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BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG & LAIDE AKINBOADE INDICATIONS emerged, weekend, that no fewer than six Nigerians had been killed in the ongoing political crisis in Libya while more than 12,440 others were trapped in Tripoli and Benghazi.

This came as 1,243 Nigerians who had been stranded in Tripoli were evacuated, yesterday, with the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, using three aircraft for the operation.

Vanguard learnt that the six Nigerians were killed on their way to Tripoli from Benghazi after a bus they were travelling in came across Libyan soldiers who ordered the driver to return to where he was coming from. When the driver reportedly refused, the soldiers opened fire on the bus and the six Nigerians were killed instantly.

It was gathered that the whereabout of the only survivor remained unknown, though he was believed to have managed to join other trapped Nigerians at the Tripoli airport.

Giving details of the predicament of Nigerians in Libya in a statement, a group named Destinymakers Community Christian Campaigns & Action Network, DCCCAN, said that of the Nigerians stranded in Tripol 1000 were women; 170 babies; 5,720 youths, and 235 men, giving a total of 7,125. The group said that in Benghazi, there were 306 children; 2, 502 women and 2, 507 men, giving a total of 5, 315.

The statement said: “In the wake of crises in the Mid-east, none has posed more danger to Nigerians like the on going onslaught and massacre in Libya. Statistics put together by our organization through, Mr. Ben Igbokwe, and Mr. Solomon Okoduwa, both Nigerians at the Tripoli airport shows the figure of Nigerians stranded in Tripoli as women 1000, babies, 170, youths 5, 720, men, 235 giving a total of 7,125 Nigerians at Tripoli airport alone. Also, another Nigerian in Benghazi, Mr. Samson Aja, gave the latest figure of Nigerians in Benghazi as, children 306, women 2, 502, men 2, 507, giving a total of 5, 315 Nigerians in Benghazi.

“In the same vein, six Nigerians were reported to have died today (Saturday) on their way to Tripoli from Benghazi. We gathered from the only survival, that on their way to Tripoli on a bus they came across Libyan soldiers who ordered the driver to return to where he was coming from, but the driver refused, only for the soldiers to open fire on the bus and six Nigerians were killed instantly. The where about of one is unknown as the only survivor managed to join others at the Tripoli airport.

FG evacuates more Nigerians

The Federal Government, yesterday, evacuated more Nigerians from crisis-turned Libya. Director General of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, the coordinating agency for the operation, Muhammad Sani_Sidi, said three aircraft arrived Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, yesterday, with 1243 Nigerians who had been stranded in Tripoli due to the on_going political crisis in Libya.

He said: “The operation has witnessed the deployment of four chartered planes with capacity to accommodate 500 passengers each as well as a commercial aircraft that could accommodate around 200 passengers. So far, the total number of Nigerians that had been evacuated is 2278.”

The agency targeted 2000 Nigerians initially, but discovered that more stranded Nigerians continued to troop out from remote areas of Libya to Tripoli Airport, seeking to be evacuated back to Nigeria.

Director, North and Horn of Africa Division, Mr. Timloh B. Nkem, who represented the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr Odein Ajumogobia, said about 3000 additional Nigerians had been registered with the Embassy official in Libya, indicating their desire to be evacuated.

The returnees, who looked exhausted and tired from the stress in Libya, commended President Goodluck Jonathan for initiating the move for their evacuation. Two of them delivered babies at Tripoli Airport while awaiting the arrival of chartered aircraft from Nigeria.

Another pregnant, woman among the returnees, who simply gave her name as Mary, said “if not for the evacuation, I wonder how I could deliver in that hard condition in crowded open camp.

Military authorities handling the peace operations in Plateau State have announced the arrest of five soldiers over Tuesday's attacks on Kuru-Tasha village in Riyom Local Government. Charles Ekeocha, the spokesman for the Special Task Force (STF) charged with maintaining peace in Jos said on Wednesday that the attacks carried out by unidentified persons between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. left some 13 people dead and many others injured.

The military spokesperson, who confirmed that the soldiers were just few metres away from the scene of the attack, but chose to be unconcerned and "refused to act as expected," said the military authorities were shocked by the soldiers' behaviour and promptly reported the matter to the Defence Headquarters, who ordered their arrest, detention and investigation. "We have also arrested five soldiers for ‘laxity' during the attacks.

They have been locked up and are being investigated. They shall be court-martialed if we have found them truly culpable. That prompt action only shows that the military authorities cannot condone such behaviour by its men. If they are indicted, you can be sure that they shall be dealt with decisively," he said. Mr Ekeocha, however, rejected the suggestions that the soldiers took part in the killings.

He also denied allegations that soldiers were using maximum force on helpless civilians and also dismissed as "simply impossible" the allegations that the soldiers were "bias" in the handling of the crisis. Political crisis
The governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang described the recent spate of bombings across the country as political. He also said those behind the crime are only trying to paint a picture of insecurity to achieve political gains.

Speaking to journalists at the presidential villa, yesterday, Mr Jang painted a picture of a secure state, stating that security operatives are looking into all the security issues and hopefully they will come out with measures to apprehend those behind the atrocities. Speaking on the turn of events in the state, the governor said those behind it intend to make the country ungovernable for the government.

"Let me just say this, these bombing across the country is deliberate, to create an impression that the country is ungovernable so as to stop the general election," he said. "It is the plan of some desperate politicians who feels that if they don't get it, the whole country should go down but I can assure you that the government is in control." The governor, who also admitted that there is still some element of suspicion in the state assured that the situation in the state is getting better as calm is gradually returning to the once peaceful state.
Meanwhile, a Magistrate's Court on Wednesday granted bail to seven officials of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) who were arrested and charged to court over Saturday's violence in Jos. They were arraigned on a five-count charge of unlawful assembly, falsehood, public disturbance, negligence and conspiracy.

The suspects were said to be responsible for the violence that rocked parts of Jos in the last four days. The Chief Magistrate, Ishaku Kunda, who granted the suspects bail, adjourned the case to February 10.
The suspects include: the state's CPC Chairman, Mudashiru Aliyu; Deputy Chairman, Sunday Dul; Vice-Chairman, Henry Nenyel; Secretary, Johnson Podak and Legal Adviser, Paul Kopdin. Others include Assistant Publicity Secretary, Jamilu Baba, and the Organising Secretary, Mr Labaran Antashi.
The counsel to the suspects, Garba Pwol, described the ruling of the court as "very fair."