News: Nnigerian Amy Recalls Retired Officers As Consultas

The Nigerian Army has recalled some of its retired officers to serve as instructors at the Nigerian Army School of Artillery, Kachia in Kaduna State on consultancy basis.
Maj-Gen Lawrence Jokotola said at the Pulling-Out Parade, organised for him and 32 other officers at the Kalapanzi
Barracks in Kaduna on Friday that the gesture would greatly enhance the knowledge and expertise of serving officers.
He noted that the current security challenges, as occasioned by the activities of the Boko Haram sect, would require old hands to surmount.
According to him, retired officers no doubt had acquired enormous training skills that must not be allowed to go untapped by young officers and men still in the field.
“We were privileged to get the best education and training while in active service and these opportunities moulded all of us into responsible citizens that we are today,” Jokotola said.

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He urged all gunners(Artillery officers and men) to rise up to the occasion and do the nation proud by providing  timely, accurate and effective support for the Nigerian Army to meet its statutory role.
He added, “This will no doubt greatly ensure the sharing of knowledge and expertise between serving and retired officers of the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery.
“As retired gunner officers, we are available at all times to contribute in whatever way the corps sees us fit to perform in the achievement of its organisational goals and indeed those of the Nigerian Army.
“There is no gainsaying that that the challenges the military is currently facing are not insurmountable if the old ideals of training, good administration and discipline address are extolled.”

News: Troops rescue extra 59 captives from B’ Haram–Army

Soldiers assist onto a truck some of the 59 individuals rescued from Boko Haram camps in Maiduguri, Borno State... on Thursday
| credits: AFP

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, has said that the troops of the 151 Task Force Battalion rescued a total of 59 civilians held by members of the Boko Haram sect on Thursday.

Usman said that the 59 civilians were rescued during a raid on Kashingeri, Wale Kushingoro terrorists’ camp, where the captives were held by the Boko Haram.

He said that the military destroyed a total of five camps belonging to the insurgents in the mission area.

According to him, the troops also killed an unspecified number of insurgents and cleared all the camps.

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The Special Forces had rescued 30 civilians, comprising 21 children at Kwayaba and Wufe wards on Tuesday.

He stated also that two other camps of the insurgents at Chuogori and Shantumari, Borno State, were cleared by troops of the 21 Brigade and the Nigerian Army Engineers on Friday.

The Army spokesman said that the troops also recovered a Landrover and a tipper from the insurgents.

“As part of efforts to rid Nigeria of Boko Haram terrorists, troops of 21 Brigade and elements of Nigerian Army Engineers yesterday cleared a notorious terrorists camp at Chuogori and Shantumari, Borno State.

“During the offensive operations, the fleeing terrorists left underground silos. In addition, troops of 151 Task Force Battalion conducted operations on Kashingeri, Wale and Kushingari Boko Haram terrorists’ camps today.

“During the raids, quite a number of the terrorists were killed; a Landrover vehicle   and a Tipper were recovered. The troops also rescued 59 civilians that were held captive by the terrorists and cleared the camps,” the statement read.

10 killed, 55 injured in Tanzanian road accident

At least 10 people were killed and 55 others injured after a bus lost control and hit a tree on Wednesday at Chamwino area near Tanzania’s political capital of Dodoma, police said.
David Mnyambugha, Dodoma regional acting police commander, said the accident occurred in the evening as the bus running from Shinyanga to Dar es Salaam veered off the road following a front tyre burst.
“The bus lost control and hit a tree, killing eight passengers on the spot,” said Mnyambugha.
Another two passengers, including a pregnant woman, died on Thursday in a local hospital, he said.
Ezekiel Mpuya, the Dodoma Regional Medical Officer, said 27 of the 55 injured passengers had been discharged after treatment.
“The hospital was overwhelmed by the number of accident victims, forcing most casualties to share hospital beds,” said Dr Mpuya.

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In April, 50 people were killed and more than 20 others were injured after a bus they were travelling in collided head-on with a lorry in Tanzania’s southern highlands.
In 2014, there were 14,048 road accidents in Tanzania, causing 3,534 deaths and 16,166 injuries.

Basketmouth accuses Jonathan’s govt of stealing

Basketmouth

Popular stand-up comedian, Basketmouth (real name Bright Okpocha), is in the news again. This time, it is because he has taken a swipe at the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Midway into his show, tagged BM Uncensored, which held in Houston, Texas in the United States, a few days ago, the comedian accused the Jonathan administration of doing nothing else other than “stealing” money during its six-year tenure.

A copy of the video posted on Youtube shows Basketmouth, who was dressed in a sleeveless top and dark trousers, speaking his mind about the high level of corruption that prevailed in the country under Jonathan’s watch.

In the video, the comedian said, “The funny thing is that Buhari is now in power and everyone is hating the guy under two months. I am normally into politics, but when I see some s..t I say it. Goodluck was there for six years and all they did was steal money.”

The statement has since gone viral on social media, with many users openly chiding Basketmouth for opening his mouth ‘a little too loud’ and others rising in his defence.

On the same day, the comedian also threw playful barbs at Davido, who emerged winner of the 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards in the Best Male Act category in South Africa last weekend.

Basketmouth had said,“Davido won above Wizkid? It’s quite strange, but it’s allowed… it’s allowed.”

Ever since the video appeared online, the comedian’s actions have been the subject of a debate among critics who are worried that he is becoming quite vocal about issues not related with comedy.

Buhari will limit probe to Jonathan’s govt —Presidency

Jonathan, Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari will not extend his corruption probe beyond the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the Presidency has said.

According to a report by Premium Times, Buhari, who just returned from a four-day official visit to the United States, has consistently vowed to investigate and bring to book, persons who looted the country’s funds.

The President said on Tuesday in the US that he would arrest and prosecute past ministers and other officials who stole Nigeria’s oil and diverted government’s money into personal accounts.

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But the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to Femi Adesina, said the President will limit his anti-corruption war to the immediate past administration in the country.

He said Buhari will not waste time in probing the administrations of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalam Abubakar, Sani Abacha and Ibrahim Babangida.

He said even before he was inaugurated on May 29, the President had categorically stated that he would not extend his corruption probe beyond the Jonathan government.

“If you recall, that was already settled before he got inaugurated as President. He has said he will not waste time digging into the far past,” Adesina said.

“The far past will include Obasanjo and others. But the President has said he will not waste time to go that far.”

Before leaving office, Jonathan had said any probe by the new government would be seen as a “witch-hunt” if it fails to go beyond his administration.

Speaking on criticisms over President Buhari’s decision to travel to the US. with his son, Yusuf, the presidential spokesperson said the President did not breach any rule.

He said it was a normal practice for presidents to travel with members of their families, citing the example of American presidents who travelled abroad with their wives and children.

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with the President travelling with one of his sons. It is an acceptable and standard practice. He could go with up to four members of his family.

“Don’t forget that when former President Bill Clinton visited Nigeria while he was in office, he came with his daughter, Chelsea.

“President Barak Obama travels with his children and so the President of Nigeria can travel out with three or four of his children. The late President Umaru Yar’Adua used to travel with two of his sons and one of his grandchildren,” he said.

Adesina described the outcome of the President’s official visit to the US as “a roaring success on every side.”

“There are good returns. It is an investment that will yield very handsome returns,” he sa

Cut-off mark: Candidates, parents head for court

Applicants undergoing Post Utme Computer Based Test (CBT) at Federal Polytechnic Oko in Anambra ...on Wednesday
| credits: Photo: NAN.

Parents and candidates of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, set to be stopped from sitting the forthcoming post-UTME, University of Lagos, by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, are dragging the board to the court today (Friday).

They will be praying the court to stop further sale of post-UTME form in public universities.

Hundreds of UTME candidates had on Wednesday stormed UNILAG to protest against the decision by the institution to stop them from sitting for the post-UTME.

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The candidates alleged that the authorities of the university, in liaison with the JAMB, had rolled out a new admission procedure that prevented them from taking the examination to secure admission into the ivory tower.

UNILAG and JAMB had defended their different involvements in the exercise.

While the Head of Public Relations, JAMB, Dr. Benjamin Fabian, said the board did not intentionally exclude any candidate, the Registrar, UNILAG, Dr. Taiwo Ipaye, said the university was only working with the post-UTME screening list sent by JAMB, adding that only candidates whose names were forwarded to UNILAG by JAMB were eligible for the 2015/2016 post-UTME screening.

The President, Association of Tutorial School Operators of Nigeria, Mr. Sodunke Oludotun, who led the Wednesday protest to UNILAG premises, told our correspondent in an interview that the affected parents and students had agreed to seek redress in court on the matter.

He said their lawyer would file the suit against JAMB at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi today (Friday).

Oludotun said, “We have decided to go to court. We will be in court on Friday. Mr. Femi Falana is aware. Our lawyer too is going to file the court process on Friday.

“On Friday, all the students and their parents are following us to the court in Ikoyi. We are going to protest there. On our way to the court, we are going to block the Third Mainland Bridge before getting to the court.

“Our lawyer said all the people that heard of the case in the court were very angry when he went there today (Wednesday). It is annoying. That is one step we are going to take.”

He added that the protesters would also involve Falana, a human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria on the matter.

The protesters had on Wednesday alleged that the university raised its cut-off to 250 marks against the recommended 180 marks by JAMB.

JAMB had, on July 14, after its sixth consultative meeting with stakeholders in Abuja, pegged the cut-off mark to 180 for candidates seeking university admission and 150 marks for those seeking places in polytechnics and colleges of education.

Two Thailand teachers arrested for selling drugs to students

Two Thai teachers were arrested by police for selling drugs to students, an officer said on Thursday.
The teachers were arrested in Surat Thani Province, 640 kilometres south of Bangkok.
According to a provincial police officer who requested anonymity, the teachers sold methamphetamine pills to their students.
The two teachers confessed that they sold drugs to students and used the school as a distribution centre for their product.

Governors express worry over high Naira exchange rate

Nigeria governors have expressed worry over the high exchange rate of Naira to other foreign currencies.

They have therefore said this and other issues would be discussed with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Thursday.

This was one of the resolutions arrived at by the governors after their meeting in Abuja on Wednesday night.

The meeting, which ended in the early hours of Thursday, was attended by majority of the governors.

Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, who is also the Governor of Zamafara State, Alhaji Abdullaziz Yari, read the communique of the meeting to journalists.

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It was gathered that Naira is being exchanged for about 243 to a dollar at parallel market.

Yari said, “We are going to discuss with Mr. President to seek lasting solutions to the worsening macroeconomic challenges confronting the nation, especially on foreign exchange stability.

“The forum pledges to work with Mr. President to ensure coherent policy actions that will create a clear policy direction for the country and stimulate domestic production.”He also said the forum discussed health issues and that the governors pledged to cooperate with the Federal Government to ensure that the National Health Act is operational.”
According to him, “Sequel to presentation made by the Country Representative of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the forum agreed to aggressively support the total eradication of polio in the country.”

The NGF chairman denied the insinuations in some quarters that the money given to the states was meant to bail them out of their financial crisis.

Rather, he said what was shared was money from the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited and Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, which, he said, were legitimate earnings for the three tiers of the government.

The governor said, “It is also to inform our brothers in the media that yet the federal government has not given any bailout to any of the states.

“What had been shared last time was monies from NLNG and FAAC and as we have been saying, we have not been looking for bailout, instead, we have been looking for all monies that are in the coffers of the federation account, most especially we are talking about some of the monies that are hung around the coffers of government to be brought together for the purpose of sharing.”

Shanghai detains two for murdering baby with cleft lip

Police in Shanghai have detained two people suspected of murdering an infant with cleft lip, including a doctor and the toddler’s grandfather, authorities said Thursday.

Doctors with the No. 2 People’s Hospital in Chongming County alerted police last Friday when they found the baby boy dead during a night inspection. The baby had been born only two days earlier.
Initial investigations show that the baby’s grandfather had obtained potassium chloride from an obstetrics doctor with the hospital and injected the chemical compound into the baby’s head, local police said.
Potassium chloride is usually used to treat potassium deficiency. Direct injection can cause cardiac arrest.
Further investigation is under way.
Cleft lip and palate is one of the most common congenital birth defects, with about one in every 1,000 children born in China affected by the condition.
In China, the average cost of corrective surgery for cleft palate can be as much as 10,000 yuan (1,633 U.S. dollars). With an incomplete medical assistance system and millions of people struggling under the country’s poverty line, some parents have killed or abandoned babies with birth defects.
In May, doctors saved a baby with cleft palate found alive in the wild in Tiandong County in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, ten days after he was abandoned by family members.

Taliban key commander killed in S’Afghanistan

A Taliban key commander Mullah Zindani was killed in militants’ former stronghold southern Helmand province on Thursday, Interior Ministry said in a statement released here.
“Acting upon intelligence report, units of police organized an ambush on a road used by Taliban commander Mullah Zindani in Musa Qala district today morning and killed him,” said the statement.
Mullah Zindani, according to the statement, was a key commander of Taliban militants in Musa Qala and the neighboring Kajaki districts and his elimination blows a major setback to the armed insurgents operating in southern Afghanistan.
Taliban has yet to make comment.

Lagos police arrest 93 hoodlums

The Police in Lagos have arrested 93 suspected hoodlums at Oshodi on Wednesday as it continued with its raid of criminal hideouts in the metropolis.

A statement by the state command of the Nigeria Police Force said on Thursday that the suspects were arrested by its Rapid Respond Squad.

The statement quoted the RRS Commander, ACP Olatunji Disu, as saying that they were arrested at about 1am.

“A special team of crack police detectives and a team of RRS Decoy operatives raided Oshodi and the surroundings under the bridge.

“Information at our disposal revealed that some miscreants are in the habit of robbing, snatching handsets and valuables from innocent citizens at night and day time.

“In the process, 93 suspects were apprehended. The miscreants consist of 23 juveniles, all of them males, 67 adults who had their abode under the bridge and 3 underage girls.

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“The miscreants were found playing cards, smoking, while some were sleeping. They were all arrested and transferred to RRS office for interrogation,” it said.

The statement said that on arrival at the Taskforce office, Alausa, they were rigorously screened and 20 were able to substantiate their mission at the point of arrest and means of livelihood and were released.

“Thirty-nine who could neither convince the police nor give satisfactory account of themselves were handed over to the Taskforce for necessary action.

“In the spirit of fundamental human rights, the ministries of women affairs and education were invited to take custody of the 23 juveniles.

“Others have been transferred to the Lagos State Police Command for further investigation,” it said.

20 killed in two suicide blasts in Cameroon (see photos)

An estimated 20 people were killed and more than 30 others injured as two suicide blasts on Wednesday hit Cameroon’s northern city of Maroua, an army source said.

The blast site of the city’s market in Cameroon’s northern city of Maroua. An estimated 20 people were killed and more than 30 others injured. Photo: Xinhua

Officials inspecting the blast site in Cameroon’s northern city of Maroua on July 22, 2015. An estimated 20 people were killed and more than 30 others injured. Ptoto: Xinhua

Security personnels patrol in the street after the two suicide blasts in Cameroon’s northern city of Maroua on July 22, 2015. Photo: Xinhua

NEMA confirms 29 deaths in Gombe explosions

Scene of an explosion

Update:

The National Emergency Management Agency on Thursday confirmed that 29 persons were killed in Wednesday’s attacks at two motor parks in Gombe.

The information officer of the agency in Gombe State, Umar Madigawa, in a message to our correspondent, said the explosion at Dadin Kowa motor park occurred at 7:15pm on Wednesday and that of Dukku motor park happened shortly after that, at 8:30pm.

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He said 17 of the bodies recovered from the explosion sites were deposited at Federal Medical Centre, Gombe, and 67 injured persons taken for treatment.

At the Specialists Hospital in Gombe, according to him, 12 other corpses were deposited with 38 persons taken there to be treated.

He said 29 persons were killed in the explosions that left 105 injured.

————————————————————–

No fewer than 40 persons were feared killed on Wednesday evening in Gombe State following three-bomb explosions at two bus station in the state.

Eyewitnesses told AFP that the first two explosions occurred at about 7pm at Dadin-Kowa Motor Park, the busiest bus station in the state.

The blasts suspected to be from Improvised Explosive Devices were said to have occurred minutes apart.

The third blast occurred about two hours later at Tashan Dukku Motor Park.

Sources said there was pandemonium as residents went searching in hospitals for their loved ones.

The Police Public Relations in the Gombe State, Fwaje Atajiri, confirmed the attack to The Cable but said the fatality figure had yet to be confirmed.

He added that the police had cordoned off the areas to prevent hoodlums from looting in the areas.

Atajiri “It is true that there were bomb attacks in the motor park but the casualty figure is not yet known. The injured have been taken to the hospital and the area has been cordoned off to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage of the situation to loot people’s property.”

Meanwhile, the governors of the Peoples Democratic Party under the aegis of PDP Governors’ Forum on Wednesday night in Abuja expressed concerns over the current spate of Boko Haram attacks in the North-East and asked the military to wake up.

The governors, after their meeting, expressed concerns that in spite of the security measures by the Armed Forces, the sect seems to be intensifying its attacks.

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said even as they met, the Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dankwambo, received a call over another attack in his state.

Emmanuel, while calling on the country’s Armed Forces to step up their operations, also lamented the state of the Internally Displaced Persons.

He said, “We actually call on the Armed Forces to step up their security measures to see how they can stem the tide of this menace.

“It’s really a thing of concern to the PDP government that in spite of all the efforts in the Armed Forces these guys are still proving to be more formidable.”

Nigerian girls rescued from prostitution in Burkina Faso (see photo)

The victims

Six Nigerian women have been sent back to the country from the Burkina Faso where they were allegedly taken to for prostitution by a woman, named Balikis.

While re-uniting the girls with their parents in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday, the Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Oyo State Command, Innocent Akatu, said the girls were tricked to leave Nigeria, adding that the victims did not tell their parents about the journey.

Akatu said the girls refused to engage in prostitution in Ouagadougu, Burkina Fasso, and were locked in a room by the trafficker.

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He added that their journey back home after three weeks began when one of them escaped and alerted the Burkinabe police.

He said, “The victims, after being smuggled to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, discovered that they were going to be used for prostitution. They were not even told that they were going to Burkina Faso. These girls were told that they would be given lucrative jobs abroad; one of them was told that she was going to manage a jewellery shop owned by her trafficker.

“One of them was taken from her home in Ikorodu, Lagos State, and driven to Saki in Oyo State. When she asked why it had taken them so long to reach the airport, she was told that the plane had left and that they would have to travel by road.

“The Nigerian embassy assisted in arranging emergency travelling documents for them to return to Nigeria after their lucky escape. We have taken them to the hospital for screening and they are HIV negative.”

One of the returnees, Ganiyat Samuel, said she lived with her grandmother in Ikorodu before she embarked on the journey.

She said, “A woman, called Balikis, came to me and said that I would make more money as a fashion designer if I travel outside Nigeria. I told her that I had no passport, but she said that she would take care of it. I did not tell any of my parents.

“When we got to Saki, she said she could not get a passport for me because the office had closed. We travelled for two days to get to Burkina Faso. She took me to her house and told me that I would have to do HIV test. The test revealed that I was pregnant, but HIV negative. She told me that she brought me to the country for prostitution and that I would have to abort the pregnancy. I refused and she locked me in a room. When she brought another Nigerian a week later, I helped the girl to escape and she alerted the police. The police rescued us and arrested the woman.”

Samuel’s mother, Olasunkanmi Afuwape, said her father had died and after she re-married, she took the girl and her brother to live with her mother in Ikorodu.

Man jailed for stealing battery, attempted escape

The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned a man, Dayo Abdullahi, before an Ogudu Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing a car battery.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the battery, which belonged to one Musa Sanud and valued at N14,000, was allegedly stolen at about 6.30am at the Ojota area of the state.

The charge read, “That you, Dayo Abdullahi, of no fixed address, on July 21, 2015, at about 6.30am at Ojota, Lagos, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did steal a Volvo car battery, valued at N14,000, property of one Musa Sanud, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”

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The defendant pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year imprisonment by the magistrate, Mrs. O. Sule-Amzat.

However, in a dramatic twist, Abdullahi allegedly attempted to escape from custody, while his papers were being processed at about 2.40pm.

It was gathered that the convict attempted to escape by breaking the ceiling of the court cell where he was kept.

The 40-year old was, however, apprehended and arraigned again before the court on two counts of felony.

The charges read in part, “That you, Dayo Abdullahi, of no fixed address on July 21, 2015, at about 2.40pm, at Ogudu Magistrate’s Court, Ogudu, in the Ogudu Magisterial District, being a convict and while in the Ogudu court cell, did attempt to commit felony to wit; escape from lawful custody, by climbing the court ceiling and breaking it and thereby commited an offence punishable under Section 404 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011”.

The defendant pleaded guilty, and was sentenced by Sule-Amzat to another year imprisonment, making two years in all.

Multiple blasts rock busy motor park In Gombe

Multiple explosions have been reported in Gombe state, after one week twin blasts killed 50 people at the Gombe central market.

It was gathered the first two explosions, which took at minutes interval, occurred inside the crowded Dadin Kowa motor park around 7pm on Wednesday, July 22.

The blasts were believed to have come from Improvised Explosive Devices worn by suicide bombers.

Report says casualty would be high, but no definite figure was given as the time of filing this report.

The third explosion occurred about two hours after the first two blasts. Residents were said to have stormed hospitals to search for their loved ones who may have been victims of the attacks

Buhari rejects gay marriage, says Presidency

President Muhammadu Buhari

The Presidency on Wednesday admitted that the issue of gay marriage came up during President Muhammadu Buhari’s four-day official visit to the United States.

It said the President, however, rejected the idea   “point-blank.”

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, disclosed this on his Twitter handle on Wednesday.

Adesina said the issue of gay marriage was raised in one of the meetings that the President attended in Washington DC on Tuesday.

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He, however, refused to disclose the specific meeting attended by the President where the issue was raised.

The presidential spokesman said when the issue came up, Buhari made it clear that sodomy is against the law of Nigeria and abhorrent to the country’s culture.

“The issue of gay marriage came up here yesterday (Tuesday). PMB (President Buhari) was point-blank. Sodomy is against the law in Nigeria, and abhorrent to our culture,” Adesina posted on his Twitter handle.

Among the meetings attended by Buhari on Tuesday were the ones he had with the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, and the Nigerians resident in the US.

The fear among stakeholders ahead of Buhari’s US trip was that he could succumb to the US authorities’ pressure on gay rights.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan had in January 13, 2014 signed the anti-gay marriage bill into law.

The law prohibits gay marriage and same-sex relationships and prescribes a 14-year prison term for offenders.

Jonathan had defied western governments’ pressure urging Nigeria to respect gay and lesbian rights.

The law, which also proscribes membership of gay rights groups, was passed by the National Assembly in May 2013 but Jonathan had delayed signing it into law.

Two similar bills have been proposed since 2006 but failed to make it through parliament.

“Persons who enter into a same-sex marriage contract or civil union commit an offence and are each liable, on conviction, to a term of 14-year in prison.

“Any person who registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organisations or directly or indirectly makes public show of same-sex amorous relationship in Nigeria commits an offence and shall each be liable on conviction to a term of 10 years in prison,” the law states.

B’Haram burns down Chief of Army Staff’s home

Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Tukur Buratai

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have burnt down houses, including the family home of the Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Tukur Buratai, in his village in Borno State.

At least, two people were killed and eight injured during the attack on Buratai village on Tuesday, sources told our correspondent in Abuja.

It was learnt that the terrorists killed two auto mechanics and torched some houses during the attack on the community.

“What really happened was that Boko Haram went there. They killed two motorcycle mechanics and torched some houses. It is not a massive attack. It was an isolated opportunistic attack, but the Army is on top of the situation. Troops are on the ground now,” a source stated.

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Meanwhile, additional roads have been cleared of landmines by troops for use by commuters in compliance with the directive by the CAS to troops in the 3 and 7 Divisions of the Nigerian Army.

The acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement that the road linking Biu-Sabon Gari to Damboa in Borno State has been cleared of landmines.

“The public are encouraged to use the road as adequate security measures have been put in place for their safety,” Usman said.

OAU workers suspend strike as Ooni intervenes

Aggrieved members of the Non-Accademic Staff Union, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, have suspended a strike they embarked upon about three weeks ago.

The strike was to protest the alleged non-payment of their 64-month hazard allowance.

It was gathered that the workers suspended their strike after a meeting on Wednesday with the school management and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, as the mediator.

The workers suspended the strike following a promise by the management to pay them palliatives

When contacted, the Chairman of NASU, OAU chapter, Wole Odewunmi, confirmed the suspension of the strike. He said, “We have agreed to suspend the strike following the Ooni’s intervention. Our members will be resuming on Friday because we still need to put some things in place.”

It would be recalled that the workers embarked on a protest over their unpaid hazard allowance.

In a bid to show their grievances, they paralysed activities on the university campus by closing the library and the senate building. They also blocked the major entrances and refused to supply light and water to the campus.

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As the crisis deepened, the authorities of the university closed the school. The authorities later ordered students and the workers to resume in less than a week.

To also prevent further protests, no fewer than three Armoured Police Carriers were positioned close to the university’s gate with about 100 policemen seen at the school’s gate on Monday.

The management, through a press release by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Biodun Olarewaju, last Thursday, vowed to punish any worker who did not resume on Tuesday (today).

“These illegal activities have been reported to the appropriate security agencies. In view of the total disregard for constituted authority and the recalcitrant behavior by members of NASU, all NASU members are hereby directed to return to their duty posts on or before Tuesday, July 21, failing which appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken against erring members of the university,” the management had said.

We’re changing tactics on B’Haram –CAS

THE Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshall Sadiq Abubakar, has said that the Nigerian Air Force is developing a strategy in its fight against Boko Haram and other threats to security of lives and property in the North-East and Niger Delta regions.

Abubakar, who was on an operational visit to 97 Special Operations Group in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, as part of his tour to the units under his tactical commands, expressed the need for the Nigerian Air Force to evaluate past performances and improve on areas of necessity.

He stated that such a step would provide an effective force to tackle security challenges in both regions, adding that he was in the state capital to have a look at the officers, men and assets of the Nigerian Air Force.

“What I can assure you is that we are doing everything possible to evaluate what has been done in the past with a view to re-strategising so that we have a very effective force to deal with security challenges both in the Niger Delta and the North-East.

“We are trying to look at processes. What have we been doing in the past? What do we need to do more to be more effective? That is why this is the second unit I am visiting since I came into office.

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“I am in Port Harcourt to look at our men, look at our assets, officers and men who have been contributing so much in terms of dealing with the security challenges; to also see what assets we need to bring in more to enhance our effectiveness in dealing with these challenges,” Abubakar said.

The Chief of Air Staff, who spoke on the rot in the system, explained that there was no perfect system anywhere in the world, maintaining that evaluation was necessary to identify areas of deficiencies with a view to improving on them.

Abubakar pointed out that pilots operating in the North-East were careful in order to avoid collateral damages, adding that such a measure was in line with international laws.

He disclosed that the Nigerian Air Force was still attacking Boko Haram enclaves with caution so as not to breach international laws.

He said, “There is no system that is perfect. We can look at the system we are operating and evaluate it with a view to identifying areas of deficiencies and recognising that there are deficiencies.

“The Air Force is still attacking even this morning (Wednesday). We have been avoiding collateral damages and that is very important to us. We have been stressing on this to our pilots; we are telling our pilots to respect the international laws in regard to arms conflicts.”