Mbaka calls for Buhari’s impeachment over rising insecurity

Catholic Priest and spiritual director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu Nigeria (AMEN), Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka has called for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari over the rising insecurity in the country.

Mbaka stated that it was sad how Buhari could maintain grave silence in the midst of the killings and deaths in the country, insisting that he may have lost touch with realities.

Speaking during worship on Wednesday evening in Enugu, he told his congregation that no civilized leader would remain in power with the spate of violence and ugly deaths that have bedeviled the nation.

“How can people be dying, the chief security officer of the country will be sitting down without making any comment,” Mbaka said.

“Gunmen attacking people everywhere. Buhari should have resigned honorably following his failure as a leader. Let me tell you if it is in a civilized country, by now, President Buhari will resign with what is happening. So it is amazing that he has chosen to sit tight while people are dying anyhow.”

Mbaka called on the National Assembly to swing into action and remove the president, should he fail to resign, saying that Nigerians are faced with great difficulty created by poverty and insecurity.

“Nigerians are crying because there’s no security in the country. The National Assembly should impeach the president if he doesn’t want to resign,” Mbaka said.

Mbaka warned the lawmakers that should they fail to impeach the president and begin to attack him; “…something worse than what they can never imagine will happen to the members.”

Mbaka emphasized that the nation cannot continue the way it is, warning that “enough has to be enough. There is time for everything”

 He also prayed to God to change the heart of the leaders, wondering how someone can become a billionaire with the commonwealth of the people.

Mbaka also frowned at the activities of herdsmen that destroy the farmland of people without any repercussion and called on them to retreat.

He asked church leaders to come together and pray for God’s intervention on the land, insisting that they would not be spared should the present violence and killings continue in the land.

“I plead that the church leaders will understand me as a messenger of God and not begin to attack me because the danger is going to affect the church,” Mbaka said.

“When gunmen begin to strike inside the church, they will begin to kill one man of God or the other or even members of the church, who will go to the church again? The priests will lose their job, the Bishops will lose their jobs. So you better keep quiet or support what I’m saying.”

India’s Death Toll Hits New Record As COVID-19 ‘Tsunami’ Worsens

 India’s daily coronavirus death toll set a new record Saturday as the government battled to get oxygen to hospitals overwhelmed by the hundreds of thousands of new daily cases.

Twenty patients died in one night at one New Delhi hospital suffering from oxygen shortages, medical officials said. A Delhi court said that the new pandemic wave had become “a tsunami”.

Queues of COVID-19 patients and their fearful relatives were growing outside hospitals in major cities across India, the world’s new pandemic hotspot, which has now reported nearly one million new cases in three days.

Another 2,624 deaths were reported in 24 hours, taking the official toll to nearly 190,000 since the pandemic started.

More than 340,000 new cases were also reported, taking India’s total to 16.5 million, second only to the United States.

But many experts are predicting the current wave will not peak for at least three weeks and that the real death toll and case count are much higher.

Germany and Kuwait on Saturday followed the United Arab Emirates, Britain and New Zealand in restricting travel from the country.

 

Police personnel conduct checks on commuters at a temporary check post during the weekend lockdown imposed as a preventive measure against the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus in Bangalore on April 24, 2021. (Photo by Manjunath Kiran / AFP)

 

Stung by criticism of its lack of preparation ahead of the wave of infections, the central government has organised special trains to get oxygen supplies to the worst-hit cities.

The Indian air force was also being used to transport oxygen tankers and other supplies around the country and to bring oxygen equipment from Singapore.

The government has also pressed industrialists to increase production of oxygen and life-saving drugs.

One ‘oxygen express’ carrying 30,000 litres for hospitals arrived in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh state, where armed guards were waiting to escort trucks that would carry the oxygen to hospitals.

Lucknow has been one of the worst-hit cities, with hospitals and crematoriums inundated with patients and bodies. Officials said the liquid oxygen would only be enough for half a day’s needs.

Uttar Pradesh, a state of 200 million people, has imposed a weekend lockdown in a bid to curb the spread.

In Delhi, the city government said it would begin setting up buffer stocks of oxygen.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said “the government should take over all oxygen plants through the army”.

Many patients are dying outside hospitals in the capital because of the lack of beds and oxygen.

 

Members of medical staff wearing protective gear carry the dead body of a Covid-19 coronavirus victim at a hospital in Amritsar on April 24, 2021. (Photo by Narinder NANU / AFP)

 

Twenty patients at the Jaipur Golden Hospital in the capital died during the night as it suffered oxygen shortages, the hospital’s director told Indian media.

He said that at one stage on Saturday morning, the reserve was down to 30 minutes and pressure had been reduced for the 200 coronavirus patients, most of whom were on emergency oxygen.

One charity has set up an overflow crematorium in a car park, with makeshift funeral pyres built to deal with the mounting deaths.

A Delhi High Court hearing a special petition on the pandemic measures said Saturday: “We’re calling it a wave, it’s actually a tsunami.”

Tight Security At National Assembly Over Alleged Security Threat

 

 

Increased security was observed at the National Assembly on Thursday as security agents spent more time inspecting vehicles coming into the assembly complex.

The search of vehicles was more intense than normal causing a long queue at the entrance into the assembly, Channels Television correspondent observed.

Staff and journalists also spent more time trying to get into the complex.

According to reports, there was an alleged security threat which necessitated the tighter inspection.

The country has been experiencing a wave of insecurity issues, including but not limited to an insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, secessionist agitations in the South-East and Fulani-Herdsmen crises across the Middle-Belt and several South-West states.

Earlier this week, Governor, Abubakar Bello, said the Federal Capital Territory was no longer safe after Boko Haram terrorists took over a community in Niger State.

Niger shares a long border with the FCT.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday sought the assistance of the United States in fighting insecurity across the country.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday also inaugurated a 40-man committee to find a solution to the country’s security challenges. The Committee is set to hold a four-day security summit in May.

Culled from Channelstv.com

FG Declares May 3 Public Holiday To Mark Workers Day

The Federal Government has declared Monday, May 3, 2021, as a public holiday to mark this year’s International Workers Day Celebration.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, made the announcement in a statement on Thursday.

Aregbesola who congratulated the Nigerian Workers for witnessing this year’s celebration commended them for their patience, understanding, and support in driving the policies and programmes of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, in its determination to move the country to the next level of its socio-economic development.

He called for more dedication and patriotism from all Nigerian Workers and the Labour Unions, saying the challenges of the moment will soon be over as the government is committed to the security of lives and properties of all Nigerians.

“ The Government is putting all strategies in place to curb the challenges of insecurity in the country.

“I, therefore, call on the Labour Force and all patriotic citizens to be fully committed to the task of putting insecurity to a permanent end as much as possible,” he added.

The minister wished all Nigerian Workers a peaceful May Day Celebration.

Rape Case: Davido slams Yomi Fabiyi for supporting Baba Ijesha

Davido has taken to social media to slam actor, Yomi Fabiyi over his purported support form embattled actor Baba Ijesha who was accused of defiling a minor.

In a post he made on his Instagram page, Yomi Fabiyi called out some of his colleagues who, according to him, come out to cast aspersions on a fallen man because they believe no one can help them.

The actor went on to say that he does not support evil or crime against women and children, but that he will always use his common sense and conscience in every situation.

He wrote:

Sometimes COMMON SENSE and CAUTION are needed more irrespective of ones personality and principle to serious issues or whatever you know. I am not going to be part of a bad antecedent. If my words come ambiguous, seek understanding before rushing to hurt your colleague online, too low and dirty.

I will continue to fight for what is right and I will never condone anyone reading negative meaning or isolate my words just to give a dog a bad name and subject to cyber bullying.

Gbogbo wa ni isowo ogun oh.

However, we all must be united on the bigger picture and the serious issue at hand. Focus to be hugely on the mental health of the minor and her guardians AND not to twist words or engage in needless drama of distractions. Count me out of social media or industry beef or recklessness

Fair trial, protection of human rights, and justice is crucial for the public to be on the right path.

Seek every protection to children and minors around you. SAY NO TO RAPE, SAY NO TO SEXUAL HARRASMENT, SAY NO TO CHILD ABUSE.

 Reacting to his post Davido simply shared a picture of the actor writing; 

Video emerges of crew of sunken Indonesia submarine

A poignant video has emerged showing the crew of a sunken Indonesian submarine singing happily together onboard their vessel.

 The video, filmed a few weeks before the KRI Nanggala 402 went down with all hands lost, shows some of the 53-strong crew singing “Sampai Jumpa”, an Indonesian hit whose title means “Goodbye”.

Submarine commander Heri Oktavian is among those gathered around a seaman strumming an acoustic guitar.

“Even though I’m not ready to be missing you, I’m not ready to live without you,” the sailors sing.

“I wish all the best for you.”

The video was recorded as a farewell for the outgoing commander of the navy’s submarine corps, whose successor took up his role in early March, Indonesian military spokesman Djawara Whimbo told AFP.

The German-built submarine — one of five in Indonesia’s fleet — disappeared early Wednesday while it was scheduled to do live torpedo training exercises off Bali.

Indonesia’s military announced Sunday it had found the vessel in pieces on the seafloor, around 800 metres (2,600 feet) below the surface.

How to Make Delicious Peanut Burger

 

What Is Peanut Burger?

Contrary to what some in the West might think, peanut burger is not a hamburger made out of peanuts. Rather, it is a popular West African snack that is loved by kids and adults alike. Made by coating peanuts (also called groundnuts) and then frying them, this snack is easy, inexpensive and delicious.

Peanut burger is best stored in an airtight container, preferably a jar.

Ingredients

• 3 cups raw peanuts (groundnuts)
• 3 eggs
• 3 cups flour
• 2 or 3 tablespoons sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 2 cups vegetable oil

Instructions

1. You can use already roasted groundnuts (peanuts). But if you have raw peanuts, you can roast or fry them yourself. For extra flavor, I start the frying process by first soaking the peanuts in hot water for 15 minutes, then I drain and dry the peanuts for 1 hour. Next, I pour in a nice layer of table salt in a pan and then I fry (roast) the peanuts in the salt until they are brown. Sieve out the peanuts in a tray and leave them to cool.
2. Break the eggs into a bowl and add the salt and sugar. Whisk together.
3. In a bigger bowl, pour in the roasted peanuts. Pour in 1 tablespoon of the whisked egg and toss the peanuts. Next, pour in 1 tablespoon of flour and toss.
4. Repeat the process until both the flour and the eggs are exhausted. This will give you finely coated peanuts.
5. Heat the oil in a pan and fry the coated peanuts until they are nice and brown.
6. Your yummy peanut burger is ready.

Variations

• For extra flavor, you can add a drop of vanilla to the egg mixture.
• You can also add 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg and 1 teaspoon of powdered milk to the flour and mix.
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Buhari seeks help from U.S. over rising insecurity

After being assailed by unrelenting insecurity across the regions of the country and yielding to calls for international collaboration, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday sought the help of the United States government to contain the situation in the country.

During a virtual meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State, Mr. Anthony Blinken, Buhari stressed the need for the U.S. to consider relocating its Africa Command (AFRICOM) from Stuttgart, Germany, to Africa, nearer the Theatre of Operation, while urging the international community to support Nigeria and the sub-region in tackling growing security challenges to avoid spillovers.

President Buhari said: “The security challenges in Nigeria remain of great concern to us and impacted more negatively, by existing complex negative pressures in the Sahel, Central, and West Africa, as well as the Lake Chad Region.

“Compounded as the situation remains, Nigeria and her security forces remain resolutely committed to containing them and addressing their root causes. The support of important and strategic partners like the United States cannot be overstated as the consequences of insecurity will affect all nations hence the imperative for concerted cooperation and collaboration of all nations to overcome these challenges.

IPOB Named Imo Govt House, Two Other Places after ESN Commander Ikonso

Following the death of the commander of the Eastern Security Network, ESN, Ikonso allegedly killed by security agencies last week, the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has named the Imo State Government House, Douglas Road Owerri, and Awomamma Junction respectively after the deceased.

The group in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful Wednesday, said the decision was one of the ways its members and Biafrans globally wished to immortalise the fallen leader and his men. The statement partly reads; “We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Biafrans worldwide ably led by our great and indomitable leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to announce to the world, our unanimous decision to rename  the  Imo State Government House, Douglas Road Owerri, and Awomamma Junction after the late heroic Commander of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) Ikonso, murdered in cold blood by  security operatives. “The affected places will henceforth be called Ikonso Government House, Ikonso Way and Ikonso Junction respectively. This is with immediate effect and compliance is required of all ministries & parastatals beginning from today, the 28th day of April 2021.

“This decision is one of the ways IPOB members and Biafrans all over the world have agreed  to immortalise the name of our brave Ikonso and his men killed by security agents. “We therefore expect maximum cooperation from relevant Government agencies, officials and the Imo State House of Assembly because we don’t know who this Douglas is that a road in Owerri was named  but we know who Ikonso was. “He defended Imo State with his life, for without him, most Imo indigenes would be in IDP camps by now courtesy of terrorists.” Imo State Government has not yet react to the decision by the group as of the time of filing this report.

Insecurity: Governor Ortom, Reps, Call for Emergency on Security

The House of  Representatives, and a tearful governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom yesterday called on the Federal Government to urgently declare a state of emergency on security in the country. The House and Governor Ortom’s calls came against the backdrop of killing of no fewer than seven Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in an attack on the Abagena IDPs camp located on the outskirts of Makurdi, the Benue State capital, in the early hours of yesterday by suspected armed herdsmen militia.

Buhari had also on Monday night met behind closed doors with Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, National Leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the pioneer interim national chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, at the State House over the security situation in the country, with the governor declaring he was in Aso Rock to tell the President the truth on the situation in his state. This is even as President Buhari emerged from a virtual meeting with the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, yesterday, asking the international community to support Nigeria and the sub-region in tackling growing security challenges to avoid spillovers. This, he added, they could do by relocating AFRICOM Headquarters to Africa to coordinate security in West Africa. Declare emergency on security now, Reps tell Buhari Piqued by the daily killings and kidnappings of Nigerians across the country, the House of Representatives yesterday called on President Buhari to declare a state of emergency on security. The House held a three-hour executive session, from where the lawmakers unanimously adopted a series of resolutions. Emerging from the meeting, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, read out the resolutions, parts of which the House condemned the attacks on security personnel and formations around the country and sympathised with families of victims.

The House reiterated its commitment in ensuring that the country is secure, while announcing its resolve to organise a special security summit, and invite the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, retd.; service chiefs, heads of paramilitary agencies and NIGCOMSAT. The House also resolved: “The President should immediately declare emergency on security sector.” It also called on the judiciary to accelerate trials of suspected terrorists, bandits and other criminals. While asking all security committees to immediately audit arms and ammunition of security agencies within four weeks, the House stated that the number of personnel in the Police and military fell far short of what is required to effectively secure the country, and called for an immediate recruitment of security operatives.  ‘Attack on Benue IDPs camp took place at 2am’ Vanguard gathered that the  unprovoked attack on the IDP camp with over 21,000 IDPs, which took place at about 2am yesterday and  left nine of the traumatized IDPs with serious injuries, compelled Governor Samuel Ortom who could not hold back tears as he addressed angry Benue youths, to call on President Buhari to declare an emergency on the security situation in the country. The youths had made bonfires on the Makurdi-Lafia road, laying the corpses of the dead on the highway, and threatening to carry out reprisal attacks. The governor also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to live up to his responsibility of protecting Nigerians, describing the attack as inhuman, barbaric and unacceptable. Ortom, who called for urgent action against the activities of militia herdsmen across the country, said if the Federal Government had taken the issue of militia herders seriously, it wouldn’t have escalated to this level. He lamented that in the last two weeks, over 70 persons had been killed in Makurdi, Guma and Gwer West Local Government Areas, LGAs, while various communities across Benue were suffering from same militia herdsmen. More than 70 killed in 2 weeks — Ortom The governor said: “From what is happening, within the last two weeks, we have lost more than 70 people within the local governments of Makurdi, Guma, and Gwer West alone, in addition to what you are seeing here today. “Many are in the hospital apart from the seven that died in the attack on the IDPs camp by these herdsmen militia. “I want to say that we are being overstretched. Our patience and preaching of rule of law is being overstretched. You can see that the people are fed up. Mr. President must rise. “He is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the President of the over 250 ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. They voted him, we all voted him. “Mr. President, you took an oath of office to secure the lives and property of the people. This is unacceptable, this cannot continue. Mr. President cannot continue to be aloof. Mr. President must rise to address the nation himself, not his aides. “Mr. President must tell us where we are headed in this country. This is too much. We are being overstretched and this is not acceptable. The body language, the action and inaction of Mr. President shows that he is only the President of Fulani people. “I have warned over this.

I have written to him and I have written to security agencies that Miyetti Allah anchored a meeting in Yola and threatened that unless we repeal the open grazing prohibition law, nobody would know peace. That they will kill, they will maim, they will rape and do all sorts of things and they have started doing it. And it is amazing that we are becoming a banana republic. “If we have a President and Mr. President gives order to security agencies to shoot on sight whosoever is having AK-47, and then the Minister of Defense came out to say that you cannot shoot on sight, that those people should be prosecuted, then I ask, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces? “So this kind of game, these lies, these falsehoods that are being played out is not acceptable. It is better for me not to be alive to see this kind of shame of leadership. What is going on? Nigerians, my colleagues the governors must arise and impress on the president to call a security summit, if possible ensure that a state of emergency is declared on security so that all hands will be on deck to address this matter. “From what is happening now, it is very clear that Mr. President is just working for these Fulanis to take over this country. His body language is what is being played out; Mr President gives orders, another person, a minister comes and counters. Is it not a shame? “Just like the First Lady said sometimes ago, where are the men in this country? That is the President’s wife coming out to lament and cry and say that Nigerians should rise, that something is wrong. “The President must tell us what is wrong with him so that we can all help him. I want to call on my colleagues, the governors, because after the President, it is the governors, we must work hard to ensure that we salvage this country. Otherwise, this country is drowning and we must salvage it, or else we will wake up one day and there will be no country. “You can imagine if I was not there in Abagena, that major road (Makurdi-Lafia) was blocked. You can imagine what would have happened. We cannot allow youths to take over the place and that is what they are agitating for now. And we know that a goat does not bite, but when it is pushed to the wall, it bites. ‘We are fed up’ “We are fed up, we don’t want to resort to self-help; we believe in the unity of this country and that is what I have been preaching, but we are being overstretched.  Even these attacks started earlier, they were planned, the point is this federal government is not being proactive. Don’t we have DSS and the Police investigating team again? “Even when I mentioned Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, and asked that the president and the secretary should be arrested. I was told they invited him, they asked him if he was planning to kill Ortom and the man said no and they said okay, you can go. What kind of a thing is that? What kind of a country are we? Where are we heading? “Honestly, it is better for me not to be alive than to witness this shame that is happening in Nigeria today under the watchful eyes of Mr. President. “This is not right. I am not the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mr President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. It is his responsibility to ensure security of lives and properties. I can only support, and meanwhile that is what I have been doing.” Nigeria walking to an end — MBF Reacting, the President General of Mzough U Tiv, MUT, worldwide, Chief Iorbee Ihagh, said it was the height of madness and callousness for the herdsmen militia to invade an IDPs camp in the state. “This is unacceptable, we are asking the President and his security chiefs to come and remove these armed herdsmen from Benue State because they are pushing Benue to wall.” On his part, the National President of Middle Belt Forum, MBF, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, warned that the country was gradually walking towards its end and the Federal Government seemed helpless. “When all these killings started, we were all raising alarm but till date, the government as usual failed in its responsibilities to nip it in the bud. “Governor Ortom has also been raising alarm and calling on the Federal Government to do the right thing but the government failed to pay attention to him. “Today an IDPs’ camp has been attacked and people killed. It is unfortunate that we have got to this point. These are signs that we are heading towards the end of our country if something is not done urgently, it is, indeed, sad.” The Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Benson Abounu, who visited the injured at Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH, disclosed that among the nine injured attack were two children of three years old, stressing that they were responding to treatment. “There is one that is most likely to loose her arm because of the cut. It’s just hanging there. The doctors are trying to see if the veins are alive and if it could be reattached,” Abounu said. Declare state of emergency on security now, PDP tells Buhari Reacting, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Dr. Emmanuel Shior, appealed to Nigerians to come to the aid of the state. Dr. Shior warned that the state faces the prospect of further attacks on IDPs camps and appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, to allow establishment of police check points close to IDPs camps across the state. Buhari meets Zulum, Tinubu, Akande in Aso Rock However, President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday night met with the Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Zulum on the security Situation in his state. He also net with the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the pioneer interim national Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande in State House. President Buhari’s meeting with the Borno State governor was held at the official residence in Aso Rock. The agenda of the meeting was not made public but it may be in connection with the recent worsening security situation in Borno State. Besides, the agenda of the meeting with chieftains of APC, Asiwaju Tinubu and Pa Bisi Akande was also not made public. I’m in Aso Rock to tell Buhari the truth — Zulum  However, emerging from the meeting, Governor Zulum told State House correspondents that he was at the Villa to tell the President the truth about the security situation in his state, which he noted had got worse, with repeated killings of soldiers and civilians. 

While noting that the situation is pathetic, Zulum emphasized the need for support to help the area to get rid of insurgents. Lamenting that hundreds of people had fled their homes, Zulum said: “In Borno, particularly, Brigade headquarters was attacked, many soldiers, men and officers of the Nigerian Army were killed. Let me use this opportunity to extend my condolences to the families of the deceased. God, in His infinite wisdom, forgive them. “I think it is my own responsibility to come and say the truth to Mr. President; let him know what is going on in the entire North-East sub-region. “I think there is the need for us to get support to succeed in this war against insurgents. It’s very pathetic. A few days ago, Damasak was attacked, hundreds of people started fleeing and now Geidam is almost deserted. Many people have left Geidam.” On the cause of the continuing deteriorating security situation in the North-East, Governor Zulum said: “I think the military is yet to receive some of the equipment the Federal Government has ordered.” Buhari asks US to relocate AFRICOM hq to Also yesterday, President Muhammadu Buhari pleaded with  the international community to support Nigeria and the sub-region in tackling growing security challenges to avoid spillovers. To this end, the President urged the United States to reconsider relocating US Africa Command, AFRICOM, from Stuttgart, Germany, to Africa, nearer the theatre of operation. Buhari, who made the plea in a virtual meeting with the US Secretary of State, Mr. Anthony Blinken, said AFRICOM, which partners countries to counter transnational threats, should be relocated to Africa to strengthen ongoing efforts to check the security situation, with likely effect on other nations. 

The President according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina said: “The security challenges in Nigeria remain of great concern to us and impacted more negatively, by existing complex negative pressures in the Sahel, Central and West Africa, as well as the Lake Chad region. “Compounded as the situation remains, Nigeria and her security forces remain resolutely committed to containing them and addressing their root causes. The support of important and strategic partners like United States cannot be overstated as the consequences of insecurity will affect all nations hence the imperative for concerted cooperation and collaboration of all nations to overcome these challenges. “In this connection, and considering the growing security challenges in West and Central Africa, Gulf of Guinea, Lake Chad region and the Sahel, weighing heavily on Africa, it underscores the need for the United States to consider re-locating AFRICOM Headquarters from Stuttgart, Germany to Africa and near the Theatre of Operation.” He said Nigeria will enhance collaborations in all forms, with friends and strategic partners, to work together for greater security for all, which remain the most significant condition for overcoming the existential challenges. The President congratulated Blinken on his appointment by President Joe Biden, and commended the United States for the decision to repeal the immigration restriction known as the “Muslim ban”, re-joining the World Health Organization (WHO) and Paris Agreement on Climate Change. He said: “Nigeria attaches great importance to its relations with the United States. Let me in this connection express appreciation to President Joe Biden for his welcome and reaching decision to repeal the Immigration restriction known as the ‘Muslim ban’ on travel and visas for citizens predominantly from Muslim Nations and African Countries, including Nigeria. “I also wish to congratulate the United States for re-joining the World Health Organization (WHO) and Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The leadership of the United States in these two organizations is crucial for international community. “This action is a demonstration of the United States commitment in championing and supporting international organizations with the aim to build a better world for all.” Army rages against sharing photos of slain soldiers in social media Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has threatened to take legal actions against those sharing photos of slain troops on social media, Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Mohammed Yerima, has said. Photos and videos of soldiers killed in Rivers, Borno and other states by insurgents and criminals had surfaced lately on social media. However, in a statement yesterday, the Army condemned in strong terms the indiscriminate sharing on social media of graphic pictures of personnel who paid the supreme price in the cause of defending and protecting the country from its adversaries”. The statement, titled, “Protest Against Indiscriminate And Insensitive Sharing Of Graphic Pictures Of Kill-In-Action Soldiers On Social Media” read: “Officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army deployed to various theatres of internal security operations are on legitimate duties and are in the harm’s way to defend and protect the country from those who are intent on destroying it. “In the course of carrying out this constitutional mandate, troops put their lives on the line to ensure that innocent citizens and institutions of the state are protected from violent criminals. In some cases, these gallant officers and soldiers are meted with the worst form of savagery by the heartless adversaries whose intent is to instill fear on of the citizenry. “While the Nigerian Army and its personnel understand the nature of the noble calling and are ever ready to confront any danger of adversity on the way, what is most unfathomable is the glee with which some people share the gory pictures of officers and soldiers who are either killed-in-action or wounded-in-action in the media. “These unpatriotic acts are often done without any modicum of consideration for the memories of the departed personnel or their family members. In some cases, their loved ones do find out about their unfortunate death in such callous manner before they are even contacted by the military authorities. “One can only imagine the trauma and pain such families go through waking up to see the gory pictures of their loved ones splashed on the social media. “The Nigerian Army consider this despicable and unpatriotic act totally unacceptable and will henceforth take legal actions to protect troops who die in action from being ridiculed on social media or any platform.

Culled from Vanguard