3 Things That'll Happen To Saraki If Found Guilty By CCT

Nigeria's Senate President Bukola Saraki is currently on trial at the
code of conduct tribunal for fraud in asset declaration while in
office.



According to the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended),
if found guilty, Saraki shall be face any or all of the following:

1. removal from office,
2. disqualification from holding any public office
3. forfeiture to the state, any property acquired in abuse of office.

However the tribunal chairman, Justice Danladi Umar before adjourning
the case to October 21-23rd had ruled that the charges are criminal in
nature.

Therefore it's possible criminal punishments be applied.

-NigeriaBulletin

Police Raid Imo Community Over Death Of Customs Officer

No fewer than 48 persons were arrested by the anti- robbery squad of
the Imo State Police Command at Umuhu community in Ngor- Okpala
Council Area of the State in the early hours of yesterday, after the
murder of a Customs officer.

It was gathered that, at about 9 pm on Tuesday, Customs officers who
were relaxing inside their checkpoint tent opposite the Federal Road
Safety Commission (FRSC) office at Mbutu Okoahia in Umuhu community,
were attacked by yet-to-be identified assailants who hacked one of
them to death.

A reliable source in the community told Daily Sun that the late
Customs officer had gone to the back of the tent to find out why their
power generating set stopped abruptly, unknown to him and his
colleagues that the assailants, who apparently disrupted their power
supply, were lying in wait in the nearby bush.

According to the source, the deceased was attacked with an axe and his
loud cry attracted his colleagues, who rushed to the scene and were
attacked with matchets and axe .

Though the other two officers escaped with serious injuries, the first
victim, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State, died instantly.

Confirming the attack on the Customs men, an official of the FRSC,
who pleaded anonymity, said the murdered Customs officer was stabbed
on the back by his attackers.

When contacted, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Taiwo
Lakanu, said shortly after the attack, a crack team of the special
anti- robbery squad was deployed to the community to comb for the
assailants,adding that the hoodlums also stole two service pistols
belonging to the attacked Customs officers.

He said those who have been arrested would be interrogated and if not
found culpable, would be released, assuring that the police had spread
its dragnet wide to arrest those behind the attack.
Meanwhile, most villagers had deserted their homes for fear of being arrested.

-TheSunNews

“You Are A Liar And Mischief Maker” -- Timipre Sylvia Tells Oshiomhole

Former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva has described as a
deliberate "act of mischief" and "lies" the claims by the Edo State
Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole that he truncated the electoral
process during the disputed governorship primaries of the All
Progressive Congress APC in the state.

According to him, though the Edo State Governor was the Chairman of
the Election Committee and had left the venue of the primaries, the
election which led to his emergence as the flag bearer of the party
was free, fair and without violence as claimed by the Edo State
governor, Adams Oshiomhole.

Sylva in a statement issued through his Media Adviser, Doifie
Bukoribo, Wednesday night said "It is unfortunate that people like
Adams Oshiomhole, the governor of Edo State and former president of
the Nigeria Labour Congress, who pretend to be incorruptible, would
conduct himself in the manner in which he did in relation to the
Bayelsa State governorship primary. It was clear that Oshiomhole never
wanted to conduct the primary as scheduled.

"First, on his request, the primary was shifted from its earlier date
of Saturday, September 19 to the Tuesday, September 22 date. The
grouse of the delegates was that the primaries had been shifted once
on Oshiomhole's request. That shift caused enough hardship already.
The 'comrade' was again shifting the goal post, without giving
consideration to these hapless delegates. It was that frustration that
we were managing. It is so sad that the governor did not appreciate
our effort."

"Second, as chairman of the APC Electoral Committee, Oshiomhole knew
full well that accreditation of delegates was to begin at 8am on
Tuesday, September 22, but he came to the venue of the programme well
past 12 noon. After he arrived at that late hour, he proceeded with a
meeting with the committee members and another meeting with the
aspirants. He clearly had preconceived plans about the Bayelsa APC
governorship primary.

"Third, Oshiomhole cannot really say anything about the primary
election because he had left the venue at the time voting commenced.
Oshiomhole set the process in motion for voting to commence before he
excused himself on the grounds that he was going to eat, and he
mandated other members of the committee to carry on without him.

"The world needs to know that the Bayelsa State Electoral Committee is
made up of seven members, and of the seven only Oshiomhole left. The
other six remained, conducted the primary and declared Sylva winner of
the exercise.

"Fourth, it bothers on pettiness for Governor Oshiomhole to quote me
as antagonist to new entrants to our party. Every discussion I had
with the governor was public.
"The only private conversation I had with him was when he walked up to
me and asked me if I truly believed he was working against my
interest. To that I answered 'YES'. As a man of integrity (?) he even
offered to step down as chairman. If he had stepped down would that
have invalidated the primaries? We should refrain from exaggerating
our worth and integrity. Let other good people judge our character."

"After all, I was the one that received all new entrants. Oshiomole
was invited and he did not come.Fifth, Oshiomhole came to Yenagoa with
a clear agenda, which was to get me out of the race at all cost. We
are aware that he had been lobbying at the centre to get me out of the
race in order to pave the way for one of the aspirants. Indeed, one of
the aspirants had boasted openly that Oshiomhole would cancel the
primary once he arrived, shortly before his arrival.

"Oshiomhole should not tell lies, if I was not there, contrary to his
insinuation that I rented thugs to manhandle him, the crowd would have
manhandled him. I personally accompanied Oshiomhole to the gate when
he was going to eat.

"Seventh, if Oshiomhole has anything personal against me, let him tell
the world. We are shocked that the man who claims to be morally
upright with a strong ethical orientation would land in Yenagoa for an
exercise in which he ought to be an impartial arbiter with a
helicopter provided by a friend of one of the aspirants."

-Vanguard

HID Awolowo To Be Buried On Her 100th Birtbday, Nov 25 -- Daughter

The eldest daughter of HID Awolowo, Rev. Omotola Oyediran, has said
the remains of her mother will be buried on her centenary birthday,
November 25.

The matriarch of the Awolowos died on Saturday, September 19, exactly
67 days to her 100th birthday. She was aged 99.

Responding to President Goodluck Jonathan's condolence message,
Oyediran appreciated the former President and his wife for coming all
the way from Bayelsa State to condole with the family.

She recalled that during Jonathan's many visits to the deceased, she
usually referred to the former President as her 'son.'

She said, "What can we say but to give God all the glory for a very
beautiful life she lived. She has done so much and it is impossible
for us to put all that she has done together.

"I want to assure you that though some of you have received letters in
the past about the centenary in order to write tributes for her, I
want to assure you that those tributes will be printed.

"I want to assure the Christian Association of Nigeria that we are
going to give them a special time when the time comes.

"I want to appeal to all of you to be part of celebrating Mama, by the
grace of God, we haven't concluded the arrangements but I would let
you know that the very day that she was supposed to be 100 years, she
would be buried.

"There will be dancing and a few tears at the burial of who I call Iya Niwura.

"There is no way you can separate Papa from Mama and Mama from Papa,
the story is one.

"It is interesting that Papa passed on on Saturday, May 9, 1987 and
Mama also died on Saturday, September 19, 2015, we give God all the
glory.

"We thank you all and we look forward to seeing you on the 25th of November."

Also responding , the youngest child of HID Awolowo, Dr. Tokunbo
Awolowo-Dosunmu, said the family would continue to cherish the good
legacies their parents had left behind.

-PUNCH

Abducted Former SGF, Olu Falae Regains Freedom

The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation,Chief Olu
Falae who was kidnapped earlier this week has regained his freedom,
Africa Independent Television, AIT has reported.

Falae was kidnapped on Monday at his farm in Ondo State by people
described as Fulani herdsmen.Newsdiaryonline had reported that the
abductors demanded N100million ransom.It was not known at the time of
filing this story if any ransom was paid.

But President Muhammadu Buhari earlier today condemned the abduction
of Falae and ordered the security agencies to ensure his safe rescue.

Also, Afenifere, the socio-cultural group in the South West had
earlier today warned against anything untoward happening to Falae.

Afenifere in a statement by its Spokesman,Yinka Odumakin urged
northern leaders to ask the Fulani herdsmen to release the former
presidential candidateAfenifere revealed that Falae and the Fulani
herdsmen had been engaged in some running battles over his farm..

Falae's reported release is expected to douse the tension trailing his kidnap.

Mass Failure: WAEC To Investigate Result Disparity With NECO

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is to investigate the
disparity in student's performance between the examination it
conducted and that of the National Examination Council (NECO).

The head of the National Office of the examination body, Mr. Charles
Eguridu, told newsmen in Abuja, that the council would not compromise
standards and its marking schemes on the altar of mass appeal and
patronage.

He however assured that the research department of the council will
conduct an extensive investigation and comparison with the results
released by the two examination bodies with a view to addressing areas
that needed urgent improvement.

Recall that in the release of results for the May-June Certificate
Examinations conducted by the two examination bodies recently, WEAC
candidates recorded 30-33 percent levels of performance while the
candidates for NECO recorded 70 percent success.

Meanwhile, the West African Examinations Council has concluded
arrangement to change the titles of the two examinations on its
stable.

The Head of the National Office of the body told newsmen that as from
2016, the May/June Examination will be known as School Certificate
Examination while the Nov/Dec. Examination will be known as Private
Candidates Examination.

He further disclosed that candidates from Ghana have for the past
three years been coming tops in the overall performance of the
students at the sub regional levels.

-DailyTimes

Arsene Wenger & Wife Officially Seperate

Arsenal football team manager, Arsene Wenger and his wife, Annie have
formally separated.

According to Daily Mail, the couple had a 'separation of bodies'
judgment issued by a judge in Paris, meaning that they are free to see
other people.

However, Wenger is still expected to support Annie, 59, financially,
and the pair have have reportedly divided up their assets and agreed
on a financial package in their terms of separation.

The couple were in a long-term relationship since the 90s, before
finally getting married in 2010. They have an 18-year-old daughter.

Speaking on the issue, a legal expert says:

"This is a legal separation, which means the couple are not legally
obliged to live together, and they can have separate lives, and no
longer have intimate relations.

He will have to still keep his responsibilities to look after the
family. If the judgment is not overturned within two years, a divorce
will be automatically granted."

Photo Credit: Daily Mail

Imo Govt Concessions 29 Agencies, 38 Health Facilities

Imo State government has finally concessioned more than 29 Parastatals
and 38 Health facilities including all the general hospitals in the
state to inject life into them and make them effective and productive
to achieve the aims of establishing them.

The state government also suspended some permanent secretaries,
Directors of Accounts and few other officials who were indicted by the
report of the recent verification and audit exercise carried out in
the state.

Most of these parastatals and Health facilities according to
government have continued to enjoy the government's "huge monthly
subventions without any thing to show for such cash investments."

Some of the parastatals listed for concessioning are those of Imo
Newspapers, Imo Orientation Agency, NEPAD, Imo ADP, Agric Loans Board,
Water Corporation, PFMU and PSGRDP, Consumer Protection Council, Imo
State Council for Arts and Culture, Imo State Sports Council, Imo
State Tourism Board, Imo State Zoological Garden, Imo State Library
Board, Imo Job Centre and Imo State Investment Promotion Agency.

Others are the State Directorate for Employment, Okigwe Cattle Market,
Imo Livestock, Ministry of Agric and Natural Resources Shop,
Niger-Delta Bureau, Poverty Alleviation Bureau, IWADA, Bureau for
Public Procurement and Price Intelligence, ENTRACO, Imo Marketing
Company, Imo Blue Lake Oguta and Imo Essential Drug.

Health facilities the government has also listed to concession their
managements are the General Hospitals and Health Centres in the 27
Local Government Areas in the state including the General Hospitals at
Aboh Mbaise, Ngor Okpala, Ihitte Uboma, Okigwe, Aro-ndizogu, Mberi,
Awo Omama, Oguta, Ogwa, Ohaji Egbema and the Specialist Hospital,
Umugwuma.

In the case of the Health Centres and General Hospitals, the
government said it concessioned their respective managements to give
them the needed teeth to make the Health-care delivery system in the
state responsive, effective and service-oriented especially when the
government's experience in the affected Health outfits have been
nauseating.

In addition to the concession, the government has also dissolved the
Youth Must Work Scheme with the aim of re-organising it and making it
more efficient to achieve the goal for which it was set up

However, the government said that Primary and Secondary teachers
recruited under the Youth Must Work Scheme would not be affected by
the dissolution.

Also dissolved, the statement said is the elected officials of the
Community Government councils (CGC), adding that the action was also
designed to help in repositioning the CGC to make it very vibrant and
result-oriented.

In the same vein, the state government disclosed that it has taken
over Imo State Teaching Hospital staff Primary School at Orlu and FSP
Primary School Ugwu-orji, Owerri to enable them enjoy the free
education programme of the state government and also take the two
schools to the expected level in terms of quality.

Meanwhile, the Governor, Rochas Okorocha has directed the immediate
payment of salary arrears of all the staff in the affected parastatals
listed for concession, the hospitals and health centres also affected,
and those of CGC.

While appealing to
indigenes of the state for their cooperation and understanding, the
governor explained that the actions were taken in the overall interest
of the state and her people, adding that it was designed to keep the
state on the fast lane of development.

-NationalMirror

Fears As Lagos Records New Bird Flu Cases

New incidences of bird flu have been recorded in Lagos state, with an
estimated 60,000 birds already affected, the News Agency of Nigeria
reports amid mounting fears and panic.

Executive Secretary of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, Lagos State
chapter, Mr. Olugbenga Ogunsetan, confirmed this yesterday in Lagos.

He said several poultry farms were affected by the avian influenza in
Ikorodu area of the state.

"Over 60,000 birds were lost in August after the avian influenza
ravaged the farms.

"This has largely affected production of poultry products and leading
to price hike in the area," Ogunsetan said.

Meanwhile, the state government said it was making arrangement with
the Federal Government for compensation to the affected poultry
farmers.

The Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Agriculture, Dr.
Olajide Basorun, who spoke on the compensation move, corroborated the
severity claim by the PAN scribe.

He said that compensating affected farmers would encourage others, who
were afraid to report the case, to come forward.

"The Lagos state government, in collaboration with the Federal
government, is already thinking of ways to support these farmers,
whose poultry were affected by the scourge.

"Many economies have shut down because of this avian influenza and
these economies have dependants, which mean a lot of people have lost
their livelihoods.

"Government is mindful of that and is working out modalities to
compensate the farmers so that others, who have the flu and have not
reported or are under reporting, will be encouraged to come forward,"
he said.

The permanent secretary said government does not want a scenario were
the farmers, who do not report, will sell their birds to unsuspecting
public.
He said where there was a reported case, the ministry had moved
swiftly to conduct tests and depopulate such farm.
-Vanguard

Let Pensioners Eat Sand

One first reaction on reading some newspaper headlines out of Nigeria
is one of incredulity. It simply can't be true, one declares.
Such was my reaction last week when I saw a report in the Guardian newspaper.

The
report, written by Charles Ogugbuaja, was titled "Imo Pensioners Owed
Over 20 Months Arrears." For a few minutes, I just stared at the
headline, unable to come to terms with the sheer absurdity of it all.
Was it even possible that a government, any government, would leave
pensioners in the lurch for so long, without any income?

Would such a government not simply collapse under the weight of its
own contradiction?
Would the abused pensioners and their supporters not stake out the
grounds of Government House, daring the delinquent governor to step
out of his office?

Eventually, I was able to shake off the initial shock. I began to read
the report. In an instant, my reaction went from disbelief to disgust
to outrage
"As many pensioners and unpaid workers were groaning, the Imo State
Governor, Rochas Okorocha, on Wednesday, traveled with about 100
persons to Turkey on what he called industrial fact finding trip.
Industrialists and others were on the trip. It was the second time in
months [that]the governor was leading such a large number to the same
country," the Guardian report disclosed.

According to the report, retired civil servants in the state were
being owed arrears of eight months while retired primary school
teachers claimed that they had not received any pensions for 22
months.

Even so, the state government's share of the monthly allocation from
the Federation account came to slightly more than N3.9 billion for
July. In addition, the state received more than N3 billion in the name
of 27 local government councils.

Going by the report, Imo State had got some significant financial
breaks from the Federal Government.

It
said Governor Okorocha had recently revealed that the Federal
Government had restructured the monthly deductions from the state's
allocations that went into debt servicing. The restructuring meant
that the state now spends N480 million on debt servicing instead of
N1.2 billion.
Besides, the state had received bailout funds for payment of workers
salaries and pensioners' arrears.

Even though the governor had not divulged the exact amount of the
bailout, figures released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
indicated that Imo State "received about N26.806 billion," the
Guardian reported.

Apparently, Mr. Okorocha, who recently told state workers that his
administration spends N1.2 billion each month to pay salaries, wants
certain state-owned agencies to commercialize their activities,
earning enough revenues to cover staff salaries. And apparently, the
20,000 workers employed by these agencies are opposed to the option of
commercializing their operations.
According to the Guardian, the governor has alleged that "more than 40
per cent of those who parade as pensioners are ghost[s], adding that
they had been allegedly colluding with some treasury officials to
defraud [the]government." The state government has called for "another
round of verification exercise," to separate the real pensioners from
ghost leeches and imposters sucking off public resources.
The pensioners are unimpressed.
They told the newspaper that they "had been verified in 2011 and 2013
respectively under excruciating conditions."

Advertisement
Let's be clear:
Imo State is not alone in owing workers and/or state employees arrears
that run into many months. In fact, unpaid salaries are one of the
gravest, if little discussed, scandals in Nigeria. And it's not only
governments that often treat salaries and other financial commitments
as if they were a favor to workers, rather than the rights of men and
women who have done work. The Nigerian private sector is also plagued
by unpaid entitlements.

Former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju of my home state of Anambra, a
lawyer and journalist by training, gave a haughty dismissal of
pensioners who showed up at his office to protest their unpaid
pensions.
Declaring them dead wood, he reportedly told the pensioners that they
should have children abroad who should be taking care of them. My
mother, who put in more than thirty years of service as a committed
teacher, was one of those pensioners Mr. Mbadinuju told off.

At one point, she had not received a kobo in pension for 14 months!
The same governor's failure to pay state teachers led to a yearlong
strike. It's the kind of tragedy that's become commonplace in Nigeria.
Not only are workers dehumanized by public and private sector
employers who don't pay them; future of the youth is mortgaged when
they are subjected to malnourished existence and months of receiving
little, no or wretched education.

The argument is often made that too many Nigerian workers are indolent
and delinquent.
There's little argument there. And there are, indeed, too many
"ghosts" on payrolls, put in there by unscrupulous bureaucrats who
make a killing at the expense of the collectivity.
Imo State and other public sector employers deserve to find and erase
these ghosts.
For that matter, it is not unreasonable for the governor to insist
that certain state agencies raise the revenues to meet their recurrent
obligations.
Yet, allowing for the existence of "ghost" parasites and the argument
for significantly beefing up internally generated revenues, there is
no excuse—repeat, absolutely no excuse—for owing workers and
pensioners even for one month.
It is about time Nigeria criminalized this pervasive practice. A
government that shirks its responsibility to pay its workers or
pensioners has lost its salt, its legitimacy. In fact, a president,
governor, or local government chairperson who is unable to manage the
"minimal" task of paying salaries and pensions should be deemed worse
than a ghost leader. Such a person should immediately step down, and
make way for those who understand the elementary principle that
salaries and pensions are a statutory and moral obligation, and that
to deny people such a basic entitlement is to degrade them to the
level of lower animals.
When a governor doesn't pay his workers or retired workers, he might
as well be saying to them—as Mr. Mbadinuju might—"Go, eat sand!" Such
a governor should not be junketing to Turkey or any other address
governed by competent men and women who truly understand how to spell
the word "leader."


– Please follow me on Twitter @okeyndibe

Burkina Interim President Officially Restored To Power After Coup

Burkina Faso's interim leader Michel Kafando was officially restored
to power at a ceremony attended by regional heads of state on
Wednesday, a week after a coup by an elite army unit.

Kafando, who has led the landlocked west African country through its
transition since a popular uprising last year deposed the former
president, said "his main objective" now was to organise a general
election.

List Of Senators That Followed Saraki To Tribunal

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu led 29 other senators to the
CCT in solidarity with the Senate President.
Senators at the CCT are:

1. Amori Ighoyota (Delta Central)

2. Bassey Albert Akpan (Akwa North East)

3. Abdulrahman Abubakar (Kogi East)

4. Tayo Alasoadura (Ondo Central)

5. Kabiru Gaya (Kano Central)

6. Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta North)

7. Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto North)

8. Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara North)

9. Theodore Orji (Abia Central)

Others are Senators

10. Ben Murray-Bruce (Bayelsa East)

11. Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central)

12. Ogola Foster (Bayelsa West)

13. Mao Ohuabunwa (Abia North)

14. Gilbert Nnaji (Enugu East)

15. Rose Oko (Cross River North)

16. Sam Egwu (Ebonyi North)

17. Olaka Nwogu (Rivers South East)

18. Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East)

19. Sunny Ogbuoji (Ebonyi South)

20. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger East)

21. Isa Hamma Missau (Bauchi Central)

22. Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi Central)

23. Kaura Tijjani (Famfara North)

24. Clifford Ordia ( Edo Central)

25. Mohammed Ohiare (Kogi Central)

26. Rafui Ibrahim (Kwara South)

27. Gershom Henry Bassey (Cross River South) and

28. Ibrahim Dambaba (Sokoto South).

-Vanguard

INEC Brands Ihiala Most Challenging Council In Anambra

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has branded
Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State as the most challenging
council area in the State, where the commission fears to send its
officials during elections due to the activities of political thugs
and moneybags.

The State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Edwin Nwatarali,
who disclosed this while receiving the executive members of Ihiala
Grassroots Progressive Initiative in his office, stated that the type
of arms and ammunition being brandished by politicians in the council
area at every election was worrisome.

He said it took the intervention of armed soldiers to bring out the
officials of the commission from the council area during the 2015
polls.

His words: "Ihiala people need constant voter education from kindred
to associations/institutions, wards to local government level because
activities of political gladiators and interests at the council area
are quiet alarming.

They hardly play the game according to the rule.

"To most of them, election is either a do -or -die affair. Once it is
election time, you will see the moneybags and their thugs brandishing
all kinds of weapons to eliminate their political opponents. It is
terrible! It took God's grace to salvage our officials from them at
2015 polls."

The police and their weapons could not scare the thugs, who were armed
with modern sophisticated weapons. It was the quick intervention of
armed Nigerian soldiers that saved our officials from the daredevil.

"At every election, they will come to us pleading for help. When you
ask what kind of help they needed from you, they will quickly ask you
to name your price, vowing to pay in cash, cheques or appointment;
just for you to rig the election to their favour", he said.
Nwatarali stated that INEC needed well equipped collation centre due
to non-conducive accommodation and infrastructural decay at its
present office.

Earlier, the delegation from Ihiala Grassroot Progressive Initiative
called for partnership with INEC in resolving the challenges facing
the commission at every poll in the council area.

-TheSunNews

Gunmen Abduct Protus, The Sun Columnist’s Wife In Imo

Gunmen have abducted the wife of a university Don and social critic,
Prof Nath Protus Uzoma, from her residence in the World Bank area of
Owerri, Imo state capital.
It was gathered that Lolo Esther Uzoma was whisked away at about 10
pm last Sunday and her abductors were yet to make any demand or
contact members of her family as at press time.
Her husband, Uzoma who is also a columnist with The Sun Newspaper,
told our reporter that the armed men had stormed their residence on
Sunday night, asking for his whereabouts and his wife had told them
that he was not around. However, after ransacking the whole house,
they took her away at gunpoint.

His words: " Yesterday( Sunday) at about 10 pm, armed men stormed my
residence at the World Bank area of Owerri, the Imo capital, demanding
for my whereabouts from my wife and her explanation that I was not
around was not satisfactory to them. But when they searched the entire
house and did not find me, they abducted my wife at gunpoint. Ever
since, the abductors of my wife have not made any demand or contacted
any member of the family; and so, I don't know the whereabouts of my
wife.

"On August 20, 2014, eight armed men had also invaded my house but
the police were able to kill four of them, while the others escaped. I
am appealing to the kidnappers to please, return my wife because I
have no problem with anybody and as a social critic, my duty is to
always point out the ills in the society, which those in authority
should correct for the good of all and sundry."

He pointed out that prior to this time that he used to have police
security but that they were withdrawn because of the new police of the
new police Inspector General of Police and appealed to police
authority to restore his police security to secure the life of his
family.

However, Prof Uzoma commended the State Commissioner of Police, Mr.
Taiwo Lakanu, who he said, responded promptly after the matter was
reported, adding that operatives of the police command have been
working round the clock in search of his abducted wife.

-TheSunNews

85 Dead In Boko Haram’s Deadliest Attacks Since Buhari Took-over

Boko Haram carried out its deadliest attacks on the key northeast
Nigerian city of Maiduguri since President Muhammadu Buhari came to
power, killing scores in a series of coordinated bomb blasts.

Police in the Borno state capital said at least 54 people died in
Sunday's co-ordinated strikes, with 90 injured, but residents caught
up in the explosions said as many as 85 lost their lives.

The attacks on Sunday night in the Ajilari Cross area and nearby
Gomari, near the city's airport, killed and maimed worshippers at a
mosque, bystanders and football fans watching a televised match.

The army and rescuers said the explosions were caused by homemade
devices but one local and the police said a female suicide bomber also
blew herself up.

PHOTO: Victims of the multiple blasts blamed on Boko Haram, lie on
mattresses at the State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri, on September
21, 2015. Boko Haram carried out its deadliest attacks on the key
northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri since President Muhammadu Buhari
came to power, killing scores in a series of coordinated bomb blasts.
Locals in Maiduguri said at least 85 people were killed in a series of
bombings blamed on Boko Haram, disputing a lower figure of 54 given by
police. AFP PHOTO

Maiduguri, where Boko Haram was founded in 2002, has been the
epicentre of the six-year-old insurgency and repeatedly attacked since
Buhari assumed office.
Some 26 people were killed in a suicide attack on a Maiduguri mosque
on May 30, while another attack on a cattle market three days later
killed 13. The day after that strike, 18 were killed in a bomb blast.

Since his inauguration on May 29, at least 1,100 people have been
killed, with the majority of attacks in Borno, according to AFP
reporting.

– Co-ordinated strikes –

Nigeria's authorities have frequently downplayed the death toll from
attacks in the insurgency, which has claimed at least 17,000 lives and
forced more than two million from their homes since 2009.

"I can assure you that no fewer than 85 people died," said resident Sabo Ahmed.

"The figure given by the police is just the number of people taken to hospital.
"Many more died and were just taken away by their loved ones."
Ahmed said 15 more bodies had been pulled from the rubble of the
football match "viewing centre" and that four were his brothers aged
between 19 to 24.

Alhaji Jidda, a resident of the Binta Sugar neighbourhood, said more
than 35 people were killed at the mosque, which is thought to have
been hit by a female suicide bomber.

"Apart from the imam and a few people, all the rest died instantly at
the mosque because of the impact of the blast," he said.

"From the figures we gathered, more than 85 people died (in total)," he said.

A security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed:
"Yes, the dead should be higher than what was given to you but that
(54) is the official figure," he said.

– Desperation –

Army spokesman Sani Usman said on Sunday the blasts, which locals
believed could have been aimed to distract security forces to enable
an attack on the city, "signify (a) high level of desperation on the
part of the Boko Haram terrorists".

His boss, Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai, described the attacks as
"unfortunate" but said it indicated the group's methods.

"It's not a setback because it is giving us a lead to how we can
progress toward our success," he told reporters in Abuja on Monday.

The military has claimed the rebels were in disarray, having
apparently lost territory and seen their camps destroyed in recent
months.

But Boko Haram's shadowy leader Abubakar Shekau denied the group was a
spent force, describing the military claims as "lies" in an audio
recording published via social media on Saturday.

Apart from suicide and bomb attacks on markets, bus stations and
mosques, the insurgents have also carried out deadly cross-border
raids in neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and Niger.
All three countries have been assisting Nigeria in the
counter-insurgency since the turn of the year, in recognition of the
group's threat to regional security.

A new 8,700-strong regional force comprising all four countries plus
Benin is set to deploy against the jihadists.