News

Ministry For Herdsmen: Buhari Under Fire Over Failure To Arrest Gumi

Published

3 years ago

June 4, 2022

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, on Saturday, lambasted the Federal Government and all the security agencies, accusing them of complicit silence and collective failure to arrest controversial Islamic cleric and bandit-sympathiser, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, in spite of his alleged many unguarded and alleged criminal statements.

HURIWA in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said it is not surprising that while the state-controlled Department of State Services go after objective critics of government’s unpopular policies, especially Christians like the Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Hassan Kukah; the late former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Obadiah Mailafia; the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has spared Gumi despite his inflammatory comments.

The group noted that Gumi, at a recent event in Abuja organised by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and the Northern Consensus Movement, called for the establishment of a ministry of nomadic affairs to address the grievances of herders just like the Federal Government created a ministry for Niger Delta affairs.

According to HURIWA, Gumi has definitely been speaking the mind of the complicitous bandit-enablers in government and that is why he has not been arrested because the Islamic cleric is considered a mouthpiece of both bandits launching attacks from the forests of the North-West and North Central states as well as a government agent, trumpeting its interest and shameless Fulanisation agenda in a non-conventional way.

The rights group said Gumi, who has been hobnobbing in the forests with notorious bandit leaders like Bello Turji and allegedly defending the killings and atrocious crimes of the terrorists before Nigerians, does not deserve to stay among decent people but should be arrested and detained in DSS custody until properly prosecuted in line with the counter Terrorism law.

HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “Sheikh Gumi is the real terrorist sympathiser. A chronic bandit-sympathiser is not so different from a terrorist. It is shameful that the government let people like Gumi roam the streets while it held the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, hostage for one full year.

“It is shameful that Gumi is defending the killings, maimings and kidnappings done by Islamic bandits and Fulani terrorists while the government has tied Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, in Benin Republic with spurious charges.

“Gumi, from all indication, is a terrorist-enabler. He has been indicted many times by grieving family members of kidnapped victims for acting as a middleman in the payment of ransom between the distraught families and bandits even as he had denied but government didn’t bother to investigate because the government officials are complicit with terrorists.

“In February 2021, a former Assistant Director with the Department of State Services, Dennis Amachree, said the compound where Gumi met bandits in Niger State to discuss the release of the abducted students and teachers of Government Science College, Kangara, was very close to a military post.

“Now, because when evil is left unstopped, it grows wings, an emboldened Gumi now call for a ministry for bandits, for savage criminals and bloodthirsty marauders who raped and killed both mothers and daughters! What gut? What audacity for Gumi!

“Gumi has been deodorising evil. He must be stopped and arrested. Gumi may be doing the bidding of the powers that be who may have a hand in sinister plots to argue for establishment of a ministry for Fulani bandits using Niger Delta freedom fighters as example of why this travesty of the law should be committed.

“There is a grand design by powerful persons of Fulani origin in government who have a plot to carve out a commission to benefit the Fulani terrorists who by the way ought to be degraded, decimated and exterminated given their horrendous crimes against humanity but here Gumi providing defence for them and even arguing that someone suspected of killing many people should be pardoned.

“These are abominations. Nigeria is not a Banana Republic. Arrest Gumi now! DSS do your job for once.”

News

JUST IN: FCT Head Of Service Is Dead

Published

2 hours ago

September 1, 2025

Editor

The Pioneer Head of the Civil Service of the Federal Capital Territory, Mrs Grace Adayilo, is dead.

The late Adayilo reportedly died in the early hours of Monday, 1st of September, 2025.

The Special Assistant on Media to the HoS, Anthony Odey, confirmed the reports to our correspondent in a short text.

“Yes, please,” the text message read.

Odey, however, gave no further details surrounding the circumstances of her death.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu approved the appointment of Grace Adayilo as the Head of the Civil Service of the FCT on the 6th of October 2024, with the appointment taking effect immediately.

She made history as both the first HoS and the first female HoS of the FCT.

Before her appointment, Adayilo served as the Permanent Secretary of the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat.

As of the time of filing this report, no official statements have been made by the family or the FCT Administration.

News

JUST IN: Finnish Court Jails Simon Ekpa Six Years For Terrorism Offences

Published

3 hours ago

September 1, 2025

Editor

The Päijät-Häme District Court on Monday sentenced Nigerian-born Finnish, Simon Ekpa, to six years in prison for terrorism-related crimes and other offences, according to official court documents seen by BBC News Pidgin on Monday.

The 40-year-old former municipal politician from Lahti was convicted on multiple charges, including participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation, incitement to commit crimes for terrorist purposes, aggravated tax fraud, and violations of the Lawyers Act.

The court ordered that Ekpa remain in custody.

According to the judgment, between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa attempted to promote the independence of the so-called Biafra region in southeastern Nigeria through illegal means.

“He used social media to gain a politically influential position and took advantage of the confusion within a key separatist movement in Nigeria to play a significant role in it,” the court statement stated as reported by BBC News pidgin.

Ekpa denied all the charges against him.

The court also found that Ekpa was instrumental in founding and developing the separatist movement into a more organised structure, working alongside others.

It was revealed during the trial that armed groups were established under the movement, which the court classified as terrorist organisations.

“Ekpa equipped the groups with weapons, explosives and ammunition through his contact network. He also urged and enticed his followers on X (formerly Twitter) to commit crimes in Nigeria,” the court said.

The trial was conducted over 12 sessions between May 30 and June 25, 2025, with a panel of three judges unanimously delivering the verdict.

Finnish authorities arrested Ekpa in December 2024 on charges linked to terrorism.

He was held on probable cause and suspicion of publicly inciting people to commit crimes with terrorist intent.

The alleged offences were said to have occurred between August 23, 2021, and November 2024, primarily in the city of Lahti.

The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation also initially arrested four other men in connection with the case. However, charges against them were later dropped due to insufficient evidence.

Ekpa, who previously served as a municipal councillor in Lahti, is widely known for his controversial role in the Biafran separatist movement.

His online broadcasts and social media activity have drawn both support and condemnation within and outside Nigeria.

News

JUST IN: Doctors Issue 10-day Ultimatum, Threaten Strike

Published

4 hours ago

September 1, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors issued a 10-day ultimatum to all relevant government agencies on Monday, warning that its members would embark on a nationwide strike if the demands were not met.

NARD disclosed this in a communiqué signed by its President, Dr. Tope Osundara; the General Secretary, Dr. Oluwasola Odunbaku; and Publicity and the Social Secretary, Omoha Amobi, issued after its Extraordinary National Executive Council meeting, which was held virtually on Sunday.

In July, NARD had issued a three-week ultimatum, but in the interest of industrial harmony, the NEC granted the National Officers’ Committee an additional three weeks to engage with all relevant stakeholders, after which it would reconvene to reassess the extent of implementation of its demands.

In Sunday’s meeting, the E-NEC condemned the failure of the Federal Government to fulfil its promises, noting with dismay that a substantial number of resident doctors remain unpaid for their 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, and the refusal to pay the outstanding five months’ arrears arising from the 25 per cent/35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure review, as well as other longstanding salary arrears.

It also condemned the government’s failure to pay the arrears of the 2024 Accoutrement Allowance.

“The E-NEC expressed displeasure over the unjust downgrading of the membership certificates of the West African Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, as well as the persistent non-issuance of membership certificates by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.

“The E-NEC condemned in strong terms the failure of the Kaduna State Government to honour its commitments to members under ARD Kaduna and Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, despite earlier agreements and signed Memoranda of Understanding. The E-NEC condemned the failure of the Oyo State Government to address the challenges faced by members of ARD LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho, despite an ongoing indefinite strike action in the hospital,” it noted.

It, however, commended state governors who have demonstrated commitment to the welfare of doctors by paying the 2025 MRTF.

Meanwhile, the doctors said that if their demands are not met by September 10, 2025, they would embark on a nationwide strike.

E-NEC, however, demands the immediate payment of the outstanding 2025 MRTF to all eligible resident doctors by the Federal Government, as well as the settlement of the outstanding five months’ arrears of CONMESS, alongside other longstanding salary arrears.

The Council also demands, “The immediate payment of the arrears of the 2024 Accoutrement Allowance. The E-NEC demands the commencement of payment of specialist allowances to all doctors without further delay, given their indispensable role in delivering specialist medical care across the nation. The E-NEC demands that the MDCN immediately restore the recognition of the West African postgraduate membership certificates to their rightful status and calls on the NPMCN to commence without delay the issuance of membership certificates to all deserving candidates, in line with international best practices.

“The E-NEC demands the immediate implementation of the 2024 CONMESS and resolution of all outstanding welfare concerns in Kaduna State, noting that the indefinite strike by our members has already resumed and will continue until these demands are met. The E-NEC demands that the Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde, immediately resolve the welfare concerns of resident doctors under the employment of the state government, particularly those at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho.

“The E-NEC urges all State Governors to prioritise the welfare of doctors in their state-owned hospitals and training institutions, ensure the timely payment of MRTF to their resident doctors, and take proactive steps to curb emigration while maintaining industrial harmony.

“The E-NEC extends the ultimatum by a final 10 days to all relevant government agencies to meet these demands. Failure to do so within this period (expiring on Wednesday, 10th September 2025) will leave the NEC with no other option than to embark on a nationwide strike action.”