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The father of Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram factional leader died a few years ago, the Voice of America reported as the mother also said she has not seen Shekau in 15 years.

Falmata Abubakar, Shekau’s mother disclosed this in an interview in a a village, called Shekau in Yobe State.

Shekau’s father, who died was a local district imam before passing away a few years ago.

Falmata, who granted her first media interview to VOA, saying she has not seen Shekau, her son in 15 years.

Falmata said she had never spoken to journalists before VOA approached her, and she does not know where her son is hiding.

“I don’t now if he’s alive or dead. I don’t know. It’s only God who knows. For 15 years I haven’t seen him,” she said.

Falmata says her son left Shekau as a boy to continue his Islamic education in Maiduguri, a center of religious studies for hundreds of years.

Shekau was an almajiri. In the generations-old tradition, almajirai are sent off by their parents to study the Quran in schools locally known as a tsangaya, where a teacher coaches the dozens, sometimes hundreds of male students, to memorize the entire Quran.

Almajirai beg on the streets for food, and it is believed that Shekau did the same. At some point in his studies, Shekau, according to his mother, met Mohammed Yusuf, the founder of Boko Haram, who condemned Western education as sinful. Falmata says her son was brainwashed.

“Since Shekau met with Mohammed Yusuf, I didn’t see him again,” she told VOA.

“Yes, he’s my son and every mother loves her son, but we have different characters,” she said.

“He brought a lot of problem to many people. Where can I meet him to tell him that these things he is doing is very bad? He brought many problems to many people, but I am praying for God to show him the good way.”

Mohammed Yusuf was killed by Nigerian security agents in 2009, and Abubakar Shekau then took over as the leader.

Shekau is accused of leading an insurgency that has killed more than 30,000 people in northeastern Nigeria and the Lake Chad region.

Destroying schools is at the heart of Boko Haram’s manifesto, and the group has attacked more than 1,400 schools, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Reported by VOA

Some youths in Port Harcourt, Rivers, took to football on Saturday in defiance to Police order on such activities due to local government polls holding on the day across the state.

The youths, most of who are above 18 years, converted some major streets in the city into football pitches, and engaged in the game while the election was going on.

Some of them told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that whether they voted or not, the winners had already been selected.

One of them, who decline to identify himself, said “this election is just for formality; the only party that will win landslide is PDP, so, why bother going to vote.

”We want to use this opportunity to do our own exercise since the roads are fairly free of vehicles.”

It was observed that restriction on movement order during the period of the election was also violated by some commercial motorcyclists, who operated freely, doing brisk business.

At Oyigbo, one motorcyclist, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that he took the risk of defying the order in order to make money for his family.

”Since there was no disturbance by the security agencies and there are passengers, I needed to make money to take care of my family.

”Since 6 a.m. to now (12.20 p.m.), I have made up to N8, 000 which l would not have made on a normal day within the same period,” he said.

Another operator, Mr David Udo, spotted in Ireibe, Obio Akpor Local Government Area, said, “I will not leave my source of daily bread because of election that does not concern me directly.”

The Police Command in the state had banned vehicular movements and activities other than the elections, between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. to ensure free, fair and credible exercise.

The command warned that it would arrest and prosecuted offenders.

Contacted on the violations, Police Spokesman, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, said “the Commissioner of Police was clear on the movement restriction’’, and that anybody caught violating the order would be arrested and prosecuted.

The election exercise was peaceful across the state although some polling units commenced polling as late as 12 noon instead of 8 a.m.

The exercise recorded an average turnout of voters even with the absence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which pulled out due to its suit against the election. (NAN)

The Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) on Saturday urged the CBN to approve the Renminbi(Yuan) disbursements to its members, to deepen the China-Nigeria Swap deal.

Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, President, ABCON, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the approval would enable BDCs to sell Personal and Business Travelling Allowances to its customers in Yuan.

According to him, the sale of BTAs and PTAs to China-bound businessmen will make them get used to the authentic features of the Yuan, to avoid being issued fake currencies for transactions.a

The ABCON chief applauded the CBN for taking proactive measures in prosecuting the deal and the stability of the Naira at the nation’s foreign exchange market.

Gwadabe noted that the swap deal and its full implementation would continue to shore up the value of the naira as pressures hitherto put on it by the dollar would be reduced.

NAN reports that the CBN sealed about N720 billion deal with the Peoples Bank of China in a move that would facilitate trade between both countries and maintain financial market stability, among others.

The CBN noted that the 41 items earlier banned on June 23, 2015 remained banned under the new deal.

The apex bank also disclosed at the end of the Bankers Committee Meeting that it would give incentives to Nigerians who import goods from China.

The committee agreed that importers of Chinese goods would be encouraged to bring invoices in Renminbi.

Since the Chinese Yuan joined the International Monetary Fund (IMF) basket of currencies in 2016, it was fast gaining recognition by both the European and African Central Banks to be used in their foreign reserves.
FBO/BOLA/PIO

Former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Kalu, has called on Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari for his second term bid in the 2019 general elections.

Kalu made the call on Friday in Kano when he paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje at the Government House, Kano.

He said that the visit was part of his ongoing North West ?advocacy visit to solicit support for President Muhammadu Buhari.?

According to him, the president had been doing the best he could for the country, having brought infrastructural development and dividends of democracy to every part of the country.

He said that President Buhari deserved second term considering his achievements in the area of security and fight against corruption.

“We are calling on Nigerians to support President Buhari beyond 2019 that is why we are saying 4 plus 4 to Buhari and Ganduje to enable him continue with the good work he has been doing in the interest of development,” he said.

?Kalu commended Ganduje for his support for the peace and unity of the country.

The APC chieftain also presented a plaque to the governor for his efforts in promoting peace and security in the country.

Earlier, Ganduje commended Kalu for his laudable contributions to nation building.?

He commended APC-led government of President Buhari for embarking on projects that have direct bearing on the lives of the people of the country.

The governor also appealed to Nigerians to support president beyond 2019.

Ganduje urged Nigerians to shun religious and political differences to promote harmonious and peaceful coexistence.

?He also called for peace, harmony and sustainable development at the state and national levels.

The governor then urged people of the state to support the government in its effort to ensure peace in the state.(NAN)

Kwara elders, under the auspices of Kwara Elders’ Unity Forum, have called on the Inspector General of Police to carry out thorough investigation into the Offa robbery case so that justice will be done on the matter.

The Forum made the call on Friday in Ilorin, in a statement jointly signed by a trio of Dr. Saliu Ajia, Chief Isiaka Jimoh and Engr. Adebayo Daramola representing Kwara Central, North and South Senatorial districts respectively.

They also called on the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki to allow the police do its investigations.

The eldrrs s said that revelations and political colorations being given to the confessions of the arrested suspects showed that “the lives of Kwarans are in danger and must be protected”.

According to them, “the robbery in Offa would not have drawn the attention of the public but for the killing of 33 people including nine police officers, pregnant women and the mention of the Senate President Bukola Saraki”.

 

The Elders’ Forum recalled that “sporadic killings by cultists led by one Lanre Mohammed, the son of Magaji Nda of Ilorin which the IGP ordered to be transferred to Abuja Force Headquarters led to an initial outcry by Dr. Bukola Saraki”.

 

They argued that the transfer of the case to Abuja was a “normal police procedure” saying; “we hope that this Offa robbery will not overshadow that of the cultists because Kwara people are still waiting for the outcome of the investigations.

 

“The revelation of Offa Bank robbery and the mention of the leader and government functionaries arming the suspects gives room for more suspicions. As at the time of the case of the cultists killing, the bank robbery had taken place.

 

“The reaction of the SP Bukola Saraki may not help him and the people of Kwara State over whom he is the leader of his own camp.

 

“Some pertinent questions bordering the minds of Kwarans is that these boys have confessed to  being political thugs of SP Bukola Saraki and must we institutionalize thuggery in Kwara politics.

 

The elders submitted that “this is not the first time a top politician would be accused, investigated and found culpable of aiding and abetting crimes”.

 

The statement referred to the case of Bacita robbery of 1971 in which the suspects implicated S.T Oredehin.

 

“After police investigation, Oredehin was tried alongside the robbery suspects by a court of competent jurisdiction, found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment,” the statement added.

 

The elders were of the view that the Senate President’s out-crying of a possible unjustified implication when the investigation of the cultist killers were transferred to Abuja was not necessary.

 

“Kwarans are too innocent to be under siege of these set of people and therefore we want to join forces with those pleading that the issue should not be politicized.

 

“IGP should be allowed to do a thorough investigation for the sake of the ordinary citizens of Kwara State and for the sake of poor common innocent Nigerians.

 

“The world is watching what happens as a very important personality is mentioned in a criminal case.

 

“Sweeping such a case under the carpet will do more harm to the IGP, our security institutions, and indeed the Federal Government,” the statement added. (NAN)