Nigerians want to boycott beef over herdsmen attacks

*Nigerians want to boycott beef over herdsmen attacks*

Nigerians are calling for the boycott of beef as a way of protesting the incessant attacks and killings of people by herdsmen. The position was made known in a poll conducted by PUNCH Online. The poll, titled 'Herdsmen killings: Should Nigerians boycott beef?' went live at 2.34pm last Thursday and was collated on Tuesday.

It asked respondents to indicate Yes if they wanted to boycott beef in protest against the herdsmen’s attacks; or No if they didn’t support the boycott movement. Those who were indifferent to the matter were also asked to indicate so by clicking Indifferent.

Majority of the 2,961 respondents wanted to boycott beef. Precisely, 2,252 respondents, signifying 76 percent, chose Yes; 540 respondents, signifying 18 percent of the total respondents, chose No; while 169 respondents that made up the remaining 6 percent of the respondent population said they were Indifferent.

Dangote blames unemployment

*Dangote Blames Unemployment For 💥Violent Killings In 🇳🇬Nigeria

The President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, Mr. Aliko Dangote, has attributed the deadly conflict between suspected herdsmen and farmers in parts of Nigeria to the country’s increasing unemployment rate. Dangote stated this on Tuesday in an interview with Channels Television.

“If there are jobs, there wouldn’t be anything like Boko Haram, there would not be anything like herdsmen. Once you are engaged, you do not have time for mischief,” he said. The conflict between herdsmen and farmers, especially the New Year’s Day killings in Benue allegedly by herdsmen has dominated the headlines and split public opinion.

It has also led to criticism of the Federal Government, which many say is not doing enough to address the issue, a claim the Presidency has denied. Dangote is not one of the government’s critics when it comes to the issue.

Demolished patience Jonathan building

*FCDA 💥Demolishes ‘Patience Jonathan’s 🏢Building’

A building belonging to the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, has been demolished by the Federal Capital Development Authority. The building, located in Mabushi District of the nation’s capital, houses a foundation belonging to Mrs Jonathan.

Lawyer to the former first lady, Mr Emmanuel Anene, said the demolition of the property was unexpected, as the relevant authorities had been shown the building plan. Anene, who added that the matter was in court, accused the FCDA of disregarding the rule of law and due process in carrying out the demolition.

SA lawyers demand $130m refund from firms

*South African lawyers demand $130m refund from firms*

South African prosecutors have called for two consultancy firms to repay $130 million (£94.4 million) they earned from the state power company, Eskom. McKinsey, and a local firm called Trillian, were paid the sum in 2016 for giving advice. Trillian was controlled by the Gupta family, whose closeness to President Jacob Zuma led to corruption charges.

Both the Guptas and Mr Zuma, who has said he will set up an inquiry into the family, deny any wrongdoing. Officials are investigating whether McKinsey allowed money from Eskom to go to Trillian as a way of winning the consultancy contract. McKinsey, which has lost clients over the scandal, said it stopped working with Trillian once it realised its connection to the Guptas.

The global firm has also said it is happy to return the money it earned in the deal. McKinsey, which admitted in October it "made several errors of judgement", also maintains it gave no money to Trillian.

US holds back $65m aid to Palestinians

*US  Holds back $65m aid to Palestinians 😱*

The US is withholding more than half of a $125m (£90m) instalment destined for the UN relief agency for the Palestinians, American officials say.

It will provide $60m in aid to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) but will hold back a further $65m.

A UN official said the move would have devastating consequences for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people.

President Donald Trump said earlier the US could cut aid if Palestinians rejected peace efforts with Israel.

The US funds almost 30% of the UN agency's work overall and gave $370m to UNRWA last year. The money withheld is part of this year's first instalment.

On Sunday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sharply attacked Mr Trump's Middle East peace efforts, saying he would not accept any peace plan from the US after it recognised Jerusalem last year as Israel's capital.

He accused Israel of putting an end to the 1994 Oslo Accords, which began the peace process.

Syria war Turkish forces

*Syria war: Turkish forces mass 👀 near Kurdish areas*

Turkey's president has warned of imminent military offensives on two Kurdish-held areas in northern Syria, as tanks and troops mass on the border.

"Turkey is aware about the fact that entering Afrin will not be easy because it was the people of Afrin who turned this region into a graveyard for Turkey-backed extremist mercenaries," he told the ANHA news agency.

Turkish officials have watched in alarm over the past six years of civil war in Syria as the YPG and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance that it dominates have taken control of tens of thousands of square kilometres of territory.

In 2016, Turkey supported an offensive by Syrian rebels - dubbed Operation Euphrates Shield - to drive Islamic State (IS) militants out of the key towns of Jarablus and al-Bab, and also to stop YPG fighters moving westwards towards Afrin and taking full control of the Turkish border.

Last October, Turkey stepped up the pressure on the Kurds in Afrin by deploying troops to northern Idlib province as part of a deal agreed with Russia and Iran that set up a "de-escalation zone" with the aim of reducing fighting between rebel factions and Syrian pro-government forces.