Nigerian soldiers, police sexually abuse Boko Haram victims, Human Rights Watch says

Nigerian soldiers and policemen have raped and sexually abused women and girls fleeing the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, Human Rights Watch said on Monday.

Forty-three cases of "sexual abuse, including rape and exploitation", were documented in July, HRW said.

The women and girls were housed at seven camps in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, where Boko Haram's seven-year insurgency began. That insurgency has displaced more than two million people and killed some 15,000 in Nigeria's northeast.

An army spokesman declined to comment and referred the matter to the defense ministry. A spokesman for the department could not be reached by phone and did not respond to a text message. A spokesman for the Nigerian police could not be reached on his mobile phone.

The rights group said it was also told of abuse carried out by camp leaders and members of security groups set up to help the military fight the insurgents.

Four people told HRW they were drugged and raped. Thirty-seven said they had been coerced into sex through false marriage promises and material and financial assistance.

A 17-year-old girl said she was raped by a policeman who approached her in a camp.

"One day he demanded to have sex with me. I refused but he forced me," she said, adding that it happened once. She said he threatened to shoot and kill her when she discovered that she was pregnant.

Another girl - a 16-year-old who fled an attack on Baga, near Lake Chad, last year - said she was drugged and raped in May 2015 by a community security group member in charge of distributing aid in the camp.

Boko Haram, which controlled a swathe of land in the northeast around the size of Belgium early last year, has largely been pushed back to its base in the northeast's vast Sambisa forest in the last few months.

Aid workers and soldiers have gained access to the group's former northeastern strongholds, revealing famine-like conditions which UNICEF says could kill 75,000 children over the next year if they do not receive aid.

Nigerian lawmakers in early October said they would investigate the use of government funds intended to assist displaced people, amid claims that money had been diverted.

SOURCE: Theglobeandmail

Aisha vows to work closely with Buhari, says ‘all I want is for my husband to succeed’

Wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha, has declared that her interests lie in the success of her husband’s government, despite controversies.

Aisha made this known on Thursday at Beneshiek, headquarters of Kaga Local Government Area, LGA, of Borno state at the flag off of nutritional foods and household utensils to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs who recently returned to their communities.

Recall that Mrs. Buhari had in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service alleged that her husband’s administration had been hijacked, adding that she would not campaign for his re-election in 2019 if he does not rejig his cabinet.

But Buhari had during a joint Press conference he had with the German Chancellor, Angela Markel at his three-day visit to Berlin, responded to a question regarding his wife’s remark, saying his wife belongs in his kitchen, living room and the other room.

The comment by Buhari that his wife belongs in his kitchen had sparked controversies across the country.

However, in what appeared like a response to the heat generated by her interview and apparently her first public reaction, Aisha said, “What I am after in particular is the success of my husband’s administration and he can’t do it alone, except with the help of the governors, their wives and all members of our progressive party.”

While citing an example with herself going forward, Aisha advised wives of political leaders, governors, legislators, local government chairmen and counselors to work closely with their husbands for the well-being of the people.

“I am happy that the flag off of the food distribution took place. It is in fulfillment of my husband’s campaign promise to resettle displaced victims of Boko Haram insurgency and rescue all citizen abducted or held by Boko Haram including the Chibok girls.

“We thank almighty Allah that we have started fulfilling some of the campaign promises that we made. This is the essence of leadership; you make a promise and then fulfilled it.

“We thank my dear husband who makes sure peace is returned to the northeast states,” the president’s wife added.

SOURCE: Dailypostngr

It's Another Year Of GOD's GRACE!

Today is my birthday!!!

I am celebrating my life. I’m alive amidst life challenge, I am STRONGER and WISER. Here I am, cake waiting to be cut, another year around the sun. Cheers!!!

And these I ask for...

LORD, I ask for PROSPERITY so that all my needs might be met.

LORD, I ask for PEACE that I might not be burdened nor threatened by the storms and vicissitudes of life.

LORD, I ask for POWER that I might overcome any and every challenge of life(human, Physical, even spiritual).

LORD, I ask for FAVOR that I might dwell in serenity with men and the world.

LORD, I ask for GOOD HEALTH that I may live long and healthy enough so I can fulfill every of your plan and purpose for me.

LORD, I ask for  ANOINTING that I might serve YOUR purpose  efficiently and effectively in this cruel world.

LORD, I ask  for WISDOM and INSIGHT to be above and beyond human imagination.

LORD, I ask for ALL that will make me a GOOD WIFE to my husband, A GOOD MOTHER to my children and a BETTER PERSON in LIFE. 

LORD, do not let your presence leave me even when I try to SWERVE away from you. 

It has not always been an easy year. I’ve taken leaps of faith and risks, and still, I am here, living. So, I thank you LORD.

I want to have a little fun and be a little lazy. 

Senate Asks Buhari to reintroduce toll booths

Alarmed at the frightening level of decay witnessed on the na­tion’s highways, the Nigeri­an Senate on Tuesday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to reintroduce toll gates to enable government rehabilitate the roads.

It would be recalled that former President Olusegun Obasanjo abolished toll gate fees collection on the nation’s highways about 12 years ago.

Obasanjo, who said that toll gates had outlived its usefulness, had on December 30, 2003 dis­banded them across the country with effect from January 1st, 2004.

He pointed out that the scheme was imposing un­necessary financial bur­den on the federal govern­ment and Nigerians who were also overburdened by other demands.

Consequently, the up­per chamber yesterday mandated its Commit­tee on Works to carefully study the toll gate policy together with other rel­evant stakeholders on ef­fective and efficient ways to carry out the policy aimed at producing a ho­listic package to generate funds for roads mainte­nance.

In December 2015, the Senate passed a motion calling on President Mu­hammadu Buhari to rein­troduce toll gates across the country in order to reduce the burdens on the roads. After waiting for ten months without any re­sponse from the President in respect of their demand, the red chamber renewed its move yesterday when it passed the resolution.

The resolution was se­quel to a motion moved by Senator Suleiman Nazif on the need for the re-estab­lishment of toll gates on our federal highways.

SOURCE: Thebreakingtmes

Army arrests 2 officers, 28 others for colluding with Boko Haram

Over 30 persons are now being investigated in the ongoing investigation of suspected Boko Haram saboteurs and collaborators in the fight against insurgency in the North East.

This follows the arrest of nine more persons over the last 24 hours. Army Spokesman, Sani Usman, had said in a statement yesterday.

Those arrested include two serving army officers, two sol­diers, two policemen bringing the total number of collaborators and saboteurs so far under inves­tigation to 30.

He said that more suspects are expected to be arrested and would be prosecuted on the basis of evi­dence available and their levels of involvement.

He said, “Please be informed that the ongoing investigation on suspected Boko Haram terrorists saboteurs and collaborators in the fight against terrorism and insur­gency has led to the arrest of nine more over the last 24 hours, there­by bringing the number to 32.

“This comprise of two officers, two soldiers, two policemen and 26 civilians.

“Many more suspects would be arrested and prosecuted based on evidences against them and the level of culpability.”

SOURCE: Breakingtimes

“Today I received 21 dear daughters. They have seen the worst that the world has to offer. It is now time for them to experience the best.”

–          President Muhammadu Buhari says, while receiving the 21 Chibok girls released by the Boko Haram terrorists (Source: Twitter)

“The one thing you have over me is experience. But it’s bad experience.”

–          Republican candidate, Donald Trump, tells his rival, Hilary Clinton of the Democratic party, during the last U.S presidential debate (Source: NBC News)

“He (President Goodluck Jonathan) said he had talked to all the leaders in Ondo State and that if PDP lost the election, it would be because of me. Then I asked Jonathan, ‘What if you lose in the whole of Nigeria? Would that still be because of me?’ That was the end of our conversation.”

–          Jimoh Ibrahim, PDP governorship candidate in Ondo State, blaming the state governor, Olusegun Mimiko, for the defeat of Jonathan in the state during the 2015 presidential election (Source: The Punch)

“If we could defeat military despots, no civilian dictator will be tolerated by the Nigerian people. I don’t believe in the assertion that the arrest of a few judges is an indication that the state has become fascistic. There is nothing dictatorial in arresting criminal suspects accused of corrupt practices.”

–          Nigerian lawyer, Femi Falana, on the recent arrest of some judges by the State Security Services (Source: The Punch)

“I move as a former head of state to offer the nation’s profound regrets and my personal apology to the good people of Oloibiri with the prayers to the present and future government at all levels in the land to work towards redressing the wrongs of the past to these people.”

–          Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s former military Head of State, after seeing a movie titled ‘Oloibiri’, apologized to the people of Oloibiri, Bayelsa State, for the devastation oil exploration has brought to the community and how it has been neglected by successive government. (Source: The Cable)

“If any party fields Aisha Buhari as a Presidential candidate in 2019, I would be tempted to not only vote for her but to campaign for her!”

–          Reno Omokri, social commentator and critic of President Muhammadu Buhari (Source: Twitter)

“The Chief Justice of Nigeria wishes to state in clear terms that the ‘sting’ operations carried out by the DSS on 07 and 08 October 2016 was certainly an assault on the independence of the Nigerian Judiciary.”

–          Chief Justice of Nigeria Mahmud Mohammed (Source: The Nation)

“The agitations and counter agitations are ill-timed. We have been together for over 100 years and it is very difficult for us to part ways.”

–          Former governor of Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, on the call for the restructuring of Nigeria (Source: The Nation)

“We (the Igbos) should destroy this idea of victimhood; we are not the only people who have suffered and are still suffering ‘to keep Nigeria one’. Even if we don’t forget we must forgive.”

–          Chido Onumah, Nigerian journalist and author, on the agitation for the independent state of Biafra.  Mr. Onumah was speaking at the 2016 National Convention of the Anambra State Association (ASA-USA), Dallas, Texas, USA (Source: Osun Defender)

“It is horrific. The country of Madiba (Nelson Mandela’s South Africa) is being run like a spaza shop.”

–          A retired South African judge, Johan Kriegler, opposing the fraud charges against South Africa’s Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, accused of fraudulently approving an early retirement package of about $720,000 for a former employee at the tax agency about a decade ago (Source: Time Live newspaper)
SOURCE: Premiumtimesng

Delta community holds SSG hostage over herdsmen’s attack

Osissa community in the Ndokwa-East Local Government Area of Delta State are currently protesting and holding the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Festus Ovie Agas, and his convoy hostage over the alleged killing of three members of the community by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The protesters numbering over one thousand intercepted the convoy of the SSG who was traveling to Asaba after spending the weekend with his family in Ughelli at about 6:55am along the Ughelli-Asaba express on Monday.

Sources told our correspondent that other travelers including those going to Onitsha market in Anambra State were also trapped in the protest.

Two members of the rampaging herdsmen who invaded the community with their cattle were nabbed by officers from the Ashaka Police Station.

Our correspondent gathered on Monday morning that the situation took another turn Sunday evening when the herdsmen allegedly attacked again killing at least three persons in the community.

The protesters who thronged the road blocking both lanes demanded that Fulani herdsmen vacate their land and the killers prosecuted.

At about 8:30am on Monday, the protesters had not been dispersed despite heavy presence of security men including the military.

A traveler, Akpodhoma Mikoko, who is also trapped in the situation, told our correspondent that about 800 vehicles were being held in the gridlock.

SOURCE:punchng