Nigerian Gay Guy Kills Self after He was Attacked

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Nigerian gay rights activist Bisi Alimi, pictured above, shared these tweets earlier on today. Tweet Continues below..</div>

Nigerian Gay Guy Kills Self after He was Attacked

Nigerian gay rights activist Bisi Alimi, pictured above, shared these tweets earlier on today. Tweet Continues below..

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Sunderland hold league leaders, Chelsea

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br/><br /><br/><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5jjiRqF6n1D35bKXe5II-lm8Ldlwyl-A1m5wRRwf7D8cboz3g9-IozJufZWRgiQoF_I2ue9A_i-Afe8S7aEhGNrrHhjccWGq2jL2NBT7fyh6aLfRLB3KvQfxs4hbjFYfGACfSkw4HZuf/s1600/cost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5jjiRqF6n1D35bKXe5II-lm8Ldlwyl-A1m5wRRwf7D8cboz3g9-IozJufZWRgiQoF_I2ue9A_i-Afe8S7aEhGNrrHhjccWGq2jL2NBT7fyh6aLfRLB3KvQfxs4hbjFYfGACfSkw4HZuf/s1600/cost.jpg" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b>Unbeaten league leaders, Chelsea FC were held to a 0-0 draw by a stubborn Sunderland side at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It was also the first time the league leaders failed to score in the league this season.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Jose Mourinho's men had scored in every league outing this season, yet could not find a way through against the team who handed them their last domestic defeat.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The pre-match expectation was for Chelsea, six points clear of their nearest challengers at kick-off, to collect an 11th win from 13 league outings this season.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Yet Sunderland, who triumphed 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in April, more than held their own for long periods.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The best chances were split in the opening period, Willian and Santiago Vergini each hitting the woodwork.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Sunderland had the better opportunities in the second half and Chelsea - who seemed fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men when Diego Costa was only booked for an apparent elbow on Wes Brown - will have been relieved to leave with their unbeaten record intact.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The early signs were ominous for the home side as Chelsea knocked the ball around with the confidence of a side topping the standings.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Yet Sunderland, driven by a raucous crowd and the tough-tackling Lee Cattermole, began to find a foothold in the game, epitomised by Connor Wickham curling an effort just over the crossbar.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />That was a rare journey forward for the inhibited hosts in the opening exchanges, with Chelsea almost breaking the deadlock when Willian's low drive struck the outside of the post.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Mourinho's side looked threatening every time they went forward and Sunderland were indebted to a fine sliding challenge from John O'Shea that denied Costa an almost certain goal.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The resolute defending of Gus Poyet's side was best summed up by Cattermole, who threw his body in the way of several goal-bound efforts.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Costel Pantilimon was also alert when his time came, brilliantly saving with his right leg to deny Branislav Ivanovic after the right-back had been freed by Willian's pass.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Sunderland fashioned a great opening of their own soon after, though, as Cattermole's deflected cross ran into the path of Vergini - who saw a volley scrape the crossbar.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The visitors came out with plenty of intent after the break, Pantilimon keeping out a Gary Cahill header from Cesc Fabregas' corner.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Willian was the next to threaten, striking narrowly wide from 20 yards as Chelsea began to turn the screw.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />They could easily have been down to 10 men not long after, only for Kevin Friend to show Costa just a yellow card following his challenge on Brown.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Undeterred, Sunderland continued to grow in confidence and made life uncomfortable for their opponents.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />And they almost went ahead with 11 minutes remaining, lively substitute Jozy Altidore wriggling his way into the area and seeing a close-range effort blocked.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Adam Johnson spurned an even better opportunity soon after, poking narrowly wide from 12 yards after Altidore had again caused problems.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Chelsea continued to look vulnerable, Johnson threatening again with a curling 20-yard effort that flew just wide, but there was to be no breakthrough for either side.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Sunderland hold league leaders, Chelsea

Unbeaten league leaders, Chelsea FC were held to a 0-0 draw by a stubborn Sunderland side at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. It was also...

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Photos: Obama meets and hugs first nurse to contract Ebola in the US

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div style='clear: both; text-align: center;' class='separator'><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ift.tt/1D8bXEy" width="285"/><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ift.tt/1tkm2hP" width="293"/> </div><br /><p>Nurse Nina Pham, the first person to have contract Ebola in the US met with president Obama at The White this evening where she received a hug from him</p><br /><p>Nina, who contracted Ebola while treating Liberian Thomas Eric Duncan at the Emory hospital in Texas, is now free from the virus after being treated. When Obama heard she’d been cured, he sent word to her asking if he could hug her and she agreed to meet him.</p><br /></div>

Photos: Obama meets and hugs first nurse to contract Ebola in the US

Nurse Nina Pham, the first person to have contract Ebola in the US met with president Obama at The White this evening where she received a ...

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Al-Shabab names new leader

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1CCRGcV" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://ift.tt/1CCRGcV" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b>Somalia’s Islamist group al-Shabab has named Ahmad Umar as successor to former leader Ahmed Abdi Godane, who was killed in a US air strike</b>.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The group announced the move in an online statement, vowing to take revenge for Godane’s death.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Somalia’s authorities earlier put the country on alert for possible retaliatory attacks by al-Shabab.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The alert came as the US confirmed the death of Godane in air strikes south of Mogadishu on Monday night.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Little is known about Ahmad Umar, who is also known as Abu Ubaidah.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Abu Mohammed, one of al-Shabab’s commanders, said the decision to appoint him was unanimous.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />In a statement, al-Shabab also warned: “Avenging the death of our scholars and leaders is a binding obligation on our shoulders that we will never relinquish nor forget no matter how long it takes.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“By the permission of Allah, you will surely taste the bitter consequences of your actions.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The announcement of the new leader came just minutes after al-Shabab themselves confirmed the death of Godane.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Earlier on Saturday, Somali National Security Minister Kalif Ahmed Ereg said old reporters: “Security agencies have obtained information indicating that al-Shabab is now planning to carry out desperate attacks against medical facilities, education centres and other government facilities.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Mr. Ereg “congratulated the Somali people” on Godane’s death, adding: “The security forces are ready to counter their attacks and we call on people to help the security forces in standing against violent acts.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />BBC<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Al-Shabab names new leader

Somalia’s Islamist group al-Shabab has named Ahmad Umar as successor to former leader Ahmed Abdi Godane, who was killed in a US air strike...

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Costa scores again as Chelsea beats Leicester

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1sgCKKh" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style='font-family: inherit;'><img border="0" height="277" src="http://ift.tt/1sgCKKh" width="400"/> </span> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><span style='font-family: inherit;'><br/> </span> <span style='font-family: inherit;'><br/> </span><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Diego Costa scored for the second match in succession as Chelsea made it two Premier League wins from two matches this season with a 2-0 victory at home to newly-promoted Leicester City on Saturday.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>After a goalless first half, Chelsea twice almost took the lead at the start of the second period.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Oscar hit the far post with a curling shot from the right before Branislav Ivanovic’s header was well saved by Kasper Schmeichel, son of former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Leicester, who held Everton to a 2-2 draw last week, then had a chance of their own when David Nugent burst clear only for the Foxes striker to be denied by Thibault Courtois, again preferred by Jose Mourinho to Petr Cech, when one-on-one with the keeper.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>But £32 million Spain striker Costa, who scored in last week’s 3-1 win at Burnley, marked his home debut by turning in Ivanovic’s cross from eight yards out in the 63rd minute.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Chelsea then doubled their lead at Stamford Bridge when Eden Hazard’s 77th-minute shot beat Schmeichel after deflecting off Leicester defender Wes Morgan.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“I don’t forget they had a good chance with the result 0-0 but we had so many chances, so many opportunities to score obviously we deserved the victory,” Chelsea manager Mourinho told Sky Sports.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Arsenal whose bid for the title in recent seasons has so often been undone by poor away form, came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Everton.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>The Gunners scored twice inside the final seven minutes at Goodison Park, with France striker Olivier Giroud’s 90th-minute goal ensuring a share of the points for Arsene Wenger’s side.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Everton went ahead in the 19th minute when unmarked defender Seamus Coleman headed in Gareth Barry’s cross at the far post before Steven Naismith, seemingly offside, made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time after Romelu Lukaku had outmuscled Germany World Cup-winner Per Mertesacker in the build-up.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>But then came Arsenal’s late recovery.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Aaron Ramsey turned in Santi Cazorla’s low centre before half-time substitute Giroud headed in Nacho Monreal’s cross.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Swansea, fresh from their shock opening day victory away to Manchester United, made it two wins from two with a 1-0 success at home to Burnley secured by winger Nathan Dyer’s 23rd-minute goal.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“I knew it would be a tough game,” Swansea manager Garry Monk told the BBC. “But you have to applaud our players.”</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>West Ham bounced back from a 1-0 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur with a 3-1 win away to managerless Crystal Palace.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>The Eagles, without a manager after Tony Pulis quit before the season started in a row over transfer funds, had seen sporting director Iain Moody resign in midweek following the fall-out from the publication of offensive text messages he had shared with Malky Mackay while the pair were at Cardiff.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Any hope of better news on the pitch was shattered when Palace conceded two goals in three first-half minutes.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Argentinian striker Mauro Zarate marked his Hammers debut with an impressive 34th-minute volley before England winger Stewart Downing added an equally stylish second, cutting in from the right flank before curling in a 20-yard left-foot shot.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Palace pulled a goal back in the 48th minute through Marouane Chamakh.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>However, the Hammers made it 3-1 in the 62nd minute when striker Carlton Cole scored his first goal since February when he volleyed home from inside the penalty area.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Southampton and West Bromwich Albion shared the points in a goalless draw and Saturday’s early kick-off between Aston Villa and Newcastle ended the same way.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Newcastle, beaten 2-0 by reigning champions Manchester City last weekend, have still to score in the Premier League this season after centre-back Mike Williamson was sent off in stoppage-time for a second bookable offence.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Louis van Gaal will go in search of his first competitive win as Manchester United manager at north-east side Sunderland on Sunday.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Meanwhile former Spurs boss Harry Redknapp will return to White Hart Lane as manager of London rivals Queens Park Rangers.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Sunday’s other Premier League fixture sees Hull at home to Stoke.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>But the match of the round is Monday’s clash between Manchester City and Liverpool, last season’s runners-up.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #222222; line-height: 16.799999237060547px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>By then former City striker Mario Balotelli could be a Liverpool player if his proposed £16 million ($27 million, 20 million euros) transfer from AC Milan has been completed, although any deal will come too late for him to be eligible to play on Monday.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Costa scores again as Chelsea beats Leicester

Diego Costa scored for the second match in succession as Chelsea made it two Premier League wins from two matches this season with a 2...

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Thousands protest New York police ‘chokehold’ death

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/YO5LEB" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="http://ift.tt/YO5LEB" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Several thousand people demonstrated on New York’s Staten Island Saturday to protest the death of a black man who had been placed in a chokehold by police.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Eric Garner, 43, a father of six who was suspected of illegally selling cigarettes, was wrestled to the ground by several white police officers after resisting arrest on July 17.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />An amateur video showed police subduing him with a chokehold. Garner, who repeatedly complained he could not breathe, lost consciousness and was pronounced dead of a heart attack after being transferred to hospital.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Classified as a homicide by the New York medical examiner’s office, his death set off intense reactions and several protests in New York reminiscent of those in Ferguson, Missouri, over the August 9 police shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown.<br/><br /><br/><br />“I can’t breathe” and “no justice, no peace,” chanted the demonstrators, who converged on Staten Island, one of five New York City boroughs, by bus and ferry.<br/><br /><br/><br />Some held banners saying “Black lives matter,” as a large police presence looked on.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A few shops closed for the day, fearing the protest could flare into violence, as was the case in Ferguson earlier this week.<br/><br /><br/><br />Civil rights activist Al Sharpton, who is leading the protest, had insisted that unrest would not be tolerated.<br/><br /><br/><br />Demonstrators demanded that Daniel Pantaleo, the arresting police officer, be prosecuted, while others shouted “Hands up, don’t shoot” — the signature slogan of demonstrators in Ferguson.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Pantaleo was suspended after the incident.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Brown and Garner deaths have sparked debate about US police tactics, particularly when it comes to dealing with African Americans.<br/><br /><br/><br />“I’m here for the world to see there is stuff happening here. We have police brutality here — bad cops who are not doing their job,” Tricia Mackmenbourgh, one of the protesters, told AFP.<br/><br /><br/><br />“This is always happening in our community. Every one has the right to feel safe,” added the mother of three sons.<br/><br /><br/><br />“Ferguson, Staten Island, that’s all tied in.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A 63-year-old immigration lawyer who would only give her first name, Annie, said: “Police are too militarized in this country. There is too much artillery, artillery is never an answer, it is not a solution.”<br/><br /><br/><br />A New York prosecutor said Tuesday he would convene a grand jury, a civilian panel that hears testimony behind closed doors, to probe the Garner death.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />AFP<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Thousands protest New York police ‘chokehold’ death

Several thousand people demonstrated on New York’s Staten Island Saturday to protest the death of a black man who had been placed in a cho...

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UN vows to help Nigeria, Liberia, others fight Ebola epidemic

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1sgCI5h" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://ift.tt/1sgCI5h" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The United Nations vowed Saturday to play a “strong role” in helping Liberia and its neighbours fight the deadly outbreak of Ebola in west Africa, which it said could take months to bring it under control.<br/><br /><br/><br />Liberia has been particularly hard hit by the epidemic that has swept relentlessly across the region since March, accounting for almost half of the 1,427 deaths.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />In recognition of the deteriorating situation, neighbouring Ivory Coast announced on Saturday it had closed its borders with Liberia and Guinea in a bid to protect its citizens.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Ebola in Liberia must be addressed to ensure a stable economy, future and society,” said Karin Landgren, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon’s special representative for the country.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The magnitude of this outbreak requires a higher level of coordination than previous responses and the UN Mission in Liberia will play a strong role in this effort,” she said in a statement on Saturday.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Her comments were echoed by Dr David Nabarro, the UN’s new pointman on Ebola, who arrived in the region on Thursday to tour the Ebola-hit countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria.<br/><br /><br/><br />Nabarro, a British physician tasked with coordinating the global response to the worst-ever outbreak of the deadly virus, said the UN would “ensure that adequate resources are given to sectors that need it most”.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A day earlier, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned it could take “several months” to bring the epidemic under control.<br/><br /><br/><br />“This is not something to turn around overnight, it is not going to be easy; we expect several months of hard work,” said the UN agency’s Assistant Director-General, Dr Keiji Fukuda, who is accompanying Nabarro on his tour.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />- Death toll rises -<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Their visit has coincided with a surge in new cases of Ebola in the region, as affected countries struggle to contain the spread of the killer virus.<br/><br /><br/><br />The WHO said Friday that the death toll had risen to 1,427 out of more than 2,600 cases — with 77 succumbing to the disease between August 18 and 20.<br/><br /><br/><br />Britain’s Department of Health said on Saturday that a British national who lives in Sierra Leone has tested positive for Ebola.<br/><br /><br/><br />The unidentified person is the first British citizen to have contracted the disease.<br/><br /><br/><br />Nigeria, which has seen progress in battling the outbreak, has suffered five deaths to date. But in a worrying sign for Africa’s most populus country, officials said Friday that two more people had tested positive for Ebola.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Liberia remains the worst-affected country with 624 deaths. Guinea has seen 406 people die while in Sierra Leone, 392 have succumbed to the haemorrhagic fever.<br/><br /><br/><br />Aid workers said crematoriums in the Liberian capital Monrovia are struggling to deal with dozens of bodies arriving every day, and earlier this week, violence erupted in an Ebola quarantine zone in the capital after soldiers opened fire on protesting crowds.<br/><br /><br/><br />The failure of west African countries to bring the epidemic under control has worried its neighbours and nations further afield.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Many flights to the region have been cancelled, and authorities around the world have adopted measures to screen travellers arriving from affected nations.<br/><br /><br/><br />The Philippines said Saturday that it would repatriate 115 of its troops serving as UN peacekeepers in Liberia due to the health risk posed by the Ebola virus outbreak in Africa.<br/><br /><br/><br />The move by the Ivory Coast to close its borders with Guinea and Liberia came just days after Senegal did the same with Guinea, where the outbreak is thought to have begun.<br/><br /><br/><br />- ‘Pariah states’ -<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The extreme measures taken against affected countries, especially by their neighbours, has caused friction in the region.<br/><br /><br/><br />Ibrahim Ben Kargbo, the chairman of the Sierra Leone’s presidential task force on Ebola, said he was “surprised” by the lack of solidarity among African countries.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“(It) gives the impression that we are pariah states,” Kargo said on state television, in reference to a South African ban on non-citizens travelling from Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.<br/><br /><br/><br />“The epidemic is not manmade but a natural phenomenon, we did not create it,” said Kargbo, who is a presidential advisor and former information minister.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Once we get over the epidemic, we will begin to look at ourselves to know who our friends are,” he added.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />No cure or vaccine is currently available for the deadly virus, which is spread by close contact with body fluids, meaning patients must be isolated.<br/><br /><br/><br />You might also like<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

UN vows to help Nigeria, Liberia, others fight Ebola epidemic

The United Nations vowed Saturday to play a “strong role” in helping Liberia and its neighbours fight the deadly outbreak of Ebola in wes...

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Hamas kills 17 suspected informers for Israel

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> </div><br /><br/><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> </div><br /><br/><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1pRr56r" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="438" src="http://ift.tt/1pRr56r" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Hamas has killed 17 Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel, a day after Israel killed three of the group’s top military commanders in an airstrike on a house in southern Gaza Strip, witnesses and a Hamas website said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A Gaza security official said the first batch involved 11 people who were killed early on Friday at the Gaza City police headquarters.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Six more were killed later in the day in a public execution in a central Gaza square, according to a Hamas website and witnesses cited by Reuters news agency.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Three suspected collaborators were also killed on Thursday.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The victims, their heads covered and hands tied, were shot dead by masked gunmen dressed in black in front of a crowd of worshippers outside a mosque after prayers, witnesses and al-Majd, a pro-Hamas website, said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Gaza security official said the 11 men had previously been sentenced by Gaza courts, reported the Associated Press news agency.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the incident with reporters.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Israel’s intelligence services rely, in part, on informers to pinpoint the whereabouts of Hamas leaders.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Israel has a long and successful history of recruiting collaborators and informers both in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip, and they do so through a variety of different means: sometimes it is financial inducements; other times it is blackmail, bullying, threats, promises [and] maybe intimidating family members,” said Al Jazeera’s Jacky Rowland, reporting from west Jerusalem.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />She said that by publicising the retribution brought down on the 18 people, Hamas was sending a deterrent to other Palestinians.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The news came as five Palestinians were killed by an Israeli air strike, the latest since Egyptian-led ceasefire talks collapsed three days ago.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Ashraf al-Kidra, a Gaza health official, said on Friday some of the victims were workers at a livestock farm that was hit in the airstrike.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Israeli military said it carried out 20 airstrikes early on Friday, targeting rocket launchers and weapons sites. It said Gaza fighters fired two rockets at Israel.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Friday’s fighting came as funerals were held for three senior Hamas commanders killed by Israeli air raids.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, said Mohamed Abo Shamaleh, Raed al-Attar and Mohamed Barhoum were killed in an attack in Rafah on Thursday, little more than a day after an attempt on the life of its leader Mohammed Deif.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The slain commanders’ supporters later took over the streets as their funeral procession snaked through Rafah, which bears scars of Israeli bombing from previous days.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Another 31 people were killed in other Israeli strikes in Gaza since on Thursday, raising the overall death toll to 2,087 in 46 days of conflict.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Israel meanwhile said it was rotating 10,000 troops – meaning fresh soldiers were being prepared for possible future operations – a day after the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel’s offensive may be an extended operation.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Hamas condemned the assasinations, with Sami Abu Zuhri, the group’s spokesman, calling them a “big Israeli crime” for which it would pay.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The fighting resumed three days ago after Egyptian attempts to broker an end to the monthlong war, with Palestinians firing dozens of rockets and Israel responding with airstrikes across Gaza.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />(AlJazeera)<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Hamas kills 17 suspected informers for Israel

Hamas has killed 17 Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel, a day after Israel killed three of the group’s top military com...

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30 Muslims killed during Friday prayers in Iraq mosque

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1BLfFGl" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://ift.tt/1BLfFGl" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Gunmen shot and killed at least 30 Muslims in a Sunni Muslim mosque during Friday prayers in Iraq’s Diyala province northeast of Baghdad, police officials in the province said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The unidentified attackers used automatic machine guns in the Musab bin Omar mosque in the town of Baniyas, police said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Baniyas is about 75 kilometers northeast of the provincial capital, Baquba.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It wasn’t immediately clear who was behind the attack. Both Sunni militants and Shiite Muslim militias have been active in the province.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

30 Muslims killed during Friday prayers in Iraq mosque

Gunmen shot and killed at least 30 Muslims in a Sunni Muslim mosque during Friday prayers in Iraq’s Diyala province northeast of Baghdad, ...

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Boko Haram may create a caliphate in northern Nigeria

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> </div><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b><br/><br /><br/><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1mw07fT" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://ift.tt/1mw07fT" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>Boko Haram may be closer than ever to achieving its goal of creating a caliphate in northern Nigeria but comparisons to the Iraq crisis are premature and the military can reverse the group’s gains, analysts say.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The conflict in the Islamists’ northeastern stronghold remains in flux even as witnesses, security sources and experts report that the insurgents have seized several areas and towns since April.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Precisely mapping the areas captured by the extremists — who are blamed for more than 10,000 deaths since their uprising began in 2009 — is near impossible.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The northeast, under a state of emergency since May last year, has poor mobile phone coverage, travel is dangerous and the military has restricted the flow of information.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The United Nations has confirmed reports that the towns of Damboa and Gwoza in Borno State were under rebel control earlier this month, although Damboa may have since been retaken.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />On Thursday, witnesses and an official in Buni Yadi in neighbouring Yobe state said that town had also been seized.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Ryan Cummings, chief Africa analyst at the South Africa-based crisis management group Red 24, described Boko Haram’s shift from guerrilla-style hit-and-run tactics as “a significant evolution” and predicted the trend would continue.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Virginia Comolli of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London added that the group was “in control” of northern Borno, which is consistent with residents’ accounts.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />She said that the group had captured and held territory before but “now we are looking at a more extended area”.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“They have a real shot of achieving their goal” of creating a strict Islamic state in the north, she added.<br/><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>- Military weakness -</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />While the rebels have grown stronger, secured powerful new weapons and refreshed their ranks with new conscripts, military failures are largely to blame for the worsening crisis, multiple sources said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“For whatever reason, our soldiers, who are capable of defeating Boko Haram terrorists, were starved of the necessary weapons,” said a senior security source in Borno’s capital Maiduguri.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He noted that Boko Haram had taken over larges swathes of northern Borno before May last year.<br/><br /><br/><br />When the state of emergency was declared, the military launched a massive offensive which temporarily flushed the rebels from their strongholds.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />But, said the security source, top brass failed to sustain the pressure.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Boko Haram “would have been completely crushed had the tempo of the offensive been sustained”, he told<br/><br /><br/><br />“I assure you it will not take much effort to crush them if provided with the needed weapons,” he added.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Lack of arms for troops has become a flashpoint issue, and soldiers this week refused to deploy to Gwoza without better weapons in an apparent mutiny.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil producer and top economy and some observers have put the defence budget at roughly $6 billion (4.5 billion euros) per year.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />If troops are chronically ill-equipped, corruption and inefficiency are the likely causes, rather than a lack of resources, experts say.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Most agree that force alone cannot end the five-year conflict and must be coupled with major economic development in the desperately poor northeast.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b>- Not ‘Islamic State’ -</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />In a July video, Boko Haram’s leader Abubakar Shekau voiced support for Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the head of the Islamic State (IS) extremists who have captured parts of Iraq and Syria and claimed the grisly execution of US journalist James Foley.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The mention of Baghdadi was unusual for Shekau, who in videos often appears completely detached from current events.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Jacob Zenn, an analyst at the US-based Jamestown Foundation, said there were similarities between IS and Boko Haram, notably their shocking levels of brutality.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Boko Haram has among other crimes massacred thousands of defenceless civilians, opened fire on students sleeping in their dorms, kidnapped hundreds of children, including more than 200 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok in April.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />But while the United States has described IS as “beyond anything” it has seen in terms of funding, weaponry and strategic sophistication, Boko Haram is largely made up of poor, uneducated youths with almost no tactical training.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The group is thought to have ties to outside jihadi groups but the extent of those links is not clear.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Boko Haram “has not reached that level of sophistication”, Comolli told AFP, referring to IS, but said Shekau’s mention of Baghdadi was noteworthy.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Boko Haram, she said, is “watching what is going on”.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />AFP<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Boko Haram may create a caliphate in northern Nigeria

Boko Haram may be closer than ever to achieving its goal of creating a caliphate in northern Nigeria but comparisons to the Iraq crisi...

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Kano women decry use of teenage girls for suicide bombing

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1ykqAlC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://ift.tt/1ykqAlC" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A cross section of women in Kano on Sunday expressed concern over the use of teenage girls by Boko Haram to carry out suicide bomb attacks.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Some of the women spoke to NAN in Kano said the new trend had created fear and panic among residents of the city.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />One of the women, Malama Jamila Sani, said that following the recent bombings in the city, women, especially teenage girls, had become objects of suspicion among residents.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Since it is young women that were used to carry out the recent bomb attacks, people are now scared of women particularly young girls.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“There was a time I went to the popular Kwari market to buy some clothes for my children before the Sallah. I had to be thoroughly checked by security agents before I was allowed to enter the market, which was not so before now,” she said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Another woman, Hajiya Rabi Suleiman, who is a student of College of Legal Studies, said since the bombings, the school management had introduced measures to strengthen security.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Since the attack at the Kano State Polytechnic, female students are not allowed to enter the school without undergoing thorough check,” she said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />According to her, men and even operators of commercial vehicles, are now afraid to come close to women particularly those seen in Hijab and standing on the roadside.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Suleiman said: “Women are no longer seen as innocent people and no longer command the respect they used to.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />She urged the Federal Government to find lasting solution to the current security challenges facing the country.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />NAN<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Kano women decry use of teenage girls for suicide bombing

A cross section of women in Kano on Sunday expressed concern over the use of teenage girls by Boko Haram to carry out suicide bomb attack...

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Uganda gay pride party after tough law overturned

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1uboBCG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://ift.tt/1uboBCG" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b><br/> </b> <b>Dancing and waving rainbow-coloured flags, Ugandan activists held their first gay pride rally Saturday since the overturning of a tough anti-homosexuality law, which authorities have appealed.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“This event is to bring us together. Everyone was in hiding before because of the anti-homosexuality law,” organiser Sandra Ntebi told AFP.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“It is a happy day for all of us, getting together,” Ntebi said, noting that police had granted permission for the invitation-only “Uganda Pride” rally.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The overturned law, condemned as “abominable” by rights groups but popular among many Ugandans, called for proven homosexuals to be jailed for life.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The constitutional court threw it out on a technicality on August 1, six months after it took effect, and the government swiftly filed an appeal, while lawmakers have signed a petition for a new vote on the bill.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Homosexuality remains illegal in Uganda, punishable by a jail sentence. But it is no longer illegal to promote homosexuality, and Ugandans are no longer obliged to denounce gays to the authorities.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Amid music and laughter, activists gathered at botanical gardens on the shores of Lake Victoria, barely a kilometre (half a mile) from the presidential palace at Entebbe, a key town some 35 kilometres from the capital Kampala.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Some Ugandans are gay. Get over it,” read one sticker a man had pasted onto his face.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b>- ‘Now I have the courage’ -</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Ugandan Deputy Attorney General Fred Ruhinda said Saturday that state lawyers had lodged an appeal against the ruling at the Supreme Court, the country’s highest court.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We are unsatisfied with the court ruling,” Ruhinda told AFP. “The law was not intended to victimise gay people, it was for the common good.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />In their surprise ruling last week, judges said it had been passed without the necessary quorum of lawmakers in parliament.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Rights groups said the law triggered a sharp increase in arrests and assaults on members of the country’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Homophobia is widespread in Uganda, where American-style evangelical Christianity is on the rise.<br/><br /><br/><br />Gay men and women face frequent harassment and threats of violence.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />On Saturday, however, activists celebrated openly.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Since I discovered I was gay I feared coming out, but now I have the courage after the law was thrown out,” Alex Musoke told AFP, one of more than 100 people at the event.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />One pair of activists waved a rainbow flag with a slogan appealing for people to “join hands” to end the “genocide” of homosexuals.<br/><br /><br/><br />Some wore masks for fear of being identified — Uganda’s tabloid newspapers have previously printed photographs of prominent activists — while others showed their faces openly and wore colourful fancy dress.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />But activist Pepe Onziema said he and his colleagues would not rest until they were sure the law was gone for good.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Uganda is giving a bad example, not only to the region but to the world, by insisting on this law,” he said.<br/><br /><br/><br />“We are Africans, we want to show an African struggle by civil society.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />There was little police presence, and no one came to protest the celebration, even if many in the town said they did not approve.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“This is unbelievable, I can’t imagine being a gay,” said motorbike taxi driver William Kamurasi in disgust.<br/><br /><br/><br />“It’s a shame to Uganda. Police must stop these activities of the gays.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b>- Lawmakers demand new vote -</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Critics said President Yoweri Museveni signed the law to win domestic support ahead of a presidential election set for 2016, which will be his 30th year in power.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />But it lost him friends abroad, with several international donors freezing or redirecting millions of dollars of government aid, saying the country had violated human rights and democratic principles.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />US Secretary of State John Kerry likened the law to anti-Semitic legislation in Nazi Germany.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Analysts suggest that Museveni secretly encouraged last week’s court ruling as it provided a way to avoid the appearance of caving in to foreign pressure.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />But gay rights activists warn the battle is not over.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Lawmakers signed a petition calling for a new vote on the bill, and to bypass parliamentary rules that require it be formally reintroduced from scratch — a process that could take years.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />AFP<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Uganda gay pride party after tough law overturned

Dancing and waving rainbow-coloured flags, Ugandan activists held their first gay pride rally Saturday since the overturning of a toug...

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Nigeria Will Be Free From Boko Haram Embarrassment Soon – Jonathan

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><p>President Goodluck Jonathan has assured that Nigeria will soon be free from the embarrassment brought on it by the heinous activities of terrorist Islamic group, Boko Haram.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Jonathan said this while paying homage to Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade on Saturday before the mega rally of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore in the Osun State governorship election billed for August 9.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Jonathan vowed to rid the country of insurgency soonest, describing them as rascals.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>According to him, his administration is poised to building formidable security agencies capable of dealing with the security challenges facing the nation.</p><br /><br/><br />="left"><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/> </div><br /></div>

Nigeria Will Be Free From Boko Haram Embarrassment Soon – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has assured that Nigeria will soon be free from the embarrassment brought on it by the heinous activities of ter...

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Jonah Jang’s NGF Tasks New IG On Fearless Discharge Of Duties

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><p>The Nigeria Governors Forum led by Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau state has called on the newly appointed Inspector General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba to be fearless in the discharge of his duties.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The Forum, in a statement released in Abuja and signed by the Secretary, Osaro Onaiwu, the governors urged the new Inspector General to consider the peculiar security challenges facing Nigeria and see it as an opportunity for him to write his name in history by leading a successful fight against the forces of darkness plaguing the nation.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The statement further thanked the men and women of the Nigeria Police Force for their patriotic sacrifices in the fight against criminal elements and called on them to support the new IG in his efforts.</p><br /><br/><br />="left"><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/> </div><br /></div>

Jonah Jang’s NGF Tasks New IG On Fearless Discharge Of Duties

The Nigeria Governors Forum led by Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau state has called on the newly appointed Inspector General of Police, Mr. S...

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Ebola In Anambra? Govt Seals Hospital, Quarantines Staff

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><p>The discovery of a corpse of an indigene of Anambra State in Nkwelle Ezunaka, Oyi Council Area of the state has raised fears that the dreaded Ebola virus may have entered the state.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The corpse was said to have been brought in cargo into the town from Liberia and deposited in the morgue of one Apex hospital at the weekend by relatives of the deceased, who were said to be making arrangement for his burial ceremony.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>In a move to forestall an outbreak, the Anambra state Government today (Thursday) sealed off the hospital and the mortuary and quarantined the workers and the in-patients on the suspicion that the corpse might be a victim of Ebola having been brought in a Cargo from Liberia, one of the countries in the West African sub-region prevalent with the Ebola virus.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Commissioner for Health, Dr. Josephat Akabuike said in Awka that the hospital was shut down when an informant from the community who suspected that the corpse must have been a victim of Ebola disease in Liberia informed the state government that a corpse was brought into the community from the West African Country.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>According to him, the informant was aware of the effects of the Ebola disease in Liberia and as a matter of fact was responding to the announcements the state government had been making since the disease became public knowledge.</p><br /><br/><br />="left"><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/> </div><br /></div>

Ebola In Anambra? Govt Seals Hospital, Quarantines Staff

The discovery of a corpse of an indigene of Anambra State in Nkwelle Ezunaka, Oyi Council Area of the state has raised fears that the dreade...

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Gaza conflict: Israeli air strike kills 15 in market

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1AzKtJx" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://ift.tt/1AzKtJx" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />At least 15 people have been killed and 160 wounded in an Israeli air strike that hit a market near Gaza City, Palestinian officials say.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The explosion hit a busy fruit and vegetable market in Shejaiya, east of Gaza City, where hundreds of Palestinians were shopping, a spokesman for the Gaza health ministry said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The attack came during a four-hour truce called by the Israeli military.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Hamas, which controls Gaza, had rejected the truce as meaningless.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Correspondents say it was unclear whether anyone in Gaza was aware that the partial ceasefire had been called.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Israeli military said it would last between 15:00 (12:00 GMT) and 19:00.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />However it had warned that the truce would only apply to areas where Israeli soldiers were not currently operating, and it told residents not to return to areas they had previously been asked to evacuate.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri had rejected the truce as meaningless.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The lull which Israel announced is media exploitation and has no value because it excludes the volatile areas along the border, and we won’t be able to get the wounded out from those areas,” he said in a statement.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Sirens continued to sound in southern Israel after the ceasefire, to warn of militant rocket attacks, and Palestinian doctors said another Israeli air strike after the truce was announced had killed seven people in Khan Younis.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Gaza conflict: Israeli air strike kills 15 in market

At least 15 people have been killed and 160 wounded in an Israeli air strike that hit a market near Gaza City, Palestinian officials say. ...

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Gunmen abduct 90-year-old Senator’s mother

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1AzKnSh" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="http://ift.tt/1AzKnSh" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Yet-to-be-identified gunmen have abducted Florentina, the monther of Senator Emmanuel Paulker, in Bayelsa State.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The 90-year-old Florentina was abducted on Wednesday morning at her residence in Opolo-Epie, Yenagoa area of the state.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Neighbours of the nonagenarian were angry that the kidnappers forcibly took the woman away despite her age.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Their anger also came against the backdrop that Florentina was being kidnapped for the second time in four years.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It was learnt that the abductors called about 3am on Wednesday when the victim and other residents were sleeping to execute their sinister plot.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A security source said the kidnappers were five in number and were fully armed with AK47 and other rifles.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The source, who did not want his name mentioned, said, “They came through the main road. They drove a vehicle into the community and immediately started shooting sporadically into the air to create apprehension among neighbours who were already asleep.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“They forced the door open, seized the old woman and whisked her away to an unknown place. Some residents thought the kidnappers were armed robbers.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Some of the residents later came out and started shouting ‘thieves, thieves’ only to discover later that the woman had been abducted.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />When contacted the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilary Opara, confirmed the development and said one of the suspected kidnappers had been arrested.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said the suspect was helping the police in their investigations.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The commissioner said, “Although the report got to the police after the kidnappers had gone, we immediately swung into action and arrested one suspect who is already assisting the police in investigation and we beleive that in no distant time, the victim would be recued.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He urged members of the public to go about their normal businesses, vowing that the police would continue to protect their lives and property.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Opara said the state special security outfit, Operation Doo Akpo, and other anti-crime outfits were on top of the situation.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He also lauded the state government for providing logistics to the command and commended members of the public for their cooperation.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Gunmen abduct 90-year-old Senator’s mother

Yet-to-be-identified gunmen have abducted Florentina, the monther of Senator Emmanuel Paulker, in Bayelsa State. The 90-year-old Florenti...

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Boko Haram turning Nigeria to a war zone - Tukur

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br/><br /><br/><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1xAJODd" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://ift.tt/1xAJODd" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, on Wednesday raised the alarm that the increasing wave of bomb blasts and acts of terrorism especially in the North East “may turn the country into a war zone,” unless the trend was contained on time.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />While predicting doom for the masterminds of the plot to destabilise Nigeria, he warned sponsors of terrorism in the country to “begin to retrace their steps with immediate effect.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Tukur, who just returned to Nigeria from Saudi Arabia on Umra, urged the government of President Goodluck Jonathan not to give up on the fight against insurgents.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The ex-PDP chairman in an interview with journalists in Abuja condemned the use of teenage girls by terrorists with a view to imposing a regime of terror in Nigeria.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “I am deeply troubled that the bomb explosions reported in Kano on Monday were caused by teenage girls, who were brainwashed into joining the evil plot of killing innocent people in the most barbaric manner never witnessed in any clime.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“No nation wins a war when its citizens are divided. I am calling for a general building of consensus among the Nigerian leaders irrespective of political party affiliations in the battle to contain terrorism in the country.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He equally condemned the killing of innocent citizens in Borno and Adamawa states by insurgents, who, according to him, had failed to lay bare the principles behind their actions in the past five years.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Tukur also expressed dismay at the blame game by stakeholders on the activities of insurgents in the country.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Boko Haram turning Nigeria to a war zone - Tukur

Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, on Wednesday raised the alarm that the increasing wave of ...

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Drama as National Conference Chairman, Idris Kutigi, chases away journalists from Conference Chamber

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> </div><br /><br/><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/TxpBRF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ift.tt/TxpBRF" width="320"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Chairman of the National Conference, Idris Kutigi, on Wednesday ordered security operatives to throw out journalists duly accredited to cover the proceedings of the Conference.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The incident took place while the Vice Chairman of the Conference Committee on National Security, Albert Horsfall, was presenting a report at the plenary session.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Mr. Horsfall, who was standing in for the Committee Chairman, Gambo Jimeta, had midway into his presentation, advised journalists covering the Conference to close their ears and shut their cameras.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“I want journalist inside here to close their ears and shut down their cameras because I am going to discuss very sensitive national security issues,” Mr. Horsfall had said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Alternatively, Mr. Chairman, I would request that the gallery be cleared of journalists to enable us discuss the issues here.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Just as Mr. Horsfall called for the gallery to be cleared, Mr. Kutigi took the microphone and shouted, “Journalists get out now. Get out. Shut your cameras and get out of here now.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />While journalists were trying to shut down their equipment and pack their bags, Mr. Kutigi continued shouting, “Disappear from here now. Security, get them out of here immediately. Get out here. Disappear. Get out, all of you.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Security operatives inside the chamber rushed at journalists who were struggling to pack their equipment and threw them outside the gallery.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Other overzealous security operatives, who might have been waiting for an opportunity to descend on journalists, moved swiftly to the press gallery and forced reporters to leave the hall without carrying their bags, cameras and laptop computers.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />But as the journalists were hounded out, the security operatives packed the bags, laptop computers and other equipment they left behind and dumped them outside the gallery.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The journalists were left for hours under the scorching sun as Mr. Horsfall presented the report of his Committee.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Angered by the action of Mr. Kutigi, Chairman of Daar Communications, Raymond Dokpesi, stormed out of the chamber and directed his staff to shut down all the equipment used in giving live coverage to the Conference.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Mr. Dokpesi, however, returned to the chamber but later came out with the Assistant Secretary, Media and Communications, Akpandem James, and a representative of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Sani Zoro,<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The trio made spirited attempts to pacify the journalists, who were still standing outside under the sun, discussing the ugly treatment.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Mr. James apologized for the embarrassment caused the journalists and appealed to them to be prepared to return to the gallery when the Conference resumed from the executive session.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Gentlemen, I was not there when the incident happened but I am sorry about it. The Chairman did not mean to insult you. I want to appeal to all of you to calm down and listen to what we have to say.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The chairman has apologized for what he said and we want you all to come back when the executive session is over to cover the adoption of the recommendations of the committee after lunch break.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />On his part, Mr. Zoro said the media is an essential part of every democratic process and urged the aggrieved journalists to return to the gallery after the executive session.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “We have been partners in progress in this particular exercise. Everywhere, journalists are embedded into this kind of exercise. Even if it is in a war situation, security agencies still brief journalists in confidence.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“It is even in our ethics that information obtained in confidence cannot be disclosed and we are signatory to this. This could have been avoided. We shouldn’t have had this kind of distraction at all.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“I blame the Chairman for the words he used. But you can see that the Conference came to a stop for about 40 minutes. The Chairman and the leadership were advised and he offered an apology and said he considers the press as partners in this exercise.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Without participation and cooperation of the media, this Conference cannot be successful. However, the point we are now is whether all journalists should be recalled to cover the entire proceedings or whether it should be during the recommendation.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Mr. Dokpsei on his part noted that he was jeered by some of the delegates inside the chamber when journalists were ordered out.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “They made a grievous mistake and even those at the top echelon of the media threatened a walkout. Others in the civil society groups and lawyers also threatened to walk out.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We didn’t like what happened. Even where I sat, people were jeering at me and as a media person, I had to absorb the insult. We reminded them that journalists are well-read people with many of them having second degrees. That people are in journalism does not mean they should be treated anyhow. It is not done.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“But they have recognised their error and I want to commend Mr. James. He wasn’t there when the incident happened, but immediately he came, he took prompt action. Please let us treat this Conference as a national assignment.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Mr. Dokpesi said organizers of the Conference did not consider the media as an integral part of the process, saying the situation gave rise to the shoddy treatment given the journalists covering the proceedings.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />But in a unanimous decision, journalists decided to boycott the Conference for the day and also demanded an apology to be personally tendered by Mr. Kutigi on Thursday morning.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Drama as National Conference Chairman, Idris Kutigi, chases away journalists from Conference Chamber

The Chairman of the National Conference, Idris Kutigi, on Wednesday ordered security operatives to throw out journalists duly accredited ...

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Police denies escape of 8 abducted Chibok girls

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1mrfGsf" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="http://ift.tt/1mrfGsf" width="320"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Police Command in Borno said on Wednesday that no new abducted student of Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Chibok, had escaped from captivity.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />There were speculations that eight of the abducted school girls escaped from their captors.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Commissioner of Police in the state, Alhaji Lawan Tanko, told newsmen in Maiduguri that the story was not true.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“I want to state without fear of contradiction that I never confirmed the escape of eight of the abducted GGSS, Chibok girls.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“I do not even know the author of the story,” he said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Tanko advised journalists to always cross check their facts before going to press.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The story has caused me some embarrassment because I never spoke to anybody on the issue.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“If truly, any of the girls had escaped, we will not hesitate in giving the media the information.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“It is sad that a journalist can just create a non-existing story and attribute same to me,’’ he said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />NAN recalls that over 200 female students of the school were abducted on April 14 by suspected insurgents. (NAN)<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Police denies escape of 8 abducted Chibok girls

The Police Command in Borno said on Wednesday that no new abducted student of Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Chibok, had escape...

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