Nigerian Military Kill 11 Boko Haram Militants At Cameroon Border, Nab Foreign Arms Dealer

The Nigerian military on Thursday killed 11 suspected Boko Haram fighters on the Cameroon border in Adamawa state.

Some suspect Boko Haram members paraded by the army

The sect fighters, according to spokesman Major General Chris Olukolade in a statement, were forced out of their hideout in the forest by hunger.

He said the group of terrorists attempting to escape into Cameroon through Taraba and Gumti in Adamawa State, came under heavy fire from troops on patrol of the area in the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign. He explained that they had been trapped as a result of ongoing offensive by troops along the borders and were given out when some of them could no longer bear the hunger in their make shift camps.

“Those who were apprehended led troops to other hideouts where fierce fighting ensued,” the statement said. “Seven terrorists died, while a large number of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and rifles were recovered including over seventy motorcycles. Similar encounter in Gombi also led to the death of 4 other terrorists.”

General Olukolade further stated that sustained patrols and searches by the Multi National Joint Task Force led to the arrest of more terrorists, including a heavily-armed suspect who is claiming dual nationalities of Chad and Burkina-Faso.

“He was arrested with different caliber of arms and ammunitions along the Chad borders and is currently helping in ongoing investigation by the Special Forces. Patrols are still ongoing around the Lake Chad including Kwatan, Kanwa, Kwatan Yobe and other Islands.”

Nigerian Military Kill 11 Boko Haram Militants At Cameroon Border, Nab Foreign Arms Dealer

Posted by Sylvester No comments

The Nigerian military on Thursday killed 11 suspected Boko Haram fighters on the Cameroon border in Adamawa state.

Some suspect Boko Haram members paraded by the army

The sect fighters, according to spokesman Major General Chris Olukolade in a statement, were forced out of their hideout in the forest by hunger.

He said the group of terrorists attempting to escape into Cameroon through Taraba and Gumti in Adamawa State, came under heavy fire from troops on patrol of the area in the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign. He explained that they had been trapped as a result of ongoing offensive by troops along the borders and were given out when some of them could no longer bear the hunger in their make shift camps.

“Those who were apprehended led troops to other hideouts where fierce fighting ensued,” the statement said. “Seven terrorists died, while a large number of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and rifles were recovered including over seventy motorcycles. Similar encounter in Gombi also led to the death of 4 other terrorists.”

General Olukolade further stated that sustained patrols and searches by the Multi National Joint Task Force led to the arrest of more terrorists, including a heavily-armed suspect who is claiming dual nationalities of Chad and Burkina-Faso.

“He was arrested with different caliber of arms and ammunitions along the Chad borders and is currently helping in ongoing investigation by the Special Forces. Patrols are still ongoing around the Lake Chad including Kwatan, Kanwa, Kwatan Yobe and other Islands.”

MTN Lifts Lagos Public Schools With N10m

The MTN Foundation has presented furniture, books, mathematical sets as well as raincoats valued at N10m to two schools in Lagos State.

The benefitting schools are the Oriwu Model Junior/Senior College and the Oreyo Junior/Senior Grammar School, both in Ikorodu council area of the state.

The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, who received the items on behalf of the state government, hailed the foundation for the gesture.

She, therefore, urged the pupils and their teachers to make judicious use of the facilities and books. Oladunjoye noted that the government could not do it alone hence; it needed the support of corporate organisations as well as individuals.

MTN Lifts Lagos Public Schools With N10m

Posted by Sylvester No comments

The MTN Foundation has presented furniture, books, mathematical sets as well as raincoats valued at N10m to two schools in Lagos State.

The benefitting schools are the Oriwu Model Junior/Senior College and the Oreyo Junior/Senior Grammar School, both in Ikorodu council area of the state.

The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, who received the items on behalf of the state government, hailed the foundation for the gesture.

She, therefore, urged the pupils and their teachers to make judicious use of the facilities and books. Oladunjoye noted that the government could not do it alone hence; it needed the support of corporate organisations as well as individuals.

AAU: Part-Time Degree Programmes to Starts Screening Exercise for 2013/2014

This is to inform all those who applied for admission into Part-Time Degree programmes of the Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma that the Vice-Chancellor has approved their Screening Exercise which will be held between 1st April to 8th April, 2014 at the Directorate of Part-Time Degree Programmes, Emuado Annex.

Time: 9am to 4.00pm daily as follows:
Day I: Tuesday, 1st April, 2014
- Accounting

Day II: Wednesday, 2nd April, 2014
- Banking /Finance
- English
- Economics

Day III: Thursday, 3rd April, 2014
- Business Administration (For those whose surname starts with letter A-I)

Day IV: Friday, 4th April, 2014
- Business Administration (For those whose surname starts with letter J-Z)

Day V: Saturday, 5th April, 2014
- Public Administration (For those whose surname starts with letter A-I)

Day VI: Monday, 7th April, 2014
- Public Administration (For those whose surname starts with letter J-Z)

Day VII: Tuesday, 8th April, 2014
- Computer Science

Requirements for the Screening

Every candidate is expected to come along with the following documents into the screening venue.
Original/Photocopies of relevant certificate(s), as statement of results will not be entertained for those whose certificates are ready for collection.

Prof.F.E. Iyhoa

Director, DPTD

AAU: Part-Time Degree Programmes to Starts Screening Exercise for 2013/2014

Posted by Sylvester No comments

This is to inform all those who applied for admission into Part-Time Degree programmes of the Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma that the Vice-Chancellor has approved their Screening Exercise which will be held between 1st April to 8th April, 2014 at the Directorate of Part-Time Degree Programmes, Emuado Annex.

Time: 9am to 4.00pm daily as follows:
Day I: Tuesday, 1st April, 2014
- Accounting

Day II: Wednesday, 2nd April, 2014
- Banking /Finance
- English
- Economics

Day III: Thursday, 3rd April, 2014
- Business Administration (For those whose surname starts with letter A-I)

Day IV: Friday, 4th April, 2014
- Business Administration (For those whose surname starts with letter J-Z)

Day V: Saturday, 5th April, 2014
- Public Administration (For those whose surname starts with letter A-I)

Day VI: Monday, 7th April, 2014
- Public Administration (For those whose surname starts with letter J-Z)

Day VII: Tuesday, 8th April, 2014
- Computer Science

Requirements for the Screening

Every candidate is expected to come along with the following documents into the screening venue.
Original/Photocopies of relevant certificate(s), as statement of results will not be entertained for those whose certificates are ready for collection.

Prof.F.E. Iyhoa

Director, DPTD

UNN:Jonathan’s aide Urges Institutions to Emulate UNN

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Students Matters, Jude Imagwe, has called on other Universities to emulate University of Nigeria Nsukka in terms of development.

Mr Imagwe who made the statement while inaugurating the schools newly elected SUG executives.

The SSA , who was conducted round several projects at the university campus by new executives, noted that Nigerian students deserved to learn under conducive environment.

UNN:Jonathan’s aide Urges Institutions to Emulate UNN

Posted by Sylvester No comments

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Students Matters, Jude Imagwe, has called on other Universities to emulate University of Nigeria Nsukka in terms of development.

Mr Imagwe who made the statement while inaugurating the schools newly elected SUG executives.

The SSA , who was conducted round several projects at the university campus by new executives, noted that Nigerian students deserved to learn under conducive environment.

UNIUYO PG Admission list for 2013/2014 is out

The under listed candidates have been offered provisional admission in programmes of the Postgraduate School for the 2013/2014 academic session: Download list in PDF format.

DOWNLOAD HERE

N/B: CANDIDATES ARE TO PAY ACCEPTANCE FEE OF N20, 000.00 AT ANY OF THE FOLLOWING BANKS :-
WEMA BANK, AKA ROAD, UYO
UNIUYO MICROFINANCE BANK

UNIUYO PG Admission list for 2013/2014 is out

Posted by Sylvester No comments

The under listed candidates have been offered provisional admission in programmes of the Postgraduate School for the 2013/2014 academic session: Download list in PDF format.

DOWNLOAD HERE

N/B: CANDIDATES ARE TO PAY ACCEPTANCE FEE OF N20, 000.00 AT ANY OF THE FOLLOWING BANKS :-
WEMA BANK, AKA ROAD, UYO
UNIUYO MICROFINANCE BANK

Idah Poly: Bursar Kidnapped

The Bursar of the Federal Polytechnic, Idah is said to have been kidnapped from his residence.

The junior brother to the Bursar is also said to have been killed; after his struggles and plea to have his brother released.

The kidnappers are yet to be Identified while investigation continues.

Idah Poly: Bursar Kidnapped

Posted by Sylvester No comments

The Bursar of the Federal Polytechnic, Idah is said to have been kidnapped from his residence.

The junior brother to the Bursar is also said to have been killed; after his struggles and plea to have his brother released.

The kidnappers are yet to be Identified while investigation continues.

LAUTECH Extends Sales of Forms for Postgraduate Programmes

The Postgraduate School Board at its meeting agreed to extend the sales of application forms for

postgraduate programmes for four (4) weeks with effect from Wednesday, March 26,2014 to Wednesday, April 23,2014. The Board decided that in order to not create a gap that could lead to any breach, the extension has commenced immediately, at same fee and for four (4) weeks only.

LAUTECH Extends Sales of Forms for Postgraduate Programmes

Posted by Sylvester No comments

The Postgraduate School Board at its meeting agreed to extend the sales of application forms for

postgraduate programmes for four (4) weeks with effect from Wednesday, March 26,2014 to Wednesday, April 23,2014. The Board decided that in order to not create a gap that could lead to any breach, the extension has commenced immediately, at same fee and for four (4) weeks only.

Tiv People Oppose Grazing Land For Fulani Herdsmen On Homeland

Troubling times are here in Nigeria. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina announced on Wednesday, March 25, 2014 a decision of the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by the Vice-President, Namadi Sambo: Due to incessant clashes between nomadic Fulani cattle herders and farmers, the Federal Government of Nigeria has decided to set up a committee to work out modalities for establishing grazing reserves “across Nigeria.” Let me state here what the Minister cited as advantages of the grazing reserves; I would add my commentary to each “advantage” cited:

1. He said that grazing reserves would help to check the smuggling of arms and ammunition across Nigerian borders by foreigners who come into the country disguised as cattle grazers.

COMMENTARY: It makes no sense to think that a purely immigration problem can be solved by an internal creation of grazing reserves. In comparative narrative, I see no rational nexus between stopping smuggling in of cocaine and creation of internal cocaine colonies across the country. Don’t you think establishment of such cocaine colonies would rather instigate more smuggling of the substance? This comparison pointedly illustrates what the government is trying to do. Setting up of grazing reserves “across the country” is certainly not the solution for arms and ammunition smuggling across our borders; it is securing of our borders that will do. If the leadership of immigration and other relevant security agencies has failed to stop smuggling and illegal entrance across our borders then the President should consider a change of leadership. It is outright stupidity to consider removing a rash on the hand by cutting off the hand. The establishment of grazing reserves, which would require taking away of land from indigenous communities, would create more bloody baths across Nigeria. Any government that has failed to secure the borders of a sovereign nation it is mandated to defend is irresponsible.

President Jonathan’s government has established a familiar pattern of handling problems—running away from the obvious solution. For example, it considers complete removal of fuel subsidy as the solution to the abuse of fuel subsidy funds. The government lacks the courage to punish offenders that it refers to as a “cabal”, and has instead decided to punish hapless Nigerians because, in its estimation, they cannot bite. I must warn though, that we the Tiv people will bite. We will not allow grazing reserves for Fulani cattle herders on any inch of Tiv land. Our forebears got us this land as far back as the 18th century AD when there was no Nigeria. And no Nigerian government will take it from us. Section 25 of the Nigerian Constitution provides that a Nigerian by birth must belong to a community indigenous to Nigeria, even though timelines for such inclusivity of communities “indigenous” to Nigeria have not been given (1900, 1914, or 1960?). Accordingly, every Fulani cattle herder who claims to be a Nigerian by birth (and not Chadian, Nigerien, Cameroonian, Senegalese, etc.) must find land in their state of origin (as all Nigerians by birth have them) and establish a grazing reserve there. In fact, their state governments can help them to so do. When some governors in Nigeria established “Sharia law” in their states, they claimed that was what their people wanted, and that it would be restricted to those states. In the same way, if their Fulani herdsmen need grazing reserves they should establish for them within their states and not “across Nigeria.” The federal government cannot afford throwing up crises by this foolish policy. It is historically evident that nomadic Fulanis are not indigenous to Tivalnd. A Kongo proverbs says: “Your area of influence should only affect the things that concern you, for they say, ‘The community solves community problems.’ “A word is enough for the living!

One of their Emirs, the Lamido of Adamawa, said on Thursday, March 26, 2014, on the floor of the on-going National Conference that his kingdom “extends to Cameroon”, and that he could be easily “assimilated” if he decided to go and reside there. What is the point? The Fulani people in Nigeria see nothing wrong in bringing in cattle herders from other African countries such as Cameroon, Niger, Chad, Senegal, etc., to graze in Nigeria. Establishing grazing reserves across Nigeria for Fulani cattle herders will mean the gradual take-over of land from indigenous communities in Nigeria!
2. Dr. Adesina is reported to have said that “issues such as increasing population of cattle, coupled with influx of foreign cattle from Nigeria’s neighboring countries as well as urbanization, resource degradation, were behind the need for the new government policy.” He said, “We have a rising population of livestock, not only in Nigeria but also from our neighboring countries. A lot of animals are coming in from Chad and several other places leading to a large population that our current capacity cannot cope with.”

COMMENTARY: This statement is one of the most unimaginable statements by a government official on the issue so far. So, Nigeria has decided to make herself the grazing reserves for cattle from other African countries because we are the “Big brother”? This statement is a clear evidence that government is not interested in controlling our borders, at least the northern borders, which have been left porous without security. Tiv people are opposed to their land being used as grazing reserves for Fulani cattle.

We are traditionally farmers. We used to move from place-to-place to farm. But the realities of population increase and competition for land have forced us to adopt modern ways of farming. Should Tiv people also insist that the federal government provide “farming reserves” for Tiv farmers “across Nigeria” in order to stop Tiv people slaughtering and butchering the natives who resist us? Should the Ijaw nomadic fisherman also be provided, through government executive or administrative action, “fishing ground reserves” “across Nigeria” so that they can practice their traditional business of fishing? Should the Igbo trader be provided by the Nigerian government “shopping reserves” “across Nigeria” so that they will do their business? There is always a bigger problem that is created by a “solution” that is not though through.

The Inspector General of Police, himself a Fulani man, spoke in a highly provocative manner few days ago about the slaughter of the Tiv people on their ancestral land by his Fulani brethren. He also said there must be grazing reserves and revival of “grazing routes” for his brethren’s cattle before the attacks on Tiv people and other Nigerian natives would end. In fact, he is so proud of “providing security” for the Tiv people in “their huts and bush houses” that he is relaxed about my people being butchered in spite in those “huts and bush houses” that he “has provided security” for since when the attacks started “ten days ago.” I ask President Jonathan to call this man to order. Tiv people have lost confidence in his ability to help secure Tivland even as the Nigerian Constitution does not allow us to establish our state or community police even though we have the ability and resources to.

We the Tiv people are concerned that the Inspector General of Police, Minister of Defense and National Security Adviser are all traditionally linked to the Fulani herdsmen who attack Tiv people and other Nigerians at will while they stand by with pretentious efforts that have not calmed down the situation. The Benue Commissioner of Police is also a Fulani man; and the murder of Tiv people on their land is going on unabated. I demand, for a start, that the Benue State Commissioner of police should be replaced with a Benue State citizen. We need to be realistic about issues of policing such as community policing, and at least the Commissioner of Police in every state should be an indigene of such states. Here is the emerging scenario: Fulani herdsmen attack host communities in Nigeria on their ancestral home, dislodging whole communities, and then the Inspector General of Police lends his voice in support of establishing grazing reserves across Nigeria. Not long after, the National Economic Council under the leadership of the Vice President, also of the same cultural affinity with the aggressors, sets up a committee to work out modalities for establishing grazing reserves “across Nigeria” through an executive action that would be unconstitutional.

Section 42 (1) (b) of the Nigerian Constitution states that: “A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person—

Be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions.”

If Nigeria is a country of laws; if there is any reason in the corridors of power; and if the Nigerian government does not want to be an accomplish in the pogrom of inestimable proportion that will certainly result from its irrational knee-jerk approach to solving the Fulani aggression and assault on innocent Nigerians, then, the committee that has been set up by government to consider “modalities for establishing grazing reserves across Nigeria” should be quietly stepped down. Such a contemplation is contrary to the constitutional provision cited above. Any executive or administrative action that gives any privilege or advantage to the Fulani cattle herders that is not given to the Tiv farmer, Ijaw fisherman, Igbo trader, etc., is unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect, and shall be resisted and opposed by the Tiv people and other Nigerian who feel the same about it. There would be no peace and it cannot be enforced.

It seems to me that the only way to get attention and some form of “compensation” from Nigeria is to show some capacity for violence. The Fulani herdsmen and their government officials such as the Inspector General of Police do not have the monopoly of violence. I must also warn the governor of Nasarawa state, Almakura that he must not work against but rather work toward the return of Tiv people to their ancestral lands in Awe, Doma, and Keana local governments. It is his responsibility to facilitate the peace and security of citizens of his state whom Tiv people of Nasarawa state are part of. We request adequate compensation from the federal government to re-build their destroyed settlements and other destroyed settlements in towns and villages of Benue State that have been destroyed by the Fulani invaders. I should think that the federal government should be considering re-building the destroyed homes of Tiv people, returning and securing them on their farmlands and homes, and adequate financial compensation for their losses on their ancestral homes, and not to be considering establishing grazing reserves “across Nigeria.” The aggression of the Fulanis has left thousands of Tiv people as refugees in their country. What is the federal government doing? Even a serving Tiv federal minister is technically a refugee since his ancestral home in Guma local government area has been destroyed, including the headquarters of his local government area, Gbajimba; and the federal government is only talking of seizing lands in Nigeria, including Tivland, to establish grazing reserves for the aggressors? Are we being taught now that violence pays? Can the federal government cope with the emergence of another militia group that senses injustice?

We the Tiv people will fight injustice with all we have got, especially, the type that threatens the extinction of our race. We have no other choice. The only thing that gives me an academic claim to the Nigerian nationality is my ethnic group (according to section 25 of the Nigerian Constitution).

All Tiv congress- men and -women at both state and federal levels and delegates at the National Conference must understand that their claim to Nigeria will end with the demise of their Tiv nation. This is a call to duty!

Leonard Karshima Shilgba is a Sad Nationalist (SaN)

TEL: 08055024356; Email: shilgba@yahoo.com

Tiv People Oppose Grazing Land For Fulani Herdsmen On Homeland

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Troubling times are here in Nigeria. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina announced on Wednesday, March 25, 2014 a decision of the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by the Vice-President, Namadi Sambo: Due to incessant clashes between nomadic Fulani cattle herders and farmers, the Federal Government of Nigeria has decided to set up a committee to work out modalities for establishing grazing reserves “across Nigeria.” Let me state here what the Minister cited as advantages of the grazing reserves; I would add my commentary to each “advantage” cited:

1. He said that grazing reserves would help to check the smuggling of arms and ammunition across Nigerian borders by foreigners who come into the country disguised as cattle grazers.

COMMENTARY: It makes no sense to think that a purely immigration problem can be solved by an internal creation of grazing reserves. In comparative narrative, I see no rational nexus between stopping smuggling in of cocaine and creation of internal cocaine colonies across the country. Don’t you think establishment of such cocaine colonies would rather instigate more smuggling of the substance? This comparison pointedly illustrates what the government is trying to do. Setting up of grazing reserves “across the country” is certainly not the solution for arms and ammunition smuggling across our borders; it is securing of our borders that will do. If the leadership of immigration and other relevant security agencies has failed to stop smuggling and illegal entrance across our borders then the President should consider a change of leadership. It is outright stupidity to consider removing a rash on the hand by cutting off the hand. The establishment of grazing reserves, which would require taking away of land from indigenous communities, would create more bloody baths across Nigeria. Any government that has failed to secure the borders of a sovereign nation it is mandated to defend is irresponsible.

President Jonathan’s government has established a familiar pattern of handling problems—running away from the obvious solution. For example, it considers complete removal of fuel subsidy as the solution to the abuse of fuel subsidy funds. The government lacks the courage to punish offenders that it refers to as a “cabal”, and has instead decided to punish hapless Nigerians because, in its estimation, they cannot bite. I must warn though, that we the Tiv people will bite. We will not allow grazing reserves for Fulani cattle herders on any inch of Tiv land. Our forebears got us this land as far back as the 18th century AD when there was no Nigeria. And no Nigerian government will take it from us. Section 25 of the Nigerian Constitution provides that a Nigerian by birth must belong to a community indigenous to Nigeria, even though timelines for such inclusivity of communities “indigenous” to Nigeria have not been given (1900, 1914, or 1960?). Accordingly, every Fulani cattle herder who claims to be a Nigerian by birth (and not Chadian, Nigerien, Cameroonian, Senegalese, etc.) must find land in their state of origin (as all Nigerians by birth have them) and establish a grazing reserve there. In fact, their state governments can help them to so do. When some governors in Nigeria established “Sharia law” in their states, they claimed that was what their people wanted, and that it would be restricted to those states. In the same way, if their Fulani herdsmen need grazing reserves they should establish for them within their states and not “across Nigeria.” The federal government cannot afford throwing up crises by this foolish policy. It is historically evident that nomadic Fulanis are not indigenous to Tivalnd. A Kongo proverbs says: “Your area of influence should only affect the things that concern you, for they say, ‘The community solves community problems.’ “A word is enough for the living!

One of their Emirs, the Lamido of Adamawa, said on Thursday, March 26, 2014, on the floor of the on-going National Conference that his kingdom “extends to Cameroon”, and that he could be easily “assimilated” if he decided to go and reside there. What is the point? The Fulani people in Nigeria see nothing wrong in bringing in cattle herders from other African countries such as Cameroon, Niger, Chad, Senegal, etc., to graze in Nigeria. Establishing grazing reserves across Nigeria for Fulani cattle herders will mean the gradual take-over of land from indigenous communities in Nigeria!
2. Dr. Adesina is reported to have said that “issues such as increasing population of cattle, coupled with influx of foreign cattle from Nigeria’s neighboring countries as well as urbanization, resource degradation, were behind the need for the new government policy.” He said, “We have a rising population of livestock, not only in Nigeria but also from our neighboring countries. A lot of animals are coming in from Chad and several other places leading to a large population that our current capacity cannot cope with.”

COMMENTARY: This statement is one of the most unimaginable statements by a government official on the issue so far. So, Nigeria has decided to make herself the grazing reserves for cattle from other African countries because we are the “Big brother”? This statement is a clear evidence that government is not interested in controlling our borders, at least the northern borders, which have been left porous without security. Tiv people are opposed to their land being used as grazing reserves for Fulani cattle.

We are traditionally farmers. We used to move from place-to-place to farm. But the realities of population increase and competition for land have forced us to adopt modern ways of farming. Should Tiv people also insist that the federal government provide “farming reserves” for Tiv farmers “across Nigeria” in order to stop Tiv people slaughtering and butchering the natives who resist us? Should the Ijaw nomadic fisherman also be provided, through government executive or administrative action, “fishing ground reserves” “across Nigeria” so that they can practice their traditional business of fishing? Should the Igbo trader be provided by the Nigerian government “shopping reserves” “across Nigeria” so that they will do their business? There is always a bigger problem that is created by a “solution” that is not though through.

The Inspector General of Police, himself a Fulani man, spoke in a highly provocative manner few days ago about the slaughter of the Tiv people on their ancestral land by his Fulani brethren. He also said there must be grazing reserves and revival of “grazing routes” for his brethren’s cattle before the attacks on Tiv people and other Nigerian natives would end. In fact, he is so proud of “providing security” for the Tiv people in “their huts and bush houses” that he is relaxed about my people being butchered in spite in those “huts and bush houses” that he “has provided security” for since when the attacks started “ten days ago.” I ask President Jonathan to call this man to order. Tiv people have lost confidence in his ability to help secure Tivland even as the Nigerian Constitution does not allow us to establish our state or community police even though we have the ability and resources to.

We the Tiv people are concerned that the Inspector General of Police, Minister of Defense and National Security Adviser are all traditionally linked to the Fulani herdsmen who attack Tiv people and other Nigerians at will while they stand by with pretentious efforts that have not calmed down the situation. The Benue Commissioner of Police is also a Fulani man; and the murder of Tiv people on their land is going on unabated. I demand, for a start, that the Benue State Commissioner of police should be replaced with a Benue State citizen. We need to be realistic about issues of policing such as community policing, and at least the Commissioner of Police in every state should be an indigene of such states. Here is the emerging scenario: Fulani herdsmen attack host communities in Nigeria on their ancestral home, dislodging whole communities, and then the Inspector General of Police lends his voice in support of establishing grazing reserves across Nigeria. Not long after, the National Economic Council under the leadership of the Vice President, also of the same cultural affinity with the aggressors, sets up a committee to work out modalities for establishing grazing reserves “across Nigeria” through an executive action that would be unconstitutional.

Section 42 (1) (b) of the Nigerian Constitution states that: “A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person—

Be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions.”

If Nigeria is a country of laws; if there is any reason in the corridors of power; and if the Nigerian government does not want to be an accomplish in the pogrom of inestimable proportion that will certainly result from its irrational knee-jerk approach to solving the Fulani aggression and assault on innocent Nigerians, then, the committee that has been set up by government to consider “modalities for establishing grazing reserves across Nigeria” should be quietly stepped down. Such a contemplation is contrary to the constitutional provision cited above. Any executive or administrative action that gives any privilege or advantage to the Fulani cattle herders that is not given to the Tiv farmer, Ijaw fisherman, Igbo trader, etc., is unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect, and shall be resisted and opposed by the Tiv people and other Nigerian who feel the same about it. There would be no peace and it cannot be enforced.

It seems to me that the only way to get attention and some form of “compensation” from Nigeria is to show some capacity for violence. The Fulani herdsmen and their government officials such as the Inspector General of Police do not have the monopoly of violence. I must also warn the governor of Nasarawa state, Almakura that he must not work against but rather work toward the return of Tiv people to their ancestral lands in Awe, Doma, and Keana local governments. It is his responsibility to facilitate the peace and security of citizens of his state whom Tiv people of Nasarawa state are part of. We request adequate compensation from the federal government to re-build their destroyed settlements and other destroyed settlements in towns and villages of Benue State that have been destroyed by the Fulani invaders. I should think that the federal government should be considering re-building the destroyed homes of Tiv people, returning and securing them on their farmlands and homes, and adequate financial compensation for their losses on their ancestral homes, and not to be considering establishing grazing reserves “across Nigeria.” The aggression of the Fulanis has left thousands of Tiv people as refugees in their country. What is the federal government doing? Even a serving Tiv federal minister is technically a refugee since his ancestral home in Guma local government area has been destroyed, including the headquarters of his local government area, Gbajimba; and the federal government is only talking of seizing lands in Nigeria, including Tivland, to establish grazing reserves for the aggressors? Are we being taught now that violence pays? Can the federal government cope with the emergence of another militia group that senses injustice?

We the Tiv people will fight injustice with all we have got, especially, the type that threatens the extinction of our race. We have no other choice. The only thing that gives me an academic claim to the Nigerian nationality is my ethnic group (according to section 25 of the Nigerian Constitution).

All Tiv congress- men and -women at both state and federal levels and delegates at the National Conference must understand that their claim to Nigeria will end with the demise of their Tiv nation. This is a call to duty!

Leonard Karshima Shilgba is a Sad Nationalist (SaN)

TEL: 08055024356; Email: shilgba@yahoo.com

JTF sets two tankers ablaze in Delta

UGHELLI—TWO patrol tankers allegedly used for crude oil theft have been burnt by men of the Joint Task Force, JTF in Awirhe, Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State.

The tankers were impounded by the military personnel on the Ozoro/Kwale Road, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of the state. Though no arrest was made, a short locally made gun, a live cartridge and vehicle documents were recovered during a search on the tankers.

Commanding Officer of the 222 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Col Victor Ibeh, who addressed newsmen shortly before the vehicles were set ablaze, said “We acted on a tip-off. The trucks were used for pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering activities while the perpetrators tampered with oil pipelines.”

Saying that the perpetrators took to their heels on sighting the troops, Ibeh said “during interrogation and proper investigation one Mr. Andrew Osagie, who claimed to be the Manager of a company in Benin City, Edo State tried to compromise my men to release the trucks and the investigating officer played along with him and he agreed to offer N7million for the release of the vehicles.

“And in the course of this also, N3m cash was offered by him and a post dated cheque of N1.5m. However, he also promised to bring the balance of the money to secure the release of the trucks. I think along the line, he got clue that he was in trouble and up till date, nobody has sighted him.

“Having made no arrest and this principal suspect, who we are trying to nab, has also escaped. In the course of doing our job, it is in line with JTF mandate that these two tankers were set ablaze without wasting any further time. And doing that, our headquarters were informed, while we continue the search to ensure that pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkery and theft were eradicated within the unit area of our responsibility.

JTF sets two tankers ablaze in Delta

Posted by Sylvester No comments

UGHELLI—TWO patrol tankers allegedly used for crude oil theft have been burnt by men of the Joint Task Force, JTF in Awirhe, Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State.

The tankers were impounded by the military personnel on the Ozoro/Kwale Road, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of the state. Though no arrest was made, a short locally made gun, a live cartridge and vehicle documents were recovered during a search on the tankers.

Commanding Officer of the 222 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Col Victor Ibeh, who addressed newsmen shortly before the vehicles were set ablaze, said “We acted on a tip-off. The trucks were used for pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering activities while the perpetrators tampered with oil pipelines.”

Saying that the perpetrators took to their heels on sighting the troops, Ibeh said “during interrogation and proper investigation one Mr. Andrew Osagie, who claimed to be the Manager of a company in Benin City, Edo State tried to compromise my men to release the trucks and the investigating officer played along with him and he agreed to offer N7million for the release of the vehicles.

“And in the course of this also, N3m cash was offered by him and a post dated cheque of N1.5m. However, he also promised to bring the balance of the money to secure the release of the trucks. I think along the line, he got clue that he was in trouble and up till date, nobody has sighted him.

“Having made no arrest and this principal suspect, who we are trying to nab, has also escaped. In the course of doing our job, it is in line with JTF mandate that these two tankers were set ablaze without wasting any further time. And doing that, our headquarters were informed, while we continue the search to ensure that pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkery and theft were eradicated within the unit area of our responsibility.

FRC halts investigation over Sanusi’s legal action

A legal action instituted by the suspended Central
Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Malam Sanusi
Lamido, yesterday prompted the suspension of
investigation into the activities of CBN by the
Financial Reporting Council. Sanusi was expected to
appear before the panel alongside former Deputy
Governor (Operations), Mr. Tunde Lemo; Acting
Governor, CBN,
Mrs. Sarah Alade; Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, Alhaji
Suleiman Barau (CBN Deputy Governors) and the
Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BoI), Ms.
Evelyn Oputu. At the resumed hearing, the Executive
Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer, FRC, Mr. Jim
Obazee, was, however, presented with a letter from
the suspended governor’s lawyer stating reasons
Sanusi could not make it to the hearing.
The letter, which referred to the pending court case
before a Federal High Court, Lagos by Sanusi,
pointed out that in view of the pending application for
interlocutory injunction dated 26th March 2014, and
in line with the provision of the law, where there is a
pending action before a court of competent
jurisdiction, an application for an injunction, that
status quo be maintained pending the interpretation
of the injunction. Obazee, however, said the
investigation would continue at the CBN office, which
is an administrative procedure of the FRC.
He said because of the documentations that had
been sent, the panel would wait for the court papers
and study the court papers before the next invitation
would be extended as appropriate. On CBN’s
investment in BoI, he said apart from the fact that
there was no management approval for such, the
content of the debenture certificate was not also
understood.
He said, “The reason we didn’t understand the
debenture certificate is because we do not believe
there was a debenture issued. We also want the Bol
to confirm whether they are in custody of the N500
billion because we can still see monies coming out
from the CBN.”

FRC halts investigation over Sanusi’s legal action

Posted by Sylvester No comments

A legal action instituted by the suspended Central
Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Malam Sanusi
Lamido, yesterday prompted the suspension of
investigation into the activities of CBN by the
Financial Reporting Council. Sanusi was expected to
appear before the panel alongside former Deputy
Governor (Operations), Mr. Tunde Lemo; Acting
Governor, CBN,
Mrs. Sarah Alade; Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, Alhaji
Suleiman Barau (CBN Deputy Governors) and the
Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BoI), Ms.
Evelyn Oputu. At the resumed hearing, the Executive
Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer, FRC, Mr. Jim
Obazee, was, however, presented with a letter from
the suspended governor’s lawyer stating reasons
Sanusi could not make it to the hearing.
The letter, which referred to the pending court case
before a Federal High Court, Lagos by Sanusi,
pointed out that in view of the pending application for
interlocutory injunction dated 26th March 2014, and
in line with the provision of the law, where there is a
pending action before a court of competent
jurisdiction, an application for an injunction, that
status quo be maintained pending the interpretation
of the injunction. Obazee, however, said the
investigation would continue at the CBN office, which
is an administrative procedure of the FRC.
He said because of the documentations that had
been sent, the panel would wait for the court papers
and study the court papers before the next invitation
would be extended as appropriate. On CBN’s
investment in BoI, he said apart from the fact that
there was no management approval for such, the
content of the debenture certificate was not also
understood.
He said, “The reason we didn’t understand the
debenture certificate is because we do not believe
there was a debenture issued. We also want the Bol
to confirm whether they are in custody of the N500
billion because we can still see monies coming out
from the CBN.”

Reps want one-lane traffic on River Niger Bridge

…as move to rescind cancellation of NIS recruitment suffers setback

 
ABUJA — THE House of Representatives, yesterday, asked the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission,FRSC, Osita Chidoka, to move his men to existing Niger bridge, Onitsha, pending the completion of the second bridge.

Chidoka is to further station the Corps’ towing vans on the approaches to the bridge to facilitate prompt removal of broken down vehicles.

This move was sequel to a motion promoted by Mr. Cyril Egwatu, who argued that human and vehicular traffic had increased tremendously since 1970 when the bridge was rehabilitated, after it was blown up during the Nigerian civil war.

Moving the motion, which was unanimously adopted without debate, Egwatu also argued that overloaded vehicles often broke down on the bridge obstructing the free flow of traffic, adding that even when the bridge was not originally designed for double lane traffic, reckless users had continued to form up to four traffic lanes on it.

Another motion promoted by Ahmed Idris seeking, among other things, approval of the House to cause President Jonathan to rescind his earlier directive to cancel the recent tragic recruitment by the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, and constitution of a special committee to do a fresh one suffered setback on the floor.

It would be recalled that the President had in the wake of the tragedy, ordered the cancellation last week, and raised a committee under the leadership of Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, but Idris argued that the President’s directive contravened the provisions of the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board, CDFIPB.

Idris said this development was tantamount to total disregard of law, for the executive arm of the federal government to unilaterally constitute a separate committee to conduct fresh recruitment into the NIS when there was an existing law which gave such powers to the CDFIPB.

His submissions were, however, countered by Mr Nicholas Ossai who, through a point of order, drew attention of the House to Order 67, Rules 4 and 6 to the effect that there was a substantive motion already adopted, with a mandate to the House Committee on Interior to investigate the tragic incident, and would be out of order to take a fresh motion on the same subject matter.

But Minority Leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, argued that the said order referred to by Ossai did not contemplate general issues, but specific matters, which the illegal constitution of a committee was one.

He urged the House to take the matter on its specificity.

But the Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, who presided, asked Chairman of the Committee on Interior, Umar Bature, whether the mandate for the investigation covered the current matter being raised.

While calling on the House to allow his committee finish the investigation first, the lawmaker explained that the CDFIPB Act recognized the Interior Minister as Chairman of the Board, implying that the subsisting motion would not yield anything differen

Reps want one-lane traffic on River Niger Bridge

Posted by Sylvester No comments

…as move to rescind cancellation of NIS recruitment suffers setback

 
ABUJA — THE House of Representatives, yesterday, asked the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission,FRSC, Osita Chidoka, to move his men to existing Niger bridge, Onitsha, pending the completion of the second bridge.

Chidoka is to further station the Corps’ towing vans on the approaches to the bridge to facilitate prompt removal of broken down vehicles.

This move was sequel to a motion promoted by Mr. Cyril Egwatu, who argued that human and vehicular traffic had increased tremendously since 1970 when the bridge was rehabilitated, after it was blown up during the Nigerian civil war.

Moving the motion, which was unanimously adopted without debate, Egwatu also argued that overloaded vehicles often broke down on the bridge obstructing the free flow of traffic, adding that even when the bridge was not originally designed for double lane traffic, reckless users had continued to form up to four traffic lanes on it.

Another motion promoted by Ahmed Idris seeking, among other things, approval of the House to cause President Jonathan to rescind his earlier directive to cancel the recent tragic recruitment by the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, and constitution of a special committee to do a fresh one suffered setback on the floor.

It would be recalled that the President had in the wake of the tragedy, ordered the cancellation last week, and raised a committee under the leadership of Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, but Idris argued that the President’s directive contravened the provisions of the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board, CDFIPB.

Idris said this development was tantamount to total disregard of law, for the executive arm of the federal government to unilaterally constitute a separate committee to conduct fresh recruitment into the NIS when there was an existing law which gave such powers to the CDFIPB.

His submissions were, however, countered by Mr Nicholas Ossai who, through a point of order, drew attention of the House to Order 67, Rules 4 and 6 to the effect that there was a substantive motion already adopted, with a mandate to the House Committee on Interior to investigate the tragic incident, and would be out of order to take a fresh motion on the same subject matter.

But Minority Leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, argued that the said order referred to by Ossai did not contemplate general issues, but specific matters, which the illegal constitution of a committee was one.

He urged the House to take the matter on its specificity.

But the Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, who presided, asked Chairman of the Committee on Interior, Umar Bature, whether the mandate for the investigation covered the current matter being raised.

While calling on the House to allow his committee finish the investigation first, the lawmaker explained that the CDFIPB Act recognized the Interior Minister as Chairman of the Board, implying that the subsisting motion would not yield anything differen

Families turn MH370 grief into action

Son believes MH370 could be hijacked

Beijing, China (CNN) – Jack’s elder sister was returning from a holiday. Her connecting flight was through Kuala Lumpur on MH370. After news of the missing flight, Jack took leave from his job to come to Beijing in search of answers.
He shows me the text he received from Malaysia Airlines on his smartphone Monday night. This is the infamous text announcing that “none of those on board survived.”
Jack scrolls down to the response he texted back in English, “F— You”, although he spelled out the word.
The fight is under way. Grief has turned to action.
Inside a Beijing hotel room, Jack and eight other passengers’ relatives crowd around three laptops on a coffee table.
They are discussing, downloading, organizing. What’s the next move? There is purpose in the air.
They’ve already protested in front of the Malaysian embassy in China. Now they’ve decided to share with the media their smartphone video of meetings with Malaysian officials.
They have designated themselves the media committee.
Eighteen days ago, they were busy with jobs and family life. Today, these former strangers are now partners in a mission: to push for answers and find their loved ones.
They are not satisfied with the Malaysian government’s explanation that satellite data indicates the plane most likely crashed in the southern part of the Indian Ocean.

Families turn MH370 grief into action

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Son believes MH370 could be hijacked

Beijing, China (CNN) – Jack’s elder sister was returning from a holiday. Her connecting flight was through Kuala Lumpur on MH370. After news of the missing flight, Jack took leave from his job to come to Beijing in search of answers.
He shows me the text he received from Malaysia Airlines on his smartphone Monday night. This is the infamous text announcing that “none of those on board survived.”
Jack scrolls down to the response he texted back in English, “F— You”, although he spelled out the word.
The fight is under way. Grief has turned to action.
Inside a Beijing hotel room, Jack and eight other passengers’ relatives crowd around three laptops on a coffee table.
They are discussing, downloading, organizing. What’s the next move? There is purpose in the air.
They’ve already protested in front of the Malaysian embassy in China. Now they’ve decided to share with the media their smartphone video of meetings with Malaysian officials.
They have designated themselves the media committee.
Eighteen days ago, they were busy with jobs and family life. Today, these former strangers are now partners in a mission: to push for answers and find their loved ones.
They are not satisfied with the Malaysian government’s explanation that satellite data indicates the plane most likely crashed in the southern part of the Indian Ocean.

World Water Day: PDP Decries Acute Scarcity of Drinking Water In Rivers State

The Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described as unfortunate the continued acute scarcity of drinking water in the State despite the huge resources available to Gov Amaechi administration to satisfy this basic need.

The party in a statement by Jerry Needam, Special Adviser on Media to the State Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah made the observation while speaking on this year’s World Water Day Celebration.

The PDP blamed the lingering water problem in the State on Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s inability to differentiate between the basic needs of the people and political exigencies, stressing that water is essential to sustenance of life and is the sole reason for the celebration by the United Nations.

The Party regrets that under Gov Amaechi, all the taps in the State have dried up, even as the billions of naira budgeted for the State Ministry of Water Resources annually for the provision of water cannot be accounted for.

The PDP is using this occasion this year’s Water Day to call for a probe into the allocations to the Rivers State Ministry of Water in the last six years running into billions of naira.

The Party however enjoins the Rivers people to continue to be patient and exercise restraint, expressing hope for a brighter future with a more responsive government replacing the complacent and visionless Amaechi-led government which has relinquished its responsibility to the people for politicking for the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Signed:

Jerry Needam

SA, on Media to

State PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah

Friday, March 21, 2014

World Water Day: PDP Decries Acute Scarcity of Drinking Water In Rivers State

Posted by Sylvester No comments

The Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described as unfortunate the continued acute scarcity of drinking water in the State despite the huge resources available to Gov Amaechi administration to satisfy this basic need.

The party in a statement by Jerry Needam, Special Adviser on Media to the State Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah made the observation while speaking on this year’s World Water Day Celebration.

The PDP blamed the lingering water problem in the State on Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s inability to differentiate between the basic needs of the people and political exigencies, stressing that water is essential to sustenance of life and is the sole reason for the celebration by the United Nations.

The Party regrets that under Gov Amaechi, all the taps in the State have dried up, even as the billions of naira budgeted for the State Ministry of Water Resources annually for the provision of water cannot be accounted for.

The PDP is using this occasion this year’s Water Day to call for a probe into the allocations to the Rivers State Ministry of Water in the last six years running into billions of naira.

The Party however enjoins the Rivers people to continue to be patient and exercise restraint, expressing hope for a brighter future with a more responsive government replacing the complacent and visionless Amaechi-led government which has relinquished its responsibility to the people for politicking for the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Signed:

Jerry Needam

SA, on Media to

State PDP Chairman, Bro Felix Obuah

Friday, March 21, 2014

Policeman defiles four-year-old

A mobile police officer attached to the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos Crisis has
allegedly defiled a four-year-old girl in Kassa, Barkin Ladi Local Government of
Plateau State.

The minor was lured by the police officer on the pretence that he wanted to send
her on an errand shortly after she returned from school.
The suspect, whose rank and name could not be confirmed, is said to hail from
Adamawa State.
He was posted from Makurdi, Benue State and resumed duty at the village barely
two weeks ago.
An eyewitness, Mary Dung, said: “After defiling her, the girl returned home and hid
herself because she was afraid to report the incident to her parents.
“She lay on her mother’s bed, pretending she was sleeping, but her mother
suspected all was not well because she hardly sleeps during the day.
“Her mother examined her closely and was shocked to discover she was
bleeding. When asked, she broke down in tears and narrated how the officer
raped her.
“The parents reported the incident to the divisional police station in Barkin Ladi,
but other members of the task force resisted their colleague’s arrest.”
The sector commander of Sector 7, Barkin Ladi Local Government, promised to
arrest the suspect and take him to the STF headquarters in Jos.
The council Chairman, Emmanuel Loman, said the suspect had been arrested.
Loman warned families in the area not to allow their children near the STF
officers.
The chairman pleaded with the STF commander, Maj-Gen David Enetie, to ensure
justice is served.
The doctor at Barkin Ladi General Hospital, where the victim was admitted, Dr.
Bapigang William Audu, said examination conducted on her confirmed there was
forceful penetration, which caused her injury leading to bleeding.
Audu said: “The girl has lost much blood as a result of the bleeding associated
with defilement.
“We are also conducting examinations on her to ascertain whether she was
infected with any disease.”

Policeman defiles four-year-old

Posted by Sylvester No comments

A mobile police officer attached to the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos Crisis has
allegedly defiled a four-year-old girl in Kassa, Barkin Ladi Local Government of
Plateau State.

The minor was lured by the police officer on the pretence that he wanted to send
her on an errand shortly after she returned from school.
The suspect, whose rank and name could not be confirmed, is said to hail from
Adamawa State.
He was posted from Makurdi, Benue State and resumed duty at the village barely
two weeks ago.
An eyewitness, Mary Dung, said: “After defiling her, the girl returned home and hid
herself because she was afraid to report the incident to her parents.
“She lay on her mother’s bed, pretending she was sleeping, but her mother
suspected all was not well because she hardly sleeps during the day.
“Her mother examined her closely and was shocked to discover she was
bleeding. When asked, she broke down in tears and narrated how the officer
raped her.
“The parents reported the incident to the divisional police station in Barkin Ladi,
but other members of the task force resisted their colleague’s arrest.”
The sector commander of Sector 7, Barkin Ladi Local Government, promised to
arrest the suspect and take him to the STF headquarters in Jos.
The council Chairman, Emmanuel Loman, said the suspect had been arrested.
Loman warned families in the area not to allow their children near the STF
officers.
The chairman pleaded with the STF commander, Maj-Gen David Enetie, to ensure
justice is served.
The doctor at Barkin Ladi General Hospital, where the victim was admitted, Dr.
Bapigang William Audu, said examination conducted on her confirmed there was
forceful penetration, which caused her injury leading to bleeding.
Audu said: “The girl has lost much blood as a result of the bleeding associated
with defilement.
“We are also conducting examinations on her to ascertain whether she was
infected with any disease.”

Cameroon arrests three for trafficking arms to Boko Haram

YAOUNDÉ (AFP) – Cameroon said on Thursday it had arrested three
suspected arms dealers believed to be linked to Nigeria’s militant
Islamist group Boko Haram.

Also some other suspected terrorists were also arrested while
attempting to escape into Cameroon through Taraba and Gumti,
Adamawa State by the Nigerian Joint Military Task Force.
The men were caught in the far north of the country on Wednesday,
near the border with Nigeria where the group has been waging a brutal
armed insurgency.

“Members of the BIR (an elite rapid-response unit of Cameroon’s army)
and the police found a significant stock of arms including a kalashnikov
and rocket launchers near Goulfey,” a Cameroonian police official told
AFP, on condition of anonymity.
Suspected terrorists arrested while attempting to escape into Cameroon
through Taraba and Gumti, Adamawa State.
He did not state where the men were from, although he said the arms
had come from Chad.

See more photos here
“Three suspects were taken in for questioning, suspected of being
among the arms traffickers that supply Boko Haram,” he said. “The
stock of weapons was sizeable, and we think the plan was to bring
them through Cameroon before taking them to Nigeria.”

Both the weapons and the men were taken to Maroua, the regional
capital, a source close to the town’s administration said.
Boko Haram is fighting a bloody insurgency in the majority-Muslim
north of Nigeria, with the National Emergency Management Agency
saying this week that more than 1,000 people have been killed in the
violence so far this year.
Some of the group’s fighters are thought to have fled to neighbouring
Cameroon since the Nigerian army launched an offensive in May last
year.
Nigeria recently appealed to its neighbours for help in trying to
eradicate the group.
Already this month, six suspected fighters and one Cameroonian soldier
have been killed in clashes after Boko Haram infiltrated into
neighbouring Cameroon.

More so the Nigerian Joint Military Task Force arrested suspected
terrorists while attempting to escape into Cameroon through Taraba
and Gumti, Adamawa State .

The suspects were said to have come out of hiding in the forest due to
hunger in their make shift camps.
Those that were apprehended led the Nigerin troops to other hideouts.

Seven terrorists died, while a large number of Improvised Explosive
Devices, IEDs, and rifles were recovered including over 70 motorcycles.
Similar encounter in Gombi also led to the death of four other terrorists.
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Cameroon arrests three for trafficking arms to Boko Haram

Posted by Sylvester No comments

YAOUNDÉ (AFP) – Cameroon said on Thursday it had arrested three
suspected arms dealers believed to be linked to Nigeria’s militant
Islamist group Boko Haram.

Also some other suspected terrorists were also arrested while
attempting to escape into Cameroon through Taraba and Gumti,
Adamawa State by the Nigerian Joint Military Task Force.
The men were caught in the far north of the country on Wednesday,
near the border with Nigeria where the group has been waging a brutal
armed insurgency.

“Members of the BIR (an elite rapid-response unit of Cameroon’s army)
and the police found a significant stock of arms including a kalashnikov
and rocket launchers near Goulfey,” a Cameroonian police official told
AFP, on condition of anonymity.
Suspected terrorists arrested while attempting to escape into Cameroon
through Taraba and Gumti, Adamawa State.
He did not state where the men were from, although he said the arms
had come from Chad.

See more photos here
“Three suspects were taken in for questioning, suspected of being
among the arms traffickers that supply Boko Haram,” he said. “The
stock of weapons was sizeable, and we think the plan was to bring
them through Cameroon before taking them to Nigeria.”

Both the weapons and the men were taken to Maroua, the regional
capital, a source close to the town’s administration said.
Boko Haram is fighting a bloody insurgency in the majority-Muslim
north of Nigeria, with the National Emergency Management Agency
saying this week that more than 1,000 people have been killed in the
violence so far this year.
Some of the group’s fighters are thought to have fled to neighbouring
Cameroon since the Nigerian army launched an offensive in May last
year.
Nigeria recently appealed to its neighbours for help in trying to
eradicate the group.
Already this month, six suspected fighters and one Cameroonian soldier
have been killed in clashes after Boko Haram infiltrated into
neighbouring Cameroon.

More so the Nigerian Joint Military Task Force arrested suspected
terrorists while attempting to escape into Cameroon through Taraba
and Gumti, Adamawa State .

The suspects were said to have come out of hiding in the forest due to
hunger in their make shift camps.
Those that were apprehended led the Nigerin troops to other hideouts.

Seven terrorists died, while a large number of Improvised Explosive
Devices, IEDs, and rifles were recovered including over 70 motorcycles.
Similar encounter in Gombi also led to the death of four other terrorists.
Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Obama meets Pope Francis for first time

US President Barack Obama has met Pope Francis for the first time to discuss how to fight global inequality and poverty, calling himself a “great admirer” of the pontiff. 

Obama arrived at the Vatican on Thursday amid the pomp and tradition of the Catholic Church, making his way to greet the pope after a long, slow procession through the hallways of the Apostolic Palace led by colourful Swiss Guards and accompanied by ceremonial attendants.

The president bowed as he shook hands with Francis in the Small Throne Room, before the two sat down at a wooden table in the Papal Library.

“It is a great honour. I’m a great admirer,” Obama said. “Thank you so much for receiving me.”

Political observers said the meeting could be a bid to boost the US president’s support at home among Catholic voters. It comes as Obama’s administration and the Church remain deeply split on issues of abortion and contraception.

The first African-American US president spoke of the first pope from Latin America as an “inspiration” in an interview with the Corriere della Sera daily.

“The Holy Father has been an inspiration to people around the world, including me,” Obama said, adding however: “It doesn’t mean we agree on every issue.”

Obama is wrapping up a six-day European tour that has so far been dominated by the crisis over Crimea.

Obama will also meet new Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi – the European Union’s youngest government leader – and President Giorgio Napolitano, as well as going on a private guided tour of the Colosseum.

Diplomatic relations between Italy and the US are close, though Rome has been cautious about imposing sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine crisis, amid fears it would take a toll on a key market. Obama in his interview highlighted Italy’s “critical role” in the Mediterranean region, praising Renzi for visiting Tunisia on his first foreign trip and saying Washington and Rome were collaborating to rebuild Libya

Obama meets Pope Francis for first time

Posted by Sylvester No comments

US President Barack Obama has met Pope Francis for the first time to discuss how to fight global inequality and poverty, calling himself a “great admirer” of the pontiff. 

Obama arrived at the Vatican on Thursday amid the pomp and tradition of the Catholic Church, making his way to greet the pope after a long, slow procession through the hallways of the Apostolic Palace led by colourful Swiss Guards and accompanied by ceremonial attendants.

The president bowed as he shook hands with Francis in the Small Throne Room, before the two sat down at a wooden table in the Papal Library.

“It is a great honour. I’m a great admirer,” Obama said. “Thank you so much for receiving me.”

Political observers said the meeting could be a bid to boost the US president’s support at home among Catholic voters. It comes as Obama’s administration and the Church remain deeply split on issues of abortion and contraception.

The first African-American US president spoke of the first pope from Latin America as an “inspiration” in an interview with the Corriere della Sera daily.

“The Holy Father has been an inspiration to people around the world, including me,” Obama said, adding however: “It doesn’t mean we agree on every issue.”

Obama is wrapping up a six-day European tour that has so far been dominated by the crisis over Crimea.

Obama will also meet new Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi – the European Union’s youngest government leader – and President Giorgio Napolitano, as well as going on a private guided tour of the Colosseum.

Diplomatic relations between Italy and the US are close, though Rome has been cautious about imposing sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine crisis, amid fears it would take a toll on a key market. Obama in his interview highlighted Italy’s “critical role” in the Mediterranean region, praising Renzi for visiting Tunisia on his first foreign trip and saying Washington and Rome were collaborating to rebuild Libya

Sleeping delegate at National Conference Alhaji Hamma Misau passes away at 67

FORMER assistant inspector general of police Hamma Misau who was recently filmed sleeping at Nigeria's ongoing National Conference has passed away as a result of an illness he had been suffering from.

Over the last week, pictures of Alhaji Misau, 67, the representative of the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria sleeping at the event, have been splashed all over the media. It now appears that he was suffering from some ailment, which prompted his slumber at the Confab and has died as a result of it.

According to one Confab official, Alhaji Misau died yesterday evening at the National Hospital Abuja. Alhaji Misau is expected to be buried today in accordance with Muslim rites that lay the deceased to rest within 24 hours.

Mohammed Hamma, the former police boss's cousin, said a Muslim funeral is currently being planned and will take place shortly in their native Bauchi State. It is not yet clear if an autopsy will be carried out to determine the exact cause of his death.

Alhaji Misau is one of the 492 delegates at the ongoing conference organised by the government to debate ways of easing ethnic and religious tensions across the country. Over a three month period, the delegates are expected to debate the structure of the country and present recommendations to the government.

Sleeping delegate at National Conference Alhaji Hamma Misau passes away at 67

Posted by Sylvester No comments

FORMER assistant inspector general of police Hamma Misau who was recently filmed sleeping at Nigeria's ongoing National Conference has passed away as a result of an illness he had been suffering from.

Over the last week, pictures of Alhaji Misau, 67, the representative of the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria sleeping at the event, have been splashed all over the media. It now appears that he was suffering from some ailment, which prompted his slumber at the Confab and has died as a result of it.

According to one Confab official, Alhaji Misau died yesterday evening at the National Hospital Abuja. Alhaji Misau is expected to be buried today in accordance with Muslim rites that lay the deceased to rest within 24 hours.

Mohammed Hamma, the former police boss's cousin, said a Muslim funeral is currently being planned and will take place shortly in their native Bauchi State. It is not yet clear if an autopsy will be carried out to determine the exact cause of his death.

Alhaji Misau is one of the 492 delegates at the ongoing conference organised by the government to debate ways of easing ethnic and religious tensions across the country. Over a three month period, the delegates are expected to debate the structure of the country and present recommendations to the government.

Christian Association of Nigeria rejects calls to establish grazing reserves.

CHRISTIAN Association of Nigeria (Can) officials have rejected proposals proposal to establish grazing reserves across the country as a means of resolving continued disputes between Fulani herdsmen and local farmers.


In recent years, nomadic Fulani cattle rearers and farmers have been involved in repeated bloody clashes as disputes over access to land and the destruction of crops have led to bitter gun battles. Increasingly, Nigerian cattle herders are becoming more sophisticated with the type of weaponry they carry, as many of them now own AK47s.

Under pressure to resolve these continuous disputes, the federal government set up a committee to work out the modalities for establishing grazing reserves across the country. This committee them put its proposals, requesting the establishment of special grazing reserves across the country to the National Economic Council presided over by vice president Namadi Sambo.

In a swift response, however, Can president Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor said such proposals were absolutely unacceptable to Nigeria's Christian community. He added that it was tantamount to another grand plan to Islamise the nation.

According to Pastor Oritsejafor, Fulani herdsmen are just another chapter of Boko Haram and he warned that if President Goodluck Jonathan accepts the proposal, he should be ready for the consequences. Pastor Oritsejafor, threatened that Christians in the country will not fold their arms while the federal government unilaterally hands over their farmlands to Fulani herdsmen for grazing reserves, which will in a few years be converted to Hausa-Fulani emirates with emirs across the nation.

“Is there any other tribe in this country that can do these things for three years running now and get away with it? This culture of impunity must stop.

"The best way to tackle clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers head on is for the federal government to first and foremost investigate the source of arms supply to the herdsmen before the clashes grow out of control. Then we must establish grazing reserves for them in their own locale where the government can establish modern facilities, including schools, hospitals and such facilities that will make life conducive for them and their families bearing in mind that in other nations of the world, cows are not on paraded on highways as we have here,” Pastor Oritsejafor added.

According to the Can president, it is regrettable that certain leaders of the same tribe could hold a press conference where they accused the Benue State government of masterminding the mayhem that has left hundreds of people dead in that state. He lamented the fact that following the recent clash in the state that left about 50 people dead, no arrests have been carried out.

Pastor Oritsejafor added: “Except somebody is being economical with the truth, there is nowhere in the civilized world where cattle rearers walk long distances with cows on the streets. All across Europe and America, cow owners have permanent settlements, where they graze and slaughter their cows while refrigerated vehicles take the meat to different parts of the country for distribution.”

He urged President Jonathan to find out why nobody had been prosecuted despite the huge number of casualties recorded in clashes in Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Delta, Edo and Ondo States. According to Pastor Oritsejafor, the problem will not be solved by ordering the takeover of people's land across the country so the cattle herders can perpetrate more havoc.

CHRISTIAN Association of Nigeria (Can) officials have rejected proposals proposal to establish grazing reserves across the country as a means of resolving continued disputes between Fulani herdsmen and local farmers.

In recent years, nomadic Fulani cattle rearers and farmers have been involved in repeated bloody clashes as disputes over access to land and the destruction of crops have led to bitter gun battles. Increasingly, Nigerian cattle herders are becoming more sophisticated with the type of weaponry they carry, as many of them now own AK47s.

Under pressure to resolve these continuous disputes, the federal government set up a committee to work out the modalities for establishing grazing reserves across the country. This committee them put its proposals, requesting the establishment of special grazing reserves across the country to the National Economic Council presided over by vice president Namadi Sambo.

In a swift response, however, Can president Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor said such proposals were absolutely unacceptable to Nigeria's Christian community. He added that it was tantamount to another grand plan to Islamise the nation.

According to Pastor Oritsejafor, Fulani herdsmen are just another chapter of Boko Haram and he warned that if President Goodluck Jonathan accepts the proposal, he should be ready for the consequences. Pastor Oritsejafor, threatened that Christians in the country will not fold their arms while the federal government unilaterally hands over their farmlands to Fulani herdsmen for grazing reserves, which will in a few years be converted to Hausa-Fulani emirates with emirs across the nation.

“Is there any other tribe in this country that can do these things for three years running now and get away with it? This culture of impunity must stop.

"The best way to tackle clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers head on is for the federal government to first and foremost investigate the source of arms supply to the herdsmen before the clashes grow out of control. Then we must establish grazing reserves for them in their own locale where the government can establish modern facilities, including schools, hospitals and such facilities that will make life conducive for them and their families bearing in mind that in other nations of the world, cows are not on paraded on highways as we have here,” Pastor Oritsejafor added.

According to the Can president, it is regrettable that certain leaders of the same tribe could hold a press conference where they accused the Benue State government of masterminding the mayhem that has left hundreds of people dead in that state. He lamented the fact that following the recent clash in the state that left about 50 people dead, no arrests have been carried out.

Pastor Oritsejafor added: “Except somebody is being economical with the truth, there is nowhere in the civilized world where cattle rearers walk long distances with cows on the streets. All across Europe and America, cow owners have permanent settlements, where they graze and slaughter their cows while refrigerated vehicles take the meat to different parts of the country for distribution.”

He urged President Jonathan to find out why nobody had been prosecuted despite the huge number of casualties recorded in clashes in Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Delta, Edo and Ondo States. According to Pastor Oritsejafor, the problem will not be solved by ordering the takeover of people's land across the country so the cattle herders can perpetrate more havoc.
- See more at: http://www.nigerianwatch.com/news/4151-christian-association-of-nigeria-rejects-calls-to-establish-grazing-reserves#sthash.VY4UV5K4.dpuf

Christian Association of Nigeria rejects calls to establish grazing reserves.

Posted by Sylvester No comments

CHRISTIAN Association of Nigeria (Can) officials have rejected proposals proposal to establish grazing reserves across the country as a means of resolving continued disputes between Fulani herdsmen and local farmers.


In recent years, nomadic Fulani cattle rearers and farmers have been involved in repeated bloody clashes as disputes over access to land and the destruction of crops have led to bitter gun battles. Increasingly, Nigerian cattle herders are becoming more sophisticated with the type of weaponry they carry, as many of them now own AK47s.

Under pressure to resolve these continuous disputes, the federal government set up a committee to work out the modalities for establishing grazing reserves across the country. This committee them put its proposals, requesting the establishment of special grazing reserves across the country to the National Economic Council presided over by vice president Namadi Sambo.

In a swift response, however, Can president Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor said such proposals were absolutely unacceptable to Nigeria's Christian community. He added that it was tantamount to another grand plan to Islamise the nation.

According to Pastor Oritsejafor, Fulani herdsmen are just another chapter of Boko Haram and he warned that if President Goodluck Jonathan accepts the proposal, he should be ready for the consequences. Pastor Oritsejafor, threatened that Christians in the country will not fold their arms while the federal government unilaterally hands over their farmlands to Fulani herdsmen for grazing reserves, which will in a few years be converted to Hausa-Fulani emirates with emirs across the nation.

“Is there any other tribe in this country that can do these things for three years running now and get away with it? This culture of impunity must stop.

"The best way to tackle clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers head on is for the federal government to first and foremost investigate the source of arms supply to the herdsmen before the clashes grow out of control. Then we must establish grazing reserves for them in their own locale where the government can establish modern facilities, including schools, hospitals and such facilities that will make life conducive for them and their families bearing in mind that in other nations of the world, cows are not on paraded on highways as we have here,” Pastor Oritsejafor added.

According to the Can president, it is regrettable that certain leaders of the same tribe could hold a press conference where they accused the Benue State government of masterminding the mayhem that has left hundreds of people dead in that state. He lamented the fact that following the recent clash in the state that left about 50 people dead, no arrests have been carried out.

Pastor Oritsejafor added: “Except somebody is being economical with the truth, there is nowhere in the civilized world where cattle rearers walk long distances with cows on the streets. All across Europe and America, cow owners have permanent settlements, where they graze and slaughter their cows while refrigerated vehicles take the meat to different parts of the country for distribution.”

He urged President Jonathan to find out why nobody had been prosecuted despite the huge number of casualties recorded in clashes in Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Delta, Edo and Ondo States. According to Pastor Oritsejafor, the problem will not be solved by ordering the takeover of people's land across the country so the cattle herders can perpetrate more havoc.

CHRISTIAN Association of Nigeria (Can) officials have rejected proposals proposal to establish grazing reserves across the country as a means of resolving continued disputes between Fulani herdsmen and local farmers.

In recent years, nomadic Fulani cattle rearers and farmers have been involved in repeated bloody clashes as disputes over access to land and the destruction of crops have led to bitter gun battles. Increasingly, Nigerian cattle herders are becoming more sophisticated with the type of weaponry they carry, as many of them now own AK47s.

Under pressure to resolve these continuous disputes, the federal government set up a committee to work out the modalities for establishing grazing reserves across the country. This committee them put its proposals, requesting the establishment of special grazing reserves across the country to the National Economic Council presided over by vice president Namadi Sambo.

In a swift response, however, Can president Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor said such proposals were absolutely unacceptable to Nigeria's Christian community. He added that it was tantamount to another grand plan to Islamise the nation.

According to Pastor Oritsejafor, Fulani herdsmen are just another chapter of Boko Haram and he warned that if President Goodluck Jonathan accepts the proposal, he should be ready for the consequences. Pastor Oritsejafor, threatened that Christians in the country will not fold their arms while the federal government unilaterally hands over their farmlands to Fulani herdsmen for grazing reserves, which will in a few years be converted to Hausa-Fulani emirates with emirs across the nation.

“Is there any other tribe in this country that can do these things for three years running now and get away with it? This culture of impunity must stop.

"The best way to tackle clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers head on is for the federal government to first and foremost investigate the source of arms supply to the herdsmen before the clashes grow out of control. Then we must establish grazing reserves for them in their own locale where the government can establish modern facilities, including schools, hospitals and such facilities that will make life conducive for them and their families bearing in mind that in other nations of the world, cows are not on paraded on highways as we have here,” Pastor Oritsejafor added.

According to the Can president, it is regrettable that certain leaders of the same tribe could hold a press conference where they accused the Benue State government of masterminding the mayhem that has left hundreds of people dead in that state. He lamented the fact that following the recent clash in the state that left about 50 people dead, no arrests have been carried out.

Pastor Oritsejafor added: “Except somebody is being economical with the truth, there is nowhere in the civilized world where cattle rearers walk long distances with cows on the streets. All across Europe and America, cow owners have permanent settlements, where they graze and slaughter their cows while refrigerated vehicles take the meat to different parts of the country for distribution.”

He urged President Jonathan to find out why nobody had been prosecuted despite the huge number of casualties recorded in clashes in Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Delta, Edo and Ondo States. According to Pastor Oritsejafor, the problem will not be solved by ordering the takeover of people's land across the country so the cattle herders can perpetrate more havoc.
- See more at: http://www.nigerianwatch.com/news/4151-christian-association-of-nigeria-rejects-calls-to-establish-grazing-reserves#sthash.VY4UV5K4.dpuf

Police Affairs Ministry Lied Over CBN’s N19.7 Billion For Police Helicopter, Equipment

Nigeria’s police affairs ministry deliberately misled the House of Representatives in feigning ignorance of a presidential directive mandating the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide N19.7 billion for police equipment, and in denying receipt of the funds, a DAILYNEWS9JA examination of the case has shown.

The claim by the permanent secretary, James Obiegbu, of the ministry’s non-involvement with the funds, in what the chairman of the House committee on public account, Solomon Olamilekan, described as an “official discussion”, came as lawmakers reviewed disbursement of government funds this week.
The expenditure, made public two weeks ago by the suspended governor of CBN, Lamido Sanusi, was spent on financing the purchase of new helicopters and security equipment for the police.

Mr. Sanusi, suspended last month over allegations of financial recklessness, said the funds were released on President Goodluck Jonathan’s instruction, a disclosure that sought to underscore how Mr. Jonathan personally authorised some of the spending the CBN’s boss would later be vilified for by the president and his aides.
But at a dramatic meeting of the house committee Tuesday, the police denied knowledge of the funds, and the ministry of police affairs, which supervises the police, also distanced itself from the disbursement.

The inspector general of police, Mohammed Abubakar, said the police knew nothing about the CBN allocation. His representative at the meeting, Ilesanmi Aguda, an assistant inspector general, said the ministry of police affairs would be better placed to respond to queries on the matter.

But the committee chairman, Mr. Olamilekan, quoted the permanent secretary, Mr. Obiegbu, as also distancing the ministry from the CBN money. “The perm sec approached me formally and told me that they don’t know anything about the money,” Mr. Olamilekan said.
Mr. Obiegbu could not be reached on Wednesday.

But documents reviewed by DAILYNEWS9JA show that Mr. Obiegbu was merely deceiving the committee chairman, as his ministry clearly requested for, and took delivery of the CBN funds.

The ministry, alongside the police echelon, and the CBN, have been summoned to appear before the house committee Tuesday.

The papers, obtained exclusively by DAILYNEWS9JA, show how the ministry of police affairs initiated a memo in 2010 asking for the CBN intervention, followed through with an application for contract award clearance from the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, and eventually awarded the contract for the purchases, having received approval from President Jonathan.

The ministry claimed it sought the intervention of the CBN because of the “enormous” cost of the contract.

The ministry said it relied on three sources of the funding, namely, the 2010 budget; the CBN and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC; and contributions from the police reforms fund.

It is not clear what role the NNPC played and how much it paid to the ministry, as only contributions from the CBN were reflected in the communication between the ministry and the president.

In the first letter dated September 17, 2010 and signed by the then minister, Adamu Waziri, the ministry of police affairs explained to President Jonathan how the police needed more equipment to prepare for the 2011 elections and secure financial institutions, and how the CBN was in a good stead to help out.
The equipment requested by the ministry were four Bell 412 armoured helicopters, 60 armoured patrol vans, 40,000 Motorola communication radios (walkie talkies), at a total cost of N19.66 billion.

“The procurement of these critical equipment would greatly enhance the surveillance of the NPF on the financial institutions in addition to augmenting the requirements of the NPF for the conduct of the 2011 general elections,” Mr. Waziri wrote.

The letter was received in the State House on September 21, 2010. President Jonathan later requested a meeting with the minister over the plan, and on October 6, the president approved the funds.

In a handwritten assent, Mr. Jonathan drew the attention of the CBN governor, Mr. Sanusi, to his approval.

The ministry of police affairs later contacted the BPP for a “certificate of no objection” for the contract, to allow it award the supply job to its preferred firms.

The bureau responded on October 12, 2010, acknowledging that while the ministry’s request was lawful, it needed to show formally the CBN’s capacity to provide N19.7 billion.

“There is need for the ministry to provide documentation to show that the CBN has actually provided funds for the procurement,” the bureau said.
The CBN’s board of directors met October 22, and approved that the funding request be made part of its 2010 and 2011 budgets. It would take several months for the contract to pull through.

On June 10, the ministry of police affairs officially awarded the contract for the supply of the helicopters to Messrs Pauliza Ltd at N4.9 billion. In the letter, the ministry advised the company to liaise with one of the CBN deputy governors, for payment and delivery of the items. That letter was signed by one Kyari Gubio on behalf of the minister.

The first contract, at N4.9 billion, was for two helicopters. For the four choppers listed by the ministry in its letter to the president, the total cost was N9.9 billion-an amount the BPP said was “rather high”.

Other contracts for security equipment awarded by the ministry were 20,000 units of Motorola communication radios to Messrs Hades Meridian group at N3.4 billion; another 20,000 units of the same radios to Messrs Reliance Telecommunication Limited at the same cost; 60 units of armoured patrol vans to Messrs Hadassa Investment Security Limited at N1.5 billion; and anti-riot equipment by Messrs Armcom Limited at N1.5 billion.

Download documents here

Police Affairs Ministry Lied Over CBN’s N19.7 Billion For Police Helicopter, Equipment

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Nigeria’s police affairs ministry deliberately misled the House of Representatives in feigning ignorance of a presidential directive mandating the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide N19.7 billion for police equipment, and in denying receipt of the funds, a DAILYNEWS9JA examination of the case has shown.

The claim by the permanent secretary, James Obiegbu, of the ministry’s non-involvement with the funds, in what the chairman of the House committee on public account, Solomon Olamilekan, described as an “official discussion”, came as lawmakers reviewed disbursement of government funds this week.
The expenditure, made public two weeks ago by the suspended governor of CBN, Lamido Sanusi, was spent on financing the purchase of new helicopters and security equipment for the police.

Mr. Sanusi, suspended last month over allegations of financial recklessness, said the funds were released on President Goodluck Jonathan’s instruction, a disclosure that sought to underscore how Mr. Jonathan personally authorised some of the spending the CBN’s boss would later be vilified for by the president and his aides.
But at a dramatic meeting of the house committee Tuesday, the police denied knowledge of the funds, and the ministry of police affairs, which supervises the police, also distanced itself from the disbursement.

The inspector general of police, Mohammed Abubakar, said the police knew nothing about the CBN allocation. His representative at the meeting, Ilesanmi Aguda, an assistant inspector general, said the ministry of police affairs would be better placed to respond to queries on the matter.

But the committee chairman, Mr. Olamilekan, quoted the permanent secretary, Mr. Obiegbu, as also distancing the ministry from the CBN money. “The perm sec approached me formally and told me that they don’t know anything about the money,” Mr. Olamilekan said.
Mr. Obiegbu could not be reached on Wednesday.

But documents reviewed by DAILYNEWS9JA show that Mr. Obiegbu was merely deceiving the committee chairman, as his ministry clearly requested for, and took delivery of the CBN funds.

The ministry, alongside the police echelon, and the CBN, have been summoned to appear before the house committee Tuesday.

The papers, obtained exclusively by DAILYNEWS9JA, show how the ministry of police affairs initiated a memo in 2010 asking for the CBN intervention, followed through with an application for contract award clearance from the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, and eventually awarded the contract for the purchases, having received approval from President Jonathan.

The ministry claimed it sought the intervention of the CBN because of the “enormous” cost of the contract.

The ministry said it relied on three sources of the funding, namely, the 2010 budget; the CBN and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC; and contributions from the police reforms fund.

It is not clear what role the NNPC played and how much it paid to the ministry, as only contributions from the CBN were reflected in the communication between the ministry and the president.

In the first letter dated September 17, 2010 and signed by the then minister, Adamu Waziri, the ministry of police affairs explained to President Jonathan how the police needed more equipment to prepare for the 2011 elections and secure financial institutions, and how the CBN was in a good stead to help out.
The equipment requested by the ministry were four Bell 412 armoured helicopters, 60 armoured patrol vans, 40,000 Motorola communication radios (walkie talkies), at a total cost of N19.66 billion.

“The procurement of these critical equipment would greatly enhance the surveillance of the NPF on the financial institutions in addition to augmenting the requirements of the NPF for the conduct of the 2011 general elections,” Mr. Waziri wrote.

The letter was received in the State House on September 21, 2010. President Jonathan later requested a meeting with the minister over the plan, and on October 6, the president approved the funds.

In a handwritten assent, Mr. Jonathan drew the attention of the CBN governor, Mr. Sanusi, to his approval.

The ministry of police affairs later contacted the BPP for a “certificate of no objection” for the contract, to allow it award the supply job to its preferred firms.

The bureau responded on October 12, 2010, acknowledging that while the ministry’s request was lawful, it needed to show formally the CBN’s capacity to provide N19.7 billion.

“There is need for the ministry to provide documentation to show that the CBN has actually provided funds for the procurement,” the bureau said.
The CBN’s board of directors met October 22, and approved that the funding request be made part of its 2010 and 2011 budgets. It would take several months for the contract to pull through.

On June 10, the ministry of police affairs officially awarded the contract for the supply of the helicopters to Messrs Pauliza Ltd at N4.9 billion. In the letter, the ministry advised the company to liaise with one of the CBN deputy governors, for payment and delivery of the items. That letter was signed by one Kyari Gubio on behalf of the minister.

The first contract, at N4.9 billion, was for two helicopters. For the four choppers listed by the ministry in its letter to the president, the total cost was N9.9 billion-an amount the BPP said was “rather high”.

Other contracts for security equipment awarded by the ministry were 20,000 units of Motorola communication radios to Messrs Hades Meridian group at N3.4 billion; another 20,000 units of the same radios to Messrs Reliance Telecommunication Limited at the same cost; 60 units of armoured patrol vans to Messrs Hadassa Investment Security Limited at N1.5 billion; and anti-riot equipment by Messrs Armcom Limited at N1.5 billion.

Download documents here

Super Flamingos' heroic U17 World Cup bid ends as they fall to Spain in quarter final

NIGERIA'S Super Flamingos' gallant pursuit of the 2014 U17 Women's World Cup came to a heroic end last night after the team was knocked out in the quarter finals of the competition by Spain who beat them 3-0.

Despite putting up a gallant and brave fight, the Flamingos were overran by a strong Spanish side that struck once in the first half and twice in the second stanza. Spain will now face Italy in the semi-final after they too beat African opposition, seeing off Ghana in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw.

Yesterday's defeat ended a seven-match unbeaten run for Nigeria in this tournament dating back to 2012 and fell one match short of the record sequence established by Japan between 2010 and 2012. It also means that there will be no African team in the semi final as the other tie will be played between Japan and Venezuela, who eliminated Mexico and Canada respectively.

During the first half of yesterday's game in the Estadio Edgardo Baltodano Briceño in the north western Costa Rican city of Liberia, the contest was played at a good tempo. Immediately after New Zealand referee Anna-Marie Keighley got proceedings going, both sides attacked in what was an end-to-end game but it was the Spaniard who were lucky to break the deadlock in the 14th minute.

Nigeria’s Ugochi Emenayo was alleged to have tripped Andrea Falcon who was running into the penalty area at speed, forcing the referee to point to the penalty spot. Patri Guijarro made no mistake from the resultant kick, beating goalkeeper Onyinye Okeke with a drive down low to her right.

Despite mounting several attacks of their own, the Flamingos did not get behind the Spanish defence enough and failed to give goalkeeper Elena De Toro enough to worry about. At the break though, the Spanish were only a goal up and both sides came in the second half knowing that the next goal was crucial.

Fortunately for the Spanish, it was they who scored what was arguably the most important goal in the match when Nahikari Garcia found the back of the net in the 58th minute. Dominguez, who was proving to be the danger woman, set up Garcia this time with a through pass which she slotted home after an error of judgement by goalkeeper Okeke who came off her line unnecessarily.

After that, the Flamingos had a few more attempts on goal but appeared to have lost the spirit which they displayed in the second half. In the 71st minute, the game was effectively ended when a fierce strike from Sandra Hernandez slipped through the hands of Okeke and Guijarro was there to force the ball home from close range.

NIGERIA'S Super Flamingos' gallant pursuit of the 2014 U17 Women's World Cup came to a heroic end last night after the team was knocked out in the quarter finals of the competition by Spain who beat them 3-0.

Despite putting up a gallant and brave fight, the Flamingos were overran by a strong Spanish side that struck once in the first half and twice in the second stanza. Spain will now face Italy in the semi-final after they too beat African opposition, seeing off Ghana in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw.

Yesterday's defeat ended a seven-match unbeaten run for Nigeria in this tournament dating back to 2012 and fell one match short of the record sequence established by Japan between 2010 and 2012. It also means that there will be no African team in the semi final as the other tie will be played between Japan and Venezuela, who eliminated Mexico and Canada respectively.

During the first half of yesterday's game in the Estadio Edgardo Baltodano Briceño in the north western Costa Rican city of Liberia, the contest was played at a good tempo. Immediately after New Zealand referee Anna-Marie Keighley got proceedings going, both sides attacked in what was an end-to-end game but it was the Spaniard who were lucky to break the deadlock in the 14th minute.

Nigeria’s Ugochi Emenayo was alleged to have tripped Andrea Falcon who was running into the penalty area at speed, forcing the referee to point to the penalty spot. Patri Guijarro made no mistake from the resultant kick, beating goalkeeper Onyinye Okeke with a drive down low to her right.

Despite mounting several attacks of their own, the Flamingos did not get behind the Spanish defence enough and failed to give goalkeeper Elena De Toro enough to worry about. At the break though, the Spanish were only a goal up and both sides came in the second half knowing that the next goal was crucial.

Fortunately for the Spanish, it was they who scored what was arguably the most important goal in the match when Nahikari Garcia found the back of the net in the 58th minute. Dominguez, who was proving to be the danger woman, set up Garcia this time with a through pass which she slotted home after an error of judgement by goalkeeper Okeke who came off her line unnecessarily.

After that, the Flamingos had a few more attempts on goal but appeared to have lost the spirit which they displayed in the second half. In the 71st minute, the game was effectively ended when a fierce strike from Sandra Hernandez slipped through the hands of Okeke and Guijarro was there to force the ball home from close range.
- See more at: http://www.nigerianwatch.com/news/4147-super-flamingos-heroic-u17-world-cup-bid-ends-as-they-fall-to-spain-in-quarter-final#sthash.GHx8SuWB.dpuf

Super Flamingos' heroic U17 World Cup bid ends as they fall to Spain in quarter final

Posted by Sylvester No comments

NIGERIA'S Super Flamingos' gallant pursuit of the 2014 U17 Women's World Cup came to a heroic end last night after the team was knocked out in the quarter finals of the competition by Spain who beat them 3-0.

Despite putting up a gallant and brave fight, the Flamingos were overran by a strong Spanish side that struck once in the first half and twice in the second stanza. Spain will now face Italy in the semi-final after they too beat African opposition, seeing off Ghana in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw.

Yesterday's defeat ended a seven-match unbeaten run for Nigeria in this tournament dating back to 2012 and fell one match short of the record sequence established by Japan between 2010 and 2012. It also means that there will be no African team in the semi final as the other tie will be played between Japan and Venezuela, who eliminated Mexico and Canada respectively.

During the first half of yesterday's game in the Estadio Edgardo Baltodano Briceño in the north western Costa Rican city of Liberia, the contest was played at a good tempo. Immediately after New Zealand referee Anna-Marie Keighley got proceedings going, both sides attacked in what was an end-to-end game but it was the Spaniard who were lucky to break the deadlock in the 14th minute.

Nigeria’s Ugochi Emenayo was alleged to have tripped Andrea Falcon who was running into the penalty area at speed, forcing the referee to point to the penalty spot. Patri Guijarro made no mistake from the resultant kick, beating goalkeeper Onyinye Okeke with a drive down low to her right.

Despite mounting several attacks of their own, the Flamingos did not get behind the Spanish defence enough and failed to give goalkeeper Elena De Toro enough to worry about. At the break though, the Spanish were only a goal up and both sides came in the second half knowing that the next goal was crucial.

Fortunately for the Spanish, it was they who scored what was arguably the most important goal in the match when Nahikari Garcia found the back of the net in the 58th minute. Dominguez, who was proving to be the danger woman, set up Garcia this time with a through pass which she slotted home after an error of judgement by goalkeeper Okeke who came off her line unnecessarily.

After that, the Flamingos had a few more attempts on goal but appeared to have lost the spirit which they displayed in the second half. In the 71st minute, the game was effectively ended when a fierce strike from Sandra Hernandez slipped through the hands of Okeke and Guijarro was there to force the ball home from close range.

NIGERIA'S Super Flamingos' gallant pursuit of the 2014 U17 Women's World Cup came to a heroic end last night after the team was knocked out in the quarter finals of the competition by Spain who beat them 3-0.

Despite putting up a gallant and brave fight, the Flamingos were overran by a strong Spanish side that struck once in the first half and twice in the second stanza. Spain will now face Italy in the semi-final after they too beat African opposition, seeing off Ghana in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw.

Yesterday's defeat ended a seven-match unbeaten run for Nigeria in this tournament dating back to 2012 and fell one match short of the record sequence established by Japan between 2010 and 2012. It also means that there will be no African team in the semi final as the other tie will be played between Japan and Venezuela, who eliminated Mexico and Canada respectively.

During the first half of yesterday's game in the Estadio Edgardo Baltodano Briceño in the north western Costa Rican city of Liberia, the contest was played at a good tempo. Immediately after New Zealand referee Anna-Marie Keighley got proceedings going, both sides attacked in what was an end-to-end game but it was the Spaniard who were lucky to break the deadlock in the 14th minute.

Nigeria’s Ugochi Emenayo was alleged to have tripped Andrea Falcon who was running into the penalty area at speed, forcing the referee to point to the penalty spot. Patri Guijarro made no mistake from the resultant kick, beating goalkeeper Onyinye Okeke with a drive down low to her right.

Despite mounting several attacks of their own, the Flamingos did not get behind the Spanish defence enough and failed to give goalkeeper Elena De Toro enough to worry about. At the break though, the Spanish were only a goal up and both sides came in the second half knowing that the next goal was crucial.

Fortunately for the Spanish, it was they who scored what was arguably the most important goal in the match when Nahikari Garcia found the back of the net in the 58th minute. Dominguez, who was proving to be the danger woman, set up Garcia this time with a through pass which she slotted home after an error of judgement by goalkeeper Okeke who came off her line unnecessarily.

After that, the Flamingos had a few more attempts on goal but appeared to have lost the spirit which they displayed in the second half. In the 71st minute, the game was effectively ended when a fierce strike from Sandra Hernandez slipped through the hands of Okeke and Guijarro was there to force the ball home from close range.
- See more at: http://www.nigerianwatch.com/news/4147-super-flamingos-heroic-u17-world-cup-bid-ends-as-they-fall-to-spain-in-quarter-final#sthash.GHx8SuWB.dpuf

Nigerian tourist escapes lynching by Indian mob who fail to understand his accent

NIGERIAN tourist Clinton Osemwegi Igbinosun escaped being lynched to death in India recently after an irate mob attacked him after suspecting he was a terrorist or a member of the guerrilla group known as the Naxalites.

 
 Since the start of this year, there has been increased tension between the local Indian population and the migrant Nigerian community. In January, India deported five Nigerians as part of an ongoing clampdown that has seen as many as 22 people arrested for over-staying in the country and locked up in special immigration centres.  

Over the last two months, Indian authorities have stepped up the arrest of Nigerian illegal immigrants across the country and has been deporting them. This was in response to a breakdown in the relationship between the two communities following the murder of a Nigerian at Parra in northern Goa on October 30, after which local Nigerians staged several protests.

Following the demonstrations, the authorities responded to with a series of arrests and those found without papers are being deported. Things appear to be heating up again, however, as Mr Igbinosun who lost his way while visiting was chased and thrashed by a mob, sustaining serious injuries.

He was apparently robbed of lost all his clothing and fell into an open sewer  as he fled for his life through the lanes of the village of Allapalli, in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. Exhausted and beaten, he lay naked in a narrow lane when he was rescued by the local police after midnight.

Police verified his claims and plan to hand him over to the Foreign Registration Office after he has recovered from his injuries. Apparently, Mr Igbinosun, who is visiting India on a tourist visa was heading to Bangalore from Delhi by a train but got irritated by the poor services and amenities in the train and disembarked at Nagpur on Wednesday morning.

He then decided to travel by bus and asked for directions but the local people failed to understand his African accent and gave him wrong directions, directing him to a bus heading to Ballarshah. On learning that he reached a wrong destination, Mr Igbinosun decided to head back to Allahabad from where he had initially started his journey but again was misdirected and boarded a bus for Allapalli.

He reached Allapalli at around 10pm and instantly understood that he had again reached a wrong place. People turned suspicious upon seeing the  six-and-half feet Nigerian as he started looking for a hotel and descended upon him.

Police spokesman Aheri Bauche, said: “His English in African accent is very difficult to understand. Also, his tall demeanour and African looks made people suspicious about him.”

Apparently, as the crowd around him grew bigger, Mr Igbinosun got afraid and started fleeing. People got more suspicious and started chasing him and after running for hours, he managed to dodge the crowd taking refuge in a narrow lane between two houses.

Nigerian tourist escapes lynching by Indian mob who fail to understand his accent

Posted by Sylvester No comments

NIGERIAN tourist Clinton Osemwegi Igbinosun escaped being lynched to death in India recently after an irate mob attacked him after suspecting he was a terrorist or a member of the guerrilla group known as the Naxalites.

 
 Since the start of this year, there has been increased tension between the local Indian population and the migrant Nigerian community. In January, India deported five Nigerians as part of an ongoing clampdown that has seen as many as 22 people arrested for over-staying in the country and locked up in special immigration centres.  

Over the last two months, Indian authorities have stepped up the arrest of Nigerian illegal immigrants across the country and has been deporting them. This was in response to a breakdown in the relationship between the two communities following the murder of a Nigerian at Parra in northern Goa on October 30, after which local Nigerians staged several protests.

Following the demonstrations, the authorities responded to with a series of arrests and those found without papers are being deported. Things appear to be heating up again, however, as Mr Igbinosun who lost his way while visiting was chased and thrashed by a mob, sustaining serious injuries.

He was apparently robbed of lost all his clothing and fell into an open sewer  as he fled for his life through the lanes of the village of Allapalli, in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. Exhausted and beaten, he lay naked in a narrow lane when he was rescued by the local police after midnight.

Police verified his claims and plan to hand him over to the Foreign Registration Office after he has recovered from his injuries. Apparently, Mr Igbinosun, who is visiting India on a tourist visa was heading to Bangalore from Delhi by a train but got irritated by the poor services and amenities in the train and disembarked at Nagpur on Wednesday morning.

He then decided to travel by bus and asked for directions but the local people failed to understand his African accent and gave him wrong directions, directing him to a bus heading to Ballarshah. On learning that he reached a wrong destination, Mr Igbinosun decided to head back to Allahabad from where he had initially started his journey but again was misdirected and boarded a bus for Allapalli.

He reached Allapalli at around 10pm and instantly understood that he had again reached a wrong place. People turned suspicious upon seeing the  six-and-half feet Nigerian as he started looking for a hotel and descended upon him.

Police spokesman Aheri Bauche, said: “His English in African accent is very difficult to understand. Also, his tall demeanour and African looks made people suspicious about him.”

Apparently, as the crowd around him grew bigger, Mr Igbinosun got afraid and started fleeing. People got more suspicious and started chasing him and after running for hours, he managed to dodge the crowd taking refuge in a narrow lane between two houses.

BREAKING: Explosions Rock Abuja Shopping Plaza — Gas Cylinders

Residents scampered for safety on Thursday as explosion rocks Shagari Plaza on Moshood Abiola Way, Garki-Area One, Abuja.

 The quick succession in which the explosion occurred made customers and neighbours to scamper into safety. Many expressed fears that it was a bomb explosion.

But an eyewitness account said the first explosion occurred at about 5:17pm when a gas cylinder exploded. A jeep parked close to the gas dispenser went up in flames.

The gas retailer, who tried to recover his money kept under one of the cylinders, was also caught in the explosion while trying to save his earnings for the day. “He kept it under one of the cylinders. As he was trying to take the money, another cylinder exploded,” another eyewitness said.

Another witness said the retailer took delivery of the gas supply on Wednesday.

“They just supplied him the gas yesterday (Wednesday). We are surprised because we still don’t know what happened. We only heard a big bang,” he said.

The retailer was said to be receiving treatments at an undisclosed hospital as of the time of filing this report.

Stern looking soldiers were seen leaving the plaza when our correspondents got there.

Source: THE PUNCH

BREAKING: Explosions Rock Abuja Shopping Plaza — Gas Cylinders

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Residents scampered for safety on Thursday as explosion rocks Shagari Plaza on Moshood Abiola Way, Garki-Area One, Abuja.

 The quick succession in which the explosion occurred made customers and neighbours to scamper into safety. Many expressed fears that it was a bomb explosion.

But an eyewitness account said the first explosion occurred at about 5:17pm when a gas cylinder exploded. A jeep parked close to the gas dispenser went up in flames.

The gas retailer, who tried to recover his money kept under one of the cylinders, was also caught in the explosion while trying to save his earnings for the day. “He kept it under one of the cylinders. As he was trying to take the money, another cylinder exploded,” another eyewitness said.

Another witness said the retailer took delivery of the gas supply on Wednesday.

“They just supplied him the gas yesterday (Wednesday). We are surprised because we still don’t know what happened. We only heard a big bang,” he said.

The retailer was said to be receiving treatments at an undisclosed hospital as of the time of filing this report.

Stern looking soldiers were seen leaving the plaza when our correspondents got there.

Source: THE PUNCH

Search Click here to read the manifesto Police take Benin woman into protective custody after 75 year old dies on top of her .

POLICE in Benin have taken a married woman into protective custody to prevent her being lynched by an irate mob after a 75-year old man she was having sexual intercourse with slumped and died while in bed with her.

According to the police, the man, popularly known as Elder David, gave up the ghost after his secret liaison with the married woman in a hotel in the Government Reservation Area of Benin City at about 1pm. His corpse was then taken to the Benin Central Hospital and it was while there that a mob tried to attack the woman.

One of Elder David's sons said his father left home 45 minutes before the tragic incident and the next thing that happened was then receiving a call from the police. Apparently, the police and their father's lover were both with him in the hospital when the call came in and the lady had to be hurried ferried away for her own safety.

Elder David's son said: “We were called by the police to come to the Benin Central Hospital, only to see my father’s corpse. When we enquired, the doctors on duty said my father was brought stone-dead to the hospital.”

It is not yet clear if the lady will be charged with manslaughter or if the police will treat the matter as an accident. Last month, a similar occurrence happened when a man identified as Ogadinma Chukwu, lost his life while having intercourse with a commercial sex worker at a popular brothel located on St Michael’s Road in Aba, Abia State.
-o

POLICE in Benin have taken a married woman into protective custody to prevent her being lynched by an irate mob after a 75-year old man she was having sexual intercourse with slumped and died while in bed with her.

According to the police, the man, popularly known as Elder David, gave up the ghost after his secret liaison with the married woman in a hotel in the Government Reservation Area of Benin City at about 1pm. His corpse was then taken to the Benin Central Hospital and it was while there that a mob tried to attack the woman.

One of Elder David's sons said his father left home 45 minutes before the tragic incident and the next thing that happened was then receiving a call from the police. Apparently, the police and their father's lover were both with him in the hospital when the call came in and the lady had to be hurried ferried away for her own safety.

Elder David's son said: “We were called by the police to come to the Benin Central Hospital, only to see my father’s corpse. When we enquired, the doctors on duty said my father was brought stone-dead to the hospital.”

It is not yet clear if the lady will be charged with manslaughter or if the police will treat the matter as an accident. Last month, a similar occurrence happened when a man identified as Ogadinma Chukwu, lost his life while having intercourse with a commercial sex worker at a popular brothel located on St Michael’s Road in Aba, Abia State.
- See more at: http://www.nigerianwatch.com/news/4149-police-take-benin-woman-into-protective-custody-after-75-year-old-dies-on-top-of-her#sthash.JSjNijBU.6IY5hCoG.dpuf

POLICE in Benin have taken a married woman into protective custody to prevent her being lynched by an irate mob after a 75-year old man she was having sexual intercourse with slumped and died while in bed with her.

According to the police, the man, popularly known as Elder David, gave up the ghost after his secret liaison with the married woman in a hotel in the Government Reservation Area of Benin City at about 1pm. His corpse was then taken to the Benin Central Hospital and it was while there that a mob tried to attack the woman.

One of Elder David's sons said his father left home 45 minutes before the tragic incident and the next thing that happened was then receiving a call from the police. Apparently, the police and their father's lover were both with him in the hospital when the call came in and the lady had to be hurried ferried away for her own safety.

Elder David's son said: “We were called by the police to come to the Benin Central Hospital, only to see my father’s corpse. When we enquired, the doctors on duty said my father was brought stone-dead to the hospital.”

It is not yet clear if the lady will be charged with manslaughter or if the police will treat the matter as an accident. Last month, a similar occurrence happened when a man identified as Ogadinma Chukwu, lost his life while having intercourse with a commercial sex worker at a popular brothel located on St Michael’s Road in Aba, Abia State.
- See more at: http://www.nigerianwatch.com/news/4149-police-take-benin-woman-into-protective-custody-after-75-year-old-dies-on-top-of-her#sthash.JSjNijBU.6IY5hCoG.dpuf

POLICE in Benin have taken a married woman into protective custody to prevent her being lynched by an irate mob after a 75-year old man she was having sexual intercourse with slumped and died while in bed with her.

According to the police, the man, popularly known as Elder David, gave up the ghost after his secret liaison with the married woman in a hotel in the Government Reservation Area of Benin City at about 1pm. His corpse was then taken to the Benin Central Hospital and it was while there that a mob tried to attack the woman.

One of Elder David's sons said his father left home 45 minutes before the tragic incident and the next thing that happened was then receiving a call from the police. Apparently, the police and their father's lover were both with him in the hospital when the call came in and the lady had to be hurried ferried away for her own safety.

Elder David's son said: “We were called by the police to come to the Benin Central Hospital, only to see my father’s corpse. When we enquired, the doctors on duty said my father was brought stone-dead to the hospital.”

It is not yet clear if the lady will be charged with manslaughter or if the police will treat the matter as an accident. Last month, a similar occurrence happened when a man identified as Ogadinma Chukwu, lost his life while having intercourse with a commercial sex worker at a popular brothel located on St Michael’s Road in Aba, Abia State.
- See more at: http://www.nigerianwatch.com/news/4149-police-take-benin-woman-into-protective-custody-after-75-year-old-dies-on-top-of-her#sthash.JSjNijBU.6IY5hCoG.dpuf

Search Click here to read the manifesto Police take Benin woman into protective custody after 75 year old dies on top of her .

Posted by Sylvester No comments

POLICE in Benin have taken a married woman into protective custody to prevent her being lynched by an irate mob after a 75-year old man she was having sexual intercourse with slumped and died while in bed with her.

According to the police, the man, popularly known as Elder David, gave up the ghost after his secret liaison with the married woman in a hotel in the Government Reservation Area of Benin City at about 1pm. His corpse was then taken to the Benin Central Hospital and it was while there that a mob tried to attack the woman.

One of Elder David's sons said his father left home 45 minutes before the tragic incident and the next thing that happened was then receiving a call from the police. Apparently, the police and their father's lover were both with him in the hospital when the call came in and the lady had to be hurried ferried away for her own safety.

Elder David's son said: “We were called by the police to come to the Benin Central Hospital, only to see my father’s corpse. When we enquired, the doctors on duty said my father was brought stone-dead to the hospital.”

It is not yet clear if the lady will be charged with manslaughter or if the police will treat the matter as an accident. Last month, a similar occurrence happened when a man identified as Ogadinma Chukwu, lost his life while having intercourse with a commercial sex worker at a popular brothel located on St Michael’s Road in Aba, Abia State.
-o

POLICE in Benin have taken a married woman into protective custody to prevent her being lynched by an irate mob after a 75-year old man she was having sexual intercourse with slumped and died while in bed with her.

According to the police, the man, popularly known as Elder David, gave up the ghost after his secret liaison with the married woman in a hotel in the Government Reservation Area of Benin City at about 1pm. His corpse was then taken to the Benin Central Hospital and it was while there that a mob tried to attack the woman.

One of Elder David's sons said his father left home 45 minutes before the tragic incident and the next thing that happened was then receiving a call from the police. Apparently, the police and their father's lover were both with him in the hospital when the call came in and the lady had to be hurried ferried away for her own safety.

Elder David's son said: “We were called by the police to come to the Benin Central Hospital, only to see my father’s corpse. When we enquired, the doctors on duty said my father was brought stone-dead to the hospital.”

It is not yet clear if the lady will be charged with manslaughter or if the police will treat the matter as an accident. Last month, a similar occurrence happened when a man identified as Ogadinma Chukwu, lost his life while having intercourse with a commercial sex worker at a popular brothel located on St Michael’s Road in Aba, Abia State.
- See more at: http://www.nigerianwatch.com/news/4149-police-take-benin-woman-into-protective-custody-after-75-year-old-dies-on-top-of-her#sthash.JSjNijBU.6IY5hCoG.dpuf

POLICE in Benin have taken a married woman into protective custody to prevent her being lynched by an irate mob after a 75-year old man she was having sexual intercourse with slumped and died while in bed with her.

According to the police, the man, popularly known as Elder David, gave up the ghost after his secret liaison with the married woman in a hotel in the Government Reservation Area of Benin City at about 1pm. His corpse was then taken to the Benin Central Hospital and it was while there that a mob tried to attack the woman.

One of Elder David's sons said his father left home 45 minutes before the tragic incident and the next thing that happened was then receiving a call from the police. Apparently, the police and their father's lover were both with him in the hospital when the call came in and the lady had to be hurried ferried away for her own safety.

Elder David's son said: “We were called by the police to come to the Benin Central Hospital, only to see my father’s corpse. When we enquired, the doctors on duty said my father was brought stone-dead to the hospital.”

It is not yet clear if the lady will be charged with manslaughter or if the police will treat the matter as an accident. Last month, a similar occurrence happened when a man identified as Ogadinma Chukwu, lost his life while having intercourse with a commercial sex worker at a popular brothel located on St Michael’s Road in Aba, Abia State.
- See more at: http://www.nigerianwatch.com/news/4149-police-take-benin-woman-into-protective-custody-after-75-year-old-dies-on-top-of-her#sthash.JSjNijBU.6IY5hCoG.dpuf

POLICE in Benin have taken a married woman into protective custody to prevent her being lynched by an irate mob after a 75-year old man she was having sexual intercourse with slumped and died while in bed with her.

According to the police, the man, popularly known as Elder David, gave up the ghost after his secret liaison with the married woman in a hotel in the Government Reservation Area of Benin City at about 1pm. His corpse was then taken to the Benin Central Hospital and it was while there that a mob tried to attack the woman.

One of Elder David's sons said his father left home 45 minutes before the tragic incident and the next thing that happened was then receiving a call from the police. Apparently, the police and their father's lover were both with him in the hospital when the call came in and the lady had to be hurried ferried away for her own safety.

Elder David's son said: “We were called by the police to come to the Benin Central Hospital, only to see my father’s corpse. When we enquired, the doctors on duty said my father was brought stone-dead to the hospital.”

It is not yet clear if the lady will be charged with manslaughter or if the police will treat the matter as an accident. Last month, a similar occurrence happened when a man identified as Ogadinma Chukwu, lost his life while having intercourse with a commercial sex worker at a popular brothel located on St Michael’s Road in Aba, Abia State.
- See more at: http://www.nigerianwatch.com/news/4149-police-take-benin-woman-into-protective-custody-after-75-year-old-dies-on-top-of-her#sthash.JSjNijBU.6IY5hCoG.dpuf

Billionaire Dangote, Gov. Fashola Accused Of Using Police To Snatch Disputed Land

Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote and Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola are using ruthless police officers to evacuate residents of the Idasho community in order to facilitate the billionaire’s take-over of a huge parcel of land.

Police officers from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) today invaded the Idasho community to force the residents out of their land which Mr. Dangote, a billionaire businessman, wants to acquire. Eyewitnesses told SaharaReporters that the policemen arrived at about noon (Nigerian time) and arrested any residents who protested their invasion. Two eyewitnesses also reported that the officers began shooting in the air and lobbing teargas at Panseke, one of the villages in the community.

   Daily News9ja-When Dangote Comes For Your Land by Peregrino Brimah

One resident said the policemen were irked when some members of the community accosted them and served them a notice indicating that the land is a subject of an ongoing lawsuit. The invading officers defied the notice of court process. They arrested and took away residents, including women, who informed them that they were in court over the land.

“Who born you?” one of the police officers reportedly said, waving off the residents.

A few weeks ago, Governor Fashola had told community leaders in the affected area that their land would be used as the site of a petrochemical plant proposed by Mr. Dangote. The community leaders had protested the move, demanding to be duly resettled and fully compensated.
A community spokesman who asked for anonymity accused the Lagos State government, in collaboration with the handlers of the Lekki Free Zone Project and Mr. Dangote, of being determined to force the residents out without any form of compensation or resettlement.

Mr. Fashola had earlier used policemen from nearby local police stations to terrorize the residents of the community. A resident claimed that the governor and Mr. Dangote decided to call in officers from a dreaded anti-robbery unit because the local police officers, on learning that the case was in court, had declined to continue harassing the residents.

    NewsRescue-The 10 Real Tips to Becoming a Billionaire like Dangote by Dr. Peregrino Brimah

A police officer at the Akodo Police Station near the community told SaharaReporters that they had shown reluctance to heed Governor Fashola’s deployment requests to the community, stating that they were aware the disputed land was in court.
A community member accused Mr. Dangote of using his wealth to manipulate policemen from the SARS to “clear” the area of residents in order to move forward with his refinery project.

Several residents also asserted that, two weeks ago, the Lagos State Government had used police officers to frame up residents by accusing them of stealing tools from the site. They said officials of the Free Zone management raised a false alarm that some equipment was missing from the site they proposed for Mr. Dangote’s petrochemical plant. “Police just came here and arrested people,” one of the residents disclosed.

A member of the staff of the Free Zone confirmed to our correspondent that no tools were missing or stolen. Even so, the arrested residents were arraigned in court on trumped-up theft charges.

“This is a vicious attack on us by Governor Fashola. He desperately wants to give our land to Dangote without doing the proper thing,” one community leader said.

One resident said he called his sister, arrested by the invading police, to know her whereabouts, but a police officer answered her phone. The man said the officer warned him that they were on a mission to “clear the land for Alhaji Dangote.”

Billionaire Dangote, Gov. Fashola Accused Of Using Police To Snatch Disputed Land

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote and Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola are using ruthless police officers to evacuate residents of the Idasho community in order to facilitate the billionaire’s take-over of a huge parcel of land.

Police officers from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) today invaded the Idasho community to force the residents out of their land which Mr. Dangote, a billionaire businessman, wants to acquire. Eyewitnesses told SaharaReporters that the policemen arrived at about noon (Nigerian time) and arrested any residents who protested their invasion. Two eyewitnesses also reported that the officers began shooting in the air and lobbing teargas at Panseke, one of the villages in the community.

   Daily News9ja-When Dangote Comes For Your Land by Peregrino Brimah

One resident said the policemen were irked when some members of the community accosted them and served them a notice indicating that the land is a subject of an ongoing lawsuit. The invading officers defied the notice of court process. They arrested and took away residents, including women, who informed them that they were in court over the land.

“Who born you?” one of the police officers reportedly said, waving off the residents.

A few weeks ago, Governor Fashola had told community leaders in the affected area that their land would be used as the site of a petrochemical plant proposed by Mr. Dangote. The community leaders had protested the move, demanding to be duly resettled and fully compensated.
A community spokesman who asked for anonymity accused the Lagos State government, in collaboration with the handlers of the Lekki Free Zone Project and Mr. Dangote, of being determined to force the residents out without any form of compensation or resettlement.

Mr. Fashola had earlier used policemen from nearby local police stations to terrorize the residents of the community. A resident claimed that the governor and Mr. Dangote decided to call in officers from a dreaded anti-robbery unit because the local police officers, on learning that the case was in court, had declined to continue harassing the residents.

    NewsRescue-The 10 Real Tips to Becoming a Billionaire like Dangote by Dr. Peregrino Brimah

A police officer at the Akodo Police Station near the community told SaharaReporters that they had shown reluctance to heed Governor Fashola’s deployment requests to the community, stating that they were aware the disputed land was in court.
A community member accused Mr. Dangote of using his wealth to manipulate policemen from the SARS to “clear” the area of residents in order to move forward with his refinery project.

Several residents also asserted that, two weeks ago, the Lagos State Government had used police officers to frame up residents by accusing them of stealing tools from the site. They said officials of the Free Zone management raised a false alarm that some equipment was missing from the site they proposed for Mr. Dangote’s petrochemical plant. “Police just came here and arrested people,” one of the residents disclosed.

A member of the staff of the Free Zone confirmed to our correspondent that no tools were missing or stolen. Even so, the arrested residents were arraigned in court on trumped-up theft charges.

“This is a vicious attack on us by Governor Fashola. He desperately wants to give our land to Dangote without doing the proper thing,” one community leader said.

One resident said he called his sister, arrested by the invading police, to know her whereabouts, but a police officer answered her phone. The man said the officer warned him that they were on a mission to “clear the land for Alhaji Dangote.”

TRAC Disclaimer: The posting of this video is by no means an act of promoting this group, their ideologies, tactics, or actions; nor is this video being posted as any form of entertainment. TRAC, their owners, publishers, editors, contributors or employees nor any person or persons associated with TRAC do not in any way condone any and all actions by this group or any of its factions and/or affiliates. TRAC's main purpose is to continuously work to educate the masses about terrorism and political violence in the world, so that we may work together to put an end to senseless crimes against humanity.

For more information on this incident or this group or groups, please visit: http://www.trackingterrorism.org/grou...

Posted by Sylvester No comments

TRAC Disclaimer: The posting of this video is by no means an act of promoting this group, their ideologies, tactics, or actions; nor is this video being posted as any form of entertainment. TRAC, their owners, publishers, editors, contributors or employees nor any person or persons associated with TRAC do not in any way condone any and all actions by this group or any of its factions and/or affiliates. TRAC's main purpose is to continuously work to educate the masses about terrorism and political violence in the world, so that we may work together to put an end to senseless crimes against humanity.

For more information on this incident or this group or groups, please visit: http://www.trackingterrorism.org/grou...

Jonathan’s Government is Behind Boko Haram – Northern Governors tell Obama

During a meeting between twelve Northern Governors, and key officials of President Obama’s cabinet, several governors belonging to the platform of the All Progressives Congress told U.S officials that the Jonathan administration was suspected by them to be aiding the insurgents causing terror in the North. 

The startling accusation is said to have caused Prof Ade Adefuye, the Nigerian ambassador to the United States to come to the defense of the GEJ administration but not before the damage had already been done.

Guardian reports:

WITH top U.S. government officials, including President Barack Obama’s National Security Adviser, Ms. Susan Rice, who was presiding, the issue of Boko Haram, 2015 elections and corruption among the Nigerian political elite became a hot debate at the White House earlier last week.

A meeting of 12 Northern State governors (and a deputy governor) and the US government on Tuesday in Washington DC took a dramatic turn when some of the governors, especially Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, initiated a frontal attack on President Goodluck Jonathan, forcing the Nigeria’s Ambassador to the U.S., Ade Adefuye, who was also in attendance, to join the fray, objecting to some of the comments against the President and the Federal Government.

Although Nyako was said to be the most vocal, he was not alone in raising critical views about the president and his policies, as the Borno and Kano State Governors also knocked hard on the Jonathan presidency.

The meeting was organised by the US government, through the US Institute of Peace, with a view to exploring how the Americans can work together with state governments in the North to address the Boko Haram insurgency and the underlying problem of socio-economic under-development in the region.

Present at the meeting in the Washington DC were governors Nyako (Adamawa), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Kashim Shetima (Borno), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and Abdulfattah Ahmed (Kwara).

Others are Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Idris Wada (Kogi), Usman Dakingari (Kebbi) and Prof. Ade Adefuye.

In attendance on the US side (in addition to Rice) were: Ambassador Johnnie Carson, Adviser (United States Institute of Peace), Mr. Grant Harris, Special Adviser to President Obama on Africa, Mr. John Mohr – Senior Staff Member – National Security Council and Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Ms Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

Authoritative sources disclosed to The Guardian that Nyako, a former PDP governor, who switched camp to the APC, raised very sensitive issues, including allegations that the Federal Government failed to block importation of weapons into the country; weapons, which are being used to fuel the Boko Haram insurgency.

Nyako also alleged that federal security agencies were colluding with backers of Boko Haram to perpetuate the conflict in the North. He said such security agencies were the ones facilitating the clearance of arms and ammunitions through the border and transporting same to the terrorists.

The Adamawa State governor, who was said to have caused a grim silence by his allegations at the White House meeting, also claimed that the Jonathan presidency refused to identify Boko Haram sponsors despite arrest of some of the members.

He cited particular instances where the military JTF were withdrawn in some of the locations in the three states where the terrorists’ activities have been intense, just in time for the terrorists to attack those locations. According to Governor Nyako, he was convinced that information was being passed from the security agencies to help the terrorists.

But Nyako’s main allegation was the motive behind the alleged collusion, which he said is a way to reduce the voting power of the North East in 2015 and subsequent polls, and keep the region perpetually underdeveloped.

It took the spirited response of the Nigerian Ambassador to the USA, Adefuye, and some of the other governors to halt Nyako’s allegations. Sources said Adefuye challenged Nyako to provide evidence for his allegations, and tongue-lashed him for playing politics of 2015 at the meeting.

Adefuye “did not take kindly to the allegations,” and the fact that the meeting was used by Nyako in particular to attack President Jonathan and the Federal Government, sources disclosed.

The source said the Ambassador “had to call Nyako to order,” and even sought the intervention of the organisers and other participants to ensure that the meeting did not turn into a forum to “wash Nigeria’s linen in public.” Sources said hot heads cooled after the Ambassador’s intervention.

Besides the Ambassador, the Governor of Kogi also opposed Nyako, especially explaining that the examples the Adamawa governor gave regarding how JTF people retreated from a location just before Boko Haram attacked were just coincidental.

Other Governors, who were critical over the Boko Haram issue, included the Borno Governor, Shettima, who also criticised the President and the Federal Government’s handling of the Boko Haram insurgency. However, Shettima also hoped that the insurgency would soon abate, urging for accelerated developmental projects in the affected states.

All the while, the US officials, including Rice, the NSA, kept listening, according to sources. Only few weeks ago, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Ms Linda Thomas-Greenfield, publicly challenged the Nigerian government to expose the backers of Boko Haram.

Governors of Kano and Gombe, however, also had a “fight” over the issue of corruption in Nigeria at the White House meeting when the Gombe Governor said the issue of corruption among Nigeria’s political elite is thriving because if a politician is accused of corruption all he has to do is to join the opposition party. Taking this as a direct personal attack, the Kano State Governor responded in annoyance that he did not leave PDP for APC because of corruption charges.

$20bn NNPC unremitted funds still missing from the Federation Account. Mr. President, what are you doing about it?

Jonathan’s Government is Behind Boko Haram – Northern Governors tell Obama

Posted by Sylvester No comments

During a meeting between twelve Northern Governors, and key officials of President Obama’s cabinet, several governors belonging to the platform of the All Progressives Congress told U.S officials that the Jonathan administration was suspected by them to be aiding the insurgents causing terror in the North. 

The startling accusation is said to have caused Prof Ade Adefuye, the Nigerian ambassador to the United States to come to the defense of the GEJ administration but not before the damage had already been done.

Guardian reports:

WITH top U.S. government officials, including President Barack Obama’s National Security Adviser, Ms. Susan Rice, who was presiding, the issue of Boko Haram, 2015 elections and corruption among the Nigerian political elite became a hot debate at the White House earlier last week.

A meeting of 12 Northern State governors (and a deputy governor) and the US government on Tuesday in Washington DC took a dramatic turn when some of the governors, especially Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, initiated a frontal attack on President Goodluck Jonathan, forcing the Nigeria’s Ambassador to the U.S., Ade Adefuye, who was also in attendance, to join the fray, objecting to some of the comments against the President and the Federal Government.

Although Nyako was said to be the most vocal, he was not alone in raising critical views about the president and his policies, as the Borno and Kano State Governors also knocked hard on the Jonathan presidency.

The meeting was organised by the US government, through the US Institute of Peace, with a view to exploring how the Americans can work together with state governments in the North to address the Boko Haram insurgency and the underlying problem of socio-economic under-development in the region.

Present at the meeting in the Washington DC were governors Nyako (Adamawa), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Kashim Shetima (Borno), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and Abdulfattah Ahmed (Kwara).

Others are Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Idris Wada (Kogi), Usman Dakingari (Kebbi) and Prof. Ade Adefuye.

In attendance on the US side (in addition to Rice) were: Ambassador Johnnie Carson, Adviser (United States Institute of Peace), Mr. Grant Harris, Special Adviser to President Obama on Africa, Mr. John Mohr – Senior Staff Member – National Security Council and Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Ms Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

Authoritative sources disclosed to The Guardian that Nyako, a former PDP governor, who switched camp to the APC, raised very sensitive issues, including allegations that the Federal Government failed to block importation of weapons into the country; weapons, which are being used to fuel the Boko Haram insurgency.

Nyako also alleged that federal security agencies were colluding with backers of Boko Haram to perpetuate the conflict in the North. He said such security agencies were the ones facilitating the clearance of arms and ammunitions through the border and transporting same to the terrorists.

The Adamawa State governor, who was said to have caused a grim silence by his allegations at the White House meeting, also claimed that the Jonathan presidency refused to identify Boko Haram sponsors despite arrest of some of the members.

He cited particular instances where the military JTF were withdrawn in some of the locations in the three states where the terrorists’ activities have been intense, just in time for the terrorists to attack those locations. According to Governor Nyako, he was convinced that information was being passed from the security agencies to help the terrorists.

But Nyako’s main allegation was the motive behind the alleged collusion, which he said is a way to reduce the voting power of the North East in 2015 and subsequent polls, and keep the region perpetually underdeveloped.

It took the spirited response of the Nigerian Ambassador to the USA, Adefuye, and some of the other governors to halt Nyako’s allegations. Sources said Adefuye challenged Nyako to provide evidence for his allegations, and tongue-lashed him for playing politics of 2015 at the meeting.

Adefuye “did not take kindly to the allegations,” and the fact that the meeting was used by Nyako in particular to attack President Jonathan and the Federal Government, sources disclosed.

The source said the Ambassador “had to call Nyako to order,” and even sought the intervention of the organisers and other participants to ensure that the meeting did not turn into a forum to “wash Nigeria’s linen in public.” Sources said hot heads cooled after the Ambassador’s intervention.

Besides the Ambassador, the Governor of Kogi also opposed Nyako, especially explaining that the examples the Adamawa governor gave regarding how JTF people retreated from a location just before Boko Haram attacked were just coincidental.

Other Governors, who were critical over the Boko Haram issue, included the Borno Governor, Shettima, who also criticised the President and the Federal Government’s handling of the Boko Haram insurgency. However, Shettima also hoped that the insurgency would soon abate, urging for accelerated developmental projects in the affected states.

All the while, the US officials, including Rice, the NSA, kept listening, according to sources. Only few weeks ago, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Ms Linda Thomas-Greenfield, publicly challenged the Nigerian government to expose the backers of Boko Haram.

Governors of Kano and Gombe, however, also had a “fight” over the issue of corruption in Nigeria at the White House meeting when the Gombe Governor said the issue of corruption among Nigeria’s political elite is thriving because if a politician is accused of corruption all he has to do is to join the opposition party. Taking this as a direct personal attack, the Kano State Governor responded in annoyance that he did not leave PDP for APC because of corruption charges.

$20bn NNPC unremitted funds still missing from the Federation Account. Mr. President, what are you doing about it?

What Is The Purpose Of Education In Nigeria?

It has become imperative on us to ask ourselves the questions of why do Nigerians go to school and what do they want to achieve by being educated? This is in consideration of the new dimension unemployment has assumed in the country in recent times. Just over a week ago, we witnessed a tragic situation in which according to newspaper and eyewitness reports, twenty one Nigerians lost their lives and many others sustained different degrees of injuries in search of jobs with the Nigerian Immigration Service. Apart from the dead, fainted, slumped and the injured, hundred others lost all or some of their heard-earned academic credentials.

The aftermath of the cancelled immigration recruitment exercise is no doubt a national embarrassment which did not only went a long way in describing the rate and severity of unemployment in the country, but has also shown the vulnerability of educated Nigerian youths and uselessness of education when it is only used as a tool to search for employment. Sometimes events like this happen for us to derive some lessons because when they occur, they raise important questions.

Now back to our question: what is the purpose of education in Nigeria? A direct answer to this question is that, as much as arguably 96% of Nigerians get educated in order to earn a living. If that is the case then, is education a way to earn a living or is it a means to gain knowledge and become civilized so as to decide how best to live?

U.S Publisher and politician, Malcolm Forbes once said: “Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.” Tijjani Shu’aibu Adamu, an experienced Nigerian educationist described education as an agent of social mobility which is capable of moving an individual from the lower class to the upper class. Therefore, it is an instrument for developing an individual socially, mentally, physically, emotionally, morally and psychologically.

Tijjani went further to concur with Taiwo’s view on education as a process which enables a person to distinguish between good and bad attitudes, right and wrong behaviours, just and unjust tendencies, social and anti-social habits in the society so as to prepare an individual for the future. I would personally define education as a combination of tools and techniques used to gain empirical knowledge about the useful components of life and how best to make use of them, recognize the useless ones and how best to avoid them and to establish a clear cut boundaries between them.

What do we have now? Education in Nigeria has been relegated to the means of livelihood. If not for the expectation of monetary employment, most Nigerians would not go to school. Is this the kind of education we want? Have we ever asked ourselves why the high number of graduates we produce every year signifies education growth but does not reflect in our national development? This is because most people are not willing to become professionals, develop careers, gain and apply knowledge, understand life from an intellectual point of view and offer solutions to life problems. Rather, we are all seeking for jobs which do not exist.

Now we are faced with two major problems. One is completely turning education into a means of survival and two is completely relying on government to provide direct jobs. As long as we don’t take care of these problems, we are bound to witness more and more scenarios of the immigration recruitment exercise. In fact, we can only expect things to get worse and nastier. As long as we continue to produce graduates whose only objective is to get direct employment, which no government can provide, then we shall witness not only accidental deaths but deliberate killings of each other in order to gain employment. God forbid.

For many years, the Nigerian education system has been suffering immensely simply because it has been completely relegated into a process of providing employment. This is the reason why students graduate empty headed because they were never after the knowledge in the first place but the grades and certificates. Students are being made to believe by their parents, teachers and society consciously and subconsciously that the major objective of school is to work and earn a living.

The best way to get out of this quagmire is to develop reliable means of livelihood as we go to school so that after graduating, any job gotten could be just a supplementary means and a path to career development. This will enable us to avoid bizarre scenarios where an engineer works in a bank or a historian working in a construction company just because they need something to support their lives. Do you want me to believe that a reasonable number of the about 7 million immigration applicants who were made to part with a collective application fees of about 7 billion naira were willing to become immigration officers? The truth is that most of them applied not because they were interested but because they have been prepared from the beginning to have no choice. We must raise ourselves and our children to become farmers, entrepreneurs, traders, and artisans so that we can seek education for the purpose of knowledge and improvement of life quality only. If we fail not only to do this but to do it effectively, we may well regret in the future as I have come to understand that regret is not only about bad deeds, sometimes you regret about good deeds which you should have done better.

The second problem is of solely relying on governments to provide direct jobs which have succeeded in adding salt to our already severe injury. Federal, states and local governments in the country have continued to fool themselves and the people with the illusion that they can provide employment. Some politicians, out of ignorance make promises during electioneering campaigns that they will provide direct jobs for everybody. Other politicians do so deliberately under deceit just to secure votes. But the truth is that no government in Nigeria can provide direct employment to a satisfactory level.

At the moment, out of the 36 states of the federation, only Lagos state can fully pay the salaries of its workers without waiting for federal allocations. Few other states like Kano, Rivers and Oyo can pay a reasonable fraction of their salaries without federal allocations. Some states cannot even pay salaries at all without federal allocations. The Federal Government itself is suffering from huge recurrent expenditure mostly accrued due to salary payment of its large work force. Gradually, it is becoming apparent that the burden of salary payments is hugely taking its toll on the Federal Government. How then in the long run do we expect governments to continue employing directly?

What governments should do is to face reality and stop deceiving people with direct employment. They should rather encourage people to be creative and shift their thinking away from ordinary and conventional means of getting employment and try new initiatives. We must understand that when everybody follows established paths, there will be no creativity; we have to think beyond the normal way of doing things.

Secondly, the government should strengthen sectors like power, transportation, infrastructure, security and justice because such sectors have the potential of automatically creating and consolidating direct and indirect jobs. For example, if there is adequate security and power supply, businesses would run for 24 hours. When some people who conduct businesses during the day are asleep, some others who were resting during the day will conduct businesses during the night. Nigerian businesses will work for 24 hours with no valuable time to waste thereby hugely increasing productivity.

When power is available, thousands of jobs would be created both directly and indirectly. Therefore, advisably, rather than invest in providing direct jobs which cannot satisfy all, let the government strengthen security and power. We have seen what the telecommunication and entertainment industries have done to our economy through direct and indirect jobs creation with ripple effects and I think that success can be replicated in many other sectors. When this is done, governments will rely on its happy and self-employed citizens for taxes rather than the other way round.

What Is The Purpose Of Education In Nigeria?

Posted by Sylvester No comments

It has become imperative on us to ask ourselves the questions of why do Nigerians go to school and what do they want to achieve by being educated? This is in consideration of the new dimension unemployment has assumed in the country in recent times. Just over a week ago, we witnessed a tragic situation in which according to newspaper and eyewitness reports, twenty one Nigerians lost their lives and many others sustained different degrees of injuries in search of jobs with the Nigerian Immigration Service. Apart from the dead, fainted, slumped and the injured, hundred others lost all or some of their heard-earned academic credentials.

The aftermath of the cancelled immigration recruitment exercise is no doubt a national embarrassment which did not only went a long way in describing the rate and severity of unemployment in the country, but has also shown the vulnerability of educated Nigerian youths and uselessness of education when it is only used as a tool to search for employment. Sometimes events like this happen for us to derive some lessons because when they occur, they raise important questions.

Now back to our question: what is the purpose of education in Nigeria? A direct answer to this question is that, as much as arguably 96% of Nigerians get educated in order to earn a living. If that is the case then, is education a way to earn a living or is it a means to gain knowledge and become civilized so as to decide how best to live?

U.S Publisher and politician, Malcolm Forbes once said: “Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.” Tijjani Shu’aibu Adamu, an experienced Nigerian educationist described education as an agent of social mobility which is capable of moving an individual from the lower class to the upper class. Therefore, it is an instrument for developing an individual socially, mentally, physically, emotionally, morally and psychologically.

Tijjani went further to concur with Taiwo’s view on education as a process which enables a person to distinguish between good and bad attitudes, right and wrong behaviours, just and unjust tendencies, social and anti-social habits in the society so as to prepare an individual for the future. I would personally define education as a combination of tools and techniques used to gain empirical knowledge about the useful components of life and how best to make use of them, recognize the useless ones and how best to avoid them and to establish a clear cut boundaries between them.

What do we have now? Education in Nigeria has been relegated to the means of livelihood. If not for the expectation of monetary employment, most Nigerians would not go to school. Is this the kind of education we want? Have we ever asked ourselves why the high number of graduates we produce every year signifies education growth but does not reflect in our national development? This is because most people are not willing to become professionals, develop careers, gain and apply knowledge, understand life from an intellectual point of view and offer solutions to life problems. Rather, we are all seeking for jobs which do not exist.

Now we are faced with two major problems. One is completely turning education into a means of survival and two is completely relying on government to provide direct jobs. As long as we don’t take care of these problems, we are bound to witness more and more scenarios of the immigration recruitment exercise. In fact, we can only expect things to get worse and nastier. As long as we continue to produce graduates whose only objective is to get direct employment, which no government can provide, then we shall witness not only accidental deaths but deliberate killings of each other in order to gain employment. God forbid.

For many years, the Nigerian education system has been suffering immensely simply because it has been completely relegated into a process of providing employment. This is the reason why students graduate empty headed because they were never after the knowledge in the first place but the grades and certificates. Students are being made to believe by their parents, teachers and society consciously and subconsciously that the major objective of school is to work and earn a living.

The best way to get out of this quagmire is to develop reliable means of livelihood as we go to school so that after graduating, any job gotten could be just a supplementary means and a path to career development. This will enable us to avoid bizarre scenarios where an engineer works in a bank or a historian working in a construction company just because they need something to support their lives. Do you want me to believe that a reasonable number of the about 7 million immigration applicants who were made to part with a collective application fees of about 7 billion naira were willing to become immigration officers? The truth is that most of them applied not because they were interested but because they have been prepared from the beginning to have no choice. We must raise ourselves and our children to become farmers, entrepreneurs, traders, and artisans so that we can seek education for the purpose of knowledge and improvement of life quality only. If we fail not only to do this but to do it effectively, we may well regret in the future as I have come to understand that regret is not only about bad deeds, sometimes you regret about good deeds which you should have done better.

The second problem is of solely relying on governments to provide direct jobs which have succeeded in adding salt to our already severe injury. Federal, states and local governments in the country have continued to fool themselves and the people with the illusion that they can provide employment. Some politicians, out of ignorance make promises during electioneering campaigns that they will provide direct jobs for everybody. Other politicians do so deliberately under deceit just to secure votes. But the truth is that no government in Nigeria can provide direct employment to a satisfactory level.

At the moment, out of the 36 states of the federation, only Lagos state can fully pay the salaries of its workers without waiting for federal allocations. Few other states like Kano, Rivers and Oyo can pay a reasonable fraction of their salaries without federal allocations. Some states cannot even pay salaries at all without federal allocations. The Federal Government itself is suffering from huge recurrent expenditure mostly accrued due to salary payment of its large work force. Gradually, it is becoming apparent that the burden of salary payments is hugely taking its toll on the Federal Government. How then in the long run do we expect governments to continue employing directly?

What governments should do is to face reality and stop deceiving people with direct employment. They should rather encourage people to be creative and shift their thinking away from ordinary and conventional means of getting employment and try new initiatives. We must understand that when everybody follows established paths, there will be no creativity; we have to think beyond the normal way of doing things.

Secondly, the government should strengthen sectors like power, transportation, infrastructure, security and justice because such sectors have the potential of automatically creating and consolidating direct and indirect jobs. For example, if there is adequate security and power supply, businesses would run for 24 hours. When some people who conduct businesses during the day are asleep, some others who were resting during the day will conduct businesses during the night. Nigerian businesses will work for 24 hours with no valuable time to waste thereby hugely increasing productivity.

When power is available, thousands of jobs would be created both directly and indirectly. Therefore, advisably, rather than invest in providing direct jobs which cannot satisfy all, let the government strengthen security and power. We have seen what the telecommunication and entertainment industries have done to our economy through direct and indirect jobs creation with ripple effects and I think that success can be replicated in many other sectors. When this is done, governments will rely on its happy and self-employed citizens for taxes rather than the other way round.