Former Kaduna lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has pleaded with the U.S to support Nigeria in the fight against terrorism in the country. In addition, he urged the Nigerian government to handle with seriousness, the alert by the United States of infiltration by the Al-Qaeda terrorist group into the country.

The United States had alerted the Nigerian authorities that the Al-Qaeda terrorist group and ISIS have started penetrating the country through the north-western region. 

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This was disclosed by the Commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, Africa, Dagvin Anderson, during a press briefing, where he also added that the terrorists were also expanding to other parts of West Africa. 

Anderson however stated that the US will continue to partner with Nigeria in sharing intelligence.

“We have engaged with Nigeria and will continue to engage with them in intel sharing and in understanding what these violent extremists are doing,” he said.

“And that has been absolutely critical to their engagements up in the Borno State and into an emerging area of northwest Nigeria that we’re seeing al-Qaida starting to make some inroads in.

HAVE YOU READ THIS? #RevolutionNow Protest Irritating - Adesina

Some Nigerians have since taken to their social media pages expressing fear over the alert in the midst of the fight against Boko Haram and insecurity concerns in the country.

Reacting to the alert, Sani implored the US to sincerely support Nigeria to end the terrorist activities in the country.

The former lawmaker wrote on his Twitter page, “The US intelligence report on the infiltration of the Northwest by terror groups is appreciated and should be taken seriously.

“But the most important thing is wholeheartedly and sincerely supporting us to end their atrocious and cruel activities in our lands.”

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Shehu Sani begs the US to support Nigeria against Al-Qaeda invasion

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has described the #RevolutionNow protest which was held in different parts of the country as an ‘irritation.’

It will be recalled that the Department of State Services arrested Olawale Bakare and some co-protesters wearing orange-coloured caps around Olaiya area of Osogbo, Osun State on Wednesday and several others were arrested by the police and the Nigerian Army in Abuja.

Speaking on the incident, Adesina in an interview with Channels TV Sunrise Daily programme on Thursday, said it was funny to call such protest a revolution.

According to him, revolution protests by their nature are meant to turn the normal order.

”What happened yesterday was just an irritation. They are just a sprinkle of people trying to be funny. As far as I am concerned it is nothing to worry abut. When you talk of revolution protests, they are by their very nature, spontaneous things, mass things. These ones were just a sprinkle of people trying to be funny. I think it is just funny to call  those sprinkle of young boys and girls we saw in different parts of the country a revolution protest.

”I stand by my statement that what we saw was child’s play. In a country of 200 million people, if you see that sprinkle of people saying they are doing a revolution match then it was like a child’s play,” he said.

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When asked if it was right for the Presidency to talk down on young Nigerians for protesting, Adesina remained adamant, insisting that the protests were nothing but irritation and he had a right to his opinion.

He added, ”Revolution are points well known. it is something that turns the normal order. What happened yesterday was just an irritation.” Furthermore, when he was asked if the government determines how it reacts to protests by the size of people involved, Adesina affirmed, and said the size of the protesters will always matter. 

In his words, “Well, it will always matter because if you said it was a revolution, revolutions by definition are quite well known.

“Revolution is something that turns the normal order. What happened yesterday, would you call it a revolution? It was just an irritation, and some people want to cause irritation in the country. What I will say is when things boil over, they boil over because you continue to heat them.

“When you see pockets of heating up in the country, eventually they culminate in a boiling over. So, Nigerians need to know that the country we get is what we use our hands to build.”

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According to the spokesman of the President, the issues the protesters were demonstrating about such as insecurity, corruption, poverty, and rights abuse were not peculiar to Nigeria and the protests were therefore misguided.

He said the N-Power programme, which gives unemployed youths temporary jobs and monthly stipends was one of the ways the government was addressing joblessness. Adesina added that the President recognises the problems of the nation but they cannot all be addressed in one fell swoop.

When asked if the clampdown on protests would continue, Adesina said, “The government will do whatever is right, whatever is required to maintain peace.”

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#RevolutionNow Protest Irritating - Adesina

The Nigerian Mission in Lebanon has rescued the 30 Nigerian ladies trafficked to Lebanon and relocated them to a conducive apartment while they await evacuation to Nigeria.

The 30 ladies, who had in a video appealed to the Federal Government for rescue, will be part of the other 150 trafficked Nigerian girls in Lebanon who would be evacuated back to Nigeria on August 12.

According to a statement made by an official of the Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Gabriel Odu, on Tuesday in Abuja, the Lebanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Houssam Diab, has discussed the evacuation plans with the NiDCOM Secretary, Dr Sule Yakubu Bassi, who paid a visit to the Lebanese Embassy in Abuja.

The statement, which was titled, ‘30 stranded Nigerians in Lebanon rescued; 150 awaiting evacuation,’ said Diab gave the assurance that the 150 ladies would be returned home in batches. It added that the first batch of 110 will leave Beirut, Lebanon, on August 12 to Lagos while the second batch would be returned to Abuja on August 16.

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The statement also read in part, “The diplomat commended the efforts of the Lebanese community and the Oyo State Government who is sponsoring the return of 55 of the girls.”

A break down showed that 41 of the girls hailed from Oyo State; 21 from Ogun, 12 from Lagos, 18 from Ondo, 26 from Osun, 3 from Imo, 9 from Kwara, 6 from Ekiti, and 3 from Delta, while Enugu, Kogi, Edo, Ebonyi, Benue, Abia, Akwa Ibom and Anambra all had one indigene each amongst the trafficked ladies.

Lebanon: FG rescues 30 Nigerians, as 150 more await evacuation

The National Universities Commission in Abuja on Tuesday said preparations are in top gear to reopen the nation’s universities after the forced closure due to COVID – 19 pandemic.

According to the commission, it was collating data on the assessment of the level of preparedness by the various universities through their vice chancellors. This would help determine if the universities were safe for resumption for both academic and non-academic activities.

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This was disclosed by the Deputy Executive Secretary of the NUC (Academics), Dr Suleiman Ramon Yusuf, during a briefing to showcase the contributions of Nigerian universities to national response to COVID-19.

According to Yusuf, a total of 32 universities in the country were carrying out researches on the possible solutions to the coronavirus pandemic in the country. He said that so far, a reasonable number of VCs had submitted their reports on their level of readiness. He then added that once the process was concluded, the commission would make a statement either to direct universities to resume or otherwise.

Yusuf however expressed regret that the expected resumption may be marred by the strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in public varsities, and added that efforts are on to look for a permanent solution to the incessant industrial action in universities.

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He noted that the pandemic had challenged knowledge system, which had proved inadequate and insufficiently robust enough to respond to the challenges.

He said, “Only few institutions have been able to utilize open and distance learning system to keep students engaged while the pandemic lasted and only few laboratories continued with research and development activities.

“Nonetheless, the few who engaged in research and innovation work have demonstrated the need for a well-funded and robustly organized national research and innovation system to catalyse the national response.”

We believe varsities will reopen soon - NUC

The Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, has said there was nothing wrong if Nigeria cedes her sovereignty to China. Amaechi said this while fielding questions on the controversies surrounding the $500 million loan from China on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The Minister insisted that Chinese loans are the cheapest form of loans the country can get anywhere.

“What is wrong with Nigeria ceding its sovereignty to China?” Amaechi asked Tuesday evening. “I said this because the sovereignty you are ceding is not the sovereignty that makes you a nation.

“If you watch my interview with the AIT, you’ll see that I was very proud to have been trained at the University of Port Harcourt because that training at the University of Port Harcourt makes me understand that there’s a difference between what the honourable Minister of Justice was explaining today – what is diplomatic immunity, jurisdictional immunity and commercial immunity.

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“Just like the commercial banks will ask you for collateral before giving you loan, this country is saying we’re not Nigerians; we’re not your father, if we want to give you $500m we want you to waive the immunity that will stop us from taking your arbitration if you default.”

There’s nothing wrong with ceding Nigeria’s sovereignty to China – Amaechi

Following the decision of the Lagos and Ogun State governments to lift the restriction on worship centres, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has called on all members of the church to resume attending services on Sunday.

Adeboye noted that some services will continue online, but urged congregants to be physically present in church.

The cleric stated this in a video message on Tuesday titled, ‘From Lockdown to Leaping Up’.

“I encourage you all to go back to church for fellowship and begin to enjoy the benefits of corporate prayers again. The Almighty God in Hebrews 10 vs 25 said that we should not forsake the assembly of one another.

“There are those who will talk to you and say ‘Why don’t you continue to stay at home? After all, you can pray at home and God will hear you’. Yes, I agree. Anywhere you cry unto Him, He will answer. But He says specifically in Matthew 21 vs 13 that His house is called the House of Prayers.

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“He himself designated the House of God as a place where you will pray and the answer will come fast. That is the reason why David says in Psalm 122 vs 1 that I was glad when they said unto me, let us go to the house of the Lord because He knows that when you go to the house of the Lord, you will be in his presence where there is fullness of joy,” Adeboye said.

Adeboye, however, urged worshippers to observe all protocols relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. He advised members to wear masks to services, while they would be given hand sanitizers before entering the church.

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COVID-19: Why RCCG members must resume church services - Adeboye

A businessman based in Abia State, Bright Anaga, has dragged the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to a Federal High Court in Abuja, and has demanded N500m in damages for illegal arrest and detention.

Anaga also joined as respondents in the suit, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; Commissioner of Police, Federal Investigation Bureau and two others identified as Prince Jeff of the Federal Investigation Bureau and Alhassan Emmanuel, a Superintendent of Police.

The businessman alleged that he was arrested by agents of the IGP under instructions from the Minister of Information and Culture on Saturday, May 2, in Aba, Abia State and has been in detention since then without being informed of his offence, charged to court or granted bail.

Anaga, the plaintiff made the demand in the Fundamental Rights Enforcement suit before Justice A.R. Mohammed, filed by his lawyers from E. H. Ugochukwu Chambers.

HAVE YOU READ THIS? 15 injured as Boko Haram ambush Gov Zulum’s convoy in Borno

In the court document obtained by journalists on Monday, Anaga also asked the court to order his unconditional release from detention or grant him bail pending when a formal charge would be filed against him.

The suit has been scheduled for hearing on Thursday.

Businessman sues Lai, IG, for illegal detention, demands N500m in damages

There have been at least two bomb blasts within Maiduguri, the Borno state capital. The blasts, which occurred  in Custom Area, a densely populated part of the town, reportedly occurred within 10 minutes of each other. The first blast occurred at Gunge, a residential area, around 6pm, and the other blast happened around a place where cars are sold in the state capital. The bomb blasts occurred barely 24 hours after the convoy of the Borno state governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, was attacked in Kukawa local government area of the state.

It is still unclear if Boko Haram insurgents are behind the bomb blasts in which at least five people have been reported dead, and 16 others sustained injuries..

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Aliyu, confirmed the attack and the casualty figure to Channels Television. However, he stated that he was unsure what explosive was used for the attack, and only a bomb specialist could explain. The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Khalifa Ibrahim, has visited the scenes of the blasts for an on-the-spot assessment.

While the explosives were not person-borne, the first reportedly landed at a shop in the commercial area, killing a furniture maker and his son. Another explosive was also reported to have landed in a house at Gwange area while a child and a goat were killed. Two other people were struck in a blast at the third location, bringing the number of those killed to five. Officials of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) have evacuated the bodies of the victims from the scenes of the blasts.

Over the years, members of the Boko Haram terrorist group and Islamic State’s West Africa Province have carried out such attacks in the state, killing thousands of people in the process. The terrorist groups have continued to operate in different parts of the North-East, although in recent times, they have come under intense airstrikes from the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole. The onslaught against the insurgents by military personnel has forced them to the fringes of the Sambisa forest and the Lake Chad area in the region.

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The bomb blasts in Maiduguri came barely a day after the convoy of the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, was attacked in Baga. Following a fierce gun battle, the governor has been confronting the Nigerian Army over the incident.

He said he was disappointed with the inability of the military to rid Baga and environs of insurgents, accusing the Nigerian Army of sabotaging the government’s counter-terrorism and rebuilding efforts.

The governor who seemed convinced, alleged that the attack was carried out by the military in an attempt to dissuade him from gaining entrance into the fishing town.

Bomb blasts rock Maiduguri 24 hours after attack on Governor Zulum's convoy 

Policeman and little boy killed in attack

Three suspected armed robbers have been burnt beyond recognition by an angry mob in Okeho town, Kajola Local Government area of Oyo state. A policeman and a boy also lost their lives.

It was gathered that the robbers who numbered about seven stormed the town and first engaged policemen at their station, and thereby succeeded in demobilizing them before heading to a first generation bank in the town.

On hearing about the robbers arrival in the town, the local hunters mobilised themselves, blocked all exists to the town and engaged them in a gun duel. The robbers, who gained entrance into the bank with AK47 rifles and dynamite, were fleeing in their 18-seater bus when they got involved in an accident. This resulted in the killing of four of them while three of the robbers who attempted to escape were nabbed by local hunters in Ilero, a neighbouring town to Okeho. 
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A mobile police officer attached to the first generation bank was allegedly killed during the incident while the small boy was hit by stray bullets when he came out to witness the incident. He later died at a private hospital.

It was learnt that the robbers sprayed some naira notes stolen from the bank to the residents to deceive them in order to escape from being caught. It was also gathered that the robbers used dynamite against the local hunters after expending their bullets.

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Reacting to occurrence, the Police Commissioner, in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Fadeyi Olugbenga, called for calm. He stressed that the Police is already on the trail of those who are still on the run among the robbers. The statement read: “the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP. Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu, psc wishes to state that today 29th July, 2020 at about 1658hrs, there was a bank robbery in which dare devil armed bandits who came with white 18-seater bus invaded First bank Okeho in Kajola Local Government Area of Oyo State with an intent to rob.

“The armed robbers who gained entrance into the bank used dynamites and AK-47 riffles shots to blow the bank security door. The robbery which was responded to by the Police Tactical teams and collaborative efforts of the Vigilante and hunters yielded results.

“Consequent upon this, three (3) of the robbers who were arrested when the 18-seater bus had an accident and somersaulted, were thereafter set ablaze by the angry mob when they attempted to escape the scene of the accident.
Immediately the Commissioner of Police got wind of the dastardly acts, he further directed that all the Police Tactical teams including the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Mobile Police Force (PMF 72) and Police personnel from Okeho Area Command and nearby Divisions to be on the trail of other fleeing members of the robbery gang who escaped in different directions.

“He urged the good poeople of Oyo State to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of molestation or threat from any quarters as the Police is on top of the situation, while he solicits credible information from members of the public to enable us clamp down on crimes and criminalities in Oyo State.”

Some of the residents of the community who spoke with journalists, commended bravery of the hunters for their efforts and urged the government to encourage and equip them in order to fortify the town from further attack.

Angry mob sets ablaze armed robbers in Oyo [PHOTOS]

Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume, has announced that one of the repentant terrorists freed by the Nigerian military  has murdered his father. Ndume made this disclosure in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The lawmaker representing Borno South has been vocal against the deradicalization programme.

Ndume has told the President Muhammadu Buhari government severally to concentrate its rehabilitation efforts on Boko Haram victims, and not the insurgents.

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“If the government is serious about a programme like this, it should start with the victims first and not the perpetrators”, he said.

“The so-called deradicalised are released into society, there is no monitoring device. One of them that came back killed his father and took away his two cows.”

This week, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), reintegrated 601 ex-Boko Haram fighters into the society.

Fourteen foreign nationals from Cameroon, Chad and Niger were part of those released from the DRR Camp in Mallam Sidi, Gombe State.

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Coordinator, Operation Safe Corridor, Maj. Gen. Bamidele Shafa, said: “The clients went through documentation processes to obtain vital background information and were subjected to comprehensive medical screening to determine their health status.”

Shafa added that their DNA samples were collected and biometrics captured by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for future references.

Freed repentant Boko Haram terrorist has killed father – Ndume

No less than fifteen people were reportedly wounded on Wednesday as Boko Haram terrorists attacked the convoy of the governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum.

The governor has recently been paying visits to some local government areas in northern Borno to ensure the safety of local returnees as well as make provision for the victims of the insurgency. Governor Zulum and his entourage were at Baga town, one of the areas difficult to reach for humanitarian activities, when his convoy was ambushed by the terrorist group.

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The attack was repelled by security operatives in the governor’s convoy, however, there were casualties on the side of his entourage.

It was gathered that the governor was on his way to distribute relief materials to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Monguno Local Government after leaving Baga town when the incident happened.

“He was very fortunate to have escaped the attack unhurt and continued his journey to distribute the relief materials,” a source said, adding that “this is about the third time the governor’s convoy is being ambushed by insurgents.”

Meanwhile, Governor Babagana Zulum has criticized the Nigerian army following the attack on his convoy. Zulum confronted the Commanding Officer in Mile 4, expressing his disappointment at the inability of the military to rid Baga and its environs of insurgents.

“The army has been here for over one year now, there are 1,181 soldiers here; if you cannot take over Baga which is less than 5 km from your base, then we should forget about Baga. I will inform the Chief of Army Staff to redeploy the men to other places where they can be useful,” Zulum said.

The governor further questioned the authenticity of the army’s position that Boko Haram insurgents have been neutralised in the state.

“You said there is no Boko Haram here, then who attacked us?” Zulum questioned.

15 injured as Boko Haram ambush Gov Zulum’s convoy in Borno

The Federal Government has declared Thursday 30th and Friday 31st July, 2020 as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid el-Kabir Celebration.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Georgina Ehuriah; and declared by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, on Tuesday. Aregbesola, while making the declaration on behalf of the federal government, congratulated Muslims and all Nigerians, home and abroad, on the occasion.

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He charged the Muslims to continue to imbibe the spirit of love, peace, kindness and sacrifice, as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and to also use the period to pray for peace, unity, prosperity and the stability of the country especially as the world is witnessing global health challenges caused by COVID-19 pandemic.

The Minister, who assured that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is fully committed to battling the scourge with the cooperation of all Nigerians, emphasized that government would continue to foster peaceful coexistence, national cohesion and stability in its march towards actualizing the full potentials of the country.

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In addition, according to the statement, Mr Aregbosola assured that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is fully committed to battling the scourge with the cooperation of all Nigerians. He “emphasized that government would continue to foster peaceful coexistence, national cohesion and stability in its march towards actualizing the full potentials of the country.”

He, therefore, called on all Nigerians to join hands with the Administration of President Buhari in its avowed determination to build a peaceful, harmonious and prosperous country, where the rights of every citizen, are protected and guaranteed, as enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria.

Aregbesola also advised Nigerians to take responsibility against the spread of the COVID-19 virus and also to stay safe by observing physical and social distancing, personal and respiratory hygiene, as well as other regulations issued by relevant authorities. Finally, he wished all Muslims a happy Eid- el- Kabir celebration.

Eid: FG declares Thursday, Friday public holidays

Nigerian newspapers,on one page.