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JIHADI FIGHTERS SETTLE IN NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA AFTER CROSSING FROM BENIN

Published

3 months ago

June 19, 2024

Editor

JIHADI FIGHTERS SETTLE IN NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) – Jihadi fighters who had long operated in Africa’s volatile Sahel region have settled in northwestern Nigeria after crossing from neighboring Benin, according to a report released Wednesday. This marks the latest trend in the militants’ movements toward wealthier West African coastal nations.

Extremists linked to al-Qaida crossed over from Benin’s hard-hit northern region over the past year and settled in Kainji Lake National Park, one of Nigeria’s largest parks. Other armed groups have also gained access to this area, the Clingendael Institute think tank reported. The institute has conducted extensive research in the Sahel.

Residents near the park told The Associated Press that authorities closed the facility, which hosts one of West Africa’s rapidly declining lion populations, more than a year ago due to security threats from armed groups attacking nearby villages and roads.

“Before, it was like a tourism center, but now, people find it difficult to pass through there,” said John Yerima, a resident of New Bussa town near the park. “You cannot enter that road leading to the park now. It is seriously dangerous.”

The security situation at the 5,300-square-kilometer (2,000-square-mile) park in Niger state and along the border with Benin is “getting out of hand” and is “a much more explosive situation than we had anticipated,” said Kars de Bruijne, a senior research fellow at the Clingendael Institute and one of the report’s authors.

The “sustained presence” of armed groups in the park signals the first connection between Nigeria’s homegrown extremists, who have waged a decade-long insurgency in the northern region, and al-Qaida-linked militants from the Sahel, the vast arid region south of the Sahara Desert, de Bruijne said. Their presence could allow the extremists to claim large-scale success in both countries, which have already suffered deadly attacks in recent years, he added.

Known as a global hotspot for violent extremism, the Sahel region’s worsening security crisis coincides with military coups toppling democratic governments. As military governments struggle to contain the violence, they are increasingly severing security ties with traditional partners France and the United States, turning instead to Russia for support.

In northwest Nigeria, security analysts have previously warned that the region’s remote territories, largely abandoned by the government but rich in mineral resources and afflicted by high poverty levels, provide an opportunity for expansion for jihadi groups that have mainly operated in the Sahel, as well as for the Islamic State group, whose fighters control parts of the Lake Chad basin.

“A link between Lake Chad and the Sahel is a major opportunity for al-Qaida and the Islamic State to boost their profiles as leaders of global jihad,” the report stated.

Conservationists are also concerned that the presence of armed groups in the park could further threaten the remaining lion populations, already in decline due to climate change and poaching.

“The security situation has become a top concern for the lion populations in Nigeria,” said Stella Egbe, senior conservation manager at the Nigerian Conservation Foundation.

The Clingendael report noted that the motives of the Sahel extremists in the park remain unclear, as does their relationship with other armed groups there. Security analysts suggest that the park offers opportunities for logistics and greater influence amid booming illegal trade across the porous border.

“The Sahelian jihadis could potentially use northwestern Nigeria for fundraising, logistics, and to influence the jihadi groups there as part of their own competition,” said James Barnett, a fellow at the Hudson Institute who contributed to the report.

Despite the rise of jihadi fighters, banditry remains the primary security threat across many villages in Nigeria’s northwest, Barnett noted. The bandits have occasionally collaborated with jihadi fighters in carrying out attacks, but even these rare collaborations can have “very deadly consequences,” he added.

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WHY MIMIKO HAS NOT OFFICIALLY DEFECTED TO APC DESPITE SUPPORTERS’ SWITCH

Published

1 month ago

August 13, 2024

Abiodun Badejo

WHY MIMIKO HAS NOT OFFICIALLY DEFECTED TO APC DESPITE SUPPORTERS’ SWITCH

Fresh insights have revealed why former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, has yet to officially defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), even as many of his loyalists have already abandoned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling party.

Sources close to the situation told “News Eyes Daily” that Mimiko, the PDP leader in Ondo State, is awaiting a “green light” from the Presidential Villa before formally announcing his move to the APC.

Mimiko, who governed Ondo State for eight years is reportedly aiming to make his defection a national event rather than a state-level affair.

According to insiders, Mimiko is in talks with his allies within the APC to arrange for a high-profile reception by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and key national leaders of the party at the Presidential Villa.

He is said to have already instructed his supporters to return to their local wards and officially exit the PDP for the APC.

Last Saturday, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, reportedly met with several of Mimiko’s loyalists at the Governor’s office in Akure.

Among those present were Rt. Hon. Jumoke Akindele, Engr. Gboye Adegbenro, Arc. Olajide Adejuyigbe, Hon. Joseph Akinlaja, Barr. Tunde Atere, Ms. Taiye Afilaka, and Omooba Eni Akinsola.

One source revealed, “It is true that Mimiko has directed his followers to join the APC. While his body remains in the PDP, his soul is already with the APC. They have become political wanderers since 2014 when he rejoined PDP from LP. Mimiko dumped PDP for ZLP where he contested for the senate which he lost in the 2019 general elections. He and his followers returned to the PDP in 2021, and they are now joining APC.

“Mimiko views the APC as a platform to revive his political career and wishes to be accorded the respect he believes he deserves.

“It is an insult that he will now decamp in Akure where he will be received by the State Chairman of the party, Ade Adetimehin or Aiyedatiwa. Mimiko is a national figure that will add value to the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections”.

The former governor is reportedly seeking a reception similar to that of other notable defectors, such as former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator Pius Anyim and ex-Katsina Governor Ibrahim Shema, both of whom were welcomed by President Tinubu at the Villa, bypassing state-level receptions.

Mimiko’s defection is seen as a strategic move, possibly aimed at leveraging the recent passing of former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, to assume a significant leadership role within the APC.

As the only living former governor in the state, Mimiko may see this as an opportunity to reassert his influence without needing the current governor’s endorsement to access the party’s national apparatus.

However, insiders suggest that Mimiko is still awaiting confirmation on whether he will receive the presidential reception he desires, which is delaying his official switch to the APC.

His past as a political ally of Tinubu, followed by a rift when he supported the PDP and attempted to weaken the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), adding a complex layer to his anticipated defection.

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“AIYEDATIWA-ADELAMI CARES”: SON OF GRACE DONATES FOODSTUFFS TO VULNERABLE PEOPLE

Published

2 months ago

July 15, 2024

Abiodun Badejo

“AIYEDATIWA-ADELAMI CARES”: SON OF GRACE DONATES FOODSTUFFS TO VULNERABLE PEOPLE

In a bid to alleviate present economic hardship faced by the elderly, vulnerable people and the down trodden in the society, a philanthropist and politician Oluwatobi Aruwajoye also Known as Son Of Grace has donated essential palliative foodstuffs like Rice, Beans and Garri to more than 300 benefiaries.

This initiative, tagged “Aiyedatiwa-Adelami Cares” championed by the “Lucky Son Of Grace Movement” powered by Oluwatobi Aruwajoye

which is aimed at complimenting the efforts of Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa at bettering the welfare of the people of the sunshine state, aims to bring much-needed assistance to the grassroots level.

The Lucky Son of Grace Palliative Program which was held on Sunday, July 14th, 2024, at the Aruwajoye Civic Center, Owo, according to Oluwatobi Aruwajoye is dedicated to offering comfort and care by reducing hunger in our community and providing support to the elderly and other vunurable people through the distribution of free food items.

In a his speech, Oluwatobi Aruwajoye stated “In the heart of Owo, the mission of the “Son Of Grace” is clear and unwavering: to improve the lives of our people in every possible way. This is a mission I carry with deep commitment and passion”.

“We also have a deep commitment to caring for the most vulnerable members of our community. Our food aid programs are a lifeline for elders, the disabled, and the less privileged. By providing access to nutritious meals, we address both immediate needs and advocate for long-term solutions to food insecurity. Our compassion and dedication are evident in our tireless work to uplift those in need”.

“The ‘Lucky Son of Grace’ movement is part of my philanthropic gestures at ensuring that the down trodden are reached constantly and provided with the basics of life and it’s a means of complementing the numerous efforts of the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa at ensuring that welfare of the people of the sunshine state are well attended to even at a crucial period like this.

“On this day, Saturday July 14, 2024, with the “Aiyedatiwa – Adelami cares” program under the “Lucky Son Of Grace Movement” we have gathered beneficiaries here at the Aruwajoye Civic Centre, Owo to receive essential foodstuff supplies like Rice, Beans and Garri. Knowing that those who need it most receive the help they deserve, I am filled with hope and determination that this initiative will definitely make an impact positively and relatively in the lives of our people”.

“I promise that this initiative will not be a one-off event but a regular one that will make endeavor to ensure that thousands will eventually benefit. Together, we can create a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and the enablement to survive”.

The beneficiaries were so elated as they showed praises, encomium and prayers on him. They urged others to emulate the kind and thoughtful gestures at ensuring that a lot is done to help those that are in dire need of help in a crucial period like this.

They also testified to the fact that Oluwatobi Aruwajoye has been quite helpful in other crucial sectors like education, where he has made it a priority to support the educational journey of the children through initiatives that provide school uniforms, sandals, books and school fees.

In addition, Oluwatobi Aruwajoye has launched programs to support small business owners. He has been offering financial assistance and mentorship to entrepreneurs by empowering then to launch and grow their businesses. This creates job opportunities and fosters economic growth, enabling individuals to build better lives for themselves and their families. All these efforts he has embarked upon in the bid to make the people self-sufficient.