BOKO HARAM: Army Arrests Orange Seller With N600m

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Major-General Garba Wahab, at the weekend said the media should not eulogize criminals as the Division has arrested a suspected orange seller who spied for terrorists and over N600 million was found in his bank account within three months.

The GOC, whose area of command covers the north-western states, while fielding questions from newsmen in Kaduna relating to why the Army is carrying out general search without discrimination, said, “When we stop those who are hawking and carrying wheelbarrow, and we said we want to check, people will shout, ‘Why are you disturbing the average person?’ And I give you example; we arrested somebody here called mai lemu (orange seller) in Kawo here. And in three months when we checked through his account, over 600 million naira has passed through that man’s account, and he sells orange here by Kawo bridge.

“He is there as a lookout. He is like a spy. He looks around, gets information and feeds these guys, says this is what is happening. That is why I said we are not dealing with idiots. We are dealing with people who have one or two guys working and thinking, and giving them information. And we know that before they attack they must look at the softest locations.”

Wahab added that it is a criminality that the media and society must cooperate and ensure that it is brought to an end.

On Thursday’s attacks in Daura, he explained that military personnel adhered to the principles of rules of engagement, saying, “I called this press conference to fill the gap on the attack that occurred in Daura, Katsina state. We don’t want a situation where people will be speculating. Yes, the criminals came, they bombed vehicles, and they packed money using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to bomb everywhere. Nobody will give an instruction for an innocent life to be lost, so in whatever we do, we keep to the rules of engagement given to us and that is why I have called the media to lend us their support because when a few reports go out, it’s like it is encouraging the criminals and they start to think they have the upper hand.”

Meanwhile, the presidency yesterday offered amnesty to any Boko Haram member who surrenders, as it wages war on the insurgents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, where state of emergency was declared last Tuesday.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Rueben Abati, revealed this yesterday while talking to Reuters, a foreign news agency, on telephone.

He said: “Mr. President has urged Boko Haram members to surrender their arms and embrace the amnesty option which is still open as the committee is working on the option of dialogue for a peaceful resolution.”

Source: Blueprint

Niger Delta Oil Belongs To The North – Aliyu

…Says North Must Take Over From Jonathan

A former Minority leader in the House of Representatives, Farouk Adamu Aliyu has warned Niger Deltans to stop laying claims to oil found on there land as it  also belongs to the North, vowing that the North will fight to reclaim power from President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

Aliyu who described President Jonathan as an “ungrateful President” said the President has showed more interest on issues affecting the Ijaws other than the entire Nigerians.

The former Rep member said unlike in 2011 when the North voted en masse for President Jonathan, he vowed that in 2015, the North will teach the President a political lesson as they would reject him at the poll en masse.

“We in the north will take over from Jonathan through the ballot box and not through the barrels of the gun as some elements threatened recently.
By the grace of God, we shall take over from him,” Aliyu boasted.

“We call on President Jonathan to dissociate himself from those who are beating the drums of war and to call them to order so as not to truncate the democratic governance in Nigeria, which all Nigerians fought for.

“We know that it is only the President of a country that can boast that nobody can arrest him and nothing happens. But now, some people are threatening the law enforcement agencies and the National Assembly to dare arrest them and see what they will do without the President saying anything.

“As at today, we are all Nigerians and the President has the responsibility to treat us as Nigerians. But we are worried that he has kept mute over those planning genocide, hatred and destruction of lives and property because of their selfish interest.

Reminded that Chief Edwin Clark had corrected the impression created by Dokubo’s statement that there would be war if Jonathan loses in 2015, Aliyu flayed up, describing the Ijaw leader as one of the problems of Nigeria.

According to him, Clark has not done as much as he has been doing to bring about peace and unity in Nigeria.

Turning to the threat by militants that they would stop their oil resources from flowing to all parts of Nigeria in the event that Jonathan loses out in 2015, Aliyu stated that the oil resources of Nigeria belonged to all Nigerians and not an exclusive preserve of the Ijaw or any ethnic group.

He said, “We in the north believe that the oil in Bayelsa or Delta belong to us in Jigawa or any other state in the north. We shall therefore do anything humanly possible to defend that our oil in Bayelsa or anywhere else in this country.

“As long as we remain as Nigerians, we shall stake claim to the oil resources just as other Nigerians are benefitting from the mineral resources found in Jigawa or Sokoto State.

Catalonia 1-1 Nigeria: Bright Dike strike cancels out goal by Sergio Gonzalez

Nigeria held Catalonia to a 1-1 draw at the Estadi Cornellà El Prat on Thursday evening as they continued preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations that starts later this month.

Sergio Gonzalez converted a penalty early in the seventh minute to give the hosts the lead before US-based striker Bright Dike got the Super Eagles an equaliser in the 55^th minute.

Stephen Keshi started with a team of home-based players mixed with a handful of Europe-based lads while John Cruyff’s squad consisted of players from the Barcelona and Espanyol sides in La Liga.

Barcelona’s Xavi, Carles Puyol, and Milan’s Bojan Krkic were some of the big name stars paraded by the Catalonians while Nigeria had Ike Uche, Emmanuel Emenike, and Ahmed Musa come in as substitutes.

The entire Nigerian defence was consisted of Nigeria Premier League players: Chigozie Agbim in goal, and defenders Solomon Kwambe, Azubuike Egwueke, Godfrey Oboabuna and Benjamin Francis who all proved themselves highly capable.

Fengor Ogude and Ogenyi Onazi played in midfield alongside Sunday Mba and Ejike Uzoenyi while Dike and Brown Ideye started up front.

The Catalonians dominated early proceedings and were rewarded with a penalty as Gonzalezconverted in the seventh minute. Nigeria tried to regain confidence in the face of strong odds as the fans cheered every move of the home side.A handful of Nigerian fans in the stadium were delirious with joy in the second half when Dike profited from a fast counter-attack to turn his defender and score the equaliser for the Nigerians. The burly MLS-based striker then did a somersault to celebrate his maiden goal for the Eagles.

He was immediately substituted with Ike Uche as Keshi rang changes across the frontline where he also brought in Musa. The change in pace troubled the hosts but Uche saw a few chances miss the mark.

The Catalonians were also unable to convert their chances late on with Cristian Tello shooting wide with only Agbim to beat as the game ended in a stalemate. The SUper Eagles were then handed over the match trophy.

Nigeria will next play against Cape Verde as they conclude plans for the Afcon in South Africa.