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Jos Bombing: Army Arrests Suspect
The Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade yesterday said security agents had arrested one suspect in connection with the May 20 bombing in Jos Central Market, Plateau State.
He made the disclosure at a joint news conference by the National Information Centre, Abuja.
He said the suspect was already providing the lead for subsequent aspects of investigation into the incident.
According to him, security agencies are carrying out nationwide surveillance and that the surveillance is yielding positive results.
Olukolade said “a number of persons, who are planning to continue the bombing spree, have also been arrested.
“But as a mark of vigilance of the security agencies, as well as the citizens who are giving useful information, the bomb planners were apprehended.
“Troops have continued to raid locations and in the course of which, a number of arrests have been made in places like Kachia in Kaduna State and Zamfara.’’
The defence information director said arms and ammunition were recovered from the suspects, adding that the raid would continue so as to check violence in the country.
He also confirmed the killing of 25 security personnel, comprising 12 soldiers and 13 policemen at Buni Yadi town, Yobe, by the Boko Haram insurgents on Tuesday.
He said “I wish to confirm to you that there was a massive attack on Buni Yadi town in Yobe, where some gallant soldiers and policemen lost their lives.
“The casualty stands at 12 soldiers and 13 policemen, as revealed by initial investigations into the incident.’’
He said the attack was “primarily targeted at the town”.
However, the Plateau police command has confirmed the killing of four persons by unknown gunmen on Tuesday night in Wat village, Kuru, in the Jos South Local Government Area of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Felicia Anslem, confirmed the incident in an interview with newsmen yesterday in Jos.
Anslem said that the village was attacked by unknown gunmen when the people were asleep, and killed four persons and injured others.
She said that investigation into the killings had commenced, and called on members of the community to remain calm.
Media Officer of the Special Task Force in charge of security in Plateau, Capt. Ikedichi Iweha also confirmed the attack but declined to give any details.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, yesterday said the military would remain focused in the discharge of its duties “in spite of unreasonable criticisms.’’
Badeh made the disclosure when members of Social Welfare Network Initiative, an NGO, paid a solidarity visit to the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.
He said “no matter the criticisms or what people do, the Nigerian Armed Forces will continue to do what it had sworn to do.’’
“We swore to defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to defend the integrity of our states.
“It is your military, you don’t have another one so, encourage your military to do well. We must all be patriotic as Nigerians to defend our country.’’
Badeh, however, said that what the country was fighting was above Boko Haram, noting that the group which started in Maiduguri as a small group had now gone out of hand.
“It is now an Al- Quada in West Africa and Central Africa. We have evidence from people outside Nigeria fighting with Nigeria so it is no longer Boko Haram, it is Al- Quada we are fighting.
“You are aware that we have international partners working with us to release our girls and our girls will be released.’’
Earlier, the National Coordinator of the NGO, Mr Emmauel Osemeka, had told the defence chief that the visit was in solidarity and support for the military.
Osemeka commended the army’s efforts to tackle the insurgency problem in the country and other vices, saying “members of the armed forces have been on the streets, in the bushes, on lonely roads, along the border stretch and across the length and breadth of Nigeria.
“We are not unmindful of the supreme sacrifice being paid every second, minute, hour, day and week by our brothers and sisters to protect our territorial integrity.’’
“We are proud of our Armed Forces and will continue to support your efforts.’’
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
News
RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
News
Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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