Suicide bombing: Tight security in FCT

The police and the army have beefed up security in the Federal Capital Territory following Friday night’s suicide bomb attacks. Armed policemen and soldiers were drafted to different parts of the city on Saturday. SUNDAY PUNCH gathered that besides Friday’s bomb blasts, the deployment of security agents might have been informed by intelligence reports that the Boko Haram insurgents could have sent more suicide bombers to the FCT. Heavily armed security agents were sighted checking vehicles on Abuja-Keffi Road; Airport Road; Asokoro and Wuse areas of the FCT. Two female suicide bombers suspected to be members of the Boko Haram struck at the Kuje Market and near a police station in the area almost simultaneously on Friday night. Also, two suicide bombers (a male and a female) attacked Nyanya, where the Boko Haram had in April 14 and May 1, 2014 struck killing 70 people. On Friday, many police operatives wearing EOD vests (Explosives Ordinance Disposal Unit) were sighted at the blast scenes in Nyanya and Kuje. The massive deployment of policemen followed an order by the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, that Police Explosives Ordinance Disposal Units be immediately deployed on the scenes. The IG, in a statement by the Force spokesperson, Olabisi Kolawole, assured Nigerians of security, noting that the “Force is prepared to do all within its reach to ensure adequate security of lives and property.” The statement added, “Following the incidents, the Police High Command ordered an immediate deployment of Police Explosives Ordinance Disposal Units to the scenes to prevent further destructions and ordered massive stop-and- search activities in and around the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.” According to the police, preliminary investigations indicate the bomb blasts were carried out by two suicide bombers — a male and a female. The Force admonished Nigerians to be vigilant at all times and to report any suspicious persons or objects. *-Military roadblocks return-* Also, roadblocks manned by armed soldiers have resurfaced at strategic parts of the FCT. The military roadblocks, which were hitherto dismantled by President Muhammadu Buhari had been reinstated at Nyanya-Abuja expressway while another one was mounted at AYA Roundabout, causing serious traffic jams. Fear of suicide bombers in FCT Fear has also gripped residents of the city because of reports that the attacks were carried out by suicide bombers. Some of the residents, who spoke to SUNDAY PUNCH, said that the use of four suicide bombers might be an indication that the Boko Haram sect had deployed more of such people in the city. A resident of Nyanya, Michael Babatunde, said, “One has to be careful now because if four suicide bombers could strike on the same day, it means more of them are around.” Security beefed up in hospitals Security checks were also being conducted by soldiers at the National Hospital; Asokoro General Hospital and other health facilities, where victims were being treated. Motorists and visitors to the hospitals were thoroughly searched before they were allowed to enter the facilities. Meanwhile, the blasts scene had been cordoned off by a team of policemen and soldiers, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel. Pieces of human flesh, torn clothing and personal effects were strewn all over the spot which is a relaxation place for commercial motorists and motorcyclists. *-FCT picks medical bill of victims-* The FCT Permanent Secretary, John Chukwu, has directed hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory to take adequate care of victims of the bomb blasts, adding that the FCT would pick all their medical bills. The Permanent Secretary gave the directive while visiting the sites of the unfortunate attacks in Kuje and Nyanya. Chukwu, who was also at the Kuje General Hospital and the National Hospital, Abuja where the injured persons were taken to, stated that the “FCT Administration will provide full medical treatment to all those injured in the unfortunate incident.” He directed the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat and the FCT Emergency Management Agency to redouble their efforts and he commended them on their prompt response to the attacks. Chukwu further directed that any serious case should be urgently referred to a specialist hospital to mitigate the pains. It was learnt that 15 injured persons were being treated at the National Hospital while 10 dead victims were in its mortuary. The hospital employees told journalists that they were still trying to stabilise some victims, stressing that that most injured persons would not be allowed to speak as they were not fully fit as at the time of filing this report. The hospital’s Deputy Director, Clinical Services, Dr. Jawah Mohammed, expressed hope that some of the victims would be able to relate with and receive visitors beginning from Sunday and pleaded with guests who came to see some of the victims to hold on till then. *-US sympathises with victims-* In a related development, the US has condemned the dual explosions in the FCT and the suicide bombings and militant attacks in Maiduguri and Adamawa on October 1. It extended its condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed and injured, according to a statement by the Press Attaché, US embassy, Abuja, Sean McIntosh. “These tragic events are stark reminders that violent extremists will stop at nothing to inflict horrific and indiscriminate harm upon innocent lives. In particular, Boko Haram’s reign of terror and sheer brutality have left thousands dead and millions displaced. “The United States stands with the government and the people of Nigeria to defeat Boko Haram and other perpetrators of terrorism. Through our security and counterterrorism assistance, our unparalleled commitment aims to help Nigeria achieve this goal,” the statement said. SOURCE: PUNCH.

UK investigators in Nigeria, join EFCC to probe Diezani •Ex-minister’s probe began in 2013 – Britain

The British National Crime Agency has dispatched a team of detectives to Nigeria who are now working with the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to probe Diezani Alison- Madueke, Nigeria’s former Petroleum Minister, during the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. Findings by SUNDAY PUNCH revealed that the team of investigators from the UK Police was drawn from the Seizures Organised Crimes Agency. A top operative of the EFCC, who spoke to one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity on Saturday, said the SOCA team had been involved in a discreet investigation of Alison-Madueke for two months before they finally moved against her. The former petroleum minister left Nigeria shortly before the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari in May this year. It was further gathered that the team from SOCA had been working alongside a team of EFCC operatives from the Subsidy Unit led by a Chief Superintendent of Police. The EFCC team was constituted in August 2015 by the Chairman of the anti-corruption agency, Ibrahim Lamorde, to investigate the activities of Alison-Madueke and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. The SU team was mandated to probe all the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, which were under the supervision of the former minister. SUNDAY PUNCH gathered on Saturday that the intensified investigation into the activities of the former minister was being supervised by Lamorde and the Director of Operations of the EFCC, Mr. Olusola Adegbite. Investigations further showed that the operatives from the subsidy unit of the EFCC carried out the operation at Alison-Madueke’s Asokoro residence in Abuja, following her arrest on Friday. An operative of the commission, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the EFCC’s subsidy team ransacked the residence of the former minister for hours. The operatives were said to have recovered several files from the ex-minister’s residence and they were carted away for further analysis by the combined team of investigators from the EFCC and the SOCA. It was gathered that the operatives did not find anybody within the residence to guide them, so they had to get some security personnel who had worked with the former minister to gain access into the building through one of the windows. It was further stated that the operatives later got the keys and searched all the rooms in the house for hours before they carted away the files. The source said, “When our operatives got there, there was nobody in the building. What they did was to get the security men who were working with her to guide them through the building. “They entered the building through one of the windows and later found the keys with which they accessed all the rooms. They found some documents in some files and they carted them away.” *-Ex-minister’s probe began in 2013 — Britain-* Similarly, the NCA has revealed that contrary to speculations that the corruption investigation leading to the arrest of Nigeria’s former Petroleum Minister started in 2013. The Nigerian media, both the traditional and social media platforms, were awash with reports that it was President Buhari’s recent meeting with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, and other world leaders that led to the investigation and arrest of Alison-Madueke. The ex-minister and current President of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries was arrested on Friday by the NCA’s recently formed International Corruption Unit, along with four other persons. She was arrested in London as part of an investigation into suspected bribery and money laundering offences. Alison-Madueke was, however, granted bail but her passport was withheld by the British authorities, pending further investigations, both in the UK and other countries. In an update on its website, the NCA noted that the investigation started about two years ago. “The investigation commenced in 2013 under the Proceeds of Corruption Unit, and transferred to the NCA earlier this year (2015). The International Corruption Unit investigates bribery of foreign public officials by individuals or companies from the UK and money laundering by corrupt foreign officials and their associates,” it stated. The UK crime agency added that the ICU would also trace and recover the proceeds of Alison- Madueke’s alleged corruption and support Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies with international anti-corruption investigations. Meanwhile, the Coordinator of a UK-based group, Security in Africa, Mr. Ben Oguntala, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the arrest and possible prosecution of Alison-Madueke would only scratch the problem of corruption in Nigeria at its surface. He said, “To have a simple Police Unit in the UK bring up partial evidence of corruption against a former minister is barely scratching the surface. You cannot fight corruption in this manner; it is far too complicated for ordinary corruption prosecution. “What would have made this case extraordinary would be if Mrs. Madueke decides to reveal all. However, she is unlikely to do that, if your strategy is to arrest her first, embarrass her and drag her through the UK courts with little or insufficient evidence. Now, she will get a good lawyer and make the process the lengthiest as legally permissible.” According to Oguntala, what President Buhari needs to do is not to allow a UK-led corruption charges. He noted that the British government’s approach at fighting corruption cases emanating from Nigeria is putting the cart before the horse. Also reacting to the ex-minister’s arrest, the Executive Director of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Mr. Debo Adeniran, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the news of Alison-Madueke’s arrest in the UK was a good one. According to him, the news will show the world that Nigeria is serious about fighting corruption and impunity usually perpetrated by its public officials. “It came as a cheering news when we heard about her arrest in the UK. I felt relieved; at least a big fish has been caught in the cause of our anti- corruption crusade. It also shows that President Buhari is intent on bringing to book those who have looted the country’s treasury. “We also want the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries as an august organisation to deem it fit to replace Alison-Madueke as its president. She does not enjoy the trust and respect of Nigerians,” Adeniran stated. Checks on the webesite of OPEC on Saturday night showed that the organisation had been quoting its alternate president, Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al Sada, lately. There was no recent mention of Alison-Madueke. Efforts to get the Presidency to comment on the incident failed on Saturday. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, kept mum. He also refused to speak on whether or not the Federal Government would seek the ex-minister’s extradition.

Russia’s action in Syria, recipe for disaster – Obama

US President Barack Obama has warned Russia that its bombing campaign to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will suck Moscow into a quagmire that will be hard to get out of. Obama said Russia was also failing to distinguish between Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant fighters and more moderate rebels in Syria. “An attempt by Russia and Iran to prop up Assad and try to pacify the population is just going to get them stuck in a quagmire and it won’t work,” Obama told a White House news conference on Friday. “From their perspective, they’re all terrorists. And that’s a recipe for disaster.” Russia continued bombing Syria on Friday for a third straight day. Targets have included ISIL’s main stronghold in Raqqa, but also the provinces of Hama, Aleppo and Idlib where few ISIL fighters operate. Obama said he would not turn the Syrian civil war into a “proxy war” between the US and Russia. “This is not some superpower chessboard contest,” he said.

FCT Administration condemns Abuja blasts

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration, John Chukwu, has condemned in strong terms, the twin bomb blasts in Kuje, and Nyanya, two satellite towns of Abuja, which claimed many lives on Friday night. Chukwu commiserated with the victims of the blasts, particularly those who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate and barbaric incident. A statement by the FCT Deputy Director, Press, Mohammed Sule, on Saturday, said the permanent secretary also sympathised with the injured and described the wanton destruction of lives and property as “heartless and an act of wickedness on soft targets, which has no place in our history and tradition.” He assured that the FCT Administration would continue to work closely with the security agencies to ensure the safety of lives and property of all the residents of the Federal Capital Territory. Chukwu prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured persons. The permanent secretary appealed to the residents to be more vigilant and report any suspicious persons or movement to the law enforcement agents. The FCT Police Commissioner, Wilson Inalegwu, who confirmed the twin blasts in Kuje and Nyanya, also condemned the unfortunate act. Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency has deployed its rescue teams in the evacuation of the victims to various hospitals in Abuja. NEMA Press Officer, Ezekiel Manzo, said the agency had evacuated the bodies and the injured to hospitals.

How Abuja multiple blasts happened – NEMA

Twin suicide bombers detonated two bombs each both in Kuje and in Nyanya on Friday night in Abuja, according to latest updates from the National Emergency Management Agency. It was gathered that the bombers targeted the Kuje evening market, the police station in Kuje, and the ever busy road at Nyanya. It was also learnt that a total of 15 persons died, while 41 others were injured. Senior officials at NEMA told our correspondent on Saturday morning that the suicide bomber who targeted the Kuje police station died while climbing the fence of the station when the bomb that was strapped to his body went off. Explaining how the blasts actually occurred, the Senior Information Officer, NEMA, Mr. Sani Datti, said, “Out of the rush, different reports and accounts were given. The update I have is that there were twin suicide bombs in each of the locations where the blasts occurred. The first twin bomb blasts occurred at Nyanya. Another set of twin bomb blasts by suicide bombers occurred at Kuje. “The blasts in Nyanya occurred at almost the same place where the last bomb explosion happened in that area. But this time, there were two suicide bombers and they detonated their bombs there. Many people didn’t know that there were two suicide bombers and they both detonated their bombs.” The official told our correspondent that the blasts at Kuje was also done by suicide bombers at the market in the area and at the police station. Datti said, “One was detonated at the evening market in Kuje and the second one was detonated when the suicide bomber was attempting to climb the fence of the police station still in Kuje.” On the number of persons affected by the blasts, Sani said 15 people lost their lives, while 41 others were injured. He said the injured had been taken to the National Hospital and the Asokoro Hospital in Abuja. He said, “In Kuje, 13 persons have been confirmed dead, while two people were killed in Nyanya. In Kuje 20 people were injured, while 21 were injured in Nyanya. This means a total of 41 persons were injured while 15 deaths were recorded. Please these were as a result of suicide bomb attacks and not that bombs were planted in these areas as speculated.”

Nine medical staff killed in Afghanistan air strike

Doctors Without Borders says at least nine of its staff have been killed in an overnight bombing of a hospital in the embattled Afghan city of Kunduz. Another 37 people were wounded in the attack, including 19 MSF staff, the medical charity organisation told Al Jazeera. NATO said on Friday that a US air strike “may have” hit the hospital, which is run by the medical charity, adding that the attack might have resulted in collateral damage. An MSF spokesperson told Al Jazeera that the death toll was likely to rise, as the “fluid situation at the clinic hampered information gathering.” “The bombing struck the dormitories of the hospital, which explains why we – so far – have only seen deaths among our staff and not among patients,” MSF spokesperson Dalila Mahdawi said. The MSF hospital is seen as a key medical lifeline in the region, which has been running “beyond capacity” in recent days of fighting, which saw the Taliban seize control of the provincial capital for several days. “At 2.10 am (20.40 GMT) local time … the MSF trauma centre in Kunduz was hit several times during sustained bombing and was very badly damaged,” MSF said in a statement on Friday. At the time of the bombing, 105 patients and their caretakers and more than 80 MSF international and national staff were present in the hospital, the charity said. NATO said in a statement that US forces conducted an air strike in Kunduz at 2.15am local time “against individuals threatening the force”. “The strike may have resulted in collateral damage to a nearby medical facility. This incident is under investigation,” the statement said. MSF said it gave the coordinates of the hospital to Afghan and US forces several times to avoid being caught in crossfire.

US college shooter had 13 guns, was a student

The gunman behind the latest mass shooting in the US had hoarded an arsenal of weapons and was enrolled in the class where the fatal shootings occurred, authorities have said. The names of the nine people, five women and four men aged between 18 and 67, who died on Thursday’s at Umpqua Community College were released on Friday. Though officials have yet to formally name him, the gunman, who died in a shootout with police, has been widely identified as Chris Harper Mercer, 26. Officials said they had recovered 13 weapons belonging to him, including six at the school, and seven at the apartment he shared with his mother. A flak jacket and five rounds of ammunition were also recovered at the school after the shooting. US media said Mercer left behind a typed statement several pages long in which he indicated he felt lonely and was inspired by previous mass killings. Seven other people were wounded in the attack in Roseburg, about 180 miles south of Portland. Mercer’s weapons had been purchased legally over the past three years, some by him, others by relatives, said Celinez Nunez, assistant field agent for the Seattle division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Oregon’s top federal prosecutor said Mercer used a handgun when he opened fire on classmates and stashed a rifle in another room and did not fire it. Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin said on Friday that Mercer was enrolled in the class where the fatal shootings occurred. Rita Cavin, interim president of the school, told CNN that Mercer was enrolled in English and theatre classes and that Mercer initially opened fire in an English class.

Borno relocates displaced persons to hometowns

The Borno State Emergency Management Agency said it had concluded arrangements with the National Emergency Management Agency to relocate some Internally Displaced Persons from Maiduguri to their hometowns. The Chairman of BOSEMA, Alhaji Ahmed Satomi, disclosed this on Friday when he visited Alhaji Mohammed Kanar, the Zonal Coordinator, NEMA, in Maiduguri. He said arrangements had been concluded for the building of IDPs camps in Bama, Monguno, Dikwa, Konduga and Damboa. According to him, these IDPs locations will ease the relocation of the displaced persons from already overpopulated Maiduguri. He explained that the state government was ready to work with the Federal Government, particularly NEMA, to ensure that facilities like schools in Maiduguri, currently accommodating IDPs, were freed in order to revert them to their original purpose. Satomi said he was in NEMA office to seek areas of further assistance to the displaced persons, adding that the Federal Government, especially NEMA, had rendered tremendous help to the state to take care of the Boko Haram’s victims. He restated the state government’s commitment to get students back to school “as soon as possible”, saying this had informed the decision of the government to relocate the IDPs from some of the schools that were serving as camps for the displaced persons. He, however, said the relocation of all the IDPs in Maiduguri back to their hometowns would depend on the advice of the military. Satomi added that some towns had already been cleared for displaced persons to move back.

Bomb blast: Pieces of human flesh litter Abuja suburb

Pieces of human flesh were seen on Saturday morning littering the roadside in a suburb of Abuja, Nyanya, where an explosive went off late on Friday. The explosive was said to have been detonated at the Jikwoyi Park, Nyanya, on the popular Abuja- Keffi Expressway, claiming yet-to-be ascertained number of lives. The late Friday incident was the third to be recorded in that vicinity. Two previous incidents with heavy casualties were witnessed there last year. Our correspondent, who visited the scene as early as 6.30am on Saturday, reported that the scene of the blast had been cordoned off by security operatives. A combined team of soldiers, policemen, officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps as well as the Federal Road Safety Corps were seen controlling the crowd of onlookers which kept increasing every minute. Some policemen wearing black T-shirts marked “EOD” were seen picking pieces of human flesh that still littered the road side. The pieces of flesh were being packed inside cartons by the security operatives as wailing residents looked on. Buses and cars that had their windscreens shattered as a result of the impact of the blasts were still at the scene. An eyewitness, who identified himself simply as Aminu, told our correspondent that rescue workers recovered many corpses from the scene of the blast late Friday. “What you see them packing now are pieces of flesh because many of the victims were torn into pieces. Corpses with several missing parts were taken away last night,” he said. The incident has caused a serious traffic gridlock on the expressway inwards Abuja as many motorists made attempt to get a glimpse of the scene. Security operatives were still having difficulties in controlling the surging crowd at the time of filing this report at 7.15am.

El-Rufa’i declares emergency in education

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Thursday declared a state of emergency in the education sector of the state. He made the declaration in his speech at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna, during activities to mark the country’s 55th Independence Anniversary. According to him, the nation is being liberated and there is the need to also free the people by making quality education accessible to all. He added that “education is freedom from want and the provision of free basic education in decent schools, with skilled teachers. This is one of the priorities this government will accomplish in its four-year term. “We have spent the past few months planning school repairs, the provision of school furniture and training of teachers. “Today, we move to declare a state of emergency in education. We ask for your support as we begin to implement extraordinary measures in the education sector. “Tomorrow, by God’s Grace, the commissioner for education, science and technology will announce the measures that will be taken to ensure that our schools’ infrastructure, tools and teacher quality are improved significantly within the next six weeks. “We are determined that one legacy of the rebirth of our country will be the restoration of education as a tool to free our people from the fetters of ignorance.”