₦airaland Forum

In a wedding ceremony at Ikoyi registry, Lagos, a 28-year-old Nigerian man has tied the knot with a 71-Year-Old European woman. Despite the 43 years difference in their ages, the couple expressed they got married because they are deeply in love. However, many Nigerians are saying this wedding maybe for other reasons but love.

another pic

An explosive device, suspected to have been among many planted by Nigeria’s terrorist group, Boko Haram in Northern parts of the country, has killed a bomb disposal officer while attempting to defuse it, huhuonline.com has learnt

The device, according to a police source, was wrapped in a carrier bag and hidden behind an electricity pole in the residential area of Ungwar Sarki in the northern city of Kaduna.

The source revealed that although no one has claimed responsibility for planting the devices, “the Boko Haram sect may have planted them and planning to detonate them at a target time before the police discovered it”.

Its confirmed. Just confirmed the news from a source in the police head quarters

www.nairaland.com/attachments/618250_Late_David_Ihezie_JPG0e0cda0e894c0b4bc2b8195802062ec8
Nollywood has started this year again on a sad note as it lost one of its veteran actors, David Ihezie, to the pangs of death yesterday, in Enugu.

The Enugu State based actor, who had starred in several movies, died in his home after protracted illness.

Chairman, Enugu State chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ofiafulugu Mbaka, confirmed the death of the prolific actor to Vanguard yesterday.

According to Mbaka, “Ihezie’s death is another big loss to the entertainment sector and Nigeria as a whole. I was made to understand that he had been sick before he finally passed on.

Obviously, nobody would be happy when somebody dies. It’s shocking and there is nothing anyone can do.” Ihezie’s corpse has since been deposited at Ifem Medical centre, Enugu.

http://www.247nigerianewsupdate.com/2012/01/20/david-ihezie-is-dead/

15-12-2011
MAIDUGURI, BORNU STATE
BOKO HARAM GUNMEN KILL TWO PERSONS
Gunmen, suspected to be members of Boko Haram sect killed two people and injured three on Santimari Polo Road. It was gathered that the yet-to-be identified gunmen came with an unmarked Volkswagen Golf car at 19h49 and opened fire on people playing cards in front of a shop belonging to a GSM recharge card dealer. Two people died, including a Head Teacher of COCIN Church Primary School in Polo, Mallam Caleb. The gunmen, according to investigation, were targeting a State Security Services, SSS, personnel who normally visits the shop, especially at night. Confirming the incident, Spokesman of the Joint Task Force, JTF, Lt.-Col. Hassan Mohammed said some yet-to-be identified gunmen came to Polo with a Volkswagen Golf car and opened fire on some members of the public.

15-12-2011
MAIDUGURI, BORNU STATE
BOKO HARAM DETONATES BOMB, NO CASUALTY REPORTED
A bomb exploded in Gwange, Layin Bus in Gwange Ward. The IED was believed to have been aimed at the JTF patrol. The Gwange explosion was also believed to have been planted by Boko Haram members. Confirming the incident, Spokesman of the Joint Task Force, JTF, Lt.-Col. Hassan Mohammed, said some members of Boko Haram detonated an Improvised Explosive Device, IED, at 19h45 in Gwange ward. He stressed that the sect members were targeting one of their patrol vehicles, but missed as the bomb exploded after their patrol vehicle had left the area. He said no casualty was recorded in the blast.

15-12-2011
ABUJA, FCT
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO RESIST FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL
Lawmakers restated their opposition to fuel subsidy removal, which the executive insists must be done. President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday presented a N4.749 trillion budget to a joint sitting of the National Assembly. He was, however, silent on fuel subsidy removal, leaving room for the conclusion in many circles that the action had been taken. But Finance Minister Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said on Wednesday that the subsidy remained intact. Speaking with reporters, House of Representatives spokesman Zakari Mohammed, said although President Jonathan was silent on the issue in his budget speech, members would watch out for any sublime moves to remove the subsidy and oppose it. He said: “The status quo is maintained. We have not endorsed subsidy removal. The House of Representatives has not endorsed subsidy removal. And we are saying that we have not brought it to the fore. And this issue will come up when the budget is here. We have taken a decision; we are not taking out subsidy. Definitely, subsidy will have to be in the budget. “It has to be in the budget. That’s the thing. The House of Representatives stands on that fact. We are not going to vote for subsidy removal because there are key indicators, as we have said. We have given those conditions – that our refineries should function. And there are a number of other issues that must be tackled. And these issues are not the type that you just wake up one day and say they are already fixed up.

15-12-2011
KANO, KANO STATE
BOKO HARAM GUMNEN ATTACK AIFORCE SCHOOL, KILLING TOW OFFICERS
Gunmen suspected to be members of the militant Boko Haram sect have killed three Air Force officers and injured one other in Kano. The gunmen, numbering about 15, were said to have stormed the Nigerian Air Force Comprehensive Secondary School located in the village of Kwa, along Kano-Katsina Road, where a heavy exchange of gunfire ensued. According to the Air Force authorities in Kano, the gunmen launched the ferocious attacks on the Air Force formation at about 20h30. They attacked the four officers on guard in an attempt to gain entry into the premises, ostensibly to massacre the JSS 1 students in the hostel. The four officers were said to have resisted the gunmen, who however, overpowered them, killing two on the spot and inflicting heavy injuries on two others, one of whom later died at the Emergency Ward of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano (AKTH). The Commandant of 339 Base Services Group (BSG), Nigeria Airforce Kano, Air Commodore Sani Ahmed confirmed the incident.

16-12-2011
UGHELLI, DELTA STATE
EX MILITANTS ATTACK POLICE STATION
Suspected ex-militants invaded the Ughelli Police ‘A’ Division, destroying the patrol van belonging to the Ogor vigilante group. The apparently aggrieved ex-militants stormed the Police Station at about 16h00 in protest against the alleged killing of one of their members who was seen with a pistol by members of the Ogor vigilante group at about 10h00. The ex-militants mobilized and chased members of the Ogor vigilante group who were on routine patrol. Sensing danger, the vigilante group members drove straight to the police station, thinking that the police would be able to put the situation under control.
The security patrol van was allegedly destroyed by the aggrieved ex-militants in the presence of the police. According to the source, who pleaded anonymity, the deceased was seen on top motorcycle with a pistol, adding that the deceased shot first at the vigilante members. He said the deceased, who allegedly engaged the vigilante boys in a shootout, was over powered, arrested and taken to the police station with the pistol, disclosing that he died while being interrogated by the police. The Area Commander in charge of the Ughelli Area command covering over eight LGAs, Mr. Bassey Essien, confirmed the incident.

16-12-2011
KANO, KANO STATE
BOKO HARAM GUNMEN KILL POLICEMAN IN A SHOOTOUT
Gunmen have killed a policeman in Kano. The gunmen opened fire on a police checkpoint on the outskirts of the city, resulting in a shootout which left one policeman dead and another seriously wounded, Kano state police spokesman Magaji Majia confirmed the incident. Residents of Gaida neighbourhood where the attack took place said the shootout lasted for 30 minutes before the gunmen fled.

17-12-2011
MAIDUGURI, BORNO STATE
THREE BOKO HARAM MEMBERS KILLED AS BOMB FACTORY EXPLODES
Explosion rocked a bomb factory in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, claiming three lives of suspected members of Boko Haram who were inside the factory at the time of the blast. The explosion which occurred at about 09h00 in Shehuri II, Bolori ward of the metropolis, also destroyed a few houses in the neighborhood. The Commander of the Joint Task Force, (JTF), Major General Ikechukwu Nwaogbo confirmed the incident. Large quantities of unused IED materials, such as ready-to–detonate three drums which can contain 600 litres sealed with gun powder, 3 unidentified mutilated corpses suspected to be responsible for manning the factory were discovered. Other items include, 2 AK47 Riffles, ammunitions, remote controls, mutilated mobile police Uniforms with ranks, injecting syringes, Jerry cans loaded with Gas, 1 set of grinding machine, assorted containers of gun powder, tapes with Islamic inscriptions, laptop, video camera, GSM handsets, wall clocks and several prepared IED’s were also found.

17-12-2011
RIYOM LGA, PLATEAU STATE
THREE KILLED IN FRESH ATTACK ON PLATEAU VILLAGE
Three persons were reported killed in an early morning attack in Jwol and Foron all in Riyom local government area of Plateau State. Some unknown attackers were said to have invaded the villages setting numerous houses ablaze while residents of the houses were shot as they were trying to escape from their houses. According to the Director, Stefanos Foundation, (a faith based foundation) Mark Lipdo some people set fire “on surrounding bushes in Jwol, when the people in the area came out to put off the fire, they were shot at and two were killed while a body is still missing”. He further confirmed that one other person was also killed in Foron in a separate night attack

17-12-2011
KANO, KANO STATE
7 KILLED IN BOKO HARAM, POLICE CLASH
Three policemen were killed in a bloody clash with members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect at Darmunawa quarters in Kano municipality. Four members of the sect also died in the encounter while 14 of them were arrested with assorted Improvised Explosive Devices and three posh cars recovered. Kano state police commissioner Mr. Ibrahim Idris said the shootout occurred after a suspected Boko Haram leader discovered that his house was under surveillance by the police and called out other members of the group to attack the police. Idris told newsmen that two of the police officers on surveillance duty were killed, and that when reinforcements were sent, one of those officers was also shot dead and another wounded. Some of the sect members fled and were pursued by members of the public according to Idris while the suspected leader, Mohammed Aliyu, who also goes by the alias Hamza, was arrested at a checkpoint. Police said they found rifles in his car that had been stolen from police in Yobe and Kaduna states. Bomb materials were found in his house, according to Idris. The Commissioner of Police who paraded some of the arrested suspects alongside the cache of arms explained that they owed their success to the cooperation of the locals who supported the police. He stated that preliminary investigation revealed that all those arrested were neither natives nor Hausas, stressing that this provoked the locals into action.

17-12-2011
WARRI, DELTA STATE
TASK FORCE KILLS TWO ROBBERS
Two armed bandits were shot dead during a gun battle with men of the Anti-Kidnapping Task Force of Delta Waterways Security Committee, DWSC, Warri, Delta State. A gang of robbers had earlier attacked a shop at Ogbe-Ijoh market, Warri, and shot dead a couple and their sales girl for allegedly refusing to handover gold and other jewelries in their shop to them. But policemen attached to the anti-kidnapping task force, who were on township patrol, intercepted an armed robbery gang said to have been terrorising residents of Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri and environs. On sighting the police, the robbers opened fire to scare them, but the policemen replied with superior firepower, killing two of the hoodlums. Sensing that they might be killed too, the other gang members took to their heels, leaving behind three locally-made pistols with three live cartridges.

18-12-2011
OGHARA ETHIOPE WEST LGA, DELTA STATE
95-YEAR OLD KIDNAPPED
A 95-yeear old community leader, Pa Emmanuel T. Ofa, who retired as a primary school headmaster and believed to be the oldest man in Adagboyeri Community in Ogharefe was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Ogharefe Clan in Oghara, Ethiope West LGA of Delta State. The nonagenarian was forcefully taken away by gunmen, who stormed his home at about 21h30 on the fateful day. He was said to be in his sitting room reliving life experiences with his children and grandchildren when the hoodlums forced him out at gunpoint and led him into a waiting vehicle. Delta State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Charles Muka confirmed the incident in Asaba.

18-12-2011
ABUJA, FCT
NUPENG THREATENS TO GO ON STRIKE
The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has threatened a full blown strike if the Federal Government does not implement the recommendations made by the inter-ministerial/stakeholders’ committee on the inspection and verification of Depot Facilities of Members of Jetty and Petroleum Tank Farm Owners of Nigeria (JEPTFON) before December 31, 2011. National president, Benneth Korie, disclosed in Abuja that the report contains recommendations on deregulation that government must look into before removing fuel subsidy or it will destabilize the nation The report, which took three weeks for the 18-man committee to come up with, he claimed, had been on the table of the Petroleum Minister for some time, yet, nothing was done about the important elements of the recommendations. He said: “Most of the time if we react to issues, people will think NUPENG likes strike, no, nobody likes strike. But, we submitted that report three weeks ago yet, nothing was done about it. The most important aspect of it was left out. So, take this from me, if the recommendations are not met before the end of this year, we are not going to give further notice, but you will wake up and find out that we have withdrawn our services.”

18-12-2011
YENAGOA, BAYELSA STATE
EX-SOLDIER KILLED IN CULT CLASH
Fear gripped residents of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, following the resurgence of hostilities between suspected rival cult groups, which claimed the life of a 65-year- old ex-soldier identified as Mr. Billy. The deceased was reportedly hit by stray bullets around the Ovom suburb of the capital city where the cultists were locked in gun duel. Trouble ensued in the evening around 20h00 when two cult gangs engaged themselves in a violent shootout over an age-long dispute, along Bishop Dimieri Grammar School, Yenagoa.

19-12-2011
KADUNA, KADUNA STATE
EXPLOSION DESTROYS 7 BUILDINGS
Another bomb explosion was recorded in the city of Kaduna in Kaduna State, triggering a pandemonium that sent hundreds of residents scampering to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Barracks about two kilometres away. The explosion which occurred around 13h30 on Ibrahim Rintiyi street, Unguwan Magaji, Kawo, Kaduna, demolished about seven buildings around the house where it exploded. Though no death was recorded, three persons believed to be the occupants of the House, ran out of the building covered in blood, but were chased and apprehended by locals who promptly handed them over to the Police. A crowd of soldiers, Police anti-bomb squad, Civil Defence Corps and plainclothesmen combed the ruins of the house where they discovered that it may have been an illegal armoury of sort, as three military rifles partly charred were recovered.

19-12-2011
DAMATURU, YOBE STATE
EXPLOSION ROCKS YEOBE STATE
Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, was again rocked by another explosion at Pompomari area of the city, shattering the fragile peace that returned to the state in the wake of the earlier blast. Many residents reportedly fled their residences as a result of the incident.

19-12-2011
GUSAU LGA, ZAMFARA STATE
ARMED ROBBERS KILL FOUR POLICEMEN
Armed robbers, numbering about 24, killed four policemen in Zamfara State in the early hours. Eyewitness said the incident occurred between 06h00 and 07h00 at Jangeme village of Gusau Local Government Area, about 25 kilometres away from the state capital. The identities of the two traders could not be ascertained as of press time.

Plans have been concluded by the family of a man, Ifeanyi Sunday, whose lover, Chinyere Ezeala, died in his home at Ejigbo, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria after rounds of sex, to marry the deceased as tradition demands in order to be able to bury her.

The late Chinyere was a final year student of the Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo before her death.
Families of the deceased and her lover allegedly reached this agreement at the Ejigbo Police Station where the matter was reported so that the criminal case against him can be withdrawn. But the police denied involvement in the arrangement.

P.M NEWS had on Monday, 12 December reported how the man, Ifeanyi Sunday found his lover, Chinyere Ezeala, dead in his house at 36, Fayemi Street, Ejigbo, Lagos and reported to the police at Ejigbo.
He was immediately arrested and detained by the police at Ejigbo station.
Investigations revealed that the agreement to marry the deceased was one of the decisions reached at a peace meeting between the two families.

P.M.NEWS gathered further that apart from marrying the late Ezeala according to Igbo culture and tradition, he will also sponsor her burial rites.

When contacted, an uncle of the deceased who simply gave his name as Ezeala confirmed the ageement, adding that the two families had gone to the police station to get the autopsy report but the police said it was not ready. The corpse is at Isolo General Hospital, Lagos.

“We have reached agreement, there is no problem. We have agreed that Sunday will act as her husband during the traditional burial rites. The rites had to be performed before she can be buried,” he confirmed.
Co-tenants at the Ejigbo residence of Sunday confirmed that the late Chinyere was a regular visitor to the house every weekend and used to spend days before leaving for school.

P.M.NEWS sought the opinions of Igbo elders on the culture of marrying the dead in Igboland and this is what some of them have to say.

An Igbo chief based in Lagos, High Chief John Nwosu told P.M.NEWS that the practice is a well known tradition in Igboland. He said before such a person is buried, the man must marry the deceased, according to tradition, including paying her bride price, marriage ceremony and other rites before she is buried.

Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State, Eze Christian Nwachukwu said the practice of marrying the dead in Igboland was in the past, but these days, it depends on the family of the deceased who can insist on such demand.

He said a family may decide to wave it if it there was proper introduction but marriage has not taken place.

Nwachukwu said he had been treating such cases in his palace and sometime travel to Igboland to mediate on such matters. He added that the situation becomes worse if the parties are from different cultures

247nigerianewsupdate

Nairalanders! Our road is the worst in the state at the moment; accessing other parts of the city from here is difficult, so people have resorted to this means. I blame the situation on the poor state of roads which had forced people to use the Ngbuodohia water route. The state government is being insensitive to the plight of the people in terms of providing such critical infrastructure. This would not have happened if the roads were in good shape. The roads in portharcourt are one of the worse in the whole country. Do your research yourself and find out.

Nigerian women have been ranked first in the world for being the most unfaithful partners in a relationship. According to the survey conducted by the manufacturers of Durex condom, 62% of the Nigerian women that were interviewed confessed to have cheated on their partners.

Other countries following Nigeria are;
Thailand second place at 59%
Malaysiathird place at 39%
Russia fourth place at 33% and
Singapore fifth place at 19%

Theresult was also conducted among the their male counterparts and the rankings are as follows;
Thailand first position at 54%
South Korea second place at 34%
Malaysia third place at 33%
Russia fourth place at 32% and
Hong Kong fifth place at 29%

The survey results were based on interviews with 29,000 people in 36 countries.

afrocosmopolitan

A 9-year-old boy North Carolina boy was suspended for calling a teacher “cute,” WSOCTV.com reports.

The boy’s mother, Chiquita Lockett, said the principal of Brookside Elementary in Gastonia called her after the incident to say the comment was a form of “sexual harassment.”

"It's not like he went up to the woman and tried to grab her or touch her in a sexual way," Lockett said. "So why would he be suspended for two days?”

According to the station, a district spokeswoman said she could not go into detail, but said the boy was suspended for "inappropriate behavior" after making "inappropriate statements."

The district's Code of Conduct doesn't list "inappropriate behavior," but says "disruption of school" is punishable by five days of out-of-school suspension.

The news of the North Carolina boy’s suspension comes as a Massachusetts elementary school is investigating a first-grader for sexual harassment after the boy struck another boy his age in the groin.

The mother of the accused 7-year-old tells the Boston Globe that her son was fending off another child, who had choked him in an altercation on the school bus on Nov. 22.

“I think my kid was right to fight back,’’ said the mother, Tasha Lynch, 30. “He wasn’t doing anything except protecting himself.’’

Lynch says her son has been afraid to return to Tynan Elementary School in South Boson since the fight, according to the paper.

Matthew Wilder, spokesman for the Boston public schools, declined to comment on the incident or why it has been classified as a possible case of sexual harassment. He said officials do not discuss confidential student information.

foxnews

yakubu is a waste for all i care.

As Narrated By Arnon Barak (And Editor By African Herald Express)
This is the full story of the covert Biafra Air Rescue operation of 1969 – 1970 by a few heroic foreigners – mostly Jewish pilots and humanists that flew ill-maintained aircrafts by night, in bad weather and across enemy fire – and landed with supplies of food and medicines for Biafran civilians ravaged by starvation/air and sea blockade during the dark days of the Nigerian civil war. The moving details of the highly secret and dangerous Mission are being made public now in the words of a few of the surviving pilots and crew who came together to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of what was also known then as the “Red Cross Operation — Relief Action Nigeria”.

The anniversary, which was organized by the IsraelAircraft Industries (IAI, the initiators of the Mission back in 1968, will also serve as a symbolic monument to the fallen Air-Crew and others, who heroically died on their mission while saving lives in Biafra. The anniversary which took place in Israel on March 3, 2010 also gave Honourable Mentions to the hundreds of surviving volunteers, Air and Ground Crew, who jeopardized their lives, day and night during the operation. Below is the rest of the story (in the words of Arnon Barak, the narrator): Our story began at the end of the year 1968, when in one morning the phone rang. On the other side was my boss in IAI, (Israel Aircraft Industries), “come quickly to my office” he said. When I got there he told me straight away, “There is a massive genocide in Biafra. We were called up by Balair, the Swiss airline that asked IAI, to help their maintenance crew to take over the “big monster” the C-97 STRATOFREIGHTER. The Red Cross is supplying food and medicine to the besieged people in Biafra”.

My boss continued, “I decided to assign our best maintenance crew experts to this mission, so, do you agree to join the delegation which includes Ezra Melamed, Samuel Karniely , Josef Shimony and yourself Arnon Barak ?” Without any hesitation I agreed and so my friends. One month later we arrived in Basel starting working in Balair’s huge hangar. A short time later, Uri Shani, our friend from IAI joined us. Our small group of friends from Israel – Ezra, Uri, Josef, Samuel and myself Arnon (the author of this story) – decided to erect a website, so that the history of this Mission will live on in the public square. We were the beginner technicians in the Biafra Operation. The purpose of the Biafra Operation was to save lives of more than a million people of those living in Biafra, a large territorial area in Nigeria. The people of Biafra were surrounded by tens of thousands of Nigerian soldiers armed with “smart” weapons and fighter airplanes, including MIG 15. Neither food nor medicine was supplied to these people. The Red Cross was not allowed to render assistance. At the beginning of 1968, the Red Cross decided to initiate a Secret Mission. Its goal was to supply medicine and food to the Biafra area in order to save the life of a few millions people starving in a small shrinkable territory. The Red Cross wanted to use large volume transportation aircraft for the mission. It was a huge problem to locate a runway to land and take-off in the Biafra territory. The only time those aircraft could land in the Biafra area was during the night.

Finally, they did find a road (in a place named ULI), long enough to use as a “runway” for a large airplane such the C-97g. The flights to ULI operated after sundown in total darkness, the Nigerian fighter pilots were afraid to fly during darkness. The air crews involved in this operation were very brave and some of them were shot down during the operation while others crashed in ULI close to the jungle. Balair Airline, a daughter company of Swissair, was selected by the Red Cross to conduct the air rescue operation. After a short time, they realized that their DC-6's and DC-7's were not large enough to carry the quantities of food & medicines needed for this operation. The decision was made to try operating the huge Boeing C-97g (the largest U.S.A.F. Aircraft at that time) which was operated by only two countries the U.S.A.F. And Israeli Air Force. Officially, the U.S. Government was not involved, but they did not prevent Air-Crew- U.S. citizens to take part in the Biafra Operation as volunteers. Five aircraft were purchased at the beginning from the civil aviation market– subject to the U.S. Government approval. From the maintenance point of view, the C-97 was very difficult to handle and complicated aircraft to maintain. Years of experience were needed in order to certify and authorize technicians for these aircraft. There were two reasons for these difficulties. Firstly, the C-97 piston engine was the largest ever made and caused many problems. Secondly, most of the aircraft systems were electrically and electronically driven. Also, special logistic support was needed to fly continuously.

For all of these reasons, Balair contacted Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), the only Company outside of the U.S., familiar with the C-97's, in order to train Balair’s technicians. The plan was to train a group of Balair’s maintenance personal within a month (the goal was unattainable so it failed). A group of four technicians was selected by IAI to start the operation, and we were honored to be that group.The U.S. Air National Guard contributed five C-97's for this operation, Israeli air crew transferred the aircraft to Basel, Switzerland (the First aircraft landed in February 15, 1969) and immediately we prepared them for the operation. In parallel, Hugo Marom, IAI’s chief pilot, conducted a flight test of the aircraft and checked the volunteer pilot candidates from the U.S in order to certify them for this operation. After one month of hard work in Balair facilities trying to train their technicians to perform the C-97's maintenance work, Balair came to the conclusion that it was impossible to achieve the goal of operating those aircraft with their technicians. IAI was asked to continue supporting the operation for as long as needed. The first cargo flight toAfrica, bound for Biafra, was made on March, 1969 and considered as a key flight to decide go/no go for the whole fleet of C-97's aircraft. Unfortunately, Engine failure occurred during flight and the aircraft was forced to land in the Sahara Desert at Niamey airport, in Niger Africa. A second Aircraft was flown with a spare engine to rescue the first aircraft and we were the 4 technicians onboard. It was the most horrendous time I can remember. A few of us contracted malaria and the work was done only at night due to the hot weather.

Our base station was in Cotonou airport, Dahomey (today Benin) in Africa, close to the Nigerian border. The five C-97's were operated every night to ULI in Biafra Nigeria, landing in the darkness. Several accidents occurred such as one aircraft returned without one propeller and another landed on its belly due to the pilot forgetting to lower the Landing Gear. Every night some aircraft returned with bullet holes in the body and others were shot down. From time to time we flew to Europe and returned with food and medicines. During one of those flights we made an emergency landing and it is a hair-raising story. A special relationship developed between our people and the air crew guys. We spent our leisure time discussing ideas and coming up with solutions to problems that arose. I would like to quote a few lines from a letter written by Captain K. Herzog, Balair president at the time of the Biafra operation. The letter was written for the reunion celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the Biafra operation. The reunion was held in Israel inDecember, 1989. “I would like to remember you, how the cooperation with IAI started. When the problem came up to increase the load Capacity of the Airlift in Biafra by taking over a number of C-97's from The American Air Force I realized, that Balair, as DC-6 a/b operator, Was not qualified to handle such a sophisticated airplane in West Africa. As Israel was the only country in our hemisphere flying the C-97's I was aware, that only close operation with IAI gave us the chance to realize a successful operation.

Fortunately, we had already good contacts with “Bedek” (IAI), due to the major overhand of a Balair DC-4 and due to the Maintenance assistance given our DC-3 flying for Untso. The most important question to get full technical assistance was settled and I could sign the contract to take over the first five C-97's from the U.S. National guard. To enable the start of the operation, Israeli air crew ferried the aircraft from different air ports in the U.S. to Switzerland for registration. Who of you of about 50 participants of the Israeli delegation does not remember the long ferry flights around the whole African coast (refuelling at Las Palmas) to Cotonu (Dahomey) and back for maintenance to Lod (today called Ben-Gurion Intl. A/P), avoiding strictly overflying any Arabic territory. I remember by this Opportunity that an American-Balair-crew made an emergency landing in Sidi-ifni in Spanish Morocco, where the Israeli staff members had to be hidden in the tail cone of the C-97. You started this maintenance in the Biafra Airlift with endless working Hours as C-97 experts with an unusual technical knowhow due to your Experience in the air force. You kept this a/c, which had no famous Reputation, in the air. Already after 2 months high ranking U.S. Air Force officers were aware of the extreme high monthly utilization of our Fleet. Colonel Dewey, also still a friend of mine, who supervised our activity had to confirm the flight hour figures to the chief of the National Guard force.

Due to this success, I could get the contract from “Joint Church Aid” an American group based with 5 other C-97's in Sao Tome, an island four hundred kilometers south of Dahomey (Benin). On short call we ferried you to this island, where we took over the 5 C-97's. 3 of these a/c were grounded due to lack of maintenance. Do you remember the lousy spare part shops we found in the hangar? The U.S. Air Force ferried immediately 5 spare engines and after one week the whole Fleet was in operation again. I remember one thing again as it would have happened yesterday. One of our ground mechanics a small fellow, Climbed up inside the tail to the top to repair an electrical failure of the position tail light. Of course we had no ladder to climb so high upon this island. The success of the Biafra Airlift brought a lot of congratulations to the favor of IAI and Balair. All of us can be proud of what we did for the starving people of Biafra, bringing night after night under ugly circumstances food and medical supplies (16 tons on each flight). Editor’s note: This story was brought to our attention by Philip Udegbunam, a Nigerian-Israeli, who met the surviving pilots of the Biafra Air Rescue and encouraged them to share their story

My brother na die you dey go die so oh! Everything is under alarm there is no cause for control oh!

Toyota Camry> Definately toyota Camry

A picture is now circulating showing detained NOLLYWOOD Star BABATUNDE OMIDINA aka Baba suwe sitting on a plastic bucket in what looks like an attempt to collect his poop for examination. But must they release such a photo to the public to convince us that he is excreting? honestly baba Suwe's lawyers must sue these NDLEA guys up to 5 billion Naira.

The Gusau Cargo Airport and the Gotawa Independent Power Plant in Zamfara State only exist on paper, a verification committee has revealed.
Senator Saidu Dansadau, the Chairman of debt verification committee set up by the state government, made the declaration in Gusau on Tuesday, while presenting the report of the committee to Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara.
Former Governor Mahmud Shinkafi of Zamfara State awarded the two projects at the cost of N28 billion.
The cargo airport contract was awarded at a cost of about N9 billion in 2009, while the independent power project was awarded at about N19 billion in 2010.
Dansadau said that there were no traces of the commencement of the power project since its award in 2010, adding that N64 million was already paid as consultancy charges out of the project cost.
He also said that N14 million was paid as consultancy fees for the cargo airport, while nothing was paid as compensation to the owners of the land acquired for the site.
The senator said that in spite of the publicity give to the projects, nothing was on ground to suggest that the projects had commenced, but did not say if any fund was released as part payment for the projects.
“Above all Zamfara does not need a cargo airport, but a small airport that could take care of the flight needs of the state,” he said.
Dansadau also said that the committee had discovered that the total debt owed contractors by the state government was N18 billion and not N26 billion as earlier announced.
He, however, said that contractors owed the state government about N4 billion as funds collected for jobs not done.
The verification also revealed that the state government had a total of 29,000 workers on its payroll, while authenticated monthly wage bill stood at N1.3 billion before the implementation of the minimum wage.
The committee recommended the revocation of some contracts viewed as not relevant to the state, as well as refund of all monies collected by contractors for jobs that were not executed.
In his response, Yari said that the verification exercise was not a witch-hunt, but was a way of charting a new course for the state.
He said that the government would not relent in its efforts to ensure that those who have some questions to answer regarding any transactions would be invited.
Yari assured the committee that he would carefully study its recommendation for implementation and commended it for a thorough job.

The Gusau Cargo Airport and the Gotawa Independent Power Plant in Zamfara State only exist on paper, a verification committee has revealed.
Senator Saidu Dansadau, the Chairman of debt verification committee set up by the state government, made the declaration in Gusau on Tuesday, while presenting the report of the committee to Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara.
Former Governor Mahmud Shinkafi of Zamfara State awarded the two projects at the cost of N28 billion.
The cargo airport contract was awarded at a cost of about N9 billion in 2009, while the independent power project was awarded at about N19 billion in 2010.
Dansadau said that there were no traces of the commencement of the power project since its award in 2010, adding that N64 million was already paid as consultancy charges out of the project cost.
He also said that N14 million was paid as consultancy fees for the cargo airport, while nothing was paid as compensation to the owners of the land acquired for the site.
The senator said that in spite of the publicity give to the projects, nothing was on ground to suggest that the projects had commenced, but did not say if any fund was released as part payment for the projects.
“Above all Zamfara does not need a cargo airport, but a small airport that could take care of the flight needs of the state,” he said.
Dansadau also said that the committee had discovered that the total debt owed contractors by the state government was N18 billion and not N26 billion as earlier announced.
He, however, said that contractors owed the state government about N4 billion as funds collected for jobs not done.
The verification also revealed that the state government had a total of 29,000 workers on its payroll, while authenticated monthly wage bill stood at N1.3 billion before the implementation of the minimum wage.
The committee recommended the revocation of some contracts viewed as not relevant to the state, as well as refund of all monies collected by contractors for jobs that were not executed.
In his response, Yari said that the verification exercise was not a witch-hunt, but was a way of charting a new course for the state.
He said that the government would not relent in its efforts to ensure that those who have some questions to answer regarding any transactions would be invited.
Yari assured the committee that he would carefully study its recommendation for implementation and commended it for a thorough job.

Eye allegedly blinded from flogging by teacher

*Demands N100m compensation

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

BENIN—A 10-year-old primary four pupil of Okhoro Primary School, Benin, Edo State, Miss Blessing Okaeben, has demanded from the state government N100milllion within seven days as compensation for her left eye which was allegedly blinded through flogging by a teacher under its employment.

She threatened to institute legal proceedings against the government should it fail to meet her demand.

The money is made up of N20milion as estimated cost of her travel, stay, and medical treatment abroad and N80million as damages for breach of her fundamental rights to freedom from torture, inhuman and degrading treatment as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), Africa Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and the United Nations Convention on the Right s of the Child.

Blessing was said to have been flogged by the female teacher with a broom in June 2011 for failing her Mathematics test.

Explaining her ordeal, the pupil, in a letter to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, through her counsel, Mr. Bamidele Igbinedion, said after inflicting pains on her neck and head several times with a big cane, the teacher further seized a bunch of broom and hit her severally on the head, face and eyes.

She alleged that the said teacher called her a “witch” and accused her of using witchcraft to disturb the school, adding that despite her appeal, the teacher continued to beat her until she sustained injury in her left eye which started to emit a watery substance.

Little blessing said she was unable to sleep that night due to the pains in the injured eye, which had become red, sore and swollen, adding that the following morning, her parents reported the matter to the headmistress of the school who advised the class teacher to take her to the hospital.

The letter read partly: “The teacher took our client to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, Eye Clinic, where a broken broom stick was later extracted from her left eye.

“The class teacher paid some paltry amount for the treatment and then took our client to a private eye clinic in Benin. However, when asked to pay further monies for her treatment, the teacher refused, saying she was pregnant with her own child and cannot be spending money to treat another person’s child.

The police in Lagos have arrested a businessman, Obed Igwe, who allegedly shot his son, Herod, during an argument that ensued when Herod’s younger brother used their dad’s car without his consent. Herod’s younger brother, Ebuka, 18, was the culprit.

Igwe was so angry that he sent Ebuka out of their 5, Iya Abiye Street, Satellite Town, Lagos residence.

When Herod returned home from school at the weekend and learnt that his father had driven away his younger brother for using his car, he started pleading on behalf of his brother.

Igwe, who was still very angry, allegedly loaded his double barrel gun and shot Herod, 22, a 200 level student of Law at the American University, Cotonou, Benin Republic. He was shot in the arm and leg.

The police at Agboju Division, Satellite Town, Lagos, later arrested and interrogated Igwe.

He was charged to Apapa magistrates’ court with attempt to kill Herod and unlawful possession of firearm.

Herod is now receiving treatment because of the injury he sustained during the shooting.

Herod told P. M. NEWS that he is an undergraduate of law, American University, Benin republic. He said that it was his mom that called him and informed him that their dad had thrown Ebuka out of their house for driving his car.

He said that he quickly returned from school to settle the matter.

He told P. M. NEWS that while he was persuading his dad to drop the gun, he opened fire on him.

He said when his mom heard the sound of the gun, she thought that her husband had killed him and ran to the police station to report the case.

The police arrested Igwe and claimed he possessed the gun unlawfully, a charge Igwe denied.

Igwe told P M NEWS that he had a licence for his gun and that he did not shoot his son. He said that what happened was an accidental discharge.

However, while he was about to be arraigned in court yesterday, a team of police officers from Agboju Station led by a woman Divisional Criminal Officer, stormed the court and withdrew the charge and took him back to the station.

P. M. NEWS gathered from the station that the state Commissioner of Police, Yakubu Alkali, had ordered that the matter should be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, Yaba, Lagos for further investigation

mofe

summons

The governor of Delta state, Emmanuel Uduaghan last week appointed to his cabinet, Mofe Pirah, whom his government is also prosecuting for murder.

According to court documents available to SaharaReporters, Mr. Pirah and 10 accused persons have recently received summonses from the Court of Appeal in Benin City for the September 1998 murder of Mr Samuel .A.K Metseagharun in Warri.

In the incident, Mr. Metseagharun, a former chairman and sole administrator of Delta State Board of Inland Revenue and Chairman of the Ugborodo (Escravos) Community Trust Governing Council, was allegedly dragged out of his Mercedes Benz car and beaten to death by a crowd which included Mr. Pirah.

The Delta State Government objected to the verdict of the High Court which dismissed the murder charges against Mr. Pirah and his co-accused, and filed a notice of appeal through its lawyers led by Ighodalo Imadegbelo (SAN).

Saharareporters sources claim that before Mr. Pirah was made commissioner of "Oil and Gas," he had bragged on behalf of himself and the other accused persons that there was no threat from the Court of Appeal, claiming that they have reserved N300 million for the judges involved in the case. He also told family members that they gave the same amount to Hon. Justice S.A. Ehiwario, who decided the case at the high court in 2007.



When SaharaReporters contacted the Commissioner of information of Delta State, Chike Ogeah, he admitted that Mr. Pirah was indeed the person appointed as commissioner by his boss. Curiously, he also said the state was satisfied with the high court case which dismissed the charges against Pirah and others.

Asked if he knew about the appeal, it became even more curious when, following consultations with the Attorney General of the state, he answered in the affirmative.

That means that Governor Uduaghan, who is using official resources to pay lawyers to prosecute Mr. Pirah, is now also using official resources to cater for Mr. Pirah as a commissioner.

Analysts told SaharaReporters today that it is obvious that the governor has already decided the case at the Court of Appeal, and that Mr. Pirah’s boast that the case will be taken care of has Mr. Uduaghan’s support and perhaps, as much as N300 million walking-around money.

The bizarre situation in Delta State is the latest in Nigeria governments in which the president and some governors appoint relatives, friends, cronies and party-members to office no matter how questionable their integrity or track record.

House please can i get a complete list for an ibo traditional marriage. need to help a friend so that he budgets properly. thanks

A Ghanaian minister is "promoting hatred" by urging people to report those they suspect to be homosexual, a human rights group has told the BBC.


Most gays and lesbians in Ghana maintain their relationships underground
Ghana's Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights said Paul Evans Aidoo's comments could endanger the nation's underground gay community.

Mr Aidoo said he wanted to rid society of gay people and take them to court.

Homosexual acts are illegal in Ghana but someone would have to be caught having sex to be prosecuted.

Mr Aidoo was reacting to reports that 8,000 gay people in the Western Region had registered with Aids charities.

"I don't believe it; nobody believes it," the Western Region minister told Ghana's Joy FM radio station earlier this week.

He urged people - "landlords and tenants" - to come forward if they suspected someone was gay.

The suspects would be taken to court to see if they could be charged, Mr Aidoo said.

"All efforts are being made to get rid of these people in the society," he said.

But Mac-Darling Cobbinah, the head of the Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights, said the threat was empty.

Even the Disciples of Jesus were armed.

A seven-year-old Michigan boy who had to stand up to reach the gas and brake pedals while driving was pulled over by police on Monday morning after traveling more than 20 miles in his stepfather's car.

The boy, who lives with his mother and stepfather 100 miles northeast of Detroit, was barefoot and wearing pajamas when police caught up with him, the New York Daily News reported.

"He was crying and just kept saying he wanted to go to his dad's," Caseville Police Chief Jamie Learman told The Associated Press. "That was pretty much it. He just wanted to go to his dad's."

The boy drove the red Pontiac Sunfire as fast as 70 mph, according to the Daily News, and veered onto the shoulder several times.

The boy's mother, who works a late shift, was sleeping when the youngster got behind the wheel.

The Department of Human Services and the Huron County Prosecutor's Office have not determined if any charges will be filed, although Tim Rutkowski, the county's prosecutor, said on Wednesday that there is no evidence that the boy was taught how to drive.

WATCH:


http://kabibi.com/lates-news/latest-news/4250-7-year-old-steals-car-drives-20-miles-to-see-his-dad-watch.html

in my humble opinion i would say chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers was the best governor. He transformed Rivers State to a huge constructing site in his three years of being a governor. He did what his pre decessor Peter Odili could not do after 8 years in power. He humbled Odili. Odili should be full of shame and guilt whenever he drives the neat, tarred, lited street of portharcourt.

PLEASE CONTACT ME. I AM INTERESTED. wATS UR EMAIL BY THE WAY?