Boko Haram looting our armoury – DHQ

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1BxzIFc" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://ift.tt/1BxzIFc" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b><br/> </b> <b>The Defence Headquarters has said that it was aware that members of the outlawed Islamist sect, Boko Haram, were in the habit of looting its armoury.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The military authorities stated that they were making efforts to secure all armouries in its various formations across the country.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, made the disclosure during his first real-time Twitter chat which held on Sunday night.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The army general was, however, not categorical about the grades of weapons just as he did not name the armouries that have so far been looted by the insurgents.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We are taking measures to ensure that our armouries are secured. We agree and are aware Boko Haram has stolen arms,” Olukolade said while responding to an inquiry by one of the participants of the Twitter chat.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Defence spokesman explained that the military high command frowned on the proliferation of arms, noting that inter-agency cooperation had recently been heightened to contain the menace.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />According to Olukolade, the policing of Nigerian borders with other West African neighbours have been repositioned in view of the security threats posed by the Boko Haram insurgents.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Interagency collaboration has been heightened; from all indications policing of our borders has increased. Our strategic information-sharing policy considers transparency, security, propriety and accuracy in reporting to the public,” he added.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Warning that the military would deal decisively with saboteurs among its officers and men engaged in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North East, Olukolade said the service chiefs were “monitoring all personnel both in the frontline and rear”, adding that “suspicious people are being vetted.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Dismissing the insinuation that top military commanders were feeding large on the entitlements of the rank and file of the armed forces, the military spokesman argued that the quality of food being provided for the officers and men at the battlefront are the same.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He claimed that the welfare package for the slain officers and men who die on the battlefield was attractive.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The food they (officers and men) eat is within standards and best diet design as practicable. All eat the same food, be it officers or soldiers.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“By the way, there are two levels of insurance covering all soldiers and men involved in the anti-terror war. There is the Personnels’ Service Arm insurance, the Defence Headquarters Insurance package which is different from the gratuity, death benefits and children scholarships. On honour for slain soldiers, we do give due and befitting burials,” Olukolade said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />According to him, since Shekau has been killed by the military forces, the Armed Forces would remain focused by maintaining the tempo of “firepower to ensure that we sweep them (Boko Haram) off their nuisance hotspots.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Insisting that the Defence Headquarters would not concede any portion of Nigeria to terrorists, Olukolade said the surveillance and air operations were ongoing with a view to exerting control and ensure minimum collateral damage.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Olukolade further said that the Nigerian Armed Forces were better armed, responsive and service oriented when placed in comparison with their Cameroonian counterparts.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We welcome input from allies. It still remains our duty to get best results for our people. We are exchanging ideas and intelligence.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We have a Nigerian-led Multinational Joint Task Force particularly on the Lake Chad Basin area. Cameroon is inactive in this.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Any campaign to suggest that our Army is weaker than Boko Haram, Cameroon’s or any other force is a campaign against Nigeria.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“There is so much eagerness to discredit us and make us bow psychologically. I am working for my country. No denials.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“They are trying to pitch the soldiers against the leadership. Any military that loses leadership is doomed for the nation.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Officers are paid to manage soldiers. Civilians can’t control them. Anarchy looms if authority loses grip.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Olukolade added that there was no time frame to putting an end to the insurgency as terrorism is usually a long fight.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He, thereafter, warned the media against what he described as the undermining of structures.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“This is not the time to prove that the pen is mightier than the sword. Nigerian media should not undermine structures. We appeal to foreign and the local press to be circumspect and be consistent with democracy and public interests.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We agree that there is such a need to review its (military) communication mechanism and we have engaged with various stakeholders to maintain robust counter-terrorist communications,” he said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Boko Haram looting our armoury – DHQ

The Defence Headquarters has said that it was aware that members of the outlawed Islamist sect, Boko Haram, were in the habit of looti...

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We need a “common sense” revolution in Nigeria - Tinubu

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/ZlWZ1t" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://ift.tt/ZlWZ1t" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>A former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says there is a need for the country to undergo a “common sense” revolution in the country.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Tinubu, who is a national leader of the All Progressives Congress said the many years of misrule by successive Peoples Democratic Party presidents had continued to sink the country further into crisis.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The former governor said this in a statement titled ‘A Return to Decency,’ on Monday.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He described the 16 years of PDP rule at the federal level as a period of steady decline into disaster.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “The longer they rule, the less benefit the people derive. Nigeria now needs a ‘common sense revolution,’ a revolution that calls forth a return to decency, probity, transparency of process and fairness in outcome.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“This is done not by subterfuge, divide and rule and turning Nigeria in a field of discord or a street of broken institutions. It is accomplished by honouring the principles of democratic good governance and economic justice. It is done by persuading the people they are better off as one instead of better off tearing at one another’s throats.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Nigerians should be prepared for change. We must rescue Nigeria from those set to cause it irreparable harm. The change I talk about is the only route to our deliverance from 16 years of the PDP locusts. Nigeria is ours to keep and its democracy is ours to save.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He advised that this year’s Independence Day should be a time of sober reflection because other countries that received independence at the same time as Nigeria had since surpassed the country.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He described the Nigeria of today as the nightmare of its founding fathers. Tinubu further berated the PDP-led Federal Government of using religion to divide Nigerians.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “We commemorate this Independence Day because the nation has survived despite its many challenges. We dare not celebrate because the nation has not flourished as it should. Fifty four years our national trek began with hope and promise, peace and unity.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Today, the nation staggers beneath the weight of trouble multiplied by hardship. Peace and unity seem to have yielded the moment to violence and discord. We exist as a political unit on a map but we do not prosper as brothers and sisters in one nation, under one flag and pursuant to one accord.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Never has an elected government in Nigeria employed religion as a tool to divide the people, setting Nigerian brother against brother in a manner that allows this administration to function at the basest level of governance while seeking to establish a political domination that seeks no greater purpose than its self-perpetuation.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He described attempts to stigmatise and physically intimidate the APC and the militarisation of elections as features of a perverse democracy.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He described President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda as an avenue to siphon funds through a dubious blueprint.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“They do not have a national blueprint or vision. They do have a blueprint and vision for excessive self-enrichment. Their equation is simple: You work, they feast. You toil, they grow fat. You seek a decent wage; they pilfer the collective treasury to enjoy a king’s ransom,” he said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said rather than promote religious tolerance and harmonious living, Jonathan’s government believes its electoral chances are enhanced by promoting ethnicism, internal divisions and religious suspicion but “successful nations are not built this way, have we not learned the lesson that we paid the high price of civil war to learn.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

We need a “common sense” revolution in Nigeria - Tinubu

A former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says there is a need for the country to undergo a “common sense” revolution in th...

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BRT RAMPAGE: Army states own side of story, blasts Soyinka

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1vYxxro" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://ift.tt/1vYxxro" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>The Army authorities, yesterday, in Lagos, said the Lance Corporal who was knocked down and killed by a BRT bus along Ikorodu Road last Friday, was not riding motorbike on the BRT lane as widely reported.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Rather, the deceased, according to the Army, was crushed to death on the normal lane plied by other motorists, maintaining also that soldiers were not responsible for the damage done to BRT buses but hoodlums who hijacked the situation.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />This is just as the Nigerian Army has taken a swipe at Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, over a statement credited to him describing the Army as ‘mad,’ while reacting to the incident at a public function last week.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b>Army blasts Soyinka</b><br/><br /><br/><br />The army in a statement made available to newsmen and signed by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Omale Ochagwuba, said: “In a situation where a respected elder statesman will stand up in a public function and based on hear-say call a respected professional organisation like the Nigerian Army which is one of the major pillars of democracy and fighting to keep the country together as mad, is unfortunate and unbecoming.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“In less than a week, he has made two careless offensive statements. At times, he seems to speak before weighing the consequences of his statement.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The Nigerian Army is a professional force which is law-abiding like any other citizen. The military is a highly disciplined organisation which also takes necessary steps to see that its erring members are brought to book at any time the need arises to enforce discipline.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b>How the soldier was killed</b><br/><br /><br/><br />To set the records straight, Ochagwuba explained that: “On July 4, a Lance Corporal of Nigerian Army, who was on his way to the office on Ikorodu Road around Obanikoro area between 6:30 and 6:45am, was knocked down and killed by a BRT bus with number plate KSF 995 XJ.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“It is pertinent to state here that the late soldier was riding a power bike approved by the state government and he was neither riding inside a BRT lane nor was the BRT bus that killed him driving inside the BRT lane.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The innocent law-abiding soldier was killed on the normal lane being plied by everybody as against what is being alleged by some sections of the media. The soldier was hit from the rear and killed instantly.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“As stated earlier in our release, the mayhem visited on the BRT buses was the handiwork of hoodlums who seized the opportunity of the tragic situation to vent their anger on the buses for reasons best known to them.<br/><br /><br/><br />“We know the peculiar nature of Lagos where miscreants always take advantage of situations like this to cause havoc.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“In a situation like this, people are bound to wrongfully accuse soldiers because they were seen around the offending bus which was not even attacked. With careful analysis of the incident, one will observe that the BRT buses vandalised were far removed from the scene of the accident.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b>Soldiers wrongly accused</b><br/><br /><br/><br />“It is pertinent to once more remind the good people of Lagos that the BRT bus in question that killed the soldier and triggered the tragic consequences was neither vandalised nor burnt.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“It was same soldiers who are being wrongfully accused of burning buses and causing mayhem, which is not true, that secured the BRT bus and protected it from hoodlums before it was later towed into the barracks for safety and also prevented the hoodlums from causing further mayhem on the road and cleared the route for traffic to flow.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We have pictures of the bus at the scene of the accident and while it was being towed away to safety. The bus in question has since been released to the BRT management.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The question begging for answer now is: why is the bus itself that killed the soldier which was already in soldiers hands not vandalised or burnt? Is it not logical that, it should have been the first target of their anger as alleged?<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“These are hard times for Nigerians and all hands should be on the deck to bring peace to the country rather than inflame passion. The Lagos State Government, which is supposed to be the most aggrieved party, did not jump into conclusions. The Lagos State Government said they are investigating. That is a matured way of handling situation rather than reacting on public opinion.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

BRT RAMPAGE: Army states own side of story, blasts Soyinka

The Army authorities, yesterday, in Lagos, said the Lance Corporal who was knocked down and killed by a BRT bus along Ikorodu Road last ...

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Why i killed my father - Redeemer’s University undergraduate

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br/><br /><br/><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><img border="0" height="256" src="http://ift.tt/1jf3aNv" width="640"/> </div><br /><br/><br />The 21-year-old Redeemer’s University undergraduate, Tolani, who killed his father, Charles Ajayi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, last Thursday, has said his late father provoked him into killing him.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><i><b>NigerianEye</b> </i> had reported that Tolani murdered his father at Canaanland Street in the Redemption Camp along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The 300-level student of Department of History and International Relations, spoke with our correspondent on Tuesday at the Ogun State Police Command Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta , where he was being detained for the crime.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Tolani, who the vice chancellor of RUN said was facing a disciplinary committee in the school before he committed the crime, was initially reluctant to open up to NE.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “Go and read the statement I made to the police.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />But he later changed his mind after a measure of persistence, saying he regretted his action.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Expatiating on how the father provoked him, he said there was an argument between him and his father.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “My father went to the kitchen and got a stick (wooden spoon) which he used on me repeatedly and I tried to defend myself. Then, he bit me on the shoulder and I got angry.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“I initially used a normal small kitchen knife. Later, I used cutlass to attack him. I regret the action.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He further explained that the incident happened around 1am, adding that during the scuffle, his father bit him many times.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said during the incident, only he and the late father were at home, while his mother was in Abuja.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />When asked whether his parents lived together as husband and wife, Tolani said “ We lived in Abuja; I schooled in the camp (Redemption Camp). My father came for a programme. My school was on break, so, I went to meet him. We were meant to go back to Abuja together, then the incident happened and here I am.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Tolani, who said he had offended his mother by his action, added that he had sent some people to beg her on his behalf for forgiveness.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “I know my mother is still grieving and I want to give her time. But I have sent some people to talk to her that I am sorry, and that she should forgive me. I have talked to my sister.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />When asked whether he was under the influence of drugs when he committed the crime, Tolani who confessed that he had been into drugs, said, “I tried those drugs myself. I might have heard it from my friends, but I tried it myself.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“But I know there is no way Nigerians can help me. I am going to face my judgement. I am meant to pay for what I have done. It is not as if I am ready, it is something that is inevitable, something that is going to happen, I am just waiting for it.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Why i killed my father - Redeemer’s University undergraduate

The 21-year-old Redeemer’s University undergraduate, Tolani, who killed his father, Charles Ajayi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, last Thurs...

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