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Viral Video of Maltreatment of Nigerians in Ethiopia Exaggerated- FG

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Viral Video of Maltreatment of Nigerians in Ethiopia Exaggerated- FG

By: Michael Mike

The federal government has rubbished the claim of maltreatment of Nigerians in Ethiopian prisons by one Dr. Paul Ezike in a viral video of the social media.

A video emerged last weekend where a man, later recognized as Dr. Paul Ezike claimed that the Ethiopian authority are rounding up Nigerians into prison in the Eastern African countries.

In the viral video, he called for immediate intervention by Nigerian government, insisting that Nigerians are daily dying in prison custody over phantom offenses even as they are not allowed fair hearing in courts.

Reacting to the allegation, in a statement by the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca Omayuli, the ministry said the situation was blown out of proportion.

The statement read: “The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to a video by one Dr. Paul Ezike making the rounds on social media on the alleged plight of Nigerian inmates in the Kaliti Prison in Ethiopia.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers Dr. Ezike’s narration as exaggerated and blown out of proportion, while his assertion of inaction by the Nigerian Mission in Addis Ababa to the alleged plight of Nigerian inmates, is unfair and misleading.”

The statement added that: “There are over 270 Nigerian nationals serving various prison terms in Ethiopia. Most of them are incarcerated for drug related offences. The Nigerian Mission in Addis Ababa, as with other Nigerian Missions world over, embarks on regular consular visits to these prisons to ascertain and attend to the wellbeing of Nigerian inmates, and in the same vein engage with host authorities on their behalf.

“The Ethiopian authorities on the other hand, have always maintained that Nigerian inmates are not treated differently from other inmates, Ethiopian inmates inclusive. Scarce resources and budgetary constraints, amidst the growing number of inmates, often feature as the main challenge for the prison authorities.”

The statement further read: “It is in this regard, that the the Federal Government of Nigeria, in response to the demands of Nigerian inmates, is in the process of concluding a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Transfer/Exchange of Prisoners with the Ethiopian Government. When finalized, this will enable Nigerian Inmates complete their jail terms in Nigeria, where their family members could complement government’s efforts towards their maintenance in prison.

“This will be particularly beneficial to inmates with underlying illnesses. For instance, information obtained by the Nigerian Mission in Addis Ababa from the Federal Prison Hospital, Kaliti regarding the death of Ms. Favour Chizoba on 12th March, 2023, revealed that she died of cardiac arrest, having had a history of hypertension and cardiac disease.

“Similarly, on the death of Mr. Joachim Uchenna Nwanneneme, a Nigerian inmate in the same Kaliti Prison on 22nd September, 2023, the official report indicated he died of kidney failure. He was previously diagnosed with tuberculosis, which according to the hospital officials, prompted his isolation.

“There is no gain saying the fact that prison conditions are not the best of conditions. That explains why, the Federal Government keeps reiterating the call for the few unpatriotic Nigerians involved in transnational organized crimes, including drug and human trafficking, to desist from such acts that lead to imprisonment and tarnish the image of the country, thereby subjecting innocent citizens to undue profiling across international borders.

“Being a transit hub, Ethiopia’s Bole International Airport receives massive movement of passengers and cargos to over 127 international destinations daily. There are, therefore, reported cases of daily interceptions of drug traffickers.

“Sadly, Nigerians have been identified as major culprits. This has contributed to the undue profiling and ill-treatment of a few innocent Nigerians transiting the Airport. It is however, an exaggeration for Dr. Ejike to claim that all holders of the Nigerian green passport are subjected to profiling at the Bole International Airport, which receives four commercial flights from Nigeria daily with over two thousand passengers.”

The statement revealed that: “The Federal Government of Nigeria, through its Mission in Addis Ababa, will continue to engage with the Ethiopian authorities to address irritants in the bilateral relations of the two friendly countries, caused by a few individuals.”

Viral Video of Maltreatment of Nigerians in Ethiopia Exaggerated- FG

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Three Fulani women abducted by gunmen in Kwara

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Three Fulani women abducted by gunmen in Kwara

By: Zagazola Makama

Atleast three Fulani women were abducted by armed hoodlums who attacked Awi village, a Fulani/Hausa camp near Omu-Aran, under sporadic gunfire.

Sources disclosed that the incident occurred on June 29 at about 1:00 a.m. and was reported later that morning by one Danbare Sarki Fulani, a community leader.

The victims were identified as: Halimi Kadiri, Gaaje Yusuf, and a nursing mother Maria Isah. All the victims are said to be of Fulani Bororo origin.

Upon receipt of the report at about 10:00 a.m., a team security operatives and members of the local vigilante group was immediately mobilised to the scene and began combing the nearby forests,” the statement said.

Additionally, the Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) team attached to Omu-Aran, alongside neighbouring Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and local vigilantes, have launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation aimed at locating the victims and apprehending the perpetrators.

Police sources confirmed that investigation is ongoing and assured the public of continued efforts to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted women and restoration of peace in the area.

Three Fulani women abducted by gunmen in Kwara

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Troops neutralise 2 ISWAP insurgents planting IEDs on Borno highway

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Troops neutralise 2 ISWAP insurgents planting IEDs on Borno highway

By: Zagazola Makama

The Nigerian Army troops of Sector 2, Operation Hadin Kai, have neutralised two suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) attempting to plant Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along a critical highway in Borno State.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama on Monday that the ambush operation occurred along the strategic Trans-Timbuktu (TT) corridor, extending towards the Katarko–Goniri axis.

The sources said that the operation was conducted following credible intelligence on the movement of a terrorist IED-laying party along the route.

“During the encounter, troops engaged the terrorists in a brief but decisive firefight, killing two insurgents and forcing others to flee.

“Items recovered at the scene included two AK-47 rifles, several magazines, a motorcycle, and materials intended for constructing IEDs. Equipment designed to cut through tarred roads for the concealment of explosives was also found.

“The swift response by the troops not only thwarted a potential attack on military and civilian vehicles but also helped to secure a major supply route frequently targeted by terrorists,” a security source said.

The military has since intensified patrols and route clearance operations in the general area to prevent further attempts by the insurgents.

Troops neutralise 2 ISWAP insurgents planting IEDs on Borno highway

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Bandits kill two, abduct four in Katsina community

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Bandits kill two, abduct four in Katsina community

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits have killed two persons and abducted four others in a late-night attack on Gidan Tamba village in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Zagazola Makama learnt that the incident, which occurred on June 29 at about 10:45 p.m., threw the quiet rural community into panic as the gunmen stormed the area and opened fire indiscriminately.

One of the victims, Ashiru Shafiu, aged 60, was reportedly shot dead on the spot, while another resident, Suleiman Yusuf, also 60, collapsed during the raid and later died of cardiac arrest. Both were rushed to the General Hospital in Kankara, where they were confirmed dead.

In addition to the fatalities, four residents were abducted during the attack. They have been identified as: Kazeem Nuhu, Shafiu Aliyu, Rama Dan Mallam and Ummah Abdulwahab.

The attackers reportedly arrived on motorcycles and disappeared into the surrounding forest with the kidnapped victims.

Bandits kill two, abduct four in Katsina community

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