A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
Unknown gunmen on Sunday night shot dead Mr Ben Onyechere, the former Media Adviser to former governor of Abia, Chief Theodore Orji.
Onyechere was kidnapped at about 8 p.m. in Ikenegbu axis of Owerri where he had gone with his driver to do some shopping.
A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said "the gunmen numbering five trailed Onyechere to a popular super market in Ikenegbu and forced his driver out of his car before they sped off with Onyechere.
"The following day the lifeless body of Oncheyere was found a few streets away from Maris Junction, Ikenegbu Owerri, after he was shot several times. It is sad''.
The source added that the deceased's driver, who put up initial resistance was shot twice on the legs before Onyechere was kidnapped.
The detail of the assassination are still sketchy.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Imo command, DSP Andrew Enwerem, said that he was informed of the incident, but could not confirm the identity of the victim.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunny and hazy weather conditions over the central States of the country on Tuesday.
NiMet made the prediction in the Weather Outlook issued by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Monday.
It said that the region would have day and night temperature of 31 to 37 degrees Celsius and 14 to 21 degrees Celsius respectively.
The agency predicted that the southern states would experience partly cloudy conditions over the inland cities within the next 24 hours and cloudy morning over the entire coast.
It also predicted prospects of localised thunderstorms over Port Harcourt, Yenegoa, Lagos, Akure and Ijebu-Ode later in the day with day and night temperatures of 32 to 36 and 22 to 25 degrees Celsius respectively.
According to NiMet, northern states will experience sunny and hazy conditions with day and night temperatures of 32 to 36 and 14 to 21 degrees Celsius respectively.
"The northern part of the country will be under sunny and hazy conditions while the coastal regions should expect isolated thunderstorms in the next 24 hours," the agency predicted.
Ikeja Electric (IE) on Monday decried the increasing number of violent attacks on its staff while performing their lawful duties.
Mr Felix Ofulue, the Head, Corporate Communications Unit of the company, expressed the company's concern in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos.
He said that the company was shocked at the level of violence, citing a recent incident at Akowonjo, Lagos, where an aggrieved woman allegedly stabbed a staff of IE.
"It is quite disheartening that a customer will resort to such levels of violence under any circumstance, to express her grievance without even considering the enormity of the action, which could have easily resulted in murder if the staff had died.
"This is appalling and totally unacceptable," Ofolue said.
He said that field staff were often attacked by aggrieved customers on matters which were completely beyond their control as workers of a distribution company.
"The company has created several channels for aggrieved customers to present their complaints, but rather, some chose to vent their anger on the workers, which is criminal.
"Some of the issues they are complaining about are beyond our control.
"For instance, there is poor power supply, which is as a result of certain known challenges that cut across the value chain and we are the last arm of the chain.
"These challenges are beyond our control, so there is no point directing your anger at any of our staff because they are also customers of a network where they reside," he said.
Ofolue said that the aggression by the customers was misdirected since the company could only distribute the allocation it gets from the national grid.
He warned that any customer who attacks any IE staff would be made to face wrath of law.
"We are appealing to customers to exercise patience and restraint.
"We are also appealing to community leaders to sensitize their people," he said.
More than 20 people were feared dead after Boko Haram gunmen opened fire on a convoy of motorists travelling under military escort in northeast Nigeria, witnesses told AFP on Monday.
The exact toll from the ambush on the main road between Maiduguri to Damboa on Saturday was unclear, with numbers varying from two to as high as 15 and 24.
But according to travellers who survived the attack and local rescuers, at least 15 trucks laden with food were seized when the Islamists struck at the Korowaso forest on Saturday.
“The attackers appeared from the bushes as the convoy slowed down at a part of the road riddled with potholes and opened fire on the vehicles,” said one of the drivers, Idrissa Kyari.
“They killed 15 people and injured nine while many passengers fled into the bush after subduing the military escorts. They also took away 15 trucks carrying food into the bush.”
Two students from of University of Maiduguri were killed in the attack with three others injured, said a teacher at the university on condition of anonymity.
Masida Umar, a civilian vigilante assisting the military against Boko Haram, said: “We evacuated 24 dead bodies and several injured to hospital.
“Many people fled into the bush and have not been seen despite deployment of a search team.”
Umar said there were fears Boko Haram may have captured those who fled.
The militia member said the rebels were believed to have launched the attack from Sambisa forest, which connects with Korowaso.
– Supply lines cut – Last month Nigeria’s military claimed to have dislodged Boko Haram from their last stronghold in the former game reserve after a months-long offensive.
But residents in the area have said fighters were still hiding in areas on the edge of the forest.
Military and police authorities declined to comment on the incident when contacted by AFP.
The 90-kilometre (55-mile) Maiduguri-Damboa road was nominally reopened last February, allowing motorists to ply the highway but only under military protection.
It had been closed in 2013 following a spate of deadly attacks on motorists, as Boko Haram seized swathes of territory in Borno and two neighbouring states.
In the last two years a coordinated fightback against Boko Haram involving Nigerian troops and soldiers from Cameroon, Chad and Niger has successfully clawed back lost territory.
That has put pressure on Boko Haram, substantially cutting its food, fuel and weapons supplies.
As a result Boko Haram has carried out raids on farming communities as well as highway ambushes in its search for food and fuel.
Last Thursday, at least three Nigerian soldiers were killed when Boko Haram fighters on camels raided a military post near the home of the country’s army chief in Borno state.
The state government of Osun has requested for Expression of Interest for competent aggregators to activate market-driven agricultural value chain in the state. Recall that Governor Rauf Aregbesola had, two weeks ago, travelled to Germany to seek partnership in the agricultural value chain.
The Osun Agricultural Value Chain Activation initiative is an initiative of the state government to partner with competent aggregators to spur private sector-led and market-driven agricultural value chain development. It is designed to use the aggregator and out-grower model, in a way that is innovative, sustainable and scalable.
Sharing boundaries with five (5) other south western states, Osun is strategically located to be the center of trade and commerce for agriculture and other commodities.
More so, the state enjoys favourable climate, fast-growing economy, 70% agrarian population, and a vision to be the Mid-Regional Hub for agriculture and agro-allied products.
The vision is to facilitate the activation of a minimum of 10 market-driven value chains that will empower 50,000 sustainable smallholder farmers/MSME, increase income and create jobs for 300,000 people using the aggregator and out-grower model.
A statement signed by the Project and Economic Team (PET)
in the Governor's office, states that selected aggregators will identify and establish sustainable and competitive markets in any of the Plantain, Rice, Cassava, Yam, Maize, Tomatoes, Soybeans, Cocoa, Rice, Oil Palm, Poultry, Aquaculture, Small Ruminant, Goats, Piggery, and forestry value chains.
The aggregators will secure sustainable market linkage and organise Osun Small businesses to produce in commercial quantities. The initiative will connect competent aggregators to qualifying small businesses leveraging on the abundance of MSME funds at the National and Sub-Nation levels to support small businesses. The initiative will also partner relevant financial and development institutions.
Katsina – The North-West zone of All Progressive Congress (APC) has condemned the issues being raised over President Muhammadu Buhari's health and vacation, saying it was unwarranted and unpatriotic.Abba Kyari, President Buhari and Adesina
In a communique after its meeting in Katsina on Monday and signed by its National Vice Chairman, North-West, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, the party said the issues smacked of desperation of the opposition in the country.
It said that the zone had declared total support to Buhari's administration, in its bid to move the nation forward.
"The meeting emphasized the need for members of the National Assembly from the North-West to fully support the president in his effort to provide responsive leadership to Nigeria.
"The meeting called on north-west zonal leadership of the party to engage members of the national assembly, ministers, and heads of government agencies to ensure that policies and programmes fall in line with the party's manifesto."
"The meeting emphasized the need for elected and appointed public officeholders to undertake periodic consultation with constituents to enlighten them on government policies and programmes, and at the same time, receive feedback for effective service delivery.
"The meeting reiterated its support to seven governors in the North-West region in their effort toward economic integration of the region within the context of the north-west economic cooperation and integration framework," the communiqué said.
The party also appreciated the seven states in the zone for their initiative at identifying high development priority areas like education, healthcare, agriculture, water resources, energy, solid minerals and industrialization.
It called on party members to rise in the defence of the hard-won but overwhelming mandate of the majority of Nigerians by eschewing all forms of internal conflict and division.
"We should appreciate the need to rally round our leaders and for the leaders to carry all members along in flying the flag of APC," the communiqué said.
Chadian Foreign minister Moussa Faki Mahamat has been elected the African Union Commission chairman.
He will replace South African Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
Mr. Mahamat beat four others in the contest at a session of the 28th African Union Summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
"The Chairman was elected in the fourth round," said former Burundian President Pierre Buyoya.
Mr Mahamat won after a final round battle with Kenyan Foreign minister Amina Mohamed.
Moussa Mahamat
Kenya immediately pledged to support the new AU Commission boss.
"We pledge to work with him to defend the pan-African agenda of integration for Africa, as well as democracy, sovereignty and prosperity for all of its people," a statement from the Kenya Presidency said.
Mahamat was until his election the Foreign Minister of Chad, a position he has held since April 2008.
He served as Prime Minister between June 2003 and February 2004 and stepped down amidst a civil service strike.
Other portfolios he has held include Minister of Public Works and Transport in 2002.
The new AU Commission Chairman attended university in Congo-Brazzaville where he studied public law. He went on exile after Hissen Habre took power in 1982 and returned from exile when Idris Deby Itno took power in 1991.
He was born in the country's eastern town of Biltine and belongs to the same ethnic group as President Deby – the Zaghawa. He served as campaign manager for Idris Deby during the 2001 presidential elections.
He is fluent in three international languages, English, French and Arabic and is married and has five children.
He becomes the fifth Chairperson of the Commission and the second Central African candidate. The first Central African was Gabon's Jean Ping who served as AUC Chairperson between 2008 and 2012.
The African Union Commission (AUC) serves as the executive/administrative branch or secretariat of the AU (cast in the mould of the European Commission). It is headed by the Chairperson with the help of a number of Commissioners dealing with different areas of policy.
The Commission has its headquarters in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. It is a different entity from the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, (based in Banjul, The Gambia), which is a separate body that reports to the African Union.
"I kidnapped my Oga's son because he refused to settle me,'' a 20-year-old suspect, Emmanuel Blessing, told newsmen in Lagos on Monday.
The suspect made the confession on the sidelines of a briefing by the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Mr Fatai Owoseni, on criminal activities in the state.
The suspect admitted being the mastermind of the alleged abduction of his boss's son.
Emmanuel, who claimed to be a trader at the Mandilas market, Lagos Island, was arrested along with one other, while on their way to collect a N5 million ransom demanded for the release of their victim.
The suspect claimed that he singlehandedly abducted the 10-year-old boy at Alafia area of Orile-Iganmu, on his way to school, as a way of paying his master back for refusing to settle him, after working for him for four years.
"I started staying with my Oga since 2013. He took me from my parents to stay with him so that I can learn how to sell clothes. In the agreement he had with my parents before he took me, he promised to settle me after four years.
"He started to count my apprenticeship from 2014. In 2016, when he was supposed to settle me, instead he opened another shop and asked me to be paying him N20, 000 monthly.
"I could not cope because of the recession in the country, so I asked him to settle me as agreed but he refused. Rather, he sent me back to the village.
"I came back early January and I stayed in a hotel. It was then that the idea of how to kidnap his son came to me. Last week Monday, around 7.30 a.m., I stayed along the route where his son normally passed to school at the Alafia area of orile.
"The boy emerged around 7.45 a.m. He came to me when I called him and I took him away," the suspect confessed.
The suspect further explained that he kept the young boy in his hotel room for four days, until he was arrested around Apapa Road.
"Throughout the four days, the boy stayed with me in my hotel room at Oyingbo. I called my Oga on phone the next day to pay N5 million into my account, if he hoped to see his son again. I sent him my account number.
"I was on my way to collect my ATM card from the bank along Apapa Road when I was arrested. I never knew that the police was on my trail," he added.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, while briefing newsmen on the arrest, said that the suspect, along with one other, kidnapped the 10-year old boy.
He said after kidnapping their victim, the suspects demanded for N5 million as ransom for the release of the boy.
…..as court orders IGP to protect all the witnesses By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA – The Federal Government, Monday, narrated before an Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama, how eight armed gunmen attempted to assassinate one of the key witnesses billed to testify against Justice Adeniyi Ademola who is facing corruption charges.
It told the court that the gunmen, around 2am on Monday, stormed Abuja residence of the witness, Dr. Sani Teidi, who was to testify how the embattled Judge, while presiding over his trial, allegedly demanded N25million bribe to grant him bail.
According to the prosecution counsel, Mr. Shegu Jegede, it took quick intervention of the Police to rescue the witness who he said hid in his bedroom upstairs while his family were held hostage by the assassins.
Jegede told the court that Ademola’s trial “has progressed to a very dangerous dimension”, adding that the witness is currently under police protection while the matter is being investigated.
MEINBUTUS Federated Community in Warri South council area of Delta State is worried over an alleged security report indicating threat to the lives of some persons in the community over perceived betrayal and disagreement.
A statement by Lot Loyibo, Chairman and Charles Mokena, Public Relations Officer of the community, listed those affected by the said death threat to include Korikori Ayafulagha, Innocent Lokri, Solomon Picflour, Anthony Lokri NewYear Ayakura and Kpobulo Ogositoru.
The statement added: "It is saddening that the affected persons have been in hideout for over three years for fear of being killed by some aggrieved persons who tagged them betrayers.. "We plead with those offended one way or the other to forgive one another"
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers has expelled Mr Benibo Anabraba, the Minority Leader in the state House of Assembly, over alleged anti-party activities.
This is contained in a copy of the expulsion letter signed by Chief Davies Ikanya, the APC Chairman in the state, and made available to journalists in Port Harcourt on Monday.
Anabraba is the APC legislator representing Akuku-Toru Constituency 2 in the assembly.
The letter stated that the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party expelled Anabraba for allegedly failing to attend meetings to clear the allegations against him after three invitations.
It alleged that Anabraba's refusal to attend the proceedings on the three occasions he was invited confirmed his disrespect to constituted authority.
"The party considers your wilful and deliberate refusal to make yourself available to answer to the allegations against you as sufficient confirmation that the said allegations against you are true.
"Therefore, the party pursuant to relevant provisions of the constitution of the APC (Oct. 2014 as amended), particularly Article 21 (A) ii, iii, hereby expels you from the party," the letter said.
Efforts by NAN to reach Anabraba for his reaction failed as he was not in his office at the assembly and would not pick calls put through to his GSM line.
Vanguardngr.local-report.com, like vanguardnigeria.org is another dangerous clone trying to pass off as vanguardngr.com, the website of Vanguard Newspapers,Kirikiri Lagos.
These criminals continue to steal our identity for nefarious purposes. They post untrue and false stories that readers erroneously believe are from Vanguard newspapers or the online platform : vanguardngr.com.
Vanguard newspapers disown these mutants who are out to rape the conscience of the undiscerning publics. Readers should beware of the fake websites. -Editor
Five anti-voodoo cult members died from asphyxiation (the state or process of being deprived of oxygen, which can result in unconsciousness or death; suffocation) in Benin.
Several more were hospitalised after a religious cult told followers to seal themselves into prayer rooms and burn incense and charcoal, residents and a survivor said.
The group, whose name in French translates as the "Very Holy Church of Jesus Christ of Baname'', has thousands of adherents across the country and has stirred tensions by vehemently opposing the local voodoo culture.
Its young woman leader, Vicentia Chanvoukini, known by her followers as "Lady Perfect'', has proclaimed herself a god.
"With the help of old cloths, we sealed off all of the exits to the prayer room before using incandescent charcoal and incense to prepare for the descent of the Holy Spirit,'' said survivor Yves Aboua at the Porto Novo hospital where he was admitted with respiratory problems on Sunday.
Church members were told to stay in their prayer rooms until Sunday so as "not to be held accountable'' when the world ended, he said.
Several other people remain in hospital in critical condition, according to residents and hospital workers.
In a shady courtyard in the town of Adjarra, five kilometers northeast of the capital, a woman fanned a survivor sitting on a straw mat to resuscitate him while awaiting medical attention.
The body of his brother, who died during the prayer ritual, lay beside him.
Local mayor Michel Honga confirmed that the victims were members of prayer groups but declined further comment.
Police officials declined comment and Reuters was unable to contact anyone representing the Baname church.
About 40 per cent of the West African country's population follow Voodoo, and Benin has a national holiday to celebrate it.
Many Christians and Muslims incorporate some of its beliefs into their faith.
The Baname church, named after Chanvoukini's hometown, has drawn criticism because it rejects Voodoo entirely.
There have been several violent clashes between Baname followers, who often wear red scarves to identify themselves, and members of other faiths since 2009.
Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun says the State Government has recruited 2,968 women as food vendors for the Federal Government Home Grown School Feeding Programme.
Amosun disclosed this on Monday in Abeokuta at the formal launching of the programme designed to provide one free, hot and nutritious meal per day for pupils in classes one to three in the nation's primary schools.
The programme is one of the five social intervention programmes of the federal government to assist and empower vulnerable Nigerians.
The governor was represented at the ceremony by his deputy, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga.
He commended the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for partnering state governments in feeding Nigerian pupils.
The governor noted that the initiative would ensure increased access, enrolment, attendance, retention and completion in our schools.
"There is a serious need to ensure the well-being of the pupils in the primary schools.
"Qualitative education and the well-being of the pupils are two sides of the same coin that any responsive government must take seriously.
"We will always say that education of the youths guarantees the future of any society; but we must also remember that only healthy body can make whatever knowledge received meaningful and of positive impact in the future.
"In fact, you cannot teach a hungry child," he said.
Besides, Amosun explained that the programme would enhance the state's employment generation and poverty alleviation policy.
"There is no doubt, this is an intervention designed to eradicate poverty in our households as the women will make additional income from taking on catering businesses in their communities.
"This can be done on weekends and when schools are not in session," he said.
The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, who commended the federal and state governments for the programme, also called for its sustenance.
The Programme Manager, Ogun Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Mrs Tinuola Shopeju, said that the programme would take off on Jan. 31 in 874 of the 1,554 public primary schools in the state.
Abuja – The Nigeria Police have challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Abuja to hear a suit filed by Rivers governor, Mr Nyesom Wike.
Wike is seeking to stop the police from investigating allegations, petitions of crimes and various acts of criminality during the December 2016 River's re-run election.
The Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris and a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Damian Okoro, who are first and third defendants in the suit, told the court that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
Counsel to the IGP and deputy commissioner, Mr Deji Morakinyo told the court that the defendants had filed a notice of preliminary objection to Wike's motion on interlocutory injunction.
Morakinyo told the court that the issue of jurisdiction was of importance and should first be decided before the substantive case can be heard.
The counsel added that the defendants would oppose any application that sought to prevent the police from carrying out its constitutional duties.
Counsel to Wike, Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN) while arguing the motion, told the court that the action of the police to constitute a panel to investigate the crisis that trailed the re-run election was illegal.
He said it was in the interest of justice for the court to ask that the investigation be suspended pending the outcome of the suit, saying that the investigation was the matter in contention.
Trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole said the proceeding for Monday was for the defendants to show cause why they should not be restrained from investigating the allegations following the re-run election.
Kolawale, however, noted that he saw no irreparable damage that the plaintiff would suffer if the police went ahead with its investigation.
According to him, even if the investigation is conducted, the court has the power to set aside the report of the investigation, for being conducted while the matter is still pending in court.
He said it was left for the defendants to decide whether or not to go ahead with the investigation knowing that it could be over ruled by the court.
Kolawale adjourned the matter till Feb. 10 for continuation.
The North-West zone of All Progressive Congress (APC) has condemned the issues being raised over President Muhammadu Buhari's health and vacation, saying it was unwarranted and unpatriotic.
In a communique after its meeting in Katsina on Monday and signed by its National Vice Chairman, North-West, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, the party said the issues smacked of desperation of the opposition in the country.
It said that the zone had declared total support to Buhari's administration, in its bid to move the nation forward.
"The meeting emphasized the need for members of the National Assembly from the North-West to fully support the president in his effort to provide responsive leadership to Nigeria.
"The meeting called on north-west zonal leadership of the party to engage members of the national assembly, ministers, and heads of government agencies to ensure that policies and programmes fall in line with the party's manifesto."
"The meeting emphasized the need for elected and appointed public officeholders to undertake periodic consultation with constituents to enlighten them on government policies and programmes, and at the same time, receive feedback for effective service delivery.
"The meeting reiterated its support to seven governors in the North-West region in their effort toward economic integration of the region within the context of the north-west economic cooperation and integration framework," the communiqué said.
The party also appreciated the seven states in the zone for their initiative at identifying high development priority areas like education, healthcare, agriculture, water resources, energy, solid minerals and industrialization.
It called on party members to rise in the defence of the hard-won but overwhelming mandate of the majority of Nigerians by eschewing all forms of internal conflict and division.
"We should appreciate the need to rally round our leaders and for the leaders to carry all members along in flying the flag of APC," the communiqué said.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte wants his Premier League leaders to inflict the “hard hit” of defeat upon Liverpool when the sides meet at Anfield on Tuesday.
Conte’s men are currently 10 points in front of Liverpool, who have won just once in eight games in all competitions this month.
While accepting that there will be 15 league games for both clubs after Tuesday’s match, Conte believes a Chelsea win would deal a huge blow to the title hopes of a Liverpool side who won 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in September — one of just the Blues’ three league defeats so far this term.
“It could be a hard hit mentally for them (if Liverpool lose to Chelsea),” said Conte on Monday.
“It’s important to win this type of game, increase your confidence, take three points from a rival,” added Conte, who took charge after coaching his native Italy at last year’s European Championship.
“I hope to change the result if you compare the first game and the first part of the season.”
Antonio Conte
Chelsea’s loss to Liverpool was compounded with a defeat by London rivals Arsenal — the Blues’ visitors at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Arsenal are currently Chelsea’s closest title challengers, with Arsene Wenger’s men presently eight points off top spot in second place.
“It’s a very important week, but also I know after two of these games we have 14 games to finish the championship,” said Conte.
“The results are important, but the championship doesn’t finish after these two games.”
Having let Chelsea play with a back four at the start of his time with the west London club, defeat by Arsenal led Conte to revert to his favoured 3-4-3 formation.
Chelsea then embarked upon a 13-match winning streak in the Premier League which only ended at Tottenham Hotspur, another London side, on January 4.
“Honestly, I think we are a different team, not Liverpool. I think that we grew a lot,” Conte said.
“After the game (against Liverpool) I said ‘today we faced a great team, a really great team, but today we are not a team. Only through work we can improve to become a team’. I think it happened.
“We grew a lot and for this reason now we are top of the table.
“It’s incredible this, because it’s not easy to have two defeats against Liverpool and Arsenal and to find the strength to start and to arrive top of the table and to have 13 wins in a row.”
The President, Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Mr Johnson Suleman, has said that his invitation by the Department of State Services (DSS) is in order.
Suleman said this while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Monday.
"I presume the right thing was done. They have been in touch with me to come and that is why I am in Abuja, so that I can see them," he said.
He said that his recent statement was based on information from a reliable source that herdsmen were coming to attack him. He said that he stood by his statement on self defence.
Suleiman
"I was talking in my personal capacity on information from a reliable source that certain people in the capacity of Herdsmen were coming to attack me and I told the people around me that if it happens they should defend themselves.
Suleman had told his supporters at a religious crusade in Ekiti recently to defend themselves if they were attacked by herdsmen.
However, as at the time of filing this report, Suleiman had yet to report to the DSS office.
There was heavy presence of policemen and the DSS personnel with Amoured Personnel Carrier ( APC) around the services' headquarters.
Founder and General Overseer, Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministries (MLMM) aka Liberation City, Dr. Chris Okafor, has lamented the brutal and inhuman killings of Christians in the north, especially in Kaduna.
During a recent service in the church premises, Pastor Chris who seems to be very angry and heart-broken with the deplorable state of the country and the unsatisfactory manner in which the present leadership have been handling the state of affairs, passionately lashed out at the government and perpetrators of the incessant brutal killings in the north.
According to Pastor Chris Okafor, the Nigerian polity is gradually becoming heated up and ungovernable, because the leaders at the helms of affair are mere stooges and loud sounding empty barrels.
Pastor Chris Okafor
"People are being killed in a country where there is government, and nobody seems to be saying anything, and anybody who says anything they come against that person, we are all ready to die for it. When they come with their cow to graze in your farmland, they destroy your farmland, and when you talk they kill you, because to them their cow is more important to them than your own life, why? Because you are seen as an infidel, you are seen as an unbeliever.
Over 800 people have been killed in Kaduna and no arrest has been made, not even El Rufai, the Herod, that can even make a statement totally condemning the act, the short Herod could not even make a statement! A man cried to me about 2-weeks ago, that he doesn't have a place to stay, I asked him why and he said where they were living in Kaduna was burnt, his 7-children and pregnant wife were killed; he said he ran for his dear life, as it is right now he is a widower, no wife no children.
Nobody owns this country, we all own the country and no people can try to claim superiority over other ones, we all own the country. We are keeping quiet does not mean we are powerless, we can do something, we can fight, enough is enough! We all own this country, if the country does not belong to all of us again then let the country be divided and let those ones go to one side and we also go to the other side", Pastor Chris retorted.
Pastor Chris's statement comes on the heels of a continuous killing of innocent Christians in the north and the inhuman destruction of properties worth millions of naira, displacing and rendering thousands of Christians homeless, childless, widows and widowers. In his opinion, Christians are quiet not because they are powerless but because they don't subscribe to violence. Attachments area
Twenty six ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos from Jan. 30 to Feb. 18.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) stated this in its publication – `Shipping Position', – a copy of which was made available on Monday in Lagos.
Five of the expected ships would berth with petrol.
NPA said that the remaining 21 ships contained buck wheat, general cargoes, base oil, frozen fish, bulk salt, crude Palm olein and containers.
The document noted that six ships had arrived the ports, waiting to berth with bulk fertiliser, diesel and petrol.
About 13 other ships are at the ports discharging empty containers, bulk wheat, frozen fish, pet coke, containers, bulk corn,soya beans and petrol.
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