Idris4Peace

Listening to and watching @adeyanjudeji on @channelstv giving an update on the deaths of miners in Niger is both disturbing and crucial. Including Deji and his acceptance onto the committee to investigate this horrendous incident has given Nigerians the opportunity to be part of the investigation. 14 minors between the ages of 9 and 15 dying is unconscionable. People were crammed into a tiny cell with no adequate ventilation; detainees drank their urine and had to climb on each other to put their noses and mouths through the tiny opening for air. The NSCDC officials’ insistence on not opening the cell despite knowing people were dying, and the deliberate tampering with evidence by cleaning the cell, all point to a systemic problem in Nigeria. The NSCDC’s false claim of a disease outbreak as the cause of death is also shocking. We owe @adeyanjudeji thanks for his service on this committee. Now, we must put pressure to ensure the committee’s recommendations are fully implemented.

Ansaru claims responsibility for the assassination of popular Islamic cleric Sheikh Yahaya Masussuka, accusing him of being an infidel. In an audio recording confirming responsibility for the killing, Ansaru said it carried out the attack at around 8:30 pm. While the speaker mentioned 'Talata' (Tuesday) as the day the attack took place, which could have been a mistake, the incident actually happened yesterday, Monday. Ansaru accused Masussuka of being anti-Islam. It did not mention any specific offence he had committed, though it suggested that the cleric's promotion of interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence may have contributed to his killing. The assassination adds to a series of security incidents in northwest Nigeria, as insecurity worsens ahead of next year's elections. The fact that Ansaru has claimed responsibility provides authorities with an opportunity to concentrate their efforts on the group and unravel the identities of those directly behind the attack. This is even more important given that the group also threatened those it described as enemies of Islam. In addition to Zaria, Kaduna, Kano and Abuja, Katsina has also been a prominent base for Ansaru over the years.