Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have allegedly shot dead two persons including one Gafar Yusuf, in the Idioro area of Mushin, Lagos State.

Our correspondent gathered that the NDLEA operatives stormed the community around 10pm on Wednesday to raid a drug den when they started shooting sporadically in a bid to achieve their aim.

While engaging in the act, it was learnt that stray bullets from the operatives, shooting sporadically to scare hoodlums attempting to scuttle their plan in the community, killed the victims.

A resident, who gave his name simply as Olasunkanmi, while lamenting over the development, questioned the operatives for shooting sporadically in a residential area, adding that the bullets hit Yusuf’s head and the yet-to-be-identified victim’s chest.

He noted that the victims died on the spot, adding that people in the community had been enraged by the development.

Olasunkanmi said, “We are not saying the NDLEA should not do their job, but why will its operatives be shooting anyhow in a residential area? The NDLEA operatives invaded a drug den in the community around 10pm and started seizing illicit drugs which is OK.

“The operatives were about 50 in number and most of them were armed. While some wore the official uniform, others were dressed in casual wear. The people dealing in the drug business were enraged by the raid and started threatening to make trouble.

“But the NDLEA operatives started shooting to have their way and stray bullets hit two young boys in the head and chest. Both of them died on the spot. The name of one of the victims is Gafar Yusuf. After killing them, the NDLEA operatives attempted to take their corpses away but people in the area resisted.”

Another resident, who gave his name simply as Lukmon, said Yusuf’s mother, Olaide, who had been inconsolable since the shocking events that claimed her son’s life, informed him about the incident.

He said, “We are tired of the NDLEA’s issue in our neighbourhood. Why will they be shooting carelessly in a residential neighbourhood? If they want to work, it is expected that they would have a target and they should have a plan for how they will arrest the target instead of shooting carelessly to the point of killing two innocent persons.

“It is uncalled for; they suddenly stormed the area with guns and started shooting. Gafar Yusuf, 22, was killed on Imoru Street. We are already making arrangements to bury his corpse. We heard three people were killed during the raid but what I can confirm to you for now is the death of two persons.

“Yusuf’s mother called me yesterday that a bullet had hit him and that he was running errands when he got struck down by the bullets fired by the NDLEA operatives.”

Video clips in possession of our correspondent showed people running helter-skelter during the raid that created tension in the community.

In one of the video clips, our correspondent observed residents in the area shedding tears as they surrounded the corpses of the victims that lay motionless on the road.

Blood stains gushing out of the corpses were visible on the road as people expressed anger over the tragedy.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, did not take his calls and had yet to reply to a text message sent to his mobile number as of the time this report was filed.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has said that the country recorded 40 incidents of crude oil theft between July 15 and July 21, 2023.

The company stated this on Tuesday via its official Twitter account.

According to the NNPCL, the war against crude oil theft is still raging across the Niger Delta region, specifically highlighting Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta states, the company said that 93 illegal connections were found, and disconnections as well as repairs are ongoing.

The company also said that 69 illegal refineries were discovered and destroyed within the highlighted period.

Also, 27 cases of pipeline vandalism were discovered and are being fixed.

The collaboration between the NNPCL and security agencies also made it possible to arrest 30 wooden boats and trucks involved in transporting stolen crude, which were confiscated in the last week.

The report also identified 13 vessel AIS infractions, 5 oil spills, 2 illegal vessels and 1 document validation. 13 of the incidences were recorded in the Deep Blue Water, 41 were recorded in the Western region of the Niger Delta, 169 were recorded in the Central region and 17 occurred in the Eastern part of the oil-producing part of the Niger Delta region.

However, the company did not mention anything about the suspects found to be carrying out illegal activities using vessels, boats and other materials that were either destroyed or confiscated by the security agencies and the NNPCL.

The US Federal Reserve raised interest rates to a 22-year high on Wednesday as it continued its fight against rising inflation.

The decision to increase rates by a quarter-percentage point to a range of 5.25% to 5.5% comes after the Fed paused its rate-rising cycle last month.

US inflation has now declined for 12 straight months and is currently running at an annual rate of 3%, down from over 9% in June last year. The Fed has raised rates from near zero in an attempt to cool the economy and bring prices down.

The US economy has remained robust despite the 11 rate rises the Fed has now implemented – its most aggressive rate-rising cycle in 40 years. Hiring has slowed but remains strong and the unemployment rate is still close to a record low.

Fed chair Jerome Powell said the central bank was closely monitoring the economic data ahead of its next meeting in September. “It is certainly possible that we would raise funds again at the September meeting if the data warranted,” he said. “And I would also say it’s possible that we would choose to hold steady at that meeting. We’re going to be making careful assessments, as I said, meeting by meeting.”

Some Fed officials have expressed fears that recent falls in the pace of price rises may be temporary. This month Fed governor Christopher Waller said the last inflation report “warmed my heart, but … I’ve got to make policy with my head. And I can’t do that on one data point.”

But Waller has also warned that the full effect of the Fed’s rate rises may not yet be apparent in the economy and that the US could face a “‘Wile E Coyote’ moment where nothing happens for a long time and then wham … off the cliff we go as the full force of past policy actions suddenly take effect”.

The rate rises have sent mortgage rates and car loan prices soaring. The average long-term US mortgage rate climbed to just under 7% this week, the highest level since November.

Rising rates are making it more difficult for Americans to obtain credit. According to the New York Fed, in June the rejection rate for credit applicants increased to 21.8%, the highest level since June 2018, with would-be car buyers hit hardest. In June the rejection rate for auto loans increased to a record 14.2% from 9.1% in February.

Emily van Egmond sent the home fans into delirium just before the interval, tapping home a sweeping move to give Australia the lead.

With the stadium bouncing as the Australia fans celebrated, Uchenna Kanu delivered the first sucker punch to dampen the mood at the Brisbane Stadium, somehow managing to scramble home a scuffed cross.

In the second half, a close-range header from Osinachi Ohale and Asisat Oshoala’s finish from a tight angle extended Nigeria’s lead.

And although Alanna Kennedy did score in the 10th minute of added time to give Australia late hope, Nigeria held on for a memorable victory to send the Super Falcons top of Group B.

The result means Nigeria has a one point lead going into its final group game against already eliminated Ireland, while Australia face a must-win game against Canada, sitting a point behind the Olympic champion.

Upsetting the hosts

A World Cup host playing in front of its own fans is always a spectacle.

An energetic crowd, full of energy and song, cheering on their favorite players decked out in their home kit; and at the Brisbane Stadium, it was no different.

The bouncing fans, in their gold and green kits, serenaded the Matildas in their game against Nigeria – both teams’ second match of the Women’s World Cup.

As Australia came forward in waves of attacks, cheers peaked then fell each time the Matildas got the ball, sliding into a communal sigh when the chance to score slipped away.

A drum beat marked time in the background as Australian fans spontaneously broke into a synchronized clap, willing their team to the other end of the pitch.

Those fans’ passion and commitment was eventually rewarded, Van Egmond steering a well-directed cross into the bottom corner and ran to celebrate with the rest of her teammates and coaching staff.

The goal was met with thunderous, almost deafening applause and it looked like Australia, who had beaten Ireland in its opening group game, was well on its way to booking its spot in the knockout stages of the Women’s World Cup.

[CNN]

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has opened up on his bust-up with Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez during both teams’ pre-season friendly tie.

Bellingham was involved in a heated confrontation with Martinez during the encounter.

The friendly match was played at the NRG Stadium in Texas in the early hours of Thursday (Nigerian time).

“The little tiff with [Lisandro] Martinez is one of those things,” said Bellingham during his post-match interview. “He is a brilliant player.

“I came in at half-time and I was f’ing this and f’ing that. But when he came over to wish me all the best when he came off, I really respected it. I know what goes on the pitch stays on the pitch.”

He added, “He is a great competitor and a great player. Just like me, he wants to win. Sometimes it spills over. That is part of the game. I am really respectful.”

Bellingham recently joined Madrid from Dortmund this summer.

The England international is expected to play a key role in Carlo Ancelotti’s side next season.

[DailyPost]

After playing the ostrich for so many years, it has now become apparent that state police is inevitable. The call by Lagos State speaker, Mudashiru Obasa during the House of Assembly’s first plenary on July 11, on lawmakers of the Senate and the House of Representatives to “begin an amendment of the constitution to contain the creation of the alternative policing” should therefore only serve as a sad reminder of our past folly.

 For close to 50 years, the south and other well informed Nigerians have called for the establishment of state police on the premise that ‘local problems require local solutions’. The hegemonic powers who wish to preside over an empire of slaves rejected such a call because of selfish political considerations.

More tragic, our military, a creation of the colonial powers, share the same mind-set with their creator and role model. Subsequently, when our military leaders including Obasanjo through Babangida and Buhari, men who were never trained to manage the affairs of society, fortuitously found themselves in power, they, like the departed occupying powers, arrogantly equated their periodic brain-wave to a viable policy alternative for a conquered territory.

First was the delusion that 36 federating states and 774 LGAs created and funded from Abuja without objective criteria was best for a multicultural, multi-ethnic and heterogeneous society where groups were at different levels of cultural development. Their own selfish desire to maintain a strangle-hold on the people aligned with the northern leaders’ opposition to state police that could threaten their monopoly of power through control of law and order over their empire of slaves.

The revolt of the poor, uneducated and marginalized who have no say in how they were being governed bred terrorists, jihadists, bandits, kidnappers and armed herdsmen, that took refuge inside North’s huge ungoverned forests from where they visited violence on the people.

Nigerians had looked up to President Buhari, the man they massively voted into power because of his pan-Nigeria outlook, to end their nightmare. Buhari and his ‘loyal gatekeepers’ ignored the cry of Northern Elders Forum, the July 2021demand by northeast governors of Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe and Borno for state and community police just as they did to that of September 2022, northern governors and northern traditional rulers councils’ call for the establishment of state police to tackle security challenges in their region.

 But while anarchy reigned supreme in the north, President Buhari’s “loyal gate keepers” appeared to be more interested in replicating the northern tragedy in the south. Or what other explanation can one give for relentless war waged by Shehu Garba (Buhari’s senior media adviser and Abubakar Malami (his Minister of Justice) against Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s efforts to eject killer herdsmen illegally occupying reserved forests in his state, and Southwest Governors Forum’s efforts to set up Amotekun local security outfit to tackle kidnappings and killings by those believed to be invading immigrant herdsmen?

Buhari and his men continued to dig deeper into the hole even as his federal government which the northern hegemonic power depended on to maintain law and order was unable to perform. In the face of an impending anarchy, his vice president, Yemi Osinbajo admitted to their government’s heroic failure to end the nation’s nightmare.  While admitting “Every Nigerian, is entitled to adequate security from the government for their livelihoods”, he confessed that their   “Government fails in that responsibility” because “For a country of our size to meet the ‘one policeman to 400 persons’ prescribed by the United Nations would require triple our current police force; far more funding of the police force and far more funding of our military and other security agencies.”

For instance The Punch in an editorial had raised an alarm that “With 371,000 officers, the Nigeria Police Force are overwhelmed, and many parts of the country lack any permanent police presence. Insurgents of different stripes taking advantage of this have seized control of some hinterland territories, imposing brutal, bloody rule over the locals”. (Punch July 21)

Vanguard newspapers on its part has also argued that “federal-controlled police force in a diverse, complicated federation with an exploding population of over 200 million people, policed by 371,800 personnel, with up to a third of them attached to VIPs”, is not only injurious to the health of the nation, maintaining the military command structure in our federal system is undemocratic, anti-people and does not promote good and accountable governance.”

Our leaders continued to play the ostrich even with the periodic harvest of deaths in the north-central states of Benue, Plateau and southern Zaria where armed immigrant herdsmen in aid of settlers who lust over their host’s land, had embarked on inter-communal killings of poor subsistence farmers whose land is confiscated with survivors reduced to inmates of IDP camps. Peace has continued to elude the northeast and Buhari’s northwest region after his eight years of heroic failure. And of course the southeast remains restive with the ongoing intra-communal bestial and brutish killings which the perpetrators blame on federal government and its agents. 

Now that we have seen the folly in the continuing objection to the establishment of state police, there can be no better period to allow the people take control over their own security through state and community policing than now.

It is a relief that we have a new sheriff in town that is answerable to neither ethnic,   religious group, nor godfathers and owners of Nigeria. He has promised embark on what he believes to be best for our country. No one, including the leading lights of his party can therefore hold him to ransom or derail this noble endeavour

And it was just as well that it was his immediate constituency, Lagos State that reminded him two weeks back that his success or failure will be determined not by building roads and bridges like his predecessor or turning the economic fortune of the nation around but by his efforts at liberating individuals and groups from the tyranny of the state through devolution of powers.

People want to take control of their own security, decide education and the moral values to be imbibed by their children in addition to the water they drink, the air they breathe and the God or gods they worship without interference from dysfunctional Abuja. And since we operate a federal system, what federalism sets out to achieve is individual and group rights which can be defined in form of language, culture, and religion or socio economic status.

The president is not being asked to invent the wheel. He can easily borrow from the experiences of India, a more heterogeneous and populous nation and Canada, the first federation to adopt multi-culturalism as a policy that has shown how a plural society can manage its group differences.

He must start in earnest the mobilization of National Assembly members for the constitutional amendment required to institutionalize state and community policing.  This will allow each of the country’s six geo-political zones protect its territory and its citizens from armed gangs from neighbouring federating states or from the Sahel region of the north and central Africa. There is no better evidence of anarchy than when a Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi will without restraints, declare Fulani from any part of Africa a Nigerian.

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Maitama, on Thursday, rejected a fresh application the Department of State Services, DSS, filed for an order to further detain the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, for another 14 days.

The court, in a ruling that was delivered by Justice Hamza Muazu, held that the application constituted an abuse of the judicial process, adding that the court had no jurisdiction to entertain it.

Specifically, the security agency, in the application marked: FCT/HC/M/12105/2023, told the court that it uncovered a fresh evidence that would require it to further retain the suspended governor of the apex bank in its custody.

It, therefore, prayed the court to allow it to hold Emefiele in custody for another 14 days, to give room for the conclusion of its ongoing investigation.

However, when the case was called up for hearing, Justice Muazu asked the counsel that represented the agency, Mr. Victor Ejelonu, to address him on whether the court has the requisite jurisdiction to grant the application, in view of provisions of Sections 293 and 296 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

Justice Muazu noted that the said provisions vested exclusive rights of granting such application on the Magistrate Court.

Following the observation of the judge who maintained that the high court lacked the jurisdiction to grant the order, counsel to the DSS, Mr. Ejelonu, applied and withdrew it.

It will be recalled that operatives of the DSS had on June 10, stormed Emefiele’s Ikoyi residence in Lagos and arrested him.

The arrest came a day after Emefiele was suspended as the governor of the CBN by President Bola Tinubu.

The embattled CBN boss remained in custody until Wednesday when he was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos on a two-count charge of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Meanwhile, upon his arraignment and plea of innocence, the court granted Emefiele bail to the tune of N20million with one surety in the like sum.

Trial Justice Nicolas Oweibo ordered that the defendant should be remanded in prison custody, pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

Not willing to comply with the court order, the DSS re-arrested Emefiele in the court premises, in an operation that led its operatives to violently manhandle a senior prison official.

While reacting to the fresh request by the DSS for a detention order, Abuja based lawyer, Mr. Nnamdi Mba, argued that the security agency treated the court with disrespect.

He said: “You cannot be charging someone to court and yet you cannot obey the same court.

“What the DSS is doing is tantamount to intimidating the courts.”

Likewise, another lawyer, Mr. C. C Nwodu, added: “Ordinarily, when a person is brought to court and takes his plea, it is no longer the duty of the security agency that brought the defendant to court to determine where the person will be held in custody. It is the duty of the court.

“Hence, once a defendant is granted bail, except the judge specifically mentioned otherwise, the men of the Nigeria Correctional Service take custody of such person until the bail conditions are perfected.

“In the case of Emefiele, the DSS practically abducted him from the custody of the Correctional Service and have now filed for an order seeking to further detain him for 14 days, when they have held him consecutively for over six weeks and have exhausted the maximum two previous orders to detain him for 28 days.

“No judge, knowing the true facts of this matter can grant them such application. I am glad to hear that the judge courageously struck out the application,” he added.

[Vanguard]

Oil price, on Thursday, rose to $83 a barrel.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose 0.75 percent to trade at $83 a barrel, while the US West Texas Intermediate jumped 0.86 percent to $79. 

The development came on the back of expected tightening of supply due to production cuts by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, known collectively as OPEC+, as well as some involuntary outages.

The uptick in global crude prices also comes a week ahead of when key OPEC+ ministers are expected to meet on August 4 to review the oil market.

The increased price of Brent crude, Nigeria’s oil benchmark, is said to inadvertently push the international spot price of petrol — a major determinant of the commodity’s price in Nigeria in the post-subsidy regime.

Last week, when petrol price increased from N540 to N617 per litre, Farouk Ahmed, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), explained that the price hike was a result of rising crude prices.

“A week or so ago, the price of crude was hovering around $70 per barrel. Now, it’s over $80 per barrel. So, of course, the crude prices also drive the product price,” he said.

⁣“As the importers are importing, they base it on the cost of importation plus the freight plus other costs elements in terms of local distribution.”

[TheCable]

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has insisted on going on its scheduled strike, which commences on August 2, 2023.

The labour union has said the strike is their way of rescuing Nigerians from the shackles of the government’s ‘poor policies.’

The NLC president, Joe Ajaero, while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, said the strike is to liberate Nigerians from policies of the new administration that has caused hardship.

Naija News recalls that the labour union earlier gave the government a seven-day ultimatum to reverse what it described as “all anti-poor” policies, including the hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), known as petrol.

However, during the programme, the NLC president explained that the union was still analysing the situation with the possibility that the government policy could further plague already worse conditions of Nigerians.

He said, “The situation would be worsened. It is rather a move to rescue Nigerians, to see whether the government can show some level of empathy for us to do things differently to enable Nigerians to survive.

“It can’t get worse than it is today. The impact we are talking of is either the impact on commodities or the impact on the people.

“What we are resisting, what we are fighting against, is the impact on the people, and the impact is so much. It is worse.

“I don’t know what other consideration one can look at; every government policy in a nation is aimed at benefiting the nation.

“The naira is gone, economic activity is gone, foodstuff gone. (In terms of) movement, you can’t move, and transportation is gone.”