Many killed as Boko Haram strikes again in Yobe

Members of the dreaded sect, Boko Haram, struck again on Friday in Yobe State. This time around, it was in Damagum, a town about 70km from Damaturu, the Yobe State capital. The dreaded sect last struck in Yobe State in Damaturu about a month ago.

Damagum is located in Funne Local Government Area. Sources in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, told The Eagle Online that residents of the town were fleeing into the bush for safety as the dreaded sect struck at about 6pm. Some of those who succeeded in fleeing into the bush called their relatives in other parts of the state, especially Damaturu, to inform the military of the attack and the need for prompt intervention. Damagum was also attacked in 2012.

It came under attack at about 7pm on March 28, 2012. Explosives were used on that occasion.

Reports as at press time on Friday were sketchy. But many residents of the state were reported killed by members of the Boko Haram sect as those fleeing awaited the intervention of the military.

Boko Haram to Emir of Kano in new video: You’re a dead man

Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the extremist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has threatened to attack the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, for mobilising support against the sect.

In well publicised statements, Sanusi asked Kano State residents as well as vigilantes to arm and defend themselves against future terrorist attacks following a recent attack on the Kano Central Mosque.

The latest threat was contained in a video posted on youtube and viewed on Wednesday by our correspondent.

Shekau condemned Sanusi and adherents of most Islamic sects, describing them as infidels who have abandoned the Islamic doctrine.

He said they should be ready to repent and practise Islam as preached by his sect, or be ready to face the consequences.

Shekau said: “Before I start talking to my brothers who believed in me and the religion of Allah, not the religion of democracy, not that of western education, those who believed in the religion of the Quran not that of the constitution and not religion of the Emir of Kano.

“We do not practise the religion of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, not the religion of Jonathan, not the religion of Obasanjo, not the religion of Atiku, not the religion of Babangida, not the religion of Obama, not the religion of Bush, not the religion of Clinton, but the religion of Allah.

“Now listen to me Emir of Kano. I am talking to you and only you because of your recent utterances. Let me inform you now that you are late (dead), you should know that you are only the King of Kano, King of Central Bank, King of money, you are only Sanusi Lamido.”

Shekau said his group would continue to fight and kill local vigilantes, hunters, and all those who oppose the teachings of the sect.

He also said: “Emir of Kano Sanusi, you are late, that our triumph is just for a period of time so you said. Even your predecessors who are renowned idol worshippers in Islamic history like ‘Abujahal’ could not succeed in fighting Islam.

“Yes, you can say that our success is for a period of time, because you are a king of Bank and a loyal citizen of your country.

“Because you are made the Emir of Kano, that is why you got angry and was calling on the vigilante groups and hunters to attack us. Let me tell you that the hunters and the vigilante groups will fail and you will also fail.”

Shekau condemned all other Islamic sects in the country, calling them pagans.

He said the Izala, Tijjaniyya, Qadiriyya and Shiite Islamic groups were pagans and his group would continue to kill their followers.

The Boko Haram leader also condemned the government of Saudi Arabia, saying that all infidels would perish in hell.

“We will kill you people, we will capture hostages and keep selling them,” he said.

The Boko Haram leader said he (Shekau) was human, adding: “It is Allah that is supreme and even if there is no war, members of my sect and I will die.”

He said they were ready to die and go and rest in heaven.

Over 100 people died in the Kano Central Mosque attack which was believed to have been targeted at the Kano emir.

The Emir, who had travelled out of Nigeria at the time, visited the mosque on his return, and re-affirmed his vow that the Kano people would not bow to the Boko Haram’s threats.

Emir Sanusi to Boko Haram: You can’t kill me

The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has said the members of dreaded sect, Boko Haram, do not have the capacity to kill him.

Sanusi said this in reaction to a statement by the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, that he should consider himself as dead following his condemnation of the activities of the group.

Sanusi said he remains protected against any evil attack and that nothing was going to happen to him except the will of Allah, his creator.

Speaking on Friday during the weekly special prayer session at the Kano City Central Mosque (Masallachin Sarki), Sanusi said: “I am protected and nothing is going to happen to me.”

He urged Nigerians to continue to protect themselves against the attacks of the Boko Haram sect.

Five policemen detained for killing, burying cyclist

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested and detained five policemen over the alleged murder of a commercial bike rider who was killed and secretly buried in a shallow grave to conceal the crime.

The deceased, Aondona Tavershima, 24, was said to have been shot and killed by policemen attached to Maroko Police Station after he allegedly refused to stop when flagged down in the Lekki area of Lagos State. The policemen however quickly rushed his body to Lekki Beach and buried him.

Tavershima was killed around 11am. The police shot him after he refused to obey and stop. The policemen, it was alleged, further shot him repeatedly after he had fallen off his motorbike on receiving the first bullet. He died on the spot. The policemen would have gotten away with the murder of Tavershima, but for a fellow cyclist, who witnessed the murder and raised the alarm.

The deceased’s elder sister, Linda, alleged that the police offered her N10 million settlement to ensure the matter was not taken further.

The Divisional Police Officer in charge of Moroko Police Station offered the bribe, cajoling Linda to go home and think about the money. But rather than think about the money, Linda and other family members contacted a lawyer, demanding justice.

The Police Public Relations Officer for Lagos State, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, who confirmed the incident, said that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, ordered for the immediate arrest of the suspected policemen.

Nwosu said: “Five policemen are currently being detained, while the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, has since commenced an investigation. “If found guilty, the officers will be made to face the wrath of the law.”

Court orders Police, DSS, Customs to confiscate Obasanjo’s book

An FCT High Court on Wednesday ordered the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Service and the Controller General of Nigeria Customs Services to confiscate former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s book from public vendors.

Justice Valentine Ashi gave the order after Obasanjo allegedly went ahead to publish his book titled: “My Watch” in spite of a court order made on December 5 restraining him from making the publication.

Ashi said: “I am of the view that the defendant having gone ahead to publish the book, he should therefore show cause within 21 days of the order served on him on why he should not be punished for contempt of court.

“The Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of State Security Services and the Controller General of Nigeria Customs Services are hereby directed to recover the book from sales vendors.”

Ashi directed that the book should be kept with the registrar of the court pending the determination of the suit.

Ashi also restrained the defendant from further printing, publishing or circulating the book: “My Watch,” which, he said “touches on the subject matter of the suit before the court”.

Earlier, counsel to Obasanjo, Realwan Okpanachi, told the court that the book was published before the order was granted.

Okpanachi argued that the book had been in circulation since November and the order was made on December 5.

The Counsel to Buruji Kashamu, Alex Izinyo (SAN), submitted that the defendant’s application was a calculated attempt to deceive the court.

Izinyo argued that the defendant admitted in his motion papers that the book was published on November 10 and in another paragraph, it was also stated that the book was published on November 2.

“My lord, the burden of proof lay with the defendant to show the court three volumes of the book,” he said.

Ashi adjourned to January 13 and 14, 2015 for hearing of the substantive case.

Kashamu had earlier dragged Obasanjo before the court for libel.

Kashamu alleged that Obasanjo addressed him as ex-convict in the letter he wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan titled: “Before it is too late.”

Governors behind my third term bid – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday for the first time opened up on the third term agenda in the twilight of his two-term presidency, accusing some Peoples Democratic Party governors of being behind the third term project because they were going to benefit from it.

At the launch of his autobiography titled: “My Watch,” at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja, Obasanjo denied seeking a third term but admitted he knew about it.

Obasanjo, who said he was not afraid of telling the truth, insisted that everything he wrote in the book was true.

According to him: “People say that it was obvious that I wanted a third term and I ask those who say I was behind the third term to bring concrete evidence to prove that I spearheaded it.

“I have presented evidence in my book that proves that I was not behind it, even though I knew about it.

“Some governors were the ones behind it because they felt the governors would benefit from it.

“If people say that it was obvious that I wanted a third term, they should present concrete evidence to the public that I am telling a lie.

“I have evidence to prove that everything I wrote is true and anyone that feels otherwise should present concrete evidence to prove his point.

“Third term was not my agenda or intention although I would not say I didn’t know about it.

“I didn’t mastermind third term.

“Those who were telling me to go on were the governors that were going to benefit from it.”

The former president also said he had no regrets in his involvement on how both late President Umaru Yar’Adua and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan became presidents saying: “I don’t regret bringing in Yar’Adua and Jonathan.

“If they don’t do well, those coming from behind should learn from me and do better.”

Obasanjo added that he was not infallible and people should learn from his action.

He also said that he had sought avenues to ventilate his observations and positions with President Jonathan but had to resort to writing open letters to him because his efforts were frustrated.

He also commented on the injunction restraining him from publishing his autobiography.

He said: “I had given the book to my editors and to the publisher.

“As far as I am concerned, my job is done.

“I had written the book and printed before the court injunction.

“In a normal judiciary, the judge should be sanctioned and I hope something will be done.

“We are here legally and lawfully and we will continue to act lawfully and legally.”

Yar’Adua deceived me on his health – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has accused his late successor, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, of deceiving him before he became the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2007 about the seriousness of his illness, which he never recovered from till he died in office.

In his yet-to-be-released three-part volume of his memoirs titled: “My Watch,” which was exclusively obtained by an online journal, The Cable Alert, Obasanjo revealed how late Yar’Adua gave him the impression that he had overcome his health challenges and did not act responsibly when he eventually became terminally ill.

Obasanjo was instrumental to late Yar’Adua picking the PDP presidential ticket but frequently fell ill after his election and eventually died in May 2010, paving the way for President Goodluck Jonathan, who was then vice-president to become acting president. Obasanjo was thereafter accused of deliberately installing a terminally ill Yar’Adua, a Northerner, as president, in order to eventually return power to the South through the back door.

Apparently in an attempt to fault insinuations that he knowingly installed a sick president, Obasanjo in his autobiography revealed how he was kept in the dark on Yar’Adua’s illness and the extent he went to find out the truth.

Obasanjo wrote: “As can be expected, I was heavily involved in the transition and exit process that saw me leaving office for my successor, Umaru Yar’Adua, as recounted in Chapter Thirty-seven, the ninth chapter of the second volume of this book. The unprepared and unplanned transition from Yar’Adua to Jonathan was a more difficult exercise in some respects. One reason was the ‘cloak and dagger’ manner in which Yar’Adua’s illness was handled.

“The illness of a President cannot be regarded as private. His health has implications for the security and well-being of the nation. For the president and those around him to have attempted strenuously to keep the fact of the severity of his illness from the public smacks of ignorance of the enormity of what the job entails and the level of provinciality of their understanding, attitude, and approach.

“I remember that in 1978 or 1979, Chief Awolowo visited me while I was military Head of State and shared with me how he would always stay at home to attend to the work at hand and only make a private visit to the UK once a year for health reasons if he became president of Nigeria. I made it clear to the chief that once he became president of Nigeria, he could have no private visit to anywhere as such. Wherever he would be, he would be on duty, and the totality of his life would be public. I jokingly added that the only privacy he might lay claim to would be when he was at home with Mama Chief H.I.D., and that even then his security staff would be on twenty-four-hour duty.

“That was part of the nature of the job. In the case of Umaru’s illness, it took me by surprise because I had concluded that all was well, judging from his medical report that I requested and he submitted to me and the specialist advice I received from it. The report said that once he was off dialysis it would mean that he had had a transplant or treatment that had caused his kidneys to work as normal.

“Before he went to Germany, after being rushed to the National Hospital in Abuja, he phoned to tell me that he was going out of the country for medical reasons. What he did not reveal was the nature of his illness. I, however, became somewhat apprehensive when I learned that he was placed on dialysis that night. The persistence of the illness, and the cover up, caused me more apprehension especially when he abandoned Germany for Saudi Arabia. I never heard anything from him after that. The story I heard about his visit to Saudi Arabia was awkward. He did not inform his deputy as to how to manage things in his absence.

“On arrival in Saudi Arabia he was wheeled into the Intensive Care Unit, and for at least forty-eight hours nobody was in communication with him as far as the governance of Nigeria was concerned. What it meant was that for that period of time, Nigeria had no government. What a great pity! I wanted to know more about the exact medical condition of Yar’Adua, the president of Nigeria.

“I realised that a number of countries would know for sure; among them would be Germany, the US, Saudi Arabia, the UK, France, Israel and maybe Russia. I decided to indirectly check with the ambassadors of these countries. What I heard did not allay my fears. One said, ‘Your President is surely not too well’. Another said, ‘We believe he would be able to cope.’ Both were diplomatic answers, but one was more so than the other.

“At that point, I was left in no doubt that the arrangement made was shoddy, tardy, unpatriotic, selfish, and reckless. No nation should be left hanging in such a manner. I subtly campaigned for the emergence of Jonathan as acting president to take the country out of tenterhooks.

“I also publicly made the point that if you accept responsibility for a job and, due to no fault of your own but due to circumstances beyond your control, you are incapacitated to the extent that you can no longer perform to your own satisfaction or to the satisfaction of those you are supposed to serve, morality, duty, responsibility, honour, good sense, and patriotism demand that you act appropriately.

“At the same time, as debates were going on in the media as to what should or should not be, I was consulting genuine and objective leaders of thought regarding the way to go. At that stage, almost everybody realised the position of the constitution and recommended that we stuck to its provisions. Jonathan became acting president by the action of the National Assembly.”

Impeachment threat: Presidency jittery, begs Senate

Apparently jittery about the impeachment threat looming in the Senate, the Presidency has enjoined members of the Upper Chamber to give priority attention to issues of national importance rather than spending valuable time planning to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the President, Dr. Doyin Okupe, in a statement on Wednesday, opined that important issues like terrorism and dwindling oil revenues should be the priority of the lawmakers at this trying period.

Okupe contended that the issues between the Senate and the Presidency are normal in Executive/Legislature relationships that could be resolved without resorting to impeachments.

His words: “The recent purported attempt by some Senators to prepare impeachable offences against the President, as reported in some section of the media, is seen by us in this light.

“We strongly trust and believe in the leadership of the present Senate and the unwavering patriotism and commitment that have been shown by the distinguished members and we trust that ultimately it is this tendency towards true Nationalism that will prevail in the Senate.

“It is our view that there are at present, serious fundamental issues of National importance such as winning the war against terrorism and stabilizing the economy in the face of dwindling oil revenue which requires the full attention, commitment and swift action of distinguished members of the Senate.

“We are of the opinion that all matters political can and will be resolved politically in the overall interest of our democracy and the well being of our people.”

TO GET HUSBANDS, PASTOR UNDRESSES AND KISSES FEMALE CHURCH MEMBERS ASSES AT BEACH

The world is truly coming to an end..It has been revealed that the pastor in this picture asked his female members who are spinsters to a beach where they were asked to undress and were kissed on their ass as a sign for them to receive their prospective husbands which they quickly agreed to..Can you imagine such madness.

Congo fans attack Super Eagles

Congolese fans on Saturday threw caution into the winds with an attack launched on the Super Eagles following their two nil lose to the African Champions in the AFCON 2015 qualifying tie.

The entire Stade Municipal arena become tensed up after Nigeria’s Aaron Samuel came on in the second half to increase the tally and also took the game beyond the Congolese reach.

The unruly action of the fans however forced the center referee from Egypt, Grisha Ghead, to stop the proceedings for about ten minutes before play resumed.  

Security men fired tear gas canisters to disperse the worrying fans and restore sanity in the stadium.    

The Congolese action could attract sanctions from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The Eagles also got an hostile reception on arrival in Congo with open intimidation by angry local fans who chanted ‘Nigeria Ebola!’ as the team made their way for a final training in Pointe Noire.

International condemnations trail suicide bomb attack on school in Yobe

International condemnation trailed Monday’s suicide bomb attack at a government boarding school in Potiskum, Yobe State, which reportedly killed several students and wounded others.

A statement issued by the US Embassy in Abuja condemned in the strongest terms the incessant attacks on defenceless civilians in North East Nigeria this past week.

The statement cited recent attacks in Ashura in Potiskum in Yobe State, Gombe State, Malam Fatori in Borno State and Azare in Bauchi State.

The Embassy statement said “while final numbers are not known, scores of persons have been killed or injured in these attacks.

“The U.S. offers its sincere sympathy to the injured and to the families of the murdered.

“We urge the government of Nigeria to investigate these and other attacks to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

It reiterated US’s commitment to support the people of Northern Nigeria in their struggle to stop the abhorrent actions of Boko Haram and associated terrorist groups.

In New York, the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, also condemned the bomb attack in Potiskum.

Ban extended his sincere condolences to the families of the bereaved and to the government and people of Nigeria.

A statement issued by the world body said: “The UN secretary-general is outraged by the frequency and brutality of attacks against educational institutions in the North of the country.

“The UN scribe demands an immediate cessation to these abominable crimes.”

Ban stressed the need to bring the perpetrators to justice through a process respectful of Nigeria’s human rights obligations.

He also appealed for adequate security measures for civilians.

“The UN secretary-general reiterates his firm conviction that no objective justifies wanton violence against civilians.”

Also, a statement by UNICEF warned that repeated and relentless attacks on children and schools were attacks on the future of Nigeria.

It expressed concern that Nigeria already had the largest number of children out of school in the world and the attacks on schools would exacerbate the situation.

“We call on those with the responsibility and power to bring the perpetrators of this cruel act to justice, and to uphold their responsibilities to protect children,” UNICEF said in the statement.

2015: Jonathan to declare Nov 11

President Goodluck Jonathan will formally declare his intention to contest the 2015 presidential election on Tuesday, November 11, the Chairman of the Presidential Declaration Committee, Dr. Haliru Bello, has said.

Haliru spoke with State House correspondents on Friday at the end of the committee’s inaugural meeting at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to him, the President has not said yes to the clarion call to contest the 2015 election, adding that he would make pronouncement on that day.

Haliru, a former Minister of  is however, optimistic that President Jonathan will yield to the call by Nigerians that he should seek re-election.

His words, “The President gave us the task to organise the modality of creating a platform for him to meet Nigerians and announce his response to the various calls for him to come out and declare his interest in the presidential election.

“The President has not said anything yet but it is like all Nigerians have called on him. It is our honest hope that he will come out and say yes to the demand of multitude of Nigerians.

“We expect he will say yes but we cannot say yes for him. We will wait for him to speak.

“The date that is fixed is Tuesday, November 11. On that day, there will be a forum for the President to meet Nigerians to announce his decision.

“The venue is yet to be decided. That will be decided at our next meeting.

“When we come out on November 11, the President will face the people of Nigeria and say yes to their demand.

“If he says yes, it will be yes. If he says no, then it is negative. But you are aware that our party, the PDP in all its organs, from the caucus to the Board of Trustees, NWC had decided that President Jonathan should be given the first option of refusal with the PDP ticket.

“If he is going to contest, the PDP will give him preference. As the President, he has performed and we are satisfied with what he has done.

“It is only when he declines that we can look at any other contestant”.

The inaugural meeting was attended by most members including Governors Theodre Orji of Abia, Ibrahim Shema, Katsina; Ibrahim Dakwambo, Gombe; Olusegun Mimiko, Ondo and Liyel Imoke, Cross Rivers.

It will be recalled that the Presidential declaration Committee was set up at a meeting between President Jonathan and key chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday at the Presidential Villa.

Mob burns lecturer to death for killing five pupils

Alhaji Kassimu Umar, a lecturer at the Taraba State College of Education, Zing, was on Friday burnt to death in a mob action after he allegedly hit and killed five primary school pupils with a vehicle he was driving.

Joseph Kwaji, the Police Public Relations officer of the Taraba State Police Command, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria in Jalingo.

Kwaji said that the mob forcefully removed Umar from the Pupule Police Outpost, where he went to report the incident, and burnt him to death.

He said: “In the early hours of today, one Kassimu Umar, who is believed to be a lecturer with COE, Zing had knocked down five primary school pupils in Zing, who all died on the spot.

“After he reported the incident to the Pupule Police Outstation, irate youths in their hundreds, stormed the station, dragged him out and lynched him.

“Our investigation revealed that the lecturer was trying to dodge a trailer, when he ran over the pupils whose ages ranged between eight and 11 years.”

Kwaji said that the matter was under investigation, adding that no arrest had so far been made.

Conflicting reports over killing of Abubakar Shekau

No doubt, a prominent Boko Haram commander suspected to be the sect’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, might have been killed in battles with Cameroonian and Nigerian troops in recent days.

But who actually killed Shekau and where was he killed and how authentic are the claims?

These are the two questions military authorities in the two countries are providing conflicting answers to, thus creating a confusion and making it difficult for prominent news sources like BBC, CNN and even state run media sources like CRTV in Cameroon to pick up the story.

While the Cameroon Army on Sunday night claimed responsibility for killing Shekau with photos of the Boko Haram leader’s corpse to buttress their claim, the Nigerian Army same time is also laying claim to the same feat but without photographic evidence yet.

Besides, while the former said its troops killed Shekau at the Gamboru Ngala border town, the latter said its soldiers might have killed the sect leader in Konduga, a town some kilometres away from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The Cameroon military revealed that Shekau was killed following an aerial bombardment of his hideout inside Nigeria, adding that the feat has now led to serious battle against thousands of Boko Haram fighters fleeing Gamboru Ngala trying to enter Cameroon through Fotokol, a border town.

On its part, the Nigerian military claimed that its troops might have killed Shekau on September 17 during a desperate attempt by the sect to capture Konduga as part of their plot to eventually march on and capture Maiduguri.

“It is getting more certain that the terrorists’ commander who has been mimicking Shekau in those videos is the one killed in Konduga on September 17, 2014,” the military revealed.

The military however cautioned that “the process of confirming that the dead body we have is the same as that character who has been posing as Shekau is ongoing. He is definitely a prominent terrorist commander. I don’t want to say anything about this yet please.”

The military source insisted that the resemblance between Shekau and the corpse in their custody is too striking to be a coincidence.

They cited his facial marks, beards and teeth in addition to the recovery by the Nigerian troops of some of the Armoured Vehicles and Hilux jeeps that had featured in previous videos of the prime suspect.

The source said the Defence Headquarters will soon address the nation after full investigation of their latest discovery.

Curiously, the Nigerian military had on the September 17 they claimed to have killed Shekau issued a statement announcing the capture of a top commander of the sect who was being treated in a military medical facility.

The statement, also published by iReports-ng.com, is reproduced below:

“Wednesday, September 17 was a particularly bad day for Boko Haram fighters operating in the North East as they lost scores of their members during repeated attempts to enter Konduga, about 70 kilometres to Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

“But the icing on the cake of Nigerian troops victory of the day was the capture of ‘a high ranking terrorists leader’ who was seriously wounded and is currently being treated in a military medical facility.

“Military sources stated that the terrorists’ leader whose name is still being kept secret was captured after the second but more fierce battle waged by the insurgents to capture the town following their earlier routing by the military. Among those captured Wednesday in battles were over 60 terrorists who were shot dead in gun duel.

“In addition to losing scores of their fighters, the terrorists also lost weapons and equipments including 24 riffles, five rockets propelled grenade tubes, two machine guns as well as a Ford Ranger vehicle while another Ford Ranger vehicle was destroyed.

“During the first battle of the day, which lasted over 12 hours, scores of the terrorists were killed.“Right now, our troops are combing the vicinity of the battle scene in a cordon and search operation to determine the exact casualty figures suffered by the terrorists in the encounter.”

Cameroon Concord.

Boko Haram sponsors: Beyond Stephen Davis’ revelation

 

The dust raised by the stunning exposé of Australian independent negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis, on the alleged sponsors of the Boko Haram Islamic sect, indicted former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika (retd), the usual suspect, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, former Borno State governor, and an anonymous senior official of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may not settle any time soon as fingers are now being pointed at the Presidency for hobnobbing with accused sponsors of immitigable and unmitigated terror unleashed on Nigerians.

Dr Davis alleged that prominent politicians are the chief sponsors of Boko Haram and that they channel their fund through the CBN so it appears to be legal. The official in charge of the transactions, Davis alleged, currently works in the currency operations division of the CBN. One would think the President would order security operatives to swoop on the CBN official and the two other accused persons. Hell no! Not here. The presidency would rather regard Davis’ exposé as an attempt to bring down the Goodluck Jonathan government.

Whatever must have emboldened the Hostage negotiator to name names, he has broken the official taboo against exposing persons behind atrocities like the Boko Haram menace. And Davis can’t be wrong. He has worked for three successive presidents. Even if the Jonathan presidency denies it, there is incontrovertible evidence that he was part of negotiators contracted to broker the release of the abducted Chibok girls. His revelation gives us an opportunity to nail the sect’s backers. However, there was nothing he said about the sponsors that was new.

Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has been in the news, not once or twice, for alleged links with the rampaging Jihadist fundamentalists. The sect blossomed to full terror under his ‘stewardship’ as governor of Borno state. Sometime in 2011, Senator Sheriff was named as an alleged sponsor of the sect in a confessional statement made by one Sanda Umar Konduga, an arrested spokesperson of the Boko Haram. As ex-governor, he was arrested on March 28, 2012 in Cameroon on the grounds that he was sponsoring terrorism in neighbouring Borno state. Like a tail that wags behind a dog, the tag of a Boko Haram sponsor would not sever from Modu Sheriff anywhere his name is mentioned.

Nevertheless, the hostage negotiator’s claims against Gen. Ihejirika, former Chief of Army Staff, the CBN official and Modu Sheriff are mere allegations and should be treated as such until proven otherwise.

Have we not read reports severally in the media by local mediators and military sources that Boko Haram sympathisers are in the military? Are these not indicative that the Nigerian military’s rank and file has been infiltrated by the terrorists? So, what did Stephen Davis reveal that we didn’t have the slightest hint? President Jonathan had also admitted in January 2012 that members of Boko Haram sect had infiltrated his government. The intelligence and security agencies have been infiltrated, as well.

If this war is to be won, it goes beyond naming those who fund the ceaseless bloodbaths, abduction of adolescent girls as sexual slaves, arson, maiming etc by an Australian, American, or Nigerian. The beginning of the end of this insurgency is bringing their sponsors, home or abroad to justice.

Nigerians are not stupid to think this government and security chiefs do not know the real sponsors of terrorism. Otherwise, we don’t have any intelligence service in our country. Boko Haram’s political backers are the sacred cows that cannot be brought to book. Not until we cut the source of their supplies and get those who are involved, we cannot stop them. This is the level of insincerity with which the counter terrorism war is being fought by the present day government. The battle is being prosecuted even by the military perfunctorily. Soldiers won’t literarily be fighting with bare hands if some army chiefs have not been diverting billions voted for regular upgrade of military equipment over the years.

We can make revelations on Boko Haram all we want but until suspected persons are made to face the full wrath of the law we will only be going in cycles, as usual. Considering that the same government has not prosecuted any highly placed individual indicted of corruption since President Jonathan mounted the saddle, it might be wishful thinking to assume these accused persons will be prosecuted.

No amount of pressure, it seem, will compel Mr President to order an honest investigation to a logical conclusionof indicted persons with 2015 elections just around the corner. The strategy of the President’s men is to capitalise on the festering crisis in the North East to gain sympathy votes across the country in next year’s polls. Exposing the sponsors of terror most of whom are northern political figures will be tagged witch-hunting and tantamount to political hara-kiri for President Jonathan.

“There is some level of political undertone to the problem,”Late General Andrew Owoye Azazi, former National Security Adviser, opened up on the Boko Haram onslaught. He situated the Boko Haram scourgewithin the PDP as an aftermath of the internal wrangling for the presidency during the 2011 election. He promised to release a list of politicians allegedly backing the Islamic sect. Soon after those declarations, he was unceremoniously sacked by President Jonathan and thereafter came his mysterious death, with Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna state in a copter crash. The official cause has since not been released.

The least expected of President Jonathan is for him to refer the suspects to the Special Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in view of the gravity of the allegations of crimes against humanity perpetrated by the political backers of the extremist group as any local investigation conducted by the federal government may be manipulated by vested political interests, radical lawyer, Femi Falana forthrightly advised.

There’s no better window than the heightened attacks to seize territories and declare caliphates of the past few weeks for the Commander-in-Chief and President to go after the sponsors of the sect. This government may risk being branded complicit if these allegations go uninvestigated especially as the present administration have chosen instead, to hobnob with persons indicted with allegations of terrorism, than shove them to justice. The sight of President Goodluck Jonathan all smiles with Ali Modu Sheriff in Chad sent niggles and ruckus back home. Mr Jonathan gave Sheriff the privilege of partaking in a closed door deliberation on terrorism he had with the Chadian President. Modu Sheriff, the de facto poster-politician allegedly sponsoring Boko Haram, as one writer described him, has since taken refuge in the ruling party by defecting from the APC, apparently to shield himself from prosecution.

Sadly, except these indicted persons are dragged before the International Criminal Court (ICC) by concerned Nigerians or civil and human rights organisations, we may not win this fight against insurgency in the remaining months of this administration.

Why Jonathan can’t prosecute Sheriff, other Boko Haram sponsors – Wole Soyinka

Nobel Laurette and social critic, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has adduced reasons why President Goodluck Jonathan is unwilling to prosecute alleged Boko Haram sponsors.

Chief, among this, Soyinka said in a statement on Saturday, was the 2015 re-election ambition of Jonathan.

Soyinka, in the statement, said Jonathan has compromised in the bid to push through his ambition despite evidences that have been made available to him by not just the Boko Haram Australian negotiator, Stephen Davis, but also himself, the international community and Nigerian security agencies.

Nobel Laurette and social critic, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has adduced reasons why President Goodluck Jonathan is unwilling to prosecute alleged Boko Haram sponsors.

Chief, among this, Soyinka said in a statement on Saturday, was the 2015 re-election ambition of Jonathan.

Soyinka, in the statement, said Jonathan has compromised in the bid to push through his ambition despite evidences that have been made available to him by not just the Boko Haram Australian negotiator, Stephen Davis, but also himself, the international community and Nigerian security agencies.

Davis had two weeks ago mentioned a former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff; and a former Chief of Army State, retired General Azubuike Ihejirika, among the sponsors of Boko Haram.

To worsen matters, President Jonathan appeared in a photograph with Sheriff during his visit to Chad where he had audience with President Idriss Deby this week.

Soyinka said information available to Jonathan should have made him step out against Sheriff, Ihejirika and the other Boko Haram sponsors, including a highly placed official of the Central Bank of Nigeria, whose name was not given, but for his 2015 ambition.

He said: “Again, Goodluck Jonathan swung into a plausible explanation: it was Mr. Sheriff who, as friend of the host President Idris Deby, had traveled ahead to Chad to receive Jonathan as part of President Deby’s welcome entourage. What, however does this say of any president? How come it that a suspected affiliate of a deadly criminal gang, publicly under such ominous cloud, had the confidence to smuggle himself into the welcoming committee of another nation, and even appear in audience, to all appearance a co-host with the president of that nation? Where does the confidence arise in him that Jonathan would not snub him openly or, after the initial shock, pull his counterpart, his official host aside and say to him, “Listen, it’s him, or me.”? So impunity now transcends boundaries, no matter how heinous the alleged offence?”

Soyinka said it was also a shame that those close to the President could use the platform of his re-election campaign to mock a serious issue such as the Bring Back Our Girls Campaign with the banner of Bring Back Jonathan in 2015.

He said: “President Jonathan has since disowned all knowledge or complicity in the outrage but, the damage has been done, the rot in a nation’s collective soul bared to the world. The very possibility of such a desecration took the Nigerian nation several notches down in human regard. It confirmed the very worst of what external observers have concluded and despaired of – a culture of civic callousness, a coarsening of sensibilities and, a general human disregard. It affirmed the acceptance, even domination of lurid practices where children are often victims of unconscionable abuses including ritual sacrifices, sexual enslavement, and worse. Spurred by electoral desperation, a bunch of self-seeking morons and sycophants chose to plumb the abyss of self-degradation and drag the nation down to their level. It took us to a hitherto unprecedented low in ethical degeneration. The bets were placed on whose turn would it be to take the next potshots at innocent youths in captivity whose society and governance have failed them and blighted their existence? Would the Chibok girls now provide standup comic material for the latest staple of Nigerian escapist diet? Would we now move to a new export commodity in the entertainment industry named perhaps “Taunt the Victims”?”

The Nobel Laurette said the position of Davis on the alleged Boko Haram suspect should not be doubted by Nigerians.

He said he was sure of the pedigree of the Australian, whom he has worked with for several years.

He also gave his backing to the decision of human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), to head to court if President Jonathan does not commence the prosecution of the alleged Boko Haram sponsors.

FG to male survivors of Ebola: Don’t have sex for seven weeks

Dr. Bridget Okoeguale, the Director of the Department of Public Health, gave advice during interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday that the Federal Ministry of Health has advised men who were treated and discharged of the Ebola virus to avoid sexual intercourse for at least seven weeks.

Okoeguale said this was in line with protocols issued by the World Health Organisation.

She said: “There are many literatures that say that after men are infected and the virus is not found in the blood, it tends to stay in the semen for about seven weeks to three months.

“We advice them to abstain from sex but where they cannot abstain, they are provided condoms and after the (abstinence) period, we double test to make sure they are free.”

On the treatment of Ebola patients, Okoeguale said no drugs or vaccinations were given to them, adding that health authorities had complied with WHO treatment protocol.

Okoeguale said everybody had his/her own body reaction, “so our own is to help build their immunity, give them fluid to replace lost fluid through vomiting and diarrhoea”.

She explained that the patients were also placed on electrolyte by intravenous fluid to avoid dehydration, adding that those who were anaemic had blood transfusion and that the supportive care that has helped us to be able to discharge more than five people,” 

The director also advised the general public to avoid crowded social gathering.

She said: “We are not advising people not to go to club or bar but if you have to just remember that you must keep your hands clean, avoid contact with as many people as possible.”

She urged Nigerians not to consider the disease as a death sentence and that recent cases had shown survival rates for patients were high with early detection and treatment.

Cameroon kills 27 Boko Haram militants in border clashes

The Boko Haram fighters were reported to have crossed Nigeria’s border into Cameroon earlier this week after attacking a military base and police station in Borno State, north east Nigeria.                  The attack was said to have apparently sent some 480 Nigerian troops retreating across the frontier.             

“Cameroon soldiers have killed 27 Boko Haram elements during an attack in a locality near Fotokol in the far-north,

It added that the deaths occurred on Monday and Tuesday but there was no word on any Cameroonian casualties.

A Cameroonian soldier in the region said the militants had been pushed back into Nigeria, with calm returning to the area on Wednesday.

In recent weeks, Boko Haram, which is seeking to carve out a de facto Islamic state in northern Nigeria, has stepped up attacks in Cameroon.

It has forced the central African country to increase deployments along its jungle border.

But Cameroon has not always been successful in fending off Boko Haram raids.

Last month, President Paul Biya dismissed two senior army officers following attacks in which at least seven people were killed and the wife of the vice prime minister was kidnapped.

 

Ebola: Another infected Nigerian for discharge on Wednesday

Patrick Sawyer One of the primary contacts of the index case of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeriais is to be discharged from his isolation ward on Wednesday.

This followed the successful recovery of the victim, who was infected by the Liberian-American.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, who confirmed this on Monday, said so far Nigeria has 13 recorded cases of the EVD.

Chukwu said the reduction in the number of cases from 14 to 13 was as a result of the fact that one of those initially counted as having come down with the disease had tested negative.

Speaking through his media aide, Dan Nwomeh, the minister said: “One Ebola patient under treatment has recovered and almost ready for discharge.

Nwomeh, who made the announcement via his Twitter handle, further said: “Explanation for reduction from 14 to 13 is that the 14th case initially announced as positive turned out to be a false positive." Chukwu put the statistics for the EVD in Nigeria as five dead, five discharged and three undergoing treatment at the isolation ward run by the Lagos State Government in Yaba area of the state.

Nwomeh said Nigeria now has only three Ebola patients under treatment at the isolation ward with one of them to be discharged on Wednesday.”

OJB escapes death in Lagos auto crash

Top music producer OJB Jezreel, has again cheated death for the second time month after a successful surgery in India. 

This time it was in a car accident that occurred along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

It was learnt  that the accident occurred on August 10, while OJB was returning from a trip with his friend.

An eyewitness account reaching us indicate that he drove the car and lost control.

The car was reportedly shattered and damaged beyond repair, while both occupants sustained degrees of injuries.

After their treatment at an undisclosed hospital, OJB, we were told, has been on crutches.

He is however said to be recovering fast and would soon drop the crutches.

Ebola kills Liberia doctor despite ZMapp treatment

A Liberian doctor has died despite taking an experimental anti-Ebola drug.

Abraham Borbor was one of three doctors in Liberia who had been given ZMapp and were showing signs of recovery.

ZMapp has been credited with helping several patients recover, including two US doctors.

More than 1,400 people have died from Ebola this year in four West African countries – Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

Borbor “was showing signs of improvement but yesterday he took a turn for the worse,” Liberian Information Minister, Lewis Brown, told the BBC.

“What this means for the drugs, I don’t know,” the minister added, without giving further details.

It is believed Dr. Borbor died in the capital Monrovia.

Dr. Borbor was the deputy chief medical doctor at the country’s largest hospital.

Liberia has recently imposed a quarantine in parts of Monrovia to try to stop the spread of the virus.

Last Thursday, police fired live rounds and tear gas during protests among residents of the city’s West Point slum.

Liberia has seen the most deaths – more than 570 – in what is now the worst Ebola outbreak in history.

UK isolation case

In a separate development on Monday, a UK volunteer nurse is being treated at a London hospital after contracting Ebola in Sierra Leone – the first confirmed case of a Briton contracting the virus in the current outbreak.

William Pooley, 29, returned to the UK on Sunday and is being kept in a special isolation unit.

Supplies of Zmapp are thought to have been used up and he is not currently being treated with the drug.

However, officials have not ruled the use of Zmapp or similar treatments.

His family said he was receiving “excellent care”.

Meanwhile, Japan said it was ready to allow shipments of an experimental anti-viral drug to help combat the Ebola outbreak.

It is not clear whether T-705 (or Avigan) will actually work against Ebola, and no monkey or human trials of the drug have been done, the BBC’s Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo reports.

T-705 was developed by Japan’s Toyama Chemicals company for use against new strains of influenza.

It was approved by the Japanese government earlier this year.

Japan says it is ready to ship Avigan even without approval by the World Health Organization.

Prison term warning

Ebola is spread between humans through direct contact with infected body fluids and several doctors and health workers have died.

It is one of the world’s deadliest diseases, with up to 90 per cent of cases resulting in death, although in the current outbreak the rate is about 55 per cent.

The speed and extent of the outbreak was “unprecedented”, the World Health Organization said last week.

An estimated 2,615 people in West Africa have been infected with Ebola since March.

On Saturday, Sierra Leone’s parliament passed a new law making it a criminal offence to hide Ebola patients.

If approved by the president, those caught face up to two years in prison.

Iran nuclear probe reaches deadline, no word yet on outcome

  A deadline for Iran to answer U.N. nuclear watchdog questions about suspected atomic bomb research was reached on Monday without any immediate word on whether Tehran had provided the information.

Western officials have long said Iran must address the U.N. agency's suspicions about its work and that this would be an important boost for parallel diplomatic efforts to end a decade-old dispute over the country's nuclear programme.

Washington and its allies have accused Iran of working to produce an atomic weapons capability, raising fears of a new Middle East war. Iran has dismissed the accusations, saying its work is focussed on generating electricity and other peaceful projects.

Diplomats told Reuters last week that the long-running inquiry by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) appeared to be making only slow headway, casting doubt on whether Iran would fully meet the Aug. 25 target date.

They said there was still time for Iran to respond to the questions, noting that it had occasionally waited until the last minute to make concessions in the past. Officials said Tehran might also provide the information a few days late.

There was no immediate comment from Tehran and the IAEA said it would not comment on the issue on Monday. Diplomats say the watchdog may only release details of any Iranian response in its next quarterly report, expected in early September.

The Islamic republic has promised to cooperate with the IAEA since Hassan Rouhani, widely seen as a pragmatist, was elected Iranian president in mid-2013.

Tehran agreed in May to take five steps by late August, including information on alleged explosives experimentation, and studies related to calculating nuclear explosive yields.

Western diplomats say Iran needs to help clear up the IAEA's suspicions if it wants to reach a broader diplomatic deal in the separate negotiations with the United States, France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia.

Those talks are focussed on persuading Iran to curb its atomic activities in exchange for a lifting of sanctions that are hurting its oil-dependent economy.

With major gaps remaining over what will be permitted in Iran's uranium-enrichment programme - activity which can have both civilian and military uses - those talks were extended in July until Nov. 24.

After years of what the West saw as Iranian stonewalling, Iran as a first step in May gave the IAEA information about why it was developing exploding bridge wire detonators, which can be used to set off atomic explosive devices. Iran says they are for civilian use.

The areas that the IAEA wants Iran to address were listed in a report published in the watchdog in 2011 that included a trove of intelligence indicating a concerted weapons programme that was halted in 2003, when Iran came under increased international pressure. The intelligence also suggested some activities may later have resumed.