The government of Anambra State has shut the Eke Awka Market in the state capital following alleged widespread violations of protocols in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
 The declaration was made by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C Don Adinuba. He said the market would be shut for two weeks with effect from Monday, June 15, 2020. He also observed that the rules were violated by traders and buyers, as well as suppliers in the market.

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According to the state government, most of the COVID-19 cases reported in the state had been traced to the market, despite the efforts of the government to make the people observe the guidelines outlined to effectively fight against the pandemic.
During the nationwide lockdown, all the major 64 markets in the state had been shut down. However, when Governor Willie Obiano announced the reopening of the markets, he gave conditions, among which were full observation of the Covid -19 protocols, including wearing of face masks, placing buckets of water and soap in front of shops for washing of hands, providing sanitizers and maintaining social distancing.
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However, a visit to the market showed that most of the people ignored the directive, with some even saying that they  did not believe the coronavirus pandemic really exists.

According to the Commissioner of Information of the state, the major condition for the reopening of markets on Monday, May 4, 2020, after five weeks of closure was that all stakeholders in the markets, buyers and sellers alike, must always wear face coverings, provide water, soaps and hand sanitizers in every line. He regretted that this was not the case in Eke Awka.
READ ALSO, COVID-19 responsible for the killings in Katsina, Borno – Buhari

In his words, “It is regrettable that these precautionary measures meant to protect the lives of millions of our people have flagrantly been violated habitually, especially in Awka Market. The result is the recent  spike in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and even fatalities in our dear state. Awka South local government area, where Eke Awka is located, has recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases of all LGAs in the state.” 

Anambra shuts Awka market for flouting COVID-19 guidelines

Following the recent spate of violence and killings in the Northern region of the country which led to massive outrage from Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his concern and displeasure over the state of events in Katsina and Borno States.

He stated this in his nationwide Democracy Day broadcast to Nigerians this morning, and promised that security agencies were on top of the matter to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

He stated that the recent killings in both states were a result of criminals taking advantage of restrictions put in place to curb COVID-19 transmission.

According to him, “I regret recent sporadic incidents with tragic loss of lives in Katsina and Borno States as a result of criminals taking advantage of COVID-19 restrictions. Security Agencies will arrest the perpetrators and bring them to swift justice.

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“We remain unshaken in the area of security. Our resolve to protect our national infrastructure including on-shore and off-shore oil installations, secure our territorial waters and end piracy in the Gulf of Guine

“Ending insurgency, banditry and other forms of criminality across the nation is being accorded appropriate priorities and the men and women of the Armed Forces of Nigeria have considerably downgraded such threats across all geo-political zones.”

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He added that local government areas taken over by the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have been recovered and now occupied by indigenes.

The President further sent his condolence to families affected by rise of insecurity in some States, even as he directed local governments to revamp their intelligence assets to stop any planned attacks in remote rural areas.

 READ ALSO, Civil Groups threaten massive protest if Infectious Disease Bill is passed

“The total collapse of the economies of these areas, which constituted a threat to our food security, has also been reversed with the gradual recovery of farming and other economic activities.

“I must implore state and local governments to revamp their intelligence assets so that the Security Agencies can nip in the bud any planned attacks in remote rural areas. I send my heartfelt condolences to all the relatives and communities affected.

“To reduce security challenges through our external borders especially smuggling of oil products out of the country, inflow of small arms and drugs into the country and equally protect our local manufacturers, we introduced operation “Ex-Swift Response” closing our borders from August 20th 2019, and have considerably succeeded in meeting its objectives as well as improving our national revenue,” Buhari added.

COVID-19 responsible for the killings in Katsina, Borno – Buhari

Civil Society organisations that belong under Citizens Coalition Against Impunity and Injustice have threatened a massive protest if the National Assembly does not take the views of Nigerians concerning the infectious diseases bill into consideration.

An Executive Director with the organization, Comrade Chris Iyama, made this known while speaking at a One-Day Civil Society/Media Round table on the Infectious Disease Bill currently being debated at the National Assembly, held in Jos, the Plateau State capital. The meeting was supported by Equity International Initiative. Iyama stated that the lawmakers are the people’s representatives and should listen to their opinions rather than force laws upon them.

Accoding to Iyama, the lawmakers should consult widely with their constituents to know their views before passing the bill, otherwise, it may be end up futile.

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“The lawmakers were sent there by the people, we have every right for them to listen to us. The timing of the bill is not right, they should wait when Nigeria is completely healed of this COVID-19 fiasco,’’ he said.

The Executive Director added that, “The feelings of many Nigerians is that the bill should be dropped, otherwise Nigerians would be forced to protest against it”.

An Executive Director with the Civil Liberties Organisation, Comrade Steve Aluko said, “Laws should be a fair representation of the feelings of Nigerians and not the other way round. We must ask why the National Assembly is rushing to present a bill when the pandemic is on, when a vaccination is not even ready.”

According to him, “Even the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has admitted that they have not taken a critical look at the bill, and the agency like many other, wants the bill suspended till there is better time for it”.

Also speaking, Comrade Gad Peter of Equal Access(EA), said that the bill would not add any value to the country at this point in time.

Peter maintained that, “Nigeria’s problem is not absence of laws, but lack of implementation of existing laws.

According to him, the intention as it were, was not to solve the existing problem but to rather compound and cause more havoc.

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He made a suggestion that, “Instead of the National Assembly to concentrate on enacting a new law, its efforts should be geared towards empowering the nation’s research institutions to proffer solutions to the lingering health problems.”

 An Editor with Unity FM in Jos, Bello Lukman also said that the bill seeks to give too much power to the NCDC even at the expense of state and local governments.

“If this bill is passed, there would be a constitutional crisis because the powers of the NCDC boss may usurp those of state governors if care is not taken,” Bello warned.

Civil Groups threaten massive protest if Infectious Disease Bill is passed

Army vows to track, neutralise  terrorists, bandits in Borno, Katsina, Sokoto

No fewer than 81 civilians were killed and scores injured when suspected members of Boko Haram sect on Tuesday night invaded Zowo village, 34km away from Gubio town, the headquarters of Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State. 

23 animals, including cows, donkeys, goats and sheep were also killed. Also, in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, armed bandits raided the town and killed no fewer than 40 people, mostly old people, women and children. According to PRNigeria, the communities affected included Kadisau, Maigora, Kabalawa, Kwakware, Raudama and Unguwar Wahabi. 

Meanwhile, Boko Haram sect members, also yesterday, laid ambush and opened fire on hundreds of motorists with military escort conveying passengers from Maiduguri to Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State. Sources said: “The attack which occurred near Pole Wire, which is about 40km drive to Damboa left four people dead while several others including security personnel sustained injuries.” 

Damboa is located about 85km drive from Maiduguri, the state capital which had witnessed series of deadly attacks. In another development, an unspecified number of people have been killed following a communal clash between the Lungudas in Adamawa and their Wajas counterpart in Gombe State. Meanwhile, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, yesterday, visited Faduma Kolomdi village in Gubio, scene of the deadly attack by Boko Haram. Faduma Kolomdi, a nomadic village, is located 35 kilometres north of Gubio. 

READ ALSO, Don’t Contest for Presidency - Ohanaeze to Atiku

Initially, reports indicated on Tuesday that 69 people were killed during the attack, while 12 others lost their lives, yesterday, due to injuries sustained in the process of fleeing into the bush, during the attack, bringing the total casualties to 81. This came despite the intensification of the onslaught against Boko Haram by troops in the last one week in different locations within the theatre, during which scores of terrorists were killed, while others escaped with gunshots wounds. 

Zowo’s latest attack according to sources and fleeing residents started at about 1:35p.m., Tuesday, and lasted for several hours without confrontation. A high ranking politician, who hails from Gubio, but is not authorised to talk to the press confirmed the Zowo village latest attack by terrorists. 

He said: “We woke up this morning (yesterday) with sad news that well-armed terrorists invaded one of our communities in Zowo village and wreaked havoc without confrontation. “So far, 81 people were killed while many others sustained gunshot injuries. “The insurgents were very inhumane as they raped, looted and burnt many residential houses, after abducting several others. “The worst was at a Dam site where many people mostly women and children were fetching water on a queue. The attackers surrounded them and opened fire, killing scores including livestock.” 

Meanwhile, scores of Boko Haram terrorists were neutralised by troops in different operations in the North East with the recovery of arms and ammunitions. This was contained in a statement by Major General John Enenche, Coordinator Defence Media Operations. He said: “In continuation of aggressive clearance operations across the North-East aimed at decisively ending terrorism in the region, more Boko Haram/ISWAP criminals have been neutralised while others have been arrested.” 

Governor Zulum during the visit was told by a survivor, that 81 residents were killed during the attack on Tuesday with 13 persons injured and seven others, including village head were abducted. Sympathising with the people over the attack, Zulum urged the military to undertake a final onslaught that would put an end of the insurgents in the shore of the Lake Chad. He said: “Last year, about same number of people were killed in Gajiram like it happened again. This is barbaric. It is very unfortunate. The only solution to end this massacre is by dislodging the insurgents in the shores of Lake Chad. Doing so will require collaborative regional efforts.” 

It was observed, that the insurgents did not set the place ablaze as they often did in other attacks. A resident from a neighbouring village corroborated what Zulum was told by the survivor. There were fears amongst residents of neighbouring villages, that the casualties could be higher than 81 since tracing was ongoing. 

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A survivor in Kadisau said that the bandits rode on motorcycles in their dozens, each armed with an Ak47 rifle as they raided the villages. “They killed three at Unguwar Wahabi, nine at Kabalawa, five at Kwakware, and one at Raudama. They also raped women and stole animals,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the Katsina Police Command, yesterday, said only 20 people were killed in the attack. Gambo Isah, Public Relations Officer, PPRO, said that apart from those who were killed, 21 others were critically injured during the attacks in Kadisau village and are receiving treatment at General Hospital, Funtua. He said the armed bandits were in the village to seize animals and food items but youths in the village mobilised to resist the bandits who, unfortunately, were armed with deadly rifles. 

“They started shooting sporadically at residents who had already ganged up to face them; and in that confrontation, they killed 16 residents while four others died at the hospital,” the PPRO said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army said it was deeply saddened by the unfortunate incidents in which suspected retreating Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists with a few sleeper cells within communities ambushed and killed innocent women and children in Faduma Koloram village, Gubio, Borno State. Col Sagir Musa, Director of Army Public Relations said: “Already a large contingent of military personnel has been drafted in the general area to track and apprehend or neutralise the perpetrators. “We have also mandated the Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole to enhance security, dominate the area and reassure the affected communities of the Nigerian Army’s commitment to protect the population. 

“The Nigerian Army equally notes with great concern about banditry incidents in some parts of the north western part of the county across Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states. It has come to our knowledge that some bandits are shifting base and venting their anger on innocent citizens because of the ongoing operations in Katsina State. 

“While we sympathise with fellow Nigerians and the good people of Borno, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states in particular on these unfortunate incidents, we would like to assure all of our unrelenting effort in engaging with communities to rid our society of any and all remnants of these criminal elements,” Col Musa said.

Boko Haram, bandits attacks leave 125 dead in Borno, Katsina

Urges Senators to protest additional borrowing

The national leadership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, criticised the Federal Government over continued external borrowings, and warned that if the borrowings continued, it would get to a point where Nigeria would stop breathing, both politically and economically. 

Speaking with journalists in Abuja after a three hours reconciliatory meeting with PDP Senate Caucus, National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, urged Senators on the platform of the party, to henceforth, protest such a move by the Federal Government to embark on additional borrowing.

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The meeting had in attendance, members of the PDP National Working Committee NWC, and Senators led by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia South l). 

Recall that the Senate had so far this year, approved $22.7 billion, $5.53 billion and N850 billion on different occasions for the Buhari regime to fund the 2020 budget.

Secondus said, “We are also worried about the continuous borrowing by the executive arm of Government. If it continues like this, Nigerians would be feeling the pains on their neck and if we continue to borrow the way the executive arm is carrying on, it will get to a point where it will be difficult to breath both politically and economically. So, this must come to an end, there must be an end to borrowing. Those are the issues we have asked our senators to raise in the Senate.”
 
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When asked whether the Senators should stage a walk out in case of any move to borrow more money, the PDP National Chairman said, “They know what to do.”

Speaking on the meeting, Secondus said, “For this meeting at the Senate in the National Assembly, we came to interact with our senators, the PDP caucus. We held a very useful discussion on behalf of the leadership of the party. We tabled before the Senate caucus of PDP the issue of electoral reforms which is also on our minds and on the minds of Nigerians.”
 
 READ ALSO, Don’t Contest for Presidency - Ohanaeze to Atiku

On the forthcoming Edo elections, Secondus said, “Edo election is ongoing, the processes have started yesterday was the three man’s delegate election. On the 19th is the congress proper.” 

Also speaking on the meeting, Senator Abaribe, noted that the meeting was very productive as issues that will lead to the growth and development of the party were raised and discussed, adding that the Senators were happy with the National leadership of the party and they are on the same page.

Abaribe said, “The chairman Uche Secondus has come to meet with the PDP caucus in the senate and we have had a very useful discussion about the happenings in the National Assembly and our role in the Senate and in the national Assembly and I can say that it was a very productive meeting.” 

Nigeria will stop breathing if we keep borrowing — Secondus

Support Igbos to Produce Nigeria’s Next President Instead 

The apex Igbo socio-political organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo on Wednesday urged Atiku Abubakar, former Presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party, PDP, not to contest in 2023.

Ohanaeze’s Deputy Publicity Secretary, Chuks Ibegbu in a chat said Atiku should support Igbos in producing Nigeria’s next president, rather than contesting again.

Ibegbu reacted to remarks by Atiku’s son, Abubakar Adamu that the former Vice President would run for Presidency again in 2023 after previously failed attempts.

Adamu, who is the Adamawa State Commissioner for Works and Energy had said: “In 2023, my father will be aspiring to the number one office in the land because he has been an astute, strategic, master politician for almost four decades.”

Reacting, Ibegbu said Atiku was at liberty to contest for presidency in 2023. He, however, expressed hope that Atiku will see reasons and support the Southeast in its quest to produce Nigeria’s next president.

According to Ibegbu: “We are practicing democracy and every Nigerian is free to aspire to be president of the country including me as long as they are qualified.

“However, the issue is that we are talking about fairness, equity, and justice. The North has had its fair share, the South also have had their’s, so it’s now the turn of the Igbo’s to have their fair share.

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“So for justice, equity and fair play, it’s the turn of the Igbos to produce Nigeria’s president.

“My friend Isa Funtua once said Nigeria’s presidency is not turn by turn but it’s not true. Since 1956 till now it has been turn by turn, the North, Southwest, Niger Delta have had their turn now it’s the turn of Igbos.

“In as much as Atiku is free to advance his political course, but based on justice and equity, he should support the Igbos in producing Nigeria’s next president. We supported him in 2015, so this is the time to show statesmanship politics by supporting us.

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“In the end, he might eventually contest but I think his conscience should direct him that it is not fair and just enough for him to contest against us in case they are pushing him or he’s pushing himself.

“I believe Atiku will see reasons with us at the right time.”

Don’t Contest for Presidency - Ohanaeze to Atiku

Tells Miyetti Allah to stop making inciting statements

Ohanaeze youths have given two weeks’ notice to all killer herdsmen in Igboland to quit the forests and bushes in the area or be ejected by force. 

Speaking through their national youth leader, Chief Arthur Obiorah, the youths said the bushes and forests belong to the people and must no longer harbor killer herdsmen. Chief Obiorah warned the Miyetti Allah group to stop making statements that can cause crisis in the country. He gave the illegal occupants of all bushes and forests in Igbo land two weeks to quit from the areas or be ejected by force. 

He also announced that the group in collaboration with other youth stakeholders in Igbo land would be distributing Covid-19 pandemic palliatives to Igbo youths at the Ohanaeze ndigbo national secretariat in Enugu tomorrow. 

He lamented the hardship Igbo youths are facing currently over the Covid-19 pandemic and called on all well spirited Igbos and Nigerians to support this initiative. “Igbo youths are now endangered species and we have deemed it fit to rescue them”, Mr Obiorah stated. According to him, Barrister Nnia Nwodo, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide would flag off the programme in concert with other chieftains of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. 

READ ALSO, Protesters Burn APC, Buhari’s Billboards in Katsina Community Over Insecurity

Meanwhile, the spokesman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide Chuks Ibegbu has lauded the palliatives planned by the youth wing of the body and congratulated the youth leader of the body, Chief Arthur Obiorah for the initiative. Ibegbu called on all Igbo philanthropists and Nigerians to support the initiative. He also on Igbo groups in the diaspora to support this idea and also for the Igbo youth and women empowerment schemes to be flagged off same day.
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Ohanaeze Youths Give Killer-herdsmen 2 Weeks Ultimatum to Vacate Igboland

Demand release of abducted health worker, daughter; halt to unabated killings, kidnapping in parts of Katsina

Angry indigenes yesterday shut down Katsina-Kankara highway and other adjoining roads at Yantumaki in Danmusa Local Governmant Area of Katsina State, following the spate of kidnapping and killing by bandits in the area. This came on a day Zamfara State government asked all Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, to return to their respective villages, saying troops of the military would be deployed to the communities to secure them from bandits. 

The protesters in Katsina also burnt down the billboards of President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the town over the latest abduction of two persons in the town. The irate youths disrupted vehicular movement on the busy highway to and from the Katsina State capital. This grounded socio-economic activities in the town and parts of the state for several hours as they press home their demand for security agencies to secure the release from bandits’ enclave, a resident health worker in the town, identified as Alhaji Mansir Yusuf, and his daughter, Fatima, who were abducted by gunmen around 1 am yesterday. 

The protesters lamented the abduction of Yusuf and his daughter barely nine days after the traditional ruler of Yantumaki, Abubakar Atiku Maidabino, 65, was shot dead by gunmen at his Yantumaki residence, while his security guard who narrowly cheated death in the attack, is still fighting for his life at an undisclosed hospital. 

“The youths took to the streets since morning (yesterday), following another incidence of abductions, which have become too many in Yantumaki town and Danmusa Local Government Area,” said a resident of the town, who simply identified himself as Yakubu. 

Spokesman of the Katsina State Police Command, Gambo Isah, a Superintendent of Police, who confirmed the protest, assured that normalcy had since been restored by the police and other security agencies. 

Recall that state government had entered a peace agreement with the gunmen but despite the accord, communities in Katsina are still being attacked and residents killed. On June 1, bandits shot dead 60-year-old Abu Atiku, district head of Yantumaki. The gunmen also attacked some communities in Batsari LGA of the state, and killed the council’s APC chairman. 

Meanwhile, Zamfara State government has directed all the IDPs, displaced by bandits attacks, to return to their villages. The state governor, Bello Matawalle Maradun, who gave the directive yesterday, assured that the military would be deployed to the villages to further secure them, adding that normalcy had returned in the state. Special Adviser on Media, Communication and Public Enlightement to the Governor, Mallam Zailani Bappa, who spoke on his principal’s behalf, said those affected by the directive included those who left their villages as a result of recent banditry attacks that left 21 people dead in some parts of the state. 

READ ALSO, COVID-19: CAN Hails Kaduna Govt for Reopening Worship Centres

“This directive is a result of the governor’s recent visit to the victims in Tungan Togo, Jangebe and Gwaram, all in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state,” he said. He quoted the governor as saying that the victims   would be taken to their respective villages with adequate security. Bappa said the governor sympathised with the victims and promised that his administration would not rest on its oars until banditry was completely eliminated in the state. He said the governor also called on citizens in the state to cooperate with the security agencies, even as he prayed to Almighty Allah to expose   the perpetrators of the attack, so that they could be brought to justice.

Protesters Burn APC, Buhari’s Billboards in Katsina Community Over Insecurity

The Christian Association of Nigeria, Kaduna State chapter, has expressed appreciation to Governor Mallam Nasir Elrufai, for allowing places of worship to reopen from Sunday this week (14th June).

In a statement on Wednesday, Chairman CAN, Kaduna State, Rev John Joseph Hayab said, “We know that people have stayed under restrictions for about 75 days.

“During the period, many experienced hardships, but it should not be a regrettable experience because it actually helped to reduce the number of persons infected and we recorded a lower deaths rate in our dear state.”

Rev. Joseph Hayab, who is also the Vice President CAN in Nigeria, also expressed thanks to all those who obeyed government and health professionals’ guideline to help stop the spread of the virus during the 75 days lockdown.

According to him, “Now that we have been allowed to resume partial normal life activities, especially resuming church gatherings, CAN Kaduna State appeals to all faithful and the general public to show good and godly examples.

“The Bible says ‘let our light shine that all may see and give glory to God’.

“Accordingly, our people should not be carried away with the joy of lifting the restriction of movement and totally forget health matters, for it is only when there is a life that we can worship and do our businesses.

“CAN is, therefore, calling on all Pastors and Church Elders to give godly and wise leadership at this delicate time. Churches must continue to observe all protocols and guidelines that have been laid down by the Government and NCDC.

“All worshippers should come with their face mask on during worship services. Churches should help to provide face mask for those who do not have and cannot afford.

“Adequate provision of hand sanitizers or handwashing materials should be made available in our homes and churches during our worship services.

“We should maintain good hygiene at all times and observe physical distancing in our seating arrangements. Worshippers are to seat two meters away from one another.

“Let’s make good use of our members who are medical workers for proper use of Infrared thermometer to measure the temperature of every worshipper.

“Our Governor has challenged us to take personal responsibility. Therefore CAN also appeal to all to take this personal responsibility challenge seriously.

“Together we will stop the spread of this virus and eventually defeat the virus. We must continue to offer prayers for those who are infected by the virus and those in the frontline working day and night to attend to us about this pandemic.

“Let us together continue to monitor the development and not be complaisant. May we all Stay Protected, Stay Safe and Stay Alive in Jesus’ name. Jesus Loves you!” The statement added.

COVID-19: CAN Hails Kaduna Govt for Reopening Worship Centres

A member of House of Representatives, Blessing Onuh, and a group known as One Idoma Initiative, have placed a bounty of N150,000 on a chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Eddy Ujah,  for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl.

A social activist, Julie Okoh, who disclosed this on Monday, said the lawmaker representing Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency, had condemned the incident.

Explaining that the APGA chieftain has since disappeared, Okoh said, “The House of Representatives member, Blessing Onuh, has kicked against the incident and placed a bounty of N50,000 on whoever finds the man.

“Also, a group, One Idoma Initiative has placed a N100,000 bounty on him. The state Police Commissioner, Inspector General of Police and National Police Officers’ Wives Association are all working to ensure that the man is arrested.”

The social activist said that the raped girl was on admission at General Hospital, Otukpo, where she was recuperating.

READ ALSO, Stricter Punishment Awaits Rapists- Oyo Speaker

The victim said she was returning from where she had gone to grind garri around 10am that day when a man,  Eddy Ujah, grabbed her.

“Because the road is near his house, he was coming outside and saw me, grabbed me and took me into his room.

“He locked the door and started beating me. After that, he went to the backdoor and locked it, switched on his phone music and connected it to the loud speaker and made it so loud. When I was shouting, nobody heard me.

“After beating me, he dragged me to his bedroom and raped me. Before I came out, he called his friend who was outside and told him to check if there was anyone around. So, his friend checked and told him that there was nobody outside.

Group Places N150,000 Bounty on APGA Chieftain for Rape

The Oyo State House of Assembly Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin, yesterday declared that stricter punishments would be meted out rapists to discourage future perpetrators. 

Ogundoyin gave the assurance while addressing the coalition of various youth groups, which came to the state secretariat to protest against various cases of rape in the country.

The Speaker, who stated that law on violence against women would be implemented to ensure stiffer penalties are given to rapists, said, “I will not support violence against anybody. We will come with stricter punishment for rapists.”

The Chairperson, Nigerian Youth Congress, Adebobola Agbeja, said the upsurge in rape cases and violence in Oyo State was becoming worrisome, adding that the life of every girl-child is important; hence the need for government at all levels to provide adequate security for the safety of women.

READ ALSO, Man Mobbed for Raping Six Year Old

 Earlier, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by its President, Daniel Akpan, had protested against raping and killings of women in the country.

They organised a peaceful rally round major markets and some other parts of Ibadan before converging on the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

Stricter Punishment Awaits Rapists- Oyo Speaker

A 26-year-old man identified as Patrick Igah, on Saturday escaped being lynched by an angry mob, who gave him a beating of his life for allegedly raping a six-year-old girl.

According to an eyewitness, the incident happened at Akparoji Owukpa in the Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The eyewitness, who did not want his name mentioned, said Patrick, who is also known as Omolomo, was caught having carnal knowledge of the underage on the premises of a worship centre in Akparoji.

“It was a young man who went to ease himself that saw the man on top of the little girl and raised the alarm, which attracted some angry youths. They pounced on him and gave him the beating of his life until he fainted,” the eyewitness said.

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The suspect was said to have been handed over to the police.

Confirming the incident, the State Command Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, said that the suspect was currently in their custody.

Nigerian newspapers,on one page.