The fate of suspended CP Zakari Biu, the Commissioner of Police in charge Special Investigations at Zone 7 headquarters over the escape of Boko Haram kingpin, Kabiru Sokoto on January 14, 2012, was, yesterday, sealed by the Police Service Commission which dismissed him after deliberating on the report of the Force Disciplinary Committee that sat over the matter and the recommendations of the Federal Government Panel set up by the office of the National Security Adviser.
Motorists plying Apapa—Oshodi expressway literally went through hell, yesterday, spending hours in the traffic as fuel tankers waiting to load fuel at the tank farms in the area blocked the entire expressway. This was in spite the 72-hour ultimatum given to the tanker drivers on Sunday by the Lagos State Government to remove the vehicles from the highway or be forcefully relocated.
No fewer than 30 people were killed yesterday in Maiduguri when suspected members of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, opened fire and set off bombs at Baga Fish market in the metropolis. Eight of the sect members were, however, killed in a gun duel with the Joint Task Force.
CONTRARY to the image of invincibility woven around the Islamic terror group, Boko Haram in the media, the sect was not thoroughly organised and may be routed by security agencies with another major arrest, a reliable top source within the security apparatus in Abuja, disclosed yesterday.
On-going interrogation of Mallam Kabiru Abubakar DIKKO (a.k.a Kabiru SOKOTO) is said to be yielding positive results for men of the Department of State Service, DSS, as the cell-leader for the dreaded Jamaatu Ahlil Sunna Lidawati wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram, in the Madalla, Suleja and Abuja axis, has been identified by Sokoto.
The Federal Government yesterday warned that it would no longer accept any excuse by the police over its inability to deal decisively with the Boko Haram Islamic’s incessant bombings which have led to the killing of about 2,000 innocent citizens in the country.
Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 111 and Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, yesterday, declared that the era of insecurity caused by the spate of bombings and shootings by the Boko Haram sect in Borno State is over.
The Federal Government has revised the provisions of the 2012 budget and set aside N656.3 billion as subsidy for petroleum products for the year. This was disclosed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinator of the economy Dr Okonjo-Iweala, while briefing the media on key developments around the revised 2012 budget.
Senate, yesterday, alleged that out of the N4.7 trillion budget estimate submitted last year to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan for consideration and subsequent passage, some government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAS secretly smuggled in over N1trillion projects into it. This came just as the President has requested for Senate approval to borrow $7.9billion from the World Bank and four other multilateral development institutions.
AN early morning rainstorm, which began at about 7.10 am, yesterday, wreaked havoc in several parts of Lagos, killing 15 persons, destroying many houses, cars, electric poles and uprooting many trees.
Embattled Commissioner of Police, Zakari Biu, who is currently being investigated over the dramatic escape of Kabiru Abubakar Dikko, a.k.a. Kabiru Sokoto, the alleged mastermind of the Christmas day bombing of St Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State, in which over 40 lives were lost, yesterday opened up on his plight and trial.
Fresh facts yesterday revealed that butfor his sharp reflexes, one of the operatives of the Department ofState Services, DSS, who arrested escapee Kabiru Abubakar DIKKO (a.k.a Kabiru SOKOTO), would have been axed to death by the man beingdescribed as Kabiru’s ‘brother’ .
Escapee Boko Haram suspect, Kabiru Umar aka Kabiru Sokoto has been re-arrested by operatives of the State Security Service, SSS and the Military. His real name was given as Kabiru Abubakar Dikko, 28.
Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati told the media yesterday that members of the nation’s secret police arrested Sokoto in Taraba state, which borders Cameroon, adding that he had no other details about the arrest, and referred further questions to the SSS.
President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, echoed the anger and frustration of the generality of Nigerians over the menace of Boko Haram in the country, saying Nigerians are tired of bombing.
