The Joint Task Force, JTF, in Borno State claimed on Monday that the wanted leader of the dreaded Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, may have been killed by the military in an attack on the group between June.

In a press statement issued by the JTF today signed by its spokesman, Sagir Musa, a lieutenant colonel, it said that Intelligence report had “revealed that Abubakar Shekau, the most dreaded and wanted Boko Haram terrorists leader, may have died.”

“He died of gunshot wound received in an encounter with the JTF troops in one of their camps atSambisa Forest on 30 June 2013. Shekau was mortally wounded in the encounter and was sneaked into Amitchide – a border community in Cameroun for treatment which he never recovered from,” the task force’s statement claimed.

Musa said further that “It is greatly believed that Shekau might have died between 25 July to 3 August, 2013.”

Shekau is, perhaps, the most wanted man in Nigeria, having led insurgents who have waged a terrorist war against many states in northern Nigeria, killing more than 2,500 persons in several attacks.

He was declared wanted last year by the Nigerian military with the sum of N50 million placed on him. He has also been declared a terrorist by the American government which also placed a bounty of $7 million on him.

Many crimes have been personally ascribed to Shekau, including the killing of some Muslim clerics in northern Nigeria while he is also said to have was masterminded the kidnap of the seven French citizens and elder statesman Shettima Ali Monguno.

According to Musa, the Boko Haram leader was also responsible for bombings of many places of worship and public buildings including the Police Headquarters and the United Nations Building inAbuja.

However, in a video released on August 13, nearly two weeks after Shekau is said to have been killed by the military, he admonished his followers to continue to wage war against the country and step u[p the killing of innocent people.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, says the N87 billion being demanded by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU represents earned allowances and therefore cannot be renegotiated.

According to a statement issued in on Tuesday by its interim national publicity secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party said that ASUU was not making any fresh demand beyond the agreement it reached with the government in 2009.

“Agreements are meant to be honoured, and breaching them comes with some consequences. The 87 billion naira that ASUU is demanding represents earned allowances hence cannot be renegotiated,” the APC said.

“In any case, this amount pales into insignificance when placed side by side with the 1 trillion nairathat has been spent on federal legislators in the past 8 years; or the frivolity involved in a government minister travelling to China to negotiate  a $1 billion loan in a chartered jet (with its attendant costs) and with a retinue of staffers who earned generous estacode in hard currency,” the party added.

It said the attitude of government towards the on-going strike which has crippled academic activities in public universities since July 1, is an indication of the kind of importance that it attaches to education.

Citing comments made by the minister of state for education, NyesonWike, the APC expressed shock and disgust at the nonchalant attitude demonstrated by those who should be working round the clock to resolve the crisis.

“We are not surprised, because most government officials have sent their children and wards to foreign universities, hence do not give a damn if the children of others are in school or not,” theAPC said.

The party said while the federal government has refused to meet its own side of an agreement it reached with ASUU since 2009, it could pay out N3 trillion in fraudulent fuel subsidies to “fat cats”, spend N10 billion annually to maintain the jets in the presidential fleet and do little or nothing to prevent the stealing of 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day, which translates to $120 million in a month, money that surely ends up in some people’s pockets.

According to the party, “if the Federal Government would reduce its profligacy and cut waste, there will be enough money to pay teachers in public universities, as well as fund research and upgrade infrastructure in such institutions.”

“Hungry teachers can neither teach well nor carry out research. And poorly-taught students can neither excel nor propel their nation to great heights,” the party added.

It noted that education is the key to national development and that talking about national growth and development without adequately funding education is a “pipe dream”.

Popular citizen journalism website, Saharareporters.com, has come under cyber attack in the last three days from unknown  persons who have succeeded in grounding the site.

The attack was announced in a statement signed by news website’s publisher,  Omoyele Sowore, which was posted on its Facebook page.

The statement read: “During the period between Wed. Aug 14 and Fri. Aug 16, 2013,SaharaReporters has been under a severe denial of service attack. The attackers have used a multi-pronged approach to their attack.”

Sowore said the attackers used a botnet comprising some thousands of servers across the globe, to incapacitate the site a number of times during the period.

“Their initial attack targeted a POST method attack to bypass the caching servers that normally prevent these types of attack. As soon as we were able to assuage the effects of that attack, the attackers switched their strategy and began bombarding the site in other ways. After responding to this methodology and getting the site functioning for the majority of the day on Thursday, the attackers again changed their strategy,” he noted.

“The third prong of the attack is called a SYN Flood attack, and it works by overloading the server with connection requests that linger for long periods of time. The SYN Flood began sometime early Friday morning and continues as of 2pm EST Friday afternoon,” Sowore said in the statement.

While noting that this third phase of the attack has proven quite challenging to overcome, he assured readers that the website’s team of server administrators were working “very” hard to push past the challenge and get reporters back on line.

The publisher also noted that “since establishing Saharareporters.com in 2006, the website and operators have been subjected to series of attacks both in the cyber space, media platforms and through proxy lawsuits, we have been declared public enemies to the extent that one of the columnists associated with Saharareporters has been serially detained and harassed whenever he visits Nigeria”.

He added: “While we cannot stop the powerful subjects of our groundbreaking reports from engaging in these cowardly attacks, we assure the reading public, especially our fans that nothing will stop Saharareporters and its affiliates from keeping up on the well-traveled path of exposing the characters responsible for the decimation of the dignity of Africans.”

A visit to the website this morning revealed that it still remains grounded.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on Friday issued a statement announcing the registration of the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM a party reportedly co-sponsored by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Independent Democrats, ID party.

This is coming barely two weeks after the registration of the All Progressive Party, APC which is a merger of three main opposition parties, namely: the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP.

Secretary to the commission, A. C. Ogakwu, said in the statement that: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered two new political parties in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) and the Electoral Act 2010 (as Amended).”

He went on to say that “The newly registered parties are the Independent Democrats (ID) and the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM).”

Ogakwu said the Commission had approved the constitution, manifesto, logo/flag and list of National Executive Officers of the two new parties.

But the former Vice President says he has no plans of leaving the ruling Peoples Democratic Party,PDP as is been speculated in the media.

National daillies had reported that Abubakar, together with nine PDP Governors were sponsoring an application for the registration of the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM party which is before the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Some of the Governors named as co-sponsors are Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, BabangidaAliyu of Niger State, Sule Lamido of Jigawa State and Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State.

However, Abubakar who disassociated himself from the report said he would always welcome the expansion of the political space.

While acknowledging that many of his political associates are involved in registering the PDM,Abubakar explained that he had no powers to stop adults with common interests from coming together to form a party.

He also noted several active roles played by the PDM in the country’s democratic transition from the Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha and Abdulsalami Abubakar military administrations.

“The PDM platform, which was founded by late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, provided the impetus for his impressive performance across the country during the September 1992 Presidential primaries, which were later cancelled by the military regime,’ he said.

Abubakar said further that: “The late Yar’Adua came close to becoming President, thanks to the formidable PDM structure. In 1999, the PDM was also in the forefront in the emergence of former President Obasanjo as PDP Presidential candidate.”

Indications that Abubakar, a founding member of the PDP, may be nursing plans to bolt out of the party emerged from his recent public expression of dissatisfaction with the current leadership style of the ruling party.

He has alleged that he is not accorded due respect as a founding father of the party and has not been getting invitations for major meetings.

In fact, some of his associates think he is being tactfully de-registered from the party.

The former Vice President was not invited to the last National Economic Council, NEC meeting inAbuja, neither has he received invitations to the meetings of the Board of Trustees (BoT), led by Tony Anenih.

The most recent is his exclusion of his name from the delegates’ list to the PDP mini-convention, which will hold later this month.

Abubakar had written a letter to the party’s national chairman, Bamanga Tukur about his exclusion from the list which he described as “curious”.

He said in the letter that: “As a member of our party, I look forward to the respect and privileges conferred on the office of the Vice President and founding fathers of the party by our party constitution. I therefore, request for a correction and restitution of my right to attend the forth-coming special national convention of our great party and also membership of the Board of Trustees”.

The interim President of Mali, Diongunda Traore, on Thursday conferred on President GoodluckJonathan the country’s highest honour .

Traore, while bestowing the title of “Grand Croix de L’ordre National du Mali” meaning “the Highest Cross of the National Order of Mali” on Jonathan in Abuja, described him as an “astute mediator” who “lit the light when everything was dark and sombre” in Mali.

The ceremony, which held at the council chamber of the Presidential Villa, was witnessed by top political leaders from Mali.

Governors Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom and Peter Obi of Anambra, ministers and presidential aides were also in attendance.

Speaking through an interpreter, Traore said the honour was to appreciate the pivotal roles played by Jonathan and Nigeria in the restoration of peace and security to Mali.

“I transmit the greetings and gratitude of the Malian people to the Nigerian people who have shown themselves in solidarity in the Malian course,” he said.

The Malian interim President thanked Jonathan for the solidarity he showed the country even at a time when it was most inconvenient.

“We know how much your country suffers also from terrorism. We know how much Nigeria has needs of its troops, of her soldiers and all the soldiers at her disposal to ensure internal security…however, in spite of this internal need and pressure, your country has not hesitated to put at the disposal of Mali her soldiers and her logistics,” Traore said.

“You have spent without counting the cost Mr. President, you have spent for Mali, your efforts have born fruits. Mali has come back among you strong from the lessons learnt, proud of what it has been able to achieve and proud of what you have been able to do for peace.”

“It is this Mali which has found itself again and which is very grateful which has sent me today Mr. President, to tell you that it will never forget what you have done for it. To tell you of the light which you lit in her way when everything was dark and sombre,” he added.

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In a response, President Jonathan said the honour bestowed on him symbolised  acknowledgement and appreciation of Nigeria’s commitment and sacrifice towards ensuring peace and stability in Mali.

“The importance of this is that our substantial financial, military and material contributions, including the supreme sacrifice paid by two Nigerian Airforce pilots, have all not been in vain,” he said.

“I assure you that Nigeria remains steadfastly committed to supporting the course of peace in Mali,” he pledged.

The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, said on Thursday that the underlying causes of the present security challenges facing the country are joblessness, illiteracy and hunger.

Shettima said this while addressing the United States- Nigeria Bi-national Commission meeting at the federal ministry of foreign affairs headquarters in Abuja.

The governor was invited by the American government to appraise it of the security situation in northern Nigeria, particularly Borno State.

He urged the federal government to as a matter of urgent national importance provide employment for teeming youth across the country, which in his view is fundamental for the sustenance of peace.

The governor said Nigerians should not be fooled into believing that the present crisis affects only a particular zone or region, noting that it could spill over to other parts of the country.

He thanked the US for its concern for peace in the country and appealed to it to improve on its collaboration with the Nigerian security authorities for the speedy restoration of peace.

At the opening of the closed door meeting, the U.S under secretary, political affairs, Wendy Sherman, said the United States and Nigeria have ties with each other at every level.

She said the Bi-national Commission has been a successful forum to advance mutual goals since its establishment in 2010, stressing that the meeting had showcased the important and challenging issues of national interest to both countries.

Sherman said the United States was ready to help Nigeria “develop a multi-faceted strategy” to contain the violence, but warned that a military crackdown alone would not work.

The Boko Haram conflict has “increased tensions between various ethnic communities, interrupted development activities, frightened off investors and generated concerns among Nigeria’s northernneighbours,” she said.
At the meeting were high ranking officials from the two countries including Nigeria’s General SarkinYaki Bello, the officer in-charge of counter terrorism activities in the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA.

The people of Jigawa state have been thrown into mourning following the death of two prominent politicians – the deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly, Inuwa Sule Udi and former commissioner of education and information, Salisu Ibtahim Dandoka.

The 47-year-old Udi, who was a third term member representing Ringim constituency at the House died along with his driver, Mas’ud Ringim, in a fatal road accident Thursday night.

The former commissioner on the other hand died after a brief illness at the Malam Aminu KanoTeaching Hospital.

The accident involving the deputy Speaker was said to have occurred along the Kano-Ringimroad amid a heavy down pour.

Spokesman of the Udi family, Balarabe Mohammed, said that the orderly to the late deputy speaker survived the accident.

Udi left behind four wives,18 children and grandchildren.

Prominent sympathisers who thronged his residence to condole with the family included the chief of staff, Government House, Dutse, Aminu Ringim, who represented the state governor, SuleLamido and the Speaker of the state Assembly, Ahmed Adamu, as well as commissioners, local government chairmen and lawmakers.

Both have been buried according to Islamic rites.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on Friday arrested a 27-year-old drug peddler, who attempted to smuggle 5.300kg of cannabis and 660 grammes of heroin to Rome, Italy.

The spokesman of the agency, Mitchell Ofoyeju, who announced this in a statement, said the drugs were detected during the outward screening of Alitalia passengers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos.

“The parcels of cannabis were covered with dried bitter leaf vegetables inside a bag while the heroin was ingested by the suspect,” Ofoyeju said.

He said that the suspect who was not named claimed to have graduated from the Philosophy department of the Ebonyi State University in 2009.

The spokesman said that the suspect also claimed that he was introduced to the drug by a baron who bought his ticket and gave him 1,000 Euros.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has disqualified two governorship candidates in Anambra State for failing to produce an up-to-date tax clearance certificate during screening.

Chairman of the PDP appeal committee on Anambra governorship election, Mahmud Shinkafi, former governor of Zamfara State, said 15 other aspirants were cleared.

Shinkafi named Sylvester Okonkwo and Owuanyin Afamefuna as the two disqualified candidates.

The Anambra governorship election has been slated for November 26, while the state primaries are expected to hold three months earlier on August 24.

The screening panel headed by Aminu Wali had on August 6 screened 17 aspirants and cleared 13 while four were disqualified.

However, Ugochukwu Okeke and Tony Nwoye, were cleared by the committee on Wednesday, bringing the total number of aspirants to 15.

The remaining 13 deemed eligible to contest the party’s primaries include: Obinna Uzoh, MikeOkoye, Akachukwu Nwankpo, Josephine Anenih, Emmanuel Anosike, Andy Ubah, Jerry Ugokwe.

Others are: Nicholas Ukachukwu, Patrick Ogbomo, Kramer Ifunanyachukwu, Alex Obiogbolu, CharlesOdunukwe and Walter Okeke.