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Brazil's WhatsApp ban affects 100 million users

Court orders 72-hour shutdown of messaging service but reasons remain unknown owing to legal secrecy in an ongoing case.

A Brazilian judge has ordered mobile-phone carriers to block access to WhatsApp for 72 hours throughout the country, the second such move against the messaging application in five months.

Monday's decision affects WhatsApp's 100 million-plus users in the country. The reason for the order is not known due to legal secrecy in an ongoing case in the court.

It is the second time since mid-December that WhatsApp has been the target of a blocking order.

The service was shut down for 48 hours on December 15 last year after Facebook failed to comply with an order, although another court interrupted that suspension shortly afterwards.

Judge Marcel Maia Montalvao of Sergipe state is the same judge who in March ordered the imprisonment of a Brazil-based Facebook executive for failing to comply with an attempted block on WhatsApp.

He was jailed and subsequently freed.

Twitter user Acaua Tavares reacted with the Portuguese acronym "PQP", roughly equivalent to "WTF?" in English, an agency reported.

"WhatsApp blocked again, PQP! That's Brazil," he wrote.

Many commenters reacted with a single question: "Again?"

Officials blamed the company for continuously failing to share information on WhatsApp users for an investigation into drug trafficking and organised crime.

Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook chief executive, was "stunned" by the "extreme decision".

In a statement, WhatsApp said the company was "disappointed at the decision" after doing the utmost to cooperate with Brazilian tribunals.

In 2013, Google too found itself under fire. The search engine giant's top Brazil executive was accused of breaking election laws when he refused to remove YouTube videos that were critical of a mayoral candidate in Mato Grosso do Sul state.

Reported non-cooperation from media companies is not that uncommon.

Last year, Apple refused to cooperate with the FBI in unlocking an iPhone used by one of the shooters in a mass killing by a couple in San Bernardino, California.

Boko Haram: Over 56,000 Nigerian refugees in Cameroon, says Buhari

 

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday evening disclosed that over 56,000 Nigerians are currently taking refuge in neighbouring Cameroon because of the activities of the Boko Haram sect in the North Eastern part of the country.

He said he was saddened by the terror unleashed by the sect on the country which he said led to the killing of 20,000 people.

Buhari spoke at a state banquet he hosted in honour of visiting President of Cameroon, Paul Biya, and his wife, Chantal, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President said his administration was working day and night to rebuild destroyed facilities in the North Eastern part of the country so that the Nigerian refugees could be brought back home as soon as possible.

“I assure you that as soon as data on IDPs are ready, we will bring you back home safely,” the President said.

While listing some of the achievements of the nation’s security forces against the sect, Buhari said there was no longer a hiding place for terrorists in Nigeria.

Describing Cameroon and Nigeria as two nations that have come a long way, the President said the two countries had always embraced peace and dialogue.

He also commended the crucial role Cameroon is playing in the multinational force established to tackle insurgency.

He described his visit to Cameroon last year as the most memorable of his foreign trips, adding that nobody complained about the trip.

Biya, who spoke through an interpreter, described Buhari’s trip to Cameroon last year as a turning point in the history of the two nations.

He described Boko Haram as a common enemy of the two nations with its goals running contrary to the aspirations of our people.

He expressed his wish to see the over 200 schoolgirls kidnapped in Chibok, Borno State rescued soon.

He promised to continue to take care of the Nigerian refugees residing in Cameroon.

The Cameroonian President expressed delight at the achievements of Nigerian security agencies against the Boko Haram insurgents and expressed the conviction that the sect no longer had destructive power.

He stressed the need for more consultations to improve the economic relations between the two countries.

“We are at the beginning of a new era in the relationship between our countries as evidenced in our discussions today and the agreements we signed today. I am delighted,” Biya said.

The state banquet was attended by wife of the President, Aisha; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo; the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and his wife; the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Muhammed; governors of Taraba, Cross River and Adamawa States, ministers and other top government officials.

Six dead in China coal mine explosion

A report on Wednesday in Beijing has confirmed the death of six miners that were trapped in a coal mine after a blast in south-west China’s Yunnan province.

It stated that the explosion in Shaba Coal Mine occurred on Wednesday morning in Yanjin County.

It said it was still not clear how many people were injured or trapped, but authorities were investigating the cause of the accident.


The report noted that China had improved its mine safety record in recent years through the closure of thousands of small operations.

It, however, said that in spite of improved standards, the industry was regarded as one of the most dangerous in the world, with recurring mishaps including flooding, explosions and fire outbreaks.

60 students poisoned in Afghanistan – Police

Sixty students of a girl school were mysteriously poisoned in Rustaq district of northern Afghanistan’s Takhar province on Wednesday.

Abdul Asir, Police Spokesman in the province, said the grade seven to 12 of Mir Mulai Girl School in Rustaq district were mysteriously poisoned around 10am.

He said the affected students had been taken to hospital for medical treatment.


Asir added that investigation had been initiated to determine the reason for the problem.

This is the second incident of its kind in Takhar province in the past two weeks, the official said.

He said in the previous incident which occurred in the same district on April 19, a total of 62 students of a girl school were poisoned and the vomiting caused them to be unconscious for several hours.

I didn’t eat for six days – Senator Anisulowo

A former Minister of State for Education, Sen.  Iyabo Anisulowo, who regained her freedom on Tuesday evening from her abductors, says she did not eat any food during her one -week ordeal.

Looking frail and tired, the former Senator narrated her ordeal at the Government House in Abeokuta where she was brought at 10:09pm by the Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, to meet with Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

 

From Wednesday April 27 when she was abducted till her rescue by the police Anisulowo said she said she survived only on water.

The ex-lawmaker, who represented Ogun West Senatorial District in the Senate between 2003 and 2007, expressed her appreciation to God, the governor and security agencies.

She said, “I’ve been on water, I did not eat anything throughout.

“I’m short of words, but I want to thank the Governor and also thank God. I want to thank His Excellency (Amosun), for all the effort you have put in with the security agents.

“I know the courage you have and the spirit to fight to the end and that was what kept me in the bush, there. I have an assurance that with the security agents that you have, you will work it through. I thank God.”

Also on the ground to receive the rescued Senator were the Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, and other top government functionaries.

On his part, Governor Amosun appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, for their intervention.

He also commended the security agencies in the state for working together and ensuring  Anisulowo’s release.

He explained that by using modern technology to track suspects, sooner than later, kidnapping would become unattractive to criminals.

The governor said the kidnappers had before they were caught abused him, the Inspector-General of Police and demanded N200m ransom.

He, however, expressed happiness that no ransom was paid eventually, and Anisulowo was rescued unhurt.

He said, “I have always argued that our security agencies can work, unless they don’t want to. We need to give kudos to God and thank our security people. This indeed is a different experience for me; I see the extent to which our security agencies can go.

“I don’t want to sound immodest, but I want to thank Mr. President and the IG, the Army and the DSS. They created a war room and everybody was communicating every day. Like I said, I don’t want to sound immodest, but truly, the way they have resolved this is amazing.”

Stop EFCC from forcing me to implicate Jonathan’

The detained cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Robert Azibaola, has urged a Federal High Court in Lagos to declare as unlawful any attempt by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to make him indict the ex-President.

In a fresh suit filed on Wednesday, Azibaola’s lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, claimed that any attempt to make his client indict the ex-President was a violation of Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, “which has outlawed the practice of arresting a citizen as ransom for the alleged offence of another citizen.”

 

Azibaola, who claimed to have been in the EFCC’s detention since March 23, is also, through Adegboruwa, urging the court to bar the EFCC from approaching any magistrate’s court to obtain any remand warrant extending his detention in the anti-graft agency’s facility.

The EFCC had reportedly detained Azibaola on the allegation that he diverted $40m through a company, One-Plus Holdings, which was awarded the contract of pipeline surveillance.

The EFCC had transferred him from Abuja to Lagos where it on April 22 obtained a warrant from a Lagos State Magistrate’s Court in Ikeja to remand him pending conclusion of investigation into his alleged crime.

But in the new fundamental rights enforcement action filed on Azibaola’s behalf on Wednesday, Adegboruwa contended that the EFCC could not rely on sections 293 and 294 of the ACJA to continue to detain his client.

He claimed that those sections of the law were designed for criminal offences such as murder, armed robbery, kidnapping and treasonable felony, which attract capital punishment for which the  police would need time to await a legal advice from the office of the Attorney-General.

Azibaola, who claimed that he is being persecuted based on his blood relation with ex-President Jonathan, also accused the EFCC of having perfected the plan to keep transferring him from state to state in order to keep renewing the remand warrant to ensure that he was perpetually kept in detention.

He urged the court to order the EFCC to immediately charge him to court or release him if it was not ready to do so.

The suit which was filed on Wednesday has yet to be assigned to any judge and no hearing date has been fixed.

Kenya recovers more bodies from building collapse

The death toll from a building which collapsed in Nairobi last week due to heavy rains rose to 26 on Wednesday after three more bodies were retrieved from the debris.

Paius Masai, National Disaster Management Unit Incident Commander said the three bodies were pulled out of the building on Tuesday night in the rescue operation which also saw nine rabbits rescued.

“Three more bodies were recovered last night



Nine rabbits were also rescued alive from the debris and one was found dead. So far, 136 people have been rescued alive, 26 confirmed dead and 93 others are still missing,” he said.
Masai said that rescue operation which kicked off last Friday was still continuing after the six-story residential building which had been earlier earmarked for demolition, collapsed in Nairobi’s low-income Huruma residential estate.

“We appeal to anyone who has a missing relative to be patient since the exercise is delicate due to balancing both safety of rescuers and victims.’’

Kenya Red Cross Society confirmed that families have also been displaced and approximately 200 households had been affected and were currently camping at a chief office in Kinyago village in Eastleigh.

It said that the residents confirmed that the building was built on a waterway, blocking the passage of water which could have weakened its structure and collapsed after heavy rains and flooding on Friday night.

KRCS said that unconfirmed reports indicated there was no construction plan and that the building had not been approved.

It said that residents said owners and developers of such structures regularly use court orders to block Nairobi County from pulling down structures earmarked for demolition.

The Red Cross said its collaboration with National Youth Service, and the military, which had deployed machinery to support the operation.

It said it had mobilised partner support to provide heavy machinery resources, and participating in search and rescue.

Red Cross said that three bodies were retrieved after a six months old baby girl was pulled out alive from the rubble, four days after the incident occurred.

“There were celebrations when ‘baby Favour’ whose real name is Dealeryn Saisi Wasike was found suckling her fingers in a basin wrapped in a blanket early Tuesday.

“The baby has since been reunited with her father, Ralson Saisi Wasike while the body of her mother was found at a morgue.

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Twenty years until next Leicester, says Ranieri

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri believes that it will take up to 20 years for an unfancied team to emulate his side’s achievement by winning the Premier League.

 

Leicester defied odds of 5,000-1 to prevail ahead of the division’s glamour clubs, captivating fans around the world and turning their previously unheralded players into household names.

Ranieri’s side are only the sixth team to have won the Premier League, as the English top tier was rebranded in 1992, and the Italian does not foresee another unlikely champion emerging anytime soon.

“Big money makes the big teams and usually the big teams win, but now we can only say 99 percent,” he said, in comments published by several British newspapers on Wednesday.

“How many years after Nottingham Forest (in 1978) and Blackburn (in 1995) have another team won? Next season will be the same, for the next 10 or 20 years will be the same.

“The richest will win or who can pick up the best players to make a team. If 20 owners have the same money for the players, only one can win and three will go down. That is football.”

Leicester have become particularly popular in Italy, Ranieri’s homeland, and Thailand, which is where owners King Power are based, but Ranieri said he had received messages of support from around the world.

“Now the second team in Italy is Leicester,” he said. “In Thailand, the first team is Leicester. I’ve received letters from Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil — everywhere (saying) ‘Leicester, Leicester, what a legend.’

“Everyone knows the Premier League.”

The football world is slowly coming to terms with Leicester’s extraordinary feat and Ranieri admitted that he, too, is still trying to fathom it.

– ‘On the ceiling’ –

“All the people around the world are asking for Leicester, what happened?” he said.

“But this is a moment you have to leave a little more (time) for and taste slowly like a good wine. Savour it. Maybe now is too early to think what we have done.

“Maybe one or two years could be better to understand, but now it is important to stay high in the world.”

Leicester’s triumph was confirmed by second-place Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-2 draw at Chelsea on Monday and they will get their hands on the trophy after Saturday’s final home game against Everton.

In time, thoughts will turn to Leicester’s title defence, as well as the club’s first ever crack at the Champions League, but Ranieri said that he would not urge the club to make superstar signings.

“We don’t need the superstars,” said the 64-year-old, who joined his squad for a celebratory lunch at an Italian restaurant in Leicester on Tuesday.

“We need our players. You see (in January) we bought Demarai Gray, we bought Daniel Amartey. It’s the same. They have barely been with us, not six months.

“I want to improve the squad without big stars, but the right players. It is too early to say we need five, six, seven or eight players. We have to see.”

Ranieri signed a three-year contract last year after succeeding Nigel Pearson as manager and said that he was in no hurry to sign a new deal.

“I have three years,” he said. “Why do I have to sign a new contract?”

While Leicester’s players assembled at the home of star striker Jamie Vardy to watch the Chelsea-Spurs game on television, Ranieri watched at home with his wife.

Asked how he had reacted to the 83rd-minute goal by Chelsea forward Eden Hazard that gave Leicester the title, he replied: “I was first on the armchair, but after on the ceiling!”

Dogara joins Instagram as @speakerdogara

Poised to ensure a seamless communication with his constituents, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, on Wednesday, announced his presence on Instagram, the foremost picture sharing site.

  

With the growing popularity of social media among Nigerian youths, Dogara, who shared a picture from his inauguration in June 2015, said he was on the app to ensure that Nigerians are not kept in the dark regarding his activities as Speaker.

This is even as he has maintained an active presence on the micro-blogging site, Twitter and Facebook.

He said: “On June 9th, 2015, I assumed the mantle of leadership of the House of Representatives. I have always believed that as representatives of the people, we must use all tools at our disposal to ensure that those we represent are not kept in the dark about our activities.

“This, therefore, is to officially announce my presence on this platform, and I look forward to gaining feedback from you all. I’m here to keep you informed, but more importantly, I’m here to listen to you.”

Two years without Chibok girls: Children want celebration of victory, not hope

Marking the second anniversary of the abduction of 219 female students from the Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram without any clue, where they are and when they will be reunited with their parents should be the concern of every citizen and government .

A saying in the western part of Nigeria goes thus, “It is better to hear that the child is dead than to hear that the child is missing or lost”. This means that when a child is dead, parents can grieve and then surrender to fate knowing that there is nothing they can do to bring the child back. But when a child is missing, it is every day sorrow that put parents in a position of endless hope, ill-health or even death.

For the two years since the abduction, civil society organisastions (CSOs) did not relent in their struggle to have the girls freed despite the claim in some quarters that it was to score a political point. If not for the CSOs, especially the Bring Back Our Girls group that steadfastly rallied in Abuja, the abduction may not have remained on the front burner. They brought together people from all walks of life and dedicated their lives to calling on the military to live up to its responsibility and making the world aware that we can’t keep going when the over 200 girls remain in captivity.

The Child Rights Act makes copious provisions on abduction of children. Section 27 of the Act states: “(1) No person shall remove or take a child out of the custody or protection of his father or mother, guardian or such other person having lawful care or charge of the child against the will of the father, mother, guardian or other person. (2) A person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (1) of this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction (a) where the child is unlawfully removed or taken out of Federal Republic of Nigeria (i) with intention to return the child to Nigeria, to imprisonment for a term of fifteen years; or (ii) with no intention to return the child to Nigeria, to imprisonment for a term of twenty years; b) where the child is unlawfully removed or taken out of the State in which the father, mother, guardian or such other person who has lawful care of the child is ordinarily resident, to imprisonment for a term of ten years; or (c) in any case, to imprisonment for a term of seven years.” It is a grave mistake to continue to keep these children, thus violating their rights.

The government, though making efforts to rescue the children from Boko Haram, according to reports, should realise that violence against children goes beyond its negative impact on them and their families. The government should also know that violence weakens the very foundation of social progress, generates huge costs for society, slows economic development and erodes human and social capital. According to UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, “Globally, an estimated US$7 trillion is lost each year due to violence in childhood, equivalent to 8 percent of global GDP. In Sub-Sahara Africa, violence against children is estimated to cost US$440 billion each year,”

President Muhammadu Buhari should always remember his commitment to Nigeria at the launch of the Year of Action to End Violence Against Children that his administration ought to enforce all laws that will protect children from violence and to ensure that the rights of children are protected in the country. He should also note the statement of Amina Yusuf who represented Nigeria at the United Nations General Assembly, last September, “I believe Chibok girls will soon return because change has come”.

Osu caste system: A dead myth or a reality?

Sixty eight years after the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and banned slavery in 1948, some communities in Igbo land are still discriminating against those they still regard as slaves. Investigations by the South East Voice revealed that in some of the communities where people discriminate against the so-called slaves, those who call themselves free-born do not allow the slaves to marry their daughters just as their sons do not marry those they regard as sub-humans.

 

 To drive home the point, some parents give their children, pejorative names like Ohuabunwa meaning slaves are sub-humans. Although the situation is slightly different in Anambra and Abia States, the issue of slavery had been causing problems especially, in many communities in Enugu and Imo States.

Three Classes of people exist in Imo State:

In Imo State, three classes of individuals exist. These are the “free born” (Diala), the enslaved outcasts (Osu, Ohu or Oru) and Ume (those prone-to-die). Oral history has it that the early outcasts were “sacrificed” or willingly surrendered themselves to one deity or the order, to avoid being sold into slavery or the like.

These groups created by the people, predates the advent of Christianity in Igbo land, and has refused to die in the psyche of Ndigbo till date. According to the custom and tradition of the people, all the so- called free born had nothing to do with either the slaves or in their communities, including marriages.

Beyond this despicable deprivation is the humiliation and stigmatization the Osu, Ohu or Ume suffered at the hands of the supposed free born. These groups of people bear their pains with equanimity even as marriage to an Osu man or woman is an abomination. Other minor or lower cast groups found in many communities are called derogatory names like ndi ejiri goro ihe (those sacrificed to the gods or slaves to the gods of the communities). In some other communities, the osu or slave is regarded as a worthless human being.

It is believed that the early missionaries did not do much to eradicate this seeming apartheid in Igbo land. It was either that they did not quite understand the import of the dichotomy or did not want to do anything that would scuttle their missionary activities.

Slavery abolished by the defunct Eastern House of Assembly

Due to the stigmatisation suffered by many people in the hands of their brothers and sisters over the Osu Caste system, the defunct Eastern House of Assembly, on May 10, 1956, abrogated the obnoxious practice through an act of parliament, but 60 years after, this has not done the required magic.

Church leaders wade in

However, some religious leaders in Imo State, including the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Dr Anthony Obinna, and the Anglican Bishop of Okigwe South Diocese, Rt. Rev. David Onuoha, have been waging a spirited war against the practice.

Delivering a lecture recently in the United States of America, Archbishop Obinna said: “A close reading of Jesus’ relationship with the Jews, Samaritans and the Gentiles and his redemptive concern for each of these human groups, opened my eyes, my ears, my inner hearts and mind to a redemptive… concern among my Igbo folks.”

Obinna further said that identifying with all three groups in his racial Igbo family, recognizing the humanity in each sub-group, experiencing and realizing the deep dread, pain and misery    borne by individuals in each segment and across Igbo communities, he found himself rejecting, denouncing and renouncing any identification with all three sub-Igbo groups.

“I had to break up with and break out of all conscious, reflexive and subconscious attachment to each and all three groups and their fears. By a combination of God’s grace in Christ and by continued self-probing, I found a new and unbelievable freedom and courage, which I am offering to the Igbo once enslaved by Igbo-religious-cultural divides,” he added.

Although the cleric has been in the fore-front of this mission, many others across church groups are equally pushing it forward and doing away with centuries old inhuman customs, habits and barriers.

In Enugu State, the cases of Umuode and Oruku in Nkanu East Local Government and Ugbene and Ejuona in Nsukka Local Government, respectively are examples of man’s inhumanity to man.

The perpetual state of war in Oruku, Nkanu, which has led to large-scale displacements of their Umuode kith and kin, now scattered across neighbourhoods within the state, for nearly one decade, is unfortunate and should not be allowed to continue.

The Oruku people, who have always had the upper hand in the recurring violence, and their Umuode victims, had been in the same community as far back as pre-colonial times, even though Oruku was the pioneer in the order of settlement.

However, this innocuous fact of history has been turned on its head and, coupled with slavery and other unwholesome cultural practices, combined to create social stratifications that placed Umuode people on the lower stratum of the Oruku society till date.

It is the same story in Alor Uno Community in Nsukka, where the Ejuona people believe that although their forefathers came from Kwara State and settled at Alor Uno, the Ugbene people who reportedly settled later were now slaves.  In this regard, the Ejuona people reportedly smuggled certain obnoxious chapters which stated that Ugbene people were not qualified to hold any chieftaincy title, not to talk of political positions as they were said to be sub-humans.

The Alor Uno imbroglio has even permeated the Catholic and the Anglican churches which are the major religious organisations in the area as well as those who worship idols. In Alor Uno, it is an abomination for the Ugbene man or woman to pass through some designated bush paths or track roads reserved for the Ejuona man or woman.

In Enugu Ezike, Igboeze North Local Government where gerontocracy is practised, it is abomination for the so-called slaves to hold the ofor sticks which symbolise the presence of the forefathers or authority in the eldest village man’s house or other family heads, just as such people are not allowed to inherit family lands held in trust by the elders for the men in their respective communities.

In Ebonyi State, which is one of the six new states created in 1996 by late General Sanni Abacha’s administration when it was carved out of the old Abakaliki division of Enugu State and the old Afikpo division of Abia State.

In Ebonyi, slavery only existed in the psyche

Ebonyi State is popularly known as the Salt of the Nation apparently because of the large deposits of salt in the state, South East Voice investigations revealed that slavery existed in the psyche of the people due to some historic/ tourists sites used during the period of slave trade in the state. The only form of slavery now is in the form human trafficking.

Slave market/ routes

The slave routes in Ezza and Afikpo served as a reminder of the infamous slave trade era in the state. There was another route and also slave market at Ezza. Quite a huge number of slaves who were taken off the shores of Africa left the country through this route.  The Slave Market Route, Ezza: Located in Ezza in Ezza South Local Government was where slaves were traded before being moved to other places during the slave and inter-tribal war years.

This development is no longer a phenomenon in the state. What is prevalent now is in form of human trafficking which had plagued the state for a long time due to high poverty levels.  However, speaking in an interview with South East Voice, the state police Spokesman, ASP George Okafor said the command had carried out a series of rescue missions to curtail the excesses of human traffickers in the state.

Okafor said that the masterminds of human trafficking were individual and organised criminal groups often involving relatives or other persons already known tothe victims. According to him, contemporary human trafficking was an organized business just as the transatlantic slave trade with various linkages spread around the globe.

A dead myth in Anambra

In Anambra State, time was when the issue of Osu caste system was common in many parts  of Igbo land. In those days, those dubbed Osu were used by the free born for errand and menial jobs and they were not allowed to marry the free born.

The discrimination was so much that the government of the defunct Eastern Region had to set up a committee which eventually recommended the abolition of the system. Though it met resistance as the various communities subtly discriminated against the Osu, the fact that there was a law against calling anybody Osu eventually led to its final death.

As the subtle discrimination continued, many communities took the bold step to officially abolish it in their areas. For in instance the official abolition of Osu Caste system was made by Igwe Kenneth Orizu III of Nnewi about 22 years ago. Some other communities merely played it down and with time, it also died a natural death.

Also, it was learned that communities in Abatete abolished slavery shortly after the war. The leaders of thought in the area were said to have fined the so-called slaves which they paid to free themselves. It was said that after the payment of such fines, there were several days of merriment across the communities to signify the end of social stratifications occasioned by the Osu Caste system in the area and it had remained so till then.

A community leader, Chief Francis Nwafor said though the Osu caste system is dead, many families still make enquiries about family background before marriage and the reason was to avoid marrying an Osu. He however observed that these days when people meet in any part of the world and fall in love, nobody goes to check the family background of the two people involved before they get married, which has also helped to nail the Osu system.

He said: “The truth is that the so-called discrimination that characterized Osu system in this part of the world is practically dead. There is an Eastern Nigerian law that abolished the Osu caste system in the 1950s. With such extant laws, anyone who is derogatorily called Osu or discriminated against on that basis, could sue the person under the law. In fact, the Osu system has died a natural death in this state.

“In truth, the generation that perpetrated the abusive inhuman treatment on the Osu in Igbo land had also virtually dead and the present generation is less concerned about such old cultural practice of Osu caste system. Nobody talks about slavery in Anambra any longer even if it exists in the minds of some people. That is the truth.

Today, those who were dubbed Osu in the past have been known to be ministers, governors, commissioners, presidents general of town unions among others in many communities. They also take chieftaincy titles without any inhibition.”

Slavery no longer popular in Abia state

In Abia State, the Osu and Oru caste practices seem not to be popular now and it is not a topic that is commonly. However, leaders spoken to roundly condemned the practice as a sin against God. Three traditional rulers drawn from the three senatorial zones of the state, in unison dismissed the existence of the practice in their areas.

For His Royal Highness, Eze Peter Ginikanwa of Ohonja, Ovim, in Isiukwuato Local Government Council of the state, “We have no such thing as Osu cast practice in our place. It is even forbidden to call somebody an Osu, let alone discriminating against such a person. We relate freely with everybody. Everybody is a free born here. We don’t discriminate against anybody at all.

“It is a taboo in my place to call somebody an Osu; it attracts heavy fine, because we don’t have such thing and we don’t believe in it. We believe that we are equally created by God Almighty, so who are we to condemn what God created and rate our fellow human being inferior or second class. No it does not exist in our area.

“I therefore condemn any person or group that believes in this and charge them to have a rethink and throw away such belief which is very much against God.” According to a Catholic priest who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he did not get clearance from his bishop to speak, “the people who still believe and practice the Osu or Oru caste  system are not of God.

“They lack wisdom. Who are they to discriminate against God’s creation, a creation. He made in His own image. Anyway thank God that we don’t hear of such things these days in this area. It is absolute rubbish to discriminate against fellow human beings. I call on the government to adequately punish any person that still believes and practices that type of nonsense.”

Also, a prominent traditional ruler from Umuola Egbelu, in Aba North Local Government, Eze Love Wogu, condemned the practice of any form of discrimination against fellow human beings, describing it as “ungodly.”

In Ngwa land generally, we don’t have such practice, we don’t believe in it, it is ungodly, unchristian. No good Christian will support such evil. God created us equal; therefore we have no right to discriminate against anybody. Anybody who does that is challenging God,” Wogu said.

Furthermore, the Towe l of Umutowe autonomous community, Olokoro in Umuahia South Local Government Area, Eze Godffery Onwuka, said that the osu or oru cast system is not known in his community and Olokoro in general, as the people regard everybody as equal and free born.

Onwuka said, “When we are searching for a wife, we don’t raise such issue because we don’t have such belief here; we don’t know what it means. Everybody is a free. In searching for a wife our people ask questions on the character and integrity of the family and not the issue of Osu or Oru because they are not known to us.” Those spoken to did not, however, comment on the origin of derogatory names like Ohuabunwa which some people bear in the state.

Top 4 social media scams to avoid

Social media rules the world. It is the new tech addiction that many young people cannot do without as they spend hours viewing, reading and posting content via the internet. This underscores the importance of social media in today’s world.

As the use of social media rises, there are others out there who are using it to swindle and scam unsuspecting users. In order not to fall for these scams, Jovago Africa’s No.1 hotel booking portal reveals some of these scams.

 

Fake customer service account

Brands and corporate organizations are now on social media as such, it has become possible to resolve complaints and get a quick response to questions on social media. Some of these accounts representing corporate institutions are verified while others are not. Hence, the possibility of chatting with a parody customer service handle is high. If you are getting an unsatisfactory response, you should contact their official helpline.

Comments on popular posts or articles

A particular post or article may generate sizeable comments. And among the comments, you will notice some links directing you to other websites. These links lure you to websites that are either unsafe or offering scandalous services so it is better to ignore such links.

False online discounts

The false discounts are too fantastic to be true. It is not surprising because it is coming from a parody customer service account. They are not legitimate and you can lose your personal information if you fall for it because you will be asked to fill out forms that require your personal information.

Online surveys and polls

The rule of thumb is ‘if you do not trust the website, do not visit it’. One of the easiest ways to have your personal information stolen is via online survey and polls. Most fraudulent hackers often tweet or post a dangerous link urging users to complete forms for a survey. You can fill the forms but do not give out information like credit card details.

Avoid live streaming videos

This is another way of scamming people on social media as more media companies start streaming their shows and movies online. But these links they share on social media lead to fake websites which only ask for data of visitors.

Real Madrid v Manchester City factfile

Factfile on Real Madrid and Manchester City ahead of the Champions League semi-final, second leg between the clubs at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Wednesday:

First leg

Tuesday, April 26

At Manchester

Manchester City (ENG) 0 Real Madrid 0

Real Madrid

Injured Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo watched from the stands last Tuesday but the three-time World Player of the Year and the Portuguese returned to training on Sunday. He has been in blistering form in the Champions League this season, scoring 16 goals in 10 appearances. Karim Benzema came off injured at half-time in the first leg and is a mild doubt. Gareth Bale was also ineffective in the first leg but his thunderous header kept an under-strength Real in the chase for the La Liga title with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Real Sociedad on Saturday, their tenth league win in a row.

Form:

Man City

Manchester City go to Madrid knowing a score draw is enough for them to qualify for a first ever Champions League final after the 0-0 draw in Manchester last week where Joe Hart kept City’s hopes alive with two key saves. But City go into the game on the back of a painful 4-2 league defeat at Southampton on Sunday where coach Manuel Pellegrini made eight changes. Only Hart, Nicolas Otamendi and Fernandinho started against Madrid and Southampton, and while Yaya Toure is expected to be fit, David Silva will miss the return leg. On a positive note striker Kelechi Iheanacho scored twice in the weekend defeat while Hart picked the ball out of his net four times mainly because he was at the mercy of his own leaky defence.

Coaches:

Real Madrid – Zinedine Zidane (FRA) — 43 yrs Manchester City – Manuel Pellegrini (CHI) — 62 yrs

Leading scorers in all competitions:

Manchester City – Sergio Aguero (28 goals)

Real Madrid – Cristiano Ronaldo (47 goals)

Road to quarter-finals:

Manchester City – Winners of Group D ahead of Juventus; beat Dynamo Kiev (UKR) 3-1 on aggregate in last 16, beat Paris Saint Germain 3-2 in the quarter-finals

Real Madrid – Winners of Group A ahead of Paris Saint-Germain; beat Roma (ITA) 4-0 on aggregate in last 16, beat Wolfsburg 3-2 on aggregate

European Cup/Champions League best performances:

Manchester City – quarter-finals 2016

Real Madrid – ten-time winners 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014

Other honours:

Manchester City – 4 x English champions, 5 x FA Cup winners, 4 x League Cup winners, 4 x Community Shield winners, 1 x Cup Winners’ Cup winners

Real Madrid – 32 x Spanish champions, 19 x Spanish Cup winners, 9 x Spanish Supercup winners, 2 x UEFA Cup winners, 2 x UEFA Super Cup winners, 3 x Intercontinental Cup winners, 1 x Club World Cup winners


Previous meetings before this season:

Champions League Group phase 18/09/2012 Real Madrid 3 Man City 2

Champions League Group phase 21/09/2012 Man City 1 Real Madrid 1

7m Children with disabilities demand review of education policies

CHILDREN with disabilities across the country have demanded review of all legal policy frameworks on education at the national and state levels to accommodate more children who are physically impaired in the country.

They said it was unfortunate that about seven million of them were out of school in spite of the provision of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act of 2004 in the country.

The children, who spoke through the National President of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Ekaete Umoh, revealed that they remain out of school because virtually all primary and secondary schools in Nigeria were designed, built and managed in ways that was totally not inclusive of and not accessible to them.

Ekaete was speaking at the media launch of the Baseline Survey conducted in Akwa-Ibom, Kwara states and the Federal Capital Territory as part of the ongoing project on Advocacy for Inclusive and Accessible Universal Basic Education for Children with Disabilities in Nigeria supported by USAID Strengthening Advocacy and Civic Engagement (SACE) Programme in Nigeria, in Abuja.

JONAPWD President said it was ironical that basic education remains free and compulsory in the country, but the door still remains shot against children with disabilities in their father land.

She said; “Research has shown that children with disabilities constitute more than 50 percent of the over 10 million out of school children in Nigeria despite the provision of free and compulsory of basic education for all children.”

According to her, the idea of special school for these categories of children is no longer working because it takes them away from their family and community lives.

Ekaete explained that the number of out of school children with disabilities keeps on increasing “because their education is confined to the few, outdated, poorly funded and inadequately staffed special schools which are mostly sited in very distant hard-to-reach locations.

“The system of special school is being rejected because of its contribution to the sustenance of negative practices against PWDs and the denial of the rights of children with disabilities to family and community life.”

She further noted that though the country had signed and ratified several International Protocols/Conventions on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, they were abandoned or poorly implemented by the government.


To correct this, the group called on all “stakeholders to review all existing legal and policy frameworks including the UBE Act of 2004, the draft National policy on special needs education and the National policy on Education.

“State governments also need to initiate policies in this direction, while those states with policies on inclusive education should work towards full implementation.”

Also, they stressed the need for the proper implementation of the 2016 budget with high consideration for persons with disabilities.

“It is expected that a pilot or demonstrative implementation of inclusive education policy would have commenced in at least nine primary and secondary schools in each of the three project locations,” they added.

Lake Chad countries warned over Boko Haram ‘victory’ claims

Countries hit by Boko Haram violence were warned on Wednesday not to make premature claims of victory, despite the Islamist group being pegged back by a sustained military counter-insurgency.

“Though the military response to Boko Haram has become more cogent, the Lake Chad states should not too quickly proclaim ‘mission accomplished’,” the International Crisis Group said.

“Even if they are made to abandon all territorial pretensions in Nigeria’s northeast and the Lake Chad area, or are forced to abandon their guerrilla war, some Boko Haram militants at least are likely to seek to continue their insurgency in some form, probably through terror attacks,” the security analysts added.

Nigeria and its neighbours Cameroon, Chad and Niger are due to hold a security summit in Abuja on May 14 with international partners including Britain, France and the United States.

The ICG said the meeting — two years after the first in Paris — was “an opportunity to consolidate regional and wider international cooperation” as well as review current policies.

Closer ties beyond military support were vital to address key drivers of the conflict, as well as its effects, to prevent sustained support for the Islamists and similar, future threats.

These include addressing the humanitarian situation for the more than 2.8 million people made homeless by the violence since 2009, and re-establishing the rule of law and governance in the region.

Also key was treatment of detained Boko Haram suspects and even more moderate fighters willing to be rehabilitated, the ICG wrote in a briefing paper, “Boko Haram on the back foot?”

“How governments treat and distinguish Boko Haram ideologues from those who joined from other motives will be vital,” the report said.

“Dealing appropriately with ex-members is the first step to lessen recruitment.”

Nigeria’s military on Tuesday said dozens of Boko Haram fighters were now at a rehabilitation camp in an undisclosed location and undergoing a “deradicalisation” programme.

– ‘Difficult to eradicate’ –

President Muhammadu Buhari, who has made defeating Boko Haram a priority since taking power last year, in December declared that the Islamic State group affiliate was “technically” defeated.

Armed service chiefs have in recent days also been talking up operations in Boko Haram’s Sambisa Forest stronghold, indicating a final push was under way.

But the rebels have still been able to deploy suicide bombers in northeast Nigeria, and particularly northern Cameroon, even if attacks have decreased in Chad and Niger.

The ICG recommended winding down the use of civilian militia forces who have helped the military maintain security but also been accused of abuses against civilians.


A failure to do so could increase the risk of local, communal violence, it warned, adding: “Many could become tools for local politicians to misuse.”

Boko Haram, whose push for a hardline Islamic state in northeast Nigeria has left more than 20,000 people dead since 2009, has come to resemble a marauding criminal gang in recent months.

The ICG, however, cautioned that its reduced capacity to operate beyond hit-and-run raids for resources should not be under-estimated.

“Much like other jihadist groups, such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), it may become less a guerrilla force attached to a specific territory and more a terror group with a longer reach,” the report added.

“Even if it may be on its back foot, Boko Haram is likely to be difficult to eradicate, because it originates from Nigeria’s deep structural challenges.”

These include deep-seated corruption and poor governance, as well as perceived regional inequalities, abject poverty and lack of opportunity that Boko Haram was able to exploit for support.

A failure to tackle these, combined with uncertainty and weakness in neighbouring countries, could prolong Boko Haram’s existence in a different form or even create a new security threat, the ICG added.

Witchcraft: Boy, 17, kills mum for rituals

A 17year-old boy, Agayo Iorzenda,  paraded by the Benue State Police Command, said he decided to kill his mother at Tse-Agbaigbe Ikyurav-Tiev 11, in Katsina/Ala Local Government Area, because she was responsible for his being impotent in the last few years.


Parading the suspect, yesterday, at the Command Headquarters, state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Paul Yakadi, said he was apprehended Monday evening  by the Police in Katsina-Ala.

He said the suspect allegedly shot his mother with a locally-made gun after accusing her of witchcraft.

Represented by the Command Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent, ASP, Moses Yamu, the Police Commissioner said the matter was still being investigated by the Police after which he would face trial.

Speaking to reporters, Iorzenda  said:

“I went to consult the oracle over my impotence and I was told that my mother used my manhood for witchcraft and rendered me impotent. She did not want me to be a man.

“So my friend advised me to kill her so as to use her blood to acquire spiritual powers that will help me become rich and also do many other things. That was why I shot her.”

Alleged N32bn fraud: FG fails to produce Dasuki in court

Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf of an Abuja High Court at Maitama, yesterday, adjourned trial of erstwhile National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), till May 23.

 

The trial which was originally scheduled to kick off yesterday, was stalled by failure of the Federal Government to produce the defendant in court.

Since February 8, when the court ordered full-blown hearing on the matter, the Federal Government has repeatedly failed to produce Dasuki for the trial to commence.

At the resumed sitting, yesterday, though EFCC notified the court that some of the witnesses were present, it blamed the absence of the defendant on refusal by the Department of State Services, DSS, to release him from custody.

EFCC lawyer, Mr Oluwaleke Atolagbe, told the court that he made serious efforts to contact the DSS to produce Dasuki in court yesterday for the trial to begin.

He said it was regrettable that the efforts turned futile as the DSS still refused to release the defendant.

Atolagbe said there was no indication that the former NSA would be brought to court for the trial, even though the witnesses were available.

However,  the EFCC lawyer prayed the court for a stand-down to enable the lead prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, who he said was handling another matter at the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, to appear and give further explanations on what transpired between the commission and the DSS.

The request was vehemently opposed by counsel to the other defendants, led by Chief Olujimi, SAN, and Solomon Umoh, SAN, who contended that such stand-down would be inconsequential in the absence of the first defendant in court.

The defendants, while conceding to an adjournment, urged the court to issue a stern warning to the prosecution to ensure the presence of the 1st defendant on the next adjourned date.

In his ruling, Justice Yusuf stressed that it was the responsibility of the prosecution to produce the defendant in court for trial as required by law.

Noting that the prosecuting counsel had previously conducted himself properly before the court, the judge said he was minded to give the Federal Government one more chance.

It will be recalled that the accused persons were arraigned before the court on December 14, 2015, and were subsequently granted bail to the tune of N200million each.

Aside seizure of their international passports, the court, ordered the defendants to individually produce a surety who must be a serving or retired civil servant not below the rank of a Director, adding that the said surety must be an owner of a landed property within the Federal Capital Territory worth N200m .

Even though the court granted them bail on December 18, 2015, Dasuki was  on December 29, 2015, re-arrested by security operatives, immediately he was released by prison authorities after he perfected all the bail conditions.

Buhari’s govt working hard to put food on Nigerians’ tables —Tinubu

CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC, Lagos Central), yesterday, hailed President Muhammadu

 

Buhari’s administration for working hard to put food on the tables of Nigerians.

Speaking, yesterday, while contributing to a Bill for an Act to make provisions for freedom from hunger and the right to adequate food of acceptable quality, the right of every child to basic nutrition and for connected purposes 2016, sponsored by Senator Theodore Orji (PDP, Abia Central) Senator Tinubu commended the former Abia State governor for the bill and other lawmakers who contributed, saying the bill had come at a very trying time in the country.

She said: “The government we have at present has only been in government for about 11 months. Senator Orji should have given us an example of what has been done in his state.

“This present administration has placed priority on agriculture. It is going to take time. When we get to the committee, we are going to look at it critically. Even next month, we are not going to see but this administration will make sure that we can put food on our table.”

Also contributing to the bill, which passed second reading, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia South), noted that sustainable farming and food were some the major problems existing in the country.

He also stressed the need for the setting up of an agency to handle agricultural mishaps in the country.

He said: “We are talking about something very serious which is the stomach. There are so many problems in the country and part of the difficulties we are having today are subsistence farming and food.

“I will support anything that will help us with the problem. Another aspect that was not brought out well is the bill for an agency that will be able to forecast what will happen when we are not able to handle the agricultural activities.”

Also in his contribution, Senator Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central) said: “The pride of any nation is to keep itself. Unfortunately, Nigeria has been caught in a trap.”

We work for politicians —Robbery suspect

A 29-year-old tricycle operator, who was arrested by the Lagos State Police Command,  has alleged that some of the arms used by robbers were given to them by politicians during campaigns.

 

The suspect, Muyideen Ibrahim, was arrested alongside other robbery suspects that have been terrorising the state.

Recovered from him and five other suspected members of  his gangs, were some locally made pistols and live cartridges. Identities of suspected members of his gang are;  Ramonu Sanusi, Rilawanu Ayinde , Sodiq Olaide and Kazeem Idris .

His arrest as gathered, followed a tip off by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS Ikeja.

In an interview with our news , the suspect also confessed to be using his tricycle  to convey weapons for members of separate robbery gangs, who he said were also members of different confraternities.

He said “ I use my keke Marwa to  convey weapons for the gang.  I am a political thug and not a robber. I work during elections only. Most of the guns were given to us by politicians. We get the guns from some honorables at Onike. They pay us at the end of the day. But some political thugs end up not taking the guns back to the politicians. Most of the thugs are cultists.

One of them( cultists) Dagbe Ahmed, stays with me. But I never knew he is an armed robber. I was arrested because the police got to know that he stays with me. Dagbe and I work for different politicians. I do not fight or kill like them, I only operate with my keke marwa after elections”, he said

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni said other members of the gang whose identities he gave as Oshanleke and Sodiq Kashi, were still at large , adding that effort was in progress to arrest them.

2016 Budget: Buhari gets clean copy today

THE lingering controversy surrounding the 2016 Appropriation Bill has been finally put to rest as President Muhammadu Buhari will get the clean copy of the budget today.

Since last week, Senators and members of the House of Representatives have engaged in marathon meetings up till yesterday to put finishing touches to the budget for onward submission to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

  

As part of moves to end the impasse, the leadership of the National Assembly and a select group from the executive arm of government began a meeting yesterday, primarily to arrive at a consensus on the final and clean copy of the budget.

According to a source, the meeting was agreed on by both camps and coordinated by the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma.

The source said further that the meeting had one agenda: to make an appropriation bill that would be clean and made available for presidential assent today.

Prior to the meeting, which was held outside the National Assembly, the delegation from the National Assembly had met with the leadership of the Assembly to get a final position to be presented at the meeting.

It was also gathered from a source close to all the arrangements to get the budget issues resolved, that the grey areas were being gradually reduced to the satisfaction of all parties .

A member of the committee from the Senate in a text message to Vanguard, yesterday, said as Senators, they were not happy as other members tampered with the budget and disclosed that the decision was to do everything the President wanted.

“We are going to do everything Mr President wants. This is because our colleagues disappointed us by tampering with the budget at the reconciliation level. We don’t want to be used as an excuse for any failure,” the member said.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had, last weekend, assured Nigerians that President Buhari would this week sign the bill into law.

A Presidency source, who was cornered yesterday to speak on the development, said: “We have received a copy for preview. We are meeting with them, about 3 to 4pm, because it was to be consensual working.

“Ministers will look at what they have done so that it will be agreed fully that this is what will be presented. The assurance that budget would be signed today will be kept because the Vice President is the head of the economic team.

“The grey areas are being eliminated one by one and Nigerians will be happy when the budget is passed. They are being eliminated and reduced. It will be a budget for Nigeria made by Nigerians.”

According to the source, the executive wants to make sure that the budget meetings and discussions are done properly so as to keep each other’s powers intact.

He said: “The executive has its powers, very enormous. The small powers of the legislature should be preserved. So in matters like these, it is the legislature that is the Oga.”

“So, we the executive have to respond. We are the ones begging them to pass budget. Therefore, they approve of the venues of the meetings.”

It would be recalled that the National Assembly had on Wednesday, March 23, 2016, passed the 2016 Appropriation Bill submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari in December last year.

Instagram hacked by 10-year-old boy

A 10-year-old Finnish boy named Jani has been given $10,000 (£7,000) after he found a security flaw in image-sharing social network Instagram.
The boy, who technically is not allowed to even join the site for another three years, discovered a bug that allowed him to delete comments made by other users.
The issue was "quickly" fixed after being discovered, said Facebook, which owns Instagram.
Jani was paid soon after - making him the youngest ever recipient of the firm's "bug bounty" prize.
After discovering the flaw in February, he emailed Facebook.
Security engineers at the company set up a test account for Jani to prove his theory - which he did.
The boy, from Helsinki, told Finnish newspaper Iltalehti he planned to use the money to buy a new bike, football equipment and computers for his brothers.
Facebook told the BBC it had paid $4.3m to bug bounty recipients since 2011.
Many companies offer a financial incentive for security professionals - and young children, evidently - to share flaws with the company, rather than selling them on the black market.