500 Days On, Our Girls Still Missing!

It's exactly 500 days, and the high school girls kidnapped from their hostels at Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State - Nigeria, at night on 14/15 April 2014, are still missing. 

Apart from the regular news of Boko-Haram's (the terrorist sect which claimed responsibility for the kidnappings) onslaughts on innocent and harmless villagers in some Northern communities, especially those near the Nigerian/Cameroon/Chad border, and efforts of the Nigerian/Cameroon/Chad military to combat them, absolutely nothing has been heard of, in a long while concerning the where about and well being of the girls.

Flavour Recognized As One Of Africa's Top Global Acts!

Nigerian R & B artiste, Chinedu Okoli, better known by his stage name, Flavour Nabania, was recently recognised as one of Africa's top global acts in the U.K's first African music exhibition, tagged "Sounds Of Africa.

Here's wishing him more grease to his elbow.

Reporter, Cameraman Killed During A Live Broadcast!

Two journalists, a reporter and cameraman were at the early hours of Wednesday, 26th August, around 6:45 a.m, shot and killed  at Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta, Va., near Smith Mountain Lake during a live broadcast. 

The victims, identified as 24 year-old Alison Parker, and her 27-year-old cameraman Adam Ward, both staff of WDBJ7, in Virginia, United States. 

Video footage captured part of the shooting on the air as Parker was interviewing Vicky Gardner, head of the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce, who was shot in the back and later rushed to the hospital for surgery. Her condition was not immediately clear. The showed image of a man who appeared to be holding a handgun.

Confirming the incident, Terry McAuliffe, Governor of Virginia stated in a twit: 

"Heartbroken over senseless murders today in Smith Mountain Lake. State Police on scene working w/ local law agencies to capture suspect".

Authorities say the suspect, a former employee of WDBJ7, later identified by authorities as Vester Lee Flanigan, also known as Bryce Williams, killed himself near mile marker 17, on I-66 in Faquier County at about 11:25 a.m

South Sudan President Signs Peace Deal With Rebels!

In what signifies peace at last for Sudan, after more than a week of refusing to do so, Salva Kiir, South Sudan President on Wednesday August 26, signed a peace deal with rebels at a ceremony attended by African regional leaders in the capital city - Juba. 

Present at the  peace deal signing event were the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Kenya and Uganda presidents, who facilitated and mediated on the negotiations. The rebel leader Riek Machar  earlier signed the accord in the Ethiopia,  but said on the same day that his government needed more time to study the text.

Schlumberger Buys Over Cameron International Corporation!

World’s largest oilfield-services provider, Schlumberger Ltd. agreed to buy Cameron  International Corporation for $66.36 a share in a deal valued at $14.8 billion.

 

When concluded, Cameron stockholders will receive 0.716 Schlumberger shares and a cash payment of $14.44 in exchange for each Cameron share, according to a regulatory statement on Wednesday, August 26th.

Information indicates that the deal is expected to gradually add to Schlumberger earnings per share in the first year after closing while they see a combined $900 million in synergies in the first two years, according to the statement. Goldman Sachs Group acted as financial adviser for Schlumberger while Credit Suisse Group AG acted as adviser for Cameron.

This deal  comes after the proposed merger between Halliburton, the second-biggest oilfield services provider and Baker Hughes in a deal valued at near $35 billion announced last November. It is also expected to offer new growth opportunities by creating the industry's first complete drilling and production systems

Lion Kills Guide At Zimbabwean Park Where Cecil Was Shot!

In what looks like a 'cartoon revenge story', but very sad, a lion mauled a guide leading six tourists on a walking safari in the Zimbabwean national park where Cecil the lion lived before he was killed.

Late Quinn Terence Swales

Authorities said the guide identified as 40 year-old Quinn Terence Swales, was attacked on Monday, August 24, after the group left their vehicle to inspect a pride of lions with cubs under a tree in the Hwange National Park, the country’s largest natural reserve.

 According to Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba, “Some cubs came near the tourists and one adult lion identified as Nxaha charged at them,” 

“The adult lion retreated for a while and then came charging at the guide. It knocked him down and mauled him on the neck and shoulder.” 

Charamba further urged visitors to game parks to “remain wary even when the animals appear friendly because with an animal you can never predict its next move".

Swales, was airlifted from the scene, regrettably, he was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital in the resort town of Victoria Falls.

Confirmed the incident in a statement, owners of the safari camp stated: “It is with deep regret and great sadness that we are able to confirm the death of Quinn Swales, a Camp Hwange professional guide, who was fatally mauled by a male lion whilst out on a walking safari,”.

“We can confirm that Quinn did everything he could to successfully protect his guests and ensure their safety, and that no guests were injured.”

So sad, lets hope there are better safety measures introduced to protect both guides and tourists.

Anti-Corruption Fight - Abuja Court Sentences 21 Year Old Bus Conductor To 18 Months In Prison For Stealing Handset!

In what could be termed 'operation uproot corruption from the grass-root', an Abuja court on Tuesday August 25th, sentenced a 21 year old bus conductor to 18 months in prison for stealing a Nokia phone worth =N=11,000. 

The accused identified as Shedrach Ezekiel from Mararaba, stole the phone from the bag of one Luka Ruth at Brother Plaza, Mararaba; on getting caught, he threw the phone to his accomplice, now at large. 

Ezekiel, who was first arraigned on August 14, told the court that he committed the offence due to unemployment.  “I don’t have anybody here, I came to this town to look for job but it has not been easy for me.” he said. 

On his part, the presiding Judge, Albert Maga, said the accused failed to give the Court tangible reason(s) on why he should not be punished for the offence, adding that the sentence would serve as deterrent to other offenders of like  (criminal) minds.

Maga however gave the convict an option of =N=4, 000 fine and ordered him to pay the complainant =N=11, 000 being compensation for the stolen phone.

The Judge's reason "the sentence would serve as deterrent to other offenders of like minds", is highly commendable, and is needed if Nigeria means to combat and bring corruption to its lowest minimum. 

However, without a formal structure that provides lasting solution (like youth empowerment and positive engagement through employments, and job creation), to societal problems like this case in place, sentencing delinquents, is not  just enough to curb corruption. 

Also coming at the heels of corruption allegations up to the tune of billions of $$$ brought against some ex- top government officials, and the 'pace' taken so far to bring these accused persons to book, one can not help but wonder who the much talked about 'anti-corruption fight', is in reality aimed at. 

There is need to apply same speed employed in charging this young man, who stole a handset, due to unemployment, (cause by corruption in the corridors of power) to the cases of ex-top government officials who as we speak ignore summons, and refuse to respond to allegations brought against them.