NEWS FROM NIGERIA.

TINUBU, FASHOLA ESCAPE GUN ATTACK.
Two people were killed on Monday 12th March at an election rally in Lagos where Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu and AC Governorship aspirant, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), had to be whisked away by security agents. A policeman attached to the Governor was reported shot in the head. Several vehicles were destroyed and a number of shops were also set on fire by suspected political thugs who invaded the open playing ground opposite the Alesh Hotel, Ajah, venue of the rally. Eyewitnesses said hoodlums numbering about 100 invaded the venue with various weapons of war, including guns, machetes, broken bottles, charms and started shooting sporadically.

Tinubu has blamed his political opponents, vowing to bring the perpetators of the violence to book.

COMMISSIONING OF NOUN.
The commissioning of the headquarters of the National Open University of Nigeria is today March 13th at the NOUN headquarters at 14/16 Ahmed Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos at 11am. It will be commisioned by President Olusegun Obasanjo.

TROOPS RESCUE THREE EXPATRIATE HOSTAGES FROM MILITANTS.
Twenty two days after they were abducted by some militant youths at Rumuolumeni near Port Harcourt, Rivers State, three Croatians were yesterday March 12th rescued by men of the joint task force comprising of the Navy, Air force, Army, Police and the State Security Service SSS. The Croatians who work for an engineering company, Hydro-dibe in Port-Harcourt were abducted from a bar on Februay 18th and taken into the creeks by about six gun men. The hostages were being held captive at Ogbakiri in the state and the task force carried out the operation in the dead of the night. After the operation that lasted till 4.00am, the rescued men were driven to the office of the SSS Director who directed that they be taken to a clinic in Port-Harcourt for medical examination, after which the men were handed over to their employees. One of the militants was said to have died in the raid