Army Kills Fourty Boko Haram Terrorists, Destroy Alajeri Camp

The army on Saturday said it has destroyed the Boko Haram camp in Alajeri, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.

Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, a colonel, said in a statement that the military operation, following intelligence on the presence of Boko Haram camp in Alajeri, led to the death of 40 terrorists and capturing of their arms.

“Following reliable information on the presence of some Boko Haram terrorists, troops of 113 Battalion conducted a fighting patrol to Dunga general area on Thursday during which they discovered and destroyed a Boko Haram terrorists’ camp at Alajeri village in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State,” Usman said.

The army spokesperson added that, “In the operation, the troops killed 40 Boko Haram terrorists and captured 1 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), 1 Rocket Propelled Grenade 7 ( RPG 7), 6 AK-47 rifles, 2 Fabrique Nationale rifles, 10 magazines, 188 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition and 64 rounds of  7.62mm (Special) ammunition. Other items recovered by the troops included 3 mobile phones, 6 copies of Holy Quran and 20 Motorcycles.”

No Nigerian soldier died or sustained injury, serving as morale booster for the troops as they intensify campaigns to clear the war-ravaged region of insurgents, the army said.

“The troops are in high spirits because of the success of the operation coupled with the fact that there was no casualty or injury on the part of the troops,” Usman said.

One Injured, 15 Rescued In Lagos Boat Mishap

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Saturday confirmed that one person was injured as 15 others were rescued from a wooden boat which capsized at Grinaldi Port near Tin Can Island, Apapa, Lagos.

Independent gathered that the wooden boat conveying the passengers capsized near Niger Dock yard, located around Coconut Bus-Stop in Apapa.

Ibrahim Farinloye, spokesman for NEMA, while confirming the incident said that prompt response from officials of the agency, assisted by other people around led to the rescue of all the passengers.

Farinloye told our correspondent in a text message that waves generated when a bigger boat was passing near the wooden boat led to the capsizing of the small boat.

Independent checks revealed that from January till Saturday, March 12, 2016, a total of 10 persons may have been feared dead and 23 others rescued during boat mishaps which occurred in various parts of Lagos.

In February, three persons were feared dead when a boat mishap occurred around Iworo Ajido Road, near Arabian Bus-Stop in Badagry.

Director, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Michael Akindele, confirmed the incident, saying that the agency received the distressed call through the state’s emergency call number and immediately activated necessary emergency responders.

About a week later, a wooden boat conveying 20 passengers capsized at Ikorodu area, where seven persons were feared dead, while 13 were rescued by emergency agency officials.

In a statement made available to Independent, Farinloye said: “A wooden boat capsized at Grinaldi Port close to Tin Can Flyover Bridge, Coconut Bus Stop, Apapa, with 15 passengers on board.

“All passengers were rescued alive and only the driver of the boat sustained injury,” it stated.

It said the incident occurred at about 8.30p.m on Friday and that those rescued had gone to their different destinations.

Farinloye said that the injured driver refused to be treated, opting to treat himself in a private hospital.

He said Marine Police and other stakeholders were still investigating the cause of the accident.

Source: INDEPENDENT

SMW: Atlanta ’96 Dream Team To Light Up Campos Square Today

Campos Square will be agog today as the stars of Nigeria’s glorious Atlanta 96 Olympic football gold medal winning team take to the pitch, 20 years after they stunned the world.
The likes of Sunday Oliseh, Emmanuel Amunike, Nwankwo Kanu, Austin Okocha, Victor Ikpeba, Taribo West and more will take on a Lagos All Stars team as part of celebrations to mark the event at Social Media Week Lagos.
“I think it is wonderful that SMW Lagos is doing this,” said Amunike. “Sometimes you don’t realize the importance of what you have achieved until much later, and I think that now we all appreciate what that meant to everyone.”
Among other events lined up are a gala night at SS 7 in Victoria Island to honour the heroes, while a series of panels and sessions on Thursday (February 25) will relive those wonderful moments in Nigeria’s football history.
“It is hard to think that 20 years have flown by so quickly,” said Victor Ikpeba, who would go on to win the African Player of the Year prize a year later. “It was a moment that none of us will ever forget and we appreciate SMW Lagos for putting this together.”
According to Obi Asika, Chairman and Co-Founder, SMW Lagos, “The victory of our team at Atlanta 96 was a seminal moment for Nigerian & African football, for us it is a privilege to host these Nigerian heroes and to celebrate them.”

Obasanjo Faults Uganda’s Election As Museveni Wins 5th Term

The just concluded Uganda 2016 general elections have been reported to have been marked by a lack of a level electoral playing field, an increased prevalence of money in politics, alleged misuse of state resources, inequitable media coverage, and question marks over the secrecy of the ballot and the competence of the Electoral Commission to manage the process.

Former President of Nigeria and Chairman of the Commonwealth Observer Group to the Uganda 2016 General Elections, Olusegun Obasanjo, while delivering the observers’ interim assessment yesterday, said that, “once again these elections fell short of meeting key democratic benchmarks”.

Addressing journalists in Kampala, Obasanjo stated that, “while the presidential elections were competitive with regard to the number of candidates, practical restrictions on basic freedoms of assembly and movement affected the fairness of the campaign for opposition candidates.

“Moreover, the overall competitiveness of the campaign was compromised by a lack of transparency with regard to campaign financing. The Group noted with concern that the fusing of the state and ruling party in Uganda – highlighted by previous Commonwealth observers – had deepened, with a consequent adverse impact on political freedoms and further undermining any efforts to level the playing field for these elections.”

Obasanjo however commended the commitment shown by voters despite what he described as “inexcusable” delays at many polling stations.

In response to reported incidents of violence since the close of polls, the Chair said, “I reiterate my call to all Ugandans to allow the results process to conclude in an atmosphere of peace, and urge that any challenges be conducted through the legal process”.

The Commonwealth Observer Group, composed of eminent persons drawn from across the Commonwealth, was appointed by Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma.

As voting ended in Uganda yesterday, amid concerns, incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, again coasted to victory by emerging the country’s president for a fifth tenure.

Museveni seized power in 1986 and is credited with restoring stability to Uganda just as critics believe that he is increasingly authoritarian.

The 71-year-old who defeated his closet rival, Kizaa Besigye, polled 60.75 per cent votes as against 35 per cent votes by his opponent.

With the victory, Museveni extended his 30 years in office.

The election was marred by sporadic violence and opposition allegations of electoral fraud, while the social media sites and messaging apps were blocked.

Reacting, Besigye who is under house arrest described the results as sham even as he called on the international community to reject the result.

“We have just witnessed what must be the most fraudulent electoral process in Uganda,” he said in a statement.

EU observers criticised the poll, saying that the governing party had created an intimidating atmosphere that the opposition alleged rigging.

The main opposition challenger Kizza Besigye was placed under house arrest on allegation that he would announce the results himself, breaking electoral laws, police said.

It is the fourth time Mr Besigye, candidate for the opposition Forum for Democratic Change, has taken on President Museveni.

The two men were once allies, with Mr Besigye serving as Mr

Museveni’s personal doctor when they were guerrilla fighters.

The next closest challenger to Mr Museveni, former Prime

Minister Amama Mbabazi, was also reportedly under house as voting took place.

Also, former Central African Republic prime minister Faustin-Archange Touadera, won a presidential run-off, the electoral commission announced on Saturday, in what was widely seen as a step towards reconciliation after years of violent turmoil.

According to a report by Reuters, Touadera won 62.71 per cent of votes cast in the Feb. 14 election, according to provisional results announced by National Elections Authority (ANE) president Marie-Madeleine Nkouet.

Anicet-Georges Dologuele, also a former prime minister, won 37.29 percent, reversing the two rivals’ rankings from the first round. Dologuele said he would accept the results, despite what he called “massive fraud” in the second round.

“For the sake of peace, I choose to respect the provisional results published by the ANE and to renounce an appeal to the constitutional court … and to recognise Faustin Archange Touadera as the leader of all central Africans,” he told reporters at his home shortly after the results were released.

Touadera’s spokesman called for calm and asked the country’s population of 5 million to accompany the new leader in his pursuit of “reconciliation and recovery”.

Foreign observers praised the peaceful nature of the polls but have not yet commented on Saturday’s results.

The election results must be certified by the Constitutional Court within eight days to become final.

Nigerian Caught Smuggling 1.5kg of Cocaine In Swallowed Capsules

Karachi

A Nigerian national has been caught at Jinnah International Airport Karachi for trying to smuggle one and a half kilograms of cocaine in the form of capsules which he had swallowed, a customs spokesman said on Saturday.

Personnel of the Customs Preventive Model Custom Collectorate foiled the smuggling bid and arrested a Nigerian passenger on Saturday.

The spokesman for the customs said a tip-off was received from the airport’s deputy collector for customs that an attempt would be made to smuggle cocaine into Pakistan by a Nigerian national in view of the increasing demand for the contraband narcotic in the country.

Officials of the Customs Preventive Model Custom Collectorate intercepted the passenger, identified as Chikwendu Elochukwu Sabastine, while he was passing through the Green Channel. He had arrived in Karachi from Lagos, Nigeria, via Dubai by Emirate Airlines flight EK-606.

He was asked to declare if he was carrying any narcotics in his handbag or on him, but he did not reply in the affirmative. He was then taken to a nearby hospital for an X-ray.

The X-ray indicated the presence of foreign substance in the abdomen of the passenger. Thereafter, he was shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for the recovery of the narcotic filled into capsules.

The medical process, which started on February 18 and was completed a day later, resulted in the recovery of 75 capsules of cocaine weighting about 1,500 grams.

The smuggler was arrested and a case registered against him. He would stand trial in the court of special judge (narcotics) Karachi. Further investigations are underway to trace the man’s accomplices, including his contact persons in Pakistan.

The market value of the seized cocaine was stated to be Rs22.05 million.

The customs spokesman said that in separate action taken by Drug Enforcement Cell staff posted at the foreign post export branch, I I Chundrigar Road, heroin was found in surgical instruments destined for the United Kingdom.

The narcotic concealed artfully is being taken out of the instruments. The quantity of the narcotic would be ascertained later.

Lassa Fever Death Toll Hits 58

A total of 58 persons have been confirmed dead by Lassa fever disease outbreak in Nigeria.

This was out of 83 diagnosed cases in the country.

Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, gave this figure when he paid a working visit to the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital to inspect Lassa fever facilities at the hospital.

Ehanire said the federal government was working hard to stop yearly outbreak of Lassa fever in the country.

He assured that the disease was gradually being defeated.

According to the Minister: “We have been trying to curtail Lassa fever, which is going down now and Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital is one of the centres of excellence. I came to see the status and how well they are coping.

“This hospital is one of the centres with special facilities and I came to see how well they are coping.

“I have seen the equipment and the challenges and we are looking at ways to make sure Lassa fever does not become a yearly occurring problem.”

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Virgin Atlantic Pulls Out of Nigeria, Sacks Crew

Confusion enveloped the aviation sector on Saturday when news filtered in that British flag carrier, Virgin Atlantic Airways is pulling out of the Nigerian route .
Though the airline is yet to officially announce its pull out, it has issued letters of sack to its Nigerian cabin crew .
A source close the regulatory authority hinted that the British carrier has also shut down its call centre in the Ikeja axis of the metropolis .
The exit from the Nigerian market, a source hinted may be connected with disappointment by the airline management over promises by government on Its operations in the country .
The source said :” Virgin Atlantic Airways has laid off all their Nigerian cabin crew. They were only given three weeks notice and no severance package regardless of their length of service will be paid.
“The air-hostesses they sacked were about 20 and last year, they closed down their Nigerian call centre and let go of all the Nigerian staff. ”
This is not the first time the airline is disappointed over doing business in Nigeria.
After the liquidation of Nigeria Airways in 2003, government invited the chairman of Virgin Atlantic Airways, Sir Richard Branson to float a domestic carrier in the country.
Within a few months, Virgin Nigeria Airways was set up with the British carrier as its technical partner .
After six years, Virgin Atlantic Airways pulled out as technical partner to the Nigerian arm of the business.
Following the sour relationship, Branson in 2012 said he was very weary about doing business in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, aviation unions have vowed to ensure that the entitlements of Nigerian cabin crew are paid in line with relevant provisions .

Israel Arrests Palestinian Teenager Over Facebook posts

 Israeli police have arrested a Palestinian teenager for Facebook posts as unrest continues in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Anas Khateeb, a 19-year-old activist, is one of at least 205 Palestinian citizens of Israel – among them several activists and minors – who have been arrested since the beginning of October, according to Adalah Legal Centre, a Haifa-based rights group.

The wave of detentions is part of an ongoing crackdown on protests across Palestinian communities in Israel and throughout the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the besieged Gaza Strip.

“Israeli police targeted [Khateeb] in order to cause a ripple effect among activists,” Amjad Iraqi, Adalah’s media coordinator, told Al Jazeera.

Police initially arrested Khateeb for ten days, but an Israeli judge has since extended his detention until November 26.

The teenager has been charged with “incitement to violence and terrorism” for a series of Facebook posts.

Civil Servants In Abuja Yet To Get October Salaries

Some civil servants in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have frowned at the delay in the payment of October salaries five days into the month of November.

A cross section of the civil servants, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday in Abuja, said the situation was an indication of what to expect in December.

“With what is happening now, I think we should all brace up for December and start saving, least we may not have money to celebrate Xmas with our families,’’ Mr Evans Ekeadiwame said.

Mrs Fanny Remilekun said there was more to the issue, adding that if crashed computers were the cause of the problem, it ought to have been fixed by now.

NAN recalled that Alhaji Shehu Garba, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, had on Tuesday attributed the delay in the payment of workers’ salaries for October to crashed computers.

 Shehu explained that the computers crashed when August salaries were being paid, a development he blamed on unforeseen technical challenges.

He, however, promised that payment of October salaries would commence on Nov. 3, following the restoration of the crashed computers.

NAN correspondent who monitored activities at the Federal Secretariat, reports that most offices were virtually empty as most civil servants could not afford to transport themselves to their various offices due to the delay in the payment of salaries.

A civil servant, Mr Felix Uzoka, who bemoaned the situation, said he had to borrow money to come to the office.

Mike Onwusah, who corroborated what other civil servants had said, noted that the situation was getting out of hand.

“I have resolved to use my car for transportation to make ends meet, a thing I had never done in the past.

“I decided to do this because my children will not understand if I tell them the reason I cannot provide food for them is because my salary has not been paid,’’ Onwusah said.

Some civil servants who decried the late payment of their salaries, said told NAN that this was not the change they voted for.

They urged the Federal Government to expedite action to address the situation. (NAN)