The Alleged Crash Landed ‘US Drone’ In Ibadan Is A Toy – Police, SSS!

The Chairman, Ido local government of Oyo state, Professor Joseph Adeniyi Olowofela, in company of the police, SSS and members of the Defence Corp on Sunday recovered the flying object which fell on the roof of a resident of Awotan in the local government.

The Chairman described a media report that an object crashed into the home of a resident as very unfortunate and misleading.

Prof Olowofela also frowned at the report and it's writers intention, saying there was nothing like a crash as reported, and that it was untrue that the US used the object as a spy .

“What happened was that a man was playing with a toy with his son and the toy got lost only to be discovered by a neighbour and instead of searching for the owner of the toy, the neighbour kept it in his home for a week . And the next thing was to read on a newspaper that a spy object lost control and crashed into a resident home”, he said.

The owner of the kite- like object, Sunday Folayan, an Electronic engineer and the Vice President Nigeria Internet Registration Association, also expressed shock at the reported crash.

Folayan, who is also into orbit, is the owner of Skynet , a service provider company based in Ibadan.

Folayan accompanied the Chairman, top local government officials, the police, SSS and other security men to recover the toy on Sunday.

Folayan who claimed to have produced many similar toys for his son in the past explained that he was playing with his son with the battery propelled toy when it got missing and all effort to retrieve it failed last week Sunday.

He gave a vivid description of the toy which he produced for his son “The weight of the toy is 0.8 kilogram with the shape of an i-pad . It cannot run more than 15 minutes . It is not solar panelled, but uses battery and a remote control .”

The chairman charged media men to do more of investigative journalism,rather than speculative reporting .

He stated that the report was capable of causing strained relations between Nigeria and the US government.

Sydney Celebrates 2014 In Grand Style!

More than 1.6 million partygoers positioned themselves at vantage points around the iconic Harbour Bridge at the centre of the country's biggest fireworks display.

Meanwhile, the nation's other capital cities were also enjoying magnificent light shows, with crowds streaming into central Melbourne for a 10-minute display that was to be blasted from 22 locations at midnight.

The streets of Sydney were shut off for its three New Year's Eve fireworks shows, themed Shine, at 9pm, 10.30pm and midnight.

Connecting To Eternaity!

As we prepare to get into the 2014, I will like to share this insight, so that in our endeavors towards achieving our goals, we bear in mind that finding our life purpose, and connecting to Eternity, is the ultimate, therefore, should be our top-most goal.

                                         

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." - Matthew 6:25-29.

Jesus Christ, in one of his sermons,  revealed to his disciples the importance of connecting to eternity. He illustrated this with the comparison of the dis-connected soul, to that of the Lilies in the fields. We know how beautiful and glorious these flowers are in their prime, not even Solomon "in all his splendor" was so arrayed, even though these flowers are only there for a season, and then fade away.

David buttressed this point during his prayers in Psalm 144: 4- "man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away". Delving deeper on this, Solomon, even all the wealthy and powerful Kings, Conquerors, and Emperors, of all times, despite their conquests, riches and glory; did fade away. New generations, of powerful men equally rose and faded. One thing however, that got some of these men registered in the Hall of Eternal Fame however, was their connection to Eternity. 

Abraham, would have been forgotten, and remembered only as a man who wandered off his ancestral-land, to an unknown place. Telling anyone who cared to listen, that an 'a then unknown God', told him to leave his Father's land, with a Promise, that He (God), would take him to a land which He would give to Abraham, and his seed for ever. In line with his obedience to this promise, Abraham prospered. He is famous, as a man of great Faith. Today, years after Abraham walked the earth, his name, is recognized through all generations. In other words, he is still living in his seeds scattered all over the world. 

Mary, a hitherto unknown Jewish girl, was in her home, when she encountered a Divine visitation. Many would have thought it was just one of those rare visions of Angels, that most religious people occasionally have, just to keep their faith alive. But somehow, peharps through divine revelation,  Mary caught it. She knew her life would change from that moment, from just another devout Jewish woman, to a name that will,  through generations be mentioned. 

Through her response: "be it unto me according to your Word" Mary yielded to a covenant with Eternity. She took it further to say in her prayers "...behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed". - Luke 1: 48b. Mary caught the revelation that she had connected to Eternity.

Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and King David to mention but a few. These great men of their times, caught the revelation. Some how, they knew that by keeping the covenant/ relationship with God, which started with their fore bearer Abraham, they were connected to eternity. 

Generations passed, and God re-affirmed his Eternal Promise, to the seed of Abraham. God swore to David, that his throne will be established forever. "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: 'I will establish your descendants for ever, and build your throne for all generations." - Psalms 89:3,4. To bring this to pass, God HIMSELF came in the person of Jesus, the Christ. HE, is indeed Eternity. 

Progressively, to establish God's faithfulness to 'HIS WORD', promised Abraham and David, the first chapter of the book of Mathew took time to trace back, and re-connect Jesus's human genealogy to Judah. As it was written "The Scepter shall not depart from JUDAH nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until SHILOH comes” -Gen. 49:10; and Matthew one verse one.

Talking about man's quest for immortality, an adventure that has over time, led great men to perpetual destruction, instead of eternity glory. In their acts, great-men-of-old, failed to acknowledge that only a connection to true Divinity can guarantee eternal life. Some of the men were however simply ignorant of God's existence. Majority, after having attained a certain standard of fame and greatness, as is peculiar with the human-nature, wanted more. Somehow they knew there was more to simply existing, and conquering territories  and empires.  There is this deep desire for something greater than us, which I have come to recognize as the hunger for an intimate relationship with God;  to be like God. After all, Man was created in God's Image (personality), after HIS Likeness (capability).   Like the scripture states: "Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me" - Psalm 42:7.

In the beginning, Adam and Eve had this relationship with God. God would come down to connect with them in the cool of the evening. As much Human as they were, they were originally created to live forever, in their youthful state. The devil, being a spirit being, knew this deep human desire for something greater. The desire for greatness, and doing what he knows best, which is to destroy, used this (originally innocent) nature, on Man's ignorance. 

This deception, saw the introduction of occultism, and misled men, over the years, as they tried to connect to what they thought was Divinity. The desire for greatness, propelled many into insatiable quests for protection, uncontrollable acquisition of wealth, through and by any means possible. It was thought that great wealth could lead to great power and immortality. Many ended up losing it all, others have their names remembered in history, while their posterity is totally forgotten.

I consider this generation, more-advantaged, than the older generations. What they traveled far and wide, performed all manner of rituals to attain, we have at our disposal. More-so, through history classes, and technological advancement, we have access to almost every information we need, therefore we know better. We get to stand on the shoulders of giants gone, to see farther and better. We are more privileged to learn from their experiences, mistakes and falls. We have been equipped, to avoid their mistakes.

Only true connection to the Creator of the Universe, of human beings and every thing seen, heard and felt, the One and only True Divinity, God Almighty, will lead to Eternity. For "As many as received Him, to them gave HE POWER to become the sons of GOD, even to them that believe on HIS Name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" - John 1: 12- 13.

Like Mary, when we yield to God, turning our WILL over to HIM, by acknowledging HIS existence, and receiving HIM into our lives, we automatically enter into the eternal covenant, made with Abraham. And when we passed-on from this sphere of life, there is no fear, for as HIS own, we simply enter into Eternity, to a beautiful life, without end. For "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” - 1 Corinthians 2 vs 9. 

Obianuju Mbanusi writes.

Why we operated battered pregnant woman – Doctor!

The Medical Director of Mercy Hospital, Fagba, Lagos State, Dr. Abdulkareem Shehu, says an emergency surgery had to be performed on Alexandra Ossai, the woman who was kicked in the stomach by her Lebanese boss.

He added that the operation was necessary to save her life as the kick had affected the seven months pregnancy she was carrying at the time.

PUNCH Metro had exclusively reported that Ossai, a supervisor at Toppan printing company, Ikeja, was allegedly kicked in the stomach by the company manager, Kaveh Noine.

Ossai developed complications few days after the kick, causing her to undergo emergency surgery.

Shehu told PUNCH Metro that he had received a call in the early hours of Monday December 16, 2013 that Ossai, a 34-year-old mother of one, was bleeding.

“I am friends with Ossai’s family; I have known them for a while. On the day of the surgery, I got a call around 3am from her elder sister that Ossai was bleeding. I was surprised. Bleeding during pregnancy was bad, so I told them to bring her to my hospital.

“Ossai was in grave pains and was losing blood. I had to call my surgeon to come in. There was no time to refer Ossai to another hospital; I was afraid that she would give up on the way.”

Shehu said that the surgeon had described Ossai’s situation as Placenta Previa or Placenta Abruptus.

Ossai’s case was said to be unusual in pregnancy because the placenta was brought out in tatters. The doctor added that clotted blood was brought out from her abdomen. Shehu said, “Only two things might have caused this situation; it is either she was involved in an accident or she was involved in a fight with someone.

“Her baby was brought out dead. Immediately Ossai’s placenta disengaged from the uterus, there would be no blood supply to the baby so it died. We had to give her two pints of blood because of what she had lost.

“Ossai has been discharged from the hospital and is recuperating at home. After your (The PUNCH) initial publication; I had to discharge her because so many people were coming here to see her; I was worried for her safety.”

Despite Ossai’s ordeal, Shehu said the experience would have no effect on future pregnancies.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that the Area F police command on Saturday had taken statements from Ossai and her aunt, Mrs. Olabisi Jaiyeoba.

It was also learnt that apart from President Goodluck Jonathan’s order to probe the incident, the Lagos State Public Advice Centre had taken up the issue and promised to “follow it to a logical conclusion.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Braide, said the case had been taken over by the Lagos State Police Command headquarters.

She said, “This case is no longer at Area F,  it has been transferred to the Lagos State Police Command and an investigative team, headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, is handling the case.”

Children 'Beheaded And Mutilated' During Clashes!

The UN agency for children says attacks against children have reached new levels of viciousness in the Central African Republic (CAR), where fighting between Muslim Seleka revels and christian militia left more than 1,000 people dead and displaced an estimated 400,000 in Bangui, the capital, this month.

According to Unicef, at least at least two children have been beheaded, and one of them mutilated, in the violence that has gripped Bangui since early December.

"We are witnessing unprecedented levels of violence against children. More and more children are being recruited into armed groups, and they are also being directly targeted in atrocious revenge attacks," said Souleymane Diabate, Unicef representative in CAR. "Targeted attacks against children are a violation of international humanitarian and human rights law and must stop immediately. Concrete action is needed now to prevent violence against children."

Unicef and its partners say they have verified the killings of at least 16 children, and injuries among 60, since the outbreak of communal violence in Bangui on 5 December. In November, the UN warned that the number of child soldires in the former French colony had more than doubled to up to 6,000 as anti-balaka militias have sprung up to counterattacks by the Seleka.

Diabate said armed groups were accountable for taking specific measures to provide protection to children. These include: clear directives by those in positions of authority within armed forces and groups to halt violations against children, meaning that children must not be recruited into the fighting, nor targeted. Unicef also called for the immediate release of children associated with armed forces and groups, and their protection from reprisals. Transit centres set up for the release and reintegration of children must also be protected from attacks.

Some 370,000 people – almost half the population of Bangui – have been displaced to dozens of sites across the capital over the past three weeks. About 785,000 people have been internally displaced throughout the country since the outbreak of violence more than a year ago.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the medical charity, said on Monday that fighting, lynchings and violent attacks remained a daily occurrence in Bangui, and the situation in the city appeared to be out of control, despite the presence of international armed forces in the capital.

"We have been receiving more patients with serious injuries at the Hôpital Communautaire in the last few days," said Laurent Sury, MSF's emergency co-ordinator in Bangui. "People are coming in with machete wounds to the head, hands and arms – injuries sustained as they tried to defend themselves. We've also seen people who have been stabbed, sometimes multiple times, in the abdomen, and people who have been either tortured or brutally beaten. We have even had a case of impalement. For the most part, these are young men."

MSF said health facilities had been affected by the violence, hindering the provision of medical aid. On Sunday, a ministry of health ambulance was stopped and the staff were threatened with violence, preventing them from collecting the wounded. On the same day, armed men entered the Hôpital Communautaire with the intention of lynching patients, while health staff were threatened.

"The atmosphere is getting increasingly tense with each of these 'visits', as the attackers become more and more aggressive and angry," said Thomas Curbillon, MSF's head of mission in Bangui. "It is totally unacceptable that health facilities are not being respected and are being invaded by armed people who constitute a threat to patients and staff. The insecurity and the gunfire in different areas, especially around the hospital, impede people's ability to move around."

The UN launched an appeal for $152m last week to rapidly scale-up humanitarian operations over the next 100 days. The country has been plunged into chaos as its Christian majority seeks revenge against the Muslim rebels who seized power in a coup in March. Many Christian and Muslim civilians are armed, and the foreign troops brought in to try to rein in the violence have been sucked into the conflict and accused of taking sides.

The Chadians, part of the African Union force, are Muslim and are seen by the population as backing the Seleka rebels who toppled the president. But 1,600 French troops who were deployed in the first week of December are accused of backing the Christian majority, and their patrols have come under fire in Muslim neighbourhoods. Many say the bloodshed has little to do with religion as Muslims and Christians had long lived in peace. Instead, they blame a political battle for control over resources in one of Africa's most weakly governed states.

Obama, Clinton emerge most admired by Americans!

According to a new   Gallup poll, United State's two most famous Democrats are also its two most admired.

President Obama is the most admired man among Americans while Hillary Clinton is the most admired woman.

The title is nothing new for the duo: Clinton was named the most admired for the 12th consecutive year, while Obama earned the top ranking for the sixth year in a row.

Every year, Gallup asks Americans, in an open-ended format, to name the man and woman living anywhere in the world they most admire. Obama won by a comfortable margin with 16% naming him. He beat George W. Bush (4%), Pope Francis (4%), Bill Clinton (2%) and Rev. Billy Graham (2%). 

One percent of those polled each named Bill Gates, Clint Eastwood, Ron Paul, Ted Cruz, Mitt Romney and Jimmy Carter.

While 16% named Obama as most admired man, that percentage dropped substantially from 30% in 2012. The dip coincidences with several surveys showing Obama’s approval rating taking a hit this year Meanwhile, 15% of Americans named Hillary Clinton. 

The former secretary of state easily beat Oprah Winfrey (6%), Michelle Obama (5%), Sarah Palin (5%), Malala Yousafzai (2%) and Condoleezza Rice (2%). One percent of those polled each named Angela Merkel, Angelina Jolie, Duchess Kate and Queen Elizabeth II.

Cossy Ojiakor Rocks Traditional Attire For The First Time!

Keep it up gurl, we believe there's more in you, waiting to be revealed.

I didn't ask the Presidency for a Christmas cow- Tunde Bakare!

The convener of Save Nigeria Group and a frontline critic of the Jonathan’s administration, Pastor Tunde Bakare has berated the presidency for giving him a cow as  Christmas gift.

The presiding pastor of the Latter Rain Church makes mockery of the gift while addressing his congregation on Sunday, noting that he did not solicit for the cow and would have returned it but for the persuasion from the presidency.

He added that the cost of the cow would have been inflated to the gain of the cronies of the president and that he will not be surprise if an elephant is given out by the presidency, insinuating that it amount to a waste of resources, misplaced priorities and a testament that the country has ‘low men’ in high places.

 “I had a cow from the Presidency. I didn’t ask for it. They dropped it at the Save Nigeria Group office,” he said. He queried, “Is it cow that we need? If you check their books, one cow could have been bought for $5,000. The rest of the money is pocketed. They prevailed on me not to return it. Thanks for the cow, but no thanks”.

He joked that his revelation might deny him a gift from President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014, “that means no cow for me next year (laughs). But we will have good roads, schools etc.We are the cause of our problems. We feel big when Mr President sends us hampers; some go to them for contracts”.

He claimed that he will also give out the cow while counseling the presidency to channel such resources to build roads, hospitals and provide other social amenities for the masses.

Source: Vanguard news

Volgograd attacks, U.K/ U.S reaches out to Russia!

U.K Prime Minister David Cameron has expressed shock over the attacks on Volgograd, promising that the United Kingdom will assist Russia in what ever way they can.

    UK Prime Minister ‏@Number10gov

53m

PM: I'm shocked & saddened by the Volgograd attacks. I've written to President Putin to say the UK will help Russia in whatever way we can.

White House on her part says the US has offered 'full support' to Russia in security preparation for Sochi; 'would welcome the opportunity for closer cooperation' .

A few weeks to Russia hosting the 2014 winter Olympics, two deadly attacks was recorded in two days in the city of Volgograd. 14 people were believed to have been  killed Monday when an explosion hit a trolleybus during the morning rush hour. Less than 24 hours earlier, a blast at Volgograd's main train station killed 17 people.

Authorities lebaled both attacks as acts of terrorists, meanwhile no group immidealtely claimed responsibility for the acts, suspicions however fell on Chenchen separatists groups. One in particular, the Caucasus Emirate, has said it will expend "maximum force" in disrupting the Olympic games in Sochi. Here's a look at the ongoing conflict in Russia's North Caucasus region, at how the violence has spilled over into the rest of the country, and why Volgograd may have been targeted.

Lagos state Police Command releases crime report for Dec. 2013!

REPORT FROM COMMANDS: MONDAY 30TH DECEMBER, 2013.

HIGHLIGHT

i. Armed Robbers Arrested: 12, Fatally Injured: 5
ii. Recovered Weapon: 10, Ammunition: 2,066, and Cartridge: 3
iii. Recovered Vehicle: 3
iv. Arrested Kidnapper: 1
v. Rescued Kidnap Victim: 1
vi. Drowning: 1
vii. Defilement: 1
viii. Foiled Robbery: 1


1. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBER/RECOVERY OF VEHICLE (EDO STATE): On 20.12.2013 at about 8:45PM, Police patrol team on the trail of a Nissan Primera car (reg no. withheld) earlier reported snatched at gunpoint by 4 armed men along 3rd Cemetery Road, Benin City intercepted the vehicle along Navy street, Benin City. There was a shootout during with one of the armed robbers was fatally injured, three other suspects fled the scene with gunshot injuries. Corpse deposited at the mortuary, two recovered cars taken to the Police station. State CID Benin is investigating.

2. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBER/RECOVERY OF WEAPON (OGUN STATE): On 22.12.2013 at about 6:00AM Police SARS operatives upon a tip-off raided a suspected armed robbers hide-out at Odosenlu village via Ijebu-Ode. One male suspect was arrested; one locally-made pistol, two cartridges and some assorted charms were recovered from the suspect. Efforts to track down other gang members are being intensified, State CID Abeokuta is investigating.

3. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBER/RECOVERY OF WEAPON (LAGOS STATE): On 23.12.2013 at about 1:00PM security personnel at Yaba College of Technology apprehended one male suspect who allegedly forced a male student of the institution to the ATM to withdraw money haven threatened the victim with what was later discovered to be a toy gun. Suspect and exhibit handed over to the Police. State CID Panti-Yaba is investigating.

4. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBER/RECOVERY OF WEAPON (KADUNA STATE): On 23.12.2013 at about 9:30PM upon a distress call that a gang of armed robbers have blocked a section of the Kaduna-Abuja Highway close to Kakau village, Police patrol teams were immediately dispatched to the scene where the hoodlums were engaged in a shootout. One of the suspects dressed in Military style camouflage cloths was arrested with gunshot injuries while other gang members fled the scene with bullet injuries. One locally-made pistol, one live cartridge, one Rifle like carved black stick and one machete were recovered from the suspect. Road was cleared for easy passage of commuters. Injured hoodlum was rushed to the Hospital where he later died. State CID Kaduna is investigating.

5. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBER/RECOVERY OF WEAPON (KATSINA STATE): On 24.12.2013 at about 5:30PM, Combined Police/Special Intervention Force patrol team acting on a tip-off raided a suspected armed robbers hide-out at Safana where three male suspects were arrested and four locally-made guns recovered from them. Suspects linked to recent robbery incidents in the area. State CID Katsina is investigating.

6. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBER/RECOVERY OF WEAPON (KADUNA STATE): On 26.12.2013 at about 8:30PM, Police received a distress call that armed robbers were operating in a house at Attahiru road, Malali. Police patrol teams were immediately dispatched to the scene where the hoodlums were engaged in a shootout, two of the suspects were fatally injured while the other two escaped with gunshot injuries. One locally-made revolver pistol was recovered as well as one Nissan Sunny car reg no. BC 581 RSH brought to the scene by the hoodlums. State CID Kaduna is investigating.

7. ARREST OF ARMED ROBBER (EBONYI STATE): On 26.12.2013 at about 2:45AM, upon a distress call, Police patrol team responded to the scene of armed robbery at a house along Awolowo road, Abakaliki. There was a shootout with the hoodlums; one of the suspects was fatally injured while six others were arrested. Efforts to apprehend other gang members that fled the scene are being intensified. State CID Abakaliki is investigating.

8. RECOVERY OF WEAPON (BENUE STATE): On 24.12.2013 at about 5:30PM Police operatives intercepted one male suspect with a single barrel shotgun at North Bank area Makurdi, suspect was arrested. State CID Makurdi is investigating.

9. RECOVERY OF WEAPON/ARREST OF SUSPECT (CROSS RIVER STATE): On 25.12.2013 at about 4:00AM, Police operatives intercepted two male suspects along Target road and recovered following rounds of ammunition from the suspects; 800 rounds of 7.62mm, 634 rounds of 7.62 by 56mm, 632 rounds of 5.56mm. Suspects arrested, State CID Calabar is investigating.

10. RESCUE OF VICTIM/ARREST OF KIDNAPPER (NASARAWA STATE): On 22.12.2013 at about 10:00PM Police patrol team along Keffi-Masaka Highway intercepted a vehicle conveying one male victim earlier reported kidnapped at One-Man village. Victim was rescued unhurt, one of the kidnappers was arrested while others fled the scene. State CID Lafia is investigating.

11. MURDER/YOUTH RESTIVENESS/ARREST OF SUSPECTS (AKWA IBOM STATE): On 25.12.2013 at about 10:00AM, during the celebration of Okon Day at Okon village, Eket LGA, rival youth groups engaged themselves in a free for all fight using machete. Two male victims died as a result of sever machete cut injuries, corpses deposited at the mortuary. One Policeman also received machete cut injury and taken to hospital, injury said not to be life threatening. One of the Police patrol vehicles that responded to calm the incident was damaged. Five suspects were arrested at the scene, State CID Uyo is investigating.

12. DROWNING (LAGOS STATE): On 25.12.2013 at about 1:30PM, Police received reported that one male victim got drowned while swimming at the pools of one Hotel (name withheld) at Sewage, Ipaja. Corpse recovered and deposited at Igando Hospital Morgue for autopsy. State CID Panti-Yaba Lagos.

13. DEFILEMENT (EKITI STATE): On 27.12.2013 at about 6:00PM Police received a report that one Samuel Ibitayo ‘m’ aged 55yrs of Oke-Eporo had unlawful carnal knowledge of one 15yrs old girl. Victim was rushed to the hospital for medical attention, suspect arrested. State CID Ado-Ekiti is investigating.

14. FOILED ATM ROBBERY/ARREST OF SUSPECT (OGUN STATE): On 28.12.2013 at about 1:20AM Police received a distress call that a group of armed robbers entered the premises of Crescent University Abeokuta. Police patrol teams were immediately dispatched to the scene; prompt police arrival made the hoodlums abandon their criminal act and fled the scene. Five security guards on duty seen tired where rescued unhurt. One of the hoodlums was arrested in the near bush while the following items were recovered close to the GT Bank ATM; Two gas cylinders, two chisels, two hammers, two lighters, one spanner, one screw driver, two cutting nozzles, one torch-light, one ladder, two pairs of sandals and one carton of table water. State CID Abeokuta is investigating.

Inspector general of Police Mohammed Abubakar, flanked by top Police officer

FIRE ALERT!!!!!!!! Please be very careful as several cases of fire incidents were reported across the Nation during the past week.

Maku blames Power failure on criminal activities!

The poor power supply Nigerians are witnessing, despite the power sector reforms of the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, should be blamed on the criminal activities of some citizens, the Minister of Information and Supervising Minister of Defence, Labaran Maku, has said.

Speaking on Sunrise Daily on Monday, Mr Maku defended President Goolduck Jonathan on his August 29, 2012 promise to deliver the “dividends of democracy by 2013.” He said that the administration had been battling with inherited issues of terrorism which had consumed a lot of the State’s funds. “We have been dealing with this for the past three years,” he said.

He was quick to add that despite the war against insecurity, Nigeria’s economy is growing faster than the economies of South Africa and Egypt. He credited this to the President’s study of management of economy.

“Even as we are fighting this war, because the President studied management of the economy, today we are talking about an economy that is growing faster than South Africa and Egypt,” Maku said.

He stressed that resources which would have been channeled into other sectors including education, industry and agriculture had been wasted on the fight against terrorism and political wars.”

“Inspite of this, you have an economy that this year IMF said the Nigerian economy grew by 7.2 per cent, even above government’s own projections 6.9 per cent.”

He continued by saying that: “In 2012, inflation was about 12.2 per cent but today inflation has come down to 8 per cent. It has not been so for the past 20 years.” He also said that the President has built 10 power plants in the last 3 years which no other president has achieved in the nation’s history.

“Jonathan has undertaken a comprehensive (complete) replacement of power transmission infrastructure.” The privatisation exercise is the first stage in the reform process in the power sector,” he explained.

Although the Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo, recently revealed that the new owners of the power plants are having financial problems, Mr Maku considered the set-back to be “a period of adjustment.”

He expressed optimism that the policy reforms would yield results if Nigerians were responsible enough to desist from criminal acts including cutting down power lines “to cause darkness in some parts of the country.”

“These are citizen’s problems and not problems because of the failure of government,” he added.

“This President (Jonathan) has returned the economy to the path of growth and development, our financial system is better. We inherited a crashed capital market but today the capital market has recovered by 71 percent between 2012 and now.

“In terms of the overall value of shares, we have gone over 11 trillion Naira. This growth makes it clear that the President is making the economy better than anyone,” he stressed.

Goodluck Jonathan condoles Wole Soyinka!

Following the death of the daughter of Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, Iyetade Soyinka, President Goodluck Jonathan issued a condolence through the office of his special Adviser on Media and Publicity Reuben Abati. 

The tweets read:

Reuben Abati ‏@abati1990

On behalf of himself & the FG, President Jonathan extends sincere condolences to Prof. Wole Soyinka on the death of his daughter, Iyetade.

Reuben Abati ‏@abati1990

President Jonathan prays that God Almighty will comfort Prof. Soyinka and all others who mourn his late daughter, Iyetade.

According to a statement signed on behalf of the family by a former Editor of the Guardian on Sunday, Mr. Jahman Anikulapo and a close aide to Soyinka, Iyetade, a mother of two, died while  receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment at the University College Hospital, Ibadan,  the Oyo State capital.

 Born on June 6, 1965, the deceased, according to Anikulapo, attended Staff School and Queens School, Ibadan before reading Medicine at the University of Ibadan.

He described Iyetade as an “affable, intelligent and sometimes capricious,” lady who “struggled with her health in recent years.

“In spite of this, she greeted every day with a smile and doted on her two children. She took ill quite suddenly and passed away while being treated at UCH, Ibadan. Iyetade leaves behind two children, both parents, numerous siblings, nieces and nephews,” the statement added.

Burial plans is yet to be disclosed by the deceased family.

Teen, charged over murder of his girl friend!

A teenage boy and his brother have been charged in the murder of the teen’s Chicago girlfriend who was pregnant with his baby and shot during an attempted drug deal ripoff gone bad, police said.

Anthony Lee

The boyfriend, Anthony Lee, 16, and his brother, Diante Lamont Coakley, 21, both of Dolton, were charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of Eva Casara, 17.

Diante Lamont Coakley

Eva Casara was 5 ½-months pregnant when she was shot.

Eva Casara

She later died, but doctors were able to save her baby girl, who is in critical condition in the hospital fighting for her life.

Eva's baby girl, born more than three months premature

Casara was “just in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong company,” said Dolton Police Chief John Franklin, who declined to provide many details about the crime.

Dolton Police said they are searching for a third suspect as well, Franklin said.

The crime scene

Lee and Coakley were taking part in a drug deal when it “spiraled out of control,” and the two began firing their guns, and Casara was hit, police said.

Estrellita Casara, Eva's mother

Mother Arrested in Christmas Day Killing of Teen Daughter!

The woman pictured below was arrested by the Police over the death of her teenage daughter who was found murdered on Christmas Day.

According Police Department, Connie Villa, 35, allegedly attempted to kill all of four her children and her ex-husband Adam Villa on Dec. 25, 2013.

She was charged with first - degree murder for the death of her daughter, 13-year-old Aniarael Macias, who was found dead in the family apartment bathroom.

Police said they believe that Villa called her ex-husband to come over on Christmas Day so that she could kill him. After he arrived, she allegedly stabbed him repeatedly in the torso, police said. Adam Villa was able to escape and call the police as he drove himself to the hospital.

When police arrived at Villa's apartment, they forced open the door and found her holding a knife to her chest with apparent self-inflicted stab wounds on her torso.

Villa's three younger children, ages 3, 5, and 8, were also found without any stab wounds. Macias' body was found in the bathroom, but she had no visible injuries, Casa Grande Police Department spokesman Thomas Anderson said.

A step to true sanitization of her polity: 500 Chinese lawmakers leave office over election fraud!

More than 500 Chinese lawmakers accused of election fraud have been forced out from office, the country’s official Xinhua news agency reported.

The officials were disqualified, dismissed or resigned on Saturday 28th Dec. 2013 following elections in Hunan at the Hengyang municipal people’s congress, the local legislative body.

Fifty-six provincial lawmakers offered bribes to 518 municipal lawmakers and 68 staff members, a statement from the Hunan provincial people’s congress said, according to Xinhua. The total amount of money involved exceeded 110 million yuan, or $18.14m, according to the statement.

The 56 provincial lawmakers were disqualified Saturday and 512 municipal legislator resigned, according toXinhua.

Another five provincial lawmakers who didn’t offer bribes were dismissed and three municipal lawmakers who didn’t accept bribes resigned for “serious dereliction of duty,” the statement said. Another six municipal lawmakers who took bribes had already been transferred.

Tong Mingqian, then party chief of Hengyang, was in charge of the election.

“Tong breached his duty as an official in charge and was directly responsible for this case,” the statement said.

He was fired December 21 as vice chairman of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, according to Xinhua.

INCREDIBLE...MAN DETAINED FOR TWO MONTHS IN A NIGERIAN PRISON FOR ALLEGEDLY CRITICIZING HIS STATE GOVERNOR ON FACEBOOK!

Tonye Okio pictured below, allegedly spent his 2013 Christmas holidays in a Bayelsa prison, and is to spend the first days of the year 2014 there. 

Tonye Okio

Going by information obtained, He was detained after he posted a Facebook message criticizing the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, in October, 2013.

Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson

Mr. Okio, a businessman, and a former Abuja Liaison officer for Bayelsa state and aide to ex-Bayelsa governor, Timipriye Sylva, was apprehended at his Abuja home on October 26. 

According to report, He was blindfolded and driven to Bayelsa State by the Special Investigation Bureau (SIB). 

Information reveled  that Mr. Okio was stripped of his mobile gadgets, and had the messages about Governor Dickson removed from his Facebook account.

Following his arrest, the Bayelsa Police issued a statement saying that he was arrested for “seditious publications” against the Bayelsa governor.

Mr. Okio was kept in custody for ten days, and his lawyer demanded that his fundamental rights be obeyed and he be charged to court.

On November 5, 2013, it was gathered that Mr. Okio was charged before the Magistrate Court for defamatory publication against the Bayelsa governor. After taking his plea, the Magistrate Court adjourned the case to November 21 for trial. 

On that day, it was reported that the court granted Mr. Okio N5 million bail with one surety in like sum who must be a permanent secretary in the state and resident within the court’s jurisdiction.

Mr. Okio’s lawyer has since reasoned with the court that it would be impossible to satisfy the condition, as the Governor, who is the complainant, must have threatened permanent secretaries in the state. Furthermore, inside sources also hinted that no permanent secretary under the state’s employ dare stand as surety for Mr. Okio.

Although an application was filed at the Nembe Division of the Bayelsa High Court in the state to demand a variation in the bail conditions, the court reportedly fixed three consecutive days for hearing and was unable sit on any of those days.

A ruling on the review of bail application was slated for December but was again adjourned by the presiding judge. On the said date, the judge through the court’s registrar notified counsels that the ruling on the bail review application was not ready, and, therefore, the case was adjourned till January 20.

“The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.” ― John F. Kennedy