DPO killed Pregnant Woman, Baby

The Sunday Trust of 26 December, 2010 carried the distressing story of how the brutality of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Rigasa neighbourhood of Kaduna led to the death of a nine-month pregnant woman, Binta, and her baby.

Binta’s painful journey to death, as reported in the paper, started when her three year old child lost a slippers belonging to a co-tenant who used the opportunity to insult Binta continuously. For the sake of peace, Binta bought a pair of new slippers and sent it to the co-tenant. Instead of receiving it and let the matter die, the co-tenant beat the daughter who took the slippers to her and also engaged the nine-month old Binta in a fight. By the time she was done, Binta was bleeding.

Not satisfied that she has beaten the hell out of Binta, she went to the divisional police office and lodged a complaint that Binta has fought her. The DPO ordered three policemen to arrest Binta immediately. She was taken to the police station and detained all night in spite of pleas from her relations and husband. The complainant was not arrested.

When the police realised that her condition may lead to death, they called her brother whose name they found on her cell phone. With him, the police conveyed her to a nearby clinic in a police van. The clinic declined to treat her seeing her condition and referred them to Yusuf Dantsoho General Hospital at Tudun Wada, Kaduna. There, Binta gave birth to a baby girl who died five minutes later. And Binta too died that evening.

The husband called the DPO on phone and told him that he, the DPO, has killed his wife. It was then the DPO ordered the arrest of the complainant who is renowned in the neighbourhood for her quarrels. It was too late. She has run away.

A number of things made this story very sad. One, the brutality and subsequent death was over a bathroom slippers of just N80 (50 cents)!. The DPO should have reconciled the two instead of killing one of them and her baby.

Two, relatives of the deceased begged for Binta’s bail but the DPO denied it and insisted on incarcerating the woman even as she was bleeding from the beating she received from the complainant. He was so heartless an animal that he even refused to allow her drink water which she asked the husband to provide her with.

Three, unlike Maimuna who survived her serial rape to demand for justice, Binta did not survive to even tell her story, let alone demand for justice. Nor would her baby girl know the circumstance that killed her mother, for the baby died immediately after her birth.

Four, the response of the Kaduna Police Command is most irresponsible. All it did was to transfer the DPO to another division, as if he did nothing wrong. The Commissioner of Police even refused to answer a question raised by a journalist about the incident at a press conference. The command is keeping the result of the autopsy hidden.

This story, like that of Maimuna, epitomises the callousness of many in the Nigerian Police. By the refusal of the Kaduna command to sanction the DPO, the Police have clearly chosen to side with him in the case. It is not worth any punishment, in their judgement. The police by their action are asking the nation the following questions: So what, if a Nigerian loses his life in a police cell? How many such deaths happen across the country every day in police cells? Why would Binta’s be different even to warrant a whole oga DPO to be reprimanded? It is normal!

It is this camaraderie that damages the police beyond correction. The good among them are not ready to punish or expose the bad. The guilty is hidden and protected, unless he is inconsequential when he will be used as a sacrificial lamb. That is why Inspector Dantalle escaped from being charged in Kano despite his participation in the rape of Maimuna. The girl insists that he too raped her. But the police commissioner only demoted him to sergeant. Nigerian Police Force!

The police should not therefore blame the public for any generalisation. The Police force is one of the worst institutions of government in Nigeria and one of the worst human rights violators in the world. There is no crime that its personnel have not been committing in this country. They rape the vulnerable; they kill at the slightest provocation; many have been caught in armed robbery; they provide politicians with the security cover to rig elections and harass the opposition; they extort money from drivers; they hesitate to provide security to civilians when their help is needed; just name it. Only few people were able to come outsatisfied after having any business with the Nigerian Police.

The only two explanations they give to their incapacity are their inadequate numbers and lack of sophisticated equipment. If we may ask, did the DPO in Rigasa need three policemen to arrest a pregnant woman? Did he need any equipment to detain her in her bleeding state under the subhuman conditions of the Nigerian police cell, without food or water? All he needed to do was to behave like a human being, not an animal who is animated by the little bribe from a complainant to kill an innocent mother and her baby. It is that humanity that is missing in the Nigerian police. Its personnel could freely engage in human right abuses with impunity. And because their officer corps is raised through such a regime of violations it hardly reprimands its subordinates for any misdeed. Instead, the subordinate is encouraged by the assurance of espirit de corps to violate the rights of Nigerians again and again. The police have lost the power and wisdom of self-control.

The image of the police is in its hands. It can improve it by standing up to those who violate its ethics among its rank and file, if it likes. Who is surprised that the DPO of Kwali before whom the complaint of Maimuna’s rape and sex-slavery was brought pleaded with her relations to “forgive his men”? Who is surprised that the Police command in Kano has not reprimanded him too? They have grown through the rank and file of one of the most corrupt institutions in the country. They cannot be different. Ringim has the arduous task of proving himself different by changing the pattern of behaviour of his officers. He must punish where punishment is desired. He must show his men that Nigerians are more important than the uniforms the police wear.

On our part, I think Nigerians have been handling the police with kid’s gloves. We let them go with literally anything. We call ourselves educated when we do not even know the basic elements of our rights. There are institutions we can use to seek redress, not simply sitting down and crying before a newspaper reporter. The judiciary is there. Nobody is above it. What stops victims from lodging their complaints immediately their rights are violated with public complaint commissions, with their elected representatives, with their pastors and imams, with the human rights groups in their states, with just anyone they revere?

The police, for example, shiver at the sight of a lawyer and immediately start to do the right thing. Why do we fail to avail ourselves with the services of lawyers? If the victim cannot afford one, what of the state legal aid that offers free legal services just as does the NBA to such poor victims? Going public should even be the last resort, though the radio and the newspapers have been forthcoming here.

Educating us on our legal rights I think is the best contribution any government or private agency can offer towards curtailing these abuses. It will yield more dividends than concentrating on the present approach that is largely post-mortem and very costly. Let people know that where the police are involved in a violation, very little would naturally come out from them. They cannot be judges in their own course. This is a basic presumption in law. Recourse must be found in avenues outside the rotten department. Had the relatives of Maimuna not sought the help of the Hisbah and human rights groups in Kano, her case would not have been heard by the world. The police would have suppressed it as they suppressed millions of human rights abuses before. Even now, I agree that a more prudent independent investigation needs to be carried out by an independent body on Maimuna's case as suggested by many contributors.

Since the story of Binta broke out last Sunday, I have been in contact with Sister Maryam Uwais to learn what the women groups can offer on this. Fortunately, she has been in the picture too and has discussed it with Hajiya Saudatu Sani of WRAPA. Maryam also assured me via email that “FIDA, PSC, the NHRC and a few other NGOs have also joined WRAPA in ascertaining the fact in the Rigasa matter, which is the first step.”

The DPO in Rigasa was instrumental to the death of Binta. He should be charged with voluntary homicide. Simple. Binta did not need to be his mother before he could know that a bleeding pregnant woman requires urgent medical attention, not detention in a filthy police dungeon. His classroom training must have told him that his most important duty as a policeman is the protection of life, not destroying it. Here, he chose to destroy both the mother and her baby. His training also must have taught him the principle of fair hearing, the right for the accused to be heard before he is charged.

It is, however, regrettable that his practice taught him something different. It taught him to take bribe, take sides and kill the life. In addition, it taught him that he is a sacred cow.

Not this time. After killing his victim, the coward rushed to cover his ass by ordering the arrest of the complainant and seeking a transfer. He got it. But Binta too will get justice, even in her grave. The cow must be slaughtered this time. Let the coward be rest assured.

This case makes me to suggest the formation of an NGO that would specifically address issues bordering on police human rights abuses. It can be called “Friends of the NPF” or any other suitable word because the Police force cannot have better friends than members of such organisation. The police should not see this as a threat but rather as an aid that will help them solve one of their most pressing problems. Saving the police from itself must concern every Nigerian, in my estimation. The abuses are just too many and endemic for the force to extricate itself from. It requires a concerted external pressure. The cases are also too many for existing NGOs to be tackling while they also address their primary areas of concern.

The funding of such a group should come from individuals, groups and the government, which can channel its own through the NHRC and the police departmental vote. Such a group should be composed of human right lawyers, interested ex-police officers with proven integrity, human rights groups, community leaders in its branches and interested individuals. It could even be formed jointly by human rights groups. I hope readers will help to refine this rudimentary idea and go ahead to source the people who would be ready to follow it up to fruition
 

NIGERIA WILL DO WELL IF YOU TAKE GOD OUT OF THE COUNTRY

"…The President's capability: Human capability is zero without God's approval. In many of his speeches and on his Facebook, President GEJ has always acknowledged his dependence on God to accomplish whatever is designed for him to accomplish for Nigeria . Let us join him to pray for divine guidance. His faith in God will lead him to do the good works that will move  Nigeria forward…"



If Nigerians would take God out of the country all would be well with the country. Just consider the number of places of worship in Lagos and Abuja ; churches, mosques, tabernacles, synagogues, temples, etc and the number of the congregations in these places of worship and you would be very much amazed. Now think of prayers said before any bus leaves any place, any car is turned on, before schools, before football games, before one opens one's shop and other activities. It is safe to say that Nigerians spend at least one hour a day in prayer.



Folks that is 140 million hours per day.



Even a deaf God would have heard our prayers. So I venture to assert that what is going on in Nigeria is the wish of God or that God does not answer prayers or that God despises Nigerian prayers.



Take your pick.



Please read Mr. Ayeni's quote above. He says that GEJ depends on God to accomplish what he is doing. I take that to be true. So take GEJ's accomplishments (name them one-by-one) and you will see the efficacy of praying to God in Nigeria . I think that OBJ also worked with God. Count OBJ's accomplishments and if you fail to come to the conclusion that God works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform in Nigeria , then you are blind. The size of our electric output; the quality of our roads and education; the quality of our hospitals and death rates; and a long list of our accomplishments are the answers of God's mercies to our prayers.



If we were to take God out of these places of worship, we would have a different Nigeria . The Val Ojo's of the world would see what they have been asking for. Such good things as kidnapping would disappear, the so called corruption which is nothing but a way for people to provide for their families would be things of the past; students would be tortured by teachers who would no longer be able to go "on strikes" but would be there to demand endless home work from tired students; food would be abundant leading to the sin of gluttony and to over population, a condition that one Ola Kassim has been preaching endlessly against.



Take God out of Nigeria and see the country roar!

HELEN UKPABIO LOSES WITCHCRAFT CASE AGAINST ACTIVISTS

In what might signal the end of her reign of terror over child right's activist in Nigeria. Helen Ukpabio has had her court case dismissed. The controversial female evangelist who has been accused by human rights organisation for being the arrow head in the persecution and abuse of children on account of their being falsely labeled witches and wizards, had to come to terms with her 1st legal defeat in the hands of a judge at Calabar.

Helen Ukpabio is known to justify and encourage child witch hunting by quoting a particular scripture verse from the Bible , " suffer not a witch to live". Her controversial film "end of days", has been condemned by both orthodox and pentecostal churches as being a false manipulative christian document laced with fear and sensational error.

Last week neither Helen Ukpabio's erroneous interpretation of the Bible nor her questionable annointing could save her from the hands of Justice P.J Nneke, a judge at the Federal High Court in Calabar.

Helen Ukpabio had made an application enforcing her rights against The Akwa Ibom State Government, The Commissioner of Police Cross River State, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Leo Igwe ( Nigerian Humanist Movement), Sam Itauma (Child's Rights and Rehabilitation Network) and Gary Foxtrot ( Stepping Stones).

The application was brought after Helen Ukpabio's supporters were alleged to have invaded, raided, assaulted and stolen the personal properties of Leo Igwe at a symposium organised to defend persecuted children. Even though her supporters carried out the assault, she brought an application to enforce her rights. Helen Ukpabio's application was dismissed outright, she was also charged to pay 20,000 naira as legal costs.

Leo Igwe rejoicing at the dismissal of Helen Ukpabio's application said Ukpabios response to their symposium was an illegal one, so it is wonderful news that her case against us has been dismissed".

It is not quite clear what Helen Ukpabio will do next, but the evangelist who enjoys courting controversy always organizes an end of year "catch the witches conference". Every time I am in Nigeria for Christmas, large billboards of her casting out witches adorn a major highway called Calabar Itu Road.

The government have had to pull down these bill boards in the past. Am hoping the loss of this case will cause her to sober up and will encourage her to engage in more Productive Positive Humanitarian Christian Projects.

Helen Ukpabio, may want to adorn herself with a Santa Claus costume and visit some of these children with gifts, because Love still remains the greatest message she can preach to authenticate her calling.

It was widely reported she was physically attacked recently in a western country by sympathizers of stigmatized children.

Mr. Sambo chickens out

On Christmas Eve, the disheartening ethno-religious crisis in Jos flared anew. Several bomb blasts went off in three areas of the once mild-mannered city, killing at least 32 people. The bloodletting was a tragic interlude at a time of celebration and good cheer.

As with many outbreaks of violence throughout our benighted land, the conflict in Jos had hitherto featured crude weapons, especially machetes. About the most sophisticated weapons deployed were guns of various kinds.

But now bombs have, perhaps inevitably, been brought to bear. This follows the usual trajectory of violent conflict in our country. Punches and stabbings mutate into guns and the burning of property. Then routine murder begins to take root as warring sides, in the absence of any government, surrender all inhibition. Unreason begins to rule. The Niger Delta, typically, has demonstrated how violent conflict evolves to near unmanageability. First, foreigners are kidnapped but never harmed. Then they are injured and sometimes killed. Then Nigerians are targeted, almost exclusively adults. Then the dragnet spreads to the elderly and even children. A line is crossed. The codes governing society are shredded and all bets are off.

As we all know, from bitter experience, the corrosive effects of violence almost inevitably send society plunging deeper and deeper into the abyss. Bombings used to be limited to the Delta. Then one or two installations in Lagos are bombed.

Then on Independence Day this year the heart of Abuja, the nation’s capital, is targeted for a bombing attack against innocents.

Now it’s Jos’ turn.

One by one, the dominoes fall in our country. Having been brutalised and forced to endure cold-blooded murder, the disoriented youth who populate Boko Haram have now resorted to murdering public officials throughout the north east. The Igbo states of the south east have completely collapsed into ungovernability.

Kidnapping is rampant. Thugs have ascended into the corridors of power. Civilisation recedes step by step. Our communities are, in effect, reclaimed by the bush.

The underlying cause of all this violence throughout the country is the utter absence of effective government. It is safe to say that every part of our country is roughly equally mismanaged, leaving ordinary citizens vulnerable to the rapacity of the political and business elite. Inequality is as obscene as can be found in the world’s worst societies. Every Nigerian feels s/he is alone to fend for self as best as can be managed. It’s a Hobbesian jungle out there, and sooner or later something will give.

The utter failure of government to make even the lamest symbolic moves is underscored by the fecklessness of Vice President Namadi Sambo, who was scheduled to make a perfunctory visit to Jos yesterday, Dec. 27, to commiserate with the victims and perhaps make the usual empty promises.

Mr. Sambo, it turns out, cannot even manage that much. At the very last minute, the vice president shelved his visit on account of what officials described as ‘unfavourable security reports.’ That’s right: unfavourable security reports! What conditions did Mr. Sambo expect in a city in which citizens cannot even be protected by their government, in which they are shot and knifed and bombed daily? In which their children cannot go to school, their homes and businesses cannot be safeguarded from rampaging hordes, their places of worship and their farms and public places are subject to razing at any time?

The Jonathan/Sambo government has not shown itself capable of governing, any more than the Yar’Adua/Jonathan government concerned itself with the business of running the country.

We are and we remain citizens abandoned to our fate. It is up to us, not these pretenders to the business of leadership, to figure out a way to make our country right again.

Mr. Sambo is highly unlikely to be a part of that effort at renewal.

IS THIS A NATION WITH ONE DESTINY ? IS THIS WHAT TO EXPECT ?

A STATEMENT REGARDING JOS AND BORNO ATTACKS

In the name of Allah the mighty Who has power over everything, Who made fighting the disbelievers an obligation until justice is established on earth.

May peace and blessings continue to be upon the last messenger who wage jihad, the best of it.

O Nations of the World, be informed that verily the attacks in Suldaniyya (Jos) and Borno on the eve of Christmas was carried out by us, JAMA’ATU AHLUS-SUNNAH LIDDA’AWATI WAL JIHAD, under the leadership of Abu Muhammad, Abubakar bin Muhammad Shekau (May Allah preserve him), to start avenging the atrocities committed against Muslims in those areas, and the country in general. Therefore we will continue with our attacks on disbelievers and their allies and all those who help them, until Allah’s deen triumph by His Grace and Will.

O Muslims! Do not forget that Allah has enjoined us to make provisions for fighting the disbelievers, and for that we are reminding you that the disbelievers of the world are fighting Islam and Muslims. So you must stand and strive to protect your religion and life.

With Peace
JAMA’ATU AHLUS-SUNNAH LIDDA’AWATI WAL JIHAD
Who is waging Jihad in the country called Nigeria.


Click here to download in Hausa. VIDEO: - download video here


http://www.mansoorah.net/sb_attacks.php

DELTA STATE GOVERNORSHIP RE-RUN ELECTION: LET YOUR VOTE COUNT

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has just announced that the court ordered Delta state re-run election will hold on 6th January, 2011.
We wish to call on all Anioma people registered to vote to guard their voter's card very jealously and use it judiciously in their choice of credible governorship candidate in the January 6, 2011 re-run election. In making your choice, it is important to note that whosoever you decide as governor may take charge of the affairs of Delta state, and therefore your lives and wellbeing and those of your children for the next four years. You should therefore use your votes wisely and not be tempted by temporary gains, but consider your long term future and those of your children and kinsmen and women in deciding who you elect in this crucial election, coming up in about on January 6, 2011.

The foundation would also advice all Anioma people to not only vote, but to also defend their votes and prevent a situation where their votes are stolen, or are not counted as was the case in the 2007 cancelled election. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, "No man is good enough to rule or govern over another without his consent"...
Our Anioma young people should not be tempted, by immediate trifle gains offered by election riggers, to be used in carrying out fraudulent electoral practices as the long term pain of dubious electoral mandate hurts the people more, since the carriers of those fraudulent mandate(s) will feel unaccountable and unconcerned about the plight of the people whose votes they feel are not needed to get to power.

It is time to make your votes count. Too many of our political office holders are not accountable to us - the electorate. Let's come out and vote and make our voices heard. This election re-run is no ordinary one. The votes you cast will contribute to improving your day to day living or diminishing your quality of life and that of other Anioma people. We now have the opportunity to carefully choose who we want to serve us and reject those who do not have the best interest for Anioma people.

This press release is to let you know that this election re-run is DIFFERENT AND SPECIAL because in the past people are selected and / or imposed on us but we are delighted that the CHANGE WE SEEK IS HERE and history cannot repeat itself as the good people of our State are ready for any such eventuality. Several machineries are now in place to observe and monitor this election very closely and any malpractice or any attempt to rig the result and sabotage the WILL of the people will be met with grave consequences for both the candidates and those responsible for rigging it. Umu Anioma Worldwide will be on the ground to monitor events closely.

About Umu Anioma Foundation:
Umu Anioma Foundation Inc. is a not for profit and non-partisan Organization governed by a board of directors. Umu Anioma Foundation Inc. was incorporated under Georgia law on June 11, 2010 as the apex organization representing the general interest of Anioma indigenes worldwide. Membership of Umu Anioma Foundation Inc. comprises of Anioma indigenes that are sold on the VISION of a reconstructed value system for the common good of all.

Internal bickering can never pull PDP down.........Prince Sam obi

The acting governor of Delta state Prince Sam Obi has enjoined the PDP family in the state not to allow internal bickering tear the party apart.



         Prince Obi who made the call at a meeting with Delta North PDP stakeholders in Asaba said they should not allow unfounded rumour to disorganize them.



         He urged them to remain steadfast as nobody will either shortchange or frustrate their dreams and vision in the 2011 election.



          “I and his Excellency Dr Uduaghan felt there was need to strengthen the record and let you know what is happening in the party”.



        The acting governor commended them for their unity of purpose and resilience and promised that the party will not disappoint them.



          Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan in his own speech enjoined the PDP family to work together so that opponents of the party will not penetrate and scatter the unity built over the years.



         Dr Uduaghan who gave the assurance that all grey areas will be ironed out enjoined the party faithfuls to remain committed to the PDP programmes.



          He appealed to them to observe the rules of the game as nobody will enjoy any preferential treatment during the primaries.



        “I want us to work together as one PDP family that is why we are here to discuss as a family”.