Saturday, 31 October 2015

BOKO HARAM IN EKWULOBIA

Awka—THE people of Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State can now heave a sigh of relief following the removal of the 47 suspected members of Boko Haram brought into the medium security prison located in the town June this year.
Ekwulobia Prison, where Boko Haram inmates were relocated.
Ekwulobia Prison, where Boko Haram inmates were relocated.
Vanguard gathered authoritatively that they were removed on Tuesday night to an unknown destination amidst tight security.
A very reliable source confirmed that the detainees have left the state to the delight of the people residing near the Ekwulobia Prisons.
It could not be ascertained yesterday where they were taken but according to our source, ‘definitely they have been taken out of Anambra State.’
There were about 134 inmates at the Ekwulobia prison before the 47 Boko Haram prisoners were brought in the dead of the night of Sunday, June 28, 2015 amidst tight security.
It would be recalled that protests by traders in all the major towns in Anambra State trailed the presence of the Boko Haram suspects soon after they were brought into the state, although calm eventually returned.
A visit to Ekwulobia Prison yesterday showed that the heavy security  that was mounted shortly after the suspects were brought to the town  has relaxed, as the snipers that usually sat atop   a structure at the prison were not seen on their duty post. The gate of the prison was also open, unlike what the situation had been for the past three months.
However, people living around the prison said they did not know that the Boko Haram prisoners had been removed from Ekwulobia, although they said they would be happy if it was true.
Reacting to the development, president of Ohaneze chairmen for the South East and South –South, Dr. Chris Eluemunor said the removal of the Boko Haram detainees from Ekwulobia Prison in Anambra State is a welcome development.
He told Vanguard last night: “We are happy to hear this. I thank Governor Willie Obiano who insisted from the day they were brought that they must leave the state. I went to the governor and told him that I would allow him only one month to ensure that they leave the state, otherwise Ohaneze would do something the country would not  like. Since this has been done, I sincerely thank the governor.”
In her reaction, the  member representing Aguata Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives Mrs. Eucharia Azodo in whose constituency the Ekwulobia Prison is located, commended the Federal Government for heeding to the cry of her constituents by eventually relocating the suspected Hoko Haram detainees.
Speaking with Vanguard in a telephone interview, Azodo who was the former speaker of the state House of Assembly, recalled how she moved a motion in July this year, calling for the removal of the detainees from her constituency in view of the fear it injected in the people.
She said: “I thank the federal government for heeding to the cry of my people. I thank all those in charge for having listening ears.

BOKO HARAM DETAINES IN EKWULOBIA PRISON

Awka—THE people of Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State can now heave a sigh of relief following the removal of the 47 suspected members of Boko Haram brought into the medium security prison located in the town June this year.
Ekwulobia Prison, where Boko Haram inmates were relocated.
Ekwulobia Prison, where Boko Haram inmates were relocated.
Vanguard gathered authoritatively that they were removed on Tuesday night to an unknown destination amidst tight security.
A very reliable source confirmed that the detainees have left the state to the delight of the people residing near the Ekwulobia Prisons.
It could not be ascertained yesterday where they were taken but according to our source, ‘definitely they have been taken out of Anambra State.’
There were about 134 inmates at the Ekwulobia prison before the 47 Boko Haram prisoners were brought in the dead of the night of Sunday, June 28, 2015 amidst tight security.
It would be recalled that protests by traders in all the major towns in Anambra State trailed the presence of the Boko Haram suspects soon after they were brought into the state, although calm eventually returned.
A visit to Ekwulobia Prison yesterday showed that the heavy security  that was mounted shortly after the suspects were brought to the town  has relaxed, as the snipers that usually sat atop   a structure at the prison were not seen on their duty post. The gate of the prison was also open, unlike what the situation had been for the past three months.
However, people living around the prison said they did not know that the Boko Haram prisoners had been removed from Ekwulobia, although they said they would be happy if it was true.
Reacting to the development, president of Ohaneze chairmen for the South East and South –South, Dr. Chris Eluemunor said the removal of the Boko Haram detainees from Ekwulobia Prison in Anambra State is a welcome development.
He told Vanguard last night: “We are happy to hear this. I thank Governor Willie Obiano who insisted from the day they were brought that they must leave the state. I went to the governor and told him that I would allow him only one month to ensure that they leave the state, otherwise Ohaneze would do something the country would not  like. Since this has been done, I sincerely thank the governor.”
In her reaction, the  member representing Aguata Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives Mrs. Eucharia Azodo in whose constituency the Ekwulobia Prison is located, commended the Federal Government for heeding to the cry of her constituents by eventually relocating the suspected Hoko Haram detainees.
Speaking with Vanguard in a telephone interview, Azodo who was the former speaker of the state House of Assembly, recalled how she moved a motion in July this year, calling for the removal of the detainees from her constituency in view of the fear it injected in the people.
She said: “I thank the federal government for heeding to the cry of my people. I thank all those in charge for having listening ears.

CRIME NEWS-Rapists on rampage: Shocking stories of how minors have become endangered (2)

If recent reports are anything to go by, these are indeed strange times, especially in a country where there is an upsurge in girl-children being abused and robbed of their innocence by randy men who have become specialists in taking advantage of them and traumatising them in the process.

Last week, Vanguard Features, VF, began a report of the pathetic stories of several minors in Plateau State who were raped and left with emotional wrecks by some unrepentant rapists. The stories are as shocking as they are confounding as the reader is left wondering the kind of base instinct that could move a full grown man to have forceful carnal knowledge of a child as young as four or three years. But while the focus of last week’s report was Plateau State, it has since emerged that rape of minors or under-aged girls is actually on the increase across Nigeria, even approaching alarming proportion.

Abiarape

By Marie-Therese Nanlong, Jos

AS you approach her, she  averts eye contact, preferring to look at the ground; call her name, she nods her head without saying a word. She is equally not forthcoming when you try to engage her in a conversation. Yet this is a girl who was said to be outgoing and playful before her most recent traumatic experience.

But after much prodding by Vanguard Features, VF, 13-year-old Sadia (not real name) and a primary five pupil of a private school in Jos, the Plateau State capital, was able to tell her story, albeit amidst tears.

Residents in shock

A middle aged man was caught defiling her at about 7am on the fateful day of October 12, 2014. It was an ugly incident that has since turned her life upside down and left residents in the neighbourhood reeling in shock.

She said it was not the first time the man raped her, adding that she had before this time allowed him to have his way because he gave her money to meet her urgent need, which is food. So their being caught in the act, booed and sniggered at by a curious crowd of residents, was a “shame too much” for her bear.

Narrating her ordeal, she said: “Papa Emeka always sent me to buy things for him and he would leave the change with me. One day, he asked me if I had started seeing my menses and I asked him what that means, but he said I should forget it. Another day, he called and told me to enter his room and clean it. As I entered, he came in, pushed me on the bed and held my mouth. I was scared but he was pleading with me not to shout that he wants me to start seeing my menses.

“As he was trying to rape me, I bit him and he left me alone. Because he locked the door, I could not go out, so he started begging me not to tell anyone and he gave me N500. I did not tell anyone because I was confused and I was scared of telling my stepmother because she would beat me.

“After many weeks, he asked me to buy a bottle of soft drink for him. When I went in to give him the drink, he poured it inside a cup for me. After drinking it, I started feeling tired and had to lie on the floor. I did not know what happened thereafter, but when I woke up, he said I should go before my stepmother would start looking for me. I was feeling pains and did not know anything but I could not tell anyone.”

Sadia added: “About five days later, he called me, put me on his leg and started touching my body. He asked me if I told anyone that I slept in his house, and I said no. Though I was scared, I could not tell anyone because immediately he finished, he gave me N500 and said I should go home and have my bath. Since I did not eat, I used the money and bought food at the roadside.”

However, luck ran out on the randy man on the third day (October 12, 2014) when he called the girl at about 6.30am not knowing that the stepmother was yet to leave the house and suspicious neighbours took note when the girl entered his apartment.

While the stepmother was looking for the girl, a neighbour knocked at the randy man’s door, opened it and caught him in the act. She drew the attention of others but before the culprit could be apprehended, he escaped through the back door and the poor girl had to face the shame of neighbours openly reprimanding her.

Ever since the incident, she keeps to herself, plays with no one and endures the trauma of daily scolding from her stepmother. She confessed she felt like dying as she knows people are yet to forget the incident and are talking behind her back.

 

Long list of girls raped, traumatised

 But unknown to Sadia, she is one in a long list of young girls who have been raped in recent time. On September 13, 2014, in Mangu Local Government Area, another minor, eight years old Nankling (not real name), a primary two pupil, was defiled by a teenager at Mangu Halle. On the same day, a 10- year-old girl in Mararaba Pushit was raped by a married man who has two children. At Jakatai, a nine- year-old was raped on September 22, 2014 by a 38-year-old father of four.

Telling the story to VF, the mother of the eight-year-old victim, Mama Nankling, said she is yet to overcome the trauma of having her daughter being defiled in that manner. She added she never imagined the neighbour could be so wicked to do such to her baby.

According to her: “He always came around here to play with my children. One day, he took this girl to one uncompleted building in our area and started sleeping with her. I did not see my daughter around so I thought she was playing in the neighbourhood, but she came home, limping and crying. When I asked what happened, she told me what Aminu did to her. When we got to his house and he confirmed he did it, we got him arrested. He is there with the Police and they had charged him to court. No matter the result of the judgement, I will still be sad that this happened to me and I feel guilty that I did not do enough to keep my child from harm’s way.”

At Kwata, Zawan in Jos South Local Government Area, a 17-year-old girl was on July 7, 2014 raped by a neighbour who also threatened to kill her if she told anyone. There was also another case at Barkin Ladi where a security personnel attached to the Special Task Force, STF, raped a four-year-old girl in the neighbourhood. Though the randy Mobile policeman had been dismissed by the Police authorities and charged to court, the parents of the girl still lament the situation.

 

Relationship with victims

Within three weeks in November 2014, three different incidences occurred at Corner Shagari area of Jos North. First, a teenage girl was raped by six men and then at Tudun Wada in the same local government, a three-year old was raped by a middle aged man. At Bukuru in Jos South, a five year old girl was raped by a man in his 30s.

The case is not different in other areas like Kanam and Qua’an Pan where VF investigations reveal that rape of minor is on the increase across the religious divides in the local government areas. It was also established that most of the assailants had some form of relationship with the victims and this, most times, hinders the cases from being reported.

Curiously, there have also been cases involving fathers and their biological daughters, stepfathers with stepdaughters, uncles with nieces, ‘trusted’ neighbours taking advantage of innocent girls and some security personnel philandering with young girls in their areas of operations as well as male teachers and their female students.

Beside the accompanying trauma, some of the victims have also in the process been infected with sexually transmitted diseases; some are left with unwanted pregnancies which result in their dropping out of schools.

Many parents and guardians attribute the rise to poverty, ignorance, influence of drugs, rituals, inadequate punishments for assailants, drunkenness, lack of care and excessive intake of traditional medicine. Some believe that if you have HIV and you sleep with a girl who is a virgin, you will be cured.

Authorities confirmed that though many of the cases are not always reported due to several reasons, an average of 10 cases had been recorded in a month in the past six months. They assured that effort has been intensified to sensitize the people to know that rape of whatever kind is a crime against the state and must be reported.

 

Why rate of rape of minors is high, alarming

The failure of the state in getting justice for the victims usually embolden prospective rapists to engage in this act knowing the chances of paying for their crime is minimal.

It is against this backdrop that many have come to raise alarm and condemn the rise in rape incidents in the State. Among them are the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Sarah Yusuf, the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Emmanuel Abuh, the Plateau State Vice-Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Ibrahim Chindo, the Chief Imam of Jos Central Mosque, Sheikh Balarabe Daud, a gynaecologist with the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH, Prof. Olufunmilayo Para-Mallam who had researched extensively on gender-based violence as well as the Long Kwa, Miskagam Ignatius Didel. They have also agreed that it was high time that perpetrators were severely punished for the crime.

Mrs. Yusuf told VF: “The rape of minor is really high. The rate of reported cases of rape of minors in the State in recent months is alarming. We never really had this problem in the past; this is a new phenomenon and it is becoming a problem for us. We have received so many cases of rape of minor in the State.”

Blame lawyers, judges–Police

But in response to this,   a policeman who did not want to be named said: “Let me tell you the truth, Police is frustrated with the issue of rape because people don’t even like to report it; when they do, a lawyer will come and say this and that. The lawyers will defend obvious suspected rapists and through superior arguments the judge will set them free.

“The judiciary should assist when such cases are charged to court; they should do what is expected and leave the rapists behind bars. Apart from that, parents of the children will tell us to drop the case even when a rape case is established.”

Rape, sin against God; deserves death penalty–Religious leaders

Speaking on the issue, the State Vice-Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Ibrahim Chindo said: “To the best of my knowledge, such crime has not been reported to us. Rape is sin against God and a crime against humanity. Anyone caught in the act should be prosecuted and no sane person should condone that.”

Similarly, the Chief Imam of Jos Central Mosque, Sheikh Balarabe Daud said rape is a very serious crime in Islam, which could attract death penalty if confirmed that such occurred. He warned parents to be on the watch to prevent their children from falling victim to rapists.

For Para-Mallam, a Professor of Gender and Development Studies and the Coordinator of Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigerian Society, CWEENS: “From what we in CWEENS have observed, I must confess there is a shocking increase in the incidents and prevalence in violence against women and girls, most specifically against minors. In time past, many people used to say that women get raped because of the way they dress, they get raped because they go out late at night. Too often, people blame the victims for being raped.

“If a woman claims to be raped, they ask her what did you do, what were you wearing? But now, it is increasingly coming to the fore that little girls, girl children as young as 10 months old, 11 months old, 15 months old, two years, three years, four years are being raped.

“I tell you that one of the problems contributing to this is the high level of societal tolerance for violence against girls and women in general.

“Not only is there a high level of societal tolerance, there is also a situation whereby when girls and women experience rape, there is no adequate system in place to give them redress; so there is a very serious level of impunity where men know that they can do it and get away with it. There is a kind of nonchalant attitude by the society.

 

Raped by her father, disowned by family

“For instance, one of the ladies that came to us was raped by her own biological father not once but twice. When she dared to voice out what her father had done to her, her parents and the entire family turned against her and she became an outcast in her own home; in her family.

“She had to leave and so suffered a double jeopardy. Not only had she been abused and violated, she faced the injustice of victimization because she dared speak out. People are forced to keep silent.

“Another situation that came to our attention, all of them happening in Plateau State, a family living in a compound setting with another family and both of them are relatively poor, especially the family of the victim. Unknown to them, one of the men in the compound had called their daughter, a minor of 14 years, and began to entice her with money and sleeping with her.

“This girl got pregnant, he took her and aborted the pregnancy, the parents got to know but he begged and gave them some money, and it ended as a hush-hush affair. The second time it happened, the girl got pregnant again, he took her for abortion and it developed serious complications. An NGO was called in and they came to us to look into the situation they were dealing with.

“What we have found out and like the Commissioner of Police had told us, there is a large level of complicity where families themselves fail to protect the girl-child and when the girl-child is even abused, they fail to ensure that she is given trauma care, counselling, justice through the apprehension and prosecution of the perpetrators. In many instances, these girls have to continue living with the perpetrators either in the same home or same compound.

“The tragedy of the situation is that where girls are supposed to be the safest, that is where they are being violated: by stepfathers, fathers, brothers, uncles, and cousins, even friends of families. It is a very serious problem.”

 

Conflict as a factor

Giving reasons for the increase, she added: “There are several reasons like violence in society. One of the after-effects of a society that has experienced conflict is the increase in violence against women and girls. During conflict situations, women often experience rape and other forms of sexual violence such as forced prostitution, sexual slavery, and forced marriage as we see with the Chibok girl, etc.

“During conflict situations, girls face this problem from security agents posted to communities to keep the peace and they end up stealing the peace of women and girls in this very insidious and horrible way. We also have an increasing culture of violence. Though I am not justifying rape but very often men are not taught how to handle anger and frustration so they turn it on the vulnerable and the weak.

“Another explanation is that in a patriarchal culture such as ours, too often, the rights of women are trampled upon; women and girls are not protected at all. In fact, they are totally denied. Men are brought up to feel that ‘I am the boss, I am in charge, I can command and control and have whatever woman I desire’. In such culture, women are often seen as sex objects; not only when a girl or woman is dressed half-naked, but women are objectified and seen as good for her reproductive capacity and sexual allure.

“Overwhelmingly, our culture is very derogatory and condescending, very discriminatory, very belittling of girls and women. This culture of looking down on the woman and objectifying her as a sex object contributes.

The poverty question

“Another reason which is so obvious is poverty. We have seen some cases where parents are induced to keep quiet because they were given financial incentives. They were told, ‘Okay, I am going to give you this money, don’t tell of what I did’ and many of the parents being poor will say, well let us take this money and see how we can help our daughter. A lot of girls also make themselves vulnerable for men to exploit them because they are looking for money. I remember a girl who I heard went to military checkpoint and told a soldier, please just do anything you want with me but just give me lunch.

“Recently, there was a little girl who was hawking groundnut in Abuja and a man came down from a Keke(tricycle) and said come, my oga is calling you, he wants to buy groundnut. Initially she did not want to go but the man asked don’t you want to sell your groundnut and she went. Both the man and his partner raped the girl. She went to the police station but a policeman told her she was a fool to have followed the man. The victim ended up getting blamed and nobody asked who these men were and how to arrest and prosecute them.

Difficult prosecuting rapists

“The laws do not protect the woman, when we started investigating rape; we were shocked to discover how difficult it is to prosecute rape. According to law, a woman or girl or whoever is raped has to have a medical report from a public not even a private hospital; she has to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that she was actually raped. For so many people who have been raped, the last thing on their mind is taking themselves to hospital; they just go and hide in shame; there are no awareness, people don’t even know that they have to go and get tested immediately, it is really sad.”

An Investigative Officer of Child’s Rights Brigade International, CRiB, Dahot Yusuf said counselling of victims could reduce the trauma but many parents of minor always frustrate investigations processes because they don’t want to face what they call shame.

According to him: “Most times, evidences are not just enough to prosecute suspects because of lack of proper awareness. Parents should know that when something like that happens, they are not to bathe the children but get to a General Hospital for report and verification before the evidences are lost.

“Another issue that hinders prosecution of suspects is when the suspect and victim are from different religion and culture. Recently in Kantoma, Mangu local government area, because of the differences in languages and culture, relatives and friends of the suspect ganged up against the victim who is from a different tribe.

“Medical personnel should also be sensitized because they sometimes feel reluctant giving out the report because they don’t want to appear in court to testify. Men mostly don’t sympathise with victims of rape but either blame them or become indifferent.”

Meanwhile the Acting Chairman of Qua’an Pan Traditional Council who is also the Long Kwa, Miskagam Ignatius Didel told VF: “In Qua’an Pan, the case is not wide spread, but we only record it around Namu area because of the Fulani who migrated from Nassarawa State to stay with us there. They seize things belonging to farmers, kill them and rape girls and women. We are trying to arrest the situation but such incident is not commonly heard among the natives.”

Dr. Patrick Daru of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH stated: “The rising cases of violation of children by adults, called paedophilia, deserve strong measures to address as a significant number of patients (minors) have been examined in the hospital and confirmed to have been raped but the recent strike action by health workers might have discouraged people from coming to the hospital as no recent case is registered in large number.”

Enlightenment, parental care to the rescue

To stem the menace, the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development said it has embarked on enlightenment campaigns to alert parents and their children to this crime and how to avoid being violated. Yusuf said: “Parents also have to spend more time with their children, be closer to them and teach them about sex education early in life and have interest in who their children’s friends are and get the children positively engaged to avoid idleness.”

Furthermore, Prof. Para-Mallam advocated that: “Adequate laws should be put in place to protect girls. Doctors, teachers, religious leaders, parents should be compelled by law to speak out but whoever covers up rape, especially of minor, should be punished by law.

“Police should be trained not to re-victimize the victims and since Plateau State has domesticated the Child Rights Law, it should be applied where appropriate to protect girl children and the pride of womanhood.”

 

 

EBOLA VIRUS STILL IN EXISTENCE

Geneva – The WHO has advised all male survivors of Ebola to be tested three months after the onset of symptoms and then monthly until they know they have no risk of passing on the virus through their semen.

Bruce Aylward, Head of the WHO’s Ebola Response, said on Thursday in Geneva that isolated flare-ups of Ebola may point to a higher risk of transmission via the semen of male survivors than previously thought.

“It’s not the sex that is dangerous; it’s the semen that is dangerous. How people actually get exposed, in soiled linens or whatever, is not clear.

“Transmission through semen may explain why a few cases continue to occur even though the outbreak has been almost completely eradicated by an intense international effort, recently bolstered by the deployment of a trial vaccine in Guinea and Sierra Leone,’’ he said.

Aylward said the latest flare-up, in a village on the northern border of Sierra Leone, followed the death of a 67-year-old woman late last month, 50 days after the previous confirmed case in the region.

He said transmission chains are considered to have been broken after 42 days with no new infections.

However, Aylward said that sexual transmission was “obviously not a huge risk, because if it were we would have seen a lot more in the areas that were hardest hit at the beginning of this outbreak.”

He said this could undermine the hope of ending the outbreak in West Africa by 2015.

A clinician said on condition of anonymity, that a forthcoming study in the New England Journal of Medicine, based on around 200 survivors, found that around half still had traces of the virus in their semen after six months.

“The old advice of three months is no longer good.

“The number of people with persistent virus in their semen is much greater than expected,” clinician said.

The clinician added that the risk might not only be from sex but also from masturbation

Tuesday, 27 October 2015

Boko Haram detainees removed from Ekwulobia prison

Awka—THE people of Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State can now heave a sigh of relief following the removal of the 47 suspected members of Boko Haram brought into the medium security prison located in the town June this year.
Ekwulobia Prison, where Boko Haram inmates were relocated.
Ekwulobia Prison, where Boko Haram inmates were relocated.
Vanguard gathered authoritatively that they were removed on Tuesday night to an unknown destination amidst tight security.
A very reliable source confirmed that the detainees have left the state to the delight of the people residing near the Ekwulobia Prisons.
It could not be ascertained yesterday where they were taken but according to our source, ‘definitely they have been taken out of Anambra State.’
There were about 134 inmates at the Ekwulobia prison before the 47 Boko Haram prisoners were brought in the dead of the night of Sunday, June 28, 2015 amidst tight security.
It would be recalled that protests by traders in all the major towns in Anambra State trailed the presence of the Boko Haram suspects soon after they were brought into the state, although calm eventually returned.
A visit to Ekwulobia Prison yesterday showed that the heavy security  that was mounted shortly after the suspects were brought to the town  has relaxed, as the snipers that usually sat atop   a structure at the prison were not seen on their duty post. The gate of the prison was also open, unlike what the situation had been for the past three months.
However, people living around the prison said they did not know that the Boko Haram prisoners had been removed from Ekwulobia, although they said they would be happy if it was true.
Reacting to the development, president of Ohaneze chairmen for the South East and South –South, Dr. Chris Eluemunor said the removal of the Boko Haram detainees from Ekwulobia Prison in Anambra State is a welcome development.
He told Vanguard last night: “We are happy to hear this. I thank Governor Willie Obiano who insisted from the day they were brought that they must leave the state. I went to the governor and told him that I would allow him only one month to ensure that they leave the state, otherwise Ohaneze would do something the country would not  like. Since this has been done, I sincerely thank the governor.”
In her reaction, the  member representing Aguata Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives Mrs. Eucharia Azodo in whose constituency the Ekwulobia Prison is located, commended the Federal Government for heeding to the cry of her constituents by eventually relocating the suspected Hoko Haram detainees.
Speaking with Vanguard in a telephone interview, Azodo who was the former speaker of the state House of Assembly, recalled how she moved a motion in July this year, calling for the removal of the detainees from her constituency in view of the fear it injected in the people.
She said: “I thank the federal government for heeding to the cry of my people. I thank all those in charge for having listening ears.

CRIME NEWS


Nnewi—Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons, PRESCOM, stakeholders’ sensitization forum, held at Enugu for South East zone, has revealed that about 60 per cent of the illegal arms in the zone are produced locally.

Professor Aloysius Okolie, who is the South East coordinator on House Survey, of PRESCOM, made the revelation during a two-day stakeholders’ sensitization forum on the comprehensive national Small Arms and Light Weapons, SALW, survey in Nigeria,at Villa Toscana Hotel, Enugu.

He said that 60 per cent are fabricated locally in Nigeria and “some communities are known for their natural fabrication of arms,” adding that politicians were part of arms proliferation in the area and most of the political leaders helped in the importation and fabrication of arms. The sensitization forum tagged, ‘All Hands on Deck,’ also revealed that “40 per cent of the arms are imported by the political leaders and the rest 60 per cent fabricated within the zone.”

According to him: “The essence of the survey is not for the government to embark on disarmament, but to find out those factors that motivate people into acquiring such arms and sources of the arms.”

Earlier, the PRESCOM coordinator, Mr. Dickson Orji, stated that the essence of the forum was to give room for information and interaction on how to curtail proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country.

“It will create awareness on the socio-economic impact of illicit small arms and light weapons proliferation in Nigeria and sensitize the Nigerian populace on the proposed comprehensive SALW survey in Nigeria.

“The forum will galvanize support for the survey team and enumerators to ensure collaboration at the grass roots for the success of the project,” he stated.

[Vanguard]

Saturday, 24 October 2015

PRE-SCIENCE PROGRAMME, NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY AWKA,unizik

unizik pre-science/pre-degree

 

Nnamdi Azikiwe University:Pre-science Programme Guildlines on application.

This Is specifically For Candidates Who Are Seeking Admission Into The Nnamdi Azikwe University Pre-science Programme.
If You are an Aspirants of The Nnamdi Azikiwe University Pre-Science Programme, the following Informations Regarding UNIZIK here will be of good benefit to you.
it is as simple as being accepted in Diploma Course, You Just need registration and a good O’Level Certificate.

Candidates intending to apply must register for the 2016 Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination.

Candidates are eligible to apply if they have a minimum of 5 credits which must include Mathematics and English. The candidate must also satisfy the basic O’Level requirements for the department into which he or she is seeking admission.

Note that you will need a credit pass in the courses listed below to be qualified for admission.
1. English Language.
2. Chemistry.
3. Mathematics.
4. Physics.
5. Biology.
6. Geography.


The Pre-science Programme is qualified to be Independent of Jamb.
But since Jamb is mandatory in all Tertiary Institutions Entry Examination in Nigeria, the Nigeria Universities Commission has fixed Jamb and pre-degree programmes to walk hands in Hands.

Nnamdi Azikiwe University Pre-Science Application Procedure Guidelines.
To purchase the form and for your proper registeration,hold firm to these steps/guidelines below.

1.Forms are obtainable on payment of N8,000 (Eight Thousand Naira) in any of the following Banks at Awka Campus of the University

2. Then goto the Unizik portal for PSP, which is located at UNIZIK OFFICIAL REGISTRATION PORTAL

3. You are required to fill in the application form online and summit it, make sure that a note appear on your screen to say that the submission was successful.

4.Completed forms must be returned to the Pre- Science Unit with photocopies of bank tellers, results, birth certificate and testimonial.

5. When the Pre-science admission lists is released, you can check your name in the Admission list, and if you are admitted, go and pay the school fees.
Which is a one time payment throughout the program.

6. The school fees might be around N45.000 to N50.000, which solemnly depend on the Unizik management board decision for that academic year.

7. You can then proceed to the utility building for clearance with the following documents.
1. O’Level Results.
2. Birth Certificate.
3. Testimonial.
4. The Application Form.
5. Your BankTeller and Bank Print Out.

.

Note: The sale of form will end by January 2016. The new Prescience session will begin by February 2016.

All concerned should please note.

For other news about the pre-science programe, including accomodation issue, contact 07064601965 or comment on this post with your email address.

See also: UNIZIK Diploma Programme Admission Form.

Friday, 23 October 2015

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Unizik TimeTable for the Academic year 2015/2016 is Out!

Almost 96% of the students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University are in confusion as to the original time table for their academic session, as upto three time table has been released on line as the time table schedule for the year.confer http://nigerianuniversityscholarships.com/unizik-amended-academic-calendar-20152016-published/
for the second presumed time table.
. BUT PLEASE CONTINUE TO HOLD ON THE FIRST AND TO BE BELIEVED OFFICIAL TIME-TABLE
FIRST TIME TABLE
UNIZIK Academic Calendar.
UNIZIK 1st Semester Academic Calendar.
1. Monday October 26, 2015 New Students Return and Continue Payment of Fees and Registration
2. Wednesday October 28, 2015 Senate Meeting
3. Monday November 2, 2015 Old Students Return and Lectures Commence for all Students
4. Monday November 9 – Wednesday November 11, 2015 Orientation of new students
5. Friday November 20, 2015 Matriculation
6. Wednesday November 25, 2015 Senate Meeting
7. Wednesday December 9, 2015 University Wide Quiz
8. Tuesday December 22, 2015 – Friday January 4, 2016 Christmas Break
9. Monday January 4, 2016 Lectures Continue
10. Wednesday January 27, 2016 Senate Meeting
11. Monday February 15 – Friday February 19, 2016 Revision Week
12. Monday February 22, 2016 First Semester Examinations Commence
13. Wednesday March 2, 2016 Committee of Deans Meeting
14. Friday March 11, 2016 First Semester Examinations End
15 Wednesday March 16, 2016 Senate Meeting
16. Monday March 14 – Thursday March 24, 2016 First Semester Break
UNIZIK 2nd Semester Academic Calendar.
1. Friday March 25 – Tuesday March 29, 2016 Easter Break
2. Wednesday March 30, 2016 Lectures Commence after Easter Break
3. Wednesday April 6, 2016 Committee of Deans Meeting
4. Wednesday April 27, 2016 Senate Meeting
5. Thursday May 5, 2016 University Wide Quiz
6. Wednesday May 25, 2016 Senate Meeting
7. Monday June 13 – Friday June 17, 2016 Revision
8. Wednesday June 15, 2016 Committee of Deans Meeting
9. Monday June 20, 2016 Second Semester Examinations Commence
10. Wednesday June 22, 2016 Senate Meeting
11. Friday July 8, 2016 Second Semester Examinations End
12. Monday July 11 – Wednesday July 13, 2016 Thesis Defence
13. Monday July 18, 2016 Submission of Degree Results
14. Wednesday July 20, 2016 End of Second Semester/Senate Meeting
15. Thursday July 21, 2016 Long Vacation Commences
MSG Team.
SECOND TIME TABLE
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Unizik TimeTable for the Academic year 2015/2016 is Out!!
The Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka (Unizik) school management has released the timetable for the Academic year 2015/2016.
We will update this post, the moment more news reach our desk.
BELOW IS THE TIME TABLE
2015/2016 academic calendar out!
FIRST SEMESTER
1. Monday November 9, 2015 New Students Return and Continue Payment of Fees and Registration
2. Monday November 23, 2015 Old Students Return
3. Monday November 23, 2015 Lectures Commence for all Students
4. Wednesday November 25, 2015 Senate Meeting
5. Monday November 30 – Wednesday December 2, 2015 Orientation of new students
6. Tuesday December 15, 2015 University Wide Quiz
7. Tuesday December 22, 2015 – Friday January 4, 2016 Christmas Break
8. Tuesday January 5, 2016 Lectures Continue
9. Wednesday January 27, 2016 Senate Meeting
10. Friday January 8, 2016 Matriculation
11. Monday February 21 – Friday February 25, 2016 Revision Week
12. Tuesday March 1, 2016 First Semester Examinations Commence
13. Wednesday March 2, 2016 Committee of Deans Meeting
14. Wednesday March 16, 2016 Senate Meeting
15 Wednesday March 23, 2016 First Semester Examinations End
SECOND SEMESTER
1. Friday March 25 – Tuesday March 29, 2016 Easter Break
2. Wednesday March 30, 2016 Lectures Commence after Easter Break
3. Wednesday April 6, 2016 Committee of Deans Meeting
4. Wednesday April 27, 2016 Senate Meeting
5. Thursday May 5, 2016 University Wide Quiz
6. Wednesday May 25, 2016 Senate Meeting
7. Monday June 13 – Friday June 17, 2016 Revision
8. Wednesday June 15, 2016 Committee of Deans Meeting
9. Monday June 20, 2016 Second Semester Examinations Commence
10. Wednesday June 22, 2016 Senate Meeting
11. Friday July 8, 2016 Second Semester Examinations End
12. Monday July 11 – Wednesday July 13, 2016
Project Defence 13. Monday July 18, 2016 Submission of Degree Results
14. Wednesday July 20, 2016 End of Second Semester/ Senate Meeting
15. Thursday July 21, 2016 Long Vacation Commences
This supersedes the earlier calendar dated 18th September, 2015.
Dr. I. H. Isidienu, FCAI
Ag. REGISTRAR
After some reasons laid down by the school management,second time table was confirmed to be the active one.
FG's TSA Responsible for the Calendar Adjustment- Dr. Ojukwu copied from Frank O The Nnamdi Azikiwe University Management has explained the reason behind the recent adjustment in the 2015/2016 university calendar as connected with the Federal Government's policy of Treasury Single Account (TSA). The Director of Information and Public Relations of the university, Dr. Emmanuel Ojukwu stated this while replying a comment on his Facebook timeline. Dr. Ojukwu said that the TSA which mopped all university money into the central bank is the reason. According to him, presently the university does not have access to its money hence needless bringing students back when the university cannot offer basic services. He however expressed optimism that by this new date the university would have made adequate arrangement for services. He exonerated the university stating that it is definitely is not the fault of the university as many other Federal agencies are affected. Recall that the university management yesterday released the adjustment in the calendar where the date of resumption was postponed to November 9th and November 23rd for new and old students respectively.

crime

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0-Y0QSes0Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kimbo5c0Ak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ0BgtG07hE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow5x1VONTt0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAhDniaExjU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiaFQB6t5tE

Wednesday, 21 October 2015

“African bishops optimistic about the outcome of this Synod”

Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier
Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier

In his statements during today’s press briefing on the Synod discussions, Fox Napier said an ideological approach prevailed in the 2014 meetings but that now there is trust. The cardinal called for pastoral independence in the case of marriages in stages. And Synod Fathers are positive about the reform of the marriage annulment process

Iacopo Scaramuzzi vatican city African bishops are “optimistic” about the outcome of the Synod on the Family, said the Archbishop of Durban (South Africa), Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier, during the course of the daily Vatican press briefing. He rejected claims that last year’s Extraordinary Synod followed “in a certain direction, ideology and agenda”. Instead, he expressed his satisfaction with and trust in the assembly, which draws to an end this weekend, underlining that the letter of criticism which 13 cardinals addressed to the Pope, received a satisfactory response from the Pope himself. The African cardinal also called for the African episcopate to be given a certain independence with regard to pastoral care given in the various stages of African marriage. The Synod Fathers who spoke during the press briefing all expressed their satisfaction with Pope Francis’ proposal for the reform of marriage annulment.
 
“African bishops feel a sense of optimism at the Synod because of God’s goodness but also because of Pope Francis’ testimony and the way in which he is guiding the Church, an optimism other bishops share too,” Napier said. “As African bishops we wish to express our appreciation for the many millions of people  who are praying for the Synod’s success and are helping us through the difficult moments in the Synod,” the Franciscan cardinal said, adding that “the new Synod procedure is a great help because it leaves plenty of time for reflection in the language groups. It gives us the chance to exchange views with people from different parts of the world, as well as lay auditors and fraternal delegates”. According to Napier, “the Synod will give a strong impulse to the local Churches to improve marriages through marriage preparation courses and clear communication of the Church’s teaching on marriage and the family”. The South African cardinal drew a parallel between the Synod and the 2013 Conclave: at the time, “the need clearly emerged for reform in the Church, starting with the Vatican and moving onto all dioceses. Now this reform is about what the Church does for families in terms of a good education, which has a positive impact on society as a whole. Napier then answered a journalist’s question about what had changed to make him so optimistic after the concerns he openly expressed about the Extraordinary Synod of 2014 and the letter to the Pope, which he signed along with 12 other cardinals at the start of this year’s assembly, raising some doubts about the Synod process: “Some specific issues caused concern at the last Synod. One of them was the publication of the intermediary report, as if it represented a reflection of the entire Synod, which was not true because we ourselves received the document an hour after you journalists did and the things said in that document had only been expressed by two or three people: this have the impression of a Synod that was heading in a certain direction. I was a member of the commission that drafted the final document and it seemed to be going in a certain direction, it seemed to express a certain ideology or agenda”. Regarding the letter sent by the 13 cardinals, “which was confidential”, “it was written in the same spirit encouraged by Pope Francis when he invited us to speak openly and honestly and to listen with humility. Pope Francis responded the day after he received the letter. This made a huge difference, it inspired trust, the concerns expressed in the letter were taken into consideration and from that moment on we all worked for the good of the Synod. Hence, my impression is that in comparison to the last Synod, participants this time round are working in a spirit of synodality and collegiality - a term the Pope is very fond of -, we are walking together for the good of the Church”.
 
Cardinal Napier listed a series of problems African bishops are particularly concerned about. In one of his answers to the media, he focused especially on the issue of pre-marital “cohabitation” which - in Africa, unlike in the West - is seen as being beneficial for marriage: “Traditionally, marriage in Africa is not between two individuals but between two families. It is said to be arranged but it is actually negotiated. During this process, while the families the future spouses try to agree on the financial arrangements, they may agree for the two to live together before the marriage is celebrated. Cohabitation is nevertheless part of a marriage in stages.” This is “one of those things that the Synod cannot decide on, it should be up to African bishops to decide”.
 
The Archbishop of Barcelona, Cardinal LluΓ­s Martinez Sistach, a canonist by training, stated that the reform of marriage annulment procedures which was recently approved by the Pope, “fully integrates faithfulness and indissolubility with the mercy of the Church”. All three Synod Fathers present returned to this during the press briefing, answering questions put to them by various journalists. Napier said bishops are aware of the challenge the reform presents “in ensuring the right personnel and that the process is respected”. Sistach underlined that the “brief” process can easily become an “ordinary” process if it emerges that the conditions do not allow for brevity. “We could establish a religious congregation or an association of lay male and female faithful who could learn a bit about matrimonial law, offering advice and assistance to tribunals across the world,” the Catalan cardinal added.

Pope: Reject hatred and vengeance, carry out acts of peace



Pope Francis
Pope Francis

Pope Francis appeals for peace during the Angelus at the conclusion of Holy Mass 

vatican radio Vatican city
Speaking ahead of the Angelus at the conclusion of the Holy Mass on Sunday, Pope Francis appealed once again for peace in the Holy Land. “I am following with great concern the situation of high tension and violence that afflicts the Holy Land,” he said. “In this moment,” he continued, “there is need of great courage and great strength of soul in order to say ‘No’ to hatred and vengeance, and to carry out acts of peace.”

Pope Francis prayed that God might strengthen both political leaders and people, that they might have to courage to oppose violence and to take concrete steps aimed at decreasing tensions. In the present middle-east context, he said, peace in the Holy Land is more crucial than ever: “God, and the good of humanity, seek this of us.”