CHIBOK ABDUCTION: SSS SAYS 276 STILL MISSING

After two weeks, since the Chibok abduction the Nigerian government is still having alot of difficulty figuring out how many girl's have gone missing. Today, a new statistics was released  totaling the number to 276, this is making it the third time in 2weeks and 3days, the number has increased. Read full details below..

Culled from Premium Times

The Police and officials of the Department of State Security, otherwise called SSS, in Borno on Thursday came out with an increased fresh figures on the missing secondary school girls.

The security agencies said the total number of girls abducted and still unaccounted for stands at 276 as against the 234 figure being mentioned.

They said they have compiled an official list of kidnapped students, which is more authentic than that announced by the school management.

Parents of the abducted girls had last week told Borno Governor Kashim Shettima that 234 of their daughters had been discovered missing after they had all registered complaints with the school management.

KEMA CHIKWE DENIES DOUBTS OF CHIBOK ABDUCTION

Culled from Saharareporters;

Kema Chikwe, the National Woman Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has refuted a SaharaReporters story that she expressed doubt about the abduction of the Chibok girls. “My speech at the occasion of PDP Women’s Prayer on Wednesday, April 30th, 2014 for the release of the Chibok kidnapped school girls and the Nyanya bomb blast victims was straight-forward and the interpretation of Sahara Reporters does not in anyway reflect my intentions,” she said in a press statement today. Mrs. Chikwe noted that the prayer event was specifically organized to pray for the release of the girls, and wondered why she would have prayed for their release if she doubted their abduction.


Her statement at the prayer meeting, which she sent out today along with her press statement, clarifies that she asked the following questions:

•How did it happen?
•Who saw it happen?
•Who did not see it happen?
•Who is behind this?

"My rhetoric questions were questions of concerns, which any distressed mother should ask in seeking for solutions and clues,” she explained, adding that she raised the issue of pictures because someone,somewhere could provide useful information, as would be the case of lost persons. “It is unfortunate that Sahara Reporters chose a mysterious political interpretation, and even asking if it was my party, PDP’s position betrays their purpose. It is also unfortunate that the mothers and families of the girls will be stirred to believe this false and wicked information.” The former Minister said she was deeply in sympathy with the families because she was totally misinterpreted.

She released a statement refuting the public insinuations, Read statement below...

IYABO OBASNJO WRITES OPEN LETTER TO BOKO HARAM

 Just when you think you have heard the last of open letters and Iyabo Obasanjo, they just resurface some how. In this open letter Iyabo Accused the sect of directing their anger to the wrong people, she also said the president and his inner-cirle allowed the group to triumph, she also accused the youth of been silent on the matter. Wait! if i tell you all the points how will you read it, Please read the letter below. And she may have made some points too....

UPDATE ON NYANYA BOMB BLAST, MORE PICTURES

As of this morning it is still uncertain how many lives were lost in Nyanya bomb blast but statistics from different media reports go from 9 to 70. According to National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA), 9 people are confirmed dead and 11 seriously injured.  The DG of NEMA Abjua, Sanni Sidi  said " that the gravity of the blast was not as intensive as the previous one, stressing that yesterday’s blast happened fifty metres away from the last one, but the same Nyanya, outskirts of Abuja".

The Secretary, Health and Human Services, Ademola Onakomaiya who gave the number of injured persons at various hospitals, disclosed that the total number of those who sustained injuries at Asokoro, Maitama General Hospitals and National Hospital were 41 with 30 at Asokoro, 2 in Maitama and 9 at National Hospital, adding that arrangements have been put in place as 20 bed spaces have been created in three hospitals where those at Asokoro would be taken to.


According to him, 8 for Maitama, 8 in Wuse General Hospital and 4 in Gwarimpa Hospital.

More pictures of the blast site this morning, Photos credited to LIB

UPDATE: PHOTOS FROM 2ND NYANYA BOMB BLAST

Reports from eye witness say bombs were planted in the cars at the bus stop. Security agencies have taken over to calm the situation. Media personnels were not allowed coverage of the scene. Death tolls still sketchy but many Injured.... see more photos below

BREAKING NEWS:BOMB BLAST IN NYANYA, ABUJA

The  residents of Abuja  were hit with another blast again this evening. A loud explosion was heard around Mopol Junction Bus Stop, Nyanya, Abuja. The explosion was reported opposite Nyanya bus park, scene of the last explosion which killed over 70 people. Deaths toll records about 120

Details coming in ....

NIGERIA IS NOT A POOR COUNTRY SAYS PRESIDENT JONATHAN

Jonathan at the may rally at eagle's square, Abuja

The President today during a rally at the eagle's square Abuja, faulted the world bank statement that Nigeria is one of the five  poorest nations in the world, he said "Nigeria is not poor". The president deemed it worthy to give exemplary instances to showcase the wealth of the Nigerian people by equating it to luxurious material acquisitions. Read in the words of President Goodluck Jonathan;

PICTURE STORY: NEW TRAINS SET TO HIT THE RAILWAYS BY NRC

Photos and Story Credited to LIB

Got these train images from Lindaikeji's blog. Compared to the noisy and scruffy looking trains we had, this is the new deal and will be rolling out real soon. According to LIB, these trains were Ordered by the MD of NRC, Dr. Adeseyi Sijuwade. See more photos of the well furnished train. I hope it lasts(lols)...

NATIONAL CONFAB EXTENDED, DELEGATES EARN MORE

The on-going National CONFAB has been extended by six weeks. The conference which commenced on the 17th of march 2014 was expected to last for three months, ending June 19 will now end July 31. There was no specific reason given for the extension, However a spokesperson for the conference, James Akpandem, said he is not aware of the extension. Reports say, the extension is contained in the work plan to be released to delegates next Wednesday.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how the conference leadership had agreed to seek extension from the federal government after it met with leaders of its 20 Standing Committees on Monday.
The standing committees were expected to send their report to the conference leadership by Wednesday, with many seeking extension.

With the extension of the conference, the 492 delegates will be getting N4.5 million more instead of the 9million at the end of 3months, bringing the summation to N13.5 million at the end of the conference.

Each of the 492-member (with three absentees) conference receives about N3 million monthly.

KEMA CHIKWE SLAMS GOVERNMENT ON ABDUCTED GIRL'S, SHETTIMA REPLIES HER

Kema Chikwe

The women leader of the Peoples Democratic Party Kema Chikwe, challenged the Government and all stakeholders of the Government Girl's College, Chibok to release the names and pictures of the abducted girl's, to ascertain the girl's who were abducted, she said this during a joint prayer session held in Abuja yesterday.

Mrs Chikwe went further to say“Let the truth be told with God’s intervention. Our hearts are bleeding, not just broken. Please, God, send the Chibok girls home to their mothers and families. We plead with the school authorities to release their names and their pictures. Let God touch the hearts of those who know and have perpetrated this heinous action.” 

The governor of Borno state did not take the insunations made by Kema Chikwe lightly. The special Advicer to the governor on media Isa Gusau released a statement which reads: 

Governor  Shettima, Borno State

“We have read with very rude shock, media reports attributed to National Women Leader of the PDP, raising doubts on whether indeed, schoolgirls were abducted at Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok on April 14, 2014 or not. This is clear case of bringing politics into a serious national issue that bothers on the lives of over 200 schoolgirls which is highly unfortunate.

“We find that report a big affront that undermines the National Security Council which held a meeting that dwelled extensively on the matter with a directive to the armed forces to rescue the girls.

“By her remark, Chikwe has undermined the integrity of all of Nigeria’s security forces because her questions appear to mean that the security agencies in the country do not know what they are doing for holding a National Security Council meeting and deliberating on something that was doubtful and yet giving directives to address it.

“This incident happened 17 days ago, every Nigerian expects that by now, the security agencies must have been carrying out investigations that might have included debriefing some of the girls that escaped from captivity, speaking with parents and other students of the schools. Chikwe’s remark seems to attack the integrity of the security agencies, giving the impression that nothing was done”.

PHOTOS FROM #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS PROTEST IN LAGOS AND ABUJA

The #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS protest started early in the morning in Abuja despite the rain. The women did not mind being drenched in the rain. The protest was led by former minister Oby Ezekwesili, also supported by civil society groups.

Also in Lagos, people came out in their thousands for the solidarity work. Some celebrities showed up to add colour to the walk, see more pictures below

HAPPY NEW MONTH #BRINGBACKOURGIRLSBACK

Every other month we dedicate to ourselves or to something special to us, but this month we dedicate to the children by lending our voices to them. Happy New month, Happy workers day. #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS

BRITISH ACTOR BOB HOSKINS DIES @ 71 FROM PNEUMONIA

Am sure you remember him from some of your favorite movies like "A Christmas Carol" and "The Long Good Friday" and other amazing soap Operas and movies he did. 
The British actor, Bob Hoskins died on Tuesday night from pneumonia. He died at age 71 and is survived by his wife Linda and five children.
Bob had an amazing career that spanned from stage drama to the big screen in london then proceeded to Hollywood.The star won a Bafta and was Oscar-nominated in 1987 for crime drama Mona Lisa, in which he starred opposite Sir Michael Caine and Robbie Coltrane. He announced he was retiring from acting in 2012 after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. See more pictures from movie scenes below:

#BRINGBACKOURGIRLS

The days are getting older and the situation is getting unbearable, it is been two weeks since our girls were abducted(Government Girls College, Chibok). And it seems Our nation just suddenly went cold as if nothing has happened, things returned to normalcy while our girls out there in the middle of nowhere hoping that we will come to their rescue. But no we have all returned to our market places because she is not our daughter, we have returned to our offices because she is neither our cousin nor Sister, we have gone into our glass houses and locked our doors against them because they not our neighbours, friends, nieces.

Sometimes i have tried to imagine, creating mental pictures of what these girls are going through in the middle of the forest. Where do they sleep? on a mat or grass, How do they Sleep? comfortably, or really scared, do they get to eat three square meals? Do they get change of clothes? For heavens sake they are girls and some of them must have had their monthly visitors, how do they cope? The traumatic experience of the exchange of  gun battles between their abductors and the Nigerian military, watching people die in cold blood, the constant moving around in the forest with  worn out or no shoes, thanks to heaven our No one leader knows what it means to have no shoes he should understand the plight better.

We need our Sisters home, we all can't fight the gun battle but we can lend our voices to join in unison to plea that they are rescued, so the world knows something has happened. Lets lend our voices tomorrow, if u cant be there @ CMS tomorrow use the social medium and write it everywhere for your friends allover the world to see. It is a solidarity call for freedom.

 #BRINGBACKOURGIRLS
They not just girls, they are daughters, sisters and our Future mother's. BRINGTHEMHOME

R101...

CHANGE MOVEMENT NIGERIA PLANS MASS PROTEST TOMORROW MAY 1ST

As Nigeria’s social-political challenges mount, Change Movement Nigeria has announced a mass participation protest, named “Stolen Dreams Walk,” to take place on Thursday,tomorrow May 1, 2014.

“Every onlooker is either a coward or a willing collaborator,” the group said in a statement on Monday. “We have spoken enough at seminars, workshops and conferences. The time to act is now. Let us join hands to salvage our country.”

It said the ‘Stolen Dreams’ action will take place on at 9am at CMS, Lagos Island, and invited all Nigerians whose dream of a great nation has been shattered to come and join us in the event. 

DONALD STERLING GETS LIFE BAN, MAY SELL THE CLIPPERS

Donald Sterling

Yesterday, the National Basketball Associations imposed a life time ban on Donald Sterling, the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Clippers for his racist comments.This may also mean that Sterling would have to sell the clippers. Guardian UK reports;

UNEMPLOYMENT TOLLS: DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES IN LAGOS SACKS OVER 5000 WORKERS

Yesterday, the managements of Eko and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs), sacked about 5,075 workers, adding to the already teaming unemployed society. Reports says about 2,600 and 2,475 workers had their cards retrieved by Eko and Ikeja DISCO's respectively asking the workers to re-apply as new workers. According to media reports on Information Nigeria,

CHIBOK UPDATE: MOTHER'S STORM ABUJA, DEMANDS RESCUE OF THEIR DAUGHTER'S

Aggrieved mothers and other indigenes of Chibok, Borno State, today in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, staged a protest to demand the immediate rescue or release of the more than 200 secondary school girls abducted by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on April 14.

PHOTONEWS: POLICEMEN USES HOT WATER AND TEAR GAS ON POLYTECHNIC PROTESTERS

Reports coming in says that security personnel's have dispersed the polytechnic protesters with not just Tear gas but also hot water. The protesters which include Lecturers, Students  of the polytechnics attempted to make an entrance into the National Assembly complex as they promised they would do, but were restrained. See more pictures  and Details below;

CHIBOK: ABDUCTED SCHOOLGIRLS MARRIED OFF FOR N2000 EACH AS BRIDE PRICE IN CHAD, CAMEROON

I sure hope these reports are lies, Reports making round says the remaining unfound Chibok girls have being given out in marriage to other African men in Chad and Cameroon with a bride price of N2000 each. According to reports from DailyTrust ;

Most of the 234 Borno schoolgirls in Boko Haram captivity have been ferried abroad to Chad and Cameroon after they were married off to sect members on N2,000 bride price each, an elder told Daily Trust yesterday.
The female students were taken from their hostels at the Government Girls Secondary School Chibok on the night of April 14.
About 40 had escaped in the days after the incident, but parents and school authorities said at least 234 of them were yet to be found.
Dr. Pogu Chibok, who is the leader of the Chibok Elders Forum, told Daily Trust yesterday that latest information available to them indicates that most of the girls have been taken to the neighboring Cameroon and Chad by their captors.
He said before they were ferried in canoes across the Lake Chad, a wedding ceremony was conducted at a town on the border with Cameroon where they were married off to Boko Haram militants.
He said N2,000 was paid as bride price on each of the girls to the specific Boko Haram members who took them from their school and who had assumed “ownership” of the students.
“They ferried them in canoes to Cameroon and Chad republic after they were wedded off to Boko Haram members who bidded (sic) and paid N2,000 each as dowries on their heads,” Bitrus said.
“The dowry was paid to their captors, the very people who abducted them from their school. One of them who married one of the girls took her to a border town close to Cameroon where villagers saw her.”
Following their abduction, the schoolgirls were thought to be first taken to the Boko Haram camps in the notorious Sambisa Forest. Reports later said villagers had seen the girls being conveyed in trucks to other locations.
Bitrus said yesterday: “So many sources have informed us that the girls have been taken to Cameroon. Many villagers said they saw the girls being transported in trucks and then in canoes.
“On Sunday they were taken to Dikwa area where they (Boko Haram) have a camp there. From there they took them to Marte, then Monguno before they were finally ferried in canoes. It was yesterday we got this latest report of them being married off to the insurgents by their captors.”
He said sources in Cameroon told them that most of the girls were now being held at “an area where the Boko Haram operates in Cameroon.”
‘Crying day and night’
On whether military authorities were informed about the movements of the girls, Bitrus said: “The military was alerted on Tuesday about two weeks ago when some villagers saw many of the girls being transported in trucks, some with even their school uniforms. The villagers tried calling the senator representing the zone but they couldn’t get him so they went to Bama barracks where they reported the matter.
“At the Bama barracks they were told that they must put it in writing, that that is the military tradition. At that time if the military had intervened they would have stopped them from reaching their destination.
“And the fact that for nearly two weeks we have been talking about this and nothing is being done, then there are questions we have to ask. Nobody did anything.”
Bitrus sobbed as he spoke to our reporter yesterday.
“What is happening with the Nigerian nation? I think we demand some answers. Today it is happening to these unfortunate girls from Chibok, tomorrow it may be somewhere else and that is why all Nigerians must rally around us on this,” he said.
“If these captors are trying to achieve a political point, I think the best thing is for us to try to make sure that they don’t succeed but from all indications they are succeeding due to inaction of government. It is helping these people in achieving their objectives.”
Earlier yesterday, Bitrus spoke to the BBC Hausa radio saying “parents of these girls have been angry that despite the existence of government, there has not been concrete effort from government on the matter.
“Female parents have been crying day and night, because nobody knows what government is doing about the whole issue. All that we read in the papers is that Nigerian Army have done this or that.”
When contacted over claims that the military was informed of the movement of the schoolgirls, the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, told Daily Trust: “The concern and anxiety from all quarters is quite understandable. Please be assured that as much as the forces may not disclose details of action being taken to secure the freedom of the girls, every information received on the subject is duly analyzed and acted upon as necessary.
“No information is being ignored in the concerted effort to ensure the safety and freedom of the girls. Just pray for the successful outcome of all efforts please.”