₦airaland Forum

The deaths of hundreds of people in detention facilities run by Nigeria’s military Joint Task Force (JTF) must be investigated as a matter of urgency, Amnesty International said today.
The group said it has received credible information from a senior officer in the Nigerian army that over 950 people died in military custody in the first six months of this year alone.
The report came on the same day that the 2013 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), reported the quality of governance in Nigeria to be deteriorating, Nigeria ranking 41st out of Africa’s 52 nations in safety and rule of law, participation and human rights, sustainable economic opportunity and human development.
Amnesty said that most of the reported deaths occurred in facilities used by the military to detain people suspected of being members of, or associated with, the armed Islamist group Boko Haram.
Lucy Freeman, Amnesty’s Deputy Director for Africa, said:
“The evidence we’ve gathered suggests that hundreds of people died in military custody in 2013 alone. This is a staggeringly high figure that requires urgent action by the Nigerian government.
“The details of what happens behind locked doors in these shadowy detention facilities must be exposed, and those responsible for any human rights violations brought to book.”
A large proportion of these deaths are reported to have happened in Giwa military barracks, in Maiduguri, Borno State; in Sector Alpha, commonly referred to as ‘Guantanamo’; and in Presidential Lodge (known as ‘Guardroom’) in Damaturu, Yobe State.
According to former detainees interviewed by Amnesty, people died on an almost daily basis in both Giwa and Sector Alpha from starvation, suffocation or other injuries associated with overcrowding. Some suffered serious injuries from severe beating and eventually died due to lack of medical attention and treatment.
The interviews also revealed that in some cases detainees may have been extra judicially executed. Some described soldiers taking prisoners from their cells threatening to shoot and kill them. In many cases the detainees never returned. Others were reportedly shot in the leg during interrogation, were not provided with medical care and were left to bleed to death.
Another senior officer in the Nigerian army who spoke on condition of anonymity told Amnesty:
“Hundreds have been killed in detention either by shooting them or by suffocation…There are times when people are brought out on a daily basis and killed. About five people, on average, are killed nearly on a daily basis.”
In April 2013 Amnesty International delegates counted 20 emaciated corpses lying on the ground in the compound of the State Specialist Hospital mortuary in Maiduguri. Eye witnesses said that the bodies had been deposited by the JTF.
Several other sources told Amnesty that the same mortuary received a daily delivery of bodies by the JTF. They reportedly remain there until the mortuary is full and are then taken away for burial by Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA). Information received by Amnesty indicates that post-mortem examinations are not carried out at the mortuary or elsewhere.
Lucy Freeman added:
“International standards, as well as Nigerian laws, require that deaths in custody must be investigated thoroughly and impartially.
“Detainees have human rights and these must be respected in all instances.”
In many parts of northern Nigeria hundreds of people accused of having links to Boko Haram have been arbitrarily detained by the JTF. Many have been detained. incommunicado for lengthy periods without charge or trial, without being brought before any judicial authority, and without access to lawyers and families



http://mobile.saharareporters.com/news-page/amnesty-calls-urgent-investigation-hundreds-deaths-boko-haram-suspects-nigeria-custody-ove

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a man, identified as Pascal Amaechi, who is said to be specialised in robbing passengers along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while the operatives of the command are on the trial of his accomplice, simply named Monday.

The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Ilobanafor, said both men disguised to commit the crime.

Ilobanafor said, “The two armed robbers, who disguised as passengers, boarded an Ibadan bound 18-seat passenger bus from Sango-Otta with the intention to rob travellers of their belongings during the journey.

“At a secluded area just after the RCC work station along the expressway, the robbers showed their true colours as they threatened to kill those onboard if the driver did not stop.

“In the process, a passenger, named Olumuyiwa Idowu, was stabbed in the chest with a knife and robbed of his phone, bag and unspecified amount of money by the attackers. Another passenger, Tunde Babalola, was also robbed of his belongings.”

“The bandits were said to have fled the scene of the robbery but one of them was soon caught after the passengers reported the incident to some policemen at the Ibadan end of the expressway.”

“With the help of vigilance group members in the community, one of them, Amaechi, was caught while he was also identified by a passenger as one of the two that robbed the vehicle. During questioning, Amaechi named an accomplice, Monday, while confessing to the crime,” the PPRO said.

The suspect is said to have been transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery squad unit of the Oyo State Police Command, Ibadan.


http://www.punchng.com/metro/robbers-disguise-to-rob-commuters-on-lagos-ibadan-expressway-2/

A 32-year-old father, Glory Egbenanalujo, was on Monday paraded at the Edo State Police Command headquarters, Benin, for allegedly defiling the six-year-old daughter of his neighbour.

Parading Egbenanalujo along with 54 other suspected criminals, Commissioner of Police, Foluso Adebanjo, said the victim’s mother (name withheld), reported the case to the police.

He said, “On October 7, a six–year-old girl was allegedly defiled by one Glory Egbenanalujo ‘m’ aged 32 years. The little girl’s mother, who discovered blood stains on her daughter’s underwear, reported the matter to police.

Investigation revealed that the little girl was defiled by the suspect. He has confessed to the crime and will be charged to court.”

Other offenders, paraded by the police, included a landlord, Victor Iyen, who allegedly raped one of his tenants and the duo of Austin Ogbebor, 20, and Lucky Ekhator, also 20, for allegedly raping a housewife.

Iyen, who admitted sleeping with the tenant, however, claimed they had an affair.

He said, “I raped a girl, she’s my toaster. We live in the same house. Just like I was drunk; I did it.”

A dismissed soldier and an alleged gun manufacturer, Edobor Osarekemwen, 52, who was arrested for carjacking and impersonation, for parading himself as a uniformed man, were also paraded by the command.

Osarekemwen, however, said his activities were genuine.

He said, “I am from Okokhuo village in Ovia North East. I only service guns, both local (locally) and English-made, for local hunters. Thieves do not buy from me and I know my people. I do not sell to or deal with criminals.”

Items recovered from some of the criminals included various brands of vehicles and motorcycles, double and single-barrelled guns, ammunition, locally-made pistols, military gears, live cartridges, hammers, saws, master key, cutlasses, BlackBerry phone, mattresses and electronic equipment.

Adebanjo reiterated the command’s determination to reduce crime in Edo State.

He said, “While the command remains focused and determined in reducing crime to its barest minimum, particularly as we celebrate Eid-el-Kabir in the state. The command calls on all and sundry to collaborate with the police in intelligence gathering aimed at fishing out undesirable elements in the state.”


http://www.punchng.com/metro/father-of-one-defiles-neighbours-six-year-old-daughter/

Following the preparations for the Eid El Kabir Sallah celebrations an intelligent report made available to the men of the 7 Division, Nigerian Army in Maiduguri has averted what could have been a twin coordinated attacks by Boko Haram terrorists in Konduga and Bama Local Government Areas of Borno state.
Bama is about 75 kilometres away from Maiduguri where unspecified number of terrorists at Izza villages near Bama town were killed last week by the Division troops while 5 Hilux vehicles mounted with anti -air craft guns conveying the terrorists with 18 seater bus with suspected foodstuff belonging to them were destroyed before their mission to launch a deadly attack in Bama.
Konduga is about 40 kilometres away from Maiduguri Metropolis which also witnessed a deadly attack on some muslim faithful while performing their morning prayers in a mosque in the town last month killing over 40 people.
The Sunday aborted twin attacks by suspected terrorists our correspondent gathered was based on intelligent report available to the military troops that over 100 Boko Haram sect members had mobilized in a nearby bush close to Bama town with sophisticated weapons to attack Bama and Konduga local government areas of the state on Monday morning (today).
It was learnt that when the terrorists have all gathered and were about to move to Bama and Konduga which shared the same common boarder, men of the 7 Division who had an intelligent report ambushed them with Armoured Patrol Tankers and RPG guns killing  about 40 of them, after recovering the terrorists’s arms and ammunitions.
A Security Source who is not authorised to speak to the Press confirmed the incident to our correspondent in Maiduguri.
He said, “yes there was an averted twin deadly attacks by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Bama and Konduga Council areas of Borno state.
” Information available to my office from my officers and men indicated that over hundred terrorists were ambushed by security operatives based on intelligent report near Bama town and that unspecified number of the terrorists were killed using bombs and our sophisticated weapons”. He stated.
He said that the killed terrorists were on a deadly mission to launch a twin attacks in Bama and Konduga councils, but luck run out of them as most of them were killed by security operatives based on information that hundreds of terrorists suspected to be coming out from their camps in Sambiza Game Forests were sighted by some good samaritans before the military stroke on them and killed quiet a number of them with the recovery of arms and ammunitions in their possession.
Due to lact of telecommunication service for the past four months in Borno, both the acting Spokesman of the 7 Division, Captain Aliyu Danja and the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Gidoen Jubrin could not be reached for confirmation as at the time of going to Press. End.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/40-terrorists-killed-military-averts-attacks-borno/

Thai authorities said Monday they had arrested the owner of a sex show visited by pop icon Rihanna — the latest crackdown inadvertently triggered by the singer’s tweets.
The bar owner on the island of Phuket has been charged in connection with the lewd performance, local district chief Veera Kerdsirimongkol told AFP, following an operation involving undercover officials.
“It was the result of the visit by Rihanna. The authorities will be more strict towards inappropriate shows or wildlife attractions,” he said.
Thai tourist officials were left red-faced after Rihanna’s tweets last month drew worldwide attention to the kingdom’s seedier side.
“Either I was phuck wasted lastnight, or I saw a Thai woman pull a live bird,2 turtles,razors,shoot darts and ping pong, all out of her kitten,” she wrote in a message in September to her more than 32 million followers on Twitter.
“The birds feathers were all damp! Lol. Only in #Thailand,” she added.
“And THEN she tried to turn water into coke in her $!! Uhh yea, all I’m saying is water went in and soda came out! I’m traumatized!!!”
It is the second time the pop diva has unwittingly helped to clean up Phuket, one of Thailand’s top tourist destinations.
Last month two men were arrested for possessing a protected slow loris after Rihanna posted a picture of herself with the primate on a night out during the same visit to the island.
The image — captioned “Look who was talkin dirty to me!” (http://instagram.com/p/efvnHRBM3B/) — generated outrage from wildlife activists about rampant exploitation of animals in Thai tourist areas.
Use of the slow loris and other protected species for tourist snaps — while common in Thai tourist resorts — is officially illegal.
According to wildlife protection campaigners, mother lorises are often killed while the young are stolen. The primates’ teeth are also removed due to their toxic bite.
Thailand’s sun-drenched beaches and libidinous nightlife have long been a magnet for tourists from around the world.
But following a flurry of complaints, foreign diplomats have called for a crackdown on scams and crimes against tourists in Phuket.
Local tourist police volunteers warn against venturing into strip clubs offering “ping-pong shows” due to the risk of overpriced drinks and threats of violence against people who refuse to pay.
“As well as dealing seriously with inappropriate shows and drugs, police will do more to protect the safety of tourists as the high season approaches,” said Phuket police chief Ongart Phewreungnon.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/sex-show-owner-arrested-rihannas-thai-visit/

Despite the legal hurdles put in place by the government of Liechtenstein and the companies to prevent Nigeria from recovering the €185m illegally saved in the European country, the Federal Government has enlisted the services of the World Bank to recover the money.

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said this in Washington DC, United States, on Sunday at a press conference as part of the International Monetary Fund/World Bank annual meetings.

She said the money was looted by the late maximum ruler late General Sani Abacha and taken to Liechtenstein through some companies registered in the Central European country.

However, she said efforts by the Federal Government to recover the looted fund in the last 14 years had been resisted by the government of Liechtenstein and the companies involved through several court cases.

Okonjo-Iweala said, “For 14 years, starting since the Presidency of President Olusegun Obasanjo, we have been pursuing this money in Liechtenstein and this is part of the legacy of the Abacha money taken out of the country. There have been several steps, we have had a lawyer who has been working on this case as well as other cases of lost Abacha money.”

“But the essence is that we have identified this money in Liechtenstein, €185m, through our lawyer, Mr. Monfreeny of Switzerland. He first started under President Obasanjo’s administration and now credit to President Goodluck Jonathan, he has been pursuing it in the last few years with the same lawyer.

“The Attorney-General of the Federation has also been working on this, in fact they were working before I joined and the idea is that there has been several legal steps and challenges that have been thrown in Liechtenstein courts against returning this money.”

According to the minister, Liechtenstein courts have given judgment and said the money should be returned to Nigeria.

Okonjo-Iweala said, “However, those companies have taken the case to the European Court of Human Rights.”


http://www.punchng.com/news/fg-to-recover-e185m-abacha-loot-from-liechtenstein/

Guys pls tel me somtin,d car in d pix they r burning,is it d cause of their loss to nigeria

53450 Viewing thread right now,we even plenty pass those fans for ethopia stadium sef

The FCT Administration has sealed-off the Adamawa State Governor's Lodge in the Maitama District of the Federal Capital City for ‘abuse’ of the Abuja Master Plan.
The New PDP had announced that it would be using the building, located at Gurara Street, Maitama, to receive visitors following the sealing off by the police of its office at Uyi Street.
The FCT claims, however, that the Governor's Lodges in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja are enshrined in the Abuja Master Plan to be for used only as residential purposes and not as political party Secretariats, as in the case of the Adamawa State Governor's Lodge.
In a statement signed in Abuja on Saturday by Muhammad Sule, the chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister said that the use of the Governor's Lodge as a political party office negates the spirit of urban planning and causes nuisance and disturbance on the residents of that area of the city as well as inflicts undue pressure on the infrastructure and services therein, contrary to the principles of the Abuja Master Plan.
"The FCT Administration will not rest on its oars until the entire 250 square kilometers of the Federal Capital City is rid of all illegal structures and/or illegal change of Land Use,” the statement said.
It argued that any change of Land Use is usually accompanied with over stretching of facilities planned for a certain number of people; apart from also causing high volume of traffic with its attendant problems.
"The Administration wishes to assure that all actions by a person or
group of persons that inflict pains on the residents whether directly
or indirectly would not be condoned as government is meant to serve and protect the rights of all.”
It pledged that the FCTA will continue to protect the Abuja environment and the sanctity of the Abuja Master Plan in line with the dreams of its founding fathers, believing that such plans were meant to be obeyed and adh


Sahara reporters

“I don’t know if the Federal Government is broke, but I know there is a serious financial crisis and it is unprecedented in the history of this country. That, for the first time since 1999, allocations can no longer come as and when due to states is shocking.”
With these words, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State painted a gloomy picture of the nation’s financial situation.

He added: “I have been involved in trying to understand what the reasons are and I have not seen anything yet. Two years ago, it was about the kind of money we were spending on subsidy. In no time, following series of probes and enquiries by the National Assembly and by the Presidency, they have since discovered the kind of money they stole as regards subsidy, all the people that conspired with them and I believe the EFCC is dealing with that. But just as we are dealing with that, now we begin to hear about the theft of our crude oil such that what is accruing to the Federation Account is not enough to meet budgetary provision.”
Oshiomhole spoke in an interview just as the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAN), on Friday, reconvened to share a total statutory revenue of N1.196 trillion among the three tiers of government for August and September.
The money in the account has been a contentious issue between the federal and state governments for several weeks, with the state governments unable to get their share in full


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/nigeria-deep-financial-crisis-governor-oshiomhole/#sthash.ALsZ5BEp.dpuf

The average life expectancy in Nigeria, which was put at 52 years as of 2011 by the World Bank’s recent report, is the 17th lowest in the world.

SUNDAY PUNCH’s analysis of the report showed that the bottom 20 countries were mainly Sub-Saharan African countries, except Afghanistan, where the average life expectancy was put at 49 years.

According to the report, five African countries, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea Bissau and Central African Republic, ranked lowest in life expectancy with 48 years.

About 30 countries, mostly in Europe, have average life expectancy of 80 years and above, with Switzerland and Hong Kong having the highest average of 83 years.

The report, which compared life expectancy in 1990 and in 2011, showed that most countries improved over the period of about two decades.

The world average life expectancy rose from 65 years in 1990 to 70 years in 2011.

For low-income regions, it rose from 53 years to 59 years, whereas in the middle-income regions, it rose from 64 years to 69 years.

In 2011, the life expectancy average for Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 55 years, 66 years in South Asia, 72 years in Middle East and North Africa, 74 years in Latin America and Caribbean, 72 years in Europe and Central Asia and 72 years in East Asia and the Pacific.

The Euro area had the highest regional average of 81 years.

For Nigeria, the average life expectancy rose from 46 years in 1990 to 52 years in 2011.

World Bank records have it that the figure for males is 51 years while that of females is 53 years.

The report also showed that infant mortality rate dropped from 126 per 1000 live births in 1990 to 78 per 1000 live births in 2012.

Further analysis by our correspondent showed that Nigeria had the 7th highest infant mortality rate in the world as of 2012.

The countries that had higher infant mortality rates as of 2012 were Sierra Leone with 117 per 1000 live births, Angola 100, Democratic Republic of Congo 100, Chad 89, Guinea Bissau 81, and Mali 80.

Under-five mortality rate in Nigeria dropped from 213 per 1000 live births in 1990 to 124 per 1000 live births in 2012.

The report also showed that in Nigeria, men died more than women between 2006 and 2011.

It put the adult mortality rate for males in Nigeria within the period at 387 per 1000, whereas the rate for


http://www.punchng.com/news/life-expectancy-in-nigeria-17th-lowest-globally-report/

Background

I grew up in Surulere, Lagos.  But I grew up like a boy! I am the last child and only girl in the family.   I did not have toys and I did not know any Barbie story, all I knew was Voltron, a cartoon. I did not grow up with both parents.  My father is a very simple man and he is somebody who can accept your mistakes.  He does not spank his kids.  Meanwhile, my mother is very strict. I could not even play outside as a young child. I had to ride my bicycle inside the sitting room.  I attended Daughters of Divine Love Convent, Enugu State.  I thought I would be a reverend sister but I abandoned the vision when I dropped out in my fifth year. I finished my secondary education in a secular institution before moving to Babcock University.  I could not finish from Babcock because I had some personal issues. Again, I dropped and enrolled at the National Open University.

My convent experience 

It affected me in a very spiritual way. In as much as I know worldly things, I still fear God and have faith in Him.  The reason why I wanted to become a nun was because I was raised in a Catholic home.  I just felt it was the best thing for me to do at that time. I used to see myself as a messenger of God.  Even though I did not become a nun, I still remain faithful to God. Part of my dreams is to establish a church and do a lot of charity work.

Me and Big Brother

I went there of my own freewill and spending time in the house has greatly influenced my lifestyle. I have changed in a lot of ways. I am cutting down on friends because I have too many of them— home and abroad.  Also, I have always been a very impatient person but staying in the Big Brother house has changed all that for me.  The experience taught me to tolerate people because a lot of them annoyed me in that house.  While I was there, I learnt that good things come to those who wait. It was difficult initially because I was always conscious of the cameras but I had to live with it.

My affair with Angelo

 I fell in love with Angelo. I am a very open person and I do not like to hide my feelings.  The concept of the show was reality.  Since it did not require pretence or play acting, I just became true to myself. Concerning the issue of sex in the house, I have said it many times that there was no sex involved. The bathtub incident was just blown out of proportion by the media. If there was a camera inside the bath water, everyone would have clearly seen that Angelo had his boxers on.  But I guess since I was the naked one, it was easy to rush to conclusion. Time will tell if there is a future for the relationship.  Also, I believe relationships should be left in the hands of God.  He decides when and who you can move with from one stage to another. For now, I can only say I had fun while the stay in the house lasted and right now, I am still having fun. I am a young lady.  I have a lot going for me and so many things to be done.

Plans

Apart from continuing with my charity work, I will resume my video vixen role and feature in as many musical videos as possible. Also, I have plans to host talk shows and do some movies. But above all, I will continue to pursue my passion of dancing and modelling.

Style

I like simplicity in style. I am not a flirty dresser and the items that can never be missing in my wardrobe are bum shorts and tank tops. These are what I wear on a daily basis.


http://www.punchng.com/spice/essence/i-wanted-to-be-a-nun-beverly-osu/

No fewer than 17 people, all adult males,  reported died following multiple auto-crashes on the Ilorin-New Jebba Road on Friday. The accident was said to have occurred about 3.30am at Peke Village which is about 16 kilometres from Ilorin, Kwara State. It involved a tanker with Registration No. CD 762 KMT and two Toyota buses, registration numbers: TAK 113 XA and  XD 762 KMT.

The tanker was said to be heading to Lagos and had two occupants; while the two buses were coming from Lagos to Katsina and were

conveying 38 people, each having 19 occupants. The tanker was said to have ran onto the two vehicles killing 17 people, injuring 10 while 13 people were said to have survived without injuries.

The Kwara State Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mrs. Mary Wakawa confirmed the accident and the data in an interview with journalists in Ilorin. She stated that the 17 deceased had been deposited at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital while the injured were rushed to some hospitals for treatment. She advised people to avoid night travels, over-speeding and driving when fatigued.


http://www.punchng.com/news/17-die-10-injured-in-multiple-auto-crashes-in-kwara/

ETUBOM  Ekpo Cobham, the father of Mr Efiok Cobham, the Cross River State deputy governor was on Thursday night snatched away by unknown gun men from his home in Creek Town, Odukapani Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Etubom Cobham who is 87 years old was taken by gunmen who invaded his CreekTown home at about 8 pm  took him  away through a waiting boat to an unknown destination by three gun men.
When Vanguard visited the community which adjoins the CrossRiver on Friday afternoon,  the people were  in a state of mourning as everyone was fearing for the man’s life. “We are highly upset with what has happened; tell me what these people want with an 87 year old man whose is quietly leading his life”. Elder Bassey Etim, a member of the community told Vanguard
Sources at the community say the gun men who came in through the CrossRiver left their speed boat in the water and came ashore and ferreted the man into their waiting boat and sped away. “Nobody was killed but they attempted to kidnap another person in the other house near Etuboms place but they were not successful as we all escaped into the forest  when we saw what was happening in Etubom’s house”.
The kidnappers are yet to make any demands perhaps waiting for the import of their action to spread round Calabar which is already preparing for the 2013 ObuduInternational  Mountain Race
At the time of going to press, the Cross River State government was yet to make any pronouncement as Effiong Okon, the Chief Press Secretary to  the deputy governor feigned ignorance of the kidnap but  the Cross River State police spokesman, Hogan Bassey said the police have “visited the scene of the crime at Creek town and investigations are going on”.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/cross-river-deputy-govs-father-kidnapped/#sthash.nz7P98K4.dpuf

Crystalline: Where did dis news come from? The link is not valid sef.

Got d news from punch website,really confused as to y d link is not connecting

The Defence Headquarters on Thursday dismissed the Boko Haram threat as a desperate attempt by a terror group desperate for publicity.

Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen Chris Olukolade, while reacting to the threat to launch more attacks against Nigeria in a new video purportedly posted by the leader of the violent Islamic sect, Abubakar Shekau, said the threats were flimsy and not new.

The BBC quoted the person claiming to be Shekau as having said that Boko Haram had seized enough weapons from Nigerian troops to ensure the prosecution of the campaign to foist a brand of Islamic religion on Nigeria.

In the audio file said to have been released to trusted journalists, the Boko Haram leader said that non believers of Islamic would be eliminated.

It was stated in the report that the voice in the audio file was “distinctly the voice of Abubakar Shekau or a very good impersonation of him.”

 Olukolade said that Boko Haram would not be able to prevent the Armed Forces and the security agencies from carrying out their responsibility of defending and protecting the citizenry.

He saidthat the Armed Forces and the security agencies were conscious of their responsibility and were prepared to deal with the insurgency.

Olukolade said,  “The military and security agencies are not taking anything lightly, all these claims are flimsy and I can tell you that they are not capable of diminishing our ability to defend Nigerians.

“Nigerians should continue to cooperate with the Nigerian Armed Forces and securityagencies to defend and protect the citizenry. Nigerians should disregard those threats.

“There is no need to respond to spurious and bogus claims by terrorists. It is typical of failing terrorists desperate for headlines.

“All I can tell you at the moment is that it should be obvious to all by now that neither Nigerians nor their Armed Forces and security agencies would be swayed or intimidated to concede to impossible ideologies of terrorists. The capacity of the forces in Nigeria to check and ultimately defeat terror has not diminished in any way.”

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Azubuike Ihejirika, meanwhile, told the senate on Thursday that the Nigerian Army was prepared to defend the country and her citizens at all time.

Ihejirika spoke while briefing the Senate Committee on Defence on the budget performance of the service.

He said that the effectiveness of the Army was dependent on the quality of its personnel and equipment.

He said, “The mission of the Nigerian Army is to win all land battles in the defence of the nation. The Army will be robust in terms of quality of personnel and equipment effectively deployed to protect and defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

“The Nigerian Army as a major element of national security is being maintained by funds released by the Federal Government to achieve its constitutional roles.”




http:///hFoeum7ZvX

My patience, tolerance & silliness

YUZEDO who resides at banana ICELAND has the most expensive crib jor

State:kaduna

City:kaduna

POLICE authorities in Delta State have redeployed a Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in Ethiope East Local Government Area for the failure of police in the area to track down arrested kidnap kingpin, Kelvin Oniarah, when he sneaked into Kokori , September 17, and issued a 60-day ultimatum to government.
Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, relying on the briefing he got from the DPO, had initially maintained that Kelvin did not show up in Kokori, saying the whole affair was stage managed.
It was gathered that discreet investigation carried out by the Command revealed that Kelvin not only stormed the community, as reported by the media, but his group, Liberation Movement for Urhobo People, LIMUP, fired several gun shots into the air.
A source told Vanguard, “The boys fired more than 50 guns shots on that day” and the police worried that such an affront could take place without the knowledge of the police in the area.
A senior police officer, who pleaded anonymity, told Vanguard, “Yes, a DPO was redeployed because of Kelvin; we now have a new DPO there. You know that our Commissioner, Mr. Aduba do not take nonsense. You are his friend when you do your job well, but once you fail in your duty, he takes necessary action.”



http:///2Ayhtp

15 Russians accused of unlawfully importing arms and ammunition into Nigeria, were on Tuesday set free by a Federal High Court, Lagos, following an application to withdraw the charges against them by the government.
The Russian sailors – Zhelyazkov Andrey; Savchenko Sergel; Lopatin Alexey; Baranovskly Nikolay;  Llia Shubov; Dimitry Bannyrh; along with Alexander Tsarikov; Kononov Sergel; Chichkanov Vasily; Varlygin Igor; Komilov Alexander; Mishin Pavel; Korotchenko Andrey; Vorobev Mikhail and Stepan Oleksiuk were arrested by the Nigeria Navy on October 18, last year, onboard a vessel, MV Myre Seadiver, for allegedly carrying cache of arms into the nation’s water without authorisation.
They were handed over to the prosecuting agencies, who later charged the accused to court on four counts of unlawful importation of firearms and non disclosure of content of vessel.
The accused were first arraigned on February 19 before Justice Okechukwu Okeke now retired.
They had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were released on bail to the Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, while the vessel was admitted to bail in a bond of $500,000(USD) to be obtained from First Bank Plc.
Following Okeke’s retirement, the case was transferred to Justice Jame Tsoho.
They had pleaded not guilty to the offences which were said to have contravened Sections 27 of the Firearms Act, as well as the Provisions of the Miscellaneous Offence Act, 2004.
At the resumed hearing before Tsoho, prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Usman Hajara informed the court of an amended charge before it.
She said that all previous charges against the Russians have been dropped while an amended charge against one Stanley Chineye and his firm, Maritime Services Limited was filed.
Hajara prayed the court to strike out the charges against the Russians, their vessel as well as their company, Moral Security Group Limited, while the amended charge be substituted.
Tsoho granted the prosecution’s prayer by striking out the charges against the foreigners and fixed November 26 for trial of the new accused.
According to the amended charge, Chineye allegedly acted as agent to the Russian vessel and had allegedly misguided them that he had obtained permit from the navy for the vessel to enter the nation’s waters, which was false.


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A private firm has threatened to sue the Nigeria police over the use of its template for the Police Biometric Central Motor Registry System.

The firm, 2TOC Solutions Limited, said it had developed the system and was to work in association with the police but that the Force at a point developed cold feet only to hand over the system the firm had developed to their CMR department and charged motorists N3,500 for the same registration the firm had proposed N500 levy.

“The project was about taking-off in late 2011 when the police suddenly developed cold feet and the next thing they did was to announce the BCMR using the exact template and ideas in the original proposal approved by the former IG, Abubakar Ringim. We won’t take it lying low, we intend to take legal action against them,” an official of the firm who asked not to be named said.

Investigations by our correspondent showed that 2TOC Solutions Limited in 2011 had sought the approval of the JTB for the biometric system which it tagged ‘Police Road Crime Control System’ and requested for approval of N500 levy on vehicle owners for registration, but the board turned down the request.

But the Nigeria Police Force had on September 9, 2013 announced the commencement of the BCMR at a cost of N3, 500, a 600 per cent increase on the amount proposed by 2TOC Solutions Ltd.

Findings showed that the firm had received the approval of Ringim and signed a Memorandum of Understanding in January 2011 with the police to build a national security vehicle ownership database.

The company then wrote a letter to the JTB seeking its approval for the N500 levy on the public for vehicle form, computation and equipment acquisition.

But the JTB in a letter to the firm dated December 15, 2011 signed by its secretary, M.L Abubakar, said that after exhaustive deliberation at its 125th meeting, the board resolved not to grant approval for imposition of the N500 levy on motorists.

“The board resolved not to grant the approval (for N500 charge) on the ground that it will be an additional burden to motorists. The Nigeria Police should finance and own the project since the project is laudable and will enhance national security,” the board stated.

The  Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, on Sunday said that N5000 was the proposed charge for the BCMR when it was launched in 2011, adding that the levy was reduced to N3, 500 by the current police administration due to improved and cheaper technology.

“If the company has a good case, it should approach the police authorities or go to Industrial Arbitration Panel. This is a national security matter and it should not be discussed on the pages of newspapers. I expect 2TOC Limited to invoke the clause in the MoU it claimed to have signed with the police,” he stated.


http://www.punchng.com/news/firm-threatens-suit-against-police-over-motor-registration/

Lagos State Government says it is set to commence the enforcement and clearing of illegal occupants along Right of Ways and road setbacks on major highways and expressway across the state.

The exercise, which the government said would be massive, was also meant to ensure sustainability on the state highways.

Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello, in a statement on Sunday, said the government was worried that residents of the state were gradually turning roads in the state to other things they were not meant for.

Bello said, “It is  disheartening to see how our major roads and highways like Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Ikorodu Road, Agege Motor Road, Lagos Badagry Expressway, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Ojuelegba/Stadium and Surulere  have been converted to auto marts, mechanic workshop, furniture workshop and  vulcanizers workshops among others.

“It is so embarrassing to see how our road setbacks have been turned to mobile markets and so on. This is completely against the Environmental Laws of the state as well as the Federal Highway Act.

“Globally, expressways constitute an important link in the economy chain of a nation.  They are also conceived primarily to safely carry large volumes of traffic between two locations.

“According to international standard, a Right of Way is a statutory corridor through which the road passes. For this class of roads, 75 meters is measured from the outer edge of the road on both sides.

“The corridor is usually demarcated from its surroundings, by fencing and landscaping or deliberate vegetation along its entire length. The aim is to make it impossible for vehicles, human and stray animals to enter the road from both sides and thereby prevent hazard or impediment to prevent free flow of traffic.”

The commissioner said the current practice, where sidewalks and road setbacks had become markets on the Lagos Ibadan Expressway, Apapa-Oshodi Expresway, Agege Motor Road and other major roads would no longer be allowed.


http://www.punchng.com/news/lagos-to-eject-occupants-from-roads-setbacks-others/

Divers in Italy have been recovering more bodies from the boat of African migrants that sank on Thursday, BBC reports.

Seventy bodies were brought out on Sunday, bringing the official death toll to 181. About 200 people are still missing and 155 have survived the accident off Lampedusa island.

The authorities have denied allegations that they were slow to mount a rescue.

France has called for an urgent EU meeting after Italy requested help to deal with the influx of migrants.

Divers resumed their search on Sunday morning, after 48-hour delay due to bad weather.

Many bodies are believed to be trapped in the wreck located in deep water, about 1km (half a mile) off Lampedusa .

The survivors are to be placed under investigation for “clandestine immigration”, as provided for by a controversial immigration law pushed through by right-wing parties in 2002.

The offence carries a 5,000-euro (£4,230; $6,780) fine.

Italy has said it will amend immigration laws. Members of parliament have complained that some of its provisions discourage people from helping migrants in distress.

The fisherman who arrived first at the site of the accident, Vito Fiorino, has accused the coast guard of wasting time by filming footage of rescue efforts.

“They refused to take on board some people we’d already saved because they said protocol forbade it,” he was quoted as saying by Ansa news agency.

A report in local newspaper La Sicilia said two boats belonging to Italy’s Financial Guard, which carries out a range of police and rescue duties, had remained in port.

The coast guard denied that there was any delay in its rescue effort.

“After we received the alarm by radio at 07:00 we immediately intervened with out boats, arriving on at the site of the shipwreck at 07:20,” it said in a statement.

Judicial authorities said they had no evidence of delays. And two of the migrants have told the BBC that boats did rescue them, but it took a while.

“After swimming for a long time, probably around three hours, boats started to arrive to rescue us. Rescue boats, small boats, all the boats in the area came to save us, they dragged us out of the water,” Futsum Mesfa, 20, from Eritrea said.

“I lost my cousin, who was on the boat with me, I also lost many friends,” he added.



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President Goodluck Jonathan, Monday, inaugurated the 13-man Advisory Committee to establish modalities for a national conference aimed at resolving issues that currently cause friction in the polity.
Speaking  during the inauguration held at the State House, Abuja , Jonathan charged the members of the committee to consult widely before developing the framework that will guide the proceedings of the dialogue.
According to him: ”  In the task before you, no voice is too small and no opinion is irrelevant. Thus, the views of the sceptics and those of the enthusiasts must be accommodated as you formulate this all important framework. This Conversation is a People’s Conversation and I urge you to formulate an all-inclusive process that protects the people’s interest.”

President Goodluck Jonathan flanked by Vice President Namadi Sambo (4th right) and the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee on the National Conference, Dr. Femi Okurounmu while other committee members watched shortly after the inauguration of the Committee at the State House, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida.
Jonathan had in a nationwide broadcast to mark the nation’s 53rd independence anniversary, announced  the committee headed  Dr. Femi Okurounmu and Dr. Akilu Indabawa as its secretary.
The committee has 11 other members. They are : Prof. George Obiozor,Sen. Khairat Gwadabe, Sen. Timothy Adudu, Col. Tony Nyiam (Rtd), Prof. Funke Adebayo,Mrs Mairo Ahmed Amshi, Dr. Abubakar Sadiq, Alh. Dauda Birma, Mallam Buhari Bello, Mr. Tony Uranta and Prof. Ben Nwabueze who, yesterday, opted out of the committee.



http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/jonathan-inaugurates-confab-cttee/#sthash.VecsrHLg.dpuf

Police in Abuja are investigating the suspected murder of a female lawyer, Mrs. Ijeoma Micah, whose lifeless body was found mutilated, yesterday, in her chambers in the highbrow Maitama area of Abuja.
Ijeoma, the owner of Micah and Micah Chambers, was found dead in her office three days after she was said to have gone missing. 
Her husband, who it was learnt, arrived from London on Sunday morning, rushed to her office, as it was gathered that he had not heard from her for three days, only to discover her lifeless body. 
He reported the matter to Area Command of the police in Maitama.
Contacted on the development, Commissioner of Police FCT, Femi Ogunbayode, said that from investigations, it was discovered that some men had called Ijeoma to her office for some business, which she went for and afterwards, nothing was heard from her.     
Ogunbayode told Vanguard that as a result of the killing, a security detail that was attached to Ifeoma was arrested and was being interrogated for alleged complicity. 
He said that since the security detail did not report the case to the police until her husband came back from abroad and discovered her body, he was therefore a suspect.
He added that the Forensic Investigation Unit at the FCT Command was already at the office, where she was allegedly killed and had commenced investigation into the matter.
Sympathisers in the area said that the Ifeoma’s husband broke the door of her office and on seeing the lifeless body of his wife, almost killed himself while crying. 
It was also gathered that Ijeoma’s car had been missing from the usual parking spot in front of her office building.



http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/missing-female-lawyers-body-found-mutilated-chambers/#sthash.m6TmFnNP.dpuf

A Saudi man was sentenced to 2,000 lashes and 10 years in prison for dancing naked on the roof of a car and posting the video online, according to multiple reports.

Three other men were also sentenced to three to seven years in jail and hundreds of lashes each for the incident, Agence France-Presse reported, citing Arabic-language paper Al-Sharq.

The four men were hit with a number of charges, including "encouraging vice" and violating public morality, according to the report.

The prosecutor in the case, which was heard by a judge in Saudi Arabia's conservative Al-Qassem province, reportedly objected to the sentences for being "too lenient," Gulf News notes.

The video was reportedly circulated widely on the Internet, but could not be found by The Huffington Post.

Saudi Arabia, a majority Sunni Muslim country that is an ally of the United States, imposes a draconian code of religious law on its citizens that many in the West and elsewhere have criticized for overly harsh punishments. In the recent past, Saudi Arabian courts have sentenced a group of men to death for stealing, another man to prison for kissing in public, and in a particularly egregious incident, a man who had paralyzed a friend by stabbing him to be paralyzed himself.




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BEIJING  - China is employing two million people to keep tabs on people’s Internet use, according to state media, in a rare glimpse into the secret world of Beijing’s vast online surveillance operation.
Many of the employees are simply performing keyword searches to monitor the tens of millions of messages being posted daily on popular social media and microblogging sites, the Beijing News said.
The exact number of people employed to trawl through the Internet in a bid to prevent social unrest and limit criticism of the ruling Community party has long been the subject of speculation.
The “web police” are employed by the government’s propaganda arm, as well as by commercial sites, the Beijing News said.
It said that despite their large number, the monitors are not always able to prevent comments that are deemed by the government to be undesirable from being published and reposted.
China’s censorship authorities tightly control online content for fear of political or social unrest that could challenge the Communist party’s grip on power.
Authorities in recent years banned the popular social media sites Facebook and Twitter, which were instrumental in the wave of uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa from late 2010 in what became known as the Arab Spring.
Last year authorities blocked The New York Times after it cited financial records showing relatives of former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao had controlled assets worth at least $2.7 billion — a report China branded a smear.
In recent months authorities have ramped up already strict censoring of domestic social media sites such as the popular microblog service Sina Weibo.
They have detained hundreds of people for spreading “rumours” online, and warned high-profile bloggers with millions of followers to post more positive comments.
The Supreme Court said this month that Internet users could face three years in jail if “slanderous” information spread online is viewed more than 5,000 times or forwarded more than 500 times.
China has more than 500 million Internet users, making it the world’s largest online population.



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No fewer than 70 teachers have lost their lives to violence perpetrated by suspected Boko Haram members in Northern Nigeria in the last nine months, the Amnesty International has said.

The AI also declared that the sect members reportedly killed hundreds of pupils within the period.

The group, which stated this in a fresh report entitled “Education under attack in Nigeria” on Thursday,  also said that more than 50 schools had been burnt and 60 others shut in the region.

The report assessed attacks on schools in Northern Nigeria between 2012 and 2013.

  AI’s Deputy Africa Director, Lucy Freeman said, “Hundreds have been killed in these horrific attacks. Thousands of children have been forced out of schools across communities in Northern Nigeria and many teachers have been forced to flee for their safety.

“Attacks against schoolchildren, teachers and school buildings demonstrate an absolute disregard for the right to life and the right to education.”

  Last week, members of the sect reportedly killed over 50 students of a College of Agriculture in Yobe State.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Teachers on Thursday in Abuja asked the National Assembly not to remove  the teachers’ emoluments from the Federal Government  portfolio.

The NUT explained that doing so in the planned constitution amendment would return basic education to the dark ages where teachers would not receive salaries for many years.

The Deputy President of NUT, Nelson Onem stated this at a briefing addressed by the Supervisory Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, to herald the World Teachers Day scheduled for October 5


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Controversial actor and model, Benson Okonkwo, speaks with JAYNE AUGOYE about issues revolving around his sexuality

When Nollywood actor and model, Benson Okonkwo, starred in a 2010 gay movie titled ‘One dollar’, he incurred the wrath of many movie fans. At the time, his critics were asking questions about his sexuality in real life.

Unperturbed by the outrage, the Enugu State-born actor has since appeared in two other films of the same theme as One dollar.  They are Pregnant Hawker and The Strippers.

But, Okonkwo, who has 30 movies to his credit, says he is unhappy about the negative reactions that trailed his decision to star in those movies. He insists that the public is ignorant of the fact that actions in movies are not real.

“Although these movies sparked off controversy about my sexuality, I make bold to say that Nigerians are hypocrites. They secretly enjoy watching porn movies, yet when they see Nigerian movies that contain suggestive scenes, they secretly watch them online and then drop anonymous comments. I am only acting and doing my job.

“Although I have acted as a homosexual three times, I am afraid of being tagged a stereotyped actor. Despite the fact that the gay controversy has brought me fame, I want people to remember that I have not starred in only gay or adult films. Contrary to what some persons think, I have never been sexually harassed by homosexuals. I am not a homosexual.”

Notwithstanding the negative comments, he says it took much willpower to get into character. “It was hard for me to accept the role at first, and it took a lot of convincing and support from the director before I could play the role,” he says.

Admitting that the ‘pay was right,’ Okonkwo says he enjoys the support of his loved ones in spite of the criticism. He says, “My family understands that I am only acting and the roles have nothing to do with my personal life or character, that’s why they stood by me and continue to stand by me. I believe that versatility is one thing any actor must possess, that way, he or she stands out.”

A few days ago, the actor made newspaper headlines after he shared a painful childhood experience online, in which he claimed that he was sexually abused.

Recounting his experience to our correspondent in a telephone interview, he said, “I was sexually abused at the age of 10 by a 35 –year-old neighbour of mine named Amaka. She lives abroad at present. I loved and respected her, but she took advantage of me one afternoon, after luring me with sweets and biscuits.

She stole my innocence and ever since, I have been haunted by that painful and unforgettable memory,” he says in an emotion laden voice.

Explaining why he decided to open up on the incident, Okonkwo says, “I feel free talking about it because I have kept the secret for many years. I think I am the first celebrity to do this openly. Now I feel relieved and happier than ever. Interestingly, the incident changed my love for women.

“I am not randy or loose. I handle my female fans diplomatically. I don’t want to take advantage of my fans. The moment I start sleeping with them, I will lose it.”

 However, the actor is unhappy that the art of filmmaking is largely unappreciated in Nigeria. But he has his eyes fixed on the big picture in the nearest future.

“Hollywood is my limit. I also hope to begin an NGO for the less privileged and models in Nigeria,” he says.


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