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Why Tinubu govt should withdraw Oyedepo’s airstrip licence – Group
Why Tinubu govt should withdraw Oyedepo’s airstrip licence – Group
A renowned Islamic group in Nigeria, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has urged the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to swiftly withdraw the airstrip licence granted to the Founder of Living Faith Church, popularly known as Winners Chapel, David Oyedepo.
According to a statement by the outspoken group, it is dangerous dangerous to grant such a licence to a religious leader in a nation which had before now characterized by sectarian crisis and large-scale insecurity.
MURIC therefore demanded the withdrawal of the licence, calling on the National Assembly to wade into the matter.
The statement issued by the Founder and Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, reads : “The Federal Government (FG) confirmed two days ago that it has granted a licence to build an airstrip to Bishop David Oyedepo of Canaanland, also known as Winners Chapel or Living Faith Church.
“We strongly condemn this action. It is not only reckless and thoughtless, it is also insensitive and provocative. It is a dangerous precedent. This should not be happening in a multi-religious society laden with religious crises and large-scale insecurity. This licence must be revoked with immediate effect. It is interesting to note that the licence is already generating controversy because it is a threat to national security. ”
While making a reference to a past incident where a prominent Nigerian pastor’s private jet was intercepted with arms on board, MURIC said granting such licence to Oyedepo would expose Muslims to danger.
“Granting Bishop Oyedepo licence to build an airstrip is an open invitation to the Israeli Mossad to fly in directly to abduct Muslims and disappear at will. Forceful rendition of Muslims from the streets to Western countries has been a common practice for some time now but this development may exacerbate it.
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“This airstrip will expose Nigerian Muslims to danger. Foreign mercenaries may land at the airstrip from outside Nigeria to commit atrocities and leave from there undetected. The destiny of Nigeria should not be placed in the hands of a single religious group.
“Coupled with the inability of our security agencies to pinpoint the source of supply of weapons to insurgents, kidnappers and separatists, we must agree that Nigeria is not ripe for this type of licence for a religious leader to build a private airstrip. We all know that Nigerians practice acrobatic religiousity instead of religion per se. Many Nigerians bid farewell to reason a long time ago, particularly in matters of faith.
“Nigeria would probably have been up in flames if this kind of licence had been given to a Muslim, say, Shaykh Ahmad Gumi whom some Muslim-haters love to hate. That is why we are wondering why social analysts, commentators and human rights lawyers and activists have elected to adopt a strange culture of silence over the Oyedepo airstrip imbroglio.
“We charge Nigerians to rise as one in condemning this misadventure. Let us eschew sentiments and address the issue objectively. FG misfired big time this time around. It is gross miscalculation to favour one religion out of three. Discrimination and favouritism can only widen the gap between Nigerians.
“We urge the National Assembly to bring sanity to this ugly development. Parliamentary intervention by the possessors of political acumen is sometimes what we need to unravel administrative sophistry. Nigeria needs the wisdom of its lawmakers to pull it out of this abyss of self-immolation. There may also be need for Nigerian lawmakers to revisit the Oritsejafor arms cash saga.
“We call on Nigerian Muslims to apply caution, decorum and rationalism in their reactions to this development. We advise them to remain law abiding.
“As we take a break, we invite FG to revoke the licence given to Bishop Oyedepo to build an airstrip. This is necessary in order to restore the confidence of Nigerian Muslims in the system, ensure impartiality and bridge the wide gap of mutual suspicion between Christians and Muslims. This airstrip poses grave danger to national security, ” the statement said.
Why Tinubu govt should withdraw Oyedepo’s airstrip licence – Group
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Guidelines Violation: TikTok removes 2.1 million videos in Nigeria
Guidelines Violation: TikTok removes 2.1 million videos in Nigeria
TikTok has removed more than 2.1 million videos in Nigeria during the second quarter of 2024 for breaching its community guidelines, the company revealed in its latest Community Guidelines Enforcement Report.
The removed videos account for less than 1% of total uploads in Nigeria during the period.
The report, released on Tuesday, highlighted TikTok’s proactive content moderation efforts, with 99.1% of the videos being taken down before users reported them, and 90.7% removed within 24 hours.
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TikTok reaffirmed its commitment to creating a safer platform for Nigerian users, noting its continued investment in advanced technologies to enhance content moderation and mitigate risks.
Globally, TikTok removed over 178 million videos in June 2024, with 144 million of these flagged by automated systems.
The company boasted a 98.2% proactive detection rate worldwide, underscoring its efficiency in addressing harmful content before users encounter it.
Guidelines Violation: TikTok removes 2.1 million videos in Nigeria
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Libya’s highest authority ordered me to divert Super Eagles flight, says pilot
Libya’s highest authority ordered me to divert Super Eagles flight, says pilot
Tunisian pilot who recently flew the Super Eagles of Nigeria to Libya
The Tunisian pilot who flew the Super Eagles of Nigeria to Libya has spoken out about the controversy surrounding the flight diversion.
In a now-viral video, the pilot said the original plan was to land in Benina, a town in the Benghazi area of Libya, with prior approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority.
He said, however, upon beginning their descent, he was instructed to divert to Al-Abraq, which was not listed as an alternate airport.
The Tunisian man said he was told the order for flight diversion came from “Libya’s highest authorities”.
He said he repeatedly questioned the flight diversion order due to the limitation of aviation fuel but was “ignored by Libyan aviation authorities”.
“The flight plan was to land in Benghazi, Benina, and we had approval from the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority,” the pilot said.
“However, as we began our descent, we were instructed to divert to Al-Abraq, which wasn’t even listed as our alternate airport.
“This decision came from the highest authorities, not me. In aviation, we calculate fuel based on our destination. Diverting unexpectedly can compromise safety.
“Everything is documented. I asked to land in Benghazi as per my flight plan, but they denied it, instructing me to divert immediately.
“I repeatedly questioned the directive and warned them about fuel limitations, but they insisted that we land in Al-Abraq, citing orders from the highest authority.”
The Tunisian pilot who flew the Super Eagles to Libya explained what really happened.
— YabaLeftOnline (@yabaleftonline) October 15, 2024
BACKGROUND
The Super Eagles’ flight landed at the Al Abaq airport for the second leg of their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Libya.
The match was scheduled for Tuesday at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Benina, Benghazi.
However, the Super Eagles players and coaches were held at the Al Abaq airport for over 20 hours without food and drinks.
On Monday morning, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced the Super Eagles’ withdrawal from the qualifying match and asked them to return home. The Nigerian team then arrived in Kano from Libya.
Reacting to the situation, the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) said the flight diversion experienced by the Nigerian national team was not “intentional”.
The LFF rejected claims of “foul play or sabotage” and argued that their team faced a similar situation in Nigeria.
Reacting, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said it is investigating the “disturbing” incident.
Libya’s highest authority ordered me to divert Super Eagles flight, says pilot
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Police in Imo burst robbery gang terrorising Owerri
Police in Imo burst robbery gang terrorising Owerri
Operatives of the Imo State Police Command have dismantled a notorious armed robbery syndicate terrorising residents of Owerri North Local Government Area of the state.
The spokesperson of the command, ASP Henry Okoye, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, credited the success to the enhanced security measures put in place by the Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, aimed at tackling violent crimes.
“Upon arrival, the officers were met with gunfire from the armed robbers.
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The officers, displaying remarkable bravery, quickly assumed strategic positions and returned fire.
“During the confrontation, one suspect was neutralised, while another named Moses Nanzi ‘m’, 31, of Faringada in Plateau State, sustained gunshot injuries and was arrested. The remaining gang members fled into the bushes.
“A double-barrel gun and seven rounds of live cartridges from the arrested suspect.
“Efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing gang members. The suspect will certainly face prosecution upon completion of a thorough investigation.”
“The Imo State Police Command remains committed to ensuring residents’ safety and urges the public to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest Police Station or via 0803 477 3600. Together we can enhance the safety and security of the State for economic growth and development.”
Police in Imo burst robbery gang terrorising Owerri
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