Nig News: Niger Delta Avengers ending ceasefire, blow up pipeline
The Niger Delta Avengers on Saturday claimed responsibility for the destruction of an important oil pipeline breaking a ceasefire the militant group had declared a month ago.
In a statement, NDA spokesman Mudoch Agbinibo said the group attacked the Bonny pipeline in Rivers State on Friday as “a wake up call”, expressing frustration with the discussions the militants have already been holding with authorities.
Agbinibo said the NDA was “still in favour of the dialogue” but accused the government of creating “shameful landscapes obtainable in Nollywood acts a reference to Nigeria’s enormous film industry, “, accusing authorities of intimidation and blackmail.
“There continues to be no breakthrough and no progress,” he said. The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), which runs the pipeline, said the damage was being investigated.
“I can’t categorically tell you if it was an attack,” a business source told AFP, adding a statement would be issued following an investigation.
The NDA, active in the restive Niger Delta since the start of the year, declared that it was laying down its weapons and restarting discussions with the government.
Targeting oil giants including Shell, Exxon and Chevron, it had beaten the Nigerian economy with months of attacks on vital gas and oil infrastructure, reducing output by a third at a time when international prices already are low.
The NDA is seeking a checkout more at reasonable distribution of the oil revenues which make up 70 percent of state’s income and has vowed to fight for development in the Delta where a lot of people remain desperately poor despite the enormous wealth of local natural resources.
A week before the ceasefire announcement, the NDA threatened to declare independence.
In a bid to re-take control of the region from a proliferation of militant groups the army started “Operation Crocodile Smile” in the oil heart of Warri in August.
Along with large scale sabotage, the army is also battling with prohibited refinery operations and frequent kidnappings.
Nigerian army spokesman Sani Usman said Saturday that suspected militants on speed boats had launched a fatal attack against troops at Efut Esighi in Cross River State.
A soldier was killed in action while two soldiers were missing in action,” Usman said, attributing the attack to a group close to the NDA, the Bakassi Strike Force.
As troops struck back two militants were killed, the army said.
Nigerian oil production has sunk from 2.1 million barrels a day in the first quarter to 1.7 million barrels in the face of continued militant assaults.
Ratings agency Nigeria’s credit worthiness s cut on saying the fall in a restrictive foreign exchange regime and production were damaging ’s prospects to the state.
Four detained for allegedly diverting rice meant for IDPs
The Katsina Police Command on Saturday said it had detained four persons for allegedly diverting tonnes of rice meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East Zone.
The police spokesman said the suspects were arrested after they offered to sell the commodity to one of the prominent men in the state.
“One of the suspects had telephoned the dominant individual through a mobile phone that they have five trucks of the diverted rice available for sale.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Salisu Agaisa, told newsmen in Katsina that the suspects had claimed to be customs representatives.
It’d be remembered the Federal Government had directed the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to disperse rice it captured from smugglers to the various IDPs camps.
“Our investigation also reveals that the suspects had closed arrangement to sell a bag of rice at the rate of N12 to that person, 500 per bag,’’ he said.
Agaisa said the suspects were later arrested at Liyafa Palace Hotel in Katsina where they had lodged for 21 days.
He said the suspects would be prosecuted after investigations were completed.
One soldier, two militants dead in Bakassi
The Nigerian Army has confirmed that militants killed among its staff in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River within an assault allegedly led by one Benjamin Simplee, aka G1.
Col. Sani Usman, the Director of Army Public Relations, who supported the incident in a statement, however, said the troops killed two of the militants in the assault which happened on Saturday morning.
According to him, the other militants escaped with gunshot wounds.
He said the attackers also combusted a buffalo pick up vehicle.
Usman said that two soldiers previously stated missing in the assault were found when reinforcement was sent to the place.
He said the militants came in several speed boats and attacked troops deployed at Efut Esighi waterfront in Bakassi.
“The troops’ place has been strengthened with more gunboats and air part. The clearance and pursuit operation is ongoing.
“We want to assure the public that we would not be deterred by this singular act from the discharge of our duties.
“So, the perpetrators of this dastardly action would be uncovered and brought to justice.
The Nigerian Army wants to send an unequivocal warning to all the criminal elements in the society that intend to assault any of its locations ’’ Usman said.
No LG, territory under Boko Haram control–Buratai
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has restated that no local government place in Borno or any territory in the North East Zone is being invaded by the Boko Haram sect.
While responding to questions at a special congress of the FCT Council of the NUJ Buratai spoke on Saturday.
The army chief, who was presently securing the region and said the insurgents had been routed by the military, noted that terrorism was complicated and called for patience.
In reporting the insurgency for the benefit of national interest Buratai additionally called on journalists to reveal understanding.
He recalled assured of seamless flow of information so long as it doesn’t affect national security and that there was mistrust previously between the media and the army.
Before, the Chairman of the FCT Council of the NUJ, Mr. Paul Abechi, called for comprehension between the military and the media in the interest of the state.
Abechi said that while Nigerians depended for safety, additionally they depended on the media for information, advocating both parties to work together.
He noted the successes commended Buratai for supplying the required leadership in the campaign and so far recorded in the fight against insurgency.
In his remarks, the National President of NUJ, Mr. Waheed Odusile, stressed the need for the army to supply journalists with needed advice to empower them to report accurately.
Odusile, noted with satisfaction that normalcy was returning to Borno and other areas of the North East Zone and commended the direction of the military.
He said the occasional battle between the military and journalists often arose out of the different roles each party plays for the wellbeing of the society.
The NUJ president described the Nigerian media as patriotic, saying the media merely criticise the military to allow it to be perform better.
Saraki wants govts to set priority on teachers’ welfare
Senate President Bukola Saraki says authorities at levels should allow teachers’ welfare priority at all times contemplating the significant roles they play in nation building.
According to Saraki, wellbeing of teachers must stay top priority in the issues of authorities in any respect levels in a bid to actualise the much desired accelerated development in all sectors of the state’s market.
He said any nation that desire guaranteed future because of its citizens, particularly the youth, must not toil with the welfare of teachers and their education.
The senate president said that teachers and what they stand for in any country should be honored, and as well be given the necessary supports.
He said it was when it was done the multiplier effects would be felt.
“There must be a paradigm shift on how we attend to educational issues in this country, things like quality and teachers’ wellbeing of education, not amount, must be prioritised.
When we don’t pay attention to things concerning the teachers’ welfare “,, it’ll not in any way encourage them to place in their finest.
“No matter the structures put in our school system in place to facilitate learning and teaching, if the teachers are not there or they are there, but aren’t happy, we WOn’t attain the desire results,” Saraki said.
He said that another important challenge facing the education sector was the much emphasise on quantity, saying “there must be paradigm shift from quantity to qualityto enhance the schooling system.
Saraki talked in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on the sidelines of the King’s College Creator’s Day Celebration lecture held in Lagos on Friday evening.
The event was organised by the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA) within the activities lined up to kick start the 107th Creator’s Day Celebration of the school.
Then, all efforts to enhance education will be fruitless If you don’t have an understanding of what works for you.
At this point too, we must also strive to concentrate on what issues.
“Our teachers must also constantly get retraining and training to always be at level with the current tendencies,” he said.
Saraki lauded the teachers of King’s College for his or her resilience and peaceful actions in the face of problems bordering on the non-payment of their salaries May.
“I must salute the teachers through the interval all for his or her patience and resilience, notably in the face of the current market challenges in the nation.
The development is indeed repented, but I could assure you that something must be done speedily to ensure these wages are paid before the end of next week.
” I ‘ll personally take up it as soon as I get back, and I believe that everything will be sorted out.
We don’t have any excuse for a country such as ours to be addressing issues bordering on non-payment of salaries.
When this kind of things happenned “, it WOn’t encourage the teachers, nor encourage the future teachers,” he said.
NAN reports the teaching and non-teaching staff of the college had been on strike since May to demand the payment of these salaries.
Teachers in the college had promised that the omission of their salaries was as a direct result the Federal Ministry of Finance and a mixed up between the Budget Office.
They’d threatened not to resume work until all their outstanding salaries were completely paid.
Buhari felicitates Smart-Cole, with ace photographer, at 75
President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with ace photographer, Sunmi Smart, media entrepreneur and author -Cole, who will be celebrating his 75th birthday on Sunday.
The president’s congratulatory message was featured in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by his Special Advisor on Media and Marketing, Mr Femi Adesina.
Buhari, for the beauty, glamour and depth he brought through perseverance and effort, starting out as a photo journalist, commended the adaptable and multi-talented artiste in the statement.
According to the president, Smart Cole’s place in Nigeria’s history is guaranteed in his career” he was a story teller but afterwards as he progressed he became part of the story with his signature creative and advanced style.”
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