Soldiers Clash With Cultists In Rivers, 4 Killed

Four persons suspected to be members of cult groups were killed by soldiers on Tuesday in Oboburu community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The cult members were said to have engaged the soldiers in a shootout that lasted for several hours, with indigenes of the community fleeing their homes to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

The cult members were said to have camped in Oboburu, which is the second largest community in Egiland, harassing and intimidating people.

Egypt to Order Additional Russian President-S Defense Systems

According to the general director of Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies, Russia and Egypt plan to sign a contract for the supply of an additional batch of the advanced President-S onboard defense systems.


KAZAN (Sputnik) – Russia and Egypt in April-May will sign a contract for the supply of an additional batch of the advanced President-S onboard defense systems (ODS), the general director of Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies (KRET) said Wednesday.
In mid-March, the Russian company announced the soon launch of the ODS deliveries to Egypt under the 2015 contract.

Civil Defence Operative Kills Boy In Cold Blood Over Fuel

It was a disaster for terrified residents of 21 Road in Festac Town, Lagos on Wednesday afternoon as a female Civil Defence operative on the orders of her commander, summarily executed a boy at the AP filling Station on 21,Road ,FESTAC Town.
The boy was alleged to have bought fuel in a jerry can and was going home when he was accosted by a team of Civil Defence officials who arrested him.
Witnesses said he never resisted arrest, but rather was pleading and explaining to the NSCDC personnel that the fuel was for personal use as he was not a fuel hawker.
The witness who pleaded annonymity said the boy, about 18-years-old had laid down on the road pleading with theNSCDC operatives to allow him go home as he was not a fuel hawker, but had just bought the fuel for personal use.

The witnesses said the Commander of the team who felt that the boy was resisting arrest,ordered a female official to shoot the”Bastard”,and the woman shot him.
On seeing the boy dying on the pool of his own blood, the NSCDC operatives jumped into their patrol van and sped off.

As at press time, men of Op Mesa and the Nigeria Police led by the FESTAC Police Station Divisional Police Officer(DPO) Mr Monday Agbonika were on ground ,making sure that the angry mob did not take laws into their hands.
The angry sympathisers had attempted to set the filling station and some petrol Tankers ablaze,but were prevented by the security operatives.
A senior Police officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the killing of the young boy was unwarranted”Why should they kill the boy.I think ,the Civil Defence corps don’t know when to use fire arms. They don’t even have regulation on fire arms usage”
The Sun.

Senators Loyal to Saraki advised him to Resign-

In other not to be humiliated while on the throne, some senators including those who had vowed to remain with him to the end of his trial at the anti-graft court, yesterday, asked the Senate President to consider the resignation option so as to save the Senate, as an institution.

Vanguard gathered that the option was thrown to him at a special meeting held by a group of some loyal senators, who followed him to his Maitama residence, shortly after the end of yesterday’s trial at the court.

Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah Press Statement Towards Eliminating Fuel Queues Nationwide

This is to inform our valued customers and the general public that NNPC has brought enough fuel cargoes into the country.
Consequently, Capital Oil has commenced massive 24hours loading in a bid to meet NNPC's target of eliminating fuel queues nationwide within the next few days.
We also wish to discourage Nigerians from panic buying & hoarding while calling on everyone to stop patronizing the activities of black marketers.
Support NNPC!
Signed
for: Capital Oil and Gas Ind. Ltd.
Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah
Managing Director/CEO

Lokpobiri Not A Member Of Our Party – APC

The war of attrition bedeviling the Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) assumed a new dimension yesterday when the party leadership in the state claimed that Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development Senator Heineken Lokpobiri is not a card -carrying member of the APC.

Chief Tiwei Timipa Orunimighe, state chapter chairman of the party in Bayelsa State, made the allegation in his response to the Minister’s denial on the allegation of paying former governor of the state, Timipre Sylva, before he was nominated to take the ministerial position meant for Bayelsa State in the president Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.

David Mark Named In Panama Papers With UK Properties - The Nation

Former Senate President David Mark has been associated with running eight offshore companies registered in British Virgin Island.
His former wife is also listed as owning shell accounts.

Senator Mark (Benue South), who recently won re-election into the upper chamber for the fifth time, is the latest Nigerian to be named in the secret assets leak of files belonging to Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.

Peter Onyekwere-Ebigbo Elected Into World Council On Torture Victims

A Nigerian Prof. Peter Onyekwere Ebigbo, of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has been elected to serve on the International Council for
Rehabilitation of Torture Victims in Copenhagen, Denmark. Ebigbo, who is the first black African to work on the council, will serve from 2016 to 2019.

Due to Ebigbo’s numerous contributions to education and scholarship, UNN during its 45th convocation recently upgraded the erudite scholar to the revered academic status of Professor emeritus, barely three years after his retirement.

Kids Found Dead In Ogun Church Premises

There was panic at Matogun, in the Lambe area of Ogun State on Tuesday after the police recovered corpses of two missing pupils from a church in the community, Christ Crusaders’ Deliverance Ministry.
The deceased – six-year-old Isaac Ayegbo, a primary 2 pupil, and Ayomide Innocent, 4, who was in Nursery 1 – were reportedly found inside the church’s vehicle after they were declared missing on Sunday.

Customs Blames CBN’s Policies As Revenue Falls By N230bn

Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), retired Col. Hameed Ali, has said that the service had a revenue shortfall of N230 billion in the last quarter of 2015.
Ali made the disclosure during a Consultative Forum between Customs and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) held at the Customs Training School, Ikeja, Lagos.

He attributed the shortfall to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) policies, adding that the service pleaded for sympathetic consideration by the CBN to review the policies.
“Customs had also made progress in getting the necessary approval for clearance of a huge backlog of imports.

Imo Govt. Signs MoU For Production Of Electronics

The Imo State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Chinese company to commence the production of electronics and electrical materials.

The Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, recently received the Chinese delegation at the Government House in Owerri the Imo State capital.

‪#‎BuyNigeria‬: Enough Of Empty Talks, Says Osinbajo

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday said the government and other stakeholders had spoken enough on the need for Nigerians to patronise made in Nigeria products.
He said there was the need to embrace the campaign which he said could contribute to the revival of the cotton, textile and garment industries which is one of the goals of the present administration.
According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, the Vice President spoke during a meeting he had with industry stakeholders and members of the Implementation Committee on the National Cotton, Textile and Garment Policy at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

We Can’t Impose AU Force On Burundi, Says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said since the Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza has rejected the proposal of a stabilising force from the African Union for his country that was currently witnessing political crisis, the idea could not be imposed on the country.
Buhari therefore urged the people and government of Burundi to explore dialogue in resolving the current political differences in the country.

We Can’t Impose AU Force On Burundi, Says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said since the Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza has rejected the proposal of a stabilising force from the African Union for his country that was currently witnessing political crisis, the idea could not be imposed on the country.
Buhari therefore urged the people and government of Burundi to explore dialogue in resolving the current political differences in the country.

Kachikwu: Fuel Scarcity Will End On Wednesday In Abuja, Lagos

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu on Tuesday said that the scarcity of petrol which had lasted a while in the country would be over from Wednesday (today) through to Thursday in Abuja and Lagos, the country’s political and commercial capitals.
Kachikwu, who said this during a town hall meeting he had with workers of the Petroleum Products Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) in Abuja noted that while he expects an end to scarcity in both cities from today, other cities in the country like Port Harcourt, Warri, Sokoto and Kano would however begin to experience such improvement by the weekend.

Boko Haram Threatens Fresh Terror Attacks In New Video

A propaganda video by Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, has alerted Nigeria’s security agencies to possible terror attacks on soft targets.
In the video posted on YouTube last week and removed after a few hours, Shekau made a reference to an impending attack “in the heart of your land”, a phrase being interpreted to mean a major city in the country, most likely to be carried out by suicide bombers.

Nigeria In Darkness Due To Pipeline Vandalism, Transmission Failure

Recent attacks on crude oil and gas pipelines may have signaled the end of the honeymoon enjoyed by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari with respect to pipeline vandalism. This has ushered in a period of darkness witnessed in recent weeks, as vandalism of gas pipelines disrupted supply of feedstock to gas-fired power generating plants, which account for over 78 per cent of power supply in the country, ThisDay reports.

‘How Saraki Diverted Kwara Funds For Personal Properties’

Trail opened Tuesday before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in the case against Senate President, Bukola Saraki after his last minutes efforts to stay proceedings failed.
Saraki, who is facing a 13-count false assets declaration charge, was arraigned before the tribunal late last year. The prosecution has been unable to open trial in view of the several huddles raised by Saraki, including challenging the CCT’s jurisdiction, the competence of the charge, the propriety of his trial before the tribunal, among others, up to the Supreme Court.

Falana To DSS: Release Zakzaky Within 24 Hours

Activist-lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has demanded the unconditional release of leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) Sheik Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife, Hajia Zeenat Ibraheem from unlawful detention.
In an April 5 letter to the Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), Falana said his clients were denied access to their family and doctors since their arrest.

Falana said last December 12, thousands of armed soldiers allegedly unleashed violent attacks on IMN members in Zaria, Kaduna State on the orders of the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai who claimed that the unarmed civilians wanted to assassinate him.

APC Leaders Pleaded For My Return - Osoba

Former Governor Olusegun Osoba on Tuesday said the public misconstrued what happened at his Bourdilon home, Ikoyi – Lagos, last Sunday when the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southwest met.
In attendance at the meeting included the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Mrs. Oluranti Adebule and former Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo.

I'm Happy My CCT Trial Commenced, Says Saraki

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has said that he is glad that his trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on alleged asset declaration in 2003 has finally commenced.
Saraki in statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, said that Tuesday’s proceedings gave him confidence that “if the trial is conducted fairly” he would “be vindicated.”
The Senate President noted that “even though the prosecution tried to bring in some dramatic narratives, it was clear that they were merely thrashing around and hoping to titillate the public with salacious tales.”
Saraki added that he was “hopeful however that when the time comes, his lawyers will have the opportunity to present his case.”
The Nation.

Ortom, Abounu Visit Agatu With Trucks Of Soldiers, Policemen

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and his deputy, Benson Abounu, Tuesday, visited the ravaged Agatu Local Government Area of the state.
This is the first time the governor will be visiting the area since he assumed power last year.
Many residents of the community have been killed, while several others were rendered homeless by suspected Fulani Herdsmen.
Ortom has been facing public criticisms following his refusal to visit the area or take necessary steps to end the crisis.

Launching Of Abuja-Kaduna Rail Project Not Feasible By May 29 – Amaechi

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has stated that the official launching of Abuja-Kaduna rail project would not be feasible by May 29.
Amaechi made this disclosure at Idu, Abuja, while inspecting the arrival of two new coaches by the contractors, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) on Tuesday.
The minister said that the development was due to earlier refusal of Daughters of Charity Hospital in Kubwa to relocate for the alignment of the rail track.

Dangerous Islamic Group Emerges In Kaduna – Governor El-Rufai

The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, has raised the alarm over the emergence of a deadly Islamic group, “Gausiyya” in Markafi Local Government Area of the state.
Mr. El-Rufai made this known in a radio interview on Friday, while justifying the need to regulate religious activities in the state.
The governor had weeks ago forwarded the Religious Regulation Bill, 2016, to the state House of Assembly, a situation that pitched him against religious leaders and rights activists across the country.

Buhari: Boko Haram Has Close Links With ISIL.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said the Boko Haram sect has a close link with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
According to a statement issued by Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Buhari said this at the presidential villa in Abuja during a farewell ceremony held in honour of Tom Amolo, high commissioner of Kenya to Nigeria.
The president was quoted as saying ending insurgency in Africa will require stronger collaboration and commitment from governments, financial institutions and security agencies.