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Izge Attack: Death Toll Hits 133

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Izge Attack: Death Toll Hits 133

Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

An additional 40 corpse were discovered in surrounding bushes in Izge village following a weekend attack by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect, which now brings the casualty figure to 133.

Some 93 persons were believed to have been killed by the attackers before.

There are anxieties that the figure could rise further as search continues with many still missing and others suffering life-threatening injuries.

The village which once had a population of appromimately10,000 persons is totally deserted following the massacre which forced survivors to seek refuge elsewhere.

The attack on the village took place at about midnight on Saturday as gunmen clad in military camouflage and brandishing sophisticated weapons invaded it, setting houses and shops on fire, killing scores and inflicting injuries on several others.

Residents of the area have expressed their displeasure at both the federal and state governments over the incessant attacks by insurgents on their village with no concrete measures taken to avert the situation.

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Govt Probes NIGCOMSAT, Sends MD On Indefinite Leave

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Govt Probes NIGCOMSAT, Sends MD On Indefinite Leave

The board of directors of the Nigerian Communications Satellite, NIGCOMSAT Limited on Monday directed the managing director, Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai to proceed on indefinite leave.

The indefinite leave followed a ministerial directive by the minister of Communications Technology, Omobola Johnson, according to a statement released by NIGCOMSAT.

It said the directive was to pave way for an investigation into the financial status of the company.

Ahmed-Rufai started as project manager of NigComSat-1, before the establishment of NIGCOMSAT Limited in April 2006.

He was named managing director/chief executive of the company in 2006.

The executive director, Marketing, Abimbola Alale, has been named acting managing director, pending the conclusion of the investigation.

Alale started as a member of the project team and was appointed director of marketing of NIGCOMSAT Ltd in 2006.

Agents Used Images of Goats For Sim Registration- NCC

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Agents Used Images of Goats For Sim Registration- NCC

The Nigeria Communication Commission, NCC, disclosed Monday that a major setback experienced in the registration of SIM cards is that some agents use the pictures of goats and yams in place of human beings.

Head of compliance, monitoring and enforcement of NCC, Efosa Idehen, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Ibadan, said in some cases they find pictures of women with men’s name and vice versa.

Idehen said the discovery was made following information it received that some people were buying SIM cards without their biometrics.

“It may interest you to know that after the telephone operators might have completed their own part of the registration and forwarded it to us as the regulators; we sometimes find pictures of goats and yams,” he said.

According to him, the NCC also discovered that that those SIM cards that were not registered were those used by criminals like kidnappers and are usually sold at a premium sum of N1, 500 as against N100 for the normal ones.

“We have had to sanction GSM operators in the past for not monitoring the activities of their agents,” the NCC boss said.

Efosa warned that anyone who sells fully activated SIM cards is as guilty as the person who registers the card because the cards are not supposed to be registered before sale and if found would be prosecuted.

The offence attracts a fine of up to N200, 000.

NCC is mandated to create a credible data base of Nigerians using the GSM.

 

Establish Election Tribunal Ahead Of 2015 Polls, US Tells Nigeria

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Establish Election Tribunal Ahead Of 2015 Polls, US Tells Nigeria

The United States has urged the federal government to establish an electoral offences tribunal before the 2015 general elections that would serve as deterrent to election violence.

Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said this on Monday in Abuja at the third meeting of the Nigeria-U.S. Bi-National Commission.

The meeting seeks to promote good governance, transparency and integrity.

Thomas-Greenfield, who led a 23-man team to the meeting called on the National Assembly to pass a legislation that will establish an electoral offences tribunal, a legislation that President Goodluck Jonathan proposed when he was Vice President.

She commended the conduct of the Nigeria police and security operatives at the November 16 gubernatorial elections in Anambra and expressed the confidence that come 2015, elections in every polling unit in the country will be safe.

“We have confidence that if the Nigerian Police, the military and other security services are allowed to do their jobs professionally as they did in Anambra, elections can be held safely in Ekiti and Osun this year. We hope that our continued electoral assistance will give the utmost support to the Nigerian people because they deserve nothing less than elections that reflect their will,” she added.

The U.S. assistant secretary also urged the Nigerian electorate to vote according to their conscience and to hold politicians, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the media, judiciary and security agencies accountable for free and fair elections.

She disclosed that in the run-up to Nigeria’s 2011 elections, the U.S. and UK contributed 31.3 million dollars to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral management body and civil society groups.

In his remarks, the permanent secretary, ministry of foreign affairs, Martin Uhomoibhi, who leads the Nigerian team at the meeting, said the federal government had consistently advocated for peaceful and credible elections, devoid of violence, adding that Nigeria would continue to play a leading role in the consolidation of democracy on the continent, citing interventions in Guinea Bissau, Mali and Cote d’Ivoire.

Nigeria has 68 delegates drawn from government, media and civil society groups participating in the two-day meeting.

A communiqué is expected at the end of the meeting on Tuesday.

The bilateral commission was established in 2010 to address a range of shared concerns by both countries, including regional cooperation, security and counter -terrorism, Niger Delta, energy and investment.

It also has a working group dedicated to agriculture and trade policy.

Jonathan Consults With Akran of Badagry

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Jonathan Consults With Akran of Badagry

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday visited the Akran of Badagry, De-Wheno Aholu Menutoyi, as part of a consultation tour which he embarked on last week.

Jonathan arrived at the palace of the monarch in Badagry, Lagos State, at about 10.35 a.m. and was received by the Akran and the Chiefs in Council.

After a brief welcome ceremony, the Akran and the President retired to an inner room in the palace, where they held private discussions for about 35 minutes.

After the closed door meeting, the President thanked the monarch and the people for the peace in the land, which he said was brought about by good leadership and assured that government would do its best to return and preserve the glorious day of Badagry.

“I want to thank you all for the support you have given to the government and for the peace in Badagry. We do not get disturbing stories from Badagry and this is not brought about by chance but his Majesty, his cabinet and all senior Badagry people. I want to thank you for this warm reception and assure you that the glorious days of Badagry will be returned,’ Jonathan said.

The Akran said that the visit was special to him and the entire Badagry people and requested the Federal and Lagos State Government to work together and make the town a religious tourist centre, reminding the President that Badagry was the first place in the country where Christianity was preached.

He assured the President of his support and the Badagry people to the Federal Government.

Prayers were offered for the President, his administration and for the peace of the nation.

It would be recalled that the President had on Friday paid similar visits to the Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, the Ooni of Ife, Okunade Sijuwade, the Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi and the Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwani Babatunde Akiolu.

Obama Warns Uganda Over Anti-Gay Law

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Obama Warns Uganda Over Anti-Gay Law

United States President Barack Obama on Monday expressed disappointment at Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni’s plan to enact a legislation that would criminalise homosexuality.

Obama warned that the move would complicate U.S. relations with Uganda and would be a step backward for all Ugandans.

The warning came after Museveni said he would sign the bill into law, following an explanation by medical experts that homosexuality is not genetic.

The U.S president said “once the anti-homosexuality bill in Uganda becomes a law, it will be more than an affront and a danger to the gay community in that country. It will be a step backward for all Ugandans and will reflect poorly on Uganda’s commitment to protect the rights of the people.”

Obama added that people should be treated equally and should have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential, no matter who they are or whom they love.

Bloodbath In Borno Again, Scores Killed, Many Missing

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Bloodbath In Borno Again, Scores Killed, Many Missing

It was a bloody weekend in Borno State when suspected members of the outlawed Boko Haram sect besieged Izge, a hilly village in Gwoza local government area of the state, killing 93 people and causing hundreds to flee for safety.

A resident of the area told journalists in Maiduguri that the gunmen who were dressed in military camouflage invaded the town at about midnight on Saturday killing scores and inflicting several injuries on several others.

Armed to the teeth with sophisticated weapons, the attackers  shot sporadically, setting many houses and shops ablaze as they pursued and slaughtered anyone who tried to escape to nearby villages.

“As I speak to you many residents of Izge are missing and those lucky enough to be alive have started leaving,” he said.

Residents of the area have expressed their displeasure at both the federal and state governments over the incessant attacks by insurgents on their village with no concrete measures taken to avert the situation.

Of the three states under emergency rule, Borno has the highest frequency of attacks and casualty for reasons that are unclear.

The sect who had been on rampage in the last couple of weeks roving round villages in the state killed over 60 persons in Konduga.

Gwoza, Bama, Konduga and Damboa towns have been under constant attacks by these insurgents and concerned Nigerians have urged the federal government to immediately deploy more military personnel and equipment to the area to put an end to the unprovoked massacre.

Confirming the attack, the Borno state commissioner of police, Lawal Tanko, said even though there was an attack, he could not give the figure of casualties.

While government is yet to step up action against the activities of this group, many of the villagers continue to flee in their hundreds hoping to  find a safe haven.

NSA Seeks Better Parley Between Security Spokespersons, Media Practitioners

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NSA Seeks Better Parley Between Security Spokespersons, Media Practitioners

The National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, a retired colonel, has urged spokespersons of security and emergency response agencies in Nigeria to cultivate and sustain mutual relationship with media practitioners towards effective information management.

Dasuki made the call weekend at the inauguration of the Forum of Spokespersons in Security and Response Agencies, FOSSAR, in Abuja.

He said accurate and responsible public information is vital to the war against terror and would aid better understanding on the current challenges in fighting crime in the country.

“The next stage of war on terror should include advocacy and media engagement through accurate, timely and responsible information to dissuade our people from criminal activities as well as to silent the propaganda tools of terrorists,” he said.

The NSA who was represented by the director special duties, Bello Fadile, also a retired colonel, stressed that “with various forms and channels of communication, security managers and their information personnel must proactively and timely address and respond to issues in curtailing rumour mongering and mischiefs.”

He also urged the media to be wary of politicians who may be playing politics with actions that may be detrimental to national security and national interest for selfish ambitions.

“The media should continue to rise above primordial feeling and partisanship to boost the morale of the military and other security agencies in their statutory mandates of protecting lives and properties,” the security adviser said.

Responding, chairman of the FOSSAR, who is also the director defence information, Chris Olukolade, a major-general, explained that the establishment of the forum was one of the outcomes of an Interactive security-media parley which was held by  the office of the National Security Adviser in November 2013.

He said the forum will ensure professionalism and patrotic commitment to information dissemination as regard security issues in the country and partner with the media towards national development by working in harmony in the defence and protection of Nigeria’s image.

According to him, the forum would not only improve harmonious working relationship among major security agencies in information management but will also proffer strategies for public enlightment campaigns to dissuade citizens from criminal and terrorist activities.

Members of the forum include spokespersons from various security and response agencies including Army, Navy , Airforce, Police, Nigerian Civil Defense Corps, Fire Service, State Security Service, SSS, National Intelligence Agency,  NIA, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Customs among others.

Orubebe Declares Ambition To Rule Delta State

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Orubebe Declares Ambition To Rule Delta State

The immediate past minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, has declared his intention to contest for Delta State governorship in the 2015 general elections.

Orubebe made the declaration in Asaba on Saturday during a civic reception in his honour by Delta People’s Forum, DPF.
 
The former minister said that he resigned as minister in order to return to his home state to serve the people better.

He said he had decided to heed the call by DPF to return to Delta and work for the good of the people.
 
“As I was driving past the streets of Asaba, I saw some posters with different inscriptions, including the one welcoming me as the next governor of the state. I want to let you know that as your humble servant, I will be there for you come 2015,” he said.
 
Orubebe said that he was in support of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration and would work with it to move the state forward.
 
He paid tribute to President Goodluck Jonathan and late President Umaru Yar’Adua for appointing him at different times as minister.
 
Orubebe called on Jonathan to run for a second term in office, saying that he had achieved a lot for the country and deserved to run again for presidency in 2015.
 
“On behalf of DPF, I ask Nigerians to give Jonathan a chance to serve the country for another four years,” he added.

APGA Crisis: Four Expelled In Awka

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APGA Crisis: Four Expelled In Awka

The Awka North chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, loyal to Victor Umeh’s faction on Friday expelled four members of the party in the area.

The expulsion followed the adoption of the party’s disciplinary committee report at a stakeholders’ meeting in Achalla, the council headquarters.

Those expelled were Shadrack Anakwe, the factional state chairman, Emma Ajeke, Godson Amebo and John Nwokoye.

The meeting also ratified the suspension for six months of Ralph Enweluzo and Nicholas Ibe while the chairman of the party in the local government, Casmir Ilonwa, was relieved of his position.

The report signed by Chukwuma Okoye, a chieftain of the party, and announced by its leader in the area, Godson Ezenagu, said the action was premised on six ‘verifiable and indictable offences’ as contained in the APGA Constitution.

Some of the stakeholders in the meeting were the newly elected state chairman, Cosmas Okonkwo, his deputy, Ikechukwu Oforkansi, the acting chairman of the local government chapter of the party, Louis Unegbu and various ward leaders.

In his reaction to the development, Anakwe, who belongs to the Maxi Okwu faction of the party, said his expulsion was a nullity because those taking the action did not have the ‘locus standi’ to do so.

He said he remained the chairman of the party in the state and would not be disturbed by the action.

“The so-called Awka North chapter of APGA does not have the locus standi to do what they did. Members of their faction cannot sack me because there is a court order to that effect. It does not move me, it is a child’s play… I am the APGA chairman in Anambra based on the court order which confirmed Chief Maxi Okwu as APGA’s National Chairman,” he said.

The Awka North chapter of the party two weeks ago announced the suspension of the members and set up a disciplinary committee to investigate allegations of anti party activities against them.

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