NIGERIA TO EXPERIENCE PARTIAL ECLIPSE- NASDRA

Nigeria will experience a partial solar eclipse on Thursday the 3rd of November; an astronomical event that will have the earth thrown into temporal or partial darkness as the moon blocks the sun’s rays from reaching the earth.
Briefing journalists on what Nigerians should expect, the Director General of the Nigeria Space Research And Development Agency (NASDRA), Dr Sa’idu Mohammed said the eclipse will come in three phases; a partial eclipse at about 1.00 pm when the moon will touch the edge of the sun, the maximum eclipse shortly before 3.00pm when the moon is expected to be closest to the center and shortly after 4.00pm when the moon will leave the sun’s edge.

He however stated that there is no cause for alarm and Nigerians should not panic.
 As seen from the Earth, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun.
This can happen only at new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth in an alignment referred to as syzygy.
In a total eclipse, the disk of the Sun is fully obscured by the Moon. In partial and annular eclipses only part of the Sun is obscured.
If the Moon were in a perfectly circular orbit, a little closer to the Earth, and in the same orbital plane, there would be total solar eclipses every single month.
However, the Moon’s orbit is inclined at more than 5 degrees to Earth’s orbit around the Sun so its shadow at new moon usually misses Earth.
Earth’s orbit is called the ecliptic plane as the Moon’s orbit must cross this plane in order for an eclipse to occur.
In addition, the Moon’s actual orbit is elliptical, often taking it far enough away from Earth that its apparent size is not large enough to block the Sun totally.
The orbital planes cross each year at a line of nodes resulting in at least two, and up to five, solar eclipses occurring each year; no more than two of which can be total eclipses.

However, total solar eclipses are rare at any particular location because totality exists only along a narrow path on Earth’s surface traced by the Moon’s shadow or umbra.
An eclipse is a natural phenomenon. Nevertheless, in some ancient and modern cultures, solar eclipses have been attributed to supernatural causes or regarded as bad omen. A total solar eclipse can be frightening to people who are unaware of its astronomical explanation, as the Sun seems to disappear during the day and the sky darkens in a matter of minutes.
Since looking directly at the Sun can lead to permanent eye damage or blindness, special eye protection or indirect viewing techniques are used when viewing a solar eclipse.

It is technically safe to view only the total phase of a total solar eclipse with the unaided eye and without protection, however this is a dangerous practice as most people are not trained to recognize the phases of an eclipse which can span over two hours while the total phase can only last up to 7.5 minutes for any one location.

Source: Channels

UPDATE: SAUDI WOMEN ACTIVIST CANCELS DRIVE IN

 
The Saudi Women activist has cancelled the drive in planned for October 26 to challenge the male-only driving rule. The  protest was cancelled due to threatening phone calls received by the women activist, also threats by the interior minister that they will face legal actions if they continue with their proposed plan.

Hmmm, Saudi women won't be driving.  please what century is this?


For more information, use this link:http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/10/saudi-activists-cancel-women-drive-plan-2013102517635525438.html

U17 WORLD CUP: NIGERIA THRASH IRAQ 5-0

 



The Nigeria Eaglets beat the Iraq's 5-0 in their last group game played at the Iraq Al Rashid Stadium in Dubai.
Manu Garba's team put up an impressive showing after surviving the Scandinavian scare in their last game to shoot into the lead as early as the third minute courtesy of Musa Muhammed’s well placed penalty kick after Musa Yahaya was fouled in the penalty area of the sians.

PRINCE GEORGE CHRISTENED AT ROYAL CHAPEL

Official portrait of prince George's christening

 This is the official pictures of the christening of Prince George at the Chapel Royal in St. James palace in London. He was christened in a private ceremony with just the immediate family, four members of the middleton family, seven godparents and their spouses, senior royals and 22 other guests. 

Prince George, son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, was born in London on 22 July. The Prince, is third in line to the Throne and was baptized by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Scroll down for more pictures...

Prince George was carried into the Chapel Royal by his father, the Duke of Cambridge

 
The Duchess of Cambridge carried her son out of the Chapel after the Christening

The Prince was baptized in a replica of a gown worn by Queen Victoria's eldest Daughter

The Queen and Prince Philip attended the ceremony

SAUDIS WARN ACTIVIST BACKING WOMEN DRIVERS

The Saudi women are the only women in the world who are not allowed to drive cars. Saudi Arabia bans women from driving cars in the country. There has been a recent uprising by some women activist in the country on the matter challenging the male only driving rules in the kingdom. The women who plan to make their voice heard have planned a protest on the 26th of November being Saturday, this has generated a lot of concern for the kingdom authorities

Saudi officials have warned online activists from backing protests planned by the women in the kingdom.
Friday's edition of the pan-Arab newspaper Al-Hayat quoted Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Turki al-Faisal as saying cyber-laws banning political dissent could apply to anyone supporting the women driving campaign. Conviction can bring up to five-year prison sentences.
The warning widens the possible fallout from the expected campaign by Saudi women with foreign driving licenses to get behind the wheel on Saturday in defiance of Saudi traditions.
The Internet has been a key tool in organising the protest and reaching out to media.
The women organising the campaign have been posting online footage of themselves driving in Saudi, the world's only country that bans women from driving. 
Though no explicit law in Saudi Arabia bans women from driving, the rules are enforced by the country's powerful Islamic establishment.
On Wednesday, the Interior Ministry issued a statement saying it would crack down against anyone who attempts to "disturb public peace" by congregating or marching "under the pretext of an alleged day of female driving”.
The Interior Ministry spokesman has insisted that "all gatherings are prohibited" in Saudi Arabia, but activists have repeatedly insisted throughout their campaign that no demonstrations will be held.
"October 26 is a day on which women in Saudi Arabia will say they are serious about driving and that this matter must be resolved," Activist Manal al-Sharif, one of the organisers of this Saturday's campaign, told the AFP news agency. 
Rights watchdog Amnesty International has urged the Saudi authorities to respect the right of women to drive.
"It is astonishing that in the 21st century the Saudi Arabian authorities continue to deny women the right to legally drive a car," Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme, said.

Sources:Agencies and Aljazeera

Lets support Saudi women as they drive into the streets tomorrow......

FAKE BOKO HARAM MEMBER ARRESTED IN ENUGU CHURCH

 

 All that is done in the name of religion. I know most of us listened to the taped version of his confession since we could not go to Enugu to see for ourselves  ... Read on to see how he played it out.

A 35-year-old man, Mr. Daniel Danboyi, who claimed to be a repentant member of Boko Haram sect, was yesterday paraded by the department of State Services, DSS, Enugu State Command, for allegedly extorting money from some churches under false pretence.
The suspect, who is also known as Shuaibu Shehu Rabiu, was said to have visited several churches in the country, telling fictitious story of how he was actively involved in the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents before he repented and became a Christian.
Parading the suspect in Enugu, State Director of DSS, Mr. Victor Duru, said that Danboyi, a native of Garshi District, Kura Falls, Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, “has been going about duping innocent Nigerians, using religion as his tool.”

According to him, the suspect was arrested at Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church, Zik Avenue, Enugu, in connection with Boko Haram activities.
“He has been going about with a false testimony, deceiving people, duping and exploiting people in the name of religion.
“He claims that he was a Boko Haram member, who has converted to Christianity,” Duru said, adding that Danboyi began the deceit in 2001 at an Abuja church.

 Source: Infonigeria

ARMY IMPOSES 24HOUR CURFEW IN YOBE

The military on Friday imposed a 24-hour curfew on Yobe following attacks on Damaturu by suspected insurgents on Thursday night.

This is contained in a statement signed by Capt. Eli Lazarus, spokesman of the 3 Division, Special Operations Battalion, Damaturu.

“The 3 Division, Special Operation Battalion, Damaturu, hereby imposes a 24-hour curfew across Yobe state, with immediate effect.

“Law-abiding citizens are enjoined to remain calm as the battalion steps up its operation to rid the state of insurgents,” he said. (NAN)

HOUSE PROBE: ODUAH APPROVED OVER N403M ABOVE BUDGET FOR CARSS

•We followed due process, NCAA insists  

•BPP: We have no record of transaction

Onwuka Nzeshi 

The vehicle purchase scandal rocking the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) got messier yesterday, as it emerged that the two BMW armoured cars and other operational vehicles bought by the agency gulped a total of N643 million, being N403 million above the N240 million stipulated in the 2013 Appropriation Act.

In the initial budget proposal submitted to the National Assembly, the NCAA had requested the sum of N140 million for the purchase of two bulletproof cars at the cost of N70 million per unit.

When this request was turned down, the parliament approved the sum of N240 million only for the purchase of operational vehicles.

However, evidence brought before the House Committee on Aviation probing the controversial armoured car deal yesterday showed that though the budget provided for a total of 25 operational vehicles, the NCAA turned around to procure a total of 54 vehicles, including the BMW armoured cars at triple the cost of what was provided in the budget for the vehicles.

Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, expressed anger that the NCAA committed public funds to such a deal in contravention of the budgetary approvals made by the National Assembly.

Onyejeocha and other members of the committee raised a number of questions as to the legality of the transaction and whether it followed due process.

However, at the opening of the investigation, there was some buck passing as the Director General, NCAA, Capt. Fola Akinkuotu, said most of the decisions leading to the controversial purchases were made prior to his assumption of duty as the agency's boss.

The lot fell on the Director of Airspace   in NCAA, Mr. Joyce Nkemakonam, to explain the role of the agency since he was in the saddle when the decisions were made.

Nkemakonam's testimony raised a lot of dust when he insisted that the transaction followed due process as it received the approval of the Ministry of Aviation. He however had difficulties providing evidence for his claims.

He also had difficulties wriggling out of the questions pertaining to the flouting of the Appropriation Act and Section 80 of the Constitution.

In its testimony, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) told the committee that it had no information on the said purchase of the two bulletproof cars.
Mr. Ayo Adegbile, who represented the Director-General of BPP, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, said it had no documents to present because the purchases did not pass through the due process office as prescribed in the Public Procurement Act.

According to him, a procurement of that magnitude ought to have been passed and approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

He explained that going by the extant rules and a circular from the Secretary to the Head of Service of the Federation, procurement from N100 million upwards should be approved by FEC, while only those below that threshold could pass through ministerial tenders boards.

The committee had some initial problems deciding on whether or not to conduct the investigation in the absence of the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, who was away in Israel on official assignment.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. George Ossi, had explained that Oduah would not be available till after next Monday because she was away signing the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) deal with her counterpart in Israel.

Other stakeholders such as the Nigeria Customs Service and First Bank Nigeria Limited were also absent, while Coscharis Motors was partially represented but had no presentations because the firm got the invitation late and its top level managers were outside the country.

Given the absence of key invitees and the short notice, the Aviation Committee resolved that Oduah and these other stakeholders should appear before it to give oral and documentary evidence next Tuesday.

SOURCE: Thisdaylive

SEVERAL DIE IN STAMPEDE AS KWARA PDP MEMBERS SCRAMBLE FOR FORMER GOV. SARAKI'S SALLAH GIFTS -PREMIUM TIMES

By Monday Ateboh

A yet unknown  number of members of the Kwara state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, died on Wednesday night as they scrambled for handouts distributed by former Governor of the state, Bukola Saraki.
A source said no fewer than a dozen people were feared dead.
Several others were injured in the incident which occurred at  a venue popularly called PDP Charity House, which is near Mr. Saraki’s Ilorin residence.
Tragedy struck as indigent party members tried to outsmart one another as Mr. Saraki and other philanthropists distributed the yearly sallah gifts.
The dead and the injured were packed into ambulances and rushed to nearby hospitals.
In a statement emailed to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday night, the Publicity Secretary of Kwara PDP, Mas’ud Adebimpe, confirmed the incident and commiserated with the families of the victims.
He, however, confirmed the death of only four PDP members , with many others injured.
Mr. Adebimpe said, “The Peoples Democratic Party Kwara State chapter held its annual Sallah celebration at PDP Charity House where many party faithful were in attendance.
“The event which is an annual activity of the party went on smoothly until the unfortunate incident of a stampede, which led to some people fainting. They were immediately rushed to a hospital few blocks away from the venue.
“While some are currently responding positively to treatment, we however regret to announce that we lost  four of our party members to the unfortunate development.
“Our prayers  go out to the families of the deceased and we pray for the quick recovery of those that are responding fast to treatment.”
The yearly sallah gifts distribution by the Sarakis and the party have of late led to multiple deaths.
On May 27, 2011, several people died at the Mandate House, Ilorin, as they scrambled for rice and other items.
At least 11 others died in a similar fashion in November 2010, but only four deaths were also confirmed by the Kwara government at the time.

NIGERIA SECURES UN NON-PERMANENT SEAT

Nigeria has been elected unopposed into a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
Also elected unopposed are Saudi Arabia, Chad, Chile, and Lithuania, however The Gambia recently pulled out of the race.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has welcomed Nigeria’s election today to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council with a total of 186 out of a possible 193 votes.
A statement released today by the Presidency says it is resounding victory for the country, and it also shows that Nigeria’s effort to ensure peaceful coexistence in the African region has not gone unrecognised by a majority of member-countries in the body.
“On behalf of the Federal Government and people of Nigeria, President Jonathan wishes to convey his sincere appreciation of the support of all member-countries of the United Nations who voted for Nigeria’s election to the Security Council.
The President believes that today’s endorsement of Nigeria’s candidature for the Security Council seat by the vast majority of member-countries is a glowing expression of support and encouragement for Nigeria’s active participation in the promotion of  peace, security and political stability in Africa and other parts of the world.
This is the fourth time since it became independent in 1960 that Nigeria is being elected to the UN Security Council. It is also the second time (2010-2011 and 2014-2015) that Nigeria will be elected to the Council under the Jonathan Presidency.
The President is particularly delighted by this historic victory and assures the global community that Nigeria, under his leadership, will continue to make very significant contributions towards the achievement and sustenance of global peace and security.

Source: channels

JONATHAN WOULD VE BEEN BETTER OFF AS A NOLLYWOOD ACTOR NOT PRESIDENT-TINUBU

I came across this story and i thought you all should read it, this is a total political face off over the much awaited national conference. Enjoy it but dont laugh*lol* but really what is your take on the National Conference coming at this time????

Former Lagos State governor and chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has told the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe to address the issues he raised concerning the planned National Conference rather than resort to abuses.
Tinubu had on arrival from abroad where he underwent knee surgery about a fortnight ago dismissed the proposed National Conference as a “Greek gift, diversionary and an act of public deception” by Mr. Jonathan but the presidency reacted yesterday saying his conclusion was unjustifiable and went further to lampoon the APC chieftain.

According to Okupe, “Our dear Senator Tinubu wants the Yoruba Nation and indeed the people of Lagos State to believe that he is sincere in rendering public service to the state and the people, whereas he has heavily garrisoned the state political apparatus with a sizeable number of his immediate family members. Nigerians should ignore the vituperations of so-called leaders, who don’t see anything good in anyone or any programme except they are either in control of it or that it is tailored to satisfy their inordinate desires and greed”.
However, in a statement last night by his Special Adviser, Media, Mr. Sunday Dare, Tinubu said: “The reaction of Goodluck Jonathan’s Presidential cry babies to Tinubu’s extensive comments on the proposed national conference was predictable. As usual, rather than deal with the salient and substantial issues surrounding the proposed National Conference raised by former Governor Tinubu, the reaction from the Presidency skirted around them.
“In typical fashion, it resorted to abusive language and name calling. Okupe, like a punch drunk pugilist threw several empty jabs and went on a flight of fancy, praising his boss and flaunting fictional achievements of the administration in the face of Nigerians.

“We leave it to Nigerians to judge. They are the ones, who feel the pains and millions will not be able to relate to all the fictional transformational achievements reeled out by the Presidency. Nigerians are saddled with a President who believes fiction is more important than fact and imagination is more genuine than reality. While we would not mind such a person to be a leading figure in our Nollywood film industry, I am frightened that he is the Chief Resident of Aso Villa and surrounded by a cast of like minds.

“Tinubu’s searching questions about the Jonathan Conference remain fundamental. We urge Jonathan and his cry babies to take time to read through the statement and address the cloud of doubts surrounding the proposed conference. This is a flip-flopping Presidency and on this issue it must provide answers. Tinubu is satisfied that that he has raised the provocative questions that need be asked and no amount of shadow boxing and presidential foul language can change that.”

-The Nation

N255 ARMOURED CARS: MY LIFE WAS IN DANGER SAYS AVIATION MINISTER

After an initial denial by the General Manager, Corporate Communications of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Datti that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, purchased two armoured BMW cars worth N255 million for the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, her spokesman has come out to explain that indeed, the cars were purchased for the minister.

According to her Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Joel Obi, threats to Ms Oduah’s life over reforms in the aviation sector and the general insecurity in the country, led the Ministry to purchase the automobiles which cost tax payers a whopping N127. 575 million each.
Mr. Obi affirmed that when the minister came on board with her reforms, which included reversing some concessions and agreements that were not in the interest of the people and government of Nigeria, “a lot of entrenched interests felt that they had been dislocated from the sector. The minister began to receive series of threats to her life, but because of the general lack of security in the land, she did not want to raise an alarm but kept it quiet and then decided to protect herself. So those vehicles were purchased in response to the general state of security in the land and the personal threats to her life because of the giant steps she has taken to reposition the sector.”

He further added that several times, the minister had been trailed and that there were clear and present dangers to her life but they were averted or neutralised.
On the huge sums expended on the vehicles, Mr. Obi argued that they were special purpose vehicles, even as he noted that they were bought in the name of the Minister of Aviation and not in the name of Stella Oduah.
“Normally, you don’t buy one utility vehicle but you buy two at a time because you must have a back-up for public officials. The level of exposure which came with her job warranted the purchase of the vehicles. As a private citizen, she never had these vehicles,” he added.

It would be recalled that an online news portal, Saharareporters, had first broke the news to the world when it claimed that it had obtained documents which showed the paper trail of the transaction involving Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), First Bank and Coscharis Motors.

But Mr. Datti, in his denial of the report said it was all “rumours” suggesting that it was even politically motivated.

“I don’t respond to rumours… [and] as we approach 2015, people are bound to make up all sorts of stories,” he was quoted as saying just as he argued further that “This is a woman (Mrs. Oduah), who is successful and established. A woman that made her mark in oil and gas, who owned trucks, barges, and so on. What is two cars?”



-LEADERSHIP

NIGERIA TOPS LIST OF PEOPLE LIVING IN MODERN SLAVERY

 
  In a time where slavery is supposed to be either abolished or extinct, nearly 30 million people are still living in slavery across the globe,many of them men, women and children trafficked by gangs for sex work and unskilled labour, according to a global slavery index.
The index, released by anti-slavery charity Walk Free Foundation, ranked 162 countries on the number living in slavery, the risk of enslavement, and the strength of government responses to combating the illegal activity.
It found that 10 countries accounted for 76 percent of the 29.8 million people living in slavery - India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Russia, Thailand, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Modern slavery was defined as human trafficking, forced labour, and practices such as debt bondage, forced marriage, and the sale or exploitation of children.

Blame corruption
He dismissed the view that poverty was the key factor behind slavery and instead blamed corruption, calling for laws to stop organised gangs.
"Consistently when we analysed the statistics we found that corruption came out as more powerful than poverty in driving slavery," said Bales, a professor of contemporary slavery at the Wilberforce Institute for the Study of Slavery and Emancipation at the University of Hull in northern England.
"Fundamentally this is a violent crime issue."
The report found Mauritania in West Africa had the highest number of slaves proportionately, with up to 160,000 enslaved in a population of 3.8 million, due to culturally-sanctioned forms of chattel slavery and high levels of child marriage.
The highest absolute numbers were almost 14 million in slavery in India and 3 million in China.
"By far the largest proportion of this problem (in India) is the exploitation of Indian citizens within India itself, particularly through debt bondage and bonded labour," said the report.
In China there was forced labour of men, women and children, including domestic servitude and forced begging, sexual exploitation of women and children and forced marriage.
Coming last in the index were Iceland, Ireland and Britain although Bales stressed they were not slavery-free.
Up to 4,400 people are estimated to be enslaved in Britain, the victims mainly from Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.
They are forced into sex work, domestic servitude, or low-paid jobs in agriculture, construction, restaurants and nail salons.
"Hopefully this report will be a wake-up call for rich countries as well," Bales told Reuters.

Source: Aljazeera

NLC MOBILISESTO FIGHT CHILD LABOUR, S*XUAL HARASSMENT

 
The Women’s Wing of Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday, said that it was mobilising to fight s*xual harassment against women, child labour and under-age marriage.
Speaking to newsmen in Lagos, Ms Olubunmi Abikoye, the Chairperson of Lagos wing of the NLC, told newsmen: “We are working on a programme to move against women’s s*xual harassment and child labour, including under-age marriage, before the year runs out.
“We are mobilising support to show that we are not in support of all the s*xual harassment that is going on at an alarming rate, both in the public and private sectors. We also frown at child marriage and say no to it.”
According to Abikoye, the union was partnering with some non-governmental organisations and women’s groups in various organisations, market women and the grassroots, to carry women from all cadres along.
She also called on the Federal and state governments to revert maternity leave for women to 84 working days, instead of the current 84 days that included weekends.

She said: “The 84 days with weekends are not enough for a woman, who has carried a pregnancy for nine months, to take care of herself and her baby after birth.
“Government should, therefore, revert to the 84 working days maternity leave.”
Abikoye also advised women in the private sector to watch out for clauses that peg maternity leave at one month and reject them, while signing employment contracts.
She said that the wing was working with various women’s groups to identify other areas where women’s rights were being violated and to tackle them.
She expressed concern about the violation of women’s rights in the banking and insurance sectors, adding that the union had identified some local and international firms that employed children, and would picket them.

Source:infonigeria

500 CRIMINALS TO BE REPATRIATED FROM THE UK

Information from the U.K Daily Mail Newspapers has indicated that hundreds of Nigerian criminals will be sent home to serve out prison sentences under a deal set to be struck by ministers within weeks.
Talks are said to be continuing into reaching a compulsory prisoner transfer agreement, which could see more than half of the 500 criminals from Nigeria currently in UK jails repatriated. Statistics show that there are 534Nigerian Nationals in British jails, 485 are men and 49 are women
Britain has even made clear it will pay to build new prisons in countries like Nigeria to speed up the process of sending foreign criminals home.
Up to £1 Million has been promised to upgrade Nigerian jails including a new wing at the Kirikiri prison in Lagos.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION INTO BOKO HARAM SUSPECTS IN CUSTODY

Amnesty International has urged the FG to look into the deaths of hundreds of people in detention facilities run by Nigeria’s military Joint Task Force (JTF)which must be investigated as a matter of urgency. The non-governmental organization said it has allegedly received credible information from a senior officer in the Nigerian Army that over 950 people died in military custody in the first six months of 2013 alone.
Most of the reported deaths occurred in facilities used by the military to detain people suspected of being members of or associated with the armed Islamist group Boko Haram.
“The evidence we have gathered suggests that hundreds of people died in military custody in 2013 alone. This is a staggeringly high figure that requires urgent action by the Nigerian government,” said Lucy Freeman, Amnesty International’s deputy Africa director.
“The details of what happens behind locked doors in these shadowy detention facilities must be exposed, and those responsible for any human rights violations brought to book.”
A large proportion of these deaths are reported to have happened in Giwa military barracks, Maiduguri in Borno State and Sector Alpha, commonly referred to as ‘Guantanamo’ and Presidential Lodge (known as ‘Guardroom’) in Damaturu, Yobe State.
According to former detainees interviewed by Amnesty International, people died on an almost daily basis in both Giwa and Sector Alpha from suffocation or other injuries due to overcrowding, and starvation.
Some suffered serious injuries due to severe beating and eventually died in detention due to lack of medical attention and treatment.
These interviews also revealed that in some cases detainees in these facilities may have been extra judicially executed. Some described soldiers taking detainees from their cells threatening to shoot and kill them. In many cases the detainees never returned. Others were reportedly shot in the leg during interrogation, provided no medical care and left to bleed to death.
Another senior officer in the Nigerian Army who spoke on condition of anonymity told Amnesty International:
“Hundreds have been killed in detention either by shooting or suffocation…There are times when people are brought out on a daily basis and killed. About five people, on average, are killed nearly on a daily basis.”
In April 2013 Amnesty International delegates counted 20 emaciated corpses lying on the ground in the compound of the State Specialist Hospital mortuary in Maiduguri. Eye witnesses said that the bodies had been deposited by the JTF. Several other sources told Amnesty International that the same mortuary received a daily delivery of bodies by the JTF. They reportedly remain there until the mortuary is full and are then taken away for burial by Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA). Information received by Amnesty International indicates that post-mortem examinations are not carried out at the mortuary or elsewhere.
“International standards, as well as Nigerian laws, require that deaths in custody must be investigated thoroughly and impartially,” said Lucy Freeman. “Detainees have human rights and these must be respected in all instances.”
In many parts of northern Nigeria hundreds of people accused of having links to Boko Haram have been arbitrarily detained by the JTF. Many have been detained incommunicado for lengthy periods without charge or trial, without being brought before any judicial authority, and without access to lawyers and families

FIRST ABIA CARNIVAL TO HOLD IN DECEMBER

Abia State Government has fixed December 13 and 14 2013 as date for the first ever Abia Carnival, with the theme 'Showcasing Our Cultural Heritage' Mr. Cosmos Ndukwe, Chief of Staff to Governor Theodore Orji, made this known in Umuahia, Abia State on Monday while briefing newsmen on the development.
Ndukwe who also doubles as Chairman of the Carnival commitee said the carnival is aimed at showing people the rich culture of the abia people and also boost their tourism potential.
Ndukwe, who lamented that the tourism potential of the state was often not appreciated, noted that the present administration had done well in that sector.

It will also feature rich cultural displays. There will be financial rewards to Abia citizens that have distinguished themselves, especially in the social world.
The carnival will feature cultural display and also rewards to Abia citizens that have distinguished themselves in their endeavours both at home and in the diaspora.

39 YEAR OLD MAN CONCEALS COCAINE IN FOOD FLASK

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested a 39-year-old man who imported 7.45kg of cocaine valued at N82 million at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on the 12th of October during an inward screening of passengers on-board an Ethiopian Airline flight from Brazil.
“The drug, which was industrially concealed inside food flasks and kitchen utensils, tested positive to cocaine and weighed 7.45kg. It is the single largest seizure recorded at the Abuja Airport since January.

The NDLEA said, they have launched 'Operation End of Year Screening' to counter the tricks of drug traffickers.

MARKET WOMEN PROSTEST AGAINST THE ASUU STRIKE

Traders under the aegis of National Market Women Association, Monday, stormed the National Assembly in protest, demanding that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, call off its strike of over 100 days.
The protesters, who had been at the Ministry of Education and Office of the Head of Service, arrived the Assembly complex at 11.30a.m.
President-General of the group, Mrs Felicia Sani, who led the more than 200 protesting women, said: “We are tired of seeing our children at home. We want our children back in school. Enough of this cheap blackmail.
“We all know what they do with our year-one daughters in the university. We equally know that they sell handouts and handbooks.
“Is this not worse than corruption of the highest order?”
When asked why she did not criticise the Federal Government for failing to reach an agreement with ASUU, Mrs Sani said: “Which agreement? How do you expect lecturers in state universities to earn same salaries as Federal ones? That is impossible.
“We are not educated, but you do not expect a hotel in my village to cost same price as a hotel in Abuja.
“They are located in different places. So how can a state university lecturer earn same salary with his federal counterpart?
“We are begging them for the last time. If we come out again we may have to chase them out of this country and replace them with so many jobless Nigerians.”
 The women gave ASUU till end of the month to call off the strike unless they will take strict measures.

Source: infonigeria

Hmmm, the women are indeed angry, Asuu call call off strike or face the wrath. 

73 DEAD IN PHILIPPINE EARTHQUAKE

At least 73 people have been killed and more than 100 others injured by falling buildings islands popular with tourists in the central Philippines after an earthquake measuring 7.2 hit the region, according to radio reports.
Tuesday's earthquake was centred 56km deep below Carmen town on Bohol Island, about 400km southeast of the capital, Manila, and was felt across the region. The Philippine seismology agency reported at least 110 aftershocks.
Local radio stations also reported fatalities in nearby Cebu province, across a strait from Bohol.
Tuesday is a national holiday and that may have reduced casualties because schools and offices are closed.
Report from Siquijor Island, said school buildings had collapsed in Bohol and that the government was assessing the damage and sending out rescue teams from other outlying islands.
Bohol has 1.2 million people and is popular among foreigners because of its beach and island resorts.
Philippine radio reports quoted an official from the national disaster agency as saying four people died on Bohol when buildings collapsed during the quake.
A 17th century stone church in Loboc, a town southwest of Carmen, crumbled to pieces, with nearly half of it reduced to rubble.
Robert Poole, an arts journalist from Tokyo who was holidaying in Bohol, told Al Jazeera there were no casualties at the site possibly because of the national holiday.
Earthquakes are said to be common in Philippine which lies in the Pacific Ring of fire

Source:Aljazeera