We warned you to avoid Nigerian government – Niger Delta Avengers mock Tompolo

Tompolo

The Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, yesterday, blamed former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, over the sufferings and untold hardship soldiers have allegedly subjected innocent people of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, particularly women and children, in the past few days .

The militant group, in a statement, by its spokesperson, Col Mudoch Agbinibo, said it had cautioned Tompolo against taking sides with the Nigerian government but he ignored them.

The group said it was going to carry out more attacks, go personal against business mogul and pipeline contractor, Captain Okunbor Idahosa and army officer, Major B. Yahaya, who is leading the assault against unarmed Gbaramatu people.


NDA boasted, “Our dear brother, Tompolo, how is your friendship with the Nigerian Government? The people you took side with against us (the Niger Delta Avengers). We offered you the olive branch by beckoning you to join us in this struggle, but you refused.

“It is not our business what goes on in Gbaramatu Kingdom but our concern is the innocent children, women and aged people, whom the Nigerian military has chased away from their homes now taking refuge in the forest. We warned you before hand that the Nigerian Government, can never be trusted.”

“To the Nigeria military, why are you looking for soft targets? If you are looking for the Avengers, you know how to find us. Don’t deceive your President.”

“Information gathered by the Intelligence unit of the Niger Delta Avengers revealed that Oil Marine Services (OMS) whose Chairman and CEO is Capt. Okunbor Idahosa also known, as Capt. Hosa, is the company Nigerian Government awarded the Pipeline surveillance contract to, spanning from Escravos to Lokoja,” the group said.


Col Agbinibo alleged that in collaboration with an Itsekiri leader, some military officers were bribed with N250 million ‎to destroy Gbaramatu kingdom “in the guise of looking for the Niger Delta Avengers.”

The militant group said: “The question is, why the innocent people of Gbaramatu, why the innocent pregnant women, why unleash terror on the aged people of Gbaramatu, Capt. Hosa, Major Yahaya, Ayiri and Brig. Gen Faruk – must you waste all these innocent blood just to secure the pipeline surveillance job?

“Why making the innocent people of Gbaramatu suffer? This act of the Nigerian Army to us is the greatest act of cowardice. This fight we believe is against the Avengers and not the innocent villagers of Gbaramatu Kingdom,” it stated.

NDA asked: “Where is the International community and the United Nations when all these unspeakable injustice are served the people of Gbaramatu Kingdom by the very unprofessional Nigerian Military? Are they not aware of the raping of young girls, looting and destruction of properties by the Nigeria military in Gbaranmatu kingdom? Not done with Tompolo, it said: “As for you Tompolo, what do you have to say about the horrible treatment meted your people by Nigerian Military, are you still going to call the Niger Delta Avengers criminals, are you still going to take sides with the Nigeria Government against your people?

“What happened to you (Tompolo)? We respect the love you have for your people, the Niger Delta. What is really happening to you when the likes of Mr Ayiri, Capt Hosa and co are unleashing this kind of atrocities on your people.

“Has the wealth you acquired made you soft that you do not know what to do anymore? It jabbed at him. To the military, the group insisted: “The Nigerian Military cannot intimidate us by harassing innocent Niger Deltans. Gbaramatu is just one kingdom in Delta State. The Niger Delta is made up of seven States.”

“It is, therefore, very funny to lure us to halt our well-planned line of actions that will shock the whole world by harassing innocent villagers,” it remarked.

The militants asserted: “To you, Capt. Hosa the new pipeline protector; the intelligence unit of the Avengers has your full data, we know where all your assets are located and that most of your businesses are in the Niger Delta. For this single act of injustice against the innocent people of Gbaramatu you, your wife and entire family will suffer.”

“To Major M.B. Yahaya, we are sure you have not seen real combat before; how did you rise to the rank of a Major, this is to show that Nigerian Military is finished if it is to depend on people like you.

“You are only good at harassing innocent women and children in the name of looking for the Niger Delta Avengers. We are not surprised because all Nigerian Military are corrupt. Be assured that we are making this fight personal with you as we shall make your life a living hell.

“Can anyone tell the difference between Major MB Yahaya, Brig. Gen Faruk Yahaya and Boko Haram? We are asking because we cannot spot any difference.

“Is the Nigeria military now a hired gun for the rich? The Amnesty International should take note of these officers, who authorized the harassing of the innocent people of Gbaramatu,” it added.

The group went on: “To the International Oil Companies and Indigenous Oil Companies, it is going to be bloody this time around. Your facilities and personnel will bear the brunt of our fury, which shall fall upon you like a whirling wind.”

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How SSS blocked me from greeting Buhari at State House dinner — Ben Murray-Bruce

Ben Murray-Bruce

A senator from Bayelsa State, Ben Murray-Bruce, on Monday said operatives of the State Security Service prevented him from “greeting” President Muhammadu Buhari at a state dinner organised to mark 2016 Democracy Day.

Mr. Murray-Bruce tweeted around 10:45pm on Monday, “I was at the Presidential Villa today, went to the president’s table. DSS wouldn’t allow me greet him, but let another senator greet him.”

He did not name the senator that was allowed passage to the president after he (Murray-Bruce) was bounced.

The SSS could not be reached for comments. The agency has had no spokesperson since it’s former press interface, Marilyn Ogar, was sacked from service.

The dinner was hosted by Mr. Buhari, and had in attendance the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a aational leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, among others.

Mr. Murray-Bruce, who is a Peoples Democratic Party member, and one of the ardent critics of the Buhari administration, had earlier tweeted a photo of himself in the company of other guests at the dinner.

The senator is famous among Nigerians for his #BuyNaijaGrowTheNaira campaign which is meant to encourage patronage for indigenous goods and services.

President Buhari at the dinner urged the National Assembly to speed up the passage of the 2016 budgets of the Federal Capital Territory, and the Niger Delta Development Commission.

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FG deploys 5 warships, 100 gunboats, fighter jets to battle Niger Delta Avengers

The federal government, Monday, deployed five warships, 100 gunboats and fighter jets to the creeks of the Niger Delta.

This is in response to ongoing attacks on oil and gas pipelines by Niger Delta Avengers, NDA.

Vanguard reports that while the Airforce deployed the fighter jets and helicopter gunships, the Army stormed four more Ijaw communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State, for the militants.

“There is a massive security operation going on in the area. Fighter jets and helicopter gunships have been hovering around the airspace at low level, apparently on surveillance mission. Many of the natives are worried about the development,” said Ayebatari, an indigene of the area.

Commander, NNS Delta, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, confirmed, yesterday, that the security agencies were now working in synergy to flush out the Avengers from the region.

He said: “We (Navy) use helicopter. If you spot it, you will clearly identify it as belonging to us. You see Navy written on it. The jet fighters and surveillance craft were deployed by Air Force to watch over the high risk areas against activities of the oil assets vandals and anyone else involved in criminality in the area.

“There is now strengthened synergy among the security agencies to stop this vandalism. The synergy is there. I will advise those involved to steer clear and employ peaceful ways of agitating and engaging their minds.”


The fighter jets and surveillance aircraft were also seen flying around communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom and Ogulagha area in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State about 10a.m.

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Former PDP guber candidate, Tony Nwonye joins APC

Ahead of the 2017 governorship election in Anambra State, there are indications that former guber candidate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state Tony Nwoye, is set to pitch tent with the All Progressives Congress, APC.
‎
Nwonye is said to be consulting some top members of the party ahead of his political movement.

Addressing stakeholders from Anambra East and Anambra West in his country home at Nsugbe in Anambra East local government area during an empowerment grant to them, Nwoye said he would soon declare officially for APC.


According to him, many people in the state were already tired in PDP, stressing that their best alternative is APC, which, he added, is striving to correct the mistakes of the past federal administration.

He said: “I am no longer satisfied with what is happening in PDP. I no longer have anything to do with the party and I will soon officially declare for APC. I won’t force my followers to follow me, but they are free to join me in the movement to APC because politics is a matter of choice.”

Nwoye said he is very confident that President Muhammadu Buhari would transform Nigeria, adding that what the president needs is the support of all Nigerians.

He said: “President Buhari means well for this country and he needs to be given a chance to execute his programmes for the people. My position on this has nothing to do with political affiliation.”

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Buhari inherited ‘heavy baggage’ from Jonathan – Soyinka

Soyinka

Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka has said it would take time for President Muhammadu Buhari to heal the injuries inflicted on Nigeria by former president, Goodluck Jonathan.

According to Soyinka, the immediate past government left a “heavy baggage” and “burden” that may take a while to tackle.

He spoke in Johannesburg, South Africa.


The literary icon was scheduled to speak at a public lecture on the theme: “Politics, Culture and the New Africa.”

He said: “This (Buhari) administration has inherited a heavy baggage. While I am critical in some aspects of the priority, I think that to clear up the mess left by previous administrations is going to take quite a while, especially in the economy sector. So, I don’t use words like optimism or pessimism; I’m just pragmatic. I look at what is on the ground and, of course, wherever I can intervene, I do both privately and publicly.”

Also speaking, another renowned author, Prof Kole Omotoso, said the Buhari administration had tackled a number of things, but added that the President must intensify his effort to alleviate the suffering of the people.

“We are going in the right direction but in the process, we need to do so many things. We need to look at not just the suffering of the people but the way people seem to indulge in bearing suffering. It is as if even if you try to solve the problem for them they will prefer to be suffering and smiling,” Prof Omotoso said.

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Stop looking for sympathy – EFCC replies family of Jonathan’s ex-aide, Dudafa

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday said it was untrue that the health of Dr. Waripamowei Dudafa, a former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to ex- President Goodluck Jonathan, was failing in detention.

Dudafa is being probed over $47million and €5.6million Euros (N10 billion) which were withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

A spokesman for Dudafa’s family, Engr. Thomas Akpoebi, had alleged that Dufada has been sick since last two weeks.


The statement said: ”We members of the Dudafa family are frightened at the level of deliberate neglect and abandonment Dr. Waripamowei Dudafa has been subjected in the EFCC custody since his incarceration about 50 days ago.

”This is the first time we are constrained to say something to the world since the arrest and detention of our brother and this is deliberate in order for the law to take its full circle despite the media trial that has been orchestrated.

”We are particularly disturbed that the EFCC told a national daily on Wednesday last week that Dudafa had been released.

“This is far from the truth and an attempt to mislead the public in order to endanger our brother’s life in their custody. This is a despotic way of fighting corruption‎.”


Reacting, the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, dismissed the claim.

He said: “The commission will not be distracted by any false alarm regarding the health condition of any suspect as all suspects in the custody of the EFCC have access to the best available medical care.

“All inmates also have access to their lawyers and family members at the designated visiting hours.

“The quality of care in the EFCC holding facility is the reason why accused persons regularly plead in court to be remanded in EFCC custody.”

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Photos: Nigerian Man Stages Lavish 30th Birthday For Wife On The Streets Of New Orleans

Pictures: Nigerian Man Stages Lavish 30th Birthday For Wife On The Streets Of New Orleans

A Nigerian man Mr Ariztos recently shut down downtown New Orleans for his wife’s 30th birthday ceremony.

Lola Ariztos’s 30th birthday started on New Orleans streets with a marching band who accompanied the couple to the restaurant where the birthday dinner held.

What do you think?

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Monalisa Chinda Quits Acting, Says TV Show Taking Her Time

 Monalisa Chinda Quits Nollywood Temporarily, Says TV Show Taking Her Time

Nigerian actress cum TV show host, Monalisa Chinda is currently working on her own movie.

The Nollywood thespian disclosed to Kemi Filani that she will not be featuring in her colleagues movies for now because of her commitment to her talk show.

On why she is planning to quit acting temporarily , the mother of one said:

“My TV show has been distracting me, so no movies for now. It hasn’t been easy at all. Besides, I have started working on my own movie productions and those are the ones I’d feature in and no other.

Acting can’t just die down like that. All I need to do is to stabilize my TV show, then I will face my acting career with all I have got and all that will happen this year definitely”.

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Al-Mustapha: I’ll soon disclose what killed Abacha and Abiola

Hamza Al-Mustapha, chief security officer to Sani Abacha, the late military dictator, says he would soon give the details of what killed Abacha and MKO Abiola, self-acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 election.

Abacha died on June 8, 1988, while Abiola died exactly a day to the first month anniversary of the dictator’s death.

There have been speculations on what killed both men, but Al-Mustapha who had privy information as a result of the office he held said accurate information would be revealed in his memoirs, which is not yet out.

“What killed Abacha is exactly what killed MKO Abiola. But I would reveal that after my court case, still at the supreme court. I would publish a book which has three volumes— the Mustapha’s Memoirs, which will tell what happened under Abacha and how he died,” he said at a press conference in Lagos on Monday.

The retired colonel, who regained freedom three years ago after spending 12 years in detention over the death of Kudirat, Abiola’s wife, said he was innocent of the charges filed against him.

Mustapha said he had not recovered from the trauma of detention and torture, narrating what he went through during that dark period of his life.

“I am just recuperating from what I went through. I went through punishment and torture. I was in chains,” he said.

“I was not allowed to see a doctor, family and lawyer. There was no light in my cell. I only wore my singlet, which was full of blood. You sighted food and you are denied. I was treated like an animal.”

He described Abacha as an honest man, saying those his boss offended while in power were behind reports of the loots allegedly traced to the late dictator.

Al-Mustapha also denied the allegation that he assisted Abacha to stash money in foreign accounts.

“The proper facts about the Abacha loot are not known. Where was the money from? What was it meant for? How was it taken out? Who kept the money there? Abacha was not leaving Nigeria at a later time. His journeys were within Africa because the toes he had stepped upon were bent on removing him,” he said.

“In November 1998, I told the government to prosecute me, if I have any bank account than my salary account with the Bank of the North.”

He also dismissed the allegation of former President Olusegun Obasanjo that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan facilitated his release from the prison to enable head a killer squad of 1,000 snipers ahead of the 2015 presidential election.

He said it was the appellate court which deemed it fit to release him after realizing that he had no case to answer.

“Firstly, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was not the one that facilitated my release. Rather, my release was facilitated by the content of the case as determined by the Court of Appeal. We were not even supposed to have been arrested in the first place,” he said.

“After all, witnesses were induced and contracted to implicate us. At the end of the day, we were subjected to all manner of torture and abuses of our human rights. Today, despite the fact that we were convicted on grounds that were baseless without evidence and even against the submissions of their witnesses, they did the contrary outside what was before the court of law.

“So, when the Appellate Court looked at the matter in totality, we were released based on purely the rule of law. So, anybody saying Jonathan facilitated my release is either one of my persecutors or those who have taken money from them. There are public documents in the public for all to see these facts.

“Nobody contracted me to catch 1,000 mosquitoes under the Jonathan administration, let alone human beings. I am Al-Mustapha. I have my background away from the propaganda peddled by the likes of Obasanjo.”

Al-Mustapha challenged Obasanjo to an open debate, saying the elder statesman was bent on nailing him at all cost.

“Obasanjo has had his day. I am doing my investigation and I have discovered so many things as to what made him (Obasanjo) make such allegation. I have it. I will release it very soon and that is why I have challenged him to an open debate. Obasanjo is my senior in the force; he was a former military head of state, but when issues of law and rights of man are being discussed, definitely equality comes to the fore.

“You cannot put an allegation against your junior because you are a senior, and you believe the junior would keep quiet. No, I would not. That would amount to ignorance. I am not ignorant about our laws.

“I challenge Obasanjo to an open debate so that he can substantiate his allegations before the whole world; but he is yet to oblige the challenge.

“Thank God a new government is here today, where he (Obasanjo) can bring up the issue, requesting it to investigate and, if there is any contract between Jonathan and I to catch one single mosquito, I want to say that I am guilty and want to be tried.”

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Ex-Jonathan’s minister commends Buhari’s one year in office

Abubakar Suleiman

Immediate past Minister of National Planning under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, Abubakar Suleiman, has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts in the fight against insurgency and corruption in the country.

Suleiman, who gave the commendation Sunday in llorin, the Kwara State capital shortly after the president’s nationwide broadcast to mark Democracy Day and one year of his administration, noted that there was now peace in the parts of the country that hitherto recorded mass casualties and displacement due to attacks by the insurgents.

He, however, urged the Buhari’s administration to consolidate on the achievement recorded so far to engender development in the area.


The ex-minister also suggested the inclusion of more economists into the present administration to fast track the country’s economic recovery.

“President Buhari is on course. He has succeeded in returning peace back to some crisis-ridden areas in the country”, he affirmed.

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