Monday, 31 December 2012
H~A~P~P~Y N~E~W Y~E~A~R 2~0~1~3
15 Christians killed in fresh Nigerian massacre
It was the second major killing of Christians in the Chibok area. Early in December, 10 Christians were also killed in the area.
Though Nigeria's military denied the latest attack in a statement, the regional coordinator for the country's National Emergency Management Agency, Mohammed Kanar, confirmed it, saying the victims were shot dead.
News of the killings emerged after President Goodluck Jonathan questioned whether deadly Islamist attacks on churches in his country and other violence worldwide could be signs of coming "end times".
"We received information from our personnel in Chibok that some attackers stormed a church during Sunday service yesterday and killed 15 people," Kanar told AFP.
He later specified that the attack was at an evangelical church in Kyachi village outside Chibok.
The attack followed another gruesome killing Friday that saw attackers slit the throats of 15 Christians in a pre-dawn raid in Musari, also in Borno state, where Boko Haram has been based.
During a Christmas Eve service last week, gunmen attacked a church in the neighbouring Yobe state, killing six people, including the pastor, before setting the building ablaze.
Violence linked to Boko Haram's insurgency in northern and central Nigeria is believed to have left some 3,000 people dead since 2009, including killings by the security forces.
Last year's violence had prompted Jonathan to declare a state of emergency in the hardest-hit areas.
During comments Sunday in which he mentioned attacks on churches in Nigeria, Syria's war and the situation in the Central African Republic, where rebels have pushed their way across the impoverished country, Jonathan spoke of the Biblical end times.
"I was just wondering, could this be a clear way of telling us that the end times are so close?" he told the church congregation.
Some Christians believe in the idea of chaos in connection with the second coming of Jesus Christ, commonly referred to as the "end times". Such beliefs are based on passages in the New Testament's Book of Revelation.
Jonathan was speaking at an evangelical Christian church service in the capital. The church belongs to the EYN denomination, common among Christians in the violence-torn northeast.
Suspected Kidnappers Of Nkiru Sylvanus Paraded, Ransom Recovered
IMO State Police Command Monday at its headquarters in Owerri paraded four suspected kidnappers of Nollywood actress, Nkiru Sylvanus. Sylvanus was abducted on December 16, 2012.
Parading them, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adisa Bolanta, disclosed their names as Okoro Basil, Stella Opara (female), Festus Olegeme and Chijioke Chima.
He said that they were apprehended in Imerienwe, Ngor Opkala, Imo State by a counter-terrorism team led by ASP Cyril Obu, adding that they also recovered the ransom paid to the abductors.
According to him, a 78-year-old woman who kidnappers abducted a few days ago, demanding N20 million, was rescued in Rivers State, while the suspected kidnappers were apprehended. Four persons arrested were paraded while two others escaped.
A Peugeot 406 car used as siren pilot car of an unnamed unauthorised individual, was impounded by the command, he disclosed, adding that the owner would be arraigned in court soon.
Two persons who allegedly abducted the four-year-old daughter of the Publicity Secretary of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Blyden Amajirionnwu on December 8, 2012, were arrested also. They are Tochukwu Ekeh and Ngozi Ihem, while one escaped with bullet wound, Bolanta said.
A retired police officer, Innocent Duru, was also arrested for attempting to rob on December 29. Four others were also arrested and paraded for robbery.
Twelve others arrested by army officers in Obinze for impersonation and unlawful possession of police uniform and kits, the CP said, were handed over to the command, adding that they would soon appear in court.
Bus kills FRSC official at crash scene
The grey luxury bus, marked XC 373 NEN and owned by Young Shall Grow Motors was said to had defied orders to stop before killing the FRSC official.
According to an eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, "He (Olaleye) was directing vehicles coming from Ijebu Ode to pass through the opposite lane alongside other security agents before the luxury bus driver, who was at a high speed, hit him and he fell into the river."
The Ogun State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr. Ayobami Omiyale, described the incident as "unfortunate, shocking and sad."
"How can a man called to come and save lives lose his own life in the discharge of official duties? This is sad and terrible," Omiyale said.
He however decribed Olaleye's death as "the highest level of sacrifice that anyone could make for the betterment of his fatherland."
Confirming the incident, the Divisional Police Officer of Obalende, Ijebu Ode,
Mr. ThankGod Obijiaku said the reckless luxury bus driver defied orders to stop before he killed the FRSC official.
He added that the driver, who was saved from being lynched by a mob, had been detained by the police.
Big Brother Africa 8 auditions to begin in January
Managing Director of M-Africa, Biola Alabi, says the next edition will feature housemates whose activities will provide the audience with happiness, hope, anxiety, friendship, love, arguments and fights. She also added that the next edition will have a new twist to it which will will be revealed when the show begins airing.
The last edition had the trio of Ola, Chris and singer, Goldie as Nigeria's representatives but was won by South Africa's Keagan Peterson.
Happy year 2013 to all our fans
All year long, you inspired us to stay ahead in news delivery.
You trusted us to offer you the most trusted news, analysis and investigative reports.
Here is wishing you the best of 2013.
We promise to keep serving you news and insightful reports you can trust and use.
Saturday, 29 December 2012
Full Details On Kogi Governor, Idris Wada’s Fatal Accident
Kogi State Governor, Captain Idris Wada, rtd, has been flown to Abuja in critical condition, following an auto crash which claimed the life of his Aide-De-Camp, ADC, Idris Muhammed in Lokoja Friday. It was learnt that he would be flown abroad when his condition becomes stable.
Already, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party has directed its members across the country to pray for his survival.
The party in statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh also expressed the party’s deep shock over the accident.
“Our great Party is yet to recover from a rude shock arising from a recent similar incident. We therefore wish to direct all our members to observe compulsory minutes of prayers for the speedy recovery of Governor Wada and to spare the Party from further painful incidents,” Metuh said, and prayed for the repose of the soul of the governor’s ADC who died in the accident.
According to sources, the front tyre of the governor’s car pulled out while it was on high speed and the vehicle summersulted several times before ramming into an uncompleted building.
Wada who was returning from Ayingba after attending the Igala Summit was said to have been lucky to survive the accident as his official vehicle involved in the crash instantly became a scrap.
Saturday Vanguard was informed that Wada who was in a haste to return to Lokoja, the state capital for the Friday Jumat prayer left Ayingba by 1.pm after asking his convoy of vehicles to speed up so as to meet the prayer session. However, the accident occurred at Eleta-Jimgbe (a suburb in Lokoja) which was about five minutes drive to the Jumat Mosque.
”It was curious. Only the governor’s vehicle was involved; nothing happened to other vehicles in his front nor those at the back,” the sources added.
The source further said that the ADC who was not putting on his seat belt died on the spot as he was flung out while the Governor, his orderly and driver were treated at the State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, before being flown to an undisclosed hospital in Abuja for further treatment. It was not known when he would however be flown abroad.
A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Yabagi Bologi confirmed the incident but added that Wada was ‘’in a stable condition’’ just as he was being well catered for at the hospital, even as a government house source told Saturday Vanguard said that ‘’all they are doing is just to get him stabilized before he is flown for better treatment.’’
Source: Vanguard
You Can Now Stop The Rumours. Pete Edochie Is Not Dead
Contrary to rumour flying round that veteran Nollywood actor, Pete Edochie is dead, it has been confirmed that the actor is not dead as rumoured
We got from reliable sources who know the actor too well that the legendary role interpreter is hale and hearty. Though we were unable to speak with him directly, but we got from good authorities that the death hoax is totally false with no iota of truth in it.
This is not the first time Pete Edochie is being trailed with death news. In 2011, he was rumoured to be dead until he dispelled the rumour later on.
Wicked madam tears her maid’s private part with razor in Onitsha
Police in Onitsha, Anambra state have arrested a middle-aged woman, identified as Uchenna for reportedly breaking her maid’s hand with a pestle and cutting her private part with a razor blade.
The victim, identified as Chisom Nwafor was living with her mistress at Osuma Street where she was allegedly manhandled.
The victim, identified as Chisom Nwafor was living with her mistress at Osuma Street where she was allegedly manhandled.
The 10-year-old victim who hailed from Enugu-Abo in Enugu State while narrating her ordeal said that Uchenna returned on a Sunday morning and started beating her and used razor blade to tear her private parts.
She said, “I was changing her daughter’s dress because she urinated on it. My madam entered and started shouting on top of her voice and she immediately rushed into the kitchen and collected a pestle and hit me severally on my back and she hit me again and broke my left hand, I fell and she entered her room and took a razor blade, tore my pant and started tearing my private part after which she poured pepper inside my private part which was bleeding” she said.
The Onitsha Area Commander, Mr. Benjamin Wordu who confirmed the gory incident described it as the ‘highest level of man’s inhumanity to man’, noting that the suspect would not go unpunished.
The police boss however warned parents against giving birth to children they can’t train rather than giving them out to some people who would maltreat them.
Meanwhile, Uchenna had denied cutting her maid’s private part with any sharp object.
The suspect is currently in the police cell.Boko Haram: FG tightens up security in Airports
The Federal Government has beefed up security in and around all Airports in the country for fear of possible attack by the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
However, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) has confirmed that there was no security threats at Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport during this Yuletide.
However, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) has confirmed that there was no security threats at Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport during this Yuletide.
Army spokesman, Brigadier General Mobolaji Koleoso noted that all security agencies have been put on 24-hour surveillance across all functional airports in the country.
According to him, many arms and ammunition were recovered and suspects arrested through mounting of roadblocks and stop and search operations by the army.
According to him, many arms and ammunitions were recovered and suspects arrested through the mounting of roadblocks and stop and search operations by the army.
The army boss added that Nigerians should support what the security agencies are doing even though it is causing gridlock on the highways, but it is for the interest of Nigerians.
Asked when the roadblocks will be removed, General Koleoso simply answered, “When the president directs”.
However, military insiders disclosed that officers and men of the Armed Forces were not granted pass to travel during the Christmas and the New Year celebrations.
The source said the signal released by Defence Headquarters ordered all officers and soldiers to remain on their duty posts during the festive period.“We wanted to kill ourselves” – Couple laments death of five children in fire disaster
The sad incident took place few weeks ago at Comfort Oboh Street, Kirikiri Town.
Asking a bereaved mother to describe the life and times of her late children is like torturing an already traumatized woman. With pain and anger all over her face, mother of the deceased, Mrs Margaret Ikwuagwu, said her lovely kids, Chukwuemeka (13), Ifeanyichukwu (10), Bright (8), Joy (6) and Victoria (4) were sleeping in the house when the fire broke out around 10pm.
She lamented that all efforts to rescue the children from the raging inferno were futile.
Mrs. Ikwuagwu recalled with nostalgia, “I asked my children to go and sleep in the room while I was preparing to close shop for the day.
“Then, shortly, someone ran to tell me that our house was on fire. I abandoned everything I was doing and ran down to the house. When I got there, the fire had already covered the whole place and I could not enter my room to rescue my children,” she said.
According to her, she raised alarm, but no one came around to help her. “When I got there, I met a mammoth crowd. My co-tenants were busy removing their children and property.
She said, “They started the rescue as soon as the fire broke out, but never bothered to inform me that our house was on fire. I tried to rescue our children, but I could not because the fire had covered our room. I heard the voices of my children shouting. But could not save the situation. I cried for help, but no one assisted me.”
“I forced myself inside the room when I heard my children crying for help, with the hope that I would bring out at least one or two, but I ended up being burnt by fire; so I ran out.”
She disclosed that as she was shouting, her husband arrived at the scene.
“When my husband arrived, we joined hands to rescue our children. He pushed the door, but the fire was too much; he tried to force himself through the window; yet he did not succeed. We called our children, but they did not answer us. When we tried and saw that there was no hope again, we fainted, having watched our five children, cash and other property ruined by fire. We were rushed to the hospital immediately and did not know what happened later,” she stated.
Mrs. Ikwuagwu stated that she and he husband were left unconscious when they realized that the children they had labored to bear had all gone. “When we recovered, we were asked to come to Kirikiri Police Station to make statement. Thereafter, we were asked to come and take our children for burial. So, we went to bury them at Trinity Cemetery, Olodi Apapa.”
Mrs. Ikwuagwu lamented that before the tragic incident, her family had planned to travel home on December 22 for this year’s Christmas celebrations. “I do not know why this thing happened to us.
“Why should our five children go like that?” She asked rhetorically. “We were preparing to travel home on December 22 for Christmas. Now here we are. Where do we start and how far do I go from here? I know that it was not an ordinary fire. But, however, God will take control of the whole thing,” she lamented.
Narrating how his five kids were wiped out, the still mourning father, Mr. Augustine Ikwuagwu, famously known as Osuofia, said his efforts to rescue his children were fruitless when he arrived the scene as the fire had already spread to the entire compound.
He said, “On December 12, I went to my wife’s shop and saw my children sleeping and I asked my wife to take them home, which she did. We did not lock the children inside the house, as people are saying, rather, our 12-year-old son, Chukwuemeka, took them home, and when the fire started, no one cared to call us and as a result, our children got burnt to death. We have three male and two female children and they died the same day.
“As it is, I have no house, no property and no child. People are saying that we locked the children inside the room and lighted a candle, but I am telling you that we did not lock them inside and we did not use candle at all; what we use was rechargeable lamp,” he disclosed.
He noted that the real cause was still unknown. “We are still surprised about how the fire started and up till this moment, we have not been able to know the cause of the fire. But God has the answer,” he stated.
“I wanted to kill myself because I do not know where I am going from here. I do not think, I can cope because my entire life struggles are gone. After five children, we have decided not to bear children again. But now, we are starting again,” he lamented.
Ikwuagwu revealed that since the sad incident, they have been living from hand to mouth, adding that he and his wife are still receiving treatment in the hospital. “It has not been easy for us since then.
“We have no child, shelter, clothes, money, and property. Also, we have not recovered from the shock. So, anyone who knows what it takes to lose five children and everything should please assist us to come back to life. My wife’s spirit has gone down; she has been thinking of how to get another child,” Ikwuagwu said.
Covenant University expels 200 students for not attending Church service
About 200 students may have been expelled by the authorities of Covenant University, Cannanland, Ota, Ogun State, recently for what was described as “disregard of paramount core values.”
Frustrated and angered by the development, some of the affected students who gave account of what happened battled emotions while narrating their situations to Saturday Vanguard recently. They however pleaded with the school authorities to tamper justice with mercy in order to save their future.
Saturday Vanguard investigation revealed that out of the figure, about 126 were expelled for not attending the ‘departure service’, meant to sign off from the school after the end of the Semester and Matriculation of students on November 30. Five other students were thrown out for smoking while unconfirmed source said additional 60 got the same fate for violating other rules bordering on the University’s core values. A few others were given four weeks suspension for failure to sign the head count that was conducted a couple of weeks earlier.
A letter of expulsion signed by the Registrar, Ntia Ubong, a copy which was made available to Saturday Vanguard stated that the affected students contravened Chapter 1, section 30, page 40 of the 2010-2014 Student Handbook.
We gathered that the massive expulsion was predicated on the anger of the Chancellor, Bishop David Oyedepo who was said to have been infuriated after seeing students loitering around when they were supposed to be at the Chapel for the Departure Service.
He was said to have personally chased students to the Chapel and ordered for a search into all the halls and colleges to fish out those who did not attend the service.
Several attempts to get the school authorities comment on the issue proved abortive. The Instituion’s Corporate Affairs Head, Mr Igban Emmaunel also refused to comment as calls pulled through to him were unanswered and text messages not replied.
How it happened
A few of the affected students gave account of what happened to Saturday Vanguard at different points. The similar accounts go thus: “On November 30, the last day of the semester, preceding our December break, there was also a Matriculation for the 100 level students; in fact some students had their last semester exams on that day, some of them finished around 3:00pm while the matriculation started around 8am. Some students retired to their rooms to relax while some engaged in some other activities jubilating the end of the semester.
“Some also got drinks from the matriculating students. Even as these were going on, some students who finished around 3pm retired to their halls. By 5pm, they announced that we should get prepared for the ‘Departure service’ which was to start by 8pm. Some students were already seeing their parents off while some of us were just trying to relax to get off the stress of the exams.
“Most of us hadn’t gotten through the tiredness of the sleepless nights of the exams; so, some us stayed back in our rooms. The departure service is usually a day before we go home and it is usually presided over by the Chancellor. Before the commencement of the service, they used to lock up the main doors of the halls so as to prevent cases of theft. I was not bothered since there were a lot of us in the hall. Some minutes past 8pm, they switched off the light and all of us in the hall went into our rooms. Because of the darkness and the cold, I slept off immediately.”
He continued: “The persistent knocks on the door woke me up and I realised that they had come to search for people who had not come to service. Before I realised what was going on, I found myself with other students numbering about 30. They took down our names and counted us to make sure that no one was omitted. They said the Chancellor was at the service and we refused to come. I heard them talking about other halls and they asked us to wait. I didn’t take it seriously because I never believed in my widest imagination that we would be expelled. We were later asked to go to our various halls.
“Some of those who went into hiding were lucky as they were not found. Shortly, those who went for the service returned and told us there was poor attendance at the Chapel and how students were diving in through the windows, scampering for seats. In fact, one narrated to us how the Chancellor jumped through the window to vent his anger on some students who had jumped in,” he stated.
Another expelled student also gave similar account of the incident. “I couldn’t go to the service because, I was not feeling well which was as a result of the stress of the exams we had just finished. After a while, I managed to go but I heard that they started driving people back around 7:30pm while the service was to start around 8pm. I was surprised because the rule was that you’ve got to be seated 15minutes to the service. Again, it was never made compulsory, but they tried to get students out of the halls to prevent cases of theft. So, because I was not feeling well, I went back to my room because I needed to rest for a while.
“I thought it was a joke when they said we are in for expulsion because we failed to come for departure service. I have never done anything contrary to the school laws. I have never faced any panel before and neither did I have any unpleasant case in my file. I never thought it was real until letters were handed to me the following morning.”
Giving account of how letters were handed out to them, the visibly troubled student said: “By 6am, they announced the names of those who were caught in halls and colleges. Usually after the departure service, one can sign out from there and go but because it ended late and no one could travel, students had to wait till the following morning. But the hall officer told those of us whose names were written down that if we leave, we should be considered gone from the university forever. That gave us an insight into what was likely to come as punishment. By 7:45am, we were called once again to go downstairs for our letters. Those who collected theirs before mine were crying and I wondered what the punishment could be until I read the letter stating I was expelled from the university.”
At the Chapel
Another student who found his way to the Chapel also told Saturday Vanguard that while the Chancellor was being driven past, he noticed that students were loitering at about the time they were supposed to be seated at the chapel. He said that this apparently infuriated him and he alighted from his car and chased students to the chapel with knocks. “I saw him, alighted from his car and chased students to the chapel; I quickly found my way to the hall. Not quite long after, I saw students jumping in through the windows. It was a big commotion. Even the chancellor was going after those who jumped into the chapel. Later, he addressed the students saying he was very disappointed by the behaviour that the students were not seated 15 minutes before the service.”
Another account had it that while the Education Secretary, Prof. Aize Obayan was addressing the students, the students were murmuring, then the Chancellor immediately took to the microphone and said: “if I hear the voice of any student, the curse of the Lord shall fall upon that one.” The chapel immediately went dead silent.
Our source who was also late to the service stated that the Chancellor later directed that those students who did not come to the service would be purged out saying they did not belong to the school. Our source stated that at the end of the service, he prayed for the students in the hall.
Another source in the school hinted that at that point, the Vice-chancellor pleaded on behalf of those who were absent but the Chancellor insisted they must be purged from the school.
Our source told Saturday Vanguard that the Vice-Chancellor while addressing the students announced that a search would be carried out in all the halls and colleges to find out those who failed to attend the departure service, advising them to wait behind.
Saturday Vanguard investigation revealed that out of the figure, about 126 were expelled for not attending the ‘departure service’, five were thrown out for smoking marijuana, twenty-five final year students and undisclosed number of lower level students were caught violating rules bothering on the University’s core values. We also gathered that a few others were given four weeks suspension for failure to sign the head count that was conducted a couple of weeks earlier. Some of the students opined that failure to sign the head count was even a greater offence which implied that the student was not in the school at the time of the exercise but yet got a four-week suspension.
The private university is known for its strict rules and discipline such as not allowing the students to use mobile phones within the school’s premises, while it is mandatory for students to always bring their bible to the chapel.
Parents react
A few parents who volunteered information spoke to us on condition of anonymity fearing that their children might be victimised in case the issue was resolved amicably. One of them said with bitterness that it is unacceptable, adding that the expulsion was not commensurate with the offence deemed to have been committed. He urged the school authorities to rescind its decision adding that the future of the students is at stake.
“For me, it is not acceptable. These students were not given fair hearing. Expulsion should not be a punishment for failure to attend service. We all agree, it is a Christian school but failure to attend church service could be due to a lot of reasons. I gathered that some of the students even finished their exams about 5pm that day. So, those people that finished at that time had barely three hours to prepare for the service. But stampeding them to congregate for service and then expelling those who did not come is a decision taken too far. For me, if there was poor attendance, I think the authorities have a responsibility. They have not been fair in putting the service so close to the examination. Even God will not do that.”
He however commended the Chancellor, Dr. Oyedepo on his vision towards the education of Nigeria children especially when the government institutions are failing, but urging him to tamper justice with mercy.
Another parent who was afraid of the press noted that he was still studying the situation and would not want to comment but noted that he was reliably informed that some group of parents made frantic efforts to meet with the Chancellor on the issue but without success. It was not clear the level of the efforts made. He further hinted that some students have not told their parents about their expulsion, still hoping that the issue would be resolved.
He lamented that his child had been having sleepless nights, going through mental torture unjustifiably. “I agree that discipline must be instilled in the students but it should not be aimed at destroying the life of the students. Expulsion is too great a punishment for non attendance of a departure service, without even a warning especially when the students hitherto, had not been found wanting,” he stated.
What the Student Handbook says
The Covenant University Core values border on Spirituality, Possibility Mentality, Capacity Building, Integrity, Responsibility, Diligence and Sacrifice. On the spirituality aspect, it states: “The Christian ethos underguard our activities and conducts at all time and every student of Covenant University is expected to exhibit character traits and dispositions of a Jesus-centered heritage. The Jesus – factor centered approach to all issues is non-negotiable and central in the pursuit of our mandate in raising a new generation of leaders and in the realization of the objectives of our purpose.
To this extent therefore, students will be committed to maintaining a high level of spirituality and shall act in such manner as to facilitate their spiritual growth as well as work out ways to evolve and implement a spiritual development plan. Attendance at Chapel Services is a compulsory part of students’ spiritual development where a bible and notebook are essential kits for the service. Students are expected to demonstrate a deep reverence for God at all times.”
The school declines comment
Several attempts were made to get the school authorities comment on the issue. The institution’s Corporate/Public Affairs Officer, Mr Igban Emmanuel Kalu declined comment. At first, several calls were pulled through to him but he refused to pick his calls. When the reporter persisted, he later picked but said he was driving and could not answer any question. But few hours later, other calls pulled to him were unanswered. A text message was sent to his phone and up to the time of writing this report, he did not reply.
I’m not aware —Prof Julius Okojie, NUC Executive Secretary
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC, Prof Julius Okojie said he has not been briefed on the matter.
Prof Okojie stated this during a telephone conversation Saturday Vanguard had with him a few days ago. “I am not aware of any expulsion by Covenant University; I will ask the school authorities. Right now, I am not in Abuja, I left Abuja few days ago and until I return to Abuja and find out details about the matter, I cannot comment on it,” he said.
Source: Vanguard
Friday, 28 December 2012
Kogi Governor injured in fatal road accident
The ADC to the Kogi State Governor reportedly died on the spot.
Mr. Wada was on his way back to Lokoja from a function in Ayingba.
Details later
Thursday, 27 December 2012
Obama To Decide Fate Of Nigerian Battling Illness, Deportation
A Nigerian living with a genetic disorder that causes facial tumors has earned a United State’s House of Representatives’ bill to stay back and study in America.
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The law was written to apply only to Sopuruchukwu Chukwueke according to U.S. Senator, Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat, who sponsored the legislation.
The U.S. House passed it Tuesday and the Senate has already approved the bill which is now headed for Mr. Obama’s desk.
The law, made for Mr. Sopuruchukwu alone, allows him to remain in the U.S. despite the expiration of his visa. He will get the green card he needs to stay and study in America If Mr. Obama signs the legislation
PHOTOSPEAK: Large fish caught in Lagos on Boxing Day
Revellers who spent this year’s Boxing Day, at the Lagos Boat Club in Ikoyi, have posted pictures of a very big fish, that was allegedly caught from the sea.
The image was updated by n2oflife with the caption: “Fish of destiny; Caught in Lagos, Nigeria”.They however did not indicate if the dead sea creature, would become barbecue,
BREAKING: Obasanjo’s mansion in Abeokuta on fire [PHOTO]
Reports reaching our newsdesk from Abeokuta, the country home of former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, indicate that mansion of the ex-leader has been engulfed by an inferno.
It is unclear at the time of filling this report, if OBJ was present at estate when the fire broke out.
DailyPost gathered that his personal bedroom was seriously damaged by the raging inferno.
Sources said the fire service men, just arrived at the premises and were trying to extinguish fire.
The estate also includes a church built by Obasanjo, after he left office as the president in 2007.We will bring you more details shortly.
One dead, 17 vehicles burnt in petrol tanker fire in Edo state
The ancient city of Benin, the Edo State capital was thrown into a heavy pandemonium on Boxing day following a tragic accident caused by a petrol tanker that fell off the road and eventually went ablaze, killing a bus driver and destroying 17 other vehicles.
Daily Post gathered that a petrol tanker travelling from the Ekiosa Market axis of Murtala Muhammed Way towards Esigie Junction in Benin apparently lost control and plunged into a gutter, with its content gushing out.
It was learnt that the tanker was engulfed in flames 20 minutes after it fell, with the fire spreading to adjourning areas, causing residents and passersby to scamper for safety.
According to eyewitness account, the bus driver simply identified as Kingsley was burnt to death as the fire caught with him while he was trying to pull his 10- seater bus away from the ill-fated tanker’s inferno.
Furthermore, 17 vehicles and five motorcycles parked along the roadside were burnt to ashes from the raging inferno.
However, the driver of the tanker and his conductor were rescued and taken to a hospital in Benin for medical attention.Insecurity: US tells citizens to “avoid Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and seven other Nigerian states”
As part of cautious efforts taken to combat insecurity, the United States has warned all its citizens to avoid travelling to Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Yobe, Kaduna, Bauchi, Borno, and Kano states during this festive period.
The United States also restricted its officials from visiting any of the 19 Northern states.
The travel warning by the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the US Department of State was issued following the risk of kidnappings, robberies, and other armed attacks in the aforementioned states.
The Department also warned against travelling to the Gulf of Guinea because of the threat of piracy.
“U.S. citizens should be aware that, in light of the continuing violence, extremists may expand their operations beyond northern Nigeria to the country’s middle and southern states. This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning for Nigeria dated June 21, 2012″ the advisory read.
“The situation in the country remains fluid and unpredictable. The U.S. Department of State strongly urges U.S. citizens in Nigeria to consider their own personal security and to keep personal safety in the forefront of their planning.” It read.70-Year-Old Blind Woman Burnt To Death In Aba On Christmas Day
The commercial city of Aba, Abia State was thrown into a heavy pandemonium on Christmas day following the mysterious death of an old blind woman in a fire outbreak.
The incident, which occoured in Ogbor Hills, a suburb of the city was said to have started from one of the back rooms of one of the building located at 64/95 Ikot Ekpene Road at about 4.45pm when most residents had gone out for xmas celebrations.
Sources said the inferno was suspected to have been caused by electrical spark.
It was learnt that the blind victim who was in her early 70s was living with one of her daughters when the fire broke out.
Unfortunately, the fire started when the daughter had gone out to a nearby market to purchase food items.
It was gathered that when the daughter and other co-tenants returned, they could not see the woman in the razed apartment and thought she might have narrowly escaped or rescued by other residents but they never knew that their mother and grandmother was burnt to death in the ragging inferno until the following day when they were clearing the debris and found her roasted body.
Speaking on the tragic incident, one of the occupants of the razed building, Chiemela Amaji who also lost fortunes to the disaster said the she was away to see a friend when the fire broke out.
According to the still shocked man, his wife who was sleeping when the fire broke out narrowly escaped been burnt to death as a result of intervention from other neighbours who woke her up before the fire spread to their room.
DailyPost gathered that state Fire Service workers could not help the situation when they eventually arrived as the inferno had already caused serious havocs
Wednesday, 26 December 2012
“The viginity test disvirgined me” – 14-year-old victim of Ogun school virginity test speaks out
Why did you choose to do the virginity test when some pupils ran away?
I did not choose to do the test. After I and other female Senior Secondary School one pupils lined up in front of her (Olufunke Aladeojobi's) office, I fled the scene but she noticed it and sent people after us threatening to deal with us.
Why didn't you explain to her that you were not interested in the test?
I explained to her that my parents would be mad at me if they got to know that I did such a test without their consent but she brought out a cane and threatened to beat me mercilessly.
What happened afterwards?
Our principal marched me into her office and the school's nurse asked me to put off my pants and laid me on the bed. She wore a glove, spread my thigh and dipped a finger into my private part. The school nurse then told the principal who was beside her that I was a virgin.
What did your principal do after the nurse said you are a virgin?
The principal said I "should not open my thigh" to any boy or man. She subsequently gave me two Ogun State customised exercise books.
Did you lose blood?
Yes, I lost blood. I didn't notice it initially. It was the next person who saw me while dressing up that told me that my pants were stained with blood. But, I can't say if it was the blood from my menstrual period because my menstrual period just ended or the blood was as a result of the virginity test.
Did your principal know you lost blood?
She didn't because I left the place almost immediately and she was busy attending to other pupils.
How did your parents get to know about the incident?
I washed my blood-stained pants when I got home. I didn't initially want to tell my mum but she noticed that I was keeping to myself. When she now queried to know what was wrong with me, I explained everything to her.
Did your principal warn you against telling your parents?
No, she didn't. But I wouldn't know what she might do to me if she got to know that I told my parents about it because she is strict and we all fear her. That was why I felt reluctant to tell my parents.
How have you been feeling since you underwent the test?
I have been doing fine just that I'm not happy about the incident because my classmates have been looking down on me. They keep saying that we have been "disvirgined." I feel ashamed of myself.
Are you a virgin?
Yes. I have not had sex before but with what everybody is saying I don't know if I am still a virgin. I really wish I'm still one.
- Punch Newspapers
Head of Syrian military police defects
The high-level defection, while not a strategically significant development in the 21-month-old conflict, will be a blow to morale for Assad's forces, which are hitting back at a string of rebel advances across the country.
"I am General Abdelaziz Jassim al-Shalal, head of the military police. I have defected because of the deviation of the army from its primary duty of protecting the country and its transformation into gangs of killing and destruction," the officer said in a video published on YouTube.
A Syrian security source confirmed the defection but played down its significance.
"Shalal did defect but he was due to retire in a month and he only defected to play hero," the source said.
Wearing a camouflage uniform with red officer insignia on the shoulder, Shalal spoke from a desk in a room in an undisclosed location. Some rebel sources said he had fled to Turkey. It was not clear when Shalal had changed sides.
"The army has destroyed cities and villages and has committed massacres against an unarmed population that took to the streets to demand freedom," he said. "Long live free Syria."
Woman Takes Off Clothes And Faints After Consuming ‘Virginity Herbs’
After drinking the herbal concoction, the woman is alleged to have sweated profusely before she fainted and was taken to a local hospital by some Good Samaritans. It is reported that a small satchel with powdered herbs inscribed 'vaginal tightening' and a small bottle of water was found inside her purse.
The incident came hard on the heels of reports that there are some elderly women who make brisk business by selling love potions which include baboon urine, overtaker and mupfuhwira (zwana mina) inside the toilets. They claimed that they conducted their businesses inside the toilets because men should never see those concoctions, otherwise they would never see the light of the day.
According to witnesses who spoke to our news crew, the woman, who paid a high price for desire to enhance her s*xual experience, bought the herbs from one of the women who sell love potions inside the toilet at the terminus.
"On Tuesday we witnessed free drama when a woman in her mid 20s who seemed to have been possessed was heavily sweating before she stri*ped her clothes and immediately fainted. This was after she had consumed a herbal concoction she bought from an elderly woman who sells both love potions and some 'virginity' herbs. From the look of the things, it seems she failed to follow instructions prescribed by the herbalist," said a kombi driver who identified himself as Never.
Ms Anna Mpofu, a vendor concurred with Never saying the woman failed to follow the instructions as she was supposed to drink the concoction after having a 'strong' meal.
"It's not a secret that women are buying these herbs to tighten and dry their vaginas since their husbands or boyfriends consider anything else a sign of infidelity. It is unfortunate that this woman failed to follow instructions as the concoction is supposed to be consumed after eating strong foodstuffs like sadza. The woman got more than what she had bargained for in her bid to tighten her organ by drying up the lining so that there will be greater friction as a way of enhancing her s*xual pleasure.," said the vendor.
A 'hwindi' at the same rank, Dennis Maseko said: "This incident will be a wake up call to other women who are also in the habit of using these herbs as a way of spicing up their s*xual life and the need to turn themselves into virgins once more."
Source: My Zimbabwe
From Our News Desk
Tuesday, 25 December 2012
Happy birthday to Mr. Kolade Ojulari
Greetings from the first family in America
Gunmen kill six at Christmas church service in Yobe
"A group of gunmen came into the village at midnight and went straight to the church," said Usman Mansir, a resident of Peri village near Potiskum, the economic capital of Yobe state.
"They opened fire on them, killing the pastor and five worshippers. They then set fire to the church," he added, specifying that a branch of the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) was targetted.
A senior police official in Yobe confirmed the details to AFP, but declined to be named.
Yobe police chief Sanusi Rufa'i said "this is a security issue" and refused to comment further.
Boko Haram Islamists have carried out several attacks in Yobe, which borders the state of Maiduguri, where the insurgent group is based.
The Islamists are blamed for killing hundreds of people in northern Nigeria since 2009. It was not clear who was behind the latest violence.
While Yobe's population is overwhelmingly Muslim, the commercial hub of Potiskum has a significant Christian minority. Peri is just two kilometres outside the city.
US To Send Soldiers To Tackle Boko Haram
The teams will be limited to training and equipping efforts, and will not be permitted to conduct military operations without specific, additional approvals from the secretary of defense.
The sharper focus on Africa by the U.S. comes against a backdrop of widespread insurgent violence across North Africa, and as the African Union and other nations discuss military intervention in northern Mali.
The terror threat from al-Qaida linked groups in Africa has been growing steadily, particularly with the rise of the extremist Islamist sect Boko Haram in Nigeria. Officials also believe that the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, which killed the ambassador and three other Americans, may have been carried out by those who had ties to al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.
This first-of-its-kind brigade assignment — involving teams from the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division — will target countries such as Libya, Sudan, Algeria and Niger, where al-Qaida-linked groups have been active. It also will assist nations like Kenya and Uganda that have been battling al-Shabab militants on the front lines in Somalia.
Gen. Carter Ham, the top U.S. commander in Africa, noted that the brigade has a small drone capability that could be useful in Africa. But he also acknowledged that he would need special permission to tap it for that kind of mission.
"If they want them for (military) operations, the brigade is our first sourcing solution because they're prepared," said Gen. David Rodriguez, the head of U.S. Army Forces Command. "But that has to go back to the secretary of defense to get an execute order."
Already the U.S. military has plans for nearly 100 different exercises, training programs and other activities across the widely diverse continent. But the new program faces significant cultural and language challenges, as well as nagging questions about how many of the lower-level enlisted members of the brigade, based in Fort Riley, Kan., will participate, since the teams would largely be made up of more senior enlisted troops and officers. A full brigade numbers about 3,500, but the teams could range from just a few people to a company of about 200. In rare cases for certain exercises, it could be a battalion, which would number about 800.
To bridge the cultural gaps with the African militaries, the Army is reaching out across the services, the embassies and a network of professional organizations to find troops and experts that are from some of the African countries. The experts can be used during training, and the troops can both advise or travel with the teams as they begin the program.
"In a very short time frame we can only teach basic phrases," said Col. Matthew McKenna, commander of the 162nd Infantry Brigade that will begin training the Fort Riley soldiers in March for their African deployment. "We focus on culture and the cultural impact — how it impacts the African countries' military and their operations."
Thomas Dempsey, a professor with the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, said the biggest challenge will be the level of cultural, language and historical diversity across the far-flung continent.
"How do you train for that in a way that would be applicable wherever they go?" said Dempsey, a retired Army colonel. He said he's not sure using a combat brigade is the right answer, but added, "I'm not sure what the answer is. The security challenges differ so dramatically that, to be honest, I really don't think it's feasible to have a continental training package."
The Pentagon's effort in Africa, including the creation of U.S. Africa Command in 2007, has been carefully calibrated, largely due to broad misgivings across the continent that it could spawn American bases or create the perception of an undue U.S. military influence there. As a result, the command has been based in Stuttgart, Germany, rather than on the African continent.
At the same time, many African nations are eager for U.S. training or support, as they work to build their militaries, battle pirates along the coast and shut down drug trafficking, kidnapping and other insurgent activities.
McKenna acknowledged the challenge, but said the military has to tap its conventional fighting forces for this task because there aren't enough special operations forces to meet the global training needs. He said there will be as many as a dozen different training segments between February and September, each designed to provide tailored instruction for the particular teams.
The mission for the 2nd Brigade — known as the "Dagger Brigade" — will begin in the spring and will pave the way for Army brigades to be assigned next to U.S. Pacific Command and then to U.S. European Command over the next year. The brigade is receiving its regular combat training first, and then will move on to the more specific instruction needed for the deployments, such as language skills, cultural information and other data about the African nations.
From Our News Desk
Merry Xmas to all our readers
Merry Xmas to all our readers
FG Cancels Controversial Recruitment Into Nigeria Immigration Service
MRS ROSE C. UZOMA ALLEGEDLY ENMESHED IN RECRUITMENT SCANDAL AT THE NIS
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, George Udoh, the Minister stated that "following apparent controversy trailing the ongoing recruitment exercise in Nigeria Immigration Service the responsible thing to do is to cancel the exercise until a more transparent, acceptable and efficable platform is established to enlist qualified Nigerians into the service."
Comrade Moro directed further that all appointment letters issued and documentation carried out stand cancelled until the Civil Defence immigration and Prisons Service board, meet to consider the waiver granted the Nigeria Immigration Service to recruit men and women into the service.
It would be recalled that the Controller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mrs Rosemary Chinyere Uzoma, who has just three months to the expiration of her tenure, while defending the secret recruitment exercise into the service at the insistence of the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character, said, the decision was taken so as not to unknowingly recruit terrorists into the highly sensitive organization.
Monday, 24 December 2012
Tragedy: 7 soldiers die in accident on Abaji-Abuja highway
According to the Federal Road Safety officials, the truck conveying the soldiers was involved in a head-on collision with another truck.
It was gathered that a Toyota 18-seater Hiace bus was also involved in the accident.
As at the time of this report, it couldn't be confirmed where the soldiers where heading to when the accident happened. Details to come shortly.
US firefighters shot dead at blaze in Webster, New York
Police said the four were fired upon in an "apparent trap" as they arrived on Monday morning.
The blaze broke out just before 06:00 local time (11:00 GMT) and officers had to evacuate nearby residents in an armoured car.
A gunman has been found dead at the scene, local police say.
The man was 62-year-old William Spengler, Webster Police Chief Gerald Pickering told media.
Spengler appeared to have shot himself in the head, Mr Pickering said.
He had previously served a 17-year jail sentence after being convicted of killing his grandmother.
Spengler's sister is unaccounted for and police fear she may have died in the fire, which engulfed seven houses.
The two dead firefighters were named by police as Tomasz Kaczowka and Mike Chiapperini.
Mr Pickering told reporters: "These people get up in the middle of the night to go put out fires; they don't expect to be shot and killed."
The two injured firefighters were named as Joseph Hofsetter and Theodore Scardino.
They are being treated for gunshot wounds at the Strong Memorial Hospital and are expected to recover.
Police spokesmen said the area was "an active crime scene" but that no more shooters were believed to be present.
'Senseless act'
Two of the firefighters had arrived in a fire engine and two in their own vehicles, police said. One wounded man managed to escape but the others were pinned down until the armoured car could be sent in.
Police evacuated residents and firefighters were then able to return to tackle the blaze.
Chief Pickering said: "Webster is a tremendous community. We are a safe community, and to have a tragedy befall us like this is just horrendous."
Twitter accounts with child abuse images closed
Some hacking groups are claiming to have unmasked them, the NSPCC said.
Members of the public have reported the accounts to Greater Manchester Police and North Yorkshire Police, while Ceop - the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre - says it is "aware".
The NSPCC asked people to "be vigilant" and report such suspicious activity.
Ceop - the policing unit dedicated to eradicating the sexual abuse of children - said it had had 25 to 30 reports of these accounts.
A Ceop spokesman said Twitter had disabled the accounts and would be reporting the find to the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) - Ceop's US equivalent - which as an American company it was legally required to.
"NCMEC will forward the account details to law enforcement in the countries where the individual concerned is," he said.
It is unclear whether the images were uploaded by a UK user, or a user based abroad.
The NSPCC said the accounts were made public in the early hours of Monday.
"To be honest, it's not a massive surprise. In our experience sex offenders will use whichever mean they can to connect with each other. They are usually quite devious," a spokesman said.
He asked people to be vigilant.
"It you see something, or are aware of something, you should report it."
As for those people storing such content, Professor Alan Woodward, of the University of Surrey's department of computing, said they were increasingly using social media rather than computers.
"If they use the web to keep any pictures then they will be able to claim it wasn't them. The weight of evidence isn't the same."
Twitter is yet to commen
Put your trust in God,Pastor Kumuyi urges Nigerians
Drawing inspiration from Psalm 91, Pastor Kumuyi said the possession of an unflagging and abiding relationship in God, is a sure way to overcome every dire and intriguing problems.
"Don't run away from where God has placed you. Focus on God and God will also focus on you. When you are abiding continuously in Christ, neither Satan nor his angels can ever touch you for the promises of God affirm wholesome deliverance for all abiding believers", Pastor Kumuyi further remarked.
File photo: Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State (2nd left) with other state officials during the switching on of the Festival of Lights in Lagos.
The GS further admonished Christians to strive to appropriate the fullness that God has made avail-able through Jesus Christ, stressing this as the fitting antidote to the multifarious challenges con-fronting mankind.
Addressing thousands of participants at the church's December retreat at the church, DLCC on Lagos-Ibadan Express-way, Kumuyi pointedly declared that failure to tap into the full redemption and covenant benefits through Christ, has cast a needless limitation on believers in particular and mankind in general.
Speaking on a topic: "Identification with Christ," the man of God declared that all Christians, crucified, buried and risen with Christ should possess the unflagging capacity to realise, reckon and receive the abundant blessings God has deposited in Christ.
According to Pastor Kumuyi, faith is the key ingredient to walking successfully with God and living a life pleasing unto Him.
He also stressed the need for believers to pattern their lives after Christ, noting that "as Christ is a conqueror and an overcomer, so must we be in the world. As Children of God, every-thing that Christ possess-es is ours – His victory, His wealth, His prosperity, His health, His power and authority, all belong to us."
The national retreat with the theme; "All round security in Christ", held in all the 744 local government areas of the country. It also held simultaneously in Europe, America, Asia and other parts of the world and was attended by members from Lagos area including Epe, Ikorodu and Badagry.
David Cameron quotes Bible in Christmas message
The prime minister said that Christmas was a time to "pause and reflect on what is important".
In an "extraordinary year" for the UK, the Prime Minister praised Team GB and the organisers of the London Olympics.
In the past, Mr Cameron had admitted he was a "vaguely practising" Christian, "full of doubts" on theological issues.
But his message makes reference to the New Testament Gospel of John while urging the public to remember the sacrifices of UK troops and emergency services.
'Prince of Peace'
"The Gospel of John tells us that [Jesus] was life, and that his life was the light of all mankind, and that he came with grace, truth and love," the prime minister says.
"Indeed, God's word reminds us that Jesus was the Prince of Peace.
"With that in mind, I would like to pay particular tribute to our brave servicemen and women who are overseas helping bring safety and security to all of us at home - their families who cannot be with them over the holidays; and to all the dedicated men and women in the emergency services who are working hard to support those in need."
The PM - who went to Afghanistan to visit British troops last week - added that the armed forces "deserve our thoughts and appreciation".
He also said that Britain "showed the world what we're made of" by staging what he described as " the most spectacular Olympic and Paralympic Games ever".
He praised the sporting achievements of Team GB and Paralympics GB, who he said "punched way above [their] weight in the medals table".
Mr Cameron also made reference to the celebrations surrounding the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, in which he said the country cheered the monarch "to the rafters".
He concluded: "However you celebrate this time of year, it is my hope and prayer that you have a happy and peaceful Christmas."
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