Why IDP camp in Rann was bombed – NAF, Abubakar

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has explained that the Internally Displaced Persons Camp (IDP) camp in Rann, Borno was bombed due to “communication gap.”

Abubakar, who stated this while speaking to journalists also confirmed that the committee set up to investigate the incident has submitted its report.

“The report has been submitted, but I would not let you into the findings of the report. This is because we are forwarding it to the Defence Headquarters and from there to the Ministry of Defence.

“Even recently, some foreign powers also bombed friendly forces mistakenly. What is important to us is to pray for the families of the deceased and support them. And this is what we have been doing.“But one thing I want to say is that it is a very tragic incident. It has happened and it is something that is associated with war.

“Usually when a thing like this happens, you find out that there is a communication gap somewhere. It is the left for us to find out: Why did that communication gap exist? What can we do to ensure that it does not come up again?,” Abubakar said.

He vowed that anyone found culpable in the incident will not be spared.

Abubakar added: “If there are very glaring cases of people who are negligent, we will not hesitate to be very decisive to deal with that situation.

“We have interacted with a number of Non-Governmental Organisations in that area. We have advised them that any time they are going for outreaches, they must give us a notice. We have suggested that they use the Red Cross insignia. This must be done so that anybody flying over will see the insignia and know that these are outreach gatherings and not Boko Haram.

“No matter what, we have always double-checked our intelligence and will ensure that we do so before deploying airplanes. We are working on that so we do not have this situation again.

Over 200 persons reportedly died in the accidental bombing of IDPs that occurred in January.“We have flown over 7,000 hours for over eight years and this is the first time we are having the Rann incident. I am not justifying the bombing. It was tragic, but war in itself is tragic.”

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killer of inspector, Ecobank staff was shot dead by police in Imo

One of the suspected killers of a police Inspector, Vincent Umeh and a 30-year-old staff of Ecobank in okigwe, Enyioma Okwudiri in Okigwe Local Government area in Imo State, Chimaobi Okorie, has been shot dead by operatives of the State Police Command.

The gang which Okorie was part of had allegedly killed the Inspector along Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway and made away with the vehicle he was travelling in on March 1, 2017.

Confirming the death of Okorie, the State Police Command’s spokesperson, Andrew Enwerem, said the deceased armed robber was arrested on Sunday at a guest house in Okigwe town known as “Beghe guest in ” flowing a tipoff.

The police spokesperson told Punch that Okorie on citing operatives of the Command opened fire on them but was “demobilised” and later taken to a hospital where he was confirmed dead.

Enwerem disclosed that one cut to size double barrel gun, four life cartridges and two expended ammunition exhibits were recovered from the armed robber.

“On seeing our men at the premises of Beghe guest in, in Okigwe, Chimaobi Okorie engaged the policemen in a shootout and attempted to escape through the fence of the hotel, but he was demobilised by the operatives.

“He was taken to the hospital for treatment but was later confirmed dead by the doctor, “ Enwerem said.

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The 2018 election should be shifted - Dogara

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has called for the proposed 2018 census to be shifted.

In a statement released on Monday, Dogara explained that it would be better for the head count to be conducted after the e72019 elections, in the interest of the country.

He also stated that waiting until a new administration comes in, will ensure there will be no political pressure to manipulate its outcome.

“If you conduct census at the niche of elections, there will be so much pressure, crisis and the lure for people to manipulate the figures for political reasons, such that the agency cannot even cope with.“I won’t advise anyone to conduct national census in 2018. I said it before that if we are not going to achieve it in 2017, then we should just forget it until after 2019.

“So, it is better for a fresh administration to conduct this exercise from the beginning of that administration when we do not have any pressure of elections in sight. Then we may have something that resembles reality, but I can bet you if the census is conducted in 2018, the outcome will be doubtable.

“Seriously speaking, because I know who we are and I know the kind of litigations, backlashes, the pressure and we don’t need that now to be candid.

“We have so many challenges, let’s empower the agencies to keep building on the blocks that they will leverage on in the future in order to do the exercise but doing it in 2018, honestly it is nothing I would advocate,” Dogara’s statement read.

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See how Kcee looks sweet in his birthday pix

Singer K-Cee welcomed his birthday with these dapper new photos, thanking God for another year. Read what he wrote after the cut..

Thank you God for making me witness another April 18th in my life... looking back to where I'm coming from and seeing where I'm right now shows the power of God's grace upon my life. God I'm grateful for everything you've done and still doing for me. Even when the world tried to crush me,you lifted me high above every trial and tribulations. I'm forever your loyal and humble son.
Thank you God for adding another beautiful year in my life,I'm forever grateful to you. Happy birthday to me #DESIRE #mrromantic #romanticcall 🎈🎊🍹🎉💃😍❤️️

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