THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012
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NEWS North’s governors meet today From Tony Akowe, Kaduna
A NEW chairman will be elected today at the Northern State Governors’ Forum (NSGF) meeting billed for Kaduna. The governors will hold talks over growing insecurity in their region. They are expected to deliberate on the ongoing industrial action by the workers of the New Nigerian newspapers, while the operations of other joint ventures will be looked into. Secretary to the Niger State Government and Coordinating Chairman of the Forum of Secretaries, Daniel Clifford Shashere, said the election was part of efforts to restructure the
Wamakko moves to eradicate polio From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto
GOVERNOR Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State yesterday urged stakeholders in the health sector to ensure that polio is eradicated. Wamako spoke in Sokoto during the joint meeting he summoned for the inauguration of a committee on polio eradication. “You have to be involved and must partake in the struggle to ensure a polio free Sokoto State,” he said.
‘My neighbour has killed my eldest son’
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N official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), CSP Polycarp Iber (rtd), has been thrown into mourning, following the alleged killing of his eldest son, John Viha, by a neighbour, Richard Ankyaa. The deceased, a PhD student at the Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, was allegedly stabbed to death by Ankyaa at Logo 1, a community in Makurdi, the Benue State capital. Recounting the incident, Iber said: “I decided to travel to my village and my neighbour, Richard Ankyaa, who eventually killed my eldest son, accompanied me to the terminus. “When we got there, I told him to go to my home and bring me a motor spare part. “Richard went to the room where the item was kept be-
From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi
cause he is familiar with my home. My late son challenged him, saying he (Richard) should have told him that I sent him. He said I did not inform him that I would send someone to bring a spare part from the house. “There was an argument between my son and Richard, which almost resulted in a scuffle, but his sister, Janet, intervened and the matter was settled. “Some minutes later, my son went outside and told a neighbour why he quarrelled with Richard. At that point, the suspect went to his house, took a knife, hid it inside his pocket and came back to my home, only to stab my son at the back of his head. “He fell down and became
unconscious. He was taken to hospital and the doctors battled to save his life without success. He was later certified dead.” Iber said the murder of his son has thrown his family into sadness, adding that being the eldest son, he enjoyed the best of everything, including education. He described him as a promising, brilliant and cool headed person. “He was very intelligent. He showed this trait from the primary school to the university.” He described the killing of his son as painful, “but as a Catholic, I have accepted it as the will of God. I wholeheartedly accept it.” He, however, called for Justice. The victim’s father, who hailed from Adikpo in Kwande Local Government Area of the state, said he was
From Mohammed Bashir Lokoja
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•John
very close to the suspect. Iber said: “Richard sold to me the land on which I built my house. We have interacted like brothers over the
Gunmen shoot Benue lawmaker’s brother
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NKNOWN gunmen have shot Orngu Shinyo Biam, the younger brother of the Majority Leader in the Benue State House of Assembly, Paul Biam. According to an eyewitness, the incident occurred about 2am on Monday, shortly after members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ukum caucus, met and agreed that David Sevav should continue as the
From Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi
Chairman, Caretaker Committee. Sevav was first elected as the Chairman, Ukum Local Government. After his tenure, Governor Gabriel Suswam reappointed him as a caretaker chairman. Immediately after last week’s sack of the caretaker committee chairmen, he was nominated alongside Selu, Atese and Atese Gbaun by the
PDP, Ukum caucus. At the end of the meeting on Sunday, Sevav, who doubles as the Benue State Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), emerged as the caretaker committee chairman for the third time. But shortly after, gunmen numbering about four, stormed the Getere RCM Primary School, Zakibiam home of Orngu Shinyo Biam and shot him in the chest. According to a neighbour who pleaded for anonymity, the gunmen forced their way in by breaking the front door. “They shot him in the chest. The bullet entered his body and came out from the limb and he slumped. The
Task force recovers bombs, arms in Kogi
hoodlums, who thought he was dead, abandoned their guns and fled, leaving him in a pool of his blood. He was later rescued,” the eyewitness account said. Sevav told The Nation on the phone that the shooting of Biam, who is now receiving treatment in a private hospital, has noting to do with his nomination because he is not a member of the PDP Ukum caucus. “The victim was not at the caucus meeting because he is not a member.” The majority leader could not be reached for comments, but a source at the police station in Ukum told The Nation that investigation is on to arrest the perpetrators of the crime.
HE Joint Security Task Force (JSTF) in Kogi State yesterday recovered bombs and arms. It recovered 11 AK 47 rifles. The arms were hidden in a forest at the border between Kogi and Edo states. The Director of State Security Service (SSS) in Kogi, Mr. Mike Fubara, said some people have been arrested in connection with the recovered items. He said eight anti-tank Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and 14 locallymade grenades were also recovered. Other items recovered are two fridge compressors, a gas cylinder, 10 Ak 47 rifles and one sub-machine gun.
Usman Danfodiyo varsity gets registrar From Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto
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NEW registrar has been appointed for Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. He is Mallam Muhammad Kakale. The appointment followed the approval of the university’s Governing Council. According to a statement signed yesterday by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mallam Muhammad Samaila Yauri, Kakale replaces Mallam Umar U. Bunza, whose tenure has expired. His appointment, which was effective from Tuesday, May 15, is to run for five years.
Omoworare commiserates Civil Defence arrests police corporal, with Ige family others for petroleum vandalism From Adesoji Adeniyi, From Jide Orintunsin, Minna
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HE Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a police corporal, Ahmed Sirajo and others for vandalising petroleum pipelines at Izom in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State. The 29-year-old policeman was arrested with two others at about 9.30 am while scooping petroleum products into plastic containers at the back of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) station. NSCDC state commander David Bille, who paraded the suspects in Minna, said the policeman and his accomplices who have been identified as Ishaya Felix and Abubakar Haruna were found in possession of two 25 litres and six 20 litre containers filled with substances believed to be petroleum products. He said one half-filled container, two 25 litre and one 10 litre empty containers were found on the scene of the crime, adding that a Toyota Corolla car and a motorcycle believed to be used for the crime were also recovered from the suspects. Bille said the police corporal has been handed over to the commissioner of police and he is currently facing criminal charges. One of the suspects, Haruna, disassociated himself from the crime, saying he only assisted Sirajo. Felix said he was on his farm when the security personnel arrested him. Four other suspects have also been arrested by the command at Sabon Kaida village in Gurara Local Government for vandalising a petroleum pipeline.
Osogbo
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ENATOR Babajide Omoworare, representing Osun East Senatorial District, has commiserated with the Ige family of Esa-Oke in Oriade Local Government of Osun State and the Osun State government on the death of Sir Dele Ige, younger brother of the ex-Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, the late Chief Bola Ige. Omoworare, in a condolence message issued by his Media Assistant, Mr. Tunde Dairo, described the late Ige as the last man standing in the Ige dynasty. The lawmaker said Ige’s death was a colossal loss to Osun State and the country at large. He said: “One may be forced to describe his death as untimely, but a sober reflection on the quality of life and age of the departed soul makes one think twice and give God the utmost glory.”
Belo-Osagie unveils Metropole magazine today
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R. Hakeem Belo-Osagie, the Chairman of Etisalat Nigeria, will today unveil Metropole magazine at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja. Those expected to grace the event are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, Mutawalli of Borno, who
will serve as the chairman, special guest of honour and chief host. The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, is scheduled to talk on the future of the FCT as the keynote speaker. Also expected are: ministers, members of the National Assembly, heads of government agencies and departments, representatives of the civil society groups and diplomatic missions, leading journalists and businessmen.