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Agbekoyas would declare war on herdsmen if… An elderly farmer was on Saturday beheaded by herdsmen in his farm at Iseyin, Oyo State. Cows His son, who was with him in the farm, was also said to have been injured by the herdsmen who also destroyed crops in the farm. President-General of Agbekoyas Worldwide, Kamoru Okiki Aremu, who disclosed this to Vanguard Sunday night, said the deceased, identified as Mustapha, alias Bebe Jeje, was a gentle man who was very popular at Iseyin. He said unless the federal government and Governor Abiola Ajimobi immediately arrest and prosecute the culprits, the Agbekoyas would declare war on herdsmen all over Oyo State. ”We are grieving. These herdsmen went to Baba Jeje’s farm, beheaded him and also injured his son who was with him. ”We have had enough of these herdsmen; we are Agbekoyas and we don’t look for trouble. But for this that had just happened, we have sent all our members to comb the bushes for any herdsmen a...

15-year-old Zuriel Oduwole from Los Angeles has been granted audiences with no fewer than 24 presidents and prime ministers on her crusade to promote education for girls in Africa. Zuriel is following in the footsteps of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who survived being shot in the head to become the world’s most famous girls’ education campaigner. Born in the US to parents of Nigerian and Mauritian origin, Zuriel talks to African leaders “about making policies so that girls are able to go to school until at least the age of 18 so they don’t get married when they are 12 or 13,” she told AFP in an interview. Zuriel was in Paris at the weekend to help advocate for wealthy countries to boost their aid to developing countries to 0.7 percent of GDP. France’s aid budget is currently 0.38 percent of GDP. Addressing tens of thousands of youths at a solidarity concert in Paris on Sunday, the young American tried to sen...

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced a conditional suspension of it nationwide industrial action. ASUU’s decision followed a reconciliation meeting with a Federal Government team which held today (Monday) in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. President of the union, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, who made the announcement, explained that the suspension was conditional, as it depends on whether the Federal Government would fufil its parts of the agreements. Today’s dialogue came after about two weeks following the union’s consultations with its various chapters on the terms of the agreement earlier reached by both parties. ASUU had been on strike since August 14, over unpaid arrears and demands for improved infrastructure in the universities.

A Nigerian lawyer who helped secure the release of more than 100 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in Maiduguri, Borno State was on Monday awarded one of the United Nations’ top prizes. The UNHCR said the lawyer, Zannah Mustapha was given the annual Nansen award for his “crucial mediating” role as well as his work helping children affected by the long-running conflict. Last year’s recipients of the award were more than 2,000 volunteers who saved the lives of thousands of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. Mustapha, who is in his late-50s, said the award was unexpected but he was “exceedingly happy” to have been chosen. “I look forward to being a worthy ambassador, for such a noble award,” he told AFP in an interview in the capital, Abuja. Mustapha set up The Future Prowess Islamic Foundation School 10 years ago, which has since proved a lifeline for children in conflict-riven and impoverished northeast Nigeria.

Former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau has described the "change" mantra of his party as a ruse. In an audio recording exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters, Mr. Shekarau said the APC is confused and has been lying to Nigerians about bringing change to their living conditions. "When Nigerians asked: 'When are we going to see the change we voted for?' They were told to wait until after swearing-in ceremony. After the swearing-in, they heard silence without change and they asked, when will this change come. The answer was until they resume office and they subsequently resumed office and nothing happened," said Mr. Shekarau. The former governor added that when the masses asked again when to expect the change promised, they were told to wait until the appointment of the Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF).

Senate President Bukola Saraki on Monday faulted the declaration by the Nigerian military that the Indigenous People of Biafra is a terrorist organisation and the ban placed on the group’s activities by South-East Governors, saying due process was not followed. “The announcement of the proscription of the group known as Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by Governors of the South-east states and the categorisation of the group as a ‘terrorist organisation’ by the Nigerian military are unconstitutional and does not follow due process,” Saraki said in a statement on Monday. “Our laws make clear provisions for taking such actions and without the due process being followed, such declaration cannot have effect. I am sure the President will do the needful by initiating the right process.” The Senate President believes that “initiating the right process” will go a long way in demonstrating to the world at large that Nigeria “is a c...

At least 15 people were killed on Monday when two suicide bombers struck civilians receiving aid in northeast Nigeria, a rescue worker and a member of the civilian militia told AFP. “There were twin suicide explosions at 11:10 am (1010 GMT) in Mashalari village (near Konduga), which killed 15 and left 43 others injured,” a rescue worker said in an account backed by Babakura Kolo, from the Civilian Joint Task Force.

Nigeria's Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has urged military officers to support the Federal Government's effort in the war against Boko Haram insurgency and other emerging security challenges confronting the nation. Vice President Osinbajo spoke on Saturday during the passing out parade of military cadets of the 64 Regular Course and Direct Short Service Course 44 at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), in Kaduna. He was the reviewing officer of the parade said the new military officers must defeat the ideologies that promote mindless killings and anarchy, adding that Nigeria is confronted by enemies whose identities and motivations are unknown. Addressing the new officers, Osinbajo, said technology has advanced to the stage whereby people can now learn production of explosive devices on the internet, hence he urged the military to be more proactive in defeating ideologies that promote mindless killings and anarchy.

Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, says the country does not require any international help to curtail any threats posed by the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB). Onyeama, at a news conference at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday evening, said the threat from the self-agitation group would be handled. “IPOB is as of now an internal threat and Nigeria does not need international assistance to resolve it,” the minister said. According to him, IPOB is different from the Boko Harm terrorists which main aim was to capture territory and to kill innocent people. Onyeama said that Nigeria's population were young and restless over the state of the economic system which is why Nigeria faces a migration issue. He said, "If we can get the economy right and we can get the good governance to our people, we believe that most of our problems would be taken care of."

Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to summon a Council of State meeting to advise him on the crisis in the South-East. The Council of State is an advisory body which comprises former Presidents, serving governors, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and a few other prominent Nigerians. The former President said in a Facebook post that the tension across the country was unfortunate even as he condemned the burning of a police station by the Indigenous People of Biafra members. He also condemned the threat to human life by several elements across Nigeria. Jonathan said, “The reports I have received about recent developments in the country lead me to appeal to all men of good will to use whatever influence they have to push for peaceful coexistence and restraint on all sides.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to dialogue with the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, to curb the secessionist agitations instead of the deployment of soldiers to the South-East. Obasanjo said this during an interview with Newsweek Magazine. Ironically, Kanu, had in the past called Obasanjo an “evil man”. The former President said, “I don’t see anything wrong in that (Buhari meeting with Kanu). I would not object to that; if anything, I would encourage it. He said, “I would want to meet Kanu myself and talk to people like him, people of his age, (and ask) ‘What are your worries?’ Not only from the South-East but from all parts of Nigeria. Obasanjo, who led the final offensive that brought the civil war to an end in 1970, said he had seen too many wars and it was time for Nigeria to move on.

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has appealed to Nigerians to live in peace with one another for the unity of the country. “I am calling on all Nigerians to imbibe and embrace the culture and spirit of living in peace, irrespective of tribal, ethnic or regional differences.” Alhaji Abubakar made the plea in a statement in Sokoto yesterday. He said Nigeria would continue to remain one nation with a common goal of purposeful development. Alhaji Abubakar said the action of some should not be allowed to tear the country apart, adding that bad ones should be called to order by their elders and community leaders.He challenged elder statesmen to call the youth to order and educate them on the need for peaceful coexistence in their respective geo-political zones.

They called on the leaders of IPOB and all other aggrieved groups to articulate their position on all national issues and submit to the committee of governors, Ohaneze Ndigbo, and the members of the National Assembly from the zone through the Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum. The governors of the five South-East states took the decision during a five-hour closed-door meeting at the Government House in Enugu, which was attended by the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo John Nwodo, and the General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lt-Gen, Adamu Abubakar. Among the resolutions made during the meeting is an appeal to the President to withdraw the military in the South East at the moment.

At least one person has been reported killed during the inauguration of the Acting Chairman of the Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital. This follows the violence that erupted at the venue of the event as many supporters of the party gathered for the commencement of the ceremony. Hoodlums allegedly loyal to the expelled party chairman in the state were said to have invaded the venue firing gunshots to scare the people away.

We’ll get back to govt within a week — ASUU President ASUU’ll call off strike next week, we’ll release N53bn — FG ABUJA— The meeting held between the Federal Government  and Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, yesterday, to resolve the ongoing strike embarked upon the union ended in a deadlock. President Muhammadu Buhari and ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi Both parties, however, agreed to reconvene within a week to continue the negotiations. While Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, and his counterpart in Education, Adamu Adamu, represented the Federal Government, ASUU president, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, led the union’s team. Vanguard  investigation revealed that the government made some offers during the less than one hour meeting, which both sides refused to disclose to the media. It was learned that the offers were, however, acceptable to the union leaders. Briefing newsmen shortly after the ...

The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Wednesday, said the Federal Government has drawn the line on hate speech. He described hate speech as a species of terrorism. Osinbajo disclosed this while speaking at an ongoing security summit organised by the National Economic Council holding at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 as amended defines terrorism as an act deliberately done with malice which may seriously harm a country or is intended or can be reasonably regarded as having been done to seriously intimidate a population. The Acting President said, “Silence in such situations can only be seen as an endorsement. “Hate speech and the promotion of the same through history from Nazi Germany and the extermination of Jews to the Rwandan genocide succeeded in achieving their barbarous ends by the silence of influential voices," he said.

Breaking News : ASUU FINALLY SUSPENDS STRIKE. After a crucial meeting held at Abuja this morning the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) said the federal government and the union have finally reached a compromise and the strike has finally been called off sequel to the fact that their needs have been met by the federal government. He urged students to go back to their various schools and start work,and also lamented that the lecturers should resume work too but they should not teach the students. ​The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, yesterday assured Nigerians that the industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), may end in two days. In an interview with The Guardian, the Minister stated that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has a policy of engaging unions, including ASUU. “I hope and believe that this would be a one or two days strike. We have a policy of engaging the un...

Danish Development Cooperation Minister Ulla Tornæs, on Wednesday, expressed her country’s determination to assist Nigeria tackle irregular migration from the country to Denmark and Europe. Tornaes stated this while addressing journalists at the end of a close-door meeting between a delegation from Denmark and Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama in Abuja. Tornaes was accompanied by that country’s Minister for Immigration and Integration, Inger Stojberg, and the Ambassador of Denmark to Nigeria, Torbben Getterman, among others. Tornaes, who said that the delegation was also in Nigeria to strengthen the trade relations between the two countries, assured that more Danish investors would come to invest in Nigeria. Tornae said: “We are here in Nigeria to strengthen the trade relations between Nigeria and Denmark and it is also to address challenges of irregular migration to Europe. “We have very good discussion on how we can cooperate more and what we ...