8 MEN RAPED A TEENAGER TO DEATH IN EBONYI STATE.

Miss Chekwube Mbaka was yesterday allegedly raped to death by 8 Artisans at Odume Obosi in Idemili North Council Area of the State.

 A 20 years male family friend suspected to be brain behind her abduction and rape with his friends is helping the Anambra police state command in investigation as the police have already swung into action to unravel the circumstances surrounding her untimely death.

 The boy went out with the late Chekwube for the errand sent her by her father even as one artisan has been arrested.

Chekwube was from Ogboji Ezzagu, Ishielu Loccal Government Area of Ebonyi State but was residing at MINAJ village, Odume Obosi.

 Family sources said she was sent to buy a-hundred Naira garri by her father who came back from work at about 9 pm, because there was no food for him in the house but she never came back.

 The sources said a meter away to their entrance gate gate, the hoodlums allegedly dragged Chekwube to an uncompleted building where she was raped violently to death.

 Narrating his daughters ordeal, Mr. Mbaka regretted that if he had known that sending his daughter out to buy food for his family could bring about people laying ambush for her, he should have preferred the entire family sleeping without dinner.

 Mbaka said he is suspecting the artisans from Okposi also of Ebonyi State who are living close to their yard to have masterminded the barbaric act, following the alleged regular sexual demands they have made to his daughter in the past.

He appealed to Corporal Ibrahim Idris Aboki attached with Divisional Crime Bureau, DCB of Obosi Police Division to do a thorough investigation and bring the peperators to book.

The Nation leant this was the fourth rape case Odume Obosi has recorded within the space of three months. Two deaths were also recorded in the barbaric acts of the hoodlums.

 Divisional Police Officer of Obosi Division, CSP Dimale J.O confirmed the incident, stating that two people have been arrested in connection with the ugly story, adding that investigation is now on to unveil all that have hands in the death but declined further comment on the matter.

 

APRIL 27 2014, POPE JOHN PAUL II AND POPE JONH XXIII WILL BE DECLARED SAINTS.

Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII will be declared saints on 27 April 2014, Pope Francis has announced.

The Pope said in July that he would canonise his two predecessors, after approving a second miracle attributed to John Paul.

Polish John Paul, the first non-Italian pope for more than 400 years, led the Catholic Church from 1978-2005.

Pope John was pontiff from 1958-1963, calling the Second Vatican Council that transformed the Church.

The decision to canonise the two at the same time appears designed to unify Catholics, correspondents say.

John Paul II is a favourite of conservative Catholics, while John XXIII is widely admired by the Church's progressive wing.
'
'The good pope'

John Paul stood out for his media-friendly, globetrotting style. He was a fierce critic of communism, and is credited with helping inspire opposition to communist rule in eastern Europe.

John Paul has been on a fast track to sainthood since his death, when crowds in St Peter's Square chanted "santo subito" ("sainthood now").

During his own papacy he simplified the process by which people are made saints, and created more of them than all previous popes combined.

John XXIII is remembered for introducing the vernacular to replace Latin in church masses and for creating warmer ties between the Catholic Church and the Jewish faith.

He has a big following in Italy, where he is known as Il Papa Buono, the good pope.

The BBC's David Willey reports from Rome that Pope John was in many ways similar to Pope Francis, a humble, down-to-earth man with a fine sense of humour.

Two living popes are expected to be present at the canonisation ceremony: Francis, who will officiate, and Pope Benedict, who retired earlier this year.

The double canonisation will be the first in the Church's history.

Miracles

Two miracles have been officially attributed to Pope John Paul II - the number usually needed for canonisation.

The first miracle was the apparent curing of a 49-year-old French nun, Sister Marie Simon-Pierre Normand. She had been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, the same malady which afflicted the pope himself in his later years.

The second miracle came on the day of John Paul II's beatification by his successor, Pope Benedict XVI. A Costa Rican woman reportedly made an "inexplicable recovery" from a serious brain illness, and the only explanation was believed to be the fact that her family had prayed for John Paul II's intercession.

Pope John XXIII was beatified by John Paul II in 2000, and Pope Francis took the unusual step of waiving the requirement of a second miracle in his case.

....Adam easton , BBC...

EUROPEAN UNION CONDEMS THE BOKO HARAM'S ATTACK IN YOBE SAYING ITS HORRIFIC.

There was huge outcry yesterday against the perpetrators of the attack on Yobe College of Agriculture, with the Europen Union (EU) describing it as “horrific”.

It promised to support the Nigerian governmemt to combat the deadly Boko Haram sect.

The spokesperson of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, Catherine Ashton, said in a statement:

“The High Representative condemns the horrific terrorist attack perpetrated today in Yobe State and those that took place on previous days and weeks in Northern Nigeria in Abuja and elsewhere. Her thoughts are with the victims and their families.

The High Representative reiterates the EU’s firm rejection of such unjustifiable violence, whoever the perpetrators. Today’s attack clearly targeted children and students. Those responsible for this and all other attacks must be brought to justice and be held responsible for their acts.

The EU stands firmly with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism, under the principles of the rule of law, including full respect and protection of human rights.”

Senate President David Mark, Northern states governors and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, among others, mourned the students and urged the government to reassess its security apparatchik.

Mark commiserated with the government and people of Yobe State.

He also condoled with the government and people of Niger State over the ill-fated boat mishap in the Niger River near Malilli village in which no fewer than 42 souls have been confirmed dead.

Mark in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Paul Mumeh, bemoaned the Yobe attack and urged the perpetrators to hearken to the voice of reason and sheathe their swords.

He said: “Violence has never produced any positive result neither has it any solution to problems or grievances. If you have any grievances, the only way out is through dialogue. Resorting to killing others can only add to the problem and not solution.

“There are more than enough channels of communication and ways of redressing misgivings. These killings, especially innocent citizens, are not part of our culture. They are truly alien to us. All right thinking members of the society must rise up to end this carnage ravaging our land.”

The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) urged security agencies to halt the senseless killing of defenceless citizens and attacks on places of worship and educational facilities by Boko Haram.

The forum was disturbed about the wanton killings of several innocent people since 2009 when the sect began acts of violence in the Northern region.

Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger State Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu also condemned the killing of 15 persons in Zangang community in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Aliyu, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo, said, “The forum is particularly alarmed that the shooting dead of 38 students of the College of Agriculture, Gujba, Yobe State following the same pattern as the killing of 22 students and a teacher at Government Secondary School, Mamudo in the same state last July.”

The forum described the fresh attacks by the dreaded group as horrendous, callous and devoid of any shred of humanity.

It commiserated with the families of the victims and prayed God to grant eternal rest to the deceased and quick recovery to the injured.

The forum called on security agencies to do more to protect the lives and property of citizens and also ensure that those behind the violence are brought to justice.

The forum reiterated its pledge to continue to work with other tiers of government to bring an end to security challenges confronting the nation.

Atiku described as senseless and tragic, the murder of dozens of students gunned down in their sleep.

In a statement issued by his media office yesterday, Atiku underlined his disposition to the spate of instability in the country with a quote from the late American civil rights hero, Martin Luther King Jr: “Those who love peace must learn to organise as effectively as those who love war.”

Atiku continued: “As a father, I am deeply saddened by these senseless murders. These were young Nigerians studying agriculture with a goal of helping to feed our nation.

“We must urgently review our strategy for confronting these cowards. The murders at the Gujba College of Agriculture are further proof we need to rethink how we provide security for our nation.

“We must organise ourselves better to provide dignity and security for Nigeria. To defeat terror, we must use much more potent, unbeatable weapons: democracy, education and opportunity.”

“Nigerians have lost faith in their government because of this lack of vision in the management of the nation’s political, economic and social affairs.”

The former vice president enjoined leaders not to seek elective offices simply for the sake of power if they lacked the vision to push economic growth, which in turn, creates employment and greater prosperity for the citizenry.

According to him, the economy is central to every aspect of national life and demands vision-driven leadership to move forward.

“Our economy has weakened in the past few years, with crippling unemployment, especially among our youth. Nigeria has become unable to deliver the goods and services to give our people a decent standard of living and dignity.”

Atiku restated his commitment to working with willing Nigerians to make a difference and expressed concern at the unchanging shambolic state of national infrastructure and the deteriorating state of education in the country.

......the nation......

DEATH TOLL OF BOKO HARAM IN YOBE STATE'S SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE RISES TO 78

The death toll at the College of Agriculure, Gujba ,Yobe State has risen to 78. At least 50 of them were students who were attacked in the early hours of yesterday morning as they slept in their hostel. Some were shot, others were butchered with swords and knives. The gunmen, suspected to be Boko Haram sect members later moved to houses around the hostel, killing residents they find. Then they blocked the Damaturu-Maiduguri road and killed travellers. So far, 78 bodies have been counted, with many more people still unaccounted for. A student of the college who survived the massacre explained what happened...
"They started gathering students into groups outside, then they opened fire and killed one group and then moved onto the next group and killed them. It was so terrible. They came with guns around 1a.m. and went directly to the male hostel and opened fire on them. The college is in the bush, so the other students were running around helplessly as guns went off and some of them were shot down.”
The gunmen stormed the hostels in two double-cabin pickup all-terrain vehicles and on motorcycles, and were dressed in military camouflage. They attacked 4 male hostels but avoided the only hostel reserved for girls. Swords and knives were used to kill at least 30 male students. Some corpses that were found were without heads while others had heads hanging to the bodies. Wailing parents and relatives were at the Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital mortuary in Damaturu this morning to identify their loved ones. This can't continue. This government has to do something about the situation.

APC CLAIMS THEY DISCOVERED HOW GOODLUCK AND PDP ARE PLANING TO RIG ELECTION IN 2015

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has uncovered an alleged grand and serpentine plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Presidency to rig the 2015 general elections, especially the presidential poll, and also to destabilise the country.

In a statement yesterday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the multi-faceted strategy that is being employed by the diabolical duo of the PDP and the Presidency, include suppression of votes in areas where the President’s chances are slim, using the police and the military.

They also plan to use what they have tagged a Third Force to bamboozle Nigerians and project the image of a performing Presidency, even when they admit that the current public perception of government is less than salutary because of its weakness and lack of vision; Engage in the destabilization of the APC using moles and fifth columnists; Instigate chaos in the Southwest using what they called the ‘’Old Afenifere Guards’’ as well as infiltrate and weaken socio-cultural and socio-political organisations in areas they deemed to be unfavourable to the President.

Shockingly, the party said, the PDP/Presidency’s grand plot also did not exclude even the PDP itself, as they are pursuing a strategy of decisively and ruthlessly purging from the ranks of the party’s inner decision-making caucus all recalcitrant members, including governors and House of Representatives members.

‘’The dogged pursuit of this action of dealing with supposed recalcitrant members has led to suspensions, expulsions and alienation of some PDP members, and it was the immediate trigger of the collapse of the party of tattered umbrella,’’ APC said.

‘’After all, it is said that a house divided against itself cannot stand.’’

Elaborating on the satanic plot, the party said the Northeast and the Northwest have been singled out as areas where votes must be suppressed in 2015, by creating an enabling environment for the deployment of ‘’special forces’’ in the run-up to the 2015 elections. Simply put, they intend to launch police/military actions in the run-up to 2015, to ensure most of the registered voters in the zones are disenfranchised.

‘’The reason these two geo-political zones have been singled out for ‘vote suppression’ is because of what the PDP/Presidency called the ‘voting demographics’ in the zones in 2011. The North west had 18,900, 543 registered voters in 2011 while the Northeast had 10,038,119. By contrast, the President’s ‘safe support base’ of Southsouth and Southeast had 8,937,057 and 7,028,560 respectively, the total of which was less than that of the Northwest alone!

‘’The PDP/Presidency therefore believe that unless the votes in these two zones are suppressed, and those of the Southwest (14,298,356) stifled one way or the other, the chances of the President winning re-election are very poor. Needless to say that these three zones (NE, NW and SW) are considered to be hostile to the President, hence must be tamed,’’ the APC said.

On the Third Force, APC said it involves railroading unsuspecting credible and independent-minded Nigerians with deep knowledge of, and extensive penetration of the media, civil societygroups, labour, youth, women and ethnic nationalities into the plan, in which they will be given scripts written by the government and sent out to inundate the airwaves and the print media, posing as experts and public analysts to peddle lies and reel out statistics that have no bearing on the standard of living of the average Nigerian.

The party said perhaps the most dangerous aspect of the plot is the determined attempt by the PDP/Presidency to constrict the democratic space by moving against the main opposition party which they regard as a ‘’real threat’’ to the President if it (party) does not implode or forced to break up before 2015.

The strategy to achieve this is multi-pronged: The PDP/Presidency will use those they called fifth columnists, disillusioned party members and ‘deep cover plants’ to fracture the APC; Play up clash of ambitions among its leaders, as well as create and empower a new anti-APC political force in the South-West, comprising the old Afenifere guards whom they described as spent and disillusioned forces, but who can be manipulated to achieve the desired objective of neutralising the APC; And to revive some dormant political forces.

APC said while it is not bothered by the desperation of the PDP/Presidency to engage in unfair and foul means to win elections, it is astounded that a democratically-elected President will resort to actions that are far from democratic just to retain power at all cost.

‘’The PDP/Presidency should know that no power in the world can stop an idea whose time has come. For Nigeria, this is the time for change, and change will come in spite of the shenanigans of the devilish duo. Our hope is that these desperadoes do not destroy the country in their rabid ambition,’’ the party said.

It called on Nigerians to be vigilant in the days, weeks and months ahead as the PDP/Presidency begin to roll out their grand plot.

But PDP has described as unfounded and mere sophistry the APC allegation that it has concluded plans to rig the 2015 presidency and general elections, stating that it is part of the failures associated with the opposition party, as it is designed to fail.

According to its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, “this is all excuses for the APC envisioned monumental failure in the 2015 polls. The APC is a media creation. They are not on ground. The statement is merely trying to justify its anticipated failure”.

The PDP spokesman said that the ruling party will “no longer dignify disgruntled and frustrated persons and groups with responses and replies. We have directed all organs of the party to engage only in productive and proactive activities”.

Accordingly, he said: “The PDP is only willing to discuss the policies and programs of the government. Nigerians will like to know the oppositions’ alternatives to the President’s programmes”.

THE GOVERNORS OF SOUTH EAST AND SOUTH-SOUTH ,HAVE AGAIN PLEDGED THIE FULL SUPPORT TO JONATHAN ENCOURAGING HIM TO PROCEEDED.

The governors of the South-East and South-South zones have urged President Goodluck Jonathan to remain focused on governance and not allow himself to be distracted.

The governors made the call after a meeting in Enugu, on Sunday.

In a communique, they noted that the determination of who would be President in 2015 would be made by the Nigerian electorate, “in line with democratic tenets and the power of the people should not be usurped by any group or individuals.”

The communique was read to journalists by Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State.

It read in parts, “We call for continued dialogue at resolving national issues and the management of the security situation in the country to guarantee the continued corporate existence of our great nation.

“We commend the security agencies for their efforts in managing these challenges and commend the Federal Government for the massive reduction in crude oil theft.

“We call on the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities and other players to be sensitive to the plight of our children and call off the strike while resolving issues through dialogue.”

The governors also disclosed that they had resolved to continue to strengthen economic ties between states in the South-East and South-South zones.

They also said that they would continue to pursue the development of the zones as well as prosecute the various infrastructure projects earlier identified.

The communique was signed by eight state governors: Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Peter Obi (Anambra); Sullivan Chime (Enugu); Theodore Orji (Abia) and Martin Elechi (Ebonyi).

Others are Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); and the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Gboribiogha Jonah, who represented Governor Seriake Dickson.

Governors Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo) did not attend the meeting.

BOKO HARAM KILLED 40 STUDENTS THIS SUNDAY MORNING .

No fewer than 40 students of Gujba College of Agriculture in Yobe State were on Sunday morning killed by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect.

The corpses of the students have been deposited at the General Sanni Abacha Specialist Hospital and more are still been expected at press time.

The Nation learnt that the students were shot in their hostels and classrooms while fleeing from the attackers.

Gujba is about 60 kilometres  South East of Damaturi the state capital

The State Commissioner of Police Sanusi Rufai confirmed the attack but said the details of the attack are still sketchy.

“Yes, I just got a report of the attack on the school but I cannot give you details at the moment because my men are yet to give me a full brief of the incident,” CP Sanusi informed.

THE BRIGSS FAMILY WINS THE MALTINA DANCE HALL SEASON SEVEN

After months of suspense, thrills, excitement and emotions, the Maltina Dance All (MDA) Season 7 ‘The Evolution’ came to a spectacular end at the grand finale which took place at the Convention centre of Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos. The tension soaked finale was breathtaking as the five families that qualified for the finals were locked in a battle of wits for the grand prize of N6 million, a brand new car and the title of ‘Nigeria’s number one dancing family’. In the end, the Briggs family from Port Harcourt, Rivers State emerged winners in what would go down as one of the most hotly contested finals in the MDA history.

The five families that took part in the finals were; the Ikumonien, Ibrahim, Enweribe, Ebute and Briggs families. The grand finale which was beamed live across major Television networks, kicked-off with the families performing the first of the two dance styles of the night - Pantomime.
The Ikumonien family was first to hit the stage with an impressive performance that set the tone for the evening. Their performance attracted a thunderous applause from the audience. Next up on stage was the Ibrahim family. Much to the delight of the audience, the family danced to the 90’s hit song I like to Move it by Reel 2 Real featuring the Mad Stuntman. 

The Enweribe family mesmerized the audience with their dancing skills when they rendered a sublime performance of Zombieby late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Eventual winners, the Briggs family took the audience back in time when they danced to Felix Liberty’s hit song Ifeoma. Last on stage for the Pantomime performance was the Ebute family who performed to Rise up by Swiss artiste DJ, Yves Larock. 

The Hip-hop dance style was the final performance of the night. The Ibrahim family was the first on stage followed by the Briggs, Ikumonien, Ebute and Enweribe. 

The highlight of the night was the announcement of the winner after voting by Nigerianswas concluded. The tension in the hall was palpable as the families all gathered on stage eagerly awaiting their fate. In the end, Nigerians voted the Briggs family as the winner of the MDA 7. The Enweribe family was the first runners-up while the Ebute family emerged second runners-up. They got N1 million and N500, 000 respectively for their commendable performances.

Mr. Victor Famuyibo, Human Resources Director Nigerian Breweries Plc who represented Mr. Nicolaas Ververlde, the Managing Director commended the families for their excellent performances and reiterated that Maltina will continue to share happiness to its consumers.

Senior Brand Manager, Maltina, Mrs. Ngozi Nkwoji stated that the MDA has been amazing. “The family is the bedrock of every society. I believe that Nigeria has so much talent and today it was shown in these families coming together to share happiness. Nigerians love to dance. It’s who we are, anytime there is a new dance step everybody adopts it and as a result our music has gone far and wide. Maltina is the number one malt drink and we love to share happiness. One of the ways we do this is the seamless synergy between the brand and dance.  Apart from earning the title of Nigeria’s number one dance family, the winning family becomes partners of the brand and we will continue with them for as long as we can”. 

Also present at the event were, Corporate Affairs Adviser, Mr. Kufre Ekanem and Mr. Sampson Oloche, Marketing Manager Non- alcoholic drinks.

CHURCH ROBERY IN ANAMBARA STATE , GRADUALY BECOMING A CULTURE

This is not the best of times for churches and clergymen in Anambra State. Call it signs of the end tme and one is not far from the truth. Hitherto, sacred places often dreaded even by the insane are now targets of daredevil robbers. There is a slogan right now in the state which says “one Sunday, one church robbery”.
In the last two weeks in Anambra State, armed robbers  have invaded about three churches at odd hours leaving sorrow and tears in their trail.  The Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke,  worried over the unusual development, has initiated a prayer programme in the archdiocese for the repentance of  criminals who are harassing and attacking churches in Onitsha and beyond.  The Archbishop has enjoined the faithful to say the prayers with dedication and commitment so that robbery attacks in the parishes will end.
First to host the unwanted visitors was St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, Egbo, Uruagu, Nnewi. The robbers had stormed the parish rectory about 1 am on Sunday night and held the priest and other residents  hostage for over one hour.   At the end of the invasion, they made away with an unspecified amount of cash and a bus belonging to the parish choir.
According to sources, the robbers numbering about 10 gained access to the main building by cutting the burglary proof bars on one of the windows in the parlour. They had earlier tied the hands of the security men  before they went to the place where drivers and seminarians were sleeping, meted the same treatment to them and went further to collect the car keys and proceeded to the area where the parish priest and other priests were staying.
When they entered they saw a priest and ordered him to show them the parish priest’s flat and he complied immediately. Finding it difficult to enter through the door, they gained access through the ceiling. The robbers immediately pointed their guns at the parish priest, barking orders at him to bring all the money in the house including the Sunday offering.The priest surrendered everything to them.
Sunday Sun learnt that while the robbers were carrying on with their evil operations, two of the drivers succeeded in untying themselves and escaped. They were said to have informed one of the parishioners around who quickly phoned the police at the Nnewi Central Police Station but the police never responded till the robbers finished and left the scene.
The Parish Priest , Very Rev. Fr. Peter Ezeani, while narrating his ordeal, confirmed that seven of the armed robbers entered his room armed with AK47 and pump action rifles.  He said they collected all the valuables in the house including cash.
While the Nnewi incident was still fresh, another robbery incident was reported at Holy Trinity Parish, Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area.
The robbers were said to have stormed the church compound at 3:00 am ransacking all the rooms for about one and half hours.
Though some of the priests residing in the parish were away on  ministerial engagements when the bandits struck, the robbers reportedly had ample time to cart away laptops,  ipads  and an undisclosed amount of money.
The same night, the marauders swooped on the clergymen at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Nnokwa in Idemili South Local Government.  Their style of operation was almost similar to the siege  at Ogidi thereby fueling suspicion that it was the same gang that operated in the two parishes.

‘Return your loot or face the consequences’
Apparently irked by the unusual boldness of the robbers who struck  sacred places, one of the resident priests at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ogidi, Very Rev. Fr. Basil Gbuzue has called on the gang of robbers who stormed the church premises to return the stolen items or be ready to face the wrath of God.
Fr. Gbuzue who is the Spiritual Director, Mountain of Solution Catholic Adoration Ministry, Nkpor, Anambra State said the robbers were lucky that he was not around the night they broke into the rectory.
“Those hungry criminals were lucky that I was not around. Had it been that they met me, they won’t have any option than to surrender and confess their past escapades. I would have loved to be there when the criminals arrived so that they will experience the efficacy of prayers and the word of God.  You cannot steal my property and get away with it just like that since the consequences of perpetuating such evil will last for eternity,” he said.
The cleric, popularly known as Man pass Man also disclosed his readiness to pardon the hoodlums provided they return their loot.  He commended the Archbishop for initiating the prayer programme and called on other parishes that have experienced the same trauma to take heart, remain steadfast and be vigilant.
Fr. Gbuzue also said Governor Peter Obi should in collaboration with the security agencies initiate more  strategies to checkmate the activities of criminals attacking  churches.
Commenting on the ugly development, a Knight of the Catholic Church, Sir Fidel Onuekwusi described the situation as the manifestations of the country’s eroded value system. He noted that even insane people respected sacred places but today people commit all sorts of sacrilegious acts in the society without minding the repercussions.  He reminded evildoers that nemesis and retribution are coming  and they should also be mindful of the biblical injunction saying “Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm.”

 
The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Emeka Chukwuemeka in a chat with Sunday Sun confirmed that the command was aware of the latest tactics robbers were deploying in the state  but assured that security of lives and property remained the  priority of the police.  He said the command had recorded several breakthroughs in crime prevention and detection and would never relent.

.....the sun.....

BOKO HARAM IN TROUBLE , AS US GOVERNMENT PREPARES TO DEAL WITH THE SECT.

A report by a committee of  the United States House of Representatives has linked the  fundamentalist Islamist sect, Boko Haram,  to al Shabaab, the terror group that carried out the September 21 Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya.

Al-Shabaab is a Somali-based group whose members are said to be highly proficient in suicide bombing.

The  report dated September 13, 2013 and  entitled,  ‘Boko Haram: Growing Threat to the US Homeland’, also acknowledged the growing relationship between the  Nigerian sect  and another terror group, the Al Qaeda in the land of the Islamic Maghreb.

The  39-page report noted that “while there is no evidence that al Qaeda’s core in Afghanistan and Pakistan commands Boko Haram’s operations, it is clear from the words of multiple US  officials and  media reports  that Boko Haram is supportive of, and supported by  Al Qaeda networks such as AQIM.”

It noted that “it is the unity of ideology and mutual hatred for the West between the Al Qaeda networks that exposes the danger Boko Haram poses to the U.S Homeland.”

The committee described Boko Haram as a “hardened and sophisticated terror network” that required  multiple simultenous local and international efforts to enhance the capacity and capability of the the Nigerian Police and the military to curtail its activities.

It said there was an urgent need by the US to designate the sect as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation because it has shown  no signs of ending its aggression  against the government of Nigeria and the Western world.

The commiteee wrote, “The world is coming to know more about Boko Haram; their intentions, what they’re capable of, and who is supporting them.

“The US Intelligence Community is working to erase the gaps in our understanding of Boko Haram, but it is already evident they are a serious threat to US interests and potentially to the US Homeland.

‘‘Acknowledging this threat publicly by designating Boko Haram an FTO will establish a legal mechanism for prosecuting any supporters within US jurisdictions.

“This is an increasingly important tool given their attempts to market themselves to a wider international audience.

“Boko Haram shows no signs of ending its campaign against the government of Nigeria and the Western world. Two years after their August 2011 bombing of a United Nations facility in Abuja, Nigeria, Boko Haram remains a threat to the international community, and continues to be a developing threat to the US  Homeland.”

The report said that Boko Haram had “highly skilled bomb makers who might have received training  from experienced militants elsewhere, potentially indicating a stronger relationship between them and AQIM or Al Shabaab.

It said that besides building sophisticated weaponry, it was now possible that Boko Haram had acquired or will acquire SA-7  and SA-24  shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles.

   The SA-7  missile is effective up to 1,300 metres, while some newer models reach altitudes of almost four kilometres. Although most aircraft cruise around 9,140 metres,  the SA-7  could be used to target aircraft during  takeoff and landing.

In the report, the committee warned, “It does not take much imagination to picture the threat these weapons would pose to commercial aviation in Abuja if they fell into Boko Haram hands.”

Out of the 20,000 such weapons in Libya, only 5,000 of them had been secured through a $40m US programme to buy up loose missiles during the fall of the Gadhafi regime. Most are believed to have found their way into  countries that share common boundaries with Nigeria.

  The committee acknowledged that the  Goodluck Jonathan administration had taken some potentially promising steps in its effort to fight Boko Haram.

It said the appointment of Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), a northern Nigerian Muslim, to the position of National Security Adviser on June 23, 2012, demonstrated Jonathan’s willingness to give northerners and Muslims a visible role in Nigeria’s struggle with Boko Haram.

“Dasuki has taken the lead in organising government’s fight against Boko Haram, and his background as a Muslim from the North may give him obvious and potent symbolic significance,” the committee said.

In spite of this, the committee observed that concerns regarding the capability of the Jonathan administration to effectively deal with Boko Haram remained prominent.

  The committee said without foreign assistance from countries such as the US and the UK, the Nigerian government would  almost certainly face a prolonged battle in neutralising Boko Haram.

According to the committee, the State Department, which has also engaged Nigeria through its African Coastal and Border Security programme, has focused its assistance on peacekeeping support, training, border and maritime security, and increasing military professionalisation.

But it lamented that in spite of the training, the “JTF  continues to behave unprofessionally, and has been accused of human rights abuses by Human Rights Watch, among other  entities, including the State Department’s most recent annual human rights report.”

It also warned that greater pressure must be applied to the JTF to abandon counter-productive and brutal tactics alienating northerners.

The committee said  failure of the Secretary of State to designate the Boko Haram sect an FTO, was  the ‘most obvious flaw in the US effort to combat it and prevent its expansion.’

It said, “If Boko Haram were to be designated an FTO, it would support US intelligence community efforts to curb the group’s financing, stigmatise and isolate it internationally, heighten public awareness and knowledge, and signal to other governments the US takes the threat from Boko Haram seriously.

“If Boko Haram is not designated an FTO, its potential threat to the US and its capability to attack the homeland would likely increase. It is therefore an urgent next step to take in fighting this growing al Qaeda affiliate in Nigeria.”

The committee further said as the number of attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram had increased in 2013, so had  the attention paid to the group by the US.

A NIGERIAN WRITER IN THE US ACCUSED OF AIDING AL-QAEDA

A Nigerian terror suspect accused of trying to help al-Qaeda in Yemen appear before a United States federal courtroom on Friday.

Lawal Babafemi was accused of training with members of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and using his English skills to help publish the terrorist magazine “Inspire.”

Judge John Gleason ordered Babafemi, also known as “Ayatollah Mustafa,” held without bail. No plea was entered, reports NBCnewyork.com.

Prosecutors said Babafemi is married with children in Nigeria and helped al-Qaeda attempt to recruit people who speak English to engage in acts of terror against Americans.

The FBI said Anwar al-Awlaki, the American cleric who became the al-Qeada commander in the Arabian Peninsula and was killed in a US drone strike, personally directed $9,000 be paid to Babafemi to assist in his recruitment efforts.

Sitting silently at a defense table, Babafemi wore a blue and white striped polo shirt as he listened to the hearing without the help of a translator.

His attorney did not object to his being held without bail, but told the judge Babafemi suffers from high blood pressure and asked that he receive medication when he gets to the Metropolitan Detention Center.

Investigators said Babafemi was active with al-Qaeda operatives from 2010 to 2011 until he was arrested for crimes in Nigeria. He was then turned over to FBI agents to be prosecuted for his alleged terrorist activity.

“The defendant threw his efforts behind al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s media, recruitment, and weapons training campaigns in an effort to strengthen the terrorist group’s grip on the region and extend its reach throughout the world,” US Attorney Loretta Lynch said in a statement.

His transfer to the United States comes amid increasing concerns about the growing footprint of al-Qaeda affiliated organizations in Africa.

Al-Qaeda in Yemen has tried to use an underwear bomb on an airliner heading to Detroit and has hidden explosives in printers to try to bomb cargo planes.

Al Shabaab — a Somali-based group linked to al-Qaeda — is believed to be behind the recent mall attack in Kenya.

NIGERIAN SECURITY OPERATIVES TIGHTENS SECURITY AND PREPARE FOR ANY ATTACK ON 53RD INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY ON TUESDAY.

Security  agencies have beefed up security across the 36 states of the federation as Nigeria prepares to  celebrate its 53rd Independence anniversary on Tuesday.

Although  President Goodluck Jonathan would celebrate the Independence anniversary inside Aso Rock, a police helicopter was seen carrying out aerial patrol of Abuja on Friday as part of security measures.

Also police commands across the country have mapped out various security measures to forestall  violence during the celebration by paying special attention to churches, open fields and stadia.

This is  coming shortly after the attack on a Kenyan mall that left over 60 persons dead.

The United States on Thursday said the group responsible for the attack, Al-Shabab, had links with the violent Boko Haram sect.

A few days ago, Boko Haram leader, Abu Shekau, resurfaced in a new video weeks after the military reportedly killed him.

Shekau, in the video, threatened that more attacks would  occur.

On Saturday, President Barack Obama described Boko Haram as “one of the most vicious terrorist organisations in the world.”

Already, in Ogun State,   the police has put in place an operational order for the Independence  anniversary.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the order would serve as a guide to the officers and men of the command in performing their duties throughout the  period.

One of our correspondents  gathered that the Assistant Inspector  General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Mamman Tsafe, held a  meeting on Friday with the top officers in the command.

Regarding security at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, venue of the Independence celebrations in the state, the police spokesman said men of the anti-bomb squad and police sniffer dogs had been deployed in the stadium.

Similarly, the 35 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Alamala, Abeokuta said its troops had been put on alert.

The Brigade’s Public Relations Officer, Captain Adamu Ngulde,  said  troops attached to the state’s anti-crime outfit, Operation Messa, were already maintaining tight security in different parts of the state.

Ngulde added that the brigade had enough troops on ground to contain any situation in the state.

 Akwa Ibom

The Police Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Etim Dickson, said the police had deployed more vehicles, particularly the Eagle 1-6, to complement the Quick Response Squad vehicles.

He stated that the QRS operations had also been extended to remote areas where they did not have presence.

“We have deployed more vehicles, particularly in Eagle  Patrol 1-6, which were  donated by the Niger Delta  Development Commission to complement the existing QRS to give adequate security towards Nigeria’s anniversary celebration,” he said.

Cross River

The Cross Rivers State Security Adviser, Mr. Rekpene Bassey, told Sunday PUNCH on Friday that a combined team of all security agencies had been mandated to guard specific areas.

Even though he did not disclose the ‘specific areas,’ he said, “Deliberate efforts have been made by placing all security agencies on red alert.”

Osun

One of our correspondents reports that  police patrol vans as well as vehicles with armed soldiers have been patrolling Osogbo and other major towns in the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mra. Folashade Odoro, said, “We assure the people of the state of water-tight security during the 53rd Independence Anniversary of our nation. Our men are all over and police presence will be seen.”

Kwara

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olufemi Fabode, said some policemen from other divisions and area commands in the state had been drafted to Ilorin, the state capital.

He stated that the command had stepped up motorised patrols, adding that he would not reveal other security measures so as not to jeopardise them.

Rivers

Similarly, the Rivers State Police Command said it had put measures in place to ensure a hitch-free Independence Day celebration.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, who spoke in a telephone interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, explained that the command would leave no stone unturned to prevent crime during Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration.

Ondo

The Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Wole Ogodo, said the police was in collaborating with  military formations towards ensuring a hitch-free celebration.

He said, “We do not know whether the celebration will be low-key or not, but whichever the case, our men will be fully deployed at the stadium and other venues in Akure as well as all the local government areas where the celebration will be held.”

Oyo

On its part, the Oyo State Police Command said more of its men would be deployed in strategic positions.

The state’s Police Public Relation Officer, Olabisi Ilobanafor, told one of our correspondents in Ibadan on Friday that the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ndabawa, had directed all divisional police officers in the state to ensure that places of public interest and their communities must be well guarded during the period.

She said, “We are not expecting any public disturbance but as usual, it is the duty of the police to protect everyone. We are in a special period and we are stepping up our work to ensure that the state is safe for everyone.

Enugu

The Enugu State Police Command  said measures were being put in place to ensure the safety of lives and property during the  anniversary.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, made this known to one of our correspondents, but declined stating the specific security measures being mapped out for the day.

Aso Rock

SUNDAY PUNCH gathered that the Independence celebration event scheduled for Aso Rock would be strictly military.

The military event that will hold at the forecourt of the villa will be the commemorative handing and taking over by the presidential guards.

The President is also expected to sign the anniversary register, cut the anniversary cake and perform the traditional release of pigeons that signifies peace.

On Friday, men of the Presidential Brigade of Guards were seen rehearsing at the venue of the event.

They were joined by other security operatives that would be on duty on Tuesday as well as officials of the Protocol Unit of the State House.

Some officials of the Protocol Unit were also sighted dispatching invitation letters to dignitaries that are expected at the event.

Those expected include the leadership of the National Assembly and the judiciary, former heads of governments,  members of the Federal Executive Council as well as members of the diplomatic corps, among others.

Workers of the construction company, Julius Berger, who are handling the villa’s maintenance, were also seen on Friday re-painting the walls of the forecourt.

A twin bomb blast had on October 1, 2010 rocked the neighbourhood of the Eagle Square, Abuja, venue of the nation’s 50th Independence anniversary celebration.  The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta claimed responsibility for the blast.

Although many believed that the government’s decision to  hold the 2011 event and subsequent ones inside the villa was a way of avoiding the embarrassment another bomb blast might cause the nation, the government said the decision had nothing to do with that.

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, had attributed the low-key nature of the anniversary to the fact that Nigeria had had cause to hold two huge national events — the 50th Independence anniversary in 2010 and the May 29, 2011 presidential inauguration that attracted world leaders.

President Goodluck Jonathan had also said the nation’s independence celebration would continue to be low-key until 2014 when the 100 years of the country’s amalgamation would be celebrated elaborately.

The one-year long activities earmarked for the centenary celebration which started this year would be rounded off in January 2014.

 ......punch......

BEVERLEY OSU , CELLEBRATES HER BIRTHDAY TONIGHT AT AURA NIGHT CLUB.

One of the big brother africa star, Angelo Collins arrived in Nigeria today to spend some time with his BBA lover Beverley osu, as she celebrates her birthday in Lagos , Beverly Osu. Other BBA Housemates Bimp and Bassey are also in town. They are here to attend Beverly Osu's birthday party which will hold tonight at Aura Night Club.

MISS PHILLIPINE CROWND THE 2013 MISS WORLD, AND MISS GHANA CAME 3RD

The 2013 Miss World pageant held today Saturday September 28th at Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center in Bali, Indonesia. Miss Philippines Megan Young (pictured up) beat 126 other contestants to win Miss World 2013. Miss France Marine Lorphelin was named runner-up, while Miss Ghana Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter (pictured down) came third.

THE PRESIDENT WILL HOST ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL MEDIA CHAT TOMOROW SUNDAY , TO DISCUSS NATIONAL ISSUES.

President Goodluck Jonathan will host another edition of the Presidential Media Chat tomorrow Sunday, September 29, 2013 at 7pm. See the State House Press Release below
President Jonathan will in the course of the programme, answer questions from a panel of journalists on current national issues and events, as well as policies and actions of his administration.

Members of the public who have questions they will like the President to respond to on the programme may send them in via Twitter to @mediachatng1.

The programme will be broadcast live on the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the Voice of Nigeria (VON). Other television and radio stations are enjoined to hook up to NTA and FRCN to relay the programme to their viewers and listeners.
  
Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity). September 28, 2013
Wow! Take out all your stress on him  if you wish , but , do it calmly, googluck to you.

IRAN SLIGHTLY DIVIDING OVER PRESIDENT ROHANI'S VISIT TO THE SU.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has been met by hardline protesters chanting "Death to America" on his return from the UN forum in New York.

During his trip, President Rouhani had suggested a shift in tone on Iran's controversial nuclear programme.

This culminated in a phone call with US President Barack Obama - the first such top-level conversation in 30 years.

Hundreds of people gathered at Tehran airport, with supporters hailing the trip and opponents throwing shoes.

'US initiative'

An Agence France-Presse journalist said some 200-300 supporters gathered outside the airport to thank Mr Rouhani for his efforts.

But opposite them were about 60 people shouting "Death to America" and "Death to Israel".

Mr Rouhani raised his hand to the crowds as he was driven off.

A New York Times reporter described the scene as chaotic, with dozens of hardliners hurling eggs and shoes at the president's convoy.

The Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA), said: "A crowd of young people and students gathered at Mehrabad airport to show support for the president's remarks and his stance during the trip to New York."

It said Ali Akbar Velayati, senior adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and a number of cabinet members also welcomed the president.

The call with Mr Obama was made just before Mr Rouhani left New York.

Mr Rouhani, quoted by the Fars news agency, said it was the US that had initiated the call, contradicting some reports in the US.

"Yesterday, as we were getting ready to head to the airport, the White House called and expressed willingness to set up a phone call between the American president and me," Fars quoted Mr Rouhani as saying upon arrival in Tehran.
Protesters at Tehran airport, 28 Sept

"On our way a call was made to our ambassador's cell phone. The conversation mostly focused on the nuclear issue," he was quoted as saying.

After the call, Mr Obama said: "While there will surely be important obstacles to moving forward and success is by no means guaranteed, I believe we can reach a comprehensive solution."

Mr Rouhani, who is regarded as a moderate and was elected in June, has said he wants to reach a deal over the nuclear issue in three to six months.

He has also asserted that Iran does not seek a nuclear bomb, as Western powers have long suspected.
The US and China have said they expect Iran to respond to an existing offer by the US, Russia, Britain, France, China and Germany, who form a negotiating group known as the P5+1.

The group has asked Iran to halt production and stockpiling of uranium enriched to 20% - a step away from achieving a nuclear weapons capability.

It also demanded Iran shut down the Fordo underground enrichment facility, near Qom.

Substantive negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 are due to take place on 15 October, and Mr Rouhani said Iran would bring a plan to that meeting, though he did not give details.

APC : TINUBU AND HIS POLITICAL FUMBLE ON HOW TO BETER THE COUNTRY.

LLagos Central Senatorial District Senator, Oluremi Tinubu, has said that only a progressive government led by the All Progressives Congress (APC) can genuinely transform Nigeria.

Senator Tinubu made this declaration during the eighth edition of Town Hall Meeting and graduation of the pioneer trainees under the Youth Empowerment and Skills Acquisition Scheme (YESAS) initiated by her, at Banilux Event Place, Yaba, Lagos yesterday.

The event featured distribution of certificates and money-cards to 187 graduands as business start-up kits, as well as the cutting of the APC cake.

She said her optimism that change is possible was borne out of the emergence of the new party.

She said: “There is hope in the horizon. Change has come to our shores. Indeed, the announcement of the registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) electrified Nigerians and brightened the political space.

“Clearly, only a progressive government under the All Progressives Congress (APC) can genuinely transform Nigeria and end years of inadequate funding for development, poor infrastructures, mass poverty and unemployment, endless strikes in our tertiary institutions and gross development deficits.”

The nation today, Senator Tinubu noted, is confronted with many critical issues.

“Concerns over how best to resolve them continue to mount. However, there is cause for hope because Nigerians committed to change are bonding together to work together.

“If we all also work together, we can realise the vision of a better future for coming generations,” she added.

According to her, the challenge now is to work together to mobilise the populace and ensure APC’s resounding victory in coming elections.

“By this,” she said, “we will be creating endless opportunities for national progress. With determination, we can all join hands to make great things happen in place of the prevalent decay and complaints that exist across the nation today.

“Through our commitment and collective efforts, we will surely overcome our challenges. Wherever each one of us stands, let us ensure effective mobilization for our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“By working together with unity of purpose, we can send a message of hope to others and make our society better.”

Representative of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola(SAN), Hon. Teslim Folami, described PDP as a stinking party, noting that the party would never be the same again.

Folami, the governor’s Special Adviser on Legislative and Political Bureau, said the APC would strategise and get ready for PDP’s antics come 2015.

The Lagos Central District Leader of the APC, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, said that APC is strong because it is made up of honest and sincere people.

“Our target,” Prince Olusi said, “is change for the betterment of the country. Our governments at various levels have discharged good leadership to the people. I urge all our party leaders at the grassroots to compliment achievements at the state level.”

Among the personalities at the event were the wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola; former Minister of State for Defence, Prince Demola Seriki; former Lagos state Commissioner for Finance, Mr Wale Edun and the representative of Oba Rilwanu Akiolu, Chief Aderibigbe Ajose; Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas; Mrs Toun Ajomale; former Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Alhaji Ibrahim Balogun; Mrs Patricia Arawore and Women Leader, Hon. Toun Adediran.

Others were Alhaji Mutiu Are; Omoba Murphy Adetoro; Council chairmen Jide Jimoh (Yaba); Omobolanle Akinyemi-Obe (Coker-Aguda); Ayodeji Joseph (Apapa); Dr Samuel Adedayo (Apapa-Iganmu); Prince Muideen Abayomi Daramola (Iru-Victoria Island); Oladele Adekanye (Mainland); Wasiu Sanni Eshilokun (Lagos Island); Kamal Salau-Bashua (Lagos Island East) and Otunba Yetunde Arobieke.

Also presnt were White Cap chiefs; Mrs Anike Adekanye; Alhaja Ashabi Bamgbola; Hajia Sikirat Jimoh; Mrs Khafeelat Salau-Bashua; Mrs Bilikisu Eshilokun and Mrs Elizabeth Osisanya.

....punch...

THE DELTA STATE KIDNAP KINGPIN , BEGGING THE SSS NOT TO KILL HIM.

The arrogance and bravado that characterised the reign of Kelvin Ibruvwe, the leader of a notorious gang of kidnappers that had held the entire Niger Delta region hostage for months, has turned out an anti-climax in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS).

Faced with the grim prospect of being brought to justice, the gang leader has seen his stern nature melt like ice in the hot sun, and all he can do is to plead with the law enforcement agents to spare his life.

His victims had included eminent persons like human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome, as well as Mrs. Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour, wife of a Supreme Court judge kidnapped with her daughter and driver on their way to Benin on May 10.

And only a few days ago, he was his boastful self as he addressed a gathering of his kinsmen at his Kokori native town in Delta State, where he gave President Goodluck Jonathan a 60-day ultimatum to address the degradation of his native land and other communities in the Niger Delta or face grave consequences.

All that, however, proved to be no more than a façade that harboured the true weakling that he is, according to reliable SSS sources.

A source who spoke in confidence said that Kelvin, who was brought to Abuja for interrogation, had made substantial revelations.

“Kelvin has made useful and shocking statements which cannot be released to the public now,” the source said. “I think Nigerians, especially the media, will have the opportunity either on Monday or anytime next week.

“Contrary to his posturing, however, Kelvin is a weakling. He is afraid of death. He is downcast in detention. He does not want to experience what he had done to his victims.”

Another source who spoke on the last minutes before his arrest said: “Like criminals before him, he was always in company of girls from one location to the other. He was trailed for many days but the SSS and the Army adhered strictly to the rule of engagement to avoid recording heavy casualties. It was a clinical job.

“Before his arrest by the SSS and the Army, members of the Kelvin gang had held two youth corps members hostage. But when he was picked up, he was afraid of death and he was begging intermittently, ‘don’t kill me, don’t kill me.’

“At this point, the security agents asked him to call his gang members and ask them to release the two corps members if he did not want to die. Kelvin then placed a call to his gang to release the corps members. But the realty was done on him that the game was over.”

Responding to a question, the source added: “We have a strong suspicion that Kelvin and his gang were behind the kidnapping of Mrs. Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour, who is the wife of a judge of the Supreme Court.”

Ozekhome yesterday said his experience would make him to rededicate his life to God. He said his 21-day experience in kidnappers’ den would make him to rededicate his life to God. Ozekhome, who issued a statement from London where he is recuperating, said: “I thank all of you Nigerians, both at home and in the Diaspora, for all your incredible display of love, care, prayers and fasting for my release from the horrific dungeon of my kidnappers.

“Please give almighty God all the glory, honour, praises, thanks and adoration for my liberation and freedom. Glorify him more for the prompt arrest of their gang leaders and kingpins in a most unprecedented swift manner. “I especially thank the entire media, both print, electronic, and social media activists, for using my 21 days ordeal in the kidnapper’s gulag as a veritable metaphor to bring to the front burner of national and international discourse, the vexed issues of the national question, insecurity, corruption bad governance, infrastructural decay and youth unemployment in Nigeria. “I shall rededicate myself to God’s eternal worship and reinvigorated service to the beleaguered Nigerian masses and exploited mankind in general.”

ASUU STRIKE: NUT AND SSANU HAVE THREATENED TO JOIN ASUU IN THIER BID FOR A BETER EDUCATION.

The crisis rocking the education system is likely to worsen as the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Senior Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have threatened to embark on a nationwide strike. 

The NUT President, Micheal Olukoya, made the plans of his union known yesterday while speaking with newsmen.

He said the NUT would join ASUU in a solidarity strike while SSANU’s major complaint was the non-payment of the August salary of its members.

SSANU said it had already given directive to its members to mobilise for the strike, adding that it had become imperative for them to down tools following government’s failure to pay their outstanding August salary.

PROF. WOLE SOYINKA IN FURY OVER THE DEATH OF AWOONOR IN KENYA.

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Friday condemned last Saturday’s terrorist attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, which led to the death of prominent Ghanaian writer and diplomat, Prof. Kofi Awoonor, and no fewer than 67 others.

In a meeting with journalists at the Freedom Park on Broad Street, Lagos, he described those who led the assault on the mall that claimed Awoonor’s life, as well as the lives of scores of other victims, as “human aberrations and carriers of a lethal virus that corrupts the human soul and spirit.”

Soyinka added, “As for their claims to faith, they invoke divine authority solely as a hypocritical cover for innate psychopathic tendencies. Their deeds and utterances profane the very name of God or Allah.”

The literary icon, who said he was supposed to be in Nairobi for the same festival that Awoonor attended, noted that not since the apartheid era had Africa been plunged into a crisis of the same magnitude as foisted by Islamic insurgents.

“A murdering minority pronounce themselves a superior class of beings to all others; assume powers to decide the mode of existence of others, of association; decide who shall live and who shall die, who shall shake hands with whom even as daily colleagues, who shall dictate and who shall submit,” he said.

.....punch.....

GOV FASHOLA TRIES TO CORRECT HIS POLITICAL ERRORS IN LAGOS, AS HE APOLOGISED TO THE IGBOS.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday said he has nothing against the Igbo people.

He was reacting to the controversy generated by the return of some destitute to Onitsha, Anambra State.

Lagos was accused of dumping 70 beggars on the Onitsha Bridge on July 24, but the state government said it relocated 14 destitute to Onitsha after rehabilitating them.

Speaking at the Silver Jubilee of the Igbo socio-cultural think tank, Aka Ikenga, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, Fashola said he had no problem with the Igbo.

He said the highest number of cattle he received when his father died was from the Igbo.

At the event were Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Ayim, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan; House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha; Archbishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah; former Foreign Affairs Minister Gen. Ike Nwachukwu; Aka Ikenga President Goddy Uwazurike; a former ambassador, Chief George Obiozor, and President of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Gary Enwo-Igariwey.

Others include former President, Aka Ikenga, Chief Chris Asodoka; Director of the Lagos Business School Prof. Pat Utomi; a former minister, Captain Emma Iheanacho; songster Onyeka Onwenu and Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo.

Fashola said: “I came here to say thank you for the honour done to my family and the memory of my late father. People who clearly do not understand the actions taken and words spoken are those I owe an explanation. I cannot take the Igbo for granted because we have built a relationship based on tolerance, mutual respect, love and trust. That relationship was built by our ancestors and I put a lot of value on it.

“I offer unqualified and unreserved apology, if the actions taken have been misunderstood. But I think the basic issue Aka Ikenga must address is why people feel compelled to migrate from one part of the country to the other. Is it that some areas lack the resources to develop or perhaps some parts are endowed with enormous resources that are not adequately managed?

“How can development be so difficult in a zone that has produced people like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Alex Ekwueme and Gen. Nwachukwu, among others? A day like this calls for deep reflection on issues of our loyalties. Are we more Igbo than Nigerian or we are more Nigerian than Igbo?”

Fashola urged Lagos residents to participate in the Resident Registration Scheme (RRS) to enable the government meet its obligations to them.

In his goodwill message, Jonathan said Aka Ikenga had successfully served as an interface between the Igbo and the rest of Nigeria in the past 25 years, adding that the group was one of the most respected and articulate socio-cultural think tank in the country.

He urged Aka Ikenga to recommend solutions to the nation’s challenges.

The president said the goal of his administration is to foster national unity and peace and deepen democracy, urging Nigerians to be civil to one another.

In his lecture: “Nigeria: the challenge of democracy”, Archbishop Kukah said stereotyping, exclusion and lack of compromise remain the major challenges to the nation’s democracy.

Stressing the need to manage our diversity for the good of everyone, he said democracy should be measured with indices, such as security, quality of the rule of law, political and human rights, among others.

Archbishop Kukah said the academic community was the most disenfranchised group in the country, adding that “no country ignores education and grows”.

He said: “Nigeria is a great country hurting badly. Governance is no longer subjected to the whims and caprices of good people. We are not looking for good people to govern us but we should use indices to scientifically measure the progress of our democracy. We returned to democracy so that the frontiers of governance can be expanded.”

Ihedioha urged the Igbo to set objectives on how to rebuild the Southeast, noting that the zone was in dire need of infrastructural development.

Igariwey urged Igbo resident outside the Southeast to invest at home to create jobs for the youth and curb migration.

Uwazurike said Aka Ikenga had committed resources to the pursuit of a better life in Igboland.

"THE UNITED STATE DOES NOT REALY FREAK US AGAIN" MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE SAYING

Many Americans abroad are currently giving up their citizenship as a result of one hard and offensive way of taxation newly introduced by the US . It will not only affects the ones at home, it will affect both the ones abroad and keeping record of every cent they make.

                       The number of expatriates renouncing their US citizenship surged in the second quarter of 2013, compared with the same period the year before - 1,131 cases to 189 in 2012. It's still a small proportion of the estimated six million Americans abroad, but it's a significant rise.
The number of Americans giving up their citizenship has rocketed this year - partly, it's thought, because of a new tax law that is frustrating many expats.

The list is compiled by the Federal Register and while no reasons are given, the big looming factor seems to be tax.

A new law called the Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act (Fatca) will, from 1 July next year, require all financial institutions around the world to report directly to the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) all the assets and incomes of any US citizens with $50,000 (£31,000) on their books. The US could withhold 30% of dividends and interest payments due to the banks that don't comply.

Bridget, who asked the BBC not to use her real name, gave up her US citizenship in 2011, 32 years after leaving for a new life in Scandinavia.

"This has nothing to do with avoiding taxes. I was never in danger of having to pay taxes in the US since I pay more here. The issue for me was that it was becoming harder and harder to follow the tax code and comply. It was difficult already but when I knew Fatca was coming, I thought, 'Do I want to go through with it anymore?'"

She felt threatened even if she did everything to fulfil her responsibilities, she says. A simple loyalty card at the local grocery store caused her anxiety when she realised it was linked to a bank account she never knew she had.

It became so complicated to do her tax return that she turned to professionals, at an annual cost of nearly $2,000 (£1,250), with the prospect of Fatca raising the price to $5,000. Also, fewer tax lawyers were taking on American clients, she says, and some banks were even turning away American money.

"In the end, I sleep better now knowing that I no longer have to worry about the US requirements. I will never be able to live or own property in the US but I can visit and that's enough for me."

If I will contribute to what she had been saying, I will ask, if the US , is turning into the old soviet union, who knows!

NDLEA DISCOVERED A 600-ACRE HEMP FARM IN EKITI STATE

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Friday discovered a 600-acre hemp farm at Ode Ekiti in the Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti.

The Commandant of the NDLEA in Ekiti, Mr Dele Akingbade, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Ado Ekiti that the hemp farm was the largest individually-owned hemp farm in the state.

Akingbade said the cost of the hemp farm was too huge to be determined immediately.

He described the discovery of the farm as one of the “biggest feats” of the agency in the state.

Akingbade said the agency made the discovery on a vast expanse of land on July 24.

According to him, the discovery follows a tip-off by concerned members of the public.

 

A MAN WAS CUT INTO PIECES BY A SPEEDING TRAIN IN LAGOS.

Some eyewitnesses said the man threw himself in front of the train, some said he was just walking across the railway track with his friends when a train coming from Agege approached early yesterday morning around the Bolade area of Oshodi. Don't know which one is accurate but there's one fact; the unidentified man was crushed into pieces by the train. When I say into pieces, I mean head off, hand off,  leg off, cut into two from the stomach. Horrific!

A POLICE MAN CAUGHT ON CAMERA TRYING TO EXTORT 10, 000 NAIRA FROM PEOPLE.

Make una try change abeg, this thing is getting worse every day Naija police defrauding motorist daily.

This one happened in Onitsha Area Command, in Anambra State. Officers: Stephen Iduh, Anselem Ukachukwu, J. O Daudu of the Servicom Unit. as at Friday 20th Sept. 2013.

The police tried to extort these people of N10,000 after taking them to the station (and parking them outside, not inside the station. Watch the video...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxz56beDxI4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

ASUU REJECTS PRESIDENT'S OFFER, SAYING THE STRIKE CONTINUES.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)  again rejected the offer by the Presidency put forward by the Viice President Namadi Sambo yesterday at a meeting to resolve the almost three-month-old strike by the lecturers.

Also, ASUU Ibadan zone made up of University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Olabisi Onananjo University, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Lagos State University and Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode, at a zonal meeting yesterday, resolved to continue with the industrial action.

The acting Zonal Coordinator, Ibadan Zone, Dr. Karo Ogbinaka said the strike entered its 88th day (yesterday), saying the action has crippled public universities.

He said in spite of the spirited  efforts of the union to  revamp the rot in the system, the government remained adamant and  intransigent  in honouring the agreement it entered into with ASUU in 2009.

“ASUU has demonstrated great commitment and patriotism since 2006 when the negotiation started and culminated in the 2009 agreement. It has allowed government to use its agencies to verify the claims of decrepit infrastructure in the university system. This resulted in the production of the Needs Assessment document of 2012,” Ogbinaka stated.

According to him, the meeting of Tuesday, September 19 with the vice president was an indication that the Federal Government was merely paying lip service to education in the country and deceiving the public on its commitment to its transformation agenda.

Ogbinaka, who is the branch chairman of ASUU UNILAG, assured Nigerians that it would not back-out in the struggle for the emancipation of the people by ensuring that government does what is right in the education sector.

“Our appeal to all patriotic Nigerians is for them to support ASUU in this struggle to save our public education in Nigeria and secure the future of this great country,” he said.

During the Ibadan zone meeting which took place at UNILAG, ASUU members resolved to continue with the almost three-month-old industrial action until government meets the demands of the union.

Some of the branch chairmen at the meeting told Daily Sun that their various congresses, which held this week rejected offer put forward by the vice president, insisting on full implementation of the agreement.

Acting ASUU Chairman of OOU, Dr. Tunde Odulanmi, ASUU UI branch Secretary, Dr. Deji Omole, told Daily Sun that their congresses rejected the outcome of the union’s meeting with Sambo and voted to continue with the strike.

A CHINESE MAN HAS A NOSE GROWN IN HIS HEAD .

The 22-year-old man A man from China's Fujian province has had a new nose grown on his forehead following a traffic accident last year. suffered severe nasal trauma and his subsequent treatment caused his nasal cartilage to corrode. Surgeons came up with the idea of growing a nose on his forehead.

After nine months of growth, surgeons say that the the nose is in good shape and the transplant will be performed soon.

.....BBC....

HYUNDAI LAUNCHES MOBILE APP FOR CUSTOMERS.

Passenger carmaker, Hyundai Motor India, has launched an integrated service mobile application 'Hyundai Care' for its customers on Android.

The application can be downloaded from Google Play store, and Hyundai says that it will be arriving soon listed Apple's App Store.

The mobile app will offer customers service support, service network related information, car service calculator and service appointment utilities among others.

The app is GPS-enabled and offers a pan-India dealer search on a real time basis. It also offers features like a GPS enabled trip meter (through the phone's accelerometer), reviewing vehicle service history, labour charges, insurance calculator, timely service reminder and other notifications. The app also allows customers to connect with Hyundai emergency service or road side assistance.

The Hyundai Care app stays connected to the Internet and owners of Hyundai cars need to register their vehicles by entering the car's VIN to benefit from the app's service assistance features.

Commenting on the launch of the Hyundai Care, Rakesh Srivastava, Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing, Hyundai Motor India said, "We have developed Hyundai Care service mobile app to provide features that give real- time benefits to the customer. We feel the Hyundai Care application will allow them to experience Hyundai services in a digitise and exciting new platform. This is another step in leveraging the potential of mobile technology to offer convenience and value to our customers."

The Hyundai Care app also allows users to give feedback related to Hyundai dealers and the availed services. Users can integrate their calendar with the app and get reminders about various activities, share updates on Hyundai India Facebook and Twitter and receive promotional offers from the company.

.....ndtv.....

UBA'S GMD , NAMED THE CEO OF THE YEAR IN NEW YORK

The Group Managing Director of the United Bank for Africa Plc. Mr. Phillips Oduoza, has been named the Socially Responsible Investment 30 CEO of the Year by African Investor, one of the leading investment and specialist communication firms advising governments and businesses on investments in Africa.

 According to a statement by the company on Thursday, Oduoza received the award at the Africa investor CEO Institutional Investment Summit, held at the New York Stock Exchange.

The SRI Index series were instituted in 2008 at the United Nations, as a concrete step to engage investors and businesses in support of the UN Millennium Development Goals in Africa .

The UBA CEO was chosen in recognition of his exceptional achievements over the last year which is seen as an “inspiration for business and government leaders working to raise Africa ’s investment profile” the award organisers said in a statement.

The judging panel considered excellent leadership skills, enhanced organisational image, innovation and originality as well as alignment with the millennium development goals in choosing the Socially Responsible Investment 30 CEO of the year.

Since becoming Managing Director, Oduoza has been spearheading a number of growth initiatives including, the recently launched Project Alpha; UBA’s three-year road map of key transformation initiatives, designed to consolidate the group’s strategic positioning, and fully exploit the burgeoning opportunities from Africa’s economic renaissance, and the group’s unique platform.