We can’t rule out force against militants – Defence Minister

Minister of Defence Gen Mansur Dani-Ali(retd)

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Mansur Dan-Alli (retd.), has declared that the Federal Government cannot rule out force against the Niger Delta Avengers if peaceful dialogue fails.

Dan-Alli stated this during a courtesy call on Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha Jonah, at the Government House in Yenagoa.

The defence minister was in the Government House in company with Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonishakin and the Commander, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie.

Dan-Alli said his visit to Bayelsa State with the CDS was to see what was on the ground and the operational capability of the armed forces within the zone.

The minister said, “One of the cardinal objectives that brought us here is to look for peace. But we are also preparing in case the peace and negotiations are not favourable.

“We are also on our own side making all the necessary security arrangements so that there will be peace in the Niger Delta.”

When reminded of recent statement credited to the military that they could not rule out the use of force if the current peace process with the Avengers failed, the minister reiterated, ” We cannot rule it (force) out.”

When told that there would be collateral damage if the military declared war on the militants,  Dan-Alli said that there had never been war without peace.

He added, “We are not saying that we are going to war; we are doing internal security work and internal security work is not war, and so you cannot start claiming collateral damage.

“We know our rules of engagement, we cannot use forces like that without any mandate.  So, collateral damage does not come in here. As far as I am concerned, we are just trying to stop criminality in this general area.”

On his part, Olonishakin said the military has a constitutional duty to ensure that there is peace, advising those destroying the country’s critical infrastructure to put on their thinking cap and come to the negotiation table.

The CDS said, “We have allowed truce to ensure that whoever that wants to come to talk can be given the opportunity, then while giving the opportunity, we also ensuring that our troops are in position to make sure that the truce is well implemented.

“However, we want to tell those who are sabotaging the critical infrastructure that they have to put on their reasoning cap and ensure that they come to the negotiation table and discuss.

“We in the military will enforce and ensure that critical infrastructures are protected and ensure that anyone found sabotaging the economy is properly dealt with and we will also ensure that those who are being involved in all the criminality are brought to book.”

In his remarks, Jonah called for the establishment of special brigades of the Nigerian Army in the state, with a view to curbing criminal acts and contributing to the overall peace and stability of the Niger Delta.

Jonah noted that the creation of two battalions as earlier approved before his retirement from the military would not only assist in securing the nation’s critical assets in the state, but also reduce response time in the event of any security challenge.

He also lauded the Federal Government’s security outfit in the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe, for its initiative to involve communities in intelligence gathering towards stemming security challenges in the region.

Describing the initiative as thoughtful, Jonah pointed out that no security arrangement in the area would succeed without the effective collaboration of the people, given the peculiar terrain of the region.

While expressing gratitude to the Minister of Defence and his entourage for the visit, the Deputy Governor reaffirmed the state government’s commitment towards partnering with security agencies to achieve enduring peace.

According to Jonah, the Seriake Dickson administration would not renege on its stance on zero tolerance for crime and criminality, as it is in the best interest of the state to provide a peaceful environment to attract investments.

Punch Newspapers

$321m Abacha’s Swiss loot to be repatriated

Abacha

Nigeria and Switzerland on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the repatriation of $321 million stashed in the European nation’s banks by the late maximum ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha.

The pact also seeks to block accounts linked to stolen funds. This is the second batch of the stolen money linked to the late Abacha.

Switzerland in 2005 also repatriated $722m to Nigeria.

Eric Mayoraz, the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, hinted that both countries are now in the process of repatriating the looted fund.

According to him, the MoU, will help to remove all the legal bottlenecks in the fund repatriation.

The envoy according to The Nation spoke during the signing of MoU on Mutual Legal Assistance on criminal matters, between the Swiss government and the Federal Government in Abuja.

Mayoraz noted that Friday’s event is significant in eradicating every bottleneck associated with the repatriation of stolen funds kept in his country.

The ambassador, while speaking stated that the pact is aimed at fostering understanding between the two countries as it relates to their different legal system said, “We are now in the process of repatriating $321m from the second batch of the Abacha loot.

“Our countries enjoy excellent relations and we cooperate as partners in many fields, particularly on the return of looted assets, migration, human rights, humanitarian assistance and many others.

“Today, we decide to take this cooperation forward to deepen it in the field of judicial cooperation. By signing a Memorandum of Understanding in this important area, our two states further strengthen their ties of friendship and cooperation.”

PM News

Nigerians are desperate to see PDP return to power – Adeyeye

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday claimed that Nigerians are desperate to see the party back at the helm of affairs in the country due the economic challenges being experienced presently.

The claimed was made by the Spokesperson to the Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the party leadership, Dayo Adeyeye, while addressing some journalists in Abuja during the inauguration of the 88-member committee for the party’s national convention.
He added that Nigerians are already counting down to the 2019 general elections with the aim of voting out the All Progressives Congress, APC.

He said, “They want PDP to come back to power. In the days of the PDP’s 16 years in power, it was a time of plenty and we have seen one year of scarcity, hardship and poverty in the land. It is obvious that Nigerians are not happy with the present state of affairs; so they are eager to have PDP back.
“People are already counting days for the APC because they want this government to go and PDP is poised to take over power but we need to do the needful, organise a transparent convention to bring in the right men and women to take over the operations of the party.”
The PDP spokesman further said that former national chairman, Ali-Modu Sheriff, Dr Cairo Ojuogboh, and Senator Hope Uzodinma are acting rebelliously against the party.
He noted that the activities of some disgruntled elements have not dismantled the party in any way, adding that the PDP remains a family.

He added, “There are no factions in the PDP.
“You see, there could be a few rebels, a few disgruntled people for one reason or the other but if you know our party and the array of personalities in it, you will ask yourself what is a party made up of? The answer is that in a party, you have the governors, members of the National Assembly, state chapters and elders, all of them are together.”
The Spokesperson added that the fact that one or two people are showing their annoyance and registering their unhappiness does not divide the party.
“We are going to have a very free, fair and open convention, a unity convention in Port Harcourt on August 17. PDP remains the biggest party in Nigeria and I can confidently say that by this time next year, our opponents, who are today in power, a good number of its members will be begging to join the PDP. Nigerians are yearning for PDP.”

Daily Post

Intelligence Sources Warn Buhari Of Impending Religious Crisis

 

Unless President Muhammadu Buhari’s government rises to the occasion, a politically-motivated religious crisis is underway that may threaten Nigeria’s unity, credible sources within Nigeria’s intelligence community have said.  

They identified the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa, Plateau and Benue States as being at high risk.
Confiding in SaharaReporters, the sources, who comprise top investigators and surveillance operatives, expressed concern over the lack of proactive action by the government to tame the danger, which is said to be at the instance of certain interests in Nigeria.
They also drew attention to the high rate of arms-proliferation in satellite areas of Abuja and the six States identified.  They said certain elements that are indirect vendors of the vested interests are social media platforms as tools of incitement, and that this is already well-documented.
In addition, they said that there are local artists who are producing locally-made guns and other dangerous weapons.
“We are working among agencies and have been submitting prompt Situation Reports on Abuja and states concerned especially Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Nasarawa and Plateau as launch pad of those masterminding politically motivated religious crises,” one of the sources said, adding that they are covering all religious and political gatherings and reporting promptly.
“We are doing our best and submitting overwhelming evidence but the truth is, there is no sound coordination to execute SITREPs. The rate at which it is going is [scary], we are in danger if nothing is done to tame.”
The officer averred that all recent religious and ethnic killings have been tailored towards inciting crises.
He gave the examples of:
·      The killing on May 29 in Niger State of a 24-year old man and three security personnel;
·      The killing of a pastor’s wife in Kano on June 2;
·      The June 9 attack of a man in Kaduna over eating during the fasting period; and
·      The killing of a female preacher in Abuja on July 9.
“Add all these and the tension on religion and kidnappings, study reactions and see the politics in it, we are doing our best, as we speak yet there is no robust approach,” he said.

Sahara Reporters

We’ve nothing to lose if oil production is crippled, militants tell FG

Niger Delta Avengers

One of the militant groups that has emerged since renewed militancy in the Niger Delta began, the Ultimate Warriors of Niger Delta, has told the Federal Government that they (militants) have nothing to lose should oil production in the country is crippled.

The militant group which is one of the affiliate body of the rampaging Niger Delta Avengers described the double speak manner of the federal government on dialoguing with the people of the region as worrisome and inciting.

The spokesman of the Ultimate Warrior , Sibiri Taiowoh, said in a statement, “We have said it before that we have nothing to lose on the bombing of oil pipelines because our mission is to ground the oil economy if our demands are not met.

We have said we are doing what we are doing to prod the government to renegotiate the control of our oil resources and other related matters. What we are doing now is the only way to this kind of agitation.”

It stressed that the government would not be able to withstand the whirlwind destruction of oil installations when the widow of negotiation and dialogue they had given elapsed.

“ We have watch with chagrin the recent utterance by the President and his Vice and all we are seeing is them tacitly playing double standard and lips services to the demand of the groups as it concerns the Niger Delta question and that is why all of our Units and affiliates have not fully heeded to our ceasefire.

“Today the President will say something, tomorrow his Vice and some of their dishonest and selfish lieutenants will contradict him and that only shows how confused and unserious the government is about the problems and how to deal with them.”

Punch Newspapers

Boroh to Militants: You are Destroying the Niger Delta

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator, Amnesty Programme, retired Brigadier General Paul Boroh, has stated that the blowing up of oil and gas installations by the Niger Delta militants was counter-productive to the region, its economy and its people.

Boroh stated this against the background of the vandalism of oil and gas installations by a militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

According to Boroh, the militants who are vandalising oil and gas installations in the country were unwittingly destroying the Niger Delta region and exerting negative economic consequences on Nigeria.

Boro stated these on Wednesday while delivering his address at the graduation ceremony for seventy-two former-militants from the region who undertook training in fish farming at the Institute of Oceanography, University of Calabar.

“You can agitate through various means but not through violence. Blowing up pipelines in the Niger Delta only affects us, our children, our environment and the economy of our country. You can protest peacefully and you will be listened to. We must develop as a country. Nigeria is the only country we have. Any other country you go to you will always be a second-class citizen.

“A strategic thinker never uses his home as a battleground. You have to make sure your resources are preserved. If you damage your place, where will your children stay? What future will we have? Let us not damage our territory. The Niger Delta must develop and we are the only ones that can do it. We must think forward and positively,”Boroh said.

Boroh said with the completion of the training the former militants would contribute towards revamping the nations economy by providing additional employment opportunity.

ThisDay

Wimbledon 2016: Serena Williams beats Angelique Kerber to win 22nd Grand Slam

Williams won her first Wimbledon title in 2002

World number one Serena Williams beat German fourth seed Angelique Kerber to win a seventh Wimbledon and 22nd Grand Slam title.

The American, 34, coped with a gusty wind on Centre Court to win 7-5 6-3 and equal Steffi Graf's Open era record of major titles.
Kerber had beaten Williams in the Australian Open final in January but could not produce another shock.
Williams ends a losing run at Slams stretching back to Wimbledon last year.
Fourteen years since she first won Wimbledon, Williams claimed the title for a seventh time after dropping just one set all tournament.
The world number one banished memories of last year, when she fell two matches short of a historic calendar Grand Slam, and of losing in the Australian and French Open finals this year.
"It's been incredibly difficult not to think about it," she said of finally winning number 22.
"It makes the victory even sweeter to know how hard I worked hard for it.
"This court definitely feels like home, I have a match later today in the doubles, so I'll be back out."
Williams moves alongside German great Graf in the all-time list of Grand Slam singles champions, and just two behind overall leader Margaret Court, the Australian who won 13 of her 24 major titles before tennis turned professional in 1968.

 Williams had tried and failed three times to win her 22nd major title but she finally got over the line with a performance that owed as much to nerve as to skill.
Kerber, 28, was the outsider but buoyed by her win over Williams in Melbourne, and the swirling wind added another element of uncertainty to the final.
The German's serve was under pressure immediately but after she saw off three break points in the second game, Kerber managed to contain Williams for the most part with her relentless hitting from corner to corner.
A pumped-up Williams roared in celebration after one lunging volley, and again when three serves got her out of trouble at 5-5, and it was Kerber's resistance which broke first.
After a carefully managed 12 games the German made only her fourth and fifth errors of the set to fall 15-40 behind, before Williams converted her second set point with a thumping backhand into the corner.
Kerber was not about to fold, however, finally earning her first break point of the match at 3-3 in the second set after one hour and 13 minutes - only to watch as Williams hammered a 117mph ace out wide.
And moments later an engrossing final came to a sudden end.
Kerber mis-hit a backhand to drop serve and Williams then powered through her final service game, punching away a forehand volley on match point and falling back on to the Centre Court turf.

BBC Sports

Nigerian Student Stabbed to Death in London

A Nigerian student, Fola Orebiyi, was reportedly stabbed to death on Sunday in Notting Hill, London, by a gang of youths.

According to the UK-based Evening Standard, Orebiyi was stabbed in a street clash close to Westbourne Grove just yards from the Portobello Arts Club.

The 17-year-old was reportedly involved in a fight on a nearby estate with a gang of youths, who chased him into the busy road where he was attacked.
Police and paramedics tried to resuscitate him for a long time but to no avail. He collapsed and bled to death.

The deceased’s neighbor, Osman Sahal, told the police: “He was a nice boy and very considerate; none of us can understand how this could have happened.
“As far as I knew, he was never in trouble. I suppose we must now wait for the police to investigate.”

Orebiyi, who completed his General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) at Holland Park in London, was studying for his A levels at the Chelsea Academy before his death.
After the incident, a yet-to-be identified 15-year-old boy was arrested by the London police in connection with the death.

An anonymous teenager was quoted to have told the police: “I know what happened, he was protecting a friend over a silly beef which turned violent.”
A teenager, who also pleaded anonymity, said Orebiyi was stabbed in the neck in front of shocked passersby and tourists.

An eyewitness, Mark Gettleson said: “People saw him fall down and try to get to his feet again. Police and paramedics tried to resuscitate him for a long time, they did everything they could.

“It’s absolutely tragic another young man has died on our streets,” Gettleson added.
Another witness, a mother of one, said she stood by and watched as the police tried to save the bleeding boy. She added that the ambulance wasted time in arriving the scene.

She said: “It was traumatising. It took half an hour for the ambulance to arrive even though there are hospitals all around. I spoke to the person who called the police and he said it took them so long to get here.

“The police were all on him trying to resuscitate. All I could see were his feet and lots of blood. I’m a mum, for me this is so sad, that’s someone’s child. That’s someone’s baby.”

ThisDay

EFCC Finds N2.5B In Former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah’s Housemaid’s Account

Stella Oduah

Agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have discovered the sum of N2.5 billion in a bank account opened in the name of a housemaid to former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, who is now a senator representing Anambra State in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Two senior EFCC sources told our correspondent that the bank account and its huge deposits had been opened and operated without the knowledge of the former minister’s housemaid. “Senator Oduah apparently opened the account with her housemaid’s name, image, and details without the housemaid knowing about it,” said one EFCC agent familiar with the scandal.
Another EFCC source told SaharaReporters that Ms. Oduah had been going around to some top officials of the Muhammadu Buhari administration seeking their help to scuttle her impending trial. Last week, she asked for a meeting with EFCC chairman Ibrahim Magu, claiming she wanted to meet in her official capacity as a senator.
The two EFCC sources who briefed our correspondent on the “housemaid” account disclosed that Ms. Oduah was the sole signatory to the account, adding that they were still connecting the dots to uncover how the ex-Aviation Minister managed to pull off such a money laundering operation.
“As of last week, the account was still active and contained over N2.5 billion,” said one EFCC source. He added that he could not ascertain whether the EFCC chairman, who is currently traveling in Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj, had ordered the freezing of the account.
One of our EFCC sources revealed that the discovery of the “maid” account meant that the former minister must have stolen as much as N5.6 billion so far from the Aviation Ministry’s funds during her ministerial term.
SaharaReporters had revealed in earlier reports that EFCC investigators had so far determined that Ms. Oduah split N3.6 billion that she acquired illegally among eight companies.
In August 2015, Ms. Oduah filed an application at a Federal High Court to stop the EFCC from investigating allegations that she bought two ostensibly bulletproof BMW cars at $1.6 million, or $800,000 apiece. A controversial judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusa, initially granted the order sought by Senator Oduah. However, in February 2016, after Justice Yunusa was transferred out of Lagos, another federal high court judge vacated the order, permitting the EFCC to carry on with its investigation.
SaharaReporters had broken the report about the BMW scam during Ms. Oduah’s ministerial tenure. Several BMW dealers in Europe and North America told our reporters that what the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) paid for the two BMW cars far exceeded the price ranges for such bulletproof automobiles.
Ms. Oduah is a close ally of embattled Senate President Bukola Saraki, who is the defendant in two criminal trials in Abuja pertaining to forgery and false declaration of assets.

Sahara Reporters

Sell tickets in Naira, Nigeria warns Foreign airlines

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, has warned all airlines selling flight tickets in foreign currencies in Nigeria to desist from the practice forthwith.
The NCAA issued the warning in a statement issued by its Acting General Manager, Public Relations, Sam Adurogboye, in Lagos on Sunday.
The statement said the act contravened the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, guidelines on the cost of products or services in Nigeria.
“The CBN, via a circular issued on April 17,2015, has directed that “pricing of any product shall continue to be in naira only and it is illegal to price or denominate the cost of any product or service (visible or invisible) in any foreign currency.
“The NCAA is disturbed by reports that some foreign airlines are declining to accept Nigeria’s local currency – the naira — as payment for tickets.
“In other words, some foreign airlines have blatantly resorted to selling tickets only in foreign currency,” it said.
According to the statement, the act is considered insensitive to passengers who have elected on their own volition to choose the airlines for their travel.
The statement said such act also contravened the provisions of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and other countries as contained in Article 8 (4).

“As a consequence of this action, the regulatory authority has written warning letters to such erring airlines to immediately comply with the provisions of BASA and CBN directive.
“Sales of tickets and services should henceforth be offered to air travellers in naira without further delay,” it said.
The statement added that the Federal Government had taken measures to ameliorate the subsisting foreign exchange issues.
(NAN)

Herdsmen attack: Catholic church holds protest rally in Enugu, Nsukka, Awgu

The three Roman Catholic Church Dioceses in Enugu State, Saturday, held protest rallies across the State over the menace of herdsmen.
The protest, which held simultaneously in Nsukka, Awgu and Enugu, attracted ‎thousands of the church members, including priests.
DAILY POST reports that while the protesters moved round the streets in Nsukka and Awgu Dioceses, the story was different in Enugu where they held a prayer procession at the Holy Ghost Cathedral.
The earlier schedule obtained by our correspondent showed that members of the Enugu Catholic Diocese would march round the streets before terminating at the Government House, where they would make their grievances known to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
However, the Church later received Governor Ug‎wuanyi, other members of the State Executive Council and all the Security Chiefs.
It was gathered that they were in the Church to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
Addressing the Church, the Governor commended the Church for the leading role it had continued to play in the struggle against social injustice, human rights violations and other crimes against humanity in every part of the country.
‎He described the attack on Nimbo community, where scores of people were killed as “a day that will ever remain dark, sad and solemn in the memory of the people of Enugu State and indeed Nigerians at large.”
“On the issues you have raised in this rally, I wish to state that I address you today not only as a Catholic but as your Governor and the Chief Security Officer of Enugu State. While taking my oath of office, I swore to do everything within my powers to preserve the security of lives and property of the people of Enugu State.
“You can therefore be assured that I will not fail in this responsibility and be further assured that whatever message you convey through me to the appropriate authorities at Abuaj, will be promptly delivered. Regarding the proposed grazing bill, I assure you that I will duly convey your decisions on the matter to the State’s representatives at the National Assembly”, he pledged.
Earlier in a joint press statement read by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rt. Rev. Callistus Onaga, on behalf of the Bishop of Awgu and Nsukka Dioceses, he said “the free grazing of cattle in our area has now become a threat not only to the growing of crops, which is the mainstay of our sedentary people, but also to our lives.
“That the nomadic lifestyle makes policing and the pursuit of criminals much more complex and hazardous, while providing terrorists like Boko Haram operatives with ready cover for penetrating every nook and. Cranny of our country.”
Onaga, while calling on the government not to turn a blind eye to life-threatening problems of any section of the citizens.
“In the light of this, therefore, we call on the Federal Government to drop, without further delay, the so-called ‘Grazing Bill’, which is quite capable of tearing apart the fragile unity of our country.
“We urge all our local community leaders to refrain from entering into agreements with herdsmen or with any other group of persons that would create room for tension and crisis.

“We would advise that all such agreements already in existence be renegotiated in a way that would ensure justice for all the parties”, the Bishop further stated.

Daily Post

Expert advocates military training for youths, wants NYSC scrapped

President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to introduce a two-year compulsory military training programme for the Nigerian youths, whose ages range between 20-30 years, so as to inculcate in them patriotism, leadership skills and curb anti-social challenges facing the nation.

According to an educationist and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State, Chief Livinus Okwara, who made the call in Lagos, on Thursday, the training programme would involve graduates of the nation’s tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, who would be paid stipends during the duration of their training.
He said in view of the funding and other operational challenges currently facing the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, scheme, the programme should be phased out and replaced with the compulsory military training programme.
He regretted that insecurity, as well as insurgency in parts of Nigeria, including the dreaded Boko Haram in the North East, Niger Delta militants, kidnappings and armed robbery attacks had overstretched the country’s armed forces, including the military and the police, adding that graduates of the programme could be easily mobilised as a counterforce to check such challenges from escalating and impacting the country negatively.


The Nation