The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a Fulani herdsman, identified as, Abubakar Usman, for allegedly killing his 65-year-old mother, Khadijat, and his brother’s wife, Ramatu Shagari, 35.

The 25-year old, who resides in Patigi area of the state, was paraded at the state police command’s headquaters in Ilorin, the state capital on Wednesday.

Usman, while speaking with Punch, however, regretted his action, saying he may have been charmed by his father.

According to Usman, “I am into cattle rearing. On that day when I woke up, I took N1,000 from my room and took my cows out for grazing.

“Suddenly, I discovered that the cattle were running away and I followed them. On getting back home, something came over me and I used a knife to stab my mother. I also stabbed my brother’s wife. I believe that my father charmed me. I do not have mental disorder.”
SOURCE: Dailypostng

Boko Haram violence taking “devastating toll” on children

Years of violence by Islamist Boko Haram militants have taken a “devastating toll” on children living in the Lake Chad basin, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday.

The insurgency displaced 1.4 million children in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger and left at least another one million trapped in areas that are hard to reach or under the control of Boko Haram, the agency said.

An estimated 475,000 children across Lake Chad are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year, up from 175,000 at the beginning of the year, according to the report.

“Humanitarian needs are outpacing the response,” warned UNICEF regional director for West and Central Africa Manuel Fontaine.

In north-eastern Nigeria alone, where Boko Haram has its strongholds, an estimated 20,000 children have been separated from their families.

About 38 children have been used to carry out suicide attacks in the Lake Chad basin so far this year, the UN said, bringing to 86 the number of children used as suicide bombers since 2014.

Earlier this week, the World Food Programme warned that the number of people who need food aid in north-eastern Nigeria has almost doubled to 4.5 million between March and August.

Boko Haram poses a steady threat to communities in the north-east of Nigeria and has also launched offensives in neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

SOURCE: Premiumtimesng