GENOCIDE IS NOT COMMUNAL CONFLICT: PRESIDENT TINUBU’S RESPONSE TO BENUE KILLINGS FALLS DANGEROUSLY SHORT

Issued by: Apostle (Dr.) Bolaji O. Akinyemi

Convener, The Apostolic Round Table

The Apostolic Round Table (ART) expresses deep dismay and utter disappointment at the recent statement released by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu via his official X handle, @OfficialABAT, regarding the continued and escalating massacres in Benue State.

While we acknowledge the President’s eventual public attention to what he described as "senseless bloodletting," we reject in the strongest terms the false framing of the crisis as a communal conflict. What is happening in Benue is not a conflict between communities — it is genocide, perpetrated by well-armed terrorists against indigenous peoples, with the complicity of silence and inaction at the highest levels of power.

The President's directive to security agencies to “arrest perpetrators on all sides” is an unfortunate mischaracterization that equates invaders with victims, terrorists with communities defending themselves, and criminals with casualties. Such ambiguity is not only irresponsible but also emboldens those who thrive on impunity and bloodshed.

The continued reference to “dialogue and reconciliation” is tone-deaf and ill-timed. You cannot negotiate with killers while they are still holding the machetes. You cannot ask people to reconcile with those who have turned their homes into graveyards.

Mr. President, as Commander-in-Chief, your duty is not to mediate between life and death. It is to defend life. Your response has not only fallen short of your mandate; it reeks of either deep ignorance of the “underlying issues” or a troubling political mischief that sides with neutrality in the face of evil.

We therefore make the following demands:

1. Immediate military intervention in all affected Benue communities with clear rules of engagement to protect civilians.

2. Public identification and prosecution of known perpetrators and their sponsors.

3. A national security address from the President with a detailed and time-bound roadmap to end the genocidal attacks across Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

4. A halt to further gaslighting and false equivalence in government statements concerning acts of terror.

Benue does not need sympathy. Benue does not need another committee. Benue needs protection — now.

Should this government continue to treat mass murder with press releases instead of action, the Apostolic Round Table will mobilize a nationwide prophetic and civic movement to demand accountability. We will not fold our arms while our people are buried in silence.

History will judge every leader not by the speeches they gave, but by the blood they refused to let spill. Mr. President, it is time to act like the Commander-in-Chief you were elected to be.

Signed,

Apostle (Dr.) Bolaji O. Akinyemi

Convener, The Apostolic Round Table

Date: Monday, 16th June 2025.

TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE BY GEN. T Y DANJUMA

 General T. Y. Danjuma's speech recently about Nigeria's Insecurity Situation in April, 2025. It is titled 'TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE'. It is worth reading for posterity. 

Gen TY Danjuma only said it in a nutshell. You may read the real story behind his outburst.  

 *TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE* 

I want to begin with History. Most people have heard the phrase : - "Too little, too late,"- but very few know the origin of that phrase and what it was actually created to serve.

  In the 1930's - 40's the world moved on precariously and dangerously, tethering and staggering on the path of self-destruction. The wicked were on the march and full of courage and conviction while the righteous majority were racked with indecision, fear, selfishness and utter indifference. The forces of tyranny were on the wings making dramatic gains while there was no courage or political will on the other side to challenge them.

  Just as it is now in our nation.

Nazism was already establishing its tentacles in Germany with Hitler surrounded by the adoration of a nation of culture that has lost its way. Fascism was taking hold and consolidating itself in Italy with Mussolini daring anyone to cross his path. In Asia the Japanese, the Red Dragon, was building a formidable arsenal and stronghold, a military - industrial complex to form the tripod of evil.

  Against all these formidable forces the Free World had nothing except Appeasement from Britain, Indecision from America and a Soviet Union shackled by an ideology that is good on paper but never worked on ground, struggling with a large restless population it was unable to feed. 

Thus against Germany's Nazism, Italian Fascism and Japanese Militarism which constituted the Axial Powers, the Free World had no answer or nothing to meet them.

  There was little courage and even much more little leadership in the Free World to confront the rampaging hordes of wickedness threatening to enslave the world.

 It was in this very season that the phrase "Too Little, Too Late' was coined to show the lack of leadership and courage in the Free World. That phrase represents "the poverty of courage and creative leadership", of combat men and materials to face the rampaging hordes of naked outright fascistic terrorism assaulting the world. Just as it now is in our dear nation.

  No leadership. No courage. No conviction. Except among the fascists.

In 1938 it was Czechoslovakia and Austria where Hitler marched and swallowed in the face of British Appeasement.

In 1939 it was the turn of Poland. Hitler took over Poland with spoken words, without firing a shot. He was an orator.

In 1940 it was the turn of France, Belgium and Holland.

  And finally on Sunday morning December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor, America got the message. In the following Spring 1942 in the Philippines Japanese Militarism came with full force and wiped out an entire torpedo fleet causing the fall of Beaten and Conequidor and forcing Gen. MacArthur to retreat to Australia - all the men of the tiny fleet wiped out.

  America got the message. Indecision is a decision. Refusing to fight and confront the enemy and a threat is itself a decision to submit to his tyranny.

Britain at last got the message: You don't appease the devil or a monster; you confront him.

   From 1938-41 there was too little courage and leadership in the world to face the threat. By the time the Free world would now come together to confront the enemy it was too late. 60 million souls had to perish to stop the tripod of evil led by Adolf Hitler. But if the threat had been confronted in 1938 more lives wouldn't have been wasted. Military experts estimated that at the most, 30,000 lives might have been lost to stop Hitler in 1938; but it was not done. So the war that Chamberlain feared eventually came and now 60 million lives had to perish.

  Too little, too late.

  These were the lessons of the World War but do we really learn? History is not only a faithful record of the past, it is also a prophecy of what is coming.

Today I see the same thing, the same processes at work in our nation. The same forces, the same strategies and shenanigans. And just like in the Free World of the 1930's there is no leadership, courage and conviction. While the forces of enslavers, tyranny are growing in their actions and bravery the forces of freedom are in disarray and unsure of even what action to take.

Last year the NBS gave us to know that banditry and kidnapping are the most lucrative trades in Nigeria before the report was pulled down by hackers. The wise will understand.

At least we all can now see that insecurity has worsened. Farmers are now in danger and their farms in more danger.

Few weeks ago the Afenifere Youth leader was captured on his way to Abuja around Akoko, one of the most dangerous spots and staging post of bandits and kidnappers. He wasn't released until his wife paid N17 million naira. 

   Few days ago the same bandits or herdsmen went to a community farm in Ondo State and killed 20 persons. The video was shown to all.

The latest video that touched me was that of herdsmen harvesting cassava in a Southeastern region to feed to their cows.

That is where we now are. Soon they will come to the cities and towns and to your houses to feed your foodstuffs to their cows and do what they like with your children and wives.

Just wait.

A monster is not stopped by persuasion, pleading or reason. Or even the appeal to Law. He is stopped only by what he believes in : Force.

When Hitler went to Czechoslovakia and Austria no one stopped him. The consequence: he proceeded to Poland, then to France... Belgium.

Before, the bandits were in the forest but now they operate from the highways. Now it is the farms and villages. Soon it will be your houses and right inside your towns.

In 2018 I warned the Yorubas about these and what to do. In 2020 I warned the entire Southerners ( and especially Yorubas) what steps they should take urgently. ( See *Something Has Happened to the Yoruba, 7 Dangerous Delusions Among Southerners* )

If they have heeded the lessons then it wouldn't have escalated to this level. 

  Then there was little courage and leadership in Yoruba land. The politicians would not say anything not to jeopardise their chances.

Bola Tinubu would not say anything because his eyes were on 2023 just as he won't say anything now because he is also focused on 2027. Human lives were expendables in 1941 when Macarthur retreated allowing a fleet to be wiped out; they are too now as the rulers keep silent in the face of tyranny.

I saw the report sent out by the Afenifere Youth leader asking for action now. He said the land has been encircled. So it is just now you are discovering that?

Poor you. Why didn't you join me to magnify the call in 2018, 2019 to 2023? It is late now.

It is now you know that your forests are surrounded? It is now you know that you are encircled? Because it happened to you? 

  This is the first phase. They need to impoverish your people first by collecting their money through kidnapping to fund their jihadist army. They need to destroy your harvest to create famine so you won't be able to fight when the D- Day comes. They need to instill fear into you to even step out of your house. Before they move to the last and final phase: attack or genocide. It happened in Turkey to the Armenians while the world was busy with the First World War and no one was watching. It could happen again.

  These are the ways of the tyrants and they are on course. All these were clear to me as far back as 2018. I knew this won't go away. I knew it would get worse.

 Now time has been lost. Now unity of purpose is lacking.

Where is the leadership today in Yorubaland? Where is courage and proactive thinking in the nation? Indecision, self-seeking, personal glory, love of pleasure... indifference.

The Oyo House of Representatives member, Mrs Sadipe declared the other day that in her constituency farmers could no longer go to farms because herdsmen have wrecked havocs everywhere. Didn't Yorubas hear her? Has there been any plan of action both then and now?

That is the modern Yoruba: no balls, no action, empty and loud- mouthed, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.

  They are waiting for their traditional rulers.

The traditional rulers are waiting for the governors.

Governors are waiting for Tinubu.

 Tinubu is waiting for 2027...

Some are waiting for Yoruba nation to defend themselves against attacks in their own land.

Soon you will end up where you are headed.

Few days ago the forces of tyranny made another gain, dramatic gain on our watch. The "Supreme Court of judicial bandits"  in a judgement decided that a farmer Sunday Jackson who in an act of self-defense killed a Fulani assailant must die for - of all things - murder. Our judges said he should have fled rather than killing a Fulani man. They expected a man who eas wounded and stabbed on his leg to flee. This judgement would have been funny if it were not so pathetic.

  In John Bunyan's allegorical work, the masterpiece of all time, "Pilgrims Progress" we see how Christian and his companion were accosted when they got to Vanity Fair in the City of Vanity where they were arrested and brought before the judge of the Land whose name is Lord Hate-Good who sentenced them and confiscated their properties.

  Democracy is now Vanity Fair and Nigeria is now the City of Vanity.

  Lord Hate- Good is no more on the pages of imaginative Literature she now sit atop a Judas-iary backed by activist judges who make their own laws rather than interpret them. Judas loved his own nation more than his master and chose to betray the latter for the former; the judases in our Supreme Cult preferred to obey their puppet masters and let a nation go to blazes. They have therefore out- judas even Judas.

  You now understand and can now make meaning all the curious judgments that has been coming from that Cult. Why number 4 had to be elevated to become number 1; why a candidate who did not contest an election had to be rewarded with a ticket to represent his party and why it is punishable, contrary to the Law of God and Nature, for a man to defend himself on his own land and within his own space. You now understand why all enemies and perceived enemies of the Fascist Regime has been receiving unfavorable judgments from Lord Hate-Good's Court. The latest are Peter Odili and Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. You will see worse things in the coming days.

Fascism is now on the march in our nation. Not just fascism but Islamofascism. The only organised forces and mobilized forces that I see today in Nigeria; the only coherent and raging power and the greatest threat to freedom today are the forces of fascism and Islamofascism in all their disguises, mutations and progression.

  They have taken over the Judas-iary. They control the Legislature - a body full of nihilists, moral anarchists, scavengers, drug addicts, sex- slaves, fraudsters with a sprinkling of few principled men too few to make any change.

 Need I talk of the Executhieves, the source and ocean of all pollution, defilement and unutterable vileness of the fountain of a nation? It took Nigerians 8 years to know that Buhari is not a democrat, how long will it take for Nigerians to discover that our man is more of a monarchist than a democrat?

  Fascism is on course. All the arms of government are now taken. They owned and control the press - the corrupt and compromised press. They largely control the civil society and its "hacktivists" - that are all over the place but no where on ground. And they owned and control the religious elements of major religions.

This is the very kind of climate conducive for control and domination; and to the fascistic takeover of a nation and any society.

Democracy is dead. First it was in Lagos where security was withdrawn from an elected speaker to a deposed speaker and a legislative decision overturned by the whims of one man sitting in Abuja.

  Now it is the turn of Rivers State where an elected governor, legislators, and all symbols of democracy, warts and all, have been disabled and a malleable legislature worse than even a footmat has rubber-stamped it by voice vote. And Madam Hate- Good's Judas-iary will equally affirm the illegality if the courts are approached.

Fascism is on course. Osun State could be the next. And nothing will happen. 

  

  In the 1930's - 40's there was the tripod of Tyranny struggling to enslave the world. In 2025 Nigeria there is the tripod of evil working to ensnare freedom and compromise Nigerian Secularity. There is the Fascistic Authoritarianism of APC Government, the Sharia ideology of Fulani Oligarchy presently on course in some Northern states and thirdly, there are the Rogue Elements ( similar to Hitler's Green Berets and Skinheads) consisting of Fulani bandits, herdsmen, terrorists, thugs, agberos etc., which the APC has never really fought and always treated with soft spots and respect. One ideology unites all of them at the top - Islamofascism. And they are working for the same goal at the end.

The Nazis started with burning books but later they burnt bodies and humans.

The Islamofascists of our nation started with breaking beer bottles and shutting hotels. Now they are shutting schools. Tomorrow they will shut churches and recreational centers and could arrest you one day if your beards are not long enough.

In 2018 I predicted this using the exact words. Has it not happened to us now?

In the 1930-40 there was a Roosevelt, a Churchill and a Stalin who finally rose up to challenge the rampaging forces of Fascism. In our nation today we have no Stalin, no Churchill, no Roosevelt, no Generals Patton or MacArthur. 

NANS is lost to reactionary forces.

NBA is a toothless bulldog.

NUJ is sick and nigh to death.

NLC has lost its ideological bearing.

ASUU - radical ASUU is wounded in the field of battle and now war- weary and nurturing its wounds.

NMA and NSE ( doctors and engineers) rarely dabble into politics preferring to face their private matters.

The Opposition is in disarray assuming there is anything that could be called by that name. PDP is not different from APC. LP is still in the womb of formation.

The religious bodies are weak. CAN is morally weak. PFN has no ideology that can power a national liberation or frighten a demagogue. It was Martin Luther who said, "He is a man who can speak forcefully to men." Such was Luther himself. Such was John Wesley, George Fox, William Wilberforce, John Calvin, Garrick Braide, William Harris, Joseph Babalola.... Alas, Nigerian Christianity has not a single man in the mold of such men listed above at this hour. I can't find a single one on the horizon.

  The only weapon and only thing left for Nigerians now is the Social Media which is also under assault of regulation and monitoring by the fascists in the Legislature

This is how an empire is lost; this is how civilization disappears from the radar. All the 26 civilizations studied by Professor Arnold Toynbee this was how they disappeared. They lost their spiritual initiative their zest, moral quality and creative element within their culture. 

  General Obasanjo said the other day that the traditional rulers have been taken over by drug addicts, fraudsters, sex- slaves.. The last pillar of culture and Cultural Renewal is lost. That is how nations die.

This is how a nation goes into slavery. This is how freedom is lost. It is not just because of the actions of the wicked but also because of the inactions, cowardice, lack of leadership and courage of the righteous majority. It is easy to lose freedom; it is not difficult to enslave liberty. Hitler disabled democracy within one month and few days in one of the most cultured nations on Earth. It is easy to lose liberty.

Now the forces of Fascism are united and have bared their fangs. They are marching on and what or who will stop them? What do we have to stop them?

Where is the courage? Where is the leadership? Have you heard even the Nigerian Governor's Forum to say anything against an illegality perpetrated against one of their own?

In 1938 courage was too little, by 1945 it was too late.

In 2015, 2023 Nigeria it was too little. Will it be too late too for us?

TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE.

VIDEO: Viewers discretion strongly advised - OFFLOADING THE DEAD BODIES OF THOSE KILLED BY BANDITS IN PLATEAU STATE

 

A CALL TO ACTION: ADDRESSING THE SILENCE AND COMPLICITY OF FULANI LEADERSHIP IN THE ONGOING VIOLENCE ACROSS NIGERIA

To the Distinguished Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,

I write to you with a deep sense of patriotism and concern for the peace, unity, and future of our beloved nation. The continued silence of Fulani leadership over the heinous acts being carried out by some herdsmen across various states in Nigeria is not only deafening but deeply disturbing.

From Benue to Enugu, from Plateau to Ondo, from the forests of Ebonyi to the farmlands of Delta, there have been countless reports of Fulani herdsmen destroying farms, raping women, kidnapping, and killing innocent Nigerians. These criminal actions have resulted in the loss of lives, destruction of livelihoods, and the deepening of ethnic tensions across the federation. Yet, those who are known to lead and speak for the Fulani ethnic group have said little to condemn these acts or to call their people to order.

It is worth questioning why Fulani leaders often remain silent when innocent Nigerians are slaughtered, only to speak out in protest when retaliatory actions occur against the perpetrators. This selective condemnation fuels suspicion and a belief among many Nigerians that the Fulani elite may be quietly endorsing or turning a blind eye to these crimes for political or economic gain.

A dangerous question now looms large: Could this be a deliberate agenda to destabilize farming in Southern Nigeria so that only the North controls the nation's food production? If this is so, it not only undermines the spirit of national unity but threatens our collective food security and economic stability.

It is no longer acceptable for the Federal Government and security agencies to act as if they are helpless or indifferent. The perceived partiality of the state in handling herdsmen-related violence has led to growing anger, mistrust, and calls for self-defense. If this is allowed to persist, we risk plunging the country into a full-scale ethnic conflict.

Therefore, we respectfully demand the following from the Nigerian Senate:

1. An immediate investigation into the silence of Fulani leadership—religious, political, and traditional—regarding the atrocities committed by their people. Their failure to openly denounce violence and support justice suggests complicity.

2. A national summit on farmer-herder conflict, to include victims, leaders from all regions, civil society organizations, and the international community, to address this crisis once and for all.

3. A clear policy and action plan to disarm violent herders, protect rural communities, and hold anyone—regardless of ethnic group—accountable for violence.

4. An appeal to the international community, including the African Union, ECOWAS, and the United Nations, to intervene where necessary with peace-building efforts, humanitarian aid, and monitoring of human rights violations.

The time to act is now. We must not wait until more lives are lost or the country descends into chaos. The Senate must rise above politics and ethnicity to save Nigeria.

May justice, unity, and peace prevail.

Signed,

A Concerned Nigerian Citizen

Chief Joe Daniels Umezulike.

7/04/2025

At least, 60 killed in Plateau State

Plateau State has again become a killing field as the death toll from the recent attacks in Bokkos Local Government Area of the State has risen to 60  following the recovery of 40 more bodies on Wednesday and Thursday night.

NAN reports that 10 people were killed in Ruwi village of the aforementioned local government on March 27, 2025, while another 10 were killed on April 2, 2025, in a coordinated attack across several communities, including Mangor Tamiso, Daffo, Manguna, Hurti, and Tadai.

According to the Chairman of Bokkos Cultural Development Council (BCDC) Vanguard, Farmasum Fuddang, confirmed in a telephone interview on Friday morning in Jos that additional bodies had been found.

Farmasum said, “We released the statement about the killing of 10 people in Mangor Tamiso, Daffo, Manguna, Hurti, and Tadai on Wednesday morning. Since then, we have recovered 40 more bodies. We even buried them around 7 PM on Thursday using torchlights. It was the community members who discovered the bodies of their loved ones,” the BCDC chairman disclosed.

The tragic incident, allegedly carried out by yet-to-be-identified gunmen, has left the residents of Bokkos in mourning and fear. Troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH), responsible for maintaining peace in Plateau State, reported that they successfully foiled attacks by armed groups on several communities in Bokkos LGA.

Major Samson Zakhom in a press statement made available to journalists in Jos, said that the militants targeted Tamiso, Daffo, Manguna, Tadai, and Hurti but were overpowered by the troops. The attackers were forced to abandon key items, including an AK-47 rifle and six motorcycles.

He noted that traces of blood were found along the attackers’ retreat route, indicating possible casualties among them.

“On April 3, 2025, further clearance operations were carried out at Hurti, where troops encountered and engaged militants hiding in the mountainous region,” he stated.

According to him, “The ensuing confrontation resulted in the recovery of a locally fabricated pistol, six rounds of 9mm ammunition, and four motorcycles.

“The troops are continuing efforts to neutralize the remaining militants still at large in the area,” he added.

He further disclosed that: “In a separate operation on the same day, troops of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Gashish conducted a search at a hideout in Barkin Ladi LGA of Plateau State, recovering a fabricated revolver rifle, 7.62mm ammunition, and a significant sum of cash, although the suspects managed to escape.

“Additionally, in Wase LGA, troops, in collaboration with local vigilantes, neutralized one bandit and recovered an AK-47 magazine and a motorcycle during an operation targeting bandits along Kampani Zurak Road.

“Operations will continue as part of the ongoing efforts to safeguard communities in Plateau State.”

At the time of filing this report, neither the OPSH nor the Police had provided any official casualty figures from 

the Bokkos attacks.

Meanwhile former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over the recent spate of attacks in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.

He lamented the incident where several communities were thrown into mourning following the killing of entire families in what he described as “yet another senseless attack.”

In a statement issued on Friday via X, Obi condemned the incident, which affected five communities in Bokkos—Mangor Tamiso, Daffo, Manguna, Hurti, and Tadai—saying the victims, including children and pregnant women, were buried in mass graves.

Uromi Hunters and their hunting games at Ruwi; a tale of two killings

By Bolaji O. Akinyemi

The scriptural accounts of the murder of Abel, a livestock rancher, by Cain, a sibling and cropper, demonstrate how being a fugitive became the penal bane of murderers: Cain became a fugitive! In a similar vein, Moses who also committed murder became a fugitive; but his subsequent divine encounter will make him the receiver of the law of God that transmuted the punishment of murder from ‘fugitivity’ to blood for blood!
Thereafter, murderers were therefore not permitted to be forgiven by claims to repentance, nor should they be permitted to flee and escape judgement; they must be apprehended and made to pay for their criminal acts of murder according to the law of the land where the murder crime(s) were committed!
In the past 10 years, Nigeria has witnessed so much bloodshed from criminal gangster murders without a commensurate intervention of the Government vide its relevant agencies to bring murderers to book in order to pay for their criminal acts!
To wit, Thursday, 27th March 2025, was two days to the 73rd birthday anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as a scheduled Festival of Arts and Culture of the Ron ethnic people of Bokkos LGA in Plateau State. Curiously, at a session to mourn the demise of a matriarch, 16 Ron ethnic people including a fetus were killed by fulani gangsters.
The fateful date in question would mark a stark reality in which the fgn will contrast the treatment of its citizens by ethnicity largely based on the verdict of the judiciary in the Sunday Jackson litigation. The contrast crystallized on the next day of Friday, 28th March 2025 when an incident in Uromi allegedly involving 16 fulani ethnic people was reported. The news from Uromi portrayed the 16 victims of the incident as those said to be hunters in the forest of Port Harcourt.
Those hunters were said to be traveling with stacks of money, cutlasses and guns! they were reportedly stopped by the Uromi vigilantes, who on sighting arms and ammunition insisted on a thorough search of the travelers. Uncensored report said one of the men onboard brought out his knife and stabbed one of the vigilantes. Other vigilantes were thereafter forced to sound alarm that drew the attention of an irate mob who overpowered the 16 onboard persons and killed them.
What a brutality of a tale of two extra judicial killings successively within 24 hours in Ruwi on the night of 27th March 2025 and that of Uromi by the next day; the incident of Uromi attracted swift reaction from the fgn, the CDS & CAN while both authorities delivered no whimpers about the incident of Ruwi.
Regrettably, the Ruwi incident and its neglect is simply a foretelling of the entire Middle Belt Region of Nigeria as a hunting field of the Fulani herdsmen without consequences.
Data sourced from Statistis.com & my article on the “365 days of Muslim/Muslim ticket in Nigeria referenced a review of the security situation in Nigeria by United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, USCIRF. It confirmed that the Nigerian Government failed to verify the perpetrators of violent attacks and the motivation behind such carnage against Christians and other ethnic groups by the Fulani herdsmen who according to data provided by Intersociety killed 8,222 in 365 days.
When a goat is chased to the wall, it is left with the only option of fighting back. The same day the 16 Fulani were overpowered and killed in Uromi, their tribesmen had a successful killing expedition 11 Ron ethnic people the previous day at Ruwi.
While the Ron ethnic people were in a happy mood towards hosting their cultural festival, those who can’t stand seeing them happy, came attacking their reasons for happiness, consistently and continually at seasons of celebrations; either at Christmas or Easter but chose to show up again to smite the Ron people at the eve of Ron Cultural Festival. Unlike Uromi, where 16 Fulani herdsmen were killed, the Fulani herdsmen in Ruwi, slaughtered like Sallah rams just 11 “games,” including a fetus and an 8-year-old girl!
The sun that shone upon Uromi and Ruwi has exposed the hypocrisy of the fgn and CAN about our humanity; lack of responsibility of our government and its agencies. Our news media no longer represent the fourth estate of the realm; their pens no longer prick conscience. The dignity of humanity in Nigeria is graded by ethnic tribes and those who should care seem not to!
The President, without asking for the “cows” at Uromi, as his usual evidence of Fulani presence at the scene, has assured the world of justice to the FULANI victims and families of those killed and gave a marching order to the security agencies to go after the perpetrators and bring them to book. The voice of our President is yet to be heard on the extra judicial killing of his citizens like games in Ruwi and the slaughtering of a woman in the “forest” of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State. Maybe because the President is waiting to see “cows” in Ruwi as evidence of the culpability of Fulani herdsmen. May the soul of Mrs Funke Olakunrin, daughter of Chief Reuben Fasoranti, the friend of the president, Rest In Peace.
The NPF has provided incontrovertible facts that Fulani gangsters killed Mrs. Funke Olakunrin. Curiously, the killers of Mrs. Funke Olakunrin that is even a kinswoman of the president, have yet to face justice; unlike the case of Sunday Jackson that is being maliciously prosecuted by the kinsmen of the assailant. When the president visited the parents of the deceased on condolence, rather than words of empathy, he chose to ask for presence of “cows” as evidence that Fulani were the assailants.
Could the revealed gang of Fulani herdsmen be members of the taunted forest cell units of Fulani operation spread across the country and of the two regions of South-West and South-South and into Ogun, Ondo and Edo States, who left behind their cows to attend to their real mission. If the President could play politics with the murder of the daughter of his very dear friend, then Nigerians better be careful and pay close attention to words and actions of Mr President as the 2027 election approaches.
Since the “superior” Fulani ethnic people are allegedly the victim at Uromi, the assurance of the Commander in Chief has to be doubled by that of the Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa, avowing justice for 16 Fulani travelers lynched in Uromi, but kept quiet on the 11 Ron ethnic people killed in their homeland by gangsters Fulani herdsmen!
Do all lives really matter in Nigeria? The poser is for the Nigerian Government and Nigerians, particularly CAN, (the Christian Association of Nigeria), whose members were hunted down at Ruwi but have failed to cry on their behalf. As for the federation president, the CDS and CAN president, the Ron Christians possibly must be ‘games in the forest of the Middle Belt’ like in the rest of the country!
CAN President who is a desperate sympathiser and advocate of Islam evidenced by his attendance at the dinner of the President and a mosque to break Ramadan fast. He has joined the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Chief of Defense Staff to mourn the death of the Fulani killed in Uromi but can’t find a word of comfort and assurance of safety for Christians murdered in Ruwi!
The CDS noted that the Uromi incident could have been avoided if the appropriate authorities had been notified and involved in verifying the identities of the victims. Ironically, the CDS brought us no word on the reported case of Istifanus Mangai, a Ron ethnic man, who was arrested and killed by the torture of “the appropriate authority” of the military at Daffo military base on the 31st December 2024 based on unproven accusations of a Fulani ethnic person. The extra judicial death of Istifanus Mangai in the hands of the military was aired to the world by the family cry from “ordinary Berekete radio” without a similar whimper of the CDS for justice to the family of the victim!
Though tribes and tongues may differ in Nigeria, when will all citizens, irrespective of tribes, tongues and religions be equal before the law and our political leaders? I hereby urge the global community to join me and the Ron ethnic people to demand an assurance of safety from the fgn, CAN and the Fulani herdsmen whose ‘games’ they have become. A word from the CDS on the fate of the kinsman of the Ron ethnic people, Istifanus Mangai, may help assure the American Government that other tribes in Nigeria are not just mere animals, whose lives can be cut at will by Fulani herdsmen hunters!
There should be no peace for all wicked men and women! This imbalance must be laid where it belongs; at the feet and doorsteps of British colonial imperialist who invaded the diverse territories of autochthonous ethnic peoples to create Nigeria and subsequently brokered a treaty with the “alien race” of Fulani to maintain their grips on Nigeria!




Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi, is absolutely a commendable brand in Apostolic and Nation Building efforts towards a changed nation and a renewed and revived church, within the Nigeria Church and political ecosystem.

#PhotoSpeaks: A Benue Farmer posted — Fulani herdsmen openly gaze on my maize farm

 

Benue man posted 

"Fulani herdsmen openly gaze on my maize farm which is two hectres.The maize 🌽 farm which is supposed to harvest next month towards ending"

God be with Benue State 

Atleast, we've data to post it on social media. It's well.

Nigeria government keep making calls for the citizens to embrace and go to farm even with crud implements. 

But the deceitful APC LED federal government has refused to arrest insecurities posed by Fulani herdsmen, bandits, kidnapers among many othes. The party came to power in the promises to solve insecurity problems but has only compounded it. Hunger is ravaging the land ss result of food insecurity .

This is not peculiar to only Benue state. Many states of the federation are not secured from herdsmen havocs 

 They killed and raped at will.

Insecurity: Nigerian Army gets Aviation Wing, acquires fighter helicopters

The Nigeria's Federal Government has established an aviation wing for the Nigerian Army, and acquired fighter helicopters for its operations.

Major General Onyema Nwachukwu who is the Director of Army Public Relations confirmed that the BELL UH-1H, HUEY helicopters were received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Friday.

Nigeria since 2009 has been facing series of insecurity threats from Boko Haram, ISWAP, bandits, herdsman and kidnapping among others.

NAF bombards bandit kingpin’s camp, kills 25 terrorists in Katsina

In an operation conducted yesterday, the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji successfully hit the camp of a notorious bandit kingpin, Alhaji Dutsi, in Katsina State.

The Nigerian Air Force airstrikes resulted in the elimination of over 25 terrorists, disrupting criminal activities in the area.

Boko Haram kills 20 in Niger State

No fewer than 20 persons were allegedly killed by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect at Bassa community in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

Out of the 20 deceased, 10 youths were purportedly slaughtered and their heads handed over to members of the community while the gunmen videoed them holding the heads.

The incident occurred at about 8 am on Friday.

Boko Haram unleashed terror on the victims, who only returned to their village to pick up some food items after they fled the community following the last attack on their village.

A source from the village claimed those killed were because they refused to be recruited as members of the dreaded sect, adding that the sect told them that anyone who refused to join them would be met with a similar fate.

Source: Nairaland

OPINION: Owolabi - Murdered in Nigeria, buried in America

By

abiodun KOMOLAFE

On Nov 6, 2022

One of the greatest shortcomings of Nigeria’s existence is that she has never evolved into a nation. 

The amalgamation of territories, imposition of the colonial masters, the unfortunate intervention of the military and its attendant maladministration of the civil-society, and the corruption-infested politicians have not actually given the country that opportunity to realize her potentials. To be honest, it is because Nigeria’s handlers have different motives and a diametrically opposed understanding of the concept of development that her journey to nationhood has remained an illusion.

As we know, there is no generally acceptable interpretive understanding of the concept of development. For instance, part of the organic components of a nation is the understanding of the meaning of the concepts of citizenship. It is on this premise that a nation thrives. In other words, since no nation flourishes without its citizens, any nation that wants to thrive must have its organic components in place and the majority number of the population must share, intimately, the rudimentary knowledge and understanding of what it means to be a citizen, as agreed to, and enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria. Otherwise, it will just be as if one is running against the wind.

On July 28, 2022, Olugbenga David Owolabi was kidnapped alongside his staff, Rachael Opadele in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, by yet-to-be-identified kidnappers. Owolabi was a Nigerian-American who had come to Nigeria, to invest in the hospitality business in Ogbomoso, his hometown. On August 3, 2022, they were senselessly killed by their abductors, despite the payment of N5m ransom. Owolabi was buried on October 1, 2022 which, as fate would have it, coincided with a very important day in Nigeria’s chequered history. Opadele had earlier been buried in Ogbomoso, on August 5, 2022. Like the others, Nigeria has again succeeded in making the sun of three of her promising citizens set at dawn.

Olugbenga Owolabi is gone; and there’s nothing anybody can do to bring him back to life. But, if he had known that the country he called his own didn’t understand what it meant to be a citizen, he wouldn’t have come to Nigeria at all, not to speak of investing here. Let’s face it: the short time he spent in the USA – and he became a citizen – is now the only gift God has given him. From the time mappings for his life, all things being equal, if he had not come here, those unredeemed killers and haters who have turned Nigeria into a pool of blood would not have slaughtered him like a ram. Of course, they’d not have killed him without the American government deploying its entire arsenal for battle against his killers.

Typical of the Nigerianness in us, nobody is talking about who killed Owolabi; and neither Oyo State nor his Local Government has uttered a word; forget about admitting that the State has lost an illustrious son. Rather, it’s been business as usual, as if nothing happened. No justice! Not even a show of pretence for it! Sad that, even up to the point of the corpse being flown abroad, no Nigerian officials were seen to have shown any semblance of sympathy, either by words or actions. Well, that’s to show how horrible our system is. In our clime, the worth of a citizen has gone into a nosedive! Why then should one die for the country?

Owolabi’s unfortunate death is not the first; certainly, it won’t be the last either! Since his murder, several other unresolved murders have taken place. Yet, the heavens have not fallen! And who cares? After all, those who died did not belong to the families of members of the ruling class. So, life goes on! But, again, this is Nigeria! America takes care of her living and the dead! Nigeria does neither! Here in Nigeria, life no longer has any meaning! Ours is a generation of wasters, in a very dangerous country! Against the backdrop of our illimitable woes, the leaders _“daily call on the citizens to make sacrifices while they (the leaders) wallow in privilege.”_ Tragically, the leadership doesn’t even understand why and how the country is being led to a moral free fall in all areas.

The general assumption is that Nigeria is a sovereign state, but the current state of heightened insecurity only suggests that she may have already been stripped of her sovereign attributes. Otherwise, how do we describe events in the land which have only shown that our leaders are in a wide sea of uncertainty with regard to how a nation evolves; the inalienable rights of a citizen, and why he or she must be accorded such? Remember the 2013 Boston Marathon domestic terror attack and how the American government rose to the occasion! Remember how US Special Forces rescued Philip Walton, an American citizen held hostage in Nigeria in 2020! Here in Nigeria, the late Hamani Tidjani was only unlucky to have positioned his wind vane wrongly. And he paid dearly for it! On Owolabi’s gruesome murder, even the texture and essence of the _Nigerians in Diaspora Commission_ (NIDCOM) seem to have been seduced into compliance with sickening silence.

Had Oyo State Government been truly there for those it was elected to serve, somebody in government would have noticed the state administrative protocol gap in Owolabi’s unfortunate murder, and would have issued a statement on behalf of the government. That his remains were taken back from the land of his birth for internment in a foreign, adopted country was a big shame of unimaginable proportions. But again, how did we get here? For God’s sake, how does one belong to a country where human lives are not valued; where _“yesterday’s dreams have become the worst nightmares”;_ where _“very sharp pieces of broken promises”_ have become the new ideology? And, if we may ask: what is the functional relevance of Nigeria’s sovereignty? Isn’t that why a Leah Sharibu could still be languishing in the terrorists’ den even as the government continues to behave as if it never happened?

The social thoughts of a society, I was made to understand, undergird the thought flows of its citizens. For example, when President John F. Kennedy famously urged Americans “ask not what” their _“country can do for”_ them but _“what”_ they _“can do for”_ their _“country’,_ that became the mantra in the USA that even a kid in that _‘God’s own country’_ was always ready to die for the American flag. On the converse, have we asked why Nigeria now looks _“like a boiling pot that everyone wants to escape from”_ and why Nigerians are with misdirected aggression prepared to _‘japa’_ into certain deaths in Ukraine?

With happenings like this in Nigeria, national consciousness and the concept of patriotism are on the verge of losing both their meanings and relevance; of course, with huge national security implications! Nigeria may also lose investors and her capacity for economic growth will be hindered. To put it bluntly, what it means is that, once the central value of citizenship is lost, the entire country is lost. The more reason the handlers of Nigeria must do a new orientation programme that will teach Nigerians to be patriotic. In doing this, the government should lead by example. Otherwise, the scheme will fall like a pack of cards.

May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, rest the souls of the faithful departed and grant us peace in Nigeria!

 _*KOMOLAFE wrote in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State (ijebujesa@yahoo.co.uk; 07087941459 - SMS only)_

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LESSON

 AND TUTORIAL

COWS FINISHED MY BEANS FARM DESPITE LOCATED CLOSE TO MY COMMUNITY! SO PAINFUL!!!

Due to the rising cost of foodstuffs I decided to engage in large scale multi-crop farming this year. My beans farm located close to my community produced bountiful seeds.

Last Sunday 21st November, 2021 I drove to the farm after service and saw that the beans produced bountifully and are dry ready for harvest, but because I wanted to travel I couldn't arrange for people to help me harvest the beans.

So I traveled on Monday and returned today Saturday 27th November, 2021. While on my way back to Kaduna, I arrange for who will help in the harvest, as I arrived Kaduna, this evening we drove to my beans farming to commission the commencement of the harvest. Watch and behold there is nothing else to harvest as those callous Fulani Herdsmen have brought their cows to my farm and the farms of others around and their cows ate and finished all the beans.

We still met the cows and their herdsmen grazing in my farm. Since we (those who want to help me in the harvest and I) are not wearing bullet proof we only decided to take pictures lamenting the destruction we couldn't do or say anything to the herdsmen because we value our lives more than what they have destroyed.

We all know how much a bag of beans cost today. Even if it's only 6 bags of beans I could get we know how much that will be. And no matter what, we could have harvested far more than 6 bags of beans if the Fulani Herdsmen had not turned my farm to their grazing zone. .

What kind of destructive regime did gullible people bring upon my beloved country?!

SO PAINFUL!!!

Emmanuel Olorunmagba

Photos of the farm:

How Nigerian Air Force pays terrorists/bandits N20 million to avoid shooting down Buhari’s plane

The gun truck with 12.7 caliber anti-aircraft fire was reportedly disassembled and transported back to the military on motorbikes after the deal was concluded.

The Nigerian Air Force coordinated ransom payments to armed bandits in exchange for an anti-aircraft gun seized from the Nigerian Army, The Wall Street Journal said, in a desperate deal that was brokered as President Muhammadu Buhari was planning a trip to Katsina.

The U.S. outlet said N20 million was delivered to the bandits in Rugu Forest by a Nigerian Air Force official, who leaked details of the operation under anonymity, because the military realised that it would be too risky to leave the weapon in the hands of violent criminals operating in an area the presidential jet would fly over. 

The rugged, lawless jungle that covers parts of Kaduna, Zamfara and the president’s home state of Katsina has served as a vast haven for bandits terrorising Nigeria’s northwestern communities. A large portion of kidnapping plots emanates or terminates in or around the forest, security agencies have previously warned. 

“The mission to buy back the antiaircraft gun began with a handoff from a high-ranking air force intelligence officer in the capital Abuja: a black zip-up bag he said was full of 20 million Nigerian naira,” the paper reported, after stating that such military hardware in the hands of bandits “posed a threat to President Muhammadu Buhari, who had been planning to fly to his hometown about 80 miles away.”

The gun truck with 12.7 caliber anti-aircraft fire was reportedly disassembled and transported back to the military on motorbikes after the deal was concluded. 

The Journal did not specify when the deal was brokered or the presidential trip that was planned. The president has been in his hometown at least twice this year that his office disclosed to the public. The first trip was in late January and another in July. 

Although the Nigerian government claimed combat victories against armed bandits, several military bases have been sacked by the violent criminals dreaded largely for their abduction of schoolchildren and prominent personalities, including politicians and emirs. 

Last month, a forward operating base crucial to the military campaign against banditry was raided in Zamfara, leaving at least 12 officers killed. The bandits also seized military equipment when they captured the base in Dansadau, about 80 kilometres south of the capital Gusau, in the September 11 operation.

Less than two weeks later on September 24, bandits again struck a joint base of security forces in the neighbouring Sokoto State, killing several soldiers, Civil Defence officers and civilians. 

The Nigerian Air Force also confirmed on July 19 that bandits had shot down one of its fighter jets, but the pilot was able to eject without and there were no casualties. The incident came as Mr Buhari was visiting his hometown for this year’s Sallah. 

It was not immediately clear why service chiefs opted for a ransom payment in the operation described by The Journal. Military weapons that fell into the hands of Boko Haram insurgents and bandits were usually destroyed by airstrikes. 

Whereas Mr Buhari has promised to be tough on the bandits and publicly railed against governors negotiating with them, his government has been known to pay ransom to terrorists and other violent criminals.

The government paid millions of dollars to free some of the Chibok girls seized in 2014 under President Goodluck Jonathan. It also facilitated hundreds of millions of naira in ransom to bandits who seized schoolchildren in Niger State earlier this year.

The Gazette has yet to hear back from the Nigerian Air Force about the reported N20 million ransom to bandits.

Source: SM

#ENDSARS Memorial: Osinbajo's NEC-in-Council advises against planned protests,, they ordered the killings!!!

Protesting Youths demanding for an end to police and security Brutality and asking for good governance were brutally massacre, arrested, maltreated, tortured and illegally detained last year in many places across the country. Many are still in detentions illegally without been charged to court. 

For many that were arraigned in court, the Nigeria police has not been able to provide convincing evidence as to the cookup allegations leveled against them.

October 20 2020 was the real black day when the security operatives comprises of the police, the Nigerian Army and others on their cohort evil agenda opened fires on the peaceful protesters holding the Nigerian flags at Lekki toll gate in Lagos State.

With series of denial, panel of enquires were set up in 28 states and revelations were already in the public that Nigerian government through the security apparatus of the State killed her abled body youths for demanding for good governance and leadership from the Major General Muhammadu Buhari led Federal lawless regime.

As Memorial programs were lined up by the concerned Nigerian youths to mark the one year of the killing, the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo's led  National Economic Council has confirmed the administration's failure again that the country is unsafe under this regime to guarantee the constitutional right to protest and therefore can't protect the protesters, if they choose to protest to mark the one year anniversary of those innocents killed last year by this incumbent regime.

To dose the tensions the Osinbajo led NEC have resolved that payment of compensation to victims should proceed with each State, in collaboration with the Federal Government, establishing the modalities for the settlement of all monetary compensations awarded by the panels. 

Equally, NEC, which is composed of all State Governors in the Federation and representatives of the FG, Chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo also unanimously resolved today to ensure the prosecution of persons indicted by the panels. The Council specifically directed States "to immediately forward copies of final reports of the panels to their Attorneys-General for prompt arraignment and prosecution of all indicted persons. 

However, let them scale through this month, you will hardly hear anything about the NEC resolutions again unless their is another crisis threatening their authorities. 

 The Boko Haram/ISWAP and other terrorists who killed, raped and abducted citizens and even security officers are already been pardoned and reintegrated back to the society by the pro-terrorists Buhari led Government.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I am 'Dele Abiola

alutad@gmail.com

READ THEIR FULL PRESS STATEMENT BELOW:

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 

𝗡𝗘𝗖: 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦, 𝗙𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗣𝗔𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗢 𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗦 & 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗧𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗦𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗

*Council also strongly advises against planned protests considering security situation 

*Urges organisers to consider other options 

In receipt of reports from judicial panels regarding EndSARS protests set up in 28 States across the country and in the FCT, the National Economic Council have resolved that payment of compensation to victims should proceed with each State, in collaboration with the Federal Government, establishing the modalities for the settlement of all monetary compensations awarded by the panels. 

Equally, NEC, which is composed of all State Governors in the Federation and representatives of the FG, Chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, also unanimously resolved today to ensure the prosecution of persons indicted by the panels. The Council specifically directed States "to immediately forward copies of final reports of the panels to their Attorneys-General for prompt arraignment and prosecution of all indicted persons. 

"Where incidents in the reports relate to matters of discipline, in addition to prosecution, NEC urged the Nigeria Police Force to take disciplinary action on the affected officers in line with the provisions of the Police Act 2020." 

Also rising from today's NEC meeting, members strongly advised those planning protests to mark the anniversary of the ENDSARS to reconsider the option in view of "current security situation across the country and the possibility of such protests being hijacked by armed hoodlums and other opportunistic criminals to cause mayhem at such protest events and venues."

Below are the NEC resolutions on the panels and an advisory on the planned protests: 

NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS ON “ENDSARS” PANELS’ REPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY - 15TH OCTOBER 2021

At its meeting today, 15th October 2021, the National Economic Council (NEC/Council) received an update on the Reports of Judicial Panels of Inquiry into Allegations of Human Rights Violations against Members of Nigeria Police Force and other Security Agencies. 

2. It may be recalled that following the October 2020 #EndSARS protests, which later transformed into violent demonstrations, in furtherance of resolution of NEC, twenty-eight (28) States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) (under the auspices of the National Human Rights Commission) had set up Judicial Panels/Commissions of Inquiry (Panels) to investigate allegations of violations of human rights levied against members of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, especially members of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). 

3. The 28 States that set up these Panels were Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, and Taraba. 

4. Out of the 28 States, 11 States (Abia, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Plateau, and Rivers) have submitted their final reports to Council; with Lagos, set to finalise its sittings on 19th October 2021, submitting an interim report. Governors of other States including Delta and Ebonyi at today’s meeting also indicated that their reports would be submitted soon. 

5. Following deliberations on the recommendations of the panels, NEC agreed/resolved as follows, (and this applies to all the States and FCT that set up the panels): 

PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS

6. Each State, in collaboration with the Federal Government, shall establish modalities for the settlement of all monetary compensations awarded by the Panels. Already, as resolved by NEC, a number of States have set up Victims Compensation Funds, from which several victims have already received payments of sums awarded to them by the panels. 

PROSECUTION OF INDICTED PERSONS (SECURITY PERSONNEL AND CIVILIANS)

7. Council directed State Governors to immediately forward copies of final reports of the panels to their Attorneys-General for prompt arraignment and prosecution of all indicted persons. 

8. Where incidents in the reports relate to matters of discipline, in addition to prosecution, NEC urged the Nigeria Police Force to take disciplinary action on the affected officers in line with the provisions of the Police Act 2020.

IMPROVED EFFICIENCY OF NIGERIA POLICE FORCE AND OTHER SECURITY AGENCIES' ARCHITECTURE

9. NEC called on the leadership of the security agencies to ensure that –

a. Persons recruited into arms-bearing security agencies undergo psychiatric evaluations and drug tests before enlistment and periodically after enlistment to ensure that the personnel are psychologically fit to carry live weapons and to identify behavioural tendencies that may require psycho-social interventions. 

b. Personnel of the agencies dutifully observes Rules of Engagement in the discharge of their functions/duties around and within the civilian populace. 

c. While acknowledging the various initiatives introduced by the Federal Government to: 

*strengthen police accountability through the Police Service Commission,

*sustain improved funding and budgetary allocation to the Nigeria Police Force and other securities agencies,

*and the lifting of the ban on recruitment of police officers, 

Council urged the Federal Government to give priority to the general welfare of police officers and personnel of other security agencies. 

In particular, it advocated the review of pension and gratuity of retired police officers and attainment of parity of remuneration by police officers with sister security agencies. 

d. Undertake a comprehensive assessment of all police stations across the country with a view to ensuring that they are fit for purpose. 

e. Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies should deploy cutting-edge technology in the fight against crimes. 

f. Nigeria Police Force to, in line with the mandatory training provisions of the Police Act 2020, prioritize training of Police Officers on procedures for the entrenchment of Human Rights Provisions guaranteed by the Constitution and on the professional handling of weapons. 

g. All those detained by the Police as a result of the EndSars protests are expeditiously processed with due regard to the principles of fair hearing. 

h. The system established within the Nigeria Police Force for receipt and handling of complaints or petitions is strengthened, and all police officers on duty should be in police-approved uniform with their full names and force numbers boldly written for easy identification. 

i. The States should, as resolved by NEC: 

i)Properly utilize and support the community policing programme of the Federal Government, with active collaborative efforts and participation of traditional rulers, elders, youths, vigilante groups, etc.; 

ii)Establish standing committees under States Ministries of Justice to address human rights violations on a continuous basis; and 

iii)Take measures aimed at flushing out miscreants squatting in uncompleted buildings, and other blackout spots that serve as hideouts for criminals.

THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL ALSO ISSUED AN ADVISORY ON PUBLIC PROTESTS AT THIS TIME AS FOLLOWS: 

While appreciating the role of lawful peaceful protests in the advancement of public discourse under democratic governance, the National Economic Council (NEC) strongly advises those planning public protests across the country to mark the anniversary of the #EndSARS, to consider other lawful alternative means of engagement. 

This is because of the current security situation across the country and the possibility of such protests being hijacked by armed hoodlums and other opportunistic criminals to cause mayhem at such protest events and venues. Council, therefore, urges the organizers to reconsider their plan. 

NEC would also like to point out the various actions already taken by Federal and State Governments to address the grievances that led to the 2020 protests, including: 

* the disbandment of SARS;

*broad police reforms;

*establishment of judicial panels of inquiries to investigate allegations of human rights violations by members of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies;

* recommendations of which panels are already at various stages of implementation including the setup of Victims Compensation Funds from which several victims have received payments of sums awarded to them by the panels; 

*and prosecution of police personnel indicted by the panels. 

These are commendable actions that ought to be taken to a logical conclusion in a peaceful atmosphere. 

Organizers of the planned protests should explore the various channels of communication with governments at various levels to advance their positions and avert the breakdown of law and order that may result from such public protests. 

HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME OTHER ISSUES AT TODAY’S NEC MEETING 

A.

PRESENTATION ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (2021-2025) 

Council received a presentation and memo from the Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning on the draft of a National Development Plan 2021-2025, which is a successor plan to the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan 2017-2020. 

Among other highlights, the presentation and memo were to acquaint Council with the need for linkage between Annual Budget and Plans. 

The plan also targets an average of 5% GDP growth, the creation of 21million jobs, and lifting 35million people out of poverty within the duration of the Plan. 

What is new in this plan? 

·   A mechanism to engage, empower and employ our teaming energetic youths 

·    Inclusiveness - Opportunities for young people, women, vulnerable people, etc., via mainstreaming. 

·        A financing plan to increase revenue to 15 percent of GDP by 2025 and to decrease the budget deficit 

Policy Action: 

·   Prioritization and implementation of critical and strategic infrastructure projects that will directly boost production and productivity 

·   Institutional reforms in public sector, law enforcement, judiciary, and secure property rights, including intellectual property. 

·  Measures to diversify revenue and increase tax to GDP ratio by improving tax administration, including the informal sector, and widening the tax base.

B.

PRESENTATION ON THE GRAZING RESERVE AUDIT COMMITTEE & SYNERGY WITH THE NLTP

NEC received a presentation from the Governor of Kebbi on behalf of the Grazing Reserve Audit Committee. The summary of the presentation was to brief NEC on the essence of the audit which is to document available land in order to aid the implementation of the 10year National Livestock Transformation Plan approved by NEC in 2019. The presentation clarified that the audit committee is not mandated to recover grazing reserves. 

C.

PRESENTATION ON THE PROGRESS REPORT OF THE NEC AD-HOC COMMITTEE INTERFACING WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE (PTF) ON COVID-19 TO EASE THE LOCKDOWN OF THE ECONOMY

·     Council received a progress report from the Chairman of the Committee, Delta State Governor on the above. 

The Federal Ministry of Health is establishing oxygen plants across the 36 States in the country, but currently, 6 States have been provided with oxygen cylinders so far. 

·        The FG has paid for 40 million doses of Covid -19 vaccines coming in batches and therefore a considerable amount of the vaccines will come into the country between now and January 2022 

·      Nigeria is now classified among the 50 countries in the green zones

D.

STATE PERFORMANCE REPORT ON COVID -19 BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL, NATIONAL CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL 

 

Council was informed as follows:

No of Cases                                =208,404 

No of Cases tested                   =3,142,971 

Active Cases                              =9,520, 

Discharged Cases                     =196,123 

Number of Deaths                     = 2,76

·        Council was also informed on the global situation of Covid-19: over 237million confirmed cases and over 4.8million deaths due to Covid -19. There are now over 6.3billion vaccine doses administered 

·        Nigeria is still in the first wave of vaccination and vaccination tools will improve as the country receives additional vaccines 

·        Covid-19 cases have declined by 7.5% over the last week

·        States are urged to continue to push testing activities in other to detect new cases before the situation worsens 

·       An update on travel restrictions on certain countries expected to be announced soon by the FG. 

Council was also updated on the situation regarding the Cholera outbreak 

Current Cholera situation in the country; 

Suspected No of Cases            =88,704 

No. of States                              = 31t FCT 

Number of Deaths                   = 3,208 

·        Multi-sectoral emergency operation centers activated at level 2 continues to coordinate the national response. 

Challenges 

·        Difficulty in accessing some communities due to insecurity 

·        Open defecation 

·        Lack of portable drinking water 

·        Lack of basic health primary health care infrastructure 

·        Inadequate health facility and cholera commodities for case management.

Resolution 

·        Council commended the insightful presentations and congratulated the outgoing DG NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu on his new appointment at the W.H.O and also welcomed the incoming DG, Dr. Ifedayo Morayo Adetifa.

E.

FINANCIAL UPDATES 

The Honorable Minister of State for Budget and National Planning gave Council an update on the under listed accounts as follows: 

1.       EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT (ECA) 

BALANCE AS AT 13TH OCTOBER 2021 STANDS AT $60, 857,773.43

2.      STABILIZATION ACCOUNT 

BALANCE AS AT 13TH OCTOBER, 2021 STANDS AT N 25,009,892,511.55 

3.      DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ACCOUNT 

BALANCE AS AT 13TH OCTOBER, 2021 STANDS AT N56,144,024,000.71

𝗟𝗮𝗼𝗹𝘂 𝗔𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲,

𝑺𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒓 𝑺𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒏 𝑴𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒂 & 𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚,

𝑶𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑽𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕. 

15th October, 2021