Security: Senators to meet Jonathan

The Senate at Wednesday’s plenary mandated some of its members to meet with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on the security challenges confronting the nation.

The meeting is sequel to its deliberation on Tuesday during which the senators resolved that in order to curb the security challenges in the country, there was a need for synergy between the legislature and the executive.

The following senators, led by the Senate President, Senator Dxvid Mark, were mandated to meet with the President: Senators James Manager, Helen Esuene, Uche Chukwumerije, Chris Anyanwu, Barnabas Gemade, Zaynab Kure, Mohammed Ali Ndume, Ahmed Zanna, Maina Maaji Lawan, Buka Abba Ibrahim and Babafemi Ojudu.

The meeting which is scheduled for Wednesday (today) will take place at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja.

Meanwhile the Senate on Wednesday congratulated Nigerian workers on the occasion of the Workers Day, which takes place on Thursday.

According to Mark, the senators appreciated Nigerian workers for doing their best in a very difficult environment.

He said the legislature has a major responsibility to create a conducive environment for the workers through the laws they make and the motion they move.

The Senate subsequently dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the report of the Joint Committee on FCT and Finance on the Federal Capital Internal Revenue Board Bill 2013.

EFCC Press Release: Seven Undergraduates Arrested In Lekki Raid

Press release from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Find below... 
A surprise dawn raid on two houses in the Lekki area of Lagos on April 6, yielded the arrest of seven suspects, all undergraduates studying various courses in some of the nation’s tertiary institutions.
The undergraduates, who are within the age-range of 21 and 29 years, include Elete Fred Debi, a 500-level student of Physics/Production Technology of the University of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. Others are: Ese Iriruaga, 300-level student of Geology, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State; Couson Jimmy, 300-level student of Computer Science, Benson Idahosa, University, Benin-City, Edo State; Anthony Onos, 200-level student of Political Science, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State; Omene Stephen, 200l student of Computer Science, University of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State; Kome Emmanuel, 200l student of Petroleum Engineering, University of Port-Harcourt and Shola Muyiwa of the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, Delta State.

They were picked in two houses at Lekki County Homes and Lekki Phase One, both in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State following an intelligence report on their alleged involvement in sundry internet scams.

The suspects have all made useful statements. One of them, Shola Muyiwa, confessed that, he recently collected $100 from one of his victims, Dora Hunt, based in North Carolina, United States of America.

Various items were recovered from the suspects such as laptop computers, expensive phones, Ipads and exotic cars, including a Range Rover Evogue; Honda Crosstour , Mercedeze Benz C 300 4matic, S 300 Mercedes Benz and Acura ZDX SUV.

The suspects will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.

Scores dead as bomb explodes in fully loaded luxury bus in Abuja, plus photographs

Scores of people have been reported dead following a bomb explosion in the Nyanyan area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The explosive was planted inside a fully loaded luxury bus.

The blast occurred in the early hours of Monday.

Casualty figure was yet to be confirmed as at press time and no one has claimed responsibility.

Seven policemen, guard killed as 200 bandits storm Jigawa town

Bandits on Wednesday attacked a police station, a bank and a Sharia Court and killed eight people, including seven policemen, in Gwaram town, Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 1, Tambari Muhammed, made this known when he spoke with newsmen in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital.

Muhammed said that four mobile policemen, three conventional policemen and one civilian guard were killed in the attack.

According to him, about 200 attackers entered the town with motorcycles and cars at about 1am.

The AIG described the situation as unfortunate in the state that had been enjoying peace for long.

He added that from the information made available to the police, the bandits used explosives to attack the bank, police station and court.

Muhammed said that no arrest had been made but more armed policemen had been deployed to the area.

The same bank was attacked in Gwaram in 2012.

Abductors demand N60m ransom for Clark’s son

The kidnappers of Ebiteme, the son of Chief Edwin Clark, have demanded N60 million ransom from the family to set him free.

Ebiteme was abducted on Wednesday in Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

DSP Celestina Kalu, the Police Public Relations Officer in Delta State, announced this in Warri on Friday in a telephone interview with News Agency of Nigeria.

Kalu said one suspect had been arrested in connection with the crime and was helping the police with useful information.

She added that the police had intensified their search for the kidnappers.

She said: “The kidnappers have contacted the family and they are demanding N60 million to release of their victim.

“The police are on the trail of the abductors and I can assure you that we are getting close to their base.

“We will do everything to ensure the victim is released unharmed.”

A member of the family simply told NAN that negotiation with the kidnappers was ongoing.

Ebiteme was abducted on April 2 at the site of Edwin Clark University of Technology in Kiagbodo.

10 Nigerians hospitalized in South Africa following gang attack

10 Nigerians are now hospitalized while 25 shops owned by Nigerians have been looted following attacks by organized gangs in South Africa.

The President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, Ikechukwu Anyene, told the News Agency of Nigeria on phone from Pretoria on Friday that the attack began last week in Johannesburg and later spread to Pretoria this week.

Anyene said commercial taxi drivers led the attack against Nigerians in Pretoria while unknown gangs attacked Nigerians in Johannesburg.

Anyene said one Nigerian in hospital was still in coma when officials of the Union and the Nigerian high commission in South Africa visited the injured in hospitals.

He said: “Officials of Nigerian mission in South Africa and Union officers went round today to assess the extent of damage done to business centres and shops owned by Nigerians.

“In Pretoria, 25 shops belonging to Nigerians were attacked and looted by the gang.

“Ten Nigerians are now receiving treatment in some hospitals while one of them is still in coma.”

Anyene said the gang alleged that Nigerians were selling drugs to South Africans and used the opportunity to attack and loot their shops.

He added: “We have reported the incident to the police in the central business district of Pretoria, where the bulk of the attacks took place.

“The South African police have made entry on our report and pledged to investigate the attacks.

“We have also appealed to our people (Nigerians) to be calm and law abiding because the Union and the Nigerian mission are handling the situation.

“As we speak, we have not recorded any attack today, April 5, and everywhere is calm.”

The President said the Nigerian mission in South Africa has also pledged to take up the matter with South African authorities.

21 killed in Borno suicide bombing

No fewer than 21 persons, including six terrorists, have been confirmed dead in the failed suicide bomb attempt in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The suicide bombers, who were said to be heading to the office of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on the Maiduguri-Damboa Road, were accosted by officers and men of the Nigerian Army at a checkpoint. This was at Mulai, shortly before the NNPC office.

Shots from the military aimed at the vehicles in which the suspected bombers were riding detonated the explosives in the vehicle. Fifteen civilians were confirmed dead, while six of the terrorists equally died. Four soldiers were reported to have been wounded.

The Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, confirmed the development.

Olukolade said one of the terrorists was apprehended. Eight vehicles were destroyed in the incident, he added.