Rising Insecurity: NHRC Reiterates Commitment To Protection And Enforcement Of Human Rights Of Citizens

Rising Insecurity: NHRC Reiterates Commitment To Protection And Enforcement Of Human Rights Of Citizens

The Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has reacted to the rising insecurity in the country, reiterating that the Commission remains fully committed to playing its role in the promotion, protection and enforcement of the human rights of the citizens of Nigeria as well as all resident in accordance with Sections 33 and 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

The Governing Council in a statement issued at the end of its Meeting of 9th June 2022 on the Spate of Killings in Nigeria, condemned in its entirety the total disregard to the sanctity of human lives being perpetrated by various criminals within the country.

The Commission stressed that heinous crimes and killings are being perpetrated with impunity as exemplified in the recent Kaduna train attack, the attack at St. Francis Catholic Church Owo, Ondo State, the killing of a young man Ahmed Usman, at the Lugbe axis of the Federal Capital Territory for alleged blasphemy, the stoning to death of Deborah, a student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto also on grounds of alleged blasphemy, the killing of a pregnant woman Fatima (Harira) and her four children, and various others across the country.

The NHRC also used the opportunity to also condole with the families who have lost their loved ones in these and other various attacks and pray that God Almighty will grant them the fortitude to bear these irreparable losses.

The NHRC also called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to intensify efforts towards apprehending these criminals and bringing them to justice as well as improving the security situation in the country. The NHRC also implores every Nigerian to take necessary steps to contribute to the peace and security of the nation by providing information to security personnel and preaching the essence of tolerance and peaceful co-existence among other measures.
 

Owo Massacre: A Nation Only Strives, Develops When There is Peace, Harmony – IPCR

Owo Massacre: A Nation Only Strives, Develops When There is Peace, Harmony – IPCR

The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) condemns the killing of innocent worshippers during a church service at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State on Sunday, June 5, 2022.

The IPCR describes the gruesome massacre of the defenseless faithful as disheartening, despicable and barbaric, noting that such heinous crime is a smear on the serenity, sacredness and dignity of humanity as well as an affront to the territorial integrity of the Nigerian state.

The Director-General of the Institute, Dr. Bakut Bakut, further notes that a nation only strives and develops when citizens avoid act of criminality and stay together in peace and harmony. He calls on Nigerians to be accommodating, tolerant and receptive to one another as well as shun vices that are inimical to peace and antithetical to development.

The Director-General admonishes that as a nation, we should let unity and oneness define us, noting that clear cut ideas that bring development are incubated in a peaceful environment.

The Institute appeals to those perpetrating all manner of violence and criminality in the country and in a way, sabotaging the efforts of the Federal Government, to desist and give peace a chance given that Nigeria is the only country we can call our own. We should treasure our country as a common heritage for the present and the generation to come.

The Director-General commends the security agencies especially the Armed Forces and Police who are the frontline agencies for their commitment and gallantry in maintaining peace and order. He charges them to deploy all necessary machineries in making sure that the perpetrators of St. Patrick Catholic Church Massacre are apprehended and face the full wrath of the law.

Dr. Bakut commiserates with the families of the victims of the unfortunate attack, the Catholic Church, the government as well as the people of Ondo State.

Why Muhammad Ali is my inspiration – Paul Pogba 

Manchester United midfielder, Paul Pogba has  explained the difficulties of being a Muslim at 18-years-old, as well as the influence Muhammad Ali has had on his life.

For the second time,the 29-year-old will leave   Old Trafford on a free transfer when his contract expires this summer, following six unsuccessful seasons in English football.

“I have Muhammad Ali for me as an inspiration and example. He converted to Islam. I converted to Islam also. I was 18 and sometimes to be a Muslim is not easy.” Pogba said during an interview with UNINTERRUPTED. 

“But you just try to show the example of Muslim people in sport and just in real life that it’s not what we can see. Sometimes in the media, we’re just normal people also and we try to follow our religion the best way we can and give just a smile, give like good deeds to people, do well, do nice things and try to help the world the way that the previous people that they used to do they just try to follow that.”

Ali was a three-time heavyweight boxing champion and his outspoken views on religion and the Vietnam war made him a hero and inspiration to millions around the world.

US Woman Confesses to Training All Female IS Battalion in Syria by Ada Nkong

US Woman Confesses to Training All Female IS Battalion in Syria by Ada Nkong

A US woman has confessed to leading an all-female squadron for the so-called Islamic State group in Syria, as well as plotting attacks on American soil.

Allison Fluke-Ekren pleaded guilty to one count of providing support to the group and admitted to training over 100 women and girls for violence.

The mother and teacher-turned IS leader left the US in 2011, and worked with a terror group in Libya before Syria.

She faces a maximum of 20 years in prison at her sentencing in October.

Fluke-Ekren, 42, a former biology student and school teacher, travelled to Syria to join the group after living in Egypt and Turkey.

Her primary role was to teach women and children to use weapons, ranging from AK-47 rifles and grenades to suicide vests, according to officials.

In a Virginia court on Tuesday, she admitted to training the all-female group, but claimed she had never attempted to recruit children.

“We didn’t intentionally train any young girls,” she said, according to CNN. Some of the women she trained are expected to testify against her at her sentencing hearing.

Fluke-Ekren, who was known by the moniker Umm Mohammed al-Amriki, also lived in Mosul, Iraq, after it was captured by IS fighters.

According to prosecutors, one witness testified that her level of radicalisation was “off the charts”, and an “11 or 12” on a scale of one to 10.

She also admitted to discussing attacks on US soil, including at a university and shopping mall.

She “considered any attack that did not kill a large number of individuals to be a waste of resources”, a witness said, according to the plea agreement.

The documents also reveal her second husband was a member of Ansar Al-Sharia, the militant organisation that attacked a US compound in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012.

She and her husband, who was later killed in an airstrike, drafted a report for the leadership of the group after analysing US documents taken from the Benghazi attack.

In court, she wept when asked by the judge if she was taking the plea agreement because of her large number of children.

Her family members have previously asked the court to ban her from contacting them.

According to one US prosecutor, the relatives say she left a “trail of betrayal” and they may issue statements against her at her sentencing on 25 October.
Source: BBC

Owo Massacre Another Wakeup Call On Security Agencies To Up Their Game – Ojukwu

Owo Massacre Another Wakeup Call On Security Agencies To Up Their Game – Ojukwu

The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu SAN has condemned the attack at St. Francis Catholic Church Owo, adding that the massacre is another wakeup call on all Security Agencies to up their game with a view to averting the occurrence of such incidents in future”.

The Executive Secretary who was reacting to the unfortunate incident which claimed several lives, leaving others injured and hospitalized, has urged the Nigerian Police and other relevant Security Agencies to do their utmost best to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of this dastardly act without further delay.

Ojukwu made the call on Tuesday in a statement signed by the Deputy Director Public Affairs of the Commission, Fatimah Agwai Mohammed made available to Peionews.

According to the statement, the Learned Senior Advocate has also denounced the alleged reprisal attacks on some Hausa settlements by some individuals in Owo, the host Community, saying that such reaction is misguided and highly reprehensible as two wrongs cannot make a right and the law enforcement agents should be allowed to do their job. This will help not to escalate the conflict, the Executive Secretary advised.

He used the opportunity to call on the Federal Government to provide the needed resources to the Security Agencies to do the needful in the protection of lives and properties of innocent citizens, saying “the incessant killings in our dear country has been going on for too long, criminals are operating with impunity all over the land, the Owo massacre is another wakeup call on all Security Agencies to up their game with a view to averting the occurrence of such incidents in future”

Similarly, he called on every one living in Nigeria to play a role in securing the nation; “all hands must be on deck, we should be united in fighting these crimes to protect lives and properties in every part of this nation by always providing intelligence information to Security Personnel and educating other citizens on the essence of peaceful coexistence”

On the survival of those still in hospital which he describes as crucial, Chief Ojukwu urged on well-meaning Nigerians to save the lives of the victims in any way they could help.

The Nation’s Chief Human Rights Officer sympathized with families who have lost their loved ones in the attack and prayed to God to give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

In another development, the human rights Czar has also condemned the alleged killing of a young man Ahmed Usman over blasphemy at the Lugbe axis of the FCT. He commended the police and other law enforcement agents for arresting 15 of the alleged perpetrators and urged a transparent and fair trial of the suspects to render justice and fair trial to all concerned.

He lamented that jungle justice is gradually eroding the peaceful coexistence in our dear country; he called on the government to put in place necessary measures to check the perpetrators of jungle justice so as not to allow it to become the norm whereby people could be maimed or killed even without any provocation or any opportunity to defend themselves as provided in the 1999 constitution of Nigeria.

He advised aggrieved parties that taking laws into their hands cannot be an option in any situation, saying we should learn to be civil and law-abiding in championing any cause or ventilating our grievances.

Tinubu’s Group Lists Conditions For Consensus, Warns Against Illegality

Tinubu’s Group Lists Conditions For Consensus, Warns Against Illegality

Tinubu Campaign Organisation has warned against the imposition of a consensus candidate by the All Progressives Congress.

The organisation was reacting to the announcement of Senate President Ahmed Lawan as consensus candidate of the party on Monday.

In a statement signed by its Legal Director, Babatunde Ogala, SAN, the support group listed three conditions for picking a consensus candidate as stipulated in the Electoral Act.

Tne statement read, “The media is inundated with reports that the Chairman of the All progressives Congress (APC) has unilaterally announced the purported adoption of a certain aspirant the consensus presidential candidate of the APC for the forth coming presidential election in 2023.

“While the National Chairman is yet to deny or offer any clarification on the alleged declaration, it is necessary to state that such a declaration is a legal impossibility.

“This is because under the regime of the Electoral Act 2022, consensus, though provided for as one of the means by which a political party may produce its candidate, must specifically occur in a precise form.

“Section 84(9) (10) and (11) of the Electoral Act 2022 are the relevant provisions and they state as follows:
“(9) A political party that adopts a consensus candidate shall secure the written consent of all cleared aspirant for the position, indicating their voluntary withdrawal from the race and their endorsement of the consensus candidate”.

“(10) Where a political party is unable to secure a written consent of all cleared aspirants for the purpose of a consensus candidate, it shall revert
to the choice of direct or indirect primaries for the nomination of candidates for the aforesaid elective position.

“(11) A special convention or nomination congress shall be held to ratify the choice of consensus candidates at designated centers at the National,
State, Senatorial, Federal and State Constituencies, as the case may be”.

“Instructively, none of the above conditions have occurred in respect of producing the presidential candidate of the APC. Therefore, any declaration of a consensus candidate would be premature and a violation of extant provisions of the law.

“We are confident that as a law-abiding entity, the APC will not be part of such. We are further persuaded to urge our supporters to disregard this report considering that the overwhelming majority of the APC Northern Governors who, after meeting with the President, re-affirmed their preference for a
president from the Southern part of Nigeria.

“This patriotic decision is widely accepted by all Nigerians as a demonstration of deep understanding of the nuanced fault lines of our nation.

“In the circumstance, a unilateral declaration by the National Chairman of a consensus presidential candidate for the party will not only violate the law, but set the party on collision course with its Governors who are critical stakeholders in the party.”

Guterres Condemns Heinous Attack In St. Francis Catholic Church Owo

Guterres Condemns Heinous Attack In St. Francis Catholic Church Owo

UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has condemned the heinous attack on worshippers at a Catholic Church in Nigeria, at Owo, Ondo State, urging the Nigerian Government to fish out the perpetrators.

Guterres, in a statement by his spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, on Monday, urged the Nigerian authorities to spare no effort in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

According to him, the secretary-general condemns in the strongest terms the heinous attack in St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

The attack, which happened on Sunday, resulted in the death and injuries of scores of civilians as people gathered for the Pentecost mass in the parish.

The spokesman said the secretary-general emphasised that attacks on places of worship are abhorrent.

Guterres extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.

He also expresses his sympathies to, and solidarity with, the Government and people of Nigeria.

Earlier at a news conference in New York, Dujarric said the UN condemned Sunday’s horrific attack on worshippers.

He told journalists in New York that the UN Resident Coordinator in the country, Matthias Schmale, strongly condemned the attack.

“I can tell you that the Resident Coordinator for Nigeria said that the UN in Nigeria strongly condemns the brutal attack on worshippers at St Francis Catholic Church.

“The team sends its deepest condolences to families and friends mourning the victims of this horrific crime,’’ he said.

According to him, Schmale appealled for calm, saying perpetrators should be brought to justice.

APC NWC Members Divided Over Announcement of Lawan As Consensus Candidate

APC NWC Members Divided Over Announcement of Lawan As Consensus Candidate

Members of the All Progressives Congress have been left divided following the announcement of Senate President Ahmed Lawan as consensus candidate.

According to Punch, this has brought confusion to the party.

The PUNCH gathered that members of the NWC met on Tuesday in line with the directive of the president Muhammadu Buhari that a consensus candidate should be picked after consultation.

It was learnt that during the meeting, a candidate was announced to be Buhari’s candidate but members of the NWC kicked.

A member of the NWC told Punch that Ahmed Lawan was announced as the consensus candidate.

This, he said, other members kicked against, leading to a division among the NWC members.

Punch

I Have Anointed No One -Buhari by Francisca Ogar

I Have Anointed No One -Buhari by Francisca Ogar

As rumours continue to fly on the social media about a concensus candidate for the APC presidential ticket, President Muhhamadu Buhari Says he has not anointed anyone.

Ina statement signed by Garba Shehu senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, the president said he has a clear mind about what he is doing and urged the governors to do same.

See full statement:

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

I HAVE ANOINTED NO ONE, THERE SHALL BE NO IMPOSITION, SAYS PRESIDENT BUHARI

President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday afternoon cleared all doubts about where he stands on the choice of a presidential candidate for the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, declaring before the party’s 14 governors of northern states that he has “no preferred candidate,” and has “anointed no one,” and is determined to ensure that “there shall be no imposition of any candidate on the party.”

Speaking at a meeting with the Governors at the State House, Abuja, President Buhari said the party is important and its members must be respected, and made to feel they are important.

The President said he had a clear mind about what he was doing and asked the APC governors to feel the same way: “You were elected as I was. Have a clear mind as I have. God gave us the chance; we have no reason to complain. We must be ready to take pain as we take the joy. Allow the delegates to decide. The Party must participate, nobody will appoint anybody.”

Earlier in their addresses, the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Governor Simon Bako Lalong and Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of the Progressive Governors Forum, said they had come to affirm the position of the Northern Governors that the party’s candidate in the presidential election shall come from the southern part of the country.

They apologised to the President for the leakage of their signed memorandum which was not in support of any particular candidate and gave assurances to the President on their readiness to accept his leadership on the matter.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

June 6, 2022

Just In: Lawan is APC’s consensus candidate, Adamu declares

Just In: Lawan is APC’s consensus candidate, Adamu declares

Coming shortly after a meeting President Muhammadu Buhari held meeting with Northern governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the National Chairman of the party has announced Senate President Ahmed Lawan as the consensus candidate of the party.

Adamu made the announcement at the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) on Monday in Abuja, according to The Nation Newspaper.

Other aspirants including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Dr Kayode Fayemi and David Umahi, among others will, however, be allowed to contest the primary at the convention holding tomorrow at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

Meanwhile, Buhari’s meeting is coming just hours ahead of the APC’s presidential convention, which is scheduled to take off today at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

Although there was no official note to the reason for the meeting with the governors, it was suggested it may not be unconnected with preparations towards assuring a successful convention and narrowing down on who takes the flag of the party tomorrow.

It is the fourth meeting between the President and party stakeholders in relation to the primary.

Aside from his meeting with APC Governors last Tuesday, Buhari has met with the party’s presidential aspirants where he urged them to consult and pick a formidable candidate from among themselves.

On Sunday night, the President also hosted members of the National Advisory Council to a

Those in attendance are Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi); chairman of Northern Governors Forum Simon Lalong; Abubakar Baduru (Jigawa) and Babagana Zulum (Borno).

Others are: Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina); Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa); Bello Matawale (Zamfara); Mallam Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna); Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Yahaya Inuwa (Gombe); Abubakar Bello (Niger) and Mai Mala Buni (Yobe).

Source