FUEL SCARCITY: NLC threatens to order workers to down tools if…

* Wants FG to restore sanity to supply of PMS across Nigeria
LAGOS—NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday expressed concerns over the recurring scarcity of petroleum products, especially the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, known as petrol across the country, threatening to ask workers to stay at home should the scarcity persists.

Congress in a statement insisted that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, must immediately intervene in the current hardship imposed by the scarcity of products as this might hinder the ability of workers to get to their work stations, calling on government to restore sanity to the supply chain to save the citizens from unnecessary suffering and hardship. NLC protest electricity tariff hike in Abuja

NLC in a statement by its factional President, Ayuba Wabba, said: “Nigerians are yet to be told what the cause of the current scarcity is; we however believe government will not allow any individual or corporate organisations sabotage efforts to restore sanity and good governance in all facets of our society as it is obvious the ongoing scarcity is calculated sabotage by petroleum marketers to sell the products at high prices for more profits.

“Petroleum products, especially petrol is key to our economy as it is what powers commuters, including workers, offices and businesses. The delays motorists contend with in long queues at petrol stations have led to loss of unimaginable man hours which have impacted negatively on our economy. We therefore call on government to strongly intervene by sending out appropriate agencies, especially the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, to enforce the sale of the products as some marketers have been reported to be hoarding the products.

According to the statement: “We restate our call for the speedy reactivation of local production of petroleum products as the country will continue to be held hostage by global economic manipulations if we remain tied to importation of petroleum products even when we have the resources to produce for local consumption and export. “While it is regrettable that bad governance, misplaced priorities and corruption has almost killed the petroleum industry, we believe a serious government can revamp the industry within one year.

There are examples of countries, especially neighbouring Republic of Niger, where one of the best refineries were built within a year. Nothing stops this government from doing same.” “In any case, despite their perilous states, we have it on authority that our four refineries are still one of the best in the world and can be turned around and even have its capacity upgraded; all that is required is to have effective Turn Around Maintenance conducted on them. The refineries are not beyond repairs.

They have been abandoned to ensure Nigerians are ambushed by proponents of privatisation who believe every sector must be privatised. Those advocating for the sale of the refineries are waiting to buy them because they know the refineries are still one of the best. “Indeed, we believe the recurrent scarcity of petroleum products is part of the roadmap designed by forces who wish to hoodwink us into accepting privatisation of the refineries.

We will not accept a situation where major oil companies operating in Nigeria will have refineries in other countries where they ship our crude for refining and sell what they refined from our crude through importers of petroleum products to our country. Why have they not built their own refineries in Nigeria?” NLC added: “It makes no common sense that this situation continues.

While our resources are enriching other countries and creating jobs for citizens of other countries, our country and citizens are groaning under high currency exchange rates, deepening unemployment and infrastructural collapse. Government must demonstrate seriousness in our collective affairs through decisive interventions in revamping the petroleum industry and stamping out corruption.

“We can’t continue to be import dependent and expect our economy to grow. When ordinary citizens lament over the excruciating hardship unleashed on us by bad governance, what we expect is for our government to rescue us by rebuilding all infrastructures that have hindered our growth as a result of past neglect or deliberate damages done to them in the past.”

Source:Vanguard

Another 14-yr-old Benue girl abducted in Sokoto

MAKURDI— Relations of another missing 14-year-old girl, Patience Paul, have alleged that the primary six pupil of Mohammed Zako Model Primary School, Sokoto, may have been abducted and housed at the palace of the Sultan of Sokoto. Father of the girl, Mr. Paul Adaji, an indigene of Ochobo in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, told Vanguard on phone that his daughter had been missing since August 12, 2015.

 Adaji, who resides in Sokoto with his family, alleged that some persons spotted his daughter at the Sultan’s palace. He said: “We got information that she was in the Sultan’s palace and the last time we went there, we did not find her.” When asked how they knew she was at the palace, he said: “Some people told us that they saw her at the palace. They also used to camp some of them there, that was why we went to the palace to see if she has been taken there.  

“Even her friend, who used to be a Christian, was found there. She was taken there and they converted her. “We will still continue to search for her. We will not give up; we only want the world to help us so that our daughter can be released to us.” Brother’s story Corroborating Mr. Adaji’s story, his son, Paul Isaac Adaji, gave an account of circumstances that led to the disappearance of his sister.

He said: “Patience is my younger sister. We are based in Sokoto. That is where the issue occurred. My dad is in Sokoto but we lost our mother two years ago. My younger sister was brain-washed from school, Mohammed Zako Model Primary school, Sokoto. She is a primary six pupil. “The fact is that sometime last year, we noticed she started keeping some funny friends and her attitude started changing. This is a girl that normally likes attending church activities.

 “We cautioned her but along the line, she changed. Then again, she started misbehaving. So at that point, my parent and I decided to move her out of Sokoto and return her to Benue State so the rumours of children converting does not happen to us as we do not have anybody to fight for us. “Unfortunately, what we were scared of later happened to us. Sometimes we will see her returning from school with a veil covering her head. 

When we inquired, she said it was given to her by her friend in school. “We cautioned her on several occasions. But we later arranged with my dad to get her back to Benue. Unfortunately, she got to know about our plan to send her back to Benue and obviously informed the people who were brainwashing her and they eventually abducted her. “When we could not see her, we started serious investigation and along the line, discovered that it was one of our neighbours who actually abducted her.

Hisbah takes over

“We reported the matter to the police. The masterminds of her abduction were invited by the Police. They made their confessions that the girl wanted to join their religion, which was why they abducted her. They said they took her to the Hisbah (Islamic Police). “At that point, the Police invited the Hisbah and they came and gave their own statement. They said they had taken the girl to the Sultan’s palace. I was hoping that since the police had stepped in, my sister would come home. 

“But that did not happen. I reported the matter at the Police Headquarters in Sokoto, but it was transferred to our Area Division. So after the interrogations, the Police said since I reported the matter at the headquarters, their findings will also be communicated to the headquarters. “Two weeks later, I went to the police headquarters here in Sokoto only for the police to tell us that we should just go and maintain peace. I became inquisitive and wanted to know what the police found that prompted that advice.

Bishop Kukah steps in

“It was at that point that I reported the matter to Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah. He was very angry with us, saying we ought to have reported the matter to him earlier. “He made some calls and promised to step into the matter. I became restless and worried because the Bishop is a very busy person. We are urging and pleading with all well-meaning Nigerians to help us intervene. “From what we gathered, from last year up to early this year, she was in the Sultan’s palace, but she has been taken away from there since last month.

 “‘We went there with my other sister to check and they brought a different person to us. From our investigations, she is not the only one because the two girls they brought did not look like real Muslims.” Meanwhile, calls to Bishop Kukah to find out the veracity of claims that the matter was reported to him at a point were not responded to. 

Source confirm palace connection However, a source in Sokoto told Vanguard that the girl was actually abducted and kept at the Sultan’s palace. The source also noted that the teenager was not the only person abducted and hidden at the palace, adding that three other girls were in the palace. 

The source said: “What is happening is not new; it is a common occurrence in Sokoto and Katsina. Christian teenage girls are often abducted and hidden in such places. “Patience is not the only victim. Three other girls were found to have been abducted and kept at the palace. There is an Ibo girl among the three.” Reacting to the development yesterday, Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, Salisu Fagge, said: “It is not true. I have not received such report from anybody. 

We relate very well with the palace and Bishop Kukah and such report has never come to me. “If we had got it, we would have taken prompt action. Please ask the man to see me in the office without delay if what he is saying is true.”
Source:Tribune

Oyo: We've human abattoirs, sell parts for N30,000- suspect

Ibadan-ONLOOKERS were stunned into silence yesterday at the headquarters of Oyo State Police Command as a 50-year old suspect, Kamoru Oladele, narrated how he sells human parts for between N25,000 and N30,000, adding that his gang has human abattoirs in Oyo and Osun states.

Narrating how the law caught up with the suspects, Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leye Oyebade, said the breakthrough was made by the special anti-kidnapping squad of the Command after receiving intelligence report on the activities of the suspects.

Police further stated that the suspects had succeeded in giving their victims erroneous impression that they could make them rich through rituals.

The suspect told Vanguard: "I am a herbalist and I do fortune charms for people. I am not the one that usually sells human parts. I buy from some people. This is my first time of engaging in this kind of business. I usually buy the human skull for N10,000 and sell it for N25,000 for those that come for fortune charms."

When police searched his house, they alleged that one smoked human skull was recovered. They further explained that the suspect used coded words for different human parts.
Oladele said the words can only be decoded by their initiates, adding that "a human head that sells for N30,000 is called agbon (coconut)."

The abattoirs
He also disclosed that their trade was carried out in their human abattoirs located at Amuloko and Kuta villages in Oyo and Osun states, respectively.
Also paraded was one Seun Ogunbamijo, who claimed to be a graduate of one of the polytechnics in the South-West.

According to the police, they laid siege to some of the first generation banks in Ibadan, monitor bank customers who withdraw large sums of money and rob them.
The police boss, Oyebade, said: "However, luck ran out of them after the anti-bank robbery operatives of the Command were drafted to the scene and they were arrested."

Some of the items allegedly recovered from the gang include two locally-made pistols, one cut-to-size single-barrelled gun, 10 live cartridges, one Toyota 4-runner with number plates ABC 624 AH, and a Toyota Carina with number plates KS 599 AAA.

Source:Vanguard

Ese Oruru’s abduction: Police would’ve killed the matter, says Ese’s father

My role in Ese’s abduction saga—Emir … as groups insist on culprit’s arrest

The 14 years old Ese Rita Oruru, who was abducted by one Yinusa, alias Yelllow, from her mother’s shop in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, August 12, 2015, and whisked to Kano State, has been rescued.

She was freed last night, following a directive by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to the Commissioner of Police, Kano State, Mohammed Katsine, yesterday, to liase with the state’s Emirate Council and relevant persons. Rose and Charles Oruru, parents of Ese.

Confirming the rescue in a telephone chat yesterday, Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olabisi Kolawole, said Arase had directed that Ese Oruru be given protection, adding that she will be flown to Abuja tomorrow (today) to be re-united with her family. It was gathered that the IG had made arrangements to move the family to Abuja for the re-union with their daughter. 

Meanwhile, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, yesterday, blamed police and other para-military agencies over failure to return Ese Rita Oruru to her family. Ese hails from Uwherun town in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State. Her abductors had earlier rebuffed efforts by her parents to secure her release after they converted the teenager to Islam, renamed her Aisha and betrothed her to Yinusa.

I’m grateful—FATHER

The girl’s father, Mr. Charles Oruru, who spoke to Vanguard in Yenagoa, said: “Without the support of the media and civil society groups, there is nothing I could have done. Left to the police, the matter would have died a natural death and she would have been lost in Kano. We are praying for her return so that we can all celebrate. “If they bring my daughter back successfully, I will be very happy. I am like a fish out of water. 

I have not been myself since she was forcibly taken away from us. “Whenever I think of her, I shed tears. She is only a minor. She was taken away when she was 13 years old, but she is now 14. I do not have many children and the few I have, I make sure I take good care of them because I know they will be great in future.”

Emir Sanusi

On his part, narrating his involvement in the saga, Sanusi II said: “I ordered Ese’s repatriation since September 2015, through the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 1. But to my surprise, the issue is still hanging between the Sharia commission, Hisbah and police.

“Police are those behind this delay. I have done my best for her. It is unfortunate that the police are delaying this matter. “I received phone calls from friends outside the shores of this country over Ese. What I knew was that the matter is something I had settled six months ago.”

The emir recalled how he directed that the District Head of Kura, Sharia commission and Hisbah to investigate the allegation Ese raised over threats by her estranged parents to her life, adding that the report confirmed the allegation, while he had since requested police intervention to provide cover.

It’s not Islamic—EMIR

The emir, who declared null and void Ese’s marriage to her suspected lover, said: “Ese is underage and she cannot be married off. “Every Muslim also knew that marriage cannot be without guidance. She must be taken back to her parents and can only marry when she is 18 years. 

“It is unIslamic for someone to marry a lady without approval of the guardian. The abduction of Ese by my subject is worrisome because it will cause disunity among our people. I feel it is something we should urgently call to order.” The emir also directed the Sharia commission to liaise with the Assistant Inspector General of Police and send the girl back to her family. It was gathered that the planned Bring back EseOruru rally slated for yesterday in Yenagoa by civil society organisations was suspended.

Gov Dickson

Governor Seriake Dickson, it was gathered, had contacted his Kano State counterpart on the issue and was given assurance that she would be set free. Executive Director, Kindling Hope Across Nations Initiative, KHAN, Kizito Andah, initiators of Bring back EseOruru, described Dickson’s intervention as heart warming, saying “our governor has stepped in powerfully. 

That was why the rally was suspended.” The forum also had in attendance, the parents of the abducted child, Mr. and Mrs Charles Oruru; Coordinator, UNICEF Child Protection Network and Bayelsa Legal Aids Council, Kombo Eze; Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, Arch Bishop Jacob Akpiri; Vice President-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Bayelsa State chapter, and South-South Commissioner, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Alhaji Abdulrahman Eneware, among others. 

Urhobo Monitoring and Development Group, UMDG, led by the President, Mr. Kingsley Oberuruaria, had earlier issued a two-week ultimatum to the Kano State Government and Emir of Kano to produce Ese Oruru.

How far we went —Ese’s father

Narrating his experience since his daughter’s abduction, Mr. Oruru said: “On August 12, 2015, when I returned from work, I was told that Ese had gone to see her classmate who had an accident at Tombia. “When she did not return home, we began a search and one Mohammed (alias Daidi) informed us that one Mr. Yinusa (alias Yellow) had taken Ese to Kano to convert her into Islam, recruit her into an Islamist fanatical group and marry her. 

“I want to make it clear that no one consulted me or paid me bride price for my daughter. Besides, she is too young and is still in school. I do not have any prior knowledge or consented to what happened. “My wife is a food vendor and her customers are mostly Hausa men, who she sometime gives free meal. The said Mr. Yinusa does not have a steady source of income; sometimes my wife gives him free meal. “As much as I know, he was not having any affair with my daughter and I am sure that he must have used charms. 

“Acting on the above information, my wife (Mrs Rose Oruru) approached one Dan Kano, who not only confirmed the story but also promised to take her to Kano to recover our daughter. “Dan Kano reneged on his promise and rather sent one Rabiu to accompany her to Kano. “We were advised that only my wife should go to Kano. On August 14, 2015 she went there and the said Rabiu took my wife to the chief of a village called Tufa in Kura Local Government Area of Kano State on August 15, 2015.

“After relaying the purpose of their visit, the said chief was furious with Rabiu for bringing my wife to Kano and told them that Ese had been converted to Islam and renamed Aisha, married and that the child was no longer her child. “He also informed them that Ese was in the custody of the Emir of Kano, HH Muhammadu Sanusi II, at the palace. “My wife, in the company of Rabiu, approached the Emir of Kano’s palace but were driven away by youths. “The said Yinusa, through phone calls, informed my wife that he did not kidnap her daughter as he took permission from Dan Kano before he abducted her.

Enter police

“Sensing the impossibility of seeing her daughter or having an audience with the Emir, my wife broke into tears and drew a lot of attention. On hearing her cries, an elderly man called the police. “Police took her to Kwani Police Station where her statement was taken and she was accompanied to the Emir’s palace, but were prevented from entering. 

“They proceeded to the house of the Galadima of Kano, who stated that he does not know anything about the matter. “The team went to see the Adviser to Emir, who told them that he does not want to be involved in the matter and then to the Secretary to the Emir. “The Secretary informed them that the Chief of Tufa Village got an approval from Kura Police Station to take Ese to the Emir’s palace; that Ese is now a convert of Islam and if brought to her mother, that the mother would not be able to talk or touch her, otherwise either she (the mother) or Ese would die.

 He advised that they wait till August 17, 2015 to see the Emir. “On August 17, 2015, the DCO, a Police Inspector from Kwani Police Station, the Chief of Tufa village and my wife were at the palace where the Emir of Kano sat in council. “Ese was also brought in a black SUV with two Police escorts; Yinusa was also present. When the case was mentioned, every other person was allowed inside except my wife. 

“On returning from the Emir’s court, the DCO informed her that the Emir of Kano told them to go to the Sharia Court, which they objected to. “Police transferred the matter to State CID in Kano State, where she was asked to go back to Bayelsa and report to the Bayelsa State Police Command. My wife returned to Bayelsa on August 17, 2015 and a report was made at the Ekeki Police Station and the matter was later transferred to State CID Yenagoa. 

“Police at Yenagoa made some arrests, including Dan Kano, and a trip was embarked upon to Kano on September 2, 2015 with the following persons: Dan Kano, K. C. Dahiru, the Chairman of the Hausa community in Yenagoa; Mr. Charles Oruru and two police officers from State CID. 

“The team reported at the Kwani Police Station in Kano, where another visit was made to the Emir of Kano. “The Emir informed them that he had since August 26, 2015 sent a letter for the release of Ese to her parents. Another was written but was not responded to.”
Source:Vanguard