News
The human side of Boko Haram, By Fredrick Nwabufo
The phrase, “human side”, was given a Nigerian tinge and notoriety by Femi Adesina, spokesman of the president.
On December 24, 2017, Adesina announced that a 55-minute documentary entitled the ‘Human Side of Buhari’ would air the next day. This was at a time of chronic petrol drought, and when Nigerians became tenants of fuel stations.
Adesina said the documentary aimed to show the soft interior of the president against the background of his vaunted steel exterior; hence the title the ‘Human Side…’
I hope I have given enough credit to Oga Adesina because I intend to appropriate his phrase here.
On Wednesday, Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information, said the government did not pay ransom to Boko Haram for the release of the Dapchi schoolgirls. In fact, he said the girls were released unconditionally.
I would have given the minister the benefit of the doubt. But he said exactly the same thing when 85 Chibok schoolgirls were released in October – only for facts of how the government paid the insurgents a ransom of millions of Euros to surface.
Perhaps, Boko Haram has a “human side”. But it shatters the grail of reason that a band of murderous renegades will walk a treadmill of danger to abduct a group of schoolgirls only to return them without any condition. Maybe Boko Haram has had an epiphany.
However, I believe the Dapchi abduction is not a scam or a political orchestration. Though I think Boko Haram is sympathetic to the Buhari administration.
The reasons for this are obvious. The government has released a multitude of Boko Haram suspects; even the wives and children of the insurgents previously incarcerated. I doubt if any Boko Haram member, tried and convicted, has been sentenced to death or even given a life sentence under this administration.
The government has been temperate with them in this regard. This is not entirely a bad or immoral approach because the insurgents are still Nigerians. And there is the other issue, which is purely sentimental.
Also, hundreds of Boko Haram members have been released for purging or deradicalisation by the Buhari government. Most of these insurgents were captured by the military under President Jonathan, but they were left to rot in diseased prisons.
In conclusion, I think the government has been able to secure the trust of the insurgents by its approach; hence the breakthrough. But the Jonathan administration could not achieve this.
•FredrickNwabufo is a journalist, writer and media entrepreneur. He can be reached on @Twitter: FredrickNwabufo, Facebook: Fredrick Nwabufo
News
King Charles Reportedly “Really Unwell” And Funeral Plans Are Currently Being Reviewed
King Charles III’s health is causing concern for friends and the palace as he continues to battle cancer.
“Speaking to friends of the king in recent weeks about his health, the most common response is … ‘It’s not good,’” Tom Sykes of the Daily Beast reported Thursday, April 25.
A friend of the monarch claimed Charles “is determined to beat it and they are throwing everything at it,” adding, “Everyone is staying optimistic, but he is really very unwell. More than they are letting on.”
Royal writer Tina Brown also hinted at the monarch’s health struggles, writing recently that Charles’ cancer has put Prince William and Kate Middleton “in frightening proximity to ascending the throne just when they had hoped for a span of years to parent their children out of the public eye.”
“The prospect of it, I am told, is causing them intense anxiety.”
Sykes also reported that the king’s funeral plans, codenamed “Operation Menai Bridge”, are currently being reviewed.
A separate document that states what went well at Queen Elizabeth’s September 2022 funeral and what could be done better the next time a monarch dies is also circulating, according to the Daily Beast.
All the sources emphasized that royal funeral plans are constantly in review. However, one former staffer in particular conceded that Charles’ health woes have given his plans a different urgency.
“The plans have been dusted off and are actively being kept up to date,” the former staffer explained.
“It’s no more than what you would expect given the king has been diagnosed with cancer. But the circulation of them has certainly focused minds.”
Buckingham Palace announced in February that after undergoing surgery for a benign prostate enlargement, it was discovered that the king has cancer.
We hope the king gets well soon.
News
EFCC: New Documents Extracted Shows Yahaya Bello Allegedly Paid School Fees To The Tune Of $845,852,84 For His Family Members
Still on the EFCC trailing on Ex Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, Documents serving as exhibits have shown how he allegedly paid school fees in advance for his family members already in the school and even those to be enrolled in future with hundreds of thousands of dollars withdrawn from the state coffers.
A letter from the American International School of Abuja to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has shown the school admitting that Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, paid $845,852,84 into their bank account since September 2021 as advance school fees for 4 family members from the present class until they graduate.
Payment was also made for any future student to be enrolled by the family.
The document alleges that the payment was made by Mr. Ali Bello, alleged to be the eldest son of Yahaya Bello.
In the document, the school stated that they have deducted the fees for the educational service already rendered to the Bello children in the institution and what is left is $760, 910, which would be refunded to an account provided by the EFCC as the commission continues investigation into alleged money laundering levelled against Yahaya Bello.
The school also added that from the Bello family kids, “no further additional fees are expected in respect of tuition until they graduate from ASIA.”
News
Niger State Prisoners Run From Facility After Rainstorm Brings Down Part Of Fencing
Many prisoners serving time at the Suleja Correctional Centre, located in Suleja Local Government of Niger state, fled the facility after a rainstorm brought down a part of the inner fencing.
This incident happened as a result of the heavy rainfall which fell on Wednesday night. This led to a cell being torn down, providing incarcerated individuals with a chance at freedom.
Reporters gathered that security forces fired many shots in the air, attempting to scare the inmates out of hiding.
While the State Comptroller of Prisons declined to speak to the press, it has been noted that security has been beefed up on the Minna-Suleja and Suleja-Kaduna roads, including the Madalla axis to Abuja road, which is a likely escape route out of the state for the inmates.
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