Some Christians are Deadlier than Boko Haram, Says Gumi

Bishop of Abuja Diocese, Most Rev Nicholas Okoh

The proliferation of violence in the country has been linked to the ‘sinister’ activities of some unidentified Christian elements who over the years have been scheming through political subterfuge driven by personal ambition to take over the leadership of the nation.
This allegation is coming in the wake of an observation by the Primate of all Nigeria/Bishop of Abuja Diocese, Most Rev Nicholas Okoh there has to be an end the Boko Haram harassment, which has forced many Christians from going to church.

Task Force Arrests Doctor, 24 Others for Pipeline Vandalism

Pipeline Vandalism

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

The Police Special Task Force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism, Force Headquarters, has arrested a 35-year-old medical doctor, Salifu Odiba and 24 others for oil pipeline vandalism.

Confirming the arrests, the officer-in-charge of the task force, Friday Ibadin, said some of the suspects were arrested in different parts of the country for operating their oil businesses without a licence.

The suspects are identified as; Onadipe Abdullateef, Samuel Oyewunmi, Samuel Okunuga, Kayode Akinsanya, Alaba Ademola, Hehinde Alagboye, Muritala Karim, Akeem Ahmed, Musiliu Azeez, Jelilat Olalekan and Elizabeth Folusho.

Blaze in Lagos 'after Fireworks Blast

Smoke can be seen billowing from the warehouse

An explosion in a warehouse has sparked a major fire in Lagos, the nation's largest city and commercial capital.

Witnesses said fireworks were stored in the warehouse in the busy market area of Lagos Island, and the blaze quickly spread to other buildings.

The blast reportedly shook windows of homes several miles away and a thick cloud of smoke could be seen rising over the island, reports the BBC.

Scarity: Fuel Vendors Take Over Abuja Streets

Fuel vendors hawking petrol in jerry cans on the street

The current upsurge in the illegal hawking of fuel in streets of major cities across the country might be a disaster waiting to happen.

Following weeks of biting fuel scarcity resulting from hiccups in the supply and distribution of petroleum products, major roads and streets in our cities have been turn into mini-markets for the sale of fuel in jerry cans.

With the harmattan season already around the corner, the possibility of fire outbreak emanating from the careless open display of petroleum products by these hawkers poses a serious threat to lives and properties.

Presidency Picks Holes in Asari’s Comments

Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo

The presidency has described the recent media statements by the leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo foreclosing President Goodluck Jonathan's rule beyond 2015 as a load of crap.

Asari had in an interview reasoned that the president may not scale through in the next election because gullible people have taken over his administration.

However, spokesperson to the President, Dr Reuben. Abati dismissed Asari's viewpoint saying it arose from a skewed reasoning that is anti-theatrical to the prevailing dispositions of many Nigerians the present administration and the president.

-Culled from THISDAY

Odili: How Jonathan Displaced Me as Yar’Adua’s Running Mate

Dr. Peter Otunuya Odili

BY Tunde Rahman          
He kept sealed lips for more than five years over what  actually transpired in those dying days in 2006, at the height of the race towards the 2007 presidential election.

Former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Otunuya Odili, has now revealed the intrigues and power-plays that led to the emergence of the late Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate.

Odili also explained how he was nominated as Yar’Adua’s running mate only to be dropped dramatically at the Convention venue in Abuja through a complex power game between then President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Nuhu Ribadu.

Army: Retirement of Officers, A Routine Exercise

Nigerian Army logo

The Nigerian Army has said that the reported retirement of  several senior officers of the service; mostly generals, colonels and other middle level officers is a routine exercise that does not require publicity or listing of names.

The retirement came in the wake of the promotion of 150 top officers by the Army Council with some sections of the country questioning why the list of the retired officers was not published in line with that of the promoted officers. 

Furore in Immigration over Recruitment

Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Comptroller-General, Mrs. Rose Uzoma

By Chinedu Eze

AAfter two years in the saddle, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Comptroller-General, Mrs. Rose Uzoma, may be leaving in a blaze of controversy. Already, the stage is being set for the controversy, which if not quickly doused, could rubbish all she had laboured for since she emerged the first female substantive head of the service in 2010.

At the heart of the simmering controversy, which has pitted her against other top shots in the Immigration is an alleged secret recruitment of personnel, a few months to her retirement from the service.
According to top NIS officials, Uzoma with the assistance of a few of her trusted allies, has embarked on the task of recruiting over 5,000 Nigerians into the NIS  and sidelining others in the process.

Islamic Group Claims Responsibility for Kidnapping French Citizen

The radical Islamist group, Ansaru, yesterday claimed responsibility for the recent kidnapping of a French citizen in Katsina State, citing France’s push for military intervention in Mali as a justification.
This came as an explosion suspected to be bomb blast yesterday night rocked the Kano metropolis.

Ansaru “announces to the world, especially the French government, that it was responsible for the abduction of engineer Francis Colump, 63, working for the French company, Vergnet,” said a statement e-mailed to journalists. Vergnet has a wind power project in Katsina.

Yuletide: IG Orders Increased Security Nationwide

General of Police (IG) Mohammed Abubakar

As part of efforts aimed at ensuring a peaceful and incident-free Christmas celebration, the Inspector General of Police (IG) Mohammed Abubakar has directed all Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and State Command Commissioners of Police (CPs) to take all necessary measures to provide adequate security across the country before, during and after the yuletide season.

This is just as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced the death of the AIG in charge of Zone 6 in Calabar, Mr. Muktari Ibrahim, who passed away after a brief illness at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State, last Saturday.