More than 100 killed in new ‘massacre’ in Syria –Watchdog

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More than 100 civilians have been killed in a new “massacre” in Syria, a watchdog said Thursday, as Russia slammed the United States for blaming deadly blasts at a university campus on the Damascus regime. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the deaths came when the army on Tuesday swept through farmlands north of Homs, where it said around 1,000 people had sought refuge from fighting ravaging the city in central Syria.  “The Syrian regime carried out a new massacre on Tuesday claiming 106 victims, including women and children,” said the Britain-based watchdog, which relies on a network of activists and medics on the ground.

Jonathan Moves To Reconcile With Obasanjo

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President Goodluck Jonathan has begun moves to reconcile with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as a means of ending the rift between them. Jonathan and Obasanjo had fallen apart over the last few months, following critical comments made by Obasanjo about the government. In a recent interview on Cable Network News, the former president criticised Jonathan’s handling of the Boko Haram insurgency and advised him to initiate a dialogue with the extremist sect.

Obasanjo told the CNN in the interview that Jonathan had been applying less of dialogue and more of force in solving the Boko Haram issue.

‘Bodies of Dana Pilots Lost In Crash inferno’

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The bodies of the two pilots of Dana Air’s MD-83 plane which crashed in Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos State on June 3, 2012 were not found as they might have been completely incinerated by the post-crash inferno. The Chief Medical Examiner and Consultant Pathologist of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Prof. John Obafunwa, said this in his testimony at a Lagos State coroner court sitting in Ikeja on Friday.

The American pilot, Mr. Peter Waxtan, 55, and his Indian co-pilot, Mr. Mahendra Rathore, 34, were among the six crew members of the plane; 147 passengers and uncertain number of others on the ground, who were killed in the crash.

Shocking earnings of Yoruba movie stars

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Quite a number of perks come with being a movie star in this part of the world. They include designer clothes, luxury cars and posh apartments. Apart from their penchant for such status symbols, today’s Nollywood actors and actresses are also seen as role models, especially to the young and impressionable who dream of becoming stars some day. But, judging by the results of a recent investigation conducted by Saturday Beats, it appears all that glitters is not gold, after all.

See Pictures of police residential quarters

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Nigerian Air Force Begins Deployment of War Planes to Mali

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Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Alex Barde yesterday disclosed that the Nigerian Air force will today commence the deployment of Nigeria war planes to check the activities of Islamist fighters in Mali.

Barde who stated this in Enugu when he paid his maiden visit to Enugu Airforce Unit, added that the action was in compliance with President Goodluck Jonathan's directive that a military contingent be sent to assist the country of Mali to contain the jihadists liked to terror group, Al Qaeda...

Man In Jail For Robbing Woman He Met Online

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An Emirati man who robbed a Ukrainian woman after he made an agreement with her online to have s*x for Dh1,500 (N64,157), was jailed for six months on Thursday. The 31-year-old Emirati defendant was said to have met the woman on Badoo, a dating website, and arranged to have s*x with her at her five-star  hotel room on Shaikh Zayed Road in Dubai. At the hotel room however, the Emirati man grabbed a cup and broke it into pieces then used it to threaten and assault the woman before he stole her iPhone and Dh6,000 (N256,629), the court heard.

Girls Raped By 9 Men

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The nine men, from Berkshire and Oxfordshire, are accused of séxually exploiting six girls, aged between 11 and 15. 

A 12-year-old girl who was repeatedly raped by a group of men was also made to have a back-room abortion after falling pregnant, a court has heard. She is one of six alleged victims of nine men accused of grooming children and exploiting them for séx in Oxford.

(Photos) Pres GEJ Pays Unscheduled Emergency Visit To Police College, Ikeja

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On the way to an ECOWAS meeting in the Ivory Coast, President Goodluck Jonathan’s plane was diverted to Lagos where he made a surprise visit to the police college in Ikeja. Sources say that even his top aides were taken unaware by the unscheduled stop.  The police authorities were also caught unawares and had in fact rented the college to host a private wedding, which is illegal. President Jonathan demanded that the top brass explain these actions to which they had no sufficient answers. 

Man Inadvertently Brings Bomb Into Police Station

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A man triggered a major security scare in Cyprus on Wednesday when he walked into a police station carrying a bomb he found on his driveway, saying he wanted officers to examine it. According to Police, the 33-year old man discovered a suspicious device on the back window of his car and after drawing a blank on what it was doing there, decided to take it to a police station in the capital Nicosia for further scrutiny by experts.

221 Coffins Set On Fire In A Protest

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Protesters in Kenya set 221 coffins on fire in a powerful protest against outgoing government officials.The 221 coffins set on fire caused a huge blaze outside of Kenyan parliament, with each of the 221 coffins set on fire representing a different legislator leaving the government, as the outgoing parliament was known for corruption and greed.  The average legislator earns $175,000 a year, while the average income for a Kenyan citizen is about $1,700. This caused widespread anger among the protesters, who hoped 221 coffins set on fire would send a message to the lawmakers. Last week legislators attempted to award themselves $110,000 bonuses, but the Kenyan president vetoed the legislation.

Butcher Stabs Self To Death In A Show Of Pride In Zaria

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A 44-year-old butcher at Tudun Wada Market in Zaria, Kaduna State, Tanko Maitsiren-Safe, has stabbed himself to death.Confirming the report, the Sarkin Fawan Tudun Wada, Malam Abdullahi Ibrahim, described the incident as pathetic and an outdated means of showing pride by ancient butchers. Ibrahim advised other butchers to transform the trade, “especially now that most businesses in the country have been modernised”.

Heartless: Couple Land In Jail For Pouring Hot Coal On 12-Year-Old Son

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A couple, Mr Ajibaye Elikana, 49, and Elizabeth Ajibaye, have been remanded, in prison custody by an Osogbo Chief Magistrate’s Court, on Tuesday, for allegedly pouring hot charcoal on their child. The accused persons were said to have committed the offence on January 2, 2013 at Okinni in Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State. Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Elisha Olusegun, in the charge sheet accused the duo conspired among themselves and causing bodily harm on their 12-year-old son, David Ajibaye. Olusegun informed the court that the accused bound the hands and legs of their son with rope and bathed him with charcoal all over his body.

Just In: Jaji Bomb Masterminds Arrested.

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**a yam seller from Taraba and 18 year old boy from Osun.
**I was introduced to the late Sect leader by his Alfa, a muslim cleric who taught him and other children Islamic studies in Kaduna.
** Late Bashir Madalla trained boy in the use of fire arms.
**Alfa requested the boy to return to Kaduna, that he had something for him to do.
**Mallam Mohammed Ibrahim Idris was responsible for conducting surveillance on selected targets using the cover of a yam hawker.

Only Lagos Can Survive Without Oil – Fashola

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Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State says Lagos is the only state that can survive if crude oil supply – the mainstay of Nigeria economy - is shut down.Fashola explained that this was possible because the government in the state had made it a policy to implement the laws on taxation to the letter, which allows it to have funds for capital project.He spoke on Thursday during the state’s sixth Taxation Stakeholders Conference in Ikeja.

Kidnappers Of Bayelsa Speaker’s Mother Demand N40m Ransom

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The Speaker of the Bayelsa State Assembly, Kombowei Benson, yesterday disclosed the identity of those behind the Monday abduction of his mother, Benitah Kombowei, saying they are members of a dreaded cult group in the state and have demanded for N40million as ransom.According to the Bayelsa Speaker, the kidnappers had during contact with him said he was singled out due to his involvement in the passage of the Anti-Cultism Bill into Law and his anti-cultism posture. The bill provided a minimum sentence of 10 years to anyone found guilty of cult related activities in the state. 

Two Men Arrested For Impersonating EFCC Officials In Abuja

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday said it has taken into its custody, two men who have been parading themselves as its officials.

Tanimu Abubakar (also known as Ibrahim) and Mohammed Yaba, were rounded up in Abuja on Tuesday at the Federal Capital Territory Authority, while offering to assist a Director of the Agency to kill a petition allegedly written against him. A statement by the Agency said both were arrested after an intelligence report on the suspects’ activities was received. EFCC observed that there is a rise in impersonation of its officials by fraudsters who use fake letterheads to write fake invitation letters to unsuspecting members of the public. 

Police Ask Army to Handover Murder Suspect

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Abia State Police Command has written to Army authorities to release a soldier who allegedly shot and killed a young man, Chijioke Ndubuaku, at a wedding ceremony in Umuahia last weekend.

Ndubuaku, a fresh graduate, was said to have been shot dead by one of the soldiers manning a security check-point at Isieke on Umuahia- Ikot Ekpene road, in Umuahia North Local Government Area of the state. The slain young man was said to be a cousin of the bride.

Completely Drunk Policeman Séxually Assaults 9 Women

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A policeman allegedly teamed up with his friend and assaulted nine suspected commercial séx workers on Christmas Eve.Robert Richards (25) stationed at Police Protection Unit and his friend Polite Shonhiwa (24) from Zimbabwe have since been arrested and appeared in court. They were charged with seven counts of assault, public indecency and another of attempted rape.The magistrate remanded the duo in custody till January 18 for trial. The prosecutor alleges that on Christmas Eve last year, the pair was at Makoni shopping centre drinking beer. He said they later went to Unit G hostels looking for commercial séx workers.

Three Sons Slain, Daughter Dies Of Shock, Mother Follows: One Household's Tragedy

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Three sons of Chief Essien Akpabio and Mrs. Atim Akpabio, siblings of a prominent Nigerian movies producer and gospel musician, Evangelist Helen Ukpabio, of Mente Village, Nkari Clan, were allegedly killed on March 25 last year by a security team consisting of the State Security Service (SSS) agents on the same day, Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state. 

The family had also lost a daughter a few days later who died from shock after learning about what happened to her brothers. While the family were yet to comprehend the reason why fate should treat them that way, they never envisaged that the another misfortune will befall them soon again.