The body of Squadron Leader Bello Mohamed Baba-Ari, the Nigeria Air Force pilot who died earlier today, September 28, after ejecting from an F-7Ni aircraft, has been laid to rest in accordance with Islamic rites.

There has been pandemonium in the city of Jos, the Plateau State capital and environs following the killings of 13 persons on Thursday by yet to be identified persons along the road to the Rukuba Military Barracks, Jos.
Laughwisely gathered that among those killed were nine members of a family and one said to have been shot by soldiers.
The gunmen were said to have invaded the Rukuba road, at about 8 pm, shooting at random.

It was further gathered that the gunmen carried out their operation unhindered and left without intervention.
When Laughwisely visited the community, the community was enveloped with grief and anger.
Also angry youths who said the security men could not stop the perpetrators from the attacks, destroyed a police station at Gada Biyu area, linking to Rukuba road where the incident occurred.

Schools especially private ones had to hurriedly close and messages were sent to parents to come and pick their wards.
Confirming the attacks but could not give the casualty figure, the Plateau State Police Command through its Spokesman, DSP Mathias Terna Tyopev, said, “On the 27/09/2018 being Thursday at about 22:05 hours, the Plateau State Police Command Control Room in Jos received a distress call to the effect that there were sporadic gunshots at Rukuba Road, opposite Kowa Hotel, Jos.

Tyopev said, “The Command after receiving the report mobilised patrol teams immediately to the scene of the crime.

He, however, said, “The unknown gunmen who took advantage of the ongoing rain in the area to attack residents were forced to run from the scene by the combined superior gunfire of the Police and the Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) .

According to the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, “Some people who reside close to the hills were rescued while some persons lost their lives as a result of the attack and some others sustained gunshot injuries and were rushed to Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos and are currently receiving treatment.

“The combined security is out to contain the situation in Jos . As such, members of the public are to remain calm and law abiding.

”Meanwhile, patrol of the area is being intensified and investigation in the crime has commenced .

President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana on Thursday addressed the attacks on Nigerian traders in Ghana.

Akufo-Addo assured Buhari that Nigerian traders were being taken care of.

He stated this at a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in New York on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly.

Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement in Abuja.

The Ghanaian leader said there was no intention to deliberately target Nigerians, noting that it was all about complying with the rules that guide trading in the country.

“I have met with the different groups and have been reassured that there was no agenda to send anybody away.

“It is just that they needed to regularize their positions according to the trading laws of the country,” Akufo-Addo said.

He added that Ghana’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alan Kyerematen, had issued a press statement on the matter.

The statement read: “The Ministry of Trade and Industry wishes to inform the general public that the National Committee on Retail Trade will continue to ensure that all businesses operating in the retail trade sector of Ghana are given the opportunity and support to regularize their operations and comply with the laws and regulations in the country.

In this regard, all owners of the affected businesses and shops are requested to contact the relevant State Institutions and Agencies to regularize their operations as required by the various bodies under reference.

The Ministry takes this opportunity to assure the general public, particularly the international community, that there is no orchestrated action by Government or any State Institution targeted at Nigerian nationals or any particular foreign nationals.

Buhari in response commended the actions taken so far to address the situation, stressing that Nigeria and Ghana had a relationship that dated back in time.

He, therefore, urged citizens of both countries to comply with the relevant laws.

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris on Friday refuted claims that security agencies harassed and arrested election observers and journalists in the just concluded governorship election in Osun State.

Idris insisted that no election observer and journalists were arrested by his men during the just concluded election.

In a statement issued by the Force spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, Idris also commended men of the Force for their professionalism during the election.

The statement reads, “The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, NPM, mni has expressed utmost satisfaction with the implementation of the Robust Security Arrangement for the Osun State Gubernatorial Election and commends the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations, the entire Police Personnel, Officers and Men of other Security and Safety Agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) deployed for Election Security during the just concluded Osun State Gubernatorial Election on Saturday, 22nd September, 2018, and the Re-run election of Thursday, 27th September, 2018.

The IGP appreciates the commitment and civility of the entire security personnel in ensuring adequate security and conducive environment for a credible Gubernatorial Election in Osun State.

The IGP further extols the high-level professionalism, politeness, firmness and unbiased conducts of the Police Personnel, before, during and after the election. The Nigeria Police Force equally appreciates the law-abiding attitude and peaceful conduct of the good people of Osun State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Election Monitors/Observers, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the Media and other critical stakeholders for a good working relationship with the security personnel deployed for the election.

The good disposition and spirit of sportsmanship exhibited by most of the political parties in the election which doused fear and tensions during the election is gratifying and highly commendable.

As a lead security agency in election security in a democracy, the IGP further commends the entire security personnel deployed for the election for their personal sacrifice, collective patriotism and commitment in ensuring that the election was conducted in an atmosphere of peace devoid of any breach of public peace and security throughout the period of the election, the Commissioners of Police and their personnel in the States contiguous to Osun State who were placed on Red Alert by the Inspector General of Police are equally appreciated.

The impressive performance of the Police personnel to ensure law and order and a successful election is a clear testimony of the capability of the Nigeria Police Force in its renewed commitment to continue to adhere to International Best Practices in the conduct of elections in the country now and in the future.
“It is imperative to state that, there was no any Election Observer, Journalist or Electorate arrested, detained or prevented from carrying out their statutory civic responsibilities/duties during the period of the Election.

There were also no official complaints of violence or injury to persons reported by any individual(s)/group at any Police Station/Division in all the Seven (7) Units where the re-run election were held on 27th September 2018, however, any member of the public with any complain now should do so at the nearest Police Station for immediate investigation.

Members of the public are hereby implored to disregard and discountenance claims in some certain sections of the media that the security agencies intimidate Journalists, Election Observers and voters during the re-run election as untrue, unfounded and entirely hear-say.

The Nigeria Police Force will continue to sustain and improve on the election security successes recorded in the Gubernatorial Elections in Edo, Ondo, Anambra, Ekiti States and the just concluded Gubernatorial Election in Osun State as an index for the conduct of subsequent elections in the Country.

Two aircraft of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have been involved in an accident.

This was disclosed on Friday in a statement signed by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola.
Daramola said the air accident occurred during rehearsals for the Independence day celebrations.

I wish to confirm an air incident involving 2 Nigerian Air Force aircraft taking part in the rehearsals for the 58th Independence Day Celebrations,” he said.

Daramola did not state if the accident was a collision or a crash.

The Nigerian Air Force in a different press release later on Friday announced the death of one of its pilots who was involved in an accident.
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, made the announcement on Friday.

It is with a heavy heart that I regretfully announce that one of the pilots who successfully ejected from one of the F-7Ni aircraft that crashed earlier today has passed on. May his soul RIP,
Daramola said.

The Eastern Consultative Assembly, ECA, has condemned what it described as the brazen rigging of the governorship election in Osun State, saying that the region will not vote in the 2019 presidential election as the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has made it impossible for people’s vote to count.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the Deputy Leader of ECA and the Secretary, Evangelist Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, after a meeting of the group in Enugu, yesterday.

The statement read, “The horror of the brazenly manipulated Osun rerun elections confirms the fears of all and sundry,that this inept government, will never allow a free, fair and credible presidential elections next year.


The daylight robbery in Edo plus the brutal show of force in Ekiti, both warned the world of what to expect in 2019.

The macabre dance of shame in Osun,has removed whatever doubts remaining in our minds,that 2019 elections will be sham elections.

The ruthless use of security forces to oppress and intimidate supporters of the opposition, the clear employment of the army, the police, the Department of State Services, DSS, and other government security agencies in open aid of the ruling party, plus the subtle endorsement of vote-buying, all, have made it impossible for us to have confidence in the electoral process as managed by the present arrogant government.

Accordingly, we find it difficult to cue in the hot sun to cast our votes, only for a vicious cabal with a born-to-rule mentality,to ensure our votes do not count.

Therefore, we are shouting it out loud, we will boycott the presidential elections. Our people desirous of voting in local elections (governorship and state assembly) may vote, if they so wish. But we will boycott presidential elections in order to allow General Buhari rule his Nigeria with iron fist until he is 130 years old. APC presidential primaries: Governors to serve as Returning Officers “Now we know why all military and security agencies are deliberately placed in control of one particular region, now we know why the 97%/5% policy of the central government is implemented with single mindedness.

Because decision has already been taken, that votes will not count, even INEC has also been placed under total control of the ruling party. Why would any sensible person, bother to go out to vote.

The confidence of the people in the electoral process, has been completely destroyed by the armed robbery that was Osun Rerun election. The fact that the perpetrators of this heist, are boastful about it, confirms that we are in big trouble as a country.

Going through the brigandage and pillage of the former ruling party, only to fall into the hands of this ruthless and vicious cabal, is a costly mistake.

We hereby apologise to the IPOB, who saw clearly, earlier than anybody, that this inept government do not have the intention to ever conduct fair and credible elections.

The election held on Saturday, 22 September was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after votes in seven polling units of the state were cancelled due to violence.

The election will take place in seven polling units scattered in four Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. These are Ife North, Ife South, Orolu and Osogbo Local Government Areas.


While the police has alerted members of the public of a planned violence, it has also assured residents of the state that it would not allow anything that will undermine the process and breach of public peace.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Operations and Security Coordinator for the election Joshak Habila said the police will not let their guards down for the planned violence to occur.

Habila noted that Saturday’s election was free, fair and peaceful, save for few incidents of “breach of peace and threat to life and property.”

He warned that only eligible voters and officials would be allowed near polling units in the areas where rerun would take place.

We have an intelligence report that, there is a grand plan to turn the election gruesomely violent and deadly by arming thugs to unleash mayhem at polling centres.

As law enforcement agencies, the police and other security agencies would not permit the breakdown of law and order.

Habila assured electorates “The Police and other law enforcement agencies have been deployed to maintain law and order and protect lives and property of residents.

He warned that those “preparing for “fire for fire” must be ready to bear the consequences of their actions which are designed to undermine this particular democratic process.

The officer said the “Nigeria Police Force will remain proactive and would not rest on its oars in the task to decode the identities of those democratic enemies.

He urged residents are requested to be law abiding and go about their lawful duties without fear and with the full assurance of the protection of law-abiding citizens and voters who are out there to exercise their franchise.

The DIG appealed to residents to report all suspicious activities to the police, such as solicitation for votes, buying of Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) and any plan to rig or disrupt the election.

Troublemakers and other interlopers are warned to keep away from the polling units and indeed from any part of the state.