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The glamorous lovers’ day celebration on Monday turned bloody at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) when gunmen killed two students. Daily Sun gathered that the clash was between two rival cult groups, namely, Black Axe and the Buccaneers,’ over a female student allegedly snatched by the Capone of the Black Axe for Valentine celebration.

The action of the Capone , the source said did not go down well with the other group leading to the clash.
A student who witnessed the shooting said besides the two cult members who were shot dead, about four others sustained injuries and were ferried out of the campus by their leaders to shield their identity.

The sources said the cult members who carried out the attack were not UNILAG students but members from another campus, adding that the attack was carried out in a commando style with sporadic shooting.
An undergraduate student of English Department told Daily Sun that the Buccaneers’ group attacked the Black Axe members while another student returning from the Mosque said those who carried out the killing were not from UNILAG because they did not cover their faces.

It was learnt that as soon the shooting started, students scampered for safety while others took cover behind the wall and under cars packed around, while others ran into the halls to avoid being hit by stray bullets. 
A senior lecturer who confirmed the killings said the university management had met to curtail any reprisal attack while security personnel had taken over the investigation of the deadly cult clash.
When Daily Sun visited the troubled institution yesterday, there was uneasy calm, as most staff and students rebuffed efforts made by the reporters to get their comments.

However, one of the students who resides at Sodeinde Hall, said there was sporadic gunshots outside the premises which caused panic everywhere. 
It was gathered that the crisis, which erupted when the students were at the peak of lovers’ day celebration, created stampede on the campus as people ran for safety.

One of the victims of the attack reportedly ran into Sodeinde Hall for help, from where he was taken to the hospital.
Although the Hall Master of Sodeinde Hall declined comments on the issue, one of the officials, who wouldn’t want his name published, said the attack could not be linked to any cult group. He said there was increasing speculation that the perpetrators of the attack could be fighting for love. Efforts made by Daily Sun our reporter to ascertain the identities of the victims were unsuccessful.
The news bulletin of the university, Information Flash (ISSN 08195540) also captured the incident, while assuring the staff and students of the university of adequate security.

“The attention of the universities authorities has been drawn to the incident which occurred in one of the Halls of Residence in the late hours of Monday, February 14, 2011 where two persons were reportedly injured in fracas. The university management has commenced investigation into the unusual incident, in particular at a time when preparation for the first semester examinations due to commence on February 21, 2011 are in top gear. Security has been intensified to ensure safety of life and property on campus. Law enforcement agents have been involved to assist the university in this respect,” it said. 
Daily Sun learnt that students are leaving the campus because of the fear of reprisal attack while some parents called their wards on phone to return home until the situation is brought under control. 

The Deputy Registrar Information of UNILAG, Mr. Dare Adebisi refused to pick his calls or replied to text message sent to his phone.
When the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Samuel Jinadu (DSP) was called thrice, he promised to contact the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area and did not call back as at the press time....

Corps members to get N250,000 for self-employment

AGENCY REPORTER

The Federal Government has concluded arrangements to release N250,000 to any corps member who opts for self-employment after undergoing the national service.

The NYSC Director-General, Brig-Gen. Muharizu Tsiga, made the announcement on Wednesday at Ede, Osun State, while addressing corps members during a familiarisation visit to the orientation camp.

He said government was aware of the hardship faced by fresh graduates after the mandatory one-year service and had taken necessary measures to ease their burden.

Tsiga urged interested corps members to start preparing their feasibility studies and submit them to his office in Abuja, through the state coordinators.

He noted with regret the inconveniences at the various orientation camps, and promised that the scheme would start enforcing the rights of corps members, especially in the provision of comfortable accommodation.

Tsiga said: "Corps members don't have to pay rent. They are expected to be accommodated free. Where there is none, they are to be paid in lieu of accommodation to make them comfortable.

"They also have the right to be redeployed if they have genuine reasons, but must follow due process in facilitating such redeployment at the office of the state coordinator.''

The director-general added that it was wrong for corps members to request for redeployment from his office in Abuja, while sideling the state coordinators.

He warned that he would no longer attend to such requests.

Tsiga explained that the scheme had a mandate of ensuring that nothing negative happened to any corps member, adding that adequate security measures had been provided for them.

"Security agencies will be coming to deliver lectures. We have also asked community leaders to ensure security in their areas of primary assignments. It is, however, important that the corps members are disciplined too,'' he added.

A Presidency source, who disclosed these on Tuesday, said the Yar'Adua family members held a crucial meeting in Abuja on Monday night.

Turai's role in the Yar'Adua health saga, the controversy that attended the manner of his return and his incommunicado were reportedly discussed.

The source said that 15 family members attended the meeting.

The source said, "Members of the family are particularly bothered that since the President took ill, they have been denied access to him in spite of the strong biological links they have with him."

Besides, family members are concerned about the image of the family, going by the controversy his health has generated.

It was learnt that they expressed deep worry about the full restoration of all the privileges of the President against the backdrop of the actions of some individuals, which tended to smear him his reputation.

Meanwhile, fresh indications have emerged that the Acting President may have extracted a promise to see the ailing President from Turai and her clique.

It was gathered that the Acting President made another move to see his boss on Saturday without success.

The aides of the President were said to have told the Acting President that he would see the President soon.

However, no date was given.

Jonathan had made not less than three moves to see his boss without success since Yar'Adua returned last Wednesday

A Presidency source, who disclosed these on Tuesday, said the Yar'Adua family members held a crucial meeting in Abuja on Monday night.

Turai's role in the Yar'Adua health saga, the controversy that attended the manner of his return and his incommunicado were reportedly discussed.

The source said that 15 family members attended the meeting.

The source said, "Members of the family are particularly bothered that since the President took ill, they have been denied access to him in spite of the strong biological links they have with him."

Besides, family members are concerned about the image of the family, going by the controversy his health has generated.

It was learnt that they expressed deep worry about the full restoration of all the privileges of the President against the backdrop of the actions of some individuals, which tended to smear him his reputation.

Meanwhile, fresh indications have emerged that the Acting President may have extracted a promise to see the ailing President from Turai and her clique.

It was gathered that the Acting President made another move to see his boss on Saturday without success.

The aides of the President were said to have told the Acting President that he would see the President soon.

However, no date was given.

Jonathan had made not less than three moves to see his boss without success since Yar'Adua returned last Wednesday

The House of Representatives on Thursday passed an order suspending further drafting of fresh graduates to Plateau State to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in the state..

This order came in the wake of the devastating violence that claimed hundreds of lives in a neighbourhood of Jos, the state capital, last Sunday.

The legislative resolution, the second in the week after the massacre, also called on the management of the NYSC to re-deploy serving corps members in Plateau to neighbouring states, even as the government attempts to restore peace to the area.

Saving the people

“I am not a pessimist,” said Ekperikpe Ekpo, a member from Akwa Ibom state, who sponsored the resolution. “But we cannot say as of now, total peace has returned to Jos. We have to find a way to save these people in the event of reprisal attacks.”

The resolution will empower calls from Nigerians who have asked that youth corps members be re-assigned from Plateau state.

However, a few members of the House of Representatives, mostly from the affected state, opposed the proposal. They complained that such an order will imply a failure of the government and a total breakdown of law and order in Plateau state.

Leo Dilkon, who represents Pashkin, Kanke and Kanam Local government areas of the state, said the crisis was concentrated around Jos, and it will be undue punishment on the rest of the state if the youths are withdrawn.

Support for motion

But the motion gathered rapid support after the mention of several cases of slain corps members in several parts of the north including Grace Ushang, whose murder in Borno State last year drew international condemnation, and three members of the scheme who died during the December 2008 fighting in Plateau State.

In the aftermath of such deaths, the government has been advised to reconsider the continued relevance of the scheme and the NYSC has been urged to restrict its posting to certain states.

After the killings of last Sunday, the NYSC Director General, Maharazu Tsiga, reportedly announced that his office will reassign serving members from the state pending the restoration of normalcy.

Lawmakers said although they are aware of the decision, they will push for a legislative resolution to compel the director general to act fast.

“I will be surprised if anyone will oppose the fact that the situation in Plateau poses a clear and present danger, said Patrick Obahiagbon, who represents Oredo in Edo state. “Whether there are newspaper reports that they will be redeployed or not, we have to rise up and make it known that this parliament says no. We cannot send our brothers and sisters to go and pay the ultimate price.”

Women in black

Meanwhile, hundreds of Plateau women clad in black dresses and placards showed up at the premises of the National Assembly, where they held hands, singing sombre songs to protest the latest killings.

The women, who said they will seek the intervention of the United Nations (UN) if they fail to get justice from the Nigerian government, called on the acting president, Goodluck Jonathan, to remove the current General Officer Commanding the 3rd Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army, located in Jos, Plateau State, who has been accused of negligence as the crisis erupted.

“We want a change of the security chiefs in Plateau State, they have not guaranteed any security on us, we have lost confidence in them,” the group’s spokesperson and its secretary general, Zipporah Kpamor, said.

The women also accused the Chief of Army Staff, Abdurahman Danbazzau, as well as the Bauchi State government of complicity in the mayhem in Jos.

“If the FG cannot stop the premeditated genocide and ensure peace in the state, then we will be compelled to go to the United Nations (UN) for intervention on the matter,” Ms. Kpamor said.