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Xenophobia: What Buhari must do to avoid violence against Nigerians in Ghana – HURIWA

Published

5 years ago

June 17, 2019

Eric

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has raised alarm over possible xenophobic attack on Nigerians in Ghana, following series of kidnapping cases and organised crimes implicating the country’s nationale.

This was as the rights group called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene to forestall the occurrence of such xenophobic and targeted violence against Nigerians in Ghana.

It explained that political and media establishments of Ghana have begun systematic stereotyping of Nigerians as kidnappers and dangerous criminals.

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, and National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA said, “Our attention was called to the developments in Ghana by some good spirited Nigerians and Ghanaian who expressed worry that there could be imminent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians going by the extent of one-sided stereotyping by the media and top level political office holders in Ghana which graphically depict Nigerians as criminals and kidnappers.

“We have it on record that even the current President of Ghana has participated in spreading hate messages against Nigerians by spreading the misconception that Nigerians are kidnappers.”

HURIWA reminded Nigerian government that the “extensive xenophobic violence in South Africa targeting non-South African black Africans by black South Africans in which over three dozen Nigerians have died started just like small rumors and then promoted in the South African black media in which foreigners who are blacks are classified as drug dealers and criminals.”

“When the early warnings came from South Africa about possible xenophobic attacks in which Nigerians were the principal targets, the Nigerian government overlooked these grave warnings but waited until dozens of Nigerians are butchered on the streets of South Africa before the Nigerian government made some kind of statements but has not adopted any measures to stop it.

“Even as we speak, Nigerians in South Africa lives at their own risks due to the expanding frontiers of xenophobic violence against black foreigners living in South Africa even as the South African Police and government have failed to curb the menace.

“The president should personally intervene to forestall the occurrence of such xenophobia and targeted violence against Nigerians because even the political and media establishments of Ghana have begun systematic stereotyping of Nigerians as kidnappers and dangerous criminals.

“The consequences of these daily and consistent doses of stereotyping of Nigerians as criminals is that ordinary Ghanaian may embrace mob justice and go after thousands of other Nigerians living and doing legitimate businesses in Ghana.

“This is a save our souls appeal to the Nigerian president to act decisively and immediately without any further delay to hold bilateral dialogues with the political authorities in Ghana to ask them to use legal and right based means to stop the local media of Ghana from spreading hate messages and xenophobia against members of the Nigerian community in Ghana because crimes and criminality have no national boundaries nor are crimes committed exclusively by certain nationalities to the exclusion of their hosts if such nationalities reside outside their native domains.”

HURIWA stated that the government must bear in mind that it was not long that a dispute between the Ghanaian government and Nigerian business practitioners over exorbitant amount of investments demanded from Nigerians was settled.

“This warning sign has become very urgent and the Nigerian government and ECOWAS must do all within their powers to stop any land of xenophic attack from ever happening,” it added.

HURIWA recalled that few days back, the media of Ghana were awash with series of crime stories in which Nigerians were listed as masterminds just as specifically, only yesterday, a Nigerian was listed as suspected to be the leader of the gang that abducted two Canadian women earlier in June.

Also, three Nigerians have been arrested by Ghanaian authorities in connection to the recent abduction of two Canadian women. Lauren Tilley and 20-year-old Bailey Chitty who were abducted in Kumasi while returning to their hostel from a youth development programme on June 4, 2019, Ghana media reports.

Both women regained their freedom on Wednesday, June 12 after a rescue operation launched by security operatives, according to Ghana’s Information Minister, Kojo Nkrumah.

While speaking during a press conference on Wednesday, Nkrumah said authorities arrested five Ghanaians and three Nigerians during the rescue operation.

He said, “At 1900 hours, a first arrest was made, by 21:15 hours, one of the persons who is an accomplice directly involved in this incident was also arrested by the joint team running this operation”.

“A local Ghanaian contact who was providing harboring for the kidnappers was apprehended around 20:45 hours leading to the arrest of the other accomplices”.

“The holding place of the victims was subsequently surrounded just before 5 am this morning and by 5:15 am; a joint team had breached the premises with the hopes of rescuing the girls.

News

N80.2b Fraud: EFCC Declares Ex- Gov Bello Wanted

Published

13 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Eric

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, wanted. Yahaya Bello was declared wanted for offences bordering on economic and financial crimes, with special emphasis to an alleged N82.2 billion fraud.

This was contained in a press statement made available to news men on Thursday.

The statement signed by Commission’s management reads as follows:

“Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCCfor offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 bn.

“Anybody with information as to his whereabouts should report immediately to the commission or the nearest police station.”

News

EFCC Seeks Military’s Help to Arrest Fleeing Ex-Gov Bello

Published

14 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Eric

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja, on Thursday, adjourned to April 23, the suit instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello.

The adjournment is for substituted service and possible arraignment of Bello for alleged N84billion money laundering.

At the sitting, counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Phinro, told the court that Bello was absent from court for his arraignment because he was being protected by someone with immunity.

Phinro complained that the former governor was whisked out of his Abuja residence by the same person with immunity.

Phinro said the anti-graft agency might seek the help of the military to fish him out to come face his arraignment.

Responding to this submission, Yahaya Bello through his counsel, Abdulwahab Muhammad, told the court that there is an order of the court restraining the EFCC from arresting or arraigning him.

Muhammad said a Kogi State High Court had on February 9, 2024 restrained the EFCC from arresting or arraigning the former governor.

He added that the EFCC has appealed the ruling and the Court of Appeal was yet to decide on the matter.

He pointed out that the action of the EFCC was unconstitutional and the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain any charge from the EFCC.

Counsel for the EFCC, however, disagreed with the submission of the counsel to Bello.

The EFCC counsel held that the ruling in the substantive matter on the suit was delivered on March 17, 2024 by the Kogi State High Court.

He cleared the air that the court in its ruling held that for the former governor to be arrested or arraigned, the EFCC must first seek leave from the court to do so.

He said it was in line with that judgment that the EFCC, through an exparte application, filed for the order seeking the arrest of the former governor which was granted by the court.

Counsel for Yahaya Bello, however, insisted before the court that the order for the ex-governor’s arrest was made out of jurisdiction. He said the former governor is not a fugitive, but relying on the order of the Kogi State High Court to take protection.

On Wednesday, EFCC operatives stormed Bello’s residence in the Wuse area of Abuja and spent most part of the day attempting to arrest the former governor whom the Commission later confirmed was whisked away by his successor.

The EFCC subsequently warned members of the public that it is a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.

The Commission’s spokesperson said that Section 38(2)(a)(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.

According to him, culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.

“On several occasions, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

“Regrettably, such disposition is being construed as a sign of weakness.

“The Commission, therefore, warns that it will henceforth not tolerate any attempt by any person or organisation to obstruct its operation as such will be met with appropriate punitive actions,” the statement added.

News

Gunmen Invade Ekiti Secretariat, Days after Oyo Assembly Invasion

Published

3 days ago

April 16, 2024

Eric

Barely three days after armed Yoruba Nation agitators invaded the Oyo State Government Secretariat, gunmen on Tuesday, stormed the Ilejemeje Local Government Area Secretariat in Ẹda-Oniyọ, Ekiti State, causing pandemonium among the workers.

The attackers disrupted normal activities and forced employees to flee the premises for safety.

The hoodlums, who were said to have come from the Obbo-Ayegunle community in the neighbouring Kwara State, violently stormed the secretariat, firing several gunshots, making workers run in different directions for dear lives, and in the ensuing pandemonium, one person was injured.

Reports said the hoodlums vandalized the Secretariat building and other property of the council.

Although the cause of the attack was still sketchy as at the time of filling this report, it was however gathered that the two communities have been embroiled in crisis for some time over land disputes.

During the attack, which lasted for several hours, one person was said to have sustained serious injury and rushed to the State Specialist Hospital in Iye-Ekiti.

The hoodlums reportedly heavily armed with dangerous weapons including gun, charms and cutlasses. They invaded the Secretariat at about 10:am.

Speaking on the attack, the Eleda of Eda Oniyo community, Oba Awodipo Awolola, explained that the hoodlums had in few days attacked some residents of the community, with charm in their farmlands, the development which the monarch said had resulted in panic and tension in the community.

The traditional ruler, who lamented the absence of police post in the area, said there is a need for security outfits to mobilise more officer to the community to prevent further breaking of law and orders.

Similarly, the Chairman of Ilejemaje Local Government, Mr. Alaba Dada, said the suspected hoodlums were from the Obbo-Ayegunle community in Kwara State.

He attributed the attacks to the lingering land disputes between the two communities, he explained that though security agents had been mobilised to the town to prevent repraisal attacks.

He said there is need for the Ekiti and Kwara State governments to meet, and settle the land dispute in the interest of peace and harmonious relationship.