Thursday, March 15, 2012

Nigerian security forces parade killers of British and Italian hostages




 Government yesterday recorded another major feat in the fight against Boko Haram Islamic fundamentalist sect when six prominent members of the sect, who took part in the abduction and killing of two expatriate staff of Stabilini Visioni Construction Company in Sokoto last week.


This is as the Department of State Security (DSS) headquarters yesterday paraded them, saying they were apprehended in various parts of the country in the course of investigating the abduction of the British and Italian nationals (Christopher McManus and Franco Lamolinara, respectively), who were abducted at their residence in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi state on May 11, 2011.


The sect has killed no less than 1,000 persons in various parts of the country since they commenced their onslaught to Islamise the northern parts of the country.


They had bombed churches, mosques, markets, shops and have recently resorted to burning primary schools as well as attacking military, police and other security agencies and para-military outfits.


According to Mr. Doyin Adetuberu, second-in-command to Merylin Ogar, the Assistant Director, Public Relations of the DSS, "after a painstaking investigation process, the Service made a number of arrests in Adamawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto and Kebbi States".


He said the people who were behind the dastardly act were aged between 19 and 20 and were discovered to have conducted surveillance on the victims before their abduction and taking into hostage.


Said Adetuberu: "They are Bashir Ibrahim (aka Adda'u); Ibrahim A. Habibu and Gambol Maiborodi. Further investigations revealed that the plot was masterminded by the Abu Mohammed led faction of the Boko Haram in Nigeria.


"Following a raid on Abu Mohammed's hideout at Layin Hanwa area of Zaria on 7th of March, 2012, Abu Mohammed and five others were arrested while holding a Shura Council (the sect's highest decision making body) meeting. In the ensuing exchange of gunfire, a soldier was killed and his throat slashed while one service personnel was seriously injured by members of the Boko Haram sect. Abu Mohammed and the other suspects sustained various degrees of wounds".


The DSS spokesman added that the guards protecting the two foreign hostages in Sokoto had been directed by their sect leader to kill them in the event of any envisaged threat.


"The arrested suspects, therefore, advised that a rescue operation be immediately initiated moreso as one of them had escaped during the Zaria raid.


"Consequently, a joint security operation was launched. One of the arrested suspects, Mohammed Rabiu Adam (aka Dan Hajiya) who killed the soldier during the Zaria raid, led the security team from Zaria about 11 pm on Wednesday 7th of March, 2012 to Sokoto and arrived their destination about 4:30 am on the 8th of March, 2012".


He added that "prior to their arrival, security operatives had mounted a street cordon and search operation along all the routes around Mabera Estate, Sokoto to prevent any attempt by the guards to smuggle out the hostages.


"Apparently acting on the directive of their member of the sect who escaped from Zaria, the guards murdered the hostages before the arrival of security forces. However, the guards could not leave the building because of the heavy security presence in the area".


The DSS added that when the security forces arrived at the building where the hostages were being held, there was a prolonged exchange of gunfire during which three of the guards were killed while the wife of one of them, sustained bullet wounds and was rushed to the hospital.


He said no lives were lost on the part of the security forces though some Service personnel sustained gunshot injuries.


"Altogether, the following persons have been arrested in connection with the incident: Abu Mohammed, Mohammed Rabi (aka Dan Hajiya), Abubakar Abdulrahman Habibu, Shitu Salihu, Abubakar Umar and Ahmed Samaila," he added.


He said Abu Mohammed unfortunately died on March 9, following severe bullet wounds sustained during the Zaria raid.


Meanwhile, Senate yesterday mandated its Committees on National Security and Intelligence, Defence and Army and Foreign Affairs, to investigate the recent failed attempt to rescue two foreigners captured by dreaded Boko Haram sect that eventually led to the killing of the hostages by their captors.


The decision of Red Chamber to investigate the failed rescue attempt was sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, who expressed dissatisfaction with incessant cases of kidnapping, abduction and hostage taking in the country.


In his remarks, Senate President David Mark, said the judiciary should be an important part of the struggle at wiping out terrorism, noting that the committees would have to look into the rescue operation with a view to determining what went wrong.


Although some senators said the rescue attempt was not failed because the perpetrators were killed and other arrested, Mark insisted that since the goal of the operation was to rescue the hostages, not achieving the goal was a failure.


Also, a minute's silence was observed by senators for the departed, even as it was resolved that a condolence message would be sent to the Governments of Britain and Italy as well as the families of the deceased.


Bagudu said the two gentlemen were held for over 10 months by terrorists until last Thursday they were killed by their abductors in the process of a joint rescue operation by Nigeria and British Special Forces.


In his words: "The Senate was aware of the pains, anguish and sorrow endured by the gentlemen, families and all those involved in the tragic rescue effort and observed the unprecedented diplomatic cooperation provided by the Federal Government of Nigeria to both Britain and Italy, a measure that underlies Nigeria's firm commitment against criminality and terrorism."


Bagudu further said the Federal Government, the Governments of Sokoto and Kebbi States, religious leaders and traditional rulers had called for the full sanction of the law on the perpetrators of the act.


Speaking in support of the motion, Senator Isa Galaudu said the operation might have been conducted in a manner that was below expectation and not properly planned, resulting in the death of the hostages.


But, the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, told the lawmakers that Nigerian security agencies could have done better if they had been allowed to handle the operation without the involvement of an outside entity.


Kicking against the position of Deputy Senate President, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, said: "It is well know that terrorism is a trans-border and transnational issue. It is no longer a local matter. We should be able to look beyond our borders in tackling the issues."


He said the thought that it was improper to engage the services of the British Forces was wrong in the light of the fact that a British citizen was involved.


In his contribution, Senator Pius Ewerhido, said the development was a national embarrassment, noting that security agencies should take advantage of the SIM card registration to reduce the activities of kidnappers in the country.


Daily Champion


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Mastermind behind the kidnap of Italian and British hostages dies in police custody

The suspected mastermind of the abduction of the British and Italian nationals Abu Mohammed has died in custody of the SSS.


Officials of the SSS told journalists on Wednesday that Mohammed died from injuries he sustained during a raid of his hideout at Layin Hanwa Area of Zaria.


According to the SSS, Mohammed was having a Shura Council, the Boko Haram highest decision making body, meeting with members of his when the security operatives stormed the venue of the meeting.


The SSS revealed that in the exchange of gunfire which ensured during the raid a soldier was killed and his throat slashed while one service prsonnel was seriously injured.


Mohammed and other suspects sustained varoius degrees of injuries.


Leadership


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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Nigerian couple torture house help to death

A policeman, Insp Kinanee Jacob, on Tuesday told an Ikeja High Court in Lagos how a 14-year-old boy, Oliver Arakwe, was allegedly tortured to death by his employers, Elochukwu and Chiamaka Nnajiofor.


Jacob was testifying in the murder trial of Elochukwu (40) and Chiamaka (26) before Justice Lateefat Okunnu.


Jacob, who was being led in evidence by Ms Olaide Eboda, Deputy Director, Directorate of Public Prosecution, said that the deceased was one of the three domestic servants of the Nnajiofors.


The witness said that Arakwe died on Aug. 17, 2010 at the Eko General Hospital, Surulere, after he was allegedly tortured and beaten by Chiamaka for "misbehaving".


He said: "The matter was transferred from Ago/Okota Police Station, Isolo to the Homicide Section, State CID, Yaba.


"During our investigation, it was discovered that Chiamaka actually tortured the deceased.


"When we got to the crime scene, we discovered that he was kept in the toilet for two days.


"He was then brought out and asked to wash some clothes but he could not perform the task because he was very weak".


According to him, this angered Chiamaka who then instructed another domestic-servant named Emmanuel, to flog him.


"When she discovered that Emmanuel was not flogging the deceased, she took a belt, tied him with a chain to the toilet bowl and beat him till he lost consciousness," Jacob alleged.


Jacob said that she later rushed the boy to the hospital, where she allegedly told the doctor that she "just saw the boy on the road".


The witness said that Arakwe died before the doctor could start treatment, and his body was transferred to the mortuary of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.


He said that the police recovered a chain, leather belt, rope and a big shoe among other exhibits from the residence of the Nnajiofors located at 81, Femi Tella Street, Ago/Okota, Isolo, Lagos.


Vanguard


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Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Economy of Nigeria picks up due to non-oil sector growth

* Nigeria GDP grows 7.68 pct in Q4 2011 vs 7.40 in Q3 


* Oil output falls in Q4 from year earlier


* GDP expected to jump after rebasing later this year


* Poverty increasing, in spite of growth (Adds details, quote, background)


By Joe Brock and Tim Cocks


ABUJA/LAGOS March 13 (Reuters) - Nigeria's economy grew at a faster rate in the fourth quarter last year than the previous three months because of a stronger performance in the non-oil sector, particularly telecoms, data showed on Tuesday.


Gross domestic product (GDP) in Africa's second-largest economy rose to 7.68 percent in the fourth quarter 2011, compared with 7.40 percent in the third quarter, the national bureau of statistics (NBS) said in a report.


Africa's largest oil exporter pumped an average of 2.4 million barrels per day in the last three months of the year, down from 2.6 million barrels per day a year earlier due to production outages.


But the non-oil sector grew 9.07 percent in the fourth quarter, higher than the 8.93 percent recorded in the same period in 2010.


"This growth was largely driven by improved activities in the telecommunications, building and construction, hotel and restaurant and business services," the NBS said.


Nigeria's economy grew 7.36 pct in the full year 2011, down from 7.98 pct in 2010, largely in line with expectations. The decline in growth reflects global economic sluggishness. Growth in Nigeria outperformed most developing economies.


Nigeria is reliant on oil exports for more than 95 percent of its foreign exchange revenues but only 15 percent of GDP. Agriculture is the largest contribution to GDP, making up about 40 percent of it.


Telecoms surged in Nigeria in the past decade after private companies were allowed to take advantage of the huge mobile phone market potential in the continent's most populous country.


"This sector continued to perform impressively and has remained one of the major drivers of growth in the Nigerian economy, with its contribution to total GDP increasing continuously," the NBS report said.


"The telecommunication sector recorded a real GDP growth of 36.31 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011," it added, but did not give a comparative figure for the previous quarter.


Investors are optimistic about the consumer potential in Nigeria, but so far the telecoms surge has not been followed in other sectors.


 


BUDGET COMING UP


Nigeria plans to change the base year for its GDP this year from to 2008 from 1990, a move that could lead to a "huge jump" in the estimated size of the West African country's economy.


When Ghana made a similar move to recalculate its GDP last November, its estimated output shot up by 60 percent, catapulting it into the ranks of the middle income countries.


Nigeria's parliament is deliberating on an amended 2012 budget proposal put forward by Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala last month.


Okonjo-Iweala widened the fiscal deficit projection in this year's spending plans to 2.97 percent last month, from the 2.77 percent in a previous budget plan presented last year due to lower revenue expectations.


The government was expecting to receive more funds after removing fuel subsidies on Jan. 1, but it was forced to reinstate them partially after tens of thousands took to the streets in more than a week of protests.


And the National Assembly usually adds to the budget.


"This is a cause for concern at a time when the government is trying to at least freeze recurrent expenditure and initiate some fiscal consolidation," said Standard Bank's Samir Gadio, adding that if they do it this time, the central bank would most likely be "forced to tighten monetary conditions further".


President Goodluck Jonathan won an election last year pledging to create jobs, boost woefully inadequate power supplies, unlock the world's seventh largest gas reserves and reduce poverty.


But reform plans have stalled. A bill aimed at overhauling the energy sector has been stuck in parliament for years, while a proposed sovereign wealth fund, the 2012 budget and power privatisation plans are months behind schedule.


Despite record high oil prices last year, Nigeria's foreign exchange reserves remained flat and oil savings fell. Nigeria is vulnerable to an oil price dip, but with prices at over $125 a barrel, revenues remain strong.


Despite rocketing growth, poverty is increasing in Nigeria owing largely to bad governance.


An NBS report a month ago showed poverty rose to 60.9 percent in 2010, compared with 54.7 percent in 2004, with almost 100 million people living on less than $1 a day.


"Growth without tangible development is a major risk to Nigeria's outlook," Gadio said. (Writing by Joe Brock. Editing by Jeremy Gaunt.)


Reuters


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Britain deports 120 Nigerians

One hundred and twenty Nigerians were deported yesterday, by government of the United Kingdom, for various offences; including lack of valid papers, over stay and other related immigration rules.


The deportees arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, aboard a chartered cargo aircraft.


It was gather that the deportees who arrived in the early hours of yesterday comprised mainly of young men and women.


As they waited along the main entrance into the cargo terminal, drawing unusual attention from airport workers who were rushing to resume work in the early hours, the deportees expressed reservations over the way and manner they were brought back home in the cargo aircraft, which they said is enough indication of the value government places on them.


Scores of airport workers stopped to interface with the deportees, as some of them expressed fears of not knowing what to fall back on, now that they are back in the country they left many years ago.


One of the deportees said, ' I am not interested in discussing why we were brought back home, but, my problem now is how to get out of this international airport without drawing unusual attention.


I must add that it is not a pleasant experience.'


Another deportee, a young man, who gave his name as Wale said 'How do I cope now that we have been sent home unprepared?


He blamed the leadership of the country for their predicament, affirming that if the economic situation at home were pleasant, Nigerians would have had no business traveling abroad to seek for greener pastures.


Cars, mainly commercial limousine operators, lined up at the main entrance of the cargo terminal, willing to ferry the deportees to their respective destinations.


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