Sunday 8th January 2017

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After a Lull, Niger Delta Militants Threaten Attacks Say FG not sincere with negotiations Air Force spends N2.8bn to fuel fighter jets for nationwide security operations

Michael Olugbode, Sylvester Idowu and Emmanuel Addeh

More than a month after cessation of hostilities, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has threatened to resume attack

on the nation’s oil assets in the oil-rich Niger-Delta region. The militants, who issued their threat yesterday in a statement, expressed disappointment that the federal government was not sincere in acceding to their de-

mands and reaching a peace deal with their representatives, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) led by Chief Edwin Clark. To make good its threat, NDA stated that it had placed its fighters and commands on high

red alert. The militant group in the statement titled "Operations Walls of Jericho and Hurricane Joshua", signed by its Spokesperson, Murdoch Agbinibo, said that all fighters and commands have been placed on high readiness

for the operations to hit and knock the enemy very hard. It claimed that the planned showdown was in response to the refusal of the Federal Government to dialogue with Chief Edwin Clark led Pan Niger

Delta Forum (PANDEF) set up to negotiate a peaceful means of finding lasting solutions to the crisis in the region. NDA, which met with Buhari Continued on page 8

Adeboye Appoints Nigeria Overseer, Remains Worldwide Leader… Page 10 Sunday 8 January, 2017 Vol 21. No 7934

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Akufo-Addo Takes over in Ghana, as Uncertainty Beclouds Gambia Demola Ojo with agency reports Heads of state from across Africa including Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari

and thousands of guests and dignitaries were in attendance yesterday as Nana Akufo-Addo was sworn in as Ghana's new president at a ceremony in

Ghana’s capital, Accra. It was another statement that democracy is increasingly the preferred choice of governance in Africa, with the successful

transition in Ghana reinforcing the country’s reputation for the peaceful transfer of power between administrations. Akufo-Addo took the oath of

office as Ghana’s fifth president in its fourth republic, after beating John Mahama in last month's election. Akufo-Addo, a 72-year-old former human

rights lawyer, promised free high school education and more factories in Ghana. Continued on page 8

1,000 Days After, How Many Chibok Girls Are Still Missing? After successful return of 24 , the fate of scores remain uncertain Meanwhile the politics of a terrorist kidnap continues

Anayo Okolie Nigeria marks a bitter anniversary today. One thousand days ago, 276 schoolgirls were kidnapped from Government Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State, by the Boko Haram terrorist sect. Fifty-seven of the girls managed to escape while being taken away in vehicles by their captors. One was found and rescued in May last year by the military working in conjunction with local vigilantes, also known as civilian JTF. Twenty-one were released on October 13 last year after negotiations, and one was found on November 5 with her 10-month-old baby. On January 5, the army announced that another of the girls had been found with her six-month-old baby and rescued. The whereabouts of the remaining 195 is unknown. Today’s anniversary of the April 14, 2014 abduction of the Chibok girls will be marked worldwide, but without fanfare. While civilised humanity can heave a sigh of relief now that

Continued on page 8

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CONGRATULATIONS GHANA

R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari congratulating the new President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, after his inauguration at the Black Star Square, Accra, Ghana ... yesterday


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