Connect with us

News

Terrorists enslaving us to work on their farms – Niger residents cry out

Published

on

Terrorists enslaving us to work on their farms – Niger Residents
• Terrorists
Spread the love

Residents from security-affected communities in Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State have reported that terrorists and bandits are enslaving locals to work on their farms.

According to reports, a leader of a terrorist group collected over 20 bags of soybeans from farms in Allawa and neighbouring communities this year.

At an emergency media conference in Minna, the Niger State capital, Saidu Salihu, Secretary of the Coalition of Shiroro Associations, a coalition of youth organisations in Shiroro LGA, called for the return of military forces to Allawa and surrounding areas to allow displaced residents to return to farming.

Salihu highlighted that various groups of terrorists and bandits have taken over the communities since the withdrawal of soldiers from Allawa three months ago.

He urged the Niger State government to strengthen its collaboration with security agencies and to equip local vigilantes to protect the affected communities.

He also requested that both federal and state governments provide compensation to displaced persons who have lost homes, properties, and livelihoods due to the attacks following the military withdrawal.

Maduka College Advert

Salihu mentioned that bandits have invited the affected communities for dialogue and negotiations to facilitate their return.

However, he claimed that both state and federal governments have been unresponsive to these reports.

Abdullah Suleiman Erena added that insecurity in the eight political wards of the Lakpma axis is not limited to banditry but includes other terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Ansaru. He warned that these groups are creating a terrorist stronghold in the Lakpma axis, which could become increasingly difficult to contain if not addressed urgently.

Erena described the situation as a developing terrorist ecosystem rather than mere criminal activity, criticising both the press and government for underestimating the severity of the issue. He detailed how various terrorist groups operate in the area, including cattle rustling and forcing locals to farm and sell produce on their behalf.

He also noted that the Federal Capital Territory is at risk due to its proximity to Shiroro LGA, calling for immediate action to dislodge the terrorists and bandits from the region.

Sani Abubakar Yusuf Kokki lamented that the state government has not done enough to pressure the federal government regarding the alarming security situation, particularly in Shiroro LGA, where many farmers have been displaced.

“The state government needs to do more than just lament and apportion blame,” Yusuf Kokki said. “While we acknowledge that informants may be collaborating with terrorists and bandits, this should not justify abandoning the larger population to their fate.”

Babangida Kudodo, President of the Lakpma Youth Forum, reported that despite several reports to stakeholders and the state government about the terrorist and bandit activities, there have been no positive steps to address the issue.

He alleged that some informants were arrested and later released, becoming threats to the communities that reported them. This has reportedly forced many residents to collaborate with the terrorists and bandits to secure their livelihoods.

Daily Trust

News

I might not be alive to contest in 2027 – Peter Obi raises alarm over threats to his life

Published

on

Peter Obi not arrested by DSS – Aide
Peter Obi, NDC Presidential candidate
Spread the love

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, has cried out over alleged threat to his life.

Obi, who is a major contender ahead of the 2027 presidential election said he might not be alive to participate in the election.

According to him, there is obvious attack on everything that had to do with him, including his life.

The former Anambra state governor made the allegation during a podcast with Chude Jideonwo.

“The way they are going now I might not be alive,  I’m telling you every single thing I do for a living this government is frustrating it deliberately so.

“Everything, so there’s even a possibility if they have opportunity I will not be alive. I get frustrations every day because you do things that may think it may be normal it is not normal they won’t come directly and say oh we are doing this but you could see their hand in eventually everything.

Maduka College Advert

“The government is attacking everybody, I am being attacked personally even to provide me with things I am entitled to, not at all,” he said.

He recalled how his vehicle was clamped down at the airport while he was right there, whereas other vehicles lined up on the same spot were untouched.

Obi further that stated that even close associates were beginning to avoid him over fear of government clampdown.

He disclosed that friends now send him invitations for occasions but tell him not to bother attending.

Continue Reading

News

Yilwatda hails Tinubu’s intervention funds as a promise kept

Published

on

President Tinubu and APC National Chairman, Prof Yilwatda
Spread the love

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has said that the intervention programmes of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have continued to demonstrate that the Renewed Hope Agenda is delivering tangible economic benefits to millions of Nigerians through strategic investments in entrepreneurship, small businesses, and youth empowerment.

According to Professor Yilwatda, the Presidential Intervention Funds represent yet another example of the Tinubu administration fulfilling its campaign promises by providing the critical financial support needed to stimulate enterprise, create jobs, and deepen economic inclusion across the country.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, the National Chairman noted that for decades, access to affordable financing remained one of the biggest obstacles confronting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), despite their enormous contribution to national economic growth and employment generation.

The current administration, he said, has deliberately moved to address this challenge through targeted intervention programmes that are unlocking the entrepreneurial potential of Nigerians.

“The Tinubu administration understands that sustainable economic growth begins with empowering the productive sector. By supporting small businesses and young entrepreneurs, government is laying the foundation for long-term prosperity and shared economic progress,” he stated.

Professor Yilwatda highlighted the ₦75 billion Presidential Intervention Fund for MSMEs as a landmark initiative designed to provide accessible financing for small businesses across various sectors of the economy.

Maduka College Advert

He said the programme is enabling entrepreneurs to expand their operations, increase productivity, and create employment opportunities.

He further pointed to the ₦11 billion support package through the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), describing it as a strategic investment in strengthening the capacity and competitiveness of Nigerian small and medium enterprises.

The APC National Chairman also commended the ₦30 billion Youth Entrepreneurship Fund through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), noting that the initiative reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to equipping young Nigerians with the resources required to transform innovative ideas into successful businesses and become drivers of national development.

Professor Yilwatda emphasized that these interventions are already making meaningful differences in the lives of ordinary Nigerians. Across the country, young entrepreneurs, artisans, farmers, traders, tailors, manufacturers, and other small business owners are accessing capital to expand their businesses, employ more people, and contribute to the economic development of their communities.

He explained that the impact extends beyond individual beneficiaries, creating a multiplier effect through increased productivity, higher household incomes, stronger local economies, and expanded opportunities for wealth creation.

“The APC remains committed to building an economy that works for all Nigerians. These intervention funds are not mere policy announcements; they are practical investments in the dreams and aspirations of millions of our people.

“The evidence is clear. Businesses are receiving support, young people are being empowered, jobs are being created, and economic inclusion is expanding. This is governance that delivers results, and it is another demonstration that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is keeping his promises to the Nigerian people,” Professor Yilwatda said.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the APC and the Tinubu administration to implementing policies that promote entrepreneurship, stimulate investment, strengthen local industries, and build a resilient economy capable of delivering sustainable prosperity for all Nigerians.

Continue Reading

News

Ex-Minister Uche Nnaji set for arraignment as ICPC files six criminal charges over alleged certificate forgery

Published

on

Uche Nnaji when he was arrested by security operatives
Spread the love

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed a six-count criminal charge against former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, , over alleged certificate forgery and related offences.

The charges, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, are contained in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/389/2026, with the Federal Government listed as the complainant and Nnaji as the sole defendant.

According to the charge sheet, the ICPC accused the former minister of receiving N29.58 million in salaries and allowances while serving in office, alleging that he ought to have known the funds were proceeds of an unlawful act arising from corruption and fraud. The commission said the action contravenes provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that Nnaji used his office to confer corrupt advantage on himself and knowingly presented false information to the Federal Government by submitting forged > (NYSC) and (UNN) certificates during his ministerial appointment in 2023.

In separate counts, the ICPC accused him of producing and using as genuine a forged NYSC Certificate of National Service and a forged UNN degree certificate, offences punishable under the Penal Code.

The filing of the charges follows Nnaji’s arrest last Wednesday after arriving in Abuja from Enugu aboard a chartered flight.

Maduka College Advert

The prosecution stems from an investigation published by Premium Times, which alleged that Nnaji forged his university degree and NYSC certificates submitted to President and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation.

The newspaper reported that the confirmed Nnaji was admitted in 1981 but neither graduated nor was issued a degree certificate, while the NYSC also reportedly disowned the discharge certificate attributed to him.

Nnaji resigned as minister shortly after the allegations became public. He has since defected from the APC to PDP , where he emerged as the governorship candidate of a faction of the party for the 2027 Enugu governorship election.

He is expected to be arraigned before the Federal High Court in the coming days.

Continue Reading

Trending

Maduka College Advert