The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Military takes over Boko Haram assembly points

    Military takes over Boko Haram assembly points

    … Kills three, arrests 25

    …High profile Boko Haram leader killed

    The Multinational Joint Task Force has captured three key assembly points of Boko Haram insurgents and killed three, including a high profile terrorist identified as Abba.

    Also, the force has arrested 25 suspected insurgents during a foiled bid to invade Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

    But the insurgents succeeded in killing a member of the task force.

    These disclosures were contained in a statement issued by the Defence Headquarters spokesman, Brig. Gen. Chris Olukolade, on the update on the ongoing special operation in Borno State and two others where emergency rule has been declared.

    The statement said the special forces had also intercepted messages sent to fleeing insurgents urging them not to give up but fight to the end.

    The statement said: “Troops of the Special Forces have intercepted messages sent to fleeing insurgents urging them not to give up but fight to the end.

    “The attempt by some of them to heed the call was foiled during the weekend as they were trailed to some settlements and towns towards the border where they plan to regroup.

    “Troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force carried out an operation which resulted in the capture and destruction of the insurgents assembly points sited in the outskirts of Kaneram Dan Katsina, Tumbu Dabino and Mallam Fatori area north of Baga.

    “The towns and settlements have now been secured while cordon and search operation is also ongoing in the area after the insurgents have been dislodged.”

    The statement added that while three insurgents were killed during an encounter to prevent the invasion of Maiduguri, about 25 others were arrested

    The statement added: “Meanwhile, a total of 25 insurgents were rounded up while three died including a high profile terrorist identified as Abba- who has been on the list of most wanted persons.

     

  • Al-Makura sets up panel to investigate security agents’ killings

    Al-Makura sets up panel to investigate security agents’ killings

    Governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, on Monday said the state government would within two weeks constitute a Judicial Commission of Enquiry to investigate the massacre of 56 security personnel in Lakyo village.

    Members of the Ombatse cult had allegedly ambushed and killed 46 police officers and 10 State Security Service (SSS) agents said to have been drafted to ensure security in the village recently.

     

    Al-Makura disclosed this when the Nasarawa State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Concerned Forum visited him in Lafia.

    Former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, led the PDP delegation, drawn from the three Senatorial Zones of the state.

    Adamu insisted that the state government knows the perpetrators of the crime.

    He urged the government to ensure that they were apprehended and punished to serve as a deterrent to others.

    Almakura said the unfortunate incident was both ironic and painful.

    He said: “The killing of the security officers was an irony because they were posted to the village to protect the people but they were killed.

    “It was painful because those who perpetrated the act have up till today not shown any sign of remorse.”

    He lamented that the Ombatse militia group has continued to kill and maim innocent citizens in the state since November last year.

    He added: “One would have wished that the perpetrators of this abominable act would feel sorry and show remorse.

    “But I want to assure you that the perpetrators of this criminal act would be brought to justice.

    “We will set up a Judicial Commission of Enquiry in the next two weeks to probe the unfortunate incident and anybody indicted would be prosecuted and punished according to law.”

  • Jonathan presents mid-term report Wednesday

    Jonathan presents mid-term report Wednesday

    President Goodluck Jonathan will on Wednesday present Mid-Term Report of his administration to Nigerians at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

    A statement from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation signed by the Special Assistant (Media), Sam Nwaobasi, urged Nigerians to disregard contrary reports in the media.

    The statement reads: “This is to inform invited guests and the general public that the 2013 Democracy Day Celebration, at which event His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, will present the Mid-Term Report of his Administration titled: “Transformation Mid – Term Report: Taking Stock, Moving Forward, will hold at the International Conference Centre, Abuja by 10.00 a.m. on Wednesday, 29th May, 2013 as is being announced in the print and electronic media.”

    “This Clarification has become necessary in view of the false and totally misleading news story on page two of Nigerian Tribune of Monday, 27th May, 2013 captioned “Again, FG cancels Democracy Day Celebrations.”

    “For emphasis, there is no truth in that story. Activities for the 2013 Democracy Day Celebration have commenced since Friday, 24th May, 2013 with National Juma’at Prayer at the National Mosque, Abuja.”

    “This was followed by an Interdenominational Church Service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja on Sunday, 26th May, 2013.”

    “On Wednesday, 29th May, 2013, Mr. President will present to the nation his administration’s mid-term report as the main event for this year’s Democracy Day Celebration.”

    “Invited guests are expected to be seated at the International Conference Centre, Abuja by 9.30 a.m,” it stated.

     

  • 17 Nigerians died on UN missions in 2012

    The UN will on May 29 honour 17 Nigerians who lost their lives while serving in its peacekeeping operations in 2012, according to a statement from the global body on Monday.

    They are Staff Sgt. Absalom Umar, Staff Sgt. Emmanuel Abel, Cpl. Julius Emmanuel, Lance Cpl. Bashir Garba and Cpl. Thomas Idu, all of whom lost their lives while serving with the United Nations Mission in Liberia.

    Others are  Lt. Martins Anthony, Lance Cpl. Sunday Afolayan, Sgt. Omega Agbalo, Cpl. Suleiman Bako, Cpl. Fali Buluma, Lance Cpl. Oko Idiku, Lance Cpl. Sanusi Jibrin, Lance Cpl. Inalegwu John, Sgt. Birabi Nkpara, Sgt Joseph Ojelade, Lance Cpl. Sarki Samaila and Lance Cpl. Abdullahi Shawai who died while serving with the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur.

    The statement by the UN Information Centre (UNIC), Lagos, said that the Nigerians were among 103 military, police and civilian personnel who would be honoured in commemoration of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

    The statement said that the iday of UN would be observed at UN headquarters in New York and at its field operation offices in different countries.

    “This marks the fifth year in a row the United Nations will honour more than 100 Blue Helmets who lost their lives the previous year while serving the cause of peace.

    “This sombre milestone is a stark reminder of the risks incurred by individuals who put their lives on the line when they were deployed to UN missions around the world,” it said.

    According to the statement, UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-Moon, will perform the wreath-laying ceremony in honour of the “fallen peacekeepers”.

    It also said that the late peacekeepers would be honoured with the Dag Hammarskjold medal.

    “To meet emerging threats and rise to new challenges, United Nations peacekeeping, is adapting its policies to better fulfil its mandate of ensuring lasting peace in war-torn countries.

    “One hundred and three peacekeeping personnel died last year and more than 3,100 have lost their lives during the UN’s 65 years’ history of peacekeeping.

    “We salute their bravery and mourn their passing,” it stated

  • NGF crisis threat to democracy, says NBA, Sagay

    NGF crisis threat to democracy, says NBA, Sagay

    Some prominent lawyers on Monday in Lagos said the ongoing crisis within the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) was a threat to the nation’s democracy.

    The lawyers were reacting to the dispute arising from the forum’s chairmanship election on Friday.

    THE NGF broke up into two factions on Friday after the forum’s secretariat declared Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers reelected as chairman of the group by 19 votes to Governor Jonah Jang’s 16.

    But a faction led by Jang and Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom disputed the result, arguing that Amaechi should have stepped down before the election took place.

    The lawyers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews that the crisis was capable of derailing Nigeria’s democracy.

    A constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), said the action of the governors was an embarrassment and a threat to the country’s democratic experiment.

    “It is shameful and embarrassing. The results were declared and we all saw it on national television.

    “One would normally expect the loser to congratulate the winner but they left the venue in anger and decided to form a splinter group.

    “Their actions have shown that they have contempt for democracy and the rule of law,” Sagay said.

    The Chairman, NBA, Ikeja branch, Mr. Onyekachi Ubani, said the disputed election was a sad situation.

    Ubani wondered why a group of only 36 persons could not conduct an acceptable election.

    “The NGF, as it stands today, is already divided and it is a dangerous signal to our democracy,” Ubani said.

     

  • My suspension is politicial witch-hunt, says Amaechi

    Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi has faulted his suspension from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the National Working Committee of the party.

    Reacting through the state Commissioner for Information, Mrs Ibim Semenitari in Port Harcourt on Monday, Amaechi said “We are concerned, as we believe this is political witch hunt. It is worrisome”.

    “The reason given is the suspension  of the Obio/Akpor council. This is purely a legislative matter and done in accordance to the laws of local government councils in Rivers State,”Amaechi stated.

  • Uwaifo, Femi Kuti win COSON awards

    Uwaifo, Femi Kuti win COSON awards

    The Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) has celebrated music artistes whose works have helped to make the industry a force to reckon with at the international stage.

    Musicians, songwriters and composers who had written and sang great songs from 1960s till date were awarded the COSON Song Award at an event that ended on Saturday morning.

    Victor Uwaifo’s “Joromi,” was chosen as the best song of the 1960s while Prince Nico Mbarga’s “Sweet Mother” won the 1970s category.

    “Send Down the Rain” by Majek Fashek was picked as the best song of the 1980s, while Femi Kuti’s “Wonder Wonder” emerged the best song of the 1990s.

    For the new millennium (2000), Kehinde Akinbode’s “Olorioko” was awarded the best contemporary Afro song, while contemporary pop song was awarded to Tu Face Idibia with “African Queen.”

    Sunny Nneji won contemporary highlife category with “Oruka.” Idibia won contemporary afro with “heneme,” while P2 were honoured for their hit song “Chop My Money” and the best song for contemporary highlife of the new era was awarded to Jude Okoye for “Baby Oku.”

    Uwaifo commended COSON for the initiative to celebrate artistes, saying it had never been done before in the industry.

    “COSON has brought back the glory of music in Nigeria; this is the only time artistes have benefited publicly in terms of receiving royalties,” he said.

    Earlier, Frank Edoho the presenter of “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire,” said the awards were meant to celebrate song writers and composers who sang and wrote great songs that Nigerians “have been dancing to for a long time.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the ceremony was part of activities marking the COSON Week.

    The event was attended by artistes, Nollywood stars and other personalities in the entertainment industry.

     

  • PENCOM begins screening of 2014 retirees

    The National Pension Commission (PENCOM) said it will screen federal civil servants due to retire from January to December 2014 to facilitate easy payment of their entitlements.

    In a statement in Lagos on Monday, the commission said the exercise would take place at 14 centres nationwide from June 3 to July 11.

    The statement issued by PENCOM’s Head of Communication Unit, Mr. Emeka Onuora, said the exercise would be for those due to retire in 2014 by virtue of attaining 60 years or 35 years in service.

    It said that the exercise also covered those who had attained 65 years in service or 70 years of age for employees of tertiary institutions.

    “This physical enrolment also covers those who have already retired, but are yet to be enrolled.

    “Employees are requested to attend the exercise with original copies of letter of appointment, birth certificate/declaration of age, promotion letter and pay slip as at June, 30, 2004.

    “Other requirements include letter from the MDAs indicating retirement and first appointment date, grade level and step as at July 2007, past records of service and current pay slip,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted PENCOM as saying in the statement.

    The statement said that employees should also come along with evidence of registration with a Pension Fund Administrator, indicating Personal Identification Number and one passport photograph.

    It said the commission required a Pension Desk Officer from an MDA to assist in identifying potential retirees and confirming the authenticity of the documents presented by employees.

    The statement said that medically unfit employees were exempted from the exercise.

    It added that the Pension Desk Officers should come with their documents and letters from qualified physician or medical board.

     

  • AU create emergency military force

    AU create emergency military force

    African leaders decided on Monday to immediately establish a military rapid reaction force to deal with regional security emergencies, moving to reduce the continent’s reliance on outside forces and funds for its defense, Reuters reports.

    The move made at an African Union summit in Addis Ababa followed calls from several leaders for an African defense capacity to be created right away, given the persistence of a number of conflicts and rebellions on the continent.

    Plans for an African Standby Force have existed for more than a decade. But delays in the creation of this contingent has led to criticism that Africa has for too long been slow to do its own peacekeeping, relying instead on help and funding from the United Nations and Western donors.

    The text of the AU Assembly decision, seen by Reuters, said the immediate rapid response force would be formed from voluntary contributions of troops, equipment and funds by member states currently in a position to provide these.

    The initiative was being called the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises (ACIRC), and it would be a transitional stop-gap measure pending the full formation of the planned Standby Force.

    It would consist of a “flexible and robust force … to be deployed very rapidly to effectively respond to emergency situations, within the framework of the African Peace and Security Architecture.”

    The decision was “aimed at helping in bringing about African solutions to Africa’s problems”, the text said.

    Security challenges faced by the AU over the last two years have included coups in Guinea-Bissau and Mali, offensives by Islamist militant groups in Mali and Nigeria, and conflict involving rebels in eastern Congo and Central African Republic.

    In Mali, former colonial power France rushed in troops and planes earlier this year to block an advance by Islamist jihadists, an intervention that embarrassed the AU by showing up the continent’s lack of its own defensive capacity.

     

  • Nigeria to host Special AU Summit July 15

    Nigeria to host Special AU Summit July 15

    Nigeria is to host a Special Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government, tagged Abuja+12 Special Summit in July, to evolve modules that will intensify the implementation of programmes of Action Committee of AIDS Watch Africa (AWA).

    President Goodluck Jonathan agreed to host the conference during the meeting of Heads of State and Government of Action Committee of AIDS Watch Africa held on Sunday at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was held as part of the side-line events of the AU summit and was chaired by the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Haile-Mariam Desalegn, who is also the AU chairperson.

    In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the Heads of State renewed their commitment to intensify effort towards the realisation of the objectives of AWA.

    “We adopted and committed ourselves to the following; the outcome of our Action Committee meeting as summarised in decision on the Report of AWA Action Committee of Heads of State and Government meeting, which will be presented to the 21st session of the AU Assembly for endorsement and subsequent dissemination to stakeholders and partners for follow up action.

    “We request AU member states to develop a sustainable investment plan for health, particularly AIDS, TB and Malaria, with year-on-year increase in domestic funding.

    “AWA will play a key and leadership role in the forthcoming special Summit of the AU Heads of government (Abuja+12 Summit) in July in Abuja, Nigeria.

    “Intensify and facilitate advocacy and further develop partnership at all levels. In this regard, we call upon the partners to build on their commendable supports received so far, for Africa to win the fight against AIDS, TB and Malaria.

    “The Leaders earlier, during the meeting, pledged to intensify efforts towards ending Aids, TB and Malaria Review first year’s progress toward implementing the African Union Roadmap.”