₦airaland Forum

About 250 Nigerian soldiers stationed in Banki, a Cameroonian border town with Nigeria, have fled into the neighboring country, according to reports from Cameroonian soldiers in the area. The account says that the Nigerian soldiers left their duty post and fled with their arms, first into a neighboring village called Amtide, before surrendering to their Cameroonian counterparts.

The soldiers were being repatriated to Mubi, in Adamawa State, following debriefing by Cameroon. It is the second time in two weeks that Nigerian troops have defected into Cameroon. Of the first, on August 25, military spokesman General Chris Olukolade downplayed the issue. “The Nigerian troops that were found in Cameroon was as a result of a sustained battle between the troops and the terrorists around the borders with Cameroon which saw the Nigerian troops charging through the borders in a tactical manoeuvre,” he explained.

Also earlier today Nigerian soldiers in Mafa in Borno state deserted the town without any fight or attack from Boko Haram and returned to Maiduguri's Maimalari barracks. SaharaReporters made several attempts to get the Director of Defense Information Major General Olukolade to react to the latest report of desertion by soldiers but an information aide said he was in meetings all day.

Credit:http://saharareporters.com/2014/09/02/nigerians-soldiers-reportedly-flee-cameroon-again

The Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Parker yesterday slumped and died at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos.Parker who flew into the county aboard an American Airline, Delta Air Lines sources said took ill while onboard. The plane had arrived the country from Atlanta Georgia around 4pm on Tuesday. A source close to the airport confirmed that the medical personnel attached to the terminal tried to revive him, but without success.

When it was confirmed that he had passed on, an ambulance was ordered to take him to the morgue. As at the time of filing this report, the morgue where he was taken to could not be confirmed. Another account indicated that the diplomat before dying was seen holding to his chest and screaming “my heart” and slumped before the health officials could reach him. ‬

Credit:http://leadership.ng/news/382810/british-high-commissioner-slumps-dies-lagos

Reports emerging from Bama, in Borno State, indicate that Boko Haram militants have taken over control of the city. The state’s second-largest city was attacked earlier today by the militants. That first attack was initially repelled by Nigerian troops, but the militants appear to have returned in greater force, leading some of the soldiers to follow fleeing civilians in an effort to escape. Residents are saying tonight that Boko Haram has completely overrun the city and hoisted its flag in the city center.A Nigeria military statement credited to General Chris Olukolade didn’t offer much hope for Bama, as the terse statement merely stated that the attack on Bama was “being repelled.”

An intelligence source said reinforcements were underway to Bama from Maiduguri, but our own sources said only a few soldiers, in four armored tanks, were seen near Yezaram River. He added that the unit was in no way capable of re-taking Bama from the militants.SaharaReporters had reported earlier about soldiers fleeing the battle into Maiduguri after being overwhelmed by the invading Islamists. Their barracks also received friendly fire from an Air Force jet. Over 100 injured soldiers are receiving treatment at the MRS Hospital in Maimalari Barracks. Several soldiers have died while others are still missing.


Credit: http://saharareporters.com/2014/09/01/boko-haram-takes-over-bama

Boko Haram militants have invaded Bama, the second largest city in Borno state with the aim of taking over the town, but residents told
Several civilians including the Emir of Bama have already fled to the state capital Maiduguri to avoid being caught in the crossfire. Eyewitnesses said that the sect arrived the vicinity of Bama early today and began firing mortars, RPGs and hurling grenades into the city.

The battle was still raging as at the time of publishing this report. Bama is a strategic city with over 500,000 inhabitants. If the sect captures Bama with all the military hardware in the city, then it just days away from capturing Maiduguri which less than 40 miles from Bama.

Credit:http://saharareporters.com/2014/09/01/boko-haram-invades-bama-meets-resistance-nigerian-troops

https://dailytrust.com.ng/daily/top-stories/33205-breaking-boko-haram-in-fierce-battle-with-soldiers-in-bama-town

There was a mild drama in Olodi Apapa area of Lagos State, Thursday night, as a man who took another woman to a hotel came out from the hotel room to see his wife coming out from another room with his friend. The man identified as Kayode was said to have yelled, “My wife in a hotel with another man!”when he spotted them. LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that when Kayode saw the wife identified as Funmilayo, he never envisaged that the man with her was his friend called Mufutau but after a closer look, he noticed that the man was Mufutau and he slapped him twice before Mufutau retaliated.

As the men were fighting, Funmilayo also tore the clothes of the other woman for having the effron try to date her husband. The fight among the quartet came to an abrupt end when the barman, receptionist, and customers blamed all for not being sincere and trustworthy to their wives and husbands. The barman told Kayode that he was guilty of the same offence for bringing another man’s wife to the hotel. The barman said that what occurred was a nemesis or law of distributional justice. The women were said to have torn their clothes to shreds and left the hotel in shame as they booed each other.

Credit: http://leadership.ng/news/382531/drama-man-fights-friend-wife-hotel

A doctor, who secretly treated a diplomat who had contact with the index case, Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer, has died of Ebola in Nigeria.The doctor, who has yet to be named, died on Friday. His wife has also taken ill and has been quarantined in Port Harcourt. Interestingly, the diplomat the doctor treated is still alive.The diplomat, who was part of the team who met with Patrick Sawyer in Lagos, flew to Port Harcourt, Rivers State for treatment, evading Nigerian federal government surveillance for the disease.

The late doctor then took him to a hotel for treatment. As a result of this, 70 people have been quarantined. The doctor's hospital, Good Heart Hospital in Rivers State, has been shut down. The unnamed hotel, where the secret treatment took place, has also been shut down. The Minister of Health and the Rivers State government are expected to make a statement on the incident tomorrow.

Credit:http://saharareporters.com/2014/08/27/breaking-nigeria-records-new-ebola-death-port-harcourt

An Australian hostage negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis, has warned that Boko Haram may establish links with two vicious terror groups- Al Shabaab and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria- if not effectively checked now by the Nigerian government. Al Shabaab, the militant wing of the Somali Council of Islamic Court, aligned with Al-Qaeda and took over most of Southern Somalia in the second half of 2006. The ISIS, on its part, is an Iraqi group that stands with Al-Qaeda as the most vicious Jihad group in the world.

Davis had visited Nigeria to negotiate the release of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted since April by Boko Haram insurgents. He previously worked as a negotiator for Nigerian government under ex-Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Shehu Yar’Adua administrations during the Niger-Delta militants uprising in the South-South.Davis, in an interview posted on Wednesday by Radio Australia, said that the best ways to stop Boko Haram insurgency were to block its sources of funding and tracking down its sponsors. He identified banks and some Nigerian politicians as the major providers of funds to the insurgents.

The Australian claimed that many of the politicians sponsoring the insurgency were in the opposition, adding that it would be difficult for President Goodluck Jonathan to arrest and prosecute them. He argued that should Jonathan try to order their arrest, it would be misconstrued as a political attempt to rig the 2015 elections. Davis said, “That makes it easier in some ways as they can be arrested, but of course the onus of proof is high and many are in opposition, so if the President moves against them, he would be accused of trying to rig the elections due early next year.

“So, I think this (insurgency) will run through to the election unabated. These politicians think that if they win power they can turn these terrorists off, but this has mutated. “It’s no longer a case of Muslims purifying by killing off Christians. They are just killing indiscriminately, beheading, disembowelling people – men, women and children and whole villages.” According to the negotiator, Boko Haram is growing out of the control of the politicians sponsoring it.

He warned that, as it is the trend with terrorist groups in Somalia, South Sudan and Egypt, the Boko Haram insurgents might soon link up with the ISIS and Al Shabaab. Davis added, “I would say it’s almost beyond the control of the political sponsors now. “Terror groups are linking up in Somalia, southern Sudan, Egypt and we have fairly strong evidence they are talking with ISIS members. “They will link up with ISIS and Al Shabaab and I think that what we are seeing in that region is the new homeland of radical Islam in the world.”

The Perth-based international negotiator claimed he survived months of extreme danger in trying to rescue the 200 abducted schoolgirls. Davis, who returned from a four-month sojourn with rare footage of the intense fighting in the North-East, said his life was threatened more than once, but his Australian passport saved him. “When confronted by groups with an AK-47 in my face they’d say, ‘you are American, we have to kill you,” Davis said. “When you say, no I’m not American, they think you are British, and say you will still die, but when I said I’m Australian, they said that’s all right.

“I have no idea why but it’s certainly been helpful.” He however blamed the aborted rescue of the schoolgirls on sabotage. “I made a few telephone calls to the Boko Haram commanders and they confirmed they were in possession of the girls,” Davis said. “They told me they would be prepared to release some as a goodwill gesture towards a peace deal with the government, so I went to Nigeria on the basis of being able to secure their release,” he added. According to him, the insurgents lived up to their promise, but the rescue was sabotaged.

He said, “The girls were there, 60 girls. There were 20 vehicles with girls. We travelled for four-and-a-half hours to reach them, but 15 minutes before we arrived, they were kidnapped again by another group who wanted to cash in on a reward. “The police had offered a reward of several million naira just 24 hours before we went to pick them up. I understand, from the Boko Haram commanders I spoke to, the girls eventually ended up back with them.

Credit: http://www.punchng.com/news/bharam-may-link-up-with-isis-australian-negotiator/

The Centre for Promotion of Ethics, Values and National Integration (CENPEVNI), has said that it has secured admission for the 57 escaped Chibok school girls from a school in the United States of America (USA), through its collaboration with other groups. The executive director of the group, and project coordinator, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Outreach Mission (RROM), Dr Mercy Sokomba, stated this in Abuja, at a one day Stakeholders Interactive Session on Effective Victim Support Strategies.

She said, offers for completion of education of the girls, inclusive of scholarship has been made to RROM through Stefanos Foundation and the international support groups of RROM. “The reality of this particular offer is if the girls are ready for another form of separation from their parents. However, we have initiated discussions with some leadership of the Chibok community and at some point will meet with them and the parents for consent,” she said.

Sokomba however said that they hope that the funds and support partnership will consistently get to RROM for project sustainability within scheduled time frame so as not to hinder the progress the outreach mission has made so far. Commending the efforts of the federal government in the fight against insurgency, Sokomba prayed and pleaded for a quick resolution of the Boko Haram saga and safe return of the abducted Chibok girls and many other women and children abducted earlier or after the Chibok girls. According to her, “The end of terrorism will bring an end to the loss of lives and properties.”

Credit: http://leadership.ng/news/381975/57-escaped-chibok-girls-gain-admission-us

he Lagos State Police Command has arrested two suspected human parts dealers who allegedly bought and sold human skulls in parts of Ogun and Lagos states. Our correspondent learnt that the suspects ─ Muritala Mustapha and Sunday Oluyeba ─ were arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the command after a tip-off. It was further learnt that while Mustapha was arrested last Saturday, August 16, in the Ojumele area of Sagamu, Ogun State. Oluyeba was apprehended on Monday in the same area.

The police said 42-year-old Mustapha was caught with two human heads in his house, adding that he confessed to have obtained them from his friend, Oluyeba. After the police had arrested Oluyeba, 44, he also told the SARS operatives that he got the skulls from one herbalist, identified simply as Baba Ibeji, who the police said was still at large. During interrogation, the suspects, who were also herbalists, confessed that they bought the human skulls for N30,000 and used them to treat their patients.

Mustapha said the human parts could be used for the treatment of pregnant women having delivery problem. He said, “I started out as native doctor in 1992. That was after my secondary school education. I was treating ailments such as diabetes, stroke, and hypertension. I treated barren women too. I knew Oluyeba about three years ago. He is also a native doctor. We paid N30,000 to obtain the human skulls from Baba Ibeji.

“I normally used the skulls to treat pregnant women who had problem with child delivery. We would grind these parts and mix them with some soap. That was all. On this particular occasion, I did not know I was being followed by a police informant. It was at the point of another purchase that they arrested me.”Mustapha, a father of one, added that there were other native doctors and traditional chiefs in his area who bought human parts for healing. Iluyeba, however, claimed to have bought the human parts for a friend and not for his use.

He said, “Yes, I collected money to get the human parts, but it was not for my use. I am a native doctor, but I use only herbs and soap. I knew Baba Ibeji as a human parts seller and I had warned him on several occasions to desist from the evil trade, but he refused. “I am married. I have three children. I cannot use human parts for any concoction. This is an embarrassment caused by my friends.” Meanwhile, Baba Ibeji’s wife, identified simply as Adenike, said her husband was not a responsible man at home.

The 35-year-old mother of two said, “I only know him as a native doctor. I am his second wife. I sell provisions, and he does hunting and native medicine. He does not have money. He does not take care of his family. He has not given us money for the past three months. So, I doubt if he is into such things. Otherwise, we should be wealthy.”

Credit: http://www.punchng.com/metro-plus/we-bought-human-skulls-for-n30000-%E2%94%80-herbalists/

Boko Haram militants earlier today invaded a prestigious Nigerian Police training college in Gwoza, Borno state.The militants numbering 200 arrived the Police Mobile Force Training School with five armored tanks earlier seized from the Nigerian army units that tried unsuccessfully to dislodge the sect from Gwoza in the last two weeks. Police sources told Saharareporters that the college had five units in training with each unit having 59 trainees and unit commander. The units affect were two Mobile Police(MOPOL) units from Nasarawa, Gombe and MOPOL 50 from Abuja. Two other units from Zamfara were also at the college during the attack.

Several of the trainees were reportedly killed and injured by the militants. A good number of the trainees also fled to the mountains nearby while some of the trainees managed to escape to Adamawa state. A police source told Saharareporters that the militants blew up an armored tank stationed at the gate of the training college before gaining entrance into the school and wreaking havoc.

Boko Haram took over Gwoza some two weeks ago, hoisted its flag and appointed an Emir to administer the strategic northeastern township. Attempts by the Nigerian army to retake the town has been repelled by the militants in deadly counter attacks that have claimed several Nigerian soldiers. New efforts at mobilize troops to march on Gwoza has been bogged by mutiny by troops and their families who simply refuse to take orders from their superiors to take on Boko Haram fighters as they express concern that their weaponry cannot match those of Boko Haram.

Credit: http://saharareporters.com/2014/08/20/boko-haram-militants-overrun-prestigious-mobile-police-training-college-gwoza

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said on Wednesday that the commission would not allow security operatives to be masked during the 2015 general elections. Jega said this in Abuja during an interactive session with both local and international civil society organisations involved in monitoring elections in the country. He had on Tuesday, during the public hearing organised by the House of Representatives on the bill for the amendment of the Electoral Act, 2010, backed a proposed amendment that would confer the exclusive power to manage and assign security men during elections on INEC. The bill also sought to limit the role of the military during elections.

Jega told the CSO representatives on Wednesday that the emerging trend of security operatives wearing mask during elections was worrisome.
According to him, the wearing of hood by security men during elections is not in tandem with the principle of transparency guiding the conduct of an election.He said, “In recent times, we have witnessed an increased presence of hooded security operatives during elections. This is an emerging trend which is highly worrisome and which needs to be addressed in good time.

“Security agents who are deployed on election duties should not be masked, the doctrine of transparency requires that they should be identifiable. “We will not allow such persons during the 2015 elections. Any security personnel deployed for the election must be someone identifiable such that if anything happens we will be able to know who to hold responsiblemJega also decried the over-zealousness of some security agents during the August 9 governorship election in Osun state.

He disclosed that security operatives had erroneously arrested some members of staff of the commission and nine youth corp members, engaged as INEC ad-hoc staff, were erroneously arrested and kept in detention for over 12 hours.He said that they were arrested around 9pm on the eve of the election while on their way to the Registration Area Centers, RACs, which was provided for them by the Commission.“They were not released until about 6am the next day, a situation that almost disrupted the distribution of electoral materials in some areas.

“It was sheer luck that we still managed to open the polling units early, otherwise, there would have been disaster. We took a serious view of that and reported the matter to all the appropriate authorities because at a point we became worried that some persons wanted to undermine our effort.”He however maintained that the perceived over militarization of the just concluded governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, did not deter electorate from voting for their desired candidate.

He said, “In fact, the two elections proved that there was a high correlation between the massive deployment of security and the willingness of people to come out and vote. “Apart from over-zealousness on the part of some of the security men on the field, we discovered that people actually felt more secured to exercise their franchise. The key lesson our politicians need to learn from the two elections is that the era has gone when they relied on corrupt electoral officers or security agents to manipulate elections.

“In this era, any politician that intend to win election must reach out and convince the voters, be it through ‘stomach-infrastructure’ or otherwise. The only guarantee to win election now is to let the voters come out to vote for you, which in turn means that you must first of all convince them on your credibility.

He also disclosed that prior to the Osun State election, some “unscrupulous elements” had attempted to use software to rig the poll.He said, “We discovered that some people had invaded our system with software that was reducing age on the register. Thank God that we discovered it before it was too late and had to put aside the register and produced another one, even though it was at a very high cost. “Despite the challenge, the Osun State election has been adjudged as one of the best we have conducted recently when judged by all variables for assessing a successful election.

Though the election was not perfect, we however did a lot to improve on the Ekiti election. “It is also worthy to mention that before the Osun election, security agents were able to identify thugs that were imported into the state by politicians.”

Credit: http://www.punchng.com/news/2015-we-wont-allow-hooded-security-operatives-says-jega/

A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Sunday justified his defection from the opposion All Progressives Congress to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, saying the APC was not better than the PDP.

Ribadu, who was the 2011 presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, forerunner of the APC, said there was no difference between the PDP and APC, in terms of the character of the people who constituted both parties.

The ex-EFFC chairman, who spoke through his spokesman, Mr. Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, said this while fielding questions from one of our correspondents in Abuja.

He said, “In Nigeria, especially in politics, you can’t say that this is an exclusive party for the people who are thieves or this is for good people.

“It’s just like saying that all Yorubas are this or all Igbos are this. In every group of people, there must be good people and there are bad people. Of course, the good may be more than the bad or the bad may be more than the good in any group.

“But there is no any party that is exclusively for the good people or for the bad people.”

He said that his defection was not borne out of his desperation to realise his political ambition but was based on his patriotic zeal to serve the country and its people.

Abdulaziz said, “It is not true that he (Ribadu) was desperate to realise his political ambition. This is because this decision was taken in the overriding interest of serving the people.

“What matters for him is service. That is why even when he was a member of the opposition party, when government asked him to serve the country, he accepted the offer and he did a wonderful job that everybody hailed except those who don’t want change in the system.

“If you are ready to serve the people, sometimes you will have to do something that is not even palatable to yourself.”

But one of Ribadu’s close political associates in Yola told one of our correspondents that Ribadu’s defection had more to do with his governorship ambition and the alleged failure of the APC to give him the expected support and compensate him for his “sacrifices” for the party.

The source said part of Ribadu’s sacrifices, which he said the APC had failed to reciprocate, was his offer to step down for the then presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in the 2011 election and also his role in “wooing some governors to join the APC”.

The source linked Ribadu’s defection to his unresolved grievances against the APC, which the source made the ex-presidential candidate to succumb to pressure mounted on him by people, including the Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’azu; Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and a Principal Secretary in the Presidency, Hassan Tukur, to join the PDP.

Credit: http://www.punchng.com/news/ribadu-defends-defection-to-pdp/

Nigerian Minister for Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu has confirmed that the Lagos nurse who travelled to Enugu against medical advice is now back in Lagos and is under quarantine with her husband.

The nurse, who had contact with Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer, caused a stir on Wednesday when it was discovered that she had travelled to Enugu and had contact with at least 21 people during her unauthorized trip to the Southeastern city.

However, Chukwu says the nurse has so far not developed the symptoms as of the time of her trip.

“In Enugu yesterday, there were 21 secondary contacts with the nurse. But after investigations, there are only 6 secondary contacts now”, he said in Abuja on Thursday.

“The nurse who is newly wedded had no symptoms of the disease when she travelled to Enugu, was transported back to Lagos in a special ambulance with her husband. Her husband is under quarantine now”.

Chukwu also confirmed that a Nigerian in the Diaspora was sending an experimental drug for Ebola treatment, and the drug, whose name is ‘Nanosilver’, would arrive in Nigeria today.

“The experimental drug is a donation from a Nigerian scientist in Diaspora who was concerned about threat of Ebola in his home country. The drug will reach Nigeria today”, he said.

On updates on Ebola cases in Nigeria, he said some of the 169 secondary contacts of Sawyer were no longer under surveillance and had been released, having completed the 21 days of incubation period.

Credit:http://saharareporters.com/2014/08/14/nurse-who-skipped-ebola-quarantine-travel-enugu-transported-back-lagos-special-ambulance

Obi Justina Ejelonu, a nurse who attended to Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian-American Ebola carrier who flew to Nigeria on his way to attend a conference in Calabar, has died. Her relatives rang SaharaReporters moments ago with news that she passed away this morning. Ms. Ejelonu had been kept in a quarantine facility in Lagos.

Until her death, the outdpoken nurse was at the center of a campaign to get the Zmapp experimental drugs to Ebola victims in Nigeria. John Okiyi-Kalu started the Internet campaign a few days ago.

Ms. Ejelonu was one of the primary contacts with Patrick Sawyer at a Lagos Hospital where he received treatment after he was rushed from the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos where he collapsed. She was aged 25, her relatives said.

Credit: http://saharareporters.com/2014/08/14/another-nurse-who-had-contact-liberian-american-patrick-sawyer-dies-lagos

The Edo State Command of the Nigeria Police on Tuesday arrested a 19-year-old boy in Iguosa community, Ovia North East local government area of Edo State, for allegedly making love to a dog.The young man, simply identified as Osagiator, was said to have taken the dog to an uncompleted building where he mated with it. The chamber of the traditional head of Iguosa community in Ovia North East local government area was besieged by onlookers as the news of the bizarre incident spread rapidly within the length and breath of the community. A resident in the community, George Ogbonmwan, while narrating how the teenager was caught, said that he had seen the boy “romancing” the dog and thought he wanted to steal it. So, he decided to call the attention of the owner.

Ogbonmwan said that he was, however, surprised to see the suspect having sexual intercourse with the dog in an uncompleted building, when he arrived with the owner at the building. “When I saw the way the young man carried the dog like a baby, I decided to tell the owner. “I advised him to go towards the uncompleted building but as he went to the building, he caught the boy sleeping with his dog,” he said. However, the suspect, who said he resided in Uselu community in Benin, said that he was a regular visitor in Iguosa community, where he sought menial jobs. He alleged that he did not know what came over him.

He claimed that the dog followed him as he walked along the street in the community but took the animal to an uncompleted building where he had sexual intercourse with the animal. He said, “I was walking along the street. I saw a dog following me and I carried it like a baby and, thereafter, I decided to take it to an uncompleted building where I did what I did to it. “It was there that one man came into the building and arrested me.” The owner of the dog, Garuba Samari, who quickly disowned his pet, insisted that the boy should be handed over to the security agency, to decide what to do with him. “The dog has to follow him. “I have nothing to do with the dog again,” Samari said.

The Odionwere of the community, Pa Clifford Igiehon, and the scribe, Festus Obadiaru, who described the act as an abomination and called for a proper assessment of the suspect, said the suspect had been handed over to the police. “It is an abomination against the community. “The young man came from Uselu community in Benin City and don’t know why he decided to commit the act here in the community, he said. Confirming the incident, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Noble Uwoh, said the suspect had been arrested and taken to the state police headquarters for further investigation. He, however, said the dog had since been killed by the community.


Source: http://www.punchng.com/news/police-arrest-boy-19-for-sleeping-with-dog/

A 10-year-old primary four pupil has told the police how her teacher, Adeniran Adebayo, allegedly took advantage of her and defiled her inside the school toilet. The victim said her health teacher threatened to flog her if she made a noise while he had sex with her in the toilet. She said one of the female teachers in the school, however, heard her cry and barged into the toilet, forcing Adebayo, a father of two, to stop and hurriedly dress up. The incident happened at a private school on Olateju Ilesanmi Street, Baruwa, Ipaja area of Lagos. Narrating the incident to a Lagos State Chief Magistrate’s Court at Ebute Meta on Wednesday, the Investigating Police Officer from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, said the victim repeated the account three different times.

He said, “I interviewed the victim after the matter was brought to the SCID. She said on the fateful day, she was in school after the closing hours and was waiting for her younger brother, who attended the same school, so they could go back home together. “While waiting, she decided to get busy with her assignments. She said it was while she was doing the assignment that the teacher came and said she should follow him. “He then took her to a toilet within the school premises and threatened to cane her if she screamed, unzipped himself, undressed the pupil and made love to her.

“The girl said she was crying while this was on. It was a female teacher, who was passing by that heard her cry. The female teacher came closer to have a better look and immediately the suspect saw her, he quickly zipped up. The pupil said the female teacher told him that being a teacher, he should never have taken advantage of the girl.”The police officer said after the victim repeatedly affirmed the account, he decided to call the supposed witness. “When I called her and interviewed her, she said she didn’t see anything. I called the girl again, and she narrated the same story to me,” he added.

The Chief Magistrate, O.O. Olatunji asked the defendant if the story was true. Adebayo said, “I am the health teacher of the school. I married five years ago, and have two sons. There are six male teachers in the school. On that day, I didn’t call the girl. I only stood at the gate and asked her and her brother to go home. That was all. “I was surprised that after four days, they came to my office and arrested me. The toilet in question has never even been used by anybody.”

The chief magistrate in his reaction said the account of the suspect was not credible. “Kids hardly lie, especially when they are between the ages of six to 11. And that’s why I find it hard to believe the account of the defendant. People like you should not be in the society. If like you said there were six male teachers in your school, why did she decide to pick only you? It’s such a big shame,” he said. Present in the court were the victim and her father. The school management was not represented.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Etim Nkankuk, had asked the court to remand the suspect in prison pending the release of legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.Nkankuk had said the crime was regrettable because it happened within the school premises “where the character of the victim was supposed to be developed and built.” He said the victim sustained injuries in the course of the act. The defence counsel, Olaitan Olabode, had insisted that the alleged offence was bailable.

Olatunji, in his rulling said, “The defendant is granted bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum. The sureties should also deposit the sum of N50,000 into the account of the Chief Registrar.“One of the sureties must be a blood relation of the defendant. The case file should hastily be duplicated for legal advice from the DPP. “Meanwhile, the defendant is ordered to be remanded in prison, pending the perfection of his bail terms.”The matter was adjourned till October 15, 2014.

Credit :http://www.punchng.com/metro-plus/police-narrate-how-teacher-raped-pupil-in-toilet/

A High Court sitting in Osogbo has ordered the Commission of Enquiry on Disturbance of Public Peace set up by Governor Rauf Aregbesola to put on hold the investigation of Senator Iyiola Omisore. The Chairman of CEDPP, Justice Moshood Adeigbe, said at the resumed hearing of the panel in Osogbo on Wednesday that the panel had received an interim order from the court stopping it from probing Omisore, pending the ruling on the application filed by him before the court.

Counsel to the petitioner, Mr. Lekan Olayiwola, urged the panel to allow the petitioner to go on with the hearing of the matter despite the interim order of the court. But the chairman ruled against him, saying the panel would not disobey the order of the court. He adjourned the sitting till August19, 2014, when he said the court would have determined the application before it.

Aregbesola had set up the panel following an alleged assault on former Governor Isiaka Adeleke by Omisore and the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan. However, Omisore, who refused to appear before the panel headed to court where he got the interim order.The panel had summoned Omisore, who is the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and the minister, following a petition filed before it by Adeleke.

Adeleke alleged that Omisore, Adesiyan and one Sogo Agboola assaulted him when he went to a hotel in Osogbo, where the PDP delegation who came to the state to conduct the party’s primary election had invited all governorship aspirants to a meeting. Adeleke, who is now a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state, also alleged that Omisore and Adesiyan threatened to kill him during the meeting.


Credit: http://www.punchng.com/news/court-stops-panel-from-probing-omisore/

An elderly Spanish priest infected with Ebola died in a Madrid hospital on Tuesday, five days after being evacuated from Liberia, a hospital spokeswoman said.The 75-year-old Roman Catholic priest, Miguel Pajares, was being treated in Spain with an experimental US serum, ZMapp, after being flown to Madrid on August 7. He contracted Ebola at the Saint Joseph Hospital in the Liberian capital Monrovia where he worked with patients suffering from the disease."It is confirmed. He died at 9:28 am," said a spokeswoman for Spain's La Paz-Carlos III hospital.
The priest had been treated with ZMapp, she said.

The medicine arrived at Madrid's La Paz-Carlos III hospital on Saturday after Spain's drug safety agency exceptionally cleared its import to treat the deadly disease.Ebola has now claimed four lives in 10 days among the staff of the same Saint Joseph Hospital in Monrovia, which has since been shuttered.The hospital is run by the Juan Ciudad ONGD charity, which was established by a Spanish Roman Catholic order, the Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God. The religious order issued a statement confirming the priest's death.It thanked the government and people for their support, highlighting the "good work" by hospital staff who treated the priest.The Roman Catholic order said it would not be making further comment.

Credit:https://uk.news.yahoo.com/evacuated-spanish-priest-ebola-dies-082355263.html#GMzCwgd

A heavy rainfall late Monday night helped hundreds of residents of Gwoza, Borno State, who had been trapped on the mountains to escape to a safe haven, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt. Two of the escapees included the Emir of Gwoza, Muhammed Timta, and a district head in the town, Hakimi Ibrahim. The residents had been trapped on the mountain since Wednesday when Boko Haram insurgents ran over the town, killing scores of people and burning virtually every building including the police station, the local government secretariat, and the emir’s palace.

Hundreds of those that escaped managed to climb the rocky mountain that borders Cameroon and Adamawa, with many killed by the insurgents while trying to climb the mountain. The Boko Haram sect has since taken over Gwoza, and foiled at least two attempts by Nigerian soldiers to retake the town. They also surrounded the foot of the mountain to prevent those trapped from escaping.

The trapped residents however took advantage of the heavy rainfall on Monday night, which had made their attackers scamper to covered areas.
The residents escaped from the mountains to nearby Madagali Local Government in Adamawa State. A family member of one of the escapees, Hajia Amina, told PREMIUM TIMES that the residents, including the Emir of Gwoza, were as at Tuesday morning being moved to‎ a refugee camp in Uba, a border community between Adamawa and Borno.

The immediate past Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Borno (the state executive council was dissolved last week), Asabe Vilita, also confirmed the escape of some of the trapped Gwoza residents to PREMIUM TIMES. The immediate past Emir of Gwoza, Mr. Timta’s father, was in May killed by the Boko Haram sect which has killed over 13,000 people in northern Nigeria since its insurgency began in 2009.

Credit:https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/166567-breaking-heavy-rainfall-helps-trapped-emir-of-gwoza-others-to-escape-from-%e2%80%8eboko-haram.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=breaking-heavy-rainfall-helps-trapped-emir-of-gwoza-others-to-escape-from-%25e2%2580%258eboko-haram

A medical doctor has revealed how a nursing mother contracted the deadly Ebola virus at a Lagos hospital. PUNCH Metro learnt that the woman was the patient who visited the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation staff clinic on Muri Okunola Street in the Victoria Island area of Lagos. NNPC had issued a press statement on Friday, saying that the clinic would be shut due to a suspected case of Ebola reported in the clinic. Our correspondent gathered from the source, who had a first-hand information of the incident, that the nursing mother had first visited the First Consultant Medical Centre, Obalende.

He said, “The lady attended ante-natal at First Consultant prior to the arrival of the Liberian, Mr. Patrick Sawyer. She was delivered of her baby at the hospital after which she was discharged. “A few weeks later, Mr. Sawyer came around and was attended to by health workers. He was first treated for malaria, then typhoid, before there was high index of suspicion. He tested positive for Ebola and died.

“Then the woman, who gave birth at the hospital came back to the hospital for her baby’s immunisation. The nurses who attended to Sawyer also attended to her. “When she visited the place again last week, she discovered the place had been shut down for proper fumigation as a means of control against Ebola.”

He said the nursing mother decided to visit a neighbouring clinic which was the NNPC clinic. He said it was there she began her treatment after she fell ill. “She was first treated for Malaria. However, after some medical tests, there was a high suspicion of Ebola haemorrhagic fever. “On Friday, the Lagos State’s emergency response team on Ebola virus came around and took her to the Infectious Diseases Hospital,” he added.

Our correspondent learnt that the yet-to-be-identified mother and her baby, who were taken away from the hospital on Friday, had been quarantined. Confirming the report, the Medical Officer of Health, Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area, Dr. Wale Akeredolu, said the patient tested positive to the Ebola virus after a second test was conducted on her.

He confirmed the incident at a sensitisation programme organised for residents of the Eti-Osa Local Government Area by the council on Monday.He added, “The baby has also been quarantined to see if after the incubation period of two to 21 days, she would manifest the symptoms of Ebola.”The council boss, Abayomi Daramola, appealed to residents not to shirk their responsibilities on the pretext of running away from the virus.

He said, “This is a trying time in Nigeria. But the presence of Ebola does not mean people should run away from their responsibilities. The public apprehension is what can even spread the disease faster. So, people should just follow personal hygiene, use sanitisers and wash their hands regularly.”

Credit:http://www.punchng.com/metro-plus/how-lagos-nursing-mother-contracted-ebola-virus-doctor/

Another Lagos nurse has been tested positive to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) 22 days after the first case of the virus was recorded.
The newly wedded nurse was among the people that had direct contact to the importer of the virus into Nigeria, the late Liberian man, Patrick Sawyer.

According to the Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, her husband is among the 177 people placed under surveillance.
He revealed that nine have so far developed EVD, thus bringing the total number of cases in Nigeria to ten — two of these two have died — that is the Liberian and the nurse while eight are alive and currently on treatment.

Credit: http://thenationonlineng.net/new/ebola-another-lagos-nurse-test-positive/

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a man, Phillip Katongu, for allegedly stabbing his wife to death.

Katongu, who hails from Wamba, Nasarawa State, was apprehended by operatives of the Department of Criminal Investigations, Yaba, Lagos.

The police said the victim, Justina, was stabbed to death in a street at Oniru Estate, Maroko, Lagos, where she and her husband were living.

Our correspondent learnt that Justina was stabbed in about three places before she died. Also, the knife used for the murder had been recovered by the police.

Justina, who hailed from Kauro, Kaduna State, did not have any child for the suspect before her death.

It was also learnt that Katongu, who worked as a construction worker on the Victoria Island, had a wife outside the marriage in Nasarawa State before marrying the deceased.

However, after having allegedly killing the wife, Katongu was said to have also attempted to commit suicide before the neighbours forced the door open and rushed him to a nearby hospital where he was revived.

Forty-five-year-old Katongu, told policemen that he killed his wife because she infected him with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, among other misdeeds.

He said, “I married Justina, my second wife in December 2010. I later learnt that she had given birth to two girls for a man. The girls died of AIDS.

“However, when we first met, she did not tell me all these. I explained to her that I have a wife with children and I wanted to marry her too. Before marriage, I told her we should go to hospital to conduct HIV test, but she refused and said that she was HIV negative. So we started sleeping together.”

Katongu added that without his knowledge, his wife had been going to Abuja for medical treatment every three months for HIV, until March 2013 when she took him along.

He said it was at the hospital that she disclosed her HIV status to him.

He said, “I was angry and told the doctor who equally blamed her for not disclosing it to me. The doctor then tested me, and I was positive. We came back to Lagos and continued with the relationship because I loved her. But suddenly, she told me she wanted to pack out from my house that she was no longer interested in marrying me having had another person in Abuja. In fact, the man usually called her on phone while we were together.

“I told her that with her status, she should not go and be infecting people with the virus. And that I will kill her and kill myself. We started fighting and I stabbed her. It was in the early hours. I stabbed her three times with a knife. She shouted and people were knocking at our door.

After she died, I stabbed myself, and the people broke the door open. I woke up to find myself in a hospital. I feel very bad that I killed my wife. I loved her very much.”

Credit: http://www.punchng.com/metro-plus/my-wife-infected-me-with-hiv-killer-husband/

After all said and done, Gov Rauf Aregbesola has been announced in the early hours of this morning as the winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun. The APC candidate defeated his PDP main challenger, Sen. Iyiola Omisore, by winning in 22 local government areas while Omisore won in 8 local government areas. At the end of voting, Aregbesola polled 394,684 votes (57.4 per cent) while Omisore got 292,747 votes (42.6 per cent). The LGAs in which Omisore won include Ayedire, Boluwaduro, Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, Ife South, Isokan, and Odo Otin. The governor won in the remaining LGAS. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today declared incumbent Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as the winner of Saturday’s governorship poll in the state.

According to the INEC, Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won in 22 out of 30 local government areas of the state to defeat his main challenger, Senator Iyiola Omisore of the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP) who won in eight local government areas. Omisore’s running mate, Obada, PDP chairman lose in their polling units. Leading lights of the APC had on Thursday obtained an interlocutory injunction from an Ile-Ife high court presided over by Justice A. Abdulkarim to restrain the inspector-general of police and the director-general of the State Security Service (SSS) from tampering with their fundamental human rights pending the determination of the main suit. Initial failure of INEC to make identification tags available for APC agents nearly disrupted the poll in over 100 polling units across the state.

Also, the early results indicate that many of the leaders of the PDP in the state lost in their polling units. They include the PDP’s candidate’s running mate Hon. Adejare Bello, former minister of state for defence Erelu Olusola Obada, and the party’s chairman Gani Ola-Oluwa. Bello lost the election in his Ede North polling unit where his party scored 30 votes as against APC’s 130 votes. The state chairman of PDP, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, also lost the election in his Olorunda local government polling unit where PDP scored 95 votes as against APC’s 142 votes. Aregbesola’s APC won the election in his Ifofin Ward 08, Ilesa East local government where he got 214 to PDP’s 11 votes, while the acting chairman of the APC in the state, Elder Lowo Adebiyi, did not lose: APC trounced the PDP with 108 to 59 votes.

Former minister of state for defence Erelu Olusola Obada lost her Ibodi, Atakumosa West local government, polling unit where PDP scored 3 votes while the APC scored 300 votes. In Ede North where Senator Isiaka Adeleke hails from, the APC scored 640 votes as against the PDP’s 9 votes. However, The PDP flagbearer, Senator Omisore, made a strong showing in some polling units in Ife zone: he scored 149 votes in Ife Central Ward 05, Unit 01, while the APC scored 73 votes. Also defecting former Osun State governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola could not deliver to the APC, which scored 61 votes as against PDP that scored 125. Nonetheless, the election was preceded by claims and reports of arrest of some members of the APC by armed security operatives who allegedly stormed their residences after nightfall. Notwithstanding, the election was conducted under a peaceful atmosphere in many towns.

Aregbesola expresses delight at election process
Governor Aregbesola has expressed delight at the conduct of the governorship election in the state. Aregbesola, who was accredited in Unit 1, Ward 8, Ifofin, Ilesa, at 10:45am, said he was sure of victory in the poll. The governor, who was accompanied by his wife Sherifat and his two children, urged the people of the state to maintain the existing peace in the state. Aregbesola walked from his Ilesa home with his party supporters, expressing happiness with the way the electorate conducted themselves. Voters came out in large numbers while electoral officers arrived promptly for the exercise.

Omisore votes, decries high rate of thuggery, intimidation
Governorship candidate of the PDP Senator Omisore cast his vote at Unit 3 in Ward 1 in Moore area of Ife East LGA about noon. Speaking with newsmen shortly after he cast his ballot, he confirmed the arrest of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for various electoral offences. He said, “We cannot say we have 100 per cent confidence on INEC. You cannot have 100 per cent confidence on any process that is managed by human. Even as an engineer, you cannot have 100 per cent confidence on the efficiency of a machine. We have arrested some All Progressives Congress chieftains with electoral materials. There is intimidation and high level of thuggery. “With what I have seen, I can only pass 70 per cent confidence on INEC.”

Obanikoro defends militarization in Osun
The minister of state for defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has defended the federal government’s decision to involve the military in the Osun State governorship election, saying that it would have resulted in bloodletting. The minister, while addressing journalists in Ibadan, debunked the claim that he was in Osun State for the election. According to him, soldiers were drafted to Osun to maintain peace and orderliness during the election. “Our interest is having a free and fair election which President Jonathan and we his disciples believe in. If the military had not been drafted to Osun’s election, blood would have been flowing there. “You, gentlemen of the press, can see me in Ibadan live and direct today (Saturday). As you too see, I am not in Osun talk less of being part of the election there,” he said. He alleged that the APC had invaded Osun with thugs, saying that what APC was doing was in contradiction of electoral guidelines.

How gunmen stormed my house eve of election- Sen. Salami
A chieftain of the APC, Senator Bayo Salami, yesterday narrated how he and his family narrowly escaped death at the hands of “gunmen” who stormed his residence at the GRA in Osogbo, capital of Osun State, at about 10:05pm on Friday. The home of the former federal lawmaker is less than five minutes’ walk from a police command and directly opposite a court premises. Salami, who represented Osun Central under the Alliance for Democracy (AD) between ‎1999-2003, told newsmen at his Olu-Ode polling unit that the gunmen numbering about 15, including a lady, came in a bus and a sport utility vehicle. He said: “They beat up my security at the gate and carried him away. They did all that, so me and my family moved into one room. “They shouted ‘open the door or will we will shoot it down’. They shot at the door thinking it was a wooden door. They shot at the door several times but they could not gain entry. When you go to my house now, you will see the pellets littered around.”

He said upon their failure to gain access to him and his family, they turned on themselves, blaming one another for the failure of their mission. “They fought themselves before leaving my compound. They were saying to themselves, ‘I told you we should have come here earlier.” On whether he reported the matter to the police, he said, “I don’t have cause to go to the police. I sent text to people who could help me out.” He noted that he had a tip-off of an intended attack on him, adding that he instructed his wife, who is related to the minister of police affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, challenging him on what had transpired. He said masterminds of such attack deserve not to live in the same society with decent people. He said the minister replied saying he does not deserve the kind of text message and allegation against him. Salami said the APC would win the election as it had been a contest between the people of Osun and Omisore. “This is desperation, not democracy. They did it to me. I saw it live. With what they did yesterday (Friday) night I now know they don’t have decorum. I now know I am open for attack. If you get to my house you will see all the evidence.”


My ordeal in the hands of security agents – Lai Mohammed

Meanwhile, following the Gestapo arrest, manhandling and release of APC spokesperson Alhaji Lai Mohammed and other APC members Friday night in Oshogbo, the party has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of desecrating national institutions by using it to clamp down on the opposition. Mohammed, who alongside Mr Sunday Dare, the media aide to APC national leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Mr Afolabi Salisu, deputy chief of staff to Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, was nabbed by national security officials while in Osun State Friday night, said they were lucky to be alive to recount their experience , given their encounter with the security officials. In a statement he personally signed, the APC spokesman said their offence was not beyond the fact that he belongs to the opposition; other key officials of the PDP were allowed to walk freely in Osun State, he said. The APC spokesman said, ‘’He desecrates national institutions by wilfully using them against the opposition. This is not the democracy that many of our compatriots fought and died for. This is not the Nigeria that was envisaged by our past heroes. It is time for all concerned to step in and stop President Jonathan before he brings the country crashing down on our heads.

“Again, we call on President Jonathan to stop deceiving the world. In one breath, this president says he is committed to credible elections and that his political ambition is not worth the life of any Nigerian. “In another, he sanctions state-sponsored harassment, intimidation and even killing of ordinary Nigerians by security forces that are now the enforcement arm of the ruling party, all in the name of politics.” He explained that they were being driven to the Government House in Oshogbo when they were stopped at a military checkpoint by men in military and DSS uniforms, all hooded and armed to the teeth with AK-47 assault rifles, pistols and other weapons. He continued:” Since there was no curfew in Osun State and people were moving around freely, we felt it was a routine check. ‘’Suddenly, the men, some of them apparently drunk, ordered us out of the car, took our phones, pointed their assault rifles at our heads and said ‘you are under arrest’. They herded us into their bus like animals and drove away. There is no doubt that they knew who we are because I introduced myself!

‘’From our encounter with our tormentors, there is also no doubt that these were not just soldiers and DSS officials; there were also ex-militants and thugs, all clad in military and DSS uniforms but apparently lacking in any training! We also witnessed how men in military and DSS uniform fired their guns at the gate leading to the residence of Senator Isiaka Adeleke to force it open! ‘’We asked them why we were being arrested, but they ignored our question as they drove for close to one hour before veering into a compound that turned out to be the offices of the DSS. There, we met people who had been previously arrested and stripped of their clothing, many of them bloodied from the beatings to which they must have been subjected. ‘’We were herded to one side as our tormentors marched around triumphantly, in what could well have been a scene from the Ukraine! “We were waiting for our turn to be stripped of our apparels and taken along with those who were arrested earlier to the DSS cells when a man who is apparently a senior DSS official intervened and ordered our release. The men who arrested us, apparently unhappy at the order to set us free, rejected the order, until the man asserted his authority and even accompanied us to where we were arrested from.”

He said it was at this point they discovered that their driver had been badly beaten and even robbed of his personal belongings by the same security agents being paid by the taxpayers to protect the citizens.‘’This arrest is not about Lai Mohammed, Sunday Dare or Afolabi Salisu, whoever we may be, but about the constitutionally-guaranteed rights of Nigerians, ordinary Nigerians, to move around freely, associate with any party of their choice and express their opinions without being molested or arrested. ‘’The way and manner we were harassed, arrested and dehumanized on Friday night show that Nigerian citizens can no longer be sure that the security agents they encounter on the roads or anywhere else are well-trained and highly-disciplined men and women in the military, police, DSS and others that we used to know.“What we have now are Jonathan’s soldiers, policemen and DSS officials who have since stopped working for the nation but are now the enforcement arm of the PDP. ‘’Our party, the APC, has no doubt whatsoever that the depravity being exhibited under President Jonathan’s watch, in the name of politics, has his imprimatur.

We have no doubt that elections, which should be a celebration of democracy, have now been turned to war because of the desperation of President Jonathan to win re-election at all costs. We have no doubt that the anarchic minister of state for defence and minister of police affairs, who are leading the ‘troops’ in Osun as they did in Ekiti, are taking their cue from President Jonathan. ‘’If those ministers can move around freely in Osun and elsewhere, why can’t other Nigerians, irrespective of the party they belong to? If a PDP hireling like Chris Uba can be put in the command of 50 soldiers of the Nigerian Army, why should anyone still be under any illusion that the Nigerian Army is still serving the nation? Where else in the world is a thug commanding disciplined forces? ‘’We Lai Mohammed, Sunday Dare and Afolabi Salisu are just fortunate to be alive. The guns pointed at our heads by drunken armed men could have gone off! Since our arrest took place in the dark, we could have been driven to an unknown destination and shot dead! This is a dangerous time for Nigeria and her democracy. Irrespective of the outcome of the Osun election, democracy has been dealt a near-mortal blow. 73,000 ‘security agents’, including the military, police, DSS, Civil Defence, ex-militants, thugs and murderers, deployed to police election in just one state? There is no better indication that we are in a militarized democracy.”

Akande condemns usage of army, SSS for poll

Meanwhile, former national chairman of the APC Chief Bisi Akande has condemned the usage of key national institutions for partisan politics, saying that it would spell doom for the nation.Speaking at his Ila Orangun country home yesterday, Akande wondered why all the security organizations in the country would be involved in conducting an election all in a bid to arrive at a pre-determined agenda. “It is sad what I am witnessing today. I hope you know the number of security that was deployed for this poll. And they came with a pre-determined agenda. Many of our members are being intimidated, others have been arrested, some are in hiding all because they are desperate to win. ‘I am not happy with the conduct of INEC so far. Many of the NYSC members trained for this exercise have been jettisoned and another set brought in from Abuja. We don’t even know whether they are actually NYSC members. “In this town last night, more than 40 members of the APC including an 80-year-old man were arrested. The man was taken to Osogbo and later dropped on the road while others were driven away. “The man did not even know where he was dropped. This is political brigandage, irresponsible governance, unwarranted impunity. This is a threat to democracy. ‘”My generation is on its way out; it is you the young ones that I pity. If this election is rigged, it will be the beginning of the end for our democracy. This desperation towards 2015 is sad,” he said. He called on INEC to allow the will of the people to prevail, adding that the APC would accept the result if it.

FG’s war on Osun people mustn’t go unchallenged – Falana


Lagos lawyer and human rights activists, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) said last night that despite Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s victory in yesterday’s governorship poll in Osun State, the war declared by the federal government on the people of the state must not go unchallenged. In a statement he personally issued, Falana noted that an election that was fully militarised to the extent that people were arrested and detained and disenfranchised cannot be said to be credible, fair and free. According to him, “the deployment of 73,000 armed security personnel drawn from the Nigerian Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, State Security Service, Federal Road Safety Commission, Nigerian Prisons Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigerian Security and Defence Corps etc. for the election by President Goodluck Jonathan was a declaration of war on the law abiding citizens of Osun State”. He lamented similar violations of the law that were cordoned in the recently conducted election in Ekiti state turned out to be the impunity that characterised the governorship election in Osun State yesterday. He said, “Therefore, Governor Aregbesola as the chief security officer of Osun state must ensure that those who are responsible for the breaches of all aspects of the law and the infringements of the fundamental rights of innocent people are brought to book.

“While congratulating Governor Rauf Aregbesola for his well deserved victory in the Osun state governorship election held on August 9, 2014 the unprecedented militarization of the electoral process should not be left unchallenged”. Giving instance of human right violations during the election, Falana said more disturbing was the deployment of snippets who were permitted to wear masks, adding that “the criminal elements engaged in shooting sporadically into the air to intimidate the people of Osun State.“On the eve of the election they arrested many people who did not commit any offense whatsoever. One of such illegal arrests took place at Oke Ila in Ifedayo local government where an 80-year old lawyer, Chief Dapo Fakayode and 50 other people were taken to an unknown destination. “They were eventually traced to the compound of a retired army captain at a neighboring town where they were held incommunicado throughout the duration of the election. Through my appeal to the Police Authorities Chief Fakayode was released unconditionally after he had spent over 10 hours in illegal custody. But the 50 others were held illegally and prevented from exercising their democratic right to vote for the candidates of their choice.

Credit: http://leadership.ng/news/380563/osun-governorship-election-aregbesola-wins

The defeat of Nigerian soldiers in Gwoza puts the strategic town firmly in the hands of Boko Haram militants three days after they first invaded the town, killing over 100 civilians and several soldiers. An ambulance belonging to 213 battalion is stationed in Mubi. Some units of the Nigerian Army 213 battalion, Operation Task Force Mike and 234 battalion, which attempted to retake Gwoza Township from Islamist militant Boko Haram, beat a hasty retreat on Thursday night as the militants showed superior firepower, SaharaReporters has learned.

The soldiers were reported to have been led into the battle by Lieutenant BMG Martins and Lt. Colonel Agu of the 234 Battalion, formerly Special Operations Battalion (SOB), but they were given the surprise of their lives when they ran into stiff resistance from the militants as they advanced on Gwoza from the Madagali axis. The soldiers retreated but the militants set off in hot pursuit, chased them and snatched one of their tanks as well as the driver of the tank. They then called the soldier’s wife and informed her that her husband was in captivity.

Col. Agu has himself not been since then.SaharaReporters sources said that following the encounter, some 30 Hilux pick up vans were used to bring back to Mubi in Adamawa State several wounded and dead soldiers. The defeat of Nigerian soldiers in Gwoza puts the strategic town firmly in the hands of Boko Haram militants three days after they first invaded the town, killing over 100 civilians and several soldiers. It is the second time in 24 hours that Nigerians soldiers were defeated by Boko Haram in an attempt to retake Gwoza. The army had recently retaken Damoboa, over two weeks after Boko Haram overran the town and planted its flag.

Nigerian army sources in Abuja said that following the attack, they have yet to find Lt. Col Agu. They further confirmed that about three military alpha jets have been deployed to the area to assist in the rescue of soldiers who might be trapped in mountains surrounding Gwoza. Military sources blame the Brigade commander for asking the contingent to withdraw from Gwoza after they made contact with the terrorists, adding that the hasty retreat emboldened Boko Haram militants to chase and kill the soldiers during the unusual retreat.

Credit: http://saharareporters.com/2014/08/08/nigerian-troops-flee-gwoza-boko-haram-captures-tank-and-driver-commander-whereabouts

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Friday in Abuja declared the control and containment of the Ebola virus in Nigeria, a National Emergency. Accordingly, the President has directed the Federal Ministry of Health to work in collaboration with the State Ministries of Health, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to ensure that all possible steps are taken to effectively contain the threat of the Ebola virus in line with international protocols and best practices.

President Jonathan also approved a Special Intervention Plan and the immediate release of N1.9 billion for its implementation, to further strengthen on-going steps to contain the virus such as the establishment of additional isolation centres, case management, contact tracing, deployment of additional personnel, screening at borders, and the procurement of required items and facilities. The President commends the vigilance of aviation and health authorities in Lagos who identified and isolated the index case in Nigeria, the late Patrick Sawyer, an American-Liberian who flew into the country.

He also applauds the good work of health authorities at both State and Federal levels who have traced persons who had contact with him, isolated other identified cases and embarked on massive public enlightenment. President Jonathan calls for even greater vigilance and co-operation at all levels to stop the Ebola virus from spreading further. As the effective implementation of the Federal Government's Special Intervention Plan will require other stakeholders to take certain precautionary steps that are supportive of the government’s initiative, the President calls on members of the public to follow all directives by health authorities and report any suspected Ebola case to the nearest health facility for immediate medical attention.

He also enjoins the public to desist from spreading false information about Ebola which can lead to mass hysteria, panic and misdirection, including unverified suggestions about the prevention, treatment, cure and spread of the virus. President Jonathan urges that the movement of corpses from one community to the other, and from overseas into the country should be stopped forthwith. Every death should be reported to the relevant authorities, and special precautions should be taken in handling corpses. Religious and political groups, spiritual healing centres, families, associations and other bodies should, in the meantime, discourage gatherings and activities that may unwittingly promote close contact with infected persons or place others at risk.

Public enlightenment agencies, including privately-owned media organs should support government’s efforts and disseminate correct information in all Nigerian languages, about preventive personal hygiene measures, the nature of the Ebola virus, modes of transmission and consequential steps to be taken in the event of infection. President Jonathan appeals to State governments and private day care, nursery, primary and secondary schools owners to consider the option of extending the current school holiday until such a time when a national reassessment of the level of the Ebola threat is conducted.

The President further directs the National Emergency Management Agency and similar agencies at the state level to strengthen their public enlightenment campaigns and to use their networks to distribute hand sanitisers and other protective items nationwide. He has also directed the aviation and health authorities to embark on immediate intensification of the screening of travelers at all the nation’s borders. President Jonathan reassures everyone that the Government of Nigeria will continue to take every step, deploy all resources, and mobilize every support and assistance to check the spread of Ebola in the country. Medical workers and other health professionals are expected to regard this declaration of a National Emergency as a patriotic call to duty and service.

Credit: http://saharareporters.com/2014/08/08/president-jonathan-declares-national-emergency-ebola-approves-n19-billion-special

In an official letter published today, Dr. Kayode Obembe, President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), resigned from his post. Crisis within the organization regarding whether or not their current strike would end in face of the Ebola outbreak and insurgency attacks is purported to be the cause.

I want to make it categorically clear that I stand by every letter of the document I signed - "that the strike was suspended". Since upon my integrity and honour, I cannot continue to drive the doctrine that the strike continues," Dr. Obembe wrote. "What I have written, I have written," he stated.

After an extended delegates' meeting yesterday, the country's foremost medical doctors' union decided to continue their strike, despite a voice vote to call it off. Voice votes are not recognized by NMA's constitution. A legitimate vote called for a continuation of the strike.

Credit:http://saharareporters.com/2014/08/08/leader-nigerian-medical-association-resigns

Just heard a while ago that the Nigerian Medical Association has called off its one month-long doctors' strike due to the #Ebola outbreak. More details to follow Soon.

Fuji music legend, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal was reportedly shot by unidentified assailants on Sunday August 3rd. According to reports, KWAM 1, as he is popularly called, was driving himself back home from a political rally in Osun State when the shooting occurred. Although he survived the shooting, the gunmen are still at large. As at the time of this report, it is not known if this was a robbery or an attempt on his life.

Sources said KWAM is still in shock and at a loss as to why anyone would want him dead.

Credit:http://dailypost.ng/2014/08/05/fuji-star-kwam-1-shot-unknown-assailants-political-rally-osun-state/?utm_source=&utm_medium=facebook

Former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun State on Tuesday urged the people of the state against voting for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

Oyinlola, who publicly declared for the All Progressives Congress at the mega rally of the party held at the Osogbo Township Stadium, on Tuesday, accused Omisore of being selfish.

He urged the people of the state to vote for Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who incidentally, was the one who unseated him from office after a marathon legal battle which lasted over three-and-a-half years.

The former National Secretary of the PDP, who spoke in Yoruba language, said that his former party was not fair to the Yoruba people, saying there was no Yoruba person occupying any of the top 20 political offices in the country.

Oyinlola alleged that he was badly treated by the PDP which, he said he was very loyal to.

Oyinlola said, “The candidate of their party is selfish. I don’t know how Bola Ige was killed. Although Omisore was accused of killing Bola Ige, God knows who was responsible for the killing.

“Let us look at this; he (Omisore) picked Prof. Wale Oladipo, who was in the prison with him (over Bola Ige’s case) to replace me as the National Secretary of the PDP. He nominated Jelili Adesiyan who was also with him at Agodi Prison as a minister and he installed Gani Olaoluwa, who was also with them at the prison as the PDP chairman in the state.

“Does it mean that we cannot hold public office except we are former prisoners? The running mate (Adejare Bello) is the only one different. The PDP is now empty; they pushed former Governor Isiaka Adeleke out, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade (Labour Party candidate) left them when he saw the way they were doing and I have also left them for the APC.”

Oyinlola added that Omisore had nothing good in stock for the people of the state while hailing the performance of Aregbesola who he urged the people to support.

But the Chairman of the PDP in Osun State, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, in a statement issued to react to Oyinlola’s defection, wished him well in his new political party.

Olaoluwa said that the former governor required prayers as he started a political journey with the APC, which he described as a party of professional liars.

The PDP chairman said Oyinlola’s defection was beyond the ordinary while stating that the secret behind it would soon be blown open.

He said, “I am sure that his immediate and extended family members will even be disappointed. As a political party, the PDP in Osun has shock absorbers to contain such eventuality as we are always prepared legally, constitutionally and politically.”


Credit: http://www.punchng.com/news/why-osun-must-not-vote-for-omisore-oyinlola/

National leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has described President Goodluck Jonathan as incompetent and unfit to rule the country.

The APC leader spoke in Osogbo, on Tuesday, during the rally held for the re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, in Osogbo.

He said, “President Goodluck Jonathan does not understand what it means to govern. He knows nothing about good governance. He’s confused.

“How can he bring soldiers to Osun because of election and claimed to be protecting youth corps members, when he should have used that force to stop the killing of our people in the North?”

“People of Osun must not collect bribe from Peoples Democratic Party. We have offered you better life, good jobs will be offered the youths and we will maintain the register of progress in this state.

“APC is the party for the masses with the capacity to care for the people. I want you to know that the FG is using your money to pay the soldiers and the police brought here. Don’t run away from them so that you can protect your votes. If they fail in their duty to provide security for you, we will protest their oppression. They cannot chase us away from our votes.”

National chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun, said the party would not recognise any government formed through a stolen mandate in 2015, saying that the party would set up a government of the people in its place.

Aside from Oyegun, Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomole, Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi, a former chairman of the party, Bisi Akande, Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, Kwara State governor, Abdulfattah Ahmed, his predecessor in office, Senator Bukola Saraki, a former governors of Osun State, Isiaka Adeleke and Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as well as other leaders of the party were present at the rally.

Credit: http://www.punchng.com/news/jonathan-incompetent-to-rule-nigeria-tinubu/

The estranged National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party and a former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has said that he will defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress in Osogbo today.

When contacted on the telephone by our correspondent, on Monday, Oyinlola, who confirmed that he would join the APC, said: “So it is. I am joining the APC.”

Sources within the APC told our correspondent that Oyinlola would join the APC today at the mega rally of the ruling party which is scheduled to hold in Osogbo.

The development has generated excitement in the camp of the APC because the former governor is considered to be very influential in the politics of the state just as his defection is seen as a boost to Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s chances of securing a second term in office in the election holding on Saturday.

It became obvious that Oyinlola’s crisis with the PDP was far from being over as he stayed away from the PDP mega rally which was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu; and the leaders of the party last Saturday.

If Oyinlola defects to the APC as scheduled, then all former governors in the state would be members of the ruling party.

Aregbesola had disclosed recently at a campaign in Iwo that Oyinlola had become a member of the APC.

Aregbesola said, “When the PDP was united as one party, we defeated them. Now the good ones among them have left and are now with us. All former elected governors in the state are now with Aregbesola.

“The first elected governor, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke, is with us; the second governor, Baba (Bisi) Akande is with us. The third governor Omo’ba (Prince), is also with us. I can say this but they cannot say it.

“But a former deputy governor, who was chased away from office is the one they are banking on to win the election, they are joking.

“Their candidate has never won any election and he cannot win this one. The only election he won was a gift to him from the prince and he did not win but the election was manipulated for him.”

The National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Chief Bisi Akande and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had immediately after the defeat of Governor Kayode Fayemi by Mr. Ayo Fayose in Ekiti State, visited Oyinlola at his residence in Okuku to woo him to join the party.

Oyinlola is expected to be received by the national leaders of the APC at the mega rally.

The Chairman of the PDP in Osun State, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, when contacted, wished Oyinlola well in his new party.

Olaoluwa said, “There is neither a permanent friend nor a permanent enemy in politics. We wish Oyinlola well in his new party. But we are expecting him to congratulate us on August 10. We are expecting his congratulatory message after we might have been declared the winner of the election.

“The people of the state are against Aregbesola. So, no matter the number of former governors teaming up with him, he will fail. Aregbesola will soon become a former governor because Senator Iyiola Omisore is winning the election by the grace of God.

“The APC is now the party of former governors in Osun State. Aregbesola should be preparing to join the league of former governors.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/at-last-oyinlola-defects-to-apc/

Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, has just confirmed that one of the doctors who attended to Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian, who recently died of Ebola in Nigeria, is now sick with the disease.

Chukwu said two other people placed under quarantine were showing signs of the disease, although it is too early to say if their symptoms relates to Ebola.

Sawyer was Nigeria’s first case of Ebola death two weeks ago, and since his demise there have been widespread fears that some of the more than 70 people he had contact with also develop the virus.

Credit: http://saharareporters.com/2014/08/04/nigerian-doctor-who-attended-liberian-man-comes-down-ebola-virus-lagos