After the Sunday tragedy at the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Accra, Ghana, the Police on Tuesday ordered the Church to stop hosting worship sessions at its Spintex Road venue.

According to reports, the Ghanaian police ordered the church, owned by Nigerian pastor, T.B. Joshua to relocate to a more convenient venue.

Accra Regional Police Commander, Mr Christian Yehonu, said in a statement that the recent tragedy in the church could have been avoided if the church had been located at a bigger worship centre.

A stampede occurred at the church premises on Sunday leading to the death of four persons while several others were injured.

The Ghanaian media had reported that the stampede occurred when worshippers rushed to collect `anointed water’ given to members of the church during the worship.

Ayodeji Dedeigbo, Yusuf Mohamed & Sulimon Mojeed-Sanni

The Lagos State Police Command, southwest Nigeria, Tuesday paraded four suspected human parts sellers.

The suspects identified as Ajibade Rafiu aka Dudu, 30, Fatai Akiwowo, 30, Kazeem Sanni 25, and Agboola Kolawole, 40, were arrested at Owode-Idiroko in Ogun state and Badagry in Lagos state.

The suspected leader of the gang, Jamiu Adeleke Alias Alpha, before his death, allegedly confessed to have sold six human heads to his clients.

Adeleke was apprehended by men of the Lagos State Special Anti-robbery Squad led by the Officer in charge S.P. Abba Kyari. He died shortly after his confession.

Kyari told P.M.NEWS that ”last week Monday, when I received this information I quickly deployed one of my teams led by Supol Adetarami Adegbehin who really performed very well.

“Jamiu, who was a traditional herbal medicine seller was arrested on Monday, 13 May, 2013 at about 11.30pm, with human parts that can be identified to belong to a woman because of the painted nails.

“Our investigations revealed that he specialised in selling human parts to yet to be identified buyers in the society. Following a tip-off that human parts were being sold in Owode-Idiroko, we moved in and arrested the suspects.”

P.M.NEWS sources at the Police Command revealed that the men of the Command while carrying out the operation, had to disguise as potential buyers of human head.

In the course of the negotiation, one of the two suspects on sensing danger took to his heels while the other was arrested with different human parts.

Following interrogation, Jamiu led the police to Ilobi Ereni in Badagry, Lagos, where a 30-year old man called Rafiu Ajibade was also arrested.

Another suspect Agboola Kola aka Ola, a local traditional masquerade attendant was also arrested in Badagry.

The young man was said to be the most recent buyer of a human head.
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Agboola Kola allegedly confessed that he was only given N1,500 for his role in the business, and that he did not know what the human part was used for.

Rafiu Ajibade in his alleged confession to the police said he cut off his two dead brothers and sister’s heads from the grave.

One of the suspects, Kazeem Sanni, said ” I dont know they were human parts dealers. I am an Okada rider. I was unfortunate to have been arrested with them. I know nothing about it.”

All the suspects are being detained at SARS for interrogation after which they will be charged to court very soon.

MADUABUCHI NMERIBEH/Kano

Kano state Governor, Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso on Tuesday blamed governments at all levels, politicians, traditional rulers and religious leaders for the insurgency threatening peace and development in northern Nigeria.

Kwankwaso who spoke at the Government House of the northwestern state said the failure of leadership is responsible for the insecurity facing the country.

The Governor who was receiving members of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of security challenges in the North also blamed parents for abandoning their responsibilities of raising their children properly.

“The parents, the communities, the Local Government authorities, state government and the Federal Government are all guilty of the insurgency that is facing this country—we are all guilty.”

“Parents no longer take responsibility of their family. We have a situation in this part of the country where parents give birth to 20 to 30 children, chose only two out of them and send the rest away to God knows where.

“Children are sent to places that they don’t know. They are left to fend for themselves. We have a situation where you go round the city and find garrison of children—able-bodied youths begging.

“These children were abandoned by their parents and they were sent away and brought into the state. They grow up to hate themselves, hate their parents, hate the leaders, and hate the government and the society. They feel they were deprived, they feel injustice and they become enemies of the state and constituted authorities; and thereby becoming vulnerable to crime and violence.

“These are the bitter pills we must swallow—that we are all guilty of what is happening today. We have to wake up and rise up to the challenges. What started in Yobe and Borno is everywhere in the North, it may eventually envelope the country if we don’t check it now. It is a national issue that must be addressed,” Kwankwaso noted.

He called on the government and politicians to shun greed and ensure even distribution of democracy dividends.

“We should keep our eyes on what is happening; our leaders must plan properly—long-term planning. We must also do away with the issue of planning for a second-term while the business of governance suffers.

“As a former Defence Minister, I advise that the rule of engagement must be strictly followed by soldiers deployed to those areas we have emergency rule. I appeal to those affected in this insurgency to come to the table and dialogue. We have to reduce the issue of greed, if we cannot eliminate it. We have to ensure that the right thing is done under the worst circumstance. We also have to control our emotion,” Kwankwaso noted.

He also kicked against the issue of 13 per cent awarded to Niger-Delta states, Onshore/Offshore dichotomy and the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, describing them as unjust to the North.

The chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Kabiru Taminu Turaki said Kwankwaso deserve praises for putting in place a mechanism that engaged the youths in terms of economic empowerment and self-reliance, pointing out that such efforts goes a long way to discourage youths from making themselves available to elements whose business was to destabilize the country.

He said the mission of the Committee to Kano was in furtherance of its nation-wide consultation aimed at commencing the process of dialogue for peaceful resolution of the crises and insurgency rocking the country and the North in particular.
Parts the Committee’s terms of reference include constructively engaging Boko Haram members to dialogue and in the process restore peace and stability in the country.

Turaki said the Committee will also find comprehensive and workable framework that will ensure total disarmament within a period of 60 days.

“We have seen changes taking place as far as the insurgency and insecurity is concerned. Security has so much improved. We want to learn from you (Kwankwaso) how you have been able to do this.

“We are satisfied that Kano is well-secured. We also observe that the state government has rebuilt most of the structures that were affected. We thank you for the bold step you have taken to finding the root causes of the insurgency, by empowering the youths. We have seen how you have been making bold steps to creating opportunities to youths to become self-reliant,” Turaki stated.

He said the recommendation of the Committee will touch on serious issues that will put an end to the insurgency, while soliciting for the cooperation of all stakeholders and Nigerians.

The University of Nigeria, Nsuka, UNN, southeast Nigeria, Tuesday honoured the late literary icon, Professor Chinua Achebe when it held a Special Senate session and academic procession.

Thrice the Registrar called, but grave silence followed the mention of the name of Emeritus Prof Achebe on the roll of members during the Special Senate Session and Academic Procession.

The solemn event took place in the main hall of the university’s Enugu campus.

Vice Chancellor Prof Bartho Okolo observed after Registrar Chief Anthony Okonta had called up the roll, “Dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, it is quite unlike Emeritus Professor Chinua Achebe, our revered man of letters, the literary giant, the Eagle on Iroko, to stay silent at the mention of his name.”

Okolo continued: “For the avoidance of doubt, may I call his name just one more time: Emeritus Professor Chinua Achebe!” There was no response as the hall fell deeply silent at the further calling of Achebe’s name.

“Truly, this is a solemn confirmation that the earthly sojourn of our revered colleague, Emeritus Professor Chinualumogu Albert Achebe, our compatriot who rose to become a citizen of the world has come to an end. It is therefore with profound grief and regret that I preside over this special Senate in his honour,” the Vice Chancellor added.

Prof Christie Achebe, the late author’s widow, his son Dr. Chidi Achebe and other members of the family sat in the front row facing the high table and the casket at the solemn event.

At the other end of the high table annexed to the table for the University administration sat Prof T. Uzodinma Nwala, Achebe’s erstwhile colleague at UNN and member of the Organising Committee for the funeral as well as Prof Oye Ibidapo Obe, vice chancellor of the Federal University, Ndifu Alike, Ebonyi State.

Academics from neighbouring higher institutions also featured at the event.

The Special UNN Senate Session and academic procession was one in a series of programmes for the funeral obsequies for the late author of Things Fall Apart.

Members of university administration, faculty, staff and students of the University where Achebe taught for six years and lent his name to its lustre attended the event.

He will be buried at Ogidi, his birthplace in Anambra state, on Thursday.

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

The political crisis in Rivers State has taken another dimension with the Special Assistant to Governor Amaechi on Conflict Resolution, Mr Obinna Anyanwu resigning his appointment.

In a letter dated 20 May, 2013 and addressed to Governor Amaechi, Obinna Anyanwu said his resignation was occasioned by “recent political development in our great party PDP Rivers state chapter and my father’s position as regards to his call for your resignation as the Executive Governor of Rivers State.”

“I wish to tender my resignation with immediate effect since it is only natural and incongruent to still remain in office.

“I therefore thank you very much for the opportunity you offered me to serve in your administration,” he stressed.

It would be recalled that recently Obinna’s father, Prince Emma Anyanwu had called on the governor to resign from office.

Prince Anyanwu said his call for the governor to resign was predicated on the governor’s alleged loss of the party structure that brought him into office and his inability to manage the political crisis in the state.

The Nigerian government said Tuesday it would release many suspects held for “terrorist activities,” including all women in custody, in what it called a peace gesture to the Islamists it is battling in the north.

The announcement came as the authorities pressed ahead with a nearly week-old offensive against Boko Haram insurgents in the northeast, while the Red Cross said at least 2,400 people had fled violence in the region.

“Consequent upon the directives of the president … the Defence Headquarters will be releasing from detention a number of persons being held in connection with terrorist activities,” a defence statement said, adding it included “all women under custody.”

Boko Haram has previously demanded the release of women prisoners, though the defence statement made no mention of the demand.

The statement said the move was linked to recommendations from a panel set up by the presidency to explore options for dialogue with the insurgents.

“The measure, which is in line with presidential magnanimity to enhance peace efforts in the country, will result in freedom for suspects including all women under custody,” it said.

Nigerian authorities have been accused of unlawful detentions and indiscriminate arrests in connection with the Islamist insurgency.

Residents caught up in the violence were given a measure of relief on Tuesday, with authorities relaxing a round-the-clock curfew in the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, Boko Haram’s stronghold.

The relaxing of the curfew, initially imposed on Saturday, allowed residents to begin venturing out between 7:00 am (0600 GMT) and 5:00 pm to restock on food and supplies.

“I have been indoor since Saturday night because of the 24-hour curfew,” one resident said. “I have to come out today to get money in the bank and purchase food items and other essential commodities for my family.”

However, the government gave no sign that its offensive would let up and requested support from neighbouring Niger.

“As you know, there are operations in progress in Nigeria in three states very affected by the problem of terrorism, and we are hoping to have support from the Republic of Niger in the battle to defeat these terrorists,” Nigerian junior foreign minister Nurudeen Muhammed said.

Speaking in Niger after talks with President Mahamadou Issoufou, he did not specify what type of support.

Nigeria launched the sweeping operation on May 15, deploying thousands of troops across three states — Adamawa, Borno and Yobe — where President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency after the Islamists seized territory.

Fighter jets targeted Boko Haram strongholds in the offensive seeking to end the deadly Islamist insurgency underway since 2009. Telecommunications in affected areas have been out of service since the weekend.

On Monday, Nigeria’s military said it had re-established control in five remote areas of the northeast. About 120 of the insurgents had also been arrested, the military had said.

Nigeria’s military has previously been accused of major abuses in its fight against Boko Haram, and activists as well as the United States have raised concerns over the latest fighting.

The Boko Haram conflict is estimated to have cost 3,600 lives since 2009, including killings by the security services.

At least 2,400 people had fled violence in northern Nigeria and were being provided with emergency supplies in the Diffa area of Niger, the Red Cross said Tuesday.

“These people, most of whom are originally from Niger but settled in Nigeria some time back, in some cases decades ago, are completely destitute,” said Jean-Nicolas Marti, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross’ regional delegation for Niger and Mali.

“They have been taken in by families that are sharing their meagre resources with them.”

The Red Cross noted that the Diffa area was the scene earlier this year of severe flooding.

“If population displacement were to continue at the current pace, or to increase, there is a risk that the delicate economic and food balance in the area could be destroyed, with consequences for the resident population,” said Marti.

In neighbouring Cameroon, authorities have tightened border controls to prevent fleeing Boko Haram insurgents from taking refuge there.

“But it is not easy to track down suspected Boko Haram members because of the porosity of the borders,” a police officer in the Fotokol district told AFP.

“With the massive influx of Nigerians last week, it is absolutely necessary to intensify patrols so that certain members of Boko Haram do not infiltrate into our territory.”

Motorcycles and Cameroonian vehicles are not allowed into Gamboru, a Nigerian border town.

Residents are only allowed to cross a bridge linking both borders by foot between 0900 GMT and 1700 GMT.

Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, said on Tuesday that one of the two Arik Air female cabin crew members arrested in London Tuesday concealed six kilogrammes of cocaine worth about N180 million.

Arik Air staff Temitayo Olubunmi Daramola was found in possession of 6kg of cocaine while Delita Abibimgbi was found with 60 packets of cigarettes, NDLEA said in a statement.

The agency said the Arik Air flight reportedly took off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, Monday with ten cabin members.

“Eight out of the ten crew members that travelled with the flight have been cleared while the remaining two are still being held in London,” NDLEA said.

Chairman and Chief Executive of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, has ordered the investigation.

“We have received report of the arrest and I have ordered a full scale investigation of the incident. Anyone found wanting shall be brought to book as no effort shall be spared in protecting the image of our country,” Giade said.

On 8 August, 2007, officials of the NDLEA arrested a Virgin Atlantic crew member with drugs in a London bound flight. The crew member,  Mohammed Ibrahim Wudil, was caught at the Lagos airport with 1.743kg of cocaine.

The drug which was concealed in a black polythene bag inside a hand luggage was found in the flight compartment.

—Simon Ateba/Aviation correspondent

A 24-year old farmer, Abdullahi Babangida, who was arraigned for allegedly killing his nephew over the sum of N1,500, has been remanded in prison custody on the order of  Mr. Joel O. Michael, a trial magistrate in Ilorin, Kwara State, northcentral Nigeria.

The accused, who hails from Ndanaku village near lade in Edu Local Government Area of the state, was alleged to have inflicted the 16-year old deceased, Chumo Mohammed, with machete cuts, resulting in his death.

The attack followed a misunderstanding between the two of them over the N1,500.

Babangida was arraigned on a one-count charge of culpable homicide, contrary to section 221 of penal code law.

Police First Information Report, on the matter revealed that the accused had callously killed his nephew over an issue of N1,500 which came up between them.

Magistrate Michael, who upheld the submission of the prosecutor, Inspector James Odaodu, ordered that the accused be remanded at the Federal Medium Security Prison, Mandala in Ilorin, pending the outcome of police investigation, while adjourning the case till 30 May for further mention.

Chief Coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, has declared that the team would not miss the services of Chelsea of England player, Victor Moses and Kasimpasa of Turkey star, Kalu Uche in the high-profile friendly match against Mexico, the World Cup qualifying matches against Kenya and Namibia as well as the FIFA Confederations Cup tournament.

Uche claimed to have been playing with injury for sometime now in the Turkish League, and on the advice of his doctor, will be using the opportunity of the off-season to undergo treatment, while Moses is said to be dropping out in order to treat a recurring injury and won’t be fit in time for the World Cup qualifiers and the ‘Festival of Champions’.

Keshi, who was not happy with the fact that the players did not inform him earlier of this development, said that he is unperturbed with the latest development, stating “we have the players to deliver the World Cup ticket, and to make Nigerians proud in Brazil.”

Corroborating Keshi’s stand on the issue is former member of the Nigeria Football Association, NFA, Barrister Godwin Dudu-Orumen who said that Uche has been wasteful for his club and sees no reason the player was invited in the first instance.

Dudu-Orumen noted that he does not know the formation that Keshi hopes to adopt in the coming fixtures, but he feels that the coach is in a better position to decide the replacements for Moses and Uche.

“I think both players would not be missed by the team because they are not indispensable. There are other credible players that can perform better in the team,” he said.

Meanwhile, Keshi has commended the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF for the choice of the Adidas Sport Complex in Nuremberg, Germany as camp site for the team.

The Eagles before now have been regular visitors to Faro, Portugal to prepare for major assignments but the NFF opted otherwise for Germany this term and the Big Boss reckons it is not a bad choice either.

In the words of Keshi “The Novina Hotel (where the team is staying) is serene and ideal for total concentration, the training facilities are magnificent, equal to the best you can find anywhere in the world”.

Keshi is upbeat that the team would grab the Brazil 2014 World Cup ticket. “By the grace of God, we will do our very best to secure the World Cup ticket and also fly Africa’s flag brilliantly at the FIFA Confederations Cup. We want Nigerians to continue to pray for the team,” he said.

—Adebobola Alawode

It is confirmed that CSKA Moscow striker Ahmed Musa will miss Nigeria’s high profile exhibition game against Mexico on 31 May in the United States due to club commitments.

The former Kano Pillar player told Brila FM that he had been in contact with an official of the Super Eagles, informing him that he will miss the game if the Muscovites qualify for the Russian Cup final.

“I have been in contact with the team secretary of the Super Eagles and told him that if my team qualify for the Russian Cup final, I will not be available for the friendly.

“And when we eventually qualified the secretary called me again to confirm if I will still be able to come and I told him it wasn’t possible,’’ Musa said.

CSKA Moscow will win the double for the first time since 2005 if they overcome Anzhi Makhachkala in the Russian Cup final on 1 June.

Musa has played an integral role in CSKA‘s run to the title, scoring 11 goals in 25 league appearances.

He however revealed that he will be joining the Super Eagles squad in Germany on 2 June after the cup final.