Fears over renewed hostilities in the Niger Delta

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos The Niger Delta region seems to be sliding back to hostility, following Fridays attack leaving 15 police officers dead. The attack, followed Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) threat to resume attacks in the oil rich Niger Delta to avenge alleged collaboration between the Federal Government and South Africa to jail its former leader, Henry Okah. Security agencies had dismissed the threat and said they were ready for MEND which tagged its promised resurgence of attacks, 'Hurricane Exodus.' While Former Niger Delta Warlords  in the likes of Chief Ateke Tom, Chief Ebikabowei Ben (aka Boyloaf) and Chief Soboma Jackreece (aka Egberipapa) had earlier dismissed the threat, recent attack has continued to raise threat to the peace brought into the region in 2009 by Late President Umaru Musa Yaradua in an amnesty deal with the militants. MEND had claimed responsibility for the killing of 15 security officers in the latest attack. Though It was however not possible to determine if the statement was authentic, Bayelsa state Police commissioner  Kingsley Omire,  claimed that recent violence in the Niger Delta was not linked to the group, which has been mostly inactive since a 2009 amnesty deal brokered by former President Late Umaru Yaradua. MEND has broken down in the years since the 2009 amnesty, with most major militant leaders having embraced the deal. Omire, said the killing of his men had nothing to do with MEND's threat of last week and there was no link and the ambush appeared to be related to a dispute between an ex-militant and his gang. He said the attack came while officers were escorting an ex-militant for his mother's burial. Omire blamed the fate of the policemen on a dispute between the gunmen and the government over their amnesty payments.  According to police, the attackers were members of the gang linked to the ex-militant and who have alleged that he had not properly distributed amnesty payments. Also leadership of Ijaw extraction in Nigeria and beyond, under the aegis of "Izon Ikemi", has said  that the alleged threat to bomb the Niger Delta was not issued by MEND.The Niger Delta group  warned those behind the threat  to retrace their steps so as not to plunge Nigeria into war. Izon Ikemi Chairman, Tony Uranta,   averred that the Niger Delta people remained committed to the peace and amnesty process in the region."There is no person of Ijaw or Niger Delta extraction who is involved in anything anti-government as our investigations revealed. The threat is not from MEND, as the group is no longer in existence, but was dissolved when the Niger Delta armed agitators accepted amnesty", Izon Ikemi stated. The Ijaw group said that the attack statement may be by the Boko Haram sect in its efforts to expand its operations, but wanted the blame to go to MEND."We have deployed our own intelligence all over the region and would resist any attempt to bomb our people, or smear our name", the group further stated. Izon Ikemi however urged the people of the Niger Delta to remain calm. It also urged the Boko Haram sect to accede to a total ceasefire and dialogue with the authorities, if they desire amnesty. MEND had in a statement purportedly issued by it, and signed by Jomo Gbomo,  announced that  it would commence attacks from midnight on Friday, April 5, 2013  in sustained attacks code-named "Hurricane Exodus."The threat  was issued a few hours after a South African court sentenced MEND leader, Henry Okah, to 24 years imprisonment over the October 1 Independence Day bombings in Abuja. It said the incarceration of its leader would not affect its activities. However, another email from MEND, signed by a Comrade Azizi, claims that "Jomo Gbomo no longer exist", and that Henry Okah has condemned the earlier mail, and dissociated himself from any planned violence in the Niger Delta or any other part of Nigeria. As arguments and counter arguments continues, Nigeria can ill afford a return to violence in the Niger Delta, with security forces already battling a deadly insurgency by Islamist extremist group Boko Haram in the country's northern and central regions. Meanwhile, youths in the oil producing region have appealed to MEND to give peace a chance and shelve their planned resumption of hostilities. National Coordinator of the Niger Delta Youth Parliament, Mr. Imoh Okoko, said that it was imperative for MEND to sheathe its sword so as to ensure that the Federal Government would not have any excuse not to develop the region. "We in the Niger Delta Youth Parliament believe that things would only get worse for the region if MEND carries out its threat of resuming hostilities. Creating more crises is not the best for Niger Delta now. "We are appealing to MEND to exercise patience. President Goodluck Jonathan and Okah are from the same state. There is no need for MEND to strike so that the government will not have any excuse for not developing the Niger Delta." http://peoplesdailyng.com/fears-over-renewed-hostilities-in-the-niger-delta/

Kara Market: visited by Fire, rejected by government

Ayodele Samuel, Lagos written for Peoples Daily Newspaper (Weekend edition 4-6-2013) It's becoming a double tragedy for the people of Kara Village, popularly called Zaria Estate a border snub between Lagos and Ogun densely populated with Hausa traders dealing in cow and other food stuff business. A major 'clearing house' for food stuffs coming into Lagos from the Northern Nigeria, Kara village is located opposite the cattle market,under the inter-access bridge (long bridge) along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. Last Wednesday night, Kara village was visited by fire destroying properties worth millions of Naira as well as valuable materials including cash, however Ogun State government denied begin aware of the existence of more than 7,000 residents under the bridge. The inferno also did not leave until after rendering about 5,000 residents homeless, they live in shanties built with planks and rusted zinc which added the spread of fire as the entire place was burnt to ashes, the state  Authorities insisted that  the displaced persons and occupants of the razed Kara village are not legal occupants but it will in any case provide necessary support to the internally displaced persons. According to eyewitness the fire started on Wednesday evening around 7p.m from a charcoal fire being used to fry fish by an Egbira woman, who sells food in the village and was further inflamed by a powered generating set that was nearby..   "I noticed that the groundnut oil she was using to fry the fish was too small, while the charcoal fire was raging. I called her attention to it but she wouldn't listen. That was where the fire eventually started from." Efforts of men of the Lagos State fire service who reportedly got to the scene about three hours after the fire started with only one truck, could not douse the raging inferno after they exhausted the tanker, they drove back to get more water but the fire eventually razed the entire settlement.  Thou no life was lost, many victims of the disaster said  they lost everything to the dangerous visitor, most Hausa traders who are famous for not keeping their money in the banks remains the worst hit.   Engineer Yomi Olugbodi, operates  three shops in the village, one of the shops was filled with crates of eggs and soft drinks, while he just bought a new deep freezer a few days ago and stocked the shop with other goods, his wife sells food at the other two shops said he lost everything to the fire.  "Honestly, I can't quantify the loss. I kept about N450,000  in one of the shops  that was burnt. I bought the portion of land that I built the shops on. Everything I have laboured for in life is gone. I and my wife were not even around when the incident happened. I only came back to see everything burnt to ashes. Where do I start from now?" Olugbodi told our reporter.    Fatimah Jabah who  deals in clothing and textile said she lost all her wares and a cash of N400,000. "I'm even confused now. I don't know what to say. All my wares and money are gone," she cried.   Kola Akanmu, a supplier of water and drinks in the market said he lost all his sources of livelihood including N100,000 cash said, "We thought we could easily put out the fire. All our effort was abortive as the inferno spread further. If I had known, I would have gone to evacuate my things. I am in deep trouble now because I don't know what to tell people from whom I just got goods which I am yet to pay for." While  the Ogun state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development; Engineer Bayo Faari who visited the scene expressed his surprise for such a densely populated community to exist under a major inter-state access bridge, residents in the community however faulted Faari's claims, insisting that they have always participated in elections in the state and also paid taxes to the state government. "we always vote during election, everybody in Nigeria knows Kara market, government officials even come to buy cows here, so how come the commissioner said he's not aware of our existence," a resident who would not give his name queried. Thou victims of the disaster where seen registering their loses in a disaster relief form from the Ogun State government, the south-west coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Iyiola Akande has asked for more synergy between the two states in the case of such disasters. Akande noted that though the scene of the incident falls under the purview of Ogun state but more accessible to Lagos.

Why i stopped criticizing OGD -Adekoyejo Adegbesan Social Media Commentator

sponsored. The birthday of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, it is imperative to appreciate those who in no little way have given their time and a part of their lives to the service of their Motherland. This is the story of the OGD (as he is fondly called) i heard so much about and the OGD that i met on that autumn day in London. The day was August 24 2012, the sun was out in all its glory even when it was autumn. I was scheduled to meet a man I had vigorously spent everyday criticizing. I always felt justified in my criticism of Otunba Gbenga Daniel giving my belief that a PDP member can never be Afenifere, you only had to be in Alliance for Democracy or Action Congress to be Afenifere. I began to question that line of reasoning when I visited Ogun State and saw the transformation under the Otunba Gbenga Daniel administration which lasted Eight (8) years. Some questions started to prod my conscience, how can a man from the PDP deliver such dividends to my people? Was this not the sole preserve of Afenifere people in the Alliance for Democracy / Action Congress? With this and so many more unanswered questions on my mind, I sought through a friend, an audience with Otunba Gbenga Daniel in London, late in August, 2013. On the morning, I made a call to Otunba Daniel and we agreed to a 'no holds barred' question and answer session. I was to arrive at 3pm and my impression of Otunba Gbenga Daniel and many more decent gentlemen who have offered their time to the service of their motherland was to change forever. I was ushered in from the gate by one of his sons, the young man bowed his head down to greet me, and this was the first shock! The kids of most wealthy men I know would not normally show that level of respect, this was not the Daniel kids I read about in the newspaper, could he have been asked by his dad to show respect to me as he opened the gate? The young man ushered me into the living room where I saw a man in a simple shirt and trouser sitting and watching what was a recorded burial event of an elderly woman who lay in a casket. Could this be Otunba Gbenga Daniel I came to meet? I have come across several wealthy Nigerian men and a similar trait with most is the measure of arrogance they possess and as such, I was expecting to wait in the living room for a few minutes or even hours for OGD to make a grand entry through the door. The man in the living room got up and said his greetings, behold it was OGD! Until I arrived, he sat in his living room watching a video of the burial of his late mother, with an IPAD on his side, a laptop in his front; I could see a man at peace with himself. Before I arrived, I had told my people where I was going and asked them to ring the Police if I do not return, after all this was the same man who a section of the newspaper said went around with a killer squad. Just before we got down to the business that brought me to his house, I was offered some drinks, biscuits and cakes. I had vowed not to eat while I was there because I feared poisoning giving how much I have criticized OGD but the man's demeanour, friendliness and simplicity had totally disarmed me, I did not remember when I acceded to being served the refreshments. In what was to follow and beyond my wildest imagination, OGD got up himself to get the drinks and refreshments, could he not have sent his kids to get them I thought? This was meant to be the Former governor of my state, one who was already wealthy as the chairman of Kresta Laurel before he dabbled into the murky waters of politics and lastly, one who was way older than me, how could he possibly be the one serving me? So the Q & A session began with me asking questions related to his performance while in government. For every answer OGD gave me, he went into either his tablet or laptop to show me and at times, printed out some documents to back up his answers. Where he had no direct answer for questions outside his purview, he would immediately place a call through to Nigeria to ask the Commissioner or Officer tasked with the duty at the time to which my question was related. I was swept off my feet immediately because my impression of the average governor in Nigeria before that day was one of a lack of adequate knowledge of the affairs of their state besides embezzling state funds. That Otunba Gbenga Daniel had so much information at his finger tip was not only impressive but totally changed my mindset about those who chose to serve and give back to a community that has given so much to them. As the discussions continued, he kept on telling me to ask him many more questions of every kind; he made me feel so relaxed without the awe I may have felt being in the presence of a former governor. I asked questions about the purported killer squad amongst others and he answered all my questions beyond reasonable doubt. This was not the OGD I had hoped to meet going by what a section of the Nigerian newspapers made out about him. How could it ever be blackened out of the news that the man I begrudged for being a PDP member was actually an Afenifere and one who was deeply entrenched in pushing the Yoruba cause at every single opportunity? The level of his involvement in the Pan Yoruba movement was unknown to me as am sure was to so many others. We delved into the bad press he often got from some Nigerian newspapers and it was until we both looked at the composition of those Newspapers before I began to gain an understanding on why some maligned him so much while the other well read national dailies had a different opinion and saw him as a performer and the new kid on the block. Now the politics and journalism of the South West had become clearer. Our discussion was punctuated by a knock on the door and in came two men of Asian origin who had come to change the Persian rug in the home of the Daniels. It was at this point that I met Yeye Funke Daniel. I may not have an idea of the kind of women OGD 'pulled' in his youthful days when he was still a Bachelor but I concluded that they may not have come any better than the woman he eventually married, the one standing right in front of me. With a smile on her face and that obvious touch of beauty, we greeted. I began to wonder if this was the woman they claimed had slapped someone in Ijebu-Itele, a question I had already put to OGD. As if OGD read my mind, he immediately asked her jokingly if she was the woman they claimed slapped someone in Itele, at this point I quipped, expecting her to get upset. She smiled and told me what did transpire on the day, I became convinced beyond reasonable doubt with her version of events having heard the other version as we then focused on the issue of the Persian rug that brought her downstairs. In a manner you would expect of a good wife, she asked her husband questions about the colour fit of the new rug with other furnishing in the living room and like every good husband, OGD gave her his opinion but wanted her to have the final say on an issue such as home decoration. Alongside the two Asian men, we all fitted the rug and compared it to the former one, it was then unanimously agreed that the former rug still had a better colour match and should be left unchanged, Yeye Daniel then told the men the colour she wanted and they left with the rug they came with. It was dinner time; Yeye Funke Daniel having come down to attend to the rug went straight to the kitchen to make us dinner. I was expecting my food to be brought to me in the living room while OGD had his on the dining table with his family but again I was wrong. The table was set for OGD and I. There is usually a seat reserved for the breadwinner of any home on every dinner table, I was expecting Otunba Gbenga Daniel to take his seat at the top of the table instead he sat opposite me on the longer side of the dining table. OGD opened the bowls and served his meal while I served mine. A lovely meal of fried rice, Jollof rice, Vegetables, Fried Plaintain, Fish and meat was dished, a meal as good as any I have eaten. Could this be the Daniel's I have read so much about? Where was the cook? How can Yeye Funke Daniel engage herself in the kitchen with the cooking when it would cost next to nothing to hire a cook for the time they were around visiting as most rich people do? After all these was a wealthy family? While I was deep in thoughts, I noticed OGD's daughter sat in a corner ready to be at our beck and call while we were having our dinner. The young lady had a bag strapped around her neck as she quickly picked up the used bowls and plates away to the kitchen and brought the Juices and Water. She asked if we wanted more food served and always wanted to know if we were in need of anything, the way she went about it suggested to me that it was second nature from her training. Definitely this cannot be the Daniel kids I read about? These are supposed to be spoilt kids as a newspaper suggested? Dinner was over and it was time for the Daniels to visit a family friend, OGD handed me four (4) books and a CD, something he said will provide more answers to any questions that may come up again. As I left his house, he said he would not mind if I want to continue criticizing him however he urged it must always be the truth. Does that mean he was not going to pull out some wad of Pound Sterling and 'buy' me over as I have been made to believe by some? I left Otunba Gbenga Daniel's residence into the now cold autumn evening thinking to myself if indeed I visited the right person I have been sold so much negativity about. If it was OGD and his family that I met, was I then not guilty of jumping on to the band wagon without trying to check my facts? Was I not guilty of assuming that every person who has served in a political office in Nigeria must be corrupt? Was I not guilty of assuming that every wealthy man is arrogant and their kids must also be ill-trained? Was I not guilty of believing hook, line and sinker the mischievous stories put out in some newspaper without first looking at the newspaper's composition and ownership and what they aim to achieve by maligning certain individuals? Definitely I have been guilty of stereotyping in the case of Otunba Gbenga Daniel! Before I left, OGD asked me to call him at any time, in London or in Nigeria, as he likened himself to an open book. True to his words, at every call, OGD was on the line ready to provide answers to my questions and will always reply an email within a few hours. My meeting with Otunba Gbenga Daniel thought me a few lessons amongst which was never to judge people until i have heard them out. My mindset changed from then on. I have never regretted my association with OGD, someone who I erected Social Media structures to criticize and pull down. Otunba Daniel is an icon, one who is appreciated in Nigeria by his people and by the business community all over the world. I celebrate and rejoice with this Icon as he celebrates yet another year on earth. A man who is obviously at peace with himself, one who has changed for ever, the benchmark of performance expected of Political Office holders. One who through his belief in the youths, composed a cabinet of cerebral young men in their 30's and 40's. I join the good people in wishing an Omoluabi a Happy Birthday, yours is a life of meritorious service to your people. Adekoyejo Adegbesan Social Media Commentator

SON’s e-product registration fraudulent –Traders

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos As the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) sets May 21st deadline for E-Registration of all goods in Nigeria's market, traders and market leaders have described the agency's electronic registration initiative as fraudulent and another avenue for extortion by the agency. The traders, who spoke with Peoples Daily in Lagos said since all products are registered with SON to ascertain its quality, "the newly introduced e-product registration programme initiated by the regulatory agency is baseless," Matthew Uso, a market leader in Oke Arin Market said. Uso also wondered why the agency would begin to confiscate goods in the market for not registering electronically with SON, after bearing SON's logo certifying such product for public consumption. "I learnt they will begin to raid markets for products that are not electronically registered, it is fraudulent! They should go to the manufacturing companies, ports and borders to ensure the implementation of their programme; they should leave the poor traders goods alone", he lamented. In Alaba electronics market, traders said the e-product registration programme does not affect sellers of imported used electronic 'tokunbo', but that major manufacturers of electronics will register with SON. Alaba traders also described the agency's on-line registration initiative as another means of extortion by the agency officials; "Now that the deadline has been given, various officials would start to inspect markets and confiscating goods, which will cost us fortunes to get back; SON should update their data base with the list of products manually registered with them", some of them said. Sunny Okorie however wondered the fate of traders who had stockpiled goods as the deadlines approaches. Mrs. Iyeola Rose, on her part, called for more enlightenment and sensitisation of traders on the program, insisting that the program will benefits big-scale traders while medium enterprise might suffer the brunt.  "We know that in Nigeria things don't work out as planned, because this a good idea but the agency should give it a face-lift that will make it beneficial for both big and small-scale investments in the country; if products are not registered it is the manufacturers that should be held responsible, not raiding the traders of their goods", she stated. At a meeting in Lagos with importers and manufacturers, the Director-General of SON, Mr. Joseph Odusolu stated that the move is an international standard requirement that identifies genuine manufacturers, enhance traceability and help protect consumers from substandard products. http://peoplesdailyng.com/sons-e-product-registration-fraudulent-traders/ Published On: Thu, Feb 28th, 2013

India’s pharmaceutical exports to Nigeria hit $307m in 2012

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos Pharmaceutical products exported from India to Nigeria stood at $307 million as at March 31, 2012. Making this known to newsmen during the Indian Pharma exhibition cum Buyer-Seller meeting in Lagos, Mahsesh Sachdev, Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria said that Indian medicines remain largest source of medicines into Nigeria, supplying over a third of the market. While the surge is not surprising given the trust and faith that Nigerian consumers repose in the quality and efficacy of Indian medicines, Sachdev revealed that Indian exports of pharmaceutical products have gone up by 35 percent and 37 percent annually in the last two years. According to Sachdev, "There are more than 30 Indian pharmaceutical companies located in Lagos alone and engaged in manufacturing and/or importing medicines, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) and fine chemicals to Nigeria worth $307 million in the year ending March 31 2012. With the industry growing at 13 percent annually, the turnover is expected to grow five-fold by 2020. Lending his view, the Director-General, NAFDAC, Mr.Paul Orhii said that the agency is working at ensuring that Nigerians have access to quality and affordable medical products. According to the DG, "NAFDAC has put in place measures to fast track registration process so as to ensure that quality and tested products are available in the Nigerian markets. With e-registration process, products could be registered with the agency anywhere in the world while the process is completed with 90 days having fulfilled all the requirements. "The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in Pharmaceutical Sector in March 2011.They have intensified collaboration to prevent anti-counterfeiting of Indian pharmaceuticals." A cursory look at Indian pharmaceuticals reveal that finished dosage forms contribution is on the increase which indicates increased recognition of India's pharmaceuticals world over.

Ahmad Salkida, 'Boko Haram Journalist' Flee to Dubia

......as threat From Security Agents, Boko Haram heighten   A Nigerian journalist, Ahmad Salkida, who has reported extensively on Boko Haram, has fled Nigeria to the United Arab Emirates after he reportedly came under increasing pressure from Nigerian security agents and Boko Haram insurgents. In an email to two Premium Times, Ahmad Salkida said he had to flee when his life and that of his family became endangered in the past weeks. "Now I can report that I am in Dubai," Mr. Salkida said in the letter. "I am trying to get employment visa. This is crucial so that I can sustain my stay here and contribute ultimately to today's journalism." The journalist, who had worked for Daily Trust, Blueprint and Premium Times, had become troubled of late after security agencies and Nigerian authorities began to mistake his in-depth reporting on the extremist group as evidence of his closeness to the sect. "After years of seeking ways to work professionally and remain with my family in Nigeria, I am afraid to report that I came recently to the conclusion that I have to flee," he further lamented in the email. "After my most recent expose on the scandal going in respect of purported ceasefire negotiated between government and Boko Haram, the danger to my life has escalated to new heights. I have had to go underground for several weeks leading to my final decision to flee Nigeria." He added, "Security agents and many victims of Boko Haram seem frequently upset by the things I write in the media which made me to scale down my professional visibility. More worrying, I have turned down Boko Haram's several requests for me to publish exclusive interviews and materials for them." Mr. Salkida had written in the article, published in PREMIUM TIMES on February 1 that the claim by government that the Boko Haram sect was negotiating a truce was false and fraudulent. Mr. Salkida has consistently maintained that he had only maintained professional contact with a few elements he had reported upon long before the sect became violent.

Ayodele Samuel: Memoir of an unfulfilled Corps member

I was eager to obey the clarion call, no matter the state, I promised not to relocate.  I had these passion years before NYSC time. My service year began on a very interesting note; I made good friends as we began the 23 hour- journey from Lagos to the Nature's gift to the Nation, Taraba state.  My friends are not well traveled, they are all 'aje butter' (pampered kids), our bond grew as we began the journey with heavy prayers from a pastor who found himself  in our bus. Some of us nearly weep as they bid their parents who escorted them to the park farewell. Thou I didn't allow my Daddy take me to the park, my mum was soaked with fear for the safety of her last born. In my mind, I was scared, 'Taraba! North East! Boko Haram! My mind was beating fast but I kept a smiling face while my co-travelers wore sad and hard faces, I sparked up various arguments to ensure we had an interesting trip.  We all slept off around Akure and woke up in Kogi state; we at this point had several rounds of discussions. Our trip was fun but the bad roads between Ajaokuta , Otukpo and Gboko almost marred the journey. We at last arrived Government College Jalingo, NYSC temporary orientation camp to the warm arms of dedicated NYSC staff members who took us through the registration process.  It was a rigorous exercise, there, I learnt to be patient because all through the service year, one had to queue up for just everything.  My 21 regimented days at the orientation camp in Jalingo under a caring mother, Hajia Zainab Isah, then State Coordinator was fun filled, it was a very good way to begin a service year. While in Camp, my commitment to the youth service became stronger. Unlike many other corps members who relocated due to the security situation in the country, it was not an option for me at all after listening to Hajiya Isah's long sermon about unity in the country.  Many of us stayed back because of the confidence Hajiya Isah reposed in us, she presented herself as our mother in the 'no man's land' of Taraba, this she displayed at every given opportunity. When the first bomb went off in Jalingo around April, she called almost all corps members posted to the area on phone, she ordered us to stay indoor for her to study the security situation in the area because our safety was close to her heart. She took it upon herself to visit the remotest places she posted Corps members, checking on our welfare. Her visit to Bang 3 corner, somewhere around Cameroun border in the interior Sardauna Local Government, more than ten hour's drive from her Jalingo residence will always remain fresh in my memory. All these excited me to feel secured in the Nature's gift to the Nation.  I oiled my contacts and began to talk to the people, learning little Hausa language and preparing for my Community Development (CDS) projects. With help of my indigene friends, I located and visited Wurom Musa Village, a small community of about 200 dwellers but which suffers lack of good roads to Jalingo main town, nonfunctional health care center and lack of potable water. After several meetings with the community heads and stakeholders using the skills I acquired during my orientation, we saw the need to open up the village for development. The Jeroum (community head) was of the opinion that the road will open up the village for commerce, so we agreed to embark on grading the road leading to the village; we were putting machineries in place for my dream project, after meetings upon meetings at the State Ministry of Works to release a grader for the project was concluded. We had received serious commitment and support from stakeholders and other sponsors, something I never expected could happen. A few days after Hajiya Isah was redeployed to NYSC headquarters, Abuja precisely on September 6th 2012, around 1 a.m, our lodge housing, with about 24 corps members located in the heart of Jalingo was attacked by gunmen. The incident left many thoughts on my mind, why should a Christian corps member lodge be singled out for a mindless attack ? I lay half dead on the floor when one of the gang members threatened to behead me, the Boko Haram sect came to my mind but I was quick to remember that, Tarabians I knew in the few months I spent were peace loving and hard working people. Till date, it remains a sad experience for me, I had never felt that way in my life, the way I felt the 40 minutes the attack lasted. I lost many things money could not replace till date. Attacking defenseless and armless corps members was the least of my imagination, my annoyance grew with the initial response of the new state coordinator who saw the incident as nothing and the Taraba state government 'we don't care attitude' until we told the world our story. Unlike when some Corps members were assaulted in Zing Local Government during Hajiya Isah's tenure, she mobilized security agencies in the middle of the night, moved to Zing to rescue the victims, she went to court and ensured the perpetrators bagged a year jail term for the assault. Hajiya Isah didn't stop at that, she went ahead to blacklist the community in posting of corps members, just to serve as deterrent to any other community who joked with the safety of her corps members. But in the case of the new coordinator, the reverse was the case. The outcome of the media cry I spearheaded was victimization and frustration. In our own case, the new state coordinator was not interested in going after our attackers; all he did was to grant a press interview denying our attack, calling us names. Till date, the state government neither commiserated with us on the incident nor condemned the attack while the police said the bandits were ' street boys who came with stick and cutlass.' Yet till date, the police have not arrested the 'street boys'. The state NYSC acted in its own volition because NYSC at the national level condemned the attack, collaborated and sympathized with us. The state police Command saw the media reports on the attack as undermining them and would stop at nothing to punish its peddlers. The last option was to relocate out of the state, abandon Wurom Musa, my CDS project. The community leader tried to appeal to us not to go since the arrangement for the project was 40 percent perfected but my mind was made up, all I was seeing was myself out of Taraba, my family members were singing relocation to my ears. Amidst the disappointment, I left Taraba state to Osun state where I completed the mandatory service year barely two months to my passing out.   http://weekend.peoplesdailyng.com/index.php/news/cover-news/782-memoir-of-an-unfulfilled-corps-member