SALLAH: Red alert nationwide; 7 policemen killed, others injured

ABUJA — The Nigerian Army, yesterday, placed all its formations across the country on red alert following terrorists’ threat to attack and bomb national assets including mosques during Sallah celebrations to mark the end of Ramadan in countries with sizeable Muslim adherents.
Similarly, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered water-tight security across the country to ensure a hitch-free Sallah celebration.
This came on a day facts emerged that recent attacks in parts of Borno State by the Islamic fundamentalist group, Boko Haram, have been linked to the safe haven the Republic of Cameroon provides its members.

Speaking in Abuja, yesterday, against the backdrop of threat by terrorists, Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru said: “To this end, the Nigerian Army will remain eternally vigilant with a view to reducing vulnerability through proactive preventive measures”.
Attahiru emphasized that the measures were also aimed at preventing the spread of terrorism to other parts of the country.
“These proactive measures have yielded results with the recent arrests in Lagos, and Ogun states of 42 suspected terrorists. I, therefore, wish to reassure Nigerians that the Army will continue to constantly review its strategies towards greater sophistication in tackling security challenges facing the country”, he said.

Policeman caught extorting motorist on camera dismissed

The Lagos State Police Command has dismissed a police sergeant, Chris Omeleze, who was caught on video camera extorting N25,000 from a motorist in Lagos.
In the video footage made available to our correspondent, an unidentified male motorist is seen pleading with the Omeleze to accept N2,000 for a traffic offence but the sergeant blatantly refuses.
The sergeant, who is seen on the passenger seat, places a call to his superior on the telephone, saying the motorist’s car must be impounded for refusing to ‘Cooperate.’

ASUU STRIKE: NANS splits, as JAF plans mass protest

The strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on July 1, 2013 has indeed tested the boundaries of student unionism. From the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to other realms of student activism, conflicting perceptions reflect students’ reaction to the ASUU strike. This report brings the different voices to the fore.
It would be recalled that last executive members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, led by the National Assistant Secretary, Mr. Ali Mohammed disowned the national president, Mr. Yinka Gbadebo, on what they referred to as “his support for the Federal Government in the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.” Some members of the executive told newsmen that students were largely unbiased in the crisis and the inclination of Mr. Gbadebo to support the government was a deviation from the students’ collective goal of resolving the crisis.

Godogodo: My father was a gambler, drug addict

Notorious South-West robbery czar, Abiodun Ogunjobi, aka, Godogodo, has said that lack of parental care was responsible for his becoming a deadly robber.
Godogodo who has terrorized the zone for over 14 years, leading most bank robberies and other deadly operations, told Vanguard, yesterday, during an interview at the state Police Command headquarters, Ikeja, Lagos, that his parents abandoned him at an early age to fend for himself.
The 36-year-old man, who spoke in emotional laden voice, said he was the eldest of the children and his mother who he said was a sickler, died from her sickness.

New book on Super Eagles in honour of President Jonathan

A new book which chronicles the exploits of the Super Eagles at the last African Nations Cup in South Africa is set to be released.
The book published by Vanguard Media Limited in association with Sola Ojewusi and Associates is in honour of President Goodluck Jonathan, titled Great Leader, Great Victory: The Story of President Goodluck Jonathan and The Super Eagles. It is a collector’s item.
It has a total of 200 pages which traced the various stages of preparation and execution of the action plans and strategies which culminated into the success at the continental fiesta.

IG visits Rivers, shuns Amaechi

THE Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, on Monday visited Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, without visiting the state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
Abubakar was in the state to inaugurate 100 Prado Sports Utility Vans donated to the nine Niger Delta state Police commands by the Niger Delta Development Commission.
The IGP also did not address officers and men of the command, who waited for several hours to hear from their boss.
The state Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Mr. Joshak Habila, addressed officers and men of the Police. He thanked them for coming out enmasse.
It was at that pointed that security operatives, especially those in their ceremonial uniforms, who had waited to mount a guard of honour, left in disappointment.

Amaechi-Jonthan's fracas: PDP governors to lose party leadership

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is planning to remove state governors as party leaders, and give such position to party chairmen in their respective states, a top party official said yesterday.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity said the new arrangement is being worked out by top leaders of the party. He said if the arrangement is concluded, the party would recognise only the President as the national leader.
The PDP constitution does not recognize the position of party leader, but by convention, the President is known as the national leader of the party, while the governors are accorded similar recognition in their respective states.