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In 8 Month, Over 1 thousand Nigerians were Killed by Gunmen-Amnesty International

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Amnesty International’s Nigeria office has described as shameful how the country’s security agencies have been handling repeated attacks by gunmen in villages across the northern region.

 

After speaking with residents of communities in seven northwest and north-central states, the human rights group shared its findings in a statement obtained by an online Newspaper HumAngle on Monday.

 

It observed that, between January and August, 1,126 civilians in the north were killed by rampaging gunmen, out of which 366 were from the south of Kaduna.

“Many of those interviewed described how security forces often arrive hours after attacks have ended, even when officers have been given information about impending attacks,” it said.

 

 

The group said it has also documented an upsetting increase in abductions in the region, with at least 380 people, mostly women and children, kidnapped this year.

Osai Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, stated that the failure of the security forces to take adequate steps in protecting villagers “from these predictable attacks is utterly shameful”.

 

“In addition to the security forces’ failure to heed warnings or respond in time to save lives, the fact that no perpetrators have been brought to justice leaves rural communities feeling completely exposed.

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“The President claims he has repeatedly tasked security agencies to end the killing so that Nigerians can go to bed with their eyes closed, but clearly nothing has changed,” he added.

 

Witnesses in Kaduna, Plateau, and Kaduna states told Amnesty International that the attacks in their communities were well-coordinated and the invaders, who rode on motorcycles, were heavily armed. They also complained that they received little or no help from security forces even though they might have been pre-informed or called during attacks.

 

One resident of Unguwan Magaji, a community in southern Kaduna, said soldiers who came during an attack got intimidated after seeing the invaders’ firepower.

“Our leaders called and informed the soldiers that the attackers are in the village, so the soldiers did not waste time and they came but when they came and saw the type of ammunitions the attackers had they left. The following morning so many soldiers came with their Hilux pick-up trucks to see the dead bodies,” he reported.

Amnesty International’s release quoted the lamentation of a farmer in Kaduna whose 20-year-old son was killed in Kukum Daji.

 

 

“He had just gotten admission to the University of Jos. He was at home due to the Corona pandemic, then the attack happened,” he said.

Zamfara Banditry: Dialogue remains the best option- Government

“When I saw his dead body, my body became very weak, I started feeling dizzy, I thought I was going to fall, my whole body was on fire but there was nothing I could do, I just told myself that am leaving everything to God. I will never be happy again in this life for losing this boy. His death has really affected me.”

 

Ojigho observed that the series of attacks have led to massive food insecurity and the displacement of civilians. “The majority of the people in these communities depend on farming for their livelihoods, but they are now too afraid to go to their fields,” he said.

 

“This is pushing the region to the brink of a major humanitarian crisis. The Nigerian authorities’ failure to stem the violence is costing people’s lives and livelihoods, and without immediate action, many more lives may be lost.”

 

He urged government agencies against arresting critics who dared demanded adequate security. Instead, he added, the authorities “should be seeking urgent solutions to this crisis and doing all they can to prevent further attacks”.

 

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Breaking: Court Drops Charges Against Minors

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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday struck out the charges brought against a total of 119 #EndBadGovernance protesters.

All 119 protesters were arraigned on Friday, November 1 on charges bordering on Treason felony, inciting to mutiny, among others.

The defendants were arraigned in two batches at the previous proceeding.

The first batch comprised a total of 76 protesters which included 32 minors and the second batch a total of 43 protesters.

The trial judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, struck out the suit following an application by the counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation, M. D Abubakar, to take over and discontinue the matter.

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NNPP Crisis: Assembly Members Deny Factional Differences

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By Salisu Baso

As the crisis erupted within Kano’s ruling party NNPP, with some members calling for the governor to stand independently, the Kano State House of Assembly has denied knowledge of any of its members being involved in the rifts.

The Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Lawan Hussain, representing Dala Constituency, revealed this to newsmen in an interview with journalists over the publication of an online newspaper, Daily Nigeria, stating that some members of the NNPP in the House have joined the factional crisis.

He described the news as a fabricated and mischievous story from unpatriotic elements planning to destroy the peace reigning within the party. He said that as far as the members of the House are concerned, there are no conflicts between the governor and the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

The Majority Leader therefore assured the party parliament members of their solid support for the leader of the Kwankwasiyya and state governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, adding that the governor considers Senator Kwankwaso his mentor.

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On the issue of some party members calling for the governor to be independent (Tsaya da Kafar Ka), Hon. Dala said the governor is operating independently without interference from any person. He therefore accused some opposition politicians from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, of sponsoring unpatriotic people to ignite a crisis in the state with a view to disrupting the government’s development initiatives.

 

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Breaking: Tinubu Orders Release of Minors Arrested Over Endbadgovernance Protest

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President Bola Ahmad Tinubu

President Tinubu Orders release of all minors who participated in the Endbadgovernance protest .

 

The minister of information and national orientation Muhammad Idris stated this to state House correspondents.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents, on Monday.

The Minister was flanked by the Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy; Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Public Communications and orientation.

Idris stated that the President has instructed the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to begin the process of securing the minors’ release without delay.

“The President has directed that all minors be released on the and also reunited with their families anywhere they are in the country. A committee has been set up to look at the issues surrounding their arrest, detention and release. All the law enforcement agents related to the case will be investigated and anyone found wanting will be brought to book,” he said.

 

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