Nigeria loses bid to produce OPEC Secretary General!

Alleged decisions of the members of OPEC to extend the tenure of the incumbent Secretary General, Abdullah al-Badri till June 30, 2015 dashed the move by Nigeria to produce the first female secretary general.

This came on  Wednesday as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who was nominated by President Gooduck Jonathan to become the Secretary General of the influential Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), was dropped as a communique at the end of the meeting said OPEC decided to extend the tenure of the current holder of the office for a period of six months from 1 January 2015.

Apprehension In Enugu As Fulani Herdsmen Invade Communities!

The people of over forty communities in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State are currently panicking, following the invasion of their areas by Fulani herdsmen allegedly armed with AK 47 rifles.

The herdsmen, who invaded the council area with their cattle two weeks ago, had allegedly destroyed crops in the farms and were reported to have r*ped some women in the village who were working in their farmland.

Agricultural and economic activities in those communities have been brought to a halt on account of the violent activities of the herdsmen, while the local vigilante group in the area had become helpless due to the superior arms carried by the invading herdsmen.

According to Vanguard news, a retired police man in the area had confronted two of them who strayed into his compound and the confrontation that ensued led to the death of a herdsman.

Speaking on the development, former Ohanaeze President General, Justice Eze Ozobu, who is now the Traditional ruler of Imeziowa Community of Ezeagu local government area, said the situation had gotten out of control, adding that his people were on the fringe of death and anarchy.

“I do not know what government has done or any action taken by security operatives to checkmate the insurgency by the Fulani herdsmen. These people who we thought carry only sticks and machetes now carry AK47 rifles openly and we wonder where they got those guns from.

“People no longer go to farm anymore and every one now lives in fear of these people. They come in and settle down as if it is their home, nobody is doing anything to stop them.

“In my own place, my brother who retired as a police officer, came out in the night and asked them what they were doing with guns they were carrying. At some point, he had to bring out his gun and shot two of them.”

He, however, expressed fears that with the incident, the town was apprehensive of a reprisal attack by the herdsmen.

Ozobu further lamented that should the state government fail to take action over what was happening, the tension might develop into breakdown of law and order.

Also speaking shortly after a meeting of the Ezeagu general assembly in Enugu, the President General, Dr. Obiora Ozobu, said they had a resolution to make an official complaint to Enugu State Government, after speaking with the local government chairman and the state House of Assembly.

“This is a very serious issue in Ezeagu and we shall make official entry with the police and also speak with the council chairman and elected political office holders and we shall also find out the position of the state House of Assembly in order to figure out how we are to go about it.

“At a neighbouring town, a farmer was shot dead by these Fulani people and we have had three reported cases of r*pe of village women that went to their farm.

“The most frightening aspect of this problem is how and where they got those AK 47 rifles that they brandish openly. That means there is more to the cattle rearing that meets the ordinary eye.

“It is not that we cannot defend ourselves or that we do not have what it takes to defend ourselves, but we are only trying to do this within the ambit of the law so that our actions do not worsen the already bad situation.

“In Ezeagu, we do not sleep at night because they can come at anytime and begin to slaughter people,” he said. 

Source: Vanguard

Angelina Jolie glows in white as she attends Summit in London!

Angelina Jolie arrives at the End Sexual Violence In Conflict Global Summit 2014 in London.

World cup visitors beware, Brazil is No Fun for Arachnophobes!

Brazil, the magical land of samba, soccer, Seleção…and spiders. Big, fat hairy spiders....and snakes. ..and flesh-eating fish.

Brazil is a wonderful place for the World Cup, the quadrennial soccer tournament that begins there on Thursday, but it could prove problematic for traveling fans who suffer from two of the most common phobias: arachnophobia and ophidiophobia, which is even harder to pronounce when a viper is slithering toward you.

The Brazilian wandering spider is of particular concern. Not only is this beast the size of a dinner plate—it is also the most poisonous spider in the world, Guinness says. There is an antidote for wandering spider bites, so deaths are rare. Its venom can, however, cause erections in male victims, which seems an unnecessarily cruel blow to a man's dignity. Arachnophobes who suffer from medorthophobia are doomed.

The Brazilian wandering spider, of the Phoneutria genus, isn't afraid of entering human dwellings and has a reputation of being aggressive. It is basically an eight-legged Oakland Raiders fan. There are eight known species of Phoneutria, all of which can be found in Brazil and some of which will be trying to mate throughout the World Cup. During this period, males are more likely to be found in dark corners looking for a partner.

There are plenty of other spiders in Brazil, including tarantulas such as the Goliath bird-eater. The very thought is enough to scare an arachnophobe stiff, whether they encounter the venom of a wandering spider or not. Studies show that 50% of women and around 16% of men are scared of spiders, meaning there will be millions of anxious people in Brazil, even before World Cup matches go to extra time.

And then there is the snake thing. Brazil has lots of snakes. On one island off the coast of São Paulo, there is said to be a snake every square meter, though local rumor puts the figure as high as five a square meter. This island is more packed with snakes than the Spanish midfield is with talent. There you can find the highly venomous golden lancehead pit viper, whose bite could kill an FC Dallas fan in a matter of hours. The uninhabited island is called Ilha de Queimada Grande and it is illegal to visit without a permit so at least people who don't like snakes needn't worry about this place interfering with their World Cup itinerary.

But there is still enough to unnerve ophidiophobes back on the mainland, home of many venomous serpents, including coral snakes and vipers. The vast Amazon region in the north and the Pantanal wetlands in the west are two of the richest places on the planet in terms of biodiversity. In both places you can find the giant anaconda, a snake so big it could replace the bus that Jose Mourinho is so fond of parking in front of Chelsea's goal.

Still, it is unlikely visitors to Brazil will stumble upon any of these animals unless they deliberately set out to see them. But people with phobias don't deal in reality, or in rationality. They have no truck with platitudes such as, "That 50-foot snake is more scared of you than you are of it," or, "That dog-sized spider on your shower curtain won't bother you."

Brazil will be a treat for any World Cup visitor, but for people with phobias, the 20th edition of the tournament might be among the most daunting. The country certainly boasts more spiders and snakes than Europe, where half of all World Cups have been held. The most threatening animal there is probably a diseased sheep or a wild boar served as an undercooked sausage in a German restaurant.

Brazil has hosted the World Cup once before, in 1950; this will be the fifth time the tournament has been held in South America. Mexico has hosted twice and the U.S. once. These places, as well as Japan and South Korea—joint hosts in 2002—have their fair share of creepy crawlies, but nothing on the scale of what you can find in a place like the Amazon.

South Africa, the 2010 World Cup host, could challenge Brazil. Spectacularly dangerous wildlife graces that country, from lions and crocodiles to great white sharks and Bakkies Botha, the burly rugby star. It is rational to be afraid of some of these creatures.

The World Cup in Brazil poses more of a threat to people who suffer from atychiphobia, or the fear of failure. It could also affect those with xanthophobia, which is the fear of the color yellow: They won't relish seeing Brazil's national soccer shirt for the next month or so. Copacabana Beach would be a suitable refuge for people with vestiphobia: a fear of clothes. Carnival time is problematic for sufferers of omphalophobia and pteronophobia, who are scared of belly buttons and of being tickled by feathers, respectively.

And of course there is a strange group of people riddled with anxiety about penalty shootouts: the English. It is unlikely there will ever be a cure for that affliction.

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Atlanta bound Delta Airline landed in Dakar for Precautionary reasons!

Delta Airlines have confirmed that an  Atlanta-bound Delta Airlines flight was diverted to  Dakar- Senegal for precautionary reasons and not because there were explosives on board the plane.

According to information from the Airlines Director Corporate Communications, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Olivia Cullis,  “Delta flight DL55 from Lagos to Atlanta diverted to Dakar, Senegal for precautionary reasons.

“After a short stop, the flight resumed to the United States. The safety and security of our passengers and crew is our number one priority.”

There had been speculations that a passenger on the airliner had explosives on him, with the intention of blowing up the plane. An unexpected electrical fault in the plane did not help matters as it further sparked more suspicion.

Tweets following the landing from one of the passengers below:

20 women abducted by Suspected Boko - Haram members near Chibok!

Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram have reportedly abducted about 20 women near Chibok. 

The women, according to Bloomberg, a United States-based news agency, and The Guardian of London, were taken after the gunmen attacked a nomadic settlement known as Garkin Fulani at the weekend.

Bloomberg and The Guardian of London both quoted a member of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Alhaji Tar, as having said the women were herded into vehicles at gunpoint and driven off to an unknown location.

“We got the information that they went there and took away the women at the time none of the males were there,”   Tar said in the reports by the two news sources on Monday.

“The three young men they met there could not help the women, as they (gunmen) also ordered the three of them to enter the Toyota Hilux vans and took all of them away,” Tar added.

The news channels   also reported that   three young men who tried to stop the abduction of the women were also taken away.

When contacted by one of our correspondents, the Borno State Police   Commissioner, Lawan Tanko,   denied that the incident took place.

He said, “I believe there is no truth in the attack as I just spoke to my divisional police officer in Chibok. He should have informed me of the abduction if there was any.”

Also, the Chairman of Chibok Local Government Area, Baana Lawan, said, “When I saw the report on online new sources, I despatched some   vigilance group members and hunters to the scene. They came back and told me that the place was never attacked and that no one was abducted.”

Telephone calls by one of our   correspondents in Abuja to   the Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, were not picked by him. He also did not respond to a text message sent to him.

Before then, Olukolade had said Special Forces killed 50   Boko Haram insurgents on Saturday.

Olukolade,   in an electronic mail on Monday, said the insurgents were ambushed by troops at   Bilta following intelligence reports that they were going to attack some communities in Borno and Adamawa states.

He added that four soldiers who received gunshot wounds in the encounter were receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

The DHQ spokesman stated that the troops also seized   “30 rifles, 36 hand grenades, seven machine guns, 11 rocket propelled grenade tubes, 3500 rounds of ammunition, six smoke grenade canisters,   locally-fabricated guns and four vehicles used by the terrorists in the foiled attack.”

He said, “Troops conducting anti-terrorist campaign in the North-East have successfully averted attempted massive raid on villages in Borno and Adamawa states during the weekend.

“The terrorists who were on their way to attack selected communities were ambushed by troops at   Bilta, Borno State on receiving intelligence report of the terrorists’ intention.

“The attack was launched on the terrorists as they filed out of the forest to embark on their mission at about 10pm on Saturday.

“Over 50 terrorists died in the fierce encounter that ensued. The four soldiers who were wounded in the operation are currently receiving medical treatment in the military medical facility.”

Meanwhile, the people of Attagara, Aganjara and Agapalwa   in Borno State   have buried over 100 bodies almost a week after   Boko Haram attacks.

Local leaders, Lawan Abba Kaka and John Gulla, told The Guardian of London on Monday, that many more victims of the last Tuesday and Wednesday attacks had yet to be found.

Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South in the senate, gave the breakdown of burials as 42 in Attagara; 24 in Aganjara and 20 in Agapalwa.

“From what those who fled told us, there are more corpses in nearby bushes and the mountain side,” he told reporters after a meeting in Maiduguri.

“Many people that fled the communities are also trapped on the hills, as they are without food or water,” Ndume added.

The United Nations has however expressed fears that half of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls might return home pregnant.

It raised the alarm during a luncheon in New York as part of the preparation for the June 10 global summit in London on sexual violence in conflict last Friday.

The UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab   Bangura, said, “My worry is that half of those girls don’t come back home pregnant.’’

She urged the international community to prepare the minds of the pupils’ families for their return and make available psychological and other support for the girls.

She said before the kidnap of the Chibok girls drew global attention, more than 2,000 girls had   been abducted worldwide.

The UN representative was meeting with editors and the British ambassador to the United States   in preparation for a first-time global summit on sexual violence in conflict which will hold in London between Tuesday( today) and Friday.

William Hague, the UK Foreign Secretary and Angelina Jolie, Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, are co-chairing the   summit.

How to rescue the Chibok schoolgirls and provide them with needed support are expected to be an intense discussion at the summit.

Sanusi receives licence to rule as new Emir of Kano!

News reaching our desk reveals that the license to rule has been handed over to the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Lamido Sanusi, further cementing his selection as the new Emir of Kano State.

According to Channels news, Mr Sanusi, who was chosen by the kingmakers on Sunday to succeed the late Ado Bayero, received his certificate on Monday from the Kano state Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Sanusi took over the throne amid tight security with soldiers manning major roads in Kano city and visitors restricted from the Government House.

Sanusi’s selection on Sunday was greeted with protest by persons believed to be supporters of the son of the late Emir, Lamido Ado Bayero, who social media reports had named as the selected Emir.

The supporters of Lamido Ado Bayero had started jubilation before the governor announced the selection of Sanusi as the next Emir, bringing their celebration to an abrupt end.

At the ceremony, kingmakers paid obeisance to the new Emir of Kano before the certificate was handed over to him.

“By the powers conferred on my by the constitution and acting on the recommendations of the kingmakers hand over the certificate of his appointment as Emir of Kano. Your appointment into the important position of Emir of Kano was guided by our collective consideration of your ability credibility and capability to lead our people,” Governor Kwankwaso said.

It will be recalled that Sanusi was suspended as the governor of the apex bank few months to the end of his tenure on allegations of financial recklessness. He has since denied the allegations  and had file a suit challenging his suspension.