News

My Sad Experience in the Hands of My Kidnappers –– NTA Female Journalist

Mrs. Olubunmi Oke, Akure-based reporter of Nigerian Television Authority, in this interview with Sunday Aborisade of the Punch, narrates her ordeal in the den of her kidnappers.

Can you recollect events that led to your kidnapping?
I noticed a car following me at a high speed when I drove out of my office, moments after I closed for the day. I increased the speed at which I was driving and I rolled up my car window.

Very close to Jojein Hotel on Oba-Ile Road, the road was very bad. So I had to slow down to manoeuvre through the potholes. It was at that point that they levelled up with me and blocked the car.

What happened after that?
I asked them what my offence was. I even offered them my car keys but three of them armed with guns dragged me out of my car and into their own car. One of them got into my car and drove behind us.

Did you see where they were taking you to?
They drove through Owode to FUTA and to Ondo. They told me they were taking me to Delta State but when we got to Ore, they covered my eyes. They blindfolded me from Thursday night till Saturday night when I was released. So it was impossible for me to know where I was.

We learnt that your house girl and your six-month-old baby were with you in the car?
My housemaid and baby were in the car with me initially. They (Kidnappers) dropped them on the road before driving my car away. They later got home in a public transport. I learnt they later abandoned my car at Igbara-Oke.

Where is the car now?
At the moment, the car is with the police, in Anti Robbery Squad section. When I was released on Saturday, they gave me my car keys. I hope to get the car during the week.

Did you suspect anyone as being responsible for your ordeal?
No. Nobody sent them to me. It was a case of random kidnapping. I just walked into their hands. I don't think anyone sent them to me because they were asking me a series of questions, 'Where do you work?' 'Who are you?'

What led to your kidnap?
I think the car I was driving coupled with the way I was dressed (I read news that evening; so I still had my clothes and jewellery on), made them think I was a good catch.

How will you describe your experience in their hands?
My experience in their hands was not palatable. For days, I could only drink water.

How much did your family pay before they released you?
The State Security Service took charge of the situation; the SARS and God's intervention were also there. So, we did not pay. Also, the fact that they got to know that I was a journalist and that the news was everywhere hastened my release.

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Original Page: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/OluFamousBlog/~3/4rJr93BW854/my-sad-experience-in-hands-of-my.html

News

Bayelsa govt owns terrorists' Lagos hideout, says monarch

The house where security operatives arrested nine suspected terrorists, including a Chadian, in Ijora-Badia, a Lagos mainland suburb, belongs to Bayelsa State government, a monarch claimed.

Yesterday Ojora of Ijora, Oba Fatai Oyeyinka Aromire, in whose domain soldiers attached to Lagos internal security outfit – Operation-MESA, arrested the suspects accused the government of Bayelsa State of complicity in the presence of terrorist suspects in Nigeria's economic hub.

Oba Aromire blamed the government for abandoning the property, a development he said encouraged miscreants to use it as a hideout.

He said all the efforts made in the past by him and security agencies to get the Bayelsa government to either demolish the building or lease it out, considering the dangers of leaving it empty, yielded no result.

There were no comments from the Bayelsa government whose official promised "to get back to" The Nation.

The royal father, who frowned at the discovery of ammunition, including two AK47 rifles in his community, said it was God who saved the state from the suspected terrorists.

The Ojora spoke during a courtesy visit of Hausa leaders, led by the Chairman of the Council of Arewa Chiefs in Lagos, Alhaji Kabiru Garuba, to his palace.

He alleged that the attack being planned by the suspects was meant to cause mayhem the Centre of Excellence. He warned the Hausa leaders to reign in their men.

According to him, the suspects were living under the umbrella of the Hausa people, who have been residing in the area for many years without crisis.

Oba Aromire urged the Hausa leaders to evict anti-social elements in their midst to avoid the wrath of the law.

His words: "Discovery of such factory in Ijora was very sad to me and the entire family of Ojora. It was God that saved the whole Lagos because the attack was meant to destroy the state as a whole and not Ijora alone.

"But let me state here clearly that you should warn your men very well. Lagos is no-go area for miscreants. Although, they call the perpetrators Malians and Chadians, but they reside among your people here in Ijora.

"Please, talk to them and call them to order because if they refuse to desist, the result will be disastrous for them.

"I also want to say that the blame should also go to the Bayelsa State government for not taking care of their abandoned house where the evil doers are using as the hideout.

"We have been talking to them for a very long time to come and lease it out for the people that will make use of it, but they refused.

"If you ask the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in this area, he will tell you all our efforts to ensure that they come to either demolish or give it to the people that will make use of it, but they are yet to respond."

The Seriki Hawusawa, (Alhaji Garuba), condemned the incident and described the Arewa residents as peace-loving people who have been living in Lagos for a long time.

He said that the Arewa community will ensure that nobody hide under its umbrella to perpetrate evil.

Ninety-three suspected terrorists were yesterday handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Lagos State Command by the police.

It was reliably gathered that the suspects were mainly Chadians, Malians and Nigeriens.

Command spokesman of the NIS, Mr. Muyiwa Odunubi, who confirmed receiving the suspects from security agents, said the suspects would be paraded today by the Immigration command.

"I can confirm to you that we received 93 suspected Boko Haram members who were handed over to us by the police and other security agencies," he said.

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Original Page: http://thenationonlineng.net/new/news/bayelsa-govt-owns-terrorists-lagos-hideout-says-monarch/

News

'Private, chartered aircraft to report passengers' identities'

Private and chartered aircraft operators are to indicate the identity of their passengers before their planes are cleared for take-off.

The Managing Director of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nnamdi Udo, stated this in Lagos yesterday when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation visited the agency as part of their oversight function.

He said this became imperative as part of the safety and security measures in the aviation sector, in view of the security challenges facing the country.

He said as a matter of policy, the airspace agency has circulated air navigation notices to the affected operators to be abreast of the identity of persons who are on board aircraft flying in the airspace.

He said the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and NAMA are collaborating to protect the public. He insisted that foreign aircraft must inform the aeronautical agencies of the number of airports it intends to make brief stops, otherwise air traffic controllers would not give such aircraft take-off approvals.

Udo said NAMA has stepped up its revenue drive by providing air traffic services to private airstrips and helipads in the Niger Delta region, adding that a substantial amount of revenue would accrue to the agency from that.

He explained that NAMA has improved its air navigation services by completing the total radio coverage of the airspace to enhance communication between the pilots and traffic controllers.

He said the agency is planning to start a multilateration system of air navigation in the Niger Delta region for helicopters that serve the oil and gas industry, which fly at lower altitude.

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Original Page: http://thenationonlineng.net/new/business/private-chartered-aircraft-to-report-passengers-identities/

No one has any excuse.

Meet Tisha UnArmed: Woman born without arms, she drives a car and showers in video (WATCH)

Tisha UnArmed, as she calls herself, is an amazing girl and an inspiration to us all.

Tisha was born without any arms yet she does not complain or whine. instead she does everything on her own and shares it with the world to inspire others. Her positive outlook in life and her bubbly personality makes her a hero.

Tisha shares her struggles in life with the many people who follow her with her Youtube updates. She demonstrates how she goes about her day to day activities by herself, from eating sushi with sticks, making a sandwich and to taking a shower.

"Many people ask me, Tisha how do you take a shower? I respond with my feet," said Tisha.

But most people couldn't imagine taking a shower without hands simply because they stand up in the shower.

"It is difficult to stand on one foot and rub your body with your other while standing in the shower, that's why I sit in the bathtub and use a bath mat to keep me from slipping," Tisha added.

Read more: Breaking World News Today

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Original Page: http://www.ynaija.com/meet-tisha-unarmed-woman-born-without-arms-she-drives-a-car-and-showers-in-video-watch/

2015: Lamido, Amaechi posters flood Kaduna streets

From NOAH EBIJE, Kaduna

Barely 48 hours after the North West zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held a reconciliatory meeting in Kaduna, posters of the Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido for 2015 presidency flooded Kaduna streets with his Rivers State counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi as running mate.

Lamido was reported to be absent at the North West meeting last Saturday. Most streets linking Kaduna South and North of the metropolis were splashed with the posters. Daily Sun observed the posters were conspicuous at the popular Ahmadu Bello Stadium Roundabout and on public structures, such as billboards, fences and poles in the metropolis.

It was also observed that some commercial motorcyclists and passersby momentarily stopped and gazed at the posters with keen admiration, with most of them saying in Hausa language that God should spare the lives of Lamido and Amaechi till the election year.   "Sai Lamido, Sai Lamido, Sai Lamido (it must be Lamido for presidency)," they shouted.

Sources in Kaduna volunteered that the appearance of the posters hours after the North-West meeting has cast a pall of failure on the reconciliatory effort led by PDP chairman. Contacted for comments on the posters, Chief Press Secretary to the Rivers State Governor, David Iyofor denied involvement of the governor with 2015 election and posters.

"We are not aware of any such posters. We didn't ask anybody to paste posters in Kaduna or elsewhere," Iyofor said.

According to him, mischief-makers determined to ridicule the two governors werebehind the posters, as the Rivers governor had not indicated any interest to contest the presidential race.

Also reacting, the Director of Press Affairs to the Jigawa governor, Umar Kyari Jitau told Daily Sun that they knew nothing about the posters.

According to him: "You are in Kaduna I am in Dutse, if you have said you found the posters in Dutse, we may as well want to begin to investigate those behind it. But Kaduna, honestly we don't know anything about it and in fact you are the one telling me about it. I have not seen it," Kyari said.

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Original Page: http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/2015-lamido-amaechi-posters-flood-kaduna-streets/

News

Ex-Zambian President Banda Arrested Over Nigerian Oil Deal

Zambia's former President Rupiah Banda, has been arrested in connection with a Nigerian oil deal, struck with a Nigerian firm while he was in power an investigator told reporters.

"President Rupiah Banda has been formally charged and arrested in connection with the procurement of oil which did not benefit the country," NamukoloKasumpa, a spokeswoman for government investigators told reporters yesterday.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) also reported that Banda was  being accused of stealing more than $11million (£7m) during his three years in office, Reuters news agency reports.

Mr Banda, who was stripped of presidential immunity earlier this month, was questioned for nearly three hours before being freed on bail. The former president denied the charges and said he was a victim of a witch-hunt, he was immediately freed on bail and he is due in court on Tuesday.

Shortly after being released, Mr Banda addressed his supporters, telling them to remain calm and that he would win the case in court.

The former leader lost 2011 elections to Michael Sata, whose government is investigating several high-profile deals made by Mr Banda's administration amid accusations of corruption.

Banda led Africa's top copper producer from 2008 to 2011, but the online agency did not however, provide details of the Nigeria oil deals Banda is being charged for.

Late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was Nigeria's President during the period with President Goodluck Jonathan taking over the country's government after Yar'Adua's death in 2010.

Although details about the deal could not be gotten as at press time, sources said the deal could have been struck during the tenure of either presidents.

"This is a highly classified and coded deal, details of what transpired seems to have been kept in high secrecy but the truth will eventually come out," a source within the presidency told Leadership yesterday.

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Original Page: http://www.leadership.ng/nga/articles/50872/2013/03/26/exzambian_president_banda_arrested_over_nigerian_oil_deal.html

News

Insecurity: US Decries Rising Violence

United States ambassador to Nigeria Mr. Terence McCulley has expressed grave concern over the increasing killings and bombings in the country. The ambassador spoke in Abuja yesterday during his visit to the minister of state for defence, Erelu Olusola Agbeja Obada, in her office with the service chiefs in attendance.

The minister led him to her office with the chief of army staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, and his air force counterpart, Air Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh, including the acting permanent secretary of the ministry, Mr. Oguche.

LEADERSHIP checks reveal that the ambassador expressed the concern of his country over the rising terrorist attacks; he cited the Kano bombings and those that reportedly took place in Jos and Maiduguri recently and was said to have told the security chiefs to do more in containing the menace.

A source close to the meeting also confided in LEADERSHIP: "The US ambassador told the minister and the service chiefs that his country was not happy with the rise in the terrorist attacks and made a particular reference to the Kano incident where five luxury buses scheduled to travel to Lagos were bombed which led to the death of people numbering about 60. He called for more intelligence gathering to prevent such an attack and disclosed the readiness of his government in this regard."

Although the defence ministry officials promised that the ambassador would speak with the media after the meeting, he could not do that. But the meeting continued with the service chiefs before some GOCs began to come in. They later joined them at the meeting.

The source disclosed further that the minister was able to convince the ambassador about what the military is doing to contain the Boko Haram. He cited the recent successes recorded of recent -- the arraignment of a kingpin, Kabiru Sokoto, last week and how the military has been consistently arresting some members of the sect and exposing their hideouts in the country. The service chiefs were said to have cited the military assaults on the Islamic extremists in Mali by the AFISMA as the factor responsible for the upsurge in the terrorist attacks and vowed to contain them.

Speaking with newsmen later, Minister Obada explained that the meeting with the ambassador was a regular one that has to do with the US-Nigeria bilateral relations and how to improve upon it, especially as regards the military support and other areas that are of mutual interest to the two.

She said: "We have a beautiful meeting with the ambassador to further deepen the cooperation between Nigeria and the US and we discussed a lot of issues that are beneficial to both countries. United States of America and Nigeria have come a very long way together in terms of military cooperation, in terms of training and so many other things. We intend to keep our relationship with them to ensure that the two enjoy each other's confidences. There are other issues that we discussed towards ongoing happenings which good explanations have been given."

When asked the reason for the presence of the service chiefs at the meeting, the minister explained that since the meeting had to do with military training, it is imperative to have them around. She disclosed that the chief of defence staff, Admiral S Ola Saad, was away to Ivory Coast attending the ECOWAS Chief of Defence Staff's meeting while the naval chief, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, was on official tour to Delta State.

According to Obada, the meeting has nothing to do with the controversial state pardon recently granted former Bayelsa State governor, Diepreye Alamieyesiegha. "No, no, we did not discuss that; this is the Ministry of Defence and we only discussed issue affecting the ministry," she added.

Soyinka tasks Boko Haram over Islam

In a related development, Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has called for the re-education of the members of Boko Haram on the true meaning of Islam, on the grounds that members of the sect have limited knowledge of Islam.

Soyinka made the call yesterday while speaking at the 2013 education summit organised by the Rivers State Ministry of Education at Government House, Port Harcourt.

The education summit was attended by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, former vice- chancellor of the University of Ibadan Prof. Ayo Banjo and the first military governor of Old Rivers State and Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff.

Soyinka said; " All hope is not lost, but the situation is desperate, very desperate. The kind of education also is important really. Those who call themselves Boko Haram, for instance... yes, they claim to be educated.

"Educated to mean books and they are not sufficiently educated even about their religion to know that some of the greatest philosophers came from that religion; some of the greatest mathematicians were pioneer Muslims, Islamic scholars.

"So, the killers roaming around sayimg they hate western education, they are uneducated. They have been taught on monorail -- one-track lane. They need to be re-educated even about their own history, culture. "

The Nobel laureate urged the federal government to closely monitor the programmes of the newly established Almajiri school currently functioning in several states in the northern part of the country.

Soyinka said: "So, when people talk about multi-pronged approach, yes, I agree and I approve of the attempts being made to create the so-called Almajiri schools, which should be supervised. The content and method of teaching should be supervised."

He decried the recent onslaught by members of Boko Haram against teachers and wondered how the society will increase in knowledge if teachers were being slaughtered on almost a daily basis.

The Nobel laureate said: "At the same time, however, to impart knowledge, you have to have the heads where they belong for knowledge to be imparted. So, at the same time talk about amnesty as much as you want, but you have to catch those who are trying to take heads off where we are supposed to impart knowledge."

Amnesty, panacea to sect violence – Coomassie

Sequel to calls from some quarters that amnesty should be granted to Boko Haram, a former inspector-general of police (IGP), Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, has said that amnesty is the solution to the insurgency.

Speaking in Abuja over the issue, the former IG said the government should not segregate the amnesty programme which has worked with the Niger Delta militants.

Commassie said, "We have tried it somewhere and it worked; when it was thrown to the Niger Delta militants, they accepted it and started surrendering their arms and they've been talking and now a lot of them have been sent abroad for various courses. So why can't we try this with Boko Haram, why can't we talk to the elders of Borno and Yobe on how they can help to get the leaders of Boko Haram so we can dialogue with them and grant them amnesty so they can talk freely and then we look into their problems?

"I'm saying this because I happened to have gone to Borno and Yobe under the auspices of Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation to sympathise with the leadership, where they told us that we should tell whoever wants to know that they can talk to the ghosts; let them just approach them and they will find out who they are because they have been talking to them."

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Original Page: http://www.leadership.ng/nga/articles/50874/2013/03/26/insecurity_us_decries_rising_violence.html