A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
Thirteen inmates escaped in fresh jailbreak recorded at Koton Karfe prison in Kogi in the early hours of Saturday.
It was gathered from a reliable source that the incident happened at about 7a.m. when the inmates forcefully brought down the wall of the prison.
The all male prison facility which was inaugurated in 2014 has the capacity to accommodate 180 inmates.
However, it was also gathered that it was accommodating 263 inmates as at the time of the jailbreak, Saturday and one of the escaped inmates was re-arrested almost immediately by security agents.
Recalled that this was the third jailbreak recorded in Koton Karfe as the old prison facility witnessed similar jailbreaks in 2010 and 2013.
In previous jailbreaks 132 inmates escaped from the prison and majority were awaiting trials.
It was gathered that Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Prison Service immediately sent a representative to Koton Karfe to assess the situation.
The State's Controller of Prison, Mr Musa Maza, who would have shed more light on the incident, did not pick several calls made to his mobile telephone line.
In line with the policy of the Federal Government to grow agricultural sector for industrial activities to thrive, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone 'C', Owerri has intercepted long trucks fully loaded with foreign imported poultry products estimated at the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N256.2million brought into the country illegally by smugglers. The Command also arrested three suspects in connection with the contraband items.
*The seized items
The Public Relations Officer of the Unit, Onuigbo Ifeoma, made this known to Sunday Vanguard in a statement signed by the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Unit, Comptroller Haruna Mamudu, revealed that the frozen products, which were cleverly and deceitfully concealed in a Scania truck with an inscription of 'DHL' were seized along the Benin axis in Edo State.
He said, "The culprits concealed all the prohibited goods in long trucks, in a bid to escape security checks, but the eagle-eyed officers on duty uncovered them. Aside from the negative impact on local poultry industries in the country, there are serious health hazards associated with the consumption of foreign poultry products preserved with chemicals meant for the preservation of dead bodies.
Nigerians should stop consuming these products because a number of untimely deaths had occurred as a result of this. The NCS had continued to ensure maximum media publicity in respect of the dangers posed to human health by imported frozen poultry products and warned those still engrossed in the illicit business to desist in their own interest or face the full weight of the law".
The CAC regretted that while NCS had remained resolute and consistent in the war against smuggling, those involved in this unpatriotic act had continued to devise and perfect many plans to achieve their illegal ambitions to the detriment of the nation's economy. "We are battle-ready for smugglers as NCS is now well fortified and better equipped to deal decisively with smugglers wherever they operate with a superlative intelligence gathering system. The suspects already in Customs' net would be thoroughly investigated and if found culpable, must be made to face the law accordingly.
We are talking of change but regrettably these smugglers are not ready to embrace the change meant for the betterment of our country. We have no other country called ours, therefore everybody must come together to salvage it," he stressed.
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has thrown his weight behind the solution proffered by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to the Niger Delta crisis.
Okowa, while receiving the Commander of Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie, who paid him a visit in his office in Asaba, Delta State, had suggested that the best way to tackle security in the Niger Delta is through the sharing of intelligence and combination of personnel.
Speaking in Asaba, Onuesoke, who said he supported the governor's advice, argued that if the government approached the Niger Delta crisis through intelligence and combination of personnel as suggested by Okowa, the crisis in the region would be resolved.
The PDP chieftain, who advised the Federal Government to focus on how the country could be restructured without resorting to war so that every body will have sense of belonging, described Okowa as a peace-loving governor who will not want his state to be turned into a war zone, adding that, that is why he is coming up with such a beautiful idea.
Immediate past Chairman of Udu Local Government Area of Delta State, Hon. Raymond Edijala has commended the leadership qualities of the former President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, PastorAyo Oritsejafor.
Speaking in Warri, after the swearing-in of Dr. Supo Ayokunle as new CAN President, Edijala stressed that Oritsejafor has given the body of Christ in Nigeria a selfless, word based leadership, high moral value, integrity, wisdom from above, vigor and an inherent drive for unity.
According to him, Oritsejafor's achievement as the first Pentecostal CAN President in a very vicious political, social and economical disposition of Nigeria is worthy of commendation, maintained that the former CAN President's courage, charisma and divine boldness has given Christians like him hope, adding that his activities had indeed shown him as a father and leader of Christians.
"As a human, you were not above mistakes, but the grace was more than sufficient in the face of unfounded and lucifer induced criticisms. I love you Papa. Keep the good work of faith burning," Edijala advised him, just as he pointed out that Oritsejafor fought a good fight within the laws of God and of the land to reposition Christianity in Nigeria.
He noted that as a good Christian leader, despite being antagonized by his foes who equally used some senseless Christians to attack him, Oritsejafor stood his ground and ensured that all in all, his tenure was a success.
He prayed for God to bless Oritsejafor, adding that God should open the eyes of those Christians to see the reality of his leadership qualities.
IT was a good feeling when Ikechukwu Ofoje introduced me as a guy he played with in Nigeria and ovation followed. But it felt better to see for myself the progress this wonderful Nigerian is making in the United States of America. Ofoje made name as the youngest captain of Enugu Rangers when the Nigerian league could compare with what we have in Europe now in terms of followership and glamour at least among Nigerians. He was a strong defender, who sometimes was thrown into the attack. He never disappointed on those occasions. He packed bullets on both legs but his right was deadlier.
Kids that attended the summer soccer camp at USC with the coaches. Standing right is Ofoje.
Don't forget that Brazilians once played in our league. Rangers had two and a Brazilian coach in Roberto Diaz. Our economy was good to attract foreign players. I'm not talking about the generation of our grand fathers but our generation. How things have degenerated. SHAME. Permit the digression. Now, Ofoje is the head coach of University of South Carolina, Aiken. He has been coaching in the USA for more than 15 years, and in Aiken, he is almost an institution. He is very popular and simply called ‘Coach Aik.’
As guest of Ofoje, I enjoyed a 20 per cent discount in the hotel that I stayed. I visited my long time friend while on vacation, last June. It was a pleasant experience watching the summer soccer camp the University organised for kids. Soccer is growing in America, thanks to the likes of Ofoje and Totty O. Totty who also made name playing for Sharks and Rangers.
Totty coaches at Grambling State University and he is one of the respected coaches in female football in America, the home of female football. He was one of those who trained potentials at the soccer camp. Totty was pleasant to be with just as he was exciting as a full back in those great days of Nigerian football. I met many interesting guys. Dan Ikpechukwu was unbelievable, a true brother. Ify Okafor and her daughter; Ekene Nworji and her lovely wife; Ifeoma and their children. I met an Enugu man who claimed he played football when there were no rules and breaking opponents’ legs excited. He said he played for Robinson United.
Ofoje directing affairs
I met a man who appreciates President Muhammadu Buhari's fight against corrupt politicians but insists that indiscipline and corruption have so permeated our culture that the only way Nigeria can return to the era of WAR AGAINST INDISCIPLINE in Buhari's first coming as a military Head of State is for Buhari to "emerge from the Presidential Villa in a military uniform, announce that he has overthrown himself and that Buhari the soldier is the new President who will then begin to deal with indiscipline the way democratic norms can not derail."
Laughter followed but the man said that his joke should be taken seriously "because Nigerians only understand the language of force to desist from corruption and indiscipline on our streets, homes and offices”.
Another interesting guy I met was Philmon, a British coach who was among the 10 coaches who worked with Ofoje at the summer camp. There was also Eugene, the Ghanaian-born Canadian, who is Ofoje's assistant but plays the game better than many of his players. And then Kimberly, the woman who told me an interesting story about "the Governor of Igbo nation" whom she described as a king. Kimberly brought her son, Keaston to the soccer camp and stayed back to watch the drills and games throughout the sessions. Many parents left after dropping off their children and only returned later in the evenings for them. Kimberly stayed to watch the sessions.
The indoor sessions were as interesting as the outdoor soccer clinics. It was while on the outdoor session that I started discussing with Kimberly. We exchanged greetings and she appeared excited meeting a Nigerian and asked if I were Igbo or Yoruba. It was clear she had Nigerian friends. She pleasantly told me about the Igbo convention she attended in Dallas in 2015, adding,
"I have never seen a thing like that." She had her reasons for saying this. " I saw the Governor of Igbo nation," she says. " He had bodyguards. The people adored him for he was like a king, gorgeously dressed with a retinue of aides and followers. He commanded great respect and people were around him. Yes, I met the governor of Igbo nation in Nigeria. My Nigerian friends took me to the convention and I enjoyed it. There were music and a lot to drink and eat. It was a wonderful night in Dallas." She painted a picture of the said governor of Igbo nation displaying stupendous affluence and attracting attention in America.
.Totty O. Totty with Eugeue
I explained to Kimberly that about five states make up the Igbo nation and that what she saw was governor of one of the states. After phone calls to her Nigerian friends she confirmed to me the next day that the governor was Rochas Okorocha and I told her she met the governor of Imo State and that she must have attended the Imo State convention in Dallas. People are looking forward to another Rochas Okorocha show in US this year but with reduced allocations to the states and biting economy I doubt if Okorocha can stage a similar show again this year. He caught the fancy of the likes of Kimberly but the reality in Nigeria now cannot accommodate such unnecessary display of affluence.
It was pleasant reuniting with Ikechukwu Ofoje and Totty O. Totty again. I enjoyed some discount in the hotel I stayed in because I was guest of Ofoje, the head coach and director of soccer of University of South Carolina. That, in a way, underscores the importance of the office this Nigerian holds in the United States of America where he immensely contributes to the growth of soccer.
He is highly respected and he enjoys the job. Why not? Ofoje's family is his pillar. His wife has been a pillar from his university days at New Hampshire where he played in the same team with Totty. She is American with African hospitality. I cannot forget in a hurry her goat meat pepper soup. Ofoje strives to develop potentials in USA. He also strives to give back to the game both in USA and in Nigeria where he played great football. But while they appreciate him in the USA and render all the support he needs to succeed, his story from Nigeria has not been pleasant.
He is outraged at how values have fallen in Nigeria. Ofoje studied in the University on soccer scholarship and he is today in a position to award scholarships to deserving students. While admonishing attendees of the soccer camp on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of them, he told them the story of his last scouting mission in Nigeria. He had met some young players he thought would grab the chance of soccer scholarship to study in US and play for the University of South Carolina, USC, Aiken.
But after interactions with the young school boys they were asking "how much will the university pay us for playing for them?" He left and returned to US wondering what had happened to the values and mentality of the people. It was a chance many would have grabbed with both hands in his time as a player in Nigeria. Ofoje harped on the importance of sports with education.
He is always proud to tell his players and holiday soccer camp attendees about Africa and on the last day of the soccer camp he told them that they had a chance to appear in Vanguard, Nigeria's top newspaper. He introduced me as "one of the best sports journalists from Africa who was a fine player and whom I played with when we were growing up in Nigeria." Applause followed from all.
Says Buhari is blocking all the leakages in our economy
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State says people of the state will not allow the PDP loot and deplete the state's treasury the way they depleted the nation's treasury, calling on people of the state to reject the PDP and its candidate in the governorship election holding on September 10.
Speaking at a rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) holding at Afuze, Owan East Local Government Area, on Saturday, Oshiomhole said the nation is presently in an economic recession because the past PDP government looted the treasury dry.
He said: "The people who bled the treasury are now coming to tell you, the victims, that rice is now expensive, naira has suffered devaluation. If one man took over N2 billion, in Edo alone, what they have confessed to EFCC to have taken is over N5 billion.
“If they took so much dollars meant for defense to protect Christians against attacks from Boko Haram, to protect mosques from Boko Haram attack, these people took the money in dollars, converted it to naira, depleted our dollar reserves, shared it into their pockets, their generals dug soak-away pits and put dollars inside. The whole dollars from the Central Bank was taken and from a reserve of over $50 billion, PDP bled the reserves and today it is down to about $20 billion.
“When a man comes to your house, burgled your store where you kept your food and in the morning you find the store burgled, can you immediately feed your children? What President Buhari is doing now, when he found that PDP broke into the treasury and emptied it, he has started rebuilding of the door of the treasury to resecure it, and the ones they have taken he is recovering them one after the other.
“The way PDP put fire on our economy, to rebuild it cannot be overnight. Today, my confidence about the future of our country is that Buhari is blocking all the leakages in our economy.”
On the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Godwin Obaseki, Oshiomhole said: "we have shown that Edo is viable, Godwin's task is to focus on how to get jobs for the youths, because when we built roads we wanted to attract investors, when we built schools, we wanted to develop the human capital and when you develop the human capital the next task is for him to create the environment for those who have gone to schools to be qualified for work. You can see that this is not something that came out of the blues.
“It is the product of the 20-year development plan for the state which he chaired as Chairman up to the year 2020. nation's don't grow on the basis of the rule of the thumb, everything in the life of a nation is the vision, the clarity of purpose of the leadership.
“When the leadership cannot see beyond the nose, he cannot do what he cannot imagine. We are clear of the past, we are clear of our destination, we have identified the route, Godwin will take us to the next level.”
On his part, Mr Godwin Obaseki, the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress said the Comrade has done well in the past seven and half years but that more needs to be done. He said: "we have focussed on education, focussed on infrastructure, focussed on health and water, yes, we will continue to do so. But will now make sure that we focus on human development. We want to focus on job creation, and we will create 200,000 jobs for our people.
"We will not only create jobs from agriculture, we will also from mining, We are attracting a lot of mining companies into Owan East. They are over 25 mining licenses in Owan East, we are talking with the Minister for Solid Minerals to ensure we get investors to this place. So by the grace of God, in another one year, you will see a lot of investors coming to Owan East and this way, they will bring employment and prosperity to Owan East."
A PDP Woman Leader in Owan East, Mrs Arukhe led over 90 members of themPDP to defect to the APC at the rally.
Following reports by the children’s agency of the United Nations, UNICEF, that it is pulling out its aid workers from the north east region after Boko Haram reportedly ambushed their convoy, the Northern Inter-Faith and Religious Organizations for Peace (NIFROM) has said the world humanitarian body was never ready to provide relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the north east.
Bama IDP Camp: Cross Section of women at Bama IDP Camp in Maiduguri during Minister's Tour of Bama . Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan.
The group which condemned the attack in its strongest term, however said the attack was just a deliberate excuse for the U.N. to suspend its relief operations and pull out its workers.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, National Cordinator of NIFROM, Bishop Musa Fomson commended the military for repelling the attack and thanked the officers of the army for their sacrifice in maintaining security of lives in the north east.
He said, “It is hypocritical that the same world body that that did not do the needful to halt Boko Haram's rise are the same agencies that are today making a show of providing relief to affected persons. Had there been a prompt international response to the threat of Boko Haram in the initial stage we would not be at this point now.
“It took the horror pictures that emerged from the Internally Displaced Person's (IDPs) camps in North Eastern Nigeria to provoke the intervention for which the convoy came under attack. Interestingly, it took just that one attack for the UN to announce a suspension of the humanitarian efforts.
“The feeling we have is that the attack provided a much needed excuse for these agencies that have no interest in doing anything for the tens of thousands of people dislocated by Boko Haram. Had there been no attack it would have been a question of time before they cook up another excuse that would have still been used to suspend the so-called humanitarian efforts.”
The clerics also slammed the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki for not carrying out a proper assessment of the situation before reacting to it.
It said had Dr Saraki and his likes done right by the country as expected of their positions we would not be here having nationals of other countries give handouts to our distressed brothers and sisters.
“The amounts allocated for the North East would have done something meaningful towards rehabilitating the population had the institution, the National Assembly, that Dr Saraki presides over as chairman performed its oversight functions diligently and curb the corruption associated with local relief efforts.
“For those who do not understand our grouse, the Senate President and the UN have been insensitive to what happens in the North East over the years. Many Nigerians have been killed and or maimed on the same road by terrorists in the past without them taking any notice neither did they show the sympathy now being shown to the aid workers. For us this is hypocrisy at work.
“We therefore urge Nigerians to accept that it is their responsibility to rise up to the challenge and support their brethren. It is now glaring that we must forget about the inadequate and often strung out humanitarian assistance that serves no purpose other than providing photo ops for those behind them,” he said.
Leading aspirant for the chairmanship position of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi has rubbished report that he has stepped down for Lagos politician, Chief Olabode George.
The media team of Dokpesi said the media mogul has no intention of stepping down for anyone, as he is busy meeting with delegates across the federation.
“High Chief Dokpesi is busy meeting the delegates and outlining his programmes for the reformation and rebuilding of the PDP. He is not considering stepping down for anyone as he is widely accepted by delegates across the country. He remains the candidate to beat”.
The team maintained that Dokpesi has visited sixteen states and will visit the remaining twenty states and the FCT before the convention.
” As at noon of Saturday, 30th July, we have visited all the states in the Southern region, except Ekiti, which we are heading to now. We will be meeting delegates from the Northern region as from Sunday so High Chief Dokpesi is committed to the campaign and he is confident that he will win by the grace of God and the support of the delegates,” reads the statement.
A man killed his two sisters on the eve of their weddings in Pakistan’s central Punjab province, police said Saturday, in the latest case of so-called “honour” killings in the country.
Kosar and Gulzar Bibi, aged 22 and 28, were shot dead by 35-year-old brother Nasir Hussain on Friday as they prepared to marry men they had chosen themselves, senior police officer Mehar Riaz told AFP.
Hussain objected to the love matches and had wanted the women to marry someone within the extended family, he added.
“The brother shot dead both the sisters yesterday and fled the site,” the officer said, adding that a search was underway.
“It is a simple case of killing for honour,” he said.
Father of the family Atta Mohammad told reporters that Hussain had “destroyed everything”.
“He ruined my family, he destroyed us, he destroyed everything” Mohammad said.
The murders came days after social media starlet Qandeel Baloch was strangled to death by her brother who said he was “not embarrassed” to have killed her, reigniting calls for action against the crime.
Hundreds of women are murdered by relatives in the conservative Muslim nation each year on the pretext of defending what is seen as family honour.
Pakistan’s law minister this month announced that bills aimed at tackling “honour killings” and boosting rape convictions would soon be voted on by parliament, after mounting pressure to tackle a pattern of crime that claims around 1,000 lives a year.
The perpetrators of so-called honour killings — in which the victim, normally a woman, is killed by a relative — often walk free because they can seek forgiveness for the crime from another family member.
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri believes the absence of the club’s marquee names from their pre-season tour of Asia might prove a blessing in disguise as he prepares the Turin giants for a tilt at an unprecedented sixth straight Serie A title.
“It has given young players their chance,” Allegri said Saturday as the Juventus tour came to a close.
“From what we have learned we will go back to Italy now and some will stay and some will move on to get experience from other teams. So it has been very positive.”
This summer’s European Championship, coming on the back of a hectic domestic season, meant the Italian had to leave as many as 15 first-team regulars out of Juve’s tour through Australia and then to Hong Kong.
But Allegri says their absence gave him more time to focus his attention on the likes of new signing Miralem Pjanic, lured over for 32 million euros ($35.6 million) from Roma, as well as the Brazilian duo of Alex Sandro and Hernanes, who both joined Juve last year and will be hoping for more game time in 2016.
Defender Medhi Benatia, recruited on a season-loan from Bayern Munich, was also put through his paces -- and impressed — as did rising star Paulo Dybala, the 22-year-old Argentinian coming fresh from a breakout first season for Juventus that saw him score 19 goals from 34 appearances after crossing from Palermo.
Both Dybala and Benatia scored in Juve’s 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in Melbourne on Tuesday, while 20-year-old Spaniard Carlos Blanco lit up their 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory last Saturday with a 50-yard screamer.
Benatia looks ready to add some bite to the Juve defence with his forward runs and was again on the scoresheet as the team wrapped up the tour with a 2-1 win over Hong Kong outfit South China.
“I'm very satisfied,” smiled Allegri. “He's been a very positive addition to the squad.”
The second goal came from 21-year-old Lorenzo Rosseti, another of Juve's young guns to impress their manager while their more seasoned teammates were back home.
– Merging the squads –
Allegri flew out of Hong Kong on Saturday night -- no doubt hoping he would arrive to hear the 100 million euro saga of midfielder Paul Pogba’s “will he or won’t he” transfer to Manchester United had been put to bed. The 48-year-old had throughout the tour pretty much avoided all mention of whatever business might be going on.
“I don't like to talk about the market,” was his offering on the matter in Hong Kong. “On Tuesday I will be back at the club and talk about it then. What I can say is I am happy with what we have done on the market so far.”
Allegri will hook up with the rest of his squad on his return to Juventus Turin base, among them club-record signing Gonzalo Higuain, the Argentine striker captured for a reported 90 million euros from rivals Napoli.
It’s hoped Serie A’s top-scorer last season with 36 goals from all competitions will add the firepower needed to helped Juventus break a European Champions League drought that dates way back to 1996. Juve were finalists two seasons ago and last year fell in the round of 16 to eventual champions Bayern.
Allegri said Higuain would formally meet his new teammates as the two squads -- those on tour and those left behind -- get together on Tuesday.
“The plan is well defined,” said Allegri. “We will merge the two parts of the team. Those who have toured will be more advanced in their condition and we have three pre-season matches left now before the season starts to get everyone to the same level.”
At least 26 people, mostly children, were killed Saturday when a vehicle carrying wedding guests was washed off a mountainous road by floods and flung into a gorge, officials said.
The dead included 18 children and six women.
“Rescue operation has been completed, dead bodies of 26 people had been retrieved,” Rahimullah Mehsud, a local government official of Khyber tribal district, where the incident took place, told AFP.
Mehsud earlier said rescue workers and residents were facing difficulties as the “area is remote and mountainous”.
The accident happened when a pick-up truck carrying the groom’s party of 29 was hit by floods in a remote village in Khyber, one of Pakistan’s seven tribal districts bordering Afghanistan.
Three people who survived were taken to hospital.
Hekmat Khan, another government official, confirmed the new death toll and told AFP that the child victims were aged up to nine years.
The heavy monsoon rains began earlier this month, drenching the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and central Punjab provinces, which have been badly affected by flooding in recent years that some scientists have linked to climate change.
LEADER of the Indegenous People of Biafra, IPOB and Director of Radio Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has reportedly sponsored the 2016 Kuje Prisons Football Championship, in Abuja, where he is being detained along two others for alleged treasonable charges.
It was learnt that Kanu declared the competition open, yesterday, saying his main purpose for sponsoring this year’s edition was to enable inmates have freedom and relate with one another.
See photos below
Nnamdi Kanu sponsors 2016 Kuje Prisons Football Championship. Sourced from FabmimiBlogNnamdi Kanu sponsors 2016 Kuje Prisons Football Championship
By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the Federal Government currently engaged in a dialogue through the oil companies and security agencies have reached far-reaching compromises, including the release of former militant leader, Henry Okah, in prison in South Africa and Charles Okah, incarcerated in Nigeria.
They also agreed that ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo , alias Tompolo, would not be harassed by government if he makes himself available as a delegate on MEND Aaron Team 2, while the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, would be released on condition that he renounces the agitation for "Biafra Republic."
MEND in a statement by spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, today (Saturday) announced other breakthroughs in the discussions that will end the revolt in the South-South and South East regions in a jiffy.
However, it said the recalcitrant Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, still has opportunity to embrace peace failing which a combination of military forces and volunteers in the region, would smoke them out.
The statement read: "The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is the only militant group from the Niger Delta region who are presently engaged in a dialogue with the Federal Government of Nigeria – through oil companies and security agencies -with a view to resolving the current Niger Delta crisis."
"Thus far, the deliberations have been fruitful, various concessions and guarantees have already been secured. Some of which include, but are not limited to: Release of Henry Okah, Charles Okah and Obi Nwabueze; Review of the life sentence handed to Mr. Edmund Ebiware based on a proposal put forward by the Aaron Team representative for Abia and Imo states, Senator Adolphus Wabara.
"Also, conditional release of IPOB leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu and others if they renounce their agitation for a "Biafra Republic," the group said.
Furthermore, MEND said they agreed: "That Mr. Government Ekpemupolo shall not be arrested, harassed and/or intimidated whenever he makes himself available as a delegate of the MEND Aaron Team."
It added: "That international arbitrator and conflict negotiator, American Dr. Judith Asuni shall be accepted as the representative of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) on the MEND Aaron Team; that the criminal charges against Urhobo freedom fighter, Mr. Kelvin Prosper Oniarah shall be reviewed.
"That the life sentence which was handed to seven soldiers in 2008, who actively supported the Niger Delta struggle be reviewed under the Presidential Amnesty Programme. The affected persons are: Suleiman Alabi Akubo, Major. Mathias Peter, SGT, Alexander Davou, L.Cpl., Moses Nwaigwe, L.Cpl., Nnandi Anene, L.Cpl. Taatihi Emmanuel, L.Cpl and Caleb Bawa, PTE," it said. .
"However, one of the most immediate and urgent fallout of the ongoing dialogue is the imperative for the Federal Government and MEND to jointly and separately take proactive steps to rescue and secure the region. This is in the event that the recalcitrant Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) continuing on its senseless and politically-motivated path of attacks on the country’s oil assets," it noted.
MEND asserted: "To this end, both parties agreed that the Special Forces of the Nigerian Army should commence the purely routine but strategic military exercise code-named “Operation Crocodile Tears”; while MEND would commence a meet-the Government-Actors-and-People tour of the Niger Delta region code-named “Operation Moses”.
Ilorin – The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Kwara Chapter, has declared one of its members, Dr Abdulkareem Abdulrahman missing.
Dr Victor Iroha, the Secretary of NMA in the state, announced this in a statement given to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Ilorin on Saturday.
Iroha said Abdulraheem, a medical officer with Hospital Management Bureau, was posted to General Hospital in Omu- Aran.
He said Abdulraheem had not been found since 6a.m. of Sunday July 24, 2016.
“Abdulraheem drove out of his residence opposite Federal Road Safety Commission Office, GRA in his Navy blue Toyota Corolla car with registration number BWR 532 RP and had not been seen since then.
“His phone has also been unreachable and there has been no trace of either him or his car”, he added in the -statement.
Iroha also stated that all search efforts had so far yielded no results.
He said the matter had been reported to the Police and allied security agencies.
The NMA appealed to people with useful information contact the nearest Police station or his brother Ridwan on 08110709470 or NMA Kwara PRO 08034086152.
Yenagoa – The National Universities Commission (NUC), has approved the establishment of the University of Africa for Bayelsa, the 43rd state university in the country.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson in Yenagoa on Saturday.
According to the statement, NUC handed over the letter of approval to Gov. Dickson when he visited the commission in Abuja.
It quoted Dickson as expressing gratitude to the NUC's Executive Secretary for the warm reception accorded him and his team.
“The approval of the university followed the formal presentation of relevant gazette law, academic brief, physical master-plan as well as the satisfactory report of the advisory resource assessment visit by the commission.
Dickson explained that the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, was conceived as a public private partnership venture and designed as a first rate institution of learning to attract some of the best teachers from Africa and the world.
He said the university would be funded by private partners while the government would only provide the enabling environment for its establishment.
“I am here leading this small delegation to present to you these laws passed by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, establishing a new university working with the private sector.
“It will be run on a public private partnership (PPP), basis. Unlike the existing one, it will not be directly funded by the state.
“Our belief is that for a university to be sustainable, we must create room for private sector participation and involvement.
“The University of Africa, Toru-Orua, is the first of its kind in this country to be established by government with private sector involvement.
“It will be strictly a fee paying tertiary institution that will attract students from across the continent and the globe.
“It will be the model as we encourage more private universities in this country'', Dickson said.
The statement quoted Prof Julius Okojie, NUC's Executive Secretary, as congratulating the state.
Okojie said the establishment of the university took effect from July 28, having complied with the basic requirements. According to Okojie, the University of Africa is 143rd in the Nigerian university system.
Nigerian Army soldiers combatting remnants of Boko Haram terrorists on Friday killed two of the terrorists while many escaped with gunshot wounds when the solders ambushed fleeing members of the group at Pulka.
Also UNICEF said on Saturday that it will continue providing aid in the northeast despite attack on humanitarian convoy last Thursday which left aid workers injured.
A statement signed by Col Sani Usman, Acting Director Army Public Relations said “Toops on blocking position in Pulka yesterday Friday 29th July 2016, ambushed and killed 2 fleeing Boko Haram terrorists.
“It is equally believed one of the terrorists escaped with gun shot wounds.
“The troops also recovered 1 AK-47 rifle with registration number S 77411, a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) with registration number FN 131908, one Motorcycle, 1 Bicycle and 5 Fabrique Nationale (FN) rifle magazines.
” Other items recovered from the terrorists include 1 AK-47 rifle magazine loaded with 28 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, 67 rounds of 7.62mm linked (NATO) ammunition and Tecno brand of mobile telephone handset with NEXTTEL SIM card, as well as sacks of foodstuffs.
“The troops have continued their routine operations maintaining vigilance to prevent escaping Boko Haram terrorists out of Sambisa forest through that axis.
In another development, UNICEF said on Saturday that it will continue providing aid in the northeast despite attack on humanitarian convoy last Thursday which left aid workers injured.
A statement made available to Vanguard said “UNICEF continues to provide assistance to millions of conflict-affected children in northeast Nigeria, despite yesterday's attack on a humanitarian convoy.
“As a result of the attack, in which one UNICEF staff member was injured, travel by UN staff to high risk areas has been temporarily suspended.
"We are working at full strength in the Borno state capital Maiduguri," stressed UNICEF Nigeria Representative Jean Gough.
"We continue to call for increased efforts to reach people in desperate need across the state.
“We cannot let this heartless attack divert any of us from reaching the more than two million people who are in dire need of immediate humanitarian assistance."
“UNICEF has called on donors and humanitarian organizations to scale-up the response to the emerging disaster in Borno state, which is the most affected by the conflict with Boko Haram.
“Before the attack, security conditions had been improving in several areas.
"Our teams were finding people living on the brink of disaster," said Jean Gough, "The violence has disrupted farming and markets, destroyed food stocks, and damaged or destroyed health and water facilities. We absolutely have to reach more of these communities."
“UNICEF estimates that 244,000 children will suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year in Borno state alone and if they are not reached with treatment, one in five of them will die.
“UNICEF has provided two million people with health services and treated 56,000 children for malnutrition in the three conflict-affected states of northeast Nigeria.
“A quarter of a million people have improved access to clean water, and over 200,000 children have been able to go back to school.
“Despite the temporary suspension of travel to high risk areas, UNICEF plans to scale-up its response in Borno state substantially.
“At the beginning of the year, UNICEF appealed for US$55 million for its emergency work, of which US$23 million has so far been received.”
Abuja – President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a 13-member Governing Council and 10-member Board of Trustees (BOT), for the cleanup of Ogoniland in Rivers.
The Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Mohammed, announced this in statement, by Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Bukar Hassan, in Abuja on Saturday. The minister said the structures would ensure inclusiveness, accountability, transparency and sustainability of the exercise.
Mohammed acknowledged the concerns raised by stakeholders on the perceived slow pace of the clean up, saying "Nigerians have a right to voice their concerns”, but called for patience.
“We have responsibility to deliver. The launch was the first step in a 30-year journey. We continue to make strides toward the implementation.
“We ask for patience as we lay solid foundations for the cleanup. The context is complex and stakeholders are diverse. All must be taken along”, Mohammed said.
Accordig to her, Buhari remains steadfast in his conviction to see Ogoniland and other parts of the Niger Delta cleaned up.
She said the ministry was working with the Ministries of Petroleum Resources, Niger Delta, NDDC and key stakeholders in implementing the UNEP report.
The minister said the exercise was a collective responsibility and urged all the Niger Delta communities, especially the Ogonis, to support the remediation and restoration efforts of government.
The UN report estimated that the cleanup of Ogoniland could take up to 30 years with the initial remediation taking five years and the restoration another 25 years.
President Buhari inaugurated the clean up on June 2 at Bodo in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers.
Buni Yadi (Yobe) – The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has assured that the military will restore full peace to the North East in line with the desire of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Buratai gave the assurance while addressing troops undergoing training at the Nigerian Army Special Forces Training School at Buni Yadi, Yobe. He charged the troops to sustain the momentum of ongoing counter insurgency operations to flush out the insurgents.
According to him, “Operation Lafia Dole' has entered a critical stage. You must sustain the momentum; there is no going back
“There is no time to waste. We want full restoration of peace in the North East. That is what the president wants'', the chief of army staff said.
Buratai later told newsmen that he was in Buni Yadi to see how the troops undergoing the Special Forces training were faring.
He explained that the exercise was to make the personnel resilient and be able to withstand challenges they might face in the course of the ongoing operations.
Buratai also explained that the school was relocated from Niger state to Buni Yadi in view of the strategic location of the town in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents.
“We know the importance of this place - Buni Yadi. This is the route they (insurgents) passed through to other parts of the North East and even Plateau in the North Central.
“It is better for us to have dominated and taken over the place'', he said, and assured the troops of their welfare and logistics need, including required equipment to prosecute the war.
Buni Yadi is the headquarter of the 27 Task Force Brigade of the Nigeria Army.
It will be recalled that Buratai had charged the military to remain focused until the insurgents were crushed, when he spoke at the end of a three-day “Combat Support Arms Training Week 2016'' in Maiduguri, on Wednesday.
No comments:
Post a Comment