Gunmen Sack Police Station In Bauchi State

Birnin Gwari police station after gunmen set it ablaze on Wednesday night

By SaharaReporters, New York

Eyewitnesses said unidentified gunmen stormed the Dass Divisional police station in Dass local government area of Bauchi state around 9pm on Friday night.
The gunmen invaded the area in a commando style shooting intensely in different directions while using explosives on the police station.
Residents of the area fled into safety as the gunfight continued into the night.
It will be the second attack in Bauchi state in the last twenty four hours. On Thursday gunmen on motorbike shot and killed two people at Zango area of Bauchi metropolis.

SaharaReporters could not confirm from the police in the state if the attack has been brought under control as the police spokesperson in the state did not return calls and text messages.

18 killed in clash between JTF and Boko Haram, as Sambo visits Borno State

By Maina Maina

Ahead of scheduled Borno visit by the Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, eighteen (18) persons have been killed in a clash between men of the JTF and members of Islamic sect, Boko Haram, despite announcement of a ceasefire by members of the Islamic sect on Monday.
Spokesman of the JTF, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa in a statement on Friday said, the Joint Task Force on Operation Restore Order in Borno has conducted two special operations supported by Nigerian Air force Helicopter Gunship to dislodge Boko Haram Terrorists’ Camps located in Sambisa Game Reserve in Bama Local Government and Farin – Ruwa Forest South West/East of Demboa Local Government Areas of Borno State on Wednesday and Thursday.
He said, camp of the sect members was properly sighted and fortified and had training facilities; armory, accommodation, drugs store/medical, kitchen, vehicle holding area, latrine and water points (River). Adding that, the camp was used to conduct training and carry out recent attacks, killings and bombings in Maiduguri, Musari, Konduga, Biu, Bama, and Demboa communities.
According to JTF, efforts by JTF troops to destroy the camps led to fierce exchange of fire that resulted in the death of seventeen (17) Boko Haram Terrorists and one (1) JTF personnel was killed.
He said the camps were destroyed and are being monitored by troops while items were recovered includes: 6 Ak 47 Rifles, 2 G3 Rifles, Pistols, 1 Rocket Propelled Grenade Bomb (RPG),1 RPG Tube, 20 RPG Chargers, 2 Double Barrel Rifles, 2543 Assorted Ammunition, 33 Assorted Empty Magazines, 3 Laptops Computers, 10 Assorted Motorola Working Talkies, 20 Telephone Handsets, 40 Assorted Primed IED canisters, 3 Bags of rice and 2 bags of beans, 2 jerry cans of palm oil, 1 bag of salt, 1 Generator set, Light Green Uniforms (sown and unsown).

While reiterating its commitment to protection of lives and properties, the JTF also called on local communities to give credible and timely information to the Task Force/ Security Agencies.
The JTF also called on Members of the public to pass any credible information to the JTF through it’s under listed Hot Lines that are operational 24\7 080 – 64174066, O81 – 54429346, 070 – 64174066
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in the capital as Vice President, Namadi Sambo visits the crises ridden state to commission some projects of the Borno state government.
Daily Post gathered that the projects expected to be commissioned by the Vice President includes the commissioning of 144 trucks/drilling rigs at trailler park along Pompomari byepass, commissioning of Maduganari byepass road as well as Muhammed Shuwa Memorial Hospital.
The Vice President is also expected to inspect infectious disease Hospital at Ruwan Zafi.
DailyPost

“Poor men are terrible people, they can do and undo” – Nollywood actress, Liz Anjorin

inShare

Actress, Liz Anjorin

by Akan Ido
Popular Yoruba actress, Liz Anjorin recently granted an interview detailing her experience, relationship with others actresses, career and life in general.
Read excerpts from the Punch Newspapers interview below:

We learnt you have reconciled with Iyabo Ojo.
We have settled. Nobody settled us. But I don’t know what is wrong with some people. Though we had settled, some people went and dug up the interviews we granted years ago when we were not on speaking terms and started running them again. People would call me to ask me if I saw her interview and what she said about me. Others would call her and ask her if she saw my interview. We always tell those people that we no longer have a problem because we have settled our differences. Even the elderly ones in the industry called us and we told them that we were no longer fighting. During my mum’s first year remembrance recently, she (Iyabo Ojo) was even the first person to call me and pray for me.
So you are saying there is no more issue between you two?
We have settled and we have settled. People disagree to agree.
Who initiated the peace talk?
We did it ourselves. The two of us decided to make up. It didn’t matter who called who first. The bottom line is that we are no longer enemies. Iyabo Ojo is a very wonderful person.
This is actually coming from you after the feud?
Oh yes. I will say it again and again. Iyabo Ojo is a very nice babe. What do we gain from fighting? Nothing.
So there was no more stories of you and her snatching the other person’s boyfriend?
Don’t mind people and the way they talk and the stories they come up with.  Nobody snatched anybody’s boyfriend. We have a lot of things to do. We don’t have time to fight again. Just know that she is a nice girl.
Do you have close friends among your colleagues or has experience taught you to keep them at arm’s length?
I don’t have any special friend. Everybody is my friend. I’m even too busy to sustain such friendship. If I’m not shooting, I’m taking care of my business.
Why are you still not married?
I will get married but I want to take my time. People see us as role models.That means we have to be careful of what we do. It is not how far we have gone but how well that matter. I need to take time before I get into marriage in order to choose the right man. People get married in January and by April or June, the marriage breaks up. My story will now make headlines. I don’t want that kind of life. I want to take my time.
Are you not bothered that you are still single at this age?
I am not bothered at all. I am a grown up woman. I have to relax and take my time.
But are the men coming or is your profession stopping them from asking for your hand in marriage?
Ah! The men do come. Look at what is going on among my colleagues. If you get married to the one that doesn’t have money, you will find out that he is a gold digger. If you get married to a rich man, you will find out that he may have another wife somewhere. Immediately that wife gets wind of his impending marriage, she will go to the press. We just have to be careful. Even if you are getting married to a married man, the man should be sincere enough to take you to the senior wife. If she accepts you, good; if she doesn’t accept you, it is not by force. Some of these men will not bother to tell you they are already married. When you start the relationship, the story will change. It might be that you have invested something in that relationship; it might not even be money. You might have even dumped your boyfriend because of him. So, because one woman comes out to say that you are dating her husband, will you now abandon a relationship you have nurtured? No way!  Women are so many. Even if you give a guy 100 women, you will still find out that some women will be without a man because we are so many.
But how come your colleagues all want to marry comfortable men?
Poor men are terrible people. They can do and undo. Because they don’t have money or name to protect, they will be ruthless. They will even be after your life. You will see them going from one newspaper to another saying nasty things about you. A comfortable man will hardly go on air and abuse his wife. I will take my time to get married and when I choose, it will be the right person.
Do you intend to marry a comfortable man too?
I will not lie. I cannot marry ‘e go better’ man. Please, it will not happen. What a man has in his bank account doesn’t always determine if he is rich or not. But his attitude also matters. The guy has to be trustworthy. He too has to trust me as his wife.
What of your ex boyfriend you had issues with some time ago?
Please, I don’t even want to talk about that. It is a closed chapter. We shouldn’t even talk about it so that people don’t remember the incident again. I cannot go back to the issue.
Who was your first boyfriend?
The father of my daughter was my first boyfriend. We were very young then. He was 23, I was 21 years old.
Weren’t you worried when you got pregnant for him. Didn’t you think of aborting the baby?
I didn’t even know I was pregnant then. It was my mother that found out. Remember I was her only child and she had me in her old age. She was so happy about my pregnancy.  She was just pampering me. Left for her, she would have wanted me to have a child at the age of 12. She also would have loved me to have more than 10 children. My boyfriend’s mother also knew I was pregnant. She too was happy. She had five children then. My boyfriend was even the last born and the other siblings were yet to give her a grandchild. She was eager to have me and the baby. In fact, she and my mother were dragging over who would take care of my daughter.
Why didn’t you marry your daughter’s father?
Let’s not talk about it please.
How do you cope with scandals that  you are enmeshed in once in a while?
I don’t care about the scandals. People will always talk. I am growing bigger and better and I will not allow any scandal to weigh me down.
You are an only child and you have lost your parents, don’t you feel lonely?
It is not only your biological parents that you will call your parents.  God might use some people to make you a better person. I am not lonely and besides, I have my daughter.
How do you cope as a single mother?
I cope very well. I even see my daughter as my younger sister. We are friends.
There is always a stigma attached to single mothers in Nigeria, don’t you mind?
If you are not hardworking, that is when you allow such things to bother you. I am living my life. I am not ready to depend on any Nigerian man or what he thinks about me being a single mother. If you are a single mother, does that mean that you are a bad person? In fact, it proves that you are tested and okay. Do you know what will happen to that one that has not given birth before that you married? Having a child means that you are certified okay.
How close where you to Bisi Komolafe who died recently?
She was a younger colleague. She was a nice girl. It is a pity that she passed on. If her burial had been her wedding, she wouldn’t have had that kind of turn out.  You wouldn’t have seen my colleagues that went there. But look at how all of them stormed the burial ceremony and were crying.  If that number of people had cared and visited her when she was in the hospital, we probably wouldn’t have lost her.  People should appreciate others  when they are alive. You don’t have to pretend you care after the person has died. It is pretence. Her death was so pathetic. She was just 27. A star just faded. A lot of people have been there for donkey years and nobody recognised them. This lady just came and became a star. She didn’t die in vain. She has a legacy. People will always remember her.
A company  endorsed you as ambassador for one of its products.
Oh yes. I am the new face of Dasela tomatoes. The title came with a car. It is not only about being their ambassador, but I also need to project the image of the company.

YNaija.com

How To Defeat Suicide Bombers By Sheik Gumi

To defeat suicide bombers the government should empower civilians to root out terrorists. Sheik Gumi made this declaration during an interview with SaharaTV over the weekend.

“Boko Haram hides behind civilians,’ he said. “So I would never ever use the military to fight them. I would use civilians, like them, to track them and fight them, and bring them to justice. It is very important to bring them to justice so I don’t fall into the same things they do and kill innocent people.”
The Islamic cleric criticized the Nigerian government's approach of using the military to fighting terrorism.  He told SaharaTV’s Rudolf Okonkwo, “When you send the military, sometime they are worse than the terrorists. This causes innocent people to turn against them and even join the terrorist’s cause.”
He also addressed the issue of fighting terrorism without fighting Islam. “Muslims are the first victims of terrorism,” the doctor turned cleric said. “The way to do it is to empower the Muslims to tackle this terrorism. Not to come and hide behind fighting terrorism and cause harm to Muslims like what is happening right now in Nigeria.” Sheik Gumi stated that this as the way to fight terrorism without attacking Islam or being perceived as doing so.
Ahmad Gumi was also critical of the claim by the Nigerian Army Chief of Staff General Azubike Ihejirika that foreign terrorists from Mali were entering Nigeria. “He made these claims but there are two countries between Nigeria and Mali,” Gumi said. “You don’t hear people from Niger or Burkina Faso complaining about Malian fighters crossing their borders. So how can they cross these countries and suddenly appear in Nigeria?”
Sheik Gumi made headlines recently with sermons at his Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna during which he said that Allah had caused the helicopter crash that killed former Governor Patrick Yakowa and former National Security Adviser General Andrew Azazi.  The cleric claimed that Yakowa and Azazi were planning against Muslims. Gumi deflected on the question of what his evidence was, initially stating, “what was the Governor and a former Christian head of state doing at the funeral of the father of an assistant to a president.” He also questioned why these individuals were traveling in a military helicopter. The sheik made this claim, “now that he (Yakowa) died, everyone was sharing evidence and it was clear that this man did not mean well for Kaduna state. The evidence is there I did not need to convince anybody.”
When pushed on the issue of evidence to support his claims Sheik Gumi said, “Nigeria is very volatile and that these actions by Yakowa & Azazi were a cause of suspicion.” He went on to say that when Yakowa came to Kaduna State many atrocities had occurred for which he did not apologize. Sheik Gumi says Yakowa was an entity against Muslims in the state. He raised the question of what the governor was doing with Azazi, who had been known to give military equipment to the terrorist organization, MEND. The Sheik alluded to a plot, including General Gowon, to destabilize Kaduna in order to win the 2015 election, which if it was fair, Yakowa would be unable to win.
Following up on the comments he made that Allah caused the death of Yakowa, Sheik Gumi was asked about the willingness of some people to fight for Allah when Allah was capable of fighting for himself.
Sheik Gumi explained that, “Muslims have been instructed that when they see injustice, they should try and fight it.” He went on to explain that part of the injustice is terrorism and that Islam fights terrorism.  “If evil escapes the punishment of the worldly government,” he said, “then Allah will punish them.”
The Sheik ended his interview on a political note, restating his belief that the National Assembly should ban a number of Nigerian politicians from office in order to ended rivalries which create havoc in Nigeria.
  Saharareporters

French Police Bust Nigerian Prostitution Ring

French police have arrested seven people suspected of procuring Nigerian prostitutes who worked across France, judicial sources said Friday.

The five men, including the suspected ringleader, and two women raked in some 90,000 euros ($120,000) a month from the illicit business, the sources said.
An investigation began in October 2011 established that the ringleader’s companion, one of the two women arrested, recruited the women in Nigeria. Among the five others arrested was the sister of the suspected ringleader and her husband. The seven, who face charges of human trafficking and "aggravated" procuring of prostitutes, appeared before an investigating magistrate on Friday.
Naij

Another Bayelsa Lawmaker’s Mother Abducted

The mother of another lawmaker in Bayelsa, the Majority Leader of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Honourable Peter Akpe, Mrs Esther Akpe, has been kidnapped from her home at Ebedebiri, Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.

According to the Tribune, which reported the news, Mrs Akpe, a 59 year-old woman, was kidnapped at about 10.00p.m on Tuesday, while receiving fresh air outside her home, by a gang of five armed men who came in a speedboat. This is coming barely three days after parents of the chairman of Ogbia Local Government Area of the state, Mr Festus and Mrs Ebiye Ibegu, were kidnapped from their home in Oloibiri.

Eyewitness account says the hoodlums did not spare much time in their operation, they picked their target and sped off towards Bomadi in Delta State: “The abductors were about five and heavily armed. The old woman was sitting outside. She was about going into the house on hearing the sound of gunshots when they seized her and took her away into their speedboat and headed towards Bomadi in Delta State,” the eyewitness relayed.

Meanwhile, son of the victim and Leader of the state House of Assembly, Honourable Akpe, said he was yet to hear from either his mother or her kidnappers. Also the spokesman of the state police command, Fidelis Odunna (DSP), said men of the state command had been sent on the trail of the hoodlums.

TalkOfNaija

Pastor In Police Net For Illegal Possession Of Firearms

A pastor in a pentecostal church in Benue State has been arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for illegal possession of firearms.

It was gathered that the pastor was arrested on Tuesday, in Katsina Ala, headquarters of Katsina Ala Local Government Area of the state, with a gun in the church premises by men of the SARS, after he had allegedly attempted to kill the accountant of the church, (names withheld), over his refusal to realease an undisclosed amount of  money to carry out a church project.

Another version, however, hinted that the refusal of the accountant was as a result of his ignorance of the project the pastor wanted to use the money for, since the church council was not aware of it. The head of SARS in the area, Mr Godwin Utenge, disclosed that the accountant had, during the incident, shouted loudly for help, which attracted the attention of another church official, who alerted the police.

The accountant was said to have sustained major injury on the face and other part of his body and was rushed to a private hospital in Katsina-Ala, where he is now receiving medical treatment.

Meanwhile, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Daniel Ezeala, confirmed the incident and said “the arrested pastor was brought to the state command and that he was to be charged to court for illegal possession of firearms, adding that investigation was in progress.

TalkOfNaija