Why does the airforce keep killing civilians?
Daylight lynching, attack on president, Airforce fatal errors
You don’t have to worry about finishing the weekend tasks before Monday. FG has announced Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th July 2022 as public holidays to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir.
In this edition:
Presidential convoy attacked
Kuje Prison Break: terrorists at large
Homophobia and Legalised Murder
Hospital imposes N1000 daily bill for electricity for admitted patients
NAFDAC workers on strike
Trouble in Katsina
Air Force jet explodes
At least six people were reportedly killed in error by an Air Force jet which exploded in Katsina State on Tuesday afternoon.
The explosion, confirmed by lawmaker AbdulJalal Runka, was in Kunkunna community of Safana Local Government Area (LGA).
The bomb was supposedly meant for a counterattack in a fight between the airforce and some terrorists.
According to Runka, 1 woman died from the bomb, and 14 injured people are now in the hospital receiving treatment.
This is not the first time the NAF will make this mistake. In April this year, a fighter jet exploded in Shiroro LGA of Niger state, killing 6 children.
Presidential convoy attacked
An advance convoy of President Buhari was ambushed and attacked on Tuesday in the President’s home state, Katsina.
The attack happened in Dutsinma, about 152 kilometres from his hometown, Daura.
Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said that the military, police and DSS personnel accompanying the convoy repelled the attack.
That same day, the assistant commissioner of police Aminu Umar and another police officer were also attacked in Dutsinma. They died in the ambush.
Buhari embarked on a trip to Dakar, Senegal, despite the daring attack on him.
Bandits burn health centres
The Executive Secretary of Katsina State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Shamsudeen Yahaya, confirmed that bandits burnt down 2 primary health centres in Batsari LGA.
According to him, 69 out of the over 1,800 healthcare centres in the state have also temporarily closed due to insecurity.
Mr Yahaya also said some health workers were kidnapped but later released.
Terrorists working overtime
Kuje Prison Break
A Federal Prison in Kuje, Abuja, was attacked by a group claiming to be members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The attack gave way for hundreds of prisoners to escape.
The security facility is known for and instrumental in holding terrorists, kidnappers and other high-risk criminals.
Propaganda news outlet, Amaq, released a video clip where ISWAP claimed responsibility for the attack.
Over 30 officials were on guard the day of the attack. They included officials of Nigeria’s correctional centre, police officers, immigration officers, civil defence officials and mobile police officers.
About 994 inmates fled during the attack. 115 refused to escape, while 445 have been recaptured or have turned themselves in at police stations. An official said 580 inmates are back in the facility as of Thursday, and 414 escapees are still missing. The official said that 7 inmates have been taken to a hospital following injuries they suffered during the attack.
According to the Minister of Defense, Bashir Magashi, the escapees include 64 suspects of Boko Haram.
Among the escapees are notorious kidnapper and gunrunner, Hamisu Wadume, who was first detained in 2020 and is yet to be recaptured or to turn himself in.
FG has declared the suspects as wanted and released photos. The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) released the following statement:
“If you see any of these people or have useful information which may lead to their recapture, please call 07000099999, 09060004598 or 08075050006 or any law enforcement agency nearest to you. We guarantee to keep your information anonymous.” - Channels TV
Shiroro attack
On Monday, the Niger State Government ordered all mining activities to stop in response to a terrorist attack on a mining site in Shiroro LGA.
Terrorist attack: Last week, a group attacked a mining site at Shiroro LGA, killing 48 people, including 37 security personnel—as confirmed by the Nigerian army. The attackers also kidnapped 4 workers and some bystanders.
The state government directed security agencies to profile mining sites in areas prone to bandit attacks.
The Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Matane, said that the governor has also ordered mining to stop in the Munya and Rafi LGA.
He said the suspension is until further notice and urged citizens to be cautious and report all suspicious activity.
President Buhari described the attack as a direct assault on Nigeria that will not go unpunished.
Read more about some of the people who died in the attack here.
Terrorists threaten to kill Abuja-Kaduna train abductees in 24 hours
On Wednesday, terrorists who kidnapped the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers threatened that they’d start killing the passengers remaining in their captivity in 24 hours.
An audio clip went viral on Wednesday in which one of the terrorists said they would kill the victims because the government failed to seek their release.
Malam Tukur Mamu, who had earlier played the role of lead negotiator before 11 hostages were rejected, confirmed to journalists that the audio was real.
The government has not responded or made any comments.
Hoodlums burn down INEC Enugu office
INEC has confirmed that attackers burnt down its Enugu office at Igboeze North LGA on Saturday Night.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Emeka Ononamadu, confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday.
He said the arsonists overpowered the security guards, forced their way into the premises, and set the building ablaze.
They didn’t kill or injure anyone, but they destroyed 748 ballot boxes, 240 voting cubicles, and office furniture, despite the effort of the Enugu State Fire Service deployed from Nsukka. - Daily Post
TW: Homophobia and Lynching
A Shari’a court sitting in Ningi LGA of Bauchi State has sentenced three men to death by stoning over what they termed “homosexuality offence”.
The victims are Abdullahi Abubakar Beti, 30 years old; Kamilu Ya’u, 20 years old; and 70 years old Malam Haruna.
The Hisbah — a religious group that performs arrests to enforce Shari'a law— took the men to Shari’a court. After days of deliberation and a guilty plea from the accused, the judge, Munka’ilu Sabo Ningi, sentenced them to death by stoning.
Meanwhile, Peter Obi’s chosen vice, Datti Baba-Ahmed, admits to wanting gay people to be killed during an assembly meeting.
Government Affairs
Oil company defrauds FG of 8 million litres of petroleum
The EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, accused Abubakar Peters and Nadabo Energy Limited of fraud at the Lagos State High Court. According to Bawa, they defrauded the FG of 8 million litres of petrol under the fuel subsidy regime.
EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren, says Bawa testified as the fifth prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Mr Peters and his firm on Monday.
Peters pleaded not guilty in 2015 when he was first arraigned, leading to the trial.
Bawa said records from banks, Staco Insurance Plc, and Q & Q Control Services Limited, among others, obtained during investigation showed that the defendants supplied about 6,000 MT (≈7,953,962 litres) of petrol but claimed to have supplied the 12,000 MT (≈16,808,064 litres).
Buhari swears in new ministers
Buhari reshuffled his cabinet and swore in new ministers.
The new ministers took the oath of office shortly before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council ( FEC) meeting at the council chambers of the State House in Abuja. - This Day
The ministers sworn in were Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh (Abia), Umana Okon Umana (Akwa Ibom), Odum Odih (Rivers) and Ademola Adewole Adegoroye (Ondo), Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub (Kano), Goodluck Nnana Opiah (Imo) and Egwumakama Joseph Nkama (Ebonyi).
Health
University hospital imposes N1000 daily bill for electricity on admitted patients
The management of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, is now charging every patient admitted into the hospital N1,000 daily for electricity— in addition to their medical bill.
The hospital said that the current hike in electricity tariffs and diesel costs forced this new policy. They reportedly receive N50 and N60 million in electricity bills every month from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
A statement signed by the UCH administrator, Wole Oyeyemi, on behalf of the chairman of the medical advisory committee and chief medical director reads,
UPTH denies death of 14 babies due to power outage
University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) has denied the death of 14 babies in its facility due to a power outage.
Online reports claimed 14 babies died at the hospital, including twin babies of a woman who was childless after seven years of marriage.
But the acting Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Elabha Alexandra Meni, said it’s not true and that allegations were “targeted at tarnishing the image of the hospital”.
Read more here.
NAFDAC workers on strike
Members of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration, and Control branch will continue their strike despite a meeting between them and the agency’s governing council. - The Punch
The strike began on 22nd June to seek additional allowances for members of staff and complete payment of 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 promotion arrears, among other requests.
The meeting ended with no resolutions so the strikes will continue. The secretary of the union, Ayodeji Adetoboye, reaffirmed their resolve to continue the indefinite strike until their demands are met.
Other News
PDP calls on Buhari to recall the former Chief of Army Staff and Ambassador to the Benin Republic, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), over alleged looting of ₦1.8 billion - The Guardian
Fact-check: why Turkey removed Nigeria from e-visa list - That New News Instagram
On Wednesday, a Federal High Court, Abuja, granted an application filed by Sen. Rochas Okorocha, seeking an order granting him leave to travel to the United States for medical treatment, EFCC protests - The Guardian.
Former Nigerian Senate President Ike Ekweremadu insists his organ harvesting victim is not a minor - Premium Times.
Workers, under the auspices of the Federal Workers Forum (FWF) express grievances that their salaries are no longer sustainable with the rising high cost of living and inflation - Daily Post
Kenyan court freezes flutter wave accounts over money laundering - Premium Times
Police rescue 50 kidnapped children from church cell in Ondo meant for human trafficking - Premium Times
Borno government went against state laws and spent ₦150M to buy sallah rams - Premium Times
Ondo Assembly strengthens Amotekun Corps with amended bill - Daily Post
EFCC to arrest landlords that rents to internet fraudsters - Leadership
Electricity operators not delivering assigned volumes to face penalties - Premium Times