400 Nigerian prisoners transferred from Thailand

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Abuja- The Controller-General of the Nigeria Prisons Service, Mr Zakari Ibrahim, on Thursday said the Service had transferred 400 Nigerians serving prison terms in Thailand, for various offences to the country.

Ibrahim who made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja said the prisoners were transferred through a working treaty between Nigeria and Thailand.

He said that the prisoners were transferred between 2004 and 2013, adding that 20 Nigerian prisoners were moved from prisons in Thailand to Kirikiri Maximum prison in 2013.

(Photos) Professor Chinua Achebe Buried !!!

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Prof. Chinua Achebe was buried this afternoon at his country home in Ogidi, Idemili North LGA of Anambra state. His burial was attended by president Goodluck Jonathan, Ghana’s President John Mahama, all governors of Eastern states (minus Sullivan Chime of Enugu state), governor Emmanuel Iduaghan of Delta state and members of the international community of writers.

See more photos after the Break

President Jonathan condemns terror attack in Britain

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Find the State House Press Release below...

President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed shock at the terrorist attack and killing of a British soldier, Drummer Lee Rigby of the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in the Woolwich area of London, United Kingdom; and strongly condemns this unfortunate incident.

He conveys his sincere condolences to the British Prime Minister David Cameron and the British people over this senseless and barbaric act, and shares their grief at this moment.

President Jonathan notes that a terrorist attack anywhere is an attack on the way of life of all free nations and must be collectively condemned by all persons irrespective of race, ethnicity or religion.
It is in this spirit that the Nigerian government is partnering with the British Government, as well as all other stakeholder sovereigns to stand up to and fight terrorism and extremism in whatever guise or pretense it chooses to present itself.

On Buhari's Call for the President's Resignation - By Reno Omokri

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Reno Omokri is Special Assistant to President Jonathan on New Media. Read his response below...

Reading the interview Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) gave to Daily Trust which was published on Wednesday the 22nd of May 2013, I am compelled to raise historical issues that put the former military Head of State's words in perspective. 

Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) blamed President Jonathan for the insurgency occasioned by the militant sect, Jamā'a Ahl al-sunnah li-da'wa wa al-jihād, commonly referred to as Boko Haram and asked President Jonathan to resign saying “Jonathan should vacate and give way to competent hand to govern the country”.

Buhari further said “When the Niger Delta militants started their activities in the South-South, they were invited by the late President Umaru Yar’adua.

An aircraft was sent to them and their leaders met with the late President in Aso Rock and discussed issues. They were given money and a training scheme was introduced for their members. But when the Boko Haram emerged in the north members of the sect were killed”.

The British Nigerian Woolwich killer - Michael Adebolajo

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 One of the Woolwich killers has been identified as a British Nigerian man named ‘Michael 'Muhajid' Adebolajo’, whose father has been identified as 56 year old Nigerian trained nurse named Anthony Adebolajo. This is the last thing we need now. A Daily Mail article suggests that there's now a high threat of terrorism from Nigeria. Read it below...

Sources today named one of the suspects as Michael Adebolajo (pictured above) who, along with his fellow alleged killer, is a British citizen who converted to a radical form of Islam. They are not thought to have links to terror groups based in Nigeria, such as the jihadist militant organisation Boko Haram. The Foreign Office warns of a high threat from terrorism in the West African nation and raises the prospect of a risk of retaliatory attacks following the French intervention in Mali.

The other killer may also be Nigerian though he has not been formally identified. Continue After The Break

Identity of British soldier hacked down at Woolwich revealed

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The British soldier hacked down yesterday in broad day light by two Islamist fanatics has been identified as 25 year old Lee Rigby.  According to the UK Daily Mail, Rigby had recently fought in Afghanistan and was walking towards the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, south-east London, yesterday afternoon, when he was run down by a car on the pavement and hacked to death by the two men.
Lee Rigby was married and had a 2 year old son.

Why Jonathan Ordered Release Of Boko Haram Suspects – Okupe

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The presidency on Wednesday explained its decision to authorise the release of women, children and other suspected Boko Haram members currently being detained by Nigeria’s security agencies.

Suspected members of Boko Haram sect in court during a trial
The Nigerian military on Tuesday said it had received a directive from President Goodluck Jonathan to release all the women being held in connection with insurgent activities.

The Senior Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the President, Doyin Okupe, said in a statement on Wednesday that the release is part of the recommendation of the Presidential Committee on dialogue and peace in Northern Nigeria.

Viewer Discretion Advised: Woman bathed with acid by rejected lover

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23 year old Blessing Ikhumhi, a student of Edo State School of Health Technology was bathed with acid by her ex-boyfriend Cyril Okosun after she ended things with him.

According to the story by Guardian, On March 23rd 2013, Cyril asked to speak with Blessing after she ended their relationship and thinking he wanted to talk reconciliation, she agreed to see him. He visited her house and as she went out to talk to him, he bathed her with acid.

Blessing is now blind in both eyes and battling to stay alive at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City where she is a patient.  Read Blessing's account of what happened after the Break.

Suspected killers of Kwara state police commissioner arrested

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Seven suspected killers of late Kwara state commissioner of police, Chinwike Asadu, have been arrested by the police. The announcement was made today by the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, who also said the arms used by the killers were also recovered.

"We have arrested seven of those behind the killing of CP Chinwike Asadu. His killing was indeed a sad incident and that's why when I visited the after the incident I made a promise that we shall stop at nothing to get those behind the dastardly act. I am glad to tell Nigerians that of those who took part in the killing, seven have been arrested and arraigned before a court.

These are the seven persons charged for murder: Ogechukwu Uzoh, Ogechukwu Nnadi, Ugwuoke Obiora, Okwuosa Anthony, Chukwudi Enete, David Elvis Aja and Amobi Nnamchi.

The late commissioner was shot dead in Enugu on Saturday March 2nd

Man beheaded in broad day light in Woolwich, South London

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A man, believed to be a serving soldier, was attacked and beheaded with a machete in broad day light this afternoon in Woolwich, South London by two men in what is suspected to be a terror attack.

The soldier was attacked with knives and meat cleavers following a car crash. Two black men in a blue Vauxhall car rammed into the soldier on John Wilson Street, then jumped out of their car and started attacking him with meat cleavers. An eye witness said the attackers were "chopping this guy to pieces, literally hacking at something like it was a piece of meat".

It is claimed that the men shouted 'Allahu Akbar', which means God is great in Arabic before attacking. After the attack, the men then waited for about 20 minutes for police to show up and then tried to attack the officers. They were shot by police. One (or both) of them is believed to be alive.

@Boya Dee witnessed the beheading and shared what he saw on his Twitter page.

 

See the rest of his tweets after the Break...

Woolwich attack on video: Killer speaks...

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Attack on soldier in Woolwich, UK. Attacker claims that this is in revenge for violence in 'our lands".

Click Here To Read The full Story Here

Police shoot and kill naked student inside University [PICTURED]

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A naked student was shot and killed by police at Alabama college, according to reports. A campus police officer fatally shot the naked student after he was acting erratically and in a threatening manner at the University of South Alabama.
The shooting occurred after officers heard knocking at a window at the campus police station after 1 am. An officer went to investigate and found Gilbert Thomas Collar, an 18-year-old freshman from Wetumpka, Alabama naked and acting erratically, according to information posted on the school website. The message described Collar as muscular.

Terrible Accident On 3rd Mainland Bridge

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Am accident just occurred along 3rd mainland bridge. A truck overloaded with tomatoes, watermelons and other fruits has just tumbled with the fruits falling all over. The passengers appear to be safe - thankfully. The traffic is building gradually but the authorities are already on ground to control the situation .

Building collapse: Lagos bans construction on weekends, public holidays

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Following cases collapsed buildings in recent times in Lagos State, the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola said yesterday that it would no longer tolerate building construction on weekends and public holidays.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the activities of his ministry in the last one year.

This, according to him, is to check unscrupulous developers and building contractors who secretly engage in construction of buildings at night, weekends and public holidays in a bid to dodge building and control agents.

The commissioner also said the government would impose appropriate sanctions on owners of about 407 abandoned buildings across the state.

Achebe, no father of African literature — Soyinka

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As celebrated author, Chinua Achebe’s final burial rites hold this week, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka in this exclusive interview with Sahara Reporters paid tribute to the famous author but says he(Achebe) is not the father of African literature. Soyinka, who won the 1986 Nobel Prize for literature, also spoke on his personal relationship with Achebe and other Nigerian writers; his regrets about Achebe’s last book, There Was A Country: A Personal History of Biafra; and his attempt to talk the late Biafran leader, Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, out of fighting a war

Do you recall where or how you first learned about the death of Professor Chinua Achebe? And what was your first reaction?

Where I heard the news? I was on the road between Abeokuta and Lagos. Who called first – BBC or a Nigerian journalist? Can’t recall now, since other calls followed fast and furious, while I was still trying to digest the news. My first reaction? Well, you know the boa constrictor – when it has just swallowed an abnormal morsel, it goes comatose, takes time off to digest. Today’s global media appears indifferent to such a natural entitlement. You are expected to supply that instant response. So, if – as was the case – my first response was to be stunned, that swiftly changed to anger.

Senate Approves State Of Emergency In Borno, Yobe And Adamawa

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The Nigerian Senate has approved the state of emergency declared last week in three states believed to be the epicentre of Islamist insurgency in the country.

The Senate, after a closed-door session with 100 members (out of the 109 members), approved unanimously by a voice vote the official gazette of the state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, transmitted to it by President Goodluck Jonathan.

“We, therefore, approve Mr. President’s request for a declaration of state of emergency,” said Senate President, David Mark, after the voice vote.

Nasarawa Mass Killing: 25 Missing Policemen Found Buried In Mass Grave

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SUSPECTED OMBATSE MEMBERS PARADED
ALONGSIDE THEIR CHARMS & WEAPONS

The death toll of policemen killed by members of the Ombatse cult in Nasarawa State has risen to 72 following the discovery of the bodies of 25 policemen that had been hitherto declared missing in a mass grave in an unnamed village in the state.Earlier, in a joint briefing, security authorities had confirmed 57 operatives, comprising 47 policemen and 10 agents of the State Security Service (SSS), killed in the ambush that took place on May 7 when they were on a mission to a village in Nasarawa State.

Following the bloody attack, the 25 policemen were declared missing because their bodies could not be found to confirm if they were dead or alive coupled with the fact that their whereabouts was unknown.

Incredible: Man Kills 18ft Snake In Florida (Photos)

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A Miami man briefly wrestled with and ultimately used a knife to kill a Burmese python measuring 18 feet, 8 inches.

That sets a state record for pythons captured or killed in the wild. The previous record measured 17 feet, 7 inches.

Jason Leon was not hunting pythons but, while driving late at night recently in southeast Miami-Dade County, he and a friend spotted about 3 feet of snake protruding from the brush.
Leon applied the brakes, climbed out of the car, grabbed the visible portion of the snake, and began hauling it onto the road.

The giant constrictor responded by trying to wrap its body around one of Leon’s legs, but he was able to dispatch the reptile with a knife.

Burmese pythons are native to grassy marshes of Southeast Asia and can grow to about 23 feet and weigh up to about 200 pounds.
In Florida, where they’ve been released as pets and escaped from wildlife facilities, there are thousands of them, mostly within the Everglades ecosystem.

As such a large and voracious invasive species, they’re a threat to native wildlife. The state would like to eradicate them, if that were possible.

Leon, meanwhile, is being praised.

Human Parts Available For sale: Live human N40,000, Head N8,000, Private Parts 10,000

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Emotions ran high, Tuesday, at Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, following startling revelations by suspected members of three syndicates, who specialised in selling human parts to herbalists and persons suspected to be clerics.

The suspects told a bewildered crowd that human heads were sold for N8,000; hands, N4,000 and private parts N10,000.

One of them, Agboola Kolawole, who blamed his indulgence on poverty and inability to pay his children’s school fees, disclosed that he had so far sold four heads of his deceased siblings to a herbalist, who in turn sold to some persons they identified simply as Alhajis.

Video: Nigeria Has Africa’s Highest Rate Of Investment Returns – Aganga

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The Minister of Trade and Investment Olusegun Aganga has stated that Nigeria is in a unique position with the highest rate of returns on investment in Africa.

This he claims was made possible because the nation’s macro-economic stability is much stronger than most developing countries in Africa and this in 2012 made Nigeria become the highest destination for investment in Africa, attracting investment of about $8.6billion, with an increase of about 46 percent growth and investment.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Business Morning, the Minister explained that according to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) result, the total foreign investments in Nigeria as at 2012 is in excess of $16billion, compared to $7.9billion in 2011.