Seven dead in police post bombing bank robbery

FIVE
policemen
were killed
yesterday in a
sudden attack on a police
station in Bauchi State.
Gunmen operating in typical
Boko Haram fashion bombed
the Misau town police station
and invaded a bank, where
they killed a policeman,
carting away a huge sum of
money.
The hoodlums hurled a bomb
at the police station, killing
five policemen and a civilian.
They freed suspects detained
in the police cell before setting
the building on fire.
They left the area after
shooting sporadically into the
air to scare away people.
Misau is 163 kilometres from
Bauchi, the state capital.
The unknown gunmen then
moved to the Main Street Bank
(formerly Afribank) branch,
which is close to the police
station. They killed a
policeman on guard and
stormed the bank.
Eye witnesses said the
hoodlums carted away huge
sums of money.
Bauchi Police Commissioner
Ikechukwu Ayo Aduba
confirmed the incident on the
telephone. He said details
were being compiled and
promised speedy
investigation of the incident.
An eye witness said on the
telephone from Misau that
“five policemen and a civilian
were killed at the police
station, and the sixth
policeman was felled at the
bank”.
This is the third time the
Misau Police station has been
attacked. It was attacked
during the last general
elections.
No organisation has claimed
responsibility for the attack so
far.
Inspector General of Police
Hafiz Ringim last month
ordered the Bauchi Police
chief to investigate attacks on
financial institutions in the
state.
Governor Isa Yuguda has
consistently said that there
are no Boko Haram men in the
state but armed robbers.
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Jonathan speaks on power,security,tenure in libya

•The
President
takes
questions on
many issues in his maiden
media chat ... last night
President Goodluck Jonathan
last night assured Nigerians of
his administration’s
commitment to improving
security.
But he noted that the rising
security challenge is incapable
of leading to this country’s
disintegration.
“We are working on changing
the security architecture of
the country. We know we
have challenges, but I can
assure Nigerians that the
security challenges will by
brought under control,” he
said.
Dr Jonathan said efforts were
on to engage all stakeholders
to ensure a permanent
solution to the crisis in Plateau
State, which has claimed many
lives.
The President spoke in Abuja
during his maiden media chat.
It was broadcast on national
television.
Silverbird’s Stella Din anchored
the interview.
The President said he has no
regret mooting the
contentious constitutional
amendment proposal of seven
years single tenure for the
President and Governors.
He said it was aimed at
stabilising the country’s polity,
and argued that without
political stability, the economy
would not grow.
He disagreed with the
insinuation that the country
will soon disintegrate because
of insecurity. He said: “I, as the
current President of this
country, do not agree with
that insinuation that this
country will disintegrate. That
people are throwing bombs
does not mean that the
country will disintegrate.”
He observed that it was not
the first time people would
express fears about the
nation’s unity, but that the
country, despite its
differences and problems, has
always survived as one entity.
Citing past crises, particularly
the Civil War and the Niger
Delta unrest, Jonathan argued
that the level of economic and
social integration achieved by
the people does not indicate
that the country would
disintegrate.
“We will not disintegrate. And
I can assure you that between
now and 2015, Nigeria will
remain a single entity,” he
said.
He justified his suggestion for
a single tenure for the
President and governors,
saying although he is yet to
send a Bill to the National
Assembly to that effect; he
was proposing a single term
of seven years for president
and governors while the
Legislature should have
multiple tenure of six years.
He based his push for a single
term on the high cost of
running elections. He said
Nigerians would one day
decide on the issue and
assured that it has nothing to
do with personal gains.
Besides, said the President, he
does not have the fiat to
impose the amendment.
Jonathan chided those
commenting on the proposal
when it was yet to be
submitted to the National
Assembly.
“I have no regrets over the
single tenure proposal
because it will stabilise the
polity,” he said, adding:
“I said seven years actually; I
did not talk about six years.
My thinking is seven years for
President and governors, but
for the National Assembly, I
said six years.
“The feeling that probably you
have hidden agenda makes
people to oppose it, but one
day Nigerians will decide. Now
it is like a rumour.”
The President assured of his
government’s commitment to
improving power situation. He
said the government was
working on ways of ensuring
enhanced private sector
involvement in all power
production efforts, including
generation and distribution.
On the crisis in the judiciary,
President Jonathan admitted
that every Nigerian is
concerned about the recent
unhealthy development in that
arm of government. He
believed in the ability of the
judiciary, he said, and advised:
“We should allow the judiciary
to reform itself.”
In his view, the peace in
Plateau State is a function of
the people’s resolve to bring
about peace. No matter the
number of soldiers deployed
in the state, except the people
resolve to have peace, it could
be difficult, he said.
The President expressed his
support for dialogue among
Nigerians as a way of
resolving observed
contradictions, but he ruled
out the possibility of his
administration organising any
dialogue. Many have been
pushing for a national
conference to resolve some
critical national issues.
He said the government
would rather set up a body to
review past conferences and
reduce issues which have
been agreed upon to a bill for
consideration by the National
Assembly.
The President also spoke on
the Wikileaks reports, which
he described as mere beer
parlour gossips.
He said the reports failed to
find out the authenticity of the
information provided.
Though he did not deny that
most of the people mentioned
in the reports spoke to
American ambassadors,
Jonathan questioned the
authenticity of the report.

Jonathan speaks on power,security,tenure in libya

•The
President
takes
questions on
many issues in his maiden
media chat ... last night
President Goodluck Jonathan
last night assured Nigerians of
his administration’s
commitment to improving
security.
But he noted that the rising
security challenge is incapable
of leading to this country’s
disintegration.
“We are working on changing
the security architecture of
the country. We know we
have challenges, but I can
assure Nigerians that the
security challenges will by
brought under control,” he
said.
Dr Jonathan said efforts were
on to engage all stakeholders
to ensure a permanent
solution to the crisis in Plateau
State, which has claimed many
lives.
The President spoke in Abuja
during his maiden media chat.
It was broadcast on national
television.
Silverbird’s Stella Din anchored
the interview.
The President said he has no
regret mooting the
contentious constitutional
amendment proposal of seven
years single tenure for the
President and Governors.
He said it was aimed at
stabilising the country’s polity,
and argued that without
political stability, the economy
would not grow.
He disagreed with the
insinuation that the country
will soon disintegrate because
of insecurity. He said: “I, as the
current President of this
country, do not agree with
that insinuation that this
country will disintegrate. That
people are throwing bombs
does not mean that the
country will disintegrate.”
He observed that it was not
the first time people would
express fears about the
nation’s unity, but that the
country, despite its
differences and problems, has
always survived as one entity.
Citing past crises, particularly
the Civil War and the Niger
Delta unrest, Jonathan argued
that the level of economic and
social integration achieved by
the people does not indicate
that the country would
disintegrate.
“We will not disintegrate. And
I can assure you that between
now and 2015, Nigeria will
remain a single entity,” he
said.
He justified his suggestion for
a single tenure for the
President and governors,
saying although he is yet to
send a Bill to the National
Assembly to that effect; he
was proposing a single term
of seven years for president
and governors while the
Legislature should have
multiple tenure of six years.
He based his push for a single
term on the high cost of
running elections. He said
Nigerians would one day
decide on the issue and
assured that it has nothing to
do with personal gains.
Besides, said the President, he
does not have the fiat to
impose the amendment.
Jonathan chided those
commenting on the proposal
when it was yet to be
submitted to the National
Assembly.
“I have no regrets over the
single tenure proposal
because it will stabilise the
polity,” he said, adding:
“I said seven years actually; I
did not talk about six years.
My thinking is seven years for
President and governors, but
for the National Assembly, I
said six years.
“The feeling that probably you
have hidden agenda makes
people to oppose it, but one
day Nigerians will decide. Now
it is like a rumour.”
The President assured of his
government’s commitment to
improving power situation. He
said the government was
working on ways of ensuring
enhanced private sector
involvement in all power
production efforts, including
generation and distribution.
On the crisis in the judiciary,
President Jonathan admitted
that every Nigerian is
concerned about the recent
unhealthy development in that
arm of government. He
believed in the ability of the
judiciary, he said, and advised:
“We should allow the judiciary
to reform itself.”
In his view, the peace in
Plateau State is a function of
the people’s resolve to bring
about peace. No matter the
number of soldiers deployed
in the state, except the people
resolve to have peace, it could
be difficult, he said.
The President expressed his
support for dialogue among
Nigerians as a way of
resolving observed
contradictions, but he ruled
out the possibility of his
administration organising any
dialogue. Many have been
pushing for a national
conference to resolve some
critical national issues.
He said the government
would rather set up a body to
review past conferences and
reduce issues which have
been agreed upon to a bill for
consideration by the National
Assembly.
The President also spoke on
the Wikileaks reports, which
he described as mere beer
parlour gossips.
He said the reports failed to
find out the authenticity of the
information provided.
Though he did not deny that
most of the people mentioned
in the reports spoke to
American ambassadors,
Jonathan questioned the
authenticity of the report.

The defence chief get presidential order to stop killing in Jos

The serial
killings in Jos,
the
beleaguered
Plateau State
capital and its environs, got
President Goodluck Jonathan
cracking yesterday.
Dr Jonathan directed Chief of
Defence Staff Air Marshal
Oluseyi Petinrin to end the
killings immediately.
No fewer than 100 persons –
most of them members of
same families – have been
killed in attacks on homes in
villages within the last few
days.
The President also scheduled
a meeting with Governor
Jonah Jang today in Abuja
over the security situation in
the Northcentral state.
Rumours of attacks have been
circulating through text
messages in the state.
Many residents are having
sleepless nights over threats
of attacks.
The presidential directive,
which is with “immediate
effect,” was delivered after
yesterday’s security meeting
at the Presidential Villa.
Vice President Namadi Sambo,
security chiefs and the
National Security Adviser
(NSA), Gen. Andrew Azazi,
attended the three-hour
meeting.
A statement by presidential
spokesman Reuben Abati
said:
“In keeping with his avowed
resolve to ensure the full
security of lives and property
across the country, President
Jonathan has directed the
Chief of Defence Staff, Air
Marshall Oluseyi Petinrin, to
take full charge of the security
situation in Plateau State
immediately and take all
necessary actions to stop the
recent spate of killings in the
state.
“Following a meeting of the
National Security Council,
President Jonathan also
directed the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation,
Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, to
bring up all pending reports
by recent committees set up
by the Federal Government on
the Plateau for immediate
review and implementation.
“President Jonathan, who is
scheduled to meet with the
Plateau State Governor, Chief
Jonah Jang tomorrow, further
directed the National
Emergency Management
Agency (NEMA) to take prompt
action to address the plight of
internally displaced persons in
Plateau State.
“He renewed his call on
parties involved in the crises
in Plateau State to embrace
tolerance, dialogue and
compromise to ensure the
success of ongoing efforts to
achieve a lasting resolution of
their differences.”
The state police command
said it has uncovered the plan
by some youths to invade Jos
and cause further loss of lives
and property.
Rumours are rife of Muslims
mobilising youths from
outside the state to assist
them in attacking Christians in
Jos.
Text messages are being
circulated. People who have
relatives in Jos have been
calling their loved ones to alert
them.
One of such messages
indicated that many trucks
had been assembled to
convey youths from some
parts of the North to Jos for
the impending attack.
The police, who have been
monitoring movements into
the city in the last few days,
confirmed that they had
noticed an unusual influx of
youths from some states in
the North into Jos on
motorcycles.
In a statement yesterday, the
state police command said:
“Consequent upon the influx
of youths from other states of
the North into Plateau with
many unregistered
motorcycles, the Plateau State
Police Command wishes to
inform all owners of
unregistered motorcycles to
get them registered
forthwith.”
The statement, signed by the
Police Public Relations Officer
Apev Jacob, an ASP, said: “This
is to prevent them from being
used for criminal purposes.
“We want to warn that any
person who flouts this
directive by using such
unregistered motorcycle will
be traced, arrested and
prosecuted, in accordance
with provisions of the road
traffic Act.
“The command also wishes to
state in clear terms that
security is a collective
business and should therefore
be devoid of ethnic, religious
and political sentiments.
“Finally we want to reaffirm
our commitment and
determination to provide
maximum security to all law
abiding citizens in the state.”The serial
killings in Jos,
the
beleaguered
Plateau State
capital and its environs, got
President Goodluck Jonathan
cracking yesterday.
Dr Jonathan directed Chief of
Defence Staff Air Marshal
Oluseyi Petinrin to end the
killings immediately.
No fewer than 100 persons –
most of them members of
same families – have been
killed in attacks on homes in
villages within the last few
days.

Boko haram threathens to bomb UNIBEN

•National
Assembly
tightens
security
There was panic yesterday at
the Ugbowo and Ekenwan
campuses of the University of
Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State,
over plans by the dreaded
Islamic sect, Boko Haram, to
bomb the university.
Visitors and students were
frisked before leaving or
entering the university.
Many students in the hostels
were seen packing out.
Boko Haram had, last
Thursday, sent an e-mail to
the Registrar in which they
said the university would be
bombed.
It gave September 12-17 as
their target date to detonate
bombs at the university.
It warned that the message
was “not a threat, but a
notification which must be
strictly adhered to.”
The group also listed 19 other
universities it planned to
bomb within the period.
The university’s spokesman,
Harrison Osarenren,
confirmed the receipt of the
threat message.
In a September 7 letter,
Osarenren urged “mischief
makers to disassociate
themselves from any evil plan
as security operatives are on
their trail.
“Management of the
university views with serious
concern plans by some
persons who do not mean
well for the institution to
cause mayhem on our
campus..”
At the University of Ibadan,
Oyo State, motorists entering
the campus had a hard time
as the university authorities
mounted an intensive security
check at the gate.
The security measure, which
left motorists sweating for
hours, followed unconfirmed
reports that the university had
also been marked down for
bombing.
Many motorists abandoned
their mission at the university
after spending hours in the
traffic created by parking
outside the gate and walking
into the campus.
Others who could not take the
decision endured the traffic
snarl, which led to a long
queue towards Sango.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor
(Administration), Prof Elijah
Bamigboye, said though the
bomb scare came as a
rumour, the authorities did
not want to take chances in
view of the experience at the
United Nations house in
Abuja.
His words: “We heard
rumours that a group is likely
to descend on institutions
where education is being
imparted.
“We heard that U.I is top on
the list.
“When we heard the rumour,
we did not want to take
chances.
“The essence is to sensitise
the community and to alert
people on the rumour.
“We directed the security
department to step up
screening of all vehicles into
the campus.
“ My car too was subjected to
thorough search this
morning.”
The authorities of the National
Assembly yesterday
introduced new security
measures ahead of
lawmakers’ resumption today.
Visitors and staff were made
to go through a series of
checks before being allowed
into the complex.
Already, staff and visitors are
not allowed to drive into the
complex, following reports
that Boko Haram has listed the
Assembly and other
government institutions as its
next target.
To cushion the effect of
trekking the about one
kilometre distance into the
complex, the Clerk of the
National Assembly has
provided two buses to convey
both staff and security-cleared
visitors to the complex.

Do coaches need certificates to practice?Do coaches need certificates to practice?

Last week, the
first
installment of
this topic was
published. The above question
was provoked by the
statement credited to the
Ghanaian footballer star, Mr,
Abedi Ayew, Pele, who
declared that a good coach
does not need certificates to
practice or do his job. We
have examined some of the
emergent issues previously,
arguing that coaching, sports
management and other social
roles in sports do require
profound training and
education. In this second
examination of this question,
an attempt would BE made to
the argument that a coach like
any other profession must be
properly trained,
Why does a coach need sound
education and training? Being
an excellent footballer is a
critical factor in coaching for
those of them who choose
that career. My position is that
playing the game and
managing or coaching are
different challenges. And
anyone who wishes to choose
coaching as a career must be
properly educated and
trained. So it is with all
professions - nursing, law,
medicine, engineering, sports
equipment and facilities
manufacturing and
agriculture. All respected
professions do have
mandatory occupational
socialization and internship
process to enable the
intending practitioner
becomes acquainted with the
cognate knowledge skills and
ethics of the profession.
The coaching profession is
notoriously reputed to be one
area of human endeavours
with one of the shallowest
depth of education and
training for their members
even when they do not
possess prerequisites
Most coaches fall back to their
experience as players or
athletes; always quoting or
recessing to their games or as
ex-international engagements.
While these are vital elements,
it should be said that an
occupation based on this kind
of background as its main
cognate requirement leaves
much to be desired. Definitely,
depth of decision making,
creative ability and
imagination, critical thinking
faculties will lack the
resourcefulness that is
fundamentally nourished by a
trained and educated intellect.
Why will a coach not even
endeavours or attempt to
possess a first degree in
addition to usual coaching
license, wherever it is
acquired? Have you listened to
some coaches level of
communication competences,
analyses and interpreting of
games, social relations, ethical
conduct and understanding of
the multivariate factors that
affect sports? The apparent
lack of proper education or
lack of belief in it as Abedi
Ayew’s statements suggests,
diminishes the level and
quality of coaching, its
professional status as well as
the entire gamut of sporting
activaties.
With out a sound Ordinary
level SSCE and Diploma, a short
time coaching certificate is
not even enough to prepare
an individual for any serious
minded profession that
wishes to make indelible or
significant contributions to
human and sociocultural
development. Those who
manage sports must raise the
bar of pre-requisite
qualifications for prospective
practitioners. This is the way
culture of all reputable
professions. This is the way
coaches should go to stand
and film pedestal as they
manipulate sports
performance variables to
achieve results of greater
significance and relevance to
society. Coaches indeed, need
a lot of education, training
and certificates.
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Fayemi, reiterates call for restructuring of Nigeria

Ekiti State
Governor
Kayode
Fayemi yesterday revisited the
subsisting national question,
saying that Nigeria should be
restructured to reflect its vast
diversity as a nation-state.
He compared the challenges
of the earlier political
dispensations with the
current problems militating
against effective governance,
pointing out that the
fundamental problems which
confronted the country since
the Second Republic have not
fizzled out.
Fayemi said: "This is
principally because we have
failed as a people to confront
the fundamental structural
challenges of our national
togetherness and collective
political life. And until we do
so in a way that would
reorder the fundamentally
flawed logic on which Nigeria
has operated up till now, we
will not be able to put the
national state in the service of
the diverse people who
constitute it."
The governor spoke in Lagos
at a one-day ‘Conference on
Democracy and Prebendal
Politics in Nigeria’, which he
convened in concert with two
Nigerian scholars; Dr Wale
Adebamwi and Dr Ebenezer
Obadare.
At the brainstorming session,
which held at the Eko Hotels
and Suites, Victoria Island,
statesmen, frontline political
scientists, legal icons and
members of civil society
groups dissected the socio-
economic and political
challenges confronting the
country in its march of
democratic consolidation.
For Nigeria to survive the
challenges, they said the
country should fight
corruption with great vigour,
stem poverty through
equitable distribution of
wealth and foster good
governance and rule of law at
all the tiers of government.
Experts, including Prof.
Richard Joseph, Professor
Jane Guyer, Prof Adigun
Agbaje, Prof Ayo Olukotun and
Dr Abubakar Momoh, also
highlighted the roles of
youths, media and civil society
movement in democratic
growth and stability.
The inspiration for the
conference came from the
thoughtful and insightful
book written by the
Northwestern University,
Illinois, United States of
America don, Joseph, almost
25 years ago.
The book titled: "Democracy
and Prebendal Politics in
Nigeria: The fall of the Second
Republic", detailed the
untoward political behaviour
of the operators of the
presidential system, especially
their penchant for primitive
accumulation, which denied
citizens the benefits of good
governance, democratic
growth and political stability.
Discussants at the sessions
were unanimous that the
book still has relevance in
view of the abysmal conduct
of political office holders, who
apart from failing to find
solutions to the challenges of
social infrastructure, electoral
reforms and security, are
collaborating to cripple the
judiciary, which is the last
hope of the common man.
Governor Fayemi, in a
welcome address titled:
"Knowledge Generation and
Social Progress", lamented
that "the coalition of anti-
democratic forces, which
eventually failed to prevent the
democratisation and
humanisation of the Nigerian
space, have seized the
commanding heights of the
current democratic space".
He said pro-democratic forces
have since 1999 been battling
with the arduous task of
ensuring electoral sovereignty,
rule of law and justice.
The governor said, "while this
struggle for national survival
remains the duty of all
democratic forces, those of us
who have been given this
burden of running specific
components of the Nigerian
federation are called upon to
do our part in rebuilding the
crumbling edifice of public
administration in Nigeria".
Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana,
observed that Prof Joseph
may have to write another
edition of the book he wrote
24 years ago, stressing that
the current dispensation has
not been a wide departure
from the Second Republic
experience, which motivated
him to produce the work.
Lamenting the muscling of the
judiciary, he said the rule of
law, justice and good
governance have taken a
flight from the country as a
result of impunity in high
places.
Governor Babatunde Fashola,
who was represented by the
Special Adviser on Lagos
Central Business District, Mrs
Derin Disu, observed that
"Nigeria needs political
stability for her development
to attract foreign investment",
adding that all Nigerians must
continue to have the freedom
to choose their leaders.
The governor, who also said
that the country needed peace
to guarantee progress,
advised those in government
to find lasting solutions to the
challenges of epileptic power
generation, unemployment,
illiteracy, poverty, growing
discontentment and
insecurity.
The guest of honour, Asiwaju
Bola Tinubu, who was
represented by the former
Information and Strategy.

STF foils
carnage in
Barkin Ladi
Like in Dante's inferno, the
gory killings in Jos, Plateau
State continued yesterday as a
family of 14 people including
a pregnant mother were
massacred in the early hours
of yesterday.
The crime was carried out by
suspected Fulani herdsmen
who invaded Vwang Kogot
village in Vwang district of Jos
South Local Government Area.
The village, about three
kilometres off the major road
leading to Manchok town in
Kaduna State, was thronged
by a large number of
sympathizers who crying and
wailing, at the gory sight of
the victims made up of
women and children.
These killings is coming a day
after about 12 people were
killed in two separate attacks
on two communities in Barkin
Ladi local government area of
the state.
This brings to about eight of
such attacks within Barkin
Ladi, Jos North, Riyom and Jos
South local government areas
in Plateau North senatorial
district, with no fewer than 90
lives lost in the attacks which
are purported to have been
carried out with the support
of members of the Special
Task Force (STF), drafted to
the state to maintain law and
order.
According to eye witnesses,
the attackers came about
11pm and went to the family
home of Dauda Badung killing
him and his pregnant wife
along with five other children
and two grand children
Also, a 70 year old man, a 60
year old woman and a two
year old Helen Gyang were
also killed while a four year
old survivor with gunshot
wounds is now receiving
treatment at the Vom Christian
Hospital.
The Special Adviser to the
governor on Media, Pam
Ayuba regretted the attacks
and assured that the
perpetrators will be fished out
and brought to book.
Meanwhile the Special Task
Force (STF) on Jos crises code
named ‘Operation safe haven’
has arrested one Muhammed
Abdulahi. He was arrested last
night in Rop village, Barkin
Ladi local government when
the soldiers aborted another
attack on the village.
Spokesman of the STF, Captain
Charles Ekeocha while
parading the suspect at the
STF headquarters said, “This
young man named
Muhammed Abdulahi was
among the over 30 attackers
who came to attack Rop
village of Barkin Ladi last
night”
He added that, “the youths of
the area alerted us of the
impending attack and we
moved in to the village, the
attackers learnt of our
presence and aborted their
plan, unfortunately for this
man we met him on the road
and we suspected him as one
of them.
“We conducted immediate
search on him and found in
his travelling bag some
weapons of attack. The
weapons in his bag included a
pistol, knife and handset. We
are prepared to work if the
youths are ready to cooperate
with us by giving intelligence
information. We are not
spirits, we are also human, we
cannot succeed without
people’s cooperation. We
were able to arrest this man
because the youths are ready
to work with us.”
Meanwhile, Governor Jonah
Jang has commended the
security agencies for their
efforts in curtailing the crises
while he was away on medical
trip abroad. He gave the
commendation at a security
meeting he conveyed shortly
after his arrival.
Jang said, “I have been
briefed on what transpired
and I must commend the
security agencies for their
resilience and efforts to
combat the violence.”
The caucus of House of
Representative members from
Plateau State has condemned
calls from their counterparts
in the north for a declaration
of a state of emergency in the
state over the prolonged
crises.
The House of Representatives
members made their position
known in a press conference
in Jos yesterday.
Bitrus Kaze who led the team
of eight members from the
state to the NUJ secretariat Jos
stated that, “It has come to
our knowledge that certain
elements are hell-bent on
destabilizing democratic
structures on the Plateau in
the name of emergency rule.
“We condemn in strongest
term possible and totally reject
their obnoxious calls for the
declaration of another
emergency in Plateau State. It
is highly suspicious why the
advocate of a state of
emergency singled out the
state for prosecution
notwithstanding the
precarious situation in many
parts of the country including
post-election violence and
bombings.”
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Ajala: 9/11 of Nigerian heroe died for others

Ahead of today’s tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States (September 11,
2001), families, friends,
colleagues and others
worldwide have in various ways been remembering the
victims of the incident.Residents of Dividing Creek in
New Jersey have been placing
flags to represent those who
lost their lives. One of the flags
is for Godwin Ajala, the only
Nigerian officially listed
among the deceased.
Although he is known at
home as Godwin Ajalli, all the
records of tribute referred to
him as Godwin Ajala. He hailed
from Ihenta in Akaeze Local
Government Area of Ebonyi
State.
As part of activities marking
the 10th anniversary, Janice
Laws on September 7 this
year wrote in the guest book
of tributes for the victims on
the website legacy.com: “I am
proud to say that I placed a
flag for Godwin Ajala”
Ajala, who was 33 and a
qualified lawyer before he left
Nigeria was at the time of the
attack an Access Control
Officer working at the
Concourse level of one of the
World Trade Centre buildings.
Apparently exhausted after
helping to guide many out of
the attacked building, Ajala
reportedly first went into a
coma and did not die until the
following Sunday.
But for the economic situation
in Nigeria which has forced
many professionals to seek
greener pastures abroad,
Ajala might not have been
anywhere near the scene of
the attack.
He would have been
practising as a lawyer in
Nigeria.
According to a New York
Times profile on him, he
migrated to the United States
in 1995, hoping to earn more
support for his family.
The New York Times report on
the life and times of the 9/11
victims titled Profiles in Grief
provided some insights into
Ajala’s sojourn in the US and
his unfulfilled dreams.
The paper wrote, “At first he
bounced between jobs, but
ultimately he landed a steady
position as a security guard at
the World Trade Centre. Still,
he was frustrated, and he
began pursuing his dream of
becoming a lawyer in America,
setting his sights on passing
the New York State Bar Exam.
“His roommate, Christopher
Onuoha, said Mr. Ajala worked
from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., went
home for a nap and then
studied for the Bar for six to
eight hours, often late into the
night. Co-workers said he was
last seen helping people
escape from the trade centre.
“When he was living here, he
was suffering in terms of
always working and
studying,” said a close friend,
Christopher Iwuanyanwu.
“Every September, Mr. Ajala
visited Nigeria, and he was
planning to travel there again
this past September to visit his
wife, Victoria, and their three
children, Onyinyechi, 7,
Uchechukwu, 5, and Ugochi,
1. His friends said he was
planning to apply for visas to
bring them to the United
States.
“His dream was that he would
take the law exam, pass it, and
with that bring his family here
and invite them to the
swearing in,” Mr.
Iwuanyanwu said. “He would
have been much happier if his
wife and kids were around.”
In response to the NY Times
profile of Ajala, one Vanessa
during the 2010 anniversary
wrote “rest in peace, Mr. Ajala.
I read your story on a
memorial site and it struck a
chord with me. Your work
ethic reminds me of my
boyfriend, who is also
Nigerian. Thank you for
coming to this country and
helping to guide people out of
WTC. You will not be
forgotten.”
Another reader, Alissian wrote
in September 2003: “He
worked so hard to make a
better life for himself and his
family only to have the dream
destroyed by hatred. I hope
he is at peace now and that
his family can find peace and
happiness in his memory”.
A Nigerian resident in New
York, Austin Obi recalls his
chance meeting with Ajala
and how they became friends.
“It was sometime in early
2000 and I was the Manager
at the Burger King right
across from the Trade Centre,
when Godwin came in for
lunch. He saw my name tag
and introduced himself and
from then on he would stop
by every lunch. He was tall,
imposing yet very warm,
friendly and affable towards
my staff and I. Everybody
knew him. We would often
talk about home, our families
and our goals in America. He
was a good man. May You
Rest in Perfect Peace, my
friend”
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Friendly match: Argentina beats Nigeria 3:1

Super Eagles striker Chinedu
Ogbuke Obasi came on as a
substitute to score Nigeria's
only goal when Argentina
gained revenge for their June
loss to Nigeria by defeating
the Super Eagles 3-1 in
Bangladesh on Tuesday.
Before a sell-out crowd at the
25,000-capacity Bangabandhu
Stadium in Dhaka, Gonzalo
Higuain opened the scoring
for the South Americans after
24 minutes.
Moments later, his Real Madrid
team-mate Angel di Maria
doubled the lead.
Although Chinedu Obuasi
Ogbuke reduced arrears a
minute after the break, an
own goal from Uwa Echiejile
after 65 minutes wrapped up
the win.
Unlike the game in June, when
Argentina fielded a second-
string side preparing for the
Copa America, the South
Americans fielded a strong
team.
Barcelona's Lionel Messi was
the standout star, creating
two of the goals, with Javier
Mascherano and defensive
duo Pablo Zabaleta and
Nicolas Burdisso also in
attendance.

ODEMWIGIE RETURNS TO TRAINING.

NigeriaN striker Osaze Odemwingie has returned to full training with English Premier League side West Brom after recovering from from an ankle injury. He is tipped to return to action next Sunday as the Albion faces Norwich. Boss Roy Hodgson has restricted him to one substitute appearance so far this season. “Peter is OK, I think. He has trained this week and things are looking OK. With Shane it’s too early to say. It’s a calf strain, it’s not a pull or a completely damaged muscle, it’s just the fibres. The medical staff are working on it at the moment but I think his chances are being put at 50-50 by the medical staff and time will tell. “It all depends how quick a healer he is really.” Osaze was ruled out of Albion's last match, against Stoke nine days ago, after suffering a reaction to his previous ankle problem. The injury has forced him to miss Nigeria's games against Madagascar and Argentina - but Hodgson says the striker's rehab is on track.
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Libyan rebels hold 200 Nigerians hostage.

More violence
against migrants
The crackdown on Nigerians
in Libya continued yesterday,
with the arrest of 25 by the
rebel-controlled Transitional
National Council (TNC), which
has slackened Col. Muammar
Gaddafi’s 42-year grip on
power.
The development has brought
the number of Nigerians in
detention to over 200, The
Nation learnt. There are fears
that the detained Nigerians
may be killed by the rebels, if
the Federal Government does
not act on time.
A spokesman for trapped
Nigerians in Tripoli, Mr.
Daramola Siji, who spoke with
our correspondent on the
telephone, said: “About 25
Nigerians were today arrested
in Tripoli and they are being
detained in Salahdin part of
the capital city. We have no
access to them at all.
“So far, we have over 200
Nigerians being detained in
various parts of Libya. We do
not know their fate. We are
praying that they will not be
killed like other black migrant
workers.
“The general pattern is that
the rebels mount roadblocks
and everytime black people
are sighted in a bus, they will
quickly arrest them and
hound them into various cells
in the city.”
Asked how Nigerians fell into
rebels’ hands, Siji said:
“Having been without food,
they decided to venture out of
their homes to look for what
to buy and, in the process,
most of them were arrested.
“I wish to appeal to the
Federal Government to take
action. We could not reach the
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, who
has been sympathetic to our
plight, with the opening up of
talks with the TNC leaders.
“Although the Minister
designated our Ambassador
to Ethiopia to take charge of
the situation in Libya, the
envoy has remained
incommunicado.”
Responding to a question, Siji
said: “The rebels felt the black
migrants were the
mercenaries used by
Muammar Gaddafi to fight
them and that is why they are
embarking on retaliatory
killings.
“But we have made the TNC to
realise that the mercenaries
used by Gaddafi were mostly
Chadians and Nigeriens. No
Nigerian fought on the side of
Gaddafi.”
A top source in the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, who spoke in
confidence, said: “The Minister
is away in Sweden for Nordic
Ministers meeting. But he is
on top of the situation, even
from his base abroad.
“We have got assurances from
the TNC, Britain and France
that black migrants will no longer be attacked.”
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SSS, uncovers bomb factory.

•Six suspects
arrested
Six suspects
have been arrested in
connection with the
bombings in Suleja, Niger
State.
The State Security Services
(SSS), which broke the news
yesterday, said it also
uncovered a building in Suleja
where explosives are being
manufactured by members of
the Boko Haram sect.
Also yesterday, the Nigerian
Immigration Service (NIS)
deported 72 Nigeriens
handed over by the Brigade of
Guards, the Army Unit
protecting the President.
The NIS is looking for a man
suspected to be recruiting
and sending Nigeriens into
Nigeria.
The SSS, in a statement in
Abuja signed by its
spokesperson Mrs Marylyn
Ogar, said: “Following the
bombings at the INEC office,
Suleja on 8th April, 2011 and
the All Christians Fellowship
Church, Suleja, Niger State on
10th July, 2011, this Service
commenced investigation to
unravel the perpetrators.
“Consequently, on 4th August,
2011, a suspect, who is a
Nigerien national, was
apprehended in connection
with the bombing in Suleja.
“He confessed to his
involvement in the bombings
as well as his membership of
the Boko Haram sect. His
confession led to the arrest of
a 31-year old indigene of Imo
State who converted to Islam
in 2003.
“The second suspect, who is
born of a Nigeriene mother,
was brought up in Niger
Republic, where he had his
early education. He also
admitted to being a member
of the Boko Haram sect as well
as having worked in concert
with a third suspect from
Kano State to carry out attacks
in Suleja. Their confessions led
to further arrest of two
accomplices from Borno State.
“The five suspects all
confessed that the main
supplier of the explosive
materials used for their
bombing operations is a
miner from Nasarawa State,
who the Service eventually
arrested on 30th August,
2011.
“They also confessed that they
took part in the killing of four
policemen at a check-point at
Dakwa-Deidei in Bwari Area
Council of the FCT on 22nd
May, 2011.
“Investigation has indeed
revealed that the suspects
belong to the Boko Haram cell
operating in the Suleja-Abuja
axis, which is under the
direction and control of a
blood-thirsty Boko Haram
leader who is now at large.
“Meanwhile, a non-descript
building where the
Improvised Explosive Devices
(I.E.Ds) are assembled has
been uncovered at an area
popularly known as Chechnya,
Hayin-Uku village in Tafa Local
Government Area, Niger State.
“Among items recovered in
the merchandise of death are:
i. One (1) gas cylinder; ii. One
battery connected to a
detonator; iii. Two (2)
damaged detonators; iv. One
(1) locally made revolver; v.
One (1) gun butt; vi. Two (2)
knives; and vii. Ten (10) GSM
handsets with SIM cards.”
Other items recovered include
ceiling fan coil, metallic
cylinders, nine volts batteries
ready for use, 200 pieces of
detonators, detonating cables,
battery chargers, and a Honda
Civic car with Borno State
registration number AG 94
MNG, among others.
A bomb expert brought in by
the SSS, Mr. Adegboyega
Adeniyi, told reporters that an
assembled combination of
some of the items could
wreak the kind of devastation
at the bombed Abuja UN
building.
The identity of the owner of
the building is yet to be
established by the SSS, even as
the villagers, including the
village head were not willing
to give information about the
ownership of the house.
Mrs Ogar, who conducted
reporters round the horror
house, said the building had
been under surveillance and
that the suspects, who she did
not name, would be charged
to court “as soon as we find
any court that is willing to try
them”.
The NIS yesterday deported
72 Nigeriens as part of the
ongoing clampdown on Boko
Haram members and illegal
aliens.
NIS spokesman Joachim
Olumba, a chief
superintendent, who spoke
with our correspondents, said
the deported Nigeriens were
taken away from Abuja to the
nearest Nigerien border in
Katsina State at about 3.45pm.
Olumba said: “An Army officer
and some soldiers from the
Brigade of Guards on Monday
brought a truckload of young
men to us and informed us
that they were apprehended
between 5pm and 6pm
somewhere around Dei-Dei
while trying to enter Abuja.
“The nature of their
movement looked suspicious,
but we decided to determine
their nationality and mission
through screening.
“All through the night, we
screened them and conducted
investigation.
“After investigation, 80 are
Nigerians and 72 are from the
Republic of Niger.
“We were able to establish the
fact that these people do not
have any visible means of
livelihood. And given this
situation, we reasoned that it
will be improper to admit
them into Abuja when they
have no fixed addresses and
no contact.”
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We aren't prepared for bombings says; NSA

Security
agencies are
fighting back to contain the
spate of bombings and
killings.
They are reviewing their
operations and fashioning
new tactics, following the
Boko Haram bombings and
killings.
President Goodluck Jonathan’s
National Security Adviser (NSA)
Gen. Owoye Azazi yesterday
threw the ball back into
Nigerians’ court, saying they
should all join to resolve the
problems.
He warned that “the security
challenges are here to stay;
we don’t think they will go
away overnight”.
Gen. Azazi spoke at the State
House in Abuja after briefing
the National Council of State
meeting on the security
situation.
The NCS meeting was
dominated by the security
challenge facing the nation in
the wake of the series of
bombings, the last one being
the suicide attack on the
United Nations (UN) building
in Abuja on August 26.
Twenty-three people died in
the attack; more than 80
people were injured.
The Boko Haram sect, which
claimed responsibility for the
UN House bombing, also
attacked the Police
Headquarters in Abuja, using
a suicide bomber as well.
Last year when the country
was marking their 50th
anniversary, there was
another bombing in Abuja.
The Boko Haram sect, has
been carrying out other
bombings in other parts of
the North, especially in the
Northeast and Northcentral
zones.
In Plateau State, there have
been religious and ethnic
killings.
The National Council of State is
a statutory body whose
membership comprises of the
President, vice president,
former heads of state,
governors of the 36 states,
former Chief Justices of
Nigeria (CJN), the incumbent
CJN, the Attorney General of
the Federation and the NSA.
President Jonathan presided
at the meeting, which lasted
about six hours.
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,
Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Gen.
Yakubu Gowon and Gen.
Abdusalami Abubakar
attended.
Former Military President Gen.
Ibrahim Babaginda, former
military Head of State, Gen.
Muhammadu Buhari and
former Head of Interim
National Government, Chief
Earnest Shonekan were
absent.
Gen. Azazi said after the
meeting: “This morning, I was
asked to brief the council on
security issues across the
country. We reviewed what
we believe was the true
situation. There are security
issues all over; problems in
the Niger Delta, crisis in Jos,
kidnapping in parts of the
country, but the focus was on
what was considered topical
at this point. Explosives
everywhere, especially Police
Headquarters, UN building
and although there are claims
as to who was responsible,
the important thing is that we
as a nation should realise that
we are facing challenges that
are relatively new to us.
“The problem is that we were
not as a nation prepared for
this new level of terrorism.
“All over the world, especially
after 9/11 and the July
bombings in London, there
are restricted access to public
facilities but we have not had
that.
“To solve crime, sometimes,
you need a national identity
database; we are trying to put
that together. We are talking
of putting up a strategy on
protection of critical national
infrastructure.
“The security challenges are
here to stay, but we don’t
think they will go away
overnight, the more the public
is aware of their
responsibilities, the better
they could serve the security
services. If we are more
aware, you could pass the
information, but the security
services themselves must also
improve.
“If you have not had a
problem, it is difficult to find a
solution overnight. Even our
attitude towards the public,
performance of our routine
duties. We are discussing
seriously how we want to
meet the aspirations of the
Nigerian public and to assure
you that at some point, it is
always very difficult when you
face these terrorists activities
but, at least, we want to make
sure that the security services
are provided enough
information from which they
can produce intelligence and
to be more proactive and
once you are more proactive,
you can do a lot to stem the
tide.
“Today as we can see, a lot of
work is being done by
security services, but when
investigations are not
complete, it may not be the
proper thing to start to
expose the level of
investigations to the media.
“But, from time to time, we
have tried to engage with the
media either from the services
themselves or myself.
“We agree on the use of
technology and you don’t
acquire those things
overnight. Issues like
registration of SIM card are
properly effected; we talked
about border control, how to
help the Immigration to make
sure that there is proper
border control; we talk of
security in maritime
environment. Those issues
were addressed.”
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Anger have family of eight, three killed in Jos

A family of eight
including a
three-year-old
boy, was killed near Jos, the
Plateau State capital, yesterday
morning.
Last month, eight members of
a family were killed.
The victims of Sunday’s attack
were murdered by yet to be
identified assailants at
Heipang in Barkin Ladi Local
Government Area.
Among the victims were the
head of the household, Mr
Chollom Gyang, his wife,
Hannatu and six children,
including the three-year-old.
Mark Lipdo, an organiser for a
non-profit group, Stefanos
Foundation, said besides the
eight family members, three
others were also killed
yesterday.
A News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) correspondent, who
visited the house, observed
that some of the victims had
deep machete cuts all over
their bodies; others suffered
gunshot injuries.
Mr Emmanuel Dachollom
Loman, Chairman, Barkin Ladi
Local Government Area,
told reporters that the
assailants came from
Mahangar, a Fulani community
in the area.
“We have made appeals to the
Federal Government; we have
told them that the people in
the area (Mahangar) have lots
of sophisticated weapons, but
government has refused to do
anything about it.
“I personally complained to a
Federal Government
delegation that came to
investigate the killing, last
month, of eight members of
another family, but our
concerns and fears have been
ignored.”
He said men of the military
Special Task Force (STF)
recently searched a house in
Mahangar and recovered
sophisticated weapons, but
that they did not have the will
to search the whole
community.
Loman warned that unless the
weapons in the area were
mopped up, they would
continue to constitute threats
to the communities.
“Now, our people have been
pushed to the wall. We have
been appealing to them to be
calm and not take the laws
into their hands. We do not
know for how long we can
wait for government to
protect us.
“If our youths go on the
rampage, nobody should
blame us; we have asked
them to constitute themselves
into vigilance groups to
defend themselves against
aggressors,” he said.
Loman said: “I was sleeping
when I received the call at
about 12:30 early this
morning (yesterday) only to
be told that some unknown
persons came to attack and
killed all members of a family.
Few weeks ago, seven
members of a family were
killed in similar attack. This is
becoming too much to bear,
government should help us in
this local government before
people come and wipe all of
us out one day. I can’t contain
this anymore; it’s too much.
The council boss said: “We are
suspecting the Fulani in this
attack because this is their
route. The Fulani that lived in
nearby Mahanger village are
heavily armed and I have been
crying to government to go to
the village in search of arms,
but the government is not
acting on my cry. You can see
that the guns used to attack
people here are sophisticated
weapons. Government should
do something fast before the
next attack on another family.
Government should go in
there and recover all arms
they have stockpiled.”
Mr Gyang Fulani, a member
representing the area in the
House of Assembly, said the
people could no longer trust
the government to protect
them as it had failed them,
with the constant attacks.
He regretted that the security
agents had not fished out the
attackers. No arrest has been
made. Fulani accused the STF
of lacking the will to stop the
Jos crisis.
“We said a few years ago that
terrorists were in the country,
but the government didn’t
take us seriously. Now, it is
glaring from the security
challenges all over the country.
“The terrorists in Plateau are
easy to fight because they are
known, but government is
complacent about confronting
these fundamentalists. It is a
ticking time bomb that will
soon explode,’’ Fulani said.
He challenged his constituents
to rise up to the security
threats and defend
themselves against the
aggressors at all cost.
“We will never calm the youths
again; we will allow them rise
up to protect their
communities and their land
from these unprovoked
attacks.
“We now know who the
aggressors are. When police
advised Izala sect leader Sani
Jingir not to go to Rukuba road for the Sallah prayer, he
refused and has now put the whole Jos into crisis,” he said.
Mr Francis Jamang, National President, Berom Youth Movement, said the situation had reached a stage where they might be forced to take the laws into their hands, if
their attackers were not brought to book.
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Nigeria Protests kiling of its nationals in Libya

Nigeria is
protesting to
Libya’s
Transitional
National Council (TNC), Britain
and France the killing of its
nationals in the troubled
North African country.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru
abandoned a church service
yesterday to take distress calls
of Nigerians in Libya,
including their co-ordinator,
Mr. Daramola Siji.
Nigerians are being attacked
in Tripoli, Benghazi, Gath,
Agadez and Sirte, the
hometown of the embattled
Libyan leader, Muammar
Gaddafi, whose 42-year grip
on power has been removed
by a six-month insurgency.
A source said: “Unharmed
Nigerians are being killed in
tens for no just cause. In
some instances, they rape
Nigerian women before
shooting them to death.
“Yet, this is the same TNC that
the Federal Government is
backing in Libya. The blacks
are not involved in Libyan
crisis; they do not deserve this
massacre.”
In one of the distress notes
sent to the Presidency and the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Siji,
who is from Emure-Ekiti, said:
“We cannot go out of our
homes, my wife and children.
We will certainly be shot. We
don’t have food and we lack
everything.
“We can save lives. I am calling
on AU to act and save African
families boxed in troubled
Libya and if anyone could
reach out to the Nigerian
government to stop the killing
of Nigerians by the former
rebels who are now the new
leaders in Libya, it will be
better.”
In a telephone chat with our
correspondent, Siji gave
details of how Nigerians have
become the targets of the
rebels.
He added: “The truth is that
when Gaddafi was in office,
he had sympathy for black
Africans and many have even
settled in Libya.
“In fact, there is a city in
Southern Libya called Suyima
that is mostly populated by
Nigerians, especially the
Hausa. The city shares borders
with Algeria and Niger.
“But due to Gaddafi’s
sympathy for the blacks, the
rebels assumed that the
blacks will naturally do
everything to protect Gaddafi.
So, they decided to kill any
black man on sight.
“Nigerians have been the butt
of the attacks on the blacks
because the rebels could
hardly differentiate them from
Ghanaians, Malians, Nigerians,
Burkinabes, Senegalese and
Gambians.
“They are really killing many
Nigerians and this is just
unfortunate.”
The Nation learnt that Amb.
Ashiru was moved into action
after getting the distress call
yesterday. He shelved a church
service to attend to the calls.
A government source said:
“Apart from talking to Siji
directly, the Minister also
reached out to the TNC, Britain
and France on the need to
stop the killing of black
migrant workers, especially
Nigerians.
“For about five hours
yesterday, the Minister was
talking to the TNC leaders,
Britain and France on why the
genocide must stop.
“The Federal Government has
pleaded with Britain and
France to prevail on the TNC
leaders to ask their foot
soldiers to end the massacre
of blacks in Libya.
“I think immediate action has
been taken and there will be
respite for not only Nigerians,
but all the blacks in Libya.
“The government has also
asked the TNC to liaise with
Siji, who will now serve as a
coordinator or Liaison Officer
on how to protect the blacks,
especially Nigerians.
“Also, the Nigerian
Ambassador to Ethiopia has
been asked to relate with the
Nigerian community in the
Libyan cities. The Ambassador
will also work directly with the
TNC.
“The Ambassador is also
expected to send hourly
situation reports to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
where a desk has been
opened to monitor TNC’s
attitude to blacks, especially
Nigerians, in Libya.”
This is the second time in the
last four days that the Federal
Government has protested to
its TNC ally in Libya over the
massacre of black migrant
workers.
The Minister said Thursday:
“The Government of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria
wishes to note with concern
reports of incessant abuse of
helpless civilians in Libya by
some unscrupulous elements who continue to take undue advantage of the ongoing crisis in that country,
particularly to carry out attacks on Black migrant
workers and other Black Africans stranded in Libya arising from crisis in that country.
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Nigeria Protests kiling of its nationals in Libya

Nigeria is
protesting to
Libya’s
Transitional
National Council (TNC), Britain
and France the killing of its
nationals in the troubled
North African country.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru
abandoned a church service
yesterday to take distress calls
of Nigerians in Libya,
including their co-ordinator,
Mr. Daramola Siji.
Nigerians are being attacked
in Tripoli, Benghazi, Gath,
Agadez and Sirte, the
hometown of the embattled
Libyan leader, Muammar
Gaddafi, whose 42-year grip
on power has been removed
by a six-month insurgency.
A source said: “Unharmed
Nigerians are being killed in
tens for no just cause. In
some instances, they rape
Nigerian women before
shooting them to death.
“Yet, this is the same TNC that
the Federal Government is
backing in Libya. The blacks
are not involved in Libyan
crisis; they do not deserve this
massacre.”
In one of the distress notes
sent to the Presidency and the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Siji,
who is from Emure-Ekiti, said:
“We cannot go out of our
homes, my wife and children.
We will certainly be shot. We
don’t have food and we lack
everything.
“We can save lives. I am calling
on AU to act and save African
families boxed in troubled
Libya and if anyone could
reach out to the Nigerian
government to stop the killing
of Nigerians by the former
rebels who are now the new
leaders in Libya, it will be
better.”
In a telephone chat with our
correspondent, Siji gave
details of how Nigerians have
become the targets of the
rebels.
He added: “The truth is that
when Gaddafi was in office,
he had sympathy for black
Africans and many have even
settled in Libya.
“In fact, there is a city in
Southern Libya called Suyima
that is mostly populated by
Nigerians, especially the
Hausa. The city shares borders
with Algeria and Niger.
“But due to Gaddafi’s
sympathy for the blacks, the
rebels assumed that the
blacks will naturally do
everything to protect Gaddafi.
So, they decided to kill any
black man on sight.
“Nigerians have been the butt
of the attacks on the blacks
because the rebels could
hardly differentiate them from
Ghanaians, Malians, Nigerians,
Burkinabes, Senegalese and
Gambians.
“They are really killing many
Nigerians and this is just
unfortunate.”
The Nation learnt that Amb.
Ashiru was moved into action
after getting the distress call
yesterday. He shelved a church
service to attend to the calls.
A government source said:
“Apart from talking to Siji
directly, the Minister also
reached out to the TNC, Britain
and France on the need to
stop the killing of black
migrant workers, especially
Nigerians.
“For about five hours
yesterday, the Minister was
talking to the TNC leaders,
Britain and France on why the
genocide must stop.
“The Federal Government has
pleaded with Britain and
France to prevail on the TNC
leaders to ask their foot
soldiers to end the massacre
of blacks in Libya.
“I think immediate action has
been taken and there will be
respite for not only Nigerians,
but all the blacks in Libya.
“The government has also
asked the TNC to liaise with
Siji, who will now serve as a
coordinator or Liaison Officer
on how to protect the blacks,
especially Nigerians.
“Also, the Nigerian
Ambassador to Ethiopia has
been asked to relate with the
Nigerian community in the
Libyan cities. The Ambassador
will also work directly with the
TNC.
“The Ambassador is also
expected to send hourly
situation reports to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
where a desk has been
opened to monitor TNC’s
attitude to blacks, especially
Nigerians, in Libya.”
This is the second time in the
last four days that the Federal
Government has protested to
its TNC ally in Libya over the
massacre of black migrant
workers.
The Minister said Thursday:
“The Government of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria
wishes to note with concern
reports of incessant abuse of
helpless civilians in Libya by
some unscrupulous elements who continue to take undue advantage of the ongoing crisis in that country,
particularly to carry out attacks on Black migrant
workers and other Black Africans stranded in Libya arising from crisis in that country.
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SECURITY AGENTS;Hunt UN bombers family associates

• Probe Boko
Haram’s
claims
The Federal Bureau of
Investigations (FBI) has
launched a grand scale
manhunt for the relations and
associates of the alleged UN
building suicide bomber,
Mohammed Abdul Barra.
It has also in conjunction with
other security agencies
started probing the claim of
responsibility by the Boko
Haram sect.
A spokesman for Boko Haram
sect had last week claimed
that the 27-year old Abul
Barra detonated the bomb
that killed 23 people at the UN
House.
Investigations by our
correspondent revealed that a
probe has started into the
claim by Boko Haram with
investigators looking beyond
the sect.
According to findings,
preliminary forensic analysis
suggested the use of
“sophisticated explosives”
typical of Al-Qaeda.
There were fears that Boko
Haram’s claim might be a
decoy to divert the attention
of the FBI, the UN and other
experts probing the incident.
A top source said: “All the
security agencies involved in
the investigation are still
looking at Boko Haram’s claim
that Mohammed Abul Barra
did the havoc. But they are
certainly considering many
sides to it including the
likelihood of the infiltration of
Al-Qaeda members into
Nigeria to bomb the UN
House.”
The usual reliable source
added, “We are suspicious of
Boko Haram’s claim but we
have noted it because this is
not the first time it will lay
claim to such. However,
investigators are weighing a
larger picture of other
terrorist groups that might
have been involved in the
explosion.”
As at press time last night, it
was gathered that Nigerian
security agencies were trying
to establish the identity of the
suicide bomber so as to
ascertain his nationality.
Another source said: “We are
trying to trace his antecedents
if he is a Nigerian; who were
his associates; where did he
train; and how he became
involved. If he is a Nigerian,
we will try to locate his
relations to get a few details
on how he got to that level of
a suicide mission.
“The issue is not just naming
the suicide bomber; we have
more leg work to do. One of
the theories we are working
on is the likelihood of
invading Abuja from a suicide
bombing base. Also, the
particulars of the Honda car
used for the bombing are also
being investigated in Kano. It
may take time; we will get
clues at the end of the day.”
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Arsenal thrashing upsets fabregas

Barcelona ace Cesc Fabregas
admits watching Arsenal fall to
pieces against Manchester United
in their 8-2 mauling at Old
Trafford was painful.
But Fabregas, who left the
London club for Barcelona in the
transfer window, still has faith
the Gunners can resurrect their
Premier League ambitions.
“I watched the match against
Manchester United on television
and it was difficult,” Fabregas
told El Mundo Deportivo.
“I suffered during this match and
especially because of the
enormous rivalry between the
clubs.”
“But I am convinced that the
squad will improve for the next
matches.”
Fabregas has often been
criticised for the way he pushed
his way out of the Emirates after
years of uncertainty over his
career there, but he is trying to
win back some support from
north London.
“I will always have strong
feelings for the Gunners. I am a
fan through the good and bad
moments,” he added.
And there was warm praise for
his former coach.
“I hope that I can transfer the
lessons Wenger has taught me to
my new work at Barca,” he
added.
“I will always be grateful to the
coach.”
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Arsenal thrashing upsets fabregas

Barcelona ace Cesc Fabregas
admits watching Arsenal fall to
pieces against Manchester United
in their 8-2 mauling at Old
Trafford was painful.
But Fabregas, who left the
London club for Barcelona in the
transfer window, still has faith
the Gunners can resurrect their
Premier League ambitions.
“I watched the match against
Manchester United on television
and it was difficult,” Fabregas
told El Mundo Deportivo.
“I suffered during this match and
especially because of the
enormous rivalry between the
clubs.”
“But I am convinced that the
squad will improve for the next
matches.”
Fabregas has often been
criticised for the way he pushed
his way out of the Emirates after
years of uncertainty over his
career there, but he is trying to
win back some support from
north London.
“I will always have strong
feelings for the Gunners. I am a
fan through the good and bad
moments,” he added.
And there was warm praise for
his former coach.
“I hope that I can transfer the
lessons Wenger has taught me to
my new work at Barca,” he
added.
“I will always be grateful to the
coach.”
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Obasanjo: Our party only stumbled but didn't fall

Former President Olusegun
Obasanjo said on Saturday that
the South West zone of the
Peoples Democratic Party merely
stumbled during the April
elections but didn’t fall.
Obasanjo said this during the
party’s South West Zonal meeting
in Abeokuta, the Ogun State
capital.
He said, “We stumbled, but did
not fall down. This is a bitter
lesson for us to go back to the
drawing board and make fast
adjustment.’’
The ex-president also stated that
indiscipline and non-adherence
to the party’s constitution were
responsible for its poor
performance during the elections
in the political zone.
He, however, urged members of
the party not to lament over the
defeat, but to concentrate on
how to move the party forward
through unity.
‘’When a child falls, he looks
forward, but if an elder falls, he
looks back to see what led to his
fall. I want the PDP members to
do likewise’” he said.
He also asked members to
readmit those who defected
from the party for genuine
reasons and avoid those who
deliberately worked to destroy it.
Obasanjo said, “There is nothing
new under the sun. In the past,
we stumbled and regained our
stand. We are going to regain the
lost glory especially in the South-
West.”
He further said the party’s
National Secretary position
would be zoned to the South-
West because it belongs to the
zone.Obasanjo said, “The
speakership of the House of
Representatives which the
constitution of the party zoned
to the South-West is our
legitimate right which must be
given back to us.
‘’The South-West needs the
Speaker of the House of
Representatives, let the PDP at
the national level do the
necessary adjustment.”
The former president who
advised members and party
supporters not to allow rumour
mongers destroy the party,
added, ‘’The day an election
result is announced,
preparations for another one
begins.’’
Obasanjo also called on members
to pay their dues to allow the
party fund its numerous
obligations.
The party’s National Vice-
Chairman, South-West, Mr.
Tajudeen Oladipupo, said
indiscipline, lack of internal
democracy and disunity
contributed to the party’s
electoral woes in the zone.
Oladipupo decried the crisis in
Ogun State before the election
which he said was worsened by
former governor Gbenga Daniel’s
formation of a new party to
challenge the PDP on whose
platform he came into power.
He stated, “It was that bad in
Ogun state. When it was
impossible for him (Daniel) to
impose his will on the party, he
resorted to high level anti-party
activities.”
He further said a former
governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo
Fayose, joined forces with the
opposition to ensure the loss of
PDP in the state.
Oladipo said, ‘’Today, some
people are calling for his return
to the party. While I am not
against his return, the truth has
to be said that this young man
was one of the strong party
members who contributed to the
party’s destruction in Ekiti.”
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Barca, Madrid could quite la liga

Barcelona and Real Madrid will
abandon Spain for a European
league if their dominance of La
Liga continues, according to
former Real director general
Jorge Valdano.
The two giants lost just six
games between them last season
and third place Valencia finished
25 points behind champions
Barcelona.
And Valdano, who was ousted in
May after losing a power battle
with Real boss Jose Mourinho,
said the gap between the
wealthy pair and the rest of the
league was likely to get bigger.
“In the future Madrid and
Barcelona will have to look to
teams that are going at the same
speed, and that will lead to a
European league,” he told Cadena
Ser radio.
‘Before I defended Real Madrid’s
interests but now I see things
from a different perspective,’ the
former Real and Argentina player
added.
“The gap between the big two
and the rest is getting ever
larger. If you look to the future
you have the feeling that it will
only get worse.
“Two teams which have the rest
of the world as their market and
the others only their local
community.
“There will come a time when
that won’t be convenient for the
two big clubs either.”
The difference in class and
spending power between Barca
and Real and their domestic
rivals was underlined by their
emphatic wins in their opening
league games of the season.
Barca crushed Villarreal, who are
competing in this season’s
Champions League, 5-0 at the
Nou Camp on Monday, while Real
demolished Real Zaragoza 6-0
away the previous day.
The results prompted the
president of Villarreal to accuse
Barca and Real of killing Spanish
soccer, while the Sevilla president
said La Liga was ‘a load of
rubbish’.
The dominance of Barca and Real
derives in part from their control
of revenue from TV rights, which
gives them a far bigger share of
the pot than rivals in other major
European leagues.
Spain has yet to adopt the system
of collective bargaining and
income sharing used in other
competitions like the Barclays
Premier League.
Javier Faus, a vice president of
Barca, said in February the club
would like to see an expanded
Champions League and floated
the idea of reducing the number
of clubs in top domestic divisions
to free up time for more
continental matches.
However, he said it was unlikely
Barca or Real would ever quit
domestic competition entirely.
“We are going through a period
of transition, it depends what
happens in Spain and other
leagues,” Valdano told Cadena
Ser.
“The problem is that the Premier
League works, Germany works.
There is a lot of passion for
football. I don’t see them being
very enthusiastic about leaving
their national leagues.”
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Why can't we tackle the boko haram operatives

More facts have emerged on why
it is becoming increasingly
difficult for security operatives to
be pro-active in intelligence
gathering that would have given
them the upper hand over the
Boko Haram sect.
Sources close to the service told
one of our correspondents that
many officers of the Department
of State Security were not happy
with its leadership on issues
bearing on welfare.
Part of their grievances includes
non-payment of leave allowance,
which they said the authorities
claimed had been incorporated
into the salaries of the personnel.
The officers also claimed that the
leadership of the service had
reneged on its promise to pay
them what is called “incentive
allowance.” This allowance, it
was gathered, is usually half of a
salary and is paid once in a year.
The promise to pay it was
reportedly made last December.
Apart from this, it was also
alleged that their plain clothes
allowance, which was meant to
be paid quarterly, was last paid
in October 2010. Since then,
nothing has been paid to the
operatives. Ordinarily, junior
officers are to be paid N15,000
while senior officers are to earn
N20,000 quarterly.
It was also alleged that the
furniture allowances have not
been paid to the officers. The
operatives are also grumbling
about the irregularities in their
promotion. For example, those
that sat for promotion
examination and passed since
January and February are yet to
be promoted.
One of them said, “It is because
of issues like this that we are no
longer pro-active. We are now
reactive in our operations.
“In the days of the defunct
National Security organisation,
how many Nigerians know those
working in the organisation?
Now, everyone knows who
works with SSS. We now carry
guns like the regular police. We
have left our primary duty of
gathering information. If you go
to our organisation
headquarters, you will see patrol
vans parked outside just like the
ones being used by the police.
“You will see our men carrying
arms outside as if we are in war
zone. That is not how to go
about information gathering. By
now, with the activities of the
Boko Haram sect, we ought to
have our men who will be in all
the northern states of the
country masquerading as cattle
men.”
The spokesperson of the SSS,
Marilyn Ogar, did not respond to
calls made to her phone to verify
these claims.
Another factor said to be
militating against intelligence
gathering is the infiltration of
security organisations by
suspected Boko Haram
sympathisers. This, it was
gathered, had made it more
difficult for the security agencies
to act decisively on the sect as
operational methods were said
to be leaked to them.
But the police in their reaction
said they had their method of
screening applicants into the
force that ensured that militants
did not infiltrate the
organisation.
The Deputy Force Public Relations
Officer, Mr. Yemi Ajayi, cited the
ongoing recruitment into the
Cadet Assistant Superintendent
and Cadet Inspector of Police,
saying it involved the vetting of
applicants by the Divisional Police
Officer in their local government
areas as well as the traditional
ruler and LG chairman.
According to him, the rigorous
screening and vetting is to
ensure that people with
questionable background do not
find their way into the police.
“The police are a unifying
organisation for the country
because you find people from
different ethnic groups and
cultural backgrounds there.
There is no way militants and
people with questionable
character can find their way into
the force with the rigorous
screening we have adopted; only
people with integrity are in the
police,” Ajayi said.
Spokesman for the 81 Division of
the Nigerian Army, Lt.Col. Kayode
Ogunsanya, also said it was not
possible for members of the
Boko Haram to infiltrate the
army.
He said, “I can’t speak for the
whole army. I will give you the
number of the director that will
talk to you on that. But the Boko
Haram penetrating the army
won’t be possible.”

BOKO HARAM:Governor scared beef up security

Fearing that they may become
the next target of terrorist
attacks following the bomb
explosion that rocked the United
Nations office in Abuja,
governors have ordered that
security around them and
members of their families be
doubled to forestall attacks.
Apart from increasing the
personal security of the
governors, SUNDAY PUNCH
gathered that security agencies
in all the states have been
instructed to provide water tight
security at government houses
and state secretariats
This current apprehension came
after the Boko Haram sect
claimed responsibility for the UN
attack, which has generated
international condemnation with
foreign investigators joining the
hunt for the perpetrators.
The destructive activities of the
sect have hitherto been
restricted to Borno State, their
base, Bauchi State and the
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The recent attack on the UN
building shows that members of
the sect have the capacity to
extend to other states of the
federation.
Reports from various states have
it that diverse security measures
have been introduced at the
governors’ offices and homes to
prevent possible bomb attacks.
Some of the measures employed
include an increase in the
number of security operatives,
thorough checks at the gates to
the government house, and
relocation of parking lots.
Unlike before, visitors to some of
the government houses are now
thoroughly quizzed to ascertain
their mission before they are
allowed in, while vehicles are
screened with bomb detectors.
LAGOS
Security agencies in the state
have further restricted access to
the Lagos Governor, Mr.
Babatunde Fashola, as part of the
state’s response to the bombing
of the UN office in Abuja last
week.
Our correspondent learnt that
part of the measure to keep
Fashola, safe, is preventing
unknown visitors from having
access to the Lagos House,
where the governor’s office is
located. Usually all visitors to
Lagos house are allowed to park
at the visitors’ car park without
discrimination.
But a member of the governor’s
security team said that
henceforth, only government
workers at the governor’s office
and known visitors like relevant
political and business figures in
the state would be allowed to
park at the visitors’ car park.
It was also gathered that only the
personal staff of the governor
would be able to drive their
vehicles into the governor’s
office premises.
Another worker at the
governor’s office told our
correspondent that there were
plans in the office to limit the
social and political functions that
the governor would be
attending.
ILORIN
The Chief Press Secretary to the
Kwara State Governor,
Abdulwahab Oba, said the state
government had taken adequate
security measures to protect the
governor.
In a telephone interview with
our correspondent in Ilorin, Oba
said there were security checks
before entering the Government
House and the Governor’s Office
but that those checks were
‘normal security checks.’
Oba stated that there was an
increase in the number of
security operatives in the state
and the government was
discussing with security agencies
on how to avoid any security
breach.
He however said other security
measures to protect Ahmed and
the entire citizens were not open
for public disclosure, because
that would jeopardise security
measures.
KADUNA
In Kaduna, heavily armed soldiers
have been deployed to guard the
Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government
House located within the vicinity
of one of the flashpoints in the
state capital, Tundun Wada, also
noted for housing Islamic
religious extremists.
The soldiers, who are the first set
of security operatives any visitor
to the Kaduna Government House
encounters on approaching the
gate to the sprawling edifice,
were deployed since the upscale
in the activities of the notorious
Boko Haram Islamic sect to
complement other security
operatives manning the short
drive to the seat of government
in the state.
Immediately visitors scale
through the thorough screening
by the soldiers, they face another
checkpoint mounted by a
combined team of heavily armed
anti-riot policemen and
operatives of the state anti-crime
security outfit, the Operation
Yaki. Here the visitor’s vehicle is
thoroughly screened with metal
detectors and anti-bomb devices.
The interior and the boot of his
car are also screened and
searched before being allowed
to proceed.
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JOS:Military threatens crack down on civilians

Chief of army staff, Onyeabo
Azubuike Ihejirika
From Seriki Adinoyi in Jos
The military Special Task Force
(STF) on Jos crisis has stated that
it now has the mandate to
crackdown on civilians with all
the necessary force within its
powers, adding that "anybody
testing the might of the STF is
doing so at his/her own peril."
This threat followed the shooting
of three soldiers of the task force
at Dutse-Uku area of Jos, in a
fracas between Muslim and
Christian youths, among whom
one has allegedly died in the
hospital.
In a press statement signed by
the media and public information
officer of the STF, Captain Charles
Ekeocha, the military warned
politicians, traditional rulers,
religious leaders and ward heads
from both sides to talk to their
wards as the STF is now
mandated to use all the
necessary force within its
powers on anybody carrying and
using arms or dangerous
weapons on another person."
The STF lamented: "It has been
observed that everywhere in the
state is infested with weapons.
And sporadic gunshots are heard
both day and night as Muslim
and Christian youths are at each
other’s throat at any the slightest
provocation. These people are
also firing at the members of the
military Special Task Force.
"Three Special Task Force soldiers
are lying critically ill in the
hospital having received gunshot
injuries inflicted on them by the
same people they are meant to
protect."
Ekeocha warned that "whoever
is having the false confidence of
trying their hands on the might
of the Nigerian Military should
retrace their steps as the Special
Task Force will bring her might
to bear on any person or group
of persons".
Meanwhile, about 21 corpses of
Muslims victims from the Dutse-
Uku clash have been reportedly
gathered at the Central Mosque
for onward mass burial. This is
aside from the Christian corpses.
The soldiers allegedly opened fire
on the youths after three of their
colleagues were shot.