Imo Government Confirms Shutting Banks For Observing IPOB's Sit-At-Home Directive

The Imo State Government has revealed the motive behind its decision of shutting some banks in Owerri, the state capital on Tuesday.

It was reported that Governor Hope Uzodinma’s government ordered the closure of all the banks on Bank Road in Owerri, leaving hundreds of bank customers stranded on Wednesday.

The officials of the state government sealed banks like Access, Polaris, First Bank, Eco Bank, and United Bank for Africa as of 9am as hundreds of banks customers waited endlessly.

However, reacting to the incident, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, told Punch that the state government sealed the banks because they frustrated customers on Monday by refusing to open for transactions.

Asked when the government would unseal the banks, Emelumba said it was left for Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) and the banks to determine.

The OCDA General Manager, Innocent Ikpamezie, did not respond to multiple calls put across to his cell phones by our correspondent.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) declared sit-at-home every Monday across the South East region which started on August 9 to demand the release of its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The group, however, through its spokesperson, Emma Powerful suspended the exercise citing that Kanu wanted the directive only on the day he would appear in court, but the South-East residents and IPOB supporters continued to observe the directive.

While some people see it as fear of coming out, some quarters attribute it to loyalty and solidarity for the incarcerated secessionist leader, despite the political leaders saying the sit-at-home is paralyzing the economic strength of the region.

Federal Government Director Commits Suicide In Abuja After Invitation From Anti-corruption Agency, EFCC

An assistant director of the National Biotechnology Development Agency, Christopher Orji, has allegedly committed suicide in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

He was, until his death, the coordinator of the agency's Bioresource Centre in the Langtang Local Government Area of Plateau State.

According to a report by Daily Trust, the lifeless body of the deceased was found dangling with a rope tied to a ceiling fan at his residence in the Federal Housing Authority Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, at about 4pm on August 30.

Police homicide detectives were said to have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

It was further learnt that the deceased had been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to report at its Abuja office on the day he was found dead.

However, one of the staff of the agency, who pleaded anonymity, said Orji could not have killed himself as no suicide note was found at his residence.

Niger Delta Ex-Militants Issue One Week Ultimatum To Buhari Regime Over Unpaid Stipends

The Niger Delta region militants have issued a one-week ultimatum to the Muhammadu Buhari-led government over their August stipends which were allegedly withheld.

The militants who are under the Presidential Amnesty Programme, spoke on Tuesday, through the leader of the Niger Delta Defence Corps, NDDC, John Egbe.

They also alleged the government of withholding the August stipends of over 10,000 beneficiaries without any explanations saying they had faced similar harsh treatments in recent times.

They, however, threatened to go on a protest if their demands were ot met on or before the one-week ultimatum.

“The Amnesty Office has paid our stipends for August and over 10,000 beneficiaries have not been paid for a reason best known to the government. We have experienced various unfair treatments under Dikio since his assumption of office. We will not take it easy this time around and we want our stipends paid within one week or else we will go out for a protest next week.

“Niger Delta is now a peaceful place but Dikio and his Special Adviser, Mr Alfred Kemepade, want to disturb the peace because of their secret deals. Since 2010, we’ve never experienced what we’re seeing under Dikio. Last year, the National Security Adviser set up a committee that verified everything in the Amnesty office, but today Dikio decided to stop the payment of stipends to some beneficiaries.

“We are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari and the NSA to send Kemepade out of that office before it’s too late because he wants to set Niger Delta ablaze with his evil advice to Dikio,” he said.

Nnamdi Kanu’s US Lawyer Set To Take Nigerian Government To International Criminal Court

The United States-based lawyer to Nnamdi Kanu, detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Bruce Fein, has vowed to pursue all international and diplomatic protocols platforms to ensure that the Nigeria government complies with international laws.

Fein stated that he would drag the Nigerian government and President Muhammadu Buhari before the ICC for committing crimes against humanity and violation of conventions.

He said the alleged kidnapping and torture of the IPOB leader in Kenya by the Nigerian government was a gross violation of international law.

Fein disclosed these on Monday in Abuja while narrating his experience in the hands of operatives of Department of State Services who denied him access for the second time to visit his client in the custody.

The constitutional lawyer, who arrived in the country last week with the aim of meeting with his client and discussing his legal case, was turned back on Thursday September 2, 2021, alongside Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor by the gun-wielding operatives. 

They were told that the officer who was charged with the responsibility of taking them to meet Kanu in an underground cell was away on special assignment.

He said  upon their arrival at the DSS facility on  Monday, the operatives came up with a flimsy excuse that there was no approval for him to be part of the visit because he came from foreign jurisdiction and would not be allowed to be part of the visit.

Meanwhile at the end of the encounter, only Ejiofor was allowed to see him briefly while Fein was kept outside.

Fein said, “I will be pursuing all international and diplomatic protocols platforms to see that justice is done and international laws and norms are complied with.

“Among other institutions, I plan to visit the International working group on arbitration that sits in Geneva. It is an arm of United Nations and is a human rights’ council.

“We are going to pursue all these on legitimate platforms in the international community to make it clear that anything that transpires regarding Nnamdi Kanu’s case is fully in the sunshine; it would not be clouded.

“An example of the concerns that have been raised on the proceedings so far is the gross violation of international laws.  First Nnamdi Kanu’s kidnapping is a violation of international law. His torture before returning to Nigeria is a violation of international law and denying him access to his counsel is violation of international law.”

Fein explained that no state could set aside or renounce the principles of international law that applies everywhere, adding that the exponential increase in human rights’ violation by the Nigerian government had become a major source of concern to the international community, particularly the United States.

On his own part Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor said, "We went back today but unfortunately, Fein was not allowed to see him. I was only the person that was permitted to see him. But we insisted in knowing why they denied him access. They were kind of vague in their reason. I saw him (Kanu), he is stable and firm in his conviction.”

US Military Will Be Going Back To Afghanistan — American Senator

United States Republican Senator, Lindsey Graham, has stated that the country’s military will be going back to Afghanistan in the future due to the threat of terror.

This is in spite of the fact that President Joe Biden ended the 20-year war with Afghanistan in August.

Graham, in an interview with BBC, praised former President Donald Trump for maintaining the US military presence in Afghanistan.

He noted that the Taliban will “impose a lifestyle on the Afghan people that I think is going to make us all sick to our stomach".

He then suggested the US should arm the resistance fighting in Panjshir so that Afghanistan will not have a central government.

"The Taliban will impose a lifestyle on the Afghan people that I think is going to make us all sick to our stomach.

“But most importantly, they’re going to give safe haven to Al-Qaeda who has ambitions to drive us out of the Mideast writ large and attack us because of our way of life. We will be going back into Afghanistan as we went back into Iraq and Syria,” he added.

Following this statement, BBC host Stephen Sackur asked, “You seriously think the United States will once again, in the foreseeable future, put troops back into Afghanistan?”

“We’ll have to because the threat will be so large,” Graham responded.

Citing the situations in Iraq and Syria, he predicted that Afghanistan will be a “cauldron for radical Islamic behaviour.”

“Here's my solution, support the resistance in the Panjshir Valley to avoid the fracture of the country that would create a perfect storm for Western interests to be attacked and to hit them before they hit you.”

Graham, a US foreign policy war hawk, previously criticised President Biden’s decision to follow up on Trump’s planned withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

“We’re leaving thousands of Afghan allies behind who fought bravely with us. We’re going to leave hundreds of American citizens behind.” he said last month in an interview.

IPOB Sit-At-Home: Imo Govt Closes Banks In Owerri [Photos]

 

The Imo State Government has closed some banks in the state over alleged failure to open for business on Monday.

Recall that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had ordered a sit-at-home every Monday in protest of the arrest and prosecution of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, by the Federal Government.

It, however, later cancelled the order but some businesses have continued to observe the sit-at-home order every Monday despite the insistence by the Imo State government that IPOB does not have the authority to give such orders.

It was gathered that officials of the state government sealed off banks such as Access, Polaris, First Bank, Eco Bank, and United Bank for Africa located on Bank Road in Owerri, the state capital.

According to The PUNCH, customized ribbons of the Owerri Capital Development Authority were used in sealing the various banks as early as 7 am.

Hundreds of bank customers were seen on Tuesday waiting endlessly to get into the bank for transactions, while some were stranded.

Some of the operatives of the development authority claimed that the banks were sealed because of building approval plans.

However, as of the time of filing this report, the state government has yet to react to the development.

Nigeria’s Drugs Agency, NDLEA Arrests Corps Member For Importing Drugs From UK

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a member of the National Youths Service Corps, Arnold Meniru, for alleged importation of four kilogrammes of drugged candies from the United Kingdom.

The NYSC on Monday night confirmed Meniru’s arrest in a press release, adding that it had an “unequivocal stand against any form of crime by any individual including corps members.”

“The management of the NYSC is aware of the reported arrest by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of a Corps Member, Arnold Meniru for alleged importation of four (4) kilograms of drugged candies from the United Kingdom.

“The Scheme wishes to reiterate its unequivocal stand against any form of crime by any individual including Corps Members.

“Cognizance of the dangers and negative effects of drugs particularly on the youths, the NYSC over the years have been collaborating with the NDLEA to sensitize and counsel Corps Members and the public against substance abuse.

“Prospective Corps Members, before being admitted into NYSC Orientation Camps, are usually searched thoroughly by NDLEA operatives (who are also resident in the camps throughout the duration of the programme) to prevent importation and use of illegal substances in the camps,” the NYSC Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi, said. 

“Equally, sensitization on the dangers of illicit drugs is one of the major lectures packaged for the Orientation exercise.

“In addition, there is an existing NYSC/NDLEA Community Development Service (CDS) group whose mandate is to organize public campaigns against use of illicit substances to curb drug abuse. 

“In the same vein, the Director-General of the Scheme, Brigadier General Shuaibu Ibrahim, uses every opportunity to counsel Corps Members on the dangers and implications of engaging in crimes including drug abuse.

“Consequently, the NYSC wishes to note that being an integral part of the composite Nigerian society, corps members are subject to the laws of the country. Nonetheless, the scheme will not relent in admonishing its corps members and the youths in general to be good ambassadors of their families, desist from drug trafficking and any other act that can tarnish the name of their families, the NYSC and the country at large,” she added.

BREAKING: Gunmen Abduct 18 Residents In Kaduna Community

 About 18 people have been kidnapped in Keke, a community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

According to Daily Trust, the gunmen were said to have invaded the community around 12midnight.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen came in large number and after causing confusion in the area, they kidnapped 18 people.

It was gathered that the police are presently in the area.

There is, however, no official confirmation from the authorities.

Bandits have been ravaging Kaduna also in a string of attacks on the North-West states particularly.

Only in August, Samuel Aruwan, the state commissioner for internal security and home affairs, confirmed some of the affected communities to include Ungwan Magaji, Kigam, Kisicho, and Kikoba villages.

Aruwan had identified some of the victims killed by bandits as Joseph Maza, Timvan Cibi Ciwo, Monday Titus, Asabe Magani, Laraba Danladi, and Yosi Danladi.

Woman Reveals How She Escaped From Gunmen Who Killed Sowore’s Brother

 

A woman identified as Emmanuel Anyanwu had revealed how gunmen that reportedly killed the brother of SaharaReporters publisher, Olajide Sowore demanded ₦10 million for her release.

Anyanwu noted that she escaped from the kidnappers when their attention was shifted from where they kept her with four other victims.

The victim disclosed that she was on her way to Imo State from Lagos to bury her husband when she was abducted.

She said when she offered the kidnappers ₦500,000 they referred to her as a fool.

Anyanwu narrated the incident at the police headquarters in Benin on Monday.

She said, “On Friday, we were coming from Lagos to the eastern part of the country and our vehicle broke down around Okada on the outskirts of Benin.

“We passed the night in the vehicle. Around 6.30 am to 7 am Saturday, some men came out from the bush, shooting at us; we surrendered. We were two ladies and three men.

“They took our belongings, including our phones and marched us into the bush. It took almost two hours to get to their camp. They blindfolded us and questioned us one after the other.

“They asked me where I was coming from and where I was going. I told them that I was coming from Lagos and going to Imo State for my husband’s burial. They asked how many kids I had and I told them two. I also told them I sold groundnut in Lagos. They asked if I was the one providing the money to bury my husband and I told them his brother would do that.

“They told me that they were kidnappers and they abducted me because of ransom. They said if I didn’t have money, they would take my life. I asked them how much they wanted, but one of them was furious I was asking them questions. I told them I needed to know what they wanted as ransom. They asked if I had N10m and I told them there was no way I could get that kind of money. I told them I would give them N500,000 from the money gathered from my village. One of them said I was a fool and they told me to sit down.

“Then it started raining heavily and they went away and brought another man. They took something from that man and their attention was on it. So, I removed my blindfold and crept away.

“I believe they are Fulani because, on that Saturday afternoon, they released their cows and came to where we were being held.

“I saw a mast far away and I started trekking towards it. After one hour or more, I got to a road and saw an elderly man on a motorcycle. I asked him to take me to a police station, which he did.”

The woman when asked if Sowore’s brother was killed by the kidnappers said the criminals shot at different cars, adding that she could not tell if anyone died.

“They were harsh and warned us not to look at their faces. They also instructed us not to talk to each other. They beat the men but spared the women. I sustained the wounds on my body when I was trying to find my way out of the bush,” she added.

Culled from www.naijanews.com

Dylan Rich, Young Footballer Collapses, Dies During Match – FA Mourns

 

The Football Association, FA has mourned a young footballer who collapsed and died while playing for his club side.

The incident is said to have happened last Thursday evening.

The deceased, Dylan Rich was playing for his team, West Bridgford Colts against Boston United during the evening hour of the day when he suddenly slumped.

Tests reportedly carried out on Rich revealed he suffered a suspected cardiac arrest and was treated with a defibrillator before he later gave up the ghost.

With great expression of sadness in a statement following the incident, West Bridgford Colts wrote: “It is with great sadness that, following the events of Thursday evening, we have to announce the tragic passing of Dylan Rich.

“This news has left everyone involved with our club devastated and heartbroken.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his parents Mike and Anna, his sister Lucy and Dylan’s family, friends and teammates.

“The club would like to thank everyone within the Colts and wider football community for the hundreds of heartfelt messages and thoughts that we have received over the past few days.

“The club will provide all the support it can to those players and club officials impacted by this tragic event, but for now there are no further words possible, and we ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy at this incredibly difficult time.”

It was reported that Emergency services were called out to the Regatta Way Sports Ground after the player started showing unwellness. The development leads to the immediate suspension of the match.

Sympathizing with the family of the deceased, the FA said, “We send our deepest condolences to his family, friends and everybody at the club at this very difficult time.

“We would like to recognize the courageous response of all those who reacted quickly to the situation at the FA Youth Cup fixture on Thursday evening and we thank the emergency services for their efforts.

“We ask that the privacy of both his family and the club is respected at this time.”