2,500 teenagers rescued from ‘baby factories’ in South-East

About 2500 teenagers have been rescued from ‘baby factories’ across the South-East states in the last one year. Investigations conducted by the Campaign for Democracy (CD)revealed that the victims, who were majorly pregnant minors, were freed by the Police and other security agencies from the various illegal orphanages where they were held captive.

According to a statement released by the group and signed by its Chairman in the South-East, Uzor A. Uzor, most of the girls were enticed into the trade with monetary offers by the ‘baby factory’ operators, while others were forced into the infamous trade by poverty and illiteracy.

The CD noted that within the time under review, Abia and Imo states had the highest number of teenagers involved in the infamous trade.

The group attributed the increase in ‘baby factory’ operations in the zone to high rate of youth unemployment and poverty occasioned by the failure of successive governments in the zone to put adequate measures in place to empower the youths by creating meaningful employment.

“The rising cases of baby factory in the South-East is a result of the failure of the state governments in the South-East to create jobs for the teeming youths, especially the helpless girls who are easily lured into the trade.

“There is no other part of the country that has the problem of baby factory; it is a peculiar case with the South-East.

“In Abia and Imo states, about 1,800 pregnant teenagers and babies were rescued from ‘baby factories’ in the last 12 months and the number is still rising,” the CD stated.

It further charged the South-East governors to urgently fight the menace to secure the future of the teeming youths who are currently threatened.

“The governors in the zone should collaborate with security operatives to fish out those behind the trade and rehabilitate the rescued teenagers,” CD charged.

The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Musa Katsina, had during a media briefing in Owerri, the state capital, expressed worries that the issue of ‘baby factory’ had taken deep root in the South-East.

According to him, “the rate is alarming in all the states. It had been there until we began the clampdown on the operators and we will continue until we rid the society of this set of people and other criminal elements.”

Source 

10 Boko Haram members sentenced to death in Chad

10 members of the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram, yesterday were sentenced to death by the Chad government on terror charges.

The country where the sect operates from has secured insignificant prosecutions even though it regularly arrests Boko Haram fighters.

After a three-day trial in the capital N’Djamena, the 10 were convicted over their roles in twin attacks on the capital in June, which killed at least 38.

BBC reports that the attacks were the first by the Nigerian-based group in Chad, which hosts the headquarters of a regional force set up to fight the militants.

In July, Chad reintroduced the death penalty for acts of terror. The men were found guilty of charges including criminal conspiracy, killings, willful destruction with explosives, fraud, illegal possessions of arms and ammunition, and using psychotropic substances, according to chief prosecutor Bruno Mahouli Louapambe.

The trial which would have lasted eight days, was sped up due to security reasons and moved on Thursday to an undisclosed secret location,” a judicial source told AFP.

Among those convicted was Mahamat Mustapha, aka Bana Fanaye, the man described as the “mastermind” of the attack by Chad’s Interior Minister Abderahim Bireme Hamid.

Chad has banned people from wearing the full-face veil following the bombings.

52 men caught sleeping with female cultists during initiation ceremony.

Ifechukwu Atunanya, a 16-year-old secondary school dropout, has been arrested by policemen from the Anambra State Police Command while allegedly having sex with over 52 young men inside a bush in what looked like an initiation ceremony. The suspects were rounded up in the bush in Awka and are reportedly members of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, during the initiation of new members.

The 16 year-old, on her arrest, claimed she was forced to sleep with every male member of the cult during her initiation. According to the state Commissioner of Police, Hosea Karma, the police acted on an intelligence tip-off that the cult members and their new entrants were in a bush performing some rituals, explaining that some items including guns, machetes and several wraps of Indian hemp, were recovered from them.

On apprehension, the Police said the suspects confirmed that as part of their ritual, every male member of the cult will sleep with every prospective female member. They did this in order to secure their oath of secrecy and it was during the raid we arrested ifechukwu,” Hosea stated.

At the police station, Ifechukwu claimed that she had to travel to Anambra from Abuja just to witness the initiation of new members. In her statement, she said:

“I joined them three months ago and during my initiation; I was forced to have sex with every registered male member of the cult present that night. I was given sedatives so as not to feel what they were doing. It was not easy, but I bore the pain,” she said.

“The day we were initiated, I was the only girl in their midst. I was determined to be a successful member. I was further convinced to stay because I discovered that they were more honorable men than the other cult groups.

“I am sorry for myself and would love to be given the opportunity to go back to school,” she sobbed.

She went further to say she never knew that it was crime to be a cult member.

“I am so sorry,” Ifechukwu begged.

Another member, Ugochukwu Agbazuo, also said they are all undergraduates of various institutions in Anambra.

“Apart from some of our national leaders, we are all students. I was initiated into the cult while I was still in my first year. I had no choice but to join them because of the harassment in school. I discovered that most of the Engineering students in my school were members of different cult groups.”

Speaking further, Ugochukwu added: “If you identify with a known cult in school, the lecturers will respect you. You don’t have to buy handouts. This was why I joined them.”

“We did not steal or harass innocent people. The guns that were found with us were bought in case there was a clash in school. It is our leaders who are all graduates and working across the country that normally assists us to secure the arms. It is strictly for protection and one of the rules of our group is that you must read and pass your exams on merit,” he added.

On the issue of rape, Ugochukwu admitted that it only happened with female members.

“A female intending member cannot undergo the rigorous process during the initiation. So, our leaders suggested that the best way to get them under oath is for every registered member to have sex with her during initiation.

“She would be given sedatives during the process so that she will not physically feel the pain. Ifechukwu’s case was better because we were only 52 registered males present on the day of her initiation. All of our female members were raped,” he noted.

As the story goes, Ifechukuw’s parents, who hail from Anambra State, are still alive. However, she said that they were not aware of her secret cult activities.

 “I am from a poor family and I wanted to be the light that will change the situation in my family. I got to know about the cult activity through a friend. She assured me that all the connections that I needed in life will be made if I joined the group,” Ifechukwu stated.

DSS arrests coordinators of Boko Haram bombings in Lagos, Potiskum, Zaria, others

The Department of State Services, DSS, has arrested a number of terrorists in Lagos, Kano, Plateau, Enugu and Gombe States between July 8 and August 25, 2015. The series of arrests began with the apprehension of those responsible for the coordination and execution of the suicide attacks in Potiskum, Kano, Zaria and Jos.

The DSS in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Sunday gave the names of those arrested to include: Usman SHUAIBU (a. k. a. Money) who confessed that, “he coordinated the attacks under reference with the sum of five hundred thousand Naira (N500,000.00), which was provided by his Amir, one Isa Ali.

He claimed that the said Isa Ali has links to the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Sheka, from where he collects monies to fund operations undertaken by their Markaz. Also, he revealed that he has participated in several Boko Haram attacks, including the attacks at Gwoza Divisional Police Station in 2014.

According to the Department, Shuaibu admitted leading the team of nine (9) Boko Haram members that was dispatched from Sambisa Forest to carry out the attacks. He disclosed that four (4) out of the nine (9) of them were used as suicide bombers in executing all the (Suicide) attacks.

The statement which was signed by Tony Opuiyo further gave the names of others arrested and how their arrest came about.

Ahmed MOHAMMED (aka ABUBAKAR):

5. Suspect, an IED expert, confessed to the preparation of the IEDs used for the mentioned attacks. He also averred that he (ABUBAKAR) was the one who strapped the suicide bombers, notably SULE and his wives, with IED vests, which they used in the attacks in Jos.

Adamu ABDULLAHI (aka Babpa)

6. Suspect confessed that Usman SHUAIBU motivated him to work closely with Ahmed MOHAMMED (aka ABUBAKAR) in the preparation of the IEDs used in the attacks under reference.

Ibrahim ISA

7. Suspect confessed that he was the one who carried out reconnaissance on the targets in Jos ahead of the attacks.

Muttaqa YUSUF (aka Mohammed SANI/Mudtaka):

8. Suspect disclosed that one ALIYU, believed to be Aliyu GOMBE, in Sambisa forest, was the one that ordered the serial attacks which the syndicate carried out. He further confessed that he assisted Usman SHUAIBU in planning and executing the said attacks.

9. Other arrests include:
Bakura MODU:- He was arrested on 20th July, 2015, at Kara, Isheri Berger, Ikeja LGA, Lagos State;

Mustapha Alli JAMNERI:- He was arrested on 24th July, 2015, at Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Alimosho LGA, Lagos State;

Abuyi SHERRIFF:- suspect was arrested on 7th August, 2015, at Ebute-Metta, Lagos Mainland LGA, Lagos State;
Babagana ALI and Babagana KOLOYE:- were arrested same day (7th August, 2015), at Eric Moore, Bode Thomas Street, Surulere LGA, Lagos State;

Abba Modu SAGMA: He was arrested on 9th August, 2015, at Ijora Badiya, Apapa LGA, Lagos State;

Grema ABUBAKAR and Tijani BAGUDU: were arrested on 10th August, 2015, at Amukoko, Ijora Badiya, Apapa LGA, Lagos State;

Baba Alhaji and Abass IBRAHIM:- were arrested earlier on the same day (10th August, 2015), at Alaba International Market, Alaba, Ojo LGA, Lagos State;

IBRAHIM AUDU: Suspect was arrested on 19th August 2015, at New Artisan Market, Enugu, Enugu State;

Ibrahim HARUNA: The 30-year old suspect from Kanawa village, Sumaila LGA, Kano State was arrested on 21st August, 2015, at Kwomi village, Kwami Local Government Area (LGA), Gombe State;

Mal Ali MOHAMMODU: The 33 year old suspect was arrested on 22nd August 2015, at Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Fagga LGA in Kano State;
xi. Adam Wakil Abdul JILBE: was arrested on 23rd August 2015, at Obanikoro Area, Mushin LGA, Lagos State; and

xii. Mohammed USMAN: was arrested on 25th August, 2015, at Atuashe Estate, Gbagada, Kosofe LGA, Lagos State.

10. Nigerians and indeed the general public have to note that the arrest of Usman SHUAIBU aka Money and the core members of his cell, stemmed the spate of bombings by the extremist sect. It would be recalled that MONEY and his group were arrested on their way to Bauchi State where they had planned to execute another heart-rending bomb attack and this was frustrated by the arrest. Furthermore, the sudden influx of Boko Haram members into Lagos State points to the determination of the sect to extend its nefarious terrorist activities to the State and in fact, other parts of the country. The arrest of these confessed terrorist elements has however helped in no small measure to avert devastating attacks in the area. However, the Service is making efforts to conclude its investigations and commence prosecution of the suspects.

The DSS reiterates its determination to work with other stakeholders in the fight against terrorism and other forms of criminality in Nigeria. Citizens and residents are therefore called upon to rise to the occasion by volunteering useful information to the Service and relevant security agencies.

Lagos State engages Traditional rulers in the fight against Gender-based violence

The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), in furthering its campaign against the criminal act, engaged traditional rulers on sexual and gender- based violence and their role as responders, last weekend.

The team was led by its Coordinator, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, and had in attendance, the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu and 30 other royal fathers. She said that as traditional rulers, the counsel they gave to victims of rape, defilement and domestic violence and their family members could go a long way in making or marring a case.

She said, “This engagement is premised on the Governor’s desire to engage members of the community and relevant stakeholders on these crimes, enlighten them on the impact on the victim and the society, and in most communities where these acts are being perpetrated, the first responders are usually traditional rulers.

“There have been several instances where victims have said that traditional rulers and other opinion leaders, whom they held in high regard, had convinced them in settling their matter out of court. The fact that handling such crimes and the decision to discontinue a case can only be taken by the Attorney General was reiterated at the meeting.”

She said as first time responders, the royal fathers were given protocol responses to rape, defilement, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect.

“In instances of domestic violence, the response should not be to ask victims to return back to the home where the abuse has occurred, but rather refer them to a safe haven (e.g. shelter home, or a trusted family member). Whilst for rape, the first step should be to refer the victim to the hospital where the victim can be treated and the evidence of the crime preserved.”

Vivour-Adeniyi said the traditional rulers were also given resource materials in the form of posters and stickers, which, they promised, would be shared out in their domains.

She is positive that the meeting will result in an improved partnership with traditional rulers, crime reporting, communities’ response in handling reports of sexual violence, abuse and crime, a reduction in the occurrence of crime and the spread of knowledge that out-of-court settlements no longer be allowed.

38 virgins killed on their way to Swaziland’s King’s bride-choosing festival.

Times of Swaziland reports that dozens of girls and young women were killed during the weekend, as they travelled to the traditional festival where the King of Swaziland was to pick a new bride from thousands of topless, dancing virgins.

It has been a long time tradition in Swaziland (Swazi) which permits the King, Mswati, to choose a new bride every year (August), in the Swazi Reed Dance Festival where the King parades and tests topless under aged virgin girls publicly to ascertain that their virginity was still intact.

The Sherburne-educated king is known to pick his wives from the girls who perform for him at the traditional dance, a tribute to the queen mother. The King had chosen a 19-year-old virgin from the dancing maidens last year August, who became his 14th wife.

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“When the open-topped truck collided with another vehicle, before being hit by a second truck as it traveled along a motorway between the Swazi cities of Mbabane and Manzini earlier this weekend, at least 38 girls who were to partake in the annual event, lost their lives,” according to the report, “and about 20 survivors were being treated.”

Reports say that the authorities in Swaziland are being accused of trying to cover up the accident from human rights group.The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) claimed the police attempted to discourage media report on the deaths.

Photographers were however, restricted from the scene according to Swazi journalist, for security reasons, but reports on the tragedy described the scene as chaotic, as parents began to arrive at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital, in Manzini.

One of the survivors, Siphelele Sigudla, 18, told newsmen,

“We were about 50 on board the first truck that smashed into the Toyota van.”

The SSN has called on the royal family to reconsider going ahead with the festival, which sees about 40,000 participating in the eight-day ceremony.

“We hope that the families of the deceased girls will hold the royal family accountable for the deaths of their children,” the SSN group said in a statement, as it alleged a similar incident had been covered up previously.

“The least that the royal family can do at this moment is to cancel this year’s reed dance.”

The King in his condolence statement, said:

“We all have heard about the dark cloud that has befallen the ‘imbali,” he said, using the Swati language word for flower, used to refer to the groups of women dancers.

Speaking at the opening of an international trade fair in Swaziland’s economic center Manzini, he promised that the affected families would be compensated; adding that investigation into the accident was ongoing.