NMA rejects September 22 date for resumption of schools

The Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, yesterday faulted the Federal Government’s directive to schools to resume on September 22 as against October 12, arguing that schools should not be reopened until all those under surveillance for the Ebola Virus Disease in the country are certified free.

Speaking through its National Secretary-General, Dr. Olawunmi Alayaki, the association said, “we are not happy with this decision on the resumption of schools. Schools should be shut

Defectin: Senator Kunlere Joins PDP, Declares Labor Party Dead

Senator Boluwaji Kunlere, who represents southern senatorial district in the National Assembly, has announced his defection from the Labor Party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Mr. Kunlere’s defection came two days after the widely reported news that Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo was on the cusp of defecting to the PDP as well. Senator Kunlere said he decided to join the PDP after consultations with his constituents and in order to pursue his political career.

Describing his defection as a matter of principle, he added that he had had enough of what he alleged to be repeated blackmail from close aides of Governor Mimiko in his local government.

Embarrassed By Escape Of 500 Troops To Cameroon, Nigeria's Military Claims "Tactical Maneuver"

Embarrassed by reports that close to 500 Nigerian soldiers fled into Cameroonian to escape from heavily armed Boko Haram insurgents, Nigerian military authorities today posted a statement claiming that the soldiers had charged into the neighboring West African country in a tactical maneuver. Cameroonian officials had told the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that at least 480 Nigerian soldiers had been disarmed and were being held in the protective custody of their gendarmes after the soldiers crossed into Cameroon while fleeing from a fierce attack by the Islamist insurgents.

Boko Haram burnt down vehicles in Gamboru-Ngala during their last attack

NEMA laments growing Boko Haram victims in North-East

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has lamented the increasing number of displaced persons due to Boko Haram attacks, saying it has been faced with growing challenges of handling the daily surge of internally displaced persons at established camps in the North-East.

Information officer of the agency in the North-East, AbdulKadir Ibrahim, said the weekend attack by Boko Haram on Madagali, Adamawa State, where many of the fleeing residents of Gwoza were staying, had led to another challenge for the agency.

(VIDEO) In New Gruesome Video, Boko Haram Declares Caliphate, Shows Scenes Of Fleeing Soldiers, Civilian Massacres

Abubakar Shekau, the mercurial leader of Nigeria’s Islamist group, Boko Haram, today released a video in which he declares the areas under his sect’s control a Caliphate and shows scenes of carnage carried out by his fighters against unarmed civilians. The video, which is the most gruesome since Boko Haram started the tradition of periodic releases of videotaped messages, also shows Nigerian soldiers fleeing from approaching insurgents.

Mr. Shekau, who has used such images to cultivate the image of a fierce, reckless and merciless threat, appears to have tailored the current video to draw maximum global attention to his group. His declaration of a Caliphate is reminiscent of the style of the Sunni Islamic group, ISIS that has shot to the frontline of sectarian terrorist groups after declaring its ambition to build an Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Boko Haram Insurgents told us to ignore curfew imposed by govt, say residents

Residents of Adamawa State town Madagali yesterday said Boko Haram insurgents told them to defy the 24-hour curfew imposed by the state government.
Acting Governor Umar Fintiri on Sunday announced the curfew after Boko Haram’s fighters invaded the town, which is close to the boundary with Borno town Gwoza, seized by the insurgents.
Residents said the insurgents, who are moving freely in the town, brandishing their guns, asked them to continue with their normal businesses, without fear of attack.
‘’They asked us to ignore the 24 hours curfew, promising not to attack us. They (Boko Haram) told

Nigeria’s military denies Boko Haram’s 'caliphate' claim

Abubakar Shekau, leader of Nigeria’s Islamist group Boko Haram said in a video they now control Gwoza, a city in northeastern Nigeria. The Nigerian military dispute the claim by the insurgents.

According to Nigerian military officials, "The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Nigerian state is still intact." Local newspaper 'This Day' quoted Major-General Chris Olukolade as saying the claim by Boko Haram that they now control Gwoza, was "false and empty." However, security sources and some witnesses said police and the military were being pushed out of Gwoza by Boko Haram fighters.

Boko Haram takes over Nigerian town; executes two for smoking

Boko Haram stormed the headquarters of the Gujba Local Government Area (LGA) in Yobe State on Thursday, declaring rule over Buni Yadi Town.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide reported that the group began enforcing their laws upon the residents immediately, killing and whipping citizens of the northeastern city.

Boko Haram seeks to establish an extremist, Sunni Muslim reign across Nigeria. They have primarily targeted Borno and Yobe States, kidnapping, raping, killing, and attacking villagers. The terrorists have also attacked schools, marketplaces, churches, and other crowded places.

How APC presidential candidate will emerge — Buhari

Former Head of State and a national leader of the opposition All Progressives Congress [APC] Muhammadu Buhari, has given insights into how his party will select its presidential candidate for the 2015 general election. Mr. Buhari spoke to a team of editors from the leading Hausa Newspaper, Rariya, in his office in Abuja, recently. PREMIUM TIMES’ Sani Tukur translated the full interview into English, with permission from Rariya.

Can you give us a glimpse into your typical day? How do you start your day, what’s your breakfast like and how do you coordinate your schedule? Well, my day starts from 5 a.m. Normally the morning prayers are offered after that. I am an avid listener of Voice of America and BBC Hausa Service so I stay

Ribadu Speaks on Why He Dumped Presidential Ambition For Adamawa Governorship Race

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and former presidential candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN said he dropped his presidential ambition to participate in the Adamawa governorship race because of his desire to serve at any level.

PUNCH reported that Ribadu said, "Everything in my life has been about public service. I’m prepared to serve in any capacity. If you ask me to come and be a sweeper of any street in any part of the country, I’m ready to do that. I don’t even have power of my own in any part".

Jigawa Governor Lamido's Presidential Posters Flood Kano

The Jigawa state Governor, Sule Lamido may have denied having any plan to contest for the office of President come 2015, however his supporters believe otherwise.

THE NATION reported that presidential posters of Lamido are flooding Kano streets. The posters were seen at strategic locations around the state. They read: ‘Vote for Lamido as PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) presidential candidate in 2015.’

So far, the governor is yet to openly deny having anything to do with the posters. Do you think Lamido will declare for presidency?

Ondo PDP Sets Up 7-Man Committee For Mimiko's Defection

The Ondo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has set up a seven-man committee to help fast track the defection of the Governor Olusegun Mimiko from the Labour Party.

DAILY POST reported that a source in the PDP said the leadership of the party met yesterday at one of the popular hotels in Ijapo Estate, Akure, the state capital where the Committee was inaugurated. The source however, did not disclose the composition of the committee.

Corruption In Rivers State: Amaechi And Wike’s Revealing Talk Show By Ifeanyi Izeze

It is pathetic that the ability of my Rivers people to recall past incidents is very poor because everybody prefers to live in the now.

 It is an established fact that any person that is heavily drunk will always tell the truth on almost everything not because he prefers to but because under the influence of kai kai, the part of the brain that engineers lies usually gets totally incapacitated. However, many people are ignorant of the fact that inordinate ambition intoxicates even more than grade one ogogoro. Is this not clear from the running exchanges between the Rivers state governor, Chibuike Amaechi and his estranged right hand man who was also his erstwhile Chief of Staff, the current minister of state for Education, Nyesom Wike?

Nigeria Confirms 2 New Ebola Cases

The two are the first infected people who didn’t have contact with the ill traveler

Nigeria’s health ministry confirmed Friday two new cases of Ebola in the country, the first people to come down with the disease who didn’t have direct contact with an infected traveler who brought the virus into the country from nearby Liberia.

Nigerian Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu said both newly infected people are the spouses of two

Nigeria Police Force Announces New Spokesperson, Frank Mba Redeployed To Lagos As Area Commander

Current Nigerian Police Force Public Relations Officer (PRO), ACP Frank Mba, was today redeployed to Lagos State Command as an Area Commander. Stepping into his shoes is DCP Emmanuel Ojukwu, who will be occupying the position of Force PRO for the second time, having served from December 2008 to October 2010. The new Force PRO has promised the public accord and cooperation from the Force, stating "the Police are you helper and friend."

New Force PRO DCP Emmanuel Ojukwu
New Force PRO DCP Emmanuel Ojukwu
ACP Mba served from February 2012 until present.

Read the Nigerian Police Force's press statement on the announcement below.

How to End Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria – AUN President, Ensign

The President of American University in Nigeria, based in Yola, Adamawa state, Margee Ensign, has offered a three pronged approach to end the deadly Boko Haram insurgency ravaging north-east Nigeria.
Ms. Ensign shared her thoughts with PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
She has lived in Yola for a very long time and seems to understand the area very well. She said the use of

Insurgents take over police mobile training camp in Borno

Boko Haram insurgents have taken over the Police Mobile Training camp in Limankara village, Borno State. Limankara is south of Gwoza, which has been in possession of the sect in the last two weeks. The mobile training camp is patronised by police officers and men from all parts of the country and is located in the midst of hills and valleys between Gwoza and Cameroun, according to report from National Mirror. The terrorists had invaded Gwoza two weeks ago, sacked the whole community and hoisted their black and white flags at different locations, including the emir’s palace. It was gathered that there was heavy fighting between the

Nigerian Soldiers Mutiny, Refuse To Fight Boko Haram Claiming They Are Ill Equipped

A group of government soldiers based in northeastern Nigeria have refused to fight Boko Haram militants until they receive better equipment, according to reports. Fighters from the extremist Islamist group have been reported to be far better equipped than the Nigerian army soldiers sent to fight them.

At least 40 Nigerian soldiers are reported to have mutinied against orders to fight the militants who have forced a state of emergency in three northeastern states since last year and are fighting to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria, the BBC reported. The militant group has stepped up its attacks, targeting towns and villages across the region in deadly raids after being pushed out of its bases in Maiduguri, the capital of