Yemen president warns of civil war

Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi alleges foreign conspiracy and pledges to restore state authority in the capital city of Sanaa.

Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi has vowed to restore state authority and warned of a "civil war" in the Sunni-majority country as Shia rebels were seen in almost total control of the capital, Sanaa.

"Sanaa is facing a conspiracy that will lead towards civil war," Hadi said in a speech at the presidential palace on Tuesday, two days after the rebels took control of all other key state institutions in the capital, overshadowing a UN-brokered peace deal.

"Many powers came together, either those who lost their interests in Yemen or those pushed by their personal grievances to take their revenge on their country rather than on individual, or the opportunistic who take advantage of any disaster to attack the country," said Hadi.

Al Jazeera's Mohamed Vall, reporting from Sanaa, said that the president's comments had created a lot of confusion in the country.

"They don't know what he means. Is the conspiracy the fact that he was made to sign a deal that he didn't like to sign? Or conspiracy whether he now has second thoughts about the Houthi takeover and he sees it in it's real nature? He did not mention who is behind this conspiracy," said our correspondent.

Hundreds of rebel fighters manned checkpoints on the airport road and other major thoroughfares in the capital on Tuesday, while heavily armed patrols cruised the streets in four-wheel-drive vehicles, the AFP news agency reported.

Rebels were posted outside the public offices they entered on Sunday, which include the main government building, parliament, army headquarters and the central bank, alongside small detachments of military police.

But Hadi insisted that "Sanaa will not fall."

UN envoy Jamal Benomar, who brokered Sunday's agreement aimed at ending deadly fighting between the rebels and Sunni Islamists, said the rebels' taking of key institutions virtually without resistance seemed to signify the "collapse" of the security forces in Sanaa.

As Benomar spoke, the peace accord seemed to be holding after a week of clashes between Shia rebels and Sunni fighters that the government said killed at least 200 people.

The Houthi rebels, who last year rebranded themselves as Ansarullah (Supporters of God), waged a decade-long insurgency in the mountainous north before launching a bid for power in Sanaa last month.

Also on Tuesday, Reuters news agency citing witnesses and a local official, reported that a drone similar to that used by the US to track down and attack suspected members of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, crashed in the southern part of the country on Tuesday.

Witnesses said the aircraft crashed after it hit a mountain near the city of Beihan in the southern Yemeni Shabwa province.

A local official confirmed the aircraft crashed after it struck Shoab Mountain near Beihan and said that Yemeni troops and members of a local militia allied with the government quickly surrounded the area of the crash to keep onlookers away.

Beautiful and vibrant' nurse, 28, hanged herself after becoming tormented by chronic psoriasis

A health visitor with a first class honours degree in nursing was found hanged after she became tormented by her severe skin condition.

Hollie McEwen, a dedicated professional, first suffered psoriasis as a 12-month-old but it eased with treatment.

However, it later reappeared due to stress and the 28-year-old became so depressed she took her own life at home.

Her father Andrew told an inquest: 'Her condition played a large part in what she decided to do.

'She was a beautiful, vibrant young woman who felt she couldn't deal with the condition. She felt this was the only way out.'

The Doncaster hearing was told she had suffered from bulimia as a teenager. Her family believed the eating disorder stemmed from her ongoing issues with her skin condition.

Her mother Wendy said: 'Her skin condition played a large part in her problems as a teenager and when older I feel this was at the root of all the problems.'
Hollie's body was found just two days after she had sought medical help for her depression.

She had spent a long time writing several letters to loved ones which were found in a bin.

Her father, who saw her the evening before the tragedy said: 'She was a happy, young woman who enjoyed her work and social life but she kept everything very close to herself. We had a good laugh on that last night and there was no indication she was unhappy.'

Mrs McEwen said her daughter, who lived in Scawsby, Doncaster, had treatment for psoriasis over the last few years involving hospital stays and steroids after suffering anxiety attacks.

(Dailymail)

Niger State Gov’t Releases Evidence Arrested NTA Reporter, Fejiro Oliver, Demanded Bribe

The government of Niger state on Monday provided what it says were text message exchanges between it and Fejiro Oliver, the journalist declared missing since Friday and eventually paraded by the State Security Service, SSS in Minna on Monday.

The text messages as provided by the Niger State government showed that Mr. Oliver allegedly demanded a bribe of N50 million to kill a story about Governor Muazu Aliyu.

The spokesperson of Mr. Aliyu, Israel Ebije, told PREMIUM TIMES Mr. Oliver, whose real name is Tega Oghenedoro, is actually a staff of the Nigerian Television Authority in Asaba Delta state.

“Agreed reporters at times use pen names, but not in this case whereby this man was just using mushroom online platforms to blackmail innocent Nigerians,” he said

When pressed for concrete evidence that the journalist actually demanded bribe, Mr. Ebije forwarded to us what he claimed were text messages exchanged between Mr. Oghenedoro and the Secretary to Government of Niger State, Saidu Ndako

The Chief Press Secretary to Mr. Muazu said after it became clear that the journalist was out to blackmail officials of the state government, he issued a statement warning him to refrain from his actions or be exposed.

“I even put out a caveat to him through his so-called secret reporters warning him of the consequences of his actions, but because he is greedy he still insisted

“We are already aware that the documents he claimed to have were given to him by an aggrieved government official, Iliyasu Dhako, who I have on tape confessing and apologising for his action,” he said.

He also said when the SSG reported the matter to the State Security Service in Minna, they set up a trap for Mr. Oghenedoro “and he greedily fell into it” .

He said most of the communication the SSG had with the journalist was under the guidance of the SSS “just to prove that he was out to extort money” Mr. Ebije said.

Below is the full transcript of the text messages exchanged between the reporter and the SSG sequel to his arrival in Abuja after which he was arrested by the SSS at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport.

Find the alleged text exchange between Tega Samuel Oghenedoro alias Fejiro Oliver and the Niger SSG below

Ndako: We are working out the possibility of beating the 9.30 am deadline to get the ticket out, your coming will be late evening and weekend, please tell me what to do next because I want an end to this issue and possible retrieval of all the documents. Regards

Fejiro: Sir, as long as Israel is out of the issue, we can manage everything successfully. I have gotten the receipt (sic) of the ticket and will be in Abuja tomorrow.

Ndako: Just trying to get prepared for we shall be looking at because of weekend.

Fejiro: SSG Sir, we can discuss everything when I come in tomorrow but you can count on me that it will be fruitful

Ndako: So how do we meet, where and when. need airport pickup?

Fejiro: Good Morning Sir, when the plane is set to fly, I will inform you. My staff in Abuja will be at the airport to pick me. Hotel accommodation for the 3 days is what is left and that can be done when I’m in Abuja.

Ndako: Okay no problem. Call me when you are in town

Fejiro: My flight is leaving now Sir

Meanwhile, the Daily Trust newspaper on Tuesday reported that the Niger State command of the SSS on Monday paraded Mr. Oghenedoro, for demanding N50 million from the state government to as a condition for dropping a story on alleged fraudulent activities within the government.

While parading the suspect before journalists, the state director, of the SSS, Larry Obiagwu, said Mr. Oghenedoro was arrested by his men at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja while on his way to Minna to collect the said amount.

However, a close ally of the journalist and human rights activist, Inibehe Effiong, who had been spearheading the campaign to find out the whereabouts of the journalist said on Tuesday that the Niger state government lied against the reporter
In a post on his Facebook timeline, Mr. Effiong said “We have heard from Fejiro Oliver directly. He says he appreciates our efforts and urged us to continue with the campaign to free him, that he is fine. As for
the information making round, we will respond appropriately. The attempt to paint Fejiro in bad light will fail. We are going to respond to all the issues raised. Now that I have heard from him I am more confident to fight on”.

Man kills wife over infidelity, reports himself to the police .

The Police in Delta State have arrested a man, Michael Akpore of Urhiephron, Ughelli South Local Government Area for reportedly killing his wife, Julie Akpore, 32, over claims of promiscuity.

A statement by Mrs Celestina Kalu, Police Public Relations Officer, Delta Command, indicated that the suspect reported himself to the Jeremi Police Division last Thursday, a couple of days after luring Julie to the bush along Iwhrekan/Ekakpamren Road, where he allegedly butchered her.

Kalu stated that the suspect claimed he “killed the wife because she confessed that she was having extra marital affairs. He was promptly arrested, the crime scene visited and corpse of the woman recovered and deposited at the Jeremi Hospital Mortuary for autopsy.”

NTA reporter arrested for allegedly demanding N50m bribe

The Niger State command of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday paraded Sampson Oghenedoro, a 28-year old staff of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) for demanding N50 million from the stategovernment to stop him from broadcasting a story on alleged fraudulent activities within the government.

Parading the suspect at the state command the DSS in Minna, the state of director, Dr. Larry Obiagwu, said Sampson was picked up by his men at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja while on his way to Minna to collect the said amount.

Sampson who works with the NTA Asaba, Delta state, as a producer/cameraman, operates under the nameFajiro Oliver, also works with Elomboh Communications, an online news medium.

Obiagwu explained that Sampson and two others, Stanley Gene and Francis Arinze both now at large, co-founded the Secret Reporters Group (SRG) with the alleged sole objective of blackmailing government officials and heads of organisations for pecuniary benefits.

He said in July and August, the suspect alerted top officials of the Niger state government on a threat to expose fraudulent activities taking place within the government or be paid N50 million to drop the story.

Obiagwo, however said that Sampson and his accomplices did not carry out any investigation on the Niger state government and that as a member of staff of the NTA in Delta state, Niger State is not part of his jurisdiction.

Speaking to journalists, the suspect said he had nothing to do with the alleged demand of N50 million from the state government, saying he was only on his way to Minna to balance his story.

(Pm news)

Police detonates 2 IEDs at UNIUYO

The police command in Akwa Ibom said it had detonated two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) found in the male hostel of University of Uyo (UNIUYO).
Confirming the incident in Uyo on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Etim Dickson, told newsmen that the explosives were home-made.

Dickson, who said that the IEDs were likely produced by science students of the university, said investigations had commenced on the matter.

He also assured the students on campus and parents not to entertain any fear about possible breakdown of law and order in the university community.
He said “the incident has been properly taken care of, we urge students and employees of the institution to go about their normal businesses.”

The  IEDs were discovered by the campus security squad known as Operatives of Peace on Campus Initiative (PCI).

The Anti-Bomb Squad of the Nigeria Police had on arrival at the students’ hostel detonated the two improved explosive devices and conducted a search round the other hostel rooms. (NAN)

Breaking news! “Abubakar Shekau” Killed Was One Bashir Mohammed

According to SaharaReporters a Nigerian military intelligence source has told them  that the top Boko Haram figure killed in a recent operation was one Bashir Mohammed, leader of the Islamist sect’s Uye camp.

Cameroonian authorities yesterday released a photo of a dead man they identified as Abubakar Shekau, the loquacious and attention-seeking leader of the terrorist group that has launched deadly strikes in Nigeria’s northeast zone as well as Cameroon.

The Nigerian intelligence source said that Nigerian soldiers, not Cameroonian troops, had killed Mr. Bashir last Friday in a fierce battle against Boko Haram insurgents in Konduga, Borno State. The late Mr. Bashir, who bore a striking resemblance to Abubakar Shekau and had appeared in a recent video, was killed as he led insurgents who were attempting to capture Konduga and then made a bid to seize Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, as well. Nigerian soldiers routed the Islamist militants in Konduga, killing hundreds of them and capturing weapons as well as vehicles abandoned by fleeing insurgents.

The military as well as Nigerian government-appointed negotiators claim that the original Mr. Shekau had died since last year, reportedly assassinated by his lieutenants.

The intelligence source said Mr. Bashir had adopted Mr. Shekau’s nom deguere and had been the person responsible for issuing video messages in recent times.

Even though our source said the military was cautious not to claim credit for Mr. “Shekau’s” death, he added that the Nigerian military was buoyed by the capture of the armored tank usually displayed in the background of recent videos issued by the sect’s spokesman.

Nigerian Journalist Missing After Appointment With Niger State Officials

A Nigerian journalist, Fejiro Oliver, is missing after travelling from his Asaba base to Abuja allegedly on the invitation of the Secretary to the Niger State Government, SSG, Saidu Ndako, on Friday.

Mr. Oliver, who is the Managing Editor of an online news medium, Daily Voice NG, was said to be working on a story on the activities of the Niger State government. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that he called Israel Ebije, the spokesperson to Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger, to seek the governor’s version of events in the story.

Mr. Ebije reportedly referred him to Mr. Ndako.

According to Mr. Ejiro’s wife, she last spoke with her husband on Friday while he was in Abuja to honour an appointment at the instance of Mr. Ndako. Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES over the telephone on Sunday, Mrs. Oliver said, “We were together when he received a call and he told me that the SSG of Niger state insisted that he should go over to Minna so that they can meet.”

She said her husband insisted that he would not go to Minna, but would meet with the SSG and Mr. Ebije in Abuja “for security reasons”.

Also speaking, the father of the missing journalist, Godwin Oliver, said his son has been missing since Friday after travelling to Abuja to meet with the Niger officials. “We have been trying to reach him but he has not been picking his calls. After sometime, the calls are either rejected or the phones are switched off and then put on back after sometime,” he said.

The senior Oliver said he planned to “go to all relevant security agencies by tomorrow (Monday) to report the matter since today is Sunday”. A close friend of Mr. Fejiro and human rights activist, Inibehe Effiong, also issued a statement on Saturday stating that Mr. Oliver had carried out an extensive investigation into the activities of the Niger State Government under Mr. Aliyu.

“After his investigation, he formally sought the response of the Niger State Government by contacting the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Saidu Idris Ndako Kpaki and the Chief Press Secretary to the Niger State Governor, Mr Israel A. Ebije. “Instead of responding to the issues pertaining to the alleged corrupt practices of governor Babangida Aliyu, the CPS, Mr. Ebije in an electronic mail he sent to Fejiro Oliver threatened and warned him to desist from going public with the report (the outcome of his investigations),” Mr. Effiong said.

He said the publication that Mr. Oliver works for, Daily Voice NG, few days ago wrote an editorial intimating security agencies and the general public of the threat to the life of Mr Oliver by the Niger State Government through Mr. Ebije.

Mr. Effiong also said as at the last time contacts were made with the journalist, “he was in Abuja for the sole purpose of meeting with the SSG”.

“We have reasons to believe that his incommunicado state or sudden disappearance has everything to do with his scheduled meeting with the Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alhaji Saidu Idris Ndako Kpaki. “We are therefore assuming based on the above facts that the SSG is in the know about Mr. Fejiro’s whereabouts,” he said.

Efforts to speak with the SSG, Mr. Ndako, were unsuccessful. He did not answer calls to his two mobile telephone lines. He also did not respond to a text message sent to him. In his version of events, Mr. Ebije confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Oliver had contacted him regarding a story he was working on.

He however denied threatening Mr. Oliver, but, rather “advised him to come to Minna and see for himself if the allegations against the governor are true or not. “In Niger state everything is done transparently and we have nothing to hide. The documents he is claiming to have are executive council decisions which were obviously given to him by an aggrieved official who has been relieved of his appointment,” the spokesperson said.

Mr. Ebije said he was in Abuja for an official function and “cannot confirm if he (Mr. Oliver) is with our people or not until probably tomorrow (Monday).

Editor’s Note: This story has been edited to reflect that the missing journalist traveled from his home in Asaba, Delta state, not Port Harcourt in Rivers state.

Rutgers Student Dies After Fraternity Gathering: Authorities

A preliminary investigation determined that the death of 19-year-old Caitlyn Kovacs may be alcohol-related, but the medical examiner will confirm how she died, according to Middlesex County prosecutors.

A Rutgers University student died Sunday after she "became distressed" while attending a small gathering at a fraternity house, prosecutors said.

Kovacs, a South Brunswick resident, was a sophomore at the university's School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and was majoring in animal sciences, university President Bob Barchi said in a statement.
"Her passing over the weekend is a tragic loss to her family, her friends, and the entire Rutgers community," Barchi said.

Prosecutors said Kovacs was at the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity house in New Brunswick when she appeared to be in distress at around 3 a.m. Sunday. Some friends took her to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Hospital officials notified police about the death, which is under investigation by the prosecutor's office and the Rutgers and New Brunswick police departments.

“We’re pretty torn up over here. It’s very raw," said Ian McGeown, president of the Delta Kappa Epsilon chapter at the university. "Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.”

(Culled).

Graphic photos: Fracas in Lagos Island as popular politician is killed

Political campaigns have commenced and the first casualty has been recorded in the centre of Lagos politics, the Lagos Island. A well known local politician named Azeez Ashake was shot dead at close range in front of his house at Isale Eko on Saturday 20th September by suspected political thugs.

His son, Usman was also shot but is said to still be alive receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Lagos Island. Azeez Ashake is said to be a strong leader of a particular political group in Lagos Island, and is said to be very influential. His killing caused a lot of chaos in Isale Eko over the weekend, where it's been reported that four people have so far been killed in retaliation for his death. Warning ...More graphic content below !

The police tried over the weekend to restore peace to the area. Several policemen and police patrol vans were deployed to the area, but this didn't stop political thugs from fighting at intervals.

Canadian woman dubbed the world's sexiest criminal; charged with 114 offences including theft and owning illegal gun cache

Stéphanie Boudoin of Victoriaville, Canada was arrested last month and charged with 114 counts including burglary and owning an illegal cache of weapons. Her small-time scheming made international news when the Montreal Journal published pictures of her in a bikini. Now Boudoins' fame has usurped that of Jeremy Meeks, the American man arrested last June who earned a modeling contract based off his attractive mugshot.

Canadian authorities believe Boudoin worked with three underage accomplices - ages 13, 15 and 17 - to burgle residence in the Athabaska and Maple areas.

The nursing student and her cohorts allegedly broke into the homes using the back door or basement windows.

Last week, the Crown filed even more charges against Boudoin, bringing the total up to a staggering 114 counts.

She faces charges of breaking and entering, receiving stolen property, as well as illegally owning and storing a cache of nine firearms.

Police found the guns in the back of Boudoin's white Mitsubishi Lancer. 

'The record is impressive. I was given a document that [is] at least 12 inches thick,' her lawyer Denis Lavigne told La Nouvelle Union newspaper.

Mr Lavigne says his client has seen a doctor to determine her mental state during the time of the robberies. 

Beoudoin is due back in court on November 17.

Since pictures of Beaudoin were published online, Twitter users have dubbed her the newest world's sexiest criminal

'Stephanie Beaudoin will steal your heart, then your stuff,' one Twitter user wrote.

(Dailymail).

These angels lost their mum in the FCE bomb blast .

These bundle of joy lost their mum in the Federal College of Education, Kano bomb blast that happened on the 17th of september. Which left About 15 students of the college dead while 34 others seriously injured.

At about 1.30pm on that day, terrorists jumped into the school premises and began shooting sporadically. A suicide bomber gained entrance into one of the classrooms and detonated the bomb on himself, killing 15 students, one of whom was these twins mother, so sad I must say .

When will Boko Haram killing come to an end ?

Breaking news: Afghanistan presidential rivals sign power-sharing agreement

Afghanistan's two presidential contenders signed an unprecedented power-sharing agreement on Sunday, ending a drawn-out political standoff and setting the stage for a U.S. troop commitment past this year.

"I am very happy today that both of my brothers, Dr. Ashraf Ghani and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, in an Afghan agreement for the benefit of this country, for the progress and development of this country, that they agreed on the structure affirming the new government of Afghanistan," President Hamid Karzai, in power since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion ousted the Taliban, said after the signing.

The agreement names Ghani Ahmadzai, who is believed to have received the most votes, as president. His challenger, Abdullah, a former foreign minister, has been named chief executive.
The agreement ends political wrangling that began after a June runoff vote between two candidates.

The United States had urged the candidates to reach an agreement in order to bring political stability to the country, which is battling a powerful insurgency and will need international assistance for years to come.

The two draw their political strength from different ethnic groups. Abdullah is supported by Tajiks and other groups from the north of the country. Ghani Ahmadzai is supported by the Pashtuns, who are concentrated in the south and are the largest ethnic group in the country.
Under the agreement, the president would be responsible for setting strategic policy and the chief executive would be in charge of implementation, said Said Jawad, a former ambassador to the United States who has closely monitored the talks. Each would be allowed to make half the cabinet appointments.

Heads of the defense, interior and intelligence ministries would remain in their jobs for three months to provide continuity. Afghanistan's government remains in a tough fight with Taliban insurgents as the U.S. and coalition troop contingent has decreased.
Both candidates have agreed to sign a bilateral security agreement, which the United States said is needed before it will agree to leave troops past the end of this year.

Karzai had refused to sign the agreement and had frequently antagonized the United States with his criticism of American airstrikes and policies.
Washington said it plans to leave a residual force of about 9,800 U.S. troops after this year. The force will be responsible for advising and assisting Afghanistan security forces and conducting counter-terrorism missions.

Analysts believe the new leaders will be able to mend relations with America.
"Both are pragmatic," said Marc Chretien, a former top political adviser to the coalition command in Kabul. "Both will be able to work with the international community and will do a lot to shore up the damage that Karzai created between himself and the West."

ISIS captive's wife pleads for her husband's release

Wife of British taxi driver held in Syria says his death would achieve nothing for armed group's cause.

The wife of a British taxi driver being held hostage by ISIS implored his captors to release him, saying she could not see how his death could assist any cause.

Alan Henning, a Briton who volunteered  to drive a humanitarian aid convoy to Syria for a Muslim charity, was captured 10 months ago and is in the hands of the ISIS group.

In a statement released through the UK's foreign office, Barbara Henning urged his captors to "see it in their hearts to release my husband", given the circumstances in which he was in Syria.

The 47-year-old father of two teenagers was shown in the same video released a week ago that documented the murder of fellow Briton David Haines.

"Alan is a peaceful, selfless man who left his family and his job as a taxi driver in the UK to drive in a convoy all the way to Syria with his Muslim colleagues and friends to help those most in need," his wife said.

"When he was taken he was driving an ambulance full of food and water to be handed out to anyone in need.

"His purpose for being there was no more and no less. This was an act of sheer compassion. I cannot see how it could assist any state's cause to allow the world to see a man like Alan dying."

Barbara Henning said she had been trying to communicate with ISIS and had sent some "really important messages" but had received no response.

"I pray that the people holding Alan respond to my messages and contact me before it is too late," she said.

"When they hear this message I implore the people of the Islamic State to see it in their hearts to release my husband Alan Henning."

The taxi driver's family live in Manchester, northwest England. He joined a group of Muslim friends who founded the charity "Aid4Syria" and even had the name tattooed on his arm.

Keyshia Cole victim: I wasn't sleeping with BIRDMAN ...Attack Was Unwarranted

The girl Keyshia Cole allegedly assaulted for spending the night at her rumored BF's house says she's not Birdman's side piece ... and she has no idea why Keyshia would think they're banging.

Sources privy to the case tell us ... the alleged victim is Sabrina Mercadel -- a Cash Money employee for more than a decade -- and she's known Birdman since they were young.

We're told Sabrina was not alone with Birdman at his West L.A. condo ... 4 others were present when Keyshia came storming in at around 5 AM.

Our sources say Sabrina was walking out of the bathroom when Cole spotted her in the apartment ... and the singer instantly went on the attack, yelling, "What are you doing with my man?!"

TMZ broke the story ... Keyshia was arrested for allegedly attacking Sabrina ... who went to the ER and is now on pain meds.

Meanwhile Keyshia is now out on bail.

(TMZ)

President Jonathan during his condolence visit to Synagogue Church of all nation (SCOAN) today (Photo).

President Jonathan visited the Synagogue Church of all nation earlier today to express his sympathy and condolence.

Breaking News ! Boko Haram in Talks over Release of Chibok Girls

Nigerian government officials and the International Committee of the Red Cross have had talks with Boko Haram about swapping prisoners of the terror group for the more than 200 kidnapped Chibok school girls, a source involved in the negotiations has told Cable News Network (CNN) 
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/09/20/world/africa/nigeria-boko-haram-kidnapped-girls/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_latest+%28RSS%3A+Most+Recent%29

The officials met four times in mid-August with two senior members of Boko Haram in Nigeria's capital, Abuja.

The swap would involve the released of 30 Boko Haram commanders in the custody of the Nigerian government, according to the source, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.
Boko Haram submitted a list with the names of 30 members who were either convicted or awaiting trial on terror offenses.

"The two Boko Haram negotiators assured the ICRC and government negotiators that the girls were never raped, were never used as sex slaves and were never sexually assaulted," said the source, who attended the discussions.

The terror group abducted an estimated 276 girls in April from a boarding school in Chibok in northeastern Nigeria. Dozens escaped, but more than 200 are still missing. Boko Haram has expressed a willingness for a swap with the ICRC at an undisclosed, according to the source. But there was disagreement on some terms, including the number of girls involved in the swap.

Boko Haram had insisted on an even swap -- 30 girls for the 30 commanders -- but the government refused, according to the source.

"They were only ready to release one to one, which the government was not going to accept," the source said.

Another hurdle in the talks was Boko Haram's insistence on meeting the imprisoned 30 members involved in the swap, but they only had contact with six at a prison outside Abuja, the source said.

The six prisoners included Kabiru Sokoto, a senior Boko Haram commander convicted in December 2013 of terror charges related to the deadly Christmas Day bombing of a church in the town of Madallah in 2011.

"ICRC couldn't find where the remaining 24 were being detained," the source said.

The Boko Haram negotiators said they would get back to the government after consulting with superiors.ICRC sources declined to comment.

Are you kidding me !!! Audio proof of TB Joshua offering journalists 50k.

Journalist, Nicholas Ibekwe shared audio proof this afternoon of  T.B Joshua offering journalists N50,000 to 'fuel' their cars after he met with them behind close doors at his church premises. After giving them the money, he asked them what they planned to write and some of them said whatever he wants them to write. He said  they should talk about the people who were rescued/survived and not emphasise on the people who died. 

Click on the link below to listen to the audio proof. More tweets below. 

http://audioboo.fm/boos/2496625-audio-proof

Read the tweets from bottom upwards to understand it properly .

Shocking moment woman jumps out of a car, grabs another driver by her hair and violently assaults her in road rage row over parking

This shocking moment shows how a woman grabbed an innocent motorist by the hair and violently assaulted her in the street in the middle of the day after a road rage row over parking.

The attacker, described as a white woman in her early 20s, storms angrily over to her unsuspecting victim before throwing her down into a box of fruit in front of a grocery store.

The aggressive assailant then holds her down and shouts at her, before pushing her hard onto the curb when she tries to escape.

The woman continues to harass her 44-year-old victim when she finally gets to her feet, while a group of people watch on without stepping in.

The incident, which happened in the middle of the day outside Shalil Food Store in Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, was sparked because the attacker's VW Touran was parked in the middle of the road, where no one could get past.

She was sitting in the passenger seat while the male driver had gone into a nearby shop, and the 44-year-old asked if she could move the car to let her through.

The victim asked how long they might be parked there, and was met with a tirade of abuse, before taking another route and parking near the shops.

But as she got out to go inside, she was violently attacked.

She suffered bruising and a lump to her head as a result.

PC Geraldine Sprigg, from Birmingham West and Central, said: 'This was an unprovoked and violent attack on a woman who had asked the driver to move her car which was blocking the road.

'The assault took place in the middle of the day and we are asking for anyone who saw the incident or who recognises the woman driver to contact us. The woman assaulted suffered pain and discomfort following the attack and may have lost consciousness for a short time.

Anyone with information should call police at Birmingham West and Central on 101 or call Crimestoppers confidentially on 0800 555 111. 

(Daily mail ).

Seized $9.3m: Sanction FG, SERAP asks FATF

THE Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability  Project (SERAP) has petitioned  the President of Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Mr. Roger Wilkins,  urging him to “urgently use your good offices and leadership to investigate admission by the government of Nigeria that it hired a private jet to convey $9.3 million in cash to procure arms from South Africa.”
The organization also asked Mr Wilkins to “consider this admission in the light of FATF standards on transportation of cash across borders, and to consider applying any appropriate sanctions and measures to deter this practice in the future.”
In the petition dated September 19 2014 and signed by SERAP Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organization said that, “under the mandatory FATF Special Recommendation IX (SR IX), jurisdictions including Nigeria are required to implement measures to detect and prevent the physical cross-border transportation of currency. The FATF has considered this as “one of the main methods used to move illicit funds, launder money and finance terrorism.”
According to the organization, “As the global standard setting body for anti-money laundering and combating financing of terrorism, FATF is best positioned to look into the matter. Nigeria is also a member of FATF.”
“We believe that this action by the government poses a risk to the integrity of the international financial system. Therefore, your prompt action in this matter would help to protect the international financial system from money laundering and financing of terrorism risks and to encourage greater compliance with the anti-money laundering standards,” the organization also said.

KEYSHIA COLE ARRESTED FOR ASSAULTING A WOMAN In Birdman's Condo

Keyshia Cole spent a not-so-pleasant Friday morning in jail ... after allegedly assaulting a woman who apparently spent the night with Keyshia's rumored BF.

Keyshia showed up at a swanky condo complex in West L.A. at around 5 AM. We're told she went there to see Birdman -- the CEO of Cash Money -- who she's reportedly dating.

Our sources say ... for some reason security let her go up to Birdman's penthouse and when she got in she saw another woman and went nuts.

We're told Keyshia attacked her ... leaving scratches all over her face.

Cops were called ... and Keyshia was arrested for battery and an outstanding reckless driving warrant.

She was just released on $46,000 bail.

(TMZ)

Father of ‘Jihadi John’ suspect extradited admits terrorism charges in New York

Osama bin Laden’s former London spokesman, whose son was a British music rapper before joining Islamic State terror group, has pleaded guilty to charges connected to US embassy bombings, but judge says he will not accept deal yet

The father of a former London music rapper who was identified as a “Jihadi John” suspect in the Islamic State beheading videos has pleaded guilty in New York to terrorism charges related to al-Qaeda’s bombings of US embassies in Africa.

Adel Abdul Bary, 54, who was sent to the US from Britain in 2012 after a 14-year fight against extradition, wiped tears from his eyes as he admitted three charges in an unexpected plea deal with federal prosecutors.

Bary, an Egyptian who was Osama bin Laden’s spokesman in London in the 1990s, had previously faced life imprisonment on murder charges for 224 people killed in the embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.

His son Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary has posted a series of photographs on social media, including one showing him holding a severed head, since he left the family’s home in Maida Vale to join the Islamic State terror faction.

The 23-year-old emerged as a leading suspect in the mission to identify the London-accented “Jihadi John” who has appeared in the gruesome propaganda videos of the decapitations of two US journalists and a British aid worker.

But although he shares several physical attributes with the killer, some voice recognition experts have since said they believe it is not him.

He moved to London as a toddler after his father, an Islamic radical who has since been sentenced to death in absentia in Cairo, was given political asylum. Before joining Isil, he made music videos as a rapper and wrote lyrics praising his father.

“Give me the pride and the honor like my father, I swear the day they came and took my dad, I could have killed a cop or two,” he said in one video.

In the hearing for the older Bary, prosecutors said have now reached a deal to accept three guilty pleas on lesser charges which carry a 25-year sentence.

With the time already served in custody in Britain, he could be released in about 10 more years under the agreement on the three counts, which included threatening to kill, injure or destroy property by means of an explosive and conspiring to murder US citizens,

But in an unusual development, US District Judge Lewis Kaplan declined immediately to accept the deal, saying that he was concerned that the prosecution was willing to drop more than 200 murder charges.

"You can well appreciate why I have questions in my mind," the judge said as he gave the government and defence lawyers a week to submit letters explaining why he should accept the deal.

Sean Buckley, a federal prosecutor, said that the government had offered the plea deal to Bary as he was not alleged to be directly involved in the bombings.

He said that Bary was primarily accused of circulating al-Qaeda’s claims of responsibility for the attacks to the news media while serving as a spokesman for bin Laden, the group’s late leader, and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Bary, who was due to go on trial in November, was extradited after his long legal battle at the same time as Abu Hamza, the fiery London preacher convicted of terrorism charges in New York earlier this year.

His supporters said that he was a respected human rights lawyer who was prosecuted for his Islamic beliefs in Egypt. But the Egyptian authorities accused him of involvement in terrorism.

France launches first strikes on ISIL in Iraq

Two fighter jets took part in US-led operation that destroyed logistics depot held by rebels, President Hollande says.

France has carried out its first air strikes in Iraq against positions of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, joining a US-led operation to defeat the rebel group.

In a statement issued on Friday, French President Francois Hollande said the strike destroyed a logistics depot held by ISIL.

It said that at least two Rafale fighter jets were involved in the operation in northeastern Iraq, and that the target was "entirely destroyed".

Hollande's office also said other operations would continue in the coming days.

On Thursday, Hollande announced that France would provide what he called "aerial support" to the Iraqi army in their fight against the ISIL, which has taken over nearly half of the violence-ridden country.

"I decided to respond to the request of the Iraqi authorities to offer aerial support," Hollande said.

"As soon as we have identified targets, we will act ... within a short time-frame."

France has already conducted reconnaissance flights over Iraq that started on Monday, and dispatched weapons to the Kurdish forces fighting the ISIL group.

Hollande himself visited Iraq late last week - the most high-profile leader to do so since ISIL stormed across the country - and Paris hosted an international conference on the crisis on Monday.

However, unlike the US, which has pledged to attack ISIL even in Syria, where they hold around a quarter of the country, Hollande said French involvement would be limited to Iraq.

"We will not go further than that. There will be no ground troops," Hollande said.

Al Jazeera's Nadim Baba, reporting from France, said that the French president was careful to emphasise the operation was not done under US pressure.

Since the air strikes earlier on Friday, the aircrafts had returned to the French base in Abu Dhabi in UAE, our correspondent reported.  

France has six Rafale fighter jets and just under 1,000 soldiers based in the UAE and could even mobilise an aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle.

More suicide attacks

In Iraq, a car bomb in a Shia-majority district of Baghdad and a motorcycle bombing in the northern city of Kirkuk have killed at least 16 people, security and medical officials said.

The attacks come as security forces and allied Shia militiamen and Sunni tribesmen fight to regain ground from armed group ISIL, which overran large part of the country in June.

The blast in the Karrada area of Baghdad killed at least eight people and wounded more than 20, while eight died and 13 were wounded in central Kirkuk.

The day before, a suicide bombing, car bomb and shelling struck Shia-majority areas of northern Baghdad, killing at least 23 people and wounding more than 56.

(Aljazeera )

Extremely graphic! Pics of Boko Haram members killed by Nigerian troops.

Really graphic photos of Boko Haram members killed by the Nigerian troops at Konduga in Borno this week. The pic above is the new CS/VP3 MRAP that was recently purchased. It aided in the victory of the soldiers over the insurgents. Find the pics after the cut...but please VIEWERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED...

Man Kills Daughter and Her Six Children in Florida Murder-Suicide

Eight people, including six children, were killed Thursday in a small town outside Gainesville, Florida, police said.

The shooter, identified as Don Spirit, 51, was the father of an adult woman who was killed and the grandfather of her six children, Gilchrist County Sheriff Robert Schultz said. The gunman took his own life after deputies arrived at his residence in Bell, police said. It is believed that the others were already dead at that time.

The victims were identified as Sarah Lorraine Spirit, 28, and her daughters Alanna Stewart, 2½ months, Brandon Stewart, 4, Destiny Stewart, 5, and Kylie Kuhlmann, 9, and sons Johnathon Kuhlmann, 8, and Kaleb Kuhlmann, 11.

Police received a 911 call from Spirit just before 4 p.m., in which he made references to harming himself and others, Schultz said. Schultz said officers from his department had previously "been out to that residence on numerous law enforcement occasions."

Florida corrections records show an extensive criminal record stretching back at least 22 years for Don C. Spirit, age 51, of the same block in Bell, including a conviction for depriving a child of food and shelter in 1995. He was also convicted of battery in 1992, possession of drug paraphernalia in 1994 and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in 2003. News accounts at the time said Spirit pleaded guilty to the weapons charge after he accidentally shot and killed his 8-year-old son while they were hunting.

"I haven't handled something like this at all," Schultz said. "And to say this community is not going to be devastated by this — for a small county, we're all family here. There's certain things in life you can explain. There's some things you can't. This is something you can't explain. ...

"We'll get through this," he said. "I will continue to ask everybody to pray for the families."

Don Spirit is pictured in this 2001 handout photo obtained by Reuters released on Sept. 18, 2014. Spirit is identified by authorities as the suspect in an incident in Bell, Florida September 19, 2014, where a 51-year-old man shot dead his daughter and six grandchildren in his home before killing himself.

(NBC)

A two hours interactive session with Atiku Abubakar.

The former Vice president of Nigeria will be meeting young Nigerians in Lagos tomorrow 20th September for a two hours interactive session by 7pm in Victoria Island, Lagos .
Send mails to His office amo@atiku.org to get an invitation. 

Scotland rejects independence in referendum

So Scotland will remain part of the United Kingdom, along side England, Wales and Northern Ireland,following a historic referendum vote.

A majority of voters rejected the possibility of Scotland breaking away and becoming an independent nation.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed Scotland's decision in a televised statement outside 10 Downing Street, saying it was a clear result.

"Like millions of other people, I am delighted," he said.

Cameron said he would have been heartbroken to see the United Kingdom broken up -- but paid tribute to the efforts of both sides in the campaign.

"We hear you," he said to those who voted for independence, adding this was an opportunity to change the way people in the United Kingdom are governed, and "change it for the better."

The government has delivered on devolution in the past and will deliver on it again, Cameron said.

A "new and fair settlement" will be created for Scotland and the other countries of the United Kingdom, he said.

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond admitted defeat in an earlier televised statement -- and urged the rest of Scotland to do the same.

He appreciated Scotland "for 1.6 million votes for Scottish independence."

South Africa rejects Nigeria's explanation over seized $9.3m

South Africa’s Investigators have dismissed Nigerian government’s explanations of the purpose of the $9.3 million cash seized from two Nigerians and an Israeli as “flawed and riddled with discrepancies”. The suspects told South African authorities that the money was meant for the procurement of arms for Nigerian intelligence agencies.

“… Although various explanations about the money were given to the investigating officer, these explanations were flawed and riddled with discrepancies,” the South African prosecution agency said in a statement sent to this newspaper.
The jet used to ferry the money is owned by Ayo Oritsejafor, who heads the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN. Mr. Oritsejafor, a cleric, said he is not aware of the arms deal.
He said although he owns the aircraft, it was managed by another company, Eagle Air Company, which in turn, leased the jet to a third party, Green Coast Produce Limited.

The Nigerian government in an unsigned statement, Tuesday, said it has provided South African authorities with documents and receipts to prove that the transaction was “legitimate.” Nigerian security officials also said that it was normal practice to procure arms with cash.

“The Federal Government has submitted relevant data and documents on the transaction to South Africa and insisted that the transaction was legitimate. It also clarified that the funds were not laundered or smuggled for any covert manoeuvres. No launderer will be audacious to fly into a country in a chartered jet with such a huge cash,”

However, the government’s explanation does not seem to be gaining traction with South African investigators as the Asset Forfeiture Unit, AFU, of the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa, NPA, has obtained a court order to freeze the money. The NPA, in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday said that the manner which the money was brought into the country breached the country’s laws that deal with the transfer of foreign exchange of such proportion.

“The money was initially detained by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) as it was not disclosed or declared at customs, and was above the prescribed legal limit for the amount of cash that may be brought into the country,”

it said in a statement. Investigators also cast serious doubt on the Nigerian government’s explanation that the money was meant for the procurement of arms and that it has provided documents and receipt to back its legitimacy, raising serious concern that suspects might have been in the process of laundering the money before it was intercepted.

The NPA said its investigation shows that Tier One Services Group, the firm Nigerian government claimed it wanted to procure the arms from, is not authorised to sell or rent military hardware.

“In court papers, the NPA submitted evidence that Tier One is not registered with the National Conventional Arms Control Committee and is thus not authorised to enter into any agreements regarding the sale and/or rental of military equipment,”the statement read.

Tier One has apparently issued an invoice to a Cyprus based company, ESD International Group Ltd, ESD, in respect of the procurement of armaments and helicopters to be delivered to Nigeria. However, South African investigators said the time when the invoice was prepared and the time the money was brought in threw up some serious issues of its true intent.

The money was ferried to South Africa less than a week from the date the invoice was prepared (September 8, 2014). The involvement of a Cyprus based company also heightens the suspicion that this may be a case of classical money laundering. Cyprus is notorious for its secretive banking system, which attracts shady characters and corrupt politicians looking to dry-clean ill-gotten funds. The NPA added that the transaction did not follow normal procedure in the procurement of the kind of equipment it was alleged to have been meant for.