The Nation Newspaper

Tag: University of Maiduguri

  • IBB condoles Borno, UniMaid over the blasts

    IBB condoles Borno, UniMaid over the blasts

    Former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, on Thursday, commiserated with the government and people of Borno, over the tragic terror attack on the University of Maiduguri.

    Babangida, in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna, also sympathised with IDPs mistakenly bombed in their Rann camp, by a Nigeria Air Force jet.

    He described the fatal accidental discharge as “regrettable”.

    “My heart bleeds over the death of citizens at Rann IDP camp and the bombing at the University of Maiduguri Mosque,’’ he said.

    He urged the military command to strive to be more precise on enemy targets in the fight against terrorists in the North East.

    Babangida also advised the military to introduce new tactics into the fight against Boko Haram to avoid accidental discharges in future.

    He called for a synergy between military, civilian vigilante groups and people of North-East toward wiping out remnants of Boko Haram terrorists, and stressed the need to hit their hide-outs to smoke them out.

    “Insurgency is not a conventional war; it can only be fought and won using unconventional methods that may be alien.

    “But we must do it with creativity,’’ the former president added.

    While praying for the speedy recovery of those injured, Babangida urged the Nigerian troops fighting the insurgency, particularly the air force, to apply “maximum professional conduct”.

    The former military leader counselled the armed forces on the need to abide by rules of engagement in their operations.

    NAN recalls that many people were killed on Tuesday when an air force fighter jet accidentally bombed the Rann IDPs camp.

    NAN also recalls that suicide bombers, including a 7-year-old girl, had detonated a twin bomb at the University of Maiduguri Mosque, killing three persons and injuring 17 others.

  • Buhari condemns UNIMAID attack, condoles victims’ families

    Buhari condemns UNIMAID attack, condoles victims’ families

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the Monday morning terrorist attack at a mosque in the University of Maiduguri.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja, the President expressed sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the university community and families of the victims.

    The president also condoled with the government and people of Borno over the unfortunate incident.
    According to him, the appalling attack on a revered place of worship and ivory tower shows that the perpetrators have no true understanding of Islam.

    He noted that the “despicable acts of terrorism are cowardly, criminal, unjustifiable and punishable before God almighty and the laws of the land’’.

    The President reassured communities in Borno and others in the North eastern part of the country that his administration would continue to ensure that terrorism never triumphs over peace-loving Nigerians.

    He reaffirmed the need for Nigerians to remain more vigilant even as the security agencies continue to use all means at their disposal to combat the remnants of insurgents and their sponsors.

    President Buhari wished those injured in the attack a speedy and full recovery and comfort for families of the dead.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a professor and four other people were reported killed when a male suicide bomber detonated a bomb at the Senior Staff Quarters of the University of Maiduguri, (UNIMAID), Borno State.

    Alhaji Satomi Ahmed, Chairman, Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) identified the late don as Prof. Aliyu Usman Mani, the Director of Veterinary Medicine of the University.

    The Commissioner of Police (CP), Damian Chukwu, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Maiduguri.
    Chukwu said that 15 persons, who sustained various degrees of injuries were taken to the hospital.

  • Professor, three others killed in UNIMAID blasts

    Professor, three others killed in UNIMAID blasts

      … 17 injured
     Four persons including a professor of Veterinary Medicine  have been reportedly killed  in the suicide attacks that rocked University of Maiduguri on Monday morning.

    The attacks, according to reports, took place at two separate locations within the school.

    While the first one happened at a mosque close to the university first gate with only the suicide bomber as the casualty, the second one which occurred at Gate 5  killed a staff of the school alongside the professor.

    Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that four people were killed in the blasts.

    The Head of Public Relations for NEMA, Sani Datti, said in a statement that 17 people injured in the explosions had been taken to the hospital.

    “There were two explosions in the University of Maiduguri at around 5:00 a.m. this morning.

    “One of the suicide bombers detonated his explosion at a mosque near Gate 1 when people were observing their early morning prayer, the second one occurred around Gate 5 of the university.

    “Rescue and security officials were at the scene and the 17 injured victims were evacuated to hospital.

    “Four persons – two in the university and two suicide bombers were confirmed dead.”

    The Borno State Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Victor Isuku, also confirmed that four people were killed in the blasts.

     

  • Bomb blast in University of Maiduguri

    Bomb blast in University of Maiduguri

    An early morning bomb blast has been reported at the Univeristy of Maiduguri.

    The incident was said to have occurred at the University quarters Mosque during the morning prayers.

    A professor is reported dead and many others injured.

    More details soon.

  • Gas flaring: NLNG generates $90b revenue

     

    The Nigerian NLG Limited on Tuesday disclosed that it has generated some $90 billion from gas flare since 1999 when it was commenced operation.

     

    Its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Babs Omotowa, disclosed this at the commissioning of a $4 million technology laboratory project at the University of Ibadan on Tuesday.

     

    The project was jointly undertaken by the company and the premier university on equal contribution of $2 million each.

     

    Omotowa also revealed that the company has been a major contributor to Nigeria’s revenue base having paid $33 billion in dividend, taxes and other charges to the government since it commenced operation in 1999.

    Omotowa further stressed that the company is the biggest tax payer in Nigeria and sub-Sahara Africa having paid a sum of $3 billion in company income tax and Education Tax in 2014 and 2015.

     

    On the project, the Nigeria LNG boss explained that the University of Ibadan’s excellence rating in academic and research in Africa informed its decision to cite the $4 million technology laboratory in the institution.

     

    Reeling out its support for science and literature over the years with science trailing behind the latter, Omotowa said the company “reviewed the science prize and took a decision in 2013 to nest further down the chain so as to improve the chances for science research so that more winners can emerge in future with research tha will impact the lives of Nigerians.”

     

    The new decision, he explained, led to the idea of the tech laboratory in the highest rated universities in the six geo-political zones of the country.

     

    He said: “In selecting the universities, excellence was again the key determinant. As a core value, it permeates every work process in Nigeria LNG; we ensured that the selection process was not an exception. The six universities were selected purely based on the top ranked university in each region from the independent rankings by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the World Universities Ranking.

     

    “For the Northwest cluster, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria was selected. Others are University of Port Harcourt, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Ilorin, University of Maiduguri and the University of Ibadan.”

     

    Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Abel Olayinka, commended the company for the project, stressing that it would help the institution realize her ambition of becoming the training and research hub in Africa.

     

    The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, while commending the Nigeria LNG, called for increased investment in brew of the huge revenue and profits it posts yearly.

     

    The project was commissioned by Oyo State Governor, Abuola Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Otunba Moses Alake-Adeyemo.

     

  • Police deny attack on University of Maiduguri

    Police deny attack on University of Maiduguri

    Maiduguri – The Borno State Police Command yesterday denied that suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) campus.

    The Commissioner of Police, Lawal Tanko, made the denial in Maiduguri.

    “The story indicating that the university had been attacked is not true.

    “What happened was that the insurgents passed through a river channel behind the university to launch the attack on the barracks,’’ he said.

    Tanko said that the university campus was safe as both students and lecturers had been adequately protected.

    He, however, confirmed an attempted attack on the Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri, by suspected members of the sect.

    “It is true that there is an ongoing exchange of fire between security agents and some suspected insurgents, but the incident is limited to the barracks area alone,” he said.

    Also, Ahmed Mohammed, the Chief Information Officer of the university, corroborated the claim of the commissioner.

    “The university camp was not attacked, the attackers only used a narrow river side near the campus to carry out their nefarious act.

    “Many people assumed that the university was affected because the hostilities took place near the campus,’’ Mohammed said.