Metro

Bloodbath in Nigerian state as terrorists kill 25, injure scores

Published

1 month ago

April 7, 2024

At least 25 people were on Saturday given a mass burial in the Agojeju-Odo and Abejukolo communities in the Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State in North Central Nigeria following an invasion by terrorists which began on Friday night and spilled into Saturday.

According to the District Head of one of the affected communities, Chief David Akpa, the terrorists, suspected to be herdsmen, also injured scores of people and burnt down houses, livestock and food barns in the process.

Akpa said the deceased included two women and four children who were killed by the armed men in the unprovoked attacks.

He described the attack as not only barbaric but wicked given the way the terrorists unleashed mayhem on his people.

“We are mourning our loved ones who were killed in cold blood. We have never had any misunderstanding either with bandits or with herdsmen before now.

“As it is now, we are living in fear, more so that we heard that they are coming to Bagaji Odo, where surviving victims are taking refuge.

“We are pleading with the federal and state governments to come to our aid and protect us from bandits,” the traditional ruler said.

He added that the attack was the second in 2024 when the militia would attack the community and create fear among the residents.

A community member who lost his wife and three sons in the attack, told journalists that the initial invasion began on Thursday when the gunmen mobilised in what he described as a “reprisal” and invaded the two communities inflicting maximum damages.

“The bandits who were having a running battle with Agatu militia in Benue State had extended their onslaught to Agojeju Odo, Ajokpachi Odo, Bagaji and environs destroying their farm produce,” he said.

“The bandits started coming into our communities from late Thursday night. They invaded Agojeju-Odo, Ajokpachi-Odo and Bagaji.

“They destroyed farm produce with ease in an attempt to draw the communities into the conflict.

“We call on the state Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, and security agencies to come to our aid by deploying security personnel to the area, as the policemen in the council have been overwhelmed and overpowered by the invaders.

Related Topics:#bandits Attack Featured Invasion Kogi state mass burial Terrorists

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Metro

Zambian opposition New Heritage Party accuses govt of dictatorship

Published

13 hours ago

May 15, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

One of Zambian opposition parties, the New Heritage Party (NHP), has accused the government of dictatorship after the police insisted on a written list of speakers for the party’s upcomng rally in Lusaka’s Mandevu area.

NHP’s President, Chishala Kateka, who made the allegations in a statement on Tuesday, said the National Police also requested a registration certificate from the party before considering their request for approval to hold the rally, an action she said was dictatorial.

The NHP leader said the party had, in a letter to the police, it had expressed its intention to hold a mass rally in Mandevu on June 1, and also submitted their registration certificate to the police.

Kateka however, described the police response to the party’s request as a colonial-era policing of rallies before Zambia’s independence.

“Raphael Musamba’s police command has now demanded the New Heritage Party to provide them with an official list of speakers for the Mandevu rally on June 1, 2024,” Kateka stated in the statement.

Kateka said the NHP would indeed provide the list of its speakers at the rally but expressed concerns that the intention behind these demands might be to prevent any United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) presidents from speaking at the Mandevu rally.

“We are aware that President Hakainde Hichilema and his police are apprehensive about UKA and are striving to divide the alliance using State institutions and operatives, including registering a fake UKA,” she further alleged.

Kateka also argued that the law does not require a political party to produce both a registration certificate and a written list of speakers to hold a mass rally.

“This is simply dictatorship on display. Unfortunately, President Hichilema and his lieutenants within the police force are willing to breach the law of the land to serve their agenda,” she stated.

Kateka also expressed her concerns that the police’s actions appeared to be an attempt to dictate the proceedings of political party associations.

“Today, it’s the New Heritage Party, UKA alliance, and the Church facing persecution. Tomorrow, it could be NGOs and Civil Society Organizations,” she warned.

Metro

Nigeria: President Tinubu unveils 21 major initiatives

Published

18 hours ago

May 15, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has unveiled 21 major policy initiatives of his administration after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting he presided over on Tuesday.

According to the President’s Adviser on Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga, some of tie listed initiatives include a 48-hour visa policy, cancelling of airport toll payment exemption for very important persons and a ban on sand dredging 10 kilometres from all federal bridges throughout the country among others.

Onanuga who posted the resolutions of the FEC on his official X handle, said the marathon meeting which started on Monday, was concluded on Tuesday, describing it as unprecedented in the history of the council.

“After exhaustive deliberations, the council approved several policies and projects that would further boost the economy, facilitate investments and promote the ease of doing business in the country,” the presidential aide said.

Also briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting at Aso Rock Villa, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the government was reviewing its visa regime to enable persons who wish to invest in Nigeria to obtain a visa within 48 hours, adding that the move was aimed at encouraging investors and tourists.

According to him, the visa policy review is necessary to foster ease of doing business on Nigerian soil.

“The Federal Executive Council has noted that our visa processes are becoming cumbersome and this is not encouraging investors to come in easily because, as the President has indicated, the ease of doing business is also tied to the ease of visa application,” Idris said.

“Therefore, the FEC has set up a committee to look at our visa processes to reduce the cumbersome nature of these visa processes, meaning that those investors or tourists who want to come into Nigeria will find it a lot easier to go into this country provided they follow all the laid down processes.

“This includes the e-visa platform, which has already been discussed. The Federal Government is also mulling the idea of every visa application being processed within the next 48 hours.”

“Nigeria’s e-visa process is part of a broader effort to streamline and modernise the country’s visa system, as outlined in the Nigeria Visa Policy (NVP) 2020.

“The e-visa system allows visiting non-Nigerians to apply online. Applicants must complete an electronic application form, upload necessary documents, and pay the required fees.

“Such e-visas available include the Short Visit Visa for business, which allows for a maximum stay of 90 days, and various investor visas that cater to different scales of investment from small to ultra-large enterprises.