The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Yola

  • NiMet predicts cloudy, thundery, rainy weather for Monday

    NiMet predicts cloudy, thundery, rainy weather for Monday

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted cloudy weather conditions over the Central States of the country on Monday.

    NiMet’s Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Sunday also predicted day and night temperatures of 25 to 36 and 16 to 25 degrees Celsius, respectively.

    According to NiMet there will be prospects of localised thunderstorms over Jos, Kaduna, Minna, Bida and Yola axis in the afternoon and evening hours.

    The agency predicted increase morning cloudiness over the southern states with chances of localised rain over Lagos and Calabar with day and night temperatures of 31 to 35 and 21 to 25 degrees Celsius, respectively.

    NiMet also predicted prospects of localised thunderstorms over Ado Ekiti, Oshogbo, Abeokuta, Owerri, Awka, Abakaliki, and Port Harcourt during the evening and night period.

    According to NiMet, northern states will experience partly cloudy conditions with day and night temperatures of 38 to 40 and 24 to 26 degrees Celsius, respectively.

    “ Influx of moisture laden winds observed over the entire country is expected to result in an increase in weather activities over most part of the country in the next 24 hours,’’ NiMet predicted.

  • Mrs Buhari condoles with Wazirin Adamawa family

    Mrs Buhari condoles with Wazirin Adamawa family

    The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, on Tuesday, condoled with the family of late Wazirin Adamawa, Alhaji Mohammadu Abba.

    The condolence message was in a statement made available to newsmen by Mrs Buhari’s Director of Information, Mr Suleiman Haruna in Abuja.

    The wife of the President noted the immense contributions of the deceased to humanity and prayed Allah to forgive him and grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

    The deceased was the second in command in Adamawa Emirate council after the Lamido.

    Mrs Buhari also condoled with the family of late Muhammadu Malabu in Yola.

    The deceased were both buried according to Islamic injunctions.

     

  • Compulsory HIV test: Adamawa Assembly commences public hearing

    The Adamawa House of Assembly has commenced public hearing on a law to provide for compulsory HIV and genotype (sickle cell anaemia) test for couples before marriage.

    The Speaker of the House, Alhaji Kabiru Mijinyawa, made this known at the opening ceremony of the hearing on Friday in Yola.

    He said everything necessary needed to be done to contain the serious threat posed by HIV, AIDS and sickle cell anaemia to the society would be done by the legislature.

    Mijinyawa reiterated the assembly’s commitment to making laws that have direct bearing on lives of the people and urged all stakeholders to contribute positively to the bill.

    Also speaking at the occasion, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Fatima Abubakar, and the Executive Secretary Adamawa State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Dr Stephen John, lauded the house for the bill and assured their contribution towards its success.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that parts of the proposed bill stipulated that any couple intending to marry would be subjected to a compulsory HIV and genotype test that should be conducted in public hospitals or registered diagnostic centres one week before the marriage.

    The bill also required that the certificate of the two tests should be presented to any religious institution or the clergymen of church or mosque where the wedding would be contracted.

    “Any person or persons who have complied with this law in fulfillment of the requirement of the previous marriage shall not on this basis evade undergoing the test when contracting any subsequent marriage,” the proposed law stated.

    Part three of the bill also made case for non-discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS and sickle cell anaemia in the state.

    “Individuals, communities, employers and employees have a mutual responsibility to prevent discrimination on basis of HIV (AIDS) or Sickle Cell Anaemia in the society.

    “No cultural practice or tradition shall encourage documented practices that exposé people to risk of HIV infection,” the bill said.

    It further provided for a penalty of N150,000 for individuals and N500,000 for organisations or imprisonment for a period not less than one year or both for any person or institution found guilty of non-compliance with the law.

    With regard to organisations, the head or representatives of the board of the organisation would be held liable, the bill said.

  • Boko Haram: Air force introduce drones and L-39ZA aircraft

    Boko Haram: Air force introduce drones and L-39ZA aircraft

    • Intelligence shows locations of insurgents

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Wednesday said it has introduced an Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) and L-39ZA fighter aircraft into the ongoing fight against Boko Haram insurgents in the Northeast.

    During a press conference in Yola to give an giving an appraisal of the operations of the NAF in the first quarter of 2017, the Air Component Commander (ACC), Operation Lafiya Dole,  Air Commodore  Charles Owho said the introduction of the new platforms was necessitated by the enlargement of the NAF Area of Responsibility (AOR).

    The additional platforms deployed would join the now ageing Alpha jets, F9 jets, Mi 35 helicopters which have been in action since the beginning of the war on the insurgency. Already the UCAV CH-3A has already conducted  Air Interdiction on March 27, 2017.

    Air Commodore Ohwo also revealed that several Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations by the NAF has revealed that following the fall and capture of the insurgents former headquarters in Camp Zairo, most of the fighters fled to the West of Sambisa stretching up to the Southwest of Maiduguri and into Yobe State, while some others had moved to the East and Southeast of Sambisa towards Gwoza Hills and Tagoshe Hills.

    Owho said the Air Component of Operation Lafiya Dole has concentrated its air power the areaswith a view to further decimating the remaining BHT elements and facilitating the activities of own surface forces in the area.

    In a series of air operations including Air Interdiction, Close Air Support for ground troops, Air Recce, Combat Air Patrol and ISR, the ACC said the Air Component has successfully prevented the regrouping of Boko Haram Insurgents while providing effective air cover for ground troops for clearance operations.

    Among the operations conducted by the Air Component was the provision of daily air support for clearance operation in the south-west of Maiduguri at Boko Haram camps in  Talala and Ajigin.

    At the same location, on February 1, 2017, Alpha jets provided Close Air Support for ground troops to repel an attack from Boko Haram. Also, operations conducted by the troops of 21 brigade of 7 Division also provided ISR for the clearance operations in Ngoshe and Mabila high grounds.

    Also, the ISR platform also conducted various operations in Arege, northern Borno where a platoon of Boko Haram insurgents was sighted. “Our ISR aircraft maintained visual over BHTs in Arege and tracked them as shown on the screen. The BHTs took advantage of poor visibility and the terrain to escape imminent air strikes.

    “However, the efficient communication of the ISR ac with MNJTF forces eventually led to the dislodgement of the terrorists in a firefight. In this encounter, about 57 terrorists were killed and many injured while technical, weapons and ammo were recovered,” Ohwo said.

  • 15 dead as truck conveying cows, passengers plunges into river

    Fifteen persons lost their lives in Adamawa on Sunday when a truck conveying cows and passengers lost control on a bridge and fell into the drying river.

    The Adamawa Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the figure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola on Monday.

    Adetunji said that the accident occurred at about 10p.m. on the Ngurore Bridge on Yola-Numan Road.

    He said that before the arrival of FRSC personnel at the scene, the victims had been evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, and Specialists Hospital, Yola.

    Adetunji said that the numbers of injured persons had yet to be ascertained.

    “I received a call at about 22:00hours on Sunday that there was a crash on Ngurore Bridge on Yola-Numan Highway.

    “On arrival at the scene, we discovered that it was a truck carrying cows and passengers that lost control and fell into the drying river,” the commander told NAN.

    According to him, six dead bodies were deposited at the Federal Medical Centre and nine at the Specialists Hospital.

    He advised motorists to shun night driving as well as avoid transporting human beings and animals in the same vehicle.

  • Petrol scarcity: black market will soon be dissipated, says DPR

    Petrol scarcity: black market will soon be dissipated, says DPR

    The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Yola, on Tuesday assured that sale of petrol by black marketers would soon disappear.

    Mr Mohammed Alaku, the Zonal Controller of DPR for Taraba and Adamawa reassured that scarcity of the product being experienced had been brought under control.

    He said that the synergy between the department and the security agencies would soon yield positive result of curbing the activities of black marketers.

    He also said that more petrol stations were dispensing the product and urged members of the public not to patronise black marketers.

    “The fuel scarcity here is under control and the issue of black market will soon be over.

    “The synergy between the DPR and the security agencies in monitoring the sale of petrol to black marketers is yielding positive result.

    “Part of measures to discourage them from exploiting the public is to stop buying from them.

    “Their activities are still visible because the public still patronise them and that gives them courage.

    “As people become aware of their exploitative tendencies, they will get discouraged and stop buying from them,’’ Alaku said.

    According to him, the DPR has the mandate to force the filling stations, but not the black marketers to sell the product to the public.

    The controller noted that the task of apprehending black marketers must be a holistic exercise involving security operatives.

  • Mohammed, BBOG leader lead tour to Yola, Sambisa

    Mohammed, BBOG leader lead tour to Yola, Sambisa

    In a last minute reversal, the Bring Back Our Girls campaigners on Monday morning accepted the invitation for an operational visit to Yola and Sambisa forest.

    The BBOG was led by former Education minister, Oby Ezekwesili, the convener, Aisha Yesufu, Dr. Manaseh Allen and another aide.

    They joined Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and Minister of Defence, Brig General Mansur Dan-Ali.

    The team left the Nigeria Air Force airbase in Abuja aboard the transport plane, C-130 Hercules and arrived at 103 Strike force Group Yola at 10:35am.

    The team is currently undergoing a debrief of what to expect as it prepares to fly into Sambisa forest.
    According to the Air Officer Commanding, Tactical Air Command, Air Vice Marshal Nurudeen Balogun, some sightings of abductees have been made in the following areas: Njimia, Dure, Camp Zairo, Tumbun Rego, Yuwe and Dogon Chuku villages.

    He said eight women and 11 children were rescued on January 8, 2017.

    Follow Defence Correspondent @seunakioye for updates

  • Bomb scare at FCE Yola

    Bomb scare at FCE Yola

    There was a pandemonium at the Federal College of Education (FCE), Yola, on Thursday over a bomb scare following the sighting of a strange bag in front of the school.

    The development which obstructed traffic along the Jimeta-Yola Road for more than an hour caught the attention of a team of policemen and soldiers.

    The policemen from the Adamawa Anti-bomb Squad, who went into action immediately, however, discovered that the bag did not contain any explosives.

    Addressing newsmen on the development, the Public Relations Officer of the Adamawa Police Command, SP Othman Abubakar, said that the bag contained waste materials.

    Abubakar, however, commended members of the public for their vigilance and urged them to always alert the police whenever they sighted any suspicious object.

    The Chief Security Officer of the college, Mr Salihu Muhammed, who reported the incident to the police, said that the suspicious bag was abandoned by unknown persons and that was why they immediately alerted the police.

    Muhammed dismissed rumours circulating that the bag was found in the school premises saying; “ it is completely untrue, the bag was abandoned outside the college”.

  • Army donates teaching, learning materials to IDPs schools

    The Nigerian Army on Friday donated teaching and learning materials worth several millions of naira to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Schools in Yola.

    Presenting the items to the camp’s management, Maj.-Gen. Leo Irabor, Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, said that the gesture was to create quick impact to uplift the plight of the IDPs.

    Irabor explained that the gesture was from the Nigerian Army quick impact project, soldiers of the education corps, and other officers deployed to teach in the various IDPs schools in the camps across the north east region.

    “The Nigerian Army introduced a humanitarian dimension to the IDP camps to uplift their plight.

    “And as part of the quick impact, Army deployed officers and soldiers of the education corps to teach in various IDPs camps in the North East region,’’ he said.

    Irabor, who was represented by Brig.-Gen. B. Akinroluyo, said that the tragedy of insecurity is a global concern and Nigeria shares part of it.

    He said that the activities of terrorists and insurgents and threats posed by the duo were among the maladies affecting the Nigerian state.

    The commander explained that the army had been in the forefront of all the challenges with all its might and resources to contain the terrorists and bring back normal life to affected citizens.

    Speaking earlier, Alhaji Sa’ad Bello, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Camps Coordinator in charge of Adamawa and Taraba said the gesture came at the right time.

    Bello thanked the army for the humanitarian assistance adding that their gallant efforts in maintaining peace and stability in the area in general, and the IDPs camps in particular, cannot be over emphasised.

    Mr. Mahmud Abubakar, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, said that the state government’s top priority was provision of education to all.

    Abubakar said that the state government would continue to partner with well-meaning organisation in transforming the education sector in the state.

     

  • Boko Haram: NAF launches Operation forest storm

    Boko Haram: NAF launches Operation forest storm

    The Nigerian Air Force on Tuesday launched a new operation in the step- up of the fight against Boko Haram insurgents in Northeast Nigeria. The new operation codenamed “Operation Forest Storm”  is to eliminate the inflow of Boko Haram insurgents from the northern part of Borno to the South.
    Briefing newsmen at the NAF base Yola in Adamwa state, the Chief of Training and Operations, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Abdullahi Iya, said the special operation is expected to last for about seven days.
    He said as part of the Operation of the NAF in Lafiya Dole, air surveillance conducted over the entire theater of Operations in the Northeast revealed some insurgents in the southern part of the Area of Operation and Forest Storm is specifically designed to take care of them.
    Iya: “As part of our campaign against insurgency in the North Easter part of the country, we have been focusing more on the north, nevertheless we conducted surveillance all over the Theater of Operations and we started noticing some insurgents in the south, that is why we have launched a special operation to take care of that.
    “ The name of the operation is Operation Forest Storm and it is just for a few days, we are focusing mainly on interdiction, we have identified a specific target to take out through interdiction. From our calculations, it is not going to take more than three days but we are planning for seven days to take care of what we have seen.”
    He said since the campaign began, security has greatly improved in the northeast and the military operations have been able to degrade the ranks of the insurgents. “We know things have improved from the nature of attacks, you no longer see them attacking in large convoys, most of them use motorcycles now.”
    He assured that civilians have nothing to fear about the operation as the Air Force will ensure there is no collateral damage.
    “We have conducted surveillance, selected our targets and analyzed very well before we decide on the attack, the mode and the type of weapon to use. All these are carefully planned and we do not foresee any collateral damage so there is no cause for alarm, Iya said.