Monday 29 October 2012

FOUR INMATES ESCAPE FROM AHOADA PRISON IN RIVERS STATE



Four inmates at the Ahoada Prisons escaped during a riot inside the prisons on Saturday. Reports say nine other inmates were injured while two who tried to escape were shot dead by security operatives who were called in to restore law and order at the Prisons. Sources at the Prisons say the riot was sparked by prison congestion and the alleged neglect by the Rivers and Bayelsa Chief Justices to review the prisoner’s case files. The inmates reportedly wrenched open an ATM machine inside the prison complex. Others tried to scale the fence before security operatives intercepted them.

However, the Rivers State Police Command has issued a statement saying it foiled the jail break and has denied that any of the inmates at the Ahoada Prisons escaped during the incident. The Police spokesman, Ben Ugwuegbulam in the statement said that security operatives were called in as soon as the riots began and were able to prevent the escape of the prisoners. Mr. Ugwuegbulam confirmed that two inmates who tried to escape through the ceiling were shot dead. The Comptroller of Prisons in Rivers State, Jerome Babalola is yet to issue a statement about the development.

ALUU COMMUNITY DECRIES HIGH SPATE OF ARMED ROBBERY


Aluu community in River state is back in the news again. This time, residents of the community are crying out over the rising spate of armed robbery in the area. Some of them who spoke to CoolFm Port-Harcourt correspondent Emeka Ortuka said life has become a nightmare since after the lynching of four Uniport students in the community as armed robbers now have a field day with their onslaught.   They said they feel helpless as nobody is ready to give them a listening ear. The people of Aluu community also complained about the indiscriminate arrests by the police over the killing of the students. They explained that the development has forced many residents to flee the community.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN DIRECTS THAT RIBADU COMMITTEE REPORT BE SUBMITTED AT PRESIDENTIAL VILLA ON FRIDAY


President Goodluck Jonathan
In line with the administration’s commitment to transparency, probity, and accountability in the petroleum sector, President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that a comprehensive report of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force chaired by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu should be presented to him this week.
 

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Dr Reuben Abati in a press release said the Committee which was set up in February 2012, was required to, among other tasks, determine and verify all petroleum upstream and downstream revenues (taxes and royalties, etc,) due and payable to the Federal Government of Nigeria, and to take all necessary steps to collect all debts due and owed; to obtain agreements and enforce payment terms by all oil industry operators. The presentation of the Committee’s report will take place on Friday, November 2, at 11 am, at the State House, Abuja, Nigeria's federal capital territory.

Friday 26 October 2012

THE TARABA STATE COMMISSIONER FOR INFORMATION, EMMANUEL BELLO SAYS GOVERNOR DANFULANI SUNTAI IS CURRENTLY RECEIVING MEDICAL ATTENTION AFTER SURVIVING A PLANE CRASH

Governor Danfulani Suntai of Taraba State
The Taraba State Commissioner for Information, Emmanuel Bello says Governor Danfulani Suntai survived a plane crash and is receiving medical attention at the state general hospital in Yola.
Mr Bello in a phone-interview told newsmen the situation has been well maintained by state authorities.
But he refused to confirm whether the governor was the one that flew the crashed plane.
Meanwhile, an official of the Federal Airport Authority says the plane- a Cessan 208 with six passengers lost control 38miles to landing in Yola after taking off from Jalingo, Taraba State.



Wednesday 24 October 2012

ARIK AIR NIGERIA: NOT TERRORIST ATTACK: YAKUBU DATI FAAN SPOKESMAN


Yakubu Datti; FAAN Spokesman

This morning, I had a chat with Yakubu Dati, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Spokesman about the news making headlines that, there had been a failed terrorist attack yesterday aboard a Maiduguri/Abuja bound Arik Aircraft. Dati confirmed to me that it was not true. He said, one Aminu Galadima, an indigene of Minna, who boarded the Abuja-bound Arik Air flight began to act strangely and screaming "God is great". He said other passengers, alarmed by his behavior, rushed to apprehend him.
 
It can be recalled that Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah had earlier on stated that there was no terrorist attack on an Arik Air flight from Maiduguri to Abuja. The Minister stated that after going through all mandatory security screening on Aminu Galadima, the man in question, nothing incriminating, no explosives or weapons whatsoever were found on him.


Newspaper and media organisations are advised not to carry wrong captions of news in their various media, capable of creation panic amongst Nigerians