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TACKLING INSECURITY IN ENUGU: Stakeholders Accuses Mbah Of Illegitimacy

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The Enugu State Stakeholders Forum (ESSF) has ascribed the failure of the state government’s cancellation of the Monday sit-at-home order to the lack of legitimacy by the new Peter Mbah government that came into being last May 29.



In a statement in Enugu today signed by the ESSF’s leader, Professor Joseph Aneke, and the secretary, Dr Ifeanyi Agbo, the stakeholders said that what would have been a good government initiative failed spectacularly because Mbah did not think through it before announcing it.



“Mbah has been desperate to do something popular to get accepted by the Enugu people because he and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government did not win the March 18 gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections”, declared the stakeholders.



“He merely hit upon the idea of ending the illegal sit-at-home declared by nonstate actors; it is a brainwave rather than a sound government policy”.



The ESSF observed that if the government had thought through it, the administration would have first called a meeting of stakeholders to discuss the government’s new step to end insecurity and provide honest suggestions on the way forward which all groups would accept to implement from an agreed day.



The ESSG regretted that with “the government order failing as most Enugu people last Monday observed sit-at-home as usual, out of fear of vicious attacks by nonstate actors, the state government took a panic measure by calling for a meeting of all kinds of stakeholders yesterday (Saturday) at the Old Governor’s Lodge in GRA, Enugu.



“The meeting should have been called before announcing the cancellation as no right-thinking person puts the cart before the horse.



“The central issue in ending the destructive sit-at-home order is deploying security forces everywhere, from markets to government offices to motor parks to major and minor roads, and all other public places.



“The people will defy IPOB and its agents once there is a fair assurance of security”.



The group also faulted the government for implementing the cancellation before the appointment of key government officials.



“It is top government officials like the Commissioner for Security and the Special Adviser on Security who will drive the implementation of this security step and take responsibility for it, not just the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, a fellow Nkanu person who is the only person appointed by Mbah since assumption of office”.



The ESSF criticised the meeting at the Old Governor’s Lodge “for having only one item on the agenda: endorsement of the anti-sit-at-home order, which looks pretty sycophantic.



“It should have discussed in a serious manner modalities for the success of the government’s cancellation of the order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that has been taking a tremendous toll on the entire people of the Southeast.



“The government’s resounding failure or inability to think correctly before taking action is what normally obtains when the people did not choose a government, and so does all manner of things to gain acceptance.



“Security is not provided through populism and all such acts of playing to the gallery”.

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LASPA and LASBACA Seal BetterMart Supermarket Ajah Lagos

The facility manager and the workers were wisked off by the agencies.

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•Rowdy scene of LASPA Enforcement officers seal Better Mart/ Ohibaba.com

Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA) and its sister agency, Lagos State Building Control Authority , on Monday at 11.45am , swoop down and sealed Better Mart, a supermarket on Badore road, Ajah , Lagos; claiming regulatory infractions.

The facility manager and the workers were wisked off by the agencies.

Ohibaba.com scoops that the property ,owned by a business woman was purchased at the cost of over N170 million, then refurbished.

One of the agencies enforcement officer prattled that the owner of the supermarket had been invited to their office Alausa, Ikeja, adding that she will likely pay N20 million as regulatory infraction before they unseal the property.

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Crime

BREAKING: Many shot dead as gunmen hit Yelwata in Benue

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Tension has gripped Yelwata community in Benue State after gunmen reportedly people in the early hours of Monday.

Eyewitnesses said the renewed attack triggered a protest by local women, who took to the streets demanding that soldiers stationed in the area be withdrawn to their barracks.

The aggrieved residents also called for immediate transportation to Makurdi, insisting they no longer feel safe in the community.

“They should take us to Makurdi because the government cannot protect us,” one protester said.

The attack is coming barely two months after gunmen, believed to be herders, on June 13, stormed the community and killed between 200 people, including internally displaced persons, with many burned alive during a night of brutal violence.

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Crime

DSS Arraigns Owo Bomb Suspects

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…..Court fixes August 19 for trial

‎The Nigerian government has arraigned five persons who allegedly carried out the mass shooting and bombing at a Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state, on June 5, 2022, where over 40 persons were killed.

‎The five defendants arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja pleaded not guilty to the 9-count charge bordering on terrorism.

The defendants are Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Abubakar.

‎During the proceedings, counsel for the defendants, Abdullahi Muhammad, informed the Court that his clients have been in DSS custody since 2022. He adds that their families and lawyers have been prevented from accessing them. Muhammad thereby prayed the court that they be granted access.

‎In his response, Callistus Eze, who is the prosecutor, informed the Court that he was unaware that the defendants had not been allowed access to families and lawyers. He assured that a formal written request by those affected before visitation will not be turned down by the DSS.

‎Justice Emeka Nwite thereby ordered that defendants be allowed to access their families and lawyers. The judge had made this order after earlier granting an application for the matter to be heard during vacation.

‎Justice Nwite further ordered that the defendants, having given a not guilty plea, be remanded at the DSS facility. The judge then fixed August 19 for the commencement of trial.

‎As contained in the charge sheet, the five and others at large, sometime in 2021, allegedly became members of the Al Shabab Terrorist Group, with a cell in Kogi State, an act that is in breach of Section 25(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

‎They allegedly met on May 30, as well as 3 and 4 June 2022 at the Government Secondary School, Ogaminana, Adavi Local Government Area, Kogi State and behind Omialafa Central Mosque, Ose Local Government Area, Ondo State.

‎It was during these meetings, according to the charge sheet, that they hatched the plans to attack the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State on 5 June 2022.

‎On the day of the incident, the attackers used AK-47 and improvised explosive devices IEDs to attack the worshippers during the Sunday service after shutting the doors. They used the IEDs and shot at the worshippers, including many children. The assailants also surrounded the church to shoot at those who attempted to escape the scene.


‎THE BACK STORY

‎On June 5, 2022, a mass shooting and bombing took place at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, during a Sunday service. The attack claimed at least 40 lives, with some reports suggesting the death toll could be as high as 80, including many children. Dozens more were injured in the assault.

‎The incident began around 11:30 AM when armed gunmen, disguised as worshippers, entered the church while others positioned themselves outside.

They detonated improvised explosive devices near the church and opened fire on people both inside and outside the building. The attackers locked the main entrance, shooting anyone attempting to escape. The brutal assault lasted between 15 and 30 minutes before the assailants fled the scene.

‎No organization immediately took responsibility for the attack. However, the Nigerian federal government suspected the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) of orchestrating the massacre.

‎Some local residents blamed herdsmen, though these claims remain contested. Authorities made arrests following the attack, including suspects believed to be linked to ISWAP and plans for additional assaults.

‎This massacre shocked the southwestern region of Nigeria, which is typically more peaceful and rarely experiences violent attacks on churches compared to other areas of the country plagued by insurgencies and banditry.

The Owo church attack stands as one of the deadliest assaults on a place of worship in Nigeria’s recent history, highlighting the ongoing security challenges the nation faces despite ongoing efforts to combat insurgent and militant groups.

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