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Gunmen Sack Police Station, Kill Policeman, Others in Borno

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Gunmen Sack Police Station, Kill Policeman, Others in Borno

Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

Gunmen suspected to be members of the outlawed Boko Haram sect in the early hours of Wednesday attacked Banki town in Borno State, chasing off policemen at the police station and slicing the throats of residents,

The attack is not the first the town has recorded as it had been torched by the sect several times in the past, sacking security agencies.

Confirming the incident, the state commissioner of police, Lawan Tanko, told journalists that a policeman was killed while several others were injured.

“I can confirm there was an attack on Banki town by suspected members of the Boko Haram group in the early hours of Wednesday in which my station in Banki was partially affected. I lost an officer and some sustained injuries,” he said.

Survivors said the attackers came in from nearby bushes in motorcycles and Hilux Toyota vehicles and brandishing sophisticated weapons.

“The attackers used rocket propellers to attack the station which caught fire immediately. Some of the policemen tried to engaged them in a shoot out but they realised that the invaders had superior power so they had to run,” one of the survivors told journalists.

At Last, PDP Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, Resigns

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At Last, PDP Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, Resigns

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bamanga Tukur has finally stepped down owing to pressure from the PDP stakeholder’s forum and a faction of the party.

The announcement was made by President Goodluck Jonathan, Thursday afternoon, at the end of the PDP National Executive Council meeting, held at the party’s secretariat, Wadata House in Abuja.

He said Tukur’s decision was based on mutual agreement, stressing that the former chairman is not guilty of any offence.

A new chairman is to be presented to the National Executive Committee, which is to reconvene on Monday, for approval.

Tukur, had on Wednesday evening dismissed rumour of his resignation as untrue.
“I have not resigned. I am not somebody that would resign and you would not know. I have not resigned,” he said.

Tukur’s administration which lasted less than two years had experienced a lot of turbulence which eventually saw the party spliting into two factions on August 31, 2013 and many aggrieved members decamping to the opposition.

In June last year, members of the PDP stakeholder’s forum wrote two letters to the National Working Committee, NWC, of the party, demanding the immediate sack of the chairman citing a major reason that Tukur was not a bonafide member of the party, as he had been expelled by the National Executive Committee, NEC after being indicted for “high level anti-party activities” alongside five others including chief Edwin Ume Ezeoke on May 31, 2001.

The group in the letter which was signed by Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, said according to the party’s constitution following his expulsion from the party, Tukur was not capable of being elected into the position of chairman.

Article 17(2)(g) of the PDP constitution 2009, now Section 49(4) of  the PDP constitution 2012(as amended) provides that “No member of the party shall be qualified for nomination or election into any offices of the party unless he has been a registered member for not less than 2 years and is of good financial standing in the party, except there is a waiver by the appropriate Executive Committee.”

The group argued that Tukur, at the point of his nomination for election as National Chairman in 2012 was never a registered member of not less than 2 years since his expulsion from the party in 2001, which expulsion has not been lifted by the PDP or set aside by a court of law.

It listed other sins committed by the chairman to include: failure to carry out his lawful responsibilities, incompetence, as well as illegality and abuse of office, including the removal of officers of the party without following due process.

Jonathan Complies With Court Order, Sacks Service Chiefs

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Jonathan Complies With Court Order, Sacks Service Chiefs

President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked the country’s four service chiefs, invoking the powers vested on him by the constitution and has announced their replacements.

According to a statement signed the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Reuben Abati, Air Marshal Alex Badeh takes over from Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim as Chief of Defence Staff, while Major-General Kenneth Tobiah  Minimah takes over from Lt.-General Azubike O. Ihejirika as Chief of Army Staff.

Similarly, Rear Admiral Usman O. Jibrin takes over from Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba as Chief of Naval Staff; just as Air Vice Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu takes over from Air Marshal Badeh as Chief of Air Staff.

No reason was given for the sudden changes which are with immediate effect, but human rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo had given the federal government a 14 day ultimatum to obey a court against the “illegal appointment of services chiefs by the president without being screened and approved by the National Assembly”.

Ruling on the suit filed by Keyamo, Justice A. Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja had in July 2013, ruled that the appointments of Service Chiefs without the approval of both the Senate and the House of Representatives is null and void in line with Section 18(1) and (2) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap. A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The implication of the ruling according to the lawyer is that “all official actions taken by the Service Chiefs since the 1st of July, 2013, when judgment was delivered are null, void and of no effect in the eyes of the law.”

Keyamo had threatened to go back to the courts to enforce compliance if at the end of the 14days ultimatum the federal government refused to sack the service chiefs.

The ultimatum would have elapsed in five days time.

According to Abati, President Jonathan has briefed the leadership of the National Assembly on the appointment of the new Service Chiefs and has requested the legislature to formally confirm the appointments when it reconvenes, in keeping with the provisions of the law.

WHO Certifies Nigeria Guinea Worm Free

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WHO Certifies Nigeria Guinea Worm Free

The World Health Organisation, WHO, has officially certified Nigeria as a Guinea Worm-Free country.

Minister of health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, who made the announcement on Wednesday while presenting the WHO certificate of clean bill of health, to President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja.

The ceremony was held during the first Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting in 2014, which was presided over by the President at the council chamber of the Presidential Villa.

Chukwu said that sequel to the alarming rate of guinea worm disease in the country, the Nigeria Guinea Worm Eradication Programme, NIGEP, was established in 1988, which proved effective as the country recorded its last case of guinea worm disease in November 2008.

The minister noted that although over 900 guinea worm disease rumour were reported after 2008, none of the cases was found to be guinea worm disease upon investigation.

Responding, Jonathan said that it was a milestone attainment which coincided with the period the country is marking its centenary, adding that the achievement further attested to the government’s efforts at ensuring that the country was rid of all kinds of endemic diseases.

“The certification by WHO is a global recognition of how far we have come and the success of the work that has been done to rid our nation of this scourge. Eradication of guinea worm disease that has long plagued many parts of our country has placed interminable burden on our citizens. As a government, we have been working very hard and today we have received the good news,” he said.

Jonathan assured that his administration would double its efforts to also attain the status of a wild polio free nation.

8 Die In Okene-Lokoja Road Mishap

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8 Die In Okene-Lokoja Road Mishap

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has confirmed the death of eight people in a ghastly auto accident on Okene-Lokoja road on Tuesday.

The state sector commander of the FRSC, Kunle Motajo, told newsmen in Lokoja that the accident, which occurred at about 7 a.m. at a spot in Osara village, involved a Toyota Hiace bus belonging to the Bauchi State government and a truck.

He said that the bus, with registration number BA 04 A28 and the truck with number Lagos SMK 694 XB, were travelling in opposite direction when they collided while approaching a narrow bridge.

Motajo said that nine people were involved in the accident but five men, two women and a boy died.

He said that the only survivor, a man believed to be the driver of the truck, sustained injuries and had been rushed to the Kogi State Specialist Hospital in Lokoja for treatment.

Motajo said that the remains of those who died were deposited at the morgues of the Kogi State Specialist Hospital and Ankuri Hospital, Lokoja.

The sector commander said that the obstruction caused by the accident had been removed and the road opened for free traffic flow.

Senate Begins Investigation Into Alleged Shooting During Rivers Rally

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Senate Begins Investigation Into Alleged Shooting During Rivers Rally

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Police, Igwe Nwagwu, told newsmen in Port Harcourt on Tuesday that it had begun investigation into the alleged shooting of a serving Senator, Magnus Abe, at a rally in Port Harcourt on January 12.

Nwagwu said that the committee would submit it findings to the National Assembly for deliberation as soon as it concludes its investigation, adding that it was in Rivers State on a fact-finding assignment.

“We are here in Rivers State to carry out fact-finding on the incident that happened last Sunday where it was alleged that the police shot tear gas and rubber bullets, which incidentally, also affected Senator Magnus Abe. We have not concluded our investigation yet,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the chief of staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Tony Okocha, told the committee that the police allegedly used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse  a crowd that gathered to hold the rally.

The Rivers State police commissioner, Joseph Mbu,  had said the the gathering was dispersed because organisers did not get a permit from the Police before embarking on a rally.

But Okocha said the Save Rivers Movement, an NGO, had applied for police permission to hold a sensitisation rally at the premises of the state College of Arts and Science, Port Harcourt, on January 12.

He said when he got to the venue, there was heavy police presence and that the police allegedly fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, insisting that the rubber bullet hit him on the left leg and also hit Abe, who was rushed to the hospital and later flown abroad for further treatment.

Ex-Gov Sheriff Claims He Was Target Of Eid – el – malud Bombing

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Ex-Gov Sheriff Claims He Was Target Of Eid – el – malud Bombing

Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

The former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, has alleged that the explosion which rocked the city of Maiduguri on Tuesday during the Eid-el-malud celebration was targeted at him.

Speaking through an aide and  chairman of his campaign organisation in Borno State, Bako Bunu, the former governor said the fact that his property at the old UTC was attacked in a protest that followed the explosion was a clear indication that he was the prime target.

It would be recalled that irate youths in the state had pelted both Sheriff and the present governor, Kashim Shettima, with stones at different times, to show their displeasure with the leaders.

Bung also noted that the fact that there had been no bomb incident in Maiduguri for the past 11 months until the former governor visited, gives the impression that the act was a calculated move to frustrate his stay.

“It is sad that vehicles bearing Ali Sheriff’s posters were either vandalized or burnt which further points to the fact that Sheriff was the actual target,” Bunu added.

He said Sheriff had become a target of some “desperate” politicians taking advantage of the current insecurity in the state as a result of his growing political relevance.

“We are aware that the Boko Haram incident was used as an alibi for some people to perpetrate mayhem and distract the attention of the security operatives. We consider it even childish that highly placed government officials can condescend so low as to instigate thugs against their leaders,” Bunu stated.

Meanwhile, Governor Shettima, has condemned the  blast and has directed security agencies to carry out full scale investigation into the sad event.

The governor also condemned the uprisings in the last three days in the state capital which he described as unfortunate even though avoidable.

He also directed the ministry of health in the state to ensure that all injured persons received proper medical attention as the cost would be borne by the state.

The bombing which took place at the popular GSM Market near the Post Office area in Maiduguri, is said to have left at least 30 persons dead and about 50 others injured.

Gov Babangida Aliyu Denies Woman’s Death In His Office

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Gov Babangida Aliyu Denies Woman’s Death In His Office

By Nma Shekwolo -Minna

The Niger State government has denied a report that a woman named Bilkisu Bello who slumped in the Governor’s Office on Monday died while she was with the state chief executive, Babangida Aliyu

According to a statement signed by the chief press secretary to the governor, Danladi Ndayebo, described the report as completely untrue and demanded a retraction of the story.

“We therefore demand a full retraction of the totally false report which demeans the office of the Governor of Niger State,” the statement said.

However, sources say that Bello, who was alone with the governor in the office at the time of the incident, was already dead at the time she arrived the Minna general hospital and that Governor  Aliyu was distorting facts in order to cover up the embarrassment that the incident could bring to his administration.

Bello’s daughter, Aisha Mohammed, said her mother, a civil servant, had suffered from a heart disease which was diagnosed more than five years ago.

Recalling her last moment with her mom, Aisha said she had dropped her mother off at the Government House, but that when she arrived the office 20 minutes after she spoke to her mother on the phone to pick her up, she was referred to the Intensive Care Unit, ICU, of the Minna General Hospital where the news of her death was broken to her.

“On getting there, people were trying to hide her death from me because at the time I got there, she had died. But my dad eventually called me from Kaduna to tell me of the death. He said that his younger brother who was there when she died called to inform him,” she said.

She said Governor Aliyu and his entourage also visited the family to condole with them.

Edo Doctors Commence Indefinite Strike

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Edo Doctors Commence Indefinite Strike

From Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin City

The Edo State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, has embarked on an indefinite strike to protest alleged deductions from their December salaries by the state government.

The state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, had issued a “No Work, No Pay” threat to doctors in the state for participating in a nationwide warning strike embarked upon by the NMA.

Chairman of Edo NMA, Emmanuel Ighodaro, said the association in a letter written to the state government had promised to carry out an industrial action if the “No Work, No Pay” threat is enforced.

Ighadora accused the government of “selective victimization,” noting that lecturers at the government owned Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma who joined their counterpart in the federal universities in a strike action that lasted six months, were not penalised in any way.

Also, the state chapter of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, has threatened to embark on an indefinite strike over an alleged removal of the names of over 40 staff of the High/Magistrate Court and Customary Court of Appeal from the payroll in the month of December, 2013.

Chairman of the union, K. Igbarago said that the State Chief Judge, Cromwell Idahosa, has been mandated to discuss with Oshiomhole on the possibility of resolving the issue amicably, adding that members would be duly consulted before action is taken, if state government remained adamant on the issue.

Maiduguri: At Least 17 Killed In Eid-El-Malud Day Suicide Bombing

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Maiduguri: At Least 17 Killed In Eid-El-Malud Day Suicide Bombing

As muslims in Nigeria marked the Eid-el-malud celebration to commemorate the birth of Prophet Mohammed, a suspected suicide bomber unleashed mayhem in Maiduguri, Borno State that has left at least 17 persons dead.

Eyewitnesses said the explosion took place at the popular GSM Market near the Post Office in Maiduguri at about 2:00p.m. shortly after the Zuhur prayers.

Confirming the incident, the Commissioner of Police in the State, Lawan Tanko, said the suicide bomber who was driving vehicle stocked with firewood, detonated his bomb around 1:00p.m and that security agents rushed to the scene as quickly as possible and cordoned off the place.

“We counted about 17 dead bodies as at 2.30 p.m. but the evacuation is ongoing. We also counted five injured persons (including a traffic warder) that were carried to hospital,” he added.

He said he had instructed his men to visit hospitals in the state capital to get comprehensive details of the casualties of the blast.

Tanko said that the police had also fortified security in all public places to prevent any incident in the state capital.

A Red Cross official who helped in evacuating the victims, Ibrahim Mubi, confirmed the development, saying the he could not give the actual number of the casualties at the time.

A trader at the GSM market, Fantami Ali, told journalists that he counted about 30 corpses after the blast.

“We were busy conducting businesses at the market when we heard explosion on the road. We later realised that it was a suicide bomber using fire wood seller’s pick up van that detonated bomb in the middle of the road during a busy hour at the market,” he said.

“We counted about 30 dead bodies after the incident. We also helped to evacuate about 50 persons who were injured at the scene, Ali added.

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