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Fresh trouble erupted again on Saturday as armed youths, from Ikot Offiong in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, reportedly killed scores of fishermen during another attack of Ikot Ada Akpan Community in Oku-Iboku, Akwa Ibom State on Saturday. Dr. Demson Ekong, an indigene of the area said that, the attackers came in six speed boats from Ikot Offiong in Cross River and opened fire on the fishermen. Though, the death figure could not be ascertain at the time of filling this report but, the source said, “Some fishermen have been killed as the actual number of casualties are yet to be determined. “There is a serious attack on Oku-Iboku this morning. The attackers came in six speed boats but, were repelled by the military But the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Akwa Ibom State police Command, Mr Chukwu Ikechukwu, who confirmed the incident said ‘‘No death was recorded’’. ‘‘What I know is that, the youths from Ikot Offiong went to Ikot Ada Akpan community again

You better be well-dressed if you want to get a passport from Ghana’s Passport Office (particularly the Ridge Office)! Radio and TV personality, Caroline Sampson was turned away from the passport office in Accra for showing up in a ‘short’ dress. She said in a tweet that she wasn’t allowed inside for her appointment to take a picture due to her dressing. “I go to the passport office at ridge to take a picture and they don’t allow me in. Why? My dress is short” Entrance to the Ridge office of the Passport Office, where the books are actually printed, is very guided and open to only workers and staff. Guest go through checks and there is also a dress code for the office. Guests are allowed at the Ridge office on ‘protocol’ and on special needs basis. All general applicants are directed to Accra PAC, which is Tema Station; Ridge is reserved for special cases. In August 2016, fast-rising dancehall starlet, Ebony suffered a similar fate. A worker at the Passport Office who sent in a me

Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has said that there is no point hiding President Buhari‘s health status as he has become “public property” by reason of his position. “Why is the president hiding his state of health? He’s supposed to understand he’s public property, me I’m still private property, that’s why I’m not in Aso Rock,” Soyinka said. He also urged the president and his team, to make his state of health public so as not to compound the problems of the country with the uncertainty of the nation’s leader’s health status. President Buhari has missed the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting for the last three weeks. He was absent the two times it held in that period and the third (last week’s meeting) did not hold due to the Easter holiday. He was also absent during Friday’s Jumat prayers at the State House mosque. His spokesman, Garba Shehu had said that the president is taking things slowly, following the advice of his doctors so that he can recover fully from trea

A personal trainer has revealed her incredible transformation after her doctor 'fat shamed' her and motivated her to lead a healthier lifestyle. Weighing 17st 12lbs at her heaviest, Brenna Alexander, 34, rarely exercised and chose to eat out regularly as her health worsened. It wasn't until a routine doctor's appointment when Brenna discovered that she had borderline high blood pressure and cholesterol that she decided to change her habits, losing almost six stone. Brenna, now a personal trainer and health coach, weighs a super slim 12st 5lbs, and she's ditched takeaways for healthy homecooked meals. Brenna said losing weight has helped her get her life back after going from a UK size 26 to a UK size 10. Brenna does strength training and cardio five times a week and said the hardest part of her weight loss journey was keeping it up. Her advice to anyone who wants to shed the pounds is to start by setting small goals.

Britain’s Anthony Olufemi Joshua defeated veteran Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko in a world heavyweight title fight epic in front of 90,000 people at Wembley on Saturday, taking victory on an 11th round stoppage. Joshua added the WBA title to his IBF belt but only after being knocked to the canvas by the 41-year-old Klitschko in the sixth round. Britain’s Anthony Joshua (R) throws a punch at Ukraine’s Wladimir Klitschko during the third round of their IBF, IBO and WBA, world Heavyweight title fight at Wembley Stadium in north west London on April 29, 2017. / AFP The Ukrainian was also sent crashing to the floor in the fifth round and twice more in the pivotal 11th as the 27-year-old British fighter took his record to 19 wins in 19 fights. “What can I say? 19-0, three and a half years in the game. As I said, I’m not perfect but I’m trying and if you don’t take part you’re going to fail,” said Joshua. “As boxing states, you leave your ego at the door and you respect your opponent. So a m

‎ THE Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra, MASSOB,‎ has said that the release of leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has brought the agitation for Biafra republic closer to its restoration . Kanu and some family members leaving prison The group expressed gladness over the release of Kanu from Prison on Friday, ‎adding that it rejoices with millions of ‘Biafrans’ all over the world on their contributions. Leader of MASSOB, Comrade Uchenna Madu said the release is a triumph of light over darkness. According to Madu: “His release has opened a new dimension to Biafra struggle which must continue to be anchored on non violence, mutual understanding and unity of purpose. “As Nnamdi Kanu regained freedom, MASSOB will continue with other progressive groups and individuals to press further for the release of other pro Biafra detainees across Nigeria prisons. “MASSOB as the most prominent pro Biafra group that supports Mazi Nnamdi Kanu bel

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said on Saturday that Nigeria was gradually moving out of recession. Mohammed, represented by the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Bayo Onanuga, made the assertion at the biennial convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Lagos . Minister for Information, Culture and National Orientation. Alhaji Lai Mohammed departing with some documents after a closed door parley with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida He said that going by a recent statement by the Central Bank Governor, the country would exit recession by the end of June. “ There have been other pointers for the good news as well. For two consecutive months, the National Bureau of Statistics has also reported a fall in inflation rate. “ The exchange rate is regaining some sanity. “ As I said earlier, the worst appears to be over. We are clawing out of the woods of recession in weeks from now,

The Nigerian Navy has received eight assault gunboats from Rivers State government that it says will boost its fight against oil theft and sea robbery which has become commonplace in the Niger Delta. Gov. Nyesom Wike At the inauguration of the gunboats in Port Harcourt, Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ibok Ete-Ibas said the eight gunboats would complement another batch of 12 gunboats delivered earlier by the Rivers government, all geared at securing the state maritime environment. Governor Nyesom Wike has even promised to donate 13 more boat , bringing the government’s contribution to 33. Vice Adm. Ibok Ete-Ibas said the gunboats would boost Navy’s patrol capabilities and speed up response of troops to reported crime scenes and thereby discourage criminality on the waterways. “The Navy appreciates the expectation attendant to delivery of these gunboats and we assure that the Navy will be prompt in committing the assets to operation. “The gunboats would be deployed to impose order a

Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has reacted to the much talked about ‘Against the Run of Play’ written by Segun Adeniyi, Chairman of the editorial board of ThisDay newspapers. Former President Goodluck Jonathan Airing his opinion on the content of the book, Goodluck Jonathan said “I have just read Segun Adeniyi’s new book, ‘Against the Run of Play’ which has so far enjoyed tremendous reviews in the media. “My take on it is that the book as presented contains many distorted claims on the 2015 Presidential election by many of the respondents. “There will obviously be more books like that on this subject by concerned Nigerians. However, I believe that at the right time, the main characters in the elections including myself will come out with a true account of what transpired either in major interviews or books” The author had revealed that the idea for the book germinated when he decided to research into why it is difficult for incumbent presidents to lose elections in Africa.

Heavyweights Anthony Olufemi Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko meet tonight in a bout which pits the young and seemingly invincible champion against the ageing and deposed former title-holder. The Briton’s International Boxing Federation title and the vacant WBA, IBO belts will be disputed in the most significant heavyweight fight ever to be held in Britain, which will reportedly earn the pair upwards of $13 million each. Joshua, 27, has shown no signs of strain in dealing with the scale of Saturday’s bout. A crowd of over 90,000, Britain’s largest attendance for a boxing event since 1939 — is expected at London’s Wembley Stadium, with millions more watching on television in over 140 countries “It’s a military mindset,” said Joshua, the 2012 Olympic gold medallist. “I’m a fighter. I’m not caught up with the entertainment.” Joshua does not even see this as being the most important fight he will ever have. “I don’t think so, because it won’t be the end of my career,” he explained. “Whe

Romanian tennis great Ilie Nastase apologised Friday for derogatory comments about Serena Williams and for a foul-mouthed Fed Cup tirade that saw him suspended by the International Tennis Federation. He did however have another pop at Britain’s number one women’s player Johanna Konta, who was left in tears during last weekend’s combustible Fed Cup tie with Romania, and said his behaviour “has been exaggerated by all”. “My words during the Fed Cup have rightfully caused controversy and upset the audience, the press and, most painfully for me, the tennis world,” the former world number one, 70, said on Facebook. Serena Williams and Nastase He said that his comments last Friday about the pregnant Williams — he was overheard by a journalist talking about her baby being “chocolate with milk” — was a “spontaneous” reaction to hearing she was expecting her first child. “I am fully aware that nothing can truly excuse my statements -– not the tension of a high-stakes game, not my traditionall

Nicki Minaj  is working on the weekend, and Working It, too: She took a break from her current shoot to share a couple of dressing room selfies, and roped in her followers with a revealing glimpse of her next video look. No, but seriously. Rope. As in, that's all she's wearing. Her minimal look was captured pretty clearly in one selfie, but for another vantage point, she took a second for good measure: No word yet as to what video she's shooting, but she's certainly been busy with collabs that keep on coming this spring: Between  Jason Derulo 's “ Swalla ” and  Major Lazer 's “ Run Up ,” she's been spending tons of time in front of the camera in addition to the hours she clocked in at the studio. Is this for her new track with  DNCE ? Is that frilly frock in the background also going to make an appearance? We'll have to wait and see, but in the meantime, no complaints here. We can't wait to see which visual this look ends up in.

Facebook has said its data “does not contradict” the US Director of National Intelligence’s conclusion that Russia was behind efforts to interfere with the US election. The social media giant made the admission in a report by its security team in which it detailed how foreign governments are using its platform to attempt to manipulate public opinion in other countries. It comes just five months after chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said the claim that fake news on Facebook had influenced the US election was “a pretty crazy idea ”. But now the company says it is taking new measures to combat what it calls “information operations” that it said were used during both the US and French presidential election campaigns. It says nations and organisations are using Facebook to spread misleading information and falsehoods for geopolitical goals. It described attempts to spread misinformation as well-funded and subtle. The report uses the US election as a “case study” and outlines several situa

The Federal Government has declared Monday, May 1, 2017 as public holiday to commemorate the 2017 Workers’ Day celebration. The Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.) made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement on Friday by the Director, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido. He congratulated Nigerian workers for their resilience, hard work and commitment to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari despite current challenges. The minister urged them to continue to support the President “in his desire to fight corruption, ensure security of lives and property, and stabilize the economy through creation of jobs and diversification of the economy.” Dambazau further urged the workers to re-educate themselves to the service of the nation and to remain productive for the growth and development of the country, particularly now that the government is embarking on the implementation of the Econ

At least, five people have been reportedly killed in fresh cult clashes at Omudiogwa community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State. It was gathered that armed cultists invaded Omudioga, Wednesday night in search of members of a rival group, killing at least five people, including one who was beheaded. Omudioga Youth President, Chinyere Amadi said Ezeka Nwadike and Prince Omata were among those killed. Amadi said the community has been deserted as inhabitants seek refuge elsewhere in the absence of security operatives. In another development, one person has been reportedly killed while several others sustained bullet wounds in clashes in Akabuka town in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area. A source from the community told newsmen that trouble started when a suspected cult leader returned home for the first time after he was granted amnesty by the Rivers State Government. Our source said the presence of the returnee cult leader sparked an argument between members of his

The Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja,yesterday, admitted into evidence, a statement the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, made before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in relation to corruption allegations against him. Senate President Bukola Saraki The Federal Government tendered the statement dated August 13, 2013, before the Justice Danladi Umar-led two-man panel tribunal where Saraki is being prosecuted on an 18-count charge. At the resumed sitting on the matter, yesterday, prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, tendered Saraki’s statement through an EFCC detective, Mr. Alvan Gurummaal. Meanwhile, shortly after the statement was admitted into evidence, Mr. Jacobs, SAN, notified the tribunal of his inability to produce his last witness, even as he applied for an adjournment. Jacobs told the tribunal that the remaining witness, who is Saraki’s account officer, informed him that he would be undergoing a surgery and would, therefore, not be

At least five soldiers were killed and another 40 injured when a Boko Haram jihadist rammed an explosives-laden pick-up truck into a military convoy in northeast Nigeria, security sources told AFP on Friday. The bomber, believed to be loyal to factional leader Abu Mus’ab Al-Barnawi, targeted the convoy, which was conducting “clearance operations” between Yobe and Borno states, two military officers said. “At about 1100 hours (1000 GMT) on Thursday, a suicide bomber believed to be a Boko Haram terrorist riding in a van loaded with explosives rammed into a military convoy at Manguzum village, ” one said. “We lost five soldiers in the incident and more than 40 sustained various degrees of injuries,” added the officer, who asked to remain anonymous because he was not authorised to speak about the incident. The convoy was heading to the garrison town of Damboa, which is some 90 kilometres (55 miles) from the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, at the time. A second military source said the tr

Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has told Sport Bild the future of coach Carlo Ancelotti “is not up for debate” after two tournament exits in eight days. Bayern lost to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals last week and crashed out of the DFB Pokal to Borussia Dortmund in the semifinals. Ancelotti signed a three-year deal when he succeeded Pep Guardiola last summer, and Rummenigge said: “Carlo is a very good and experienced coach. “The length of his contract is well known, and isn’t up for debate.” Bayern were angered by several contentious decisions by Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai at the Bernabeu, feeling Arturo Vidal’s sending off was unjustified and that two of Cristiano Ronaldo’s three goals were offside. “Things have happened that we cannot influence,” Rummenigge added. “Injuries, refereeing decisions and sometimes the necessary luck was also missing. “We shouldn’t forget — a fortnight ago we were at grade 1+ [Germany’s highest grade].” Bayern lead the Bun

South-East Asian nations on Friday insisted that North Korea must comply with UN resolutions and international laws in a bid to ease escalating tensions in the Korean peninsula. The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) expressed “grave concern” over the recent developments on the peninsula, including two nuclear tests in 2016 and recent ballistic missile launches. “ASEAN is mindful that instability in the Korean peninsula seriously impacts the region and beyond,” foreign ministers from the regional bloc said in a statement. “ASEAN strongly urges (North Korea) to comply fully with its obligations arising from all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and international laws in the interest of maintaining international peace and security,” they added. The 10-member group also called on North Korea and all parties involved to “exercise self-restraint in order to de-escalate the tension and refrain from actions that may aggravate the situation.” The situation on

For complaining about the non-payment of his duty and food allowance, a police sergeant attached to the speaker of Adamawa State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Kabiru Mijinyawa, has received the beating of his life from his principal. The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Othman Abubakar, confirmed the development to newsmen in Yola on Thursday but said he has not yet been furnished with details regarding the incident. The PPRO in the state however told journalists that the Area Commander in charge of Yola Area Command was handling the matter. An eye witness disclosed that the anger of the speaker was aroused when sergeant, who was among the policemen attached to him, complained over non-payment of duty and food allowance. Mijinyawa immediately descended on the policeman, such that it took the intervention of his civil defence counterpart to rescue the sergeant. “The dazed sergeant was rescued by a civil defence man who had to remind the speaker that he was beating up a policema

Auhorities in western China are prohibiting parents from naming their children Islamic names in the latest effort to dilute the influence of religion on life in the ethnic Uighur minority heartland. “Muhammad,” ”Jihad” and “Islam” are among at least 29 names now banned in the heavily Muslim region, according to a list distributed by overseas Uighur activists. If a parent chooses one of the barred names, the child will be denied government benefits. The names listed on the government document disseminated by Uighur groups include several related to historic religious or political figures and some place names . “Imam,” ”Hajj,” ”Turknaz,” ”Azhar” and “Wahhab” are on the list, as are “Saddam,” ”Arafat,” “Medina” and “Cairo.” Judgment calls about which names are deemed to be “overly religious” will be made by local government officials, according to Radio Free Asia, the U.S.-funded radio service which first reported the naming directive. An official at a county-level public security offic

The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Olatokunbo Olopade, on Thursday pardoned 59 inmates of the five prisons in the state. Mrs. Olopade had visited the prisons located at Ibara and Oba in Abeokuta as well as Ilaro, Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode during the tour which started on Wednesday. She said the gesture was aimed at decongesting the prisons. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that 15 inmates were released from Oba prisons, 14 in Ilaro, eight in Sagamu, 12 in Ijebu-Ode and 11 in Ibara. Mrs. Olopade said those who regained freedom were imprisoned for various offences ranging from wandering, robbery, stealing, rape and other sundry criminal acts. According to her, negligence of legal department of the Nigeria Police was responsible for the prolonged detention of many of the inmates. She decried the attitude of police in duplicating case files of the inmates which she said was making efforts at releasing those unjustly detained difficult. Mrs. Olopade said many inmates had been in prison for years

The United States ambassador to Ghana, Robert Jackson, said about 7,000 Ghanaian immigrants in the country face deportation for visa-related offences including staying illegally, over staying their permits. Jackson disclosed this during a meeting with Ghanaian media men. “In fact about 7000 of them are currently at different stages of the deportation process. And we are not apologetic about that,” Jackson said. The US planned move comes hours after the United Kingdom blacklisted three serving legislators of Ghana’s Parliament over visa fraud. The MPs had left their relatives to live in the UK illegally after travelling with them to the country. “The British High Commission considers the actions completely unacceptable. In some cases these behaviours may arguably be criminal in nature,” the British High Commission noted. Last year, the United States deported 108 Ghanaian immigrants for reasons including drug-related offences, staying illegally, over staying their permits and other cri

Nice striker Mario Balotelli has hit back at former Italy teammate Antonio Cassano after he suggested he was overrated in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday. Cassano said that Balotelli had his agent Mino Raiola to thank for the opportunities he has been given, adding that the 26-year-old, as well as Paul Pogba and James Rodriguez, have all benefited from fortune. “I do not think Pogba is worth €120 million, and Rodriguez is not worth €80m. If he was worth that much, what would be the value of [Andres] Iniesta at that age?” Cassano said. “The same goes for Balotelli. I wish Mario the best, and he is doing well in France, but he and Pogba have been very lucky in life. They are managed by a very good agent, Mino Raiola, who gave them incredible opportunities.” Cassano, 34, is currently without a club after being released by Sampdoria in the winter. He spent the first few months of the season training with Samp’s youth team after being told he had no future at the club l

Pop-punk nostalgia reigns supreme — Fall Out Boy and Paramore dropped new music within the past week, and now it’s Blink-182 ’s turn. The veteran rockers have steadily been sharing new songs from their upcoming deluxe edition of California, and their latest is easily the “strangest” yet (their word, not mine). “6/8” is another angsty offering from Blink that manages to be entirely unpredictable, mostly because it sounds more like something you’d hear on an AFI album. Mark Hoppus handles lead vocals, Matt Skiba incoherently screams in the background, and Travis Barker ties it all together with his reliably rousing work behind the drum kit. Upon the release of “6/8” on Thursday morning (April 27), Blink-182 tweeted that the “aggressive” song is “the strangest song blink have ever recorded.” Even stranger than “ Fuck a Dog ” or the 35-second, two-sentence song “ Can’t Get You More Pregnant ”? Seems debatable. This is the strangest song blink have ever recorded. It's in 6/8 time. I

LOCAL government workers across the country converged, last Wednesday in Abuja, for the grand finale of the series of protests against the relegation of democracy in the country’s local government system. •Abdulkadir, Atiku, Dogara, Attah In apparent dismissal of constitutional provisions on the sustenance of democracy at that tier, State governments have, in collaboration with their state Houses of Assembly, put the local governments at their beck and call. The focus of the laws has mainly been to give the governors the legal leeway to appoint sole administrators over the local governments, a development that is at variance with Section 7 (1) of the Constitution. Caretaker committees That provision states thus: (1) The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this Constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the Government of every State shall, subject to section 8 of this Constitution, ensure their existence under a Law which provides for t

Former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has revealed that US government officials invited, at least, 12 northern governors to the US to ascertain their level of commitment to removing Jonathan and not just on how to curtail the Boko Haram insurgency as suggested. Goodluck Jonathan and Babangida Aliyu Dr Aliyu said this in the book, “Against the Run of Play: How an Incumbent President was defeated in Nigeria, ” written by Thisday Newspaper’s Editorial Board Chairman, Segun Adeniyi. “I have no proof of course, but I think the idea was to ascertain what the disposition of the North would be to the idea of another term for President Jonathan,” he is quoted as saying in the book. “That was my reading of the situation. I believe it was all about the 2015 election for which the Americans had resolved not to support Jonathan. They just wanted to size us up for the level of commitment to regime change.” Aliyu said in one of the sessions, Murtala Nyako, former Adamawa state

FOR three days last week, rare talent and creativity were on marathon display as the African Drums Festival took centre stage at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. The event, hosted by the state government, as part of efforts to reawaken interest in the black world’s culture through drums and dance, attracted cultural troupes and a drum ensemble, as well as artistes, from different parts of Nigeria and the African continent. It was indeed a showcase of several African drums, namely: Bata, Iya Ilu Bembe, Djembe, Dundun, Bara, Adowa, Sabar, Bongolo, Brekete/Gungon, Ekwe, Ewe, Kpanlogo, Tama, among others. Participants notably from the United States of America, Cuba, Haiti, Benin Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Togo, Ghana, Burkina Faso, and 18 states of the Nigerian federation gathered for the cultural fiesta held at the grounds of the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta. The presence of governors, traditional rulers, diplomats, tourists and culture advoca

THE United Labour Congress of Nigeria, ULC, has called on the Federal Government to inject recovered loots into reviving the Ajaokuta Steel Company, ASC, and other ailing industries in the country. President of ULC, Mr. Joe Ajaero, stated this in Lokoja at the inauguration of the State Executive members of ULC. Ajaero, who was represented by the National Auditor of the Congress, Otori Maliki, said injecting the recovered funds into ASC, the textile industry, mining and petroleum sectors will help create the needed jobs for Nigerians. He also said as a matter of necessity, Federal Government should approve a realistic minimum wage to meet the current economic and market realities. ULC’s President charged the state executive to carry out its statutory obligations for the betterment of workers. In his speech, the state ULC Chairman, Eleojo Opaluwa, urged the state government to pay all arrears of salaries and entitlements owed workers. He said ULC will ensure a progressive labour moveme