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Politics / Re: 4 Ex-Governors, 21 Other Senators Sponsor no Bill In 10 Months by Celestialsword: 9:15am On Apr 16
eilas:
Many doesn't even one hy they're there
many of them are incompetent, they bought their way there,to further enrich themselves

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Politics / 4 Ex-Governors, 21 Other Senators Sponsor no Bill In 10 Months by Celestialsword: 8:58am On Apr 16
Four of the 13 former governors in the Senate and 21 other senators have not sponsored any bill since June 13, 2023 when the 10th National Assembly was inaugurated, Daily Trust’s findings have shown.

The ex-governors in the Senate are Senate President Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Abubakar Bello (Niger), Orji Kalu (Abia), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun) and Simon Lalong (Plateau).

A document obtained by Daily Trust from the National Assembly showed that from June 13, 2023 to March 14, 2024, twenty five senators, including four former governors, have not sponsored any bill.

The former governors on this list are Senators Seriake Dickson (PDP-Bayelsa West), Adams Oshiomhole (APC-Edo North), Abdulaziz Yari (APC -Zamfara West) and Simon Lalong (APC – Plateau South).

Other senators, who are also yet to sponsor any bill within the period under review are Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), Titus Tartenger Zam (Benue North West), Anthony Ani (Ebonyi South), Imasuen Neda Bernards (Edo South), Oluwole Fasuyi Cyril (Ekiti North), Okechukwu Ezea (Enugu North), Chukwu Chizoba (Enugu East), Kaila Samaila Dahuwa (Bauchi North), Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central), Khabeeb Mustapha (Jigawa South West), Rufai Hanga (Kano Central), Abdulaziz Yar’adua (Katsina Central), Mohammed Dandutse Muntari (Katsina South), Peter Jiya (Niger South), Adegbonmire Adeniyi Ayodele (Ondo Central), Oyewumi Kamorudeen Olalere (Osun West), Pam Dachungyang (Plateau North), Onyesoh Allwell Heacho (Rivers East), Ibrahim Lamido (Sokoto East), Manu Haruna (Taraba Central) and Musa Mustapha (Yobe East).

However, Ani, Dachungyang and Mustapha were inaugurated into the Senate at later dates.

My bill ready soon – Oshiomhole

Contacted for comments, Senator Oshiomhole told Daily Trust that he was working on a bill and would soon present it to the floor of the Senate. His media aide, Victor Oshioke, told Daily Trust that his principal had sponsored a motion on the Benin-Auchi Road. “So, he is sponsoring his own bill very soon too,” he said

Senator Lalong’s media aide, Simon Makut, in a text message to Daily Trust, said: “The distinguished senator will sponsor bills.”

Senators Dickson and Yari did not respond to requests for comment. Dickson neither answered phone calls nor responded to SMS and WhatsApp messages sent to him for comment since Friday and subsequent reminders were also ignored.

Senator Yari also did not answer phone calls nor replied to an SMS sent with follow-ups since Saturday.

9 ex-govs sponsor 21 bills

Findings by Daily Trust also showed that while none of those four senators has sponsored any bill yet; nine others have at least a bill each to their credit.

Daily Trust reports that between June 2023 and March 14, 2024, a total of 279 bills had been sponsored in the Senate.

Of all the former governors in the Senate, Senator Orji Kalu (APC-Abia North) has five bills to his name: the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023; the Armed Forces Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Agency Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Senator Gbenga Daniel (APC-Ogun East) has sponsored four bills: the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the Federal College of Aviation Technology (Establishment) Bill, 2023; the Terminal Illness Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2023 and the Media Practitioners Registration Council of Nigeria (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former governor of Akwa Ibom State has sponsored the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2023 and the National Institute for Electoral Studies (Establishment) Bill, 2023.

Senator Danjuma Goje (APC-Gombe Central), former governor of Gombe State, has so far sponsored two bills in this Assembly: the Federal University of Horticulture Dadin-Kowa, Gombe State (Establishment) Bill and the Federal Medical Centre Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

Another former governor of Gombe State, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo (PDP- Gombe North), has sponsored the Federal University of Education (Technical), Gombe (Establishment) Bill, 2023 and the Federal College of Forestry, Wawa Zange, Dukku, Gombe State (Establishment) Bill, 2023.

The immediate past governor of Niger State, Senator Abubakar Bello (APC- Niger North), has also sponsored two bills: the Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Wushishi, Niger State (Establishment) Bill, 2023 and the Agriculture Research Council of Nigeria Act (Enactment) Bill, 2023.

A former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Wammako (APC-Sokoto North), has also sponsored two bills: the National War College Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Pension Reform Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

The immediate past governor of Sokoto and former speaker of the House of Representatives, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (PDP-Sokoko South), is the sponsor of the Federal Housing Authority Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

A former governor of Kebbi State, Senator Adamu Aliero (PDP-Kebbi Central) has sponsored the Federal University, Birnin Kebbi (Establishment) Bill, 2023.

In the Senate as a whole, the Senate Majority Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) who sponsored 23 bills has had the highest number of sponsored bills with the Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin (APC, Kano North) closely following behind with 15 bills.

They should wake up – Analysts

Political analysts, who spoke to Daily Trust, advised the former governors yet to sponsor bills to wake up.

Aminu Yakudima, said having former governors in the National Assembly is expected to deepen aggregate governance quality in the country.

“But, it will be bad if the former governors are there without performing. So, such former governors should be advised to improve their effectiveness and efficiency so that the country will move forward.

“What we are looking for now is patriotism and nationalism. We have high expectations of them. So, they should be advised to wake up from their slumber and improve,” he urged.

Another political analyst, Jackson Lekan Ojo, also said the former governors in the Senate must step up and deliver on their mandates to remain relevant or face more criticisms from Nigerians.

“While it is obvious that they retired from the office of governor to the Senate to keep their political career alive and remain relevant in the scheme of things, they should also contribute to the growth of their zones and Nigeria through impactful legislation,” he stated.

https://dailytrust.com/4-ex-govs-21-other-senators-sponsor-no-bill-in-10-months/#:~:text=20%3A54%20WAT-,Four%20of%20the%2013%20former%20governors%20in%20the%20Senate%20and,Daily%20Trust's%20findings%20have%20shown.

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Politics / Vandalism Worsen Grid Collapse As Gas Shortage Slashes Power Supply by Celestialsword: 6:24am On Apr 16

Nigeria witnessed its sixth power grid collapse of 2024 on Monday, as electricity generation on the system collapsed from 2,583.77 megawatts at 2 am to 64.7MW around 3am before the grid was restored later in the day.

Although the Transmission Company of Nigeria attributed the cause of Monday’s grid collapse to a fire incident, it had consistently blamed gas shortage for power generation and the vandalism of power infrastructure for the recurrent cases of grid collapse in Nigeria.

Nigeria generates an average of 4,000MW of electricity for an estimated 200 million citizens across the country.

But this is hardly sustainable, as the grid continues to record incessant collapse due to gas supply constraints, transmission infrastructure vandalism, and liquidity crisis, among others.


Data from the Independent System Operator, an arm of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, showed that only one electricity generation company, Ibom Power, was active at the time of the grid collapse on Monday morning.

Power generation on the grid crashed further to 44.5MW around 4 am, before rising to 132.29MW an hour later.

The grid collapse was confirmed by Jos Electricity Distribution Company. The Head, Corporate Affairs, JEDC, Dr Friday Elijah, in a notice to customers, said, “The current outage being experienced within our franchise states is a result of loss of power supply from the national grid.

“The loss of power supply from the national grid occurred in the early hours at about 0242 hours of today, Monday, April 15, 2024, hence the loss of power supply on all our feeders.”

Elijah, however, expressed hope that the grid would be restored for normal power supply to electricity consumers.

Also on Monday, economic activities in the South-East were grounded as the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc announced a total system collapse in its network.

EEDC’s Head, Corporate Communications, Emeka Ezeh, who announced this in a statement titled: “Notice Of Total System Collapse,” said the system collapse occurred at 2:41 am on April 15, 2024.

Ezeh, however, appealed to the company’s customers in the five states of the South-East for understanding, while waiting for the Transmission Company of Nigeria to restore power supply.


“The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc wishes to inform her esteemed customers of a total system collapse which occurred at 2:41 am today, April 15, 2024,” Ezeh said in the statement.

“This resulted in the loss of supply to all our interface TCN stations. Consequently, we were unable to provide service to our customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states.

“However, the situation is gradually being resolved as we received the supply at Awada TCN station, Onitsha, at 7:30 am.

“We are in constant communication with the relevant authorities awaiting the full restoration of supply by the National Control Centre, Oshogbo. Thank you for your usual understanding and cooperation,”
the statement noted.

On February 5, 2024, The PUNCH reported that power generation on the national grid crashed to 59.9MW around noon on February 4, 2024, as the country’s grid witnessed a nationwide collapse.

The report stated that data obtained from the Federal Ministry of Power showed that electricity generation on the grid plunged from 2,658.75MW at 11 am to 59.9MW by noon on February 4, 2024, as power distributors lost supply from the grid.

This led to widespread blackouts across the country, as power distribution companies blamed it on the collapse of the grid managed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, an agency of the Federal Government.

TCN reacts

Reacting to the development, the TCN announced the full restoration of the national grid later in the day, stating that the system collapse was due to a fire incident at the Afam power generating station.

TCN, in a statement issued in Abuja by its spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, said the fire incident caused a partial disturbance of the nation’s grid.

“At 02:41 hours today, April 15, 2024, a fire erupted at the Afam V 330kV busbar coupler, leading to the tripping of units at Afam III and Afam VI. This resulted in a sudden generation loss of 25MW and 305MW, destabilising the grid and causing a partial collapse.


“During the incident, the Ibom Power plant was isolated from the grid and was supplying parts of the Port Harcourt region. This further minimised the effect of the system disturbance. TCN confirms that the affected section of the grid has been fully restored and stabilised.

“TCN reaffirms its commitment to enhancing the resilience and reliability of the national grid and pledges to continue investing in measures aimed at strengthening the grid infrastructure,”
Mbah stated.

Grid collapse incidents

The collapse of Nigeria’s power grid is now a recurrent phenomenon, as the system has remained unstable, leading to incessant cases of grid collapse.

On March 29, 2024, The PUNCH reported that power generation on the national grid crashed from 2,984MW around 4 pm on March 28, 2024, to 0MW at 5 pm the same day, according to figures on the country’s grid performance released by TCN.

As a result of the collapse of the national grid at the time, the entire country was thrown into a blackout, leaving millions of homes and businesses without power.

The report stated that power generation on the grid could not be restored, as only 76.7MW and 95MW were on the system around 6 pm and 7 pm on the day of the incident.

This moved up marginally to 283MW around 8 pm, but millions of Nigerians were still in darkness at the time, as the country’s average power generation and supply for over 200 million people in Nigeria is around 4,000MW.


The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company had in a notice to its customers during the March incident stated that, “please be informed that the current power outage is due to a system failure from the national grid.

“The system collapsed at about 16:28 hours today, March 28 2024, causing the outage currently experienced across our franchise area. We appeal for your understanding as all stakeholders are working hard to restore normal supply.”

Providing reasons for this particular grid collapse, Mbah had said, “According to a report from the National Control Centre (NCC) in Osogbo, the system disturbance was triggered by a significant reduction in generation capacity, primarily due to gas constraints.”


Also, on February 4, 2024, The PUNCH reported that power generation on the national grid crashed to 0MW around 1 pm that day as the country’s grid witnessed a collapse.

The report stated that data obtained from the power ministry showed that electricity generation on the grid dropped from 2,407MW around 11.53 am to 31MW by noon on that Sunday, before collapsing to 0MW an hour later.


Again this led to widespread blackouts across the country, as power distribution companies blamed it on the collapse of the grid managed by TCN.

Recurrent vandalism

On February 28, 2024, TCN announced that vandals destroyed Tower 70 along its 330kV Gwagwalade-Katampe Transmission line in Abuja, making it the third transmission tower to be vandalised by vandals within five days, as blackout worsened across the country.

Mbah had said in a statement issued in Abuja that “TCN states that Tower 70 along its 330kV Gwagwalade -Katampe Transmission line has been vandalised with the tower standing precariously on the ground.

“The sad incident occurred on February 26, 2024, at about 11.32 pm. At the said time, the Gwagwalada – Katampe Transmission line tripped at Gwagwalada Transmission Substation and trial reclosure by TCN operators failed, necessitating a physical patrol of the line.

“The TCN lines and patrol team discovered that the four tower footings of Tower 70 were vandalised, destroying the tower legs and causing the tower to stand on the ground, supported by conductors. The incident has reduced bulk power supply flexibility and the volume of power into Abuja by 250 megawatts.”

Meanwhile, TCN stated at the time that it mobilised engineers to the site of the incident and carried out emergency repairs of the damaged tower and its associated equipment.

“We reiterate the need for vigilance in the fight against vandalism of power equipment. It is important that we report suspicious movements around all power equipment to security operatives or the nearest TCN offices nationwide,” it stated.

Earlier, TCN reported that power generation on the national grid dropped by five megawatts following the vandalism of two electricity transmission towers along the Gombe – Damaturu 330kV transmission line.

Although the company said its engineers had been deployed to fix the towers, it condemned the act, describing it as a recurrent sabotage perpetuated on the country’s power transmission towers.

https://punchng.com/vandalism-worsens-grid-collapse-as-gas-shortage-slashes-power-supply/?amp

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Politics / Re: Olumide Akpata Picks Yusuf Kadiri As His Substantive Running Mate. by Celestialsword: 11:16am On Apr 15
So it's now Yoruba Muslim that want to govern Edo state
Travel / At Least 19 Die In Tragic Road Crash In Oyo by Celestialsword: 9:02am On Apr 15
At least nineteen persons reportedly died in a recent collision between two vehicles on the Oyo-Ogbomoso Road in Oyo State.
The Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the accident in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday.

The FRSC disclosed that the vehicles involved were a Toyota Hiace Bus with registration number NTT52ZY, travelling from Ibadan to Sokoto, and a Toyota Corolla saloon car.

Naija News understands that the crash, which reportedly happened around 07:45 a.m., was caused by a route violation commonly known as ‘One Way’.

The Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO) and Assistant Corps Marshal (ACM), Jonas Agwu, confirmed this information in a statement released in Abuja.

According to him, the collision, caused by a traffic violation, led to a head-on crash between the two vehicles and, subsequently, a fire outbreak.

The report indicated that the accident involved a total of 20 male adults.

“Of this number, 19 persons were killed, while the only surviving victim was rescued by FRSC operatives with injuries.

“FRSC rescue team that conducted the rescue operations have taken the injured victim to Opabode hospital in Oyo, for emergency medical attention.

“The dead bodies have been deposited at Oyo General Hospital morgue,” the FRSC statement noted.

Agwu reported that the Corps Marshal, Dauda Ali Biu, urged the general public to refrain from any actions that may result in road accidents.

Additionally, he instructed sector commanders to intensify their patrol activities to tackle the issue of route violations on the country’s highways.



Copyright © 2021 Naija News.
Politics / Re: Repentant Boko Haram Member Enlisted In Army Slits Woman's Throat In Enugu by Celestialsword: 4:56am On Apr 15
Boko Haram army
Nigeria armed forces has been compromised,the country and it's citizens are no longer safe

This is one of the disadvantage of a Muslim Muslim president and vice
Politics / Nigerian Army Reacts To Repentant Boko Haram Slitting Woman's Throat by Celestialsword: 3:46am On Apr 15
Nigerian army reacts to repentant Boko Haram slitting woman'
The Nigerian army has reacted to the report of a repentant Boko Haram terrorist who got enlisted into the army slitting a woman's throat in the Enugu army barrack and hiding the body of the woman.

In a post on its X account, the Nigerian army debunked the report while admitting that truly a woman was killed but not in the hands of a repentant Boko Haram terrorist.

Allnews.ng had reported that according to SaharaReporters, a repentant Boko Haram terrorist who got enlisted into the Nigerian army, killed a woman who happened to be his lover by cutting her throat.

It was also reported that the said repentant Boko Haram terrorist hid the body of the woman, however, the body was later discovered in a farm within the barracks.

Debunking the report on X, the Nigerian army wrote, "The attention of the Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to a publication by Sahara Reporters on 13 April 2024 titled, "Repented Boko Haram Member Enlisted into Nigerian Army slits Woman's throat in Enugu Barracks, Hides Corpse."


"Much as it is highly regrettable that a young lady lost her life in the hands of a man with whom she was in an amorous relationship, the incident should not be latched on to insinuate a laughable claim that the dastardly act was committed by a repentant Boko Haram recruited into the Nigerian Army.

"It is pertinent therefore to clear the air on the allegation as insinuated by Sahara Reporters. The NA has at no point in time, either in the past or present enlisted repentant Boko Haram members to its strength.


"However, considerations were given to the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) who in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the North East distinguished themselves morally and patriotically.

"Such members of the CJTF must have also shown commitment, dedication and loyalty to the service and the nation.

"The sad incident of the gruesome murder of Miss Hauwakulu Tabra by Private Adamu Muhammad occurred on the night of Thursday 11 April 2024 and her corpse was discovered within the barracks on Friday 12 April 2024.

"Preliminary investigations revealed that the late Hauwakulu Tabra was actually murdered by the said soldier, who is presently in detention for further investigation to unravel the motive behind his actions.

"The Nigerian Army extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased Miss Hauwakulu Tabra and also emphatically asserts that at no time has the NA enlisted repentant Boko Haram members into its fold as mischievously insinuated.

*The general public should be rest assured that justice will be served, as the NA will not condone any unprofessional conduct or indiscipline within its ranks."


© 2024 AllNews Media Limited - All Rights Reserved.
Family / Jnr.pope:gov Eno Visits,consoles Family Of Late Nollywood Makeup Artist by Celestialsword: 3:18am On Apr 15
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Nollywood makeup artist, Abigail Edith Frederick, in Ikot Udoma, Eket Local Government Area of the state.


According to a statement by Ekerete Udoh, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Pastor Eno, on arrival from an official engagement in Abuja, went straight to the deceased family’s compound to console them.

The statement noted that the governor thereafter gave automatic employment in the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service to the surviving elder sister of the deceased, and directed the SSA on Humanitarian Services, Umo Ekpo, to renovate the family house and bring it to modern standards.


The governor also gave assurance of government’s assistance to the two sisters of the deceased, who are undergraduates at the University of Uyo and whose education was being sponsored by the late Nollywood makeup artist.

The governor, in his remark, said: “This is deeply unfortunate for a young girl, 24 years old, who finished her youth service just last year and decided to pursue her passion. This is a reflection of our Arise spirit. It shows that our young people are willing to go out there, not begging, not waiting for handouts, but to pursue their passions.

“It is unfortunate that her life ended the way it did. Once I was fully briefed, I decided to come here personally with the full complement of the government to console and encourage the family. You are not just the governor when people are celebrating; in times and moments like this, you become the mourner-in-chief and give them hope.


“I trust the Holy Spirit will perfect the hope in their lives. Coming here means we care. You know Akwa Ibomites are like Americans. We don’t leave each other behind. Government will be with the family and support them.”

‘Bring her remains for burial’ — Gov Eno’s order on makeup artist who died in River Niger



Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd
Religion / 7 Ways To Please God by Celestialsword: 7:44am On Apr 14
1. Having faith pleases God.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

This passage identifies faith—belief in God and believing He will do what He says He will do—as a prerequisite for pleasing God. It also gives a prime example of this kind of faith: Enoch (verse 5). Enoch lived in the increasingly evil world before the Flood, but he didn’t go the evil way other people were going. Instead, he “walked with God” and “he pleased God” (Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5).

Enoch not only believed in the Creator God, he believed God would come to earth with “ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment” (Jude 1:14-15) and make everything right. Enoch knew that ungodly deeds bring evil results and must be replaced by godly deeds—walking the way God walks—for this world to experience real peace and joy.

When we believe in God and believe what He says, that faith will also please God.

2. Being spiritually minded pleases God.
“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:6-cool.

The Bible contrasts two mind-sets: the normal, human one (the fleshly, carnal mind) and the one led by the Spirit of God (the spiritual mind, verse 9). Thus having the Holy Spirit dwelling in us and leading us is another prerequisite for pleasing God.

In Acts 2:38 the apostle Peter summarized the process God has set for us to follow to receive His Spirit: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Leading up to the passage in Romans 8, the apostle Paul explained his own experience with the two mind-sets. As challenging as he shows the process of change is in Romans 7, he makes clear that Jesus Christ will deliver us (verse 25) and that as a result of the change we become beloved “children of God” (8:16-17). Does this please God? Yes! Jesus said there is “joy in heaven over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:7). God loves to add to His family.

3. The fear of the Lord pleases God.
“The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy” (Psalm 147:11).

It’s not that God delights in having us be terrified of Him. Psalm 147 describes God as the One who “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (verse 3). The passage praises His mercy, His knowledge (He knows the names of all the stars!) and His power to save the humble (verses 4-6). The Bible tells us to fear God, not because it is good for Him, but because it is good for us to accurately recognize that He is more powerful than anything else. Acknowledging this shows our deep respect for Him.

The proper fear and respect of God will motivate us to avoid sin (Exodus 20:20). It reminds us that God will hold us accountable for our actions.

Fearing God allows us to rely on Him and revere Him—which can deepen our love for the All-Powerful God who cares enough to stoop down and deliver a puny little human like me!

For more about what it really means to fear God, see the article “Fear of the Lord: What Does It Mean?”

4. Studying and following Jesus Christ’s example pleases God.
“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:5).

During a vision of the future Kingdom of God known as the transfiguration, God impressed on Peter, James and John the preeminence of Jesus Christ. Jesus truly was the Son of God, and there is no one who has pleased God more! We should all hear Him and follow His example.

Jesus said He always did “those things that please Him” (John 8:29), so we should study the four Gospels to learn how we, too, can please God. See our articles “Gospels” and “How to Study the Bible.”

5. Obeying God pleases Him.
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22).

In this passage, the prophet Samuel expressed God’s displeasure with Israel’s first king Saul. Saul had disobeyed God’s direct command with the excuse that “the people” had wanted to give what should have been destroyed to God instead. But God doesn’t want our physical gifts if we are going to break His laws to give them!

Again, God doesn’t command us to obey just because it is good for Him, but because it is good for us (Deuteronomy 10:13). His laws and commands are beneficial; and as a result of obeying Him, we grow in godly, righteous character—we become more like Him! This is how to please God.

The fact that obeying God is pleasing to Him is expressed in various ways throughout the Bible. God has “pleasure in uprightness,” He will bless those who “keep My Sabbaths, and choose what pleases Me” and who “abstain from sexual immorality” and avoid breaking any of God’s commandments (1 Chronicles 29:17; Isaiah 56:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-3).

6. Doing God’s will pleases God.
“[May God] make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:21).

If we want to learn how to please God, we must seek God’s help to always do His will as well.What is God’s will? God’s desires, His commands and His plans are expressed throughout the Bible. In fact, the Bible was given to us to show us His will and to help us in a sense read His mind. Studying the Bible, meditating on it and praying about it are keys to gaining deeper understanding of His will.

God’s will for us goes beyond just knowing what He wants. It involves doing “every good work”—working at maturing spiritually and becoming more like God (Matthew 5:48).

Jesus Christ set the ultimate example of doing God’s will when He faced the terrible scourging and crucifixion for our sins, yet prayed, “Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). He was willing to give Himself totally to show His love and to do His Father’s will.

If we want to learn how to please God, we must seek God’s help to always do His will as well.

7. Giving the sacrifices He wants pleases God.
“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:15-16).

We saw earlier that God rejected sacrifices that were gained through disobedience. But there are sacrifices that He is “well pleased” with, including giving praise and thanks to Him and sharing with others. These reflect His teaching on love expressed in the two great commandments that summarize the rest of His law:

“‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40).

Pleasing God, not man
It’s a natural human tendency to seek to please other people—those we can see. We can find it harder to focus on pleasing God—the One we cannot see.

Jesus pointed out the problem with seeking to please man while pretending to try to please God. In the Sermon on the Mount He said, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:1). He made similar comments about praying and fasting to gain favor from men (verses 5 and 16).

Instead, we should do these things privately, “and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly” (verse 4).

The apostle Paul uses an interesting term to describe doing things just to be seen by others: eyeservice. “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God” (Colossians 3:22).

Paul himself understood the importance of pleasing God, not man. “But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4).

When we think about it, we realize that God is the ultimate source of all the good things we have received, even those things that come through family, friends and other people.

He has given us all our blessings, and life itself. And He offers us eternal life as His children (1 John 3:1)! He deserves all our honor and worship.

As King David wrote, “Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable [or, beyond our understanding]” (Psalm 145:2-3).

The angels in God’s presence clearly see this. Revelation describes the 24 elders casting their crowns before God’s throne and saying, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created” (Revelation 4:11).

What if we haven’t been pleasing God?
The Bible clearly labels things that displease God and hurt us. The main label it uses is sin. Since we all have sinned (Romans 3:23), we all have displeased God.

Thankfully, God loved us so much He made a way to wash away our past sins and allow us to start afresh. Jesus Christ’s sacrifice made this possible, and the Bible explains the process He wants us to follow. The apostle Peter summarized it in Acts 2:38:

The beautiful thing about repenting of sin is that even this pleases God.“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Conversion is the process of changing from displeasing God to pleasing Him with His help. Study the key scriptures outlining this process in our booklet Change Your Life!

The beautiful thing about repenting of sin is that even this pleases God. As Jesus said, “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10).

The benefits of pleasing God
No matter how much we give God, we can never come close to scratching the surface of what He has done for us—much less what He wants to do for us. In this life He offers awesome benefits, such as this general principle:

“When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7).

Still, in this life Christians will face persecution and tribulation, but as Jesus Christ said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

And in the future, He has an incredible gift in store for His faithful flock:

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).

One of the most exciting descriptions of the utopian Kingdom of God was recorded by King David, a man after God’s own heart. He wrote, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
Crime / Kidnappers Grow Bolder With Huge Ransom Despite Fg's Threats by Celestialsword: 7:17am On Apr 14
With the increasing value of ransom being demanded by kidnappers, “which are often not negotiated and fully paid”, it is very obvious that kidnapping is now a very lucrative enterprise in the country.

From N5miilion demanded by a militant group to release an oil worker in Nigeria’s Delta in 2015, to N10 billion (around $50 million then) demanded by Boko Haram to release some of the 276 captured Chibok girls, and to now N100 million for each victim of the 10 people kidnapped from their homes inside an estate in Abuja recently, kidnapping is truly enterprising as most of the ransom money is being paid even by the government that either keeps mum or denies such.


The intrigue is that the assailants in the Abuja estate incident raised the bar of their demand from the initial N60 million per victim to N100 million, despite the death of three of the victims.

That means smiling to the bank with N1billion for doing nothing but kidnapping and not being trailed, and also the reason for the spate of the crime in the country today.

Also, recently, a former Nigerian Minister took to the social media to announce that he mobilised his friend whom he claimed donated N50 million to pay ransom to kidnappers who had abducted certain victims.

All these are pointers to the fact that kidnapping has become a major criminal enterprise in the country as Nigeria was rated No.2 among the top 10 countries with the highest reported incidents of kidnapping by the ‘Top Teny,’ blog, with over 1,800 persons abducted annually, after Iraq, and followed by Pakistan, India and Venezuela. As well, ReliefWeb estimates that more than 1,680 schoolchildren have been kidnapped since the abduction of 276 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, in 2014, over 821 students were abducted in 2021 alone, while SBM Intelligence calculated that kidnappers collected about N653.7 million in ransom between July 2021 and June 2022 in more than 500 recorded kidnap incidents, with 3,420 persons taken, and 564 killed.

As sad and depressing as the development is, Bem Hembafan, a retired security officer, decried that efforts made so far to tame the ugly trend seem to have yielded less result as more Nigerians are taking to kidnapping and collecting ransom in millions without being challenged.

Recalling the recent Abuja estate kidnapping incident, the retired security officer, who runs private security for estates in Abuja and in Nasarawa State, blamed the recurring kidnapping on the loopholes and lack of coordination in the nation’s security architecture.

“The assailants only succeeded because there was a compromise somewhere by an insider that resulted in a security breach,” he said, while querying the impact of the many security checkpoints within the capital territory.

According to him, some domestic staff members, who are poorly paid, family members who are neglected, close friends, colleagues and neighbours are easy picks for kidnappers because of a handsome percent of the ransom promised to them.

Considering the joint efforts of security agencies including; the Nigerian Military, the Police, Department of State Security (DSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), other sister organisations, many think that the country should have been enjoying relative peace from the menace of the kidnappers and bandits.


Some of the efforts include the Nigerian Navy’s Operation Delta Sanity, to checkmate the rising cases of kidnapping and Sea robbery in the country.

The Navy claims that the operation initiated by Emmanuel Uchechukwu Ogalla, a vice admiral and chief of Naval Staff, has lived up to its expectation with verifiable evidence, the Army, DSS, Police and all other security agencies are also reeling out results.

The federal government on its part has been making promises on fighting insecurity, making strong statements when people are being kidnapped, also promising not to pay ransom, but the increasing rate of kidnap and ransom value say otherwise.

Now, more innocent Nigerians, especially helpless school children are being kidnapped every day and ransom paid to the undeserving assailants.

X-raying the situation, Stan Labo, a security expert, said that the present administration is yet to show political will to tackle insecurity in the country, noting that the current situation is just like the Buhari era.

But some experts think that the country has not achieved the expected result due to the wrong approach to the fight.

In his view, Emeka Okoro, a security analyst with SBM Intelligence, said that it will require a multifaceted approach to address insecurity in the country.

According to him, the country needs improved security infrastructure, effective governance, social cohesion, economic development, and peace-building efforts to truly fight insecurity.

“The political will to tackle insecurity is lacking; we are beginning to see semblance of what happened in the last administration; the political will is weak.”

Darlington Amokeh, a Nigerian Diaspora, also blamed the spate of kidnapping to wrong approach to the fight against insecurity.

The Houston-based medical doctor noted that the United States of America is succeeding in its security to an appreciable level by adopting the right approach and right personnel to any challenge.

“I know that active shooting is a problem here in the US, but the law is dealing with the perpetrators, many are gunned down while shooting and most are in jail.

“The American government is not relenting and Nigeria should also not relent and allow the kidnappers to have a field day, snatching human beings, and collecting huge ransoms.

“There has to be legislation on it and the law should be enforced without fear or favour as it is here,” he noted.

According to him, all the security agencies in Nigeria are in the fight with less result, hence the need to specify their responsibilities, and assign the fight against kidnapping to the agency that can handle it better than others.

“In the US, the FBI, CIA, and other civil security agencies are the first point of contact. But in Nigeria, you often see soldiers leaving their barracks to settle any issue, even domestic ones that the Police can handle. I think that the government can retrain some of its security agencies in special combats like the US does. These are specially trained to handle specific security challenges and they deliver results. Nigeria can do the same,” he advised.


“You don’t just name and shame. Those alleged to be sponsors of any kind of terrorism are prosecuted over here, if found guilty, their assets are seized, accounts frozen, they are jailed and some killed in an organised way. The government should not be afraid to confront them,” he said.

Sam Onikoyi, another Nigerian Diaspora, is of the opinion that Nigeria needs to take good care of the security agencies and recruit more to ensure their commitment and better result in the fight against insecurity.

According to him, Nigeria is grossly under-policed when considering the United Nations recommended Police to People ratio of 1:400, with Nigeria having about 371,000 policemen for its over 200 million people.

“That ratio is grossly inadequate for a country of that population size and that is part of the reasons the Police and other security agencies are easily overwhelmed. One of my relations once had a security issue in Port Harcourt and the Police did not go beyond filling the report. That is not encouraging and it is also part of the reason many of such cases are not reported, including kidnapping and ransom paid,” he said.

To curb the menace, Onikoyi is of the opinion that the government is bigger than anybody and should not pay ransom even secretly, but deal with the kidnappers as terrorists they are. He also suggested that the lawmakers should make kidnapping a criminal by enacting strong legislation against it, requiring life imprisonment or death sentence at worst.

“We often hear the government claiming that no ransom was paid, but the body language says otherwise. How long will they bandits keep holding the country and its people at ransom, why do we have security personnel when they cannot protect innocent citizens, all it takes is political will and sustained onslaught on this enterprise called kidnapping or else, ransom will be paid in dollars soon and a whole state kidnapped too,” he said.

Nigeria needs the FBI example

The establishment of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States and its strategies against kidnapping and other heinous crimes offer valuable lessons for Nigeria, which is grappling with similar security challenges.

In the early 20th century, the United States faced significant law enforcement challenges as crimes became more complex and crossed state lines. The existing decentralised police and justice systems were ill-equipped to handle this new breed of crime.

President Theodore Roosevelt and his Attorney General, Charles J. Bonaparte, recognised the need for a federal investigative force. In 1908, Bonaparte formed a group of special agents, which later became known as the Bureau of Investigation (BOI). This was the precursor to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

It was established to address crimes that local and state jurisdictions could not manage effectively, including kidnapping, which became a federal crime with the passage of the “Lindbergh Law” in 1932, following the high-profile abduction and murder of Charles Lindbergh’s infant son.

The FBI employs a range of strategies, including intelligence gathering, coordination with other law enforcement agencies, and the use of specialised task forces like the Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD) team to address kidnapping and other serious crimes.

The FBI has continually adapted to evolving threats by updating its methods and expanding its jurisdiction. This includes addressing modern challenges like cybercrime, international terrorism, and domestic extremism.

Lessons for Nigeria

Nigeria is battling with persistent security challenges. Newspaper headlines scream of kidnappings, banditry, and religious clashes. Terrorists’ shadow stretches across the north, while communal violence erupts like wildfires.

Kidnapping for ransom has emerged as a lucrative enterprise, thriving despite government assurances to curb it. Families, faced with the distressing ordeal of loved ones’ abductions, resort to crowdfunding on social media platforms in desperate attempts to secure their release.

Nigeria has witnessed at least 735 mass abductions with 15,398 people abducted since 2019, a new report by SBM Intelligence says.

According to the report, an average of five Nigerians are abducted on a daily basis since 2024 began.

“At least 68 incidents of large-scale kidnappings have been reported in Nigeria since the beginning of 2024, averaging 0.91 mass abductions per day as of 15 March 2024. At the time of putting this report together, the 2024 numbers, which have reported 1867 victims in such abductions, have exceeded the whole count for 2019 (19; 153) and 2020 (59; 1152), respectively,” the report stated.

Terrorism and ethno-religious conflicts continue to plague the northern regions, with recurring attacks in areas like Plateau State.

Farmers abandon their fields, stalked by bandits waiting to pounce on them, their livelihoods sacrificed on the altar of insecurity.

Businesses shut down, investments dry up, and economic growth becomes a distant dream in a climate of constant fear.

Like the United States, Nigeria also has a central agency known as the Department of State Security (DSS) similar to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

However, the DSS has done little in intelligence gathering in the fight against insecurity in the country.

Adopting intelligence-led policing strategies could enable Nigerian authorities to anticipate and prevent crimes before they occur, rather than reacting after the fact. This is a major strategy that helped the FBI curb kidnapping and other crimes in the US.

Also, enhancing collaboration between various security agencies within Nigeria could lead to more effective responses to security threats. Sharing intelligence and resources can help in dismantling criminal networks.

The security agencies in Nigeria appear to lack synergy. They work independently rather than working together to tackle insecurity. These agencies sometimes disagreed in public, which shows lack of cooperation.

Engaging with communities to build trust and gather intelligence can be crucial in addressing crimes like banditry and terrorism. Community members often have valuable information that can aid law enforcement.

While the FBI’s approach provides a model, it’s important for Nigeria to adapt these strategies to its unique cultural, social, and political context. Tailored solutions that consider local dynamics are more likely to be effective.

Nigeria can draw on the experience of the FBI in the United States to develop a comprehensive approach to its security challenges. By employing intelligence-led strategies, fostering interagency collaboration, engaging with communities, and adapting strategies to the local context, Nigeria can make significant strides in combating insecurity and fostering a safer environment for its citizens.


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Religion / Five Signs God Is Speaking To You by Celestialsword: 6:55am On Apr 14
God speaks to us in many ways and it is up to us to recognize and interpret those signs.

We'll explore the various ways God communicates with us and learn to discern His voice amidst the noise of the world.



1. God's Word says He is speaking to you
God's Word makes it clear that He is speaking to us and He cannot lie.

The signs of His communication with us are all around, if only we have ears to hear and eyes to see.

We must be open and attuned to the voice of God, which may come in many different forms, a still small voice within us, a word from a friend, a verse in Scripture, or a dream or vision.

The Holy Spirit will often prompt us in a gentle and subtle way, guiding us towards the path that God has set before us.

We may feel a peace or a conviction in our hearts, a sense of clarity or direction that we did not have before.

These are all signs that God is speaking to us and leading us in His ways.

We must also be mindful to discern the source of any messages we receive, whether they are from God or from the enemy.

We can test the spirits by comparing them with the truth of Scripture, and by seeking wise counsel from the Holy Spirit.

The more we seek God and His wisdom, the more attuned we will become to His voice and the more confident we can be in His leading.

Let us not be like the Pharisees who sought after signs and wonders, but rather let us be like the faithful disciples who heard the voice of their Master and followed Him wherever He led them.

A mean realizes that God is speaking to him through the Bible.

2. Inner peace, calm, and clarity
When you are in tune with God's will, you will experience a sense of calm and tranquility that cannot be found anywhere else.

You will also have a clear understanding of what God is calling you to do, and you will be able to discern his voice amidst the noise and chaos of the world around you.

If you are feeling lost or uncertain about your path in life, seek God's guidance and ask him to reveal his will to you.

Trust in the Holy Spirit to guide you, and follow his lead with confidence and humility.

With God on your side, you can be sure that you are never alone, and that he will always be there to guide you on your journey.

3. Messages through dreams and visions
God sometimes speaks to us through dreams and visions.

Some of these messages are clear and direct, while other times they may be symbolic or require interpretation.

When God speaks, it is always for our benefit and the benefit of those around us.

If you have been experiencing vivid dreams or receiving powerful visions, it may be a sign that God is trying to communicate with you.

It is important to pray for discernment and seek wise counsel to understand the meaning of these messages.

God may be revealing His plans for your life, providing guidance and direction, or warning you of potential dangers. It is important to listen carefully and obey what you are being told.

Do not dismiss these messages as mere coincidence or imagination.

God is always speaking to us, but it is up to us to listen and respond in faith and obedience.


4. Other people speak into your life
Another sign that God is speaking to you is when you receive messages through other people.

These messages may come in the form of advice, encouragement, or even warnings.

It is important to pay attention to these messages, as they may be the very thing that God is using to guide you on your path.

When we are open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will often find that God speaks to us through those around us.

It may be a friend, a family member, or even a stranger who delivers a message that resonates deeply with us and provides us with the clarity we need.

It is important to remember that not every message we receive from others is from God.

We must use discernment and seek confirmation from the Holy Spirit and God's Word to determine whether a message truly comes from God or not.

When we are attuned to the voice of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to recognize when God is speaking to us through others.

We will be able to discern His will and direction for our lives, and we will be able to follow it with confidence and trust.

God is always speaking to us, and He will use whatever means necessary to get our attention and guide us on our path.

Trust in Him, and He will lead you to where you need to be.

5. Consistency and repetition of messages
God speaks to us in many ways, and another sign that he is communicating with us is through consistency and repetition of messages.

When God wants to get our attention, he will often send the same message to us over and over again until we take notice.

It may be a message in the form of a scripture, a sermon, a song, a set of numbers, or even a conversation with a friend.

Whatever the message, if it keeps coming up in different ways, it is likely that God is trying to tell us something.

Consistency and repetition of messages is a way for God to confirm his will to us.

When we hear the same message repeatedly, it may be a sign that we need to pay attention and take action.

It may be that God is calling us to make a change in our lives, to take a step of faith that changes everything, or to trust him more deeply.

If you are hearing the same message repeatedly, don't ignore it.

Take time to pray and seek God's guidance.

Ask him to reveal his will to you and give you the strength and courage to follow through on what he is calling you to do.

A woman listens as God talks to her.
When God speaks meaning
When God speaks, it is not merely words that are spoken, but a divine meaning that is communicated.

It is the power of the Holy Spirit that transmits this meaning from the mind of God to the heart of man.

God's words are not stagnant or lifeless, but living and active, capable of transforming our very being.

This is because the Holy Spirit is the living breath of God, and it is through Him that we are given understanding and illumination.

Through God's Spirit, His words become a revelation to us, opening our eyes to the mysteries of the Kingdom and revealing the depth of His love for us.

It is through the power of the Spirit that we are able to discern the true meaning of His words and apply them to our lives.

The Holy Spirit empowers us to live out the truth revealed to us, guiding us into all truth and leading us on the path of righteousness.

He is the source of our strength, comfort, and wisdom, enabling us to live a life that is pleasing to God.

Therefore, let us not take the words of God lightly, but approach them with reverence and awe, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit to understand the depth of their meaning.

For it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can truly grasp the divine wisdom and knowledge that God desires to reveal to us.

How do you know how God speaks?
The Holy Spirit and the Bible are the means in which we know and understand how God speaks.

It is only through a personal relationship with God that we can discern His voice and hear His guidance.

We must be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit and seek to understand His ways through prayer, reading and studying the Bible, and fellowship with other believers.

As we grow in our relationship with God, we will become more attuned to His voice and be able to discern whether a message is from Him or not.

We must also test everything we hear against the truth of Scripture to ensure that it aligns with His character and teachings.

Knowing how God speaks requires a humble and surrendered heart, a willingness to learn, and a deep desire to follow Him above all else.

Does God speak to us through signs?
Yes, God can speak to us through signs, but we must be sensitive and obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit to discern them.

Signs are not meant to be a substitute for the Word of God, but rather can be a confirmation of it.

God uses signs to get our attention, to confirm His Word, to give guidance and direction, and to reveal His presence.

We must be careful not to put too much emphasis on signs or to become obsessed with them, as this can lead us astray.

Instead, we must seek the leading of the Holy Spirit and study the Word of God, so that we may be able to discern the signs that God sends us and follow His will for our lives.

Let us be mindful that signs can be misinterpreted and that we should always seek confirmation from God through prayer and the counsel of wise, mature believers.

The Holy Spirit is our guide and teacher and He will lead us into all truth if we are willing to listen and obey.

How do you hear when God is speaking to you?
To hear God speaking to you, you must have an intimate relationship with Him through His Word and His Holy Spirit.

It is essential to be in a place of stillness and solitude, away from the noise and distractions of this world, to listen and discern His voice.

The Holy Spirit will speak to you in different ways, such as a gentle whisper, an inner knowing, a nudge or conviction in your heart, a dream or vision, or through the Scriptures.

You must be willing to listen and obey, even if it contradicts your own plans or desires.

It is also crucial to test the spirits and ensure that what you hear aligns with the character and teachings of God as revealed in the Bible.

Above all, your relationship with God must be built on faith, trust, and a desire to do His will, not your own.

What does God voice sound like?
The voice of God is not one that can be easily described or imagined.

It is beyond human comprehension and understanding.

However, the Scriptures do give us glimpses of what it might be like.

The sound of God's voice can be powerful and awe-inspiring, as seen in the thunderous words that spoke creation into existence.

It can be gentle and comforting, like a whisper in the ear of a troubled soul.

It can also be convicting and challenging, urging us to turn away from our sinful ways and follow Him.

The important thing to remember is that God's voice is always speaking to us, whether through His Word, through His creation, or through the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit within us.

May we always be willing to listen and respond to His voice, no matter what it sounds like, for it is the voice of our loving Creator calling us back into relationship with Him.

A man prays and listens as God communicates to him.
What language does God speak?
God speaks the language of love, which transcends all earthly languages and barriers.

The Holy Spirit is the interpreter of this language, guiding us to understand and communicate with God on a deep and personal level.

Through the Spirit, we can experience divine revelations, visions, and dreams that give us a glimpse of God's love and power.

It is not about the language we speak, but rather the state of our hearts and our willingness to be open to the Holy Spirit's leading.

We must seek God with all our hearts and He will reveal Himself to us in ways that go beyond our human understanding.

How to know God's voice from the enemy
Knowing God's voice from the enemy is crucial in our walk with Christ.

It is a skill that can be learned through the help of God Himself and diligent study of God's Word.

Firstly, it is essential to understand that God's voice will always align with His character, as revealed in His Word.

The enemy, on the other hand, will attempt to deceive and contradict God's nature and Word.

Secondly, God's voice will bring peace, clarity, and a sense of purpose.

It will not cause confusion, fear, or anxiety.

The enemy's voice, on the other hand, will often bring doubt, confusion, and fear.

Thirdly, spending time in prayer and fasting, and seeking the counsel of God's Word can help discern God's voice from the enemy.

Lastly, it is essential to continually seek the leading of the Holy Spirit, who will guide us into all truth and help us recognize God's voice and the deception of the enemy.

How does God send messages?
God sends messages through the power of the Holy Spirit.

It is not always in an audible voice or a burning bush, but through the still small voice within our hearts and minds.

The Spirit speaks to us in a variety of ways, including through dreams and visions, through the words of others, and through the circumstances of our lives.

God also sends messages through His written Word, the Bible.

As we study and meditate on the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit reveals to us the truth and wisdom contained within its pages.

It is important to remain open and receptive to the ways in which God may be speaking to us. We must cultivate a spirit of prayer and listening, and be willing to obey whatever message God may be communicating to us.

Trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us and lead us into all truth.

How does the Holy Spirit speak to us?
The Holy Spirit speaks to us in many ways.

It can be through an inner voice, a person, a circumstance, or even through the Scriptures.

The key is to be open and receptive to His leading, and to be willing to obey His promptings.

Sometimes, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through a still, small voice, prompting us to do something or guiding us in a certain direction.

Other times, He may speak through a person, using them as a vessel to deliver a message or to provide guidance and wisdom.

The Holy Spirit can also speak to us through circumstances, using events in our lives to get our attention or to teach us important lessons.

And of course, the Scriptures are a powerful tool through which the Holy Spirit can speak to us directly, revealing truths and insights that we might not have seen otherwise.

No matter how the Holy Spirit chooses to speak to us, it is important to listen and to be obedient to His leading.

For it is through His guidance and direction that we can experience true joy, peace, and fulfillment in life.
Politics / Repentant Boko Haram Member Enlisted In Army Slits Woman's Throat In Enugu by Celestialsword: 1:24am On Apr 14
Repentant Boko Haram Member Enlisted Into Nigerian Army Slits Woman's Throat In Enugu Barracks, Hides Corpse

Private Mohammed Adamu, service number 21NA/80/0365, has been identified as the accused killer of the lady stabbed within the Nigerian Army's 82nd (Airborne and Amphibious) Division.

This was revealed by SaharaReporters who noted that senior officers sources in the army revealed this to their reporters.

According to SaharaReporters the corpse of a lady wearing hijab was discovered on Friday by the daughter of an army lieutenant near the division's commanders' quarters.

A lifeless body of a lady who was stabbed by an unknown person was discovered yesterday in 82 division barracks,” a source had said.

The body was discovered by the daughter of an Army lieutenant who was taking food to her dad who is working on their farm somewhere around the division officer's quarters

“And the knife used in killing the same lady was dropped off close to the body while the body was wrapped with the hijab she was wearing.”


While army officials have declined to comment on the event, SaharaReporters learned on Saturday evening that the killer has been identified as Pte Mohammed Adamu, who works with the division's legal section.

According to two senior military commanders who communicated with SaharaReporters, the suspect (soldier) was a repentant Boko Haram member who joined the Civilian Joint Task Force before being enrolled into the Nigerian Army in 2021.

Between 2020 and 2021, the Nigerian Army absorbed 400 civilian JTF members to help fight the Boko Haram militants.

The suspect behind the murder of Miss Hauwa, the hijab woman is 21NA/80/0365 Pte Mohammed Adamu of 82Div legal services.

"Unfortunately, Pte Mohammed Adamu is a repented Boko Haram member who after his repentance joined the civilian JTF. It was from being a CJTF that he was enlisted into the Army in the year 2021.


“Investigation revealed that Miss Hauwa and Pte Mohammed Adamu were both lovers and from the same town in Biu local government area of Borno State. He, Pte Mohammed Adamu paid her transport to come over to Enugu and killed her. He is currently in custody of the military police and his statement has been taken in which he confessed to the act.

The late Hauwa was pregnant for Pte Adamu Mohammed before he slit her throat, stabbed her belly multiple times and tied her up in the bush near the 82Div officer's quarters, in the early hours of Friday 12th of April.

“In his statement, Pte Mohammed Adamu claimed that the pregnancy the late Hauwa was carrying wasn't his own, and he is not ready to father any child yet and he lured her out.”

When confronted that the Nigerian army had denied recruiting ex-Boko Haram into the military, the source said, “Not everything the army headquarters will agree to, we in the system understand better.

“These are the people we work with every day. They repent first and join the CJTF, it’s from the CTJF that they join the military. That’s how it’s being done, not that they do join immediately after repentance.

Another source verified Adamu's arrest as the murderer of the pregnant mother.

“I know Mohammed Adamu is in the custody of the military police and has narrated that he killed Miss Hauwa and stabbed the baby in her stomach.

“Adamu is the bathman to Major HY Shehu, the persecuting counsel and also DDLS of 82 Division. He killed her with pregnancy over alleged infidelity and her body has been deposited at the 82 division military hospital.

“The body was discovered by the daughter of Lieutenant A Jackson on her way to meet her dad on the farm.

https://saharareporters.com/2024/04/13/breaking-repentant-boko-haram-member-enlisted-nigerian-army-slits-womans-throat-enugu

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Politics / OKUAMA Killings:residents Can't Sleep With Eyes Closed by Celestialsword: 5:56am On Apr 10
VANGUARD NEWS


LEADERS and representatives of Ewu, Okparabe, Arhavwarien, and other Urhobo-ethnic nationalities in Delta State, under siege by soldiers carrying out cordon-and-search operations in their communities over the March 14 killings of 17 soldiers at Okuama in Ughelli South Local Government Area have sent a Save Our Soul, SOS, to the traditional rulers of Urhoboland to save them from further harassment.


The leaders, led by Chief Vincent Oduran, Chief Sam Oborumuyere, and Prince Solomon Diodemise, the Otota of Okparebe Kingdom, told the Ukoko r’ Ivie r’ Urhobo (Urhobo Council of Traditional Rulers, headed by the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, HRM Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1, that residents in many communities could no longer sleep with their eyes closed.

They pleaded with the monarchs to prevail on the government to allow the innocent and suffering people of Okuama return to their homeland.


The monarchs in a statement, entitled “Urhobo Monarchs Appeal to the Federal Government to All Innocent, Suffering Okuama People to Return Home,” said: “Representatives of Ewu, Okparabe and Arhavwarien Kingdoms of Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State came on a ‘Save Our Soul’ visit to the Urhobo Council of Traditional Rulers.

”Chairman of Urhobo Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Emmanuel Ekemejewa Sideso Abe 1, Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, supported by the Ovie of Agbara-Otor, Ovie of Oghara, Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom (exco members) received them at the palace of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom.

”The representatives chronicled the sufferings, attacks, arson, and deaths of the people of Okuama and neighboring communities, saying they could no longer sleep with their eyes closed.

”They expressed concern that the Army declared the Ovie of Ewu Kingdom, HRM Clement Ikolo, wanted over the killings and that when he surrendered himself to the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, they handed him over the innocent king to the Nigerian Army.

”The traditional rulers in a communique, after listening to the pleas of the representatives by the chairman, HRM Sideso, and Secretary, HRM Richard Oghenevwogaga Ebelle Okorefe 1 the Ovie of Agbarha-Otor said: The Ukoko r’ Ivie Urhoblo (Urhobo Council of Traditional Rulers) restated their call for setting up an independent investigative enquiry into the immediate and remote causes of the Okuama-military incident, as this is the only way the truth can be revealed to avoid future incidence.



© 2024 Vanguard Media Limited, Nigeria
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Business / Top 10 Countries With Highest Percentage Of Millionaires In The World by Celestialsword: 6:58am On Apr 07
10 .Ireland
Percentage of Millionaires: 3.49%

Total Millionaires (2021): 176,000

Population (2021): 5.03 Million

Ireland is one of the richest countries in Europe. With 176,000 millionaires, Ireland ranks 15th among the countries with the highest percentage of millionaires in the world.

9. Taiwan
Percentage of Millionaires: 3.64%

Total Millionaires (2021): 869,000

Population (2021): 23.89 Million

Taiwan had an estimated population of 23.89 million in 2021 and total millionaires of around 869,000 in 2021. Taiwan ranks among the countries with the highest percentage of millionaires in the world.

8. France
Percentage of Millionaires: 4.13%

Total Millionaires (2021): 2.8 Million

Population (2021): 67.76 Million

France had a total population of around 67.76 million and 2.8 million millionaires in 2021.

7. United Kingdom
Percentage of Millionaires: 4.18%

Total Millionaires (2021): 2.8 Million

Population (2021): 67.02 Million

The United Kingdom is one of the countries with the most millionaires and billionaires in the world. In the United Kingdom, almost 4.18% of its population are millionaires, as of 2021. The United Kingdom ranks 12th among the countries with the highest percentage of millionaires in the world.

6. Norway
Percentage of Millionaires: 4.37%

Total Millionaires (2021): 236,000

Population (2021): 5.41 Million

Norway had a total population of around 5.41 million in 2021 and 4.37% of its population was millionaires. Norway had almost 236,000 millionaire individuals in 2021.

5.Singapore
Percentage of Millionaires: 5.48%

Total Millionaires (2021): 299,000

Population (2021): 5.45 Million

Singapore had 299,000 millionaires in 2021. Singapore ranks 10th among the countries with the highest percentage of millionaires in the world.

4.Sweden
Percentage of Millionaires: 5.86%

Total Millionaires (2021): 610,000

Population (2021): 10.41 Million

Sweden is one of the richest countries in Europe and had 610,000 millionaires in 2021. Sweden is one of the countries with the highest percentage of millionaires in the world.

3.Canada
Percentage of Millionaires: 6.02%

Total Millionaires (2021): 2.3 Million

Population (2021): 38.23 Million

Canada is one of the largest economies in the world and had a population of 38.23 million in 2021. Canada had around 2.3 million millionaires in 2021.

2.Netherlands
Percentage of Millionaires: 6.27%

Total Millionaires (2021): 1.1 Million

Population (2021): 17.53 Million

The Netherlands ranks seventh among the countries with the highest percentage of millionaires in the world and had 1.1 million millionaires in 2021.

1. Denmark
Percentage of Millionaires: 6.57%

Total Millionaires (2021): 385,000

Population (2021): 5.86 Million

Denmark had around 385,000 millionaires in 2021 and a population of 5.86 million in 2021. 6.57% of the population of the country were millionaires in 2021. Denmark ranks sixth among the countries with the highest percentage of millionaires in the world.

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Politics / Nnamdi KANU Criticise Ruling,heads To Appeal Court by Celestialsword: 7:16pm On Apr 05
VANGUARD NEWS


The legal team of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, led by Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, has appealed the ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

In the court document filed before the Appeal Court, Kanu’s Special Counsel, Ejimakor and other members of the legal team faulted the ruling of Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Federal High Court of March 19, 2024.

According to the notice of appeal filed by Ejimakor with charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, the legal team said the High Court Appeal Court that the lower court denied Kanu’s constitutional rights to a fair trial.

The document read, “TAKE NOTICE that the Appellant being dissatisfied with the Ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division coram: B.F.M Nyako, J. delivered on the 19th March, 2024 doth hereby appeal to the Court of Appeal Abuja upon the grounds set out in Paragraph 3 below and will at the hearing of the appeal seek reliefs as set out in Paragraph 4 hereof from the Court of Appeal.

“AND the Appellant further states that the names and addresses of persons directly affected by this Appeal are as stated in paragraph 5 below.

The Learned trial Court erred in law when the Court assumed jurisdiction to proceed with the hearing of the criminal trial against the Appellant when the Appellant is glaringly denied the constitutional right to fair trial with particular reference to denial of adequate facilities to prepare for the defence of the criminal allegations against the Appellant and his right to counsel of his own choice, thereby occasioning a grave miscarriage of justice.”

The legal team specified the Particulars of the error, as:

“Fair hearing/trial bears the constitutional safeguards of ensuring that the Appellant is accorded the adequate facilities to prepare for the defence of the criminal allegations levelled against the Appellant.

“The denial of the Appellant the opportunity to interact and brief his counsel on what line of defences the Appellant tends to agitate in the trial court and rely on was adequately brought to the attention of the trial Court by Motion.

“The trial Court failed and neglected to make necessary orders that would protect the Appellant’s aforesaid rights but rather held that the Court cannot dictate how the Respondent carries out its work.

“The trial Court has the powers to order the Respondent (being the detaining authority) to cease and desist from interfering with Appellant’s constitutional/fair hearing right to adequate facilities to prepare defence and his right to counsel of his choice; and where it is impossible to do so or where the Respondent persists, the trial court has the power to order an alternative custodial arrangement or non-custodial arrangement for the Appellant.

“Denial of the Appellant’s right to adequate facilities to prepare defence as enshrined in Section 36 (6) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 is a jurisdictional issues in the absence of which the trial Court cannot assume or proceed with the jurisdiction over the case unless and until such facilities are accorded to the Appellant.”

The document read further, “The Learned Trial Judge erred in law when the Court held that “I cannot make orders directing a security agency on how to do their work. I can only direct that whatever is within the law must be allowed to the Defendant. Counsel cannot direct the court or give condition to the court on how to conduct its business. The Defendant is entitled to a counsel of his choice and should be given the facility to conduct interview with his counsel within the confines of the law” and in the process occasioned grave miscarriage of justice against the Appellant.”

It went further, “The Appellant by a Notice of Preliminary Objection filed on the 19/2/2024 prayed the trial Court to find and hold that trial in the case cannot proceed except:

“The Respondent stopped the unconstitutional acts of forcibly seizing and photocopying confidential legal documents brought to the Appellant by the Appellant’s lawyers meant for the Appellant’s defence of the charges against the Appellant;

“The Respondent stopped refusing and preventing the Appellant’s Counsel from taking notes of details of confidential discussions/consultation during visitations to the Appellant.

“Stopped eavesdropping on the Appellant’s confidential consultation/conversations with the Appellant’s counsel which discussion is aimed at preparing the Appellant for his defence.

“In support of the Application, the Appellant relied on Paragraphs 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 of the Affidavit in support and which was Exhibited and filed with the Motion Paper.

“In the Respondent’s counter affidavit of 23/2/2024, the Respondent tacitly admitted in Paragraphs 9, 10, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 thereof that the Respondent denied counsel to the Appellant the right to take notes; denied them the rights to transmit messages and information to the Appellant; secretly took pictures of counsel and the Appellant’s interviews and recorded briefings between the Appellant’s lawyers and the Appellant, scanned documents meant for the Appellant from the Appellant’s team of lawyers and even refused to allow lawyers to the Appellant deliver letters to the Appellant.

“The action of the Respondent in the instant case is a flagrant violation of the Appellant’s right to counsel of his own choice as stipulated in Section 36 (6) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

“Having realized that the allegations made by the Appellant were admitted by the Respondent, the trial Court ought to restrain itself from proceeding with or attempting to hear the case without the Appellant being afforded the adequate facilities and choice of counsel to prepare his defence.

“An order for the Respondent to allow the Appellant freedom to consult with his lawyers in the preparation of the Appellant’s defence does not translate to directing the Respondent on how to do their work or the Appellant dictating to the Court how the case is to be conducted.

“The decision of the trial Court that the Defendant is entitled to a counsel of his choice and should be given the facility to conduct interview with his counsel within the confines of the law is ambiguous and a license to the Respondent to deny the Appellant the Constitutional rights to adequate facilities to prepare for his defence and right to counsel, given that the Respondent in their counter affidavit had alleged that what they do to the Appellant and his legal team are “within the confines of the law”.

“The Learned Trial Judge erred in law when the Court ordered for accelerated hearing of the case given the facts of the case showing that the Respondent had consistently refused to afford the Appellant the right to adequate facility to prepare for the defence of the charges levelled against the Appellant and his right to counsel, and thereby occasioned miscarriage of justice against the Appellant and in favour of the Respondent.”

The lawyers stated the particulars of error, as “The trial Court cannot order accelerated hearing of a criminal charge where it is brought to the attention of the Court that the Appellant is denied the adequate facilities to prepare his defence and his right to counsel.

“The order for accelerated hearing of the case in face of the constitutional breaches of fair hearing/trial rights of the Appellant is a credence to the Respondent to proceed on the unconstitutional denial of the Appellant his right to adequate facilities to prepare for his defence and his right to counsel of his choice.

“In the present case where Sections 36 (6) (b) and (c) of the Constitution are violated by the Respondent against the Appellant, the trial Court lacks the jurisdiction to hear and or proceed with the hearing of the case.”

In the document, Kanu’s legal team in reliefs sought from the Supreme Court of Nigeria, stated the following:

“To allow the appeal, set aside the decision/ruling, the subject of this appeal; and in particular: For the trial court to decline jurisdiction to proceed with the hearing of the case unless and until the Appellant is granted his right to fair hearing under Section 36(6)(6)(b) and (c) of the Constitution; or in the alternative for the trial court to order an alternative custodial or non-custodial arrangement free of interference with Appellant’s said constitutional right to fair hearing.

“Set aside the order for accelerated hearing of the case in the circumstances of the case where the Appellant is not allowed facilities to prepare for the defence of the charges against him and denied his right to counsel.

“Staying the proceedings pending when the Respondent affords the Appellant the constitutional safeguards of being afforded adequate facilities to prepare for his defence and his unfettered right to counsel.

“An Order of the Honorable Court of Appeal granting the Appellant such further relief or reliefs as this Honorable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this Appeal.
© 2024 Vanguard Media Limited, Nigeria
Education / 30 Deepest Truths by Celestialsword: 6:07am On Apr 05
One true friend is worth more than a thousand fakes.

Be like an iceberg. Don’t reveal all of yourself. Save your hidden beauty and splendor only to a few who are willing to dive deeper with you.

Everyone wants to eat but not everyone is willing to hunt.

Everything is good but not everything is worth it.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a black person or a white person. We are all people of color.

Do not seek to be successful. Seek to be valuable.

Don’t judge ME by my Past. I don’t live there anymore.

People may not always tell you openly how they feel about you, but they will always show you in deeds.

Life is all about which lens we use to see things.

Every single day you make a choice about life. Think before you act.

At first they’ll ask you WHY you’re doing it. But later they’ll ask you HOW you did it.

Life is a reflection of the six different tastes of food. Sweet, Sour, Salty, Bitter, Pungent, Astringent. The seventh one has not yet been discovered.

It is okay for a child to play with the mother’s breasts, but quite dangerous to play with the father’s testicles.

Some people want things to happen. Some people make things happen. And some people wonder, “Why the hell do things happen?”

Before healing others, heal yourself.

Always try to do things in chronological order; it's easier for your feeble brain to comprehend and less confusing.

He who dies with the most toys is, nonetheless, still dead.

A guilty conscience needs no accuser.

If you have something to tell me, tell me. I didn’t ask for explanations.

Ignorance has a cure called Education.

Craziness has its medication. But there is no cure for stupidity.

Addiction doesn't kill the addict. It kills the conscience.

The first thing in the human personality that dissolves in alcohol is dignity.

Many people have gone further than they thought possible because someone else thought they could.

The future is always beginning now.

Those who live in the past limit their future.

We fall in love not because we’ve found the perfect person, but because we have learned to see an imperfect person perfectly.

You have to fight for whom you truly love, and love whom you’re fighting for.

You have no control over whom your heart chooses to love, so just relax and enjoy the ride.

A coward dies a thousand deaths before the brave dies once.

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.

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Politics / Top 10 African Billionaires On Forbes' 2024 Global Wealth Ranking by Celestialsword: 5:33am On Apr 05
Top 10 billionaires in Africa


Rank Name Net worth Country Industry Global rank

1 Aliko Dangote $13.4 billion Nigeria Cement, Sugar 144th

2 Johann Rupert & Family $12.2 billion South Africa Luxury goods 162nd

3 Nicky Oppenheimer & Family $9.5 billion South Africa Diamonds 249th

4 Nassef Sawiris $8.8 billion Egypt Construction and investments 287th

5 Nathan Kirsh $7.2 billion Eswatini (Swaziland) Retail, real estate 373rd

6 Mike Adenuga $6.7 billion Nigeria Telecom, oil 409th

7 Abdulsamad Rabiu $5.2 billion Nigeria Cement, Sugar 581st

8 Naguib Sawiris $3.8 billion Egypt Telecom 835th

9 Mohamed Mansour $3.3 billion Egypt Diversified 991st

10 Koos Bekker $2.6 billion South Africa Media, investments 1256th


© 2024 africa.businessinsider.com
Politics / Nigeria Working With Interpol To Extradite Binnance Executive Who Escaped . by Celestialsword: 4:00pm On Apr 04
The Nigerian government is reportedly working with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) with the goal of extraditing a Binance executive that escaped from custody in the country in the ongoing row between the Crypto exchange platform and Nigerian authorities.

According to Decrypt, Nigeria’s Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is “partnering” with INTERPOL, the FBI and the British and Kenyan governments to secure Anjarwalla arrest and extradition.

Nadeem Anjarwalla escaped from detention in Nigeria where him and another Binance colleague were been held by Nigerian authorities on suspicion of Binance engaging in Money laundering schemes in the country.

An unnamed source stressed that the extradition of Nadeem is aimed at bringing him back to the country to face a Nigerian court where they will be charged with money laundering.

Another government source described Nadeem as a fugitive who escaped lawful custody and would be arraigned on Thursday this week alongside his colleague Tigran Gambaryan, the exchange’s Head of Financial Crime Compliance.



No charges were initially brought on the two Binance executives during their initial 14 days detention before it was extended after a court order.

Nadeem Anjarwalla was able to escape custody on March 22 after guards took him to a nearby mosque for Ramadan prayers.

The executive, who holds dual British and Kenyan citizenship, had surrendered his British passport but is believed to have used his Kenyan passport to board a “Middle East airliner.”

The Binance executives are due to be tried by the Federal High court in Abuja on Thursday with Nadeem Anjarwalla to be tried in absentia.

The EFCC on March 28th charged Binance Holdings Limited, Anjarwalla and Gambaryan with money laundering to the tune of $35,400,000. They also asked to get information on the exchange’s top 100 users.
Tigran Gambaryan, the remaining Binance executive has sued the Nigerian government for violating his fundamental human right claiming the seizure of his passport is against the country’s constitution.
The Binance executives were detained on February 28 after they were invited to the country as part of the effort by Nigerian authorities to address the free fall of its local currency against the dollar.
Politics / Nigeria To Almost Triple Energy Prices, Keep Subsidy For Poor by Celestialsword: 5:55am On Apr 04
Nigeria plans to almost triple energy prices within weeks, people in the presidency with knowledge of the matter said, in a bid to attract new investment and slash about $2.3 billion spent to cap tariffs.

Power companies will be allowed to raise prices to 200 naira ($0.15) per kilowatt-hour from 68 naira for urban consumers this month, according to people who asked not to be identified because they aren’t authorized to speak on the matter. These customers represent 15% of the population that the government says consume 40% of the nation’s electricity, the people said.


Help©2024 Bloomberg L.P. All Rights Reserved.
Politics / Delta Bloodbath;urhobo Chiefs Seek Detained Monarch's Release by Celestialsword: 4:05am On Apr 04
Members of the Traditional Council of Chiefs, Ewu-Urhobo in Delta State, have called for the immediate release of the detained monarch of Ewu Kingdom, Clement Ikolo.

They said the monarch was not connected to the communal crisis that led to the recent killing of 17 military personnel in the Okuama community in the Ughelli Local Government Area of the state.

“His Majesty is in no way associated with the ongoing feud between Okoloba and Okuama communities, let alone the tragic killing of military personnel,” a statement from the council dated March 30 and made available to PUNCH Online on Tuesday read.

Ikolo is one of the eight persons declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters in connection to the killing.


Immediately after the publication, he turned himself in to the Delta State Police Command.

The council expressed shock about the arrest while stating that the monarch had been working to resolve the crisis that led to the tragedy since his ascension.


“Our monarch, His Royal Majesty Ovie Clement Oghenerukevwe lkolo, the Urhukpe 1, is a peace-loving man who has diligently sought to reconcile the factions within our kingdom since his ascension to the throne four months ago.

“He has not set foot in Okuama community, nor has he visited Ewu, the headquarters of our kingdom, to engage in his royal duties,” the statement added.

While condoling with the military and the families of the slain officers, they prayed that the perpetrators would be brought to book.


Contact: theeditor@punchng.com
Politics / Nigerian Police Rescue Nine Students Abducted By Unknown Gunmen In Delta State by Celestialsword: 9:10am On Apr 02
SaharaReporters had on Monday reported that the students were said to have been kidnapped by a group of unknown gunmen on Friday along the Evwreni axis of the East-West road in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The Delta State Police Command has said its operatives have rescued nine students who were abducted along the East-West Road in Ughelli, Delta State.

SaharaReporters had on Monday reported that the students were said to have been kidnapped by a group of unknown gunmen on Friday along the Evwreni axis of the East-West road in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

This was confirmed by the State Police Command Spokesman, Edafe Bright via his X page on Monday night, saying the force had deployed its personnel to go after the gunmen to ensure all the students were rescued unharmed.

"Gunmen have abducted 10 students travelling along the Evwreni axis of the East-West road in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. The Command is aware of this ugly incident, and we are doing all it takes to ensure that they are rescued unhurt,” Edafe had written.

It was learnt that the students were returning from their school in Cross River State when they were accosted by the gunmen on Friday.

They were all kidnapped except their driver who escaped unhurt.

However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Edafe Bright, in an update on Tuesday morning said the victims had regained their freedom.

“All nine of the victims have regained their freedom please," Edafe noted.

1 Like

Politics / Re: Police Confirm Delta Students Abduction by Celestialsword: 7:53am On Apr 02
Sparrk007:
Fake news please ignore the idiot, I dey ughelli and we never heard that kind news
something that bright edafe confirmed, you must be living in a hole
Religion / Trailer Of Bibles Set On Fire In Front of Tennessee Church On Easter by Celestialsword: 6:49am On Apr 02
Fox News



Authorities in a Tennessee community are investigating after a trailer full of Bibles was intentionally set on fire in front of a church on Easter Sunday.

Around 6 a.m. on Sunday, the Mount Juliet Police Department and Fire Department swiftly responded to a trailer fire located in an intersection that was blocking the entrance of the Global Vision Church.

The church's pastor, Greg Locke, said in a statement posted on Facebook, that the church's security cameras were able to capture a man reportedly dropping off the trailer before setting it ablaze.


"There was a lady that had driven through the night to get to our church, and she was in the parking lot and was able to get the police officers here quickly, but it was quite the scene to wake up to on my first morning back from Israel," Pastor Locke wrote.


The Wilson County Sheriff's Office also issued a statement saying they believe the fire was set intentionally.


Hundreds took to social media to show their support for the church, that was able to proceed without having any Easter services interrupted.

"The evil out there is frightening. So thankful no one was harmed or damage done to the church. May our Lord touch the heart of the person who did this," one user wrote.


Fire crews at scene of trailer fire
Wilson County officials believe that the trailer was intentionally dropped off in the middle of the intersection and intentionally set on fire. (Pastor Greg Locke)

"Gods got the next move. Jesus is alive and doing mighty things. Prayers for that man and also for the church. Onward Christain Soldiers," another user wrote.

"Wow... the enemy is stirred and knows his time is limited. We shall not be shaken!" one comment read.

The Wilson County Sheriff's Office said it is not known at this time if the fire was aimed at the church or not.


Police block of scene of trailer fire
The church's security cameras were able to catch a suspect leaving the trailer and setting it ablaze. (Pastor Greg Locke)

"To uphold the integrity of the ongoing investigation, other specific details cannot be provided at this time. However, we assure the community that further updates will be shared at the appropriate juncture," the sheriff's office stated.

No injuries have been reported following the incident, officials said.
Politics / Police Confirm Delta Students Abduction by Celestialsword: 5:38am On Apr 02
Spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, Bright Edafe, has revealed that efforts are ongoing to ensure that students kidnapped on Monday in Ugheli Delta state were rescued unharmed.
Confirming the development in a post via his official X account, Edafe disclosed that the command was “aware of this ugly incident, and we are doing all it takes to ensure that they are rescued unhurt.”

Naija News has earlier reported that a group of gunmen believed to be Fulani herdsmen abducted an unidentified group of students in Delta State.

Reports revealed that the students were travelling along the East-West in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta state, where the assailants attacked and whisked them away to an unknown location.

According to Vanguard, the students were taken in a Sienna vehicle on Friday while returning from Calabar at the Evwreni axis of the East-West Road.

A security source who confirmed the incident to journalists mentioned that the Sienna carrying the students from Calabar in Cross River State was seized on Friday night at the Evwreni axis, with the kidnappers demanding a ransom of N10 million.

This incident comes after the kidnapping of 8 individuals on February 24 along Ughelli-Patani road, Ughelli North, as they were returning from Benin City to Yenagoa.

It was reported that officers from the Ughelli A’ division visited the crime scene, but it remains unclear whether the remaining three individuals were rescued or released at a later time.


Naija News
Religion / Bible Verses About Penalty Of Sin by Celestialsword: 5:57am On Mar 30
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.


2 Samuel 16:21-22
And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong.” So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

Ecclesiastes 8:11
Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

Hebrews 10:26-30
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people."

Genesis 4:13
And Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear!

2 Samuel 12:9-14
Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.' Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.'" So David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die."

Proverbs 6:27
Can a man take fire to his bosom,
And his clothes not be burned?


Isaiah 59:2
But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
And your sins have hidden His face from you,
So that He will not hear.


Luke 12:47-48
And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
Politics / Ijaw Not Part Of Biafra,IYC Warns Simon Ekpa by Celestialsword: 5:11am On Mar 30
The umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, has sounded a note of warning to Simon Ekpa and his group of Biafra agitators to steer clear of the Niger Delta, saying that the Ijaw people are not part of Biafra and will never be.
The IYC made the assertion in response to an online video on X (Twitter) by Simon Ekpa, a Biafran crusader in exile claiming that Ijaws are part of Biafran state.

In a statement on Friday by the national spokesman for IYC, Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill, the foremost Ijaw group said the Ijaw people would not tolerate any other reckless comment about their people and territories belonging to the Biafra.

Princewill said: “The attention of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has been drawn to a strange video by one Simon Ekpa, who is from the eastern part of Nigeria, now masquerading as the leader of Biafra in exile. “In the said video posted on X, he tried to establish Ijaw territories as part of his imaginary Biafra state.

“In the said video, Ekpa expressed the point that Nigerian soldiers attacked his Biafra people and Biafra republic. He was simply referring to the Okuama attack in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State on March 14, 2024 wherein 17 soldiers were killed and the subsequent onslaught carried out by the military on Igbomotoru and Peremabiri, Ijaw communities in Bayelsa State.

“The fundamental claim the renegade Biafra nationalist is making is that both Okuama community in Delta and Igbomotoru in Bayelsa state are part of his purported Biafran State. He thus threatened to unleash mayhem on Nigerian soldiers to avenge the death of civilians who had lost their lives in the military onslaught.”

However, the IYC spokesman said the Council was already dealing with a lot of issues regarding the attack on the soldiers and the subsequent invasion of Ijaw communities by the military, resulting in the loss of many lives.

He noted that the Ijaw people had never at any point in time been part of Biafra and can never be part of Biafra.

Princewill reiterated: “The attack on the soldiers has been condemned and it remains condemned just as the IYC has also charged the military to go after only the criminals and not killing of innocent people which we have also condemned in Igbomotoru and Peremabiri.

“For the purpose of clarity, the IYC is putting the records straight that the Ijaw struggle for a better living condition in Nigeria is older than the so-called Biafra agitation.

Ijaws not part of Biafra, IYC warns Simon Ekpa
“Our late Ijaw hero and foremost nationalist, late Major Isaac Adaka Boro, who is regarded as a champion of minority rights movement in Nigeria, declared the ‘Niger Delta Republic’ on February 23, 1966 a year before late Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu who was the then Governor of the Eastern Region declared the Biafra Republic on May 30, 1967.

“As Ijaw people, we are Nigerians, original occupants, and dwellers of the Niger Delta region. We reiterate that no part of Niger Delta belongs to their so-called imaginary Biafra.

“The struggle of the Ijaw people is majorly in resource control and not a secessionist movement. We have our own struggles, and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) also has their own separate struggle. The Ijaws are not part of their Biafran struggle and ideology.”

He said while the IYC was not opposed to the IPOB agitation, the Ijaws remain law-abiding people in the Nigerian State.

Princewill warned that going forward, the Ijaws would not tolerate watching Biafrans laying claims to their territories.

The spokesman insisted: “We are Ijaw people. We are Nigerians in the Niger Delta. We don’t have any ties or whatever with the Biafran people and their agitation.

“Finally, the IYC is using this medium to inform the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nigerian military that all the areas mentioned are not part of Biafra and can never be part of Biafra. IYC will not allow any purported attack on the military in our territories.”



The Nation Newspaper
Family / Re: Three Widows Of Army Personnel Killed In Delta Are Pregnant by Celestialsword: 1:36pm On Mar 28
Klass99:


Lol cheesy, Fyz quit being a clown you know exactly what he meant to say/write - three widows and not windows.
it has been corrected
Politics / Breaking;army Declares Prof,seven Others Wanted Over Delta Killings by Celestialsword: 11:20am On Mar 28
The Nation Newspaper



The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has declared eight persons wanted in connection with the killing of 17 soldiers and officers in Okuama Community of Delta State.
Among those declared wanted is Prof. Ekpekpo Arthur; a woman, Mrs Igoli Ebi; Reuben Baru; Akata Malawa David and four other persons.


The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, announced this on Thursday at a briefing in Abuja.

He said said no bounty was placed on the wanted persons.
Pets / Top 10 friendliest And Most Affectionate Dogs Breeds by Celestialsword: 5:02am On Mar 28
Dogs truly are man’s best friend, and anyone who’s come home to a wagging tail and bright eyes knows precisely why. Their loyalty and unwavering love bring light and comfort into our lives, making the choice of a furry companion a significant one.

Navigating through the sea of dog breeds to find your perfect match can be daunting. Thus, I’m here to guide you through the top 10 dog breeds renowned for their friendliness and affection, ready to shower you with love and cuddles.


Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever tops the list as one of the world’s most beloved dog breeds. Known for their friendly demeanor, intelligence, and energetic spirit, Labs are fantastic family pets. They’re especially great with children, showing patience and gentleness. A Labrador’s love for being around its family and participating in various activities makes it a joyful addition to any home.

Golden Retriever
Another heart-stealer is the Golden Retriever, admired for its stunning looks and gentle nature. These dogs are not only smart, making them excellent working dogs, but they’re also known for their patience with kids. Golden Retrievers crave human interaction and will become a loyal and loving member of your family.


Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
For those seeking a smaller, elegant companion, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from England is a perfect choice. This breed wins hearts with its sweetness and affectionate nature towards its owners. Cavaliers are friendly and get along well with both humans and other pets, making them sociable companions for all kinds of families.

Beagle
Hailing from England, the Beagle is celebrated for its exceptional sense of smell and cheerful character. Beagles are affectionate, friendly, and great with kids and other pets. Though they are full of energy and require ample exercise, they love cuddling up with their family members, making them excellent companions for active households.


French Bulldog
The French Bulldog, with its unique appearance and playful demeanor, is a small dog breed originating from France. Frenchies are incredibly affectionate towards their families and get along splendidly with children and other pets. They are curious and love exploring with their families, though their unique physique requires careful attention to their health.

Boxer
Medium-sized and muscular, the Boxer is a German breed known for its protective nature. Boxers are affectionate, loyal, and generally get along well with children and other pets. They are energetic and require regular exercise to stay healthy. As both a guardian and companion, the Boxer is a devoted family member.


English Cocker Spaniel
The English Cocker Spaniel, recognized by its drooping ears and silky coat, is a medium-sized breed from England. Known for their affectionate and gentle nature, Cockers are great with kids and other pets. They are playful and enjoy activities with their families, although they do require regular grooming.

Bichon Frise
Originating from the Mediterranean region, the Bichon Frise is a small, curly-haired dog beloved for its playful temperament and kindness. Bichons are incredibly affectionate and enjoy spending time with their families, making them ideal for those seeking a loving and playful companion.


Newfoundland
The giant Newfoundland breed from Canada is known for its gentle and protective temperament. Newfoundlands are affectionate and devoted to their families, getting along well with children and other pets. They are intelligent and often used in water rescue missions. Their size and exercise needs should be considered, but they make excellent guardians and companions.

Chihuahua
The Chihuahua, the smallest dog breed in the world from Mexico, packs a lot of personality and courage into its tiny frame. Though they may be wary of strangers, Chihuahuas are extremely loyal to their families and protective of their owners. They are intelligent, energetic, and enjoy being active with their families, making them perfect for those looking for a small dog with a big heart.


Choosing a dog breed that’s known for its affection and friendliness can lead to a fulfilling companionship. Each of these breeds has unique qualities making them ideal companions under different circumstances and preferences. Remember, adopting a dog is a significant decision that should be tailored to your lifestyle and needs, ensuring a loving and loyal companion by your side.
Family / Three Widows Of Army Personnel Killed In Delta Are Pregnant by Celestialsword: 10:54pm On Mar 27
TheCable


Taoreed Lagbaja, chief of army staff (COAS), says three of the 10 widows of the army personnel killed in Okuama community in Delta state are pregnant.

On March 14, about 17 personnel of the Nigerian Army were killed while on a peacekeeping mission in the Delta community.

The federal and state government had vowed that perpetrators of the act would be arrested to face the wrath of the law.

The names of the deceased soldiers were A.H Ali, D.E Obi, S.D. Ashafa, U. Zakari, , Yahaya Saidu, Danbaba Yahaya, Kabir Bashir, Abdullahi Ibrahim, Bulus Haruna, Sole Opeyemi, Bello Anas, Alhaji Isah, Clement Francis, Abubakar Ali, Adamu Ibrahim, Hamman Peter, and Ibrahim Adamu.


Speaking on Wednesday during the burial ceremony of the late soldiers at the military cemetery in Abuja, Lagbaja said it was “highly demoralising” that the soldiers were killed by those they were equipped to protect.

The army chief added that it took over 72 hours of searching to recover the vital organs of some of the deceased soldiers.

He added that the Nigerian Army exercised “a lot of restraint” in the search for missing arms and body parts of the deceased soldiers.

“The Okuama killing has added to the care of the Nigerian Army and, by extension, the Nigerian state, 10 widows, three of whom are four, five, and eight months pregnant, 21 orphans, and many other dependents, which include parents,” Lagbaja said.

“While commiserating with the families of these gallant soldiers, I assure them that the Nigerian Army and the good people of this country will not leave them in the cold. We shall do all within our power to provide succour to the families.”

The army chief said the Nigerian Army will not be deterred by the incident in Delta in its mandate to defend the country.
Crime / Navy Seises 193bags Of Indian Hemp From 24 Year-old Ghanian by Celestialsword: 10:10pm On Mar 27
The Eagle Online

Navy seizes 193 bags of Indian hemp from 24-year-old Ghanaian

The Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT handed over 193 bags of seized substance suspected to be Indian Hemp to the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Tuesday.

The Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Rafiu Oladejo, disclosed the arrest and seizure to newsmen.

He said a Naval patrol team seized the bags, weighing 38kg each, from a 24-year-old Ghanaian, Emmanuel Asamani, off Badagry Coast on March 16.

Oladejo said Asamani claimed not to know the destination to which he was ferrying the illicit drugs, but expressed optimism that the NDLEA would get to the root of it all during investigation.

He noted that there were inherent health dangers in the use of narcotics aside the fact that their use had led to increased crimes.

“Proceeds of sale of narcotics are often used to sponsor crimes in the maritime space and on land,” Oladejo said.

Receiving the contraband and the suspect, Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA Marine Command, Paul Ahom, appreciated NNS BEECROFT for taking the lead in policing crime and drug trafficking in Nigeria’s waterways.

Ahom said: “The Navy is the leading agency in the interception of drugs among maritime law enforcement agencies in Nigeria

“We need to ascertain the source of the drug and identify the syndicate behind the ferrying of drugs from Ghana and Togo via the Republic of Benin to Nigeria.”
Politics / Re: A University And The Ubiquity Of Poverty by Celestialsword: 9:19am On Mar 26
TheLastProphet:
A university where knowledge are manufactured should know better. Why not share this palliative department by department?
The schools management failed woefully.

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