We lost 193 children, 23 pregnant women, others in ‘Zaria massacre’– Shi’ites – Newstrends
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We lost 193 children, 23 pregnant women, others in ‘Zaria massacre’– Shi’ites

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3 years ago

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The Islamic Movement in Nigeria has once again called for justice for hundreds of its members allegedly killed by the Nigerian military in December 2015 following a clash with soldiers in the convoy of the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), in Zaria, Kaduna State.

In an advertorial on Friday titled ‘Call for justice for the victims of Zaria massacre’ the sect stated that the victims of the massacre included ‘1,000 persons of all genders and ages’ given a secret mass burial at night by the army allegedly assisted by the Governor Nasir El-Rufai-led Kaduna State Government.

The advertorial, signed by Prof. I.M. Mshelgaru for the Academic Forum of IMN, also stated that 193 children and 23 pregnant women were killed, while ‘23 families were completely wiped out of existence’ by the Nigerian military.

The sect decried the alleged justification of the event of that day by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), whom, it said, described the ‘pogrom’ as ‘small boys beating the chest of a general’, during a media parley.

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The movement said unlike the October 20, 2020 Lekki toll gate massacre of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers, which the Federal Government had done everything to deny, there was undeniable or concrete evidence for the Zaria massacre.

It lamented that despite the findings by a Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Kaduna State Government that 347 Shi’ites were slain by the military and secretly given a mass burial, the perpetrators of the crime had yet to be fished out and punished.

The sect said it deemed it fit to restate its demand for justice even six years after the ‘pogrom’ and publish the advertorial to coincide with the United Nations Human Rights Day.

The sect said, “In our records, more than 1,000 persons, who went to Zaria on that fateful day, numerous of whom were also seen at the various scenes of the massacre, never returned to their respective houses.

“Consequently, and sadly, so many families lost at least three of their members while some families were completely wiped out.

 “Corroboratively, we would like to mention yet again a few of those victims/families that were killed and whose identities were at least known within the communities they lived, viz:

“Three of Sheikh Zakzaky’s sons – Hammad Ibraheem, Ali Ibraheem and Humaid Ibraheem – were brutally killed right before their parents!

“Dr Mustapha Sa’id, the personal physician of Sheikh Zakzaky, was killed alongside his three energetic sons – Muhammad Mustapha, Ali Mustapha and Ruhullah Mustapha.

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“Three sons of Kaduna-based engineer, Yahaya Gilima, were martyred during the massacre.

“Bukhari Jega was a PhD student of political science and a part-time lecturer at the University of Abuja. Bukhari, his wife, A’isha, their 16-month-old daughter, Batool, and two of his wife’s sisters were gunned down during the massacre.

“Four children of Dr Isah Gwantu, an academic in the Mass Communication Department, ABU, and Publisher of Education Monitor Newspaper, were also killed. They (the children) are Muhammad Waziri, Fatima Waziri, Hassan Waziri and Hussaini Waziri.

“Malam Abudllahi Abass Zaria was not only killed but his six children – Abdurrazaq, Abbas, Muhammad, Ahmad, Ibrahim and Jawad – were all killed by the Nigerian Army.

“The aforementioned is just a tip of the iceberg, excluding a teeming number of those injured at varying degrees, either from gunshot or burns.”

The sect called for ‘the prosecution of all those who played one role or the other in the massacre and its aftermath’.

It also demanded ‘the immediate and unconditional release of those (its members) in various detention facilities’, as well as the release of the ‘passports of both Zakzaky and his wife, Malama Zeenat, to enable them to proceed for medical treatment in any country of their choice where the requisite expertise and appropriate facilities exist’.

Punch

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BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

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6 hours ago

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November 14, 2024

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BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

The federal government has unveiled a proposed budget of N47.9 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year.

Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu.

Bagudu revealed that the council had approved the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2025-2027.

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According to the minister, the government has pegged the crude oil benchmark at $75 per barrel, with an oil production target of 2.06 million barrels per day (bpd).

The budget also sets the exchange rate at N1,400 per dollar and aims for a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6.4%.

 

BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

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EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

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6 hours ago

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November 14, 2024

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EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told FIJ that they have arrested Timber Wabote, the former executive secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCMB), on the grounds of a failed $35 million Bayelsa refinery project fraud.

Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s spokesperson, confirmed this to FIJ on Thursday.

“It is true,” Oyewale responded to FIJ’s inquiries.

Wabote is accused of misappropriating public funds for a refinery project that should have improved local energy production.

Vanguard reported that the NCDMB under Wabote paid $35 million to support the development of energy infrastructure in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa, yet there was nothing to show for it.

The EFCC picked Wabote up following the arrest of Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, the Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, for alleged misappropriation, money laundering and diversion of $35 million in public funds.

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“NCDMB under the watch of Wabote allegedly paid the $35 million to Akindele to build a 2,000 barrel per day (BPD), refinery, jetty, gas plant, power plant, data centre and tank farm at Brass free trade zone (FTZ), Okpoama Community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State,” a source with the EFCC had explained.

Since December 2020 when the payments were made, Akindele abandoned the project with little or nothing to show for the huge sum he received.

Preliminary investigations showed that Wabote’s NCDMB financed 17 different projects, including the 2,000 BPD refinery in Brass LGA.

There has been a series of public fund misappropriation cases in the energy sector in recent times.

FIJ earlier reported that members of the House of Representatives summoned three ministers to defend how over $2 billion was spent on renewable energy with not much to show for it.

A recent FIJ report also recently detailed how residents of Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa, have not had power in their homes since July due to the vandalisation of the Ahoada-Yenagoa transmission towers caused by unidentified persons.

The Bayelsa state government told FIJ it was the federal government’s responsibility to provide electricity for residents. The state has no renewable energy options reliable enough to power its capital despite the multi-million-dollar NCMB energy project.

Transparency in the energy sector has become necessary at a time when Nigerians have suffered power instability due to frequent grid collapses.

EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

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Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

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7 hours ago

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November 14, 2024

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Yahaya Bello

Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has requested an adjournment in the new case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, stating that the 30-day window for the previously issued summons is still active.

The commission has granted administrative bail to his co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, and asked the court for an extension of time for Bello to appear.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, EFCC Counsel Jamiu Agoro noted that the court’s order from October 3rd had not yet expired.

“In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while that 30 days is still running. So we have discussed and agreed to come back on the 27th day of November, 2024, my lord,” he told the court.

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He also mentioned that the previously set date of November 20th was not convenient for the prosecution counsels.

Counsel to the second defendant, Aliyu Saiki, SAN, confirmed that his client had been granted administrative bail by the prosecution and had no objection to the adjournment request. The third defendant’s counsel, ZE Abass, concurred.

The prosecution counsel also requested the court to allow the notice of hearing to be pasted on the last known address of the first defendant.

After hearing from all counsels, the judge granted the EFCC’s application for adjournment and the issuance of the hearing notice.

“I have considered the application for adjournment by the complainant and issuance of hearing notice and the submission by the second and third defendants. The application is granted,” she said.

Justice Anenih then adjourned the case to November 27th for arraignment.

The former governor, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being prosecuted as 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively, in a fresh 16-count charge instituted against them by the EFCC.

Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

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