NIGERIAN NOTCH

The Senate on Wednesday passed a resolution urging security agencies to thoroughly investigate the alleged assassination attempt on its Deputy President, Ike Ekweremadu. Ekweremadu had told his colleagues at plenary on Tuesday how armed men allegedly invaded his Abuja residence around 4 a.m. earlier in the day. He said the intruders made it to his bedroom where he was sleeping with his wife at the time. The lawmaker had alleged that the police poorly responded to his distress calls during the incident.  The resolution followed a motion moved by Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia South), who faulted the preliminary report of the police on the incident. Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday evening, the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Jimoh Moshood, had said the incident was a burglary and not an assassination attempt. Moshood said that a similar incident also took place at the residence of Haliru Adamu, a neighbour of the deputy president. “Investigation so far carried out

AS the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, began its strike, yesterday, academic activities at the University of Ibadan, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH and Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO were totally paralysed. Meanwhile, students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, were thrown into dilemma following a division among lecturers in the institution. UI Students, who should have resumed lectures as from 7am, were seen in their halls of residence playing table tennis and watching films. ASUU chairman UI, Dr Deji Omole encouraged his members to be resolute in their fight for the future of the Nigerian child. To ensure strict compliance, he set up a monitoring committee led by Professor Gbenga Olujide. Due to late information on the suspension of the strike earlier fixed for yesterday, some non-teaching staff of the institution did not report for duty. OAU lecturers split over ASUU strike Similarly, students of the Obafemi Awolowo

The ruling All Progressives Congress APC has denied knowledge of the quizzing of its National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole by operatives of the Department of State Services DSS. Reacting to reports of the questioning of the chairman, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu said Mr Oshiomhole is currently out of the country and could not immediately respond to the “rumor”. “We do not have any information on this rumor. More so, the Chairman is not around in the country to confirm or deny this. As soon as we have any relevant information, you’ll be updated”, he said. Oshiomhole was said to have been invited for questioning Sunday night following petitions from some aggrieved governors of the party, accusing him of subverting the recent primary elections of the party due to some pecuniary interests. The party said Comrade Oshiomhole traveled abroad Monday on personal grounds, declining further details about the trip. The DSS operatives were

Suspected herdsmen have kidnapped four Reverend Fathers in Abraka axis, Ethiope East local government area. One of those whisked away by the kidnappers is Reverend Father Emmanuel Obadjere. It was gathered from sources close to the Priests that the ugly incident occurred on Tuesday as they were descending the bridge in Abraka. The clergy men were reportedly in four vehicles but the kidnappers allegedly forced two of the vehicles to a halt, ordering the occupants to alight   Two of the Priests are from Benin arch diocese, one from Abuja and the other from Warri Diocese” At press time, it could not be confirmed if the kidnappers had made any demand for ransom. Vanguard gathered they were however still in the custody of the kidnappers. Meantime, the state Police Commissioner, Mr Mustafa Mohammad had not responded to a text message to him for comment on the development. Calls to his mobile phone rang out. “Father Obadjere was travelling with his clergy friends to Ek