The priest in charge of the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Rev Isaac Achi, said yesterday that the amnesty offer would afford Nigerians the opportunity to know those who had been causing the havoc in the country.
He said the Federal Government should know that people were killed, injured and rendered useless by the actions of Boko Haram members.
The clergyman said if the government could consider amnesty for the Boko Haram members it must compensate those rendered useless by the Boko Haram members.
“If granting amnesty for the same group we have been looking for, the federal government should also compensate those who were victims of their attacks, we have been waiting for peace,” he said.
He said that the amnesty would “at least afford us to know them, who is this Mr. A or B who does not like the good of Nigeria and has been causing it havoc. In fact, it will make us know who are for the good of this country”.
Former President-General of Ohanaeze, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, yesterday asked the government to take any action that could lead to the resolution of the security challenges caused by the activities of Boko Haram.
Reacting to the plan of the government to grant amnesty to members of Boko Haram, Dr. Ikedife, urged President Jonathan to pursue any programme that would lead to the restoration of peace in the country.
Another leader of Ohanaeze, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, declined comment on the issue, describing it as too “weighty.”
Dr. Nwaorgu who emerged as secretary-general of the organisation during its last December controversial election of members of the National Executive Committee, told journalists that the association would soon come up with a position on the matter.
The Adamawa Police Command on Saturday confirmed that some unidentified gunmen attacked Midlu Village in Madagali Local Government Area of Midlu Village in Madagali, killing 11 people.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mohammed Ibrahim, confirmed the incident to the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola.
“So far, the information available to me is that 11 people lost their lives in the village, including two private security men at the deputy governor’s house,’’ Ibrahim said.
Meanwhile, an eye witness, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that the incident took place in the early hours of Saturday around 2 a.m.
“The attackers went from house-to-house, picking out their victims, who they even called by name.
“They also went to the house of the Deputy Governor, Mr Bala Ngalari in the village where they shot some people and wounded some.
“They killed many people but I don’t know exactly how many were killed or injured because I fled the village,’’ he said.
Nigeria has recorded remarkable successes in the implementation of Millennium Development Goals, MDGs in the past few years, though the country could have done better in some areas, Dr Precious Gbeneol, Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs said yesterday at a media briefing organised to mark 1000 days to the end of MDGs Framework in Abuja.
The presidential aide also listed the various measures her office has embarked upon in cooperation with states and local governments to accelerate progress in areas lacking behind in the development agenda. Dr. Gbeneol told journalists that the country has especially recorded significant progress in the drive to attain the health MDGs.
“For instance, there has been a reduction from the 2008 NDHS figure for the under five mortality rate of 157 deaths per 1,000 live births, to 94 deaths. This trend is similar for infant mortality rate”, said Gbeneol who however added that the infant mortality rate of 61 per 1,000 live births needs to reduce by 50 per cent in order to meet the 2015 target.
This, according to her is achievable with increasing investment and ongoing interventions across the health MDGs, this Goal can be achieved.
The SSAP-MDGs also said Nigeria has to record progress in its bid to reduce maternal mortality with the country’s maternal mortality rate figure now at 350 down from 1000 per 100,000 live births in 1990 and 545 in 2008. She however noted that Nigeria is still 28.6 per cent away from the 2015 target. Dr. Gbeneol attributed the progress that has been recorded in the areas of Health MDGs to introduction of innovative initiatives like the Midwife Services Scheme which has resulted in an increase in number of skilled health personnel attending births.
“In 2008, deliveries that had skilled birth attendance was 38.9 per cent while it rose to 53.6 per cent in 2012”, the Presidential aide said.
Other achievements in the area of Health MDGs as enumerated by Dr. Gbeneol include continuous fall in HIV prevalence rate from as high as 5.8 to 4.1 in 2012 and the increase in the proportion of under-5 children sleeping under Insecticide Treated Nets from 2.2 per cent in 2003 to 34.6 per cent in 2012 as confirmed by MDGs Survey conducted last year.
Dr. Gbeneol said her office, in partnership with key players is introducing a number of initiatives to deal with the chronic shortage of skilled health care workers and inputs, particularly in rural locations to further improve Nigeria performance in the health MDGs.
Also, on the education MDGs, Dr. Gbeneol said baseline data indicated that net attendance levels for basic schooling have risen markedly when compared with baseline data while the gender parity targets at primary and secondary education levels have also been achieved.
She however noted that for the sustenance of achievements in the area of education, there must be continuous incentives to keep female children in school particularly in the Northern part of the country while the MDGs office has also continue to partner with other stakeholders to find ways of keeping children in classrooms in the face of ongoing security challenges in that part of the country.
In addition, the presidential aide said a number of projects targeted at MDGs have been executed and delivered to communities across Nigeria since the introduction of Conditional Grants Scheme (CGS) through which states and local governments jointly fund projects in 2007.
Dr. Gbeneol said in 2011 alone, CGS recorded a number successes including the construction, renovation and equipping of 1,646 health facilities, construction of 4,478 water facilities, conditional cash transfers to 39,567 households, the payment of salaries of 2,260 new village health workers, the building and renovation of 742 classroom blocks, and the procurement of 1,214,271 textbooks, amongst other activities.
The Presidential aide also noted that preliminary investigations indicated that States and local governments have increased their spending on MDGs.
Policemen brutalizing Ademola Aderinto before he was eventually shot dead
In 2009, members of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnah Lid dawa’ati wal Jihad (Boko Haram) had a cause to challenge the Nigeria Police for the alleged extra-judicial killing of their members for ‘refusing’ to obey a simple State law of wearing crush helmet while on a motor bike in Maiduguri, snowballed to a global disgrace and threat to peace within the West African sub-region.
If the allegation is correct, ideally the Nigeria Police as paid agents of the State who are charged with the responsibility of protecting and defending the security of the people, could have either offered unreserved apology to the bereaved families or defended its action with convincing reason than the cook and bull story issued to confuse the gullible public.
Reports indicate that the Maiduguri Police Command vehemently refused to tender the expected apology and acted as a sadist group on a rampage for the simple reason of their being in possession of State arms and ammunitions they can conveniently use even against the innocent without a genuine cause.
That unfortunate incident has served as the springboard to launch series of attacks on Police formations and later formations of other security agencies and places of worship nationwide by the sect as retaliation and a prove to security agencies that ordinary citizens once pushed to the wall for no genuine reason, can always defend themselves. In this case, it was the injustice meted out by the Nigeria Police to the insurgents that caused what Nigerians are passing through. And instead of Nigerians to demand for thorough investigation of the cause to bring the culprits to justice, we deviated in reasoning since the Nigeria Police has not changed in attitude and behavior towards the weak despite the commendable efforts of the Nation’s Chief Police Officer, MD Abubakar.
Writing on the activities of Boko Haram in Nigeria is not the issue at stake for now. The concern is on the proposed amnesty plan to the sect as solicited by a cross section of Nigerians across religious, regional and political divides with the hope that if amnesty is offered, the sect may renounce violence and come out from hiding to embrace peace.
First, let us take the issue of amnesty to the fore and the perception of the Goodluck administration to granting it to the sect.
Amnesty at this material time is not part of the issue for national discourse as is not yet ripe for it to be granted to an aggrieved group that has not asked for it or eager to have it without an asking. The group has severally called for justice against the killers of their leader and their members which ignited the insurgency. Since the Federal Government seems to be under pressure to grant them amnesty, I suggest a thorough investigation be carried first before any other issue of amnesty can bear fruits. Boko Haram is yet to renounce violence or shows any interest to have an amnesty. It has not indicated any interest to reach out to government for dialogue and once amnesty is announced, the sect may eventually relocate to prepare its ground to enjoying the amnesty while in possession of its deadly weapons. From general assessment, Boko Haram is not keen for the so called amnesty neither is it prepared for now to renounce violence on a platter of gold. The sect looks at the proposed amnesty as one of those gimmicks and tricks used against it by government in past interactions. Amnesty may not be the immediate solution for now until other structures are put on the ground to actualize it. In a conventional setting, government should first convince the sect of its sincerity to hold genuine dialogue to achieving a lasting solution than haphazard amnesty that may be offered under duress through passionate appeals and persistent calls.
Prior to the escalation of violent attacks in different parts of the prone areas including Abuja and Lagos, several proposals carefully package from in-depth investigations carried were offered to government including the desperate need to engage the sect in genuine dialogue which were ignored. Government was erroneously advised to declare a war on the insurgents as the only option at its disposal which has not paid.
The declaration of war against the sect not only catapulted the problem to greater heights but afforded the insurgents the opportunity they were looking for to strategize to unleash more attacks in ‘defence’.
Groups in other climes sharing similar feelings and ideology with the sect were eager to offer support while intensive training and recruitment were intensified including steady supply of sophisticated weapons. Today, the sect claims to be better armed than the Nigeria armed forces that cannot be easily defeated in such a guerilla war fare.
True to their claim, so far, Nigeria’s security agencies perhaps excluding the State Security Service, have recorded heavy casualties, lost of arms and ammunition and public property.
As a way to end the insurgency, amnesty should be the last lap of the negotiating exercise if genuine reconciliation and peace is the goal.
In my candid opinion based on past experience and interactions with the insurgents in an effort to broker truce which hit the rocks without convincing reason other than government bureaucracy, I suggest that the committee appointed by the federal government to look into the possibility of amnesty, should suggest to government the need to first reach out to the sect leadership in secrecy to convince it to agree to dialogue. Once dialoguing is holding, all violent attacks should be suspended as an honor while government shall relax its man haunting of its members. As progress is made, there should be demobilization and disarmament. It is after the disarmament, amnesty should be given to those screened as genuine members of the sect in detention or in the jungle. Government should not be in a haste to declare a blanket amnesty that may cover even armed robbers, bandits and other miscreants who operated under the guise of the sect.
The other point is that if amnesty is to be offered, it should be accompanied with certain economic empowerment initiatives to engage the ‘repented terrorists’ from going back to the desert for business as usual.
Security agencies, particularly the Police should be reorganized and rebranded to meet international standard of policing. Part of the grievances of the insurgents and indeed many Nigerians is bordered on police incompetence, greed, corrupt practices and brutality. Nigeria Police from general perspective needs total overhaul for effective policing.
Nigeria Police and other security agencies should see other Nigerians as equal stakeholders and players than common criminals that can be maimed, brutalized, extorted and killed at the slightest offence.
As the Federal Government prepares its ground for possible amnesty, let it look inward into the modus operandi of its security agencies that are charged with the responsibility of providing security in the country.
When the splinter group of Boko Haram, Ansaru invaded Abuja SARS office in 2012 to free their members from the dungeon, across section of Nigerians jubilated and even congratulated the terrorists for such a courageous operation. The reason is as simple as ABC because SARS office anywhere in the country is seen as an extortion centre rather than a salvation centre just as the present security check points have turned to be.
While possibility of amnesty is being discussed, the Federal Government should start the process of reorganizing the Nigeria Police if lawlessness is to be checked. If any Amnesty Committee is to be appointed, let it have those that have an inkling of the modus operandi of the sect, have accessibility to them and enjoy their confidence. From past experience, Boko Haram respects very few Northern elders and leaders including religious leaders that should not be ignored. That is the bitter truth for consideration.
Sometime last week The IG of Police, Abubakar Mohammed reemphasized on the decree banning the use of tinted glass in Nigeria, he went ahead to order his state commissioners to get their men to enforce this law. Since then it’s been a tale of woes by drivers of SUVs’, mid size minivans across the country. The excuse of the IG is that vehicles with tinted glasses are used to perpetrate all manner of crimes in the country, a statement Nigerians know is not true, and moreover he failed to give us statistics of such crimes carried out with such vehicles. Let’s look at this law in the first place.
Our IG is relying on a decree made by a dictator in 1991 (later amended in 1997) to curtail security challenges in year 2013, isn’t this preposterous. On Feb 28th, 2011, the Minister of police affairs, Humphrey Abah reminded Nigerians on the existence of this law but went a step further to say that vehicles with factory tint were exempted, that police and FRSC should clamp down on heavily filmed vehicle. http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/vehicles-with-tint-glasses-fg-bars-cjn-ministers-service-chiefs/86812/
The exemption was made because of the following: (a) 95% of SUV’s, mid size mini vans, cross over vehicles manufactured between 1999 and 2013 come with factory tint. (2) The revenue generated by police on issuance of permits was never remitted to the federation account. (3) 90% of permits issued by motor licensing agents were fake. Motorists who procured this permits now had the burden of also proving to the constable at a road block on the genuineness of his permit. Imagine being stopped by a police officer along Sagamu-Benin road and you are travelling to Port Harcourt, on presentation of your permit, he tells you, that you have a fake paper and takes you to a remote police station inside Ondo state and grounds your vehicle. If you consider your losses, you conclude its best to dole out some thousands of naira to continue your journey. This was happening to motorists and our government was aware of it, so it was a big sigh of relief when government made the pronouncement exempting factory tinted vehicles.
fully explains the new order and automatically reverts us back to square one. In his explanation, he has quoted the laws empowering the IGP to continue to dehumanize Nigerians. He has also stated the conditions to get this permit :- (a) Write a formal application to the IGP for the use of factory tinted glasses, stating the reason for use, bearing in mind that approval of such application is predicated on health or security reasons only. (b) Applications should be accompanied with the following: (i) Photocopies of all relevant particulars of the vehicle. (ii) Photograph of the vehicle. (iii) Profile of the applicant with relevant background information. (iv) Passport size photograph of the owner of the vehicle. (v) Any other supporting document/information that may help to justify the request.
Unfortunately he forgot to inform us the administrative cost of this application to Nigerians. Will this new source of IGR be remitted to the federation account? He also said “Police Officers are also warned to desist from harassing Nigerians who have already obtained valid tinted glass permits, as provided by the extant laws.” How will a corporal on patrol in the dirt road of Awkuzu, Uromi, Okene, Yenegoa, Ikate, Kaduna, Damaturu determine that a worthless piece of paper is VALID. I use the federal highways alot, connecting through so many states on my honest pursuit for daily bread, I always shudder and cringe in fear on the quality of the men policing our country and their blatant refusal to improve on service delivery.
Much as I sympathize with the police and the federal government on the high level of insecurity in Nigeria, I emphatically state here that we will make no progress on our war against terrorist or terrorism with this kind of archaic, analog law or laws. What’s the big deal in flagging down a car with tint and searching the car if you suspect the occupants? Must you dehumanize Nigerians by impounding their cars and extort money from them all in the name of enforcing an archaic law. I hear they called it “operation velvet” in Abuja, very laughable. This is not our problem, the police are just wasting time, tax payers money and forming to be busy. The same outcry of Nigerians on a judgment that set a man free for paying a fine of N750,000 (?) after stealing billions of naira of pensioners fund (my dad’s federal pension no longer hits his account) will greet this stupid backward, wicked order.
The federal government should as a matter of urgency setup a national biometric database of Nigerians, tie it up with our ability to get any service in the country (even pay for food in any bukka), spend money on intelligence gathering. CBN should be encouraged and supported to implement its e-money policy to the fullest, make it extremely expensive and impossible to carry cash, use information technology to help solve some of these security challenges, strengthen our borders, reward honesty and not compensate convicted criminals in whatever name you call it. I thought the noise of the new vehicle plate numbers was to use technology to connect to the registered owners of the car, you will be surprised to know we are back to the old system, pay a motor office/agent the fees, you have the plate numbers delivered to your home, express service they call it. But really, how can all these work without power.
On a lighter note, I think all the owners of millennium cars should also ask for amnesty for buying modern cars that come with modern facilities.
Since the Nigerian-Biafra war (also known as the Nigeria Civil War, 1967-1970), Nigeria, the largest country in Africa, is experiencing serious difficulties. The country’s political integrity, economical development and social equilibrium are constantly weakened by massive corruption and the strong appetites of western companies.
The greatest casualty are the Nigerian people — especially the people of the North, who do not benefit from the country’s natural resources, mostly concentrated in the Southern half of the country.
This situation is unendurable and unsustainable; it cannot continue.
In order to provide to its next generation of children, whether Christian or Muslim, with the prospects of a brighter future, Nigeria must change. Nigeria must strive to provide its children with a future of safety, faith in their future, and National Pride, for being citizens of the largest country in Africa.
In order to attain this critical objective, efforts must be made universally.
As an African myself, a muslim and a citizen of the world, I call out to Kano; –that the Nigerian government develop and apply a stepped up policy which focuses on civil reconciliation. This policy should begin with the freeing of all political prisoners.
Algeria, my country of origin, endured 10 very dark years of civil war between 1993 and 2003. Two hundred thousand women, children and young men were killed, for nothing.
I do not wish for Nigeria to fall into the same, perhaps darker, place.
Despite the violence, the pain, and the hatred between the Algerian government, the population and the armed opposition groups, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika undertook the difficult task of pursuing a policy of civil reconciliation. This policy allowed citizens and groups to reconcile with each other — and themselves.
I believe that the time has come for Nigeria and for President Goodluck to follow the example of its neighbor, Algeria. I ask that the President of Nigeria do so in the best and urgent interest of the Nigerian people.
I also ask that in exchange for amnesty for political prisoners, the armed groups immediately cease all violence . That all forms of dialogue be opened, in order to find solutions to the conflicts that make them clash with the Nigerian Government.
I ask that the armed opposition groups immediately free the French family detained as hostages since February 19th.
As for myself, I am traveling to Kano, to communicate directly with the Nigerian people, who are in pain.
In the event that all the above requests be met, I pledge to, with the support of the President of “Hands off My Constitution” Jean Bruno Roumegoux, invest 500 000$ towards the Kano school system to ensure its development in the state of Borno. This would be a true donation, in exchange for a concrete, proactive project which clearly aims towards civil reconciliation in the country of Nigeria.
It’s not a ransom. It’s a gift.
I also commit to facilitating mediation between the Nigerian government and the Boko Haram and Ansaru organizations. For this I am soliciting the support of representatives of the Islamic Conference Organization which represents 56 Muslim countries. The objective is to facilitate investments from Muslim countries to the Northern states of Nigeria, helping to bring equitable economic and social development to the areas that are experiencing severe difficulties.
My father, who passed away 2 years ago, never went to school; he was illiterate. However he transmitted to me the strong values of honesty, dignity, respect and commitment. These values constitute the reason why I have been defending the freedom for women, in France and the rest of Europe, who wish to be free to dress with the full veil in the street. Despite numerous obstacles and a few death threats, I created and maintained a foundation of one million euros in order to guarantee the personal freedom and dignity of these women. I committed to doing so, and I did it. This is the spirit with which I make my call to Kano.
A political pressure group, the South West Defenders (SWD) has berated the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi over his insensitivity to the plight of the families of those whose relations were murdered and injured last Saturday, in Erijiyan-Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government area of the State.
The group said it was inhuman for the governor not to have visited Erijiyan-Ekiti, since last Saturday that Ayo Murphy Jeje was killed and several others injured.
In a statement issued today by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Lere Olayinka, SWD said; “it is painful that instead of sympathising with the families of Ayo Jeje, who was brutally murdered and others that were wounded, Governor Fayemi has been concerned about the arrest and detention of his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) State Chairman, Chief Jide Awe, who was arrested for alleged complicity in the murder.
The murdered Ayo Jeje was among the aggrieved members of the ACN that were billed to decamp to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday, March 31, 2013.
SWD said; “It is even more worrisome that six days after the incident, Fayemi, who is the Chief Security Officer of Ekiti State has not utter a word to condemn the ignoble act. Instead, all we have heard from his party is the condemnation of the arrest of Jide Awe.
“We then wonder which is more important, lost of lives or arrest and detention of an individual in furtherance of police investigation?
“We are further worried that with the murder in cold blood of Ayo Jeje, the number of people killed by suspected agents of the ruling ACN is now three.
“Chief Adeleye Awolumate, PDP Chairman for Osun Ward in Moba Local Government was killed in broad daylight on November 18, 2010 while Teslim Abiola, a 400 level Accounting student of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti was killed on September 26, 2012.”
While calling for thorough investigation of Ayo Jeje’s murder, the group said; “If we must put a stop to these killings, murderers of Ayo Jeje must be brought to justice.
“From Tunde Omojola, Dr. Ayodeji Daramola, Oba Adeleye Orisagbemi (Attah of Aiyede), Dr. Gabriel Olowoyo, Kehinde Fasuba, Adeleye Awolumate, Teslim Abiola and now Ayo Jeje, Ekiti State has witnessed enough of unresolved murder cases.
“It is therefore important that the police must not be intimidated by whatever noise being made by the ACN on the arrest of its State Chairman, Chief Jide Awe. Rather the police should arrest and prosecute anyone that has anything to do with the murder, irrespective of their status and political affiliation.”
A 33 year old Senegalese woman has informed narcotic investigators that she smuggled drugs for the love she had for her Nigerian boyfriend. The suspect, Kamara Oumou with Senegal international passport number 400680371 was found in possession of 680 grammes of narcotic that tested positive for heroin and cocaine. . She was apprehended by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos while attempting to board an Arik flight to Dakar.
NDLEA airport commander, Mr Hamza Umar explained that the suspect used industrial tape in sticking three parcels of cocaine weighing 515 grammes on her waist while 6 wraps of heroin weighing 165 grammes were inserted in her private parts. In his words, “it was a carefully concealed method but not intelligent enough to escape our detection”.
However, unlike most drug couriers that smuggle drugs for money; Kamara Oumou shocked her investigators when she said that she smuggled the drugs for the love she had for her Nigerian boyfriend. “How can I ask my boyfriend to pay me? I smuggled the drugs for the love I have for my Nigerian boyfriend” Kamara stated. She simply identified her boyfriend as Hakeem.
Preliminary investigation revealed that they both met in Dakar where Hakeem is believed to have lived for 11 years. Their relationship lasted only six months before Hakeem left Dakar in December 2012. Hakeem invited Kamara to Lagos from Dakar and lodged her in a hotel where they both spent a week together. Within this period, he made necessary arrangement for Kamara to go back with the drugs.
In her statement, Kamara said that it was her first time of seeing drugs. “I have a good relationship with Hakeem until my arrest. The day he brought the drugs to the hotel room was my first time ever of seeing drugs. He called the drugs products and that his business partners are unfaithful and he wants me to take the products to Dakar because he had trust in me. Hakeem taught me how to pack the drugs and also took care of my travel arrangements. He said that he lives in the east but he took good care of me in the hotel in Lagos. We were to travel together to Dakar but he suddenly changed the arrangement. Hakeem travelled to Dakar a day before my trip” Kamara stated.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA Ahmadu Giade advised members of the public to be careful of the tricks employed by drug trafficking syndicates. “It is wrong to commit a criminal act. No reason is strong enough to engage in drug trafficking. Drug barons may claim to be in love with unsuspecting couriers. They may even present themselves as philanthropists, members of the public are advised to shun drug trafficking” Giade urged.
Geneva – Thousands of refugees from war-torn Mali have crossed into neighbouring Niger amid fears of reprisals by the country’s military who are battling Islamist fighters, the UN refugee agency said on Friday.
Almost 6 000 people, mainly women and children, arrived on foot or on donkeys, said Adrian Edwards, spokesperson for the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
“They say they fled because of the ongoing war in northern Mali, and for fear of possible reprisals by the Malian army. They also said that more people are on their way to Niger,” Edwards told reporters.
The refugees began arriving on March 28 near the communities of Mentes and Midal in a remote desert area in the north of the west African country.
“We haven’t had refugees coming across at this point before,” Edwards said.
“Reception conditions are very precarious. The only available water -which contains clay – is drawn from pools. No health facilities are available. We are planning to relocate these refugees to Midal where we can better assist them and where there is a functioning well,” he added.
Mali imploded following a coup in March 2012 by soldiers who blamed the government for the army’s humiliation at the hands of Tuareg rebels, who had launched an uprising in the north two months earlier.
Al-Qaeda-linked fighters hijacked the Tuareg rebellion and took control of the northern half of the country.
French forces launched a surprise intervention in January in a bid to stop Islamist forces from moving southward and threatening the capital Bamako.
The Islamists have now largely been driven out of the main cities in the north and are waging a guerrilla war against French, Malian and other troops seeking to help the government assert its control over the entire territory.
There have been repeated reports of retaliatory attacks against ethnic groups suspected of sympathising with the rebels.
There are an estimated 175 076 Malian refugees in Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger, including 37 530 people who have fled since January, according to United Nations figures.
In its determination to assist the less privileged, the poor and the needy in the society, a philanthropic organization, known as Ithihikpebe Campaign Organization has donated mattresses, toiletries and other items worth thousands of naira to orphanage home in Isoko land.
Making the donation yesterday at the Revolutionary Foundation Orphanage home, Irri, Isoko South local government area of Delta state on behalf of the founder of the organization Hon. Joel Onowakpor and the Director General, Mr. Ambi Okughor, chairman of the organization, Hon. Fidelis Owhe it was part of the mandate of the group to impact on inmates of the home.
Among the items donated to the orphanage home included two hundred mattresses, fifty giant packs of tissue, fifty giant packs of pampers among others.
At Ugholeh Orphanage home, Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South, before donating the thirty mattresses, fifteen giant packs of tissue, fifteen giant packs of pampers among others, Owhe pledged the readiness of the body to do more to better the lives of the Isoko people even as he called on well meaning Deltans to donate generously towards the upkeep of orphans, destitute and others in need of financial and material assistance.
According to Owhe, so far the philanthropic organization has developed individuals in Isoko land especially the less privileged on their education, capacity building and payment of external examination fees for students among others.
In their separate responses, the proprietor of Revolutionary Foundation Orphanage home, Revd. Precious Abraham and the proprietress of Ugholeh Orphanage home Mrs. Queen Oghenemano Egbage thanked the organization for the donation and pledged to put the items to maximum use.
