3,032 Pardoned Soldiers Reject Redeployment To N-east To Fight Boko Haram

….say they have never been really re-instated


By Luka Binniyat

KADUNA—The 3032 soldiers, who were pardoned last August for various offences during campaigns against the Islamic terrorist group, Boko Haram, in the North East of Nigeria, have rejected posting to the fronts.

The soldiers explained that they were never really pardoned and re-integrated into the Army, but rather, re-sentenced to the war front.


*Some suspected culprits at the inauguration of a general court martial to try erring army personnel, in Jos, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN.
*Some of the soldiers

Vanguard learned this created anxiety at the Command and Staff College, Nigerian Army School of Infantry, NASI, Jaji, Kaduna state, when over 3,000 soldiers – who claimed to have been subjected to unimaginable ill treatment after their pardon – were gathered by the Commandant of NASI, Major General Kassim Aldulkareem, to inform them that they have been assigned new riffles and should be ready for deployment to the fronts on the 11 January, 2016.

Nigeria Wins Bid to Provide Communications Satellite Technology to Belarus

By Dele Ogbodo
Abuja — The federal government, through the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited, on Wednesday disclosed that it had won the bid to provide communications satellite technology services to the Republic of Belarus over a 15-year period.
Besides leasing transponders to neighbouring Ghana, Gabon, Cote'dVoire and several other countries using its NIGCOMSAT -1R infrastructure, wining the Belarus satellite bid has further positioned Nigeria among top global communications satellite players.

Ethiopia Kicks Out US Killer Drone Base

At the request of the Ethiopian government, the United States has stopped flying drones from southern Ethiopia in its campaign against militants in Somalia and Yemen, officials said.

On Tuesday, US officials confirmed that drone activities had ceased at an airfield in the town of Arba Minch, which had been used to launch Reaper drones that can carry Hellfire missiles and satellite-guided bombs.

"This was done upon request by the Ethiopian government," government spokesman Getachew Reda said, according to Reuters.

Photos: US dumps 24 mine resistant vehicles worth $11m to Nigerian army

The United States will today donate 24 mine resistant armor military vehicles to the Nigerian army as part of its promises to aid Nigeria in it's fight against the dreaded terrorist group- Boko Haram. The vehicles worth $11m will be given to military officials at the Nigerian Army 9th Brigade Parade ground,Ikeja. A statement yesterday, by the Public Affairs Section of the US Consulate General Lagos, said: “The US is pleased to donate 24 Mine-Resistant, Armor-Protected (MRAP) vehicles valued at $11m to Nigeria’s military authorities. “The equipment donation represents part of the continuing US commitment to Nigeria and its neighbours to counter Boko Haram’s senseless acts of terror and promote regional security.”
See more pics when you continue after the jump.

Photos: Man shouting Allahu Akbar killed outside Paris police station

A knife-wielding man believed to be have explosives strapped on his shirt was killed while attempting to enter a Paris police station this afternoon. According to reports, the man was shouting Allahu Akbar as he tried to gain entrance into the station when police opened fired at him to prevent him from entering the building.

Tehran Accuses Saudi Arabia of Airstrikes on Iran's Embassy in Yemen

Tehran accused Riyadh of conducting airstrikes with military aircraft on the Iranian embassy in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa.

"Saudi Arabia bears responsibility for damaging the embassy and injuring its staff," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari said as quoted by state TV channel IRIB. Several guards were allegedly injured.

"This deliberate action by Saudi Arabia is a violation of all international conventions that protect diplomatic missions," he was quoted as saying by AFP.

Ansari added that "the Islamic Republic [of Iran] reserves the right to pursue its interests in this matter."

Iran Bans All Imports From Saudi Arabia After Diplomatic Relations Severed

Iran has decided to ban all product from Saudi Arabia after the two countries severed diplomatic relations.

LAGOS– Iran has imposed a full embargo against Saudi Arabia on all deliveries of products after the two countries severed diplomatic relations, Press TV reported on Thursday.

“Iran prohibits [the imports] of all products from Saudi Arabia after severing relations,” according to a statement published on the broadcaster’s Twitter account.


​On January 2, Riyadh executed top Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, inciting a response in Tehran, where the Saudi embassy was stormed by protestors. On Monday, Saudi Arabia formerly severed diplomatic ties with Iran.

7 of Top 7 CelebsThat Have Had Serious Problems With Olamide!

7. LINDA IKEJI

Linda Ikeji fell out with Olamide after the blogger broke news about the rapper getting a woman pregnant.

Olamide denied getting anyone pregnant and warned Linda Ikeji to stay off his news if he can’t post his music materials.

Olamide welcomed a child 7 months after the outrage which proved the blogger got her story from a good source.
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6 of Top 7 CelebsThat Have Had Serious Problems With Olamide!

6. M.I
M.I has never hidden the fact that he is not really cool with Olamide although Olamide seems to have an open mind about him.

M.I in an interview addressed the perceived beef he has with the YBNL chief.

He said,

Saudi Arabia Vs Iran: The War of Nerves

audi Arabia’s mass execution of “terrorists” whose victims include the senior Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr has triggered a crisis between Saudi Arabia and Iran, whose radicals ransacked Saudi embassy in Tehran and which resulted in Saudi Arabia breaking off relations with Iran, that threatens to spill into outright warfare and has additionally polarized the Middle East. What is behind Riyadh’s and Tehran’s moves and what are the likely consequences?

Written by J.Hawk exclusively for SouthFront: Analysis & Intelligence

Obatala Festival Hosted By Ita Oosa Grows For 2016

Once again Ojise Obatala Edena – Oloye Oriyomi Ifagbenjo Orisagbemi and Ita Osa convene their annual Obatala Festival. Obatala Festival celebrates many qualities and attributes of Yoruba sacredscience practice and positive attributes. Among the many attributes and aspects that will be celebrated are those of creativity, transformation of planet Earth, molding of human beings,laughter,etc.

US Navy's Pacific Fleet Shrinks in Face of Rising China

The US Navy's Pacific Fleet has fewer ships now than in the mid-1990s, leading to a debate about whether the United States has enough ships to meet challenges posed by China’s growing and assertive navy.


China announced last week that it would build its second aircraft carrier. China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, is a second-hand Soviet ship built more than 25 years ago. It was commissioned in 2012 after extensive refits.

US Navy officials maintain that vastly improved technology on its ships outweighs any disadvantage from a drop in numbers.

China Voices Strong Protest Against North Korean Test of Hydrogen Bomb

Beijing voiced strong protest in light of North Korea's test of hydrogen bomb, China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Wednesday.

BEIJING (Nigeria Property) — Earlier in the day, South Korean media reported an earthquake near the North Korean nuclear facility. Seoul suspects that Pyongyang has performed a nuclear bomb test. Later, North Korea confirmed that it had indeed tested a hydrogen bomb, which it said was a success.

"Today North Korea has announced a nuclear test. The Chinese government firmly opposes it. The prevention of nuclear proliferation and the provision of peace and stability in Northeastern Asia — this is China's position," Hua said.

She added that Beijing called on Pyongyang to act in accordance with its obligations in the area of nuclear non-proliferation.

North Korea Confirms Successful Testing of Hydrogen Bomb

North Korea announced a successful test of a hydrogen bomb in a special statement broadcasted by the country's central TV and South Korean TV channels.

According to the statement, Pyongyang claimed the reason for the test was the country's right for "self-defense," and promised not to use nuclear weapons if the international community respects its sovereignty.

Subsidy Removal, Naira Devaluation… 5 Things IMF Boss, Lagarde, Discussed With Buhari.

Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), advised President Muhammadu Buhari and his team to be flexible with its monetary policy and let go of petroleum subsidies.

At a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, Lagarde said Nigeria would not need any programme and/or loan from the IMF to enhance its economy.

MOSOP Issue 30-Day Ultimatum To Buhari To Implement UNEP Report

Based on a perceived delay in the clean up of crude oil spill impacted on sites in Ogoniland, the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, has issued a 30-day ultimatum to the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari to commence the implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme Report on Ogoni, Rivers State.
This was disclosed during the 23rd anniversary of Ogoni people, at Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Bori, the ancestral headquarters of Ogoni people.

INEC Ad-hoc Staff Protest Over Unpaid Allowances In Lokoja

Ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from the 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi State yesterday staged a peaceful protest in Lokoja, the state capital over non-payment of their allowances since the conclusion of the November, 21 2015, governorship election. The protesters who marched through some major streets in Lokoja were demanding for the payment of their N17, 500 being the fee for their participation in the governorship election exercise. Chairman of the ad hoc staff, Yusuf Bello, and Secretary, John Okpanachi, who spoke with Thisday said they had to take to the streets so as to push for their entitlements.

Jonathan: We Shamed Prophets Of Doom In 2015.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says Nigerians proved wrong those who had negative prophecies about the country in 2015.  Reacting to the honour bestowed on him by The African Sun Times Newspaper, which named him its International Person of the Year, Jonathan reaffirmed his belief in the country he led for five years. The publication is number one and largest newspaper in America. “I thank The African Sun Times for naming me as its International Person of the year, 2015. I am indeed humbled by this honour,” he wrote on Facebook.

Don't Throw The Arab World Into Crisis, UN Warns Saudi Arabia, Iran

United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, on Monday, urged Saudi Arabia and Iran to avoid any actions that could further exacerbate the situation between the two countries and in the region as a whole. Ban made the call in a telephone call he made to Mr Abel bin Al-Jubeir, the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia and Mr Mohammad Zarif, the Iranian Foreign Minister.

Buhari meets IMF MD

0A-C President Muhammadu Buhari discussing with The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Mrs Christine Lagarde during an audience with IMF Team at the State in Abuja.JAN 5 2016. 1A. R-L; President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo, The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Mrs Christine Lagarde, Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, and CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele 2. President Muhammadu Buhari in a hand shake with The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Mrs Christine Lagarde (m) flanked by the Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo left and CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and others PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES IMF MD LAGARDE 3. L-R; President Muhammadu Buhari, The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Mrs Christine Lagarde and CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele PRESIDENT BUHARI

Buhari Bows To Outrage, Orders Reduction Of Presidency’s N19bn Budget.

Following the outrage which had trailed the billions of Naira allocated to the Presidency in the 2016 Budget, President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly ordered for a downward review of the budget. DAILY POST gathered on Tuesday that the president was angered at the bashing he was receiving over the billions allocated to his office, that of his vice, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, as well as Aso Rock as a whole. Details provided by Nigeria’s budget office shows that the presidency got N19billion. DAILY POST had published the breakdown of 2016 budget about a week ago.

Inter-Ministerial Committee Will Be Established To Fast-Track NNPC Reforms - Buhari.

President Muhammadu Buhari said Tuesday in Abuja that an inter-ministerial committee will soon be established to speed up the re-organization and reformation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Speaking at a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Jin-Yong Cai, at the Presidential Villa, President Buhari said that the reformation of the NNPC had become inevitable in view of the corruption and abuse of its present structure in the recent past. The President also cited Nigeria's current need to maximize income from every source of revenue as a further imperative for reforming the NNPC.

Court Asks IGP To Monitor Haliru Bello At Abuja Clinic..

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase, has been asked to supervise the stay of the former National Chairman of the PDP, Haliru Bello, at the Abuja clinics. A Federal High Court gave the directive on Tuesday, pending the determination of Mr Bello’s bail application which has been fixed for January 7, 2016. The order followed the plea by his counsel and evidence in court that the accused person came from the Abuja clinics to take his plea.

INEC Urged To Probe $2m Bribe Offer To Wife Of Bayelsa REC By Timipre Sylva

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been urged to launched an immediate investigation into an alleged $2 million bribe offer to the wife of Bayelsa Resident Electoral Commisioner (REC) by the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva. A statement issued by the leader of Friends of Bayelsa, Otobo Osborne, also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to use the instruments of government at his disposal to order an investigation into how and where Chief Timipre Silva got the $2 million dollars to offer the wife of Bayelsa INEC REC in the state.

DSS Searches Governor Mimiko Of Ondo State's Plane

In a commando like operation, as seen in movies, the plane conveying Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State to Port- Harcourt enroute to Bayelsa State was searched by men of the DSS. The stern looking men of the DSS swooped on the plane as soon as it landed at the Port-Harcourt Airport. The DSS men searched the plane, and even "physically" searched the Governor, his security details and aides.