CAN Calls For Dissolution Of Amnesty Committee

The declaration of a state of emergency in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe has received the official endorsement of the umbrella body of Christians in the country, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, even as they called for the dissolution of the amnesty committee saying it was no longer relevant. CAN president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, in a statement by his Special Assistant,

Five Expertriates Kidnapped Off Bayelsa Coastline Gains Freedom

Five foreigners kidnapped aboard a German ship off the Niger Delta region coast in Bayelsa have regained their freedom. Some yet to be identified gunmen abducted the five expatriates aboard an oil support vessel along Sagana waterways in Brass LocalGovernment Area of Bayelsa on April 26 2013. Kidnappings and killings carried out by pirates, and former militants have increased dramatically in the area until recent times. The deployment of 20 gunboats recently acquired by Bayelsa government by the security forces has failed to reign in the rampaging pirates even as Gov. Seriake Dickson rarely stays in the state to address the worsening insecurity in his domain, oftentraveling to Abuja the nation's capital to see President Goodluck Jonathan. The Chief Press Secretary to Bayelsa Governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, assured that recent upsurge in kidnap of oil workers would soon be contained, assuring law-abiding residents in the coastal areas of their safety. Iworiso-Markson, reportedly said that the Seriake Dickson administration had a zero-tolerance policy for kidnapping in Bayelsa. Two persons arrested over two previous kidnapping are reportedly being prosecuted in the state. Joint Task Force (JTF) spokesperson, Lt.Colonel Oyenma Nwachukwu states further that the JTF was on the trail of the armed kidnappers who engaged troops in a shoot at Adagbarasa/Itagbene area recently SAHARA REPORTERS

Jonathan, Service Chiefs Meets On Amnesty Committee Report

President Goodluck Jonathan

Barely 24 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan met with traditional rulers from the north on the possibility of granting amnesty to members of the Boko Haram sect, another meeting between him and the service chiefs was held Tuesday to consider the report of the Amnesty Security Committee set up two weeks ago.

The committee, which was set up by Jonathan following the agitation by northern leaders, who had met with him on the precarious security situation in the region, was mandated to consider the feasibility of granting pardon to Boko Haram adherents, among other terms of reference.