Ado-Odo crisis: Hoodlums attempted raping my wife -- Traditional ruler

The Olofin of Ado-odo, Oba Abdul Lateef Akanni Adeniran, on Monday, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Ado-odo crisis, stunned the court when he said the hoodlums who attacked him on April 15 attempted to rape his wife, while his crown and other valuables were stolen.

Oba Akanni, who disclosed this while giving graphic details of how he was attacked by the hoodlums on the fateful day, said ₦1.5 million kept in his palace as of the time of the incident was equally stolen, while he was beaten with charms, just as he said he would have been dead if not for the grace of God.

According to him, “these hoodlums, after beating and striping me naked, proceeded to the palace where all the cars parked in the compound were set ablaze. My family was physically

Ukrainian plane detained in Kano

Security agents have detained an Ukrainian cargo plane at the Kano International Airport for carrying suspected military hardware.

Vanguard gathered that investigation is ongoing on the owners and the destination of the cargo.

This is coming few weeks after weapons believed to belong to Hezbollah was uncovered in a building belonging to a Lebanese businessman in Kano. The items recovered from the building include; 40 air-to-surface missiles, 50 cluster bombs, 200 rocket-propel launcher, eight AK-47 rifles, 200 military hand grenades, uncountable number of live ammunition and certain military hard wares deployed to destroy Armoured Personnel Carriers, APC.

Man Hands over Boko Haram Son to JTF

A Maiduguri-based businessman (name withheld for security reasons) on Thursday turned in his biological son, a member of the extremist Boko Haram sect to the Joint Task Force, JTF, with an order that he should be shot dead, witnesses said.

The son, according to close family sources, had once threatened to kill his father before he fled home and returned only recently as security operatives continue to clamp down on the sect.

He was said to have returned as a prodigal son, seeking asylum in his father’s compound.

“After confessing all his crimes, including how he participated in the killing of people and looting of banks to his father, the old man said he has no such conscience to keep a killer son in his home,” said a close family member under anonymity.

The 60-year old Kanuri man, who lives in Babban-Line Commercial Area, Maiduguri, simply approached the Sector Office of the JTF and told them about his son.

I was fed with garri for one month – Kidnapped Octogenarian recount his experience

An octogenarian, Pa Akinyele Akerele, who was kidnapped in Igbobini, Ese-Odo Local Government area of Ondo State by gunmen on May 4, said on Thursday that the hoodlums fed him with garri and flogged him every day throughout the period.

Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force secured the release of the old man on Tuesday and apprehended no fewer than seven suspects in connection with the kidnap.

Akerele said, “I was abducted by unknown gunmen from my home at Igbobini and was taken through the sea to Sapele in Delta State.

“I never knew I could survive the ordeal. I was taken forcefully and blindfolded till we got across the sea.

“As soon as we got to Sapele, they removed the blindfold.They fed me on just garri (cassava flakes) for the whole one month, I was flogged and beaten mercilessly especially when they realised that money was not forthcoming.

“Since my existence, I have never suffered as much as I did in the last one month in the kidnappers den.

Soldiers arrest Boko Haram recruitment officer, 54 others

Defence Headquarters said on Wednesday that a key terrorist, who specialises in recruiting young men into the fold of terrorism, has been apprehended by troops in Maiduguri.

The recruitment officer, an ex-soldier, was arrested after a tip off just as some terrorists in the camps dislodged, fled towards Niger Republic.

The arrested terrorist, said to be watching over the insurgents’ armoury met his waterloo during one of the stop-and-search operations by the special forces.

Also, a total of 49 suspected Boko Haram terrorists were apprehended in various locations in Yobe State following a tip off by locals in some communities.

Another group of five insurgents, all Nigerians were equally arrested when troops stormed their hideout at Mallam Fatori as they attempted to escape in two Toyota Cruiser Jeeps.

Among the recent recoveries were rifles, double barrel guns, charms and amulets, machine guns, camouflage uniform, bows and quiver and assorted rifle magazine.

Indians advised to avoid visiting Borno, Yobe and Adamawa

The Indian High Commission in Abuja has issued a warning to Indians to avoid visiting the states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa where the Nigerian government has declared a state of emergency.

The high commission said that "following this measure, some areas in these states have witnessed higher level of violence and the security outlook appears to be uncertain at this stage".

It asked "Indian nationals living in these three states to carefully weigh their options and consider relocation until the security situation settles down. Similarly, those planning to visit these three states are advised to consider postponing their visits until security situation settles down".

Thisday office was bombed to appease Allah, witness tells court

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, heard how alleged kingpin of the Boko Haram sect, Mustapher Umar, bombed office of Thisday Newspaper in Kaduna State with 12 camp gas cylinders in a bid to appease Allah.

Justice Ademola Adeniyi, who admitted a burnt Honda Car, with number-plate AL-306-MKA, allegedly used to perpetrate the terrorist act on April 26, 2012, further heard how the accused person cried bitterly when he was rescued from the burning car, saying they denied him the opportunity of inheriting 72 virgins in heaven.

In a bid to prove the complicity of the accused person, the Federal Government brought a senior police officer that is charged with the responsibility of keeping exhibits recovered from terror suspects to testify before the high court.

The masked witness, PW-8, who told the court that the accused person had intended to carry out a suicide attack, produced the burnt Honda car, the discharged cylinders, half-charred 25 litter jerry-can that allegedly contained fuel, and persuaded Justice Adeniyi to move the court outside to inspect the terror items.

Besides, he showed the trial judges who were accompanied on the inspection tour by lawyers and journalists, the foot wear the accused person discarded in his attempt to escape after he was caught by angry mob within the premises of SOJ Plaza in Kaduna State where the attack occurred.

$23m Reward for Shekau, Boko Haram Leader, Four Others – US

In an unprecedented move, the United States monday posted up to $23 million in rewards to help track down five leaders of militant groups accused of spreading terror in West Africa.

The highest reward of $7 million was offered for the Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, who last week called on Islamists in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq to join the bloody fight to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.

The US State Department's Rewards for Justice Programme also targeted Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), offering its first ever bounties for wanted militants in West Africa.

Up to $5 million was posted for Al-Qaeda veteran Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the one-eyed Islamist behind the devastating attack on an Algerian gas plant in January in which 37 foreigners, including three Americans, were killed.

Female Israeli soldiers disciplined for sexy photos on Facebook

The Israeli military said Sunday that it has disciplined a group of female soldiers who posed for photos in underwear and combat gear and posted the images on Facebook.

The incident was the latest in a string of episodes involving young Israeli soldiers on social media that have drawn reprimand from the military.

Israeli news site Walla said the women were new recruits stationed on a base in southern Israel. One picture showed the soldiers removing their fatigue uniforms to expose their underwear and back sides. In another, five women posed in what appeared to be a barracks room, dressed only in helmets and a small amount of combat equipment. The faces of the soldiers were blurred in the photos (now taken down).

Revealed! Dirty life in terrorists’ camp: “Condoms everywhere”

More of the dirty sides of the insurgents’ lifestyle are being revealed as troops continue to stumble on strange and bizarre objects such as several used and unused condoms as well as charms and amulets of various shapes in the captured terrorists camps.

Defence spokesman, Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade, who made the revelation, said that other common items found by troops in the terrorists camps also included syringes, test tubes and hand gloves usually found in the rubbles of most of the destroyed camps. 

According to him, apart from chemicals and materials for producing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), narcotics of all types were also found to be common features as troops combed through camps in Sambisa forest, New Marte, and others.

Boko Haram paid us N5,000 each to burn schools – Kid suspects

Some kid suspects released by military authorities in Maiduguri on Friday said the Boko Haram sect paid them N5,000 each to burn primary schools and spy on soldiers.

They were among 23 women and 35 children released to the governors of Borno and Yobe states by the Commander, 21 Armoured Brigade, Maiduguri, Brig-Gen. R.O Bamigboye, on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Sa’ad Ibrahim.

The children, whose ages range between nine and 15 years, said they were given kegs of petrol by Boko Haram leaders and sent to burn schools in both states.

Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, government officials and journalists listened in bewilderment as the children narrated how they were used by the extremist sect to burn schools and spy on soldiers.

One of them said they were taken to the Yobe State capital, Damaturu, and told to spy on soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force and report back to the Boko Haram commanders.

Nigerian military arrests 5 Nigeriens, 2 Chadians among fleeing Boko Haram terrorists

The Nigerian military Thursday said that five Nigeriens and two Chadians were among the fleeing insurgents apprehended as the Special Forces troops continue their pursuit of terrorists dislodged from their bases. 

Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said in Abuja that the Nigeriens and Chadians were among the nine arrested at Tumbu Gini, a border town with Chad as they tried to cross the borders into Chad. 

Brig.-Gen. Olukolade, however, said that a man suspected to be leading the group of terrorists escaped with gunshot wounds.

The Defence spokesman condemned attempts being made “by insurgents and their collaborators' to push into public domain questionable and manipulated messages meant to misinform the public.

Soldiers Uncover Warehouse with Military Hardware in Kano

Operatives of the Nigerian Army Special Forces on Tuesday night, raided a warehouse stuffed with sophisticated military hardware at Gaya road of Bompai in Kano city.

The special troops were said to have stormed the Bungalow, after arresting the occupant of the house, where the large cache of arms and ammunition were discovered beneath the sitting room and in some wardrobes in the house.

An official of the security told journalists under the condition of anonymity that the discreet operation was carried out, following a tip-off by a suspect who is under investigations.

Security sources revealed that the warehouse belongs to a foreigner from the Middle East, which is located at Bompai, few metres away from the state police headquarters and the headquarters of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

It was revealed that  highly sophisticated military hardware that include about 40 Air to surface Missiles, 50 bombs, 200 Rocket Propeller Launchers, eight AK-47 riffles, 200 military hand grenades, uncountable numbers of live ammunition and some military hardware.

The discovered weapons were taken to the headquarters of the military in Bukavu Barracks and two other nationals of the Middle East have been arrested in connection with the startling discovery of the military hardware.

The spokesman of the Joint military Task Force (JTF), Captain Ikedichi Iweha, neither denied nor confirmed the shocking discovery but pleaded understanding, stressing that: “We are going to issue a statement.”

Source: Thisday

Don’t pay ransom to pirates, kidnappers – Naval chief

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Dele Ezeoba, has urged members of the Nigerian Trawlers Owners Association not to pay ransom to pirates and kidnappers, who attack their trawlers. Paying of ransom to the kidnappers, Ezeoba said, would perpetuate the vice in the country.

According to him, the country has a responsibility to adopt the measures to discourage the crime. The Navy Chief spoke while receiving the National Executive of the Nigerian Trawlers Owners Association led by its President, Mr. Joseph Overo, in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said, “The challenges you have highlighted are common knowledge to all of us. It happens unfortunately within our maritime space, not because we want it, but because in our society, we have people who take pride in committing this crime.

“When you pay this ransom, you have opened a floodgate for the vice to continue. It then becomes business and a means of livelihood for the abductors.

Boko Haram Claims Victories Over Military, Seeks Help From Afghanistan

The leader of Islamist extremist group, Boko Haram said his group has scored several victories against the military during an ongoing offensive while themselves sustaining little damage, in a video seen by AFP on Tuesday.

“Since we started this ongoing war which they call state of emergency ... in some instances soldiers who faced us turned and ran,” Abubakar Shekau said in the hour-long video.

He claimed Nigerian forces “threw down their arms in flight.”

He called on like-minded Islamists in countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq to join the fight to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.

“We call to us our brethren in these countries I mentioned. Oh! Our brethren, come to us,” he said in the video, which alternates between Arabic and the Hausa language spoken across northern Nigeria.

Nigeria launched an offensive against Boko Haram on May 15, after President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in the country’s northeast, the Islamist insurgents’ stronghold.

The video was delivered to AFP through an intermediary in a manner similar to previous Boko Haram messages. The images of Shekau in the video are consistent with those previously released.

Nigeria Immigration Service Deports 108 Illegal Aliens in Kaduna

The Comptroller of the Kaduna State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Alhaji Hamman Yerima, Monday paraded 103 illegal aliens, who entered the country illegally from Niger Republic.

Yerima explained that many of the illegal aliens were picked up at some of the Government Reserved Areas (GRA) within Kaduna metropolis, where they were employed as security guards.

He said they would be deported immediately to their home country and urged Nigerians to engage only legally permitted aliens for security jobs.

Yerima blamed the influx of illegal aliens into the country on the nation’s porous borders, urging that the borders should be fully equipped to checkmate the movement of illegal immigrants.

According to him, “the command of the NIS conducted mop up operations against illegal immigrants in the state. This time around, we conducted an operation in Kachia local government area on May 26, and we arrested 25 illegal immigrants.

“The next day, we also conducted an operation in the high brow areas of Kaduna North that is, Ungwan Rimi GRA, Malali GRA, Ungwan Dosa and Marafa where we arrested 59 suspects. Then at the toll gate, along Zaria road, we also arrested 17 suspects, and earlier on we arrested two suspects, so all in all we have 103 suspects.

Bayelsa Police Recover Buried Arms

The police in Bayelsa State said on Monday that they had recovered 1,700 rounds of ammunition buried in the ground by suspected bandits at Kolouama 1 community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

The police also said they recovered eight pump action rifles, five AK47 rifles and 19 magazines buried at the same location by the suspects.

Displaying the arms at the police command headquarters, Yenagoa, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tonye Ebitibituwa, said the arms and ammunition were unearthed in an abandoned building located in the community.

The CP said the operation that led the recovery of the arms was carried out by the police, the Nigerian Navy and the state security outfit codenamed Operation Doo-Akpo.

“These arms and ammunition were buried in the ground. The house was deserted. By digging up the ground, these arms and ammunition were found. We have eight pump action guns, five AK 47 rifles, 1,700 rounds of ammunition and 19 pump action guns,” he said.

Ebitibituwa added that the police would continue to mop up illegal arms in circulation to make the state peaceful.

JTF impounds vessel, arrests 21 suspected oil thieves

A vessel christened ERISHNA DOLPHIN suspected for oil theft has been impounded by troops of the Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield in recent anti-illegal oil bunkering water patrols along Southern Ijaw Creeks of Bayelsa state.

According to a statement by Media Coordinator of the JTF, Lt. Col Onyema Nwachukwu, the vessel was intercepted by troops of 343 Regiment of Sector 2 JTF along Obi Creek in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area has been secured by operatives of the JTF pending recovery to Brass terminal.

Eleven oil theft suspects operating two barges laden with 7,500 and 500,000 litres of adulterated Automated Gas Oil illegally distilled from stolen crude oil have been arrested respectively at Bakana creek and Abonema water front in Rivers State by troops of 146 Battalion of JTF, Sector 2 for engaging in oil theft activities.

FG uncovers 1,497 illegal border routes

THE Federal Government has identified a total number of 84 legitimate and legal routes through which people could come or go out of Nigeria, while about 1,497 illegal routes that entered the country had also been uncovered.

Determined to put an end to the unending insurgency in the country, the Federal Government has, therefore, approached the United States of America (USA) to assist in addressing the problems of the nation’s porous borders.

Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro, dropped the hint in Abuja, on Thursday, while presenting the score card of his ministry to the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the media.

He said the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) would erect control tolls and border plazas at all the identified legal routes for proper monitoring, with massive deployment of electronic surveillance equipment to the borders.

We Have Arrested Killers of Slain Kwara CP, Says IG

Almost three months after the dastardly murder of the former Kwara State Police Commissioner Chinwike Asadu in Enugu, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Wednesday declared that seven persons suspected to have been involved in the murder have been arrested, while efforts were being made to track down others still on the run.

The late Asadu, who was until his death the CP of Kwara State command of the police force, was murdered on March 2, 2013 at his Amorji Nike residence, Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The IG spoke in Enugu when he received a total of 100 sedans and Hilux vans fully equipped with security and communication gadgets from the Enugu State Governor S He said following the confessions made by the seven suspects, the police are on the trail of other collaborators in the murder, disclosing that the seven persons had already been arraigned in court.