100 motorcyclists jailed in Sokoto for traffic offences

The Sokoto State Government security outfit, Sokoto Marshals Corps, on Friday said it had prosecuted more than 100 motorcyclists for violating traffic rules in Sokoto city and its environs in the last two months.

The Commandant of the outfit, ACP Sa’idu Madawaki, disclosed this at a news conference in Sokoto when he reviewed the outfit’s activities since it took off in November 2014.

He said the accused motorcyclists were prosecuted and convicted to various jail terms, adding that most of them were arrested for violating traffic lights, routes violation and related offences.

He noted that “some of them were also arrested for assaulting our personnel operating along the various roundabouts and inter- sections in the city.”

The commandant promised that officers of the corps would continue to work diligently to further sanitise the roads.

Madawaki commended the level of cooperation between the outfit and other security agencies in the state.

According to him, the corps has 2,300 personnel deployed to all the 23 local governments of the state.

He said “the 2,300 personnel are categorised into traffic, security and environmental marshals.

“These officers were given rigorous military training before their deployment in a bid to further secure the lives and property of Sokoto residents.”

Source: Punch

Eight-month-old baby dies in Benin fire incident.

Residents of Ewemade Street, off Benin-Sapele road, began the new year on a tragic note following the death of an eight-month-old baby who was said to have died in a fire outbreak in a building.

The incident was said to have occurred in the upper part of the building at about 11pm on New Year’s eve, when most of the residents had gone to church to attend the crossover service.

‎Although some of the occupants of the building were unclear about the cause of the fire, an eyewitness, who owns a shop in the affected building, said that the fire spread rapidly and also destroyed property worth millions of naira.

“It happened around 11pm yesterday (Wednesday), after everyone had gone to church‎.

“Few minutes after power was restored, because there no light, we were about to leave the‎ shop‎ when we heard people shouting, ‘Fire! Fire!’

“Before we knew it, it spread to other parts of the building, as if kerosene was added to it,” the eyewitness said.

It was, however‎, gathered that the fire officers were prevented from going into the building by the angry residents, who blamed them for their slow response.

An unconfirmed ‎source also disclosed that the body of the baby,who was found dead, had been deposited at a mortuary.

But when contacted, an official of the Edo State Fire Service, who identified himself as Mr. Anthony Osadolor‎, said that the fire service did not receive any call from the residents.

He also attributed the delay to inadequate fire trucks to cater for areas within the state capital.

‎”From the record I have here, there were fire incidents reported at Akpakpava and Sapele road. But I can’t confirm that someone died in the incident because they did not allow us to even get down out of our truck; they said we came late.

“It maybe that there were other fire occurrences at the same time they called. It is not our fault that we did not get there on time,” he said.

Isn't Genevieve Nnaji lovely?

Star actress Genevieve Nnaji and a few of her friends hit Ocho Rios Resort & Golf Club in Jamaica for a vacation and celebrated the transition into 2015 while there. Someone's having a whole lot of fun. See more pics after the cut...

Timaya also buys New Lexus Jeep, Fires at Haters to Kill Themselves.

Congrats to Him.

A suicide bomber dies after failed attempt to attack church.

A suicide bomber was the only one to die in a failed attempt to attack the Evangelical Church of West Africa, ECWA (pictured above), at Tudunwada in Gombe state yesterday January 1st.

According to reports, the suicide bomber arrived the church at about 8am in a motorcycle and attempted to forcefully drive into the premises which was parked full of worshipers as the church was holding its new year celebration service.

As he made to enter, the suicide bomber was stopped by members of the church's Boys Brigade stationed at the entrance of the church for security purpose. The bomb on him immediately exploded, killing him and injuring 8 others who were immediately rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

This attack came barely 24hours after two suicide bombers attempted to attack the Army barracks in Gombe state on New years eve. Reports say the suicide bombers arrived the military check point leading to the barracks at about 8pm and in the course of waiting to be searched, the bomb which was in a bag carried by one of the suicide bombers blew up, killing both of them instantly.

203 soldiers reportedly dismissed.

Premium Times reports that one of the dismissed soldier attached to the 7th division in Maiduguri Borno state, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said  that after the sect members dislodged their unit in Damboa, Borno state sometime last year,  they (the soldiers) were reconvened in Maiduguri in August to further engage in the fight against boko haram and upon their arrival, they were they were given two weeks pass and that at the expiration of their pass, they were issued new uniforms, boots and handed 30 rounds of bullets each as against the 60 rounds meant to be given to them. He said their commanding chief ordered that they move in a tipper to continue the fight to dislodge the sect members in Damboa but that some of the soldiers argued that serious weapons would be needed in the fierce battle they are expected to embark on as they have being fighting with the sect members and known the type of weapons they use.  

“So we asked for support weapons. No support weapon was provided. Our CO (Commanding Officer) said he would discuss with the GOC (General Officer Commanding) of the 7 Division at the headquarters. When he came back, he said we should stand down. We thought all was well,” our source said.

He said the next day their new CO, Mohammed A, a lieutenant colonel from 195 battalion, Agenebode, ordered them to submit their weapons and uniforms or be charged with mutiny.

“On the morning of 16 of August, after the GOC briefing, our commander started calling our names and he said anyone whose name is called should submit their uniform and weapon. He added that anyone who failed to do that would be charged for mutiny. We were surprised at what was happening. He started from the most senior soldier among us, a warrant officer who had served for almost 30 years. They asked us to go back to the barrack. It is a war zone and our weapons had been taken from us. Staying around was of no use so we left Maiduguri back home.”

The next order from the army hierarchy was for the soldiers to report to the 4th Brigade headquarters in Benin where they were detained for three months.

“They kept us in the fenced field at the officers’ mess in 4th battalion headquarters. When we first arrived at Benin they took statements from us and took it to Maiduguri. The original charge against us was for deserting but after our statements were taken they changed the charge to disobedient to particular order. They said we disobeyed the CO’s order. They seized our phones, we couldn’t communicate with our families for the 90 days we were kept in detention,” our source said.

After they were released on December 24, they were conveyed to their various units. The soldier said on getting to their units, a court martial was set up at about 11.30 p.m. where they were tried and dismissed. He said the next morning, they were evicted from the barrack with their families.

“It was dismissal without benefits. After 17 years in service. Even people that served for 30 years were dismissed without benefits. We had no legal representation.” the source said

The Nigerian military has not reacted to the report.

(Politics) NTA yanks off Funmi Iyanda's "Change A Life programme" because of Gov. Raji Fashola

January 1st, was media personality Funmi Iyanda's annual "Change in Life" TV special, an edition where she honoured Lagos state governor Babatunde Fashola in appreciation for his support for the foundation over for the past 8 years. The show was supposed to air live on NTA but the station only showed it for some time and later yanked it off. Annoying thing for the host and guests was that while on set they thought they were live on air not knowing they'd already been yanked off. NTA later said the programme was yanked off due to internal Communication Error. See the tweets after the cut...