By Agency Reporter
Published: Monday, 25 May 2009

The Joint Task force in the Niger Delta aka Operation Restore Hope said on Monday that it had lost a lieutenant-colonel and six soldiers to the ongoing military operation in some parts of the Niger Delta.
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Paul Dike.

The JTF commander, Maj-Gen. Sarkin Yarkin-Bello, told a news conference at its base in Effurun, Delta State that the officer and five soldiers could not be found on Friday, May 15, 2009 while another soldier died of wounds sustained in the campaign on Sunday, May 24.

He said the casualties were in addition to the lieutenant-colonel and 10 soldiers declared missing since May 13. The disapperance of the officers and soldiers sparked off the current face-off between the Nigerian military and the militants, which has left an unconfirmed number of persons dead and others displaced.

Chevron shuts-in .1m barrels

American oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited, today declared a shut-in of 100,000 barrels of crude oil in Delta State. This was due to the blow-up of its Abiteye/Escravos pipeline by suspected militants. Consequently, CNL has shut down its swamp operation in Delta State and the shut-in has further depleted Nigeria‘s crude oil production.

Police stop rally in Ekiti

Armed policemen on Monday dispersed a pro-democracy rally organised by the Defenders of Democracy in the Ekiti State capital, Ado-Ekiti, with tear-gas. Twenty of the participants, including the state chairman of the Action Congress, Chief Jide Awe and his deputy, Chief Dele Falusi, were arrested and later released.

Oyo threatens to withhold teachers‘ March salary

The Oyo State Government says teachers in its employ will not be paid March 2009 salary because they were on strike over the Teachers‘ Salary Scale. The Secretary to the State Government, Chief Olayiwola Olakojo, stated this on Monday at a news conference to unfold a weeklong programme of activities to mark the second anniversary of the state administration. However, the state chapter of the NUT through its Secretary, Mr. Olu Abiala, told our correspondent that the SSG‘s statement did not represent the true position of the state government.

Abiala said Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala assured the teachers last week that their March salary would be paid.

25 Ogun communities risk flooding

A new study has warned that 25 communities in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area are at the risk of persistent flooding and epidemic as a result of the devastating consequences of climate change.

The warning was contained in the study on Community-led Adaptation for Sustainable Livelihoods in Coastal Areas of South –Western Nigeria, jointly done by the Department of Geography, University of Ibadan; the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the European Commission EuroAid Cooperation Office.

Lagos vows to reopen gated streets

The Lagos State Government on Monday vowed to reopen gated streets, to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, said in a statement that government had learnt that residents of some gated streets in Magodo, Gbagada, Plamgrove, Ilupeju, Ogba, Magodo and Ikeja had refused to comply with the state government‘s directive to keep them open from 5.30a.m. to midnight daily.


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