INEC conducts state assembly bye-election in Yobe

The Independent National Electoral Commission in Yobe State, on Saturday organised a bye-election into Nangere constituency of the state house of assembly.


The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the member representing the constituency, Adamu Degubi, was killed by gunmen in June 2012.

NAN reports that two parties: the All Progressives Congress, which fielded Alhaji Saidu Baba, and the Peoples Democratic Party that fielded Shuaibu Ibrahim, are contesting the election.

A NAN correspondent who covered the election reports that security operatives have been deployed to all parts of Nangere Local Government Area to ensure peaceful conduct of the exercise.

INEC had deployed electoral materials and manpower to polling units by 8am, with accreditation commencing immediately while voting started at 12.30pm.

Voters in the area said the election would afford them the opportunity to elect another representative to the state’s assembly.

The Emir of Nangere, Alhaji Muhammadu Ibn Grema, appreciated the efforts of INEC in the conduct of the election, saying it would give the people a representation in the state’s assembly.

“The people of Nangere have been without a member in the Yobe State House of Assembly for two years now, which means that our interests have not been represented there.

“The people have been well mobilised and sensitised for peaceful conduct of the election.”

Hauwa Usman, a house wife, said the election would help to provide the constituency with infrastructure.
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AU moves to rescue abducted Chibok girls

The AU has announced plans to engage the Federal Government and other stakeholders in a meeting, in a fresh move to rescue the more than 200 girls abducted by insurgents in Chibok, Borno.



The AU Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security, Mrs Benita Diop, made the disclosure at the close of the Conference of Ministers of Social Development in Addis Ababa on Saturday.

Diop, who is to lead a delegation to Abuja on Monday, June 2, is to intimate the Federal Government on the “new approach’’ to rescue the girls, abducted on April 14.

The envoy, who addressed the meeting on AU’s effort to secure the girls, said the continental body would continue to evolve mechanisms to protect the girl-child through robust policies on education, among others.

The AU Ministers, under the auspices of the Fourth Conference on Social Development convened with stakeholders to review efforts toward ending child marriage in Africa.

The African Union Commission had announced that 39,000 underage girls were sent out for marriage daily in Africa and urged for more efforts to tackle the practise and allow such girls to face their future through adequate education.

The AU had during the just-concluded meeting launched a campaign tagged “End Child Marriage Now’’ where it called for urgent measures to tackle the growing spate ohf the cultural practise that had hit the continent with daily record of 39,000 victims.

The campaign would be carried out in 10 selected countries of the continent, where the culture of child marriage is highly practised.

The continental body listed Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Sierra Leone and Zambia among the first set of countries where the campaign would hold.

The campaign is being supported by AU partners, including UNICEF, UNFPA, UNECA, Plan International, the Canadian Government, Save the Children, Africa Child Policy Forum (ACPF) and DFID.
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David Cameron condemns death sentence in Sudan

David Cameron has urged the Sudanese government to lift the “barbaric” death sentence handed down to a Christian woman accused of abandoning Islam.




A court ruled that Meriam Ibrahim, who was raised by her Christian mother and married a Christian, was Muslim in line with her father – which she rejects.



The PM said he was “appalled” by the treatment of Ms Ibrahim, who gave birth to a daughter in her cell on Wednesday.



UK leaders Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband also condemned her death sentence.



Mr Cameron said the treatment of Ms Ibrahim had “no place in today’s world” and said the UK would “continue to press the government of Sudan to act”.



“Religious freedom is an absolute, fundamental human right.



“I urge the government of Sudan to overturn the sentence and immediately provide appropriate support and medical care for her and her children,” he said.

Even though Ms Ibrahim, 27, was brought up as an Orthodox Christian, a Sudanese judge ruled earlier this month that she should be regarded as Muslim because it had been her father’s faith.



She has refused to renounce her Christianity and has been sentenced to death by hanging for apostasy.



According to Islamic law, Ms Ibrahim can nurse her baby daughter for two years before the sentence is carried out.



Her Christian marriage, in 2011, has also been annulled and she has been sentenced to 100 lashes for adultery because her marriage is not valid under Islamic law.



Sudan has a majority Muslim population and Islamic law has been in force there since the 1980s.

BBC
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PICTURE OF THE DAY: Obasanjo counsels Jonathan

LISTEN ATTENTIVELY: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo appears to be giving President Goodluck Jonathan a piece of advise at the Funeral Mass for former Lagos State Governor, late Sir Micheal Otedola in Lagos.

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Nigeria will be great if leaders like Sultan will tell the truth – CAN

CHRISTIANS under the aegis of TEKAN/ECWA, weekend, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to ignore a statement credited to the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, alleging marginalisation of Muslims in the country and that Nigeria will be great only if leaders like the Sultan will tell the truth.


The Sultan was reported as saying during a national prayer session organised by the NSCIA where eminent Islamic scholars gathered to pray for peace and security in the nation that if the government can address injustice against Muslims, the seemingly intractable security challenges will be surmounted, adding that Muslims are not happy, but willing to support the government in its efforts towards peace and stability.


Reacting to the statement, the National Head of TEKAN/ECWA bloc of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. (Dr.) Emmanuel Dziggau argued that if the head of NSCIA was serious, he should identify those marginalizing Muslims in the country.

The Christian group also described the Sultan's claim of marginalization which was widely reported, as inciting.

They explained that a close look at the statement could be interpreted to mean that unless the perceived injustices against Muslims are addressed there will be no end to the current insecurity in the country.

"We are yet to overcome similar statements by an eminent Muslim politician who vowed to make the nation ungovernable if he was not pronounced winner of the 2011 presidential election. When the CAN leadership called for his arrest for making such inflammatory statement many Muslims accused him of heating up the polity, but today Nigerians know those who are heating up the polity," the statement added.

The Christian group therefore warned traditional, religious and political leaders in the North against such inciting statements capable of motivating uninformed Muslim fundamentalists into killing innocent adherents of other faiths in the name of fighting perceived injustices.

"We therefore call on the Federal Government to call the revered Islamic leader to order before another Islamic group will begin another round of terrorist attacks on innocent Nigerians perceived to be marginalizing Muslims as the Sultan had claimed," TEKAN/ECWA pleaded.

It maintained that the Christian community in the North in particular and other parts of the country which has been at the receiving end of several untold injustices in the country is, however, happy that the recent adoption of over 275 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok has loosed many tongues who had hitherto remained silent.
"Over the years, Christians in the North had cried themselves hoax over discriminatory laws which had made it impossible for them to practice their religion without let in accordance with the tenets of the 1999 Constitution. As a deliberate matter of policy most core northern governments have refused to sign Certificates of Occupancy, C of O, for Christian organisations to build churches.

"It is also a well known fact that governments in the region have also deliberately discriminated against Christians in appointments into government service for the simple reason that nobody will speak on their behalf. There are several cases of elected Christian politicians who were suspended on some flimsy excuses and who have not been reinstated despite numerous pleas for justice.

"It is only the truth that will save this nation from the present morass that we have inadvertently found ourselves. For far too long we have pretended and lied to ourselves. We must therefore take advantage of the Chibok schoolgirls to tell ourselves so home truth for a proper and true healing process," the statement said.

Continuing, Dr. Dziggau said: "Nigeria and the international community must appreciate the leadership of CAN for his unwavering efforts to restrain Christian youth from retaliating numerous unprovoked attacks, institutionalised marginalisations of Christians in the hands of political, religious and traditional leaders.

"Our appeal to His Eminence, the Sultan, is for him to ensure that truth is being told at all times even of it hurts, rather than deceiving the whole world with this story of marginalisation of Muslims.

Nigeria will be great only if leaders like the Sultan will tell the truth at all times and in all situations because if there is any seemingly marginalisation of Muslims, it's the traditional, political and religious leaders of Northern extration who have pauperised and marginalised their followers that have led to the current mass poverty in the region.












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Fans blast Tiwa Savage for her new video

Nigerians, both fans and perceived enemies of popular Mavin Records star, Tiwa Savage, have taken to every available space on the internet to either praise or discredit her new video.


The video titled: ‘Wanted’ has Tiwa singing and swinging in a brown breast tube and just a piece of cloth to scarcely cover her sensitive parts. Every other part of her body, as shown by the video seemingly remain bare due to the almost trasparent cloth she wore.


While many have continued to praise her courage, arguing that she has lifted the Nigerian music industry to another level, others have simply criticised her for debasing religion, morality, the culture and tradition of Nigeria.

Charles Novia, a movie producer and director, condemned the concept of the video, saying Tiwa should not think Nigeria is America where musicians can go nude as they like.

“Whatever her hubby likes about her body should really remain within their bedroom.

“Rihana and Beyonce and all other Yankee girls doing the nude video stuff at least have originality in their insanity. This one is …smh…we live in a hypocritical society and some coots supporting that video would scream but our hypocrisy still keeps our kids in check,” he said.

Continuing, the movie director added: “when you start exposing p#nanies and p#enises in the name of stupid ‘art’, then those shouting hypocrisy should let their kids go naked to school.”

He said though he is one of Tiwa’s biggest fans, he could not take his eyes away from such raunchy display by the singer, who recently got married to her manager and has had some of her near-nude photographs on blogs and social media.

“Many will be quick to compare Jay Z and Beyonce in this case and say we watched those videos. Silly analogy. Is Nigeria America?” Novia asked further wondering if Beyonce’s nudity was enough to cause the craze for such in Nigeria.

“One cannot even switch on to a Nigerian music channel theses days without wondering if it is an appendage of a foreign porn channel…It is the concept of the video that seems tart to me and not art, before it is misconstrued,” he said.

One of Tiwa’s fans, Adebayo Tobi, asked Tiwa Savage: “what are you trying to tell the young ones at home?”

He said the video was x-rated and that the singer did not pass any message.

A fan who goes by @Blossom on Twitter, said: “Tiwa, call it what you like, but you have turned yourself into a sex worker. Thanks.”

Immanuela Ajayi says “I think she (Tiwa) is trying too hard. What is the meaning of this? Absolute nonsense. Really crappy. Too much uncalled for sexiness. Same outfit through the video. Acting as if she was having sex. You are a married woman! Worst video ever.”

She added that she was very disappointed at the musician.

A fan by @temmmie_ps, however, praised Tiwa for past videos but prayed that God should touch her heart to make her produce “righteous, decent and educating videos.”

A fan on Twitter, @Lauretta, who was visibly angry with the singer, posted: “most of her moves made no sense and look pretty stupid and dumb. The video quality and mixing of the song and the song overall was so flawless though.

“Her voice was beautiful. But her grabbing of v#agina and slick trying to do some illuminati crap is stupid.

“The video was dumb. And I’m annoyed. She could still have done something sexy and risque, but let it be tasteful. She looked like a whore.”

Tiwa’s colleagues and supporters do not think that way. In fact, Uti Nwachukwu, winner of one of the editions of Big Brother Africa, told Tiwa’s critics: “if you are not going to constructively critique Tiwa Savage’s new video, then you can as well tick imbecile on your ID form. Dead imbecile.”

He also said many of those criticising her have not done anything worthwhile to make their towns or country worthwhile, yet they take to the internet to bash a hardworking lady like Tiwa.

Dr. Sid, a member of the Mavin Records team, called the video the hottest video of the continent.

Toolz, a Nigerian on air personality, said Tiwa Savage was trying to kill people with the video while Ayo Shonaiya, the singer’s fan, said the video is fantastic.

The video, with a lot of raunchy scenes now has over 220,000 views, and it has also been downloaded by a lot of people.
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Producers, directors threaten to ban actress for exposing them

Fast rising actress, Ebele Anna-Patrick who recently exposed the rot  in the Asaba sector of Nollywood, where desperate actresses not only pay money to get roles in movies but also, sleep around with producers  and directors just to hit the top is currently  under heavy attack by the industry players.





Aggrieved by her outburst in a recent interview which she granted to HVP, producers as well as directors are said to be spitting fire and brimstone, threatening  to ban the embattled actress  for daring to expose the rot in the industry. At one of the meetings, where the actress was summoned  by the industry players, Ebele, it was learnt,  exonerated members of Directors Guild of Nigeria,DGN,as well as Film and Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria,FVPMAN,saying that, she was not referring to them .


"I wasn't referring to DGN members or members of other registered associations in Asaba", she said, adding "Just like we know in every gathering there must be a Judas and that's why it's pertinent that actors should endeavour to work with verified movie practitioners.


While working in Asaba, I have come in contact with a lot of sincere producers and directors who dare not compromise on the standard they have set for themselves. In fact, my mentor, Nonso Ekene Okonkwo has always stressed the need for up and coming actors to strive to work with recognised guild members."
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Man beats son to death for stealing N1,000

Shock and disbelief could best describe the expression on the faces of residents of Omitola street in Agege area of Lagos, when newsmen visited Thursday , to ascertain the circumstance that led to the death of a 12-year-old boy.


The guardians of the boy allegedly beat him to death just as a man in Oregun, Ikeja, was also alleged to have beaten the son to death for stealing N1,000.

The 12-year old boy who was identified as Onyedikachi Mbanozo, was reportedly brought from the village by Mr and Mrs Paul Obiefule, last year, with a promise to send him to school.

The couple reportedly kept to their promise by enrolling him in Holy Trinity Primary School, Agege,where he started from primary one.Information gathered from residents revealed that Mbanozo was allegedly often beaten at the slightest provocation by his guardians. He was said to have told some residents that he would leave for the village when he finished his primary school education. He never lived to see his dream come true. Life was snuffed out of him Tuesday,after one of the routine batterings.


Ironically , he died on a day children all over the world were being celebrated.

He was hungry and sought to eat at about 1pm. It was to be his first meal of the day. His guardians allegedly pounced on him in the process of which he slumped and died.

Residents told newsmen during the visit that when the couple discovered that Mbanozo was dead, they hid his corpse under the bed. Sensing danger that all was not well , curious neighbours were said
to have asked after Mbanozo.

A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity told sources that: "At first , the woman told us that the boy fainted and was rushed to the hospital. Later she said he had been discharged and was inside. When we insisted on seeing him , they said he was sleeping.

Some people suspected all was not well with the boy when the the couple still insisted that the boy was still sleeping the following day. It was when we insisted on seeing the boy that she opened up, disclosing that Mbanozo was dead and that her husband had gone to get a car that would take the corpse to the village.

While we were waiting for her husband to return, he called his wife on the phone and told her to pack her things out of their apartment and leave with their three children. We stopped her from packing and followed her to a beer parlour where her husband was waiting for her and contacted the police.

Confirming the arrest, spokes person for the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide said:" At about 2.30pm on Tuesday, the Divisional Police Officer in-charge of Pen- Cinema Division , while on patrol with his policemen, received an anonymous  call that a man by name Paul Obiefule 'm' of No.22, Omitola Street, Agege Lagos and his wife had beaten a boy living with them named Onyedikachi Mbanozo 'm' aged 12years to death. On receipt of the information police patrol vehicles moved to the scene and brought the suspects and the deceased to the station for a detailed investigation.


Case is currently under investigation at Pen Cinema Division'

In a similar incident on Monday at about 4 am, one Bright whose surname was unknown and who resided at No. 6 Olarewaju Street, Oregun, Ikeja was allegedly hit with iron belt by his father for stealing N1,000.

The boy was rushed to Divine Private Hospital on Lawal Street Oregun where he was confirmed dead. The body has been deposited at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital mortuary where autopsy would be carried out.












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Supreme Court sacks Benue Rep

The Supreme Court on Friday nullified the election of Mr. Orker Jev to represent Buruku Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

The apex court panel led by Justice Walter Nkanu ordered that fresh election should be held within 90 days to fill the vacant seat.


Jev was elected into the House of Representatives on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (now the All Progressives Congress).

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Makurdi which earlier ruled that Jev was not the valid candidate of the ACN in the 2011 election.

The court, therefore, ordered that Jev's name be removed from the ballot papers and substituted with the name of the valid candidate, Serkar Iortyom, who was the first respondent in the suit.

Apart from Iortyom, other respondents in the appeal were the ACN (now APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

"This appeal is devoid of merit; it is hereby accordingly dismissed. There must be a fresh election to elect a new member for the Buruku Federal Constituency in the National Assembly," the apex court ruled.

It pointed out that it could not order Iyortom to be sworn in without an election as doing so would violate the provisions Section 141 of the Electoral Act which prohibits courts from declaring a winner of an election in its judgment.

But the apex court ordered Jev to pay N500, 000 to each of the respondents except INEC.

Jev had appealed against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed an order directing INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to him.

Iyortom had instituted his suit against the ACN, INEC and Jev at the Federal High Court alleging that his name was wrongfully substituted by his party with the name of Jev shortly before the 2011 general elections.

The Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi had ruled in favour of Iyortom on the grounds that the ACN was wrong to have substituted Sekav's name with that of Jev.
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Jonathan’s failure to visit Chibok shows insensitivity – Ezekwesili

The leader of #Bring Back Our Girls Campaign group , Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, yesterday, said the failure of President Goodluck Jonathan to visit the family and relative of abducted 164 girls of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State shows insensitivity to the plight of the people in the community.


The former Education Minister, stated this at a symposium in Abuja.

She alleged that hoodlums were paid on Wednesday to disrupt the everyday sit out of the group.
Their campaign that is centred on the return of the 164 girls that are still incarcerated by Boko Haram since 14th April, 2014.

The theme for the symposium was 'Citizens, accountability, and Democracy'.

It would be recalled that hoodlums from another group wearing a T-Shirt with Release our Girls inscripted destroyed some of the chairs, spoilt camera, mats and harassed members of #Bring Back Our Girls Campaign group ,
According to her, "The inability of President Goodluck Jonathan to visit Chibok shows the insensitivity of the federal government, to the plight of the relatives of the abducted girls".

Reacting to what happened Wednesday at Unity Fountain in Abuja, she said, "Hoodlums were paid yesterday, to disrupt our everyday sit out but our group is not deterred. We will continue until they Bring back our girls well and alive".

Oby said, it was rather unfortunate that the federal government inaugurated a committee 2 weeks after the girls were adopted this showed the commitment of the government in rescuing the girls.

"It has been found that actions taken 24 hours after kidnapping determines how soon those kidnapped would be rescued".

A Professor of Law, Professor Awal Yadudu, in his address said all hands must be on desk in ensuring the rescue of the 164 Government Secondary School Chibok, Borno State.

According to him, "We must all put our hands together to ensure the rescue of the girls well and alive. We shouldn't lose focus. It is imperative for all of us to see ourselves as human beings and not as human beings fighting over faith.

"There is a unity for unity of purpose to fight evil in our society. When we talk about accountability we must be united. We must not allow ourselves to be used".










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Navy arrests 12 stowaways in Lagos

It was the end of the road for eleven Nigerians and a Ghanian who allegedly sneaked into a Spain-bound vessel, MV African Osprey, in their search for greener pasture, following their arrest by the Nigerian Navy.


The stowaways whose ages were between 12 and 26, reportedly hid inside an unused cabin in the ship said to have been   laden with hazardous materials.




The suspects were identified as Boniface Douglas, a Ghanian, Mustapha Ayinla, Bernard Amadi, Azinabor Gideon, Isaac Delight, Daniel Timothy, Justice Agburum, Anthony Oladipupo, Emma Okon, Idowu Adeyemi, Philip Israel and Holly Osatwie

Recovered from them , were kegs of water which they intended to drink during the trip, snacks and cassava flakes otherwise known as garri.


The rescue of the stowaways according to the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ilesanmi Alade was carried out in conjunction with personnel of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency,NIMASA, even as he reiterated the Nigerian Navy's drive to make the nation's waterways safe for legitimate businesses to thrive.


However, he appealed to ship owners and sea farers to ensure that thorough security checks were conducted onboard prior to departure from Harbour.".

Explaining how they were arrested, the Commander Beecroft, Commodore Emmanuel Uwadiae, said midway into the journey the suspects who apparently inhaled the chemical substance, started banging frantically on the door of the cabin, thereby attracting the cabin crew.


He said "The Nigerian Navy took custody of 12 suspected stowaways at the Lagos anchorage. The suspects were found onboard MV African Osprey which had cast off from Tin-Can Port Apapa on May 19, 2014.
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Wenger signs new three-year contract with Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he was excited by the club’s prospects after signing a new three-year contract that will keep him at the Emirates until 2017.


The 64-year-old Frenchman is the current longest-serving manager in the English Premier League, having joined the north London side in 1996, and this season he ended Arsenal’s nine-year wait for a major trophy by overseeing their come-from-behind FA Cup final win against Hull City at Wembley.

“I want to stay and to continue to develop the team and the club,” Wenger told Arsenal’s website after news of his contract extension was confirmed in a brief statement by the club’s parent company to the London Stock Exchange on Friday.

“We are entering a very exciting period. We have a strong squad, financial stability and huge support around the world. We are all determined to bring more success to this club.

“The club has always shown faith in me and I’m very grateful for that,” he added.

“We have gone through fantastic periods and also periods where we have had to stick together.

“Every time when that togetherness was tested I got the right response. I think I have shown some loyalty as well towards this club and hopefully we can make some more history. I am sure we can.”

The dramatic 3-2 victory over Hull saw Wenger win the eighth major trophy of his Arsenal career, his haul of silverware including three Premier League titles and five FA Cups, with ‘doubles’ in 1997/98 and 2001/02.

But prior to this month’s success, he had not lifted a trophy since the 2005 FA Cup.

The campaign just finished also saw Wenger guide Arsenal to a 17th consecutive season of Champions League football

He has now overseen more than 1,000 Arsenal matches and took the side to the 2006 Champions League final, where they lost 2-1 to Barcelona in Paris.

- ‘Arsene Who?’ -

Wenger was a surprise choice to succeed Bruce Rioch as Arsenal manager when he joined in September 1996 from Japanese club Grampus Eight, with the London Evening Standard responding to his appointment with the headline “Arsene Who?”

However, he did inherit a strong side, with the likes of England goalkeeper David Seaman, the celebrated defensive unit of Nigel Winterburn, Steve Bould, Tony Adams and Lee Dixon, together with midfielder Patrick Vieira and strikers Dennis Bergkamp and Ian Wright already at Arsenal.

And during the Gunners’ trophy-less years, while some fans were sympathetic to the fact the club’s move from Highbury to the nearby Emirates Stadium had placed Wenger under financial constraints, there was frustration when he didn’t spend when the board insisted funds were available.

He did though splash out a club record £42.4 million ($66m, 50m euros) ahead the season just gone to sign midfielder Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid.

But the German playmaker failed to maintain his promising start to the season while injuries suffered by the likes of Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Cup final hero Aaron Ramsey disrupted Arsenal’s season and led to questions about Wenger’s training methods.

Yet for all the mutterings, Arsenal majority shareholder Stan Kroenke remained steadfast in his support of Wenger.

And the delighted US-based businessman said Friday: “Sustained excellence is the hardest thing to achieve in sport and the fact Arsenal has competed at the top of the game in England and Europe throughout the time Arsene has been manager, is the ultimate testimony to his consistency of performance, talent and ambition.

“We are delighted with the FA Cup success which has added to his already outstanding record,” Kroenke added.

“Under his guidance we look forward to adding more trophies in future seasons.”

AFP
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Kogi Speaker’s sons still in captivity six weeks after

The two sons of the Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Momoh Lawal, that were kidnapped about six weeks ago are yet to be released.

The children, Ogirima, seven; and Hafeez, three, were abducted on April 15 after the gang had, at about 4am, scaled the fence and invaded Lawal's residence at Okengwe in Okene Local Government Area of the state.


Also, the mother of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Fair Plus Transport Services, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was abducted during the week.

Hajia Hawawu Bello was abducted by a five-man gang in her residence at Nagazi Uvete in Adavi Local Government Area at about 9pm.

In an interview with our correspondent on Friday in Ilorin, a former Acting Governor of the state, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, urged the suspected kidnappers to release the Speaker's children and the old woman.

Bello, who was also a former speaker of the state, added that the victims should not be subjected to further inhumane treatment and captivity.

According to him, Kogi State cannot afford to pay the demanded ransom.

He said, "I appeal to those who kidnapped the Speaker's children to release them because these children are harmless. And Kogi is a poor state in Nigeria. The kidnappers should not think that being a Speaker is an automatic ticket to wealth.

"The Speaker does not have any money to pay ransom to any kidnapper."
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'Ignore the rumours, Dora Akunyili is alive'

A former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, is not dead, it was learnt on Friday.




A statement pasted on her Facebook page by her Media Adviser, Isaac Umunna, at about 8:07pm, urged members of the public to disregard the rumour about her purported death.


Umunna said, "Please disregard the rumour about Prof. Dora Akunyili's purported death. It is the same baseless rumour circulated by some people for reasons best known to them. They have been at this for about four weeks now and are likely to continue, since they apparently derive pleasure from doing so.


"The situation, as confirmed by former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, who visited Akunyili in the hospital earlier this week, is that she is getting better."


The former minister, who is a delegate to the ongoing National Conference, had reportedly been flown Abroad on May 10, 2014 for medical treatment.
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DHQ uncovers plot to discredit military

The Defence Headquarters said on Friday that it had uncovered a plot by some groups to embark on a campaign of calumny aimed at discrediting the military.


This is contained in a statement signed by Maj.-Gen Chris Olukolade, Director of Defence Information, in Abuja.

The statement said that the campaign was aimed at indicting the military and its operations in the Northern part of the country.

“The campaign, which is to rely heavily on doctored and falsified audio visual materials, is already trending in the social media.

“ The materials are to be coordinated and funded by a prominent political leader whose state is presently under the State of Emergency.

“The details of the plan, which is (are) already being fine-tuned by a group of media practitioners, is (are) to be presented for the final ratification and funding by the political figure, ‘’ it said.

The statement said that the campaign was expected to forcefully whip up sentiments of genocide allegedly targeted against a particular religious group.

It alleged that the perpetrators also hoped to use it to gain some mileage in the drive to secure international attention.

‘’They have not achieved this sufficiently despite previous efforts.

“The military reiterates its rejection of pictures and video footages from unverifiable sources claiming to reflect activities or so called atrocities purportedly perpetrated by Nigerian security forces.

“They do not reflect or depict the true state of affairs or operations of Nigerian military or any of the security forces,’’ the statement said.

It, however, advised the public to watch out and not allow themselves to be hoodwinked by these acts of infamy orchestrated by this desperate group.

The statement said that the dastardly acts of terrorism were against all Nigerians and all peace- loving people all over the world.

It said that no amount of propaganda by apologists or terror group could justify the evil acts of terrorism by attempting to cast the Nigerian military and security forces in bad light. (NAN)
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Don't turn Nigeria into a war zone - Oyedepo warns leaders

Federal Government to find means of resolving the crisis rocking some states in the North so as to prevent the country from turning into a war zone.



Oyedepo spoke early in the week at a workshop organised by the African Leadership Development Centre on the university campus.



The theme of the workshop was: "The Leadership Imperative: Conflict Management and Conflict Resolution Demands for Inspiring Transformation and Driving Change."



Oyedepo said though conflict was unavoidable in any part of the world, it was important that the leadership of the country dealt with such in order to avoid a state of war.



He said, "War is a sucker. It sucks the resources of a nation. Only those who don't know its cost propagate it. We must not have war in Nigeria. We should not even think of it. Its consequences are unimaginable. War is a crime against humanity. It erodes human dignity, destroys and devastates. It is staring at us in the face but we must avoid it.



"I once saw a family in Iraq who were feeding on leaves from graveyard. That is what war can do. It destroys the humanity in us. There is no life in war."



He added, "Nigeria must not see war again. This is not a prayer but a clarion call for a new way of thinking. Let us have real value for human lives. We are human beings. We need to start placing the appropriate value on human lives again.



"That is why we have to start to engage in a new way of thinking. Nigerians need to start building character, courage and capacity if we want to avoid war breakout."
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FG not serous in ending Boko Haram insurgency – Shehu Sani

Barely 24 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan declared measures to crush insurgency in the country, civil rights activist Shehu Sani, has described the steps outlined by the Federal Government as contradictory and incapable of bringing the insurgents to the negotiation table.

Sani, who is the president of the Civil Rights Congress, had been involved in two previous attempts to broker peace between the government and the insurgents, said the Federal Government had never been serious in finding a lasting solution to the rising wave of terrorism in the north.

The reason, according to him, is that the Federal Government does not want to negotiate with the sect so as not to be seen to be weak and surrendering to insurgents. He told Saturday Vanguard yesterday that "it was the insincerity of the Federal Government to accept and implement the conditions

previously given by the sect that had given rise to the attacks being launched by the group, saying that if the government had accepted the agreement brokered by former President Obasanjo and himself with the sect members in Maiduguri, the problem of insurgency would not have escalated to its present deadly form."
He disclosed that the suggestions made by his committee and headed by Ahmed Datti on how to end insurgency based on their interactions with members of the sect, were inexplicably jettisoned by the Presidency, which at the time boasted that it was on top of the situation and was determined to crush the sect.

Sani also said the Chibok girls would also have been freed two weeks ago but  for the last minute cancellation of negotiations by President Jonathan that the discussion should be discontinued with a negotiator, whom he introduced to the government.

The activist, who said he was however still willing to lead the way in further negotiations with the sect, however expressed doubts about the willingness of the members of the sect to come out and accept amnesty given the many roadblocks already erected by the government against them.

He pointed out that with a price tag on the head of the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau from the Nigerian Government the United States, the declaration of a state of emergency in most of the states where the sect members are and the deployment of troops to go after them, it was impossible for the members to come out and discuss with anybody.

On how to free the Chibok girls, Sani asked the Federal Government to call a security conference of Northern Islamic clerics, who can hold talks with the Boko Haram leadership and guaranty the release of the girls in exchange for detained Boko Haram members."

"The Muslim clerics should be brought into that kind of conference and the President should give them a waiver to reach out to the Boko Haram group and work out the possibility of getting these girls back. "In return, the President should take an inventory of all persons, who have been in detention on suspicion of aiding abetting or participating in this insurgency.

He should divide the insurgents into three groups-the high chiefs, the foot soldiers and their family members. "People who have been kept in detention should be exchanged for these Chibok girls. He should hand over these people to these Islamic clerics who would then meet the Boko Haram and collect the girls back," Sani added.
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Alao-Akala’s driver shot dead in Ibadan

Driver of the former Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, was on Friday shot dead by some gunmen in Ibadan after he stepped out of a bank.





Alao-Akala lost the governorship seat to the current governor, Abiola Ajimobi, in 2011.





Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Okuwobi-Ilobanafor, who confirmed the incident, said the deceased must have been attacked by armed robbers.





She said, "It is true that a man was killed by suspected armed robbers in Ibadan. We learnt that he went to a bank to collect some money. On his way, a man stopped him and had some discussion with him. Then, two men on a bike shot him and took the money from him.





"We are on the trail of the man that stopped him. We have begun investigation into the matter."





Attempt to reach the former governor by our correspondent was not successful as his telephone was busy.
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Nigerians speak on Democracy Day

As the nation marked another Democracy Day on Thursday Nigerians have expressed divergent views on the progress recorded in the last 15 years of the return to civilian rule.



However, majority of those who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria agreed that the nation had recorded tremendous progress in many sectors.

A university don, Dr. Felix Igwe, said democracy had enhanced the level of freedom being enjoyed by the citizens, especially the media.

Igwe told NAN in Port Harcourt that Nigeria had become a haven for press freedom in sub-Saharan Africa.

“In the last 15 years, we have achieved some success in the area of press freedom, such that, journalists freely go about their normal duties without fear of intimidation from the state.

“Also, Nigerians are freer to express themselves, whether what they say is accepted by government or not,” he said.

Igwe is the immediate past Chairman, Rivers State University of Science and Technology chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

He said the nation’s education sector had also received better funding and policies and, as such, made significant progress since the nation returned to democratic rule in 1999.

“The nation’s education would have been among the best in the in Africa if the military had stayed away from power.

“Under the military rule, the sector witnessed monumental decay because people who managed it never had the slightest knowledge and had no business running the sector,” he said.

Igwe said the present administration’s extension of professors retiring age to 70 years and establishment of universities in all the 36 states of the federation had further improved education.

He said that democracy afforded Nigerians the opportunity to demand for quality education and make contribution to its development.

According to him, Nigerians will benefit more from democratic system of governance if only political parties practiced “internal democracy” to discover people oriented representatives.

In Yola, the North-East Coordinator of Interfaith Mediation Centre, Mallam Abdullahi Damare, said democratic rule would continue to be the best option for Nigeria

Speaking to NAN the co-coordinator, however, urged politicians to offer selfless service and fear God in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Damare said more was needed to be done in areas of security, power supply and infrastructure as well as commitment to the fight against corruption.

According to him, for corruption to be tackled properly, insecurity and unemployment, among others, must be adequately addressed.

The cleric urged politicians to ensure peaceful general elections next year by playing according to the rules of politics and respecting the decision of the electorate

“Politicians should accept the outcome of election results in good faith and seek redress through legal means instead of resorting to violence in resolving our grievances,” he said.

Mr. Tari Gounana, the Bayelsa Chairman, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, said that in spite of the “mountainous challenges” Nigerian democracy had fared better in various facets.

“Democracy has moved Nigeria from strength to strength. Despite the fall and errors here and there; we can call on more achievements compared to the military dictatorship.

“The area we want the government to dip into is that of workers’ welfare; we cannot be trading corruption in the era of democracy because Nigeria has come of age.

“The minimum wage should still remain in exclusive list to serve as a bench mark for other tiers of government at any point in time.

“The government should also dip into job creation for the teeming youth and be more proactive in youth development and empowerment plans,” he urged.

Mr. Richard Tiebiri, PDP Legal Adviser in the state also told NAN that Nigerians had witnessed changes in various sectors.

“There is a rapid transformation in all sectors such as aviation, political stability and infrastructure development, like roads and sea ports.

“Nigeria has also signed bilateral relationships with many countries in the world aimed at economic growth,” Tiebiri said.

Mr. Agwana Weneyo, Chairman, Association of Fish Farmers and aquaculture of Nigeria, Bayelsa chapter, commended the Federal Government on agricultural development and urged more support to aquatic farming.

Weneyo said that such support would improve the production of sea food in the country and contribute in the effort to create jobs.

In his comments, a former governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balabe Musa, called on the leadership to always work in public interest as enshrined in the constitution of the country.

He attributed the current security challenges facing the country to failure to adhere strictly to the provisions of the nation’s constitution.

In Benin, a politician, Mr. Joe Atohengbe, said the nation had cause to jubilate as the country had been rated the first in Africa in terms of its Gross Domestic Product.
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Northern governors to Boko Haram: Embrace amnesty window

Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) on Friday applauded President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to grant amnesty to members of the Boko Haram sect.



The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, also called on insurgents to embrace peace.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Niger State Governor, Mr. Israel A. Ebije. The statement said the amnesty is a welcome idea.

Aliyu assured that governors from the region are ready to cooperate with federal government to address the insurgents’ grievances, adding that steps would be taken to ensure that they are usefully re-integrated into the society.

Describing Jonathan gesture as laudable, Aliyu noted that the amnesty would help restore peace and harmony in troubled areas of the country.

He therefore insisted that until members of the sect lay down their arms, development and growth of the region will only be a mirage.

Aliyu lamented that insecurity has increased fear, encouraged suspicion and put national development in the reverse gear, adding that the essence of nationhood can only be revived when lasting peace, reconciliation and political harmony is propagated and sustained.
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Democracy Day: Jonathan ‘drives’ Made-in-Nigeria car

President Goodluck Jonathan, today, as part of activities to celebrate the country's Democracy Day 'drove' a Made-in-Nigeria car by Nissan.


In a series of tweets shared by the Presidential Spokesman, Reuben Abati (@abati1990), President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President, Nnamdi Sambo were presented with the key of one of the Made-in-Nigeria cars, which they test run as confirmed by the Special Assistant to the President on New Media, Reno Omokri (@renoomokri).


Abati noted that it is part of the transformation agenda of the president and a plus to Nigeria's automobile industry.
The president also presented a publication on the Transformation Agenda, 2013-2014 at the ICC, Abuja.


He also said the cars are available for sale at affordable prices and ready for export.

Other dignitaries at the event include former VP, Dr. Alex Ekwueme; serial entrepreneur, Ashish J. Thakkar, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Gen. Oladipo Diya and  CJN Maryam Mukhtar among others.
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At last, fact-finding committee visits Chibok

The members of the Presidential Fact-finding Committee on the Abducted Chibok Schoolgirls on Thursday finally visited Chibok, Borno State, in continuation of their investigation into the April 14 abduction.


The committee’s spokesman, Kingsley Osadolor, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja.

The committee had on Sunday left Maiduguri for Abuja after spending eight days in the troubled state without visiting Chibok.

Osadolor said the committee members were received at Chibok by the Borno State Commissioner for Education, Musa Kubo, Chairman of Chibok Local Government, Bana Lawan, five district heads of the surrounding communities, Chairman of the Parent Teachers Association of the affected school, the principal and parents of the abducted girls.

Some of the students, who escaped from the insurgents, were also said to be on hand to meet with the committee members.

The statement read, “Members of the committee visited the burnt-out structures of Government Secondary School, where the girls were abducted. The receiving party conducted members of the committee round the grounds of the school.

“The principal, vice principals, matrons of the hostels, as well as security guards and cooks were earlier debriefed by the committee in Maiduguri.

“The committee later held an interactive session with the Chibok communities on the school premises. At the meeting, Chairman of the Fact-finding Committee, Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo (retd.), who spoke with misty eyes, said the committee came, first, to sympathise with the parents and other community members over the havoc of the insurgents.

“He assured the people of President Goodluck Jonathan’s concern about the fate of the abducted students, saying that the President was having sleepless nights.”

Sabo was also quoted as urging the people to be calm and patient because government was adopting a multi-faceted approach to resolve the abduction saga.

“As we gather here today to see you wailing, by the grace of God, we will also gather here to dance and rejoice with you when the girls regain their freedom,” he was further quoted as telling the parents.

Osadolor added that the Chairman of the local government, praised the committee for visiting and bringing messages of succour and hope to members of the communities.

He said the council boss berated those who had claimed that the mass abduction was a political scam.

“The greatest fact your committee can find are the biological parents of some of the students who were abducted,” he said.

The Commissioner for Education, Kubo, also expressed happiness over the visit by the committee.

He urged members of the fact-finding committee to convey to President Jonathan the people’s hope and belief that the girls would be found and reunited with their families.

Others who spoke at the meeting, according to the statement, included Rev. Enoch Mark, whose two daughters are among the schoolgirls still unaccounted for.

Mark reportedly frowned at what he called the politicisation of the abduction, pointing out that the matter was also not religious because the families affected were adherents of the country’s major faiths.

The committee has since returned to Abuja.
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13 killed in Sokoto auto crash

No fewer than 13 persons were on Thursday night burnt to death in an auto crash involving two passenger vehicles in Sokoto.


The accident occurred in Tudun-Dukiya village, near Dogon Karfe, about 10 km to Illela town in Sokoto State.

The crash which occurred at about 9.00pm also left 14 other persons injured.

The deceased persons included women and children passengers.

The accident, according to an eye witness, involved a Peugeot J-5 bus travelling from Jos, Plateau State to Illela and a Toyota Starlet car travelling from Illela to Sokoto.

Confirming the incident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC) in Sokoto State, Dr. Umar Gummi, said the two vehicles caught fire after a head-on collision.

“Some of the passengers are seriously injured, with some having first degree burns,” he said.

Gummi said some of the victims are receiving treatment at the Illela General hospital, while others have been referred to the Uthmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto.

“As for the deceased persons, they were burnt to ashes and it is too difficult to recognize them,” the FRSC official explained.
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Don’t vote for PDP, Fashola tells Lagosians

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola has advised residents against voting for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government in 2015.



He said the party has not done anything tangible in the state.

Fashola spoke yesterday while handing over the 2.9 kilometre Yaya-Abatan Road to Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Chairman Toba Oke.

It was part of activities commemorating Democracy Day.

Fashola said the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration had fulfilled its promise to spread the dividends of democracy across the state, adding that same cannot be said of the PDP government at the federal level.

He said: “They said we work for people living in Ikoyi and Lekki alone. Even if we are working for the elite alone, both the rich and poor are complaining and suffering under their government. They have not fixed the power problem. They are not bothered about insecurity in the country. They are just generating revenue for themselves.

“The media asked their leader about the state of the nation. He said everything was okay and that the country had a billionaire. He said people now own a lot of private jets. They do not remember Lagos residents. But they are coming back to seek your votes. Will you give him? Please, do not give them your votes.”

The governor said his administration celebrated last year’s Democracy Day by opening the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge, adding that the project has had great impact on residents.

He said: “It has reduced traffic congestion in Lekki and Victoria Island. In 2012, we inaugurated the Lagos Traffic Radio. It is the only type in the entire continent. It was designed to help us plan our journey and give us information ahead of our journey. In 2011, we inaugurated about 25 bus franchise holders to ease transportation. Today, we are handing over Yaya Abatan Road in Ifako Ijaiye Local Government Area and seven connecting inner-city roads.

“This project demonstrates access to qualitative transport infrastructure. This is the value and meaning of democracy. This is what tax payers’ money has done in the state. We could have waited for the Federal Government to construct these roads for us, bur because we pay taxes, we have taken our destiny in our hands.”

Fashola urged residents to take possession of the road and avoid anything that will destroy it, adding: “I appeal to all of you not to drop waste inside the drains for your own protection. Please, do not dump refuse in the drains. For those who do not have cars, a road does not serve car owners alone. It also serves pedestrians.

“It is the sidewalks that separate pedestrians and motorists. It is on the sidewalks that our children will walk to and from their schools. If you trade on the sidewalks, you will force your children to walk on the roads. If you force them on the streets, you endanger them and motorists.”

Commissioner for Works Obafemi Hamzat said the road was a testimony of democratic dividends.

He said the road was strategic because it links the area to Iju-Ishaga, Ogba and other adjoining locations.

Hamzat said the project provided 987 direct jobs and many indirect ones.

He said: “These drains are covered and are supposed to move water, so you must not dump garbage there. If you do that, the water will not move and that will cause flooding and damage the road.”

The commissioner said over 209 road projects are on-going across the state.
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Emir’s murder, a declaration of war – Governors

The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) on Friday described the killing of Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idrisa Timta, as irresponsible, callous and a declaration of war on the traditional institution.


It also expressed shock and disbelief at the assassination attempt on the lives of Emir of Uba, Alhaji Ismaila Mamza and Emir of Askira, Alhaji Mai Abdullahi Ibn Muhammadu Askirama by gunmen believed to be members of the Boko Haram sect.

The Borno State first class traditional rulers were abducted on Friday while travelling to Gombe State for the funeral of the late Emir of Gombe, Shehu Abubakar, who died earlier in the week.

The condemnation of the dastardly act was contained in a statement issued in Minna by Israel Ebije, the Chief Press Secretary to the Forum’s Chairman Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State.

Aliyu, who described the killing as “irresponsible, callous and an affront on the traditional institution and collective heritage of Nigerians” lamented that the attack came at a time federal government has concluded plans to grant the sect amnesty.

The Forum said, “This is indeed a sad development for us as a region and the nation at large. This is happening at a time we are all doing our very best to rescue our over 200 secondary school girls abducted by the Islamist terror group Boko Haram, from their school in Chibok, Borno State last month.

“We are particularly sad and worried about these ugly developments. We are indeed sad over the killing of the Emir of Gwoza in the recent attack.

The Forum urged the sect members to embrace the amnesty offer promised by President Goodluck Jonathan, saying “dialogue remains the best option for resolving issues.”
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#BeforeandduringGEJ: Media aide, Reno Omokri lists president Jonathan's achievements

Special Assistant to President Jonathan on New Media Reno Omokri lists President Jonathan's many achievements.

 

Read more below......

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Bayelsa Speaker’s mother-in-law abducted

Ninety-year-old mother-in-law of the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Kombowei Benson, was on Friday morning kidnapped in a heartless spectacle.


The victim identified simply as Obololo was whisked away by unknown gunmen operating along the waterways of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

She was abducted in her Korokorosei home at about 2am by the hoodlums who reportedly rode on a speedboat.

A source said the community was thrown into panic by the activities of the hoodlums.

The community source who pleaded anonymity said: “The gunmen came at about 2am. They shot sporadically before making their way to the woman’s home. We were all afraid because of the sounds of gunshots.

“They seized her and took her away to an unknown place. They showed no pity at the age of the woman.”

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilary Opara, confirmed the development and said the police had swung into action.

Opara, who vowed to make the state uncomfortable for criminals, said the police anti-kidnapping squad had been ordered to rescue the woman.

“The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area alerted me early in the morning about the development. It is wicked and we will ensure we rescue the woman,” he said.
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Team spirit will help Nigeria at the World Cup - Wenger

Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has tipped Nigeria to reach the second round of the World Cup alongside Argentina in Group F, Goal reports.


The Frenchman feels the Super Eagles has something going for them this year – “team spirit” and a lack of big egos which has ensured for a united squad and differentiated the team from many African sides of the past.

He said Argentina should win the group which also has Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina and that Nigeria should join the South Americans in the second round.

“I think that Nigeria might qualify for the second stage,” Wenger wrote in his Eurosport World Cup preview.

“The team really made a good impression on me during the African Cup of Nations. Super Eagles seem to have a really good team spirit, which is not always easy for African teams.

“Nigeria has less star players. They have a real team, and it’s been a while since that happened for them,” Wenger said of Stephen Keshi’s team.

On Argentina, the Frenchman expects the two-time world champions to do well playing in South America where they would be buoyed by the rivalry with neighbours Brazil.

He also said that Alejandro Sabella has done better than Diego Maradona in his selection of a balanced side despite the array of impressive attacking talent at his disposal.

“Normally Argentina should qualify thanks to the team’s offensive potential. You might even say that Argentina has too many good players in attack,” Wenger wrote.

“It’s not easy to be a manager in Argentina, because it’s hard to build a balanced team without leaving some indisputable players off the field.

“Argentina has Higuain, Messi, Aguero, and Tevez, who didn’t even make the final squad. They have so many forwards; it will be very hard to keep a balanced team. It’s what happened in South Africa.

“Still, Sabella’s team seems more balanced than Maradona’s. They can’t make a mess of this World Cup; Argentina just can’t.

“The two main rivals in South America are Brazil and Argentina. There can’t be a World Cup in Brazil and Argentina be humiliated and not have a great tournament,” Wenger said.
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Security alert in Abuja, bomb scare rocks community

This year’s Democracy Day celebration was on Thursday marked by high security alert and deployment of soldiers and policemen in and around the Federal Capital Territory.


The tension in the FCT was exacerbated by a loud explosion at Kurudu, near Jikwoyi, a development which heightened tension in the satellite communities and adjoining villages, including Nyanya, Mararaba, Karu and Kurudu, all along the Abuja-Keffi Road.

The loud explosion created panic in parts of the FCT and also led to instant deployment of troops in the areas though the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Altine Daniel, later said that the explosion resulted from blasting of rocks in a quarry at Kurudu.

“There was no explosion or blasts at Kurudu as speculated, it was the blasting activities of the quarry company there that was mistaken to be a blast,” Daniel said.

Since the attack on Abuja by Boko Haram commenced, the activities of quarry operators in the FCT have come under tighter control.

Such quarry operators are expected to apply and receive approval from the Police Anti Bomb Unit before any such blasting of rocks could take place.

Our correspondents who moved round the FCT on Thursday reported deployment of security operatives in strategic locations and public institutions in Abuja and that soldier and policemen were seen conducting checks on motorists in the city.

Some stern looking soldiers also blocked the Abuja—Kubwa Expressway to conduct checks on private and commercial vehicles.

This was the first time security operatives would block the Abuja-Kubwa Expressway since the commencement of campaign of bombing by members of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

Curiously, the soldiers focused attention more on private Honda cars and commercial vehicles loaded with food items and other commodities.

Our correspondents also observed increased presence of personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps along the road.

The situation was the same at the Abuja–Kuje Road, where soldiers conducted screening of vehicles moving into the FCT from Kuje, a satellite community.

The screening of vehicles was further repeated at the Area One, Garki and the City Gate entrance into the FCT by the National Stadium, where soldiers were seen conducting searches on motorists.

The security personnel were also sighted at the AYA and the Kugbo axis of Abuja-Keffi Road.

A military patrol team was stationed at the Eagles Square, which looked desolate as the Democracy Day celebration by the Federal Government was low key.

Policemen on foot patrol were also seen along the Shehu Shagari Way, Central Business District and by ThisDay Dome.

The explosion, which occurred at Kurudu, caused immediate deployment of military personnel, who mounted two check points in the area.

Prior to the explosion, there were no military checkpoints in that part of Abuja.

Our correspondents observed a checkpoint at Jikwoyi and another by the Army Post Housing Scheme at Kurudu.
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