"The team has already commenced work in earnest," Col Usman said in a statement released today.The statement also added that all senior military officers will relocate to the north east, the bedrock of Boko Haram crisis.
Monday, 8 June 2015
Nigeria military's control centre moves to Maiduguri
Ekiti New Assembly Holds No Hope For Development, Says APC
The Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the newly inaugurated state House of Assembly as a contraption by Governor Ayodele Fayose to protect his personal interest instead of working to restore hope for the state development.
The party noted that such selfish agenda holds no promise for the growth of the state and political development of the people.
A statement by the APC state Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, said the membership profile in the new Assembly had revealed many men and women lacking skills in tedious business of law-making were ‘selected’ to be members of the Assembly above eminently qualified Ekiti sons and daughters to enable the governor breathe on them to always have his way. Only few of them are worthy of the exalted position of legislators
‘We all saw the intrigues that characterized the primaries that returned the new members. It was ballot snatching and violence on massive scale. The same for April 11 Assembly poll.
‘Fayose just selected his cronies across the state above well-educated members and imposed them on the party. Most of them are miscreants and school drop outs who Fayose compensated as honourable members.
‘Fayose’s public declaration of political death for any member who works against his interest points to where Ekiti people are headed in the business of lawmaking in the next four years.
”We saw the first public declaration of loyalty by the Assembly members on the day of inauguration when they all prostrated for Fayose in the chambers, stating he is their father,” he explained.
Olatubosun regretted that majority of the present lawmakers in the House of Assembly could have been described as local government councillors as records of many of them indicated a crop of people lacking courage and basic knowledge in contemporary law-making business.
”Because of their inadequacies, they will legitimise and encourage illegality and impunity because they won’t understand the nitty-gritty of lawmaking process and independence of mind required in making laws that benefit the larger society outside the narrow interest of the governor.
“We cannot compare this Fifth Assembly with the outgoing Assembly in terms of composition of members. The last Assembly was composed of members who have seen it all. They are professionals, such as lawyers, medical doctors, pharmacists, architects, policy makers, public analysts and retired top civil servants.
“These are the educated people Fayose will not work with because of their courage and independence of mind. In their place are Fayose’s thugs and those that helped him to undermine the law to always have his way.
“Ekiti people should brace up for many surprises and bizarre legislations from this assembly mostly composed of the people of questionable character working with the governor to achieve predetermined ends,’ Olatubosun said.
Davido Graduates From Babcock University
BABCOCK University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, was a beehive of activities on Sunday, as the school graduated a new set on its 13th convocation ceremony. Among among them was BET award winner musician, David Adeleke, a.k.a Davido.
Davido graduated with a Second Class degree from the Department of Music of the university and was its pioneering student.
The BET award winner got a standing ovation from fellow students and guests in attendance while receiving his certificate in presence of his father, Deji Adeleke, among other important dignitaries.
The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor J. A. Makinde, while presenting Davido’s certificate, commended his father, Deji Adeleke, for supporting the institution financially over time via donations, while encouraging others to also support the institution.
The former Akwa Ibom State governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, was also present at the ceremony.
For Refusing To Divorce His Wife, Concubine Sues Media Executive For N400m For Six Years Of Unpaid ‘Services’
A 67-year-old mistress who spent the last six years trying to get a retired media executive to divorce his wife and leave her alone at their Park Avenue home has filed a $2million (N400 million) suit against the man.
James Greenwald, 88, was professionally and romantically involved with Theodora Lee Corsell while he was living with his wife Marilee, according to papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court
Corsell is suing for the ‘reasonable value’ of the six years during which her ‘services’ went unpaid.
Theodora Lee Corsell, 67, said she was involved with James Greenwald for six years, with the promise that he will divorce his wife and marry her.
But the wife insisted that she will rather see him die rather than grant him divorce.
So Theodora has now sued the 88-year-old Greenwald for the ‘reasonable value’ of professional services.
Her ‘professional services were separate and apart’ from their relationship .
Greenwald’s attorney said his client ‘remains happily married to his wife’
Credit: Daily Mail
I DON’T HAVE STRETCH MARKS LIKE OTHERS...COSSY ORJIAKOR
Nollywood actress, Cossy Orjiakor, might be a controversial lady and might be perceived as a bad influence by many, but the star is in any bit moved by what people say.
Ready to grace the various red carpet events she is able to attend, the actress has become a darling to many and a topic of discuss at any slightest opportunity.
With her raunchy dress style, Cossy does not care at how provocative her physical features can be as she stated that she is so beautiful and blessed with a sexy voice.
Thanking her creator for a fat bank account and personality, the actress noted that she is so endowed that she does not have stretch marks like some people.
Confident and bold, she urged her fans to accept her the way she is because she is very humble.
PLEASE LEAVE PROPHET T.B JOSHUA ALONE...ACTRESS, CYNTHIA OKEREKE
Since the Synagogue Building Collapse which took place on Friday, 12 September, 2014, several investigations have been carried out to really ascertain the true cause of mishap which claimed several lives.
While the court is still investigating the incident with much criticism been thrown at the General Overseer of the church, some people are still hoping that the name of the Man of God would, Prophet T.B Joshua, would just be allowed to rest.
One of those in support of the Pastor is Nollywood actress, Cynthia Nkiru Okereke, who was one of the people present at the hearing of Synagogue Building Collapse, on Tuesday.
According to the actress, the Man of God should be left alone on the facts that he has done a lot of good things for people and should not be held responsible.
“He should be left alone. He has done a lot of things for people. You can hear the man behind me, also sharing his experience on being healed of HIV,” she told TVC news.
The senior pastor of the church, T. B. Joshua, had linked the tragedy to a strange aircraft wandering above the building shortly before it fell. A video was released online which allegedly showed the plane hovering around the building before its collapse.
LAIDE BAKARE, DORIS SIMEON BATTLE HARD IN TEXAS
Some Nollywood stars were recently honoured at the Odua Awards which took place in Huston Texas.
The event did not just draw stars together but also put smiles on some faces as most the actors jobs were recognised.
Few of the recipients of the awards were actress, Laide Bakare, actor Ade Adedimeji and many others. Stars at the event include, Doris Simeon, Muyiwa Authentic, Ade Adedimeji.
FUNKE AKINDELE MIGHT NOT HAVE A CHILD IN LIFE -POPULAR PROPHET
There has been a sounding warning to popular Nollywood actress Funke Akindele from the founder of Mountain of Blessing and Miracle Church of Christ, Prophet Dr. Olagorioye Faleyimu.
The popular Lagos based pastor, clearly cautioned that the divorced actress should pray against bareness in her life.
His words, “Funke Akindele needs to pray hard so as to have a child before she go back to her creator. She will be reeling in blessing and all good things off life. If care is not taken, she won’t have a child before she dies. The entertainment industry in Nigeria should pray that six super stars shall not die this year. They should also be prayerful and rely on God because in finding what they didn’t lose, they may meet their waterloos. The blessing from the devil will keep coming to them but they are going to come with unexpected calamities," he predicted.
Recall that two years ago, the popular prophet predicted a lot of events which has come to pass including the presidential election which made Muhammed Buhari, Nigerian president.
Credit: Nigeriafilms
I’M DOING FINE BUT STILL ASHAMED OF MYSELF...BOY CAUGHT IN PLANE WHEEL, DANIEL OHIKHENA
How time flies, remember the young boy who was caught after hiding in the wheel of an Arik plane from Benin to Lagos on Saturday, August 24, 2013, Daniel Ricky Ohikhena, he is all grown now and doing fine in school.
All thanks to Governor Adams Oshiomhol, who reached out to him and placed him on a full scholarship and today, he is a boarding student in one of the prestigious secondary schools in Edo and enjoying all the facilities available as the governor’s son.
Daniel recalling the plane ordeal stated that he feels ashamed of himself to have taken such risk which would have probably ended his life.
He said that after he was invited by the Governor, he was scared that he would be sent to jail not knowing that something good awaits him.
“I feel stupid and ashamed of myself remembering what I did. That thing could have led me to jail or even death. My life has changed since then and I thank God for that. I was even scared then that the Comrade Governor was going to put me in jail but he saved my life.”
While speaking with Vanguard, he advised people not to make silly decision such as his as it was too risky.” I have been telling any person who cares to listen not to try that thing I did, it was too risky. I was shocked to have survived. If not for God I would have died”.
ABIMBOLA FASHOLA, OTHERS HONOUR YETUNDE WUNMI 35YEARS ON STAGE
Nollywood actress, Yetunde Wunmi, truly had a great weekend with her colleagues in the Yoruba movie industry where she celebrated her 35 years on stage.
The actress was able to pull a large crowd of friends and families who attended the event along with former Lagos State First Lady, Abimbola Fashola.
Yetunde has come a long way in the business and she is still waxing stronger, commanding juicy movie roles and producing block-busting films.
Guest present at the event includes, Ronke Oshodi, Fathia Balogun Williams, Ogogo, Oga Bello, Iya Rainbow, Baba Ijesha and many others.
Wife kills hubby for allegedly keeping late night in Kaduna
The police in Kaduna have arrested a 40-year- old housewife, Mary Luca, who allegedly clubbed her husband to death at their Gonin Gora area of Kaduna metropolis.
Family sources said the incident occurred last Friday when the deceased returned home in the early hours of the morning and an argument ensued after the wife’s complaint that her husband always returned home late.
“Mary had on several occasions accused her husband of keeping late hours outside the matrimonial home and had advised him to put a stop to such habit,” the source said.
One of the deceased’s sons, Kefa, said he heard his father shouting around 3am that day and called on his mother to inquire what was happening to his father.
The sources said: “He said the mother shouted back at him from her room to keep off and remain quiet that armed armed robbers were operating.
“Kefa said the more he tried to get closer to his father, the more the mother was shouting, thieves! thieves! thieves!
“Kefa said when he finally summoned courage to enter his father’s room, he found him vomiting blood and he could no longer talk, while his mother was still pretending that it was armed robbers who attacked him.
“There was a heavy object by his side and it was the forehead that was bleeding profusely. So, at day-break, neighbours came around to help and the police outpost at Gonin Gora arrested the woman and took her to Sabon Tasha Police station.”
The Police Public Relations Officer at the Kaduna State police command, Abubakar Zubairu, confirmed the incident and the detention of the accused.
“Yes, we have detained the woman in connection with the death of her husband,” Zubairu said.
Credit: Vanguard
Former President Jonathan treated entertainers like school children — Saheed Balogun
When it comes to acting and film-making, there isn’t much veteran Yoruba actor, Saheed Balogun, has to learn. He is so grounded in his craft that he has broken a number of grounds in his make-believe trade. He was the first to shoot a two-cast movie, among other feats you could attribute to him. He has weathered the storm, swam the sea and probably knows every neck of the wood of Nollywood. So, when he speaks, he is to be taken seriously.
In a recent chat with Potpourri, the actor/producer took a swipe at President Jonathan’s erstwhile government, for not doing what he ought to do for the film industry. He said the former president romanced the industry practitioners for all the wrong reasons. “There was a time I produced a movie, and it was pirated within days. It’s like the pirates have their own copies.
We’re still looking to find who leaked it, but we don’t know yet. I lost over N15 million on that project. I’m still motivated to do more because it’s my dream. Soon, change will come to this country. Goodluck Jonathan treated entertainers like school-children. The last government was hosting us (Nollywood) as if they were hosting birthday parties for kids.
For one day, they never thought it fit to beg senators and members of the House of Representatives to pass appropriate laws on piracy” he said. “ I am seizing this opportunity to beg the new senators and House members who are in the committee in charge of culture to please pass relevant bills on entertainment. That is what they are elected to do, not to be shouting and jumping fence like they did the last time.”
Is that why he did not publicly support any political candidate during the last elections? He replied, “I did, but I refused to follow any senator or House of Representatives members who want to go for re-election, and I did not encourage my colleagues to follow them as well. It is not a case of giving them another chance of four years, because I said the same thing four years ago, and they didn’t listen. I supported Governor Ajimobi of my home state, Oyo, because he transformed the state.”
Credit: Vanguard
Boko Haram dares new govt: Suicide bomber lures scores with Buhari campaign songs, kills them
Since the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari, barely one week ago, specifically May 29, 2015, Borno State, particularly Maiduguri, the state capital, has witnessed sustained attacks by insurgents. Buhari had said at the inauguration that the nation’s military command was being moved to Borno, the hotbed of Boko Haram, to end the insurgency.
But barely 24 hours after the swearing-in of the new administration, Boko Haram launched the first invasion. The May 30 attack came at about 12:30am when residents were asleep. The insurgents reportedly drove in a convoy of vehicles and motorcycles laden with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), rocket grenades and anti-aircraft guns.
They entered Malari village, killed 15 residents and wounded 19 others in Bulunkutu Tsaleke, Gomari and Ajilari wards.
The killings, according to Ibrahim Yakubu of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), were caused by the insurgents’ sporadic gunshots, explosions and shelling on the wards that commenced from 12.35-2.45am that Saturday. “We were shocked about how these areas were targeted by Boko Haram last night. Among those killed were five children and two women sleeping in the open because of heat in their houses,” said Yakubu.
He said the insurgents, after entering Malari through the northeast flank of Sambisa forest on dirt road, crossed River Ngadabul to launch their attacks on the communities. “The militants could not enter Maiduguri metropolis because of the trenches we dug that made their vehicles to get stuck. But they wreaked havoc on lives and property in the affected communities”, said the vigilante youth.
“The extent of damage to lives and property could have been much higher if the Boko Haram gunmen had crossed the trenches”. Confirming the incident in Maiduguri, a source close to Borno Police Command said some residents of Gomari, Bulunkutu Tsaleke and Ajilari wards of Malari were killed in the attacks. “We are still collating the fatalities in the attacks, but 19 people have been hospitalized for injuries they sustained from gunshots and artillery fire that lasted over two hours in western part of Maiduguri metropolis,” said the source.
Mosque killings
Later that Saturday, a suicide bomber sneaked into a mosque along Ali Kotoko Road, near Maiduguri Monday Market leaving 26 dead and 28 critically injured. A security source who assisted in the evacuation of victims said the incident took place at about 3:45pm when Muslim faithful gathered to perform their La,asar prayers.
“A bomb blast exploded at the Adam Kolo Central Mosque along Ali Kotoko Road of Maiduguri Monday Market (MMM) during an afternoon prayer, and killed 26 people with about 28 critically injured on Saturday”, said Mallam Abba Shukura who was among those evacuating the victims. “I can confirm to you that many people in the mosque were killed or injured.”
The mosque explosion, according to Modu Fugu of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), occurred when the prayer session was about to commence at about 3.25pm with dozens of people in the mosque. “We were terrified by the loud explosion that rocked the mosque near the bicycle sellers market and other shops. Worshippers fled to safety. But many were killed or injured,” Fugu stated.
Hamidu Isa, a shop owner near the mosque, told our correspondent that an IED had been hidden in a corner of the mosque in the morning before the suicide bomber came to detonate it at about 3.30pm”. Borno Police Command confirmed the mosque blast.
Grains looted
Boko Haram gunmen, same day, attacked Fika and Ngalda in Yobe State; and torched several public buildings, telecom masts, houses and shops, before fleeing into Sambisa Forest. The insurgents, according to a resident, Mainasara Ali, looted several shops and barns of grains. Fika and Ngalda are farming and herding communities, and 155 kilometres and 176 kilometres respectively southwest of Damaturu, the state capital.
We were taken by surprise by the attacks on our houses and shops by the insurgents desperately looking for food to survive in the forest, but they did not kill any of our people. All our shops and barns were looted by the gunmen who also destroyed council offices and health centre, south of the central market,” said Ali. He said the insurgents chanted ‘God is great’ in Arabic before torching the public buildings in the towns.
According to him, most of the houses of local officials in Fika and Ngalda were also burnt that night. “We will continue to fight whosoever identifies with government which we consider anti-Islam. We will not relent or surrender until we impose Sharia Law in Nigeria”, Ali quoted one of the insurgents as saying.
Another resident, Ali Fika, said: “Boko Haram insurgents on Saturday evening attacked Ngalda in Fika Local Government Area and razed the council secretariat, High Court complex, before looting shops and barns of grains which they carted away in their tracks.
He said the insurgents, before embarking on the massive destruction, engaged soldiers at a military post. Our correspondent also learnt that several vehicles and motorcycles were set ablaze during the two-hour attack.
Sporadic shooting
The Chairman of Fika Local Government Council, Alhaji Baba Abare, who confirmed the incident, said: “The militants came to the two towns shooting sporadically to scare people away so as to have ample opportunity for their looting”. He said they targeted shops and looted food items as well as beverages but no life was lost during the assault.
Yobe State police commissioner, Mr. Markus Danladi, who declined comment on the violence, said the Military Joint Task Force was the only body authorised to speak on the matter. Fika and Ngalda have repeatedly suffered Boko Haram assault since the commencement of the insurgency as the communities share common border with Gujba and Gulani Council Areas captured by the militant group and liberated few months ago.
The suspected Boko Haram insurgents in the post-Buhari inauguration era continued on Sunday, May 31 when an IED, planted at the Gambouru Market, Maiduguri, exploded, injuring four people. Eyewitnesses said one insurgent detonated the explosive, around 1.30 p.m at the peak of market hours. One of them said: “The bomb was buried in a heap of sacks at a spot where charcoal merchants have their stalls.
“The explosion did not kill any one but injured four persons. One of the victims had his arm completely ripped off by the blast. “An insurgent could have planted this explosive device last night, when curfew was relaxed to 10pm from 7pm to celebrate Democracy Day in Maiduguri. Also, we suspect that the suicide bomber that blew himself at the market mosque of Adam Kolo might have collaborated with the suspected bomber of Gambouru Market that injured four traders and other passersby”.
The eyewitness said as he was attending to customers in the afternoon, a loud explosion went off across the market,forcing people to run in various directions for safety. “The rescue team of Nigerian Red Cross and other volunteers evacuated the injured ones to the hospital for treatment,” he said. The military and police condoned off the market to prevent further attacks and looting.
In another development, Boko Haram militants on Tuesday, June 2 attacked Moronti, a village close to Maiduguri, and killed five people, before soldiers repelled them. The gunmen, according to Hamisu Abba, a resident, then crossed into the village through Ngadabul River. He noted that the militants could have overrun Maiduguri, if there were no trenches dug around the Nigerian Army 333 Artillery premises near the village.
Our correspondent learnt that as the repulsion of the militants continued into the night; some villagers fled to neighbouring Gomari and Ajillari for safety. “It was the trenches around the army barracks of Giwa and Maimalari and the 333 Artillery near the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) base that prevented the terrorists from wreaking havoc on Maiduguri metropolis,” said Kaumi Fugu, the village head of Moronti.
On how the village was attacked, he said: “Most of us were asleep around midnight when we started hearing gunshots and from Ajillari, near the river bank of Ngadabul. One of our neighbours lost two family members in his compound, while three others were killed about two kilometers from Ajillari.”
Burial
The village imam/ cleric, Mallam Yunus Mirgwi, told our reporter that the five slain villagers were buried Tuesday morning, according to Islamic rites. “By 1.45am, troops in patrol trucks moved in towards Moronti along the Maiduguri-Damturu Road, and commenced the repulsion of the insurgents by firing artillery shelling that lasted over an hour,” Mirgwi said.
He continued: “After the insurgents attacked the village, we saw troops in trucks moving towards Moronti and then a NAF fighter jet pursued the insurgents, and killed some of them”.
The deadliest attack yet since the inauguration came on June 2. That day, a suspected Boko Haram insurgent believed to be a suicide bomber and disguised as a herbalist/traditional medicine seller stormed the Maiduguri abattoir section of the cattle market (Kasuwan Shanu), killing over 30 people and injuring 28 others.
It was gathered that the suicide bomber came into the market with a mobile tape recorder playing President Buhari campaign songs which attracted many people. When he realized that the music had attracted dozens, he detonated the explosives he was carrying. The incident took place at about 12noon when the market was at its peak. The attack left shattered bodies of victims mixed with slaughtered animal’s meat/ flesh at the scene.
Although, officials of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) claimed 10 people died at the spot, they admitted some died later among the dozens who suffered various degrees of injury. Umar Sadiq, Communication Field Officer of the International Community of Red Cross (ICRC), in an interview, said, “So far, 13 identified dead bodies were evacuated from the scene while many others sustained serious injuries and burns in the blast”.
A source at Borno State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri said over 30 bodies were brought there, even as he expressed the fear that most of those injured may not survive due to the seriousness of their injuries. “We have received six corpses at the emergency ward since those injured were brought in and I just learnt that another victim of the blast has given up and they are bringing the corpse as we speak.”
A police inspector who did not want his name in print told our correspondent to be careful because many suicide bombers were said to have arrived Maiduguri following the battle with troops on Monday night.
“ All security agencies in Maiduguri are on the red alert because these useless people according to signals we received have smuggled themselves into town with the intention of suicide bombing. On Sunday (yesterday), about five suicide bombers were arrested at Tashan Baga and this one is another bad day for everybody. For your safety, be cautious while moving around because anything can happen. These bad eggs want to see where people gather so they can wreak more havoc,” he said.
Speaking with traders forced to abandon their sheds at the abattoir, our correspondent gathered that more than 70 people were hit by the explosion but they could not confirm the number of the dead. Aminu Sarki, a meat seller at the abattoir, said, “We just heard the loud sound of the explosion and everybody started running. We knew it was a bomb blast, but we could not wait to count the number of the dead, but it is unfortunate that many people were killed or injured in the blast.”
Borno State police commissioner, Mr. Aderemi Opadokun, ordered the condoning off of the abattoir. “The situation is under control, as the scene has been condoned off. Suspected suicide bomber at Kasuwan Shanu in Maiduguri at about 11:30hrs of 2/6/15 invaded the market shouting Sai Buhari in Hausa Language and dancing in the market where he detonated explosives (IEDs) strapped on his body when people had gathered around him.
“Four persons died including the suicide bomber in the explosion, while eight others sustained injury. Men were mobilized to the scene, corpses/injured persons were evacauted to the hospital, investigation in progress”.
Credit: Vanguard
Pain, shame of getting pregnant for Wizkid @ 19 — Babymama
May 27 was Children’s Day and Starboy, Wizkid’s babymama, Sola Ogudugu decided to relive her experience of getting pregnant for Wizkid at the age of 19 in 2011.
From her words, Wizkid might have deflowered her as she said she got pregnant when she just started having sex.
“I remember the day I found out I was pregnant! After 5monthsss… Damn! I Swear I died and rose again! Lol.. Can’t believe I’m laughing now. I cried for the remaining 4 months… I just kept saying to myself everyday ‘God, why me’ Ahhhhhh mahn… ThoseWereTryingTimesYo! It was like film trick…”
“To think I just started having sex at the time… I was just frustrated… Like who sent me it’s funny now.. wasn’t funny then oo. Imagine seeing your monthly period unknown to you that there’s a baby growing in you! MAHNNNNNN!!!! God is great!!”
“That was the greatest challenge ever! Was in my finals.. I still struggled and finished Uni with good grades.. And guess what? My son is 4! I’m still overwhelmed but I thank God for how far he’s brought me and how much my lil man has grown.. I’m Thankful”.
“Forget all the fleeked out make up and good cloths… Being a Mum is one hell of a job talk more being a single mum at 19!”.
“When Jesus Says Yes Nobody Can Say No…. That was how God wanted things to go in my life oooo…Boluwatife!”.
Of all institutions in Nigeria Police has least corrupt officers – IGP
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase has declared that the Nigerian Police, has the least corrupt officers of all the institutions in the country, even as the Police is determined to follow up any corrupt cases before it in accordance with constitutional provisions.
Speaking at the annual symposium during a Feast of Barracuda organised by the National Association of Seadogs, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase noted that the Police had made frantic efforts in tackling corruption even among the officers and had set in motion machinery to fish out corrupt officers in the force.
The IGP, who was represented by the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu said that the practical step to deal with corruption was to dismantle road blocks by Police and the establishment of Monitoring Teams to ensure compliance across the country.
He said: “The IG said he is allergic to corruption and since then he has taken practical steps to deal with the issue of corruption, both the history of corruption and perception of corruption of the Nigeria Police Force.
“One of the first things he did was to set up the IGP’s Monitoring Teams. First of all the decision by the Police Management Team was to take out roadblocks across all our highways. It was not just to dismantle it, he set up the IGP Monitoring Team to ensure that these directives are enforced.”
“If you go across most of our highways now roadblocks have been reduced to the barest minimum, and anybody mounting roadblocks, does that at his risk.
“Presentations are also made where Commissioners of Police are invited to look at the situations across the country right from the condition of suspects in Police cells and they have a technical platform that enable them to monitor the behaviour and conduct of police officers on the road as they handle suspects.
On the issue of welfare of police and accommodation the IG met with the OC Works across the country and they concluded to have 6,000 affordable houses for officers across the country.
“The IG said bail is free! Help lines have been provided where you can supply information. You can call to inform that you went to this station and paid this amount and I can assure you, action will be taken. Bail is free, the monitoring teams are going round to practically deal with those avenues that can lead to corruption.
“The Nigeria Police has the capacity to investigate any corrupt case under the laws, either the Crminal Code law or the Penal Code law. The Police has the competence and the capacity to investigate corrupt cases.
“The Police management under Solomon Arase is doing everything possible to eliminate corruption and has taken practical steps leading to that.
“Once corruption cases are given to the police, the cases must be investigated. The Police is the least corrupt officers in every organisation because it has an in house way of dealing with the issue of organisation, trying officers, arresting officers who engage in corrupt practices.
“I think you can hardly find institutions that is like Police taking practical steps to deal with corruption, all I want to say by way of challenge is have confidence in the Police.”
In his own address, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Mr. Paul Erokoro said that the fight against corruption in the country will not produce any good results with corrupt leaders on the saddle.
Erokoro declared that it should be made compulsory for every public officer in the country to declare his or her assets publicly as a way tackle corruption.
Delivering a paper on ‘ A New Dawn in Nigeria: Practical steps to eliminate corruption’, Mr. Erokoro noted that everybody in the country had been part of of the corruption problem in the past and had remained part of the problem at the present time, stressing that hardly any public officer live with his salary.
He said that corruption in the country is pervasive and that a practical step to show that the country is serious to fight corruption is by the President to declare his assets publicly, then ensures that his Ministers follow suite as well as all public officers.
“We should lead by example and it involves people insisting that the President should declare his assets in public.
He said that all high level officials ranging from, President, Ministers, Legislators, CBN Governors, Police and Customs Officers, Military Officers should declare their assets publicly and should also sign a statement granting permission to banks,moth local and foreign, real estate and investment houses to disclose any personal assets they hold.
He further suggested that there should be scrutiny of people’s income and withholding of aid by international donors if the country really is interested in fighting corruption.
He said that many attempts made to eliminate corruption in the country had been symbolic and half hazard as those in charge of waging corruption war were not committed.
He maintained that if the head of any organisation is clean, it will be difficult for those under him to be dirty and that the President should insist that every minister declares his assets publicly as well as outlaw opening of foreign accounts.
Credit: Vanguard
Adeboye to Osinbajo, Ambode: Use your offices to change Nigeria’s bad image
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye has charged Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State to use their new offices to change the bad story about Nigeria.
He spoke just as Osinbajo and Ambode assured Nigerians that God would make peace to reign in the country with the advent of the new administration.
The trio spoke at the Seventh Edition of the Excel Programme of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, organised by Apapa Family of the church at the Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, Lagos, with the theme; “Riding on the Wings of Change.”
In his sermon, Pastor Adeboye urged political office holders to use their position to change the story of Nigeria, just as he assured that Nigeria will continue to march forward with the present crop of leaders.
According to him, “Change has two wings, power and glory and the two will dwell in you if you are connected to Christ. Colossians 1:27 says Jesus is the King of Glory.”
Osinbajo noted that the dearth of faithful, diligent men and women was another challenge confronting the country inspite of the country’s huge population.
The vice president, who backed up his address with various Bible passages on how diligence and faithfulness can lift a man, said the nation needs faithful men and women who can be trusted to do the right things and can also be honest and diligent.
“There are many people who are bright and intelligent but what we lack are faithful men and women. Men and women who can be trusted to do the right things, who can be honest, diligent and who can do what needs to be done”.
Osinbajo said that when citizens of the country change their attitude and become faithful, the country would achieve great things.
Earlier, Ambode who also touched on the need to be diligent, reaffirmed his determination and commitment to serve the people diligently irrespective of his or her status, sex, religion or tribe in the course of governing the state.
Osinbajo and Ambode were earlier presented with awards of “Apostle of Change.” While the vice president was awarded in recognition of his outstanding transformational leadership to the nation, Ambode was awarded in recognition of his dedication to public service and continuous service to Lagos State.
Dignitaries present at the event included the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, and clergymen from different religious denominations.
What I went through for believing we could defeat PDP – Tinubu
National leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has noted how he and other party officials were mocked at and derided when they conceived the idea of forcing the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from power two years ago.
Speaking at the African Young Entrepreneurs Empowerment Nigeria, AYEEN 2015 programme in Lagos, weekend, the party leader thus urged youths not to ever give up on their ideas “even if no one believes in you.”
The APC leader who was represented by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, said that the youths should learn from APC’s story, as they strive to achieve their dreams.
The former governor of Lagos State, who stressed that the journey of the party’s merger started in the minds of a select few said: “If I didn’t believe in the bold initiative, I wouldn’t have lent myself to the unprecedented merger of the political parties that became the APC. We wouldn’t have challenged the incumbent party controlling the central government, People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
“There is no incumbent that has ever lost an election in this country. At the beginning of that journey, we were laughed at, we weren’t given a chance. We were told that we have embarked on an exercise in futility. Yet we believed in the justness of our call. The criticism didn’t deter us but encourage us.
“That exercise has become a history-making exercise. The party that was described as dead on arrival has, however, given birth to a new government, spirit and better democracy.”
Credit: Vanguard
Police arrest five ritualists in Ondo
Five suspected ritualists have been arrested at a shrine where abducted persons are slaughtered and their parts sold to prospective buyers at Ago Oyinbo in Okitipupa area of Ondo State.
Consequently, upon discovery of the kidnappers den, youths in the town stormed the place and demolished it.
Vanguard gathered that the suspects were arrested, following a tip-off by people of the community, who noticed strange movements and stench oozing out of the building.
The human slaughter house and some of the fetish materials therein.
Men of Igbotako Police division reportedly effected the arrest of the suspects.
Before their arrest, the suspects were alleged to have been occupying the building in the last three years.
Sources informed newsmen that the suspected ritualists, after kidnapping their victims, usually take them to the shrine and slaughtered them for ritual purposes.
The said shrine is located in the village which is a few kilometres away from Benin-Ore-Ijebu Ode expressway.
Fetish materials such as cow horns, different types of clothes suspected to belong to those abducted, palm fronds, bottles of gin, calabashes, ‘Ghana must go’ bags, among others, were found at the shrine.
The Baale of Ago Oyinbo, Chief Moyebi Okeowo, who spoke to newsmen, said the shrine must have been erected in 2012 when the suspects came to beg for a space in the village to use as location to shoot films.
He said: “I asked somebody to take them to the owner of the land, unknown to him that they wanted to use the village as a kidnappers den.
“When they came to me to beg for a piece of land to shoot their film, I told them I am not the owner of the land and I took them to the brother of the landlord of the land who took them to the wife of the landlord in Akure.
‘I learned they were authorized by the wife of the landlord to use the land and since then, they have been using it.
“When I did not know what they were using the land for, I told their leader to go and report their activities to the police and he later informed me that he had done so.”
Okeowo explained that he was not aware of the activities of the suspects until last Monday when he got information that the suspects were using human beings for sacrifice on the land.
Also, the Principal of Community Grammar School in neighbouring Kajola, in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, Mr Joseph Edosama, said two of the security guards of the school were among the suspects arrested by the police for conspiring with the suspected kidnappers.
Another community leader, who spoke in confidence, explained that it had been long since the suspects started operating in the village.
But the state police spokesman, Wole Ogodo, feigned ignorance of the development in the community, saying the state command had not been briefed by its Divisional police station at Igbotako.
Credit: Vanguard
I am not available to serve in Buhari’s govt now – Soludo
It has been difficult tracking Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo (former Governor of the Central Bank) since his bombshells before the general elections, but finally we tracked him down in his private library at his residence in Abuja on Friday, 5th June, 2015.
He seemed unwilling to say much, at least for now. But it was still vintage Soludo, and some of the issues he raised are explosive. He sees hope and opportunities for the new Government, even though he says his current engagements will not allow him to join the government on a full time basis, contrary to wide speculations. He says he can however freely offer advice to the government if needed.
Soludo says: Nigeria needs a Job Manifesto, and that solid minerals and agriculture can’t be relied upon for job creation; Argues that a sustainable change will not occur without a new constitution; says the clamour for zoning and sharing of public offices is an elite power game which has little to do with the masses and therefore misplaced; believes the argument for local government autonomy is anti-federalism; is waiting for the action plan from the new government before joining the debate on the agenda; says his public spat with Okonjo-Iweala was unfortunate; raises questions about the proposal by CBN governor on selling government equity stakes in oil for immediate revenue as well as the new NBS data on unemployment; etc.
Excerpts:
Question: Thank you sir for granting me this audience. You promised not to keep quiet again and to ask more questions about the running of the economy after elections but you seem to have been very quiet since the elections. Can you now raise the questions?
Soludo: Great to see you too! And I hope this will be a short interview please. Two quick points: The elections have come and gone but that was the easier part. The hard part now begins. Like most Nigerians, I am happy that Nigeria made history with the election. On your question, No; there was no need to raise further questions for the outgone administration. President Jonathan raised the bar and set a new tone in his statesmanly acceptance of defeat. That was noble. Last month, the government admitted that they were borrowing since January to pay salaries. What more do you want me to say? The two articles I wrote in January and February (which Vanguard newspaper still posts on its website as ‘The Soludo Debate’) remain living documents and raised some of the salient questions, some of which may be bold markers for the new government. Our focus should be on the future and the new government.
Question: How is your relationship with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala now?
Soludo: Why do you ask? Of course, she is and will always be my dear elder sister and Madam; someone I deeply respect. We may not always agree, especially on public policy. The public spat was unfortunate. She felt she had an obligation to defend her government but she did so in a manner that I also felt an obligation to respond in equal measure. But all that is now history. There is nothing personal. Now without the encumbrances of government and its pressures, I look forward to our returning to the good old days in our personal relationship.
Question: The economy is really bad; falling oil price, dwindling revenue, debt, inflation, unemployment, collapsed Naira, etc. Where does President Buhari start from?
Soludo: I don’t envy President Buhari and his team. His government will preside over the transition to a post-oil economy, and it won’t be a tea party. If Buhari works 8 hours a day, he last less than 7,500 hours left to bring about change in his first term in office or less than 9,700 if he works 12 hours a day, with three substantive annual budgets to go before the next elections. The clock is ticking already. But the Rescue, Stabilize, and Transform (RST) Plan requires a 24 by 7 operation. There must be something in the President’s natal chart that keeps bringing him to govern us just when things are in shambles. But I see hope; I see opportunities. The president and his team have a historic opportunity to create a new Nigeria without oil; a Nigeria powered by competition and compassion. Fortuitously Nigeria’s centenary was last year, 2014. This year marks the beginning of the next 100 years. President Buhari and the new crop of elected officers at all levels must lay the foundation for the next Nigeria; a re-engineered Nigeria with the structures and incentives to move from cake-sharing or consumption to cake-baking or production. Old thinking and ways of doing things won’t work. But an attempt to drive change from Abuja will fail. It will be akin to trying to clap with one hand. A coordinated national (not federal) response is required.
On your specific question as to where President Buhari should begin, let me say that I don’t want to join the new industry in town which is ‘agenda setting’. Everyone is grabbing the microphone to ‘set agenda’. That’s ok. I am aware that the transition committee is working hard on an agenda, and I believe that the committee is made up of eminent Nigerians. For me, let us wait for them to unveil their action plan and we would have something to comment upon or contribute to. I am aware that the African Heritage Institution (Afriheritage) is planning a session focused on the agenda after it is announced. So, I won’t join this fashion parade of the day. Not yet.
Question: Let me be more specific. With the terrible condition of the economy, and the high expectations of Nigerians on the new government, what practical steps should Buhari take to create jobs speedily?
Soludo: I told you I do not want to discuss specifics now. For sure, job creation should be the focus of the new post-oil economy. Nigeria certainly needs a Job Manifesto, with a target of 8 – 12 million jobs over the next four years. This is easier said than done. We are diversifying the economy by-passing the manufacturing/industrial sector to the tertiary sector (services). Creating value-adding jobs in such an economy with one of the highest rates of urbanization in the world will task our creativity to the limit. The agenda will require a kind of coordination between the federal and state governments in a manner never seen before. Luckily the APC states are in majority and I hope their party will rein them in. I have read some newspaper reports that solid minerals sector and agriculture will be the new kids on the block to mint the jobs. That won’t happen! At least not in the manner it is being romanticised about. They would have very limited impacts on job creation over the next four years, and over the long-run agricultural transformation will actually reduce jobs. The prospects of the solid mineral sector will depend on the policy framework and even legislation, the dynamics of commodity prices especially given the apparent end of the commodity super cycle, and the nature of forward and backward integration with the rest of the industrial structure. Anyway, let us wait for government’s agenda before we can comment, please.
Question: In your previous answer you alluded to changing the structures of Nigeria. What should President Buhari do with the report of the recent national conference?
Soludo: It is up to him to decide what to do with the report. A fundamental point however is that you can’t create the new Nigeria, a post-oil competitive economy without fundamentally altering the existing constitution. The current constitution and the political-governance structures created by it are designed to share and consume the oil rent. A system designed for consumption cannot become efficient for production. Ours is a dysfunctional unitary-federalism, with a queer fiscal federalism and it won’t go too far. The federating units were created by the central government; it also created the local governments. Every month, both the governors and their local government chairmen are supposed to beseech Abuja to collect their allocations, each supposedly with powers to do whatever they like with the allocations. As oil stumbles, the fiscal viability of these creations is coming into question. Suddenly, states and LGAs designed to collect and spend oil money will be required to produce and create wealth to survive. We will see how the old order will give rise to the new without some creative destruction. The problem with the structure is that those who benefit most from it are required to dismantle it— the incentives are incompatible. We need to study the UAE (United Arab Emirates) model of competitive federalism—that created the incentives for Dubai and other prosperous non-oil regions to emerge. I have written a lot on this subject, and we can talk about this the whole day. The point is that APC cannot deliver sustainable change to Nigeria if it does not go to the roots, and effect systemic change. Tinkering at the margins will amount to papering over a cracked wall.
Question: That reminds me of the ongoing debate about local government autonomy and joint account with the states. Shouldn’t the local governments be autonomous?
Soludo: Autonomy from who? I know that it makes for our emotional satisfaction to “deal with the state governors” and let the LGAs have ‘autonomy’— but only in the sense of getting their “allocation” directly and unhindered by state governments but withL no incentive-sanctions regime that ties such grants to certain productivity and fiscal viability criteria. The mistaken belief is that such autonomy will ensure that resources get to the ‘grassroots’. It is a funny argument which proceeds from the old model of ‘sharing the cake’. We must decide whether we want a federal or a unitary system; not both at the same time. Are the states the federating units or both states and local governments? Funny enough the same constitution gives the state assemblies the power to create local governments and maintain oversight over them. At the same time, the constitution lists the LGAs created by the military as the ones to collect “allocations” from the Federation Account. I want to see examples of federal systems in the world where the local governments directly receive statutory allocations from the federal government and with statutory powers to spend as they wish without performance-based criteria attached to such receipts. The mind-set is rooted in the past, but the problems are unfolding in the future. When it comes to incentives and sanctions regime for creating prosperity and accountability, our current constitution is a funny document. It is even worse for effective macroeconomic management.
Question: The contest is on for zoning and sharing of political offices, and there are fears of marginalization by people from the south east and south south because of their poor support for President Buhari and APC during the elections. How should Buhari assuage the fears of these zones?
Soludo: You have raised many issues at the same time. First, given the peculiar manner the election was done in the two zones, it is difficult to know exactly how the people voted. There is no question that a majority of people in the two zones preferred Jonathan but we know what happened during the Presidential-national assembly election. Prof. Jega and INEC did a great job but we still have a very long way to go.
Second, the Constitution of Nigeria creates an absurdity in the name of federal character whereby a minister must come from every state. So, states in the south east and south south must have ministers in the federal cabinet. Third, and more substantively, I believe that the clamour for offices is simply a power game by the elite, which has only a symbolic or emotional significance to the masses. Yes, for some reasons, people like to see someone that shares their interests or attributes in government—it has a feel good factor. But if occupation of such office has any personal benefits, it is largely to the occupant of the office and his friends and family.
Our recent history has shown that it hardly matters where the occupant of a particular position comes from. I am not sure how the welfare of Ota/Ogun people changed because Obasanjo was president of Nigeria, or how the man in the street of Katsina or Otuoke/Bayelsa prospered more than others simply because their son became president.
The south east voted massively for ‘one of their own’ in 2011 as president, and also had Secretary to Government, Deputy Senate president, Deputy Speaker, Minister of Finance and coordinating minister of economy and a coterie of other appointments. Yet, the zone had the least capital expenditure in the five year presidency, and there is hardly any motorable federal highway in the south east. For me, this bickering for sharing of positions is an elite game for their personal rather than national considerations. What the ordinary Nigerians want are institutionalized processes to guarantee their security and prosperity. They want services and don’t care who gives it to them. Our federal cabinet is nothing but a miniature United Nations whereby each minister represents his or her state but no one represents Nigeria. At this critical crisis moment, perhaps what Nigeria needs is something akin to selecting the best 11 for our national football team: no one cares which state or zone they come from; everyone wants Nigeria to come home with the cup.
Question: Talking about positions in the government, there are rumours in town, especially on social media and even in some newspapers that you are being tipped to serve in the cabinet of the current government. Are you likely to serve in the government or am I speaking with the prospective Finance Minister as speculated?
Soludo: Nigerians and their rumours! I am glad you said they are rumours and such rumours are normal. For sure, I wish the new government success and for the sake of Nigeria, everyone must contribute to assist President Buhari succeed. I will contribute in whatever way I can. However, everyone can’t sit in government in order to serve: some will be there on full time basis while others can contribute from outside. For me personally and at this point in time, I am not disposed or available for full time public service now; perhaps in the future it could happen, but not now. For now, my hands are full with several other experiments I am involved with (especially abroad) in the private sector, charity, think-tanks, and the international community. I am part of a major initiative in Africa’s mining and solid minerals sector, and this takes me through several African countries, etc. I am having great fun exploring totally new vistas of opportunity that are central to Africa’s great leap in the 21st century. I read that President Buhari will give priority to solid minerals. We can provide free advisory services and perhaps assist to mobilize investment in the sector or in any other areas if our advice is needed. In effect, there are several ways we can assist the government to succeed but not necessarily to take up full time appointment. No, not now!
Question: So, who and who would you recommend to be part of the best 11 in the cabinet?
Soludo: There are many eminent Nigerians who are not only bold, critical thinkers but also with high execution capacity that the president can choose from. I wish him and his team good luck.
Question: Do you agree with the suggestion of the current CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, that Nigeria should sell off its oil stakes and retain say, 25% only?
Soludo: I won’t comment on it in detail until I read the study. From what is reported in the newspapers so far, I will surely have many questions and I have hinted the Governor on this.
Question: Some CBN staff are currently being tried for alleged fraud regarding circulation of old notes, and the EFCC says this has been on for years – apparently more people may have been involved. Were you able to deal with that kind of fraud when you were in charge?
Soludo: First and foremost, I can’t imagine how such a fraud could be executed successfully given the architecture of controls and security at the CBN. Such would require the collusion of tens of persons from different departments and agencies, including law enforcement agencies and commercial banks. It is very unlikely to happen without someone blowing the whistle or leakage of information. I am particularly happy therefore that it was the CBN that discovered the fraud and reported to the law enforcement agencies. This is the important point.
Question: Years after leaving the CBN, give us your assessment of the bank under your successors.
Soludo: I still reserve my comments for now. When I was in office, I made it a policy never to comment on my predecessors, and after I left office I also insisted on a self-imposed five year gag order not to comment on my successor. Several times I was under immense pressure to break it but I thank God that I kept to it. The five year ban is now over, but it is not yet time to comment.
Question: The National Bureau of Statistics recently came up with a revised methodology for calculating unemployment, with the claim that unemployment now stands at about 6%. Are you as concerned as many Nigerians who believe that claim is baseless?
Soludo: Integrity of our national statistics is a very serious issue. I don’t comment on statistics without serious scrutiny. Having not had a chance to thoroughly examine the reviewed methodology, I will not comment on its veracity or appropriateness. It is one thing to have a new methodology, it is yet another to have a comprehensive, credible labour market survey. I will need information on these two parts to make informed judgment. Already, the NBS/past government have created the baseline data for the performance evaluation of the Buhari administration in the areas of poverty and unemployment. According to them, unemployment is about 6% while poverty is about 32%. If true, then the Buhari government is challenged to beat these numbers. The government must support NBS to be independent and do its job without interference.
Credit: This interview was first published by Premium Times.
Killers use power tools to break out of NY prison, leave behind smiley face note
For 170 years, no inmate had managed to break out of the maximum security wing of New York's Clinton Correctional Facility, tucked high in the Adirondack Mountains near the Canadian border.
But now, red-faced officials are looking for two convicted killers who escaped in a most dramatic fashion - by using power tools to cut through the walls of their cells and crawling through a maze of underground pipes and shaft to freedom.
In their place, the pair left decoys to trick guards into thinking they were asleep in their bunks -- and a yellow sticky note with a smiley face. It read, "Have A Nice Day!"
Despite a $100,000 reward and a manhunt involving some 250 law enforcement officials, Richard Matt and David Sweat -- both dangerous men who were serving lengthy sentences -- were still on the loose early Monday.
"They could be literally anywhere," said Maj. Charles E. Guess of the New York State Police, which is leading the search.
Tricking the guards
People call the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, "Little Siberia."
That's in part due to its remote location -- in the sparsely populated northeast corner of New York, about 25 miles from the Canadian border.
And also because it's situated in a region where wintry weather can persist more than half the year.
The facility has prison population with 2,689 inmates. And two of its most notorious inhabitants were Richard Matt, 49, and David Sweat, 35.
Matt and Sweat apparently were last seen at 10:30 p.m. Friday during a standing count -- head counts that are performed every two hours throughout the night when guards visually check to see whether inmates are in their bunks.
The pair tricked the guards by arranging things in the bunks to look "like people were sleeping ... with these sweatshirt hoodies on," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.
The inmates -- who occupied side-by-side cells -- apparently cut through a steel wall using power tools.
Once they were out of their cells, they then followed a catwalk down an elaborate maze of pipes until they emerged from a manhole outside the prison walls.
They evaded detection for some seven hours, until the inmate count 5:30 a.m. Saturday.
Unanswered questions
Along with the taunting sticky note, the pair also left a host of unanswered, and uncomfortable, questions for law enforcement.
How did they get the power tools? How could they have known the layout of the bowels of the old prison? Did they have help from the inside?
Cuomo, who toured the escape route Sunday, said it was possible the tools came from workers performing regular maintenance on the 1845 facility.
"It was elaborate, it was sophisticated," he said of the plot. "It involved drilling through steel walls, steel pipes."
'Dangerous people'
The danger the two men pose can't be overstated, officials said.
Sweat was serving a life sentence without parole in the killing of Kevin Tarsia, a sheriff's deputy in 2002.
Matt was convicted on three counts of murder, three counts of kidnapping and two counts of robbery after he kidnapped a man and beat him to death in December 1997, state police said. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
"These are dangerous people," Cuomo said. "And they're nothing to be trifled with."
Sweat is white, 5 feet, 11 inches tall and weighs 165 pounds. He has brown hair, green eyes and tattoos on his left bicep and his right fingers.
Matt is white, 6 feet tall and weighs 210 pounds. He has black hair, hazel eyes and several tattoos: "Mexico Forever" on his back, a heart on his chest and left shoulder, and a Marine Corps insignia on his right shoulder.
Matt is also well known to Mexican authorities. In 2007, he was extradited from Mexico back to New York on a decade-old murder charge, documents show.
With the facility's proximity to Canada, and with Matt's ties to Mexico, authorities on both international borders have been alerted.
'No stone unturned'
Officers used roadblocks and bloodhounds and and went door to door in their search for the men. They scoured the woods and sifted through the dozens and dozens of tips that came in.
But so far, no luck.
They don't know if the pair is still together, had help on the outside, or if the men had access to a vehicle.
On Sunday, the U.S. Marshals Service issued federal arrest warrants for the escapees. The warrants clear the way for the federal government to involve its considerable resources in the manhunt.
"Every resource available to us will be used in bringing these two men to justice," said William O'Toole, a U.S. Marshals Service spokesman.
Also Sunday, Cuomo announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the pair's capture.
"We're leaving no stone unturned," Guess of the New York State Police said Sunday.
Credit: CNN
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