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T H I S D AY, T H E S U N D AY N E W S PA P E R Ëž PRIL 15, 2018
SUNDAYNEWS
News Editor ĂŒĂ“Ă—ĂŒĂ™Ă–Ă‹ Ă•Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă–Ă? E-mail: Ă‹ĂŒĂ“Ă—ĂŒĂ™Ă–Ă‹Ë›Ă‹Ă•Ă™Ă?Ă“Ă–Ă?̜ÞÒÓĂ?ĂŽĂ‹ĂŁĂ–Ă“Ă Ă?Ë›Ă?Ă™Ă—Ëœ ͸΀͚͚͟͟Πͽ͝͸͞ Ě™Ă?Ă—Ă? Ă™Ă˜Ă–ĂŁĚš
Army Arrests Masterminds of Taraba Killings t Military kills seven Boko Haram insurgents in ambushes around Sambisa forest Paul Obi Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË Ă‹Ă˜ĂŽ Michael Olugbode Ă“Ă˜ Ă‹Ă“ĂŽĂ&#x;Ă‘Ă&#x;ĂœĂ“
The Nigerian Army yesterday said it has arrested the masterminds of the killings in Taraba State. Director of Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Texas Chukwu said: “Troops on exercise Ayem Akaptuma on 12 April 2018 arrested two persons, Mr. Danasebe Gasama and Mr. Danjuma a.k.a. American in
connection with the killings and uprising in Takum and Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba State. “The two suspects were arrested at Takum following intelligence that they were the coordinators of several attacks both on Fulani and the locals.� Chukwu explained that “preliminary investigation has further identified these two individuals as key players inthekillingsanduprisinginthe
two Local Government Areas of the State. “The general public is advised to always give useful and timely information to the security agency for prompt action,� he said. Meanwhile, Chukwu also denied an allegation against the Nigerian Army of perpetuating nepotism in its recruitment. He said: “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to news making the rounds in
the social media alleging the Nigerian Army discrimination anddenialofsomeethnicgroups the rights to be recruited into the Nigerian Army in the ongoing nationwiderecruitmentexercise. “The Nigerian Army wishes to state categorically that the allegation is not only untrue but unfoundedandunsubstantiated. Thisisthehandiworkofunscrupulous elements attempting to dragthegoodnameoftheArmy into the mud.
“For avoidance of doubt and to put the record straight, the Nigerian Army wishes to state that every eligible Nigerians are qualified to be recruited into the Nigerian Army providing such individual meet the set down standard meant for the recruitment; and that the Nigerian Army would ever remain apolitical in the discharge of its constitutional roles in aid of civil authority. “Furthermore, no state of the Federation including Adamawa State that would be exempted
as alleged by the mischief makers. All the candidates for the recruitment exercise from Demsa, Numan, Lamurde and Girei Local Government Areas are currently participating inthe ongoing recruitment exercise like any other candidates. “The Nigerian Army wishes to advise all well meaning citizens to disregard such an unfounded allegation which is an imagination of the writer.� Chukwu added that “the allegation that the Nigerian Army selected a particular ethnic group from the Southeastern part of the country is completely false and has no basis. It is important to note that the Nigerian Army does not support any religion or tribe. “The Army operates as an entity no matter your tribe or religion. Therefore, there is no iotaoftruthinthesaidallegation.
Osinbajo at ECOWAS Meeting in Togo
DAVID MARKS AT 70 L-R: Celebrant and former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark; former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd.); and President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, at the 70th birthday dinner of Mark in Abuja‌yesterday
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40,000 Bid Anti-Apartheid Heroine, Winnie Mandela, Farewell Abimbola Akosile åÓÞÒ Ă‹Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?ĂŁ ĂœĂ?ĂšĂ™ĂœĂž
More than 40,000 South Africans from across the political spectrum gathered at the funeral ceremony of anti-apartheid heroine Winnie Mandela in her beloved Soweto to wish her a final goodbye on Saturday. Madikizela-Mandela’sdeathon April 2 at the age of 81 after a long illnesswasmetbyanoutpouring ofemotionacrossthecountry,with therulingAfricanNationalCon-
gress(ANC)andoppositionparties holdingmemorialstoremember hercourageinthestruggletoend white-minority rule. Theofficialfuneralserviceforthe ex-wifeofthelateNelsonMandela took place on Saturday morning in Soweto - the Johannesburg township at the forefront of the battle against apartheid where she lived. President Cyril Ramaphosa said, just as South Africa grieved for Madikizela-Mandela, it was comforted by the profound
Macron: Why France, Allies Attacked Syria t Said red line was crossed Senator Iroegbu Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron has explained that the French, British and American attacks against Syria early morning of Saturday was in response to the alleged use of chemical weapons by the President Bashar Assad regime. Macron, in a statement made availableyesterdaybytheFrench Embassy in Abuja, said Assad crossed the red line with the use of chemical weapons. Partofthestatementread:“Dozensofmen,womenandchildren were massacred in Douma on Saturday, 7 April using chemical weapons,intotalviolationofinternationallawandUnitedNations Security Council resolutions.
“Thereisnodoubtastothefacts andtotheresponsibilityoftheSyrianregime.Theredlinedeclared by France in May 2017 has been crossed.� “Tonight,Ihavetherefore orderedtheFrencharmedforcesto intervene,aspartofaninternational operation conducted in coalition withtheUnitedStatesofAmerica andtheUnitedKingdomagainst theclandestinechemicalweapons arsenal of the Syrian regime. “Ourresponsehasbeenlimited to the Syrian regime’s facilities enablingtheproductionandemploymentofchemicalweapons.� TheFrenchPresidentsaidFrance and Western powers cannot tolerate the normalisation of the employmentofchemicalweapons, whichisanimmediatedangerto the Syrian people and to our collective security.
meaning of her life. “Indeath,shehasdemonstrated that our many differences along politicalpartyandraciallinesand the numerous disputes we may have are eclipsed by our shared desiretofollowherleadinbuilding ajust,equitableandcaringsociety,� he said. “Loudlyandwithoutapology, she spoke truth to power. It was thoseinpowerwho,insecureand fearful,visiteduponherthemost vindictiveandcallousretribution. Yet, through everything, she en-
dured. They could not break her. They could not silence her.� Theafternoonburialceremony atFourwaysMemorialParkCemetery,northofJohannesburg,ended anearlytwo-weekmourningperioddeclaredbythegovernment. Earlier, mourners sang and cheeredasMadikizela-Mandela’s bodywasbroughtintothe40,000seat Orlando stadium, filled to capacity for the funeral service. Many mourners were clad in the green and yellow colors of the ANC. Members of the leftist
Warri Gets $100 Million Fabrication Plant A Nigerian oil servicing firm, Lee Engineering and Construction Company, has established a $100 million fabrication plant in Warri, Delta State to meet the fabrication needs of multinational companies in the oil and gas sector. The newly completed oil and gas production plant, according to the chairman of the company, Chief Lemon Ikpea, is dedicated to produce high pressure vessels, heat exchangers, gas-heat exchangers, water bath heaters, glycol, skits, scrubbers, process modules,tanksandflaresystems aswellascarryoutmaintenanceon existingpressure/processvessels and its components. He said the vision of the new plantwastobuildanindigenous world-class manufacturing and fabricationworkshopthatwould servetheindustrialneedsofNige-
riaandAfrica,especiallyintheoil and gas, and power sector. Ikpea added that he was motivated to set up the fabrication company in order to contribute his quota to the oil and gas sector andalsototapintothelocalcontent drive of the federal government. Underthelocalcontentscheme, government encourages indigenous companies in the oil and gas sector to provide services to the big players in the sector and benefitfromitsfinancialresources. He told newsmen in Warri: “If you look around the oil and gas sector,mostproductionaredone outsidetheshoresofthiscountry andifwefoldourhandsandwait for government’s foreign friends and partners to transfer technologytothiscountry,Idon’tseethat happening,consideringthemarket situation.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)partyalsoattendedinlarge numbers. EFF leader Julius Malema, an admirerofMadikizela-Mandela whoechoesherfieryrhetoric,said she had always put the country “aboveherownpersonalsafety� in the fight against apartheid. “She lived in constant naked contact with danger, prepared to lose her life, even the lives of her ownchildren,whowereputinto dangerbyherpoliticalactivities,� Malemasaidtoloudcheersinthe
stadium. During Mandela’s 27-year incarceration for his fight against apartheid, Madikizela-Mandela campaignedforhisreleaseandfor therightsofblackSouthAfricans undergoingdetention,banishment andarrest.Alsopresentatthefuneralservicewereformerpresidents ThaboMbeki,KgalemaMotlanthe andJacobZuma,dignitariesfrom African countries and celebrities suchasBritishsupermodelNaomi Campbell and U.S. civil rights activist Jesse Jackson.
79,878 Candidates Sit for NECO Exams t Lagos records highest number, Zamfara Lowest Kuni Tyessi Ă“Ă˜ ĂŒĂ&#x;ÔË
In preparation for admission into the 104 Federal Government Colleges within the country, 79,878 candidates yesterday sat for the National Common Entrance Examination conducted by the National Examination Council, (NECO). Out of the total number, Lagos state has the highest number in terms of enrolment with over 25,000 candidates and distantly followed by the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers state with 7,699 and 4,810 respectively. The states with the lowest enrolment are Zamfara, Kebbi and Taraba with 28, 50 and 95 respectively. The Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of NECO, Prof.
Charles Uwakwe, while responding to questions at the Government Day Secondary School, Wuse, Zone 3 in Abuja, revealed that the enrolment is based on state of residence and not state of origin as thought by many. He said the ministry will determine the number ofstudents to be admitted as it determines the carrying capacity and in addition, children with special needs have been adequately taken care off right from the period of documentation. He said “79,878 pupils are taking the exams, that’s the current figure and it is still on-going. Last night I got another 150 from one of the south- eastern states.