The tribe where big is definitely beautiful: Ethiopian men compete to be the fattest in the village by drinking a gruesome mixture of blood and milk while living in isolation for SIX months

Slim might be in elsewhere but for Ethiopia's Bodi or Me'en people, bigger is always better. The tribe, which lives in a remote corner of Ethiopia's Omo Valley, is home to an unusual ritual which sees young men gorge on cow's blood and milk in a bid to be crowned the fattest man.
Six months after starting the regime, the men emerge to show off their newly engorged physiques and for a winner to be chosen. The champion fat man is then feted as a hero for the rest of his life.
Now the little known rite is the subject of incredible photos taken by French shutterbug Eric Lafforgue - who spent time with the Bodi while travelling through south-western Ethiopia during the run up to the Bodi New Year or Ka'el ceremony.

Regime: Each competitor is nominated by his family who then spend the next six months helping him to fatten up on a diet of cow's blood and milk

Sadly, the Ka'el ritual and the Bodi's traditional way of life is under threat from the Ethiopian government who plan to resettle 300,000 people from all over the country on their lands.
For now, the tribe continue as they always have, and still celebrate Ka'el in traditional style each June.

The contest begins six months before the ceremony. Every family is allowed to present an unmarried man for the challenge, who, after being chosen, retires to his hut and must not move or have sex for the duration.
Food comes in the form of a cow's blood and milk mixture, served regularly to the men by women from the village. 'The cows are sacred to the Bodi tribe so they are not killed,' explains Lafforgue. 'The blood is taken by making a hole in a vein with a spear or an axe, and after that, they close it with clay.'
Because of the scorching temperatures, the men have to drink the two-litre bowl of blood and milk quickly before it coagulates but as Lafforgue reveals, not everyone can handle drinking so much at speed.
'The fat men drink milk and blood all day long,' he says. 'The first bowl of blood is drunk at sunrise. The place is invaded by flies. The man must drink it quickly before it coagulates but some cannot drink everything and vomit it.'
On the day itself, the men cover their bodies with clay and ashes before emerging from their huts for the walk to the spot where the ceremony will take place.

On the way: Once the men are ready to go, they walk to the sacred tree where the ceremony takes place - a challenge for them because of their weight

Challenging: For many of the fat men, the walking proves exhausting. Luckily, the women (left) and Lafforgue himself (right) help them out

Relief: During the walk and the ceremony that follows, the Bodi women are on hand to help out the fat men with drinks of water and fortifying alcohol

Thanks to the weight gain, many of them find covering the short distance tougher than the weeks spent fattening up. 'Some fat men are so big that they cannot walk anymore,' explains Lafforgue.

'One asked me if he could use my car to go to the ceremony area. Once in the car, he started to drink milk and blood again because he said he wanted to keep trying to be the fattest until the very last moment.'

The ceremony itself involves spending hours walking in a circle around a sacred tree, watched by the other men and helped by the women who ply them with alcohol and wipe away the sweat.

Once the fattest man has been chosen, the ceremony ends with the slaughter of a cow using a huge sacred stone. Village elders will then inspect the stomach and the blood to see whether the future will be a bright one or not.

After the ceremony, the men's lives return to normal and most lose their enormous bellies after a few weeks of eating sparingly. But a few weeks later, the next generation of competitively fat Bodi men will be chosen and the cycle will begin again.

'Becoming a fat man is the dream of every Bodi kid,' says Lafforgue. 'A few weeks [after the ceremony] he will recover a normal stomach but he will remain a hero for life.'

dailymail.co.uk

Parents besiege school as 22 students fell unconscious in class

Juliana Francis
At least 22 students of the Ogba Junior Grammar School, Lagos State, are battling to stay alive in hospitals. The students were rushed to nearest hospitals today after 22 of them suddenly fell unconscious during school hours.
It was gathered that there was a chemical producing company in a shopping complex, adjacent the school. Apparently, this chemical substance stench enveloped the entire school.

Worried parents, guardians and relatives had besieged the school, frantically searching and calling for their kids and wards.

It was also learned that as the affected students collapsed, the teachers and other students took to their heels.

 The fleeing teachers and students were said to have used clothes to cover their nostrils so as not to be affected by the putrid smell.
Eye witnesses however insisted that not all the teachers bolted. Those who stayed behind were said to have rushed four of the pupils to Blue Cross Hospital, Ijaiye Road, while others were taken to Lagos State General hospital.

 Another eyewitness explained that the incident happened at about 1: pm.

According to the eye witness, he was going inside the school when he saw some teachers and students running away from the school premises, shouting that some students had lost consciousness.

He added: "I can’t say the exact number of students affected, but they were over 20. A few minutes later, emergency officials came around to attend to the victims."
He said rescue officials went round the school premises in a bid to identify where the smell emanated from.
Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Razaq Fadipe, said it was discovered that a laboratory located in a shopping complex was emitting the substance.
He said: "On getting to the school, 22 students were unconscious. LASAMBUS was able to revive most of them and their parents took them home.  Four were not alright and had been taken to Blue Cross Hospital. We were able to trace the odour to the complex which shares a fence with the school.
"We spotted the laboratory where the smell was coming from and the place has been cordoned off. Investigations are still on."
When asked why it was only those in the school that were affected by the chemical, Fadipe said it was probably because the lab was facing the school directly.
The matter had been reported to the police while the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency had taken up the case.
An official of LASEPA, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “We will revisit the laboratory on Friday. If it is discovered that the laboratory was being run illegally, then those running the place will be prosecuted. However, it is too soon to jump into conclusions, we will inform the public of our findings.”
Among the students rushed to Blue Cross Hospital, four had been transferred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

Teenage Scammer, Accomplice Remanded for $40m Scam

Obi

Tobechukwu

Two fraudsters Tobechukwu Igbokwe (Alias David Prince)and his accomplice Ifeanyi Obi who are alleged to have duped an America of $40million are to remain in prison until December 3, 2013 Justice Lawal Akapo of the Lagos State High, Ikeja on Monday October 28, 2013 remanded the duo in prison custody after they were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a 12- count charge bordering on forgery,  conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences contrary to section 8(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No 14 of 2006.

Specifically, Igbokwe, 19 year-old secondary school leaver, was alleged to have severally duped his victims, many of them foreigners of huge amount of money through the internet under fraudulent guises. He allegedly worked in concert with Obi to dupe an American, Micheal Silva of $40 million in an inheritance scam. Silva was made to believe that Igbokwe and his accomplice had a huge inheritance which they wanted to move to a foreign account for safe-keeping.

The victim was asked to send money to “process” the transfer and in the process, he wired $40m in several instalments  through  Western Union Transfer to Igbokwe and Obi.

 Igbokwe also confessed that he had duped other foreigners among them a Tommy Bedwell- who lost $6,000 to him  and Richard Hunt-$15,000.
One of the charges against Igbokwe and Obi reads: “Tobechukwu Igbokwe (alias David Prince) (alias John Emma) sometimes in the month of October 2011 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division with intent to defraud obtained $800 (Eight Hundreds Dollars),$700(Seven Hundred Dollars), $200(Two Hundred Dollars)  $400(Four Hundred Dollars), $200(Two Hundred Dollars), $300(Three Hundred Dollars), $500(Five Hundred Dollars), $500(Five Hundered Dollars) $500(Five Hundred Dollars) $200(Two Hundred Dollars);  totalling $5,500 (Five Thousand Five Hundred Dollars) which sum you obtained separately from Michael Silva of the United States of America under false pretence that the money represent part payment for processing inheritance funds due to him as a beneficiary of the fund and which pretence you knew was false”.

When the charges were read to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty.
EFCC counsel, Fadeke Giwa prayed the court for a trial date and  to remanded the accused persons in prison custody.
However, counsel to the first defendant, D. A Omougbai  asked for a short date to file his bail application. Also, counsel to the second defendant, D. A Eimuejel  prayed  the court to accept the bail application he filed on behalf of his client.
Justice Akapo, however, adjourned the matter till December 3, 2013 and ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Lagos.

Currency Counterfeiting: Fake Bank Director To Remain In Prison

Arinze

Princewell Arinze Eze (a. k. a. Aboki J. Brown), a fake Group Assistant Director of Operations of the Abidjan , Cote D’Ivoire-based African Development Bank, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a 15-count charge bordering on forgery and obtaining money under false pretence is to remain in Ikoyi prison till November 6, 2013.

Justice Saliu Seidu had on Friday October 25, 2013 remanded Eze in Prison custody following his arraignment by the EFCC. But when the matter was mentioned today, the Judge adjourned the matter to November 6 for consideration of the bail application of the accused person.

One of the charges against the accused reads, “that you Princewell Arinze Eze, (a.k.a. Aboki J. Brown), on or about the 19^th day of July 2013 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of Federal High Court had in your possession without lawful authority, 15 (Fifteen) pieces of counterfeit United State Dollars denomination Number DE88222205A, knowing them to be counterfeit and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 5(2)(b) and punishable under section 5(2) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provision) Act, Cap C35, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004”.

The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charges.

EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo informed the court that the prosecution was ready for trial and had brought its witnesses to court.

But defense counsel, C. J  Jiekeonna said he had filed a bail application and asked the court to admit his client to bail. 

The self-styled ADB Director is alleged to be a serial fraudster who had defrauded many bureaux de change operators in the guise of being a bank director. Also, 76 pieces of fake United States $100 bills were found in his possession. Upon his arrest, ten different handsets with 13 expired sim cards were also found on him.

No underground cells in Nigerian prisons–Fatinikun

Juliana Francis
The Nigerian Prisons Service has stated that it has 811 juveniles in Borstal institutions and definitely has no underground cells in any of its facilities as speculated and feared by many Nigerians.
Spokesman for the Prisons service, Mr. Ope Fatinikun stated while addressing and correcting some erroneous impressions people have about the Nigerian Prisons, including allegations that some of the prisons in Nigeria have underground cells.
He said: “On the issue of underground cells, no Prison in Nigeria has an underground cell. Furthermore, the issue of children and minors in the Prisons have been over flogged by the Press. The breakdowns of these juveniles are as follows:  , BOSTAL Training Institution, Kaduna -402, BOSTAL Training Institution, Ilorin-224, , BOSTAL Training Institution, Abeokuta -185. This makes it all 811.”
According to him, all inmates in the Prisons were sent there by courts of competent jurisdiction and released by the same.
The Nigerian Prisons Service by its regulation does not hold persons below the age of 18 years and when inmates are suspected to be underage, steps are usually taken to address it, said Fatinikun.
“Pregnant female inmates sent to the Prisons by the courts or who have children that are below the ages of 18months are accepted in the prisons. The pregnant female inmates are allowed to have their babies kept with them until they are 18months,” Fatinikun explained. “Cap 366 Laws of Federation, 1990 allows for this. After age 18months, these babies are handed over to the relatives of the female inmates or the social welfare personnel.  At present, there are 1,114 female inmates in Prisons across the country. Convicted female inmates are about 241, those awaiting trial are 840, condemned are 25 and Lifers are 8.
“There are two separate female Prisons in Nigeria-female Prison kirikiri Lagos and female Prison Ondo. Others are Prisons within Prisons where female inmates are kept. There are about 2,016 medical and health personnel in the Nigerian Prisons service. The breakdown are as follows medical doctors-73, Specialist, doctors-15, nurses-658, Public health workers-477, Psychologists- 62, Lab Scientists-46, Catering- 98, Welfare-496, and Sports-56.
“It should be noted that, the Controller General of Prisons, Mr Zakari Ohinoyi Ibrahim, upon assumption of office armed himself with a three point agenda of security, training and welfare of Inmates and staff. He has thus far embarked on construction and development of new Prisons across the country. Instances abound in Yenagoa, in collaboration with Bayelsa State Government, Kaduna Borstal Institution Clinic, Installation of solar lighting System in Prisons, Construction of additional cell blocks in Kano central Prison, Aba Prison, Nsukka Prison, Koton-Karfe and Otukpo Prisons, Lafia Prison and renovation of many Prisons across the country.
“There is a the construction of 15 bed capacity hospital in Port Harcourt Prison, provision of  borehole in various Prisons and rehabilitation of Prisons across the country just to mention but a few.  There are more than 200 registered inmates for Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). NOUN has centres in Lagos, Enugu, Port Harcourt and Akwa Ibom Prisons.”
Fatinikun noted that this year alone, 69 students of Kaduna Borstal Institution sat for UTME (JAMB) Examinations, while 105 Inmates enrolled for Nov/Dec NECO/WEAC Examinations. He further revealed that 132 sat for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Exams.
The Service recorded tremendous successes in this field of endeavour. 790 inmates were resettled with tools under inmates training and resettlement program. Over 1,000 inmates are on vocational skills acquisition program and 245 inmates sat and passed trade tests in different vocations.
Fatinikun added: “The Controller General of Prisons, while appreciating the efforts of the Media in trying to educate the public on its activities, would however request that efforts should be made to cross-check facts from the Service before Publications, in order not to mislead the good members of the public.”

Security guard beat delegate to death at medical conference after she complained about how many times he'd checked her security pass

Clive Carter was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for killing the tiny Thai delegate

A security guard who beat a delegate at a health conference to death with a fire extinguisher has been jailed for a minimum of 20 years.

Clive Carter repeatedly smashed Khanokporn Satjawat over the head with the appliance in a rage after she complained about him repeatedly checking her security pass.
The pharmaceutical manager’s body was found on November 12 last year at an HIV medical conference in Glasgow’s Clyde Auditorium, part of the SECC complex.
Every bone on the left side of her face and neck was broken and her skull had been shattered into pieces.
Carter, a father of three, denied murder, claiming he had no memory of the incident and that he had a borderline personality disorder which meant he could not control his actions.
But a jury of eight men and seven women took just over three hours to find him guilty at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday after a trial.
Sentencing the killer to life imprisonment, with a minimum tariff of 20 years, judge Lord Matthews said: ‘Khanokporn Satjawat was a hard-working, well-educated and dedicated lady who came to this country to participate in a conference whose purpose was the alleviation of suffering and the saving of lives.
‘It is cruelly ironic that in the course of such an event that the life of that fragile lady should be taken in such a brutal fashion with an instrument whose primary purpose is also the saving of life and the hands of a man to whom she should have been able to look for assistance.’

Carter had admitted killing the Miss Satjawat but denied murder. A jury found him guilty of the crime after a trial at the High Court in Glasgow

Carter, 35, is said to have been obsessed with fire extinguishers and had an image of one on his computer. Only eight days before the murder he had terrified another young woman by knocking on her hotel room door with an extinguisher, claiming he had come to put out a fire.
The court heard he snapped after Miss Satjawat questioned him over repeatedly being asked to show her conference ID pass. He picked up a fire extinguisher, followed her into the ladies’ toilets and bludgeoned her to death.
The 6ft 5in security guard admitted killing the tiny Thai delegate, who weighed only six and a half stone, but claimed he had no memory of the incident.

Carter, 35, is said to have been obsessed with fire extinguishers and had an image of one on his computer

He earlier told the trial the words ‘die, just die’ were in his head as he argued with Miss Satjawat. But after attacking her in the toilets, he went into the staff room and calmly ate the sandwiches he had for his lunch.
His victim’s body was discovered lying in a pool of blood by two French doctors who saw Carter leaving the ladies’ toilets holding the fire extinguisher.
However, he tried to cover up his brutal crime by washing blood off his weapon, hiding his blood-stained blazer and telling police he had seen a mystery Asian man carrying an extinguisher.
The jury heard the security guard had significant anger management issues and had been sent for counselling, but left after two sessions when he became enraged by the counsellor.
He has a hair-trigger temper with women and was verbally and physically abusive to his 33-year-old wife Paula, whom he attacked and throttled, the court heard.
His victim, Miss Satjawat, had planned to be in Glasgow for the HIV drug therapy conference over five days and was booked into the city’s Marriott Hotel. She had written on Facebook about how excited she was to visit Scotland, and her sister gave a statement on her family’s loss to the court.
Carter was found guilty of murder and breach of the peace, after terrifying another young woman on November 4 last year. Stephanie O’Brien, 24, from Cumbria, was staying with three friends at the Holiday Inn Express in Stockwell Street, Glasgow, where Carter also worked as a security guard.
He knocked on her door with a fire extinguisher, claiming there had been a report of a fire, but she managed to close and lock the  door on him.
Lord Matthews told Carter: ‘You are plainly, on the evidence, a man who is disturbed. However, you are deeply disturbing, as the evidence in this trial has amply demonstrated, including the evidence as to the events at the Holiday Inn Express.
‘One is left to wonder what the outcome might have been had Stephanie O’Brien not had the presence of mind to extricate herself from the hotel room before the situation escalated.’
After the killer was led away to start his sentence, the judge told the jury: ‘Miss Satjawat was a completely innocent individual who came here to enjoy a conference and her body went back to her sister.’
Detective Superintendent John McDonald, of Police Scotland, said last night: ‘This was a particularly brutal and senseless attack which claimed the life of an innocent woman and caused fear and alarm to those attending the conference at the SECC last November.
‘We sincerely hope that this verdict will bring some comfort to the relatives of Miss Satjawat.’
 DAILYMAIL.CO.UK

SHOCK AS RIFLE TOUTING POLICEMAN STORMS STATION, TRIES TO SNATCH OKADA

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a policeman for forcefully entering a police station and attempting to seize a motorcycle from the station.

The policeman, Boyi Sambo, who is attached to unit 39 in Ibadan, allegedly stormed the Eleyeile Police Station with a rifle which had 29 rounds of live ammunition and attacked Quadri Babatunde, a vehicle inspection officer at the unit after his demand for the motorcycle was turned down.

The incident, which happened on October 23, resulted in a free-for-all as Sambo threatened to attack more policemen at the station.

He was alleged to have shot his rifle into the air while two accomplices, that had yet to be identified, forcefully took the motorcycle away from the police custody.

Sambo, however, failed in his attempt to escape from the scene as he was overpowered by the policemen on duty and detained.

His rifle was said to have been seized while he had been detained while investigation is ongoing.

Confirming the arrest, acting Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Ignatius Inyang, said Sambo’s action was unacceptable and that he was being investigated over the incident.

PUNCH

Lagos prison escapee steals 20 cars

The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended a 32-year-old convict, Kingsley Chibuzor, for snatching over 20 cars between 2011 and 2013.

Chibuzor was said to have escaped few months into his sentence from the Kirikiri Medium Prison in 2011, where he was serving a term for malicious damage.

After his escape, the suspect was said to have specialised in snatching cars in Lagos, Anambra and Ebonyi states but met his waterloo when he was arrested by the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Lagos.

He was arrested alongside two members of his gang; Ozoemena Enebeli and Prince Nwafor.

Chibuzor said, “I was arrested and sent to prison for malicious damage. My prison sentence was supposed to be for three years but I spent only some months there. One day, around 4am, I told a prison official to help me get kerosene and he left the door to our prison open.

“I was able to sneak into a particular area of the building and jumped over the fence. The area was dark and nobody saw me. From there, I trekked to Ojo Barracks to visit my mother but when she asked how I left prison, I did not answer her.”

The father of four said he relocated to Imo State for about six months so as to evade prison officials and policemen, who were on his trail.

 He however said he returned to Lagos soon after because he could not survive in the village.

He said, “I became a commercial bus driver and every day, I delivered N5,000 to my boss while I made about N1,500. Sometimes, I also operated heavy duty equipment at my free time and I was paid for it.

“The money was not enough to sustain my family. I met Ozo (Enebeli) at a beer parlour in Mile 2 on a particular day. We became close friends because we spoke the same language and we decided to become armed robbers. I ‘organised’ N40,000 and bought two guns from Benin Republic.

“Our first operation was at Surulere in Lagos. A man was about to enter into his compound and we snatched his Toyota Camry 2000 model from him and we sold it for N200, 000.”

Chibuzor told PUNCH Metro that he never killed any of his victims but only snatched their cars from them after which he would sell them cheap.

He said he continued to work as a bus driver but only robbed whenever he was broke.

“We snatched a Toyota Highlander jeep as the owner was returning from a beer parlour in Asaba.  We sold it at N400,000 even though its value was over N1m. We snatched a Toyota Camry in Onistha, Anambra, and a RAV 4 jeep at the Igando area of Lagos. We sold the RAV 4 for N150,000.

“While transporting the Highlander to one of our associates in Ebonyi, we saw a Toyota FJ Cruiser and we snatched the vehicle from its owner. The vehicle is worth over N3m but we sold it for N500,000,” Chibuzor recalled.

The suspect was however arrested at the Igando area of Lagos while he was attempting to snatch another vehicle and meet with a buyer.

Through his arrest, the police were able to apprehend Enebeli, who was in Ghana.

Enebeli, in his defence, said he had given up robbery and had relocated to Ghana but was lured back to the country for one more robbery operation.

He said, “I am into computer graphics but I lost my job in 2010; that was when I met with Chibuzor. We carried out many robbery operations but we never killed anyone. We never even kidnapped.

“One day in Igando, a man left the key in his ignition and wanted to open the gate to his house when Chibuzor and I quickly jumped in and drove off. It was later that we realised that the man’s girlfriend was even in the vehicle.

“But we did not attack her; we let her go because we are not bad boys. I had even given up robbery and had settled in Ghana where I was living well and was even sending money to my wife and children. I was only tempted to come for one more operation.”

The Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the telephone, adding that the matter would soon be charged to court.

TRIBUNE

ACP didn’t fondle lady’s breast –Police

The controversial picture.

The Nigeria Police has described the photograph, which showed a senior police officer in the act of fondling the breast of an unknown lady, as fake. It said the picture, which went viral on the Internet, was deliberately fabricated with the aid of Adobe Photoshop technology to mislead the public.

The alleged amorous scene, the police authorities claimed, did not take place and the officer had nothing to do with the woman.

The police said it arrived at this conclusion after interrogating the policeman, who was seen in the type of uniform worn by officers of the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police.

On the official Facebook page of the police, the affected police officer was quoted as saying, “I don’t know this lady. I never took the picture with her.”

However, the authorities did not name the police officer nor give the details of the command where he is serving.

The police said that though it does not forbid its rank and file to pose with members of the public for photographs, it would not tolerate any display of affection for the opposite sex in full public glare.

“An image showing one of our officers in a compromising position with a lady has gone viral. Please check the hands in the so-called picture that is in circulation and you will agree that they were photo-shopped.

“Other citizens of this country are encouraged to pose for snapshots with our uniformed officers if they so desire, just as it is done worldwide. What we discourage is public display of affection by our uniformed officers,” it said.

After it appeared online, the controversial photograph provoked widespread condemnation from many Nigerians who have described the development as an act of indiscipline.

Claiming to be policemen, some people wrote on the police Facebook page that the phot0graph was the handiwork of mischief makers, who were clearly determined to drag the name of the security agency in mud.

They said that no uniformed officer of the rank of ACP would  be so careless as to pose for a photograph in such a compromising position with a lady.

One Oluwasegun Samuel-Alalade commented on the wall of the Facebook page. “I know it is not real. Even a fresh recruit undergoing training at the Police College will not do such a thing, not to mention a top ranking officer. The Nigeria Police Force should kindly disregard the photograph, “ he wrote.

Also Kabiesy Ojeabulu wrote, “Photoshop or no Photoshop, all I have to say is that the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, should always investigate issues before taking actions. It appears that a large section of the general public does not like the police. So they fabricate anything to tarnish our image. God help us all.”

Another policeman, Adegbola Olafiyin, stated, “I don’t know the offence we committed to deserve this from the public. Imagine here in the state where I am serving, commercial motorcycle riders will not give you a ride despite the fact that you have your money. This whole thing amounts to blackmail.”

But some Nigerians have disagreed with the police authorities on the status of the controversial photograph. They insist that it appears more real than fabricated.

On cknnigeria.com, one Lanre Bewaji wrote: “There are many angles to this picture. It is obvious the lady took the picture and the officer consented to it. No matter how awkward the scenario looks, if the lady was his wife or fiancée, would there be an issue? Until we know the real circumstances behind this picture, the matter is neither here nor there!”

In a tweet to the police, Hyke Ekeanyanwu expressed doubt that the photograph was faked. He said, “I may agree that the hand holding the breast was photo-shopped, but I will not agree that the hand around his (police officer’s) neck does not belong to the lady.”

Wale Bolanle, also on Facebook, queried,“What do you want us to believe? What else do you want him to say? He must surely deny. Is he not a human being?”

Meanwhile, the police authorities may have drawn the battle line with commercial banks in the country over the non-payment of the salaries of policemen.

The Force Headquarters wrote on its Facebook and Twitter handle on Wednesday that then Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, was “angry” with the banks over the matter.

 “IGP MD Abubakar, is angry with bankers over delay in payment of Police salaries,” the message read.

Lamenting the situation, one Samuel Dogo, wrote, “The police authorities have allowed the commercial banks to deal with us the way they want because there is no proper monitoring. Nobody wants to know whether we have families and other dependants that are looking up to us for their upkeep.

“The police has the highest rates of deaths and causalities among security agencies in the country. In spite of our tireless efforts to protect the lives and properties of Nigerians, we are not appreciated. We earn the least salaries. Yet, we struggle so hard to ensure that this money is paid at the right time. If I may ask, is it a curse to be a policeman? I don’t understand. Can someone help me with a reasonable explanation?”

PUNCH

Anti-corruption protesters want Oduah jailed

Members of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders protesting at the Independent Corrupt Practices and other-Related Offences Commission office in Ikoyi, Lagos ... on Wednesday.

Protesters on Wednesday stormed the Lagos Office of the Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission, requesting that the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, be tried and jailed if found guilty.

The protesters, who stormed the ICPC office around 10.15am, defied confrontation by armed policemen who shot thrice into the air and civil defence officers to gain entrance into the premises of the commission.

Chairman of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Mr. Debo Adediran, who spoke on behalf of the protesters, said that many lives had been lost due to corruption in the aviation sector.

He said, “The purchase of the bulletproof cars is outrageous. It is the ICPC that should deal with anything that has to do with official corruption. Their reaction has been that they have not got a petition to act and that  that is why investigation has not begun. Now we have submitted a petition, we want them to act.

“If Oduah is found guilty after the probe, we want her to go to jail; we want anybody found culpable to be prosecuted diligently, we want anybody found guilty to be adequately punished and until we get that we will not rest.

“It is saddening that the President who should set precedence for Nigerians to follow could be shielding the indicted and even include them in his entourage to Israel on holy pilgrimage. It is also not unlikely that Ms. Oduah is in the league of Mr. President’s benefactors.

“Though the President has set up a panel to investigate the allegations, but it must be noted that most of the time when President Jonathan sets up his panels, they are to bury the issues rather than bending it to justice.”

The protesters, who presented a petition to the ICPC,  prayed that investigations should be commenced into the activities of the minister; the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority; Nigerian Airspace Management Agency;  Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria; and other relevant agencies under the Ministry of Aviation.

Chief Superintendent of ICPC in Lagos, Mr. Binga Shintema, who attended to the protesters, assured them that their petition would be acted on.

PUNCH

Scores killed as 7 Division troop engages Boko Haram in Borno

TROOPS of the 7 division Nigerian Army in Maiduguri, has continued to carry out attacks on the Boko Haram terrorists camp killing several insurgents and destroying their camps.

Residents of Maiduguri, who were travelling to Damaturu on Wednesday, were made to turn back by other travellers who claimed that they saw the insurgent in their number crossing the highway road at Benisheikh town of Kaga Local Government Area, where insurgents have been attacking travellers in the past.

According to them, the insurgent were seen hurrying as they cross.

Speaking to newsmen on behalf of the 7 division Nigerian Army, Captain Aliyu Danja confirmed the story stating that at about 11:00 a.m troops of 7 division Nigerian Army supported by the men of the Nigerian Air force with helicopter gunfire attacked and destroyed the Boko Haram camp in Goho village, in Mainok general area.

Captain Danja said several terrorists were killed while others fled to another town in Marguba village and troops pursued the terrorists, destroyed the camp while several were killed and others fled.

He also confirmed that the insurgents, who fled crossing road Maiduguri, Damaturu at Benisheikh were heading north towards Gubio and troops were still in pursuit of the terrorists.
TRIBUNE

Nov 1 handing over date: FG, electricity union set for showdown

THERE are strong indications that the Federal Government and the labour unions, under the aegis of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), may be set for a showdown, following plans by the Federal Government to continue with the planned physical handing over of privatised successor companies of defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

The Federal Government, through the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), in a statement, had said about 84 per cent of the workers had been paid off, while others would be paid between Wednesday and Thursday.

However, workers said banks had refused to honour the government’s directive to pay them.

They said if their entitlements were not paid by the end of October, the entire workforce of PHCN in all the 36 states would embark on indefinite strike.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday, the general secretary, Joe Ajaero, said no physical handing over could take place until all outstanding severance packages had been settled.

“How do we explain when new owners take over the assets while we are still under the Federal Government payroll. Let them pay the workers and the new owners can retain whoever they wish to employ,” he said.

Moreover, industry analysts opined that the transition process would be completed by February 2014, when the Transitional Electricity Market (TEM) is expected to take effect.

TUC urges FG to stay action
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has, however, called on the Federal Government to defer the proposed handover date of PHCN successor companies to the new owners until all agreements with the unions are met.

The government had proposed November 1 as the date for the handover of the successor companies to new investors.

But the deputy secretary-general of TUC, Mr Simeso Amachree, made the call in Lagos, on Wednesday, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Amachree said the government must be seen to deal fairly and transparently with the workers, to avoid unpleasant consequences.

Amachree added that the unions would engage in peaceful and legal means to compel the government to honour its agreement with them.

PHCN workers get N294.5bn severance, pension
Meanwhile, ahead the formal handing over of PHCN assets to their new owners tomorrow, the Federal Government has paid out a total of N214.22 billion to 40,093 disengaged workers of the company as severance allowance.

Another sum of N80.290 billion has also been paid as pension and gratuities.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, disclosed these on Wednesday, while briefing State House correspondents at the end of a meeting of stakeholders in the power sector, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He explained that government was working hard to ensure that all PHCN workers, whose record had been validated, were paid.

“The severance aspect goes directly to the account of the beneficiary and a lot of them have confirmed that they have got the alert in their acounts.

“Those who have not got the alert is because of the issues of banks that have not completed their processes, but government has given orders to all concerned banks to ensure all workers get the alert.

“For the gratuity payment, it goes to the pension fund custodian. They get the money and after that goes to the pension fund administrators.

“So, the funds have left government and gone to the custodians and administrators of the various beneficiaries,” Igali said.

The permanent secretary said record of an additional 605 workers had also been validated last Tuesday and their payment effected.

According to him, government was cautious in the certification process of the former PHCN employees, to ensure that all those that were paid were authentic workers of the company.

Igali further stated that there was a problem with 1,478 workers in the Enugu Distribution Company, as their biometric capture got corrupted by virus, adding that a consultant had moved to site to recapture them.

He added that the biometric capture of 929 workers around the country was also corrupted, because of the large number of people involved in the exercise.

He assured that those affected would soon be brought to Abuja at the expense of government to be recaptured.

Another problem he pointed out were cases of duplication of names and bank accounts of about 1,000 persons, while about 2,500 had no record that they were PHCN workers, though they had been identified as casual workers in the system.

PHCN investors arrive in Ibadan
New investors are now on ground in Ibadan, Oyo State, where the handover of assets of PHCN is set to take place tomorrow.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and his Power counterpart, Professor Chinedu Nebo, are expected to perform the handing over.

It also gathered that the location for the handing over was still being shrouded in secrecy, to prevent power sector unions from disrupting the programme.
TRIBUNE

N255m armoured BMW: Cars imported for Eko Sports Festival - Customs •FAAN bought 202 vehicles - Senate

THE Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), on Wednesday, disclosed that the BMW cars allegedly bought by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for the Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah, were imported into the country by Coscharis Motors Limited alongside 300 cars.

This is just as it said the Ministry of Finance directed that a waiver of N10.1 million be applied on the importation  the cars for the 18th National Sports Festival, Eko 2012.

This came to fore at the continued investigation of the House of Representatives into the purchase of the controversial BMW cars, where the Comptroller General of NCS, Mr Abdulahi Inde Dikko, said the point of entry of the cars was Tincan Port in Lagos, adding that no import duty was collected from Coscharis Motors because one year duty waiver for 300 cars was granted by the Federal Government.

The Deputy Comptroller of Modernisation, Research and Economic Relations, Mr Manasseh Daniel Jatau, who represented the Customs boss, noted that the exemption on the two BMW cars, along with 298 others, was at the expense of the Lagos State government, who would have been the beneficiaries of the payment.

Documents presented to the committee by the NCS showed that the import duty, VAT, ETLS, CISS and Port charges waiver certificate was issued by the Ministry of Finance on November 20, 2012 and was signed by the Director of Revenue, Mrs Rose Ngozi Maranzu, on behalf of the Minister of Finance.

“I am directed to refer to your letter dated June 23, 2012, on the above subject matter and to convey the approval of Mr President and Commander-In-Chief to the Lagos State government for waiver on import duty, value added tax (VAT), ETLS, CISS and other port charges in respect of the importation of 300 units of BMW, Ford, Land Rover, Range Rover, Lexus, Mercedes, Escalade, Jaguar and buses (petrol/diesel) for use during the 18th National Sports Festival (EKO 2012), to be imported through Messrs Coscharis Motors Nigeria Limited, as indicated in the duly certified attached list,” the letter read in part.

However, justifying the price of the vehicle, the chairman of Coscharis motors, Mr Cosmos Maduka, said the price of the two bulletproof BMW cars were high due to their quality.

Shedding light on the claim of Nigeria Customs Service that the vehicles were parts of the cars imported for Eko Sports Festival in 2012, Mr Maduka claimed that it was an agreement between the Federal Government and Coscharis that when there was a major event such as COJA and EKO Games, the company would provide cars to use while the Federal Government would grant it waivers in return.

“We have a duty waiver from the Federal Government for 300 vehicles. This is not the first time we are getting this, we got it during COJA,” he said.

But the committee queried him over the change on the prices of the vehicle from the initial amount of N70 million to N127.5 million, when the company actually got waiver from the Federal Government.

The committee equally tackled the Coscharis Motors boss for deceiving the public and the government by saying that the cars were bought for NCAA, when actually they were purchased on behalf of the Lagos State government and later sold to NCAA.

The committee, in the course of the investigative hearing, also demanded an explanation on why the chassis number of one of the bullet proof cars were different from the document presented to the NCAA.

The committee had claimed that some of its members had, on Tuesday, inspected the two controversial BMW cars, only to find out that one of the chassis numbers did not match the document presented to the committee.

To this end, Mr Maduka was asked to furnish the committee with documents to explain why the chassis number of one of the cars the lawmakers saw was different from the documents presented by Coscharis and NCAA.

However, the Minister of Aviation was, again, absent at the investigative hearing, but the chairman of the committee, Honourable Nkiruka Onyejiocha, insisted that she must appear unfailingly at 10.00 a.m today.

According to her, “tomorrow’s date is sacrosanct, please communicate that to her. It is in the spirit of fair hearing that the lawmakers keep shifting the dates to enable her to state her case before the committee.”

FAAN bought 202 vehicles without due process –Senate
The Senate, on Wednesday, disclosed that the management of Federal Airports Authority (FAAN) purchased 202 operational vehicles, probably without following due process.

This was as it also confirmed that four of the vehicles were bullet-proof.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma, gave the confirmation at the continuation of the public hearing convened to address crisis in the aviation sector.

He said the Managing Director of FAAN, Mr George Uriesi, confirmed on oath that his agency bought 202 vehicles, out of which four were bullet-proof.

Uriesi had confessed before the six-man Senate committee, on Tuesday, that the agency was involved in the purchase of the bullet-proof cars, including two Lexus Limousines and two Prado Jeeps.

While he said the two limousines were bought at the cost of N60 million each, he added that he did not know of the cost of the two Prado Jeeps, adding that the vehicles were still in the custody of the bankers which funded the purchase.

Senator Uzodinma told newsmen in Abuja that investigation was still ongoing on the illegal bullet-proof vehicles purchase.

“Investigation is still ongoing and it will not be fair for me to preempt it. FAAN did confirm that among the operational vehicles it purchased, four of them are armoured vehicles, two for the MD and two for the minister.

“And we told them to go back and put everything in writing and make a comprehensive statements on all vehicles purchased, that they bought a total number of 202 vehicles for different operations.

“So, until they come back on Monday (next week), we cannot rush into conclusion.

“The FAAN MD said they did a funding arrangement with a commercial bank, he said.

Uzodinma promised that the committee would be thorough in its investigation of extra-budgetary spendings by the aviation parastatal.

“This investigation will be a very deep one, so that at the end of the day, we do a holistic approach and look at how the sector will be repositioned and all anomalies corrected,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Metereological Agency (NIMET) and the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) have said they should be left out of the ongoing bullet-proof cars scandal rocking the aviation sector.

Director General of NIMET, Mr Anthony Anuforom and his counterpart in the AIB, Captain Muhtar Usman, told the Senate on Wednesday that their agencies were not involved in the purchase of armoured vehicles.

They made this known when they appeared before the Senate Committee on Aviation and were asked on oath how many armoured vehicles they bought like the their sister agencies within the aviation sector.
Tribune

DELAY IN POLICE SALARIES: IGP READS RIOT ACTS TO BANKERS

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has condemned the recurring delays in the payment of salaries of the Nigeria Police Force personnel by some banks involved in the processing of Police salaries, describing it as the worst conspiracy against the Force. 

He warned the banks and their personnel of the dire consequences, including, but not limited to a reconsideration of the existing relationship between the Police and the banks if the trend is not corrected.

The IGP, viewed as unacceptable a situation where the Federal Government would release the salaries meant for the Police as early as middle of the month, only for these banks to deliberately delay payment till the following month, a situation, the IGP stated, has exposed “the officers and men of the Force to undue pressures and extreme difficulties”.

The IGP made this observation today at the Force Headquarters, Abuja during a meeting with the representatives of the banks. The brief meeting, which also had in attendance members of the Police Management Team, Director of Finance and Administration, Ministry of Police Affairs, the Representatives of First Bank, Skye Bank, UBA and Zenith Bank, ended with immense apologies from the bankers who pledged to ensure speedy disbursement of Police salaries henceforth.

It should be noted that under the current e-payment system, all Police officers receive their salaries directly through the banks.

Girl, 13, digs herself out of a shallow grave after she is raped and buried alive by two men in Pakistan

A teenage girl dug herself out of shallow grave after she was raped by two men and buried alive.
The 13-year-old was snatched while walking to Koran lessons from her local village in Punjab and raped by the men in an isolated area.
Her attackers then buried her alive when they thought that she had died during the assault.

But she regained consciousness and managed to dig her way out of the muddy grave and flag down a passerby.
She was taken to a medical centre and survived her horrific ordeal.

According to the New York Post, her father Siddique Mughal told local police that his daughter had been taken.
But they initially refused to investigate the incident.
But they were ordered to arrest the girl's alleged attackers by the Lahore High Court Chief Justice's Complaint Cell.

Another victim: 2007 Gang-rape victim Kainat Soomro was labelled a 'black virgin' and shunned by her rural village after she accused her alleged attackers

A judge from the Toba Tek Sing area, where the attack took place, has also been asked to investigate the matter.
Child rape is becoming increasingly problematic in Pakistan.
According to Pakistani children's charity Sahil, the number of children raped between 2002 and 2012 increased from 668 to 2,788.
One of the most notable cases was that of Kainat Soomro who was attacked by four men when she was aged just 13 in 2007.
She was shunned by her village after speaking out against her attackers and was labelled a 'kari' or 'black virgin'.
Despite her own family being ordered to kill her to rid themselves of shame, they stood by her despite threats of violence against them.
Her father and one of her brothers were beaten, and another older brother went missing and was later found murdered.
Despite her quest for justice, her alleged attackers were eventually acquitted.
She told the Press earlier this year that her family have 'lost everything'.

dailymail.co.uk

Frightening scale of reoffending revealed: 148,000 criminals caught this year had at least FIFTEEN previous convictions

Almost 150,000 criminals convicted or cautioned last year had committed 15 or more previous offences,  figures revealed last night.
The ‘frightening’ re-offending rates mean this group alone have been responsible for  more than two million crimes between them.
And shockingly, the number of such career criminals has increased by 14 per cent in just five years.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said the figures exposed the abject failure of the criminal justice system to get to grips with repeat offenders and showed the desperate need for action to tackle persistently high reoffending rates.

Mr Grayling said the public – and the Government – were ‘fed up with crooks doing their time and going straight back to crime’. The Justice Secretary has proposed radical reforms to the Probation Service aimed at reducing recidivism among hardened criminals.
Charities and private firms will be paid ‘by results’ to engage with criminals and help them turn their lives around.
But his reforms have faced fierce opposition from unions – who are planning strike action next week – and probation chiefs.

Reform: Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said plans to privatise the probation service will save taxpayers millions

Last night Mr Grayling said: ‘People should stop and think about what these bleak figures represent – too many devastated victims, too many wasted lives and broken families, and millions in taxpayers’ money squandered.
‘Simply put, the situation is grim and it will only get worse by sitting on our hands and doing nothing.
‘Our reforms will help us put a stop to this, for the first time making it possible for every offender coming out of prison to receive at least 12 months’ support and supervision.
‘And we will only pay for services in full where they are proven to cut reoffending, making sure public money goes further.’
The previously unseen Ministry of Justice figures show some 148,641 criminals with 15 or more cautions or convictions to their names offended again in the year to  March 2013.
That total is up 14 per cent in five years, from 130,153 in 2008.
This group are therefore responsible for at least 2.25million crimes – although the true extent of their criminality will be much higher, as the figures do not capture how many more crimes than 15 each had committed.
In addition, many will have carried out further offences which went undetected.
The statistics also show that more than half a million offenders with at least one previous conviction or caution committed a further crime in the same period.
That includes 95 per cent of those given short jail sentences of less than 12 months.

In addition, more than 350,000 of those convicted or cautioned in the same period had served some kind of community sentence.
Justice officials said the statistics exposed the ‘frightening scale’ of reoffending.
Experts say crime is increasingly committed by a small group of hardened offenders who return to crime again and again.

The previously unseen Ministry of Justice figures show some 148,641 criminals with 15 or more cautions or convictions to their names offended again in the year to March 2013

Peter Cuthbertson, director of the Centre for Crime Prevention think-tank, said: ‘These are appalling figures. Thugs are going through a revolving door of probation and soft justice and then reoffending time and again.
‘We need to do far more of what works – tough prison sentences. Locking up serious, repeat offenders cuts crime and protects the public.’
Under the new reforms Mr Grayling’s department will award contracts worth £450million to private and voluntary groups who will supervise some 225,000 low and medium-risk offenders.
The remaining rump of 31,000 high-risk offenders, including  dangerous violent and sexual  criminals, will remain under State control.
Criminals given short-term jail sentences, who currently are not supervised at all after their release from jail, will be given at least 12 months supervision and rehabilitation on release from prison.
This ‘Rehabilitation Revolution’ will, it is hoped, make a significant dent in reoffending rates.
The figures expose how reoffending remains persistently high – despite some recent falls – and  tens of thousands of criminals  continue to offend after completing community service or probation programmes.
Members of the National Association of Probation Officers (Napo) union are due to strike next Tuesday over the policy.
And yesterday the Guardian reported that the chairmen of the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Warwickshire probation trusts have told the Justice Secretary the plans will risk public safety.
The Ministry of Justice has said that more than 700 organisations worldwide have expressed an interest in carrying out the work, including hundreds of British firms.
In a letter to the Justice Secretary, Jane Wilson, chairman of the Leicestershire and Rutland probation trust, said the current timetable had ‘serious implications for service delivery and therefore increases the risk to public safety’.

dailymail.co.uk

Stakeholders want life sentence for pirates, terrorists

Ismail, Oyewole and Isa Suwaid
Juliana Francis
The Presidency recently said that the desire by oil companies, fishing trawlers and other vessel operators to cut corners and engaged in economic malpractices were responsible for the worsening state of insecurity in Nigeria’s maritime domain.
This statement perturbed stakeholders in the sector, who determined to do something about the situation. Thus they came together in Lagos State, to brainstorm on how to address the issues thrust up by the Presidency’s observation.
In an interactive session which was held at Apapa, the stakeholders agreed that tackling of corruption, fostering citizen government cooperation and adequate funding of security agencies, among other factors were ways to address the issues.
Speaking at a one day- seminar tagged: “Preventing Terrorism and Insurgency in Nigeria’s Maritime Domain,” organised by the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON), Mr. Leke Oyewole, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Maritime Affairs, said companies operating in the nation’s waters were guilty of illegal acts which encouraged violence in the maritime sector.
According to him, oil companies operating in the country often polluted the waters and neglected their host communities.
To express their dissatisfaction, Oyewole said that youths in the host communities attacked the companies and their infrastructure in the maritime domain.
While fishing trawlers carried cash made from illegal trade on the high sea, the presidential aide alleged that tanker vessel operators engaged in illegal oil trade, thereby drawing attacks from pirates.
Oyewole admitted that weak maritime laws and lack of enforcement of the laws had largely contributed to the growing trend of piracy and other illegal acts in the nation’s maritime sector.
He assured that government was working to create a synergy among agencies in the maritime sector and correct administrative lapses identified with a view to tackling insecurity in the nation’s waters.
He pledged tougher measures by government in fighting piracy, terrorism and other acts of violence in the maritime sector, including seizure of vessels involved in illegal acts and making of adequate laws.
He revealed that a bill to strengthen the fight against piracy and other illegal acts in the nation’s waters sponsored by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) was currently before the National Assembly.
Dr. Kingsley Ezeatakwulu-Osakwe, President of Crisis Control Foundation, explained that negligence in the nation’s security framework and the unwillingness of the people to cooperate with government was responsible for the high level of insecurity in the country and the maritime sector.
His words: “The citizens are so much exploited, denied their rights that they become afraid of government security agencies. The increasing insecurity in Nigeria is self-imposed and inherited by the present administration. It’s clear that the present tackling methodology is not completely adequate because certain ingredients are still not added to the operational system of the entire security structure.”
He scored the judiciary low on performance, insisting that it had failed to protect the citizens from oppression and injustice. According to him, lack of justice in the country, had encouraged resort to self-help and violence by the oppressed.
To adequately address insecurity in the maritime domain and the country, Ezeatakwulu-Osakwe called for an end to corruption, the development of an effective judiciary and good citizen-government relationship.
He also urged security agencies in the country to be proactive in their approaches to tackling terrorism and insurgency.
Dr. Alex Okwuashi, Rector of the Certified Institute of Shipping of Nigeria, called for imposition of life sentence for piracy and other terrorist acts in the nation’s maritime sector, while he insisted that the government must also mobilise the people to actively participate in the battle against terrorists and other agents of violence.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Nebolisa Emodi assured that the cooperation among the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Navy and the private sector was capable of addressing security challenges in the nation’s maritime domain.
Dr. Boniface Aniebonam and Eugene Nweke of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) urged action on the different laws and policy decisions taken to strengthen the nation’s maritime sector.
On his part, Mallam Isah Suwade of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) stressed that his organisation had continued to develop adequate maritime infrastructure and sponsored manpower development as a way of tackling insecurity in the maritime sector.
He regretted that inter-agency decisions reached in the past were not properly implemented.
Earlier, Aniemu Ismail, President of the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria said that unless strategic steps were taken to tackle insecurity in the maritime domain, the hope of reaping the benefits of Nigeria’s maritime potential would not materialise.
Ismail added: “The global security challenges in various forms deserve more of preventive measures than reactive actions if we as a country must be on top of all security situations.
Nigeria being a coastal state is naturally endowed with very high economic activities in her maritime domain and the importance of sustained safety in this area of our economic life cannot be overemphasized.
We are aware of the strides being made by Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency not just to meet IMO requirements in line with the ISPS Code implementation but also to ensure that criminal activities in our waters are curbed.
With 60.1million tons of non-oil cargo recorded in six Nigerian ports in the first half of 2013, our country remains the determinant of import and export business in the West African region. Nigeria’s desire and drive for a hub port status is truly a deserved and realizable ambition, but dreams don’t just happen. One must be awake to see their realization and we must not lose sight of the need to sustain and improve on our achievements as a country in this direction.
As reporters, some of us have travelled by water within our inland waterways, we are of the opinion that security within our waterways, ports, jetties and the entire maritime domain should not be left in the hands of the armed forces alone. In this light, we posit that private sector participation in maritime security under strict government watch should be encouraged.”
The Customs Area Controller,  Apapa Area 1 Command, Comptroller Charles Edike  stated that operatives of the service had recovered several caches of arms and ammunition across the nation’s numerous land borders, sea and airports in the past few months.
He added that the weapon of mass destruction, if not that they were seized by customs officials, would have easily found its way into the hands of criminally minded groups, who would have used same to wreck havoc on innocent members of the public in the country.
Edike revealed that the seizures was  the service own way of joining hands with other security agencies in the ongoing Federal Government massive clamp down on the activities of insurgents across the country.
He said: “I will not forget the one by 20 feet container that was seized at Tin-Can port, Apapa, with explosives. The 96 kg of explosives seized at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, and also those that were recorded at Idiroko and Seme borders. Some were also recovered in Oyo State, Benin expressway and of course those that was made at Kaduna and Kano axis respectively.”
He further stated that the various terrorist groups had continued to wrecked havoc in most parts of the country with illegally acquired arms.
Edike said that the Nigerian Customs Service, under the leadership of the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Abdulahi Inde Dikko, was alive to its responsibility of also ensuring the security of the lives and property of the citizen by refusing to allow the illegal importation of arms and ammunition into the country.
“We are working, we will continue to work and we are alive to our responsibility. This informs the release of the import and export guidelines which I handed over to the President of MARCOM so that his members who are journalists will be better informed so as to enlighten members of the public,” he added.