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Leah Sharibu’s Mum Joins Protest In London To Mark Daughter’s Anniversary Abduction

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Rebecca Sharibu, the mother of 16 year-old schoolgirl Leah Sharibu, joined a protest outside the Nigerian High Commission in London, organised by CSW to mark the second anniversary of her daughter’s abduction and calling on the Nigerian government to do everything in its power to secure her release.

Leah Sharibu was the sole Christian among 110 schoolgirls abducted by the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) faction of Boko Haram from their school in Dapchi, Yobe state on 19 February 2018. While her surviving classmates returned a month later following government negotiations, she was denied her freedom for refusing to convert as a precondition for release.

Speaking outside the Nigerian High Commission, Rebecca Sharibu said: “Today Leah has spent two years in captivity. We don’t know where Leah is, we don’t know the condition or the situation that Leah is in. I want to thank you once again for the encouragement I receive from all of you, and plead with you to continue praying until Leah is out. I’m pleading with

[the UK]
government and with our Nigerian government, with President Buhari… to fulfil his promises that he has made to me personally, that he is going to rescue Leah and ensure that she is released, and not just Leah, all the others in captivity.”

Mrs Sharibu, accompanied by CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas, subsequently delivered a petition with 12,132 signatures to the High Commission, calling on the Nigerian government to take action to help Leah.

Eritrean gospel singer Helen Berhane, who spent two and a half years imprisoned by Eritrean authorities in a shipping container on account of her faith, sang Days of Elijah, while Pastor Ayo Adedoyin, the Executive Director of the International Organisation for Peace Building and Social Justice (PSJ); and Pastor Fred Williams of Spirit Life Missions prayed for Leah’s release.

Pastor Fred Williams, also speaking outside the High Commission, highlighted the wider situation in northern Nigeria: “The number of kidnappings in northern Nigeria is not reducing, it is increasing and they are targeting Christians… Every part of northern Nigeria now is being covered by this trend. This is not going away… What is happening in Nigeria is going to spread, its not going to stop in northern Nigeria, it has already spread to other parts. We need to respond to this global issue, we need to be proactive.”

In October 2018 ISWAP declared that Ms Sharibu and Christian nurse Alice Loksha Ngaddah, who was abducted on 1 March 2018 during an attack on Rann, would be enslaved for life, and that it was now “lawful” for the terrorists to “do whatever we want with them.” Most recently in January 2020 one of five aid workers released by ISWAP reported that Leah was alive and well.

CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said: “CSW has been outside this High Commission many times in the last two years. We’ve spent days and days out here. We’ve celebrated Leah’s birthday out here on two occasions, and we will continue until we see Leah released. We will stand with [Rebecca] until we see Leah released. We believe that the Nigerian Government and President Buhari is not doing enough, in fact we don’t believe they’re doing anything, even though President Buhari personally promised Rebecca that he would get Leah released. That was eighteen months ago, and nothing has happened. So that’s why we’re here today, we’re here to protest and say to the Nigerian government we want to see Leah released. We stand in solidarity with Rebecca… and we will continue to do that.”

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Ogun Court Denies Portable Bail Over Assault, Theft Charges; Remanded Until Jan 19

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Controversial singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, was on Monday arraigned before the Federal High Court in Ota, Ogun State, over criminal charges including assault and resisting arrest.

 

Confirming the development to our correspondent, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, said Portable was arrested and arraigned in Ota on Monday.

 

“Yes, he was arraigned and remanded yesterday,” Babaseyi said on Tuesday.

 

Portable’s arraignment followed a viral video that surfaced on Sunday showing him in handcuffs, shirtless and tearfully pleading while seated on a couch in what appeared to be a police holding area.

 

His arrest reportedly followed allegations of assault against actress and skit maker Omobolarinde Akinyanju, better known as Ashabi Simple, who is one of the musician’s baby mamas and the mother of one of his children.

 

In court, Vanguard reported that the prosecution alleged that the Zazu crooner attacked Ashabi, alongside some police officers and other individuals, at his bar in the Iyana Ilogbo area on New Year’s Day.

 

Other alleged victims named in the charge sheet include Ileyemi Damilola, Akinyanju Oluwabusayomi, Olowu Olumide, Demilade Ogunniyi and Ebuka Odah.

 

The prosecution further alleged that Portable stole a Mercedes-Benz E300 valued at ₦12 million, belonging to Ileyemi Damilola and associated with car dealer Wally Dex Auto.

 

During the proceedings, two siblings of Ashabi Simple testified as witnesses to the alleged assault, although Ashabi herself was absent from court.

 

Police also alleged that the singer obstructed and assaulted a female police inspector, Ogungbe Olayemi, while she was performing her official duties.

 

The presiding judge declined to grant the singer bail, citing the absence of the allegedly assaulted police officer in court.

 

The judge ruled that the officer must be present before a decision on the bail application could be made and consequently remanded Portable in custody, adjourning the bail hearing to January 19.

 

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command has ordered an investigation into a separate viral video allegedly showing the singer being assaulted while in custody.

 

 

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Just In: U.S. Strengthens Nigeria’s Security With Major New Military Shipment

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The United States has delivered military supplies to Nigerian security agencies in support of ongoing operations in the country.

 

The United States Africa Command, AFRICOM, announced the delivery in a post on X on Tuesday.

 

“US forces delivered critical military supplies to our Nigerian partners in Abuja. This delivery supports Nigeria’s ongoing operations and emphasizes our shared security partnership,” AFRICOM said on X.

 

Nigeria in recent times has faced an upsurge of insecurity, with hundreds being kidnapped.

 

US forces launched airstrikes on terrorist enclaves in North-West Nigeria on Christmas Day.

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Chief (Mrs.) Lucia Onabanjo, Widow Of Bisi Onabanjo, Dies At 100

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Chief (Mrs.) Lucia Onabowale Onabanjo, the widow of Ogun State’s first civilian governor, Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo, has passed away at the age of 100.

 

Her passing was announced by her daughter, Ms Olubukunola Onabanjo, on Tuesday.

 

According to Ms Onabanjo, the matriarch of the Onabanjo dynasty died at the age of 100.

 

She said in a statement: “The family of Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo, former Governor of Ogun State, announces with deep sorrow, yet with gratitude to Almighty God, the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

 

“Chief (Mrs) Lucia Onabowale Onabanjo (1925–2026) was called to glory on Monday, January 11.

 

“We thank God for her long and fulfilled life, and for the enduring legacy of love, strength and faith she leaves behind.

 

“May her soul rest in perfect peace.”

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