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Jonathan to Boko Haram-Surrender Even Now and I will Give You Amnesty
Jonathan to Boko Haram-Surrender Even Now and I will Give You Amnesty
(Reuters) - Nigeria offered an amnesty on Sunday to Islamist militants who surrender and said 17 people had been killed on the fifth day of a military operation to try to crush the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast.
In their biggest offensive since the insurgency began in 2009, Nigerian forces are trying to chase well-armed militants out of territory they control in remote semi-deserts around Lake Chad, along the borders with Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
They are also pursuing Boko Haram in northeastern cities such as Maiduguri, Borno state, where the sect has cells. A heavy military presence patrolled Maiduguri on Sunday, with checkpoints choking what little traffic there was.
Nigeria's defense spokesman Brigadier General Chris Olukolade said the operation was continuing on Sunday, with patrols sent out to secure towns and villages, and that special forces had killed 14 insurgents in battles that left three Nigerian soldiers dead and seven wounded. Add a comment
We won’t arrest Asari-Dokubo – Police
We won’t arrest Asari-Dokubo – Police
The Nigeria Police Force has said there is no cause for any action on threats by the Leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, over President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election in 2015.
It says it has no cause to arrest or issue any warning to the ex-militant.
Speaking to our correspondent in a telephone interview on Friday, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Frank Mba, said those making inciting statements about 2015 could only be arrested when they had carried out their threats. He however did not state if they had been warned.
Asari-Dokubo had said there would be no peace in Nigeria, if Jonathan was not re-elected in 2015. Add a comment
I planned to spend just one year in the university – Pat Utomi
I planned to spend just one year in the university – Pat Utomi
He is popular for his proclamation, “Nigeria has no business being poor!”. Christened Patrick Okedinachi Utomi but largely known as Pat Utomi, our inspirational guest is a passionate entrepreneur and social activist. After a brief career in journalism, Patrick was appointed a Special Assistant on Political Affairs in Alhaji Shehu Shagari’s administration which was later aborted. He moved to Volkswagen of Nigeria where he became the first Nigerian to hold the post of Deputy Managing Director in 1989, and, at 35, he became the acting Managing Director until he voluntarily left at 38 to join the teaching profession. He soon became a Director at the Centre for Applied Economics at the Lagos Business School of Pan African University. A former presidential candidate, Utomi presently sits on the board of several multinational companies.
Nsukka experience
His ambition was to become a pilot, but because he had finished secondary school three years earlier than the stipulated age of 18, Patrick’s father advised him to go and study at the university while he matured a bit. Again, the entry age for university education was 17, so, he first enrolled at the Federal School of Arts and Science before finally gaining admission in 1973 into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to study Mass Communication.
“My going to the University of Nsukka, to me, was simply to have one year of partying, making friends and then go off to aviation school. In fact, a great story was how I chose the course of study; I just closed my eyes, put down the pencil and it turned out to be Mass Communication!”, he recalled. Add a comment
Northern Governors Support State Of Emergency Rule In 3 States
Northern Governors Support State Of Emergency Rule In 3 States
The Northern State Governors' Forum (NSGF) on Saturday in Minna said it was in support of the state of emergency rule imposed on Borno, Yobe and Adamawa in the North-East.
Forum Chairman and Niger Governor, Babangida Aliyu, disclosed this in a statement by Danladi Ndayebo, his Chief Press Secretary, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The NSGF however expressed the hope that the imposition of emergency rule would complement Federal Government's offer of amnesty earlier made to members of the Boko Haram sect.
``We feel this will help to restore peace to the affected states,’’ the forum said.
The Northern governors urged all members of the security agencies deployed to the affected states to operate by their rules of engagement.
``We advise the military to respect the sanctity of human lives, especially civilians who are not involved in the crisis,’’ they said. Add a comment
Boko Haram Anti Aircraft Missile Hits Nigerian Air Force Jets
Boko Haram Anti Aircraft Missile Hits Nigerian Air Force Jets
he Nigerian military has launched air raids on militant training camps in the north-east of the country, officials say.
An army spokesman said jets and helicopter gunships had been used to attack several camps.
He told the BBC that a plane had been hit by anti-aircraft fire but had managed to return to base.
States of emergency were declared this week in three north-eastern states hit by Boko Haram's Islamist insurgency.
Nigerian military spokesman Brig Gen Chris Olukolade said two militant bases in the Sambisa Forest Reserve were destroyed in raids.
The reserve is about 70km (45 miles) south of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, where the militants first emerged in 2009. Add a comment
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