I can still remember vividly in the month of July when the academic staff union of universities embarked on an industrial strike. The strike which came unexpected to students of universities (public Universities to be precise) still leaves a sour taste in the mouth of each student. Most schools were writing their semester examinations while others were busy preparing for exams before the strike incident. Worse of all are those set to graduate and leave their various campuses to proceed to the one year compulsory National service.
Initially within the first month of the industrial action, all fingers could be seen pointed at the Federal Government for a breach or will I say failure to implement an already signed agreement in 2009. Slowly days turned to weeks, weeks to months and months running into a year yet there has been no mention of suspending the strike despite the Federal Government’s ‘effortless’ effort. Yet the finger pointing has not stopped amongst students as some see the stand of ASUU as inconsiderate while others perceive the Federal Government to be magnanimously wicked for their inability to honor an agreement which has spanned five years. With meetings and counter meetings been held still there has been no score on the strike. This has since justified the saying that ‘when two elephants fight, the grasses suffer’.
The strike came also with its negativity as acts of deviances have since been reported such as increase in crime and prostitution also the issue of dependency is also not excluded as most students could not get meaningful part time jobs due to the high level of unemployment in the country.
Now we are hearing of schools voting to cut off from the industrial action by ASUU. How true is this? we don’t know. What are the implications of this action for any such school? We still do not know
Many students have given up hope on continuing academic studies this year as can be seen on their various updates on social Medias. We can only but count losses of both time, human and material resources wasted within this period of strict industrial action and of course do what we really know how to do best in situations like this… pray.
Yenagoa was kept busy tonight as Nickolas aka 'Monsterboi' held his birthday party. An ocassion which was filled wit Yenagoa's finest and upcoming celebrities. Artistes like payper, brizzy, funclef, vrizzy, also in attendance were Hally, Dante and of course myself.
More updates later
A United Nations helicopter
came under fire in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday, a UN source said, the second such incident in a week.
“Two helicopters left on reconnaissance missions this morning … the pilots of one of the helicopters felt some impacts on the cockpit … and landed” to inspect the damage, a source close to Monusco, the UN peacekeeping mission in DR Congo, told AFP.
The incident took place some 15 kilometres (10 miles) north of Goma, capital of North Kivu province, which has been in turmoil since warfare ravaged the country from 1996 to 2003.
There were no injuries and the helicopter was able to return to base.
Last week, Congolese M23 rebels shot at a UN helicopter but no one was injured.
The M23 was founded by former Tutsi rebels who were incorporated into the Congolese army under a 2009 peace deal.
Complaining the deal was never fully implemented, they mutinied in April 2012, turning their guns on their former comrades and launching the latest rebellion to ravage DR Congo’s mineral-rich and conflict-prone east.
A spokesman for the rebels,Vianney Kazarama, denied that the M23 was behind the attack.
“This morning, the M23 did not fire and did not want to fire on Monusco,” said Kazarama, indicating that the shots came from the Congolese army (FARDC).
But Lieutenant-Colonel Olivier Hamuli, a spokesman for the army in North Kivu, hit back, saying: “Monoscu is a partner of the FARDC and we are together on the ground. It’s the M23 which shot,” said Hamuli.
The Plateau government has announced the death of the first civilian governor of the state, Chief Solomon Lar.
“I can confirm to you that the family has confirmed to Gov. Jonah Jang that Chief Solomon Lar is dead,’’ information commissioner, Abraham Yiljap, said in Jos on Wednesday.
Yiljap said that Lar, aged 80, died on Wednesday in a U. S. hospital.
(NAN)
Boko Haram Islamists
President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday announced the constitution of a committee to prepare the grounds for the convocation of a national conference, setting off a chain of reactions from critical stakeholders in the polity.
The president, in a national broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 53rd independence anniversary, said the 13-member advisory committee, which will establish the modalities for a national conference aimed at resolving issues causing friction in the polity, would be chaired by a chieftain of Afenifere, Dr. Femi Okurounmu.
The committee, with Dr. Akilu Indabawa as its secretary, has one month to submit its report and will be inaugurated by Jonathan on Monday.
After terrorists killed 40 students
in a dormitory attack in Yobe Sate, Nigerian authorities are taking measures to improve
security around schools, including stepping up
patrols and putting armed soldiers outside them and guarding school buses.
Government sources said, Monday, that the move aimed to restore confidence in the Western style schools that have seen scenes of bloody massacres by Boko Haram militants fighting for an Islamic state.
The Federal Government has accused the Academic
Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) of
being economical with the truth on lecturers
prolonged industrial action in the universities.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on
Youth and Students Matters, Com. Jude Imagwe,
stated that the claim by the union that its action
was to restore infrastructural decay in universities
was nothing but a lie, noting that ASUU was
fighting for allowances.
Imagwe was speaking in Abuja when he received
some youth groups, who were on a visit to his
office. His words: “They initially told us that it was
about infrastructure, but it is about allowances.
N30b has been released for the payment of their
accumulated allowances, and N100b earmarked for
infrastructural development. It is important for the
public to know that government did not say this is
all that it will give, but government says go and
start the payment with this amount and let us know
the amount it will add”.
Meanwhile, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian
Universities, SSANU, will tomorrow join ASUU on
strike as the union said it has mobilized its
members across the country to embark on
industrial action over alleged stoppage of their
salaries for two months. SSANU, in a letter, dated
27 September, 2013, and addressed to its branch
chairmen in all the universities in the country,
directed its members to stay away from work from
tomorrow until the salaries are fully paid.
The President of SSANU, Comrade Samson
Ugwoke, said the strike will be total, while the
General Secretary, who signed the letter directing
members to stay at home from tomorrow, Comrade
Promise Adewusi, said no member should go back
to work until a counter directive was given.
Adewusi stated that the union took the decision
following its letters to the vice-chancellors in
universities, the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Ministers of
Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu and
Education, Nyesom Wike, as well as the Executive
Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof.
Julius Okojie. In the meantime, the suspended strike
by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics
(ASUP) is to resume on Friday.
The union alleged insincerity and failure of the
Federal Government to honour agreement entered
with the union.
The union also passed a vote of no confidence on
the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE),
alleging that the board has failed to meet the needs
and demands of polytechnic education in the
country.
VANGUARD
Death toll in the Yobe college attack has risen to 40, according to a hospital source.
Boko Haram gunmen on Sunday opened fire in a college dormitory in Yobe as the students slept, killing at least 40 people, in the latest violence blamed on the Islamist insurgents.
The early morning assault targeted the College of Agriculture in the town of Gujba, some 30 kilometres (18 miles) from Damaturu’s capital of Yobe, said
area military spokesman Lazarus Eli.
“Boko Haram terrorists went into the school and opened fire on students” while they were sleeping, he told AFP.
Related story: Boko Haram Attacks Agric College Yobe, kills Students.
People suspected to be members of the Islamist sect, Boko Haram, attacked a school in Yobe State on Saturday night, killing several students.
The attack took place at the College of Agriculture, Gujba, about 50 kilometres away from south of Damaturu, the state capital.
Several dead bodies are still being recovered from the bush, hostels and classrooms, a staff of the school had confirmed to journalists.
Those who survived are at the moment said to be making efforts to re-unite with their families in fear of further attacks by the insurgents.
No fewer than 11 people
were on Saturday killed in a
renewed attack in Zangang village in
Attakar Chiefdom, Kaura Local
Government Area of Kaduna State.
Gunmen attacked the village early in the morning, leaving several houses completely burnt.
A resident of the village, Isuwa Jiga, said more corpses were likely to be discovered as many residents were still missing.
“We have not seen some of our family members yet,’’ Jiga said.
When contacted, the Police Public
Relations Officer, DSP. Aminu Lawal, confirmed the incident.
Lawal said that a combined team of security operatives had been deployed to the area.
Zangang village had witnessed three consecutive attacks since the beginning of this year, while several lives and property
were lost in the attacks.
(NAN)
About 42 people were on
Friday drowned in a boat mishap on River Niger close to Malilli village in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger.
100 others on board were missing in the
mishap which occurred at about 2 pm.
The Public Relation Officer, Niger State Emergency Management Agency Malam Ibrahim Hussaini, confirm the incident to
NAN in a telephone interview on Saturday.
Hassaini said the incident occurred around 2 pm when the traders were returning from Malili village backto
Tunga Illo village across the River Niger,
after the day’s market.
He said the details were sketchy, but the
boat which had over 150 passengers
capsized midway and drowned 42 people, while 100 others were missing.
The spokesman said that local divers from Malili village had recovered 42 corpses, while efforts were being
intensified to rescue possible survivors or
the corpse of those drowned.
“At the moment search and rescue is
ongoing on the river.
“I will make the details of the incident
later, but the agency has dispatch its
officers to assist the villagers in the
rescue efforts,’’ he said.
Hassaini said the recovered corpses would be given mass burial close to the river bank, adding that neighbouring villages had been alerted to look out for floating corpses.
The Secretary to the State Government,
Alhaji Saidu Ndako, confirmed the boat mishap.
“We believe that the boat was overload because the boat’s capacity was put at 60 passengers, but over 150 passengers were said to be on board during the incident.The debris in the swollen river may also
have been responsible for the incident.(NAN)
Nigerian Islamist group
Ansaru on Friday released a video of a
French national kidnapped in December,
issuing threats to the governments of
Nigeria and France, the SITE jihadi
tracking website said.
In the video posted online, 63-year-old
Francis Collomp, who was kidnapped in
northern Nigeria on December 19, reads a
statement with an unidentified person
holding a weapon in the background
As one of the initiatives of the Bayelsa State Government's free education policy, a measure taken to reduce illiteracy, reduction of school dropouts, and an increase in pupil and student enrollment in the public schools.
Speaking with journalists in Yenagoa on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Education issued a threat to prosecute parents and guardians of children of school-age whose children or ward are out of school.
Adimikumo said that in view of the free and compulsory education policy of the state, parents and guardians have no reason not to send their children to school. " in line with this, contracts were awarded for the construction of infrastructure, provision of books and furniture.
On the recent issues of holding a National Conference, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has written to Senator David Mark on the reasons why a Sovereign National Conference, SNC should be held.
Agbakoba said “the Civil Society in Nigeria has always insisted that the People of Nigeria will have to authenticate, legitimize and endorse a Constitution to govern their affairs. Unfortunately this simple wish was always denied by the colonial, military
and even elected government.”
He also said the conference should be
convened by President Goodluck
Jonathan. Agbakoba, in a statement, frowned at the refusal by previous governments to hold the conference saying it would afford Nigerians a new constitution.
While he faulted claims that SNC might
lead to the disintegration of the country,
he appealed to the Senate President to
take up the challenge of convening the
conference.
About three months after he was
reportedly killed in a gun battle, leader of
the Boko Haram sect, Abubakur Shekau,
resurfaced and spoke on tape on
Wednesday boasting of invincibility and
threatening to ground democracy in
Nigeria.
He equally boasted that he can not die.
Shekau who was surrounded by dozens
of his Lieutenants, all dressed in military
fatigue, spoke amidst laughter and
sarcasm as he took responsibility for
recent attacks in Borno State.
The Boko Haram leader speaking while
sitting in a bush environment with birds
chirping at the background said his
ultimate aim was to ensure democracy
ceased to exist in Nigeria.
In the house of Senate today, Wednesday, the factions in the People's Democratic Party, PDP, engaged in a bout which principally was between Senator Danjuma Goje representing Gombe West and Senator Smart Adeyemi.
Trouble started when Senator Goje who is
loyal to the Alhaji Kawu Baraje faction of
the PDP, while paying tributes to the late
former Governor of Ondo State, Dr.
Olusegun Agagu introduced himself as a
member of the nPDP and he was quickly
interrupted by Senator Adeyemi who
raised point of order to the comment.
But what would have culminated in
serious crisis was immediately arrested
by the Senate President, David Mark who
assured his colleagues that so far as the
party remained one strong and indivisible
entity and that the Senate was not in the
position to decide who heads the party.
About 174 armed robbers have been arrested by the FCT security agencies between April and September 2013 in Abuja.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Muhammad Sule, Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, on Tuesday in Abuja.
It said the FCT Commissionerof Police, Mr Femi Ogunbayode, disclosed during a high-point discussion at the FCT Security Committee meeting chaired by FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed.
It said that 604 rounds of live ammunition were recovered during the period.
“The number of arms recovered include
27 locally-made pistols, three AK-47
riffles, one Lar-Riffle, 11 Wooden/Toy
Guns and one JoeJeff Pump Action Gun,” it said.
It said that Ogunbayode also disclosed
that a total of 61 stolen vehicles were
recovered in the FCT during the period
under review.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has unveiled the names of 23 candidates that will contest in the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State.
This is in line with the provisions of section 31 (3) of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended. In a statement by Kayode Idowu, chief press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Professor Atahiru Jega, "INEC has today September 24, 2013 published the Form CF 001 (personal particulars of candidate) of candidates nominated by political parties for the November 16th governorship election in Anambra State.
Below are the candidates and their political parties.
Okeke Chika Jerry (AA)
Chukwuemeka Nwankwo (ACCORD)
Dr Ifeatu Ekelem (ACD)
Engr Anthony Anene (ACPN)
Comrade Aaron Igweze (AD)
Chief Anayo Arinze (ADC)
Patrick Chukwuka Ibeziako (APA)
Senator Chris Ngige (APC)
Chief Willie Obiano (APGA)
Chief Austin Nwangwu (CPP)
Chijioke Geofrey Ndubuisi (DPP)
Christian Ikechukwu Otti (ID)
Chief Dennis Nwaforka Oguge (KOWA)
Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah (LP)
Pastor Simon Okafor (MPPP)
Okoknkwo Webster (NCP)
Prince Leonard Uchendu (NNPP)
Nicholas Ukachukwu (PDP)
Godwin Ezeemo (PPA)
Hon Basil Ijedinma (PPN)
Onuarah Onyeachonam (SDP)
Barr Okoye Godson (UDP)
Prince Akaneebu Ogochukwu (UPP).
Kenya has begun a three day mourning for the victims of the Westgate shopping mall attack. The attack in which 67 people have been confirmed dead, which includes 61 civilians and 6 security officials.
Kenyan authorities say the number of dead may increase as bodies are feared to be trapped beneath rubbles in the mall after three levels collapsed.
About 175 people were also wounded when Al Shabab militants stormed the Nairobi mall on Saturday afternoon. The attackers marched into the mall at midday on Saturday, shooting shoppers with machine guns and tossing grenades.
Al Shabab has claimed it carried out the attack in retaliation for Kenya's military incursion in Somalia.
RELATED STORY Au vows to crush Al Shabab militants
The splinter group of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under the leadership of Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, yesterday called on President Goodluck Jonathan not to contest the 2015 presidential election, urging him to be a hero and save the country from a needless crisis.
In the same vein, members of the House of Representatives loyal to the Speaker, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, reacted to the pro-Jonathan members of the House, stating that they lacked the necessary capacity to defend the interest of the president in the lower legislative chamber.
Specifically referring to the pro-Jonathan lawmakers, led by Hon. Bethel Amadi, they said if they had the capacity, both the speaker and deputy speaker of the House would not have emerged against the resolution of the PDP, which had zoned both positions to the South-west and North-east respectively.
This is just as two of the aggrieved governors – Sule Lamido of Jigawa State and Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State – have stated that no amount of intimidation by the presidency or threats by the PDP to sanction them and other members of the New PDP will make them deviate from the path of “truth and justice”.
In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the breakaway PDP, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the New PDP said: “We wish to advise President Jonathan to abandon his plan to seek re-election in 2015 as this ambition of his is not in the best interest of the country.”
It added: “Though he has yet to categorically declare his intention to run, President Jonathan has given enough clues indicating that he is working towards doing so. The latest of such clues came on Sunday in New York, USA.
“Speaking at a luncheon with Nigerian professionals in the United States, President Jonathan insisted that he is eligible to contest in 2015, stating that we have a constitution that makes a provision for a maximum of eight years for anyone who wants to become a president or a governor.”
Barely 24 hours after President Goodluck
Jonathan officially declared his intention
to run for a second term in office, he has
started reaching out to prominent groups
in the South West.
One of such groups is Oodua Peoples
Congress, OPC, whose leader, Otunba
Gani Adams, played host to Special
Adviser to the President on the Niger Delta
and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty
Programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku,
yesterday.
Although the duo denied that their close
door meeting which lasted for several
hours in Lagos, had nothing to do with
President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015
ambition, the undertone of the courtesy
visit showed otherwise as a reliable
source close to the corridors of powers
disclosed that the meeting was in line with
Jonathan’s effort to woo the South-West ahead of 2015.
Read More
Fagge told Journalists in Lagos that unless the deficits in the education sector, especially the university system, were addressed once and for all, there would be no development.
According to Fagge, it is regrettable that the strike is protracted, and that the decision of ASUU to remain adamant until its demands are fully met can seem uncomfortable and worrisome.
He said that the industrial action was a sacrifice needed to salvage the entire economy of the country.
"I sincerely want to call on all concerned, especially students and parents, to bear with us, as well as join hands with us in the struggle to right the wrongs in our education sector once and for all, for the good of us all and that of the country.
"I know it is quite a difficult time for us but I also want to state that what we are doing is for our own good, as well as ensure that strikes become rare, as a weapon to get things done in our system.
"We also want to ensure that there is sincerity and respect for mutual agreements by parties in order to attain a common goal for the good of our dear country," he said.
Read more http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/09/strike-will-improve-education-sector-asuu/
This was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati
Dogged by challenges capable of denying him re-election in 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan has taken the battle to the doorsteps of his known and perceived political opponents, using the carrot and stick approach. Last Wednesday morning, he shocked members of the Federal Executive Council when he fired nine ministers, who are believed to be irrelevant to his second term bid and are more loyal to their governors. Will the ouster of the ministers remove the mounting roadblocks to his re-election? There seems to be more questions than answers.
The sack of nine ministers was something that had long been predicted. The announcement in the middle of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday, did not take many by surprise. What, however, bothered the Exco members and many Nigerians was the way it was carried out by President Goodluck Jonathan.
For real, those who had really been pencilled down for offloading by the President were those who were known to be nursing gubernatorial ambition and had been somewhat distracted from office by their political fixation. In that category were Bala Muhammed, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, who is reported to be eying the seat currently occupied by Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State; the Minister of State for Education, Nyesome Wike, from Rivers State; Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, from Nasarawa; and the Minister of Police Affairs, Capt Olubolade Caleb, from Ondo.. But all that was torpedoed by the soaring tide of dirty politics, which almost swallowed the players and grounded their game plan. Jonathan was suddenly taken aback by the split of the once united People's Democratic Party (PDP) into two camps on August 31, when they had assembled at a high-profile ceremony at the Eagle Square to anoint some national officers loyal to him.
It was an assault that hit the President and his men below the belt and left them with a sour taste. Since that affront by the Abubakar Baraje faction, which has come to be dubbed as the New PDP, nPDP, for short, the 'largest party in Africa' has never been the same. From all indications, the umbrella (PDP), which symbolises accommodation and resilience, has virtually been shattered by turbulent winds from several fronts. While Jonathan and his men are battling to secure a second term in office, the nPDP is seen as the opposition, working to install former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the next vote.
Thus, what the President did on that Wednesday morning was nothing but a 'coup' against the former members of the cabinet, whose only 'offence' was that they were and are still close to the seven PDP governors, popularly referred to as G-7, who have an axe to grind with the President.,
By all standards, the retention of the 'offending ministers' for about two years by Jonathan his strategists reasoned, was like putting salt on festering sore largely because they were portrayed as political liabilities, who neither aided Jonathan's sagging political profile nor added value to the new battle he is waging against their political benefactors.
Those who are strategising for Jonathan ahead of his re-election in 2015 had been tinkering with the idea that it would be suicidal for him to first edge out ministers who have gubernatorial ambition while those who do not love him are retained. They, therefore, asked him to flush them out of the system and pave the way for the appointment of 'politically relevant' hawks or bullies, who are capable of taking on 'recalcitrant governors' in their respective states and clear the way for his seamless re-election.
An analysis of those sent packing reveals that 99 percent of them were seen as 'apologists' of the 'rebel' governors' in the cabinet.
The nine sacked ministers were nominees of former President Obasanjo and the seven governors, who are currently embroiled in a political face-off with Jonathan and the leadership of the PDP.
The list shows that, apart from the former Minister of Science and Technology, Prof Okon Ita Ewa, who was personally nominated by Jonathan in 2011, most of the axed men and women, were seen as sympathisers of Obasanjo and the PDP 'rebel' governors.
Analysts find the removal of Ewa puzzling to pave the way for Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State to name a more politically-relevant minister, who would be able to work with the President and win more support for Jonathan in the next elections.
Ewa, a nuclear physicist, who had known Jonathan for several years, was brought directly into the cabinet without the input of political stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State and is said to be almost apolitical.
A reliable source told Sunday Vanguard that the President moved against the ministers following intelligence reports, which indicated that most of them were loyal to their governors rather than being loyal to him.
Read more http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/09/president-goes-for-broke/
The new faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has opened a parallel secretariat of the party in Rivers State.
The new secretariat is located at the popular Forces Avenue in old G.R.A Port Harcourt.
The new office was launched after a media briefing by the Chief of Staff to Rivers State Governor, Tony Okocha and other members of the state executive council as well as loyalists to Governor Chibuike Amaechi.
Drama occured during the hoisting of the PDP flag when officers from the Rivers State police command invaded the area.
More details later… by @UC Browser
The second coming of the Special One this summer was greeted with delight at Stamford Bridge, bringing an end to the poisonous atmosphere that had surrounded Rafa Benitez's short reign, despite the Spaniard guiding the Blues to the Europa League crown and a Champions League berth.
Terry admits the return of his former boss has had a similarly uplifting effect on the squad as it looks to re-establish itself at the top of domestic and European football. by @UC Browser
It was gathered that those retired were ten in number.
Among those affected were the former Director of Training and Operations, Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Lawrence Ngugbane, the former Commander of Training, Doctrine and Command, Maj.-Gen. Babagana� Mungonu, and the former Chief of Research and Development, Maj.-Gen. Obinali Ariahu.
A top military source said on Wednesday that the generals were retired because they had put in the maximum years in service.
The source said that the retirement exercise was routine and not punitive.
The source added that the retirement exercise was expected to take place every quarter of the year.
The source couldn't give the names of the others affected in the exercise.
"It is true that some of our generals have been retired. The exercise is a routine one. It is not a punitive retirement, they have reached their terminal level.
"Some of them were asked to proceed on the compulsory terminal leave in June this year," the source said.
Our correspondent could not contact the Director of Defence Information, Brig.- Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, for comments as the calls placed to his mobile telephone line indicated that it was switched off or in an area outside network coverage.
As the Arab League threw its weight behind the allies' judgment that the Assad regime was responsible for the chemical attack, the US and Britain paved the way for intervention, saying it would be a response to a violation of international law and not aimed at regime change.
General Sir Nick Houghton, chief of the defence staff, will outline a series of arm's-length options for targeted attacks against Syria during a meeting on Wednesday of the UK's national security council (NSC) .
Houghton, who is expected to reiterate the military's misgivings about entering the conflict, is expected to tell ministers the UK could assist US forces with cruise missile strikes launched from submarines, warships and aircraft against targets such as command and control bunkers.
David Cameron announced a recall of parliament on Thursday to allow MPs to formally debate the proposed intervention.
The Commons is expected to endorse military action – with a few rebels on all sides – after Ed Miliband indicated on Tuesday that Labour will reluctantly support the government motion, which will closely refer to international law.
Cameron said any use of chemical weapons was "morally indefensible and completely wrong," adding that any action taken "would have to be legal, would have to be proportionate. It would have to be specifically to deter the future use of chemical weapons".
Without spelling out any detailed plans, he signalled limited action. "This is not about getting involved in a Middle Eastern war or changing our stance in Syria or going further into that conflict … it is about chemical weapons. Their use is wrong, and the world shouldn't stand idly by."
It was learnt that the gunmen also set fire on some houses in the village.
Rescue workers have been mobilized to the area from Maiduguri with the aim of providing medical services to the surviving victims.
The assailants were said to have removed the two eyes of some of the victims while many others had their bodies decapitated.
A rescue worker told Journalists in Maiduguri that the village came under attack late Tuesday when some unknown gunmen stormed the settlement and killed many people when they were fast asleep.
"As I'm speaking to you now, Red cross officials and the San Medicine Frontier are attending to the injured victims," a rescue worker with a federal government agency who does not want to be named said.
According to him, the village has been deserted, as the people are now taking refuge at the Baga central primary school.
A source with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) who confirmed the incident, said the agency has mobilized to the area to access the situation with a view to render humanitarian assistance to the injured victims and those who were psychologically traumatized in the attack.
According to him, the agency will on Saturday(today) set up camp at the Baga central primary school for the displaced victims.
He was flown out of Cairo's Tora prison by helicopter to a hospital, but is now expected to be put under house arrest.
Mr Mubarak, 85, still faces charges of corruption and complicity in the killing of demonstrators during the protests that toppled him in 2011.
His release is seen by many as a sign that the military is rolling back the changes that flowed from the uprising.
Egypt is currently under a state of emergency amid the bloodshed which has accompanied the army-backed interim government's crackdown on Islamists opposed to the army's ousting of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi on 3 July.
Hundreds of members of the Muslim Brotherhood - the movement from which Mr Morsi comes - have been detained, including its most senior leader Mohammed Badie, who was wanted over alleged incitement to violence and murder.
The serving lawmaker representing Rivers South-East in the National Assembly, said "the reason, I know all these, is because the governor is vocal and he speaks his mind on issues. Some people are interested in getting control of the government of Rivers State by hook or crook not because they love Rivers State, not even because they hate Amaechi, but because they want to be the ones to control the resources of Rivers State."In the past six years, we are witnesses to what our resources have been used for.
All those things would not have been possible if the resources of Rivers State were not in the hands of those who think that the people mattered more than the big men."Abe while stressing that security had been compromised in the state due to the interest of the Nigeria Police in politics rather than security, called on people to be alert at all times.He hailed the decision of the National Assembly to take over the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly so as to find a permanent solution to the crisis ravaging the state.
Thankfully, the National Assembly has taken over the legislative functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly. It was done to cool down the problems, so that mature heads will begin to look for a solution that will restore constitutional rule.
This report was prepared by our reporter at the National Assembly.
