Nigeria National News Today 05 January 2019

iDONSABI presents the latest national news trending in Nigeria, today Saturday 05 January 2019. Interesting discoveries as Boko Haram reveals part source of income!


CBN Intervenes, Injects $210m

The Central Bank of Nigeria, has injected the sum of $210m into the foreign exchange market.

The Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Mr Isaac Okorafor, said the bank continued from where it stopped in 2018 in order to maintain the stability being enjoyed in the market.

To maintain this stability, the wholesale sector of the market received the sum of $100m, while the Small and Medium Enterprises and invisibles sectors each got $55m to meet the needs of customers.

Currently, one $1 exchanged for N357 in the Bureau De Change segment of the market on Friday.


2019: Nigerians May Face Economic Hardships

Experts have forecasted that the Nigerian economy would grow at a very slow pace, between 1.8 and 2 percent.

This portends a sad experience, as the country’s population which grows at 3 percent — as against a lesser economic growth percentage — would make life stressful, hard and difficult for Nigerians.

Nigerians are thus, expected to brace for austere times due to this indication of poor economic performance for the year.


Dangote Launches New Cement ‘BlocMaster’

The Dangote Cement Plc has launched a new cement product, called the ‘BlocMaster’.

This new cement product was made to solve the issues associated with building construction in swampy areas.

The Group Managing Director of the Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Joseph Makoju, said, “For a swampy area like this, this innovative cement becomes a much better offer to use because the terrain with higher sulfur requires a cement product that is stronger, with a higher strength to work better and give a perfect result.”


Panic As Nigerian Aircraft Malfunctions Mid-Air

It was indeed a nightmarish experience for 114 passengers who boarded the Azman Air Lagos-Port Harcourt bound aircraft, as the plane’s engine malfunctioned mid-air, thus, forcing the pilot to initiate an emergency landing.

In a statement released by the airline, it said “On Thursday January 3, 2019, Flight ZQ2316 from Lagos to Port Harcourt experienced an unusual noise from the right engine while landing at destination. All emergency protocols were engaged and the experienced captain was able to get the situation under control. All the passengers on board were safely disembarked in good health”

“We understand the passengers were pretty shaken as it was a tense experience; but our crew was at the top level professionally and they were able to handle the situation calmly. We are saddened our customers have to experience this and we sincerely regret the inconvenience this incident may have caused.”

The General Manager, Public Affairs, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Mr Sam Adurogboye, also confirmed the incident.


Pirates Attack Ship On Lagos-Cotonou Waters

A container ship belonging to the Mediterranean Shipping Company, MSC, has been attacked by pirates — an incidence which left several crew members missing.

According to the spokesman of the MSC, the attack occured off the coast of Benin (Republic of Benin), West Africa.

He said “MSC quickly secured the vessel and its cargo and ensured the safety of the remaining seafarers on board.”

Out of respect for the missing crew members and their families, MSC has no further comment for the time being.”


Military Helicopter Annihilates Bandits In Zamfara

A gang leader, and his group of bandits have been killed by attack helicopters of the Nigerian Air Force.

According to a statement released by the Air Force, the attack helicopters were deployed by the Air Task Force of the military operation and they engaged the bandits and destroyed their makeshift houses.

The gang leader and the bandits were said to have assembled on the Doumbourou Hill — fully armed to the teeth with high-calibre weapons — and were believed to be conspiring to coordinate another attack, before the air strikes by the Nigerian Air Force.


Boko Haram Robs Banks, Purchases Explosives

Funds looted from banks attacked by Boko Haram Terrorists, have been used to purchase dangerous explosives.

This revelation came from a suspected commander of the Boko Haram terrorists group, Umar Abdulmalik, who explained his role in the attacks.

Recall that Umar Abdulmalik — who allegedly partook in several bomb explosions in Kaduna, Kano, as well as Nyanya and Kuje bombings in Abuja, and also partook in the 2012 Koton Karfe Prison break in Kogi State — was recently arrested in Lagos.

Abdulmalik said “I joined one of the Boko Haram cells in Okene headed by one Zeeidi and we carried out several bombings within Kaduna, Kano and Abuja.  Zeeidi was the person providing the bombs and my job then was to take them to our target locations.  After a while, the Department of State Services infiltrated our cell and started arresting members of our group. Mallam Mustapha was arrested and his mosque was demolished.”

“Zeedi also brought the idea that we should rob banks so that those of us who have not been arrested could have resources to continue with the struggle. He brought some guns and he suggested we should attack the Koton Karfe Prison so we could free our members who were detained there. The attack on the prison was successful and we freed a lot of our members.”

“We then attacked some banks in Okene and Owo and made away with large sums of money.  We used some of the money we got from those robberies to buy advanced explosives, including materials we could use in producing non-metallic bombs that could beat metal detectors. A lot of our members were arrested after those bank robberies and the attack on the prison.”

Umar Abdulmalik was arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team. 


IG bows, recalls Imo Commissioner of Police

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has recalled the recently removed Imo Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi, back to Imo state.

This recent development, according to sources, was due to a signal which stated that all the transferred police officers were to return to their former offices with immediate effect.

The three deputy commissioners of police and eleven assistant commissioners of police recently redeployed, were also recalled back to Imo state.


Police Arrests Officials Of the Akwa-Ibom Assembly

The Akwaibom state Assembly Clerk, Mrs Mandu Umoren, and Cashier, Mr Monday Akpan, have been arrested by the Nigeria Police, over alleged unpaid working imprest of five lawmakers in the All Progressives Congress that had been sacked by the House.

The lawmakers were those whose seats were in December, last year, declared vacant by the Speaker of the House, Onofiok Luke.

It was gathered that the two officials of the House of Assembly were invited to the police headquarters at Ikot-Akpan-Abia, at about 10am in the morning to explain issues relating to the lawmakers’ imprest, but they later were detained by the police.


Drama As Marketer Allegedly Steals N10.6m Worth Of Kerosene

A marketer, Abdullahi Yakubu, has been arraigned at Ogba Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, on five counts bordering on obtaining money under false pretences and stealing.

Yakubu allegedly connived with one Victor Kalu, and a tanker driver, to divert 45,000 litres of kerosene belonging to one Mohammed Idris.

A police prosecutor, Inspector Koti Aondohemba, brought the two suspects before the court.

The charges read in part, “That you, Abdullahi Yakubu, Victor Kalu and others now at large on November 1, 2018 at Tin Can Port, Apapa, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did fraudulently obtain the sum of N10,620,000 property of one Mohammed Idris under the pretence that you had 45,000 litres of kerosene to be supplied, knowing it was false”

“That you, Abdullahi Yakubu, Victor Kalu and others now at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned magisterial district, did fraudulently obtain the sum of N280,000, property of one Mohammed Idris, under false pretences that the money was meant for hiring a truck, knowing it was false.”

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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