Headlines
Beware of Security Agents, IPOB Warns, Vows Never to Enforce Sit-at-Home Again
The leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra has warned the people of the South-East to be vigilant on Monday (today), claiming security agents may unleash mayhem on innocent citizens and blame it on members of the Eastern Security Network.
This is as the secessionist group reiterated that it had no plan to enforce its hitherto weekly sit-at-home order, alleging that it had uncovered a plot by security operatives to disguise as its members and those of ESN to “attack traders who come out tomorrow for their legitimate businesses”.
IPOB noted that it was expedient for the global community to be aware that it had since two weeks ago suspended its earlier weekly sit-at-home order.
The proscribed group stated this in a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, a copy of which was made available to The PUNCH on Sunday.
The statement read in part, “The intelligence unit of IPOB has uncovered secret plots by the Nigeria security agencies, most especially the DSS and the police to disguise as IPOB and ESN operatives to attack traders who come out tomorrow for their legitimate businesses.
“IPOB restates that there is no longer Ghost Mondays in Biafra land in solidarity with our detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Sit-at-home will only be observed on the days our leader will be making appearances in court. Such days will be well publicised ahead of time.
“Everybody is hereby placed on alert about this wicked plot. IPOB will not tolerate any attack on any Biafran or resident of Biafra under any guise.
“Security agencies have perfected plans to unleash attacks on innocent people in the name of ESN and IPOB volunteers. We have no plans again to enforce any sit-at-home order.
“We understand that all DPOs, DCOs other senior police officers in Enugu held meeting to perfect this plan to attack innocent Biafrans and tag it ESN attacks.
Reacting, the spokesman for the Enugu State Police Command, Daniel Ndukwe, described the allegation as the imagination of its purveyors and calculated to tarnish the image of the police.
Reacting, the Enugu State Police spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “Police in Enugu remain committed to the protection of lives and property. We have asked all law abiding Nigerians resident in Enugu to go about their normal businesses on Monday as police will ensure their safety.”
The Punch
The first hostages freed from Gaza under a long-awaited ceasefire agreement are back in Israel. The news sparked jubilant scenes in Tel Aviv where large crowds gathered ahead of their release.
The three freed Israeli hostages – the first of 33 to be released over the next six weeks – are Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari. They are said to be in good health and are receiving treatment at a medical center in Tel Aviv.
In exchange, 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are set to be released by Israel from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli military withdrew from several locations in southern and northern Gaza after the truce began earlier on Sunday, an Israeli military official told CNN.
Displaced Gazans have started returning to their homes, while the aid trucks laden with much-needed supplies have crossed into Gaza. Here’s what we know about how the ceasefire deal will work.
Hamas, despite suffering devastating losses, is framing the Gaza ceasefire agreement as a victory for itself, and a failure for Israel.
One of Hamas’ main goals for taking some 250 people during its brazen October 7, 2023, attack on Israel was to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. As Israel pounded Gaza in response, Hamas vowed not to return the hostages until Israel withdrew its forces from the enclave, permanently ended the war, and allowed for rebuilding.
Source: CNN
The leader of UK’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has said she doesn’t want Britain to be like Nigeria that is plagued by “terrible governments.”
Speaking on Thursday at an event organised by Onward, a British think tank producing research on economic and social issues, Badenoch expressed fears that Britain may become like Nigeria if the system is not reformed.
“And why does this matter so much to me? It’s because I know what it is like to have something and then to lose it,” Badenoch told the audience.
“I don’t want Britain to lose what it has.
“I grew up in a poor country and watched my relatively wealthy family become poorer and poorer, despite working harder and harder as their money disappeared with inflation.
“I came back to the UK aged 16 with my father’s last £100 in the hope of a better life.
“So I have lived with the consequences of terrible governments that destroy lives, and I never, ever want it to happen here.”
Badenoch has been in the news of late after she dissociated herself from Nigeria, saying she has nothing to do with the Islamic northern region.
She also accused the Nigeria Police of robbing citizens instead of protecting them.
She said: “My experience with the Nigeria Police was very negative. Coming to the UK, my experience with the British Police was very positive.
“The police in Nigeria will rob us (laughter). When people say I have this bad experience with the police because I’m black, I say well…I remember the police stole my brother’s shoe and his watch.”
