Secret's out! Beyonce is pregnant with 2nd Child

According to E news, mutiple sources have confirmed Beyonce is pregnant with her 2nd child.Hip hop mogul, Russell Simons also tweeted his congratulations to the couple.
 If you recall, she missed one of her tour appearances for the first time last week.
Also, in her recent photo(above), the signs are visible.

Transmission station fire: PHCN allays fear of blackout in Lagos

The Power Holding Company of Nigeria has said that there will be no blackout in Lagos as it is being speculated following a fire incidence at its Ikeja West transmission station located at Ayobo, Ipaja area of the state.

The Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Ikeja Distribution Company, Mr. Okaa Akamnonu, who spoke with journalists in Lagos, on Friday, described the affected transmission station as one of the “biggest in the country responsible for very massive power transmission handling.”

He explained that the fire incidence, which was caused by an internal defect, resulted in the loss of one of the five 150mva transformers.

Group calls for national state of emergency

The Afenifere Renewal group, a pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, has urged the Federal Government to declare a “state of national emergency” instead of the one recently declared by the presidency in three northern states.
In a statement made available to Saturday PUNCH on Friday, the group’s Publicity Secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, said the state of emergency rule that was now being observed in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, could only offer a temporary solution to the challenges of insecurity in the country.
The group said the proposed state of national emergency would “prepare the ground for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference, which would bring all the peoples ethnic groups in Nigeria together at a roundtable on the future of the country.”
The statement commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the courage he showed by the action, but described his declaration of a state of emergency in the three states as an inadequate solution that could only offer a temporary respite from the country’s challenges.
“However, we are convinced that this is merely a temporary solution that once again falls short of the determined course of action that should finally put this country on the part of progress, the group said.”

Boko Haram has anti-aircraft, anti-tank guns, Nigerian Military says after destruction

The Nigerian military said on Friday that it destroyed weapons, including anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns, owned by insurgents in Borno State.
The military said in a statement that advancing troops of the Special Task Force have destroyed some terrorists’ camps sited in the forests of Northern and Central Borno.
The statement was issued in Abuja on Friday and signed by Brigadier General Chris Olukolade, the Director of Defence Information.

FG considering World Bank loans for roads – Onolememen

Faced with paucity of funds, the federal government is considering taking loans from multilateral organizations such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank, ADB, to fast track its road development programme.
The Minister of Works, Arc. Mike Onolememen, told journalists in  Abuja, yesterday, that concessionary loans from such organizations  were better than taking commercial loans from Nigeria’s money and capital markets where interests remained high.
His words: “The World Bank gave us $330 million for the rehabilitation of some roads and this went a long way in improving the quality of our roads.  We are also looking at how the African Development can come in.

Angelina Jolie is misleading women

Angelina Jolie’s revelation that she had a double mastectomy to reduce her chances of breast cancer has provoked a cruel backlash online.
Some have accused her of being an attention seeker — a former sex goddess who’s past her sell-by date and is now trying to use her medical problems to boost her public profile.
Others — and I fall firmly into this category — believe it was incredibly courageous to share the details of her dramatic surgery, especially when it’s not yet over. She is due to have a hysterectomy and her ovaries removed to reduce her risk of ovarian cancer.
She is doing it for her children, she says. She did not want them to suffer as she did losing her mother to breast cancer when she was just 56.
But perhaps the most striking thing Angelina said was that she did not feel any less of a woman after having her breasts removed. ‘I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity.’

Zack Orji Becomes Pastor

Veteran actor, Zach Orji, has been on the corridor of evangelism in the past two years. He was proclaimed an evangelist by the President of Christian Central Chapel international (CCCI) Bishop Emma Isong,.
The actor was said to have moved from one church to the other with the ministry working hard and praying to get further official pastoral ordination. He had preaching engagement in various churches such as Shepherd House Assembly in Makurdi, Lafia, Abuja and the Diaspora.
Right now, the dreams of star of Glamour Girls of becoming a full minister of God became a reality few weeks ago when he was officially ordained pastor by Bishop Lawrence Osagie.
It was also gathered that Zack Orji will continue with his inspirational style of reaching which will open him to frequent travelling all over the world preaching the word of God.

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde And Lawyer In Legal Tussle Over N1.15m

After business has since gone awry, Time Magazine acclaimed Queen of Nollywood, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and Barrister Keshi Elvis of Megafield Solicitors are currently locked in a legal tussle over retainership fees running into N1,150,000.

The case of breach of contract involving the Lagos based lawyer Nollywood diva, holding at Ikeja Magistrate court, is due to come up on Tuesday, July 9, 2013.
Trouble allegedly reared its ugly head when in September, 2012, the claimant, Keshi Elvis, went to court to seek redress for the balance of his retainership agreement for 2010 (N150,000) and the retainership agreement for 2011 (200,000) as well as fee for services rendered between this period which amounted to N1,150,000.
However, in a counter affidavit from Omotola’s counsel, Festus Keyamo, the actress admitted owning the complainant the sum of N350,000, and not N1,150,000″as claimed.

Genevieve Nnaji's birthday photos

The actress was a year older on May 3rd. She shared photos from her small and private birthday party which held in London, on her Instagram page today.

Pastor Who Cooks With Indian Hemp

The General Overseer of a Pentecostal Church in Owerri, Imo state, Pastor Clement Ezeigbo was recently nabbed by men of the Imo State police Command for his alleged involvement in various kidnappings in the state.

Pastor Ezeigbo, who is currently cooling his heels in the police Anti Kidnap Unit of the state police command, shocked the detectives when a bundle of Indian hemp was found in his church.

However, Ezeigbo told the police that, "I don't know anything about kidnapping but I am the owner of the Indian hemp (Igbo) but the good thing is that I don't smoke it, I use it to prepare my food. I enjoy eating food prepared with Indian hemp.

President Obama to Visit S’Africa, Tanzania, Rwanda, Considers Stopover in Nigeria

President Barack Obama of the United States is billed to begin his second tour of Africa at the end of June with visits to South Africa, Tanzania and Rwanda.

He will however make a stopover in Nigeria, during which he will hold bilateral discussions with President Goodluck Jonathan and other top government officials.

The initial plan for the African tour was for Obama to spend two days in Nigeria, but owing to insecurity occasioned by the terrorist activities of the Islamic militant group, Boko Haram, the plan was reviewed and he is now expected to spend a few hours or one day in the country.

Newly Married Pastor Sign Fireman Lures New Members With Money

A church is basically known as a holy place where people go with faith to ask for one thing or the other; and most times, it is believed that with faith they receive blessings or what have you.
But nowadays, churches are not what they used to be in the early 80s when the CAC first brought about what is now known as Pentecostal Churches, there were no stories of pastors buying private jets, wearing tuxedo suits, and building secondary schools and universities with the members’ offering and tithes.
These days, despite the members paying through their nose to ‘satisfy’ God, many are not able to afford the school fees of their wards and other benefits from the church fold.

Borno: Troops capture Boko Haram’s camp

EARLY reports of military operations in the three North-East states under emergency rule, on Thursday, indicated that Nigerian soldiers had recaptured three of the local government areas where insurgents had been in control in northern Borno.
The names of the recaptured councils could not be confirmed out of the lot in possession of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram. The areas where the insurgents were said to have been in total control before the military operation launched on Thursday were Marte, Magumeri, Mobbar, Gubio, Guzamala, Abadamin, Kukawa, Kaga, Nganzai and Monguno.
Also, the troops reportedly invaded and took over a training camp of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, known as Sambisa on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, in the early hours of Thursday.
Borno as well as Adamawa and Yobe states fell under emergency rule by presidential proclamation on Tuesday.

Police, SSS may withdraw Amaechi’s security aides

There were indications in Abuja on Thursday that security aides attached to the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, may be withdrawn.
A highly placed security source, who briefed reporters in Abuja, said there were plans to withdraw the security aides of the governor.
The source insisted that the alarm raised by the Speaker of Rivers House of Assembly, Mr. Dan Amachree, that the security aides attached to the governor would be asked to return to their bases, was true after all.
The Speaker had, in an open letter sent to President Goodluck Jonathan, further alleged that the situation in Rivers State had reached a crescendo.
He alleged the governor might as well be assassinated following a series of reported nocturnal meetings held in a neighbouring State and Abuja.

Mark, Tambuwal stopped Jonathan from sacking govs —Reps

House of Representatives on Thursday said prior deliberations between President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the National Assembly saved the governors of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states from sacking.
The President on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in three states, leaving the governors to continue to be in office.
The states, in recent time, have witnessed severe violent attacks orchestrated by members of an insurgent group, Boko Haram.
The Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Victor Ogene, said Jonathan held a meeting with the presiding officers of the National Assembly where they prevailed upon him to retain the governors in office while implementing the emergency rule.
Ogene explained that the “understanding” by the two sides was to ensure that the proclamation would not send the wrong signals to stakeholders.
Ogene stated this at a briefing in Abuja.

Aviation unions threaten to shut airspace on Monday

THREE aviation unions – Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) – yesterday served a notice to shut the Nigerian airspace beginning from May 20.
The unions said their planned action is to protest the failure of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to address issues bordering on new salary scale.
Their threat came ahead of the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum issued to NAMA on the vexed issue, which expires next Monday.
A bulletin jointly issued by the unions to the workers, advised them to immediately embark on strike until all issues raised with the NAMA are resolved.
The bulletin was signed by Olayinka Abioye (ATSSSAN), Aba Ocheme (NAAPE) and Odinika Igbokwe (NUATE).
The union leaders also expressed bitterness over NAMA’s failure to invite them for dialogue since the ultimatum was issued. They also raised concerns over the non-payment of 13-month areas that have accrued on the new salary scale.
On May 6, the unions wrote a letter to NAMA’s Managing Director, Nnamdi Udoh, to immediately resolve all issues raised by the workers.

How to access the £800Million entertainment fund in Nigeria

Media reports have it that only six applicants have successfully accessed N700 million of the N200 billion entertainment fund disbursed by the Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM) for the entertainment industry. Yet the entertainment industry is in dire need for these funds as the industry especially the film sector is in comatose. For the purpose of clarity, the objective of the fund is to stimulate the entertainment industry by funding of production, distribution infrastructure, acquisition of hi-tech production equipment and project refinancing.

Many practitioners have decried the conditions attached to the fund hence this attempt to demystify the process:

We’re Tackling Corruption – Dr. Okonjo-Iweala

Recently, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was a guest on CNN international where she was interviewed on Nigeria’s social economic problems. We bring you excerpt from the interview:
You have said and others have said, that 2013 is going to be a real game-changing year, a turning point year for Nigeria, particularly in your area of finance and economics.
 
How?
Well, it’s going to be a game-changer and a turning point, because this is the year we are going to produce results. And we’re already producing results within the administration.
First, on the economic side, I just want to say that macroeconomic stability has been restored. Now, nobody should minimize that. Remember, there were two lost decades in Africa, in the ’80s and ’90s, where there was so much macro instability that people could not even focus on sectors that could create jobs.
Now things have gone right. We’ve got growth that is at 6.5 percent last year and we’re projecting for 2013; also, around the same number compared to average 5 percent on the African continent. Now, I just want to say that when you mentioned GDP growth, people immediately say we can — in my country, they say we can’t eat growth; because we have unemployment challenges, we need to create more jobs. We have a challenge of inclusion. We have problems of inequality. All those are challenges we face.

Teacher arrested for fondling 14-year-old pupil

A 24-year-old teacher, Phillip Ebong, was arrested on Wednesday by the Gowon Estate Police Division, Akowonjo, Lagos, for allegedly victimising a 14-year-old pupil (name withheld) and banning her from attending his classes.
Ebong, who teaches Physics and Chemistry at the Dee Jewels International College, Gowon Estate, Egbeda, was arrested during school hours after a complaint was lodged at the police station by Spaces for Change, a non-governmental organisation on youth development, on behalf of the pupil and her guardian, Mrs. Theresa Amaechi.
A copy of the petition made available to PUNCH Metro revealed that Ebong began harassing the victim from the first day of her enrolment in the school in January 2013.
The petition read, “On repeated occasions, Ebong invited the victim to the staff room informing her of his desire to have an intimate relationship with her. Consequently, the victim became a regular visitor to the staff room during break periods.

Killing Policemen Portends Danger Ahead Of 2015

Last week’s killings of policemen numbering about 100 in Nasarawa State by suspected militiamen and other similar cases of killings may be an indication of things to come, as the country approaches 2015. CHIKA OTUCHIKERE writes.
Recent killing of security operatives carrying out their constitutional duties may have sent signals of impending danger lurking on the road to 2015. The country’s electorate is expected to go to the polls that year to elect a new leadership. Nearly 20 months to the electioneering campaigns, and incidentally, the proverbial date for the dissolution of the entity called Nigeria, as reportedly predicted by the United States government, unfolding violent incidents give indications that the country may slide into full blown war before 2015.
All fingers have pointed at political underbelly play-out in most, if not all the killings. According to political analysts, most of the killings going on in the country are preparatory to the 2015 general election. They aver that politicians are systematically instilling fears into the citizenry through the use of ruthless criminal elements who waste human lives with impunity.

“The president has no power to remove a governor” – Femi Falana; Others React

The president’s long awaited declaration of a state of emergency yesterday has continued to brew reactions from many quarters of the nation.
One of the prominent legal luminary and activist – in the person of Femi Falana has espoused on the recent declaration by the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. In Femi Falana’s opinion as he spoke to 247ureports.com he clarified that “a state of emergency exists when the President adopts extra-ordinary measures to restore Law and Order. The deployment of a detachment of the  armed forces via JTF, imposition of curfew, blocking of roads through check points etc are extra-ordinary measures approved by the President for the restoration of law and order“.

It won’t stall amnesty panel’s work –Presidency

The Presidency on Wednesday said the declaration of state of emergency in  three northern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa would not stall the work of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, led by Mr. Kabiru Turaki (SAN).
President Goodluck Jonathan had on Tuesday declared emergency rule in the affected states as a way of curtailing the rising security challenges.
There were however fears that the proclamation might hamper the activities of the committee, which included opening communication channel with members of the sect.
But Abati, while featuring on a programme of a private radio station, Raypower 100.5FM, Facts File, said members of the committee would continue their work despite the declaration.
He said the President actually met with the members to keep them abreast of the plans by government on Tuesday before making the national broadcast.
He said, “The state of emergency won’t affect the committee which you call amnesty committee and which we call committee on dialogue and peaceful resolution of security challenges. The work will continue.
“They will present preliminary and final reports. President Jonathan met with them to review the situation with them and keep them abreast of the step government was going to take.
“The objective of the emergency rule is to ensure peace in that part of the country, and indeed, in all parts of Nigeria.”

Fighter Jets, Troops Arrive North-east to Enforce Emergency Rule

Barely 24 hours after President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, the military Wednesday announced the “massive” deployment of troops to the three states where Islamist insurgents have seized territory.
A separate military source speaking on condition of anonymity also told AFP that fighter jets would be deployed to the north-east, raising the possibility that federal government may carry out air strikes within its own territory.
Jonathan issued the emergency decree in a broadcast late Tuesday, acknowledging for the first time that Boko Haram Islamists had “taken over” parts of Borno State, the insurgents’ stronghold.
According to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), the increased presence of troops in the states will enable the military quickly secure the borders of the affected states to ensure effective policing, cordon-off and search operations.

2000 soldiers, fighter jets deployed to Borno state

About 2,000 security operatives and military hardware, including fighter jets have been deployed to Maiduguri ahead of yesterday’s declaration of State of Emergency.

 

In neighboring Yobe State, it is not clear how many soldiers were deployed but residents said shortly after the declaration of state of emergency, stop and search operations have been intensified in the state capital while movement have been restricted in other places.

 

Residents said the deployment of the federal troops, including the army, navy, air force and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) began at the weekend.

Jonathan should learn governance from Obasanjo – Ex-Oyo SSG

Former Secretary to Oyo State Government, Dr. Dejo Raimi, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to learn the art of governance from former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He also said Governor Abiola Ajumobi would not be re-elected in 2015.
Raimi, who is a Peoples Democratic Party chief, spoke on Monday in Ibadan in a radio programme, Bull’s Eye.
Recalling how the former president suppressed the Odi crisis with the use of force, he urged the Jonathan administration to be more assertive.
The prevailing insecurity in parts of the country, he said, was because of Federal Government’s inability to assert itself.

Sunny Ade’s guitarist jailed for three years

Fatoke Abiodun

A veteran guitarist, Fatoke Abiodun, was on Tuesday sentenced to three years imprisonment for drug trafficking at the Federal High Court, Lagos.

The 62-year-old Abiodun was a former guitarist with King Sunny Ade, a foremost Nigerian musician.

Abiodun had pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful exportation of 1.575kg of cocaine during his arraignment on February 26, 2013.

Prior to the judgment, defence counsel, Mr. Bayo Onifade, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as Abiodun was a husband of three wives with 12 children.

Justice S. Seidu, however, sentenced the convict to three years imprisonment with effect from the date of arrest.

Tuface, Amstel Malta thrill UNIBEN students

Students of the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, had a feel of what makes Tuface thick as an artiste recently when he staged his Campus Connect concert, in collaboration with Amstel Malta.

  He is on tour of various higher institutions in company with other artistes that include Dammy Krane, Rocksteady Vector and Sound Sultan.

Other acts billed for the tour include Sasha P, Seyi Shey, Timi Dakolo, Phyno, Crystals, Harrisong, Capital F.E.M.I Solid Star and Jus’ Kiddin’s EFA.

Boko Haram killed CAN leader minutes after emergency declaration

Gunmen, believed to be members of the extremist Boko Haram sect, on Tuesday evening shot dead the Borno Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN.
Faye Pama Musa was killed inside his Maiduguri residence less than an hour after President Goodluck Jonathan declared a State of Emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.
The National President of CAN, Ayo Oritsejafor, confirmed the cleric’s killing.
Kenny Asaka, the spokesperson to Mr. Oritsejafor, in a brief statement described the killing as “sad.”
Mr. Jonathan had before the incident slammed a state of emergency on Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, saying it had become necessary for the Government to take extraordinary measures to restore normalcy.
“After wide consultations, and in exercise of the powers conferred on me by the provisions of Section 305, sub-section 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, I hereby declare a State of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states,” he said.
The killing happened also few hours after a socio-political pressure group, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), visited Maiduguri to commiserate with the state government over the recent Baga massacre.

We’ll hunt down terrorists – Jonathan

Full text of President Goodluck Jonathan’s national broadcast on the declaration of a State of Emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states

Dear compatriots,

1.        It has become necessary for me to address you on the recent spate of terrorist activities and protracted security challenges in some parts of the country, particularly in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Kano, Plateau and most recently Bayelsa, Taraba, Benue and Nasarawa states.  These unfortunate events have led to needless loss of lives and property of many innocent Nigerians including members of our security forces.

2. The recent killing of security operatives by a cult group in Nasarawa state is particularly condemnable. I have directed that no effort or expense be spared in identifying and bringing to justice all those who had a hand in the killing of the operatives.

Yobe, Adamawa, Borno under emergency rule

UNDERSCORING his administration’s determination to confront the growing incidence of violence and insecurity in the country, President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in three northern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

Justifying the need for the measure, Jonathan bemoaned the breakdown of law and order in the affected states, parts of where he said insurgents had taken over.

Jonathan, who announced this in a national television broadcast, said the details of the emergency rule proclamation would be transmitted to the National Assembly.

He said, “Following recent developments in the affected states, it has become necessary for Government to take extraordinary measures to restore normalcy. After wide consultations, and in exercise of the powers conferred on me by the provisions of Section 305, sub-section 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, I hereby declare a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

Obafaye, ‘My Oga at the Top’ resumes as NSCDC Oyo State boss

The former Lagos State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Mr. Shem Obafaye, who postulated the ”My Oga at the top” mantra has finally resumed duty as Oyo State Commandant of the security agency.
Obafaye was replaced by Mr. Adesuyi Clement from Oyo State Command after his interview on Channels Television live programme ‘Sunrise’ about two months ago. Since then, no specific assignment was given to him until last week when he was asked to replace Adesuyi officially.
In a telephone conversation with Vanguard, Obafaye promised to discharge his duties with every sense of responsibility. ”I am determined to serve in Oyo State and I know God will help me,” he said.

Fulani herdsmen kill over 50 mourners in Agatu, Benue state

Over 50 mourners were killed on Sunday May 12th in Benue State by Fulani herdsmen who attacked them as they buried their dead. The herdsmen stormed Okpachanyi village in Agatu local government area of the state and opened fire on the mourners, killing at least 50 of them. Others escaped with serious injuries.

The mourners had gathered to bury two of the policemen killed last week Tuesday by Ombatse cult members in Nassarawa state. Anarchy in our land!

Nasarawa police killings: Govt, police release corpses to wives, relatives

CONTRARY to the official figure given by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, that only 23 security operatives were killed by the outlawed Ombatse militiamen at Alakyo village in Lafia East development area of Nasarawa State last week Tuesday, additional 25 corpses were evacuated between Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.
However, government and police authorities have bowed to pressure from the wives and relatives of the slain security personnel who insisted that the corpses of their late ones must be released to them, no matter how burnt the bodies might be.
Findings by the Nigerian Tribune further revealed that additional 18 corpses were brought to Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH), Lafia, the state capital, on Saturday night, while another seven were deposited on Sunday around 2.30 pm, contrary to 23 given by IGP Abubakar during his visit to the state capital, Lafia, on Saturday.

Nollywood Movies Awards 2013 – Call For Submission

The Nollywood Movies Award’s (NMA’S) is now open for entries for the 2013 edition. The award ceremony will take place on September 7, 2013, in Lagos, Nigeria. This year, two new categories have been introduced, namely Best Short Movie, and Best Nollywood Diaspora Movie.
Submission Process
1. Fill submission form at www.nollywoodmoviesawards.tv
2. Deliver movies in hard drive or DVD’s to: SW1 MEDIA, 18 Esomo Close, Ikeja, Lagos.
The deadline for submissions is the June 7, 2013 and nominations will be announced in July 2013.
Submission Criteria
Only English and Nigerian indigenous language movies produced, released or premiered between January 1^st, 2012, and January 31^st, 2013 will be eligible for consideration. Submitted movies should not exceed 180 minutes and/or should be in a maximum of four parts. Short movies should not exceed 40 minutes. This year, in addition to the regular awards, entries for Best Short Movie, and Best Nollywood Diaspora Movie, will also be accepted.
Final decisions will be at the discretion of the nominations panel.

Rhodes-Vivour: 100 policemen comb kidnappers’ hideouts

Justice and Mrs. Rhodes-Vivour

Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo, said the command had deployed no fewer than 1,000 police officers, consisting of anti-kidnapping, mobile units and Special Anti-Robbery Squad in suspected kidnappers’  hideouts in the state in an effort to rescue the wife and daughter of a judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour.

Adebanjo, who spoke in Benin on Monday, however, declined to give details of what the command had done for security reasons.

The wife and daughter of the judge were abducted on Friday in the Okada area of Edo State.

He told journalists that since the kidnapping occurred, he had devoted most of his time  to working on strategies that would ensure that the victims were  released safely.

The CP said, “I can tell you that we are working assiduously to locate the victims and then arrest the criminals.

Boko Haram abducts women, children

IN retaliation for the arrest of members’ wives and relatives, the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram, announced on Monday that it had kidnapped some women, young girls and children.

A BBC report quoted leader of the sect, Sheikh Abubakar Shekau, to have said in a video just released that the sect was holding the hostages until relatives of members in custody were released.

“If they do not leave our wives and children, we will not leave them,” Shekau was quoted as saying. He was said to have said that anyone taken by the group could begin a new life as a “servant,” without going into detail.

The BBC report also said the video showed women and children purportedly being held.

In the video, a Kalashnikov assault rifle sits over Shekau’s right shoulder as he speaks while the background is covered with a rug. “It’s unclear when the video was shot,” the report said.

 “In the video, Mr. Shekau also said the group was behind two recent attacks in the North-East, which left an estimated 240 people dead.”

I want my son’s corpse – Father of slain cop

Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar

Former Chief Medical Director, Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Nandur Durfa, on Monday said he was still searching for the corpse of his son, Timman, who was one of the victims of the Ombatshe cult attack.

Timman, 27, was one of the 12 operatives of the State Security Service dispatched to Lafia, Nasarawa State, to dislodge members of the cult group, who reportedly killed over 47 police officers last week.

Durfa, who spoke to our correspondent at his Rantiya, Jos residence, said his first visit to Lafia did not yield either Timman or his corpse.

Mikel eyeing Europa League title

At the end of another eventful season, Nigeria midfielder Mikel Obi believes it is “business as usual” at Chelsea, as the Blues bid to end the campaign with silverware before appointing a new manager this summer.

There are numerous parallels to last season, when Chelsea won the FA Cup and Champions League titles under interim boss Roberto Di Matteo, but finished sixth in the table.

This term the Blues – under another interim manager, in Rafael Benitez – have been in a similar position.

They have now all-but secured their Champions League spot for next season by beating Aston Villa 2-1 on Saturday. Their 68th game of the campaign is Wednesday’s Europa League final against Benfica.

Mikel is uncertain what the summer will bring, but a second coming of the Special One has been mooted, with Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho strongly expected to return to Stamford Bridge.

“I’ve been here a long time now and I’ve seen a lot of managers come and go – it’s business as usual,” said Mikel, who joined Chelsea under Mourinho, in 2006.

“Carry on working, carry on playing for the club, and we’ll see who is the next manager.”

The players, Mikel says, must focus on performing and winning, irrespective of speculation over managers or a congested calendar.

“(The season has) been very physical for us, mentally as well,” said Mikel, who has recovered from a hip problem.

“This is what we do. We’re football players, we have to get on with it.

PUNCH

I Am Not Afraid Of Rape — Omotola

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde is one actress that remains sexy and classy despite being a mother of four grown up children. She competes easily with most single stars in the razzmatazz industry in Nigeria, commanding a large number of secret male admirers.
In an industry, where many male fans would do everything possible to get any female celebrity they admire, there is no doubt that Omotola would not be left out of such.
Though not in the news with romance scandals, it is very certain that the queen of Nollywood and one of the 100 most influential people in the world, according to TIME Magazine, had been in situations, where she would have to chase male admirers away.

Baga: CAN accuses northern leaders of bias

The Christian Association of Nigeria has attributed the lingering insecurity in the North to the bias of the region’s leaders.
The General Secretary of CAN, Dr. Musa Asake, told SUNDAY PUNCH that no strategy would be effective in stopping the violence if northern leaders remained ‘dishonest about their support for Boko Haram members.’
He said, “All we want is a stop. The government and especially the leaders of the North know what to do to stop these killings. These people have continued their atrocities, they are well armed and we know them. Northern leaders are just playing with this thing.
“Whether state of emergency or amnesty, they are all bound to fail, if northern leaders will not come out with honesty and call black, black and white, white. They said they are going to meet them for dialogue; that means they know where they are. Why don’t they tell them to lay down their arms?”
According to Asake, the Baga massacre has received much attention from government and northern leaders, because the area is Muslim-dominated.

Sultan decries Bama, Lafia Killings, urges citizens to wary of happenings around them

Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar III on Sunday decried the killings in Bama in Borno State and Alakyo in Nasarawa State by insurgents.
Abubakar, also the President of Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs noted that with the killings in Bama and Lafia shows the nation was sliding gradually into lawlessness.
The Bama and Lafia incidents mostly involved security agents.
A statement signed on behalf of the Sultan by the JNI Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Aliyu on Sunday in Kaduna said the incidents were quite unfortunate, regrettable and condemnable.
It cautioned  all and sundry to be wary of happening around their vicinity and inform authorities doubtful persons and events; just as it urged Nigerians to give unflinching support to the constituted Federal Government Amnesty Committee in tackling the insecurity in the north and the country  at large.

Group slams north, ACN for opposing state of emergency in Borno, others

Human rights organisation, Youth and Conflict Resolution Initiatives, YCRI, Sunday, berated the north and the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, for kicking against the call for imposition of emergency rule in some volatile states in the northern part of the country.
Media reports quoting the spokespersons of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Mr. Anthony Sani; the Northern Elders’ Forum, Dr. Paul Unongo; the National Coordinator, Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, Dr. Junaid Mohammed and the National Publicity Secretary of ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said they would resist attempts by the federal government to apply more force in the bid to quell the insurgency in the region.

According to them, the federal government could not justify a state of emergency in the North, since such a measure wasn’t introduced in the South-South states at the peak of the violence unleashed on the region by Niger Delta militants and urged President Jonathan to step down if the imposition of emergency rule was the only viable option left for him.

Insecurity: Stop shedding crocodile tears, Falana tells FG

Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), on Sunday asked the Federal Government to equip security personnel deployed in the fight against insecurity in the country rather than shedding crocodile tears for the victims of insecurity.

Falana, in a statement, lamented the conditions of less-equipped policemen and soldiers, who were being deployed in fighting terrorists that were armed with more sophisticated weapons.

“It is inexcusable to deploy ill-trained, ill-equipped and ill-motivated soldiers and policemen to war zones, armed with only AK 47 rifles without bullet proofs, serviceable vehicles, communication gadgets to fight suicide bombers with more sophisticated weapons,” he said.

He noted that the security personnel were not being provided with life insurance and accommodation, adding that their salaries were not paid regularly and the families of those who lost their lives in battle were not usually informed officially.

Be calm, Lagos assures residents on flooding

Lagos State Government has advised residents to remain calm whenever it rains occasioning a rise in the level of water.

It says the water is merely flash flood recorded during the rains, which will only be temporary and will disappear as soon as the rain stops.

The government added that it had invested a lot in clearing primary and secondary drainage channels across the state in preparation for this year’s rains, and as such, did not expect any flooding.

Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, said this on Saturday while monitoring the cleaning programme in Lagos Island, Mainland and Victoria Island areas.

Bello said, “The government will sustain its year-round maintenance and cleaning programmes to ensure that our major canals and channels are kept clean to allow free flow and discharge of storm water whenever it rains.

APC may threaten PDP dominance – Anenih

Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tony Anenih, on Sunday night expressed his fear of the opposition parties’ merger before chiefs of the ruling party.
Anenih told the governors, federal lawmakers and state chairmen of the PDP from the South-South geo-political zone, in Asaba, Delta State, that the opposition political parties congregating under the All Progressives Congress banner might be a  threat to the PDP hegemony.
“We must not live under the illusion that our party is invulnerable. Although, the existing opposition parties are still too small, fragile and sectional, we must not ignore the possibility that a merger of these parties may constitute a threat to our current dominance of the political terrain,” Anenih told his party men.
The APC, an initiative of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressive Change, All Nigeria Peoples Party and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, has the avowed mission to dislodge the PDP from power come 2015.

Private jets used to smuggle cash, fugitives – FG

The Federal Government on Sunday said illegal consignments and cash in local and foreign currencies were being smuggled on daily basis in and out of the country aboard private jets.
It also said some persons that securities agencies had declared wanted were being airlifted out of the country aboard private and chartered jets.
As a result, it insisted that pilots flying such jets must declare the passenger manifest before being allowed to take off.
An aircraft manifest contains the names of all persons aboard the plane, among other things.
The Coordinating Information and Communications Manager for aviation parastatals, Mr. Yakubu Dati, told reporters in Lagos on Sunday that the order for the declaration of passenger manifest was necessary to check the abuse of the use of private and chartered jets.

Terrorists may over-run Nigeria, Mark warns

Widows and family members of the slain policemen during the visit the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar to the police headquarters, Lafia, Nasarawa State, weekend. Photo: NAN.

 THE Senate Presi-dent David Mark warned, Sunday, that unless everybody comes together to tackle the security challenge, the perpetrators might over run the country.
This came as the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday, directed the AIG in charge Zone 4, Mike Zuokumor, to relocate to Lafia, Nasarawa State, following last Wednesday’s killing of scores of Policemen in the state by the Ombatse sect group and the delay in investigation to apprehend the culprits.


The Senate President who expressed grave concern over the continued killings and wanton destruction of property in the country argued that foreigners who might be accused of being sponsors of members Boko Haram sect  currently terrorising some parts of the country would not succeed if Nigerians were not involved internally as willing tools for the deadly act.