We have recaptured 11 towns, killed 300 insurgents-DHQ.

The Director of Defence Information, Maj.
Gen. Chris Olukolade, has said that troops of
the Nigerian Army and personnel of the Air
Force have killed over 300 fighters of the
Boko Haram sect.
Olukolade said in a statement on Wednesday
that the insurgents were killed during a
combined operation of the Air Force and
ground forces put in place to liberate 11
communities captured by the Boko Haram
sect.
According to him, the communities liberated
by the troops are Monguno, Gabchari, Abba
Jabari, Gajigana, Gajiram, Damakar,
Kumaliwa, Bosso Wanti, Jeram and
Kabrisungul.
He said that troops had commenced a cordon
and search operation in the areas involved in
the latest operation.
He stated further that some of the terrorists
and their weapons were captured by the
troops.
Olukolade also said that the military captured
“five different types of armoured fighting
vehicles, an anti-aircraft gun, about 50 cases
of packed bombs and eight different types of
machine guns, five rocket-propelled grenade,
49 boxes of various types and calibres of
ammunition, as well as 300 motorcycles
destroyed in the fighting.
He added that “a total of six Hilux vehicles
including those mounted with anti-aircraft
guns were also destroyed.’
The Defence spokesman said that two
soldiers lost their lives while ten others were
wounded in the encounter with the terrorists.
Olukolade said that various phases of highly
coordinated combined operation involving the
Air Force and ground forces were ongoing in
the mission area within and outside the
country.
Meanwhile, about 30 civilians were killed
when an unidentified airplane dropped a
bomb on a Nigerian border village, military
sources based nearby in Niger said on
Wednesday.
“We don’t know whose plane it was. We
understand that the victims are residents who
were gathered for a ceremony but who were
mistaken for terrorists,” said a military source
based in the town of Bosso in Niger.
He added, “Around 30 people perished.”

Punch

ECOWAS cautions Jonathan, Buhari on hate speeches.

President assures EU on May 29 hand-over
date
Jaiyeola Andrews in Abuja

Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS), on Monday cautioned President
Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Muhammadu
Buhari to refrain from hate speeches capable
of overheating the polity.
Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and
Security at the commission, Salamatu
Suleiman, made the disclosure while speaking
with State House correspondents shortly after
the commission’s team visited President
Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa.
He said :”The President of ECOWAS
(Ouedraogo) said the observers went to all
the different geo-political zones and they
made observations on issues relating to
distribution of Permanent Voters’ Cards
(PVCs) and other issues.
“These issues as the President said were
deemed necessary to share with the
President of the country (Jonathan), INEC
and the leading opposition party, the APC.
“One of the issues is that our long term
observer missions noticed that there was a lot
of hate media, hate speeches being
distributed, it is not good for our polity and is
heating up the polity.
“And the President (Ouedraogo) has spoken
to all stakeholders to look into lessening this
aspect in the electoral process and I think it
is an aspect the media can help greatly in
addressing.
“This is a very important election for Nigeria,
Nigerians are concerned, ECOWAS
Community is very much concerned that it all
comes out very well and that we all owe it as
a duty to say very positive things that can
move this nation forward.”
Earlier, President, ECOWAS Commission,
Kadre Desire Ouédraogo, told journalists that
“ECOWAS by virtue of its mandate, is to
monitor and observe all the electoral
processes in our community. To that effect,
we have sent a fact-finding mission to Nigeria
led by John Kufuor former President of
Ghana. We have set up a long term
observation that came into the country, they
were deployed in the five geo-strategic zones
of the country and they made their report.
“Inspite of the postponement of the elections,
there was a de-briefing with them and we
think is us necessary to share their
observations with all the stakeholders and it
is in that respect of that we came this
morning to inform His Excellency about the
findings and recommendations of our fact-
finding mission.
“We are going to engage with all the
stakeholders, the APC candidate and INEC to
share with them the findings if our
observation mission.
“We have also issued a declaration following
the postponement of elections, appealing for
calm and understanding and also appealing
to all authorities to make sure the constitution
is respected.”
Meanwhile, Chief of Observer, European
Union (EU), Santiago Fisas, yesterday said
Jonathan restated his commitment on May
29 hand over date to a new government.
Fisas spoke to State House correspondents
shortly after the EU team visited Jonathan at
the Presidential Villa on Monday.
“As the Chief of Observer European Union, I
must meet with all the candidates for these
elections. I met twice with Gen. Buhari and
today yesterday President Jonathan very
kindly accepted to receive me and my team,
the EU Ambassador, the Deputy of Observer
European Union, colleagues, just to have
exchange of views about the elections.
“I am very happy to be assured by the
President that the inauguration of the next
president will take place on May 29th. I think
this is very good news because this is
constitutional” Fisas said.
Asked if he believed what the president told
him, the EU chief observer said “yes. I do not
see why I should doubt that. The President
said that publicly and also to us. We asked
questions on security and he said to us that
in a very short period of time the security
situation will improve a lot.”

Cameroon Army kills 86 Boko Haram militants.

Cameroon’s army says it has killed 86 Boko
Haram militants and detained 1,000 people
suspected of links to the Islamist group, as
central African leaders held talks on how to
combat its bloody insurgency.
Five Cameroonian soldiers were also killed
during the clashes in the Waza region near
the border with Nigeria, defence ministry
spokesman Didier Badjeck said Monday.
Nigeria-based Boko Haram has widened its
attacks into neighbouring nations, notably
Cameroon and Chad, in a conflict estimated
to have claimed a total 13,000 lives since
2009.
Representatives of 10 nations, meeting in the
Cameroonian capital Yaounde on Monday
under the aegis of the Economic Community
of Central African States (ECCAS), urged the
international community to provide more
support in the fightback against the Islamists.
“We have to eradicate Boko Haram,” said
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, as
attendees pledged to create a 76-million-euro
($86-million) fund to fight the group.
Biya declared that Boko Haram’s utter
disregard for human dignity meant “a total
impossibility of compromise”, but added that
the fight against terrorism was not a “crusade
against Islam”.
Nigeria, where elections have been
postponed by six weeks until late March
because of Boko Haram activity in swathes of
the northeast, was absent from the talks as it
is not an ECCAS member.
The aim of Monday’s discussion was to come
up with “an agreed solution” on the fight
against the extremists, a source close to the
Cameroonian government told AFP.
Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria have
formed a military alliance to combat the
notoriously brutal militants, who are fighting to
create a hardline Islamic state.
A Cameroonian army official announced that
more than 1,000 people suspected of being
affiliated with Boko Haram were being held in
the town of Maroua, in the country’s Far
North region, where more than 2,000
Cameroonian soldiers have been deployed
since August last year.
“At the moment, the prison of Maroua is
holding more than 1,000 Boko Haram
(suspects),” said Colonel Joseph Nouma,
commander of a local operation to combat
the Islamist militants.
The detentions came as police in Niger said
they had arrested more than 160 people
suspected of having links to Boko Haram in
the country’s Diffa region, a border area with
Nigeria which was attacked by the Islamist
group this month.

Jonathan sends ministerial nominee list to Senate.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday
sent eight ministerial nominees to the Senate
for screening and approval.
The names, contained in a letter signed by
Jonathan and read by Senate President David
Mark, include senator Musiliu Obanikoro from
Lagos state.
Others are, Mrs.Patricia Akwashiki
(Nasarawa); Mrs. Hauwa’u Lawan (Jigawa);
Prof nicholas Akise Ada (Benue); Col.
Augustine Akobundu retd. (Abia); Mr. Fidelis
Nwankwo (Ebonyi); Mr. Kenneth Kobani
(Rivers) and Senator Joel Ikenya (Taraba).
The Senate has not fixed a date for the
screening.

Buhari’s Bow Tie sparks Religious Debate.

The bow tie worn by the All Progressives’
Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen.
Muhammadu Buhari, in recent campaign
photographs may have raised worries over
the retired general’s religious views, a
diplomat has told THISDAY.
Buhari had last week met with Catholic
Bishops in Abuja. At the meeting, the APC
candidate allayed fears of an agenda to
Islamise Nigeria, if elected president,
describing the allegations of extremism
levelled against him as baseless.
However, a diplomat from one of the Arab-
speaking countries told THISDAY that the
decision of the APC candidate to wear a bow
tie may be a reflection of his strong Islamic
beliefs.
Spokesman for the Buhari Campaign
Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, however,
said there was nothing unusual with the bow
tie. He was quick to add that the photograph
was taken long before he became Buhari’s
media manager and therefore could not
comment on why a bow tie was chosen.
He promised to “cross check and get back.”
Elaborating on the photograph, the diplomat
said, “I don’t know why (he) Buhari chose a
bow tie. But we know that radical Muslims
don’t wear neck ties out of the belief that it is
Haram (sin).
“Such Muslims believe that the neck tie looks
like a cross, which Christians consider the
most important spiritual symbol of their faith,
reason they don’t wear it.
“However, when it becomes absolutely
necessary to wear a tie, such Muslims simply
go for bow ties,” said the envoy.
The diplomat who didn’t want his name in
print, was quick to add that millions of
Muslims around the world, including himself,
wear neck ties, “not minding the religious
theories surrounding its origin.”
He said, “We have great Muslim
professionals like lawyers, bankers and
security operatives who wear neck ties.”
Buhari had in 2002 reportedly urged Muslims
to vote for only Muslim candidates. The
report had portrayed the retired general as a
fundamentalist, an impression he has been
fighting hard to change.
The APC candidate has been accused by
rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of
harbouring a religious agenda. PDP has also
accused APC of supporting the terrorist
organisation Boko Haram.
THISDAY gathered that one of the strategies
adopted by Buhari’s handlers to woo
Christian voters, particularly in the South-east
and South-south was to capture him in a suit
and tie.
The handlers also released another campaign
photograph of the retired general in traditional
Igbo attire, apparently to appeal to the Igbo
who have a block vote in the five South-east
states.
The campaign photographs had Buhari and
his running mate Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in suit.
In the photograph, Buhari was decked in
black suit, a white shirt, a black bow tie and
a pair of designer glasses. Osinbajo, a
professor of law, had a black suit on, a white
shirt, and a dotted red tie.
This is the first time Buhari, who ran for the
presidency in 2003, 2007 and 2011, would
brand himself in suit and tie.
In the three previous elections, the 72-year
old retired general used baban riga (flowing
robes) and cap for his campaign posters.
However, according to the diplomat,
Buhari’s preference for a bow tie to a neck
tie may have backfired.
He pointed to the United States where
members of the islamic religious movement,
Nation of Islam (NOI), do not wear neck ties.
Such NOI members, he said, include former
world boxing champion Muhammed Ali,
Malcolm X and NOI leader and world famous
Islamic preacher, Loius Farrakhan.
THISDAY checks revealed that some
Christians prefer bow ties over neck ties as a
matter of style. For radical muslims, however,
said the diplomat, “it is a matter of faith
versus fashion.”
The diplomat claimed that Buhari may have
settled for a bow tie “to strike a balance
between achieving some degree of
acceptance among Christians and not
offending the religious sensibilities of certain
category of muslims.”
He said, “Look at the former Governor of the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), (Sanusi
Lamido Sanusi), before his appointment as
the Emir of Kano, he (Sanusi) was a
professional banker but never wore a neck
tie.
“Due to Sanusi’s strict Islamic upbringing
and education, he had to always make do
with bow ties,” claimed the diplomat.
He told THISDAY that Shitte muslims don’t
wear neck ties for religious and ideological
reasons. Iran is home of Shitte muslims.
“After the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran
overthrew the monarchy, the country’s new
spiritual leader, Ayatollah Khomeni, banned
neck and bow ties.
“Till date, most Iranians, including President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, wear suits but leave
the collars of their shirts open,” he declared.

Thisday Live.

Boko Haram: 200, 000 Christians at Risk of Massacre in Nigeria.

BY ROBERT WINDREM AND ALEXANDER SMITH

Boko Haram forces appear poised to attack Maiduguri, a city of 2 million in northeast Nigeria -- meaning that 200,000 Christians could be at risk of slaughter by the Islamist terror group, say U.S. intelligence officials and experts on Nigeria.

"An attack on Madiguri is very likely," said J. Peter Pham, director of the Africa Project at the Atlantic Council, echoing U.S. intelligence officials. Pham believes, as do other experts, that Boko Haram has already placed "sleeper cells" among the tide of refugees who have fled the group's murderous rampage through Africa's most populous nation. "They've done it everywhere else they've gone," said Pham. "So why not Maiduguri?"

One big concern is the large number of Christians in the city -- about 200,000, most of them Roman Catholic. In previous attacks, Boko Haram has offered Nigerian Christians the opportunity to convert or be killed. Already, 200 Christian churches have been lost to the group's onslaught.

Strategically, success in Maiduguri would provide Boko Haram with a launching point for further attacks on the neighboring states of Cameroon, Chad and Niger, all of whose territory were once part of an Islamic caliphate that lasted six centuries, ending in the 1300's. Boko Haram declared its own caliphate in the region last year.

But even with limited success, the image of Boko Haram's black jihadist flag flying over any part of Maiduguri could be a symbolic victory. "Even if they only raise the black flag only briefly, it will be a big blow to the central government," said Pham.

Boko Haram currently has about 4,000 to 6,000 men --and kidnapped boys -- under arms, and its tactics have improved. "They're operating at a faster tempo and on a larger scale. They are now capable of large-scale operations," said a U.S. official, citing last month's deadly assault on 16 villages and the city of Baga, northeast of Maiduguri. By some estimates, 2,000 people died in those attacks.

There is evidence that the group has already begun testing defenses on Maiduguri's outskirts. A senator from Borno State, Ahmed Zanna, told NBC News Thursday that a group of suspected Boko Haram militants raided the village of Mbuta, just 15 miles northeast of Maiduguri, killing eight people, burning buildings and forcing most others to flee their homes. "Some people were burned alive," said Zanna, who is currently inside Maiduguri. He also said that on Thursday more than a dozen people were killed in a suicide blast in Biu, 100 miles to the southwestZanna told NBC News that despite these attacks residents were determined not to let their city be overrun. "If Boko Haram comes back people will be ready," he said. "They will come out in the streets in their hundreds and thousands to defend Maiduguri

Jjohn Campbell, the former U.S. ambassador of Nigeria and now director of the Bunche Center at the Council on Foreign Relations, said an internal CFR analysis shows that there is only one road in and out of Maiduguri that isn't controlled by the group.

"It's a noose around Maiduguri," said Campbell, citing recent attacks on villages along Lake Chad that cut off access to the north and east. "There's one road open, going west. There is potential for a raid and occupation."

Most of those who spoke to NBC News think an attack could be timed to the country's rescheduled elections. Last Saturday, the National Election Commission postponed scheduled national elections from February 14 until March 28, but claimed that the inauguration of a new president will still be held May 29.

If and when Boko Haram makes a move on Maiduguri, said a senior U.S. intelligence official, the terror group will have one great tactical advantage. It is very familiar with the city. Late last decade Boko Haram set up an encampment near the so-called Railroad Mosque, which is next to the train station on the western edge of the city. Federal troops launched an attack on the group's camp in 2009, killing its then-leader Mohammed Yusuf. Yusuf, now seen as a moderate, was replaced by current leader Abubakar Shekau, who has run the recent campaign of terror.

Campbell believes the initial Boko Haram raids will focus on the area around the Railroad Mosque in order to enhance the group's narrative.
Intelligence officials and Nigeria experts think it would be difficult for Boko Haram to hold the city, but Boko Haram has surprised both officials and experts in the past.

Sambisa Forest Mission: Military destroy 6 buffur Camps of Boko Haram terrorists.

Aftermath of the directive that the military
embark on the final onslaught to flush out
Boko Haram terrorists from the North East and
try to rescue the over 200 Chibok Girls,
Special Forces of the Nigerian military backed
by attack aircraft of the Nigerian Air force,
Thursday night commenced their movement
into the Sambisa Forests.
As a result of the military’s movement into the
terrorists laden forest, Vanguard gathered that
recently acquired latest T 55 armoured
personnel carriers, with capability for mine and
explosives sweeping devices and heavy
artillery Howitzer guns, led the way from the
ground while the air force carried out air
bombardments from the air.
Consequently, military sources in the epicentre
of the operation told Vanguard that six buffer
camps of the terrorists manned by heavily
armed terrorists, which were positioned to
stop the Nigerian military for gaining entrance
into the forest were taken out and scores of
Boko Haram fighters killed.

Vanguard.

Boko Haram launches first deadly attack in Chad.

Boko Haram Islamist fighters on Friday
carried out their first attack inside Chad,
killing five people in an early morning assault
on a Chadian village and a military camp on
the shores of Lake Chad, residents and a
security source said.
“They came on board three canoes,” a
Ngouboua village resident said.
A security source, who spoke on condition of
anonymity, said the militants had killed at
least four villagers and one Chadian soldier
before the army was able to push them back.
Boko Haram militants based in northern
Nigeria have staged a number of cross-border
attacks in recent weeks in their campaign to
carve out an Islamist emirate around the Lake
Chad area which borders Nigeria, Chad,
Cameroon and Niger.
Chad’s army, one of the best in the region,
has joined a regional offensive against them
and says it has killed hundreds of fighters in
the past fortnight.

Muslim Parliament urges Nigerians to vote out Jonathan.

This is mere hypocrisy. Talking of corruption and insecurity without condemning Boko Haram? Who is deceiving who?



"The Muslim Parliament has advised Nigerians
not to repeat the “mistake” of the 2011
elections that was responsible for bringing the
present leadership at the national level.
According to the parliament, the present
leadership has within its period of
stewardship brought corruption, insecurity,
impunity and breakdown of law and order,
among others, to the country.
“Within the period, the nation has witnessed
corruption in monumental dimensions in all
sectors of the economy, insecurity bedevilled
the nation, impunity and breakdown of law
and order, just to mention a few.”
A statement signed by the Chairman of
Bauchi State Muslims Parliament, Imam
Rabi’u Shehu, and made available to
journalists on Thursday, appealed to the
electorate to elect candidates of impeccable
character and requisite experience in good
governance, selfless service to humanity and
sense of patriotism to take the nation out of
its present predicaments.
He opined that the federal government had
not adequately addressed the yearnings,
aspirations and expectations of Nigerians
especially in areas of security of lives and
property, freedom of rights, social well-being
and the safeguarding territorial integrity of the
community.
Shehu stated: “Religious organisations should
not relent in mobilisation and sensitisation of
their members, as imams and pastors in
various mosques and churches should lead
their congregations in the prayers for peaceful
elections, unity of the nation and emergence
of leaders who have the interest of the nation
in their heart.”
The chairman, while drawing the attention of
the people to the importance and challenges
the 2015 elections portend for the survival of
the nation as a corporate entity, said only
voting for candidates with proven integrity,
unblemished records of service and pedigree
for achievements and deliverance will turn the
fortunes of the nations around.
Shehu commiserated with the victims of the
calamities occasioned by insecurity
prevalence in the country, and called for
prayers for an end to the dastardly inhuman
atrocities across the nation, and for
boundless peace to rein in the society.

Election not war but a contest among brothers and sisters- Jonathan.

President Goodluck Jonathan, has counselled
Nigerians to speak good and peaceable words
over the country, stressing that the 2015 polls
is a contest among brothers and sisters from
the womb of one Nigeria.
"I want to remind us all that we have no other
country other than Nigeria and as we
approach the election, it is wise that we speak
good and peaceable words over Nigeria
because we will have to eat our words, so let
us make them sweet rather than bitter. We
must see the coming polls as a contest
amongst brothers and sisters from the womb
of one Nigeria," he said.
He urged political gladiators to avoid the use
of threats and desperations in their campaign,
noting that whatsoever be the outcome of the
polls that victory should be for Nigeria and
Nigerians.
"We must avoid threats and desperation as
we make our case to the electorate. Head or
tale, Nigeria wins. Therefore, I urge all
Nigerians to join me in saying it is well with
Nigeria and by the special grace of God, it
shall continue to be well with our great
country Nigeria," he added.
He made this known on his official Facebook
page, Goodluck Jonathan, which boast of
almost two million followers.
--

Hot and sexy Halima Abubakar in photos

 The Kano born actress is surely  a beauty to behold. Halima spent her early years in Kano and Kogi states attending several primary schools in the process. She is a graduate of Bayero University kano with a degree in sociology.
It would be recalled that just recently, the
petite actress revealed how she was frustrated
with her life and how she almost committed
suicide in 2013.
She also expressed her gratitude to God as
she is now in a better place.
--

Below are her pictures which have just been released.

police impounded vehicle carrying arms in Kwara.

Police officers from the Kwara State
Command have intercepted and arrested a
truck laden with ammunition at Kosubosu, a
border town in the Baruten Local Government
Area of Kwara State.
A police source, who pleaded anonymity, said
on Saturday that the ammunition comprised
cartons of cartridges hidden in a section of
the truck.
The source also said that occupants of the
vehicle who names were given as Amusa
Amodu and Abdulazeez Isiaka were also
arrested.
The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr
Salihu Garba, in an interview with our
correspondent on Saturday said the arrest
was made on Friday night.
He stated that the truck with the number,
Lagos XU 110 BDG, was coming from
Burkina-Faso enroute to Ibadan before the
officials of the Kosubosu Divisional Police
Headquarters intercepted the vehicle.
He added that detectives had arrived at
Kusobuso for further investigations into the
matter.
He also said the police detectives on Friday
also intercepted a cache of ammunition from
some hoodlums at Kulende area of Ilorin, the
Kwara State capital.
He added that the officials of the command
also arrested a golf car at Kaa Akanbi area of
Ilorin. He stated that police officers on
suspicion that the golf car was carrying illegal
items pursued it.
According to him, the occupants of the
vehicles abandoned the car and fled. He
added that the police discovered two AK 4
rifles and two locally fabricated pistols and 22
rounds of AK47 ammunition from the
abandoned golf car.
Garba said the police was on the trail of the
occupants of the car with a view to arresting
them.

Punch.

INEC to decide on Poll shift today, 7th February 2015.

INEC ad hoc worker attending to
prospective voters at a PVC collection
centres
The Independent National Electoral
Commission will take a final decision on
whether to shift the dates for the elections or
not in Abuja on Saturday (today).
But before the decision is taken, the National
Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Attahiru
Jega, will have consultative meetings with
chairmen and secretaries of all registered
political parties.
He is also expected to meet with the
Resident Electoral Commissioners on the
same day, Saturday, February 7.
On Thursday, Jega, was invited to brief the
National Council of States on the
preparedness of INEC to conduct the 2015
general elections.
The INEC boss has been under tremendous
pressure to shift the polls. Some political
parties and other stakeholders have been
calling for the postponement of the election.
Jega made a presentation titled,
“Preparations for the 2015 General Elections:
Progress Report.
The National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo
Dansuki and Armed Services Chiefs also
briefed the Council on the current security
situation.
The Chief Press Secretary to Jega, Mr.
Kayode Idowu, confirmed this in a statement
he signed in Abuja on Friday.
He said, “As a follow-up to that (Council of
State) meeting, the Commission has
scheduled a consultative meeting with
chairmen and secretaries of all registered
political parties, as well as a meeting with the
RECs on Saturday, February 7, 2015.
“Thereafter, the Commission will address a
press conference to brief the nation on its
decision with regard to whether or not the
general elections will hold as currently
scheduled.”
Our correspondent gathered that the dates
for the elections might be shifted.
Security agencies were said to have written
to Jega, saying the security situation in the
country does not warrant holding the election
as scheduled.
Meanwhile, Jega, in his presentation to the
Council of State said the NSA asked for a six-
week postponement of the election.
His presentation read in part, “Although our
state of preparedness may not be 100 per
cent and although a bit of more time of
additional preparation would enable us to
improve and perfect the current level of
preparedness, we believe that we’re ready for
the elections as planned.
“However, we also believe that it is necessary
to take into context the things outside the
control of the commission, such as: attitude
of politicians, political parties, candidates and
voters; and significantly, security for election
personnel, materials and voters, especially in
areas under insurgency, which only the
appropriate authorities can definitely speak
on.
“No matter the extent of our readiness, if
there are serious security concerns, the
successful conduct of free, fair, credible and
peaceful elections would be greatly
jeopardised.
“INEC has been working with these
authorities, especially under the inter-agency
Consultative Committee on Election Security,
but our concerns have not been assuaged.
“Yesterday, for example, we received a letter
from the office of the National Security
Adviser informing us of recent developments
in four of the North-East states, states that
safety and security cannot be guaranteed
during the proposed election period,
adducing reasons why this is so, and
strongly advising that INEC considers
rescheduling the elections by at least six
weeks, within which time span it is hoped to
restore sufficient normalcy for elections to
hold.
“This is a new development that INEC cannot
certainly ignore or take lightly.”
Jega said the conduct of the elections could
not be based on the electoral body’s
preparation alone, adding that some factors
outside the control of the body should be
considered before holding the polls.
He said, “In determining whether or not INEC
is adequately prepared to conduct the
February 2015 elections as scheduled, we
should separate what is under the control of
the commission and what is outside its
control.
“For the things under the commission’s
control, our accomplishments are to such a
degree that we can conduct the election, in
spite of the identifiable challenges.
“Compared with the 2011 general elections,
for instance, our systems are definitely more
robust now. Among others, we have a gently
improved registered voters, having removed
over four million multiple registrants; voters
will use PVCs; and accreditation using card
readers will reduce the likelihood of fraud.”
According to him, only relevant authorities,
not the commission, can speak on the issues.
Jega said, “No matter the extent of our
readiness, if there are serious security
concerns, the successful conduct of free, fair,
credible and peaceful elections would be
greatly jeopardised.
“INEC has been working with these
authorities, especially under the Inter-Agency
Consultative Committee on Election Security,
but our concerns have not been assuaged.”

Punch.

Barcelona accused of tax fraud in Neymar sinning.

Spanish public prosecutors have asked for
Barcelona and their former president Sandro
Rosell to be tried for two charges of tax fraud
committed in the signing of Brazilian star
Neymar.
Meanwhile, prosecutors have also asked for
the investigation of current Barcelona
president Josep Maria Bartomeu and the club
on an extra tax charge in 2014, which could
rise to 2.85 million euros.
In a judicial file released on Monday,
prosecutor Jose Perals Calleja suggests that
Rosell and Barca declared an inferior fee to
that which they paid for Neymar in 2013.
The prosecutors believe that Neymar cost in
excess of the 57 million euros ($64.3 million,
£42.7 million) declared to the Spanish tax
man.
They cite the figure at a cost of 82,743,485
euros divided into sperate contracts that
secured the signing.
According to the calculations of the Spanish
tax authorities, Barcelona owe a total of
12,148,696 million euros in tax on the deal,
which would see the overall cost of the
operation rise to 94.8 million euros.
Rosell resigned as president over the affair just
over a year ago when a complaint brought by
one of the club’s members for
misappropriation of funds was taken to court.
In his testimony before a judge on the case in
July of 2004, Rosell insisted that Neymar cost
the club 57 million euros, 17 of which went to
his former club Santos and 40 million paid to
N&N, a company owned by the player’s
father.
However, following Rosell’s resignation,
Barcelona also confirmed a number of extra
agreements including a 10 million euro signing
bonus for the player and scouting and
collaborative agreements between the two
clubs taking the total to 86.2 million euros.
In February of last year, the club announced
that they had made a voluntary payment of
13.5 million euros to the Spanish tax
authorities regarding the transfer.

Bloodbath in Maiduguri, Yobe.

MAIDUGURI—THERE was fierce fighting,
yesterday, between the Nigerian troops and
Boko Haram insurgents in Maiduguri, the
Borno State capital. About 80 insurgents were
killed, while several others escaped with bullet
wounds.
The latest attack came barely a week after the
insurgents tried to take over the state capital
from the Damaturu-Jimtilo axis but were
repelled by soldiers who deployed massive
artillery and fighter jets to dislodge them.

SUICIDE ATTACK—Aid workers evacuate
injured persons in the suicide blast in
Potiskum, Yobe State, yesterday. A witness
said the bomber emerged from a bus that
pulled up in front of the home of Sabo Garbu
who is running for a seat in the House of
Representatives. Photos: AFP.
The insurgents were stopped from taking over
the city by youths otherwise known as the
Civilian JTF, and other residents who risked
their lives by coming out in large numbers to
assist troops in repelling the invaders.
Meantime, a suicide bomber blew himself up
outside the house of a legislator in Potiskum,
Yobe State, yesterday, killing 10 people,
security sources said.
The bomber walked up to the house of a
member of the House of Representatives and
PDP candidate for the same position in the
forthcoming elections, Sabo Garbu, before
detonating the explosives. A bus stopped
outside Garbu’s home and dropped off the
attacker before speeding off, the sources
further said.
Also,suspected suicide bombers who
disguised as women were arrested in Yola,
Adamawa State, last night. The incident
happened barely few hours ahead of the
presidential campaign visit to Yola by the APC
flag bearer Major General Muhammadu Buhari
(rtd) scheduled for today.
The suspects were nabbed by the military at
the ever busy Mubi roundabout in the state
capital.
This came as three soldiers and 123 Boko
Haram terrorists were killed when the Islamist
group attacked a Chadian army contingent in
northern Cameroon, the Chadian military said.

Massive insugent’s casualties:

The heavily-armed gunmen attacked the
southern edge of Maiduguri at about 3 am,
yesterday, setting off explosives as they tried
to enter the city, several residents said.
They were, however, repelled by troops
backed by vigilantes but they regrouped and
tried to take the city from the Eastern end,
where they again met stiff resistance.
As the gun battles raged, “the whole city (was)
in fear,” said resident Adam Krenuwa.
Defence Spokesman, Chris Olukolade said the
assault on the town, where the extremist
group was founded more than a decade ago,
was “contained” and that “the terrorists
incurred massive casualties.
“The situation is calm as mop up operation in
the affected area is ongoing,” agency reports
quoted him as writing in a text message.
Despite waves of attacks in the city in recent
months, Maiduguri has become a place of
refuge for people forced to flee other areas in
Borno that have been taken over by the
terrorists.
The affected areas
The areas affected during yesterday’s attack
were Molai village which is 10 kilometres south
of Maiduguri; Ngom village and Mafa Local
Government Area, about 30 kilometres north
east of the city along the College of Agriculture
and the Chad Basin Development Authority
road in the metropolis.
The Molai attack started at about 7am when
some insurgents armed with AK47 rifles,
Rocket Propelled Launchers and Anti-Aircraft
machine guns in a convoy of 15 Hilux vehicles
and many motorcycles attempted to enter the
city from Dalwa-Molai axis, a suburb of
Maiduguri. Troops stationed along the
Maiduguri-Damboa Road engaged them in
heavy gun duel, and with quick reenforcement
of troops and civilian JTF, most of the
terrorists were killed while others escaped with
gunshot wounds.
Most churches were hurriedly closed down
during morning service while others could not
even open as a result of the sounds of
explosions and gunshots. A female member of
the Deeper Life Church in Molai (names
withheld) was hit by a stray bullet while trying
to escape from the scene of the attack.
The Information Officer of National Emergency
Management Agency, NEMA, Mr. Abdulkadir
Ibrahim confirmed the multiple attacks on the
city which has so far displaced many people
from their homes, but insisted that he was yet
to get details on number of casualties,
promising to get back before press time.
Sources said during the first attack on Dalwa-
Molai axis which is not far from the Giwa
Military Barracks, more than 60 insurgents
were killed. The terrorists were, however,
quick in picking the dead bodies of their fallen
members. Only 46 bodies of the terrorists
were recovered. Troops and thousands of
civilian JTF members pursued the fleeing and
injured terrorists who ran back towards the
Sambisa forest.
According to the sources, when the four-hour
battle around Molai axis was about to subside,
another group of insurgents attacked troops
along the Mafa-Ngom-Maiduguri Road, but
military and civilian JTF members succeeded
in repelling the second attack, killing more
than 30 of the insurgents.
The second attack around Mafa-Ngom area
started at about 11am and lasted for two
hours before airforce fighter jets with
assistance from ground troops repelled the
insurgents.
“Most residents of Molai, NNPC depot and
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Quarters along
the troubled Maiduguri-Damboa Road, which
was closed down for motorists since July last
year, had to flee into the city for safety”, said
Molai resident, Mallam Jubrila Usman.

PDP, Gov Shettima commend troops, Civilian JTF:

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP and Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno
State have praised the gallantry of officers and
men of the Nigerian Armed Forces for repelling
insurgents in Borno and other troubled states
in the North.
PDP reacts
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh
in a statement, yesterday, said “the members
of the armed forces have shown exceptional
patriotism while risking their lives to protect
those of other citizens and intensifying efforts
to ensure that the nation is rid of terrorist
activities.”
Metuh said the party recognized the sacrifices
being made by the military adding that “what
is needed at this point is for all Nigerians to
close ranks and support them with words of
encouragement, prayers and helpful
information where necessary.
“This is no longer the time to dwell on politics
or engage in unnecessary blame-games. We
cannot continue to seek political capital while
terrorists slaughter and maim our people. To
win this battle therefore, all citizens must
come together, stand with our government and
the military and present a common front
against terrorism irrespective of our religious,
political and ethnic differences.”
The PDP condoled with the families of the
victims of the attacks, comforted the displaced
and the wounded and prayed God to restore
enduring peace in the country.
Shettima lauds youths
Also, Governor Shettima of Borno State
commended youths in the state who
volunteered and came out in very large
numbers to defend Maiduguri from being
taken over by insurgents.
The insurgents laid siege to Dalwa from
Damboa axis as well as the Mafa entry point
with the determination to seize Maiduguri and
its massive population of residents and
internally displaced persons, taking refuge in
the state capital.
Shettima spoke, yesterday, after the
insurgents had been repelled by members of
the armed forces, and the Civilian JTF who
mobilized to the two battle fronts in defence of
their fatherland.
Isa Gusau, media aide to Shettima, quoted the
governor as saying: “I received with gratitude,
information on how youths from different parts
of Borno State, comprising those under the
Borno Youths Empowerment Scheme
otherwise called “Civilian JTF,” and other
residents of Maiduguri.
“They came out of their homes, abandoned
their families and with very uncommon
courage, sacrificed their lives and moved to
front lines to support our gallant armed forces.
“This was a patriotic battle to defend the soul
of Borno State and its people from being
seized by determined insurgents who in the
early hours of Sunday, February 1, 2015,
(yesterday) laid siege to two entry points into
Maiduguri: Dalwa community from Damboa
axis and from the Mafa-Dikwa axis.
“These terrorists had a murderous intention of
killing a massive population of residents and
internally displaced persons, taking refuge in
the state capital and destroying homes and
businesses in what would have become an
unimaginable calamity. ‘’I have never been as
proud of our youths in Borno State as much
as I am today. The youths have since 2013
risen in firm defence of the good people of
Borno State, and today, they have once again
proved to all of us, that they have by playing
complementary roles, taken our collective
destiny in their hands and we are full of
gratitude to them.”


Vanguard.

Court orders service on Buhari in fresh disqualification suit.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered
the service of court papers on the presidential
candidate of the All Progressives Congress,
Maj. Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, a fresh suit
seeking an order disqualifying him from
participating in the February 14 poll.
Already, there is a pending direct criminal
complaint against Buhari before a Federal
Capital Territory Magistrate’s Court in Abuja
asking the court to direct that the former
Head of State “be brought to book” for
allegedly claiming on an oath that he had a
certificate he did not obtain.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola who is presiding
over the fresh suit on Monday made an order
of substituted service on Buhari and the
Independent National Electoral Commission,
who are the two defendants in the suit.
The court fixed February 9 for the hearing of
the suit.
The plaintiff, Max Ozoaka, wants the court to
disqualify Buhari from participating in the
election for failing to accompany his form
submitted to Independent National Electoral
Commission with all relevant academic
credentials.
He contended that the INEC FORM CF 001
submitted to INEC by the APC candidate was
incomplete and therefore urged the court to
declare the form as “not in conformity with
the form prescribed under the Electoral Act.”
He further stated that the failure of Buhari to
accompany the INEC Form with evidence of
his educational qualifications and evidence of
his birth certificate or affidavit of declaration
of age had altogether rendered the form
inchoate.
Ozoaka, in a supporting affidavit to the
originating summons, stated that the INEC
Form submitted by Buhari did not meet the
requirements under sections 31(1)(2) & (3),
and 31(8) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as
amended).
He also faulted some pieces of information
contained in other documents attached to the
form, including Buhari’s voter card which
described the presidential candidate as a
public servant.
The plaintiff urged the court to declare the
voter card, the photocopy of which was
attached to INEC Form CF 001, was false on
the grounds that Buhari was not a public
servant as of when the voter card was issued.
In the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/14/2015,
filed by Max Ozoaka, the plaintiff raised eight
questions for the court’s determination and
prayed for among others, an order
disqualifying Buhari from contesting or
participating in the election.
The plaintiff queried the authenticity of the
statement of result or result sheet presented
by Buhari on the grounds that it was bearing
‘Mohamed’ Buhari as against ‘Muhammadu’
which is the real name of the APC presidential
candidate.


Punch.

Buhari threatens to drag NTA, AIT to court over hate broadcast.

ABUJA — The Presidential candidate of All
Progressives Congress, APC, General
Muhammadu Buhari (ret), has threatened to
take legal action against the Nigerian
Television Authority, NTA, and the African
Independent Television, AIT, for airing hate
broadcasts against his personality.
This came on a day the National Broadcasting
Commission, NBC, warned all broadcasting
stations operating in the country to adhere
strictly to the provisions of the broadcasting
code or risk sanctions.
In a protest letter lodged through the Legal
Director of APC Presidential Campaign
Council, Mr. Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume,
SAN, Buhari, insisted that the two television
stations must not only retract the “hate
documentaries,” but also issue a public
apology to him.
He said he would not hesitate to seek legal
remedy should the television houses refuse to
comply with the conditions.
Besides, the APC candidate said he had
already petitioned the Nigerian Broadcasting
Commission, NBC, and the National Human
Rights Commission, NHRC, asking them to
investigate both NTA and AIT over the hate
broadcasts and take necessary punitive
actions.
“The hate broadcast has been on from
Saturday, January 24, 2015 to Sunday,
January 25, 2015, at 11p.m. in AIT,” Buhari
noted.
Meanwhile, The National Broadcasting
Commission, NBC, has warned all
broadcasting stations to adhere strictly to the
provisions of the broadcasting code or risk
sanctions.
The Director-General of the Commission, Mr.
Emeka Mba, who issued the warning, said the
Commission acknowledged the effort of
broadcasting stations were making in
lubricating the nation’s political space, but
noted that some stations had been operating
outside the provisions of the code in a manner
that could become counter-productive to the
national objectives of peaceful, free and fair
elections.
“We are in exciting times. Political campaigns
are under way and the nation is agog with
politicians campaigning to persuade the
electorate to support them, this is how it
should, that is the beauty of democracy,” he
said.

Vanguard.

Explosion kills suicide bombers after Jonathan’s Gombe. Rally.

A bomb blast has occurred in Gombe, the
Gombe State capital barely five minutes after
President Goodluck Jonathan left the town
where he held the PDP presidential campaign
rally, Ibrahim Ahmed, a resident of the town
said.
Ahmed, who spoke to our correspondent on
the telephone, said the blast occurred on
Kashere Street near the Stadium, where the
rally took place.
He said two suicide bombers died in the
explosion that injured 18 persons.

Punch.

Bombs rock three Rivers courts, as JUSUN suspends strike

Barely 48 hours after the Judiciary Staff
Union of Nigeria declared the suspension of
the eight-month-old strike in Rivers State,
unknown persons have bombed three
separate High Courts in Degema, Isiokpo and
Port Harcourt areas of the state.
The incidents were coordinated and
happened almost simultaneously in the wee
hours of Monday, just as the State Police
Command confirmed that minimal damages
were recorded and no life was lost.
It was gathered that one of the courts in
Degema was completely razed by unidentified
arsonists with many documents burnt beyond
recognition.
Two courts in the state were attacked before
the judiciary workers embarked on strike on
June 10, 2014.

Punch.

DHQ restores website after Hacker's attack.

The Nigerian Defence Headquarters on Friday
regained control of its website hours after
unidentified hackers took control of the
platform, http://defenceinfo.mil.ng and
defaced it.
Tweets were posted on a twitter handle,
@imamsadiq123, claiming responsibility for
the cyber attack. The DHQ provided no
information on the identity of the hackers.
Saturday PUNCH noticed that tweets on the
Twitter handle bearing the logo ‘Our Prophet
Our Honour’ date back to December 25,
2014.
The tweets labelled President Goodluck
Jonathan ‘an infidel’ while also justifying an
attack on presidential guards during a PDP
campaign in Bauchi State on Thursday.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-
Gen. Chris Olukolade, said in a tweet hours
after the attack that the infiltration had been
blocked.
He initially said in a tweet, “Yes. Our website
has been defaced. There’s an ISIS style
attempt to hack into Government Platforms.
Our provider, @Galaxybackbone is on it.”
Olukolade later said the hackers defaced the
front end of the website but could not
penetrate the database of the site. He said
preliminary investigation revealed that the
attack was launched from the end of the site
host.
Olukolade said @imamsadiq123 had been put
off for the site activities.
“Normal activities on the channel have
resumed. Apparently, the blogsite was
targeted because of its role as a major
channel for disseminating information on
military and security activities in the nation’s
counter-terrorism campaign,” he said.

Punch.