18 year old victim of gang rape commits suicide

An 18-year-old girl, allegedly
gang-raped by three boys, has committed suicide at her Amarata residence. It is a suburb of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The deceased, simply identified as

Vatican suspends 'bishop of bling'

The Vatican has suspended a senior German Church leader dubbed the "bishop of bling" by the media over his alleged lavish spending. The Bishop of

4 Boko Haram Suspects Arraigned

The Federal Government, yesterday, arraigned four suspected members of Boko Haram sect before a Federal High Court in Lagos on terrorism-related charges.
The suspects, Adamu Mohammed, Mohammed

ASUU To Meet Over Strike

THE National Strike Coordinating Committee, NSCC, comprising of principal officers and Zonal Coordinators of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU will be meeting Saturday to take

ICC Partially Excuses Kenyatta From Trial

The International Criminal Court on Friday partially excused Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta from his upcoming crimes against humanity trial in order for him to fulfill his "demanding" political duties at home.
"The trial chamber conditionally

UN Helicopter Attacked In DR Congo

A United Nations helicopter
came under fire in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday, a UN source said, the second such incident in a week.
“Two helicopters left on reconnaissance missions this morning … the pilots of one of the helicopters felt some impacts on the cockpit … and landed” to inspect the damage, a source close to Monusco, the UN peacekeeping mission in DR Congo, told AFP.
The incident took place some 15 kilometres (10 miles) north of Goma, capital of North Kivu province, which has been in turmoil since warfare ravaged the country from 1996 to 2003.
There were no injuries and the helicopter was able to return to base.
Last week, Congolese M23 rebels shot at a UN helicopter but no one was injured.
The M23 was founded by former Tutsi rebels who were incorporated into the Congolese army under a 2009 peace deal.
Complaining the deal was never fully implemented, they mutinied in April 2012, turning their guns on their former comrades and launching the latest rebellion to ravage DR Congo’s mineral-rich and conflict-prone east.
A spokesman for the rebels,Vianney Kazarama, denied that the M23 was behind the attack.
“This morning, the M23 did not fire and did not want to fire on Monusco,” said Kazarama, indicating that the shots came from the Congolese army (FARDC).
But Lieutenant-Colonel Olivier Hamuli, a spokesman for the army in North Kivu, hit back, saying: “Monoscu is a partner of the FARDC and we are together on the ground. It’s the M23  which shot,” said Hamuli.

Nigeria's Oil Revenue climbs to N2.57bn as Shell opens TNP

Nigeria’s crude output and oil revenue is set to increase by 150,000 barrels per day and $16.05 million, about N2.568 billion daily, as Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC,

About 500 Nigerian Youths In Japanese Prison

NO fewer than 500 Nigerian youths are languishing in Japanese prisons over alleged drugs and other related offences, a Nigerian- born cleric, Bishop Enoch Adebayo, has said.
Adebayo, who is the President

Ijaw Professionals Seek Amendment To Petroleum Industry Bill

The Ijaw Professionals Association (IPA) has made a strong recommendation for an amendment of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) currently before the National Assembly to remove the discretionary powers of the President and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, and also expunge the compulsory acquisition of resources by th

Okonjo Iweala: Why Recovery Of €185 Abacha Loot Is Delayed

The federal government has thrown more light on the challenges it is facing in the recovery of the €185 million stashed away by the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha,

Hundreds Die In Nigerian Jail

Hundreds of people have died in detention facilities in north-east Nigeria as the army tries to crush an Islamist militant rebellion there, according to Amnesty International. The human rights group said some detainees died

Afghan Governor Dies In Mosque Bomb Attack

The governor of Afghanistan's Logar province has been killed in a blast in a mosque, during prayers for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. Arsala Jamal was s

tanding at the front of the mosque greeting worshippers when a bomb hidden under a table detonated. At least 15 people were injured, and several are said to be in a critical condition, Mr Jamal's spokesman said. Logar is south of the capital, Kabul, and the Taliban increasingly control much of the countryside. The attack took place at Logar's main mosque in the provincial capital of Pul-i-Alam, said spokesman Din Mohammed Darwesh. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Belgium Arrests Somalian Pirate Leader Mohammed Abdhi Hassan

One of Somalia’s most notorious pirate leaders, known as “Big Mouth”, has been arrested in Brussels and placed in custody pending charges, judicial sources said Monday.
Mohamed Abdi Hassan, known as “Afweyne” or “Big Mouth”,

PDP's Aguariavwodo Wins Delta Central By Election

CANDIDATE of the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, Saturday, won the Delta Central Senatorial by-election in a landslide, polling a
total of 263, 024 votes to beat his closest opponent,

Nigeria urged to reduce child marriages

Child marriage - defined as a marital union with a person under the age of 18 - affects more girls in Nigeria than in all the countries of West Africa combined, according to a

Venezuela Detains US Ship

The government of Guyana says the Venezuelan navy has entered its territorial waters and detained a US-operated ship. Guyana said the Venezuelan actions in the disputed

AU wants ICC immunity for leaders

The African Union has urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to defer cases against sitting leaders until they leave office. The current presidents of Kenya and Sudan both face ICC

Taylor to serve jail term in UK

Ex-Liberian President Charles Taylor is to serve his 50-year war crimes sentence in the UK, Justice Minister Jeremy Wright has confirmed.

Finland, Rwanda and Sweden were other possibilities following the rejection

Too rich for its own good

The Democratic Republic of Congo is potentially one of the richest countries on earth, but colonialism, slavery and corruption have turned it into one of the poorest.

FG begins investigations on attack at embassy and killing of Nigerians in Guinea

The Federal Government on
Wednesday ordered investigation into the reported killing of three Nigerians and the attack on the Nigerian Embassy in Guinea-
Bissau.

Former Plateau State Governor Solomon Lar Is Dead

The Plateau government has announced the death of the first civilian governor of the state, Chief Solomon Lar.
“I can confirm to you that the family has confirmed to Gov. Jonah Jang that Chief Solomon Lar is dead,’’ information commissioner, Abraham Yiljap, said in Jos on Wednesday.
Yiljap said that Lar, aged 80, died on Wednesday in a U. S. hospital.

(NAN)

Libya summons US envoy over raid

Libya summoned the US ambassador to the country for questioning on Monday over the weekend capture of a suspected al-Qaeda leader on Libyan territory. Anas al-Liby, wanted over 1998 bombings of US embassies

Nigeria drops Russians' arms charges

A Nigerian court has dropped arms trafficking charges against seven Russian sailors a year after they were arrested. The remaining eight of those

'More than 50' African billionaires, 20 are Nigerians

Africa has 55 billionaires, far more than previously thought, Nigeria-based Ventures financial magazine says. They include three women - the mother of Kenya's president, a daughter of Angola's president and a Nigerian

30 dead in CAR rebel clashes

At least 30 people have died and dozens wounded in clashes in the Central African Republic, officials say. The fighting between former rebels and local civil protection

Enugu sacks 138 school principals

One hundred and thirty-eight Chief Supervising Principals, CSPs, recently appointed by Enugu State Government for various schools in the 17 local government areas of the state have been compulsorily retired for allegedly falsifying their ages.
The list of those retired was

I'm not under pressure to resign - Tambuwal

SPEAKER of the House of

Representatives, Mr Aminu Tambuwal Tuesday

debunked rumours that he is under pressure

to resign.

Tambuwal made this

US Libya raid: Was it legal?

 The statement made by the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, that the kidnap of Abu Anas al-Liby complied with United States law is correct - but that will not stifle criticism that the

Warlords and technocrats cue up to succeed Karzai

The race to succeed Afghan President Hamid Karzai in next April's election looked wide open as nominations closed on Sunday night.

Twenty-two people have been nominated, and new rules, including the requirement

20 killed as Boko Haram attacks Mosque

Boko Haram Islamists

claimed five lives in an attack on a mosque in

northeast Nigeria over the weekend, before

being repulsed by soldiers who killed 15 of the

insurgents, the military said in a statement

Sunday.

The latest attack by the extremist group,

which has been waging an insurgency since

Woman caught planting bomb near a primary school

A guard caught a woman planting a bomb next to a primary school in Iraq on Monday, while two blasts killed four Sahwa anti-Al-Qaeda fighters, officials said.
The woman was trying to plant a bomb next to the wall of a school in Madain, south of Baghdad, but

Governor Aliyu bans use of old boats in Niger

Gov Babangida Aliyu of Niger, in
Minna on Sunday announced a ban on the use of old boats in ferrying passengers across
rivers in the state.
The order followed the boat mishap on Thursday, Oct. 3, which claimed

National Conference: Questions For The Committee

AS President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurates
the 13-man National Dialogue Advisory Committee, tomorrow, the Senator Femi Okurounmu-led panel has a number of tough questions to answer.
While raising the panel, last Tuesday, Jonathan handed the members a four-point
terms of

National Dialogue c'tee to be inaugurated on Monday, Oct.7

President Goodluck Jonathan will inaugurate the Advisory Committee on National Dialogue on Monday, Oct. 7.
This is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja and signed by Mr Sam
Nwaobasi, the Special Assistant (Media) to the

Police declares Bayelsa PDP Chairman Wanted

Barely 12 hours after the Bayelsa State

government said it has put the former Special

Adviser on Security Matters to former Governor

Timipre Sylva and the interim chairman of the

new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) in the

state, Chief Richard Perekeme Kpodoh under

security watch, the State police command has

declared him wanted.

The government in a statement signed by the

Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State

Governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said

In Favour Of 'Dialogue Or National Conference'

President Goodluck Jonathan’s acceptance to
conduct a national dialogue on issues
affecting the country took many unawares,
especially after many protagonists have
shouted themselves hoarse to no avail and
rested their case. He has since been receiving
kudos and knocks and also generating a fresh

The Reign Of Terror

I don’t know if Nigeria will survive this but I hope and pray she does. The impunity of gunmen is getting more scary. Could it be that our leaders are running out of ideas on how to go about it? Is President Jonathan losing the
battle against the menace of terrorism?
Are all the contractors and henchmen of Jonathan administration running out of ideas on how to tackle the issue? As it were, gunmen have taken over our dear country.
‘Gun attacks’ have become a regular cliché
in our dailies. The political parties don’t seem

This is not the Nigeria we fought for- Amaechi

ELDER Statesman and First Republic Minister
of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi is the
last man standing in Southern Nigeria among
the generation of nationalists who fought for
the nation’s independence. He is also the only
surviving minister from the South that served
in the first post-independence cabinet. The
surviving quartet in that cabinet is Shehu

PDP Crisis: 5 New Governors Joins Breakaway Faction

The breakaway faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Wednesday claimed that its membership has swelled with the decamping of five more governors of the ruling party to the group.
Although the splinter PDP did not name the five governors that had joined it, if the claim is correct, it would bring the number of governors in its fold to 12.
The New PDP said the new governors

Gambia Withdraws Commonwealth Membership

The Gambian government
announced Wednesday that the former British colony is pulling out of the Commonwealth
with immediate effect, saying it would “never be a member of any neo-colonial institution”.
“The general public is hereby informed that the government of the Gambia has left the
Commonwealth of Nations with

Nigeria, UK, US and others to hold joint military training

Nigeria will today participate in a
three-week joint military training with special forces from The Netherlands, U.S., UK, Spain and Italy.
Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said this in a statement, yesterday, in Abuja.
He said that the exercise would take place at the general area of the South-West and
South-South coastal areas.
Olukolade said the exercise, code named AFRICAN WINDS, is being spearheaded by the Nigerian Navy.
Olukolade said: “It will be facilitated by a combined Mobile Training Teams, MTTs, of
Marines and

ASUU has ruined Nigerian students, over N10bn lost in rent

Its been 3 Months since the striking Lecturers of the Academic Staff Union Of Universities, ASUU Began her Indefinite Industrial action to protest the ill-treatment of the education sector by the federal government, citing the 2009 MOU signed as a point of reference.
ASUU according to the president Goodluck Jonathan, has been Politically engineered, which undoubtedly, made them pull out of negotiation, without any resolve in sight.
The Nigerian students on the receiving end have been at home, 3 months and still counting, while their annual rents keep running in their Various Universities.There are Over 70 Federal and State Owned Universities in Nigeria, education over 10 million Nigerian Students. Most of these Universities, especially state funded ones like the Imo State University, IMSU, Ebonyi State University, EBSU, Enugu State University, ESUT, among others have no provision for hostel facilities, while other federal Universities like the University Of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN ,

Mr. President's Proposal For National Conference Sparks Mixed Reaction

President Goodluck Jonathan Tuesday announced the constitution of a committee to prepare the grounds for the convocation of a national conference, setting off a chain of reactions from critical stakeholders in the polity.

The president, in a national broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 53rd independence anniversary, said the 13-member advisory committee, which will establish the modalities for a national conference aimed at resolving issues causing friction in the polity, would be chaired by a chieftain of Afenifere, Dr. Femi Okurounmu.

The committee, with Dr. Akilu Indabawa as its secretary, has one month to submit its report and will be inaugurated by Jonathan on Monday.

Read More on Thisday

Government Boosts Security Around Schools

After terrorists killed 40 students
in a dormitory attack in Yobe Sate, Nigerian authorities are taking measures to improve
security around schools, including stepping up
patrols and putting armed soldiers outside them and guarding school buses.
Government sources said, Monday, that the move aimed to restore confidence in the Western style schools that have seen scenes of bloody massacres by Boko Haram militants fighting for an Islamic state.