Synagogue submits building collapse victims’ names to coroner

The coroner probing the September 12 Synagogue building collapse, Magistrate O.A. Komolafe, said on Wednesday that he had received the list of the names of the people lodging in the church guest house prior to the collapse.

The coroner had demanded for the list from the Synagogue Church of All Nations, following a request by the Lagos State Chief Forensic Pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa.

Obafunwa, leading a team of forensic pathologists conducting autopsy on the bodies of the building collapse victims, had said the list of the lodgers would be needed to identify the bodies.

No fewer than 116 persons lost their lives in the Synagogue tragedy while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

At the Wednesday proceeding, Obafunwa gave the assurance that his team would reveal the identities of the dead persons upon the conclusion of their work.

The pathologist, who said his team was able to identify 100 per cent and 98 per cent of the victims of the Associated Airlines and Dana Airlines plane crashes respectively, assured that the Synagogue’s case would not be different.

Obafunwa gave this assurance while answering questions under cross-examination by lawyer to the church, Mr. Olalekan Ojo.

He said, “We know what we had to do and how we had to do it. The same thing happened in the Dana crash in which we identified 98 per cent of the victims. The same thing happened in the Associated Airlines crash in which we identified 100 per cent of the victims.”

In his testimony, the pathologist told the coroner that his final report would both reveal the identities of the victims and the cause of their deaths and the possible cause of the building collapse.

“The final report will contain the various causes of death, which will answer so many questions as to what collapsed the building. It will tell us who died in the accident, by way of disaster victim identification,” Obafunwa said.

The pathologist further testified that he was in the position to tell whether the victims were exposed to smoke or corrosive odours from an explosive, if it was true that the building collapsed as a result of detonation.

He said, “As a forensic pathologist, I can identify the effect of corrosive burns, even when I was not there, even with just the photographs (taken during autopsy) and the detailed information from the autopsy report.

“Something related to that is the presence or absence of smoke after 10 days of embalmment. You don’t look for smoke outside the body; the evidence of smoke inhalation is in the lungs and we took samples of the lungs and examined them under the microscope.”

Asked if he could identify some injuries peculiar to explosion even after the bodies had undergone embalmment, Obafunwa said, “If a building collapsed as a result of explosion, there could be a variety of injuries. Some people might die from the crush effect, some people might die as a result of fire; the fire could occur before or even after, you will still see burns.

“The question is whether the person died in the fire or before the fire. The person could die as a result of severe blood loss because of injury from shrapnel. There are multiple ways in which death could arise when you have an explosion, you could have complete disintegration; I am just giving a general answer.”

Meanwhile, a Lagos-based lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to put a halt to further proceedings of the coroner court.

Ogungbeje, in his suit filed on Tuesday, is arguing that the setting up of the coroner court was in violation of the fundamental principles of natural justice as preserved by Section 36 of the Constitution.

The lawyer contended that the outcome of the coroner’s inquest was already a predetermined one.

He argued that the coroner was set up by the Lagos State Government after its agencies had already made public statements indicting the SCOAN and its founder, Pastor T.B. Joshua.

Ogungbeje said, “The Lagos State Building Control Agency even went ahead to seal up the main building of the church. The General Manager of the agency even said in the papers and I quote him as follows, ‘We have investigated and found that they had no approval for the additional structures. Even the main church which they have added about three floors on was sealed two days ago.’”

Adamawa on fire: B’Haram sacks police station, prison

Fighting between Nigerian troops and Boko Haram insurgents escalated in Mubi, Mararaba Mubi and Uba in Adamawa State on Wednesday.

Casualty figures could not be obtained as of 8pm but the development forced the state government to impose 24-hour curfew on the affected communities.

Our correspondents gathered that   Mubi, the second largest town in the state and host of two high institutions, was the worst hit.

A parent, Ahmad Sajoh, whose   daughter is studying at the Adamawa State University, said that as of 2pm on Wednesday, the police barracks in the Government Reservation Area was overrun by the insurgents while the prison in the town was blown open.

He added that   fighting which was ongoing at the army barracks caused confusion at the IDP camp in the Lamorde area of the town.

However, an online newspaper, SaharaReportersreported that Boko Haram insurgents took over the headquarters of the 234 battalion in the town.

Our correspondents gathered that the development made banks to move their cash to Yola, the state capital.

Sources told The PUNCH that insurgents   launched an attack on Uba   in the Michika-Madagali area of the state in response to sustained aerial bombardment of their hideouts by security forces.

Residents said they saw a large number of insurgents at Mararaba, a town about seven kilometres from Mubi.

Sajoh told one of our correspondents that his daughter called to inform him about the development in Mubi.

He said, “This morning, I got a call from my daughter who is a 200-level student. She was hysterical. I was in Abuja for a meeting, but her information forced me to head back to Yola immediately.

“I ordered her to leave the hostel and join her cousins to escape the town. I called my father who confirmed the story. By the time I arrived at Yola airport, the town had fallen to the insurgents.

“My parents are trapped while my daughter and her cousins are missing. We have lost contact for   six hours.”

Sajoh, who is the director of Press and Public Affairs to the former Governor Murtala Nyako, added, “Mallam Iliyasu of the Bursary Department of the state university, who is trapped in the town said by 2pm, the Police Barracks in the GRA was overrun by the insurgents, the prison was blown open while fighting was going on at the army barracks. The IDP camp at Lamorde area was thrown into confusion.

“The new rulers of the town had issued a decree banning   entry and exit to the town. Students who trooped to the motor park were stranded with most taking refuge in any house that could welcome them.

“The barracks are the least safe locations in the town. So far, there are no reported cases of killings or abductions. But fear and apprehension have taken over.”

Another source said that Mubi was currently deserted by residents after the incident, the second in three months.

The   higher institutions in the   town were forced to close down again.

There are fears of   humanitarian crisis should the town fall into the hands of the insurgents.

A fleeing resident, Joshua Gajere, said   several people might have been killed during the shootings that lasted for almost two hours in Uba and other villages.

He said, ‘‘We are in serious trouble as these boys (Boko Haram) have taken over our towns, splitting into groups and advancing towards Mararaba, Mubi and Vintim, the home town of the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh. They made the   Nigerian troops to retreat to Mubi’’.

Gajere added, “As I am talking to you now, residents are scampering for safety.

‘‘Mubi has now become a ghost of itself as people in their hundreds are fleeing for their lives.

‘‘Even here in Maiha, we saw military vehicles zooming off towards Yola, the state capital.’’

However, a resident from Michika, Mr. Siva Zira, told one of our correspondents that the   military was having an upper   hand as they were able to dislodge the insurgents in Michika and Uba.

Meanwhile,   Governor James Ngillari has asked the people of the state, particularly those in the affected areas to remain calm as security agents were on the top of the situation.

His Director of Press and Public Affairs,   P.P. Elisha, said   the governor met with security heads in the state to assess the situation.

He said, “It’s unfortunate with this development, His Excellency, has met with security chiefs in the state on Wednesday to assess the situation.

“People should remain calm, security agents are on the top of situation.’’

It was further gathered banks in Mubi have taken the pre-emptive steps to move out large volume of cash to the Central Bank of Nigeria in Yola.

Our correspondents could not get the Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, to comment on the   hostilities as the calls to his mobile telephone line did not connect.

The government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Mubi, Mararaba Mubi and Uba.

The Secretary to the State Government, Mr Andrew Weyle, who announced this, advised the people to stay away from the roads and other public places.

He said,“Following the escalation of violence by the insurgents, his Excellency the Governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Bala James Ngillari, has approved the imposition of 24 hours curfew on Mubi, Mararaba Mubi and Uba, with immediate effect.

“People are advised to stay off the roads and public places except those on essential services.”

It was further gathered that the insurgents   killed the son of a prominent traditional ruler in the area.

A resident, who identified himself as Kwahir Sani, said, “We fled to a village called Wuro Gude near Mubi when the violence erupted and I have lost contact with some of my children.

“As I am talking to you now, we are hearing gunshots by military in Mubi.”

It was gathered that the insurgents also attacked Askira Uba and Kukawa in Borno State for over six hours.

A fleeing resident said the terrorists killed many people, burnt many houses and carted away food stuffs.

Agence France Presse reported that the heavily armed terrorists, on arrival in Kukawa, opened fire on a police station and market, sending many fleeing.

KOLAROV OF MAN CITY

Cape Town -  Manchester City's Serbian defender Aleksandar Kolarov has opened the mind games ahead of Saturday's Manchester derby.

The 28-year-old defender has labelled his side "superior" to that of neighbours Manchester United according to the Daily Express.

"It is a great game to watch or play in - I think every player in the world would like to play this game." said Kolarov

"United has a great history but in the last five or six years, I think we have been superior to them.

"It will be a great game to play."

City head into Sunday's derby on the back of a loss against West Ham United and anything but three points against their arch-rivals will be a hammer blow to their chances of retaining their English Premiership title.

The Citizens have gained the upper hand in this fixture in recent time and completed a league "double" over their neighbours last season.

Sunday's derby at the Etihad kicks off at 15:30.

QPR owner Fernandes to stand by Redknapp

London - Loyalty and football are two words that do not often go together, but after watching his side climb off the bottom of the Premier League table with victory over Aston Villa, Queens Park Rangers owner Tony Fernandes is standing by manager Harry Redknapp.

Redknapp has come under pressure after his side won just once in their opening eight games but Charlie Austin's double against Villa on Monday helped lift the spirits at 19th-placed QPR.

Fernandes believes stability is key in QPR's battle against the drop and cited the example of West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce, who looked set to lose his job last season but has now guided a new-look team to fourth in the Premier League table.

"I believe stability is the best way," Fernandes told Sky Sports on Tuesday. "If you look at the clubs who have succeeded, they have had consistency in managers.

"This time last season, everyone wanted Sam Allardyce's head. Now, I think they will put a statue of him at the Olympic Park.

"Harry is my man. It is not in vogue to say that, but I stand by my manager."

According to media reports, talks over a new contract with Redknapp have been shelved but Fernandes hopes the 67-year-old remains at Loftus Road, after guiding them back to the Premier League last season.

"It's up to Harry whether he wants to continue as well," he said. "I hope, if he decides management is not for him next year, or the year after, or whenever, then he still has a role.

"Harry is a man who was tipped to be England manager, and he got us promoted.

"You look at how many clubs have gone down and not come (straight) back up. I think QPR are one of the few clubs to have come up."

Jonathan Brushes Off Scandal

Abuja - Not many presidents could survive three
multi-billion dollar government oil corruption
scandals and a wave of cold-blooded killings and
kidnappings of civilians bymilitants still holding
hundreds of schoolgirls after six months.
President Goodluck Jonathan has not only
survived, he will seek re-election in February
stronger than ever, after five years in a job no one
expected him to get.
Jonathan's support base within the ruling party is
now unchallenged, a rare feat for the often
fractious People's Democratic Party (PDP), while
the main opposition APC coalition is split
between two contestants for the presidency.
The government announced a ceasefire with Boko
Haram rebels 10 days ago, ahead of talks in
neighbouring Chad to secure the release of more
than 200 girls seized from Chibok village in April
in an abduction that shocked the world.
If the talks are successful it would help the
president's image. But nothing has come of it yet
and violence has since surged, with dozens more
children kidnapped.
Jonathan has defended his overstretched
military's efforts against a Boko Haram
insurgency that has killed thousands. In the case
of the failure to free the schoolgirls, he has said
any rescue attempt would endanger their lives.
Also Read: Every day Jonathan ceases to fire
Meanwhile, apart from the security challenges, his
government also has been best by corruption
allegations.
A parliamentary report detailed a $6.8bn fuel
subsidy fraud. A government investigation
revealed corrupt cut price crude sales to oil
majors that cost the treasury billions. And a
former central banker has reported that between
$10 an $20bn had been diverted by the state oil
firm over 18 months between 2012 and last year.
The government pledged to investigate the first
two cases and denied the third.
Patronage
Last month, South Africa froze two payments
from the Jonathan administration totalling $15m
that it suspected were for illegal arms deals.
Nigeria said the deals were legal.
Yet it is a testament to Nigeria's complex mix of
ethnic rivalry, patronage and intense competition
for centralised oil wealth in Africa's top producer
that Jonathan can brush off these various
scandals and attract a high level of support.
Jonathan, a Christian southerner, was an
accidental president, taking over in 2009 after
President Umaru Yar'adua, a Muslim from the
north, died from illness.
When Jonathan was elected to his own term in
2011, many in the north resented his decision to
run, believing he had torn up an unwritten rule
that power should rotate between mainly Muslim
north and mainly Christian south every two terms.
Former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, who
lost to Jonathan in 2011, and defected PDP ex-
vice president Atiku Abubakar are vying for the
opposition APC ticket. Both launched bids in the
past month, focusing on security and graft.
Roddy Barclay, senior Africa analyst at Control
Risks, a political risk consultancy, sees two
"principle factors for Jonathan's robust position in
spite of the scandals and failings which have
rocked his government".
"Firstly, the primacy of money and patronage in
determining electoral outcomes in Nigeria," means
an incumbent gets a huge advantage, and second,
"the opposition lacks steadfast unity".
That marks a big change from less than a year
ago. In December it was the PDP that was in
crisis. Thirty seven lawmakers defected to the
APC that month, demolishing the PDP's lower
house majority. Rotimi Amaechi, powerful
governor of the oil hub state of Rivers, also
defected.
The same month, Jonathan's mentor and PDP
Godfather, ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, wrote
a scathing letter saying it would be "fatally
morally flawed" for Jonathan to seek re-election
in 2015 because of corruption under his rule.
Jonathan called the intervention "unjustifiable and
indecorous".
Nigerian party politics
Ten months on and the APC has failed to
capitalise. It has not agreed on a presidential
candidate and several disillusioned APC figures
have flipped to the PDP, underscoring the fluid
nature of Nigerian party politics.
They include popular two-term ex-governor of
Kano state Ibrahim Shakarau, a Buhari rival, and
former anti-corruption chief Nuhu Ribadu, denying
the APC a strong anti-graft platform, although
Buhari still has strong anti-corruption credentials.
In June, the APC then lost a governorship election
in southwestern Ekiti state to the ruling party.
"The opposition is cannabalising itself. Its top
elites are vying against one another. That's a
glide path for President Jonathan," said Eurasia
Group's Philippe de Pontet.
"Had the APC sustained its momentum from 5-6
months ago ... we'd be in a different world."
On 2 December, the dynamic could shift when the
party picks its candidate. Buhari earned a
reputation for cracking down on corruption during
his time in power in 1983-85, and most Nigerians
agree he did not use the post to enrich himself,
but it is not clear whether he would win votes
from APC supporters in the south.
The emotional conflict felt by Barrister Isaac
Matthew illustrates Jonathan's staying power.
Driven by the plight of the schoolgirls to leave a
court case he was defending to join protesters
demanding more action to rescue them, he says
Jonathan bears ultimate responsibility since
"leaders are supposed to protect their people".
"I'm still probably going to vote for him," he said,
citing Jonathan's concentration of power and
some works Matthew said had greatly improved
the road network.
"The opposition has no credible candidate to
stand against him. Not Atiku [Abubakar] and not
Buhari."
The power sector is also under improvement, but
that may not draw votes since the supply in one
of the world's most electricity-starved countries
has fallen in the short term.
Expectations moderate
Many voters are likely to see the Boko Haram
insurgency, which only affects the remote
northeast apart from occasional bomb attacks in
the capital or other cities, as just one problem in
their large, diverse country.
"Expectations in the electorate are fairly modest
and they are hugely disenfranchised, despite ...
years of civilian rule," said Antony Goldman, head
of Nigeria-focused PM Consulting.
"You don't need to be popular or successful in
conventional terms to win an election in Nigeria,"
he said, although he added that no president had
managed to stay popular after four years in office,
and the APC had yet to present a clear
alternative.
One issue that has not yet played an important
role is Ebola, rampant in some other West African
states. A mixture of luck and impressively
decisive action has meant Africa's most populous
country was able to avoid a potentially
devastating epidemic after a Liberian brought it to
the megacity of Lagos, but the virus could still
come back to plague Nigeria, with unpredictable
political consequences.
Jonathan's assumed decision to run has widened
a divide between elites in Nigeria's south and
north because of a feeling in the north that it is
still their "turn" to rule.
That makes violence likely, especially if the poll is
close. In 2011, more than 800 were killed and 65
000 displaced in three days of violence after
Jonathan beat Buhari in the poll.
If Buhari, now 71, gets the ticket but loses the
election again, his supporters may have less
reason to end the mayhem so quickly if they
sense he has missed his last chance.

Chilex (Inspillex) Is Plus One Today

Today isn't a day I am worth seeing but the lord
has made it a bonus for me in my life despite my
sins, my sinful jokes and lot's more..... Lord God
on this day and my days to come I owe you the
credits Co's not even my mother can do this
neither can the reader do it for me but you did it
without taking permission from anyone..... HBD to
ME, MYSELF and I!!!!!!!!!! HURRAY HURRAY
HURRAY BABA GOD NA YOU SURE PASS.

Cease Fire Collapses As Army Fights Back

The Nigerian troops seem to have abandoned
the ceasefire between the Federal Government
and Boko Haram as they killed 25 insurgents
in Damboa, Borno State on Sunday.
Boko Haram was the first to abandon the
ceasefire when it attacked two communities in
Borno and Adamawa states.
Damboa was for several days in July under the
control of the insurgents who killed some
soldiers, including a Lieutenant Colonel. They
had also hoisted their flag in the community
which is only about 85 kilometres away from
Maiduguri.
The military however succeeded in chasing them
but on Sunday night, the terrorists staged a
comeback but were overpowered by the “military
during an exchange of gunfire.”
Boko Haram had on Friday, the day the Chief of
Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal, Alex Badeh,
announced the ceasefire, attacked Shafa and
Sina in Borno and Adamawa states.
Just as the attacks were viewed as a breach of
the ceasefire, the insurgents struck again in
Borno State where they captured Abadam village
and beheaded six people on the Biu-Garkida
Road on Sunday.
A military source was however quick to dismiss
the belief that attacks by the insurgents
amounted to a collapse of the ceasefire.
He had said, “One cannot say the peace deal has
been violated; it is the nature of most terrorist
organisations to act that way, and it should be
expected because they have several layers of
operation.’’
But findings on Sunday by The PUNCH had
revealed that the Federal Government might have
entered into the deal with a faction of the group
interested in ending the insurgency in the North-
East.
A Federal Government team is to meet on
Tuesday(today) with representatives of the sect
in Ndjamena to conclude the talks being
brokered by Chadian President Idris Deby.
The military source, who spoke with our
correspondent on the Damboa incident, said
there was no way the troops on the ground
would have watched the militants overrun the
community without confronting them.
“Since we just couldn’t watch them overrun the
town again, we engaged them in crossfire,’’ he
said.
The source, who did not want his name in print
because he was not authorised to speak on the
development, added, “We were able to effectively
repel them. Twenty five of them were killed
during the heavy shoot-out. We also recovered
several arms and ammunition as well as a
Buffalo Armoured Personnel Carrier which they
abandoned in the heat of the confrontation that
lasted some hours.”
He was however silent on the casualty figure.
In Maiduguri, a vigilante member, Abba
Mohammed, told The PUNCH that the
insurgents invaded the already deserted Damboa
at about 5pm on Sunday.
He said, “Some of our members in Damboa
informed us early this (Monday) morning that
the attack was repelled and that more than two
dozen insurgents were killed.
“We were told that the insurgents came from the
direction of Sambisa Forest Reserve and drove in
several pickup vans and vehicles that looked like
APC.
“They engaged the military in a massive shoot-
out for some hours but when about 25 of them
were killed, they had to pull back towards the
direction they came from.”
Despite this, the Borno State chapter of the
Christian Association of Nigeria on Monday said
it welcomed the truce talks between the Federal
Government and Boko Haram.
It said in a communiqué issued at the end of
its three-day fasting and prayer for Christians
that the breach of the ceasefire by the
insurgents should not deter the government
from following it to a logical conclusion.
The state CAN Chairman, Rev. Titus Pona, who
read the statement said since the insurgents had
expressed their desire for peace, government
must take advantage of it by playing along.
He said, “We the Christian faithful in Borno State
commend the Federal Government for agreeing
with the Jama’atul Ahalis Sunna Lida’awati
popularly called the Boko Haram for a ceasefire.
‘‘We are happy with the ceasefire, although we
heard some reports suggesting attacks by some
suspected insurgents lately. We believe it is only
a faction that is not interested in the peace
process.
‘‘We assume that the Chibok girls and other
people in their captivity are alive and well.
“We pray that the offer for ceasefire will be stuck
to and come to reality in order to have the
abducted ones released and for an end to the
insurgency ravaging Borno, Yobe and Adamawa
states and other parts of the country.’’

Man Abandons Children In Boarding School For Eight Years

Three children abandoned in a boarding school in
Abule-Iroko in the Ado-Odo Ota Local
Government Area of Ogun State are longing to
meet their parents who have abandoned them for
eight years.
When PUNCH Metro visited Solid Model College,
the children recounted their ordeal, noting that
the absence of their parents was affecting their
studies.
Seun Adepegba, 14,Seyi, 10 and Titilola, 13, had
been severed from parental love and care since
infanthood. After waiting for eight years, they
seemed to have relinquished all hopes of
reuniting with their parents.
It was learnt that their tale of sorrow began in
2007 when their father, Mr Segun Adepegba, who
had been separated from their mother, enrolled
them in the boarding school because he could
not afford to take care of them.
According to the proprietor of the school, Mr
Samuel Ayegbusi, Adepegba came to enroll them
in his school on September 24, 2007 with a
promise to always check on them.
He said, “Mr. Adepegba told me his wife had just
left him and that he could not afford to take care
of them, being a jobless man. The children were
very little. Seyi was two, while Titilola was five.
“Mr Adepegba had pleaded with me to accept
them in the boarding school. Mr Adepegba’s
sister promised to bear the cost of their upkeep.
They paid an initial N150, 000 for the three
children for the first term.”
But according to the proprietor, Adepegba never
kept his promise. He said after the first term, the
school expected him to come and take his
children home for holiday but he never showed
up until four years later. He said the school had
expended over N7m on the upkeep of the
children since 2007.
The proprietor said efforts to reach the parents’
families had proved abortive, adding that calls to
Adepegba’s phones were not always answered.
He said, “Whenever we called him and he
realised who was talking on the phone, he would
switch off his phones and for the next two
weeks, the numbers would not be available.
When the school contacted their father’s sisters,
we were told that they had travelled out of the
country.
“When we called one of them, we were told that
they had sent money to Mr Adepegba to defray
the children’s school fees and upkeep. But Mr.
Adepegba has never come here to make any
payment since the initial deposit he made in
2007.”
According to the proprietor, taking care of the
children had further become cumbersome for him
as one of them, Titilayo, had started
misbehaving. He recounted how Titilayo ran
away from the hostel twice without informing the
school authority on the excuse that she was
going to look for her father.
Ever since she was found, the proprietor said the
school had had to keep her in a room, under
tight surveillance, because she had vowed to run
away to find her father.
He said, “The school is not even bothered by the
cost of their upkeep. But anytime the school
closed for holiday and parents come around to
take their children home, Titilayo would fall into
a sober mood and twice, she had run away from
the hostel without informing anyone. It was a
resident who stopped her and brought her back
to the school.
Some of the teachers, who spoke with PUNCH
Metro during the visit, said the absence of the
children’s parents was seriously affecting their
studies. They said the appearance of their
parents would boost their academic
performance.
While recounting their days with their father, the
children said he celebrated birthdays with them.
They said they had never met their mother.
Titilayo said, “We do not know who our mother
is. We grew up in Yaba, Lagos and all we
remember is that there was a woman that
washed our clothes and took care of us until we
came here. We knew she was not our mother.”
Seyi, the youngest of the trio, however, was an
exception as she kept a cheerful look during the
visit. Seyi, who told our correspondent her
dream was to become a medical doctor said,
“Although I have a faint memory of my father, I
will like to see him. If he comes today, I will ask
him why he left us for so long.”
Seun added, “I don’t care how long he has left
us. I just want to see him. I really need to see
him.” When PUNCH Metro called Adepegba on
Thursday, his phones were switched off.

US Says The Talk To Free Chibok Girls Ongoing

Washington - A US official on Monday confirmed
that a ceasefire deal appeared to have been
reached between Nigeria and Boko Haram
militants, but said talks to release some 200
kidnapped girls were ongoing.
Doubts have been raised since members of the
Nigerian government said on Friday that they had
secured a deal with Boko Haram to free the girls
captured in April and to end hostilities.
In the aftermath of Friday's declaration by
Nigeria's military and presidency, however,
reports of attacks continue to emerge, casting
further doubts on the credibility of the ceasefire
claim.
And a group of Nigerian elders has said only one
faction of Boko Haram had been involved in the
deal.
"We can confirm reports that a ceasefire has been
announced, [and] appears to have been put into
place," State Department deputy spokesperson
Marie Harf said.

"We would welcome that ceasefire, call on all
parties both to implement and maintain such a
ceasefire, and hope that such a ceasefire would
herald the return of peace to the northeast.
"This is a region that has had far too little of
that."
But she said it was Washington's "understanding
that the negotiations about a deal to release the
girls continue."
With 80 US military personnel sent to
neighbouring Chad for intelligence, surveillance
and reconnaissance, the United States is the
biggest foreign participant in the effort against
the Islamic militants, Boko Haram, who have
terrorised parts of northern Nigeria.
Washington has also deployed surveillance
drones, spy planes and about 30 civilian and
military specialists to support Nigeria's security
forces.

Riot at Kirikiri Prisons, Inmates Feared Dead

A number of inmates have been killed after
soldiers stationed at the Kirikiri Medium Prison,
Lagos were called in to quell a riot which broke
among inmates of the prison on Friday, an
eyewitness has told Saturday PUNCH.
Saturday PUNCH learnt from a source who
pleaded anonymity that a protest against the
seizure of a ceiling fan belonging to an inmate
degenerated into the riot which might have
claimed the lives of a number of the prisoners.
Our source, who witnessed the incident, said the
shooting started around 1.30pm.
He said, “Someone brought in a ceiling fan for an
inmate referred to as the ‘general-overseer’ of
the prison’s Christian denomination. But the fan
was seized by the officer in-charge of the
prisons, who also allegedly ordered the inmate
detained.
“The inmate said he was the owner of the ceiling
fan and only sent it out of the prison for
repairs.”
According to this source, the inmate was later
released after protests by his colleagues who felt
he was being unjustly punished. But the situation
was said to have degenerated beyond control,
necessitating the intervention of soldiers at the
prisons.
“By the time the inmate was released, the other
prisoners had started throwing stones at
windows and getting violent. The soldiers shot
sporadically at the inmates as they ran into their
cells, but many of them were hit,” our source
said.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no
confirmation on the actual number of prisoners
killed but our source claimed to have seen the
dead bodies of a number of inmates and some
injured prisoners with bullet wounds being
transported to the hospital within the prison.
But the spokesperson for the Nigerian Prisons
Service, Mr. Ope Fatinikun, told our
correspondent on the phone that there was
indeed a riot at the prison, which he claimed
was not violent.
He said, “No inmate was shot at, but 12 of them
who sustained minor injuries have been given
treatment.
“If anybody tells you he saw dead bodies of shot
inmates, he should provide pictures. We have
passed that stage something like that could not
have happened without someone getting a
picture.”

Eleven States Resume Today After Forced Ebola Holidays

Schools in at least 11 states of the country are
set to resume a new academic session today
(Wednesday) after a forced holiday occasioned
by the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak.
The states which had earlier shunned the
September 22 resumption date announced by the
Federal Government, picked October 8, as a more
realistic resumption date to enable them to put
in place the logistics required to prevent the
spread of the Ebola Virus Disease and also
observe the Eid-el-Kabir holiday.
Some of the states commencing academic
activities today include Rivers, Benue, Lagos,
Ekiti and Oyo.
Others are Kano, Kogi, Akwa -Ibom, Ebonyi, Ogun
and Kwara states.
However, some states such as Niger, Zamfara
and Adamawa, will resume on October 13.
In a telephone interview with our correspondent
on Tuesday, the National President, Nigerian
Union of Teachers, Mr. Michael Alogba, said the
resumption was not nationwide as schools in
some states had earlier resumed classes, having
received the preventive equipment from the
government.
The NUT had ordered its members to stay at
home until the materials, such as digital non-
contact thermometers, soaps, sanitisers and
basins were provided.
“I’m sorry I don’t have a comprehensive list right
now. But I know Lagos and Ogun states are
resuming tomorrow. Our directive was that state
wings of NUT should monitor the degree of
compliance with the provision of safety measures
and formally notify us. But the resumption
tomorrow (Wednesday) is not nationwide. Some
have resumed earlier. Many of them have
reported total compliance to us and they include
Lagos, Ogun, Rivers and Ebonyi states,” he said.
Asked what lessons were learnt with the Ebola
Virus Disease scare, Alogba said that the disease
had revealed the underbelly of the education
sector.
“It has exposed the deplorable state of hygiene
in our schools. Ordinarily, we don’t need to cry
to the high heavens before we could have water
in our schools. But the EVD has exposed our
shortcomings. Let everybody begins to do what
is right. Government should know that it is
accountable to the people,’’ he added.
However, the fate of pupils attending Federal
Government colleges still hangs in the balance.
Alogba, who admitted issues in the unity schools
said, “The problems in the Federal Government
colleges are multi-dimensional. Aside from the
Ebola-imposed holiday, there are other issues
with the members of staff. As long as those
problems persist, the Federal Government
colleges will continue to remain under lock and
key.’’
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of
Nigeria had last month ordered its members to
go on strike over the inability of the Federal
Government to pay their promotion arrears from
2007 to 2010.
In a statement, the ASCSN Secretary-General,
Mr. Alade Lawal, said, “By this decision, the 104
Federal Unity Colleges will not re-open for the
next academic session scheduled to begin on
September 22. Records available to us indicate
that the Federal Ministry of Education had
collected the money meant for the settlement of
these arrears from the Federal Ministry of
Finance,’’ he said.

Di Maria Voted United’s Player Of The Month

Angel Di Maria has rounded off an impressive September with a Player of the Month award at Manchester United.

The club’s record signing has already become an influential player for Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford and was the clear winner of the award winning 68 per cent of the vote.

Ander Herrera and Rafael were given 23 per cent and 9 per cent of the votes respectively, but the Argentinian playmaker won the ManUtd.com online poll.

Di Maria opened his Manchester United account against QPR, before scoring an early goal of the season contender against Leicester.

“I am very happy to have received the award but I’ve got to stress that it’s all about the team,’ Di Maria told ManUtd.com. I’m happy that my career here at Manchester United has started very well, and I hope that what I’m doing out there on the field is helping us to pick up points and victories.”

Residents Scooping Fuel As Tanker Crashes In Kwara

Danger may currently be lurking in Osin
community in Ilorin East Local Government Area
of Kwara State as residents of the settlement are
scrambling to scoop fuel spilled in the area after
a fuel tanker crashed on Saturday.
A resident of the village, who made a desperate
call to PUNCH Online on Saturday, feared that
the worst might happen if concerned authorities
failed to respond to their calls urgently.
The resident, a male(name withheld), alleged
that four days ago, there was an accident in the
community, located along the Ilorin-Jebba Road,
saying the State Emergency Management
Agency, which promised to come to the scene,
failed to show up.
“Today again, this morning, a fuel tanker crashed
some minutes ago; its content is currently
spilling around and people are scooping fuel in
the area. We have called the same management
agency but as I’m talking to you now, they
(members of the agency) have not shown up,
though they promised they would come,” says
the resident.
“There is still fuel in the tanker that had an
accident in this place four days ago, it has not
been evacuated. If any place goes up in flame
around this area, every body will be in trouble.”
Our correspondent called Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba,
the Chief Press Secretary to Governor
Abdulfattah Ahmed, who promised to call on
relevant agencies to race to the scene and put
the situation under control.

Senate President David Mark and former Lagos State Governor and a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Friday held separate closed-door meetings with former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The meetings were held at Obasanjo’s Hilltop residence in Abeokuta.

Both Mark and Tinubu said the issues discussed bordered on the state of the nation.

Tinubu came ahead of Mark. Emerging from the venue of the meeting, he said he had discussion with Obasanjo on “some of his former boys” who would vie for elective positions in the 2015 general elections, especially the Presidency.

He said, “We are here to pay homage to our former President and discuss with him because he has a number of influences in the political sphere.

“We need to talk to find out his thinking about Nigeria and the future. We need to seek his observation on some of his former boys who are running for Presidency in our party.”

He, however, said there was nothing worth celebrating about Nigeria’s 54th independence anniversary since the country remained “an invalid baby in incubator.”

Mark who arrived the Hilltop residence at about 2.0pm left around 3.45pm.

He also described Obasanjo as the father of the nation with a wealth of experience.

The Senate President told journalists after the meeting that he had come with his team, including Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; the Peoples Democratic Party Women Leader, Mrs. Josephine Anenih; and Senator Polycarp Nwite, among others to discuss with the former President and raise some basic issues that affect both the party and the nation.

He said, “We discussed issues that will move Nigeria forward because Chief Obasanjo’s love for Nigeria is unquantifiable. So, we had a good discussion with him.”

DHQ reacts to video dismissing Shekau’s death

Abuja - The Defence Headquarters said on
Thursday it was studying the claims made in a
video purportedly released by terrorists showing
their leader, Abubakar Shekau as dismissing his
death.
A statement posted in the DHQ website said
that from immediate observation, the video did
not indicate when it was shot and any proof “of
life or currency such as screen time or date.”
“The video also did not make any reference to
anything that has happened since the
impostor’s reported death,” it said.
The statement noted that air plane mentioned
in the video had been missing before he
(Shekau) was killed.
“It should not surprise anybody if the terrorists
decide to manipulate pictures, clone another
Shekau or upload a pre-recorded video all in a
bid to prove invincible.”
“As far as we are concerned, the individual who
was appearing in video and claiming to be the
leader of the terrorist group was killed in the
Kondunga battle in September.”
“The resemblance of the corpse and that of the
eccentric character was incontrovertible. His
identity was equally corroborated by people
who knew him before we announced his death,”
it said.
The statement restated that justice would be
served to whoever bore that name or
designation and whoever engaged in any act of
terror.
It will be recalled that the DHQ confirmed the
death of Mohammed Bashir alias Abubakar
Shekau on September 24, saying he was killed
in an operation in Konduga.
Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, the Director, Defence
Information, who confirmed it, had vowed that
the military would serve justice to whoever bore
that name or designation.

I Saw The Synagogue Tragedy Coming - TB Joshua

The founder of the Synagogue Church of all
Nations, Prophet Temitope Joshua, has claimed
that he saw a vision of the incident that killed at
least 115 persons in the church guesthouse.
The victims, mainly South Africans, died when a
six-storey guesthouse belonging to the church
caved in on September 12.
The embattled clergyman, who said he knew
something tragic was to befall his ministry,
noted that he prepared his parishioners on how
to handle the tragedy.
In a statement posted on the SCOAN’s official
Facebook page, TB Joshua warned his critics
against accusing him of failing to foresee the
disaster that befell his ministry.
“For those who are outside the Lord, they would
not know. When you are outside God, you will
not know what I am talking. When you are
outside the light, you cannot understand what I
am talking.
“For the three weeks before the incident, if you
heard my message and sat down, you would
know I was giving you a vision and prophetic
word on how to handle the situation at hand.
Trials and tests are for our belief. I go by the
directives of God,” TB Joshua claimed.
Accusing his critics of being “used by Satan,” the
televangelist said they were just out to “disturb”
the faith of his local and international members
with “negative words.”
According to him, all the “Satanic agents”
criticising him over the circumstances
surrounding the incident, would soon “suffer for
it.”
Since none of his critics is unable to help him
raise the victims from death, TB Joshua argued
that they should stop rubbishing his ministry or
risk paying dearly for it.
Those who could not stop what happened
(building collapse), he said, should be “careful of
their tongues” as “anybody can go for it.
“I have been on this journey for 27 years. Do you
think God can close His eyes and rubbish
everything here? They are asking God to bring
more evidence of whether He is the one who
called me. Warn everyone to be very careful.
This issue at hand is a delicate issue.
“People are using this to gain money and friends.
This is a warning. Whatever people want to write
let them write; they will be the ones to read it. I
said our God would get back to them. He has
started somewhere. He is coming. If your brother
is involved, unless he can resurrect the people
who died, he will join them. If you can resurrect
the people who died, you can go free.
“The servants, the people who sent them; the
people who heard the stories all around and
those who want to use it for themselves and to
disturb my spirit, you may likely join them. Be
careful. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Let
us be very careful with our tongues,” he warned.
Urging those questioning his calling not to sway
his followers, he added that they should extend
love and affection to the victims and relations of
those involved in the tragedy.
The prophet insisted that the 115 victims were
martyrs, adding that their relations would see
the continuation of the work of God “they died
and suffered for.
“Your responsibility is to the victims and the
relations of the victims and martyrs of faith. If
you say you are born again, wherever the victims
and their relations are, wherever the relations of
the martyrs of faith are, look for them. Let them
know you are praying for them. What you eat; let
them eat it.
“What you wear; let them wear. What you have
on your table, let them have it on their tables,
too. Share what you have with them – your love,
prayer, affection and strength. Share it with them
at this time. This is what we call ‘born again’ –
my pain is your pain. Your joy is my joy.
“The multitude of people who claim to be with
T.B. Joshua in prayer – if the same people turn
to the families of the victims and martyrs of
faith, don’t you think life would be better for
them than before? Join them; look for them, as
many other things they are doing now,” TB
Joshua added.