BREAKING: DR. BUKOLA SARAKI CALLS FOR REMOVAL OF INCOMPETENT SECURITY CHIEFS

Dr. Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki says drastic action has to be taken to end the killings in the country and protect Nigerians

The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has called for the removal of “incapable” security chiefs in the country over the continued killings and security challenges bedeviling the nation.

Dr Saraki made the call on Saturday when he paid a visit to communities affected by a rainstorm in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Hundreds of Nigerians have been killed several parts of the country in 2018 alone and Saraki believes no society should witness such as situation and carry on as usual.

“This is not something to be politicised. If somebody is not capable and cannot do what he has to do, let others have the opportunity to do it,” a visibly angry Saraki said before accusing the security chiefs and agencies of failing to work together.

“We have had situations where security officials have told us there is poor coordination. One, A is not talking to B, Be is not talking to A. They don’t attend meetings jointly and things need to be done.

“Let us forget the issue of party, these are lives of people – and let’s remove politics. It is not about who is the Speaker of the House, who is the President of the Senate. It is about Nigeria.”

But for the “politicisation of issues”, the Senate President said the warnings of the National Assembly about the dangerous trend in the country would have been since heeded and changes made.

“As you know, the National Assembly under my leadership, many months back, had seen this danger, called for a security summit, we had addressed the issue of security architecture. We had said that there is definitely a failure of the security architecture of the country,” the Senate President said.

To address the alleged failure, the National Assembly had invited security chiefs, especially the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, but were unhappy with the response they got.

He said, “You are all very aware that some service chiefs decided in their own wisdom that there is no need for them to work with the National Assembly to address these issues.

“There is no society that continues to see the kind of killings here and think that it should be business as usual. It requires drastic action, it requires a collaboration of all agencies and all arms of government for us to be serious.”

HERDSMEN DIDN'T KILL ANYBODY, WE'RE THE ONES BEING KILLED, SAYS MIYETTI ALLAH

Nura Mohammed,
Plateau State chairman of MACBAN
Photo Credit: TheCable.ng

THE Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) says its members have no hands in the recent killings in Plateau State, but rather it was their members that were being killed.

The Nigeria Police Force confirmed that 100 people were killed in the attack that took place last week while over 50 houses were razed down. Residents of the area, however, said the dead were over 200.

But Muhammed Nura, Chairman of MACBAN Plateau State chapter told journalists that his members were the ones killed in the attack, contrary to the reports that they were the attackers.

“As at now, we have been able to bury 19 persons of our own in different places. We have declared 73 persons missing,” 

“We have not seen them nor their corpses. So people are taking our corpses, going around the world and telling people that it is their corpses that the Fulani killed.

“These corpses they are saying, they are propagating (doing propaganda) against us. They are our corpses. We are calling on the government to go and exhume the corpses, let us see their faces. The corpses are our corpses, I believe that.

“I tell you with authority that we have not taken part in the killings. No herdsman killed anybody. If they say they are Fulanis, let them produce those Fulanis, we want to see them.

“In most of the villages, Fulanis were chased out. It was when fragile peace was returning that people started coming back.”

However, Nura refused to accuse any group or tribe of carrying out the attacks, but said the police should be in a better position to say who the attackers are, especially since the attacks have been recurring in the state.

“The police are in a good position to tell you who carried out these killings. Because there is tension in Plateau, their eyes must be everywhere. So their personnel must be everywhere,” Nura said.

This is coming a day after popular online newspaper, Premium Times, apologised to Danladi Ciroma, a chieftain of MACBAN, for publishing a report where Ciroma was quoted as saying that the recent Plateau killings were in retaliation for some 300 cows that were stolen from a fulani settlement.

Ciroma had denied ever making such comments to any reporter either over the phone or through a press statement, and Premium Times confirmed that its reporter could not produce any evidence to support his story. The newspaper said appropriate sanctions have been taken against the reporter.

The Cable

BREAKING: PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI EXPRESSES DEEP SHOCK OVER THE TANKER EXPLOSION FIRE IN LAGOS

File photo: President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed deep shock and sorrow over the tanker explosion in Lagos on Thursday, which affected many cars with many roasted alive.

Many have already been confirmed dead in the incident so far and the President in reaction to the “early reports” reaching him, said he is very sad to learn of the tragic loss of lives, tens of vehicles, property and other valuables in the petrol tanker fire.

“Sadly, this seems to be one of the greatest tragedies we have seen in recent times,” President Buhari said.

The President sent his deepest condolences to the government and people of Lagos on the tragedy.

He also urged the emergency services and law enforcement officials to do their best to limit the losses and damage from the incident.

According to him, the priority now is to save those people who could still be in danger.

Fuel-Laden Tanker Explodes In Lagos, Blaze Engulfs Over 30 Vehicles

A fuel-laden tanker has exploded along the Otedola Bridge axis of Berger in Lagos with the blaze engulfing over 30 other vehicles.

The tanker was heading out of Lagos towards the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when the crash occurred, causing panic and fear.

Many people were feared trapped in their cars and killed in the blaze, while many others sustained burns.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Adesina Tiamiyu, confirmed to Channels Television that rescue officials have been able to retrieve nine bodies from the scene of the fire so far.

Eyewitnesses, however, said the death toll might be higher as many people were trapped in their cars with rescue officials still working at the scene.
The fuel-laden tanker lost control, fell over and exploded.

“I saw the tanker reversing and before we could know it, the tanker fell down and started burning,” a witness said a tricycle rider who was close to the tanker.

He added that it took the grace of God for him to escape the fire with his tricycle.

As the fire spread, many drivers had to abandon their vehicles and flee as firefighters tried to battle the raging blaze.

Traffic was stopped on both sides of the road as emergency officials battled to put out the fire and attend to those affected.

Although the fire has been put out by the officials, the road remains closed with rescue officials still working on the scene.

 

Scene of the explosion. PHOTO credit/Rapid Response Squad Lagos

Scene of the explosion. PHOTO credit/Rapid Response Squad Lagos

 

BREAKING: PETROL TANKER BURST INTO FLAMES, BURNT MANY ALIVE IN THEIR VEHICLES ON LAGOS IBADAN EXPRESS WAY.

Lagos Is Currently On Fire!!!! A Petrol Tanker Filled With Fuel Explodes On Otedola Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Over 50 Cars, And More Than 100 People Feared To Be Burnt Alive Inside The Traffic, This Is So Sad, rip to them all.... 

I know you are busy can you just use 5 seconds of your time to say God please protect me..

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.