Blog

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Diesel
Onne (Rivers), Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder in Port Harcourt on Tuesday impounded 253,000 litres of illegally refined diesel loaded in two vessels and one wooden badge.

Cdr. Raphael Ekuma, the NNS Pathfinder Base Operation Officer, paraded four  suspects and the vessels before newsmen in Onne, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers.

The two vessels–MV Omiete VI and MV Wood Pecker– and a wooden barge had suspected stolen diesel worth N36.68 million.

Ekuma said the arrest was part of ongoing clampdown on oil theft, piracy and pipeline vandalism in Rivers and its environs.

“In continuation of our clampdown on oil thieves and illegal oil bunkers, troops of NNS Pathfinder impounded two vessels MV Omiete VI, MV Wooden Pecker and a wooden barge with combined 253,000 litres of stolen diesel.

“On Oct. 14, we received information on activities of illegal bunkering activities at Wogono in Okirika LGA and immediately deployed our gunboats to the area.

“Upon arrival, our gunboats discovered that MV Omiete was already loaded with 100,000 litres of diesel and another wooden barge alongside it had 120,000 litres in it.

“Three suspects were arrested in connection with the vessel and barge in the course of the operation,” he said.

Ekuma added that on Monday, troops on patrol seized a vessel, MV Wood Pecker, at Abonema wharf laden with 33,000 litres of illegally refined product believed to be diesel.

He said that crew members on board the vessel on sighting naval patrol team jumped inside the sea and escaped arrest.

“But luck ran out of one of them who is currently in our custody and undergoing interrogation’’ he said.

Ekuma said the four suspects would be handed over to relevant government agencies for further investigation and prosecution.

Also speaking, Commodore Obi Egbuchulam, the Commander of NNS Pathfinder, said the Naval headquarters gave directives to end illegal bunkering in the shortest possible time.

He said the clampdown was in line with the directive and assured that the fight would be won.

Egbuchulam called on members of the public to continue to provide information that would lead to the arrest of oil thieves while giving an assurance that their identities would be protected. (NAN)
DES/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

South Sudan to spend half of its budget on warfare

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Budget

Juba, Oct. 18, 2016 (dpa/NAN) South Sudan will spend half of its budget on military expenditure in the 2016-2017 fiscal year, Finance Minister Stephen Dhieu Dau said on Tuesday.

The minister told the parliament that the draft budget amounts to about 400 million dollars.

“Less than half of the budget will be earmarked for education, the health sector and other services,’’ he said.

South Sudan’s health and educational sectors have been devastated by a military conflict that erupted between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar in December 2013.

“The country, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, was already one of the least developed in Africa.

“The formation of a unity government in April was due to end the warfare, but fighting erupted again in July, sending Machar into exile.

“An important oil producer, South Sudan has spent 60 per cent of its oil revenues on military expenses during the conflict, Dhieu said.

Edmund Yakani, from the student-driven organization, Community for Empowerment and Progress said that South Sudan’s military spending is the highest in the region.

“The army and military budget is hurting other key sectors such as health, education and infrastructure,” he said. (dpa/NAN)

OYE/OU

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Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Obike Ukoh

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NAN-F-40
Council
Geneva, Oct. 18, 2016 (dpa/NAN) The UN Human Rights Council will meet on Friday to discuss the worsening situation in the embattled Syrian city of Aleppo, the council said on Tuesday.

The Council also said that the special meeting was called by a group of countries including Germany, France, Italy, Britain, the U.S., Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

It added that the group stated in a letter that it sought the session “following the most recent deterioration of the human rights situation in Aleppo.”

The UN Human Rights Council stated “Russia, which has supported Syrian government forces with airstrikes on Aleppo, was not among the countries that supported the emergency gathering.” (dpa/NAN)
OYE/HA
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(Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

Osun Police Command recovers nine stolen vehicles in two months
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Vehicles
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) Mr Olafimihan Adeoye, Osun Commissioner of Police said on Tuesday that the command recovered nine stolen vehicles from suspected armed robbers between September and October.

He spoke in Osogbo while parading five suspected armed robbers arrested by the command in connection with car thefts.

According to Adeoye, other items recovered from the suspects are one Plasma TV, two HP laptops, three ATM cards, other two laptops and N84, 000 cash.

He said one Samsung Galaxy 34, valued at N35, 000 and one Nokia phone valued at N4, 500 were also recovered from the suspects.

The commissioner said that the suspects had made useful statement to the police and that efforts were on to get other fleeing suspects arrested.

“We shall maintain the tempo and we appreciate the continuous support of members of the public in order to drastically reduce criminal activities in all the nook and crannies of the state, “he said.

The recovered cars were a black Toyota Corolla, reg. SMK 565 DB, Toyota Camry reg. EKY 628 EA, Toyota Corolla reg. BKN 306 AA, Mazda 626 Saloon car reg. AG 746 JJS and a Toyota Sienna Space bus reg. AWK 70 XJ.

Others were a Mazda 636 car reg .DF 986 EKY, Mazda 626 reg AE 815 ANG, Toyota Corolla reg. APP 902 DJ, Nissan Almera reg. FKJ 105 AR and a Man Diesel Truck reg. TKP 599 XA.(NAN)

VE/ EEM/ECN/OU

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Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye/Obike Ukoh

NAN-H-112
Judges
By Abdulfatai Beki
Ilorin, Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) The Kwara House of Assembly on Tuesday directed its Committee on Housing to investigate why the 16 bungalows built for judges by the Kwara government in llorin were not put to use several years after completion.

The directive was sequel to the adoption of a motion titled entitled “ Putting the Abandoned Judges Quarters into Use” moved by Ahmed lbn-Mohammed (APC, Kaiama-Wajibe Constituency).

The motion, which enjoyed the support of all members, frowned at what it described as the deplorable condition of the abandoned quarters for judges.

The motion also directed the  appropriate government ministry and agency to take immediate action to resuscitate the project and put it into use.

Mohammed noted that the 16 bungalows built by the state government on the Tanke/Basin link road in llorin showed government’s good intention toward providing shelter for judges.

He noted further that while the project was completed, it depreciated due to lack of use.

The lawmaker expressed concern that the colossal sum of tax payers’ money expended on the project was now becoming wasted.

“The said project site is now becoming bushy which hoodlums now turn into hideout to carry out their nefarious activities,’’ Mohammed said.

Some of the members, who contributed during debate on the issue, noted with displeasure the security and economic challenges posed by the abandoned quarters.

Reading the resolution, the Deputy Speaker, Mathew Okedare , who presided over Tuesday’s plenary, directed the committee to investigate the abandoned quarters and report back to the House in two weeks.

The House also mandated the state Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to clear the bush surrounding the quarters.

Meanwhile, the House has also directed its Committee on Education and Human Capital Development to investigate the closure of the hostels at Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.

The directive followed a matter of urgent public importance raised by Abdulrafiu Abdulrahman (APC, llorin North Constituency) on the closure of the hostels.

Abdulrahman told the House that the renovation of hostels, which led to the closure of the hostels as claimed by the school’s management, was a welcome development although the timing was wrong.

The Deputy Speaker mandated the Committee on Education and Human Capital Development to investigate the matter and report back to the House in a forth night. (NAN)
BEKI/ORO/OJO
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(Edited by Razak Owolabi/Ojo)

NAN-F-39
Execution
Riyadh, Oct. 18, 2016 (dpa/NAN) A prince from the Saudi royal family was executed on Tuesday for murdering a man during a brawl in the capital Riyadh, the Interior Ministry announced.

The execution of Prince Turki Saud-al-Kabir is an extremely rare case of a member of the conservative kingdom’s ruling family being put to death.

The Interior Ministry stated that “in announcing this, we want to affirm to all that the Kingdom’s government is determined to establish security.

“It will bring about justice and implement God’s law against all those who attack the innocent.”

Meanwhile, local media reported that the killing for which the prince was executed took place in 2012.

The media indicated that Prince Turki’s death sentence was upheld by the Appeal Court and the High Court.

Another royal prince welcomed the news, in the first public reaction from a member of the ruling family.

Prince Khaled Al Saud said “this is God’s law, and the way of our blessed kingdom. May God have mercy on the killer and his victim.”

A report says the execution brings to 128 the number of persons put to death so far in the country this year.

Saudi Arabia, which applies strict interpretation of Islamic law, is among the top executioners in the world, according to international rights groups.

On Jan. 2, authorities beheaded 47 people, including a prominent Shiite cleric, on terrorism-related charges, leading to furious protests from regional rival Iran and criticisms from rights groups.

Saudi Arabia imposes the death penalty for offences including murder, armed robbery, banditry, rape, drug-trafficking and witchcraft. (dpa/NAN)
OYE/HA
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(Edited by Damilola Oyewole/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)

NiMet predicts cloudy, dust haze weather for Wednesday
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Forecast
By Sumaila Ogbaje
Abuja, Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted partly cloudy weather conditions over the central states with prospects of localised thunderstorms over Minna, Abuja, Lafia, Jalingo and Yola on Wednesday morning.
The NiMet’s Weather Outlook issued by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Tuesday gave the prediction.
It added that there were chances of isolated thunderstorms over most of the high-grounds areas of the region later in the day with day time temperatures of 30 to 35 degrees Celsius.
The agency predicted that the southern states would experience cloudy conditions over the south west in the morning with localised thunderstorms over the south east and localised rains over the coastal cities.
It also predicted localised thunderstorms and rains over the entire inland and coastal cities in the afternoon and evening hours with day time temperatures of 30 to 33 degrees Celsius.
NiMet predicted that northern states would experience partly cloudy conditions over Sokoto, Gusau and Yelwa, with chances of dust haze over Katsina, Kano, Dutse and Nguru in the morning.
It added that most of the northern cities would be under dust haze condition later in the day with day time temperatures of 35 to 38 degrees Celsius. (NAN)
OYS/AFA
Edited by Felix Ajide
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Gov. Ajimobi condoles with Orile-Igbon people over monarch’s death

NAN-H-109
Condolence

By Akeem Abas

Ibadan, Oct. 18, 2016 (NAN) Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has condoled with the royal family and the people of Orile-Igbon on the passing away of the Olugbon of Ile-Igbon, Oba Samuel Osunbade.

The governor via a condolence message on Tuesday in Ibadan by Mr Yomi Layinka, the Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, described the monarch’s demise as a loss to the entire state.

He extolled the virtues of Osunbade, saying he was a great ruler whose reign brought great development to the town.

“Oba Osunbade will always be remembered for his wise counsel and commitment to the development of his community and the state at large.

“His exit will surely leave a vacuum that will be hard to fill,’’ Ajimobi said.

The governor, who commiserated with the people of Ile-Igbon on the passing away of the royal father, urged them to take solace in the fact that the monarch lived a fulfilled life.

He prayed that God grant the family, the Olugbon-in-Council and the entire Ile Igbon community the fortitude to bear the loss.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the monarch died on Oct. 14 at the age 79.

The monarch, a chartered accountant and popular hotelier was enthroned as the Olugbon of Ile-Igbon on July 12, 1992.

NAN also reports that the Ile-Igbon community is lo­cated on the northern outskirts of Ogbomoso in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State. (NAN)

TAA/ORO/OU

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Edited by Razak Owolabi/Obike Ukoh

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Benue JTF recovers explosives in Gbishe town

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Explosives
Makurdi, Oct. 18, 2016 2016 (NAN) Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue on Tuesday said the Joint Security Task Force had recovered a cartoon of explosives at Gbishe in the state.

Addressing newsmen at the People’s House, Makurdi, Ortom said the items were recovered in the cause of the JTF continuous hunt for the wanted militiaman, Terwase Akwaza, aka Gana.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Ortom had granted amnesty to people who possess of all kinds of illegal weapons in the state and Gana was the major beneficiary.

“The Joint Security Task Force recovered a full cartoon of explosive devices, two magazines loaded with ammunitions, a power bike, and 10 cell phones.

“Other items found are: two rocket cases, army uniforms, a gun and two sacks of Indian hemp,’’ he said.

The governor said the JTF recovered the items at Gbishe in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area at Gana’s hideout suspected to be his belongings.

He said that his administration would never surrender the state to criminals, adding that those behind crimes in the state would all be arrested and punished.

He said that since Gana and his gang were giving the people of the state sleepless nights, his administration would not rest until he was apprehended.

NAN also recalls that the State Security Council had revoked Gana’s pardon and placed a N5 million tag on his head.(NAN)
AEB/GOM/AMY
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Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam and Abdullahi Yusuf

13 soldiers injured, others missing in Gashigar

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Troops

By Victor Okoye

Abuja, Oct., 18, 2016 (NAN) No fewer than 13 soldiers were on Monday injured, while some are still missing in action after an attack by Boko Haram terrorists at Gashigar, Borno, an official has said.

Col. Sani Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, via a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, said the incident happened at Gashigar, a border area of   Northern Borno with Niger Republic.

“Yesterday (Monday) at about 5.30 p.m. suspected escaping remnants of Boko Haram terrorists attacked troops location at Gashigar, border area with Niger Republic, Northern Borno .

“The troops did their best to defend the location.

“In the process, 13 soldiers’ sustained injuries while some are still missing in action.

“The temporary setback made the troops to withdraw from the location.

“However, the wounded soldiers have been evacuated and receiving treatment, while efforts are ongoing in search of those missing and clear the Boko Haram terrorists at the general area,” said.

Speaking in Lagos on Tuesday, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, pledged to support Federal Government efforts, including diplomacy aimed at rescuing the remaining Chibok girls and other Nigerians abducted by Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East.

Buratai made the pledge while fielding questions from newsmen after inaugurating the new headquarters of the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, Yaba.

He also used the opportunity to clarify that pockets of attack by terrorists in the North-East was not an indication of resurgence of insurgency.

Asked to give update on the Chibok girls, the COAS said: “As for the army, we are working on our own strategy not only for the rescue of the Chibok girls, but other Nigerians that have been abducted by the insurgents.

“It is our objective that we rescue everybody.”

On the pockets of attack, Buratai said that Nigerian troops in collaboration with the Multinational Joint Task were addressing the attacks.

“You cannot call these attacks resurgence of insurgency. We are taking care of the attacks.

“Whenever there is attack, we look at it again and see what happens so that we address subsequent ones.

“There is a conflict in which we have done very well. We have gone very far, we have put – terrorists out of our territory.

“They mostly come from outside our territory to attack our troops. We are working along with the Multinational Joint Task Force to address that,” Buratai said.

He said that contrary to impressions, the army was not over stretched with its involvement in many operations across the country to check criminality.

According to Buratai, the army is involved in operations to deal with crimes because it is better trained, equipped and has better intelligence.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the army chief was in Lagos to inaugurate projects in some military formations in the state.

Earlier, while inaugurating the complex, Buratai said that since he assumed duty over a year ago, he had embarked on “massive reconstruction and renovation” of both living and office accommodation for personnel across army formations nationwide.

He charged officers and soldiers to discharge their duties professionally and responsibly and be loyal to constituted authority.

The COAS inaugurated the renovated headquarters of the Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at Bonny Cantonment, as well as the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information Studio ICT Centre, all in Victoria Island, Lagos.

He also inspected the Nigerian Army Ordnance Tailoring Factory, Yaba which sews uniforms for army personnel.

Buratai also paid a visit to the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba, where he held closed door meeting with the management of the hospital. NAN)
BOM/JEY/VO/AEA/OU

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Edited by Obike Ukoh/Archibong Asuquo

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