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Abuja Bomb Blasts: Police Start Massive Stop And Search Operation

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Abuja Bomb Blasts: Police Start Massive Stop And Search Operation

Stop and Search

Following Friday’s multiple suicide bomb attacks in the nation’s capital, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has ordered his men to commence an operation stop and search on motorists in and around the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Reacting to the incidents, the police chief described the attackers as cowards and assured Nigerians that there is no need to be worried as the police will do everything to secure lives and properties.

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“IGP Arase said those that did these dastardly acts, did so in shame of cowardice, saying no matter their aim, Nigeria will not accommodate terrorists’ acts,” a statement issued by police spokesperson, Olabisi Kolawole, said.

The IGP called on Nigerians to be more security conscious and report any suspicious activities and movements to security agents.

Kogi Government Ejects Illegal Occupants Of Flood Victims Estate

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Kogi Government Ejects Illegal Occupants Of Flood Victims Estate
Kogi post-flood housing estate
Kogi post-flood housing estate

The Kogi State government has asked victims of the 2012 flood to be patient as it moves to evict illegal occupants who have taken over the housing estate built for them.

Kogi State was one of the worst hit by devastating floods, which ravaged 30 states in the country, killing more than 360 people dead and displacing two million people.

The flood, which caused damages worth more than N2 trillion, was described as the worst in 40 years and affected an estimate of seven million people.

The 2012 flood affected more than two million people
The 2012 flood affected more than two million people

Awonniyi said that the flood victims housing estate built by the state government was solely for victims and assured that government had mandated the ministries of Works and Justice to ensure that the rightful allottees soon took possession of their houses.

He stated further that a monitoring of the flood situation in the state has been completed and admitted that houses were built on waterways.

Update: 15 Dead, 41 Injured In Nyanya, Kuje Suicide Attacks

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Update: 15 Dead, 41 Injured In Nyanya, Kuje Suicide Attacks

Nyanya n Kuje blasts

The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has said a total number of 15 deaths and 41 injured persons were recorded in Friday’s simultaneous bomb explosions at Nyanya and Kuje, two satellite towns in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

According to a brief statement issued by NEMA’s spokesperson, Sani Datti, two people lost their lives in Nyanya and 21 others sustained injuries while at Kuje, 13 people died and 20 were injured.

Datti said the injured were taken to Nyanya and Asokoro General Hospitals and the National Hospital, all in Abuja.

A staff of the medical records department of Nyanya General Hospital told our reporter that there were at least 18 injured persons brought to the hospital, with most sustain serious injuries and had to be transferred to National Hospital.

Residents of the two towns were thrown into confusion as suicide bombers, made up of males and females, detonated at least four bombs.

According to a security agent, who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity, the Nyanya blasts were carried out by a male and a female, who detonated the explosives at a busy terminal used by people going to Jiwkoyi and Karu. He said he only escaped unscathed because of his experience as a security personnel.

“I was talking to some traders when the first blast went off. Immediately I heard the sound, I lay on the ground and many of those who were injured were hit by flying objects and shrapnel because they were on their feet,” he explained.

Another witness, whose car was affected, said he had gone to collect money for the bread he supplied some people when the two blasts occurred within minutes of each other.

“After I collected my money, I was about to leave when I realised that the money was incomplete, so I went back to the woman and as we were trying to reconcile our account, the first bomb sounded,” he told our reporter, adding that he also lay on the ground and crawled to safety. The only injuries he sustained were bruises from the crawling.

Pieces of clothing and flesh littered the scene of the blast and witnesses said they were from the suspects, with the woman wearing a hijab, which she used in hiding the explosives.

Alison-Madueke Granted Bail, Passport Seized

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Alison-Madueke Granted Bail, Passport Seized

diezani alison-madueke

Nigeria’s former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who was arrested Friday on allegations of money laundering in the United Kingdom, has been released on bail.

Alison-Madueke, who was picked up by the British National Crime Agency, NCA, has to report at the Charing Cross Police Station on Monday, it was gathered.

The former powerful Nigerian oil minister was arrested on Friday along with four other persons whose identities are still unknown on allegations of fraud and money laundering.

It was gathered that the investigation had been going on for a while.

She was granted bail after operatives of Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, searched and sealed off her homes in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on Friday.

Alison-Madueke, aged 55 and who was Nigeria’s first female petroleum minister, served under the immediate past administration of Goodluck Jonathan which left office only in May.

 

 

Suicide Bombers Hit Abuja, Many Feared Dead

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Suicide Bombers Hit Abuja, Many Feared Dead

Bombs recovered from Boko Haram IED factiry

At least three explosions on Friday rocked the nation’s capital, Abuja, in what appeared as well-coordinated attacks which happened within a space of 20 minutes at Kuje and Nyanya, both satellite towns in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

The first blast, carried out by a female suicide bomber, took place around 9:50pm at a police station in Kuje.

According to a resident, few minutes after the first explosion, another bomb went off near the Kuje market, along the Kuje-Gwagwalada road.

Around 10:10pm, shortly after the second Kuje blast, a third bomb went off at a make shift park in Nyanya, mostly used by tricyclists commonly referred to as Keke NAPEP.

Many people are believed to have died in the explosions, while others sustained varying degrees of injury.

The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, in a statement signed by its press officer, Manzo Ezekiel, said that the agency had “deployed its rescue teams in the evacuation of the victims to various hospitals in Abuja.”

“The explosions which occured almost simultaneously have resulted in a number of deaths and injuries but the rescue operations coordinated by NEMA are still on-going,” the agency stated.

 

Diezani Alison-Madueke Arrested In London For Money Laundering

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Diezani Alison-Madueke Arrested In London For Money Laundering
Diezani Alison-Madueke
Diezani Alison-Madueke

Former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been arrested in London on bribery and money laundering related offences.

Following her arrest, it was gathered that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have already moved in to secure her properties in Lagos and Abuja.

Allison – Madueke was arrested on Friday morning along with four other unnamed persons by the International Corruption Unit of the British National Crimes Agency, NCA.

Premium Times, an online news website, also reported that Alison-Madueke was arrested for offences related to bribery and corruption.

The NCA has confirmed on its website that four persons were arrested in London Friday but did not disclose their identity.

“This morning the National Crime Agency’s recently formed International Corruption Unit arrested four people across London as part of an investigation into suspected bribery and money laundering offences,” the agency stated on its website.

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Premium Times also quoted an official of the British Consulate in Nigeria as saying that “five people between the ages of 21 and 60 were arrested on suspicion of bribery and corruption offences.”

He is said to have added that “the crimes are being investigated by the National Crime Agency.”

The NCA is the British anti-corruption agency that investigates “bribery of foreign public officials by individuals or companies from the UK” and “money laundering by corrupt foreign officials and their associates.”

Alison-Madueke left office as Nigerian oil minister in May and is believed to have lived in the United States and Britain since then.

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Borno To Relocate Displaced Persons From Maiduguri

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Borno To Relocate Displaced Persons From Maiduguri

IMG_2838

By Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

The Borno State Emergency Management Agency, BOSEMA, in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has concluded plans for the relocation of internally displaced persons, IDPs, from Maiduguri, the state capital, to their respective communities.

This was made known when the chairman of BOSEMA, Ahmed Satomi, visited the North east coordinator of NEMA, Mohammed Kanar, in Maiduguri.

According to Satomi, arrangements have already been put in place for camps to be built in Bama, Monguno, Dikwa, Konduga, and Damboa so that IDPs from these local governments can return in order to decongest the state capital, particularly as government intends to reopen schools in the town.

Some schools are currently sheltering IDPs in the state capital.

While admitting that relocating IDPs will largely depend on security advice from the military, the BOSEMA chief said most of the liberated communities are safe for such return.

He also appealed to NEMA not to relent in its effort in providing assistance to the displaced persons.

Kanar assured that NEMA will do everything possible to ensure that IDPs get the necessary relief materials whenever they are relocated, adding that there is need for a better collaboration between the two agencies for a better service delivery to the people.

“We will do everything in our power to see that the IDPs in the camps have all necessary provisions and get them resettled when the time comes,” Kanar assured.

“NEMA and SEMA need to work in synergy especially as the challenge ahead is massive and needs all hands to be on deck.”

 

Suicide Bombers Attack Maiduguri, As Military Denies Incident

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Suicide Bombers Attack Maiduguri, As Military Denies Incident

Boko Haram Surrendering

There was confusion in Maduguri, the Borno State capital, on Thursday when female suicide bombers suspected to be members of Boko Haram targeted different parts of the town, including Zajeri and Ajilari.

Two days before Sallah, Ajilari witnessed a deadly suicide bomb attack that killed more than 100 people and injured 97.

Thursday’s attackers, who were said to have driven in tricycles, found their way to the locations around 7:00pm.

According to residents who confirmed the incidents, a roadside tea seller and a leader of the youth vigilante group, Civilian JTF, were among the targets.

Ten people were believed to have lost their lives in the attack on the tea seller while five died when another bomb went off at the house of the Civilian JTF leader’s house. The leader is believed to have escaped death but sustained injuries.

Soldiers, however, prevented a heavy casualty when they shot dead two other suspected bombers, resulting in loud explosion, which signified they had bombs on them.

In a rather curious move, spokesperson for the 7 Division Nigerian Army, Tukur Gusau, a Colonel, denied the attackers and said the sounds heard were as a result of the military carrying out testing of equipment.

“There is no cause for alarm. We are test firing our weapons for night operations efficiency,” he said.

Ordinarily, the military would warn residents ahead of such exercise to prevent panic.

 

Scores Of Boko Haram Members Surrender To Troops

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Scores Of Boko Haram Members Surrender To Troops

80 Boko Haram Surrenderers

With the anti-terrorism campaign in the North east intensifying by the day, 80 members of Boko Haram were on Thursday left with no choice but to surrender to troops in Bama, one of the towns in Borno State worst hit by insurgency, the Nigerian Army has said.

Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, said the military and other security agencies are determined to restore peace to the troubled region, including the use of force, as the name of the campaign, Operation Lafiya Dole, suggests.

Among the surrendered insurgents were commanders, suppliers of logistics and other materials and foot soldiers of Boko Haram, Usman added.

“It will be recalled that we have repeatedly stated that surrender is the only option available to insurgents as the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force in conjunction with other security agencies are totally committed to the achievement of the 3 months Presidential deadline for the eradication of terrorism in Nigeria,” he noted, adding that other insurgents have two options, to surrender or be completely obliterated.

He also called on citizens to continue volunteering information to assist the military in its operation.

 

 

 

Tipoff Leads To Discovery Of More Boko Haram Fuel Depot

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Tipoff Leads To Discovery Of More Boko Haram Fuel Depot

Boko Haram Fuel Man

The Nigerian Army on Thursday said a tipoff by patriotic residents led to a discovery of another fuel depot in Maiduguri allegedly meant to be moved to Sambisa Forest for the use of Boko Haram.

Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, who emphasised the significance of the cooperation of members of the public, said troops made the discovery at Abbaganaram in the state capital with the help of residents.

He added that a suspect, Musa Abba, was arrested.

“During the operation, one person, Musa Abba, was arrested and the following items were discovered and confiscated; 11 drums of AGO, 1 empty drum, 192 of 25 litres jerry cans, (out of which 70 were loaded with AGO, PMS and DPK), a Toyota bus and 1 Peugeot car. Others include a motorcycle and an air conditioner,” Usman said.

Usman said it is satisfying that citizens are heeding calls by the military to provide useful information that can lead to the success of the fight against insurgency in the northeast, encouraging them to see the fight as a collective effort.

While calling on the public to remain vigilant, the spokesman still appealed for more information.

 

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