The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • 33 drown in expressway accident in Ogun

    No fewer than 33 persons drowned  by noon on Friday when a coaster bus loaded with passengers ran- off a dual carriage bridge and plunged into a river at J4, Ogbere -Ijebu stretch of the Sagamu – Ore express way.

    The long medium range luxury bus still remained drowned and swept away from the point of entry to the river but there were three lucky survivors, including a pregnant woman who hung between a tree branch according to  the Unit Commander, Ijebu – Ode Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC), Mr Seidu Isah Osilama.

    Osilama said FRSC operatives arrived at the scene of the accident few minutes after the accident occurred and they were able to rescue the three survivors because they fell off the bus and landed on tree.

    He said rescue effort would require crane and divers to ascertain the location of the bus and the passengers inside the water.

    According to him, the exact numbers of passengers in the bus or the casualty figure is not known as the victims are still in the river.

  • 20 killed by gunmen in Kaduna village

    Unknown gunmen suspected to be armed robbers in the early hours of Sunday attacked Dogon Dawa community in Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna state, killing about 20 people in the community.

    Several others were  injured, but the police said that 12 people were killed in the attack.
    The Nation gathered that the gunmen who had operated in the area for sometime before they were chased away by a local vigilante group may have regrouped and return to the village on a reprisal attack having lost some of their men in an earlier operation with the vigilante group.
    Sources said that the gunmen may have escaped from a prison in one of the negbouring states and have been operating along the Kaduna/Birnin Gwari highway before the community set up the vigilante group to fish out the criminals.
    It was gathered that some members of the criminal gang may have been killed in an earlier encounter with the local vigilante group, but sources said close to the community dismissed the notion that it was an armed robbery operation.
    A highly dependable source told The Nation that “sometimes ago, there were series of armed robbery operation in the area especially along the Kaduna/ Birnin Gwari highway. Some women were even raped in the process.
    “So the community set up a vigilante group to help find out who were responsible and put an end to it. They have been doing a good job as they were able to identify some of those responsible for the robbery operations and other criminal activities in the area.
    “A former hakimi (District Head) in Dogo Dawa was in charge of the committee that was responsible for sanitizing the area and that was why, in the last three month, there was no robbery in the area as the people were able to identify the criminals and they were being eliminated silently one after the other.
    “The criminal must have fled the village when they discovered that they no longer have a base there. But this morning, the criminals came back and went to the house of the man they suspected to be responsible for identifying them, killed him and two of his children and cut the hand of his wife. They also killed 17 other people in the village.
    “I learnt that those people they killed were just coming from the early morning prayers. I can confirm to you that it was not a robbery operation, but it was the criminals themselves that came for a reprisal attack because the people have been identifying them”.
    Another source told The Nation that the criminals sent an earlier message to the community that they were coming back for a revenge mission having lost some of their members.
    The state Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Adenaike who confirmed the attack said “some people are saying the attackers were Fulani herdsmen who were probably on reprisal attack, but the question is, what reprisal attack.
    “My men have moved to the scene to get details of the incident. We couldn’t get immediate information from the area because the network there is very poor, but as soon as we get the details, we will let you know.
    “From what I heard, the villagers arrested some armed robbers while some escaped. Some of the robbers came back today (Sunday) killed 12 people in a reprisal attacks while the villagers killed two of them. The rumour going round that 20 people were killed while coming from the mosque is not true. But I will get back to you when I get full details. Thank you”, she said.

  • QUOTES OF THE DAY

    QUOTES OF THE DAY

    QUOTES OF THE DAY, OCTOBER 12, 2012

    Everybody has gone on training. It has never happened in five years. The mood here is very sad, and those at the board meeting are running away from everybody, so we don’t really know what went wrong.

    Anonymous Keynote Bank staff on the resignation of the Managing Director of the bank, Oti Ikomi.

    At the risk of sounding like a broken record, may I re-emphasise that we must pursue attitudinal change concomitantly with constitution review.

    Senate President David Mark on the 1999 Constitution review at a public hearing in Abuja.

    Despite allegations of widespread security force abuses, the Nigerian authorities have rarely held anyone accountable…further solidifying the culture of impunity for violence.

    Human Right Watch on the state of insecurity in Nigeria.

    Since I was born, I have witnessed ocean surge once but nothing can be compared to what we are seeing today…

    Pa Rufus Ignatius, a 70 year old man on the flood that recently ravaged Oguta Lake in Imo State.

    I must say that I was embarrassed by the entire scenario, because my wife does not deserve it. She should not have been abducted for any reason, because she chose to stay with my children in my home town  doing her legitimate business to support me at the home front. So, if she was kidnapped to get at me, she does not deserve it.

    -Najeem Salaam, Osun State House of Assembly Speaker on his wife’s abduction in Ejigbo, Osun State.

     

  • Keystone Bank MD resigns

    Keystone Bank MD resigns

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Keystone Bank Limited, Mr. Oti Ikomi has resigned his appointment.

    Ikomi according to a statement by the Head, Corporate Communication of the bank, Dafe Iwvurie resigned on Thursday based on personal reasons.

    A seasoned professional banker with a wealth of experience spanning over two decades, Ikomi was appointed CEO of Keystone Bank in August 2011.

    The Chairman of Keystone Bank, Mr. Moyo Ajekigbe has convened a meeting for friday to review the development and appoint a successor.

    Keystone Bank is an insured, full service commercial bank granted banking licence on 5 August 2011 by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and wholly owned by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

     

     

  • Mother of twins commits suicide, jumps into Osun river

    A few days after she was delivered of a set of twins, Mrs Shekinat Abdurazaq, 27, allegedly committed suicide on Wednesday when she jumped into the Osun River in Ede.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred at about 3.30 p.m. on the Osun River Bridge on the Oke Gada Road.

    NAN learnt that the woman, who hailed from Ede in Osun, delivered the twins 11 days ago.

    An eyewitness account revealed that shortly before Abdurazaq jumped into the river, she reportedly prayed and gave alms to beggars around the bridge head.

    One of the eyewitnesses, who identified himself as Selia Mojeed, told NAN that people did not know that Abdurazaq wanted to commit suicide, else they would have prevented her from doing so.

    Although efforts to speak with her husband failed, it was said that the woman had no outstanding problems with her spouse, family or neighbours before the incident.

    Efforts by sympathisers and passersby to rescue the woman failed as she was said to have drowned immediately.

    Shortly after the incident, her husband who also attempted to jump into the river was prevented from doing so by onlookers.

    NAN reports that the police later whisked away the deceased’s husband and placed him under safe custody at the Police “A” Division in Ede.

    Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Folasade Odoro, confirmed the incident.

  • Dangote, Agbakoba head FG’s committee on floods

    Dangote, Agbakoba head FG’s committee on floods

    President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the establishment of a National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation to raise funds in support of government’s efforts to provide urgent relief for victims of recent floods across the country.

    The composition of the Committee is as follows:

    1. Alhaji Aliko Dangote – Co-Chairman

    2. Mr. Olisa Agbakoba – Co-Chairman

    3. Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr. – Chief Fund Mobilizer

    4. Alhaji Karami Isiaku Rabiu – Member

    5. Alhaji Mohammed Indimi – Member

    6. Ngo Hannatu Cholum – Member

    7. Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija – Member

    8. Prof. Dora Akunyili – Member

    9. Mr. Tony Elumelu – Member

    10. Secretary-General, Nigerian Red Cross – Member

    11. Representative of C.A.N. – Member

    12. Representative of N.S.C.I.A. – Member

    13. Representative of the UNDP – Member

    14. Representative of the European Union – Member

    15. Representative of DFID – Member

    16. Representative of USAID – Member

    17. Perm. Sec., Fed. Ministry of Environment – Member

    18. Perm. Sec., Fed. Min. of Water Resources – Member

    19. Perm. Sec., Federal Ministry of Works – Member

    20. Perm. Sec., Federal Ministry of Agriculture – Member

    21. Perm. Sec. Federal Ministry of Health – Member

    22. Perm. Sec., Federal Ministry of Finance – Member

    23. Perm. Sec., Fed. Ministry of National Planning – Member

    24. Director-General, NEMA – Member

    25. Ag. Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees – Member

    26. Perm. Sec., Ecological Funds Office – Member

    27. Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Duties – Member

    28. Chairman, House Committee on Environment – Member

    29. Rep., Nigerian Union of Journalists – Member

    30. Rep., National Council of Women’s Societies – Member

    31. Mr. Tunde Lemo, (Representing the CBN) – Member

    32. Ms. Fatima Wali – Member

    33. Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr. – Member

    34. Senator Florence Ita-Giwa – Member

    The Committee according to a statement by presidential spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati  has been given the mandate to raise funds to complement government’s resources for the provision of relief to flood victims across the country and the post-impact rehabilitation of affected persons and communities.

    The Committee which is also expected to advise government on the judicious utilization of funds raised, has been authorized by President Jonathan to co-opt any other persons or organizations that it may find useful in carrying out its assignment.

    The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation will provide a secretariat for the Committee.

    It has been given one year to conclude its task.

     

     

  • Bomb factory found in Minna

    A discrete raid by Police in Minna, Niger State capital on Saturday night led to the discovery of a bomb  factory in Maitunmbi quarters of the town believed to belong to the  Islamic fundamentalist sect – Boko Haram.

    Acting on the tip-off by one of the five suspects earlier arrested over the killing of three Policemen in two operations in the town last week, a team of armed plain cloth men stormed the sect’s bomb factory behind a popular private school in the area at about 8:30pm.

    The raid which lasted for about two hours led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police from the state Command headquarters recovered from the building two domestic gas cylinder already prepared for explosion.

    Other lethal weapons found in the house include about 30 disposable food beverage and soft drinks cans as well as body spray cans all stockpiled with explosives, 25 kilograms of fertilizer, batteries, remote control devices and other electrical gadgets.

    Though no arrest was made at the time of the raid, it was gathered that the team deployed the best practice in carrying out the raid as majority of the residents in the neighborhood did not know of their action while it lasted.

    When contacted the state Police Public Relations Officer Mr. Pius Edobor refused to give details on the raid, but promised a statement later.

    According to the Police spokesman, ”We are still on that operation, we will issue a statement later.”

    Meanwhile a serious hunt for was launched by a Joint Military Team (JMT) of about 40 armed military, Police and State Security Service (SSS) to comb for armoury of members of the sect in Maitunmbi area on Sunday morning.

    End.

  • 3 Nigerian pilgrims die in Saudi Arabia

    Three Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia have died, Dr Bello Tambawwal, the Head of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria Medina Mission, said.

    Tambawwal made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN ) in an interview in Medina, saying the pilgrims were from Kebbi, Kano and Katsina states.

    He said the first was a pilgrim from Kano State, who died aboard the plane conveying him and others in the inaugural flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

    He said the others died in Medina from illnesses but added that ” both of them were in their ripe age at the time of their death.’’

    Tambawwal said the Nigerian mission was working hard to ensure that medical services were available to the pilgrims always by operating two clinics in Medina, which rendered services for 24 hours.

    He said the commission was working with the medical teams of state pilgrims’ boards to ensure that priority attention was given to the health- care of pilgrims.

    He commended FCT, Edo, Jigawa, Osun and Kogi states for their zeal and commitment to the health-care of their pilgrims and urged others to emulate them.

    Tambawwal also commended the states for the thorough screening of intending female pilgrims, which resulted to none carrying a pregnancy unlike in the past.

    ”Last year we had nine cases of pregnancy cases, resulting in still birth or safe delivery of the babies but we have no pregnancy cases this year”, he said.

  • Plateau: Slain legislator’s wife wins election

    Kaneng, the wife of the late Majority Leader of Plateau House of Assembly, Gyang Fulani, was elected on Saturday to replace her husband on the Barkin Ladi State constituency seat.

    The seat became vacant following the death of Fulani with Sen. Gyang Dantong, on July 8 in a stampede when gunmen attacked mourners at Maseh, a village in the Bachit District of Riyom Local Government Area.

    Similarly, Mr Gyang Pwajok won the election for Plateau North Senatorial District made vacant by the death of Dantong.

    Both candidates contested the by-elections on Saturday on the platform of PDP.

    The INEC Returning Officer, Prof. Fatima Sawa of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, said Pwajok scored 195,349 votes to beat retired Col. David Dungs of DPP, who polled 38,847 votes and others.

    Sawa also announced that APGA’s Chris Giwa scored 36,245 votes, while Danladi Atu of ANPP got 30,132 votes and Yusuf Pam, of ACN received 27,609 votes in the Senate race.

    She said Lumumba Adeh of LP got 25,527 votes in the election.

    “Pwajok, having satisfied the requirements of the law and having scored the highest number of votes required, is hereby declared winner of the Plateau North senatorial district election,” she said.

    INEC also announced that Kaneng polled 33,549 votes to beat Bulus Bot of DPP, who scored 6,718 votes and Ezekiel Gwom of ACN, who got 4,267 votes.

    The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Plateau, Mr Habu Zarma, in an address, appealed to the winner to be magnanimous in victory and carry others along.

    He attributed the peace that prevailed during the elections to “the hand of God at work in Plateau”.

    The Director-General of Pwajok Campaign Organisation, Mr Abbey Aku, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after the results were declared that the PDP victory was for all Plateau people.

    “The victory is for all Plateau people and I wish to call on the co-contestants to unite around the winner so as to get the best from the Senate,’’ he said.

    Before entering the race, Pwajok, a former University of Jos Political Science teacher, was the Chief of Staff to Governor Jonah Jang. (NAN)

     

  • Police search for killers of UNIPORT students

    The Police Command in Rivers State has launched a manhunt of the mob that beat to death four male students: Ugonna, Ilyod, Tekana and Chidiaka of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) on Friday morning and later set them ablaze, after putting car tyres on their necks, for allegedly  stealing mobile phones and laptops.

    The incident occured at Aluu community, beside UNIPORT, where most of the students who could not secure accommodation on the campus reside.

    Residents of the community have started fleeing to avoid indiscriminate arrest by policemen, especially of innocent persons.

    The Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ben Ugwuegbulam, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), in a telephone interview confirmed that four persons were killed on Friday at Aluu for allegedly  stealing, but could not ascertain if the victims were students of UNIPORT or not.

    Ugwuegbulam also stated that the  police command was investigating the unfortunate incident, while warning residents of the state against taking the law into their own hands.

    The police spokesman urged members of the public to always make useful information about criminals in their midst available to the command, while assuring that their identities would be well protected.

    It was learnt that the owners of the expensive mobile phones, including BlackBerry and the laptops at the off-campus hostel, complained to their friends over the loss of the items, thereby raising the alarm, which attracted indigenes of Aluu and passers-by.

    The missing phones and laptops were later reportedly  traced to the killed students, who were young men in their early 20s, and were said to have denied knowledge of the development. Without being given the opportunity to defend themselves, they were beaten to death and set ablaze by the angry mob.

    The horrible and blood-soaked corpses of the victims were later deposited at the morgue of an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.

    UNIPORT’s Deputy Registrar, Information, Dr. Williams Wodi, when contacted yesterday for his reaction on the incident, said: “Right now, I am not in a position to confirm to you that the alleged victims are bona fide students of UNIPORT, as is being widely speculated.

    “The alleged incident took place at Aluu village, about two kilometres outside our main campus. We do not have responsibility for security in Aluu communities, which are beyond our jurisdiction. The relevant security outfits are working with our security department to establish the true identities of the victims and what actually transpired on the day of the reported incident.

    “The Dean of Student Affairs (of UNIPORT) is also working round the clock to establish their identities as students of UNIPORT. The university will certainly issue a statement once preliminary facts are laid on the table.”