It is quite revealing, entrapping, entertaining, yet more amazing.Could this help Nigeria and countries affected Islamic terrorist group?
Question: Who are you and where are you from?
Answer: My name is Sheik Sani Haliru. I am from Niger Republic, but my mother is from Bornu State of Nigeria and I grew up in Wulari, Maiduguri, (Northern Nigeria) where I was trained.
Q: Trained as what and under whose tutelage?
A: I was trained as an Almajiri, after four years, at the age of 14, I was sent to Kano City, Kano State where I was trained in the Sheik Abubakar Gummi School of Arabic studies.
Q: So you know Sheik Abubakar Gummi?
A: Yes, and I also know his children and obeyed all the teachings he laid down before he died.
Q: So who tutored you and who is your mentor?
A: Sheik Abubakar Gummi tutored me. My mentor was Osama bin Laden, and until my conversion from Islam to the Christian faith, my dreams and aspirations in life was to do more than Osama bin Laden did before he died on Sunday, May 1, 2011.
Q: You said that your mentor was Osama bin Laden. Is he still your mentor?
A: I am now a changed person. The Sheik Sani Haliru is now a new creature, old things have passed away because I now have Jesus Christ that I hated and persecuted for 44 years.
Q: Tell me about your past and how many countries of the World you have been to?
A: I cannot tell all about my past because it will take several days to tell my story and about my conversion experience to Christianity. I have been to eight countries.
Q: Can you please name them?
A: I have been to Sudan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, Egypt and of course to my own country Niger Republic.
Q: Where did you receive your training and as what?
A: I received my training in Libya and Pakistan as an Attack Strategist. I was trained along side with some highly placed Nigerians and other foreign Nationals who were marked (he showed me the proof of his mark with a sign) in the form of a sword in the hand to fight and kill for Allah.
Q: Can you give me some of the names of your colleagues with whom you received training in Libya and Pakistan?
A: They are scattered all over the country and we were not too many then.
Q: Just mention but a few names.
A: Ali Baba Nur, Asari Dokubo, Jasper Akinbo, Mohammed Yusuf, Salisu Maigari, Danlami Abubakar, Cletus Okar, Ali Qaqa, Maigari Haliru and Asabe Dantala to mention but a few.
Q: Which of the Asari’s do you mean?
A: The Niger Delta war king. He was a year ahead of me in Benghazi training camp in Libya.
Q: Who financed your training in Libya and Pakistan?
A: You will not believe me and only God will judge the Chief sponsor of terrorism in Nigeria whose name I will not mention because he is so powerful and even the president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, is so much afraid of the man.
Q: If you really know the Christ in you, why are you afraid to tell me the name of the man who sponsored you and the date or approximate period he sponsored you.
A: I am not afraid because he knows me and he cannot deny it if he sees me face to face.
Q: Then tell me, who is this powerful man?
A: The man is no other person than the man they call IBB now as I am talking to you, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida has more than 600 men and women Jihadists who are under his pay role. They are scattered all over the Country and he (IBB) can use them to destroy Nigeria.
Q: Did you say six hundred?
A: Yes 600 + IBB’s agents of destruction are in the Nigeria Army (NA), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Navy, Air Force, Oil and Gas sectors, even in the finance home such as in top level positions of CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) and other banks. You find them in politics, in the Senate, National Assembly, in the media both print and electronic and even in Aso Rock, Abuja (Nigeria’s capital).
Q: How do you mean by this statement “and even in the finance…”?
A: Yes, I mean every word I say; even the Islamic bank champion was planted by IBB to help in Islamizing Nigeria.
Q: So how can you describe IBB?
A: IBB is a “green snake” in green grass. He is the main problem of Nigeria along with members of the Cabal.
Q: Have you forwarded any of these evidence(s) to Aso Rock or to SSS (State Security Services)?
A: I attempted to do so a few weeks ago and I was arrested and detained for two days because IBB’S men are so many in SSS (State Security Services) as well. After I was released by the grace of God, they (the Police) warned me never to blow up the polity or provoke violence and I should keep my so-called-born-again with me or else I will go to jail.
Q: So you were a key member and a registered jihadist hardliner.
A: Yes, I was.
Q: Under what group?
A: I was a Boko Haramist. But Boko Haram is just a cover name to give it a name. I have my identity as a founding member of the dreaded jama’aful Ahlul sunna wal Liddawati wal Jihad, aka Boko Haram.
Q: Apart from IBB, who are the other top sponsors of terrorism in this country?
A: They are many, but IBB is the major financier. He introduced the suicide bombing that started when he killed Dele Giwa. I have the names of six traditional rulers and seven present & ex-Governors as well as several top military and security officers who are co-sponsoring the so called Boko Haram. That apart, I have documented evidences to prove that General Mohammadu Buhari, Alhaji Abubaka Atiku and other top politicians and traditional rulers are some of the people behind Boko Haram. Very soon, nemesis will catch up with them.
Q: What if I use my influence to guarantee you safety, can you brief the press to expose IBB (General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida) with all these documents that I am seeing with you right now.
A: Only God can guarantee my safety. He did so on that fateful day when the SSS and police wanted to secretly kill me because of what I unveiled. I would have been a dead man by now if not for a man of God who came as an “Angel” to quietly free me. Right now, I am wanted dead or alive by IBB and his agents of destruction in high places. The SSS are busy hunting for me up & down and arresting and torturing innocent people because of me.
Q: What if I connect you to a man of God by the name of Brother Mike Ejiofor, who is a lawyer, a professional negotiator and a mediator who was the Director of SSS until October 2010?
A: I only wish to be connected to God.
Q: So how can you describe this country?
A: Nigeria is sifting under an Islamic barbaric bomb (IBB). Only God can rescue this nation because 75% of Christians are prayer less. Why? Because they are in their own comfort zone. They do not know what the Christians in Northern Nigeria are passing through and they ignorantly are thinking that the Allah of the Muslims is the same as the God of Christians in the Holy Bible who says: “Thou shalt not kill”.
Q: What does the Qur’an say about Islam being referred to as a religion of peace by numerous Muslim scholars?
A: Let me tell you in a very clear language that Islam is not a religion of peace, but it is of violence, of killers and fighters as already stated in their so called “Holy” Qur’an which I ignorantly followed all these years when I was spiritually blinded as a Muslim.
Q: Can you prove these statements from the Qur’an?
A: [Sani Haliru, who is now known as Solomon Haliru (Paul Haliru’s brother)] brought out two copies of the original Qur’an in the Arabic & English translation. He gave me one, and told me to open the book to Surah Al- baqarah chapter 2 vs 216. It says, “Holy fighting is ordained (prescribed) for all muslims, whether they like it or not, as far as it is good and approved by Allah through his prophet Mohammed.”
Gen Babangida
Q: Where is it in the Qur’an that killing is also permitted by Allah?
A: Look at Surah Al-baqarah chapter 2 vs 191 “And kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out. An Al-Fitnah is worse than killing. And fight not with them at Al-Masjid-Al-Haram (the sanctuary at Makkah), unless they (first) fight you there. But if they attack you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers.” Muslims are told to kill and fight in the cause of Allah.
Q: Does it mean that IBB and all these Muslim traditional rulers and Governors that are sponsoring Boko Haram to kill Christians and burn our churches in the North are not aware of the passage in the Qur’an that says there must not be compulsion in Islam as Mohammadu Buhari asserted in a widely publicized interview on Saturday, the 21st of April, 2011?
A: I have worked so closely with Mohammadu Buahri for five years, and I can prove it that General Buhari is the most notable outspoken jihadist hardliner in Nigeria who is also strategically sponsoring Boko Haram.
Q: General Buhari told a group of pressmen in April 2011 that there is no compulsion in Islam and it is a religion of peace. He quoted Surah Al-Baqarah Chapter 2:225. What can you say to that?
A: What I can say to that is General Buhari, like all other true Muslims, is a hypocrite who is shying away from the fact.
Q: How do you mean by saying that most Muslim millionaires and highly placed Muslims are “pretenders and shying away from the fact”?
A: What I mean is that they (Muslims-both rich and poor) are told to use their position of wealth (or otherwise) to promote Islam or else they will face destruction from Allah.
Q: Where can you find this in the Qu’ran?
A: Open Surah Al-Baqarah Chapter 2:195, it is written here that you must use your wealth to champion Jihad of all kinds or else destruction is waiting for such a person on the last day.
“And spend in the Cause of Allah (i.e. Jihad of all kinds) and do not throw yourselves into destruction (by not spending your wealth in the Cause of Allah), and do good. Truly, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers).”
Q: Have you ever been detained or arrested?
A: Nobody could arrest me until the year 2009 soon after my immediate boss Mohammed Yusuf was killed. About 23 of us were arrested in one of our hideouts in Bauchi. But when Governor Isa Yagiuda heard about it, he immediately arranged for me to be free. Even before his official broadcast in 2010 that he was using his position as the executive Governor of Bauchi State (Northern Nigeria) to free 28 prisoners from Bauchi Central Prison, I was already a free man along with several of my colleagues.
Q: Now can you tell me some of the horrible crimes that you committed and how you got born again and became converted.
A: Old things have passed away and I don’t want to talk about the past, because like Apostle Paul said, we need to press forward in Christ Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
Q: Just mention a few to assist some of us who are making efforts to unravel the mystery of the menace called Boko Haram which you have renounced.
A: I took part in the Kaduna riot of 1992 and in several northern states of Nigeria, but the state I operated more from was Bornu (northern Nigeria) where I was the State Commander/Chief Strategist.
Q: So as Chief Attack Strategist, what crimes have or did you commit before you renounced the deadly sect?
A: In the early months of May 1986, I was among the 36 Jihadist hardliners, who went on a rampage to attack Christian students of the University of Sokoto (Sokoto State in northern Nigeria). In that same week, the Federal Government of Nigeria under the brutal leadership of IBB mobilized us and provided some military vans and Army uniforms which our men used and started killing innocent and defenseless Christians all over the Northern states. I and the son of the Emir of Kano, who is now a Christian by name Rev. Paul Ado Bayero, were among the Muslim fanatics who razed down the sculpture of Jesus at the University of Ibadan (Oyo State in western Nigeria).
The following year, March 5, 1987 to be very precise, the “Evil Genius” General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida secretly armed us through one of his close aids by the name of Captain Hassan Abubakar (now a Pastor with a fast growing church in Lagos). We went to go and kill some targeted Christians including Rev. Nuhu Kure (Throne room founder) after the destruction we committed at the College of Education in Kafanchan, Kaduna State (North Central Nigeria). And of recent, I was the leader of the team of soldiers of Allah that destroyed Church buildings and properties in Bornu State (northern Nigeria).
Q: Can you name some of the buildings and Churches you and your Boko Haramists destroyed?
A: There are many, but our main targets which we succeeded in destroying included: Goodnews & ECWA Church, Damboa Road, Maiduguri E.Y.N.L.C.C. Wulari, National Evangelical Mission Inc. Divisional Headquarters Wulari, Elijah Apostolic Christ Church, Oke Ayo Celestial Church of Christ, Deeper Life Bible Church, the Lord’s Chosen and six others in Railway Area and all over Wulari in Maiduguri, Borno State. Other church buildings we destroyed and looted include the Aposotic Church, COCIN Church, Evangelical Church/Mission Headquarters, Anglican Church, Baptist Church/Mission, Redeemed Christian Church of God, El-Shaddai Parish, Watchman Charismatic and several others.
Q: Where were the security officers when you were destroying all these church buildings and killing Christians?
A: Since 1985 when General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) started using us to persecute Christians, the Nigerian Army has been an extension or shall I say an arm of the Muslims agenda to Islamize Nigeria. Wherever they go to attack Christians, the Muslims in the top military positions give the cover by providing the logistics. Since the day of Babangida (1985) Christians suffer violence. This is the time that we must attack them and take what belongs to us by force.
Q: You don’t seem to like IBB and you talk so much of his evil deeds. Are you the only one he used or is there more revelation we can investigate or ascertain further?
A: Babangida is the most wicked and heartless man I have ever seen or worked with. He used many Muslim fanatics (Most of who are now Christians) to commit a lot of atrocities. For example, he used Alhaji Sannusi Dasuki (now Solomon Dasuki), Alhaji Ahmed Ado Bayero (now Rev. Paul Ado Bayero), Alhaji Mohammed Usman (now Evangelist Blessed Usman), Alhaji Sani Jegga (now Isaac Jegga) to attack the following men of God: Late Papa Idahosa, Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, Rev. Uma Ukpai, Rev. O. Ezekiel and other men of God. He used some of the people whose names mentioned above to burn down several million copies of the Holy Bible. Along with the late MKO Abiola, they both sponsored the sinking of three million copies of the Holy Bible into the high sea.
Q: With all these revelations, can’t IBB be arrested and charged to court?
A: Who will arrest him? Is it Goodluck or who? Even when we provided the proofs to them that IBB killed Dele Giwa and that he sponsored the burning and looting of the Jos main market (Terminus) and also planted the seed of the present crises in Plateau State in 1991, they refused to arrest him because he is very cunning in his evil ways. He leaves no trace of his evil deeds, but nemesis will soon catch up with him because the sardonic spirit in him will soon expire.
Q: In a simple language, how can you describe IBB?
A: Ibrahim Babangida is a wicked and heartless man. As a military officer he was very brutal and as a politician he is very selfish and tricky. He better repent and confess his numerous sins and wickedness before it will be too late.
Q: Can you prove to the readers that fighting and killing in the name of Allah is justified in the Holy Qur’an?
A: I can site more than 28 passages from the Holy Qur’an where fighting and killing is justified as approved in the cause and for the sake of Allah. Please turn to the Qur’an (it goes from the back to the front) and see the book Surah At-Taubah Chapter 9:29 “Fight against those who believe not in Allah, nor in the Last Day, nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad), and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (i.e Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.” In this passage, every true Muslim(s) is specifically instructed to fight against four (4) groups of people especially the Jews and Christians.
Q: So what is the meaning of Jizyah and how was the name coined?
A: From the footnote as you can see in the Qur’an, Jizyah is a tax levied against the people of the scriptures (i.e. the Christians) who are under the Islamic government. Jizyah was coined out after the Jaiz bank that the Muslims are wanting to use to take over the financial world via Islamic Banking.
Q: Are you saying indirectly that Islam is not a religion of peace as most Muslims will want us to believe?
A: I am saying it directly not indirectly that Islam is a religion of violence It is a religion of force. More than 95% of Nigerian journalists and people of the world are ignorant of what the Qur’an teaches and/or says about Islam and violence.
Q: How do you mean?
A: Open the Qur’an to Surah Muhammad Chapter 47:4. In this very passage, Muslims are commanded by Allah to kill and smite the neck of anyone who does not accept the teaching of Islam, and according to the satanic verses they (Muslims) would be helping Allah by so doing.
I quote exactly as it is written in the Muslims Holy Qur’an: “So, when you meet (in fight-Jihad in Allah’s Cause) those who disbelieve, smite (their) necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives). Thereafter (is the time) either for generosity (i.e. free from them without ransom), or ransom (according to what benefits Islam), until the war lays down its burden. Thus [you are ordered by Allah to continue in carrying out Jihad against the disbelievers till they embrace Islam and are saved from the punishment in the Hell-fire or at least come under your protection], but if it had been Allah’s Will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight) in order to test some of you with others. But those who are killed in the Way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost.”
Q: So is that why all Muslims are indirectly supporting Boko Haram?
A: Yes, Boko Haram is just a name coined by satan to Islamize the world. That is why every true Muslim is directly and indirectly supporting Boko Haram.
Q: Can you explain further?
A: In Surah Al-Baqarah 2:195, the wealthy Muslims and all those in high position of authority such as IBB, Buhari, Atiku, Isa Yaguda, etc. are told to use their wealth and any position they find themselves in to promote Islam and the cause of jihad of all kinds or else they will face destruction from Allah.
Q: Is that how the suicide bombers come into the picture?
A: Yes,
Q: My readers will like to know from the Qur’an if Islam is the zenith of wickedness as you earlier said.
A: In the Qur’an Allah commanded thus “(Remember) when your Lord revealed to the angels, Verily, I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike them over the necks, and smite over all their fingers and toes.” (See the Qur’an of Surah Al-Anfal 8:12)
Q: So you did accordingly?
A: Yes! Satan used Buhari and Tunde Bakare, the false prophet, to smite the necks and chop off the fingers and toes of several Christians in Zaira, Maiduguri, Bauchi and several other places.
Q: Which passages say that the Christians are enemies of the Muslims? Some ignorant Christian leaders and pressmen are of the opinion that both Christians and Muslims worship the same God.
A: Christians and journalists (about 95%) are very ignorant. Let them search the original Qur’an (The Noble Qur’an). The more the Muslim leaders try to block the original Qur’an from circulation, the more the lie spreads that we’re serving the same God. That is why the Lord says “I will build my church; and the gates of (hades) hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
Q: Mention another satanic verse that makes every true Muslim(s) to hate Christians.
A: In addition to the several passages and mentioned earlier, please take a look at Surah An-Nisa 4:101 and I quote “For the Unbelievers are unto you open enemies.”
Q: What is the solution to this problem of the Boko Haram menace?
A: The problem is not Boko Haram. The problem is the Spirit of Islam which must be crushed by the prayer of the Saints. Was it not through prayer that people like Rev. Paul Ado Bayero, Bishop K. K. Degaya, Apostle Johnson Suleman and hundreds of others got saved? Was it not through prayer that I got saved on my way to assassinate both Rev. Samuel Dasuki and Evangelist Blessed Usman when they were in their training camp in a crusade/ministration to their converts? I tell you from my experience this past few months as a Christian, many Christians are not united. In the north Christians are more united and sincere, but in the south & west, Christians are in comfort zones and if they don’t wake up, they will be surprised of what Muslims will do to them.
Q: What can Muslims do in Warri, Port Harcourt and other southern and western zones?
A: Look let me tell you one top secret. Before I repented, an average of 2,500 Muslim fanatics came to Delta State every month, 2,000 to the Eastern states and 2,000 to Cross River State and 2,500 to other zones. All of these Muslim fanatics were sent in preparation of the holy war (Jihad).
Q: Where are they camped?
A: In various Mosques and Islamic training schools which they use as training camps at odd hours (—for security reasons, the author/interviewer have decided not to publish the other details of this answer in print).
Q: What advice do you have for Christians in the comfort zones?
A: Pray for our Christian brethren in the north. Secondly, stop giving your ladies to Muslims. Thirdly, do no sell your land to a Muslim any longer. Fourth, do not employ them as security men. Fifth, beware of what they do with your finger nails and hair. Finally, watch them carefully and be very prayerful because Nigeria is sitting on an Islamic barbaric bomb (IBB) and the Muslims are prepared to fight you in your backyard.
Q: Any advice for the president?
A: They are desperate to get him/his family by kidnap/killing them, not only by Spiritual means, but through some well trained security men who he think can never disappoint him. About six suicide bombers are in the presidency and one of them is a student from NDA-Nigerian Defence Academy (other details I am keeping for security reasons).
Q: Do you know anything about bombing?
A: In answer to this question, I shall give you a top secret document which is supposed to be for only committed Muslims which I smuggled out and gave to some Christian leaders in the south.
Q: But tell me a little of how they got the knowledge to manufacture a bomb? Who sponsored your people to do these wicked acts?
A: We were sponsored by the man they call IBB and some top Muslims within and outside the country. We also worked hand in hand with Al Qaeda. As far back as 12th of June, 2011 when I got converted to Christianity, I gave several documents to Police and SSS. They arrested and detained me. But the Holy Spirit released me the same day that they wanted to kill me secretly by poisoning.
Q: What secrets did you give them?
A: I told them that the Muslims are using trailer and vehicles in military colour and are escorted by northern soldiers to smuggle weapons to various mosques and Islamic training schools in Aba, Onitsha, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Calabar, Sapele, Warri, Ebonyi and Enugu States, etc.
Q: What about the bomb manufacturers?
A: I told them that the Traditional Rulers in the northern part of Nigeria and many state governors in the far north are sponsoring Boko Haram. I told them that I was paid a deposit of 5 million Naira to go and bomb NDA in the month of August 2011 when they will be planning the graduation that just took place where I would have driven straight to the Commander’s Office with a covering letter from a Garrison Officer commander whose name I gave to the police and who is a close relative to IBB.
Q: Did you give the name of the bomb location where the training is going on?
A: Yes, I gave them and told them where they were training 65 new Islamic Youths in two bomb factories in Bauchi, Bornu and Niger states and also the bomb factory at Hanyan Nassarawa Iku, Niger State.
Q: Any more revelation?
A: Yes, I gave them many bomb factories even in the southern and eastern states and seven in Kaduna State, Plateau State and Abuja. It was in the Niger State bomb factory that we manufactured the improvised explosive devices that was used to operate in Abuja on October 1, 2010.
Q: Did the police take immediate action?
A: The news leaked to IBB immediately and he immediately instructed his ground soldiers to relocate the bombs. The Police and SSS were afraid to search some of the mosques because the presidency must be aware that by so doing, the country Will explode into a religious war between Christians and Muslims. That is why I said Nigeria is sitting on Islamic time bomb or shall I say Islamic Barbaric Bomb.
***This interview comes from the book Unveiling Islam/Boko Haram by Blessed Usman, JP.http://naijajive.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=cprqi8d7kk9rug5hqtc8pdqoj3&topic=1681.0#.TytcPPql8f8.facebook
via Mike Tunde Hubscrown Adewumi on Facebook
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Ubong Etiebet and Tribal Hatred in Akwa Ibom State
By Thompson Essien.
Ubong Etiebet:
Yes, it is my selfishness that drove you out of Akwa Ibom to seek and take refuge in Abuja. Yes, it is my selfishness that drove one of you, the Etiebets, to run to Abuja and hide because Godswill Akpabio set up former Governor Etiebet by giving him money only to send people to go and kill him in order to retrieve the money.
You wrote that it is ibibio that are kidnapping the Ibibio. That may be true. But, when an Ibibio man was the Governor, how many Annang people (and Ibibio people) went into hidding? When an Ibibio man was the Governor, how many Annang people were kidnapped? When an Ibibio man was the Governor, how many political assassinations occured in Anangland? When an Ibibio man was the Governor, how many Government vehicles were set on fire? When an Ibibio man was a governor, how many Annang politicians were banned from campaigning in Ibibioland?
See, it is Annang biggots like you that are making things difficult in Akwa Ibom State. When it is at your convenienec, Akwa Ibom State becomes a State "for all of us." But when you want to keep everything for yourself, that is when you see and know who is Ibibio and who is Annang.
I am confident that one day, you will go to your grave with the tongue of tribal hatred hanging over your mouth. While all the ethnic groups in Akwa Ibom State are working together to foster unity among themselves, bastards like you are coming out everyday, in different forms, to preach hate and disunity. If you wrote all these to curry favor among the Annangs, I have news for you; the Annangs, except those who are fools like you, have long ago abandoned messages of hate. You can continue to wallow in your self-hate. One day, you will pay the price.
Ikpafak Thompson Essien
Portland, Oregon
Ubong Etiebet:
Yes, it is my selfishness that drove you out of Akwa Ibom to seek and take refuge in Abuja. Yes, it is my selfishness that drove one of you, the Etiebets, to run to Abuja and hide because Godswill Akpabio set up former Governor Etiebet by giving him money only to send people to go and kill him in order to retrieve the money.
You wrote that it is ibibio that are kidnapping the Ibibio. That may be true. But, when an Ibibio man was the Governor, how many Annang people (and Ibibio people) went into hidding? When an Ibibio man was the Governor, how many Annang people were kidnapped? When an Ibibio man was the Governor, how many political assassinations occured in Anangland? When an Ibibio man was the Governor, how many Government vehicles were set on fire? When an Ibibio man was a governor, how many Annang politicians were banned from campaigning in Ibibioland?
See, it is Annang biggots like you that are making things difficult in Akwa Ibom State. When it is at your convenienec, Akwa Ibom State becomes a State "for all of us." But when you want to keep everything for yourself, that is when you see and know who is Ibibio and who is Annang.
I am confident that one day, you will go to your grave with the tongue of tribal hatred hanging over your mouth. While all the ethnic groups in Akwa Ibom State are working together to foster unity among themselves, bastards like you are coming out everyday, in different forms, to preach hate and disunity. If you wrote all these to curry favor among the Annangs, I have news for you; the Annangs, except those who are fools like you, have long ago abandoned messages of hate. You can continue to wallow in your self-hate. One day, you will pay the price.
Ikpafak Thompson Essien
Portland, Oregon
How Government and Oil Companies Neglect Children in The Niger Delta
Voluntary Child Rescue Workers pick Quite a Number of Children on the street
Written by Michael Gbarale, Niger Delta Child Rights Watch(NDCRW) Project Officer, Rivers and Bayelsa States
Today in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, where I come from thousands of children are being abuse daily due to negligence by the Government, Oil companies’ activities, parents, caregivers, religious leaders and other members of the society that discriminate against them.
Children’s rights are being abused through child labor, female genital mutilation, child abandonment, and branding innocent and defenceless children as witches and wizards by religious leaders which sometimes leads to the children being thrown out in the streets or killed. Many such children spend their childhood years on the streets and this is evident in Port-Harcourt, Akwa lbom and Cross River State.
In Rivers and Bayelsa States where I work I am seeing high numbers of cases of rape committed against children as young as 3 years old. Sexual violence in these States is a serious problem and the Government must act now to address the issue. Children are also being abused through child trafficking, recruitment of under age children into child soldiers, child prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation that harm the growth and development of a child in the Niger Delta.
In Nigeria, the mere passage of the Child Rights Act 2003 by the National Assembly and its ratification by some States into Child Rights Law within Nigeria, such as Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River, it is regarded as the panacea to all the problems children face in Nigeria. It is common knowledge that hundreds of children are abused daily by Government and its institutions that have failed to provide adequate facilities such as health care centres for safe delivery and infants care; well equipped school; safe drinking water; and accommodation for children at risk of abuse. The recent removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government shows the height of Government’s ill-consideration towards children as they will suffer the direct consequences of the hardship being encounter by their parents and care-givers. Some will be forced to withdrawn from school because their parents and caregivers cannot meet up the harsh economic reality the masses are made to face.
Government institutions like the Ministries of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation are charged with the responsibilities of protecting children and punishing offenders who are not living up to their expectations by breaking the law. Multinational oil corporations in the Niger Delta region are also contributing largely to child abuses through their operations by flaring gas into the atmosphere and oil spills from their equipment into their land and waters destroying the eco system of the Delta. Through this destruction the livelihood of the Niger Delta people is also destroyed because farming and fishing are the main occupations in the Delta. Oil companies destroy the main sources of income for families who depend on farming and fishing as their only means of survival. Countless of spills have been reported in Niger Delta caused by the operations of oil giants like SHELL, AGIP, CHEVRON, ELF, TOTAL and MOBIL without compensation to the Niger Delta people.
Children are the ones who suffer more when Oil companies fail to take responsibility as they are made to face hardships encountered by their bread winners. As a result some drop out of school and are given out as domestic servants to care-givers, who then go on to abuse these children by forcing them into child labour or trafficking them into prostitution. Whilst millions of barrels of oil flow from the soil on daily basis our female children are being forced into prostitution in order to survive and assist their families. This is both wrong and inhumane and the Government should be ashamed of itself in allowing this to happen to our people.
The law enforcement agencies are also contributing to child abuse through their negligence in enforcing the law. When offenders are apprehended, some see it as opportunity to extort huge amounts of money for bail from the perpetrators.
Children must enjoy their legal rights to be protected from harm in every home of Nigeria because if urgent steps are not taken to prevent the abuse of children today our children, your children, will be victims of this unjust treatment and cruel conditions for many more years to come. Let’s make sure this does not happen. Together let us unite and put a stop to child abuse.
Written by Michael Gbarale, Niger Delta Child Rights Watch(NDCRW) Project Officer, Rivers and Bayelsa States
Today in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, where I come from thousands of children are being abuse daily due to negligence by the Government, Oil companies’ activities, parents, caregivers, religious leaders and other members of the society that discriminate against them.
Children’s rights are being abused through child labor, female genital mutilation, child abandonment, and branding innocent and defenceless children as witches and wizards by religious leaders which sometimes leads to the children being thrown out in the streets or killed. Many such children spend their childhood years on the streets and this is evident in Port-Harcourt, Akwa lbom and Cross River State.
In Rivers and Bayelsa States where I work I am seeing high numbers of cases of rape committed against children as young as 3 years old. Sexual violence in these States is a serious problem and the Government must act now to address the issue. Children are also being abused through child trafficking, recruitment of under age children into child soldiers, child prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation that harm the growth and development of a child in the Niger Delta.
In Nigeria, the mere passage of the Child Rights Act 2003 by the National Assembly and its ratification by some States into Child Rights Law within Nigeria, such as Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River, it is regarded as the panacea to all the problems children face in Nigeria. It is common knowledge that hundreds of children are abused daily by Government and its institutions that have failed to provide adequate facilities such as health care centres for safe delivery and infants care; well equipped school; safe drinking water; and accommodation for children at risk of abuse. The recent removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government shows the height of Government’s ill-consideration towards children as they will suffer the direct consequences of the hardship being encounter by their parents and care-givers. Some will be forced to withdrawn from school because their parents and caregivers cannot meet up the harsh economic reality the masses are made to face.
Government institutions like the Ministries of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation are charged with the responsibilities of protecting children and punishing offenders who are not living up to their expectations by breaking the law. Multinational oil corporations in the Niger Delta region are also contributing largely to child abuses through their operations by flaring gas into the atmosphere and oil spills from their equipment into their land and waters destroying the eco system of the Delta. Through this destruction the livelihood of the Niger Delta people is also destroyed because farming and fishing are the main occupations in the Delta. Oil companies destroy the main sources of income for families who depend on farming and fishing as their only means of survival. Countless of spills have been reported in Niger Delta caused by the operations of oil giants like SHELL, AGIP, CHEVRON, ELF, TOTAL and MOBIL without compensation to the Niger Delta people.
Children are the ones who suffer more when Oil companies fail to take responsibility as they are made to face hardships encountered by their bread winners. As a result some drop out of school and are given out as domestic servants to care-givers, who then go on to abuse these children by forcing them into child labour or trafficking them into prostitution. Whilst millions of barrels of oil flow from the soil on daily basis our female children are being forced into prostitution in order to survive and assist their families. This is both wrong and inhumane and the Government should be ashamed of itself in allowing this to happen to our people.
The law enforcement agencies are also contributing to child abuse through their negligence in enforcing the law. When offenders are apprehended, some see it as opportunity to extort huge amounts of money for bail from the perpetrators.
Children must enjoy their legal rights to be protected from harm in every home of Nigeria because if urgent steps are not taken to prevent the abuse of children today our children, your children, will be victims of this unjust treatment and cruel conditions for many more years to come. Let’s make sure this does not happen. Together let us unite and put a stop to child abuse.
POLICE NABS CHILD-WITCH SELLER IN AKWA IBOM STATE.
Children accused of witchcraft are tortured and killed.
A 28 year old woman (name withheld) has been arrested by a special police detective team in Eket for attempting to sell a seven year old boy. A police source said in Eket.
The youngster who is said to be her step-son was, however, living with his biological mother until the father requested to take full responsibility of him. Apparently angered by the child’s arrival, the step-mother contracted a pastor to screen the little boy to ascertain if he was possessed with witchcraft spell or not. On confirmation that the boy was possessed, he was reportedly disappeared from the house a few days after.
A dependable source said the lady who operates a local Hotel called Prince Udoette Hotel in Ikot Idung Offiong community had arranged with a Port-Harcourt based child trafficking syndicate to pick the boy in a location along Uqua Road, in the heart of Eket, but the late arrival of the Port Harcourt dealer spoiled the show, as the detectives swooped the scene and arrested the lady on a tip-off.
The community source did not confirm whether the hotel was used as a conduit for the sales of other children; but stressed that she’s been notorious for dealing with suspicious elements coming to the community.
She confessed to the police that she was scared based on the prophet’s instruction that the boy will infect her children with his magical power. When the man of God told me that he will transfer the spell to my children, or kill them, I was really afraid…” she said.
The a police inspector in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), who did not want his name mentioned said that sales of children of Akwa Ibom origin to syndicates coming from Aba and Port-Harcourt was a common phenomenon. “They have a robust network, which keeps buying more and more children here in the State. It depends on the sex, the age of the child and the negotiation. A male child is said to be sold between N150, 000 to N170, 000 a female is between N130, 000 to N50, 000. But it varies on age.” The officer said. “Our team is monitoring them… We will get them all,” he added.
But the coordinator of a human right group, Freedom Impact International (FII), Mr Jackson Bas, though commended the police for rescuing the child; he expressed scepticism over the willingness of the police to prosecute the culprit.
“This is not the first time they have arrested child traffickers. They have been doing so before; we know about this. How many of them have been taken to court. Police will keep them in the cell till their men will come and bail them out with money they called bond…” Bas noted.
He appealed to the government not to turn a blind eye to the torture and killing of children and elderly people who are accused of practicing witchcraft or sorcery.
A 28 year old woman (name withheld) has been arrested by a special police detective team in Eket for attempting to sell a seven year old boy. A police source said in Eket.
The youngster who is said to be her step-son was, however, living with his biological mother until the father requested to take full responsibility of him. Apparently angered by the child’s arrival, the step-mother contracted a pastor to screen the little boy to ascertain if he was possessed with witchcraft spell or not. On confirmation that the boy was possessed, he was reportedly disappeared from the house a few days after.
A dependable source said the lady who operates a local Hotel called Prince Udoette Hotel in Ikot Idung Offiong community had arranged with a Port-Harcourt based child trafficking syndicate to pick the boy in a location along Uqua Road, in the heart of Eket, but the late arrival of the Port Harcourt dealer spoiled the show, as the detectives swooped the scene and arrested the lady on a tip-off.
The community source did not confirm whether the hotel was used as a conduit for the sales of other children; but stressed that she’s been notorious for dealing with suspicious elements coming to the community.
She confessed to the police that she was scared based on the prophet’s instruction that the boy will infect her children with his magical power. When the man of God told me that he will transfer the spell to my children, or kill them, I was really afraid…” she said.
The a police inspector in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), who did not want his name mentioned said that sales of children of Akwa Ibom origin to syndicates coming from Aba and Port-Harcourt was a common phenomenon. “They have a robust network, which keeps buying more and more children here in the State. It depends on the sex, the age of the child and the negotiation. A male child is said to be sold between N150, 000 to N170, 000 a female is between N130, 000 to N50, 000. But it varies on age.” The officer said. “Our team is monitoring them… We will get them all,” he added.
But the coordinator of a human right group, Freedom Impact International (FII), Mr Jackson Bas, though commended the police for rescuing the child; he expressed scepticism over the willingness of the police to prosecute the culprit.
“This is not the first time they have arrested child traffickers. They have been doing so before; we know about this. How many of them have been taken to court. Police will keep them in the cell till their men will come and bail them out with money they called bond…” Bas noted.
He appealed to the government not to turn a blind eye to the torture and killing of children and elderly people who are accused of practicing witchcraft or sorcery.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
AKWA IBOM GOVT N150 BILLION BOND: GOP CALLS IT FRAUD, MOVES TO SCUTTLE IT.
3rd January,2012
The Director-General
Securities and Exchange Commission
Headquarters
SEC TOWERS
Garki,Abuja
Dear Madam,
PROPOSED 150 BILLION BOND ISSUE BY AKWA IBOM STATE GOVERNMENT
We are the alternative government in Akwa Ibom State and we represent
a vast majority of the citizens therefrom.It is on their instructions
and behalf that we lodge this protest.
We are constrained by circumstances enumerated hereunder to bring to
your notice certain material non-disclosure on the part of Akwa Ibom
State Government in the information submitted to you in pursuance of
their unpopular decision to issue subject bond through you.
It is axiomatic to reiterate the obvious truism that every transaction
done in the Capital Market must be clothed by uberrime fidei,that is
good faith.This necessarily includes the duty of frank disclosure of
every factor that may debilitate if not totally destroy the substratum
of the transaction.We make bold to inform you that Akwa Ibom State
Government[hereinafter referred to as AKSG] has wilfully concealed
useful information from you even as they hurry to hoodwink you into
this potentially failed transaction.Particulars of this Material
Concealment are as follows.
1.There is a pending pre-election litigation with a very high
probability of flushing Governor Godswill Akpabio and his government
out of office very soon.This is Suit Number FHC/ABJ/CS/365/2011
pending before Honourable Justice Kafarti sitting in Federal High
Court No 2,Abuja.Part of the numerous critical issues involved in this
matter is the very serious allegation of forgery of result of the
Primary election held on January 15th which purportedly produced
Govenor Akpabio as the candidate of PDP.The uncontroverted fact is
that as at the 15th of January,2011,Dr Nwodo had lost the powers to
act as the Chairman of PDP having been restrained by a court
injunction.That is why he could not preside over the PDP National
convention that took place on 13th and could not have possibly signed
a result for Governor Akpabio on the 15th of January 2011.
This case has reached an advanced stage and will be decided very
soon.Its next adjourned date is 30th January.Please find attached
hereto a copy of the Originating Summons filed against Governor
Akpabio in this case for your independent assessment.
2.There is also an equally very potent post election case instituted
by our great party against Governor Akpabio.On the 14th of November
2011,the Supreme Court ruled in our favour and ordered that this case
should be tried on the merit as contradistinguished from pyhrric
technical victories apparently preferred by Governor
Akpabio.Consequent upon the Supreme Court judgement in our favour,the
acting president of Court of Appeal,set up a totally fresh panel of
Judges to hear this case in uyo.The inaugural sitting has been
scheduled for 10th Tof january 2012.Our likely success in this matter
will also oust Governor Akpabio from office.
3.There is yet another case against Governor Akpabio instituted by the
Governorship candidate of Progressive Action Congress,Mr Steve
Ibanga.This is SC/354/2011.This case was recently re-listed by the
Supreme Court and a hearing date will soon be issued.The logo of this
party was excluded by INEC and the potential effect of their success
in court will be the nullification of Governor Akpabio's election.
4.The last but not the least is also another case recently filed yet
again by the PAC Governorship Candidate this time challenging the
disbursement of funds to the unconstitutional transition committees at
the Local Government level.This is in Suit No FHC/CS/1008/2011.The
Accountant -General of the Federation as well as Revenue Mobilisation
and Fiscal Management Commission are parties and injunction against
the debitting of our FAAC proceeds is in issue here.
With this kind of baggage of potentially dangerous litigations,it is
better for to err on the side of caution before mortgaging the future
of Akwa Ibom people at the behest of an outgoing Governor.The timing
of this transaction is suspect.Why was it not done in his first term
where he had security of tenure?Why now?We need hardly add that no
incoming Governor would want to be saddled by this kind of wanton
financial recklessness especially against the backdrop of our
squandered FAAC proceeds as well as IGR.
Finally,based on the foregoing,we respectfully demand that you stop
this process forthwith as a potentially embarrassing situation is best
avioded.
Thank you.
Dr Amadu Attai
Acting State ACN Chairman
Barrister Andem Ndem
State Legal Adviser
Sunday, January 8, 2012
DISCLAIMER COMMUNIQUÉ: AKS LEADERS IN THE DIASPORA REACT TO CURRENT CRISES IN NIGERIA
My attention has been drawn to an article written on behalf of AKS LEADERS IN THE DIASPORA and forwarded to different fora by a group of AKS government loyalist.
Let it be known that at no time did I participate in any conference call where the decisions in the COMMUNIQUÉ were taken.
I received a call a couple of days ago from one of the signatories to the communiqué but missed that call because I was at work. When I later returned the call, I was advised by this person to read the information that was sent to me and give my input. Before I could get around to reading the email, I started receiving calls from some people enquiring what the communiqué (which purportedly had my name) was all about.
I was very upset to say the least, because these people never waited for my so called input before appending my name to a document for which I have serious reservations. Although I am not against the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government, I would have preferred a different method of implementation. Secondly I do not support the activities of Boko Haram which I consider despicable however, I cannot be a party to those who have chosen to rubber-stamp all the activities of the Akwa Ibom state government. These people see no evil and hear no evil, I do, and for that reason, we are diametrically opposed.
How can I support a government that chose to starve state workers of their duly earned salary at Christmas time while throwing parties for themselves in total disregard for the hard working men and women of the state?
As an Akwa Ibom leader within the Eket Community, I am still very disappointed with the role the Akwa Ibom State government played during the Amakpe Refinery saga. Many Akwa Ibomites, especially those from the Eket Senatorial district were deprived of gainful employment.
The communiqué with my name appended to it, is calculated to misrepresent my stance within Akwa Ibomites and the Eket community in particular. With all due respect to some of the signatories of the said communiqué, who may have good intentions, I will suggest that my name should not be used in any communiqué or document in future without my express permission.
Thank you.
Margaret Itauma.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
The NewsWatch Big Rip-Off and The Fuss About Sam Itauma
Written By Marshall Jones
I might have missed this as well. The NewWatch magazine edition of December 5, 2011 is smack of shame to new breed journalism in Nigeria and indeed a dent on their image. It calls for probe of those who are on the editorial board of the magazine as their integrity has been called to question. I think an attempt to blackmail Mr Sam Itauma or CRARN for the rescue mission work is merely sacrificing the heroes for the villains. Is this the only way you can seek revenge for the Liberty Gospel Foundation Church after failing in the court battles? A gracious loser in all court cases against CRARN for that matter! This is indicating that our judicial system, in spite of the mounting challenges, can still be relied upon for the dispensation of justice. I know I might be criticised at this point. But this is the fact.
Ini Ubong of LAGOS, Andy Effiong in faraway BELGIUM, and others who try to make people believe the deliberate calumny stunt of NewWatch magazine need to come out with their fact and not breeding insinuations. I think if they cannot surf the web to get the correct truth or find out about this cooked and distortion story of Victor Ukutt, the lazy lawyer of Helen Ukpabio or that of master liar of Godswill Akpabio called Aniekan Umanah they better humble themselves and ask those who are in the state to help with the truth. Or are they deliberately trying to sell themselves for the BIG buyers of lies as a few of them are doing? This might be why those requesting the actual whereabouts of Itauma might be having a dubious motif, given that they already know geometric rise in the number of the present government’s hit-men. Are they quick to forget that Itauma who does not believe in witchcraft and campaigns against dubbing children witches was arraigned in Oron High Court by Gov. Akpabio himself for accusing children as witches? This is how a lot of people are made to face trump-up charges by this government and made to rot in the jail if not die.
Truly, you guys have not still got off the wood blanketing your eyes for good. I already have reports on this but sometime don't need to border myself much because I always thought people know the truth about this. Or may be putting out at the appropriate time could be ok.
Have you ever sat down to wonder why Victor Ukutt is trying to push this stuff again into the public domain when he was given an ample opportunity to make his case in the Godswill Akpabio’s Child Witch Commission of Inquiry but failed woefully because he did not have fact to prove his lies? Do you know that he had failed in all the cases he and his paid mistress dragged CRARN to court for daring to orientate people not to believe in witchcraft and torture children in the name of witches? Do you know that 'End of the Wicked' a home-made video of Evangelist/Apostle/Dr/Ms Helen Ukpabio is one of the biggest NIGTHMARE that brought about the child witches problem in Nigeria? I am sick of this frame-up you are bringing up again. It will be injurious to the psyche if not treacherous to those who know the truth but fail to tell. This is a way of trying to distort history. Those who work hard to save lives in any cruel part of the world are always the victims. You can go ahead and celebrate your villains; it is not strange. It seems it is part of our own society and culture to celebrate the corrupt and the villains. But those whose consciences are sacred to them will stand up for the truth and be counted for good.
This is the same magazine that did what was seen as a professional and balanced reportage in its January 4, 2009 edition, tagged: The Ordeal of Kid Witches. It opens its story line with “In Akwa Ibom State hundreds of children labeled as witches have died or have been badly tortured and brutalised by their own parents and relations…” Was NewsWatch ripping people off then? Which of the stories should one believe now? Other news outfit have done their researches and reports, which one do we believe? Or between NewsWatch and UNICEF which should I believe? Between NewsWatch and the UK Channel 4 TV which should I believe? NewsWatch and BBC which one should I believe? NewsWatch and US HBO which should I believe? NewsWatch and Dutch TV which should I believe? NewsWatch and our own Tell Magazine which should I believe? NewsWatch and Sahara Reporters, which one should I believe? The question is endless.
The NewsWatch magazine scraps christened ''A Big Rip-Off...'' is a shame to the magazine's editors like Dan Agbese and and Ray Ekpu for allowing the once dignified Nigerian tabloid to become a rotten egg eaten by the 'unkempt'. The story is just a vendetta from those who feel guilty of the crime they have committed against innocent children or those who failed to protect them from the hands of religious war lords who called themselves prophets. In no distant time we will bring reports of this kind including, the UNICEF research work which indicts Helen Ukpabio of crime against humanity which until now the Akwa Ibom State government has turned a blind eye because some of the government officials are sheepishly worshipping her.
Bishop Sunday William Ulup-Aya had made his confession of killing 110 people including children. Before the open confession, he was already recorded with undercover camera by Mr. Itauma who was trying his best to expose the criminal act and brutality carried out by these so called men of God who tag children and aged people witches and wizards and consign them to all sort of danger including their early graves. The new part of the story you are hearing now is Aniekan Umanah's version; assisted by Victor Ukutt. But who doesn't know Umanah, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information for his captivating eloquence in lies production and fabrication!! If you go to Enwang, Ibaka, Unyege, Afi-Uda, Uko Ntighe, Urukim (Ulup-Aya's maternal area, along Mbo River) in Mbo Local government Area of Oron Axis, you will get the real stories about the level of killings that took place in 2001/2002 orchestrated by the self-made Bishop himself. But for the intervention of former Inspector of General Police, Mr Etim Inyang who himself, too, is from Enwang, more than 500 lives would have been wasted by William Ulup-Aya, according to one Mr Edet Esin from Ibaka. The former police boss had made William to be detained for about three years before he was released, without trial. He had also confessed to using his "spiritual gift" of identifying and killing of witches to now delivering them. Sources in Urukum say, though William has changed the practice or otherwise of the modus operandi, but his former boys are still doing so covertly. 'It is not strange to hear that a person has been escorted...this means that he was taken to the forest and killed.' A 58 year old man who trades in fish had said on account of anonymity. He explained that in a village called Asak Ikang, every body is believed to be a witch. Witchcraft suspicion is the dominant factor there. 'No body is willing to collect water from you and drink let alone food..." he said. This is where the government should invest in orientating the people beyond rhetoric. This will help save lives and improve the economy and make the people have some level of trust in consonant with our age-long culture.
If you take a street survey in Akwa Ibom and parts of Cross River and River States, you will realise that today children mostly from Akwa Ibom origin are swimming the streets because they have been dubbed witches or wizards. This is disheartening, in spite of the much trumpeted free education that is said to be in our state. To say that the only organisation (CRARN) that started the campaign and rescue of these children is constantly hounded and under attack is making an understatement. This has given the religious profiteers the leeway to continue their job of stigmatising and torturing children at will. It is not too late for this government to start a vigorous campaign to end this war on vulnerable children and the aged people. Signing a law is one thing, but implementation is another. Government should stop donating vast of its time on media for blackmail and propaganda brigandage simply because it has control of the media, and resources to do so. It should learn to see criticism as a major tool for improvement and make amends; and not clamping down on dissenting views, if democracy is really anything to go by, which as it is now, it is a far cry from the reality
People who campaign for the right of such vulnerable ones in the society should be encouraged to do so. Doing otherwise is giving a tacit approval to the villains and corrupts to take over the society that we belong.
Mr. Jones is an Uyo based journalist and human right activist.
I might have missed this as well. The NewWatch magazine edition of December 5, 2011 is smack of shame to new breed journalism in Nigeria and indeed a dent on their image. It calls for probe of those who are on the editorial board of the magazine as their integrity has been called to question. I think an attempt to blackmail Mr Sam Itauma or CRARN for the rescue mission work is merely sacrificing the heroes for the villains. Is this the only way you can seek revenge for the Liberty Gospel Foundation Church after failing in the court battles? A gracious loser in all court cases against CRARN for that matter! This is indicating that our judicial system, in spite of the mounting challenges, can still be relied upon for the dispensation of justice. I know I might be criticised at this point. But this is the fact.
Ini Ubong of LAGOS, Andy Effiong in faraway BELGIUM, and others who try to make people believe the deliberate calumny stunt of NewWatch magazine need to come out with their fact and not breeding insinuations. I think if they cannot surf the web to get the correct truth or find out about this cooked and distortion story of Victor Ukutt, the lazy lawyer of Helen Ukpabio or that of master liar of Godswill Akpabio called Aniekan Umanah they better humble themselves and ask those who are in the state to help with the truth. Or are they deliberately trying to sell themselves for the BIG buyers of lies as a few of them are doing? This might be why those requesting the actual whereabouts of Itauma might be having a dubious motif, given that they already know geometric rise in the number of the present government’s hit-men. Are they quick to forget that Itauma who does not believe in witchcraft and campaigns against dubbing children witches was arraigned in Oron High Court by Gov. Akpabio himself for accusing children as witches? This is how a lot of people are made to face trump-up charges by this government and made to rot in the jail if not die.
Truly, you guys have not still got off the wood blanketing your eyes for good. I already have reports on this but sometime don't need to border myself much because I always thought people know the truth about this. Or may be putting out at the appropriate time could be ok.
Have you ever sat down to wonder why Victor Ukutt is trying to push this stuff again into the public domain when he was given an ample opportunity to make his case in the Godswill Akpabio’s Child Witch Commission of Inquiry but failed woefully because he did not have fact to prove his lies? Do you know that he had failed in all the cases he and his paid mistress dragged CRARN to court for daring to orientate people not to believe in witchcraft and torture children in the name of witches? Do you know that 'End of the Wicked' a home-made video of Evangelist/Apostle/Dr/Ms Helen Ukpabio is one of the biggest NIGTHMARE that brought about the child witches problem in Nigeria? I am sick of this frame-up you are bringing up again. It will be injurious to the psyche if not treacherous to those who know the truth but fail to tell. This is a way of trying to distort history. Those who work hard to save lives in any cruel part of the world are always the victims. You can go ahead and celebrate your villains; it is not strange. It seems it is part of our own society and culture to celebrate the corrupt and the villains. But those whose consciences are sacred to them will stand up for the truth and be counted for good.
This is the same magazine that did what was seen as a professional and balanced reportage in its January 4, 2009 edition, tagged: The Ordeal of Kid Witches. It opens its story line with “In Akwa Ibom State hundreds of children labeled as witches have died or have been badly tortured and brutalised by their own parents and relations…” Was NewsWatch ripping people off then? Which of the stories should one believe now? Other news outfit have done their researches and reports, which one do we believe? Or between NewsWatch and UNICEF which should I believe? Between NewsWatch and the UK Channel 4 TV which should I believe? NewsWatch and BBC which one should I believe? NewsWatch and US HBO which should I believe? NewsWatch and Dutch TV which should I believe? NewsWatch and our own Tell Magazine which should I believe? NewsWatch and Sahara Reporters, which one should I believe? The question is endless.
The NewsWatch magazine scraps christened ''A Big Rip-Off...'' is a shame to the magazine's editors like Dan Agbese and and Ray Ekpu for allowing the once dignified Nigerian tabloid to become a rotten egg eaten by the 'unkempt'. The story is just a vendetta from those who feel guilty of the crime they have committed against innocent children or those who failed to protect them from the hands of religious war lords who called themselves prophets. In no distant time we will bring reports of this kind including, the UNICEF research work which indicts Helen Ukpabio of crime against humanity which until now the Akwa Ibom State government has turned a blind eye because some of the government officials are sheepishly worshipping her.
Bishop Sunday William Ulup-Aya had made his confession of killing 110 people including children. Before the open confession, he was already recorded with undercover camera by Mr. Itauma who was trying his best to expose the criminal act and brutality carried out by these so called men of God who tag children and aged people witches and wizards and consign them to all sort of danger including their early graves. The new part of the story you are hearing now is Aniekan Umanah's version; assisted by Victor Ukutt. But who doesn't know Umanah, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information for his captivating eloquence in lies production and fabrication!! If you go to Enwang, Ibaka, Unyege, Afi-Uda, Uko Ntighe, Urukim (Ulup-Aya's maternal area, along Mbo River) in Mbo Local government Area of Oron Axis, you will get the real stories about the level of killings that took place in 2001/2002 orchestrated by the self-made Bishop himself. But for the intervention of former Inspector of General Police, Mr Etim Inyang who himself, too, is from Enwang, more than 500 lives would have been wasted by William Ulup-Aya, according to one Mr Edet Esin from Ibaka. The former police boss had made William to be detained for about three years before he was released, without trial. He had also confessed to using his "spiritual gift" of identifying and killing of witches to now delivering them. Sources in Urukum say, though William has changed the practice or otherwise of the modus operandi, but his former boys are still doing so covertly. 'It is not strange to hear that a person has been escorted...this means that he was taken to the forest and killed.' A 58 year old man who trades in fish had said on account of anonymity. He explained that in a village called Asak Ikang, every body is believed to be a witch. Witchcraft suspicion is the dominant factor there. 'No body is willing to collect water from you and drink let alone food..." he said. This is where the government should invest in orientating the people beyond rhetoric. This will help save lives and improve the economy and make the people have some level of trust in consonant with our age-long culture.
If you take a street survey in Akwa Ibom and parts of Cross River and River States, you will realise that today children mostly from Akwa Ibom origin are swimming the streets because they have been dubbed witches or wizards. This is disheartening, in spite of the much trumpeted free education that is said to be in our state. To say that the only organisation (CRARN) that started the campaign and rescue of these children is constantly hounded and under attack is making an understatement. This has given the religious profiteers the leeway to continue their job of stigmatising and torturing children at will. It is not too late for this government to start a vigorous campaign to end this war on vulnerable children and the aged people. Signing a law is one thing, but implementation is another. Government should stop donating vast of its time on media for blackmail and propaganda brigandage simply because it has control of the media, and resources to do so. It should learn to see criticism as a major tool for improvement and make amends; and not clamping down on dissenting views, if democracy is really anything to go by, which as it is now, it is a far cry from the reality
People who campaign for the right of such vulnerable ones in the society should be encouraged to do so. Doing otherwise is giving a tacit approval to the villains and corrupts to take over the society that we belong.
Mr. Jones is an Uyo based journalist and human right activist.
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