Army intercepts arms-loaded petrol tanker vehicle in Kebbi

The Army has announced the interception of a petrol tanker vehicle loaded with arms and ammunition in Kebbi State.
The Commanding Officer, 1 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Sunday Ilori, told newsmen on Saturday in Birnin Kebbi that the vehicle, bearing the logo of Mobil Oil, was intercepted on July 11, in a joint operation with men of the Department of State Security.
Ilori listed the items recovered in the fuel compartment of the oil tanker as three AK 47 Riffles, one RPG-2, nine AK 47 magazines, two bombs, three RPG chargers and 790 rounds of 7.62mm of special ammunition.
He said: “The arrest and confiscation of arms was sequel to the on-going operations of the 1 Battalion of the Nigerian Army with headquarters in Sokoto, against insurgency and insurgent activities within its area of responsibilities.
“The efforts resulted in the arrest of one suspect, arms and ammunition and a petrol tanker on July 11, 2013 after a combined operation between the 1 Battalion of the Nigerian Army and the State Security Services.”
He added that two other suspects had escaped when the vehicle was intercepted, adding that investigation was on to “unravel the source and ownership of the arms and ammunition.”
The commanding officer appealed to the public to continue supporting the Army and other security agencies in the current war against insurgents in the country.
The suspect claimed that he was paid N500,000 to deliver the items to Sokoto and that the owners had threatened to eliminate his family.

Al-Mustapha visits TB Joshua after release from prison

After his release from the Ikoyi Prisons in Lagos State on Friday, the first place a former Chief Security Officer to the late General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, visited was the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Ejigbo are of Lagos State.
Al-Mustapha was there to see the founder of the church, Pastor T.B. Joshua.
Available information has it that Joshua stood by Al-Mustapha throughout his days in incarceration.
Joshua, who spoke with a news hound after the visit, said he got to know Al-Mustapha when Abacha was in power.
He said his visit to the seat of power in Abuja was necessitated by the need to clear his name sequel to a petition to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency that he was into drugs.
The short interview with Pastor Joshua, ran thus:
Can you tell us the purpose of Mustapha’s visit to you?
I got to know him many years ago when a petition was addressed to General Bamaiyi, who was the then Chairman of the NDLEA. As you know, several efforts had been made by my detractors to bring me and my ministry down. One of those efforts was that petition. I was arrested for investigation and it was later discovered that it was a tissue of lies. I spent nine days with them for investigation and they found the whole thing to be a fabrication. From there, I was taken to Aso Rock (City of Power) to see the president. It was there that I met Mustapha. I was able to reveal to them who I am by telling them what was to come as a prophet. One of those things I mentioned to them and to Mustapha in particular, was what he went through, though he did not believe me then. That was why when it came to pass, I was the first person he remembered. I told him that he would spend several years in prison and would be finally released, which no one else had ever told him. That is why you see him coming here as his first port of call. Where there is no vision, people perish. I am surprised you are asking me why he is coming here first. When you look into your archives as journalists, you will find many stories in the past about my visit to Aso Rock, (City of Power) while Bamaiyi was Chairman of NDLEA. Many magazines and newspapers published my visions and prophecies on the government and the presidency. When you know your picture of tomorrow, it will impart a strength to endure your present difficulty. When you know what you are passing through now will not last long, you will endure it. This is vision. This is prophecy. This can only come by revelation. This is what the Bible means by: Where there is no vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29:18). I will leave you here.

Boko Haram kills 29 students, teacher in Yobe

No fewer than 29 students and a teacher were shot dead in the wee hours of Saturday at the Government Secondary School in Mamudo, a village about 5km from Potiskum, Yobe State by suspected members of Boko Haram.
According to reports monitored on the Associated Press website, the attack was carried out at about 3am on Saturday.
Among those left dead were two brothers aged 10 and 12.
Their father, Malam Abdullahi, a farmer, told AP after finding the bodies of the 10-year-old, who was shot in the back as he apparently tried to run away, and the 12-year-old, who was shot in the chest: “That’s it, I’m taking my other boys out of school.”
Abdullahi, who said he had three younger children in a nearby school, added: “It’s not safe.
“The gunmen are attacking schools and there is no protection for students despite all the soldiers.”
The only teacher who was killed, Mohammed Musa, teaches English.
Musa was reported to have been shot in the chest.
Some of the students were reportedly burnt alive.