Friday

Nigerian, girlfriend arrested in Thailand for drug possession

CC™ Global News

By Wale Odunsi

A Nigerian, Obimma Kelechi Anthony, and his girlfriend, Marisa Noipitak, have been arrested with drugs in Thailand.

They were apprehended in the capital, Bangkok, while shipping 490 grams of crystal methamphetamine to Australia.

The Airport Interdiction Task Force (AITF) caught the couple when they brought the drugs in a spindle photo frame and a Buddhist monk offering to a company to send to Australia.

During a search of Marisa’s residence in Ramkhamhaeng, 985 grams of meth were found in another spindle frame.

In Obimma’s house in Samut Prakan, security agents discovered 35 grams of heroin, 89 grams of meth and 82 grams of cocaine.

The duo are being held by the Narcotics Suppression Division 3.

Marisa and Obimma have been charged with illegal drug possession. Police investigation continues.

DAILY POST

Wednesday

'We welcome Taliban' say China as they begin building 'good relations' with terrorists


CC™ Global News

By Tom Hussey

China has made a harrowing declaration that it "welcomes" the Taliban with open arms as the new regime in Afghanistan and "wishes to develop good relations" with them moving forward. 

Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying announced China's full support of the Taliban as the militants take control of Afghanistan. During the chilling speech, Ms. Chunying outlined how China "welcome" future efforts of "participation in the reconstruction and development" of Afghanistan as they seek "good relations" with the terror group. But China has sworn the Taliban must not host Uyghur Islamists who hail from China's western Xinjiang province, a group that have launched terror attacks against China.

During the speech at a press conference of China's foreign ministry, Ms. Chunying confirmed China had become the first nation in the world to pledge their support for the new Taliban regime.

Ms. Chunying said: “The Afghan Taliban have repeatedly expressed their wish to develop good relations with China

“That they look forward to China’s participation in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan.

“And that they will never allow any forces to use Afghan territory to endanger China."

And in a sobering moment, Ms. Chunying said: “We welcome this.”

It comes as the Chinese held talks with the Taliban at the end of July to discuss the future of their relationship.

Nine officials from the Taliban met China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, in the Chinese city of Tianjin on July 28.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar the Taliban’s co-founder was welcomed by Mr. Yi with open arms at the meeting.

During the talks the Taliban promised they would not allow Uyghur militants from China’s Xinjiang Province to come to Afghanistan and train as terrorists. 

In return China pledged support to the militant group.

And in a shocking statement, Mr Yi called the Taliban “an important military and political force in Afghanistan”.

Despite the comments US secretary of state Antony Blinken at the time claimed that Beijing’s interest in Afghanistan could be a “positive thing”.

The news comes as the Taliban have effectively taken control of Afghanistan after 20 years of western intervention in the country.

Taliban fighters have now declared “the war is over” after seizing the presidential palace, sending President Ashraf Ghani fleeing. Photos have now emerged of hundreds more Taliban fighters flooding into the capital Kabul as citizens scramble to escape at Kabul airport.

The declaration of victory follows a blistering advance across Afghanistan, which saw 20 provincial capitals fall to the Taliban in less than two weeks as the Afghan army failed to hold back their offensive.

It follows chaotic scenes that were unfolding on Sunday evening and Monday morning as thousands of desperate Afghan's swarmed into Kabul's Hamid Karzai international airport to try and board flights. While heartbreaking footage shows how some were so desperate to leave that they climbed on the outside of a US military plane as it took off and later fell tragically to their deaths.


EXPRESS

Tuesday

Ousted Afghan President Ghani fled with helicopter filled with millions of dollars


CC™ Global News

By Foreign Correspondent

As controversy trailed the whereabouts of ousted Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, some reports said he fled with a helicopter filled with cash.

The report credited to Russian embassy in Kabul claimed that the helicopter could not contain all the cash as he had to leave some behind.

The report did not indicate the currency, but it was obvious he must have taken away U.S. dollars.

According to Mail Online, Ghani also escaped with four cars, which he plans to use in his country of asylum.

By Monday night, it was unclear where he had sought refuge.

Initial report on Sunday said he fled to Tajikistan, but local authorities in Dushanbe Tajikistan debunked this.

‘The plane with Mr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani onboard did not enter airspace of Tajikistan and did not land in the territory of the country,’ said a Tajik source.

Al Jazeera also reported that Ghani fled to Uzbekistan.

But Russian sources are now suggesting that he is in Oman.

Monday

China's state media mocked the US withdrawal in Afghanistan, saying the Taliban takeover was 'more smooth than the presidential transition in the US


CC™ Global News

By Cheryl Teh

China's state media mocked the US troop withdrawal in Afghanistan, saying the Taliban's takeover of the country was "more smooth" than the presidential transfer of powers in the US.

The opinion was tweeted out on August 15 by Hu Xijin, the editor-in-chief of the Global Times, a state-affiliated media outlet in China.

Hu was referencing posts made on Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter.

People made posts saying that the Taliban takeover was "peaceful" compared to the US Capitol riot on January 6. when a pro-Trump mob swarmed the Capitolsieged the buildingsmashed and damaged property, and forced lawmakers into lockdown.

Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani left Afghanistan for Tajikistan on August 15, leaving his presidential palace open to Taliban fighters entering Kabul. On Sunday, fighters were seen inside the presidential palace, holding assault weapons and posing behind desks.

Ghani, who became president in 2014, made a Facebook post upon his departure, saying he "thought it was best to get out" to avoid a "flood of blood" in Kabul, Afghanistan's capital and its largest city.

The Taliban is now positioned to formally take hold of power in the country once again and declare it the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan following a complete withdrawal of American troops and the evacuation of US diplomats.

"What a joke. In Kabul today, the new government takeover was even more stable than when the US changed presidents," wrote a Weibo user named Chen Zhen.

Some Weibo users also poked fun at the blame game currently unfolding between Biden and Trump on who should take responsibility for the Taliban's swift takeover of Afghanistan's major cities, making predictions about "what will happen next" in US politics.

One user with the ID DiGuaXiongLaoLiu wrote: "The script should read like this from here on. Step one: Trump asks Biden to resign and take responsibility for Afghanistan. Step two, Biden refuses to resign, and states supporting Trump will say if Biden doesn't resign, they'll leave the US! Step three, two years later the US government dissolves itself and becomes the Ameri-Russian Government."

Business Insider

Friday

THE MAN DIED! (REST IN PEACE, MOHAMMED FAWEHINMI)


CC™ Opinion News

By Yahaya Balogun

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

With shock and profound sadness, Mohammed Fawehinmi has succumbed to death at age 52. He was said to have died briefly after complaining about shortness of breath or breathing difficulties. Mohammed Fawehinmi was the older scion of our late indefatigable strong man, lawyer, and human rights activist, late Chief Gani Fawehinmi. Mr. Mohammed Fawehinmi was a graduate of Business Administration of the University of Lagos in 1991. The humbled man obtained an LLB degree from Buckingham University, England. Mr. Mohammed was called to Nigerian Bar in 1998. He has had over 20 years of experience in the practice of law.

In 2003, the amiable and humbled Mohammed had a terrible accident on a Lagos road that affected his spinal cord and permanently confined his ambulation to a wheelchair. Nevertheless, the young Fawehinmi managed his father's Law firm, though not to the best of his ability and the measurable expectations of his late father--Chief Gani Fawehinmi. The 2003 Lagos accident punctuated and changed Mohammed Fawehinmi's life and ambition forever.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Fawehinmi was not married before his death. With sadness, he said in an interview in 2018 that the Lagos accident affected his life in many profound ways. "I just felt that I shouldn't bother any woman with my condition. I didn't want anybody to marry me out of pity. Even though I always have females around me, not every woman can stay with a person with a disability of my kind. "Most of the women I have met in recent times are not the ones that can stay with a man, and they are the type who would want to attend parties and keep all sorts of friends instead of looking after me. Of course, a few have come close to what I want, but the temperament is nothing to write home about." Late Mohammed conclusively lamented.

In a nutshell, life is full of mysteries and joy. But the puzzles of life have always dwarfed the profundity of man to enjoy life to the fullest. Only a mind with mindfulness will be able to manage the mundane life with what life brings carefully. The sudden death of Mohammed Fawehinmi reminds every sane man and woman with mindfulness, the teachable moment in everyone's life. Life is what we make of it. Everyone who humbly understands life should be counted among the fortunate ones who have attempted to understand life.

Today, virtually everyone dwells ignorantly in the voids of the world. The hearts of homo sapiens are full of arrogance, ignorance, amnesia, and empty pride. But, at the same time, life is a teachable space for us. The fool will wake up every morning with the arrogance of empty-self; he goes out with ignorance and thoughtlessness of what the day will bring to fore. He gyrates around like a hydra-headed monster pushing an empty barrel around with amplifying noise. He grumbles, laments, and behaves with belligerency and idiocy as if the world belongs to him. He wines and dines with recklessness and forgets the certainty of his expiry date. The fool forgets that life is a mixture of a void full of nothingness. The fool only remembers the exigencies of life with consciousness only when he's confronted with threats, opportunities, challenges, and acts of selfishness. Only the smart and mused ones in the midst of the foolish understand life and thread it softly, softly with caution, love, and every act of human kindness. If only a man understands life, he will be concerned about his legacy and what posterity will bring after kicking the bucket. Every minute in a man's life inches him to his timely or untimely grave. The empty-headed one amasses wealth at the expense of his soul; he dwells a void globe with glorified beauty, so empty!

In reality, with the time difference, the dead ones alive cry for the dead ones being committed to mother earth. In contrast, both have appointed time to be answerable to the inevitable end--death. Death is a necessary end, and it will come when it will come. We all owe death a debt---the inevitable end! What will people say about you after you are no more in this void world? Folks, what legacy do you want to leave behind? These, among other questions, are crucial questions begging for existential answers. There are some names the future generations will ruefully avoid naming after their generational children. Likewise, some names will be jostling the next generation's minds to name after their children--amongst these names is the quintessential Fawehinmi. A golden name that has stood the test of times and etched its reputation for generations to come. How those of us mourning the death of this humbled man and who attempted with profound regret to outpace and replicate the beautiful legacy his father left behind will matter in the end. My undying message to the late Mohammed Fawehimmi and his numerous families is that:

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

To live in the hearts of the beautiful minds, you have left behind is not to die. Mohammed Fawehinmi and his father, Gani Fawehinmi, are on an endless journey to eternal life. Before their eternal exits, they have both become kindred spirits in the ethereal world. They have memorably played their parts quintessentially in this troubled world. Sun re, Mohammed Fawehinmi. Those who have created a hemorrhaged society for Nigeria should shamefully avoid attending your funeral. May they not sleep until the inevitable sleep catches their unending nightmares.

May, the souls of the impeccable Nigerians (Mohammed Fawehinmi and his dad) and other deceased and good Nigerians rest in perfect peace. May Almighty God give the Fawehinmi's families the fortitude to bear his irreparable loss. May God bless the souls of these vintage Nigerian generational figures (Mohammed and his father--Gani Fawehinmi). They fought for us to live in the mess of survival and swamped land they've tried to clean unsuccessfully.

Goodnight, Mohammed Fawehinmi.

Thursday

Rehabilitation of Boko Haram fighters greatest evil under the sun - Fani-Kayode

CC™ Global News

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Social critic and former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode on Thursday said the rehabilitation of Boko Haram fighters who have stained their hands with the blood of Nigerians is the greatest evil under the sun.

Fani-Kayode, in a statement, said the slaughter of the people of Nigeria by Boko Haram, ISWAP, foreign militias, herdsmen, bandits, unknown gunmen and other terrorists shall not go unavenged and unpunished.

According to him, every single one of them and those who covertly support and encourage them shall be brought to justice.

The statement reads: “The slaughter of the people of Nigeria by Boko Haram, ISWAP, foreign militias, herdsmen, bandits, unknown gunmen and other terrorists shall not go unavenged and unpunished.

“Every single one of them and those who covertly support and encourage them shall be brought to justice.

“The rehabilitation of Boko Haram fighters who have stained their hands with the blood of our people is the greatest evil under the sun.

“It gladdens my heart to hear that the Chief of Army Staff has ruled out such a dangerously stupid and indefensible policy.

“Evil must never be encouraged or rewarded.”


PM NEWS

Friday

Nigeria: At least 115 people killed by security forces in four months in country’s Southeast

Former Chief of Army Staff and alleged war criminal Buratai (L) and AG Malami (R)
CC™ Global News

• Police said at least 21 personnel were killed in three months in Imo state. 
• More than 500 arrested after police and military raids.  
• Widespread allegations of torture and ill-treatment.  

Nigerian security forces have committed a catalogue of human rights violations and crimes under international law in their response to spiralling violence in Southeast Nigeria, carrying out a repressive campaign since January which has included sweeping mass arrests, excessive and unlawful force, and torture and other ill-treatment, said Amnesty International.  

“The evidence gathered by Amnesty International paints a damning picture of ruthless excessive force by Nigerian security forces in Imo, Anambra and Abia states,” said Osai Ojigho, Country Director at Amnesty International. 

Nigeria’s government has responded with a heavy hand to killings and violence widely attributed to the armed group calling itself Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a pro-Biafra movement.  According to government officials, the ESN killed dozens of security operatives and attacked at least ten public buildings, including prisons and police stations, from January to June. In response, security forces comprising military, police, and Department of State Services (DSS) have killed dozens of gunmen, as well as civilians, where attacks have been committed. 

Eyewitnesses told Amnesty International that the security forces have engaged in excessive use of force, physical abuse, secret detentions, extortion, burning of houses, theft, and extrajudicial executions of suspects.  Human rights groups estimated that the death toll of violence between January and June 2021 in Anambra, Imo, Abia, and Ebonyi states might run into the hundreds. The police said ESN fighters killed 21 of its personnel in Imo state alone.  

Amnesty International carried out an extensive investigation to document the human rights violations and crimes under international law in Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi and Abia states from January 2021. The organization documented 52 incidents of unlawful killings and 62 cases of arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment and torture. Media reports, video and audio recordings reviewed show that the Nigerian security forces also employed excessive force and other unlawful means to address the rising violence. 

Spiralling violence

From January 2021, gunmen suspected to be ESN militants launched a series of attacks on government infrastructure, including prisons and public buildings, killing several police officers. Amnesty International condemned these attacks and called on authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. 

Nigerian security forces launched security operations in June, primarily targeting ESN militants or those perceived as such to decimate the group.    

Amnesty International documented at least 115 persons killed by security forces between March and June 2021. Many relatives of the victims told Amnesty International that they were not part of the militants that were attacking security agents.  Many of the victims were deposited at government hospitals in Imo and Abia state. According to several hospital sources all the victims deposited by the police had bullet injuries.

For instance, in two of the cases documented by Amnesty international, the victims were targeted with no apparent justification: 

  • Uguchi Unachukwu, a German-based businessman was killed by soldiers on 31 May at a checkpoint near Owerri airport on his way out of the country. The police are yet to investigate the crime.
  • Mathew Opara, a 45-year-old businessman, was shot by soldiers on 25 May 2021 in Orji, near Owerri. Witnesses told Amnesty International that he was returning from work when he ran into a team of soldiers in armoured vehicle and Hilux vans shooting at residents. He was shot in the chest and could not receive immediate medical help because of the violence.  His family said the military acknowledged the killing but did not launch an investigation or offer any apology.

Unlawful and arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment

In May 2021, the Imo state government announced the arrest of at least 400 people allegedly linked to the violence. Amnesty International’s investigation indicates that most of them were randomly picked up in their homes and off the street and had nothing to do with ESN. Some victims told Amnesty international that they were arrested while walking in the street, at a public bar or simply for having birth marks or tattoos on their body.

A 37-year-old man who was arrested by the police at Orji, in Imo state, on 26 May 2021 told Amnesty International that he was arrested because his colleague had a birth mark on his shoulder. The police said the mark was a sign of membership of IPOB.  “The police arrested us on the road. They asked us to lie down on the road.  They checked our clothes to see if we have tattoo.  I had none but one of us had a birth mark.  He tried to explain but the policemen started beating him. They tied our hands backwards and took us in their van to the police station,” he said.

Another 36-year-old man told Amnesty International: “I was arrested on my way back from work. The policemen put me in a bus along with other young men including several students and an NYSC member in his uniform. They labelled us ESN members and took us to their station at the Fire Service. We were severely beaten. They said they will waste [kill] all of us. I told them that I work for the state government.  I was asked to pay N20,000. I negotiated and finally paid N15,000.  They allowed me to go at about 10.30 pm. I do not know what happened to the other people.”

On 23 July, soldiers from the 82 Divisional headquarters of the Nigeria Army, Enugu, invaded Akpawfu, Amagunze and Akpugo communities in Enugu state and arrested at least 20 residents after gunmen killed five soldiers and burnt their vehicle near the community days earlier. Eyewitnesses told Amnesty International that dozens of soldiers moved from house to house, arresting youths on suspicion that they had links with ESN militants.  

“What is needed is an impartial and open inquiry to determine what happened and bring to justice all those suspected of criminal responsibility in fair trials before ordinary civilian courts and without recourse to death penalty,” said Osai Ojigho.  

Background  

Since 2016, Amnesty International has documented violations of the rights to life, freedom of assembly and freedom from torture, and arbitrary arrests and detentions of suspected members of the IPOB

AMNESTY 


Thursday

Bloodbath in Southeast as gory killings spread to Enugu


CC™ Global News

•Foetus of pregnant woman removed, 7 others killed as herdsmen attack Enugu community

•Fear, suspicion pervade in Orlu as leaders flee community

•Relocate to your development areas to stem local security challenges, Ugwuanyi tells 68 newly sworn-in Administrators

•Follow round-table approach to resolve Orlu crises, PDP tells Uzodimma

At least nine persons, including a pregnant woman whose foetus was removed, were on Sunday afternoon killed by suspected herdsmen who attacked Mgbuji community in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State.

A resident of the community, Eberechukwu Agbo, who put the figures of the dead at nine, said many others might die from injuries sustained during the attack.

Following this development, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has directed the 68 newly sworn-in development area administrators in the state to relocate to their areas to stem local security challenges in the state.

In Imo State, the return of violent and barbaric killings, particularly in the Orlu area of the state, has caused fear, apprehension and suspicion in the area, resulting in residents and leaders fleeing the community.

Also yesterday, the Imo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, called on the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, to adopt a round-table approach to resolve the Orlu crises.

Herdsmen killings in Enugu

On the Enugu killings, it was learned that after the herdsmen allegedly killed the pregnant woman, they ripped open her stomach to remove her unborn baby which they also killed and placed on her dead mother.

Vanguard gathered that the armed herdsmen invaded the community through a border with Benue State community, attacking several farm settlers and other unlucky people caught in the farm, including those returning from a marriage ceremony.

While a source who pleaded for anonymity, said the attack came from members of a border community of Benue State who are in a boundary dispute with Mgbuji community, the Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Eha-Amufu, Rt. Rev. Daniel Nkemjika Olinya, dismissed the boundary dispute claim, insisting that herdsmen attacks had been on the increase in the area and entire state.

He also lamented that the state and local government authorities had not put enough measures in place to stop the marauders

The cleric equally stated that members of the community stopped personnel of the Nigeria Police Force who came on Monday to evacuate the corpses because they had not released corpses of victims earlier killed by herdsmen in the community for burial.

He said: “This is the third time the armed herdsmen are invading Mgbuji community this year, apart from indiscriminate kidnappings on which we have lost counts. Most of the time, they invade the community, kidnap and kill the victims. The last attack before this Sunday’s attack led to the death of six people. Five of them have not been buried and now they came again this time and killed eight persons.

“Some people said the rising attacks in the recent time could be linked to the eviction notice given to the herdsmen and other conditions of operation that are, perhaps, unacceptable to the herdsmen.

“For instance, some of the people who were kidnapped and released recently by the armed herdsmen stated that the herdsmen insisted that they would continue their criminal actions until IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, dropped his agitations for Biafra.”

Members of the community alleged that the police asked them to sign an undertaking to allocate land to herdsmen and equally agree to live with them before they could release the corpses of those killed during earlier attacks.

Vanguard also gathered that the attacks followed an eviction order on the herdsmen resident in the community by Mgbuji community due to the continued attacks, killings, and destruction of farms by the herdsmen.

All attempts to hear from the spokesperson of Enugu State Police Command, Daniel Ndukwe, at press time last night proved abortive as he refused to respond to telephone calls.

Relocate to your development areas to foster intelligence gathering

To stem the tide of insecurity in the state, the governor, Ugwuanyi directed that the new administrators engage all traditional rulers, presidents of town unions, religious leaders, youth and women organizations, Neighborhood Watch groups, Forest Guards, and, indeed, all stakeholders in their respective development areas, to inspire a grassroots security architecture underpinned by robust intelligence gathering and communication of same to security agencies.

The governor, who gave the directives when he swore in the administrators at Government House, Enugu, said the grassroots engagement strategy “is the only means of fully reclaiming our neighborhoods, and we expect no less”.

Harping on the imperative for this new paradigm of neighborhood-based intelligence gathering, the governor pointed out that the strategy “stares us in the face.

“If we must secure our communities/neighborhoods and fulfill our pivotal mandate of security and welfare of our people, as enshrined in section 14 subsection 2(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), then we must necessarily understand our neighborhoods and the residents; their means of livelihood, lifestyle and networks.

“Enugu State Development Areas can no longer be superintended by absentee or non-resident Development Area Administrators,” he said.

Governor Ugwuanyi reminded the administrators that they have to also ensure that their subjects are fully enlightened on government’s policies and programmes, and mobilize for a collaborative partnership in peacekeeping as well as implementation of policies and programmes of government.

Fear, suspicion pervade as Orlu leaders flee community

Meanwhile, investigation into the crisis in Orlu by Vanguard revealed that some leaders, especially those involved in politics, have fled the community for fear of being the next victim.

A strategy adopted by many within Orlu and beyond, as observed by our correspondent, is the resolve not to be vocal in speaking about the crisis to avoid being caught on the crossfire. Those who had been vocal in the past, are now gagging themselves.

A top traditional ruler in Orlu said it is risky to speak about the killings.

A top politician contacted also declined comment. “I don’t want to be involved in that”, he interjected.

A source in the community told Vanguard that it is difficult to say for sure the people behind the renewed killings.

“I can’t say for sure the people behind these killings. Initially, we suspected ritualists. Some people have tried to link it to the issue of Biafra. We don’t just know who is responsible, and for what purpose.

“But all we pray is for peace to return. There is so much fear in the community. Nobody knows what will happen next. We are living in fear. Many people have left the village, especially those who are into politics”, the source stated.

Speaking with our correspondent, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of Orluzurumee, the apex socio-political organization in Orlu, Reuben Okoro, expressed deep worry over the situation.

“I am very worried over the killings. My knees are on the ground every day praying to God to restore sanity to Orlu. If we kill ourselves, who is going to stay back? The situation pains me”, he stated.

On what he thinks could help to restore peace, Okoro said: “You know it is difficult to talk now. If you talk, if ‘A’ does not misquote you, ‘B’ will do. I will suggest elders should be assembled to see what could be done about it. I am just praying to God. God has the solution to what is happening in Orlu, Imo State, and Nigeria in general”, he posited.

A former governorship aspirant who hails from Okporo Community, Leo Okolienta said he was saddened by the killings in his community.

Okolienta, based in the United States, appealed to those behind the killings to sheathe their swords for peace to return.

“I am saddened by the killings in my community. It is very worrisome how human beings are being slaughtered. I appeal to all parties to please give peace a chance. We can’t continue to lose our people.

“Government should handle this matter carefully, we just want peace to return so that people can live without fear”, he pleaded.

It would be recalled that in the past two weeks, about five persons have been killed within Okporo, a community in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State in what appears like well-planned attacks against perceived enemies. The latest was the beheading of a man suspected to be a leader in the area and the destruction of his vehicle. It happened the same day the unknown gunmen attacked Njaba police station, in which the police said they killed two, and succeeded in repelling the attack.

Follow round-table approach to resolve Orlu crisis, PDP tells Uzodimma

PDP through the State Youth Leader, Greg Nwadike, said a round-table strategy has been effective in the management of the Niger Delta crisis, adding that it should be applied in the Orlu insecurity issues.

According to Nwadike, “My stand is that the governor should approach this insecurity from a round-table strategy. He should meet with those involved and know what their problems are and look into it. This is the way to go about it. It is the approach we saw even in Niger Delta areas and it has worked well.

“It is not to be tackled with the use of gun and bullet approach. We, the leaders of Orlu are not happy about the killings in our area and we want it stopped. There is no security in Orlu and the government must be seen doing the right thing to secure Orlu.”

A source close to the series of meetings ongoing said: “We have met with some groups and the meeting is still ongoing. The traditional rulers are still meeting. This is the second time they are meeting.

“Youth groups are coming together to form alliance and protect their communities like you have seen for the past three days. They have taken over the security of the place.”


VANGUARD

Tuesday

Hallmarks of a dictatorship: Nigeria's DSS (Buhari's Secret Police) assault journalist at trial of Igboho's aides

CC™ Global News


The operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), on Monday, attacked Vanguard Photojournalist (video above), Mr. Gbenga Olamikan, at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Mr. Gbenga Olamikan was attacked for taking the photos of the detained associates of Sunday Igboho, who were brought to court in compliance with the judge’s order.

An officer on mufti aggressively approached the Vanguard photographer and was later joined by DSS officials.

The phone was released after the intervention of Olamikan’s colleagues.

The operatives of the DSS also prevented newsmen from taking photographs and videos of the detainees.

The DSS operatives also barricaded the Federal High Courtroom entrance and harassed journalists during court proceedings.


PM NEWS

Monday

Nigeria’s first feature-length animated film goes global after inking a new deal

CC™ Entertainment News

By Seth Onyango

BIRD CONTRIBUTOR


Afro-Urban entertainment powerhouse, Trace, has begun distributing “Lady Buckit and the Motley Mopsters”—a Nigerian feature-length 3D animated film—after inking a deal with Hot Ticket Productions to distribute the film globally.

In May this year, Trace’s distribution arm inked a deal with Hot Ticket Productions to distribute Nigeria’s first feature-length 3D animated film, “Lady Buckit and the Motley Mopsters”, worldwide – opening the door to a potential global audience for an animation that was conceived in the home of a Nigerian geologist.

Trace markets itself as a studio and distributor that collaborates with both emerging and established talents to generate premium afro-urban content for leading digital platforms with a potential audience of 400 million fans in 160 countries.

Distributors like Trace, who hold rights for television channels, mobile operators, video platforms, aerial, and maritime video services and cinema are a critical component of Africa’s movie industry and Trace’s acquisition of “Lady Buckit” was a vote of confidence for the quality of the animation film, which has now been nominated for Annecy Festival 2021.

Trace asserted in the film’s admission that “the animation film is booming in Africa thanks to the determination of real enthusiasts for drawing and animation.”

“The release of the first Nigerian feature-length, cinematic animation film, Ladybuckit and the Motley Mopsters, opened the doors to animation in Nigeria,” Trace said.

With “Lady Buckit” gaining industry traction, the film’s executive producer Blessing Amidu is chalking up her first win in the animation industry. For Amidu, however, making the movie meant a lot more than just the production. It also meant an entire career change, pivoting from geologist to filmmaker.

“They may seem like two separate worlds but in fact, they are not. The ‘Art’ is who I am and the ‘Geologist’ was whom I had to become to survive,” she explained in an interview.

Amidu launched the groundbreaking film in December, 2020. Set in pre-colonial Oloibiri, Delta State in South-South Nigeria town where crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantities in the 1950s – a curious eight-year-old gets accidentally gets transported through time only to encounter a band of highly unusual characters who change the course of her destiny.

The movie’s premiere wowed Nigeria, and has been winning global accolades from both movie buffs and critics.

Adebisi Adetayo, who directed the movie from the story developed by Stanlee Ohikhuare says that the animation movie is proof that a great film doesn’t have to mimic Hollywood to be phenomenal.

“Lady Buckit” transcends generations, with both kids and adults able to relate with both the storyline and the characters.

Its success, despite being released in the midst of a raging global pandemic suggests a coming of age of a new genre from Nigeria’s much-touted “Nollywood” film industry.

“Lady Buckit” also came hot on the heels of backlash of Disney having very few Black characters. The animation features Black characters in their different shades of skin tones. The movie’s dialogue also proudly incorporated Nigeria’s vernaculars Ijaw, Pidgin, and Yoruba in addition to English.

The animated film featured voice actors including veterans, Patrick Doyle, Bimbo Akintola, Kalu Igweagu, newcomers Kelechi Udegbe, Awazi Angbalaga, and child actors, Jessica Edwards, David Edwards, and David Akpakwu.

Amidu narrated how one evening while watching a cartoon with her children she felt inspired to create.

“It all began with just spending time with my kids, just having family time…I began to discover real-time that my kids exhibited the same mannerism as the cartoons,” Amidu recalled.

“I began to have ideas just play around in my head and that is how ‘Lady Buckit’ was born.”

From a young age, Amidu had always been mesmerized by the animated fairy tales of the world like the 70s’ Voltron: The Defender of the Universe, and her favorite Bigfoot and Wildboy. To create her own was a special feeling.

But it was not smooth sailing. The film production suffered several hiccups, top being cash crunch and assembling a team to breathe life into the movie. After about two years and around $40,000 spent and no progress made, Amidu miffed but determined, considered paying American or Asian firms to produce the film, but then Adetayo emerged.

“It had two production failures. I was meant to direct the movie while it was being produced in India. But then I asked an I see the script of what I am going to India to direct…When I was showed the synopsis of the story, I told them point-blank that this movie can be produced here in Nigeria. He was cut out of the project immediately,” Adetayo recalled.

“I was told we have we have already spent cash and there was nothing to show for it and now you are telling us it can still be done in Nigeria?”

Three months later, he received a call from the director of M-Net’s Shuga series, who set up a meeting between him and the “Lady Buckit” producers, for him to demonstrate how the film could be produced in Nigeria. He did so and less than a year later, the movie was on the country’s big screens.

The movie is estimated to have cost about $1 million to produce, a negligible amount compared to “Soul”, which gobbled up $150 million.

Adetayo asserts that big budgets are well and good but don’t always translate into quality. He insists that “education is the future of the industry. Throwing money at things doesn’t solve every problem”

For Amidu, the importance of “Lady Buckit’ is also how it is able to change the narrative in and on Nigeria, with its setting in the country’s southeast.

“Every story coming out of that place [Niger Delta] has been that of violence, deprivation, suffering, and poverty for people living in that region. So coming up with this story sort of changes that narrative. Here we get to see Oloibiri in a different light. It shows that this girl despite all the challenges is able to overcome them and excel,” she said.

The animated feature also, she believes, has the power to change the narrative on Africa’s film industry.

“Coming back to Africa, no part of this production was done out of Nigeria. You can take this production anywhere and it will be able to fly. Nobody thought we could do animation, leave alone 3D animation,” she said.

Today, when Amidu picks up the remote to watch “Lady Buckit and the Motley Mopsters,” it is like watching tiny bits of her children’s ‘character’ displayed on the grand screen.

Following the success of “Lady Buckit”, Amidu and her new production studio are just getting started, with an idea for a sequel is already in the works.

Animation—which was projected to reach $270 billion by 2020—is still a budding industry in Nigeria.

According to UNESCO Nigeria’s Nollywood is the second largest film industry in the world, with Africa’s movie industry making impressive strides as audiences on the continent increasingly choose made-in-Africa movies over foreign ones.

This, the African Report said, was made evident in 2010 when Chineze Anyaene’s film, IjĂ©: The Journey, became the second highest-grossing film in Nigerian cinemas, behind Avatar, the highest-grossing film worldwide.

An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Lady Buckit and the Motley Mopsters grossed more than Pixar’s soul in Nigerian cinemas. 

The original version of this article was published by bird-Africa.