BEATZLOADED

Some Gambians have taken to the social media to express their joy over the response from West African bloc and the world in ensuring true democracy reigns in The Gambia.

 Most of them have specifically thanked Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari and the ECOWAS in general for beingtheir “guardians.”

Gambians took to social media, particularly the Twitter which had recorded more than 200,000 tweets in praise of Nigeria, Senegal and ECOWAS.On of the tweets said: “Nigerian Air force pilots performed recce flights over Jammeh’s Kenilai Family Farm, Denton Bridge linking Banjul & Int’l Airport.”

Another said that ECOWAS military commanders assembled to force Gambia Dictator Yahya Jammeh out of power is led by a Senegalese army General‏@ruthmaclean, said “Overnight Jammeh fired what’s left of his cabinet after mass resignations, and declared he would oversee all ministries himself.#GambiaRuth Maclean,‏@Smith_JeffreyT said. Verified account Reports from #Gambia are that Kanilai – Yahya Jammeh’s home village – has fallen.

ECOWAS stopping operations in hopes to negotiate a peace, Jeffrey SmithGambia Voices ‏@GambiaVoices, said: “Troops are in #Gambia. “They are walking towards Banjul. It is already war. If wefind any resistance, we will fight it,” General Ndiaye.”

“BREAKING: Gambia’s army chief is celebrating and supporting the entry of Senegalese troops into the country to oust defeated president,” another tweet from Spectator said.

Gambia Voices ‏@GambiaVoices Thank you @MBuhari and thank you ECOWAS for being the guardian of democracy in ourmama #Africa, you made us all proud! #Gambia is graceful.

Adama Barrow ‏@BarrowOfficial1, said: “Amtaking this opportunity to thank the entire electorate of the #Gambia and Gambians in the Diaspora for making this day possible.”On Jan. 9, Buhari lead two other West African presidents and other citizensto meet with Jammeh.Buhari in his capacity as mediator in chief traveled with his counterparts, Sirleaf and Koroma , as well as the immediate past President of Ghana, John Mahama, to the Gambia to meet with Jammeh.

But those talks yielded no results.Embattled Yahaya Jammeh has remained adamant, refusing to cede power after being defeated by the erstwhile businessman-turned politician, Adama Barrow in the December 1 election held in the country.

Although Jammeh had calledhis opponent to concede defeat, however, a week later,he made a volte face, refusing the outcome of the election, a stand he has adamantly maintained till now.

Thousands of Gambians and tourists fled the country as the tension kept rising, especially following the threat from ECOWAS that a military ousting would be carried out against Jammeh should he refuse to cede power peacefully.

But, despite the peaceful negotiations by the ECOWAS bloc to persuade Jammeh to step down peacefully, he hasstayed put and has refused to accept Barrow as his successor.

West African leaders on Friday said they would travel once again to The Gambia in a last-minute effort to convince election loser Yahya Jammeh to cede power, a media report said.

It said the presidents of Liberia and Guinea were expected to arrive in Banjul to give Jammeh, who ruled the small West African nation for 22 years with an iron fist, a last chance to respect the constitution.

The announcement came hours after military forces of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) crossed from Senegal into Gambia in an attempt to search for Jammeh.However, Adama Barrow whohad equally fled The Gambia to neighbouring Senegal for his safety has been sworn-in as the new President of The Gambia.

In his inaugural speech, dressed all in white, 51-year-old Barrow waved to a crowd of thousands of jubilant Gambians during his inauguration, which officially ended Jammeh’s 22-year rule.

“This is a victory of the Gambian nation. Our flag will now fly high among those of the most-democratic nations of the world,” he said, demanding loyalty from his armed forces.

Former governor of Kaduna state has warned politicians and elites advising southern Kaduna people to defend themselves to desist from issuing such advice- According to the ex-governor, advice like that will only aggravate the ongoing crisis in southern Kaduna- He also advised people to stop accusing the Hausa/Fulani of being behind the crisis in the state as such accusation could be perilous and incite more attacks.

Former governor of Kaduna state, Balarabe Musa, has accused politicians and the elite of exploiting the southern Kaduna killings to make money and advance their political interests, while the victims wallow in trauma.Musa, who stated this while speaking with journalists at his residence on Thursday, January 19, warned against inciting the people of Southern Kaduna against each other.

According to a report by Premium Times, Musa warned that the call by politicians for the people of the state to defend against their attackers will only aggravate the crisis in the state.

Musa said:“The Southern Kaduna people must resist incitements from some people in the Southern part of Nigeria who are misadvising them to carry arms against each other.“Accusing the Hausa/Fulani of being behind the attacks in the area is very dangerous.

When you are accusing Hausa/Fulani and their religion, it will end up being destructive.

Let’s come together as one and deal with those criminals."Musa called on the entire people of Kaduna state, irrespective of their religion and ethnicity, to get together asbrothers and sisters to end the killings, which he said started since 1986.

He called on Governor Nasir El-Rufai to revive companies in southern part of the state which according to him,"will address the high poverty and backwardness of the zone.

"He said:“The Southern Kaduna elites collaborated with their Northern Kadunaelites to destroy the industries built in the zone like Kachia Ginger factories.“Southern Kaduna elites are the problem of the area.

They prefer money and appointments rather than to governthe state.”He said he did not share the view that President Muhammadu Buhari and Mr. El-Rufai were behind the killings,stressing that he was also a victim of cattle rustlers in the northern part of thestate.“Those elites calling for self defence in Southern Kaduna are making the situation worse and self-destructive.”

Meanwhile, suspected armedherdsmenopened fire in Samaru Kataf, a busy market in Zangon KatafLocal Government Area of Southern Kaduna, on the evening of Tuesday, January 17, killing three and injuring five.

Following the shooting, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state has ordered a 24-hour curfew.

News reports reveal that as traders were about going home from the busy Samaru market, about 180 kilometres South of Kaduna city, three men got down from a motor bike, walked to a corner of the market popular with youths and opened fire at them.