Monday, September 22, 2014
Apple sells record 10 million
Reuters Apple sells record 10 million new iPhones in first three days http://blink.htcsense.com/web/articleweb.aspx?regionid=3&articleid=29230586
Monday, September 8, 2014
US expands air strikes against IS
The US has launched five air attacks on Islamic State fighters
threatening the Haditha dam, as Washington widened its air
campaign against the group.
The attacks on Sunday destroyed Islamic State vehicles, two
of which were carrying anti-aircraft artillery, a fighting
position and a command post, the US central command
said.
“At the request of the Iraqi government and in keeping with
our mission to protect US personnel and facilities, US
military planes have begun striking ISIL terrorists near the
Haditha dam,” said a US official.
Al Jazeera’s Jane Arraf, reporting from Baghdad, said the
bombardment targeted IS fighters between Haditha and al-
Qaim, close to the Syrian border.
“That area is key to defeating or at least containing IS who
use the route to transport weapons,” she said.
Iraqi helicopters were also taking part in the offensive, the
Iraqi defence ministry said.
Iraqi state television said government troops had taken
control of the northern entrance of the town of Berwana,
about 15km south of Haditha and that 15 IS fighters were
killed.
Last month, IS fighters tried to capture the Haditha dam,
which has six power generators alongside the country’s
second-largest reservoir. Iraqi forces backed up by local
Sunni tribes were able to hold them off.
The IS group was able to take control of the Mosul dam in
northern Iraq last month, but US air strikes helped Kurdish
and Iraqi forces retake it.
An interior ministry spokesman told Al Jazeera that US
support was crucial to beating the Islamic State group.
“If we want a remedy for this cancer… help from the
American side will tackle it in a shorter time – especially
when we are talking about air power,” he said.
In a separate development, Kurdish peshmerga fighters
supported by the Iraqi air force have retaken Gazzer
mountain, close to Kalak on the road to Mosul, sources told
Al Jazeera.
Peshmerga forces are advancing from the east and west on
Mosul, the stronghold of the Islamic State group in Iraq.
The attacks came as the Arab League promised to take all
necessary measures to combat the Islamic State group.
“What is needed is a clear decision for a comprehensive
confrontation, militarily and politically,” Arab League chief
Nabil el-Araby said on Sunday.
The Arab League also endorsed a UN Security Council
resolution passed last month calling on member states to
“act to suppress the flow of foreign fighters, financing and
other support to Islamist extremist groups in Iraq and Syria”.
The US president, Barack Obama, last week announced a
Nato-led “core coalition” to confront the group in Iraq and
Syria, and called on Arab states to consider military action.
threatening the Haditha dam, as Washington widened its air
campaign against the group.
The attacks on Sunday destroyed Islamic State vehicles, two
of which were carrying anti-aircraft artillery, a fighting
position and a command post, the US central command
said.
“At the request of the Iraqi government and in keeping with
our mission to protect US personnel and facilities, US
military planes have begun striking ISIL terrorists near the
Haditha dam,” said a US official.
Al Jazeera’s Jane Arraf, reporting from Baghdad, said the
bombardment targeted IS fighters between Haditha and al-
Qaim, close to the Syrian border.
“That area is key to defeating or at least containing IS who
use the route to transport weapons,” she said.
Iraqi helicopters were also taking part in the offensive, the
Iraqi defence ministry said.
Iraqi state television said government troops had taken
control of the northern entrance of the town of Berwana,
about 15km south of Haditha and that 15 IS fighters were
killed.
Last month, IS fighters tried to capture the Haditha dam,
which has six power generators alongside the country’s
second-largest reservoir. Iraqi forces backed up by local
Sunni tribes were able to hold them off.
The IS group was able to take control of the Mosul dam in
northern Iraq last month, but US air strikes helped Kurdish
and Iraqi forces retake it.
An interior ministry spokesman told Al Jazeera that US
support was crucial to beating the Islamic State group.
“If we want a remedy for this cancer… help from the
American side will tackle it in a shorter time – especially
when we are talking about air power,” he said.
In a separate development, Kurdish peshmerga fighters
supported by the Iraqi air force have retaken Gazzer
mountain, close to Kalak on the road to Mosul, sources told
Al Jazeera.
Peshmerga forces are advancing from the east and west on
Mosul, the stronghold of the Islamic State group in Iraq.
The attacks came as the Arab League promised to take all
necessary measures to combat the Islamic State group.
“What is needed is a clear decision for a comprehensive
confrontation, militarily and politically,” Arab League chief
Nabil el-Araby said on Sunday.
The Arab League also endorsed a UN Security Council
resolution passed last month calling on member states to
“act to suppress the flow of foreign fighters, financing and
other support to Islamist extremist groups in Iraq and Syria”.
The US president, Barack Obama, last week announced a
Nato-led “core coalition” to confront the group in Iraq and
Syria, and called on Arab states to consider military action.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Jonathan is afraid of Boko Haram, says David-West
A former Minister of
Petroleum, Prof Tam
David-West, has
berated President
Goodluck Jonathan for
failing to address the
security situation in the
country.
David-West said he was convinced that the President was
afraid of Boko Haram that was why he (Jonathan) refused to
visit the parents of the schoolgirls that were kidnapped in
Chibok, Borno State over four months ago.
David-West said it was wrong of Jonathan to have invited the
parents of the Chibok girls to Abuja instead of going to
Chibok to visit them, adding that going to visit them would
have given both the parents and Nigerians a psychological
boost.
The former minister said this during an interview with
Sahara TV, which was monitored by our correspondent.
He said Jonathan had no right to seek a second term in
office and urged Nigerians to rise against bad governance.
He said it was unfortunate that more Nigerians were being
abducted by terrorists.
He described as shocking, the takeover of several towns by
Boko Haram members.
He said, “Anyone that is complacent about the state of
affairs in the country is an enemy of Nigeria. It is a terrible
situation and we should be ashamed, President Jonathan
should be ashamed. He is the Commander-in-Chief and the
number one security officer and citizen of the state.
“Over 200 of your girls taken away from your territory for
the past three months and you are still talking. First, you are
not even sure, his wife said nothing happened, then he also
did not believe that anything happened and later he
changed and said he knows where they are. If you say you
know where they are, why can’t you save them?
“With all the security forces in the country, you cannot bring
them. Our President is afraid of Boko Haram. He claimed
they have infiltrated his cabinet and isn’t he ashamed? Since
you know they have infiltrated your cabinet, why don’t you
expose them?
“Up till now, he has not gone to Chibok and when he made
that cosmetic move to see them, he invited the parents to
come to Abuja and when they were going, he gave them
money which has now been exposed and that is why Boko
Haram has been so because they know that the President is
weak.”
David-West said even though he is Jonathan’s kinsman, he
would not turn a blind eye to the incompetence of his
administration.
Petroleum, Prof Tam
David-West, has
berated President
Goodluck Jonathan for
failing to address the
security situation in the
country.
David-West said he was convinced that the President was
afraid of Boko Haram that was why he (Jonathan) refused to
visit the parents of the schoolgirls that were kidnapped in
Chibok, Borno State over four months ago.
David-West said it was wrong of Jonathan to have invited the
parents of the Chibok girls to Abuja instead of going to
Chibok to visit them, adding that going to visit them would
have given both the parents and Nigerians a psychological
boost.
The former minister said this during an interview with
Sahara TV, which was monitored by our correspondent.
He said Jonathan had no right to seek a second term in
office and urged Nigerians to rise against bad governance.
He said it was unfortunate that more Nigerians were being
abducted by terrorists.
He described as shocking, the takeover of several towns by
Boko Haram members.
He said, “Anyone that is complacent about the state of
affairs in the country is an enemy of Nigeria. It is a terrible
situation and we should be ashamed, President Jonathan
should be ashamed. He is the Commander-in-Chief and the
number one security officer and citizen of the state.
“Over 200 of your girls taken away from your territory for
the past three months and you are still talking. First, you are
not even sure, his wife said nothing happened, then he also
did not believe that anything happened and later he
changed and said he knows where they are. If you say you
know where they are, why can’t you save them?
“With all the security forces in the country, you cannot bring
them. Our President is afraid of Boko Haram. He claimed
they have infiltrated his cabinet and isn’t he ashamed? Since
you know they have infiltrated your cabinet, why don’t you
expose them?
“Up till now, he has not gone to Chibok and when he made
that cosmetic move to see them, he invited the parents to
come to Abuja and when they were going, he gave them
money which has now been exposed and that is why Boko
Haram has been so because they know that the President is
weak.”
David-West said even though he is Jonathan’s kinsman, he
would not turn a blind eye to the incompetence of his
administration.
Boko Haram, our girls and our soldiers
These, without a doubt, are strange times for Nigeria. To say
that the spate of insecurity in the country is becoming very
alarming will be an understatement. Suddenly, we are faced
with a different kind of insecurity occasioned by incessant
terrorist activities. Before now, terrorism is alien to our
culture. But occurrences in recent years have since altered
the picture as the reprehensible activities of the Boko Haram
sect, which today remains one of the nation’s foremost
adversaries, have made Nigeria a focal point of global
terrorism activities. Through a series of bloodletting
operations, unrivalled in the annals of the country, the sect
has, in the past 12 years, held the nation to ransom.
To underline its newly found status as a global terrorist
group, the sect was designated by the US Department of
State as a terrorist organisation in 2013. In the first half of
2014, it killed more than 2,000 innocent and hapless
civilians, in about 95 attacks. In the last three years, more
than 3,000, people have lost their lives as a result of Boko
Haram terrorist operations. A recent data claimed that Boko
Haram attacks have left at least 12,000 people dead and
8,000 crippled in the last three years while hundreds of
thousands have fled their homes for the fear of the
insurgents.
Perhaps, the most audacious of the dastardly acts of the
group, till date, remains the abduction of over 200
secondary school girls, who were kidnapped in a most
notorious manner, from their dormitories in Government
College Chibok, Borno State. The girls, henceforth to be
referred to as our girls, have since been in the custody of
the sect for well over 140 days. The act was met with outrage
and wide condemnations across the world. Indeed, some of
the leading nations of the world offered to help in rescuing
our girls. Several local and international groups have equally
been clamouring for the release of our girls. A renowned 17-
year-old Pakistan child right activist, Malala, recently visited
the country on account of our girls’ plight. She reportedly
had “useful” discussions with major stakeholders including
President Goodluck Jonathan. Malala’s visit eventually
opened the door for a Presidential parley between the
Presidency and distraught parents of our girls. The parley
was, however, beclouded by controversies over the sharing
formula for the money purportedly released by the
Presidency for the upkeep of our girls’ parents.
Somewhere along the line, we were told by the nation’s
military high command that the location of our girls,
supposedly in a vast forest named Sambisa along the
Nigerian /Cameroonian border by Eastern Borno, had been
discovered . However, according to military authorities, they
had to tread cautiously in order not to jeopardise the safety
of our girls. Good. But, while one appreciates the efforts of
all the stakeholders in the bid to free our girls, the point,
however, is that we are now becoming very apprehensive,
especially with regard to the safety of our girls. With Ebola
presently capturing the attention of the whole nation
coupled with preparations for the 2015 general elections,
the fear is that, like most unresolved murder cases in the
country, the issue of our girls might soon fizzle out of the
consciousness of the nation. Consequently, more than ever
before, this is the time to keep asking questions concerning
the plight of our girls. Where are our girls? What is
happening to them? How are they being fed? With what are
they being fed? How healthy is the place where they are
being kept? Are they being sexually abused by their captors?
Is it true that they have been fully integrated into the Boko
Haram family? Is it true that some of them are now being
used as suicide bombers? How can we be pretending that all
is well when we have yet to find our girls? Are we actually
making efforts to bring back our girls?
This brings us to the issue of the Nigerian military. Truth be
told, these are unusual times for our military. Perhaps,
there is no other time in the country’s history, aside from
the civil war era, when the professionalism of the Nigerian
military has been fiercely put to test than now. While one
values the sacrifices of our military men and women who
put their lives at risk to uphold the safety of other members
of the society, one must, however, stress that the Nigerian
military needs to do more than it is presently doing in order
to completely flush out the men who have held our nation
hostage for too long. One is rather disturbed by several
unconfirmed reports of Nigerian soldiers absconding to
neighbourng Cameroon in a bid to escape the ferocious
firing power of Boko Haram insurgents. Though one is not
really schooled in the art of military warfare, it is becoming
alarming that we couldn’t really curtail Boko Haram’s
incursion through military actions thus far. Some have
suggested, though one finds this rather incredible, that the
insurgents possess more sophisticated war arsenals than the
Nigerian military. Could our military have really sunk that
low?
In his inaugural speech in May 29, 1999, former President
Olusegun Obasanjo painted a rather horrid picture of the
Nigerian Army when he said among others that “the
incursion of the military into government has been a
disaster for our country and for the military over the last
thirty years. The esprit-de-corps amongst military personnel
has been destroyed; professionalism has been lost. Youths
go into the military not to pursue a noble career but with the
sole intention of taking part in coups and to be appointed as
military administrators of states and chairmen of task
forces”.
Obasanjo further affirmed that “as a retired officer, my
heart bleeds to see the degradation in the proficiency of the
military. A great deal of reorientation has to be undertaken
and a re-definition of roles, retraining and re-education will
have to be done to ensure that the military submits to civil
authority and regains its pride, professionalism and
traditions. We shall restore military cooperation and
exchanges with our traditional friends. And we will help the
military to help itself”.
To what extent the fortune of the military has improved in
the last fourteen years of democratic rule is better left for
scholars, researchers and other stakeholders to determine.
One thing that is, however, certain is that these are tough
times for our military. But with the help of everyone
stakeholder in the country, we shall surely overcome. We
have demonstrated with our commitment to the
containment of the deadly Ebola virus that we can fight back
when we are pushed to the wall. We need to do more in our
resistance against our other adversaries. God bless Nigeria!
that the spate of insecurity in the country is becoming very
alarming will be an understatement. Suddenly, we are faced
with a different kind of insecurity occasioned by incessant
terrorist activities. Before now, terrorism is alien to our
culture. But occurrences in recent years have since altered
the picture as the reprehensible activities of the Boko Haram
sect, which today remains one of the nation’s foremost
adversaries, have made Nigeria a focal point of global
terrorism activities. Through a series of bloodletting
operations, unrivalled in the annals of the country, the sect
has, in the past 12 years, held the nation to ransom.
To underline its newly found status as a global terrorist
group, the sect was designated by the US Department of
State as a terrorist organisation in 2013. In the first half of
2014, it killed more than 2,000 innocent and hapless
civilians, in about 95 attacks. In the last three years, more
than 3,000, people have lost their lives as a result of Boko
Haram terrorist operations. A recent data claimed that Boko
Haram attacks have left at least 12,000 people dead and
8,000 crippled in the last three years while hundreds of
thousands have fled their homes for the fear of the
insurgents.
Perhaps, the most audacious of the dastardly acts of the
group, till date, remains the abduction of over 200
secondary school girls, who were kidnapped in a most
notorious manner, from their dormitories in Government
College Chibok, Borno State. The girls, henceforth to be
referred to as our girls, have since been in the custody of
the sect for well over 140 days. The act was met with outrage
and wide condemnations across the world. Indeed, some of
the leading nations of the world offered to help in rescuing
our girls. Several local and international groups have equally
been clamouring for the release of our girls. A renowned 17-
year-old Pakistan child right activist, Malala, recently visited
the country on account of our girls’ plight. She reportedly
had “useful” discussions with major stakeholders including
President Goodluck Jonathan. Malala’s visit eventually
opened the door for a Presidential parley between the
Presidency and distraught parents of our girls. The parley
was, however, beclouded by controversies over the sharing
formula for the money purportedly released by the
Presidency for the upkeep of our girls’ parents.
Somewhere along the line, we were told by the nation’s
military high command that the location of our girls,
supposedly in a vast forest named Sambisa along the
Nigerian /Cameroonian border by Eastern Borno, had been
discovered . However, according to military authorities, they
had to tread cautiously in order not to jeopardise the safety
of our girls. Good. But, while one appreciates the efforts of
all the stakeholders in the bid to free our girls, the point,
however, is that we are now becoming very apprehensive,
especially with regard to the safety of our girls. With Ebola
presently capturing the attention of the whole nation
coupled with preparations for the 2015 general elections,
the fear is that, like most unresolved murder cases in the
country, the issue of our girls might soon fizzle out of the
consciousness of the nation. Consequently, more than ever
before, this is the time to keep asking questions concerning
the plight of our girls. Where are our girls? What is
happening to them? How are they being fed? With what are
they being fed? How healthy is the place where they are
being kept? Are they being sexually abused by their captors?
Is it true that they have been fully integrated into the Boko
Haram family? Is it true that some of them are now being
used as suicide bombers? How can we be pretending that all
is well when we have yet to find our girls? Are we actually
making efforts to bring back our girls?
This brings us to the issue of the Nigerian military. Truth be
told, these are unusual times for our military. Perhaps,
there is no other time in the country’s history, aside from
the civil war era, when the professionalism of the Nigerian
military has been fiercely put to test than now. While one
values the sacrifices of our military men and women who
put their lives at risk to uphold the safety of other members
of the society, one must, however, stress that the Nigerian
military needs to do more than it is presently doing in order
to completely flush out the men who have held our nation
hostage for too long. One is rather disturbed by several
unconfirmed reports of Nigerian soldiers absconding to
neighbourng Cameroon in a bid to escape the ferocious
firing power of Boko Haram insurgents. Though one is not
really schooled in the art of military warfare, it is becoming
alarming that we couldn’t really curtail Boko Haram’s
incursion through military actions thus far. Some have
suggested, though one finds this rather incredible, that the
insurgents possess more sophisticated war arsenals than the
Nigerian military. Could our military have really sunk that
low?
In his inaugural speech in May 29, 1999, former President
Olusegun Obasanjo painted a rather horrid picture of the
Nigerian Army when he said among others that “the
incursion of the military into government has been a
disaster for our country and for the military over the last
thirty years. The esprit-de-corps amongst military personnel
has been destroyed; professionalism has been lost. Youths
go into the military not to pursue a noble career but with the
sole intention of taking part in coups and to be appointed as
military administrators of states and chairmen of task
forces”.
Obasanjo further affirmed that “as a retired officer, my
heart bleeds to see the degradation in the proficiency of the
military. A great deal of reorientation has to be undertaken
and a re-definition of roles, retraining and re-education will
have to be done to ensure that the military submits to civil
authority and regains its pride, professionalism and
traditions. We shall restore military cooperation and
exchanges with our traditional friends. And we will help the
military to help itself”.
To what extent the fortune of the military has improved in
the last fourteen years of democratic rule is better left for
scholars, researchers and other stakeholders to determine.
One thing that is, however, certain is that these are tough
times for our military. But with the help of everyone
stakeholder in the country, we shall surely overcome. We
have demonstrated with our commitment to the
containment of the deadly Ebola virus that we can fight back
when we are pushed to the wall. We need to do more in our
resistance against our other adversaries. God bless Nigeria!
Boko Haram seizes five Nigerian towns in five days
The fundamentalist
Islamic sect, Boko
Haram, has seized five
North-Eastern towns in
five days killing
hundreds and leaving
thousands of residents
fleeing for safety as it continues its quest to establish a
caliphate in the country.
The towns captured within the last few days included Bara in
Yobe State, Banki and Bama in Borno State while Madagali
and Gulak were seized in Adamawa State.
Bama was seized by the rampaging terrorist group on
September 1 and Banki overran the next day. By September
3, Bara, another town in the North-East was captured by the
invading Islamist militants. Gulak and Madagali fell to the
militants on Saturday.
Data from different population websites show that the five
towns have a combined population figure of 170, 743 (Bama
-118,121; Madagali -12,919; Bara -11,673; Banki -4,935;
Gulak -23,095).
Earlier in July, the sect had displaced thousands of people
after it seized six other towns in Borno and Yobe states. The
towns included Dikwa -29,026; Buni Yadi -4,768; Gamboru
Ngala -240,000; Gwoza -15,176; Damboa -233,200 and Marte
-15,707 with a total population of 537,877.
The Secretary to the Government of Adamawa state, Prof.
Liman Tukur, on Saturday confirmed the capitulation of
Gulak and Madagali.
During the attacks, the sect reportedly burnt down the
residence of a former Special Adviser to the President on
Politics, Dr. Ahmed Gulak in Gula.
A source also said on Saturday that the rampaging
insurgents razed the residence of the acting Governor of
Adamawa State, Adamu Fintiri in the town. Both Gulak and
Fintirin are indigenes of Gulak community.
Reports from Michika, headquarters of Michika Council
which borders Madagali local government area, showed that
residents of some villages were fleeing to Uba, Mubi and
Yola towns out of fear of possible attacks.
Tukur in a statement said the insurgents killed and displaced
many people in the towns during their attacks.
He said, “It has come to the attention of the Adamawa State
Government that insurgents are now in Gulak, the
headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area and had
killed and displaced scores of people.
“On behalf of the people and government of Adamawa, we
deeply sympathise with the people of Gulak and other
surrounding villages and towns whose areas have been
overran by insurgents.
“The concomitant effects of the insurgency like displacement
of whole villages and towns create multitudes of internally
displaced persons whose management and welfare, the
government is left to bear.”
Our correspondent could not get the Director of Defence
Information, Maj. Gen Chris Olukolade, to comment on the
new developments in Adamawa as calls to his mobile
telephone did not connect.
Also, Olukolade had not responded to a text message on the
issue as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the heavy bombardment of Bama, Borno State’s
second largest city, by the Nigeria Air Force entered its third
day on Saturday.
SUNDAY PUNCH learnt over the weekend that NAF fighter
jets and bombers rained bombs on the city and Gwoza,
another city held by the insurgents, in a bid to flush them
out.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosun, had
reportedly moved to Borno to supervise the ongoing aerial
bombardment of the two towns.
A senior military source, who confided in one of our
correspondents, said the Air Force had deployed ATR 42
aircraft, Alpha jets, Mi35 helicopters and F7 jets in the
troubled region.
The military, the source said, is using the ATR 42 aircraft for
visual surveillance.
Even as the bombs rained on these two cities, the military
might be preparing to launch an onslaught against the
insurgents in the two cities. It was further gathered on Friday
night that the Army was moving equipment and personnel to
Bama to battle the insurgents.
An indigene of Maiduguri, who spoke on condition of
anonymity, said he saw movement of military hardware and
personnel on the road leading to one of the seized cities. He
said, he saw Hillux vehicles in military colours, machine
guns mounted on trucks and other military equipment on
the Maiduguri-Bama Road.
Efforts by SUNDAY PUNCH to get the comments of the
Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade,
on the military operation did not succeed as calls to his
mobile telephone did not connect.
Also, Olukolade had not responded to a text message on the
issue as of the time of filing this report.
However on Friday, the Defence Headquarters had issued a
statement to reassure Nigerians that the insurgents would
be flushed out of Bama and Gwoza.
The statement says, “Everything will be done to reverse the
situation and defeat the rampaging terrorists.
“It is necessary to reassure all that the Nigerian Armed
Forces is more than ever determined and committed to the
defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria,
regardless of any odds. It is not only the pride and
reputation of the military that is at stake but that of the
entire nation.”
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency
has moved more of its officers from its headquarters in
Abuja to Maiduguri.
The relocation of the officers to Maiduguri followed the
displacement of thousands of residents of Gwoza and Bama
following attacks on the towns by Boko Haram.
Thousands of residents, who fled Bama, are currently being
quartered at Mai Mutari Day Secondary School and Mai
Mutari Primary School near the Bama Park, Maiduguri.
Many of them were reported to have arrived with no food
and few clothes.
One of our correspondents gathered that senior officers of
the agency were directed to relocate to Borno to help the
internally displaced persons in the state.
A senior official with the agency who pleaded not to be
named due to the sensitive nature of the issue, said,
“Hundreds of residents of Bama were displaced and most of
them fled to Maiduguri, but their situation is under control
because we have been on the alert since the insurgency
started.”
When contacted, Senior Information Officer, NEMA, Mr. Datti
Sani, told one of our correspondents that he did not know
the actual number of displaced persons in the state but
maintained that the agency was in Maiduguri.
He said, “Although I cannot give you the latest update as to
what was done in Bama today, I can assure you that we have
been on ground since the insurgency started and we have
ensured that we take care of those that are displaced.”
In a related development, youth groups in Borno State have
scored the Federal Government low in its war against
terrorist activities in the North-East.
Leaders of the groups, who spoke to SUNDAY PUNCH in
separate interviews on Friday, said they decided to take up
arms, when activities of the Boko Haram sect intensified
despite military presence and the state of emergency
declared in the area.
Speaking to one of our correspondents, the President,
Kibaku Youth Association of Nigeria (a community in Chibok
Local Government Area of Borno State), Mr. Moses Zakwa,
said it was true that Boko Haram was gaining “an upper
hand in the war”.
Zakwa said, “We are fully in support of the action of the
youths in Maiduguri. The people of the state have lost
confidence in the military, especially with the recent
happenings. And as the citizens of the area, it would be
better for us to stand up and defend our land.
“That is what is going on there now. As we know, most of the
major towns have been captured by Boko Haram and we
believe that they are planning more attacks on more
locations that we consider to be safe. That is why the youths
are ready and prepared to go after them and to defend the
area.”
The youths’ leader called on the Federal Government to
“wake up,” while security agents should be motivated and
equipped.
Also, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Pan Chibok
Youths Association, Dr. Allen Manasseh, said youths had
been consulting with leaders in the state on how to take on
the sect.
“The plan was for them to go to Bama through Gwoza, and
then to Sambisa Forest,” he said.
Manasseh added that those in government had not been
fighting the insurgency with sincerity.
He said, “There is no single person that is telling the truth.
Everybody is lying. Everybody should join hands to fight
Boko Haram, not somebody blaming another person.
“I can affirm that the sect is taking over because of the mass
exodus of people from that place. People are always afraid
because anytime the sect notifies them of an impending
attack, it usually actualises it.”
Over 10,000 youths had on Thursday thronged the streets of
Maiduguri, the state capital, protesting against the increasing
spate of attacks in the state by the sect.
The youths, who first assembled at the popularly Ramat
Square Ground, later moved to the palace of the Shehu of
Borno, Alhaji Abubakar el-Kanemi, saying they were willing
to confront the terror group if given the go ahead.
Islamic sect, Boko
Haram, has seized five
North-Eastern towns in
five days killing
hundreds and leaving
thousands of residents
fleeing for safety as it continues its quest to establish a
caliphate in the country.
The towns captured within the last few days included Bara in
Yobe State, Banki and Bama in Borno State while Madagali
and Gulak were seized in Adamawa State.
Bama was seized by the rampaging terrorist group on
September 1 and Banki overran the next day. By September
3, Bara, another town in the North-East was captured by the
invading Islamist militants. Gulak and Madagali fell to the
militants on Saturday.
Data from different population websites show that the five
towns have a combined population figure of 170, 743 (Bama
-118,121; Madagali -12,919; Bara -11,673; Banki -4,935;
Gulak -23,095).
Earlier in July, the sect had displaced thousands of people
after it seized six other towns in Borno and Yobe states. The
towns included Dikwa -29,026; Buni Yadi -4,768; Gamboru
Ngala -240,000; Gwoza -15,176; Damboa -233,200 and Marte
-15,707 with a total population of 537,877.
The Secretary to the Government of Adamawa state, Prof.
Liman Tukur, on Saturday confirmed the capitulation of
Gulak and Madagali.
During the attacks, the sect reportedly burnt down the
residence of a former Special Adviser to the President on
Politics, Dr. Ahmed Gulak in Gula.
A source also said on Saturday that the rampaging
insurgents razed the residence of the acting Governor of
Adamawa State, Adamu Fintiri in the town. Both Gulak and
Fintirin are indigenes of Gulak community.
Reports from Michika, headquarters of Michika Council
which borders Madagali local government area, showed that
residents of some villages were fleeing to Uba, Mubi and
Yola towns out of fear of possible attacks.
Tukur in a statement said the insurgents killed and displaced
many people in the towns during their attacks.
He said, “It has come to the attention of the Adamawa State
Government that insurgents are now in Gulak, the
headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area and had
killed and displaced scores of people.
“On behalf of the people and government of Adamawa, we
deeply sympathise with the people of Gulak and other
surrounding villages and towns whose areas have been
overran by insurgents.
“The concomitant effects of the insurgency like displacement
of whole villages and towns create multitudes of internally
displaced persons whose management and welfare, the
government is left to bear.”
Our correspondent could not get the Director of Defence
Information, Maj. Gen Chris Olukolade, to comment on the
new developments in Adamawa as calls to his mobile
telephone did not connect.
Also, Olukolade had not responded to a text message on the
issue as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the heavy bombardment of Bama, Borno State’s
second largest city, by the Nigeria Air Force entered its third
day on Saturday.
SUNDAY PUNCH learnt over the weekend that NAF fighter
jets and bombers rained bombs on the city and Gwoza,
another city held by the insurgents, in a bid to flush them
out.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosun, had
reportedly moved to Borno to supervise the ongoing aerial
bombardment of the two towns.
A senior military source, who confided in one of our
correspondents, said the Air Force had deployed ATR 42
aircraft, Alpha jets, Mi35 helicopters and F7 jets in the
troubled region.
The military, the source said, is using the ATR 42 aircraft for
visual surveillance.
Even as the bombs rained on these two cities, the military
might be preparing to launch an onslaught against the
insurgents in the two cities. It was further gathered on Friday
night that the Army was moving equipment and personnel to
Bama to battle the insurgents.
An indigene of Maiduguri, who spoke on condition of
anonymity, said he saw movement of military hardware and
personnel on the road leading to one of the seized cities. He
said, he saw Hillux vehicles in military colours, machine
guns mounted on trucks and other military equipment on
the Maiduguri-Bama Road.
Efforts by SUNDAY PUNCH to get the comments of the
Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade,
on the military operation did not succeed as calls to his
mobile telephone did not connect.
Also, Olukolade had not responded to a text message on the
issue as of the time of filing this report.
However on Friday, the Defence Headquarters had issued a
statement to reassure Nigerians that the insurgents would
be flushed out of Bama and Gwoza.
The statement says, “Everything will be done to reverse the
situation and defeat the rampaging terrorists.
“It is necessary to reassure all that the Nigerian Armed
Forces is more than ever determined and committed to the
defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria,
regardless of any odds. It is not only the pride and
reputation of the military that is at stake but that of the
entire nation.”
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency
has moved more of its officers from its headquarters in
Abuja to Maiduguri.
The relocation of the officers to Maiduguri followed the
displacement of thousands of residents of Gwoza and Bama
following attacks on the towns by Boko Haram.
Thousands of residents, who fled Bama, are currently being
quartered at Mai Mutari Day Secondary School and Mai
Mutari Primary School near the Bama Park, Maiduguri.
Many of them were reported to have arrived with no food
and few clothes.
One of our correspondents gathered that senior officers of
the agency were directed to relocate to Borno to help the
internally displaced persons in the state.
A senior official with the agency who pleaded not to be
named due to the sensitive nature of the issue, said,
“Hundreds of residents of Bama were displaced and most of
them fled to Maiduguri, but their situation is under control
because we have been on the alert since the insurgency
started.”
When contacted, Senior Information Officer, NEMA, Mr. Datti
Sani, told one of our correspondents that he did not know
the actual number of displaced persons in the state but
maintained that the agency was in Maiduguri.
He said, “Although I cannot give you the latest update as to
what was done in Bama today, I can assure you that we have
been on ground since the insurgency started and we have
ensured that we take care of those that are displaced.”
In a related development, youth groups in Borno State have
scored the Federal Government low in its war against
terrorist activities in the North-East.
Leaders of the groups, who spoke to SUNDAY PUNCH in
separate interviews on Friday, said they decided to take up
arms, when activities of the Boko Haram sect intensified
despite military presence and the state of emergency
declared in the area.
Speaking to one of our correspondents, the President,
Kibaku Youth Association of Nigeria (a community in Chibok
Local Government Area of Borno State), Mr. Moses Zakwa,
said it was true that Boko Haram was gaining “an upper
hand in the war”.
Zakwa said, “We are fully in support of the action of the
youths in Maiduguri. The people of the state have lost
confidence in the military, especially with the recent
happenings. And as the citizens of the area, it would be
better for us to stand up and defend our land.
“That is what is going on there now. As we know, most of the
major towns have been captured by Boko Haram and we
believe that they are planning more attacks on more
locations that we consider to be safe. That is why the youths
are ready and prepared to go after them and to defend the
area.”
The youths’ leader called on the Federal Government to
“wake up,” while security agents should be motivated and
equipped.
Also, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Pan Chibok
Youths Association, Dr. Allen Manasseh, said youths had
been consulting with leaders in the state on how to take on
the sect.
“The plan was for them to go to Bama through Gwoza, and
then to Sambisa Forest,” he said.
Manasseh added that those in government had not been
fighting the insurgency with sincerity.
He said, “There is no single person that is telling the truth.
Everybody is lying. Everybody should join hands to fight
Boko Haram, not somebody blaming another person.
“I can affirm that the sect is taking over because of the mass
exodus of people from that place. People are always afraid
because anytime the sect notifies them of an impending
attack, it usually actualises it.”
Over 10,000 youths had on Thursday thronged the streets of
Maiduguri, the state capital, protesting against the increasing
spate of attacks in the state by the sect.
The youths, who first assembled at the popularly Ramat
Square Ground, later moved to the palace of the Shehu of
Borno, Alhaji Abubakar el-Kanemi, saying they were willing
to confront the terror group if given the go ahead.
I will probe Fayemi –Fayose
The Ekiti State
Governor-elect, Ayo
Fayose, has vowed to
look into any last
minute bank
transactions and
appointments made by
the outgoing governor, Kayode Fayemi.
According to Fayose, the incumbent governor is making
attempt to trap his yet-to-be-inaugurated government with
financial burdens.
Writing on his Twitter handle on Wednesday, the Peoples
Democratic Party chieftain also warned banks not to engage
in any illegal transactions with the state government.
“We are aware of last minute deals by the present
government with spurious awards of contracts and
payments made — this is unfair to our people. A transition
committee is in place to work with the government (of
Kayode Fayemi) for a smooth handover and also to monitor
financial transactions that involve (his) government.
“Irregular expenditure and questionable financial
transactions by the outgoing government should find no
cooperation from commercial banks in Ekiti. Full legal action
will be brought against bank found culpable of fraudulent
financial dealings with the outgoing administration.
“Banks should continue to conduct government business
with sincerity of purpose and compliance with the highest
standards of banking integrity,” he said.
He added that the All Progressives Congress governor had
embarked on employing people in the state without
recourse to due process, saying he will look into the matter.
According to Fayose, the newly created local council
development areas will not be funded by his government.
“A government that sacked workers on spurious grounds has
now turned round to employ thousands through the
backdoor – this will be looked into.
“My position on the issue of purported LCDA creation is
explicitly stated: they have no constitutional backing and will
not be funded. While I am mindful that my mandate does
not start until October 16th, I am also mindful of the
potential time bombs being put in front of me,” he stated.
Fayose however noted that he did not consider some of his
opponents as enemies though they had unfairly criticised
him.
He said, “We can’t fail to mention those who choose to
denigrate us –we see them not as enemies but (as people
who) spur (us) to greatness and humility. Not all opponents
are enemies. Some are just too far from us to understand
who we really are as humans.
“Those who however choose to deliberately misunderstand
our position even when clearly stated are enemies of the
collective good. Let me make this clear so that our
opponents can hear: any landmine in my path as Gov-elect
is a direct attack on our people in Ekiti State.
Governor-elect, Ayo
Fayose, has vowed to
look into any last
minute bank
transactions and
appointments made by
the outgoing governor, Kayode Fayemi.
According to Fayose, the incumbent governor is making
attempt to trap his yet-to-be-inaugurated government with
financial burdens.
Writing on his Twitter handle on Wednesday, the Peoples
Democratic Party chieftain also warned banks not to engage
in any illegal transactions with the state government.
“We are aware of last minute deals by the present
government with spurious awards of contracts and
payments made — this is unfair to our people. A transition
committee is in place to work with the government (of
Kayode Fayemi) for a smooth handover and also to monitor
financial transactions that involve (his) government.
“Irregular expenditure and questionable financial
transactions by the outgoing government should find no
cooperation from commercial banks in Ekiti. Full legal action
will be brought against bank found culpable of fraudulent
financial dealings with the outgoing administration.
“Banks should continue to conduct government business
with sincerity of purpose and compliance with the highest
standards of banking integrity,” he said.
He added that the All Progressives Congress governor had
embarked on employing people in the state without
recourse to due process, saying he will look into the matter.
According to Fayose, the newly created local council
development areas will not be funded by his government.
“A government that sacked workers on spurious grounds has
now turned round to employ thousands through the
backdoor – this will be looked into.
“My position on the issue of purported LCDA creation is
explicitly stated: they have no constitutional backing and will
not be funded. While I am mindful that my mandate does
not start until October 16th, I am also mindful of the
potential time bombs being put in front of me,” he stated.
Fayose however noted that he did not consider some of his
opponents as enemies though they had unfairly criticised
him.
He said, “We can’t fail to mention those who choose to
denigrate us –we see them not as enemies but (as people
who) spur (us) to greatness and humility. Not all opponents
are enemies. Some are just too far from us to understand
who we really are as humans.
“Those who however choose to deliberately misunderstand
our position even when clearly stated are enemies of the
collective good. Let me make this clear so that our
opponents can hear: any landmine in my path as Gov-elect
is a direct attack on our people in Ekiti State.
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Friday, September 5, 2014
Unresponsive private plane crashes off Jamaica
An unresponsive private plane has crashed in the sea off
Jamaica, officials on the island have said.
Major Basil Jarrett of the Jamaican Defence Force said the
plane went down about 14 miles (22 kilometres) north-east
of Port Antonio.
Jamaican and US Coast Guard planes and ships are on their
way to the scene.
It is not known how many people were on board the plane,
a Socata TBM-700, which took off from Rochester, New York
at 08:26 (12:26 GMT)
The aircraft was due to fly to Naples, Florida, before it went
off course.
The US had scrambled two fighter jets to investigate why the
plane failed to respond to air traffic control from 10:00 local
time (14:00 GMT).
A North American air defence (Norad) spokesman said it
was not possible for the jet fighter pilots to see inside the
plane before it crashed as the windows were frosted or
fogged over.
A tweet from Norad suggested the pilot or pilots could be
unresponsive due to “possible hypoxia”.
A spokesman said the jets were launched at 11:30 local time
(15:30 GMT).
The plane was flying at an altitude of 25,000 feet
southbound over the Caribbean Sea, approaching the north
east point of Jamaica, when it went off radar.
Earlier, the US Federal Aviation Administration said it has co-
operated with Cuba air traffic control in monitoring the
plane, despite the countries not having full diplomatic
relations for more than half a century.
Jamaica, officials on the island have said.
Major Basil Jarrett of the Jamaican Defence Force said the
plane went down about 14 miles (22 kilometres) north-east
of Port Antonio.
Jamaican and US Coast Guard planes and ships are on their
way to the scene.
It is not known how many people were on board the plane,
a Socata TBM-700, which took off from Rochester, New York
at 08:26 (12:26 GMT)
The aircraft was due to fly to Naples, Florida, before it went
off course.
The US had scrambled two fighter jets to investigate why the
plane failed to respond to air traffic control from 10:00 local
time (14:00 GMT).
A North American air defence (Norad) spokesman said it
was not possible for the jet fighter pilots to see inside the
plane before it crashed as the windows were frosted or
fogged over.
A tweet from Norad suggested the pilot or pilots could be
unresponsive due to “possible hypoxia”.
A spokesman said the jets were launched at 11:30 local time
(15:30 GMT).
The plane was flying at an altitude of 25,000 feet
southbound over the Caribbean Sea, approaching the north
east point of Jamaica, when it went off radar.
Earlier, the US Federal Aviation Administration said it has co-
operated with Cuba air traffic control in monitoring the
plane, despite the countries not having full diplomatic
relations for more than half a century.
SSS probes Sheriff over alleged Boko Haram sponsorship
The Department of State Security, said it had summoned a
former governor of Borno State, Modu Sheriff, for
interrogation over his alleged sponsorship of Boko Haram.
The service stated that it had quizzed Sheriff twice in
connection with his alleged involvement with the sect,
adding that investigation was ongoing into various aspects of
the allegations by the Australian negotiator, Stephen Davies,
who named the former governor as one of the financial
backers of the sect.
The Deputy Director, DSS Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar,
said this on Friday in Abuja while parading the co-
mastermind of the Nyanya blast, Sadiq Ogwuche, along with
other suspects, Ahmed Abubakar, Muhammad Ishaq, Yau
Saidu, Anas Isah and Adamu Yusuf.
Ogar dismissed allegations by Davies that a former Chief of
Army Staff, Azubuike Ihejirika, was one of the sponsors of
the sect.
She stated that it was “uncharitable for Nigerians to reward
someone who laid down his life, to associate him with the
sponsorship of the sect.”
Ogar said, “Sheriff has been invited twice and he has been
invited again (over his alleged sponsorship of Boko Haram).
Investigation is ongoing to review every aspect of Davies
allegations.”
The DSS spokeswoman said contrary to claims by Davies that
the CBN official who handled the funding of Boko Haram, is
an uncle to three of those arrested in connection with the
Nyanya bombings, none of the six suspects in the agency’s
custody was related to another by blood.
“In other words, none is a cousin or nephew to any other
and only two suspects namely Yau Saidu and Anas Isah have
ever lived together at the makeshift clinic called ‘Kishi Clinic’
operated by Rufai Tsiga, a co-mastermind of the bomb blast
who is still at large,” she explained.
She added that further interrogation of suspects indicated
that none lived with or has any relationship with any staff of
the CBN, noting that the clarification was necessary to
correct the erroneous impression in the media.
Ogar denied that the DSS was the source of the information
credited to Davis, describing him as “a self-styled and self-
appointed negotiator.”
Ogwuche, who was repatriated to Nigeria from Sudan,
denied being a member of Boko Haram in an interview with
journalists, stressing that he had no hand in the Nyanya
bombings as he was in Sudan at the time of the incident.
The suspect, however, admitted to have donated N30,000 to
widows of Boko Haram members through Tsiga, who had
been declared wanted for his roles in the Nyanya blast.
Asked why he deserted the Army, he stated that he did it in
order to go and study Arabic in Sudan even as he admitted
receiving lectures and taking demonstrations with a Jihadist
group in Britain before he came back to Nigeria.
He said, “I am not a member of Boko Haram and I don’t
know anything about the Nyanya blast. I deny it because I
was studying in Sudan when the incident happened.”
Saidu, a boy to the co-mastermind of the blast, however,
identified Ogwuche as a regular visitor to Tsiga ‘clinic’ where
the plot to bomb Nyanya was hatched.
former governor of Borno State, Modu Sheriff, for
interrogation over his alleged sponsorship of Boko Haram.
The service stated that it had quizzed Sheriff twice in
connection with his alleged involvement with the sect,
adding that investigation was ongoing into various aspects of
the allegations by the Australian negotiator, Stephen Davies,
who named the former governor as one of the financial
backers of the sect.
The Deputy Director, DSS Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar,
said this on Friday in Abuja while parading the co-
mastermind of the Nyanya blast, Sadiq Ogwuche, along with
other suspects, Ahmed Abubakar, Muhammad Ishaq, Yau
Saidu, Anas Isah and Adamu Yusuf.
Ogar dismissed allegations by Davies that a former Chief of
Army Staff, Azubuike Ihejirika, was one of the sponsors of
the sect.
She stated that it was “uncharitable for Nigerians to reward
someone who laid down his life, to associate him with the
sponsorship of the sect.”
Ogar said, “Sheriff has been invited twice and he has been
invited again (over his alleged sponsorship of Boko Haram).
Investigation is ongoing to review every aspect of Davies
allegations.”
The DSS spokeswoman said contrary to claims by Davies that
the CBN official who handled the funding of Boko Haram, is
an uncle to three of those arrested in connection with the
Nyanya bombings, none of the six suspects in the agency’s
custody was related to another by blood.
“In other words, none is a cousin or nephew to any other
and only two suspects namely Yau Saidu and Anas Isah have
ever lived together at the makeshift clinic called ‘Kishi Clinic’
operated by Rufai Tsiga, a co-mastermind of the bomb blast
who is still at large,” she explained.
She added that further interrogation of suspects indicated
that none lived with or has any relationship with any staff of
the CBN, noting that the clarification was necessary to
correct the erroneous impression in the media.
Ogar denied that the DSS was the source of the information
credited to Davis, describing him as “a self-styled and self-
appointed negotiator.”
Ogwuche, who was repatriated to Nigeria from Sudan,
denied being a member of Boko Haram in an interview with
journalists, stressing that he had no hand in the Nyanya
bombings as he was in Sudan at the time of the incident.
The suspect, however, admitted to have donated N30,000 to
widows of Boko Haram members through Tsiga, who had
been declared wanted for his roles in the Nyanya blast.
Asked why he deserted the Army, he stated that he did it in
order to go and study Arabic in Sudan even as he admitted
receiving lectures and taking demonstrations with a Jihadist
group in Britain before he came back to Nigeria.
He said, “I am not a member of Boko Haram and I don’t
know anything about the Nyanya blast. I deny it because I
was studying in Sudan when the incident happened.”
Saidu, a boy to the co-mastermind of the blast, however,
identified Ogwuche as a regular visitor to Tsiga ‘clinic’ where
the plot to bomb Nyanya was hatched.
SSS probes Sheriff over alleged Boko Haram sponsorship
The Department of State Security, said it had summoned a
former governor of Borno State, Modu Sheriff, for
interrogation over his alleged sponsorship of Boko Haram.
The service stated that it had quizzed Sheriff twice in
connection with his alleged involvement with the sect,
adding that investigation was ongoing into various aspects of
the allegations by the Australian negotiator, Stephen Davies,
who named the former governor as one of the financial
backers of the sect.
The Deputy Director, DSS Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar,
said this on Friday in Abuja while parading the co-
mastermind of the Nyanya blast, Sadiq Ogwuche, along with
other suspects, Ahmed Abubakar, Muhammad Ishaq, Yau
Saidu, Anas Isah and Adamu Yusuf.
Ogar dismissed allegations by Davies that a former Chief of
Army Staff, Azubuike Ihejirika, was one of the sponsors of
the sect.
She stated that it was “uncharitable for Nigerians to reward
someone who laid down his life, to associate him with the
sponsorship of the sect.”
Ogar said, “Sheriff has been invited twice and he has been
invited again (over his alleged sponsorship of Boko Haram).
Investigation is ongoing to review every aspect of Davies
allegations.”
The DSS spokeswoman said contrary to claims by Davies that
the CBN official who handled the funding of Boko Haram, is
an uncle to three of those arrested in connection with the
Nyanya bombings, none of the six suspects in the agency’s
custody was related to another by blood.
“In other words, none is a cousin or nephew to any other
and only two suspects namely Yau Saidu and Anas Isah have
ever lived together at the makeshift clinic called ‘Kishi Clinic’
operated by Rufai Tsiga, a co-mastermind of the bomb blast
who is still at large,” she explained.
She added that further interrogation of suspects indicated
that none lived with or has any relationship with any staff of
the CBN, noting that the clarification was necessary to
correct the erroneous impression in the media.
Ogar denied that the DSS was the source of the information
credited to Davis, describing him as “a self-styled and self-
appointed negotiator.”
Ogwuche, who was repatriated to Nigeria from Sudan,
denied being a member of Boko Haram in an interview with
journalists, stressing that he had no hand in the Nyanya
bombings as he was in Sudan at the time of the incident.
The suspect, however, admitted to have donated N30,000 to
widows of Boko Haram members through Tsiga, who had
been declared wanted for his roles in the Nyanya blast.
Asked why he deserted the Army, he stated that he did it in
order to go and study Arabic in Sudan even as he admitted
receiving lectures and taking demonstrations with a Jihadist
group in Britain before he came back to Nigeria.
He said, “I am not a member of Boko Haram and I don’t
know anything about the Nyanya blast. I deny it because I
was studying in Sudan when the incident happened.”
Saidu, a boy to the co-mastermind of the blast, however,
identified Ogwuche as a regular visitor to Tsiga ‘clinic’ where
the plot to bomb Nyanya was hatched.
former governor of Borno State, Modu Sheriff, for
interrogation over his alleged sponsorship of Boko Haram.
The service stated that it had quizzed Sheriff twice in
connection with his alleged involvement with the sect,
adding that investigation was ongoing into various aspects of
the allegations by the Australian negotiator, Stephen Davies,
who named the former governor as one of the financial
backers of the sect.
The Deputy Director, DSS Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar,
said this on Friday in Abuja while parading the co-
mastermind of the Nyanya blast, Sadiq Ogwuche, along with
other suspects, Ahmed Abubakar, Muhammad Ishaq, Yau
Saidu, Anas Isah and Adamu Yusuf.
Ogar dismissed allegations by Davies that a former Chief of
Army Staff, Azubuike Ihejirika, was one of the sponsors of
the sect.
She stated that it was “uncharitable for Nigerians to reward
someone who laid down his life, to associate him with the
sponsorship of the sect.”
Ogar said, “Sheriff has been invited twice and he has been
invited again (over his alleged sponsorship of Boko Haram).
Investigation is ongoing to review every aspect of Davies
allegations.”
The DSS spokeswoman said contrary to claims by Davies that
the CBN official who handled the funding of Boko Haram, is
an uncle to three of those arrested in connection with the
Nyanya bombings, none of the six suspects in the agency’s
custody was related to another by blood.
“In other words, none is a cousin or nephew to any other
and only two suspects namely Yau Saidu and Anas Isah have
ever lived together at the makeshift clinic called ‘Kishi Clinic’
operated by Rufai Tsiga, a co-mastermind of the bomb blast
who is still at large,” she explained.
She added that further interrogation of suspects indicated
that none lived with or has any relationship with any staff of
the CBN, noting that the clarification was necessary to
correct the erroneous impression in the media.
Ogar denied that the DSS was the source of the information
credited to Davis, describing him as “a self-styled and self-
appointed negotiator.”
Ogwuche, who was repatriated to Nigeria from Sudan,
denied being a member of Boko Haram in an interview with
journalists, stressing that he had no hand in the Nyanya
bombings as he was in Sudan at the time of the incident.
The suspect, however, admitted to have donated N30,000 to
widows of Boko Haram members through Tsiga, who had
been declared wanted for his roles in the Nyanya blast.
Asked why he deserted the Army, he stated that he did it in
order to go and study Arabic in Sudan even as he admitted
receiving lectures and taking demonstrations with a Jihadist
group in Britain before he came back to Nigeria.
He said, “I am not a member of Boko Haram and I don’t
know anything about the Nyanya blast. I deny it because I
was studying in Sudan when the incident happened.”
Saidu, a boy to the co-mastermind of the blast, however,
identified Ogwuche as a regular visitor to Tsiga ‘clinic’ where
the plot to bomb Nyanya was hatched.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Sheyi Shay Acquires New Rid
Nigerian singer, Seyi Shay has been blessed with a Hyundai
ix35 SUV.
The singer announced the acquisition on her social media
page and boasted of its functions. According to the pretty
act, the black ‘toy’ comes with a finger print lock and other
functions.
“It is perfect for a young working class spinster like me that
needs a little run around car. Thanks to my pals at Hyundai
Lagos,” she said.
Sheyi Shay also disclosed that she would soon change the
vehicle’s tyres to like a boy racer in a jeep. The ‘Johnny’
singer did not hide her excitement for the latest blessing.
ix35 SUV.
The singer announced the acquisition on her social media
page and boasted of its functions. According to the pretty
act, the black ‘toy’ comes with a finger print lock and other
functions.
“It is perfect for a young working class spinster like me that
needs a little run around car. Thanks to my pals at Hyundai
Lagos,” she said.
Sheyi Shay also disclosed that she would soon change the
vehicle’s tyres to like a boy racer in a jeep. The ‘Johnny’
singer did not hide her excitement for the latest blessing.
My Dad Still Don’t Support My Music—Olamid
Award-winning rap artiste, Olamide aka King Badoo, has
revealed that his decision to go into music made his father
against him.
According to the artiste, he had to defy his father’s stance of
him not doing music because music was all he wanted to do.
He said though his mother was silent about his choice of
career, she later accepted the fact that he is doing well,
stating that his dad is still not in support him.
Olamide explained that since the father does not support
him, he is now a man and has the right to make his own
decisions.
Speaking on why he releases his songs in rush, the rapper
explained that he does that because he always want to
entertain his fans.
revealed that his decision to go into music made his father
against him.
According to the artiste, he had to defy his father’s stance of
him not doing music because music was all he wanted to do.
He said though his mother was silent about his choice of
career, she later accepted the fact that he is doing well,
stating that his dad is still not in support him.
Olamide explained that since the father does not support
him, he is now a man and has the right to make his own
decisions.
Speaking on why he releases his songs in rush, the rapper
explained that he does that because he always want to
entertain his fans.
Davido Termed As A 'Liar'
Music artiste Davido who refers himself as Omo baba oluwo,
shocked fans today, when he shared a picture of him behind
his car, and captioned it, three years ago, we had no car. his
fans bombarded him with negative comments saying he is a
liar.
However we can recall that Davido came into limelight in
2012 with his single 'dami duro' and majority knows that he
is the son of a rich politician. his fans blasted him saying
even though it was a Audi, he had a car, and he should stop
lying.
Few months ago, Davido said he suffered when he was little
and his fans blasted him saying, even if everybody stated
they suffered, he shouldn't just mention his own , because
he was born with a silver spoon, comedian bovi also joked
about it that, Davido do not have a 'surulere' picture like
other people, showing how they suffered before, they got to
this present stage.click to view picture
shocked fans today, when he shared a picture of him behind
his car, and captioned it, three years ago, we had no car. his
fans bombarded him with negative comments saying he is a
liar.
However we can recall that Davido came into limelight in
2012 with his single 'dami duro' and majority knows that he
is the son of a rich politician. his fans blasted him saying
even though it was a Audi, he had a car, and he should stop
lying.
Few months ago, Davido said he suffered when he was little
and his fans blasted him saying, even if everybody stated
they suffered, he shouldn't just mention his own , because
he was born with a silver spoon, comedian bovi also joked
about it that, Davido do not have a 'surulere' picture like
other people, showing how they suffered before, they got to
this present stage.click to view picture
Kefee Speaks On Her Illness
Yesterday Nigerian gospel singer Kefee was reported ill as
she fainted on the airplane while flying to Chicago, and an
emergency landing was made to rush her to the hospital.
Well the singer is healthy now as she has assured her fans
that’s she’s doing well after the recent health scare. she took
to twitter to thank everyone for their prayers.
‘Thanks for your prayers & well wishes, my people “nothing
dey happen and No shaking.” (sic)’, Kefee tweeted on her
twitter handle.
© 2014 Nigeriafilms.com
Click the link below to go to...
Gospel Singer Kefee Faints In Airplane
I Am Not Ready For Marriage Now—Halima Abubakar
Veteran Actress Toyin Adewale Speaks Out On Why
Celebrity Marriages Do Not Last
THE BEAUTIFUL WIFE OF PROPHET T.B. JOSHUA
Daniel Ademinokan Talks About Being Spiritual
9ice Ex-wife Toni Payne Learns Her Lesson
‘Shocking revelations about Nollywood actress &
producer, Rukky Sanda
Do you have a story/gist for publication? Please email it
to story@nigeriafilms.com
kef
bisi | 5/31/2014 4:14:41 PM
We thank God for you life. Continue to shine and trust in the
lord.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Reply this thread
It is well!
Caliudy | 6/6/2014 1:25:15 PM
Thank u JESUS!
Reply this thread
WELCOME BACK KEFEE
EDESIRI ENOVWO | 6/11/2014 8:39:02 PM
I PRAY FOR YOUR QUICK RECOVERY.
WE DON'T WANT TO LOOSE YOU YET.
Reply this thread
na GOD
MEGAN | 6/13/2014 12:48:20 PM
thank God for his mercy over you K. YOU GO NO WHERE OH.
bear that in mind.
Reply this thread
kefeeee
Bjay*c | 6/13/2014 3:35:11 PM
Kefeee we do love u and miss u. But u would have said
thank u JESUS for my life and mercy, not no shaking its nt by
your power bt by GOd power
Reply this thread
sad
mine | 6/13/2014 3:43:31 PM
gone so soon, R.I.P so sad we love's u but god love's u most
Reply this thread
SO SO SO SAD
HYANGEL | 6/13/2014 4:38:38 PM
my love you left so soon dat we need you most the lost you
your miss you i your fan will always miss you.
Reply this thread
kefee
Ekaette JJ | 6/13/2014 6:50:55 PM
Hmmm! What a world! RIP.
Reply this thread
jesus no it better good nite sister
black keS | 6/13/2014 7:45:32 PM
let ur soul rest in peace .
Reply this thread
d tearz wnt jez stp runnin
jane ice gabriel | 6/13/2014 8:18:42 PM
wud mz u kefee b d gd lord knwz y rip ma model
Reply this thread
RIP (CRYIN)
Edigbe endurance | 6/13/2014 8:51:55 PM
MHenn...wat ah gr8 lost...God knw best
Reply this thread
kefee
stella | 6/13/2014 8:55:34 PM
May or soul rest in d blossom of the LORD. Amen
Reply this thread
EDDY MIZ U'p
ENDY275 | 6/13/2014 8:57:21 PM
we lov u but God lovz u best..sign by edigbe endurance
Reply this thread
NA TEARS, DEEP SORROW N GRIEF I DEY FEEL 4 MY HEART
LOYAL BOY | 6/13/2014 9:05:44 PM
WORDS NO FIT EXPRESS HOW MUCH I. MISS U.
Reply this thread
NA TEARS, DEEP SORROW N GRIEF I DEY FEEL 4 MY HEART
LOYAL BOY | 6/13/2014 9:09:02 PM
WORDS NO FIT EXPRESS HOW MUCH I. MISS U.
Reply this thread
rest in peace.....we love you
so sad now... | 6/13/2014 9:29:53 PM
Isiaka
Reply this thread
am confused
shaddy ogbebor | 6/13/2014 10:04:17 PM
god nosed why,i miss u baby.may u rain in our heart 4 ever,
GOOD NIGHT
Reply this thread
Kefee
Tiwa | 6/13/2014 11:10:56 PM
I thank God, 4 d time u have spent in dis life but God no best
i am missing u sis. May u soul RIP
Reply this thread
Kefee
Tiwa | 6/13/2014 11:11:52 PM
I thank God, 4 d time u have spent in dis life but God no best
i am missing u sis. May u soul RIP............... Wat a gr8 lot
Reply this thread
Kefee
Kenny O | 6/13/2014 11:12:22 PM
Kefee mama; may ur soul rest in d bosom of the Lord.miss u
kefeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Reply this thread
RIP
Eziokwu | 6/13/2014 11:24:54 PM
Kefee, may your soul rest in peace, we will forever
remember you through your works . Adieu.
Reply this thread
kefee
francesca | 6/14/2014 8:26:43 AM
Rest in peace.
Reply this thread
Kefee
Visz | 6/14/2014 10:25:33 AM
Wao...its indid a gr8 lost,we love u n jah loves u most
Reply this thread
get hook up
Trust | 6/14/2014 10:43:36 AM
Agent Trust is the only admin agent that
can hook you up to your choice sugar
mummy and daddy. Call him via
08131887148/ 07053488669
Reply this thread
kefee
jay jay | 6/14/2014 12:41:08 PM
we love u bt God love u most rest in the bossom of the lord
Amen
Reply this thread
KEFEE
Aremo Kehinde | 6/14/2014 4:44:56 PM
I no we have not meet before neither we have see each
other but I cried in my heart when I heard you her gone. I
no you her only out of the earth but in heaven you her with
Jehovah.
I missed you R.I.P KEFEE
Reply this thread
RIP
harmless | 6/15/2014 12:02:15 AM
So so sad ...fellow singer may you find rest in the bosom of
the Lord
Reply this thread
RIP
Nk | 6/15/2014 12:31:37 AM
RIP KEFEE
Reply this thread
RIP
Nk | 6/15/2014 12:35:35 AM
RIP KEFEE
Reply this thread
RIP
Nk | 6/15/2014 12:35:59 AM
RIP KEFEE
Reply this thread
Rip
Sidi Precious | 6/15/2014 9:09:58 AM
Kefee, May Ur Soul Rest In Perfect Peace.
Reply this thread
Gudnite keffee
John onyema madu | 6/15/2014 10:50:41 AM
We love u,but love u more. R.I.P.
Reply this thread
R.I.P KEFEE
John onyema madu | 6/15/2014 10:53:31 AM
We love u,but God loves u more. Rest in peace .
Reply this thread
RIP kefee
precious | 6/18/2014 1:21:42 PM
i love u so much...and miss u dearly..i pray that all your
effort on earth wouldn't be wasted..and i pray that u rest in
the bossom of the lord..in heaven..God bless
you..R.I.P...miss u so much....
Reply this thread
Missin her so much
Harbiesolar1 | 6/18/2014 11:40:32 PM
We love u buh God luv mre dan we do Gud NYT Kefee
Reply this thread
To God be the glory!
Stephen | 6/19/2014 10:06:35 AM
I can only thank God for your life cos He alone knows best. I
miss you. May your gentle soul rest in peace ~amen!
Reply this thread
Kefee
Vera | 6/19/2014 9:14:10 PM
Gone too soon. We ur fans never knew u could leave us so
soon at dis very point of time. We luv u bt GOD loves u d
most, may ur gentle soul rest in d bosom of d Lord. Amen!!!
Reply this thread
RIP
Deby | 6/20/2014 10:55:48 AM
May God accept ur soul dear.
Reply this thread
It is the Lord who gives life he alone can take it
Amaka | 6/20/2014 10:58:59 AM
May My Good Lord Accept Your Soul. RIP KEFEE
Reply this thread
It is the Lord who gives life he alone can take it
Amaka | 6/20/2014 11:00:21 AM
May My Good Lord Accept Your Soul. RIP KEFEE
Reply this thread
God knws everytin
Ose atagamen | 6/20/2014 11:34:26 AM
R. I. P dear kefee
Reply this thread
God is d giver nd taker of life
Nelly | 6/20/2014 11:37:33 AM |
May ur gentle soul rest in d bossom of d lord. Amen
Reply to this thread
God knws everytin
Ose atagamen | 6/20/2014 11:37:40 AM
R. I. P dear kefee
Reply this thread
so sad
Atai jessica | 6/20/2014 3:57:23 PM
rest in peace. god gives and he takes.
Reply this thread
Kefeeeeeeee may ur soul rest in perfect peace
Dan k.d | 6/23/2014 10:19:32 PM
We love u kefee
Reply this thread
MISS U DEAR
CLARICE | 6/26/2014 4:51:12 PM
RIP KEFEE. MAY D GOOD LORD COMFORTS UF FAMILY. ITS
QUITE SAD.
WE MISS U.
Reply this thread
I miss u Kefee
Jenny | 6/27/2014 5:08:18 PM
Kefee its so sad to know u are gone, we miss u so dearly,but
i pray and believe that u have gone to be with the Lord, may
Ur soul find peace in Jesus name,Amen.
Reply this thread
I love you
helen | 7/10/2014 12:23:19 AM
May the almighty God console ur family and may ur soul
rest in perfect peace.RIP kefee
Reply this thread
this life
ella vincent | 7/11/2014 8:38:32 PM
Can't believe u gone....dunt know if I'll miss u cos it seems u
still here
Reply this thread
RIP KEFEE
Zed | 7/12/2014 9:17:47 AM
RIP KEFEE, WE'LL MISS YOU. MAY GOD GRANT YOU ETERNAL
REST IN ABRAHAM'S BOSSON. GOOD NIGHT.
Reply this thread
Go To Top
Post your comment
Subject:
Name:
Comment:
Submit
Disclaimer: Do not use this forum as a channel to promote
hatred, tribalism or any other kind of personal grievances.
The administration can delete or edit a post that violates
these guidelines. Keep the posts relevant to the topic in an
attempt to keep the forum organised and maintain the focus
on each topic. Thank you for your understanding. READ
MORE...
21 Like Share
www.nigeriafilms.co
"You Do Not Have To Have University Education To Be Able To Make It" Folorunsho Alakija
No one would immediately believe that Mrs Folorunsho
Alakija one of Africa's richest women and chairman of Famfa
Oil never had a University education.
The mother and entrepreneur revealed on Wednesday,
August 27, 2014 while speaking with students of the
University of Lagos during the 2014 UN International Youths
Day in Lagos that she never went to a university, saying one
does not need a university education to make it in life.
In her words while addressing the youths, she said "I come
from Ikorodu, Lagos state. I am married to a dashing young
lawyer of 70 years of age and we have four grown up
gentlemen and grandchildren. It has not been a rag to riches
fairytale. It has not been an overnight phenomenon like
some cases which you find here and there all over the
world. For as long as I can remember, I had always wanted
my own business. Hard work...am trying to tell you how I got
to where I am if you want those billions. Hard work,
diligence, persistence...days where you nearly gave up but I
chose not to give up."
It would have been easy to compromise but I chose not to
and I stayed focus. I could have stayed a secretary as my
father desired according to his plan for me but I had bigger
aspirations. I dreamt big. God strengthened me and gave me
wisdom. I had a passion and burning desire to succeed.
Being a secretary, a banker, a fashion icon, a cooperate
promoter and printer, a real estate owner, an oil magnate,
that I can assure you was no easy feat. Firm belief that what
is worth doing is what doing well or not doing at all. I took
charge of my life with the tools I have shared with you. I
chose to become born again at the age of 40. I chose to
make a covenant with God that if he would bless me I would
work for him all the days of my life. I chose to hold on to the
cross and look up to him every step of the way”
“Today additional accomplishment includes a wife of almost
40 years, a mother, grandmother, ministry, counseling,
outreach, NGO Rose of Sharon Foundation for widows and
Author, writer, author of several inspirational books. All I
say to the glory of God. So I am 63 and I am not yet done.
So what is your excuse? I never went to a University and I
am proud to say so because I don't think I have done too
badly. You do not have to have a University education to be
able to make it so count yourselves privileged to have that
education as part of the feather in your cap" she said.
Alakija one of Africa's richest women and chairman of Famfa
Oil never had a University education.
The mother and entrepreneur revealed on Wednesday,
August 27, 2014 while speaking with students of the
University of Lagos during the 2014 UN International Youths
Day in Lagos that she never went to a university, saying one
does not need a university education to make it in life.
In her words while addressing the youths, she said "I come
from Ikorodu, Lagos state. I am married to a dashing young
lawyer of 70 years of age and we have four grown up
gentlemen and grandchildren. It has not been a rag to riches
fairytale. It has not been an overnight phenomenon like
some cases which you find here and there all over the
world. For as long as I can remember, I had always wanted
my own business. Hard work...am trying to tell you how I got
to where I am if you want those billions. Hard work,
diligence, persistence...days where you nearly gave up but I
chose not to give up."
It would have been easy to compromise but I chose not to
and I stayed focus. I could have stayed a secretary as my
father desired according to his plan for me but I had bigger
aspirations. I dreamt big. God strengthened me and gave me
wisdom. I had a passion and burning desire to succeed.
Being a secretary, a banker, a fashion icon, a cooperate
promoter and printer, a real estate owner, an oil magnate,
that I can assure you was no easy feat. Firm belief that what
is worth doing is what doing well or not doing at all. I took
charge of my life with the tools I have shared with you. I
chose to become born again at the age of 40. I chose to
make a covenant with God that if he would bless me I would
work for him all the days of my life. I chose to hold on to the
cross and look up to him every step of the way”
“Today additional accomplishment includes a wife of almost
40 years, a mother, grandmother, ministry, counseling,
outreach, NGO Rose of Sharon Foundation for widows and
Author, writer, author of several inspirational books. All I
say to the glory of God. So I am 63 and I am not yet done.
So what is your excuse? I never went to a University and I
am proud to say so because I don't think I have done too
badly. You do not have to have a University education to be
able to make it so count yourselves privileged to have that
education as part of the feather in your cap" she said.
"I'm Done With Pastor Chris"-Anita Oyakhilome As She Insists There Is No Going Back On Divorce
"I'm Done With Pastor Chris"-Anita Oyakhilome As She
Insists There Is No Going Back On Divorce
It appears all hopes that televangelist Chris Oyakhilome and
his wife, Anita, would resolve their matrimonial issues is lost
as Mrs Oyakhilome through lawyers Attwaters Jameson Hill
Solicitors has said her relationship with Pastor Chris had
terribly degenerated and that there is no room for any
reconciliation or out-of-court settlement.
After news broke that she had filed for divorce, journalists
contacted Mrs Oyakhilome's lawyers to enquire whether any
out-of-court settlement option was being explored.
In their response Tuesday, her attorneys said there was no
chance the estranged couple would ever live as husband
and wife again.
“It is with great sadness that our client, Pastor Anita
Oyakhilome, has come to the conclusion that her marriage
to Pastor Christian Oyakhilome has irretrievably broken
down and regrettably there is no hope of any reconciliation,”
said Stephen Goddard, Business Development Manager of
Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors.
From early this year, there had been speculation that the
marriage between Mr Oyakhilome, the founder of Believers
Love World (aka Christ Embassy), and his wife, who is also
Vice-president of the ministry, was collapsing.
Some church members even set up a Facebook page,
“Where is Rev Anita Oyakhilome”, in May dedicated to
addressing the issue.
The church initially denied reports that the couple were
estranged and possibly divorcing.
But TheCable reported on August 29 that Mrs. Oyakhilome
had filed for divorce since April 9, accusing Pastor Chris, as
he is fondly called by his followers, of “adultery” and
“unreasonable behaviour”.
Pastor Chris has denied the allegations. He however warned
church members against analysing his problem with his wife
adding that the church is not a political party.
He said his wife is a bitter and angry woman who is being
influenced by bad friends who are out to seek his downfall.
The pastor added that most pastors’ wives usually think they
are equal to their husbands after they get married.
He said his wife wanted to overpower the authorities of the
elders she met when she joined the Christian ministry.
As the divorce battle rages, Mrs. Oyakhilome’s profile has
been pulled down from the church’s website
Insists There Is No Going Back On Divorce
It appears all hopes that televangelist Chris Oyakhilome and
his wife, Anita, would resolve their matrimonial issues is lost
as Mrs Oyakhilome through lawyers Attwaters Jameson Hill
Solicitors has said her relationship with Pastor Chris had
terribly degenerated and that there is no room for any
reconciliation or out-of-court settlement.
After news broke that she had filed for divorce, journalists
contacted Mrs Oyakhilome's lawyers to enquire whether any
out-of-court settlement option was being explored.
In their response Tuesday, her attorneys said there was no
chance the estranged couple would ever live as husband
and wife again.
“It is with great sadness that our client, Pastor Anita
Oyakhilome, has come to the conclusion that her marriage
to Pastor Christian Oyakhilome has irretrievably broken
down and regrettably there is no hope of any reconciliation,”
said Stephen Goddard, Business Development Manager of
Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors.
From early this year, there had been speculation that the
marriage between Mr Oyakhilome, the founder of Believers
Love World (aka Christ Embassy), and his wife, who is also
Vice-president of the ministry, was collapsing.
Some church members even set up a Facebook page,
“Where is Rev Anita Oyakhilome”, in May dedicated to
addressing the issue.
The church initially denied reports that the couple were
estranged and possibly divorcing.
But TheCable reported on August 29 that Mrs. Oyakhilome
had filed for divorce since April 9, accusing Pastor Chris, as
he is fondly called by his followers, of “adultery” and
“unreasonable behaviour”.
Pastor Chris has denied the allegations. He however warned
church members against analysing his problem with his wife
adding that the church is not a political party.
He said his wife is a bitter and angry woman who is being
influenced by bad friends who are out to seek his downfall.
The pastor added that most pastors’ wives usually think they
are equal to their husbands after they get married.
He said his wife wanted to overpower the authorities of the
elders she met when she joined the Christian ministry.
As the divorce battle rages, Mrs. Oyakhilome’s profile has
been pulled down from the church’s website
Osaze injury worries ex-Man United star
Manchester United legend, Lou Macari, has expressed his
regret following Peter Odemwingie’s injury in the Potters win
over Manchester City at the Etihad on Saturday.
The 32-year-old suffered a knee ligament injury that could
keep him out of Stoke City’s campaign for the rest of the
season.
“Your heart has to go out to Peter Odemwingie,” Macari told
Stoke Sentinel.
“He had a great first few months at Stoke after arriving from
Cardiff in January, goes to the World Cup with Nigeria and
scores a goal, now this.
“The cruciate knee ligament injury is a funny one because a
player doesn’t always know how serious it is at the time.
“You do worry for players with long-term injuries and
whether they will come back as quite the player they were,”
he added.
A cruciate ligament injury normally requires orthopedic
surgery and rehabilitation which could take between six
months and a year to heal.
regret following Peter Odemwingie’s injury in the Potters win
over Manchester City at the Etihad on Saturday.
The 32-year-old suffered a knee ligament injury that could
keep him out of Stoke City’s campaign for the rest of the
season.
“Your heart has to go out to Peter Odemwingie,” Macari told
Stoke Sentinel.
“He had a great first few months at Stoke after arriving from
Cardiff in January, goes to the World Cup with Nigeria and
scores a goal, now this.
“The cruciate knee ligament injury is a funny one because a
player doesn’t always know how serious it is at the time.
“You do worry for players with long-term injuries and
whether they will come back as quite the player they were,”
he added.
A cruciate ligament injury normally requires orthopedic
surgery and rehabilitation which could take between six
months and a year to heal.
Boko Haram takes over Bara in Yobe
Boko Haram insurgents have captured another territory in
Yobe State on Wednesday after engaging in a fierce battle
over Bama, a town not far from Maiduguri in Borno State.
Reuters reported that the newly captured town was taken
over by the Islamist fighters without any resistance, with
witnesses saying that the town has no Nigerian troops
guarding it.
“They went preaching in the whole town asking people to
leave government work and join them to do the work of
Allah,” Musa Abdullahi, a trader who escaped from the town
of Bara said.
Meanwhile, the insurgents have killed two policemen after
an attack on Toro Local Government Area in Bauchi State.
The police officers were reportedly shot and killed and their
guns stolen by the attackers at a mining station in Magama
Gumau.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mohammed
Haruna, said he was aware of the killings but had not been
officially briefed.
More Stories in News
Yobe State on Wednesday after engaging in a fierce battle
over Bama, a town not far from Maiduguri in Borno State.
Reuters reported that the newly captured town was taken
over by the Islamist fighters without any resistance, with
witnesses saying that the town has no Nigerian troops
guarding it.
“They went preaching in the whole town asking people to
leave government work and join them to do the work of
Allah,” Musa Abdullahi, a trader who escaped from the town
of Bara said.
Meanwhile, the insurgents have killed two policemen after
an attack on Toro Local Government Area in Bauchi State.
The police officers were reportedly shot and killed and their
guns stolen by the attackers at a mining station in Magama
Gumau.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mohammed
Haruna, said he was aware of the killings but had not been
officially briefed.
More Stories in News
Ebola death toll passes 1,900 -WHO
The World Health Organisation says more than 1,900 people
have now died in West Africa’s Ebola outbreak.
WHO head Margaret Chan said there were 3,500 confirmed
or probable cases in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
“The outbreaks are racing ahead of the control efforts in
these countries,” she said.
On Thursday the WHO is holding a meeting to examine the
most promising treatments and to discuss how to fast track
their testing and production.
Disease control experts, medical researchers, officials from
affected countries, and specialists in medical ethics will all
be represented at the meeting in Geneva.
The WHO has previously warned that more than 20,000
people could be infected before the outbreak of the virus is
brought under control.
Chan described the outbreak as “the largest and most severe
and most complex we have ever seen”.
“No one, even outbreak responders with experience dating
back to 1976, to 1995, people that were directly involved
with those outbreaks, none of them have ever seen anything
like it,” she said.
Forty per cent of the deaths have occurred in three weeks
leading up to September 3, the WHO says.
have now died in West Africa’s Ebola outbreak.
WHO head Margaret Chan said there were 3,500 confirmed
or probable cases in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
“The outbreaks are racing ahead of the control efforts in
these countries,” she said.
On Thursday the WHO is holding a meeting to examine the
most promising treatments and to discuss how to fast track
their testing and production.
Disease control experts, medical researchers, officials from
affected countries, and specialists in medical ethics will all
be represented at the meeting in Geneva.
The WHO has previously warned that more than 20,000
people could be infected before the outbreak of the virus is
brought under control.
Chan described the outbreak as “the largest and most severe
and most complex we have ever seen”.
“No one, even outbreak responders with experience dating
back to 1976, to 1995, people that were directly involved
with those outbreaks, none of them have ever seen anything
like it,” she said.
Forty per cent of the deaths have occurred in three weeks
leading up to September 3, the WHO says.
Monday, September 1, 2014
Ebola: Kumuyi urges Nigerians to practise good hygiene
The General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life
Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi, has urged Nigerians to
develop good health habits to avoid contracting the deadly
Ebola Virus Disease.
Kumuyi said this on Sunday during a worldwide satellite
broadcast to members of the church.
While speaking on the topic, ‘Healing and Health for the
Whole Man’, the pastor challenged his congregation to do
more for their safety and health, aside praying.
He said, “Many people have the idea that it is only prayer
that gets them well and make them whole and healthy.
“If you look at the Scriptures, you will discover that there are
a number of things that contribute to our healing and
health.
“These things include our habits, holiness, hope, home,
happiness, hospitality and hygiene.”
While talking about hygiene, Kumuyi said people should not
neglect basic health rules that will keep them from
contracting the Ebola Virus.
“Hygiene plays a great part in our health. The Ebola
epidemic that people just recognised in Nigeria was first
discovered in 1976. It’s been on for a long time.
“If you’re not hygienic, you can contract the disease. For
example, If you don’t wash your hands often, or you stay
with someone who has the disease, it is contagious; and if
there is the passing of fluids from one person to another,
you may also get it. But if you keep yourself hygienic, it
keeps sicknesses from coming upon you. That’s why you
read in the Old Testament, ‘touch not the unclean things’,”
he added.
While quoting from Proverbs 13 verse 3, he said the misuse
of the tongue had also brought untold suffering and sickness
on some people.
Kumuyi urged sick folks to anchor their hope on Christ,
adding that there was provision for their healing in the
Scriptures if they believed.
Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi, has urged Nigerians to
develop good health habits to avoid contracting the deadly
Ebola Virus Disease.
Kumuyi said this on Sunday during a worldwide satellite
broadcast to members of the church.
While speaking on the topic, ‘Healing and Health for the
Whole Man’, the pastor challenged his congregation to do
more for their safety and health, aside praying.
He said, “Many people have the idea that it is only prayer
that gets them well and make them whole and healthy.
“If you look at the Scriptures, you will discover that there are
a number of things that contribute to our healing and
health.
“These things include our habits, holiness, hope, home,
happiness, hospitality and hygiene.”
While talking about hygiene, Kumuyi said people should not
neglect basic health rules that will keep them from
contracting the Ebola Virus.
“Hygiene plays a great part in our health. The Ebola
epidemic that people just recognised in Nigeria was first
discovered in 1976. It’s been on for a long time.
“If you’re not hygienic, you can contract the disease. For
example, If you don’t wash your hands often, or you stay
with someone who has the disease, it is contagious; and if
there is the passing of fluids from one person to another,
you may also get it. But if you keep yourself hygienic, it
keeps sicknesses from coming upon you. That’s why you
read in the Old Testament, ‘touch not the unclean things’,”
he added.
While quoting from Proverbs 13 verse 3, he said the misuse
of the tongue had also brought untold suffering and sickness
on some people.
Kumuyi urged sick folks to anchor their hope on Christ,
adding that there was provision for their healing in the
Scriptures if they believed.
Ebola: Three new suspected cases in Port Harcourt
Three people have
been taken to the Ebola
Virus Disease
quarantine centre at
Oduoha, Emohua Local
Government Area of
Rivers State.
The State Commissioner for Health, Sampson Parker, made
this known on Sunday just as the Federal Government said
another emergency meeting of the National Council of
Health over the EVD would hold in Abuja today. The last
meeting took place on August 11, 2014.
Parker, who addressed journalists, said those quarantined
were a doctor, a pharmacist and a woman who came into
contact with Dr. Iyke Enemuo, who died of the virus in Port
Harcourt on August 22.
The pharmacist and the doctor are members of staff of Sam
Steel Hospital while the nurse worked at the Good Heart
Hospital where Enemuo died.
Sam Steel Hospital was founded by Enemuo, who contracted
Ebola while treating an ECOWAS diplomat, Koye Olu-Ibukun,
who travelled to Port Harcourt after coming into contact with
the Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer. Sawyer died from
the virus in Nigeria.
He said, “They (pharmacist, nurse and doctor) have not been
confirmed (as having Ebola) and we are waiting for the
result of the investigation today (Sunday.”
Parker, who as of 8pm on Sunday had not made the
outcome of the tests public, also confirmed that Enemuo’s
widow was at the isolation centre in Lagos where she is
receiving treatment having tested positive to the virus.
Some 200 primary and secondary contacts have been
traced, although about 60 had yet to be spoken to, he
added. None of them had shown symptoms.
He said, “I have been telling you before now that almost 200
persons have been line-traced. Out of this number, we are
still to be in touch with about 60 of them.
“But 50 high risk contacts have been identified. Because of
stigma and the rest of them, these persons are not coming
up but we are still on them.
“We are concentrating on the names we have to capture in
our (monitoring) activities but the good news is that we have
been making good progress in checking the spread of
Ebola.”
When one of our correspondents visited the quarantine
centre on Saturday, he noticed that it was undergoing
reconstruction.
As of 11am on Saturday when he left, no single patient
had been brought there.
When informed of this development, Parker replied, “I am
briefing you now. Operations are by the minute. They are
three there now. They won’t let you into the centre now. That
place is restricted. Probably when you went there, there
were none, but I am telling you now that I was there when
they were being brought in.”
The commissioner said Governor Rotimi Amaechi would
meet with religious leaders today and traditional rulers in
the state on Tuesday.
He counselled the people that Ebola was not a death
sentence, stressing that those who came into contact with
Enemuo and Koye should come up early for screening.
Parker said, “People should know that Ebola is not a death
sentence and that they should come out. I must tell you that
in Lagos, most of them that came up early survived. Only the
ones that were going from one church to the other until
their case degenerated, died.
“We must let the public know that any one that came into
contact with primary and secondary contacts to Dr. Enemuo
or the clinics and the hotel should voluntarily contact us. It
does not mean they are infected. All we need is just to
observe them.
“Chances of survival are very high. It is very important the
members of the public know this so that we do not waste
time looking for people who are hiding. We know some
persons are hiding but we are advising them to come out.
“Some of them are running into churches and most of them
are laying hands on them without knowing.
“People should please check their level of anointing before
they do that. This is a strong advice for pastors.”
Parker also said the movement of corpses within and
outside Rivers State would be supervised henceforth.
He said people must have the death certificates to enable
the government to ascertain the cause of the death of their
loved ones.
“People cannot just move corpses here and there without
clearance with the Ministry of Health. In fact, the police
could stop you and ask for your clearance. Before corpses
are released from the mortuary, the attendants must
demand clearance documents.”
The commissioner said the University of Port Harcourt
Teaching Hospital, Sam Steel Hospital, Mandate Hotels and
Good Heart Hospital had been decontaminated.
He added that the state now had a mobile laboratory for
testing people.
NCH holds another emergency meeting today
Meanwhile, the NCH will meet again today in Abuja to
“review the situation, preparedness by states and ascertain
their compliance with the recommendation of the last
meeting” on containing the Ebola outbreak in the country.
The Special Assistant, Media and Communications, to the
Minister of Health, Dan Nwomeh, and the Kogi State
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Omede Idris confirmed the
meeting.
“The meeting will hold on Monday at Barcelona Hotel,
Wuse,” said Nwomeh. He however did not state the agenda
of the meeting.
The NCH comprises the minister of Health, state
commissioners for health. Except in an emergency, the
council meets once in a year.
Our correspondents gathered that the meeting was
convened to discuss the implementation of some of the
decisions reached at the August 11, 2014 parley,
particularly the directive on transport of corpses and how
those who died of EVD should be handled.
The council, had at the meeting, directed state governments
to institutionalise communication strategies to ensure mass
awareness and sensitisation for individuals and
communities on EVD.
It also directed that particular attention be paid to
vulnerable groups such as market women and other women
groups, patent medicine vendors, road transport workers,
fishermen , hunters and bushmeat sellers, schoolchildren,
morticians and mortuary attendants, traditional healers and
faith based groups.
The NCH directed the Federal Government to make whole
body scanners available at designated ports of entry.
It stated that the Federal Government should assist states to
establish isolation tents.
NMA investigates dead doctor
In Jos, the Plateau State chapter of the Nigerian Medical
Association has launched an investigation to determine if
Enemuo “is a true professional or a quack.”
Its Chairman in the state, Dr. Bokop Bupwatda, said an
initial investigation had revealed that the late doctor
graduated from the University of Jos Teaching Hospital.
It described Enemuo’s action as “unethical” and added that
no doctor worth his salt would do what he did.
The state NMA said, “We heard that Dr Enemuo graduated
from the University of Jos and we are investigating him to
see if we can expunge his name posthumously from the
records of doctors that graduated from Jos.
“What he did was bad because he did that at the expense of
not only his life, but also the lives of others who possibly
might have come into contact with Olu-Ibukun all the way
from Lagos to Port Harcourt. Whatever might have been his
fees is not worth the loss of his life and the risk he has put
others to. So we are investigating whether he is a true
professional or a quack.
“He has to be sanctioned even though he is dead and all
those involved, including the diplomat must also be
sanctioned because they have messed up all the efforts the
Federal Government has been doing to contain the spread
to only Lagos and manage the situation.”
However, resident doctors at the JUTH, who were reluctant
to resume duties following the suspension of strike by the
NMA, are back to work.
‘Hold Jonathan responsible if EVD cases worsen’
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress has said Nigerians
must hold President Goodluck Jonathan personally
responsible if Ebola spreads more than it has done in the
country.
The party said that the President failed to stop a rally in his
support in Port Harcourt on Saturday, despite warning from
individuals and groups.
The APC, in a statement issued on Sunday by its National
Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said never before
had a President of a country sabotaged his administration’s
policy and endangered the lives of his compatriots as
Jonathan had done on the Ebola issue.
It said the same President, who declared a national
emergency on Ebola and advised against large gatherings to
prevent the spread of the virus, was the first to flout his own
advice by failing to stop the rally by the Transformation
Ambassadors of Nigeria in Port Harcourt.
The party noted that the rally was held a few days after the
virus was detected in the city and at a time that contact
tracing was going on to find all those who might have come
into contact with the medical doctor victim of the disease.
The party stated, ‘‘On the altar of political desperation,
President Jonathan put the lives of Nigerians in danger. In
order to realise his ambition for re-election, President
Jonathan has shown he is ready to sacrifice as many lives of
Nigerians as possible. There goes the President’s statement
that his political ambition is not worth the blood of any
Nigerian. This President simply says what he doesn’t mean.”
Efforts by one of our correspondents to get the response of
the President’s spokesman, Dr. Ruben Abati, to the APC’s
statement failed as calls to his mobile telephone line did not
go through.
been taken to the Ebola
Virus Disease
quarantine centre at
Oduoha, Emohua Local
Government Area of
Rivers State.
The State Commissioner for Health, Sampson Parker, made
this known on Sunday just as the Federal Government said
another emergency meeting of the National Council of
Health over the EVD would hold in Abuja today. The last
meeting took place on August 11, 2014.
Parker, who addressed journalists, said those quarantined
were a doctor, a pharmacist and a woman who came into
contact with Dr. Iyke Enemuo, who died of the virus in Port
Harcourt on August 22.
The pharmacist and the doctor are members of staff of Sam
Steel Hospital while the nurse worked at the Good Heart
Hospital where Enemuo died.
Sam Steel Hospital was founded by Enemuo, who contracted
Ebola while treating an ECOWAS diplomat, Koye Olu-Ibukun,
who travelled to Port Harcourt after coming into contact with
the Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer. Sawyer died from
the virus in Nigeria.
He said, “They (pharmacist, nurse and doctor) have not been
confirmed (as having Ebola) and we are waiting for the
result of the investigation today (Sunday.”
Parker, who as of 8pm on Sunday had not made the
outcome of the tests public, also confirmed that Enemuo’s
widow was at the isolation centre in Lagos where she is
receiving treatment having tested positive to the virus.
Some 200 primary and secondary contacts have been
traced, although about 60 had yet to be spoken to, he
added. None of them had shown symptoms.
He said, “I have been telling you before now that almost 200
persons have been line-traced. Out of this number, we are
still to be in touch with about 60 of them.
“But 50 high risk contacts have been identified. Because of
stigma and the rest of them, these persons are not coming
up but we are still on them.
“We are concentrating on the names we have to capture in
our (monitoring) activities but the good news is that we have
been making good progress in checking the spread of
Ebola.”
When one of our correspondents visited the quarantine
centre on Saturday, he noticed that it was undergoing
reconstruction.
As of 11am on Saturday when he left, no single patient
had been brought there.
When informed of this development, Parker replied, “I am
briefing you now. Operations are by the minute. They are
three there now. They won’t let you into the centre now. That
place is restricted. Probably when you went there, there
were none, but I am telling you now that I was there when
they were being brought in.”
The commissioner said Governor Rotimi Amaechi would
meet with religious leaders today and traditional rulers in
the state on Tuesday.
He counselled the people that Ebola was not a death
sentence, stressing that those who came into contact with
Enemuo and Koye should come up early for screening.
Parker said, “People should know that Ebola is not a death
sentence and that they should come out. I must tell you that
in Lagos, most of them that came up early survived. Only the
ones that were going from one church to the other until
their case degenerated, died.
“We must let the public know that any one that came into
contact with primary and secondary contacts to Dr. Enemuo
or the clinics and the hotel should voluntarily contact us. It
does not mean they are infected. All we need is just to
observe them.
“Chances of survival are very high. It is very important the
members of the public know this so that we do not waste
time looking for people who are hiding. We know some
persons are hiding but we are advising them to come out.
“Some of them are running into churches and most of them
are laying hands on them without knowing.
“People should please check their level of anointing before
they do that. This is a strong advice for pastors.”
Parker also said the movement of corpses within and
outside Rivers State would be supervised henceforth.
He said people must have the death certificates to enable
the government to ascertain the cause of the death of their
loved ones.
“People cannot just move corpses here and there without
clearance with the Ministry of Health. In fact, the police
could stop you and ask for your clearance. Before corpses
are released from the mortuary, the attendants must
demand clearance documents.”
The commissioner said the University of Port Harcourt
Teaching Hospital, Sam Steel Hospital, Mandate Hotels and
Good Heart Hospital had been decontaminated.
He added that the state now had a mobile laboratory for
testing people.
NCH holds another emergency meeting today
Meanwhile, the NCH will meet again today in Abuja to
“review the situation, preparedness by states and ascertain
their compliance with the recommendation of the last
meeting” on containing the Ebola outbreak in the country.
The Special Assistant, Media and Communications, to the
Minister of Health, Dan Nwomeh, and the Kogi State
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Omede Idris confirmed the
meeting.
“The meeting will hold on Monday at Barcelona Hotel,
Wuse,” said Nwomeh. He however did not state the agenda
of the meeting.
The NCH comprises the minister of Health, state
commissioners for health. Except in an emergency, the
council meets once in a year.
Our correspondents gathered that the meeting was
convened to discuss the implementation of some of the
decisions reached at the August 11, 2014 parley,
particularly the directive on transport of corpses and how
those who died of EVD should be handled.
The council, had at the meeting, directed state governments
to institutionalise communication strategies to ensure mass
awareness and sensitisation for individuals and
communities on EVD.
It also directed that particular attention be paid to
vulnerable groups such as market women and other women
groups, patent medicine vendors, road transport workers,
fishermen , hunters and bushmeat sellers, schoolchildren,
morticians and mortuary attendants, traditional healers and
faith based groups.
The NCH directed the Federal Government to make whole
body scanners available at designated ports of entry.
It stated that the Federal Government should assist states to
establish isolation tents.
NMA investigates dead doctor
In Jos, the Plateau State chapter of the Nigerian Medical
Association has launched an investigation to determine if
Enemuo “is a true professional or a quack.”
Its Chairman in the state, Dr. Bokop Bupwatda, said an
initial investigation had revealed that the late doctor
graduated from the University of Jos Teaching Hospital.
It described Enemuo’s action as “unethical” and added that
no doctor worth his salt would do what he did.
The state NMA said, “We heard that Dr Enemuo graduated
from the University of Jos and we are investigating him to
see if we can expunge his name posthumously from the
records of doctors that graduated from Jos.
“What he did was bad because he did that at the expense of
not only his life, but also the lives of others who possibly
might have come into contact with Olu-Ibukun all the way
from Lagos to Port Harcourt. Whatever might have been his
fees is not worth the loss of his life and the risk he has put
others to. So we are investigating whether he is a true
professional or a quack.
“He has to be sanctioned even though he is dead and all
those involved, including the diplomat must also be
sanctioned because they have messed up all the efforts the
Federal Government has been doing to contain the spread
to only Lagos and manage the situation.”
However, resident doctors at the JUTH, who were reluctant
to resume duties following the suspension of strike by the
NMA, are back to work.
‘Hold Jonathan responsible if EVD cases worsen’
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress has said Nigerians
must hold President Goodluck Jonathan personally
responsible if Ebola spreads more than it has done in the
country.
The party said that the President failed to stop a rally in his
support in Port Harcourt on Saturday, despite warning from
individuals and groups.
The APC, in a statement issued on Sunday by its National
Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said never before
had a President of a country sabotaged his administration’s
policy and endangered the lives of his compatriots as
Jonathan had done on the Ebola issue.
It said the same President, who declared a national
emergency on Ebola and advised against large gatherings to
prevent the spread of the virus, was the first to flout his own
advice by failing to stop the rally by the Transformation
Ambassadors of Nigeria in Port Harcourt.
The party noted that the rally was held a few days after the
virus was detected in the city and at a time that contact
tracing was going on to find all those who might have come
into contact with the medical doctor victim of the disease.
The party stated, ‘‘On the altar of political desperation,
President Jonathan put the lives of Nigerians in danger. In
order to realise his ambition for re-election, President
Jonathan has shown he is ready to sacrifice as many lives of
Nigerians as possible. There goes the President’s statement
that his political ambition is not worth the blood of any
Nigerian. This President simply says what he doesn’t mean.”
Efforts by one of our correspondents to get the response of
the President’s spokesman, Dr. Ruben Abati, to the APC’s
statement failed as calls to his mobile telephone line did not
go through.
Sick health insurance scheme leaves patients helpless
The crave for
profitability by
operators of the
National Health
Insurance Scheme is
breeding bad ethics
and eroding quality
health care delivery for subscribers, NIKE POPOOLA writes
DISGRUNTLED ENROLEES
Mrs. Aderonke Korede works in a telecommunications firm
that registered its employees with a Health Maintenance
Organisation under the National Health Insurance Scheme.
She expected her health plan with the HMO to allow her to
deliver her baby through Caesarean section. However, when
the delivery time came, the HMO refused to bear the
responsibility, claiming that her health plan did not cover
such a procedure.
After unsuccessfully persuading the HMO to live up to its
responsibility, her husband agreed to pay the hospital bill
when his wife’s health showed signs of deterioration. The
Koredes felt the HMO’s refusal to pick the bill had defeated
the essence of having a health insurance in place.
Aderonke’s husband, Babatunde, says, “The experience was
really traumatic. I could not stand the attitude of the HMO
and risk the lives of my wife and our unborn baby; so, I had
to go back to the money we were saving to roof the small
house we are building in Ikorodu to fund the operation.
“Almost a year after, we’ve not been able to raise enough
money to roof the house because of other contending
issues. The development has left us at the mercy of our
troublesome landlord and my wife is even sceptical of going
to the hospital even for services covered by her health
insurance package with the HMO.”
Different complaints emerge daily from both the enrolees,
who are registered with the HMOs, and the hospitals, which
are designated as health care providers under the NHIS.
On the other hand, the HMOs are also complaining about
the treatment that the hospitals are meting out to them,
especially when it comes to money matters. The relationship
between the HMOs and the hospitals can best be described
as that between a cat and a mouse, because they are always
suspicious of each other.
The strained relationship between the HMOs and the
hospitals has left the enrolees at the receiving end of
terrible services.
Yet, amid the challenges militating against the ability of the
scheme to provide quality health care services, little is being
done to address the issues by the regulator of the scheme.
Unlike the financial services sector, where the regulators
take strict and decisive actions, players in the health
insurance sector in the country have continued to do things
their own way.
The NHIS ensures the pooling of funds from different sectors
of the economy, with many people contributing money but
only a few of them expected to fall ill at a particular time.
The essence is to guarantee free health care for the
contributors whenever the need arises.
While the importance of a virile health insurance scheme
cannot be over emphasized, experts are of the view that
majority of those on the NHIS enjoy cover only for minor
ailments.
When there is a need for surgery or an expensive treatment,
the HMOs always require the hospitals to take permission
from them. If not, they end up not paying for the enrolee’s
treatment.
In most cases, enrolees have to pay from their pockets for
such treatment. In times of emergencies, the hospitals may
either have the challenge of reaching the HMO; or the HMO
simply refuses to pay.
An enrolee, who works in an oil company, Mr. Tunde
Atolagbe, will rather pay for his treatment than to depend
solely on his health insurance plan because he lacks
confidence in the cheap services being rendered by the
hospitals in their bid to make profits.
“I use a particular hospital alongside my colleagues in the
office through our HMO, but you find that the types of drugs
that they are giving you may be different from when you are
paying from your pocket,” he says.
Mr. Adeolu Oyeniran works in an oil company. He says he
stopped getting free treatment in his hospital last
November.
“Whenever I go to the hospital, they say they cannot treat
me because the HMO has stopped service to my
organisation. I am sure my employer has not been paying
the HMO and this money is removed from my salary,” he
laments.
HMOs VERSUS HOSPITALS
Common complaints by the hospitals against the HMOs
include default in paying capitation (the amount payable per
head irrespective of whether the person draws from pool of
funds or not for a certain period of time); paying ridiculously
low capitation; and delay in payment, even when the HMOs
have collected their premium from the enrolees.
The hospitals are in a dilemma because they stand to be
disengaged if they make official reports of HMOs
indebtedness to them.
This hostile condition of doing business is forcing the
hospitals to render very cheap services that may leave the
patients worse off.
According to the result of a health insurance survey
conducted by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, majority of the enrolees are absolutely displeased
with not receiving commensurate treatment for the
premiums paid compared to when they visit their family or
personal hospitals where they pay on the go.
The Director, Research and Advocacy, LCCI, Mr. Vincent
Nwani, says the survey found out that many enrolees were
actually opting out of being treated by HMO-registered
hospitals, preferring to patronise their personal doctors for
better treatment.
The average enrolee, according to the survey, thinks that he
is fully covered by the scheme irrespective of the nature of
the ailment.
Nwani says the hospitals are complaining that the capitation
fees being paid to them are very small; adding that the
present monthly capitation that the HMOs pay per person to
the hospitals is between N500 and N750, but adds that some
enrolees make regular visits to the hospitals even for minor
complaints.
Those with serious diseases and infections want perfect
treatment with the N500 or N750 paid by their HMOs
monthly, he says.
The LCCI investigation shows that complaints are not limited
to the hospitals. The HMOs too are not happy, because they
say that sometimes when their corporate clients go to the
hospitals for inspection, they get bad reception.
Some hospitals, Nwani says, accumulate bills for up to three
months before sending them, and at the end of the day, they
complain of delayed payment.
He also observes that the HMOs do not really explain in
details to their clients the plans they registered for. This, he
says, makes patients with the most basic plan to go to the
hospital demanding major surgeries to be performed on
them, or comparing their level of treatment to others with
more comprehensive plans.
Recently, one of the hospitals being owed a large sum, in a
mail to one of the HMOs, narrated how several attempts
made to recover the money had proved abortive, and how
the employees of the HMO had been lackadaisical to its
plight despite sending monthly bills.
In response, the HMO made it clear that it was doing the
health care provider a favour by having it on its register, and
expressed frustration that its gesture was not appreciated!
Presently, about 5.5 million Nigerians are registered under
the NHIS. Seventy-five per cent of these are Federal
Government employees who are mandatorily insured, while
the remaining are private sector employees.
The health insurance scheme, whose implementation began
about 16 years ago with the signing into law of the NHIS Act,
1999, has continued to grow at a very slow pace.
Under the scheme, 77 HMOs are licensed and they are
working with about 7,000 health care providers. The health
care providers are hospitals that should be well equipped,
but because most of them render services on credit, it has
been extremely difficult for them to meet set standards.
At the commencement of the scheme, the minimum
required capital base for each HMO was N30m. It was later
reviewed to N100m, and it is now N400m.
RISING FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES
Instead of prioritising quality health care delivery,
fraudulent activities are prevalent among professionals in
the health insurance scheme. For instance, Nwani says the
results of investigations carried out by the LCCI WERE really
displeasing.
He says, “One of the HMOs we visited during the fieldwork
informed us that it had been receiving unrealistic bills from
the hospitals. A mystery shopping was carried out by the
HMO by sending one of its members of staff as a patient to
one of the suspected hospitals that normally sent exorbitant
bills. The disguised patient was treated for a very minor
ailment and was given drugs.
“The staff kept the drugs, waiting for the hospital to send the
bill. When the bill was received, it was discovered that the
hospital had inflated it and added some drugs that were not
given to him. The HMO took the drugs and the bill to the
hospital as a proof that it had been sending unrealistic bills,”
he notes.
Narrating another case, Nwani says, “One of the registered
hospitals sent a bill to a HMO that a client was treated for
dog bite. When the HMO called the parents of the boy to
sympathise with them, it was discovered that the boy was
never bitten by a dog. The hospital cooked up the case in
order to extort the HMO.”
BETWEEN HMOS AND ENROLEES
The Managing Director, Healthcare International, Mr. Tosin
Awosika, says HMOs actually have structures in place to
ensure quality health care delivery to the enrolees.
“Before we accredit hospitals, we would have inspected
them to ascertain what they can do and what they cannot
do. On a regular basis, we do quality assurance visits to
check what they are doing and how they are treating the
clients. We have a feedback system; if there is an issue, we
expect the clients to get back to us,” he says.
According to him, HMOs have the right to delist hospitals
that are not doing well and transfer the patients to other
hospitals for better care. With these measures in place,
Awosika says the hospitals will ensure efficiency because
they will not want to be delisted.
Many enrolees also erroneously believe that once they pay a
certain premium, they will enjoy full treatment for any
ailment throughout the year, but are shocked that their
health plans sometimes operate like the mobile phone that
goes off ones its credit has been exhausted.
The President, Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ibinabo Fiberesima,
says, “Some of my members, after the first and second visits
to the hospital, do receive text messages from the hospital
that they have exhausted their plan.”
The Managing Director, MetroHealth, HMO Limited, Mr. Kola
Awokoya, stresses the need to build the health insurance
scheme on trust. “The responsibility of enlightening the
enrolee on the coverage of his health plan lies with the HMO
and the employers,” he explains.
It has been found out that the quality structures put in place
by the HMOs are not working perfectly. A survey conducted
by The PUNCH, using questionnaires to collect information
from enrolees of different HMOs, showed that most of them
subscribed to the cheapest plans, which do not provide
treatment for the illnesses killing majority of Nigerians
presently.
It was discovered that none of the enrolees had ever been
called by their HMOs to either enquire about their welfare or
ask if they were satisfied with their health plans.
Despite the fact that their employers subscribed to health
insurance on their behalf, 30 per cent of respondents
preferred to go to their family doctors than visit the
hospitals recommended by their HMOs.
Mr. Gbenga Ilemobayo enrolled his family of five with a
HMO and paid a premium price for choosing a band ‘B’
hospital and subscribing to the ‘Gold’ plan, but when one of
his sons required an urgent surgery for a medical condition
called hernia, the hospital could not obtain authorisation
from the HMO to carry on with the procedure for more than
16 hours. The HMO’s customer care lines rang for hours
without anybody picking up the calls.
Ilemobayo explains, “Due to the severity of the boy’s
condition, the senior doctor at the hospital told me that the
operation had to be done immediately and I had to
approach my brother to lend me some money, which I could
deposit.
“It was a difficult period for my family because I had just
paid the school fees of my three children, who are all in
private schools. Their mother has been out of job for about
three years and my income leaves no room for any serious
savings.”
MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS
The immediate President, Nigerian Medical Association, Dr.
Osahon Enabulele, accuses some of the HMOs of not paying
their capitation to the health providers, adding that the issue
was raised during the Presidential Summit on Universal
Health Coverage held in Abuja in March this year.
“At the last presidential summit on universal health
coverage, the same allegation was made. It is very criminal
for any HMO to withhold the capitation of the provider
because that invariably will not motivate the provider to
provide the needed quality services,” he says.
As a result of default, he says that the HMOs are short
changing the insurance scheme and the health care system,
which will invariably impact on the patients, who may get
poor services resulting from lack of motivation.
Enabulele says a lot of disgruntled doctors have reported
their HMOs to the NHIS, adding that the NHIS leadership has
asked the doctors to provide information to establish that
some of the HMOs are actually owing the providers their
due capitation.
“It is criminal for any HMO to withhold capitation to the
provider and the NMA frowns seriously on that, and we
charge the leadership of the NHIS scheme to fish out such
HMOs and appropriately discipline them so that the scheme
does not die a natural death as a result of the poor
assimilation of the providers of care due to the antics and
acts of some of the HMOs,” he says.
The NMA boss notes that if a HMO is having grievances
against an employer who refuses to pay his premium, such
complaints should be tendered before the governing board
of the NHIS.
Enabulele explains that it is not in the power of the HMOs to
deny anyone of the services that they have promised to
provide if the customer has paid the agreed premium.
“The HMOs have to pay their own capitation to the
subscribers; once a portal has been allocated to a provider
for health care facility, it is under obligation. For anybody to
be allocated to a provider, it is assumed that the person has
paid up his premium and subscribed to the care,” he says.
The Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria is the
umbrella body of the hospitals registered under the NHIS.
The National President, HCPAN, Dr. Adenike Olaniba, says
the major frictions between the HMOs and the providers are
low capitation, abysmally low tariff, indebtedness to the
providers by the HMOs, slashing of hospitals’ bills and non-
payment of capitation, among others.
Olaniba, who is also a consultant public health physician,
observes that many private providers’ clinics are closing
down as they cannot cope with the financial burden
imposed on them by health insurance.
She explains that in February 2012, a joint consultative
meeting was held in the premises of Healthcare
International HMO between the Health and Managed Care
Association of Nigeria (the umbrella body of the HMOs) and
HCPAN.
Some of the items on the agenda of the meeting, she says,
were the implementation of the new NHIS capitation, HMOs’
indebtedness to the providers, slashing of bills, care of the
chronically ill and standardised contractual agreement
between the HMOs and care providers.
“In order to fast track the review of capitation and tariff, the
HCPAN forwarded the report of its tariff and pricing
committee to the forum for consideration. No feedback has
been received from the HMCAN on this document,” she
adds.
If the issues are positively addressed, Olaniba says the
relationship between the two stakeholders will improve
tremendously.
profitability by
operators of the
National Health
Insurance Scheme is
breeding bad ethics
and eroding quality
health care delivery for subscribers, NIKE POPOOLA writes
DISGRUNTLED ENROLEES
Mrs. Aderonke Korede works in a telecommunications firm
that registered its employees with a Health Maintenance
Organisation under the National Health Insurance Scheme.
She expected her health plan with the HMO to allow her to
deliver her baby through Caesarean section. However, when
the delivery time came, the HMO refused to bear the
responsibility, claiming that her health plan did not cover
such a procedure.
After unsuccessfully persuading the HMO to live up to its
responsibility, her husband agreed to pay the hospital bill
when his wife’s health showed signs of deterioration. The
Koredes felt the HMO’s refusal to pick the bill had defeated
the essence of having a health insurance in place.
Aderonke’s husband, Babatunde, says, “The experience was
really traumatic. I could not stand the attitude of the HMO
and risk the lives of my wife and our unborn baby; so, I had
to go back to the money we were saving to roof the small
house we are building in Ikorodu to fund the operation.
“Almost a year after, we’ve not been able to raise enough
money to roof the house because of other contending
issues. The development has left us at the mercy of our
troublesome landlord and my wife is even sceptical of going
to the hospital even for services covered by her health
insurance package with the HMO.”
Different complaints emerge daily from both the enrolees,
who are registered with the HMOs, and the hospitals, which
are designated as health care providers under the NHIS.
On the other hand, the HMOs are also complaining about
the treatment that the hospitals are meting out to them,
especially when it comes to money matters. The relationship
between the HMOs and the hospitals can best be described
as that between a cat and a mouse, because they are always
suspicious of each other.
The strained relationship between the HMOs and the
hospitals has left the enrolees at the receiving end of
terrible services.
Yet, amid the challenges militating against the ability of the
scheme to provide quality health care services, little is being
done to address the issues by the regulator of the scheme.
Unlike the financial services sector, where the regulators
take strict and decisive actions, players in the health
insurance sector in the country have continued to do things
their own way.
The NHIS ensures the pooling of funds from different sectors
of the economy, with many people contributing money but
only a few of them expected to fall ill at a particular time.
The essence is to guarantee free health care for the
contributors whenever the need arises.
While the importance of a virile health insurance scheme
cannot be over emphasized, experts are of the view that
majority of those on the NHIS enjoy cover only for minor
ailments.
When there is a need for surgery or an expensive treatment,
the HMOs always require the hospitals to take permission
from them. If not, they end up not paying for the enrolee’s
treatment.
In most cases, enrolees have to pay from their pockets for
such treatment. In times of emergencies, the hospitals may
either have the challenge of reaching the HMO; or the HMO
simply refuses to pay.
An enrolee, who works in an oil company, Mr. Tunde
Atolagbe, will rather pay for his treatment than to depend
solely on his health insurance plan because he lacks
confidence in the cheap services being rendered by the
hospitals in their bid to make profits.
“I use a particular hospital alongside my colleagues in the
office through our HMO, but you find that the types of drugs
that they are giving you may be different from when you are
paying from your pocket,” he says.
Mr. Adeolu Oyeniran works in an oil company. He says he
stopped getting free treatment in his hospital last
November.
“Whenever I go to the hospital, they say they cannot treat
me because the HMO has stopped service to my
organisation. I am sure my employer has not been paying
the HMO and this money is removed from my salary,” he
laments.
HMOs VERSUS HOSPITALS
Common complaints by the hospitals against the HMOs
include default in paying capitation (the amount payable per
head irrespective of whether the person draws from pool of
funds or not for a certain period of time); paying ridiculously
low capitation; and delay in payment, even when the HMOs
have collected their premium from the enrolees.
The hospitals are in a dilemma because they stand to be
disengaged if they make official reports of HMOs
indebtedness to them.
This hostile condition of doing business is forcing the
hospitals to render very cheap services that may leave the
patients worse off.
According to the result of a health insurance survey
conducted by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, majority of the enrolees are absolutely displeased
with not receiving commensurate treatment for the
premiums paid compared to when they visit their family or
personal hospitals where they pay on the go.
The Director, Research and Advocacy, LCCI, Mr. Vincent
Nwani, says the survey found out that many enrolees were
actually opting out of being treated by HMO-registered
hospitals, preferring to patronise their personal doctors for
better treatment.
The average enrolee, according to the survey, thinks that he
is fully covered by the scheme irrespective of the nature of
the ailment.
Nwani says the hospitals are complaining that the capitation
fees being paid to them are very small; adding that the
present monthly capitation that the HMOs pay per person to
the hospitals is between N500 and N750, but adds that some
enrolees make regular visits to the hospitals even for minor
complaints.
Those with serious diseases and infections want perfect
treatment with the N500 or N750 paid by their HMOs
monthly, he says.
The LCCI investigation shows that complaints are not limited
to the hospitals. The HMOs too are not happy, because they
say that sometimes when their corporate clients go to the
hospitals for inspection, they get bad reception.
Some hospitals, Nwani says, accumulate bills for up to three
months before sending them, and at the end of the day, they
complain of delayed payment.
He also observes that the HMOs do not really explain in
details to their clients the plans they registered for. This, he
says, makes patients with the most basic plan to go to the
hospital demanding major surgeries to be performed on
them, or comparing their level of treatment to others with
more comprehensive plans.
Recently, one of the hospitals being owed a large sum, in a
mail to one of the HMOs, narrated how several attempts
made to recover the money had proved abortive, and how
the employees of the HMO had been lackadaisical to its
plight despite sending monthly bills.
In response, the HMO made it clear that it was doing the
health care provider a favour by having it on its register, and
expressed frustration that its gesture was not appreciated!
Presently, about 5.5 million Nigerians are registered under
the NHIS. Seventy-five per cent of these are Federal
Government employees who are mandatorily insured, while
the remaining are private sector employees.
The health insurance scheme, whose implementation began
about 16 years ago with the signing into law of the NHIS Act,
1999, has continued to grow at a very slow pace.
Under the scheme, 77 HMOs are licensed and they are
working with about 7,000 health care providers. The health
care providers are hospitals that should be well equipped,
but because most of them render services on credit, it has
been extremely difficult for them to meet set standards.
At the commencement of the scheme, the minimum
required capital base for each HMO was N30m. It was later
reviewed to N100m, and it is now N400m.
RISING FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES
Instead of prioritising quality health care delivery,
fraudulent activities are prevalent among professionals in
the health insurance scheme. For instance, Nwani says the
results of investigations carried out by the LCCI WERE really
displeasing.
He says, “One of the HMOs we visited during the fieldwork
informed us that it had been receiving unrealistic bills from
the hospitals. A mystery shopping was carried out by the
HMO by sending one of its members of staff as a patient to
one of the suspected hospitals that normally sent exorbitant
bills. The disguised patient was treated for a very minor
ailment and was given drugs.
“The staff kept the drugs, waiting for the hospital to send the
bill. When the bill was received, it was discovered that the
hospital had inflated it and added some drugs that were not
given to him. The HMO took the drugs and the bill to the
hospital as a proof that it had been sending unrealistic bills,”
he notes.
Narrating another case, Nwani says, “One of the registered
hospitals sent a bill to a HMO that a client was treated for
dog bite. When the HMO called the parents of the boy to
sympathise with them, it was discovered that the boy was
never bitten by a dog. The hospital cooked up the case in
order to extort the HMO.”
BETWEEN HMOS AND ENROLEES
The Managing Director, Healthcare International, Mr. Tosin
Awosika, says HMOs actually have structures in place to
ensure quality health care delivery to the enrolees.
“Before we accredit hospitals, we would have inspected
them to ascertain what they can do and what they cannot
do. On a regular basis, we do quality assurance visits to
check what they are doing and how they are treating the
clients. We have a feedback system; if there is an issue, we
expect the clients to get back to us,” he says.
According to him, HMOs have the right to delist hospitals
that are not doing well and transfer the patients to other
hospitals for better care. With these measures in place,
Awosika says the hospitals will ensure efficiency because
they will not want to be delisted.
Many enrolees also erroneously believe that once they pay a
certain premium, they will enjoy full treatment for any
ailment throughout the year, but are shocked that their
health plans sometimes operate like the mobile phone that
goes off ones its credit has been exhausted.
The President, Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ibinabo Fiberesima,
says, “Some of my members, after the first and second visits
to the hospital, do receive text messages from the hospital
that they have exhausted their plan.”
The Managing Director, MetroHealth, HMO Limited, Mr. Kola
Awokoya, stresses the need to build the health insurance
scheme on trust. “The responsibility of enlightening the
enrolee on the coverage of his health plan lies with the HMO
and the employers,” he explains.
It has been found out that the quality structures put in place
by the HMOs are not working perfectly. A survey conducted
by The PUNCH, using questionnaires to collect information
from enrolees of different HMOs, showed that most of them
subscribed to the cheapest plans, which do not provide
treatment for the illnesses killing majority of Nigerians
presently.
It was discovered that none of the enrolees had ever been
called by their HMOs to either enquire about their welfare or
ask if they were satisfied with their health plans.
Despite the fact that their employers subscribed to health
insurance on their behalf, 30 per cent of respondents
preferred to go to their family doctors than visit the
hospitals recommended by their HMOs.
Mr. Gbenga Ilemobayo enrolled his family of five with a
HMO and paid a premium price for choosing a band ‘B’
hospital and subscribing to the ‘Gold’ plan, but when one of
his sons required an urgent surgery for a medical condition
called hernia, the hospital could not obtain authorisation
from the HMO to carry on with the procedure for more than
16 hours. The HMO’s customer care lines rang for hours
without anybody picking up the calls.
Ilemobayo explains, “Due to the severity of the boy’s
condition, the senior doctor at the hospital told me that the
operation had to be done immediately and I had to
approach my brother to lend me some money, which I could
deposit.
“It was a difficult period for my family because I had just
paid the school fees of my three children, who are all in
private schools. Their mother has been out of job for about
three years and my income leaves no room for any serious
savings.”
MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS
The immediate President, Nigerian Medical Association, Dr.
Osahon Enabulele, accuses some of the HMOs of not paying
their capitation to the health providers, adding that the issue
was raised during the Presidential Summit on Universal
Health Coverage held in Abuja in March this year.
“At the last presidential summit on universal health
coverage, the same allegation was made. It is very criminal
for any HMO to withhold the capitation of the provider
because that invariably will not motivate the provider to
provide the needed quality services,” he says.
As a result of default, he says that the HMOs are short
changing the insurance scheme and the health care system,
which will invariably impact on the patients, who may get
poor services resulting from lack of motivation.
Enabulele says a lot of disgruntled doctors have reported
their HMOs to the NHIS, adding that the NHIS leadership has
asked the doctors to provide information to establish that
some of the HMOs are actually owing the providers their
due capitation.
“It is criminal for any HMO to withhold capitation to the
provider and the NMA frowns seriously on that, and we
charge the leadership of the NHIS scheme to fish out such
HMOs and appropriately discipline them so that the scheme
does not die a natural death as a result of the poor
assimilation of the providers of care due to the antics and
acts of some of the HMOs,” he says.
The NMA boss notes that if a HMO is having grievances
against an employer who refuses to pay his premium, such
complaints should be tendered before the governing board
of the NHIS.
Enabulele explains that it is not in the power of the HMOs to
deny anyone of the services that they have promised to
provide if the customer has paid the agreed premium.
“The HMOs have to pay their own capitation to the
subscribers; once a portal has been allocated to a provider
for health care facility, it is under obligation. For anybody to
be allocated to a provider, it is assumed that the person has
paid up his premium and subscribed to the care,” he says.
The Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria is the
umbrella body of the hospitals registered under the NHIS.
The National President, HCPAN, Dr. Adenike Olaniba, says
the major frictions between the HMOs and the providers are
low capitation, abysmally low tariff, indebtedness to the
providers by the HMOs, slashing of hospitals’ bills and non-
payment of capitation, among others.
Olaniba, who is also a consultant public health physician,
observes that many private providers’ clinics are closing
down as they cannot cope with the financial burden
imposed on them by health insurance.
She explains that in February 2012, a joint consultative
meeting was held in the premises of Healthcare
International HMO between the Health and Managed Care
Association of Nigeria (the umbrella body of the HMOs) and
HCPAN.
Some of the items on the agenda of the meeting, she says,
were the implementation of the new NHIS capitation, HMOs’
indebtedness to the providers, slashing of bills, care of the
chronically ill and standardised contractual agreement
between the HMOs and care providers.
“In order to fast track the review of capitation and tariff, the
HCPAN forwarded the report of its tariff and pricing
committee to the forum for consideration. No feedback has
been received from the HMCAN on this document,” she
adds.
If the issues are positively addressed, Olaniba says the
relationship between the two stakeholders will improve
tremendously.
Assassins kill UNILAG security chief at beer parlour
Suspected assassins have killed the Head of Operations,
Security Unit, University of Lagos, Mr. Sunday Adejumo.
The 50-year-old was shot dead at a beer parlour on Oyenuga
Street in the Akoka area of Lagos on Friday evening.
Our correspondent learnt that Adejumo on the fateful night
was in the joint with three of his friends when some strange
faces stormed the pub.
They were said to have headed straight for their target
where he sat and hit him in the chest, before firing shots at
him.
The gunshots were said to have caused confusion in the
area.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the deceased died some minutes
later because he could not get help on time.
When our correspondent visited Akoka on Saturday, he
observed that the area was quiet, while the beer parlour was
locked.
A resident, who did not identify himself, said the owner of
the drinking house had been arrested and was being
interrogated at the Bariga Police Station.
He said, “The incident happened around 8.30pm on Friday.
We suddenly heard gunshots and we all rushed into our
different houses because we did not know what exactly
happened.
“It was later we learnt that one of those in the beer parlour
was killed.
“It was not a robbery because they did not steal anything or
injure anybody else. Immediately they killed him, they left.”
A source, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent
that Adejumo might have been killed by suspected cultists.
He said, “When the gang got in, they went to where he was
sitting. They had different weapons, ranging from cutlasses
to guns.
“One of them went to him, hit him in the chest and he fell
down. He then brought out a gun and shot him point blank.
“On the table where he was drinking with his friends were a
pay slip, his ATM cards and his car key.”
Our correspondent learnt from another source that the men
wanted to go away with the deceased’s ash coloured
Pathfinder, marked, Lagos APP 404 CM, but could not.
“We don’t know exactly what their intention was. But there
were blood stains on the car and the car key also had blood
stains. We suspected they wanted to drive it away, but
abandoned it when they saw it was not responding,” he said.
Another police source told PUNCH Metro that the corpse of
the deceased was taken to the police station late in the night
from where it was taken to the Yaba mortuary.
It was learnt that Adejomo’s car and that of one of his
friends with whom he went to the pub, were taken away by
the police.
Our correspondent gathered that his three friends were also
being interrogated.
A source said, “Since he had been going out to drink, he had
never gone out with these friends. So, they are also
suspects. Although one of them claimed to be injured during
the incident, there may be more to it than meets the eye.”
The Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Lelma Kolle,
confirmed the incident.
He added that the Bariga Divisional Police Officer led his
men to the scene where they found the deceased in a pool
of blood.
He said, “Investigations revealed that the man parked his car
a distance away from where he was drinking. The police also
discovered that there was a blood stain on the car and the
car key was found within the vicinity, also with blood stains.
This can only mean that after they killed him, they
attempted to go away with his car. They actually succeeded
in opening the car because there were blood stains on the
car seat. But the car did not move because of the security
system in it.
“The owner of the bar has been arrested and he has made
statements. We cannot categorically say whether this was a
robbery or an assassination plot. The matter is still under
investigation.”
Our correspondent called UNILAG, and a former registrar of
the institution, Mr. Olu Sodimu, said the school would call
back.
However, an official of the university in the information
department confirmed the shooting.
The official, who pleaded anonymity, said, “We heard that he
went to a party with some of his friends and there were
gunshots. He was one of the people hit during the incident.
That was what we heard. We are not aware that he died. I
am just hearing that from you and I will have to confirm that
information by making calls.”
Security Unit, University of Lagos, Mr. Sunday Adejumo.
The 50-year-old was shot dead at a beer parlour on Oyenuga
Street in the Akoka area of Lagos on Friday evening.
Our correspondent learnt that Adejumo on the fateful night
was in the joint with three of his friends when some strange
faces stormed the pub.
They were said to have headed straight for their target
where he sat and hit him in the chest, before firing shots at
him.
The gunshots were said to have caused confusion in the
area.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the deceased died some minutes
later because he could not get help on time.
When our correspondent visited Akoka on Saturday, he
observed that the area was quiet, while the beer parlour was
locked.
A resident, who did not identify himself, said the owner of
the drinking house had been arrested and was being
interrogated at the Bariga Police Station.
He said, “The incident happened around 8.30pm on Friday.
We suddenly heard gunshots and we all rushed into our
different houses because we did not know what exactly
happened.
“It was later we learnt that one of those in the beer parlour
was killed.
“It was not a robbery because they did not steal anything or
injure anybody else. Immediately they killed him, they left.”
A source, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent
that Adejumo might have been killed by suspected cultists.
He said, “When the gang got in, they went to where he was
sitting. They had different weapons, ranging from cutlasses
to guns.
“One of them went to him, hit him in the chest and he fell
down. He then brought out a gun and shot him point blank.
“On the table where he was drinking with his friends were a
pay slip, his ATM cards and his car key.”
Our correspondent learnt from another source that the men
wanted to go away with the deceased’s ash coloured
Pathfinder, marked, Lagos APP 404 CM, but could not.
“We don’t know exactly what their intention was. But there
were blood stains on the car and the car key also had blood
stains. We suspected they wanted to drive it away, but
abandoned it when they saw it was not responding,” he said.
Another police source told PUNCH Metro that the corpse of
the deceased was taken to the police station late in the night
from where it was taken to the Yaba mortuary.
It was learnt that Adejomo’s car and that of one of his
friends with whom he went to the pub, were taken away by
the police.
Our correspondent gathered that his three friends were also
being interrogated.
A source said, “Since he had been going out to drink, he had
never gone out with these friends. So, they are also
suspects. Although one of them claimed to be injured during
the incident, there may be more to it than meets the eye.”
The Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Lelma Kolle,
confirmed the incident.
He added that the Bariga Divisional Police Officer led his
men to the scene where they found the deceased in a pool
of blood.
He said, “Investigations revealed that the man parked his car
a distance away from where he was drinking. The police also
discovered that there was a blood stain on the car and the
car key was found within the vicinity, also with blood stains.
This can only mean that after they killed him, they
attempted to go away with his car. They actually succeeded
in opening the car because there were blood stains on the
car seat. But the car did not move because of the security
system in it.
“The owner of the bar has been arrested and he has made
statements. We cannot categorically say whether this was a
robbery or an assassination plot. The matter is still under
investigation.”
Our correspondent called UNILAG, and a former registrar of
the institution, Mr. Olu Sodimu, said the school would call
back.
However, an official of the university in the information
department confirmed the shooting.
The official, who pleaded anonymity, said, “We heard that he
went to a party with some of his friends and there were
gunshots. He was one of the people hit during the incident.
That was what we heard. We are not aware that he died. I
am just hearing that from you and I will have to confirm that
information by making calls.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)