Army Describes Those Displaying Fake Videos Of Boko Haram Attacks As Enemies Of State

November 24, 2018

Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman

The Nigerian Army has described Nigerians who have been deliberately been spreading fake news and doctored video clips of the attacks by Boko Haram insurgents on its men and officers, aimed at undermining national security as enemies of State.

In a statement by the Nigerian Army today, Saturday, said that the myriads of photos and video clips being recklessly distributed on various social media platforms is disturbing, warning individuals and groups to desist from disseminating “fake videos” depicting alleged attacks by Boko Haram on military locations.

The statement read: “The NA has continued to observe with great dismay the myriads of photos and video clips being recklessly distributed on various social media platforms by different caliber of persons.

It is indeed shocking to see how these well doctored propaganda materials from enemies of the State has succeeded in creating fear and unrest in the polity. These doctored materials are obviously serving the purposes intended by the terrorists to misinform the populace, spread panic, hatred, religious intolerance and above all to undermine national security.

“The NA wants to categorically state that the videos and images making rounds as the purported attack on Metele base are false and do not in any way portray the reality of the situation on the ground. Unfortunately, many do not know that indiscretional posts and comments from a citizen that is supposed to be solidly behind its military in these trying times could have a way of dampening the morale of the troops. However, the NA’s resolve in protecting the territorial integrity and sanctity of the Nigerian State would not be undermined by detractors or tacit supporters of the enemies of our beloved country.

“Whilst appreciating the concerns of well-meaning Nigerians who genuinely care for the well-being of its military, the NA wants to draw the attention of its detractors to the fact that spreading of fake news is an offense and violates the provisions of Section 24(1)(a),(b) and (2)(a),(b),(c)(i),(ii) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition & Prevention etc) Act, 2015.

“In view of this, please note that the NA would henceforth report these infractions and file cases against individuals or groups who deliberately spread fake news that aims to undermine national security, in courts of competent jurisdictions. Equally, the NA wishes to inform the public of its iReport channels on the NA website, Android and iOS platforms via which the public can forward meaningful advice, criticism or observations that would enable the NA better serve the good people of Nigeria. You are to please note this and kindly disseminate through your various channels.”

Suspected Boko Haram Kidnaps 15 Girls In Niger Republic

Editorial staff

November 24, 2018

File photo: Boko Haram members in operation

Suspected Boko Haram gunmen have kidnapped 15 girls overnight in a village near Toumour, southeastern Niger.

The Mayor of the town in Niger’s Diffa region near the border with Nigeria, Boukar Mani Orthe, said today, Saturday that about 50 unidentified armed men seized the girls in a village about nine kilometres from the town centre.

On Thursday, suspected Boko Haram fighters killed eight people working at French drilling company Foraco’s water well site in Toumour.

Kidnapping of schoolgirls has been a Boko Haram horror mark, since its fighters in 2014 kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, in Nigeria.

It also staged this year, another major kidnap of schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe state.

In Mali, French forces said they “put out of action” some 30 Islamist militants, possibly including veteran Malian jihadist leader Amadou Koufa, during a raid in the central Mali region of Mopti.

The French army, which has about 4,500 troops in West Africa battling Islamist militants, did not specify whether the jihadists had all been killed or taken prisoner. The operation took place with air support on Thursday night, it said.

“At this stage of the evaluation of the operation, it appears that about 30 terrorists were put out of action,” the army said in its statement on Friday, adding that Koufa and other prominent militants were probably among them.

Koufa, a radical preacher, inspired the Massina Liberation Front (MLF), a group blamed for a wave of attacks that has shifted Mali’s six-year-old Islamist insurgency from the remote desert north ever closer to its populous south.

source: NAN.

Tottenham Beat Chelsea 3 -1, As Manchester United Play Draw With Crystal Palace

Editorial staff

November 24, 2018

Tottenham have defeated Chelsea by three goals to one thereby inflicting the Blues’ first Premier League defeat of the season and move to the third spot in the table.

This was even as United played a goalless draw against Crystal Palace. While Liverpool defeated Watford and are now unbeaten in 13 league games in 2018-19 and have more points – 33.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side displayed a terrific performance to go up a place to third, five points behind unbeaten leaders Manchester City, while Chelsea drop down to fourth.

Spurs deservedly scored two goals in the first 16 minutes through midfielder Dele Alli’s flicked header from Christian Eriksen’s cross, and Harry Kane firing in a drive from long range.

Son Heung-min had struck straight at goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga when through own goal, and saw a volley pushed away before scoring a brilliant goal in the second half.

Chelsea did manage to pull a goal back with five minutes remaining through substitute Olivier Giroud’s powerful header low into the corner.

Manchester City are 7 points clear of Chelsea and 14 points clear of Manchester United after 13 games, following their 4-0 win over West Ham, recording eighth consecutive victory in all competitions and remain two points above Liverpool in the Premier League.

Nigeria Pound Equatorial Guinea 6 – 0 In African Women Cup Of Nations

Editorial staff

November 24, 2018

Defending Champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria have pounded their Equatorial Guinea counterpart with six unreplied goals to qualify for the 2018 African Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON), semi-finals.

The match, which is the teams’ third leg group one, was played today, Saturday, at the Cape Coast Stadium in Ghana.

A hat-trick from Asisat Oshoala, while Francisca Ordega, Desire Oparanozie and Rita Chikwelu, all scored to help the team to advance to the semi-finals of the 11th AWCON in Ghana.

The result means that the Falcon finished second in the group with 6 points behind South Africa’s Bayana Bayana who played a 1-1 draw with Zambia.

The Falcons had lost their opening Group B match to Bayana Bayana.

In the other group A matches played earlier, Hosts Black Queens of Ghana exited the tournament after a 1-1 draw with Cameroon at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The Queens needed to either win or draw their game and hope for a victory for Algeria against Mali to get a ticket to the semi-finals. But Ghana fell off after Algeria lost 3-2 to Mali in the other Group A game played simultaneously in Cape Coast.

The result means Cameroon topped the group with 7 points with Mali finished second on 6.

Super Falcons will now face Cameroon in the semi-finals of the competition on Tuesday while Mali will take on South Africa on the same day.

APC Drags INEC To Court, Wants Its Candidates In Zamfara To Be Allowed To Contest

Editorial staff

November 24, 2018

The All Progressives Congress (APC), has taken the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to court, seeking an order to allow its candidates to participate in the forthcoming general elections in Zamfara State.

In the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the party further applied for an order of perpetual injunction to restrain INEC from giving effect to the content of a letter with Reg. No.l NEC/SEC/654/1/330 and dated October 9, which foreclosed it from presenting candidates in Zamfara for failing to conduct its primaries within the stipulated time.

The court has fixed December 11 to commence hearing on the matter.

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu okayed the case for hearing yesterday, Friday after she joined the governorship aspirant of APC in the state, Senator Garba Marafa and a senatorial aspirant, Alhaji Siraju, as well as seven other chieftains of the party, as defendants in the suit.

APC, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1279/2018, prayed the court to declare that INEC’s letter purporting to exclude the party from presenting and submitting the list of its candidates for the forthcoming election in Zamfara state scheduled for 2019, is null, void, ultra vires and of no effect having regards to the provisions of sections 31(1) and 86(2), (3) and (4) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

“A declaration that by virtue of section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and section 31(1) of the Electoral Act (as amended), the defendant lacks the power to refuse to collect the name of the plaintiff’s candidates for Zamfara state presented and to be submitted to it not later than 60 days before the election scheduled for February 2019″.

Source: NAN.

2019: Prophets Predicting Atiku’s Victory Are Being Led By Devil, Says Bishop Ehindero

Editorial staff

November 24, 2018

The General Overseer of the Messiah New Life Church International Incorporated at Ipakodo-Ikorodu in Lagos State, Archbishop Joseph Ehindero, has said that all the Prophets who have been predicting that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar will win the next year’s election are being led by the devil.

The cleric said that it was divinely revealed to him that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Muhammadu Buhari will defeat Atiku in the election.

In an interview with The Sun, he warned leaders of apex Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere to stop endorsing or openly campaigning for individuals and political parties seeking elective offices in the 2019 general elections.

“Atiku will suffer terrible defeat in the hands of Buhari. All those prophets predicting Atiku’s victory are fake.

“The vision they claimed to have seen is not from God. Atiku is going nowhere, that’s what my living God told me, and those prophets that are predicting his victory are not hearing from God but from the devil.

“Buhari is the man God has ordained to win 2019 election, and his victory has been sealed by God.

“These people are elders and leaders, and what people expect from them is to play advisory roles. They are supposed to play fatherly role to all. They are not supposed to be partisan.

“But, it is unfortunate that Afenifere leaders today have become chief campaigners for the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. “Not only that, they have openly endorsed him and have been asking Yoruba to vote for him.

“But this is wrong. What is President Muhammadu Buhari’s offence that is making Afenifere leaders to campaign against him? It is very unfair what Afenifere leaders are doing against Buhari. Buhari, since assuming office, has been doing a yeoman’s job for this nation, and he has been able to turn round Nigeria’s fortunes.’

“It is better Afenifere leaders retrace their steps before they lose respect among the Yoruba.

“Contrary to the impression being created by these Afenifere leaders, President Buhari still remains very popular among the Yoruba, and he is the one they will cast their votes for in 2019 because the man Buhari has transformed Nigeria.

“Not only that, Buhari also has divine support. His war against corruption, and achievements in the power sector and provision of infrastructures for Nigerians have been a good departure from 16 years of PDP wasteful administration of Nigeria. A second term for Buhari is a vote for continuity of good governance.’’

Source: The Sun.

Boko Haram Attack On Military: We’re Blocking Loopholes Against Future Occurrence – Buhari

Editorial staff

November 24, 2018

President Muhammadu Buhari has given assurance that his government will block loopholes on attack by Boko Haram insurgents on military personnel against future occurrence.

The President who expressed deep shock over the killing of military personnel in Metele village of Borno State by Boko Haram terrorists, stressed that immediate measures are being taken to ensure that the loopholes which led to the fatalities are blocked once and for all.

In a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu reacting to the tragic incident, the President said that his administration remains ever committed and focused on the security of military personnel and other citizens.

“No responsible Commander-In-Chief would rest on his oars or fold his hands to allow terrorists to endanger the lives of its military personnel and other citizens.

“Our loyal forces have proved their strength over the terrorists and we are ready to give them all the needed support in terms of equipment and manpower to succeed in ending the renewed threat. In the coming days, I am engaging the Military and Intelligence Chiefs in extensive discussions on the next steps we shall be taking.”

The President noted that fighting terrorism has taken a global dimension, which necessitates international collaboration among states facing similar security challenges.

He reassured Nigerians of his continued commitment to their security and of his efforts to sustain the momentum in the previous significant successes recorded against the terrorists.

He, however, advised Nigerians against making a political capital out of national tragedy, stressing that members of the armed forces are one family who are commonly committed to the security and safety of all Nigerians.

Death Of Suspect: Saraki Accuses Police Of Covering Up Extra Judicial Killing

Editorial staff

November 23, 2018

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has accused the police authorities of covering up human right abuse, extra judicial killing and politicization of a prime suspect in the April 5, 2018 Offa robbery incident in which 33 persons were killed by the bandits.

He also accused the police of a cover up in the mishandling of the investigations and politicization of the process, and that the police authorities have continued to make inconsistent statements and committing more blunders.

In a statement on Friday by his media Adviser, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the President of the Senate said that the response by the Police that the death of the prime suspect would not stop his prosecution was besides the point but a mere diversionary tactic.

Senator Saraki said that his statement on Wednesday that he had been vindicated, did not refer to the outcome of a case which is just about to commence, adding that his statement pointed to the belated admission by the police that Michael Adikwu, the prime suspect, had died in custody, a fact that was initially denied by the police when he (Senate President) raised it a few months ago.

“The police, while reacting to our disclosure that the prime suspect had died in custody, caused their spokesman, Moshood Jimoh, to respond that: ‘Michael Adikwu is in police custody in one of the South-west states…helping in the investigation’. The same Police have equally documented the claim that the suspect died during arrest. What a contradiction!

“It is surprising that the Police which initially allowed the said Adikwu to grant interviews to several national newspapers while in custody, refused to inform the public that the suspect had died until the Attorney General of Kwara State mentioned it on November 21, 2018 in the course of his address to the High Court in Ilorin while applying to amend the charge sheet.”

Saraki called on President Muhammadu Buhari to institute inquiry into the death of Adikwu because it has several implications for the country’s legal system and its engagement with the international community.

This, according to him, is necessary, in view of the consistent allegations of human rights abuse and extra judicial killings against the Federal Government by the international communities and foreign rights organizations.

He recalled that the international community has consistently cited issues of human rights abuses and extra judicial killings by Nigerian security forces for refusal to sell weapons to the Nigerian government in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents.

“One of the key issues those of us who have been engaging with the international community on the need for them to support Nigeria in the fight against terrorism in the North-east region through supply of arms, provision of training and other technical aid has been confronting is that of the flagrant abuse of human rights and extra-judicial killings by our security agencies.

“This is an instance of what these international partners complain about. The Presidency should make a point that the present government does not tolerate human rights abuse, extra-judicial killing, politically-motivated criminal investigation and refusal to comply with global best practices by security agencies by instituting an inquiry into the case of the death of this suspect.”

The Senate President called for diligent prosecution of the Offa robbery case so that justice can be done to the innocent victims of the April 5 attacks, the suspects facing trial and the state whose peace was disturbed by the sad incident.

Many Feared Trapped In Collapsed 7-Storey Building In Port Harcourt

Editorial staff

November 23, 2018

Many workers and labourers working on a seven-storey building in Woji road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State were believed to have been trapped as the building collapsed today, Friday.

Eye Witness accounts said that the number of casualties is still unknown as many people, including masons, labourers are trapped in the building.

The eyewitnesses confirmed that no fewer than 11 people have been rescued from the debris at the scene of the incident.

Details later.

Nigeria’s Pharmaceutical Company Plans To Lower Prices Of Some Drugs By 60 Percent

Editorial staff

November 23, 2018

A Nigerian based pharmaceutical company; Graham Foggs Limited has planned to bring down prices of commonly used drugs in Nigeria by 60 percent to enable poor Nigeria to have access to basic medical care.

Making the announcement today, Friday, when he led the executive board members of the company, on a courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, chairman of the board, Chief Sam Nda-Isaiah, said that the company also planned to be producing only generic medicines as against patented ones.

Nda-Isaiah, who is both a pharmacist and newspaper publisher, vowed that the company will continue to make essential medicines and livestock drugs available to the public, at significantly reduced prices.

The chairman who lamented that over 70 percent of Nigerians have been identified as unable to afford modern medicines produced by multinational pharmaceutical companies due to their high prices, said that lowering the prices of drugs would be achieved without a single kobo subsidy from government, but with Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) or bulk raw materials imported from China and India for the approved local production companies in Nigeria.

He added that the finished products of the proposed low priced drugs would be sold at fixed prices, adding: “millions of jobs would be created across the country as pharmaceutical plants would be operating at near-maximum capacity, and this would be for medicines of all classes including livestock drugs to boost the agricultural sector. The price of every medicine, including those under the health insurance scheme, will come down.”

This was even as President Buhari directed the setting up of an inter-ministerial committee to fashion out how medicines and livestock drugs can be made available to the Nigerian public at a fraction of the prevailing prices.

He reiterated his commitment to the improvement of the quality of lives of Nigerians, as he charged the Ministers of Health as well as Agriculture and Rural Development to work with the pharmaceutical company on “short-circuit disruptive bureaucracy.”

Buhari had earlier in the life of his administration, reduced tariff on pharmaceutical raw materials, and increased the one for finished imported products, aimed at boosting and encouraging local production of medicines, for the benefit of ordinary Nigerians.

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