In an attempt to deny report of interception of a trailer loaded with Ballot papers thumb printed in favour of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the Bauchi Police command ended up throwing more lights into the incidence.
The command started by describing the report as unsubstantiated, unfounded and misleading and capable of causing disharmony among political parties in the state.
However, the command’s spokesman, DSP Mohammed Haruna admitted in a statement that the command, on the 20/12/2014 at about 08:30am intercepted the Trailer following Intelligence report that a Trailer IVECO with registration number XE-784-ABJ was conveying a Container loaded with empty plastic Ballot boxes, property of Independent National electoral commission (INEC) to its North East office in Gombe State. That the trailer was intercepted by Police men on tactical operations point attached to Darazo Division.
He then went on to say: “attention of Bauchi Police Command had been drawn to an unsubstantiated rumour in the Social media that a Lorry conveying Electoral materials was intercepted this morning by security personnel and that it contains presidential ballot papers all voted in favour of PDP.Such rumour was not only misleading but a figment of the imagination of mischief makers who want to cause Disharmony among the peace loving Citizens of Bauchi State in particular and the Nation at Large.”
The police statement has only confirmed the report that the trailer was loaded with ballot  boxes, saying: “The fact in issue is that on the 20/12/2014 at about 08:30hrs,following Intelligence report, a Trailer IVECO with registration number XE-784-ABJ was conveying a Container loaded with Empty plastic Ballot boxes, property of Independent National electoral commission (INEC) to its North East office in Gombe State. It was intercepted by Police men on tactical operations point attached to Darazo Division.”
The Trailer, according to him, was off loaded and thoroughly searched in the presence of press and Party representatives, but nothing incriminating was found apart from 314 cartons of empty Plastic ballot boxes which corresponded with the Way bill clearance issued by the Nigeria Custom Service.
DSP Haruna appealed to members of the Public to disregard the rumour and go about their lawful business as the Command is working tirelessly to ensure safety and security in the State

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Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ima Niboro, vowed to turn the furtune of the organisation around within the shortest time possible, even as he has, within 10 months of his being in the saddle, changed the face of the organisation and its ways of doing business.
Niboro has not only renovated NAN’s New York Office in the United States, but also embarked on a similar upgrading exercise at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.
Speaking with a delegation of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in his office in Abuja, Niboro said: “by the time I am through with this project, we’ll have a befitting working environment and will be in a position to host anybody from anywhere in the world.”
Niboro spoke about efforts being made to move NAN along with the times by digitalising its operations, adding that this. would reduce operational cost and enhance efficiency. He said that it would also result in more affordable subscription fees.
“We are targeting millions of subscribers.
“Already, you can subscribe to daily NAN news through sms. By the time we finish what we are doing, people would be free to subscribe for only the news they need. You can even subscribe for a day and pay online for a day.”
A journalist himself and immediate past Special Assistant on Media to President Goodluck Jonathan, Niboro spoke of his desire for NAN to generate more revenue, which explains why his administration is working hard to broaden the agency’s streams of income.
This, he said, informed the introduction of NAN Bulletin, an all-gloss monthly magazine edited by industry veteran, Obiora Chukwumba, a Deputy Director at NAN.
A fully commercial venture, NAN Bulletin sells for N500 a copy and competes for advertisements with private publications.
Its third edition is presently on sale.
Niboro promised that NAN would remain objective in its reports, even though it is a government agency.
He commended GOCOP for its efforts to sanitise online publishing in the country and stressed the need for journalists to report issues objectively in the national interest.
Speaking earlier, GOCOP’s General Secretary, Dotun Oladipo, explained the aims and objectives of the Guild, even as he expressed the Guild’s readiness to partner with NAN for the mutual benefit of both organisations.

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