15 May, 2010

Nigerian mafia decapitated in Italy

 Total of 400 years  (in jail)  for  36 Nigerians  who were  guilty of being members of two waring  Nigerian 'mafia' groups;   Black Axe and  the Eiye  who staryed operating in Italy.
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Torino, decapitata la mafia nigeriana: condanne per 36 stranieri

Pubblicato il 13 Maggio 2010 da supmod2.
Torino, decapitata la mafia nigeriana: condanne per 36 stranieri La mafia nigeriana esiste e ha operato per anni in Italia, a Torino. Lo ha stabilito ieri mattina il tribunale del capoluogo piemontese, che ha riconosciuto l’accusa di associazione per delinquere di stampo mafioso che la procura subalpina aveva contestato ai 36 imputati finiti a giudizio perché appartenenti ai due clan rivali dei Black Axe e degli Eiye. Il giudice Walter Maccario ha condannato i 36 affiliati ai due clan a pene comprese tra un minimo di quattro mesi di carcere e un massimo 14 anni e due mesi di reclusione, per un totale di quasi 400 anni di galera. La pena più alta è stata inflitta Joseph O., uno dei capi-mafia più noti in città. A sostenere l’accusa in aula c’erano i pubblici ministeri Enrica Gabetta e Sandro Ausiello.
Quello che si è concluso ieri a Torino è stato il più grosso processo celebrato in Italia nei confronti di una mafia straniera. La mafia è quella nigeriana, i soldati armati quelli appartenenti ai due clan rivali dei Black Axe e degli Eiye. 



Le vittime, soggette a torture e violenze indescrivibili, sono nigeriani onesti che di quei clan non volevano far parte. Come il giovane straniero che al giudice Walter Maccario e al pubblico ministero Enrica Gabetta aveva raccontato di essere stato evirato in strada per aver risposto di “no” a chi gli chiedeva di schierarsi con uno dei due gruppi in guerra per il controllo dello spaccio e della prostituzione in città. I soldati Black Axe e i militanti Eiye erano stati arruolati nei rispettivi eserciti ai tempi dei corsi universitari frequentati a Benin City. Cominciarono a “farsi la guerra” in patria, poi trasferirono la lotta sulle strade delle nostre città. Su quelle di Torino, in particolare. Finché non finirono in manette tutti quanti nel maggio di cinque anni fa.
 

Nella chiusura indagini notificata a tutti gli indagati, i pm Gabetta e Ausiello avevano scritto che «lo scopo dei Black Axe e degli Eiye è quello di conquistare una assoluta supremazia sui propri connazionali al fine di ottenerne la sudditanza». Il che si traduceva nel pianificare tutta una serie di azioni che producessero denaro da inviare in Nigeria: spaccio di droga, riduzione in schiavitù delle connazionali, truffe basate sulla falsificazione di denaro, falsificazione di documenti. Un autentico piano di battaglia capace, oggi, di spiegare i numerosi episodi di violenza che durante l’estate del 2005 ebbero per protagonisti un numero altissimo di nigeriani.
Durante il processo sono stati ascoltati in aula centinaia di testimoni, quasi tutti vittime della guerra tra i due clan mafiosi. Testimonianze crude, terribili. Come questa: «Un mio connazionale, un uomo che io non conoscevo ma che abitava nel mio stesso palazzo, a un certo punto ha deciso di rivolgermi la parola. Mi ripeteva che ero un “momu”, un uomo senza palle, un uomo che non è un vero uomo. Cercava di arruolarmi, tentava di convincermi che dovevo entrare a far parte di un gruppo, del gruppo che lui e altri come lui chiamavano e chiamano Eiye. Io ho ignorato quei tentativi di approccio, me ne sono fregato. Una sera mi trovavo in un locale, a un certo punto si è avvicinato un uomo e mi ha detto che dovevo uscire in strada, che dovevo seguirlo, andare con lui perché qualcuno voleva parlarmi. Quando sono uscito erano lì che mi aspettavano, erano in tanti. Mi hanno circondato, hanno cominciato a picchiare. Hanno tirato fuori le asce, mi hanno colpito ovunque, in tutto il corpo. Ho ferite sulle braccia, sulle gambe, sul petto e sulla schiena. La conseguenza terribile di quell’aggressione è che non potrò più avere figli, quegli uomini mi hanno strappato via il pene e un testicolo»
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Giovanni Falconieri
 News

04 May, 2010

Nigerians in Germany mobilise for Jonathan

Nigerians in Germany mobilise for Jonathan


ABUJA—A Germany-based Nigerian organisation, Diaspora Association for Democratic Change in Nigeria, DADCN, has begun a Europe-wide campaign to mobilise support of the continent’s foreign policy elite for Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.

Spokesmen of the group, John Anyanwu and Teddy Oscar, said the Acting President needed the international support to enable him steer the ship of the Nigerian state to safe harbours next year when general election are due.

The group said, “The situation is tense at the moment and the best that the friends of Africa in the international community can do is to support Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to lead the country effectively. It is because of this that we have been organising seminars and workshops across Europe to sensitise the world about Nigeria.

“Nigeria is too important for the international community to pay only scant attention to what is going on there. If anything happens in the country, the whole West African region will be adversely affected.

“Therefore, it’s in the interest of the West and especially of the European Union and the United States to work actively with the government of Acting President Jonathan to ensure that stability is re-established in the country.”

The group listed comprehensive electoral reforms, steady power supply and the furthering of the peace programme in the restive Niger Delta region as other immediate tasks for Jonathan.

news

19 April, 2010

UNDUE ATTENTION.......BABANGIDA


Undue Attention.

I have been following with keen interest the decision by the former military ruler, General Ibrahim Babangida to contest the 2011 Presidential election. Personally, I don’t think he (Babangida) will go far. A good example was when ex head of state (Gen Gowon) tried to contest the presidential election in 1992/93. He (Gowon) failed in his primary constituency. In the case of Gowon’s attempt, Option A4 Electoral System was in place. Though that we have a different electoral law in place now, he (Babangida) will be shocked the way he will loose election. I also think, he might be seeking undue attention because events have relegated him to an obscure background.

History has indeed consigned him to garbage heap of forgotten tyrants. People should not loose sleep about his plans. It just that one still wonders how people like him think, otherwise there are other things he should have engaged himself with, other than seeking to come back to power. I had in some of my articles advised him (Babangida) to use his influences to work for the re-introduction of Option A4 Electoral System back to our legal books. He should also use his contacts to lobby the present government to posthumously announce the official winner of June 12th 1993 presidential elections and for government to pay compensation to the families of Abiola.

Quoting Thewill (an online news publication; http://thewillnigeria.com/politics/4209-Nigerian-Youths-Are-Not-Capable-Leading-Nigeria-IBB.html), Babangida said that Nigerian youths are not capable of ruling Nigeria. I strongly disagree with him. Rather his statement is an acceptance by him, that he lacked leadership skills when he ruled Nigeria as a youth.

I am also sure that some of his (Babangida) colleagues, associates and friends (birds of the same feather) might want to contest other elections (Senatorial, gubernatorial, etc). Now that he has declared his intensions to run for the highest office of the land, patriotic Nigerians should also declared their own intentions to mass mobilize Nigerians to vote the rightful candidates. Action should be equal to reaction. I had in my previous articles suggested to Nigerians on the need to start political evangelism using various kinds of media outlets. For the sake of good governance in Nigeria, let all patriots become political evangelists. In addition, this will be an ideal time for Nigerians to constitute a shadow judicial process and retry all cases like Dele Giwa’s death etc.

Amongst the most potent means of political evangelism will be to prepare messages on DVDs, CDs, Videos, etc on local languages. Nothing can compare with picture effects. Using home videos and televised religious evangelism as case studies, one will agree that many people have been changed through those means. In the same manner people can be mobilized after viewing political messages. Another reason for this method (political messages on DVDs, CDs Videos, etc) is because government and some private television stations might not like to air such programs. Therefore DVDs/Video recordings will suffice.

Times International Magazine of April 19th 2010, pages 18-19 showed where people of Southern Sudan gathered to watch an educational film on fair elections. A well prepared political/electoral documentary on DVDs can have serious impacts on voting patterns. In case of any documentary in line with the above suggestions, I will recommend the following to be included (a) clips/films of how people of Eastern Europe resisted and dismantled communism (b) clips/films of how Thai people (Red Shirts) exercises peoples power (c) clips/films of how South African resisted Apartheid (d) clips/films of motivational speeches by Martin Luther King Jnr, (e) clips of speeches by our own Tunde (Pastor) Bakare etc.

Political evangelism methods have the potentials of increasing political awareness amongst our folks. We can also choose the direct marketing strategy, whereby we meet people one on one and advise who not to vote. Firstly we can start with our immediate and extended families then proceed to the community levels. I know that many people might be vulnerable to following the money bags, that’s why patriotic Nigerians will have to increase their political evangelism so as to win more souls to see reasons to vote rightfully.

Finally, please remember to participate and join the fight against global warming. Turn off your electrical appliances/lights when not in use. Plant a tree or sponsor one to plant on your behalf. Government and companies should send less paper work and do more email, telephone, and sms. May God bless Nigeria.


Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group” Leicester-UK
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NIGERIAN_DIASPORA/post?postID=G9oni88Lb5gsxFchSxAcZHYUUeJR91MJ-MxQVwB-VRXDQzjhu1keg2uot10SD7dUb9UldY87hm-NexUXpHa86uI
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/

13 April, 2010

A 13-month-old Nigerian baby dies after being refused hospital treatment

A 13-month-old Nigerian baby dies after being refused hospital treatment


Cernusco sul Naviglio, 12 April 2010. After the approval of the racial laws, (better known as the “security package”) there have been more and more cases in Italy of human beings been refused treatment by hospitals and doctors because they are “clandestini” (illegal immigrants) or because their NHS card has expired.



On March 3rd this year, a 13-year-old Nigerian child died in Cernusco sul Naviglio. Taken to the emergency unit in the middle of the night, seriously ill and with bouts of vomiting, the baby was discharged without even being examined by hospital staff. Just a few words were noted on the medical report: “Good general condition”.

Once outside, however, the baby's condition took a turn for the worse and her family took her back to the emergency unit. Once again she was not seen by a doctor because her father, Tommy Odiase, had not renewed his NHS card. “We cannot examine her, or admit her to hospital,” the hospital staff told the family.
“The parents, fraught with grief, have decided to take the hospital to court on the charge of manslaughter, and is being assisted by their lawyer, Marco Martinelli. It is important to ensure that justice is done” says EveryOne Group, “even if cases like these are far from rare. The legal offices of the Italian health structures seek out every means possible to deny the victims' stories (or even turn reality on its head) all with the sole aim of appearing “clean and spotless” to the Ministry of Health from where their funding comes. In the course of its work, our group has witnessed many desperate cases where vulnerable human beings have been refused medical treatment, and we have had denials and even threats from hospital staff.

The case in question remains a tragedy, the death of another innocent human being (a baby!) due to the racial laws in force in Italy - laws for which many people are responsible: the institutions that passed the laws; the parties of the opposition that sat back and did nothing to fight the measures; the press that has censored the criminal nature of these anti-constitutional, anti-democratic laws; and all those citizens who actively participate, by going along with, and even collaborating in the operations of ethnic persecution that have been underway in our country for several years”.


NEWS

24 March, 2010

Nigerian man’s autopsy provides no clues

An autopsy on a Nigerian man who died shortly before a special repatriation flight last week at Zurich Airport has so far revealed no clues as to the cause of death.

The 29-year-old had been on a hunger strike for several days and immediate attempts to resuscitate him after shackles were released were in vain.

The local public prosecutor’s office said on Monday that it now had to wait for the results of laboratory tests to continue its investigation into the circumstances of the death.

The flight to Lagos, which was due to carry the Nigerian, a convicted drug dealer, and 15 other rejected asylum seekers, was cancelled. The Federal Migration Office has since suspended all such flights.

Also on Monday, the Swiss authorities said that up to ten inmates in a detention centre at the airport had gone on hunger strike, but added that their motive for doing so was not clear.

A spokeswoman told the Swiss News Agency that those involved were sending their meals back untouched, but that it was not a full-scale strike.
The detention centre at the airport has room for 106 inmates.

NEWS

swissinfo.ch and agencies

17 March, 2010

Divide Nigeria in two, says Muammar Gaddafi





Nigeria should be divided into two nations to avoid further bloodshed between Muslims and Christians, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has said.

In a speech to students, he praised the example of India and Pakistan, where he said partition saved many lives.

Splitting Nigeria "would stop the bloodshed and burning of places of worship," state news agency Jana quoted him as saying.

A senior Nigerian diplomat said he was not taking the suggestion seriously.

Hundreds of people have died in communal violence in villages around the central Nigerian city of Jos this year.

The BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli says Col Gaddafi's suggestion is unsurprising given his past form.

Last year, he called for Switzerland to be abolished and for its land to be divided between Italy, Germany and France.

'Historic, radical solution'Muammar Gaddafi, file image

Although the violence in Nigeria generally takes place between Muslim and Christian communities, the underlying causes are a complex mix of political, social and economic grievances.

Nigeria is roughly split between its largely Muslim north, and a Christian-dominated south.

Col Gaddafi, until recently head of the African Union, characterised the Jos violence as a "deep conflict of religious nature" caused by the federal state, "which was made and imposed by the British in spite of the people's resistance to it".

He described the partition of India as a "historic, radical solution" which saved the lives of "millions of Hindus and Muslims".

Splitting India in 1947 caused a breakdown of law and order in which at least 200,000 people died. Some estimates say one million people were killed.

About 12 million people were left homeless and thousands were raped.

An attempt by the Igbo people of south-eastern Nigeria to secede in 1967 sparked a war which left more than one million people dead.

origin

15 March, 2010

Jos: Slaughter Capital of Nigeria


 
Jos: Slaughter Capital of Nigeria.
The Federal Government of Nigeria owe Nigerians a serious apology for its failure to end the incessant Jos crisis. Re-occurring crisis of this nature is more than enough to bring down governments in the developed countries. Without doubts, the Federal Government, its security agencies and the perpetrators of these crimes should together be held responsible for the Jos massacre. In my opinion, the government should be prosecuted for security failures. The primary responsibility of every government is welfare and security of its citizens. On this occasion (Jos Crises etc) the government has simply failed.

I will advocate serious compensation from the government to those who lost loved ones, even though compensation will not bring back lost relatives. By virtue of the record number of religious crises in Jos and the higher number of deaths resulting from it, Jos has earned for herself, The Slaughter Capital of Nigeria. Just in a space of less than 3 months, over 800 people have lost their lives to religious crises. In January 2010, over 300 people were killed. In this month of March 2010, over 500 were slaughtered. Life is too cheap in Nigeria. I pray that, these killings should be the last. I pray this prayer each time there is a crisis, but I understand that heaven helps those who help themselves. In our own case we have not helped ourselves, therefore heaven might not help us.

To make matters worse, our government has abdicated from their responsibilities (security and welfare). There is no difference between a state sponsored killings and the inaction of our government through their security agencies. Government has no regards for the lives of Nigerians. Government's inaction also runs counter productive to some of their programmes like re-branding etc

I was highly embarrassed when some of my work colleagues (mainly Africans from other countries) confronted me with the news of Jos massacre on March 9th. Earlier in January (2010), I was also confronted with the same Jos crisis. On each case I was short of words. Imagine if these people were foreign investors or have friends who want to invest in Nigeria. These negative stories will never leave their minds whenever Nigeria is mentioned.

The greatest incitement to crime is the hope of escaping punishment. On the other hand, soft sentences can boost crimes, an example is the light sentence given to Olabode George. If the government cannot get tougher with punishing criminals and perpetrators of religious crises etc, then they will only be toying with our future. No one is safe. Even the so called "leaders" Nelson Mandela once said that 'Security for few is insecurity for all'

Removing the National Security Adviser is not enough. Heads of other relevant security agencies should also be sacked. Another reason to sack other security chiefs is the way and manner our President was smuggled inside the country like a thief. I read from online news sources that most of our security chiefs claimed ignorance of smuggling of Yar'Adua. We should remember that ignorance is not an excuse in law and therefore cannot be accepted by Nigerians. There (security services) inaction means they cannot justify their wages/salaries etc and there is no point wasting the taxpayers money on whoever cannot justify his/her pay. 

The Jos crises is also a serious blow to the people who protested on the streets of London, Abuja, and New York that Nigerians are not terrorist(s). What more do we call terrorism than events in Jos. My biggest concern is how to prevent similar crisis in future? Do we have any assurances from the government and its security agencies that such incidents will not happen again? What are government plans for those displaced from their homes and businesses? What about the traumatised children and women? There are a lot more questions than answers. May God bless Nigeria.

Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An activist and leader of "Support Option A4 Group" Leicester-UK