Blog by XANTAPLUS

Friday, 2 October 2015

COORDINATED SUICIDE ATTACKS ROCK MAIDUGURI.

Maiduguri was thrown into pandemonium on Thursday evening, coinciding with the nation’s 55th Independence anniversary, as multiple bomb explosions disrupted the relative peace in the town.

It was gathered that over four suicide bombers attacked the town at about 7.15pm.

A source told our correspondent on the telephone that the attackers entered the Borno State capital at about 7pm from the Zajeri area and spread to other locations marked as targets.

KILLER - CHRIS HARPER-MERCER

The gunman who opened fire on students at Umpqua Community College has been identified as 26-year-old Chris Harper-Mercer according to law enforcement sources.

'He appears to be an angry young man who was very filled with hate,' one source told The New York Times.

The killer marched into the college campus in Oregon on Thursday armed with a rifle and three handguns. He opened fire - after asking many victims whether they were Christian - leaving at least ten people dead including himself.

14-YR-OLD GIRL RESCUED FROM 40-YR-OLD LOVER'S HOME IN LAGOS ESCAPES.

Two weeks after a 14-year-old girl, identified only as Rosemary, was rescued from the apartment of her alleged lover, 40-year-old Chukwu Nkenna, the teenager has gone missing again in the Agege area of Lagos.

We learnt that Rosemary, who hails from Jos, Plateau State, had been taken away from Nkenna’s apartment at Obelle Junction, Surulere, on Monday, September 8, by officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Our correspondent gathered that Rosemary, who reportedly came to Lagos State in January 2014, had been in the care of a non-governmental organisation interested in girl education, before she left in December 2014, due to financial challenges.

A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has said that he owes nobody any apology for describing Fulani herdsmen as tsetse flies and murderers.

Fani-Kayode was responding to tweets by the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria Chairman, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, who accused him of hate crime.

Odinkalu, had on Twitter on Wednesday, lashed out at Fani-Koyode, promising to lodge a complaint against him to the Nigerian Police Force.

President Muhammadu Buhari in his Independence broadcast on Thursday (today) assured Nigerians that his government was not persecuting anybody but said all must be ready to account for their deeds.

Borrowing from his inaugural speech on May 29, Buhari said, “I bear no ill will against anyone on past events. Nobody should fear anything from me.

“We are not after anyone. People should only fear the consequences of their actions. I hereby invite everyone, whatever his or her political view, to join me in working for the nation.”

Two persons, Festus Owie, 20, and Blessing Ebimor, 12, have been arraigned before an Egor Magistrate’s Court, for allegedly raping and assaulting a 12-year-old girl.

The defendants, who were arraigned on a three-count charge of defilement, rape and assault, were alleged to have committed the offense on October 26, 2014.

The court was told by the prosecutor that the accused persons conspired at about 5pm at 46, First Oromina Street, off Siluko road, Benin, where they not only assaulted the victim but also forcibly had sexual intercourse with her.

All is not well between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the man widely referred to as the “unofficial vice president”, Mallam Nasir el Rufai, the governor of Kaduna State. Proof: after a meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) held on 17th September, 2015, el Rufai showed up in Osinbajo’s office and both took a photograph, all smiles; and splashed them all over the internet. Purpose: to debunk the “rumours” making the rounds that they had exchanged insults. To confirm the story further, a meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) a couple of days ago tabled as an item for discussion/resolution the “face-off” between Osinbajo and el Rufai.

At last, Senate President Bukola Saraki Wednesday received the first twenty – one names of nominees to make President Buhari ministerial list , just as the names would be forwarded in batches.

It was learnt that former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and his counterpart in Lagos, Babatunde Fashola were among the names forwarded to the senate.

Others in the list are, former governors, Anambra, Chris Ngige; Abia State, Ogbonaya Onu, Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi; a one time APC governorship flag bearer in Taraba, Aisha Alhassan,

SENATE PRESIDENT BUKOLA SARAKI CONFIRMS RECEIVING MINISTERIAL LIST. #THELIST.

The Senate has received the ministerial list.

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola SarAki, who disclosed this on his Twitter handle, said the list was received at 5pm on Wednesday (today).

Saraki said, “I can confirm to you that I have just received the list.”

1. BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR

A non-voting category for the best single recording by an artiste or group in the year under review.

1. Ojuelegba – Wizkid

2. Eyo – Asa

3. Wish Me Well – Timi Dakolo

4. Bez – There’s A Fire

5. Cobhams – Do the right Thing

Former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission NDCC, Timi Alaibe has withdrawn from the primary of the All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State.

Alaibe in a statement issued in the early hours of Wednesday said the decision to withdraw from the contest was in the interest of the party especially as it face the task of the common challenge of unseating the PDP in the state come December 5

He said, “It is with all nostalgia that I recall the zeal, enthusiasm and hope with which thousands of Bayelsans made a statement in the direction of change in August, 2015. I can also vividly recall a mental replay of the occasion wherein a qualitative representation of the leadership of our great party, the All Progressives Congress ( APC) ushered in respected leaders and members from their then party, Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) .