Over 5,000 as well as their wives and children members of the militant Islamic sect, Boko Haram, may benefit from the proposed Federal Government amnesty for members of the group.
Saturday PUNCH learnt that members of the Federal Government’s amnesty committee would, among other things, recommend a phased release of members of the sect currently in detention.
It was gathered that children and wives of the sect members would be released first before other detainees.
This, it was gathered, would assist the committee and the Federal Government in winning the confidence of the sect.
The committee, which is to be inaugurated on Wednesday next week, is expected to initiate dialogue with leaders of the sect at a yet-to-be determined date, time and venue.
Saturday PUNCH also gathered that members of the group, who earlier rejected government amnesty plans, have yet to make public their response to the latest development.
A top security source, who pleaded for anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue, said, “Some wives, children and relatives of members of the sect are among those being detained.
“The government may start with the release of this category of people as a sign of its commitment to peace. I believe members of this committee will be favourably disposed to making this recommendation.”
As for the venue of talks should members of the sect accept dialogue, the source said, “They may opt for Saudi Arabia or any other country they consider a neutral ground, like they did in the past. This is because they still cannot trust that government will not use the venue of the talks to further hunt them down.
“Trust is still a big issue here; the question remains whether the sect will trust that government will be sincere this time around and not resort to behaviours that led to the breakdown of similar attempts in the past.
“Just like those in government, they also have hardliners. This group of members are likely to give near impossible conditions such as the rebuilding of their homes and places of worship destroyed by government forces and the like. ”
The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, had in Kaduna last month urged the Federal Government to give amnesty to the sect members.
The call was echoed by a number of prominent Nigerians.
It has, however, been strongly opposed by the Christian Association of Nigeria.
President Goodluck Jonathan had few weeks ago said his administration would not hold talks with members of the sect, whom he described as ‘ghosts’.
But after some meetings with northern elders and security chiefs, the President promised to set up an amnesty committee for Boko Haram.
The President made good his promise on Wednesday by naming a 26-member amnesty committee headed by the Minister of Special Duties, KabiruTuraki.
Two members of the committee, Shehu Sani and Dr, Datti Ahmed, rejected their nomination on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.
A leading member of the Northern Elders’ Forum, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, confirmed that 5,000 Boko Haram fighters were likely to benefit from the amnesty.
He also debunked the notion that Boko Haram members are faceless.
Abdullahi said, “We cannot say these people are absent because about 5,000 of them are in detention. You (journalists) are the ones reporting that (Boko Haram) commanders so, so, and so have been arrested.
“So we agree that there are senior commanders in detention and I think there is this opportunity even for physical contact between the group and some members of the group and government.
“Most reasonable opinions agree that the use of force will not solve this problem. The way forward is to encourage dialogue; it may be difficult at first, but we must try everything possible to encourage interactions between members of the group and the committee.”
Asked whether the Northern Elders Forum would be involved in the talks, he said the committee wouldn’t decide which role groups and individuals would play.
He added that members of the NEF were prepared to help restore peace to the North.
However, a civil rights activist who declined to serve on the committee, Malam Shehu Sani expressed doubts about the possibility of success for the committee.
Sani said, “I have not seen people in that committee whom members of the sect will trust enough to dialogue with.
“A committee headed by a serving minister does not look to me as serious. For this committee to make progress, these three people must be part of it: Ahmed Shilkida (a freelance journalist), Hamza Idris and Mustapha Zanna. If these people are not part of the committee, it is difficult for it to succeed.”
"I have dated a lot of women but I don't really want to talk about them because most of them have moved on and some are married. I don't have any regret at all because I am still young and I am still a bachelor though my mum wants me to settle down. She is proud of me and I do let her understand that it's not that I don't want to marry, I just haven't found the right woman. If she finds the right one for me, she can call me.
1) Accounting- N1.5millionActually the students are scare to protest in their school premises because they could get expelled. From what everybody know, Babcock is a Christian school which claim to be a non profit organization, so they student can't say exactly why the fee went so high like this. But for me, i would say there is nothing anybody can do, you have other options if the school fee is too much, you can move to a federal school, state school or better still less expensive ones. Paying N2million in a session to become a lawyer is ridiculous, and when eventually you get a job, you now make less than N100k in a month. Na wa ooo. My advice for them is you either take or leave it! Or what do you guys say about this? i want your views please.
2) Nursing- N1million
3) Law- N2million
4) Medicine- N3million
5) Others- N860,000
1. University of Ibadan, IU
2. University of Lagos, Unilag
3. University of Benin, Uniben
4. Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU
5. Ahmadu Bello University, Abu
6. University of Ilorin, Unilorin
7. University of Jos, Unijos
8. University of Port Harcourt, Uniport
9. University of Maiduguri, Unimaid
10. University of Agriculture, Abeokuta,
11. Lagos State University, Lasu
12. Federal University of Technology, Futo
13. Covenant University, CU
14. University of Nigeria, UNN
15. Federal University of Technology, Futa
16. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Unizik
17. Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Esut
18. Pan African University
19. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology. lautech
20. Modibbo Adama University of Technology
21. African University of Science and Technology
22. University of Uyo, Uniuyo
23. Bayero University Kano, Buk
24. Ambrose Alli University, AAU
25. Redeemer’s University,
26. Babcock University
27. Federal University of Technology,
28. University of Calabar, Unical
29. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture,
30. Ajayi Crowther University
31. Bowen University
32. Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Rsust
33. Lead City University
34. Crawford University
35. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, ATBU
36. Abia State University, Absu
37. Usmanu Danfodio University,
38. Igbinedion University
39. Imo State University, Imsu
40. Niger Delta University
41. Bells University of Technology
42. Kwara State University
43. Nasarawa State University
44. Caleb University
45. Obong University Obong
46. Adekunle Ajasin University
47. Ekiti State University,
48. American University of Nigeria
49. Joseph Ayo Babalola University
50. Veritas University Abuja
51. Afe Babalola University
52. Kaduna State University Kaduna
53. Osun State University Oshogbo …
54. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University Katsina
55. Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ndufu-Alike
56. Salem University Lokoja
57. Novena University Ogume
58. Achievers University, Owo Owo
59. Benson Idahosa University Benin City
60. Ebonyi State University Abakaliki
61. University of Abuja Abuja
62. University of Mkar Mkar
63. Madonna University Okija
64. Bingham University Auta Balifi
65. Plateau State University Bokkos
66. Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun
67. Federal University, Dutse Dutse
68. Nigerian Turkish Nile University Abuja
69. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai
70. Landmark University Omu-Aran
71. Delta State University, Abraka Abraka
72. University of Agriculture, Makurdi Makurdi
73. Renaissance University Enugu
74. Federal University, Otuoke Otuoke
75. Tai Solarin University of Education Ijebu-Ode …
76. Federal University, Oye-Ekiti Oye …
77. Kano State University of Technology Wudil
78. Tansian University Umunya …
79. Akwa Ibom State University Uyo
80. Baze University Abuja
81. Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero
82. Benue State University Makurdi
83. Adeleke University Ede
84. Ondo State University of Science & Technology Okitipupa
85. Kogi State University Anyigba
86. Western Delta University Oghara
87. Federal University, Wukari Wukari
88. Paul University Awka
89. Caritas University Enugu
90. Federal University, Lafia Lafia
91. Cross River University of Science & Technology Calabar …
92. Fountain University Oshogbo
93. Al-Hikmah University Ilorin …
94. Godfrey Okoye University Ugwuomu-Nike
95. Oduduwa University Ile Ife
96. Anambra State University Uli
97. Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago Iwoye …
98. Federal University, Lokoja Lokoja
99. Federal University, Kashere Kashere
100. Rhema University Obeama-Asa
Residents of Wole Madariola Street, Aguda, Surulere, Lagos have been asking questions about what pushed Chidike Oyeka, a graduate of Madonna University, Anambra, to stab himself repeatedly thereby taking his own life.Source: Punch
PUNCH Metro learnt that the Chidike on April 19, 2013, took a kitchen knife and stabbed himself repeatedly until his intestines were disembowelled.
Our correspondent, who visited his parents’ home where the incident occurred, learnt that the victim recently concluded his National Youth Service Corps programme.
A relative, who wished to remain anonymous, said the 25-year-old had been depressed for some time.
She said, “He did his NYSC in Delta State and only returned in February. Upon returning, he started to act strangely and we noticed that he was no longer sociable. Most times he would sit at a corner by himself and when we asked him what was wrong, he would say he was not happy.
“When the symptom became persistent, his parents took him to a hospital but nothing was discovered to be wrong with him, so we took him back home and continued to monitor him.”
Narrating what transpired on the day the victim died, the relative said it happened after everyone had gone to sleep.
She said he went into the kitchen, took a kitchen knife and stabbed himself three times.
She said, “I do not know the time it happened exactly but everyone had gone to bed while he stayed in the parlour. Around midnight, he was found lying in a pool of blood and the knife soaked in blood.
“His intestines were on the floor as well. From what we deduced, he stabbed himself three times without screaming because no one heard any noise. At daybreak, we went to Aguda Police Station to report the matter.”
A neighbour, who craved anonymity, said the deceased had once complained that one of the reasons why he was unhappy wasthat he was unemployed.
He said people advised him to be patient since he had only just completed his NYSC.
Our correspondent, who visited the parents’ home on Sunday, saw residents coming in droves to console the family particularly the victim’s mother.
Another resident, while consoling the deceased’s parents, said the family should have taken him to see a psychologist instead of a general medical practitioner when he complained of depression.
Mrs. Oyeka however said the circumstance surrounding her son’s death was metaphysical. She said she had left the matter to God but was pained that all her struggles to bring up her son were in vain.
“He was my first born and we did all to make him happy but sadly he took his own life. We counseled him on numerous occasions but this did not prevent him from committing suicide.
“I do not think someone can stab himself to death except he is under spell. I leave everything to God because He knows best.”
Meanwhile, it was learnt that the deceased would be buried on Thursday.
When contacted on the telephone, the acting spokesperson for the state police command, Damascus Ozoani, said the matter could not yet be classified as suicide until autopsy was concluded.
“Although the family claimed he killed himself, the police will have to do their own independent investigation to ascertain what really happened. We will wait for the outcome of the autopsy and this will determine our next line of action,” he said
The prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde told the court that the accused committed the offences on April 12 at Mafoluku, Oshodi.
He said that the accused stole two pants, one bra and a cash sum of N10,000 belonging to Mrs Gift Bassey.
“The accused, a pastor of All Nations Evangelical Church, Oshodi, was invited to a programme at the headquarters of the church, which was the complainant’s church.
“The complainant and her husband accommodated him (pastor) in their house for three nights to conduct a special prayer session related to her husband’s business,” he said.
Olatunde said that after the accused had left their house, the complaint discovered that two of her pants, (her only black and white pants), one black brassier and the sum of N10,000 were missing.
“In the process of finding, it was discovered that the said underwear were taken by the accused without the complainant’s consent..
“At first, the accused denied taking those underwears but later confessed that he actually took them. He said that he wanted to use them to pray for her, but denied taking the money,” the prosecutor said.
Olatunde said that after the underwear was recovered from the accused, he had been sending series of threat text messages to the complainant.
“The accused always send her text messages, threatening to eliminate her on or before August ending,” he said.
Olatunde said that the offences committed contravened Sections 166 and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011. The Section provides that if convicted of stealing, the accused is liable to three years imprisonment.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The magistrate, Mr Akeem Fashola, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000, with one surety in like sum, and adjourned the case till May 8 for mention.(NAN)
Recent weeks activities has shown that Wizkid was crawling back to his former record label, EME – After a lot shots taken and shared between Banky W and Wizkid, it seems all have now been resolved as Wizkid confirms in his performance at an event in Lagos, calling Banky W to stage and setting some facts straight before calling him on stage.
