Gunbattle at Cairo mosque as security surrounds Islamists

Egyptian police exchanged gunfire Saturday with Islamist supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi holed up inside a Cairo mosque, an AFP correspondent reported.
The clashes came on the fourth day of bloodshed between the two sides, with the government saying 173 had died in the past 24 hours alone.
That brought the country's toll to more than 750 people since Wednesday, when 578 people were killed in nationwide clashes that erupted after police cleared two camps of Morsi loyalists in the capital.
The standoff at Cairo's Al-Fath mosque in central Ramses Square began on Friday, with security forces surrounding the building where Islamists were sheltering and trying to convince them to leave.
The Islamists had lined up the bodies of dozens of protesters killed in "Friday of anger" demonstrations inside the mosque-turned-morgue.
One of the protesters told AFP by telephone that they were demanding they not be arrested, or attacked by hostile civilians outside.
By Saturday afternoon, the situation turned violent, with an AFP reporter on the scene saying gunmen inside the mosque were trading fire with police outside.
The correspondent said police stormed the Fath mosque and security forces firing tear gas.
In the process, they managed to drag outside seven or eight men and were then confronted by angry neighbourhood residents who attacked them with sticks and iron bars.
Police fired in the air in a bid to disperse the mob.
An AFP reporter saw one man dressed in civilian clothes was wounded by police gunfire.
The violence has left Egypt divided as never before in recent history, splintering the army-installed interim government and inviting international censure.

Teacher Can't Read Own Certificate

When the  late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti sang his popular number, Teacher, Don't Teach Me Nonsense, many thought it was just a song but the song had become a reality in time.

It was sometime in 2011, when Governor Adams Oshiomhole paid an unscheduled visit to a primary school in Edo North senatorial district of the state that he found out the rot which has pervaded the Universal Basic Education in the state.

For someone who has embarked on massive construction and rehabilitation of schools in the country of course, he must be concerned with the quality of teachers in these schools. Oshiomhole beckoned on a teacher in the school and asked him what are his workings hours. The teacher could not answer and said I don't know and later murmured "7am to 4pm Sir".
A visibly shocked Oshiomhole now called a pupil and asked, "where is your teacher? The teacher standing beside him replied on behalf of the pupil "na me". That was when the governor knew that he has a serious problem in the educational sector.
Read More on Vanguard

Mali’s presidential poll ‘major step’ towards restoration of democracy – Security Council

The successful conduct of the presidential election in Mali represents a "major step toward the restoration of democratic governance and constitutional order," the Security Council said

Council Vice -Chairman Orders Thugs To Manhandle Civil Servants

Mr. Biodun Adeleye, the Vice-Chairman of Ewekoro Local Government Area, Ogun State, allegedly took the law into his hands, as he seized six officials of the

Rivers Crisis: Court Sacks Commission Of Inquiry

A Rivers State High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, has sacked the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, set up by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi,  to look into the crisis that  erupted in the state House of Assembly on July 9 and 10, 2013.
The court also restrained the governor and the state Attorney-General from receiving, accepting or implementing any report or recommendation from the commission.
 Read more

Inec Registers 2 New Political Party

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday registered two new political parties in  the country.
This was contained in a press statement issued yesterday  by  Mrs Chinwe Ogakwu, Secretary  of the  Commission.

Rivers Crisis: Panel Summons Wike, CP, Others

The Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly has ordered  all persons and organizations mentioned in the memoranda already submitted  to also turn

Suspected Boko Haram Members Kills Eleven

Suspected Boko Haram Islamists have stormed a town in Borno, opened fire on police and civilians and killed 11 people, residents and a local lawmaker told AFP Friday.
The attack happened late Thursday in the town of Damboa in Borno state, Boko Haram's stronghold and where Nigeria has imposed a state of emergency as it pursues an offensive against the insurgent group.
Read more http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/suspected-boko-haram-islamists-open-fire-on-civilians-kill-11/

Soludo, Five Others Disqualified For Anambra Governorship Race

The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has disqualified the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo and five other aspirants on the party's platform for the November 16th Anambra state governorship elections.
According to a statement signed by the Chairman of the APGA gubernatorial screening  panel, Alhaji Tayo Sowunmi, its Secretary, Barrister  Ifeanyi Mbaeri and a member,

Man beheads son for N1 million

  Detectives attached to the homicide unit of the Adamawa State police command have commenced investigations to unravel the circumstance that made a 24 years old man to behead his 5 years old boy.
The dastardly act occurred penultimate Wednesday last week in Ganji suburb of

Army Promotes 9 Officers

The Nigerian Army Headquarters has promoted nine officers in the 23 Armoured Brigade, following records of meritorious service.
Brig.-Gen. Fatai Oladipo, the Brigade Commander, while decorating the officers in Yola, urged the officers to show more dedication to the service of the Nigerian Army and carry

Family Dies After Eating Cassava Meal In Enugu

TRAGEDY struck at Owerre Obukpa in Igbo-Eze South Local  Government area, Enugu State as three children from same mother have reportedly died after taking cassava meal allegedly suspected to have been poisoned. Vanguard gathered that the three children whose names were given simply as Ikechukwu Ugwuanyi, Chinecherem Ugwuanyi and Nnenna Ugwuanyi died serially after

Students Begs President Jonathan To Wade into ASUU Strike

Students of the Ebonyi State University (EBSU) on Friday begged President Gooodluck Jonathan to wade into the lingering ASUU and Federal Government crisis. The students said that they looked up to Mr President to personally intervene in the face-off. Mr Louis Onwe, a 300-level biochemistry student said: ‘’His intervention into the ongoing crisis will lead to timely resolution of

Mugabe's Party Wins 2/3 Majority Of Parliamentary Election

President Robert Mugabe’s party has won at least a two thirds majority in parliament, enough to amend the country’s constitution, according to a tally of official results Friday. With over 180 seats declared by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Mugabe’s ZANU-PF had won 142 seats in the 210-member

ASUU - Okogie to account for N100bn stabilisation fund

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Monday, urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to prevail on the executive secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC, to account for the N100 billion annual stabilization fund provided by the Federal Government to the Commission for improvement of facilities in the nation’s government –owned universities. Chairman of the Nsukka Zone of ASUU, Dr. Chidi Osuagwu, at a media briefing on the on-going strike action embarked upon by university lecturers in the country at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University,

Tribunal Invalidates Census In Bayelsa State

The Census Tribunal on Thursday invalidated the 2006 enumeration figures in 43 areas in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa, as declared by the National

Rivers State Crisis:ACN Cautions Police

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has urged the police to be more circumspect and avoid being partisan in their ongoing investigation into the crisis in Rivers State, if the outcome of the investigation is to be acceptable to Nigerians. In a statement, Thursday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the fact that only the security aides of

Strike: FG, Senate, ASUU meeting Deadlocked

THE negotiations among the Senate, the Federal government and the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU over the ongoing industrial action embarked by universities lecturers ended without parties reaching any compromise. The meeting which was at the instance of the chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, PDP Abia North, was called to pacify

Virus,17 Others Wanted Over Killing Of Cops

The Bayelsa State Police Commandhas declared wanted leader of the renegade militant group, simply called Virus and 17 others involved in the April gruesome killing of11policemen along the waterways of Lobia community in Southern Ijaw Local GovernmentArea of the state. The police command, according to a statement, yesterday, by its spokesman, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, said

IGP To Investigate Role Of Policemen In Rivers Fracas

Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday, said the police high command will investigate the role of the police in the fracas at the Rivers State House of Assembly, saying anybody found to have misbehaved would be held accountable. He said he had dispatched a Deputy Inspector General of Police to Port Harcourt to investigate the situation. The Inspector General of police’s position came on the heels of thorough scrutiny by the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, by his colleague ministers before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House.

Bayelsa Traditional Ruler, 3 Others Arrested Over Crude Oil Theft

A community chief whose name was not released and three other persons have been arrested for the theft of 2,000 metric tons of crude oil on the Akassa waterways in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. They were arrested yesterday over alleged involvement in the ownership of an unlicenced vessel. The Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta code named Operation Pulo Shield arrested the chief, who is from Twon Brass, after the crew apprehended on the seized vessel claimed he was their sponsor.

4 Boko Haram Members Sentenced To Life In Prisonment

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja court on Tuesday sentenced four Islamist extremists to life in prison over 2011 attacks that killed at least 22 people, including the bombing of an electoral office before landmark polls. The attacks on the electoral office, at a campaign rally and a church occurred in the central city of Suleija, near the capital Abuja. The suspects were accused of being members of Islamist extremist group Boko Haram.

Men of the Vigilante Service of Ogun State, VSO, reportedly shot dead
a student of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Moruf Raji,
29,yesterday, and also a staff of a telecommunication company, MTN
Nigeria, Akeem Usman, 32, while chasing suspected robbers.
The incident occurred at Adigbe areaof the state capital at about 1.00
a.m when a team of the vigilance service allegedly ordered residents
of 18A, Sorinola Avenue, Oriyanrin, to open their gate for them to
arrest suspected robbers believed to be hiding in the building.
Some of the residents who were mostly students refused to open the
gate, suspecting the vigilante men to be robbers trying to play smart,
according to an eyewitness.
The witness further explained that Moruf and Akeem went out from their
rooms and opened the gate for them but one of the men of VSO opened
fire on the two men killing them instantly.
The VSO still went ahead to force their way into the compound after
shooting the two men and ransacked the rooms, while the victims were
bleeding profusely, Vanguard reports.
The vigilantes were later said to haveused their patrol vehicle to
rush the victims to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba Abeokuta where
they died following excessive loss of blood.
Sources say Moroof was a Business Administration student of MAPOLY who
was on one-year Industrial attachment and Akeem was a staff ofMTN. He
got married seven months ago, according to a source.
According to findings, Akeem worked in Lagos but was in Abeokuta to
attend a religious programme scheduled for 10.00am on Sunday.
He was said to have resolved to sleepwith a family-friend because of
the proximity of the house to the venue of the programme.
His driver, Abayomi Awoyajo was also said to have sustained injury
after being battered by the membersof vigilance during the raid.
Narrating the incident Abayomi said they were all inside when at about
1.00am ,the vigilante men came asking them to open the door.
"We all thought they were armed robbers, we started running
helter-skelter, some of us hid in the wardrobe, while some hid under
the chairs," he said.
The 30 year old driver, also said the two victims in pool of their
blood crawled back into the house,crying loud, while the vigilantes
forced theirway into the house to continue dealing with all of them in
a brutal matter.
"They even asked for brother Akeem's car key which I gave to them,
but, could not be taken out because of the security device installed
in it, we were later rushed to the hospital" he explained.
Members of the vigilante service involved in the act have now been
arrested by the police from Adigbe station.
The case was said to have been transferred to Eleweran Police
Headquarters, Abeokuta but the Police Public Relations Officer in the
State, Muyiwa Adejobi could not be reached as at the time of filing
this report. [Vanguard]

Yobe Closes Secondary Schools Over Killing Of 30 Students

Following Saturday’s killing of about 30 students and a teacher of the Government Secondary School, Mamudo, the Yobe State government has shut down all secondary schools in the area. Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, worried that morestudents may be attached, gave the order for all the students to be sent home to allow for review of school security throughout the State. The governor, according to a military source, has also appealed for the restoration of mobile phone use to enable citizens to alert security agencies of emergency situations. The Joint Task Force and other security operatives have arrived in the State, SaharaReporters also learnt, and are planningon how to contain Boko Haram’s new tactics in the state. Yobe is one of Nigeria’s three States currently under emergency conditions as a result of the violent activities of the Boko Haram sect. Members of the public are now questioning the quality of the work being done by the military under the emergency following the sect’s brutal attack on GSS Mamudo yesterday. SAHARA REPORTERS

Police Station, Bank Attacked As Gunmen Unleash Terror In Yobe

Yet again, Yobe State has come under the spot light for the wrong reasons as report reachingus indicate that Unidentified gunmen suspected to be armed bandits in the early hours of Saturday attacked the Divisional PoliceStation and an old generation bank in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba state. Three policemen on duty were gunned down and many sustained injuries as the police station was completely destroyed by the attackers

2015 Elections: Jonathan Will Win Re-election - Primate Ayodele

Founder and Spiritual head of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, Primate Babatunde Ayodele, has predicted victory for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 elections just as he said that President Goodluck Jonathan would not enjoy the support of PDP governors from the North. The prophecy among others was contained in the 2013/2014 predictions of the renowned cleric presented to the public on Friday in Lagos. “Despite the fact that the PDP party will break up, it will still win the 2015elections. “President Jonathan will win the presidential election for a second term and he must pray to avoid taking a wrong step,” he said. He revealed that,“The move to reconcile the northern PDP governors will fail while the president needs prayer to sustain his health.” The cleric also warned of crisis in theland as a result of the 2015 elections and added that the President will lose the support of notable South West politicians. In reference to the merger of opposition parties under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Primate Ayodele said, “the ACN,APGA, ANNPP and CPC merger will fail. “Let us pray fervently for Nigeria natural resources and sharing formula will cause disaffection. Let uspray against bloodshed in the country,” he urged Nigerians

Tanzania Arrests British Terror Suspect Ahsan Ali.

Tanzania has arrested a British man suspected of involvement in unspecified “terrorism activities” in Britain, police in the east African country said. Iqbal Ahsan Ali was arrested in Tanzania’s southern Mbeya region after being found in possession of both British and Tanzanian passports, which is a crime in Tanzania as it

Senate Rejects Zamfara's Plan To Arm Vigilantees

Everybody is slowly warming to the consensus that there are way too many illegal weapons inthe country. To this end, the Senate on Thursday, soundly rejected plans by Zamfara Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar to arm local state vigilante groups. On the other hand, the Senate requested that President Goodluck Jonathan deploy more security personnel to Zamfara and other statesburdened by a rising upsurge in insecurity . Zamfara in particular, has been rocked by recent deadly attacks and killings by the now infamous ‘unknown gunmen’. Concerning Governor Yari’s plan, it was reported that rifles which had been purchasedby the state government, were in the custody of security agents in the state awaiting approval for disbursement. This was contained in a report that was presented by the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara/PDP) at Thursday’s plenary. Governor Yari insists that the arms were for self-defence purposes only. The majority of senators however did not buy the idea. To them, a mass proliferation of weapons under the guise of arming vigilantes will have serioussecurity repercussions. “Zamfara and other states with peculiar security challenges will better address their security problems by requesting for additional security personnel and other assistance rather than setting up armed groups that may soon go out of control,” Basheer Garba Mohammed (Kano/PDP) stated at the plenary while leading the debate on the Zamfara motion which he co-sponsored with 50 others. Also, Senate Deputy Leader, Abdul Ningi (Bauchi/PDP) suggested that a panel be set up to establish where the Zamfara governor got the authority to effect the weapons purchase. As is the habit these days in our legislature, there was a moment of real drama during the plenary. As the motion was being debated, Ali Ndume (Borno South/PDP) made a startling comment to the chagrin of many, that about half of the 109 senators in the Senate own guns. Visibly uncomfortable with the statement, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who was the presiding officer, quickly asked Ndume to retract the statement, saying he could not substantiate that claim. According to him, Ndume has not searched thehouse of any senator to ascertain if the senators own any arms. Drama or no drama, these are surely testy times for the nation.

Army arrests 8 For Cement Adultration

The 35 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Alamala, Abeokuta in Ogun State said, Wednesday, that it arrested eight persons for allegedly operating an illegal cement factory at Ewekoro along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. A statement by the Army Public Relations Officer, Captain Adamu Ngulde, said the suspects were caught adulterating products from Larfarge and Dangote cement.

Julius Berger Begins Work On 2nd Niger Bridge

                

Work on the long-awaited second Niger bridge  has commenced. Wolfgang Goetsch, Managing Director of Julius Berger stated this at the 43rd annual general meeting of the company in Abuja.

The Federal Government had given Julius Berger a letter of intent, which would enable it to do preliminary work such as, soil testing and engineering design