About 30 were reported dead after there explosions rocked the popular Gombe Line Transport Services Limited in Gombe State.
According to the police and an eye witnesses the explosions were reported to have occurred around 9:30 am Friday leaving many dead.
The Three bombs which were said to be concealed in bags went off during Friday morning rush hour, the latest in a series of attacks targeting commuters blamed on Boko Haram, police and witnesses said.
“We had explosions at the Gombe line motor park…As for the death toll, we are still working on that,” said area police chief Abdullahi Kudu.
An employee of the state-run bus park, Lawanti Aliyu, and other witnesses said three men left bags packed with explosives among the buses which went off at 9:00 am (0800 GMT).
Fuller account of the story will be brought to you soon
YOLA —Few hours after the commercial nerve centre and the second biggest town in Adamawa State fell into the hands of Islamic sect, Boko Haram, the insurgents, yesterday, overran Vimtim, the home town of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh.
The terrorists have thus rubbished the purported ceasefire agreement announced by the Chief of Defence Staff and his earlier vow on January 20 this year that the Boko Haram menace would end last April.
Mubi town was invaded, yesterday, by the terrorists who stormed the 234 Nigerian Army Battalion, burnt down the police station and the Mubi prison, setting the inmates free. The insurgents also hoisted their flag at the Palace of the Emir of Mubi. When the insurgents invaded the town, the troops and the residents fled while they had a field day looting and burning property.
As at yesterday, Mubi was like a ghost town as the entire residents have deserted it even as some edifices like the Mubi International Cattle Market, the local government secretariat as well as some private buildings were still burning.
Having taken over Mubi, the insurgents marched on to other surrounding villages and towns before storming Vimtim, the home town of the Chief of Defence Staff.
How we escaped from Mubi –Redeemed pastor
A Zonal pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG,who escaped from the insurgents in Mubi, told Vanguard that the Boko Haram sect had conquered Mubi and were fully in-charge.
Asked how he escaped, he said he was just getting to Yola, the Adamawa State Capital at press time last night, after a scary run through Mubi bushes and farm roads.
“For over two hours, we ran and crawled through bush tracks and farm roads to get to where I got a bus to Yola. I am just getting to Yola. I thank God.”
Asked what he was doing in Mubi, the pastor said he was transferred to somewhere in Borno where he stayed for several days. According to him, “there was no telecommunication network in the area, I could neither call nor receive calls. The insurgents were terrorizing the area and one of my zonal pastors at the headquarters advised that I should not stay there hence, I had to leave”.
Before he fled Mubi for Yola, he said the security problem had worsened. “However, the men and the youths said they were not going anywhere, that enough is enough. They have been killing the militants. Yesterday, they killed two. But they withdrew the soldiers and mobile policemen and yesterday the insurgents attacked. They have conquered Mubi. That is why most people are afraid.”
Adamawa Govt moves to send trapped residents to IDP camp
Meanwhile, Adamawa State Government has dispatched over hundred buses to comb Mubi and its environs for people who were trapped and stranded in buses and villages for onward transit to the Internally Displaced Persons Camp in the State capital.
Governor Bala James Ngilari gave the order yesterday afternoon, when concerned citizens of Mubi visited him to brief him on current development in the area.
Briefing the Governor, leader of the group, Mr. Joshua Atiku told him to consult with the Federal Government to persuade the Cameroonian authorities to allow fleeing people access into that country.
Atiku disclosed that hundreds of thousands of people escaping into Cameroon were stranded at the borders owing to the fact that the Cameroonian gendarmes have denied them entry.
He added that the situation was causing concern to the people, who have fled their homes due to insecurity only to run into diplomatic problems with their neighbours.
Atiku charged both state and federal governments to as a matter of urgency do everything humanly possible to evacuate people still trapped in Mubi and its environs as the insurgents continue to lay siege to the town.
What Badeh said in January
On January 20 this year when Air Marshal Alex Badeh assumed office, he expressed optimism that there would soon be an end to insurgency in some parts of the country. He said with the support and co-operation of the new service chiefs, the Boko Haram menace would be stamped out in the next three months.
He said it was mandatory for the military to eliminate the menace of Boko Haram before April to avert a constitutional problem in the polity. The CDS said it was possible to bring the insurgency in the North East to an end if the military approached its security responsibilities cohesively.
“We must bring it to a stop before April so that we will not have constitutional problems on our hands. We don’t want to go back to the Senate to start begging and lobbying. If we do our work cohesively, I can tell you, Gen. Minimah, you will finish your work in no time.
“I can say confidently that this war is already won,” he had said.
NEMA expresses shock, fears over humanitarian challenges in Adamawa, Borno
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the North East sub region yesterday, expressed “shocks and fears” over Wednesday’s multiple attacks on Mubi town in Adamawa state, as the number of displaced persons continued to rise with increased humanitarian challenges at various resettlement camps.
The North-East Zonal Information Officer of NEMA, Abdulkadir Ibrahim, who addressed newsmen on Mubi’s multiple attacks and eventual capture by Boko Haram insurgents said: “We are very much alarmed and worried by the latest attacks on Mubi and Uba towns of Adamawa and Borno states; which have sacked many residents from their houses and displaced over 8, 950 refugees from their existing camps in the two affected communities.
“It is disheartening that this is happening when a humanitarian agency like this, was doing everything possible to cushion the devastating effects of the attacks on Madagali, Michika, Gulak and other surrounding communities through intervention by providing relief materials to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Mubi and Uba which were also attacked by insurgents yesterday (Wednesday).
“Many victims fled into mountainous border areas of Cameroon while others fled to Yola for safety, leaving the existing camps empty”.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State this afternoon reacted with outrage to the news of the withdrawal of the security details of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, in the wake of his defection to the party from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Rivers APC in a statement signed by the State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, described the withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security details as “executive radicalism and abuse of the country’s Constitution.”
“We wish to call on Nigerians to condemn this affront on the fourth citizen of our nation and insult on our representatives. Let us reiterate that it is the constitutional right of Tambuwal to freely associate with any party of his choice, including, of course, APC,” Dr. Ikanya said in the statement issued in Port Harcourt.
He said that “it is only an unserious politician who will continue to stay in a sinking party like PDP that has brought our nation shame and pains and made us a laughing stock before the international community. We therefore ask for the immediate reversal of this obnoxious order and commend Tambuwal for the bold step he has taken to join the party for a new Nigeria.”
Continuing, Ikanya said: “As we sympathise with the present leadership of PDP for making the party the largest undemocratic party in Africa and leading it to its present sorrowful state and imminent demise, we wish to further state that those calling for the resignation of the Speaker are just exposing their level of ignorance of the functions of the House of Reps and our Constitution. Speaker Tambuwal was duly elected by the generality of the House members and can only be removed by impeachment by 240 members of the House. With only 180 PDP members in the House, from where are they are going to get the extra 60 members to aid them in the impeachment of Tambuwal? They should accept the reality that an APC Speaker is now in place, signaling the beginning of the take-over of the mantle of leadership by our great party on 29th May, 2015.”
Rivers APC advised the ignorant PDP leadership to try and read Section 50 (1)(b) of our Constitution, which states: ‘There shall be a Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves.’ The party pointed out that the Speaker was elected as the representative of the “generality of Nigerians” and not necessarily because he belonged to a particular political party.
“As we await the mass decampment of the remaining 50 PDP members of the House we wish to urge President Jonathan to stop overheating the polity and start writing his handover note because he stands no chance of implementing any third term agenda next year as we will resist such an unholy attempt,” Rivers APC said. The party insisted that all hope is lost for both Jonathan and PDP, asking: “With Kano, Lagos and Rivers states in the kitty of APC and with the likely elimination of rigging during the 2015 general elections, what realistic chances does PDP have in the 2015 general elections?”
The Election Petitions Tribunal hearing matters arising from the August 9th governorship election held in Osun State on Thursday deferred ruling on an application by Governor Rauf Aregbesola to challenge the competence of the petition of Senator Iyiola Omisore before the panel.
Omisore
Counsel to the petitioner, Dr. Alex Iziyon SAN, told the tribunal that the application challenging the competence of the petition should be heard alongside with the substantive petition.
Iziyon said hearing the applications and the petition together would ensure speedy dispensation of justice in the case.
He said, ” We have already taken two months out of six months. You can take the applications together. I know justice will be done.
Various applications which bother on the jurisdiction of the tribunal should be taken together with the petition.”
The counsel cited Paragraph 12 of the first schedule of the Electoral Act to back up the appropriateness of his prayer.
But Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi SAN, who appeared for Aregbesola said the tribunal could not go ahead since the application filed before it bothered on the competence of panel to hear the petition.
Olujinmi said that the objection raised by the petitioner was challenging the competence of the petition and the petition should not be heard based on this.
Counsel to the second respondent ( All Progressives Congress), Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, aligned himself with the argument of the first respondent.
He said going ahead to hear the substantive case while the application challenging the petition’s competence had not been resolved would be out of order.
He argued that hearing the application on competence and the petition could be likened to hearing a petition filed out of time.
Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Ayotunde Ogunleye, also adopted the arguments of the respondents in the matter.
Iziyon in his reply told the panel to discountenance the augment of the respondent describing them as Old Testament.
The chairman of the tribunal, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime, after listening to the arguments of counsels to the the petitioners and all the respondents said the panel would deliver its ruling on the application.
Ikpejime and two other justices, Vincent Ofosi and A. I. kutigi who are members of the newly reconstituted panel sat on the case and the tribunal adjourned the ruling to Monday November 3.
There was tight security around the Osun State Judiciary complex in Osogbo the venue of the tribunal.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abubakar Marafa, led other senior police officers to the venue to ensure that there is no breach of security.
Roads leading to the court were condoned off while anti bomb experts and officials of State Security Service searched vehicles and individuals going inside the court.
The Enugu State Command Police Force has arraigned three persons before a chief magistrates’ court for allegedly stealing the mace of the legislative council of Awgu Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects Umuokeke Izunna Romeo, Okolo Olisa Solomon and Enekwechi Ray Onyimba, were charged with conspiracy, breaking and entry, malicious damage and unlawful possession.
According to the police, the suspects, with others still at large, had on October 28, allegedly forcefully broking into the offices of the legislative council, stealing the mace and also damaging other properties in the complex.
The police said the suspects fled after committing the alleged offence, but, unfortunately for them, were arrested by operatives at Agbogugu junction.
The stolen mace and other materials were recovered from the vehicle conveying the suspects.
The suspects have been remanded in Oji River prison, Enugu, while the case has been adjourned to November 7 for hearing of their bail application.
The Enugu State police command said it has intensified efforts to apprehend the accomplices of the suspects, who are still at large.
The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal may have beaten more than he can chew as the security personnel attached to him have been withdrawn after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC).
Aminu Tambuwal
The Police Public Relationship Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu confirmed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja. The PRO gave reasons for the security withdrawal by referring to a session in the Nigeria constituion.
The statement reads Statement reads, “In view of the recent defection by the Right Hon. Aminu Waziri Tanbuwal, CFR, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republicof Nigeria, from the People Democratic Party to the All Progressive Congress and having regard to the clear provision of section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the Nigeria Police Force, has redeployed its personnel attached to his office.”
It could be recalled that the governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Mimiko had defected from the Labour Party to the Peoples Democratic Party few weeks ago but did not witness any of the treatment melted on the Speaker
Text message sent by a medium (Not Naija Center News) to explain the reason why Tambuwal is treated differently has not yielded any responses.
The FPRO did not respond to calls to his phone and he has yet to respond to a text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.
After nearly a year of bitter relations, President Goodluck Jonathan and the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, met Thursday in Abuja and reconciled differences that once drove both men to the extremes of their offices.
Sanusi and Jonathan
After nearly a year of bitter relations, President Goodluck Jonathan and the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, met Thursday in Abuja and reconciled differences that once drove both men to the extremes of their offices. Pres. Goodluck Jonathan And Emir Sanusi in A handshake State House Photo
Sanusi, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, was fired by the president in February after accusing the government of diverting $20 billion oil revenues.
The government denied the claim, and in turn, accused Mr. Sanusi of “financial recklessness”.
After leaving office, Mr. Sanusi was appointed the Emir of Kano in June, assuming one of the most powerful traditional stools in Nigeria.
His appointment by Kano State’s Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, a member opposition All Progressives Congress, was opposed by the presidency which ordered the emir’s office blockaded for days.
The emir reportedly initiated peace moves, and the two men met for the first time in July during the breaking of the Muslim fast, a yearly routine in which the president meets top government officials who are Muslims and other prominent Islamic leaders in the country.
Our sources say Thursday’s meeting was essentially for reconciliation between the two sides.
The emir was accompanied to the meeting by all senior members of the Kano Emirate council, while Vice President Namadi Sambo, the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, Attorney General, Mohammed Adoke, and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Aminu Wali also attended the meeting.
Group photograph of Presidnt Jonathan, VP Sambo , Emir Sanusi and members of the Kano Emirate Council in Abuja today State House Photo
Officials at the meeting say the president urged peace, and announced that he had nothing against the emir and that he had forgotten everything that happened.
In return, Mr. Sanusi also preached peace saying he too had let go of the past.
The president and the emir later met privately for about 15 minutes, according to our sources.
Mr. Sanusi and his entourage left for Kano shortly after, and were on their way to the Abuja airport at the time of this report. Emir Mohammed Sanusi ii arriving the Aso Rock Villa for a reconciliation meeting with Pres. goodluck Jonathan State House
