Eleven suspected members of the Boko Haram sect have been arrested and their automatic weapons seized, the military said yesterday.
The militants have claimed responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of people since launching an uprising in 2009.
The men were arrested in the Waka-Biu region of Borno State, spokesman for Borno’s military and police Joint Task Force (JTF), Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, said.
He said they recovered a submachine gun, seven AK-47s, 1,568 rounds of ammunition, 12 empty shells and 19 home-made bombs.
Boko Haram, whose fighters usually target members of the security forces, government offices and churches, began attacking telecommunications companies’ masts last week, saying the companies were helping government authorities to track them.
A military crackdown on the group in the North appears to have weakened their capabilities, and they have not managed a deadly large-scale strike for several months, although they are still active across the North.
Government said it is negotiating with some Boko Haram members. The sect’s spokesman has denied it is in talks with government authorities, but has never ruled them out in principle.
The Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crises code-named, ‘Operation Safe Haven’, has arrested three armed robbery suspects on the outskirts of Jos. They were nabbed when they attempted to escape in a stolen vehicle.
The car was snatched from the owner, Nandom Nanzir, at gunpoint about 10pm.
The victim said: “I am a civil defence officer. One of the suspects lied down and pretended to be ill. I volunteered to take them to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) about 10pm.
“When we were heading for the place, they brought out a gun and asked me to park. I stopped, they snatched the car and contemplated whether to kill me or not. They took me somewhere and asked me to jump out of the vehicle. They zoomed off after pushing me out of the car.
“I ran to the nearest security checkpoint and reported the incident. The soldiers on duty sent information to other checkpoints on the route. The robbers were later arrested.”
Spokesman for the STF, Capt Salisu Mustapha, said: “On September 11, about 10pm, the STF personnel at the Dogon Karfe checkpoint received information from Mr. Nanzing of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps that his car had been snatched at gunpoint at the British American junction in Jos North Local Government by suspected armed robbers.
“The guard commander called the checkpoints on the route. The car and the three robbery suspects were arrested by the STF about 12am at a checkpoint near the Police Staff College, Jos.
“The suspects, Jeremiah ThankGod, 26, Elijah John, 22 and Gabriel Dakup, 20, were found in possession of two-locally made pistols and two phones.
“They are being investigated after which they will be handed over to the police for prosecution.
“The STF wishes to inform the public to provide information. It will be treated with confidentiality.”
I watched far less of the London 2012 Paralympics (held August 29 – September 9) than the Olympics (July 27 – August 12). In fact, the only Paralympics sport I watched was the Power Lifting event won by Loveline Obiji, one of Nigeria’s six gold medalists.
This was not deliberate. I watched more of the Olympics because of the huge air time devoted to the games. When I had the time to look up from the computer screen at the television at work or after getting home at night, the games were on, some events repeated over and over again, even though it was not our athletes doing the winning. The Paralympics did not enjoy such devotion. I presume our local television stations could not ‘waste’ their precious air-time showing the games.
In the past two games, our Olympians have been unable to perform while our ‘Paralympians’ have repeatedly won medals despite being paid less attention, getting less funding and receiving less honour. In London 2012, the Paralympians won six gold, five silver and two bronze medals. I do not have to repeat that our Olympians won none.
Ironically, I watched Maryam Usman lose a medal in the Olympics weightlifting event (160kg category) while I watched Obiji win gold in the Paralympics Power Lifting event (82.50kg).
Obiji’s win was touching. She rolled on the floor over and over again. If she could walk, I am sure she would have jumped around. After she received her medal and the Nigerian national anthem finished playing, she lifted both hands high above her head with her eyes closed probably offering silent prayers of thanks to the Almighty for crowning her efforts with success.
Had she participated in the Olympics instead and won a medal, I am sure the number of Nigerians who would have watched and commented on her victory would have been many times higher. I am sure many would have shed emotional joyous tears for the coveted gold medal. But that was not the case.
We were not really surprised that our Olympians did not perform. We knew they were not well prepared; we suspected the funding was likely inadequate; we guessed the technical expertise of their trainers could have been better. It was not really their fault. Or was it?
But with their consistency in delivering good results, we should start asking how our physically-challenged athletes are able to win medals when it is not likely that their operational environment is more favourable than their able-bodied counterparts.
It is only logical that since they are doing so well, the government should invest more in them. Like the biblical vine and branches, they should be pruned so they can become even more fruitful. I know many of the athletes with complete limbs who are educated get sports scholarships. Such scheme should be made readily available to the challenged athletes. Channeling their energies into sports is a way for them to take control of their lives. It is a way to take them off the streets.
Many of the physically-challenged among us are deprived of quality education and even decent family lives. If they come from less privileged backgrounds, their chances of doing better than begging on the streets are very small. If they come from good families that fail to look beyond their physical disability, they are relegated to the background and not given educational opportunities that other members of the family get.
It is time for the government to initiate policies to harness their potential given that they have the talent, determination and will to succeed if they are well trained. Sports academies should be established that focus on discovering their talents from their youths or rehabilitating them from when they have accidents so they can contribute their quota to society.
The performance by our Paralympians is a demonstration that nobody is useless. Parents who have such children should learn from this and encourage them to be their best, whether in sports, academics or other laudable vocations. Schools should also go beyond just accommodating challenged children in the classrooms. They should be involved in all kinds of activities that can exploit their innate talents and make them proud of, and not sorry for themselves.
Nigerien government has indicated its readiness to welcome Nigerian businessmen interested in investing in the country’s energy sector.
It said it has surplus crude oil deposits in the country.
Leader of the country’s delegation to the first Kano-Republic of Niger Trade and Investment Summit, Hajiya Rabi Abdou Dodo, spoke yesterday in Kano. He promised to encourage and support the Nigerian business community to invest in the energy sector.
Dodo, the country’s Consul General du Niger ‘a Kano, said the summit signals the beginning of greater business and economic cooperation between the two countries.
She said she hoped that the Nigerian business community would benefit from the business deal.
In a keynote address on the occasion, Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso noted that despite efforts by the arms of the government of the two countries, corruption is still witnessed in their borders. He also said there are intimidations and undue delays, resulting in losses.
Ten commissioners in Kaduna State were yesterday locked out of the weekly state Executive Council meeting by Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa for coming late.
The governor’s action has heightened speculation that he would sack some of the commissioners for poor performance.
The weekly meeting, which begins at 10am every Wednesday, was said to have been shifted to 9am to enable the governor attend to other activities lined up for the day.
At the time he came into the council chamber for the meeting, only 15 of the 25 commissioners were said to be around, including the deputy governor who was said to have come into the chamber at 9am.
The Nation learnt that the governor, who was not happy with the development, ordered that the three entrances to the chamber be locked during the meeting.
Yakowa was said to have warned the commissioners, saying, “my humanity should never be construed for weakness.”
Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Saidu Adamu and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Reuben Buhari, could not be reached for comments on the governor’s action.
The youth wing of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Kwara State branch, has held its maiden summit with a resolve to resist divisive tendencies within the party.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the summit, the youths said: “We shall resist any attempt by sponsored agents to divide our great party. We shall no longer tolerate activities capable of undermining the party in future polls.”
In the communiqué, signed by Ebenezer Olusona and AbulLateef Babafila, they said they have resolved not to take the back seat in the decision-making processes of the party, “as we constitute the larger percentage of party membership.”
The communiqué reads: “We throw our weight behind the upcoming congress of our great party and urge that we be represented in the processes. We will take our destinies in our hands by contesting the positions we have interest in during the congress. We warn rumour mongers to desist from spreading unfounded rumour of an imaginary rift among our party leaders.
“We have resolved that the youths will mobilise for the registration of old and new members on September 17 and the congress proper, which begins on September 27.”
THOSE posting misleading remarks and publishing fabricated reports on the recent visit of action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to the National Convention of the Democratic Party in the United States (US) got a reply yesterday from the Tinubu Media Office.
Some on-line news sites had joined issues with the ACN over its claim that its leadership was specially invited to observe the Democratic National Convention (DNC) IN Charlotte, North Carolina, US).
Besides, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has latched onto such reports to attack the ACN and Tinubu.
But in its reaction to the on-line reports, the Tinubu described the publications as misleading and specifically skewed to portray the CAN leadership in bad light.
The Office said in a statement: “For the most parts, the reports are inaccurate, slanted and laced with a deliberate ploy to deceive the unsuspecting public.
“The facts are that governor Tinubu, a long-standing supporter of the Democratic Party was invited by a senior member of the party to attend the convention. This invitation earned him a place on the Convention’s VIP list, a fact that can be easily confirmed from the DNC Security clearance list.”
According to the Office, there was no mention anywhere in its earlier statement that American President Barack Obama personally invited Tinubu to the epoch-making event.
It said: “Contrary to what has been erroneously reported, the press statement issued by Tinubu Media Office did not anywhere mention or claim that President Obama personally signed a letter or issued a “gold card” inviting Governor Tinubu.
“The gold card stated in the press statement infers a VIP status. A perusal of the original press statement will reveal that no such claim was ever made.”
“We recognize that media houses are at liberty to cast headlines that promote and sell their papers, hence, the miss-representations, but insist not to be quoted out of context.
“However, from the recent online and newspaper reports, it is very clear that those responsible never read the full press statement or mischievously chose to ignore the facts in order to score cheap political points. There is no iota of truth in their claim that money was paid to obtain tickets.
“And these publications have offered no shred of proof about money paid to purchase any ticket. They have no proof to justify their claim that the statement issued stated that Obama personally signed an invitation.
“They never spoke with anyone in the Tinubu media office to seek clarifications and ended up running a one-sided and heavily slanted story.
“The decision of the leading members of the Democratic Party who invited Governor Tinubu to the Convention is no doubt informed by the recognition of his long standing relationship with top members and support for the party.
“Governor Tinubu attended the Convention in his right as the National Leader of Nigeria’s second largest party- the , Action Congress of Nigeria – and most importantly, his status as a leading voice for change in the country and indeed as a former Senator of the Federal Republic and former Governor of Lagos State for eight-years.
“We urge media outlets that will rather ignore the substance of a story, or miss-interprete portions of statement issued to serve a specific agenda to re-trace their steps in the interest of journalistic integrity.”
Real Bertis new signing Nosa Igbiebor has blamed lack of concentration on the part of the Super Eagles’ players as the major reason behind the late minute equalizer they conceeded against the Lone Star of Liberia in the last weekend Africa Nations Cup qualifier in Monrovia.
According to the former FC Abuja playmaker, “we played well, especially rising to the occasion after conceeding that early minute goal which was just due to lost of concentration. When the equalizer came, and we went ahead few minutes later, I thought we would score more than four goals. But complacency stepped in, and the Liberians took over the game, and scored that heart breaking equalizer.
“It is painful we did not win, but it was a good result. All we need at home is to put our acts together and get the needed qualification to South Africa.” He pleaded to the Coaches to now start concentrating on the players they need to rebuild the team.
The President of Committee21 (C21), Southeast’s non-political organisation, which was established to push the Igbo agenda, Senator Annie Okonkwo, has said the Igbo would settle for nothing less than the presidency in 2015.
The Senator who spoke with The Nation in Lagos noted that the purported moves by some prominent Igbo politicians to adopt President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2015 poll was against the overall interest of the Igbo people.
He said: “The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has already made it clear that it will present a candidate for the 2015 election. The chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh, expressed this in strong terms. If the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) decides to adopt Jonathan, let it be; that is a party affair, but as for the people of the Southeast, we are determined to push for Igbo presidency.”
The Senator said that despite moves by some divisive element in the actualisation of the Igbo agenda, it will come up stronger because the people are behind the dream. “The C21, market women, Okada riders, elders, all religious groups and every Igbo man are involved in this struggle and they are all connected to C21. And the membership of C21 cuts across political lines and our objectives are very clear.”
Reacting to Governor Peter Obi’s alleged support for Dr. Jonathan, Okonkwo said Obi was merely playing his role as governor and did not express the stance of the Southeast: “With due respect, he is a governor and he, as an individual, has his own views. The way it is today, everything is decided by the party; he is not in control of the party, he is not in the party machinery and of course he is not in control of any organisation that he will speak for the Igbo. He is just there in that capacity as the governor. And of course, if he decides to go and support Jonathan, that his is own wish.”
Explaining further, he said as governor of a state with his function and responsibilities, he was playing his role. “That he is the governor does not mean that he will forge the path for the Igbo people. He is not the chairman of a political party which should put him in the position of speaking for the party. The chairman of APGA has made it very clear that the Igbo would field a candidate for the 2015 election. APGA has been adopted as a political party for all the Igbo.”
The former senator who was until recently a member of PDP maintained that APGA was capable of coming up with credible candidates who can conveniently run the affairs of the country in presidential capacity. “We have credible candidates and people with high integrity who are interested in occupying the number-one position. And as far as we are concerned in respect of the presidency, the Igbo people are still consulting in respect of the kind of candidate we are going to present. The candidate we will present will be acceptable by Nigerians,” he said.
Though APGA has its stronghold in the east, this, according to the senator, is not a major threat; rather, it would throw up new friendship through alliances with those who share Igbo agenda. He said: “As far as I am concerned there are going to be some alliances, and of course the Igbo are everywhere. They are spread all over the country; it is the only tribe that is fully spread everywhere. They are well numbered in Kano, Kaduna and other parts of the country. But still, I believe there are going to be alliances with people who share the same vision with us.”
Given previous alliances which have always offered the Southeast the position of Vice President or other lesser position, the senator stressed that it was not going to be business as usual because 2015 is a project that all the kith and kin of Igbo stock are committed to.
Okonkwo said further: “As far as I am concerned today, the Igbo have made it clearl they will not play second fiddle. The truth of the matter is that today, we are nowhere; we are not even the second or third. The truth of the matter is that whatever anybody is telling you, we want to make our position very clearly to demonstrate that we have the capacity and we are united for this purpose.”
Drawing from the spread advantage of the Igbo who are resident in every community in Nigeria, he said that would give it a lead to make the Presidency aspiration realistic. “Despite this advantage, the position we have found ourselves is not right, but we are going to correct this.”
President Jonathan who recently commissioned some projects in the Southeast and promised to complete the Second Niger Bridge was applauded for paying attention to the infrastructural development of the zone.
Though it was said this would ensure support for the president’s bid, according to the senator, this will not make them change their position: “That is democracy; do for the east what is due for them. The east has been neglected for quite long. Even if the president goes beyond what government is supposed to do, that does not change our mind. We are set to achieve what we want to achieve, even if he puts all the gold and how are we sure this will not go like one of those promises others had made in the past?
“Many presidents have come to make promises. They had come with promises of sea port and other projects, but the moment they realise their ambition, the Igbo are neglected. This time around, we are not going to fall for those white elephant projects and empty promises. I do remember the talk about sea port which has been on right from the Shehu Shagari regime. The roads are in terrible condition, so we want to see a practical development.”
•Bombs, guns seized 
