We pay N300 to enter Nigeria – Illegal immigrant

A suspected illegal immigrant from the Niger Republic, Shuaib Kaneda, says many illegal immigrants usually entered Nigeria by paying between N300 and N500 to unidentified persons. Shuaib added that he had spent eight years in Nigeria, but could not acquire valid documents before he was arrested by officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Lagos State Command. The 34-year-old was among 82 illegal immigrants paraded on Wednesday at the command’s office in Alagbon, Lagos. The suspects were said to have been arrested at different parts of the Lagos Island area after an intelligence report. Shuaib was arrested along with a relative, Idris, who had spent barely one year in the country when he was caught. Shuaib, who spoke in pidgin, said, “I have been here for about eight years now. I work as a loader and make between N1, 000 and N1, 500 a day. I use the money I make to feed my family in the Niger Republic. I am married and have two children and they are in Niger. “I travel home every six or eight months. The people at the border see many of us when we come in. Sometimes, they collect N300 and other times, we give them N500 before we pass.” His brother, Idris, also explained that he came into the country to make money which he usually sent home to his family of three. Another suspect, Alimaru Saliade, told PUNCH Metro that he sneaked into the country by mixing up with cows being transported into Nigeria. Saliade, who claimed not to know his age, said in pidgin, “I followed cows to Lagos. I have been here for four years now and I have not been able to get my documents because I don’t have money.” For Yaya Ibrahim, coming to Lagos was to avoid being idle in the village. “I was in my village and was not doing anything. So, my uncle asked me to come and work in Lagos and that was how I found myself here. My parents live in Ghana but we are from Niger,” he said. The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Lagos State Command, Muyiwa Odunubi, said the command raided the suspects based on intelligence report. He said while some of the suspects were caught around banks’ branches, others were found sleeping under the bridge and “constituting nuisance to residents”. He said, “We have a surveillance team that keeps a tab on illegal immigrants in the state. When our men went out, they got them in all manner of places. Some were caught around banks, others were found sleeping under benches. Even fuel stations were not spared. “In the Idumota area of the state for instance, we found that they have a room where they sleep. It is not clear whether they rented the apartment or somebody gave them the place. We introduced ourselves and arrested them; they never resisted.” The Comptroller of the state’s command, Mrs. Justina Ahmadu, commended the officials, adding that the service would intensify efforts to rid the state of anything that could constitute security risk. She waved away Shuaib’s claim, saying most of the illegal immigrants came into the country through unauthorised routes because they did not have valid documents that could guarantee their stay. “This is a continuous exercise and we will continue to weed out illegal immigrants from the state. Anyone without a valid passport or resident’s card will be sent packing. “We appeal to Lagosians to cooperate with us during our operations by not harbouring any illegal immigrant or fighting our men. This is the only way they can assist us to discharge our functions efficiently,” she said.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS? 12 reasons why Jonathan deserves re-election –Presidency

Presidency has given 12 reasons why Nigerians must re-elect President Goodluck Jonathan for another term of four years during the March 28 presidential election. This was contained in a piece, titled, “Twelve reasons to support Jonathan,” published in the current edition of the in-house magazine of the State House, Abuja, called Villascope. It listed some of the reasons to include the present administration strides in road construction, railway rehabilitation, remodeling of airports, transformed agriculture sector and increased access to education. Others are increased access to housing, improved power supply, improved water supply, better health facilities, reformed security infrastructures, economic transformation and increased Nigerians’ participation in downstream oil sector. The Presidency said Jonathan met 4,500km of motorable roads but constructed/rehabilitated 25,000km of roads. This, it said, had drastically reduced travel time nationwide. It added that about five million Nigerians now travel by train after the present administration rehabilitated the nation’s railway. On education, it said, “Jonathan built 125 Almajiri schools, 14 universities and special schools for girls in 27 states. “He gave 101 scholarships to first-class graduates to pursue postgraduate courses in the best 25 universities in the world. “He sponsored 7,000 lecturers of federal and state universities and polytechnics for postgraduate studies to improve quality teaching.” The Presidency further said that 61,000 housing units had been built in the six geo-political zones of the country.

We’ve recaptured 11 towns, killed 300 insurgents –DHQ

The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, has said that troops of the Nigerian Army and personnel of the Air Force have killed over 300 fighters of the Boko Haram sect. Olukolade said in a statement on Wednesday that the insurgents were killed during a combined operation of the Air Force and ground forces put in place to liberate 11 communities captured by the Boko Haram sect. According to him, the communities liberated by the troops are Monguno, Gabchari, Abba Jabari, Gajigana, Gajiram, Damakar, Kumaliwa, Bosso Wanti, Jeram and Kabrisungul. He said that troops had commenced a cordon and search operation in the areas involved in the latest operation. He stated further that some of the terrorists and their weapons were captured by the troops. Olukolade also said that the military captured “five different types of armoured fighting vehicles, an anti-aircraft gun, about 50 cases of packed bombs and eight different types of machine guns, five rocket-propelled grenade, 49 boxes of various types and calibres of ammunition, as well as 300 motorcycles destroyed in the fighting. He added that “a total of six Hilux vehicles including those mounted with anti-aircraft guns were also destroyed.’ The Defence spokesman said that two soldiers lost their lives while ten others were wounded in the encounter with the terrorists. Olukolade said that various phases of highly coordinated combined operation involving the Air Force and ground forces were ongoing in the mission area within and outside the country. Meanwhile, about 30 civilians were killed when an unidentified airplane dropped a bomb on a Nigerian border village, military sources based nearby in Niger said on Wednesday. “We don’t know whose plane it was. We understand that the victims are residents who were gathered for a ceremony but who were mistaken for terrorists,” said a military source based in the town of Bosso in Niger. He added, “Around 30 people perished.”

Jonathan bribed pastors with N7bn, not N6bn – Cleric

More facts appear to be emerging on the allegation by Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, that President Goodluck Jonathan gave pastors across the country N6bn to vote against the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj- Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), in the presidential election. A Borno-based Pastor, Kallamu Musa-Dikwa, said on Thursday that the money that was given to pastors by the President was actually N7bn and not N6bn as alleged by Amaechi, who doubles as the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation. Amaechi had alleged that unnamed leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party paid N6bn to Christian clerics to campaign against Buhari and the APC. The governor’s allegation caused a stir among the Christian clerics, with the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and the Northern State Christian Elders Forum asking Amaechi to name the church leaders, who collected the huge bribe. But Musa-Dikwa, who is the Executive Director of the Voice of Northern Christian Movement, told journalists in Kaduna on Thursday that the said money was channelled through the Christian Association of Nigeria. He said the CAN got the said money(N7bn) on January 26, 2015 and disbursed N3m to each State Chairmen of the CAN across the country. Musa-Dikwa, who was an Associate Pastor with the E. Y. N. Church, Farm Centre, Dikwa Road, Maiduguri, Borno State, under Rev. Emmanuel Kwajihe between 2002 and 2004, said the CAN had started threatening Christians in the state (Borno) that they must re-elect Jonathan in the rescheduled election. He said, “It was N7bn that was given to the CAN leadership by President Goodluck Jonathan. They (CAN) later disbursed N3m to the State Chairmen of the CAN. “The money was handed over to the CAN Leadership on 26th January, 2015.” “Actually, President Jonathan is using CAN President, and it was the CAN President who collected the monies and shared N3m to the CAN executives in each state. “And some Pentecostal Bishops also collected their share. Actually, the money is not N6bn, it is N7bn. This is what I know. One of the CAN officials from Abuja told me that they have collected the money. The corruption in CAN is terrible. They are corrupting the body of Christ because of money. “They are now threatening Christians in Borno State that they will deal with anybody, who refuses to vote for Jonathan. And the CAN officials are now campaigning that if Buhari emerges President, he will Islamise Nigeria; and that Osinbajo collected monies from Islamic world; and that the same Osinbajo will resign soon after Buhari wins to give way for Tinubu to emerge Vice President.” Musa-Dikwa named some high-profile clerics, who had benefitted from the controversial largesse to actualise the re-election bid of Jonathan.

Troops raid Sambisa, scores of insurgents killed -Military

The Defence Headquarters has said a combined operation by personnel of the Nigerian Air Force and the ground troops have resulted in the death of a large number of insurgents at the dreaded Sambisa Forest enclave of the Boko Haram and parts of Gwoza. The Punch had reported exclusively on Thursday, February 12, that the Nigerian Air Force had commenced intensive air strike on locations within the Sambisa forest for ground troops to move. The Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, said in a statement on Thursday that the air strikes which hit targets with precision inflicted a heavy casualty figure on the insurgents. He said strikes targeted the training facilities and logistic dumps of the insurgents. According to him, several of the insurgents were scampering all over the areas hit by the fighter jets in Sambisa. The Defence Spokesman, who said the details of the casualty in the latest attack would be revealed later, added that air strikes were going on in other locations to prepare ground for the advancement of ground troops. He said, “A concerted air campaign by the Nigerian Air Force is on-going in furtherance of the mission to clear terrorists from all their enclaves. “The air strikes, which today targeted the training camps and logistics dumps of the terrorists in Sambisa forests and parts of Gwoza, have been highly successful as it achieved the aims with required precision. “The death of a large number of terrorists has been recorded while many others are also scampering all over the forest and out of the struck bases. “Details of casualty will be determined in subsequent phases of the operation.”

LECTURE FROM THE BIBLE: What is the key to happy family life?

We have searched but have not seen the key to a happy home because we do not follow the holy scripture. Do you think it is...

 * LOVE?
 * MONEY?
 * TRUST?
 * SOMETHING ELSE?

 See what the Bible says: "Happy are those hearing the word of God and keeping it!"-Luke 11:28.

  What does this mean?- Finding a joyful home is from the Creator.
 *Finding real love.-Ephesians 5:28, 29.
 *Enjoying genuine respect.-Ephesians 5:33.
 *Having true security.-Mark 10:6-9.

 CAN WE REALLY BELIEVE WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS?- Yes, for at least two reasons:
  
*God is the Originator of families: The Bible says that "every family... owes its name" to Jehovah God. (Ephesians 3:14,15) In other words, the family unit exists because Jehovah created it. Why is that significant?

    Consider: If you were enjoying a tasty meal and wanted to learn its ingredients, whom would you ask? Logically,the person who prepared it. Likewise to discover the ingredients for a happy family life, we do well to Jehovah, the Originator of the family arrangement.-Genesis 2:18-24.

*God cares about you: Families are wise to seek Jehovah's advice, which he provides through his Word. Why? "Because he cares for you." (1Peter 5:6,7) God has your best interests at heart and His counsel always works.

So think about how to be a good husband, wife, or parent. Pray about it and the bible will give you some answers.(Ephesians 5:1,2 and Colossians 3:18-21

Man rapes four-year-old girl in Lagos

A 25-year-old man, Kingsley Churchill, has been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court for raping a four-year-old girl. It was gathered that the victim was raped on January 24, 2015 at her parents’ house on Adeshokan Street, Ayobo, Lagos State. Our correspondent gathered that Churchill had first inserted his fingers into the victim’s private parts before having sex with her. The case was later reported to the police after it was discovered by her parents. The defendant was arraigned on one count of sexual assault. The charge read, “That you, Kingsley Churchill, on January 24, 2015, at Adeshokan Street, Ayobo, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, did sexually assault a four-year-old girl by inserting both your finger and penis into her vagina.” The police prosecutor, Etim Nkankuk, said the offence was punishable under Section 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011. Churchill pleaded not guilty. The defence counsel, J.A. Adewunmi, applied for his client’s bail in liberal terms. The Chief Magistrate, A.O. Isaac, granted him bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties in like sum. The case was adjourned till March 4, 2015.

Female suicide bomber kills 10 in Yobe

A female suicide bomber believed to be 10 years old on Sunday struck at the Damaturu Central Motor Park, killing herself and nine other people. The state Police Command Public Relations Officer, Toyin Gbadegesin, said 31 others were critically injured in the blast which occurred at about 12.20pm. Gbadegesin explained that the bomber had targeted security personnel on patrol at the park who suspected her movement and turned her away. He said, “At about 12.10pm, a Hijab-wearing female suicide bomber came into the park and went to the security vehicle there. She was turned back by our men. She then went to a commercial Volkswagen vehicle that was half-loaded and suddenly, the bomb exploded “Ten people died and 31 were critically injured. The wounded people are at the Gen. Sani Abatcha Hospital in Damaturu. We have condoned off the area and investigation is currently ongoing.” When journalists visited the scene of the blast at about 3.30pm on Monday, operatives and men of the state fire service were still battling to put out the fire from the bus. An eyewitness, Ibrahim Mohammed, said he was the only person close to the scene of the explosion that was not wounded. “The sound of the explosion was deafening. I was shaken by it and as I talk to you, I am still hearing strange sounds. I suspect the bomber could not have been more than 10 years.” Sunday’s blast is the second targeting a densely populated area in Damaturu. The first was last June when nine football fans watching the Brazil 2014 world cup tournament at a viewing centre were killed by a bomber. Meanwhile, the United States Department of Defence has said there is no discussion between Washington and President Goodluck Jonathan on deployment of American troops in Nigeria. It however clarified that discussions on troops to combat the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram, was just beginning based on the formation of the Multi-national Joint Task Force. Jonathan had in an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Friday criticised the US for being unwilling to support the Federal Government in fighting insurgents in Nigeria’s North-East. He said the country had in early 2014 reached out to the US for assistance, adding, “Are they (America) not fighting ISIS? Why can’t they come to Nigeria? …they are our friends. If Nigeria has a problem, then I expect the US to come and assist us.” But the US Department of Defence spokesman, John Kirby, said, “There is a discussion but it is of a multinational task force that the international community is working with certain African nations to establish. That is right now still in the discussion phase. “I don’t have a timeline for that. But we believe that we support the discussion and dialogue toward establishing a multinational task force that can operate there to help improve partner capacity, to improve counter-terrorism capabilities. “But these are discussions (that) are really just now starting. I can also tell you that there are no plans as I speak here to send unilaterally, to send or to add US troops into Nigeria. There are no US troops operating in Nigeria.” Kirby, however, noted that the US was not ruling out sending ground forces as part of the multinational task force. “There’s nothing being ruled out or ruled in. These discussions are really just starting. So, I think it’d be premature to say I know exactly what the US component would be or to characterise it. We’re just not there, yet,” he added. The United Nations Security Council has condemned “in the strongest terms,” the continued escalation of attacks by Boko Haram terrorists on Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger. “The members of the Security Council reaffirm that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the actions of Boko Haram, constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security,” it said in statement on Friday night. It described the attacks as “criminal and unjustifiable,” regardless of their motivation. The council also reiterated its determination to combat all forms of terrorism, in accordance with its responsibilities under the UN Charter. The UN body also stressed the need to bring perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of acts of terrorism to justice.

Borno declares today public holiday for Buhari

The Borno State government has declared Monday (today) a work- free-day for the visit of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to the state. Secretary to the state government, Alhaji Ahmed Jidda, announced this on Sunday in a statement in Maiduguri, the state capital. Jidda said that the public holiday would enable residents of the state to receive Buhari during his campaign rally. The statement read, “The Borno State Government has declared Monday as a work-free day. The declaration is to enable the people of the state welcome the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, who will arrive Maiduguri on a campaign visit on Monday. “Governor Kashim Shettima has enjoined all Borno residents to come out en mass and line up the streets to welcome the Peoples’ General.” Meanwhile, the National Christian Elders Forum on Sunday dissociated itself from the purported endorsement of Buhari by the Northern Christian Leaders Eagle-Eye Forum, led by one Pastor Aminchi Habu. The Secretary of NCEF, Pastor ‘Bosun Emmanuel, in a statement issued in Abuja, advised Christians “to resist the temptation of putting personal interests above the interests of the Lord Jesus Christ, because such compromise has terrible eternal consequences.” Emmanuel also called on politicians “to put the interest of the nation first in all forms of electioneering campaign and desist from acts that could be interpreted to imply desperate manipulation of the electorate for political power.” His statement partly read, “It has come to the notice of the NCEF that an unaccredited group, claiming Northern Christians Leaders Eagle Eye- Forum, purportedly on Thursday February 12, 2015, in Abuja, adopted the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming elections, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.). “The National Christian Elders Forum wishes to state clearly that the only Northern Elders Forum accredited and recognised by the Christians Association of Nigeria is the Northern States Christian Elders Forum. “The Elders Forum hereby declares that neither CAN, NOSCEF nor the NCEF at any time supported or approved of the action of this unaccredited group. The National Christian Elders Forum wishes to admonish Christian leaders in Nigeria to resist the temptation of putting personal interests above the interests of the Lord Jesus Christ, because such compromise has terrible eternal consequences. “The Elders Forum also advises politicians to put the interest of the nation first in all forms of electioneering campaign and desist from acts that could be interpreted to imply desperate manipulation of the electorate for political power.”

Egypt strikes IS targets in Libya

Egypt carried out air strikes against Islamic State targets in Libya on Monday, a day after the group released a video purporting to show the beheading of 21 Egyptians in the neighboring country. “Your armed forces on Monday carried out focused air strikes in Libya against Daesh camps, places of gathering and training, and weapons depots,” the military said in a statement.