Blog

Nigerian Army arrests fake officer in Ondo

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Arrest

By Mufutau Ogunyemi

Akure, Oct. 29, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Army has arrested an impostor, Mike Ajulo, parading himself as an Army officer in Ose Local Government of Ondo State.

Capt. Ojo Adenegan, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations,32 Artillery Brigade, Owena Cantonment, stated this in a statement in Akure on Saturday.

“A fake Army officer, Mike Ajulo, from Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State who has been impersonating as an Army Officer was arrested on Friday.

“His arrest was as a result of reported cases of Land Issues and other criminal activities against him and confession to some of the crimes reported against him.

“The Brigade is using this medium to inform the general public that Mike Ajulo is not an Army Officer and was never in any Military Service,”Adenegan said.

He, therefore, said that the suspect was still under investigation and would be charged to court  after the investigation. (NAN)

OMA/AMM/OFN

Edited by Abiemwense Moru//Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-4

Arrest

By Mohammad Tijjani
Kaduna, Oct 29, 2016 (NAN) The Police Command in Kaduna State says it arrested 168 suspected criminals in October for various criminal offences.

A statement by the Command’s Spokesman, ASP Aliyu Usman, said that the command charged 126 suspects to court while 42 others were still under investigation.

Usmansaid that several arms were also recovered from the suspects, and described the alleged rise in crime rates in Kaduna State as over bloated.

According to him, the Command has been working relentlessly toward crime prevention and has successfully checkmated notorious gangs and criminal syndicates in the state.

He said the command during the period under review recovered one  pump Action, No. 167; one  pump Lar Rifle, No. 22803; one  AK 47 Rifle, two  locally made pistols, one  locally made revolver gun, and one  locally made revolver pistol.

The others were one  Dane gun, while ammunition, seven rounds of live cartridges, six rounds of live 9.5mm ammunition, three Rounds of live 9mm ammunition, three Empty shells of 9mm ammunition and two AK47 magazines.

He said that those arrested were involve in armed robbery, kidnaping,  and others criminal activities in the state.

Us an said that  these achievements were recorded through the commands intelligence driven, aggressive and well-structured visibility patrol systems.

According to him, this involve a periodic, unscheduled but adequately organised raiding strategy that is proactive, preventive and offensive against crime in its description and execution.

“The successes recorded were also motivated by the goodwill received from stakeholders and various communities in the state as well as other security agencies,” Usman said.

He appeal to the public to give security operatives useful information to curtail any form of criminality in the state.(NAN)
TJ/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-9

Casualties
Maiduguri, Oct. 29, 2016 (NAN) By Ali Inuwa

The Nigerian Army on Saturday confirmed the killing of at least nine persons in twin blasts in Maiduguri.

Col. Mustapha Anka, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations Department, stated this in Maiduguri.

Anka said that the blast occurred at the Bakassi Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp and the NNPC fuel station along Damboa road.

” At about 7.05 a.m. this morning, there were twin simultaneous suicide bomb explosions at the entrance of Bakassi Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp and NNPC Mega Filling Station, Damboa Road, Maiduguri.
“At the Bakassi IDPs camp, a suspected female suicide bomber ran into a group of men and women at the entrance while they were coming out of the camp, killing 5 men and injuring 11 women.

“The bodies of the dead men and the injured women have been evacuated.

“At the NNPC, a female suicide bomber followed a fuel tanker in Keke NAPEP tricycle with the sole aim of gaining entry to cause maximum damage and casualty but was prevented from gaining access to the station by another vehicle.”

According to him, the suicide bomber exploded killing the three occupants of the tricycle with no report of injuries.

He said that the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), Brig.-Gen. Victor Ezugwu, had already visited the scene to get first class information.

“The Acting GOC 7 Division has already visited the place and appealed to the people to be calm as concerted efforts were on to ensure the safety of lives and property.

“Troops and security agencies have been mobilised and the injured have been evacuated while efforts are ongoing to comb the general area as well as entries and exits of Maiduguri.”

“While we commiserate with the families of the late victims of this cruel act and wish those injured speedy recovery, we would like to assure the public that efforts are ongoing to track those behind the dastardly acts.

“However, it is equally important to reiterate the need for more vigilance and security consciousness among all. Citizens are enjoined to report any suspicious persons or movements to the security agencies,”
he said.

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in a statement, has also confirmed the killing of nine persons in the blasts.

NEMA spokesman Sani Datti said nine persons were killed and 24 persons injured and evacuated to various hospitals from the explosion scenes in Maiduguri.(NAN)
ABI/NKO/NKO

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Edited by Nkechi Okoronkwo

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NAN-H-10

Communique

Asaba, Oct. 29, 2016 (NAN) The National Council on Information (NCI) has urged the media in Nigeria to expose corrupt public officials through investigative reporting with a view to instilling accountability in governance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the council made the call in a communique at the end of its 46th summit late Friday night in Asaba, Delta.

The council resolved to collaborate with the media in government’s war against corruption by urging them to adopt investigative journalism in exposing ill-gotten wealth in the public service.

“The media should be involved in exposing ill-gotten wealth through investigative journalism and make public office holders give account of their stewardship through the media regularly,” it said.

It also resolved to adopt the “Change Begins with Me” initiative of government at enthroning a new order and support the campaign for its successful implementation and sustainability.

The council pledged to ensure that broadcast challenges through technology were addressed through effective and transparent policies.

It said that it would encourage states in the country to activate their media platforms as veritable tools for promoting government policies and programmes and key into the ‘Change Begins with Me’ campaign.

It also resolved to support the collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies to formulate a new National Information Policy.

It urged Ministry of Information and Culture at federal and state levels to mount aggressive media campaigns to encourage the citizenry, especially the youths, to embrace skill acquisition.

According to it, states’ radio and television stations should air jingles on the campaign against illicit drug and trafficking provided by Federal Ministry of Information, free of charge as a social responsibility to the people.

“Federal and State government authorities should fast-track action on rural Internet connectivity and organize training in all the 774 local government areas on the use of e-media to facilitate rural and urban connectivity,’’ it added.

The council equally resolved to carry out coordinated enlightenment on government efforts to rehabilitate the North-East in order to counter negative media reports on the welfare of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP).

It said that social media units and project monitoring teams would be established in ministry of information across the country for effective public enlightenment. (NAN)

CVU/OPI/OPI

Edited by Olisa Ifeajika

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BASA
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Oct. 29, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of State, Aviation, Mr  Hadi Sirika, says Nigeria and the Republic of Portugal are set to implement the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA).

Sirika disclosed this while receiving the Portuguese delegation led by Mrs Theresa Ribeiro, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal, in Abuja.

He said the move was part of government efforts towards establishing and asserting the position of Nigeria as an undisputed leader in air transportation in Africa.

The minister said that the new BASA would open a new page in the existing cordial relationship between the two countries, adding that it would  also deepen business relationships between the people of the two nations.

Sirika said the government had designated Medview and OmniBlu airlines to service the Abuja-Lisbon and Lagos-Lisbon routes, ahead of the formalisation of the agreement at the Air Services Negotiation Conference at Bahamas in December.

He, however, urged the Portuguese authorities to also designate their own carriers immediately to ensure a seamless implementation of the agreement.

Responding, Rebeiro told the Minister that the Nigerian airspace was not completely new to Portuguese airlines.

She added that some of the carriers had been closely collaborating with Nigerian carriers especially during pilgrimage operations, adding that the airlines to service the routes would be named in due course.

The envoy said Nigeria remained the giant of Africa, no matter the current challenges and that Portugal was delighted to enter into the BASA with Nigeria.

She expressed the hope that it would go a long way in cementing the long and cordial relationship between the two nations, while also opening new vistas of cooperation.

Meanwhile, the agreement to commence direct air services between Nigeria and Portugal is expected to be finalised during the forthcoming ICAO Air Services Negotiation Conference in December. (NAN)
OYS/JPE/NKO

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Edited  by Joseph Edeh/Nkechi Okoronkwo
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Police arrest 14 over attempt to disrupt Friday prayer in Kaduna

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Arrest

By Mohammad Tijjani

Kaduna, Oct. 29, 2016 (NAN) The Kaduna State Police Command on Saturday said it had arrested 14 suspects who allegedly attempted to disrupt Friday prayer at the Sultan Bello Mosque, Kaduna.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Aliyu Usman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)in Kaduna that the suspects were arrested with  machetes and knives.

 Usman, however, said the Friday prayer was observed peacefully.

“ Attempts to cause breach of the peace by some miscreants was professionally handled and thwarted by a team of policemen dispatched to the mosque.

 “The Policemen deployed were to provide protection to the worshipers and they thwarted an attempt to cause chaos,“Usman said

He said that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation was completed.(NAN)
 TJ/AMY/AMY
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Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

Mixed start for Venezuela protest strike this weekend
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Strike
Caracas, Oct. 28, 2016 (dpa/NAN) Venezuela’s opposition coalition has called a general strike in protest of the government, howerver its initial success appeared mixed.

The Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) had called on Venezuelans to stay home for 12 hours Friday to demand action on a referendum to recall President Nicolas Maduro, which was suspended last week by elections authorities.

In Caracas, traffic appeared lighter than usual.

The public sector remained open for business, although many public transport stations, especially in Caracas’ metro system, appeared deserted early in the day.

MUD claimed victory, posting pictures of empty streets on social media.

Opposition congressman Simon Calzadilla said “this Friday looks like Sunday despite the threats, citizens stayed home.”

The government, however, called the strike a failure.

Labour Minister Oswaldo Vera said the workday played out like any other and government aligned broadcaster Telesur showed its own pictures of buses, taxis and pedestrians in Caracas’ city centre.

Maduro had threatened businesses taking part in the strike with seizure by the government, and announced government inspections to determine whether businesses were open.

The industry association Conindustria supported the protest action.

“Venezuela is in immediate need of a deep correction and a change of course in its economy and political institutions to create well-being for Venezuelans,” the group said ahead of the strike.

The strike is the latest of a series of nationwide protest actions to demand action on the recall referendum.

On Wednesday, hundreds of thousands of anti-government demonstrators marched in cities across the country.

The opposition has threatened to march on the presidential palace on Nov. 3 if its demands for a recall vote are not met. (dpa/NAN)
OYE/AFA
Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Felix Ajide
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UNICEF frees 876 children held for possible Boko Haram ties
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Children
Geneva, Oct. 28, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) The UN has negotiated the release of nearly 900 children detained by Nigeria’s army and security forces after they have retaken land from Boko Haram militants, a senior official said.

The 876 children had been held in the barracks in Maiduguri, UNICEF’S Regional Director for Western and Central Africa, Manuel Fontaine, said after visiting the north-eastern city.

It was not immediately clear how long they had been held.

However, the army routinely detains civilians who have been living in areas that had been ruled by the insurgents on suspicion that they too might be linked to militant activities.

Nonetheless, rights groups said there was no proper legal process for such civilians, including the children.

They said that they were not formally charged and some ended up in so-called rehabilitation centres or Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.

The United Nations says children should not be detained.

“We fear that there are still kids who are being at least temporarily detained because they are being released from Boko Haram areas by the army but then kept for a while,” Fontaine said.

He give no details of the ages of the children or how long they had been at the barracks .

It would be recalled that after President Muhammadu Buhari came to power in May 2015, security forces began an offensive.

The security force were backed by neighbouring countries, to retake territory from Boko Haram, meaning at least some of the children could have been held for a year or more.

There was no immediate comment from the army.

Army officials say they need to question civilians to establish whether they have any ties with the militant group, which has been trying for seven years to set up an Islamic state.

The security situation remains volatile in Borno and its capital Maiduguri because Boko Haram still stages suicide bombings, often using women or teenagers.

Fontaine also said the conflict, which had killed thousands and displaced more than two million, had separated around 20,000 children from their parents, of which 5,000 had since been reunited with families.

“Once we get children out, there is a major issue of stigmatisation in the communities.

“There is a sense that children who have been associated with Boko Haram for a while, could be, and in some cases we have some evidence, are rejected by community and people around them,” Fontaine said.

This was also a problem for the girls freed from the town of Chibok, he said.

Nigeria this month negotiated, with the help of Switzerland, the release of 21 of more than 200 girls Boko Haram kidnapped in April 2014.(Reuters/NAN)
IAA/AFA
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola/Felix Ajide

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NAN-H-85

Weapon

By Monday ijeh

Abuja, Oct. 27, 2016 (NAN) The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)  will host an international workshop on Assistance and Protection Against Chemical Weapons.

A statement by Mr Adebiyi Bolaji, Director of Press in the SGF office, in Abuja on Friday said the workshop would hold between Oct. 31 and Nov. 4.

Bolaji said the workshop was organised by the Political and Economic Affairs Department, in the SGF office in conjunction with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Netherlands.

According to him, a team of experts from OPCW will participate at the workshop as resource persons.

Bolaji said the participants would be drawn from critical stakeholders in both the public and private sectors in Nigeria.

“The workshop will focus on issues that seek to identify toxic threats and hazards; as well as support the development of national chemical risk assessment reports.

“It will also identify gaps based on the audit of country’s current capabilities and standards to be achieved in assistance and protection.

“It will finally assist in the development of a counter chemical threats capability as basis for a National Protection Programme,” he said.(NAN)

IMC/OFN

Edited by Felix Nwadioha

Humanitarian situation in North-East unprecedented-U.S. Envoy

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Visit

Isaac Aregbesola

Abuja, Oct. 28, 2016 (NAN)  U.S. Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Sarah Sewall has described  humanitarian situation in the North-East as “unprecedented” and of great concern to the international community.

A statement on Friday in Abuja  by the Information Unit, U.S. Mission to Nigeria  said  Sewall made this  known during her visit to  Maiduguri and Abuja between Tuesday and Friday.

The envoy during her visit met with government officials, military and police commanders, internally displaced persons, interfaith religious leaders, and community leaders from the Niger Delta.

During her meetings in Maiduguri, she focused on the military campaign against Boko Haram, commending the Nigerian military for its successes while recognising that “great challenges” remain.

She noted in particular the difficulties inherent in securing and stabilising the areas retaken from Boko Haram.

Sewall stressed  the need to restore governance and services in these areas which would enable displaced persons to safely return to their homes.

The envoy,  who met with leaders from the troubled Niger Delta Region in Abuja  expressed the hope that dialogue would be productive.

She said the U.S. believed strongly that these talks were crucial to finding a lasting, solution, and encouraged all sides to intensify their efforts to secure peace.

The Under Secretary also held discussions with interfaith religious leaders,who decried radicalism and extremism within their communities.

They also raised a variety of proposals with the Under Secretary to counter these negative forces as well as provide support to former Boko Haram captives as they attempt to reintegrate into society.

Sewall also sought their ideas regarding the anti-corruption fight in Nigeria and the religious leaders expressed support for meaningful efforts to reduce corruption.(NAN)

IAA/OFN

Edited by Felix Nwadioha