Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know this Tuesday morning

Good morning: Here are 10 things you need to know this Tuesday morning:
1. The Nigerian military on Monday claimed victory over the Boko Haram terrorists. In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Chris Olukolade, the army says it has cleared and taken over Balmo forest in a military operation that lasted throughout the weekend. The military also said 44 terrorists were killed in another operation. The statement also claimed that several arrests were made during the operation.

2. A suspected Boko Haram kingpin and his brother were on sunday killed in a gun battle in Kaduna. Report says soldiers from Kano arrived at the house located in Kikinau, GRA, Ungwan Muazu around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday. They reportedly called on the suspect, Usman, to come out, but he responded by shooting at the soldiers from the ceiling where he was hidding. It was further reported that a gun duel ensued and the suspect was killed alongside his brother.

3. Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III has further called on the Federal Government to commence proper dialogue with the Boko Haram insurgents in order to end the ongoing crisis in the country. The Sultan made the call in Sokoto yesterday, at his annual Ramadan dinner with journalists in the state. He said all stakeholders in government should be concerned about the plight of the over 200 Chibok girls abducted by the insurgents in Borno State and work towards their release.

 4. Two Imams and five other members of the Muslim community in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, were in the early hours of Monday, arrested by soldiers over a bomb allegedly hidden in the mosque. Report says some soldiers in seven Hilux vans stormed the Aba Central Mosque on Mosque Street at about 2.00, and after searching the mosque, arrested the Chief Imam, Alhaji Idris Bashir; his deputy, Mallam Bello Maija-a and a Youth Corps member serving in a school at the Mosque.

5. The Coordinator, National Information Centre, Mike Omeri, has said that the Federal Government will soon rescue the abducted Chibok school girls as there are indications that the troops are very close to locating their base. Omeri disclosed this at his regular news briefing in Abuja on Monday.

 6. The Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force, Adeniji-Adele Street, Lagos,  on Monday paraded one of the leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State, Itunnu Odeyemi, and eight others for being involved in the snatching of exotic cars in the country. Other members of the nine-man gang are Omoniyi Ajewole, Oluseye Jacob, Oluwadamiliare Rasaki, Ajisafe Olawale, Ogunniyi Sunday, Tolani Babatunde, Abubakar Umar, and Ayodeji Olumudi.

 7. Despite declaring Monday and Tuesday as work-free days in Adamawa state, the seven-man panel instituted by the Adamawa state Chief judge commenced sitting yesterday over the alleged gross misconduct of the Governor, Murtala Nyako and his Deputy.

 8. The Nigerian Medical Association that is currently on strike may take its decision today after its closed door meeting yesterday. The decision, according to report will depend entirely on the outcome of Monday meeting.

 9. The Nigeria Police bomb experts on monday uncovered 12 improvised explosives loaded in a car that was abandoned on the premises of a state-run Pilot secondary school, in Gombe state. Police said if the explosives had gone off, casualties would have been very high.

10. There was confusion at Bukuru area of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State on Sunday when gunmen shot at some Muslim worshippers in the area, injuring three persons. Report says the incident occurred around 9pm when the Muslims were observing the Tarawi prayers