Lagos Airport not attacked by terrorists, say FAAN, Air Force (Nation)
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Air Force have debunked reports of a video circulating in the social media showing terrorists attack at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos. It came as the Airport Police Command said yesterday that it would investigate and prosecute persons behind the video. FAAN’s spokesperson Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, in a statement, said the video was the handiwork of mischief-makers. She urged the international community to disregard such video, saying the airport is safe and activities going on smoothly. Read more
Strike: FG, ASUU hold another crucial meeting today (Punch)
The Federal Government is expected to hold another emergency meeting with the Academic Staff Union of Universities on Monday in a bid to end the ongoing strike in public universities. The last meeting between the two parties took place on November 15. Despite the meeting lasting for six hours, the strike was not called off because no agreement was reached. Our correspondent learnt on Sunday that today’s meeting would again focus on the issues in the 2017 Memorandum of Action, which the union claimed the Federal Government had neglected. Read more
Air Force steps up action against Boko Haram (Nation)
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been striking fleeing Boko Haram attackers who invaded a military base in Metele village, Guzamala Local Government Area, Borno State. The air strikes led to the destruction of seven vehicles, including gun trucks, and eliminated all the terrorists in the vehicles, The Nation learnt yesterday. But there are indications that Boko Haram commanders and their foot soldiers who attacked the military base in Metele were non-Nigerians. Read more
Oshiomhole: Obasanjo planning to rule by proxy (Nation)
Any attempt by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to return to power by proxy will be resisted, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole said yesterday. He dismissed as “empty” the former leader’s boast that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will unseat the APC-led administration from Aso Rock. Oshiomhole spoke in Kano where he led other APC stalwarts to receive hundreds of members of the PDP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, who defected into the ruling party at the Sani Abacha Stadium. Read more
Boko Haram: Nigeria, Chad Defence ministers to meet (Nation)
Defence Minister Brig-Gen Mansur Dan-Ali is billed for N’djamena, Chad’s capital this week. His mission is to discuss with his Chadian counterpart Gen. Daoud Yaya on how best to respond to the worsening security crisis along the Nigeria – Chad border. The trip is coming in the wake of rising insurgency in the Northeast, especially the November 18 attack on troops at the 157 Task Force Battalion in Metete, a remote village in Borno State, on the Nigeria- Chad border. Read more
Fears as S-East govs shun Atiku’s installation (Vanguard)
South East governors and other major political office-holders, yesterday, stayed away from the installation of former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as Waziri Adamawa in Yola, Adamawa State, sparking fears of apparent disaffection within the party. There had been mutterings over the approach of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar to South-East political office holders in the choice of his running mate, Mr Peter Obi. Read more
Akwa Ibom renames airport after Attah (Vanguard)
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel has immortalised former Governor of the State, Obong Victor Attah by renaming Ibom International Airport after him. The governor made the pronouncement at the weekend at a state banquet to celebrate Attah who clocked 80 years last week at the prestigious Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort, Uyo. Read more
Don’t ignore weather predictions, NCAA warns pilots, airline operators (Vanguard)
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, weekend, warned Pilots and airline operators to observe safety precautions in line with Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations, Nig.CARs, during flight operations in adverse weather conditions. The warning was contained in an Advisory Circular with reference no. AC: NCAA-AEROMET- 26: to all Pilots and Airline Operators signed by the Director General of the Authority, Capt Muhtar Usman. Read more
Migrant caravan: Mexico to deport group which stormed US border (BBC)
Mexico will deport up to 500 migrants who attempted to storm the US border, according to its interior ministry. The group were rounded up after trying to cross the border “violently” and “illegally” on Sunday, the ministry said in a statement. Video footage shows dozens of people – including women and children – running towards the fence that separates the two countries near the city of Tijuana. They were repelled by tear gas used by US border officers. Read more
Russia seizes Ukrainian naval ships (BBC)
Russia has fired on and seized three Ukrainian naval vessels off the Crimean Peninsula in a major escalation of tensions between the two countries. Two gunboats and a tug were captured by Russian forces. A number of Ukrainian crew members were injured. Each country blames the other for the incident. On Monday Ukrainian MPs are due to vote on declaring martial law. The crisis began when Russia accused the Ukrainian ships of illegally entering its waters. The Russians placed a tanker under a bridge in the Kerch Strait – the only access to the Sea of Azov, which is shared between the two countries. Read more
Almost 150 whales die on New Zealand beach (BBC)
A group of up to 145 pilot whales have died after becoming stranded on a beach on Stewart Island in New Zealand. The animals were discovered by walkers late on Saturday, strewn along the beach of Mason Bay. Authorities said half the whales had already died by then, while the other half were put down as it would have been too difficult to save them. In separate incidents, 10 pygmy whales and a sperm whale were also beached in New Zealand over the weekend. Read more
AWCON: Cameroon can’t stop us from final — Falcons coach (Vanguard)
Having rediscovered their verve after the opening day loss to South Africa, the Super Falcons are set to face another test, when they tackle top rivals, Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses in tomorrow’s Africa Women Cup of Nations’ semi-final clash at the Accra Sports Stadium in Ghana. Super Falcons have been a stumbling block to the Lionesses’ quest to win their first African title and according to coach Maureen Madu, the Super Falcons are so determined to reach another final and win the title. Read more
Aubameyang winner extends Arsenal’s unbeaten run (Guardian)
Unai Emery claimed Arsenal’s 2-1 win at Bournemouth was a big moment in their season after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang extended the Gunners’ unbeaten run to 17 matches. Emery’s side took the lead through Jefferson Lerma’s bizarre own goal before Josh King equalised on the stroke of half-time at Dean Court on Sunday. Read more
Gang rapes 13-year-old virgin while unconscious (Punch)
A 13-year-old rape victim is still suffering from the trauma she experienced after she was allegedly raped by a gang of four boys. The victim was reportedly raped while being unconscious. PUNCH Metro gathered that the victim, who works as an apprentice nurse after school hours, was approached by one of the gang members on her way to her workplace last week. It was learnt that the suspect blew an unknown substance into the victim’s eyes, which made her lose consciousness after she resisted his advances. Read more
Dealers beat family members over missing hemp in Ondo (Punch)
Some men suspected to be Indian hemp dealers at Ogbese in the Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State have allegedly beaten up a woman, identified as Mrs Martina Christopher, her father and brother to a pulp over the disappearance of bags of cannabis kept on the victims’ farmland. It was gathered that the Indian hemp dealers, numbering about 40, had last Thursday invaded Martina’s farmland, located at Bolorunduro village in the council area, to search for some bags of the cannabis earlier kept on the farm. They were said to have met Martina’s brother, Isaac Akpan, working in the farm. Read more
Kidnapping syndicate demands N35m ransom, member dies during gun battle (Punch)
A kidnapper, Festus Abama, has been killed by the anti-kidnapping operatives of the Lagos State Police Command during a gun battle between the police and members of his kidnap syndicate in the Agbowa area of Ikorodu. The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, in a statement on Sunday, said a member of the kidnap syndicate, Austine Ebimiyenwei, 27, was arrested, adding that the police were making efforts to arrest other suspects, who fled from the scene of the attack. Read more
