Saturday, 30 July 2016
Hajj 2016: Nigeria begins airlift of Pilgrims August 8
By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA – The Federal Government has announced August 8 for the inaugural flight to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj.
Making the disclosure weekend at a Hajj Stakeholders Conference at the National Mosque, Abuja, Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa’ad II said the flight which would commence at the Sokoto Airport would see intending pilgrims from Zamfara state being airlifted first.
He also advised intending pilgrims to stick to the rules as set out by the Saudi Arabian authorities, specifically warning them against carrying kolanut, and other products considered as contraband in the Holy land.
Represented by the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, the Sultan said; “in preparing for this exercise, there is need to look at several critical areas especially in terms of movement from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia and other local runnings in the holy land.
“I advise all intending pilgrims to adhere to the regulations. Do not carry any type of kolanut or bitter kola in order to avoid hitches right from the airport. On August 8, intending pilgrims from Zamfara would be airlifted first from the Sokoto airport.
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Military will restore full peace to northeast, says Buratai
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has assured that the military will restore full peace to the North East in line with the desire of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Buratai gave the assurance while addressing troops undergoing training at the Nigerian Army Special Forces Training School at Buni Yadi, Yobe.
He charged the troops to sustain the momentum of ongoing counter insurgency operations to flush out the insurgents.
He said, “Operation Lafia Dole’ has entered a critical stage. You must sustain the momentum; there is no going back
“There is no time to waste. We want full restoration of peace in the North East. That is what the president wants’’, the chief of army staff said.
Buratai later told newsmen that he was in Buni Yadi to see how the troops undergoing the Special Forces training were faring.
He explained that the exercise was to make the personnel resilient and be able to withstand challenges they might face in the course of the ongoing operations.
Buratai also explained that the school was relocated from Niger state to Buni Yadi in view of the strategic location of the town in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgents.
“We know the importance of this place – Buni Yadi. This is the route they (insurgents) passed through to other parts of the North East and even Plateau in the North Central.
“It is better for us to have dominated and taken over the place’’, he said, and assured the troops of their welfare and logistics need, including required equipment to prosecute the war.
Buni Yadi is the headquarter of the 27 Task Force Brigade of the Nigeria Army.
It will be recalled that Buratai had charged the military to remain focused until the insurgents were crushed, when he spoke at the end of a three-day “Combat Support Arms Training Week 2016’’ in Maiduguri, on Wednesday.
NAN
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Caitlyn Jenner And Nigerian Gay Bisi Alimi Step Out Together
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“Mama Taraba” Seen With Crutches As She Lands At Jalingo In A Private Jet
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Okorocha Kicks Against Igbo Presidency Based On Zoning
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Viral Photos Of A Lady In Hijab Twerking Heavily On Stage Sets Tongues Wagging
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Davido And Baby Mama Fight Dirty On Snapchat
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Buhari approves BoT for Ogoniland cleanup
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a 13-member Governing Council and 10-member Board of Trustees for the cleanup of Ogoniland in Rivers.
The Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Mohammed, announced this in a statement by Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Bukar Hassan, in Abuja on Saturday.
The minister said the structures would ensure inclusiveness, accountability, transparency and sustainability of the exercise.
Mohammed acknowledged the concerns raised by stakeholders on the perceived slow pace of the clean up, saying “Nigerians have a right to voice their concerns”, but called for patience.
“We have responsibility to deliver. The launch was the first step in a 30-year journey. We continue to make strides toward the implementation.
“We ask for patience as we lay solid foundations for the cleanup. The context is complex and stakeholders are diverse. All must be taken along”, Mohammed said.
According to her, Buhari remains steadfast in his conviction to see Ogoniland and other parts of the Niger Delta cleaned up.
She said the ministry was working with the Ministries of Petroleum Resources, Niger Delta, NDDC and key stakeholders in implementing the UNEP report.
The minister said the exercise was a collective responsibility and urged all the Niger Delta communities, especially the Ogonis, to support the remediation and restoration efforts of government.
The UN report estimated that the cleanup of Ogoniland could take up to 30 years with the initial remediation taking five years and the restoration another 25 years.
President Buhari inaugurated the clean up on June 2 at Bodo in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers.
(NAN)
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Five things to avoid when chatting up someone
Communication between two strangers can be hard. Make them both of different genders and you have the world’s oldest mystery on your hands. Contrary to what our parents said, it’s not one of those things you get better at by being a good boy and reading your books. In fact, it seems to get worse the smarter you are.
Have you missed out on an opportunity to get to know someone because you were tongue tied? Well hopefully this will happen never again. The next time you want to walk up to someone, here are five things that you should avoid.
PS: Ladies, don’t leave the challenge to the men, you can use them too.
1) Having Nothing To Say :
Impulse is not always bad and sometimes there’s no time. But the last thing you want to do is hold her up and not be able to string together a coherent sentence. You might still get her number out of pity but is that really a first impression you’d like to leave? Whether it’s a compliment or a joke, have at least one sentence ready.
2) Using Clichés:
‘I think I’ve seen you somewhere before’ or ‘You must have fallen from heaven’. Unless you are absolutely sure this is true, no one wants to hear these clichés that have been around since 1000B.C. It immediately makes people distrust you and raise their walls even higher. Your best bet is honesty. Simple sentences that say exactly what you mean, devoid of Shakespearean phrases will always go down well.
3) Being Dishonest:
Not all Prada wearing women are the Devil. Contrary to popular opinion, a conversation that is honest gives you a much better chance at walking away with her contact details than one in which you’re lying through your teeth. Exaggerations of wealth and status are particularly annoying because either way, when the truth is out your dishonesty buys you a ticket to Blockedville. Women have various people try to talk to them daily and they so become pretty good at spotting phoniness a mile away.
4) Making It About You:
Confidence is a nice scent, but not when worn so thickly that we reek of narcissism. Speaking in a way that implies you deem it an honour to the other person that you’re talking to them (because after all, here you are) is a must. You should put the focus on the person you are speaking to before yourself. Ask them about themselves instead of weighing them down with your own life story. You come off as haughty and no one wants to be friends with anyone like that. Speak in a strong clear voice and make eye contact, implying that you know your worth, but never blow your own horn.
5) Appearing Desperate:
Sometimes a ‘No’ means just that and not an invitation to try to convince her by going down on your knees. When in doubt, her body language definitely doesn’t lie. Over the top displays of affection will not only embarrass you both but make you seem creepy, thereby putting the nail in the coffin of your plans. Women are not all fickle creatures whose minds can be changed by grandiose gestures. Smile, say bye and walk away.
Do these tips still apply if the person is halfway across the globe? Sure; what’s more AfriMobile offers cheap calls intonationally. You can even connect with your loved ones for FREE, using voice or video calls and text messages. So sit back, collect yourself and enjoy the conversation. We love connecting people!
AfriMobile
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Federal Government Promises N60 Billion Economic Stimulus Next Week
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Photos From The Burial Of Asari Dokubo’s Wife, Zainab Who Died In Road Accident
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Indonesian Cremates Executed Nigerian Drug Convict, Vows Not To Stop Executing
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Troops ambush Boko Harm terrorits
By Kingsley Omonobi
Troops on blocking position in Pulka yesterday Friday 29th July 2016, ambushed and killed 2 fleeing Boko Haram terrorists. It is equally believed one of the terrorists escaped with gun shot wounds.
Also the National Defence College (NDC) says it will, for the first time in its history, admit foreign participants from Brazil, Turkey, Germany and India, into the college’s next academic programme to be inaugurated on Sept. 15, 2016.
The troops also recovered 1 AK-47 rifle with registration number S 77411, a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) with registration number FN 131908, one Motorcycle, 1 Bicycle and 5 Fabrique Nationale (FN) rifle magazines. Other items recovered from the terrorists include 1 AK-47 rifle magazine loaded with 28 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, 67 rounds of 7.62mm linked (NATO) ammunition and Tecno brand of mobile telephone handset with NEXTTEL SIM card, as well as sacks of foodstuffs.
The troops have continued their routine operations maintaining vigilance to prevent escaping Boko Haram terrorists out of Sambisa forest through that axis.
National Defence College set to induct of military officers from Brazil, Turkey, Germany, India in Sept.
The National Defence College (NDC) says it will, for the first time in its history, admit foreign participants from Brazil, Turkey, Germany and India, for the college’s next academic programme to be inaugurated on Sept. 15, 2016.
The college secretary, Air Vice Marshal Uko Ebong disclosed this on Friday in Abuja while addressing a news conference on the forthcoming graduation of institution’s course 24 participants.
According to AVM Ebong, admitting foreign participants from these countries would improve the institution’s strategic partnership with the armed forces countries around the world.
He added that the interest shown in the college’s academic programme was a testimony to the excellence that the college had attained over the years.
His words, “The National Defence College provides the highest level of formal military education intended to inculcate a sense of advance military professionalism and involvement in the decision making process.
“I am happy to state here that the next course of the NDC will be having participants from Turkey, Germany, India, Brazil and other allied African countries and it is expected to be inaugurated on Sept. 15, 2016.
“It is my earnest desire to continue to promote the college as the centre of excellence for developing potential strategic leaders in Africa and globally’.’
Ebong noted that the college would in the nearest future open its doors to participants from the private sector as part of efforts to increase public awareness on the issue of national security.
He said the college’s proposal to admit participants from the private sector was also borne out of the need to increase the understanding of civilians on defence and security issues.
Ebong said the college had in the past years of its existence made deliberate efforts to improve on the content and quality of its programmes which had attracted interests within and outside Africa.
He said alumni of the college had distinguished themselves in different positions of responsibility given them both at strategic and command levels.
The secretary of the college said some aspects of the institution’s curriculum had been reviewed while infrastructure and other facilities at the college had been upgraded in line with its growing status.
On the course 24 graduation, Ebong said 130 participants comprising officers from the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Department of State Service participated in the course.
According to him, other participants of the course 24 include officers from the Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Immigration Service, Ministry of Defence and allied countries of Ghana, Sierra-Leone, Benin and Zambia.
Ebong said the overall performance of participants was adjudged above average while their general conduct was satisfactory.
He said the highpoint of the graduation ceremony was the presentation of certificates to participants by President Muhammadu Buhari on August 5.
Ebong added that the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido would deliver the graduation lecture on August 3 on the theme `Deregulation of the downstream oil sector and Nigeria’s economic development: an appraisal’.
It will be recalled that the graduating NDC course 24 was inaugurated in September 2015.
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Kano by-election: PDP candidate withdraws
By Abdulsalam Muhammad
KANO – In a dramatic turn of events, the major opposition candidate in Minjibir by-election, Auwalu Ubale Minjibir withdrew from the race Saturday morning.
Ubale Minjibir who claimed violation of understanding reached with other critical stakeholders revealed that his ambition does not worth the life of an electorate.
Minjibir further said that “we agreed on number issues that would ensure free poll, but that gentleman agreement has been sacrificed on the alter of desperation”
He added that ” from the evidence on ground, there are high risk of violence if I insist on my mandate, and I felt my life does not worth the life of my people”.
Minjibir therefore declared that ” in the interest of peace, I have withdrawn from the race for another day”.
In the meantime, election commenced in all the eleven wards with voters apathy characterising the much talk about exercise.
Details soon.
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Militants’ attacks: Lagos residents put up houses, lands for sale
…hospitals, hotels shut
.Navy storms creeks
.Panic uncalled for –PPRO
Gbenro Adeoye, Fisayo Falodi, Kunle Falayi, Tunde Ajaja, and Eric Dumo
Some residents of riverside communities in Lagos State are selling off their lands and houses in fear following attacks by suspected Niger Delta militants in the areas, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.
In the first week following the last attack by militants in Igbo-Olomu and Isawo areas of Ikorodu, residents fled hurriedly to avoid being killed.
But during a visit to the communities, our correspondents learnt that the residents had gone beyond fleeing the troubled communities to selling their houses, lands and other properties in panic.
The panic sale was confirmed by the head of the Olomu family, the main landowner in Igbo Olomu.
A real estate agent, Ojo Alaso, told one of our correspondents that he had been approached by at least three people, whom he had helped to buy lands in the areas.
Alaso said, “I cannot blame them, all the things happening here are enough to scare anyone.
“Honestly, I know this problem will be addressed one day, but people have become so scared of the attacks that they are having a rethink about living here.
“One of the men who told me to help resell his land already planned that by the end of this year, he might start the construction works. But he called me early in the week to inform me that he was no longer interested in the building plan.
“They are even willing to sell the lands below the market value.”
In Igbo-Olomu, a plot of land close to the major road is sold for between N3m and N4m, while in Isawo, it goes for up to N5.5m, one real estate agent, David Ashana, told Saturday PUNCH.
“But as you go inwards, the cost can be as low as N400, 000 and as high as N1.5m,” Ashana, said.
The agent explained that a woman who bought a land in the area for N900, 000 about seven months ago had now put it up for sale for N500, 000.
“If you have N400, 000 you can buy it from her, you only need to pay my commission,” he added.
When our correspondents visited the office of the Olomu family, a man who was later identified as the Olori Ebi (family head), explained that he had been receiving reports about people putting their houses up for sale.
He said, “People don’t feel safe because of the insecurity caused by militants. This is a serious issue; the policemen deployed here do not patrol the inner areas of the community.
“So, people may be raped and killed in the interior parts of our community and the policemen will not do anything. This is why people are selling their properties. The police presence here is not effective.”
He directed one of our correspondents to a street where an agent announced on a signpost that a house was available for sale in the community.
When one of correspondents called the agent over the phone, he said he was out of town but gave a description of the location of the three-bedroomed house previously occupied by the owner until he fled the area about a month ago.
“The man who owns the house decided to sell it two weeks ago and N2.5m is the asking price,” he said.
The cost of land alone in that same location is between N1.2m and N1.5m.
An estate agent, Mr. Victor Oluyi, who said his company had dealt with a number of clients in that part of Ikorodu, Lagos, explained that normally, a finished three-bedroomed house is worth over N4m in the area.
A community leader and rights activist in the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid being killed by militants, told Saturday PUNCH that a man simply identified as Aroso Alajo (a popular thrift collector) wanted to sell his three-bedroomed house. The asking price for the house, according to him, is N2.5m.
He said another resident he identified as Pastor Ogunsanwo had also put his house up for sale.
The rights activist said, “My opinions were published in the newspapers after the attacks in the community. The militants said if I did not keep my mouth shut, I would die.
“We were there when the militants first killed nine people in our area. Right now, no fewer than 40 residents have been killed in the community. They even beheaded some of the victims and took their heads away. So, people selling their lands and houses are not overreacting at all.”
One of our correspondents, who visited the Aroso Alajo’s house, noticed that no single person was in sight in the whole area. It was learnt that none of the residents had returned to the area.
A commercial motorcyclist said it was too risky to visit the house put up for sale by Pastor Ogunsanwo earlier identified.
He said the area was too deserted but took one of our correspondents to another house, a storey building with a servants’ quarters with at least half a plot extra land. It was put up for sale for N5m by the owner.
At Totowu, a community in Igando area of Lagos, that had initially been attacked by militants few weeks ago, residents are also disposing of their homes in fear.
Findings by Saturday PUNCH showed that a good number of landlords had already put their houses up for sale fearing that the militants might strike again anytime.
“They promised to ‘clear’ our community, so what is the use of staying here, when none of the security agencies has visited this place since the last attack. Since the militants promised to come back, I’m sure they will have a field day, so it’s best to run away before they come,” a landlord told Saturday PUNCH.
Meanwhile, all the houses on offer for sale are at prices far below their market value.
“It is so bad that most of us just want to sell before we are killed by those boys, because it doesn’t even seem this place will be safe in the nearest future, the landlord, who identified himself as Jonathan, said.
Jonathan said he had already succeeded in selling his property, a three-bedroomed flat for N2m. He said it was a better option for him as he didn’t know what would become of the area in years to come, more so that the militants could make good their threat.
Jonathan said, “If they succeed with that threat, we would be killed while the houses would be gone as well.”
Although a plot of land in the area costs around N1m, Jonathan explained that he spent N4m to complete the house.
Though there are no “To Let” boards on the properties, our correspondents learnt from reliable sources within the estate that many properties were already put up for sale and the owners were ready to sell them at any reasonable price.
On one of the streets is an uncompleted four-bedroomed flat. The construction has reached lintel level but the owner has already sold it for a meagre N600, 000.
A resident confided in two of our correspondents that the owner of the building sold it to raise money to relocate. One of the landlords said, “I can confirm to you that some of us are offering our properties for sale. Two people have sold their own already. Somebody sold a bungalow for N2m. And another person sold his four-bedroomed flat to avoid staying there and be killed by militants.
“There are many houses for sale now and they are very cheap. All of them are on a dry land. If you want to buy a house, whether completed or uncompleted, just come. You will get many of them because many people want to sell.
“Since that incident, some people have not come back because there is this fear that the militants could come back. Some even told us to help them look for buyers. There is no police presence since then. They have not deployed their men. In fact, we are living under the mercy of God here.
In same vein, Iyewo Estate in Akesan, Igando area of Lagos is another community that had come under attack by the militants earlier in the month.
As a result of the attack, some residents had fled the community, while some others, who seem to have lost hope in the security of the place, have put up their houses for sale.
At least two landlords on Samuel Olaoluwa Street are said to be looking for buyers for their houses. Meanwhile, a source close to the landlords said they seemed ready to accept any reasonable offer just to hurriedly flee the area.
Commenting on the development and its impact on property values, an estate surveyor and valuer, Mr. Dipo Fakorede, said, “Of course, it will have effect on property values, because when everybody is leaving a particular location, it means the area is not safe and when there are no demand for properties, automatically the prices will crash. Definitely the prices, both rental and sale, will crash.
“Meanwhile, some speculators will take advantage of the situation. When people are abandoning their properties and selling at ridiculous prices, people who have the cash would definitely buy, although for future advantage. This is because by the time the insecurity there is addressed, the values will keep rising and people who have taken advantage of that would be laughing to the bank.
“On whether it is a good idea to buy such a property, some people might think you are taking advantage of the victims, but there is nothing wrong for any investor who wants to buy such a property inasmuch as they are not going to the bank to borrow the money.”
However, the police in Lagos said the panic in the areas previously attacked were unjustified, promising that they are on top of the situation.
“People don’t have to move out of the areas, the Lagos State Police Command is on top of the situation,” spokesperson for the police in Lagos, Dolapo Badmos told Saturday PUNCH.
On Thursday, news filtered in that the military in company with other security agencies were conducting operations in Ikorodu, Lagos. The operation was also extended to Arepo and Ibafo areas of Ogun State where the military bombed some militants’ hideouts.
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: editor@punchng.com
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Atletico sign Gameiro from Sevilla
Atletico Madrid signed French forward Kevin Gameiro from fellow La Liga side Sevilla on Saturday, the Champions League runners-up announced.
Atletico have brought in Gameiro on a four-year deal, and he will join up with compatriot Antoine Griezmann in attack.
The 29-year-old joined Sevilla from Paris Saint-Germain in 2013 and was part of the side that won three consecutive Europa League titles.
Gameiro enjoyed the most prolific season of his career last term, scoring 29 goals in all competitions, including 10 in Europe.
AFP
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PSG target Real Madrid’s Jese
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Unai Emery said Saturday that the French champions could sign Real Madrid forward Jese Rodriguez before the end of the transfer window.
The 23-year-old would provide support in attack to Edinson Cavani for PSG, who saw talismanic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic leave at the end of the past season before joining Manchester United.
“It’s a possibility, as are other opportunities in the transfer window,” Emery said during PSG’s tour of the US.
“I know Jese well, the club knows Jese well, he is a good player.”
Jese scored five league goals for Real last season, but struggled to force his way past Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo to get into the starting line-up.
PSG play Premier League champions Leicester City on Saturday in California in their final International Champions Cup friendly, before opening the domestic season in a week’s time against Lyon in the French Champions’ Trophy.
AFP
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Flood kills 14 wedding guests
At least 14 people were killed Saturday when a vehicle carrying wedding guests was washed off a mountainous road by floodwater and flung into a gorge, an official said.
“Dead bodies of 14 people had been retrieved, most of those killed and wounded were women and children,” Rahimullah Mehsud, a local government official of Khyber tribal district, where the incident took place, told AFP.
The accident happened when a pick-up truck carrying the groom’s party of more than 20 people was hit by floods in a remote village of Khyber, one of Pakistan’s seven tribal districts bordering Afghanistan.
Mehsud said a search was ongoing for the missing but rescue workers and residents were facing difficulties as the “area is remote and mountainous”.
He added: “We have no exact number of those travelling in the Datsun pick-up but residents told us there were more than 20.”
The heavy monsoon rains began earlier this month, drenching the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and central Punjab provinces, which have been badly affected by flooding in recent years that some scientists have linked to climate change.
AFP
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Police rescue another chained child in Ogun as culprit flees
The Ogun Police Command has rescued another child, 10-year-old Promise Udeh, found chained in a house at Saraki, Adigbe area of Abeokuta, Ogun State.
She was rescued on Thursday around 7.30 pm when neighbours living close to the building where she was chained alerted the police.
She was rescued barely a week after the police and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps rescued a nine-year-old boy, Korede Taiwo, chained by his father, Francis, for over a month for stealing.
The father and his step-mother, Kehinde, would soon appear in court.
The acting Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said Promise was chained by her aunt, Chiamaka Okafor, who accused her of stealing N4,000.
She was said to have been chained for two days (Wednesday and Thursday) before she was rescued.
Oyeyemi said Chiamaka is currently on the run but her husband, Sunday Okafor has been arrested.
Narrating how the police found the child, the police spokesperson said, “We had an information that the girl was chained to a burglarproof window at an uncompleted building at Adigbe area and this led our men to the scene.
“The girl told us that it was her aunty who chained her on the allegation that she stole a sum of N4,000. The woman is now on the run, while her husband, who is an accomplice, has been arrested and he is helping us in our investigation.”
Chiamaka, however, escaped arrest on Friday around 4pm, when the Divisional Police Officer of Adigbe led a team of policemen and journalists to the home of the Okafors, tucked in the inner part of the area.
On sighting the police team, she allegedly fled through the backdoor, leaving behind her four children including a baby of about six months.
One of them, Godwin said,”our mummy has gone to buy baby food.”
A frantic search for her in the neighbourhood did not yield any positive result. However, three of the Okafors’ relatives and a tenant who occupied the boys quarters in the house, were arrested.
The tenant, Segun Poviesi, who’s a Beninese, said the landlady (Chiamaka) was still in the house, barely few minutes before the arrival of the police team.
He said, “She was still around about two minutes before you arrived here. I could hear splash of water from the bathroom of the main building. But I did not know how she escaped.”
But his fiancee, Omotoyosi Odu, confirmed that Chiamaka, who is the landlady, indeed chained Promise, adding that she was starved for the two days before she was rescued. She told the policemen that the victim was first chained to burglarproof iron in the Okafors’ kitchen, before she was later transferred to a room in the uncompleted part of the boys quarters.
She said, “At a point, when the girl was chained to the window in the kitchen, she was crying out to me that ‘I should please give her food.’ Other neighbours too heared her cry.
“Then the landlord had left home for their shop at Pansheke Market. Later, the girl was moved to the boys’ quarters and chained again. Some of us tried to intervene but she warned us to steer clear, because it was none of our business.”
It could not be established whether Promise is a relation of the Okafors or a housemaid.
Meanwhile, Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the new state Commissioner of Police, has ordered the arrest of the fleeing suspect,Chiamaka, who allegedly chained the victim.
He said, “The Commissioner of Police, IIiyasu Ahmed, has ordered a manhunt for the fleeing woman in order to bring her to justice, so as to serve as deterrent to others.
“The commissioner of police is not happy with the situation barely a week after one Korede Taiwo was equally rescued from similar situation.
“The matter is under investigation and the police is after Chiamaka Okafor. As soon as we complete the investigation, they will be charged to court.”
Promise has been moved to the welfare home, Stella Obasanjo Children’s Home, Ibara GRA, Abeokuta.
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: editor@punchng.com
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Naval officer shoots okada rider in Kogi
Kunle Falayi
The Network on Police Reform in Nigeria has called for an investigation of Navy Commander Otuh Bassey, who shot an okada rider, Muhammed Idachaba, in Idah, Kogi State.
Idachaba was shot by on Tuesday, 26 July, 2016 after Bassey allegedly frog-matched him and told him to kneel as punishment for claiming right of way with the naval officer who was riding an SUV.
In a report by NOPRIN describing “the inhuman and degrading treatment and shooting of a motorcycle rider,” it was learnt that the motorcycle rider was riding from Sabon Gari area of Idah when Navy Commander Bassey, who is said to be the Assistant Commandant of the Idah Naval Post attempted to shove him off the road with his Pathfinder SUV.
The group said in a statement signed by its National Commander, Okechukwu Nwanguma, “Because the road was bad, the motorcycle rider felt that the Naval officer was trying to manoeuvre through the potholes.
“A little distance ahead, the okada rider met the same Naval officer parked by the roadside and as he passed, the Naval officer entered his vehicle and gave chase. He double-crossed the okada rider and forced him to a stop.
“The Naval officer, who was carrying a girl in his SUV, came out from his car and ordered the okada rider to park his bike, and he obeyed. He ordered him to kneel down and he also obeyed, and he then ordered him to frog-match.”
NOPRIN said information it gathered showed that the encounter took a different turn when it became apparent that the punishment being meted out to the okada rider was for a past grievance.
The Naval officer reportedly asked if the okada rider remembered what he told him during the last state assembly re-run election at Ogegele.
NOPRIN said the Naval officer told his victim “that he promised that he was going to waste him any moment, and that the time has come.
“At this point, the Naval officer drew his pistol and started to shoot the boy and that he shot him several times until the boy fell in a poll of his own blood.
“Believing that the okada rider was dead, the Naval officer entered his SUV and drove to a motor park where he dropped off the girl he was carrying in his car and left.”
Saturday learnt that unknown to the Naval officer, a plain-clothe policeman witnessed the incident nearby.
The policeman would later trail Bassey to the motor park.
As soon as the naval officer dropped off his female passenger, the policeman arrested her and took her to the police station.
“The girl then called the Naval officer from the police station and informed him about her arrest. He arrived at the police station and made statement claiming that he did not shoot the boy on purpose,” NOPRIN said.
That the okada rider was taken to Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja. But the medical centre workers were on strike. He is scheduled to go for surgery on Monday August 12, 2016.
NOPRIN said it considers the action of the Naval officer, a gross abuse of power and disgraceful to the image and professional integrity of the Nigerian Navy.
The group has now called on the Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ekwe Ibas, to investigate Bassey for his conduct. It says the Naval officer has to be dismissed or handed over to the police for prosecution.
Spokesperson for the Navy, Commodore Christian Ezekobe, was not available for comment on this case on Friday as his line remained unreachable as of press time.
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We kidnapped Sierra Leonean envoy to raise money for Sallah – Suspects
Tunde Ajaja
On June 30, 2016, the Deputy High Commissioner of Sierra Leone to Nigeria, Maj.-Gen. Alfred Claude-Nelson and his driver were travelling along the Kaduna-Abuja Road with no idea of the danger ahead.
The time was 8pm, an hour the envoy and his driver would soon realise was filled with terror.
The envoy’s vehicle was accosted by a gang of kidnappers, who took them hostage for four days before releasing them after N1.5m ransom was paid.
It was learnt that some of the kidnappers were dressed in army uniform, which made it easier for them to stop the vehicle.
The kidnappers, who are now in police custody, have made a series of confessions with some of them saying they used to be cattle rustlers but had to venture into kidnapping following the killing of some of their members by herdsmen.
They even said in their confessions that the ransom they got for the release of the envoy was used for the Sallah celebration, which held between July 5 and 7, 2016
No fewer than 11 of them have been arrested by the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team in collaboration with the Kaduna State Anti-Kidnapping operatives over the incident.
The suspects in custody are 45-year-old Alhaji Rabiu Yusuf (said to be leader of the gang), 27-year-old Garba Abubakar (second in command), Yusuf Adam (20), Hussaini Musa (25), Shuaibu Idris (35), Usman Bello (20), Muhammadu Abubabar (30), Sulaiman Abubakar (25), Musa Iliyasu (20), and 45-year-old Musa Ali, a security guard at the Paki Area Development Council in Kano State, who harboured the kidnappers inside a government building for two days.
In a single file that morning, they all looked humbled by their arrest as they told reporters the role each of them played in the act.
Abubakar, who was the first suspect to be arrested, said when they were planning the kidnap, they never had anyone in mind, as all that mattered to them was to raise money and have a memorable Sallah celebration.
The suspect, who hails from Katsina State, said he used to be a cattle rustler but switched to kidnapping after some of his colleagues were killed by herdsmen while attempting to steal some cattle in Kaduna State.
“I invited my girlfriend from Zaria during the Sallah celebration and we spent part of the money together. In fact, she was with me at Paki Local Government secretariat in Kaduna State, when I was arrested,” he added.
He said, when they staged the kidnap on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway by blocking the Dutse end of the expressway, some of them were putting on army uniforms.
“When we abducted the man (the envoy), he and his driver thought we were genuine soldiers until we realised they were being kidnapped.
“We did not know he was an ambassador until we saw it on the news. We demanded N30m as ransom but accepted N1.5m.
“It was one Umaru, who collected the ransom, but he declared only N1m and I got N200,000 as my share. That operation was the third operation I had done with that gang.”
Another suspect, 20-year-old Balarabe Mohammed, said his job in the team was to drive any vehicle stolen from a kidnap victim to Niger Republic to sell and that was exactly what he did to Claude-Nelson’s car.
Mohammed, who was also into cattle rustling before he ventured into kidnapping, said he never got his share of the proceeds of car sale before the police came knocking on his door.
He said, “We struck that night and we were lucky that he (the envoy) drove into our trap. The moment his car was snatched, I drove it away. I took it to my colleague in Katsina and I allowed him to drive the car to Niger Republic alone. I got my share of the ransom, but I was waiting for Abubakar to bring in the proceeds from the sale of the vehicle when I was arrested.”
Yusuf, who is the leader of the gang, said when he and some of his colleagues were still into cattle rustling, they stole not less than 100 cows in the forest, usually when the owners were sleeping in the night.
The father of 10 said they always sold the cows to a man named Saleh, who is now dead.
He said two of his gang members were caught and killed instantly by the herdsmen during a cattle rustling operation.
Yusuf said, “We recruited more men after that but last year, Saleh died and there was no one else to receive our stolen cows, so I ventured into kidnapping. I recruited eight persons to form the kidnapping gang. Mohammed, Musa and Sule brought two rifles, 16 live ammunitions and two army uniforms which we used in our operations.”
According to Yusuf, before the envoy, the gang had kidnapped several other victims. One of such victims was a 55-year-old man, Sule Umar, who was abducted on June 15, 2016 on his way to Zaria.
Umar, who was at the Kaduna State police command headquarters to identify his abductors, confirmed that some of the suspects being paraded indeed abducted him and one of his friends had to pay N500,000 for his release.
“When they forced me to pull over, I was approaching Gidwa Takwas, a village off the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway. I thought they were soldiers, but before I knew what was happening, they started shooting sporadically into the air. I was terrified. They dragged me out of my car into the bush and by the next morning, they said I should call whoever would bail me.
“I called one of my friends, Aliyu Tahir, and they demanded N50m, but my friend told them nobody could afford such amount. But at the end, my friend ended up paying the sum of N500,000 to them before I was released. The kidnappers also made away with my Honda saloon car, my laptop, phone, ATM cards and the N65,000 that I had with me.
“It was a traumatic experience but I am grateful to God that all those who were involved have been arrested and they will be made to face the full wrought of the law.”
Meanwhile, Tahir told reporters that the kidnappers threatened to kill his friend if he didn’t look for the money they asked for.
He narrated, “I begged them not to kill him and the one talking to me on the phone rained abuses on me, I thanked him and he switched off the phone. When he called back after about one hour, we ended the negotiation at N500,000 and I was instructed to take the money to Maraba area of Jos within 24 hours or my friend would be dead.
“They also instructed that I should keep the police out of it. After a while, I got another call from them and I was told to go and pick my friend at Gidwa Takwas, which I did.”
He said he was surprised to see two of the kidnappers who collected the ransom from him in the newspapers, as it was heart-warming to identify those who kidnapped and robbed his friend.
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Two feared dead as policeman shoots Nasarawa workers
Umar Muhammed, Lafia
Two workers of the Nasarawa State Civil Service were feared dead while five others sustained various degrees of injury when an officer of the Nasarawa State Police Command shot at protesting workers during a visit by the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress to the state.
The National President of NLC, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, stated this while briefing journalists at the police clinic on Friday in Lafia, the state capital, where four workers who were shot at were receiving treatment.
He said the incident took place at the Nasarawa State Government House while the leadership of the organised labour was negotiating with the state government over the 50 per cent salary deduction of workers in the state.
Wabba said that of the four workers, one was killed, another was unconscious, one was receiving treatment, while the fourth victim had been treated.
He gave the name of the dead worker as Ali Umbugadu, a staff member of the Ministry of Education.
The other victims were: Mr. Musa Saliyu, a staff member of the Finance Department, Doma Local Government Area of the state, who survived with gunshot wounds; Mrs. Salamatu Mohammed, a judicial worker critically ill; and Mr. Rabiu Mohammed, a journalist for Nigerian Newsday, a state-owned media outfit, was unconscious.
Our correspondent gathered that a police officer was also attacked during the mayhem.
The NLC president said, “It is really an unfortunate situation where workers were attacked with maximum force. You can see one dead and three critically ill. These were workers who were protesting for their rights. Their salaries were cut by 50 per cent without following due process by the state government and they were protesting in a very peaceful manner.
“In fact, they escorted us to Government House where we were going to have the meeting to resolve the issue, but the police opened fire on them. That is most unfortunate.”
Wabba called on the police authorities to do everything possible to fish out the officer responsible for the shootings and disengage him.
Failure to do so would lead to the organised labour embarking on a nationwide protest against police brutality, he said.
He however called on workers in the state to remain calm and be law-abiding as the national leadership of the union would do everything possible to safeguard their rights.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Abubakar Bello, said the police would investigate the incident.
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Hope For Rent
I was only 12 years old when I saw my mother pay our house rent for the first time in her life. That was a defining moment for her. She had managed to save some money to avoid us being thrown out on the street. My Father had answered the ultimate call and had gone to the beyond.
Life was tough and so was our Landlord. He increased our rent as he pleased, well aware we had no option. I made up my mind. I had to build my Mother a house befitting for a Queen. She had to leave that scary neighbourhood; the house rent had to stop drilling a hole in our finances and more importantly, we had to break free from the shylock Landlord.
Several years later, with a degree and job I’m proud of, I decided to bring my long-held desire of getting my mom a home to fruition. My best friend had told me how he moved into his own home within a few months and got financing to pay for his Sister’s rent from Safetrust Mortgage Bank.
In no time, I had a chat with the representatives of Safetrust Mortgage Bank and signed up. The process was seamless and I set to work on fulfilling my promise to my Mother.
In a few weeks, my mother will be cutting the tapes at her new home and my personal home will be completed too. Thanks to Safetrust Mortgage Bank. I got all the financing I needed for my property with a super competitive interest rate and neither was I asked for the usual additional third party collateral.
Don’t believe me? Call SafeTrust today on 01-2704863 or visit http://ift.tt/2a70qmb to read other people’s success stories.
Your new home is just a phone call away, don’t be an onlooker, , fill the request form here
Whether you’re building your own home, developing land, renting a shop, the extra financial support will always be needed on your home or investment project.
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Diamond Platnumz shares cute family photos
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Cristiano Ronaldo pushes aside selfie seeking fan who tried interrupt his shopping trip (photos/video)
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Mr Columbus Ihemekwele is missing
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Fashola Promises To Generate 6,000 Megawatts By December 2016
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Katie Price and her new boobs step out following 8th successful boob job
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"I call her first class' - Mr Ibu gushes over his wife
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See The Luxurious Bus Oshiomhole And Obaseki Are Using To Campaign (Photos)
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Brazilian drug lord serves his time in a 'VIP cell' that had a library, plasma TV, 3 rooms and an en-suite bathroom
Source: UK Daily Mail
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July 1966 Counter-Coup: Fajuyi’s Aides Knew About The Coup But Betrayed Him – Sister
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Jack Daniel's crowns first regional winner in Brothers of the Grill MasterGriller competition wins $3000
“It comes down to the small details, you have to hit the mark”, said Michelle after the announcement naming her the winner.
Temitope De-Medeiros of Ready Steady BBQ and Michael Aguzie of Raodster Burgers ‘N’ Grills placed second and third respectively; getting branded Jack Daniel’s grilling merchandise along with remaining contestants.
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Movie producers always bother me for SEX, actress Halima Abubakar cries out
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Fresh trouble as family finds corpse abandoned in Ondo mortuary mutilated
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Who would you prefer to marry — someone you love or someone who loves you?
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#SaveMayowa crisis gets messier, police freeze account
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Two Nigerian children RESCUED, mum drowns at sea
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Hope For Rent
I was only 12 years old when I saw my mother pay our house rent for the first time in her life. That was a defining moment for her. She had managed to save some money to avoid us being thrown out on the street. My Father had answered the ultimate call and had gone to the beyond.
Life was tough and so was our Landlord. He increased our rent as he pleased, well aware we had no option. I made up my mind. I had to build my Mother a house befitting for a Queen. She had to leave that scary neighbourhood; the house rent had to stop drilling a hole in our finances and more importantly, we had to break free from the shylock Landlord.
Several years later, with a degree and job I’m proud of, I decided to bring my long-held desire of getting my mom a home to fruition. My best friend had told me how he moved into his own home within a few months and got financing to pay for his Sister’s rent from Safetrust Mortgage Bank.
In no time, I had a chat with the representatives of Safetrust Mortgage Bank and signed up. The process was seamless and I set to work on fulfilling my promise to my Mother.
In a few weeks, my mother will be cutting the tapes at her new home and my personal home will be completed too. Thanks to Safetrust Mortgage Bank. I got all the financing I needed for my property with a super competitive interest rate and neither was I asked for the usual additional third party collateral.
Don’t believe me? Call SafeTrust today on 01-2704863 or visit http://ift.tt/2a70qmb to read other people’s success stories.
Your new home is just a phone call away, don’t be an onlooker, , fill the request form here
Whether you’re building your own home, developing land, renting a shop, the extra financial support will always be needed on your home or investment project.
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via IFTTT
Diamond Platnumz shares cute family photos
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