Boko Haram: SSS Bursts New Cell in Kogi

The State Security Service (SSS) Wednesday in Abuja paraded a suspected commander and a spiritual leader of Boko Haram and four members of his cell.
The suspects, who were being held by the SSS over the alleged plots to carry out attacks in Kogi State was led by a Ph.D holder, who lectures at the Kogi State University, Anyangba, Kogi State. According to the SSS, spokes lady Marilyn Ogar, the five extremists were planning to attack the Igala ethnic community. The new cell, which the service uncovered was plotting to launch violent attacks in Igala land. They include Muhammad Nazeef Yunus, 44 – Spiritual Leader and Recruitment Coordinator; Umar Musa, 37 – Head of Operations/ Instructor (Munzir); Mustapha Yusuf (a.k.a Habib) 21, – Armourer/Chief Courier, Ismaila Abdulazeez, 19, Foot soldier; and Ibrahim Isah (a.k.a One in Town) 22 – Foot soldier. All the arrested persons were the natives of Kogi State and attended Islamic schools, where they were indoctrinated by Yunus, himself a lecturer at the Kogi State University, Anyingba. He had graduated at the University of Medina and hold a Ph.D in Islamic Studies, and had been the Chief Instructor to the Boko Haram adherents, especially on the supremacy of the Sharia legal system, and on how to use the Jihad to topple governments. The SSS urged Nigerians to be vigilant and report any suspicious moves and persons to the security agencies, stressing that the war on
terror was still on.
“This Service in collaboration with other security agencies will not rest on their oars until we rid our society of all criminality. We must all remember that we are not terrorists we are Nigerians," Ogar said. He said the battle against the insurgents was a must win, adding that this would be done fast as delaying was not in the best interest of anyone. “Within few weeks we must be able to win the fight against the insurgents" calling on his men that the oath to preserve the integrity of the nation is sacred and they must continue to demonstrate absolute loyalty to the country.” He said he was happy with “the resolution of all Nigerians to deal with this issue (terrorism). Terrorism is not the way of life of Nigeria.”
Iherijika argued that Nigeria is a democratic country and “anyone who is aggrieved can join any of the political parties to express their grievances,” insisting that room would not be given for dissent and lawlessness.

10 Killed in Benue, Taraba Communal Clashes

At least 10 persons were killed in separate attacks Sunday on communities in Benue and Taraba States. Six of them were killed when gunmen attacked five farming villages in Benue State, during which they torched many houses. Four others were killed at Amar village in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State as violent clashes erupted between Fulani herdsmen and the Tarok people from Plateau State. "Five Agatu villages were attacked yesterday by suspected Fulani cattle herdsmen who killed
six people," Benue State Police Command's spokesman, Mr. Daniel Ezeala, told AFP.
He said "many houses" were razed during the violence, the latest on mainly ethnic Tiv people, who are predominantly farmers. Local media however said 36 people were killed
in the mayhem.
Ezeala said police and troops had been deployed to the trouble spot.
"The situation is now under control as security forces are patrolling the affected villages to ensure there is no resurgence of violence," he said. In the incident in Taraba State, which claimed the lives of four persons, scores of others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the attack and are currently receiving treatment in various hospitals in Taraba, Gombe and Adamawa States. The herdsmen were said to have invaded the community from Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State to launch a reprisal on the Tarok people resident in the village. There have been incessant clashes between the Fulanis and Tarok in recent times, which have claimed several lives and led to the destruction of property whose value is yet to be ascertained.
Yesterday's clash at Amar village was a spillover of violent clashes between the two groups while hundreds of people were said to have fled the community over fears a recurrence. Wase Local Government Area, where the two groups have been engaging each other in violent clashes, shares a border with Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State and not a few Taroks engage in farming in the village. Narrating their ordeal, an indigene of the village told THISDAY that the community was caught unawares by the attackers just as he expressed disappointment over the inadequate
security in the area.
Chairman of the local government, Mr. Simeon Mohammed Abbere, who also spoke to THISDAY, expressed worry over inadequate security in the area.

35-yr-old man allegedly shot dead by policeman in Lagos

There was pandemonium yesterday in  Oshodi area of Lagos, after a  35-year-old man, Azeez Omotoso, was shot dead by a Police corporal.

Vanguard gathered that the victim who was also a youth leader in the area met his untimely death when some Policemen from Shogunle Police Station, responding to a fight that started in a party held in front of the victim’s  house shot  at him.

Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that the victim who did not attend the party, was coming home with his wife and three children when a yet-to-be identified man arrested by Police during the fracas called him for assistance.

The eyewitness told Vanguard that when the victim responded to the call, a police corporal identified as ‘Awilo,’ got infuriated over his presence and challenged the victim for interfering in a matter that did not concern him. He was said to have shot the victim, leaving him in a pool of his blood.

Meanwhile residents of Aina Street and other adjoining streets protested in  front of the victim’s family house at No. 28 Aina Street, Oshodi,  calling on Police authorities to ensure the trigger-happy policeman is brought to justice.

But news of the killing and subsequent protest in the area swiftly spread as a wide fire causing panic in the area.

[PHOTOS] Police storms Kano government lodge in Abuja, holds five nPDP governors hostage

A detachment of police officers, led by the DPO of Asokoro police division today stormed the Kano State Government Lodge in Abuja and held at least 5 factional PDP governors as well as others hostage.

According to SaharaReporters, five trapped governors are members of the splinter faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who have refused to accept Bamanga Tukur as their chairman.

It was reported that there was initial tension when the security aides of the governors had denied to the DPO and his team entrance.
Details shortly….

Bauchi Police kill robbery suspect, arrest 4

he Bauchi State Police Command, Tuesday, killed an armed robbery suspect and arrested four others in Gadar Maiwa Village in Ningi Local Government Area of the state.

Police Public Relation Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police Haruna Mohammed, who confirmed the incidence, said that the Police acted on intelligence report that some group of armed robbers were residing in Gadar Maiwa village. So the Police laid ambush for them.

He said that Police recovered 11 AK-47 rifles, 1100 ammunition, one rocket launcher, three cartridges, 12 loaded magazines, eight empty magazines and four handsets.

A security source in Bauchi said four suspects escaped during the ensuing gunfight.

Police Disrupt ASUU Rally In Ondo

An attempt by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) to enlighten the public on the rationale behind the ongoing strike was on Thursday thwarted by the police.

The Ondo State Police Command  disrupted the rally organised by the lecturers on the excuse that it could be hijacked by hoodlums.

An Armoured Personnel Carrier  (APC) was used by a detachment led by a senior police officer to barricade the main gate leading to the university.

But the police public relations officer (PPRO), Mr Wole Ogodo said the police took the action to prevent the situation from being hijacked by the hoodlums.

The protesting ASUU members in their placards displayed at the starting point of the rally, have the following inscriptions, "Transformation Without Education Is Zero, "ASUU Says No To Destruction of Public Universities."

Others included  "Agreement Is Agreement, Federal Government Do The Right Thing, "ASUU Members Are The Real Nigeria Patriots," "Okonjo is Wahala", "Jonathan Stop Playing Politics With Education," amongst others.

Addressing journalists, the FUTA chapter  chairman, Dr Alex Odiyi expressed disgust about the disruption by police despite a letter to the police command since October 17.

Odiyi said in a copy of the letter made available to journalists in Akure that the rally was meant to enlighten the citizenry on the motive for the strike.

The rally, according to the letter signed by the chairman and the secretary, Dr K. S Adegbie, was arranged to begin from the university to the Akure Central Market.

He wondered why police protection was provided for market women protesting against the continued strike by ASUU, while they who were concerned were not allowed to educate the public on the insincerity of the government.

Also speaking, the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU Ilorin Zone, Dr Ayun Adeleke said that the strike would continue following failure of government to honour the 2009 agreement.

He pointed out that ASUU was fed up with federal government's empty promises, adding that the no-work-no-pay threat was balderdash.

Two Suspected Armed Robbers Arrested In Benue

Two suspected armed men with a large
cache of arms have been arrested by the
Benue State Police Command. The armed men who were alleged to have in
recent time been terrorizing Kwande,
Vandeikya and Ushongo local government
areas of the state were nabbed following a
tip off. Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adams Audu,
while parading the suspects at the
Command headquarters in Makurdi, said,
the gang was arrested at their operational
base and hideout at Tsemke village,
Vandeikya while preparing for an operation. According to him, the gang had been
responsible for grave robbery and killings in
that area of the state, adding that three
members of the gang however, escaped
during an exchange of gunfire with his men. Audu said, “today (last Wednesday) at about
11:30 hours, a team of Police Patrol
Officers while on duty at Vandeikya
received a distress call that a gang of armed
robbers was in their hide out at Tsemke
village preparing to strike their victims. “The patrol officers stormed the area, and
on arriving at the scene, they were greeted
with a heavy gunfire by the suspected
armed men, and during the exchange of
gunfire, Messrs Terkimbi Msuega and
Aondohemba Tyo were arrested while three others escaped. My men also recovered
from the gang, one AK-47 rifle with 30
rounds of live ammunition; one FMC rifle
with 18 rounds of live ammunition. “Also recovered were one pump action rifle
with seven rounds of live cartridges; 12
empty shells of expended ammunition, five
extra magazines with 150 rounds of live
ammunition and one blue Volkswagen
Sharon bus with registration number Benue, WNN 59 XA.” Audu therefore asked for the co-operation
of members of the public to enable his
command achieve its set targets. While hinting that his men were on the trail
of the other three fleeing suspects, Mr.
Audu called for vigilance and urged the
people of the state to avail the police of
information that would lead to their arrest.

3 Suspected Cultists Nabbed Over Murder

Police in Lagos State have arrested
three suspected members of Eye and
Aiye confraternities in connection with
the murder of some rival cultists in Epe
area of the state. The suspects, it was learnt, were
arrested following investigation into
the incessant clashes between rival
cultists by members of a vigilante. Among the suspected cultists is a 200
level Business Administration student
of the Lagos State Polytechnic. Their identities were given as Olawale
Olushote 20; Idowu Gborokini 29 and
Seyi
Adewunmi, 26. According to Olushote, “I was forced
into cultism by some of my course
mates because of my built and
intimidating looks. I was told I could one
day become the Capone. But I have
never killed anyone.


from left: Seyi Adewunmi, Idowu
Gborokini and Olawale Olushote

“Rather, I was attacked by members of
Eiye confraternity, where I had gone to
charge my phone. I did not know some
members lived in the area. “They stabbed me with a knife and
broken bottle on the head. They even
put some cartridges in my pocket,
which the police found on me when I
was handed over to them. I don’t own a
gun let alone cartridges.” The two other suspects, Idowu
Gborokini and Seyi Adewunmi, however
denied being cultists. They claimed to
be a musician and a bricklayer,
respectively. They said they were
arrested during a raid by policemen. Confirming the arrest, Lagos State
Deputy Police Public Relations Officer,
Damasus Ozoani, said the suspects
have been transferred to the Special
Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, from where
they would be charged to court at the end of investigation.

Five Foreigners Arrested For Illegal Bunkering

The Nigerian Navy Task Force has arrested
five foreign nationals, who allegedly
specialised in conveying petroleum
products from pipeline vandals to Benin
Republic, have been arrested in Badagry
area of Lagos State. The suspects, comprising four teenagers
from Benin Republic and a 50-year-old
Ghanaian, were reportedly arrested while
conveying 113 50-litre jerrycans filled with
petroleum products. Administration Officer, NNS Beecroft,
Apapa, Commander Hyacynth Nwaka, while
parading the suspects before journalists,
weekend, said operatives of the Task Force
at Atlas Cove, acting on a tip-off,
intercepted the suspects at 3.30a.m. and brought them to the base for further
investigation. The suspects claimed they were fishermen
based in Seme area of Lagos. One of them, Andre Tougene, a secondary
school student in BeninRepublic, told
Vanguard that they were instructed by
some persons to convey the product to
Seme, where it would be sold to buyers for
onward transportation to BeninRepublic. He claimed to have been tempted by the
N4,000 payment he was to get. The 50-year-old Ghanaian, Nabroda Ajete,
said a friend of his told him to bring 30
empty jerrycans to the shore. And that he
didn’t know they were going to be used to
siphon petroleum products. The suspects, according to Commander
Nwaka, would be handed over to the police.
He said that the fate of the one that
claimed to be 15 years would be determined
by the Police. [Vanguard]

IGP Mohammed Abubakar Remarries Months After Wife’s Demise

Mohammed Abubakar and new wife Zarah

Nineteen months after losing his first wife,
Maryam, Inspector General of Police,
Mohammed Abubakar has remarried in Abuja. The 53-year-old has married 35-year-old
Zarah Bunu, daughter of a former Nigerian
minister, Bunu Sheriff Musa. Among the dignitaries who witnessed the
marriage of the police boss include, Vice-
President Namadi Sambo, Minister of Justice,
Mohammed Adoke, multi-billionaire
industrialist, Aliko Dangote, and state
governors. Also at the wedding were two former Heads of
State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, and Ibrahim
Babangida, Minister of the FCT, Bala
Mohammed and members of the National
Assembly. The wedding (fatiha) which took place at the
National Mosque, Abuja was conducted by the
Chief Imam of the mosque, Ustaz Mohammed. Mohammed prayed for the success of the
marriage, which held about a year after
Abubakar lost his wife, Maryam, who died in
January, 2012 shortly after Abubakar was
appointed as acting IG. Zarah, Abubakar’s wife who schooled in both
the United Kingdom and Nigeria currently
works at the External Relations Department of
Afren, an independent oil and gas company.

Police Rescue NURTW Member Held In Monarch’s Palace By His Abductors

A National Union of Road Transport
Workers, NURTW, member, Bernard
Oyeogun, kidnapped, Wednesday, by a
rival faction in Agbor, Delta State, has
been rescued by the police from the
palace of a royal father, (names withheld), where he was unlawfully held
for one night. Acting on a tip-off, the Divisional Police
Officer, DPO, in the area stormed the
palace with policemen on Thursday and
unchained the victim, according to
reports. He was battered by his captors and there
was fear, yesterday, that he might go
blind. There has been a simmering dispute
between two factions of the union in the
area and a source told Vanguard that the
national executive of the union dissolved
the chapter, yesterday afternoon, after
it was briefed on the development. The royal father was said to be away
from his palace when the incident
occurred, but he, allegedly, has
sympathy for one of the rival factions. Two persons, aged 31 and 41 years
respectively have been arrested in
connection with the incident. Confirming the incident and the arrests,
Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO,
Delta State, Lucky Uyabame said, the
Divisional Police Officer, Agbor, led his
patrol team to the palace of the
monarch, where they found the victim, who was assaulted and taken hostage
from the Agbor-Ogwashi-Uku motor
park, Agbor by three members of the
rival group.

Vigilance Group Kill 3 Cultists In Kwara

A vigilance group has killed three alleged
members of a cult group Aiye Confraternity
in Kwara State, after mistaking them for
robbers. Eighteen other members of the group have
been arrested by the police, while four got
critically injured. The Vigilance group had mounted some
road blocks around the meeting point of the
cultists, where initiation of new members
was being held. When the cult group finished the ceremony
of initiation, as they left the hidden venue,
they ran into road blocks of the armed
vigilance group. An exchange of gun fire
occurred. The State Command Police Public Relations
officer, PPRO, Olufemi Fabode, while
confirming the deaths and the arrests, said
the information gathered was that Saturday
night armed robbers were hiding in a bush
behind NASFAT village along Airport road, Ilorin. “This prompted various vigilance groups in
the communities around the place to mount
sentry on all roads that lead to the bush and
waited until early hours of Sunday morning
when members of the cult group completed
their initiation. “Unaware that ambush had been laid for
them, they ran into the ambush laid by the
various vigilance groups while people
mistook them for armed robbers and
opened fire on them,” Fabode said. The PPRO said in the ensuing exchange of
gun battle, three of the cult members fell
and they were almost burnt to ashes before
the men of the command got there. He also
said three of the cultists died, four critically
injured and 18 of them arrested and are being interrogated by the men of the state
CID. According to Fabode, some of the cultists
came from as far as Lagos, Osun, Ibadan
and Oro, adding that other cultists ran and
escaped when they learnt that their men
had been arrested by the police. He said investigation is on going while
corpses of those who died had been
deposited at the mortuary of the University
of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. He therefore admonished people “to always
give useful information to the Police with a
view to making the state crime- free and
warned parents to closely monitor their
wards as some of those arrested disclosed
that they were yet to gain admission to higher institution.” The dead and the injured were yet to be
identified.

Human Rights Lawyer Ozekhome Abducted

Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) Human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome
has been kidnapped along Benin-Auchi road
in Edo State. A statement by Abdul Mahmud, President,
Public Interest Lawyers League, PILL, in
Abuja confirmed the development. “Last night(Friday), news broke that Mike
Ozekhome(SAN) had been kidnapped by
unknown persons as he travelled on the
now notorious Ehor stretch of the Beni-
Auchi motorway. And with the sad news now
long confirmed by the Edo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, there has been
no indication of his whereabouts or that of
his driver who was seized with him. “Ozekhome (SAN), my former principal and
a personal friend, is the suave, outspoken
Lagos lawyer whose contributions to
constitutional and public laws are well too
known; and it is tragic, and if not unheard
of, for anyone to have seized him, held him captive against his will. Ozekhome, like
many Nigerians who are today held captive
by kidnappers everywhere, doesn’t deserve
the bestiality of those he has dedicated
many years of his outspoken forthrightness
to defend, nor does he deserve the mistreatment of gun totting scum who have
seized our roads and our country. I call on
those holding Ozekhome captive to release
him immediately and unconditionally. The statement said further; “there’s a wider
point to be made here. The kidnap of
Ozekhome highlights the growing insecurity
in Edo state and in our country; and the
government and security agencies must live
up to their responsibility of securing public safety” Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo also
confirmed the kidnap of Ozekhome. “I have just received with shock, the news
of the kidnap of my learned friend and
brother, Chief Mike Ozekhome…,” Festus
Keyamo said in a statement, Saturday. However, he described the incident as “one
kidnap too many and it further draws local
and international attention to the poor state
of security in our country.” “It also highlights the state of joblessness
among youths in our country which is one
reason why they turn to this dangerous
trade for their livelihood,” he said. Keyamo therefore appealed to the
kidnappers to release Ozekhome, a senior
lawyer and staunch critic of corrupt and bad
governments in Nigeria. Police spokesman Frank Mba told AFP a
manhunt had been launched for the
kidnappers. “Police are on the trail of the gunmen and
we will do everything humanly and
operationally possible to ensure that the
learned lawyer is released unharmed,” Mba
said.

Dimissed Bribe-Seeking Police Sergeant Impersonated Classmate For 21-Years

Sergeant Chris Omeleze, the policeman who was caught on tape demanding bribe from a motorist in Lagos and subsequently dismissed by the Force after the video of his misdeeds went viral on the internet, is allegedly an impostor too.

The disgraced policeman, it was revealed, has been impersonating his classmate, Chris Omeleze, for over 21 years.

According to a Channels Television report, Osugwor Festus is purportedly the ex-policeman’s real name and not Chris Omeleze.

Festus got employed into the Police Force in 1992 allegedly with Chris Omeleze’s certificates and details which he used undetected for the past 21 years until he was dismissed on Tuesday.

It was learnt that Festus, who is from Umuseti in Nduka West LGA of Delta state, was classmates with the real Chris Omeleze.

They attended Ndemili Grammar school and finished in 1987.

Why Police arrested 6 MASSOB members – Aduba Delta CP

POLICE in Delta State have seized six members of the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, for allegedly unleashing an attack on vigilante men at Powerline, Omeligboma area, in  Asaba.

State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, told Saturday Vanguard that as soon as police got information on the clash, operatives, acting on a tip-off, combed MASSOB enclave in the area,  and the effort yielded result with the arrest of their 52-year-old leader ,  identified as Emeka Okafor and five others.

He said the suspects  were nabbed between Tuesday and Thursday with  105 defunct Biafra flags, 10 pairs of MASSOB uniforms, 2 military boots and belts, 6 Biafra face caps, 1 empty cartridge shell, 121 pounds and five shillings Biafra currency.

His words, “The scene is under surveillance and the suspects in custody. They will be charged to court after the holidays.”

MASSOB Accuses Delta Police Of Killing Seven Members

Movement for the Actualization of
Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB,
yesterday, accused Delta State Police
Command of killing seven of its members
in two separate raids allegedly carried out
by an anti-riot policemen and local vigilante operatives in Delta State. According to MASSOB, the raid, which
started at Upper Iweka area of Onitsha,
Anambra State, led to arrest and detention
of one Ndubuisi Nwosu, a MASSOB chieftain
now believed to be held in Cell 4 at the
Anambra State Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, headquarters, Awkuzu. The group said the raid spread to Delta
State where the latest onslaught allegedly
took place. The accusation was contained in statement
signed by Mazi Chris Mocha, Media
Assistant to Chief Ralph Uwazuruike. Mocha alleged that after the raid at
MASSOB regional office at Omelugboma in
Oshimili local government area of the state,
during which the seven members were shot
dead on the spot, a similar operation was
repeated on Wednesday. He said: “Seven persons were shot dead on
the spot, while over 96 others sustained
various degrees of injuries arising from
bullet wounds.” He listed those who died on the spot to
include Luke Okonta, Nathaniel Okosieme,
Ephraim Okocha, Okey Innocent, Akaliese
Aniemena, Joseph Oroni and Miss Blessing
Uwechue. Mocha also identified those arrested as Mr.
Emeka Okafor, Regional Administrator of
MASSOB for Oshimili North; Francis
Onuigbo, Chukwuemeka Izogo, Ndubuisi
Ezeocha, Andrew Nwifuru, Ikechukwu Okpe,
Ifeanyi Ugwu, Samuel Uyo, Chinedu | Ekwunife, Philip Chukwu, Odinaka Nkwuda,
Sanuel Okoha and 91 others. He said the police team also removed
property from the MASSOB office, including
a computer set, Biafran currency (pounds)
and a generating set, before vandalizing 45
plastic chairs in the office and making away
with the sum of N50,000 which would have been used to settle the MASSOB office
rent. Mocha alleged that after the police team
had left the scene, the local vigilante
operatives took their own turn in the looting
exercise as they embarked on a house-to-
house search and looting of personal
property belonging to MASSOB members in the area, claiming that they were acting on
the instruction of the police commissioner.
[Vanguard]

Four soldiers, two policemen killed in B’Haram ambush

Suspected members of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, on Tuesday stormed a roadblock mounted by the Joint Military Task Force in Yobe State and killed four soldiers and two policemen.

Gonori is about 50 kilometres away from Damaturu, the state capital.

The insurgents, numbering about 20, were said to have caught their victims unawares while they were relaxing at about 7pm. The attackers were said to have carried AK47 guns.

A security source who briefed our correspondents said, “Some people suspected to be Boko Haram members opened fire at a JTF roadblock and killed six security operatives on duty.

“Those who died include four soldiers and two policemen; some other soldiers who sustained gunshot wounds have been moved to the hospital.

“The suspected Boko Haram members might have been monitoring the roadblock and opened fire when they noticed that the soldiers were more relaxed; the attack took place in the evening.

A top security personnel at the Defence Headquarters on Wednesday confirmed the incident on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

The source said members of the Special Forces were still engaged in a gunfight in Yobe over the incident till late on Wednesday.

The Special Forces is an amalgam of security operatives raised to confront insurgents in the troubled North-East when the Federal Government declared a state of emergency in Yobo, Borno and Adamawa states a few months ago.

Security operatives on the trail of insurgents believed to be in possession of dynamites in Potiskum had shut down the town for a house-to-house search operation on Tuesday.

There was also the fear in security circles that the insurgents could use the explosives hijacked last week from Rick Rock Quarry, operated by a Pakistani in the Gulani Local Government Area of the state, to wreak havoc during the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

Spokesman for the JTF, Captain Eli Lazarus, reportedly said that the JTF decided to impose a 24-hour curfew on Potiskum in response to an intelligence report that the insurgents were planning attacks in the city with effect from Monday.

A source who confided in our correspondents on Wednesday said that the JTF had temporarily shut down the MTN communication in Yobe State in order to confront the development though the communication facilities had since been restored in the evening of Tuesday.

Efforts to get the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Chris Olukolade, to comment on the Yobe attack did not succeed as repeated calls to his mobile phone were not answered.

 Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday admitted that members of Boko Haram took his government by surprise with their terror tactics.

Jonathan who spoke at the breaking of Ramadan fast with Muslim members of the Diplomatic Corps in the Presidential Villa, Abuja,  regretted that the attacks being unleashed on Nigerians by the sect members had led to the killing of children, security agents and many other innocent persons.

He said, “In Nigeria, the security challenge we face is all too well-known. The activities of the Boko Haram sect, especially their tactics of terror, took us all by surprise.

“The mindless attacks of this group have led to the loss of innocent lives of children, law enforcement agents and other innocent citizens.

“However, it is significant to note that with commitment and fervent prayers to God by all who profess their faith in the supreme creator, we have achieved significant success in containing the menace of the sect.”

The President expressed the hope that the Ramadan season had imbued the peoples of the world with compassion and forgiveness to enable them to surmount the challenges of global conflicts and wars.

He urged the Muslim diplomats to always pray for Allah to intervene and help address the various challenges confronting all nations, especially nations facing civil strife, political instability and financial crisis.

SALLAH: Red alert nationwide; 7 policemen killed, others injured

By Kingsley Omonbi, Okey Ndiribe, Ndahi Marama & Salisu Zakari Maradun
ABUJA — The Nigerian Army, yesterday, placed all its formations across the country on red alert following terrorists’ threat to attack and bomb national assets including mosques during Sallah celebrations to mark the end of Ramadan in countries with sizeable Muslim adherents.

Similarly, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered water-tight security across the country to ensure a hitch-free Sallah celebration.

This came on a day facts emerged that recent attacks in parts of Borno State by the Islamic fundamentalist group, Boko Haram, have been linked to the safe haven the Republic of Cameroon provides its members.

Speaking in Abuja, yesterday, against the backdrop of threat by terrorists, Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru said: “To this end, the Nigerian Army will remain eternally vigilant with a view to reducing vulnerability through proactive preventive measures”.

Attahiru emphasized that the measures were also aimed at preventing the spread of terrorism to other parts of the country.

“These proactive measures have yielded results with the recent arrests in Lagos, and Ogun states of 42 suspected terrorists. I, therefore, wish to reassure Nigerians that the Army will continue to constantly review its strategies towards greater sophistication in tackling security challenges facing the country”, he said.

IG orders tight security

As part of efforts to ensure a hitch-free Sallah celebration across the country, the Inspector-General of Police has directed all Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Command Commissioners of Police to ensure increased security surveillance, patrols and tactical Police presence on major highways, places of worship, recreation parks and other sensitive, strategic and vulnerable places within their areas of responsibility.

According to a statement signed by Force Spokesman, CSP Frank Mba, “Command CPs are further directed to adequately deploy their personnel to guarantee free-flow of traffic and safe passage for all travellers and other road users.

“Highway patrol teams, working in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies, are equally directed to take adequate measures in preventing road accidents and rendering assistance to travellers particularly those in distress”.

The statement added that “Muslim faithful across the country are, therefore, enjoined to celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Fitri with the reassurance that the Police are working to guarantee an all-round security during the period of festivities and even thereafter.”

The security alert came against the global security concern over threats by Al-Qaeda in the Middle East and North Africa which has led to Western countries closing their foreign missions during the week.

The United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany have been on alert following intercepted intelligence reports of possible security breaches in the Middle East and North Africa. Nigeria’s security and intelligence community seem to be acting in concert with global security concerns this season.

7 policemen die, 3 missing in Boko Haram attacks

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Borno State Government have said that seven policemen were killed while three other policemen were missing when Boko Haram gunmen launched attacks in the Bama Mobile Police Base station last Sunday.

Speaking yesterday at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), where the injured five policemen were receiving treatment, the Borno State Police Commissioner, Lawal Tanko and the state Deputy Governor, Zanna Umar Mustapha, said contrary to the Joint Task Force (JTF) reports that a policeman and two soldiers were killed in the attacks, seven policemen were actually killed. They noted that three others were still missing before five of the wounded policemen and three soldiers were admitted at the UMTH for treatment.

Tanko said: “These are the five policemen being admitted into this hospital for the injuries they sustained in the Bama Boko Haram attacks on our station last Sunday. We confirmed that seven were killed while repelling the gunmen from torching  Bama Mobile Police Base on Bama-Gwoza Road at about 6am.”

He said three other officers are still missing, as the police authority and family members of affected policemen were yet to locate their whereabouts.

While sympathizing with the wounded and injured policemen and soldiers, Mustapha donated N2.65 million to offset the medical bills of the injured policemen and soldiers.

Cameroon, safe haven for insurgents

In a related development, recent attacks in parts of Borno State by the Islamic fundamentalist group, Boko Haram, have been linked to the safe haven which the Republic of Cameroon provides for them.

This was revealed yesterday by authoritative sources within the Presidency who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity.

Said a source: “You know Bama and some other places in Borno where these terrorists have carried out raids in recent times are located close to our border with the Republic of Cameroon.

“What they normally do is to infiltrate these border towns, carry out attacks and then run back to Cameroon. Once they re-enter Cameroon, they are beyond the reach of our military and security forces.”

10 die in auto accident

Meanwhile, 10 persons, yesterday, lost their lives in an auto accident in Zamfara State.

The tragedy occurred when two commercial vehicles, a Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Golf car had a head-on collision near Furfuri village, on the outskirts of Gusau, the state capital.

According to an eye witness, drivers of the two vehicles, conveying seven people each were on top speed trying to overtake other vehicles, but lost control and collided. Four passengers died instantly while six others died later while receiving medical attention.

The remaining passengers who survived the accident are presenly receiving medical treatment at the Federal Medical Centre Gusau.

Confirming the accident, Spokesman of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Garba Lawal, explained that the accident which he described as one of the worst this year, could have been averted had the drivers been more carefull. He said: “The drivers were on top speed, and we have been telling them every day that speed kills, but they don’t listen.”

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/sallah-red-alert-nationwide-7-policemen-killed-others-injured/#sthash.DxSJTn1O.dpuf

Police Assure Of Peaceful Eid-el-Fitr Celebrations In Plateau

Security operatives in Plateau state, north central Nigeria have issued stern warnings to miscreants and hoodlums planning to disrupt the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations as measures have been put in place to ensure a hitch free celebration.

Apart from visible and professional policing around the worship centres, the police also reinforced the issue of ban on motorcycle, parking of vehicles, trucks, wheelbarrows as well as carts within the area of various praying grounds and tourists centres.

The past experience whereby celebrations on the Plateau turned violence informed the state police command to invite religious and community leaders including youths to the Police Officers Mess for an interactive session on how to have a peaceful and hitch free Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

Some of the security measures put in place include the increase in temporary check points during the festive period with intensified vehicular search at all checkpoints across the state.

Some of the religious leaders assured that this year’s celebration will be peaceful as adequate preparations have been put in place to checkmate any occurrence that might lead to violence.

The meeting also agreed that the use of fireworks, knockouts as well as burning of tyres during the festive period is not allowed while parents were enjoined to curb their wards from engaging in violent behaviour.

Meanwhile the Special Task-force on Jos crisis has dispelled rumors of impending attacks on worshipers during the forthcoming Eid-el-Fitr celebrations in Plateau State.

The media officer of the STF, Salisu Mustapha, in a press statement on Tuesday assured residents of a hitch free celebration, and warned that those found trying to foment trouble will be dealt with accordingly.

“The Special Task Force [operation safe heaven] would like to use this opportunity to dispel rumor of possible attack during the coming sallah,” Mr. Mustapha said assuring residents of tight security checks during and after the Eid-el-Fitr celebration in the state.

“The STF is reassuring the general public on its commitment to ensure hitch free sallah celebrations in the state. The Task-force wishes to reiterate that any individual or group of persons who are bent in fomenting trouble in the state have made themselves enemies of peace and would be treated as such.”

According to Mr. Mustapha, Muslims would be screened thoroughly before entering prayer grounds and “security agents would increase temporary checkpoints throughout the festive period.”

Mr. Mustapha said the “security committees of JNI and JIBWIS would search worshipers before granting them access into any prayer grounds.”

On the restriction of movement of persons and vehicles in and around public and recreational places during the celebration, the STF said that “security agents in conjunction with local security operatives at recreation centres would ensure proper search of visitors and enforce ban on fire arms at recreation centres.”

4 Drivers Arrested In Delta Over Attempt To Dump Toxic Waste

Four truck drivers have been arrested over alleged attempt to dump toxic waste within the Kwale axis of Delta State.

Vanguard gathered that the arrested persons were intercepted along Ogwashi-Uku/Kwale road while conveying the suspected toxic waste substance in their trucks to the destination.

It was further gathered that following the intervention of police, in collaboration with some community leaders, the suspects were arrested and taken to the Ogwashi-Uku police station.

At press time, the suspects were still detained at the station.

Confirming the incident, the state police spokesman, Mr. Lucky Uyabeme, told our reporter in Asaba, yesterday: It is true the truck drivers were arrested on Monday evening with suspected toxic waste. The arrest was made possible through the effort of our (police) patrol team on routine patrol duty. The vehicles have been impounded and investigation is on.”

It will be recalled that a toxic waste dump site was discovered in Okpai community of Ndokwa East Local Government area of the State sometime in May this year.

The waste according to a report by the Environmental Watch Group (EWG) was massively buried at the Anieze, Okpai and Oluchi locations by an oil exploration company in the area. [Vanguard]