish District in Barkin Ladi local government area of the state. The command had earlier said that only 11 persons were killed. ASP Terna Tyopev, the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO) confirmed the new figure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Jos. 

The Plateau government had since announced a dusk to dawn curfew in Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Jos South local government areas to check further breakdown of law and order in the state.

Meanwhile, report has it that Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) gave reasons why herdsmen attacked mourners in Plateau state, killing over 120 people and causing serious injuries to hundreds others. 

NIGERIANS BERATES FED GOVT, SECURITY AGENCIES OVER FRESH MINDLESS KILLINGS IN PLATEAU

Some torched houses and cars

Some of the houses and vehicles razed down during the recent Plateau massacre. Photo Credit: Google

NIGERIANS are blaming the federal government as well as the country’s security agencies for the fresh killings that took place in Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau State between Saturday and Sunday.

According to the Nigeria Police Force, 86 persons have been confirmed killed in the attacks and over 50 houses torched. However, residents of the area and survivors of the attack say more than 120 persons were killed.

Reports say suspected herdsmen attacked a village during a burial event and started killing people and burning houses.

“Fulani people attacked our members who attended the burial of the father to one of our clergy Baba Jakawa, at Gidin Akwati, Gashis district. Late Jakawa was aged over 80 years, a committed member of COCIN, so his burial attracted many sympathisers,” Pam Chollom, Pastor in charge of Church of Christ In Nations (COCIN) told journalists on Saturday.

“The armed Fulanis ambushed the sympathisers on their way back from the burial, attacked and killed 34 persons from Nekan village, 39 others from Kufang, and 47 people from Ruku village. As we speak with you, many others are still missing in the bushes.”

Many who reacted to development on tweeter said this is one killing too many, and urged the federal government to match their words with actions and stop the incessant killings across many states of the country.

Some others wondered what might have led to the killings since there is no anti-open grazing law in Plateau State. Mansur Dan-Ali, Minister of Defence, had attributed the killings by herdsmen in Benue State to the enforcement of the anti-open grazing bill.

Meanwhile President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the fresh killings, vowing not to rest “until all murderers and criminal elements and their sponsors are incapacitated and brought to justice”.

In 2018 alone, there have been mass killings in Benue, Rivers, Taraba, Zamfara, Kaduna and Plateau States; some o f the states have witnessed mass killings more than once.

These do not include the killings by Boko Haram insurgents in the North East region.

Yet, the Buhari administration consistently claim that it has delivered on its promise to significantly improve security in Nigeria, which is one out of its three cardinal policies.

But many Nigerians disagree. Read some of the reactions below:

REAL REASONS WHY OTHER CHAIRMANSHIP ASPIRANTS STEPPED DOWN FOR ME – OSHIOMHOLE

Adams Oshiomhole
APC National Chairman

The new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has insisted that the other candidates withdrew themselves “unconditionally”.

Oshiomhole stated this at the party’s National Convention on Saturday in Abuja.

The former Edo Governor claimed that he emerged unopposed because of the trust his other colleagues had for him.

Oshiomhole was unopposed after a voice affirmation by party members.

“Few days before today, all the other candidates, one after the other decided individually, on their own to withdraw unconditionally. So to God be the glory,” he said.

“When people trust you, then half of the job is done. When you are free to initiate ideas, you are able to mediate with your internal differences so that the people know that you are their own and that you are not working against them, there will be no suspicion about who you have to use or the person you settle for.

“Number two is that we have to promise the world a people democracy. We give members the voice by ensuring that party members and everybody discuss issues and at the national level, we need to challenge the political elites and the business elites to discuss issues of the economy.”