#Taraba major

[shrub-jay-stickers]

Today’s pixel art bird is the great antshrike! I don’t have a photo of this bird species, as I have never had the privilege of seeing it in person. This shrike resembling antbird is sexually dimorphic in color, but both makes and females have a crest.

[mate-y-viajecito]

Chororó macho (Taraba major)

[crimechannels]

By • Olalekan Fagbade How Nigerian General was allegedly ambushed, Killed – Witness makes revelations Major General Umaru Ibrahim Muhammed (rtd) who was assigned by the Nigerian Army to conduct search and rescue operation after General Idris Alkali was declared missing in 2018 has narrated how Gen Alkali was killed in Dura-Du village, Jos South local government of Plateau state. Gen Muhammed who narrated his discovery when he appeared before the Jos high court, on Wednesday, as principal witness, said late Gen Alkali was gruesomely murdered and his body dismembered before he was buried in shallow grave. According the star witness, “Late Gen Alkali left Abuja for Bauchi en route Jos in 2018, while on transit, he made the last call around Dura Du village in Jos South. And from that moment, his phone went off. He never got to Bauchi and he could not be accessed on phone. Three days after, his family had to declare him missing, that was on 3rd of September 2018. “I was the garrison commander with the 3 division of the Nigerian Army, and I was tasked to conduct a search and rescue operation. My task was to do three things; to find Gen Alkali dead or alive; to find his vehicle black Toyota Corolla with MUN 679 AA; and to find whoever is responsible for his sudden disappearance. “I was given one Major General and 30 soldiers to carry out the task. We searched all the hospitals, Police station without result. We went to MTN for search and discovered that his phone was switched off in Dura, Du village. That was how we centered our search operations in that village. “In the village, we searched about 32 mining ponds, but information available to us made us to concentrate on the particular one. But the youths of the village mobilised about 500 women to protest against us searching the pond. But in spite of those initial resistance from the locals, we continued with our assigned task. “We had to go to Taraba state to get Fire service trucks and some divers from Bauchi and after intensive labor for two weeks, we succeeded in evacuating water from the pond and on the 29th of September discovered Gen Alkali Toyota Corolla from the pond. Inside the vehicle, we saw his uniform, shirt, shoe, cap with his name on them. “We continued our search in the pond, on the 1st of October, we saw a bus in the pond whose driver was declared missing 7 years earlier. We also saw a Rover car, red color, the owner resides in Bisichi, he was declared missing in the same village. Inside that pond were Tipper lorry, Tricycles, motorcycles etc. “Having discovered his vehicle, the next was to find his body. We intensified in our intelligence, and got one of the suspects who led us to the shallow grave where the remains of Gen Alkali were initially buried by the killers. The suspects confessed that after killing Gen Alkali, his body was dragged round the village before taking him to a location called “no man’s land” and buried him in shallow grave. “We went to Abuja to bring our sniffer dog, we cultured the dog with his shirt for 3 days. Then we took the dog to “no man’s land”. We discovered they had already moved the body from that grave. “Further search made us to understand that the killers got the service of a mortician who evacuated the body and packaged it in two bags. We got the mortician, he led us to one Mr Stephen, and Mr Stephen eventually led us to another village called Buchwet which is 10km away from Dura-Du. That was where the remains of Gen Alkali was dumped, we recovered the body on the 30th October 2018. “To be sure the body we recovered was that of Gen Alkali, we contracted a renowned pathologist to carry out thorough examination on the remains. The pathologists rearranged the entire body to show us how he was killed. “Study shows that the killers sliced the skull into two, and pieced all parts of his body. That showed us he was gruesomely murdered by the suspects. The pathologist further requested for Gen Alkali ex-ray from the wife, and it matched what we recovered.

He also went to the shallow grave where Gen Alkali was first buried to fetch the sand from the grave to also confirmed the petsone buried there was Gen Alkali.” The second witness, Major Arashinga Bulus, a serving in army officer in Abuja, also narrated his role in the search and rescue team and confirmed that 21 persons were arrested in connection with the killing of Gen Alkali. After taking two witnesses, the court adjourned the case to 6th November to take additional witnesses. #HowNigerianGeneralwasambushed #killedwitnessmakesrevelations

[ejesgistnews]

Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines online Today, What are the top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines for Today?  Staying updated on the latest developments in Nigeria is essential, especially in today's fast paced world. Here are the top 10 Nigerian newspaper headlines for September 18, 2024, that capture the most significant news across the country.   From breaking stories to indepth analyses, these headlines reflect the top news in Nigeria this morning. Whether you're interested in politics, business, or social issues, these latest Nigerian newspaper headlines will keep you informed. Dive into the top stories in Nigeria today and stay ahead with the latest updates.   The latest Nigerian Newspaper headlines for September 2024 Nigerian newspaper headlines for September 18, 2024: 1. FAAC Disburses N1.203 Trillion Revenue for August 2024 The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) has announced the disbursement of N1.203 trillion in revenue for August 2024 to the Federal, State, and Local Governments. This amount reflects an 11% decrease from the N1.358 trillion distributed in July 2024. The revenue includes statutory revenue, Value Added Tax (VAT), Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), and Exchange Difference revenue. 2. Rivers State Governor Suspends Local Government Chairman Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has suspended Otonye Briggs, the caretaker committee chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, with immediate effect. The reasons for the suspension were not disclosed. Bitebobo Nelson Amieye has been appointed as the new chairman. 3. Presidency Denies Reports of CBN Governor’s Resignation The Presidency has refuted claims that President Bola Tinubu requested the resignation of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Olayemi Cardoso. Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, dismissed the reports as false, stating that President Tinubu has not made any such request. 4. PDP Governors Reaffirm Support for Siminalayi Fubara Governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have reiterated their support for Siminalayi Fubara as the party’s leader in Rivers State. This decision was made during a meeting in Taraba State, emphasizing the party’s tradition of recognizing the state governor as the party leader. 5. NIHSA Alerts Nigerians on Lagdo Dam Water Release The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued a warning about the planned water release from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam. The release will be gradual to prevent major flooding, but states along the Benue River, including Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Kogi, and others, are advised to remain vigilant. 6. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma Urges Service Chiefs to End Banditry Former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, has called on service chiefs to eliminate banditry and restore peace in Nigeria. He emphasized that there are no excuses for the ongoing insecurity and urged the military to take decisive action. 7. Federal Government Earns $1.2bn from Telecom License Fees The Federal Government has earned approximately $1.2 billion in telecom license fees from major operators, including MTN, Globacom, Econet (now Airtel), and Etisalat (now 9mobile). These fees were crucial in establishing the telecom industry in Nigeria around 2000. 8. National Centre to Destroy Over 30,000 Illicit Arms and Ammunition The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) will destroy over 30,000 recovered, decommissioned, unserviceable, and illicit arms and ammunition. This initiative aims to permanently remove these weapons from circulation and enhance security. 9. NHRC Calls for Re-Training of Security Personnel in North East The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended the immediate retraining of security personnel in the North East, particularly in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states. This is part of efforts to improve the protection of forcibly displaced persons and address human rights concerns. 10. INEC Chairman Arrives in Edo for Mock Accreditation

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has arrived in Edo State for mock accreditation and other preparatory activities ahead of the state governorship election on September 21. The visit includes readiness assessments and stakeholder engagements   That is all for today on Nigerian Newspaper Headlines. Click here more Naija News. [caption id="attachment_141833" align="alignnone" width="650"] Nigerian Newspaper Headlines photo file[/caption]

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BBC 0436 16 May 2024

12095Khz 0430 16 MAY 2024 - BBC (UNITED KINGDOM) in ENGLISH from TALATA VOLONONDRY. SINPO = 45333. English, @0430z News read by Chris Berrow. Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Beijing, where he is currently meeting his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. The meeting, the third in just over a year, comes as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has raged on for more than two years. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is no longer in a life-threatening condition after being shot several times, the deputy prime minister has said. Tomas Taraba told the BBC Mr Fico's surgery had gone "well" and "I guess that at the end he will survive". South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law on Wednesday a bill that aims to provide universal health coverage, hailing it as a major step towards a more just society two weeks before an election that is expected to be fiercely competitive. Arab leaders will convene on Thursday for the 2024 Arab League Summit, which is expected to be dominated by Israel’s war in Gaza. The summit, which is held annually, is set to take place in Bahraini capital Manama. Favorable winds are expected to push a major wildfire away from the Canadian oil sands city of Fort McMurray, officials said on Wednesday, offering some relief less than a day after 6,600 people were ordered to evacuate. Chinese coast guard ships shadowed a group of Filipino activists and fishermen sailing on wooden boats toward a disputed shoal in the South China Sea which Beijing has fiercely guarded from what it regards as intruders. @0334z Newsday continues. Backyard fence antenna w/MFJ-1020C active antenna (used as a preamplifier/preselector), JRC NRD-535D. 250kW, beamAz 315°, bearing 63°. Received at Plymouth, MN, United States, 15359KM from transmitter at Talata Volonondry. Local time: 2330.

[hardynwa]

Tetfund allocates N30 billion for high-impact projects in 18 tertiary institutions

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has allocated N30 billion for disbursement to six universities, six polytechnics and six colleges of education under its 2023 Special High Impact intervention. The Executive Secretary of the fund, Sonny Echono, made this known on Thursday at a news conference in Abuja, to give a further breakdown of the 2023 intervention budget of N320 billion recently approved by President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr Echono said that each of the six beneficiary universities would get N3 billion, while each of the six selected polytechnics and six colleges of education would receive N1 billion. ”For this year, six universities, six polytechnics and six Colleges of Education (COE) will benefit from the special high-impact project. ”Ibrahim Babangida University, Lapai; Federal University Wukari, Taraba state; Federal University Birnin-Kebbi; Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Science; Edo State University and the Federal University of Technology, Akure, are to get N3 billion each. ”Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara; Federal Polytechnic, Gombe; Federal Polytechnic Kabo, Kano State; Anambra State Polytechnic; Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny; and Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, are to get N1 billion each. ”Also, Plateau State COE; Federal COE, Yola; Federal COE, Zaria; Enugu State COE; Delta State COE, and Taiye Solarin COE are to get N1 billion each,” he said. According to him, the intervention seeks to massively inject funds into selected tertiary institutions to achieve a major turnaround through programme upgrades and improvement in the teaching and learning environment. On other intervention lines, Mr Echono disclosed that N500 million had been allocated to some selected COEs from the six geopolitical zones for the micro-teaching laboratories. He listed them as Federal COE, Otukpo, Benue State; Federal COE Jama’are, Bauchi State; Federal COE, Sokoto; Federal COE Isu, Ebonyi State; Federal COE, Ekiadolor, Edo State; and Federal COE, Iwo, Osun State. He added that N2 billion had been allocated to teaching practice projects in the COEs, while N1 billion was allocated for the establishment of a diaspora centre that would be instituted at the University of Ibadan. He said the other area of support for the special intervention was students’ hostels. “Many of you have seen the deplorable accommodations our students live in. For a number of years now we commence these interventions and we will encourage schools because we believe the hostels are one of the areas where private sector funding can be attracted. “Last year, we released intervention in 20 institutions and the hostels have been completed. Another 20 institutions are ready this year, that is one of the importance of the special impact project,” he said. Mr Echono added that 95 per cent of the N320 billion TETFund’s disbursement for 2023 would go directly to beneficiary tertiary institutions. He said that the remaining five per cent of the allocation would be used for staff salaries and allowances, project monitoring and zonal capital projects. According to him, 62 per cent of the total disbursement (representing N198 billion) constituted the institutions’ annual direct disbursement, while 20 per cent of the disbursement (representing N64.2 billion) is for special disbursement. He also said that 10 per cent (representing N32 million) would go for approved designated projects in the institutions, while the remaining three per cent would be for stabilisation funds. Mr Echono said the Fund was aware of the challenges facing institutions, especially the issue of people targeting academic centres, kidnapping children and disrupting academic activities. He, however, said that N6 billion had been allocated to institutions in security-prone areas, especially those institutions with internal security challenges as well as institutions with cases of adoptions. He said that there was a need to implement projects in institutions within security-prone areas to enhance the security of the students and teachers. He called on institutions to ensure all resources were utilised judiciously as mechanisms had been put in place to check performances. Read the full article

[hello-birdies]

Taraba major by Gustavo Masuzzo

[creepingsharia]

A Killing Field of Defenseless Christians: 350 Killed in Jan & Feb 2020

A SPECIAL REPORT (click to read)

(dedicated to victims of Islamic jihad in Nigeria)

Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria, Sunday, 8th March 2020

Nigeria has fully become a killing field of defenseless Christians. Available statistics have shown that between 11,500 and 12,000 Christian deaths were recorded in the past 57 months or since June 2015 when the present central Government of Nigeria came on board. Out of this figure, Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen accounted for 7,400 Christian deaths, Boko Haram 4000 and the ‘Highway Bandits’ 150-200.

While 100 percent of the victims of Jihadist Herdsmen attacks across Nigeria are Christians, the estimated 4000 Christians killed by Boko Haram were part of the estimated 6000 massacred by the sect since June 2015. Generally, many, if not most of the victims of Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks in Nigeria’s Northeast are Christians. On the part of ‘Bandits/Highway Kidnappers’ in Northern Nigeria, most of their rural victims are Muslims while many, if not most of their outlet or roadside victims are Christians traveling to Northern or Southern parts of the country using the Birnin-Gwari Federal Road, near Kaduna, etc.

Also, in the past two months or Jan and Feb 2020, no fewer than 350 Christian deaths have been recorded and between 100 and 150 Christian travelers abducted on highways. And out of the 350 Christian deaths, Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen accounted for no fewer than 250 and Boko Haram and ‘Highway Bandits’ accounted for the remaining 100 deaths. The Killings targeted at Christians in Nigeria have continued into the first week of March 2020 leading to hacking to death of over a dozen more.  

Among the worst hit in the latest round of Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen attacks are Plateau State with 70-80 deaths, Kaduna 50 deaths, Kogi 30 deaths, Benue 15-20, Delta 16 and Taraba 10. Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen have also in the past two months of Jan and Feb 2020 carried out attacks in Nasarawa, Adamawa, Edo and other parts of the country, leading to death of dozens of Christians.

The anti Christian attacks by Boko Haram since Jan 2020 have also intensified in Borno, Adamawa and Taraba States; claiming between 50 and 70 Christian lives and loss of churches and other buildings belonging to Christians, while those of “Highway Bandits/Kidnappers” included raiding and looting of Christian villages and ambushing of Christian travelers.

By the account of the Vanguard Newspaper, “320 persons were killed in Nigeria in the month of Jan 2020” and by that of Sahara Reporters, “223 persons died in Nigeria in the month of Feb 2020”.  The 2019 Global Terrorism Index also stated that “2,040 persons (all Christians) were killed by radicalized Fulani militants in Nigeria in 2018 alone”.  Intersociety, on its part,stated in March 2019 that ‘no fewer than 2400 defenseless Christians were hacked to death by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen in 2018 alone and in 2019; the number went down to between 1000 and 1,200 Christian deaths.’ These are just to cite but few.

In all, not less than 10,475 Christians were hacked to death by non state actor Jihadists in the past 57 months, out of which Fulani Jihadists accounted for about 62% or 7,400 deaths. At the state actor level, the country’s security forces (Army, Air Force and Police) have been responsible for 1,050 Christian deaths. All the deaths occurred outside the law and were perpetrated in gross violation of the international human rights and humanitarian laws. Till date, the perpetrators of these heinous crimes or atrocities have remained on the prowl.

We Have Monitored Violence Against Christians In Nigeria Since 2010

Expertly speaking, the Int’l Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law-INTERSOCIETY; formed and registered in Nigeria since 2008, is a leading investigative and research rights advocacy group in the country. Led by criminologists, lawyers, journalists, security, peace and conflict studies’ graduates; Intersociety opposes inter-faith violence or killing in the name of radical Islamism including persecution of Christians and destruction or burning of churches and other Christian worship centers. 

Intersociety had monitored and documented killing of Christians in Nigeria since 2010 and spoken out against same using several dependable mainstream and online media platforms of local and international credibility. In its monitoring and documentation, Intersociety relies on credible local and foreign media reports, eyewitnesses’ accounts and reports from Christian bodies and church media. Also relied upon are reports from local and international rights and research organizations and credible Government accounts (if any). 

 20 Clergymen Killed & 50 Abducted Since June 2015

No fewer than 20 clergymen including at least eight Catholic Priests/Seminarians were hacked to death in the past 57 months and not less than 50 abducted or kidnapped. Among the slain Priests are Rev Father Clement Ugwu, abducted and killed on 14th March 2019, Rev Father Paul Offu abducted and killed on 1st August 2019 and Rev Fathers Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha killed by Jihadist Herdsmen  at St. Ignatius Quasi Parish Ukpor-Mbalom (Benue) on 24th April 2018. Among the newest victims of killings targeted at Nigerian Christian leaders are Reverend Pastor Lawan Andimi and Reverend Pastor Denis Bagauri, all top officials of CAN in Adamawa State.

The abducted priests or clergymen included Catholic priests (Fathers Dim, Ezeokana and Chukwuemeka) abducted while returning from Nsukka to Onitsha and Nnewi when they were attacked by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen in Sept 2016 along Nkpologwu-Nimbo Road in Enugu State. One of them later died. On the same Monday 26th September, 2016, a Vincentian Igbo Priest whose name was not given was also kidnapped with his brother along Abuja-Lokoja express way.  

Five pastors of the Reverend Enoch Adeboye owned RCCG; all Igbo citizens were abducted on Friday, 2nd August 2019, but later freed. The five Igbo-pastors are: Deaconess Ibelegbo Chidinma, Chidozie Eluwa, Chiemela Iroha, Okoro Ohowukwe and Ndubuisi Owuabueze.

In Dec 2018, two Catholic Priests were abducted by suspected Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen. The two Priests were of St Teresa’s Catholic Church Umueze Anam in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State. The source said the priests were abducted at Umuleri while returning from an official function. This is just to cite but few.

Christian Travelers Abducted In Their Hundreds

Targeting and abducting Christian travelers on highways particularly in Northern Nigeria who are mainly citizens of Igbo extraction have also intensified and taken a dangerous dimension in recent months-whereby the victims are separated at gunpoint according to their tribe and religion. Same is applicable to victims of house to house raiding and looting during which Christians are separated from others at gunpoint and taken away or killed on the spot.

Christians particularly those of Igbo extraction are waylaid on highways and abducted into the bush and forced to pay ransom or face death including beheading or forceful conversion to Islam. Women among them are routinely subjected to sexual violence including rape and other forms of sexual assault.  On 14th Jan 2020, no fewer than 58 Igbo Christian travelers through the Ezenwata Transport’s Luxury Bus were ambushed and forced to stop after which they were abducted.

The Boko Haram, Jihadist Herdsmen and “Highway Bandits” have been abducting travelers on major Nigerian highways including Abuja-Okene, Birnin-Gwari-Kaduna and Benin-Ore Federal Roads, etc. The abductees are held and tortured in captivity until they pay ransoms running into millions of naira each. Those who are unable to pay run the high risk of being killed or raped to death in captivity, if they are young women.

Jihadists Have Forced 4m-5m Christians To Flee & Destroyed 2000 Churches In 57 Months

Ceaseless killing of Christians in Nigeria particularly since June 2015 and burning or destruction of their churches and other worship centers followed incessant attacks against them by Boko Haram/ISWAP, Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and a branch of Boko Haram, called “Bandits/Highway Kidnappers” who engage in roadway abductions and armed robberies and house to house lootings; all for purpose of radical propagation of Islam and raising of ‘blood funds’ for themselves and advancement of their terror activities.

Generally, the number of indigenous Northern Christians forced to flee their ancestral homes, farmlands and sacred places of worship so as to escape being hacked to death or face forceful conversion to Islam and concomitant sexual violence or enslavement had sharply risen from “over 1.3m in 2014” (Open Doors Report 2015) to between 4m and 5m. The affected population had fled the country or relocated to some less risky capital cities in Northern Nigeria or cities and communities in the Southeast, South-south and Southwest parts of the country. The educated among them have become “urban refugees”.

The total number of Jihadist Herdsmen and Boko Haram generated internally displaced persons and refugees in Northern Nigeria-mostly Christians, are presently estimated at 3m, rising from 2.6m as at 2017. Among the refugees are some ’90,000 Christian dominated Nigerian refugees (from Borno’s Gwoza alone) presently in Cameroon. Joined in fleeing the Islamic jihad affected parts of the North are sizeable number of Igbo Christian population resident in the areas, but now resettled in the Southeast and the South-south parts of the country.

The number of churches and other Christian worship centers destroyed or burnt since June 2015 in the North has also risen to over 2000, out of which Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen account for over 1500 while Boko Haram accounts for 500 others. Of the churches destroyed or burnt by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen, Benue, Plateau and Southern Kaduna are the worst hit.

In eight years, between 2011 and 2019, Benue State had lost not less than 600 churches and other Christian worship centers to Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen. By the account of Open Doors Int’l, “over 13,000 churches and 1,500 Christian schools were destroyed or burnt; with 11,500-12,500 Christians killed and over 1.3 million forced to flee their homes to escape being hacked to death by Boko Haram Jihadists between 2009 and 2014”.

Concise Background Of Christian Population In Nigeria & Their Settlements In The North

Nigeria is home to between 95m and 100m Christians, out of which estimated 30m (indigenous) Christians are found in the North. This is going by the country’s estimated total population of 200m citizens. The indigenous Northern Christian population is boosted by estimated 11m-12m Christians dominated by Christian citizens of Igbo extraction living in the North. Southeast and South-south regions of Nigeria are also home to the largest Christian population in Nigeria, followed by the Southwest and the old Middle Belt Region in Northern Nigeria. The Southwest Christians are further boosted by estimated 6m Christians dominated by Christian citizens of Igbo extraction largely found in Lagos.

In the Northeast, indigenous Christians are found in large numbers in Taraba State (about 60%), Adamawa (about 40%), Borno (about 40%), Gombe (sizeable) and Yobe and Bauchi (fraction). They are generally boosted by resident Christians dominated by Christians of Igbo extraction. Totality of these was the case as at 2009 and still substantially the case today particularly in Taraba and Gombe States. That is to say that Borno and Adamawa States are the hardest hit in the raging or ongoing anti Christian persecution or killing of Christians and burning or destruction of their churches.

Before the 1961 plebiscite, the old Gongola (now Adamawa and Taraba States of Nigeria) was part of the Republic of Cameroon with moderate religious practices including substantial Christian population. In Borno State, the area formerly Kanem-Bornu (Kanuri) Empire, is one of the oldest moderate Islamic settlements in now Northern Nigeria and was then (8th-11th century AD) under the Duguwa Dynasty that lastedfrom 700AD to 1086AD. The area specifically embraced moderate Islamism around AD1090s when its King (Sef Mai Umme) became a Muslim and changed his name to Ibn ‘Abd al-Jalil.  That was about 458 years after the death of Prophet Muhammed in 632AD.

The area later found itself under Kanem-Bornu Empire formed in 1380AD. It also embraced Islamic civilization early enough. Noted also is the fact that the area now called ‘Borno and Adamawa regions’ were the only areas in Northern Nigeria that withstood and resisted the Fulani Jihadist incursion in early 1800s. Christian missionaries went to the areas in 1800s and 1900s and established Christianity, which led many to embrace Christianity. Today, Christians and Christianity religion in the areas (Borno and Adamawa) are almost uprooted by terrorist activities of Boko Haram and Fulani jihadists.

By the account of Dr. Bitrus Pogu, the Adamawa State’s senior member of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN: translated as Church of the Brethren in Nigeria: 

”In many communities in Northeast Nigeria, the killers (Fulani and Boko Haram jihadists) take over ancestral lands and communities that for generations belonged to Christians. The majority of Christian-dominated areas in southern Borno have been taken over by terrorists.  In the area, only southeastern Damboa  (presently) has large Christian settlements…

Many of them [Christians living there] have been killed. The remnant who attempted to go to their farms were shot and killed, so the place is empty now. The area of Askira Uba, where Christians were dominant has all been deserted. In Gwoza, you will hardly find one Christian in all the settlements. Any Christian who goes home would see what had happened there and run away.

“The Cameroon refugee camp alone has more than 90,000 persons from Gwoza who are dominantly Christians. Many of them have moved out to Abuja and other cities. The villages are deserted; they have left even local government headquarters. A place like Chibok is predominantly Christian but people have left the villages around Chibok town as a result of series of attacks. Where Rev. Andimi hails from is about six kilometres from where the last settlement is. …. there is nobody living there, apart from those who settled along the main road. Askia Uba is the last area north where Christians are. In Adamawa State, there is Madagali, where you have Gulak. Right south you find Christians, but north there are no people. The terrorists are approaching Adamawa proper, because Adamawa and Borno intersect from Uba…”

Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen & ‘Bandits’: Three Names With One Mission

At non state actor level, there are two major armed Islamic jihadist groups terrorizing Nigeria and its defenseless citizens particularly members of the Christian faith. They are the Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and the Boko Haram jihadists. The international offshoot of Boko Haram is called Islamic State in West Africa or ISWAP.

Boko Haram was formed in 2002 as a ragtag violent group protesting local inequality, socio-economic downturn and failed political leadership in Borno. It was later hijacked and radicalized religiously by some Northern radical political and security actors. The terrorist Fulani Herdsmen, on their part, are the armed terrorist and Islamic jihadist department of Fulani Herdsmen in Nigeria, the country’s primitive cattle herders. The terrorist and jihadist department of Herdsmen were created and funded and are still funded by same extremist Northern politicians and security chiefs and made devastatingly active immediately after the return to civil rule in late May 1999.

The now fourth world’s deadliest terror group was formed and funded using the cover of existing Fulani rural cattle grazing in Nigeria. Initially formed and funded to wrestle the country’s seat of presidency power from the South targeted at making same ungovernable, the mission of the terror group and its sponsors later changed to jihadist Islamism in 2015.

The change in its mission also followed the emergence of Mr. Muhammadu Buhari, a known Fulani (Daji) and member of conservative Muslim faith, as the sixth civilian president of Nigeria in late May 2015. Mr. Buhari and his name, till date, is the life patron of the mother body of the association of Nigeria’s cattle herders, called ‘the Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria’ or MACBAN.

According to Comrade Steven Kefas, a fiery Southern Kaduna rights activist, ‘what is called “Bandits” or “Ansaru” or “northern kidnappers” or “cattle rustlers” is nothing but a product of Government ‘labeling’. These groups are just ‘cells’ or ‘departments of Boko Haram’ charged with responsibility of raising funds for its jihadist and terror activities through various forms of roadway and street criminality including kidnapping-for-ransom, armed robbery and house-to-house raiding and looting’.

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There is much more. Read it all at the link below.

[newstfionline]

Headlines

Laura upgraded to Category 4 hurricane (CNBC) Hurricane Laura, a major Category 4 storm, is set to hit near the Texas-Louisiana border on Thursday morning as local officials scramble to evacuate thousands of residents. The storm’s rapid intensification shocked scientists and prompted forecasters to issue warnings of “unsurvivable storm surge” in Texas and Louisiana. “Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, including Calcasieu and Sabine Lakes,” the National Hurricane Center said on Wednesday. “This surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the immediate coastline.” The storm battered the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Haiti over the weekend, knocking out power for more than 1 million people, collapsing some homes and killing at least 23 people. Laura is headed toward an area that comprises more than 45% of total U.S. petroleum refining capacity and 17% of oil production, according to the Energy Information Administration. As of Tuesday, producers shut down roughly 84% of offshore production in the Gulf as many refinery plants along the Texas and Louisiana coasts shutter in anticipation of life-threatening storm surge.

Extreme weather (Washington Post) Across the United States, there are signs of climate disaster. In California, two of the worst wildfires in the state’s history took place simultaneously, scorching more than a million acres of land, including a beloved forested national park. On the Gulf Coast, residents of Louisiana and Texas braced for an unprecedented double-hurricane event churned up by exceptionally warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico. In other parts of the Northern Hemisphere, the summer has already seen its toll of heat waves and heavy rains. Record-breaking temperatures in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad this July had my colleagues blistering their hands simply by touching the handle of an office door. The coastal Indian metropolis of Mumbai experiences seasonal flooding every year, but was hit by a year’s worth of rain in the space of a month this summer. Higher-than-average rainfalls in the past weeks led to an arc of destruction from central Europe to the Turkish Black Sea coast to southern China, where, in a grim omen, rising waters submerged the toes of a towering Tang dynasty-era statue of the Buddha that has stood for more than 13 centuries. “This year’s flooding has unfolded not as a single natural disaster, with an enormous loss of life and property,” noted the New York Times, “but rather as a slow, merciless series of smaller ones, whose combined toll has steadily mounted even as official reports have focused on the government’s relief efforts.” Experts are broadly convinced that a steady uptick in extreme weather events of recent years is at least in part the result of man-made climate change. “It seems like every year re-ups the previous year in terms of pushing the envelope, in terms of how much fire we’re seeing in the landscape and how severe that fire is,” Neil Lareau, an atmospheric scientist, told the Guardian about the California wildfires.

Lawyer says Blake paralyzed, protests erupt for 3rd night (AP) Jacob Blake, the Black man shot multiple times by police in Wisconsin, is paralyzed, and it would “take a miracle” for him to walk again, his family’s attorney said Tuesday. The shooting of Blake on Sunday in Kenosha—apparently in the back while three of his children looked on—was captured on cellphone video and ignited new protests over racial injustice in several cities, coming just three months after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police touched off a wider reckoning on race. Some demonstrations devolved into unrest, including for a third night in Kenosha, where three people were shot and two people were killed during the protests overnight, according to Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth.

US crackdown on nonessential border travel causes long waits (AP) A Trump administration crackdown on nonessential travel coming from Mexico amid the coronavirus pandemic has created massive bottlenecks at the border, with drivers reporting waits of up to 10 hours to get into the U.S. An employee at a company that provides support for businesses with Mexican operations saw the huge lines Sunday night from his home in Tijuana, Mexico. A U.S. citizen, he lined up at midnight for his 8 a.m. shift Monday in San Diego and still arrived 90 minutes late. U.S. citizens and legal residents cannot be denied entry under a partial ban that the Trump administration introduced in March to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Going to work, school and medical appointments are deemed essential travel but going to shop, dine or socialize is not. The crackdown comes after U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it surveyed about 100,000 travelers coming from Mexico by car or on foot and found 63% of U.S. citizens and legal residents traveled for reasons that were not essential.

Mexico struggles to get in shape (AFP) With martial arts training on rooftops, virtual exercise classes and outdoor workouts, Mexicans are getting creative as they try to slim down during the pandemic in one of the world’s most obese countries. Mexico has the world’s third-highest coronavirus death toll—and the government says poor diets and health problems including obesity, hypertension and diabetes are partly to blame. Social distancing measures mean gyms remain closed in much of the country six months after the outbreak began, posing a major hurdle to efforts to get Mexicans in shape. “It’s incredible that the bars are open and exercise is almost going underground, because there are gyms that open secretly,” Romero, a 27-year-old physiotherapist, tells AFP. Mexico has the world’s highest obesity rate among children and the second-highest among adults, according to the government.

German Town Fears Ruin by U.S. Effort to Stop Russian Pipeline (NYT) Sitting on the Baltic Sea, the small eastern German town of Sassnitz has been working for years to revive its enormous port, including taking on a role supporting a Russian pipeline being laid offshore to deliver natural gas to Germany. But the port, one of the last great infrastructure projects undertaken by the former East Germany, now finds itself caught up in a geopolitical competition between the United States and Russia, a clash that local officials and residents say is threatening the town and region with economic ruin. At issue are so-called secondary sanctions being proposed by powerful U.S. senators to target companies doing business with Russia and the Kremlin-controlled gas giant Gazprom to finish the pipeline, Nord Stream 2, which is 94 percent complete. The port would fall under the sanctions because of the role it plays supplying provisions to a Russian pipe-laying ship involved in the project. The penalty, if the sanctions are imposed, would mean being cut off from the United States “commercially and financially,” and effectively excluded from the global financial system. The port would essentially be turned into an international pariah, with all its business drying up—not just its work supplying the Russian ship. To German officials and residents in Sassnitz, the sanctions against the port and the company that owns it, Fährhafen Sassnitz, are puzzling and infuriating. They threaten to turn Sassnitz into collateral damage as the town struggles to create enough jobs to keep young people from leaving. “They are firing their cannons at sparrows,” said Edgar Taraba, as he unloaded a morning’s catch of flounder and sole from his dinghy. “There is nothing left here to take.”

Greece battles coronavirus resurgence after early success (AP) Workers in bright yellow vests stand on the dock in Greece’s main port of Piraeus, greeting hundreds of masked ferry passengers with fliers and the occasional temperature check. “Would you like a coronavirus test? Yes, it’s free. Right over there, in the white structure, you’ll see the signs,” they tell disembarking passengers. Free on-the-spot tests for travelers returning from Greek islands where outbreaks have occurred is the latest in an arsenal of measures authorities are using to tackle a resurgence of COVID-19 in a country that has so far managed to dodge the worst of the pandemic. New localized restrictions, including a midnight curfew for bars, restaurants and cafes and a ban on large gatherings have been imposed, mainly in popular tourist destinations such as the Aegean Sea island of Mykonos. The number of confirmed virus cases and deaths in Greece remains lower than in many other European countries, but have been increasing.

France joins military exercises in east Mediterranean (Reuters) France is joining military exercises with Italy, Greece and Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean amid a worsening dispute between Turkey and Greece over energy resources in the region, Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said on Wednesday. Tensions between Turkey and Greece escalated after Ankara sent its Oruc Reis survey vessel to disputed eastern Mediterranean waters this month, a move Athens has called illegal. “The eastern Mediterranean is turning into an area of tension. Respect for international law must be the rule and not the exception,” Parly said on Twitter, adding that it “should not be a playground for the ambitions of some.” Relations between France and Turkey have soured in recent months over Ankara’s actions in NATO, Libya and the Mediterranean.

Army helicopters to pluck people from flooded Karachi city (AP) Pakistan’s military said Wednesday it will deploy rescue helicopters to Karachi to transport some 200 families to safety after canal waters flooded the city amid monsoon rains, displacing scores of people, officials said Wednesday. Although rains have lashed many parts of Pakistan, the southern port city of Karachi, located near the Arabian sea, has been the hardest-hit. Streets were flooded Tuesday with sewage water. Sewage and drainage systems in the city are outdated.

Indian lawyer in court over critical tweets (Foreign Policy) Prashant Bhushan, a prominent public interest lawyer from India, was due to be sentenced yesterday over two tweets he posted criticizing the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In one tweet, Bhushan accused Chief Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde of hypocrisy after he posed with a motorcycle without a mask, despite having put the Supreme Court in lockdown due to coronavirus concerns. In the other post, he said the Supreme Court’s recent activity showed “how democracy has been destroyed in India” under Modi. The Supreme Court has called the tweets a “calculated attack on the very foundation of the institution of the judiciary,” but the case is emblematic of the authoritarian slide India has taken since Modi first assumed power in 2014.

Russian Evangelicals Fined for ‘Missionary Activity’ During Pandemic (Christianity Today) Anatoly Chendemerov was handing out tracts that said “You must be born again!” in the Volga Federal District in southeastern Russia. He was fined 6,000 rubles, the euqivalent of about $80. Sergey Krasnov was passing out Christian newspapers and New Testaments in Krasnodar, a city in the South. He was fined 5,000 rubles, or about $65. Seo Jin Wook, a South Korean, met with about 10 people in a private home in Izhevsk, in the Western Ural Mountains, to talk about the good news of Jesus Christ. He told the people they should come back and bring friends. He was fined 30,000 rubles (about $400) and deported. More than 40 people have been charged with violating a Russian anti-missionary law in the first six months of 2020, according to a new report from Forum 18, a religious liberty news service based in Norway. Government lockdowns and pandemic stay-at-home orders did not substantially slow the multiyear crackdown on unauthorized religious activity. Russia passed a 2015 law that said all religious meeting places needed to be registered and followed it in 2016 with an anti-missionary law. The bill was labeled as anti-terrorism legislation, meant to prevent foreign extremist from exerting influence in the country. Local police, sometimes supported by the Federal Security Service, have fined roughly 100 religious people per year for practicing their faith. Baptists distributing tracts and Muslims teaching people the language skills necessary to read the Qur’an are prime targets, alongside ongoing efforts to completely rid the country of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

US-China trade disputes (South China Morning Post) China should weaponize its exports of medicines and drug precursors if the US cuts the country’s access to computer chips, a prominent Chinese academic and government adviser says, as supply chain security emerges as a key theme in the upcoming American presidential election. The United States is heavily reliant on imported medicines from China, something both US President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden have vowed to address after the coronavirus pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in the nation’s pharmaceutical and medical device supply.

With Hacks and Cameras, Beijing’s Electronic Dragnet Closes on Hong Kong (NYT) To get onto his Facebook account, the police used Tony Chung’s body. When officers swarmed him at a Hong Kong shopping mall last month, they pulled him into a stairwell and pinned his head in front of his phone—an attempt to trigger the facial recognition system. Later, at his home, officers forced his finger onto a separate phone. Then they demanded passwords. “They said, ‘Do you know with the national security law, we have all the rights to unlock your phones and get your passwords?’” Mr. Chung recalled. Emboldened by that new law, Hong Kong security forces are turning to harsher tactics as they close a digital dragnet on activists, pro-democracy politicians and media leaders. Their approaches—which in the past month have included installing a camera outside the home of a prominent politician and breaking into the Facebook account of another—bear marked similarities to those long used by the fearsome domestic security forces in mainland China. Not accustomed to such pressures, Hong Kong lawmakers and activists, and the American companies that own the most popular internet services there, have struggled to respond. Pro-democracy politicians have issued instructions to supporters on how to secure digital devices. Many have flocked to encrypted chat apps like Signal and changed their names on social media.

Workations in Japan (Nikkei Asian Review) Workations are a reliable way that Japanese companies are getting workers to relax in a new environment on the company dime, and also support a tourist industry that’s been devastated by national shutdowns. The Japanese government launched a 1.3 trillion yen ($12.6 billion) travel campaign, angling to get people moving around the country which saw a 99.9 percent year-over-year decline in foreign visitors in the four months leading up to July and business down at travel companies 92.9 percent in June. One solution has been basically a surge in corporate retreats, where companies will send groups of employees to work on the beach on the cheap to lift morale while encouraging some R&R, and the government is actively encouraging it. Japan’s domestic tourism industry struggles because most people tend to travel at specific times—summer and year-end—and workers take the fewest paid holidays of 19 countries and regions and just half their allotted vacation on average.

Outbreak in Gaza (Washington Post) The Gaza Strip has been under degrees of lockdown since 2007, when Israel and Egypt imposed blockades after the militant group Hamas took control of the impoverished Palestinian territory. The same conditions that make life a daily struggle there, and that have obstructed even the most basic preparations for the looming threat of a coronavirus outbreak, have perhaps made it harder for the virus to find a toehold. That could be about to change. The coastal enclave’s few points of entry were largely shut in March. But Tuesday, the territory of nearly 2 million people imposed a 48-hour lockdown after authorities reported the first four confirmed cases of the virus in the general population. For months, aid agencies have warned that the silent spread of the virus through the conflict-weary strip could be calamitous. Gaza has one of the densest populations on Earth, a collapsed health-care system, and small supplies of electricity and clean water. Health-care workers are bracing for further signs of a wider outbreak among already vulnerable communities.

[doyedele]

TOURIST CENTERS IN NIGERIA

Hi there! I’m excited to share my first post here and it’s a tour guide for those that would love to visit Nigeria. 

Let’s go!

Tourism in Nigeria focuses largely on events, due to the country's ample amount of ethnic groups, but also includes rain forests, savannah, waterfalls, and other natural attractions.

Location: Agbokim Waterfall, Cross River

Abuja is home to several parks and green areas with the largest one being Millennium Park. Millennium Park was designed by architect Manfredi Nicoletti and was officially opened by the United Kingdom's Elizabeth II in December 2003. Another open area park is located in Life camp Gwarimpa; near the residence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The park is located on a slightly raised hilltop which contains sports facilities like Basketball and Badminton courts another park is the city park, it is located in Wuse 2 and is home to numerous outdoor and indoor attractions such as a 4D cinema, astroturf, lawn tennis court, paintball arena and a variety of restaurants.

Location: Millennium Park, Abuja

Lagos, subsequent to the re-modernization project achieved by the previous administration of Governor Raji Babatunde Fashola, is gradually becoming a major tourist destination, being one of the largest cities in Africa and in the world. Lagos is currently taking steps to become a global city. The 2009 Eyo carnival (a yearly festival originated from Iperu Remo, Ogun State), which took place on 25 April, was a step toward world city status. Currently, Lagos is primarily known as a business-oriented and a fast-paced community.

Location: Lekki Conservation Centre, Lagos

Other tourist centres in Nigeria include:

1. Olumo Rock, Abeokuta

2. Obudu Mountain Resort, Cross River

3. Ibeno Beach, Akwa Ibom

4. Gashaki-Gumpti National park, Taraba

5. Isaac Boro Garden Park, Port-Harcourt 

6. Oke-Idanre Hill, Ondo

Visit Timbu for more tour guide information and location to visit. 

Tour Guide: https://timbu.com/nigeria

Post Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Nigeria

Hope you visit soon!

[drawdownbooks]

Freedom of the Presses: ⁣ Artists' Books in the Twenty-First Century⁣ Available at www.draw-down.com⁣ ⁣ A major contribution to the field of artists' books, #political publishing, socially engaged and community-focused printing. A textbook and a #toolbox for using artists' books and #creative publications to further community engagement and social justice projects. The book aims to expand and enhance scholarship about creative book-making relevant to the diverse global community of librarians, publishers, and readers. #FreedomofthePresses features commentary and images from contemporary artists and scholars. With essays by Kurt Allerslev, Tia Blassingame, Stephen Dupont, Karen Eliot, Bridget Elmer, Fly, Ganzeer, Sarah Kirk Hanley, Richard Lee, Florencia San Martin, Mobile Print Power, Janelle Rebel, Aaron Sinift, Suzy Taraba, Deborah Ultan, Marshall Weber, Anton Wurth, and Xu Bing. Designed by #WillBrady (at Washington, District of Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxrvgZEnOPD/?igshid=1nvupubpcg89e

[crimechannels]

By • Olalekan Fagbade Appeal court delivers verdict in Agbu Kefas’ election as Taraba Governor The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday affirmed the election of Agbu Kefas of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as governor of Taraba. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced Agbu as the winner of the Taraba governorship election conducted on March 18, 2023. The New Nigeria Peoples Party and its candidate in Prof. Sani Yahaya had instituted a petition against the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party and Kefas. The petition was on the grounds of non-compliance to the provisions of the Electoral Act of 2022, citing over voting, mutilation of result sheets and alleged violence in some polling units. Delivering judgment in the appeal, a three-member panel of the appellate dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit. In a unanimous judgment delivered by justice Peter Affen, the court held that the appellants failed to prove their case. Affen held that the petitioners were inconsistent in the reliefs sought. ” They can not claim a certificate of return in an election they claimed was fraught with non- compliance and irregularities. ” The section 137 of the Electoral Act, 2022 have not aboringated the provisions of the Evidence Act . ” The appeal lacks merit and accordingly dismissed ” the court held. The Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Jalingo on Sept 30, affirmed the election of Dr. Agbu Kefas as the governor of Taraba . The three- member panel led by Justice G. Sunmonu dismissed the petition filed by the New Nigerian Peoples Party and its candidate, Prof. Sani Yahaya for lacking in merit. The panel held that the petitioners who claimed to have scored the majority of lawful votes cast were inconsistent in their reliefs sought as they asked that the same election be declared invalid, yet valid to declare their candidate winner. The tribunal upheld the election of Governor Agbu Kefas of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the duly elected governor of the state. The tribunal held that the petitioners failed to proof their case to warrant the reliefs sought to be granted “The two issues formulated by the petitioners in their final written addressed are therefore resolved against them. “The petition lacks merit, we accordingly reaffirm the election and return of Kefas as the duly elected Governor of Taraba and parties are to bear their cost,” the tribunal held. (NAN)

[ejesgistnews]

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has recently announced new petrol pump prices, leading to significant reactions from oil marketers and consumers alike. Here’s a detailed look at the current petrol prices across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Current Petrol Prices Across Nigeria: A State-by-State Breakdown Here are the current petrol prices across Nigeria as announced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd): Abia State: ₦960.22 per litre Adamawa State: ₦1,019.22 per litre Akwa Ibom State: ₦980.22 per litre Anambra State: ₦960.22 per litre Bauchi State: ₦1,019.22 per litre Bayelsa State: ₦980.22 per litre Benue State: ₦999.22 per litre Borno State: ₦1,019.22 per litre Cross River State: ₦980.22 per litre Delta State: ₦960.22 per litre Ebonyi State: ₦960.22 per litre Edo State: ₦960.22 per litre Ekiti State: ₦950.22 per litre Enugu State: ₦960.22 per litre Gombe State: ₦1,019.22 per litre Imo State: ₦960.22 per litre Jigawa State: ₦999.22 per litre Kaduna State: ₦999.22 per litre Kano State: ₦999.22 per litre Katsina State: ₦999.22 per litre Kebbi State: ₦999.22 per litre Kogi State: ₦960.22 per litre Kwara State: ₦960.22 per litre Lagos State: ₦950.22 per litre Nasarawa State: ₦999.22 per litre Niger State: ₦999.22 per litre Ogun State: ₦950.22 per litre Ondo State: ₦950.22 per litre Osun State: ₦950.22 per litre Oyo State: ₦960.22 per litre Plateau State: ₦999.22 per litre Rivers State: ₦980.22 per litre Sokoto State: ₦999.22 per litre Taraba State: ₦1,019.22 per litre Yobe State: ₦1,019.22 per litre Zamfara State: ₦999.22 per litre Federal Capital Territory (FCT): ₦992.22 per litre. Reactions from Oil Marketers The announcement has sparked a range of reactions from various oil marketing associations: Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN): MOMAN has expressed concerns that the high price of petrol sourced from the Dangote Refinery could lead to increased importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). They predict price variations at filling stations, ranging from ₦950 to ₦1,200 per litre, depending on location. Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN): IPMAN, representing a majority of petrol stations, has questioned the rationale behind higher prices for domestically produced fuel. National Welfare Officer John Kekeocha emphasized that the pricing strategy for locally refined petrol should benefit Nigerians by offering more affordable options. Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN): PETROAN President Billy Gillis-Harry described the petrol prices as “terrifying.” While acknowledging NNPC’s transparency in the price breakdown, he noted that the national oil company did not disclose its profit margin from Dangote’s selling price. The new petrol prices reflect the complexities and challenges facing Nigeria’s fuel market. As stakeholders navigate the implications of the new pricing strategy, consumers are left to cope with the varying costs across different states. The reactions from MOMAN, IPMAN, and PETROAN highlight the ongoing debate about the best approach to ensure affordable and sustainable fuel pricing in Nigeria. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story. If you have any thoughts or experiences to share about the new petrol prices, feel free to leave a comment below.

[sirchristopherstewart]

Of kinghts, Heroes, and Gallants, The greatest achievement of my life the French Azure De Florette for excellence in theater in performance of multiple roles, they have given out less than 100 of these awards, I performed three major roles and 12 extra roles, to this day even I can't find all of them. Many camera tricks and make-up tricks to create the illusion. Jean-Paul Rappeneau's "Cyrano De Bergerac" My major role that of Christian is very easy for anyone to recognize me in for I look as I did in Fantaghiro as Tarabas. Filming went very long on this project and I was back in school in the states before it finished, so Vincent completed my role playing Christian at war and death. Vincent argued about having his name in the credits he was still an acting student, I said let it be your springboard and take the credit. #Christopherstewart #shanebriant #jonathanbrandis #alexhydewhite #jeanpaulrappeneau #cyranodebergerac #frenchfilm #gerarddepardieu #fantasy #historical #historical fantasy #classics #azuredeflorette #🎭 #👑 https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck16vWjNRfO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[visiongist]

Federal High Court Dismisses Suits To Sack Taraba PDP Governorship Candidate

Federal High Court Dismisses Suits To Sack Taraba PDP Governorship Candidate

According to The Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo has dismissed two major cases seeking to challenge the emergence of Colonel Agbu Kefas (rtd) as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State. Ruling on the separate cases filed by Professor Jerome Nyame and Mr Buba Mafindi respectively, Justice Simeon Amobeda posited that the plaintiffs failed to prove their cases…

[hardynwa]

NCDC confirms 846 Lassa fever cases, 148 deaths

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 846 Lassa fever cases across 99 Local Government Areas in 25 states. The predominant age group affected is 21-30 years and the male-to-female ratio for the confirmed cases is 10:9. Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family of viruses. Humans usually become infected with the Lassa virus through exposure to food or household items contaminated with the urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats. The disease is endemic in the rodent population in parts of West Africa. Lassa fever remains a major public health challenge as poor environmental sanitation, poor awareness, and late presentation of cases are reported to fuel the epidemic in Nigeria. The NCDC, in its week 13 situation report on Thursday, said the suspected cases is now 4,338 and the disease has killed no fewer than 148 persons in the country. With the current death toll, the agency noted that the case-fatality ratio of the outbreak stood at 17.5 per cent. The report showed that the 23 new cases recorded from March 27 to April 2, 2023, were recorded from Bauchi, Ondo, Edo, Taraba, Ebonyi, Oyo and Kebbi States. “Cumulatively from week one to week 13, 2023, 148 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate of 17.5 per cent which is lower than the CFR for the same period in 2022 (19.1 per cent). “In total for 2023, 25 States have recorded at least one confirmed case across 99 Local Government Areas. “Seventy-two of all confirmed Lassa fever cases were reported from these three states (Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi) while 28 per cent were reported from four states with confirmed Lassa fever cases. Of the 72 per cent confirmed cases, Ondo reported 32 per cent, Edo 29 per cent, and Bauchi 11 per cent.” So far this year, the disease has infected 39 healthcare workers in Nigeria. The NCDC noted that the National Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Emergency Operations Centre has been activated to coordinate the response activities at all levels. Read the full article