Few days after suspected Boko Haram gunmen killed seven students and two teachers in Nigeria’s north eastern city of Damaturu, Yobe state, the militants have struck again in Maiduguri, Borno state, attacking students in a private school.
This time, they killed nine students as they sat for their final exam, local people said Tuesday.
The latest attack, in a region that is a stronghold of the Islamist rebel group Boko Haram, happened on Monday in the Jajeri suburb of the city, they said.
Shekau: his men attacked private school
“Nine of the students died instantly,” he said, blaming members of Boko Haram.
David Buba, a student at the school who was on the premises when the attack happened, told AFP he had lost a friend in the attack.
“I was within the school premises on Monday afternoon when I started hearing gunshots,” he said.
“I initially thought it was outside the school but when I saw people running, I was confused and hid somewhere in fear until 30 minutes later when corpses of our students were brought out of the exam hall.”
A security force spokesman could not be reached to confirm the attack.
Overnight Sunday to Monday, suspected Boko Haram gunmen opened fire on a secondary school in Damaturu, in the neighbouring state of Yobe to the west, killing seven students and two teachers.
Two of the attackers were also killed, said the army.
Boko Haram, whose name roughly translates as “Western education is sin,” has carried out multiple attacks on schools in violence-torn northeast Nigeria.
The group has said it is fighting to create an Islamic state in the country’s mainly Muslim north.
In May, the army launched a major offensive against the group in Nigeria’s three northeastern states: Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, and imposed a state of emergency.
In an audio message obtained by AFP on Tuesday, Abu Zinnira, who claimed to speak for Boko Haram, accused the youth of Maiduguri and Yobe of collaborating with the authorities.
“We hereby declare an all-out war on you because you have formed an alliance with the Nigerian military and police to fight our brethren,” he said.
Speaking in Hausa, the most common language in northern Nigeria, he added: “We call on any parent that values the life of his son to stop him from exposing our members otherwise he is dead.”
A statement issued on Monday by army spokesman Brigadier General Chris Olukolade praised the initiative of some local people, “…particularly youths organised into vigilante groups to join the efforts to fish out the terrorists within their communities”.
At least 9,000 Nigerians, mainly women and children, have fled the recent army operation to neighbouring countries, mainly Niger and Cameroon, the UN refugee agency said Tuesday.
In addition, a local official in the northeast of the country said some 19,000 wheat and rice farmers had been forced from their fields, raising concerns over potential food shortages.
The Boko Haram insurgency has left some 3,600 people dead since 2009, according to Human Rights Watch.
That figure includes killings by the security services, who rights groups have accused of carrying out widespread abuses.
Man Burns 12-Year Old Girl With Pressing Iron
P.M.NEWS
gathered that the girl, a native of Anambra state, whose mother is in
Lagos State, was staying with the Immigration officer’s family in
Ilorin.“My master, Mr. Afolayan, had asked me to prepare rice but as it was taking too long for the food to be ready he first beat me mercilessly and latter tied me up and used an electric pressing iron to inflict all the injuries on my body,” the victim narrated.
A source in the neighbourhood along Basin Road in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that the manner in which the girl was treated was dehumanising and inhuman, adding there was little they could do since they were not a party to her being brought into the house, hence they could not challenge the couple.
When
A neighbour, however, noticed the manner the girl was being maltreated
and reported the matter at the Ministry of Women Affairs.While reacting to the dastardly act, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in the state, Mrs. Comfort Afolayan, said the ministry went to report at the anti-child trafficking department of “A” Division Police Station after which Afolayan was arrested.
“The victim has been arrested, while the child is in our custody at the Motherless Babies’ Home, Gaa Akanbi, Ilorin, where she is being taken care of before we take her back to her family.
“As a mother, not even as the Commissioner for Women affairs And Social Welfare, the act is very horrible. As a mother, who has gone through the process of child bearing, you cannot see that situation and keep quiet. Such a treatment is not acceptable.
“The
Ministry will not relent in its efforts to protect the rights of
children. We have been embarking on rigorous enlightenment programmes
on child abuse and child labour, even after all these efforts, people
are still involved in such practices,” she said.The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Fabode Olufemi, confirmed the incident, saying a warrant of arrest has been issued to effect the arrest of the suspect, assuring that the police would do everything possible to bring the culprit to justice.
Okada Ban: Bicycles To The Rescue In Benin
Following the ban on the use of motorcycles and tricycles both for private and commercial purposes in Benin City metropolis of Edo State, southsouth Nigeria, stranded commuters have resorted to the use of bicycles as alternative means of getting to their various destinations.
Hundreds of other commuters who could not get spaces in the commuter buses plying the routes resorted to trekking.
While bicycles dealers and repairers are reaping the gains from the ban on commercial motorcycle operators, their counterparts in the motorcycles sub-sector of the transport industry have all their shops closed due to non patronage.
•A heap of imported fairly used bicycles in Benin this morning. PHOTO: JETHRO IBILEKE
It was learnt that a bicycle now costs between N14,000 and N35,000, depending on their sizes and quality, as against the old price of N10,000,
Some bicycle dealers were also seen bringing imported fairly used bicycles to the state from overseas to stock their stores.
One of such dealers, Nkenna Chukwu, who bought 80 bicycles from abroad, said he decided to buy them to meet the demands of prospective buyers.
Another dealer at Ugbague who was too busy to talk to press due to upsurge of customers, said he decided to import new brand of bicycles to meet the demands of his customers.
Chairman of motorcycle dealers association, Edo State chapter, Daniel Chukwukere, said his members decided to close their shops due to the ban on the activities of commercial motorcycle operators in Benin metropolis.
Chukwukere who put the numerical strength of the association at over 2000, disclosed that they were indebted to banks from which they got loans to finance their business, adding that some of them were also indebted to their various landlords.
He called on Governor Adams Oshiomhole to temper justice with mercy by extending the deadline on the ban on motorcycles to January next year, without which he said their investments were heading for doom.
Also speaking, Chairman of commercial tricycle operators, Sylvester Odeh, said they were still negotiating with the state government on the need to give them more time.
Meanwhile, some security operatives, specifically men of the Nigerian Army, have flagrantly flouted government’s directives on the ban on motorcycles as means of transportation in the city.
Chairman of the State Committee on War Against Indiscipline (WAI), Babatunde Olukonga, disclosed that compliance with the directive was at about 85 percent.
He however decried the non-compliance by some security personnel.
Olukonga disclosed that military personnel riding motorcycles also threatened to fight those trying to enforce the order.
Fidau: Lagos Stands Still For Abibat Mogaji
Eminent Nigerians from all walks of life, defied the early Tuesday morning rain and gathered at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, for the three-day Fidau for the late President/Iyaloja General, Nigeria Market Men and Women, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji.
Alhaja Mogaji, the mother of the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, died on Saturday, 15 June, 2013 at the age of 96 and was buried on Sunday, 16 June.
•Market women at the fidau for the late Abibat Mogaji today at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. PHOTO: OLUWASANMI JOSEPH
Others are federal and state high court judges, members of House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly, commissioners, local government chairmen, religious leaders, traditional rulers, members Market Men and Women Associations, artisans, ethnic groups among others.
Speaking with P.M.NEWS, the lawmaker representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, described Alhaja Mongaji as a notable rights activist in her own right.
He described her as the pillar of support not only to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, her son, but also to the entire followers and believers in Tinubu’s school of politics.
He said Alhaja Mogaji would be best remembered for her caring, accommodating and as well as industrious nature throughout her life time.
GOS, as he is also called, added that she will be remembered for touching the lives of many across the country.
Member of the House of Representatives for Ikeja Federal Constituency, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, said: “Though Mama was old, nobody wants to lose any of his loved ones and definitely we are no exception. She was our mother and I in particular am very devastated by the news.
According to the former Chairman of Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), “Mama’s death has deprived us of a pillar of support. We will miss her prayers, advice, motherly care and affection.
Meanwhile, markets across the state remained shut as a mark of honour for the late Iyaloja.
As a result of this, activities in major markets, including Computer Village at Ikeja in the state were virtually paralysed Tuesday.
Commuter Bus Drivers Protest In Ikoyi
They were protesting against alleged indiscriminate seizure of their vehicles by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA and Task Force.
The drivers alleged that LASTMA officials and the Lagos State Task Force usually impound their buses on the excuse that the state government has banned commuter vehicles from plying Ikoyi and its environs.
•Stranded commuters waiting to board buse at Obalende this morning
A commuter, Mr. Joseph Etuk, who claimed that he works at Gerhard Road in Ikoyi, also begged the governor to call the security personnel and LASTMA officials to order because their activities are affecting not only the transport workers but commuters who are working in the area.
He said since last week when the officials began to arrest commuter bus drivers plying the area, commuters have found it difficult to get to their places of work on time.
“What we are saying is that, apart from the green and white painted buses plying Ikoyi, there is no other alternative means of transportation to the area. If the government wants to ban commuter buses from plying Ikoyi, it should first announce it to the public and provide alternative means of transportation to the area.
“We are appealing to Governor Fashola to call the security men to order and stop the arrest of commuter bus drivers conveying us to our places of work on a daily basis. But we still believe that the governor is not aware of what is happening to bus drivers and commuters plying Ikoyi axis in Lagos”, he stated.
A bus driver, who identified himself as Jude, said: “For a long time, we have been warned by the transport union leader not to ply Gerrard, Alexander and Bourdillon roads in Ikoyi, and we have stopped plying those areas. We drop off passengers going to Ikoyi at Lugard Avenue and those going to JAMB Office on Glover Road by Milverton Street Roundabout and then turn back. Yet, each time the task force officials arrest us, they will deliberately drive us to Alexander Road, Ikoyi and claim they arrested us there so as to extort money from us.
“We decided to withdraw our vehicles from the area when the situation became unbearable. We are now begging Governor Fashola to direct the security personnel to allow us to do our job since we are not plying the prohibited areas such as Gerrard, Alexander and Bourdillon roads.”
When P.M.NEWS visited Obalende Motor Park Tuesday morning, stranded commuters were seen waiting to board the unavailable buses plying Ikoyi.
The drivers refused to work because they claimed that they could be arrested.
Efforts made to speak to the transport leaders in charge of the park proved futile as at the time of writing this report.
6-star Nigeria’s Super Eagles swamp Tahiti
BELO HORIZONTE, June 17, 2013 (AFP) – Nnamdi Oduamadi claimed a hat-trick as Nigeria shook off the jet lag to thrash minnows Tahiti 6-1 in their opening Confederations Cup game in Belo Horizonte on Monday.
The African champions only arrived in Brazil 36 hours before the game after a row over bonus payments, but they could even afford some wasteful finishing as they leapfrogged world champions Spain to the top of Group B.
It was a predictably chastening experience for Tahiti, ranked 138th in the world, but they were nonetheless able to celebrate when Jonathan Tehau headed in their first ever goal at a high-profile international event.
Tehau’s goal, early in the second half, trimmed Nigeria’s lead to 3-1 after a deflected Uwa Echiejile shot and a pair of goals from Oduamadi had put Nigeria in command.
However, the south Pacific islanders’ hopes of a famous comeback were dashed as Tehau put through his own goal before Oduamadi and Echiejile added further goals to give Stephen Keshi’s men a spring in their step ahead of Thursday’s crucial showdown with Uruguay.
Oduamadi: scores a hat trick
“I’m very proud of the team, who fought to the end,” Marama Vahirua, Tahiti’s only professional player, told Brazilian television.
“We came here with the goal of winning the hearts of the fans. The Brazilian public has adopted us and it makes us very happy.”
There were roars of encouragement when Tahiti full-back Vincent Simon registered the game’s first shot on target in the second minute, but fortune deserted the underdogs moments later.
After the ball bounced off referee Joel Aguilar, Echiejile launched a speculative shot that deflected off Tehau and captain Nicolas Vallar and ricocheted past Tahiti goalkeeper Xavier Samin.
Oduamadi added two more, neatly side-stepping a pair of challenges and sweeping home in the 10th minute, before tapping in his second when Samin spilled a low cross from Ahmed Musa.
Nigeria made heavy work of putting the game to bed though, with Musa, Anthony Ujah and Sunday Mba all failing to convert glaring opportunities before the goal that Tahiti had been threatening arrived in the 54th minute.
The honour fell to Tehau, who headed in a deep corner kick from Vahirua at the back post and then led his ecstatic team-mates in a canoe-paddling celebration.
The goal also sparked jubilation on the bench, coach Eddy Etatea leaping from the dug-out with his fists in the air, but Tehau’s day took a turn for the worse in the 68th minute when he inadvertently toed the ball into his own goal to restore Nigeria’s three-goal advantage.
Oduamadi tucked in a cross from substitute Brown Ideye to complete his hat-trick in the 76th minute, with Echiejile adding a sixth shortly after as Tahiti’s reserves of resistance finally ran dry.
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