NFF OFFICE SEALED BY DSS

Reports reaching our news desk say operatives of the Department of State Service have sealed off the office of the Nigeria Football Federation.

AMINU MAIGARI

They reportedly stormed the office today, in four hilux vehicles.

The siege followed the earlier arrest of the embattled NFF Chairman, Alhaji Aminu Maigari.

The former NFF boss was picked up this morning by the DSS on arrival from Brazil. As at the time of this report, Maigari’s where about was unknown.

A High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau sacked the Maigari-led NFF on Thursday.

SOLDIERS GO BERSERK IN LAGOS, AS BRT BUS KNOCKS DOWN OFFICER

Soldiers today took over the busy Ikorodu Road in Lagos, after a BRT bus allegedly knocked down a soldier on a motorcycle. 

The soldiers took to the streets, setting ablaze BRT buses, beating up drivers and conductors, while other BRT bus operators parked their vehicles and ran for dear life.

The activities of the soldiers also caused huge traffic from Ikeja to Yaba.

Eyewitnesses said a soldier riding a power bike collided with a BRT bus along the Ikorodo-Lagos road, It is still not clear whether the soldier died on the spot.

Policemen at the scene appeared helpless as the soldiers destroy public properties, assault civilians, seize phones and beat up journalist covering their actions.

NIGERIAN MILITARY ARRESTS THREE MORE FEMALE TERRORISTS

The Defence Headquarters today, announced the arrest of three more female members of terrorist sect, Boko Haram.

A statement signed today by Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu on behalf of the Director of Defence Information, Chris Olukolade, said the women have been secretly recruiting ladies into the female wing of the terrorists group. The suspects, Hafsat Usman Bako, Zainab Idris and Aisha Abubakar were intercepted  while travelling to Madagali from where they were to transit to the forest to reunite with their cohorts. 

AISHA KABIRU

The statement adds that Hafsat’s link with the terrorists group had earlier been a subject of investigation in 2012, while security agents were searching for one Usman Bako, her husband.  An AK 47 rifle and 2 loaded magazines were discovered in Jimeta during a search.

The DHQ said the female suspects were luring ladies especially widows and young girls by enticing them with male suitors who are mainly members of their terror group for marriage. Before their arrest, they were on a mission to take additional briefing from the leadership of the terror group. They are making useful information.

OSUN EXPLOSION CAUSED BY DYNAMITES--POLICE COMMISSIONER

The inhabitants of Ile Ife in Osun state were in panic on Tuesday morning after an explosion went off in the More area of the town. Witnesses say an explosive device planted in a house went off. They said a police anti-bomb squad which arrived the area soon after the explosion defused other devices planted close by. No casualty or damaged property was reported.

The Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Maishanu, who visited the scene of the explosion, told newsmen that the blast was caused by dynamites planted by “mischievous persons.” He said the nobody was killed and injured by the explosion as the dynamites were planted in an isolated area. He also confirmed that the police anti-bomb unit defused other unexploded dynamites found at the site.

“it was a dynamite of a low calibre and it was placed in an area where it cannot hurt anyone or damage property. When first one exploded police bomb unit went to the site and the second one was found at the same location and it was detonated by our anti-bomb squad,” Mr. Maishanu said.

The Media aide to the Governor of Osun State, Semiu Okanlawon, told newsmen that the explosion happened close to the family house of the state Commissioner for Tourism, Shikiru Ayedun. It is not clear if the explosion is linked to the August 9 gubernatorial election in the state. The state has been relatively peaceful in the run-up to the election. But the government of the state has warned of plots to import violence into the state as the election draws near.  (OSUN DEFENDER)

NIGERIAN DOCTORS BEGIN NATIONWIDE STRIKE

Activities were at a standstill in most government hospitals in the FCT today following the commencement of strike action by the Nigerian Medical Association.

A visit to some hospitals in the FCT shows that patients who came for treatment were left unattended to, while some hospitals provided skeletal services to cater for severe cases.

Our Correspondent, who visited the hospital today, spoke to some patients who appealed to the federal government and the striking doctors to come to an agreement quickly.

Meanwhile, the Spokesman of the National Hospital Tayo Haastrup said arrangements have been put in place to attend to critical cases.

It will be recalled that the NMA yesterday (Monday) issued notice of the strike action following federal government’s refusal to meet its 24-point demand.