16 Killed in Multiple Suicide Attacks in Maiduguri on Sunday; 2 Female Suicide Bombers Strike In UNIMAID; Buhari’s audio tape sparks controversy as PDP, Afenifere, others react; Old Army Barracks Quit Notice Order Spills Blood In Suleja: Report; Igbo leaders, ‘call Nnamdi Kanu to order’ – AYF; ‘I did not insult the Igbos’ – Finance Minister Adeosun; Ex-President Jonathan should be blamed for our problems – Nnamdi Kanu; Igbo quit notice: ‘We’ll not tell what we’ll do to Hausa/Fulani if any Igbo is killed in North’ – IPOB. . .
16 Killed in Multiple Suicide Attacks in Maiduguri on Sunday
Sixteen persons were killed in multiple suicide attacks on Maiduguri on Sunday and Monday by suspected Boko Haram insurgents, the Borno State Police Command has said. Three of the suicide attacks were launched at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) where a security man was killed. Speaking during a press briefing in Maiduguri Monday, the state command’s Commissioner of Police Damien Chukwu said:
“(Sunday) 25th June, 2017 at about 2221hrs, a male suicide bomber gained entry into the premises of University of Maiduguri and detonated PBIED on his body near the Rapid Response Services Office building . . . The suicide bomber died while three (3) university security personnel on duty were injured . . . In another development at about 2230hrs same night, four (4) female suicide bombers infiltrated Zannari community in Gwange general area of Jere Local Government Area. Two (2) of the suicide bombers detonated PBIEDs on their bodies in two residential buildings.
The bombers died killing eight other persons while 11 others were injured. The third bomber detonated killing himself alone. The fourth female suicide bomber, identity not known, who was arrested, also died the same night as a result of injuries she sustained . . . Yet in another development, today (Monday) at about 0408hrs. Two (2) female suicide bombers detonated PBIEDs on their bodies within the premises of University of Maiduguri.
One detonated close to the Entrepreneurship and Skill Acquisition Centre Complex killing herself with no other casualty. The other suicide bomber detonated behind Works Department complex also killing herself with no other casualty. EOD/SARS and patrol teams were mobilised to the scenes,” adding that: “The dead and injured were evacuated to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.”
2 Female Suicide Bombers Strike In UNIMAID
Suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers struck at the University of Maiduguri. Reports say a female security agent at the university died in the blast, including three others who were injured when persons suspected to be Boko Haram suicide bombers launched an attack on the institution last night.
The explosions occurred around 10:23 pm on Sunday killing the two female bombers. Spokesperson of the institution, Professor Danjuma Gambo of the department of mass communication told BBC Hausa Service that the explosions occurred in three different locations, two in the university. He said ‘’the first female bomber targeted the security operatives when she detonated the bomb strapped on her body. One of the security agents died on the spot and three others were rushed to the hospital with various degrees of injuries. The second bomber entered through the eastern end of the institution but was sighted by the security agents and was shot’’
Buhari’s audio tape sparks controversy as PDP, Afenifere, others react
Presidency releases Sallah audio message to debunk reports of speech impairment
The PDP, Afenifere and other Nigerians, yesterday, reacted to the presidency’s release of an audio tape to debunk insinuations that President Muhammadu Buhari had lost his ability to speak properly. In dismissing the insinuations that Buhari’s speech was impaired, the presidency released the President’s voice message to Nigerians to debunk reports that he was suffering from speech impairment. Buhari left Abuja for London on May 7 for further medical observation.
However, there was a snag, even though the sound of his voice was welcomed. The snag? The Nigerian president spoke in Hausa, a development critics said undermined the country’s multi-lingual setting. In a recording aired, yesterday by some radio stations, including the BBC, released by the Presidency, the President was heard felicitating with Nigerians on the occasion of Eid-el Fitr wherein he thanked them for their consistent prayers for his well-being – in Hausa language – instead of in English, Nigeria’s lingua franca.
Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin said that “ . . . whatever purpose the audio message was intended for was damaged because it was done in Hausa Language given our multi-ethnicity.” The second national vice-president of the National Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Monday Ubani also said that “ . . . since he spoke in Hausa, that means he addressed a section of Nigeria.” Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the spokesman of the Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee (NCC) of the PDP said that “ . . . we see nothing unusual about this . . .”
Please, Click below to listen to President Buhari felicitating with Nigerians on the occasion of Eid-el Fitr:
Old Army Barracks Quit Notice Order Spills Blood In Suleja: Report
Residents woke up to an enforcement order by the local council to occupants of a long disputed land that the ownership cut across hoodlums, retirees of the Nigerian Army, ministry of Defence, Niger State government, Suleja LGA and the new owners (some businessmen who want to develop the land).
he dispute over time has pitched the government against ferocious residents that are willing to kill, maim and be killed in defence of the land seen as ‘premium’ to most parties involved.
With four dead and several people injured including two policemen in a failed demolition attempt by the Suleja local government area of Niger State, barely 48 hours to the end of Ramadan, uneasy calm erupted in the city of Suleja, headquarters of the LGA disrupting the peace that has endured for a while.
According to eye witness accounts, pandemonium broke out in the morning of Friday after attempts by the Council Chairman, Abdullahi Shuaibu Maje, accompanied by a team of enforcement officers and security personnel who arrived the area to enforce a quit notice order issued to occupants of the land.
The presence of an earth moving machine angered the youths in the community who resisted the move by the enforcement team. In the argument that ensued, missiles in stones and other dangerous items were thrown at the team.
Leadership reported that the situation degenerated to the setting ablaze, the equipment brought in for the demolition exercise. The Police reacted first with tear gas which later turned to firing of live bullets, first into the air before it spiralled out of control.
Hoodlums in the area took the matter beyond the control of the police, the Army from the 102 Guards Brigade stationed at Zuma Barracks on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway had to be called in to control the situation.
Gunshots could be heard from several kilometres from the scene, creating a frenzy and confusion as residents and motorists scamper for safety into the bushes and farmlands. Frantic efforts by parents and guardians to secure their love ones who were already in school when the incident started worsen the situation.
Shops, schools and other business premises were hurriedly closed even as shells of fired bullets could be seen in the surrounding areas.
Leadership
Igbo leaders, ‘call Nnamdi Kanu to order’ – AYF
The Arewa Youth Forum (AYF), the Umbrella Organization of Youths in the north has called on Igbo leaders to call the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, to order. A statement signed by the AYF National President, Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, reads, inter alia:
“ . . . we believe in the oneness of Nigeria and the strength the country is getting and can still get from its diversity as a strong entity in the African continent and the world at large . . . Northern Youths were provoked by the unnecessary and persistent calls for disintegration by IPOB)and MASSOB . . . we are immediately calling on the Federal Government to bring Nnamdi Kanu to book, because his call to disrupt the polls in the region is a threat to peace in the country. The court should also order for his re-arrest as he has serially violated his bail conditions . . . AYF is also calling on leaders from the South East to immediately call Nnamdi Kanu to order just as Patriotic Northern elders did when Igbos were given ultimatum in the north . . . A situation where the leaders from the zone are seen to be indirectly given Nnamdi Kanu support will further divide the country and alienate the South East from others in Nigeria”
— Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, National President Arewa Youth Forum (AYF)
‘I did not insult the Igbos’ – Finance Minister Adeosun
Nigerian Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, denied insulting the Igbos as posted in a tweet. In her defence, Adeosun said that a:
“fake Twitter post circulating in my name, suggesting that I said something derogatory about Igbos. Kindly disregard it. It’s nothing but a shoddy attempt to photoshop a hateful statement onto my Twitter handle. I did not say or tweet any such thing. Thank you.’’
Also on her Facebook account, she said:
“It has come to my attention that there’s a fake Twitter post circulating in my name, suggesting that I said something derogatory about Igbos. Kindly disregard it.
It’s nothing but a shoddy attempt to photoshop a hateful statement onto my Twitter handle. I did not say or tweet any such thing.
Every part of Nigeria is important to our financial system and our Economy, and as a Government we will support ALL to achieve their full potential.”
— Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Finance Minister
There’s a fake Twitter post circulating in my name, suggesting that I said something derogatory about Igbos. Kindly disregard it.
It’s nothing but a shoddy attempt to photoshop a hateful statement onto my Twitter handle. I did not say or tweet any such thing. Thank you.
You’re mixing up the unauthorized account @MrsKemiAdeosun (now suspended) w/ the recently opened + VERIFIED genuine account @HMKemiAdeosunhttps://twitter.com/iamtenseven/status/879039655378898944 …
Ex-President Jonathan should be blamed for our problems – Nnamdi Kanu
Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has slammed former President Goodluck Jonathan as the harbinger of Nigeria’s problems. In an exclusive interview with Daily Sun, Kanu said, inter alia:
“ . . . Jonathan is my uncle, yes. I was one of those who said Jonathan’s tenure was more or less an Igbo presidency; it’s on record I said that . . . But, he knew I never liked his regime because he was weak and incompetent. I don’t support evil; if you do good, I will tell you, if you do bad, I will say it the way it is; I don’t curry favours . . . Look at where Goodluck Jonathan dropped us today; he never finished building the East/West Road, but, he built railway line from Abuja to Kaduna, so they will love him. Who told you that if they did not love Zik, that they will love you? People think I hate the North, that’s not true, but the only thing is that I say things the way they are, I don’t know how to tell lies to curry favours. People do not know that I love former presidents Shagari and Yar’Adua more than I love Nnamdi Azikiwe.”
— Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader
Igbo quit notice: ‘We’ll not tell what we’ll do to Hausa/Fulani if any Igbo is killed in North’ – IPOB
IPOB on Monday warned that if any Igbo is killed in the North as a result of the Igbo quit notice issued by Arewa youths, “Hausa-Fulanis will get a dose of their senseless attacks and stupidity back.” IPOB also lashed out at the former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, for asking Igbo leaders to publicly denounce the secession struggle. Kwankwaso had over the weekend asked Igbo leaders to denounce those clamouring for Biafra in a bid to show sincerity for One Nigeria.
Reacting to Kwankwaso’s call, IPOB in the statement said no Igbo leader allegedly “handpicked by Hausa-Fulanis in Aso Rock” can stop its struggle for secession. This was contained in a statement signed by the spokesperson of IPOB, Emma Powerful, and it states, inter alia:
“ . . . Kwankwaso has just revealed to us by his statement that he is one of the numerous Northern elders sponsoring their poorly educated youths against Biafrans residing in the North and we will not tell them what will happen until any Igbo man or any other Biafran for that matter is killed as a result of their quit notice.”
Nigerian News Desk 