Elderly woman, teenage girl blow themselves up destroying fuel tanks in Nigeria

Three suicide bombers set ablaze three fuel tankers in the centre of Nigeria's northeastern city of Maiduguri today officials said, just days before a planned visit by the U.N. Security Council.

Soldiers fired at one of the bombers, a teenage girl, to avert what could have been a major

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Learn how to make over 5 Million Naira with just 400 Naira Today!!!

RIIAB means Residual Income In A Box

It's a system with Member to Member Payment. That means that it is direct payment to personal accounts and not to any third party or admin or internet site.

All you need to be part of it is just N400 only. You pay it to the bank account of the person that referred you to the business. That person is the one that will approve your registration after receiving alert of your payment to his/her bank account

When 4 persons join under you, your total earning is N1,600 level 1 is completed, and you will not recruit any more.

You will then use N800 to upgrade to level 2.

This time the upgrading money goes to the upline of your upline. On receiving the alert of your payment, he/she will now approve your request to upgrade to level 2

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56th Independence Annivesary: FG declares Monday, Oct 3 public holiday

 

The Federal Government has declared Monday, October 3, as Public Holiday to mark Nigeria’s 56th Independence Anniversary.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido and issued to Vanguard Thursday in Abuja.

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Brazilian First Female President Dilma Rousseff Impeached

President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil has been impeached after it was found out that she manipulated the budget.

Sixty-one Senators against 20 voted in favour of the impeachment Wednesday.

Ms Rousseff was suspended in May after the Senate voted to go ahead with the impeachment process.

Brazil’s lawmakers accused her of re-assigning funds between budget items.

Her critics said she was trying to plug deficit holes in popular social programmes to boost her chances of being re-elected for a second term in October 2014, reports the BBC.

Ms Rousseff said she did nothing wrong, and called the attempt to remove her a coup d’etat.

He impeachment puts an end to 13 years in power of her Workers’ Party.

Acting President Michel Temer will serve out her term, which ends on 1 January 2019.

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News Alert! - Nigeria To Experience Solar Eclipse Tomorrow

A solar eclipse will occur in Nigeria on Thursday, September 1, between the hours of 7:15am and 10:03am with slight variations in actual timing across the country, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NSRDA) said.

A press statement by the Head of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr Felix Ale, appealed to the general public not to panic or attach any spiritual interpretations to this event. He said the eclipse cannot be observed with naked eyes, as this could cause damage.

In the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, there will be a partial eclipse, with an obscurity of 60 per cent, and the first contact at about 7:17am, with maximum eclipse at 8:32am and end at 10:00am.

Lagos will experience its first contact with the eclipse at 7:15am, with a maximum eclipse occurring at 8:32am and ending at about 10:00am. The Agency has arranged a viewing centre tomorrow to enable members of the public, pupils and students from various schools to view the eclipse using specially designed viewing instruments provided by the space Agency.

The viewing centre which has been set up by the Agency will be open to the public on Thursday 1st September, 2016 from 6:45am for school pupils and students to observe the annular eclipse as part of its continuous programmes to expose Nigerians and students to matters concerning astronomical environment.

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Photo: Father beaten to pulp for refusing to subject daughter to genital mutilation

A Nigerian father, Mr. Olalowo Hammed Olalekan, pictured below, was thoroughly beaten up after he and his wife, Modinat refused to subject their daughter to genital mutilation/female circumcision. Right now, they have fled the shores of Nigeria for the safety of their children

According to Newtelegraph, Modinat Olalowo, who got married to Olalowo Hammed Olalekan, ran away from her matrimonial home, with her children, when she was asked to bring her daughter for the painful and needless circumcision.

Owing to the terrible and painful experience their daughter would pass through, if subjected to such mutilation, Modinat and her husband jointly objected to such traditional requirements of their 

offspring and insisted that their child would not be circumcised.

According to Hammed, enormous physical, sexual and emotional abuses prevalent in the country at the moment, force many women out of their homes at mentioning of genital mutilation or circumcisions as the case may be.

Hammed, who was said to have been attacked by his kinsmen for not subjecting his daughter for the exercise said he didn’t expect to survive the attack due to thorough beating he got when he tried to escape, saying he was abused by his family and the community alike and was left to die. He said:

“I thought I had died.

I was bleeding all over my body with swollen face and cuts on my body. What I experienced from them is not what I wish anybody. If it were my wife or children, they may not have survived it.”

Speaking further, he said:

“I was on my way home, when some men began taunting me for not allowing my daughter to be circumcised, rather aided their disappearance.”

However, human rights activists have described the act as barbaric and blame it on Nigerian government for not providing adequate security to its citizens against such practices.

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Abia Crisis: Ogah goes underground as he plots swearing-in

The new ‘governor of Abia State’, Sampson Ogah, has taken refuge at an unknown location in Umuahia, the state capital, as he awaits his swearing-in. Mr. Ogah arrived Umuahia with the certificate of return issued to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday, hoping to be sworn in that day or Friday.

But the incumbent governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, refused to vacate office, saying he had appealed the judgment that led INEC to withdraw his certificate of return. Mr. Ogah’s media aide, Peter Kalu, said his principal decided to take shelter at an undisclosed location to avoid being attacked.


Mr. Kalu said a lot of threats had been directed towards Mr. Ogah, saying the politician would remain in hiding as he awaits the emergence of the State Chief Judge,  Theresa Uzoukwu, who had not been seen since Thursday.


Ms. Uzoukwu is believed to be hiding somewhere outside Umuahia as pressured mounted on her to administer the oath of office on Mr. Ogah. Mr. Kalu said Mr. Ogah’s lawyers were  currently working to ensure that he was sworn in within acceptable legal framework if Ms. Uzoukwu remained in hiding for too long.

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Photos: SA-based Nigerian evangelist hid 165kgs of drugs worth N1.4bn in containers of foodstuffs

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) are interrogating a South Africa-based cleric in connection with over 165kgs of narcotics drugs seized at the Apapa Seaport, Lagos, The Nation reports.

The illicit consignment were traced to John Vincent Arinze, from Ara village, Nise in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State. The 52-year-old suspect was arrested in his hotel room in Lagos. A Mercedes Benz Jeep belonging to him was also impounded.

The suspect, who had lived in South Africa for over a decade accepted ownership of the illicit shipment and said he made a big mistake by taking over the business of his late wife.

"I am an evangelist living in Durban, South Africa. My late wife was into drug trafficking before she died few years ago. I made a mistake venturing into her business. It is all my fault," he stated.

The drugs, 92kgs of methamphetamine and 73kgs of ephedrine with the estimated street value of N.4 billion were found inside two containers of foodstuff meant for export to South Africa, following meticulous undercover operation by operatives of NDLEA.

The narcotics drugs were hidden inside packs of melon concealed in foodstuff and cosmetics such as gari, noodles, Knorr and Maggi food seasoning, yam powder, malt drinks, pepper, milk, herbal hair cream and Golden Morn cereals, Damatol hair cream, bags of melon, kegs of palm oil, beans, biscuits, sardine and cartons of Orijin Bitters. During the examination of the containers marked MSKU 388274-1 and MSKU 424717-0, anti-narcotic officials detected 20kg of Methamphetamine and 50kg of Ephedrine inside the first container and 72Kg of Methamphetamine and 23Kg of Ephedrine in the second container.

Chairman and Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd), said the seizure will have a positive influence in Nigeria's fight against narcotics drug.

"This is a product of careful planning and meticulous tracking of narcotic drugs movement. The consignments were closely monitored by our undercover agents and intercepted at the Apapa Seaport, Lagos, following the detection of narcotics by NDLEA sniffer dogs during screening operation. This will definitely have a positive influence on Nigeria’s drug control efforts" said the NDLEA boss

Col. Abdallah reiterated the agency's commitment to the fight against drug trafficking and prosecution of offenders.

"I am very happy with the success recorded in this operation. The agency will remain painstaking and professional in the fight against illicit drug production, trafficking and abuse. We hope to unmask the drug syndicate behind this shipment and make more arrests soon," he added

The suspect will be charged to court soon.

Photo credit: Sahara Reporters

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All Police Officers Must Declare their Assets - New Acting Police IG Blows Hot

Ibrahim Idris, the Acting Inspector-General of Police, has declared that all officers from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police to the Inspector-General of Police will henceforth declare their assets.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Idris made the statement on Thursday in Abuja when he paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Interior, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd).

He said the directive was in line with Section 13 cap 15 Code of Conduct Act.

“Every police officer from the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police to Inspector-General, who are commissioned officers, must declare their assets,” Idris said.

He added that the directive would guide the conduct of police officers in carrying out their duties.

The police boss promised that under his administration, the integrity of the force would be further enhanced.

“I assure you sir that we will raise the integrity of the Nigeria Police Force to be more accountable to the people,” he said.

The acting I-G added that under his command, the police would operate within the rule of law.

He said the presence of police officers would be felt in all villages and streets across the country.

Responding, Dambazau urged the acting I-G to focus on the three key issues of corruption, economy and security for the success of this administration.

“You have a lot of challenges as the chief law officer of the country,” he said.

The minister urged the new police boss to collaborate with other security agencies to address the issues crimes and post conflict resolution in the North East.

“The post conflict resolution in the North East has to be comprehensive and holistic,” he said.

Dambazau advised his guest to carry everybody along and put the right persons in the positions of command commissioners and zonal commanders.

He said: “No matter how smart you think you are, you cannot do it alone without the support of others.”

He advised Idris to make the welfare of his officers a priority.

He assured him of the support of the ministry to discharge his mandate.

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I won’t Go Down Easily – Saraki Tells Buhari

Nigeria’s Senate President Bukola Saraki has advised the presidency to prepare for a lengthy legal war in the bid to get him prosecuted for alleged involvement in the forging of the Senate rule prior to the inauguration of the Senate on June 9, 2015.

Saraki, who is battling to exonerate himself from the forgery allegation, however, insisted on his innocence as the noose gets tightened on him in the forgery case.

He said he is aware that the new case being hung on his neck is another attempt in the ongoing move to pull him down, vowing to stay strong and defend his mandate with all legal means through which, he said, he is sure of victory.

The Senate President, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, described as unfortunate the attempt to drag his name into a messy deal for which he knows nothing about.

He stated that he is only being persecuted for no just cause as he was never a principal officer in the 7th session of the Senate where the Senate rule was amended.

He posited that it was wrong to accuse him of participation in any forgery of the Senate rule as prior to his unanimous election as Senate president on June 9, 2015, he was merely a senator-elect like all his colleagues, and therefore was not in a position to influence the rules that were to be used in the conduct of the election.

This, he said, reflected in the decision of the police not to invite him for questioning when the investigation into the matter commenced initially.

“The police in their investigation were conscious that the incumbent Senate president was not in office prior to June 9, 2015 and that was why in their letters inviting some individuals for their investigation, they only mentioned officers of the 7th Senate. The last of the letters was written to the clerk of the National Assembly on June 7, 2016 and he was not among those invited.

“Those who decided to smuggle the name of the Senate president into the charge sheet after the fact knew perfectly well that only the leadership of the 7th Senate were invited for investigation. But they needed to implicate him in keeping with their declared vow to ensure that even if their current effort to nail him through the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) fails, they would find other ways to carry out their vendetta.”

The Senate president noted that the latest onslaught on him was actually against the institution of the parliament which represents the heartbeat of democracy.

He also maintained that the government should have rather concentrated on the very many problems bedevilling the nation rather than gunning for his neck over a matter that will not exalt the nation.

“This so-called forgery case is another wanton abuse of the judicial process and making a mockery of the institution of justice. As the Senate earlier stated, the sponsors of this plot are not only gunning for Dr. Saraki, what they have just launched with this latest antics is a grand onslaught on the foremost institution of our democracy.

“The only institutional difference between dictatorship and democracy is the presence of the legislature. Therefore, by seeking to cripple the National Assembly, they have declared a war on our hard-won democracy and aimed for the very jugular of our freedom.

“Let us restate the fact that the senators who initiated the police investigation in the first place had raised the same matter on the floor and were overwhelmingly overruled. They also filed a civil suit and were told by the court that neither the judiciary nor the executive can interfere in the internal affairs of the legislative arm.

“The Senate president recognises the sundry problems bedeviling our nation today – food insecurity, devaluation of the naira, inflation, unemployment, failing national infrastructure, insurgency in the North-Eastern part of the country, restiveness in the oil producing areas, and general insecurity, among others – and believes that finding solutions to them should be the priority, at this period, for every individual in government, not the pursuit of narrow political objectives.

“That is why these needless distractions will do nobody any good. In fact, it will not help in delivering on the promise of bringing positive change to the lives of our people who voted for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last elections.

“The Senate President does not see what value this current attempt to shut down the Senate by dragging its presiding officers before a court for a phantom allegation of forgery will add to the attempts to solve the problems confronting the nation.”

In assuring his traducers of his resolve to fight to the end, the statement said, “Dr. Saraki will, however, explore all legal options necessary to ward off this fresh case of persecution and distraction”.

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Shocking! Soldiers Allegedly Beat Man to Death in Imo Over Missing N350,000

Soldiers have allegedly beat a 26-year-old Declan Obi to death in Ohaji/Egbema local council area of Imo State.

According to a report by Vanguard, one Evans Njemanze, allegedly invited some soldiers stationed in the area to investigate Obi over an alleged missing N350,000 from the coffers of his company.

An aggrieved villager, who spoke on strict grounds of anonymity, recalled that the deceased, who until his death, was a seller of popular brands of soft drinks, was asked by his employer, Njemanze, to give account of the proceeds realized from the day’s sales. 

The villager equally recalled that the victim’s boss, who was still sensing that the alleged sum was missing, angrily contacted some soldiers around, to not only help him investigate alleged financial impropriety, but to also recover the money from Obi. 

“The soldiers, in their usual manner, mercilessly beat up Obi until he lost consciousness and eventually died”, the villager said. 

While speaking about the incident yesterday, brother to the deceased man, Mr. Athanasius Ochima-Obi, said their brother’s death was as shocking as it was brutal. 

He said: “Declan dressed up in the morning for work, but what we heard later was that he was held hostage over a missing N350,000 and killed by some soldiers”.

When contacted for his comment over the incident, the Brigade Commander of 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze , Owerri, Brigadier-General Kay Ishaku, feigned ignorance, insisting his men were not part of the plot. 

“Experience has shown that some dubious members of the public, have formed the notorious habit of putting military uniforms in order to deceive members of the public to achieve their inordinate ambitions”, Ishaku said

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Heartbreaking! Read How 188 People Starved to Death Within One Month at Borno IDP Camp

The Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has revealed that at least 188 people have starved to death in the last one month at a camp for internally displaced persons in Bama, Borno State.

A statement by the group, known as Doctors Without Borders in English, said “a catastrophic humanitarian emergency is currently unfolding,” at the camp where 24,000 people, including 15,000 children (among them 4,500 under five years) are sheltered.

“Since 23 May, at least 188 people have died in the camp – almost six people per day – mainly from diarrhoea and malnutrition,” the statement said.

“This is the first time MSF has been able to access Bama, but we already know the needs of the people there are beyond critical,” said Ghada Hatim, MSF head of mission in Nigeria.

“We are treating malnourished children in medical facilities in Maiduguri and see the trauma on the faces of our patients who have witnessed and survived many horrors.”

During its assessment, the MSF team counted 1,233 cemetery graves located near the camp which had been dug in the past year.

Of those graves, 480 were for children.

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Buhari Panics Over Coup Reports, Appoints New Chief Security Officers

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, June 23, 2016 named police officers, Abdulkarim Dauda and Kayode Sikiru Akande as the chief security officer to the president and the officer in charge of presidential movement respectively.

Both officers were also promoted from the position of assistant commissioner of police to deputy commissioner of police. The development is coming on the heels of reports that top military officers in President Buhari’s government are planning to overthrow the President.

Sources privy to the development told Signal, an online newspaper, that while the appointment of a new chief security officer for the president may have long been overdue, President Buhari’s concern about the threat of a possible military coup has forced him to rejig his personal security apparatus at the presidential villa.

“The issue of a new chief security officer for the president has lingered for some time now. But, I can tell you that Thursday’s announcement is a swift and panic reaction to the news of a possible military coup which the president is not taking lightly,” the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

“You know he is a retired military general. Anything that relates to his personal security, he doesn’t joke with it. He actually gets paranoid with it.”

In July 2015, President Buhari fired his chief security officer, Abdulrahman Mani, an operative of Nigeria’s secret police who had been assigned to protect him since 2011. Mani was alleged to have been involved in “shady deals” in fixing appointments and was allegedly “undermining” the president.

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Jose Mourinho Appointed the New Coach of Manchester United

According to an authoritative report on Sky Sports, Portuguese tactician, Jose Mourinho, has put pen to paper at a central London hotel at around 5:00pm on Thursday to succeed Louis van Gaal as the new boss at Old Trafford.

Sky Sports News HQ exclusively broke the news after Mourinho returned home at 5.20pm with documents in his hand and a bottle of red wine, having met with United's executive vice chairman Ed Woodward to complete the deal.

Mourinho symbolically wore a black and red tie for the final stage of negotiations, and the deal is completed on the 12th anniversary of his winning the Champions League for the first time with Porto, knocking out United on their run to the final.

Mourinho, who has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea in December, replaces his former mentor Van Gaal, who was dismissed by United two days after they won the FA Cup against Crystal Palace at Wembley.

On Tuesday, talks between Mourinho's agent, Jorge Mendes were well underway via phone and email and Sky sources reported that negotiations were expected to be a formality, to be completed within 48 hours.

But Mendes and Manchester United owner, Ed Woodward were forced to meet at United's offices in central London to rectify a number of image rights issues, including Chelsea's ownership of Mourinho's name.

Those issues were smoothly resolved over the course of Wednesday and Thursday and Mourinho emerged from his Chelsea home shortly before 3:00pm, suited and booted for the first time this week, where he left to seal a job he has wanted since Sir Alex Ferguson famously stood down in 2013.

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Senator Stella Oduah Officially Elected President of ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians

Former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah, a lawmaker representing Anambra North Senatorial District at the National Assembly Abuja, has been elected as the President of ECOWAS female parliamentarians. 

The influential PDP politician who pledged to use her office to advocate for laws that will empower women, especially those in rural areas also increase participation in politics, made the announcement via her official Twitter handle, @StellaOduah.

Princess Stella Oduah was born to Igwe D.O. Oduah of Akili-Ozizor, L.G.A. in Anambra State on January 5, 1962. She received her Bachelors and Masters Degree (in Accounting and Business Administration respectively) in the United States. 

Upon her return to Nigeria in 1983, she joined the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. In 1992, she left the NNPC to establish the Sea Petroleum & Gas Company Limited (SPG), an independent marketer of petroleum products in Nigeria. 

In 2013 she was one of the delegates chosen by the President to attend the Papal inauguration of Pope Francis together with David Mark, President of the Senate and Viola Onwuliri, Foreign Minister. 

In 2015 she was one of the senators elected to the 8th assembly. Only six of these were women out of the 109 lawmakers in the Upper chamber of the National Assembly. The others were Rose Okoji Oko, Uche Ekwunife, Fatimat Raji Rasaki, Oluremi Tinubu and Binta Garba

- ToriNG

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My salary is enough, nobody should pay bribe into my accounts – EFCC boss warns

Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, has warned fraudsters to stop using his name to extort money from Nigerians in their bid get detained persons released.

This is contained in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), by EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren in Abuja on Thursday.

According to the statement, “It has come to the knowledge of the EFCC that some persons have been using the name of its Chairman fraudulently.’’

It said the fraudsters also claimed that they had his permission to ask for payments to secure the release of suspects under investigation by the commission.

“The commission warns the public to be wary of the activities of these fraudulent individuals who have no relationship whatsoever with Magu and the EFCC.

“I have not mandated anybody to collect money on my behalf from any person or organisation; It is not in my character to do so, otherwise I will not be in this office.

“I am contented with what I am paid at the end of the month”, Magu was quoted as saying.

He called on members of the public, especially relatives and friends of persons under investigation by the commission to report any person who approached them to collect bribe on his behalf for the release of their loved ones.

“Anyone caught trying to tarnish my hard earned reputation and integrity must be prepared to face the music.

“I have accounts in three banks and, on no account should anybody make lodgment into any of my accounts without my knowledge”, the EFCC boss warned.

NAN reports that there has been an upsurge in the activities of scammers who parade themselves as having links with leadership of the commission and capability to release suspects.

Some of the scam calls sent to members of the public across the country, conveyed the commission’s purported readiness to “play ball, release suspects as long as reasonable settlement is arranged.”

Magu also promised that the commission will discharge its duties, “guided solely by the fear of Almighty God, the overriding interest of our fatherland, Nigeria and the rule of law and not any pecuniary motive.”

The statement advised the public to report calls from suspected scammers and forward the callers’ numbers to the EFCC via: info@efccnigeria.org, theeagle@efccnigeria.org.

“The Commission could also be reached on: 09-9044571, 09-9044572, 09-9044573.’’

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Rescue of Chibok girl has put Fayose, Patience Jonathan to shame – APC

The South East Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the rescue of Amina Ali, one of the abducted Chibok school girls, has put to shame the former First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan and the governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose.

The spokesman of the Caucus, Mr Osita Okechukwu, who made this assertion, said the rescue put them to shame because they had always thought that the abduction of the girls was a scam meant to demonise the Goodluck Jonathan regime.

In a statement issued on Thursday in reaction to the rescue of Ali by the military, Okechukwu said if President Muhammadu Buhari had remained indifferent like the former president Goodluck Jonathan, the penetration of Sambisa forest couldn’t have been possible.

“We thank God for his mercies. This is the beginning of the return of more of the girls whose parents have passed through enormous and unbearable trauma.

“Our message to the parents of the remaining school girls is that they should bear in mind that with God nothing is impossible. Their hope should not wane, as we have every hope that more girls will be rescued.

“We salute the gallant Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG), the Nigerian Armed Forces, the JTF and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, for their fortitude, resilience and perseverance,” part of the statement further read.

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PHOTO: Another Chibok girl Sarah Luka, has been rescued

A second schoolgirl from the more than 276 kidnapped in Chibok town, Borno state has been rescued, the army said.

In a statement yesterday, Army spokesman Col. Usman Sani Kukasheka said: “At about 11.00am yesterday, Thursday, 19th May 2016, troops conducted clearance operations at Shettima Aboh, Hong and Biladdili general area in Damboa LGA of Borno State.

During the operations, the troops killed 35 Boko Haram terrorists and recovered several arms and ammunitions and other items. In addition, they rescued 97 women and children held captives by the Boko Haram terrorists. We are glad to state that among those rescued is a girl believed to be one of the Chibok girls.

Her name is Miss Serah Luka, who is number 157 on the list of the abducted school girls. She is believed to be the daughter of Pastor Luka. During debriefing the girl revealed that she was a JSS1 student of the school at the time they were abducted. She further added that she hails from Madagali, Adamawa State.

She averred that she reported at the school barely two months and one week before her unfortunate abduction along with other girls over two years ago. She added that there other three girls who fled from Shettima Aboh when the troops invaded the area earlier today which led to their rescue.

She is presently receiving medical attention at the medical facility of Abogo Largema Cantonment, Biu, Borno State.

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Lagos generates N101 billion in Q1 2016, declares N4.85 billion revenue surplus

The Lagos State Government generated a total revenue of N101.69 billion in the first quarter of 2016 out of which a surplus of N4.85bn was realized as against an expected N29.92bn deficit, the state’s Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Akinyemi Ashade, said on Monday.

Speaking at the ongoing Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, to commemorate Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s first year in office, Mr. Ashade said the generated revenue was above that of 2015 which stood at N97.28bn in the first quarter, adding that in absolute terms, the revenue performance was N4.4bn more than that of the comparative period of 2015.

Mr. Ashade said the feat was achieved despite the diminishing statutory allocation from the federation account, adding that same was due to Governor Ambode’s purposeful and visionary leadership.

He expressed optimism that with the implementation of multiple revenue collection channels and broadening of the revenue base, the State Government would achieve tremendous progress in its revenue drive.

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DSS Stops Emeka Ezeife, Pat Utomi From Speaking At Book Launch

Emeka Ezeife, a former governor of Anambra state was embarrassed alongside Pat Utomi in Awka recently by officials of the Department of State Security Service (DSS). They were stopped from speaking at a book launch by the officials who claimed to be acting on an order from the presidency.

In his words, Emeka Ezeife said: “The President does not seem to have some conscience by doing certain things against some people. He does it without thinking back as if there are some people that should be suppressed and some people who are above the law.

Let me tell you what is happening now. Now I am in Awka, where young students decided to launch a book on the vision of our heroes past. They decided to use Odumegwu Ojukwu’s name in the launching. Some boys ago met me to play a role in the launching after I went to the University of Calabar to attend a very beautiful conference where Maitama Sule, Ken Nnamani, Ibrahim Mantu and others were in attendance.

The same students organized something at Women Development Centre, Awka. But I arrived Awka at night, I started hearing that the Department of State Service (DSS) was discouraging the event in Awka, the students had paid the money for using the Women Development Centre. When I arrived at night, I went straight to the governor, Dr. Willie Obiano but the governor was not in town.

I was only able to get through to the Chief of Staff and I asked him why some people would be treated this way; why the President continued to treat the South East as if he wants them to leave Nigeria. I do not know. Some of us are forced to ask that question. Nigeria is not Buhari, and Buhari is not Nigeria.

I went to the state commissioner of Police in Anambra and discussed the issue with him, and of course it was not his business, but it is part of it because if there is violence, he would be involved in controlling it. But there can be no violence because the people are so peaceful; nobody was carrying gun or weapon and there was nothing in the launching that is against the government.

I went to look for the state Director of the SSS, but I could not find him that night. I met some small young officers but the Anambra state Police commisioner was kind enough to send me the telephone number of the state Director of SSS whom I talked to. I explained all the circumstances and how peaceful everything was and I discovered I was one of the problems.

Those who talked to the young boys told them they do not like me and Pat Utomi playing a role in the launching. I called the Director of SSS and he told me that the directive was from Abuja, that it was a directive from above and that there was nothing he could do. He said that I should talk to the DSS in Abuja and I knew that they all travelled with the President. I tried to reach the operation officer and his phone would ring and would not answer. This is what is called humiliation in a very dehumanizing way.

If the launching was in praise of Ojukwu, what could be wrong in praising him in Anambra state. This is what I am talking about. You would look at the situation and you wonder that people who have no business of carrying Ak-47, carry the weopons and saying that they are taking care of cattles. And the DSS told a lie against Abia state, a lie that could cause ethnic crisis in the country. There is no investigation on that. They did not go to the Police; they just went out and accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Five people were involved in the kidnapping, two Igbo were involved and they said IPOB buried people. I do not know what is happening. We should not talk with bitterness too much.”

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