Boko Haram: JTF foils plans to attack soft targets in Borno State

 

Colonel Sagir Musa

In less than 7 hours after the Boko Haram militants gave another condition for dialogue in a tele- conference with newsmen in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, the Joint Task Force on Operation Restore Order have said that, information available to them indicates that the sect are plotting to attack Government officials, civil servants, politicians and other law abiding citizens in the state.
Lt. Col. Sagir Musa in a released made available to Daily Post on Thursday said that the JTF wishes to alert members of the public on the latest plot and advise these categories of Nigerians to be aware of people within their environment and restrict movements particularly during the hours of night.
The JTF also called on members of the public to report any suspicious movement, persons or groups to the Task Force through the following JTF Hot Lines for further action: 0806 4174066, 0708 5464012 and 0815 4429346.
In another development, Daily Post gathered that, over 50 people have been arrested by the JTF in a search operation at Zannari ward and Budun area of the metropolis.
A resident who does not want his name in print told Daily Post that, he had to return back to the office to pass the night as he cannot get to his house because the search operation was ongoing.
“Shortly after alighting from a taxi at about five O’clock this evening, I met somebody I know who ask me not to go home. ‘According to him, soldiers have taken over our street and ward as they were searching from house to house arresting people.’ So, I have no choice than to go back to the office to pass the night.
“My joy is that, I was told that my son also heard of it and he is taking refuge in my sister’s house. I also asked him not to return home until everything is over because both the guilty and the innocent are usually arrested and they all suffered before they are released and that is if they were released as many innocent people were killed in such operations.” He told Daily Post

SOurce Daily Post

Boko Haram wants talks …picks Buhari as mediator, Saudi Arabia venue …demands ex-gov’s arrest, compensation

 

Former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd),
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THE violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, on Thursday indicated its readiness to end its campaign of violence but on the conditions that ex-Borno State Governor Modu Sheriff was arrested and peace talks held in Saudi Arabia.

Also, the sect is asking for compensation for families of its members killed in the course of its terrorist acts and the rebuilding of its mosques by the Federal Government.

It also demanded the release of all its members in the custody of security agencies.

Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulaziz, the second-in-command to the sect’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, gave the conditions on Thursday during a radio conference with journalists in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Abdulaziz did not explain why the group wanted Sheriff arrested.

Just on Wednesday, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, said Sheriff and Senators Ali Ndume and Ahmed Zanna had been put under surveillance to determine their alleged links with the sect.

The three have been variously fingered as financiers of the group

Abdulaziz named a former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari; Dr. Shettima Monguno; a former Yobe State Governor, Bukar Ibrahim; Ambassador Gaji Galtimari; and Aisha Alkali Wakil, and her husband, Alkali as “trusted” Nigerians it would be ready to negotiate with in Saudi Arabia.

On the sect’s team would be Abdulaziz, Abu Abbas, Sheikh Ibrahim Yusuf, Sheikh Sani Kontogora and Mamman Nur.

Abdulaziz said, “We are not actually challenging the state, as people are saying, but the security (forces) that are killing our members, children and wives.

“We are highly offended but if this government is sincere, everything (the attacks) will come to an end. We want to dialogue but government must show sincerity in its handling of the situation.”

More than 1,000 persons have been killed in attacks on places of worship, military and police facilities as well as drinking joints since the sect launched its war against the government in 2009.

Last year, suicide bombers from the sect attacked the Police headquarters and the UN Building, in Abuja, killing 44 persons. On last Christmas Day, Boko Haram also attacked St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State, killing at least 46 parishioners.

It has subsequently attacked several other worship centres, including the St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Kaduna last Sunday.

Before now, the Federal Government had made several claims that it was in dialogue with the sect but Abdulaziz said there had been no contact between Boko Haram and the government. He said the sect wants the talk outside the country because the government had proved not to be trustworthy.

The PUNCH could not verify the identity of the man , who claimed to be Abdulaziz even as there were minor inconsistencies in the communication between him and the journalists on Thursday.

Apart from the fact that Abdulaziz is not the usual official spokesman for the sect, he spoke in English Language instead of the Hausa/Arabic that the sect is known for .

But, the Presidency on Thursday said the proposed ceasefire by Boko Haram was a welcome development, if it was intended to achieve the objectives of peace and security.

Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, said the position of President Goodluck Jonathan had been that he was ready for dialogue if members of the sect could come forward.

He said, “Yes, I have seen the story in which the Boko Haram is reportedly declaring a ceasefire and the opening of dialogue. I think it is important to restate the position of government in this matter.

“The Federal Government is committed to peace and security for the benefit of all Nigerians.

“ If what the proposed ceasefire is intended to achieve are the objectives of peace and security, then it is a welcome development.

“Don’t forget that President Jonathan made it clear that if the people behind Boko Haram are ready to come forward, and table their grievances, then government will be willing to listen to those grievances.

“There have been attempts before now, by concerned persons to reach out to the Boko Haram through back channels, in response to government’s call that all efforts should be made to resolve the problem. I suspect that this latest development may be related to that.”

Meanwhile, Governor Ibrahim Shettima of Borno State on Thursday said security agencies must be alive to their responsibilities by probing the alleged involvement of politicians in the state in the activities of Boko Haram.

Shettima gave the charge while speaking with State House correspondents in Abuja.

Borno State is considered to be the hotbed of activities of the fundamental.

He said, “On the issue of the involvement of politicians, I think is within the realm and the responsibility of the security agencies to unearth the truth.

“I am more of a developmental politician and I am more interested in addressing the core issues that makes our society vulnerable to the antics of religious bigots and all sorts of misfits that are inducting our young ones to these things.

“So, I don’t want to dabble into of the work of security agencies neither do I want to respond to allegations and accusations from any quarter. But it is the responsibility of security agencies to unearth those behind Boko Haram.”

Man, 62, defiles 10-year-old stepdaughter, flees

 A 62-year-old Mr. Alabi Ibrahim has been accused of habitually having carnal knowledge of his 10-year-old-step daughter, Seyi (not) the real name.

Seyi, a primary six pupil alleged that her step-father had on several occasions molested her sexually at their residence, Opara Estate, Aiyetoro Road in Abeokuta.
The heinous act, became an open secret when the girl ignorantly shared her experience with her siblings who then informed her mother.
Angered by her husband’s incestuous act, the mother, Mrs. Adiat Ibrahim, subsequently reported Ibrahim to the police in Abeokuta.
It was learnt that the accused took to his heels when police detectives went after him in Onikolobo area.
Narrating her ordeal, the 10-year-old girl disclosed that each time her step father had sex with her, he usually threatens to kill her if she informs anybody.
She said; “Daddy always comes to me when Mummy is not at home, and warns me not to tell anybody, so that I wouldn’t die”.
The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi who confirmed the incident described Ibrahim’s action as barbaric, promising that the police will thoroughly investigate the matter and possibly charge the suspect to court for defilement.
“The police totally condemn the act. He will not be spared. The man will be charged to court, after a thorough investigation,” Adejobi added.

Source
Daily Trust

Okada rider kills RTEAN Chairman for demanding ticket money in Ondo town

There was pandemonium in Ondo town on Saturday as a prominent leader of one of the Motorcycle Operators’ Association in the ancient town was killed by an unknown person.

Daily Post gathered that the victim, Late Ebenezer Adedeji, was The branch chairman of the RTEAN in one of the notable parks in the community.
According to a source from the community, late Adedeji was allegedly eliminated by a man also believed to be a member of an Okada Riders’ Association in the community, whose identity was not known as the time of filing this report.
Witnesses say the Late Adedeji had before the incident, stood at Shora Street in Ondo town where he allegedly accosted the suspect and demanded for N100 being the money for the daily ticket of the Association.
An argument was said to have ensued between the suspect and the deceased leading to altercation which led to a scuffle.
The suspect was said to have abandoned his motorcycle on the spot and left for his house which is located few meters to the area only to return with a matchet.
Eyewitness account disclosed that the late Ebenezer left the scene to attend a meeting of the Association within the area, during which the suspect had allegedly laid ambush at the entrance of the venue of the meeting.
“The late Adedeji was allegedly hacked down with the cutlass when he was on his way home from the meeting” the witness said
The suspected killer of the late RTEAN Chairman was later arrested by the traders in the area, before he was handed over to the police.
It was further learnt that all efforts made by the residents of the area to stop the suspect while he was macheting the deceased was to no avail as he was said to have ran after him, while the victim took to his heel.
However, a source at the Enuowa Divisional Police station where the incident was reported explained said that a detachment of policemen led by a senior police officer at the station were drafted to the scene.
The Divisional Police Officer in charge of the station, Chief David Ehighale, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident.
He added that the suspect had been transferred to the homicide section at the Ondo State Police Command headquarters in Akure, for further investigation.
He also said the remains of the deceased has been deposited at the Ondo State Specialist Hospital Ondo town.
However, the matter took a new dimension when the news of the death of the suspected assailant was broken by the police.
He was said to have died while being taken away to the police command headquarters in Akure


Source

Daily trust News

Lesbians take over the city of Calabar

Mrs. Janet Ishi of Orok Orok Street, Calabar, capital of Cross River State, is currently a worried woman. The source of her bother is her eldest daughter, Eno, whose sexual preference is less than conventional. Eno is a member of the city’s growing tribe of lesbians.

And they are found everywhere–civil service, army, police as well as secondary and tertiary institutions. Queen, a dark-skinned beauty, told TheNEWS that lesbians usually seek partners among teenage secondary school, polytechnic and university students. Places like Halls 8 and 9 (Winnie Mandela Hall), Female Medical Students’ Hostel and the School of Nursing Hostel–all at the University of Calabar; Cross River University of Technology female hostel, Federal Government Girls’ College hostels and female hostels in private schools are pools where lesbians go to fish.
Ufot, a 19-year-old girl Law student, told this magazine that several girls approached her at the University of Calabar’s Winnie Mandela Hostel, but she rejected their overtures. However, while visiting Abuja during a semester break, she was introduced to lesbianism. “My sister’s neighbour kept coming to our room to woo me each time my sister was out. She was the one that bought this Nokia X3 phone for me and often gives me money. Each time I made a move to return to school, she would weep and discourage me from going back. It was when she travelled that I left Abuja,” she said.
Lesbians, as heterosexuals do, also keep regular partners and get jealous the same way.
Adun (not real name), a journalist with a national daily, narrated his experience with Cynthia, a girl he thought was going to be meeting his sexual needs. “I took her out to all the nice places in Calabar just to put her in the mood, but she was not forthcoming. I had to make some enquires about her and was told by some people who knew her that she is a lesbian and that she has two female sex partners in the neighbourhood,” he said.
A lecturer at the Department of Sociology, University of Calabar, Dr. James Akapama, told this magazine that the environment creates the atmosphere that engenders same-sex relationship. “These people are young and their minds are susceptible to corrupting influences. They may just want to explore the experience, not knowing that they would be hooked,” he said.
He warned that social influences beyond immediate pleasures can change the direction of one’s life. Dr. Irene Aniyom, Director-General of the State Action Committee Against AIDS, SACA, said lesbianism increases the spread of HIV/AIDS in the state. She said statistics show that over 35,551 persons are currently confirmed to be HIV positive in Cross River State. This figure, she said, is obtained from tests conducted in hospitals, HIV test centres and other medical facilities across the state.

PHOTONEWS: Lokoja-Abuja Road Cut Off By The Great Flood That Divided Nigeria

 

A series of photos released by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) shows the seriousness of flooding that devastated various parts of Nigeria during this raining season. Some 2 million Nigerians have been displaced from their homes while some have died or gone missing as a result of the ravaging flood.
The most striking aspect of the flooding happened on the ever-busy Abuja-Lokoja highway where for close to one week now, the key highway linking northern Nigeria to the rest of the south, generally the Southwest has been submerged under water causing traffic delays that have lasted days.
Photo credit- Yushau Shuaibu/NEMA

Expect Power Supply to Get Even Better – Presidency

 

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President Goodluck Jonathan has stated that the improvement in the quantum of power supply would not only be sustained but also improved.
The President made the statement to reassure Nigerians and international investors after the ouster of Professor Barth Nnaji as the minister of Power.
According to a statement from the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs the progress would be even more visible by the end of year 2012.
The statement read, ” “President Goodluck Jonathan expects that before the end of December 2012, with the progress being made in the area of gas supply to the National Integrated Power Project, NIPP, the present improvement in the electricity supply for domestic and industrial use will not only be sustained but also significantly improved.
“The President has set a target for the
actualisation of uninterrupted power supply, which drives economic development and Nigerians are assured that the process will not be truncated, while the privatisation of the sector will go on with utmost transparency.
“Majority of the NIPP projects that are yet to operate in full capacity despite daunting challenges will, between now and December, be able to substantially and significantly improve the generation capacity to increase the availability and sustainability of electricity power supplied nationwide for long hours.
“It is the expectation of the President that the increase in power supply will attract foreign investors and open up the flanks for job creation.
“The Roadmap to Power Sector Reform has greatly improved project planning and
management efficiency in Nigeria’s electric power system in preparation for private sector management. The President is turning words into action as evident in the
improvement in electricity power supply nationwide.
“President Jonathan is sincerely committed to ensuring that the government divests its interest in state-owned entities and
transparently entrench the key principles of restructuring and divestiture in the electric power sector.”