Save me from untimely death— Obesere's rape victim cries out!

The 29-year-old businesswoman, Olanike Olaiya, who was allegedly raped by popular Fuji musician, Alhaji Abass Akande, also known as Obesere, has called on police authorities not to allow the matter to be swept under the carpet so that she will not die. 

According to her, Obesere’s insertion of his ring in her private part, leading to bleeding and pain, may not be unconnected with ritual activities.

The graduate of Ibadan Polytechnic also said she was not impressed by the way the case was being handled at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, Yaba, Lagos. She accused the Investigating Police Officer, simply known as Jacob, of wanting to frustrate the investigation in favour of Obesere.

Speaking with Vanguard, Olaiya also refuted allegations made by Obesere claiming they were lovers and that she wanted to use the rape saga to blackmail and extort money from him.

She said: “I knew him barely two weeks ago and we were talking business. But he raped me on our first meeting in his house.

“Like I told you earlier, I met him through a friend who is much older than me — she is over 49 year old— and she told me that Obesere helped her in her business and he could do same for me.

“She was the one who arranged the meeting at Obesere’s house, but Obesere made me wait for at least five hours until it became late for me to go after the meeting.

“Even when I insisted, he refused to let me go claiming his area was not safe and that everybody knew I was in his house.

“I slept over, but not in his room. He raped me and inserted a ring in my private part. I wouldn’t have gone to the Police if it was just the rape because it was my fault. As an adult, I should have known the danger of passing the night in a stranger’s house.

“I went to the police because I was bleeding and when I informed him about it, he didn’t take me seriously. He asked me to go to a private hospital in Ejigbo. But when I got there, the doctor did not even touch or examine me in any way.

“He just asked that I go for a scan, which is not done in that hospital. I left the hospital in pain and I reported the matter to the police.

“I wanted the police to be aware of what happened and prosecute him for forcefully having sex with me against my wish.

“I also have to clarify the issue of wanting to blackmail him. From the beginning, I rejected all the money he offered me as settlement.

“You can ask the DPO at Isolo. He is aware that I rejected all the money he offered me. All I wanted was for him to be prosecuted for taking advantage of me because I slept in his house.

“Also, I wanted him to explain to the Police why he inserted a ring into my private part that made bleed for two weeks and possibly reverse any ritual step he may have taken.

“As I speak with you, I am still going through pains. After the bleeding stopped, I have continued to have problems with my reproductive organs. That was why I went to the police, I wanted them to investigate and prosecute him.

“But what I am getting from the IPO is terrible. He is trying to destroy the case and set Obesere free at the expense of my life and dignity.

“He discarded the medical report from the General Hospital and he upheld that of Obesere’s private hospital, saying their report was the correct one. As I speak with you I am not feeling well at all.”

Source: vanguard News

S. Korean Movie Portrays Suffering Of North Korea's Secret Christians!

Christians in North Korea face beatings, torture, arbitrary shooting and execution. It is difficult, though, to comprehend the true nature of the terror of the victims, the extent of the persecution, and the bravery of their struggle.

A new film, “The Apostle: He Was annointed by God,” presents a fictionalized account based on stories culled by South Korean director Kim Jin-moo. 

Abandoned coal mines in the mountains south of the line between the two Koreas provided the setting for scenes of “secret Christians” in North Korea praying by candlelight. Exterior scenes of drab villages, of interiors of decrepit buildings decorated by stock photos of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, and of villagers attempting to flee across a stream resembling the Tumen River between North Korea and China give an eerie sense of reality that’s about as close to the life and death of Christians in North Korea.

The plot revolves around Chul-ho played by Kim In-kwon, better known for comic roles, who wants to lead villagers across the river to China and from there to South Korea. He, his family and friends, face varying degrees of terrorism by North Korean soldiers, some of them glad to accept bribes, others promising to get tough against dissidents in their midst. 

The film introduces, on a highly personal level, the types of conflicts among all these people that we can only imagine – the aging father who just wants to pay off the authorities whenever expedient, the pregnant woman who hides away but also gets killed, the Christian who praises Kim Jong-il in a sermon in one of those phony authorized churches in Pyongyang, the young soldier who himself is a Christian and attends underground services while in uniform. Then there is the village idiot, the only character who director Kim says is totally fictional. He tears down a picture of Jesus from a wall and cuts out the face as a grotesque mask as the film nears its terrifying ending.

One of the more interesting studies in “The Apostle” is that of the North Korean squad leader who warns Christians of the troubles they face under a new, ambitious officer and then obeys the officer when expedient, as when villagers are shot and killed as they try to flee across the snow into China. The differences among North Koreans are essential to the credibility of the film since they portray characters who suffer not only from ideological fanaticism but also from opportunism and the need to survive under a brutal regime that will kill anyone who shows any sign of insubordination.

Not everyone gets beaten or shot to death without a show of due process. In the case of Chul-ho, after he is caught and kicked, punched and bludgeoned, he is also found guilty by the security apparatus and faces a formal execution, cloaked in lawfulness. The security official reads out the charges, and three soldiers face him as he is tied to a post. Much to the annoyance of the fanatic young officer who ordered the crackdown, he is seen to smile slightly as he recalls his life and where he is going. Shots ring out.

For those who worry about the fate of unknown tens of thousands of secret Christians in North Korea, this is a powerful film with a believable story. Foreign viewers may confuse the title with the name of the Robert Duvall film “The Apostle,” produced in 1997, about a Texas preacher who kills his faithless wife’s lover, flees to Louisiana, goes on as a charismatic preacher, and finally gets arrested.

The new “Apostle” conveys a very different message. Chul-ho dies as a martyr to his faith. Peter Jung, founder of Justice for North Korea, presenting the film, complete with English subtitles, said his organization will show it on March 17 in Geneva during debate at the UN Council for Human rights on the report on human rights in North Korea by a commission authorized by the council.

A book by Jung and activist Kim Hi-tae, “The Persecuted Catacomb Christians of North Korea,” is quoted in the report. Copies of the book, in both English and Korean, were handed out after the screening of the film. It provides an astonishing glimpse into the history of Christianity in Korea, the suffering that Christians have endured historically and the brutality that exists today in North Korea. It’s only about 100 pages, well written, dramatically illustrated and shockingly factual.

Those who want to know the real story of Christianity in the North should both see the movie and read the book. 

But how many people worldwide will care enough to take the trouble?

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Couple on Missing Flight Headed for Honeymoon!

A couple Norli Akmar Hamid and her husband Muhammad Razahan Zamanion were reportedly on the missing Malasia Airlines Flight MH370 .

 It was gathered that they were headed to Beijing for a honeymoon to celebrate their wedding of two years ago, relatives said Sunday.

Relatives spoke to The Wall Street Journal of the couple’s honeymoon plans. The relatives  are staying near the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at the Everly Hotel, where as many as 10 floors are reserved for family of passengers on the missing flight. They are receiving counseling.

Several family members, who didn’t want to be identified, spoke briefly said they had not been told what happened to the flight.

One woman said she her daughter-in-law was on the flight.

“I feel so sorry for my son,” she said. “He and my husband will fly to where they tell us to go. So far we don’t know where.”

Malaysia Airlines said Sunday it is helping family members with emotional counseling and  travel needs.

“The airline is doing its utmost to provide support to the affected family members, this includes immediate financial aid,” the airlines said in a statement.

Malaysia Airlines said its team of caregivers continues to meet with family  in Beijing and Kuala Lumpur. It is sending more “caregivers” to Beijing today.

The airlines said it will set up a command center at Kota Bharu, Malaysia, or Ho Chi Minh City when it is clear where the plane is located.

“In fearing for the worst, a disaster recovery management specialist from Atlanta in the U.S. will be assisting Malaysia Airlines in this crucial time,” the statement said.

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UN warns of new Sudan clashes!

The United Nations has warned about an upsurge in violence in Sudan's Darfur region, saying some 50,000 people had been displaced since the end of February.

Peacekeepers and aid agencies had been blocked from entering affected areas, UN human rights chief Navi Pillay said.

Much of the violence is between rival Arab groups, although rebel and government forces are also involved, a BBC correspondent reports.

Darfur has been hit by conflict since 2003, when rebels took up arms.

Two million people have already been displaced by the conflict.

The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, accusing him of committing war crimes and genocide against black African communities in Darfur.

He denies the charge.

On Monday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said was deeply concerned about the escalating violence in Darfur, and he urged all parties to immediately stop hostilities.

Ms Pillay said some 45 villages were reportedly targeted in the Um Gunya area, about 250km (155 miles) south of Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state.

"I urge the authorities to protect civilians and hold to account those who have committed grave breaches of human rights and humanitarian laws," Ms Pillay said.

The joint UN and African Union (AU) peace force in Darfur, known as Unamid, and humanitarian agencies had been prevented from reaching areas affected by the attacks, she added.

"The Sudanese government must allow Unamid to fulfil its mandate to protect civilians, and grant access to populations in need," Ms Pillay said.

In the past week, Unamid had also reported looting and destruction in Saraf Omra, near the border with Chad, says BBC Africa Security correspondent Moses Rono.

Thousands of people uprooted by the inter-communal fighting have sought refuge near a Unamid compound, he adds.

The leader of Arab militiamen accused of fuelling conflict in Darfur, Musa Hilal, recently quit the government and threatened war, adding a new dimension to the conflict, our correspondent says.

The black African rebels took up arms in 2003, accusing the Arab dominated government in Khartoum of ignoring them.

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Roving Informant says



 "until we Africans get to the point where we realize that it is high time we put our weapons aside and adopt a more peaceful way of making our voices heard,... 

for us, for our children, for generations unborn...

the future might just remain blank and we may continue to be labelled as children of "the dark continent".

Attention Womens wear designers, Application now on for the 2014 London Fashion Week!

Organizers of the London Fashion Week (LFW) is calling all eligible womenswear designers to apply for the LFW SS15 which  will take place between the 12th - 16th September 2014.

Some important information on how to apply below:

CATWALK
The catwalk schedule is suitable for designers wishing to show their ready-to-wear collection on the ‘runway’ to an audience of 350+ with one specified time slot and no repeat shows/sittings.

PRESENTATION More and more designers are choosing to show in an intimate style presentation or through a static installation. Designers wishing to show in this way are more relevant to the presentation schedule. Presentations must run over a minimum of 2 hours or up to a full day so as not to clash directly with a catwalk show.  The presentation slots are interspersed with the catwalk slots on the official schedule. DIGITAL SCHEDULE Designers who wish to show on the digital presentation schedule must showcase their collection alongside their film within a 2-4 hour film screening.  The closing date for applications is Friday 25th April 2014

VENUES

Designers can choose to show in the official BFC Courtyard Show Space in Somerset House or in an outside venue which should be located within close proximity of Somerset House, WC2.
APPLICATION CRITERIA Your collection should consist of women’s ready-to-wear. You should have been in business for at least 3 years and have a minimum of 6 stockists - 1 of which must be a UK retailer.  If you have been in business for less than 3 years, you should look at applying for NEWGEN support.  Information on NEWGEN can be found at www.britishfashioncouncil.com/newgen Applications will be reviewed by an advisory panel comprised of leading opinion formers, press and retail representatives. Goodluck....

Bomb scare at NNPC Abuja!

NNPC Towers Abuja

Report reaching us reveals there was a bomb scare at the NNPC Towers in the Central Business District, Abuja on Tuesday.

Security Personnel at NNPC Towers on Tuesday

As a result, security personnel were placed on alert within and around the vicinity . Though Tuesday is the usual visiting day in the NNPC, visitors were reportedly disallowed from entering the premises for security reasons.

Even marketers who could not show their identities were also denied entry.

MASSOB behind attack on Enugu Government House” – Police commissioner!

The Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abubakar Mohammed Adamu, on Monday said at a media briefing in Enugu that the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, was behind last Saturday attack on Enugu Government House.

Contrary to earlier reports, Adamu said nobody was shot dead during the incident.

He disclosed that one of the alleged attackers, Ifeanyi Chukwuma, from Anambra State, who was shot during the attack, was still receiving treatment at a hospital.

He gave the names of other suspects arrested as Shedrack Onwuka, Francis Nwokocha and Sunday Okafor, all indigenes of Anambra State.

According to the commissioner, the suspects and others now at large, numbering over 20 were at the Enugu Government House to hoist Biafran flag and also place their banners.

He further disclosed that upon interrogation, the suspects confessed that “they were invited by some people to go to Enugu and hoist Biafra flags; the motive is what we are still trying to find out”.

He stated that the suspects had given the names of their sponsors to the police, stressing that “while we continue to look for their sponsors, we shall soon charge the arrested suspects to court”.

Adamu said items recovered from the suspects include MASSOB banners, Biafra flags, matchets and one bag containing charms.

A close look on the banner showed that although it had pro-Biafra messages, MASSOB was not inscribed on it.

The banner read: “The Republic of Biafra, aka, The Tribe of God; Amalgamation Dissolved; Biafra an Ally and Supporter of Israel”.