January 18, 2012: Nigerian authorities suspended CP Zakari Biu for alleged negligence in the escape of Kabiru Sokoto, a member of the Islamist Boko Haram sect arrested over a deadly Christmas bomb attack.
“In the course of taking Sokoto to Abaji, the policemen on escort were attacked by the suspected sect gang members and in the process the suspect was freed,” the Police said.
“The police view this development as a serious negligence on the part of the commissioner of police and have since queried and suspended him from duty,” it added.
At least 44 people, mostly worshippers, were killed during the attack on Saint Theresa’s Roman Catholic Church in Madalla, outside Abuja, on Christmas Day.
Kabiru Sokoto was later re-arrested in the Borno State Government Guest House and fingers pointed to Kassim Shettima, the Borno State Governor. Zakari Biu was eventually cleared under the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
January 18, 1562: The counter-reformation Council of Trent reconvenes after a 10-year break caused by the revolt of Protestant princes against Emperor Charles V. During the break, all hope of reconciliation between Catholics and Protestants had vanished.
January 18, 1815: Konstantin von Tischendorf, the biblical critic known for discovering and deciphering the “Codex Sinaiticus” (a fifth-century manuscript of Paul’s epistles), is born in Germany.
January 18, 1830: Baptism of Tauta’ahau Tupou. King of Tonga by a western missionary. Beginning of a strongly missionary Christian Kingdom.
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