Army Frees 61 Boko Haram Captives

The Nigerian Army on Friday said that it rescued 61 captives comprising women and children after destroying Boko Haram camps in Nwalemer, Mallemiri and Bale in Borno State.

In a Facebook post, the Army said;
“Troops of 28 Task Force Brigade advancing along Bitta and Damboa axis cleared Boko Haram terrorists’ camps at Modupe 1, 2 and 3 and in the process,rescued 61 persons abducted earlier and held captive by the terrorists.

“The rescued persons were mainly women and children and have since been evacuated. The troops also recovered two Dane guns in the area after an encounter with the terrorists at Langaran Fulani, where it killed four terrorists and arrested one.

“The fight against Boko Haram terrorists is maintaining its momentum with the discovery and destruction of terrorists’ camps, weapons and equipment, while the terrorists have been fleeing, and abandoning their bases.

“Troops were able to clear Boko Haram camps at Nwalemer, Mallemiri and Bale. Similarly, in Gwoza axis,troops of 26 Task Force Brigade have also destroyed the terrorists’ camps in Tripkwopta and Gidan Gachi.

“The troops discovered Improvised Explosive Devices buried along their route of advance near Balazalla Dure that partially affected one of the leading vehicles. They also encountered an abandoned truck loaded with IEDs at Uvole village, which was blown up.”

The Army also said that in the early hours of Friday, it repelled an  attack on Gwoza, Borno State in a two hour gun battle which claimed the lives of 7 Boko Haram insurgents.

Read More

Buhari Condoles With France Over Paris Terrorist Attacks

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock and sadness over Friday's series of coordinated terrorist attacks in and around Paris

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adeshina said ;
“On behalf of the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Buhari conveys his heartfelt sympathy to President Francois Hollande and the people of France.’’

While condemning the attacks which he described as an affront on all acceptable human behaviors and norms,  Buhari sympathized with the families, relatives and friends of the victims of the terrorist attacks.

He added that having borne the terrible costs of terror attacks, Nigeria and Nigerians are in solidarity with the government and people of France in their moment of grief. 

He called on all peace loving nations to stand together in fighting international terrorism.

Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Saturday that France was stepping up security at its offices abroad, including embassies and consulates because of the Paris incidents which killed over 150 people and injured many others in seven attacks.

Read More

How Rodents Landed Guinness Nigeria Plc In N1b Trouble

Guinness Nigeria Plc appears to be sweating at the moment over the N1b, one billion naira administrative charges imposed on it by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC for failing to adhere to approved manufacturing practice procedures.

Vanguard reports that a routine visit to the company's Ikeja factory by the enforcement arm of NAFDAC on 5 November 2015 led to shocking revelations.

The source said that the team came back with a report about the unwholesome manner in which materials used in the company's manufacturing processes were handled.

“The unhygienic storage condition of the raw materials was a major source of worry for the agency,” the source said

The team is said to have discovered that raw materials used for production were stored in an environment infested with rodents. Evidence of revalidation of expired products was also found.

The source said that NAFDAC was yet to make an official pronouncement on the issue, even as the N1b penalty may not be the only action to the taken against the company. 

“Our team visited Guinness and the reported findings were true. The agency is, however, going to make a public statement to this effect at the appropriate time, as the management is still studying the reports submitted by the team,” the source said.

When contacted on the issue, Mr Peter Ndegwa, Managing Director of Guinness Nigeria Plc said that the raw materials store is not a production facility.
He added that Guinness is currently engaged in dialogue with NAFDAC for clarification and resolution of the issues at stake. 

Read More

N292m traced to retired Permanent Secretary's account

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC has reportedly traced N292m to an account belonging to one of the permanent secretaries retired by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday.

ICPC operatives made the discovery following discreet investigations into the five months that Permanent Secretaries were in charge of ministries while awaiting the appointment of ministers.

The investigators discovered that the account of one of the permanent secretaries had ballooned to N292m in the five months that he was in charge of a ministery. 

Sources said that three other permanent secretaries may also be in trouble for corrupt practices. It was earlier reported that five retired permanent secretaries were under investigation for corruption.

Read More

Buhari Warns Civil Servants Against Corruption, Incompetence

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday warned Permanent Secretaries and the entire civil service against corruption, indiscipline, Incompetence and excesses.

Buhari gave the warning as he swore 16 of the 18 newly appointed Permanent Secretaries into office. The remaining two were said to have traveled overseas on official assignment.

His words ;
“I must, however, sound a note of warning.  It is within public domain that Ministers as Chief Executives of their Ministries as well as other Government officials involved in policy formulation and implementation often complain of the intolerable levels of incompetence, indifference or even suspected sabotage by some of the top echelon of the Civil Service.

“Even where Permanent Secretaries, in some instances, are exempted from these accusations, they are still responsible and liable for failing to provide the required leadership, control and direction.

“This Administration will not condone any excesses, indifference, incompetence, and corrupt practices in any form. Permanent Secretaries are therefore advised to note these words of caution and disseminate them to all Civil Servants accordingly.

“I am sure the Permanent Secretaries and all other Civil Servants appreciate the fact that I have always considered the Civil Service as an indispensable reservoir of experience, expertise and loyalty.  I, therefore, consider the Service as a dependable ally in my quest to change this country for the better.”

The president urged the new permanent secretaries to see their appointments as an emergency call to duty.

“This Government was voted into power by popular mandate to implement clearly articulated programmes and policies to re-generate and re-invigorate the national economy. The main focus is to create employment for the youth, fight corruption, tackle insecurity, and diversify our economic base with emphasis on agricultural development, solid minerals exploitation as well as provision of infrastructural services.

”This at a time when the nation’s economy and revenue base are very low will task the capability and capacity of any Government.  This is why you have been chosen and you should all regard your appointments as an emergency call to duty," he said.

Read More

Prison Officers Batter Journalist For Taking Photos Of Murder Suspects

A Vanguard reporter, Mr Emmanuel Elebeke on Thursday got the beating of his life at the premises of Court 2 of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja when officers of the Nigerian Prisons Service from Kuje prison descended on him for taking a photograph of six suspects standing trial for the murder of a certain Anthony Eze.

Trouble started at about 2pm when Mr Elebeke took a snapshot of the murder suspects as they were being handcuffed by the prison officers.

The angry prison officers aided by the accused persons' relations were said to have descended on the journalist when he refused to hand over his camera to them.

Following severe beatings with boots and gun butts, the prison officers succeeded in seizing the camera from Elebeke before zooming off in their bus marked
PS 635 A01.

Reacting to the incident, the Abuja chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ vowed to see that the offending prison officers were brought to justice.

“It is totally unacceptable to us as a union and the profession of journalism. Such an act cannot be tolerated in a society where we all call for social justice.

“We as a union will investigate the case in full and make sure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. We will do everything within our power to ensure that this does not repeat itself,” said Abuja NUJ Chairman, Mr Paul Ella.

Read More

20 insurgents, 5 villagers killed in Boko Haram attack in Niger

No less than 25 people were killed on Wednesday when Boko Haram terrorists attacked a village in the southern part of Niger Republic.

Military authorities told Reuters that subsequent clashes between the terror group and the army left 20 insurgents dead.

The militants had killed five villagers in their earlier attack on the village located in that country's Bosso district before they were driven back by the Army.

Read More