₦airaland Forum

The Joint Task Force (JTF) operating in Kano State has arrested a suspected manufacturer of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Kazaure Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

Spokesperson of the JTF in Kano, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, said the suspect was arrested after a gun battle at the early hours of Saturday. He said three women and three toddlers were rescued unhurt during the operation.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect was an Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) manufacturer and his residence was a staging ground for terrorist activities in Kano,” he said. According to the JTF, five AK 47 rifles, five magazines, 333 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and various improvised explosive devices were recovered from the residence.

“ You may recollect that the JTF had earlier alerted members of the general public of fleeing terrorists from major theatres of operation in the North-east axis of the country to ‘cooler ‘ areas due to pressure being mounted on them by the ongoing military operations in these areas. Members of the general public are once again enjoined to continue complementing the efforts of the JTF by carrying out thorough checks on the background of persons who wish to let properties, especially in cool zones or outskirt areas of major towns,” he said.

He said the 3 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Kano would not allow its area of operational responsibility to be used as haven for terrorists. While pointing out that the effort of the JTF would not be successful without the cooperation of residents, he urged residents not to relent in the fight against terrorist elements who are seeking refuge by reporting any suspicious persons, regardless of gender, for immediate action to prevent the loss of lives and properties.

http://dailytrust.info/index.php/news/13792-jtf-nabs-bomb-manufacturer

Bishop David Oyedepo
Affiliation: Living Faith World Outreach Ministry, aka Winners Chapel
Estimated net worth: $150 million
David Oyedepo is Nigeria’s wealthiest preacher. Ever since he founded the Living Faith World Outreach Ministry in 1981, it has grown to become one of Africa’s largest congregations. The Faith Tabernacle, where he hosts three services every Sunday, is Africa’s largest worship center, with a seating capacity of 50,000. Oyedepo owns four private jets and homes in London and the United States. He also owns Dominion Publishing House, a thriving publishing company that publishes all his books (which are often centered on prosperity). He founded and owns Covenant University, one of Nigeria’s leading tertiary institutions, and Faith Academy, an elite high school.
Chris Oyakhilome
Church: Believers’ Loveworld Ministries, a.k.a Christ Embassy
Estimated net worth: $30 million – $50 million
Last year, the charismatic preacher was at the center of a $35 million money laundering case in which he was accused of siphoning funds from his church to foreign banks. Pastor Chris pleaded no wrongdoing and the case was eventually dismissed. His church, Christ Embassy, boasts more than 40,000 members, several of whom are successful business executives and politicians. Oyakhilome’s diversified interests include newspapers, magazines, a local television station, a record label, satellite TV, hotels and extensive real estate. His Loveworld TV Network is the first Christian network to broadcast from Africa to the rest of the world on a 24 hour basis.
Temitope Joshua
Church: Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN)
Estimated net worth: $10 million – $15 million
Nigeria’s most controversial clergyman is also one of its richest and most philanthropic. T.B Joshua heads the Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN), a congregation he founded in 1987, which accommodates over 15,000 worshippers on Sundays. The Pastor has remained controversial for several years for his inexplicable powers to heal all sorts of incurable diseases, including HIV/AIDS, cancer and paralysis. For miracle-craving worshippers, it’s the perfect seduction. The church currently has branches in Ghana, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Greece. In the past three years, he has given over $20 million to causes in education, healthcare and rehabilitation programs for former Niger Delta militants. He owns Emmanuel TV, a Christian television network, and is close friends with Ghanaian President Atta Mills.
Matthew Ashimolowo
Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC)
Estimated net worth: $6 million – $10 million
In 1992, Foursquare Gospel Church, a Nigerian church, sent Ashimolowo to open a satellite branch in London. But Pastor Matthew had other ideas and decided to set up his own church instead. Today, his Kingsway International Christian Center is reportedly the largest Pentecostal church in the United Kingdom. In 2009, the church posted profits of close to $10 million and assets worth $40 million. Ashimolowo earns an annual salary of $200,000, but his real wealth comes from varied business interests including his media company, Matthew Ashimolowo media, which churns out Christian literature and documentaries. Ashimolowo’s representatives did not respond to a request confirming his net worth and ownership of all these assets.
Chris Okotie
Church: Household of God Church
Net worth: $3 million -$10 million
Pastor Okotie made his first success as a popular pop musician in the 80s. He found the light, embraced the bible and set up the Household of God Church, one of Nigeria’s most flamboyant congregations. His 5,000 member church consists predominantly of Nollywood celebrities, musicians, and society people. He contested and lost Nigerian presidential elections for the third time this year under the Fresh Party, a political party he founded and funds. An automobile lover, he owns a Mercedes S600, Hummer and Porsche among several others.

There are many exciting games for the android operating system for smartphones. Some of my favorite games include temple run, jetpack joyride, angry birds and candy crush. I know there are thousands of android games out there. Some are fun and others are not. Share your favorite android games here. And if i haven't played them before, i.ll be off to google's playstore right now!

Afam4eva: I've been seeing several threads with this daft mindset that just because of what's happening in South Sudan, people should not not call for separation without taking into cognizance that fact that there are some countries that have separated without any problems.

So you think the ijaws, itsekiris and urhobos will leave peacefully in a separate country when they can't spend a weekend without killing each other in Nigeria? The only reason the SS and SE are friends right now is because of the north. It is their hatred for the north that binds them together. Once the country is divided the SS will see the true colors of the Igbos. They will massacre their leaders exactly the way they killed our leaders in the north. Unfortunately the SS will have no one to turn to when that happens. The crisis in a new SS/SE will be worse than south sudan. The igbos will kill every SS man, woman and child until no one is left.

I just feel sorry for the paid PDP apologists on Nairaland. Unfortunately their paymasters keep making it difficult for them to defend the actions of a corrupt federal gov't and not look foolish. The fact is 2015 just can't come soon enough.

atlwireles: You had no choice but hand over power. How old were you in 1999?

Really? We had no choice? I laugh in fulani.

Ikengawo: [size=15pt]IF NORTHERNERS REJECT CORRUPTION WHY IS YOUR REGION MORE IMPOVERISHED THAN THE NIGER REPUBLIC[/size]
[size=15pt]IF NORTHERNERS REJECT BAD LEADERSHIP WHY DO YOU HAVE THE HIGHEST ILLITERACY AND INFANT MORTALITY RATES IN THE WORLD[/size]


The average northern human being is worth less than the average northern cow the cow can at least guarantee a good Christmas. The North and it's 'leaderhip' has contributed nothing to it's self, nothing to the nation, and nothing to humanity except polio, bloodshed, sexism, tribalism, bombings, disgrace, beggars, destitution, barbarism, underachievement and more disease than anyhwere in the world

Good luck Jonathan is saving you from yourself

I wonder why you didn't mention all this before the north handed over power to the south in 1999. Fact is the north made a critical mistake handing over power voluntarily to the south as a form of appeasement. If we knew this was what you thought of us we would have kept political power for ourselves. But don't worry, as far as we are practicing democracy, we will get the presidency back through elections because of our superior population. The south obviously thinks it can rely on rigging to perpetuate itself in power. You cannot rig forever.

That's northerners for you. Instead of praising OBJ for saying what the fools could not say openly, they are now criticizing OBJ for saying what every northern leader is saying behind closed doors. Rubbish

I pity these biafrans. They say those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it. They think they are better than south sudan. Rubbish. The only reason the igbos are united now is because they are fighting a common enemy which is the north. Once they get their country they'll hurriedly turn on each other. It will be a bloodbath. In any case the igbos, with the help of GEJ are trying to reenact 1966 here already. Let someone tell the fools that the same destiny shall befall them as it did their grandparents. As a matter of fact even worse.

DerideGull: He is a murderer who shot and killed his battalion adjutant in cold blood in 1966.

Hahaha.

Abariwiseman: we are afraid of buhari because of the bokoharamism in him, we don't want babbons and monkey to be soak in their blood.
moreover, pls. ask buhari how many roads he constructed in the south as PTF chairman

It's ok you're not comfortable with Buhari. Not everyone will like him. But my question is why should your only alternative be a monumentally corrupt GEJ? Don't you have a better southerner for the job?

Raggedy_Ann: It's not a theory. If I asked you now why you hate GEJ (going by your title o. Personally I prefer "oppose" you would probably say: because he is corrupt. And if I asked you why you think I support him ( despite being from the SE) you would tell me it's because I am tribalistic. I stand to be corrected.

In the same vein, if you asked me (instead of going by your own assumptions) why I support GEJ, I would tell you I support him for the transformations I have SEEN and subscribe to ( improvement in power, privatization of refineries so that they can be revived to function at optimum capacity, no fuel scarcity, empowerment of the youth with the YouWin initiative, efforts to diversify the economy with increased exports of agricultural produce, efforts to increase investment in Nigeria by foreign industrialists, besides the many civil works in progress). I see change and for me the good outweighs the bad, corruption has never been absent from the Nigeria I know but we will get there eventually ( that's why the noise of the opposition is welcome). And my assumptions, like yours, are that you do not share my observations of this administration because you are blinded by tribal sentiments even though you've given corruption to be your reason.

I am probably as wrong in my assumptions about you as you are about me. You have already cited the election figures of 2011 as proof that you didn't show sentiment then and wouldn't now either. I could also try to convince you that I'm not riding on tribal sentiments, especially since I voted for Buhari for 2011 because I didn't have faith in someone like GEJ but he has exceeded my expectations by a long shot. In the end, we will still believe what we want of each other. You will try to convince me that I am tribalistic and I will try to convince you that you are tribalistic; And what ensues is nasty altercation. Why bother?

It's not a theory, it's just what is.

So you can actually see progress isn't it? How much progress did you see when GEJ hiked petroleum prices to remove a phantom subsidy? Did you feel progress when the oil cabal stole 2 trillion naira in fraudulent subsidy claims? Did you feel progress when foreign agencies revealed nigeria is the worst place to be born in 2013? Did you feel progress when GEJ exonerated MEND for the Abuja bombing? Did you feel progress when GEJ's mama donated hostels worth hundreds of millions to her hometown university? Did you feel progress when GEJ took over National Maritime security from the Navy and handed it over to a militant? Is that your idea of progress? No matter how hard you try to make any critic of this administration look like a tribalist the more tribalist you seem.

duni04: Ar u kidding me? North hates GEJ for corruption or cos they believe its their turn? Northerners that are the kings of corruption. Its not that southerners like Jonathan, they're just irritated by the fact that the people up north believe Aso rock is theirs and jonathan is their only means of expressing this irritation.

So what you are saying is that the south votes for corrupt southern politicians because to spite the north. How beautiful.

Raggedy_Ann: These threads are becoming redundant, everyone is aware of all the perceptions already: we (anyone who's pro GEJ) support him for his transformation agenda, and believe you ( anyone who's opposed to GEJ) do not support him because he's not your "brother". You are opposed to GEJ because you believe he's corrupt and think we support GEJ because he is our "brother". we are using "brother" rather loosely since he's Ijaw after all. Let's just leave it alone, because when tribalism is introduced there can't be reasonable discourse. We've got to agree that we disagree on this issue.

But alas election figures prove your theory wrong. In the 2011 elections, Jonathan got 25% or more in all northern states except 4 states(he got 20% in these 4 states). In fact jonathan got 8 million votes in the north. In the entire south Buhari did not get 1 million votes. So tell me, who really hates who? If we really hated GEJ for not being our brother how did he manage 8 million votes? Thats 35% of the total votes GEJ had in 2011. Buhari's southern votes were just 8% of the total he got. So how can you claim that the north hates GEJ for not being our brother? Based on this evidence can you tell me who actually hates who?

ilugunboy: Just like an average person in Nigeria that is not from the North understands very little about the make up of people in the North....you are here equally expressing the same ignorance about the people that make up the South of Nigeria.

I only mentioned facts and you accuse me of ignorance? The entire south voted for GEJ in 2011, Yaradua in 2007 and OBJ in 2003. So what wrong did i commit when i said the south votes along the same line in every presidential election?

Sincere 9gerian: I agree that some of the northern elites HATE GEj but I disagree with the reason. The reason they HATE GEJ is simply because he is not hausa-fulani moslem. QED.

And yet GEJ won the primaries in the north by a landslide? My friend look for a better excuse.

Akinmail: True i told him. No plitician has ever won as high as 90% anywhere in Nigeria. Even in Bayelsa state jonathan cannot win more than 65%. The are just a bunch of sentimental idiots!

Actually it is only in Southern Nigeria that election turnouts reach 90%. Nowhere in the world can you find such outrageous figures. I just hope the south can give us a better candidate than a clueless GEJ

Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) and former Minister of Defence, Gen Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), have berated former president Olusegun Obasanjo over his open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, describing it as being capable of breaching the peace in the country.

The duo stated this yesterday at the 6th edition of the Abuja Festival of Praise, hosted by Danjuma, at the international Conference Centre, Abuja.

In a goodwill message, Gowon warned Nigerians, especially leaders, against making utterances capable or breaching the peace of the country, noting that it was important for leaders, past and present to take heart not to say things that can bring about problems as all Nigerians will suffer if there is no peace in the country.

"I will like for Nigerians to please take heart to ensure that taken are not taken to do what they should not do.

Let all Nigerians, leadership and followership make sure that we do not make utterances or say things that can really create problems for the leadership and for the country because if that happens, if we listen to such utterances, there shall be no peace and we will be the sufferers for it.

"I want all of us as faithful to bear in mind that this country needs peace and this peace can only come from all of us, the leadership, past and present and from all of us. We must play our part to ensure that there is peace in the country," he emphasised, stressing that the message became pertinent in view of recent happenings in the country.

Similarly, Danjuma in his goodwill message noted that even though he was mentioned in the letter, he had refrained from making comments to the press about it, insisting that he has unfettered access to the president and will speak with him "face to face" if he has anything to say to him.

"The press have been after me, they want me to react to what Obasanjo said about Mr President and I told then that I have complete and I impeded access to the president and if I have anything to say to him, I will do so face to face.

These are very difficult times and we must be careful, especially as leaders, what we say in public," he added.

Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, Minister of Police Addairs, Navy Capt Caleb Olubolade (rtd), emphasised that prayers and songs of praise can save the nation and give hope for a greater nation.

"I strongly believe thy prayers and songs of praise like this can save the nation and give hope for a greater tomorrow in Nigeria, the land the good Lord has given to us.

As we labour in our bid to build a greater Nigeria of our dream, a few elements struggle to destroy and disunite us.

Why? My prayer as a child of God is for the collective salvation of our souls and for those few elements to repent before the judgement of God comes," he added.

Earlier in a welcome address, Gana, who is the chairman of the festival planning committee noted that praising God can bring peace to humanity, especially to Nigeria in view of the current security and political crises.

He urged Nigerians to be at peace with one another during the yuletide season to foster the unity of the country as the nation is going through a trying period.

The Abuja Festival of Praise saw over 450 choirs from all over the country and some from the United States of America (USA) converging to praise the Lord and usher in the christmas season.

Some of the performances were by the mass choir comprising Abuja Metropolitan Music Society (AMEMUSO), All Saints Choir, Samaru, Zaria, Cathedral Youth Choir, Minna, St. Matthew's Church Choir, Maitama, Abuja, and Festival Orchestra, Abuja, while guest performances were by The Amiables, Lagos, J-Cleff Chorale, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Mt. St. Gabriel's Boys' Choir, Makurdi and St. Luke's Catholic Church Choir, Kubwa.

Some of the dignitaries who graced the event were former president, Gen Yakubu Gowon (rtd), former FCT Minister, Gen Jeremiah Useni (rtd), Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu, former Adamawa State governor, Boni Haruna, former Edo State Governor, Osunbor Osaremen and a representative of the Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi.

http://leadership.ng/news/211213/gowon-danjuma-berate-obasanjo-over-letter-jonathan

Adamskuty: Booked!

Funny how the same southeasterners and south/south supported yar'adua over buhari in 2007,why is this so?

Why do they so much prefer corrupt politicians to the good ones?

I tell you if pdp present a northerner as their presidential flap bearer ,these south/east and south/south will support him over buhari later they will be the first to start complaining of poverty,lack of development,corruption e.t.c funny eeh

Quite funny i tell you. And yet they say northerners are the ones impeding the progress of this nation. We may have had northern military rulers. Some were good some were corrupt but we never voted for them to be in power. Yet the only credible candidate the northern people have provided in an election has been rejected by the south for alternatives like the totally corrupt GEJ. So who is really holding Nigeria back?

ilugunboy: OP....

There is nothing like southerners .....we have Westerners...Easterners and SS people

That is not correct. As long as it comes down to presidential elections, all southerners, whether east west or south vote along th same line.

PointB: "Abacha was never corrupt"- Buhari

That pretty much sums it up.

Read my post again. This is not about Buhari. This is about having a man of integrity at the helm of affairs in this country. Northerners would love to see this country become great. That is why we put buhari forward. Whatever his weaknesses are he is still human. But what has the south provided? A terribly corrupt GEJ. Surely the south can give us someone better for 2015?

It is becoming increasingly clear to me that southerners do not love this country. Over the past three election circles, the north has consistently supported and voted for Buhari, a man who most northerners know full well, is not a thief and not corrupt. The north has supported buhari since 2003 because we know that he will stop corruption which is the only issue stopping nigeria from attaining greatness. Mind you, we have had many presidential aspirants which include atiku abubakar, nuhu ribadu, sarah jibril, abubakar rimi etc yet we in the north have constantly supported buhari because of his experience and track record of public service which is without blemish.
However, the southern part of this country has refused to support somebody of the reputation of buhari. The south has constantly supported only corrupt politicians for this country's presidency which is why we are saddled with a monumentally corrupt president in power today. Is this the kind of leadership southerners want? Must southerners support a corrupt candidate for the presidency? Why can't the south give nigeria a presidential candidate in the mould of buhari? That way whoever wins at least nigeria does not lose? Do southerners really love this country? Why are southerners still in support of jonathan despite his monumental failures? Why can't the south replace jonathan with someone better? As far as the north is concerned it is not a must for buhari to be president but let the south give us a credible alternative please.

RedReact: Common!!!
Jarus wrote something significant just yesterday and the next day, his 'prophet-like' writing came manifesting in the likes of OP.
Congo DR -War, Sudan-War, Uganda-War, Sierra Leone-Just recovering from war, CAR-war, Libya-Unrest, Somalia- lost for now, Mali-susceptible to unrest, Liberia-building up ruins from war, and now one disgruntled nuinsance is calling for war in Nigeria again. Did they curse you and your likes reasoning like you with stupidity of the mind?
Some guys in Australia just tried to put up a vehicle fuelled by air in the 21st century and what my own fellow compatriot could reason out is war, using the product sane and sensible people outside of 'its' continent produced by themselves (the internet).
The world is advancing towards 5G technology in communications systems, while some guys are advancing in turning a desert into a paradise in the same planet that we are inhabiting, while one is talking about causing chaos and disorderliness. So if that is how the whole world think, will you have the mobile phone or the computer or the internet you are using today?
I don't even know the difference between apes and some blackmen sef in terms of reasoning.

If the reasoning of people like you is that GEJ should continue to preside over the mindless looting of this country's resources, then it is you who is the ape

obyrich: How does this help GEJ? What you don't know is that the hausa-fulani does not know the difference between you and a core Igbo man when the death toll is rolled. Losing the support of Igbo's for GEJ will only lay you bare for them to feast on. Abiola boasted of doing without the Igbos and you know where it landed him. Don't sound too confident in your minority group as there is no cultural interest binding an Ijaw man in Bayelsa to an Efik man in Cross Rivers. Wise up.

Rubbish. The SS have a choice. Stick with SE and perish together or abandon the igbos and receive northern protection. The igbos couldn't protect themselves in 1966 and they won't be able to do so in 2015

PhenomenonVFX: Another dumb paper warrior flexing e-muscles LOL.
Freaking coward. The anonymous buffoon is hiding on nairaland to make threats.
Look OP we get ur threat. We are afraid already. Hope u can see us shaking as we type our replys.
Donkey.
Bring the war already if u are so sure. Stop telling us u will do this and do that.
Classic goat.

If you are truly courageous let us hear a beep from you when we send GEJ packing in 2015 and you will understand what hell is.

Bigcake: Cant dis young northern foool be arrested for such an inflamatory piece of shit by Nigerian e-police? We need to arrest some people who threaten the unity of Nigeria on any social media.

Of course. But you'll need to arrest Dokubo Asari first.

joeyfire: @ OP - I have never really liked GEJ or thought he was the man for the job of president. I've always thought some decisions he made like putting a thug in charge of securing our coastline are terrible mistakes.

However I can assure you that so far ppl like you keep spewing this sort of rhetoric of civil war over his RIGHT TO RUN FOR OFFICE you will fuel paranoia that this country may never recover from. You are also encouraging the empowerment of thugs like tompolo like I earlier mentioned. We all love our peace. Abi u don't love yours?

I love my peace. But if the SS/SE carries out its threat to raise hell if GEJ is sent packing in 2015, then i want them to know that the full wrath of the north will visited upon their sorry behinds

All these comments about GEJ till 2019 or 2050 are made just to spite the north and the south west. Ironically the north and south west have 80% of the country's voting strength. I wonder how power drunk GEJ thinks he's going to win elections when he's successfully alienated the two biggest voting blocs in the country. I think GEJ has no intention of conducting free elections which explains why he treats these two regions with utmost disdain. It is becoming apparent that GEJ believes that nothing will stop him from rigging the 2015 elections. Which is why he thinks he doesn't need the PDP, the north nor the south west. His body language tells me that GEJ is ready to plunge the country to war if his attempts to rig are unsuccessful. However i foresee this turning out very bad for GEJ, the south south and south east. I just hope nigerians are ready for another civil war in 2015.

However let me be clear about something. The north has had enough. We faced Igbo treachery in 1966 and still forgave the igbos. This time around, the north will not forgive the south east and their south south brothers. As soon as the SS/SE fire the first shots of the 2015 civil war the north will destroy most of the SE/SS with the exception of rivers and imo. The few people that will remain will be treated as slaves and second class citizens. We will show these arrogant SS/SE that the north can be more aggressive than the tiger.

Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala yesterday said corruption was destroying the nation’s economy and called on the nation’s private sector to support the federal government in its war against corruption and other areas of economy where wastages occur.

The minister who made the appeal during a Breakfast Dialogue with the Private sector organised by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Lagos, said the problem of corruption, theft and wastages has constituted an albatross to the country’s rapid development.

Okonjo -Iweala at a meeting that attracted business moguls and technocrats like the richest man in Africa Alhaji Aliko Dangote, founder of Visafone Communication Limited, Chief Jim Ovia, Chairman Stanbic IBTC Mr. Atedo Peterside, the Managing Director of Bank of Industry Dr. Evelyn Oputu, among others lamented that government was not getting enough support from the private sector in terms of robust policy implementation

“Corruption is a serious issue for us because it is destroying our country, eating deep into the fabrics of the economy, we can’t have infrastructure and development with these level of corruption.”

“We are not helpless, but we need your help to grow the economy and it will begin with the private sector joining hands to help government fight corruption, mismanagement and waste in government.

“It begins with you to say I would not pay bribe, not only will I not pay, I will report to authorities, also by supporting those trying to fight corruption, not castigating those trying to fight it, where we are not doing well point it out to us, anywhere you see wastage report to us, we would do something about it,” she added.

The minister added that the fight was not for one individual or government noting that corruption was also rampart in the private sector.

“We need to have the courage to start the corruption fight, fighting corruption is not an easy thing, because you risk a lot of things but you must continue to fight it, she decleared”

Harping on the state of the nation’s economy the minister whose presentation dwelt on “ Nigeria : Macroeconomics Performance And Outlook For 2014 “ said Inflation was 7.8% at the end of October showing a continual downward trend for the 10th consecutive month, down from 12.3% in December 2012 .


http://leadership.ng/news/101213/corruption-destroying-our-economy-okonjo-iweala

Armed insurgents launched a ferocious attack in Maiduguri yesterday, pounding an Air Force base, an Army barracks and a police divisional headquarters, in the first such violence in the city for five months.

Authorities said three decommissioned military aircraft and two helicopters were destroyed in the attack by suspected Boko Haram fighters, while two Air Force personnel were injured.

Residents reported hearing gunshots and explosions through the night as the insurgents engaged security forces.

Daily Trust learnt that the gunmen first raided the 33 Artillery Regiment of the Nigerian Army along Maiduguri-Damaturu road, destroying most of the buildings there.

They then moved to the 79Composite Group of the Nigerian Air Force and destroyed most structures. Helicopters, vehicles, mechanical workshop, offices and personnel homes were all destroyed.

From there, the insurgents targeted the Divisional Police headquarters at Bulunkutu and damaged the entire building.

Over 100 vehicles, including those belonging to security operatives, Boko Haram fighters and civilians were burnt. Nearby filling stations and some residential buildings were also not spared.

A Daily Trust correspondent, who visited the scenes of the incident along with a team of state officials, reported seeing some Hilux vehicles with anti-aircraft gun mounted on them, apparently left behind by the insurgents.

Many empty shells of anti-aircraft bullets were also seen on the road.

Security sources said the insurgents had a field day throughout the time they operated, between 3.30am and 8 o’clock in the morning.

Salisu Baba, who lives at the 777 Housing Estate near the Air Force base, said of the attack: “It was like the end of the world.”

“In our housing estate, part of the police formation there was also destroyed and two people in the cell were shot dead,” he said.

Baba added that the insurgents came in large numbers, “more than 2,000 of them, some with explosives, some with rocket-propelled grenades and some with AK 47 rifles. I saw them through the window of my house, my wife also saw them.”

A security official said it was after the arrival of a military fighter jet from Yola, Adamawa State, that the insurgents retreated.

This is the first attack on Maiduguri in the past five months, and sources said the insurgents have been planning to raid the state capital, where youth vigilantes aligned with security forces to dislodge the Boko Haram sect.

‘This is our land’

Authorities said no security personnel was killed in the violence.

In a statement, the Defence Headquarters in Abuja said the military repelled the attack and killed 24 insurgents.

“Nigerian security forces today repelled a pre-dawn attack on Maiduguri by suspected terrorists. Military locations such as Nigerian Air Force Base and some Nigerian Army locations in Maiduguri were targeted during the attack,” said Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade.

“Three decommissioned military aircraft as well as two helicopters were incapacitated in the course of the attack. Two Air Force personnel were also wounded while 24 insurgents died during the exchange of fire.

“Security forces are in pursuit of the terrorists in the Djemtillo general area along the Maiduguri/Banishek axis. Movements in Maiduguri and environs have been restricted. Citizens are enjoined to report any of the fleeing insurgents, most of whom could be identified with gunshot wounds whenever they are sighted.”

The 7 Division of the Nigerian Army based in Maiduguri also issued a statement saying they repelled the attack.

“In the early hours of Monday 2nd December 2013, Boko Haram terrorists attempted to gain access to our locations in Maiduguri metropolis. However, troops of 7 Division Nigerian Army have successfully repelled the insurgents and inflicted serious casualties on them,” spokesman Col. Mohammed Dole said.

But a security source said: “The terrorists caught both the Army and the Air Force men napping. They entered everywhere in the two barracks. They killed many officers and men, as well as women.”

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, who went round the affected areas, expressed shock over the violence.

He was taken round by the commander of the 79 Composite Group, Mr Nuruddeen Abiodun, and the commissioner of police Mr Lawan Tanko.

After assessing the level of destruction, the governor said: “We would never be cowed by the antics of terrorists. We would not move an inch from Maiduguri until we conquered them or die. This is our land; we would stand by our people.”

He added: “Both the commissioner of police and the air force commander told me that they did not miss any of their men. The air force commander said few of his men sustained injuries and we thank God that they are safe.”

The divisional police officer of Bulunkutu told Governor Shettima that he and some of his men escaped by the whiskers.

“The terrorists were fully armed and dressed in military attires. When we heard sounds of gunshots, we headed towards the main road. We met the insurgents and but we thought they were officers. We introduced ourselves but when they started firing, I told my men to lie flat. That was how we escaped,” he said.

Round-the-clock curfew

Meanwhile, authorities have imposed a 24-hour curfew on Maiduguri.

A statement by the secretary to the Borno State government Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda said: “The Borno State Government in consultation with the GOC 7 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Obida Ethan, has decided to impose a 24-hour curfew on Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and environs starting from 11am today Monday, 2nd December, 2013.”

He added: “Only vehicles on emergency call and essential services are allowed to move during the period. The curfew would be lifted as soon as the situation improves.”

Following the curfew, markets, schools as well as the state and federal secretariats were closed throughout yesterday.

Our correspondents who went round Maiduguri in the entourage of Governor Shettima saw four dead bodies. Two were said to be of Boko Haram insurgents and the others of civilians

The governor later paid a sympathy visit to the home of the two civilians where he was told that the insurgents stormed the house and killed them.

“Two of my children were killed, one in the shop and the other in his room. They are my elder children,” Baba Kura, the father of the deceased, told the governor.

The curfew has also disrupted road and air travel into the city.

The Maiduguri-Damaturu highway and other roads leading in to the city were closed, while yesterday’s Arik flight from Abuja to Maiduguri was cancelled.

Checks at the Arik Air counter at the Lagos airport showed that today’s flight to Maiduguri has also been cancelled, though the flight for Wednesday remained open.

Spokesman for Aviation parastatals Mr. Yakubu Dati told Daily Trust that the Maiduguri airport was not affected by yesterday’s violence. But he added that because of safety concerns and the curfew, flight operations in and out of the airport had been suspended indefinitely.

Jonathan, security chiefs meet

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday summoned service chiefs to a meeting, in an apparent response to the attacks in Maiduguri.

The three-hour meeting was attended by National Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dasuki, Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika and Chief of Air Staff Air Vice Marshal Alex Badeh.

There was no official communication on the resolution of the meeting, which ended around 3.45pm.

After the meeting, the Chief of Defence Staff, who initially refused to talk to journalists, later simply said the situation was being managed.


http://dailytrust.info/index.php/top-stories/11435-5-aircraft-destroyed-in-maiduguri-attack

Ex-militant leader Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, has warned that with the current state of affairs in the country, president Goodluck Jonathan might not get a second term in office in 2015 if the elections are free and fair.

He also berated the President for surrounding himself with people, who he said do not have Mr. Jonathan’s interest at heart but are in power to feather their own nests.

Dokubo-Asari cited the open-confrontation between President Jonathan and former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, saying the president was ill-advised. Although, he made it clear that he disliked the former president, the fact could not be ruled out that he was instrumental to Jonathan’s political success right from when he was deputy governor of Bayelsa State.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Dokubo-Asari, who was arrested in Benin Republic last week but was later released following Mr. Jonathan’s intervention, recalled that Obasanjo manipulated the process that illegally removed Diepreye Alamieyeseigha as governor of Bayelsa State, thereby paving the way for Jonathan to become governor.

He said that Obasanjo also made Jonathan Vice president, fought for him to become acting president and also fought for him to become president of Nigeria.

The former leader of the defunct Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, NDPVF, also had harsh words for the Minister of Niger-Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, who he described as a sour point in the present political dispensation.

He said, “I want to start with an Ijaw proverb, which says: the eyes watched its seven children to death. Instead of advising them, it was just looking at them until they died, while the mouth talked its only child to life and success.

“We have continued as Ijaw people and the entire Niger Delta and South-South to support the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan, but a time has come when silence cannot be golden.

“We mainly speak out on issues that are very critical to the survival of our people, the survival of the people of the South-South and the South-East, which happens to be the political base of Goodluck Jonathan.

“Jonathan is surrounded by very greedy people who are only in the Presidency to enrich themselves at the expense of Goodluck himself.

“This brings us to another Kalabari proverb, which says: where there are elders, a goat cannot be allowed to deliver tied to a stick.

“If we don’t talk and we continue to brush it aside, tomorrow we will be blamed and people will say: Mujahid Dokubo-Asari was around when Goodlcuk Jonathan was president and he didn’t talk.

“Then I will be an accomplice and accessory after the fact….

“It is alarming because the South-South must have its uninterrupted eight years tenure, which is constitutional.

“But with how things are going under Jonathan’s watch, we are afraid that we may not be able to have our eight years tenure because there will be no magic about it if it is going to be one man one vote”.

On why he is speaking out against the Jonathan-administration which he has immensely benefitted from, Dokubo-Asari admitted, “I have benefited immensely from Goodluck Jonathan with my stake, but benefit alone is not enough to make me to keep quiet when the period is very challenging for our people.

“So, some of us are tempted to ask this question: why are all these things happening?

“Why has the President allowed some Ministers like Godsday Orubebe to continue in government?

“Everyday people die on the East-West Road. If Orubebe is incompetent as he has shown himself to be, he should be removed.

“Nobody voted for Orubebe. And why is Orubebe so important to the President that he can’t remove him even in the face of his obvious incompetence and several allegations of corruption?

“We feel very ashamed and embarrassed. Orubebe was one of us” Dokubo-Asari fumed.

“He was attending meetings with us, sleeping in the ground with us, entering night bus with us and we nominated him to be appointed a Minister.

“We have gone to him and complained to him that we don’t like the way things are going in his Ministry and told him that if the President leaves in 2015 without the completion of the East-West Road, we are finished.

“And the man keeps telling us there is no money”.

He, therefore, wondered why there was claim of no money when a South-southerner, in reference to President Jonathan, is at the helm of affairs.

“When IBB (former military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida) was there, there was money.

“When Abacha was there, there was money.

“When others were there, there was money.

“How come the money disappeared when Jonathan got there?” he asked rhetorically.

“Jonathan and orubebe will account for the lives lost so far on the East-West Road”, he added.

On the face-off between Jonathan and former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, Dokubo-Asari said there was no need for it.

His words: “First, there was no need for Goodluck Jonathan to disagree with Olusegun Obasanjo.

“I don’t like Obasanjo.I don’t like his face. I hate him.

“But he was instrumental in bringing Goodluck Jonathan to power.

“And the greedy people around Jonathan have not managed him enough to the extent that the President and the people around him will allow Jonathan to disagree with Obasanjo openly

“And if you check, all the people who supported Goodluck Jonathan and fought to bring him to power, have openly disagreed with him.

“What are the causes of these disagreements?

“These are the questions we want to put to the president”, he said.

“Some people say Obasanjo is manipulating Goodluck Jonathan, that is why Jonathan is disagreeing with him and we ask, what has Goodluck Jonathan’s government achieved to show that it is a departure from other governments that have existed since 1956?

“For us, nothing has changed. It is still business as usual.

“So what are the advice that Obasanjo gave to Jonathan that were so difficult for him to fulfil, that made him decide to fall out with Obasanjo?” the ex-militant leader asked.

He recalled that “Obasanjo was instrumental and manipulated the process that illegally removed Diepreye Alamieyeseigha as governor of Bayelsa State and installed Jonathan as governor, made him vice president, fought for him to become acting president and also fought for him to become president of Nigeria.

“Apart from Obasanjo, there are so many people who supported Goodluck Jonathan; some have been pushed out by those who were not there to give him any support, while some others are trapped and they cannot talk.

“I have a feeling that Fulani man, Buhari would have done more for Niger Delta than Jonathan has done so far. Jonathan has done nothing for Niger Delta actually. It is getting more and more difficult to support him. The second niger bridge is another issue. Even his allies are denouncing him. What a shame!” Dokubo-Asari lamented.


http://www.informationng.com/2013/12/dokubo-asari-buhari-would-have-done-more-for-ndelta-than-jonathan-has-done-so-far.html

ASARI DOKUBO ON STATE OF THE NATION: “We have gone to him (Godsday Orubebe) and complained to him that we don’t like they (sic) way things are going in his ministry and told him that if the President leaves in 2015 without the completion of the East-West Road, we are finished. And the man keeps telling us there is no money. When IBB (former military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida) was there, there was money. When Abacha was there, there was money. When others were there, there was money. How come the money disappeared when Jonathan got there? Jonathan and orubebe will account for the deaths on the East-West Road.”