₦airaland Forum

A civil engineering graduate from
Abraka State University in Edo State, southsouth Nigeria, who lost his job and was newly employed as a security guard in a private school at Ijegun area of Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, has been remanded in prison custody for allegedly raping a student of the school inside the school premises.

It was alleged that the 30-year old security guard, Emeka Nwabunwane, lured the 18-year old student[name withheld]to a classroom in the school and raped her when she went to the school to attend a tutorial class in preparation for her Joint Admissions And Matriculation Board, JAMB, examination.
The girl narrated how she was raped by the Delta-State born suspect; an incident which she claimed has affected her physical and mental wellbeing.

She said when she entered the school premises on the day of the incident, Nwabunwane called her and she went to meet him in the classroom because she knew him asone of the security guards in the school and thought he wanted to discuss an issue with her.
She alleged that immediately she entered the classroom, he locked the door and pulled off his trousers and started to beat her into submission.
She said when she tried to resist him, he tore her pants, threw her on the floor and started to rape her.
She said in the process, the suspect tore her private part and she started bleeding profusely.
The victim said she raised an alarm inside the classroom, but nobody came to rescue her.

The girl said it was after he had raped her and she ran outside naked and started scraeming for help that the residents of the area came to her rescue.
The girl said by then she was bleeding profusely and when some of the residents saw the blood, they immediately caught Nwabunwane and handed him over to the police at Isheri Oshun Division.
The victim said she was still in shock and always gets frightened whenever she remembers how she was raped by the suspect.

She said since the incident happened, she hasbeen having severe pains in her private part and going to hospital for treatment.
Nwabnwane admitted that he took the girl to the classroom and attempted to have sex with her but stopped when he discovered that she was menstruating.
The suspect claimed that it was when he left the girl that she ran out and started shouting for help and claiming that he raped her.

The security guard who was reportedly working in a private company before he was sacked and got the security job at the school, explained that when the incident happened, he made several attempts to settle the matter with the family of the victim.
The suspect said before they could finalise the settlement, he was brought to court.
He said he has learnt his lesson and was praying that the matter will be settled amicably.

When the suspect was arraigned in court, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Mr Adeleye Adeleke, objected to his bail on the ground that the offence he committed was a serious offence that attracts life imprisonment.

He therefore argued that the suspect may likely jump bail to escape justice.
However, the presiding Magistrate, Mr. P. E. Nwaka granted the suspect bail in the sum of N150,000 with three sureties in like sum.
The court also ordered that the sureties must have evidence of tax payment for three years.

The matter was adjourned till 21 October whilethe suspect was remanded in prison custody pending when he will fulfill his bail conditions.

SOURCE- www.metronaija.com/school-guard-rapes-student-inside-classroom-in-edo-state/

Governor Nyako
Adamawa State governor
Murtala Nyako has
disclosed that the
Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) is being plagued by
a serious illness and that
some critical
stakeholders are
awaiting its death to give
it a befitting burial.

He said,“People are
saying that the PDP is
dead or about to die but
a concerned person like
me will remain in the
party till it dies and give it
a befitting burial. If PDP
will die, let it die in our
hands so that we will
give it a befitting burial
and mourn her.”

“The problem of the
party lies with those
stalwarts in Abuja that
have succeeded in
putting the party in a
state of coma, and it is
our fervent hope that
they will be prevailed
upon to do the right
thing so that the party
can be cured of its
ailment.”

SOURCE- www.metronaija.com/pdp-will-die-soon-governor-nyako/

According to an interview Yobo granted Maestro’s Media, he is so pissed with what the magazine had written about him and his extended family, and this time he is not taking it lying low.
National Enquirer had written some days ago that Joseph and Adaeze’s marriage isat the moment experiencing some turbulence.
Reason being that Adaeze’s mother, Mrs.Abigail Igwe Fashanu now sworn enemieswith her son in law is bent on crashing his marriage.
She allegedly controls the marriage, that she advised her daughter against gettingpregnant for Yobo even after Joey, their son is almost three.

The reason she reportedly gave her daughter is because she needed to get back into her sexy shape just in case things no longer work out between her and her ‘Plateau’ born hubby and might require her re-marrying.
Reacting to the publication, Yobo said:
”There’s is no iota of truth in the report that has gained grounds of recent. There was no encounter of the such that was described to have happened between my mother-in-law and I.

We as a family are in the best of place in our lives currently. Someone from some place, just sat down and decided to construct a lie: a total fabricationfrom their own imagination.
I love my wife and I love her verymuch, nothing anyone does can bring any division between us and between our families. The Yobos & the Fashanus have a great relationship, a fantastic one at that and very good mutual respect for each other, and we thank God for that.

There was never a time that I sent my Mother-in-Law packing from my home for being a bad influence on her own daughter, who is my wife. How can people just come up with stories about what never happened.
We have no problems at all’. Wehave 2 great houses next to each other in Istanbul, Turkey that is big enough to accommodate our families, without anyone invading on anyone’s privacy. They are just trying to destroy the 2 families.

When we first came across the stories, we thought okay it was just one of those silly little gossips and that it would soon fade away and be forgotten. Only for us to read it and found out it was very well orchestrated pack of lies, from the beginning to the end of it: they didn’t even know where I am from and claimed I am from Plateau State.

They constructed lies about my mother-in-law and her family, claiming all that is not true and that they have no proof of. Most definitely, this is just somebody trying to damage these families. I can tell you categorically, I would not swap my wife for anybody in this world, no womanfrom anywhere can take her place, she means the world to me.

The number of calls we have received over this falsehood is unbelievable. People calling to find out what was going on.

I tell you now and this is the absolute truth- ‘My wife is my best friend, she’s my queen, she’s my everything, our familiesare doing great and doing very well together. Anyone thinking otherwise is only wasting his or her time.

I am not going to allow anyone disrespect my Mother-in-law wrongfully. I am not going to accept this. They have stepped way out of line this time and I am not going to take it lying low.We would definitely seek legal redress.

SOURCE- www.metronaija.com/i-didnt-chase-my-mother-in-law-away-joseph-yobo-to-sue-national-enquirer-over-false-story/

24 shops were robbed in the
early hours of Monday in
Potiskum town the commercial
nerve centre of Yobe state
The Chairman of the Potiskum
Market Association, Abati
Mohammed said 24 shops were
burgled between 1am and 2am
on Monday morning with the
robbers carting away the sum of
N1, 382, 000.00.

The robbery took place during
the curfew time for residents of
Potiskum and Yobe state, with
restriction of movement between
the hours of 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
daily.
The incident is coming two days
after the curfew time was
reviewed from the hours of 6
p.m. and 6 a.m. daily.

Reacting to the robbery case in a
statement, the spokesman of the
Military Joint Task Force (JTF) in
Yobe state, Eli Lazarus confirmed
the incident saying“in the early
hours of today (Monday 22 July
2013) some shops in Potiskum
market were reportedly broken
into by suspected armed
robbers.
“The local security men employed
to guard the market were on
duty when the incident took
place”

The JTF spokesman however
blamed neither the local security
men for not reporting the
robbery incident to neither the
JTF nor the police for not
promptly responding to the
incidence until the shop owners
made the discovery in the
morning when they reported for
the day’s business.

Mr Lazarus said that the JTF
arrested five of the security men
on duty and they are currently in
police custody for further
investigation.

SOURCE- www.metronaija.com/robbers-cart-away-over-n1-million-from-24-shops-during-curfew-in-yobe/

The Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a baby boy after going into labour this morning.

The baby weighed 8lbs 6oz and was born at 4.24 p.m., the palace said.
"Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight," Kensington Palace said in a statement.

The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth. The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news.

The official notice of birth has left St Mary's Hospital and is making its way towards Buckingham Palace.

The new royal baby is third in line to the throne and a future king. A great-grandchild tothe Queen - her third - the newborn will also one day be crowned sovereign.

If the baby follows after the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge as king, he will be the 43rd monarch since William the Conquerorobtained the crown of England.

The baby's uncle, Prince Harry, now moves to fourth in line to the throne, while the Duke of York shifts down to fifth and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie to sixth and seventh place.

SOURCE- www.metronaija.com/royal-baby-its-a-boy-for-kate-and-william/

President Goodluck Jonathan has confirmed meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday in his residence in Owu, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

He told newsmen that although he was in Abeokuta to pay condolence visit to his Special Adviser, Reuben Abati whose mother was buried on Friday, he could not have come to the Ogun State capital where the former president resides, and not pay him a visit.
Coming to Abeokuta and not visiting Obasanjo, he said, would have make some people speculate that there was a problem between them.

He said: “It is true we saw President Obasanjoin his house because we came here to Abeokuta to commiserate with Abati who buried his mother yesterday. And knowing that Abati’s house is at the backyard of Obasanjo’s house, it will not be good if we come and not visit him.”
“Even the man himself will not be happy if wedon’t visit him. I am like a son to Obasanjo,” he added.
Dressed in a black flowing agbada and a Yoruba cap to match, President Jonathan arrived Obasanjo’s residence around 12 noon in the company of Senator Grace Folashade Bent.

Even as details of the closed door meeting was unknown, it is believed that the discussions centred on 2015 election, the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the controversy surrounding the plannedconduct of PDP’s mini National Convention.
The Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum (PDPGF) and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio had been reported to have made moves to reconcile them especially to facilitate the yet to be announced second term ambition of the President.

Speaking with newsmen at the Abati’s residence President Jonathan said that he would have attended the Abati’s Church Service after commissioning the Police housing estate on Friday but had to fly out toTogo to meet President of Côte d’Ivoire, Allasane Quattara, and his Togolese counterpart over some looming political crisis.

Jonathan condoled the family as he noted Abati was a member of his family and advisedthe family to take solace in the fact that their mother lived to a ripe old age beyond the biblical three score and ten.

Speaking during the visit, Abati said that the family was no longer expecting the President since he was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, at the church service.
Abati said he was happy with the life his mother lived as not many mothers would die and their burial attract the presence of the nation’s president.

SOURCE- www.metronaija.com/why-i-visited-obasanjo-jonathan/

Exclusive reports coming from Lagos have it that
FCMB (First City Monument Bank) office in lagos is on fire. According to an eye-witness,the bank is along 42 ademola adetokumbo, VI, Lagos.

Two police vans can been noticed along the road
and Fire-fighters are there trying to put off the fire.The fire has affected the ground floor of the
building.

SOURCE- www.metronaija.com/breaking-news-fcmb-office-in-lagos-on-fire/

”Nigeria has many uncountable problems and none of them is early marriage. As a matter of fact early marriage the solution to about half of our problems. For those who wonder if I can give my daughter(s) out in marriage at the age of 9 or 13, I tell you most honestly, I can give her out at the age of 6 if I want to and its not your business.
This is because I am a Muslim and I follow the example of the best of mankind, Muhammad ﺻَﻠَّﻰ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪُ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻪِ ﻭَﺳَﻠَّﻢَ .

In Islam, marriage is not only about sex, it is about family and helping one another in achieving their goals, which is the attainment of Paradise.
In Islam, a girl can be given out in marriage as early as 6 years old, but consummation of the marriage can only be done when the girl becomes physically mature and she gives her consent to it because unlike English law, it is not permissible for a man to rape his wife in Shari’ah Law.

So what can anybody tell me?
~ I live in a city where young girls at the age of 12 have already became serial fornicators and cannot count the number of man they’ve had sex with.
~ I live in a City where primary school children disvirgin themselves behind toilets on Valentine day.
~ I live in a city where young girls flood the street at night looking for men that would givethem N500 to have sex with them.
~ I live in a city where parents send their daughters out overseas to prostitute and send dollars down.
~ I live in a City where Government officials pick undergraduates from University car parks with Coastal Buses to wild sex parties.
~ I live in a city where abortion is so common that even a Chemist shore owner can perform abortion with just N2,500.
These are your daughters, and this should worry you and not Yerima’s private matters. Soask me again why I support early marriage andI will slap the Jinn out of your head”.

- Senator Ahmad Sani Yarima

SOURCE- www.metronaija.com/i-can-give-my-own-daughter-out-at-age-9-senator-ahmed-sani-yerima-bakura/

Borno, which is the worst-hit, will get N500 million from Dangote’s donation while Adamawa and Yobe will share the balance
Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of Dangote Groups, has promised to assist the three states – Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe – worst hit by the Boko Haram insurgents with N1 billion.

The minister of state for agriculture, Alhaji Bukar Tijani, who made the disclosure when he visited Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno, noted that the donation was the business mogul’s contribution to help in cushioning the effects of the sect’s attack in the states.

Boko Haram is waging a way against western education and seeks to create an Islamist state in the country. In recent years, it grew bolder in its attacks forcing President Goodluck Jonathan to declare a state of emergency in the three worst-hit Northern states on May 14.

Troops in the states claimed the security situation in these states has improved. Critics, however, believe an attack on a boarding school in Mamudo, a village in Yobethat left 29 students and a teacher dead after being shot and set ablaze, showed otherwise. Three weeks after the incident, the military lifted an embargo on telecommunication services it imposed in Borno and Yobe as part of its strategies in the crackdown on the Islamists.

To cushion the effects of both the Boko Haram attacks and the operations of troops detailed to the states, the Jonathan-led administration donated N450 million to Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe.

Tijani was in Maiduguri, where he met Governor Shettima, to kick of the distributionof funds and the distribution of 650 truck-loads of relief materials worth over N1billion approved by President Jonathan Goodluck to the three states.

According to the minister, the N450 million will be shared N200 million, N150 million, and N100 million to
Borno, Adamawa and Yobe respectively.

Speaking on the N1 billion donation by Dangote, he said Borno, which is the worst-hit, will get N500 million from Dangote’s donation while Adamawa and Yobe will sharethe balance.

Responding, Governor Shettima assured the minister that the money would be used for the good of the people of the state.

SOURCE- www.metronaija.com/dangote-pledges-n1billion-to-states-worst-hit-by-boko-haram/

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that in the next three months the problem of Boko Haram insurgency would have been significantly eradicated.

The President, a CNN interview monitored by our correspondent on Friday, said Nigeria's "security architecture" was not prepared for the problem of terrorism.

He also said the country was not negotiating with Boko Haram contrary to opinions, but simply making attempts to"change their orientation".
Jonathan said, "We are not negotiating with Boko Haram. It is done all over the world. It is not negotiation. We are not begging.

"Our security architecture was first designed to deal with ordinary criminals butsince terror started, we have been building it. I believe if you are to interview me again in three months' time, you will praise me that this government has tried.

"We are tackling terror from various angles. We must first of all stop them through military intervention, which we have initiated by declaring a state of emergency in three states where these terror attacks are predominant."

SOURCE- www.metronaija.com/well-deal-with-boko-haram-in-three-months-jonathan/

Dear Friends,

On behalf of our client, star actress,Funke Akindele,we want to formally inform you that after due consultation and consideration, she’s now separated from Kehinde Oloyedeas his wife. She hereby urges her fans and all concerned to pray and wish her the best as she moves on in her career. Kindly note that this is the first and only  official statement fromFunke Akindeleon the matter and will be glad if her wish is respected.

 Thank you.
Sincerely yours,

Ayo Ola- Muhammed,
Principal Consultant
NEECEE  Entertainment.

SOURCE- www.metronaija.com/breaking-news-funke-akindele-confirms-seperation-from-kehinde-oloyede/

Two corps members serving in Community Secondary school Iddo in Asari-Toru LGA of Rivers State were yesterday night severely burnt beyond recognition by unknown persons who attacked them in their room.

Report given to us this morning by another serving corp member in the area said the two corps members who are both females were locked in after the attackers had poured fuel in their room and then set the room on fire.

One of the corper is named Okey Winifred a batch C corps member while the other whose name could not be ascertained as at time of this report is a new batch B corps member that just left camp and reported at the PPA few days ago.

Both of them are currently in critical condition at the Intensive care unit (ICU) of Uniport Teaching Hospital.


The attackers are still unknown, however the story going round among other corpers in the community is they are probably some of the students in their PPA.

Rivers state is becoming a more dangerous place for youth corpers as they are easily victims of violent attacks by locals and kidnapping gangs. We hope the concern authority will do something urgently and curb the various violence against the corps members. God help us

SOURCE- http://metronaija.com/photo-two-female-nysc-corps-members-set-ablaze-in-rivers-state/

Nollywood Yoruba actress Bisi Ibidapo Obe who got into a messy paternity case with Hon Dino Melaye last year is in the news again.

In a tell-it-all interview with Kayode Aponmade, the actress spoke at length on her motherhood experience, her relationship with ex-lawmaker Dino Melaye and many other issues.

Interview excerpt below;

When did your romance with acting start?Right from my primary school, I always participate in anything entertainment. I fell in love with acting right from school. So, after school I decided to take it professionally and since then I have no regrets. I was brought into acting by the late Bimpe Adekola (Ireti). She was the one that motivated me into acting. Whenever I watched her movies, I always like her performance, so I said to myself that I would love to be like that. So I went to see Gbenga Adewusi, who introduced me to Araosan, who later took me to Odunfa where I met Taiwo Hassan, Yinka Quadri and Abbey Lanre. I was so happy; it was like meeting Michael Jackson. So they accepted me and I received my training under them.

For how long have you been in the profession?

About 21 years now.

So how has it been since then?

It has been rough and tough. At the same time, it has been full of fun. There is no job without its own challenges, but so far, it has been fun. This is what I have passion for, so I have had no regret at all. I went through series of challenges but since I don’t see myself doing any other thing except acting, I trudged on. The experience has been good and nice.

How many movies have you produced on your own?

I have produced just three movies; Oyin Ade, Omo Jesu and Igboran San.

Why just three films?

I didn’t start producing my own movies until 2004. If you know me very well, I am not that kind of person that jumps into movie production simply because others are doing it. I received very good training, that is the reason I was able to come out with good films. I can’t be producing films every other day because my films gulp lots of money unlike those who spend peanuts on their movies. I take my time to produce.

Are you working on any movie for now?

Yes, I am working on a movie.

You are now a mother. How do you feel?

In fact, this is the greatest thing to have happened to me. I am exceedingly happy to be a mother. I am so grateful to God that He has counted me among mothers. This is what I have wished for all my life. Motherhood is sweet!

How did you feel when the father of your daughter rejected the pregnancy?

It was shocking and I felt bad but it was nothing to me. During that period, I didn’t allow it to bother me too much. My primary aim then was to have a safe delivery and to God’s glory I was able to have that. The scandal was too much then, but I didn’t allow it to affect me.

Did you ever consider abortion as an option then?

Never! I rebuke that in Jesus name. This is what I have craved for. This is what many rich men and women cannot afford to buy with money and God now blessed me with such gift. It never crossed my mind because I considered her (the baby) a gift from God. Why should I abort the baby? You needed to see me then. I flaunted the pregnancy anywhere and everywhere. Although attempts were made by some people to get it terminated but the God that I worship did not allow this to happen.

Who are those people?

I wouldn’t want to talk about them. But I was attacked physically and spiritually. But thank God as He proved Himself to them.

Right now the baby is here, what is the relationship between you and Dino Melaye?

Relationship? Seriously, I wouldn’t want to talk about it. What is more important is that the baby is alive and I pray to God to give me long life to take good care of her. As I said earlier, she is a gift from God.

Since you don’t care about the baby’s father, how do you intend to raise the girl all alone?

Every mother has good plans for her child, but I don’t think you expect me to start revealing that on the pages of newspapers. I have good plans for her but this is between me and God. He has never disappointed me and I am sure He will not do that now. He has proved to me how mighty and wonderful He is.

When do we expect you back in the industry?

I will be back on location soon.

Prior to your maternity break, you were lying low, was it deliberate or what?

Yes, it was. It was after my last movie, Igboran San. I was busy moving round the world with the movie. I was in the UK, Canada, US. I was also in many states of Nigeria to premier the movie. So, this has kept me away. I just felt that I can’t be thinking of promoting my own film and be moving from one location to another. That was the reason.

How have you been able to deal with bad press, and which one would you consider the worst?

The worst so far was the story by a soft sell magazine that I slept with a waiter in a hotel in the United States while I was on a visit to see my boyfriend. That story jolted me because as at that time of writing the story, I was still here in Lagos. In fact, I haven’t obtained my US visa then, so I wondered the source of that story. Even my boyfriend too came to Nigeria to check my international passport, thinking that I came to the US without his knowledge.

Given your experience with Dino Melaye, do you still believe in love?

Why not? The fact that a man breaks your heart does not mean that you shouldn’t pick up the pieces and move on with your life. It won’t stop me from giving my heart to another man. I only need to be careful with the kind of man that I will open my heart to.

What would you say life has taught you?

The recent experience has taught me the greatest lesson of my life. It has taught me that not everyone that calls themselves your friends are really your friends. It has taught me to be wary of people. It has taught me that human beings could be deceptive. I can go on and on.

Did you experience the issue of sexual harassment while growing in the industry?

Sexual harassment is not peculiar to our industry alone, we have it everywhere. But I will tell you that I never experienced such during my training with the Odunfa caucus. We have thorough professionals in that caucus who have no time for such frivolities. Don’t get me wrong; I am not saying they don’t ‘toast’ ladies, but it is left for you to accept or not. They will never force you or consider it before giving you roles. I get my roles on merit not by sleeping around with producers. But I did experience this with some movie marketers who insisted that they must sleep with me before giving me money for production. But I called their bluff.

SOURCE- http://metronaija.com/yoruba-actress-bisi-ibidapo-obe-nigerian-movie-marketers-want-to-sleep-with-me/

The Joint Task Force, JTF, in Borno State, on Wednesday, said it arrested Pastor Moses Edon of the Celestial Church of Christ, at the House of Assembly Quarters in Maiduguri, with 124 bags of Indian Hemp.

JTF in a statement made available to us said the alleged Indian Hemp dealer was arrested based on informationand intelligence.
JTF said its raid of the church at about 9.30 a.m on 10th July, 2013, led to the discovery and seizure of 124 bags of weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp parked in 3 rooms at the premises of the church.

“The suspect who is a pastor of the church, one Moses Edon admitted knowledge of the content of the bags and confessed that the Indian Hemp was brought for safe keeping from Ondo by a member of the church, one Mr Segun Oni.” JTF said.

According to JTF, preliminary investigation revealed that the church had not been active for sometime now, adding that it was being used for safe haven where Indian Hemp “partners in business” distribute the products to theircustomers in Maiduguri and environs.

The JTF also called on members of the public that there was a correlation between illicit drugs and crimes in the state.
It requested citizens to report the presence of dealers of such products to security agencies.

SOURCE- www.metronaija.com/124-bags-of-indian-hemp-found-in-borno-church/

A three man syndicate specializing in kidnap for ransom has abducted a 3 year old child in Ashaka Ndokwa East of Delta State, anad are demanding a ransom of N10 million.
The baby is reportedly a cousin to member of the Delta State House of Assembly representing Ndokwa East constituency, Honourable Friday Osanabi.

The parents of the child were said to have ran into the siege laid by the kidnapers at their home and were held hostage before robbing the family of cash and cell phones and subsequently abducted their son.
The criminals were said to have established contact on Tuesday morning, demanding N10 million ransom.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Lucky Uyabeme, when contacted, said the police were investigating the matter.

www.metronaija.com/3-year-old-baby-kidnapped-in-delta-n10-million-ransom-demanded/

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a woman, Mrs Aminot Otun, for roasting the right hand of her seven-year-old step-son, Awwal Otun, last Thursday.

Awwal’s hand was allegedly roasted for adding drops of liquid disinfectant to his bath water.

According to Ngozi Ekwerike-Okoro, President, Child to Child Network, a Non Governmental Organisation, NGO, a distressed call from one of Otun’s neighbours at 59, Suenu Street, Surulere, Lagos saved Awwal’s life.
Awwal was rushed to the Mother and Child Hospital at Gbaja where another drama ensued as the doctor on duty refused to treat or admit the boy despite pleas that the hospital was built purposely for mothers and children in the state.

According to his teachers, Awwal, who is in primary one, should not be allowed to go back to his step-mother because he is always coming to school with bruises as the neighbours who pleaded anonymity said that had been the normal punishment for the boy’s mistakes.

Awwal was later taken to a nearby private hospital for treatment and he is currently at Juvenile Welfare Centre of Alakara Police Station.

The story

According to Ngozi, “On July 11, 2013, Awwal was rushed to the Randle General Hospital, Mother and Child Centre, Gbaja, at about 6:30pm after a distress call from neighbours.
“He sustained serious injuries from fire burns inflicted on him by the step-mother who is now in police custody.

“At the hospital, we requested to see the welfare officer who we were told had closed for the day but after narrating our mission to one of the staff she referred us to the chief matron. The chief matron issued an emergency card to the boy and directed him to see the doctor.

“The doctor, however, refused to attend to the boy, because according to her, the hospital did not have enough space to accommodate the boy, as he would need admission for intensive care.

“We pleaded with the doctor to at least administer some first aid on the boy but she refused. We went back to the chief matron who told us after consulting with the doctor that Surulere General Hospital (Mother and Child Centre) does not have the facility to deal with such cases. They said our best chance would be to go to Ikeja General Hospital.

“We eventually left in disappointment and went to a private hospital in Mushin, close to the juvenile centre, where he got immediate attention and was treated free of charge.

The boy said he added small quantity of Izal disinfectant to his bath water and his step mother got angry and put his hand on a burning stove since Sunday and he was not taken to hospital till Thursday when neighbours called the Lagos State Child Protection Network who mobilised the JWC Alakara to rescue him.

www.metronaija.com/photos-woman-roasts-7-yr-old-step-sons-hand/

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has opened a SIM Card Registration window for Subscribers affected by deactivation and disconnection of SIM cards.

According to a statement by the national president of National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS), Deolu Ogunbanjo, an appeal made to the NCC and Ministry of Communication  Technology during a live interview which featured Dr. Tony Ojobo of the NCC and Mr Ogunbanjo of NATCOMS that subscribers who are yet register their SIM cards should be given a grace period to re-activate, register the SIM cards.

Subscribers whose SIM Cards have been deactivated, disconnected have been advised to go to the nearest Customer Care Centre of their SIM Network Operator for registration and subsequent re-activation, re-connection.

The NCC window for the Registration of Deactivated / Disconnected SIM Cards is now the only opportunity for Subscribers all over Nigeria to have their deactivated disconnected SIM Cards registered for re-activation or re-connection.

www.metronaija.com/ncc-extends-sim-card-registration-deadline/

This happened some few minutes ago in front of a bank in Oshogbo. The man pictured above was caught in the act and he was beating and stripped unclad by angry mobs before police arrived.

www.metronaija.com/photos-old-man-caught-stealing-beaten-and-stripped-unclad-in-oshogbo/

Members of the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEC) and the junior workers grouped under the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) clashed this morning in Benin over the transfer of the PHCN to its new owners.

The clash culminated in the locking up of the Akpakpava Road headquarters of Electricity Distribution Company of PHCN in Benin by members of the NUEE who barricaded the entrance into the building as early as 7 am.
A member of the SSAEC allegedly sustained serious injuries in the fracas and was taken to an undisclosed clinic for treatment.

A cameraman of Independent Television, Beninwas roughly manhandled and his camera slightly damaged.
General Secretary of NUEE, Comrade Joseph Ndem, accused members of the SSAEC of conniving with management of the PHCN to short-change their members in the transfer of the company to the new investors.

"It is an issue of labour. We have issued notice to the management of PHCN that we are goingto shutdown services until all the issues are addressed. By the time we came out to carry out the directive, our sister union also came upto tell us that we have no right to lock the office. It was on that premise that an arguement ensued and it degenerated into scuffle."

He said all offices of the PHCN in Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states controlled by the Benin office would continue to be under lock and keys until their grievances are addressed.

Branch President of SSAEAS, Comrade Chris Egunyanga, confirmed that one of his union members was injured while they were trying toprevent NUEE members from locking up the office.
He said they actually have no issues with members of NUEE or with management of the PHCN.

"We don't have any problem. Our sister union said they have issues with the management here. They came here on Thursday, drove our members out of the office and told them not tocome to work today.

"On our part, we saw it as an affront and told them if they have issues, they can engage management but they should not involve our members. We are not part of the issue they have with management. We want to work but they said we should not work," Egunyanga said.

He denied allegations by NUEE that his members were discussing with the new investor for Benin zone in collaboration with the management staff.

General Secretary of NUEE, Joseph Ndem said the fracas ensued because SSAEAS stopped them from locking up the office, just as he accused the senior staff and management of holding secret meetings with the new investor without informing NUEE.

www.metronaija.com/electricity-workers-clash-in-benin-city/

The police have arraigned a man and a woman before the Surulere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for allegedly being in possession of human head.
49-year-old Samson Adeneye and Oyerinde Olawunmi, 48, were arrested at the St. Peter Cherubim and Seraphim band at Moses Adebisi Street, Ketu after a human skull was said to have been recovered from the ceiling of the church.

According to reports fingerprints evidence matched the accused and they were also traced to threat text messages sent to some pastors of the church.

The charge sheet, read in part, “That you, Samson Jolu Adeneye, ‘m’, Oyerinde Olawunmi, ‘f’and others now at large on the 19th day of January, 2013, at about 1530hrsat St Peter Cherubim and Seraphim band at No. 8 Moses Adebisi Street, Alapere Street, Alapere Ketu, Lagos within the Lagos Magisterial district did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: unlawful possession of human skull and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under section 409 criminal laws of Lagos State 2011”

However, only Adeneye was in court on Friday, as the magistrate, Mrs. A.O Adedayo, obliged that the second accused be arraigned on Monday.

The prosecution counsel, Mr. A.A Animashaun, moved the motion that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending the advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The allegation and application were read to the defendant, but his plea was not taken.

The defence counsel, A.D Abass, however objected to the application, insisting that Adeneye was not found with human head as the charge stated.
Abass said, “My, Lord, the prosecution is out to mislead this honourable court as no human head was found with the accused.”

Adedayo, however, said, “If you have any evidence, you should submit it before this court. And I am yet to see that.”

The magistrate said she would give the defence counsel time to properly file his application.

The accused was remanded, pending when the matter would be reopened on July 17.

www.metronaija.com/2-church-band-members-arraigned-over-the-possession-of-human-skull-in-lagos/

About 202 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect are in police custody across the country and they make up the 36,874 inmates awaiting trial.

The Nigeria Prison Service released the figures recently and Comptroller-General, Zakari Ibrahim, said 1,113 inmates were already condemned to death and awaiting execution or commutation to life imprisonment but the service was under pressure from the European Union, human rights groups and Western countries not to do so.

Ibrahim at the service’s national headquarters in Abuja said:
“The situation is more worrisome as relevant authorities who have the constitutional powers to either authorise execution or commutation to life imprisonment are reluctant to exercise such powers. The implication is that prison security is mostly threatened.”

The prison boss also told the senators that about 11 prisons have been so far attacked by persons suspected to be Boko Haram members since the insurgency in the countrystarted, with 1,637 inmates set free, adding that most of the inmates had been recaptured.
Responding, Abubakar urged the prison authorities to always voice their challenges, giving the assurance that the Senate was always willing to assist if their problems were known.

Meanwhile, the Federal Fire Service has described the reorganisation of the service done in 2007 by the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo as ‘a mistake.’
The service declared that if the country was serious about fire disasters and prevention, adequate attention would
have been given tothe organisation.


FFS Controller-General, Olusegun
Okebiorun, said this in Abuja on Wednesday when he received the Senate Committee on Interior in his office.

www.metronaija.com/202-boko-haram-suspects-are-in-prisons-nationwide-nigeria-prisonservice/

Despite the much acclaimed cease fire agreement reached between the Federal Government and members of the Boko Haram Sect, it looks like that this agreement only exists on paper as violence seems to still be raging on the streets of Sokoto. An operation, which lasted almost eight hours, according to a military source, started at about 2am on Thursday and lasted until after 9am.

According to the source, the terrorists were engaged in fierce gun battle but were overcome, and the forces recorded no casualty. The source also added that the security forces killed and captured the terrorists, including their wives and children.


Briefing newsmen at the Azazi Hall of 1 Brigade, Sokoto Army Barracks, yesterday, the brigade commander enjoined every Nigerian tomake peace a priority, just as he assured of the readiness of the security agents to ensure the safety of the lives and properties of all Nigerians, as well as protect her territorial integrity in line with global best practices at alltimes.
Speaking on the operational method, the commander said, “On a tip-off, we undertook ajoint operation in the general area of Gidan Dare, around the Kalambaina road, where a terrorist hideout was discovered.


“Operations began in the earlier morning hours of today (yesterday) and I am pleased toinform you that the operation was hugely successful. During the course of the operation,fatalities on the part of the terrorists were recorded. To be precise, one of the terrorists was killed, one captured, five women and six children were rescued and they are very safe. Two of the women are pregnant and are receiving ante-natal care at the moment.”


Investigations revealed that the five women were from Borno, Zamfara, Kano, Sokoto statesand the neighbouring Niger Republic. Of the six children rescued, one boy was aged 5, and another girl, 3. Two others boys were aged 2, and there was a 4-month-old infant girl.


The slain suspected suspect, believed to be a wanted person, was said to be a famous member of the terrorist group, while the captured accomplice, a male of about 20 years, was alive.
Gen. Ibrahim also thanked the people for their support: “Without the cooperation of the good people of Sokoto State, most of the successes we are recording would have been impossible.”

Gen. Ibrahim mentioned the items recovered within the household: “ six AK 47 rifles, a pump-action rifle, 13 magazines of ammunition, seven improvised explosive devices, 32 hi-watt (6f22) 9v batteries for transistor radios”.

Other items include an axe, four handsets, 66 SIM cards, three memory cards, 10 Orlando Milk cartons, 56 detonator cables used in IEDs,three handset chargers, N76,685.00, 701 7.62mm ammunition rounds, 13 IEDs prime clocks, an Abuja vehicle plate number (EL 295 ABJ) and a wrist-watch, a copy of the complete Holy Qur’an, a prayer rosary (Tetsebi) and other Arabic books.

About four months ago, some suspected terrorists engaged the JTF in a similar gun battle and four of them were allegedly killed atBaddo Quarters in Wamakko local government area of Sokoto State.

www. metronaija.com/boko-haram-commander-killed-in-sokoto-after-8-hour-gun-battle/

A senior security source has disclosed to journalists that there will be no cessation of JTF military operations against the terrorist sect Boko Haram.
According to the source the Presidential Committee that brokered an agreement with Boko Haram did not carry them along and as such the crack down on the militants is gearedto continue.

His words: “We will continue our crackdown on the terrorists until we are sufficiently convinced that they have laid down their arms and denounced terrorism.
“As far as we are concerned, we are not aware of that ceasefire they are talking about, and we are not reckoning with it.”

However another source in the Presidential committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North have said that the JTF is simply blowing smokeas the president is aware of the development.
The committee member who wishes to remain anonymous said, “I don’t want a situation in which it will appear as if there is crisis from thegovernment side. Mr. President has been carried along; so, if anybody is claiming that they are not aware, it is not our problem.

“We are not working under the Minister of Defence or Chief of Defence Staff. We are a presidential committee and we talk with the President and we have done our duty.”

Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Taminu Turaki (SAN) disclosed last week that the committee had reached an informal agreementwit Boko Haram to ceasefire and that a formal agreement would soon be signed with the group.

He said, “It is not an agreement; we have reached an understanding with the leadership of Boko Haram arising from weeks of discussion and interface that we have been having with them.

“We will now move to the issue of parameters for an agreement and then when we are able to agree on the terms, the signing will be doneopenly and all members of the press will be invited.

“But for now, they have agreed in principle that they have declared a ceasefire, which we commended as it will facilitate the solving of the problem.”

www.metronaija.com/we-are-not-aware-of-any-ceasefire-with-boko-haram-jtf/

An angry mob has set three suspected armed robbers ablaze in Ikotun, Lagos State.

We learnt on Thursday that the robbers were set on fire on Wednesday evening, shortly after robbing a recharge card trader at Second Junction bus stop on Governor’s Road.
Our correspondent, who visited the area, observed burnt tyres, carcass of a burnt motorcycle and some human flesh on the side of the road.


The recharge card trader, Ese Akporhono, who had a bandage on her head, told our correspondent that the robbers came to her shop posing as customers.
She said a few seconds later, the suspects pointed a gun at her and stole recharge cards worth N400,000 before fleeing.
She said, “Around 5pm, I was closing the shop when the men approached me saying they wanted to buy recharge card.


“Before I knew what was happening, the men brought out guns and went into my shop, They stole recharge cards and money. I engaged them in a struggle and attempted to prevent them from fleeing. They overpowered me and used the butts of their guns to hit me in the face and head.”
Our correspondent learnt that the robbers allegedly snatched a motorcycle and shot a man in the area and were fleeing when a motorist knocked them down.

An eyewitness, who requested anonymity, said a bystander prevented them from fleeing as he pelted them with stones while they were attempting to stand up.

Other residents quickly joined the bystander and grabbed the weak robbers, beating them up to a pulp.
He said, “After the vehicle knocked them down while they were attempting to escape, we seized them and beat them to a pulp. The crowd grew larger and this attracted the attention of policemen.”

Our correspondent learnt that a team of policemen from Ikotun Police Station stormedthe scene and attempted to rescue the robbers but were overwhelmed by the mob.
It was learnt that policemen even fired gunshots into the air but the mob remained adamant.
A woman, who runs a bar in the area, said another team of policemen also arrived from Area M, Idimu, but the mob set the robbers ablaze.

She said, “The policemen came in a patrol vehicle and asked the crowd to hand over the robbers but they refused because they did not trust the police.
“Another team of policemen also came but the crowd ignored them. Some of them (crowd) got tyres, placed them round the robbers’ necks and set them ablaze.
“They however handed over their guns to the police.”

When asked why the residents took laws intotheir own hands, the woman said there had been an increase in robbery in the area and the police had failed them.
She said, “It is because armed robbers have been terrorising us that is why we close our shops early. Last year, a pregnant woman was robbed and killed in this area.

“We cannot continue to fold our arms. By this act, robbers will be afraid anytime they think of coming here.”
Akporhono told our correspondent that her recharge cards were still with the police and they had refused to return them to her.

“Police are holding my recharge cards as exhibit, I want them back because I am the victim,” she said.
When contacted on the telephone, the spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, said she was aware of the incident and promised to call back.

www.metronaija.com/photo-3-suspected-robbers-set-ablaze-for-stealing-recharge-cards/

Anti-corruption nonprofit
Transparency International, TI,
has released its 2013 Global
Corruption Barometer, which
surveyed residents in 107
countries, ranking Nigeria,
Zambia, Paraguay, Mexico,
Zimbabwe, Venezula and Russia
as the largest countries on the
globe with active corruption
indices with Liberia and
Mongolia leading the table.

According to the report, the
world’s corrupt nations differ in
many ways. Four are located in
Africa, three in Latin America and
two in Asia. These nations also
vary considerably in size and
population.

Mongolia has just 3.2
million residents, while Mexico,
Nigeria and Russia are three of
the largest countries on the
globe, each with more than 100
million people.
In Nigeria, 84% of those
surveyed by Transparency
International claimed corruption
had increased in the past two
years, a higher percentage than
almost any other country in the
world.
Troublingly, 75% of those
surveyed also said the
government was, at best,
ineffective at fighting corruption,
worse than in all but 10
countries.
TI says Nigeria is heavily
dependent on the oil industry,
yet the government refuses to
act on accusations that the oil
companies are underreporting
the value of the resources they
extract and the tax they owe by
billions of dollars.


The report adds that“certain
transparency groups also blamed
politicians for encouraging
corruption. In 2012, Nigeria had
just the 37th largest GDP in the
world, despite having the world’s
seventh largest population. In
Liberia, the majority of Liberians
surveyed said they believed the
country was run either largely or
entirely by a few entities acting
in their own self interest.


“A world-leading 86% of
residents who spoke to
Transparency International
claimed their government had
been either ineffective or very
ineffective at fighting corruption,
while 96% of residents claimed
Liberia’s legislature was corrupt,
also the highest percentage of
any nation.

A stunning 75% of
residents surveyed claimed they
had paid a bribe to secure some
service, trailing only Sierra Leone.
“In all, 80% of the population
had at one point been asked to
pay a bribe. Recently, President
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf fired the
country’s auditor general for
corruption.Many of those
surveyed in the highly corrupt
countries also felt their
governments were not holding
up their end of the bargain.”

According to the report,“in
seven of the nine countries, more
than half of those questioned felt
their government was ineffective
at fighting corruption. In Liberia,
86% of residents surveyed said
their government was ineffective
at fighting the problem. This was
the largest proportion of any of
the 107 nations Transparency
International surveyed. While
corruption appears to affect
every part of the public sector,
certain segments were much
worse than the rest.

“Globally, at least 6
0% of respondents claimed political
parties and police were corrupt.
Additionally, more than 50% of
people stated their legislature,
their public officials and their
judiciary were corrupt.In the
world’s most corrupt nations,
those institutions were, naturally,
even worse. In Nigeria, 94% of
people claimed their political
parties were corrupt, the most in
the world. Similarly, 96% of
Liberians reported their
legislature was corrupt, also the
most in the world. In eight of the
nine most corrupt nations, more
than 80% of residents
considered the police to be
corrupt.”

www.metronaija.com/nigeria-rated-8th-most-corrupt-nation/

The focus of the training is to give journalists a fresh news writing paradigm that would promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation amongst conflicting groups.

Fifteen journalists working in the volatile Northeast Nigeria are currently undergoing training on how to use their reports to address the Boko Haram conflict that has claimed many lives in the last two years.

The training, which is holding in Abuja, the nation’s capital, has journalists selected from different media houses and based in Borno and Yobe.

The focus of the training is to give journalists a fresh news writing paradigm that would promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation amongst conflicting groups, as against the traditional spotlighting of only the violence in the conflict.

The organizers of the training, the Nigerian Stability and Reconciliation Programme (an outfit for promoting peace in the country), said it is concerned about the role of the media especially in helping to bring the conflict to an end through the promotion of ‘Peace Journalism’.

An NSRP officer, Lauratu Abdulsalam, told participants at the opening of the week long session that the aim of the training is to equip journalists in conflict zones with a better understanding on how to go about doing their jobs, especially promoting peace through journalism.

NSRP is an international programme funded by the British government through the Department for International Development, DFID, and managed by the British Council in consortium with NGOs in the United Kingdom comprising of International Alert, Social Development Direct and Safer World.

SOURCE- http://metronaija.com/group-trains-borno-yobe-based-journalists-on-terrorism-reporting/

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has called on the National Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan for failing to live up to his oath of office to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said by Jonathan’s abhorrence of the rule of law and majority rule, the latest indication of which is his unmistakable support for a group of renegade lawmakers who are fomenting trouble in Rivers State, the President has become a clear and present danger to the country’s democracy, and must be shown the way out in accordance with the Constitution.

“Under President Jonathan’s watch and with his tacit support, a few lawmakers dictated to majority of the members of the Ogun State House of Assembly, which was locked for a long time. Under President Jonathan’s watch, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum was sabotaged by his minions who declared a Governor with 16 votes a winner over the one who scored 19 votes, in an injurious blow to the concept of democracy.

“And under his watch, five lawmakers – out of 32 – have become the majority and, simply because they have the backing of the presidency, are now being given police protection to disrupt the proceedings of the House. As we write, Rivers state has been taken over by current and former militants who have been unleashed to destabilize the state and cause a breakdown of law and order, to pave the way for the imposition of a State of Emergency.

“This cannot and must be allowed to continue, hence our call on the National Assembly to move quickly to remove the source of the crisis. Since this is no longer an intra-party dispute and because of its potentials to set the country on fire, we also call on civil society groups, professional bodies and ordinary Nigerians to rise up and defend the rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution over arbitrariness,” ACN said.

The party decried the anarchy that is now reigning in Rivers; “taking a cue from the presidency, the State Commissioner of Police has turned himself into a politician and abandoned his constitutional role. Instead of providing security for the entire House to sit, he chose to back the renegades and their thugs to unleash mayhem on their colleagues. This is what you get when a leader dons the garb of a partisan instead of being a statesman. All sorts of minions simply follow suit,” it said.

The party said that in the aftermath of the crisis, the soldiers attached to the State House in Rivers have been withdrawn while there are real fears that the police security will also be withdrawn by a Commissioner of Police who, apparently, no longer takes orders from his boss.

“This is not the democracy that was watered with the blood of many Nigerians. This not what Nigerians bargained for after years of military rule. We should not and must not allow those who are now reaping where they did not sow to reverse the little progress that we have made,” ACN warned.

SOURCE- http://metronaija.com/acn-call-for-president-jonathans-impeachment/

The FEC will set up a ministerial committee to meet with the lecturers.

The Executive Council of the Federation, FEC, has appealed to university lecturers to end the ongoing industrial action and return to class and asked the lecturers not to resort to strikes to resolve disagreements with the government.

The FEC at its Wednesday meeting presided over by Vice-President Namadi Sambo deliberated on the strike action and also reviewed the education sector. The meeting expressed worry about the often resort to strike by lecturers.

Apart from the strike by university lecturers, members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), their counterparts in the polytechnics, members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), are also on strike.

Briefing journalists after the FEC meeting, the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, said Council had resolved to establish negotiations with the striking lecturers at the cabinet level to ensure a lasting solution.

He said the council was urging ASUU to reconsider the use of strikes to resolve grievances against government and that the union should consider other means of getting government to meet its demands.

Mr. Moro said the federal government was fully aware of the challenges facing the education sector which has seen students seeking for ‘greener pasture’ in foreign educational institutions, including those in neighbouring Benin Republic; adding that this trend is considered a waste of national asset and foreign exchange.

Power sector funding

Also addressing journalists, the Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Ngama, refuted accusations by the House of Representatives that the ministry had been delaying the release of funds for the power sector, hence, the continued inadequate and unsatisfactory electricity supply across the country.

He said the finance ministry has been doing a lot to aid the Ministry of Power actualise its mandate of providing adequate electricity supply for Nigerians.

He cited the oversubscribed $1 billion (N155 billion) bond floated by the federal government to fund electricity infrastructure in the country, as well as release of appropriate funds for power sector reforms.

“Ministry of Power has enjoyed tremendous release of funds,” he said, adding that Nigerians should be patient with government as it gradually rolls out the power projects that will guarantee up to 18 hours of electricity to consumers by 2014 as promised.

He also noted that the recent protest by staff of the Ministry of Environment over unpaid salaries was considered by FEC, which directed the relevant authorities to fast-track arrangements towards having the issue resolved as soon as possible.

The meeting also directed that other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) with similar issues should ensure that they resolve it and ensure prompt and proper payment of salaries to their staff.

SOURCE- http://metronaija.com/stop-using-strikes-to-resolve-disputes-nigerian-government-tells-ASUU/

A middle-aged man identified as Friday Ekuase was, Monday, electrocuted in Benin following an early morning downpour.

We gathered that a Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, high tension wire was said to have fallen within the water-logged premises of the victim at 59, GapionaAvenue, Benin City, resulting in the dischargeof electric current in the flood water.
Ekuase was said to have stepped into the water and electrocuted.


Reacting to the incident, Public Affairs Manager of the Benin Zone of PHCN, Mr. Babatunde Fadipe said: ”Whatever manner inwhich the accident occurred, the information on ground which we are investigating is that the high tension wire fell in the area where hetraversed and unfortunately, he was electrocuted. The company is investigating with a view to preventing future occurrence.”

SOURCE- www.metronaija.com/man-electrocuted-in-benin-city/

The Ambassador expressed worry about the state of Nigerians in distress in China.

There are currently over 400 Nigerians serving terms in various jails in China, Nigerian Ambassador to China,Aminu Wali, has said.
Mr. Wali also disclosed that 80 per cent of the prisoners committed drug related offences. He also said about 80 per cent of the crimes committed by Africans were committed by Nigerian citizens.

The Ambassador was speaking in an interactive session with journalists in Beijing, on Monday ahead ofPresident Goodluck Jonathan’sstate visit to the People’s Republic of China beginning on Tuesday.

“We certainly have big issues with drug related crimes committed by Nigerians in China and when you look at the whole of Africayou find out that about 80 percent of all the offences and crimes committed by Africans in China about 80 percent is committed by Nigerians; that is why I think we are having running battle to try and control the situation.

“But we need assistance from back home, from the security agencies manning our exits and entry points in Nigeria to be more alert and vigilant to make sure these type of individuals do not escape and pass through our routes to come into, not only to China but any other country in the world because drug trafficking as it were, drug is the biggest problem that we have as far as Nigerians are concerned,” he said.
Mr. Wali further said that a lot of the Nigerian prisoners don’t come to China with Nigerian passports.

“A lot of them don’t come in with their real names so sometimes with difficulties we only know when they are taken prisoners or they are sentenced and they are looking for consular visits. And of course if a Nigerian comes with the Ghanaian or Malawian passportand the Malawian consular goes there, he saysno that is not from my country and eventually they now have to revert to us. We have to go and confirm these are Nigerians and then of course we take over and we give them necessary support,” he said.

The ambassador said the federal government and the National Assembly should take action to support the efforts to help Nigerians in distress abroad; and at the same time support the embassies outside to “give more consular support to Nigerian prisoners or Nigerians who find themselves not only in prisons but in that strange difficulties in the host countries.”
He said Embassy staff sometimes contribute money among themselves to help Nigerians in distress in China and that not all the Nigerians in prison or in distress in China are criminals.

“They may not be criminals, they come in, misfortune befell them and nowhere to turn to except they come to the embassy. And when they come to the embassy as a Nigerian they feel at home so we ought to be able to see what we can do to assist and sometimes out ofsympathy, if we have to chip in, we make contributions from all Nigerian members of theembassy to help them and quite often this is the case,” he said.

Mr. Wali added that there were many Nigeriansin China, who work hard at their businesses, are creative with it and are successful at it, saying “unfortunately good things don’t travel that fast but bad things make big bang.”

He said the Nigerian government needs to do more to encourage young people to feel secured in Nigeria and not have the urge to travel out and engage in illegal activities to make money.

SOURCE- www.metronaija.com/400-nigerians-in-chinese-jails-for-drug-related-offences-others-ambassador/

The Federal Government has announced signing of ceasefire deal with Jama’atu Ahlul Sunnah Lidda’awati wal Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram.

The major breakthrough is coming on the eveof the Muslim Holy month due to commence Tuesday through the country.

The minister of Special duties Alhaji Tanimu Turaki announced the ceasefire agreement on Radio France International Hausa services monitored in Kano Monday afternoon.

SOURCE- www.metronaija.com/breaking-news-fg-signs-with-boko-haram-inorder-to-stop-bombing-and-killings/

Some gunmen stormed a hotel in Ajah area of Lagos State on Sunday, 04 Hotel, killing the owner, identified as Olanrewaju Subair, and three others.

The police authorities said one of the gunmen was killed in the operation which lasted for about an hour.

However, two people died from a fire outbreak that was caused by intense shooting in the hotel.

It was learnt that several people were injured.

Our correspondent, who visited the area, observed heavy security as policemen, attached to Rapid Response Squad, were seen patrolling the area.

All attempts by our correspondent to enter the hotel proved abortive as policemen attached to MOPOL 10, Bauchi, prevented him from going in on the grounds that investigations were ongoing.

A source, who craved anonymity, told our correspondent that there was a fire at the hotel shortly after the shooting.

He said, “The gunmen came for Subair but ended up shooting others in the process. They killed his girlfriend who was with him and then killed two other people. They then shot two others but those ones did not die.

“The shooting caused fire and two customers, who were in another room, were burnt to death. The fire continued to rage so we had no choice but to call on the fire service.”

The Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Razaq Fadipe, told our correspondent on the telephone, that his men were able to put out the fire. He also confirmed the death toll.

“We received the distress call around 7am on Sunday that there was a fire. On getting there, we were able to put it out but two people were burnt ,” he said.

It was learnt that the matter was reported at the Area J Command but was later transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja.

A police source, who craved anonymity, said the gunmen were probably robbers that were on a revenge mission.

“A notorious armed robber was arrested at the same hotel sometime ago. We are working on the assumption that it was members of his gang that came to the hotel to carry out a revenge mission,” a source said.

The spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the attack to our correspondent on the telephone.

Braide said she could not say the casualty figure but confirmed the murder of Subair.

She however said the police were able to kill one of the culprits.

She said, “The Special Anti-Robbery Squad had raided the hotel sometime ago and had arrested the leader of the robbery gang as well as two members of the gang. The gang members at large stormed the hotel and shot the owner and some of his employees.

“The robbers told the customers at the hotel that they came on reprisals however one of the employees was able to call the police and on sighting the policemen, the robbers opened fire. The policemen shot back and one of the robbers was killed. An AK47 rifle was recovered from the robber.”

Braide said the police high command was interested in the case and the culprits would soon be brought to book.

“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Umar manko, has vowed that the robbers will be arrested.”
SOURCE- http://metronaija.com/seven-die-as-gunmen-raid-hotel-in-lagos/