February 2014






Senator Mohammed Jibrilla Bindo (APC, Adamawa) on Friday said the attack on Governor Murtala Nyako “has now demonstrated that nobody is safe in Nigeria” and called on the security agencies to change their operational strategies.







He described as instructive, the resolution of the Senate committee on Defence on Wednesday directing the relocation of the army headquarters to the 7th division in Maiduguri in order to tackle the Boko Haram sect.



He said, “I condemn in strongest terms the attack on Governor Murtala Nyako. The governor was on an assessment and condolence visit to areas recently attacked by insurgents when he came under attack.



“This shows that nobody is safe and even after the recent attack, security is still not tight even as there is state of emergency in place.”



Bindo assured the general public that “the National Assembly will continue to do all within its power to help the security agencies defeat the Boko Haram sect”. He urged Nigerians to intensify prayers for the restoration of peace in the country.



via nigerianeye






The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen Chris Olukolade, has said that 13 insurgents were killed in a military raid on makeshift terrorists camp located between Borno and Adamawa states on Friday.







Olukolade said in an electronic mail on Friday that the special forces also arrested some of the insurgents who escaped the raid in Maiduguri and its environs.



He did not give the exact number of insurgents arrested in the raid.



Olukolade said calm had returned to Shuwa community, which was attacked by the insurgents on Thursday after the confusion and panic in the community when the people mistook the convoy of troops in pursuit of the terrorists for the insurgents.



He said the community members became panicky when they saw the column of military trucks because they mistook them for insurgents on a mission for another attack.



Olukolade said the confusion sparked the rumour that the Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, was attacked while visiting the community.



He said, “The troops were deployed to block a discovered entry and exit point of terrorists into the country through the state.”



via nigerianeye








Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar says the centenary celebration currently going on in Abuja to mark the 100 years of Nigeria's Amalgamation is disrespectful to the memory of the recently murdered FGC students in Yobe state.



His tweets below








Futhermore, the families of late Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Chief Gani Fawehinmi have rejected the Post Humous Awards the Federal Government is to bestow on both Gani and Fela at a Centenary Awards which will took place on Friday at the Banquet Hall State House in Abuja.



The Fawehinmi family say nominating their father in the same category with former Military Head of State, General Gbadamosi Babangida and the recent killing of students in Yobe state are their reasons for turning down the award.



Femi Kuti who spoke on behalf of the Kuti Family say they have not yet received any apologies from the government for the burning of the Kalakuta Republic in 1977 and also for the killing of his grandmother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and so cannot receive the award.





The family of the late M.K.O Abiola also rejected the posthumous Centenary award to the winner of the 1993 Nigeria’s presidential election.



Kola Abiola, the eldest son of the late politician and businessman, told newsmen on Friday that the award was “not appropriate.”



“For us, what the government is doing is laudable. But our family will only accept what is appropriate. If what they are trying to give him is a gold award for the centenary, we don’t consider that to be appropriate,” Mr. Abiola said.



“With a gold centenary award, it means we have not left where we were when they tried to rename the University of Lagos after him. We said then that it was inappropriate,” he added.




Other Nigerians awarded are



Sir Samuel Manuwa, Professor John Edozien, Dr Moses Majekodunmi, Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe, Professor Latunde Odeku, Professor­ Nelson Oyesiku and Dr. Funmi Olopade, Professor Oyin Olurin, Professor Orishejolomi­ Thomas, Chief MKO Abiola, Professor Bello Osagie, Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, Professor Ade Elebute, Dr Akinola Maja, Professor Femi Williams, Professor Ambrose Alli, Dr Dalhatu Tafida, Professor Ishaya Audu, Professor Oladele Ajose and Professor Tola Adebonojo, Chief Micheal Adenuga among others.­



via nigerianeye


26-year-old Mnet TV series ‘Tinsel’ actress, Joju Muse popularly known as April, in a recent interview, revealed that she doesn’t mind having s*x with Ramsey Nouah.

That’s not all the Joju Muse, a Public Admin graduate from Olabisi Onabanjo University and daughter of a former senator confessed.


She also said she gets horny watching Ramsey Noah, a married man wit kids and Ghanaian actor, John Dumelo in movies.


Excerpts


On which Nigerian actor would you not mind kissing on set?


There are actually two of them; Ramsey Nuoah and John Dumelo. I’m so in love with both of them. Their movies hit the right spot.


Right spot? They make you horny?


Everything join together. [laughs]


If she doesn’t mind a s*x scene with Ramsey Nuoah?


A s*x scene with Ramsey? Mehn, we are doing it for real. No acting, we will do it.







via NaijaGossip



It's a baby boy for Comedian Elenu!!! The Comedian and his beautiful wife Chinwe are now proud parents of a baby boy.

They welcomed a son this afternoon, Feb 28 (Nigerian time) at San Ramon Regional Medical Centre in California, USA. More pics after the cut:






The couple, who got married in June 2013, have named their new bundle of joy Jaden Olamide Akinlami.



Big congrats to them!






via NaijaGossip









Ousted Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovych, has vowed to continue to struggle “for the future of Ukraine” as he remained the country’s legitimate president.







At a press conference which was his first public appearance since his removal a week ago, Mr. Yanukovych he was “not overthrown”, but was compelled to leave Ukraine after threats to his life.



He said the “irresponsible policies of the west” were to blame for the crisis that almost has driven his country to breakup.



The focus of unrest in Ukraine has shifted to the Russian-majority Crimea region since Mr Yanukovych was ousted by Western-leaning opponents last Saturday.



Early Friday, unknown armed men in military uniforms surrounded the main airports in Crimea. Ukraine’s interim interior minister accused Russia of sending troops to “invade” his country.



He said he has yet to see the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, but has spoken to him on the telephone. Mr. Putin’s failure to act on the crisis in Ukraine was surprising, he added.



“I intend to continue to struggle for the future of Ukraine, against terror and fear,” Mr Yanukovych told the news conference in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.



“What’s going on now is lawlessness, lack of authority, and terror. Decisions in parliament were taken under duress.”



He apologised to the Ukrainian people for not having “enough strength to keep stability” and for allowing “lawlessness in this country”.



He said he arrived in Russia “thanks to a patriotically minded young officer” and was given refuge in Rostov, near the Ukrainian border, by an old friend.



Mr Yanukovych said he would return to Ukraine “as soon as there are guarantees for my security and that of my family”.



The ousted leader was this week put on the wanted list for suspected premeditated murder during the three-month massive protests, acting Prosecutor General, Oleh Makhnytsky, said.



“I can say that Yanukovych is a suspect. He was put on the wanted list. He is wanted for mass murders of people with aggravating circumstances,” he told reporters.



The Ukrainian parliament approved a bill earlier on Tuesday to bring a case of alleged massacre of protesters to The Hague-based International Court of Justice.



In a statement, the parliament requested the court to identify and bring to justice those Ukrainian officials involved in the crackdown on protesters.



Ukrainian law enforcement agencies used “physical pressure, special warfare and weapons “against peaceful protesters, causing the deaths of more than 100 people”, the statement said.



The statement also said that the use of water cannons by police against protesters at temperatures of minus 10 degrees Celsius, constituted torture.

On Saturday, the parliament passed a resolution to dismiss Yanukovych from his post and set an early election for May 25.



via nigerianeye


Electricity consumers all over the country heaved a sigh of relief, following the decision of the federal government to handover the operation of Power Holding Company Of Nigeria to private operators nationwide.





The handover of electricity business to private individuals was seen as the final solution to curb incessant power supply to millions of household and business concerns, and a means to boost the economy, especially through small and medium scale enterprises.



But so far, the reverse has been the case, as major cities and businesses still groan under epileptic power supply. A look at the state of electric power in some areas of Lagos and some parts of Nigeria show that residents have been experiencing epileptic power supply. Investigations have revealed that more than three months after the take-over of the company, power consumers across the state are yet to see improvements in the area of power supply.



Uche Nnamdi,a resident of Orile Iganmu accused PHCN of being cruel and inconsiderate. “These people lack conscience. They have the guts to bring unreasonable bills to us despite the frequent blackouts that we have been experiencing.





The annoying thing they do is, they just withhold the power for no just cause, then when they want to give out bills, they restore the power. As soon as we have settled our bills, they withdraw the power again. This has been the trend for a long time now”.



On his part, Muftau Akerele said the power situation in his area since the take over has remained the same.“The handover to private operators has made no difference. I think, things have even taken a turn for the worse.They are only good at sending out bills. Despite the poor service,they are very fast at demanding for payments. I can count the number of times I have had power supply this year”.



The worst hit are small business operators, who now spend more on fuel to keep their businesses running. A business centre operator who spoke on condition of anonymity said the situation is very pathetic. “I think the best thing is to cut away completely from the public power supply and rely solely on generating sets for power.



It is sheer wickedness on their part and outright stupidity on my side to keep paying for what I don’t use. I don’t see any solution to the problem of power generation even with private operators taking over. It hasn’t really been easy for us businessmen as we spend most of our profits on fueling our generating sets”. The implication is that inflation will rise as additional operating cost is passed on to the consumers.



Another aggrieved resident, Comfort Eke who operates a hair dressing salon said residents are not getting value for their money.



“The fee we pay is very exorbitant, despite the fact that we hardly see the light to use. All the officials are good at is dishing out bills and disconnecting light. There hasn’t been any significant change since the handover. We only see them patrolling about looking for wires to disconnect. I don’t know when things will change for the better. We are spending so much on fuel to stay afloat”.



However, Collins Awa, a banker urged Nigerians to be patient. “We shouldn’t expect a miracle to happen overnight. I don’t think the change we are expecting in the power sector will be automatic. I think it’s too early to start condemning them, we should give them more time to execute the plans and projects they have. I am optimistic that this move will be beneficial to us.”



Vanguard



via nigerianeye






Didier Drogba walked at six months, left home at five and fell in love with the woman who was to become his wife at the tender age of 17.



Those are some of the landmark events covered in an account of the Ivorian footballer’s extraordinary life about to be published in cartoon form in France.



Editions are also planned for Britain, where Drogba is still idolised by supporters of his former club Chelsea; Brazil, where he is due to play in the World Cup later this year, and Turkey, where he currently stars for Galatasaray.





Entitled “From Tito to Drogba”, the album traces the 35-year-old’s journey from modest roots in Abidjan to the summit of world football. The Tito in the title refers to his childhood nickname.



It was first published in 2012 in Ivory Coast, where Drogba is revered both as a lynchpin of the national team, the Elephants, and a symbol of national unity — thanks to his detour into peacemaking diplomacy when the country was teetering on the brink of civil war in 2006.



Born on March 11, 1978, Drogba first moved to France at the age of five to live with his uncle, Michel Goba, a professional footballer, his parents calculating that it would give him a better chance in life.



He has often spoken of how difficult he found his childhood years, the long spells spent apart from his parents and the upheaval of moving around as his uncle regularly changed clubs.



His parents finally joined him in France when he was 13 and the family settled in the Paris suburbs, where Drogba began what was to be an illustrious career at Levallois SC.



- ‘Too perfect? He’s like that’ -



“The book goes into a lot of detail,” Drogba recently told sports daily L’Equipe. “It is a fun way to learn lots of things about me and to show young people that, if they do what I did, they can achieve their objectives.”



“The most important thing is to show you can exceed your dreams. For me football has become my job, my way of making a living, and that in turn has allowed me to meet many famous people, to be a UNICEF ambassador.”



The man responsible for the album is Gabin Bao, a 36-year-old Ivorian who has spent years on the project, finally convincing the player’s advisors it was a good idea.



“I met him several times after we did the deal and he really liked the idea of sending a message to young Africans,” Bao told AFP.



Bao’s script for the book flirts with caricature at times in its emphasis on the role of hard work in Drogba’s ascent.



“Some people say I’ve made him too perfect. But he is like that,” Bao said. “He is very careful about his image because he has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders.”



Part of the proceeds from the book sales will go to the Didier Drogba Foundation, which finances health and education projects in Africa.



AFP



via nigerianeye






The Federal Government honoured 100 persons yesterday with Centenary awards as part of Nigeria’s Centenary celebration, the families of late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi and afrobeat king, Fela Anikulapo Kuti have rejected the post humous awards for both late Fawehinmi and Fela even as Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka also mulls rejecting the award.





Professor Soyinka is on the list alongside the likes of Professor Chinua Achebe, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Chief Odimegwu Ojukwu, Nwankwo Kanu, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Mike Adenuga and Pastor Enoch Adeboye, among others.



Soyinka speaks

But Professor Soyinka said: “I would have preferred that the entire day of infamy be ignored altogether. I’m even thinking favourably of just ignoring the obscenity, then turning up at the counter-event.”



Professor Soyinka, however, said he will endeavour, to be at the centenary awards planned in London on June 27 during which diasporans will honour 100 outstanding Nigerians in the UK. At a gala dinner due to take place at Waltham Forest Town Hall in East London tagged Nigerian Centenary Awards UK, diasporans will hand out honours to 100 Nigerians who have excelled in various fields in the UK over the last 100 years.



We won’t accept the award —Femi Kuti

Also, Femi Kuti, son of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has said that the family would not accept any centenary award in his honour.

CENTENARY—President Goodluck Jonathan (5th right) flanked on his right by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia and left by President Francois Hollande of France, and from left, General Yakubu Gowon, Gen. Omar Bashir of Sudan, and President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia among other world leaders during the Conference on Human Security, Peace and Development organised to mark the Nigerian Centenary celebrations at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, yesterday. State House Photo.



CENTENARY—President Goodluck Jonathan (5th right) flanked on his right by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia and left by President Francois Hollande of France, and from left, General Yakubu Gowon, Gen. Omar Bashir of Sudan, and President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia among other world leaders during the Conference on Human Security, Peace and Development organised to mark the Nigerian Centenary celebrations at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, yesterday. State House Photo.



Femi who made the statement through a Twitter correspondence while stating that the family has not been officially informed about any centenary award for Fela, noted that the Federal Government should first apologise for killing his grandmother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and burning of Kalakuta Republic.



“We have not heard such but I can speak for myself, Federal Government should first apologise for the killing of our grandmother and the burning of Kalakuta,” he wrote.



Asked if the family would accept the award if the government apologised for the two wrongs mentioned, Femi said he doubts if the family would accept the award.



“Like I said we have not heard anything from the Federal Government. But I doubt if the family will accept the award.”



Fela Anikulapo Kuti, is being honoured in the ‘Internationally Acclaimed Artistes, Literary Icons and Journalists’ category.



Gani’s family

Likewise, the family of the late human rights lawyer, Chief Gani Fawheinmi has turned down his nomination for a centenary posthumous award.



The family cited the nomination of the former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, for the same award, the unbridled killing of students by insurgents in the North Eastern part of the country and the incessant corruption reeking across the country, including the alleged missing of $20 billion from NNPC as reasons for rejecting the nomination.



According to the letter sent to the presidency via the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, and signed by Mohammed Fawehinmi, for and on behalf of late Gani Fawehinmi family, the family said they acknowledged the receipt of the letter and commended the federal government for considering their father for the honour but cited the reasons above for turning down the offer.



The letter read in part, “We want to thank the Federal Government for considering our late father for this honour. However, for reasons stated here under, our family has decided it would be inexpedient to accept the award.



“Our late father was empathetic to the sufferings of our people, particularly students. In the last 72 hours, 43 innocent students were mowed down by the blood- thirsty Boko Haram terrorists in Yobe State, while 20 other girls were similarly abducted by this same band of terrorists. These girls are still in captivity while their fate is unknown. If our late father were to be alive, would he be wining and dining with all the glitterati at a Centenary celebration under these circumstances? Certainly no.”



“In the past few weeks, the polity has been assaulted with putrid odour of corruption with the alleged $20 billion missing in NNPC, a development that became the Archilles heel of Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the suspended Governor of Central Bank. As an anti-corruption activist, if he were to be alive, our late father would have confronted the issue head-long and possibly gone to court. With the issue still raging, would our late father have accepted this award at this critical moment? Certainly no.”



The family explained that their late father always championed the unity of the country and would have opted for the money being spent on the celebration of the centenary to have been devoted to infrastructure development instead of deploying the fund to celebrating Nigeria’s centenary.



“Our late father was unrepentantly for the unity of Nigeria. However, with the level of profligacy in some of the events celebrating Nigeria’s Centenary, our late father would have preferred these multi-million Naira expenditures channeled to our decrepit Teaching hospitals, than unproductive razzmatazz that do not improve the socio-economic well being of our people.



“For these reasons, our family respectfully declines to receive the award about to be conferred on our late father by the government,” the family said.



The roll call

The list of the awardees includes Sir Samuel Manuwa, Professor John Edozien, Dr Moses Majekodunmi, Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe, Professor Latunde Odeku, Professor­ Nelson Oyesiku and Dr. Funmi Olopade. Others on the list include Professor Oyin Olurin, Professor Orishejolomi­ Thomas, Professor Bello Osagie, Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, Professor Ade Elebute, Dr Akinola Maja, Professor Femi Williams, Professor Ambrose Alli, Dr Dalhatu Tafida, Professor Ishaya Audu, Professor Oladele Ajose and Professor Tola Adebonojo among others.­



Other awardees are the British monarch and Head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II, Sir Fredrick Lugard, Dame Flora Louise Shaw, Ex-Military Heads of State and Civilian Presidents, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, Literary such as Prof. Wole Soyinka and the late Prof. Chinua Achebe.



Also to be awarded are Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, Chief Odimegwu Ojukwu, Nwankwo Kanu, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed Dangote, Chief Mike Adenuga, Honourable Justice Maryam Aloma Mukhtar, GCON, Sir Abubakar Sadiq III, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, amongst others.



The award ceremony is scheduled to hold at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja.



At the ceremony, President Jonathan would be presenting awards in 13 categories to 100 distinguished personalities, either alive or dead, who eminently symbolise the tapestry of Nigeria’s first centenary.



Some of the categories include, contributors to the making of Nigeria, heroes of the struggle for Nigeria’s independence/pioneer political leaders, pioneers in professional callings/careers, promoters of democratic transition in Nigeria, internationally acclaimed artists, literary icons, journalists, and so on.



via nigerianeye






Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State Friday escaped death by the whiskers when he was attacked by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect at Shuwa, Madagali local government area of the state.







Madagali has witnessed series of terrorists attacks recently and the governor had gone to the area to commiserate with the people when unknown gunmen fired gunshots into the air as the governor was addressing the people.



Eyewitness account said that moments after the Governor had received the microphone to address the people, two gunmen in military uniform emerged from the crowd and shot thrice into the air.





According to the eyewitness, before then people have started shouting ; They are coming! They are coming!! They are coming!!! referring to the Boko Haram insurgents.



In the ensuing confusion, the governor was quickly rescued and ferried away by his security aides as some vehicles in his convoy rammed into one another.



via nigerianeye






Mr Kingsley Kuku, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, said on Friday that N35.83 billion would be spent in 2014 for the reintegration of ex-militants enrolled in the Presidential Amnesty Programme.





Kuku disclosed this in Abuja at a budget defence session with the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta.



He told the committee that a total budget proposal for the Presidential Amnesty Programme in the 2014 was N63.28 billion, of which N35,83 billion would expended on the reintegration component of the presidential amnesty.



He said another N23.62 billion was required for the payment of N65,000 monthly stipends to 30,000 ex-militants, adding that N3.82 billion will also be needed to cover the cost of operations in the Presidential Amnesty Office.



Kuku disclosed that about 2,200 transformed ex-militants were expected to be placed in either formal education or vocational training.



He explained further that out of the 1,100 that have opted for vocational training, 700 would be trained locally while 400 would be trained abroad.



According to him, the remaining 200 will be placed in foundation or pathway programmes that will be conducted within the country to prepare the delegates for placements for universities offshore.



He explained that of the 30,000 statutorily enlisted in the programme, 18,000 delegates have either graduated or are currently in either vocational or educational training facilities within the country and abroad.



“With this figure, we are left with a total number of 11,200 delegates awaiting placements in reintegration facilities,” he said.



The aide also informed the committee that in 2013, N38.90 billion was appropriated for the demobilised ex-agitators.



He added that in compliance with the UN Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Charter Code, N546 million was provided for in the 2013 budget to take care of the reinsertion/transition safety allowance for 3,642 transformed ex-agitators and their leaders enlisted in the third phase of the amnesty programme.



He disclosed that in 2013, 2,400 delegates were successfully deployed to vocational training centres both within the country and outside.



“Of this number, 671 delegates have since graduated, earning globally recognised certificates in such fields as marine technology, marine mechanic, commercial driving, agriculture, drilling, boat building, oil and gas technology, automobile technology and of course aviation,” Kuku said.



Speaking further on the activities of the Amnesty Office, he disclosed that in 2013, 834 delegates were placed in about 100 universities across the world.



He also said that a total of 459 delegates were placed in private universities in Nigeria for the 2012/2013 session.



via nigerianeye






The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, said on Friday that the Nigerian Army was among the best in the world.







Minimah, who is also the reviewing officer, made the statement at the passing out parade of 70 Recruits Intake Trades Men/Women held at the Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, Kaduna.



“With the calibre of young soldiers there is no doubt the Nigerian Army is not only Africa’s finest, Nigerian Army also ranks best among her contemporaries in the world.



“Its exemplary performance in internal security operations as well as peacekeeping operations has been widely commended,” he said.



Minimah lauded the Nigerian Army Schools for giving the recruits special training in different trades.



He said the Army Schools provided trades works training to the recruits while the Depot Nigerian Army provided them with training in weapon handling, drilling, field craft and general administration among others.



The COAS charged the graduating recruits to exhibit high sense of discipline, dedication, selflessness, resilience and commitment to service.



“I urge you to remain focused, committed, selfless, disciplined and loyal. You must not engage in anything that will tarnish the image of the Nigerian Army and the nation at large.”



The Army boss lauded the Depot Nigerian Army for demonstrating high skills in moulding the soldiers to serve the country to the best of their abilities.



He noted that there was increasing demand for higher qualification in recruits.



Minimah was represented by Maj-Gen. Kenneth Osujie, Commandant, First Mechanised Division, Kaduna



via nigerianeye




The Presidency on Friday said the country was at war with Boko Haram, apparently backing off previous claims that the sect members were on the run and desperate.





President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has been fiercely criticised over its handling of the conflict, both for its inability to stop massive attacks on defenceless civilians and for what some have described as mixed and contradictory messages on the severity of the crisis.



Jonathan has termed the ongoing military offensive in Boko Haram’s northeastern stronghold a success and maintained that normality will be restored to the embattled region by May.



Presidential spokesman, Doyin Okupe, told the Channels television that the Boko Haram conflict was a “war situation.”



“We are dealing with a very, very serious enemy,” AFP quoted Okupe as saying on Channels TV.



“We are engaged in a war that has been internationalised,” he added in an apparent reference to Boko Haram’s reported but unconfirmed presence in neighbouring countries like Cameroon.



The conflict has killed thousands since 2009 but many argue the plight of civilians in the northeast has worsened since the military began its operation in May.



Since then, nearly 300,000 people have been displaced in the region, according to the United Nations, and more than 1,500 people killed, according to the UN and figures compiled by AFP.



“It is very difficult, very costly in terms of lives lost. But we will overcome,” Okupe said. “We are in the dying phase of this insurgency.”



The defence ministry on Thursday said the insurgents were “desperate” to escape Nigeria because of military pressure and would be “degraded towards elimination shortly.”



via nigerianeye


According to information reaching us, the convoy of the governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako was attacked by gunmen believed to be Boko Haram insurgents earlier today, The Herald reports.

Nyako was ambushed at Shuwari area of the State on his way returning from a condolence visit to victims who were attacked by the Boko Haram set two days ago.


According to the source, the governor and his convoy escaped the attack unhurt.







via NaijaGossip


In a written message delivered to President Jonathan late yesterday by Britain’s Minister for Africa, Mr. Mark Simmonds, Queen Elizabeth II conveyed her best wishes for the happiness and prosperity of the people of Nigeria.

“On the occasion of the Republic of Nigeria celebrating 100 years since the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria, I send the people of Nigeria my warmest congratulations.


“I have fond memories of my first visit to Nigeria in 1956 and again in 2003 as Head of the Commonwealth.


“The links between our two countries have deepened over the past 100 years and I hope they will continue to do so.


“I would like to convey my best wishes for the happiness and prosperity of the people of Nigeria,” the British monarch wrote.








via NaijaGossip


The ‘Omo baba lowo’ who called the Cameroonian footballer /Chelsea striker, Samuel Eto’o his big brother shared the photos below on instagram with caption “Thanks for the gift big bro !! Brand new rose gold rolly!!
Davido who seem to be having fun and enjoy hanging out with the footballer also shared another photo of him dinning with Samuel Eto’o. See pics after the cut:











via NaijaGossip






Ghana’s health minister has given a hospital in the city of Kumasi 14 days to produce the bodies of five babies that were allegedly stillborn.





Seven people were charged with stealing and conspiracy to steal a baby from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital earlier in February.



Suwaiba Mumuni, whose baby is among the five missing, told the BBC she believes her child is still alive.



The hospital, the second largest in Ghana, has denied the allegations.



The BBC’s Sammy Darko in the capital, Accra, says the case of the missing babies has caused outrage in Ghana.



Youths stormed the hospital in Kumasi, 270km (167 miles) north-west of Accra, on Thursday, temporarily closing the maternity wards, he says.



‘Overwhelmed’



Ms Mumuni said after she gave birth on 5 February, she was told that her baby was stillborn and it was taken away by attendants.



When her relatives arrived later in the day to collect the body for burial, it could not be found, she said.



“The only news I am expecting to hear is that my baby has been found,” Ms Mumuni told the BBC.



“They told me my baby is dead, but they have not been able to produce the body… I am confident my baby is alive.”



The bodies of another four babies allegedly delivered stillborn that day are also missing.



“The ministry will leave no stone unturned until the truth is established,” Health Minister Sherry Ayittey said in a statement.



Ms Ayittey said the hospital had 14 working days to find the bodies of the babies “for burial by the families”.



Staff at the hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they often felt overwhelmed and there were inadequate resources to deal with demand.



Our reporter says the seven people charged on Thursday over Ms Mumuni’s missing baby were given bail.



via nigerianeye






President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday at the centenary celebrations in Abuja said the video tribute show captured the strong existence of Nigeria as one strong, united and indivisible nation.





The President said this at the centenary multimedia and fireworks show.



He said the show was an indication of the essence of the Nigerian state.



”The multimedia show was conceived as one that will only guarantee a memorable and poignant experience of the 100 years of Nigeria’s existence,” Jonathan said.



The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the show delivered a vital message of unity driven by the Nigerian Spirit.



The show depicts the Nigerian story, history and culture.



The multimedia show was captured in eight broad segments.



via nigerianeye






President Goodluck Jonathan has re-appointed Dr Aminu Yusuf as the substantive Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, Zaria, Kaduna State, for a second term of four years.







A statement by Mr Paul Mshelizah, the Chief Public Relations Officer of the institute, said that the reappointment would take effect from March 19, when the first term would expire.



The statement said the renewal of the tenure was contained in a letter by the Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar, and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Nebolisa Emodi.



Aminu was first appointed as the Director-General and Chief Executive of NITT on March 19, 2010.



He had within the first tenure contributed to the development of not only the institute but the transport industry in general, the statement said.



Some of his achievements included stabilisation of NITT long term programmes by affiliating the Post Graduate Programmes of the institute to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.



The statement added that the appointee had expanded activities and programmes of the institute to enable it to achieve its full mandate.



Aminu had also created additional departments and increased the institute’s partnership and collaboration with local and international organisations.



via nigerianeye






The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said on Friday that it had introduced a nationwide air ambulance service with the hub in Abuja.



The Director-General of the agency, Alhaji Sani Sidi, said this in Sokoto.





Sidi spoke through NEMA’s Director of Administration and Supplies, Dr Zanna Mohammed, during a courtesy call on the Secretary to the Sokoto State Government, Alhaji Sahabi Gada.



Sidi said that the service currently had a pioneer CESSNA-model air ambulance which had been fully equipped.



The aircraft has been fully equipped with all the required state-of-the-art, medical facilities and well-trained medical doctors and other para-medics.



“For now, the service would be coordinated from the air ambulance service’s hub in Abuja and it would cover the whole country,” he said.



According to him, the ambulance could effectively and efficiently reach any part of the country within the earliest time possible.



Sidi further said that the agency had adequately provided all the needed communication, search and rescue facilities nationwide.



Similarly, the agency has stockpiled huge reserves of equipment and relief materials required for urgent assistance to disaster victims in distress.



“These include helicopters, vehicles, ambulances, tents, assorted food items, blankets and mattresses,” he added.



Sidi stated that NEMA was implementing the Federal Government’s agenda by being proactive and diligent in all its activities.



He also said that the agency was meaningfully engaged with all the emergency management agencies in the country and other stakeholders.



This, he said, was necessary as disaster risk management and mitigation was a collective responsibility.



Sidi said that the agency had set up a new zonal office in Sokoto to take charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.



“The new zonal office was carved out from the hitherto Kaduna Zone to allow for more efficient, fast and less-cumbersome response and mitigation of disasters.



“The Sokoto State Government, just like others in Nigeria, has been an active partner with NEMA and we will continue to appreciate this,” the director-general said.



Gada commended NEMA for establishing the new zonal office, promising to sustain the existing cordial relationship between it and the government.



“We will continue to tirelessly work together with the agency to ensure the success of its commendable activities,” Gada pledged.



via nigerianeye






A 100-level student in the Department of Transport Management at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Mba Ikechukwu, has been killed by cultists.







His body was mutilated.



It was learnt that the cultists stormed Mba’s hostel on Tuesday evening and shot into the air many times.



Sources said they went into Mba’s room, where they shot him and removed his arms.



Mba’s body was deposited in the mortuary by the police.



The university’s management met with security agencies on Wednesday on how to apprehend Mba’s killers and tighten security in hostels.



LAUTECH is an off-campus institution.



Security has been beefed up in hostels.



Student held a peaceful rally on campus to mourn Mba and sensitise one another on the ills of cultism.



Academic activities are going on smoothly at the institution.



The Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr. Tunde Olabiyisi, debunked rumours that the institution had been closed for two days (yesterday and today) to douse tension.



He said: “You can see for yourself that the campus is peaceful and students are receiving lectures. There is no disruption whatsoever. Everywhere is peaceful. The incident happened outside the campus and appropriate actions are being taken.



via nigerianeye






The Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC), on Friday released results of the Feb. 25 elections into local government councils with the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), winning 14 of the chairmanship positions declared.





Fifteen local governments participated in the exercise after two – Jos North and Wase, were excluded over security concerns.



PLASIEC Chairman, Mr Peter Dalyop, who declared the results in Jos, said that the chairmanship results from Langtang North Local Government were inconclusive.



“There will be a re-run election in Jat Ward in Langtang North on March 3, 2014, to determine the winner of the Chairmanship seat,” he said.



He said that the local government had 18 wards, but that results from only 17 wards were collated, which made it impossible for PLASIEC to accept them.



“After the conduct of the re-run, the winner will receive the certificate of return along with the others,” he said.



Details of the results indicated that the PDP won in Barkin-Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos, Mikang, Jos South, Riyom, Pankshin and Kanke.



Others local governments included Jos East, Kanam, Langtang South, Quan-Pan, Riyom and Shendam.



Dalyop, however, said that names of victorious councillors would soon be announced after the collation had been concluded. (NAN)



via nigerianeye






A man, identified as Ogadinma Chukwu, has lost his life while sleeping with a prostitute at a popular brothel located on St. Michael’s Road, Aba, Abia State.





Sources said the deceased, whom they alleged to be a regular visitor to the brothel, died while romping the prostitute.



It was gathered that immediately Chukwu slumped and died, the prostitute contacted her colleagues and the manager of the brothel who moved his corpse to a sanitary lane at the back of the brothel.



As a result of the development, shop owners around the area quickly closed business for fear of police arrest.



Those who spoke anonymously to our reporter disclosed that some staff of the brothel at about 5 p.m. brought out the corpse through their back door, dropped it at the sanitary lane and disappeared.



When our correspondent visited the area, the brothel was deserted as people were gathering at the adjoining St. Michael’s Road by York Street junction and Hospital Road.



A cross section of sympathisers said the deceased might have died of a cardiac arrest or exhaustion as white foam gushed out of his mouth.



Policemen from the Aba Central Police Station, who conducted a search at the scene, recovered an ATM card, a cheque book, cash of over N200,000 and a Man O’ War Association of Nigeria identity card, bearing the name, Ogadinma Chukwu.



Contacted, the Commander, Man O’ War Association, Aba, Uche Egbuziem, identified Ogadinma Chukwu as a former member of the association, stressing that the deceased and some other members of the group still use their old identity cards.



Abia Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Geoffrey Ogbonna, could not be reached for comments at press time, but a senior police officer said the corpse had been deposited in a mortuary.



He said an autopsy would be conducted to determine the cause of the man’s death.



via nigerianeye

NORTHERN-ELDERS-500x300The Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Thursday, resolved not to be part of the forthcoming National Conference proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan, saying that it had been programmed to project the president’s re-election bid.


The elders, who met in Abuja to review the state of the nation, also decried the seeming inability of the Federal Government to tackle the escalating level of terrorism in the North, which they noted, had caused a lot of havoc and dislocation in the region.


Speaking with journalists, NEF Deputy Leader, Dr. Paul Unongo, made it clear that although the North was part of the agitation for a Sovereign National Conference, it became wary of a hidden agenda when the government suddenly opted to organize one with a premeditated agenda that could cause more confusion rather than provide solutions to the nation’s challenges.


Unongo pointed out that the impending conference would not be able to solve any problem for Nigeria because most of the delegates were selected by the president instead of allowing Nigerians to elect their delegates to the conference as proposed by the Senator Femi Okurounmu-led Presidential Committee on National Dialogue.


Unongo pointed out: “What they are going to do is not a national conference but a Jonathan conference because almost all the delegates were selected by him and his friends instead of an open election that was adopted for the previous exercises even during the military era.


“This is not fair. The manner of selecting only the friends and associates of the President for the conference does not represent the generality of Nigerians and we cannot be part of such a sham”, the former minister said.


While commiserating with the government over the killings in the North, Unongo called on the present administration to take whatever steps necessary to flush the terrorists, whom he said did not represent any religion in the country, as claimed by some ignorant persons.



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Al-MakuraThe Nasarawa State House of Assembly on Thursday distanced itself from any plans to impeach Governor Tanko Al-Makura and advised the public to disregard rumors of the purported impeachment moves.


The Speaker of the House, Alhaji Musa Ahmed, gave the advice while reacting to the impeachment speculation in a chat with newsmen in Keffi.


He also denied reports in a section of the media that the Assembly has been holding nocturnal meetings with President Goodluck Jonathan or any other person over the impeachment plot.


“I want to make it clear that the Assembly had not in any quarter discuss with any person, even President Gooluck Jonathan, that the House will impeach Governor Al-Makura.


“The House must have a reason if it must impeach the governor. What is the reason? Can those who carry such false rumours come out and prove their allegation on such impeachment? People should stop that rumour mongering


“Such acts are capable of causing disharmony, disaffection, disunity as well as slow down the rate of the progress of the state and the country at large.


“The House did not hold any discussion with President Jonathan or with any other person in the country to impeach Governor Tanko Al-Makura”, the Speaker stressed.



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Gabriel-SuswamA man suspected to be a Boko Haram kingpin on a mission to unleash terror in Benue State has been nabbed by men of the state police command in Makurdi.


A statement signed on Thursday by the special adviser to Governor Gabriel Suswam on media, Dr Cletus Akwaya, said the suspected terrorist was arrested on Tuesday.


It stated that “the Boko Haram agent (name withheld), a Fulani, who hails from Taraba State, was arrested by the police at the Kanshio area of Makurdi following a tip-off.


“The Police Command disclosed that the Boko Haram suspect was found with six blank cheques with the total value said to be in millions of naira. Also found on him were copies of maps of some parts of Benue State especially Makurdi, the state capital.


“The detailed description of the targets were contained in an exercise book which was found on the suspect. Some of the places included a high-profile hotel in the Nyiman area of Makurdi as well as some major infrastructural facilities central to the economic life of the state capital”, the statement said.


It further added that the suspect was whisked away to an undisclosed location where he is being interrogated by security operatives.



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nnpc_886763518The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has decried what it termed as an orchestrated campaign of calumny to tarnish its image by some unscrupulous elements.


This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by Dr Omar Ibrahim, Acting Group General Manager, NNPC Group Public Affairs Division.


The statement cited the deliberate misrepresentation of the presentation made by the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) before the Rep. Muraina Ajibola-led Joint House Committee probing the Berne Declaration Report.


It stated that the report was an example of the well-orchestrated negative campaign targeted at the corporation.


“Some of the reports had sensational headlines alleging that NEITI had uncovered fresh unremitted $22.8 billion oil revenue by the NNPC.


“However, the body of the story was totally different from the headlines in terms of message and content”, it said.


It said after a careful perusal of the original presentation made by the NEITI Executive Secretary, Hajiya Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, it discovered that the sensational headlines were mere inventions.


According to the statement, this is a calculated attempt to cast aspersion on the image of the corporation and heat up the polity.


“We wish to state that there is nothing farther from the truth. NNPC has a copy of the presentation made by Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, Executive Secretary of NEITI.


“And nowhere did she allege that NNPC failed to remit $22.8 billion to the Federation Account.


“We are convinced that there is a conspiracy by some groups or individuals to drag down the name of the corporation by whatever means possible”, It said.


It said that despite the obvious negative campaign against the corporation, the management of the NNPC under the leadership of Engr. Andrew Yakubu remains undaunted and determined to achieve its mandate.



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Murtala-Nyako-and-leader-of-the-DHQGovernor Murtala Nyako has called on the Federal Government and military authorities to expose the source of weapons being used by members of the Boko Haram sect to unleash terror on the land, saying Nigerians want to know.


He was reacting to the sects’ attack on Wednesday night in Madagli and Michika local government areas of Adamawa State, which left no fewer than 33 people dead, according to reports.


Nyako further lampooned the Federal Government for failing to foil an attack on a secondary school in Buni-Yadi, Yobe State, even though other schools in the state had been attacked previously, leading to the avoidable death of many students.


The governor added that the emergency rule clamped on the state and two northeastern states of Borno and Yobe had been totally defeated.


He also said that the frequent Boko Haram attacks on innocent civilians has ridiculed President Goodluck Jonathan’s claim of success in the fight against the insurgents.


“Enough Is Enough”, Governor Nyako said, stressing that the Boko Haram crisis is getting out of hand and needs new measures to tackle.


Nyako, who was visibly concerned by what he called the insincerity of the federal government in its fight against the insurgency, said: “There is no excuse whatsoever. We want to know more from the authorities.


“By now, the authorities should be able to know what is happening. We should be able to know where these arms are manufactured and even the signatures of the weapons. We ought to know who ordered them, who paid for them, how they came into the country. Where were they shipped? Which port in Nigeria did they arrive, who cleared them?”


To press home his point further, Nyako, a former Chief of Naval Staff, said it still beats his imagination that security checkpoints and roadblocks are springing forth in every nook and cranny of the nation, conducting stop-and-search but somehow, the insurgents managed to get their weapons transported across the nation.


He stated: “President, vice president, governors and the military are the only groups that pass checkpoints without being checked, and which of the two groups is conveying those arms to the scene of these actions we want to know.


“The other aspect is that the army withdrew from the checkpoint before the attack on Yadi-Buni. Who ordered the withdrawal? We also have a case where General Shuwa was killed by so-called Boko Haram. There were army units there but they didn’t respond during the incident. Who told them not to respond when Shuwa was being attacked?


“The Air Force base was being raided; there was a unit of army nearby; who gave them order not to respond until all the aircraft were destroyed?


“These are questions that need answers. So, either this thing is controlled by unknown fellows or unknown Boko Haram strategic commanders in the defence system, or stage-managed. We have reached a point to come out and tell them our displeasure over the way the situation is escalating”.



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DHQThe Defence Headquarters on Thursday said that the military has launched a “Specialised Campaign” to combat insurgents in the northeastern part of the country.


The campaign is being carried out simultaneously in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states – three states which are under state of emergency to curb the Boko Haram insurgency – to apprehend the terrorists and ensure that they do not escape out of Nigeria.


Also, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that troops killed six Boko Haram fighters and captured two others after attacking Michika in Adamawa State on Wednesday.


One soldier and three civilians died in the encounter with the sect’s fighters.


Defence Headquarters (DHQ) spokesperson, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade spoke in Abuja.


Gen. Olukolade said: “The purpose of this briefing is to intimate you with the elevation of counter-terrorism campaign in the country.


“The new approach marks another phase in the operations designed to further contain the terrorists and their activities.


“The specialised campaign, which has commenced, is being undertaken simultaneously in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states. This operation is also in furtherance of efforts at apprehending the terrorists and ensuring they do not escape out of Nigeria as they are now so desperate to do”.


On the recent massacre of scores of students of the Federal Government College Buni-Yadi, Gujba LGA of Yobe State, Olukolade said, “The Defence Headquarters acknowledges with grave concern the recent mindless killing of innocent school children and other citizens in towns and villages following terrorist activities in some parts of the Northeast.


“The dastardly act has expectedly attracted the reaction of well-meaning individuals who have been condemning the senseless bloodletting.


“Disturbing as this trend proves, the fact remains that the chilling episodes are simply typical of terrorists’ intention to intimidate the people into subscribing to their false claim to invincibility.


“This distressing situation notwithstanding, it must be pointed out that the current activities of the terrorist groups are actually at best a reaction to the renewed offensive against the terror outfit whose operatives had infiltrated the country to support their hitherto depleted membership and counterparts in their daring acts to reinvent relevance by embarking on renewed attacks on soft targets”.


He also gave an insight into the sect’s attack on Michika on Wednesday night.


He said: “Unfortunately, however, they have in the course of their flight towards various borders, continued to perpetrate mayhem as noticed in some parts of Adamawa State yesterday night where they attacked communities.


“In desperation for money and food, they looted and burnt banks, shops and filling stations along their way through Michika as they headed for Cameroon border.


“Six of their fighters were killed, two captured while nine of their vehicles were destroyed. One soldier and three civilians also died in the encounter.


“It is believed that those involved in this latest attacks are the elements that perpetrated the mayhem against students of Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Yobe State and other places.


“They have been holed up and are still engaged in suicidal fighting, apparently with a view to attaining martyrdom status, as troops close in on the die-hard ones among them”.


The Defence spokesperson pleaded with Nigerians in insurgency prone areas to report suspicious movements to security agencies.


He said: “Citizens in these states, particularly towards border areas, are requested to assist the security forces by reporting any movement of the group, if noticed in their locality, as it would further enhance the operations as well as assist in apprehending or eliminating them. All things being equal, the activities of this murderous group will be further degraded towards total elimination shortly.


“Citizens are enjoined to show understanding of the situation and continue to cooperate with the security forces, especially with vital and timely information on the movements of these terrorists to enable quick response accordingly”.



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Atiku AbubakarFormer Vice President Atiku Abubakar has denounced the centenary anniversary celebrations going on in Abuja, describing it as ‘inappropriate’.


Atiku was reacting to the decision of the Federal Government to go ahead with the celebrations despite the recent massacre of over 29 students in Yobe.


He, however, congratulated Nigerians and President Goodluck Jonathan on the occasion of 100years of the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates.


In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Atiku said: “I’m appalled by this obscenity showing on NTA in the name of Centenary Celebration. It is inappropriate!


“I’m proud of our history over the last 100 years. I congratulate our President and Nigerians for this journey so far.


“However, I totally denounce the party currently happening in Abuja. It is a symbolic dance on the graves of those murdered FGC children. It’s a slap on the faces of those FGC parents currently mourning their children, and those crying over their abducted children”.



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The Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has accused the state Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, of masterminding the kidnap of the Chairman of the party in Port Harcourt Local Government Area, Mr. Ikechi Chinda, a former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Chinyere Igwe and Mr. Allwell Ihunda.







The state Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Felix Obuah, said the three members of the party were abducted by unidentified gunmen at about 8pm on Wednesday around Eagle Island axis of Port Harcourt.



Obuah, who spoke with newsmen at the state PDP secretariat on Thursday, alleged that Amaechi and the All Progressives Congress-led government were responsible for the kidnap of the party members.



He expressed surprise that the governor was playing politics with the security of lives and property and branding his political opponents his worst enemies.



Obuah said, “After a very careful examination of the circumstances surrounding the abduction of our party leaders, the party believes that the abduction was masterminded by Amaechi and the APC-led government in the state.



In her response, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, described the PDP as insensitive for playing politics with the lives of their members.



Semenitari said the state government condemned the abduction of three members of the PDP and appealed to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tunde Ogunsakin, to ensure the release of the victims and arrest of those behind the act.



Reacting to the abduction of the three PDP members, the state Commissioner of Police said the State Police Command was aware of the incident and was working round the clock to ensure the release of the victims and arrest of those behind the act.



(Punch)



via nigerianeye






Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako is a bitter man. He was angry yesterday on the devastating Boko Haram attacks on defenceless people in the Northeast.



He criticised the activities of securitymen deployed in the states under a state of emergency and called for more proactive measures to stem the tide.







Nyako, a Rear Admiral, said the frustrated people might take to the streets in demonstration.



The governor wondered why soldiers were late in arriving at scenes of incidents.



He said: “In Buni-Yadi, Yobe State, the soldiers withdrew from checkpoint hours to the attack. Who ordered the withdrawal? In Shuwa and Michika, soldiers withdrew, shortly after that Boko Haram attacked, who ordered the withdrawals”?



“We also have the case of Gen. Mohammed Shuwa (who was killed) in Maiduguri by the so-called Boko Haram. There is an army unit there, but they didn’t respond during the attack. Who told them not to respond?



“The Air Force base was raided in Maiduguri. There was a military base nearby; who gave the base the order not to respond during the raid on the Air Force base?



“Either this thing is controlled by unknown fellows or unknown Boko Haram strategic commander is in the defence system or are things being stage-managed?”



via nigerianeye






The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission on Thursday told the Senate that the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation were too sophisticated for it to investigate.





The anti-graft commission said it would require the services of financial experts to investigate the government oil corporation’s accounts.



“The account of NNPC is so sophisticated that it would require hiring financial experts to study it for needed investigation, the cost of which however cannot be afforded by us due to underfunding, ” chief executive of the ICPC, Prof. Olu Aina, said while defending the commission’s budget before the Senate committee in charge of the nation’s anti-graft agencies.



Aina said the ICPC had refrained from investigating the NNPC accounts over the years because doing so was beyond its capacity.



The oil corporation has always been at the centre of suspicious management of funds derivable from the nation’s oil wealth, including a recent allegation of the suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi that the corporation failed to remit $20bn oil money to the Federation Account.



Meanwhile, ICPC’s sister outfit, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said it was awaiting the report of the on-going probe of the alleged missing oil funds by the Senate before beaming its searchlight on the NNPC accounts.



Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, told the senators during the defence of his agency’s 2014 budget that the issue relating to the alleged NNPC missing oil revenue was already being investigated by the National Assembly and that his agency would have to wait for the report of the investigation.



Lamorde explained that his agency commenced the fuel subsidy investigation and charged many people to court after the National Assembly had concluded and forwarded its report to his office.



He said, “For every investigation, once the National Assembly is on it we have to wait until they conclude.



“We can’t just jump into something that is still being investigated by the National Assembly. It would be a mob kind of thing. There must be a sequence of events that would lead us to taking decision.



“Let the hearing of the National Assembly be concluded. Normally when it is concluded it is forwarded to us for investigation. I think people are in a hurry. We know that is what people want to hear but we don’t do investigation based on media reports.



“When we are ready to charge the individuals to court we would do so. But when the investigation is going on let it be concluded. Otherwise we will jump into a market place situation where everybody is shouting at the same time.



“Law enforcement investigation is not like that. It’s supposed to be systematic and you work towards getting evidence to sustain your case if eventually you go to court. You can’t just go to court based on assumptions.”



Lamorde explained that his officers had gone very far with some of its investigations on oil subsidy and that “very soon when we are ready you will see us in court.”



He noted that various figures emerged when the oil subsidy controversy started and that his agency was faced with about three figures.



He said, “One figure would emerge today, it would change to another figure tomorrow and we will arrive at another figure the next day. Now we have settled more or less on $20 bn.



“The Minister of Finance said that they wanted to commission an audit firm to do a forensic auditing of the finances of the NNPC. You need a professional firm to handle this. This is not a common investigation.”



via nigerianeye




Three of President Goodluck Jonathan’s successors-ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo; ex-Heads of State, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida – as well as President of the Senate, David Mark, were on Thursday absent from the country’s centenary being held in Abuja.





They did not attend the international conference held as part of activities marking the centenary, which was attended by about 30 heads of governments and international organisations.



But another three former leaders, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Chief Ernest Shonekan, as well as ex-Vice President Alex Ekwueme and a former Chief of General Staff, Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya (retd.) attended the event.



The conference tagged, “Human Security, Peace and Development: Agenda for 21st Century Africa” was held under tight security at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.



Other dignitaries in attendance included the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha; state governors; security chiefs; former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu; the chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih; members of the diplomatic corps, members of the National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council and other top government officials.



The heads of governments in their goodwill messages commiserated with the Federal Government and Nigerians on the Tuesday killing of schoolchildren in the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Yobe State.



They urged Nigerians to unite against terrorists, saying no nation could develop in an atmosphere of violence.



Meanwhile, civil servants and other workers with offices located on Herbert Macaulay Way, Central Business District Abuja, the same neighbourhood with the venue of the event had difficulties accessing their offices on Thursday because of the tight security.



Many of them were forced to park away and trek to their offices as traffic was diverted.



Armed security operatives were deployed at strategic points in the area.



via nigerianeye

Yobe-School.jpgThe Youth Wing, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has condemned the recent massacre of scores of students in Yobe State and called for proactive measures to put an end to such attacks.


The National President, Pastor Simon Dolly, said in Abuja Thursday that government should urgently address the situation before it spins out of control.


According to him, the killings in the country are becoming too frequent, urging government to redouble its security efforts in the troubled states.


“This is very unfortunate and very barbaric, how can people go and be killing innocent students?


“If the killing continues in this country, it may lead to a lot of crisis”, Dolly said.


He said peace was essential for any meaningful development in any country.


Dolly said more needed to be done in terms of protecting lives and property as well as ensuring that no more lives were lost to the insurgents’ attacks.


“The Federal Government should do something fast before it is too late; this should include beefing up its security measures in those affected states”, he urged.


It would be recalled that no fewer than 29 students were killed in their sleep when suspected Boko Haram gunmen attacked the Federal Government College Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government of Yobe.



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Last Tuesday it was Yobe State where 59 schoolchildren were massacred. On Wednesday, the bloodletting extended to Adamawa State where Boko Haram terrorists, armed with rocket-propelled grenades nearly sacked four communities.







An official death toll in the attacks was not available as of 9.40pm on Thursday. But the British Broadcasting Corporation Hausa Service put it at 37 while the Agence France Presse reported 33.



Banks, shops, part of a local government secretariat and houses were reported to have been looted and burnt during the six-hour simultenous raids on the three communities – Michika, Gulak , Shuwa and Krichinga – by the militants.



It was gathered that in Shuwa, Madagali Local Government Area, a repeat of the Yobe massacre was averted when the insurgents attacked the Christians Teacher College, Christian Secondary School and a Catholic Convent.



A resident told The PUNCH that the head of the Christian Secondary School, on hearing gunshots in the community, advised his pupils to run into nearby bushes to avoid being killed by the terrorists.



The resident, who declined to give his name, added that when the hoodlums eventually arrived and saw the school deserted, they burnt down almost all the structures on the premises.



He however did not say if all the pupils came out of the bushes unhurt since the incident took place at night.



A pastor in Shuwa told the AFP that soldiers retreated when the armed insurgents invaded the community.



“When the soldiers at the military checkpoints saw the number of the attackers, they retreated into the nearby bushes as the gunmen operated without challenge during the operation that lasted throughout the night,” the cleric said.



It was also gathered that among the over 20 persons killed in Shuwa, was a priest at St. Augustine Catholic Church.



The home of a former commissioner in the state, Idris Nuhu, was among those burnt in the community.



In Michika, Michika LGA, another group of Boko Haram gunmen burnt three banks, a police station, part of the Michika LGA secretariat and shops.



A resident, who identified himself simply as Fide, told the News Agency of Nigeria, that the attackers, who arrived in nine vans firing guns and throwing explosives, killed a banker and a villager.



Fide said, “They burnt three banks, a police station, shops and part of the Michika LGA secretariat.



“One of the dead body is that of a member of staff of the Bank of Agriculture.”



Some other residents of Michika said they slept in the hills and nearby bushes during the mayhem that lasted for about five hours.



The BBC Hausa Service quoted witnesses as saying that some of those killed in Michika and Shuwa either had gunshot wounds or had their throats slit.



The Chairman of the Michika LGA, Ulama Maina, confirmed to journalists that banks, police station, shops and some houses were torched.



Maina however did not give the casualty figure.



The spokesman for the 23rd Armoured Brigade, Yola, Capt. Ja’afaru Nuhu, who also confirmed that communities in Madagali and Michika LGAs were attacked, told NAN that details of the incident would be released at a later stage.



Grace Hassan, an indigene of Michika, told The Punch that the attacks that started at about 8pm lasted till 2am, adding that information at her disposal indicated that the mayhem sent fears into the hearts of residents of Lassa, a neighbouring town in Borno State.



According to her, the residents of the community fled into the bushes to avoid being killed.



A resident of Lassa, Peter Satumari, said many of them fled their homes into the bushes when the sound of gunshots and explosives were becoming unbearable.



Satumari said, “No one could sleep because of the sound of gunshots which we thought were being fired from our village. We had to run into the bushes believing they might come to attack our houses.



“It was later on Thursday morning that we saw smoke billowing from afar and got to know there were attacks in Shuwa, Gulak and Michika, all in Adamawa State.”



It was also gathered that the sect attacked Krichinga, a village about five kilometres east of Shuwa. There, four people lost their lives and many were injured.



A furious governor of the state Gov. Murtala Nyako suggested there must be collusion with the Boko Haram terrorist network.



Nyako, a former navy chief of staff, said the attacks ridiculed President Goodluck Jonathan’s insistence that the military was winning the war against Islamic militants.



When Borno state Governor Kashim Shettima claimed that Boko Haram fighters were “better armed and better motivated,” than the troops fighting them, Jonathan upbraided him.



The Defence Headquarters has however launched what it described as specialised campaign against the Boko Haram insurgents.



The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said during a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, that the campaign had already taken off in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states which are under emergency rule.



He explained that part of the arrangement was to pursue and prevent the insurgents from escaping from the country.



The Defence spokesman said that terrorists fleeing towards Nigeria’s borders with Cameroun had severely attacked some communities in desperation for food and money.



He said, “The purpose of this briefing is to intimate you with the elevation of counter terrorism campaign in the country. The new approach marks another phase in the operations designed to further contain the terrorists and their activities.



“The specialised campaign which has commenced is being undertaken simultaneously in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa states. This operation is also in furtherance of efforts at apprehending the terrorists and ensuring they do not escape out of Nigeria as they are now desperate to do.



“Unfortunately, however, they have in the course of their flight towards various borders, continued to perpetrate mayhem as noticed in some parts of Adamawa State yesterday (Wednesday), where they attacked communities.



“In desperation for money and food, they looted and burnt banks, shops and filling stations along their way through Michika as they headed for the Camerounian border.”



Olukolade said that three civilians and a soldier were killed in the attacks on the Adamawa communities while six insurgents were gunned down and two captured alive.



He said that the DHQ believed that the insurgents who attacked the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi in Yobe State were the same people behind the Michika onslaught.



via nigerianeye

GEJ3A group known as the Supreme Igbo Security Council on Thursday said it would support President Goodluck Jonathan’s aspiration for a second term in office if he indicated his interest.


The President of the council, Mr Bobby Ukadike, made the declaration while addressing reporters in Abuja.


He said that the North and South have had their shot at the highest office in the land, therefore, they should allow other parts of the country to be given a chance to lead as well.


Ukadike said that in spite of many challenges ravaging the polity, Jonathan had delivered dividends of democracy to the citizens of the country.


“It is not the turn of the North or the South to rule Nigeria now; President Jonathan should be allowed to have his second term in office.


“It is the turn of the Ndigbo to produce the next president of Nigeria immediately after President Jonathan’s second term in office”, he said.


Ukadike noted that the Igbos were an integral part of the country, adding that office of the president was not a monopoly of any of the regions of the country.


He also appealed to the leadership of the Boko Haram sect to stop the bloodshed and embrace the option of dialogue proposed by the Federal Government.


He said that the appeal became necessary for the restoration of peace, especially in the North eastern of the country.



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