Soldiers arrest four Boko Haram spies in Bauchi

The soldiers of the 33 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Bauchi, have arrested four persons for carrying out surveillance activities of the Boko Haram insurgents.

Soldiers dragging the suspect away

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Wednesday one the detained terrorists spies, Victor Moses, carried out a surveillance mission for the Boko Haram before the attack on the Catholic Church at Madallah, Niger State on December 25, 2011.

According Usman, the spies included Victor Moses, Abubakar Shettima, Salisu Mohammed and Umar Sadiq Madaki.

He said that the troops arrested the Boko Haram spies when Victor Modes went to a mosque ostensibly to get converted to Islam in Bauchi.

He said that the worshippers who doubted the sincerity of Moses alerted the security operatives who arrested him and commenced a process of investigation into the matter.

Moses was said to have confessed to the military interrogators that he was working for an Islamic Cleric in Gombe who was at large.

He was also said to have mentioned one Abubakar Shettima, who is based in Jos, as the link between him and the cleric.

Usman said that Moses also confessed that he carried out surveillance activities for the Boko Haram on places targeted for attack including the Madalla church Christmas day attack.

“The headquarters of 33 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army, Bauchi, has arrested four persons suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists spies that include the one that carried out surveillance on the Madalla church before it was bombed.

“The men Victor Moses, Abubakar Shettima, Salisu Mohammed Bello and Umar Sadiq Madaki have been carrying out surveillance mission for the Boko Haram terrorists on target for suicide bombings or attacks.

“Luck ran out for them when Victor Moses went to a mosque in Bauchi and pretended that he wanted to be converted to Islam and the people suspecting that he was not genuine, promptly reported the matter.

“On interrogation he confirmed that he was working for an Islamic cleric in Gombe (now at large) and that their point of contact was Abubakar Shetima based in Jos. He confessed to casing targets for suicide bomb attacks including that of the Catholic Church Madalla, Suleja, Niger State on Christmas day, 25th December 2011.” The statement read in part.

Usman said that the four Boko Haram spies, undergoing interrogation at the headquarters of the 33 Artillery Brigade, Bauchi, were paraded by the Brigade’s Commander, Brig. Gen. Abraham Dusu, on Monday.

Soldiers arrest four Boko Haram spies in Bauchi

Passengers chose to disembark via ladder, says Aero

Aero Contractors yesterday explained that passengers chose to disembark from the Boeing 737-500, which landed at the Bauchi Airport on Saturday, via a ladder when they could no longer wait for the airstairs.

The 34-chartered passengers, including the groom, were in Bauchi to attend a wedding.

They were said to have pressured the pilot  that they be allowed to disembark  from the aircraft via a ladder.

Though the airline did not give the name of the groom, who hired the aircraft, it said the agitated passengers forced Capt Nikcevic Vlado to allow them disembark after waiting 10 minutes for the airport manager to provide the airstairs.

Addressing a briefing yesterday in Lagos, the Accountable Manager and Managing Director, Capt Russel Lee Foon, attributed the breach in operational procedures to failure of the airport management.

He said the pilot would not have allowed a breach of safety procedure, but was unsure of the temperament of the passengers, who declined to return to Abuja.

Foon said the airline was assured of adequate ground handling services by the Bauchi Airport Manager before the airline embarked on the flight.

The managing director said the flight was booked by a group of young people, who were to attend a wedding, with the groom was on board.

He said on December 18, the  Head of Ground Operations, Peter Omata, confirmed through the Bauchi Airport Manager, Mr. Abubakar, of availability of the airstairs.

“Prior to leaving Abuja, the flight despatcher contacted the Airport manager to advise that the aircraft was taxing out and he confirmed that they were ready to receive the flight.

“At 10:42am, the aircraft touched down on Runway 35 at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport. The controller advised the crew that due to the absence of marshallers and ramp officials, parking would be at their own discretion.”

“At 10:44am, the flight despatcher on board contacted the Airport manager to advise him that they were on the ground, to which he confirmed that he has seen the aircraft and that they were waiting.

“After parking, the captain reported that they waited for 10 minutes for the stairs to be brought to the aircraft but no assistance or stairs came to the aircraft.

“The captain reported that he informed the passengers of the situation as they were beginning to get agitated. What was not known to the crew at the beginning of the flight was that the groom was on board. The wedding was to start in 20 minutes”, the Accountable manager said.

He added that at 10:57am, the crew called the controller to enquire why there was no one to position the stairs and he was told the stairs had “just broken down” and that the fire service were sorting it out.

Foon said after waiting for another seven minutes the passengers became furious as they were now getting late for the wedding.

“At this point the captain went to the cabin and explained to the passengers that he may have to take them back to Abuja as they cannot disembark due to lack of stairs.

“According to him, the group insisted that he cannot keep them on board the aircraft and he considered that their anger was becoming potentially threatening.

“The alternative, which the fire service provided was a ladder which the passengers took as an option and on their own free will used the ladder to disembark against the wishes of the captain and crew.

“The captain allowed this procedure in order to reduce what he thought was a volatile situation.”

Meanwhile, the Accountable manager said an investigation had begun and that the result could lead to changes in the airline’s operational procedures.

The findings, he said, would become part of the airline training and Crew Resource Management (CRM) re-currency training exercises.

Foon said the decision to perform any further charters into Bauchi was suspended on B737 aircraft but that the airline could consider charters into Bauchi on Q400 or Dash 8-300 aircraft.

The Aero boss said any future charters to destinations that were not areas of scheduled commercial flight operations must have at least one permanent ground handling company.

Our story, by FAAN

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) yesterday said it had no hand in the use of ladder by Aero Airlines to disembark passengers at the Bauchi Airport.

FAAN said the airport was not managed by it but the Bauchi State government.

The clarification, according to its spokesman, Yakubu Dati, became imperative because of insinuations attributing the use of unauthorised equipment to FAAN.

In a statement yesterday, Dati said: “Without prejudice to the directive given by the minister of state for Aviation for investigation into the cause of the incident, we wish to clarify that Aero Contractors’ use of unauthorised equipment (ladder) to disembark its passengers does not have anything to do with FAAN.

“The Bauchi Airport is managed by the Bauchi State government and FAAN only provides statutory services at the airport, such as aircraft marshalling, aviation security services and fire cover.

“The Authority does not provide handling services for Aero Contractors and therefore does not understand why it should be held responsible for the non-provision of appropriate equipment for passenger disembarkation.

“We also do not understand why the absence of marshallers on the apron, as claimed by the airline, could cause the use of unauthorised equipment for the disembarkation of passengers from the aircraft.

“We urge the public to discountenance any story linking FAAN, in any way, with the use of unauthorised equipment by Aero Contractors at the Bauchi Airport.”

Passengers chose to disembark via ladder, says Aero

Yuguda squandered N91bn security vote in 8 yrs - Bauchi govt

Bauchi—The Bauchi State Government has said that the past administration of Isa Yuguda received and squandered N91 billion security vote in eight years.

Gov. Yuguda

The revelation is coming on the heels of promise by the state governor, Mohammed Abubakar, that the days of lack of accountability and financial recklessness in the management of resources were over in the state.

In a statement by the Special Assistant to the Bauchi State Governor on Media and Communication, Yakubu Mohammed, yesterday, it said that more facts had emerged on security related expenditures by the former governor.

The statement said that between 2007 and 2015, the sum of N91 billion was released as security vote requirements with the highest spending of over N17 billion in 2013.

“For 2007, over N1 billion, over N6 billion in 2008, 2009 gulped over N8 billion. N10 billion was spent in 2010 while over N14 billion was released for the year 2011. Other releases of over N11 billion, N16 billion and N4 billion were for 2012, 2014, 2015 respectively,” it stated.

The statement added that the facts were released and certified by the state’s Accountant General, Abubakar Gabi.

Meanwhile, Governor Abubakar, who spoke during a courtesy visit by the members of consultative council of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Bauchi State chapter at the Government House vowed that his administration will block all financial leakages that were prevalent during the previous administration in the state.

He said: “My administration took over a government that was wrecked because nothing was working in the state. I met a backlog of unpaid salaries, which I borrowed to pay workers. I decided to reduce my salary and expenses of the Government House by 50 percent to reduce financial wastage. There is no money to waste in my government, even a sheet of paper must be accounted for.”

Yuguda squandered N91bn security vote in 8 yrs - Bauchi govt

Soldiers beat bus driver to coma at checkpoint

A truck driver was beaten to coma Saturday by soldiers at a stop-and-search checkpoint near the University of Jos students’ hostel, along Jos-Bauchi road.

The driver, according to a witness, was rushed to a nearby health centre for treatment.

A spokesperson for the Special Task force on Jos crisis, Ikedichi Iweha, requested time to ascertain details of events at the checkpoint.

Mr. Iweha, an army captain, said their members were trained and responsible, therefore, could not have committed the act they were accused of.

Meanwhile, other truck drivers barricaded the road with their vehicles, insisting that the checkpoint be dismantled.

Our source said that the security men at the checkpoint demanded money from the truck driver, but the unfortunate driver resisted, therefore he was mercilessly beating.

We could not confirm that claim.

The incident has created panic among commuters on the route, and traffic has built up on the road, which is the gateway from north central to north eastern states.

Soldiers beat bus driver to coma at checkpoint

Policeman hits head against road barrier, dies in Bauchi

Tragedy occurred on Sallah day in Bauchi when a policeman on special duty knocked his head against a barrier meant to restrict heavy trucks from plying a road, and died.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the policeman, Corporal Solomon Paul, attached to the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit, Bauchi Police Command, became unconscious and later died at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.

The Bauchi State Police Command’s spokesman, Haruna Mohammed, who confirmed the incident, described it as “tragic”.

He said, “On the July 17(Friday) at about 9am, the Bauchi State Police Command lost one F/N 499348 PC Solomon Paul, attached to the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit, Bauchi.

“The incident occurred when the victim brought his head out of the roof of a moving patrol vehicle while on special duty.

“As a result, he hit the overhead barrier meant to restrict heavy trucks from plying the road, and became unconscious.

“He was rushed to ATBU Teaching Hospital, Bauchi , for treatment but was later certified dead by a medical doctor while on admission.”

Policeman hits head against road barrier, dies in Bauchi

Bauchi gov lied about 22 vehicles – Ex-first lady

The wife of the past Governor of Bauchi State, Mrs. Abiodun Yuguda, on Saturday, faulted the claim by the Bauchi State recovery committee inaugurated by Governor Mohammed Abubakar, that 22 cars were recovered from Yuguda’s wives. She said the claim was far from the truth.

Abubakar had, upon assumption of office on May 29, inaugurated the committee to recover all government property allegedly looted by officials of the Yuguda administration.

The committee, in a report submitted to Governor Abubakar, claimed that 11 vehicles were recovered from Yuguda’s first wife Aisha, seven from the second wife, Abiodun; four from the third wife, Maria, while the fourth wife, Nafisah, was out of the country as of the time the committee went to recover the vehicles in her possession.

But speaking with journalists in a telephone interview on Saturday from Abuja, Mrs. Yuguda refuted the claim.

According to her before Yuguda’s tenure ended, he instructed his wives to return all the vehicles they were using while in office and they all complied.

The cars, she said, were taken to the Bauchi State government liaison office in Abuja, from where the cars were towed to Bauchi.

She said: “I had a jeep, a Toyota Camry, which I was not using, and a pick-up van with me when we were leaving office. They are old vehicles bought before 2011. On the instruction of my husband, I returned them to the liaison office.

“When my husband asked us to return the cars, my personal assistant went to my office in Bauchi and took the cars to Government House in Bauchi. No car was collected from our houses. The only government jeep that I ever used was with the government mechanic in Abuja before my husband even government. By the time my husband left office, I was already using a Mercedes jeep which he bought for me.

“As a governor’s wife, I was using only one jeep without any backup car. On many occasions, I was stranded on the road when the jeep broke down. The Peugeot 406 that was with me as a backup had an accident and up till when my husband left office, no replacement was given to me.

“The governor lied against me to tarnish my image and those of my husband’s wives. I am sure that the God Almighty I serve will judge him. He will only escape God’s judgment if those cars were taken away from our houses. What did he really want to gain in tarnishing other people’s image?

“I will advise His Excellency, the new governor, to be praying to God for him to end well instead of tarnishing the image of innocent women.”

Bauchi gov lied about 22 vehicles – Ex-first lady

APC sweeps governorship polls

Wins 19 states, leading in four others

LAGOS — WITH ferocious intensity, the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, swept into its kitty most of the 29 governorship seats contested at the weekend. The huge victory has catapulted the party to the enviable position of the dominant party in Nigeria.

APC and PDP

With the results announced at press time, the APC won in 19 states and was leading in Plateau and Kebbi states while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Gombe and Enugu and was coasting home to victory in Rivers, Delta and Taraba.

This came as the PDP made in-road to the Lagos State House of Assembly winning six seats for the first time as APC’s Mr Akinwunmi Ambode won a tightly contested governorship election beating PDP’s Jimi Agbaje.

Meanwhile, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, yesterday, broke the re-election jinx, which has dogged Oyo State politics since 1983 by winning the governorship polls after fencing off Senator Rasheed Ladoja of the Accord Party; Christopher Alao Akala of the Labour Party and Teslim Folarin of the PDP among others.

States where the APC won the governorship are Kaduna, Sokoto, Niger, Borno, Adamawa, Lagos, Kwara, Katsina, Bauchi, Kano, Yobe, Zamfara, Oyo, Ogun, Benue, Imo, Nasarawa, Jigawa and Benue (see table).

Umahi wins Ebonyi in landslide victory

Ebonyi State Deputy Governor and PDP Governorship candidate, Engr Dave Umahi won the April 11 governorship election after scoring 289,867 votes to beat his closest rival, Edward Nkwegu of the Labour Party, who polled 124, 817 votes. The governorship candidate of APC, Senator Julius Ucha came third with 27, 583 votes.

Announcing the result at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) headquarters in Abakaliki, the State Collation Officer and Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku declared that Umahi had met all the constitutional requirements and returned elected.

Meanwhile, the state governor, Chief Martin Elechi was defeated in his home town in Ikwo Local Council, as he was unable to deliver his preferred candidate, Nkwegu.

APC’s Abubakar wins in Bauchi

In Bauchi State, Mr Mohammed Abubakar of the APC won the governorship election.

Abubakar scored 654,934 votes to beat his main challenger, Auwal Jatau of the PDP who scored 282,650 votes across the 20 local councils of the state.

Abubakar won in 19 local councils while Jatau, who won only in Bogoro local government area of the state where he polled 16,980 votes as against the APC which had 9,914 votes.

The Bauchi State returning officer, Mohammed Kabiru Faruk, a Professor and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State who announced the results at the INEC office in Bauchi returned Abubakar as the winner after meeting all the requirments.

El-Rufai prevails in Kaduna as Yero concedes defeat

Kaduna State Governorship candidate of the APC, Mallam Nasir El Rufai emerged winner of the contest, beating his main rival,incumbent Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of the PDP.

Governor Yero conceded defeat even before the final announcement of the results in favour of the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

El-Rufai tweeted that Governor Yero had called to congratulate him.

El Rufai tweeted at 3:20pm yesterday saying, “I just received a phone call from Gov. Mukhtar Yero congratulating me for winning the Kaduna guber election. I thanked him too”.

Meanwhile, the returning officer for Kaduna state Gubernatorial election, Prof. Jafar Makau Kaura, declared Mallam Nasir El Rufai of the APC as the governor elect of Kaduna State at 6.20 p.m.

APGA sweeps Assembly polls in Anambra

Results of 25 out of the 30 House of Assembly seats in Anambra State have been declared by the INEC, with the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the state winning all.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr. Edwin Nwatarali, who gave details of the Saturday’s polls in the state, said that there would be elections on April 18, 2015 in four state constituencies where the exercise was inconclusive.

The result of Anambra West state constituency was still being collated at the time the REC was briefing reporters.

Areas where there were inconclusive polls include Aguata 1 constituency (where election will be repeated at Uga ward), the whole of Ekwusigo constituency where a chieftain of one of the political parties led thugs to cart away election materials before the commencement of the exercise on Saturday, as well as in Anaocha 1 constituency, where there would be repeat election in five polling units at Adazi Ani, one polling unit at Adazi Nnukwu and Agulu Wards 1, 2, 3 and 4.

In Anaocha 11 constituency, there would be a repeat exercise at Nri Wards 1 and 2.

The 25 constituencies already declared for APGA were Aguata 2, Ayamelum, Anambra East, Awka North, Awka South 1, Awka South 2, Dunukofia, Idemili North, Idemili South, Ihiala 1, Ihiala 2, Njikoka 1 and Njikoka 2.

Others were Nnewi North, Nnewi South 1, Nnewi South 2, Ogbaru 1, Ogbaru 2, Onitsha North 1, Onitsha North 2, Onitsha South 1, Onitsha South 2, Orumba North, Orumba South and Oyi.

Oyo: Ajimobi breaks re-election

Governor Abiola Ajimobi has become the first governor to govern Oyo State twice.

He defeated two other former governors in the state to clinch victory in a keenly-contested election.

This came as Accord Party refused to sign the result sheets saying he was directed by his party not to sign.

The secretary of the party, Nureni Adisa, said the mandate of his party had been stolen.

The former governors who contested with the incumbent governor are Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala of Labour Party and Senator Rashidi Ladoja of Accord.

At press time, Ajimobi had won 20 out of the 33 local governments in the state leaving Ladoja with only seven and Akala with six.

Ambode wins Lagos gov poll

Akinwunmi Ambode of the APC has emerged winner in the governorship election in Lagos beating his close rival Jimi Agbaje of the PDP

Ambode polled 811,994 votes to defeat Agbaje of the PDP, who polled 659,788 votes.

APC won in 15 local government areas, while PDP won in five local government areas across the state.

Prof Isaac Adewole, INEC, returning officer for Lagos State governorship election, announced Ambode as winner at about 7. 30 pm having satisfied all the requirements in line with the electoral act

According to Adewole, the margin of lead between Ambode and Agbaje is 152,206 while the total number of voters is 13,972, this he said was far less than margin of votes and would not invalidate the exercise.

He said both parties scored 25 percent of votes cast in 20 local government areas.

While describing the exercise as one of the most credible elections in the country, Adewole expressed his appreciation to INEC officials, security agencies, IG, Suleiman Abba and AIG, Joseph Mbu and other security agencies for providing adequate security as there was no recorded life loss throughout the exercise.

Representatives of each of the contesting political parties later signed the result sheets.

Ambode, in a swift reaction to his victory as posted on his facebook, thanked all Lagos residents for trusting him and promised to fufill all his campaign promises in collaboration with them.

He said: “Thank You Lagosians we promise to serve you better. Thank you for trusting APC, we will work harder to serve you better.”

Cancelled votes

Some results were cancelled in some polling units in areas like: Mushin, Kosofe, Agege Alimosho, Epe. The electoral officers said the results were cancelled for electoral offences such as over-voting and thuggery.

Elliot, Lai Mohammed’s son, others declared winners as Obanikoro, Ajomale’s sons lose

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has made in-road into the Lagos State House of Assembly, winning six of the 18 seats so far declared. Results for 22 constituencies are being awaited. Among the six PDP House members-elect is an Igbo, Mr Emeka Idimogu elected to represent Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II.

This is as Nollywood star, Desmond Elliot of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won in Surulere I constituency and Lai Mohammed’s son, Folajimi also of the APC won the Ikeja I seat.

Meanwhile, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro’s son, Babajide and Chief Henry Ajomale’s son, Olayinka, failed to win their constituencies. Babajide ran in Eti-Osa II while Olayinka sought for the Oshodi-Isolo II seat.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed is the National Publicity Secretary of the APC; Ajomale is the Lagos State Chairman of the APC while Senator Obanikoro is Minister of State, Foreign Affairs.

Those elected include:

Desmond Elliot (Surulere I), APC

Mrs Mosunmola Sangodara-Rotimi (Surulere II), PDP

Mr Folajimi Mohammed (Ikeja I), APC

Adedamola Kasunmu (Ikeja II), APC

Mr Wasiu Sanni (Lagos Island I), APC

Mr Giwa Shakirudeeen (Lagos Island II), APC

Mr Adekanye Oladele (Lagos Mainland I), APC

Mr Moshood Olarenwaju Oshun (Lagos Mainland II), APC

Hon. Funmilayo Tejuosho (Mushin I), APC

Hon. Olayiwola Olawale (Mushin II), APC

Dipo Olorunrinu (Amuwo-Odofin I), PDP

Hakeem Bello (Amuwo-Odofin II), PDP

Mr Mudashiru Obasa (Agege I), APC

Mr Ishahu Gbolahan (Eti-Osa I), APC

Mr Kazeem Alimi (Eti-Osa II), APC

Mr Oluwa Olatunji Fatai (Ajeromi-Ifelodun II), PDP

Mr Shokunle Hakeem (Oshodi-Isolo I), PDP

Mr Emeka Idimogu (Oshodi-Isolo II), PDP

PDP wins 19 House seats in Ondo as two die

The PDP in Ondo State won 19 of the 24 house of Assembly seats declared by INEC in the last Saturday election just as two hoodlums were shot dead for hijacking electoral materials.

It’s main opposition APC secured five seats while the results of Ilaje 1 and 11 constituencies were declared inconclusive.

The PDP won in Idanre, Ifedore, Ese Odo, Akure South 1, Akure North, Akoko South East, Akoko North West 11, Akoko North East, Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo, Irele, Odigbo 1 and Odigbo11, Okitipupa 1 and Okitipupa 11, Ondo East, Ondo West 1 and Ondo West 11, Ose, and Owo 1.

The opposition APC won the seats in Owo11, Akoko North West 1, Akoko South West 1, Akoko South west 11 and Akure South 11.

Addressing newsmen in Akure yesterday on the outcome of the Saturday poll, the Resident Electoral Commissioner Olusegun Agbaje said that the two electoral offenders were shot dead by Naval Officers in the oil rich Ilaje areas of the state.

Agbaje added that eight guns, six mobile phones belonging to INEC Ad-Hoc staff and other materials belonging to the commission were recovered from the hoodlums.

Speaking on the election results Agbaje said over 35,000 voters were disenfranchised in the 73 units in Ilaje constituencies where electoral materials were hijacked   by the hoodlums.

Agbaje said that the election was characterized by low turn out of voters across the state and pockets of security breaches in some local government areas.

He listed the areas to include Akoko North West, Akoko south West, Ese Odo, Idanre, Ilaje, Irele, Okitipupa,Ondo East, Owo and Ose.

Amosun’s victory: PDP kicks, alleges irregularities

The PDP in Ogun State has kicked against the declaration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun as winner of the governorship election in the state.

The party said the development “ is clearly not a true reflection of Ogun people’s wish and it will be challenged as appropriate”.

The INEC in the state had declared Amosun who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress as governor-elect having polled 306,988 votes to defeat the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Prince Gboyega Isiaka who polled 201,440 votes.

Reacting to Amosun’s declaration, the party, through the Gboyega Nasir Isiaka Campaign Organization   declared the gubernatorial election “as very unfortunate and a travesty staged to help the APC achieve victory”.

The party in a statement signed by Director of Media , Ifekayode Akinbode , said   “whereas , INEC declared APC the winner with 307,008 votes and the PDP coming second with 201,440 votes, we are not oblivious of the clear manipulations, misrepresentations, underhand dealings and outright rigging by the APC; and most unfortunately with the culpability of INEC.

“Let us quickly state emphatically that we are displeased with the outcome of the governorship election particularly as being irregular in most aspects.

“However, we must state a few facts here to support our preliminary position. Before the election, we alerted that huge numbers of uncollected Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) were in the possession of APC stalwarts with the intention to give same to their party members for use with active connivance of compromised corps members and INEC staff.

“This was indeed what happened.   Secondly, on the election date, Ogun people trooped out and actually voted for the PDP. As at 3pm we were actually receiving good results from all over the state as results were being announced and posted from various polling booths.

“This was the situation until Sen. Amosun defied the electoral law and moved out of his polling zone into other areas of Abeokuta and then to Sagamu, Ota and Ifo local government areas with a full retinue of buses.

“What followed were reports of snatching of ballot boxes and stuffing of same in these locations. Same manipulation happened enroute the collation centres.

“It was for these reasons that some PDP agents refused to sign the results sheets; yet the umpire went ahead to announce results despite the overvoting, result falsification, harassment of our party agents and other irregularities. Clearly, the huge votes from Ogun central local governments of Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, Odeda, Obafemi Owode as well as Ado Odo/Ota local governments in Ogun West Senatorial district were a true reflection of the rigging.

“It is in the light of the foregoing that our legal officers and the party are looking at the results and they shall come up with a clear position on this election that was marred with gross irregularities. We implore our supporters, party faithful and indeed Ogun people to remain calm. We appreciate the support, trust and confidence reposed on Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka.

“He remains committed to making Life More Abundant for the masses and so shall it remain. God bless Ogun State”, the party said.

wins in Kwara

The Chief Returning Officer of gubernatorial election in Kwara State, Professor Musbau Akanji yesterday declared the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed as winner of the election.

Professor Akanji said that Governor Ahmed who was seeking re-election polled 295,832 votes to defeat the candidate of the PDP Senator Simeon Ajibola who scored 115,220 votes and came far second while the candidate of Labour Party Dr Mike Omotosho polled 2,973 to come third.

Similarly, the APC as declared by the respective returning officers won all the twenty four House of Assembly seats across the 16 local governments in the state.

Ugwuanyi wins Enugu guber poll

The PDP, candidate in the April 11 governorship election, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has won with 482,277 votes against his main challenger of the APC, Okey Ezea who polled 43,839 votes.

Returning officer of the election, Prof. Hillary Edoga, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, announced the result precisely at 3.36 p.m. at the INEC office, Independence Layout, Enugu.

The announcement was followed with wild jubilation as residents of Enugu made bonfires along strategic streets in Enugu metropolis.

However, the APC candidate in a press conference called for the cancellation of the election.

“As far as we are concerned, there was no election in Enugu State, so we call on the INEC to cancel the exercise and fix a date for a fresh election

“We cannot continue with this rubbish in Enugu State any longer; all of you are witnesses to what happened yesterday and if that is what we should expect in Enugu State, it is very unfortunate.

“They want to push us out of the politics of Enugu State but that will not happen; we shall never give up,” he said.

BENUE: Ortom wins gov poll

The APC, governorship candidate in Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom has emerged the winner of last Saturday’s governorship elections in the state.

In the results so far collated by INEC in Makurdi, from 22 out of 23 local government areas of the state, Dr. Ortom polled 394,047 votes to defeat Mr. Terhemen Tarzoor of the PDP who polled 302,324 votes.

Though the votes from Buruku Local Government Area were being expected at press time, it was not expected to alter the outcome of the entire result.

As it stands, the difference between the votes garnered by the APC and PDP candidates is 91,723.

Meantime, the PDP won 15 of the State House of Assembly seats so far released by the electoral body, the APC had 10, Labour Party secured one seat while results from four state constituencies were still being awaited.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, was yesterday declared winner of the Sokoto State governorship election.

The state’s Collation and Returning Officer, Prof. Abdullahi Bagudu , who is a Deputy Vice Chancellor, Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, declared that Tambuwal polled the highest number of votes in Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

Announcing the results at about 7.15 p.m, Prof. Abdullahi Bagudu disclosed that the total votes cast were 958,736 while total valid votes were 926,682 and voided votes were 32,054

Tambuwal polled 647,609 votes, while the PDP candidate, Sen. Abdallah Wali scored 269,074

The Speaker won in all 23 local government areas, while his PDP challenger did not win in any local government.

In the State House of Assembly election, the APC won 28 seats, PDP won two while PDM got one seat.

Stalemate in Abia

There was stalemate in Abia State, yesterday. after the returning officer for the governorship election reversed himself on the cancellation of the results in three local government areas following a visit to the INEC office by Governor Theodore Orji.

Earlier, the returning officer for the election, Prof. Benjamin Ozurumba, had cancelled the results presented for Osisioma, Obingwa and Isiala Ngwa North on the basis of alleged irregularities. The decision was, however, vehemently challenged by officials of the PDP leading to a stalemate that was only broken after the visit of Governor Orji to the INEC office where he held private meetings with the REC.

The decision to revalidate the results from the three local government areas, has, however, been seriously rejected by the APGA representatives at the collation centre. Both APGA and PDP were running neck and neck in the results, at press time.

 

APC sweeps governorship polls

Eight suspected Boko Haram gunmen killed in Gombe, Bauchi

Eight suspected Boko Haram fighters were killed on Monday during fighting in Gombe and Bauchi states, northeast Nigeria, police, residents and local hunters said.

Gunmen believed to be Islamist militants have been roaming Bauchi and neighbouring Gombe since the weekend, when there was a series of attacks on polling stations open for Nigeria’s general election.

Boko Haram have been increasingly operating in both states, as the military forces it out of captured territory in the three northeastern states of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa.

On Monday, Babakarami Sunusi, who lives in Gombe Abba, about 10 kilometres (6.25 miles) from Dukku, in Gombe state said four gunmen were killed.

According to him, gunmen in several vehicles arrived in the village around 4:30 am (0330 GMT) and were intercepted by soldiers who engaged them in a gunfight.

“The soldiers killed four of the gunmen and captured one,” he said. “The rest of the gunmen fled.”

Idi Male, a local hunter in the area gave a similar account, adding: “They (the gunmen) went into the hills outside the village but they were pursued by local hunters. The hunters are yet to return.”

Bauchi state police spokesman Haruna Mohammed said police and local vigilantes “got wind of the approaching hoodlums (and) engaged them in a fierce gun battle” at about 7:30 am in Tafawa Balewa.

Four gunmen were killed and four of their 18 four-wheel drive pick-up trucks mounted with heavy machineguns were seized, along with empty shells and ammunition.

“Meanwhile, (the) same hoodlums went back to Jitar village in Bauchi LGA (local government area) and killed three vigilante members,” Mohammed added.

“The entire surrounding has been cordoned off by combined security forces and (an) intensive patrol is ongoing to flush out fleeing miscreants.”

Three people were killed as voters queued up at polling stations in Dukku, Gombe state, on Saturday.

On Sunday, the Bauchi state government imposed an indefinite, 24-hour curfew on three areas, including the state capital Bauchi city, as troops fought battles with scores of Boko Haram fighters nearby.

But the local All Progressives Congress opposition blamed the unrest on its political opponents and linked it to the election.

 

Eight suspected Boko Haram gunmen killed in Gombe, Bauchi

Police chase, mob on the run as controversy trails Sunday killing of Suspect suicide bomber

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Police in Bauchi , today, Wednesday said they were hunting the mob who beat a woman to death and burnt her body after suspecting that she was a suicide bomber. The woman, identified by her mother as 33-year-old Thabita Haruna, was killed on Sunday in Bauchi after she allegedly refused to undergo a security screening at a city market.

Abba Suleiman, New Inspector General of Police

But Bauchi state police spokesman Haruna Mohammed said Sunday’s victim was not a bomber. “All our investigations have proved that this woman was mentally sick and had nothing to do with suicide bombing,” he told newsmen, without specifying her condition. “We as law enforcement agents will not stand by and allow people to take the law into their hands. “We are continuing with (the) investigation and as soon as the perpetrators of this act are arrested we will take legal action (against) them.”

The woman’s mother, Rahab Haruna, said she hoped the authorities would take “appropriate action”. “There is law, therefore her assailants should not have taken the law into their hands. They just killed and burnt my daughter,” she added. She described Thabita as “a normal young woman” who worked as a trader until she became mentally ill, which saw her treated at a psychiatric hospital on and off between 2007 and 2013.

“She would get an occasional bout of the illness and when that happened she would go wild and destroy things. She would gather household articles and burn them. “When she got out of the fit she would calm down and became normal and help with domestic chores. “She left home on Saturday, we didn’t know where she went. We looked for her all over our neighbourhood but we didn’t find her until the next day.

“She ended up in Muda Lawal (market) where she was assaulted, humiliated and burnt to death. Before she was killed they searched her and found on her the identification card of her sister Alheri.” She was traced back to the family home from the ID card, she added.

 

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Police chase, mob on the run as controversy trails Sunday killing of Suspect suicide bomber

Why I slept with my 11-year-old daughter — Confession of a father

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By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi

How will you feel as a mother if your husband  sexually abuses your innocent daughter? This is the question a woman in Bauchi State is trying to come to terms with, as her husband, Abubakar Magaji, a resident of Liman Kagum in Bauchi local government, did the abominable act of having carnal knowledge of their 11-year-old daughter.

Abubakar Magaji

More shocking is the fact that it was not a one-act misadventure but a repeated one. But like a popular saying has it: Many days for a thief and one day for the owner, nemesis eventually caught up with the 45-year-old father when he was arrested and  paraded along with others at the Bauchi State command for rape.

When VM sought to know why Abubakar will abuse his own child  sexually, he confessed he was tempted by the devil. He added that he could not resist defiling his daughter when his wife left him because of a misunderstanding between them.

Questions from journalists

The father of four who was ashamed to lift his head while answering questions from journalists said: “I engaged in the ugly act because I had a misunderstanding with my wife and she left me. I am ashamed  of my self because it was temptation that led me to do it.

“I divorced her mother and married another wife but unfortunately  my wife also left me a month ago  so I needed a woman to be with; so that was why I did it. I also have a problem with my sexual libido. It is so terrible that I desire any woman I see, but what stops me from approaching them is that people respect me as a married man. So I felt the only way I could relieve my sexual tension was to sleep with my daughter, since she is so young and had no knowledge about sex.

“It was after I defiled her and I was arrested by the police that I understood the gravity of my offence. I can’t imagine that I did this to my own daughter. I regret my actions and I pray that God will forgive me”.

When VM visited the residence of the suspect at Liman Katagum, a suburb of Bauchi metropolis,  a neighbour to Abubakar who did not disclose his name, said that he was shocked to hear that Abubakar was arrested by  the police because he defiled his daughter. According to him: “ I was shocked when I discovered that Mallam Abubakar who I had a lot of respect for will stoop that low and sleep with an 11-year-old child that happens to be his daughter.

“This is the highest level of abomination and Islam is against such an act. No matter the excuse, a man does not have the right to defile a girl outside the confines of marriage. This is unacceptable and he deserves to be punished by the law”.

He called for severe punitive measures to be carried on rapists in the country, saying that will serve as a deterrent to those contemplating on engaging in such an act.

Reacting to the development, the state Commissioner of Police, Lawal,  Shehu  expressed worry over the increasing rate of rape cases in the state and vowed that all rape suspects will be charged to court and prosecuted. He said: “Since January, we have arrested over 10 suspected rapists, only this week we recorded over five cases. It is worrisome that among the suspects arrested is a 45-year-old man who raped his 11-year-old daughter and two aged men who are between 45 to 54 years who raped teenage girls of between two years and four years”.

“This is why I’m sounding a note of caution to parents,especially mothers, to always monitor the movement of their female children. I particularly want to warn mothers to be always on alert because rape is on the increase and teenagers and little children between five and fifteen years are now the victims.

“Any suspect arrested in connection with a rape case will be charged to court and be prosecuted; they should also know that the offence is not bailable. Even when  courts are on strike, the suspects will remain in detention till the strike is called off”.

 

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Why I slept with my 11-year-old daughter — Confession of a father

FCT minister, not APC masterminded Bauchi attack on Jonathan - Yuguda

By Soni Daniel

ABUJA — Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State and Senator Bala Mohammed, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, were weekend, locked in an exchange of words following the governor’s claim that the minister hired the thugs that stoned the president’s convoy in Bauchi last Thursday.

Election violence

Following the stoning, the presidency had flayed the actions just as a number of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftains had accused the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, of instigating attacks on the president in the north.

Governor Yuguda, however, rebutted the claim as he told Vanguard, weekend, that the stoning of the president’s convoy was instigated by Senator Mohammmed to embarrass him, Yuguda, as not being on ground in the state.

Both men, members of the PDP and associates of the president, were present at the PDP presidential campaign rally in Bauchi following which the president’s convoy was pelted with stones. The minister was also pelted during the rally.

The APC, last night, said it was vindicated by the development as it thanked the governor for his revelation, recalling it had earlier claimed the stoning incidents were fallouts from the governorship primaries in the PDP states.

Yuguda told Vanguard in an interview that the FCT minister secretly imported the thugs to cause trouble at the venue of the campaign rally in Buachi last Thursday to give the president the erroneous impression that he (Yuguda) was not on ground in the state.

He said: “The whole thing was carefully planned and implemented by the FCT Minister in collaboration with his cohorts who wanted to embarrass me and prove to President Jonathan that they were more politically relevant in Bauchi State than the sitting governor.

“The minister and his group sponsored small boys of not more than seven years of age and gave them brooms to give the impression that they were from the opposition party whereas they were all wearing T-shirts branded with his name and that of TAN.

“Before the arrival of the boys, the presidential rally was going on smoothly. When they entered the venue they started signing “Sai Jonathan”, “Sai Jonathan” only for them to begin to chant “ Sai Buhari”, “Sai Buhari” to the bewilderment of all present.

“I feel very bad over the sad incident caused by Bala and his group to discredit me and all that I have been able to accomplish in Bauchi. I must say that I am very sad and disappointed by the antics of the minister.”

Yuguda said it was apparent that the minister was up to some mischief when he refused to join the central planning committee headed by him to plan the presidential rally but went ahead to set up his own committee whose agenda was not known to anyone else.

The governor thus charged the minister to apologise to Nigerians over the embarrassment he caused the president and his visitors to Bauchi during his visit to the state.

Allegation fallacious, wicked and unfounded— Minister

But the minister has denied the allegation levelled against him by the governor, saying that it was nothing but concoction of lies to tarnish his image.

The minister in an email response to Vanguard on the issue said that it was inconceivable that he would contemplate importing thugs into the venue of an event attended by his boss and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, whom he holds in very high esteem.

In the statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Nosike Ogbuenyi, the minister wondered why the thugs said to have been imported by him into the stadium threw missiles and booed him while he was accessing the rally.

Mohammed said: “It is totally illogical, irreconcilable, wicked and fallacious for anybody to insinuate that the Hon. Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed imported thugs to stone and attack himself while addressing the President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential campaign rally in his home state, Bauchi.

“The question begging for answer is ‘why wasn’t Governor Yuguda stoned by the rampaging thugs when he was on the podium addressing the same rally?’

“Every sincere person in this country can attest to the fact that the loyalty of the FCT Minister to President Goodluck Jonathan and his commitment to the success of the PDP in all elections have never been in doubt.

“Those who are specialists in running with the hare and hunting with the hounds should, please leave Senator Bala Mohammed and the PDP alone to campaign peacefully for President Goodluck Jonathan and other PDP candidates across the country, Bauchi State inclusive,” the minister pleaded.

We’ve been vindicated —APC

Reacting to the development, yesterday, the APC said Governor Yuguda’s claim had vindicated the party’s stance that the spate of stoning was a fallout from the fractious PDP primaries in the affected states.

“Frankly speaking, we thank Governor Yuguda for vindicating our stance,” APC national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, told Vanguard last night.

“We knew all along that this violence was instigated by PDP which is all due to the manner they handled their primaries that is now responsible for the spate of violence all over the country. We thank God we have been vindicated and now we know who is trying to scuttle our democracy,” he added.

 

FCT minister, not APC masterminded Bauchi attack on Jonathan - Yuguda

PDP sponsors attacks on President in the north as part of election-shift ploy – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has pointedly accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of sponsoring the attacks on President Goodluck Jonathan in Katsina and Bauchi as part of its devilish plan to demonize the opposition and force a postponement of next month’s general elections.

Buhari supporters destroying Jonathan’s billboard in Katsina

In a statement issued in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the coordinated hysterical reactions to the attacks by the presidency, Senate President David Mark and the leadership of the Ijaw nation have exposed the sponsors of the attacks.

It said those who have gone into a frenzy in condemning the attacks should direct their anger at the PDP, which hired the hoodlums who attacked the President in Katsina and Bauchi and gave them brooms to make them look like APC supporters.

”Information is now in the public domain that these attacks were self inflicted, with the aim of demonizing the APC and instigating retaliatory attacks in the southern states, thus precipitating chaos which the PDP and the Presidency will then use as an excuse for the postponement of the elections

”Apparently they did not envisage that the information about their complicity over the attacks will leak to the public. It is common knowledge that the security around the President is such that no hoodlum can come close enough to pelt him with stones,” APC said.

The party said the Presidency distorted facts when it accused the APC of breaching the Abuja peace accord that was signed by the presidential candidates of the various political parties, saying the PDP and its band of thugs did not allow the ink with which the agreement was signed to dry before they started breaching it.

”The second attack on our offices in Rivers took place after the pact was signed, just like the serial attacks on our supporters in Sokoto, organized by a PDP stalwart in the city and aided and abetted by the police. The death-wish-for-Buhari advert by the incautious Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State in the name of President Jonathan, which could have triggered unimaginable violence if not properly managed by the APC, also breached the agreement.

”Where was the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, when all these breaches were taking place? Not once did he issue a statement to say ‘this nonsense must stop’.

”Where was the Senate President, David Mark, when these breaches were taking place? He was never on record as condemning the attacks on the APC offices and its supporters or the irresponsible and downright repugnant advert by Gov. Fayose. Are those in the opposition not Nigerians who also deserve the care and attention of the nation’s

number three citizen?’

”Mr Senate President, sir, if any party is guilty of ‘despicable desperation’ as you claimed, it is your party, the PDP. Which party has been using all the cheap tricks in the books to postpone the elections at all cost? Which party has been sponsoring attacks against itself to demonize the opposition and force a postponement of next month’s election? Which party has deviated from issues and become fixated on the person of the APC Presidential Candidate, savaging and lying against him at every point? Mr. Senate President, remember the saying that he who must come to equity must come with clean hands,” it said

APC also slammed the self-serving, self-styled leadership of the Ijaw nation for vowing retaliation over the sponsored attacks on the President in the north, and threatening the very existence of Nigeria if President Jonathan is not elected into a second term, wondering where in the world threats have ever won an election.

”The last time we checked, elections are won and lost by the votes of the people, not by infantile threats. The last time we checked, no one is guiltier over attempts to undermine the oneness of Nigeria than than some self-styled leaders of the Ijaw nation.  Had they been duly prosecuted and punished in accordance with the laws of the land, they would not have dared to continue threatening the nation’s existence, even as those saddled with the responsibility of preventing such threats look on,” the party said.

APC appealed to its members and supporters nationwide to continue to maintain peace in the face of the most egregious of provocations, in order not to play into the hands of the PDP and the Jonathan Administration who are incredibly terrified of the forthcoming elections and will do anything to make sure it did not hold..

”As we were writing this statement,. news filtered in that the venue of our rally in Okrika in Rivers State was attacked with an explosive device in the early hours of saturday, even though no one disrupted the First Lady’s campaign there earlier in the week. Also, soldiers have taken over the state-government owned stadium in Port Harcourt after beating and expelling the workers there, in a disgraceful show of force by an increasingly desperate and despotic federal government. Yet, there has been no word from the Presidency, the Senate President and the

leadership of the Ijaw nation.

”Now that the antics of the PDP have been exposed for the world to see, we are once again calling on Nigerians and the international community to prevail on President Jonathan and his party to desist from its plot, using the excuse of violence and PVCs, to shift next month’s polls. If President Jonathan is sure he has utilized the mandate given to him by Nigerians in 2011 to their satisfaction, he should be eager to know the verdict of the citizens come Feb 14th 2015,” APC said.

PDP sponsors attacks on President in the north as part of election-shift ploy – APC

Hoodlums raze Bauchi APC gov candidate’s office

Arsonists, suspected to be supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, on Friday set ablaze the campaign office of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Bauchi State, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, in Bauchi.

Some political hoodlums, suspected to be members of the APC, had, on Thursday, pelted President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign convoy with stones and brooms on Nasarawa Street, Bauchi, on his way to the Emir’s Palace.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, was pelted by some ‘supporters’ at the venue of the Presidential Campaign rally in Bauchi.

Investigations by revealed that the angry youths attacked and vandalised the Bauchi South Senatorial District campaign office of Abubakar, located at Kobi Street, at about 2am.

A resident of the area, who spoke to The PUNCH, said, “We woke up and saw the office on fire and all the valuable things in the office had already been burnt and there was nothing we could do at that time to save the situation.

“We did not envisage that any reasonable person could do such a thing.”

Another resident, who equally craved anonymity, alleged that he saw a group of youths, who stormed the office in three Hilux vehicles; set the place ablaze and immediately drove off.

The source said the flame blazed for over two hours, fueled by the documents in the office.

Speaking with newsmen on Friday in Bauchi, Abubakar described the incident as unfortunate, barbaric and undemocratic.

He accused PDP supporters of masterminding the burning of the office, arguing that APC members could not burn their own office.

The governorship candidate described the APC as a peaceful party, restating the party’s determination to clinching the governorship seat in the state.

Abubakar warned those behind the burning of his campaign office to desist, calling on security agencies to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to book.

“We in APC we are not violent people and we are guided by the simple principle of issue-based campaign and not violence.

“Our peaceful conduct is already giving us an edge over our opponents and we can never resort to violence at any point of our campaign,” he added.

Bauchi State Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, told our correspondent that he was still compiling his report on the incident.

“I am compiling the report and will send details to you as soon as am done,” the PPRO said.

Hoodlums raze Bauchi APC gov candidate’s office

Youths chanting Sai Buhari attacked Jonathan"s campaign team in Bauchi

Angry youths in Bauchi on Thursday twice pelted President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign team with stones and water sachets.

Election violence

The broom-wielding youths first blocked the motorcade of the President on Nasarawa Street as it made its   way to the palace of the Emir of Bauchi, where Jonathan and his team were going to pay homage.

It took the combined efforts of soldiers and riot policemen to disperse the youths, who were chanting anti-Peoples Democratic Party slogans and extolling the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)

Along the popular Ran Road, some of the youths, who were singing “Sai Buhari” disrupted business activities.

In the President’s motorcade were Vice President Namadi Sambo; Governor Isa Yuguda;   the PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu; and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed.

Also on the convoy were Governors Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa-Ibom)   as well as the Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation,   Ahmadu Ali.

Jonathan and his team however made their way to the Ibrahim Babangida Square venue of the campaign rally where they were again embarrassed by another set of broom-wielding youths.

Before the arrival of the campaign team at the venue, the youths were chanting solidarity songs for the President and the PDP. They marched round the venue with drums and placards with the President’s pictures.

They however suddenly turned wild when the programme began and started pelting dignitaries on the platform with objects.

They also destroyed Jonathan’s campaign posters, some of the canopies erected at the venue and plastic chairs.

Water sachets were thrown at the FCT minister while he was making his speech and pleading with the people of the state to vote for   Jonathan and the PDP on February 14.

The other dignitaries   on the stand   had to bend their heads to avoid being hit by the objects that were hurled at them by the crowd.

The obviously embarrassed minister called on Jonathan and other dignitaries to ignore what was happening since it was the “handiwork of the opposition.”

“Fellow supporters of the PDP, let’s ignore what is happening. This is politics. It is the handiwork of those who are bent on destroying politics in Nigeria,” he told Jonathan and the other members of the campaign team.

When Mohammed shouted, “Nigeria, ” the crowd shouted back “sai Buhari,”   “Ba mayi,” meaning,   “We don’t support the PDP, we want Buhari.”

A security operative, who claimed to have witnessed the incidents, told one of our correspondents in Abuja, that six of his colleagues in the Department of State Security,   were injured.

He added that four of them were treated at an undisclosed hospital and discharged immediately while the remaining two   were admitted.

The two, according to him, had deep cuts on their heads.

The PUNCH reports that it was very obvious that the President, Sambo   and the other dignitaries were not happy with the way and manner they were treated.

This was evident by the look on their faces as they hurriedly left the venue immediately after Jonathan’s speech.

Jonathan, in his speech, vowed that retrogressive forces   would not push the PDP behind in its efforts to develop northern Nigeria.

He promised that if re-elected,   he would develop the country particularly the North,   by educating and empowering youths and women.

The President said, “There are distractions here. We are lucky we are in Bauchi, the home of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, one of the greatest leaders who led this country very well. He is appreciated from   the North to the South; the East to the West.

“He never instigated anybody against anybody. He spoke about the unity and development of this country and that is what the PDP stands for.

“We must educate and empower our young men and women   so that they will not be used by politicians to cause violence.”

Also,   Sambo thanked the people of the state for their   reception but advised them to desist from engaging in politics of religion.

He said, “Nigeria is not like Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan which are Islamic countries but in Nigeria we are mixed   and we must work together.”

A similar incident occurred on Monday when Governor Isa Yuguda and other dignitaries were stoned at the PDP governorship rally at the Darazo Mini-Stadium by angry youths believed to be supporters of the APC.

Youths chanting Sai Buhari attacked Jonathan"s campaign team in Bauchi

Bauchi youths stone minister, others at Jonathan’s rally

There was pandemonium on Thursday at the Ibrahim Babangida Square, Venue of the Peoples Democratic Party presidential campaign rally in Bauchi as angry youths pelted dignitaries at the event with dangerous objects like hammer, stones and slippers among other things.

Election violence

The youths, whose source of grievances could not be immediately ascertained, destroyed some of the canopies and plastic chairs.

The ‘supporters’, who had, before the arrival of President Goodluck Jonathan and his entourage, chanted solidarity songs for the President and the PDP and marched round the venue with their drums and placards with the President’s picture, became unruly during the programme and began pelting dignitaries on the stand.

Security operatives had a tough time dispersing the restless supporters, who had stormed the square in large in large number.

A similar incident occurred on Monday when Governor Isa Yuguda and other dignitaries were stoned at the PDP governorship campaign rally at the Darazo mini-stadium by angry youths believed to be supporters of the

opposition All Progressives Congress.

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, was pelted with bottled and sachet water while he was making his speech and pleading with the people of the state to vote for and support Jonathan and the PDP during next month’s general elections.

Other dignitaries, who were on the stand with the FCT minister while he was making his speech, were also stoned. Others bent down to avoid being hit by any of the missiles.

The minister paused for some seconds to wipe off water from his face.

Mohammed called on the President and other dignitaries to ignore the ugly turn of events, alleging that it was the handwork of the opposition.

“Fellow supporters of PDP, lets ignore what is happening. This is politics. It is the handwork of those who are bent on destroying politics in Nigeria,” he added.

When he shouted, “Nigeria”, the crowd shouted back “sai Buhari”, “sai Baba Buhari”, others chanted “Bama yi,” “Bama yi”, meaning we don’t support PDP.

All throughout the rally, which was very brief, youths chanted their support for the opposition APC presidential candidate, Maj. Gen Muhammad Buhari, saying “Nigeria, sai Buhari.”

Bauchi youths stone minister, others at Jonathan’s rally

Boko Haram taking the shine off my achievements - Jonathan

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President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday regretted that members of the Boko Haram sect have been diverting people’s attention from his administration’s numerous achievements with their violent activities in parts of the country.

PDP lagos, President Jonathan

He however assured Nigerians that the Federal Government would soon end the insurgency.

Jonathan spoke when he paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwan Adamu. The President was in the state in continuation of the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential rallies.

He said his administration had worked hard to justify the massive support he got from the people during the 2011 general elections.

He promised that if re-elected, he would work with Bauchi leaders to develop the mineral resources in the state as part of measures to diversify the country’s economy away from crude oil.

The President said, “When we moved round in 2011, we got massive support from you and since then, we have been working hard to justify your support. Insha Allahu, we will also succeed this time.

“The unfortunate Boko Haram excesses are taking attention away from our numerous  achievements.

“Everybody wants security, everybody wants to be safe and to be able to move freely. I am therefore assuring you that we will bring the situation to a reasonable degree and will eventually end it very soon.

“We have worked very hard to improve agriculture and ended decades of fertilizer scam. We want Nigerian farmers to crop three times a year.

“We are thinking of different options to fully diversify our economy due to the fall in the global price of oil and Bauchi is one of the states we will tap into its solid mineral potentials.”

The emir commended government’s efforts aimed at ending insurgency and rescuing the over 200 abducted Chibok girls.

He also lauded the present administration’s commitment to free and fair elections.

Ahead of the general elections, the monarch urged Jonathan to bear in mind that only God gives power to people anytime He desires.

He said, “Only God gives power anytime He wishes. I urge you and other candidates for different offices to bear this in mind in your campaigns.

“Politicians should work towards making Nigeria a stronger regional and sub-regional force.

“I encourage and commend you on the efforts you are making on the issue of insecurity and we are hoping and praying that our Chibok girls will be out soon.

“We also appreciate your expressed commitment to free and fair elections and the signing of the Abuja peace accord as it will encourage our people to embrace peace instead of acrimony.”

Vice President Namadi Sambo; National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Muazu; and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed, among others accompanied Jonathan to the palace.

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Boko Haram taking the shine off my achievements - Jonathan

Update: Bomb explosion kill 30 in Bauchi

Suspected Boko Haram members on Sunday attacked Azare, Bauchi State’s second largest town again killing 30 people and injured over 60 others.

Azare is the headquarters of Katagum Local Government Area of the state.

Sunday blast was the second explosion that the town would witness within a week. Last week, a bomb explosion killed 21 people and injured 30 others at a location very close to a branch of First Bank Plc in the town.

The explosion, which reportedly rocked the Kasuwar Jagwal area of the town, it was learnt, happened around 5.20pm.

It was learnt that by the time the dust raised by the blast subsided, about 30 people had been killed while 65 others were injured.

However, a news monitored on the Nigerian Television Authority on Sunday night quoted security operatives as saying that only 12 people died while 65 others were injured.

Efforts to get the Bauchi State Police Command’s spokesman, Haruna Mohammed, to comment on the tragedy were futile as calls made to his mobile telephone number were not responded to.

But a resident of Azare, who witnessed the blast, insisted that he counted 30 corpses, adding that those injured were taken to Azare Federal Medical Centre for treatment.

Eyewitnesses said that many of the victims of the blast were women who traded in telephone and accessories.

Unconfirmed sources said that the suspected bomber described as a young man in his 20s had been arrested.

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Update: Bomb explosion kill 30 in Bauchi

Breaking: Explosion rocks Bauchi, casualties unknown

The police in Bauchi have confirmed an explosion in Azare, Bauchi State.

Commissioner of Police in the state, Lawal Shehu, who confirmed the blast on Sunday, said rescue operation was in progress.

Shehu could not however give the number of people who might have died or injured in the blast.

Azare, which houses a Federal Government College, is coming under bombers attack for the second time in less than three weeks.

Details later…

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Breaking: Explosion rocks Bauchi, casualties unknown

Man pays N40,000 to get son-in-law killed

By Suzan Edeh

BAUCHI—THE police in Bauchi State have arrested a 62-year-old man, Dotti Jumba, from Tumbarja in Kubdia district of Gamawa Local Government Area of the state for paying some persons N40,000 to kill his son-in-law, Ahmadu Wakili Guji.

Jumba, according to a statement made available to journalists in Bauchi by the police spokesman in Bauchi State Police Command, Haruna Muhammed, was arrested by detectives attached to Gamawa Division on Friday, October 31, 2014, at about 1pm.

The Police Public Relations Officer, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the man allegedly contracted four people with N40,000 to kill his 28-year-old son-in-law, a resident of Matamu in Gamawa Local Government Area.

He said the killers missed their target, and killed his father.

Apart from Dotti Jumba, the police spokesman informed that two other suspects, 22-year-old Sani Jumba and Bura Manu, 20, both from Kubdia district, and two others, including the intermediary who collected the money from Jumba and paid the others, were now at large.

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Man pays N40,000 to get son-in-law killed

Explosion Update: Bombers hit Bauchi bank, kill 13, injure 40

No fewer than 13 people died and 40 others injured when a twin-bomb explosion occurred at a commercial bank in Azare, Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State on Friday

Though the police could not give casualty figure, unconfirmed source said 13 people died in the explosions while 40 were injured.

The police spokesman, Mohammad Haruna, did not pick calls to his mobile telephone for confirmation.

The source said bomb blasts occurred at the Automated Teller Machine of the bank as customers were queuing to make withdrawals at around 9am on Friday.

He said two men walked up to the ATM and pretended to be queuing to withdraw money from the ATM, dropped an object shortly after and hurriedly left the scene. An explosion followed.

As people hurried to assist the victims, another blast rocked the area, killing higher number of people.

The eyewitness added that eight people were killed on the spot but the death toll rose to 13 with over 40 injured.

According to him, most of the people affected are Bauchi State workers, who were waiting to collect their salaries.

It was further learnt that the device was planted within the bank premises and exploded as customers, including workers and people from Misau, Shira, Giade and Potiskum in Yobe State, lined up at the bank to withdraw their salaries.

A source said, “There are only three ATM in three banks that are working in the whole of Azare so many customers usually gather there.

“As it exploded, killing many people around the ATM, another one exploded as people were running to the scene.”

The incident followed another explosion in the state two weeks ago when a suicide bomber attacked a busy motor park in Azare, killing 12 people and injuring 46 others.

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Explosion Update: Bombers hit Bauchi bank, kill 13, injure 40