BREAKING: Masked officers whisk Dino Melaye from hospital bed

Masked police operatives have stormed the hospital where Dino Melaye, the Senator representing Kogi West, was receiving treatment.

The officers forced the lawmaker, who was on the hospital bed, into an unmarked vehicle and drove him to an undisclosed location, witnesses told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Melaye was arrested last week after police laid siege on his home in Maitama, Abuja, for eight days.

He turned himself in after hiding in the house for days. Mr Melaye has been in the hospital since then.

Police accuse the senator of being involved in the shooting of an officer in his native Kogi State.

Details shortly….

Boko Haram: Borno present 10 undisclosed demands to Buhari

 Picture:  Right to left: President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Kashim Shettima, APC governorship candidate in Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum and traditional rulers who alongside elders, national and state assembly members, council chairmen, labour and religious leaders  formed part of a large delegation from Borno State on visit to President Buhari over security issues in Borno State... at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday

Boko Haram: Borno present 10 undisclosed demands to Buhari

 A delegation of the state Governor, traditional rulers, elders, national and state assembly members, ‎local government chairmen, women groups, the Nigerian Union of Journalists and labour unions, all of them in a delegation from Borno State, on Monday presented a letter containing security-related  "observations" and ten undisclosed demands to President Muhammadu Buhari  at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. 

The demands are connected to measures the delegation hopes, can if granted by the President, help in the efforts to end the Boko Haram in the state. 

Leading the delegation, Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, said the demands and observations are the outcome of an extraordinary security meeting which he convened in Maiduguri last week Monday.

Shettima in his opening remarks informed Buhari that he was presenting a letter on behalf of the delegation but he pleaded with journalists that because there were matters of security, he was not going to disclose both demands and observations. He also said the delegation would discuss the issues raised in closed door meeting with the President. 

"Your Excellency, we came with some observations and 10 specific requests for urgent presidential intervention. These observations and requests are products of discussions in the aftermath of our extraordinary security meeting held one week ago. We didn't rush to come after the meeting. We felt the need to travel to northern Borno, interact with displaced persons and the military so as to strengthen public confidence. 

I will seek the understanding of journalists by not making public, any of our observations and 10 requests. They are matters of security, which we hope to discuss with Mr President in closed door. I will like to recall with profound gratitude, that in our extraordinary meeting last week, we brought on board, leadership of the Nigerian Union of Journalists in Borno State and we took them into confidence. True to their promise, none of what we discussed in that meeting was revealed through any media platform. Such an attitude displayed by the media, is a further proof that Nigerian journalists are without doubt, devoted to sincere measures in the fight against Boko Haram" Shettima said. 

The Governor also explained that the people of Borno State have demonstrated the highest commitment to the fight against Boko Haram by donating their sons and daughters who have been fighting in battle fronts as volunteers under the Civilian JTF. 

"Mr President, from 2013 to date, more than 20,000 youth volunteers amongst them young women, have offered themselves in fighting Boko Haram under the Civilian JTF.  These youths are sons and daughters of the same people of Borno State that were accused of undermining the fight against Boko Haram. From 2013 to date, our administration has been solely responsible for funding hundreds of successful operations carried out by the Civilian JTF. We have been have been responsible for their recruitment after thorough vetting by the DSS. We fund their training, kit them, provide them operational vehicles and maintain these vehicles. We pay their allowances, supply them surveillance gadgets and we deploy them on the advice of security establishments. Most importantly, these Civilian JTF are good in gathering local intelligence and they are experts in identifying Boko Haram members no matter how they try to conceal themselves. They have done so much with our consistent support and we seriously have supported and continue to support all security agencies, particularly the military" the Governor noted.

He recalled that a delegation in Borno State was in the Villa because unlike in previous years when they were treated with suspicion, President Buhari has demonstrated empathy and compassion to Borno people. 

"Mr President, Sir, the purpose for which we are here comes with one irony.  

Borno State suffered it's worst times between 2013 and 2014. In that period, Boko Haram abducted our children, attacked and took firm control of 20 out of the 27 local government areas of Borno. In these 20 local government areas, they established caliphates and put in place, sovereign administrators who strictly enforced tax systems and violent laws. They abused our young daughters. They forced young men to join their fighters. They turned old men women into domestic slaves and they publicly executed parents in the presence of their own children and wives, for allegedly offending laws that are even alien to the religion of Islam. While administering our 20 local government areas, Boko Haram operated from council local secretariats in headquarters of local government areas and lived in palaces of traditional rulers, military barracks and police stations. 

On the other hand, from 2015 to 2018, the Nigerian military with you as commander in chief, was able to liberate all the 20 local government areas hitherto under the Boko Haram. The military even took control of Boko Haram’s main operational base in the Sambisa forest. With these successes, the Borno State Government was able to rebuild more than 30,000 homes in various communities with all public facilities restored. With Mr President's leadership, many of our hitherto displaced brothers and sisters, including some of our traditional rulers, voluntarily returned to rebuilt communities in 14 local government areas including Bama.  

Mr President, I recollected all these for the sole purpose of establishing the irony in our visit today. 

As I explained, between 2013 and 2014, we witnessed the most daring and most vicious evil of the Boko Haram, loosing 20 local government areas. However, we rushed here because Boko Haram threatened to retake Kukawa. And Kukawa is just one of the 20 local government areas we had lost in the past but which the military regained under your leadership. 

Mr President, the truth is that in the past, we were regarded as the problems rather than the victims. Government, elders and the people of Borno State were seen as undermining the war on Boko Haram. We were treated with suspicion" he said.

The meeting later went into closed door. 

Ogunkolade Oludare. 

Shettima sleeps in Monguno where military battled Boko Haram last week

Shettima sleeps in Monguno where military battled Boko Haram last week 

To raise the confidence of 57,000 residents, displaced persons from three local government areas, civil authorities, Civilian JTF fighters, police and the military, Borno Governor, Kashim Shettima ‎on Friday spent the night in Monguno town where Boko Haram insurgents were battled and repelled by the Nigerian military after attempt by the terror group last week, to takeover the town. Monguno which is headquarters of Monguno  local government area is located in northern Borno and it is 60 kilometers away from Baga in Kukawa local government area also within northern Borno and that is where the military is battling Boko Haram fighters since last week. 

Governor Shettima was in Monguno from Friday to Saturday afternoon.  He spent the night at the local government lodge. He traveled after resisting frantic efforts by aides and political associates to discourage him from visiting Monguno within days after the Boko Haram was repelled by the military when they launched attack in order to seize the military base and takeover the town last week. He traveled in company of his security aides, some soldiers, policemen and men of the civilian JTF. 

The Governor was accompanied by the Senator representing Borno North, and Chairman,  Senate committee on Defence, Abubakar Kyari and APC's governorship candidate, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, a member of house of representatives, Mohammed Tahir Monguno, former Governor of Borno State, Maina Ma'aji Lawan, speaker of the state assembly, Chief of Staff amongst others.

Shettima in defying more than 24 hours of persuasion to stop his trip, reminded aides and political associates that Monguno town hosts about 57,000 fellow Borno citizens amongst them residents of the town, fleeing citizens from Kukawa who joined last week and people of Marte and Abadam local government areas (both in northern Borno) that are yet return to Marte and Abadam since 2014, because the two local government areas, though under the control of the military, serve as operational routes for both the Nigerian military and multinational forces, hence the government kept civilians away to prevent Boko Haram from trying to create human shields and from using international land boarders located around the two local government areas. 

"I will be failing as a leader if fear of any kind stops me from going to Monguno where we currently have 57,000 fellow people of Borno, amongst them women and children. We must go there to show them sense of belonging, to inspire them and build their confidence. Importantly also, the military needs us more than ever. They should see us, the leaders and feel our presence. ‎There is no going back in my plan to travel and pass the night in Monguno. The same way we went to Gwoza and Chibok at different times and at the worst stage of the insurgency, for the funeral of the assassinated Emir of Gwoza and to meet parents after the Chibok abduction, is the same way we will go to Monguno. God will protect us" Shettima told some aides.

During his stay in Monguno, Governor Shettima supervised the distribution of multiple trailer loads of  food and non food items to residents and displaced persons from Marte and Abadam local government areas living within host communities in Monguno. The Governor visited camps and supervised another distribution of food and non-food items to fleeing residents from Baga and Kross Kawwa, both in neighboring Kukawa local government area. 

The Governor commiserated with the people of Baga, Kukawa towns, and environs over the recent Boko Haram attacks in the areas, assuring them of government's determination to address the condemnable and an unfortunate act. 

Governor Shettima sympathized with the victims, and took his time to address them at their various camps.

The Governor while presenting relief materials to the people affected, assured them of more support from the Government to alleviate their suffering, and doing everything possible to address the problem.

The Governor visited the military at King Nasara Barracks also in Monguno, held meetings with military commanders which wasn't open to journalists and interacted with soldiers to inspire their morale. He thanked the military for the patriotic efforts and sacrifices and said the people of Borno will forever be grateful to them. 

The Governor while returning to Maiduguri stopped at Gajiram, the headquarters of Nganzai Local Gov’t to inspect Mega Primary Schools, Housing Estate, and a General Hospital, all being constructed by his administration. 

He proceeded to Gajiganna town in Magumeri Local Gov’t to also inspect another Mega primary school nearly completed in Gajiganna. ‎Nganzai and Magumeri are all part of northern Borno. 

‎The Governor finally departed for Maiduguri, making stops at the Military, and Civilian JTF Checkpoints to support and inspire them.

Kolade Oludare. 

Countering Boko Haram: 'For 6 years, Borno Gov. Shettima solely funds 20,000 CJTF fighters'

Countering Boko Haram: 'For 6 years, Borno Gov. Shettima solely funds 20,000 CJTF fighters'

Despite efforts by political mischief makers to downplay his contributions on the fight against Boko Haram, Governor Kashim Shettima's led government has from 2013 to date, remained the sole financiers of hundreds of successful operations carried out by more than 20,000 volunteers of the Civilian JTF, whose overwhelming contributions in the fight against Boko Haram has been roundly acknowledged by the military, all other security stakeholders, past and incumbent federal administrations as well as residents of Borno State. 

Governor Shettima's Special Adviser on Communications and strategy, Malam Isa Gusau said this during a live interview as guest of 'The Morning Show' on Arise (cable) News International, in Ikoyi Lagos on Saturday. Arise which airs on DSTV world wide, is a sister to ThisDay newspapers. 

Gusau said the Civilian JTF play crucial roles in intelligence gathering,  easy identification and arrest of suspected insurgents and supporting the military in the war fronts. 

The spokesman said it was a laughable irony that in recent days some "mischief makers are doing everything possible to smear Governor Shettima over the Boko Haram crisis, whereas the same mischief makers regularly acknowledge the roles played by patriotic members of the civilian JTF. However, "they deliberately ignore the fact that in the last six years, Governor Shettima has been the sole person giving approvals for the operational vehicles and logistics, recruitment, training, payment of allowances, kitting and surveillance equipment to these over 20,000 heroes, under the Civilian JTF that have given everything to the fight against Boko Haram. The mischief makers ignore that back in 2013, it was Governor Shettima who drove the process of getting making office of the National Security Adviser to approve the operational activities of the Civilian JTF and he has remained the only one funding all their operations including the coordination of their recruitment and deployments after clearance by the DSS. The same Governor approves funds to support gallant members of the Civilian JTF including allocation of lands to the to own houses so as to encourage them and guarantee their future" Gusau noted. 

The Adviser said in addition to being the sole financiers of the CJTF, Governor Shettima has from 2011 to date, been consistently according extraordinary support to the military, the police, DSS and all para-military organisations. He said the military has consistently and publicly acknowledged the extreme support they get from Shettima. 

"Only last month, the Chief of Army Staff at the closing of his annual conference in Maiduguri and before the media, described as "overwhelming", the commitment of Governor Kashim Shettima to the Nigerian Army in the fight against Boko Haram. Similarly, I remember that in 2014, then Director of Operations at the Defence headquarters, Major General Lawrence Ndugbane (now retired) said before the media, that Kashim Shettima is one of the Governors who helps the military to generate actionable intelligence through the Governor's regular interactions with community leaders in Borno State. These are all on record. So, attempts by anyone to change these public records will, like previous other attempts, become futile exercises" Gusau noted. 

ABUJA COUNTDOWN: Residents flagged up the new year at the Abuja countdown 2018

With Music, dance, comedy and lots of fireworks, the 2018 edition of Abuja countdown was the biggest crossover night event on New Year’s Eve, the organizer of the free gated concert Mr Ogunkolade Oludare Success joining nearly ten thousand people to light fireworks into the new year at the City Park wuse 2 Abuja.

More than twenty top Abuja entertainers and musicians, including Shortcut, Mc Bob, Victor velmo, DJ Burna, DJ Thriller, Pshychoyp, Riah B, Ch1dz, and Yaxman, Dr Ayuba performed on the night to the delight of the ecstatic crowd. 

Part of the major highlights of the night was when Mr Kolade Success Ceo Succex Multimedia Ltd. alongside the crowd counted down the old year and flagged up the new one with breathtaking fireworks that lit up the Abuja skyline. 

See more photos from the event.

Abuja countdown is a yearly event organized and packaged by Succex Multimedia Ltd. 

ABUJA COUNTDOWN: Residents flagged up the new year at the Abuja countdown 2018

With Music, dance, comedy and lots of fireworks, the 2018 edition of Abuja countdown was the biggest crossover night event on New Year’s Eve, the organizer of the free gated concert Mr Ogunkolade Oludare Success joining nearly ten thousand people to light fireworks into the new year at the City Park wuse 2 Abuja.

More than twenty top Abuja entertainers and musicians, including Shortcut, Mc Bob, Victor velmo, DJ Burna, DJ Thriller, Pshychoyp, Riah B, Ch1dz, and Yaxman, Dr Ayuba performed on the night to the delight of the ecstatic crowd. 

Part of the major highlights of the night was when Mr Kolade Success Ceo Succex Multimedia alongside the crowd counted down the old year and flagged up the new one with breathtaking fireworks that lit up the Abuja skyline. 

See more photos from the event.