Teenagers kill business mogul, three security officials, seven others in Maiduguri

Some group of armed Teenagers shot dead a Maiduguri based merchant, Abubakar Girigiri, at his warehouse in the Bolori area of Maiduguri, Borno State on Thursday.
He allegedly died on the spot as he failed to make it to the hospital.
A witness, Modu Lawal told Journalists in Maiduguri that the gunmen arrived at the warehouse on foot, pretending to be customers before gunning him down.
Narrating the incident, the witness said “A group of four teenagers arrived the warehouse on foot and met Girigiri, 58, attending to his business. After a short while, two of them brought out guns from their trousers and shot him at a close range”
The Police Public Relations Officer in Borno, Gideon Jibrin, confirmed the incident.
He also confirmed the killing of seven persons in Jere Local Government Area of the state by gunmen.
“The police is trying to get the full details of the report, so we can unravel the mystery behind the killings.”
Meanwhile, the Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order has also confirmed the killing of other three security men in the early hours of Thursday at the Ruwan Zafi area of Maiduguri.
The JTF Spokesman, Sagir Musa, in a statement in Maiduguri, said “This is to confirm that three security men were killed in the early hours of the day by suspected members of the Boko Haram group. Efforts are on to apprehend the killers.”
DailyPost

Couple in police net over abduction of Rotimi’s wife

Brig. Gen. Oluwole Rotimi (rtd)

Operatives of the Oyo State Police command have nabbed a couple in connection with the abduction of the wife of a former Military Governor of old Western region, Brig. Gen. Oluwole Rotimi (rtd).
After intensive investigations, it was discovered that Mrs Ruth Yemisi and Mathew Adubi Adekiya had hands in the abduction of Mrs. Titilayo.
According to the police Public Relations officer, DSP Ayodeji Lanade, both husband and wife are currently facing interrogations at the State Criminal Investigation Department Iyaganku, Ibadan.
It was learnt that detained woman lived with Mrs. Oluwole Rotimi.
Lanade said, “The suspects are still being investigated. Like I told you, I have been to the Iyaganku division, and I have confirmed that they were being investigated. If after investigation, they are found not to be culpable, they will simply be released.
“We had said it that irrespective of the fact that the abducted woman had been released, our investigations still continue. The Police Commissioner had said it that anyone found not connected with the crime would be released after interrogation”.
It would be recalled that Mrs. Titilayo was whisked away from her company premises-OAK Enterprises in Ibadan by a four-man gang on December 10.
DailyPost learnt that she was flown out of the country after she regained her freedom the captors.
DailyPost

Bad Blood: Yobo Hits Back At Osaze, Calls Him A ‘kid’

Osaze Odemwingie’s Twitter rant over his exclusion has turned him into a spoiler in the eyes of the Football Federation, some ex-Eagles’ players and even among the current crop as the National team captain, Joseph Yobo, has lashed out at the West Brom forward for being disrespectful for saying the Super Eagles has been without a leader for a long time.
Odemwingie, via his Twitter @OdemwingieP, had insinuated that recent Eagles captains have only looked out for themselves only and so the team lacks a leader.
In reaction to that allegation which seemed like a veiled attack at his captaincy, Yobo has called Odemwingie a ‘kid’ that needs to ‘grow up.
“Osaze has been reckless, disrespectful to most people. He’s not a kid, he should grow up because we cannot continue to baby sit him. He is responsible for his problems,” Yobo told Nigeria’s foremost sports radio, Brila FM on Friday.
“This is not the first time he has been disrespectful. He is fighting all the coaches and at the World Cup he also disrespected me and he later apologised.
“He is not the (Lionel) Messi or (Cristiano) Ronaldo of Nigeria. He should look himself in the mirror.”
While commending the coach, Stephen Keshi for the provisional squad he picked for the AfCON, the  Fenerbache defender however admitted that he was surprised at the exclusion of Obafemi Martins, Osaze, Taye Taiwo and Kalu Uche in the squad.
“I will give him credit for the squad. He will score 95 percent even though one or two should have been there,” said the former Everton defender.
“I’m sure he would have had some sleepless nights in selecting his team. Kalu Uche, Martins, Taye and Osaze not being there was a surprise but the coach must have his reasons and he cannot call everybody.”
Yobo, 32, also hinted next year’s AfCON might be his last so to give way for new faces in the Eagles set up.
“I think I have to admit it that this may be my last Nations Cup. We have to allow younger players to get their chance,” said the central defender, who is Nigeria’smost capped player and has featured in five Nations Cups.
InformationNigeria

Gov Oshiomhole Blasts U.S For Declaring Edo State Unsafe

The Edo state government has frowned at the warning travel advisory issued by the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the United States Department of state, to its citizens. The Department had warned U.S. citizens on the risks of traveling to Nigeria, particularly during the Yuletide as there was a high risk of kidnappings, robberies, and other armed attacks and went further to blacklist Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Yobe, Kaduna, Bauchi, Borno and Kano states respectively as no go areas.
However, in a reaction contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Edo State Government, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, and made available to journalists yesterday in Benin, the government insisted that the state was safe and expressed dismay over what it described as “ laughable that Edo State is on the list.”
According to Ihonvbere “ Our attention has been drawn to a travel advisory issued by the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the United States Department of State which listed Edo State as unsafe for visitors during this holiday season. We find it laughable that Edo State is on the list, and this might suggest that the US Department of State is not in tune with events in Nigeria.
“While we are unclear on the parameters used by the Department of State, we however make bold to state, and this can be confirmed from the security agencies in the country, that Edo State is the safest in the South-South region of Nigeria and one of the safest in the country.
“It beats the imagination of discerning minds that while some states which record violent crimes on a daily basis in the country are excluded from the list, Edo State which has been commended by all, including the World Bank which, through its Country Director, Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly said: ‘Edo State’s social indicators are above the national average’ and which had earlier through her predecessor, Mr. Onno Ruhl said: ‘Edo State is one of the states in Nigeria where the willingness to change is the fastest in Nigeria’, is included in the offensive US list.”
InformationNigeria

Obasanjo Jokes About Fire Accident

Former President Obasanjo simply joked over the fire incident. The journalists who expected a briefing from former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the cause of the fire at his house got a shock as the former leader instead joked over the incident.

After newspapers broke the story of the fire, Mr. Obasanjo started receiving phone calls from sympathisers, and welcomed the ones who rushed to the Abeokuta residence, the former president asked to meet with the few journalists present at the scene. The briefing by the former president was expected to dwell on the cause of the fire, which was put out by officials of the fire service. Instead, Mr. Obasanjo decided to make jest about the fire.
Speaking in Yoruba language, the former President told journalists to go to town and sing about the fire. “Go, go and sing to the whole world that “the Kings house that is gutted by fire only beautifies the house,” – the former president said.
While journalists expected him to continue, Mr. Obasanjo simply dismissed the journalists after the statement. The former president’s hilltop mansion in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, was gutted by fire for over 30 minutes on Thursday before officials of the fire service put out the fire. Though no official cause has been given for the fire, it is supposed that the fire started from Mr. Obasanjo’s private office, a stone throw to his bedroom, before the security in the premises raised alarm, and the state fire service was contacted.
InformationNigeria

BREAKING NEWS: Adegbonmire, ACN Chieftain and former Ondo SSG dies

Chief Wumi Adegbonmire, a former Secretary to the Ondo State Government in the administration of late Chief Adebayo Adefarati has died.
This is breaking news.
LibertyReport

Update: Injured Kogi State Governor Airlifted To Abuja… Leg ‘Totally Broken’

New indications have emerged that Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State who was involved in a ghastly motor accident some few hours ago in which his ADC was killed, may have lost one of his legs.
Doctors at the Lokoja Specialist Hospital where Mr. Wada received first aid treatment said his leg is “totally broken.”
A government official who revealed that the governor was brought into the intensive care unit with a severely fractured femur according to the doctors, added that they said he is in good condition and did not sustain major head or spinal cord injuries.
“There is hope,” he said.
According to a source in the government house, the state government arranged for a helicopter which flew the governor to the National Hospital in Abuja.
InformationNigeria