• Nigeria’s Ese Brume has won gold in the women’s  long jump at the Glasgow Commonwealth  Games  on Thursday with 6.56m. England’s Jazmi...

Glasgow 2014: Nigeria's Ese Brume wins gold in Women's long jump

Thursday, July 31, 2014



Nigeria’s Ese Brume has won gold in the women’s 
long jump at the Glasgow Commonwealth 
Games on Thursday with 6.56m.

England’s Jazmin Sawyers was second and 
Christabel Nettey from Canada was third.

This is Nigeria’s first gold medal in this event in 14 years.

Glasgow 2014: Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare wine gold in Women's 200m


Blessing Okagbare made sure Nigeria's anthem is heard again by completing Women's 200m at 22.25 seconds to win gold. This is coming days after she won Gold in the Women's 100m Finals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Thank you, Blessing for doing us proud!

Police explains rise in female suicide bombings in Nigeria


The Nigeria Police Force spokesperson Frank Mba has given an insight into the recent rise of female suicide bombers in Nigeria.

Addressing newsmen at the National Information Center yesterday, Mr Mba said Boko Haram men now use women because they raise fewer suspicions.
"If you have been following the trends of terrorism worldwide, you will understand that use of female suicide bombers is actually not totally new. It is actually a new trend in our own part of the world. The reasons why established international terrorist organizations go for female suicide bombers is clear. The major reason is that women raise fewer suspicions, particularly with security layers, and so they take advantage of the fact that women raise fewer suspicion to try to indoctrinate and recruit female suicide bombers. The suspicion even becomes much lesser if the woman in question is a minor and that explains why. In addition to that is the fact that by rules of engagement that we are cultured to, male security operatives are not allowed to frisk or search females but we are equally developing counter terrorism strategies to deal with that.” he said
He disclosed that more female police officers will now be stationed on roads and other places where stop-and-search exercises are being carried out. 
"Nigerians should prepare to see more female police officers, more female bomb disposal experts, more female DSS operatives, more female soldiers actually in combat operations and carrying out stop-and-search,” he said

No fresh case of Ebola in Lagos - Lagos state Government


The Lagos state government says no fresh case of Ebola virus has been discovered in the state or in any part of the country. 

According to the Special Adviser to the Lagos state Governor on Public Health, Dr (Mrs) Yewande Adeshina, all the 59 people who had direct or indirect contact with late Liberian Patrick Sawyer who died last Friday in Lagos from the virus, have been traced, tested and found to be hale and hearty and have not exhibited any unusual body temperature or any other symptoms of the dreaded virus. Continue...


In a related development, the state Commissioner for Information, Lateef Ibirogba advised residents to be wary of the activities of fraudsters who are making spurious claims about their ability to provide cure for the Ebola Virus, urging them to always contact health providers to report unusual feelings noticed asonly medical solutions are known to be appropriate for the disease. He warned those making false claims of being able to cure the disease to desist from it or would be made to face the full wrath of the law once they are caught. 
He reminded residents of the State to make use of the emergency phone numbers- 08023169485, 08033086660, 08033065303, 08055281442 and 08055329229 provided to contact health authorities in case anyone with observed symptoms of the Ebola disease is noticed.

Many feared killed as female suicide bomber attacks Kano Poly

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

A female suicide bomber Wednesday blew herself up at Kano Polytechnic while students were checking their results in the school.
Vanguard cannot ascertain the number of casualties but the Kano State Police Command has confirmed the blast in the school.
More to follow...

Jim Iyke flees Liberia over fear of Ebola virus


The actor who was in Monrovia, Liberia for business, left the country a few hours ago following reports of the virus spreading in the country. He shared a pic of himself at the airport saying though his business is unfinished, he was leaving because he's scared. Who can blame him?

Doctor who treated more than 100 Ebola patients dies from the virus


The Sierra Leonean doctor who treated more than 100 Ebola patients has also died. Dr Sheik Umar Khan (pictured above), who was hailed as a national hero for disregarding his own health and helping sick patients, dies from the disease after being diagnosed with the virus last week. He contacted the virus despite wearing protective gear when treating patients.

In an interview last month, the 39yr old doctor had expressed fears for his life because of his constant contact with Ebola patients.
"I am afraid for my life. Healthworkers are prone to the disease because we are the first port of call for somebody who is sickened by the disease. Even with the fullprotective clothing you put on, you are at risk" He told Reuters
His death comes days after a senior doctor at Liberia's largest hospital, Samuel Brisbane, died on Saturday at an Ebola treatment centre in Monrovia. 3 nurses working in the same Ebola treatment centre alongside Khan also died from the disease last week. Several other medics have been infected.

N100 million gift money from President Jonathan to Chibok parents causes controversy

Tuesday, July 29, 2014


A new controversy is brewing in Chibok village, with parents of the abducted girls alleging that they have been shortchanged by Chibok community leaders who received N100million cash gift from the Presidency, on their behalf.

Channels TV reports
Although a presidential aide denied any such gift to Chibok parents, through their leaders, one parent, Mr Abdu Halidu, told the BBC that he got only N200, 000 from the money.
Now the parents of the missing girls are saying that the amount shared to them is unacceptable. According to Mr Halidu “I got only N200, 000 out of the said N100 million. Some of us got N300,000 and some less than that. Our leaders in Abuja are using the girls to enrich themselves and this is unacceptable.” Continue...
Over 200 schoolgirls were abducted by gunmen who stormed the Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, North-East Nigeria in the dead of the night of April 15, ordering all the girls out of their hostels into four lorries.

On July 22, a special presidential meeting was held with the parents of the Chibok girls in the Presidential Villa which afforded the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, the opportunity to empathize with the girls and their parents.

The President, after assuring the Chibok community of his Government’s determination to ensure that the abducted schoolgirls that are still in captivity are brought out alive, reassured them that everything would be done to make things easier for them especially the ones that have already escaped and the ones yet to be rescued.

President Jonathan also assured them that their education would not be allowed to suffer. The statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, after the meeting made no mention of a cash gift to the parents.

Community Leaders Deny
Meanwhile, the leadership of Kibaku community an umbrella body for the Chibok community has denied claims that money exchanged hands after the community’s meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan.

National Publicity Secretary of  the community,  Mr Allen Manase, said that they also heard from the media that monies were given to the families of the abducted girls and such a story cannot be confirmed because they do not have any knowledge of the said exchange.

He went on to say that even if monies were to exchange hands it should have been given to the leadership of the community to ensure that it gets to all affected persons.

He urged the Federal Government to instead concentrate on rescuing the girls and returning them to their families and then it can decide to help in rehabilitating them.

Carlos Tevez's father kidnapped in Argentina


The father of Carlos Tevez has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom, according to reports inArgentina.

The incident occurred at around 7am on Tuesday in Moron, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, when Juan Alberto Cabral’s car was intercepted, reports La Nación.

The criminals contacted the family in the city and made an initial request for ransom that was much lower than a second request a short time later, suggesting it wasn’t initially clear to them who they were holding.

Police are investigating the incident and the Juventus striker Tevez is understood to be travelling to Argentinato help deal with the matter.

Boko Haram kills 8, bombs bridge in Yobe


Eight people have were killed and a major bridge destroyed after suspected members of the Boko Haram sect yesterday night July 28th launched an attack in Katarko town in Yobe State. Katarko is 22km South of Damaturu, the state capital and is said to be very near the dreaded Sambisa forest.

According to reports, the sect members arrived the village around 7.30pm in motorbikes and operated unhindered till 2.00am. The men had unsuccessful attacked a military base in the town before moving into a residential area. Continue...



"They stormed our village with some vehicles and many motorcycles, shooting and chanting Allahu Akbar (God is Great). The soldiers in Katarko had to flee after seeing the large number of the attackers. After attacking the village and killing about eight persons and injuring some others, we later heard a thunderous explosion at the location of the bridge; we all fled into the bush. But in the morning, we later found out that the bridge had been destroyed with bombs”, said Mr. Lawan, a resident of the village said.
The bridge attacked is the bridge linking Buni Yadi and Damaturu, the state capital.

PHOTO: Scene of the accident involving El-Rufai's son


Nasir El-Rufai's son Hamza El-Rufai died this morning in a fatal accident. Here are pics from the accident scene. Hamza was driving the black Lexus car (pictured above) when he ran into a stationery blue colored Volkswagen Sharon car around the Ningi Barrack along A.Y.A - Kubwa road at around 5.30am this morning, July 29.

Two persons were involved in the crash but only Hamza died. According to the Federal Road Safety Corps, his corpse was taken to the national mosque by his parents while the crashed vehicles were deposited at the Maitama Police station.

See more photos below...




Glasgow 2014: Nigeria defeats India to pick up Bronze medal in table tennis

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Nigeria picked up a bronze medal last night in the table tennis category of the ongoing Commonwealth games in Scotland.
The Nigerian table tennis team were responsible for the best celebration so far at the games after Ojo Onaolapo’s win over India’s Sharath Kamal Achanta.
Nigeria celebrate with their bronze medals after their win against India
Nigeria celebrate with their bronze medals after their win against India
Onaolapo and Achanta were locked in a tense battle at the Scotstoun Sports Campus with a bronze medal on the line before the Nigerian allowed an over-hit shot to pass him by. The dramatic win saw the Nigerian team rush to Onaolapo in sheer jubilation, lifting the victorious Onaolapo into the air.
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Onaolapo, who is ranked outside of the world’s top 300 table tennis players, claimed the victory against Achanta, ranked 40th in the world.
Team Nigeria celebrates with Ojo Onalapo
Team Nigeria celebrates with Ojo Onalapo

Glasgow 2014: Nigerian gold medalist Chika Amalaha fails doping test

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Chika Amalaha provisionally suspended from Commonwealth Games as 16-year-old Nigerian gold medalist weightlifter fails doping test.
Amalaha won the gold medal at the Clyde Auditorium on Friday, setting new Games records in her weight category in both the snatch and overall elements.
The 16-year-old Amalaha provided an ‘A’ sample last Friday shortly after winning the women’s 53kg category, which revealed traces of diuretics and masking agents.
The weightlifter will have a ‘B’ sample tested at a laboratory in London on Wednesday.
‘This will take place at an accredited laboratory in London tomorrow, July 30. Upon receipt of those results the process will continue.’
Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper said: ‘We have issued a formal notice of disclosure to an athlete following an adverse analytical finding as a consequence of an in-competition test.

Nigerian ambassador, 3 ECOWAS staff, 55 others had contact with Lagos Ebola victim


59 people including the Nigerian Ambassador to Liberia, Chigozie Obi Nnadozie are said to have had direct and indirect contact with the late Liberian man, Patrick Sawyer, who died on Friday July 25th from the Ebola Virus in Lagos.

At a Joint Ministerial Press briefing of the Lagos State Ministry of Health and Federal Ministry of Health on development concerning the disease yesterday July 28th, the state Commissioner of Health, Dr Jide Idris said out of the 59 people who had contact with the late Patrick Sawyer, 44 were hospital contacts (38 healthcare workers & 6 laboratory staff) and 15 Airport contacts comprising 3 ECOWAS staff-driver, Liaison, and Protocol officers, Nigerian Ambassador to Monrovia, two nursing staff and five Airport passenger handlers.Continue...

Dr Idris explained that out of the number, 20 contacts had been physically screened of which 50% are of the type one contact and another 50% had type two contact, adding that the airline manifest has not been provided yet.
"The Airline manifest has not been provided by the airline at the time of this report and therefore, the precise number of passenger contacts is yet to be ascertained, especially as two flights were involved (Monrovia-Lome and Lome-Lagos). There was no report of a medical incident filed." the statement read
Dr Idris stated categorically that only one case of imported Ebola and one death has been recorded in Lagos. He went further to state 
“No Nigerian is infected, but all contacts are being actively followed.  We call on all Nigerians to be calm and not panic and I do hereby assure them that both the state and Federal governments are up in arms to ensure that the virus did not escape and that no Nigeria is infected with this virus,” he stressed.
He said part of the measures taken after the death of the Liberian was the demobilization of the private hospital where he was admitted and elimination of primary source of infection and that the decontamination process in all affected areas has commenced.

He added that the corpse of the victim has since been cremated, and the ash is awaiting further directives from the Liberian Embassy.

"Adhering strictly to WHO guidelines, the body of the deceased patient was decontaminated using 10% sodium hypochlorite and cremated, with the permission of the government of Liberia. A cremation urn has been prepared for dispatch to the family. The vehicle that conveyed the remains was also fully decontaminated," he added.

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai loses son to car accident


Hamza El Rufai, one of the sons of the former Minister of the FCT & Chieftain of the APC, Nasir El Rufai died this morning July 29th in a car accident. His father took to his Facebook page to announce his passing on.

May his soul rest in peace!

BOKO HARAM: Cameroon troops rescue abducted Vice PM's wife




Security operatives in Cameroon have rescued wife of Vice Prime Minister Amadou Ali who was abdcuted by the Boko Haram sect on Sunday along side a traditional ruler of Kolofata town, according to reports from BBC Hausa Service.

The Boko Haram members have been carrying out attacks in northern part of Cameroon from Sambisa Forest in Nigeria where they are said to have established their base.

At least 16 people lost their lives in the rescue operations, reports say.

However, Cameroon information minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary said government was still investigating the matter to ascertain the actual number of people killed.

A local religious leader and mayor, Seini Boukar Lamine, was also kidnapped in a separate attack on his home. Three people were killed during the daring raid. Boko Haram fighters clashed with the Cameroonian army in cross-border attacks twice since Friday, killing four soldiers.

Cameroon has deployed more than 1,000 soldiers along its border to help combat the Nigerian armed group. A Cameroonian court last week, sentenced 14 members of the sect to 20 years imprisonment after they were arrested with weapons in March around Marwa in northern Cameroon, says the BBC Hausa report.

River in China mysteriously turn bloody red overnight

Monday, July 28, 2014


A waterway in eastern China has mysteriously turned a blood red color. Residents in Zhejiang province said the river looked normal at 5 a.m. Beijingtime on Thursday morning.

Within an hour, the entire river turned crimson. Residents also said a strange smell wafted through the air.

“The really weird thing is that we have been able to catch fish because the water is normally so clear,” one local villager commented on China’s microblogging site Weibo.

Inspectors from the Wenzhou Environmental Protection Bureau said they have not found the cause of the incident, although water samples seem to indicate the suspicious color was a result of illegal dumping in the river.


“We suspect that somebody dumped artificial coloring in the water because he thought the typhoon yesterday would cause heavy rain, and nobody would notice [the color],” Jianfeng Xiao, Chief of the bureau told China News.

“It turned out there wasn’t heavy rainfall yesterday, so the evidence is left behind,” Xiao said.

Xiao said there is a paper manufacturer, a food coloring company and clothing-maker a long the river. The bureau is still investigating the incident.

Glasgow 2014: Nigeria wins gold in women's 100m


Sprinter Blessing Okagbare just won Gold in the Women's 100m for Nigeria in the Commonwealth Games. She won in a time of 10.85 seconds in a new Games record, making her the second fastest woman of all time in World 100 metres. She beat Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown, Kerron Stewart and England’s Asha Phillip who came second, third and fourth respectively.

Blessing becomes the first Nigerian winner of this title since Mary Onyali back in 1994.


President Goodluck Jonathan condemns Kano bombings

Find the State House press statement below...
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan wholeheartedly condemns the recent terrorist attacks in Kano and Adamawa States as well as the kidnap of the Lamido of Kolofata in Northern Cameroon, Lamido Seini Lamine and the wife of the Vice Prime Minister of Cameroon.
The President describes as shocking, callous and reprehensible the multiple bomb blasts that occurred in Kano within 24 hours, and the unrelenting attacks by the Boko Haram at a time the Muslim faithful are observing the holy festival of Eid el Fitri.  

He commiserates with the families of all those who lost their loved ones in the Kano and Adamawa attacks and wishes the injured speedy recovery.

President Jonathan further notes that the deployment of young women as suicide bombers represents a new low in the inhuman campaign by these terrorists and an expression of utter disregard for the dignity of the female gender as well as a wicked exploitation of the girl-child.

The President states that the abduction of the Lamido of Kolofata and the wife of the Vice premier of Cameroon clearly underscores the regional security threat that Boko Haram has become.

He welcomes the recent resolve by the Defence Ministers of Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Benin and Niger to further strengthen existing partnerships in order to forestall the desperate attempt by misguided elements to turn the sub-region into a battleground for terrorism and radical extremism.

President Jonathan urges the security forces to remain resolute, and not be discouraged by the desperation of the agents of evil.  He believes that with the continued cooperation between Nigeria’s security forces and their counterparts in neighbouring countries, the war against terror will surely be won.

REUBEN ABATI
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
July 28, 2014.

PHOTO: Charred remains of the female Kano suicide bomber


Picture shows the charred remains of the female suicide bomber that bombed the shopping mall close to Shoprite in Kano this afternoon. Very graphic. Find the photo below...


Bomb blast at Trade Fair Complex, Kano this afternoon


A bomb went off this afternoon around 1.40pm at the Trade Fair Complex on Zoo Road close to the popular Shoprite shopping mall in Kano State. According to police report, a female bomber about 18 years old died, while at least six people were injured. The area has been cordoned off  by security attached to Shoprite.
More to follow...

Another bomb blast in Kano this morning


The Nigeria Police Force just announced that another bomb blast occurred this morning at NNPC mega station along Maiduguri road in Kano state.
Find the press release by the Nigeria Police Force...

Today, 28-07-14 at about 10:00am, another suicide bomb went off at Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC Mega Filling Station at Hotoro Quarter along Maiduguri Road, Kano. A suicide bomber suspected to be a female had slipped into the crowd of citizens buying kerosene at the Station before detonating the explosives. The suicide bomber and three others have been confirmed dead, eight persons are injured and rushed to the Hospital.
It is instructive to note that the Mega Station did not go ablaze due to the security barricade put in place by the Policemen on duty at the station. Such a situation would have clearly complicated the Emergency response.
Security Forces have cordoned off the scene, and Police Bomb Disposal Experts are "sweeping" the area. Citizens are advised to stay off the scene, be vigilant and report any suspicious person(s) or activities to security forces. Full scale investigation has commenced, intensive patrol of the city is ongoing.


ACP FRANK MBA
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
ABUJA.

FG should apologize to Boko Haram for killing their leader - Tunde Bakare


Popular Lagos pastor and Convener of the Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare says one of the ways to end the spate of attacks by terror group, Boko Haram in Nigeria, is for the Federal Govt of Nigeria to apologize to the sect members for killing their leader, Mohammed Yusuf in 2009. 

According to Vanguard, he gave the advise during the state of the nation address at a church service in Lagos.
"The summary execution of the Boko Haram’s former leader, Mohammed Yusuf in 2009 provided the soil of martyrdom for the nurture and growth of the sect. Government must declare peace first of all; apologizing for the murder of Mohammed Yusuf to the sect members not their sympathizers or bandits.” he said
On the attack on Buhari last Wednesday in Kano, Pastor Bakare said "But for the timely intervention of God, last week’s assassination attempt on General Buhari might have marked the beginning of the end for Nigeria if it had succeeded. We will not also ignore the fact that at the root of the escalation of the Boko Haram crisis was oppression and injustice".

Female suicide bomber dies in failed attempt to bomb University in Kano

Sunday, July 27, 2014

A female suicide bomber vestThe Nigeria police said a lone female suicide bomber died in an attempt to bomb, Northwest University in Kano around 1PM Nigerian time. 
 The female estimated to be 16 years of age, was walking suspiciously towards the gate of the university when police guarding the area spotted her, isolated her and called for reinforcement from female police officers adept at handling Muslim females.
The young woman who had a bomb concealed inside her hijab, killed herself by detonating her explosives, five policemen suffered minor injuries.

Sahara Reporters

Jim Iyke is best dressed male - Omotola Jalade Ekeinde


Actress Omotola jolade was answering questions from her fans and when asked about the best dressed man in Nollywood, she said Jim Iyke.
She also revealed she had her first child at 19 but won’t let any of her daughter’s do same.