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Herdsmen Kill Four In Plateau …As Shi’tes Protest Claims Policeman, Three Others In Kaduna

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The Department of State Services (DSS) says it has arrested in Kukuntu village, Gwagwalada, Abuja, two Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) commanders based in West Africa.
According to the DSS, the names of the suspects are Rufai Sajo and Bashiru Adams.
The notice of the arrest comes days after it was revealed that the Federal Government had alerted the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) of the threat by ISIS to attack commercial flights into and out of the country, and “bring bloodshed to the skies”.
FAAN subsequently said it had tightened security around main airports in the country as a result of the report.
General Manager, Corporate Affairs, of FAAN, Henrietta Yakubu, had said there was major security focus on Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu and Port Harcourt airports, being the major routes for international passengers entering the country.
Yakubu said the FAAN Aviation Secuirty (AVSEC) was joining hands with other security agencies to keep guard on perimeter fence, the cargo area, the runway and other restricted areas.
According to a DSS statement issued by Tony Opuiyo yesterday, the suspects were arrested back on May 5 after special operations on identified targets.
Opuiyo said that in a related operation on April 28, the service also arrested one Umar Dogo, a suspected member of Islamic State West AFrica (ISWA) at Muda Lawal Market in Bauchi.
He said the suspects were discovered to have concluded plans to perpetuate the ideals of the group in the area and, in collaboration with Boko Haram, carry out heinous violent attacks on innocent persons.
The operative also said following intelligence reports, two experts in improvised explosive devices (IEDs), Adamu Hassan, aka Bale, and Abubakr Abubakar aka Alhaji or Buba, were arrested.
He said two other members of Boko Haram, Mohammed Saleh, aka Azrak and Iliyasu Abubakar, aka Ruwa, were also arrested on April 12 and 19 at Gassol and Ardo local government areas of Taraba.
Opuiyo said in furtherance of the service‘s operation, two members of the dreaded Basalube kidnap group, Usman, aka Siddi and Ibrahim Muhammed, aka Ganaja, were arrested on June 17 at Karu village in Abuja.
He said during one of the operations, one of the group’s members, Tambaya Umar was arrested on April 24 at Odigie village, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo.
Opuiyo said Umar was arrested alongside Ibrahim Ali, Abubakar Mohammed, Aliyu Manu and Umar Mohammed for their complicity in the group’s numerous criminal acts.
He said that on March 27, the service also arrested five members of a kidnap syndicate at Calabar.
The suspects are Simeon Paul, Emmanuel Etim, Eric Out, Famous Oleke and Felix Eshet.
Meanwhile,the Plateau State Police Command yesterday confirmed the killing of four persons by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Kai village of Barkin Ladi LGA of the state.
The spokesman of the command, ASP Mathias Terna Tyopev, confirmed the killings to journalists in Jos.
He said, “Today being 21/6/2018 at about 10:30 hours one Maren Mahan of Kai village reported at the Barkin Ladi Police Division that yesterday 20/6/2018 at about 20:00 hours, unknown gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen invaded the house of his elder brother one Dauda Mahan ‘M’ of the same address, shot and killed four persons.”
Also at least three protesters and a policeman were killed yesterday, with many more injured, as Shi’ia followers continued their protests over the unending detention of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
The deaths were recorded in clashes between the Police and the protesters as El-Zakzaky and his wife appeared before the Kaduna State High Court on eight counts bordering on alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, disturbance of public peace, among other allegations.
El-Zakzaky was arrested in December 2015 after clashes between members of his group and the military resulted in multiple deaths.
The military had claimed that Zakzaky’s followers tried to assassinate Tukur Buratai, a Lieutenant-General and Chief of Army Staff, after barricading the route through which his motorcade was to pass.
Shi’ia followers have staged a countless number of protests ever since, particularly in Abuja and Kaduna, with one on Wednesday causing injuries to two policemen and some Shi’ites.

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Rivers’ll Be Known For Peace, Not Crisis -Fubara

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.

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Hoteliers, School Owners Charging In Dollars Risk Arrest -EFCC

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”

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Eid-El-Fitr: Fubara Felicitates Muslims, Calls For Unity, Tolerance

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

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