NIGERIAN NEWSPAPERS: 10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS FRIDAY MORNING

Good morning: Here are 10 things you need to know this morning:

1. A riot Police Training Academy close to Gwoza, Borno State has been been taken over by Boko Haram militants, says report. A witness told the British Broadcasting Corporation that shots were heard after the militants arrived in three Armoured Personnel Carriers and

on dozens of motorcycles. The Academy, otherwise known as Liman Kara Police College, since Wednesday had been in the hands of the militants who have now hoisted their flag in the college.

2. After several reports of the status of Nigerian student under Federal Government scholarship in Russia, the government has commenced payment of their allowances which report said had pushed them into begging. It was confirmed that the 8 months allowances have already been cleared.

3. The Nigeria Police Force had on Thursday announced the removal of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Frank Mba, as the Force Public Relations Officer. Taking over from Mba, is Emmanuel Ojukwu. The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Shogunle. Mba has now been redeployed to Lagos State Command as an Area Commander.

4. President Goodluck Jonathan has said the report of the National Conference will be sent to the National Assembly and the Council of State for onward incorporation into the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Jonathan also assured the conference Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi, in Abuja on Thursday that the report will be implement, and their efforts won’t be wasted.

5. the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, had on Thursday disclosed that, the Commission will check rigging in the 2015 general elections through the use of card readers. Jega was speaking when he delivered a lecture titled “Stakeholders and the Electoral Process in Nigeria,” during an event by the Department of Sociology, University of Lagos.

6. The All Progressives Congress, APC, Osun State chapter has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and its Chairman, Attahiru Jega for saying that elections shouldn’t be flooded with excess security men. The party made the commendation in a statement signed by its Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi.

7. The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two suspected human parts dealers engaged in the business of human skulls in parts of Ogun and Lagos states. Report says the suspects ─ Muritala Mustapha and Sunday Oluyeba were arrested by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the command after a tip-off.

8. ABIA State governor, Theodore Orji, had on Thursady called on Nigerians to encourage the Army in the battle against the current security challenges facing the nation. Governor Orji said encouragement and unbiased criticism were what the soldiers needed now to be able to battle the Boko Haram terrorists tormenting the nation. Orji was speaking, yesterday, in Umuahia when the Chief of Army staff, Lieutenant Gen. Kenneth Minimah, led other senior Army officers on a courtesy visit to Abia state.

9. President Goodluck Jonathan this morning leaves for Germany on a private visit alongside some of his close aides.

The president’s trip was confirmed by his spokesman, Reuben Abati, in a short statement he issued late Thursday.10. The All Progressives Congress, APC, has called for the suspension of the existing curfew in Adamawa state, as a result of the forth coming election in the state. The APC Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, while making the demand in a statement said that the existing curfew would hamper the freedom of movement of members and officials of the party if it remained in place during the period of campaigns for the governorship poll.