Nigeria to ban rice importation this year – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged that his administration will ban rice import in 2018.

The president said this in his New Year broadcast on Monday.

“Rice import will stop this year,” he said, saying he is gratified that agriculture has picked up.

With Buhari, Igbo Presidency possible – APC leaders

The All Progressives Congress, APC, says that a Nigerian President of Igbo ethnicity is achievable after the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Vice Chairman of the party in the South-east, Emma Eneukwu, stated this at a meeting of the party’s South East Zonal caucus held at Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi.

Mr. Eneukwu called on the party in the South-east to remain more united and focused especially as the 2019 general elections approaches.

He said that the party had been re-positioned to capture political power in the remaining four zones in the state and called for contributions of the party leaders for the success of the party.

The chairman said that the political prospects of the South-east zone could be better served under APC-led federal government.

He challenged the stakeholders to ensure a landslide victory for the party in the zone in 2019.

“The clamour, the agitation for a Nigeria’s President of Igbo extraction is only achievable under the Buhari administration and what is needed is for South-east zone to double our support for Mr President.

“We must align the region to the mainstream national politics, support APC and ensure the re-election of Buhari in the 2019 general elections,” Mr. Eneukwu said.

He warned against all forms of sabotage and anti-party activities from leaders and party supporters.

Also, the Minister for Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, said that South-east zone would give Mr. Buhari 80 per cent of the votes in 2019.

He called on the people of the zone to unite so as to benefit from the Buhari-led federal government.

He said that the administration of Mr. Buhari had affected the lives of ordinary citizens of the zone through job creation, roads and other infrastructure development.

The former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, also urged leaders of the party in the zone to unite for the overall success of the party.

He said that big names only would not ensure APC success in the South-east, stressing that more efforts was needed to achieve victory in the zone in the 2019 general elections.

Emeka Nwogu, former Minister for Labour and Productivity, urged leaders of the party to mobilise support for the party.

He said that the improved electronic system of voting introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would not allow for rigging in 2019.

He urged leaders to ensure that their loyalists register and obtain their voters card, warning that 2019 elections would not be like the previous ones.

In their goodwill messages, former Governors of Ebonyi and Enugu, Martin Elechi and Sullivan Chime, called for the unity of leaders of the party to attract infrastructure development in the Zone.

The former governors in their separate remarks called on the zone to support the re-election of Mr. Buhari and to rise up to the challenges of ethnic sentiments.

In attendance also, were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geofrey Onyeama, past governors, former and serving senators as well as five state chairmen of APC in the zone.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the zonal caucus meeting was aimed at reviewing the activities of the party in 2017.

(NAN)

Photo: Woman Arrested For Stealing Girl At RCCG’s Redemption Camp

Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 28-year-old woman, Anuoluwapo Joshua,  for allegedly stealing a three-year-old girl, Patience, at the Redemption Camp along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The Redemption Camp is owned by the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

It was gathered that the suspect allegedly stole the child in July 2017 during the monthly Holy Ghost Congress. She was apprehended on December 29 at a youth centre in the camp.

Patience was discovered missing in July after her mother returned from the new auditorium where she had gone to pack her children’s clothes.


The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said since then, efforts to know the whereabouts of the child had proved abortive.

Oyeyemi said, “Luck ran against the suspect on December 29 when the child was sighted inside the Youth centre at the Redemption Camp during the children’s end of the year party, organised by the RCCG.

“The Divisional Police Officer, Redemption Camp Division, Olaiya Martins, led detectives to the centre where they waited until the end of the programme. As soon as the suspect came out to pick the child, she was promptly arrested.”

Oyeyemi said the suspect had confessed to the crime.

He said, “She admitted that she lured the child out of her parents’ sight and took her to Ofada, where she has been taking care of the child since then.

“Investigation further revealed that the suspect had earlier got pregnant for somebody in Lagos, but travelled to the North where she claimed she had been delivered of a baby girl.

“But when she returned from the North, she did not return with the baby. This made the man who impregnated her to put pressure on her to bring his child.

“She informed her relatives that she was travelling to Nasarawa State to bring the child, but went to the Redemption Camp where she stayed for some days before stealing the child which she presented to her relations as her daughter.”

Oyeyemi said the state Commissioner of Police,  Ahmed Iliyasu, had ordered the transfer of the suspect to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Abeokuta.

El-Rufai to make senior Kaduna officials enroll wards in public schools

The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has said that his administration will ask its senior officials to enrol their children in government-owned schools.

Public primary schools, largely poorly funded, ill-equipped and staffed with inadequate, and sometimes incompetent,  teachers, are usually attended by wards of low income earners and the poor across Nigeria.

Mr. El-Rufai revealed his plan in a state broadcast on Thursday to explain reforms being undertaken by the state government.

Details of the broadcast were made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, just as the NLC accused Mr. El-Rufai of violating a court order on the controversial  sack of teachers in the state.

Speaking on his plans, Mr. El-Rufai said, “As we make progress, we will require our senior officials to enrol their children in public schools. And I will by personal example ensure that my son that will be six years of age in 2019 will be enrolled in a public school in Kaduna State, by God’s grace.

He said one of his goals is to have only graduates as primary school teachers, arguing that the educational attainments of a country like Finland shows that this is the way to go.

“We do not agree that we should restore Grade 2 teacher training. But we must improve the intellectual capacity of teachers that the NCE should give way ultimately to first and second degrees as minimum teaching qualifications. Kaduna ranks first among the northern states, and 12th in the country overall in WAEC scores. We can be the best if we do not relent in reforming our schools,” Mr. El-Rufai said.

He said public schools in Nigeria lack facilities and good teachers.

“We said many schools did not have roofs, doors, windows, water and toilets, and we promised to fix it. As soon as we took office, we also sadly learnt that at least 50 per cent of school pupils sat on floors due to the absence of desks and chairs. Therefore, under no circumstance would we subjugate the future of the two million pupils in public primary schools, and those coming after them, to the interests of unqualified teachers,” he said.

He said the attitude of indifference to public education resulted in the recruitment of teachers at local government level without adherence to standards.

“We found that unqualified teachers entered the system because the recruitment of teachers was politicised. The local government council chairmen and other senior politicians and bureaucrats saw teaching as a dumping ground for their thugs, supporters and other unsuitable persons. In many instances, no examinations or interviews were conducted to assess the quality of recruits. Political patronage, nepotism and corruption became the yardstick, thus giving unqualified persons a way in,” he said.

Mr. El-Rufai said the current government has spent more than N625 million on training since 2015 noting that thousands of teachers were trained in literacy, numeracy, reading skills and in other subjects of the teaching profession.

“The competency test results clearly showed that the training programmes had recorded, at best, only limited impact. The results of the competency test profoundly disappointed us. It showed that much of the monies spent on training teachers since 2011 had been wasted,” he said.

He said the competency test revealed that many of the teachers do not have the basic knowledge, and are incapable of imparting what they do not have.

“The honest truth is that many of these teachers should themselves be adult education students, being taught basic literacy and numeracy. The government came to the conclusion that it is not further training that teachers who cannot score 75 per cent in a Primary Four exam require. In these circumstances, the government took the difficult, but necessary decision, to disengage all the teachers who did not meet the 75 per cent threshold. This has been done in accordance with the terms of their employment, and their entitlements will be payed, as appropriate,” he said.

He said that in place of the 22,000 teachers disengaged by government due to failure in the competency test, 25,000 qualified teachers are to be recruited.

“This week, SUBEB conducted tests for the over 43,000 applicants that have indicated interest in the teaching positions. The ongoing recruitment process will sieve these applicants to ensure that only bonafide teachers are recruited.

“Education is a leveller, it gives the children of the poor a chance to rise above the condition of their birth. And a nation of well-educated people offers immense opportunities for social mobility, enabling the poor to move out of poverty by the sheer force of talent and hard work,” he concluded.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how two-thirds of primary school teachers in Kaduna failed to score up to 75 per cent when the test, largely made up of primary four questions, was set for them.

In November, the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, explained that such teachers can ask for their answer sheets to be re-graded.

The SUBEB chairman, Nasiru Umar, said the affected teachers who have spent more than five years in the public service will be allowed to retire while those who have spent less than five years will be sacked. All the affected teachers can also reapply in the ongoing recruitment process.

EL-RUFAI VIOLATES COURT ORDER – NLC

However, on Sunday, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, accused Mr. El-Rufai of violating a court ordering a halt to the planned sack of the 22,000 teachers.

The labour union said despite an order of the industrial court, the Kaduna government proceeded to conduct fresh recruitment test for new teachers.

“Despite the wise counsel of well-meaning Nigerians and protestations from the Congress, including an injunction from the National Industrial Court (NIC) which had ruled that the status quo should be maintained till the determination of the substantive suit brought before it by the unjustly dismissed workers and unions in Kaduna State, Governor El-Rufai, like all despots, has remained adamant,” the NLC said in a New Year message by its president Ayuba Wabba.

“Last Friday, 29th December, 2017, Governor El-Rufai authorised Education Secretaries and relevant local government authorities to commence the distribution of sack letters to teachers and local government workers in the 23 local government areas of the state beginning from Tuesday, 2nd January, 2018.

“While some state governments are struggling to devise ways of bringing succour to workers and the people generally in the New Year, Governor el-Rufai’s Christmas and New Year gift to the working people of Kaduna State and their families is tears and sorrow.

“Under this atmosphere of disregard for the rule of law and decency, Congress is left with no other option than to use all legitimate means to challenge the crass impunity and despotism being displayed by Governor el-Rufai. It will therefore give effect to the Congress National Executive Council (NEC) decision to observe January 11, 2018 as a day of solidarity with the workers of Kaduna State, and shall mobilise Nigerian workers to march for the reversion of the sacked workers in Kaduna City.”

Speaking on the NLC’s stance on Sunday, Mr. El-Rufai’s spokesperson, Samuel Aruwan, said the process for the recruitment of new teachers was already on before the industrial court decision.
“The process of recruiting new teachers has been ongoing and those that will be leaving also will have their entitlements fully ready.

“One interesting thing about this is that many of those who failed the competency test also reapplied and were among those who wrote the first recruitment test that took place in Kaduna last week.”

(Premium Times)

SARS Operatives Accused Of Killing Cross River Revenue Collector On Friday

Men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in the Cross River State Police Command have killed a revenue collector, identified as Edward Inyambe, and arrested another on the alleged orders of the  state’s Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof. Anthony Eneji.

Southern City News learnt on Sunday that the incident, which happened on Friday in Gakem, Bekwarra Local Government Area, was alleged to be an attempt to take over the collection of revenue of ‘non-cocoa’ produce from a consultancy firm appointed by the state Internal Revenue Service.

As of Saturday, aggrieved youths had burnt down some houses in reaction to the death of Inyambe and the arrest of another collector, Edward Idiege, by SARS operatives.


An eyewitness, Solomon Odey, alleged that the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Eneji, brought in some SARS operatives in a van to arrest some revenue collectors, who were said to have opposed his taking over the collection point in the area.

He said, “When the commissioner came in, some youths resisted the arrest of the collectors and blocked the area, not allowing the SARS operatives to leave with any of them. The situation angered the SARS operatives, who shot into the air and in the process, a stray bullet hit Edward. He died instantly.

“As soon as the news of Edward’s death filtered in, the youths went berserk, pulling down buildings and targeting the commissioner’s house, but for the quick intervention of the police that saved his house from being razed.”

The Principal Partner of Eraye Ventures, Prince Joseph Enu, the revenue consultant, said the commissioner had tried to forcefully introduce another consultant to the same revenue point with the aid of SARS operatives when the incident happened.

Enu, who claimed that he was legitimately appointed by the state Internal Revenue Service as collector in the Northern Senatorial District, said the commissioner had, without success, made many attempts to bring in another firm (Adaoshi Nigeria Limited) to take over the same job.

He said, “We are Eyare Ventures, revenue consultant appointed by the state Internal Revenue Service on produce inspection fee (non-cocoa) in the Northern Senatorial District. Our letter of award was dated September 18, 2017.

“We signed our consultancy agreement with the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice on October 26, 2017. A letter of introduction from IRS was written to the Commissioner for Agriculture on October 11, 2017.

“But since then, the commissioner, Prof. Tony Eneji, has resisted our move to take over the produce job. We were only able to take over the job about one week before the incident and since then he had made many attempts to forcefully take back the job.    He has been collecting money for almost two years now.

“The commissioner sent some SARS operatives there last Thursday and they shot dead one of my boys at the checkpoint. His name is Edward Inyambe. They also arrested another collector, Edward Idiege, with handcuffs and took him away. It is worthy of note that the SARS officials drove one of the commissioner’s vehicle in company with a consultant that he gave the job to.”

In his reaction, the commissioner, Eneji, denied sending SARS operatives to the checkpoint.

Eneji said, “There had been a recurring problem in that place since last year. It is a Ministry of Agriculture checkpoint for livestock and vet inspection. For most of the year, some local warlords have prevented the inspection team from working there.

“Over the period they have not been carrying out their professional duties. There are also some other workers who are revenue collectors as they call it. The local group formed a strong ‘militant’ group driving away my staff.

“The contractor that is being accused went there with some security operatives and the locals came out in their large number to resist them. It was what led to the unfortunate fracas. That innocent victim was not even a militant. The so-called SARS were not invited by me. We are finding a way to address the problem.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo, confirmed that a revenue collector was hit by a stray bullet from SARS operatives.

She said, “SARS men had gone there for intervention, but the youths attacked the SARS team and this forced them to shoot into the air. Unfortunately, a bullet hit one of the revenue collectors and he died.”

Photo: #HappyNewYear my luvlies, #Happy2018!!!

Hey family, friends and fans!

2018 is here!
May it start with gladness, praise and thanksgiving, continue with gladness, praise and thanksgiving and end with gladness, praise and thanksgiving for us and ours!!
May this be our best year ever!!!
Glory to God on high.
Cheers,
Toyeen B. xo
01/01/2018

P.S
Check out my Insta stories on IG: @toyeenbsworld! 😉

Iran cuts social media access as unrest turns deadly

Iran cut access to social media on Sunday in a bid to head off further protests after days of unrest that saw two people killed and dozens arrested.

The interior minister warned protesters will “pay the price” as footage on social media showed thousands marching across the country overnight in the biggest test for the Islamic republic since mass demonstrations in 2009.



The spate of demonstrations began in second city Mashhad on Thursday over high living costs, but quickly spread throughout the country and turned against the Islamic system as a whole, with slogans such as “Death to the dictator”.

Lorestan province deputy governor Habibollah Khojastehpour told state television that two people were killed in clashes in the small western town of Dorud late on Saturday, but denied security forces were responsible.

There were no signs of major protests during the day on Sunday, though officials appeared to be bracing for unrest after dark.

In an apparent attempt to stave off more unrest, the authorities began blocking access to photo sharing and online messaging services on mobile phones, including Telegram, which the government accused of being used to foment violence, local media and Telegram’s CEO said.

After an initial silence, state media has begun showing footage of unrest, focusing on young men violently targeting banks and vehicles, an attack on a town hall in Tehran, and images of a man burning the Iranian flag.

“Those who damage public property, disrupt order and break the law must be responsible for their behaviour and pay the price,” Interior Minister Abdolrahman Rahmani Fazli said on state television.

“The spreading of violence, fear and terror will definitely be confronted,” he added.

US President Donald Trump said the “big protests” showed people “were getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism”.

“Looks like they will not take it any longer,” he wrote on Twitter, warning that Washington is “watching very closely for human rights violations!”

British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson said he was “watching events in Iran with concern”.

Iranian authorities have sought to distinguish anti-regime protesters from what they see as legitimate economic grievances.

“Do not get excited,” parliament director for international affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian wrote in a tweet directed at Trump.

“Sedition, unrest and chaos are different from gatherings and peaceful protests to pursue people’s livelihoods,” he said.

But there have been reminders of the continued support for the regime among conservative sections of society, with pro-regime students holding another day of demonstrations at the University of Tehran on Sunday.

They had outnumbered protesters at the university the day before, although online videos showed significant protests around parts of central Tehran later in the evening.

– Dozens arrested –
The total number of arrests from the protests around the country remained unclear.

An official in Arak, around 300 kilometres (190 miles) southwest of Tehran, said 80 people had been detained there overnight.

Police have so far taken a relatively soft approach to the unrest, and there has been no sign that the powerful Revolutionary Guards have yet been deployed.

Iranian authorities have blamed external forces for fomenting the protests, saying the majority of social media reports were emanating from regional rival Saudi Arabia or exile groups based in Europe.

President Hassan Rouhani has so far not made any statement since the protests started.

He came to power in 2013 promising to mend the economy and ease social tensions, but anger over high living costs and a 12-percent unemployment rate have left many feeling that progress is too slow.

Unemployment is particularly high among young people, who have grown up in a less restrictive environment and are generally considered less deferential to authority.

“Rouhani has run an austerity budget since 2013 with the idea that it’s a tough but necessary pill to swallow to manage inflation and currency problems and try to improve Iran’s attractiveness for investment,” said Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, founder of the Europe-Iran Forum.

“But choosing years of austerity immediately after a very tough period of sanctions is bound to test people’s patience,” he told AFP.

Since the ruthless repression of the 2009 protests against a disputed presidential election that gave hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a second term, many middle-class Iranians have abandoned hope of securing change from the streets.

But low-level strikes and demonstrations have continued, with bus drivers, teachers and factory workers protesting against unpaid wages and poor conditions.

Bride dies shortly after getting married to the love of her life (photos)

A Connecticut woman married the love of her life from her hospital bed on Dec. 22, two years after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Bridesmaid Christina Karas captured the triumph and joy moments after Heather Lindsay, 31, and David Mosher said their “I do’s.”

The image of Lindsay throwing her arms up has since gone viral.

“She’s getting to shout from the rooftops that she loves Dave and is able to say, ‘I’m his wife,’” Karas told TV station WFSB.
“It reminds me of someone who is crossing the finish line of a marathon or something,” Mosher, 35, said of the photo.

Lindsay succumbed to her illness hours after she tied the knot at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, Conn.

The couple met at a dance class in 2015, and within a year Mosher was ready to propose.

He did just that, complete with a horse-drawn carriage, after Lindsay was diagnosed with cancer Dec. 23, 2015.
Over the next year, Karas helped Lindsay plan the wedding of her dreams.

“She was so hopeful,” Karas told NBC. “The way we would talk about it, you always kind of felt this isn’t it.”

They pushed up the wedding originally scheduled for Dec. 30 and intended to just lay the wedding dress across Lindsay, whom they feared was too weak to put it on. But she made it into her gown and to the hospital’s chapel, where she exchanged vows with Mosher.

“That moment right there was like, ‘Death, I’m not afraid of you! I am so in love and I am going to celebrate that love right now,’” Karas recalled.

Lindsay was buried Saturday, the day that was meant to be her wedding day.

Make Calls At Filling Stations, Go To Jail - Nigerian Police

The police have said that making phone calls at filling stations is a criminal offence which could land the offender in jail.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, stated that an offender could be prosecuted and jailed for attempted arson.

He noted that police officers have the authority to arrest anyone found making phone calls or smoking at filling stations.

He described the filling station as a public facility where motorists cannot act as they like on account of the inflammable products like petrol and other petroleum products being dispensed there.

Moshood, therefore, cautioned the public against violating the safety rules forbidding smoking and phone calls at filling stations.

He said, “Making phone calls or smoking at filling stations is a criminal offence and the police, of course, could arrest anyone violating the safety rules put in place to safeguard life and property at the filling stations.”

Man Slashes Girlfriend's Throat After She Served Him One Piece of Meat on Christmas Day (Photos)

An 18 years old hair dresser, Theodora Ansah has had her neck slashed by her angry boyfriend, Raymond Boabey, a construction worker at Likpe Mate, a suburb of Hohoe in the Volta region, KasapaFMonline has reported.

 

The sad incident which happened in Ghana left the mother of two, a three year old and a one and half year old daughters in serious pain.

 

It was gathered that Theodora went into a fight with the boyfriend whom she is  cohabiting with, around 7pm yesterday over one piece of meat she served him.

 

According to Theodora, she didn’t have enough to prepare her Christmas meal so she served him rice with one piece of meat which the boyfriend wasn’t happy about, so he confronted her angrily and slapped her in the process and kicked the lady out of his home.

 

 

On Thursday, 28th Decembers, he visited the lady to apologize and asked her to let him go home with her daughter from another man which she obliged. Hours later she went back for her daughter from him and he requested to have a chat which she agreed.

 

She added that he requested that they come back together and plan their marriage which she refused and her response infuriated him to start beating her till she managed to run leaving her daughter behind.

 

The  victim said this prevented her from going far as she was scared he would harm the little girl. The suspect came back with cutlass with which he slashed her neck from behind and her left hand which she used to block the cutlass.

 

According to her, this attack is the third since she stated a relationship with Raymond. She is currently on admission at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

Former Super Eagles Goalkeeper Ejide Loses Younger Sister (Photo)

Ex-Super Eagles goalkeeper, Austin Ejide has taken to social media to share the sad news of his sister's death.

 

The Nigerian football goalkeeper who plays for Israeli club Hapoel Hadera shared the sister's photo writing: "My baby sister is gone ! Words cannot express the pain i feel. I've lost you to the cold hands of death but i know you are in a better place. Sleep on my beloved sister, till we meet again."

 

 

Many people have sympathised with him over the sad loss.

 

Private Jet Robbery: Tiwa Savage Blasts FAAN for Calling Her a Liar

Nigerian musician, Tiwa Savage has reacted to reports by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN on Wednesday debunking allegations of theft she made as baseless and untrue.

 

Tiwa had earlier on Tuesday alleged that she was robbed of her luggage from a private jet purportedly conveying her and Wizkid from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

 

She reported that the incident happened while the jet was taxiing on Lagos airport’s runway. 

 

However, FAAN reacted to the news calling it a baseless lie.

 

FAAN said allegations of poaching of aircraft and stealing of baggage at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, was not only baseless but practically impossible.

 

Tiwa while reacting to the latest news by FAAN said that "How dare FAAN try to claim that I would lie about my luggage being stolen."

 

Man Parading Himself As A Yoruba King Arrested In Lagos (Photos)

Policemen in Gbagada area of Lagos state have arrested one Olugbenga Jeremiah Oduwole claiming to be a Yoruba traditional ruler with the title of Oriade Of Iranmiyi Kingdom, Adeyenmi II, with his purported palace situated at No 1, Palace Way, Iranmiyi Kingdom, Ogun State.

 

According to BlackboxNigeria, his arrest came after the Oba of Kweme Kingdom in Badagry, Aholu Olalekan Sejiro James, got reports that Oduwole was claiming to be his friend and using that to collect money from people.

 

 

Oduwole was picked up on December 21, 2017, in Gbagada, by a Team of detectives from Ifako Police Station and has since been moved to the Police Force Headquarters in Ikeja.

15 Die In Auto Crash In Jigawa

No fewer than 15 persons died in an accident involving a Sharon bus and a truck along Gujungu-Gumel road in Kaugama Local Government Area of Jigawa.

SP Abdu Jinjiri, the spokesman of the state Police Command, on Sunday said that the accident occurred on Saturday around 7:30 p.m.

Jinjiri said that the Sharon vehicle which was supposed to carry seven passengers was overloaded with 14 people.

“A seven passengers-capacity vehicle overloaded with 14 passengers rammed into a truck coming from the opposite direction on Gujungu-Gumel road.


“As a result, nine of the passengers died on the spot, while the rest were rushed to Gumel General Hospital, in Gumel local government area.

“Nine males including the driver of the Sharon bus, four females and two children died in the accident.

“It was possible the driver of the overloaded vehicle was on high speed and could not control it, anyway, only investigation will reveal the real cause of the accident,” Jinjiri said.

He said that the driver of the truck aged 22, was under the police custody as investigation was ongoing.

The police spokesman cautioned motorists against over speeding under whatever circumstances.

Unofficial sources said the overloaded bus was heading to Daura local government area in Katsina State.

Nine persons, including a pregnant woman, were killed in a ghastly auto crash on Dec. 17, in Jahun local government area of the state.

(NAN)

Travis Scott Reportedly Dumps Kylie Jenner

Kylie Jenner, 20, and her boyfriend Travis Scott, 25, have called it quits, according to a new report from Radar Online. After months of rumors and turmoil surrounding their alleged pregnancy, the rapper told her “he’s done.” So, what exactly prompted Travis to decide to pull the plug? The insider says he told the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star “they are not compatible.”

The source even added that the supposedly pregnant reality star was “begging for him to come back” afterwards.

This tragic story comes just days after Kylie and Travis shared a happy photo of themselves together on Christmas Eve.

Another source also told HollywoodLife.com, “Kylie is heartbroken and disappointed over Travis’ carefree attitude during her pregnancy.”


“As Kylie gets closer to her due date, she has been increasingly emotional. Kylie is hit with loneliness late at night when Travis is not by her side. She had such different ideas about what her pregnancy would be like when she learned she would be having Travis’ baby. She thought the pregnancy would bond her and Travis and that he would be by her side every step of the way but that simply has not been the case. Her feelings are unexpected. Kylie had no idea that Travis going out at night without her would bother her as much as it does, but it does and it hurts.” Let’s hope this new report isn’t true!

Former Super Eagles Goal Keeper Austin Amamchukwu Ejide Loses Younger Sister

Former Super Eagles goal keeper Austin Amamchukwu Ejide is heartbroken at the moment. Austin revealed on Facebook to his friends and fans that he lost his baby sister to the cold hands of death. What he wrote after the cut…

Body Posture: Who Actually Wants It?

Davido or the lady, lol. Look at them well! 

Psychic predicts Meghan Markle & Prince Harry Won’t Last In Marriage

An Australian psychic has predicted how 2018 will unfold for the royal family, and the news isn't promising for one particular couple.

Kerrie Erwin appeared on Sunrise on Sunday to reveal whether Prince Harry, 33, and his fiancée Meghan Markle, 36, would last and also claimed to know the gender of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge's third child.

And while it's happy news for one couple, Kerrie claims the other, is headed for a split months ahead of their highly anticipated wedding.

When asked how Meghan and Harry will fare once they settle into royal life together, Kerrie claimed there would be a struggle.



'I do get [feelings of] a pregnancy for her next year. But actually I don't think it's going to last,' she said.

'I'd probably give it five years. I feel there is a lot of personal things going on between them because they're two very strong individuals.

She continued: 'Which is a sad thing. I wish them all the best. But it doesn't look good.' Any takes from you guys?

Photo: Dubai King, Sheikh Mohammed's #NewYear message

The Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum just took to his official Twitter page to send these 2018 vibes.

Happy New Year sir, from all of us at TBW to you and all Dubai residents.

‘We Made Mistake In Appointing Dead Persons As Board Chairmen’- Federal Government Begs

The Presidency rose yesterday in its own defence over the inclusion of the names of some dead persons as chairmen or members of newly constituted boards and parastatals.

It said it was all a mistake which would be rectified in due course.

No fewer than three of the appointees -Chief Frank

Okpozo, Mr. Donald Ugbaja and Christopher Utov – were already dead when the list of 209 chairmen and 1258 board members were released by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, on Friday night.

Okpozo was named as Chairman of the Nigerian Press Council; Ugbaja, a retired deputy Inspector General of Police, was listed as a member of the Consumers Protection Council while Utov was included as a board member of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER).

The development sparked heavy criticism of government especially on social media.

Speaking to reporters yesterday on the issue, the Senior Special Assistant to the on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu said that the list was prepared before President Muhammadu Buhari took ill and was released by the SGF without any alteration.

The President, he said, had requested 50 names from each of the state chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.

The nominations were harmonized by the national secretariat of the party which then submitted the list to the immediate past SGF, Babachir Lawal.

Shehu said: “However, complaints arose from some governors who felt they were not carried along in the process.

“To answer this, the president constituted a committee under the vice president to review and reflect the interest of the governors.”

He said that the report submitted by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was delayed because of President Buhari’s illness and his subsequent medical vacation abroad.

“The president’s trips for medical attention slowed down completion of the process,” he said.

The president only decided to revisit the matter recently and therefore directed the new SGF to release the list, he said.

“The current SGF was only directed to complete that process by releasing the list which he apparently did without altering it.

“The new SGF did what he was asked to do. There is nothing scandalous or extraordinary about what has happened.”

The SGF in a statement attached to the list of the appointees said the constitution of the boards was “very necessary, so as to provide a proper governance and oversight structure for government agencies and parastatals.”

He added: “The constitution of the boards with the appointments is a demonstration of this government’s efforts aimed at building strong institutions of governance, and by extension, improving the quality of policy formulation and supervision.

TRAGIC! 4 Die In Benin-Asaba Road Crash

Four persons have been confirmed dead in an auto crash that occured along the Benin-Asaba road.

The crash involved a commercial Toyota Hiace bus and a truck.

The Public Relations Officer of Edo State Command of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. George Oshoke, told NAN that the accident occurred on the Abudu Bridge in Orhiowon Local Government Area of the

state.

Oshioke said in Benin on Saturday that six persons were involved in the accident, but added that four persons, comprising two males and two females, lost their lives on the spot.

He stated that the other two persons sustained severe injuries and have been been taken to an undisclosed hospital for medical attention.

The spokesman attributed the mishap to over-speeding, adding that the remains of the victims have been deposited in a morgue,

Barrack Obama Emerges The Most Admired Man In America

Former US president Barack Obama, has been named the most admired man by Americans.

According to results from an annual Gallup poll, Obama emerged top defeating current president Donald Trump with Hillary Clinton emerging as the

most admired woman in America.

Obama led with 17% while Trump, came second with 14%.

Third most admired man on the poll went to Pope Francis earning the spot with 3%.

Michele Obama with 7%, is the second most admired woman, while Oprah Winfrey came third.

Husband From Hell: This Is The Man Who Tried To Electrocute His Own Pregnant Wife In Their Home

A man who tried to electrocute his own wife who was pregnant with their baby, is being made to suffer severe consequences for his action.

Michael Scott Wilson, a 32-year-old man tried to electrocute his pregnant wife in a sick plan after rigging the front door of their home with cable, it is

alleged.

According to a report by The Sun UK, Michael Scott Wilson was charged on Thursday with attempted aggravated battery on a pregnant woman and grand theft of a firearm.

In what the County Sheriff called “one of the most bizarre domestic violence cases” he has ever witnessed, Wilson reportedly attached electrical devices to the lock and handle of their Florida home.

In an alarming twist, Wilson also changed his Facebook relationship status to “widowed.”

Anyone who opened the door would be electrocuted, causing serious injury and even death.

Cops were alerted to the horrifying plot when the father of Wilson’s wife became suspicious after his son-in-law said children should be kept away from the door.

When they arrived, they found the door barricaded and it rigged with electrical cords, wiring and car battery charger.

In the rest of the house, they uncovered pictures of a sonogram on the kitchen table, love letters in the bedroom with a photo album of the couple together – and Wilson’s wife’s smart cameras dumped in the toilet.

She had installed the cameras after her husband was involuntarily hospitalised for mental evaluation.

Wilson was found by cops in Tennessee, and is being extradited to Florida, held on a £110,000 bond.

County Sheriff Rick Staley said:  Not only did this man try to electrocute his wife, but he could have injured a deputy or any person attempting to enter this residence.

Thankfully this man was found and taken into custody before he could cause the harm he intended.

Paddy Adenuga Won't Be Working So Hard In 2018

His tweet says it all.

Scores Flee Cross River Over Violent Clash

Many villagers are vacating Uyanga in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State over renewed hostility with their neighboring Ojor community.

The communal crisis, which started late Monday and continued on Friday, was said to have claimed more than four lives.

There are conflicting reports as to the cause of the hostility, but sources said the problem started after an unidentified policeman was killed by some youths from Uyanga on the suspicion that the slain cop was taking arms to Ojor.

In June 2017, both communities were involved in a bloody communal clash that left several persons dead, while many houses were destroyed.


The warring communities had failed to embrace peace after that encounter before the Monday clash started.

It was learnt on Thursday that scores of villagers were fleeing their homes to neighbouring communities in order to avoid being caught in the ongoing mayhem, which has led to destructions of homes.

Uyanga is located along the Calabar-Ikom highway, while its neighbour, Ojor, which is off the highway, could only be accessed through a road from Uyanga.

A commuter, Imoh Bassey, told our correspondent that many houses had been set ablaze while commuters plying the road were stranded on Wednesday.

“These two neighbouring communities have held themselves hostage. Many are being locked inside their houses without an escape route. Some persons, who managed to escape, are going to neighbouring communities to avoid being killed in the fight,” he said.

An indigene of Uyanga, Mr. Eugene Aidam, said the slain policeman was caught carrying arms to Ojor when he was nabbed and killed.

He noted that despite warnings from the police authorities that all communities should remain in their domain during the Yuletide, the Ojor people threatened the peace, which led to the latest violence.

Aidam said, “The commissioner of police wrote to inform all communities in Akamkpa to remain in their homes. I saw the letter from the clan head. On December 25, the Ojor people said they were embarking on a road walk, but the Uyanga youth resisted them."

“The Ojor youths went back to reinforce and came back to attack Uyanga. In the process, a man who was later identified as a policeman wanted to drive into Ojor with arms and ammunition."

“The youths intercepted his Toyota Sienna at the junction. He resisted being searched and his tyre was shot and he was eventually killed. They searched his vehicle and saw so many arms. He was said to be married to an Ojor woman and was taking arms to them."

“The Ojor people immediately came and started attacking Uyanga. I heard the slain policeman was from Adim. So the Adim people have joined them to attack us (Uyanga). They invaded Uyanga and killed three persons on Wednesday. Those killed were Ekpo Clement, Barnabas and the third one is Paul.”

But an Ojor youth, Mr. Andrew Ikumo, denied the claims, saying that Uyanga youths struck first without being provoked.

Ikumo stated, “One of our in-laws from Adim was on his way to pick his family from Ojor when he was held hostage at Uyanga by some youths on the grounds that he carried arms. They probably thought he was an Ojor person. They brought him out from his car and beheaded him before burning his body. They took his rifle and set his car on fire."

“That same day, another Ojorboy was coming from Biase LGA. They held him and took him to their shrine. He was also beheaded. So, Ojor people got angry and attacked some persons from Uyanga. The head of the policeman that was killed has been recovered."

“Uyanga people were actually planning to hit Ojor people when this whole thing played out. There had been series of peace meetings, but the Uyanga people had refused to attack."

“They have been killing people who attempted to go to Ojor. The Ojor people had to retaliate. They have attacked the Uyanga community and burnt down some houses.”

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Irene Ugbo, confirmed the death of the policeman.

She said the policeman was killed when he tried to mediate in the scuffle.

Ugbo, however, said that a detachment of mobile policemen had been deployed in the area and added that calm had been restored.

Sahara Reporters