US Mission in Nigeria issues warning of possible attack on Sheraton Hotel in Lagos

The United States Embassy in Nigeria today Friday May 2nd issued a warning to U.S citizens, asking them to avoid Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, and also said 'groups associated with terrorism' are planning an attack on Sheraton Hotel in Lagos.

Boko Haram writes Army, threatens to attack Maiduguri barracks

The members of the Boko Haram Sect have written to the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army threatening to attack Maimalari Barracks on Friday (today).

Investigations revealed that security had been beefed up in the Maimalari Barracks which has the Headquarters of the 7th Infantry Division of the Artillery Corps, the Ordinance, the Signal and other crucial units of the Army in Maiduguri.

It was gathered that while security agents saw the letter as a ploy to instill fear into security operatives, all efforts were being made to ward off any attack on the foremost military formation in the North-East.

A source said that the insurgents might have compelled one of the drivers to get the letter to the military of their plan to attack the barracks.

The source said that the letter was written in Hausa Language.

“Yesterday, the Boko Haram sect wrote that they would attack the Maimalari Barracks. They wrote the letter in Hausa Language to give the notification of their coming.

MEND Claims Responsibility For Attack On "Ogun Boss” Police Escorts

Sahara Reporters

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack on the police gunboats that were escorting Eris Paul, aka “Ogun Boss,” who it called a traitor, in Peremabiri, Southern Ijaw Local Government of Bayelsa State.

It said the attack was similar to the April 6, 2013 attack it carried out on 15 police officers on the day its ‘Hurricane Exodus’ was launched.

SaharaReporters learned that “Ogun Boss” had prevailed on the Bayelsa Police Commissioner to release three police gunboats and escorts for Saturday’s operation.

Gunmen attack villages in Riyom in Plateau, 28 killed

28 people have been killed in an attack by unidentified gunmen, who also set ablaze houses in Nigeria's northern state of Plateau, officials said. 

The gunmen attacked the villages in Ganawuri district in Plateau under Riyom local government area on Monday, shooting indiscriminately and setting ablaze houses. They said houses and churches in villages of DaJak, Attakar, Zadien, Luka and Marid were set on fire by the attackers forcing the villagers to flee to neighbouring Kaduna State. Two policemen were also shot dead by the assailants. 

Lieutenant Jude Akpa, a military spokesman, confirmed the death of the policemen and was quoted by local media as saying that a team of officers was attacked as they were patrolling the crises-ridden area. 

3 die as gunmen attack Emir of Kano's convoy

Gunmen opened fire on the convoy of one of Nigeria's most senior Islamic leaders in the northern city of Kano on Saturday, killing three people, although the Emir of Kano himself escaped unhurt, authorities said.

Two of his sons, the Turakin Kano and the Ciroman Kano were also said to have sustained injuries and have been taken to the hospital for treatment.

The Emir was returning from a Quranic graduation ceremony which took place at Gidan Murtala mosque when the attack occurred. The window opposite where he was seated in the vehicle was also shattered during the attack but there are no indications he suffered any injuries.

The dead and wounded are said to have been taken to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.

The Emir of Kano is one of the two most senior Islamic traditional leaders in Nigeria, the other being the Sultan of Sokoto. The current emir has been on the throne for half a century.

Gunmen attack police station in northern Nigeria

Heavily armed gunmen killed four people in an attack Thursday that burnt a police station and a government building in a northeastern Nigerian town, police said.

The gunmen attacked the police station in the town of Song near the border with Cameroon and engaged soldiers and police officers in a shootout.