The Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, Kaduna, on Friday said it trained 937 soldiers on counter terrorism as part of efforts to strengthen the fight against terrorism. . A breakdown of those, who attended the six-week training in the school, showed 489 were from Headquarters Infantry Corp Centre; 200, 7 Division; and 248, Nigeria Army Ordnance Corps (NAOC). . The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, said the training was organised to prepare the soldiers to efficiently handle the current security challenges in the country. . He said as part of its efforts to fight terrorism, the army…
Author: David F.
Members of the dreaded Boko Haram sects have adopted new strategy in their terror attacks in Borno state. . Seven passengers were killed, yesterday, when an improvised explosives device (IED)planted along Gwoza-Madagali road exploded when a bus conveying them got to the spotwhere the bomb was placed. . Gwoza-Madagali is an inter-state road connecting Borno and Adamawa state. . It was gathered that the road has been closed after the unfortunate incident by security operatives as the anti-bomb team are combing the area for explosives. . According to a reliable security source, who spoke to our Correspondent on condition of…
The release of the modalities for the National Conference by the Federal Government has elicited mixed reactions from lawmakers and party chieftains. . While some viewed the modalities for the confab as timely others said that it was ill-timed. . The Federal Government in a statement on Jan.30, 2014 released the modalities for the national conference to be held in the FCT. . The lawmakers made the remarks in separate interviews in Abuja on Friday. . Rep. Saviour Udoh (PDP-Akwa Ibom) said the modalities for the conference were in order, adding that the unity of Nigeria was not negotiable. .…
A businessman, Mr Seyi Ogundeji, on Friday pleaded with a Customary Court in Ake, Abeokuta, to dissolve his marriage to Biola on grounds of threat to life. . Ogundeji, 34, who resides at 17, Oke-Bode, Abeokuta, accused Biola, 29, of public embarrassment and incessant fighting. . “My wife is very troublesome; she usually curses and embarrasses me in the public anytime we have a little misunderstanding. . “She also squanders the rents I collect from my tenants. Sometime ago, she stole my N200,000. She denied stealing it. . “Her behaviour made me to marry a second wife. Please separate us…
The Nigeria Immigration Service, Ondo State Command, said on Thursday it had discovered a ‘baby factory’ in Ilu-tuntun, Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state. . The command told newsmen in Akure that 19 men and women who were allegedly cohabiting and producing children for the owner of the ‘factory’ were arrested. . They comprised eight men and 11 women and the owner of the factory. . Five of the women were carrying children, while another five were found pregnant. . The Comptroller of the command, Alhaji Al-Hassan Musa, said “we were able to arrest these people by acting on…
The 22nd Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government on Thursday began a two-day Summit with the crises in South Sudan and the Central African Republic (CAR) taking centre stage. . Reports have it that the Summit is being attended by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, former President Olusegun Obasanjo,and Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar. . President Jonathan is leading a delegation of seven members of the Federal Executive Council, including the two ministers of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Works, Health, Justice and Water Resources. . The Summit with the theme, 2014, Africa’s Year of Agriculture and Food…
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Borno, on Thursday, said 41 people died in 313 road accidents from January to December 2013 in the state. . The corps Commandant in the state, Mr Abbah Bazza, made the disclosure at the inauguration and swearing of NURTW executive members of the Borno Heavy Trucks Central Branch in Maiduguri. Bazza said 182 people sustained severe injuries, while 90 persons were unhurt. . He added that the FRSC had in the last 90 days arrested 813 persons for various road offences. . The commandant noted that 6,312 people had so far obtained new…
The Senate on Thursday deferred the request by Sen. Bukola Saraki that the notice of defection of 11 PDP senators to the APC be read on the floor of the Senate. . Saraki raised a Point of Order under the Senate Standing Order 15, which stipulates that a matter of privilege shall be given urgent attention by the senate. . Saraki said in Abuja that it was important for the letter to be read on the floor to formally inform the Senate of their defection to the opposition. . “A notice by a letter was communicated yesterday (Wednesday) to your…
Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the campaign posters of aspirants have started appearing in different parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. . Reports have itthat the posters were largely those of aspirants in the PDP, APC and Accord. . Those sighted included that of the immediate past governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao- Akala, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Jordan, Taofik Arapaja, and Asim Gbolarunmi, all of the PDP. Arapaja and Gbolarumi were both former deputy governors to Alao-Akala . . Another aspirant, whose poster was pasted conspicuously in the metropolis, was Mr Seyi Makinde of the PDP. . The…
The Chief Executive Officer of Sahara Group, Mr Tonye Cole, on Thursday said that it would take Nigerians about five years to experience uninterrupted electricity supply. . Cole made the conclusion in a statement issued by the company, which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. . Cole also said there were areas that needed to be improved upon, before stable national power supply would be actualised. . He said that electricity development information sharing among key players in the sector would remain a key factor to success, in the years ahead. . He also…
The House of Representatives has slated Feb. 4 for the consideration of the 2014 appropriation. . The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Zakari Mohammed (APC- Kwara), disclosed this at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja. . Zakari said that consideration of the budget was put on hold so that the Constitutional Review process could be concluded. . He said that the next line of action would be to raise a Conference Committee of the House to begin work on the grey areas of the Constitution with its Senate Committee counterpart. .…
President Goodluck Jonathan said that the Federal Government would spend N1.5 trillion in the next five years to reform the Nigeria Police Force. . Jonathan made this known at a two-day retreat on “Sustaining Nigeria Police Reforms’’, in Makurdi on Thursday. . The event was organised by the Police Service Commission (PSC) in conjunction with the Benue Government. . Represented by Sen. Bala Mohammed, the Minister of the FCT, Jonathan said government was committed to build the capacity of the police force in the country through ongoing reforms. . Jonathan said that 60 per cent of the money would be…
The Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Thursday dismissed the reports of looming fuel scarcity. . A statement issued in Abuja by Dr. Omar Ibrahim, the General Manager, Public Affairs Division, NNPC, advised members of the public not to panic. . It said that the NNPC, in spite of the unending challenges posed by pipeline vandalism and product theft, had enough stock of products in its marine reserve and national strategic reserve. . “What the corporation has in stock is enough to make the country remain wet with petroleum products round the clock,” the statement quoted Ibrahim.…
At the event, the recorded scene of an armed robbery incident at the Murtala Muhhammed International Airport, MMIA, last year was relayed on the video wall. . The gang of dare-devil armed robbers attacked a Bureau de Change, carting away huge sums of money in both local and foreign currencies. The spell-bound audience watched the video clips at the Command and Control Centre, Alausa. . Unknown to the armed robbers, security cameras otherwise called CCTV cameras installed at strategic places to monitor activities, clearly captured the robbery operation. . With this, the Police were able to close up on the…
The Police in Imo State have arrested the General Overseer and head of a popular church in Ikeduru council area of the state, for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl. . This followed a petition written to the Owerri Police Area Command by the lawyer to the father of the alleged rape victim, Mr Emperor Iwuala. . The father of the victim, a widower and does not want his name in print, had alleged that the pastor severally raped his daughter between 2010 and 2013. . According to him, “Between 2010 and 2013, I was sick and a friend of mine…
Following the release of the 2015 election timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, President Goodluck Jonathan will soon hold a strategic meeting with his kitchen cabinet to decide on whether or not to run, his Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, has said. . However, the decision may not be taken until April because the Presidency may want to spend the next 90 days on effective governance to better the lot of the citizenry in line with the President’s promise of a better 2014 for Nigerians. . In an exclusive interview, Obi, who also described as…
Lagos State government, yesterday, said the proposed Fourth Mainland Bridge may not be realisable soon because; “With the current plan, 318 buildings will need to be demolished for the bridge to take-off.” . Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze and his counterpart from the ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat disclosed these during an inter-ministerial press briefing on analysis of Year 2014 budget, stressing that the year’s budget is aimed at eradicating poverty. . Hamzat explained that it was difficult for the state government to embark on the previous alignment for the construction of the…
With INEC announcing the timetable for the general election, we expect that the different forces for the elective offices across the country will begin to mobilise. Delta is no different. For me and others who believe in our cause for equity and justice, we feel that as 2015 get close, the race for the tenancy of Osadebey House, Asaba will become more interesting. The truth is every qualified citizen has the inalienable right to aspire to any elective position, in saying that I believe that Delta state has obviously taken into account its multi-ethnic dimension by effectively evolving the rotation…
The Ogun State Police command said, yesterday, that it arrested five persons after they robbed and raped a businesswoman along Idi-Iroko road in Yewa South Local Government Area of the state. . The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement said that the victim, who left Lagos for Idi-Iroko, Tuesday, was taken to Olodo village where the hoodlums beat her up thoroughly and raped her. . The suspects also robbed the victim of N1,803,000 cash, gold worth N200,000 and a wrist watch worth N5,000 and mobile/blackberry phones, all valued at N2,187,500. . According to Adejobi,…
The Angolan renowned singer and producer Paul G is recovering from minor injuries after suffering a traffic accident in the capital city of Camama, where five people were killed, was reported here today. . The autor of “Get in control” and “Freaking Me Out” broke his right clavicle and has minor injuries, confirmed sources close to the musician. . According to them, Paulo Jorge Marques Joao, his real name, lost control of the vehicle, crashed and hit a guard and separation bar on a highway. . The artist began his career as a founding member of the Angolan rap group…