Mimiano

A convicted Nigerian drug trafficker is among six drug offenders to be executed in Indonesia on Sunday. The Nigerian,38 year-old Daniel Enemuo, alias Diarrssouba was convicted in 2004. Indonesian authorities announced the execution today. It will be the first execution under new President Joko Widodo. The planned executions were announced by the Indonesian Attorney General’s Office. Widodo, who took office in late October, signed off on the executions last month. He pledged no clemency for drug offenders, despite pleas from the European Union, the Brazilian government and Amnesty International. The five foreigners due to be executed are from Nigeria, Malawi, Vietnam, the Netherlands and Brazil. “Indonesia’s new government took office on the back of promises to improve respect for human rights, but carrying out these executions would be a regressive move,” said Rupert Abbott, a Southeast Asia research director for Amnesty International. European Union foreign

This was disclosed in a statement made available to Punch in Abuja, by the coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri. Boko Haram militants were said to have razed at least 16 Borno State towns and villages in new multiple attacks. According to Omeri, in recent days, there has been heavy fighting between Boko Haram and Nigerian troops in some parts of Borno State, especially Baga. He explained that since the insurgents’ first attack on Baga last weekend, security forces have been on their tail, chasing them. He said: “ On Wednesday, a group of militants conducted a second terrorist attack on the area, leaving casualties and destroying property. Security forces have responded rapidly, and have deployed significant military assets and conducted airstrikes against militant targets. “These brutal and barbaric attacks by Boko Haram represent none of the people of Nigeria and no religion. Our security forces will continue to pursue the perpetrators

Madam Eunice recalls that there was nothing special about the day on which Goodluck was born in Otuoke. His birth was however very easy compared to her other experiences with childbirth. She says: “I often had prolonged labour during childbirth, sometimes for up to a week, and because of this, I usually had still- births. But when it was the turn of Goodluck, I delivered him the very day I started having labour pains. This surprised me”. Apart from this, Eunice, did not regard the day as extraordinary. According to her, the people of Otuoke went about their duties as usual. No dramatic event occurred. Perhaps, the fact that nothing special happened was indeed significant and the truly important event was his birth. Giving his reason for naming his son Goodluck, his father said: “ I called him Goodluck because although life was hard for me when he was born, I had this feeling that this boy would bring me good luck. His paternal grandmother, Sarah, also declared t

Kano - Boko Haram gunmen fought running battles with Nigerian troops on the streets of the northeastern city of Damaturu on Friday, in an apparent reprisal attack after a recent raid on a militant stronghold, residents told AFP. "The gunmen arrived at around 7:30 pm (1830 GMT), firing guns and shouting 'Allahu Akbar!' (God is greatest)," said Mukhtar Sani, a student of the Yobe State University in the city. Troops intercepted the insurgents and Aishatu Bala, who lives nearby, added: "All the streets are deserted. Everybody has moved indoors and all we hear are sounds of gunfire."

Yaounde - Cameroon's President Paul Biya has appealed for international military help to fight Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which this week threatened to step up its cross-border raids into the country from Nigeria. The Nigerian group is part of a "global" movement that has attacked Mali, the Central African Republic and Somalia in its drive to establish its authority from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic, Biya said. "A global threat calls for a global response. Such should be the response of the international community, including the African Union and our regional organizations," he said in a New Year speech on Thursday to diplomats at the presidential palace. He said he regretted that a regional military force against the insurgents had yet to be established. At least 15 people were killed in an attack on a bus in north Cameroon on New Year's day. A man purporting to be Boko Haram's leader, Abubakar Shekau, threatened in a

London - Frank Lampard on Friday moved to clear up "lies and nonsense" over his move to New York City FC, confirming he will move to the States after completing his loan deal with Manchester City. Lampard issued a statement which said he does have an agreement in place with Major League Soccer side New York and will move there at season's end. "I want to make it completely clear about my situation as I have read a lot of lies and nonsense over the last few days," the statement said. "When released from Chelsea last year at the end of my contract I signed a commitment to play for NYCFC for two years starting January 1, 2015. I was then offered the chance to train and be part of the Man City squad in the interim to keep myself in the best shape going into New York. "This period has since been extended by Man City and I will now start playing for NYCFC at the end of this current Premier League season. "There has always been a c

Lagos - We bring you the campaign timetable of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari from January 10 The campaign, which started on Wednesday has seen Buhari visiting Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Abia and Delta States. Enugu and Anambra (Awka/Onitsha) 10th January Ebonyi (Abakaliki) and Ondo (Akure) - 12th January Lagos and Ogun - 13th January Osun (Osogbo) and Ekiti (Ado-Ekiti) - 14th January - Oyo (Ibadan) and Kwara (Ilorin) 15th January Benue (Makurdi) and Kogi (Lokoja) - 16th January Plateau (Jos) and Niger (Minna) - 17th January Nasarawa (Lafia) and Kaduna (Kaduna) - 19th January Kano and Jigawa (Dutse) 20th January - Katsina and Zamfara (Gusau) - 21st January - Sokoto and Kebbi 22nd January - Bauchi and Gombe - 23rd January - Borno and Yobe 24th January - International Engagements 25th to 27th January - Adamawa and Taraba 28th January Grand Finale (Abuja) 29th January