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."

Troops Kill "Several" Insurgents Army

Abuja - Several Boko Haram insurgents have
been killed in a fierce battle with troops in a
northeastern town near Maiduguri, an army
statement said Wednesday.
Pick-up vehicles with mounted machine- and
anti-aircraft guns, an armoured
personnel carrier and assorted arms and ammunition were
recovered after the battle late Tuesday, an army
spokesman was quoted as saying.
"During the fight, several terrorists were killed and
those fleeing Konduga with gunshot wounds are
being pursued," said Brigadier General Olajide
Olaleye.
Konduga is about 35 kilometres (22 miles) from
Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state and former
headquarters of the Islamist sect Boko Haram.
A military source who requested anonymity said
"scores" had been killed, claiming "the terrorists
suffered heavy casualties for the second time in a
few days."
"Our troops killed scores of Boko Haram
insurgents and destroyed many of their vehicles
including the armoured carrier they came with,"
said the source.
A resident of Kawuri village near Konduga,
Nguddo Burye, confirmed the high casualty
number.
"The battle scene was littered with bodies of Boko
Haram insurgents and many burnt vehicles
including an armoured carrier," he said.
Olaleye also denied reports that a military convoy
was ambushed on Sunday by Boko Haram
militants in central Kogi state.
He said armed robbers attacked an artillery
regiment travelling in seven buses, after mistaking
them for civilians, adding that three soldiers were
injured.

You Will Not Believe How Much Christiano Ronaldo Wants To Join Manchester United

Cape Town - Cristiano Ronaldo's return to Old

Trafford next season but the deal may be
scuppered due to his incredible wage demands.
According to Bild , Cristiano Ronaldo wants
Manchester United to make him the richest player
in the game if they want to bring him back to Old
Trafford. Cristiano Ronaldo is demanding £501 000.00-per-week to become the next "Gaalactico" at
Manchester United, according to the German
newspaper. That is a whopping €630 000.00 .

Reports in Spain have suggested that Ronaldo

wants to return to England and rejoin Manchester

United with Sky Sports expert Guillem Balague

confirming the speculation but time will tell

whether Manchester United have the resources to

meet CR7's demands.

“He has this idea, I think, that at Real Madrid he

is doing a job and he is working, but he enjoyed

himself almost like a kid at Manchester United."

“He dreams of going back to Manchester United

and Manchester United have got all the finances

in place to get him." said Balague.

Mob violence kills four in Nigerian village

Abuja - Four people were killed Wednesday in a
Kebbi state village as a mob went on the
rampage after being stopped from lynching a man
suspected over a ritual murder.
Villagers in Kamba, in Kebbi state, were about to
execute a man from neighbouring Niger who they
accused of involvement in the murder of a young
girl, police said in a statement.
Police rescued the man, named as Adamu Gaya,
and took him into protective custody.
Angry villagers responded by attacking the police
station, destroying its communication base,
burning two police vehicles and nine motorcycles
as well as the official residence of the district
police boss.
"In the attack, four persons lost their lives.
Eighty-nine persons have been arrested for the
violence," said the statement, which did not say
how the four died.
The lynching of suspected criminals, especially
thieves, suspected witches and kidnappers is
common in Nigeria, where public trust in the
police and judiciary is low.

Four Soldiers Hurt In Central Ambush: Military

Kano - Suspected Boko Haram gunmen opened
fire on a military convoy at the weekend in central
Kogi state, injuring four soldiers, a senior military
source said Tuesday.
The convoy of 850 soldiers came under fire late
Sunday near the town of Okene as they drove
towards the Kogi state