Connect with us

Lifestyle

Insecurity: Security Agencies Must Identify All ‘Unknown’ Gunmen ― Sultan

Published

on

All religious leaders inciting public must be arrested •124 persons killed, buried in Sokoto •Attack on NDA shows no place is safe in Nigeria ― CAN

The Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III has said that all the unknown gunmen perpetrating evil across the country must be identified and prosecuted.

Speaking at the 3rd Quarter 2021 Council Meeting of the Nigeria Inter-religious Council (NIREC) in Abuja, Sultan Abubakar expressed worry over the level of insecurity in the country, noting that things are not getting better.

He wondered why unknown people kill so many people and nothing is done when there are security and intelligence agencies in the country.

“All of us are very worried about the level of insecurity in this country. And I keep on saying it, things are not getting better, and I will continue saying it.

“How can they be unknown, unknown people kill so many people and nothing is done, where are our intelligence agencies don’t we have a proactive intelligence agency that will see ahead of anybody or any criminal that is trying to do something? I am a military man and I know what I am talking about.”

The Sultan queried why do religious leaders come out in the public domain and say so many nasty things that will raise tension.

“The Co-Chairman (CAN President) made a remark of one Islamic leader, I have never heard of it until I saw that video, and I know somebody in Plateau who made a very terrible video calling on the youths to rise up and kill Muslims, it’s all over the social media.

“What are our security agencies doing, can’t they invite these people and ask them what they really mean? Nobody should be above the law, whether a Christian or a Muslim, you cannot incite people to kill innocent people,” he added.

He said killings and burials have been going on in Sokoto East, where several persons have been killed and buried without media coverage.

“In Sokoto alone, there was a day we buried 76 people, they were killed in cold blood by criminals, people don’t hear about that one, there was a day we buried 48 people in the same Sokoto, but we don’t hear about that one,” he said.

“All the people committing these atrocities must be identified, our security agencies must up their game, identify them and take action on them, whether he is a religious leader or an ethnic leader.”

Addressing the religious leaders, Sultan Abubakar said “as religious leaders, it is important for us to always tell the truth, we shouldn’t be afraid, to tell the truth. Why should religious leaders come to the public domain and make nasty comments that can raise tension?

“What I am saying is that all these people that are committing criminal activities whether religious, traditional or political leaders must be identified and be made to face the law.

“We must be serious in stopping this carnage but if we want to stop it, you allow foreign powers to come and play the game we don’t know how to play and it will be too bad for us. I am making these comments with all seriousness because we are so disturbed by the way things are going.

“There is a lot of hate speech from religious leaders, political leaders, you cannot kill innocent people in the name of religion and claim that you are going to heaven, you are deceiving yourself, you are going to hell,” the Sultan noted.

On his part, the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Samson Ayokunle said the state of the nation presently is not healthy because of insurgents attacks.

He said bandits now enter into town and the so-called secured places with reckless audacity to kidnap people and kill.

“Police stations and even the Nigerian Defence Academy was not spared, these are the people we depend upon for security, but they also need to be secured, if the army are not safe in their own barracks in the hands of bandits, who then can be safe?”

The CAN President said the military should be encouraged to sustain an onslaught against criminals and bring those apprehended to book, he added that without this, criminalities will continue to increase and the citizens endangered more.

“We must all be concerned about the attacks of bandits to communities in the North West and North Central. It is time for the security agencies to take the battle against these criminals in their hideout.

“I think the insult the bandits did to the army was not only a wake-up call to them but a good development for us because the military and all those at the so-called safe haven now know that they are not safe at all.

“It is now compulsory for them to take the battle to where these criminals are, they need to boost their intelligence gathering and be more proactive in apprehending the criminals before they commit their evil act.

“Any sincere Nigerian at this stage should be worried about the state we are in our nation, it is extremely frightening.”

He told religious leaders, it is time for them to unanimously condemn these criminalitieswithout any form of religious or ethnic sentiments before it consumes all of them.

“We religious leaders will equally be circumspect about what we say, because after the killing of the religious pilgrims in Jos, a Muslim Cleric Sheikh Abubakar Zaria in a video that went viral, came out to say that there would be reprisal attacks, and due to what he said, reprisal attacks has been happening.

“Such a man in my opinion does not care if the nation is set on fire, in a more proactive and sincere society, such a man should be invited by the DSS for making an inflammatory statement,” he added.

Speaking on the issue of amnesty for Boko Haram, Reverend Ayokunle said it is a very controversial issue, that the government is advised to consult with stakeholders widely before taking the decision.

“It will include the governors where the insurgency is predominant, the surviving victims of insurgency as well as the opinion and religious leaders.

“If other criminals face the wrath of the law, why should people who have murdered their fellow Nigerians, maimed many, raped many and sent many away from their homeland will be allowed to go scot-free?

“How are we sure that they will not go back to their criminality after they have been released into the society?” and he wondered.

“If we grant amnesty to these criminals who committed capital offences, how can we justify punishment for armed robbers, looters of treasuries and other criminals in the land,” he added.

The secretary to the government of the Federal, Boss Mustapha said the situation in Nigeria today called for the deepening of political and religious collaboration at all times.

“As a body, we must continue to build an environment where prejudice, intolerance, violence and other vices will remain alien to our culture and practices.

“The federal government would continue to give all necessary support to religious and traditional leaders to promote peace and unity in the country,” he noted.

Culled from the Tribune News Nigeria

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Houston

Houston’s Urban South Brewery Celebrates Fourth Anniversary

Published

on

Urban South Brewery Houston will host its upcoming Anniversary Party from Friday, April 5 through Sunday, April 7, in the HTX Taproom, starting at 11 AM, celebrating four years of crafting exceptional brews and fostering community culture. This milestone event will be an exciting day featuring live music, food, activities, and a vendor market.

Beer enthusiasts are also in for a treat with the release of four exclusive anniversary specialty beers. Highlights include “Press Start,” a crafted Czech Pale Lager brewed in collaboration with Parleaux Beer Lab. Additionally, beer fans can indulge in “Level Up,” an Old-Fashioned Cocktail Sour Ale infused with orange peel, Luxardo cherry syrup, and subtle bourbon barrel notes. The offerings continue with “High Score,” a robust Double IPA bursting with flavors of Mosaic, Citra, and Chinook hops, and “Game Over,” a decadent Neapolitan Ice Cream Stout layered with strawberry fruit, Tahitian vanilla bean, and milk chocolate.

To make the celebration even more memorable, fans can pre-order an Exclusive 8-Bit Beer Box featuring the four-anniversary specialty beers (Press Start, Level Up, High Score, Game Over), a 16oz can-shaped Silipint with discounted refills, and 2 tokens redeemable for draft beer.

The Anniversary Party is open to the public, welcoming families and furry friends. Urban South Brewery invites everyone to join in the festivities and toast to four years of brewing excellence.

For more information on Urban South’s Anniversary Celebration, follow the Houston taproom on Instagram and Facebook.

Continue Reading

Lifestyle

$600 Million Showdown: Michael Jackson’s Estate Executors Refusing to Pay Pop Star’s Mom $500k Legal Bill

Published

on

Now She is Fighting to Block Music Catalog Sale

The war between Michael Jackson ’ s mother Katherine and the two executors running his estate has heated up. According to court documents, lawyers for the executors, John Branca and John McClain , asked the court to shut down Katherine’s recent demand for $500k.

As we first reported, Katherine filed a motion asking that she be reimbursed $561,548. She said she spent the amount on a team of lawyers to fight the executors over the sale of Michael’s music catalog .

The executors asked the court to approve the music catalog sale in 2022. Katherine quickly opposed the deal. The parties went back and forth in court for months until a hearing was held on the matter.

At the hearing, Katherine testified that Michael did not want the music catalog sold and that he considered it a lifeline. Michael’s children Paris and Blanket told the court they opposed the deal too. Blanket said he opposed on emotional grounds.

The executors fired back claiming Katherine has a pattern of objecting to lucrative deals. They argued the market was hot for the music catalog sale and they needed to take advantage of it.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=20oBOm_0rpVCYR600
The estate said it had every right to make the deal. 

“The Estate was teetering on the verge of collapse, with more than $400 million in debt that encumbered Michael’s most significant assets and little or no liquidity or means to service that debt. Through creative thinking, hard work and business savvy—and, of course, Michael’s extraordinary creative legacy—the Executors transformed the MJJ Business into a profitable enterprise,” the executors said as they argued for the deal to be approved.

Despite the family’s plea, the judge approved the executors’ deal and allowed them to move forward with the sale.

Within weeks, Katherine had filed an appeal of the decision. She argued the executors did not have the authority to sell Michael’s assets.

Recently, the executors argued that Katherine’s appeal should be dismissed. They said they had every right to sell the catalog. No decision has been reached on the appeal.

On February 9, 2024, the estate announced they sold one half of Jackson’s music to Sony for $600 million — a deal that Katherine said should not have gone through.

As part of the appeal, Katherine won a couple of small victories against the estate. As a result, she asked the court to award her the $561k in legal fees.

Now, the executors asked the court to deny the motion for legal fees. In their motion, they argued, “The Petition does not indicate the source from which Mrs. Jackson’s counsel seeks to have the requested attorney’s fees and expenses paid. It is not clear whether she is seeking payment from the probate estate or from the Trust.”

Further, the executors argued, “To the extents Mrs. Jackson seeks payment from the probate estate, the Petition lacks merit because it relies on provisions of the Trust, claiming that payment of legal fees is required by provisions of the Trust authorizing the Trustees to make payments “in [their] absolute discretion, for [Mrs. Jackson’s] care, support, maintenance, comfort and well-being.”

A judge has yet to rule.

Culled from Rada online

Continue Reading

Houston

Otu-Umuokpu Anambra USA in Houston Gets New Leadership  

Published

on

Houston – TX: The Otu-Umuokpu Anambra USA Association Inc., Headquartered in Houston, Texas, has inaugurated its new executive leadership. An election was held in November 2023 where a set of new executive leadership emerged and was officially sworn-in on February 4, 2024.

Adaeze Stella Icon Adeone Samuel ( Stainless) is now the group’s new President, whereas Adaeze Nkiruka Mbonu ( Mmili doluedo) is the  Vice President.  Former President, Adaeze Dr Maria Elioku (Nkpulunma) remains the President Emeritus. A complete list of the new executive board members will be available on the group’s website, it was gathered.

While welcoming the new leadership team, President Emeritus Dr. Elioku thanked the outgoing executives for their impeccable service during their tenure. “As we all know, our mission as Otu- Umuokpu Anambra, USA Association is to promote and uphold our welfare and culture as well as foster unity, love, and harmony among us; and I am glad that within the past years, we were able to curtail distracting challenges to uphold those values,” she said.

Otu- Umuokpu Anambra, USA Association is a community of all paternal daughters of Anambra State of Nigeria with the core mission to promote and uphold the welfare and culture of her members; and foster unity, love, and harmony among them. The group has since its inception shared the uniformity of their ancestry as a unifying tool for community development and bonding of sisterhood.

For more information about Otu-Umuokpu Anambra, USA Association, Inc., please call 832-640-6329 or click to visit their website >>>>

Continue Reading

Trending