Soyinka on Buhari's handling of herdsmen attacks

Literary icon and Nobel laureate Prof Wole Soyinka is not convinced that the Buhari administration has any solution to the rampant attacks by Fulani herdsmen across the country.

Here is what he said.
“I have yet to hear this government articulate a firm policy of non-tolerance for the serial massacres that have become the nation’s identification stamp.

“I have not heard an order given that any cattle herders caught with sophisticated firearms be instantly disarmed, arrested, placed on trial, and his cattle confiscated. The nation is treated to an eighteen-month optimistic plan which, to make matters worse, smacks of abject appeasement and encouragement of violence on innocents.

“When I read a short while ago, the Presidential assurance to this nation that the current homicidal escalation between the cattle prowlers and farming communities would soon be over, I felt mortified.

“He had the solution, he said. Cattle ranches were being set up, and in another 18 months, rustling, destruction of livelihood and killings from herdsmen would be ‘a thing of the past’. 18 months, he assured the nation. I believe his Minister of Agriculture echoed that later, but with a less dispiriting time schema.

“Neither, however, could be considered a message of solace and reassurance for the ordinary Nigerian farmer and the lengthening cast of victims, much less to an intending tourist to the Forest Retreat of Tinana in the Rivers, the Ikogosi Springs or the moslem architectural heritage of the ancient city of Kano."

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Military fears herdsmen attacks may assume Boko Haram dimension.

The military has expressed fears that attacks by Fulani herdsmen on host communities could assume the dimension of Boko Haram insurgency if not checked.

The Head, Defence Headquarters Committee on Persistent Clashes between Herdsmen and Farmers, Maj. Gen. Edward Nze expressed this concern during a courtesy visit to the Acting Governor of Benue State, Benson Abounu at the Government House in Makurdi.

Nze later told newsmen that the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonishakin, was worried that the activities of herdsmen have become a threat to national security.

He added that his committee would be proceeding to Enugu State after assessing the Benue situation.

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How former Defence chief bought N320m house for son in Abuja

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has been told how a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh allegedly used public funds to acquire a 320 million naira mansion for his 28 years old son in Abuja.

Air Commodore Aliyu Yishau, Rtd, told the court that he was the Director of Finance and Accounts of the Nigeria Air Force when Badeh was the Chief of Air Staff between September 2012 and December 2013.

Yishau was testifying as prosecution witness PW1 in the trial of Badeh who is being prosecuted on a 10-count charge of breach of trust and corruption for allegedly stealing about N3.97 billion from NAF’s account.

Under cross-examination by Badeh’s lawyer, Akin Olujinmi SAN, Yishau said the N320 million house was the second  such property acquired in Wuse 2, Abuja by the former Chief of Defence Staff for his children, having earlier on acquired house No 19, Kumasi Crescent, Wuse II,   for his first son, Alex Badeh Jnr at N260 million.

He added that N60m was spent in renovating the house while a further N90m was expended on furnishing.

Explaining how he came about the information, the witness said he always went to Badeh's house to collect cash for the transactions.

“I collected the money from the 1st defendant’s (Badeh’s) residence. I took it to my house and asked them to come and collect it. I took the money to his house and he asked me to remove the equivalent of N260 million to pay for the house. I deducted the N260 million equivalent from the normal monthly N558.2 million I took to him.

“He  always authorised the deduction for payment whenever I took the monthly money to him. I did not give the house renovation job to Salau. I paid N60 million for the renovation of the house based on the instruction of my boss, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh,” he said.

Explaining how he paid for the furniture at No:19 Kumasi Crescent, Yishau said:
“When I received instruction from my boss, I directed my office at the Nigerian Air Force headquarters to liaise with Alex Badeh Jr and effect the payment of the N90 million.

“In my statement to the EFCC, I said the 1st defendant has two property in Wuse 2 that cost N260 million and N320 million. The house that cost N320 million is the house adjacent to No. 19 Kumasi Crescent, which was purchased from Honourable Bature.

“That was the one purchased for the last son of the 1st defendant, by name Kam. I cannot remember the address, but can identify it,” he said.

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Police recruitment: 806,646 apply for 10,000 vacancies

According to an update issued by the Police Service Commission, PSC in Abuja on Wednesday,  806,646 people have so far applied for the 10,000 vacancies in the Nigeria Police Force.

The update was contained in a statement issued by the Head of Press and Public Relations Unit, PSC, Mr Ikechukwu Ani.

“As at 9:35am on Wednesday April 27, 2016, 806,646 applicants have submitted applications.

“A breakdown shows that 232,857 applied as ASPs, 190,415 as Inspectors and 383,374 as Constables.

"Submission of forms ends on the May 13, 2016, thereby giving applicants six weeks," he said.

The PSC disclosed that although application is free and online, there have been reports of fraudsters trying to swindle applicants in the guise of helping them obtain the forms or secure recruitment into the force.

The Chairman of the PSC, Mr Mike Okiro has however pledged to ensure a transparent recruitment exercise. He also warned his personnel against receiving bribe from applicants.

“I am aware of the pressure from applicants but workers should rise above board and protect the integrity and sanctity of the exercise,” he said.

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Police recruitment: 806,646 apply for 10,000 vacancies

According to an update issued by the Police Service Commission, PSC in Abuja on Wednesday,  806,646 people have so far applied for the 10,000 vacancies in the Nigeria Police Force.

The update was contained in a statement issued by the Head of Press and Public Relations Unit, PSC, Mr Ikechukwu Ani.

“As at 9:35am on Wednesday April 27, 2016, 806,646 applicants have submitted applications.

“A breakdown shows that 232,857 applied as ASPs, 190,415 as Inspectors and 383,374 as Constables.

"Submission of forms ends on the May 13, 2016, thereby giving applicants six weeks," he said.

The PSC disclosed that although application is free and online, there have been reports of fraudsters trying to swindle applicants in the guise of helping them obtain the forms or secure recruitment into the force.

The Chairman of the PSC, Mr Mike Okiro has however pledged to ensure a transparent recruitment exercise. He also warned his personnel against receiving bribe from applicants.

“I am aware of the pressure from applicants but workers should rise above board and protect the integrity and sanctity of the exercise,” he said.

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You're not alone: APC chieftains storm tribunal for Saraki (Photos)

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC Timi Frank and Kawu Baraje were at the Code of Conduct Tribunal to lend their support to Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki who is being tried for false and anticipatory declaration of assets.

Frank, Baraje and Saraki have something in common. They all decamped from PDP to APC.

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Buhari orders arrest of Fulani herdsmen behind Enugu killings

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Inspector General of Police and other security chiefs to hunt down the herdsmen behind the killings on Monday at Ukpabi Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Buhari’s order was conveyed in his address delivered by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at the public presentation of  Senator Ike Ekweremadu's book,  "Who will love my country: Ideas for building the Nigeria of our dream’’ in Abuja on Wednesday.

The full text of the statement containing Buhari’s directive on the Enugu massacre is reproduced below.

" Following continuing reports of attacks by “herdsmen” on communities across the country, particularly Monday’s attack on Ukpabi Nimbo in Enugu State, President Muhammadu Buhari assures all Nigerians, once again, of his administration’s continued commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property in all parts of the country.

"President Buhari unreservedly condemns the attack on Ukpabi Nimbo and other such acts of extreme violence against communities in other states of the Federation.

"Acting on the president’s directive, the Inspector-General of Police and heads of the nation’s other security agencies are already taking urgent steps to fully investigate the attacks, apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

"Ending the recent upsurge of attacks on communities by herdsmen reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons is now a priority on the Buhari Administration’s agenda for enhanced national security and the armed forces and police have clear instructions to take all necessary action to stop the carnage.

"In keeping with the president’s directive, the inspector-general of police, the general officer commanding the 82nd Division of the Nigerian Army, and the director of the Department of State Security in Enugu State have visited Ukpabi Nimbo to personally oversee investigations into the attack on the community and ongoing efforts to apprehend the culprits.

"Meanwhile, President Buhari is scheduled to meet with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi later today to receive further briefing on the attack on Ukpabi Nimbo and discuss additional measures to forestall similar attacks and restore public confidence.

"The president urges all Nigerians to remain calm and assured of his administration’s readiness to deploy all required personnel and resources to remove this new threat to the collective security of the nation."

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