11042019 - INSECURITY: Senate condemns killings; insists on State Police

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40 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2019 New human species found in Philippines THERE’s a new addi tion to the family tree: an extinct species of human that’s been found in the Philippines. It’s known as Homo luzonensis, after the site of its discovery on the country’s largest island Luzon. Its physical features are a mixture of those found in very ancient human ancestors and in more recent people. That could mean primitive human relatives left Africa and made it all the way to South-East Asia, something not previously thought possible. The find shows that human evolution in the region may have been a highly complicated affair, with three or more human species in the region at around the time our ancestors arrive. One of these species was the diminutive “Hobbit” - Homo floresiensis which survived on the Indonesian island of Flores until 50,000 years ago. Prof Chris Stringer, from London’s Natural History Museum, commented: “After the remarkable finds of the diminutive Homo floresiensis were published in 2004, I said that the experiment in human evolution conducted on Flores could have been repeated on many of the other islands in the region. “That speculation has seemingly been confirmed on the island of Luzon... nearly 3,000km away.” The new specimens from Callao Cave, in the north of Luzon, are described in the journal Nature. They have been adated to between 67,000 years and 50,000 years ago. They consist of thirteen remains - teeth, hand and foot bones, as well as part of a femur - that belong to at least three adult and juvenile individuals. They have been recovered in excavations at the cave since 2007. Homo luzonensis has some physical similarities to recent humans, but in other features hark back to the australopithecines, upright-walking ape-like creatures that lived in Africa between two and four million years ago, as well as very early members of the genus Homo. The finger and toe bones are curved, suggesting climbing was still an important activity for this species. This also seems to have been the case for some australopithecines. If australopithecine-like species were able to reach South-East Asia, it would change the way our ideas about who in our human family tree left Africa first. Homo erectus has long thought to have been the first member of our direct line to leave the African homeland - around 1.9 million years ago. And given that Luzon was only ever accessible by sea, the find raises questions about how prehuman species might have reached the island. In addition to Homo luzonensis, island South- East Asia also appears to have been home to another human species called the Denisovans, who appear to have interbred with early modern humans (Homo sapiens) when they arrived in the region. MULLER REPORT: Trump urges inquiry into ‘attempted coup’ against him PRESIDENT Donald Trump says he has spoken to the US attorney general about tracing the origins of the inquiry that cleared him of colluding with Russia. Mr Trump described the investigation by former FBI director Robert Mueller as “an attempted coup”. Attorney General William Barr meanwhile said he believes US authorities did spy on the Trump campaign. US intelligence officials have previously said they were spying on the Russians, not the Trump campaign. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday morning, the Republican president railed against the Department of Justice inquiry into whether the Trump campaign had conspired with the Kremlin to sway the 2016 election. The investigation cleared him and his aides of collusion, making no determination on whether they had tried to obstruct justice. Mr Trump said: “This was an attempted coup. This was an attempted take-down of a president. And we beat them. We beat them. “So the Mueller report, when they talk about obstruction we fight back. And do you know why we fight back? “Because I knew how illegal this whole thing was. It was a scam. “What I’m most interested in is getting started, hopefully the attorney general, he mentioned it yesterday. “He’s doing a great job, getting started on going back to the origins of exactly where this all started. “Because this was an illegal witch hunt, and everybody knew it. And they knew it too. And they got caught. And what they did was treason.” Israel’s Netanyahu wins re-election, main challenger concedes defeat ISRAELI Prime Minis ter Benjamin Netanyahu secured a clear path to re-election on Wednesday, with religious-rightist parties set to hand him a parliamentary majority and his main challenger conceding defeat. With more than 99 percent of votes counted , ballots cast by soldiers at military bases will be tallied over the next two days - Netanyahu’s conservative Likud party looked likely to muster enough support to control 65 of the Knesset’s 120 seats and be named to head the next coalition government. It would be Netanyahu’s record fifth term as premier. In a televised statement, Yair Lapid, number two in the centrist Blue and White party led by former general Benny Gantz, said: “We didn’t win in this round. We will make Likud’s life hell in the opposition.” U.S. President Donald Trump, who Netanyahu featured on campaign billboards to highlight their close relationship, phoned to congratulate him on his re-election, the Israeli leader said, adding that he thanked his American ally for “tremendous support for Israel”. Netanyahu tweeted that Trump had called him from Air Force One. The president was on a flight to Texas Ṫrump told reporters at the White House that Netanyahu’s re-election improved the chances of peace between Israel and the Palestinians. “He’s been a great ally and he’s a friend. I’d like to congratulate him on a wellthought-out race.” Italian man murders Nigerian prostitute for failing to satisfy him A N Italian man, Leopoldo Scalici, 41, has been arrested for allegedly murdering a Nigerian prostitute, identified as Benedicta and dumping her body in a ditch. According to Italian website, Modena Today, Scalici approached Benedicta on the streets of Modena Nord for sex over the weekend. Benedicta was reportedly killed after the duo had had sexual intercourse and an argument had broken out, which led to Scalici hitting the Nigerian prostitute with a heavy object on the face and head. It was however speculated that Scalici hit Benedicta because he wasn’t satisfied sexually. Italian police have detained Scalici, after he voluntarily confessed to the crime. An autopsy has been scheduled. Castro says Cuba’ll not abandon Venezuela despite U.S ‘blackmail’ CUBAN Communist Party leader Raul Castro said on Wednesday Cuba would never abandon its leftist ally Venezuela despite U.S. “blackmail”, even as the Trump administration threatened more sanctions over its support. In a speech to the national assembly, meeting to enact the new constitution, Castro said Cuba had been upping defense preparedness in recent months in view of increased U.S. hostility. The island nation had also been adopting economic measures to contend with the Trump administration’s tightening of the decades-old U.S. trade embargo, Castro told legislators. “We will never abandon our duty of acting in solidarity with Venezuela,” Castro said. “We reject strongly all types of blackmail.” Algeria to hold July 4 presidential election after mass protests ALGERIA will hold a presidential election on July 4, the interim presidency said on Wednesday after weeks of mass protests led to the resignation of longserving leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika. No further details were immediately given. On Tuesday, interim president Abdelkader Bensalah had said he would organise free elections within 90 days. Earlier on Wednesday, Algeria’s army chief said he expected to see members of the ruling elite in the major oil and natural gas-producing country prosecuted for corruption and that he would support a transition towards elections. Lieutenant General Gaid Salah’s comments were the strongest hint yet that the military would play its traditional role as kingmaker after the ailing 82-year-old Bouteflika bowed to popular pressure and quit on April 2 after 20 years in power. “The army will meet the people’s demands,” said Salah, addressing officers and soldiers at a military base. “The judiciary has recovered its prerogative and can work freely.” 446 Nigerians in UAE Prisons A total of 446 Nigerians are currently in prisons in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Nigerian Ambassador, Mohammed Dansanta Rimi has disclosed. He stated this during President Muhammadu Buhari’s town-hall meeting with Nigerians who are based in the UAE. “Although there is no exact record of our citizens in the UAE, owing to the inability to register them on arrival, the number of Nigerians resident in the country is estimated at about 10,000. Out of this number, about 2,017 are students in various universities. “It is disheartening to state that 446 Nigerians are currently serving different terms in prisons across UAE on account of committing various crimes including possession and consumption of hard drugs and engagement in armed robbery,” he said. He said in the spirit of forgiveness, tolerance and accommodation, UAE government granted amnesty to all irregular residents in the country. “In 2018, a total 5774 standard passport were issued by the embassy, out of which, 3,164 were specifically issued during the amnesty programme. Further 1,346 emergency traveling certificates were issued to Nigerians to facilitate their return home,” he said. He said 5,021 Nigerians were granted amnesty which will enable them to live and pursue their legitimate businesses.
<strong>Senate</strong> <strong>condemns</strong> <strong>killings</strong>; <strong>insists</strong> on State Police Continues from Page 5 accountable. And we need to move very fast in this area.” Earlier in his contribution, the Deputy <strong>Senate</strong> President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who commended Marafa for always bringing the deteriorating security situation in Zamfara to the front burner of discourse in the <strong>Senate</strong>, stressed the need for state police and decentralization of the present police structure. Also in his contribution, <strong>Senate</strong> Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye (APC, Osun Central), noted that the problem with the country was the constitution itself, which by its provisions, puts on ground, an over centralized federation or better put, unitary system as against federal system of government. Adeyeye noted that if the problematic constitution was not amended by way of removing police from exclusive list to concurrent list to pave way for state police, criminality at local levels will continue to increase. Arewa Consultative Forum BOT meets, sets agenda for FG On the ACF’s meeting, its Spokesman, Muhammed Biu, said: “We met as the BOT of ACF in Kaduna today (yesterday) and we discussed a number of measures, which we hope to discuss with the government to find lasting solution to the security challenges facing us as a Naira down to N359/$ in parallel market By Elizabeth Adegbesan The Naira, yesterday, depreciated to N359 per dollar in the parallel market. According to naijabdcs.com, the live exchange rate platform of the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators (ABCON), the parallel market exchange rose to N359 per dollar from N358.7 on Tuesday, translating to 30 kobo depreciation of the Naira. However, the Naira appreciated by 22 kobo in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window due to a 152 percent rise in the volume of dollars traded. Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange rate for the I&E window dropped to N360.33 per dollar from N360.55 per dollar on Tuesday, translating to 22 kobo appreciation for the Naira. The volume of dollars (turnover) traded yesterday rose by 152 percent to $ 335.03 million from $132.88 million sold on Tuesday. vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews nation. “We are not going to make public our policy thrust until the National Executive Council of ACF, NEC, which is the implementing arm of the group, meets Wednesday next week to see what we have proposed and the way forward.” Meanwhile, as the ACF BOT ends its meeting, the Northern Elders Forum, Vanguard gathered last night, is getting ready to meet in Zaria (Kaduna State) today, to also x-ray the wave of insecurity across the North and parts of Nigeria. Convener of the NEF, Prof Ango Abdullahi, told Vanguard on the phone that at the meeting, the NEF members would carry out a holistic review of the security situation in Nigeria and make its position known to the world. Sultan of Sokoto In Sokoto, the Sultan, spoke in his Palace in Gida Sarkin Musulmi, Sokoto when the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu, in company of the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal; Deputy Governor, Alh. Mannir Dan’iya and other top police officers and government functionaries paid him a courtesy visit. While promising to use the platform of the Forum of Northern Traditional Rulers to rally support of all the Traditional Rulers from Northern Nigeria to fight armed banditry and other crimes in the region, the Sultan equally aligned himself with the IGP’s policy direction of using the tool of Community Policing and Partnership to combat crime. The Sultan also urged Nigerians from all walks of life to support the Police in the fight against all manner of crimes in the Country. Thereafter, the IGP visited the Police Headquarters in the state where he charged the officers and men of the command to be up and doing in fighting armed banditry and other crimes in the state, promising to do everything within his power to provide them with adequate working tools and healthy working environment. Reprisal attacks, no solution —El Rufai Governor El-Rufai, spoke at an Internally Displaced Persons Camp, IDP, in Maraban Kajuru, where he directed relevant agencies to reassess the condition of the IDPs, who are from different communities in order to enable them return to their communities soon. “What we saw is unfortunate, but we must speak out and tell our people the right thing to be done. An eye for eye is not a solution to the vicious cycles of <strong>killings</strong> and will complicate and undermine collective efforts. “Our admonition is simple. If Fulani or Adara communities have complaints of <strong>killings</strong> or attacks, they should report and allow security agencies and government to take up the administration of justice. If these communities resort to taking the laws into their own hands, it will not work. That is not the solution. “Security personnel and assets cannot be in every inch of our state. Communities must stop this abnormality of taking the laws into their own hands. It has never worked and will never Vanguard, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2019 — 41 NEWS HOTLINES 018773962, 08052867058 RALLY TO PROMOTE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT...President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba (6th, L); with National Secretary-General, Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI), Dr Theophilus Ndubuaku (7th, L), and other members of ASURI during a rally to promote research development in Nigeria, at the entrance leading to the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN. work,” he said. Malam El-Rufai frowned at the politicisation of security challenges that can be solved with goodwill and law-abiding conduct by all parties. “As a government, we will continue to collaborate with security agencies, traditional and religious institutions in peace building, but we will be frank to our communities. They have lived peacefully before this mistrust and they can rekindle the glorious past by simply not taking the laws into their own hands and doing away with jungle justice. “On our own part, we will do our very best in protecting lives and property. We will also not shy away from applying the law to anyone found complicit in the violent communal conflicts, irrespective of their status, religion, ethnicity or political persuasions. Let us cherish all lives. No life is more precious than another life,” he said. Balarabe Musa, Nwosu, Okorie offer solutions Former Governor of the old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, said: “The issue of insecurity ravaging the nation at the moment is unfortunate but it is avoidable. And from what is happening in the country, I don’t see anything tangible being done.” Also, former Minister of Health, Prof. ABC Nwosu, who lamented that the <strong>killings</strong>, said: “Too many people have died and drastic measures need to be taken. We want to see result, we don’t want to hear excuses, as there is need to quickly rethink the process of policing the country. It is very painful because the first responsibility of government is to secure the country but it is clear there is failure in this regard. Citizens should not be afraid of their lives in this country. Government should do everything they can to stop it as it is the duty of government to protect its people. “It was the government that protected them less than a month ago during elections. So it is an indictment on the part of the government. They held presidential election and the governorship elections and the highest votes were observed in these regions, just as soon as the elections were over, that the largest number of kidnapping and <strong>killings</strong> is coming from there is wrong.” Reacting, Chairman of United Progressive Party, UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie, said: “It is so unfortunate that the past and present governments have not realised the need for state police. If we have State and Community policing, our security challenges would be drastically reduced. “The people perpetrating crime came from somewhere and they are known, even when they go elsewhere to amass so much wealth, the community police would inform the federal agents of a sudden change in somebody’s lifestyle. And if such hint is in every locality nationwide, there will be less criminal activities and banditry. “But our government has repeatedly shied away from the truth and the obvious fact. To think that the central police we have would be enough to handle crime and banditry in rural communities in a country as large as Nigeria where unemployment is very high and poverty is high is a farce. “If we are described as the poverty headquarters of the world, what goes with it is the crime headquarters of the world because poverty and crime go together. The earlier we address it, the better for us. So, it is an administrative change if President Buhari can consider it without referring to the constitution because in some states where vigilante groups were legitimately accepted crime has reduced. If you make it more formal it would stem crime drastically.” 33 killed in Kastina This is coming on a day, 33 persons were killed in three Local Government Areas of Katsina State, 11 of them, armed bandits. It was gathered from Sabuwa and Batsari Local Government Areas of the state that 18 were killed in a clash between members of vigilante group and armed bandits while another four were killed by the bandits respectively. A source in Jibia Local Government Area of the state, confirmed that 11 of the bandits were killed by villagers, while attempting to escape from their hideout and forest where they carry out their heinous activities. The source said the bandits were moving out from their hideouts and forest on their motorcycles when they were killed by the villagers, adding that villagers who knew the bandits attacked them while they were trying to escape through the villages around 10a.m., to 12noon on Tuesday. According to another source in Batsari LGA of the state, armed bandits launched a reprisal Tuesday night, killing four in the area. The source said three females were taken into the forest while 10 others were hospitalized after the incident that occurred in Yar-Gamji and Ruma villages of Batsari LGA. It was further gathered that bandits launched an attack on Sabina LGA around 4a.m., Tuesday, shooting sporadically and leaving 18 persons dead and few others with injuries.
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11042019 - INSECURITY: Senate condemns killings; insists on State Police

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