Monday 30 July 2012

Gunmen attack sambo house, police station

Gunmen, yesterday,
attacked a house under
construction belonging to
the Vice President, Namadi
Sambo in Tudun Wada area
of Zaria, Kaduna State. This
came as two suicide
bombers also, yesterday,
attacked two police
formations in Sokoto, killing
a policeman and a woman,
while the two bombers also
died in the process.
Meanwhile, Senate President,
David Mark has condemned
the bombing of Sokoto zonal
office of the Nigeria Police.
A suicide bomber attacked
and damaged Police Zonal
Headquarters in Sokoto
Photo: Abdallah el-Kurebe/
The Acting Police Public
Relations Officer of the
Kaduna State Command, DSP
Abubakar Balteh, who
confirmed the attack said the
policemen guarding the
house repelled the gunmen
but a cobbler was killed by a
stray bullet as a result of the
exchange of fire between
the three gunmen and the
police. The cobbler died
while one of the policemen
was shot on the leg”, he said.
It would be recalled that the
Vice President’s residence
was razed during the
violence that erupted in
some parts of the north after
the last Presidential election.

State of insecurity: Nigeria must not break up- OBJ, IBB

Former Presidents
Olusegun Obasanjo and
Ibrahim Babangida have
made a joint appeal for
peace in the land, saying that
the daily loss of innocent
lives in the country was an
unbearable burden that
could inevitably shatter the
fabrics of the nation’s
existence.
The appeal contained in a
joint statement issued by the
two former leaders,
yesterday, noted with regret
what they described as the
increasing cynicism clouding
the thinking of many
Nigerians who are hounded
by fear, frustration and the
failure of government across
all levels to protect them.
The statement from the two
former leaders followed a
meeting between the two in
Abuja last week. The two
former leaders who were
locked in an unprecedented
public spat nearly a year ago,
in the statement, said they
were prepared to join hands
with other patriots towards
resolving the crisis.
Former Presidents Ibrahim
Babangida and Olusegun
Obasanjo
While noting ongoing moves
by governments across all
levels to shore up security,
the former leaders appealed
for a strategic engagement
by the authorities in the 774
local governments in the
country with community
stakeholders as a way
towards identifying and
resolving the issues at the
centre of the present crises
in the country.
The former leaders also
appealed to religious leaders
to use the opportunity
offered by the Ramadan
month of fasting to engage
those with grievances and
bring them to the dialogue
table.
The statement by the duo
reads thus:
“Unfolding events in our
dear motherland, Nigeria,
over the last few years are
threatening to unravel the
nearly a century-old labour of
our founding fathers and
subsequent generations in
building a strong, united,
peaceful nation that can
accommodate and cater for
the needs and aspirations of
our diverse communities.
Internecine crises are raging
across the land unabated
with damaging
consequences on the social,
political and economic life of
the nation. And in the
process untold hardships are
being visited on all citizens in
one form or another on a
daily basis. The loss of
innocent lives being
experienced by the day
across the nation is simply
unbearable. Currently, the
nation is gripped by a
regime of fear and
uncertainty that virtually all
citizens have difficulties
going about their normal day
to day lives without great
anxiety and trepidation. This
cannot be allowed to
continue!
“A deeply worrying trend
that is emerging from this
terrible situation is that a
pervasive cynicism is
beginning to set in, so much
so that millions of true
Nigerian patriots are starting
to question the platform
upon which the unity of this
country rests. This is simply
untenable. The people of this
country must not allow
whatever sense of
frustration, fear and despair
we are experiencing now to
supersede our hopes for a
collective destiny which lies
in our continued existence
as a nation. For us, and we
believe for millions of other
Nigerians, the continued
unity of this nation is not
only priceless but non-
negotiable.
“While we are very much
aware of the efforts various
governments in the country
are making to confront the
escalating security challenges
across the country, we
believe that it is time that
these efforts are scaled up to
be more involving and
inclusive. In this regard,
whatever robust security
measures are put in place to
contain the situation, as is
normal in such
circumstances, they must be
complemented with an
equally intensive process of
community involvement. We,
therefore, urge all
governments in the country,
starting with all the 774 local
councils to comprehensively
engage their communities at
the various levels including
elders, youth organisations,
trade unions and
associations, women bodies,
the clergy and other
community stakeholders. We
also call on the Federal and
states governments not only
to encourage these
grassroots engagements for
peace and beneficial
coexistence but should work
out the framework to sustain
the engagement. In all these
efforts it is important to
emphasise that our diversity
is a cause for celebration not
a cause for lamentations.
“As the Holy Month of
Ramadan commences,
Nigerians wherever they are
and whatever religion they
profess are accorded a great
opportunity to turn the tide
against insecurity, violence
and hatred. Religious leaders,
in particular, have an even
greater challenge to use the
immense virtues of this holy
period to inculcate among
the millions of citizens the
spirit of mutual respect,
humility and forgiveness.
Ample opportunities are
therefore at hand to bring all
armed belligerents to table
for meaningful dialogue with
the authorities for our future
and that of our children and
grandchildren.
“Finally, we need to reiterate
that no meaningful
development can ever occur
in an atmosphere of violence
and hatred. History has
shown that any society that
is built on the structures of
violence and intolerance
cannot prosper. We need to
appreciate that, God in His
infinite mercy, has blessed
our country with abundant
resources and talents, but
we need peace and harmony
to harness them not just for
our own well being but also
that of our children and
grandchildren. We owe this
future generations of
Nigerians this much.
“On our part, we are ready to
do whatever is possible to
promote the quest for peace
and harmony, a ready to join
hands with all patriots to
sustain and further enhance
the unity and progress of
this country. Thank you.”

Sunday 29 July 2012

Tension in ogun as Muslims traditionalists clash

There was palpable tension
in Ikenne,Ogun State,
yesterday, when the Oro cult
imposed a 24-hour
restriction of movement in
the town in defiance of an
order by Ogun State
government.
The flagrant defiance
occurred few hours after
some Islamic leaders in the
town were attacked by Oro
cultists for reporting them to
government over the
planned restriction of
movement.
Muslims in the area had
petitioned the state
government and other
stakeholders in the state
which led to a peace meeting
held on Wednesday at the
instance of the state
governent.
At the end of the meeting,
government ordered the Oro
cult group in Ikenne to
restrict their activities of
their on-going annual festival
to their own section of the
town.
It further ordered the
deployment of policemen in
the town to enforce the
order,but, when Sunday
Vanguard visited the town
yesterday, neither policemen
nor any other security
operatives were seen.
The whole town was
deserted as doors and
windows of houses in the
town were firmly shut.
There was also no human
and vehicular movement in
the town except the
adherents of the Oro cult
group that were seen in
some parts of the town
dressed like females.
By tradition,it is forbiden for
women to behold the Oro
cult members while on
procession.
It was gathered that several
residents of the town who
did not want to be caught up
in the no-movement order
imposed by the Oro cult
group left the town on Friday
for neighbouring
communities.
In his reaction, the Chairman
of Ikenne local government,
Mr Tajudeen Salako, said the
action of the group should
not be seen as a defiance of
the state government order.
He however appealed to the
people of Ikenne to endure
the restriction imposed by
the Oro cult in the town.
When asked to comment on
the attack on Muslims, Salako
said he was aware that Oro
cultists threatened Muslims,
adding that it had been
reported to the police.
The Police Public Relations
Officer in Ogun State, Muyiwa
Adejobi, however, said that
the police were monitoring
the situation in the town.

Saturday 28 July 2012

Ex Deputy gov's ADC Shot Dead

Unknown gunmen, on Friday
night, shot dead a police
inspector Abdullahi Shehu
Itas in front of his residence
in Zango area, a suburb of
Bauchi metropolis.
Police Public Relations
Officer, PPRO, in Bauchi
State, ASP Hassan
Mohammed, confirmed the
incident, saying Abdullahi
was killed after he had
observed his Tarawih prayer
in the mosque.
The PPRO said, “The late
Inspector Abdullahi was
discussing with four people
in front of his house when
two people came on motor
cycle and approached them.
When one of them greeted
them and asked them who
was Alhaji Abdullahi and he
answered in the affirmative,
the assailant brought out a
gun and shot him dead
instantly.”
Hassan said the gunmen did
not harm anybody, but only
targeted the late inspector.
Abdullahi’s corpse, according
to him, has been deposited
at the Abubakar Tafawa
Balewa University Teaching
Hospital ATBUTH Bauchi.
The deceased was said to be
ADC to a former deputy
governor during the tenure
of former Governor Ahmed
Mu’azu.

Tuesday 24 July 2012

police rescue kidnapped doctor

THE police in Imo
have foiled the activities of a
four-man kidnapping gang
in Umuike Amakohia, near
Owerri, and rescued one Dr
Ifeanyi Okoro, who was
being held by the gang.
The state Police Public
Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr
Vitalis Onugu, told the News
Agency of Nigeria, NAN,
yesterday that the police
acted on a tip-off on the
hideout of the gang.
Onugu said the police
successfully rescued the
medical doctor, who worked
at St. Patrick’s Hospital and
Maternity, Onitsha, who was
kidnapped on Sunday by the
gang.
“We had been alerted days
before and we laid ambush
for them. Men of the police
force have been sleeping in
the surrounding bushes for
days because we didn’t
know when they would
return.
“Fortunately, our efforts have
not been in vain because we
were able to rescue their
victim,” he said.
Onugu said the kidnappers
fired on sighting the police,
adding that one of them was
killed when the police
returned fire.
He said three of the
kidnappers escaped, leaving
behind one AK 47 rifle with
seven magazines loaded
with live ammunition.
The PPRO said efforts to
apprehend the suspects had
been intensified and urged
members of the public to
come forward with any
information that would aid
the police.
MATHIAS Nweze, a
native of Umuida, Enugu-
Ezike in Igboeze North local
government area of Enugu
State, has reportedly shot his
wife dead.
The police said yesterday,
that they had commenced
investigation into the bizarre
incident which occurred at
about 11pm last Saturday.
Vanguard gathered that
Nweze, popularly known as
“Honourable”, claimed that
while he was sleeping in his
house that fateful night, his
generator went off twice
without knowing the cause.
Having woken up suddenly,
he suspected that some
thieves may have invaded his
compound and as a result,
brought out his pump action
gun and pointed it towards
the direction of the
generator.
Without wasting time, he
allegedly fired several shots
apparently to scare the
alleged invaders but
unknown to him, his wife
was around the place.
Nweze only realized that he
had shot his wife when she
screamed saying that the
bullet had hit her. The
woman fell down, bled
profusely before
sympathizers rushed to the
scene.
She was later rushed to New
Testament Hospital Ogrute,
Igboeze North council
headquarter where doctors
confirmed her dead.
The state Police Public
Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere
Amaraizu, who confirmed
the incident, said the corpse
of the deceased had been
deposited at the mortuary
for autopsy. “We have
commenced investigation
into the incident that led to
the shooting of a housewife
by the husband,” he said.

Friday 20 July 2012

Muslims across the
country are expected to join
other faithful across the
world to begin this year
Ramadan fasting today.
Already, the Sultan of Sokoto
and President-General of the
Nigerian Supreme Council for
Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Alhaji
Mohammed Abubakar Sa’ad,
has urged Muslims who sight
the new moon of Ramadan
to communicate to relevant
authorities immediately for
the commencement of the
fast.
Muslims are mandated to fast
in the month of Ramadan for
either 29 or 30 days
depending on the sighting of
the moon.
In a statement made
available to Vanguard, the
Sultan asked Muslims to look
out for the moon from
Thursday, July 19, being the
29th day of Sha’aban
1433AH for the
commencement of Ramadan
fasting.
The statement stated, “In
accordance with this
Prophetic Tradition,
Thursday July 19, being the
29th day of Sha’aban
1433AH, Members of the
National and State Moon-
Sighting Committees as well
as other Nigerian Muslims
should look for the new
Crescent of Ramadan month.
If the moon is sighted on
that day, the under-listed
Leaders should be
communicated immediately:
Apart from the Sultan who
can be reached on
08036470422 according the
statement, other prominent
Nigerians that can be
reached include the Secretary
General of the Council, Dr.
Abdulateef Adegbite on
08034020350.
Others are the Emir of Kano,
Emir of Bauchi, the Lamido
of Adamawa , the Olukare of
Ikare, Timi of Ede ,the Emir of
Katsina, the Emir of Zazzau,
the Emir of Ilorin.
Others are the Oba of Lagos,
the Oba of Agbede in Edo
state ,the Emir of Wase, Chief
Imam ofIbadan, Imam of
Osogbo , Chief Imam of
Egba and Emir of
Kazaure among others.
Meanwhile, three deputy
imams were yesterday
appointed for the National
Mosque Abuja by the
Nigerian Supreme Council of
Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).
The three newly appointed
Imams will work with Ustaz
Musa Mohammed, whose
appointment was also
ratified by the Mosque
management committee.
NSCIA, who also oversees
the management of the
National Mosque, said that
the step was taken to make
worship in the national
mosque more thorough and
effective.
The statement was made
public by the National Legal
Officer, Alhaji Murtala Aminu,
who represented the Sultan
and the Council Secretary.