IMPERATIVES OF SAFE SCHOOLS INITIATIVE IN THE NORTH.

After five years of facing frequent murderous attacks from Boko Haram, students in Northern Nigeria will soon get some measure of relief. The United Nations has corralled some of our business leaders to set aside a $10 million fund that will be used to make the schools safe. 

The World Economic Forum for Africa, which ended last Friday in Abuja, provided a platform for the initiative. A total of 500 schools, mostly located in the North-East zone, will benefit from this initial intervention, in response to challenges posed by the April 14 abduction of 276 Chibok schoolgirls. The outrage and outpouring of sympathy from the international community have been torrential.

The Safe Schools Initiative is highly commendable and it came at the instance of the UN Special Envoy for Education, Gordon Brown.  Typical of leadership in Nigeria, neither the state governors in the North, nor the Federal Government, had thought about this necessity, despite the fact that what Boko Haram stands for —Western education is forbidden – ought to have alerted them to the need to guarantee the safety of the pupils, who, by going to school, seem to have dared these mindless, rabid Islamists.

EXPLORING SOLID MINERALS POTENTIAL

It is mind-blowing to see a country such as Nigeria wallowing in abject poverty and having a comatose industrial sector due to inadequate attention and political will to transform the abundant minerals and metals endowed by God across the country.

The dependence on oil had become worrisome as the economy of the country had not recorded significant diversifications, particularly in the minerals and metals sector. Those in government are not keen in developing and expanding the solid minerals sector as they are yet to realise that in global trade the world has gone beyond oil, whereby the nation’s prosperity is measured.

Every state and local government in Nigeria is blessed with various minerals and metals in commercial quantities. There is no gainsaying that the government and investors are yet to key into the money spinning sector, because it had become a world attraction in global trade.

MAN DIES MYSTERIOUSLY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STEAL SKULL FROM A GRAVE.

Despite the increase in cases of jungle justice being meted out to suspected kidnappers and ritualists lately, most especially in Oyo, Ogun, Osun and other states, some desperate ritualists are still not deterred by these horrible deaths, as an unidentified young man in Ilobu community, in the Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State, met his Waterloo in the early hours of Wednesday while attempting to cut off the head of a corpse, buried in Tonto compound in the area.

The suspect’s accomplices fled in terror after seeing half his body get stuck mysteriously in the grave. His death has generated concern among the terrified residents of the Ilobu community.

Saturday Tribune reports that the victim and his partners in crime allegedly came to Tonto compound in the early hours of Wednesday with a plot to exhume the corpse of an aged woman and sever her decomposed head, allegedly for ritual purposes.

A credible source in the community, who did not want to be named, told Saturday Tribune that “this particular corpse was buried five years ago and the suspected ritualist attended the burial in Ilobu.”

CRITICISM AND THE UNMISTAKABLE SIGNS OF A SOCIETY IN DECLINE.

In the fight against corruption where he could have made a good impression, the President’s achievement is far below average.

As I argued sometime ago, the presidential pardon granted Diepriye Alamieyeseigha, former Bayelsa State governor, who was impeached for embezzlement of public funds and under whom he served as deputy governor is a ringing testimony that Jonathan lacks the will to checkmate corruption where it matters most – at the highest echelons of governance.

Again, the slow response of our security forces to the Nyanya carnage and abduction of hundreds of secondary school girls in Chibok by evil-minded misanthropes under the aegis of Boko Haram underscores the growing inability of government to provide security for ordinary Nigerians.

WHO KILLED AISHA FALODE'S SON??????

Seven months ago, in October last year, when 19-year-old Toba Falode left Nigeria for Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, his mother, Aisha Falode had high hopes for him.

Toba was admitted to study Audio Production at the SAE Institute, Dubai. Fondly known as “Tyler Hendrix Fray,” he is described by friends as a young, talented and inspirational musician, who was a gift to his family and friends.

Sadly, on February 15, that gift was snatched away from a family and his mother’s embrace by the cold hands of death in faraway Dubai. The official cause of death reportedly stated that Toba died as a result of ‘a fall from a great height and the impact from the fall.’

Until his death, Toba lived on the 17th floor (Apartment 1703) in Manchester Towers, Dubai Marina, Dubai.

BOKO HARAM WRITES SCHOOL INFORMING THEM OF IMPENDING ATTACK.

Thirty-four days after the fundamentalist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, abducted over 200 schoolgirls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, it has threatened to kidnap more pupils.

The United States of America, France, Britain, Israel and Canada are among the foreign countries that have pledged to help Nigeria find the schoolgirls that were kidnapped by Boko Haram on April 14.

The pupils were kidnapped in the night and their hostels were burnt. However, while Boko Haram transported them in trucks to its Sambisa Forest stronghold, over 50 of the schoolgirls escaped from the sect.

MY VISIT TO CHIBOK WILL NOT BRING BACK THE MISSING GIRLS - PRESIDENT JONATHAN

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday said his physical presence in Chibok, Borno State, where over 200 schoolgirls were abducted on April 14, would not solve the problem.

He said since the abducted girls were not being held in the school, the major challenge before him and his government now was to locate and rescue them.

Jonathan spoke while answering a question during a press conference held to announce the conclusion of a regional summit on security in Nigeria held in Paris, France.

The President had not visited the community since the incident happened over a month ago.

(VIDEO) ATLETICO MADRID WINS LA LIGA IN GRAND STYLE AS THEY HELD BARCELONA TO A 1-1 AT THE NOU CAMP.

BARCELONA 1 ATLETICO MADRID 1

Atletico Madrid ground out a 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp to claim their first Primera Division title since 1996.

It was not always pretty, but Diego Godin's headed equaliser early in the second half was enough to deny Barca in a tense title decider.

The hosts had taken the lead with a stunning strike from Alexis Sanchez but it was a rare sight of goal for the hosts, with Lionel Messi cutting a frustrated figure and Atletico's defence standing firm.

Gerardo Martino sprung a surprise in his team selection with Barca's most decorated player Xavi Hernandez left out as Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Busquets started alongside Andres Iniesta, while Pedro Rodriguez was preferred to record signing Neymar.

(FULL VIDEO) HOW ARSENAL'S NINE YEARS DROUGHT ENDED IN MAGICAL STYLE.. (ARS 3 HULL CITY 2)

ARS 3 HULL CITY 2

Arsenal came from 2-0 down to win a dramatic FA Cup final 3-2 with a goal from Aaron Ramsey in extra-time to end their nine-year wait for a trophy.

Hull had ealier stunned the Gunners at a sun-baked Wembley as they went 2-0 up inside eight minutes through James Chester and captain Curtis Davies, who both capitalised on some poor defending from balls into the penalty area.

Arsenal, though, rallied and reduced the deficit through a superb 30-yard free-kick from Santi Cazorla.

After several Arsenal penalty claims, notably a pull by Tom Huddlestone on Olivier Giroud, were turned down by referee Lee Probert, the equaliser evetually came on 71 minutes when Laurent Koscielny knocked the ball into the net from a corner before being clattered by Allan McGregor.

HOW PASTOR RAPED MY DAUGHTER. #SAYNOTORAPE

The mother of one of the girls allegedly raped by Emmanuel Matthew, a pastor, told an FCT High Court on Friday that the accused used a white bedspread and red curtain to rape her daughter.

Mr. Mathew, 52, who is the General Overseer of The Choice Bible Church, Mpape, Abuja, and proprietor of the primary school where his alleged victims attended, was arraigned on a six-count charge.

At the continuation of trial, Jacintha Ejiofor told the court that her daughter was molested by the pastor in his bedroom on March 12, 2012.

While being cross-examined by Ejike Orji, a lawyer from the Attorney- General’s office, the mother said her child, one of the pupils in the accused’s school, was lured into his bedroom for unknown reasons.

THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF CHICKENS OUT - BAMIDELE ATURU

The cancellation of the presidential visit to Chibok on any ground whatsoever is an abandonment of the unwritten responsibilities of the office of the President. It is now clear that the President and his aides do not understand the scope of his presidential responsibilities and this is very scary. 

The President, for God’s sake, is first and foremost the Father of the Nation. In that capacity he is the chief mobiliser and galvanizer of the people. The President is expected to give hope to the people even when all seems hopeless; it is the part of the functions of the President to show courage when fear looms everywhere. 

What manner of father would desert his children and refuse to visit them on account that danger looms in the abode of his children? As one African writer puts it, whenever the lives of others depend on us, one has no right to fear even when one is afraid. 

BOKO HARAM MURDERS ONE CHINESE AND ABDUCTS TEN IN CAMEROON.

Boko Haram gunmen have killed a Chinese worker in Cameroon and kidnapped 10 others overnight, piling more pressure on leaders meeting in Paris  to thrash out a tougher strategy against the Nigerian Islamists.

Militants stormed an encampment used by Chinese road workers late Friday in a region of northern Cameroon just across the border from the strongholds where they sparked global outrage by abducting more than 200 schoolgirls last month.

"The Boko Haram militants were heavily armed, they came in five vehicles," an official in Waza, a town near the site of the attack, told AFP on condition of anonymity.

He said the camp where the Chinese road workers stayed was usually guarded by soldiers from Cameroon's elite Rapid Intervention Battalion, but that many of the troops were in Yaounde for a military parade marking National Day on May 20.

FULL DETAILS ON WHY SOLDIERS ATTACKED GOC IN MAIDUGURI.

An Acting General Officer Commanding, GOC, has been appointed for the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, Borno State. He is Brigadier General M. Y. Ibrahim.

Ibrahim takes over from Major General Ahmed Mohammed who was removed from his position, after being attacked by soldiers under his command in Maiduguri Thursday. This was even as more facts have emerged on why soldiers attacked their former GOC, Maj. Gen. Mohammed.

Director Of Defence Information, DDI, Major General Chris Olukolade, Chief Of Staff, 7 Division, Brig.-Gen. Enobong Udoh and Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Mohammed Dole, had confirmed the removal of Mohammed during a news conference on the attack of GOC. 7 Division.\

The DDI, General Olukolade, at the briefing in Maiduguri said: “The GOC has been redeployed based on the decision of the headquarters.”

HOW MASTERMIND OF NYANYA BOMBING "AMINU OGWUCHE" WAS RADICALISED IN BRITISH UNIVERSITY.

Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, the alleged mastermind of the Nyanya bomb blast is said to have been radicalised while studying at university in South Wales, a report published in Daily Mail Friday revealed.

Ogwuche who dubbed himself ‘The Lion of God’ threatened to cut the hands and feet of non-believers while he was living in Britain.

The 29-year-old who was said to have escaped to Sudan was declared wanted by security authorities early in the week. But the terror kingpin was arrested by the Interpol in the Islamic country on suspicion of carrying out terror attacks in Nigeria which killed more than 90 people.

Boko Haram is also behind the abduction of 300 schoolgirls who are currently being held captive in a forest near the border with Cameroon.

But Ogwuche who dropped out of the university is said to have become radicalised while studying Business science at the University of Glamorgan from 2007 to 2010 while living in Pontyridd.

JAYZ, BEYONCE, AND SOLANGE RELEASE JOINT STATEMENT ON ELEVATOR SHOWDOWN.

Beyonce, Jay Z and Solange released a joint statement on Thursday to address the now infamous elevator showdown video.

'As a result of the public release of the elevator security footage from Monday, May 5th, there has been a great deal of speculation about what triggered the unfortunate incident. But the most important thing is that our family has worked through it,' they said in a statement. 

'Jay and Solange each assume their share of responsibility for what has occurred. They both acknowledge their role in this private matter that has played out in the public. They both have apologized to each other and we have moved forward as a united family.'

6 MISTAKES PRESIDENT JONATHAN CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE NOW.

THE ship of state of Nigeria is adrift for some key reasons.

The Northern elders, elites and political leaders seem to be determined to either intimidate, harass or force GEJ not to run in the 2015 presidential election. The merger of the ACN, CPC, and others to form the APC, which was the joy of many earlier, have just turned out to be more of a gang up to the disappointment of those who thought our democracy was shaping up.

But following the Chibok incident and the expressed willingness of the international community to assist Nigeria, some of them have seen the need to change their stance. They were blinded all these past four years and did not see the danger of Boko Haram as the nation’s number one enemy. Then they did not seem to care if the country was blown to pieces, aware that they will never be able to beat GEJ in 2015; thus, they told lies to themselves that the failure of Nigeria was only the failure of GEJ.

#HEALTHCORNER - TOOTHPICK CAN RUIN YOUR GUM.

For some people, even when they drink water they must pick their teeth. Of course, food residues can get trapped in our teeth each time we eat, and because they make us feel uncomfortable, we feel the desperate urge to remove them.

But then, the truth is that some people have turned tooth-picking into a habit, such that it has become an integral part of the meal.

Some even go as far as leaving the toothpick hanging between their lips for a long time after meal, as if the object is a fashion statement of sorts.

Where there are no decent and hygienic toothpicks, some people simply make do with broom sticks, never minding the dirty jobs the broom may have been employed to do all the while. By so doing, they unwittingly transfer germs or harmful bacteria into their mouths — an action that can lead to severe health consequences as time goes on.

JAMES IBORI TO FACE TRIAL IN NIGERIA AS APPEAL COURT UPTURNED HIS "INFAMOUS ACQUITAL"

A Court of Appeal sitting in Benin, the Edo State capital, on Thursday upturned the “infamous ruling” given by Justice Awokulehin which acquitted a former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, of a 170-count of money laundering levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, who led a panel of three judges, said the decision was predicated on four grounds.

Saulawa while upturning the ruling said, “First, the trial judge, (Awokulehin), looked at the proof of evidence and evaluated same as if the prosecution had called all his witnesses and trial had been concluded. Second, the procedure is by way of summary trial and not trial by indictment or information.”

TIME TO STOP THE LYNCHING - #SAYNOTOJUNGLEJUSTICE

Stories of widespread lynching of suspected kidnappers have dominated news reports in recent times, thus compounding the complex security challenge that is currently threatening to overwhelm the country. It is, indeed, a throwback to a period in a distant past when it was commonplace in Lagos to make a bonfire of anybody that was unfortunate enough to be publicly branded a thief or a kidnapper.

A case in point is the ordeal meted out to an elderly woman at the Abule Egba area of Lagos on May 7. Based on some seemingly spurious claims of attempting to kidnap a child, the woman was thoroughly beaten, stripped naked and dumped inside the gutter. Not quite done with that ignominious treatment, she was later brought out, doused with petrol and set alight. The police, who managed to arrive at the scene and tried to rescue her, were reportedly engaged in a free-for-all, while the woman burnt to ashes. This can only happen in a society that has lost its soul.

LAGOS POLICE NAB A MEMBER OF A SIX MAN ROBBERY GANG.

A member of the six‑man armed robbery gang said to be terrorising Ajangbadi, Shibiri, a Lagos suburb and its environs, has been nabbed by security operatives.

The suspect was arrested following a tip‑off by residents, when the gang operated along Imude road, Shibiri.

Although five members of the gang escaped, four locally‑made shotguns and cartridges were recovered from the arrested suspect, simply identified as Kabiru.

Vanguard gathered that the gang began operation at 9 p.m., robbing residents and shop owners in the area, including one Alhaja Musura Haziz.