US, Nigerian Navy Collaborate on Gulf of Guinea Security

Nigerian Navy 

Following the recent arrest of over 40 vessels involved in illegal activities at the Gulf of Guinea, the Nigeria Navy is now collaborating with the United States and other member-states of the region for a holistic policing. Based on this, it is organising Maritime Awareness Capability conference in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Rear Admiral Joseph Aikhomu, stated this yesterday in Calabar, while addressing journalists on the July 29 to 31 Gulf of Guinea Regional Maritime Awareness Capability conference.

2,000 Nigerian Fishermen Flee Cameroun

Olugbenga Ashiru, Foreign Affairs Minister

About 2,000 Nigerian fishermen have fled Cameroun Republic because of violence and extortion by soldiers and the local tribes in the country. Mr. James Audi, who identifies himself as the leader of the fleeing fishermen in Cameroun, narrated their ordeal Thursday to journalists in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.

He said despite being in possession of resident’s permits, they were being subjected to constant harassment, incarceration and extortion by gendarmes who seem not to accord recognition to the residency permits in their possession.

“We are always been inundated with constant harassment, unjustifiable incarceration, intimidation and extortion in the hands of gendarmes.

“Our women are worst affected by this onslaught because of the manner their fundamental rights are being abused with impunity. They are constantly being harassed, especially on market days whenever they take their wares to the market,” he said.

Audi further said apart from the constant harassment they face from security operatives, the local Banana and Musku tribes with whom they have cohabited for decades are threatening them with violence.

SEGUN ADENIYI: Cradle-Snatching and the Senate

The Verdict By Olusegun Adeniyi. Email, olusegun.adeniyi@thisdaylive.com

“It is sad that ignorant people are allowed to be speaking on behalf of Islam. Sometimes they even speak on behalf of God Himself”—Dr Usman Bugaje

When it comes to choosing wives, especially in a serial manner, the philosophy of Senator Ahmad Sani Yerima has always been to “catch them young”--first with the 15-year old girl he divorced two years later at 17 and not long after, the 14-year old daughter of his Egyptian driver he had to import all the way from Cairo. But the proclivity for cradle-snatching by the former Governor of Zamfara State has now put the Senate in the eye of the storm and with emotions running high, there seems to be no line between fact and fiction as many commentators sell their prejudices in a manner that can only further divide us as a nation.