Gunmen kill father, abduct son in Katsina

 Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers killed one Alhaji Muntari Mai Yadi and abducted his son, Usman in Yankara town, Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State. 

 

A son of the deceased, Comrd Younusa Mukhar Yankara, who confirmed the report on Tuesday, September 15, said the incident happened at exactly 11:00pm, on Monday at their residence.

 

"It has happened: Thieves have killed my father Alhaji Muntari Mai Yadi and they have shielded my brother Usman," he wrote.

"From God we are and to him we shall return, thieves came in our house and killed my father and went with my brother usman and answered my phone with my motorcycle key plastic.

"And I'm myself and kyar I've been after the gun and the gun and the kyar I've been running and running other things I don't know how they happened.

"At 11:00 pm they came in no one to take a soldier or someone to bring us that to show the soldiers that were brought to faskari they are not useful, God is enough for us to forgive this government, may God forgive my father.

 

The victim was laid to rest on Tuesday morning according to Islamic rites at his residence. 

 

Meanwhile, on Sunday night, some unknown gunmen also abducted four women including an infant when they attacked Yankara town, a Katsina community that shares boundary with Zamfara State.

 

Cassper Nyovest and Thobeka Majozi welcome a baby boy

 

South African rapper Cassper Nyovest and his fiancee Thobeka Majozi have welcomed their first child together. 

 

The rapper had taken to Instagram on Sunday evening, September 13, to post a picture of himself dressed in medical scrubs and preparing for the birth of his son. The photo came with the caption “Let's f*cking go”.

 

 

Cassper announced the birth of his son shortly after on Twitter and also revealed that he's been named Khotso. 

 

He wrote; 

 

This album means sooo much more and it makes sooo much sense now that my son, Khotso is here. #AnyMinuteNow

 

 

The rapper had announced in June that he and Thobeka were expecting their first child together, as he shared a photo of an ultrasound on an album cover. 

 

Cassper wrote then;

 

“I'm going to be a father any minute now so I decided to name my album AMN (Any Minute Now). The album cover is an actual scan of my son in his beautiful mother's womb.

“I am excited about this album, but I'm more excited about being a dad to a beautiful baby boy."

 

The album was released on Friday September 11. 

Obasanjo is Nigeria’s ‘divider-in-chief’ - Garba Shehu

 

Presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu has also reacted to former President Olusegun Obasanjo's statement in which he alleged that Nigeria is becoming a failed state under President Buhari. 

 

In a statement released on Sunday September 13, Garba Shehu alleged that Obasanjo has made several attempts to divide the nation while Buhari continues to promote unity and nation building.

 

The Presidential spokesperson also went on to list some of the achievements of the Buhari-led administration. 

 

Read the statement below; 

 

OBASANJO IS NIGERIA’S DIVIDER-IN-CHIEF

In his most recent statement former President Olusegun Obasanjo attempts to divide the nation while President Muhammadu Buhari continues to promote nation building and the unity of Nigeria.

The difference is clear. From the lofty heights of Commander-in-Chief, General Obasanjo has descended to the lowly level of Divider-in-Chief (to adapt the coinage of Time).

Before responding further to the unfair attacks on President Buhari and his administration by the former President, it is important that we categorically state that contrary to the assertions by a few analysts, the recent speech in which President Buhari advised West African Presidents against tenure elongation beyond constitutional limits has been consistent with his long held views on the need to adhere to the rule of law.

Even though he tried it and failed, the recent uptick in the number of such leaders proposing to do, or actually carrying on in office beyond term limits is sufficient to cause concern among democrats in the sub-region given its prospects of destabilizing the states and the region.

President Buhari’s advocacy is consistent with his principles and in line with the current policies of his administration and indeed that of the ECOWAS Charter which is that term limits must be respected and that the change of government is only permissible through the ballot box.

Having cleared this misperception, we hope that Chief Obasanjo would once again sheath the sword and rest the pretentiousness about the Messiah that has (mis)led him to pronounce often wrongly, as he disastrously did in the 2019 elections, about the life and death of Nigerian governments.

As some commentators are already suggesting, Chief Obasanjo should, in accordance with his mantra as a statesman, get involved with problems solving, when and where they exist instead of helping the mushrooming of a poisonous atmosphere of ethnic and religious nationalism.

Surely, he must have disappointed many of his local and foreign admirers by showering commendations on a few extremist groups who have vowed to shun the invitation to the National Assembly to participate in the process of constitutional amendment.

No doubt, he must have left those admirers confused in announcing the support for the boycott of a democratic process of changing the constitution, at the same time calling for dialogue and engagement.

The fact that the process he ushered in under his administration with the dubious intention of amendments that sought tenure elongation failed-as did two other attempts by the successor administrations of the same political party- does not in any way justify his dismissal of the exercise by the 9th Assembly as a another waste of time and resources.

To the credit of the All Progressives Congress-led 8th Assembly, the process of constitutional amendment was kickstarted and carried through, paving the way for, among other benefits, the financial independence of local government councils, States Houses of Assembly and the country’s Judiciary. These changes have already been signed into laws by the President as mandated by the constitution.

The recent decisions by the administration as they relate to subsidy withdrawal, helping to plug some of the most horrendous notorious holes and release of scarce resources for the more pressing needs of the people has also not escaped the ire of the former president.

It’s a known fact that the withdrawal of subsidies had been on the wish list of the Obasanjo-led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. They failed in achieving these measures because, one there was a shared greed. They plundered the treasury as much as anyone could in the name of either subsidy or waiver with reckless impunity.

Two, is to say it takes courage and rare statesmanship on the part of a leader to do as President Buhari to shun populism and seek the best interest of the people and the state, providing the kind of reform and development that Nigeria urgently needs.

This President has run an administration focused on infrastructure and development. He has repaired our damaged relations with neighbours and our traditional allies such as the UK, US, China, Russia, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia and the others with lots of benefits to the country.

It is a pro-business administration that has used diplomacy to unlock bilateral trade and investment.

He leads a government that has liberalized the investment climate and market access by achieving reforms that have placed the country in the list of the world’s top reforming economies.

Nigeria, which other nations had mocked and ridiculed for so many things that were wrong is today progressing at a pace reflecting its size and potential.

With so much to show and many more coming, it is little surprise that President Buhari would be the object of envy and harsh unfair challenges by politicians who failed to deliver, but continue to nurse ambitions of delighting the audience long after their curtain has been drawn.

FG kicks as Health Workers begin Nationwide strike today

 

Health workers under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) have begun their planned strike, to press home their demands.

 

The action took effect at 12 a.m on Monday, September 14.

 

JOHESU President Josiah Biobelemoye, who confirmed the strike to newsmen, said the health workers had given the Federal government a 14-day notice of the impending strike but they failed to meet their demands.

 

Biobelemoye said the demands of the health workers include COVID-19 hazard allowance; withheld salaries; non-adjustment of the CONHESS salary structure; implementation of several court judgments; and repairing of several decaying health structure and infrastructure across the country.

 

Biobelemoye said a meeting held with the Federal government on Sunday, September 13, ended in a deadlock, so all health workers are to down tools beginning from today.

'The 15-day ultimatum still subsists, and with effect from midnight of Sept. 13, 2020, our members shall withdraw their services due to the government’s inability to meet their demands,” he said

 

However, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has described the strike by the health workers as illegal and ill-timed. In a statement released by its Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations, Charles Akpan, the Ministry directed JOHESU to shelve the planned strike, saying going ahead with it would be illegal.

 

The statement titled, ‘FG declares JOHESU strike is unnecessary, ill-timed and illegal’, partly read:

“Parties in disputes are expected not to arm-twist, intimidate or foist helplessness on the other party while negotiations are ongoing as per sections 8 and 18 the of Trade Dispute Act 2004 barring any strike when the matters are before a conciliator and undergoing conciliation.

“Any strike now is inimical to an equable settlement of the dispute, bearing in mind, especially, that this is a grave period of a pandemic where the Federal Government has spent about N20 billion to pay April/May 2020 and an additional N8.9b for June 2020 on COVID-19 hazard and inducement allowances, respectively, to all categories of health workers that are mainly JOHESU members.”

Neymar accuses Gonzalez of racism after getting red card for slapping the Marseille defender as PSG lose second straight game (photos)

 

Paris Saint-Germain vs Marseille Ligue 1 game ended is a complete chaos as Neymar and four other players were given red cards and sent off the pitch at the Parc des Princes.

 

On Sunday September 13, headlines of racism, spitting and red cards emerged from what should have been a footballing exhibition in the French capital.

 

The game was so chaotic that 36 fouls were committed and 12 yellow cards handed out inside the 90 minutes before a fight  between Argentine pair Dario Benedetto and Leandro Paredes grew into an all fight.

Brazilian soccer star, Neymar was one of three Paris Saint-Germain players to get a red card after he slapped an opponent and then claimed he was racially abused.

 

Neymar was involved in a constant spat with Alvaro Gonzalez all evening. The Brazilian and the Spaniard then came head-to-head in stoppage time before Neymar clipped him round the back of the head.

 

 

Neymar accused Marseille's Alvaro Gonzalez of racism as he exited the pitch after being shown a red card.

 

Microphones on the pitch heard Neymar reporting the racism accusation to the fourth official, before he then repeated his assertion to a nearby camera.

 

 

The Brazilian slapped Gonzalez on the back of the head, while Layvin Kurzawa and Jordan Amavi also traded blows. 

 

The referee then showed a straight red to Neymar, Kurzawa and Amavi for their roles the fracas. Bei Paredes and Benedetto were also ordered out of the field after picking up second bookings. 

 

PSG then had to play out the final minutes with eight men, while Marseille played with nine.

 

Marseille thought they had made it 2-0 through Dario Benedetto but the linesman's flag saved the day for PSG. They also had a goal ruled out through Angel Di Maria.

 

At the end of the match, PSG loss 0-1 to Marseille.

 

The rivalry between the two French giants is one of the biggest in Ligue 1

Nigerian police reacts after a man in a police uniform was filmed smoking shisha in public

 

The Nigerian police has reacted to the viral video of a man smoking shisha in public while wearing police uniform.

 

The video was circulated with a caption claiming the man is a police officer.

 

Reacting to the video, the Nigerian police promised to investigate to find out if it is indeed a police officer, a skit/movie scene, or a civilian dressed in police uniform. They promised to take action after the investigation and asked members of the public with information to reach out.

 

The Nigerian police tweeted: "RE: Viral video of a man in Police “uniform” smoking shisha - Police Commence Investigations The Nigeria Police Force has commenced investigations into the viral video showing a man wearing what appears to be a Nigeria Police “uniform” smoking shisha.

 

"The investigation will amongst other things seek to forensically establish the authenticity of the video, the true identity of the man in the uniform - whether he is in fact a policeman, an impostor or an actor in a movie scene.

 

"However, while not being prejudicial to the ongoing investigations, it is necessary to state that the character exhibited by the man in the uniform is not a true reflection of who we are as a regimented law enforcement agency - our trainings, discipline, norms and tradition.

 

"Meanwhile, members of the public with useful information that can assist police investigations are enjoined to provide same via the following; pressforabuja@police.gov.ng, or DM on our social media platforms.

 

 

 

 

2 siblings allegedly rape 7-year-old girl in Anambra

 

Chidimma Ezeokoli, aged 23, and his 11-year-old brother (name withheld) have been accused of repeatedly raping a seven-year-old girl in Oko, Aguata, Anambra state.

 

The mother of the alleged victim, Miss Chinenyenwa Ozulumba, 27, spoke out on Sunday, September 13, in Awka. She said the boys who allegedly raped her daughter are the sons of her landlady, Mrs Nnabuife Okoli.

 

Ozulumba, a single mother, said her daughter was defiled by the boys because she trusted them and entrusted her to their care whenever she went to work in a nearby bar.

 

She said the accommodation was secured for her by her employer, who is also from Agulezechukwu town where she hails from, and because she did not want to expose her little daughter to her work environment due to the social hazard, she decided to always leave her behind with her landlady whom she had taken as her adopted mother.

 

On Aug. 22, a day she did not go to work, she said she overheard the landlady's children making jokes of their escapades whenever she was away and after a while, her daughter began to cry.

 

Ozulumba said when she asked her daughter what the matter was, she told her that she and the sons of the landlady used to have sex.

 

The young mother said when she drew the attention of the landlady to the revelation, she didn't take action.

 

The mother of the victim said: "A 23-year-old boy and an 11-year-old boy have allegedly been defiling my daughter; when I got to know about it, I reported to their mother and she did not show any form of amazement or remorse, making feel that she was aware of it.

 

"At that point, I took my daughter inside and sent for the younger boy who confirmed to me that it was true that he was having sex with my daughter in front of his elder sister.

 

"The minor recalled that there was day they were having sex with my daughter and she was crying but their mother did not react to her anguish.

 

"When Chidinma heard that I am now aware of the rape going on with my daughter, he started threatening to beat me up, asking if I did not do it while growing up.

 

"At that point, their mother joined in threatening violence against me and my daughter.

 

"That was how they started threatening to beat my child and even take her to a shrine if she dares to include the name of the 23-year-old again, telling her to say that it was only the 11-year-old that slept with her."

 

Ozulumba said that after she discovered her daughter had been defiled, she visited the Police several times, as well as the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Awka. for her daughter to be examined.

 

Ozulumba recalled that at COOUTH, after examination, she was verbally informed that there was penetration but they refused to make the report available, thus making it a challenge for her to prove her case.

 

She said she also reported the matter to the Police Area Command, Uga, Aguata, where she was issued a Police Medical Report form but was not able to get the report after visiting COOUTH repeatedly for three weeks.

 

She said: "This became a challenge for me, as the doctor that examined my child refused to write the report and the Police said they needed the result so they can charge the matter to court.

 

"That was how I later went to the Enugu-Ukwu General Hospital for another examination, where she was tested and scanned and we were issued a report."

 

The report showed that the hymen was torn, and some bruises were on it," she said.

 

Ozulumba said her former employer and landlady had been threatening her to withdraw the matter or face untoward consequences.

 

She said a Police officer visited her village and invited her to come to the Police X-Squad Unit in Awka with the aim of making her a defendant in her own case.

 

Ozulumba said she had visited the Police X-Squad in company of the Coordinator of Child Rights Brigade International (CRIB), an NGO, where she and her child were asked to make statements.

 

"All I need is justice for my daughter, I am not with anybody in this matter but God and people of good heart; the suspects should be made to face the law and prove their innocence and if they are found guilty, they should be punished so that others will learn not to take advantage of the girl child,” she said.

 

Mr Obiora Nnaemeka, Coordinator of CRIB in Anambra, said the matter was reported to their office on Sept. 3 and they had been following the development since then, assuring that they would stand by the victim and her mother in the course of the crisis.

 

Ezeokoli, mother of the suspects, told NAN that "nothing happened, the girl is just trying to rope them; it only involves the small boy."