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Hoodlums Attack Jonathan’s Convoy In Yola, Jalingo …As PDP Lifts Tukur’s Suspension
President Goodluck Jonathan’s convoy was yesterday pelted with stones in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.
Goodluck Jonathan Jonathan was in the state in continuation of his presidential campaign that is widely being resisted following his 2011 promise that he will be a one-term president.
According to the source, angry protesters were chanting anti-Jonathan songs, condemned his failure to crush Boko Haram fighters.
The protesting citizens also destroyed cars and other valuables before security operatives overpowered them in the course of the protest.
Mobile policemen were said to have sprayed teargas on the protesters.
As at the time of this report, the police are yet to react officially regarding the incident. Hoodlums vandalise 12 cars in Taraba PDP’s office
No fewer than 12 vehicles were vandalised yesterday as some hoodlums descended on the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party in Jalingo, the Tarba State capital, as President Goodluck Jonathan took his campaign for the February presidential election to the state.
It took the intervention of security agents to curb the youths’ attempt to reduce the edifice to rubble.
The angry youths, said to be numbering over 100, were said to have laid siege to the secretariat located along Barde Way, hours before the arrival the President, who was on a campaign to Taraba State.
They were said to have stormed the premises when Jonathan and his entourage were holding the rally at the stadium located at the outskirt of Jalingo.
Security operatives were said to have been overwhelmed as the rampaging youths apparently took them unawares, but they managed to secure the building before much damage could be done.
Public Relations Officer of the party, Mr. Napoleon Adamu, expressed anger that despite the Abuja accord, signed by all the candidates seeking the presidential slot, some disgruntled elements of some political parties could still go as far as attacking members of the ruling Party.
He blamed the attack on members of the opposition party, adding that the attack was carried out when the president was busy campaigning at the stadium.
He said, “We are happy that no life was lost and we want to appeal to our teeming youths to eschew violence and not take the law into their hands as security operatives, according to him, will soon fish out the perpetrators.
“Even before the coming of Mr. president, they have been complaining that they were not carried along by the committees constituted for the visit.”
However, the APC chairman, Alhaji Hassan Ardo, denied the involvement of the party in the vandalism at the secretariat, stating that “we are just coming into Jalingo from our campaign.”
Meanwhile, business activities were disrupted as Jalingo, the state capital, was brought to a standstill following the visit of the presidential campaign train.
Jonathan expressed his determination to ensuring the completion of both Kashimbila Dam and the Mambilla Hydro Power projects, both of which are located in the state.
But despite the attack, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential rally in Adamawa State went on as planned, yesterday.
Speaking at the rally, the party announced the lifting of the suspension of a former Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, announced the lifting of the suspension at the presidential rally of the party in Yola, the Adamawa State capital.
Tukur was suspended in December 2014 for dragging the party before the court in his attempt to reclaim the chairmanship of the party, where he was forced to resign in January last year.
Sambo said Jonathan was transforming Taraba just as the PDP-led Federal Government had embarked on the dredging of the River Benue to enable ships and bigger boats to berth in Taraba.
“I have another good news; Mr President has approved the dredging of River Benue. Very soon you will see ships and boats coming to Jalingo.
“Mr President is transforming Taraba State, Mr President is transforming Nigeria”.
He, therefore, called on the people of Taraba to reelect Jonathan to enable him to complete the good works he had begun nationwide.
He also charged them to vote for all PDP candidates in all the elections.
However, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said the Federal Government would ensure that the vast agricultural potentials in Taraba were harnessed.
Jonathan said this in Jalingo when the presidential campaign train of the PDP paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Muri, Alhaji Abbas Tafida, ahead of the Feb. 14 election.
The president said if re-elected, his government would ensure that the state’s vast land was harnessed for commercial rice farming.
Responding, Tafida, described Jonathan as an experienced leader, having been in the corridors of power for some time.
He advised Jonathan to ensure that a sustainable environment was created for the conduct of free and fair elections in the country.
Earlier, the PDP Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, had said they were at the palace to solicit for prayers and support from the emir.
Nigerians were among more than 140 residents injured after Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at the United Arab Emirates, at the weekend.
This raised fresh fears for thousands of Nigerians living and working in the Gulf nation.
The UAE Ministry of Defence disclosed last Saturday that its air defence systems intercepted several missiles and drones fired from Iran, describing the attack as a major escalation in the ongoing regional tensions.
In a statement posted on its official X handle, the ministry said its air defence units engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones during the latest assault on March 14.
It added that the attacks left six people dead and 141 others injured, including foreign nationals.
“The UAE air defence systems on March 14 engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 UAVs launched from Iran,” the ministry stated.
“Since the onset of this blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,600 UAVs launched from Iran,” UAE added.
According to the ministry, those killed in the attacks included citizens of the UAE as well as foreign nationals from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
“Although the authorities did not specify the exact locations where the casualties occurred, the ministry said the injured victims were from several countries, including Nigeria.
Others affected include residents from Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The list also included Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia and Sweden.
The Tide reports that this development has sparked concern among Nigerian communities in the UAE, where thousands of citizens live and work in sectors such as construction, hospitality, logistics and trade.
Data from Nigeria’s diaspora commission shows that the UAE remains one of the largest destinations for Nigerian migrants in the Middle East, particularly in the emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
The Nigerian government had in recent years raised concerns over the safety and welfare of its citizens in the country following diplomatic tensions and visa restrictions affecting Nigerians.
Saturday’s attacks have now heightened anxieties within the diaspora community, especially as the Gulf region faces growing military confrontations.
In its statement, the UAE Ministry of Defence said the country remained fully prepared to confront any threats to its security.
“The Ministry of Defence remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront any attempts to undermine state security in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability, and safeguards its national interests and capabilities,” the ministry said.
In a separate update, the ministry noted that its defence systems were still actively intercepting missiles and drones.
“UAE air defences are dealing with Iranian ballistic and cruise missiles and drones,” it said.
Regional media reports indicate that the attacks form part of a wider escalation of hostilities between Iran and Western-backed forces in the Middle East.
According to Al Jazeera, Iran has continued sustained missile and drone strikes across the Gulf despite protests from neighbouring states.
The strikes were said to be in retaliation for military operations launched by the United States and Israel against Iranian positions in the region.
Tehran targeted several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, late on Friday and into Saturday.
The attacks also caused infrastructural damage in parts of the UAE.
Meanwhile, Iran’s elite military wing, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned that US interests in the UAE would remain legitimate targets.
Iranian state media reported that the group issued the warning after US forces attacked Iranian-controlled islands.
The IRGC specifically mentioned ports, docks and military installations linked to the United States as potential targets.
It also urged residents in the UAE to evacuate areas around ports and military facilities to avoid civilian casualties.
Security analysts say the growing exchange of threats and strike across the Gulf could destabilise the region’s economic and aviation activities if the conflict escalates further.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue an official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged the five new commissioners sworn-in last Wednesday to put in their best for the development of the State.
Fubara gave the charge during the swearing-in of the commissioners at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
This followed the successful screening of the five commissioners by the Rivers State House of Assembly, last Tuesday.
The five commissioners are Tonye Bellgam, Prof. Temple Nwofor, Dr. Peters Nwagor, Mr. Lekue Kenneth, and Sir Amairigha Edward Hart.
The Tide reports that the governor had sent nine commissioner-nominees to the Assembly for screening, but the Assembly confirmed only five nominees and rejected the nomination of four over various allegations.
Those rejected by the Assembly are Prof. Dantonye Alasia, Mrs. Charity Demua, Mr. Tamuno Williams, and Otonye Amachree.
The governor congratulated the new commissioners on their appointment, noting that their thorough screening by the Rivers State House of Assembly was a proof of their capabilities.
He urged them to deploy their wealth of experience in various fields and put the State on a fast lane of development.
“Ordinarily, I am supposed to charge you on your responsibilities and how to operate. But that has been taken care of by the screening at the Assembly.
“I believe that going through one of the most rigorous screenings, it is enough to say that for those of you who succeeded, you are fit and ready to deliver to our dear State.
“So there is no further charge. The screening was the charge, so I wish you the best as I don’t expect anything less than the best from you,” Fubara said.
The Nigerian Navy has intensified its crackdown on crude oil theft and illegal bunkering, destroying a reactivated illegal refinery site in Rivers State and intercepting suspected stolen petroleum products in Calabar, Cross River State.
The Director of Naval Information, Capt Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed this in a statement released in Abuja, yesterday.
Folorunsho said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship SOROH, operating under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, destroyed a reactivated illegal refinery site at Okolomade Community in Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He said the action followed credible intelligence that a previously dismantled illegal refining site had resumed operations.
According to him, an Anti–Crude Oil Theft team deployed to the location discovered that the dismantled refining oven had been reconstructed.
“Further exploitation of the area led to the discovery of additional refining equipment and storage facilities containing about 3,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO),” he said.
Folorunsho added that the illegal refining infrastructure, including ovens, storage tanks, hoses, connected pipes and newly acquired metal components used for illegal refining, was destroyed in line with operational procedures.
He said personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory, in another operation, intercepted about 3,950 litres of suspected stolen petroleum products at the Nigerian Ports Authority area in Calabar, Cross River State.
He said the interception was based on credible intelligence on suspected siphoning of petroleum products from vessels berthed at the port.
The naval patrol team, according to him, swiftly deployed to the area and traced the illegally siphoned products to a trailer park within the port facility.
“On sighting the naval patrol team, the suspected perpetrators fled the scene, after which the area was cordoned off and the illegally siphoned products secured,” he said.
Folorunsho said further inspection led to the recovery of about 3,950 litres of Automotive Gas Oil stored in drums and jerrycans, which had been evacuated to the naval base for further necessary action in line with extant regulations.
He noted that the successes aligned with the directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, to intensify operations against crude oil theft and other maritime crimes across Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Folorunsho reiterated the Navy’s commitment to sustaining the operational tempo of Operation DELTA SENTINEL through intensified surveillance, patrols and intelligence-driven operations aimed at combating crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other forms of economic sabotage.