News Stories that made headlines in Abuja for the week ending January 4, 2013;

69 killed in Abuja fire incidents in 2012- Minister

The Abuja Fire Service received 486 fire calls in 2012.

At least 69 people were killed in fire incidents in Abuja in 2012, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Bala Mohammed, has said.

Mr. Mohammed said property worth N765 million were also destroyed during the period.

The minister disclosed this while going through the past year’s activities of the FCT Urban Affairs Department on Wednesday.

He said the Abuja Fire Service received 486 fire calls as well as 103 rescue calls during the period.

It was not all sad news however as the fire service also saved a total of 239 lives and property worth N3.2 billion in the past year within Abuja and its environs.

Source: Premium Times News Paper (January 3, 2013)

Outrage as Jonathan’s 2015 posters flood Abuja streets

Opposition parties yesterday launched a broadside at President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 campaign posters, which have flooded Abuja, the nation’s capital.

But the President and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) denied backing those pasting the posters.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) residents resumed from the New Year’s holiday to see the streets flooded with posters campaigning for a second term for President Jonathan.

The glossy posters with a bold picture of the President carries the inscription “2015: No vacancy in Aso Rock. Let’s do more.”

Also inscribed on it is “One good term deserves another; support Dr. Goodluck Azikiwe Jonathan for 2015 presidency.”

Source: The Nation News Paper (January 3, 2013)

Jonathan Confirms Arrest of UN Building, Police HQ, Madalla Church Bombers

President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday said his administration had been making progress in the war against terror as evident in the arrest of some Boko Haram members suspected of involvement in the deadly attacks on some prime targets.

Jonathan, in a speech during a service at All Saints Church (Anglican Communion) in Abuja, where he worshipped for the New Year, told the worshippers that many of the suspected terrorists were now in custody as a result of the diligence and steadfastness of law enforcement agents and security operatives nationwide.

According to him, among the suspected bombers arrested were those who attacked the police force headquarters in Abuja, the United Nations building, also in Abuja, and the Saint Theresa's Church in Madalla, near Abuja.

The president pledged that security agencies would be strengthened this year, just as he called for prayers from Nigerians for government to surmount the security challenges.

He said: “The church's prayers have been helping us to stabilise the country at the time of challenges. There was a time the country was drifting and everyone thought the country would not endure but the prayers rescued us.

Source: Thisday News Paper (January 2, 2013)

Okonjo-Iweala’s mother: Police arrest another suspect

Despite the release of 82-year-old mother of the Coordinating Minister of the Economy/ Minister of Finance, Prof. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala by her abductors some weeks ago, men of the police force in Delta state have not given up on their search for the criminals and have vowed to prosecute everyone involved in the abduction of the octogenarian.

Delta state Commissioner of Police, Ikechukwu Aduba made this known on Sunday in Asaba.

According to him, prior to the release of Prof. Okonjo, four suspects were earlier arrested during the rescue operation, suspect whose name he simply gave as Andrew a. k. a Olokpa was arrested only last week in Asaba, Delta State capital.

Aduba said, “The first day, we arrested four suspects including two known criminals, Bright and Bolaji. Bolaji is now late because of the gun shot injuries he sustained while trying to escape. These two were earlier involved in the kidnap of a victim who they killed after collecting ransom from the family.

Source: Daily Post (January 1, 2013)

Two Killed, 1,500 Persons Displaced In Abuja Communal Clash

A communal clash over the weekend erupted in Gwako Village in Gwagwalada Local Government Area of the Federal Capital Territory between Fulani and Gwari residents claiming two lives and displacing 1,500 people from 27 communities.

The prompt intervention of the security agencies including personnel from the police, Nigeria Security And Civil Defence Corps and military had helped to curtail the escalation of the crisis which started Saturday as a result of encroachment of a herd of cattle into farmlands in the area.

The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammad Sani-Sidi who commended the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Muhammad for the promptness of his agencies and his physical presence at the scene, appealed to the warring parties to live peacefully with one another and eschew any form of violence as we enter the New Year.

Source: Channels TV (December 30, 2013)

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