News
UNHCR: About 7m persons forcefully displaced in West African… Nigeria hosts higher number of over 3.5m
UNHCR: About 7m persons forcefully displaced in West African
… Nigeria hosts higher number of over 3.5m
By: Michael Mike
The United United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has emphasized the need for the protection of refugee, lamenting that no fewer than 6,976,470 million persons have been forcibly displaced due to conflicts and violence within the ECOWAS sub-region.
The United Nations Refugee Agency, noted that of the total displaced persons, 624,124 are listed refugees seeking asylum.
Also included in the figure is 6,352,346 internally displaced persons (IDPs).
UNHCR revealed that Nigeria and Burkina Faso are currently hosting the largest populations of displaced individuals, with 3,578,996 and 2,062,534 people respectively, with Niger currently accommodating the largest refugee population, totalling 325,419 individuals.
The was revealed by the Director of UNHCR Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa, Mr. Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde during the signing of a revised Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between UNHCR and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission aimed at protecting the rights of refugees in the West African subregion
The revised MOU, which was initially signed between the two institutions in 2001, now adds new areas of collaboration, such as the identification and protection of refugees found in risky migration movements, statelessness, emergency management, and long-term solutions to forcible displacements.
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) with the signing of the revised MOU have reached an agreement to enhance their cooperation in safeguarding the rights and well-being of refugees, stateless individuals, and internally displaced persons within the region.
The agreement was based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was signed between the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E Dr Omar Alieu Touray, and the Director of UNHCR Regional Bureau for West and Central Africa, Mr. Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde.
Touray outlined some of the ECOWAS Commission’s initiatives to address the political and humanitarian crises in the region and said the organisation’s member states are assiduously working to address the underlying causes of the conflicts in the area through diplomatic and political engagements. The ECOWAS President expressed confidence in the Commission’s continued efforts in these areas to produce fruitful results.
Mr. Gnon-Konde, on his part said there is an ongoing occurrence of violent conflicts, disasters, and insecurity in various countries.
This, he said has forcefully compelled a number of individuals to leave their residences, both within the sub-region and beyond.
He therefore described UNHCR’s collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission as long-lasting, highly productive, and relevant in view of the current humanitarian context confronting the sub-region.
He noted that UNHCR also collaborates closely with other ECOWAS institutions, especially with the ECOWAS Court of Justice and the ECOWAS Parliament, with which UNHCR has previously signed distinct MOUs to address forcible displacement issues within the ECOWAS sub-region, building on the specific mandates of each of these institutions.
UNHCR: About 7m persons forcefully displaced in West African
… Nigeria hosts higher number of over 3.5m
News
Gunmen abduct cleric in Jos North, police launch rescue operation
Gunmen abduct cleric in Jos North, police launch rescue operation
By: Zagazola Makama
Gunmen have abducted a cleric, Rev. Prof. Sunday Agang, in Jos North LGA, the police have confirmed.
The incident occurred at about 2:24 p.m. on March 24, when unidentified armed men reportedly stormed the residence of the 68-year-old cleric and whisked him away to an unknown destination.
The report was made by officials of the Evangelical Church Winning All, where the victim is a staff member.
Police authorities said a rescue operation has been launched, with efforts underway to track down the kidnappers and secure the safe release of the victim.
They also assured residents that investigations are ongoing to apprehend those responsible for the abduction.
Gunmen abduct cleric in Jos North, police launch rescue operation
News
Troops arrest suspected Boko Haram logistics suppliers in Yobe
Troops arrest suspected Boko Haram logistics suppliers in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested four suspected logistics suppliers to Boko Haram terrorists in Yusufari LGA.
Security sources said the suspects were apprehended at about 11:00 p.m. on March 24 by troops of 241 Battalion deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Jajimaji during a night patrol.
The troops had intercepted two vehicles loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at a filling station in the area. On sighting the troops, the vehicles reportedly attempted to flee, prompting a pursuit.
One Golf vehicle with registration number AG273 was successfully intercepted, while the second vehicle escaped.
A search conducted on the intercepted vehicle led to the discovery of seven sacks filled with PMS, each estimated to contain about 77 litres.
The suspects arrested include the driver, Mohammed Idi, 25; a motor boy, Mero Umra, 21; a pump attendant/manager, Hasan Liman, 50; and a station guard, Jibril Audu, 28.
Troops also recovered a total sum of N1.6 million from the suspects.
All suspects and recovered items are currently in military custody pending further investigation.
Troops arrest suspected Boko Haram logistics suppliers in Yobe
News
Cleric recounts past involvement in 1980 bank robbery, claims spiritual transformation
Cleric recounts past involvement in 1980 bank robbery, claims spiritual transformation
By: Zagazola Makama
A cleric with the Church of Christ in Nations, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, has publicly recounted his past involvement in a bank robbery carried out in 1980 in Jos.
Dachomo, who has been described as a controversial figure, disclosed this in a recent interview with a foreign media
He said he was part of a gang that successfully carried out the operation and made away with a substantial amount of money in Plateau state. According to him, the robbery was led by a close associate at the time.
“He came to my room while I was sleeping. I didn’t know that I was operating with 14 demons until Jesus encountered me.
That night there was war. He came with seven angels. I was just an observer, seeing the drama that is being done on my life. Jesus ordered the seven angels to strike the enemy.
In fact, they were killed instantly. I took the covers of those images that were killed and I covered myself as if I’m dead. But the master Jesus said there was somebody that we have not killed.
Go, fish him out. When they were coming, booting other corpses, then I had to stand up and begin to beg. I was asking for forgiveness. Forgive me, forgive me. I will never do that again.”
He further admitted his past criminal involvement, stating: “Because I went in 1980, it was our gang that robbed a bank in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. 1980, they made away with a lot of money. It was my best friend that led the operation.”
The cleric added that the encounter marked a turning point in his life:
“I didn’t know that I would come and encounter God and God really helped me. That day that I encountered Jesus, I went outside. I tried my best to smoke cigarette or cool it. The power of smoking was broken in my life.”
The cleric stated that his life later took a different turn following what he described as a personal spiritual encounter, which led him to abandon criminal activities and embrace a religious path. H
e added that the experience marked a decisive break from his past, including the cessation of habits such as smoking.
The public confessions by reverend Dachomo has generate mixed reactions, with some viewing them as testimonies of transformation, while others call for scrutiny and historical verification of the claims.
Sheikh Yusuf Haruna Baban Chinedu, popularly known as Baban Chinedu, accused the pastor of fabricated the stories about meeting Jesus after a 1980 bank robbery in Jos.
He is lying! I want you to listen and know that first of all, this man is a complete hypocrite and a total liar. I swear, it was a gun that shot them! Angels? He claims Jesus came down with seven angels who struck them and killed fourteen people while he hid in the blood? You see, even the angels God sent down… only managed to kill fourteen people and lost track of where that one man was?”
The sheikh alleged Dachomo hid among corpses and was rescued by a gang member named Emmanuel, not Jesus: “He was begging Jesus for God’s sake to forgive him and spare his life. He claims that was where he met Jesus… By Allah, he is lying! … It was a gun that shot them! No Jesus descended there; he is lying to you.” He added.
A lady told me; she heard him when he was shot, and he still has the scar from that wound on his left side. … He is lying! At that time, it was the police, Nigerian security agents, Nigeria Police MOPOL who she said shot them.”
Baban Chinedu accused Dachomo of transitioning from “practical, street-level bandit” to “spiritual bandit” and inciting religious conflict
Cleric recounts past involvement in 1980 bank robbery, claims spiritual transformation
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