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NARC SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOWS AND SUBJECT EXPERTS MAKE PRESENTATIONS

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NARC SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOWS AND SUBJECT EXPERTS MAKE PRESENTATIONS

By: Our Reporter

The Monday 11 November 2024 edition of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) Weekly Subject Experts’ Presentation was held at Board Room, TY Buratai Block, Abuja. There were two presentations made by the Subject Experts on, Western Europe, and North America.

The first presentation by Maj Gen GU Chibuisi subject expert on Western Europe centered his presentation on how, French Parents Sue Tiktok over alleged Failure to Remove Harmful Content. The Reuters News Agency reported that seven French parents have filed a lawsuit against social media platform TikTok, accusing TikTok of exposing their adolescent children to harmful content, which they allege led to two of the teenagers, both aged 15, taking their own lives. The families’ lawyer, Laure Boutron-Marmion, confirmed the news on Monday 4 Nov 24. The lawsuit claims that TikTok’s algorithm exposed the teens to content promoting suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders.

The families are pursuing joint legal action in the Créteil Judicial Court, marking a first for such a collective lawsuit in Europe. “The parents want TikTok’s legal liability to be recognized in court,” said Boutron-Marmion, adding, “This is a commercial company providing a product to consumers who are minors. Therefore, they must be held accountable for the product’s flaws.” Like other social media platforms, TikTok has long faced scrutiny over content moderation. Alongside Meta’s platforms, Facebook and Instagram, it faces hundreds of lawsuits in the US, accusing them of drawing and addicting millions of children to their applications, and adversely affecting their mental health. TikTok is however yet to comment on the latest allegations, though the company had previously stated that it takes children’s mental health seriously.

In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria, Maj Gen GU Chibuisi pointed out that, Social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, YouTube, and Telegram have pervaded the lives of many Nigerians, profoundly influencing their behaviour, values and societal roles. A recent survey by Data Reportal highlighted that Nigeria has over 33 million active social media users, and that a significant percentage of them engage daily on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook (DataReportal, 2023). This widespread access allows users to consume and share multimedia content at unprecedented rates, shaping their opinions, social interactions, and aspirations. Nigeria’s youth population ration is one of the largest in the world, comprising about 60% of the nation’s total population (World Bank,2022).

The influence of social media on this demographic group is substantial, driven by several factors, including increased smartphone penetration, affordable internet data packages and a shared desire for social connectivity. Social media has increasingly become a platform where Nigerian youths engage in illicit activities, influenced by the anonymity and accessibility the platforms provide. It has spurred notable cases of sextortion, where individuals use deception and blackmail to exploit others. A tragic incident involved 17-year-old Jordan DeMay from Michigan, USA, who fell victim to a sextortion scheme orchestrated by three Nigerian youths: Samuel Ogoshi, 22, Samson Ogoshi, 20, and Ezekiel Robert, 19. The men posed as a woman on Instagram, convincing DeMay to send explicit photographs, and then demanded money, threatening to release the images. When DeMay was unable to pay the extortion amount, he faced relentless pressure that ultimately led him to take his own life (Detroit Free Press, 2023).

He recommended that the Federal and State Governments should collaborate with technology companies to improve age-based restrictions on social media in Nigeria and also tighten enforcement of cybercrime laws and collaborate with social media companies to monitor and remove contents that promote fraudulent or extremist activities.

Similarly, the second presentation by Brig Gen B Sarki subject expert on North America focused his presentation on how, Two Women and Boy Shot Dead at Altar to Folk Saint Cult “La Santa Muerte” in Mexico. A local leader of the Mexican folk saint cult “La Santa Muerte” was gunned down at an altar to the skeletal figure on 6 Nov 24, two other people were killed and eight injured in the attack in the city of Leon, in Guanajuato state the authorities said. The saint whose name means roughly “Holy Death” is often worshipped by convicts, drug addicts and criminals, along with other people who feel excluded or are experiencing difficulties in life. The saint, who is not recognized by the Roman Catholic church, is usually depicted as a female skeleton, and is supposed to protect her followers from death.

But that didn’t work for “La Madrina Chayo,” a woman considered a leader of the cult in the north-central state of Guanajuato. Prosecutors did not give her real name, in keeping with Mexican law, but the nickname “La Madrina Chayo” was used by a faith healer also known as “Chayito.” She, another woman and a boy were shot dead on Friday 1 Nov 24 as they prepared the annual Santa Muerte celebration. There was no immediate information on the condition of the eight people, including two children wounded in the shooting attack on the street corner altar. Like Mexico’s Day of the Dead holiday, the Santa Muerte is honored on Nov 1 and 2. The Roman Catholic leaders in Mexico have condemned the deity’s connection to violence and the illicit drug trade.

In his analysis and lessons for Nigeria Brig Gen B Sarki noted that, In Nigeria, religious practices and spirituality play a significant role in shaping social dynamics, with various syncretic belief systems blending indigenous African religions, Islam and Christianity. While the Santa Muerte cult is not present in Nigeria, similar forms of folk spirituality, often intertwined with criminal activity, can be found. In many Nigerian communities, traditional religious practices still hold significant cultural importance, particularly among ethnic groups in the South, East, Middle Belt and some parts of the North, where ancestral worship, the veneration of local deities, and the use of charms and amulets (often for protection, wealth, or power) are common. These practices are sometimes fused with Christian and Islamic elements, creating unique forms of syncretism that can include ritual sacrifices, consultations with spiritual mediums, and the use of occult practices to achieve material or spiritual goals.

In some cases, these religious practices are associated with organized crime or violence, particularly in regions with high levels of socio-economic inequality, political instability, and corruption. For instance, youth cults or secret societies, such as the Aiye and Eiye cults in the South West, use a mix of traditional beliefs and modern rituals to enforce loyalty, intimidate rivals, and maintain power. These cults sometimes engage in violent activities, including ritual killings, extortion, and kidnappings. Similarly, certain internet fraud rings (often referred to as yahoo boys) use spiritual rituals and charms to protect themselves from law enforcement or to attract wealth, in a manner akin to how criminal organizations in Mexico might use Santa Muerte as a symbol of protection and power. While the specific figure of Santa Muerte does not appear in Nigerian religious practices, similar themes of using spirituality for personal or criminal gain can be observed across various sectors of Nigerian society.

He recommended that the FGN should establish specialized units to combat religiously motivated crime and cults, and enhance intelligence-sharing and surveillance and also strengthen the rule of law to ensure swift prosecution of cult-related violence and enforce legal frameworks to protect against harmful religious practices.

NARC SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOWS AND SUBJECT EXPERTS MAKE PRESENTATIONS

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Chinese Businessman, 80-year old Grandma Arrested as NDLEA Seizes “Colos” in Moimoi Satchets

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Chinese Businessman, 80-year old Grandma Arrested as NDLEA Seizes “Colos” in Moimoi Satchets

By: Michael Mike

A Chinese businessman, Liang Tak You and an 80-year-old grandma, Mrs. Grace Ekpeme were among those arrested in the course of last week by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in nationwide interdiction operations leading to the seizure of consignments of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis hidden in bean pudding (moimoi) sachets and Canadian Loud, another strong strain of cannabis concealed in canned food items imported from Canada.

According to a statement on Sunday by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, Liang was arrested by NDLEA operatives at the arrival hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos last Friday based on actionable intelligence.

He said the suspect, who arrived Nigeria from Bangkok via Dubai, UAE, on Emirates Airline flight, is a Chinese national, naturalised and based in Malaysia, but flew to Thailand where he picked two suitcases filled with 50 parcels of Loud weighing 26.1 kilogrammes before heading to Nigeria via UAE.

Babafemi said upon his arrival at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives who were tracking his movement from his port of departure allowed him to pass through necessary protocols before picking him up on his way out of the airport.

The octogenarian grandma, Mrs. Grace Ekpeme, according to Babafemi, was arrested at Edet-Nsa street, Base Site, Calabar South, Cross River state with over 3 kilogrammes skunk in the early hours of Saturday following intelligence on her drug dealing activities.

He said in Lagos, NDLEA operatives last Wednesday intercepted a suspect Chidi Agbafo along Epe – Ajah expressway while taking consignments of 21.7 kilogrammes Colorado, some of which were packaged in moimoi cooking sachets and 3.8 litres of codeine based syrup in a commercial bus to deliver in Warri and Oghara, Delta state.

The spokesman said at the Apapa seaport in Lagos, a total of 101 kilogrammes Canadian Loud factory packed in 202 tins of imported food item labelled ‘Bean Salad Mix’ and concealed in two Toyota Sienna buses in a container that came from Canada, were recovered, adding that the discovery was made during a joint examination of the container by NDLEA officers, men of Customs Service and other security agencies last Friday.

He said no fewer than 71,000 pills of tramadol, diazepam and exol-5 were recovered from Usman Musa by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Abuja- Kaduna highway last Wednesday when the suspect was travelling with the consignment of opioids in a commercial bus going to Kano.

In Borno, a 30-year-old lady Binta Usman was last Wednesday arrested by NDLEA officers who recovered 30.1 kilogrammes skunk from her house at Muna Moforo area of Maiduguri, with a follow up operation leading to the arrest of her accomplice Bala Abdullahi in the same area of the Borno state capital on Friday.

Babafemi said three brothers: Nanna Ozirinye, Chizom Ozirinye and Maxwell Ozirinye were on Saturday arrested when NDLEA operatives raided a cannabis plantation at bending corner forest, Idoani, Ose local council area of Ondo State where they destroyed 2,500 kilogrammes of skunk on an hectare of land and recovered already processed 121.4 kilogrammes of same psychoactive substance.

In Edo state, NDLEA officers last Wednesday raided the Asakpa community in Benin city, where they arrested a 26-year-old lady Bright Okon and recovered various quantities of Colorado, Loud, Arizona and skunk, all strains of cannabis as well as Methamphetamine from her.

He said while a total of 105.4 kilogrammes skunk was recovered by NDLEA operatives from an abandoned Honda car marked ABC 204 KM in Keffi, Nasarawa state, their counterparts in Niger state last Monday arrested a suspect Bashir Abdullahi with 6,400 pills of tramadol 225mg at Kasuwan Gwari area of Minna, even as a notorious drug dealer Jamiu Omolaja was taken into custody and 113 kilogrammes skunk retrieved from his enclave in Ifo, Ogun state last Thursday after a violent resistance and attack on NDLEA operatives by members of his gang.

Babafemi said a total of 10,910 capsules of tramadol were seized from a suspect Adamu Adamu (a.k.a Dankyado) by NDLEA officers on patrol along Gombe-Bajoga road, Gombe state on Saturday, while operatives in Kogi state last Thursday intercepted a consignment of skunk concealed inside garri, dried scent leaves, and other food items along Okene-Lokoja highway.

He disclosed that a follow-up operation in Abuja led to the arrest of 27-year-old Kindness Bala who was planning to travel to Katsina state with the cargo and later to Qatar.

Similarly, operatives in Kogi on Saturday recovered 23,600 pills of tramadol, 300 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 700 grammes of skunk from a truck at a motor park in Ayingba area of the state.

Babafemi said the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week.

Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd), while commending the officers and men of MMIA, Apapa, Lagos, Cross River, Edo, Ondo, Nasarawa, Borno, Niger, Ogun, Gombe, Kaduna and Kogi commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

Chinese Businessman, 80-year old Grandma Arrested as NDLEA Seizes “Colos” in Moimoi Satchets

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Police arrest man for killing mother-in-law in Kogi over false theft alarm

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Police arrest man for killing mother-in-law in Kogi over false theft alarm

By: Zagazola Makama

The Kogi State Police Command has arrested a man, Yayu Musa, for allegedly killing his 50-year-old mother-in-law, Atayi Abdul, in Olla Community of Omala Local Government Area.

Zagazola Makama gathered that the incident occurred on Friday, July 25, at about 8:00 p.m., when the suspect lured the deceased to her farm under the pretense that thieves were stealing palm fruits from it.

Upon arrival at the farm, Musa reportedly attacked and slaughtered the woman with a knife.

Police detectives were immediately mobilised to the scene where photographs of the crime scene were taken. The suspect was arrested and is currently in custody.

According to police sources, the family of the deceased refused evacuation of the corpse to the hospital for autopsy, opting for immediate burial in accordance with religious and cultural practices.

The command has deployed joint security patrol teams to the community to prevent a possible breakdown of law and order due to rising tension.

Investigation into the motive behind the killing is ongoing.

Police arrest man for killing mother-in-law in Kogi over false theft alarm

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One killed, three injured in communal clash over farmland in Niger State

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One killed, three injured in communal clash over farmland in Niger State

By: Zagazola Makama

One person has been confirmed dead and three others injured following a violent communal clash between Gpakpo and Gidigi communities in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State.

Zagazola gathered that the incident occurred at about 1:00 p.m. on Friday when residents of Gpakpo village, armed with Dane guns, launched an attack on Gidigi villagers at a rice depot.

Security sources confirmed that one Babayi Alhaji Soma was shot and killed during the attack.

Three others Hassan Ndaji, Zakaria Ya’musa, and Mutiu Mohammed, all male residents of Gidigi village sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to the General Hospital in Katcha for treatment.

Security sources immediately visited the scene, evacuated the victims, and restored calm in the area.

Security forces have been deployed to the affected communities to prevent further violence and maintain law and order.

Authorities say the situation is now under control.

One killed, three injured in communal clash over farmland in Niger State

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