Minister wants security tightened at schools to thwart terror

Abuja - The Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim
Shekarau, has directed heads of various institutions
across the country to ensure maximum security in
schools to check possible attacks by hoodlums.
Speaking in Kano during a sympathy visit to the
Federal College of Education (FCE), which
insurgents attacked on Wednesday and killed at
least 15 people and wounded several others, the
minister expressed hope that security agencies in
the state and other parts of the country would
continue to give useful advice to schools to ensure
maximum security in the institutions.
He said the issue of security was not the affair of
only Federal, State or local governments or
communities but the responsibility of everybody.
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"We hope heads of various schools across the
country will come up with some stringent measures
for maximum security in their respective schools
and it is unfortunate that the trend we are
witnessing is that institutions of learning are being
targeted," he said.
He stressed the need for the college to take
stringent measures towards enhancing security in
the school.
"I believe this incident will not deter our people from
pursuing their studies because we see it as a
challenge to whoever is concern to provide
maximum security to our schools," Shekarau added.
He also condoled with the staff, students and
management of the college over the attack, prayed
God to give the families the fortitude to bear the
irreparable loss. He wished the injured speedy
recovery and commended the Federal Government
for sending the delegation to college.
Schools have over the years been a target for the
Boko Haram insurgency. Hundreds of learners have
been killed while recently, more than 200
schoolgirls were abducted in Borno State.

Scotland Rejects Independence In Referendum

(CNN) -- Scotland will remain part of the United
Kingdom -- along with England, Wales and
Northern Ireland -- following a historic
referendum vote.
A majority of voters rejected the possibility of
Scotland breaking away and becoming an
independent nation.
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond admitted
defeat in a televised statement early Friday -- and
urged the rest of Scotland to do the same.
He thanked Scotland "for 1.6 million votes for
Scottish independence."
A turnout of 86% is one of the highest in the
(CNN) -- Scotland will remain part of the United
Kingdom -- along with England, Wales and
Northern Ireland -- following a historic
referendum vote.
A majority of voters rejected the possibility of
Scotland breaking away and becoming an
independent nation.
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond admitted
defeat in a televised statement early Friday -- and
urged the rest of Scotland to do the same.
He thanked Scotland "for 1.6 million votes for
Scottish independence."
A turnout of 86% is one of the highest in the
democratic world for any such vote, he said world for any such vote, he said.

Boko Haram In-Charge Of 25 Towns

Lagos - Boko Haram militants are in charge of at
least 25 towns and villages in the northeast, the
region's Roman Catholic bishop has claimed,
warning of a deteriorating security situation.
Bishop Oliver Dashe said 10 towns in Yobe state,
the same number in Borno and five in Adawama
had fallen to the rebels over the last month, as
they seek to carve out a hardline Islamic state.
International assistance was now required to
tackle the problem, he told the Nigerian Catholic
Bishops' Conference in the southern city of Warri,
Delta state, on Wednesday.
"As a nation we are almost losing this battle
because it is spinning out of control," he added.
"The earlier we come together as Nigerians,
forgetting our religious, ethnic, regional, cultural
and ideological differences to face this menace
the better for us."
The government has denied losing territory to
Boko Haram and the military has dismissed as
"empty" the militants' claim last month that one
captured town was part of an Islamic caliphate.
Independent verification that militants have
overrun towns and villages is hard to come by
because communications have been destroyed.
Most reports have come from the thousands of
residents who have fled their homes to go to
other towns and cities in the northeast and wider
region.
Military top brass this month admitted that the
militants' territorial ambitions were a threat to
Nigeria's sovereignty.
A series of counter-attacks have been launched in
recent days, which they claim have successfully
recaptured towns.
Dashe said Boko Haram-related violence had
devastated the Diocese of Maiduguri, which he
represents and covers all three northeast states.
The heavily armed militants were getting the
better of the military, while the region was facing
a humanitarian crisis because of the thousands
displaced, he added.
He criticised the government for "almost inaction"
and its "lukewarm attitude" in tackling insecurity,
which had seen young men forcibly conscripted
into the militants' ranks and women forced to
marry Islamist fighters.
"We used to think that salt is the cheapest
commodity in the market, well, life is cheaper
now, especially in the northeastern part of
Nigeria," he told delegates.
"The bottom line is that the government and our
political leaders have failed us and we have lost
total trust and confidence in our government and
our leaders."