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Tag: Maiduguri

  • Explosion hits Muna garage in Maiduguri

    Explosion hits Muna garage in Maiduguri

    A garage at Muna in Maiduguri, Borno state has reportedly been hit by early morning explosion on Wednesday, reports have said.

    According to reports from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in a social media post through twitter, confirming the explosion, emergency workers have been deployed to the scene.

     

    Details shortly…

  • Heartland in auto accident in Maiduguri

    Heartland in auto accident in Maiduguri

    Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side Heartland were involved in an auto accident in Maiduguri on Wednesday.

    The Owerri-based side were in Maiduguri to honour the NPFL matchday 35 clash against El Kanemi Warriors today at the Maiduguri Township Stadium.

    The team arrived safely in Maiduguri on Wednesday but the hosts’ team bus conveying the Naze Millionaires to their hotels ran into a Nigerian Army Hilux Jeep on the Kano/Jos road near the Ramat Polytechnic.

    No death was recorded in the auto accident but nine Heartland players sustained varying degree of injuries.

    The injured were taken to hospital for treatment while El Kanemi Warriors’ officials were making frantic efforts to get another vehicle to take others to the hotel.

    El Kanemi Warriors secretary Tahir Bala confirmed the auto accident and equally confirmed that nine players were injured.

    “Yes, the bus conveying Heartland team from the airport to their hotel just had an accident with an army car but no death was recorded, but nine players sustained bruises.

    “We are making frantic efforts to take the injured to hospital for treatment while arrangement is going on to take others to their hotel. That’s what I can say for now,” said Bala to supersport.com.

    The top-flight clash could not be held on Saturday like others as Heartland were unable to secure a flight to Maiduguri on Thursday from Abuja.

  • NSCDC arrests five IPDs over alleged theft, vandalism

    NSCDC arrests five IPDs over alleged theft, vandalism

    The Nigeria Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Borno on Wednesday arrested five Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) for allegedly vandalising and stealing camp structures.

    The state NSCDC Commandant, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, who made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri, said the suspects were arrested in Bakassi camp.

    According to him, items recovered from the suspects include windows, blends, noggin roofs, pipes and rubbers, among others.

    “The IDPs are now causing more havoc by vandalising the hard-earned structure that the government put in place.

    “There are bad eggs among the IDPs who can do anything to get money.

    “Some of them engage in prostitution and sexual abuses while some are into illicit hard drug use.

    “The Command warned the culprits to desist from such crimes or face the full wrath of the law,” he said.

  • El-Kanemi concede first goal in Maiduguri

    El-Kanemi concede first goal in Maiduguri

    Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) outfit, El-Kanemi Warriors have had their backline breached for the first time at home in 90 days.

    Since returning to the Maiduguri stadium in April, El-Kanemi have made their ground a fortress – winning seven home matches on the spin without conceding.

    However, NPFL new boys MFM FC became the first team to score in Maiduguri when Nelson Kenedium scored a 55th minute goal in his side’s 1-3 loss on Saturday.

    Though Kenedium’s goal turned out to be insufficient in MFM’s bid to upset the applecart, it was enough to halt El-Kanemi’s watertight defending at home at 685 minutes of football.

    El-Kanemi, despite playing without their leading scorer, Ibrahim Mustapha, who has travelled out for a test with a club abroad, got their goals from Matthias Samuel, Hussaini Bata and Daniel Japhet on 14, 36 and 66 minutes respectively to seal an 11th win of the season.

    The Maiduguri club move into the top half of the standings in the Nigeria top-flight with 34 points.

  • Elderstatesman Monguno buried in Borno amidst encomiums

    Elderstatesman Monguno buried in Borno amidst encomiums

    •He was Nigeria’s finest statesman, says President
    •He was an icon- Atiku
    •Tambuwal mourns

    Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Alhaji Shettima Ali-Monguno, who died on Friday, was buried at the Gwange Cemetery in Maiduguri yesterday.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the burial was preceded by a funeral prayer led by the Chief Imam of Borno, Imam Laisu Ibrahim, at the palace of the Shehu of Borno in Maiuguri.

    Thousands of sympathisers, including Governor Kashim Shettima, former governors of the state as well as former ministers and heads of parastatals, agencies attended the event held under tight security at the palace.

    Ali-Monguno, an elder statesman, who was also Minister of Mines and Power, Internal Affairs and Education, died at his residence after the Magrib prayers on Friday evening, according to a family source. He was aged 95.

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday described the late Ali-Monguno, as “one of the finest statesmen and political actors Nigeria ever had.”

    In a statement by Malam Garba Shehu, the president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in Abuja yesterday, the president condoled with Borno Government and the people.

    A federal government delegation led by Major General Babagana Munguno (rtd) to the funeral quoted Buhari as saying that the deceased would “always remain a fountain of inspiration in life and death.”

    According to the president, the late elder statesman from Borno, ranked among the most respected public figures in Nigeria while in office and while in retirement life.

    He recalled that in the course of his public service as a Parliamentarian and a Federal Minister of Internal Affairs in the First Republic, the late Monguno “left behind a legacy of untainted and unblemished career.”

    He said such virtues should be emulated by Nigerian leaders at all levels.

    “Man’s greatest pride is to leave behind a good name and the late Monguno achieved that desire,” he added.

    Buhari, who said that it would take volumes to narrate Monguno’s sterling virtues, extended his condolences to the family, government and the people of Borno over the loss.

    He prayed Almighty God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest.

    The government delegation, according to the statement, included the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Bello and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu.

    Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal also described the late statesman as a good man and a courageous citizen who risked his life to speak truth both to power and deviant non-state actors like Boko Haram.

    The governor also described the late elder statesman as a patriotic citizen with resilience for the unity and stability of the country.

    Tambuwal in a statement by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam said “At a time when many in the country were afraid to speak against the murderous Boko Haram terrorist gang. Dr. Monguno stood as a prominent voice in expressing displeasure at how both Boko Haram decimated civilian population in the once peaceful enclave of his beloved Borno. The same voice spoke naked truth to the former regime in how it conducted the war”, he noted.

    He said the late Ali-Monguno was also renowned for his philanthropy especially his contributions to the development of female education in Borno State in particular, and the North East region in general.

    While commiserating with the people and government of Borno State over his death, Tambuwal prayed to God to give his family the strength to bear the loss.

    In his tribute, the former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar described the former minister as an icon of uprightness.

    In a message of condolence by his media office, the former vice-president said that one of the most indelible public records of the late Ali Monguno “were his uprightness and remarkable honesty, qualities for which the former Minister of Mines, Power and Petroleum would be remembered.”

    The Turaki Adamawa noted that “the late Monguno devoted his life to honest service rather than obsession with personal accumulation of wealth.”

    According to Atiku, Monguno’s greatest asset in life was his integrity, recalling that the late elder statesman was one of the most credible and respectable parliamentarians of the First Republic.

     

  • Police confirms failed suicide attack on Maiduguri mosque

    Police confirms failed suicide attack on Maiduguri mosque

    Borno State Police Command has confirmed a failed suicide attack targeting worshipers at a mosque in Maiduguri.

    The two suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers allegedly blew up themselves near Sulemanti mosque of Maiduguri metropolis of Borno state in the early hours of Monday.

    Borno State Police Command spokesman Victor Isuku said the bomber , targeted a mosque in Sulemanti ward with strapped Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), but were detonated, killing the two suspect during midnight Ramadan prayers.

    Isuku Victor disclosed that; “A team of the Police Explosives Ordinance Department (EOD) has been deployed to the scene this morning near Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot.”

    A civilian Joint Task Force member, Bukar Shehu also told The Nation  that the suicide bombers were intercepted near a mosque premises under tree, before they blew up themselves to death.

    “The people in the mosque took to their heels, while we challenged the explosives strapped suspects of their mission to the mosque, before these explosive exploded near the mosque and under this tree.

    “It was God that saved us here; we would have been killed in the dawn suicide bombings. One of our members was injured by the shrapnel of explosives, including a woman with a leg injury. She has been taken to a nearby clinic for treatment this morning,” Shehu disclosed.

    It is not clear how the suicide bomber sneaked into maiduguri metropolis.

    Meanwhile, the mosque has been condoned off by soldiers and policemen to prevent any further attacks on mosques and other public places in the metropolis.

     

  • Security explains Maiduguri shooting

    Security explains Maiduguri shooting

    The police and Army have explained the circumstances which led to the shooting at a rice distribution centre in Maiduguri, the state capital.

    Gunshots were heard near the Deputy Governor’s office yesterday when rice was being shared to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). A policeman was shot in the chaos.

    A joint statement by the Commander, 7 Division Garrison, Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. S.B Kumapaiye and the Commissioner of Police Aminchi Samaila Baraya, described the incident as unfortunate.

    The statement reads: “In the early hours of yesterday, there was a disagreement between a soldier and a policeman around the Deputy Governor’s office. A policeman was shot in the ensuing chaos but he is responding to treatment.

    “The state began distributing rice to IDPs in Maiduguri and Jere Local Government Areas last Sunday. The distribution was supposed hold in the 28 wards of both councils but when it was launched on Sunday, hoodlums overpowered the people sharing it and made away with the items.

    “So officials moved to a compound close to the Deputy Governor’s office for security reasons.

    “The exercise had been going on smoothly since Sunday with some wards covered, until this development.

    “The Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force condemn this incident. We are jointly investigating the cause of the fracas and anyone found culpable among the security men will be disciplined in line with laid down rules of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Findings and measures taken will be brought to public knowledge as soon as possible.

    “We call on personnel to exercise restraint in the cause of their duties, respect each other and work together to secure innocent citizens and maintain peace.”

  • Shooting of Policeman: Army, Police condemned action

    Shooting of Policeman: Army, Police condemned action

    The Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force in Maiduguri  has jointly condemned the unfortunate incident  that led to the shooting of a police officer in the Borno State Deputy Governors’ Office on Thursday in Maiduguri.

    In a statement jointly signed by Col SB Kumapayi Commander, 7 Division Garrison Operation Lafiya Dole and Aminchi Samaila Baraya, Commissioner for  Police  Borno State Command, they said that the situation was quickly brought under full control within minutes and promised that they would jointly investigate the cause of the fracas with a view to ensuring that anyone found culpable amongst the security men are made to face disciplinary measures in line with laid down rules of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

    “Findings and measures taken will be brought to public knowledge as soon as possible” they said.

    According to them, the incident started in morning hours of  Thursday, June 23, 2016, when an unfortunate fracas occured between a soldier and a policeman around the office of the Deputy Governor over a disagreement which led to the unfortunate shooting of a policeman on his foot.

    “By way of background from the Permanent Secretary, Government House and Security, Mr Ahmed Sanda, the Borno State Government had on Sunday, June 19, 2019 began the distribution of rice to internally displaced persons living in the host communities of Maiduguri and Jere metropolis. The distribution was meant to take place at 28 wards of the two local government areas unfortunately, when the exercise was launched in old Maiduguri ward for Jere local government area and at Shehuri north ward for Maiduguri on Sunday, hoodlums overpowered the committee in both instances and made away with many bags of the rice meant for the displaced persons. As a result, officials tasked with the distribution shifted the exercise to two premises around the office of the Deputy Governor outside the Government House in order to ensure security of the food items while beneficiaries were identified and issued with allocation notes to give them access to the distribution centers. The exercise had gone smoothly since Sunday with some wards covered, until the unfortunate development today, Thursday”. They said policeman is responding to treatment and has been visited by the theatre commander, operation Lafiya Dole, Major General LEO Irabor and the Commissioner of Police, Borno State Command, Aminchi Baraya, both of whom went together to sympathize with the policeman

    The Army and the police operating in Borno however assured the general public that they will continue to collaborate and work together towards their ongoing counter insurgency and civil security efforts that have led to the emerging peace in Borno State.

    They however called on all personnel to exercise restraint in the cause of their duties and should strive to respect one another and work together to secure innocent citizens and maintain peace.

  • NAF to deploy troops in Maiduguri for mop-up

    NAF to deploy troops in Maiduguri for mop-up

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) will deploy additional troops to the multinational Joint Task Force to complement military operations in the Northeast to rid the region of insurgency, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Baba Abubakar, has said.

    He said the Air force had deployed soldiers for internal security operations in the troubled Niger Delta to decimate the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers, stressing that the force will continue to discharge its constitutional responsibilities to secure the air space, as well as support ground operations.

    Speaking at the commissioning of the officers accommodation in Kano, Kano State, the Chief of Air Staff explained that the additional deployment of troops to the theater of war is to accelerate the mop-up of military operations on insurgency in the Northern part of Borno State.

    He hinted that the military was not taking chances to combat crime, noting that the Air Force had been repositioned to carry out the Federal Government’s mandate of ensuring maximum defence against internal and external aggression.

    Air Marshal Abubakar noted that the provision of befitting accommodation was part of the commitment of the Air Force towards improving the welfare of personnel and their families.

  • Bama Boko Haram victims moved to Maiduguri

    Bama Boko Haram victims moved to Maiduguri

    Four hundred and seventy-eight children, with 219 adults have been relocated from Bama.

    61 critically-malnourished infants were hospitalised on the orders of the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, it was learnt yesterday.

    A statement by the governor’s spokesman, Isa Gusau, said the victims were moved from Bama to a special care unit in Maiduguri on Monday. Of the 219 adults, 196 are women.

    The 61 infants, now hospitalised at Umaru Shehu Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri, are receiving medical care arising from extreme deprivation of food.

    The victims were among those rescued by the military from Boko Haram insurgents.

    After ordering Health and Emergency Management Agency workers to set up the special unit on Monday, Governor Shettima was at the unit yesterday where he personally supervised the administration of care to the victims.

    “Anyone that shows sign of being in critical health condition should be sent for medical admission on Government shoulders. Food and water must be constant and so should medical staff and drugs at the unit. I will monitor every step of what happens here,” the governor said.

    The statement added that humanitarian agencies, particularly Empower 54, an Atlanta-based organisation led by Princess Modupe Ozolua, were also there to offer assistance. “Modupe has done very well in supporting Borno,” Shettima said.

    The statement reads: “Dangote Foundation was also represented at the special care unit and donated food items. Officials of the United Nations Office on Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Red Crescent, and UNICEF, were also there. Everyone wanted to help as they were inspired by Governor Shettima’s two hours supervision.

    “The governor, yesterday, also relocated some freshly-rescued victims from Marte and Mafa. He visited the victims, who stayed under trees along Maiduguri- Dikwa road on the outskirts of Maiduguri.

    “The villagers, said to be over 10,000 were rescued after a recent raid by the military. Shettima not only ordered that a new camp be opened for them, but waited for about four hours, supervising the creation of the camp and he didn’t leave until they were in their new ‘home’. He ordered boreholes and rest rooms to be constructed while a medical unit is to be set up. The soldiers also assured him of their safety.”