Trailing Of Kidnappers Turns Bloody In Kogi: 3 Kidnappers, A Soldier Die In Gun Battle

February 28, 2018

Attempt by soldiers to rescue an oil magnate, Momoh Otinau, from the suspected kidnappers that abducted him on February 17 turned bloody yesterday, Tuesday, when the kidnappers engaged the soldiers in gun battle, resulting in the death of a soldier and three of the kidnappers.

It was gathered that a relation of the kidnapped victim who has been negotiating with the kidnappers was said to have informed the soldiers believed to be part of those prosecuting “exercise cat race” of his intention to go and drop a ransom for the kidnappers.

The soldiers then decided to follow him with the intention to rescue the victim and arrest the suspects, but the rescue mission turned fatal as the kidnappers on sighting the relation approaching the designated point with the armed soldiers immediately opened fire on them.

Otinau was kidnapped in front of a mosque in Okene while relaxing with friends.

Meanwhile the spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Command Army Records in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital, Weri Finikumor has confirmed the killing of three kidnap suspects and a soldier.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on phone in Lokoja that some of the suspected kidnappers have been arrested and are helping the military in its investigations.

Finikumor assured residents that operation “exercise cat race” was ongoing to curtail criminality and boost security in the state.

He said that the army would make details of the exercise public as soon as it is concluded.

Source: NAN. [myad]

Virtual Currencies Not Legal Tender In Nigeria, CBN Warns Those Patronizing Them

Greenbarge Reporters

February 28, 2018

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has again cautioned Nigerians to be wary of investments in cryptocurrency and that virtual currencies are not legal tender in Nigeria.

A statement by the apex bank today, Wednesday, reiterated that cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ripples, Monero, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Onecoin, etc and Exchanges such as NairaEx are not licensed or regulated by the CBN.

The statement which was signed by the CBN’s Acting Director in charge of Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor, emphasized that dealers and investors in any kind of crypto currency in Nigeria are not protected by law, adding that they may be unable to seek legal redress in event of failure of the exchangers or collapse of the business.

The CBN therefore warned Nigerians against investing in cryptocurrency as doing so would be at their own risk.

It will be recalled that the CBN on January 12 last year, issued a circular to Banks and other financial institutions on virtual currency operations in Nigeria.

In the 2017 circular signed by the Director of Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Kevin Amugo, the CBN had among other issues, noted that virtual currencies were traded in exchange platforms that are unregulated all over the world. It further noted that transactions in virtual transactions in virtual currencies were largely untraceable and anonymous thereby making them susceptible to abuse by criminals, in money laundering and financing of terrorism. [myad]

Online Publishers Association Protests Against Police Tagging Members As Terrorists

Greenbarge Reporters

February 28, 2018

The Online Publishers Association of Nigeria (OPAN), has expressed concern over claims by the Nigeria Police Force that two of its members conspired to commit terrorism offences and cyber crime because they approved an opinion article on their website, which the police see as uncomplimentary and offensive.

In a statement by the President, Austyn Ogannah, OPAN called on the police to withdraw the “spurious charges” without delay and stop harassing journalists for doing their constitutionally backed assignments.

The Nigerian Police is said to have concluded arrangement to charge Timothy Elombah and Daniel Elombah to court tomorrow, Thursday, over allegations of terrorism and cyber crime.

The Publishers of Elombah News were charged by the Nigerian Police for cybercrime, cyber stalking, cyber bullying and for “championing Biafra terrorism.”

A four-count charge filed at the Federal High Court 5 in Abuja revealed that the Police is charging the Elombah brothers for cyber bullying and cyber stalking the Inspector General Of Police, Ibrahim Kpotum Idris.

OPAN said it is worried by the police’s claim that these journalists carrying out their social responsibility, which is enshrined in the constitution, intend to “create native war and lead to breakdown of law in the country.”

It said the claim is not only ridiculous, but also disgraceful of the police force under the care of Idris.

Ogannah said in the statement: “it is laughable that the police force under whose watch 110 female teenage students were kidnapped from their dormitory at the Government Girls Technical Science College, Dapchi, Yobe State, can shamelessly descend so low to the extent of filing fabricated charges against the two journalists who are contributing their own quota to National development.

“The reputable media organization has stated that they have nothing to do with the publication in question, because it was neither written by the Editor or Publisher or any staffer and there is nothing in Elombah.com that promotes terrorism in Nigeria.

“It is to be noted that the online medium has published series of articles against the activities of Boko Haram in the country and other acts of terrorism, so linking it with the activities of IPOB is a joke taken too far.

“For clarity, OPAN restates that Elombah.com is a responsible media organization. It is not a terrorist organization and neither is it championing Biafra terrorism.” [myad]

Petroleum Marketers Association Warns Against Crisis In Port Harcourt Refinery

Greenbarge Reporters

February 28, 2018

Rivers Indigenous Petroleum Products Marketers Association RIMOPPA has warned against any form of crisis in the state which it said can lead to disruption in the activities of the refinery.

The Association asked the state government to proactively intervene in the move being made by some people to instigate crisis in Port Harcourt Refinery Depot to forestall a situation where the depot would be plunged into crisis.

In a communiqué by the members of RIMOPPA at the end of its meeting, the Association said that the activities of some Independent Petroleum Markers in Port Harcourt Refinery Unit Depot are detrimental to peaceful resolution of issues at hand.

It said that the argument on the unit chairmanship of Independent Petroleum Markers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in all depots is not contestable, as it is usually reserved for indigenous Markers which is the host state, adding that Port Harcourt Depot should not be an exception.

The Association said also that the petroleum products distribution and consumption impacts highly on the growth and stability of the economy of the catchment communities and the State in general, saying that Rivers State indigenes would continue to lead its Depot efficiently and effectively they said.

RIMOPPA debunked the idea that there is leadership tussle in Port Harcourt Refinery Depot, stressing that the Association recognized one indigenous Chairman, which is comrade Inimgba Emmanuel Okubowei who was elected as authentic Chairman of IPMAN Unit of Rivers extraction.

The communiqué said that RIMOPPA will resist any attempt “by the mindless Marketers who want to plunge Rivers State Depot and communities into unnecessary, warranted and needless crisis with respect to Port Harcourt unit of IPMAN leadership.”

It insisted that Petroleum Product Marketers in Port Harcourt Depot should adhere to peaceful and economy friendly activities in it activities, saying that any attempt to create crisis would lead to break down of law and order and economic sabotage, especially in Rivers State. [myad]

U.S. Designates Al-Barnawi’Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa As ‘Special Global Terrorists’

Greenbarge Reporters

February 27, 2018

The United States of America has declared the factional Boko Haram leader, Abu Musab al-Barnawi, and the ISIS-West Africa as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT) and Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO).

The U.S. Department of State today, Tuesday, said that al-Barnawi and ISIS-West Africa were designated global terrorists under Section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224 and pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

“In March 2015, the leader of the FTO and SDGT group Boko Haram pledged allegiance to ISIS and changed the group’s name to ISIS-West Africa.

“ISIS accepted the pledge of allegiance. In August 2016, ISIS-West Africa split into two factions, due to infighting.

“ISIS appointed Abu Musab al-Barnawi as leader of ISIS-West Africa; the other faction, which remained loyal to longtime leader Abubakar Shekau, reverted to the previous Boko Haram name.

“Al-Barnawi is the son of Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf. Prior to his appointment as leader of ISIS-West Africa, al-Barnawi was the spokesperson for Boko Haram.

“Under al-Barnawi’s leadership, ISIS-West Africa has carried out numerous attacks in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region”.

In announcing these designations, Coordinator for Counter-terrorism, Nathan Sales emphasized that “these designations target key ISIS-affiliated groups and leaders outside its fallen caliphate in Iraq and Syria”.

“Today’s actions are a critical step in degrading ISIS’s global network and denying its affiliates the resources they need to plan and carry out terrorist attacks.”

The U.S. also designated two other ISIS-affiliated groups – ISIS-Philippines, and ISIS-Bangladesh – as SDGTs and as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).

As a result of these designations, U.S. citizens are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with ISIS-West Africa, ISIS-Philippines, or ISIS-Bangladesh.

The groups’ property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked.

In addition, it is a crime to knowingly provide, or attempt or conspire to provide, material support or resources to the organizations.

The Department has also designated four other ISIS-affiliated groups and another ISIS-affiliated leader as SDGTs.

The groups are ISIS-Somalia, Jund al-Khilafah-Tunisia, ISIS-Egypt, and the Maute Group, and the individual is Mahad Moalim.

Executive Order 13224 imposes strict sanctions on foreign persons determined to have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the U.S.

Among other consequences, all property and interests in property of the designees are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them.

Source: NAN. [myad]

I’m Running An Inclusive Economy In Favour Of Workers, Buhari Tells NLC, As It Turns 40

Greenbarge Reporters

February 27, 2018

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigeria workers under the canopy of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) that his government is running what he called “an inclusive economy” in their favour

President Buhari, in a message, congratulating the labour union as it marked its 40 year anniversary, said that the inclusive economy adequately caters for workers and their families, “which has started with the ongoing review of the minimum wage.”

Buhari commiserated with the NLC which he described as vibrant, as it celebrates the milestone, adding that it had lived up to the expectations of its founding fathers by protecting the interests of the Nigerian workers through viable engagements with public and private sector employers.

The President noted that that the NLC has burgeoned into a matured and focused umbrella for all workers in the last four decades by consistently projecting the voice of the workers, and negotiating a healthier position for them on the rungs of the Nigerian economy.

He extoled present and past leaderships of the NLC for their contributions to the development of the nation, which included their historical struggle for the return of democratic governance, and penchant for always speaking the truth to those in power.[myad]

Nigerian Government Releases Names Of 110 Abducted Dapchi Schoolgirls

Greenbarge Reporters

February 27, 2018

The Nigerian Federal Government has released the names and other details of the 110 girls who have yet to be accounted for, following the attack on the Government Girls Science and Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi, Yobe State, by members of Boko Haram on February 19.

According to the information by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, out of the 110 missing girls, 8 are in JSS1, 17 in JSS2, 12 in JSS3, 40 in SS1, 19 in SS2 and 14 in SS3. The girls’ ages range from 11 to 19 years.

He said that the list was handed over to the Federal Government by the Yobe State Government.

The list, which also contains the contact address and phone number of each missing girl, was verified by a 26-member Screening Committee that includes the Executive Secretary, State Teaching Service Board, Musa Abdulsalam; Director, Schools’ Management, Ministry of Education, Shuaibu Bulama; Principal of GGSTC, Adama Abdulkarim; the two Vice Principals, Ali Musa Mabu and Abdullahi Sule Lampo; Admission Officer, Bashir Ali Yerima, and the Form Masters for all the classes.

COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF MISSING STUDENTS

S/NO	NAME OF STUDENTS	AGE	CLASS
1	Aisha Abdullahi	12 years	JSS1
2	Fati Muhammed	11 years	JSS1
3	Fatima Modu Aisami	12 years	JSS1
4	Fatima Abdullahi Ali	12 years	JSS1
5	Salamatu Garba	13 years	JSS1
6	Adama Garba	12 years	JSS1
7	Hadiza Ali	11 years	JSS1
8	Aisha Adamu Alkali	11 years	JSS1
9	Hadiza Muhammed Musa	14 years	JSS2
10	Fatima Usman	14 years	JSS2
11	Rabi Yahaya Tela	13 years	JSS2
12	Zainab Usman	14 years	JSS2
13	Fanna Muhammad	13 years	JSS2
14	Zainab Mohammed Bama	13 years	JSS2
15	Fatima Yahaya	13 years	JSS2
16	Amina Yahaya	13 years	JSS2
17	Maryam Aliyu Mabu	14 years	JSS2
18	Fatima Ishaku Aliyu	13 years	JSS 2
19	Habiba Nuhu Dan-Inuwa	14 years	JSS2
20	Zainab Bukar Abba	14 years	JSS2
21	Fatsuma Ali	14 years	JSS2
22	Salamatu Isiyaku	14 years	JSS2
23	Hauwa Bulama	14 years	JSS2

24	Rabi A. Nasir	14 years	JSS2
25	Khadija Sule	13 years	JSS2
26	Aisha Muhammad Aminami	14 years	JSS3
27	Aisha A. Maina	14 years	JSS3
28	Fatima Bashir	14 years	JSS3
29	Fatima Muhammad	14 years	JSS3
30	Fatima Aji Hassan	15 years	JSS3
31	Hadiza Sale	14 years	JSS3
32	Khadija Suleiman	15 years	JSS3
33	Walida Adamu	15 years	JSS3
34	Maimuna A. Hassan	14 years	JSS3
35	Maryam Ibrahim	14 years	JSS3
36	Zainab Abubakar Yakubu	13 years	JSS3
37	Amina Haruna	15 years	JSS3
38	Falmata Wakil	15 years	SS1A
39	Maimuna Musa	16 years	SS1A
40	Sahura Jibrin Muhammad	15 years	SS1A
41	Fatima Bukar	16 years	SS1A
42	Hajara Yahaya Tela	15 years	SS1A
43	Hajara Ali	16 years	SS1A
44	Maryam Adamu Muhammad	14 years	SS1A
45	Fatsuma Muhammad	15 years	SS1A
46	Hauwa Salisu	14 years	SS1A
47	Amina Adamu	16 years	SS1B
48	Zara Musa	16 years	SS1B
49	Aisha Abba Aji	16 years	SS1B
50	Fatima Alhaji Ari	15 years	SS1B
51	Aisha Alhaji Deri Dokta	16 years	SS1B
52	Maryam Usman Sale	15 years	SS1B
53	Hassana Gambo	15 years	SS1B
54	Hauwa Usman	16 years	SS1B
55	Hajara Muhammad Gidado	16 years	SS1B
56	Zara Muhammed Lawan	15 years	SS1C
57	Khadija Grema Dabuwa	15 years	SS1C
58	Aisha M. Wakil	15 years	SS1C
59	Amina Abubakar	16 years	SS1D
60	Fatima Modu Abubakar	15 years	SS1D
61	Fatima Ibrahim	16 years	SS1D
62	Zara Grema Dabuwa	15 years	SS1D
63	Maryam Adam Kontoma	15 years	SS1D
64	Falmata Wakil	16 years	SS1D
65	Maimuna Umar Alhassan	15 years	SS1E
66	Hajara Adamu Abubakar	15 years	SS1E
67	Aisha Modu Bamba	16 years	SS1F
68	Bintu Yerima	16 years	SS1F
69	Zara Grema	16 years	SS1F
70	Fatima Adamu	16 years	SS1F
71	Fatsuma Abubakar Jambo	16 years	SS1F
72	Maryam Mustapha	15 years	SS1F
73	Fatsuma Abdullahi	15 years	SS1F
74	Aisha Usman	15 years	SS1F
75	Fatsuma Ibrahim Isa	16 years	SS1F
76	Fatima Hassan Mustapha	16 years	SS1F
77	Leah Sharibu	16 years	SS1F
78	Maryam Bashir	17 years	SS2A
79	Maryam Muhammed	17 years	SS2A
80	Maryam Ibrahim Adam	16 years	SS2A
81	Hauwa Manuga Lawan	16 years	SS2A
82	Hauwa Saidu Abubakar	17 years	SS2B
83	Falmata Alhaji Inuwa	16 years	SS2C
84	Zara Muhammed	17 years	SS2C
85	Fatima Muhammed	16 years	SS2C
86	Maryam Usman	16 years	SS2C
87	Aisha B. Danjuma	18 years	SS2C
88	Aisha Mamuda	16 years	SS2D
89	Zara Tijjani	16 years	SS2D
90	Aisha A. Adamu	16 years	SS2E
91	Fatsuma Sani	17 years	SS2E
92	Fatima Usman	17 years	SS2E
93	Amina Abdullahi	18 years	SS2F
94	Aisha Kachalla	16 years	SS2F
95	Maryam Kalwuri	17 years	SS2F
96	Bintu Usman	17 years	SS2F
97	Fatima A. Grah	18 years	SS3C
98	Habiba Musa	18 years	SS3C
99	Hajara Karumi	18 years	SS3C
100	Karima Inusa	18 years	SS3C
101	Falmata A. Audu	18 years	SS3C
102	Hafsat A. Grah	18 years	SS3D
103	Fatima Makinta Liman	19 years	SS3D
104	Aisha Muhammad Jakusko	18 years	SS3D
105	Hadiza Muhammed	18 years	SS3D
106	Hauwa Mohammed Idris	18 years	SS3E
107	Aisha M. Bukar	18 years	SS3E
108	Hadiza Abubakar	18 years	SS3F
109	Fanna Muhammed Modu	17 years	SS3F
110	Maryam Muhammed	18 years	SS3F

GOVERNMENT GIRLS’ SCIENCE AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE (GGSTC) DAPCHI

SUMMARY OF COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF MISSING STUDENTS

S/NO	YEAR GROUP	TOTAL NUMBER OF MISSING STUDENTS
1	JSS 1	08
2	JSS2	17
3	JSS3	12
4	SS1	40
5	SS2	19
6	SS3	14
	Total	110

Meanwhile, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, today, Tuesday relocated to Yobe State to personally superintend the search for the girls.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) had earlier deployed more platforms to the North east for the search, as the security agencies ramp up their efforts to locate and rescue the girls.

As at 6 pm on Monday, the NAF had flown a total of 200 hours while conducting the search.

Sourced: NAN and Channels TV. [myad]

Dino Melaye To Gov Yahaya Bello: Using Buhari’s Name Won’t Help You

Greenbarge Reporters

February 27, 2018

The Senator representing Kogi State West, Dino Melaye has told Governor Yahaya Bello that using the name of President Muhammadu Buhari would not help him from being defeated in the 2019 governorship poll.

Senator Dino Melaye, who spoke today, Tuesdya, at the launch of Safe Kogi Project (SKP) coalition in Lokoja, said: “Muhammadu Buhari’s name is not, will not and can never be immunity for any governor. It is sad that he (Governor Yahaya Bello) doesn’t even know who Muhammadu Buhari is.

“The President will not support killings, stealing and when it is time for prosecution, I want to believe that his lawyers will use the President’s name to defend himself in court.”

The Senator, who also accused the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun of supporting illegality in Kogi state, stressed that Yahaya Bello has been in the habit of hiding under President Buhari’s integrity and using his name to carry out misdeeds in Kogi State.

“It is sad to note that instead of embarking on development projects in the state, the governor has been parading and using the President’s name, thinking Buhari’s name is a special immunity.” [myad]

Nnamdi Kanu Sighted In Ghana?

Greenbarge Reporters

February 27, 2018

Report has it that leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has been sighted by security agents in Ghana.

According to TheCable, an online medium, Kanu was ferried to the Niger Delta creeks by militants at the height of Python Dance II, from where he found his way to Ghana by sea.

He is regularly seen at Kenzo Bar and IBG saloon in Accra, disguised in fez cap and usually in company of his wife, Uchechi.

Kanu is said to live at an area called Cantonment, also in Accra, at an estate called “Arabella.”

He regularly patronizes smoked meat, called Suya in Hausa language at suya joints in remote parts of the city.

Kanu was last seen in public in September 2017 before the military launched Operation Python Dance II — apparently to quell the agitation for the breakaway of south-east from Nigeria.

There has been allegation by his followers that he was arrested and might have been killed. At some point, Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia state, said Kanu was in London.

His court trial for treason has stalled and Enyinnaya Abaribe, the senator who served as Kanu’s surety when he was granted bail after spending 18 months in detention, has sought to be discharged from the obligation after his disappearance.

His brother once asked the military to release his “dead body” if he had been killed. [myad]

Inter-Bank Market Gets CBN’s $210 Million Boost

Greenbarge Reporters

February 27, 2018

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has again made interventions in the inter-bank sector of the Foreign Exchange market with the injection of $210 million into three segments of the market today, Tuesday.

A breakdown of the Bank’s latest round of intervention indicates that the CBN offered the sum of $100 million to dealers in the wholesale window, while those in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) window received an allocation of $55 million. The invisibles segment, comprising Business/Personal Travel Allowances, school tuition, medicals, etc., was also allocated the sum of $55 million.

The CBN spokesman, Isaac Okorafor, who disclosing these today in Abuja, said that CBN would continue to make the interventions, in spite of the fact that the country’s reserve has enjoyed accretion in the past weeks, bringing the figure to about $42billion.

Okorafor was upbeat that the Bank’s forex management strategy is yielding the desired result, adding that the apex bank would continue to sustain its activities in the market in order to maintain stability and liquidity.

Speaking on the goal of convergence between the rates at the inter-bank and Bureau de Change (BDC) segments, he said that the CBN is working hard to achieve the objective and expressed belief that the rates in both markets would eventually merge in due course.

Meanwhile, the naira continued to maintain its stability in the FOREX market, exchanging at an average of N360/$1 in the BDC segment of the market today, Tuesday, February 27. [myad]

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