Islamic State claims massacre of Ethiopian Christians in Libya

<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/1yH7UCT" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://ift.tt/1yH7UCT" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Video released online shows one group of captives being shot and another group being beheaded on a beach.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A new video from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) purportedly shows the group killing captured Ethiopian Christians in Libya.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The 29-minute video released online on Sunday shows two groups of dark-skinned captives. It says one group is held by an ISIL affiliate in eastern Libya and the other by an affiliate in the south.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A masked fighter delivers a long statement before the video switches between footage of the captives in the south being shot to death and the captives in the east being beheaded on a beach.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The footage released online shows one group of about 12 men being beheaded by armed men on a beach and another group of at least 16 being shot in the head in a desert area.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It was not immediately clear who the captives were.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The video bore the official logo of the ISIL media arm Al-Furqan and resembled previous videos released by the group.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A text on the screen identifies the men as “followers of the cross from the enemy Ethiopian Church.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />(Al Jazeera)<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Islamic State claims massacre of Ethiopian Christians in Libya

Video released online shows one group of captives being shot and another group being beheaded on a beach. A new video from the Islamic Sta...

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Mother of APC chieftain beaten to pulp, abducted in Warri

<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'><b><br/> </b><br/><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1GVPHmr" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://ift.tt/1GVPHmr" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>The mother of Chief Ayirimi Emami, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, was abducted and beaten to pulp on Friday evening by armed thugs, allegedly working for a former militant leader and Peoples Democratic Party enforcer in Warri South West local government area of Delta State.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Mrs. Elizabeth Emami, was on her way to Ugborodo, an Itsekiri riverside community, when she was snatched by the gang. She was only released after the intervention of a Brigade Commander of the Nigerian Army and an officer of the Nigerian Navy in the area, who moved in to restore sanity in the area.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Emami, a former Chairman of the PDP in Warri South West local government area, who moved to the APC with scores of his followers, told our reporter that the attack was aimed at stopping him from going to his Ajudaibo, Ugborodo community to mobilise and vote for the APC.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“My stepmother was attacked at Kurutie community by three speedboats in a manner similar to the attack on 14 journalists last November. She was abducted and taken to a location and was only released after the intervention of some security operatives.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Several persons identified as my supporters and members of the APC going to cast their votes in Ugborodo were severely beaten and tortured by the gang and their sponsors who are afraid of losing the election.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The driver of one of the boats is battling for his life due to the torture he suffered. This is a desperate ploy by our opponents within and outside my area to intimidate me and my supporters,” Emami told our reporter in a telephone interview.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Our checks revealed that the votes from Ugborodo and other Itsekiri communities in the area are considered very strategic to the emergence of all winners of the last four governorship contests in the state.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Mother of APC chieftain beaten to pulp, abducted in Warri

The mother of Chief Ayirimi Emami, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, was abducted and beaten to pulp on Friday evening by ar...

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Influential Lagos Area Boy Shot Dead For Decamping To APC

<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/1PsfN4d" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://ift.tt/1PsfN4d" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>For allegedly decamping from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, an influential area boy in Oshodi, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, popularly called Baba Esi was shot dead on Thursday at Oshodi by unidentified gunmen.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Baba Esi, whose real name is Ismail, was a staunch supporter of PDP in Oshodi and was largely credited with the victory recorded by the PDP in Oshodi-Isolo where the party’s candidate won the House of Representatives seat, before he defected to the APC a few days ago.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He was said to have visited the Ikoyi home of a top APC chieftain in Lagos on Wednesday on invitation where he was persuaded to decamp to the APC.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />To demonstrate his affiliation with his new party, APC, he allegedly mobilised his supporters for a rally on Thursday at Oshodi. Some of his supporters were said to be unhappy with his move and did not join the rally.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Different acccounts of how and why he was killed dominated discussions at gatherings on Thursday at Oshodi which was thrown into confusion when news of his murder was made known.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />One version of the story had it that Baba Esi was killed by his colleagues who felt betrayed by his decision to defect to the APC.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />His colleagues allegedly accused him of not carrying them along in his decision to defect to the APC.<br/><br /><br/><br />“He abandoned us. He went to meet a top APC chieftain in Ikoyi (name withheld) and was persuaded to dump the PDP. Instead of him to carry us along, he abandoned us,” a member of the Oshodi Under Bridge gang who volunteered information on the murder revealed.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Another account of the murder revealed that the popular area boy was allegedly killed by supporters of a top NURTW chieftain in Oshodi during a rally to drum up support for the APC.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The late Baba Esi’s supporters and those of the APC chieftain reportedly clashed and Baba Esi was shot dead.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“It was a straight forward political assassination. Somebody felt he was intruding on his turf and felt the best way to go about it is to remove him from the face of the earth,” a popular landlord with a street named after him stated.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />At Makinde Police Station, Oshodi where the murder was being investigated, a police source confirmed that investigation into the murder has started, adding that the cuprits would soon be brought to book.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Influential Lagos Area Boy Shot Dead For Decamping To APC

For allegedly decamping from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, an influential area boy in Oshodi...

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Why card readers flopped during presidential poll – INEC

<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'><b><br/> </b><br/><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1DPzLCY" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1DPzLCY" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>The Independent National Electoral Commission in Kwara State has identified non-removal of (nylon) films on the finger capture region of card readers as one of the causes of the hitches experienced with the device in the March 28 election.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It also attributed the flop to the removal of the card reader’s battery, stating that the process required that the device must be reconfigured before it could be used.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The commission, in a memo sent to the supervisory and presiding polling officers by the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo, gave some directives to the officers to forestall a repeat of the challenges.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The memo read, “‎Ensure the card readers are properly charged before handing them to supervisory/presiding officers. Ensure that the batteries are not removed for any reason whatsoever. If in any case, the batteries are removed, contact the administrators for reconfiguration. Ensure all the nylon film, covering the finger capture area, is removed before use.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The SPOs should be re-educated about the card readers and their importance.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Public Relations Officer of the commission, Mr. Ayanda Jacob, said the earlier hiccups could be avoided if the officers complied with the directives.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said, “The essence of passing the memo is to avoid the challenges we faced in the last elections. It is faster for card readers to identify registered voters if the nylon on the finger capture area is removed. Some presiding officers did not do so. Some officers also removed the devices’ batteries and by so doing, they stopped working properly untill they were reconfigured.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Generators have been provided to fully charge the batteries and each battery lasts for about 12 hours.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Jacob stated further that both sensitive and non-sensitive election materials had been moved to the 16 local government areas of the state, adding that the commission had made proper arrangements ‎to ensure that the Saturday’s poll was more effective.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Why card readers flopped during presidential poll – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission in Kwara State has identified non-removal of (nylon) films on the finger capture region o...

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I will make sure we catch Boko Haram leader, Abu Shekau before elections - 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 /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1FOLOjZ" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://ift.tt/1FOLOjZ" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b>President Goodluck Jonathan has said that he believes the leader of the insurgent group, Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, responsible for thousands of deaths, will be apprehended by government forces before Nigeria’s elections starting March 28.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Mr. Jonathan disclosed this in an interview with Thisday newspaper on Friday.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />​”God willing we will catch Shekau before the elections,” Mr. Jonathan said in response to a question on what his government is doing about Mr. Shekau’s threat to disrupt the elections.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Mr. Shekau, whose group has killed over 15,000 Nigerians, has remained elusive since the sect launched its series of deadly attacks in 2009.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />In September 2014, claims by the Nigerian military that Mr. Shekau had been killed during a shoot-out turned out to be a hoax.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Efforts by the Nigerian government to improve the capacity of the army through arms procurement have been repeatedly frustrated by foreign authorities as claims of human rights abuses loom over the military.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />But government forces have made significant gains in the war against Boko Haram in the last two weeks, reclaiming some areas seized by the militants.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Mr. Jonathan admitted that the strength of Nigeria’s military was not commensurate with its position as Africa’s largest economy, adding that his government is determined to look inwards for arms procurement.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Concerning the military strength being not at par to that of Nigeria’s economic development, there are some countries that don’t have powerful military,” Mr. Jonathan said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“I don’t think Switzerland has a very powerful military. There are some countries that were even doing away with their military until this issue of terror, and now some of them are reconsidering.<br/><br /><br/><br />“What happened in Nigeria is that after the civil war we had no reasons to buy sophisticated weapons. Since after the civil war, all what we have been doing is peace keeping, apart from stabilising Liberia and Sierra Leone, where our soldiers really fought war to stabilise those countries.<br/><br /><br/><br />“Back home, we were at peace with our neighbours. It is now that we are witnessing Boko Haram that we see that fighting them is not what we do with AK 47, and now we have to look for money. I totally agree with you, if Brazil can manufacture commercial helicopter, what stops us from going into manufacturing.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The president further said that if re-elected, his administration would focus on local technologies for arms production.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Recently, we wanted to buy tear-gas from a country and they were bragging and saying that Nigeria has human rights abuse issues. I kept wondering what is tear-gas? I vowed that God willing if I return, Nigeria must produce tear-gas,” he said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“What is the technology of producing tear-gas for God’s sake? What is the technology of producing APCs and armoured tanks? I agree with you that in terms of manufacturing, we must and we have no choice than to get into it as a nation. That is why we are emphasising about local content in production; that you can witness in the automobile industry which has come back.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Mr. Jonathan also said that more companies would be issued licenses to produce arms, to complement the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, DICON.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Just last week a company that bought over the machine tools in Osogbo came to show the bullet proof vest that they produced and I asked them, can’t you produce weapons and they claimed that they can manufacture weapons if they could be patronised and there is a guarantor,” said the president.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Yes we have our own DICON, but DICON alone cannot produce all our weaponry. We must have more than two, three companies in a big country like Nigeria.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“I told the company that immediately after the elections, if I’ll be here for the next four years, before they start going for weapons, all the tear-gas that we’ll use in Nigeria, will have to be produced in Nigeria.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

I will make sure we catch Boko Haram leader, Abu Shekau before elections - Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that he believes the leader of the insurgent group, Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, responsible for thou...

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France Confiscates Passports Of Six French Six French Citizens

<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 style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'><img src="http://ift.tt/1FOkQcd"/> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><div><span style='font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;'><span style='font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;'><br/> </span> </span> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Six French citizens have had their passports confiscated after allegedly planning to travel to Syria, a security source said on Monday — the first time the measure has been used.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The right to remove passports was introduced as part of a raft of new counter-terrorism laws <a id="more" name="more"> </a>in November aimed at curbing the number of French citizens leaving to join jihadist groups in the Middle East.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The source said the six French were “imminently” about to travel to Syria.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Their passports and identity cards have been confiscated for six months, after which the order can be renewed.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“There will be more,” said Prime Minister Manuel Valls when asked about the case on Monday.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Some 1,400 people living in France have either joined the jihadist cause in Syria and Iraq or are planning to do so, Valls said last month.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Around 40 cases are currently under investigation” in addition to the six, the source said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

France Confiscates Passports Of Six French Six French Citizens

Six French citizens have had their passports confiscated after allegedly planning to travel to Syria, a security source said on Monday ...

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I’ll reclaim places seized by Boko Haram, says 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 /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1wcR91u" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://ift.tt/1wcR91u" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><span style='font-family: inherit;'><br/> </span><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'><b>President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday vowed that the Federal Government would regain parts of the country seized by the Boko Haram terror group.</b> </span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Jonathan gave the assurance when he paid a courtesy visit to traditional rulers in Epe, near Lagos.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“I have made all the tools and machineries available to fight against Boko Haram.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“I want to ensure that Boko Haram will not disturb or cause any violence during the forthcoming elections.”</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>He said that he would ensure that the election would be free and fair.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Jonathan promised to support Epe people by providing them with a power plant that would boost their power supply.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“I am aware that power supply has been the major challenge in Epe community. I will assist in boosting your power supply.”</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>He also pledged that the Federal Government would complete the ongoing seaport and free trade zone project in Epe.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Earlier, Oba Akeem Adesanya, the Alara of Ilara, a community in Epe, offered prayers for Jonathan.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Adesanya, who is also Chairman of Traditional Rulers in the Epe Division, described the achievements of Jonathan as laudable.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>He pleaded with the president to keep his promise to Epe people when re-elected.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>The PDP Governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr Jimi Agbaje, said that the presidential visit would assist in the development of Epe Division and Lagos State in general.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>He said that Jonathan was a grassroots man who recognised and respected traditional rulers.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“Traditional rulers are the grassroots people that know more about their community.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“It is, therefore, important to work in collaboration with them to develop the rural and urban areas.”</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Agbaje promised to move Lagos State forward if elected.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>NAN reports that notable personalities, including the PDP National Chairman, Mr Adamu Muazu, former Anambra Governor Mr Peter Obi, former Ogun State Governor, Mr Gbenga Daniel and Musiliu Obanikoro attended the event.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

I’ll reclaim places seized by Boko Haram, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday vowed that the Federal Government would regain parts of the country seized by the Boko Haram terr...

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Jonathan and the $500million farmland scandal

<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/1CYtNcC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ift.tt/1CYtNcC" width="640"/> </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; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>President Goodluck Jonathan is battling to explain all he knows about a $500 million farm which a non – governmental organisation (NGO) says belongs to him in alleged violation of the 1999 Constitution.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>The Nation reported today that the farm was incorporated on December 30, 2011 barely seven months after Jonathan was sworn in as president for his current tenure which he wants Nigerians to renew.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>The farm is about 94,04 hectares, located along the highway leading to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Purpose Driven Initiative (PDI), an NGO that appears to be the source of TheNation story, said in adverts in some papers last Friday : “ Let us talk about corruption. This is how the Nigerian government conducts business and fights corruption.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“A sitting President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, incorporated a company, Ebele Integrated Farms Limited in which he is a major shareholder on December 30, 2011.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“Ebele Integrated Farms Limited applied for and was granted 94.04 hectare plot of land, 1689 in Cadastral Zone EOS Aviation Village, Abuja on January 13, 2014.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“Under the Fifth Schedule Part 1( Code of Conduct for Public Officers) of the 1999 Constitution, Section 1, ‘a public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts with his duties and responsibilities.’</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“Do we need any more evidence of how the Jonathan administration has been fighting or will fight corruption.”</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Investigation revealed that crocodiles are some of the livestocks being reared at the aquatic farm.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>A source said: “The farm house sits on a hill top overlooking the airport at the nation’s capital with rest chalets and presidential conference rooms.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“I think the farm may worth about $500m when completed. It is believed to being managed by some Israeli experts. As part of the plans, a helipad may be established on the farm, which may be solely export-oriented.”</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>The whistle-blowing group also alleged that the Minister of FCT, Mallam Bala Mohammed, has abused his office and violated the 1999 Constitution by incorporating Bird Trust Agro-Allied Limited on May 31, 2012.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“The company, Bird Trust Agro-Allied Limited then applied for and was given(by the same FCT that the major shareholder, Bala Mohammed, heads) a 40.4 hectares, plot 1683 in Cadastral Zone E05 of Aviation Village in Abuja on April 11, 2014,”the group said.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>Rising in defence of the President and the minister, a pro- government coalition, New Generation Coalition, said Obasanjo enjoyed the same perks while in office.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>It said: “Is it corruption? As a sitting President, Olusegun Obasanjo incorporated a company, Obasanjo Farms Nigeria Limited. Obasanjo Farms Nigeria Limited applied for and was granted a 100.12 hectares of land, Plot No.1 Cadastral Zone E09 Kuje, Abuja on June 27, 2005.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“The sitting Minister if FCT, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai(now APC chieftain) allocated the land and signed Certificate of Occupancy no. 17c2w-1b99z-9d15r-cb2au-34u3 certified to Obasanjo Farms Nigeria Limited on July 24. 2006.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“Just like Obasanjo Farms Nigeria Limited, Ebele Farms and Bird Trust Agro Limited are companies in which the sponsors engage in farming and other allied agriculture production and processes.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“Under the Fifth Schedule Part 1 Code of Conduct for Public Officers of the 1999 Constitution, Section 1 states that ‘a public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts with his duties and responsibilities.’</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“Section 2 states that without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing paragraph …, nothing in this sub-paragraph shall prevent a public officer from engaging in farming.</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><span style='font-family: inherit;'>“Is it corruption for a public officer to engage in farming as stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 with the view to making Nigeria self-reliant in food production?”</span> </div><br /><br/><br /><div style='background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;'><i><span style='font-family: inherit;'>*Culled from The Nation</span> </i> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Jonathan and the $500million farmland scandal

President Goodluck Jonathan is battling to explain all he knows about a $500 million farm which a non – governmental organisation (NGO)...

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Any further delay of 2015 elections is unconstitutional - Jega warns

<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/1CHRdW8" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="http://ift.tt/1CHRdW8" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A further postponement of Nigeria’s general elections beyond the rescheduled polling day of March 28 would be “unconstitutional”, INEC boss, Attahiru Jega, said on Wednesday. “I don’t see how anybody can contemplate any extension beyond these six weeks because there is no constitutional grounds on which you can do that,”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Jega said in testimony to the Senate.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Jega told the chamber that INEC was prepared to hold the vote on the original polling day, February 14, but was persuaded to support a delay by guidance from the country’s security chiefs. National Security Advisor Sambo Dasuki and military top brass said soldiers would not be able provide election security nationwide because they were fighting Boko Haram in the northeast.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Asked how he would respond if the security agencies requested a further delay, Jega referred to a constitutional provision that requires elections to be concluded at least 30 days before May 29, when a new government must be sworn in. “Every Nigerian knows we want elections to hold… within a constitutional timeframe,” he told senators.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The security agencies are (made up of) patriotic Nigerians. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt.” But he added that a further delay “will only have to be unconstitutional and I don’t see how anybody can contemplate unconstitutional things”. There were widespread accusations that the military pushed for the delay to allow President Goodluck Jonathan more time to revive his struggling re-election campaign. Experts say he is facing a tough test against Muhammadu Buhari with the vote likely too close to call.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Any further delay of 2015 elections is unconstitutional - Jega warns

A further postponement of Nigeria’s general elections beyond the rescheduled polling day of March 28 would be “unconstitutional”, INEC bos...

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Over 300 Boko Haram fighters killed in recaptured Monguno – Military

<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/1A5zGaz" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="http://ift.tt/1A5zGaz" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b>Nigeria’s military on Wednesday claimed that more than 300 Boko Haram fighters were killed when troops recaptured the garrison town of Monguno in northeast Borno state.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Over 300 terrorists were killed while a few were also captured,” defence spokesman Chris Olukolade said in an emailed statement.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />There was no independent verification of the claims, which follow similar assertions about Boko Haram casualties by Niger, Chad and Cameroon involved in the regional fight-back against the militants.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Over 300 Boko Haram fighters killed in recaptured Monguno – Military

Nigeria’s military on Wednesday claimed that more than 300 Boko Haram fighters were killed when troops recaptured the garrison town of Mon...

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Man allegedly uses baby as club to attack lover

<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/1A5zFUh" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://ift.tt/1A5zFUh" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A man accused of murdering his baby daughter by using her as a club to attack his girlfriend has appeared in a South African court, local media reported Wednesday. Police said it was believed an argument erupted when the 32-year-old Cameroonian man questioned whether he was really the three-day-old girl’s father.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Prosecutors told the Pretoria Prison Court that Alexander Forba snatched the infant from her mother, gripped the baby by the legs and used her as a weapon to beat the woman with, Eyewitness News reported. Prosecutor Sipho Letsoalo said Forba then threw the infant to the floor of their apartment and continued to attack the woman until witnesses intervened.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The woman and the baby — who had not yet been formally named — were taken to hospital. The child was pronounced dead on arrival. Forba, who faces charges of murder and assault, will be held in custody until he returns to court next week.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Man allegedly uses baby as club to attack lover

A man accused of murdering his baby daughter by using her as a club to attack his girlfriend has appeared in a South African court, local ...

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Taliban attack leaves 14 dead in Afghanistan

<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/1A5zFUd" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="http://ift.tt/1A5zFUd" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Fourteen people were killed when four militants wearing police uniforms and equipped with suicide vests and light arms stormed a police compound in Logar’s provincial capital Pul-e-Alam on Tuesday, a provincial government spokesman said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />All the four attackers and 10 police personnel died in the attack, spokesman for Logar provincial government Deen Mohammad Darwish said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Four terrorists disguised themselves as police personnel and got off a car next to the police compound at lunch time. One of them blew himself up next to entrance gate, enabling three others to enter the dining room,” Darwish told reporters.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Another terrorist blew himself up in the dining room, killing 10 police on the spot and injuring eight others,” the spokesman added.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The two remaining militants were gunned down by police in the firefight, which lasted for a while, he said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />However, an official said on condition of anonymity that the number of casualties could go higher as scores of police personnel were in dining room when the attack occurred.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Meanwhile, Zabihullah Mujahid, who claims to speak for the Taliban, told media that the outfit has claimed responsibility for the bloody offensive, while insisting that over two dozen police had been killed and injured.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The attack on police in Logar occurred amid ongoing mopping-up operations against Taliban militants in the outfit’s former stronghold the southern Helmand province.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Afghan security forces launched clean-up operations in parts of Helmand province on Sunday and so far scores of Taliban militants have been killed and injured, according to officials.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Taliban attack leaves 14 dead in Afghanistan

Fourteen people were killed when four militants wearing police uniforms and equipped with suicide vests and light arms stormed a police co...

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JTF frees kidnap victim, arrests two oil thieves

<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/1CdrDIg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1CdrDIg" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Pulo Shield, said it had rescued a kidnap victim and arrested two suspected oil thieves within the last 10 days.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The task force, in a statement issued on Tuesday in Yenagoa by Lt.-Col. Isa Ado, said it had also recovered arms from the suspects and destroyed two illegal refinery sites during the multiple operation.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Troops of the JTF have rescued Mr. Julius Omeregie who was kidnapped by gunmen at Okhuaihie community in Uhumwode Local Government Area of Edo.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The victim and his family of five were abducted in his Honda CRV Jeep but the kidnappers later abandoned the vehicle with the family members before whisking the victim away.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“On getting the information, troops of the JTF in conjunction with the Nigerian Police and the local vigilante, combed the area and rescued the victim.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“One of the kidnappers was killed during a shootout between the troops and the kidnappers.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“A pump action gun with 10 rounds of cartridges was recovered while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects,” the statement said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It said that in another operation, two suspected oil thieves were also arrested at Oreerokpe community in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta while conveying illegally refined diesel in a Volkswagen Jetta car with number plate Delta AM 306 JRT.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It said the suspects reportedly confessed to have carried out oil bunkering around Nigerian Port Authority waterside in Warri South Local Governmemnt Area of Delta.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />NAN<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

JTF frees kidnap victim, arrests two oil thieves

The Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Pulo Shield, said it had rescued a kidnap victim and arrested two suspected oil thieves...

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SOCCER TRAGEDY: Egypt to compensate families of dead fans

<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/1CdrDrY" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://ift.tt/1CdrDrY" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Egyptian government has agreed to pay 3,280 dollars as compensation to the families of fans who died outside an Egyptian soccer stadium on Sunday.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Health Ministry’s spokesman said on Tuesday in Cairo that the total death toll was 19, but the public prosecutor’s office said there were 22 fatalities while Zamalek supporters group said they have 28 dead till now.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Meanwhile, the Egyptian Football federation, which postponed all domestic matches indefinitely, said there would be another meeting after the three days of mourning with all parties concerned to discuss resuming football matches.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Mahmoud el-Shami Egyptian FA member board said the league should resume as soon as possible.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said the league cannot be postponed for too long because four clubs would participate in African competitions and the Egypt national team would start playing in World Cup 2018 qualification next July.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />(NAN)<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

SOCCER TRAGEDY: Egypt to compensate families of dead fans

The Egyptian government has agreed to pay 3,280 dollars as compensation to the families of fans who died outside an Egyptian soccer stadiu...

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Niger agrees to send troops to Nigeria to fight Boko Haram

<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/1uzIvZH" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://ift.tt/1uzIvZH" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>Niger’s parliament has given an unanimous approval for the deployment of the country’s troops to Nigeria to join a multinational force taking on the jihadist group, Boko Haram.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Nigerien forces will join their Chadian counterparts who are already fighting on Nigerian soil in north-eastern Borno State where Boko Haram has killed thousands and displaced many more.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Ahead of the vote in Niamey Monday, Boko Haram launched an overnight raid Sunday on the border town on Diffa, and followed that up with a bomb attack Monday.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Chad and Niger- by far smaller than Nigeria- have grown into military relevance in stopping Boko Haram, after Nigeria for five years failed to crush the group and instead lost towns, key military facilities and weapons to the group.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Boko Haram vowed in a new video released Monday to defeat the coalition that also has Cameroon, Nigeria’s neighbour to the east.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The four countries, as well as Benin, have agreed to send a joint force of 7,500 troops to battle the militant group.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Before Niger’s parliamentary vote, the country massed more than 3,000 troops in its southern region of Diffa on the border with Nigeria, awaiting approval to cross into Nigeria.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The pooling of the efforts and resources of concerned countries will contribute without doubt to crushing this group which shows scorn, through its barbaric acts, for the Muslim religion,” Niger’s parliamentary speaker Adamou Salifou said after the vote late on Monday, Reuters news agency reported.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Our country has never failed it its solidarity with its neighbours,” he said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The vote was supported by all 102 deputies present, Reuters reported.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />On Friday, French army official said in Paris that a detachment of 10 military personnel had been stationed in Diffa at the request of Niger, its former colony.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“The detachment is there to coordinate the armies on the ground in the fight against Boko Haram,” he said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The African Union (AU) has authorised a force of 7,500 troops from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin to fight the militants.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />It is expected to seek a UN Security Council mandate, which could also include logistical support from other countries.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />President Francois Hollande said Paris was also providing logistical and operation support, including delivering fuel and munitions to countries fighting Boko Haram.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said France could not be expected to get involved in every crisis around the world and accused other major powers of inaction in Africa.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“This is a message to the international community and the biggest countries. Do your work and stop giving lessons and take action!” he said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“In Africa, we have to help the Africans a lot more to fight terrorism, because if we do not, then other countries will be destabilised,” he added.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Niger agrees to send troops to Nigeria to fight Boko Haram

Niger’s parliament has given an unanimous approval for the deployment of the country’s troops to Nigeria to join a multinational force t...

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Flying Eagles goalkeeper, Dele Alampasu joins Portuguese side Estoril

<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/1Krf5Px" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://ift.tt/1Krf5Px" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Flying Eagles goalkeeper, Dele Alampasu, has finally moved overseas after superlative showings for his country’s youth teams.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Alampasu signed for Portuguese top flight outfit Estoril Praia on Monday, sl10.ng reports.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The goalkeeper, who turned 18 in December, was excellent when Nigeria won its fourth FIFA U-17 World Cup two years ago in United Arab Emirates, pulling off several saves in the tournament.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He was voted the best goalkeeper of the tournament, winning the Golden Glove.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He has thus joined several of his team-mates from that schoolboy team – Kelechi Iheanacho, Isaac Success, Musa Yahaya, Chidera Ezeh, Chidiebere Nwakali, Taiwo Awoniyi and Aliyu Abubakar – who have moved to Europe.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Flying Eagles goalkeeper, Dele Alampasu joins Portuguese side Estoril

Flying Eagles goalkeeper, Dele Alampasu, has finally moved overseas after superlative showings for his country’s youth teams. Alampasu sig...

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Chadian soldiers retake border town from Boko Haram

<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/1zf7oKu" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://ift.tt/1zf7oKu" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Chadian forces scored a key victory over Boko Haram on Tuesday, wresting control of the border town of Gamboru within hours of launching a ground offensive against the jihadist group.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Around 2,000 Chadian troops backed by armoured vehicles crossed the border into Gamboru from the Cameroonian town of Fotokol after days of clashes with the insurgents.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />By Tuesday evening, the troops had taken control of the town, according to an AFP journalist in Gamboru, leaving scenes of desolation, with houses destroyed, shops gutted and trucks charred.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The residents and remaining fighters appeared to have fled.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />No official death toll from the fighting was immediately available. A Chadian military source said eight Chadian soldiers were killed and around 20 injured.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The AFP journalist saw bodies lying on the ground.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We have routed this group of terrorists,” the commander of the Chadian contingent Ahmat Dari told AFP, vowing to continue the fight against the insurgents “until the end”.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The ground intervention by Chad came after the African Union last week backed a regional five-nation, 7,500-strong force to take on the extremists amid growing fears about their threat to regional security.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Nigeria has drawn fierce criticism for failing to hold back the insurgents, who have stepped up their campaign of terror in country’s northeast in the run-up to presidential and parliamentary elections on February 14.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Defence spokesman Chris Olukolade denied that the presence of foreign troops on Nigerian soil compromised the country’s sovereignty.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Nigeria’s territorial integrity remains intact,” he defended, claiming national forces had “planned and are driving the present onslaught against terrorists from all fronts in Nigeria, not the Chadian forces.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Chad’s intervention reflects the growing nervousness among Nigeria’s neighbours over the prospect of Boko Haram achieving its stated aim of carving out an Islamic caliphate on their borders.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The rebels have tried, in vain, to capture the strategic northeastern Nigerian town of Maiduguri twice in the past week.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />On Monday, President Goodluck Jonathan — who is running for re-election against a former military ruler who has vowed to defeat Boko Haram — escaped a suspected suicide bomb attack after attending a campaign rally in Gombe in the northeast.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Eighteen people were reported injured in the attack believed to have been carried out by two female suicide bombers.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />- 2,000 Chadian troops -<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />After days of air strikes by Chadian war planes on Gamboru, Chadian forces crossed a bridge from the Cameroonian town of Fotokol to enter Gamboru.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The operation began with another barrage of air strikes lasting about an hour.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Chadian forces have also taken up position close to Boko Haram strongholds along Nigeria’s border with Niger.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“A contingent of about 400 vehicles and tanks is stationed between Mamori and Bosso,” Niger’s private radio Anfani reported.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The massing of troops in Niger was seen as pointing the way to an imminent attack on Malam Fatori, a town held by the Islamists on the Nigerian side of a river that separates the two countries.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />(AFP)<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Chadian soldiers retake border town from Boko Haram

Chadian forces scored a key victory over Boko Haram on Tuesday, wresting control of the border town of Gamboru within hours of launching a...

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Jordan responds to IS's brutal killing of pilot

<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'><b><br/> </b><br/><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1zf7oKh" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="http://ift.tt/1zf7oKh" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>Islamic State group militants burned a captured Jordanian pilot to death in a cage, according to a purported video of the violence released Tuesday. The kingdom, which had vowed a swift and lethal response, executed two al-Qaida prisoners by hanging early Wednesday.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The pilot’s gruesome death sparked outrage and anti-Islamic State group demonstrations in Jordan. The video emerged after a weeklong drama over a possible prisoner exchange for a female al-Qaida operative imprisoned in Jordan who was one of the two prisoners executed.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Jordanian military confirmed the death of 26-year-old Lt. Muath Al-Kaseasbeh, who was captured by the extremists in December when his F-16 crashed while he was flying a mission as part of the U.S.-led air campaign against the Islamic State group.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He was the first airman participating in the U.S.-led bombing raids against militant positions in Syria and Iraq to be captured.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />In Washington, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and President Barack Obama vowed in a hastily arranged White House meeting not to let up in the fight against the Islamic State group. Jordan, a staunch Western ally, is a member of the coalition.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />In a first response to the killing of the pilot, Jordan executed Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziad al-Karbouly, two Iraqis linked to al-Qaida, government spokesman Mohammed al-Momani said. Another official said they were executed by hanging.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The executions took place at Swaqa prison about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of the Jordanian capital of Amman. At sunrise, two ambulances carrying the bodies of al-Rishawi and al-Karbouly drove away from the prison with security escorts.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Over the past week, Jordan had offered to trade al-Rishawi, a failed suicide bomber, for the pilot, but froze any swap after failing to receive any proof that the pilot was still alive. Jordanian TV said the pilot was killed as long ago as Jan. 3.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Al-Rishawi had been sentenced to death after her 2005 role in a triple hotel bombing that killed 60 people in Amman orchestrated by al-Qaida in Iraq, the predecessor of the Islamic State group. Al-Karbouly was sent to death row in 2008 for plotting terror attacks on Jordanians in Iraq.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Al-Kaseasbeh had fallen into the hands of the militants when his F-16 crashed near Raqqa, Syria, the de facto capital of the group’s self-styled caliphate.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Jordan responds to IS's brutal killing of pilot

Islamic State group militants burned a captured Jordanian pilot to death in a cage, according to a purported video of the violence rele...

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No government can solve Nigeria’s problems within four years - 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'><b><br/> </b><br/><br /><br/><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1zTtjbM" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ift.tt/1zTtjbM" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that no government could solve Nigeria’s problems within four years.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The President painted this gloomy picture on Monday when he paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari in continuation of his re-election campaign.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He emphasised that beyond tackling the Boko Haram insurgency, his administration was addressing other challenges in several sectors of the economy, including creating jobs through diverse means, reports <i>Daily Trust.</i><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He said: “Beyond tackling the insurgency, we are creating road networks; we are moving faster in several sectors. There is no way within four years any government can finish the programmes of this country”.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The President’s declaration contrasted sharply with his previous remark over four years ago in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Jonathan had while interacting with Nigerians in Addis-Ababa, in February 2011, promised that if voted in for the next four years, he would ensure significant improvement in power, especially.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He had said: “Without security, there is no government. So it is not debatable, it is something we have to address and we are working towards that with vigour.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“But if I’m voted into power within the next four years, the issue of power will become a thing of the past.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Four years is enough for anyone in power to make significant improvement and if I can’t improve on power within this period, it then means I cannot do anything even if I am there for the next four years.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Meanwhile, in Ilorin on Monday, Jonathan disclosed that the military would take delivery of additional equipment beginning this week as part of his administration’s efforts towards containing the Boko Haram insurgency.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He expressed optimism that this would enable the country to move faster in another two weeks in curtailing the insurgency.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We have been to many states, in Abuja, Sokoko, Gombe, Kano and Niger states and the north-east states of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa where we are battling insurgency.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“And we will surely give it a halt. We are creating platform for our military and in another two weeks, we would move faster than we have been moving before,” Jonathan said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He added: “We have intervened in several programmes especially in the area of agriculture. We are committed to moving this country forward, to create jobs for the country through diverse means.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We are working very hard to create jobs for our youths, we are encouraging the growth of small and medium enterprises in order to improve our economy and create wealth for the people.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Jonathan noted that he was at the emir’s palace to personally inform the royal father that he was running for his “remaining time” in office.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Today, we are here in this state for a political rally. Your Royal Highness, we are here for a purpose. We have been here for a number of times. 2011, I was here. After that, I have been here.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Today, we are here for the same mission that brought us in 2011. Even though you must have heard before, I’m here to personally tell you that I am running for my remaining time in office with my vice president who would continue to be my running mate”.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He introduced the gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Senator Simeon Ajibola to the emir, and pledged that the people of Kwara State would continue to enjoy freedom and quality of life, if they vote in the PDP candidates.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />In his remarks, the emir said having observed Jonathan’s performance over the years, he was convinced that he had done well.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He prayed God to crown Jonathan’s efforts with success and called on politicians to conduct their campaigns without violence.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

No government can solve Nigeria’s problems within four years - Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that no government could solve Nigeria’s problems within four years. The President painted thi...

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