Apple, the producer of iPhone 5 or iPhone 5c, has confirmed that the users of the particular brand will be trouble soon following planned introduction of a new operating system which would render the named  phones useless.

The new operating system iOS11, set to be rolled out later this year will effectively make the iPhone 5 and 5c device obsolete in terms of Apple’s ecosystem.

According to the news.com.au, the software update will run only on devices with a 64-bit processor, meaning it won’t be compatible with the guts of the iPhone 5 or 5c that feature 32 bit processors.

The same goes for the iPad 4.

While the phone will still work (and it’s a little bit amazing that it still does), users won’t be able to download the latest apps or security upgrades to protect against hackers and vulnerabilities.

Such a move has previously been hinted at by Apple, with users opening 32-bit software in iOS 10.3 being met with a message saying the app will not work with future versions of iOS. And back in 2015, Apple told developers that all new apps had to be written in 64-bit code.

When news.com.au reported on the expected change earlier this year, a number of readers expressed disappointment saying they preferred the more compact size of the old device, which is notably smaller than its successors.

But the first two generations of the iPhone 5 are certainly getting old.

The first iPhone 5 went on sale nearly five years ago and was the last Apple smartphone to be overseen by Steve Jobs.

It was the company’s second iPhone to support five major versions of iOS: six, seven, eight, nine and 10. But that run has now come to an end.

Rwanda’s ruling party, Rwandan Patriot Front (RPF), on Saturday, June 17, 2017 picked the country’s incumbent President, Paul Kagame as its presidential candidate for the elections scheduled to hold in August.

Kagame, also the chairperson of RPF, was the sole candidate in a unanimous vote conducted by RPF Congress at the party’s new headquarters in Kigali, capital of Rwanda.

He gained 1929 congress members’ votes out of 1930, after one vote was declared invalid.

“RPF members from all provinces including south, east, west, north and the capital endorsed Kagame as their sole candidate due to his track record,’’ Wellars Gasamagera, the RPF Commissioner for Political Mass Mobilisation said.

Clad in red party T-shirt, Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame arrived for the RPF Congress at 11:24 a.m. in the company of RPF’s vice chairperson Christophe Bazivamo and Secretary General Francois Ngarambe.

“Party members said the RPF is confident of the popular support due to good governance and achievements on security.

“Other achievements are on poverty reduction, unity, graft fight, women empowerment, universal health insurance coverage among others,’’ party member, Prof. Anastase Shyaka, said at the congress.

On Monday, Rwanda’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) started receiving applications for candidates wishing to take part in the August presidential elections.

Leader of the opposition, Democratic Green Party of Rwanda Frank Habineza, was the first to present the application.

Two other prospective candidates – Gilbert Mwenedata, an independent competitor, and Fred S. Barafinda, said to be the representative of Rwanda Revolutionary Union Democratic Advancers (RRUDA) – presented their credentials to the commission.

RRUDA is not known among registered parties in Rwanda.

There are 11 political parties in Rwanda.

Major competitors in the previous elections of the ruling party Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF), including the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Liberal Party (PL), have recently announced their support for President Kagame.

Other prospective candidates yet to present credentials include Diana Shimwa Rwigara, daughter of deceased tycoon, Asinapol Rwigara, the only potential female candidate.

Rwanda will go to the polls for presidential elections on Aug. 4 for the third time since the end of the genocide regime in 1994.

NEC had said that a provisional list of qualified candidates would be announced on June 27.

The names of qualified candidates will be published on July 7, a week before campaigns begin.

Campaigns for the qualified candidates will officially begin on July 14 and end on Aug. 3, a day before the elections.

According to NEC, it is estimated that no fewer than 6.8 million Rwandans will vote in the upcoming elections.

Additional reports by Xinhua.

Babatunde Fashola, Nigeria’s works, power, and housing minister, on Saturday, June 17, 2017 signed a N4.34 Billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dangote Group and other stakeholders for the rebuilding of Apapa Wharf Road.

The project is to be funded by AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd, an arm of the Dangote Group, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Flour Mills of Nigeria.

The  road was handed over to the stakeholders for commencement of reconstruction works after the agreement was signed in Lagos.

Fashola explained that the gridlock in Apapa became compounded and had reached an unbearable level as transporters ignored the old system of moving cargo through rail to trucks and containers.

He said that the choice of the transporters to use road instead of rail for haulage increased gridlock, caused degeneration as well as well as hardship to residents of Apapa.

The minister commended the “leadership role’’ of the stakeholders to solve the complex problems in Apapa and its environs.

According to him, the situation has caused stress to residents, business owners and other stakeholders in the state.

“As a result of all these unsavoury practices, we have reached a point of near total gridlock, it is difficult to move cargo in or out, difficult for residents to get home and this must stop,’’ he said.

Fashola said that it took time to reach an agreement on the project because the stakeholders were putting up an effective design that would address the drainage problem because the area was water logged.

“We have finished with the design, we now have a Bill of Quantity and the cost of the road is N4.34 billion to be funded and paid for by these three groups, Flour Mills of Nigeria, AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd and NPA,’’ he said.

The minister said that although the parties were funding the project, the Federal Ministry of Power Works and Housing would supervise it through all the stages to ensure quality and compliance with standards.

Fashola sought for the cooperation of all residents of Lagos and directed the Apapa Area Commander of the Nigerian Police Force, DSP My Nuru to apprehend reckless drivers who drive against traffic during the period of construction.

He also appealed to Nuru to tackle all bureaucracies that would affect free flow of traffic while apprehending offenders.

The Managing Director, Flour Mills of Nigeria, Mr Paul Gbededo said that Wharf Road was the “most important road in the entire country’’ which needed more attention.

“This kind of road cannot be handled with levity,’’ he said.

Responding to issues of lack of holding bays raised by transport unions, the Managing Director of NPA, Ms. Hadiza Usman said that government would support the private sector to drive the initiative to set up new ones.

“We have received proposals on electronic management of holding bays, we are working through processes and we would soon conclude on that,’’ she said.

She said that tank farms that do not have holding bays for their trucks would soon be sanctioned.

Usman said that the NPA was also working on providing weigh bridges within the ports as well as enforce implementation in a few months to take care of problem of high axle load on the roads.

Mr Joseph Makanjuola, the honorary Adviser to Dangote Group of Companies assured that the company would contribute its funding as part of its corporate Social responsibility and would still meet its tax obligations to government.

The Managing Director of AG Dangote Construction Company Ltd, rigid pavement would be used for the two-kilometre road.

He also assured that high quality materials that would withstand stress would be used.

Representatives of truck owners, transport unions, maritime operators, business owners in Apapa were among stakeholders present at the ceremony.

Lagos-based kidnap kingpin, Chukwudi Dumeme Onuamadike, a.k.a Evans, has led a team of policemen from the Federal Anti-kidnapping Unit to what used to be his detention camps for people he abducted.

The separate buildings, located in Igando and Ikotun in Lagos, are usually where the kidnap victims are kept for days or months while negotiation for ransom are made.

The kidnap kingpin who is now sober, told journalists that his arrest signals the beginning of the end of kidnapping in Nigeria, claiming that his gang applied the best sophistication ever which no gang may be able to equal.

Evans was arrested on June 10, along with six suspected top members of his gang at Magodo Estate in Lagos after “an intense gun battle” with the Joint Special Forces led by the Intelligence Response Team, the Lagos State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit and Technical and Intelligent Unit of the Force under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State.

They were paraded at the headquarters of the Lagos State Police Command by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Jimoh Moshood.

Police sources said the 36-year-old suspect, who had been on their watch-list for about seven years, is reputed to be the most notorious and richest kidnapper in Nigeria.

He is believed to have received millions of dollars in ransom payment.

According to the police, he has two mansions in Magodo GRA Phase 2 worth about 300 million Naira and two houses in the Highbrow area of Accra City in Ghana among many other properties such as exotic cars, expensive watches, and jewellery, among other things.

Read more at Channels TV.

The president of Vanuatu, Baldwin Lonsdale, has died of a heart attack, the Vanuatu Daily Post reported Saturday. He was 67.

Lonsdale, who sacked his government two years ago over a massive corruption scandal, passed away in the Pacific island nation’s capital of Port Vila, the AFP reported.

“National Flag is at half staff early this morning. His body is reportedly at the Vila Central Hospital,” the newspaper said.

Former Vanuatu MP Sela Molisa told Radio New Zealand that “Vanuatu has lost one of its greatest leaders.”

Lonsdale, a civil servant before becoming an Anglican priest, was elected to the presidency in 2014.

Although the role was considered largely ceremonial, Lonsdale became a symbol of hope for Vanuatu when Cyclone Pam caused severe damage in the country in early 2015.

Six months later he steered the country through a political crisis when half the government of prime minster Sato Kilman was convicted of corruption, making them ineligible for office.

After one of the convicted MPs, then-speaker of parliament Marcellino Pipite, pardoned himself and 13 colleagues in his capacity as acting president while Lonsdale was overseas, Lonsdale returned to dissolve parliament and call a snap election which saw Kilman’s government defeated.

“He was firm and wouldn’t be swayed,” Molisa said. “I’m sure the government and every other — especially at the political level — people would recognise that Vanuatu has lost a very outstanding leader.”

Facts have emerged as to why leaders of the Coalition of Northern Youth Groups that issued the notice to all Igbo resident in the north to quit have not been arrested.

Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, had condemned the notice and ordered the arrest of those behind it a day after.

Leaders of some northern youth groups had issued an ultimatum to all Igbos resident in the north to leave shortly after members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) organised a sit-at-home.

Leaders of the coalition who signed the press statement are; Nastura Ashir Sharif, Arewa Citizens Action For Change; Amb. ShettimaYerima, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum; Aminu Adam, Arewa Youth Development Foundation: Alfred Solomon, Arewa Students Forum; Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, Northern Emancipation Network; Joshua Viashman, Northern Youth Vanguard, Mohammad A. Mohammad, Northern Youth Stakeholders Forum; Mohammed Tasiu Pantami, North East Assembly and Nathaniel Ajegena  Adigizi, North Central  Peoples Front.

The Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, had in his capacity as chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum, also condemned the quit order.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that leaders of the group have since the order for their arrest fled Kaduna, where they held the press conference and gone into hiding.

Spokesman of the group, Abdulazeez Suleiman, confirmed to our correspondent via phone that he and his colleagues ‘went low’ after the order for their arrest, saying ‘that is natural’.

Abdualazeez said it was myopic for anybody to think that they were being protected by some northern political leaders when “it is the same northern establishment that is fighting us”.

Most of the leaders of the group are not based in Kaduna, but only chose the town for their press conference due to its strategic importance to the politics of the North.

A source within the group said they chose Arewa House for the conference because of its importance to the history of the northern region.

Our correspondent observed that immediately the leaders of the groups held the press conference where they asked the Igbo to leave northern Nigeria, most of them travelled outside Kaduna, to far and adjoining cities like Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt, where they reside.

A source close to some of the youths said they had taken special precaution to avoid crowded places where they could be easily recognised and picked up.

One of the leaders of the group who remained in Kaduna where he is based is said to have avoided places he used to frequent before the order for his arrest with other members of the group.

Spokesman of the group, Abdulazeez Suleiman, who is well known in political circles, having led a pro-Goodluck Jonathan campaign group in 2015, is said to have cut off from such political gatherings for now.

Another leader of the group, Shettima Yerima, is said to have suspended his activism for now.

Suleiman said, “We are not collaborating with any big politician from the North. We are Nigerians who are fed up with this daily agitation, and that is why the support is overwhelming.”

He said though the order for their arrest was made by Governor El-Rufai, he did not see how that should translate into something concrete “as El-Rufai is a political and not a security agent.

“He is a politician and the security agents must do their investigation to establish if we have done anything wrong before they can arrest us and not just act because one politician said so. No, this is an era of change”.

Our correspondent observed that road blocks have been mounted across Kaduna to arrest the northern groups’ leaders.

A source in the Kaduna Government House, who asked not to be named, said the leaders of the group had not been arrested because most of them were not based in Kaduna and because nobody had come up with any useful information about their whereabouts.

Efforts to get the police speak on the matter were not successful.

Leave The North By October 1 – Arewa Groups Warn Igbos

A coalition of prominent groups in Northern Nigeria on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 issued an ultimatum to Igbos living in the north to return home by October 1, 2017 or else they will face a situation similar to the pre-civil war pogroms visited on their kin in the 1960s.

The order was contained in an error-ridden statement, obtained by The Trent, issued after a meeting in Kaduna State. The groups, Arewa Citizens Action for Change, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Arewa Youth Development Foundation, Arewa Students Forum, and the Northern Emancipation Network, asked the Igbo residing in the region to “start making plans to leave.”

The chilling statement condemned the renewed call for the independent republic of Biafra and also expressed disdain for the Igbos and their culture saying that “the Igbo people of the South-East, not repentant of the carnage it wrought on the nation in 1966,  is today boldly reliving those sinister intentions connoted by the Biafran agitation that led to the very first bloody insurrection in Nigeria’s history”.

In 1966, the Igbos were the victims of the largest genocide in Nigeria’s history with over 100,000 of them killed in Northern Nigeria by northern mobs. This pogrom led to the declaration of the Republic of Biafra which led to the Nigerian civil war in which over 3 million Igbos died.

Additional reports by Daily Trust.

Uchenna Precious Onwuamadike, wife of arrested billionaire kidnap kingpin Chikwudubem Onwuamadike alias Evans, has told her own side of the story of their relationship and how he cleverly kept his life of crime away from her knowledge. She opened up to Vanguard after a surprise call from Ghana to the paper’s Crime Editor, Emma Nnadozie. Below is her story, courtesy of Vanguard.

My name is Uchenna Precious Onwuamadike, the wife of the Chikwudubem Onwuamadike who you call Evans. I am 31 years old. I got married to Evans at the age of 17 at Oraifite, Anambra state in 2004. He met me while I was coming back from lesson as a student of All Saints Secondary School, Oraifite, and I was in class 6 going to take my West African Examination. After we met, I agreed to go with him because of my poor background. He told me his father married three wives when he was six years old and threw his mother out of his house. He said that one of the wives influenced his father to drive them out of his house also and they were forced to stay with outsiders. Evans was taken to his grandmother who trained him. He told me his father accused the mother of being adulterous before driving her out of his house.

Our marriage is blessed with five children. Our first issue is 12 years plus and her name us Udochukwu. After we got married, he said I should stay with his mother in his village at Akanmiri, Umudim, Nnewi to teach me how to be a good housewife. I was there for three years before he took me to Lagos. We were living at Satellite town in 2006 and after one year, he relocated us back to the village because he could not pay house rent. While in the village, he normally came to see us. We spent three years in the village and relocated to Ghana. On our way to Ghana, we passed through Lagos and stayed at Benny Hotels in Festac where we spent two days before travelling to Ghana. He spent a month with us in Ghana before coming back to Lagos.  

I was pregnant with our fourth child in 2010 when he left for Nigeria to come back in two months time. After I gave birth, he came back four months later and was able to clear the accumulated bills we kept for him because I borrowed money from friends to clear hospital bill. When he came back, he complained bitterly that things were rough for him in Nigeria and that customs seized his goods. I was not aware that he was into kidnapping and all the criminal acts he is being associated with now.  

All I know about his business is that he was into haulage, buying engine and spare parts for trucks and imports exhaust pipes. That was what he told me. The reason he kept me in Ghana was because he said our children should get quality education. I have spent six years here and after I stopped hearing from him, I called and complained bitterly but he said I should stay for some time. I then called his friend, Okechukwu, who now lives in China. He told me that he has not been seeing him and that he spends most of his time with a girlfriend in Festac.     When I called him to complain, he was angry with me and warned that I should stop listening to gossip. He said that if I should return, I should go to his younger brother’s house in Lagos until he is ready to get accommodation for us. The brother was formally living in Lagos but he is in Brazil now. So, when it was impossible to pay my children’s school fees, I packed my bags and baggage and came back to Lagos with our children. We stayed at his brother’s house at Agric, close to Trade Fair until he took us to a house in Magodo where he claimed he owed rent pending the completion of his own house there. We have spent just one year in that house in Magodo. I have no idea of the type of business he was into but he told me that his friends overseas used to buy phones and jewelries for him.

While in Lagos, I was idle and I pressured him to find something for me to do and he promised to do that. Several times, I asked him to take me to his office but he said they move from place to place to offload goods in haulage business and share profits. I can’t remember having any visitor in our house. It is only the agent called Sunny that helped us to pack into our house that I know. At times, artisans come to do one repair or the other, that’s all. I don’t know any of his friends and if we were invited to parties, he would not allow us to attend.     He told me that he has no friends and that he hates associating with people. I was always indoors because he warned me to beware of Lagos women that they are wayward. I was staying indoors and it was only when I was sick that he took me to a hospital in Ikeja. I always have BP and it makes weak.

We went back to Ghana on the 6th of this month and he promised to join us in no distant time. On the 9th, I called him to know when he would be coming and even the youngest of our children was crying, begging him to come as soon as possible and he promised to come.   In the afternoon, I called but he was not picking. I called again, there was noise in the background and the line was switched off. I then called the driver that took us to the motor pack when we were going to Ghana and he told me that there was a problem, that police came and arrested Oga and that they came with a fair complexioned lady. When I heard all the allegations against him, I called his brother in Ghana, his mother, father and other relations but I could not get them. I then called their last born, a student at Oko Polytechnic, but he said he had not spoken with him for long. I was confused until I opened Nigerian news and Vanguard websites. That was how I got the shocking news about my husband. I collapsed and later called my kids to inform them what I just read about their father.

Since then, I have not eaten, I am still in shock. Our children could not believe what they were reading about their father. They are saying that he cannot do all the things they said he did. In fact, while we were in Nigeria, he had never slept outside our house. My children were crying when they saw his bloody eyes and swollen face. Our condition was worsened when I saw my picture with him and our children on the Facebook. I don’t know where they got it. I have not been receiving money from him, I have never seen his money. The only thing I know is that there was a time he bought an expensive watch in Dubai and I wanted to know why he bought it when he could not open any business for me. He kept on teasing me, claiming it came from a friend. It was only when we wanted to travel to South Africa last year Christmas where we spent two years that he gave me N200,000 for the trip.  

I have never seen him as a rich man. While with him, we made sure we had all we wanted to eat and that’s all. I can’t remember seeing any sign of affluence in him. He is not a proud man and he has been wearing one sandal and slippers for long now. He does not go for parties. In fact, I have never suspected him as a criminal. If I have been seeing any strange things, I would have suspected him. We have three cars, one Hilux, one Grand Cherokee and an SUV. The N20m they said he sent to me through transfer was given to one Hausa man to pay into an account in Ghana to be used in paying our rent and furnish the house in Ghana. I know he banks with GTB only. Their staff used to visit us in the house. I am not aware that he has five girlfriends and I have never suspected him because he did not keep late nights. It was shocking to hear about his girlfriends. He did not answer calls in my presence. I used to see his phones being charged but he normally switched them off. I always asked him why use pin code to lock his phones and that he lived a secret life but he threatened to beat me if ever I touched any of his phones. I didn’t even know the security pin. He would leave the house sometimes in the evenings with his phones and would come back between 8pm and 9pm.

Most of the things I read about him are strange to me. As his wife, I should have seen the signs but I have not. He has cancer and does not drink alcohol nor smoke anything. I have never seen gun in our house. I don’t know where they got those frightening guns. He has never told me he has another house at Igando. Any time he went out, he always called to ask after the children and reassure me that he would be back soon.

I am suspecting that whatever happened to him must have come from his father’s second wife. I don’t know what he did to him when he was young but he told the story. He said that after their mother was driven out of the house, he was with his brothers playing outside one day when the second wife called him to pick a bucket and collect water for her. He was four years then, he picked the bucket, collected water and when he came back, she removed her dress and she was wearing only a bag made from animal skin on her waist. She brought seven small stones from the bag, gave to Evans and ordered him to pour the stones into the bucket to know if the gravel would rise (sail) on top of the water or not. Evans said he did as she directed but the only thing the woman did was to take the bucket back and ordered him to go back and play with his brothers. He said he told his father later but he said he was telling lies.

I feel very bad because I did not know if he was doing all these or not. Even if he was into all these, why did he not stop because of me and his children? All the time when we pray, he used to promise God that he would tell Him his story later in life. Here reads psalm 23 a lot.   Even his phone, he sets alarm for 12 noon to read Psalm 23. He took part in our daily prayers in the morning, evening and night. He used to lead us in prayers. We attend Anglican Church.     He has never given them money to show off. We used to give N5,000 or N10,000 and the highest we have given so far was N50,000 when we baptised one of our children.

I am appealing to the powers that be to spare his life (crying). As I speak now, I am kneeling down with my children, crying and begging for forgiveness. Have mercy on us. He did not know what he was doing. He did not know what came over him. I am ready to come back to Nigeria and plead on his behalf. What I am reading in the news is shocking. Though I have not heard that he killed anybody but all those he injured or took their money should please forgive him because me and my children. They should kindly forgive him; he will repent.  

God knows I will not be alive and see my husband doing bad thing and keep quiet. All his wealth should be sold off and given to his victims. Evans is a good man. He takes care of all his relations, including the children of the second wife we are suspecting did this to him. He has just two houses in Ghana but I have never seen them. I saw the house on his phone. Since I have been living with him, he has never injured anybody or beat me. He has milk of human kindness in his heart. He has not been harsh or wicked to anybody. He always advised us to be prayerful I (starts crying again) and complains bitterly any time I failed to pray. His neighbours also know him as a kind and generous man.

Members of my family are worse hit by this ugly development. They said some people brought newspaper publications to show them about their in-law and they have been wondering if he actually did all that because he has been good to all of them. I am from a very good, God-fearing family and if any of us had suspected this in him, they would have forced me out of his house for long. I am ready to come back and testify on his behalf. I will also like to see the Governor of Lagos State and explain the whole thing to him. They said he is rich but I have only N13,000 in my Diamond Bank account. He does not give me money.   He told me he will be paying N40,000 into my account every month but after two months, he stopped, claiming that he was penniless.

Read more at News Express.

Nigeria’s secret police, the State Security Services, SSS, also known as DSS, on Sunday, June 18, 2017 warned Arewa Youth groups and Niger Delta militants over their recent quit notice to Igbos and Northerners respectively, vowing to crack down mercilessly to all hate mongers.

The DSS in an e-mailed statement to The Trent, signed by Tony Opuiyo stressed that every Nigerian has the right to live any part of Nigeria and frowned at any attempt to disunite the country. It also dismissed the reported killing of Igbos fleeing the North as a result of the Arewa Youths’ quit notice.

“The Department of State Services (DSS) has watched with keen interest the disturbing trend desperate and mischievous elements have tended to steer the ship of our nationhood to calamity and irretrievable destruction,” the statement reads. 

“Only recently, the Arewa Youths in a press statement called for the relocation of the Igbos from the North.

“Unfortunately, this development has been followed by a release from an unknown source styled Niger Delta Watchdogs, threatening all Northerners to quit Niger Delta region.

“Meanwhile, another group went to the extent of harvesting from the internet, a horrific accident scene, for the purpose of making it look like a site of massacre of Igbo ethnic group by Northern youths.

“However, the Service has been able to establish that the purported murder scene being depicted as a field of massacre was a high casualty accident scene which occurred along Owo-Akure road, Ondo State, on 3rd March, 2016.

“Those involved in these misleading and despicable acts have since been warned to desist from anything capable of causing disaffection and stoking nationwide tensions.

“Consequently, the Service, in line with its statutory mandate of ensuring the internal security of the Country, wishes to inform the public that it will stop at nothing to deploy all resources at its disposal to identify and deal with all those culpable, as well as maintain peace and order in every length and breadth of the Nation.

“To this effect, it warns, in very clear terms, all those who are charting the course of disunity among Nigerians to desist from their divisive actions. The Service is also not oblivious of the efforts of some miscreants to ignite fear and cause ethnic tensions across the country. It strongly condemns in its entirety the call for relocation of anyone to places against their wishes. Such relocation order is not only illegal, but it is strongly viewed to be against the spirit of our Constitution which allows for freedoms of movement and association among others.

“The DSS, therefore, frowns at the tendency some ethnic chauvinists easily and cheaply resort to hate speeches, misinformation and total manipulation of information especially on the social media simply to fan the embers of discord and subvert the efforts of government in implementing its policies for the good of everyone.

“Well-meaning and law abiding citizens and residents are enjoined to disregard persuasions by these tribal jingoists to make our beloved country a theatre of the absurd and bloodletting. It is time for us, Nigerians, to show our humanness and patriotism which have been our defining strength as one united indivisible nation.

“The Service has already commenced a detailed investigation to get the perpetrators of these hate campaigns as well as their sponsors. At the appropriate time all those involved in these condemnable acts will be unmasked and decisively dealt with in line with the laws of the land.

“The Service wants to reassure the entire populace that it will not leave any stone unturned to ensure that those who are bent on causing a breakdown of law and order are not spared.

“Meanwhile, anyone with useful information is also encouraged to volunteer same to the Service or the nearest security agency/formation for prompt action.”

Leave The North By October 1 – Arewa Groups Warn Igbos

A coalition of prominent groups in Northern Nigeria on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 issued an ultimatum to Igbos living in the north to return home by October 1, 2017 or else they will face a situation similar to the pre-civil war pogroms visited on their kin in the 1960s.

The order was contained in an error-ridden statement, obtained by The Trent, issued after a meeting in Kaduna State. The groups, Arewa Citizens Action for Change, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Arewa Youth Development Foundation, Arewa Students Forum, and the Northern Emancipation Network, asked the Igbo residing in the region to “start making plans to leave.”

The chilling statement condemned the renewed call for the independent republic of Biafra and also expressed disdain for the Igbos and their culture saying that “the Igbo people of the South-East, not repentant of the carnage it wrought on the nation in 1966,  is today boldly reliving those sinister intentions connoted by the Biafran agitation that led to the very first bloody insurrection in Nigeria’s history”.

In 1966, the Igbos were the victims of the largest genocide in Nigeria’s history with over 100,000 of them killed in Northern Nigeria by northern mobs. This pogrom led to the declaration of the Republic of Biafra which led to the Nigerian civil war in which over 3 million Igbos died.

The northern groups’ threat to Igbos is now widely referred to as the Kaduna Declaration and has been widely condemned by public officials and political groups. However, it has also received wide support from northern elements like Professor Abdullahi.

Eight people had been taken to the hospital, and two people had been treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Read more at HuffPost.

Ivan Fandino has been killed after he tripped on his clock in the bullring and was fatally gored.

The 36-year-old fighter, who was a professional matador for 12 years, died in the French town of Mont-de-Marsan, near the Spanish border.

Fandino’s feet became tangled in the cape used to goad the specially trained fighting bull and he was left with horrific injuries after the animal plunged its horn into his lung.

The matador, who had a wife and a daughter, came from Spain’s Basque region and fought hundreds of bulls during his career in the controversial bloodsport.

It is understood his heart stopped in the ambulance and on his arrival at hospital, doctors could not do anything to save his life.

Horrific photos show Fandino being tossed into the air by the enraged animal, which also suffered brutal wounds in the ring.

“It’s a tragedy,” said a shocked colleague. “We just do not know how it could have happened.”

Tributes are flooding in on social networking sites, with rancher Victorino Martin tweeting: “Our friend and great bullfighter Ivan Fandino dies in France.

“A great loss for the world of bullfighting. We are dismayed.”

Shocked spectators watched the matador land on the floor before the bull plunged its horn into his chest.

Two other matadors, Juan del Alamo and Thomas Dufau, were due to take to the ring later in the afternoon.

The last Spanish bullfighter who died due to a goring was Victor Barrio, who was killed at the age of 29 after being savaged in the bullring in Teruel on July 9, 2016.

He was the first Spanish matador to die in the arena since 1992.

Spanish-style bullfights enjoy legal protections in the parts of southern France where the so-called sport is practised.

Around 1,000 bulls a year are killed in this way in France every year.

The country has four bullfighting schools and the practice is designated as an “uninterrupted local tradition” in the limited areas where fights are held.

Read more at Mirror.

Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is prioritising a move to Manchester United in the summer transfer window, according to reports in Italy.

It’s understood Ronaldo is considering a move away from the Bernabau in the coming months as a result of growing negativity from Madrid supporters towards his performances.

The Portugal forward has informed Sir Alex Ferguson of his plan to seek a summer move away from the Spanish capital and it’s believed an Old Trafford switch is becoming a ‘concrete possibility’.

Gianluca Di Marzio claims that Ronaldo has asked agent Jorge Mendes to do ‘everything’ to secure a return to United should he leave Madrid ahead of the 2017/18 campaign.

Paris Saint-Germain are also believed to be weighing up a mammoth offer for Ronaldo but the 32-year-old icon prefers the Red Devils.

Spanish outlet Marca suggest Madrid are demanding a total of £350 million for their record goalscorer this summer.

The La Liga giants expect to be compensated for the remainder of Ronaldo’s deal at the Bernabeu. 

Read more at Metro.co.uk.

Beni Goka, executive director, Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), National Assembly Chapter, says the association is embarking on construction of 6,000 housing unit with local materials for staff in Abuja.

He made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, June 18, 2017 in Abuja.

Dr. Goka stressed the need for the government and staff associations to ensure the welfare of citizens were guaranteed through affordable housing schemes.

As part of its effort at providing affordable houses for its members, Goka said that the association was embarking on a project of 6000 units of houses spread across the six area councils of the FCT.

“The staff union of the National Assembly decided in its goodness that the staff members need to be accommodated,” he said.

Goka noted that the association had identified over the years that finance and land acquisition were reasons why their members were not accommodated under the National Assembly Housing Scheme.

According to him, the contract for the building will be awarded to developers, who are proficient, who have the know-how, who are financially viable and who have lands.

“We had 70 developers, who applied for these positions but we are settling for 10. We will ensure that this project does not fail.

“We are also sourcing for alternative funding  because we are aware that the Federal Mortgage Bank will be able to build up to a certain stage before they get their money back,” he said.

The executive director, Construction Finance, NASS, said the project was meant for permanent staff and legislative aides.

“These legislative aides are not members of PASAN. We are trying to include them in the project. Nigerians in general will also benefit from the project,” he said.

Goka, who said that there was daily increase in the cost of building materials, noted that the association had approximate value of monetary figure that would be placed on the houses.

According to him, for instance two-bedroom will costs between N9 million to N10 million, while the developer designs with our specification.

“Quantity Surveyor will verify what they bring in based on today’s market, then we will come up with an acceptable price for the project which will be based on differences in location.

“For the payment schedule, there will be monthly deduction that goes to PASAN fund as contribution to the housing.

“What we are trying to do is to make sure that our staff fall into the Federal Mortgage Bank long term mortgage scheme.

“We are working out the modalities of payment based on the year of service and year remaining in service versus the down payment,” Goka said

The director told NAN that the association would make use of local materials for the construction of the over 6000 units of houses for staff of the National Assembly.

According to Goka, this was in a bid to promote the use of indigenous products.

“We are hoping to use more of local content in our construction, particularly in the building materials.

“The local tiles are cheaper than the ones we import from China, with the economic recession, from January till date, local tiles have added about N250. If we are to import, it will be about N2,300 we are having our local tiles at about N1,350 on bulk purchase,” he said.

He further said that the use of local content does not involve only the building materials but also the technical expertise.

According to him, the association will be using simple finishing to make the houses more cheaper and affordable.

“By simple finishing we mean the basic finishing,” he said. 

“For luxury homes if you do rendering, you will do screeding, you will apply Dulux or Berger paint.

“There are no differences in all structural designs. The elements that go into the structures are basically the same. But when you begin to have differences is when you consider the type of finishing.

“What we want to do, however, is to use locally produced paint which will definitely bring the price down. By these steps we believe that we will have these houses at affordable rate.

He said that work had started in earnest, adding that the sites were situated in Lugbe, Kuje, Dei-Dei on Kubwa express.

GTBank Plc has been revealed to be the financial institution used by dreaded billionaire kidnap kingpin Chikwudubem Onwuamadike alias Evans, who is now in police net.

Evans’ wife, Mrs. Uchenna Precious Onwuamadike made the disclosure in an exclusive interview with Vanguard published over the weekend.

The 31-year-old housewife and mother also spoke of how GTBank staff used to visit their house to discuss transactions with her husband.

“I know he banks with GTB only. Their staff used to visit us in the house,” Mrs. Onwuamadike said, dismissing reports in some media outlets that her husband operated multiple bank accounts.

You may read her full interview below:

My name is Uchenna Precious Onwuamadike, the wife of the Chikwudubem Onwuamadike who you call Evans. I am 31 years old. I got married to Evans at the age of 17 at Oraifite, Anambra state in 2004. He met me while I was coming back from lesson as a student of All Saints Secondary School, Oraifite, and I was in class 6 going to take my West African Examination. After we met, I agreed to go with him because of my poor background. He told me his father married three wives when he was six years old and threw his mother out of his house. He said that one of the wives influenced his father to drive them out of his house also and they were forced to stay with outsiders. Evans was taken to his grandmother who trained him. He told me his father accused the mother of being adulterous before driving her out of his house.

Our marriage is blessed with five children. Our first issue is 12 years plus and her name us Udochukwu. After we got married, he said I should stay with his mother in his village at Akanmiri, Umudim, Nnewi to teach me how to be a good housewife. I was there for three years before he took me to Lagos. We were living at Satellite town in 2006 and after one year, he relocated us back to the village because he could not pay house rent. While in the village, he normally came to see us. We spent three years in the village and relocated to Ghana. On our way to Ghana, we passed through Lagos and stayed at Benny Hotels in Festac where we spent two days before travelling to Ghana. He spent a month with us in Ghana before coming back to Lagos.  

I was pregnant with our fourth child in 2010 when he left for Nigeria to come back in two months time. After I gave birth, he came back four months later and was able to clear the accumulated bills we kept for him because I borrowed money from friends to clear hospital bill. When he came back, he complained bitterly that things were rough for him in Nigeria and that customs seized his goods. I was not aware that he was into kidnapping and all the criminal acts he is being associated with now.  

All I know about his business is that he was into haulage, buying engine and spare parts for trucks and imports exhaust pipes. That was what he told me. The reason he kept me in Ghana was because he said our children should get quality education. I have spent six years here and after I stopped hearing from him, I called and complained bitterly but he said I should stay for some time. I then called his friend, Okechukwu, who now lives in China. He told me that he has not been seeing him and that he spends most of his time with a girlfriend in Festac.     When I called him to complain, he was angry with me and warned that I should stop listening to gossip. He said that if I should return, I should go to his younger brother’s house in Lagos until he is ready to get accommodation for us. The brother was formally living in Lagos but he is in Brazil now. So, when it was impossible to pay my children’s school fees, I packed my bags and baggage and came back to Lagos with our children. We stayed at his brother’s house at Agric, close to Trade Fair until he took us to a house in Magodo where he claimed he owed rent pending the completion of his own house there. We have spent just one year in that house in Magodo. I have no idea of the type of business he was into but he told me that his friends overseas used to buy phones and jewelries for him.

While in Lagos, I was idle and I pressured him to find something for me to do and he promised to do that. Several times, I asked him to take me to his office but he said they move from place to place to offload goods in haulage business and share profits. I can’t remember having any visitor in our house. It is only the agent called Sunny that helped us to pack into our house that I know. At times, artisans come to do one repair or the other, that’s all. I don’t know any of his friends and if we were invited to parties, he would not allow us to attend.     He told me that he has no friends and that he hates associating with people. I was always indoors because he warned me to beware of Lagos women that they are wayward. I was staying indoors and it was only when I was sick that he took me to a hospital in Ikeja. I always have BP and it makes weak.

We went back to Ghana on the 6th of this month and he promised to join us in no distant time. On the 9th, I called him to know when he would be coming and even the youngest of our children was crying, begging him to come as soon as possible and he promised to come.   In the afternoon, I called but he was not picking. I called again, there was noise in the background and the line was switched off. I then called the driver that took us to the motor pack when we were going to Ghana and he told me that there was a problem, that police came and arrested Oga and that they came with a fair complexioned lady. When I heard all the allegations against him, I called his brother in Ghana, his mother, father and other relations but I could not get them. I then called their last born, a student at Oko Polytechnic, but he said he had not spoken with him for long. I was confused until I opened Nigerian news and Vanguard websites. That was how I got the shocking news about my husband. I collapsed and later called my kids to inform them what I just read about their father.

Since then, I have not eaten, I am still in shock. Our children could not believe what they were reading about their father. They are saying that he cannot do all the things they said he did. In fact, while we were in Nigeria, he had never slept outside our house. My children were crying when they saw his bloody eyes and swollen face. Our condition was worsened when I saw my picture with him and our children on the Facebook. I don’t know where they got it. I have not been receiving money from him, I have never seen his money. The only thing I know is that there was a time he bought an expensive watch in Dubai and I wanted to know why he bought it when he could not open any business for me. He kept on teasing me, claiming it came from a friend. It was only when we wanted to travel to South Africa last year Christmas where we spent two years that he gave me N200,000 for the trip.  

I have never seen him as a rich man. While with him, we made sure we had all we wanted to eat and that’s all. I can’t remember seeing any sign of affluence in him. He is not a proud man and he has been wearing one sandal and slippers for long now. He does not go for parties. In fact, I have never suspected him as a criminal. If I have been seeing any strange things, I would have suspected him. We have three cars, one Hilux, one Grand Cherokee and an SUV. The N20m they said he sent to me through transfer was given to one Hausa man to pay into an account in Ghana to be used in paying our rent and furnish the house in Ghana. I know he banks with GTB only. Their staff used to visit us in the house. I am not aware that he has five girlfriends and I have never suspected him because he did not keep late nights. It was shocking to hear about his girlfriends. He did not answer calls in my presence. I used to see his phones being charged but he normally switched them off. I always asked him why use pin code to lock his phones and that he lived a secret life but he threatened to beat me if ever I touched any of his phones. I didn’t even know the security pin. He would leave the house sometimes in the evenings with his phones and would come back between 8pm and 9pm.

Most of the things I read about him are strange to me. As his wife, I should have seen the signs but I have not. He has cancer and does not drink alcohol nor smoke anything. I have never seen gun in our house. I don’t know where they got those frightening guns. He has never told me he has another house at Igando. Any time he went out, he always called to ask after the children and reassure me that he would be back soon.

I am suspecting that whatever happened to him must have come from his father’s second wife. I don’t know what he did to him when he was young but he told the story. He said that after their mother was driven out of the house, he was with his brothers playing outside one day when the second wife called him to pick a bucket and collect water for her. He was four years then, he picked the bucket, collected water and when he came back, she removed her dress and she was wearing only a bag made from animal skin on her waist. She brought seven small stones from the bag, gave to Evans and ordered him to pour the stones into the bucket to know if the gravel would rise (sail) on top of the water or not. Evans said he did as she directed but the only thing the woman did was to take the bucket back and ordered him to go back and play with his brothers. He said he told his father later but he said he was telling lies.

I feel very bad because I did not know if he was doing all these or not. Even if he was into all these, why did he not stop because of me and his children? All the time when we pray, he used to promise God that he would tell Him his story later in life. Here reads psalm 23 a lot.   Even his phone, he sets alarm for 12 noon to read Psalm 23. He took part in our daily prayers in the morning, evening and night. He used to lead us in prayers. We attend Anglican Church.     He has never given them money to show off. We used to give N5,000 or N10,000 and the highest we have given so far was N50,000 when we baptised one of our children.

I am appealing to the powers that be to spare his life (crying). As I speak now, I am kneeling down with my children, crying and begging for forgiveness. Have mercy on us. He did not know what he was doing. He did not know what came over him. I am ready to come back to Nigeria and plead on his behalf. What I am reading in the news is shocking. Though I have not heard that he killed anybody but all those he injured or took their money should please forgive him because me and my children. They should kindly forgive him; he will repent.  

God knows I will not be alive and see my husband doing bad thing and keep quiet. All his wealth should be sold off and given to his victims. Evans is a good man. He takes care of all his relations, including the children of the second wife we are suspecting did this to him. He has just two houses in Ghana but I have never seen them. I saw the house on his phone. Since I have been living with him, he has never injured anybody or beat me. He has milk of human kindness in his heart. He has not been harsh or wicked to anybody. He always advised us to be prayerful I (starts crying again) and complains bitterly any time I failed to pray. His neighbours also know him as a kind and generous man.

Members of my family are worse hit by this ugly development. They said some people brought newspaper publications to show them about their in-law and they have been wondering if he actually did all that because he has been good to all of them. I am from a very good, God-fearing family and if any of us had suspected this in him, they would have forced me out of his house for long. I am ready to come back and testify on his behalf. I will also like to see the Governor of Lagos State and explain the whole thing to him. They said he is rich but I have only N13,000 in my Diamond Bank account. He does not give me money.   He told me he will be paying N40,000 into my account every month but after two months, he stopped, claiming that he was penniless.

Read more at News Express.

A political pressure group, the Kogi West Senatorial District Youth Assembly, has passed vote of confidence on the embattled Senator Dino Melaye. representing their senatorial district at the National Assembly.

The youth group made this declaration during an “enlarged” meeting of the organisation held in Kabba at Ajoke Hotel Hall on Sunday, June 18, 2017.

Representatives of the various categories of Youths who spoke during the event in unison, acknowledged the superlative performance of Senator Dino Melaye, within the past 24 months since the mandate was entrusted to him, noting that he is truly the right man for the job of good representation.

“Senator Dino has not disappointed us hence the need to offer him more unflinching support to enable him do more for the constituency”, one of the representatives is quoted as saying.

In addition, group recognized Senator Dino as the only senator and leader fighting for the interest of the workers in Kogi State.

“Further acknowledged the fact that he indeed mean well for the state therefore, the members of the forum have in one accord appreciate the him for the giant strides recorded so far in his bid to to challenge the government on why the salaries were not paid despite all the money allocated to the state from the Federal government thus pledging to offer more support for him,” an e-mailed statement to The Trent by Moses Bolakale said.

“However, since action speaks louder than words, it was on this premise, that the youths in their good numbers from all the seven local governments in the senatorial district, came together under the umbrella of Kogi west Senatorial District Youth Assembly to affirm their position publicly that they appreciate, support and will continue to partner with Senator Dino Melaye beyond 2019.

The meeting had as it theme; “Defining our Tomorrow Today” with Jemirin Adebola as the chairperson of the session.

The meeting ended with a communique being read by Dr.  Kalejaiye Ojo and it said as follows:

* That the Assembly is not disappointed in the mandate that was entrusted to Senator Dino Melaye

* That the Assembly is also satisfied by the Superlative Performance of Senator Dino Melaye in the National Assembly

* That the Assembly against the fruitless recall efforts sponsored by Governor Yahaya Bello against senator Dino Melaye

* That the Assembly will totally support the Reelection bid of Senator Dino Melaye in 2019 General Elections

* That the members of the Assembly unanimously have decided to purchase Senatorial Seat form for Senator Dino Melaye in the next General Election

*That the Assembly call on all sons and daughters of the district to support Senator Dino Melaye

*That the great people of the senatorial district should eschew engaging in propaganda, mudslinging, Blackmail, Vituperations and other vices.

Following the arrest of Nigerian billionaire kidnap kingpin and criminal mastermind, Chukwudubem Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, the arrested suspect has revealed how he contracted colon cancer.

Recall that the kidnap kingpin’s family had begged for his life, pleading that Nigerians and the Nigerian government should have mercy on him as he was under some kind of spell to have carried out all the kidnappings.

Evans who revealed that he was a drug trafficker who frequented South Africa but switched into the bullion van heist and then kidnapping after one of his clients failed to pay and shot him revealed that his drug trafficking business cost him his health.

While taking policemen to his other hideouts in Lagos on Sunday, June 18, 2017, Evans revealed that he contacted Colon Cancer while he was trafficking drugs.

Speaking at one of the Igando dens, Evans noted that he used to swallow wraps of cocaine and one of it burst in his stomach leading to the colon cancer.

The family man who was reported to have wired the sum of N20 million to his wife in Ghana four days before his arrest revealed that he is a good family man and usually leads his family in prayer because he knew he was a bad person who had done so many terrible things.

He added: “My father cannot say that I didn’t take care of him and my other siblings.

“I took good care of my father even when he didn’t take care of me. My father lived a very wayward life as a person.

“He stopped paying my school fees which made drop out of school. He went on to marry a second wife. As if that wasn’t enough, my father took a third wife and he married her as a 70-year-old man.

“I was not happy with my father, that was why I don’t go close to him but I made sure I provided all his needs. I bought him a car and a bus. They are in our compound and I also gave him N3 million which he used for his pig and fish farming business.”

At his other den in Ejigbo, Evans broke down saying: “I know I have done terrible things but I want to be forgiven. I also want to advise other criminals to turn a new leaf.

“The Nigeria Police is not what it used to be. They are far more advanced than they were. If they could arrest me, there is no criminal they can’t arrest.”

Read more at Herald.

Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s minister of information and culture, has said that that Sambo Dasuki, a former national security adviser, and Ibrahim El Zakzaky, the leader of the largest Shi’ite sect in Nigeria cannot be released now as both are being held on the grounds of national security.

The minister on Saturday, June 17, 2017 an interaction with journalists at his home town Oro in Kwara State after a Ramadhan public lecture proclaimed, in a Channels TV report, that the federal government is in possession of damning evidences against the detained persons and would rather infringe on their personal freedom than putting the entire country at risk.

ALSO READ: Femi Fani-Kayode: The Specious Lies Of Ghetto Minister Lai Mohammed [MUST READ]

He noted that despite the evidences against the former security adviser, he refused to name or explain how the arms fund was shared, wondering how such a person should be released.

Commenting on the hate speeches and threat by some groups asking others to leave their environment, he blamed the government of former president Goodluck Jonathan and warned that government would not take it lightly with those fanning embers of disunity.

Nigerian State Declares War On Shi’ites

Following a street clash in December 2015, between the sects members and the Nigerian Army in Zaria, following which the army conducted a house-by-house raid on the sect, killing over 800 members in cold blood.

Governor Nasir El Rufai went on television and declared the group guilty and promised to “end this problem once and for all” as he repeated the dubious claim by the army that there was an assassination attempt on the life of the Chief of Army Staff.

That same month, El Rufai in a destructive show of power ordered the demolishing of all properties, worship centres, schools, tombs, and even a cemetery belonging to the Islamic Movement of Nigeria. The Kaduna State agency, KASUPDA carried out the illegal operation.

On December 23, 2015 the Islamic Movement of Nigeria complained that under the protection of Nigerian Army and the Nigeria’s Secret Police, the Department of State Security Services, DSS, officials of KASUPDA “razed to ground” what remained of the sect’s Husainiyya Islamic centre.

“We are particularly irked by the demolition of our newly bought property adjacent the Husainiyya Baqiyyatullah, a former NTC compound, which they did yesterday. That compound has been in existence since the colonial times,” the statement said.

The Dubious Attempted Assassination Claim

According to the Nigerian Army, it’s chief of staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buraitai was trying to make his way through a procession of the Shi’ia sect when an assassination attempt was made on his life by followers of El-Zakzaky who is the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria. In an attempt to repel the attack by assailants who “brandished dangerous weapons”, Nigerian troops opened fire on the crowd and killed an undisclosed number of people. According to some reports as many as seventeen people were killed.

In an attempt to win the hearts and minds of Nigerian by justifying the killings of Shi’ite faithfuls in Zaria, the Army authorities released a video showing its officers negotiating with followers of leading Shi’ia cleric, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.

But the video released by the army doesn’t prove its claim. It only shows some of Buraitai’s men negotiating for passage, presumably for their boss, and being declined. It doesn’t show the arrival of the army boss to the scene, neither does it show the alleged assassination attempt. It doesn’t show the troops engaging the unruly youth.

Gross Human Rights Abuse Against Shi’ites

Following the street clash between the army and followers of the sect, the Nigerian Army proceeded to invade the home of the leader of the sect, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, kill his son and wife, shoot him four times, drag him out from his house like an animal, bloodied, disrobed, and dump him in a wheelbarrow.

For several months after El Zakzaky was arrested, his whereabouts were sketchy as the chief of army staff claimed he had “handed him over to appropriate authorities”, and the then inspector general of police, Solomon Arase has refused to disclose his location to interested parties.

In a two-day rampage of unrestrained violence, Nigerian soldiers killed 800 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, demolished buildings including a mosque belonging to the Shi’ite sect, and destroyed properties. Associated Press reports that the Nigerian Army has secretly buried their victims to cover-up their crimes against humanity.

The Emir of Kano, Sanusi II has issued a statement on the incident saying that the Shi’ia sect “insults relatives of Prophet Mohammed” and said that the sect’s ideology is “unacceptable to all Muslims”. The King of Saudi Arabia congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on phone calling the brutal crackdown on the minority sect as “fighting terrorism”.

Human Rights Watch has released a report which says that Nigerian soldiers murdered over 300 Shi’ite members and buried them secretly in mass graves to cover up their crimes.

The Kaduna State government admitting to burying more than 370 bodies of the victims of the Army genocide in mass graves.

Two videos have emerged showing the extent of human rights abuses committed in Zaria by the Nigerian Army. Unlike the ‘promotional’ video shot through the eyes of the troops which has been traced to Army Spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman, these videos paint an unsettling picture of a siege on unarmed civilians by a bloodthirsty army, these videos are those recorded by eye-witnesses to these crimes.

In one of the videos, soldiers are seen laying a firing squad around a Shi’ite shrine. in preparation of an onslaught on the sect. The second video shows soldiers going house-by-house committing acts of murder as the victims scream in helplessness.

Legal Reprieve

On December 2, 2016, close to a year since El Zakzaky was shot several times in his home and bundled out of his house with his wife by troops of the Nigerian Army, a federal high court ordered his release and awarded N50 million in damages to the Zakzakys.

The court ordered that the federal government provided the cleric and his wife with a new accommodation and security in any part of Kaduna or Northern region that they prefer within 45 days. The federal government is yet to obey the court order and he remains illegally in detention.

Today, Wednesday, April 12, 2017 marks 486 days that the Shi’ite leader has spent in detention, illegally, on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Shi'ite Properties Demolished in Kaduna | Before And After, Looters at work

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At least 18 people were reported killed in multiple suicide bomb attacks near a camp for those made homeless by Boko Haram violence near the Borno State capital Maiduguri, emergency services said on Monday.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the attacks took place at about 8:45 p.m. (1945 GMT) on Sunday close to the Dalori camp at Kofa village.

NEMA northeast region spokesman Abdulkadir Ibrahim said two female suicide bombers tried to get into the camp but were thwarted by security personnel.

“Two other female suicide bombers also detonated their explosives at the adjoining Dalori Kofa village, where they killed 16 people,” he added in a statement.

Earlier tolls given by local people said at least 12 or 13 people had been killed but Abdulkadir said three of those injured and taken to hospital had since died.

“The 16 does not include the bombers,” he told AFP. Adding the two dead suicide bombers brings the death toll up to 18, News Express reports.

Two female suicide bombers were intercepted when they tried to gain access into Dalori 2 Internally Displaced People (IDP) camp.

A NEMA statement e-mailed to News Express said that two of the female suicide bombers were intercepted and taken into custody. “The injured victims have been administered with first aid and transported to hospitals within,” NEMA said.

Dalori is about 10 kilometres (six miles) southeast of Maiduguri and is one of the largest camps for internally displaced people (IDP) in the remote region.

Boko Haram has previously tried to target the camp: at least 85 people were killed in January last year when insurgents rampaged through communities near Dalori.

Residents were shot and their homes burned down while female suicide bombers blew themselves up among the crowds of people fleeing the violence.

The latest attack is the most deadly in Nigeria since June 8, when 11 people were killed in a rare combined gun and suicide attack in the Jiddari Polo area of Maiduguri.

Boko Haram has repeatedly targeted the strategic city, particularly its outlying communities, IDP camps and the city’s university.

The bombings and sporadic hit-and-run attacks underline the threat still posed by the jihadists, despite claims from the authorities they are a spent force.

Gunmen killed eight members of a civilian militia force assisting the military on June 11 in the Konduga area, which is on the same road as the Dalori camp.

At least 20,000 people have been killed in the conflict since 2009 and more than 2.6 million made homeless, many of whom are facing severe food shortages or starvation.

Buhari Defeats Boko Haram?

Late December 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari declared victory over the Islamist terrorist group after Nigerian troops announced that they have recaptured Camp Zero in Sambisa forest, the base of the deadliest terrorist group in the world.

The Nigerian Army later presented the president with the flag belonging to the terrorist group in a “mission accomplished” ceremony.

Since the declaration a week ahead of Christmas Day 2016, Boko Haram has launched a number of deadly attacks in the North Eastern region of the country where the terrorists have murdered at least 50,000 since they began their campaign to establish an Islamic caliphate in the country.

Additional reports by News Express.

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has called on Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to “do something” about the exclusion of Christian Religious Knowledge, CRK, from secondary schools curriculum.

Samson Ayokunle, president of CAN, made the demand during in a meeting with Osinbajo on Wednesday, June 14, 2017.

Ayokunle described the new curriculum as “divisive and ungodly”.

He explained that although the Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK) was initially affected, it was later reintroduced in the curriculum.

The CAN president stressed that If the curriculum is implemented, “it would lead us to a godless nation with violence and all forms of ungodliness as the order of the day”.

“In this curriculum, Islamic and Christian Religious Studies will no longer be studied in schools as subjects on their own but as themes in a civic education,” the CAN president said.

This undermines the sound mitral values that these two subjects had imparted in the past to our children which had made us to religiously and ethnically co-exist without any tension,” he said.

“It was some three or two decades ago when our education planners started removing the teaching of religious values through the cancellation of morning devotion in schools that all these violence by youths in different forms came on board. I was in a meeting yesterday with some Muslim leaders where one of them also expressed his fears about the dangers in this new curriculum.

“Furthermore, this curriculum went ahead to introduce Islamic Arabic Studies in another section together with French and made one of the two compulsory for the student. You are aware that we have very low percentage of French teachers in all our secondary schools in Nigeria. I am sure that over 80 percent of our secondary schools do not have French teachers at all but have Arabic teachers.

“The implication is that Christian students would have no choice than to study Arabic. If a Christian student voluntarily goes to study Islamic religious studies, there is nothing bad in that because some of us in both religions had done that before for better understanding, however, where the student is tactically forced into studying it because the alternative subject does not have teacher to teach it, it is a great problem tending to Islamisation.

“Still in this curriculum, Islamic religious knowledge was equally made available as a subject in another section without any corresponding availability of Christian religious knowledge. Is this not a divisive curriculum that can set the nation on fire?

“Is this fair to millions of Christians in this nation? A Christian student in a secondary school in Kwara state had the body lacerated with cane by the Arabic teacher because the pupil refused to do Arabic studies when French teacher was not available and Christian religious knowledge, Hebrew or Greek were not part of the options at all.”

CAN also demanded the arrest and prosecution of “murderous herdsmen” and the prosecution of those who called for the expulsion of Igbo from the north.

Read more at The Cable.

Radical evangelist and general overseer of Auchi-based Omega Fire Ministries International, Apostle Johnson Suleman was on Thursday, June 21, 2017 conferred with the award and key of the State of South Carolina which is a Honorary Citizenship by the state of South Carolina, United States of America.

The event took place at the Faithful Centre Bible Church, Inglewood, California where Apostle Suleman held the region’s edition of his ministry’s life-changing crusade with the theme: :Help From Above”, on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Leader of delegation and Rep., John Richard C. King said the honour, which is the highest given to non-residents of South Carolina was sequel to approval of the House of Representatives of the State in recognition of Apostle Suleman’s contribution to humanity.

“Apostle Suleman won this highest honor not only because he is noted as a great social worker with outstanding performances in outreach programmes but also his passion for giving without borders”

“Apostle Suleman is so privileged, because there are a lot of people out there who are equally blessed if not more but are not willing to do,” noted a member of the award committee.

Apostle Suleman at the ceremony dedicated the award to God, his better half and partner,Dr Lizzy Johnson Suleman as well as members of the Omega Fire Ministries,worldwide.

A letter exclusively by dated June 8, 2017 conveying the approval of the House and signed by Richard C. King, Chairman South Carolina Legislators Black Caucus also indicated that the state was looking forward to hosting Apostle Suleman at its Capitol Hill

The letter reads: “We would like to confer upon you the Honorary Citizenship of South Carolina for being an accomplished humanitarian. This is the highest honour given to non residents of the State of South Carolina.

“We look forward to hosting you at the South Carolina State Capitol and exploring future partnerships with you and the State of South Carolina.”

Apostle Suleman is also expected to have a meeting with senators representing the State later tonight. The meeting will have in attendance the State’s lawmakers to be led by Rep. John C. King who is representing South Carolina. Others in the list include Rep. Harold Love, representing Tennessee, and Hon. Dr. Dee Dawkins-Haigler, representing Atlanta-Georgia.

Suleman’s Communications Manager, Phrank Shaibu in a reaction thanked the government and people of the State of South Carolina for finding Apostle Suleman worthy of such a high honour, noting that it’s also an indication of the acceptance of the message of salvation which Omega Fire Ministries has taken to the United States and other parts of the world.

“We are grateful and elated that the message of salvation, love and compassion which the servant of God has taken to the United States of America and other parts of the world has been widely accepted and bearing fruits. This honour by the State of South Carolina bears testimony to this reality”, he stated.

Shaibu assured members of the church worldwide as well as other well meaning citizens of Apostle Suleman’s commitment to the values, prayers and lifestyle for which he has become well known and called on them not to relent in praying for the cleric.