34 Migrants, Including Two Nigerians, 20 Children, Found Dead In Niger Desert

Bodies of 34 migrants, including 20 children who were abandoned by people smugglers while trying to reach neighbouring Algeria were found in the Niger desert last week, authorities said Wednesday, June 15.
"Thirty-four people, including five men, nine women and 20 children died trying to cross the desert,” Niger’s interior ministry said in a statement."They probably died of thirst, as is often the case, and they were found near Assamaka,” a security source said, referring to a border post between Niger and Algeria.

“The migrants were abandoned by people smugglers,” the statement added, and only two of the bodies have so far been identified – a man and a 26-year-old woman both from Niger.
Two unidentified Europe-bound Nigerians were among the dead. The nationalities of other victims are yet to be revealed.

Temperatures in the desolate region can reach a brutal 42 degrees Celsius, with blinding sandstorms tearing across the desert. The hostile conditions mean that only a fraction of those who die trying to cross the area are ever found.

Thousands of illegal migrants have arrived in Algeria in recent years, mostly from neighbouring Mali and Niger.

Libya used to play host to the majority of migrants in sub-Saharan Africa, but since that country descended into chaos following the ousting of Moamer Kadhafi, Algeria has become the main destination for the region’s migrants.

Many transit through Algeria headed for Europe, but more than 7,000 migrants from Niger, mostly women and children, were returned to their home country in 2015 as part of an agreement between the two countries’ governments.

Europe has recently turned its attention to trying to curb the number of illegal arrivals from Africa, after a deal with Ankara in March slashed the number of people trying to cross from Turkey.



Source: AFP

DAAR Communications Rebuts Report that It Sacked Its Entire Staff And Shutdown Operations In Benin

                                                       DAAR Communications Boss, Raymond Dokpesi

The Management of DAAR Communication Plc, owners of Ray Power FM and African Independent Television (AIT), has refuted reports that it laid off the entire workers in its Benin stations.

The refutal is contained in a statement issued by management of the organisation and made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

In the statement, the management also denied the report that it shut down its two stations in the city.

Contrary to the report, the Daar management said that “out of a total of 40 operational staff strength, only 13 were laid off”.

“We wish to correct this misrepresentation of facts and state emphatically that the management critically appraised the operations of both stations in Benin.

We appraised the operations as it relates to manpower capacity utilisation, dedication to duty, productivity level, and found some wanting and far below expectation.

Their general conduct was found to be inimical to the attainment of the lofty ideals of the organisation.

Their professionalism and competence was not at par with that of their colleagues and it was adversely affecting the over-all productivity and the expected capacity of both stations.

The management stated that the issue of salaries and other financial obligations to workers was receiving utmost attention,” it said.

Adamu Tilde, An Almajiri From Borno Graduates From A Hungary University With Distinction And CGPA Of 4.98

Adamu Tilde, an Almajiri from Maiduguri, Borno State graduated today, June 16, with a MSc Animal Biotechnology with Distinction and CGPA of 4.98 out of 5.00 from Szent Istvan Egyetem University, Hungary. He was the class Reps of Animal Science class of 2011, University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID)

In a congratulatory message, his friends, Abdullahi Abdullahi said:
"He is a complete gentleman, those who knew him will testify what I am saying , he is intellectually genius, not only about the CGPA but rather the level of intellectualism in the character call Adamu Tilde is much more than one can imagine; until you engage Adamu Tilde then you will know what am talking about. Permit me to congratulate this young Man who has successfully completed his MSc Animal Biotechnology with Distinction, Szent Istvan Egyetem University, Hungary with CGPA of "4.98. Within this cyberspace Adamu is one of the finest and Genius young Nigerians we knew. Congratulations bro."
On his part, Marzuq Abubakar Ungogo, a fellow Almajiri wrote:

"This is Adamu Tilde, a fellow Almajiri

Today he obtained MSc Animal Biotechnology with Distinction, Szent Istvan Egyetem University, Hungary. CGPA 4.98.


Adamu is one of the finest young intellectuals Northern Nigeria can boost of. For those of you who thought he studied Philosophy, do know he's primarily a scientist.
Will you guys help me push the guy until he gives us a PhD in the next 3 years"

Bauchi State Govt Explains Viral Pictures Of Stacks Of Cash Found In A Commissioner's Office

Bauchi State Government has explained photos of large stacks of cash said to be about N20million seen in the office of a state Commissioner, that has been trending on social media.

According to Shamsuddeen Lukman Abubakar, SA Communications to the Governor of Bauchi State, the money was earmarked for feeding during the Ramadan. The money was presented to the people by Commissioner Abdullah Mohammed Idris on behalf of the state governor Mohammed Abdullahi on Wednesday June 15. See the statement below:

"Good evening to the good people of Bauchi state. It has come to my attention, the circulation of certain photographs online of money found on the table of a serving Commissioner of Bauchi state. I wish to assure you all that, the said picture is no implication of corruption or illegal money transactions.
This period of Ramadan teaches us to extend love to the poor, less privileged and the non buoyant. In line with this, and as has always been done, the Bauchi State Government releases funds to mosques in Bauchi state for the provision of iftar to faithfuls. These funds are disbursed through the Office of the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, to assist faithfuls who are not buoyant enough to afford iftar.

Once again, we understand the insensitivity of the image, surfacing at a time like this when we as a Government are working hard to achieve a corruption-free and transparent administration.
We want to assure the good people of Bauchi state that all and sundry is being done to make the best use of resources, fight corruption within the State and ensure that all our promises to the people are fully delivered.

May Allah crown our efforts with success.

Shamsuddeen Lukman Abubakar
SA Communications to His Excellency the Governor of Bauchi State
16th June, 2016

Pres. Buhari Meets With Bola Tinubu & Oba Sikiru Adetona In London Today

President Buhari is expected back in Nigeria on Sunday. He met with APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona Ogbagba II, in London today, June 16.