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The federal government has announced that purveyors of hate speeches will henceforth be dealt with according to the law.

In fact, vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said those who promotes hate speeches in the country will be treated as terrorists.

Nigerian Army, in furtherance to President Muhammdu Buhari’s nationwide broadcast where he condemned recent hate speeches especially in the social media, has said it is monitoring social media to check false and hate speeches.

To avoid trouble and not fall victim of government barking and biting, it is important you understand what is hate speech.

So what constitute hate speech?

Miebara Rommel in his recent article “Why Hate Speech is Wrong and Should be Illegal, wrote “Frankly, the concept of hate speech has myriad of explanations and dimensions. But I found the definition of Prof. Christian Ezeibe of the University of Nigeria succinct. He defines Hate speech as “any speech, gesture, conduct, writing or display which could incite people to violence or prejudicial action.”

He went on to say the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination gave an elaborate explanation.

It noted that hate speech includes: “(a) all dissemination of ideas based on racial or ethnic superiority or hatred, by whatever means; (b) incitement to hatred, contempt or discrimination against members of a group on grounds of their race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin; (c) threats or incitement to violence against persons or groups on the grounds in (b) above; (d) expression of insults, ridicule or slander of persons or groups or justification of hatred, contempt or discrimination on the grounds in (b) above, when it clearly amounts to incitement to hatred or discrimination; (e) participation in organizations and activities which promote and incite racial discrimination.”

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Now you know… So stay out of trouble.

Source: http://www.breezereporters.com/what-you-should-know-about-hate-speech-and-stay-out-of-trouble/

The Nigerian Army has yet again rescued another chibok girl, barely 72 hours after the first rescue.

According to the army, more girls have fled Boko Haram captivity after military operations.

In a statement circulated by PRNigeria on Thursday night, Usman Sani Kukasheka, colonel and army spokesman, confirmed the development.

The name of the Chibok schoolgirl now with the Nigerian army was given as Serah Luka, and she was quoted as saying three other girls ran from their captors following the military operations.

“At about 11.00am today, Thursday, 19th May 2016, troops of 231 Battalion, 331 Artillery Regiment (AR), Detachment of Armed Forces Special Forces (AFSF) 2, Explosive Ordinance (EOD) Team and Civilian Vigilante group of Buratai, conducted clearance operations at Shettima Aboh, Hong and Biladdili general area in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State,” the statement said.

“During the operations, the troops killed 35 Boko Haram terrorists and recovered several arms and ammunition and other items. In addition, they rescued 97 women and children held captives by the Boko Haram terrorists.

“We are glad to state that among those rescued is a girl believed to be one of the Chibok Government Secondary School girls that were abducted on 14th April 2014 by the Boko Haram terrorists. Her name is Miss Serah Luka, who is number 157 on the list of the abducted school girls. She is believed to be the daughter of Pastor Luka.

“During debriefing the girl revealed that she was a JSS1 student of the school at the time they were abducted. She further added that she hails from Madagali, Adamawa State. She averred that she reported at the school barely two months and one week before her unfortunate abduction along with other girls over two years ago.

“She added that there (are) other three girls who fled from Shettima Aboh when the troops invaded the area earlier today which led to their rescue. She is presently receiving medical attention at the medical facility of Abogo Largema Cantonment, Biu, Borno State.”

Source: http://www.breezereporters.com/breaking-army-rescues-another-chibok-girl/

Some Boko Haram leaders are said to have surrendered to troops and confessed to running out of food, the Nigerian Army has said.

Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman who gave updates on operation CRACKDOWN on Boko Haram, made the revelation in a statement on Friday.

The statement reads:

Troops of 26 and 223, Battalions, Army Headquarters Strike Group and Armed Forces Special Forces have continued offensive operations in furtherance of Operation CRACKDOWN. The troops have cleared remnants of Boko Haram in Izza and Njima general area. Although they did not encounter any Boko Haram terrorists, there were noticeable fresh footprints, motorcycle and bicycle tyre marks in the seemingly abandoned places.

However, the troops came across and recovered 8 abandoned vehicles belonging to Boko Haram terrorists. The advancing troops also cleared all Boko Haram terrorists’ hideouts along the way including their camps at Bula Buba and its environs where they recovered 1 Hilux, 1 Canter truck, 15 AK-47 rifle magazines, a 60mm High Explosive Bomb, 200 G3 rifle magazines, 3 Browning Machine Gun tripod stands and a 60mm mortar bipod stand. Other recoveries include several metal links of 7.62mm (NATO) and 12.mm ammunitions.

In their area of operations, troops of 121 Task Force Battalion today, intercepted 35 civilians comprising 6 men, 7 women, 7 males minors and 15 minor females who claimed to be coming from Balaganje village. However, preliminary investigation reveals that they had been living in Balaganje as captives by Boko Haram terrorists who threatened to kill them if they attempt to escape. They are being investigated further.

In a related development, quite a number of Boko Haram terrorists have continued to surrender. Yesterday, out of 16 male adults that came along with their families to troop’s from Balazala and Ahamdaga Makaranta villages in the Dure district, 7 of them confessed to be Boko Haram terrorist members.

However, on proper interrogation, the suspects confirmed to be Boko Haram terrorists with some of them having specialized trade and status. Three of them were Ameers (leaders) in the Boko Haram terrorist group’s hierarchy; for instance, Hamidu Buba was found to be the Ameer (leader) of tailors, while Musa Buba is Ameer of mechanics and Ali Idrissa, an Ameer of carpenters. The others confessed to be “Rijal” (fighters) adding that they have participated in various Boko Haram attacks on so many villages and towns. They further stated that the ongoing crackdown operation is really taking its toll on them as they can barely survive.

As a matter of fact, they confessed that they were all fed up with the situation which has become worse as a result of Operation CRACKDOWN. They also stated that the Boko Haram terrorists have ran out of food and they now survive on roots and unripe mangoes. They also said 2 of their members sent for food were killed at Frigi crossing point some days earlier by troops, (you may recall that we reported the military’s ambush at the crossing point).

The troops of 122 Task Force Battalion injunction with some elements of 26 Task Force Brigade on receipt of information from some escapees, embarked a clearance patrol to Fadagwe Muni, along Yamtake-Gwoza road. On sighting the troops, the suspected Boko Haram terrorists fled and left behind an abducted 16 year old female cripple.

The terrorists also abandoned large stock of grains stored in underground pit. Other items recovered include grinding machine, 2 tricycles and 1 photographs printer. The troops nevertheless pursued the fleeing insurgents and killed some of them.

Similarly, troops of 121 Task Force Battalion also conducted clearance operation at Kadera Dam and Anguwar Fulani, while troops of 192 Battalion that conducted similar operation to Guduf, Nagadio, Duma and Kusarha. The Boko Haram terrorists ran to the top of the mountains and they were engaged heavy mortar fire.
The 7 Division and its supporting elements has also intensified the clearance and rescue operations deep inside Sambisa forest. On Friday, they had encounter with Boko Haram terrorists at Alafa in which they cleared all the terrorists hibernating there.
The troops in various axis have continued to exploit further till they accomplish the mission of Operation CRACKDOWN.

In a related development, vigilant 7 Division Garrison, have arrested 2 suspected Boko Haram terrorists fuel suppliers with 2 Golf Volkswagen vehicles with registration numbers Borno MAG-112XA and Borno AA739-KBG.They were arrested at NNPC Mega Filling Station, along Damboa Road, Maiduguri at 2.00pm today, Friday, 5th May 2016.

The two suspected Boko Haram terrorists modified the booth of their cars with constructed tanks to take in more fuel for their accomplices hiding in the forests. One of the reconstructed tanks contained150 litres of petrol, while the other was empty.
Both suspects have been handed over to the Joint Intelligent Centre for further interrogation.

Source: http://www.breezereporters.com/photos-boko-haram-leaders-confess-running-food-army/

Students’ protest at the University of Lagos continued to take dramatic twists following an indefinite close down announced by the authorities of the institution on Thursday.

The protesting students were aggrieved over what they described as hike in price of commodities on campus, irregular sharing of power supply, unavailability of sachet water and slow down of works at the sites of the university halls of residence.

Meanwhile, in the build up to the protest, the UNILAG Students’ Union (ULSU) had on Wednesday has ordered students to embark on demonstration to express their grievances.

The public relations officer of the ULSU, Jumai Fagbui in a statement titled: “Our reasons for the protest,” described the issues as affecting the mental capabilities of the students.

Led by the ULSU President, Mohammed Olaniyan and the speaker of the ULSU Parliament, Adeyanju Adeonipekun, the protest on Wednesday took off from the students union building, beside Amphitheatre.

The students marched across also faculties to mobilize for the protest before they headed to the senate building where the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ramon A Bello was expected to address the angry students.

But, the protest continued on Thursday as the the Vice Chancellor was unavailable to address them.

The management , in a statement issued after an emergency meeting with the university senate on Thursday had noted that “the issue of poor municipal services is a national one.”

Following students lingering protest, the management further directed that the university be close down with immediate effect, in order to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

The statement which also announced the suspension of all academic activities till further notice, directed the students to vacate their respective halls of residence not later than 10am on Friday.

“All students are hereby advised the comply with this directive. Any student that chooses defy this order will face the wrath of the law as the police have been directed to enforce compliance,” the statement read in part.

CfhtspWWEAEcgy-The directive seemed to meet the deaf ears of the students leaders as they defied the order.

USLU was quick to give a counter directive to the students urging them to remain indoor until further information by the Union.

The union said it was unfortunate that the UNILAG management could not manage what it described as a simple issue.

A jointly signed statement by the ULSU executives, added that the Vice Chancellor has demonstrated his insouciance towards the welfare of the students.

ULSU said, “In light of this public display of irresponsibility, the Union wishes to state that:

1) It is an inhumane move with a dastardly motive to demand the vacation of students from the University community. This is because it has got to the notice of the Union that certain hoodlums are around the school to waylay students who are trying to leave the school.

“2) Also, students who leave in distant areas have confessed that they do not have transport fare to transport themselves home. This is understandable as the notice for vacation just got to students this morning at about 6:30, leaving us with less than 4hrs to vacate.

“This is a display of lower drunkenness and gross irresponsibility on the part of the VC and the University Management as a whole. They have displayed that they do not have the interest of the students at heart. They have shown that they are misfits with regard to parenthood.”

Olaniyan noted that the decision of the management to sack the students from school could make students become victims of adverse circumstances by hoodlums.

ULSU - UNILAGThe ULSU leader who said leaving the school at that moment was dangerous assured the students that the union was on top of the situation.

It was, however, learnt that the union president and his PRO were arrested by the police on Friday morning.

Reacting to the arrest, Olaniyan confirmed the arrest. He note that they were released on Friday morning from the police station but had their phones seized by the police.

In a separate statement, Olaniyan advised the students to join the protest urging them to resist the urge to engage in any acts of violence or vandalism.

“We also endear students to avoid confrontation with policemen on campus,” he added.

Students claimed the protest has been peaceful as there have been no casualties recorded from Wednesday till Friday.

But, as of the time of filing this report (Saturday) battle-ready policemen were still seen at various joints in the campus just as students in their numbers trooped out of the campus.

Meanwhile, the police may be waiting for the night to descend before they reach for the rest of students, who are still present in the halls of the campus.

Source: http://www.breezereporters.com/unilag-crisis-how-management-ulsu-face-off-led-to-academic-shut-down/

Police divisional headquarters, Panti in Yaba is currently on fire.

The fire started at about 1:30pm at the police station also known as State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Panti, Yaba area of Lagos.

Eyewitness told Greennews.ng that Policemen were scaring passersby away, preventing them from taking pictures.

Other sources claimed that the inferno has hit a Police barrack beside the station.



It is not immediately clear what was responsible for the fire outbreak

[b]Greennews.ng [/b]learnt that men of the Lagos State Fire Service arrive the scene already

According to the eyewitness, there is great panic among residents.

Source: http://greennews.ng/breaking-state-cid-panti-yaba-is-on-fire/

Top Nigerian disc jockey, DJ Neptune might have just joined or perhaps identified with the police.

The top celebrity DJ took to his Instagram page to share a police badge looking photo tagged “Celeb Police” with the caption; #NoWhereToHide


The state of confusion is that this doesn’t look closely related to the usual Nigerian police badge but could be a further initiative of the Inspector General of Police, Inspector Solomon Arase in a bid to engage the youths in the security affairs of the nation.

Late last year, the mavin singer, Korede Bello was endorsed by as the first Nigeria Police Youth Ambassador.

Meanwhile let all fingers be kept crossed while more details unfold.

Source: http://greennews.ng/dj-neptune-now-a-police/

Nigerian currency, the Naira, continues to depreciate in the parallel market on Thursday as it traded at 400 naira to a US Dollar.

NairaWatch recalled that the currency on Wednesday sold at N385 to a dollar but barely 24 hours, it has crashed by N15 to sell at new record low of N400 to a Dollar.

According to a Bureau De Change operator, the crash was due to soaring demand for the Dollar in the foreign exchange market.

UPDATE

Already, the naira has depreciated by N60 against the dollar this week in the parallel market, when compared with the closing exchange rate of N325 per dollar Friday last week.


The currency, however, remained stable at the official interbank foreign exchange market as the interbank rate closed N199.34.

The naira has been on steady decline since Tuesday January 12th 2016, when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) stopped weekly dollar sale to BDCs.

Source: http://greennews.ng/nairawatch-naira-crashes-further-now-n400-to-a-dollar/

Senator Dino Melaye, in a response to former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter to the national assembly, has said Obasanjo’s administration exposed the legislative arm to corruption through an alleged bribery of lawmakers to support his third term agenda in 2007.

This was contained in a statement obtained through one of Senator Dino Melaye’s social broadcasters and personally signed by the senator. Melaye who noted that he had tremendous respect for the former president Olusegun Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo as a respected pan Africanist and committed patriot, said Obasanjo’s letter was “a misplacement of anger”.

“Our leader is mistaken the 8th National Assembly as the same Senate Assembly that defrauded him in 2007. Those who collected his money and refused to implement the 3rd term agenda. I appeal to Baba that we are not the ones please. After 9 years of that bribery saga, the first of its kind, I expect forgiveness to have taken place.

“There was the case of bribery introduced by the Obasanjo regime in the desperate attempt to remove speaker Ghali Umar Na’Abba from office then”, Melaye revealed.


According to him; “In fact there was open display of that bribery money on the floor of the house. That government exposed the National Assembly to corruption and easy money.

Taking a dig at the former president, Melaye asked if he (Obasanjo) was not planning to distract attention from the Halliburton and Siemens scandal which occurred during Obasanjo’s administration between 1999 and 2007.

“I hope this is not in an attempt to cover up and distract attention from the Halliburton and Siemens corruption allegations”.

“While I am against corruption anywhere in Nigeria, I will not support accusations based on anger and vindictiveness. The 8th Senate should also look inwardly and purge herself of all the deliberate misgivings of the past. Nigeria must work and we must support the anti-corruption stand of the Buhari Administration. God bless Nigeria, Melaye added.

Source: http://greennews.ng/letter-dino-melaye-blasts-obasanjo-says-he-exposed-national-assembly-to-corruption/

Many unbelievable and untold tales of Boko Haram terror attacks in the north-eastern Nigeria were revealed when Greennews.ng visited some of the most ravaged towns in Adawama state. Among the many unpleasant stories was that of a young man identified as Daniel Abiara who was murdered by Boko Haram terrorists while returning to save his fiancée. His fiancée was believed to be among Boko Haram captives during Mubi invasion.

Daniel Abiara who was in his late 20s, is from Ogbomosho, Oyo state, southwest Nigeria, he was working as a personal assistant with a Cleric in Mubi town. The Cleric described Daniel as a diligent man. Daniel later got another job with Adamawa Primary Education Board even as he was preparing to get married to his heart-rob, Jumoke.


Their wedding was scheduled for April 2015 in Mubi town but unfortunately, it was never to be, as ragtag Boko Haram terrorists launched an unprecedented attack on Mubi and other neighbouring towns on October 29, 2014

Boko Haram invasion of Mubi town and other local government areas left residents with sad memories, as terrorists killed innocent civilians, their family members, plundered their towns and looted their properties mindlessly. Many ran helter sketer in no particular direction. Parents ran up north while children went southwards, in a bid for survival.

The invasion is perhaps the saddest moment for most of the residents in Mubi, they woke up that Wednesday morning and came to the reality that terrorists were about to chase them away from their homes, take over their lands and properties. No one remembers the other, husband left wife behind, and children ran in the direction they thought was safe, everyone ran for their lives. “It was a war situation at that time”, a resident revealed.

During that time, neither love nor relationship matters, what mattered was life and survival. Specifically, it was about ones survival before thinking of anyone else. “It was a horrible experience”, the Cleric stressed.

Daniel, like every other person, ran for his life, he escaped the Boko Haram invasion, an invasion that led to the death of thousands and over hundred still missing till date. Daniel escaped to Yola through a forest. On getting to Yola, he tried to initiate contact with his fiancée, Jumoke, but efforts to reach her proved abortive. Jumoke’s lines were not connecting.

He apparently thought that his fiancée may have been trapped in Mubi town and possibly held incommunicado by Boko Haram terrorists, Daniel decided to return to Mubi in search for his love, Jumoke.

As Daniel sneaked into Mubi, He met a completely different Mubi town, shattered and littered with corpses. He was said to have searched Jumoke’s house where he was eventually caught by the Boko Haram members. Daniel was not spared by the terrorists; he was shot dead.

Unfortunately, his fiancée whom he had gone to save had already escaped the Boko Haram invasion. Jumoke escaped to Cameroun with some of her family members.

On hearing the death of her fiancé, Jumoke wept bitterly, she was said to have gone days without eating as she mourned the love of her life, Daniel. It was a very sad story here in Mubi, the cleric said.

At the time of filing this report, Jumoke is still unmarried, she is currently teaching in a primary school and also studies at the Adamawa State University located in Mubi town.

Boko Haram October 29, 2014 invasion left many with broken homes, shattered dreams and many irreparable damages. Many residing in the towns could not imagine another Boko Haram invasion.

Source: http://greennews.ng/inside-boko-haram-10-love-struck-man-sacrifices-self-for-fiancee/

The Comptroller-General of Customs Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) has ordered officers of the Nigeria Customs Service to declare their asset, describing it as part of new measure to ensure transparency in the agency.

According to a statement signed by Customs Public Relations Officer Wale Adeniyi, all Officers and Men of the Nigeria Customs Service are to make full disclosure of their assets in a new measure put in place to push transparency and compliance with the Rule of Law.

He stated that the directive on Assets Declaration is contained in a Circular, signed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hammed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) and addressed to all Deputy Comptrollers-General, Zonal Coordinators and Customs Area Controllers. All Officers are to comply with the directive within 14 days.

According to the Circular, the directive on Assets Declaration is in compliance with “The Bank Employees Declaration of Assets Act Cap B1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. Though the Act provides for Asset Declaration by all Bank employees, it also empowers the President to extend its application to other categories of persons.

“Specifically, Section 12 (1) states that “The provision of this Act shall apply to the Comptroller-General, Deputy Comptroller-General, Assistant Comptroller-General, Chief Collector, Principal Collector and other Officer, Staff or employee of the Nigeria Customs Service as the apply to a Chief Executive or an employee of a Bank”.

“The Comptroller-General observed that many Officers have not complied with the provisions of the Act over the years, stating that the 14-day ultimatum for compliance will be strictly enforced.

Source: http://greennews.ng/breaking-customs-boss-orders-officers-to-declare-assets-within-14-days/

by Adeyemi Olalemi

There have been speculations over the true picture of a Boko Haram member, especially among larger number of people who are sitting afar to observe the situation in the northeast, Boko Haram most ravaged region. Considering the barbaric activities of the terrorists which included bombing and killing of innocent people, kidnapping of women and schoolgirls, many wondered if the Boko Haram terrorists were humans or monsters.

Even when the acclaimed Boko Haram leader, Abubarka Shekau appeared on Youtube claiming terror attacks and threatening people and the Nigerian Government, It is still baffling how they have decided as humans to take up arms against fellow humans. Boko Haram’s incessant attacks on civilians and security operatives suggested that their cruelty against fellow humans knows no bound as they have killed over 25,000 people and destroyed properties worth trillions of Naira in the last 6 years.

READ ALSO: Inside Boko Haram 7: Real Reasons Boko Haram Won’t Stop Striking

Most shocking to everyone across the globe was how terrorists resorted to suicide bombing. It seems unfathomable how they will prefer to kill others and then, themselves. The argument that the terrorists were brainwashed to carry out suicide bombing in order for them to get 72 virgins in heaven is unreasonable to the sane minds. They appear like aliens who reason differently from the rest of human race, they have become the enemies of the world, from America to Syria, Nigeria to Libya, terrorists are known for mass destruction and have no regard for human lives.

Unravelling the persons of the so called Boko Haram terrorists which is troubling Nigeria’s northeast region, Greennews.ng fact-finding trip to Boko Haram most ravaged towns in Adamawa state gave a rare peep into the activities and characteristics of the Boko Haram terrorists.

Skinny Terrorists

Describing their looks, Deaconess Jingi Gela, who was held by Boko Haram for two days before escaping, said Boko haram terrorists were skinny and of average height, with most of them speaking Hausa fluently. This is evident in the Youtube videos released by the terrorists.

Long Hairs and Beards

Boko Haram do not shave, as a result, they possess long and dirty hairs and beards, a resident of Mubi, one of the towns captured by Boko Haram, said they hardly had time to shave, so they keep their hairs and beards.

The single act of Boko Haram terrorists leaving their beards may have changed the orientation of Muslims in the northeast as many Muslims in the region don’t keep their beards anymore. Leaving their beards makes them prone to arrest or harassment by the military who believed they might be Boko Haram suspects. It has become a criterion for identifying terrorists at Military checkpoints.

Enemy of Water, Always Dirty To Do Evil

Boko Haram terrorists are known to look very dirty. ”They rarely had a full bath“, a former Boko Haram hostage revealed. It was further gathered that Boko Haram terrorists detest water; they usually avoid getting close to river. This is presumed to be because of the black magic (Juju) they use in some of their activities. Water can render the charms ineffective. It was gathered that Boko Haram terrorists always avoid towns that are surrounded by rivers.

No Ablution, Unlike Other Muslims

While preparing for the Islamic prayers, unlike other Muslims, Boko Haram terrorists don’t do ablution; they neither wash their hands, face, nor legs. They go into the prayers looking dirty. This was their practice in Mubi town, Adamawa state, Greennews.ng gathered.

BH Tattoo

Apart from Boko Haram identifying feature which looked natural, the terrorists also made frantic effort to tattoo themselves as a means of identifying their members. It was perhaps the most shocking revelation about identifying Boko Haram members.

The terrorists had tattoos on their bodies with the inscription “BH” which apparently means Boko Haram. There are two tattoos on their bodies, one at the back of the neck (cervical) and other on the ribs just below the armpit. This was part of Boko Haram initiation process. Many youths who joined them in Mubi town were tattooed with this marks, Locals said.

Terrorists were believed to be very interested in showing off these tattoos as they tore the portion of their cloths where this marks were to make it visible to their victims and hostages.

Military Camouflage and Turban

Boko-Haram-360x182Military camouflage and turban is common among Boko Haram terrorists, especially the commanders. The Boko Haram commanders wear military camouflage when they are about to launch an attack. Jonathan who experienced Mubi invasion by terrorists said Boko Haram members who invaded were wearing military camouflage and turban. Turban is a traditional Muslim headdress, a long scarf wrapped around the head.

Distinguishable Riffle Sounds

Also noteworthy among features that distinguish Boko Haram members on the battlefield was the sound of their guns. Boko Haram guns sound differently from other guns. Investigations revealed that the guns used by Boko Haram are called Staline rifle, this gun changes tone when in use, it has chains used to store bullets and it is more sophisticated than AK47. During the Mubi invasion; terrorists used the sound of their rifle to alert their members who had already infiltrated the town. It was one of their ingenious strategies that gave Mubi and other neighbouring villages to them in just 20 minutes.

They Are Humans with Flesh And Blood

Returning from Mubi to Yola, Greennews.ng team saw first-hand, the military, arresting four suspected Boko Haram terrorists, as aptly described earlier, the terrorists were dirty, rough and with long beards.

This may finally lay to rest, doubts on whether these ragtag Boko Haram terrorists are really humans, aliens, or invisible. This is insight into what Boko Haram had looked like in most of their attacks; they are humans and possess their own characteristics.

Visit Greennews.ng tomorrow for “Inside Boko Haram 9: Not All terrorists Are Muslims”

Source: http://greennews.ng/inside-boko-haram-8-how-to-identify-boko-haram-members/

Three members of a four-man suspected armed robbers were on Tuesday brutalised by residents in Fadeyi area of Lagos, while trying to rob a man who had gone to make withdrawal from a bank.

According to eyewitness, the armed robbers had trailed a certain man to the First Bank branch around YABATECH junction, Morocco road. The man had gone to make huge cash withdrawals that he had to pack the cash in a polythene bag.

As he made his way out of the bank premises, the robbers who were on a waiting motorcycle (a.k.a Okada) snatched the money from him and rode off.

Eyewitness said that the Mopol officer attached to bank shot one of the robbers in the leg while three others took to their heels but the unlucky robbers were later apprehended by residents (Fadeyi boys as popularly called) who meted jungle justice on them.

“Some of those boys attacked the robbers with machetes and any other harmful objects they could lay their hands on”, the eyewitness said.

By the time Policemen attached to the Onipanu Police station arrived the scene, the armed robbers were already lying in pool of their own blood, gasping for life. The Policemen whisked them away in their van to their station at Onipanu bus stop just about 1km away.

Greennews.ng correspondent who got to the scene sighted three of the suspected robbers in police van in cold blood. They had been butchered by angry mob before being handed over to the Police.

Effort to get more information on the incident proved abortive as our correspondent was badly harassed by the Policemen. The officers seized our correspondent’s gadgets and Identity card and was further detained behind the counter. He was resisted from taking pictures and forced to delete pictures he had taken. This we consider as an harrasement on the fourth estate.

Source: http://greennews.ng/graphic-pictures-suspected-armed-robber-butchered-by-fadeyi-residents/

by Adeyemi Olalemi

Adeyemi Olalemi
One of the Military checkpoints on Yola-Mubi road

Many hypothesis, speculations and unanswered questions have been bandied over Boko Haram Insurgence. While the news of daily bombings filtered in, people only wondered what Boko Haram terrorists could be up to. Unfortunately fellow innocent countrymen and women in the northeast continue to die in terror attacks. Boko Haram Insurgence has claimed over 25,000 lives with at least 200 Schoolgirls still missing. This is a mind-boggling disaster that should raise even more serious concerns for government and her people irrespective of geopolitical zones, tribes or religions.

Amid speculations on whether Boko Haram terrorists group is an Islamic agenda, or it is an international ploy to weaken the giant of Africa, or that it is an upshot of poverty, Greennews.ng embarked on a fact-finding trip to Boko Haram most ravaged towns In Adamawa state.

Touching down at the Yola International Airport, on December 29, 2015, the city appeared peaceful despite two suicide bomb attacks in Madagali Local Government Area of the state just 24 hours earlier. Two passengers on the plane confirmed that Yola, the state capital, was peaceful despite discouraging newspaper headlines that morning.

Oloyede, a Lagos resident, said he was going to Adamawa for business purposes. He confirmed that Yola was peaceful but wondered why people would engage in terrorism, killing innocent citizens and destroying their own country.

At the Airport, the photographic list of 100 most wanted Boko Haram terrorists released by the Army was visibly displayed at the security check; an indication that the airport was at red alert as Military declared manhunt for prime Boko Haram suspects.

Photo: Ayo Ogundimu
One of the checkpoints. Photo: Ayo Ogundimu

Through the three-hour drive from Yola to Mubi town, nineteen (19) checkpoints and roadblocks were encountered. Most checkpoints were manned by the military, some by the Police, while vigilantes manned some other road blocks. All the Military checkpoints had the photographic list of 100 most wanted Boko Haram terrorists conspicuously displayed with a painted notice stating that: “Do not give or take bribe. Report such acts to the following numbers 08059538128…”

Soldiers conducted security checks diligently with firm body language that warned commuters against bribes or any exchange of monies. The Soldiers were not ready to leave anything to chance as they painstakingly screened every passing vehicle and its passengers.

But reaching the first Police checkpoint manned by Operation Tsaro in Hong LCDA, Policemen were first sighted collecting bribes from motorists; it was an unfortunate memory of the Nigerian policemen and extortion of motorists at checkpoints.

In one of the towns, Gombi, the security checks were heightened. The most recent attack in the town was last October, when terrorists attacked their police station and set it ablaze.

Meanwhile, Hong town, just about 10km to Gombi, which was last ravaged during the October 2014 Boko Haram attacks still had the remains of the attack quite visible with abandoned structures of burnt houses, demolished buildings and fairly deserted streets. The only bank in Hong, an old generation bank, suffered a massive destruction that was yet to be rebuilt. People’s frustration on their commercial activities in such a big town without a bank cannot be underemphasised.

Fatty, a resident whose house was burnt during the Boko haram invasion said he and other residents fled the town, leaving their properties. He said he escaped to Kano during the attack, while others sought solace in anywhere they thought was safe. Fatty, who was a trader in Hong before the attack, returned jobless as commercial activities had been almost completely paralyzed.

One year after, Fatty was only sitting in front of his ravaged house with other unemployed returnees. He and his brother had to make a shed in their roofless house just to make shelter. Fatty said the roof was destroyed by terrorists after setting the building ablaze.

Some Boko haram-ravaged homes in Hong LGA
Some Boko haram-ravaged homes in Hong LGA

At Hong, It would be difficult for even a bird to gallivant suspiciously as Soldiers appear battle-ready. The atmosphere suggested that security in that part of the state had been challenged. Boko Haram captured Hong same time it captured Mubi on October 29, 2014.

Boko Haram controlled every tiny space from Hong Local Government Area to both Mubi North and Mubi South, about 100km distance, including Kala and Mararaba. These terrorists controlled large expanse of land as large as distance between Ibadan to Lagos in the southwest and Abia to Ebonyi state in the southeast.

It is still puzzling how Boko Haram could take over large expanse of land and towns, capturing the Nigerian government agencies, state institutions, schools, police stations, military barracks, Emir’s palace and every other thing that existed in these towns. This could best be described as the biggest invasion in the history of terrorism in Africa.

The Greennews.ng trip was the beginning of unimaginable revelation of Boko Haram’s activities in worst-hit towns in Adamawa state. It unmasked 25 top secrets of the deadly Boko Haram monsters and the Northern Nigeria.

Source: http://greennews.ng/must-read-fact-finding-trip-to-boko-haram-most-ravaged-towns-in-adamawa-state/

Wednesday, October 29, 2014 was one day Nigerians in Mubi and other neighbouring towns in Adamawa state would never want to remember. It was the day Boko Haram terrorists invaded and captured Adamawa towns and villages. The terrorists displaced Nigerian government and its institutions, overpowered security agents, killed innocent civilians and renamed towns. Mubi town was renamed to Madinatul Islam.

Civilians went through untold hardship in the hands of terrorists while the Nigerian security operatives were not only helpless but also took to their heels in their thousands, fleeing for their lives.

Residents woke up that morning to see the unthinkable, as ragtag Boko Haram terrorists in a well-coordinated attack, invaded Mubi town. Women and children were killed as many others fled the towns to neighbouring Cameroun. It was the biggest invasion in the history of terrorism in Africa as more than five local Government areas were captured in 20 minutes.

Click Here to read Inside Boko Haram 1: Fact-finding Trip To Boko Haram Most Ravaged Towns In Adamawa State

Few months to the October 2014 invasion, residents of Mubi had heard of rumours of impending Boko Haram attack on their town. At each time the rumour was circulated, resident would flee to nearby villages and some others to Yola, the state capital.

They had been living in fear of a possible Boko Haram attack but Nigerian Soldiers would come to calm the town, assuring them of maximum security. Residents said they believed the Soldiers would always protect the town and their families from Boko Haram terrorists until the ‘black Wednesday’ when terrorists struck. “It was a pathetic story that was not palatable for hearing”, a Yoruba cleric in Mubi said.

Narrating the invasion, Jonathan, a resident in Mubi north, said at about few minutes past 9am on that Wednesday, he was at the ATM Machine along the road with his cousin, when he noticed some people, dressed in Military camouflage inside a tricycle.

According to Jonathan, he and his cousin wondered what kind of Soldiers were they that would ride in tricycles and not Military Hilux Jeeps. Jonathan said they (terrorists) parked their tricycle around the area for few minutes and then drove away. Looking at their uniforms, Jonathan’s cousin also doubted that they were real Nigerian Soldiers.

Jonathan’s cousin suggested they leave the area at once; saying that he had overheard from someone that Boko Haram had attacked a nearby Uba Local Government Area that morning. As early as 9:15am, students were already discharged from their schools due to rumour that Boko Haram would attack.

Click here to read Inside Boko Haram 2: How Boko Haram Recruited Nigerian Youths For Africa’s Biggest Terrorist Invasion

But Jonathan dismissed the rumours, saying that rumours had been on for a while without any attack. According to him, he later got a call from his 80-year old mother, who told him to come home at once. Jonathan said by the time he got home, he began to hear explosions and gunshots from outside their compound and people were running helter skelter behind their compound with some carrying their belongs on their heads.

The Yoruba Cleric who was in town during the attack said: “usually we don’t see motorcycles in Mubi, but that morning, we saw people riding motorcycles, some with arrows, some with guns and other weapons”.

“I saw Boko Haram terrorists blocking roads and shooting sporadically with sophisticated weapons”, the Cleric said.


Some Boko haram-ravaged homes in Hong LGA
In a well-orchestrated attack, terrorists began to mount road blocks simultaneously on major roads in Mubi town, According to residents, at least thirty (30) of about 60 terrorists who came into Mubi went to Military barrack in Mubi, chasing Soldiers in their thousands. It was gathered from residents that no fewer than 2,000 soldiers were in Mubi at the time of the invasion.

The terrorists immediately dispatched some of its members to Mubi Prison, captured it and threw the gate open for their members and other inmates to escape. The Emir of Mubi’s palace which is just a stone throw from the prison was also taken over by the terrorists. It is worthy of note that the Emir, HRH Alh. Abubarka Isa Ahmadu (CFR) was not in town during the invasion.

Also captured simultaneously was the home of immediate past Chief of the Defence Staff, CDS, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who hails from Mubi town. Badeh was the CDS at the time of the invasion. There were speculations that his family members were evacuated just before the bloody terror attack on Mubi but Greennews.ng could not independently confirm the allegation to be true.

BH3
Nigerian Military Checkpoint at Geire, Adamawa State
On why Soldiers fled Mubi and never fought back when Boko Haram attacked, a Soldier in the town, apparently referring to lack of weapons as the reason, said: “you can’t give sticks to Soldiers to go fight Boko Haram who were better armed”. Recall that $2.1 billion (N546 billion) was budgeted for the purchase of arms during the last administration. Unfortunately the money was allegedly misapplied and laundered by the immediate past National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki in what culminated into the infamous “Dasukigate”, one of the biggest corruption probes in Nigeria’s history.

The arms money was allegedly used by the former ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, through the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, to fund its campaign during the last general elections which it eventually lost to the opposition.

The 20 minutes invasion became easier as some Boko Haram terrorists were already living among residents in the town. While some were active Boko Haram members who came to rent apartments in the town, others were youths in the community who had been strategically recruited by terrorists.

Very baffling was a revelation that most of the Boko Haram terrorists that took over Mubi town were not Nigerians, According to the Cleric, they had curly hair like that of Chadians and Arabs.

As terrorists invaded the town, shooting anyone they found from house to house, some of their members living in the towns also brought out their guns and joined in staging the unprecedented capturing of Mubi South LGA, Mubi North LGA, Hong LGA, Uba LGA, Mararaba, Gombi and others. By 10am that day, these local government areas were already in the hands of Boko Haram.

Terrorists blocked major exit points in Mubi town except routes that led to Cameroon which shared border with Mubi. This was the solace route for many Nigerians as they began the gory journey to neighbouring Cameroon, a journey many never returned. It was a disaster beyond imagination.

http://greennews.ng/inside-boko-haram-3-how-boko-haram-captured-adamawa-towns-in-20-minutes/

A policeman attached to one of the banks on Saturday killed three persons including himself at a viewing centre in Anibaba Street, Mile 12, Lagos.

According to a police source, the mobile policeman had visited a viewing centre to watch an English Premier League game when suddenly an argument ensued.

"He killed three people on the spot and by the time he realized what he had done, he summoned courage and kill himself", the police source said.

Source: http://greennews.ng/breaking-policeman-kills-3-person-self-in-ikosi-lagos/

Dear Mr. President,


It cannot be gainsaid that the Buhari brand, in the most recent decades, has achieved groundbreaking successes trailed by a few popular failed strategies. This was overly emphasized by your easy overthrow as an army general and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and the back-to-back failure in your history of democratically contesting for the top seat of the country. A review of this and your seemingly slow first six months as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria made it expedient for me to sound a loud alarm that your journey with long swinging strides of popular failed strategies has clogged your seat as Mr. President with a fast-ticking failure time bomb.

I know that many, especially optimists, life coaches, and critical entrepreneurs, must have argued in your favour that it is not always about how many times failure is recorded, but more about whether or not success is eventually attained. This may be correct. But in the case of the Buhari brand, after the sustained failure of the implementation style of the War Against Indiscipline strategy, among other, and the successful easy overthrow of your government with a military coup d’état, it may be difficult to ascertain what factor delivered your eventual success that was celebrated the world over. It could have been a great coincidence with the same time Nigerians needed to sack the 16-year ideology, or ‘customer-brand’ sympathy which usually doesn’t stand the test of time, or eventually good selection of strategy. Whatever the case may be, let me mention that being the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria today, for you, is not success; it is only the beginning of success!

At this point, Mr. President, it is important I douse your suspicions that this letter may be a sponsored tool of the opposition. I am for you and everyone who is truly committed to taking Nigeria to the pinnacle of her desires, and I am not for you or anyone else irrespective of their leadership capacity; I am only a true Nigerian who desires the best for this generation and the next. My interest is deeply fundamental as it concerns your solemn promises and, by implication, the lives and hopes of highly expectant Nigerians.

Mr. President, while journeying your way through your fourth attempt at the top seat, you made multiple promises with highly reassuring aplomb. You restored hope in those who had buried theirs; you gained reluctant confidence of those who never utterly agreed that your party was a better alternative, and your seeming successes created even more jobs for critics. Nigerians actually see your real intentions to birth a new nation for them, and they believe in your individual propensity to achieve great reforms across sectors. But were you alone in governance, they would have trusted this change.

Niccolo Machiavelli once noted that there was nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage, than the creation of a new order of things. Let me say to you, Mr. President, that you seem to have got yourself too busy with the pressure of delivering on your promises that you forget you cannot work for the people without working with them; you are not alone in the train! Perhaps you assume that since you have correctly identified the worst of the country’s problems –corruption –and are willing to confront it head on, it consequently implies that everyone –elected, appointed, or even in civil/public service –will be willing, or must be willing, to agree with the problem and face it firmly as well. Change never happens that easily.

The military era is gone and gone for good! Mr. President, it is time you paid more attention to strategic communication as major bedrock of successful democracy. An assumption that everyone is a proponent of your new philosophy may be the beginning of downright failure. I have watched your first six months very closely, and I must say Nigerians have reasons to worry. While true democracy and your philosophy of credible governance in Nigeria may take time to develop, the process cannot even begin until you invest time and resources in reinventing the way people think, especially those in governance –right now, they are happily living the corruption, misappropriation, waste, and poor maintenance way of life. You cannot lead a team of people who think completely differently from the way you think and expect a common goal. I smell frustrating failure!

It is not enough to emphasize transparency, integrity, and accountability across private and public transactions; the corruption cut may have gone much deeper in the flesh of Nigerians than you imagined. A deliberate reorientation process is inevitably necessary first for the three tiers and the three arms of government, and then for every Nigerian. You will find that there are about four different categories of people you should be prepared to manage within this reorientation process –those who have also identified the problem and truly desire change, those who understand the need for change but will keenly want to resist it, those who will require several effort to unlearn their corruption-stricken way of life, and those who will require enforcement agencies irrespective of your effort to get them along. It will not be surprising to find that only a very insignificant few or none of your most trusted cabinet members actually belong to the first category of people you will have to manage; the need for this reorientation is resonantly emphasized.

Hopefully, after your fourth year as President, it will no longer be business as usual for Nigeria’s President, it will no longer be business as usual for our Executives, Legislatives, and Judiciary, and hopefully it will no longer be business as usual for Nigerians.

While I congratulate you ahead for your monumental success, I will guarantee that Nigerians will no longer celebrate failure.



Sincerely,



Ayo Alaba Idowu

Editor-in-Chief,

Greennews.ng

alabee2002@yahoo.com

Source: http://greennews.ng/pathway-to-failure-openlettertomrpresident/

by Ayo Alaba Idowu



Dear Mr. President,

It cannot be gainsaid that the Buhari brand, in the most recent decades, has achieved groundbreaking successes trailed by a few popular failed strategies. This was overly emphasized by your easy overthrow as an army general and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and the back-to-back failure in your history of democratically contesting for the top seat of the country. A review of this and your seemingly slow first six months as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria made it expedient for me to sound a loud alarm that your journey with long swinging strides of popular failed strategies has clogged your seat as Mr. President with a fast-ticking failure time bomb.

I know that many, especially optimists, life coaches, and critical entrepreneurs, must have argued in your favour that it is not always about how many times failure is recorded, but more about whether or not success is eventually attained. This may be correct. But in the case of the Buhari brand, after the sustained failure of the implementation style of the War Against Indiscipline strategy, among other, and the successful easy overthrow of your government with a military coup d’état, it may be difficult to ascertain what factor delivered your eventual success that was celebrated the world over. It could have been a great coincidence with the same time Nigerians needed to sack the 16-year ideology, or ‘customer-brand’ sympathy which usually doesn’t stand the test of time, or eventually good selection of strategy. Whatever the case may be, let me mention that being the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria today, for you, is not success; it is only the beginning of success!

At this point, Mr. President, it is important I douse your suspicions that this letter may be a sponsored tool of the opposition. I am for you and everyone who is truly committed to taking Nigeria to the pinnacle of her desires, and I am not for you or anyone else irrespective of their leadership capacity; I am only a true Nigerian who desires the best for this generation and the next. My interest is deeply fundamental as it concerns your solemn promises and, by implication, the lives and hopes of highly expectant Nigerians.

Mr. President, while journeying your way through your fourth attempt at the top seat, you made multiple promises with highly reassuring aplomb. You restored hope in those who had buried theirs; you gained reluctant confidence of those who never utterly agreed that your party was a better alternative, and your seeming successes created even more jobs for critics. Nigerians actually see your real intentions to birth a new nation for them, and they believe in your individual propensity to achieve great reforms across sectors. But were you alone in governance, they would have trusted this change.

Niccolo Machiavelli once noted that there was nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage, than the creation of a new order of things. Let me say to you, Mr. President, that you seem to have got yourself too busy with the pressure of delivering on your promises that you forget you cannot work for the people without working with them; you are not alone in the train! Perhaps you assume that since you have correctly identified the worst of the country’s problems –corruption –and are willing to confront it head on, it consequently implies that everyone –elected, appointed, or even in civil/public service –will be willing, or must be willing, to agree with the problem and face it firmly as well. Change never happens that easily.

The military era is gone and gone for good! Mr. President, it is time you paid more attention to strategic communication as major bedrock of successful democracy. An assumption that everyone is a proponent of your new philosophy may be the beginning of downright failure. I have watched your first six months very closely, and I must say Nigerians have reasons to worry. While true democracy and your philosophy of credible governance in Nigeria may take time to develop, the process cannot even begin until you invest time and resources in reinventing the way people think, especially those in governance –right now, they are happily living the corruption, misappropriation, waste, and poor maintenance way of life. You cannot lead a team of people who think completely differently from the way you think and expect a common goal. I smell frustrating failure!

It is not enough to emphasize transparency, integrity, and accountability across private and public transactions; the corruption cut may have gone much deeper in the flesh of Nigerians than you imagined. A deliberate reorientation process is inevitably necessary first for the three tiers and the three arms of government, and then for every Nigerian. You will find that there are about four different categories of people you should be prepared to manage within this reorientation process –those who have also identified the problem and truly desire change, those who understand the need for change but will keenly want to resist it, those who will require several effort to unlearn their corruption-stricken way of life, and those who will require enforcement agencies irrespective of your effort to get them along. It will not be surprising to find that only a very insignificant few or none of your most trusted cabinet members actually belong to the first category of people you will have to manage; the need for this reorientation is resonantly emphasized.

Hopefully, after your fourth year as President, it will no longer be business as usual for Nigeria’s President, it will no longer be business as usual for our Executives, Legislatives, and Judiciary, and hopefully it will no longer be business as usual for Nigerians.

While I congratulate you ahead for your monumental success, I will guarantee that Nigerians will no longer celebrate failure.



Sincerely,



Ayo Alaba Idowu

Editor-in-Chief,

Greennews.ng

alabee2002@yahoo.com

Source: http://greennews.ng/pathway-to-failure-openlettertomrpresident/

The Nigerian Senate has ordered an investigation into the current fuel scarcity being experienced across the nation.

The Senate worries that the scarcity is creating untold hardship to citizens who have to pay higher prices for Premium Motor Spirit(PMS) also known as petrol.

The motion on the current fuel scarcity all around the country and the need to urgently resolve the crisis was moved by Sen. Barau Jibrin (Kano North) and co sponsored by 23 other Senators.

Senator Paulker (Bayelsa Central) said something is wrong in the petroleum supply chain, while calling for the invitation of petroleum minister to tell the Senate and Nigerians what is actually happening.

Senator Shehu Sani also support the motion that Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu be invited.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki mandated the senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream to examine the current fuel scarcity issues and report back in two weeks.

Source: http://greennews.ng/senate-orders-investigation-into-fuel-scarcity/

Following years of neglect by the federal and state government, the Lagos – Abeokuta expressway has become clog in the wheel of motorists. The Ilepo, Iyana Ipaja axis of the road is in a mess, a reminder of government inefficiencies and lack of maintenance culture.

For over two years, motorists plying the road have suffered untold hardship especially at the Ile Epo bus stop going to Iyana Ipaja, heavy traffic builds up from Abule Egba to the Iyana Ipaja axis.

There are many ditches and potholes along the road which restrict vehicular movement, forcing motorists to spend hours on a route they would have spent about 10mins.

Greennews.ng investigation revealed that the road gradually turned worst owing to neglect by authorities.

Our correspondent gathered that the road began it departure from good to worse when the drainage along the road was blocked with debris and waste from the market located by the roadside.

Since water will always find its way, the blocked drainage push water to flood the road whenever it rains; the water gradually destroyed the black paint (Bitumen) on the road.

IMG_20151029_130958
A side of the blocked drainage

A journalist who plies the road disclosed that aside the dilapidated state of the road and the traffic logjam on a daily basis, the Ilepo side of the road stinks.

“… That part of road [Ilepo Bus Stop] has been in a worst state but even with that, that place stinks badly, the journalist said.

READ ALSO: Oyo Indigenes Groan Under Ajimobi’s N29 Billion Death Trap

Meanwhile, the Lagos state government through the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) has intervene to revamp the road. At the time of filing this report, officers of the LSPWC are filling up the potholes with stones and constructing a bigger drainage that will accommodate the water flow.

Speaking exclusively with Greennews.ng, the General Manager of the LSPWC, Engineer Ayotunde Sodeinde confirmed the agency’s latest work at the Iyana Ipaja road.

IMG_20151029_131659
Drainage being constructed by the LSPWC at Ilepo Bus Stop

IMG_20151029_131355
Traffic logjam caused by the bad road

Engr. Sodeinde said when completed, the road would be tarred and motorist can enjoy their ride along the route.

“The water is destroying the road, which is why we are currently addressing the drainage challenge by building a new and bigger drainage channel.

Engr. Sodeinde also confirmed that there is a certain drainage which had been blocked and this is the major problem of the road.

Being a federal road, all effort to reach the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) proved abortive, as emails sent to the agency’s official email was not attended to and calls failed to connect.

Source: http://greennews.ng/the-collapse-of-lagos-abeokuta-expressway-and-the-lagos-intervention/

No fewer than twenty persons have been rendered homeless, losing their shelter, properties and businesses when a three storey building located at 87, Odunfa Street, Lagos Island collapsed Wednesday morning .

The building crumpled at about 9:30am, on Wednesday, as residents prepare for work. As the building cracked gradually, some occupant managed to escape, they ran out of the house while some were trapped in the bricks.

Till 5pm on Wednesday, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA in collaboration with their federal counterpart, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were still conducting rescue operation to see if there are other residents who could be saved alive.

Five persons, including a teenage boy and 80-year old woman have been rescued so far, they were taken to the Sura Health Centre for immediate medical attention.

The eighty-year old woman was rescued at exactly 1:55pm by the officials of NEMA and LASEMA, she was noticed by the officials while the bulldozers cleared the bricks to see if residents were trapped.

Some occupants of the building who had escaped but had their properties and belongings trapped in the wreckages, stood closed to site to retrieve some of their properties that could be retrieved.

Rubble of Lagos Island Collapsed building
Rubble of Lagos Island Collapsed building

When the building collapsed in the morning, some residents of the area had swung into action to rescue those trapped before the arrival of NEMA, LASEMA, NSCDC, Police, the Lagos State Fire Service, state Red Cross and the Lagos state Public Works Cooperation (LSPWC).

On getting to the scene, LASEMA cordoned off the environment and sealed structures around the collapsed building. The two buildings next to the rubble were sealed for evacuation. The agency locked the buildings with their padlocks.

As sympathisers and onlookers besieged the place, rescue operation was hindered, despite warning from the officials of NEMA that people should step back, but while the bulldozers clears the debris in search for victims, the ground was vibrating which sparked fears among onlookers and reminded everyone that the area used to be a swamp, the entire buildings sit on water, hence the need for a strong foundation before mounting structures which might eventually send residents to the grave.

Dolapo Eletu, resident who stays in one of the sealed buildings, said those staying in the building have been warned earlier of possible collapse of the building but they didn’t yield to the warning, instead they did some renovation while they continued living there.

“They were renovating the building before it collapsed, those living there were warned but they couldn’t afford another shelter, so they did some minor renovation and continued staying till it eventually collapsed, Eletu said.

Sympathizers and spectators at the scene of the incidence, also lament the worst state of the building, they said those living there have been told by neighbours to vacate the building to avoid endangering their lives.

It was further gathered that a little boy whose Mother sells food in one of the shops around the building had woken up before dawn, to narrate a terrible dream he had to his mother (identified as Iya Lukman). According to the source, the boy had dreamt of a looming danger that will befall their house, but his mother rebuked him, the little boy couldn’t sleep, according to our source that resides opposite the building but craved anonymity.

General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Shola Adeigbe said the building which collapsed was not sealed initially but they have been served notices of testing to determine whether the building is fit or otherwise.

IMG_20151021_160235
One of the Surrounding Buildings sealed by LASG

“We have not sealed the building before it collapsed but we have served them notices to inform them that this building must be tested, you know we always ask them to do non–destructive testing, you don’t just seal buildings, you will need to carry out a test to determine the state of a building before evacuation and demolition, Adeigbe said.

He blamed the collapse on the noncompliance by the occupants; Adeigbe further disclosed that more buildings in the area would be sealed soon.

Many more houses on the Lagos Island are very old and weak, this poses severe danger to the lives of dwellers, some sites have weak foundation but you will see three of four storey building on it.

The addition of more storeys mostly comes as an afterthought perhaps because the landlord wants to make more money from rent and would not care about the safety of lives and properties.

Source: http://greennews.ng/lagos-island-collapsed-building-occupants-saw-the-tragedy-coming/

It has been over a year that the present Oyo state government began several road dualization projects in Oyo state. It has been alleged that the government has spent a combined mouth-watering N29 Billion on the dualization of roads in Ibadan, Oyo town, Ogbomoso, and Iseyin.

Non of the roads in the latter three towns have been completed. Greennews.ng today went to Oyo town to feel the pulse of the people on the snail-paced project, and even witnessed two accidents at two different places with one nearly claiming the life of little Aisha.

On the floor of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Muideen Olagunju, representing Oyo East/West State Constituency described Ajimobi’s award of the road contracts as mere “waste of public funds.”

READ ALSO: Ikeja Submerged: Flood Takes Over Lagos Capital City

On the dualization of the Owode-Ojongbodu road in Oyo town, Honourable Olagunju said, “The one in Oyo was awarded to a major contractor who subcontracted to another company. After poor spates of works, the Ministry of Works moved to site and commenced direct labour. Now, the construction has been awarded to another contractor but the construction is moving at snail’s speed. On this note, I pray the House to seriously consider the issue of protection of public money.”

roadAround the Jareemily area of the road, the spoilt portion of the less than 2 year-old road nearly claimed the life of Aisha who wanted to cross the road on her way back from school.

A private bike who tried to swerve to avoid the pot hole almost ran into little Aisha who didn’t expect the rider to come towards her. The rider sustained minor injuries as sympathizers gathered around, calling the state government unprintable names. One of the sympathizers, who gave his name as Monjeed decried the state of the road even when it has not been commissioned.

He called on the State government to, “construct good roads for us in Oyo if they know they want to construct anything. Ajimobi is lying to us with this road. This road is substandard. We appreciate the idea, but what is worth doing at all is worth doing well.” He also called on the road users to be more careful, as the road is already bad even before it is finished.

READ ALSO: Lagos Works Corp Commences Operation ‘Fix All Potholes’

In front of the First Baptist Church Isokun, Oyo, another incident took place as a result of the bad road.

The truck above conveying soft drinks had some of their products and broken bottles liter the road as they tried to avoid the bad portion of the road which had even been converted into a single lane road due to the ongoing construction.

The slow pace of work is one thing, substandard road construction as evidenced by the Owode-Ojongbodu road in Oyo town is another thing. We hope the government of Oyo state will quicken the pace of work and ensure that the materials used are standard ones.

Source: http://greennews.ng/oyo-indigenes-groan-under-ajimobis-n29-billion-death-trap/

With President Muhammadu Buhari insisting on December deadline for the Nigerian troops to defeat Boko Haram terrorists in the Northeast, Chief of Army Staff, Major General Tukur Buratai has sent a strong worded message to troops at the theatre of war.

READ ALSO: Military Can Never Defeat Boko Haram by December – Jide Johnson

Excerpt of the message released by Defence Headquarters Friday read:

“The next few days will be crucial to Operation LAFIYA DOLE. It is also crucial to our country Nigeria. Our sovereignty as a nation is threatened.

The military as the symbol of our nationhood is being challenged. Our ability to stand and defeat Boko Haram terrorists in the next few weeks will determine the future of our country. We cannot afford to lose the fight. We are better trained and better equipped.

The whole nation is behind us. Mr President is with us. Let us remain steadfast in this noble cause. Be courageous. We must degrade and defeat the terrorists. This job must be done. We must make our country men and women proud”.

The Nigeria may have resolved to stamp out terrorist once and for all in the coming weeks if this message is anything to go by.

READ ALSO: Boko Haram Suicide Bombers Attack Maiduguri Again

Boko Haram terrorists have carried out several suicide bombings in Maiduguri in last five days killing over 40 people including worshipers in a mosque in Molai.

Source: http://greennews.ng/december-deadline-buratai-sends-strong-message-to-troops-at-the-frontline/

Former Chairman of Ikosi Isheri Local Council Development Area, Kunle Soname at the weekend became the first Nigerian to own a top European football club after buying Portuguese second division side, Clube Desportivo Feirense.

Soname, who is also President of Nigeria National League (NNL) team, Remo Stars Football Club, Kunle Soname, secured 70 percent of the club, which last played in the Portuguese top-flight division in 2011.

According to a statement on the club’s website, “Last Friday we effected a transformation of our club through the sale of part of the capital to our new partners, Tavisstock Global Resource Ltd, led by Mr. Kunle Soname.

“We wish all the stakeholders the best and believe it will be a lasting partnership that would bring great sporting success to Clube Desportivo Feirense.”

Soname said the takeover would impact positively on both his two clubs and Nigerian Football, adding, “It is a great thing to have achieved this. My sincere gratitude to God and everyone involved in the take over process.

“Securing Clube Desportivo Feirense was the next step in the right direction for me. I love everything about the club: the organisation, the philosophy and the fans I have no intention of changing anything in the club because I am satisfied with their operations.

“Rather, I want to ensure the progress of the club through promotion to the Portuguese Primera division.

“Having been involved in Nigerian football over the years by running Remo Stars Football club, I felt it was time to further develop the team. It would also bring benefits for Nigerian football through players transfer, training for officials and administrators, who have proven they have what it takes to succeed in Europe.

“I still have my commitment to Remo Stars FC; it is the beginning of all I have achieved in football and I will keep improving the team to get it to the greatest heights.

Soname served as the executive Chairman of Ikosi Isheri LCDA, a small community in Kosofe Local governement area of Lagos from 2003 to 2011.

Source: http://greennews.ng/index.php/2015/10/12/ex-lcda-chairman-buys-european-club/

LAGOS – Some parts of Ikeja, the state capital of Lagos was today submerged by heavy flood along Obafemi Awolowo way, 5 kilometres to the state Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s office.

The rain which started at 1:00pm today flooded the Ikeja bridge axis that link Oba Akran road and Obafemi Awolowo way.

Motorists were stuck for hours in heavy traffic caused by the flood, some motorists battled to save their vehicles from being damage by the flood.

Some vehicles consequently broke down in the flood, Passers-by were visibly helpless as some had to pull off their shoes to walk in the flood.

Some of victims of the flood who spoke to our correspondent expressed their frustration at the incidence and the hardship they had to go through because of the flood.

Some citizens were stranded at the Ikeja Bus Stop as they waited for buses which were apparently trapped in the flood.

Investigation by Greennews.ng revealed that the heavy flood was caused by poor drainage channel around the Ikeja under bridge axis.

For a city like Lagos which is surrounded by water, it is expected that the acclaimed ‘mega city’ should have proper drainage system that can withstand torrential rainfall.

Meanwhile, the Lagos state government through the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) on Wednesday launched ‘’Operation fill the Pothole” to address problems of bad roads and drainage in the state.


The LSPWC is an agency of state government saddled with the responsibility of maintenance of roads in Lagos State. It is also the singular producer of asphalt premix used by all government agencies in the State.

The general manager of the LSPWC, Engr. Ayotunde Sodeinde in an interview with Greennews.ng said the state government is working to fix all Lagos roads.

“We are working round the clock to repair the roads and drainage, we have started with Ogunnusi road today (Wednesday) and we will move to other parts of the state, Engr. Ayotunde said.

He added that rain usually hinder the work of the agency as its officials cannot work during rainy season.

Source: http://greennews.ng/index.php/2015/10/08/ikeja-submerged-flood-takes-over-lagos-capital-city/

i am coming there... is caused by bad roads too?

MinisterPelumi:
Have you seen the holdup along Cele Bus stop to Ilasamaja

LAGOS – Motorists plying the Herbert Macaulay Way in Yaba have lamented the return of bad roads and poor drainage in Nigeria’s economic capital, Lagos.

Herbert Macaulay road is among the three major routes that link Lagos Island and Lagos mainland.

In the last five months, there have been heavy traffic logjams along the road due to poor drainage.

Motorists trying to access Ikorodu road through the Herbert Macaulay way are having sore experiences daily due to the messy state of the road, especially around UNILAG Junction, Yabatech to WAEC bus stop.

Whenever it rains, the Yabatech axis is submerged by water causing motorists to spend hours on the road after close of business daily.

Mr Monday John, a cab driver who uses the road daily, informed our correspondent of a canal around the Yaba area where the drainage system of the road could be channeled.

John said the Ambode-led government as failed to live up to expectation. He asked our reporter if former Governor of the state, Mr Babatunde Fashola could be recalled.

“I don’t know maybe Fashola can come back, they need to channel this water to the canal, John said.

IMG_20151003_182826_1
Arial view of the traffic logjam caused by the poor drainage Herbert Macaulay Way

He further said the underground drainage is not enough for the road, stressing that there was need for a deep drainage.

Another motorist, Mr. Emma Udoh who resides in the area said his vehicle had been badly affected by the ditch occasioned by the incessant flood.

Asked whether the Lagos state government officials have come to look at the road, Emma said: ‘’no, except for the local government who deploys some cheap labour to channel the flood whenever it rains.

He argued that the work cannot be done properly with cheap labour, “this is the job of Julius Berger, he insisted.

He also noted that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has not done anything concerning the messy Lagos roads.

We Will Fix Herbert Macaulay Road Next Week – LASG

Traffic along University road caused by the bad road
Traffic along University road caused by the bad road

The general manager of the Lagos State Public Works Corporation LSPWC, Engr. Ayotunde Sodeinde has said the state government is working to fix all Lagos roads.

Speaking exclusively with Greennews.ng, Engr. Ayotunde said the LSPWC presently launched ‘’Operation fill the Pothole”. He said the agency has started with Ogunnusi Road, where their head office is located.

Engr. Ayotunde said two weeks ago, LSPWC officials worked opposite Saint Dominic Catholic Church along the same Herbert Macaulay way.

When Greennews.ng specifically inquired about the poor drainage and ditch around Montgomery and the Yabatech axis of the road, Engr. Ayotunde said the agency will begin work along that axis next week.

‘’from next week, we want to come to Herbert Macaulay way especially the Montgomery Junction, we are coming to put it right.

He explained that the drainage on that road was not allowing the water to flow very well, and that makes it spill on the road which consequently destroyed the asphalt.

On how the LSPWC will solve the problem, The LSPWC Boss said: “we want to clean up the drainage and if the drainage system is not adequate, we will construct a better one.

Asked whether the agency will use paving stones instead of asphalt, Engr. Ayotunde said, if his agency is able to control the spillage of water on the road, it will use asphalt, stressing that paving stones will be used only in a marshy roads.

Source: http://greennews.ng/index.php/2015/10/07/motorists-blast-ambode-over-herbert-macaulay-road-lasg-responds/

Apparently frustrated by the ‘crazy bills’ given to them by the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKDC), residents of Ikeja, Today staged a protest to express their displeasure over exorbitant electricity tariff which they described to be more expensive than their house rents per month.

They have been swallowing the bitter pills, paying part of the expensive amount charged by the electricity company despite lack of adequate power supply.

Residents of Seriki Aro Street, Anifowose, Kosdesho Streets were in their houses, some who are traders and artisans were in their shops when officials of the IKDC arrived the area to disconnect residents who are owing.

In a swift reaction, the community development area executives mobilized members of the area to protest the huge tariff being charged by the company.

Traders, businessmen, women, community leaders marched peacefully with placards, chanting: “enough is enough, no more crazy bills, give us meter, no more estimated bills’’ and singing anti oppressive songs.

IMG_20150916_105636Arriving at the IKDC headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja, they were addressed by an official of the company who identified himself as Mr Ayeni.

The angry protester immediately told Mr. Ayeni to put a call through to their officials who were at the time on the street, disconnecting their houses from electricity to stop immediately, else they will unleash terror on them.

Ayeni obliged, I’ll call them to stop the disconnection, he told the angry protesters.

Speaking with our correspondent, Olayinka Omololu, a business owner, said the electricity company charged her complex N1.7million for a year, which they managed to pay eight hundred thousand naira. A copy of the bill and the payment receipt of the said amount were shown to our correspondent.

Many of them brought their electricity bills for different months as far back as eight months ago to show evidence of the astronomical increase in the tariff and to lodge their complaints over the irregularities.

One of the protesters who choose not to give his name said, his apartment was paying N5,000 before but last month the electricity company gave them an ‘inflated bill’of 15,000 and presently they just received a bill of N35,000.

“We were still trying to pay N15, 000, when we received another bill of N35,000, an increment of over 100 per cent, how can we pay that? He queried.

The protesters who spoke to our correspondence in turns questioned why a small shop will be billed N35,000 a month, they said this is beyond what they can afford.

Another elderly woman believed to be in her sixties, Alhaja Adeniran, said: “last month, they brought a bill of N18,000 for six rooms, when I complained, they said they will do something about it but this month again they brought a bill of N22,000.

Alhaja Adeniran further revealed that before the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buahri on May 29, the six rooms were charged only N8,000 as their electricity tariff for a month but according to her things changed after Buhari took over with ‘crazy’ and inflated charges of N22,000 for a month. “We can’t pay that” the aged woman insisted.

Mr. Ayeni, an official of the company, obviously without solution to the billing and metering of houses said the management will look into the matter while urging the protester to be calm and that the issue will be resolved.

He said the company will ask its officials to look into some of the bills of the area and see to genuine grievances of the people on estimated and crazy bills.

Source: http://ghemedia.com/electricity-tariffs-are-higher-than-our-house-rents-lagosians-protest-crazy-bills/

EXECUTIVE EDITOR AT GLASS HOUSE ENTERTAINMENT
Job Description:
• Plan the content of publications according to the publication's style and editorial policies of the company;
• Coordinate the development and execution of editorial programming strategies, budgets and staffing plan;
• Instill and enforce a metrics-driven approach to content creation and management with dashboards and regular reporting to executive team and content producers;
• Oversight and acceleration of social, syndication, and other traffic drivers;
• Coordinate the development as well as evaluate the submissions of stories and content ideas from all editors;
• Other duties assigned by the Editor-in-Chief.

Job Requirements:
• At least 5 years’ experience in journalism, with a significant portion of that in leadership and/or executive roles.
• Experience in managing mid- to large-size team.
• Demonstrable network of contacts within publishing and product spheres to help facilitate audience growth, product development, and brand awareness.
• Experience working and creating content for online news platforms with brands and advertisers.
• Thorough understanding and application of publishing analytics (Omniture, Google Analytics, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability to create content (lead by example) and flawless copy, editing, and visual accuracy.
• BA/BS required

Job Location:
Lagos, Nigeria.

How to apply:
• Send CV to career@glasshousetv.com with subject “CV for EE” by or before 6pm on Friday, 11th September 2015.

GHE Career
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Abuja – The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced the redeployment of Mr Gbenga Komolafe as the Group General Manager, Special Duties.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Ohi Alegbe, NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, on Friday in Abuja.

According to the statement, Komolafe, until his appointment, was the Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division of the NNPC.

According to the statement, the most senior General Manager in the Crude Oil Marketing Division, Mr Musa Yola Usman, has been directed to function as the Group General Manager in acting capacity.

Source: http://westernpostnigeria.com/nnpc-redeploys-komolafe-from-crude-oil-marketing-division-to-special-duties/