Tag Archives: Confirms

FG Confirms Discovery Of Crude Oil In Borno

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The federal government yesterday confirmed the discovery of crude oil in Borno State, North East Nigeria, thus raising the hope of the region joining the league of oil producing areas in the not-too-distant time.

The disclosure was made by the permanent secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Jamila Shua’ra, when she presented her welcome address at the presentation of the 2016 petroleum sector scorecard held at the auditorium of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PDF) in Abuja yesterday.

She brandished the discovery of crude oil in Borno State as one of the achievements of the ministry during the year, saying, “Our doggedness culminated in the discovery of oil in new frontiers – Lagos and Borno.”

Shua’ra listed other achievements of the ministry.

“Today, as a team, we have recorded commendable achievements in our sector:  the introduction of the PMS Price Modulation Matrix; the availability of PMS in all outlets; eradication of payment on fuel subsidies; located foreign direct investment to finance midstream oil and gas infrastructure; adopted exit strategies on Joint Venture Cash Call; robust engagement of host communities to reduce agitations; creation of more stable industrial relations,” she said.

Collaborating her statement, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo stated that the deregulation of the downstream sector, which led to the elimination of petroleum subsidy, saved the government a burden of N15.4 billion monthly.

The vice president, who was represented the attorney-general and minister of justice, Alhaji Abubakar Malami, stated that the oil and gas sector remain very critical to the stability and growth of the nation’s economy as it accounts for about 90 per cent of the country’s earnings, in addition to contributing substantially to the inflow of foreign exchange and growth of foreign reserves.

Prof. Osinbajo further disclosed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had recently approved new measures and strategies aimed at eliminating the burden of Joint Venture Cash Call arrears and easing future payments in the up-stream sector, stressing that the strategies are fully supported by the National Economic Council (NEC).

He noted that the measures will boost additional investments and raise daily production levels to about 2.8 million barrels per day (mbpd) in the long-run.

On his part, the minister of state for petroleum resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, revealed that one of the fallouts of the removal of petroleum subsidy was the decline of the nation’s daily consumption of the premium motor spirit (PMS), from the 50 million litre per day (mlpd) previously to the current figure 28mlpd.

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http://leadership.ng/news/cover-stories/564094/fg-confirms-discovery-of-crude-oil-in-borno

Army Confirms Boko Haram Attack On Another Borno Village

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The Nigerian Army, yesterday, confirmed a Boko Haram attack on Kwang and Boftari villages in Borno State, on Monday.

One member of the vigilante group in the area was said to have been shot during the attack while the terrorists fled with gunshot wounds.

Acting Director of Army/Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, who made this known in a statement, yesterday, said “suspected elements of Boko Haram terrorists, scavenging for food, attacked Kwang village and vigilantes from Dagu (which is about 4 kilometres from Kwang), responded and repelled the attack.”

Usman, who said soldiers have since been deployed to the area with clear orders to pursue and deal with the insurgents, disclosed another group attacked Boftari, which is about 15 kilometres from Chibok town.

“On receipt of the information, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, stationed in Forward Operation Base Chibok, mobilised to the area. The troops encountered Boko Haram’s ambush site shortly before Kuburmbula village. They quickly cleared the ambush and proceeded to Boftari.

“Unfortunately, the insurgents had set some houses on fire and fled. The troops put out the fire and are currently on the hunt for them.

“It is imperative to state that contrary to rumours flying around, no life was lost. Additionally, there is no presence of the insurgents in any of the villages, talk less of hoisting flags as alleged.

“The troops have continued to  maintain high level of vigilance,” said Usman.

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http://sunnewsonline.com/boko-haram-attacks-another-borno-village-army/

FG Confirms 2 Fresh Polio Cases In Borno

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The Minister of Health, Prof.Isaac Adewole, yesterday, confirmed an outbreak of wild polio virus, WPV, in Borno State. This is coming after Nigeria celebrated two years without a case of polio.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has directed the deployment of a national emergency response team, comprising government and partners to Borno State for immediate and robust polio vaccination campaign targeting vulnerable children to prevent the spread of the virus.

According to the minister, the outbreak affected two children from Gwoza and Jere Local Government areas of the state. He attributed the discovery and confirmation of the outbreak to the country’s strengthened surveillance due to improved accessibility made possible by the recent military action in liberating more communities in the North-Eastern part of the country.

The Minister said: “The detection of children paralyzed by polio shows that surveillance has increased with more access but it is a reminder that the country needs to remain vigilant and immunize all eligible children with oral polio vaccine until polio is completely eradicated worldwide.

“Our overriding priority right now is to rapidly boost immunity in the affected areas to ensure that no more children are affected by this terrible disease,” he added.

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http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/fg-confirms-2-fresh-polio-cases-borno/

 

Fashola Confirms N70bn Payment To FG Contractors

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The Minister of Power Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola has confirmed that about N70 billion has been paid to contractors out of the N102 billion released to his ministry.

He disclosed at the ongoing town hall meeting in Abuja, that following the payment, contractors were able to resume back to their construction sites.

According to him, there are over 200 on-going road projects valued at N2 trillion under supervision of the ministry. He added that the N19 billion initially released from the 2015 budget was grossly inadequate.

Fashola emphasized that work has resumed at Kano-Katsina road, Port-Harcourt-Enugu road, Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Loko-Oweto Bridge, and this has invariably led to economic improvement in the communities around those sites.

He said previous governments gave more attention to recurrent expenditure as against the capital expenditure, which according to him, worked negatively against the nation’s infrastructure and the economy.

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Fashola confirms N70bn payment to FG contractors

MEND Confirms Talks With FG

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The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has confirmed there are on-going peace talks between its representatives and the Federal Government.

MEND had set up a team of negotiators it called Aaron team 2 led by former minister Odein Ajumogbobia and other prominent Niger Delta leaders to discuss with the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to the Niger Delta crisis.

President Muhammadu Buhari had first disclosed the Federal Government participation in the peace talks during a farewell audience with the outgoing German Ambassador Mr Michael Zinner.

This disclosure was immediately denied by the spokesman of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) Mudoch Agbinibo that the group was not part of the talks. Also other militant groups had denounced the peace talks insisting that MEND cannot represent it in any peace talks since it( MEND) has already taken sides with the Federal Government.

However spokesman of MEND, Jomo Gbomo in a statement has indeed confirmed the talks noting that there are going talks being led by International Oil Companies (IOCs) and law enforcement agencies.

Gbomo who said the talks are still at the preliminary stage disclosed that the Federal Government has made it clear that it would not hold talks with criminals.

According to him the groups in the Niger Delta region which he referred to as internet based militant groups cannot be part of the talks as they are criminals.

The statement read in part “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) wishes to confirm that indeed it has been in preliminary talks with the Federal Government through oil companies and law-enforcement agencies as revealed by President Muhammadu

Buhari on Thursday, July 21, 2016.

These preliminary talks are the precursor to a wider dialogue between the Federal Government and the MEND Aaron 2 peace initiative which will seek to find solutions to the short, medium and long-term future of the Niger Delta region.

The Federal Government made it clear during our meetings that a negotiation with criminals is out of the question.

The Niger Delta Avengers, internet-based ‘militant’ groups such as Joint Revolutionary Council, Ultimate Warriors etc., an Ijaw opportunistic tribal assembly who were compromised to keep silent

during the six years of Goodluck Jonathan’s misrule and neglect, pirates, pipeline vandals, oil thieves, commercial kidnappers, waterway robbers, political thugs and miscreants all fall under this category”.

Credit: Sun

Army Confirms 25 Terrorists Dead In Kangarwa Attack

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The Nigerian Army said 25 bodies of Boko Haram terrorists had been recovered after Troops of 119 Task Force Battalion stationed in Kangarwa northern Born repelled an attack on Tuesday night.

This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by acting Army Spokesman, Col. Sani Usman.

According to the statement, the attack which started at about 6:30 p.m. was successfully repelled after about three hours of exchange of heavy gunfire that inflicted tremendous casualty on the terrorists.

The Nigerian Army said 25 bodies of Boko Haram terrorists had been recovered after Troops of 119 Task Force Battalion stationed in Kangarwa northern Born repelled an attack on Tuesday night.

This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by acting Army Spokesman, Col. Sani Usman.

According to the statement, the attack which started at about 6:30 p.m. was successfully repelled after about three hours of exchange of heavy gunfire that inflicted tremendous casualty on the terrorists.

Credit: Guardian

FG Confirms Six States Hit By ‘Tomato Ebola’

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The federal government on Tuesday confirmed the six states hit by a pest called the Tomato Leaf Miner or Tuta absoluta, commonly referred to as ‘Tomato Ebola.’

The states are Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Plateau and Lagos.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Audu Ogbeh, revealed that the pest responsible for the massive destruction of tomato in farmlands had currently invaded six states of the federation.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, he described as erroneous, claims that tomato processing factories had mopped-up tomato fruits in country.

He said the highly reproductive nature of the tomato pest coupled with favourable environment and lack of management knowledge for containment had resulted in its spread without resistance, leading to the destruction of tomato fruits in Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Plateau and Lagos.
Notwithstanding, he said the federal government had started consulting with states and experts to seeks measures to tackle the pest.”

He disclosed that the country spent N80 billion ($400 million) annually on importation of tomato paste, many of which highly substandard.

Credit: Thisday

Ese Remains In Police Custody As Father Confirms Pregnancy

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The father of Ese Oruru, the 14-year-old girl who was allegedly abducted, forcefully converted to Islam and married by Yinusa Dahiru, a Kano indigene, yesterday confirmed everyone’s worst fears that his teenage daughter had been impregnated possibly by her abductor.

Charles Oruru, in a brief conversation with newsmen, confirmed that his daughter was truly pregnant, but added that he had left the next course of action on her abduction to the government and law enforcement agencies.

He said however that his daughter was hale and hearty, though he expressed his profound sadness that the issue had become more complex with the pregnancy.

Both parents, Rose and Charles, who have become the cynosure of all eyes since the saga attained national prominence, had deserted their family home located in Opolo, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

It was learnt that they stayed away to stave off media interest in the issue that has dominated national discourse in the last one week.

A visit to the family house showed that the entire area occupied by the Orurus was under lock and key. Their neighbours said no member of the family had been seen since the break of dawn yesterday.
But reporters were eventually able to get through to Charles Oruru, whose phone number was switched off most of on Thursday.

“My daughter is hale and hearty. I have seen her and she’s very fine,” Mr Oruru said. When pressed further whether the rumour was true that his daughter was pregnant, he said: “That is it.”

Oruru, who is in his fifties, was obviously agitated by the questions and sought a quick end to the conversation, but not before he added that he had left the prosecution of the young man to the authorities.

Credit: Thisday

NEMA Confirms 1 Death In UNILAG Guest House Fire

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One person has been confirmed dead in a fire outbreak that gutted a section of the University of Lagos Guest House in the early hours of Thursday in Lagos.

The victim, said to be a guest who came for the ongoing 2014/2015 convocation of the institution, was said to have died of suffocation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the fire started around 2.00 a.m.

The victim, who accompanied a prominent traditional ruler to the convocation, was said to be lodging in room A12, where he suffocated to death due to impact of the fire.

The spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed the incident in a text message sent to the NAN.

 Farinloye quoted the Zonal Coordinator of NEMA for Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states, Alhaji Suleiman Yakubu, as saying that four rooms – A12, A13, A14 and A15 – were affected by the fire.

“The deceased will be flown to Maiduguri for burial today,’’ the text message read in part.

Effort to speak with officials of the university, about the incident yielded no result as everyone claimed to be busy with the convocation events and could not talk to the press.

Credit: NAN

Sierra Leone Confirms Second Ebola Case

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Sierra Leone confirmed a new case of Ebola on Wednesday, its second in less than a week, marking a further setback in efforts to end a two-year West African epidemic that has killed more than 11,300 people.

Health ministry spokesman, Sidi Yahyah Tunis, described the new patient as a 38-year-old woman, a relative who had helped care for the earlier victim Mariatu Jalloh.

Reuters reported that Jalloh died on January 12, and tested positive for Ebola posthumously.

Credit: Nation

Plateau State Confirms Fresh Cases Of Bird Flu

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The Plateau State Government on Friday announced a fresh outbreak of Avian Influenza, saying that the bird flu had so far affected six farms.

The announcement is contained in a statement signed by the state’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Doris Bitrus, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Jos.

According to him, the fresh cases of bird flu were reported to the Ministry of Health on January 8.

“Six farms have been confirmed positive of the disease; the farms host a total of 10,000 birds,” the statement said.

It said the government had taken proactive measures to contain and control the disease, so as to arrest its spread to other farms.

The statement advised poultry farmers and live bird marketers to step up bio-safety and hygienic measures within and around their farms and markets.

The government also advised members of the public to avoid the sale, slaughter and consumption of sick birds, adding that chicken products should be properly cooked before consumption.

It, however, advised Plateau residents to remain calm and report any disease suspected to be avian influenza to the control project office of the Veterinary Hospital, Jos.

Credit: NAN

Senate Confirms Babatunde Fowler As FIRS Chairman

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The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Babatunde Fowler as chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS.

Mr. Fowler was appointed acting chairman of the agency by President Muhammadu Buhari on August 20 to replace Samuel Odugbesan, a former coordinating director at the agency, who was appointed to the position by former President Goodluck Jonathan in March this year.

The new FIRS boss was the executive chairman of the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue from 2005 to 2014.

He had his higher education in the United States where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Business Administration degree from the California State University.

Before joining the service of the Lagos State Government, Mr. Fowler worked in the banking sector for about 20 years with long stints at Credit Lyonnais Nigeria Limited and Chartered Bank.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Kogi: INEC Confirms Bello As APC’s Candidate

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said Alhaji Yahaya Bello is the APC governorship candidate for Saturday’s supplementary election.

He replaces the late Abubakar Audu, who died before the conclusion of the election process.

The INEC’s Deputy Director, Publicity, Mr Nick Dazang said: “They have sent the name of their replacement candidate, the runner-up in their primaries, that is Yahaya Bello, to the commission”.

The INEC spokesman assured the people of Kogi State that the commission is fully prepared to conduct both the Kogi Supplementary and Bayelsa governorship elections. Both polls are slated for Saturday,

According to him: “Commission is committed to conduct the two elections, that is why in respect of Kogi, in spite of what happened, we came out with public notice which invites the APC to submit its replacement candidate for the election”.

Credit: Nation

Police Confirms Arrest Of Suspects Who Trailed Jonathan’s Convoy

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The Bayelsa State Police Command yesterday confirmed the arrest of five members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) over alleged trailing of the convoy of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the state.

But the command said the suspects were not ex militants as reported by a section of the media but persons who mistakenly followed the convoy of the former President thinking it was that of their principal.

Jonathan was alleged to have been trailed by some suspected militants allegedly working for the All Progressive Congress in the state, according to online report.

The men, who were alleged to have intercepted and drove into a short motorcade conveying the former President from the Julius Berger bridge area of the state capital, trailed and chased the motorcade to the entrance of the private residence of the former President at the Kpansia suburb of Yenagoa, before they were overpowered and arrested by a combined team of security operatives attached to the former President.

The Bayelsa police command spokesman, Asimin Butswat said the suspects were not ex militants as rumoured but persons who mistakenly followed the former President convoy thinking it was that of their principal.

Credit: Vanguard

Senate Confirms Nomination Of Ahmed Kuru As AMCON MD

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The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Ahmed Lawan Kuru as Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

Recall that Kuru was appointed by President Muhammadu was appointed to replace Mustafa Chike-Obi after Buhari dissolved the executive team of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON)

Kuru is formerly the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the defunct Enterprise Bank Limited. He started his banking career with the old Habib Bank in 1985 and rose through the ranks to become an Executive Director of Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank) in 2005.

Credit: Vanguard

Minister Of Youth & Sports Confirms Payment Of N5,000 To Unemployed Nigerians Begins 2016

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The federal government has assured that it would commence payment of N5,000 promised unemployed Nigerian youth during the electioneering campaign, from 2016 .

The minister of youth and sports, Solomon Dalong, made the commitment on Wednesday when he paid a condolence visit on the national chairman of the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, over the death of the party’s governorship candidate in the recently held inconclusive election in Kogi state, Abubakar Audu.

Mr. Dalong, who spoke to journalists during the visit , said the APC government was fully committed to fulfilling all campaign promises made before the last elections.

He said the payment of the promised N5 , 000 can only begin after it had been included in the budget.

“I would want the youth to understand that every promise must be backed up by budgetary provision and our promise to pay N5000 is not contained in the 2015 budget. So, definitely, it is going to begin in 2016 as we have made budgetary allocations for that,” he said.

“We are committed to the campaign promises of creating jobs, providing wealth and combat poverty. We have embedded in our manifesto things that we are translating to reality .”

Credit: PremiumTimes

Nigerian Army Confirms Missing Soldiers Report, Says Report Is Faulty

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Premium Times reported that at least 105 soldiers including their commanding officer were feared missing after the attack on Wednesday.

The spokesperson for the Nigeria Army, Sani Usman, is said to have called a PremiumTimes reporter to confirm the incident.

“I want to confirm the incidence at Gudunbali but the details you provided were not correct, and Baga has never been attacked,” Mr. Usman said on telephone.

“The unit attacked is within the area of responsibility of the MNJTF and troops are now organizing to counter the attack,” he said.

He said the Theatre Command of the 7 Division would provide the details of the attack during a press conference arranged later today in Maiduguri.

Credit: PremiumTimes

Blac Chyna Confirms Relationship With Future With This…

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Blac Chyna got the Internet buzzing  when she posted what appears to be a fresh, new tattoo on her hand.

Instead of a powerful symbol or famous expression, however, the model decided to choose one special word that happens to be the name of a famous rapper. Yes, she may have inked “future” onto her body for all to see.

“Thought it was a drought ,” she wrote on Instagram. And for those not up to date on Future’s rap career, the words make up the title of one of his singles from the album Dirty Sprite 2.

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Credit: E!

Champagne Confirms FIFA Presidency Bid

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Former French diplomat Jerome Champagne on Friday officially entered the running to succeed Sepp Blatter as president of football’s scandal-hit governing body FIFA.

“I have submitted my candidacy and have the support of five member states (of FIFA),” the 57-year-old Champagne told AFP.

The former deputy general secretary of FIFA is the fourth official candidate for the election, which is scheduled to take place on February 26.

His confirmed rivals are UEFA chief Michel Platini, Prince Ali bin al Hussein of Jordan and former Trinidad and Tobago captain David Nahkid, although others are known to be mulling a bid ahead of Monday’s deadline.

The election to replace Blatter, who has been FIFA president since 1998 and who is standing down, comes at a time of crisis within world football’s governing body.

Credit: Guardian

NEMA Confirms 14 Dead In Damaturu Suicide Attack

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At least 14 people were killed in three separate suicide bomb attacks in Damaturu, northeast Nigeria, on Wednesday, the country’s National Emergency Management Agency said.

The blasts came after Boko Haram militants this week claimed to have carried out three suicide attacks on the outskirts of the capital, Abuja, last Friday that left 18 dead and 41 injured.

Suspicion will likely fall on the Islamist rebels, who have repeatedly attacked Damaturu during their bloody, six-year insurgency.

Last month, a girl thought to be aged 12 killed six and injured 47 when the explosives she was carrying went off outside a bus station in the Yobe state capital.

NEMA coordinator for Yobe state Bashir Idris Garga said the first blast happened at a small food store at a housing estate, killing four.

Another near a mosque killed one, while nine, including a family, lost their lives when another bomber exploded at a Fulani settlement on the outskirts of the city.

“Total injured 10, seven partially injured and three critically injured,” Garga said in a text message.

Boko Haram has reverted to attacking “soft” civilian targets after last year’s land grab that saw it seize towns and villages across Yobe and neighbouring Borno and Adamawa states.

Read More: ngrguardiannews

Buhari Confirms Plan To Reduce Ministries

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As part of measures to reduce redundancy in public service, President Muhammadu Buhari is working on reducing the number of federal ministries which currently stands at about 28. He intends to merge those with similar functions.

Also, state-owned enterprises dubiously allocated to friends or relations under the guise of privatization are to be reviewed and reclaimed by the Federal Government while those that went through transparent and credible processes are to be retained by their investors.

However, to abide by the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution that each state shall be represented by a minister at the federal cabinet, the President will still recommend 36 ministerial nominees to the Nigerian Senate for consideration.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo revealed these plans of the Buhari-government in a chat with media organizations in Abuja at the weekend.

Read More: ngrguardiannews

Family Confirms Son Joining ISIS

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A 25 year-old Muslim from Ghana has traveled to an Islamic State (IS) training camp, becoming the first known recruit from the West African nation to join the militant group, his family said on Tuesday.

Nazir Alema, a university graduate from Accra, had initially told his parents he was traveling to Prestea, a mining town in the country’s west.

“Two weeks later on Aug. 16, we got a message on social media from him saying he was at a training ground to join the IS group in an unknown country,” his brother, Kabiru Alema, said.

Read More: Leadership

Nigeria Police Confirms Kashamu Was Arrested, Tried In UK

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The Police, on Thursday, said the British High Commission in Nigeria confirmed that Buruji Kashamu (Senator-elect), was arrested and tried in a United Kingdom criminal court.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, in Abuja. It said there was enquiry concerning the status of Kashamu’s legal battles in the United Kingdom and United States. “The police, thereafter, sought relevant clarifications from the British High Commission.
“The commission confirmed that Kashamu was indeed arrested and tried in the United Kingdom criminal court. But the court was not satisfied that Kashamu had a case to answer.’’
The statement stressed that the commission’s clarification did not derogate from extradition request by United States’ relevant departments, and agencies of government in Nigeria”, the statement said.

The statement was also issued in connection to the extradition battles of Kashamu with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

Credit: NAN