197 Nigerians Trapped In Central African Republic War, Escape To Nigeria

October 4, 2015

197 Nigerians, who were trapped in the war raging on in the Central African Republic (CAR) have escaped and found their way to Nigeria, through Yola, capital of Adamawa state.

The Director Search and Rescue of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) made this known in Yola, Air Commodore, Charles Otegbade, who received the returnees said that the Nigerians escaped from CAR unrest early last year.

Otegbade said that the International Organization for Migrants with the support of Cameroonian authority escorted them to Sahuda, a border town along Nigeria-Cameroon border in Mubi South Local Government Area.

“NEMA has received a total of 197 Nigerians from International Organisation for Migrants with the support of Cameroon authority.

“The development follows the closure of the international camps by the organisation at Kenzo and Garua Bulai, all in Eastern Cameroon.”

Otegbade confirmed that the 197 Nigerians were the last batch evacuated since the CAR conflict erupted in late 2013 and early 2014, adding that at the peak of the conflict in 2014, NEMA with the collaboration of Nigerian Air Force, rescued and evacuated over 2000 Nigerians from Bangui International Airport to Abuja.

“Those that were trapped in various locations in Central Africa and could not reach Bangui but escaped into Cameroon Republic for their safety. And so far, NEMA had evacuated and settled over 3,000 Nigerians returnees from CAR between 2014 to date.”

Otegbade said that Adamawa, Borno and Yobe had the highest number of 52, 41 and 29 returnees respectively. Others are Gombe 16, Kano 12, Bauchi 9, Onitsha (Anambra) and Kaduna with one returnee each.

He said that the remaining returnees were from Plateau, Kebbi, Sokoto Taraba and Federal Capital Territory.

He said that the agency had concluded arrangements to link up all the returnees with their relations. [myad]

How Kuje Bomber Escaped Unhurt – Eye Witness

October 4, 2015

It has been confirmed that the young man who bombed Kuje market, in the Nigeria Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Friday, leading to the death of at least 15 people, escaped from the scene unhurt.
Eye witness account said that the young man, in his early twenty, approached a trader on the entrance to the market and begged him (the trader) to kindly watch over a polythene bag which he dropped by his aside.
The trader and another man who was carrying out the business of registering GSM lines nearby, gladly allowed the bomber to drop the polythene bag after which he (the bomber) left the place.
The source said that it was not up to ten minutes after the strange man left the scene than the bomb exploded from the polythene bag, killing the trader, the man registering GSM lines and other people nearby.
The source said that the impact of the bomb threw two men into a nearby gutter, mangled a motorcycle and killed 12 others instantly.
This was even as the explosion at the Kuje police station, which occurred about 30 minutes before the one that occurred in the market, was said to have been carried out by a young woman who wanted to gain entrance into the compound of the station by climbing the perimetre fence at the western side.
The source hinted that the female bomber had taken advantage of the darkness around a church inside the police station at about 9.18pm, and that the bomb exploded and blew her up before she could jump down from the fence.
It was learnt that the intention of the female bomber would probably have been to walk to the counter where police officers were attending to cases from civilians to blow them up, but could not make it.
It was learnt that the flesh of the female bomber scattered all over the place and had to be picked up to clean up the environment.
The source said that the two incidences were carried out to instill fear in the minds of the people and to embarrass President Muhammadu Buhari and his government.
Meanwhile, security operatives are still cordoning off the market even as normal movement of people and vehicle is gradually returning to the scenes of the explosions. [myad]

Prince Audu To Supporters: Kill Any PDP Thug That Attack You On Election Day

Greenbarge Reporters

October 3, 2015

Former Kogi state governor and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC),Prince Abubakar Audu has asked his supporters to kill any thug from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who dares them in the November gubernatorial election in the state.

He made it clear that the objectives of the PDP thugs will be to intimidate and steal their votes, emphasizing that they should not spare the thugs. “Kill them if you see them at your villages and polling units.”

Addressing the zonal in Kabba , Prince Audu alleged that the ruling PDP in the state has recruited 10 thugs from each of the 21 local government areas of the state and is already training the thugs ahead of the November election in the State.

The APC candidate warned PDP and its government in Kogi state to refrain from their evil plans and give peace a chance and allow democracy to flourish as being enjoyed in other states.

According to Audu, the state has receded in terms of development since he left office 2003 due to lack of commitment to the peoples desire for prosperity and progress.

In his remark, Deputy Majority Leader of House of Representatives, Honourable Umar Buba Jibrin urged the people of Kogi West Senatorial district to vote massively for APC as the state cannot afford to be in the opposition.

The law maker advised APC supporters not to allow themselves to be intimidated or succumb to PDP doctrine of do or die. [myad]

US Airstrike Kills 9 Doctors Without Borders As It Hits Charity-Run Hospital In Afghanistan

Greenbarge Reporters

October 3, 2015

A hospital run by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), known as Doctors Without Borders was hit today in air strike by the United States of America, on the Taliban in Afghanistan, killing nine MSF staff members, among other not-yet-totaled casualties including patients and patients’ family members.

The US has been conducting airstrikes in Kunduz, Afghanistan, since the Taliban wrested control of the city from Afghan forces last week.

A US military spokesman confirmed that the US launched an airstrike at 2:15 am local time (5:45 pm ET) today, and that “the strike may have resulted in collateral damage to a nearby medical facility.”

MSF volunteers described the statement as an understatement, saying: “MSF condemns in the strongest possible terms the horrific bombing of its hospital in Kunduz full of staff and patients.” All parties to the conflict, including in Kabul and Washington, were clearly informed of the precise location (GPS Coordinates) of the MSF facilities—hospital, guest-house, office and an outreach stabilization unit in Chardara (to the north-west of Kunduz). As MSF does in all conflict contexts, these precise locations were communicated to all parties on multiple occasions over the past months, including most recently on 29 September.

Two hospital employees, an aide who was wounded in the bombing and a nurse who emerged unscathed, said that there had been no active fighting nearby and no Taliban fighters in the hospital.

But a Kunduz police spokesman, Sayed Sarwar Hussaini, insisted that Taliban fighters had entered the hospital and were using it as a firing position.

The hospital treated the wounded from all sides of the conflict, a policy that has long irked the Afghan security forces.

Nearly 105 patients and 80 staff members—were inside the hospital at the time of the bombing. MSF said that it contacted military officials as soon as the bombing began, but that the bombing continued for at least 30 minutes after the calls were made. The military spokesman, Colonel. Brian Tribus, said the incident is “under investigation.” [myad]

Why Boko Haram Attacked Abuja Yesterday – Atiku Abubakar

Greenbarge Reporters

October 3, 2015

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has given reasons why members of Boko Haram attacked Kuje and Nyanya, the two satellite towns of the federal capital territory, Abuja yesterday, killing a number of people and wounding others.

In a statement today, Atiku said that the terrorists are now bitter and frustrated that the Muhammadu Buhari administration is now taking the war to the enemy camp, which has forced them into disarray

According to Atiku, the massive territorial losses suffered by the terrorists and the blockade of their weapons supply lines, have significantly reduced their operational capabilities in terms of direct confrontation with the counter-terrorism forces.

The former Vice President insisted that Boko Haram terrorists have been militarily degraded by the new offensive strategy adopted by the Buhari administration, which have sent the militants packing from towns and villages they previously captured and occupied.

He advisedNigerians not to despair and give in to terrorists’ blackmail, which he said is the Boko Haram’s psychological tool for intimidating and forcing citizens into surrender and inaction.

The former Vice President said that it was clear that by targeting suburban Abuja, the Boko Haram terrorists wanted to persuade Nigerians to believe that they are invincible and thereby paralyzing the country with fear and force it into submission.

Atiku called ond Nigerians not to be deceived by such desperate tactics by the Boko Haram militants that primarily target non-combatants or innocent and defenceless civilians. [myad]

Kenyan Doctor Who Allegedly Raped Patients Charged To Court

Greenbarge Reporters

October 3, 2015

A Kenyan medical doctor, Mugo wa Wairimu has been charged to court with 12 offences including rape, impersonating a gynecologist and operating a clinic without a licence in Nairobi.

The charges stem from a Kenyan TV report which had footage showing an unidentified man allegedly assaulting an unconscious woman on a clinic bed. The secretly recorded footage was filmed by a suspicious staff member.

Kenya’s Medical Practitioners Board has said that Wairimu who went on the run for a week after the report was aired on Kenya’s private Citizen TV, was not a registered doctor.

The alleged fake doctor, who was eventually arrested at a hotel outside the capital, Nairobi, after members of the public called the police, has since pleaded not guilty and has previously denied that he raped his patients after sedating them.

Wa Wairimu was said to have been in custody since his arrest, as it was argued that releasing him might endanger his life because of the public outrage over the affair.

The court ordered that he remains in custody until Monday 5 October when his bail application is to be heard.

In one of the last posts on his Facebook page before his arrest, he described the allegations against him as “malicious,

“Mob justice, media or otherwise only replaces due process in failed states. Kenya is not Iraq, Syria or Yugoslavia,” wrote Wa Wairimu, who is also a blogger.

He was able to do a few Facebook posts on Friday around the time of the court hearing, reiterating that he was “unbowed” and said “may justice be our shield and defender.” [myad]

U.S Pledges Support For Nigeria Against Boko Haram, Condemns Attacks On Abuja

Greenbarge Reporters

October 3, 2015

The United States of America has pledged to stand with Nigeria in its war against Boko Haram insurgency, even as it condemned yesterday bomb explosions that left many people dead in Kuje and Nyanya, the two satellite towns of the nation’s federal capital territory, Abuja.

A statement signed by the First Secretary, Press Attaché, U.S. Embassy in Abuja, Sean J. McIntosh, extended the country’s deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed and injured.

“These tragic events are stark reminders that violent extremists will stop at nothing to inflict horrific and indiscriminate harm upon innocent lives.”

“In particular, Boko Haram’s reign of terror and sheer brutality have left thousands dead and millions displaced. [myad]

Instead Of Sacrificing Human Lives During Stoning At Jamrat, Nigerians Pilgrims May Henceforth Sacrifice Rams – Kano Emir

Greenbarge Reporters

October 3, 2015

“If one deliberately refuses to perform the stoning of the devil ritual, all he needs to do is just to slaughter a ram. So, if this is the situation, why do we go and suffer and die instead of sacrificing a ram.”

These are the verdict of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, who was reacting to the recent stampede in Saudi Arabia that killed several pilgrims, including about 70 Nigerians.

He added: “therefore, it will be part of my recommendation to the Federal Government that, if we cannot get accommodation close to Jamrat where the Arabs reside in Mina, then this year may be the last time we will sleep in Mina and Muzdalifa because we want to stone the devil.

The Emir, who quoted several verses of the Qur’an to buttress his points, said failure by pilgrims to perform the stoning of devil ritual does not in any way invalidate one’s pilgrimage.

“During the era of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), he permitted pilgrims who came on camels to stay in Makkah after Arafat, instead of staying in Mina and sleeping at Muzdalifa.

“So, if the Prophet can give such grace to some people, just to protect their animals, why didn’t our scholars educate our people properly to avoid this untoward hardship and death?” [myad]

How Debt Management Office Initiated Bailout Fund For States, Restructured N575 Billion Debts – Nwankwo

Greenbarge Reporters

October 3, 2015

The Director General of the Nigeria’s Debt Management Office (DMO), Dr. Abraham Nwankwo has explained how his office had initiated and pushed through, bailout funds for 23 states of the federation and worked out an arrangement under which the states’ domestic debts were restructured for repayment over a much longer period.
Dr. Nwankwo spoke yesterday, Friday, at a workshop the DMO organized for online publishers and facilitated by Channelkoos consultancy firm.
According to Dr. Nwankwo, DMO came up with the debt restructuring proposal as its own way of assisting states facing financial crisis as a result of declining federal allocation. The crisis, he added, came about as a result of sharp drop in federal revenue, occasioned by a plunge in the price of oil in the international market.
“We made the proposal to the Vice President, who liked it and took it to the President, who approved it and then presented it to the National Economic Council, which also approved it. Twenty-three states showed interest and we have restructured their debts into 20-year Federal Government of Nigeria bonds.”
He gave the total debt restructured at N575 billion and that 15 banks are involved in the exercise.
The DMO boss commended President Muhammadu Buhari for promptly taking appropriate steps to bail out financially troubled states, admitting that the problem facing Nigeria is not peculiar.
“Countries have problems from time to time. What matters is how fast the leadership responds to the problems. “In this case, President Muhammadu Buhari has acted promptly and his government took appropriate action to restabilise the system.”
Dr. Nwankwo described debt as a necessity for development and a global phenomenon. He dismissed the notion that Nigeria has an unhealthy debt stock, saying: “Debt is not necessarily bad. That is why the USA, which is the biggest debtor in the world, is also the strongest economy. How much a state or the Federal Government owes is not the issue; what matters is debt sustainability – the size of your debt relative to your macro-economic activities.
“Nigeria’s debt is sustainable. Our debt is among the lowest in the world in terms of GDP ratio. In terms of ratio, you find that we are not doing badly, but I admit that we need to do a lot of work to put our economy in better shape.”
The workshop, which attracted online publishers from various parts of the country, educated participants on the stringent processes involved in approving loans for both the states and the Federal Government. It also dwelt on how DMO has sanitised the borrowing process since its establishment, ensuring that there has been no defaulting in debt repayment since 2007.
Apart from Dr. Nwankwo, who delivered the Keynote Address, other DMO top officials who delivered papers at the workshop included Patience Oniha, Director, Market Development; Dele Afolabi, Hannatu Suleiman, Director, Debt recording & Resettlement; Asmau Mohammed, Director, Strategic Programmes; and Head, Portfolio Management. [myad]

Abuja Bomb Blasts: Buhari Sympathizes With Victims, Vows To Defeat Retreating Insurgents

Greenbarge Reporters

October 3, 2015

President Muhammadu Buhari has sympathized with the victims of the twin bomb explosions in Kuje and Nyanya, the satellite towns of Abuja, the nation’s federal capital last night. He also commiserated with victims of similar blasts in Borno state during the week.
A statement by the senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, quoted President Buhari as saying that his government is determined to rid the country of extremism as a way of eradicating violence in the country.
The President, who spoke when he received a briefing from a fact-finding team that he sent to the parts of the FCt that were attacked yesterday evening, said that for terrorism to be uprooted from the country, the society must be rid of violent extremism.
“The defeat of Boko Haram insurgency is in sight but to remove violence and make the country safe, we must tackle the prevalence of violent extremism. In doing this, we will learn from the experience of the international community.”
President Buhari directed the security services to raise their surveillance activities to meet the challenges of a retreating desperate terrorist and asked the general public to remain acutely aware of security in and around them.
The fact-finding team visited the Kuje and Nyanya bombing sites and greeted victims of the incidents at the National Hospital and the Maitama General Hospital. They inspected the wards and mortuaries and consoled grieving family members on behalf of the President.
The fact-finding team was made up of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. Babachir David Lawal, the Chief of Staff, Malam Abba Kyari, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health and that of the Federal Capital Territory as well as the police commissioner in charge of the FCT. [myad]

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