Naija Place

As relations between the U.S. and Russia strained after the recent deadly chemical gas attack in Syria, a Russian lawmaker said Moscow will not fight Washington’s troops in Syria, Sputnik reported Monday. In retaliation to the deadly attack, President Donald Trump ordered missile strikes on a Syrian government-controlled air base Thursday — a move that upset Russia. Victor Ozerov, the head of the Russian Federation Council's defense committee, told Sputnik the Russian Aerospace Forces deployed in Syria are to support President Bashar Assad regime’s anti-terrorism efforts and not engage in military conflict with the U.S. "Russia is not going there to conduct armed activity with the US, our task there is to support the Syrian armed forces in the fight against terrorism," Ozerov told  the Russian news agency , adding, "we have a mandate to fulfill this very task." Ozerov also maintained that the deployment of Russia’s Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate to the...

Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has expressed satisfaction with the ongoing rehabilitation of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, saying the exercise is going according to schedule. Addressing journalists in Abuja, shortly after inspecting the runway of the airport, Professor Osinbajo again affirmed that the airport would be reopened on April 19, 2017 The Vice President was accompanied on the tour, by officials of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). The Managing Director of FAAN, Mr Saleh Dunoma, while explaining the design of the rehabilitation to the Vice President, noted that the work done so far, was already 80% complete. The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport shut down its operations on March 18, 2017 for rehabilitation of its runway and the Kaduna International Airport has been serving as the alternative.

The Syrian president Bashar al-Assad who this week ordered the use of chemical weapons on innocent civilians in Syria, killing hundreds, with kids left to gasp for air while they died, has called U.S President Donald Trump's retaliatory attack on their military base today 'Irresponsible' and 'foolish'. Assad, backed heavily by Russian president Vladimir Putin and Iran, has turned his country into a war like zone as he uses his military to attack not just 'terrorists' but also rebels against his government and innocent civilians who live in rebel-held areas. "At 3.42am, the United States carried out a flagrant aggression with missiles against one of our airbases in the central region, killing six people and wounding a number of others, and causing significant damage," Assad's office said on Friday afternoon. "The airbase was almost completely destroyed - the runway, the fuel tanks and the air defences were all blown to pieces,...

The United States on Friday warned it was ready to hit Syria again after targeting an air base in a strike that infuriated Moscow and fuelled calls for a new diplomatic push to end the six-year war. US Ambassador Nikki Haley delivered the warning at an emergency session of the UN Security Council where Russia accused President Donald Trump’s administration of violating international law and waging an “act of aggression” against its ally Syria. “The United States took a very measured step last night,” Haley told the council. “We are prepared to do more, but we hope it will not be necessary.” Launched in retaliation for a chemical attack blamed on President Bashar al-Assad’s government, the missile strike marked the first direct US assault on his regime. Haley said the strike destroyed an airfield from which Washington believes Damascus launched the attack on rebel-held Khan Sheikhun, where 86 people including 27 children died this week. “We were fully justified in doing so,...

Children get treatment at a hospital after a suspected chemical gas attack in Idlib, Syria.Anadolu Agency In the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhun, site of an alleged chemical weapons attack, residents still mourning their dead on Friday welcomed US strikes as a way to pressure Damascus. “God bless Trump,” said Abu Ali, in his forties, hours after the US launched a barrage of cruise missiles at a Syrian government air base in the central Homs province. “God willing, these strikes will be a clear warning to (President) Bashar al-Assad, to tell him: Bashar, enough killing and injustice against these people,” he told AFP. The attack ordered by President Donald Trump was the first direct US military action against Syria’s government since the conflict began six years ago. It came after a devastating suspected chemical weapons attack on Khan Sheikhun on Tuesday that killed at least 86 people, among them 30 children, and left hundreds suffering symptoms including convuls...

“My fellow Americans: On Tuesday, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad launched a horrible chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians. Using a deadly nerve agent, Assad choked out the lives of helpless men, women and children. It was a slow and brutal death for so many. Even beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack. No child of God should ever suffer such horror. Tonight, I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched. It is in this vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons. There can be no dispute that Syria used banned chemical weapons, violated its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention, and ignored the urging of the UN Security Council. Years of previous attempts at changing Assad’s behavior have all failed, and failed very dramatically. As a result, the refugee crisis continues to deepen and the region co...

A 26-year-old man could spend the next three years in jail if he is convicted for stealing 'Kpomo' worth N80,000. Adesanya Tobi, has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court sitting in Lagos State for allegedly breaking into a shop and stealing » 44 pieces of 'Kpomo' (cow skin), valued at N80,000. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tobi broke into a shop owned by one Iyabo Yusuf located at Ijaye bus stop, Ojokoro area of the state on March 25, 2017, and stole the items she kept there. The police prosecutor, Eruada Victor told the court that the accused was arraigned on a two-count charge, adding that the offenses contravened sections 285 and 308 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, with Section 285 stipulating a three-year jail term upon conviction. Victor added that Tobi was caught by a vigilance group in the area, and tendered the iron rods and cutlass he allegedly used to damage the door of the shop » , as exhibits. When the charges were re...