Welcome to Naija Gist: 06/01/13

Saturday, 1 June 2013

Hezbollah Terrorist Group in Nigeria -DSS

Kano arms cache belongs to Hezbollah — DSS

KANO—Director of Department of State Services, DSS, in Kano, Mr. Bassey Etang, has said the weapons of mass destruction discovered in a bunker at a Lebanese residence in Kano, Tuesday, belong to international terrorist organisation, Hezbollah.

Etang spoke to newsmen in Kano, during a joint conference with the Commandant of the 3 Motorised Division in Kano, Brigadier-General Iliyasu Abba, at the scene of the discovery in Bompai area of the Kano metropolis.

He said: “The weapons were brought in by an international terrorist organisation, Hezbollah, to attack Israeli and Western interest in Nigeria.

“On May 28, a combined team of the JTF involving the army of the 3 Brigade in Kano and the Kano state DSS conducted a thorough search on this house located at No 3 Gaya Road, off Bompai Road, Kano, belonging to one Abdul Hassan Taher Fadlalla, a Lebanese, who is currently out of the country.

“After painstakingly searching the premises, the search team uncovered an underground bunker in the master bed room, where a large quantity of assorted weapons of different types and caliber were recovered. The bunker was specially constructed for this purpose.”

Taking stock
On his part, the Commandant, Brigadier Abba, said the weapons of mass destruction include 11, 50mm anti-tank weapons, two 122mm artillery gun ammunition, four anti-tank landmines, 21 rocket-propelled grenades, RPG, 16 rocket-propelled grenades charger, one rocket-propelled grenade tube and 76 military grenade.

Others are one SMG rifle, nine pistols, 17 AK-47 rifles, 44 magazines, 11,433 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and 103 packet of slap TNT.

Brigadier Abba further revealed that “investigation also confirms the existence of a Hezbollah Foreign Terrorist Cell in Nigeria.

Arrest
On May 16, DSS arrested one Mustapha Fawaz the co-owner of the popular Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park, all in Abuja.

His arrest and confession unveiled other members of the foreign terrorists network, which led to the interception of one member of the syndicate named Abdullah Tahini, a Lebanese, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport with undeclared 60,000 United States Dollars on him en-route Beirut.

Thereafter, on May 26 one Talal Roda, also a Lebanese with Nigerian passport, was arrested in this same house.

According to the Brigade Commander, all the arrested suspects have confessed to have undergone Hezbollah terrorist training and further implicated one Fauzi Fawad, also a co-owner of Amigo Supermarket and Wonderland Amusement Park.

He said: “The fellow is now at large. The arms and ammunition were targeted at facilities of Israel and Western interest in Nigeria.

“However, the security agencies are making efforts to unveil the true situation. At the end of investigation, all those involved will be prosecuted.”
-Vanguard

Hunger Hits Boko Haram Members: 56 Insurgents Caught While Searching For Food

Military authorities in Borno State they had arrested a group of 56 terrorists that were moving from village to village in search of food, following a tip off from civilians.

Some member of the group, according to the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade, who were moving around in a Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep with registration number Borno XA 428 ADM, suspected to have been stolen, were arrested at Daban Masara village while looking for food.
Weapons found in their possession included AK-47 rifles, single-barrel shotgun, double-hand shotgun and various calibres of arms.
Other items recovered from the group included seven packs of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), two rocket-propelled gun chargers, two machetes, bomb detonators, camouflage and other military uniforms. They were also with charms, seven vehicles and eight tricycles.
Olukolade said that it was believed that some stranded terrorists were keen on establishing new camps. According to him, most of them are currently in search of food, and are being trailed by military operatives.
The defence spokesman also disclosed that there were a few encounters with some insurgents in forest locations, apart from the identified and destroyed camps.
He said that the intensive cordon and search operation being conducted by the troops of the Special Forces received a major boost from civilian cooperation in communities close to locations being focused in the operation.

Court Restrains PDP From Further Action Against Amaechi

A Rivers High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party from taking any further action against the state Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, pending the hearing of a substantive suit challenging his suspension from the party.
The National Working Committee of the PDP suspended Amaechi on Monday over the removal of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council Chairman, Mr. Timothy Nsirim, and 17 councillors.
The governor, who was apparently not satisfied with the development, had since approached the court, challenging his suspension from the party.
But Justice Emmanuel Ogbuji on Friday issued a directive stopping the ruling party from going beyond the Amaechi’s suspension until the matter was heard.
Ogbuji’s order came following a preliminary application brought before the court by the governor’s lawyers led by Mr. Akin Olubunmi (SAN).
Also summoning the PDP to appear before it on June 6, 2013, the court instructed the party to maintain the status quo in the matter pending the hearing of the substantive suit brought by the governor.
Ogbuji, however, directed Amaechi to serve the PDP the necessary court processes by pasting them on the walls of the party in Abuja and publishing them in national newspapers.
Rivers State has been going through political crisis that has divided the house of assembly and the state PDP.
The crisis, which began after an Abuja High Court sacked Chief G.U. Ake as the state PDP chairman, has also led to the suspension of 27 out of the 32 members of the assembly.

I Knew Kayode Salako Was Married When I Was Dating Him - Foluke Daramola Speaks Out

Foluke Daramola is a well-known face in the Nigerian movie industry, as she came into the limelight in the late 90s with her appearance in Palace, a soap opera back then.

In a recent interview, she talks about her marriage to her new husband and on the feud with her friend, Princess Bukola Fasuyi.
Excerpts:
Many people believed Foluke Daramola joined the movie industry not quite long. Can you tell us when you joined the industry?
I don‘t know of anyone that would say that I joined the movie industry not quite long. Thank God, you know how it all began. If I can still remember, we have met in location many times, even outside Lagos. There was a year we met in Osogbo, Osun State; I am talking about the year 2000. That was more than 12 years ago, and before then, I have been in the industry. I started in the 90s before I got admitted into the university. I started with talk shows on DBN and AIT and eventually, I got a role in Palace and while I was acting, I was studying with it.

So, can you tell us your educational background?
I went to Maryland Covenant and Anthony Model Primary Schools. I was at Ikeja High School, Ifako International School and LAFROGRAMS. I studied International Relations at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and for my Masters degree; I studied International Law and Diplomacy at the University of Lagos. Also, I did some professional courses too. I did some directing and I did a leadership course at Daystar Church.

Since you started acting before getting admission into the university, why didn’t you study Theatre Arts instead of International Relations?
My first love has always been to be a diplomat. I discovered acting along the line. I don’t have to go to the school of acting before acting well. I actually got admitted into OAU to study Accounting, but I just wanted to be a diplomat, so I changed my course to International Relations. I already have acting as a talent, so I don t need to study Theatre Arts.

Who are your mentors in the movie industry?
They are Olu and Joke Jacobs, Richard Mofe Damijo. In directing, my mentors are Amaka Igwe, Lola Fani-Kayode, Tade Ogidan and Tunde Kelani

What is your relationship with your colleagues in the movie industry?
It is cordial, but I am a private person. I don t keep friends apart from the younger ones that I have. It doesn’t mean that I have people as my enemies. I still maintain a very cordial relationship with my colleagues when we are off set and I know I can get in touch with them when we have one or two things to do together. I love privacy, so I like to keep myself to myself

The first time you were on set, how did you feel?
I was excited but scared. I was excited because I was acting with big names, like Liz Benson, Yomi Obileye and a whole lot of them, but I was really scared of them. Although, I had to get a slap, because my director, Uncle Tunji Bamishigbin, was asking: “what s wrong with you?” Because, I was not just getting my line so, I had to be slapped to get back on my feet and after that, I’ve been wonderful. It is like a part of me already

But there is this general belief that you are arrogant?
There is this Yoruba proverb that says, “ori o kin ri ara e” (the head cannot see itself). I see you like my brother doing your job and I am doing mine, if you don’t interview me, there are one thousand and one people you can interview. And when it comes to pride, I am not fantastic but I am very close to God, I pray, I talk to God and I believe I am a sinner and God will forgive me. But the Bible says he that brings himself down, God will raise him up and that he that raises himself up God will bring him down.
Pride is something that I don't believe in. I know a lot of people but if I see an iota of pride in you I will never associate with you. As I said, I am a very original person and I can relate with both the downtrodden and influential people. That is what is called true celebrity, being able to adapt to any situation but being proud is not in my dictionary.
Sometimes when you are in an environment and you are not comfortable in that environment, you can tend to look and “bone” your face but if you greet me, I would never bring you down. My godfather, Uncle Yomi Obileye, once told me that as a true celebrity, in your worst of moods, when your fans greet you, always force a smile.
When he said that thing, I thought it was something easy for me to do, but over time, I realised it is the most difficult thing to do, because I might have a misunderstanding with my partner in the car and someone will just shout, “Foluke Daramola”. Of course, it would not be easy for me to force a smile, but then, I discover that if you can do it, it goes a long way. I always try to give a good impression to people, no matter what.

Are you separated or divorced?
I’m naturally divorced because it is over four years since I left him. But the paper work is not yet done. I don’t want complications really, complications in the sense that I don’t want my children involved in that mess and moreover, I’m not getting married tomorrow or any time soon.

Let talk on your marriage to Kayode. Howe did you feel?
Of course, I felt good. I am happy in my marriage

But people said you snatched somebody’s husband?
I did not snatch anybody’s husband. I never asked her to pack out of her husband’s house. Moreover, I did not meet her at home when I married Kayode.

But, when you were dating him, you knew he was married?
I knew.

But you still went ahead to marry him?
That is between him and me.

What about your children, don’t they ask after their father?
Whenever they are talking about their father, I always tell them that when they are old enough to use a phone, I will buy it for them and they can communicate with him, but when he says he wants to communicate with them, I allow him to do so. I never stopped him from doing so. I never stop him from communicating with them.

Your friend, Princess Fajuyi Bukola claimed you used charm to snatch Kayode from his wife. What would you say to that?
See, I don’t have anything to say to that, she can go ahead and say whatever she likes.

But the story is all over the town, she even claimed she took you to the man?
That is her problem. Why is she just saying it now? I don’t have anything to say to that. All I know is now I am happy in my marriage.

Is it true you love wearing revealing clothes?
I used to wear them but the Bible says when I was a child, I acted like a child, when I became a man, I stopped being childish. When I was younger, I used to wear revealing clothes. When I was in OAU, I was myself, I clubbed, I partied, I had fun, I had relationships and I had heartbreaks. Now, I am much older, I no longer believe in wearing revealing clothes because I am more matured and I see things differently.
Even sometimes, when I see people wear it, I say with time, they would stop it, it is not things you can tell people to do or not to do. Then I used to believe that if you don’t wear anything skimpy or revealing, you were not in vogue, but now, if you tell me to wear it, I would just look at it and say no

Couple Divorce Over Wife's Refusal To .....

An Igando Customary Court in Lagos State has dissolved a three-year-old marriage of a civil servants over the refusal of the woman to bear her husband’s surname.
The court president, Mr R. Adeyeri, held that Mr Johnson Munago and his wife Helen, both aged 35, were tired of their marriage, as all efforts to reconcile them failed.
“The court has no choice than to dissolve the union in spite of the woman’s claim that she loves her husband,’’ he said.
Adeyeri referred the custody of the two-year-old child produced by the marriage to the Family Court.
The president also ordered Johnson to pay N50,000 rehabilitation cost to Helen.
Johnson, it was gathered, had filed a suit on August 23, 2012, for the dissolution of the marriage over Helen’s refusal to change her surname.
The petitioner told the court that since he married Helen in 2010, she had refused to bear his name.
“She always tells me that she is comfortable with her father’s name, and that she cannot change it,” Johnson said.
He also submitted that Helen was too demanding, adding that she insisted that he should rent a flat for her and be giving her N10,000 weekly for upkeep.
“When I tried to explain that I didn’t have money to rent a flat, she told me that she agreed to marry me just to solve her personal problem.
“She said that she was diagnosed of a womb ailment and that the doctor advised her to get pregnant as soon as possible.
“She told me that she had got what she wanted, and thereafter packed out of our apartment on January 16, 2011 with my son to an unknown destination,” he said.
The petitioner also said that the woman regularly returned home late in the night.
Responding, Helen told the court that she still loved her husband, although he was a drunk and had refused to care for his family.
“He spends his salary on drinks and comes back home drunk,’’ she said
Helen told the court that she sponsored their wedding ceremony in 2010 and that Johnson failed to reimburse her as he promised.
She added that her husband abandoned her and the child for eight months and returned to seek divorce.

71-Year-Old Man Arrested For Duping MFM Church Of N2.7 million

The police in Lagos State have arraigned a 71-year-old man, Babatunde Bamidele, for allegelly duping a church of the sum of N2.7 million.
Bamidele appeared before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State alongside 42-year-old Orji Powell, with whom he allegedly conspired to dupe the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries of the said sum.
The septuagenarian resides at No. 35, Kujuore Street, Ojota, Lagos State, while Powell lives at No. 20, Ajukwu Street, Bariga, also in Lagos State.
According to the prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police Barth Nwaokoye, the duo and others still at large committed the offences on April 18 in Ikeja.
According to Nwaokoye, the duo obtained the sum under the pretext of leasing a property located at 31/37 Toyin Street, Ikeja, to the church.
He said that the offence contravened Sections 285, 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and duping.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A. Demi-Ajayi, granted them bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Demi-Ajayi adjourned the case to July 22.

Gunmen Kill District Head In Borno

A District Head of Dala Alamderi who is also a protocol officer of the Borno State Government in charge of Maiduguri International Airport, Alhaji Liberty Dala has been killed by gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram sect.
Liberty, as he is fondly called was a hardworking protocol man whose responsibility before his untimely death, was to arrange/book flying tickets to Borno state Government, its officials and politicians at the Maiduguri international airport.
He was also the District Head of Dala Alamderi, a position he inherited after the demise of his father some years ago.
Our Correspondent gathered that the gunmen on Thursday evening ambushed the residence of the District head in Dala Alamderi ward of Maiduguri metropolis and shot him dead before slicing his body with cutlass and fled without being arrested in the presence of his wife and children.
A resident who did not want his name mentioned in print for security reason told our Correspondent that the gunmen ambushed the protocol officer around 9 pm on Thursday, but due to the 6am to 9pm curfew imposed in Maiduguri and its environs, all residents and neighbours upon hearing the sound of gunshots could not come out to find out what was happening in the deceased house.

Alleged BlackBerry Theft: Popular Fuji Artiste Goes Blind After Police Torture

Things are presently not okay with popular Fuji artiste, Remi Aluko as he is now seriously battling with partial blindness that has befallen him.

As we were told by sources within the industry, the artiste is enveloped in the predicament due to an alleged torture he received from the police sometimes ago when he was in their custody.

Recall that the fuji act was arrested sometimes ago for allegedly being in possession of a stolen BlackBerry phone taken from a murdered person.

He was then arrested by the police when the phone was traced to him. He then told the police that he didn't steal the mobile phone as alleged, but the phone was given to him as a gift by a fan.

It was said that during the alleged torture at the police station, one of his interrogators allegedly smashed a gun on his face which affected his eyes. This has now led to him be using dark goggles.

We gathered that Remi Aluko has spent a fortune to correct the eye defect all to no avail.

Mother, 3 Daughters Die Of Food Poisoning In Imo

Calamity struck the community of Umueze, Egbelu Nguru, in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State yesterday, when a middle widow, Mrs. Gladys Nwosu and her three daughters died after a meal of okro soup and eba.
Also, the deceased’s two daughters, who also ate the food, are now lying ill at the Ngor Okpala General Hospital.
Saturday Sun gathered that the late Mrs. Nwosu and her five children woke up yesterday morning and started their daily chores, when suddenly the children complained of stomach ache. Sources said that the late Mrs. Nwosu had rushed the children, who were already writhing in pain to the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, fearing that they may be under demonic attack.
When their condition deteriorated, they were rushed to the Ngor Okpala General Hospital, where they were confirmed dead. Hours later, it was gathered, the deceased widow began to shout that her stomach was on fire and was rushed to the same hospital by neighbours. She also died at the hospital. It was gathered that the deceased children are Chinelo Nwosu, a 23-year-old final year student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Amaka Nwosu, a primary school pupil and Ijeoma Nwosu, who just finished secondary education.
The two other children now on admission at Umuneke General Hospital, are Njideka Nwosu (18) and Chidera Nwosu (20). Mr. Patrick Okere, a kinsman of the deceased, who expressed deep shock over the tragedy, confirmed that the deceased initially took the children to her church for prayers, thinking that it was a demonic attack.
He stated that while at the church, the situation got worse and the children were taken to the general hospital where they were confirmed dead of food poisoning by the medical doctor. Meanwhile, when Saturday Sun visited, the compound of the deceased was deserted

Laide Bakare Delivers First Son For Tunde Oriowo In New York

Actress and recently divorced thespian, Laide Idowu Bakare, has just been delivered of her first son to Tunde Oriowo in the United State of America.

The mother of one who recently married Tunde Oriowo, posted on her BBM’s ‘Display Picture’ earlier this morning about her new born baby with a message thanking God for the safest delivery and of course, the gender of the baby, boy.

“Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!, it’s a boy, my boy arrives 7:45am in New York, nice weather on Friday! Aliamdulilai, I am the happiest person in the world”

Amaechi, Rivers Assembly Members In Secret Meeting

The embattled governor of Rivers state, Chibuike Amaechi, has secured a pledge of unyielding support from majority of his state lawmakers, at a secret meeting where he rallied them to face the prospect of an ever more hostile federal-backed clampdown aimed at his removal from office.
Mr. Amaechi met with the state House of Assembly members in Lagos Thursday, seeking reassurances of support, amid reports the legislators, many of them his loyalists, had buckled in the face of intense federal lobby in the last one week.
The legislators are being stirred to move against the governor, and effect his ouster in a broad campaign bankrolled with at least N7 billion, PREMIUM TIMES can confirm.
The huge sum is currently being sourced by a co-governor from the region, while Mr. Amaechi’s former aide and current minister of state for Education, Nyesom Wike, is leading the operational arm of that effort, multiple sources said.
Under the plan, the funds will help woo the lawmakers to cook up impeachable offences against the governor and then move against him.
At the meeting, held in Lagos for security concerns, the lawmakers reportedly pledged loyalty to the embattled governor, our sources said, and denied working for Mr. Wike, the current minister of state for education, who is seen as the hatchet man for President Goodluck Jonathan’s in the president’s long-drawn war with Mr. Amaechi.
Only five lawmakers, out of the total 32, are said to be working in support of the president.
While Mr. Wike is reaching out to the state lawmakers, one of the governors in the south-south region, close to the president, is said to lead the effort to raise at least N7 billion to finance the impeachment onslaught.
PREMIUM TIMES could not confirm the details of how the huge cash would be deployed.
But the confirmation of the plot and the financing effort, have heightened concerns over the feud between the president and the governor, and trailed a series of fast-paced, but mainly, behind-the-scenes events.
On Monday, Mr. Amaechi was suspended from the ruling People’s Democratic Party after rebuffing a party directive that he relinquishes his post as chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, and turn in his support to Plateau state’s Jonah Jang.
Mr. Jang lost to the Rivers governor 16 to 19, but has since claimed to be the elected leader of the body in another bizarre round of the controversy.
While his security team, under federal control, remains in place, security details to some state officials have been withdrawn as legislators are drawn into an escalating pressure to move against Mr. Amaechi.
Many lawmakers fled the state amid concerns for their safety, and occasionally meet in Lagos, which they prefer to Abuja for similar reasons.
The situation is further compounded after the state police chief was recently withdrawn for an officer said to be a nominee of First Lady, Patience Jonathan.
The events have deepened the concerns of safety, despite the lawmakers’ assurances for a governor besieged by multiple threats against his mandate, and his chairmanship of the influential governors’ forum.
On Friday, Mr. Amaechi secured a relief from a Rivers state high court, which ordered the PDP to stay action on the suspension order.
Mr. Amaechi was the Speaker of the state House of Assembly for eight years under former governor Peter Odili, whose administration was rated amongst the nation’s most corrupt by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Repeated attempts to try Mr. Odili have been frustrated by some bizarre legalese instruments.

Nigerian Military Releases 58 Boko Haram Members

Some women and young boys who allegedly carried assault rifles, planted bombs, and helped insurgents with information that endangered the lives of soldiers and civilians were on Friday received by the Borno State Government.
The military, acting on the directive of Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan, released 20 persons (six women and 14 juveniles) to the Borno State Government for onward rehabilitation and reintegration into the society.
The juveniles were aged between 9 and 14.
Governor Kashim Shettima, who received the detainees from officials of the Joint Task Force, said the release of the ex-Boko Haram suspects was a step taken by the federal government in the right direction.
Spokesman of the JTF, Lt Col Sagir Musa, said the released suspects were true members of Boko Haram arrested last year at various locations of Maiduguri, the state capital.
One of the released suspects, a ten-year old, confessed publicly to Governor Shettima that “I usually help Boko Haram to leak information on military activities so that they can attack them. My last job was to travel from Maiduguri to Gashua (320km away) to spy on soldiers before I was caught.”
Another one, a 13-year-old, said, “we usually help Boko Haram to carry stolen items each time and sometimes help them to give information about people they want to attack and sometimes even help to hide their guns after attacks. They pay us N5000 after every operation. I regret what I did, I want to go home and ask for forgiveness from my father and mother for what I did; I also want to go to school.”
A 14-year-old boy said he was arrested in connection with the burning of a school in Maiduguri last year.
“I was arrested because I know those who burnt the school without telling the soldiers. Some people heard me discussing about the people who burnt the school and reported me to the soldiers who arrested me,” he said.
All the six women, who were accused of being informants of Boko Haram, denied the allegation even as they gave excuses for their arrest and detention. They, however, promised to be law abiding citizens once they are integrated back into the society.
Governor Shettima directed the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Youth Development to take over the women, train them on various skills of their interest before reintegrating them to their communities. He also directed that photos of the kids be televised “so that their parents or wards could come to claim them after giving government assurances of enrolling them into schools.”
Mr. Shettima added that every parent of the pardoned children who showed evidence of their wards going to school for a stretch of 30 days would be given N10,000 monthly.
Highlight of the hand-over occasion was the presentation of gifts like clothes and cash by the Borno Government.
Yobe too
In a related development, the JTF in Yobe State announced the release of 38 Boko Haram members to the state government.
Spokesman of the Yobe JTF, Lieutenant Eli Lazarus, stated this in a statement sent to journalists.
“In compliance with the defence headquarters, the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in Yobe state today (Friday) released first badge of detainees under its custody.
Mr. Lazarus said he presented the detainees to the state government on behalf of the task force.
The detainees released include seventeen women and twenty one children.
Mr. Lazarus said he hoped the release will serve the purpose for which it was intended pointing out that “other detainees will also be released in subsequent badges.”
“Receiving the detainees on behalf of the state government the attorney general and commissioner of justice Ahmed Mustapha Goneri thank the JTF for released saying the detainees will be rehabilitated and integrated into the society,” Mr. Lazarus added.

Gun Battles, Killings Have Forced Us To Flee Our Homes – Lagos Residents

Residents of Ilaje community, a Lagos suburb beside Ajah on the Lekki-Epe Expressway have enjoyed peace for many years.

But all that changed recently when a communal conflict, which started in 2011 between them and landowners in the area, upturned their quiet life.
Ilaje, which was so named because the residents are made up largely of indigenes of the Ilaje tribe – a riverside area in Ondo State – has seen a lot of violence since the conflict began.
In July 2012, some gun-wielding hoodlums, whom the residents suspected were sponsored by those who coveted their lands, invaded the town.
Saturday PUNCH learnt that the police were called in and the hoodlums dispersed. But by the time the dust settled, 55-year-old Augustus Oronla was lying on the street, shot dead.
According to residents, the hoodlums destroyed property and shot sporadically when they got to the community. Many counted themselves lucky at the time.
Since that attack took place, at least three other shooting incidents have taken place in Ilaje, which set the community permanently on edge.
In November 2012, four months after Oronla was shot dead. Another attack took place in Ilaje.
This time, many of the residents lost their property as the invading hoodlums did not just shoot sporadically; they set many houses on fire.
When our correspondent visited Ilaje on Tuesday, a whole section of the community seemed to have become a ghost town as those who lost their houses to the arsonists simply abandoned them.
Seyi Olatuga, whose mother’s house was burnt down in the attack, lamented how life had changed tremendously for her mother since the incident.
“My mother went for an event and did not sleep at home that day. She was coming back the following morning when she learnt that there was mayhem in Ilaje.
“She had to run elsewhere for safety. But by the time she got home, many houses had been burnt down, including her own. I was not at home at the time and I thank God she was not at home as well. Things have really been hard for her since the house was burnt down. It has really affected her life,” Olatuga said.
During the attack, the hoodlums fled after the police intervention, but not until they had killed a young man, Martin Edgar.
The deceased was said to have been shot while helping a neighbour to quench the fire set to his house.
There was another attack in 2012 during which six members of the community were said to have been shot.
A community leader told our correspondent that one of the six victims is still in the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, battling with the complications that arose from the gunshot injury he sustained.
Six months after that mayhem, which claimed the life of Edgar, and when the hoodlums thought the residents of Ilaje were becoming too comfortable again, they struck.
On May 25, 2013, three youths from Ilaje were shot dead in an attack on a football field in the area.
Eight others were injured in the attack, one of them critically.
The young man that was critically injured is 28-year-old Oke Oronla, whose father was shot dead in July 2012.
Unfortunately, when our correspondent visited the community on Tuesday, the residents said the younger Oronla died the day before because the gunshot injury he sustained could not be managed.
The home of the Oronlas was deserted when our correspondent visited the community. The house was locked.
A neighbour of the Oronlas, Sojue Awolowo, told our correspondent that all the residents of the house had packed out after the incessant attacks claimed father and son.
Our correspondent observed that belongings were also being moved out of Awolowo’s house and loaded in a waiting vehicle.
When our correspondent asked if he was moving out, Awolowo said, “I’m not going anywhere but my wife has to leave this community right now. She is not safe here. My children have already moved out. I will stay but I need my family to be away from these incessant killings.
“My neighbour lost his life to the attacks by these hoodlums and now his son has been killed. His poor widow had not got over the killing of her husband when she lost her son too. It is a very terrible thing.”
Many men in the community seemed to have adopted the method of staying behind while sending their families out.
Like Awolowo, Sunday Adesuyi said he had also relocated his family.
He said, “If there is any problem and I need to run, at least it will be only me. You really need to understand why people are leaving. It is because anytime there is an attack, the same people will be seen a few days later around Ajah, walking freely. That makes people afraid.
“It is not that people around here love to abandon their homes, it is because when arrests are made, a few days later, those responsible for the violence are set free. We are citizens of this country; we are entitled to government protection.”
When our correspondent moved around the community, it became clear that a lot of people had moved out or were in the process of fleeing.
In the midst of all this, a woman and her unclad six children sat in front of their house, looking dejected.
Our correspondent asked if she intended to move out for the safety of her children.
The woman, Elizabeth Emeka, said, “I really want to leave because I am afraid. Everybody is packing out but I cannot. Where will I pack to?
“Of course I fear for the lives of my children in the midst of all this violence, but I cannot just pack and go. Where will I go?”
There are a lot of Ghanaians in Ilaje as well, most of whom are engaged in petty trading.
Some of them told Saturday PUNCH that they would leave as well.
“I cannot stay here with the hope of making a living and losing my life in the process,” one of the Ghanaians told our correspondent.
Another Ghanaian, Emmanuel Ocran, said, “I have been living here for two years now. But it has reached a point that I can no longer stay here.
“I’m leaving to go and stay temporarily with a friend. Things have become too violent for my liking here. My house rent is not even due yet, but since others are leaving, I have to leave as well.
“I actually thought I could withstand the crisis but this latest one has given me a rethink. I need to get out of this vicinity.”
Our correspondent learnt that much of those who populate Ilaje were residents of Maroko area of Lagos, who were displaced after the military government of Brig-Gen. Raji Rasaki (retd.) demolished their homes in 1990.
They are mostly fishermen. The women engage in petty trading.
But the sense of community, which the residents said drew their kinsmen to the area, has been compromised by violence.
Even though some of the residents are hurriedly leaving the area, some of them believe leaving would only achieve the aim of the perpetrators of the violence.
Pastor Oluwole Adejimi said his father settled in the area in 1984.
Adejimi, who is now a landlord in the community, said he could not blame those leaving.
He said, “I’m staying in order to encourage people to stay. If I leave, a lot of people who were encouraged by my presence will pack and go as well.
“I’m a priest, so, I believe God is my protection. If the violence becomes unbearable, I’m going to leave as well. But at the moment, I’m staying.”
Spokesperson for the community, Rev. Oduwole Oluwasegun, said there had been reports stating that the crisis in the community had to do with toll collection at a motor park.
He said, “That is totally wrong. We have nothing to do with any motor park. This problem started with the only major road in Ilaje. Because of our proximity to the sea, some sand dredgers have been doing business here.
“Since this road is the only one their tippers ply and needs repairs regularly, the community decided to collect tolls from the dredgers. We started with N200 and increased it to N400.
“We later got a letter from Odugbese Aberioje family, the landowners from whom we bought our lands legally, ordering the community to stop collecting the toll.”
Our correspondent learnt that an arrangement was made between the community and the family but the landowners were not satisfied.
A police source told our correspondent that the head of the family, Chief Muka Aberioje, was at a time arrested in connection with the violent attacks in Ilaje.
On Sunday, the Lagos State Police Command arrested the Olumegbon of Ajah, Fatai Lawal, in connection with Saturday’s attack.
PUNCH Metro had reported that the Olumegbon was alleged to be harbouring some of the youths involved in Saturday’s attack. But he was released the same day.
Oluwasegun said, “No one can really say how the clash on the football field on Saturday started. The report we got was that the fight was between Ajah youths and some of the boys of the Olumegbon. It was about 10 am.
“We just heard some gunshots and by the time the shooters fled, David Okon, Ahmed Yusuf and Timothy Amos lay dead in the area.
“We cannot be driven out of these plots of land because we bought them legally and have documents to back the transaction up. The government is keeping quiet about the crisis here and this is not making us happy at all.”
But the police spokesperson in the state, Ngozi Braide, has said the residents had no reason to flee the community.
Braide said, “Right now, security has been beefed up around the community; this you can attest to yourself. A number of patrol vans are stationed there at the moment.
“The Ilaje people were not the only ones who lost people in the clash. Even the Olumegbon lost three people while the Ajah people lost some. There is no way the people will call on the police and they will not respond.
“They have no reason to exercise any fear because even undercover agents are currently in the community.”
As at Tuesday when our correspondent visited Ilaje, there were at least four police patrol vans stationed in different parts of the community, but this did not seem to be putting the minds of the residents at rest.

Gun Battles, Killings Have Forced Us To Flee Our Homes – Lagos Residents

Residents of Ilaje community, a Lagos suburb beside Ajah on the Lekki-Epe Expressway have enjoyed peace for many years.

Jonathan And His Team Have Done Very Well – First Lady

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has attributed the outstanding performance of the Federal Government in various sectors of the economy to the input of women in the cabinet.
Jonathan said this in a short remark at a dinner organised for women in commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day in Abuja.
She commended them for making Nigerian women proud in the mid-term report released on Thursday by the Presidency on the first half of the administration’s four-year tenure.
“Two days ago, the President read his mid-term report to Nigerians. He and his team have done very well. Women are the powerful people in that cabinet.”
She singled out the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for her efforts to reposition the nation’s economy and the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Odua, for the facelift in several of the nation’s airports.
While noting that women were well represented in governance, the first lady thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for giving Nigerian women the opportunity to prove themselves.
“We thank God and Mr President for giving women a chance. Since independence, this is the first time women can walk tall and talk where men are talking.
“So, we thank this administration. We will continue to support this administration and make it succeed,’’
The President’s wife urged women to take up the challenge of bringing peace back to the country.
“On the issue of security, women are more affected. The soldiers being killed are our children, members of Boko haram are our children, and the militants are our children.
“Let us, as women, urge them to shun evil behaviours and desist from anything that can bring the country down. We should be proud of our country.
“We should preach peace and be peaceful in our homes, local governments, states and the country. Our watchword should be peace. We should move from door to door to preach peace.
“Without peace, there will be no development and we need development. Women are saying enough is enough. We don’t want our children to die again.’’
Other dignitaries at the occasion were the former First Lady, Hajia Ajoke Muhammed, the wife of the governor of Anambra, Mrs Margret Obi; Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Mrs. Mulikat Adeola-Akande and wife of the PDP National Chairman, Mrs. Fatima Tukur.
Others were the PDP National Women Leader, Dr Kema Chikwe; female members of the Federal Executive Council, female presidential aides, female lawmakers and wives of service chiefs, among others.

Boko Haram Paid Us N5,000 Each To Burn Schools – Kid Suspects

Some kid suspects released by military authorities in Maiduguri on Friday said the Boko Haram sect paid them N5,000 each to burn primary schools and spy on soldiers.

They were among 23 women and 35 children released to the governors of Borno and Yobe states by the Commander, 21 Armoured Brigade, Maiduguri, Brig-Gen. R.O Bamigboye, on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Sa’ad Ibrahim.
The children, whose ages range between nine and 15 years, said they were given kegs of petrol by Boko Haram leaders and sent to burn schools in both states.
Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, government officials and journalists listened in bewilderment as the children narrated how they were used by the extremist sect to burn schools and spy on soldiers.
One of them said they were taken to the Yobe State capital, Damaturu, and told to spy on soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force and report back to the Boko Haram commanders.
He said, “We were taken to Damaturu. We watched out for the soldiers at their unit and reported back to them. We were reporting either when soldiers were at ease or enjoying themselves and when they were off guard and we were paid for doing that.”
Another child suspect said, “I usually helped Boko Haram to leak information on military activities so that they could attack them (soldiers). My last job was to travel from Maiduguri to Gashua to spy on soldiers before I was caught.”
Yet another said, “We usually help Boko Haram to carry stolen items each time and sometimes help them to give information about people they want to attack and sometimes even help to hide their guns after attacks. They pay us N5000 after every operation. I regret what I did, I want to go home and ask for forgiveness from my father and mother for what I did; I also want to go to school.”
One of the boys said he was arrested last year after he was overheard talking about the people who burnt a school in Maiduguri and failed to inform the military.
“I was arrested because I know those who burnt the school without telling the soldiers. Some people heard me discussing about the people who burnt the school and reported me to the soldiers who arrested me,” he said.
One of the teenagers said they were paid N5,000 and provided with fuel in kegs to set schools ablaze in Maiduguri.
The release of the suspects was done in line with the Federal Government’s amnesty deal.
In Borno State, 20 detainees, comprising six women and 14 children arrested between 2012 and 2013 were set free and handed over to Shettima for rehabilitation and reintegration.
The 20 detainees were mostly arrested in Maiduguri, Bama in Borno and Damaturu in Yobe State.
Bamigboye, who supervised the handing over, said he was acting on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Sa’ad Ibrahim.
This, he said, was in line with the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan to the army.
He explained that the detainees were arrested in connection with the roles they played in the insurgency.
The six freed women were Hajia Zainab Mohammed, 40; Hajia Karagama Mohammed, 55; Hajia Zari Mohammed, 40; Aishatu Mohammed Aji, 62; Hadiza Ahmad, 40; and Yakaka Goni Habib, 16.
The 14 children released were Abba Modu Aji,10; Mohammed Musa, 12; Ibrahim Mohammed, 15; Umar Bukar, 15; Mustapha Umaru, 14; Bashir Ali, 12; Musa Grema, 13; Abba Mohammed, 14; Baba Alhaji, 13; AbdulAziz Umar, 14; Ari Masa’a, 14; Bayi Mustapha, 14; Mohammed Ibrahim, 14 and Alhaji Goni, 14.

Why I Rarely Make Public Comments – Pastor Adeboye

General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has explained that he is careful in making public comments to avoid mistakes.

In an interview with Haaretz newspaper during a visit to Jerusalem, Adeboye said he had shied away from speaking out on national issues in order to avoid influencing people in the wrong way.
He also said he was aware of the enormous responsibility on his shoulders as the leader of a global church with millions of members.
“At times it’s frightening. In Africa you have a saying, the man who is carrying a basket of eggs must walk gently … whatever mistakes you make, you affect destinies,” he said.
Adeboye stated that his transformation from a Mathematics lecturer at the University of Lagos to a pastor was a divine call, noting that he has a mandate to preach peace everywhere he goes.
“I’ve always said turning a mathematician into a pastor takes only God. In my work with God, I’ve learned that he has a sense of humour,” he stated.
The pastor, who has led the RCCG for three decades, arrived for a meeting at the Dan Jerusalem Hotel, surrounded by an entourage of eight loyal aides, who treated him with the awe normally reserved for heads of state, the paper said.
Speaking on the growing global influence of African preachers, he said the seeds sowed by missionaries who brought Christianity to Africa were producing fruit.
“When you reap, after a certain period you begin to sow. Today, in many parts of the Western world, people have gone rather cold toward the church. Fortunately, the seed sowed in Africa has germinated and the harvest is now coming back to them. So, they are merely reaping what they sowed

FOREIGN WEALTHY PILE INTO BRITAIN

ABOVE: Chelsea owner Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is one of Britain's welathiest men

If you’re wealthy you want to be in London, Hong Kong, New York or Geneva.

The Boston Consulting Group

1st June 2013

By Will Gant

BRITAIN is home to more than 500,000 foreigners who are dollar millionaires.

And that figure does not include the value of their homes.

There were also 1,000 mega-rich who have at least £66million in the bank, more than any other country except America.

The world’s rich see Britain as a safer place to keep their dosh than the likes of Greece and Spain.

London in particular has long attracted billionaire Russians such as Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich, 46, and Arab oil sheikhs.

In total, fat-cat foreigners have £900billion invested in Britain, more than four times the annual economic output of Ireland.

The research was carried out by management advisers The Boston Consulting Group.

The group’s Andy Maguire said: “If you’re wealthy you want to be in London, Hong Kong, New York or Geneva.”

The report added that the richest people in the world live in oil-laden Qatar, where 14.3% have more than £650,000.

PRINCE HARRY: DON'T EVER FORGET THE HORROR OF WAR

ABOVE: Prince Harry has called on the UK to support injured forces

For every life taken, which is about 450 in Afghanistan, about 4,000 are injured and that’s what we don’t hear about.

Prince Harry

1st June 2013

By Richard

PRINCE Harry called on all Brits yesterday to get behind our injured forces heroes, roaring: “Never forget their sacrifice.”

In a rallying cry speech, the Apache pilot urged everyone to support our wounded warriors after they return home from the front.

The royal drew on his experiences in the Afghan war zone during a Walking With The Wounded charity gala at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

He said: “For every life taken, which is about 450 in Afghanistan, about 4,000 are injured and that’s what we don’t hear about.

“Arms, legs that will never grow back, as well as mental injuries – the image of your best friend being blown up next to you, that’s something that will never leave you.”

Harry has vowed to join a team of injured service personnel trekking to the South Pole later this year.

He revealed his fears that support for charities such as Help For Heroes and Walking With The Wounded will fade once Britain pulls out of Afghanistan.

“But we’re here to make sure that doesn’t happen,” he added.

Harry spent five days in the freezing Arctic when he joined ex-soldiers on a charity trek to the North Pole in 2012.

A Daily Star team on a gruelling 380-mile Paris to London bike ride for Help For Heroes will arrive back in England today.

To donate £5 text the word “HERO” to 70900