Metro

Witch Does Not Exist’ – Activist

Published

3 years ago

March 4, 2020

An activist, Leo Igwe, has refuted the belief that there are set of persons called witches who are believed to possess “supernatural” powers to cause misfortune and havoc to human being.

Igwe, in his activity titled ‘Decade of Activism Against Witch Persecution in Africa’ (2020-2030), said witches are not capable of being as supposed and postulated, hence such do not exist.

He added that the belief by Africans that witches perform spiritual and mystical flights to their covens, places where they carry out occult activities such as causing accidents, diseases, miscarriage, death, etc, are false and cannot be scientifically proven.

“A critical look at supposed witches’ operations and activities reveal some of these absurdities and stark contradictions. For instance, believers claim witches fly out at night to destroy other humans and their estates. In some cultures, believers say that they use witch-planes or winnowing basket to fly. These are devices that cannot even float on the air.

“Witches perform spiritual and mystical flights to their covens or to places where they carry out occult activities including causing accidents, diseases, miscarriage, infertility, and death. Believers claim that witches are capable of physically lying or sleeping on their beds in particular locations and at the same time spiritually moving around in the communities and beyond sucking blood, and destroying other people’s health, lives, marriages and businesses. Believers say that Nigerian/African witches are capable of traveling as far as Europe and America to perpetrate magical harm.

“Witchcraft claims do not make any scientific and commonsensical sense. In fact, persons who make such claims need to be taken to hospital for some mental health assessment. First of all, no human being has the power to bilocate or to be in two places at the same time”, he said.

He noted that claims about witches are baseless superstitious and fabricated, stressing that it makes nonsense that a person could use occult power to turn himself into an animal or an insect that could be killed.

The Activist submitted that witches are human creations that provide answers where human being lack evidence-based information or casual explanations where such answer or explanations are unsatisfactory.

Igwe, therefore urged Africans including those diaspora to join hands with him in his advocacy against stigmatisation and abuse of persons believed to be witches.

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Metro

EFCC Arrests NCAA Director, Other Officials Over Alleged N2bn Duty Allowance Fraud

Published

10 hours ago

March 20, 2023

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested four top officials of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA.

They were taken into custody over alleged N2billion ‘Duty Tour Allowance’ (DTA) fraud, according to PRNigeria.

The suspects are Bilkisu Adamu Sani, Director of Finance and Accounts; Hart Benson Fimienye, Deputy General Manager, Treasury.

Others include Obene Jenbarimiema Turniel, Deputy General Manager (Management Accounts), and Nathaniel Terna Kaainjo, General Manager (Accounts and Stores).

Nathaniel was arrested on Thursday, March 16, while other officials were picked on Monday, March 20.

A team of EFCC investigators are questioning them at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

NCAA, the regulatory body for aviation in Nigeria, ensures safety of the sector and carries out oversight of airports, airspace, and meteorological services.

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Metro

Gunmen Kidnap INEC Electoral Officer In Zamfara With Election Results

Published

13 hours ago

March 20, 2023

Editor

The electoral officer in charge of Maradun Local Government Area in Zamfara State, Bashir Shagari, has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

Shagari, according to a source, was coming to INEC collation center in Gusau to deliver the results of the governorship election for Maradun Local Government when he was kidnapped along the road on Monday.

The source further revealed that the electoral officer was together with other INEC staff when they were stopped on a bridge near Maradun town and whisked away to an unknown destination.

Confirming the incident to The PUNCH, the Public Relations Officer of INEC in the state, Muktari Janyau, said the matter had been reported to the police headquarters.

Janyau said, “The resident electoral commissioner in charge of Zamfara State, Professor Sa’idu Babura Ahmed, has reported the issue to the police commissioner for appropriate action.”

The spokesperson of the state police command, SP Mohammed Shehu, could not be reached for comment as at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, results from nine out of 14 local government areas have been announced and the opposition PDP is leading in seven local governments so far declared.

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Metro

Soldiers Shoot Two Policemen Dead, Injured Two In Taraba

Published

14 hours ago

March 20, 2023

Editor

Two police officers attached to the Taraba State Command were killed by soldiers in Jalingo, the State capital, on Monday morning.

Two others were wounded and receiving treatment from gunshot wounds following a scuffle between men of the sister security agencies.

This was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer for the State Command, Abdullahi Usman.

Usman said that the crisis broke out when a female police officer, who was reporting for duty at the INEC State headquarters in Jalingo, was stopped by a military man at a checkpoint close to the headquarters and asked for proper identification.

He said the misunderstanding that ensued was settled, and the female police officer proceeded to the Collation Centre, only for the soldier to go after her and drag her out forcefully, leading to pandemonium.

The PPRO said, “A very ugly incident happened this morning around 8:30am between a female police officer and a soldier. After the initial misunderstanding, the lady was allowed to proceed to her duty post, but later the soldier went back to drag her out. The thing is that he called for reinforcement from his office, and when it arrived, he had nothing to report and decided to create a situation.

“While we were trying to settle things and I was personally taken to one of the senior soldiers there, the soldiers suddenly started shooting. We were caught in the crossfire and had to run for our dear lives. The soldiers proceeded to the Command Headquarters here and shot two police officers, and went away with their riffles.

“One police officer who was going off duty was shot and killed instantly while another who was just reporting for duty and did not even know what was happening was also shot the moment they identified him as a policeman.

“As we speak, we have gotten reports that our men who are escorting election results or on various duties are being stopped at military checkpoints and harassed. They strip them naked and harass them even though they know nothing about what happened.

“For now, the Commissioner of Police,Yusuf A. Suleiman, and the Commander of 6 Brigade Jalingo have met and discussed and have agreed that a commission of enquiry will be set up to look into the real cause of this incident.”

NAN