Thursday 19 November 2015

105 soldiers reportedly go missing after Boko Haram attack

105 soldiers of the 157 Battalion are reportedly missing, following an attack from Boko Haram insurgents at Gudunbali, Borno State, on Wednesday, November 18.
Premium Times reports that military sources revealed that the soldiers and their commanding officer went missing after the onslaught.
The report further stated that the insurgents captured a T-72 tank and several artillery weapons from the unit.
Eight vehicles and a truck loaded with 60,000 rounds of AA ammunition and three artillery pieces, were also stolen by the insurgents.
A military source was quoted to have said: “Gudunbali was attacked this morning and some weapons were captured from the battalion. Two officers and 105 soldiers are still missing.”
“They captured a T-72 tank from the unit and some artillery weapons were also captured. The commanding Officer (CO) of the battalion is yet to be seen but no one has been confirmed dead yet.”

Ex-Permanent Secretary in EFCC custody over N500m SURE-P fraud

The former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Nkechi Ejele, is the latest guest of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Ejele was interrogated on Thursday, by the EFCC for her role in the alleged N500 million misapplication of funds meant for the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).
The SURE-P funds was appropriated to the Ministry between 2013 and 2014.
Ejele was one of the permanent secretaries that was sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari last week.
Premium Times reports that Ejele arrived the headquarters of the agency at about 10am for interrogation.
She is expected to be admitted to administrative bail pending when she would be formally charged for the alleged offence.