Monday brief: These bandits carry ‘long hair like women’
Necessary Nigerian news.
Good morning.
It feels so good to be back after a lengthy time-out.
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That said, let’s get down to business.
42 days after, striking doctors say they are ready for prison
It's now 42 days since resident doctors across the country embarked on a strike over unpaid benefits.
And it doesn't look like the strike will be ending soon.
Reacting to a notice from the National Industrial Court that doctors could be jailed if they continue with the strike, Adejo Arome, a Vice President of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), said threats cannot end the strike.
“As for the court notice, no one really cares," Adejo said. "Let them expand their prison and arrest us all."
The federal government has already threatened the doctors with a 'no work, no pay policy'.
Some of the doctors' demands include complete payment of salaries and Covid allowances. They are also asking for a review of the hazard allowance.
These bandits carry ‘long hair like women’
Persons who saw dead bandits in Niger State have described them as foreigners with “long hair like women.”
The bandits had reportedly run into a military camp at Maganda village near Allawa in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State where they were decimated by security forces.
Although some escaped into the forest, the military recovered about six machine guns and a number of AK-47 rifles.
“In fact from the dead bodies that we saw, they look like foreigners, all of them are carrying long hair like women,” a local said, according to Punch. “They don’t have resemblance of Nigerians and they don’t know the terrain that was why they ran into the soldiers. They did not know that there is soldiers camp there.”
Fighting banditry: Tough measures such as the ban of cattle trading and restriction of telecommunication services have been implemented in parts of the North-West to curb the now-notorious bandits.
But innocent citizens are also feeling the harsh consequences of the restrictions. For example, the shutdown of the Gurbin Bore-Jibia road in Katsina has reduced the number of people in markets and “businesses are suffering”, according to one trader.
Experts believe the measures are long overdue but the military must make it count by rooting out the criminals.
SERAP: The civil society organisation has asked the federal government to rescind the suspension of internet and telecommunication networks in Zamfara and Katsina States because it has no “legal justification” and “is inconsistent with the principles of necessity and proportionality.”
Zamfara State: At least 12 personnel were reportedly killed after bandits invaded a military base in the state, according to Premium Times.
Related: Meanwhile, a pastor of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) has been hacked to death in Kaduna State.
Judge to be reprimanded over Soludo ruling
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammed, has ordered disciplinary action against a magistrate level court who issued a criminal summons against APGA’s candidate in the forthcoming Anambra governorship elections, Charles Soludo for not declaring his assets while serving as Governor of the Central Bank.
Gambo Garba presides over a magistrate-level court in Abuja which is designed to handle Sharia law-related matters, so it is not clear why he decided to entertain a financial corruption case outside his jurisdiction.
But, as we all know, some Nigerian judges are infamous for entertaining spurious cases and perverting the course of justice. Earlier this month, the CJN had summoned the Chief Judges of several states after different courts delivered conflicting orders in matters determining the chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party.
What else is happening?
A President’s joke: The Presidency has been clarifying a statement made by President Muhammadu Buhari during his one-day visit to Imo State. According to spokesperson Femi Adesina, President Buhari’s "I will be careful with your future invitations” to Governor Hope Uzodinma, was a light-hearted comment taken out of context.
VAT dispute: Ogun and Akwa Ibom States say they are ready to join Rivers and Lagos States in enacting laws that will enable them to collect value-added taxes, instead of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
Lagos State: An 18-year-old lady has been killed by a stray bullet during a police raid in Ijeshatedo. The authorities say the police officer who fired the shot has been identified and arrested.
Forex: The CBN has assured members of the public that it “has not contemplated, and will never contemplate” converting foreign exchange in domiciliary accounts into naira.
Government magic: Despite not processing a single barrel of crude oil, refineries owned by the Nigerian government paid a total of N69.07bn last year to workers.
Chimaroke Nnamani: The former Governor of Enugu State believes IPOB’s sit-at-home orders do not benefit the South-East region. “How does enslaving our people, denial of means of livelihood, add value to our quest for equity and justice?” He asked.
Aisha Buhari: The First Lady on Instagram posted a video of the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Ali Isa Pantami shedding tears during one of his Islamic sermons. Accompanying the video was a caption in Hausa that can be interpreted as “Be courageous to do the right thing”. Daily Trust said it was a “taunt”.
Incest: An immigrant from Benin Republic has been arrested in Kwara State for having sex with his biological mother and fathering three children.
And that’s all for this morning. Don’t forget to share the briefing with your friends.