ISLAMIC
terrorist group Boko Haram has issued a chilling and audacious warning to the
people of Chibok that it will revisit their town again soon to carry out more
abductions and unleash violence on them.
On April 14, Boko Haram visited Chibok and kidnapped 234 pupils from
Government Girls Secondary School in the town and has held them ever since.
Earlier this month, it then followed up the abduction with another audacious
raid in the nearby village of Garkin Fulani, where it kidnapped 20 women,
ordering them into their vehicles at gunpoint and driving them off to an unknown
location.
Emboldened by the audacity with which it has been able to operate, Boko Haram
has now written to Chibok, warning the town's leader that it will be returning
soon. One Chibok Local Government Area official, said that in the letter, the
insurgents warned the town that it would soon be visited with terror.
He added that the letter had been shown to police authorities who assured
them of maximum protection. According to the official, in spite of the
assurances by the police, the people of Chibok were living in great fear of Boko
Haram.
"Everyone in the local government area believes that the sect cannot
be pocketed by security men and the letter has further worsened their fear.
Whenever Boko Haram tells you that they are coming, they will never fail to do
so.
"Our fear now is that, we don’t know when and how they are going to come but
our people are in great fear. We are calling for prayers as well as on
government to provide adequate security in Chibok.”
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has repeatedly said that the Koranic laws
on jihad allows him to abduct women and sell them to his fighters as brides.
Women from Chibok and its surrounding areas have been regularly been abducted by
Boko Haram and used as sex slaves to satisfy the lust of its fighters and
leaders.
..............................Courtesy Nigerian Watch
konga
Monday 23 June 2014
Man of the Match
SUPER Eagles match winner match winner Osaze Odemwingie was voted the Budweiser
man-of-the match for his sterling performance against Bosnia-Herzegovina
yesterday that not only some his score but also put in an unbelievable shift for
the team.
Osaze, 32, scored the only goal on the match in the 29th minute after being
fed a cross from workhorse Emmanuel Emenike, beating his Stoke City teammate
Asmir Begovic. Apart from that, Osaze worked tirelessly all night, tracking back
constantly to help the defence, covering every blade of grass on the pitch.
Other Trojans on the night who battled tirelessly for 90 minutes included
Emenike, Ogenyi Onazi, Joseph Yobo, Kenneth Omeruo, Mikel Obi and Efe Ambrose.
Throughout the duration of the game, they all just ran, ran, ran and ran.
However, under Fifa's rating system, Osaze was considered man-of-the-match
after receiving more votes than anyone else from the watching public. After the
game, Osaze paid tribute to his Bosnian friends, which not only included Begovic
but their skipper and centreback Emir Spahic, who he played with at Spartak
Moscow.
Osaze said: "Begovic is a great guy,who knows I have a good shot and I tried
to shoot a few times today. I'm sure he is going to tell me off when I get back
to Stoke.
I had to do it for my country but I was so happy to see him on this stage and
I exchanged shirts with him at the end of the game. Saving shots from close
distance is one of the stronger sides of his game.”
He also paid tribute to Spahic, saying he was proud to see his former team
mate, who is very good in the air, captain his country. In Nigeria's opening
match against Iran, Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi was voted man-of-the-match.
Wednesday 11 June 2014
Windows Phone is getting an incredibly cool feature that iOS and Android can’t match
While Kinect has not yet proven to be an essential must-have for gamers who own Microsoft’s Xbox consoles, it could be extremely useful if ported to the smartphone realm. Among other things, Warren says that Kinect in Windows Phone will let you answer your phone just by holding up to your ear and to turn on speaker phone just by placing your phone down on the table when you’re on a call with someone. You’ll also be able to end your call by putting your phone into your pocket, as Kinect will be able to automatically tell what you’d like to do based on lighting and positioning.
According to Warren, Microsoft has an ambitious longterm goal with this new 3D Touch technology: The elimination of as many smartphone buttons as possible. This means that, for instance, Microsoft wants to be able to “remove buttons like power, so phone owners can simply grip their device to power it on.”
Warren says Microsoft will first unveil these new Kinect-enabled Windows Phone features on a device that’s now codenamed the Nokia McLaren that will essentially be Microsoft’s successor to the Lumia 1020, which made its name last year for having the best smartphone camera the world has ever seen. While the devil is always in the details with this sort of thing and Microsoft needs to make sure 3D Touch works well right out of the box, we’re certainly excited to see this new feature in action.
This article was originally published on BGR.com
Boston Twins Born 24 Days Apart
Lindalva Pinheiro da Silva was just 24 weeks pregnant with twin boys when her water broke.
“I panicked,” said 35-year-old da Silva, recalling the afternoon in early March that her life turned upside down. “It wasn’t time. It was too early. I knew I could lose the babies.”
Doctors at Tufts Medical Center in Boston did everything they could to delay da Silva’s labor. Considered the threshold of "viability," an estimated 50 percent of babies born at 24 weeks don't survive, and those who do are at risk for a host of health problems. But four days later, Alexandre was born. He weighed 745 grams –- roughly 1 pound, 10 ounces.
Da Silva said her husband, Ronaldo Antunes, could hold his son in the palm of his hand.
“They brought him to me to give him a kiss,” said da Silva, recalling the whirlwind delivery after just three painless pushes. “He was crying, but he was very tiny and I was very scared. I said to my husband, ‘He’s too tiny.’”
Da Silva stayed in the delivery room as her son was whisked away to the neonatal intensive care unit, but the second twin didn’t come. The contractions waned, and da Silva’s once-dilated cervix closed back up.
“They said, ‘Maybe you’ll deliver in hour or a day or one week,” she said, recalling how a team of doctors listed the benefits of keeping “Baby B” inside. “They said, ‘The longer he stays inside, the more he will grow.'”
Courtesy Lindalva da SilvaAs Alexandre grew in an incubator down the hall, his twin brother Ronaldo grew inside the womb that the pair once shared. Da Silva took antibiotics to fight off infections, since Alexandre’s umbilical cord and placenta were still inside her.
“On the second day after Alexandre was born, his umbilical cord came out,” da Silva said, recalling how her horrified husband “saw it hanging.” “But they just cleaned it and put it back inside.”
ABC News’ senior medical contributor Dr. Jennifer Ashton, a practicing OB/GYN, who once delivered a set of twins seven weeks apart, said mothers need to be monitored “very closely for early signs of infection.”
“The mother is the best place for a preterm baby to develop unless there is evidence of infection,” she said. “Then, we have a saying: It’s better to deliver a very premature baby than to deliver a very premature and infected baby.”
Thankfully, da Silva remained healthy. She was able to walk back and forth between her room in the maternity ward and the NICU.
“I would sing to him and touch him,” she said of her visits with Alexandre.
Three weeks after her first delivery, da Silva started having contractions again. This time, labor was neither quick nor painless. But born at 3 pounds, 3 ounces, baby Ronaldo was bigger and stronger than his brother, thanks to an extra 24 days inside.
“That time made a crazy difference,” said da Silva. “He was born like a regular baby. He didn’t need a breathing tube or anything.”
Now, three months later, the twins weigh more than 6 pounds each.
“They’re my miracle babies,” said da Silva of her growing boys. “Ronaldo because he stayed inside, and Alexandre because he’s a survivor.”
Da Silva admits that the first few months of motherhood have been far from easy.
“There were times when I would cry a lot,” she said. “But I just had to tell myself it’s in God’s hands now. There’s nothing we can do but just pray and believe.”
Alexandre is still a bit smaller than his brother, and doctors say he might need surgery down the road for eye problems and a hernia. But da Silva said she hopes the pair will be able to leave the hospital next week –- right around their June 18 due date.
“I’ve got everything ready,” said da Silva. “I can’t wait. I go to sleep thinking about them.”
Courtesy Yahoo News...
Escaped teenager believes Boko Haram leader Shekau is the father of her child
TEENAGER Meenah
Dawah has revealed that Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau may be the father of
her baby as she was held captive by the terrorist group for 27 months during
which time the extremist repeatedly had sex with her.
Meenah, who escaped when the Nigerian Army attacked a Boko Haram camp early
this year, was just 17 years old when she was forced to watch her parents being
shot dead by the Boko Haram insurgents in her village Konduga in Borno State.
During the raid, she was abducted but managed to escape after 27 months with a
baby she claims may belong to Shekau.
According to Meena, while she was in captivity, she had to care for children
born to Boko Haram commanders and members, She added that she constantly heard
girls scream as they were raped and in some cases watched some of them being
tortured for refusing to change their faith.
Furthermore, she described how on occasions some top leaders of Boko Haram
would come into the camp where she was being held and she would be asked to
entertain them. It was on such visits she insists that Boko Haram leader
Abubakar Shekau slept with her.
Meena added: “He would just appear from nowhere like a ghost and would be
panicking all the time, issuing instructions. He is a softly spoken man and it
is almost as if he whispers, so if you are meeting him for the first time, you
would never be scared of him.
“But I soon learned that after every whisper something dangerous would happen
somewhere in Nigeria. Some of the camps have everything, electricity, water and
television, with different kind of electronics."
Revealing more about the nature of the modus operandi of Boko Haram, Meena
added that Shekau would constantly ask captured girls to join the armed
insurgency. She added that Shekau has many children from a lot of different
women, who were all captured in Boko Haram raids.
“He once asked me if I was willing to fight for the cause, to which I
answered no and he told me I could be a fighter or a domestic slave. I didn’t
want to speak to him in case what I said offended him as all it would take was
one wrong word and he would have had me killed.
“We moved a lot and depending on the camp and my role varied and it was so
tough travelling around with a baby strapped to my back. Some of us women would
go to Maiduguri to buy things when we have shortages and a commander or two
would follow us and we also acted as decoy when villages were ambushed, Meena
added.
Adding that they were constantly used as pawns when fighting began, Menna
added that she would be sent to villages talk to people and then the fighters
would come behind her and start killing. She added that some of the abducted
girls would also have to carry guns and bombs or even rocket-propelled grenade
launchers.
Meenah managed to escape when she was badly wounded after the Nigerian army
attacked Boko Haram's camp and was left for dead. After having the bullet
removed from her leg, she said her sole surviving relative, an uncle, has not
receive her warmly because he is ashamed of my child whose paternity is not only
questionable but could be Shekau's.
Shekau has repeatedly said that under Islamic law, girls captured in jihadist
raids can be used as sex slaves or married off to Mujahedeen fighters. he has
already threatened to marry off the 234 schoolgirls abducted from Government
Girls Secondary School Chibok on April 14.
Courtesy Nigerian News Watch.....
Tuesday 10 June 2014
Super Eagles assure fans that they will bounce back from US loss at World Cup
MEMBERS of the Super
Eagles have assured Nigerian football fans that they will correct the lapses in
the team that resulted in them suffering a 1-2 loss to Team USA on Friday before
their World Cup campaign begins next week.
During a lacklustre display that saw the team lack any spirit, cutting edge
or fight, the Super Eagles were totally outfought on Friday and conceded two
avoidable goals. Although they got a late penalty that ensured the game ended
1-2, Team USA totally dominated the match and could have won by a higher
margin.
Coming on the back of two previous average performances that involved playing
a 2-2 draw with Scotland and a 0-0 draw with Greece, the poor performance has
raised doubts about how ready the team is for the World Cup. Fans have begun
questioning whether the Eagles can attain the goal of at least reaching the
quarter finals of the World Cup but the players have said they will not let the
nation down.
Speaking on behalf of his teammates, defender Godfrey Oboabona said he is
disappointed by the two goals conceded in the 1-2 loss to the US, blaming it on
a lack of communication. Both goals were scored by Sunderland striker Joze
Altidore, who was left unmarked for the first and beat skipper Joseph Yobo for
the second.
Oboabona said: “I think it was a lack of communication that led to the two
goals because these are the kind of goals that for the last two years I have not
seen us concede. I am not the kind of player that criticises another player
because everybody makes mistakes and nobody is perfect but I think we will have
to work and communicate well.”
Friday's loss ended an eight-game unbeaten run for the Super Eagles and the
players are hoping to resume their winning ways when their World Cup starts on
June 16 in Curitiba against Iran. Training has already resumed and the team is
due to arrive in Brazil this week, where it is expected to play one more
warm,-up match before the tournament starts.
Oboabona added: “I’m a bit disappointed but not too disappointed because the
major purpose of being here is to identify our weaknesses. It is better we lose
today than get to the World Cup and lose and I think everybody has to learn from
this.
“Individually, we have to fight, we have to work hard and when we lose the
ball, we have to come back. We are not putting as much seriousness or commitment
as we used to do before but we will have to talk to ourselves so we know what we
have to do.”
Alhaji Shehu Adamu, a member of the Nigerian Football Federation's board and
a former Kaduna State sports commissioner, added that despite the loss, the
Super Eagles’ final preparation for the World Cup was still on track. He pointed
out that what the Eagles had achieved over the last two years was beyond the
loss to the US.
“We believe coach Stephen Keshi has selected the best for Nigeria and also
for the continent and I have no doubt in my mind that Nigeria will do well at
the 2014 World Cup. Keshi has only lost one match out of the friendly matches
the team played in preparation for the World Cup, yet people are still
criticising him.
“You can’t judge the team by the friendlies and how many friendly matches
they have won, drawn or lost. So, if you go by that statistics, we are in a
better place to say that we have a team that is going to do well in Brazil.,"
Alhaji Adamu added.
He said every other need for the team’s success in Brazil, especially the
funds, have been released by the government. According to Alhaji Adamu, the only
way to justify the government’s support for football was for the Super Eagles to
surpass their previous World Cup record.
Courtesy Nigerian News watch....
Boko Haram steps up its capturing of sex slaves with the abduction of 20 more girls
BOKO Haram have
stepped up its campaign to keep abducting young females as part of a plan to
provide sex slaves with its fighters with the recent kidnapping of 20 young
women from a nomadic settlement in Borno State.
Nearly two months ago, the terrorist sect abducted about 234 schoolgirls from
Government Girls Secondary School Chibok in Borno State on April 14. It recently
returned to the area and seized 20 young women who have been whisked off to an
unknown location in a manner similar to what happened to the Chibok
schoolgirls.
According to eyewitness reports, the Fulani women were taken after the
assailants attacked a settlement known as Garkin Fulani. After the raid, they
ordered the women into their vehicles at gunpoint and drove them off to an
unknown location.
Alhaji Tar, a member of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, said: “We got the
information that they went there and took away the women at the time none of the
males were present. The three young men they met there could not help the women,
as the gunmen also ordered the three of them to enter the Hilux vans and took
all of them away.”
Meanwhile, military commanders have claimed that troops from the Seventh
Division of the Nigerian Army, killed over 50 Boko Haram terrorists in Bita
village of Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State over the weekend.
According to the Nigerian high command, the terrorists were on their way to
attack some villages in Borno and Adamawa States when they were attacked.
Major General Chris Olukolade, the director of defence information, said:
“Troops conducting anti-terrorists campaign in northeastern Nigeria have
successfully averted attempted raids on villages in Borno and Adamawa States
over the weekend. The terrorists, who were on their way to attack selected
communities, were ambushed by troops along Bilta, Borno State, after they
received intelligence reports of their intentions.
“Over 50 terrorists died in the fierce encounter that ensued, while 30
rifles, 36 hand grenades, seven machine guns and 11 rocket-propelled grenade
tubes were captured by the troops. Also recovered from the terrorists were over
3,500 rounds of ammunition, six smoke grenade canisters, locally fabricated guns
and four vehicles."
He added that the attack was launched as the terrorists filed out of the
forest to embark on their mission at about 10pm on Saturday. According to Major
General Olukolade, four soldiers were injured in the operation and are currently
receiving medical treatment at a military facility.
Courtesy Nigerian News watch....
14 Bad Habits That Drain Your Energy
Lack of sleep isn't the only thing sapping your energy.
Little things you do (and don't do) can exhaust you both mentally and physically, which can make getting through your day a chore.
Here, experts reveal common bad habits that can make you feel tired, plus simple lifestyle tweaks that will put the pep back in your step.
You skip exercise when you're tired
Skipping your workout to save energy actually works against you.
In a University of Georgia study, sedentary but otherwise healthy adults who began exercising lightly three days a week for as little as 20 minutes at a time reported feeling less fatigued and more energized after six weeks.
Regular exercise boosts strength and endurance, helps make your cardiovascular system run more efficiently, and delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. So next time you're tempted to crash on the couch, at least go for a brisk walk—you won't regret it.
11 Surprising Health Benefits of Sleep
You don't drink enough water
Being even slightly dehydrated—as little as 2% of normal fluid loss—takes a toll on energy levels, says Amy Goodson, RD, a dietitian for Texas Health Ben Hogan Sports Medicine.
Dehydration causes a reduction in blood volume, explains Goodson, which makes the blood thicker. This requires your heart to pump less efficiently, reducing the speed at which oxygen and nutrients reach your muscles and organs.
To calculate your normal fluid needs, take your weight in pounds, divide in half and drink that number of ounces of fluid a day, Goodson recommends.
You're not consuming enough iron
An iron deficiency can leave you feeling sluggish, irritable, weak, and unable to focus.
"It makes you tired because less oxygen travels to the muscles and cells," says Goodson.
Boost your iron intake to reduce your risk of anemia: load up on lean beef, kidney beans, tofu, eggs (including the yolk), dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, and peanut butter, and pair them with foods high in vitamin C (vitamin C improves iron absorption when eaten together), suggests Goodson.
Note: an iron deficiency may be due to an underlying health problem, so if you're experiencing these symptoms of iron deficiency, you should visit your doc.
You're a perfectionist
Striving to be perfect—which, let's face it, is impossible—makes you work much harder and longer than necessary, says Irene S. Levine, PhD, professor of psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine.
"You set goals that are so unrealistic that they are difficult or impossible to achieve, and in the end, there is no sense of self-satisfaction."
Levine recommends setting a time limit for yourself on your projects, and taking care to obey it. In time, you'll realize that the extra time you were taking wasn't actually improving your work.
You make mountains out of molehills
If you assume that you're about to get fired when your boss calls you into an unexpected meeting, or you're too afraid to ride your bike because you worry you'll get into an accident, then you're guilty of "catastrophizing," or expecting that the worst-case scenario will always occur. This anxiety can paralyze you and make you mentally exhausted, says Levine.
When you catch yourself having these thoughts, take a deep breath and ask yourself how likely it is that the worst really will happen. Getting outdoors, meditating, exercising, or sharing your concerns with a friend may help you better cope and become more realistic.
12 Signs You May Have an Anxiety Disorder
You skip breakfast
The food you eat fuels your body, and when you sleep, your body continues using what you consumed at dinner the night before to keep your blood pumping and oxygen flowing. So, when you wake up in the morning, you need to refuel with breakfast. Skip it, and you'll feel sluggish.
"Eating breakfast is like starting a fire in your body by kickstarting your metabolism," Goodson says.
Goodson recommends a breakfast that includes whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fat. Good examples include oatmeal with protein powder and a dab of peanut butter; a smoothie made with fruit, protein powder, low-fat milk, and almond butter; or eggs with two slices of whole-wheat toast and low-fat Greek yogurt.
You live on junk food
Foods loaded with sugar and simple carbs (like the ones you'll find in a box or at the drive-thru window) rank high on the glycemic index (GI), an indicator of how rapidly carbohydrates increase blood sugar. Constant blood sugar spikes followed by sharp drops cause fatigue over the course of the day, says Goodson.
Keep blood sugar steady by having a lean protein along with a whole grain at every meal, says Goodson. Good choices include chicken (baked, not fried) and brown rice, salmon and sweet potato, or salad with chicken and fruit.
You have trouble saying 'no'
People-pleasing often comes at the expense of your own energy and happiness. To make matters worse, it can make you resentful and angry over time. So whether it's your kid's coach asking you to bake cookies for her soccer team or your boss seeing if you can work on a Saturday, you don't have to say yes.
Train yourself to say 'no' out loud, suggests Susan Albers, a licensed clinical psychologist with Cleveland Clinic and author of Eat.Q.: Unlock the Weight-Loss Power of Emotional Intelligence.
"Try it alone in your car," she says. "Hearing yourself say the word aloud makes it easier to say it when the next opportunity calls for it."
You have a messy office
A cluttered desk mentally exhausts you by restricting your ability to focus and limits your brain's ability to process information, according to a Princeton University study.
"At the end of each day, make sure your work and personal items are organized and put away," suggests Lombardo. "It will help you have a positive start to your day the next morning."
If your office needs major reorganizing, avoid becoming totally overwhelmed by taking it one step at a time: start by tidying what you can see, then move through your desk and cabinets drawer by drawer.
You work through vacation
Checking your email when you should be relaxing by the pool puts you at risk of burnout, says Lombardo. Unplugging and allowing yourself to truly unwind allows your mind and body to rejuvenate and return to the office stronger. "When you truly take breaks, you will be more creative, productive, and effective when you return," says Lombardo.
You have a glass of wine (or two) before bed
A nightcap sounds like a good way to unwind before falling asleep, but it can easily backfire. Alcohol initially depresses the central nervous system, producing a sedative effect, says Allen Towfigh, MD, medical director of New York Neurology & Sleep Medicine, P.C., in New York City. "But it ultimately sabotages sleep maintenance."
Alcohol creates a rebound effect as it's metabolized, which creates an abrupt surge in the adrenaline system, he says. This is why you're more likely to wake up in the middle of the night after you've been drinking. Dr. Towfigh recommends stopping all alcohol three to four hours before bedtime.
You check e-mails at bedtime
The glaring light of a tablet, smartphone, or your computer's backlit screen can throw off your body's natural circadian rhythm by suppressing melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate sleep and wake cycles, says Dr. Towfigh. Sensitivity to the digital glow of tech toys can vary from person to person, but in general it's a good idea to avoid all technology for one to two hours before bedtime, he says.
Can't avoid checking your device before your head hits the pillow? Then hold it at least 14 inches away from your face to reduce the risk of sleep interference.
12 Surprising Sources of Caffeine
You rely on caffeine to get through the day
Starting your morning with a java jolt is no big deal—in fact, studies show that up to three daily cups of coffee is good for you—but using caffeine improperly can seriously disrupt your sleep-wake cycle, says Dr. Towfigh.
Caffeine blocks adenosine, the byproduct of active cells that drives you to sleep as it accumulates, he explains. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine revealed that consuming caffeine even six hours prior to bedtime affects sleep, so cut yourself off by mid-afternoon and watch out for these surprising sources of caffeine.
You stay up late on weekends
Monday 9 June 2014
The Real Secret To Bill Gates’ Success
The Real Secret To Bill Gates’ Success
Bill Gates is the richest person in the world. How?
He is incredibly demanding. He is incredibly smart. He is an incredible negotiator and salesmen. He has vision. He has passion for what he does.
But, if you ask him, that’s not what he points to as the secret to his success. So then what is?
“The key for us, number one, has always been hiring very smart people,” Gates has been quoted as saying. “If we weren’t still hiring great people and pushing ahead at full speed, it would be easy to fall behind and become some mediocre company.”
Others Agree
Is Bill Gates alone on this idea? Hardly. Listen to some of these quotes from some of the world’s most successful people.
Steve Jobs: “I noticed that the dynamic range between what an average person could accomplish and what the best person could accomplish was 50 or 100 to 1.Given that, you’re well advised to go after the cream of the cream….A small team of A+ players can run circles around a giant team of B and C players.”
Paul Russell: “Development can help great people be even better – but if I had a dollar to spend, I’d spend 70 cents getting the right person in the door.”
Warren Buffet: “Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if you don’t have the first, the other two will kill you. You think about it; it’s true. If you hire somebody without [integrity], you really want them to be dumb and lazy.”
And again, our friend Mr. Gates, with our favorite quote:
Bill Gates: “I choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.”
This article was syndicated from Business 2 Community
Courtesy Yahoo News ....
Professor Dora Akunyili passes away in Indian hospital after long battle with cancer
FORMER communications
minister Professor Dora Akunyili has finally given up the ghost passing away
yesterday in an Indian hospital after a long and protracted battle with
cancer.
Over recent months, Professor Akunyili has battled with ill-health and was
flown to the US for treatment earlier this year. She returned to participate in
the ongoing National Conference, to which she was a delegate but on May 10,
during the summit had to be flown out to India for treatment where she finally
gave up the ghost.
Former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, visited Professor Akunyili in India
and upon his return said she was responding well to treatment. However, last
night, Governor Obi issued a statement confirming that the former minister and
chairman of Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and
Control (Nafdaq), is no more.
Governor Obi said: "On behalf of the Akunyili family, I wish to officially
confirm the death of Professor (Mrs) Dora Nkem Akunyili, OFR, in a Specialist
Cancer Hospital in India this morning at 10 am, Nigerian Time, after a two-year
battle with cancer. In spite her illness, Professor Akunyili was unwavering in
her belief in a better Nigeria, which was why she defied her condition and was
part of Anambra State Handover Committee and the National Conference.
"The last time I visited her in India, even when she needed all the prayers
herself, she was full of concern for the abducted Chibok girls, security and
other challenges facing the country and told me that she remained prayerful for
the release of those girls and for God to help President Goodluck Jonathan to
overcome all the challenges facing the nation. She therefore urged all Nigerians
to remain prayerful and committed to building a better society for our children.
"
Professor Akunyili, who began the fight against counterfeit drugs in Nigeria
when she was the Nafdaq chairman unsuccessfully ran for senate in 2011 on the
platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (Apga). Many pharmaceutical
traders who has made millions from the trade in fake drugs had openly campaigned
against her and funded the campaigns of her opponent.
In December 2010, Professor Akunyili left her job as a minister and quit the
ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) to join Apga because her husband could no
longer accept the violent nature of the party in Anambra State. According to
Professor Akunyili, after attending a local party meeting together and
witnessing the violence, her husband gave a choice between their marriage and
the PDP.
Courtesy Nigerian News Watch....
Escaped Chibok girls reveal that they were raped by 15 Boko Haram fighters a day
TRAUMA experts
working with some of the Government Girls Secondary School Chibok pupils who
managed to escape from Boko Haram's den have revealed shocking news that some of
the girls were raped 15 times a day.
In April 15, Boko Haram abducted 243 girls from the school in Borno State and
whisked them off to unknown locations where they are still being help. However,
some of the girls have managed to escape and have been working with counsellors
and trauma experts since to help rehabilitate them.
Oladimeji Thompson, of The Omoluabi Network, one of the counsellors who has
been working with the escaped girls, said three of them revealed that there was
widespread rape in the camp by Boko Haram fighters. A clergyman, Pastor Thompson
has been interviewing the three girls to find out what they were subjected to
while in the hands of Boko Haram.
Pastor Thompson said: “One of the girls I interviewed was being raped 15
times by 15 men every day. It’s obvious this girl needs to be managed as she
looked confused and she found it hard to talk to me but after much prodding, she
confessed to me that she was raped 15 times by 15 men throughout the time she
was with the Islamic insurgents before she could escape from their den.
“A girl who has been raped by 15 men every day, you say you negotiate and
release a terrorist who will go out and kill more. What negotiators do is to say
that they must not tell their stories, they blanket all the information but in a
situation like this, it is Haram that wins more.”
Pastor Thompson's Omoluabi Network is working with other groups such as the
Unlikely Heroes, a US trauma management specialist and the Gabasawa Women
Initiative, a coalition of women across northern Nigeria established to provide
psychological and emotional support for the escaped girls and their grieving
parents. He called on government not to negotiate with the terrorist group but
explore every other option in rescuing the missing girls.
“The people who are talking about dialogue in the first place don’t
understand that this thing is a merciless, unrelenting, non-negotiating monster.
Those who have studied it globally and locally, know that anybody who says
negotiate is likely a mole that really belongs to Boko Haram, pretending not to
be part of them.
“If you look at the US today, the reason it is a prosperous nation is because
it refused to negotiate with the colonial powers that threatened it. Nigeria
negotiated, look at where we are today," Pastor Thompson added
Courtesy Nigerian News Watch....
Violence erupts in Kano as former CBN governor Sanusi Lamido is named new emir
TROUBLE has
erupted in Kano over the appointment of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
governor Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new emir yesterday with irate youths
starting bonfires across the city protesting the choice.
Yesterday afternoon, the Mallam Sanusi, who was suspended as CBN governor
earlier this year, was announced as the 14th emir of Kano. Alhaji Rabiu
Zakariya, the secretary to the Kano State government, flanked by the four Kano
kingmakers that included the Sarkin Bai, Sarki Dawaki Mai’Tuta, the Madakin Kano
and Makaman Kano, made the announcement, saying that Mallam Sanusi will take
over from the late Alhaji Bayero who died last week.
Alhaji Zakariya said: “I have the honour to announce that after a careful
study of the kingmakers’ selection and advice, we have chosen the former CBN
governor, and the Dan’Majen Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new Emir of
Kano.”
In what was a keenly fought contest, the new emir, defeated the trio of his
uncle and senior counsellor of the Kano Emirate Council, Alhaji Abbas Sanusi;
the late emir’s eldest son and Chiroma Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado Bayero,
and Alhaji Tijjani Hashim. However, as soon as the announcement was made,
violence erupted, with hundreds of irate youths, taking over major streets in
the ancient city protesting Mallam Sanusi’s choice.
Carrying tree branches, sticks and dangerous weapons, the youths chanted war
songs demanding a reversal of the choice. They shouted "Bamaso, Bamaso" meaning
“We don’t want” around the emir’s palace and its immediate environs.
It is believed that the protesters were sympathetic to Alhaji Sanusi Lamido
Ado Bayero, the late emir's son, who had widely been expected to be appointed.
They made a bonfire along major highways and on major streets and their protests
later spread to the Fagge area of the metropolis as well as quarters like
Kuramawa, Soron Dinki, Kofar Nassarawa, Gwale and Chrianchi.
A combined team of soldiers and policemen later dispersed them and a team of
security men was posted around Mallam Sanusi's residence. Government building in
the city were also heavily guarded by troops who had been deployed around
them.
Already, congratulatory messages have begun pouring in for the new emir from
across the country with several governors sending him good wishes. It is not yet
clear if Emir Sanusi will now withdraw his pending court case against the
government challenging his suspension from office as CBN governor following his
appointment
Courtesy Nigeria News Watch....
Female suicide bomber hits Nigerian barracks: witnesses
ABUJA/MAIDUGURI Nigeria (Reuters) - A female suicide bomber killed herself and a soldier outside an army barracks in Nigeria's northeastern city of Gombe on Sunday, the military said, as local leaders reported the death count from a string of earlier militant attacks had reached 110.
No one claimed responsibility for the blast or last week's assaults but Islamist group Boko Haram has set off bombs and killed thousands in its five-year-old bid to carve out an Islamist state in the region.
Soldiers stopped the woman as she tried to get into the barracks with explosives hidden under her robes, defence headquarters said in a statement.
The device went off, killing her and a soldier searching her, it added. "I heard a loud sound and then black smoke covering the place ... We saw soldiers moving bodies," Gombe trader Bello Kasuwankatako told Reuters.
Witnesses had earlier said between three and five people died.
Boko Haram – which dominated world headlines by kidnapping more than 200 schoolgirls in April – has fought back against an army offensive, piling political pressure on President Goodluck Jonathan and the military to end the carnage. Leaders from Gombe's neighbouring state of Borno told journalists on Sunday they had now buried 110 bodies from attacks on nine villages early last week - giving the first detailed breakdown on the casualties. [ID:nL6N0OL43R] "It was a great tragedy. There are still corpses lying in the bushes surrounding the communities. Many of our people that fled to the top of the hills during and after the attacks are still there and now stranded," said Ali Ndume, a senator representing southern Borno.
CIVILIANS EASY TARGETS Boko Haram started off focusing on military and government targets alongside schools - seen as representing corrupt Western influence - churches, and Muslim leaders who do not follow its brand of Islam. It has been increasingly turning its guns on civilians in recent months, particularly after locals started setting up vigilante groups to try and fight back.
It has become the biggest security threat to Africa's biggest economy and oil producer.
Traditional leader Lawan Abba Kaka said they had buried 42 corpses at the village of Attagara, 24 at Aganjara, 20 at Agapalawa and smaller numbers at other settlements - all of them in the Gwoza hills near the border with Cameroon.
"The insurgents came and said they wanted to discuss something with us. They said we need to discuss some issues bordering on our differences in the communities but they opened fire on people who were gathered," said Kaka.
On Wednesday, gunmen rounded up more villagers outside Borno's state capital Maiduguri saying they were going to deliver a sermon, then opened fire, killing at least 42, said a police source.
"It seems they are moving to rural areas," Hannah Donges, a researcher at the Small Arms Survey, told Reuters. "They are easier targets ... It doesn’t need sophisticated tactics. It makes them (Boko Haram) less predictable."
Suspected Boko Haram militants attacked a town in Cameroon's far north on Saturday but local security forces fought them off, killing at least two gunmen, Cameroon's government said. The militant group is also thought to be active in neighbouring Niger and Chad. [ID:nL5N0OP0CW]
The kidnapping of the girls from a secondary school in Borno's town of Chibok triggered a national and international campaign under the Twitter hashtag #BringBackOurGirls, calling on the government to step its efforts to free them.
By Isaac Abrak and Lanre Ola Courtesy Yahoo News..
Tuesday 3 June 2014
Delta State police arrest 26 people suspected of being lesbians in Asaba swoop
POLICE detectives in Delta State have arrested 26 people suspected of being lesbians in a raid on a homosexual hideout in the state capital Asaba in a major clampdown on same sex relationships.
According to the Delta State Police Command, the suspects were picked up at a location around Awai Road Asaba in Asaba. Detective Superintendent Celestina Kalu, a spokesman for the command, confirmed the arrests of, adding they were picked up while allegedly having sex with one another at their hideout.
He added that the suspects were caught naked and upon arrest confessed to the crime during interrogation, claimed they were resorted to homosexuality as a way of eking out a living. Detective Superintendent Kalu said the suspects would be charged to court on completion of the ongoing investigation.
Apparently, their hideout is operated as a pub to ward off suspicion and operators of the spot, which has been running for the last two years, employ thugs who stand sentry at its gates. They then collect fees from those willing to be exposed to the illicit sexual activities at the hideout.
According to the police, teenage girls from neighbouring communities and states reportedly troop to the hideout at night where after smoking and drinking, they engage in sexual acts with patrons who pay them heavily. This latest roundup is part of a general crackdown on homosexual activity across Nigeria.
On January 7, President Goodluck Jonathan signed Nigeria's Draconian Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Bill into law, making being homosexual punishable by 14 years in jail. It has since attracted widespread condemnation from human rights bodies and the international community, with the pope being one of those calling for tolerance of alternative lifestyles but state governments across Nigeria have been enforcing the new law hard.
Courtesy Nigeria News Watch....................
Keshi drops Obi and Igiebor as he names his 23-man World Cup squad
SUPER Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi has named his 23-man World Cup squad with a few surprises including the dropping of Parma midfielder Joel Obi and Real Betis playmaker Nosa Igiebor.
Just meeting the Fifa deadline of June 2, Keshi was one of the last coaches to submit his list and apart from the two mercurial midfielders who were dropped, there were one or two other eye-catching although less surprising omissions. Among these were Ejike Uzoenyi, the player of the tournament at this year's Championship of African Nations, Olympic silver medallist, Obinna Nsofor and Confederations Cup hero Nnamdi Oduamadi.
Skipper Joseph Yobo will play in his third World Cup finals and has the opportunity to become Nigeria’s first ever player to have 100 international caps. Also going to their third World Cup are goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide.
Nigeria's most well-known player Mikel Obi, will only be attending his first finals after the Eagles narrowly missed qualifying for Germany 2006 and he was omitted from South Africa 2010 due to injury. Elderson Echiejile and Osaze Odemwingie, who were also in South Africa four years ago, make the cut again.
Other big names in the squad include 2013 Africa Cup of Nations top scorer, Emmanuel Emenike, Victor Moses and Shola Ameobi. A few of the surprise inclusions include Uche Nwofor, Michael Babatunde and Reuben Gabriel.
Full squad
Goalkeepers
Vincent Enyeama (Lille, France)
Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Israel)
Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United, Nigeria)
Defenders
Kunle Odunlami (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria)
Efe Ambrose (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)
Elderson Echiejile (Monaco, France)
Juwon Oshaniwa (FC Ashdod, Israel)
Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor, Turkey)
Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria)
Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea, England)
Joseph Yobo (Norwich, England)
Midfielders
John Mikel Obi (Chelsea, England)
Ogenyi Onazi (Lazio, Italy)
Ramon Azeez (Almeria, Spain)
Gabriel Rueben (Waasland-Beveren, Belgium)
Michael Uchebo (Cercle Brugge, Belgium)
Attackers
Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia)
Shola Ameobi (Newcastle, England)
Victor Moses (Liverpool, England)
Emmanuel Emenike (Fernebahce, Turkey)
Osaze Odemwingie (Stoke City, England)
Michael Babatunde (Volyn Lutsk, Ukraine)
Uche Nwofor (SC Heerenveen, Holland)
Courtesy Nigeria News Watch..............
Driving the Ferrari California T, a window to the future
We expect some cars to be great: others, even more so. A brand’s history often dictates the level of expectation we place upon them. Which means it’s especially tough being Ferrari. Because if there’s one automaker where anything less than utterly, mind-bendingly spectacular is unacceptable, it’s a car from Maranello.
The California, first debuting as a stand-alone model in 2008, is Ferrari’s most successful car in history, with more than 10,000 sales during its term – in part due to its sub-$200,000 starting price tag. Worryingly for Ferrari, 70 percent of those buyers were new to the brand. And I say worryingly because the California has never been all that good, meaning those new customers weren’t experiencing the mind-bendingly spectacular Ferrari they may have expected.
As Ferrari’s most “affordable” vehicle, it was too clumsy on its feet and decidedly ugly in the flesh. For 2015, there’s a revamped California. And it arrives with a “T” in its name for turbo – the first turbocharged Ferrari since the iconic F40.
This is big news; it foresees the future of Ferrari (and indeed all manufacturers, many of which are downsizing and implementing turbos as well). There is a difference between how the turbos were applied in the F40 versus the California T, however. With the F40, they were designed to eke out all 471 hp, whereas with the Cali, they’re purely to appease fuel efficiency regulations.
The concern is that this may dampen that high-revving Ferrari madness we all love, while adopting a dollop of bothersome lag. And the 3.8-liter twin-scroll turbo V-8 seen here forms the basis for upcoming models, including the 458’s replacement. It’s a sign of the times: Naturally aspirated motors will in the not-so-distant future become extinct, thanks to fuel mandates around the world.
So this motor’s success is important, and Ferrari has been working on it for years. The eye-watering statistic is that it boasts 49 percent more torque than the outgoing California, complementing its 560 prancing ponies with 557 lb.-ft. But there’s an asterisk with that. The full 557 is only available in seventh gear. In lower gears, it’s artificially limited — not to spoil the fun, but to feign a lack of turbos. By regulating torque, and fiddling with the mapping to match Ferrari’s desired torque curve, it offers the sensation of requiring high revs to extract its full potential, making it feel like the 7,500 rpm redline is higher than it actually is.
And 7,500 rpm is sky high for a turbo motor. But even still, from behind the wheel, you do miss those extra revs (the 458 tops out at 9,000 rpm). Fuel efficiency jumps 15 percent compared to the outgoing model, which is the whole point of this experiment anyway.
But does it neuter the Ferrari experience?
Driving the car, you immediately sense the lack of body roll, thanks in part to the engine's compact size and 30mm lower center of gravity, as well as an 11 percent increase in shock stiffness. It feels poised and together, something the previous Cali did not. It's also blisteringly fast, shaving two tenths off its 60 mph sprint time to 3.6 seconds, while hitting 125 mph in just 11.2 seconds.
Talking of speed, the steering rack has been quickened. It’s precise and agile, but the power-assist does feel over-boosted — a little light and floaty, especially on center. Much of this is by design. A California buyer doesn’t want a screaming track-carver. They want a comfortable cruiser with those Ferrari traits embedded within.
When hitting the brakes, the Brembo carbon-ceramics deliver an odd sensation, like there's a pocket of air added beneath the pedal to make them feel, and behave, more like steel stoppers. They’re not grabby, and they're very easy to modulate, but you must get used to that initial stab of nothing. On a track, which is where carbon brakes usually shine, it wouldn't be ideal. But given how few Californias ever end up there, it's doesn't really matter. The only difference when compared to cheaper steel brakes is the weight savings, therefore improving handling.
Ease of use is an evident focus with the car, as it remains effortless to drive. It cruises around town like a Caddy, and at low revs, it’s rather quiet — too quiet for my taste, but perhaps I’m not the intended buyer here; my wallet is a bit thin for starters, but I also posses an unhealhy fetish for racetracks (yes, I'll stick with a 458 Speciale please). When you get it rolling, however, and you crest 4,500 rpm, the sound comes alive. With each pull of the carbon paddle, shifting through the dual-clutch transmission, you’re greeted with the most evocative of pops, like Captain Jack Sparrow lay over the twin-rear seats shooting Mercedes SLs with a sawn-off shotgun.
Ease of use is an evident focus with the car, as it remains effortless to drive. It cruises around town like a Caddy, and at low revs, it’s rather quiet — too quiet for my taste, but perhaps I’m not the intended buyer here; my wallet is a bit thin for starters, but I also posses an unhealhy fetish for racetracks (yes, I'll stick with a 458 Speciale please). When you get it rolling, however, and you crest 4,500 rpm, the sound comes alive. With each pull of the carbon paddle, shifting through the dual-clutch transmission, you’re greeted with the most evocative of pops, like Captain Jack Sparrow lay over the twin-rear seats shooting Mercedes SLs with a sawn-off shotgun.
The power delivery is as linear as any turbo I’ve driven; Ferrari’s torque trickery has indeed worked — even if you aren't keen on the "artificial" part of that equation. You do notice a little lag in the early gears at low speed, but providing you keep it wound up in the smallest cog possible, you become completely oblivious to it.
On the twisties, the California T performs precisely as you’d hope from a Ferrari. The gearbox and throttle response sharpens by switching the manettino from Comfort to Sport mode, and when doing this, you stiffen up the new, faster-responding magnetic ride suspension. On Italy’s most hole-y roads, it can be a tad too stiff (which is where the "Bumpy Road" setting bridges the gap by softening the dampers half way). When the road smooths out, however, I did find myself wishing for another step up in stiffness. Because racecar.
The T's balance is neutral, without even a hint of understeer. Despite sensing the car rotating heavily mid-corner, when you stand on the gas, the rear tires simply hook up. You can shake it loose, but it takes provoking. To do that, you need to switch ESC off. With it engaged, it appears to kick in for no apparent reason, cutting power significantly. (Dear Ferrari, I know we aren’t building a car for racers here, but come on, let a guy have a little more fun. Thanks awfully.)
The T's balance is neutral, without even a hint of understeer. Despite sensing the car rotating heavily mid-corner, when you stand on the gas, the rear tires simply hook up. You can shake it loose, but it takes provoking. To do that, you need to switch ESC off. With it engaged, it appears to kick in for no apparent reason, cutting power significantly. (Dear Ferrari, I know we aren’t building a car for racers here, but come on, let a guy have a little more fun. Thanks awfully.)
Many high-powered supercars can initially be intimidating on a country road, but not the Cali T. It's inviting. Just a couple of turns in I found myself playing with the throttle, chucking it about. It's familiar and predictable. And the power and grip from the Pirelli P Zero tires compliment the open road; too often it's impossible to truly use today's powerful supercars without hitting the racetrack, whereas the California T's pace felt just right.
I drove 220 miles during the day and never once did I feel uncomfortable. The California T is a true GT, and compared to the car it replaces, it’s far more well sorted. And it looks better too. It’s restrained but still evocative and engaging to gawk at, like any true Ferrari. It also attracts a mound of attention, as I found out with a horde of rowdy school kids outside an abandoned castle somewhere in the middle of Tuscany's wine country. But this was in Italy, of course, so I shouldn’t be surprised.
Arriving in September for around $198,000, the Cali finally does justice to the Ferrari name. But what about the engine? While I do miss those extra few revs, the artificial tinkering makes it feel as naturally aspirated as possible – which is to say very good. And while this does foretell the future, we all know what will ultimately become attached to these turbo rigs in around five years or so: An accompanying electric motor, which will eliminate all turbo lag and replace it with thumping, instant torque. For a million dollars, you can buy a car like that now. And when the technology cheapens to the level where it trickles down to lesser models, all this concern over turbo lag and keeping the revs high will be irrelevant.
So don’t lament the slow death of the naturally aspirated lump just yet. Change is coming, and it promises to be rather special. In the meantime, the Cali T’s turbocharged V-8 does a damn good job of pretending to be something it’s not. And that’s not a bad thing at all.
I drove 220 miles during the day and never once did I feel uncomfortable. The California T is a true GT, and compared to the car it replaces, it’s far more well sorted. And it looks better too. It’s restrained but still evocative and engaging to gawk at, like any true Ferrari. It also attracts a mound of attention, as I found out with a horde of rowdy school kids outside an abandoned castle somewhere in the middle of Tuscany's wine country. But this was in Italy, of course, so I shouldn’t be surprised.
Arriving in September for around $198,000, the Cali finally does justice to the Ferrari name. But what about the engine? While I do miss those extra few revs, the artificial tinkering makes it feel as naturally aspirated as possible – which is to say very good. And while this does foretell the future, we all know what will ultimately become attached to these turbo rigs in around five years or so: An accompanying electric motor, which will eliminate all turbo lag and replace it with thumping, instant torque. For a million dollars, you can buy a car like that now. And when the technology cheapens to the level where it trickles down to lesser models, all this concern over turbo lag and keeping the revs high will be irrelevant.
So don’t lament the slow death of the naturally aspirated lump just yet. Change is coming, and it promises to be rather special. In the meantime, the Cali T’s turbocharged V-8 does a damn good job of pretending to be something it’s not. And that’s not a bad thing at all.
Courtesy yahoo news.............................
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