₦airaland Forum

One-fifth of suicide bombers used by the militant group Boko Haram are children and the vast majority of them are girls, according to a new report from the United Nations.

In 2015, 44 children carried out suicide bombing attacks in Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad, compared to four in 2014, the report said. Girls made up 75 percent of the child bombers, said the report from UNICEF, the U.N. children’s agency.

The report was released two years after 276 schoolgirls were abducted from their school in Chibok, northeastern Nigeria, by Boko Haram. None of the girls have been rescued and it’s believed some have been used by the group as suicide bombers.

“Let us be clear: these children are victims, not perpetrators,” Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF regional director for West and Central Africa, said in a statement on Tuesday. “Deceiving children and forcing them to carry out deadly acts has been one of the most horrific aspects of the violence in Nigeria and in neighbouring countries.”

Last month, a young girl was arrested in northern Cameroon after being found with explosives. She claimed to be one of the missing Chibok girls, although this was later found not to be the case. In January, a 10-year-old girl carried out a suicide bombing at a marketplace in Maiduguri, Nigeria, that killed more than 16 people.

Between January 2014 and February 2016, Cameroon saw the largest number of suicide attacks involving children, 21, followed by Nigeria, 17, and Chad, 2. In 2015, children were used in half of all suicide bombings in Cameroon and one in seven attacks in Nigeria. According to UNICEF, the persistent use of children in suicide attacks “has created an atmosphere of fear and suspicion that has devastating consequences for girls who have survived captivity and sexual violence by Boko Haram” in northeastern Nigeria.

Additionally, children who have escaped armed groups are treated with suspicion and seen as potential security threats, often resulting in stigma and discrimination in the villages or communities they return to.

“As ‘suicide’ attacks involving children become commonplace, some communities are starting to see children as threats to their safety,” said Fontaine. “This suspicion towards children can have destructive consequences; how can a community rebuild itself when it is casting out its own sisters, daughters and mothers?”

More than one million children have been displaced by the conflict involving Boko Haram, which is now in its sixth year, and nearly 2,000 schools are closed due to looting or damage, or are being used as shelters for internally displaced people. Thousands of children have been separated from their parents or reported as unaccompanied,. said UNICEF.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/04/children-carry-out-one-in-five-boko.html

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The Ijaw Youths Council IYC over the weekend alleged that the there were plans by the Federal government to arrest former President Jonathan.

Speaking to Journalists at the funeral of former Bayelsa state governor, Dipreye Alamiyeseigha, the president of IYC, Udengs Eradiri, said the recent arrest of Jonathan's nephew, Robert Azibola, by the anti-graft agency EFCC, shows the Federal Government was gradually closing in on the former President. Eraditi said the Ijaw youths have vowed to resist any attempt to arrest or prosecute Jonathan


"They have arrested almost all our people. Azibola was arrested by the EFCC and we are calling on the EFCC to stop persecuting him further and charge him to court if there are issues. They detained him for a long time forcing him to make statements to indict former President Jonathan. Azibola was a businessman, contractor and has the right like every Nigerian to get contracts. Why will the Niger Delta case be a different one? We noticed that the same way they persecuted Alamieyeseigha, they want to continue with Jonathan. Our people who contributed in that administration are being persecuted by this government. The recent one is the ploy to arrest Jonathan which is unfolding every day. This must stop. Jonathan was the most performing president that Nigeria has ever had. We are proud of him. Every day, there is a calculated attempt to whittle down the achievements of Jonathan. We call on Nigerians to mount pressure on the government to focus on leading Nigeria right rather than looking for ways to bring down the achievements of Jonathan. Buhari should please focus on governance rather than persecution of people who have added value”he said

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/04/fg-plans-to-arrest-goodluck-jonathan.html

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11 people (9 males, 2 females) died and 6 others (4 males, 2 females) in a road crash that occurred after Owena bridge, about 18km from Ore on the Benin-Ore road.

The accident that occured in the early hours of today, April 10 involved a truck and a Toyota Hiace bus.


According to FRSC, "the crash was an head on collision resulted as a result of driving against traffic on the dual carriageway by the driver of the truck. Two vehicles, a blue Daf truck crane with registration number BEN 371 XY and a white Toyota Hiace bus with registration number FKJ 62XH were involved . The injured and the corpses were taken to the General Hospital, Ore. Personal effects such as clothes, bags, phones and a sum of N32,490:00 were recovered at the scene"

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/04/photos-11-people-die-in-road-accident.html

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Read the press statement below...

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has said that the Federal Government was planning to impose more hardships on Nigerians by increasing Value Added Tax (VAT) from the current five per cent to 10 per cent, describing the move as insensitive to the plight of Nigerians who are suffering from the bad economic policies of the President Mohammadu Buhari led All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had said on Thursday, in Lagos that the current five per cent VAT rate in the country was very low, and went on to add that the Federal Government would increase the taxpayer base this year. Reacting through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said any increment in VAT or any other tax being paid by Nigerians at this time will further make life unbearable for the people.

“Nigerians are suffering and the little that they have, federal government is planning to take back through VAT increment, this is wickedness! “Under three months, electricity tariff was increased despite epileptic power supply, N50 stamp duty was imposed on bank customers for money received into their accounts via electronic transfer, cash and cheques; petrol is being sold for as high as N400 per litre and now they are talking about increasing VAT to 10 per cent, this is the height of insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians,” he said.

The governor, who lamented the increase in the cost of living of Nigerians, occasioned by the bad economic policies of the Federal Government, said “even recent figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that prices of food have hit a record high and inflation is worsening.

“How can government be considering 100 per cent increment in VAT when businesses are folding up, prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed, millions of Nigerians are losing their jobs and those who are still employed are no longer getting paid regularly? “For even contemplating the increment of VAT at this difficult time shows that the Buhari-led government does not care about the welfare of the citizens and only God will save the poor masses from the hands of this government.”

Governor Fayose said rather than imposing more hardships on Nigerians, President Buhari should seek help from experts on how best to revive the country’s economy, adding that; “As at today, the Buhari-led government is yet to show that it has any clue to the revival of the economy.”

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/04/fg-imposing-more-hardships-on-nigeria.html

Late Alhaji Dr. Abdullahi Ado Bayero was the Emir of Kano from October 22, 1963 till his death at the age of 84 on June 6, 2015 after a long illness. He was succeeded by his brother's grandson, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the former CBN Governor.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/04/photos-late-emir-of-kano-ado-bayero-as.html

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Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo has been using every forum available, including town hall meetings to re-assure Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration will soon bring succour to them.

He was in Kano today, where he met Emir Muhammad Sanusi and also gave him the assurance that the Federal Government is doing everything possible to overcome the challenge of alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians.

He called on Nigerians to exercise patience as the Buhari-led administration is committed to transforming the living standard of Nigerians.

We share the 33-point agenda of the Buhari administration posted on Facebook by VP Osinbajo. The agenda are slated to be implemented in the next 12 months to bring the desired relief to Nigerians:

“We acknowledge the pains you face and are concerned about them.

There are a multitude of things that require decisive action. We are taking action and in due course they will produce satisfying outcomes. Our determination is firm and unrelenting.

Consequently, I am pleased to share President Muhammadu Buhari’s strategic implementation plan for the 2016 budget.

This Strategic Implementation Plan articulates 6 thematic Strategies and 33 priority actions which will constitute the short-term priority of the Federal Government over the next 12 months.

1. Lasting Changes in the Policies, National Security and Governance.

● Achieve an Appropriate Foreign Exchange Regime

● Increase low interest lending to the Real Sector. We will need to move toward a single digit interest rate.

● Maintain Capital Spending in the Budget at a minimum of 30%. Complement this with funds from the Infrastructure Fund for commercial projects

● Intensify the Implementation of Public Financial Management Reforms to Grow Revenues and Cut Costs.



The Social Investment plans include the following:Train and deploy 500,000 unemployed graduates as volunteer teachers who would be paid on the job while they seek jobs in their chosen careers.Homegrown School Feeding for primary school pupils across the country paid for by the government



● Maintain Sustainable Debt Management Strategy.

● Introduce Fiscal Incentives to Improve Collections

● Intensify the Fight Against Corruption by increasing Transparency, Accountability and Compliance with Law and Order

● Intensify Public Procurement Reforms in Projects to obtain Value for Money and cut costs.

● Sustain the Fight Against Insurgency, Kidnapping and Other Violent Crimes, Terrorism, Cyber-Crimes, Piracy, Oil Theft and Illegal Mining Activities.
Intensify the reorientation of the populace through Integrity Campaigns

2. Diversify the Economy by Fast-tracking Industrialization, Agriculture and Agro-Allied Processing, as well as attracting investment into the Solid Minerals, Tourism and Entertainment Sectors

● Implement Measures to Achieve Self-Sufficiency & Become Net Exporters of certain agricultural Items:
Rice-2018,
Tomato Paste-2016,
Wheat-2019.
Increase local production of maize, soya, poultry & livestock, so as to achieve self-sufficiency: deadlines to be announced in due course.

● Revitalize and Expand Agro-Allied Processing to intensify local production and processing of cassava, cocoa, cashew, fruits and sesame seed

● Utilize 5,000 hectares of Irrigable Land in the 12 River Basin Development Authorities and utilize 22 Dams for Commercial Farming activities by prospective investors

● Develop Dadinkowa, Gurara and Oyan dams with 82.5 MW capacity contribution to the National Grid.

● Adopt and Implement a Roadmap to Stimulate Investment into the Solid Minerals sector, and plug Revenue Leakages in the Sector

● Implement the National Industrial Revolution Plan and Launch the ‘Made in Nigeria’ Campaign

● Increase Manufacturing Capacity through the operationalization of Industrial Parks, Free and Export Processing Zones, etc.

● Enhance support facilities to provide increased financial, technical assistance, networking and information to new investors and existing enterprises.

● Implement the Roadmap to Increase Private Sector Investment in Culture, Tourism, Entertainment and Sports

● Create high-technology innovation hubs to support growth in the Digital and Technology Sectors

3. Priortize critical Infrastructure, focused on increasing investment in Power, Rail and Roads, etc.

● Optimize the 7,000MW installed capacity and ensure associated infrastructure to Fuel, Transmit and Distribute this capacity.

● Ensure Tariff includes all costs of Transmission, Generation and Gas at new price, and Distribution Company costs required to operate, maintain and upgrade distribution networks.

● Resolve all Issues on Gas Pricing, Tariffs and Payment Assurance. Conclude Roadmap on Gas Development.

Complete the Kaduna-Abuja and Ajaokuta-Warri Rail Lines scheduled for 2016; commence the construction of the Lagos-Kano standard gauge Line; and finalize negotiations for the Calabar-Lagos Rail Project. Undertake the rehabilitation and construction of 31 major Road Projects scheduled for 2016 to restore degraded sections of the Federal Highways network and to Establish Connectivity over a distance of 2,193km (through public works projects, maintenance works, PPP and other interventions)







● Complete the Kaduna-Abuja and Ajaokuta-Warri Rail Lines scheduled for 2016; commence the construction of the Lagos-Kano standard gauge Line; and finalize negotiations for the Calabar-Lagos Rail Project.

● Undertake the rehabilitation and construction of 31 major Road Projects scheduled for 2016 to restore degraded sections of the Federal Highways network and to Establish Connectivity over a distance of 2,193km (through public works projects, maintenance works, PPP and other interventions)

● Complete the Rehabilitation of 4 Airports (i.e. Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Port Harcourt..

4. Oil and Gas Reforms

● Adopt & Execute a Comprehensive National Oil & Gas Master-Plan (‘NOGM’) as the roadmap for the Petroleum Industry’s Development, Diversification, Privatization & Governance. Adopt & Execute a Roadmap of Gas Development & Flare Elimination

● Set a deadline to be Self-Sufficient in Refined Petroleum Products & become a Net Exporter

● Work with the National Assembly on the passage of a Revised Petroleum Industry Bill (‘PIB’) or Bills to give effect to the NOGM & to resolve Fiscal & Governance Issues of the Sector, & Eliminate Gas Flaring.

● Conclude negotiations to deal with all funding gap issues in the Upstream Sector

5. Ease of Doing Business

● Move 20 places up global Ease of Doing Business Rankings, by implementing fast track measures for business approvals, acquisition of land titles, etc. (Nigeria is currently ranked 169 out of 189 countries by the World Bank – 2015 Survey)

● Fast-track visa application and issuance processes

6. Social Investment

● Implement Social Intervention Programme and specific Health / Education projects included in 2016 Budget

● Health Sector Interventions including Flagging off the Revitalization of 1 Primary Health Centre per Ward (a total of 10,000 nationwide)

The Social Investment plans include the following:

● Train and deploy 500,000 unemployed graduates as volunteer teachers who would be paid on the job while they seek jobs in their chosen careers.

● Homegrown School Feeding for primary school pupils across the country paid for by the government

● Micro-credit scheme that provides very soft loans to a million market women, artisans, traders

● Creating innovation and technology hubs/ parks on a large scale and skills acquisition & vocational training for over 300,000 non-graduate youths

● Conditional Cash Transfer where one million poor and vulnerable Nigerians would receive N5000 monthly

● Bursary awards for tertiary education students of Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths, STEM.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration remains committed to economic diversification through import substitution and export promotion.

In addition to this, we will continue to engage the Nigerian people. We will resume Town-hall meetings to explain the progress and address the challenges.

Together, Nigeria will prevail.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/04/list-of-33-priority-actions-of-buhari.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

According to a report from UK , the Islamist Boko Haram sect are demanding a ransom of $50 million to release the over 200 schoolgirls who were kidnapped from Chibok in Borno state nearly two years ago.


Excerpt:

Boko Haram is seeking a ransom of nearly £40m for the release of the 219 schoolgirls that it kidnapped from the Nigerian town of Chibok two years ago, sources close to the group said.

The terror sect is thought to have issued the demand during secret contacts with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, who has said he is willing to negotiate for the girls' freedom.

The group's leader, Abubakr Shekau, had previously demanded the release of jailed comrades in exchange for the girls.

But a deal along those lines - brokered by the Red Cross - fell through after Nigerian prison officials said that commanders on a list given to them by Boko Haram were not in their custody.

Details of the new ransom request emerged ahead of the second anniversary of the girls kidnapping on the night of April 14, 2014, when they were abducted by Boko Haram gunmen posing as soldiers.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/04/breaking-news-boko-haram-demands-50m-to.html

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This is was spotted at Akanu Ibiam Airport in Enugu. Cleaners mopping the floor with rags. Biko, airport management, get your cleaners mops nah. Locally made mops will do just fine.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/04/photos-how-cleaners-mob-floor-of-t.html

The Occupy Nigeria group said it had begun mobilising Nigerians for protest in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, April 14, 2016 over the failure of the Federal Government to address the recurring fuel scarcity in the country.

The co-facilitator of the group, Mr. Livingstone Wechie, said another protest would be organised to express the dissatisfaction of Nigerians over the non-availability of electricity amid increased tariff and incessant/fraudulent bank charges on poor Nigerians.

Wechie, in a statement on Friday, said that the protests would serve as a platform to express the hardship being faced by Nigerians.

He expressed sadness over what he described as lack of economic policy direction by the Government.

Wechie said, “We believe the government has exhibited gross ineptitude and incapacity in its dealings. Thus, it has continued to play the blame game on the past Goodluck Jonathan administration as a cover-up to its failures, which is a betrayal of its promises to Nigerians during the electioneering.

"The protests will help to demand a practical economic policy direction from the Federal Government."

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/04/fuel-scarcity-occupy-nigeria-plans.html

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For close to a month, Nigerians have seen a shortage of fuel supply and scarcity. Mammoth queues are seen at filling stations and the pump price of petrol has skyrocketed. Every Nigerian has been affected by the situation, directly or indirectly. The federal government has vowed to end the crisis soon but their promises are not convincing with what's seen.

Here are 5 areas in which the day-to-day activities of most Nigerians have been hampered by the fuel scarcity:

1. Traffic congestion
The numerous queues at filling stations are affecting the free flow of traffic in major cities across the nation. This affects the efficiency of businesses.

2. Inflation
The fuel scarcity has led to an increase in the pump price of petrol. This in turn causes an increase in the cost of transportation of goods. When this happens, traders hike the price of their goods, causing inflation.

3. Poor Power Supply
It's a known fact that most Nigerian businesses rely on generators for their electricity. This is due to the awful power supply situation in the country. Generators run on petrol and once there's a shortage, businesses are affected and can't run optimally. In addition, homes are also left in darkness.

4. Corruption
The fuel scarcity situation has led to the emergence of a parallel (black) market for the product. Many Nigerians see the crisis as a chance to engage in sharp practices, round-tripping and shortchanging.

5. Breakdown of Law and Order
The continued fuel scarcity has caused a breakdown of law and order in some areas of the country. There was a riot in Festac, Lagos state on Wednesday when security officials killed two persons selling petrol on the black market.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/04/bad-effects-of-fuel-scarcity-on.html

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Nigerian business media in an article has listed 10 ways in which President Muhammadu Buhari has failed Nigerians. They are:

Economy
Budget
Naira
Inflation
Fuel
Foreign Junkets
Power
Jobs
Ministers
Ideologies/Policies

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/04/10-areas-president-buhari-has-failed.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

The economy crippling fuel scarcity crisis in the country might well be over soon as oil marketers in the South West Zone of the country have commenced loading of petrol in Apapa, Lagos State.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, over 1,000 tankers were loading the product and major depots offer 24 hours service.

The articulated vehicles were sighted at Capital Oil, Folawiyi, NIPCO, Aiteo, Mobil, Rahamaniya, De Jones and Integrated Oil loading points.

Some of the depot owners, who preferred anonymity, disclosed to NAN that workers had been compelled to do 24-hour massive loading of petrol since April 5 to ease the scarcity.

They claimed that about four vessels bearing 33,000 metric tonnes of petrol had berthed to discharge into storage facilities under the throughput arrangement agreement with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

Most filling stations on Ikorodu Road, Apapa, Ikorodu and Ikeja areas were selling though there were long queues.

The marketers added that most trucks that load in Apapa do not only serve Lagos metropolis but also travel to other states in the South West.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/04/oil-tankers-begin-loading-of-petrol.html

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Nigerians residing along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway came out with their kegs to scoop some fuel as a petroleum tanker fell on the road and spilled its content this morning. The incident caused a major traffic gridlock on the ever-busy road. See more photos after the cut.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/04/photos-nigerians-scoop-fuel-as.html

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Wait, did they build the house round the tree?
http://www.metronaija.com/2016/04/photos-this-can-only-happen-in-benin.html

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The actress who is rumoured to be engaged to JJC Skillz traveled to London a few days ago to celebrate her boo's birthday with him. The party took place yesterday. She's since met his mum and his children. JJC even shared a video of his mum praying for the couple, wishing them long life, wealth and many children. More photos after the cut...

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/04/photos-funke-akindele-meets-jjcs-family.html

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A Lugbe Grade 1 Area Court in Abuja on Wednesday sentenced a 20-year-old student, John Onoja, to three months in prison for snatching a bag.

Onoja, who resides at Lugbe Zone 9, Abuja, was convicted after he pleaded guilty to the charge of theft.

The Judge, Mr Garba Ogbede, however, gave the convict an option of N5,000 fine and warned him to desist from crime in future.

Ogbede also ordered the convict to pay the complainant, Raphael Obi, N32,000 restitution and to return the stolen bag.

Onoja was however unable to pay the N5,000 fine and was taken to Kuje Prison.

The First Information Report (FIR) stated that the convict snatched the bag belonging to Obi on March 22 at 9.30 p.m. at Lugbe in Abuja

The Prosecutor, Ndidi Ukoha, had told the court that the snatched bag, valued at N25,000, contained a cell phone worth N12,000, two pairs of canvass valued at N8,000 and N10,000 cash.

She said that the complainant raised an alarm and the convict was apprehended and handed over to the police, an offence which contravened Section 288 of the Penal Code.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/student-jailed-3-months-for-snatching.html

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Legendary singer Majek Fashek, back from rehab, thrilled the crowd last night at AY Live concert which took place at Eko Hotels and Suites. The 'send down the rain' hit maker pulled off his shirt while performing, much to the applause of the crowd who were startled at what he could still do despite his age and condition. Watch the video after the cut. ..

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/videophotos-majek-fashek-undressed-and.html


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC91dVVPEGE

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Colonel Samaila Inusa (pictured) who is serving in the Nigerian Army School of Infantry Jaji, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen around Kamazo near NNPC Junction, Kaduna at about 7.30pm on Saturday March 26th. The Nigerian Army has issued a statement appealing to anyone with useful information that will help in the rescue of Colonel Inusa. The statement in part reads

"Anyone with useful information or assistance to assist in tracking these abductors should get across to us on the following telephone numbers 08033865572, 08030489203, 08023445961, 08058130703. They drove in a Mercedes car with registration number KUJ 154TZ”

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/photo-nigerian-army-colonel-kidnapped.html

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Former beauty queens, Adaeze Yobo and Stephanie Uche, graduated from their church, Christ Embassy's foundation school, yesterday March 27th. The pretty mums shared their photos on their Instagram pages. See more photos after the cut...

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/photos-ex-beauty-queens-adaeze-yobo-and.html

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The Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says at least 3,800 shops were destroyed by Saturday’s fire incident at the Sabon Gari Market, Kano.

Sani-Sidi, told newsmen at the scene of the incident in Kano, that the interim assessment of the situation, indicated that more than 90 per cent of the market had been destroyed by the fire.


"It is unfortunate that from the record more than 90 per cent of the market has been burnt. “Base on the report, more than 3, 800 shops and quite a number of buildings were razed by the inferno," he said.

He explained that no fewer than 15 persons sustained various degrees of injury during the incident, adding that the injured were already receiving treatment at the hospitals. He said the agency was working closely with the state government to ensure that the victims received proper treatment at the hospital.

"Assessment is still ongoing and the state government has mobilised over 100 trucks to clear the rubble," Sidi said.

He said that lack of access roads made it slightly difficult for fire-fighting vehicles to have easy access to the market while the fire was raging.

"The incident was unprecedented and overwhelming and can negatively affect the economy of the country," he said.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/photos-nema-dg-visits-sabon-gari-market.html

cc: lalasticlala mynd44

Pope Francis on Sunday condemned terrorism in Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Belgium, Turkey and others and also spoke out against the “rejection” of migrants and refugees in his Easter message, as Europe struggles with its biggest migration crisis since World War II.

Security was tight as he delivered his Easter mass to crowds of people gathered below the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, just days after the deadly bombings in Brussels.

“The Easter message of the risen Christ… invites us not to forget those men and women seeking a better future, an ever more numerous throng of migrants and refugees… fleeing from war, hunger, poverty and social injustice,” the pope said.

“All too often, these brothers and sisters of ours meet along the way with death or, in any event, rejection by those who could offer them welcome and assistance.”

Francis has long called for the global community to open its doors to refugees and fight xenophobia — appeals which have intensified since a controversial deal between Europe and Turkey to expel migrants arriving in Greece.

During Good Friday prayers, the pontiff had also decried what he called Europe’s “indifferent and anaesthetised conscience” over migrants.

On Sunday, the pope also referred to Syria’s “lengthy conflict, with its sad wake of destruction, death, contempt for humanitarian law”.

He voiced hope for the UN-brokered indirect peace talks between the government and opposition forces that opened in Geneva in mid-March and are set to resume in April.

“Good will and the cooperation of all will bear fruit in peace and initiate the building of a fraternal society,” he said.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/easter-message-pope-condemns-terrorism.html

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Read more at http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/photos-fire-destroys-birnin-kebbi.html

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Shops and goods were razed in an early morning inferno which razed 60% pf Birnin Kebbi Central Market. According to Kebbi daily, the fire began around 12.45am on Saturday, March 26. Fire fighting vehicles, personnel from Kebbi State Fire Service and shop owners battled with the inferno until early afternoon.

Security was heightened in and around the market to prevent hoodlums from looting the trader's properties. Some shops were successfully evacuated at the beginning of the inferno.

The Kebbi State Government commiserates with all the traders affected by the fire, adding that it 's a monumental loss to the people and the state. Officials from the state government, led by the Chief of Staff of the government house, Alhaji Suleiman Argungu, and the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Mohammad Bashar, visited the scene to commiserate with traders who lost their goods and properties. An ivestigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/photos-fire-destroys-birnin-kebbi.html

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A 17-year-old girl, Mariam Yahaya, has been arrested by the Plateau State Police Command for allegedly hacking her husband, Lawal Bala, to death, few weeks after they got married.




It was gathered that Yahaya has already confessed to the act which happened at the Gangere area of Jos North Local Government Area of the state, barely a month after their marriage.


It was learnt that the police were initially working on the theory that some armed men had invaded the neighbourhood and slit the throat of the deceased with a knife but some youths, who rushed to the area after the cries of Bala and his wife, strongly suspected her and had tried to lynch her before she was rescued by the police.

The 30-year-old Bala, himself a butcher, got married to teenager against her wishes, and was said to have been killed while relaxing in his home shortly after he returned from his business.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/wife-hacks-husband-to-death-in-jos.html

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A Police corporal attached to Mopol 23 of the Lagos Police Command has been shot dead by unidentified gunmen.

Corporal Babatunde was killed in Satellite Town area of the state on Good Friday, spokesperson for the command, SP Dolapo Badmos, said.

Badmos said that the anti-riot policeman was walking on the raod when was shot dead by two gunmen on a motorcycle.

She said that contrary to some news making the round, the police man was not killed by suspected armed robbers during a bank robbery operation.

“There was no attempted robbery on Diamond Bank on Friday. Only a police man walking along the road was shot dead by two men on a motorcycle.

“The command is investigating the killing to unravel the motive,’’ Badmos said

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/gunmen-kill-policeman-in-lagos.html

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The Divisional Police Officer in Eket, CSP. Abdulkadir Jamal, on Friday confirmed that four persons died in a cult clash in Eket, near Uyo in Akwa Ibom.

Jamal said in Eket that the police were investigating the cause of the clash.

U.S. oil major ExxonMobil operates in Eket.

“We were informed and investigation is going on in the cult clash which led to the killing of members of the cult groups in Eket,’’ Jamal said.

He called on the populace to always give information to the police to help them to arrest criminals.

Jamal called on youths to stay away from crime, saying that criminals would always be made to face the wrath of the law.

The bodies of the dead could be seen at various locations in Eket.

A source, who pleaded anonymity told NAN that the clash was between Junior Vikings Confraternity and the rival Confraternity.

The source explained that trouble started at a notorious night club on Ataobong Road in Eket and spilled over to Rescue Point at St. Gregory’s area off Liverpool Street.

“The fracas started at Liverpool Street, opposite St. Gregory’s Primary school area, called “Forty-Forty” Drinking Parlor.

“The Axe guy harassed the Junior Vikings boy who was with a girl at the beer parlour that is where the trouble started. ’’

The source recalled that a man, suspected to be a cultist also died last week at Mobil Mart along the Eket-Oron Road, Eket.

He said that two persons similarly died on March 24 at Udo Umoh Street in Eket.
“One of the bodies was found in his pool of blood along Udo Umoh Street, battered with machete cuts, while the other was found along Stadium Road,’’ the source added.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/03/cult-clash-4-people-die-in-akwa-ibom.html

cc: lalasticlala