Foreign / News

FG to Nigerians: Don’t go to Northern Cyprus, over 20 students killed there

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has cautioned Nigerian students against going to Northern Cyprus.

The Chairperson/CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, handed down the warning on Thursday in Abuja.

Dabiri-Erewa spoke at a ministerial briefing organized by the Presidential Communications Team.

She said Northern Cyprus was not recognized by the UN, adding that a lot of students had been killed there.

She said: “There have been a lot of problems in Northern Cyprus.

“We have youths come to tell us: please tell everybody to stop going to Northern Cyprus.

“We did that sometime ago and we were challenged at what rights we had to tell people not to go Northern Cyprus.

“I say it again: if you have to go Northern Cyprus, think twice about it.

“No fewer than 20 students have been killed over the years and nothing has happened to the assailants.

“Students who had gone there earlier came to tell us that they had to embark on awareness campaign.

“Don’t go to these places.

“Northern Cyprus is recognized only by Turkey.”

Dabiri-Erewa added that NiDCOM would continue to appeal that Nigeria took a strong decision about places like Northern Cyprus.

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News / Security / Transportation

Death toll in Kaduna attacks rises to 40

With the killing of four persons in Kacecere and Ungwan Taila villages of Zangon-Kataf Local Council, Kaduna State, the death toll in recent attacks in the state has risen from 36 to 40.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, in statement, yesterday, disclosed that two bodies were discovered in Kacecere village, while the other two were discovered in Ungwan Tilla.

“The military has reported to the Kaduna State Government the discovery of two more bodies in Kacecere village. This discovery was reported by Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), as it continued with search-and-rescue operation in the area, following the September 27, 2021 attack. The dead bodies were identified as Idris Mairiga and Yunusa Dangana, both residents of the village.

“Kacecere village was attacked in reprisal to earlier attacks in Jankasa village in Zangon Kataf, and Madamai in Kaura, as reported to the government by the security agencies. The latest discovery of two bodies brings the death toll from the Kacecere attack to 12, while that of Madamai stands at 38. Search-and-rescue efforts are ongoing in both locations.”

The commissioner, in another statement he issued, said troops of OPSH had reported an attack by unidentified persons at Ungwan Taila village, in which two residents were killed.

According to a report to the Kaduna government, the troops arrived at the location to find that the assailants had killed two residents, Helen Lucky and Hananiah Elijah

“Receiving the report, Governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed deep regret at the further loss of life from such attacks in the area. He prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to their families.

“In the meantime, the troops will continue search-and-rescue operations in the area. Citizens will be briefed on further updates,” he added.…

News / Security

Jos Killings: Only justice can stop reprisals — MURIC

The Islamic human rights organization, Muslim Rights Concern has again demanded stiff punishment according to the law for the killing of 23 Muslim travelers on August 14, 2021.

The group insisted that reprisal killings will continue unless justice is swiftly and effectively served.

MURIC stated this on Tuesday in a statement issued by its Director and Founder, Prof. Ishaq Akintola.

The statement said: “Once again we are constrained to reiterate our strong condemnation of the brutal killing of Muslim travellers which occurred on Saturday, 14th August, 2021 at Rukuba, Jos, the Plateau State capital. The attack was carried out by Irigwe Christians mourning their lost ones. That attack was wicked, callous and animalistic. “However, we are of the opinion that killing with impunity will not stop unless justice is swiftly and effectively served. A situation where every brutal killing is anchored on a previous attack is Bohemian and unacceptable. It smirks of a society whose norms, values and law enforcement machinery has totally broken down. This must not be allowed to happen.

“This cycle of reprisal killings can be traced back to the Zango-Kataf crisis of 1992. Subsequent killings would have been averted if the reports and recommendations of the Okadigbo panel had been implemented. But criminal elements continue to hide under the canopies of religion and ethnicity to unleash mayhem on innocent people because of the laxity in the system.

“What we need therefore is systemic change. State governments must stop providing cover for criminals. This aptly applies to the situation in Plateau State today as we find Governor Lalong giving a ludicrous excuse to extenuate the sadistic killing of innocent and unarmed Muslim travelers. Unfortunately this is not the first time Lalong will aid and abet the killing of Muslims.

“We therefore reiterate our demand that the investigations into this latest massacre must be handled by the Federal Government. For this reason, we commend the strong intervention of the Inspector General of Police and the Nigerian Army in the restoration of normalcy in Jos and its environs. We …

News

Killer of ex Ondo deputy governor’s daughter confesses

Indications emerged on Wednesday that two other accomplices partook in the killing of the daughter of the Ex Ondo deputy governor, Khadijat, who was allegedly killed by her boyfriend for money ritual in ondo state.

The main suspect, Adeyemi Alao, who made this confession during his parade by the Ondo State Police Command in Akure, the state capital, said the two other suspects took to their heels after killing the final year student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko.

Explaining how the young lady was murdered, Adeyemi said her girlfriend of eight years was killed by the other two suspects but he dug the grave inside his room where the girl was buried.

Giving the graphic details, Adeyemi said “Khadijat was my girlfriend since 2010 and she visited me to help her in writing her final project in school. She slept in my place on Thursday and left on Friday the following day.

“She sent a text message to me on Monday, 2nd July that I should send some money to her. But I was surprised to see her that same Monday when she came with two boys to my room.

“I left her in my room with the two boys but when they called me some 30 minutes later, one of the guys brought out a gun and ordered me to kneel down while one of them was making love to Khadijat who was naked on my bed”

Adeyemi said further, “Khadijat was begging them to leave and promising not to tell anyone about what happened but they strangulated her in the process and ordered me to go and bring digger and shovel.

“I thought they wanted to use that to escape from the scene of the incident but when I entered the room they were still there and ordered me to dig the grave where we buried her in my room and covered it with the rug. ”

Asked why he failed to alert his parents or tenants when he was ordered to look for the diggers, he …

News

My security chiefs racking their brains to stop the killings – President Buhari

President Buhari has appealed to Nigerians to be patient with him as his security chiefs are cracking their brains to come up with a lasting solution to the wanton killings recorded in some parts of the country.

Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement released, quoted the President as saying this while condemning killings of many people, including a district head, in and around Gandi village in Rabah Local Government of Sokoto State by bandits.

“I wish to assure all Nigerians that their security is receiving the greatest attention from this administration and there is no compromise in this commitment. I appeal for your patience while my security teams crack their brains to put an end to this horrendous violence,” Shehu quoted Buhari as saying.

Shehu quoted President Buhari as saying the Federal government will no longer tolerate the killings

“This wanton violence against innocent people won’t be tolerated by this government, and we are working round the clock to identify the people sponsoring these heartless attacks. It is curious why any group of mass murderers would be targeting and killing innocent people for no just reason. Make no mistake about it, my administration remains committed to security as one of its core objectives, and any attempt to test our will by any group of anarchists and troublemakers will be met with equal force. Identifying and defeating these callous killers is receiving priority from this administration, and we shall spare no effort in tracing the root of this evil, especially their sources of funding and arms.”…