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Dutse - The Police Command in Jigawa said it arrested two persons in connection with the killing of two sisters over alleged witchcraft in Gwaram Local Government Area of the state. The command Public Relations Officer, Mr Abdu Jinjiri, said on Thursday in Dutse that investigation was ongoing to determine the level of involvement of the accused in the allegation. The police spokesman said the command would not tolerate any extrajudicial killing in the state, adding that if the suspects were found guilty, they would be prosecuted. The two sisters were allegedly killed on Wednesday by some irate youths. The sisters, according to the youths of Kila village, Gwaram, were alleged to have killed one Abubakar Sule through witchcraft. (NAN)

Oyo - A farmer in Isheyin Local Government Area of Oyo State has shot dead a herdsman for allegedly raping his (farmer) wife on his farm at Sawo Village, near Oyo Spokesperson of the state Police Command, DSP Olabisi Ilobanofor, confirmed the incident on Thursday. She said that the incident occurred on Aug. 24 She said that the Divisional Police Headquarters in Iseyin, led by the DPO, rushed to the scene to forestall breakdown of law and order in the area. ``Information available to the command is that the farmer and his wife were working in separate portions of their farm when his wife shouted for help. ``When he got there, he met the herdsman raping his wife and shot him from close range with a locally made gun,“ she said. Ilobanofor said that the suspect and his wife had been detained at the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Iyagangu, Ibadan. She said that the duo would be charged to court as soon investigation was concluded. While urging residents of the area to remain ...

Abuja - The Supervising Minister of Youths Development, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, on Thursday said that President Goodluck Jonathan had no interest in the leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN).  Abdullahi told newsmen during a `family meeting’ with key NYCN stakeholders at the National stadium in Abuja. He said it was unfair for anyone to drag the name of Mr President to an election of NYCN magnitude. ``Contrary to the rumour making the round and impression created, President Jonathan does not have any reason to be interest in who emerges as president of the council. ``If anybody is parading him/herself as the president’s candidate, he/she is on his own, it is unfair to drag the president’s name into this,’’ he said. Abdullahi, who is also the sports minister, said that government had obligation to the youth in the country and not to NYCN. ``The Federal Government of Nigeria is obligated to the youth of this country, but its obligation to the youth is not the same th...

BY NDAHI MARAMA, MAIDUGURI No fewer than 20 people were feared dead, several others sustained injuries with the setting ablaze of Nganzai Local Government Area Secretariat, two primary schools, a clinic and some residential houses when some suspected Boko Haram members in a separate attacks laid ambush to Gajiram, the council headquarters of Nganzai and Bulabulin Ngawra Village of Konduga Local Government Area of Borno state More details soon

By Babajide Komolafe & Emmanuel Elebeke The 19th Nigeria Economic Summit ended Thursday with the federal government accepting recommendations for cheap loans to farmers, by announcing a N15 billion loan at one per cent interest rate to farmers for the planting season through the Bank of Agriculture (BOA). In addition to this, it also approved the privatisation for the Bank, and the Abuja Securities and Commodity Exchange (ASCE), and it is set to award contract for the 3000 mega watt Mabilla power plant. Meanwhile the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) has called for enactment of relevant legislations to back and institutionalise key components of the on-going Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA). Vice President Namadi Sambo announced this policy measures in closing remarks during the last session of the summit. More details soon

Damaturu - The Police Command in Yobe on Thursday paraded a five-man syndicate in possession of counterfeit foreign and Nigerian currencies allegedly being sold to the public. Alhaji Sanusi Rufai, the Commissioner of Police, told newsmen in Damaturu that the suspects were arrested in possession of N955,500;  22,400 dollars and CFA 62,000 counterfeit notes. The commissioner said a suspect was arrested in Damaturu in possession of N10,000 counterfeit notes. He said during interrogation by the police, the suspect said he bought it from someone who was also arrested in possession of N54,500 notes. He added that upon interrogation, another suspect led the police to arrest a member of the syndicate who was also found in possession of N30,000 notes. The commissioner said a major dealer from Kano, who allegedly supplied the currencies, had been caught. Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police has given relations of 32 policemen slain by Boko Haram insurgents in the state about N20 million. T...

MOSCOW (AFP) - Syria's foreign minister will on Monday travel to Moscow to discuss the crisis in his country with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Moscow said. Foreign Minister Walid Muallem's visit will come after a Saint Petersburg summit of 20 major developed and developing economies at which the Syrian crisis is expected to feature prominently. Russia has been a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime for the past two and a half years, and is fiercely resisting possible military action in response to the regime's suspected use of chemical weapons. "They (the talks) will focus on an all-encompassing discussion of all the aspects of the current situation in Syria and around it," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

KABUL (AFP) - Suspected Taliban militants shot dead the Indian author Sushmita Banerjee, writer of a popular book about her dramatic escape from the Taliban in the 90s, in eastern Afghan province of Paktika on Wednesday night, police said. "We found her bullet riddled body near Madrassa on the outskirts of Sharan city (provincial capital) this morning," provincial police chief Dawlat Khan Zadran told AFP, confirming earlier reports from Indian media.

By JIMOH BABATUNDE,  Maputo The African Union  Commission and the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will make the continent more food secured. The agreement is to foster collaboration and strengthen the working relationship between Africa Union Commission (AUC)   and Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) so as to support the strong implementation of AU´s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP). CAADP brings together key players - at the continental, regional and national levels - to improve co-ordination, share knowledge, successes and failures, to encourage one another, and to promote joint and separate efforts to achieve the CAADP goals. Speaking at the brief ceremony, Africa Union´s commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Tmusiime Rhoda peace, promised that the signing of the MOU is a re-affirmation of the need to work with AGRA as they have competitive edge in dealing with smallhol...

Onitsha -  A four storey building under construction in Onitsha, Anambra, collapsed after a downpour on Wednesday . The incident occurred at 24 Obanye St. near the Onitsha General Post Office at about 3.30 p.m. A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who was at the scene of the incident in Onitsha, gathered that no life was lost in the incident. An eyewitness who spoke on condition of anonymity said that builders and labourers working on the building were not around for work as the downpour started at about 6.30 a.m. ``We heard a heavy sound and as most of the neighbours in the street rushed out, we saw the uncompleted building collapsing. ``It was a big surprise to all of us because we noticed that recently work on the building was going on at a very high speed. ``It is just a pity for such a huge financial loss. But thank God that no one was working in the building today and no one was injured in the incident,’’ he said. As at the time of this report, the cause of the co...

Abuja -  The President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, said about 8,000 engineers would be needed for the smooth take off of the nine- billion- dollar Dangote Refinery/Fertiliser plant in Ondo. Dangote told State House correspondents on Wednesday in Abuja that the project, when completed, would provide direct and indirect jobs for 85,000 Nigerians. He said the group had secured a 3.3 billion-dollar credit facility from a consortium of banks for the project. According to him, importation of petroleum products will end by 2016 as the plant will commence production in the next three years. He said his plan was to make the country self-reliant in petrochemical and petroleum products, as well as make it an industrial giant. ``Now, Nigeria is going to be taken out of the list of countries that import petroleum products. We will produce 20 million metric tonnes which is equivalent to what Nigeria consumes currently. ``Today, we did the signing ceremony, the vice-president came to witness...

By SIMON EBEGBULEM BENIN — Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, has expressed worries over the prolonged strike embarked upon by Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and urged the Federal Government to hasten peace moves in the interest of Nigerian students. PFN, in a statement by its National President, Rev. Felix Omobude, in Benin City, Edo State, yesterday, acknowledged the alleged failure of the Federal Government to honour the agreement reached with ASUU in 2009, and appealed to parties to find urgent solution to the problem so as not to destroy the university system. He said: “While PFN salutes the spartan courage of the leadership of ASUU for its positive position on the urgent need to revamp and reposition the education sector, PFN is of the strong view that the need has arisen to bring into sharp focus, the crushing brunt the country is now being made to bear for the continued closure of the universities. “PFN appeals to ASUU not to throw away the baby with its bath ...

BY EMMA UNA CALABAR — A newly married couple, who packed to their house soon after wedding  have been reportedly killed by generator fumes in Ikot Omin on the outskirts of Calabar,  the Cross River State capital. The couple, Bassey Effiong (27), his wife, Glory (21) and her younger sister, Emem (16), were said to have packed to the house yet to be completed by Bassey. “When he got married, he decided to work on one of the rooms and moved in, while hoping to gradually complete the house,” Mike, a neighbour to the couple told Vanguard. However, tragedy struck, Sunday night, when the couple  turned on their generating set and placed it on the corridor close to the  room,  where they slept but fume from the  generating set  was said to have  subsequently gained entry into the room in large quantity and suffocatded the couple along with Emem,  the wife's younger sister. They were discovered dead several hours later by a naval officer,  David Ekanem, Bassey's uncle, who said he went ...

By SIMON EBEGBULEM BENIN CITY— MOTHER of the 13-year stowaway boy, Mrs Evelyn Oikhena, yesterday, expressed confusion over the whereabout of her son, Daniel after officials of the Department of State Services, DSS, handed him over to Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs, Tuesday. The family of the boy, including the father, Mr Osaigbovo Oikhena, who surfaced prior to the meeting between the family and Governor Adams Oshiomhole at Government House Benin City, Tuesday, appealed to the state government to release the boy to enable him return home to his family. The meeting between the family and Governor Oshiomhole held at close door lasted till about 8:30pm, but Mrs Oikhena, who spoke to Vanguard, yesterday, said that the governor had instructed the security agents and officials of the Ministry of Women Affairs to release the boy to the family but that she was yet to see him back home. [caption id="attachment_411117" align="alignnone" width="412"] Evelyn Oik...

BY EGUFE   YAFUGBORHI PORT HARCOURT — POLICE in Rivers State have arraigned a 30-year-old Godface Ibama before a Port-Harcourt Magistrate Court for defiling a seven-year-old twin brothers. The suspect alleged to be gay was arrested by the police at a waterfront in Mile 1, Diobu area of Port Harcourt for sexually abusing the victims. Ibama, who is facing a two-count charge of unlawful carnal knowledge of the minors pleaded not guilty to the charge. Mr Elkawah Fubara, the trial magistrate, consequently ordered the suspect to be remanded in police custody and adjourned till September 11, for hearing of the accused bail application.

ENUGU — An Enugu Magistrate Court, yesterday, remanded one Monday Okoye, 34, of Obuofia, in Awgu Local Government Area of the state in prison custody over alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl. The police in Enugu had arraigned Okoye before the court over alleged offence. The prosecutor, Mr  Peter Eze, told the court that the matter was reported to the state Criminal Investigation Department on August 11. Eze said the rape victim was absent in the court because she was hospitalised following the injury she sustained from the rape. The prosecutor called seven witnesses to testify in the matter. The magistrate, Mr Frank Chukwu, asked the accused if he had a counsel and he said he had none. Chukwu said that the case would be transferred to the high court because it bordered on rape, adding that such was outside the jurisdiction of a magistrate court. He, however, added that the prosecuting witnesses would testify in the high court on the matter. He warned that each witness would pay N50,000 ...

Ado Ekiti — THE Po-lice have nabbed a 26-year-old man in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State for allegedly having canal knowledge of a five-year-old daughter of his father’s tenant. Briefing newsmen in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr  Victor Babayemi, said the accused was arrested on August 28, 2013, after an attempt to lure the girl with a loaf of bread. According to Babayemi, the accused in his confessional statement said he had been using bread to entice the girl and her sisters since he works in a bakery. The suspect was said to have brought a loaf of bread and invited the girl to his room where  he allegedly abused her sexually. In a related development, a 57-year-old man, one David (surname withheld), who allegedly defiled his five-year-old step-daughter in Igede-Ekiti, has been paraded  by the police in Igede-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state.

DUTSE — Jigawa State Hisbah Command has arrested 21 commercial sex workers, as part of efforts to stop them from operating in the state. The commandant of Hisbah in the state, Alhaji Aliyu Galamawa, who disclosed this to newsmen in Dutse, said the arrest followed a security report that they had invaded different parts of the state after they were dislodged from neighbouring Bauchi,  Kano and Lagos states. The commercial sex workers were  said to have divided themselves to various towns and villages such as Ringim, Chaichai and Dutse. Galamawa explained that men of the command arrested 21 of them in Ringim and Dutse with their traditional musicians, while some were arrested in Chaichai town with the owner of the house who gave them rent. According to him, they were handed over to the state police command, which charged them before a Sharia Court sitting in Dutse under Magistrate Aliyu Hadejia. The Hisbah commandant, explained that they would support government commitment to rid the stat...

By EMMA AMAIZE WARRI—Niger-Delta Youth for Positive Attitude and Progress, NDYPAP, has vowed to mobilise youths in the nine states of Niger Delta to resist the alleged attempt by some politicians to take over Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, projects, meant for indigenous contractors to the detriment of oil-bearing communities in Delta and Bayelsa states. President of the group, Mr. Emmanuel Enisuo, in a statement, said “NDYPAP is joining forces with the coastal/swamp oil producing communities of Bayelsa and Delta states to declare that the people will not fold their hands and watch the selfish machination of politicians, who are bent on taking over projects meant for indigenous contractors. “The oil communities have suffered enough deprivations of basic amenities and development from multinational oil companies, NDDC, and Federal Government. We will march on the National Assembly and NDDC headquarters if their ulterior agenda was not discontinued forthwith. “We are strongly b...

By Tony Edike ENUGU — There are indications that the South East regional headquarters of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church, Enugu, situated along the popular Zik Avenue, would be demolished any moment from now. Enugu State Government, which had insisted that the large temple of the church must be brought down for being erected without appropriate approval, has allocated to the church an alternative place at Idaw River Layout by Emeka Ebila Street off Agbani Road in Enugu capital city to enable the worshippers relocate without further delay. The new site is about 20 plots of land or 4,000 square metres according to the Enugu State  Commissioner for Lands and Housing Development, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ujam. The new site is spacious enough to accommodate both the church auditorium primary and secondary schools which the church did not have before now.