Contrary to the presidential submission that Boko Haram has been decimated, two prominent Nigerians have rather stated that insurgency was on the rise.

It will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari while commissioning two Nigeria Air Force Agusta 109 Power Helicopters and MI-17 E Helicopters at the Eagle Square, Abuja on Thursday remarked that the dreaded group had been decimated.

He said: “I promised to put an end to Boko Haram insurgency, kidnapping and other forms of criminality that have bedevilled our country during my inaugural speech as President.

You will all agree with me that the successes we have achieved so far have restored our pride and honour the world over. Consequently, I want to sincerely thank Nigerians for believing in our government, in spite occasional outrages, coming together as a nation, irrespective of political, religious and ethnic affiliations, in our strive to bring this menace to an end

I want to, once again, salute the resolve of our Armed Forces and the invaluable contributions of all security agencies for their efforts towards the decimation of Boko Haram.”

His position was also corroborated by the Chief of Air Staff, Sadiq Abubakar who hosted the event.

Buhari’s self-glory is, however, coming barely a week after he had expressed surprise on the rise of the insurgency in the country

Source : vanguard

One person has been confirmed dead in an attempt to kidnap the Provost of Taraba College of Education Zing, Dr Mike Dio-Jen, at his residence in Jalingo.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday at the Green Beach area of Kona ward, in Jalingo.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that the kidnappers who came in their numbers fired several gunshots at the gate of the provost’s house and forced their way in.

They, however, met stiff resistance by security operatives, guarding the provost’s house and this led to the death of the gateman of the house, while the kidnappers fled the area through a nearby river

The remains of the slain gateman, Mr Shawulu Yeshi, who was a staff of the college, have been deposited at the morgue of Federal Medical Centre, in Jalingo.

The police spokesman in Taraba, ASP David Misal, confirmed the incident, saying the police were investigating the case.

Misal added that the police would do their best to see that crime was nipped in the bud in the state.

Source: punch

The Senate has urged Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Alhaji Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) and the University of Jos (UNIJOS) to absorb students of Plateau State origin for currently admitted in University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) for their safety.

The Senate hinged its decision on a motion sponsored by Senator Istifanus Gyang over the killings of students Plateau State students studying in the University of Maiduguri who have been abducted and murdered by the Boko Haram insurgent

Students of Plateau State origin who study at the University of Maiduguri have been exposed to being abducted by Boko Haram Insurgent thereby compromising their safety.

Gyang identified two students who were separately abducted by the Boko Haram fighters in which one was killed and the second still in captivity.

He also said a total of six persons of Plateau State origin gave been abducted leaving more killed by the murderous group

Source: by Tribune

The police in Katsina State have arrested a housewife, Rabi Shamsudden, 19, for allegedly stabbing her husband to death in Malumfashi Local Government area of the state.

The police Spokesman, Gambo Isah, a superintendent of police, told journalists in Katsina that the incident occurred at Danjanku-Tasha village on Monday at about 4 a.m.

“Today, January 27,2020, we received report that one Rabi Shamsuddeen, 19, of Danjanku-Tasha in Malumfashi Local Government, allegedly stabbed her husband, Shamsuddeen Salisu, 25, with knife to death

The shout for help by Salisu attracted neighbours. When the people went to offer assistance, they discovered that the door to the compound was locked.

“Some of the people jumped into the compound and found the victim in the pool of his blood; crawling out from his room with a wound in his stomach.

The neighbours also told the police that the wife (Rabi) was (allegedly) seen holding a knife with blood stains,” he said.

The police spokesman said that Salisu was immediately rushed to Malumfashi General Hospital, where the doctors confirmed him dead on arrival.

Source: premiumtimes

Yusuf Gagdi, member representing Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam Federal Constituency in Plateau, has condemned the killing of Daciya Dalep, his constituent and student of University of Maiduguri, by members of the Boko Haram.

Mr Gagdi, in a statement made available newsmen on Wednesday in Jos, described the incident as “inhuman”

Yusuf Gagdi, member representing Pankshin, Kanke and Kanam Federal Constituency in Plateau, has condemned the killing of Daciya Dalep, his constituent and student of University of Maiduguri, by members of the Boko Haram.

Mr Gagdi, in a statement made available newsmen on Wednesday in Jos, described the incident as “inhuman”

NAN reports that Dalep, a native of Jing in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau, was abducted two weeks ago by the insurgents on his way to Maiduguri to resume school.

NAN also reports that on Tuesday, the insurgents released a video where Dalep was gruesomely executed.

“I condemn in the strongest terms, the gruesome execution of Daciya Dalep, a native of Jing in Pankshin and a Biology/Education student of University of Maiduguri by members of the Boko Haram.

“I am devastated by the excruciating lost of this promising young man, and more pathetically, in a gruesome manner one could not wish for his arch enemy.

“This has, once again, brought to fore the nightmarish experience of people living in the insurgency ravaged Northeastern part of Nigeria,” he said

The lawmaker called on governments at all levels to redouble efforts at ending insurgency in the North-East and other security threats in other parts of the country.

He called on Nigerians to render all the needed support to the security agencies in their quest to end insurgency in the country

“This call for the need for government to redouble efforts to stamp out the irresponsible activities of this terrorist organisation.

By Aisha muhammad

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday strongly condemned the  killing ofLawan Andimi, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Michika local government area of Adamawa State, by Boko Haram terrorists, describing it as cruel, inhuman and deliberately provocative.

President Buhari expressed sorrow that the terrorists went on to kill  the religious leader while giving signals at the same of a willingness to set him free by releasing him to third parties.

The President consoled the Christian community all over Nigeria, the government and people of Adamawa State and the Bishop’s family over the sad loss of the man of God. He assured that terrorists will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions and would comprehensively be defeated by the determined armed forces of Nigeria

President urged nations of the world to end all support provided to Boko Haram and Islam in West Africa, ISWA terrorist groups whose only goal is to sow death, violence and destruction in the sub-region.

Source ;National daily newspaper

The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Aisha
Alkali Wakil, alias Mama Boko Haram, and two
other persons before a Maiduguri High Court
on a 5-count charge of conspiracy and
cheating.
Mama Boko Haram is the Chief Executive
Officer of an NGO, Complete Care and Aid
Foundation. The two other persons arraigned
along with her are: Tahiru Alhaji Saidu Daura
and Prince Lawal Shoyade, the Programme
Manager and Country Director respectively of
the NGO.
Delivering the five charges before the court,
presided over by Justice Aisha Kumalia in
Maiduguri today (Monday) the prosecutor,
Benjamin Manji, said the three persons and
one Saidu Mukhtar (at large) sometime
between June and August 2018 at Maiduguri,
Borno State conspired to do an illegal act of
obtaining under false pretence which amounts
to an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the
Advance Fee Fraud and Fraud Related
offences Act 2006 and punishable under
Section 1(3) of the same Act.
The three persons and Saidu Mukhtar (at
large) were also charged with obtaining, “with
intent to defraud”, the sum of N45 million from
one Mohammed Umar Mohammed of Nyeuro
International Limited under “the false
pretence” of executing a contract, which is an
offence contrary to Section 1(1) (b) of the
Advanced Fee Fraud Act and punishable under
the Act.
They were also charged with obtaining, “with
the intent to defraud”, N1.65 million from the
same Mohammed Umar Mohammed of Nyeuro
International Limited under “the false
pretence” of executing a contract, which is an
offence contrary to Section 1(1) (b) of the
Advanced Fee Fraud Act and punishable under
the Act.
The fourth and fifth charges were that the
three persons and Saidu Mukhtar (at large) did
an “illegal act” of cheating, contrary to Section
96(a) and punishable under Section 97 of the
Borno State Penal Code Laws Cap 102; as well
as induced, “with the intent to defraud”, Umar
Mohammed of Nyeuro International Limited to
deliver 3000 bags of 50kg white beans worth
N65 million under a “false” contract, contrary
to Section 320(a) and punishable under
Section 322 of the Borneo State Penal Code
Laws Cap 102.
The three accused pleaded not guilty of all the
charges.
With the pleas and agreement of Abdulkahi
Musa Audu and Habu Waziri, Counsels to the
1st accused (Mama Boko Haram) and the 2nd
accused (Tahiru Daura) respectively, the court
adjourned to 10th, 11th and 12th February,
2020 for trial.

Source: Daily Trust

Words of the late American poet and educator, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, that “lives of great men all remind us that we can make our lives sublime and departing, leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time,” define his philosophy about life. Indeed, Dr. Fassy Adetokunboh Yusuf had his eyes set on causes that would make him relevant to the society from the moment he could take decisions on issues that concern him. Today, he is a multi-dimensional scholar of international repute with over 50 publications including books, chapter publications, articles, projects and research engagements. He has also attended conferences, workshops, seminars and other intellectual and capacity building programmes in over 40 countries in the six continents of the world.

With a Diploma in Journalism in 1974 from the School of Journalism and TV, England, Yusuf proceeded to bag a Certificate in Public Relations from the Chartered Institute of Public relations (1975); Diploma in Advertising and Marketing from the Communication, Advertising and Marketing Education Foundation, London (1981); Communication, Diploma in Marketing from the British Chartered Institute of Marketing (1983); and Advertising and Marketing Diploma with Honours from the Communication, Advertising and Marketing Education Foundation, London (1984).

He bagged his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 1984 from Brunel University/Henley Business School, United Kingdom and his Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Mass Communication in 1997 from the University of Lagos. Still hungry for knowledge, Yusuf enrolled to study Law at the Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye and graduated in 2000 with Second Class Honours. In 2009, he enrolled for his Ph.D studies in Communications (Media Policy and Deregulation) and was awarded the degree in 2014. Last year, he became a Chartered Secretary and Administrator from the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators of Nigeria.

With these qualifications, Yusuf says he is still willing to acquire more knowledge. According to him, his multi-disciplinary status as a scholar was not dictated by circumstance but the outcome of determination backed with hard work. “It’s not by circumstance but by dint of hard work, perseverance and a vision that saw beyond the ordinary. I wanted a situation where no matter what happens, I will be relevant to the society.

Vanguard

The Central Bank of Nigeria, under the leadership of Godwin Emefiele, has recorded a number of policies, which have a direct bearing on the viability or otherwise of the nation’s economy. One of such policies is the cashless policy.

According to the CBN, Nigeria must join the rest of the world in the practice of a cashless economy. In other words, cash transactions must reduce, if not completely done away with, while electronic transactions must be adopted by all. Where cash transactions are inevitable, the cash in circulation must be controlled by the apex bank. In support of this cashless policy, the CBN imposed some charges on cash deposits and withdrawals as well as on transactions done on automated teller machines.

However, the CBN began to contradict itself when it was reported in some national dailies that, in a bid to generate revenue for the Buhari regime, Nigerians must begin to pay the sum of N50 as stamp duty for every transaction done through the point of sales machines. This new directive has since been in effect. If, for example, an individual makes as many as 20 purchases via POS machines in a day, such an individual would be charged N50 on each of the purchases, thereby parting with as much as N1000 of his/her hard-earned money. What offence has this individual committed other than attempting to ‘go cashless’ as the CBN has been preaching to us?

Punch

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Tuesday asked the Department of State Services to release the immediate-past National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki; and the convener of #RevolutionNow protests, Omoyele Sowore, from custody.

The directive by the AGF came barely eight days after he said he had no power to issue such directive to the DSS to release Sowore from custody without recourse to court.

The AGF was, in the statement by his spokesperson, Dr. Umar Gwandu, on December 16, reacting to the letter by Sowore’s lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), sent to the AGF’s office to demand the activist’s release.

Falana’s letter, dated December 13, had followed the announcement by the AGF’s office that it had taken over the prosecution of the Sahara Reporters publisher and his fellow detainee Olawale Bakare from the DSS.

The AGF’s takeover of the case was informed by the widely condemned invasion of the Federal High Court in Abuja by the operatives of the DSS to rearrest Sowore on December 6.

Falana, who heads the defence team of Sowore and his co-defendant, Bakare, informed Malami that Sowore had, since his rearrest on December 6, been kept in DSS custody without the backing of any detention order of court or arrest warrant.

Dailytrust