₦airaland Forum

Fourty eight victims of Sunday’s twin blast in Jos were buried yesterday as witnesses give shocking accounts of the deadly attack.
Also, the Plateau state government and a prominent Islamic cleric have appealed for calm after angry youth targeted two churches and shops in the area.

The bombers hit a popular restaurant and a mosque where the Ramadan Tafsir was holding at the time.
A witness, Hassan Ahmed who escaped with gunshot wounds, said two people came shooting randomly at the crowd of people outside the mosque.
He said they were apparently trying to make their way into the mosque which was full to capacity.

Ahmed, who is being treated of his wounds at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos, told Daily Trust yesterday said as far as he could recollect, a third person detonated a bomb before he could get to the preacher and presumed main target, Sheikh Yahaya Jingir.
He said: “These people came shooting at the people outside the mosque and others that they could reach inside the mosque.
“In the confusion some people tried to get up and escape while others lay down to avoid being shot. In the midst of all that I was shot in my left arm. I heard a loud explosion as I fell down.
“I later learnt that a third person detonated a bomb while already in the mosque but not yet within reach of the Sheikh, killing himself and people that were close to him.”
‘I heard ‘gboom’ and knew nothing else afterwards’
Umma Umar, one of the service girls at Shagalinku Restaurant where the first bomb blast occurred was not hurt but she was distraught.
She told Daily Trust, that she heard an explosion but that she remembered nothing afterwards.
“I must have fallen after the explosion but I can’t really remember anything that may have happened afterwards,” she said.


Two churches within sight of the Yan Taya Mosque where the second of the twin bombs that rocked Jos Sunday night exploded were torched by irate youths.

We gathered that the youths went on rampage and set ablaze the First African Church Mission in Nigeria on Adebayo Street and Cherubim and Seraphim Church around Dilimi. They are two closest churches to the scene of the gun and bomb attacks.
Unlike the Cherubim and Seraphim Church which suffered a minimal damage in the 2008 Jos crisis, the First African Church Mission in Nigeria had until Sunday stood as one of the churches in the Muslim neighbourhood of Jos North that had never been affected by any Jos crisis.


The Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Nasiru Oki while briefing reporters said the first blast at Shagalinku Restaurant was carried out by two women suicide bombers who walked into the restaurant and detonated their bombs.
He said the second blast that took place at the Izala Mosques at Yan Taya, off Bauchi Road, was coordinated by perpetuators who did most of their killings through shooting directed at the Tafsir congregation.

The Police Boss described the burning of two churches by irate youths after the incident as barbaric. He appealed to the people of Plateau to remain calm, assuring them that necessary security measures had been put in place by the Police to ensure the safety of lives and property.
The state-owned Plateau Specialist Hospital, to which most of the injured were taken, was overflowing with patients by yesterday morning.

Many of the injured lay on the floor in many hospitals wards as waiting hopelessly for medical attention.
Both the state government and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), put the death toll at 44 and the injured at 47.
North Central Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Malam Mohammed Abdulsalam, told Daily Trust the agency was making plans to transfer some of the injured to hospitals that had space.

Our correspondent who attended the funeral prayers for the deceased counted 48 corpses.
Daily Trust learnt from other sources that some of the people who died at the Shagalinku Restaurant blast on Bauchi Road were Christians whose corpses had been carried away by their relatives and could not have been among the 48 whose funeral prayers were led by Sheikh Yahaya Jingir.


The Plateau State government has directed security operatives in the state to immediately mount snap check points at appropriate areas following the twin explosion.
Governor Simon Bako Lalong said in a statement mailed to journalists by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Samuel Emmanuel Nanle yesterday that the gunshots and multiple explosions were unfortunate, saying the snap checkpoints were meant to address peculiar security situations in the state.

The statement further directed all medical institutions in the state to respond to medical situations at government expense. If appealed to all voluntary aid groups to provide the needed First Aid assistance to the injured.
Lalong called on all inhabitants of Jos North and all the citizens of the state to remain calm, adding that the attacks were regrettable especially at a time when Muslim faithful were settled to the fulfillment of a religious obligation.

“Agents of death, chaos and anarchy have chosen to disrupt the peace of the state by orchestrating a spate of sporadic bomb blasts to portray a state of dissatisfaction that pitches otherwise peaceful cohabitants against themselves,” Lalong stated.
While commiserating with all the victims, the governor urged citizens of the State to stand in solidarity with one another “in the face of this onslaught by agents of death on our collective resolve to remain as one united people in spite of ethnic and religious difference.”

Jingir calls for calm
The National Chairman of Council of Ulama of Jama’atul Izalatul Bidi’a Wa Ikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir whose Tafsir congregation in Jos was attacked in one of Sunday night twin bomb incidents, has called on all Muslims to remain calm and not to engage in any form of reprisal.
Jingir who spoke to newsmen yesterday in Jos shortly before leading a mass funeral prayer for 48 corpses that resulted from the multiple bomb blasts of Sunday night, said the ‘evil-minded people’ had struck again against innocent souls.

Jingir said, “Terrorists launched another heinous work yesterday (Sunday evening) while we were conducting Tafsir. They began with sporadic gunshots on the people outside the mosque, including children who were in their hundreds gathered listening to the Tafsir. Later, one of the gunmen exploded the bomb he was carrying.

“Almighty Allah did not give them the opportunity to enter the mosque because of the security consciousness of the people and which halted their advance into the mosque and also helped in reducing the casualty. The attack was very painful because the casualties were in the process of worshiping and learning the meaning of Holy Quran aimed at making them responsible members of the society. The attack was sad most especially when the nature of killing innocent people in the country has continued unabated”.

Jingir called on leaders at all levels to sit up and discharge their responsibilities with fear of God especially those at the helm of government and security agencies, adding, “Security operatives should double their efforts in surveillance and other segments in halting the menace and fishing out bad eggs among them so that the suspicious of complicity can be taken care of. Security is everybody’s business, something must be done to strengthen the relationship between the general public and security agencies and build synergy that will widen the scope of fighting our common enemy. We must all join hands against terrorism.”

When asked whether he felt he was the main target of the attack, Jingir said, “Well, I might likely be their main target but I believe the attack was targeted at the entire society to destroy the fabric of cohesion, harmony and peaceful coexistence of the whole country. This attack will not deter us from our legitimate cause of preaching the gospel of peace and true teaching of Islam. We will continue to preach against all forms of terrorism and its ramifications”.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/48-bodies-buried-after-jos-bombing.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

cc lalasticlala

The Governor of Kaduna state at the scene of the bomb blast in a local government complex that killed at least 20 people on Tuesday morning,,see photos below

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/photos-el-rufai-visits-scene-of-bomb.html

Local government workers flee the complex immediately after the bomb blast that hit a local government headquarters in Zaria, northern Nigeria, on Tuesday, primary school teachers and public staff were undergoing identity checks.



www.metronaija.com can authoritatively confirm that the workers were moved out of the local government complex with the assistance of security personnel and as at of the time of filling this reports,security operatives has restricted www.metronaija.com movement of snapping shots from the explosion scene.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/exclusive-photos-workers-fleeing-from.html

In Calabar, a 6-year-old boy has been whisked away by persons suspected to be kidnappers on Monday.

The boy has been identified as Eyo Antigha, the son of the proprietor of Faith Nursery/ Primary School, Michael Antigha, in Calabar South of Cross River State.
According to an eyewitness, the alleged abductors waited for the boy at the entrance of the school and as soon the victim alighted from the vehicle that brought him to school he was kidnapped into a waiting speed boat.

“We have been noticing an increase in the number of strange people living around our area as squatters in this Anantigha area recently and we suspect they have been responsible for the incessant kidnappings of people in Calabar of recent,” the eyewitness said.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/a-6-year-old-boy-has-been-abducted-in.html

Cc: lalasticlala cc: Ishilove

A man is suing the company Unilever for causing him "mental anguish" because he could not attract women with his fresh breath after using their toothpaste.



Anthony Olatunfe, from Nigeria, used Unilever's "Close up" toothpaste in the hopes of having women rush to him, just like the toothpaste advertisement implies, Metronaija reported last week.


But after more than seven years of using the toothpaste, Olatunfe, 26, still hasn't managed to find a mate.


"Where is the Close Up effect?" Olatunfe said, according to www.metronaija.com. "I've been waiting for it for over seven years."

Olatunfe apparently filed the lawsuit when he tried to kiss a female boss after using Close up. The boss slapped Olatunfe.


"Right from my college to now in my office, no girl ever agreed to even go out for tea or coffee with me, even though I'm sure they could smell my breath," Olatunfe said, metronaija reported. "I always brush my teeth with so much Close up gel to make sure the girls get turned on by my fresh breath as they usually show on TV."


Olatunfe said that Unilever, which owns brands like Dove, Lipton and Ben & Jerry's, was "cheating" when it guaranteed that Close up toothpaste will make the user irresistible, Metronaija reported.


The plaintiff even submitted his entire stock of Close up tubes- empty, half-empty and brand new- to the court to support his claim. Olatunfe insisted the court order Unilever test the toothpaste in a laboratory to prove the effectiveness of its product, Metronaija reported.


Unilever has not yet issued a statement about the lawsuit, Metronaija reported.


"Unilever might be tempted to argue that Anthony is too ugly to attract a girl, but it is very risky," Barrister Festus Keyamo, a lawyer from Lagos, told www.metronaija.com "There is no data to substantiate the supposition that unattractive and unintelligent men don't attract women."


http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/man-sue-unilever-after-toothpaste.html

Cc: lalasticlala

Former Oceanic Bank MD Cecilia Ibru lost her son Rode Ibru recently. Rode, a filmmaker, was buried two days ago. His friends announced his passing on social media, eulogizing the man they called a amazing individual but they didn't say how he died. His father is billionaire businessman Olorogun Michael Ibru. He's survived by his parents and siblings. May his soul rest in peace, amen.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/cecilia-ibrus-son-rode-ibru-dies-at-34.html

We have to follow this to the sweet end. He proposed at a pooling unit on Nigeria's 2015 presidential election day and the photos went viral. Yesterday 4th of July, they got married. Happy married life to Dolapo and Kunle. More photos after the cut...


http://www.metroparrot.net/2015/07/wedding-photos-of-our-favourite.html

Cc: lalasticlala

President Buhari asked APC members to put their personal interest in their pocket and allow the party system work. He gave the charge during his opening remarks at the party's NEC meeting currently holding at the party's National secretariat in Abuja.

"What ever your personal interests, put them in your pocket. Let APC work. Let the system work. I appeal to you to accept the superiority of the party. I cannot confine myself in Sambisa forest and refuse to participate in the meeting because I respect the superiority of the party.” he said

Senator Saaraki and Hon Yakubu Dogara are present at the meeting while Bola Tinubu is absent

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/whatever-your-personal-interests-put.html

Cc lalasticlala

President Robert Mugabe has announced that he'll travel down to Washington DC and propose marriage to President Barack Obama since gay marriage is such a good thing.



Reports have it that Mugabe made the comment in response to America's decision to legalise gay marriage across all 50 states. He said, ''I've just concluded - since President Obama endorses the same-sex marriage, advocates homosexual people and enjoys an attractive countenance - thus if it becomes necessary, I shall travel to Washington, DC, get down on my knee and ask his hand.''

'I can't understand how this people dare to defy Christ's explicit orders as our Lord prohibited mankind from sodomy', going on to accuse the U.S. government of being run by 'perverted Satan-worshipers who insult the great American nation.'

Mugabe added that although the U.S. was founded on 'lofty Christian principles', the 'corrupt political elite' now acts only towards its own end.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/world-gay-marriage-mugabe-says-hell.html

Mrs Amina Zakari who was appointed acting chairman of INEC by President Buhari yesterday June 30th is pictured above receiving notes from Ambassador Ahmad Wali who Professor Jega handed over to yesterday June 30th. She will stay in office until a new chairman is appointed!

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/photo-acting-inec-chairman-mrs-amina.html

He was discharged and acquitted of money laundering this morning. More photos below

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/07/photos-ffk-and-his-fiancee-at-his-court.html

Press statement from the office of the Senate President..

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki today (Tuesday 30th of June 2015) gave assurance that there would be no delay in the confirmation of ministerial nominees once the list is sent to the legislature by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Senate President while receiving the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Denys Gaver, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office, said it was to ensure that the suspension of plenary does not disturb serious government business like the screening of ministers that he has continued to reiterate the fact that the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly will resume plenary when there is any urgent matter of national importance.



Responding to the comments by the French Envoy, the Senate President said that though the Senate is currently on break but “ we are working and we are ready to reconvene any time to attend to any national assignment, including the confirmation of President Muhammadu Buhari's ministerial nominees.". > He also pledged the cooperation of the National Assembly with the executive arm of government in accomplishing the programmes of the administration.

The Senate Presidency said bills from the executive arm of government would be treated with dispatch, as part of efforts to support the President to effect the positive change expected from his administration by Nigerians.

The senate president told the French delegation that the Senate has commenced work already with the setting up of the 18 man committee to formulate a realistic and progressive Legislative Agenda, which he said would address issues like poverty alleviation, law enforcement, national security, commercial disputes, eradication of corruption and investments in the Petroleum sector.

Saraki further said the National Assembly will partner with the French National Assembly in the area of capacity building for legislators, strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries and ensuring that more French investments flow into Nigeria.

He specifically solicited the co-operation of the French government in tackling the security problems in the North-eastern part of Nigeria, particularly as Nigeria shares borders with French-speaking countries. > Earlier, the French envoy, who described the leadership tussle at the National Assembly as part of democracy, solicited for cooperation between the National Assembly and the President Buhari-led executive arm of government.

The French Envoy said that the expectation of the international community on Nigeria is high

He also called for cooperation between the private sector in Nigeria and its counterpart in France.

On security, Gaver said France is encouraging her former colonies in West Africa to cooperate with Nigeria in the onslaught against the Boko Haram insurgency.

Media Office of the Senate President

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/06/there-wont-be-delay-in-confirmation-of.html

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, June 29, 2015 arraigned Yau Mohammed Gital, Shuaibu Yakubu, Jibiril M. Tahir and Jibmir Ventures Nigeria Limited before Justice Abubakar Talba of the FCT High Court Gudu, Abuja, on a 10-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence, conspiracy and forgery to the tune of N192,000,000 (one hundred and ninety-two million naira).


Gital, a former Chief of Staff to the FCT minister and member of the Land Allocation Committee, Federal Capital Territory Administration, allegedly conspired with Shuaibu Yakubu, a former special assistant to the Chief of Staff, Jibril M. Tahir, the Managing Director, Jibmir Ventures Nigeria Limited, to obtain money from various unsuspecting persons under the false pretence that the money was for processing and facilitation of land allocation by the Federal Capital Development Authority.

Count one reads:

“That you, Yau Mohammed Gital, being the Chief of Staff to the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and member of the Land Allocation Committee, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Shuaibu Yakubu, being a former Special Assistant to the former Chief of Staff, Jibril M. Tahir, being the Managing Director of Jibmir Ventures Nigeria Limited and Jibmir Ventures Nigeria Limited sometimes between September 2012 to March 2014 in Abuja within the Jurisdiction of the High court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, with intent to defraud, conspired to do an illegal act, to wit: obtain monies by false pretences from various unsuspecting persons under the false pretence that the said monies was for the processing/facilitation of land allocation by the Federal Capital Development Authority which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”

However, the accused pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.In view of their pleas, counsel to the accused persons, Nura Imam, urged the court to admit them to bail while awaiting trial.

Justice Bello ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case to July 2, 2015 for ruling on the bail application.

Media & Publicity
29th June, 2015

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/06/photo-ex-ministers-aide-others.html

"The streets are military"....Nigerian music star, Damini Ogulu, better known by his stage name Burna Boy, seems to have unleashed his 'inner demon' as he was flaunted a Semi-automatic pistol online. The reggae-dancehall singer proudly flaunted his new acquisition as he posted the photos on his social media with the caption; This is not a movie or music video. Truss mi daddy!!..letting his fans know that this is real.



Meanwhile, the talented singer singed a mouth-watering deal last week with multinational network giants, Globacom

http://www.metroparrot.net/2015/06/photos-burna-boy-acquires-new-automatic.html

Several grieving Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) students seized the Sagamu – Ilisan stretch of the Lagos – Ore expressway as they stormed the scene of horrific accident which claimed the lives of a dozen of their colleagues last Friday.



Vehicular movement came to abrupt halt on both lanes of the dual carriage way – hordes of travelers were turned back even as they threatened to hauled stones at any truck carrying container.

The students who arrived in four long buses and about three cars had converged to pray at the scene for the repose of their colleagues but emotions took the better part of them as they cried, yelled and cursed the driver that brought the untimely death on the affected students.



Tens of Policemen, members of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and operatives of the Ogun state’s traffic agency, TRACE, made frantic efforts to rein them in but with minimal success.

Seizing both arms of the expressway at the Ikenne -Ilisan stretch of it, they marched to the site of a factory beside the expressway few meters away from the accident, which they suspect to own the container that crushed students to death.



The company has since shut down momentarily but armed policemen stationed at the gate prevented them from advancing but following pressure from students, the steel gate gave way, and they surged into the factory in their thousands.



It would be recalled that over a dozen of students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Ago – Iwoye, were crushed to death and others gravely injured on Friday when a container fell on a passenger bus conveying them.



The 20-feet container from a moving truck came off when the driver was driving àgainst traffic and in a bid to avoid an obstruction at the Sagamu stretch of the Lagos/Benin expressway, the load tipped and dropped lethally atop of the bus’ roof.



The weighty container press – pinned the bus to the ground in the accident, which occurred few meters away from the gate of a plastic manufacturing company situating near the Ilisha Remo junction.
The vehicle was a truck marked (LAGOS) BDG 779 XE and a Toyota Haiace passenger bus bearing (Lagos) XV 311 MUS.


It was learnt that the OOU students were traveling to Lagos state for the weekend when they met their untimely death.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/06/photos-oou-students-protesting-as-they.html

Press statement from the PDP...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says no amount of intimidation, blackmail and propaganda by the Presidency would stop it from standing shoulder to shoulder with Nigerians in demanding that President Muhammadu Buhari kick-starts government and commence implementation of his campaign promises for which he was voted into office.

The party said Presidency’s excuse of clearing the so-called Augean Stable is lame and diversionary noting that it stands by its statement that the delay is creating loopholes

Through which some persons claiming closeness to the President have infiltrated executive bodies, arm-twisting and conniving with unscrupulous elements in the bureaucracy to syphon the nation’s resources in the last 30 days.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement on Monday said the party would not in any way be cowed by threats and wild allegations by the Presidency into abdicating its responsibility of speaking out as an opposition party where the system is derailing.

“The PDP and indeed all well-meaning Nigerians were appalled by the response from the Presidency regarding our call for prayers to enable President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration locate its bearing, compose a government and halt the prevailing stagnation with its huge negative impact on the system.

“Instead of addressing the issues raised, the Presidency descended to insults, abuses and innuendos, a stance which not only bears out the case made by the PDP but also raises questions about the capacity of this administration to shoulder the enormous responsibility of governance.

“While we expect the present administration to be serious about the fight against corruption, probe and persecute each and everyone involved in such, irrespective of their party leaning, we restate that these must be done within the ambits of the law and must not be used as a witch-hunt ostensibly to discredit and undermine the opposition. We therefore caution against the current drama of politicizing the issue of corruption in the country.

“Furthermore, the analogy of the Augean stable, is completely baffling to us at this level as it goes to a great length to question the capacity and the sincerity of those around the president.

“In Greek mythology, Hercules in his ingenuity took the task and efficiently cleared the Augean’ stable in a day for which he demanded a reward of a tenth of fine cattle belonging to the king.

“Nigerians would not want to believe that in the so-called clearing of the Augean stable, although not delivering in one day, President Buhari wants to play Hercules in his demand, this time, by wanting to run the government alone without the statutory components of the executive as enshrined in the constitution.

“We ask, is the so-called clearing of mess responsible for his inability after 90 days of winning an election to make up his mind on rudimentary appointments such as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief of Staff and his demand for 15 Special Advisers as approved by the PDP controlled Seventh Assembly since June 5, 2015?

“Perhaps we need to draw President Buhari’s attention to the fact that while he is busy clearing his imaginary mess on the pages of newspapers, some persons claiming closeness to him have in the last 30 days been piling up sleazes that also need his attention in key agencies of government.

“Despite the absence of approving and supervising officials, key income generating institutions like NNPC, NIMASA, NPA, FIRS and other strategic agencies have been invaded by persons claiming to be friends and associates of the President and this puts to question the sincerity and seriousness of the administration to affect the so-called change upon which they rode to power.

“Auxiliary to this is the issue of the construction of a helipad, amongst various expenses and other major government expenditure going on across board in the last one month and without due supervision as the eyes of the President cannot be everywhere.

“We declare unequivocally that we do have respect for the person and office of the President especially considering his age and status as an elder statesman. However, we will like to make it very clear that the President of the Federal Republic Nigeria is neither a Sherriff in the Old Wild West nor a military dictator in some Banana Republic. He is an elected president under a democratic setting.

LET THE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY REIGN!!!

Signed:
Chief Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/06/buhari-you-cant-blackmail-us-pdp.html

Two security officers and a civilian have been confirmed dead after two female suicide bombers tried to force their way into a hospital in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital this afternoon. Two of the hospital's security officers were killed while they tried to stop the women from gaining access into the hospital.

"We evacuated the charred bodies of the two security guards, another civilian and the two bombers," a resident Auwal Mohammed said.

The charred remains of the victims and that of the suicide bombers have been deposited at the Borno state hospital morgue.

http://www.metronaija.com/2015/06/female-suicide-bombers-attack-hospital.html

One of Nigeria’s most decorated OAP, Toolz was at the International BET Awards’ Nominees’ reception in Los Angeles alongside other Africam celebrities like John Dumelo, ajid Micheal, Fally Ipupa.
Toolz shared photos from the event rocking a nice jumpsuit.
More photos below;

http://www.metroparrot.net/2015/06/photos-of-toolz-fally-ipupa-majid.html