Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau has claimed responsibility for the Abuja bomb blast that killed at least 75 people via a video message.
“We are the ones that carried out the attack in Abuja,” Shekau said in the 28-minute video, referring to the deadliest attack ever in Nigeria’s capital which targeted Nyanya bus station packed with morning commuters.
Seated with a kalashnikov resting on his left shoulder and dressed in military uniform, the insurgent commander spoke in both Arabic and the Hausa language that is dominant in northern Nigeria. The message was delivered to AFP in a manner consistent with previous videos from Boko Haram.
Shekau indicated that Boko Haram has fighters based in the capital. Referring to President Goodluck Jonathan, he said:
“We are in your city.”
The bombing at the Nyanya bus terminal on the outskirts of Abuja was the first major attack in the capital in two years. Most of the insurgents’ violence in recent months had been concentrated in the group’s remote northeastern stronghold, where the military is waging an 11-month-old offensive.
Shekau has been declared a global terrorist by the United States, which has put a $7 million bounty (5.1 million euros) on his head.
Showing posts with label Nigeria's news blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nigeria's news blog. Show all posts
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Boko Haram: Jonathan summons governors & members of National Security Council
The State House issued a press release few hours ago.
Read below...
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has summoned members of the National Security Council to a meeting tomorrow at the Presidential Villa against the background of recent events and developments in the country.
The meeting which will be presided over by President Jonathan is scheduled for 1100 hours.
Those expected at the meeting include Vice President Namadi Sambo, the Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen Aliyu Gusau, the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the State Security Services and the Director-General of National Intelligence Agency.
The meeting of the National Security Council will be followed at 1300 Hours by an enlarged meeting on security developments in the country to which President Jonathan has invited State Governors.
President Jonathan, members of the National Security Council and the state governors will review the security situation in the country as well as ongoing national security measures and operations with a view to determining the best way forward.
President Jonathan reassures all Nigerians and persons living in the country that the Federal Government remains very mindful of its responsibility for the safety of their lives and properties in all parts of Nigeria and will continue to do everything possible to protect them from the scourge of terrorism and insecurity.
The President is particularly concerned about the plight of the young Senior Secondary School girls who were reportedly abducted from their school in Borno State on Monday night and has ordered the military and national security agencies to deploy maximum efforts towards rescuing all of the girls and returning them safely to their parents. He welcomes reports that the military and security agencies have already rescued some of the girls.
President Jonathan deeply regrets the pain, sorrow and anguish brought upon many Nigerian families in recent days as a consequence of recurring security challenges which the nation is contending with.
The President remains convinced that with the patriotic commitment and support of all Nigerians, the country will ultimately overcome its present challenges and move forward in unity and strength.
In this regard, President Jonathan will be pleased to see all politicians in the country exhibiting greater responsibility and patriotism by doing more to support his administration’s sincere efforts to enhance national security rather than trying to build political capital out of the pain and misery of their compatriots.
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
April 16, 2014
Read below...
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has summoned members of the National Security Council to a meeting tomorrow at the Presidential Villa against the background of recent events and developments in the country.
The meeting which will be presided over by President Jonathan is scheduled for 1100 hours.
Those expected at the meeting include Vice President Namadi Sambo, the Minister of Defence, Lt.-Gen Aliyu Gusau, the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the State Security Services and the Director-General of National Intelligence Agency.
The meeting of the National Security Council will be followed at 1300 Hours by an enlarged meeting on security developments in the country to which President Jonathan has invited State Governors.
President Jonathan, members of the National Security Council and the state governors will review the security situation in the country as well as ongoing national security measures and operations with a view to determining the best way forward.
President Jonathan reassures all Nigerians and persons living in the country that the Federal Government remains very mindful of its responsibility for the safety of their lives and properties in all parts of Nigeria and will continue to do everything possible to protect them from the scourge of terrorism and insecurity.
The President is particularly concerned about the plight of the young Senior Secondary School girls who were reportedly abducted from their school in Borno State on Monday night and has ordered the military and national security agencies to deploy maximum efforts towards rescuing all of the girls and returning them safely to their parents. He welcomes reports that the military and security agencies have already rescued some of the girls.
President Jonathan deeply regrets the pain, sorrow and anguish brought upon many Nigerian families in recent days as a consequence of recurring security challenges which the nation is contending with.
The President remains convinced that with the patriotic commitment and support of all Nigerians, the country will ultimately overcome its present challenges and move forward in unity and strength.
In this regard, President Jonathan will be pleased to see all politicians in the country exhibiting greater responsibility and patriotism by doing more to support his administration’s sincere efforts to enhance national security rather than trying to build political capital out of the pain and misery of their compatriots.
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
April 16, 2014
Friday, April 11, 2014
Football: Nigeria Moves Up In Fifa Ranking , Now Ranked 6th In Africa
The Super Eagles are now 45th in the latest FIFA rankings released by the world football body on Thursday. The team moved up two places despite losing six points in the log.
The rankings placed Nigeria as Africa’s sixth best just above Tunisia which dropped five places to 49th in the world courtesy of their 44 points loss.
Ahead of Nigeria in the Africa sub-group are Cote d’Ivoire (21st), Egypt (24th), Algeria (25th), Ghana (38th) and Cape Verde (42nd).
Cameroon (50th), Guinea (51st) and Mali (59th) complete Africa’s top 10 in the April rankings.
Nigeria’s Group F World Cup opponents are well above the African champions in the rankings. Argentina dropped three places to sixth, just as Bosnia-Herzegovia went down to 25th after losing four places. Iran are still the top rated team in Asia, moving up five places to 37th after gaining 23 points.
The top three in the rankings are Spain, Germany and Portugal. They are followed by four South American sides – Colombia, Uruguay and fierce rivals Argentina and Brazil. Just 12 points separate this quartet.
FIFA said only six matches were played over the past month and that no team broke into the top 50.
The six matches played brought the total number evaluated so far this year to 128.
The rankings placed Nigeria as Africa’s sixth best just above Tunisia which dropped five places to 49th in the world courtesy of their 44 points loss.
Ahead of Nigeria in the Africa sub-group are Cote d’Ivoire (21st), Egypt (24th), Algeria (25th), Ghana (38th) and Cape Verde (42nd).
Cameroon (50th), Guinea (51st) and Mali (59th) complete Africa’s top 10 in the April rankings.
Nigeria’s Group F World Cup opponents are well above the African champions in the rankings. Argentina dropped three places to sixth, just as Bosnia-Herzegovia went down to 25th after losing four places. Iran are still the top rated team in Asia, moving up five places to 37th after gaining 23 points.
The top three in the rankings are Spain, Germany and Portugal. They are followed by four South American sides – Colombia, Uruguay and fierce rivals Argentina and Brazil. Just 12 points separate this quartet.
FIFA said only six matches were played over the past month and that no team broke into the top 50.
The six matches played brought the total number evaluated so far this year to 128.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Keshi disagrees With NFF Over Eagles World Cup List.
There are strong indications that the Nigeria Football Federation and national team coach Stephen Keshi are headed on a collision course over the release of a provisional list for the pre-World Cup camp. The camp opens in London on May 26, two days before a friendly match against Scotland at Craven Cottage.
The technical Committee of the NFF which met in Abuja last week is demanding for the immediate release of a 35-man list from the coach. But Keshi is insisting he is not in a hurry to release the provisional list, adding that he was being put under undue pressure by the technical committee.
The coach was said to have accused the NFF of not passing through the right channel as he has only been reading on the pages of newspapers that he was to submit a 35-man provisional list.
“I am not in a hurry to submit the list. First, the report was that I was to submit 40 names. Now I am hearing it is 35 players. I will only submit a list of 30 players when I am ready,” he insisted yesterday
The federation was hoping to announce this provisional list of 35 players for the World Cup by the end of the week.
Relations between Keshi and the federation became frosty last week when Keshi was queried for attending a sponsor’s event in Lagos on the day he had an appointment with the technical committee.
He was also accused of embarking on an unapproved vacation in America.
Sources at the NFF disclosed last night that Keshi had also failed to reply to the issues raised in the query by the Chris Green-led committee.
After the May 28 friendly against Scotland, the Eagles will play two more friendly matches against USA and Greece in America before leaving for Brazil on June.11.
The technical Committee of the NFF which met in Abuja last week is demanding for the immediate release of a 35-man list from the coach. But Keshi is insisting he is not in a hurry to release the provisional list, adding that he was being put under undue pressure by the technical committee.
The coach was said to have accused the NFF of not passing through the right channel as he has only been reading on the pages of newspapers that he was to submit a 35-man provisional list.
“I am not in a hurry to submit the list. First, the report was that I was to submit 40 names. Now I am hearing it is 35 players. I will only submit a list of 30 players when I am ready,” he insisted yesterday
The federation was hoping to announce this provisional list of 35 players for the World Cup by the end of the week.
Relations between Keshi and the federation became frosty last week when Keshi was queried for attending a sponsor’s event in Lagos on the day he had an appointment with the technical committee.
He was also accused of embarking on an unapproved vacation in America.
Sources at the NFF disclosed last night that Keshi had also failed to reply to the issues raised in the query by the Chris Green-led committee.
After the May 28 friendly against Scotland, the Eagles will play two more friendly matches against USA and Greece in America before leaving for Brazil on June.11.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)