Nigeria Boko Haram spokesman arrested, victims buried

ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's secret service arrested the purported spokesman for Islamist militant sect Boko Haram Wednesday, a group that has claimed responsibility for a string of deadly bombings and gun attacks, a secret service source told Reuters.

Why we attacked Kano – Boko Haram

A paramedic helps a young man, injured during one of the multiple explosions and shooting attacks, as he leaves the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital. AFP PHOTO

MAIDUGURI—THE Boko Haram sect has given reasons for its weekend attacks, which led to the killing of about 162 people in Kano State, saying it was to avenge the persecution of its members.

Death toll rises to 162

The death toll of Friday’s multiple bomb attacks and shooting in Kano rose to over 160 on Saturday, making it the highest that the country has recorded in the history of Boko Haram bomb blasts.

Bridge, Car Bombed In Bayelsa Capital print

Tombia market bridge

Barely hours after bombs and gun attacks in Kano, and also on the eve of the visit of Nigeria’s vice president, Namadi Sambo, to President Goodluck Jonathan’s state,

Many feared dead as 20 bomb explosions rock Kano, Police confirm 7 dead

A series of coordinated bomb explosions tore through Kano this Friday afternoon (today), targeting police formations in the metropolis.

Kaduna Blast kills at least six people

A powerful explosion struck the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna on Wednesday, killing at least six people, eyewitnesses said.

Returning pilgrims’ aircraft crash-lands in Kano

JetBlue Airways Flight 292 making an emergency landing at the Los Angeles International Airport; September 21, 2005 (pix: Wikipedia)

KANO - A Yola bound chartered aircraft with about 500 Nigerian pilgrims and other cabin crew members on board from Saudi Arabia Monday crash-landed at the Mallam Aminu Kano Airport when one of its tyres burst while on emergency landing.

Gunmen kill Amokachi’s brother

Two gunmen suspected to be armed robbers yesterday killed Super Eagles Assistant Coach, Daniel Amokachi’s younger brother, Tehimbi Emmanuel Ayuwa at his phone call center in front of Amokachi father’s residence at Zuba Road, close to Police College in Kaduna.

Stop Amputation in Zamfara State Now

Location of Zamfara State in Nigeria. Photo: Wikipedia

SIR: I am writing to urge the governor of Zamfara state, Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, not to authorise the amputation of Auwalu Abubakar, 23, and Lawalli Musa, 22.

Kidnappers of Mikel’s father wanted $4bn – Police

The suspected kidnappers

The kidnappers of the father of Chelsea star, Mikel Obi, had demanded $4bn to him set free, the police said on Tuesday.

Mikel Obi‘s father goes missing in Jos

John Mikel Obi

MICHAEL OBI, the father of Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi, has gone missing in Jos, the capital of Plateau State.

De-accreditation: 420 medical students withdrawn from UNIJOS

No fewer than 420 students have been withdrawn from the Department of Medicine and Surgery, faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Jos, following the de-accreditation of the MBBS programme by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

Five die as Jos boils again

Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang

After a short respite, Jos, the Plateau State capital, erupted again in a bloody clash, leaving five dead.

Nollywood actress faces the hangman

Rabi Ismail

Following last Friday’s upholding of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Kano Division, which sentenced actress Rabi Ismail to death by hanging, Nollywood stars weekend, pleaded with President Goodluck Jonathan to endeavour to overturn the death sentence slammed against the actress.

Boko Haram cautions civilians, promises jihad

The charred body of the suspected bomber being taken away at scene of bomb blast at the Police Force Headquarter Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan

MAIDUGURI — THE Boko Haram sect, yesterday, reacted to the statement credited to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Hafiz Ringim, that the days of the sect members were numbered with the donation of 10 armoured personnel carriers and 10 patrol vehicles to the police by Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State on Monday.

INEC drafts students to conduct polls in Bauchi, Kaduna today

Disowns radio broadcast of results in Zamfara guber election

Following the decision by corps members to back out of the conduct of gubernatorial and state Assembly elections in the troubled Bauchi and Kaduna states, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has settled for students of tertiary institutions in both states to serve as ad-hoc personnel for the election billed for today.

Rioters lock in 50 NYSC members, set building on fire

Post-election riots

Anyone who has been following post-election events in northern Nigeria would, like me, be so heart-broken and downcast over the events in Northern Nigeria since the results were announced. Here is a little taste of what went on:

THEY never knew that evil was on the way. All was calm in the neighbourhood, although the news had been broken that rioters were on the rampage in the city.

Presidential Poll: Buhari Disowns Rioters

Rioters at Hausawa Quarters in Tarauni Local Government Area, in Kano... on Monday

The defeated candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change in Saturday’s Presidential election, Maj.- Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has distanced himself, the CPC and its supporters from the violence that rocked some northern states.

The violence started on Sunday when results of the poll showed that President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party was coasting to victory.

Post-election protest uncalled for – Atiku

FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar

Makinde condemns riots, calls for calm

ABUJA — FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar said yesterday that the post election protests in some parts of the country were uncalled for, just as he stressed that any form of political violence that involves attacks on public institutions, including places of worship, was dangerous to the stability, unity and peaceful co-existence of Nigeria.

Update: Post-election violence claims lives in Northern states

A shot from Ghali Na‘aba’s burnt house

Fresh post-election violence has claimed lives and houses in Kano, Kaduna, Zaria and parts of Adamawa and Katsina states.

The clashes were said to have flared on Sunday night after it became apparent that