Joint Task Force arrest Boko Haram leader

The senator accused by the Joint Task Force (JTF) of harbouring a top Boko Haram commander in his personal residence in Maiduguri, Ahmed Zanna, told a select group of senior reporters in Abuja yesterday that the arrest was actually effected in the residence of a former governor of Borno State.

"Contrary to the claim of the JTF, the boy, Shu'aibu Bama, was arrested in a house at Rabi Street, off Damboa Road," said Zanna.

As to why the JTF would seek to frame him up as he claimed, the senator, who represents Borno Central in the Senate, said: "It obviously was as a result of an interview I granted the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) last week asking for their withdrawal from the state because they are not working according to the rules of engagement.

"I noticed that they are just killing innocent people, killing them unnecessarily, harassing their families, extorting money. All these have been going on and I became so concerned. Particularly, the killing and burning of houses became the order of the day."

Explaining the extent of havoc allegedly wreaked on Borno by the JTF, the senator said: "At least 300 houses were burnt within the last one and a half months. And it will not be an exaggeration for me to say that up to 500 people were killed by the bullets of the JTF.

"I called for their withdrawal because even Boko Haram cannot do more than that. If they have come to protect us, they are not supposed to eliminate our young ones. Most of the people affected are young ones."

Senator Zanna said from the information he got two days ago, the "JTF has also started killing old men. Somebody who was about 70 years old was even killed. He was sitting down listening to a radio and a JTF man came and he said, 'Baba come'. So, they just took him to a certain distance and shot him. This is the type of things happening. So, my people are helpless. This warranted me to react.

Answering a question as to what exactly transpired when the JTF personnel went to his house, Senator Zanna said: "On Thursday (last week), they went to my house. At that time, I was in Warri on an oversight function of the Senate. My wife called me, saying soldiers were at our gate. Actually, they went with four armoured vehicles and about 40 of them came to my house.

"They searched all the rooms and when they went to the children's room, they broke all their cabinets and searched everywhere. When they could not find anything, they assembled all the boys in my building, took them out and put them under the scorching sun. Actually, before doing that, they beat them up; we had to take them to hospital later.

"Under this traumatised condition, they now asked them whether they knew one Shuaib Bama. They said of course they knew when they saw him.

"One of them was asked to go and show them where he was living. As they were going, when they were about to reach the house, they stopped. In fact, they blindfolded the boy. And one of the officers asked one of the personnel to come down so that they should follow him to the house without the boy telling them where the house was.

"So, as they started going, the other officer sitting down asked him, 'If you know the house, then, why should we pick this boy?' And after some arguments, they went to the house and arrested the boy.

I reacted because they said they arrested the boy in the house of a serving senator along Damboa Road and I am the only legislator living along Damboa Road."

With self-assuredness, the senator retorted: "I really do not understand why they did all these. I am confused. If they want to frame me up, they have failed in that one because they did not get that boy in my house. I have nothing to do with it. Let them go and ask the person where the boy was staying. So, they should not have mentioned my house.

On his actual relationship with Shu'aibu Bama, the senator said: "Yes, he is my sister's son. As for his behaviour, he is a drug addict. He beats up my children, he abuses my friends. He came to my house, so I sent him away. That was almost a year ago. And for whatever reason I don't know, he came to my house last week and I told my wife that he should leave the house.

"Actually, he is a drug addict as I told you. Sometime ago, he even threatened to kill his mother. So, the mother was not even feeling comfortable living with him. And she narrated that to me. That is why I also do not want him to be near me.

"I don't know him to be a Boko Haram member. Never, never! I do not know him to be a member of Boko Haram.

"Since my house was searched and the JTF made the announcement, I have not been contacted by security agencies. But it was only this morning (Sunday) I saw a text that the SSS DG will want to see me on Monday. I will honour the invitation . What I am suspecting is that they want to frame me up. I am going to honour the invitation to clear my name and that of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

Northern governors bemoan worsening security situation

Following renewed mass killing of innocent people recently in Potiskum and Dogon Dawa in Yobe and Kaduna states, the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) at the weekend called on all terrorist groups to give peace a chance.

The NSGF said, in a statement, that the senseless killings of innocent citizens in the last two weeks in various parts of the country negated all efforts to restore peace to the country, especially in the north.

The forum appealed to terrorist groups in the country to sheathe their swords, saying that reverting to attacks and other acts of violence after weeks of reprieve would not advance the cause of peace.

The chairman of the forum and governor of Niger State, Dr Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, made the position of the forum known in a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, yesterday in Minna.

The statement stated that the forum expressed serious concern at the renewed attacks on citizens: the murder of 34 persons in Potiskum, Yobe State, on Friday, as well as the 22 people killed at Dogon Dawa village in Kaduna State a fortnight ago.

Aliyu said, in the statement, that the forum was particularly alarmed at the shooting which led to the death of 14 persons in Plateau State penultimate week; the same pattern followed during the killing of 40 students at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa State.

The statement recalled that, earlier in the month, there was the murder of two road safety marshals in Kano and four students of the University of Port Harcourt.

It said the overall implication of the rising wave of murders of Nigerians is that the security situation in the country is worsening and people are increasingly willing to resort to violence to settle their differences.

The statement reads in part: "We are worried that the security nightmare currently confronting the nation is capable of scaring off investors from Nigeria and putting the country on the travel advisory list of many countries around the world, thus dimming the country's economic prospects."

The forum, however, commended security agencies for the success recorded so far, but urged them not to relent, saying the little success recorded should motivate them to do more.

It said northern governors were working closely with their colleagues from the south and the federal government, knowing full well that the raison d'être of any government is the welfare and security of its citizens.

Why FG must dialogue with Boko Haram - Shonekan

Former interim head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Nigeria, Chief Ernest Shonekan, has given reasons why the federal government must dialogue with the leadership of the Boko Haram sect.

Shonekan said the country would not make any headway in its economic transformation agenda, unless the insecurity that has pervaded the environment is tackled and the youths provided with gainful employment.

Shonekan made this declaration at the weekend during the graduation ceremony of the 48 participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course, EIMC, held at the Institute for Security Studies at the Lower Usuma Dam, Abuja. He also raised the alarm about imminent mass migration resulting from the food shortage caused by climate change and drought.

The former head of state, who was chairman of the occasion, pointed out that the way forward for the country was to engage all the militant groups in the country in a robust dialogue to make them see reasons why they must eschew violence.

Shonekan said: "National security is perhaps the most important issue on the front burner of the government and every well-meaning Nigerian today. It is also for this reason that this course was put together to expose participants to security issues and to enable us find solutions to the insecurity in some parts of the country.

"Safety of Nigerians and their property and safety of the economic resources of the country are part of the constitutional duties of the government. It is obvious that a country where there is insecurity of life and property cannot experience sustained economic growth or socio-economic and political transformation.

"It therefore behoves all of us to team up to find a lasting solution to the current insecurity so that we can achieve peace and stability in the polity and sustained growth of the economy. The Boko Haram disturbances in parts of the country, oil thefts by militants in the Niger Delta and the crisis in Plateau State are indications of the level of insecurity in the country."

"One of the immediate steps that we must take is to dialogue with the leaders of those who are perpetrating insecurity in the country. They are Nigerians and we must find ways and means of engaging them in robust dialogue to make them see reason and eschew violence."

The director-general of the Department of State Security, Mr. Ekpenyong Ita, admonished the graduates drawn from all the security agencies as well as some government establishments to deploy their newly acquired know-how to improve the country's security situation, noting that they were graduating at a time when the country was facing complex security challenges like kidnapping, oil theft, piracy, violent crimes and terrorism.

"I do not think that this nation has ever faced a more fluid, more dynamic or more complex threat situations as what is currently being faced, particularly terrorism. The goal is to cause maximum chaos and provoke the other side into desperate over-reaction," he said. "This is a war we have paid the supreme sacrifice for and have no alternative except to sustain the current tempo in order to ensure ultimate victory."

Leadership

Floods in Nigeria causing death and starvation

The flood disaster in Adamawa state due to the opening of Lagdo Dam in Cameroon has almost taken over the entire state affecting almost all the 21 local government areas in Adamawa and over 150 communities were seriously ravaged by this destructive flood taking away lives, submerging communities, washing away farmlands and rendering people homeless, making them efugees in their own land. Communities worst hit are Guyuk, Demsa, Numan, Lamurde, Yola south, Yola North, Madagali, Gireo, Mayo-belwa, Mubi North, and Mubi south.

In Demsa, almost the entire local government was submerged, while in Madagali about 40 communities were submerged. Yola north had 30 communities and in some villages like Wuro-Bokki, dead bodies of humans and animals were sighted floating in the river- it was reported that over 10,000 people were displaced as a result of the incidence.

Narrating their ordeal to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY, Joseph Emmanuel, a native of Demsa one of the worst hit local governments in the state; he said that the recent flood disaster was the worst he had ever seen in his life.

"I don't know where to begin but honestly I have never experienced this kind of disaster in my life. I never even believed that such devastation could happen to people like us who are only struggling to survive in this frustrated country of ours.

I lost all my means of livelihood and all that I have laboured for in my life and left virtually with nothing. How will I even pick up my life again? I don't know what they are giving us in the name of feeding; it cannot even sustain one person not to talk of other members of my family, so we've become more like beggars and prisoners."

On his part, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, narrating his ordeal to our correspondent, accused the government of insensitivity over their plight by not doing enough to ameliorate the suffering just as he accused some officials of shoddy deals.

"It is most unfortunate that at a time when we find ourselves in this situation the government has been treating us like animals. We didn't bring ourselves into this condition but despite all the support and assistance being given to us, some people who are saddled with the responsibility of taking care of us keep on short-changing us through fraudulent means. Imagine a situation where a family of three will be given two or three measures of rice? It is heartless and calls for new measures to be put in place, because, even when the federal government's assistance comes, it may not reach some of us."

From the north to the southern senatorial districts of the state the story is almost the same. According to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY findings, one of the predicament and challenges faced by the flood victims was the alleged diversion of relief materials for personal use by some person who were given the responsibilities of ameliorating the suffering of the affected people.

However, in some internally displaced camps visited, the flood victims complained that items being given to them can hardly sustain them and their families considering its quantity and this exposed them to more hunger and starvation as they have no alternative means of survival having lost all their belongings to the flood while some victims, particularly in communities of Bandawa Mutifun, Donti, Koya Insa, Gurmi, Baware , Wudi, Keke all in Lamurde local government area said that the government has neglect them and they are discriminated against.

Kogi and Enugu State IDPs drink from contaminated river

For indigenes and residents of border communities in Kogi and Enugu States including Elele, Ekanyi, Obale, Affa in Analo and Igga, the flood would have claimed many lives if the victims were not armed with swimming skills.The flood, which assumed a dangerous dimension has succeeded in displacing over 5000 members of the affected communities, thereby rendering them homeless and making them refugees.

Currently, they are seeking refuge in neighbouring communities in Idah Local government of Kogi State and Uzo-Uwani local government area of Enugu State.

Also, the refugees are reportedly drinking from the flooded Mabolo River which is very unsafe for human consumption because of its dirty nature, while hunger has become a major problem for them since most of them who were evacuated from their homes in wooden canoes could not carry foodstuffs.

Our correspondent who visited the victims' refugee camps in Enugu gathered that most residents of Ekanyi, Obale and Affa succeeded in crossing over to the Enugu boundary communities of Ogrugu, Ojjor and Iggah in Uzo-Uwani council using wooden canoes.

The people of Elele, Odobo, Nwajala and Ejule whose communities have also been completely submerged have all relocated to Idah town where they are now seeking refuge.

A source also disclosed that people from Odeke community in Ibaji council whose homes were also destroyed by the flood have relocated to Iggah community in Enugu state.

As at the time of filling this report, many Ekanyi and Affa natives were still arriving Ogurugu which has become a major host for the refugees which included aged men, women and children.

LEADERSHIP SUNDAY gathered that all the victims of the flood who have arrived Enugu are seeking refuge in primary schools and churches. Some of the buildings have no windows and doors, a development that may expose the victims to serious health hazards.

Already, some old people and children have fallen sick due to exposure to cold while women and teenage girls have lost their privacy as they stay together with men.

Narrating his ordeal, Mr James Oyekwu , a farmer, who is at Iggah Refugee Camp, said he and members of his family left their homes in wooden canoes after the flood . He stated that some of them sleep inside classrooms and Catholic Church building, adding that children have already started falling sick because of poor environment.

"Help us to appeal to the Federal Government to come to our aid urgently. We have not had a bath since we arrived , we need food, money, clothes, shelter and drugs to survive here. Let them come to our aid" he pleaded.

He further disclosed that four persons including a man, his wife and two children were drowned when their boat capsized while they were on their way to one the refugee camps in Enugu. According to him, the boat capsized while the victims were trying to calm down their goat.

LEADERSHIP SUNDAY also gathered that a woman gave birth to baby in a canoe while another was delivered of a baby inside a refugee camp in Enugu State.

In Delta, Reptiles, Poor Toilet System, Feeding Rock Various Camps

With over four thousand communities reportedly submerged by overflowing dam spread to Delta, especially in Isoko Local government, communities in the state it was confirmed that over 10,500 adults excluding children have successfully been evacuated and registered in camps.

Over two thousand communities were submerged; investigations by LEADERSHIP SUNDAY revealed that more communities are being submerged as various camps have also been over populated, leaving the victims vulnerable.

At Saint Patrick College camp in Asaba over 3,700 victims suffer congestion and poor feeding system even though the state government has provided adequate facilities.

For instance, there were observations of poor personnel, poor medical attention and no fewer than sixteen expectant mothers were seen in pain.

However, some of the victims who spoke to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY: "We are happy there are relief materials, but there is no adequate security and reptiles visit us at night. "

At Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area, there were 7,000 victims who may be infested with communicable diseases- a possible epidemic looms.

Although the State health Commissioner allayed fears of the unknown, victims who did not want their names in the print said: "they moved us from Iyede, Emevor, Olomoro and brought us to the Oleh camp, the water we drink is bad, no security, there is serious congestion, all of us will just put our head in one place'.

Food Shortage, Disease Outbreak and Anambra Govt's Efforts

The sight of children clustering in a section of Reverend Father Joseph camp provided for people displaced by flood in Anambra got this reporter thinking; what could be the attraction? While mothers sat in a section, most carrying their suckling babies, and all looking in the direction where the children were clustered, it was hard to tell what was happening there.

Just as this reporter made to move towards the crowd, there seemed to be a combustion and every child scuttled away from the arena in another direction, then the attraction revealed itself... officials were distributing food meant to be lunch to the victims.

As the children clutched plates in their hand and looked nowhere else but at the big cooler of food, it was clear that what held their attraction, and what they cared most for now is the food. While the older children pushed their way to the cooler of rice, ignoring shouts for them to maintain decorum by officials, the younger children were restrained from going near by their mothers to avoid being injured in a stampede.

A mother in one of the camps in Onitsha who gave her name as Mrs Ozioma Uzor told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY that for the past three weeks that she has been at the camp, life has not been easy for her and her three children. She said that her case and that of her children is made even worse because she was unable to rescue anything from her house before it was submerged by flood.

"You see some of our neighbours here, they came with cooking pots, and once in a while when we get visitors who donate food item or money to us, they quickly make a fire and cook something for their children to complement the food that government brings to us here every day. In our case, me and my children have to depend on the food government brings, which most times are hoarded away from victims by wicked people."

Mrs Uzor is not alone in her plight, most of the children spoken to at Father Joseph camp in Aguleri seemed to care a lot about food. That they sleep in open space is not enough trouble to the children like the fact that there is less to eat in the camp. Mrs Theresa Ekwealor told our correspondent that there is discrimination in the sharing of food in camp, she complained that some officials now hoard food, and adduce many reasons not to give food to some victims in camp.

"There is now discrimination in feeding, some of the officials deny us food at day with the flimsy excuse that we did not sleep in the camp at night. Look at the kind of place where hundreds of us sleep every night, there are not enough mattresses, so some people at night leave camp to find where our children can sleep, but when we come back in the morning, we are denied food.

This was not what the governor told them, he (Gov) said he will be providing us food, but the officials find reasons to deny us food, you must tell them o." She cried.

For Mr Anaekwe Chuwuemeka, a victim in the same camp said the problem is not from the governor at all. "The governor is doing his best, he comes here everyday to see us, and promised that he will keep feeding us until the flood recedes, and that he will ensure that our houses are rebuilt so we can move back. I think the problem of food is with the town union officials, they are hoarding the food provided for us, making most of us and our children to go to bed hungry every day.

Though NEMA, Nigerian Red Cross Sociaty and other agencies are trying hard to provide relief materials for the victims, Anambra State government through Governor Peter Obi has championed help for the victims. Obi who has temporarily assigned the Secretary to State Government, Mr OselokaObaze to ensure strict monitoring of the condition of the victims and report to the state government makes daily visit to the camps.

LEADERSHIP SUNDAY observed that true to an earlier warning of the Nigerian red Cross Society on imminent out break of diseases in the camps, some victims in camp were already suffering from some diseases. It was disclosed to our correspondent that the diseases included; pneumonia and cholera among others.

Couple Loses Baby, Seeks Help For Incubated Twin In Benue

Mrs Ifeoma Ibini, a 21-year-old native of Ebonyi state who lives in Makurdi is a victim of the floods which swept away parts of the state recently. Married to Emeka Ibini, a seller of insecticides in Makurdi before the floods ravaged their home, sweeping away all that they had in their one-room flat of their crowded compound.

Many of the flood victims were evacuated to the IDP camp at the LGEA Primary school, Wurukum. That was where Ifeoma, who was 7 months pregnant at the time went into premature labour, delivering twins, one of who later died. At the federal health facility the few incubators at the hospital were in use when Ifeoma was taken there, so they coul not save one of the babies.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP SUNDAY , Mrs Ibini said that the other twin had to be incubated at another hospital where they were later moved to, Madonna Hospital, a private hospital where they charged N3,500 a day to incubate the baby. She is therefore asking for government assistance to save her baby's life. "this is my first pregnancy and I though God would bless us with twins but I lost one.

Since I came to this hospital, we have been struggling to pay medical bills;my husband is a petty trader, I want government to assist us because our surving baby needs to be incubated for three months before he can survive on his own." She pleaded.

Leadership

Related stories: Video - Thousands displaced by floods in Nigeria

Video - Hundreds displaced by flood in Nigeria

Nigerians arrested in Bangkok with $33,300 worth of illegal drugs

Two Nigerian men, suspected of being part of a drug smuggling ring, were arrested, yesterday, with 500 grams of crystal methamphetamine, also known as ‘ice,’ valued at an estimated Bt1 million (about $33,300) in eastern Bangkok’s Ramkhamhaeng area, according to narcotics suppression police.

Identified as Ahamefule Cosmos and Iriegbe Chinonso, the two Nigerian nationals were detained at a convenience store near Ramkhamhaeng Soi 24.

Police took them to their apartment for further investigation and found 28 packages of crystal meth, weighing in total 500 grams valued at $33,300.

The arrest followed the arrest of Thai national Polsingha Putthasri, who held 100 grams of ‘ice,’ saying he bought the illegal drug from a Nigerian drug syndicate.

According to the initial investigation, the detainees claimed that their friend smuggled the drug for them to sell it to party-goers and tourists in Bangkok’s Ratchada and Nana areas.

Initially, the two Nigerians were charged with possessing illicit drugs for sale.

Vanguard

First Lady leaves hospital and is back in Abuja

First Lady Patience Jonathan returned to Abuja yesterday after weeks in a German hospital, saying people who thought she would die in Aso Rock because of previous deaths of Presidential spouses forgot that not all leaders were bereaved while in the Villa.

Mrs Jonathan left Nigeria around August 28 with no public announcement on where she was headed. On September 3 Daily Trust broke the story that she went to Germany on a medical trip, but her aide told the newspaper that the First Lady only travelled abroad to rest after series of tiring official activities.

During her absence, rumours circulated that Mrs Jonathan underwent cosmetic surgery similar to the one that caused the death of Mrs. Stella Obasanjo.

Some messages on social media went to the extent of speculating that she may not survive the surgery because two successive Presidential couples did not come out of Aso Rock together.

"Thank God Almighty for bringing me back safely to Nigeria. Wherever there are good people there are also bad ones," the First Lady said shortly after alighting from a Presidential jet that ferried her back from Germany.

Mrs Jonathan was received at the airport by Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, Petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, Environment minister Hadiza Mailafia, Education minister Ruqayyatu Rufai, Labour minister Emeka Wogu, some ministers of states, wife of the Senate President, Mrs Helen Mark, some wives of state governors and other government officials.

"There are a few Nigerians that are saying whatever they like not what God planned because God has a plan for all of us," she said into a microphone held by a Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) journalist, amidst cheering by a large crowd that turned up to welcome her.

"And God has said it all that when two or three are gathered in his name that he will be with them. And Nigerians gathered and prayed for me and God listened and heard their prayers. So, I thank God for that.

"At the same time, I will use this opportunity to tell those few ones that are saying that anybody that goes to Villa or Aso Rock will die. They mentioned Abacha, they mentioned Stella Obasanjo, they mentioned Yar'Adua and other people. But those people, why didn't they mention those ones that went there with their families and succeeded and they still came out alive?

"We should remember that Aso Rock is the seat of power and that is where God has ordained for we Nigerians that our leaders should rule from and to rule us right. God is wonderful and his infinite mercy."

While she was away, Mrs Jonathan was reported to be hospitalised at the Horst Schmidt Klinik in Wiesbaden, Germany, for food poisoning and ruptured appendix.

But yesterday she denied being in that hospital or undergoing cosmetic surgery, though she didn't say which hospital she went to or which ailment she suffered.

"At the same time, I read in the media where they said I was in the hospital. God Almighty knows I have never been to that hospital, I don't even know the hospital they mentioned," she said.

"I have to explain what God has done for me. I do not have terminal illness, or rather any cosmetic surgery, talk less of tummy tuck. My husband loves me as I am and I am pleased with how God created me I cannot add."

She called the period of her absence "my trial time" and thanked those who offered support. "God has given be a second chance to come and work with women of Nigeria, children and the less privileged. I have come to save Nigeria, I have come to work with Nigerians, I am there for them. Once more I am pleased to be back. I love Nigerians they are my family," she added.

Soon after her arrival, Mrs Jonathan left the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and headed to the Presidential Villa, where she was received by President Goodluck Jonathan and other well-wishers.

She was seen hugging the President, her children and mother in-law.

Mrs. Jonathan's return, just like her departure, was shrouded in secrecy as there was no public announcement on it.

Yesterday was the first time she was seen in public since sometime in August. But last week, she was shown in a grainy, short video clip on the NTA when the president visited her in Germany.

Daily Trust

Related stories: First Lady Patience Jonathan in German hospital

Video - Nigerian boarding school movie ZR-7 now available on DVD and VOD

The critically acclaimed feature ZR-7 The Red House seven is now available on amazon.com DVD and VOD:

ZR-7 tells the classic life of boarding school adventure involving TJ with six of his friends (Rolly-D, Chiedu, UK, Tokunbo, Femi & James) while in JSS 1 (7th grade). The boys are initially shocked by all the hoops they have to jump in order to survive teachers, prefects, wicked seniors, dining hall food, thieves, cutting grass, washing toilets, puppy love and all the other regular experiences anyone in a public Nigerian boarding school would experience. But when TJ and the boys accidentally see a man and two female students in an uncompromising position, what they do with that information is not their only problem in school, but the resulting scandal would change their lives far beyond their wildest dreams.

Written and Directed by Olufemi D. Ogunsanwo & Udoka Oyeka

Director Of Photography Bishop C. Kagho Idhebor

Editor Chidi Nwaozomudoh

IMDB