Boko Haram Terrorists Kill Newlywed Nigerian Soldier

A newlywed Nigerian soldier, Abdullahi Bhuwa Usman, has been killed by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.

SaharaReporters gathered that Usman was among soldiers killed when the insurgents engaged the Nigerian military in a four-hour battle to take control of Dikwa.

The attack happened a few hours after Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai handed over to Major General Ibrahim Attahiru as the Chief of Army Staff.

The gunbattle started at around 6:00 pm and lasted till about 10:00 pm. It claimed many casualties, including Usman.

"I received the news of Usman's death with deep shock. He just got married on December 27, 2020. I attended the wedding here in Lagos.

"Though he wasn't in attendance physically because he was on duty, his family members and friends were all here and left with the wife to Borno State that same day.

"I still spoke with him last week and told him to take care of his wife; it's just so sad. He was so jovial and caring," a family member of the deceased told SaharaReporters.

In the past months, the insurgents have targeted soldiers, who mostly lay ambush on their path.

The Boko Haram insurgency has caused over 40,000 deaths and displaced millions of individuals mainly in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.

The terror group wants an Islamic caliphate in northern Nigeria.

On January 22, 2021, the group ambushed and fired machine guns at a Nigerian army patrol in Borno State, killing seven soldiers and injuring others. Also, an ATV and ammunition were captured by the gunmen.

The attack occurred barely five days after the gunmen activated seven IEDs against a Nigerian army convoy of Armoured Personnel Carriers and other vehicles, escorted by a foot patrol in Gorgi in Borno State.

According to military sources, over 30 soldiers were killed during the ambush.

The gunmen also destroyed three vehicles and an armoured vehicle.

“Today I say a happy Birthday to my First Son Adeolu Adeboye, I pray that God will continue to take you from strength to strength and from Glory to Glory in Jesus name,” said Adeboye.

“Dear Deolu, I have watched you grow up into that man that God himself is pleased with. I pray that you will continue to be relevant in the affairs of God in Jesus name. Happy Birthday, Son,” she wrote also on social media.

“Happy Birthday my love. Today is just to hail you like the Warri Babe that you are now…Abeg make una clear road for my CREAMY, My OYOYO, My OMOTEKORO, My ORAGINAL, My SHENKES, My heart still de cut 2 times if I hear your name abeg, you tumuku.”

Then he asked her: “Ehen teh me again wetin you say you want for your birthday?”

A friend who works in a PR company got sacked yesterday Saturday. What happened surprised me.

Apparently, he was talking to his boss over the phone while standing beside his mum at home. His boss on hearing the voice of his mum over the phone asked to greet her...

So before he passed the phone to his mum, he told his boss “Ma, my mum is an illiterate, please speak Yoruba to her instead of English”

His boss became angry over the phone like “how dare you call your mum an illiterate” “is that how you tarnish the images of our clients too”...

“You are meant to polish who she’s and not call her an illiterate” bla bla bla”... Next thing, she cut the call and immediately fired him via an email.

I don’t know how this works but mo wa surprised.

Security operatives attached to the University of Calabar have arrested two suspected thieves who stole electrical appliances including pressing irons and lamp holders at the students hostel, Igbere TV reports.

The suspects were arrested on Friday, during a stop-and-search of all vehicles entering the campus and those going out.

The stop-and-search was part of the measure put in place by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, to safeguard students and staff on campus including the critical infrastructure.

It was gathered that the two men were among workers hired for the ongoing renovation work in the hostel.

The duo confessed that they stole the items from the hostel after close of work. They have been handed over to the police for further interrogation and prosecution.

“Concerning the ongoing situation in the world, I have received thousands of emails on the COVID-19 vaccine. No doubt, there are many conspiracy theories surrounding this vaccine,” he said.

“However, my belief is that our governments are only trying to look for a way out of this very challenging situation, although there may be bad faith in certain quarters.

“Many people have complained of some negative reactions but this is always the case with vaccines of this nature. I remember I used to have such reactions whenever I took chloroquine. That does not mean chloroquine is bad. It works positively for many.

“At this time, our governments need our support and our cooperation – because the world is in a dilemma. God bless you. Emmanuel!”

“The said vehicles, 200 of them were donated to security agencies in the state to boost their morale in tackling insurgency,” he said.

“These vehicles were duly distributed to all security agencies in the state under the supervision of the Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police.

“The beneficiaries included the military, the police, the customs and excise, the immigration services, the NDLEA, the NSCDC, the FRSC, among others.”

“As Americans look forward to the exit of Trump, Nigerians too cannot wait to see the exit of Buhari. The two can’t be forgotten in a jiffy. Buhari will be remembered like Trump because it is obvious that he is the low budget Trump when damages done to their countries are compared.

“Everything that matters has been destroyed under the watch of Buhari. All the values that we share as a country – economy, security, human rights, rule of law, credible elections and unity of the country have been destroyed,” he said.

The General Hospital, Ijede, has refuted the rumour being circulated on social media that the facility has been shut down because its staff have been infected with COVID-19, Igbere TV reports.

A statement issued on Friday by the hospital’s medical director/CEO Dr Olufunmilayo Bankole noted that the facility has not been shut down and that all medical staff have been operating 24-hour service even before the beginning of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in the state.

She implored the general public, especially residents of Ijede community to disregard the misinformation contained in the viral post, describing it as malicious and deceitful with the sole intent to damage the reputation and integrity of the highly revered facility and its hard-working staff.

Bankole also appealed to all its clients to continue to patronise the hospital for all medical care, stressing that they must, however comply with all COVID-19 safety protocols as directed by the state and federal governments as well as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

“A Khadi just told me about one of the absurdities he has witnessed in his courtroom. A man came to him seeking the court to order his wife be ejected out of the house she built with her sweat. His reason? She doesn’t want to live with a co-wife in her own house.

“She even agreed to rent a flat for him, but the man wouldn’t have it, it was either she agrees to live with a co-wife or get divorced. When she refused, he came to the court.

"Get this, the man in question is jobless, everything he owns from the car he drives to the clothes he wears were bought by his wife.

"I know the question you’d be asking yourself now is how he wants to finance marrying another wife.

“His wife came to him last week telling him about the bonus she received from office, whether they’d save it or invest. It was then he got the glorious idea of marrying another wife.

"The woman actually agreed to finance the wedding but on the condition that he stays in another house with his new bride. It was the disagreement they had that led to him divorcing her and trying to eject Her from her own house.”

"He locked him up for a couple of days untill he withdrew the case and apologized to the wife. They are still together.”

“OMG ���� this is what this boy @iamtrinityguy turn me too Well I love it,” she wrote.

“With tears in my eyes and with gratitude. With my full chest of pride I pledge my loyalty to this office that I have been given.

“I was fine with my matron role but someone found me worthy and sent this,” she wrote.

“What was I looking at?”

“Consultations on the state of the nation…visited and met today in Minna with former heads of state H.E. Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, GCFR and H. E. Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) GCFR. Profound discussions on the path forward for national stability and progress,” he tweeted.

“Incidentally, although I am ‘only’ an Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and not a Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) Gen. Abdulsalami and I share the honor of holding Nnewi traditional titles. He’s passionate about Nnewi’s industrialization strides and potential,” he added.

“I wish to appeal to EFCC & security agencies to stop rushing to parade pictures of young Nigerians on social media pages when their cases have not been prosecuted and they’re not convicted,” he said on Tuesday.

“This habit may permanently damage some of these guys permanently if later found innocent.”

“Our dear @officialefcc please, it is not every young Nigerian carrying laptop that is a Yahoo Yahoo fraudster… There is no way of repairing the damage of rushing to post pictures of innocent ones amongst the accused. I will appeal immediately to the NBA to intervene speedily,” he said.

“Many youths in most countries today make a living from IT and we should encourage ours,” he said.

“You do not need anyone liking your choice of sexuality. All you need is being given the right to practise your sexuality.

“Homosexuality was freely practiced in Nigeria for hundreds of years and I witnessed same sex marriages in the 80s. So calm down, it is not a new discovery,” she tweeted.

“The most irritating part is that many amongst the LGBTQ community in Nigeria also do not know that before the coming of the colonialists it was entrenched here even while it was illegal over there,” she said.

“He (Buhari) ‘failed’ because he won’t dish out cash for photos that can easily be obtained on Instagram and other picture apps. Because #BabaNoDeyDrop, your ego-massaging, ostentatious and filthy-wealth-flaunting customers, can no longer afford you. Try Diversification!”

“Lauretta’s grouse is that I said I considered Buhari’s government a failure. Have I said anything new? From Arewa, to Igbo, to Yoruba groups, everyone has expressed same sentiments & what I would have expected was a simple list of Buhari’s achievements but she attacked my person.

“She went their usual route of cheap blackmail that ‘Buhari has failed because he’s not paying…’ us cash. Lauretta picked on a wrong customer once again. When a child buys a pair of shoes for his one-legged Dad, he should be ready to hear some true tales. I’m not a govt jobber!!”

One of the wives of the Oba of Benin, Queen Ewuare, has placed a curse on online Scammer, Igbere TV reports.

Queen Ewuare placed the curse after sharing a chat she had with the fraudster who scammed someone she knows.

Apparently, someone she knows ordered an item from an 'Instagram seller' but the person never got the item.

The monarch's wife was disappointed with the response she got after the contacted the seller and went on to place a curse on the person.

See their exchange below;

An 18-year-old young man Rayhan Ali has been charged with the murder of Nigerian rapper Abiola Akerele aka Nayta The King in London.

The rapper was fatally stabbed during a fight at about 3.20pm (GMT) in Stondon Walk, East Ham on December 29, London Metropolitan Police said on its website.

The police said a special post-mortem examination established the cause of the 28-year-old’s death to be a stab wound to the heart.

Mr Ali was arrested around 11pm (GMT) on the same day at an address in Newham on suspicion of murder and charged with murder on Friday, Igbere TV reports.

He was due to appear in custody at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, police said.

Detective Joanna Yorke from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command (Homicide) said, “Our investigation is continuing at pace and we are working tirelessly to give Abiola’s family the answers they deserve. This murder took place in daylight, in a residential area, at a time when we know many people were in their homes. I believe that there would be people in the local community who either saw, heard or know something about this incident. I urge those people to get in touch.”

The late rapper was a member of East London-based music group, The Mucky Wolfpack, and appeared on national radio and BBC 1Xtra show, Evening Standard reports.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) on Friday opened applications on its TEFConnect digital platform (www.tefconnect.com).

This year’s intervention prioritises the economic recovery of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) and young African entrepreneurs, following the Covid-19 disruption to economic activities.

To address the unique challenges arising from the pandemic, lift millions out of poverty and create sustainable employment across the continent, the foundation’s entrepreneurship programme will empower 1,000 young African entrepreneurs, selected from the 2020 cohort. The foundation will also open applications to an additional 2,400 young entrepreneurs in 2021 in collaboration with global partners.

Successful TEF applicants receive world-class business training, mentorship, non-refundable seed capital up to $5,000, and global networking opportunities. The programme is open to entrepreneurs across Africa, both new start-ups and existing young businesses, operating in any sector.

CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu stated: “The Tony Elumelu Foundation now more than ever is demonstrating our commitment to unleashing the potential of young African entrepreneurs, the key to Africa’s long-term economic transformation.

“The pandemic has created challenges across the continent, but we know that with the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s tried and tested Programme, we can execute the largest Covid-19 economic recovery plan for African SMEs and break the cycle of poverty in Africa.”

The programme, which launched in 2015 to empower 10,000 entrepreneurs over 10 years, is now entering its seventh year and has empowered to date over 9,000 young African entrepreneurs from 54 African countries.

“All praises and adoration to God Almighty. With every sense of humility,I request you all thank God on my behalf for adding another year today,” he wrote.

“Happy birthday to my best friend, my perfect match, the king of my heart� @femiadebayosalami Thank you for being so easy to love.

“Thank you for all you do for me and for the kids. I absolutely adore you Adeori mi. May this new year be the best thus far. Baby, Know that I’m cling to you forever In Sha Allah.”

“About those saying the place is too small. Good question. Well, it is a small health center in a small village that was rehabilitated. The place gets like five patients a day. I am not sure there is any sense expanding it. I don’t even have the powers to have it expanded,” he wrote on Thursday.

He added: “Some are asking why was the contract given to an Abuja contractor. The answer is I had no say. That question has to go to National Health Care Development Agency. I do not award contracts. Lawmakers do not award contracts. I have never met this contractor. I don’t plan to.”

“In the original post, it wasn’t like I boasted that this was massive or an ‘ultra modern’ or a world class facility. I helped connect the village and the agency, worked hard to make sure it happened. The entire details are in the pictures. No bragging. I don’t understand the vex,” wrote the legislator.

“One week after the governor tested positive to the virus, he is now free of the disease after his latest test result came out negative.

“The governor’s negative status was communicated to him on Wednesday night.

“Lalong, who has been in isolation since Dec. 17 appreciated God for the speedy recovery and thanked the people of the state, his friends and associates all over the country for praying for him,” the statement said.

The spokesman quoted the governor as advising residents to observe safety protocols put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“Having contracted the virus and undergone treatment myself, I wish to reiterate that COVID-19 is not a death sentence as early detection helps to address it and reduce chances of death.

“We should not stigmatise against anyone who tests positive or is suspected of having the disease.

“Rather, such people should serve as motivation for others to voluntarily test in order to improve the safety of all,” Lalong said.

“+1 today and Thankful to God for everything!!! Mood is the 2nd slide � my bone straight na die,” she wrote.

The Federal Government has declared December 25 and 28, 2020 and January 1, 2021 as public holidays to mark the Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year celebrations respectively, Igbere TV reports.

Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement on Wednesday by the ministry’s permanent secretary Shuaib Belgore, felicitated with Christians and all Nigerians both at home and abroad on this year’s Christmas and New Year Celebrations.

Aregbesola urged Christians to adopt the creed of Christ on faith, hope and love.

“We must emulate the life of humility, service, compassion, patience, peace and righteousness that the birth and Ministry of Jesus Christ signified, that will be the best way to know Christ and celebrate his birth,” he said.

He noted that peace and security are critical factors needed to enable Government accomplish its mission of revitalizing the economy, improving Foreign Direct Investment as well as generating employment opportunities for over 100 million Nigerian youths in the next 10 years.

Aregbesola advised Nigerians and Christians in particular, to adhere strictly to the Covid-19 protocols and guidelines, as stipulated by relevant authorities, during and after the yuletide, especially with the second wave of the outbreak of the disease.

He wished all Nigerians and Christians in particular, happy Christmas and New Year celebrations.

“Put on 10kg and I’m STILL a SNACK,” she wrote.

Former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Taraba State Kabiru Dodo has denied reports that wife of the president Aisha Buhari has fled the country because of rising insecurity, Igbere TV reports.

A report by SaharaReporters had said the first lady has been in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, since September after the wedding of her daughter, Hanan, and has therefore not been involved in any government activity.

According to the popular tabloid, Mrs Buhari reportedly hinged her decision to relocation on the insecurity in Aso Rock.

However debunking the report, Mr Dodo, who is an aide to the first lady, said Mrs Buhari travelled out of Nigeria for medical check-up.

He stated this in Jalingo during a presentation of toiletries to widows on behalf of Mrs Buhari’s Future Assured Foundation.

He said the first lady left the country before over 300 students were kidnapped in Katsina State.

“The First Lady travelled for her medical trip, she did not flee the country because of insecurity.

“She left her children, her husband and family in Nigeria.

“What people are saying is baseless and worth nothing to be considered.

“I want to tell the whole world that I do speak to her on daily basis and she is ready to return to the country as soon as she is done with the medical treatment abroad,” Dodo said.

The former member of the Taraba State House of Assembly added that the first lady did not leave Nigeria because of insecurity even when her husband was not the president.

“I really wanted to be right by your side physically this period. So you know you’re not just in my thoughts but my heart always.

“I love you, miss you and the kids and can’t wait to join you all soon,” he wrote.

“Monday morning surprise visit. @governorObaseki,” he wrote.

“Uganda…Pls we need our people home and safe #freetems #freeomahlay,” he wrote.

“what is going on? @PoliceUg why are Omah Lay and Tems being mistreated?! #FreeOmahLay #FreeTems everyone please let’s create more awareness on this, it’s no longer funny!” Fireboy wrote.

“#FreeTems #FreeOmahLay WHY THE Bleep ARE THEY BEING DETAINED!!!! NA BOOK DEM BOOK THEM!!”

“They are not the organizers!!!! They shouldn’t be held responsible.”

“WTF is happening in Uganda. Man facepalmingMan facepalmingMan facepalmingMan facepalming #FreeOmahLay #FreeTems,” Laycon wrote.

“Wasn’t there prior publicity about the show? why wasn’t it shut down before it was held? why are you arresting some particular artists that performed? Who organised the show? #FreeOmahLay #FreeTems.”

“I am pleased to be here to hand over a new daycare center called “Jackie’s Corner” for children suffering from sickle cell disease. Sometime last year my friend Jo-Anne Badu lost her life to sickle cell anemia.

“I hope this new ward gives them hope to keep living and keep fighting. I am honored to be here. I am privileged that I can smile and make others smile too. It is my pleasure to hand over ‘Jackie’s corner’ to the management of the Korle Bu Teaching hospital,” she wrote.

“It’s just 24hrs before my long awaiting single FOLLOW MY LEAD Drops! Let me get this off my chest before some people start their usual preaching.

“We r not the first group to split or make such decisions! Plantashun Boiz, StylePlus, Mohits and Remedies so enough of the time wasting!” he wrote.

“I’ve been attacked and shamed because of my Zoom Lottery platform with some people going as far as saying I’ve become Baba Ijebu; for all those who have used this line.

“I hope you are aware that that organisation employs hundreds of people, puts money on the table for some and as at 5 years ago,” he wrote.

He added that he will be releasing the first single off his Prodigal album on December 11.

“Team P our first single from the shelves of the PRODIGAL Album “FOLLOW MY LEAD is out tomorrow! Let get our dancing shoes it’s December already!” he wrote.