News
Straight from the Headlines! What Everyone was Talking About This Week
News about the activities of dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, hasn’t ceased to crowd our newspaper headlines. Deadly blasts initiated by the sect rocked the Army and Airforce Barracks in Kaduna early this week causing extensive damage and killing an unspecified number of people. Also, suspected Boko Haram members delivered a video tape to the office of the Nigerian Television Authority stating that they would negotiate with the Federal Government and mentioned names of people they wanted included in the dialogue. While the veracity of the source of this video is still being confirmed, other separate attacks in the country such as the killing of a 25 year-old girl in Lagos and the shooting of a driver in Onitsha has sparked up several protests and debates about the state of security in the country.
The news might be gloomy, but there is still hope for Nigeria as we continue to pray for our nation.
NATIONAL
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu was on Tuesday February 7 named the head of a newly-constituted 16-man task force on petroleum. Ribadu, Action Congress of Nigeria’s presidential candidate in 2011 and former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will now be saddled with ensuring probity and accountability in the petroleum industry. The committee was set up by the Minister of Petroleum Resources and will oversee the automation of tracking, monitoring and online validation of all income and debt drivers of the petroleum ministry and the integration of systems and technologies across the production chain to determine and monitor crude oil production and exports.
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Multiple explosions rocked the Kaduna metropolis as bombs allegedly planted by members of the radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram went off in two military formations and under the popular Kawo Flyover in the state capital on Tuesday February 7. The explosions which began at about 11.45am at the One Division of the Nigerian Army Headquarters, Kaduna left heavy casualties while the alleged suicide bomber was shot dead by soldiers.
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A video allegedly released by the extremist Islamic sect, Boko Haram was sent to the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA with the possibility of considering the invitation to dialogue with the Federal Government as it named some Northern leaders to negotiate with the government on its behalf.
However, the Federal Government on Wednesday said it doubted the veracity of the purported video message of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, aired on the NTA on Tuesday night. Those named in the video on the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, are: Sheik Abubakar Gero, Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno, Alh Ali Bukar Ibrahim, the former governor of Yobe State.
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- Kabir Sokoto
Fleeing suspected Boko Haram bomber, Kabiru Umar aka Kabiru Sokoto, was rearrested on Friday February 10. Security sources said the fugitive Boko Haram kingpin and suspected mastermind of the Christmas Day 2011 bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State was picked up in a hut in Mutum Biu, Taraba State around 4am.
LOCAL
- Damilola Sowemimo
A female banker with the United Bank for Africa, Damilola Sowemimo was on Sunday February 5 2012 killed by two armed robbers operating on a motorcycle. Damilola, 25, was killed in front of her parents house at Ajao Estate in Lagos on her way to church. Eyewitness report said that they stole her phone and also attempted to snatch her handbag but she engaged them in a struggle and was then shot.
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Commercial motorcyclists, known as Okada riders, in Lagos have sued the state government over its proposed plan to ban or restrict their operations in the state. The motorcycle operators, under the umbrella of four associations, filed the suit dated February 8, 2012, at a Federal High Court in Ikeja through their counsel, Mr. Bamidele Aturu.
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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Wednesday asked a Lagos High Court in Ikeja to stay execution of its earlier order that the anti-drug law agency should pay N25m to Nollywood actor, Mr. Babatunde Omidina, aka Baba Suwe, for violating his rights to personal liberty. Justice Yetunde Idowu fixed March 2 for ruling on the application. Idowu, in her judgment condemned the agency’s disregard for the actor’s constitutionally guaranteed rights, and also ordered the agency to tender public apology published on “conspicuous pages of two national daily newspapers within 21 days.”
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A mobile policeman on Thursday February 9 allegedly shot and killed a commercial bus driver after the latter refused to give him N50 in Onitsha. The incident occurred at about 10 a.m. at the Upper New Market Road, Onitsha, near the zonal office of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). Shortly after, the city was filled with protests and tension as drivers trooped out from different locations to protest the killing of their colleague by the policeman.
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How do you feel about what happened in the country this week? What other stuff happened that you would like to share?
Have a great weekend!
