Kano blast as many were killed
Kano blast: Jonathan meets service chiefs, orders probe
May 20, 2014
1:
Explosives in a Mitsubishi car abandoned by fleeing suicide bombers in
Kano ... on Monday. 2: One of the cars burnt at the scene of Sunday’s
blast in Sabon Gari, Kano.
| credits: keneinspiration.blogspot.com
| credits: keneinspiration.blogspot.com
President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday met behind closed-doors with service chiefs over Sunday’s bomb blast in Kano, Kano State.
His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who disclosed this on his Twitter
handle, said Jonathan directed the security chiefs to thoroughly probe
the incident that led to the death of some people and destruction of
property in Sabon Gari area of the city.
The meeting was held inside the
Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly after the President’s arrival from
Lagos in the early hours of the day.
The President had landed in Lagos on Sunday morning from Paris, France where he attended a regional summit on security.
The meeting which lasted over three
hours was also attended by the Inspector-General of Police, Abubakar
Mohammed, and the heads of the Department of State Services and the
National Intelligence Agency.
The National Security Adviser, Ministers of Defence, Police Affairs and Foreign Affairs also attended.
Vice-President Namadi Sambo joined the
President at the meeting which was also used to review efforts aimed at
rescuing the over 200 girls abducted from their school in Chibok, Borno
State on April 14.
Abati quoted Jonathan as having called on Nigerians to remain united against Boko Haram and all enemies of the state.
The Presidential spokesman wrote, “Kano
Blast: President Jonathan summoned meeting of security chiefs today
(Monday) on arrival in Abuja after Paris summit.
“President Jonathan today(Monday) ordered thorough investigations and security chiefs to act quickly.
“President Jonathan calls on Nigerians
to remain united against the al-Qaeda of West Africa alias Boko Haram
and all enemies of the state.”
Police avert another blast in Kano
As the meeting ended with none of those
in attendance speaking with State House correspondents, news spread that
the police in Kano averted another blast in the city.
It was learnt that police operatives, acting on intelligence, tracked and recovered an ash Mitsubishi station wagon marked AE 756 GSW loaded with Improvised Explosive Devices and fuel.
The vehicle which was recovered at the Tafawa Balewa Street was rendered safe by police bomb disposal experts.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aderenle Shinaba, who confirmed the development said, “A Mitsubishi
car ash in colour was discovered by our men along Tafawa Balewa road in
the city, primed with two gas cylinders wired with 25 litres of
petrol.”
A statement by the Force Public
Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said that security agencies in Kano had
commenced investigation into the aborted blast.
While commiserating with the families
and friends of the victims of the blast, the IG, called for the
cooperation of all in the fight against terrorism.
“He promised that the law enforcement
agencies will continue to do their best towards winning the ongoing war
against terrorism,” Mba said in the statement.
Mba said also that “five persons were
confirmed dead in the Kano blast while seven others were injured. Four
were treated and discharged and six vehicles were damaged.”
Fact-finding committee meets with Shehu of Borno, military chiefs
The fact-finding committee on the abduction of the schoolgirls met with security chiefs in Borno State.
Its Chairman, Brig.- Gen. Ibrahim Sabo
(retd.), had during an earlier meeting with the Shehu of Borno,
Alhaji Abubakar El-Kanemi, said that they spent the past weeks in Abuja
having interactive sessions with sources and contacts.
He said, “We also met with the
newly-appointed United Nations Secretary General Special Representative
on the Chibok abduction, as well as foreign experts and officials, who
are in the country as part of the support pledged by some foreign
countries to the Federal Government’s efforts to rescue the abducted
schoolgirls, and to deal with the insurgency.
“We are now in the main theatre where
the Chibok schoolgirls were taken away against their will. The whole
world is mobilised against the abduction, and we cannot be happy while
our daughters remain in captivity.”
He added that while in the state, the
committee would engage with a broad spectrum of stakeholders to enable
it to have a holistic appreciation of the matter at hand.
El-Kanemi,who in his remark described
the abduction of the schoolgirls as unfortunate, said the leaders of
Boko Haram were not indigenes of the state.
“What is happening now is unfortunate.
It’s entirely new to us. None of the leaders of Boko Haram is from
Borno. They cannot claim to be from here. The problem was brought to us
from elsewhere,” the Shehu said.
The military chiefs that the committee
met included the Acting GOC of the 7 Division, the Borno State
Commissioner of Police, the state director of the DSS and heads of air
force, customs, and immigration.
US yet to deploy surveillance aircraft – DHQ
The Defence Headquarters has however
said the United States had yet to deploy surveillance aircraft in
Nigeria in search of the the abducted pupils.
The Director of Defence Information,
Maj.-Gen.Chris Olukolade, told journalists in Abuja that air
surveillance was being conducted by the Nigerian Air Force only. But he
said that US aircraft in neighbouring countries could easily be
deployed for the purpose.
The Telegraph of London had on Monday reported that the US had already deployed aircraft in Nigeria.
Olukolade said, “We are in discussion.
We are in collaboration. We are discussing various issues. At the
moment, the main surveillance that is ongoing is the one being done by
the Nigerian Air Force.
“That does not rule out the fact that,
for instance, the American Forces have their aircraft in neighbouring
countries. That will give you a message. If they are needed for this
operation; when we have sorted out issues, we will let you know.”
Asked if the Federal Government had
begun talks with Boko Haram, Olukolade replied, “Gentlemen, what you
must know is that there are efforts in different directions because
Nigerians and the international community are interested in having our
girls back and the concerted efforts could be goodwill.
“When we are sure that government is in
discussion, we will be glad to let you know but if somebody is
interested and is initiating something, we will not disown it
completely.
“Patrols are ongoing in the entire
North-East with special focus around where we believe we can secure our
girls. Active patrols are going on in the air and on the ground and
beyond that, our partners are already discussing with us as we speak to
you. There is constant exchange of briefs which have started in
furthering the commitment to have partners support our efforts.”
No talks yet with Boko Haram –FG
The Coordinator of the National
Information Centre and Director-General of the National Orientation
Agency, Mr. Mike Omeri, categorically said that the government had not
started any discussion with Boko Haram.
“We have repeatedly said that we would
do everything possible to secure the release of the girls but there are
no talks so far,” he said.
On the purported threat by Boko Haram to
some schools in Benue State, he said there was sufficient reason to
believe that the threat was the handiwork of mischief-makers.
But Omeri added that precautionary measures had been taken to forestall any possible attack.
Don’t expect end to insurgency soon – NSA Director
But as the President and the security
chiefs discussed the way out of the security challenge , the Director of
Policy Strategy in the office of the NSA, Ambassador Layiwola
Lasehinde, said that insurgency in the country might not end soon.
Lasehinde stated this in Abuja on Monday
at a symposium organised by the United Nigerians Forum with the theme,
“Nigeria of our dreams.”
He said, “It took America 10 years to
locate Osama bin-Laden and when you are talking of resources, the US
government spent huge amount of money in search of the man who was
sitting in a house close to a military station in Pakistan.
“America could not solve the terrorism
problem in Afghanistan and they were there for years, spending $1m
every day. They were also in Iraq, spending $1m every day.
“We are not saying that we will not get
to the end of terrorism in Nigeria, but dont expect a quick resolution.
It(terrorism) is a virus that has entered the body politics of the
country and it will be extremely difficult to remove it because there
are many disgruntled people all over supporting the insurgents.”
He, however, said that the Federal Government remained focused despite the security challenge posed by Boko Haram .
For instance, Lasehinde said the office
of the NSA had started a programme to protect critical assets of the
country by compiling a comprehensive list of their current locations and
condition.
A senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike
Ozekhome, who also spoke during the symposium, urged Nigerians to pray
for the quick release of the abducted schoolgirls by Boko Haram .
He said he had been having positive
thinking recently that the girls would be released and that their
freedom would end insurgency in the country.
B’Haram not formed to frustrate Jonathan’s govt –Aliyu
The Governor of Niger State, Dr.
Babangida Aliyu, on Monday faulted claims that Boko Haram was created to
frustrate the Jonathan government.
He also said it was worrisome that the
Federal Government had not been able to apprehend the sponsors of the
sect five years after their destructive activities started.
Aliyu, while playing host to the
Minister of State for Works, Mr. Bashir Yuguda, added that the
insurgents could be crushed in three months.
Aliyu said, “Boko Haram did not start
with the Presidency of Goodluck Jonathan. Maybe that is why we have not
been able to nip this in the bud because there is this belief by some
people that the sect was essentially created to stop Jonathan from being
President. I do not think we should continue with that belief.
“In this country, we must be bold to say
that we must fight extremism in whatever nature, whether political,
religious or social. We must fight it. .
“It used to be like a rumour but I saw
an interview in the print media that ‘ they are killing their people,
let them continue to do it.”’
Aliyu, who also warned that foreign
countries supporting Nigeria in the fight against terrorism should not
stay for long, stated that it was wrong for anyone to compare Boko Haram
with the Niger Delta.
He said after arresting many members of the sect, the government should have been able to establish their sponsors.
The governor said, “We all know that the
militants of Niger Delta were fighting for a particular purpose, which
is actually a branch of the politicians who were using other people to
fight to ensure that they win their elections. “My argument has always
been that after arresting so many members of Boko Haram, it should not
be difficult for us to know who their sponsors are.
“Whatever arrangement we are going to
have with any foreign country, we must have time and target. We must not
allow a situation where foreign countries will come into Nigeria and
stay two years or three years and contribute to discrimination in our
nation.
“If I am to set the target, three
months would be enough to really crush Boko Haram; not only to secure
the release of our girls, but to completely crush the sect. Now that we
have the cooperation of our neighbours, it will be possible.”
ECOWAS parliament laud Paris summit
The Parliament of the Economic Community
of West African States has commended the Paris summit in France, aimed
at tackling the Boko Haram insurgency.
The Parliament, through its Speaker,
Senator Ike Ekweremadu, called for a full implementation of the
resolutions and strategies adopted at the summit.
It described terrorism as a
transnational phenomenon and decried the abduction of schoolgirls in
Chibok, as “the height of cowardice and depravity.”
Also, the Chairman of the ECOWAS
Authority of Heads of State and Government, President John Mahama of
Ghana, said the ECOWAS Parliament had serious roles to play in
ensuring regional stability.
He said, “It is unfortunate that the
Boko Haram group has continued to unleash acts of violence and terror on
many Nigerians. The abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in Borno
State is one act of terror that has created global concern.
“Unless we are able to overcome Boko
Haram and its ideology of criminalising the rightful quest for
education, the future of our sub-region could be badly affected.
“I am urging West Africans to rally together to overcome this threat.”
Multiple Blasts Rock Jos Railway Terminal
The terminal is located in the city centre, opposite the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
Local sources told THEWILL that the casualties are heavy.
More soon!
Multiple Blasts Rock Jos Railway Terminal
The terminal is located in the city centre, opposite the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
Local sources told THEWILL that the casualties are heavy.
More soon!
Multiple Blasts Rock Jos Railway Terminal
The terminal is located in the city centre, opposite the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
Local sources told THEWILL that the casualties are heavy.
More soon!
Multiple Blasts Rock Jos Railway Terminal
The terminal is located in the city centre, opposite the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH).
Local sources told THEWILL that the casualties are heavy.
More soon!
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