Professor Sadiq Suleiman Wali, General Sani Abacha’s personal doctor recently spoke to the press, revealing the details of Abacha’s sudden death seventeen years after his mysterious demise.
An event in 1998 that changed the Nigerian history. By June 1998, Sani Abacha had ruled Nigeria for almost five years. Isolated by the West, Abacha promised elections and a transition to civilian rule by October 1998, but with just months to polls, all the political parties nominated General Abacha as their candidate for president.
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Professor Wali describes Abacha as “a quiet person, calm person. He could be really firm on some issues, but normally he didn’t talk much”.
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He served as physician to the three previous Nigerian heads of state after being reluctantly recruited in that role in the early 1980-s. He considered himself politically neutral and lived outside the sprawling heavily guarded presidential complex known as Aso Rock in the capital Abuja. But he was always in the presidential entourage.

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Professor Wali says Abacha’s health was not so serious  before his death. “Abacha was generally healthy though he had some health issues, he was treated, he’s responded [to that treatment] very well. He didn’t have any heart-related diseases at that time.”
READ ALSO: ‘My Husband’s Death Was Like A Coup’ – Maryam Abacha
On the 7 of June, 1998  Wali’d been with Abacha, as he hosted the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat and all seemed well. The next morning General Sani Abacha was due to fly to the OAU summit being held in Burkina-Faso and professor Wali was due to go with him.
Professor Wali recounts that “around 6 am I had a phone call from his security officers, and they said, “please come, come to the villa, come urgently!”  Before I even could get ready, they came and picked me. I had no idea what it all was about.”
The car carrying the doctor sped towards the presidential villa through a special entrance – a shortcut which only the president was allowed to use.
READ ALSO: 7 Things History Wont Forget About Abacha
The doctor realised something was seriously wrong.
“I arrived then I saw chief security there and he said “doctor come in, please, come in!” We all rushed and I just saw the president. There was another doctor who came earlier, resuscitating him. Abacha was in the sitting room. He was on the couch. He was in his normal work clothes. I didn’t panic. I’ve seen a lot of serious problems before in my practice, but to affect him was very tough, definitely. I joined and we did as much as we could to resuscitate him. But I realised that he was dead because he was fuming. We just continued resuscitation and even injected some things, but it didn’t work.”
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After 40 minutes trying to resuscitate the stricken general, Professor Wali said General Abacha had died. “I said, sorry – there’s nothing we can do”.
There was no immediate public announcement, in a country prone to coups, Abacha’s head of security first increased the guard around the presidential complex and then called the heads of the armed forces to gather to decide on his replacement.
“Immediately the security officer took over, and he invited all the service chiefs to come to Abuja, by then most of them were based in Lagos.” says doctor Wali.
When the service chiefs arrived, some of them asked to see the body to pay their respect to their former leader.
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“They wanted to make sure, that he is dead. And some of them were crying” – tells Wali.
Professor informed the family of what have happened. Obviously, the sudden death of an apparently healthy head of state raised a few questions.
Professor Wali was determined that there should be an autopsy to find out what caused the sudden heart attack. After much deliberating, the family declined, preferring the quick burial in line with Islamic tradition. But the doctor was determined to find some clues as to what have happened.
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“I still try to take some samples of blood and urine and hair and things like that, just thinking for the future chemical tests,” Professor Wali said, adding that “it’s very difficult to say [whether he died of natural causes]. What I can see. The blood test we did, has shown some raised cardiac enzymes [proteins that are released into the blood by dying heart muscles].That’s why we thought maybe it was cardiac attack.”
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Every Nigerian has his own theory about what happened to General Abacha. There are rumours that he was poisoned, or that he spent a night entertaining young ladies. Speaking on the rumours, Professor Wali said: “when I entered [Abacha’s premises], there were no ladies. It might be true but I did not see them. Concerning the poison, as I said no post-mortem has been done, so I couldn’t assure whether he was poisoned or it was a heart attack.”
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While the generals deliberated on who would take over, plans were made to take Abacha’s body to his hometown in Kano later that day. It was decided to finally tell the public what had happened.  But the mystery around Abacha’s death still remains seventeen years after his sudden and unexpected demise.
Earlier Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, Chief Security Officer (CSO) of General Sani Abacha, who was Nigeria’s military Head of State from November 1993 to June 1998, told the press his own version of Sani Abacha’s last days.

Joseph Edgar, an investment banker and blogger, has run into Nigerian music legend Majek Fashek this morning in Lagos.
On his way to work the man saw a loony figure in sagged pants with dirty black underwear showing, and a caftan perched precariously on his extra lean shoulders.
The man with long unkempt dreadlocks and yellow teeth had a surprisingly very handsome face. In this man Edgar recognized one of the legends of Nigerian music Majek.
READ ALSO: I’m Under Spiritual Attack – Majek Fashek
He was begging for ogogoro because he did not have 100 Naira to pay for it. The blogger reportedly stopped, brought out the money, but suddenly got confused.
“Should I give him this money and contribute to his death or should I refuse him and watch him throw a tantrum like a disposed toddler. He saved me the dilemma as he grabbed the money from me and rushed to the ugly, black dirty merchant of death, who gleefully poured him a glass full,” Edgar recalled.

Majek downed the drink and hugged the blogger like he had just saved him from death.
“I looked deep into his eyes and saw a lost soul. He was actually begging for help, the demon inside of him peered at me from his once very beautiful eyes, daring me to do my worse.”
Speaking with the blogger, Majek said that he was not going to leave this host until it finished its dreadful task of killing him.
Shortly after the rencounter with the former music star, the impressed Edgar shared his experience and sad feelings in his blog.
“Did we fail him as Nigerians, did we put an umbrella over the rainmaker, did the flood of his talent wash away his life, what can be done, do we continue watch him make a mockery of a life once blessed?” the blogger asked.
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“Majek in his destitution represents Nigeria. Blessed with more than enough resources, rich in human capacity, more fertile land than the whole of Asia and filled with gifted and talented people, but yet beggarly and poor. Daily our leaders go to ‘jibowu’ to beg poorer countries for aid, for debt forgiveness. The contradiction never leaves me. Japan with no known natural resources is so developed that we can only look in shame.
“Majek with all the talents of a thousand people, begging the woman who can’t lift a finger beside him for N100, Majek being laughed at by miscreants and being mocked with so much joy by those who were not half as blessed by God,” he added.

The health status of reggae legend, Majek Fashek has been in the news for quite some time now, and it seems no one is ready to pick up the issue until few days ago when brought you news of a Good Samaritan who has offered to help out on the veteran singer’s deteriorating state of health.
A woman living in Massachusetts, USA identified as Monica Omorodion who had worked with Majek as a backup singer during his hay days has signalled her intention and launched a foundation to help Majek.

New report has it that Monica won’t be working alone on this as she has started talking with Majek’s wife, Rita and his eldest son, Randy who are both living in the US.
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They intend to return to Nigeria when they have gathered enough funds to step up rehabilitative efforts to save Majek who is a blessing to Nigerian music.
According to Monica, “The goal is not to bring Majek to the US right now. The goal is to raise money to help him get to Rehab. No money will be given to him directly. I am working with his wife and son here right now”.
“We are also looking at some in South Africa. The wife is working with me and his oldest son, Randy. They have gone through so much trauma because of their father’s case. But they are hopeful. When we have raised the needed funds, the three of us will be returning together to help him. The other sons are great.”
About a year ago, Majek Fashek disclosed that he is under spiritual attack. 

Reggae Legend and guitarist, Majekodunmi Fashekun, popularly known as Majek Fashek, who has been off the music scene for a while, has finally cleared the air on what happened to his career.

Majek Fashek
Majek in a chat on Channels TV’s Rubbin’ Minds said that he had never taken drugs all his life and what was responsible for his haggard looks and stagnant career was spiritual attack by witches and what he described as home trouble.
He said: “I never used drugs. I have home trouble. When people see your star they begin to get jealous and they want to kill it. That was what hap­pened to me.”
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In the interview, ‘The Rainmaker’ Majek also revealed that he has finally relocated to Nigeria and was working on a new album.
It would be recalled, it was reported last year that Majek Fashek’s health had deteriorated with claims that he had was battling with mental illness
However in an interview he granted last year he denied being Mad saying: “I’m a strong man. I may look old and rough right now, but I know what I’m saying and what I’m doing. Many people think that Majek has gone and that Majek is no more, but I’m still here and I’m probably going to live longer than a lot of you.”
The Edo born Majek who was once one of the biggest musicans in Africa hit limelight in the 1980s with the release of his debut album, “Prisoner of Conscience” containing the hit track ‘Send Down The Rain’.
He was hailed as the new Bob Marley and inked an international recording deal with Interscope. However, the musician’s fortunes dwin­dled amid reports of drug addiction.

Writing for Leadership newspaper, Samuel Abulude and Obianuju Asika, writers on the entertainment industry, examine the lives and personalities of artists, comedians and actors who seem to have fallen off the Nigerian entertainment radar.
Majek Fashek
Majek Fashek is presently in the northern part of the country laundering the image of the president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan for the upcoming elections. The rastaman whose latest album, Dancing Rasta is yet to be released, has been battling with ill health since he relocated back to Nigeria, due to personal problems that greatly affected his health. Gone are the days when the rainmaker was bubbly, robust and the cynosure of all eyes because of his talent. Majek’s talent is not in doubt. The reggae musician who has been a professional singer for over 25 years has had his glory days. He was the first Nigerian singer to have his debut album shoot to international acclaim.
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Baba Suwe
November 2011 would always be an unforgettable day for Babatunde Omidina aka Baba Suwe’s. He is yet to recover from the events of that day. The veteran actor cum comedian was the toast of fans of Yoruba movies in the 2000s. The accomplished comedian appeared in a lot of movies during that period, but life has not been the same again for him as a result of his arrest at he Lagos airport by anti-narcotic agents for allegedly concealing drugs in his stomach. Though he sued the NDLEA and won the case, with a compensation of two thousand pounds awarded to him, Baba Suwe hasn’t collected the money and sadly the person at the forefront of the law suit, Barrister Bamidele Aturu, died last year and that somewhat put paid to the case. Since then, ‘Adimeru’ has largely been shunned by corporate bodies and others.
In an interview, the comic actor confessed facing hard times as a result of the protracted drug saga. He lamented, “I have not collected any compensation money from NDLEA yet. The most painful thing is that I was wrongly accused. Had it been I actually committed the crime, I wouldn’t mind, but they just punished me for nothing. I was in NDLEA custody for almost three weeks, and nothing was found on me. No matter the kind of juju one may have, I don’t think there is anybody that can conceal cocaine for even two days. Even a lot of people that could have assisted me financially don’t want to associate with me again. People within and outside the industry have deserted me on account of the allegation. They still doubt me despite my victory in court. I have sung praises of some people in some of my movies, and I always appreciate whatever they give me. This makes a lot of people close to me. For instance, I was close to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu before and he was very nice to me. But now, it’s very difficult for me to be close to him. He is even not comfortable seeing me around him again because of the allegation. I don’t enjoy people’s love and admiration like before because people still believe that it was true,” he lamented.
READ ALSO: Baba Suwe Gives Up On 25 Million Naira
Eddy (Brown) Remedies
Eddy Asiedu Brown was the vocalist among the famed Remedies group which pioneered Hip Hop music in Nigeria in the late 90s and early 2000. Eddy Montana, as he was , was part of the group which churned out hits like Shako Mo, Omode Meta, to name a few. Other members are the rapper, Idris Abdulkareem and Tony Tetuila. They have since parted ways, but the Remedies were the toast of parties and clubs during that period. Signed under Kennis Music, The Remedies enjoyed enormous patronage, but where are the trio now? Eddy Remedy, according to some quarters, has not recovered from his messy divorce from Kennis Music singer and executive, Kenny St Brown, nee Ogungbe.
Eddy has now remixed his Shako Mo hit song and is using the platform to re-launch his embattled musical career. Reports say the singer is not in a good state financially.
Feyikogbon (Yinka Ikudaisi)
Feyikogbon is the popular drama series akin to the famed Tales By Moonlight. It was aired every Sunday on NTA 7, Tejuoso now NTA 10. The producer, Yinka Ikudaisi had started Feyikogbon from the NTV in 1978 and it is reputed to be the longest running Yoruba drama series.
The series came back on DSTV last year, featuring a blended cast of young artistes and veterans like Bimbo, Amuda and the narrator, Ajobiewe. The actor who is aged now was reported to have acquired numerous wives while his soap was the toast of TV. Feyikogbon married a number of talented actresses who featured in his productions. Now the actor whose drama series was gold, is living in the shadow of the times, struggling to eke out a living with his many wives, though some of them have deserted him according to news making the rounds.
Baba Sala
Baba Sala’s story is a sad tale. He obtained a loan from the now closed National Bank to produce his movie, Mose Bolatan. The movie underwent post production in London and the veteran comedian, elated that he had done a major work that would fetch him millions after it is screened, came back to Nigeria, The Ilesha-born actor was greeted with the news that the Mose Bolatan VHS was already being sold on the streets. This sad development took Baba’s bubbling career backward, leaving him in debt running into millions. Some even alleged that Baba was partly responsible for National Bank going bankrupt.
In 2012, Moses Olaiya (his real name) was spotted at LTV 8 Ground, in Ikeja during the festive period. He was still his comical self though age had caught up with him. The septuagenarian had to come from his Ilesha abode to monitor the screening of his movie, Orun Moor. Elder Moses Olaiya was instrumental in birthing the career of King Sunny Ade and , Michael Abulude.
Blackface
Black Face was with the famous trio Plantasun Boyz alongside 2face and Faze. The group made platinum songs that shot them to the top before they decided to call it quits in 2004. Black Face co-wrote the famous African Queen that became Tuface’s hit song. He continued with his solo career and released some songs but never got the recognition that would have made him a bigger brand.
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Baba Fryo
This Nigerian ghetto singer from Ajegunle who was born Friday Igwe is famous for his hit street song Dem Go Dey Pose in the late 90s. He did some songs after the popular anthem, but sadly never made another hit like the first. He seems to have fallen into the category of one-hit wonders. In an interview, he expressed his frustrations as a musician but since then, nothing new has been heard from the once famous artiste.
Recently, Bracket spoke on the allegations making the rounds that they are gay.

Pastor Wole Oladiyun of the Christ Living Apostolic Ministries (CLAM) has asked that Majek Fashek to be brought to him for deliverance.

Oladiyun as reported made the announcement during the first service of the church on Sunday.
READ ALSO: Read What Majek Fashek’s Wife Said About The Legendary Singer’s Terrible Turn
According to him, there is nothing impossible for God to do and the ‘rain maker’ can still rise again.

Meanwhile, the latest key industry personality to wade into the matter is, Charlie Boy who is seeking support for Fashek’s rehabilitation.
Charlie Boy, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja today said Majek Fashek was an iconic artiste who should not be left in his present terrible condition.
His one time back up singer, Monica, first started a foundation to save the legendary singer.

Editor’s note: Naij.com guest author Chinedu George Nnawetanma responds to President Buhari’s claim that there are restraints to what he can do for Nigeria at the age of 72, and recollects 5 well-known world politicians who overcomed age limitations and made diffirence in their countries. 
Story highlights:
– “If the president knew there’s a limit to what he could do at his age, why didn’t he inform us about it while he was still campaigning for presidency?”
– “If the president knew there’s a limit to what he could do at his age, why didn’t he inform us about it while he was still campaigning for presidency?”
– “Declaring that there are restraints to what a leader can achieve beyond 72 is a theory that was proved wrong a lot of times.”
President Muhammadu Buhari’s unfortunate statement during his visit to South Africa: “There’s a limit to what I can do at 72″ has generated a well-deserved negative heat. If the president knew there’s a limit to what he could do at his age, why didn’t he inform us about it while he was still campaigning for presidency?
READ ALSO: Buhari Under Fire For Expressing Doubts 
It was the spokesman of Buhari’s campaign organization and now the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, who in January this year boasted that Buhari was “as fit as a fiddle.” He also proclaimed that his boss was “in excellent condition to pilot the affairs of the country.” Why did then the limitations suddenly appear three weeks after he was sworn in as president?
READ ALSO: Fayose Urges Nigerians To Pray For Buhari 
Though I have nothing against President Muhammadu Buhari, I will not fail to point out the drawbacks in his administration whenever I observe them. In fact, doing this can only make the government serve the country better. After all, a former British prime minister, Winston Churchill, said: “Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.” Theologian Norman Vincent Peale stated: “The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.”
I will praise my president if he does something worthy of commendation, and I will also constructively criticize him if he veers off. Declaring that there are restraints to what a leader can achieve beyond 72 is a theory that was proved wrong a lot of times. Here are 5 world leaders who were elected at an older age than President Buhari, but didn’t let that stop them from transforming their countries and the world at large.
1. Pope Francis. His Holiness Pope Francis was elected on March 13, 2013 to lead the world’s 1.3 billion Roman Catholics ‒almost eight times the population of Nigeria. At the time he was 76 years old.
A few days into his papacy, Francis swung into action by tackling some of the Catholic Church’s most nagging problems. He set up a committee to look into the activities of the Institute for the Works of Religion popularly known as the Vatican Bank and widely regarded as corrupted. President Buhari promised to curb corruption in Nigeria, but one month on we are yet to be informed how he intends to achieve this.
The pope didn’t stop there though. He also set up a committee to investigate the embarrassing clerical child abuse scandal that had recently rocked the Church. These and many other efforts aimed at making Vatican more transparent and bringing the Catholic Church into the 21st century has earned the pope unparalleled global goodwill.
A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in February revealed that Pope Francis enjoyed approval of 70% Americans irrespective of their religious affiliations. It is remarkable that President Barack Obama’s current approval rating among Americans accounts for 47%, according to Gallup.
2. King Salman. King Salman of Saudi Arabia was elected earlier this year following the death of his elder brother at the age of 79. But the age did not in any way affect his performance. Months into his reign, the septuagenarian monarch sacked the Kingdom’s head of royal protocol for slapping a photojournalist live on television.
Before that King Salman had already banned a senior member of the Saudi Royal Family from taking part in all sporting activities for making racist remarks on a TV talk show. Moreover, he dismissed the country’s minister of health for engaging in a heated spat with a person who only came to complain of the poor condition of a hospital in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
These actions signal that the old order of unruliness and highhandedness in the oil-rich Kingdom is gone to the satisfaction of the Saudi people.
3. Winston Churchill. He is, perhaps, the most popular British prime minister of all times. Britain’s wartime head of government was reappointed prime minister in 1951 at the age of 76 following the Conservative Party’s victory in the poll. From 1951 till his resignation in 1955, Churchill helped to fix the devastated Europe, and shrewdly managed the steady decline of the once-powerful British Empire. Those three and a half years were enough to cement his place as one of the 20th century’s greatest leaders, and forever carve his name in the hearts of the British people.
4. Ronald Reagan. The actor-turned-politician became the oldest president in the 239-year USA history (69 years old). Today Reagan is regarded as one of the best presidents America has ever had. A 2011 Gallup poll asking 1015 Americans who they considered the greatest US president placed him in first position with 19% above Abraham Lincoln (14%), Bill Clinton (13%), John F. Kennedy (11%) and George Washington (10%).
The major achievements recorded during Reagan’s two terms include ending the Cold War, reinvigorating the Republican Party rattled by Richard Nixon’s Watergate scandal, and creating over 16 million jobs for the unemployed Americans.
5. Nelson Mandela. South Africa’s anti-Apartheid icon was 75 years old when he became the country’s first black president in 1994. During his single-term tenure, Mandela spearheaded the reconciliation and healing of a rainbow nation broken by decades of the white minority rule and black segregation, and transformed it into a globally respected economic powerhouse.
Long live the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

A suicide bomber today, infiltrated a local branch of Redeemed Christian Church of God killing six people including himself.
The explosion occurred at Redeemed Christian Church of God along Bauchi road in Potiskum Town, Yobe State.

One eye witness told reporters that the bomb went off at a time worshipers were observing the Sunday service.
The resident said “six persons died” from the blast.
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Yobe State police have confirmed the explosion and the number of casualties reported.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Yobe, Toyin Gbadegesin, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Damaturu that among the dead was also the suicide bomber.
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“A male suicide bomber detonated a bomb at Redeemed Church at Jigawa area of Potiskum, killing five on the spot,” Mr. Gbadegesin said. “A female member of the church who sustained injuries also died while receiving treatment in the hospital.”

He revealed that all the injured are currently getting rehabilitated at various health facilities in the area.
Potiskum last suffered a twin suicide attack on June 15, in which 10 people were killed and several others injured.
Potiskum last witnessed a suicide attack on June 15, the attack left 10 people dead and several others injured.

Editor’s note: Naij.com guest author Dr Tunde Olufon comments on President Buhari’s double-edged decision to dismantle the military checkpoints, and brings forward the arguments why in some states they shouldn’t be so simply rejected.
 Story highlights:
– “The governors still need military presence in their states since Boko Haram is yet to be completely defeated in the northeast and some parts of the North Central geopolitical zones.”
– “The advantages of military checkpoints cannot be underestimated, and they should be employed and dismantled as occasions demand regardless of the inconveniences.”
– “We have reasons to believe that the new government is determined to reverse the trend of insecurity berthing Boko Haram, renew hope in the hopeless, resuscitate the spirit of patriotism and give equal opportunities that would ignite the fire of nationalism in Nigerians.”
A nation-wide jubilation greeted the presidential directive on the military checkpoints dismantling across Nigeria’s entire road network on Monday, June 22, 2015. However, some governors insisted that the volatile areas should be exempted from the blanket ban, and the soldiers should continue with the legitimate and constitutional internal security operations.
READ ALSO: Checkpoints: Re-opening Of Blocked Roads Begin In Jos
With no doubt, the commander-in-chief is sensitive to the citizens’ hardships and pains caused by the checkpoints. At the same time, the governors still need military presence in their states since Boko Haram is yet to be completely defeated in the northeast and some parts of the North Central geopolitical zones.
Military incursion into politics in January 1966 led to almost 30 years of military dictatorship and turned soldiers into an integral part of the Nigerian society.
The Nigerian military presently has six divisions and several battalions spread across the country, which presence has always given the feeling of safety to the populace.
Responsibilities of the Nigerian army include:

• Protecting the borders of Nigeria, its territorial integrity and citizens during internal or external aggression, crisis and environmental disasters.
• Promoting Nigeria’s global interest in peace-keeping missions, operations/initiatives, and supplying humanitarian aid to the regions in need.

The domestic responsibilities of soldiers include but not limited to the following:

1. Aiding civilian population during environmental disasters (storms, floods, earthquakes, landslides, etc.)
2. Constructing local bridges, make-shift shelters in the war-torn areas, assisting in restoration of vital services like electricity, portable water, clearing of blocked roads, searching and rescuing hostages, etc.
3. Rendering support to the police when they couldn’t handle riots or other forms of civil unrest themselves.

It is no secret that Nigerian soldiers have always performed excellently since independence, both at domestic and international levels, and proved to be friendlier than other security officials.
During the last 16 years of the new democratic dispensation, all government activities of hiring and firing have always been implemented “with immediate effect”. This is inheritance of military mentality imbibed subconsciously by the “bloody civilians”.
An African adage states that a weeping person should intuitively maintain stable sight to carry out other chores meaning that tears should not impair the eyesight or sense of reasoning!
The thing is that the government structures and citizens in some regions are still insecure despite military presence. Thus, it should now be intensified more than ever for the needed peace to reign and socioeconomic needs to endure.
The need for heavy security protection cannot be overemphasized. It is almost tantamount to a taboo for insurgents to take over a city. The advantages of military checkpoints also cannot be underestimated, and they should be employed and dismantled as occasions demand regardless of the inconveniences.
Due to security dereliction, despite all the efforts, the following terrorist attacks were perpetrated between 2010 and 2014:

• The Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.
• A Roman Catholic church, Madala, Abuja outskirts.
• The United Nations building, Abuja
• Two bomb blasts at a bus station, Nyanyan, Abuja, between April and May, 2014, respectively.
• Bomb blasts at Abuja Central Area shopping centre, June 2014;
• Coordinated bomb attacks on This Day newspaper offices in Abuja and Kaduna, June 2014.

In 2010, when the first bomb blasts hit the Eagle Square vicinity during the celebration of 50^th anniversary of independence and the Mogadishu military cantonment in Abuja, the city was virtually “locked up” with military checkpoints.
However, despite all security precautions, the terrorists made the way to the territory proving all the measures inconsequential. Why should the poor masses spend precious hours on the road every day only if the insurgents still have bombs detonated in their habitations?
Recently, the military checkpoints have been replaced with the highway patrol vehicles manned by the well-trained police officers across the country.
What does it entail to handle the internal security of a country like Nigeria that is being torn by civil unrests/insurgency/terrorism?
The unwillingness of the past administrations to give equal rights and opportunities to all citizens as entrenched in the Constitution has created rancour between more than 250 ethnic groups. If not quickly redressed, deeply-rooted anger could metamorphose into civil disturbances, insurrection, insurgency or full-blown terrorism that would demand greater security tactics to handle!
Internal security (IS) operations primarily involve restoration and maintenance of law and order in the face of civil disturbances and disobedience through the application of minimum force. Effective IS operations should deal with minor or major civil disorders due to political reasons that could lead to revolts or rebellions, and forestall the consequences of economic and infrastructural breakdown.
Now the Nigeria Police Force has been charged with the onerous responsibility of maintaining law and order, protecting life and property, preventing crimes and prosecuting offenders. How is it supposed to function effectively in 33 states without the military support?
READ ALSO: IGP Arase Says Police Will Build Its Checkpoints
We believe the police officers are adequately trained for such challenges of internal security with emphasis on the patriotic zeal, integrity and righteous leadership. Now, when the state-of-the-art patrol vehicles equipped with high-technology communication devices and sophisticated modern equipment are in place, brilliant performance should be envisaged.
Cooperation with the citizens in respect of crime prevention and detection must be paid enough attention in order to ensure steady and continuous success of all kinds of IS operations.
Positive results should be recorded through well-coordinated surveillance and application of stop-and-search patrol technology.
The professional training of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) should also be brought to fore since its primary function is to intervene and quell internal disturbances like workers’ or students’ protests.
In other climes, the “third force”, similar to Nigeria’s PMF, is usually established to address internal security issues like racial or tribal rivalry, religious intolerance, maladministration and corruption, famine and poverty, lack of agricultural, educational and social planning, socio-economic grievances, ideological and political differences, student unionism exuberances, pay differential, and industrial upheavals. The majority of citizens in the developing countries are poorly educated and indifferent to the problems outside their daily chores and environment.
A downtrodden and illiterate citizen who could not understand the main reasons for his predicament in life, his misery and poverty, is prone to become an easy prey for politicians, enemies of the state or saboteurs eager to foment trouble in the polity.
We have reasons to believe that the new government is determined to reverse the trend of insecurity berthing Boko Haram, renew hope in the hopeless, resuscitate the spirit of patriotism and give equal opportunities that would ignite the fire of nationalism in Nigerians.
The Word of Wisdom says: “A stitch in time saves nine.”
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The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the original author. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Naij.com, its editors or other contributors.

This Day reports that Mallam Ahmed, who narrowly escaped death from the twin blasts that hit the Plateau state capital, Sunday night, described his escape as an act of God.
READ ALSO: Boko Haram Attacks: Police Bans Hawking
Naij.com had reported that no fewer than fifty people were confirmed dead in first explosion which first occurred at Bauchi road, just before the University of Jos main campus, while the second explosion occurred around Yantaya, Nasarawa Gwon area, both in Jos North local government area of the state.
“We were inside the mosque when we started hearing gunshots.  In the process, we all abandoned our prayers and started to run outside. It was in the ensued confusion that the bomb went off. I was lucky to have escaped by the whisker.
“After the blast, we saw plenty of mutilated bodies of those killed all over the premises of the mosque. I cannot say precisely how many were killed, but they were over 50,” he narrated.

While confirming the incident, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) stated that 47 others were critically injured and were receiving treatment at the Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Our Lady of Apostle Hospital, Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BhUTH) and Sunnah Hospital, Angwan Rimi, all in Jos.
“As at 3 am, we had 44 people dead while 47 were injured, and majority of them are in the intensive care units (ICUs) of the hospitals.
READ ALSO: One Person Confirmed Dead As Explosion Rocks Kano City
“The state specialist hospital was the first hospital we brought them to but because of the high casualty figure, the hospital facility was overstretched so we took some of them to Bingham University Teaching Hospital and Our Lady of Apostle Hospital,” the north-central zonal coordinator of NEMA, Mr. Mohammed Abdulsalami, said.
“Normally when situations like this occur, we know that there are emergency items that are required in the hospitals such as bandages that will first of all be applied to the victims to arrest the bleeding. So we were able to provide all that.
“Why we are here now is to monitor the situation and to enquire from the hospital management what more they require so that we could forward their request to Abuja for the items to be made available immediately,” he added.
Nigerians have said that president the recent spate of bombings has increased pressure on the Nigerian leader.

Editor’s note: More and more Nigerians feel inclined to agree that President Muhammadu Buhari should deal with frictions that have prevented him and his party, the APC, from demonstrating tangible results in the first month of governance. The Naij.com columnist ‘Yomi Kazeem goes even further and says that President Buhari should first focus on his spokesmen — the ‘bridge’ between him and the people — instead of trying to battle some external forces, incuding the PDP which is now in the opposition to the ruling APC.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the original author. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of  Naij.com, its editors or other contributors.
Amid the various criticisms Goodluck Jonathan faced over the course of his presidency, one particular criticism remained constant: the poor choice of media handlers. Jonathan’s spokesmen won him little support as, gaffe after gaffe, they turned out to be one of the biggest reasons for the disillusionment with the his presidency.
On social media, these men — the mouthpieces of a president — were often seen engaging in abusive exchanges (the online version of fisticuffs) with regular Nigerians. Their ‘ability’ to read the tone and mood of the nation was infamously horrible. They became notorious for publishing photos of President Jonathan dancing and being merry a day after bomb explosions and deaths of Nigerians.
As far as presidential spokesmen go, the last set was a clear manual of how not to be a presidential spokesman.
Given the widespread belief that President Jonathan’s handling of the media and choice of spokesmen might have cost him the presidency to some extent, everyone assumed it would literally be impossible for his successor to repeat the same mistakes. Nevertheless, one month into the Buhari presidency, the murmurs of his ineptitude considering media handling are becoming more and more audible.
Primarily, the job of a presidential spokesperson is to relay messages from the president to Nigerians. But their job often goes far beyond that in many ways. One of their biggest roles is to forge, build and tweak the general perception of the president. So far, President Buhari’s media handlers have done little in that regard. The lack of a crisp and coordinated communications strategy since President Buhari’s taking over the office has resulted in the shaping of different perceptions of his presidency to fit various narratives. With social media accounts of his spokesmen sometimes silent for days, many, including international media, are steadily drumming up the perception that nothing is going on.
Coupled with Buhari’s lack of appointment of key government personnel as well as his cabinet, this narrative becomes easier to push with little resistance from the president’s ‘last frontier’ — his spokesmen.
Recently, one of the president’s advisers was in for a hard time on social media following an unfortunate tweet:
Predictably, the responses from Nigerians showed their displeasure:
Similarly, there are question marks over their ability to relay the president’s empathy amid the spate of recent bombings in the Northeast. Having been another crucial failing of Jonathan’s spokesmen, it is worrying that it is a reoccurring error.
President Buhari came into office on the back of an excellent and coordinated campaign which had excellent communication and clarity of purpose as one its defining hallmarks. Since taking office, however, this key component that won him the presidency has disappeared. As it stands, Nigeria could well be on its way back to the period where the president’s spokesmen were the first thing with which he was attacked instead of being his last line of defence.
On May 29, it appeared those days were over; we might have been wrong.
‘Yomi Kazeem is a media professional based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Madman in China took a cleaver and attacked eight children at the school playground.
A middle-aged man attacked children at the school playground with a cleaver on Tuesday in China, 8 got injured and are being treated in hospital.

*Chen Zuihang approaching school
Horrible pictures taken by CCTV have emerged after the police identified the suspect who injured 8 kids on school playground. 35-year old Chen Zuihang has been confirmed as the official suspect, he was detained shortly after the attack at Macheng school, Hubei province, China.

*Chen Zuihang attacking a student with a cleaver
According to the officials of the city, the police are investigating the motives.
According to the reports of news agencies, there were series of attacks in China on kids in grade schools and kindergartens, often made by people who were mentally ill or were angry at society.
After the attacks made a month ago and a year ago, school officials have tightened security at schools.

*Teacher carrying injured kid after the attack
A month ago, China was shocked by the attack made by a man armed with knives, who slashed at students on their way from school, killing one and injuring another 2 in the Ankang city.
A year ago, another man armed with a kitchen cleaver attacked 6 students and one parent in Maoming city.

*Kids in the hospital after the attack
This news of the attack in Macheng school was followed by another attack on Wednesday, by a man that stabbed 7 people to death in a village in central province. The attack happened at 4 a.m., the attacker was arrested shortly after.

*Parents with kids who got hurt

The attack was caused by disputes with neighbours of the attacker.

Pandemonium broke out in Sule-Tankarkar Market in Sule-Tankarkar Local Government Area of Jigawa State on Thursday when a lunatic allegedly burnt no fewer than thirty stalls.

 * A file photo of fire outbreak that happened recently
According to the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Corps in the state, Mr Muhammad Gidado, the fire started at about 3pm on Thursday.
He said the fire was caused by a mad man who set fire close to the stalls.
Gidado added that: “It took more than 30 minutes for men of the fire service and the NSCDC and other residents of the area to put out the fire.”
The commandant advised people to be mindful and extra careful of lunatics who roam the markets and residential areas.

A pregnant woman who was in labour and an unidentified man were killed last Saturday by a mad man in Warri, Delta State.
According to report, the pregnant woman, said to be in her early thirties was waiting along the notorious Mac-Dermott Road for a taxi to take her to the hospital, when the suspected lunatic rushed at her and attacked her with a knife. A young man who wanted to shield the woman from her attacker was stabbed first and died instantly.
The woman was rushed to a nearby hospital but she later gave up the ghost.
It was gathered that people were ‘scared stiff’ of the assailant as he also had other dangerous weapons with him.
The remains of the victims have however, been deposited at a hospital morgue.

A popular mad man in Ketu area of Lagos state, on Wednesday, July 1, received his sanity.

According to an eye witness, who mailed Stella Dimokokorkus, the people around the location where the mad man gained his sanity were astonished as they saw something that could have passed for a scene in a Nollywood movie.
READ ALSO: Mad Man Spotted Preaching The Gospel In Jos (PHOTOS)
It was made known that a pastor was passing through the road and saw the mad man who is said to be very popular in that area. The pastor was said to have approached him but the mad man charged at him, putting up a defense. This did not debar the pastor from coming close and praying for him.
To the surprise of all, the mad man regained his sanity, shouting amen to the pastor’s prayers. New clothes were given to him to wear. See photos below:
     
It would be recalled that not long ago, a mad man reportedly stabbed two policemen in Alakija area of Lagos state, as they tried to evict another mad woman from the premises of a Redeemed Christian Church of God in the area.

President Muhammadu Buhari is not a happy man, the recent in-house crisis of his party, The All Progressive Congress has disrupted what was supposed to a fresh start for him.
Buhari was also irked by the emergence of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member as deputy Senate President in the current dispensation.
Buhari was angry that members of his own party had easily allowed the PDP to sneak into a major part of the administration.
Buhari made this known at a meeting with a delegation of the Unity Forum at the Aso Rock Villa on Friday night.
A source who attended the meeting said that Buhari doesn’t want the party to be divided over who heads the National Assembly.
“The President gave us audience and admitted that the development in the Senate was a setback but he expressed confidence that APC will overcome it,” a source at the meeting said.
“He said there was no basis for the split among APC Senators which led to the concession of the Office of Deputy President of the Senate to the PDP. He said PDP did not give the opposition such an opportunity in its 16 years in power.

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“Buhari told Lawan and others not to take the law into their hands as the leaders of the party explore reconciliation options. He said peace and the survival of the nation’s democracy should be paramount more than any other thing.”
READ ALSO: Buhari Angry Over House Of Reps Fracas, Set To Delay Ministerial List
When asked about Buhari’s mood, the source said: “He was not happy about the development in the Senate but he was hopeful that the situation is redeemable if some leaders can sacrifice their ambitions for the survival of APC and his administration.”
Another source said: “The session was cordial and reassuring. The President interacted with us individually and even had time to crack jokes with us before we receded into the business of the day.
“As for the Lawan group, it was Senator Barnabas Gemade who spoke on behalf of the 51 aggrieved Senators.
“Gemade said the Unity Forum is after justice since its members have demonstrated their faith in APC leadership and having been loyal to the party to a fault.
READ ALSO: APC Crisis: Ekweremadu’s Emergence Might Be PDP’s Comeback Strategy
“Gemade restated the six demands of the group and the need to prevail on Saraki and Dogara to abide by the directive of the party on the nominees for principal offices in the Senate and House of Representatives.”
The source quoted Gemade as saying: “When the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo called a meeting to address the looming challenge, it was only our group that responded; we were the only group which participated in the party’s straw poll and even on June 9, we deferred to the party’s invitation to a meeting at the International Conference Centre.
“Before anybody knew it, the Like Minds went for the inauguration of the Senate and elected Saraki.
“We have proved our unflinching loyalty to the party. This is the time for the party to assert itself and enforce discipline or else members will continue to take the leadership of the party for granted.”
The APC National Executive Committee had on Tuesday after a meeting said they will no longer tolerate the defiance of the party by the two leaders.
A member of the NWC said: “We are expecting a stormy session on Tuesday. Saraki and Dogara will have to choose between loyalty to the party or self-serving agenda.
“The only condition for moving forward is for these leaders to accept the list sent to them by the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
This comes after Senate President Bukola Saraki earlier today revealed that he was almost kidnapped during inauguration day.

The Senate president, Senator Bukola Saraki has finally addressed his controversial election. He revealed that his opponents at the poll had gone as far as to try to abduct him to prevent him from emerging as Senate president.
The Senate polls on Tuesday, June 9, were highly controversial, with Saraki elected against the wishes of his own ruling party.
Saraki during an interview with reporters from Vanguard revealed that on that day, when he heard of the abduction plot to keep him away from the National Assembly, he immediately altered his schedule by arriving at the parliament car park at 6am, stayed in his car and then trekked at quarter to 10am into the chamber.
READ ALSO: Oyegun’s Resignation: What APC Has To Say
He rejected the idea that he had promised the PDP the deputy position if he was to win, and said that the election of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as his deputy was merely because there weren’t any All Progressives Congress (APC), senators in the chamber.
He also explained that he was well aware that the emergence of Ekweremadu will make things difficult for him, and said“Never in our wildest imagination did we envisage that some senators would not be present on the day of the inauguration.”
Saraki made sure to note that he never received any invitation to attend a meeting at the International Conference Centre (ICC) with President Muhammadu Buhari on the Senate inauguration day. “First of all, as regards the meeting (at ICC), on the morning of the inauguration, I didn’t finish at a meeting until 4:00am of that day and I had got information that efforts would likely be made to make sure that I didn’t get access into the chamber”, he said.
The Senate President narrated further: “So, as early as 4:00am and 5:00am, I had made contingency plans that I must get into the National Assembly because the plan before was that senators-elect should go to Transcorp Hilton Hotel around 8:00clock and 9:00am to proceed to the National Assembly.
“But I was advised that it would not be safe or it would not be secure for me to do that because if some people made sure I didn’t get into the chamber, it would not be possible for me to be nominated, for the nomination to be seconded and for me to accept the nomination.
READ ALSO: Why We Will Oppose Buhari – NLC
“I can tell you today that I was in the National Assembly Complex as early as 6:00 in the morning and I stayed in a car in the car park till quarter to 10:00am. That is the truth. I stayed there and I was there with no communication whatsoever.
“So, anybody who said he spoke to me to go to the ICC was not being truthful because I didn’t even know what was going on. All I was monitoring was how people were arriving the complex.
“It was just before 10:00 that I got information that the Clerk to the National Assembly had entered the chamber. So, I got out of the small car I was inside, stretched myself and put on my Babariga because I didn’t have it on before then.
“I walked from the car park into the chamber. That was why some of you would have seen that I looked very tired that morning.
“Even when I was in the chamber, I didn’t know what had transpired earlier. The only thing I observed was that it appeared that some of our senators were not in the chamber, but because the fact that my colleagues arrived in batches, I had the opinion that they were on the way and, by 10:00am, the programme started.
“Before I knew it, my election had come and gone. Even my people were worried; it was only when I got into the chamber that they were relieved.”
He then addressed the emergence of Ekweremadu as the deputy Senate president. Saraki said, “In my own view, and, in the view of some of those who worked closely with me, I worked hard for my election. I had direct contact with every single senator, one on one; weeks leading to the election, I did not rely on anybody. I worked hard; both in our party, the APC and out of it.
“I approached every senator, I talked to them, we built confidence, not only in the APC, but, also, in the PDP. I talked to them. That was why I laughed when people said I had a deal with Ekweremadu or I had a hand in the emergence of Ekweremadu.
“I didn’t need any deal to win. I had penetrated, there was no deal; I didn’t need any deal in the first place. I had worked hard such that everybody who was a Senator, I campaigned hard and canvassed for their votes and won their confidence.
“At one of the meetings held at Transcorp Hilton which Senator Godswill Akpabio co-chaired with Senator Ibrahim Gobir and a few others, which had both APC and PDP members, if you heard most of them there, the position they took was that ‘this is the Senate President they want.’
READ ALSO: Why My Support For Saraki Is Not Disobedience – APC Senator
“Across party lines, that day they believed in me and that this is the Senate President that can lead us, there was no deal.
“Sometimes, I wonder how some of our colleagues found themselves at the ICC. If it had been a case that the Clerk of the National Assembly had made an announcement and the event had been postponed or it was no longer holding, plus, the invitation, I’m sure some are asking now, what really happened?
“First of all, the PDP senators had announced to the public that they were supporting me without even meeting me because, in their own meeting, majority had decided to vote for me.
“In their own interest, strategically, they decided that, `look, this is a fait accompli’ because 30 of their own senators were going to vote for this man anyway and the remaining felt it was better to join.
“It wasn’t until 2am that they called us to tell us their decision. With regards to the deputy, when they told us that they had a candidate, we, too, told them we had a candidate for deputy Senate president in the person of Senator Ali Ndume!
“After our own meeting, it was our thinking that it was after the election of the Senate President that the two groups in APC would meet and we would agree on a candidate. We never in our imagination thought they would not turn up. By the time we got there, we were only 24 while the PDP was more than 40.
READ ALSO: Archbishop Tells APC What To Do For Solving Crisis
“In an election, there’s no way they would not have defeated us and that was what happened? And now, when people say it was a deal, I say that if the CNA had started the procedure in the House of Representatives first, and moved to the Senate, thereafter, today, we, the APC, would have had a deputy Senate President.
Saraki’s recent victory at the senate polls was one that the APC hoped not to face as they had handpicked Senator Ahmed Lawan as the party’s choice.
Party elders had been against Saraki’s choice from the beginning but the former Kwara state politician outsmarted his own party.

Senator Tayo Alasoadura, representing central senatorial district of Ondo state on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed claims that voting for the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, despite the party’s directive constitutes disloyalty.

Alasoadura has reiterated his loyalty to the party, stating that he has never been found wanting of disregarding the party’s directive on issues that benefit the people he represents, The Nation reports.
READ ALSO: The House Apologizes To Nigerians For Ugly Events
Recalling an instance where he has proved his commitment to the party and to Ondo state, he said he nominated Ajayi Boroffice, his counterpart from Ondo North senatorial district as Chief Whip at the APC caucus of the senate against the move to have a colleague from Osun state.
He however regretted that Boroffice, who is a ranking senator from Ondo state chose to side with persons he said had interests that were inimical to that of Ondo state.
READ ALSO: APC Watchdog Calls For Immediate Resignation Of Oyegun
Senator Ahmed Lawan was the party’s preferred candidate for the post of Senate president, but Senator Bukola Saraki controversially beat him to the post, a move that has been described as a tactical coup against the APC.
Senator Alasoadura was the only senator from the South West who voted for the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, this  has made some tag him as disloyal to the party’s ideologies