AL-MAKURA IMPEACHMENT: C-O-N-F-U-S-I-O-N, AS NASARAWA ASSEMBLY FREEZE STATE ACCOUNTS

The Nasarawa State impeachment saga continues to unfold in layers and in form. Information available to us obtained through sources within the government house in [Lafia] Nasarawa State indicate that uncertainty and confusion has taken over the workers secretariat – owing to a plenary session held by the members of the Nasarawa State legislation at a hotel in Karu, Nasarawa State where its reached several resolutions – of which one of them included the freezing of all Nasarawa State bank accounts. freezes

A state confusion is said to have taken a hold of many within the Nasarawa civil service – as to the availability of funds. Some within the government house told our reporter that they are not sure if the State assembly had the powers to freeze the state’s account – and that if the accounts were frozen that it would hit the Al Makura administration below the belt. This is because the Al Makura administration had embarked on a massive exercise of draw down of the state accounts since the impeachment saga began.

The source pointed to a recent withdrawal by the Secretary to State Government of N250million supposedly for the setting up of a panel to prosecute the Eggon/Ombatse members over their role in the said massacre of security officials. The panel has yet to be set up. Another withdrawal of N500milliion was carried out by state house by a close aide to the governor supposedly to address pressing security issues. The pressing security issues were not detailed, according to the source.

The allegation of a massive drawdown by the Al Makura administration was also seconded by a member of the state assembly who told us that the Governor had withdrawn over N3billion within a span of four [4] days. “We started to notice the withdrawals a week ago” said the lawmaker who continued to add that the State Governor has virtually emptied the state coffers.

In talking to the spokesperson for the Nasarawa state government, Hon. Kwarra [special assistant on public affairs], he refused commenting but added that they will be addressing the press by 10am today’s morning [Thursday] – and he promise for all the issues to be answered by the address. He also added that the lawmakers had no legal right to freeze state accounts.

Okiro congratulates Abba on appointment as IG

The Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mike Okiro, has congratulated the new Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba on his appointment.

Until his appointment, Abba was the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in Charge of Zone 7, Abuja.

Okiro in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, advised him to rise up to the challenges of his new appointment.

He noted that as a tested officer who had held various Command positions in the Nigeria Police Force, he has no doubt that Abba would bring new perspectives in the search for solutions to the security threats confronting the nation.

Ebola scare in Anambra, government seals off hospital

corpse was brought from Liberia to the state.
The Anambra Commissioner of Health, Josephat Akabuike, announced on Thursday that a hospital has been sealed off and its workers and patients quarantined due to Ebola disease scare.
Briefing journalists in Awka, Ms. Akabuike said the measure followed information received by the government that a man whose body was brought back from Liberia at the weekend, might have died of the killer disease. He said that information available to the government indicated that the body was brought back from Liberia through Lagos and deposited in the mortuary at Nkwelle-Ezenaka in Oyi Local Government of the state.
“Part of the briefing is to tell you what we are doing to make sure we don’t allow the deadly virus to come into the state.
“What actually called for this is that we have a report that a corpse was brought through Lagos and the deceased was said to have been taken from Liberia where of course you know there are cases of the disease.
“The corpse was said to have been brought to Nigeria and deposited somewhere in Nkwelle-Ezunaka and the ministry was alerted and that is why we are taking all these measures.”
The commissioner said that Governor Willie Obiano had already directed the Police Command in the state to cordon off the place until the necessary tests were carried out.
He further said that Federal Government had also sent medical experts from the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, to Anambra to carry out the test at the hospital premises.
Meanwhile, Ebola has been blamed for 672 deaths in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, according to the World Health Organisation.
Sierra Leone has declared a state of emergency and called in troops to quarantine epicentres of Ebola, joining Liberia in imposing tough controls to curb the worst ever outbreak of the virus amid fears it could spread beyond West Africa.
Meanwhile, a Liberian man was confirmed to have died from the virus in Lagos last Friday.
In a measure of rising international concern, Britain on Wednesday held a government meeting on Ebola, which it said was a threat it needed to respond to.
The outbreak of the haemorrhagic fever, for which there is no known cure, began in the forests of remote eastern Guinea in February, but Sierra Leone now has the highest number of cases.
(NAN)

Imam of China’s largest mosque killed

The imam of China’s largest mosque – in the city of Kashgar in Xinjiang – has been killed in what appears to be a targeted assassination.

Jume Tahir, 74, was reportedly stabbed after he led early morning prayers at the Id Kah mosque on Wednesday.

His killing came two days after dozens of people were reportedly killed or injured in clashes with police in Yarkant county, in the same prefecture.

The reasons for his death remain unclear.

But the BBC’s Damian Grammaticas in Beijing says Tahir, who was from Xinjiang’s mainly Muslim Uighur ethnic minority, was a vocal and public supporter of Chinese policies in the region.

Radio Free Asia quoted an unnamed shopowner near Id Kah as saying he saw a body lying in a pool of blood front of the mosque in the morning and police clearing a huge crowd that had gathered. He was told the body was that of Mr Tahir.

A hasty burial was conducted by the late afternoon and the funeral procession was heavily guarded by military and police, according to The Los Angeles Times .

Shortly after his death, police sealed off roads in and out of Kashgar and cut internet and text messaging links to other parts of China. Those restrictions have since been lifted.

Tahir was appointed imam of the 600-year-old mosque by China’s ruling Communist Party.

Some say he was deeply unpopular among many Uighurs who disliked the fact that he praised Communist Party policies while preaching in his mosque.

He had also echoed the official government line that blamed the rising level of violence in Xinjiang on Uighur separatists and extremists, says our correspondent.

On Monday, a knife-wielding gang attacked a police station and government offices triggering clashes that killed “dozens” of Uighur and Han Chinese civilians, according to state media outlet Xinhua.

But activists disputed this account and said that local Uighurs were protesting against a Chinese crackdown on the observance of Ramadan, which ended on Monday.

Reports surfaced earlier this month that some government departments in Xinjiang were banning Muslim staff from fasting during Ramadan, and several university students told the BBC that they were being forced to have meals with professors.

There has been an upsurge in Xinjiang-linked violence that authorities have attributed to Uighur separatists.

Police explains rise in female suicide bombings in Nigeria

The Nigeria Police Force spokesperson Frank Mba has given an insight into the recent rise of female suicide bombers in Nigeria.

Addressing newsmen at the National Information Center yesterday, Mr Mba said Boko Haram men now use women because they raise fewer suspicions.
"If you have been following the trends of terrorism worldwide, you will understand that use of female suicide bombers is actually not totally new. It is actually a new trend in our own part of the world. The reasons why established international terrorist organizations go for female suicide bombers is clear. The major reason is that women raise fewer suspicions, particularly with security layers, and so they take advantage of the fact that women raise fewer suspicion to try to indoctrinate and recruit female suicide bombers. The suspicion even becomes much lesser if the woman in question is a minor and that explains why. In addition to that is the fact that by rules of engagement that we are cultured to, male security operatives are not allowed to frisk or search females but we are equally developing counter terrorism strategies to deal with that.” he said
He disclosed that more female police officers will now be stationed on roads and other places where stop-and-search exercises are being carried out.
"Nigerians should prepare to see more female police officers, more female bomb disposal experts, more female DSS operatives, more female soldiers actually in combat operations and carrying out stop-and-search,” he said

From Our News Desk -31st July, 2014

UPDATES: Abba may replace Abubakar as IG. Bombers attack Kano poly, Potiskum mosque, kill 16. Presidency gave girls, parents N22.4m – Chibok community. Nasarawa House, CJ set to clash over Al-Makura. Confusion in LASU as striking workers shut offices. New e-passport takes off Friday. Helper of late Liberian shows Ebola symptoms —Official. JTF storms port, apprehends oil thieves, intercepts vessels. Former sports minister, Abdullahi, joins APC. Allegations of N83bn indebtedness ridiculous, says Nyako. Adekuoroye, Adeniyi win wrestling gold. FG gets N100bn from EU for development. CBN to revive abandoned Ibadan workers’ estate. Inactive operators control 727,147 telephone lines. Bank of America to pay $1.3bn fine to US. Diamond Bank to raise N50.37bn from rights issue. Panic as DSS operatives fire gunshots in Osun. 2015: TAN Plans Mega Rallies For Jonathan. Nasarawa Lawmakers Under Pressure To Impeach Al-Makura. Oando Completes $1.5bn ConocoPhillips Acquisition. FG To Raise $500m For Boko Haram Victims In 12 Months. Nollywood Actor, Jim Iyke Flees Liberia Over Fear Of Ebola Virus. Confusion in NFF, as Maigari meets with 23 state FAs. Fayemi signs 19 new councils into law. Benue workers on strike.

Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, sacks two senior army officers after Boko Haram attacks

Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has sacked two senior army officers at the forefront of the battle against militant Islamist group Boko Haram.

State radio did not give reasons for the dismissal of Col Youssa Gedeon and Lt-Col Justin Ngonga.

The decision probably reflects Biya’s growing concern about the Boko Haram threat, correspondents say.

On Sunday, the deputy prime minister’s wife was abducted by suspected militants.

She was abducted in the northern town of Kolofata, along with her maid, a religious leader and the local mayor.

The BBC’s Muhaman Babalala in Cameroon’s capital, Yaounde, says the abductions showed a clear lapse in security, and the government may have therefore decided to sack the officers.

They were in charge of military operations in northern areas along the porous border with Nigeria, he says.

In May, Biya promised a “total war” against Boko Haram.

Boko Haram is fighting for an Islamic state in Nigeria, but has carried out a series of cross-border raids in Cameroon.

The group attacked Cameroon three times last week, killing at least four soldiers, Reuters news agency reports.

Militants have kidnapped foreign nationals in northern Cameroon before, including a French family and Chinese workers.

SUICIDE ATTACK: 10-year-old, 2 teenagers arrested with explosives in Kano

Coordinator of National Information Centre, Mr Mike says security forces stopped a car in Kano’s neighbouring state of Katsina today and arrested three suspected Boko Haram members.

The group included one male and two girls, aged 18 and 10.

The older two tried to flee, according to Omeri’s statement.

The “10-year-old … was discovered to have been strapped with an explosive belt,” he said.

The chilling trend of deploying young women and girls as bombers comes three-and-half months after Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls from the remote town of Chibok in the northeast.

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau boasted about the mass abductions in a video during which he threatened to sell the girls as slaves.

The Chibok abductions prompted a social media campaign that went viral and drew unprecedented global attention to Boko Haram’s extremist uprising, which the group says is aimed at creating a strict Islamic state in the mainly Muslim north.

In the weeks following the kidnappings, some prominent jihadi websites had posts condemning the Nigerian group’s extreme tactics.

- Government pledges -

Nigeria has repeatedly insisted that it knows where the girls are, while President Goodluck Jonathan and top military officials have suggested they will be brought home safely soon.

But little progress has been made in securing their release while the violence appears to be escalating across the north and centre of the country.

More than 2,000 civilians have been killed this year, making the first half of 2014 one of the deadliest stretches of the insurgency.

Attacks had been concentrated in the remote northeast, Boko Haram’s stronghold, but waves of strikes since April in major cities including the capital Abuja have underscored the grave threat the Islamists pose to Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and top oil producer

From Our News Desk -30th July, 2014

UPDATES: Fani-Kayode dares APC to explain links with B’Haram. FG to deploy 600 commandos in Damboa. El-Rufai’s son dies in Abuja road accident. Jonathan’s gift: Chibok girls’ parents, community leaders clash. Cash crunch hits Reps. Explosion rips through ‘busy area’ in Potiskum. Dokubo-Asari faults Jonathan’s comments on Buhari. 16 die as troops rescue Cameroon’s Vice PM’s wife. NBA begs Okorocha to recall suspended members. Buhari: APC insists on international probe. Kwara cancels Emir’s Sallah homage to Ahmed. I will sell Mikel, Torres or Cech – Mourinho. 25 million Nigerian payment cards prone to hacking. PHCN employed no engineer for 16 years – FG. Female suicide bombers may be Chibok girls –Ezekwesili, others. Bloody sallah as robbers invade Bariga, Lagos. Ebola victim was to visit US for daughters’ birthdays. Civilian JTF Raises The Alarm: 40 Suicide Bombers Sneak Into Borno. N100m Presidential Gift: Count us out of the controversy – BBOG Group. Nigerian Firm To Export Cars To African Countries. Security Operatives, Residents Flee As Boko Haram Takes Over Yobe Town. Bharti Airtel Hits 300m Subscribers. Bankole urged to join Ogun guber race. My return to PDP carefully planned, says Fani-Kayode.

INFORMATION ON EBOLA

INFORMATION.

In order to help our Embassy Community better understand some key points about Ebola virus we consulted with our medical specialists and assembled this list below, worded in plain language for easy understanding. 

• The suspected reservoirs for Ebola are fruit bats.

• Transmission to humans is thought to originate from infected bats or primates that have become infected by bats. Undercooked infected bat and primate (bush) meat transmits the virus to humans.

• Human to human transmission is only achieved by physical contact with a person who is acutely and gravely ill from Ebola virus or their body fluids.

• Transmission among humans is almost exclusively among caregiver family members or health care workers tending to the very ill.

• The virus is easily killed by contact with soap, bleach, sunlight, or drying. A washing machine will kill the virus in clothing saturated with infected body fluids.

• A person can incubate the virus without symptoms for 2-21 days, the average being 5-8 days before becoming ill. THEY ARE NOT CONTAGIOUS until they are acutely ill.

• Only when ill does the viral load express itself first in the blood and other bodily fluids (e.g vomit, feaces, urine,breast milk, semen and sweat).

• If you are walking around you are not infectious to others.

• There are documented cases from Kikwit, DRC of an Ebola outbreak in a village that had the custom of children never touching an ill adult. Children living for days in one room huts with parents who died from Ebola did not become infected.

• You cant contract Ebola by handling money or swimming in a pool.

•There's no medical reason to stop flights,close borders, restrict travel or close embassies, businesses or schools.

• Always practice good hand washing techniques,you will not contract Ebola if you do not touch a dying person.

Don't Panic, Educate Yourself, Educate Others.

US STATE DEPARTMENT.

Good Morning.

Civilian JTF Raises The Alarm: 40 Suicide Bombers Sneak Into Borno

There was tension in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, yesterday following credible information that at least 40 members of the Boko Haram terrorist group, among whom were teenage girls, had sneaked into the city with the intention of carrying out suicide bombings.

This was coming days after two separate bomb explosions masterminded by the Boko Haram terrorists rocked the city of Kano during the Eid-el-Fitri celebration.

It has been confirmed that teenage girls were used to ferry the explosions – one in a food flask and the other in a jar meant to contain kerosene – to the point where the explosives were detonated in the Kano State capital.

LEADERSHIP has gathered from different sources that the Boko Haram suicide bombers that had entered

Maiduguri were between 30 and 40 in number.

A member of the Civilian-JTF who pleaded anonymity said a suspected member of the Boko Haram who was on Sunday arrested in Maiduguri later confessed that over 40 of them, including two girls, had arrived in the city with the intention of carrying out attacks using explosives.

“We were able to arrest seven of them, and we are still on the trail of about 33 others,” said the operative of the Civilian-JTF. “When we interrogated them, they were able to reveal that the girls, just like they did in Kano, would be used to carry bombs tied to their bodies and covered by their hijabs to crowded places where they would be detonated by some other persons holding the remote-controlled detonator. We have tried to make them reveal where others are being kept but have not been successful.

A member of the Nigeria vigilante, Muhammed Gava, confirmed he also had this piece of information. He told LEADERSHIP on phone that a Toyota Hilux bus with the colour of the Nigeria Air Force, and filled with about 20 people including young girls, had on Sunday found its way into Maiduguri.

“The bus had the paint of the Nigeria Air Force and it carried plenty people, about 20 or so, both men and girls, into Maiduguri. It came from the direction of Damboa, and some members of the Civilian-JTF tried to stop it around Polo area but the driver did not stop. And when they later tried to go after the bus, they lost its track; but they are still searching for the bus,” said Gava.

Source:Leadership

CAC’s 24-year old crisis will be resolved soon

THE Chairman of the Christ Apostolic Church Peace and Reunification Group (CACPRG), Pastor Moses Adedoyin, has disclosed that the over 24-year old  lingering crisis in Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) will soon be over.
He revealed that the reconciliation of the two factions in the crisis is yielding positive outcome.
Adedoyin spoke at the Second Unity Prayer Conference, held at CAC, Itabale, Olugbode, Ibadan.
He said the group has been visiting the leaders of the different factions and they have been showing their interest to end the crisis.
“We have succeeded in ensuring that the leaders of the factions are now talking to each other and have held series of meetings together. The leadership of Supreme Council accepted the reconciliation move, but the leadership of General Executive Council is still having issues with the reconciliation terms and conditions. So, we are appealing to them to embrace it for the unity of the church,” he said.
Adedoyin noted that the “crisis has done a lot of havoc to the mission spiritually and physically.”
He enjoined CAC members globally to rededicate themselves by organising special prayer meetings in their assemblies and districts for the resolution of the crisis that has turned the church to an object of reproach.
Earlier in his message, the former Vice-Chancellor of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Prof.  Olubunmi Oshun, said:” The vision of CAC founding fathers must not be in vain. We must uphold ourselves and unite the church. The early church lived together in love and one accord.
“Lack of discipline among evangelist, is one of the problems in CAC. Why the youths are leaving for other churches is that they perceived leaders unserious to resolve the crisis amicably. They are even divided in secular institutions.
“The lesson learnt from this crisis is that the church cannot collapse because God’s work cannot be destroyed. All we need to do is to first recognise the problem.”

Commonwealth Games Federation queries Nigeria

The Commonwealth Games Federation, CGF, has queried the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, over the inconsistency in the use of jerseys by Nigerian athletes at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
An official of Team Nigeria, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria in Glasgow on Tuesday on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the federation warned Nigeria to either desist from such or face sanctions.
“The Commonwealth Games Federation queried Nigeria, expressing displeasure at the dressing of the athletes in different colours and different sponsors.
“At times, when some of the athletes are competing, they cover the sponsor’s name on their jerseys with masking tape and at times the tape will just fall off.
“So, the federation felt embarrassed with that development and decided to query Nigeria through the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC),’’ the source said.
The NSC had given the various sports federations money to acquire their own sporting apparels either through direct purchase or sponsorship.
Owing to that, Nigerian athletes have appeared in different jersey colours with the brand of different sponsors inscribed on them.
Sani Ndanusa, President of the NOC, also confirmed the federation’s query to Nigeria in an interview.
He, however, said that efforts were being made to address the issue “so that the development that led to the query does not happen again.
“NOC will take full control of the provision of the sports wears; there are guidelines which we must follow, so NOC will enforce it.
“The guidelines also include timely preparations; NOC will not completely leave the provision of the sports wears in the hands of the National Sports Commission (NSC).
“We will ensure that all the requirements are met; even the logo on the shirts has a size specification and we know, so we will enforce it henceforth”.
The query is coming amidst an embarrassment suffered by Nigeria when a gold medallist in the 53kg weightlifting category tested positive for drugs. Chika Amalaha has since been suspended from the competition while the result of a second test is being expected.
Nigeria is participating in seven sports, including athletics, table tennis, wrestling, weightlifting, shooting, boxing, and para-powerlifting.
The Games, which began on July 23, is expected to end on August 3.
(NAN)

Nigeria Has Failed At Fighting Terrorism – US

The United States government yesterday said that the Federal Government of Nigeria has failed in its fight against terrorism, adding that the failure was a result of the inability of the Goodluck Jonathan-led administration to adequately equip and train security forces to contain violent extremist groups in the north who attacked religious freedom.

Making this known in the US International Religious Report for 2013, which was released in Washington, DC, yesterday, secretary of state John Kerry said that the federal government did not act swiftly or effectively to prevent or quell communal or religious-based violence and only occasionally investigated and prosecuted perpetrators of that violence.

“The government also failed to protect victims of violent attacks targeted because of their religious beliefs or for other reasons,” the report a copy of which was sent to our correspondent in New York said.

Citing instances, the report said legal proceedings against five police officers charged in 2011 with the extrajudicial killing of Boko Haram leader Mohammed Yusuf did not resume during the year, adding that the court was not in session on continuation dates set in February, March, May, and June after the presiding judge transferred to a different jurisdiction in 2012.

It stated further that there were no indictments or prosecutions following three fatal attacks on high-profile Muslim leaders in late 2012.

It pressed further that local and state authorities did not deliver adequate protection or post-attack relief to rural communities in the northeast, where Boko Haram killed villagers and burned churches throughout the year.

The report also berated reported discrimination and a systematic lack of protection by state governments, especially in central Nigeria, where communal violence rooted in decades-long competition for land pitted majority-Christian farmers against majority-Muslim cattle herders.

It added that federal, state, and local authorities did not effectively address underlying political, ethnic, and religious grievances leading to this violence.

“Recommendations from numerous government-sponsored panels for resolving ongoing ethno-religious disputes in the Middle Belt included establishing truth and reconciliation committees, redistricting cities, engaging in community sensitization, and ending the dichotomy between indigenes and settlers. Nationwide practice distinguished between indigenes, whose ethnic group was native to a location, and settlers, who had ethnic roots in another part of the country.

Sierra Leone’s top Ebola doctor dies from virus

Sierra Leone’s top doctor fighting an outbreak of Ebola has died from the virus, the country’s chief medical officer, Brima Kargbo, said on Tuesday reports Reuters.
Sheik Umar Khan, who was credited with treating more than 100 patients, was infected with Ebola this month and had been moved to a treatment ward run by medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres in the far north of the country.

Photos from the accident scene involving El Rufai's 23 year old son

Hamza was a student of Rochester Institute of Technology, Dubai and was billed to graduate in 2015.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN COMMISERATES WITH MALLAM EL-RUFAI ON THE LOSS OF HIS SON

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has received with a deep sense of grief and shock, news of the sudden and untimely death of Hamza El-Rufai, son of the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

On behalf of himself, his family and the Federal Government, President Jonathan extends his heartfelt commiserations to Mallam el-Rufai and all members of the el-Rufai family.

The President says although no amount of words can fill the deep gap created by the loss of Hamza, he hopes that the outpouring of support at this moment by friends and associates will comfort Mallam El-Rufai.

President Jonathan prays for the peaceful repose of the soul of the departed and also for God’s blessing, comfort and protection for Mallam El-Rufai and the rest of his family.

Reuben Abati

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

July 29, 2014

Airtel Unveils Internet Bundles for Android Devices

Leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has taken yet another bold step in realization of its corporate vision of becoming the No1 mobile Internet service provider in Nigeria as it announces the introduction of Internet Bundles for Android devices.
According to Airtel, the new value offering, which is first of its kind in the country, is consistent with its key objective of providing innovative and affordable mobile Internet solutions that will make life simpler, exciting and more enjoyable for telecoms consumers across the country.
The new Android Internet Bundle plan is specifically tailored to empower Android users to connect with business associates, family and friends and also enable them enjoy an amazing data experience on their smartphones.
The Bundle plan comes in two variants, the Android 2.0, which comes with 2GB data designed for medium Internet users while the Android Bundle 4.5 with 4.5GB data is tailored for high Internet consumers.
Speaking on the new value offering, the Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Maurice Newa, said Airtel will continue to blaze the trail in revolutionizing the mobile Internet landscape in Nigeria with highly innovative and affordable solutions.
“At Airtel, we are positioned as Nigeria’s number one mobile Internet Company just as we are committed to making life simpler, more enjoyable and really exciting for our customers.
“We understand that our Internet bundle for Android users will help increase productivity, boost personal relations, family happiness and business profitability,” he said.
First of its kind in terms of data offerings in Nigeria, the Airtel Android packages offer customers sufficient data to browse on their Android phones at very affordable rates. With the introduction of these packages, customers using Android phones no longer have to worry about affordability and the required data needed to enjoy an amazing browsing experience on the Airtel network.
Customers are advised to dial *437# to subscribe to the 2G Android Bundle while customers who prefer to subscribe to the 4.GB Android Bundle are advised to either dial*438#
The 2GB and 4.5GB Bundles go for a rate of N2,000 and N3,500, respectively and are both valid for 30 days. Both Bundles have different burn rates, allowing customers to enjoy the service at a more affordable rate during the night. For more information, please visit www.ng.airtel.com

Eyewitness says Kano suicide bomber targeted women

Multiple witnesses, on Monday, told AFP that the female suicide bomber who blew herself up in Kano targeted women when they lined up in the Hotoro area on the outskirts of Kano to buy kerosene.

The queue was long, said area vendor Habibu Ali, because the widely-used cooking gas is often in short supply in Kano and when a new shipment comes in women typically rush to their local vendor.

“A suicide bomber who was milling in the crowd set off explosives concealed under her dress,” Ali told AFP. “Several people, mostly woman, were killed”, he added.

Resident Shehu Mudi confirmed Ali’s account and said the area had been cordoned off by the security forces.

“I could see burning plastic jerry cans and ambulances and medical workers putting bodies inside”, he told AFP.

Kano police spokesman Musa Magaji Majia told AFP he was on his way to the scene, declining further comment.

The latest unrest came after Muslim leaders in Kano, Nigeria’s second largest city, cancelled celebrations set for Monday to mark the end of the Ramadan amid escalating Boko Haram violence.

Very graphic photo: Charred remains of female suicide bomber

Pic shows the charred remains of the female suicide bomber that bombed the shopping mall close to Shoprite in Kano this afternoon. Very graphic. See it below

Blessing Okagbare wins Gold in Women's 100m final in Glasgow

Sprinter Blessing Okagbare just won Gold in the Women's 100m for Nigeria in the Commonwealth Games. She won in a time of 10.85 seconds in a new Games record, making her the second fastest woman of all time in World 100 metres. She beat Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown, Kerron Stewart and England’s Asha Phillip who came second, third and fourth respectively.

Blessing becomes the first Nigerian winner of this title since Mary Onyali back in 1994. You go Blessing!

Gunmen kill four soldiers, 46 others in Adamawa

Over 50 people, including four soldiers, have died in two separate attacks in Adamawa State.

The soldiers and over 40 civilians died in a raid by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect in three local government areas in the state.

The soldiers died in a gun battle on Sunday with the sect members in Garkida community in Gombi Local Government Area.

Garkida is the border town between Adamawa and Borno States and its south of the Sambisa forest, which is believed to be the hiding place of the sect.

Residents of Garkida community told Channels Television that the insurgents, who stormed the town around 5:00pm local time on Sunday, overpowered the military stationed in the town and laid siege to the community.

Hours after the attack residents of the community are still in their hideouts for fears of continuous attack by the dreaded sect, Boko Haram.

There is no official confirmation of the attack but eyewitnesses say that several residents of the community were killed in the attack.

Aside the military base, the group attacked two churches and destroyed several houses in the community.

Also, in Madagali Local Government Area, six persons were killed as suspected members of the group carted away food items.

The group also killed many people in three communities in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

The affected villages in Hong Local Government are Zar, Lube, Mubeng.

An eyewitness said that the village head of Zar community, retired Wing Commander Dauda Daniel was declared missing after the attack.

Meanwhile, the Acting Governor of the State, Honourable Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has commiserated with the families of the victims in the affected local government areas.

In a statement signed by the governor’s spokesman, Mr Solomon Kumanga, the governor said the government was collaborating with other security agencies to end the activities of the group.

The acting spokesman of the Adamawa State Police Command, Mr Haa Micheal, could not confirm the attack as at the time of this report.

He, however, confirmed that he heard of a rumoured attack in the affected communities.

Channels TV

Ebola: Envoy, 58 persons had contacts with dead Liberian

The Lagos State Government said on Monday that it had identified no fewer than 59 people who had contacts with the Liberian who died of Ebola Virus in the state, Mr Patrick Sawyer.

Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, said at a news conference in Ikeja that the contact tracing became imperative to ascertain any possible transmission of the virus by the victim.

Idris said the identified contacts comprised 44 hospital and 15 airport contacts, including the Nigerian Ambassador to Liberia.

He said 20 of the contacts had been screened and that none of them had so far been found to be infected with the virus.

He, however, said the contacts did not include those he might have been with on his flight to Nigeria on July 20, as the airline had yet to release the passenger manifest for investigation.

He said, “The airline manifest has not been provided by the airline as at the time of this report and therefore, the precise number of passenger contacts is yet to be ascertained, especially as two flights were involved (Monrovia-Lome and Lome-Lagos).”

He urged Nigerians not to entertain fears about Sawyer’s case as the state and Federal Governments were doing everything possible to prevent any outbreak in the country.

Idris said the deceased’s body had been decontaminated, using 10 per cent sodium hypochlorite and cremated with the permission of the Government of Liberia.

He said, “A cremation urn has been prepared for dispatch to the family. The vehicle containing the remains have also been decontaminated while the hospital in which he died on July 25 has been demobilised .”

Idris said the state Ministry of Health had designated an isolation ward at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, for case management, adding three other centres were under way.

The commissioner urged residents to report people with abnormal cases of bleeding and fever to the appropriate authorities for intervention, as high fever with bleeding from all body openings were symptoms of the disease.

Idris also urged residents to always keep their environments clean and maintain good personal hygiene as Ebola virus spreads easily in dirty environments.

Also speaking, the Director, National Centre for Disease Control, Prof. Abdul-Salami Nasidi, warned against the consumption of bats and monkeys as these animals had been established to be the original sources of Ebola.

He said, “This is time for those bat-eating and monkey-eating communities to be careful now. Ebola started from the eating of chimpanzees. How the virus got to the monkey, nobody knows yet.

“But this is the time to be careful about the eating of monkeys and bats. The Ebola threat is high in West Africa and people should start taking precautions.”

President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, also warned Nigerians against the unsupervised burial of people who died from suspected Ebola case.

He said 40 per cent of cases in high risk countries were transmitted from victims bodies, stressing that an Ebola corpse was deadlier than the patient.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Mrs Yewande Adeshina, urged traditional healers to collaborate with the government in checking Ebola threats by reporting suspicious cases for the right intervention

Photo: Police avert another bomb blast in Kano

The Police in Kano state this morning July 27th averted what could have been another fatal bomb blast in the ancient city. Police operatives averted the calamity after discovering a Peugeot 406 car with registration number AA 513 ZAK, loaded with explosives at the mosque of Sheikh Isyaku Rabiu at Goron Dutse. Bomb experts neutralized the explosives immediately and no casualty was recorded.

The Kano state commissioner of police, Mr. Aderenle Shinaba has confirmed the reports

Boko Haram kidnaps wife of Cameroon's Vice Prime Minister

The wife of Cameroon's Vice Prime Minister, Amadou Ali, was kidnapped this morning July 27th after men of the Boko Haram sect stormed her home in the northern town of Kolofata, Cameroon's information minister and government spokesman revealed.

Mrs Ali was kidnapped alongside her domestic staff and one other person. The insurgents also killed 3 people in the attack on Kolofata, a town in Cameroon's Far North Region near Nigeria

Colonel Felix Nji Formekong, the second commander of Cameroon's third inter-army military region (RMIA3) based in the regional headquarters of Maroua, said the sect members are believed to still be in the town fiercely engaging military officers
"The situation is very critical here now, and as I am talking to you the Boko Haram elements are still in Kolofata town in a clash with our soldiers. Some of them have already taken away the wife of Vice Prime Minister Ahmadou Ali and her house help while the bodyguards of the Vice Prime Minister have succeeded in taking him out of the town to Mora," Formekong said, adding that there could be more casualties" he said

FG should apologize to Boko Haram for killing their leader - Bakare says

Popular Lagos pastor and Convener of the Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare says one of the ways to end the spate of attacks by terror group, Boko Haram in Nigeria, is for the Federal Govt of Nigeria to apologize to the sect members for killing their leader, Mohammed Yusuf in 2009.

According to Vanguard, he gave the advise during the state of the nation address at a church service in Lagos.
"The summary execution of the Boko Haram’s former leader, Mohammed Yusuf in 2009 provided the soil of martyrdom for the nurture and growth of the sect. Government must declare peace first of all; apologizing for the murder of Mohammed Yusuf to the sect members not their sympathizers or bandits.” he said
On the attack on Buhari last Wednesday in Kano, Pastor Bakare said "But for the timely intervention of God, last week’s assassination attempt on General Buhari might have marked the beginning of the end for Nigeria if it had succeeded. We will not also ignore the fact that at the root of the escalation of the Boko Haram crisis was oppression and injustice".

Photo: Meet President Jonathan's elder sister

President Jonathan and his elder sister during Eid el Fitr visit to the president by the FCT Muslim Community yesterday..

Another Female Suicide Bomber Strikes NNPC Mega Station In Kano

Another female suicide bomber struck today in Kano killing four people who were buying kerosene at the station.
Another female suicide bomber struck today in Kano killing four people who were buying kerosene at the station.

The bomber slipped into the crowd at the NNPC Mega filling station at Hotoro Quarters along Maiduguri Road in the ancient city and detonated her explosives inside the crowded station.

A police bulletin issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, stated that three people died and on the spot while some 8 others were injured in the latest blast.

The bomber did not succeed in igniting the gas station as planned, a situation that would have clearly led to many more deaths and injuries.

Meanwhile, the police bomb disposal unit has arrived the scene and cordoned off the site of the blast.

Today’s bombing is the fourth bombing recorded in Kano in the last 24 hours.

Breaking news !!!

Many Feared Dead In Fresh Kano Bomb Blast

Many are feared dead in a bomb explosion that occurred in less than ten minutes ago at NNPC Mega Station at Hotoro area of Kano State.

Details shortly.

From Our News Desk -28th July , 2014

UPDATES: Ebola: FG sets up isolation centres at airports. Bakare says attack on Buhari meant to split Nigeria. B’Haram seizes Cameroon’s vice prime minister’s wife. Impeachment: Seven SANs to defend Al-Makura. There would’ve been crisis if Buhari was killed –Jonathan. I’ll lead struggle to liberate Kwara – Minister. We won’t enforce number plate law in August —FRSC. Lagos frowns on polluters, plans sanctions. Costa scores on Chelsea debut. Manchester United Bid €100m For Strootman. Jelks, Okagbare shine for Nigeria. W’Brom target Moses, Burnley for Efe. Audi cuts prices of spare parts in China. Vandalism: Refineries get crude oil through marine vessels. APC demands inquiry into attempt to kill Buhari. MNP: 193,000 subscribers change networks. 2013 account: NAICOM approves 22 insurance firms. Navy hands over 25 oil thieves, vessels to NSCDC. Policemen raid Lagos street, torture man to death. 19 Killed In Borno, Adamawa Attacks. Ebola: Arik Air Suspends Flights To Monrovia, Freetown. Soldier, Suicide Bomber, 4 Others Killed In Kano Blasts. Oil Production: Angola Set To Overtake Nigeria. Banks credit to economy rose to N15.34tr in first quarter –CBN. CBN sets six-year bar for complaints against banks. Eid-el-Fitr: Lagos provides free ride on BRT, BFS buses. FG wants Maigari to account for N8.2b, $3m. Conservation of C’River gorilla to cost $10m.

From Our News Desk -27th July, 2014

UPDATES: Soldiers killed three of my sons, 32 others– El-Zakzaky. APC, PDP trade blame over attack on Buhari. Boko Haram clashes with Cameroonian soldiers. ‘Northern leaders caused North’s backwardness’. Anambra gov poll: Appeal Court upholds Obiano’s victory. Ebola: WHO deploys experts in Nigeria. 21 Adamawa LG chairmen dump APC for PDP. Abia govt demolishes kidnap kingpin’s house. Don’t negotiate for Chibok girls, Muslims tell Sultan. Election: ‘Stomach infrastructure’ spreads to Osun. FG generates N4.03tn in six months. Schoolgirls: Presidency Didn’t Tell Parents Anything New – Chibok Community. Sultan Confirms Sighting Of New Moon, Declares Today Sallah. Soldiers, Shi’ite Clash: Death Toll Rises To 35. Fear Grips Lagos Residents Over Ebola Virus. Military Raises The Alarm Over Sallah: Boko Haram Plots Multiple Bombings. Bafana Bafana Job: South Africa Dumps Keshi. Commonwealth Games: FG Pledges $7,000 For Gold Medalist. Ebola: Lagos cremates victim’s body. Terrorism: Quit name calling, fight common enemy, APC tells FG. One dead, 15 unconscious after all-night prayers. Anxiety over Al-Makura’s fate as panel begins sitting. Omisore shuns Osun radio debate. Apostolic Faith holds annual camp meeting.

Body of Ebola victim cremated in Lagos

The body of the first victim of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria,   who died in Lagos on Friday, has been cremated.
Details of the cremation were not available at press time but Sunday Vanguard gathered that the eveny was witnessed by officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Health and the  Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, led by its Project Director, Professor Abdulsalam Nasidi, among others.
The decision to cremate the body of the victim, it was further gathered,   may not be unconnected with the deadly nature of the Ebola Virus which is known to be easily transmissible from human to human during handling of corpses of victims.
The World Health Organisation recommends that in communities where there is an outbreak of Ebola, appropriate containment measures including burial of the dead should be properly handled.
While stating that people who die from Ebola should be promptly and safely buried, WHO? notes that cremation,    which is the application of high temperature to reduce bodies to basic chemical components (ashes),?  is ideal for safe disposal of bodies of persons who die during outbreaks of highly infectious diseases such as Ebola Virus in order to minimise further transmission.
In 2013 the Lagos State Government introduced its Voluntary Cremation Law under which  a person may signify interest to be cremated at death or a deceased’s family members who must attain the age of 18 years, can decide to have the corpse cremated.
Under the law   the state government can also cremate unclaimed corpses in its mortuaries after a period of time and the ashes disposed  after a 14-day notice with   approval of the Commissioner for Health.

I Want To Give Back Through Politics’

The number of Nigerian celebrities who are eyeing politics as their next means of impacting society is swelling. With actors like Kanayo O. Kanayo and Kate Henshaw having taken an active interest in politics, one actor who has made known his desire to join the fray long before others, is Desmond Elliot, and in an interview with a national dailym, he outlined the reasons for his desire.

“The current situation is very pathetic. I feel God has helped me thus far and I want to give back to the youths through politics. The worst part of our national life is the level of corruption which has not allowed youths to understand what it means to live a meaningful life. Just because of a lack of knowledge of what to do, we are being side-tracked. There are no jobs and issues like these lead to frustration. A whole lot needs to be done on agriculture; every state in Nigeria needs to see how it can contribute to nation-building. There’s a lot that needs to be done,” he said. TATTLES can only hope he remembers these words after he gets elected.

Soldiers killed three of my sons, 32 others– El-Zakzaky

The leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, also known as Shiites, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, said on Saturday soldiers killed 35 members of his movement, including three of his biological children after a procession in Zaria, Kaduna State.

On Friday when the sect were in procession to mark the annual Quds day , they clashed with soldiers at the popular PZ roundabout in the ancient city resulting in the death of the sons of the Shiites leader and four others.

The crisis began when the soldiers tried to disperse a procession in Zaria where members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria denounced Israel’s aggression against the people of Gaza.

However, El-Zakzaky, who confirmed the killings at a press conference on Saturday, said the soldiers actually killed 35 of his followers, including three of his children.

El-Zakzaky explained that as of Friday when the trouble started, there were 16 corpses in their custody while nine other corpses were taken away by the soldiers to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, also in Zaria.

The renowned cleric, also said three of his members were mauled down by the soldiers early this morning in front of Hussainiya, the headquarters of the movement.

El-Zakzaky said, “One of my sons Mahmud, student of Almustapha University, Beirut (Middle East) was shot in the abdomen and started bleeding. We tried to rush him to the hospital but the soldiers blocked everywhere along the way and he bled to death.

“The soldiers also arrested some people, including three of my sons, they were taken alive but two of them were later killed.”

He said those killed were Ahmad, a Chemical Engineering student at Shenyang University, China; and Hamid, an Aeronautical Engineering student at Xian University, China. El-Zakzaky however said that another of his sons, Ali, who was injured in the leg, was still alive.

He added, “When we demanded for the release of our people the army refused and said that they would take them to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital for medication not knowing that the two had been killed. I want to assure you that these two children were cold-bloodedly murdered because they were taken alive.”

FG procures 40 attack helicopters with night vision

Aftermathof the determination by the Jonathan administration to eliminate terrorism in the North East and smoke out insurgents from the hideouts, the federal government has ordered the procurement of 40 modern attack helicopters with capabilities for night operations and sound proof technology.

It was gathered that the attack helicopters which are being procured from the United states and Russia, would not only shore up the inventory of the Nigerian Airforce as a result of depletion following crashes and grounding of some of the existing helicopters due to maintenance challenges, but would also enhance the distance and reach capability of the NAF in the fight against insurgency.
It was further gathered that some of the aircraft will arrive in the country as early as next month while the remaining will be received certainly before the end of the year to boost the Nigerian Airforce.
It can be recalled that pilots of the Nigerian Airforce prosecuting air attacks on Boko Haram terrorists, expressed the belief that if such attack aircraft, with sound proof capabilities were made available to the NAF, the issue of smoking out Boko Haram terrorists will be a thing of the past saying that when the present ones in the fleet were approaching their targets, the noise usually gave them out.
Also, military and other security forces have expressed frustration that their inability to storm the notorious Sambisa Forest where Boko Haram militants are keeping the abducted Chibok secondary school girls and also serving as operational headquarters of the group was because noisy attack helicopters would enable the terrorists use their surface to air weaponry in the possession.

Government’s action in procuring the equipment according to sources is that security operatives are not only aware of the locations of the girls but are also closely monitoring the way the girls are being moved around but are afraid of the backlash should any harm befall the girls in the course of a forced rescue.

The result of past incidences during attempts to rescue British and Italian nationals in Sokoto and SETRACO workers which boomerang were some of the reasons cited by security forces as to why they have been reluctant in storming the forest and rescuing the girls.

Said a security source, “Oh I wish we could have a consensus of opinion from Nigerians that we should storm the forest and rescue the girls. The day Nigerians decides that enough is enough in one voice, to clear the forest will take less than one week”.

Kaduna bomb attack on Buhari: A failed attempt by APC to launder image — PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised APC leadership to consider looking inwards, if they believe the July 23 bomb attack on retired Gen. Mohammed Buhari was an assassination attempt.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Olisa Metuh, gave the advice in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

However, the spokesman noted that the attack affected Buhari’s convoy.

The statement described as laughable attempts by APC leaders to use the bomb attacks to absolve itself of blames of encouraging insurgency in the country.

It further described earlier statements by the APC and its governors “as failed attempts at image laundering’’.

“Indeed, they have failed in this laughable and condemnable attempt to launder their horrible image”, the statement quoted the PDP spokesman as saying.

It added that APC’s true identity “ as a party supportive of violence and disunity in the country is already well known to all’’.

“Nigerians will recall that when the news of the attack broke out, the PDP took the high moral ground of condemning the development and sympathised with Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

“We also called for a thorough investigation to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

“We are therefore disappointed and disgusted that the APC leaders chose to use the ugly development to embark on image laundering,’’ the statement said.

It added that APC`s hasty attempts to indict the Presidency and the PDP while exonerating itself had raised issues regarding what really happened.

This, it added, was especially so now that a suspect connected to the bombing had been arrested.

The statement wondered if the attack was a set-up aimed at scoring some political points.

It added that if it was indeed an assassination attempt, it may have been engineered by internal frictions and crisis of ambition within the APC.

It alleged that it may have to do with some other presidential aspirants in the APC who see Buhari as a threat and obstacle to their ambitions.

“Or could it be APC’s desperate strategy of trying to disentangle itself from the internationally acknowledged link with terrorists and possibly undermine the planned probe of their involvement by the United Kingdom.’’

It held that these questions had become pertinent considering the fact that Buhari pose no threat whatsoever to any candidate the PDP might project for 2015 elections.

It stressed that Buhari lost three times to the PDP in presidential elections in the past and would lose the fourth time if he emerged as APC candidate in 2015.

The statement maintained that the APC cannot in anyway exonerate itself from the insurgency ravaging the country.

According to it, the APC had been promoting insurgency through the utterances and actions of its leaders, thinking that the insurgents were after President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP.

It noted that if APC leaders had joined well-meaning Nigerians in condemning acts of terrorism earlier, those behind it would not have been bold enough to get it to the current alarming level.

The statement reaffirmed PDP`s commitment to peace and the welfare of Nigerians, adding that Jonathan remained a peace-loving, godly and humble man.

It held that Jonathan as PDP leader had continued to reiterate that no political ambition was worth shedding of blood. (NAN)

From Our News Desk -26th July, 2014

UPDATES: APC vows to reject confab outcome. We’re ready for inquiry on B’Haram, APC tells Jonathan. APC govs helped Aregbesola pay workers’ salaries –PDP. Ebola claims first victim in Nigeria. Nigerians die in Cameroon’s detention. Afenifere, M’Belt to resist move to scuttle confab report. Two killed as political violence erupts in Ilesa. Chadians rob Omisore’s Lagos home, rape maid. City hope to seal Iheanacho deal. Bale welcomes Rodriguez. Al-Makura’s impeachment all about 2015 –Aide. INEC doesn’t believe in heavy presence of security agents at polling centres –Osun REC. Politicians, businessmen are our biggest customers – Body part dealers. Lawyers, activists fume over murder trial of Kano child-bride. McIlroy wins British Open at 25, earns N256m. Security Challenges: Mass Retirement Rocks Military. Soldiers, Shi’ite Clash In Zaria: 3 El-Zakzaky’s Sons, 9 Others Killed. Nasarawa Panel Submits Report In 3 Months. You Can’t Bomb Your Way To Paradise – Sultan. UCH evicts 13-year-old girl over unpaid bill. My son after my life, Rivers monarch cries out. Anger in Oyo over doctored list of civil service recruits. Drogba returns to Stamford Bridge. Three horse race: Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea battle over Martinez.

Photos: Human rights lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, laid to rest

Prominent civil rights attorney, Bamidele Aturu, who died on July 9th has been laid to rest. He was buried today July 25th in his country-home of Ogbagi Akoko, Ondo State

Why Abdulmutallab failed to blow up our plane – US

bomb attack in 2009 because the explosives he was wired with became 'degraded' after he wore the same pair of underpants for two weeks.

Abdulmutallab had, at the age of 23, confessed to and convicted of attempting to detonate plastic explosives hidden in his underwear while aboard a Northwest Airlines Flight 253, en route from Amsterdam to Michigan, US on December 25, 2009.

However, United States officials explained that the bomb failed to detonate aboard the flight, which was carrying nearly 300 people, but caused a brief fire that caused burns to his groin.

He was sentenced to life without parole in February 2012 after he pleaded guilty to all charges on the second day of his trial the previous October.

The U.S. Head of the Transportation Security Administration, John Pistole, said during the week that the bomb failed to detonate because of how long Abdulmutallab had been wearing his underwear.

Pistole said, "The bomber had had the device with him for over two weeks."

When he was then asked whether the bomb had become 'damp' Pistole replied that the explosive had become damp due to the length of days Abdulmutallab carried the device in his underwear.

During his trial, Abdulmutallab said the bomb in his underwear was a 'blessed weapon' to avenge poorly treated Muslims around the world.

However, after the bomb failed to detonate, passengers pounced on Abdulmutallab and forced him to the front of Northwest Airlines Flight 253 where he was held until the plane landed minutes later.

Soldiers arrest bomber disguised as woman in Kaduna

The Nigerian Army has apprehended a suspected insurgent in relation with the twin bomb blast that rocked Kaduna on Wednesday.

The twin-bomb attacks which resulted in the deaths of over 100 innocent citizens, targeted a former military Head of State, General Mohammadu Buhari and a prominent Islamic cleric, Sheik Dahiru Bauchi.

A statement released on the official website of the Nigerian military, defenceinfo.mil.ng, stated that a military patrol team arrested the man who was disguised as a woman immediately after the blast took place in the area. It was further revealed that the young man was arrested while trying to fizzle into a crowd of onlookers.

The statement added that the suspected bomber was prevented from being lynched by an angry mob by the troops who took him away in an armoured personnel carrier.

“Troops are holding a man suspected to be connected with the explosion targeted at General Buhari on Wednesday.

“The young man, who was apprehended by a military patrol team that swooped on the area immediately after the explosion, had disguised as a woman clad in female garb to exude feminity with a brazier affixed to his chest.

“The suspect was arrested while trying to fizzle into a crowd of onlookers when the patrol team arrived the scene.

Youths in the area attempted to mob him while he was being arrested but were restrained by troops who quickly whisked him away in an armoured personnel carrier.

“He is currently being interrogated by security agencies in a bid to ascertain his links,” the statement read

Meanwhile, the Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria has condemned the attacks, saying it was planned to cause unrest in the country.

The group described the blasts as “assassination attempts” on Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi and Buhari.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its President, Shehu Sani, the group said that the incidents had “once again demonstrated the annihilating danger faced by the Nigerian state.”

According to the statement, the attacks, if successful, could have led to a civil unrest, which is what the attackers wanted.

The statement said, “The ongoing insurgency and the overall security situation in the country should be a matter of concern to all. With the attack on these two prominent Nigerians, it is clear now that we are in a situation where everyone is vulnerable.”