ANC WINS SOUTH AFRICAN ELECTION

President Jacob Zuma

President Jacob Zuma wins South Africa presidential election today for the second time.

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) swept toward victory in South Africa's fifth post-apartheid election on Thursday, handing President Jacob Zuma the clout to push through pro-business reforms in the face of union and leftist opposition.

The ANC, the liberation movement that swept to power two decades ago under the leadership of Nelson Mandela, had won 63 percent of Wednesday's vote with 85 percent of districts counted, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said.

VATICAN SPEAKS: APPEALS FOR CHIBOK GIRLS TO BE RELEASED

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican issued an urgent appeal Thursday (May 8) for the release of more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram.


“The denial of any kind of respect for life and for the dignity of human beings, even the most innocent, vulnerable and defenseless, calls for the strongest condemnation,” Lombardi said.The abduction of the young girls three weeks ago was the latest instance of the “horrible forms of violence” for which the militant Islamic group has become known in Nigeria, said the Vatican’s chief spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi.

He added that the kidnappings aroused the most heartfelt feelings of compassion for the victims and a sense of horror for the physical and spiritual suffering and the incredible humiliation they have suffered.

culled from Religious News

NEWSBREAK: BOKO HARAM BOMBS THE LINKING BRIDGE BETWEEN NIGERIA AND CAMEROON

Members of the boko haram sect has bombed the linking bridge between Nigeria and Cameroon. According to sahara reporters ,

The bombing occurred on the outskirts of Gamboru Ngala, site of a Monday Boko Haram attack that claimed the lives of over 300 village residents.

At least 30 people were killed during the late Thursday afternoon bombing incident, sources tell SaharaReporters. The bridge links the immigration check points of both Cameroon and Nigeria.
The bombing event took place on the same day of a mass burial in the town of Gamboru.


It was there on Monday where a Boko Haram-led raid on the small village claimed the lives of over 300 residents, nearly ten per cent of the population.

Sources tell SaharaReporters that 315 people of the 336 who died in the Monday attack were buried in a solemn ceremony led by civic and religious leaders.

The Boko Haram has not claimed responsibility for this latest bombing attack, but residents of Gamboru Ngala told us that there is deep suspicion that the Islamist group is behind this latest attack in this vulnerable area.

More details later

Abduction of Girls an Act Not Even Al Qaeda Can Condone by New York Times

In this report Al-Qaeda denies any link to boko haram. Culled from New York Times

ABUJA, Nigeria — As word spread like wildfire on Twitter and Facebook that Nigerian militants were preparing to auction off more than 200 kidnapped schoolgirls in the name of Islam, a very different Internet network started quietly buzzing too.

“Such news is spread to taint the image of the Mujahedeen,” wrote one dubious poster on a web forum used by Islamic militants whose administrator uses a picture of Osama bin Laden. “I have brothers from Africa who are in this group,” attested another, insisting that they were like “the Quran walking the earth.”

Boko Haram, the cultlike Nigerian group that carried out the kidnappings, was rejected long ago by mainstream Muslim scholars and Islamist parties around the world for its seemingly senseless cruelty and capricious violence against civilians. But this week its stunning abduction appeared too much even for fellow militants normally eager to condone terrorist acts against the West and its allies

EFCC ARRESTS PRISON SERVICE ACCOUNTANT, PAID OVER N60 MILLION INTO RCCG ACCOUNT

Dr (Mrs) Imaobong Akon Esu-Nte

The Abuja Socialite and Accountant of the Nigeria Prison Service has been arrested by the EFCC for money laundering. From intelligence gathered, she said to own fleets of cars, houses in Abuja and also own about Five companies where her children are the Managing Directors. Sources said she has paid millions of Naira into the RCCG account in Karu, Abuja. Read Details below...

CAN ACCUSES GOVERNOR SHETTIMA, SCHOOL AUTHORITY OF CONSPIRACY

The Northern Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria has said it suspects some level of conspiracy since the Chibok girls were abducted three weeks ago. CAN in its statement say there is a conspiracy between Governor Shettima and the Principal. The statement released by the PRO, Sunday Oibe, it reads below...

CHIBOK: PRESS STATEMENT BY NORTHERN CAN
Abducted female students of Chibok: CAN gives 6 posers to Borno Governor
...says there's conspiracy between Shettima, school authorities

The position of Northern CAN on the abduction of female students in Chibok

Since the abduction of some female students in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, Northern CAN has decided to be silent for some reasons. We have decided that we will make statements when we have all the facts of the matter. It may interest Nigerians to know that we have fundamental questions which demand one million answers:

MICHELLE OBAMA LENDS HER VOICE, ASARI DOKUBO, GUMSU.S.ABACHA LENDS THEIR VOICE IN DOUBT

Gumsu Sani Abacha

It is no longer news that about 270 girls have been missing for the past three weeks from Nigeria, Borno state. And for these past three weeks Nigeria has been at the center of  crisis as the protest continues to increase, calling on the Government to rescue the missing Girls. Though the world believes these girls are missing, but there are still a lot of people especially Nigerians who think that it is a charade by the government. Gumsu Sani Abacha, the daughter of late general Sani Abacha is one of those who insuates the government has a hand in it but the radical Alhaji Asari Dokubo thinks No Girls are missing, see his tweets below...

CHIBOK ABDUCTION: IMAGES OF CHIBOK GIRLS WHO ESCAPED FROM THE BOKO HARAM SECT

Photos & Story Credited to Sahara Reporters

This is a picture of the abducted Chibok Girls who were able to escape from the hands of their abductors. They seated in the premises of the school where it was reported the building was burnt to the ground, in their midst are their heart broken relatives in a meeting with the wife of the Governor of Borno state. Reports from Sahara Reporters says,

The undated photographs are believed to have surfaced in the three weeks since the mass kidnapping by the Islamist group. There is incredible sadness displayed, with many of those captured in the photos openly weeping, as they publicly re-tell the horrors of the late night raid in mid-April. continue reading below..

JUNGLE JUSTICE: MAN BURNT FOR KIDNAPPING IN ONDO STATE

More Jungle Justice, After a woman was burned in Abule Egba part of lagos yesterday as a suspect of kidnapping, today another angry crowd burnt a man in Akure, Ondo state for same cause. According to News report,

A person with knowledge of the attack said the young people came from Ayedun quarters in Akure, and had been monitoring the man before they dragged him to Adegbola Junction, hit and beat him, and set him on fire.

Akura division policemen tried to intervene but were beaten off by the youths, and people who witnessed the attack shouted they had lost hope in local police to prevent other attacks. Others threw rocks at the van of security agents.

Adegbola Junction is the mid section for Oba Adesida and Oyemekun roads in the Akure, and is a popular gathering place newspaper and magazine correspondents and journalists.

Continue to see more...

FRANCE AIDS NIGERIA IN COMBATING BOKO HARAM

The French govt has also decided to support and provide Nigeria with the necessary intelligence to rescue more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by the Boko Haram sect. The Foreign Affairs Minister, Laurent Fabius, said.

With more than 4,000 troops operating between Mali to the west and Central African Republic to the east, Paris has a major interest in preventing Nigeria’s security situation from deteriorating, having previously voiced concerns that Boko Haram could spread further north into the Sahel. “The President has instructed to put the (intelligence) services at the disposal of Nigeria and neighbouring countries,” Reuters quoted Fabius as saying to lawmakers.

“This morning he asked us to contact the Nigerian president to tell him that a specialised unit with all the means we have in the region was at the disposal of Nigeria to help find and recover these young girls.” Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls last month and has threatened to sell them into slavery. “In the face of such ignominy France must react. This crime cannot be left unpunished,” Fabius said.

#BRINGBACKOURGIRLS

CHIBOK GIRLS: POLICE OFFERS 50 MILLION NAIRA REWARD FOR CREDIBLE INFORMATION

The police has pledged to give the sum of 50 million naira to anyone who can give credible information that will lead to the rescue of the abducted girls. This was said today in a statement released by the PRO in Abuja today. See statement below...

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM(WEF) HOLDS IN ABUJA AMIDST INSURGENCY IN NIGERIA

World Economic Forum holds in Abuja Despite the insurgency in its host country Nigeria. According to Business Day News

There have been little or no cancellations for the event which has so far attracted investors from as far afield as Asia, Europe, North America and Africa.

The summit with the theme, ‘Forging Inclusive Growth, Creating Jobs,’ is expected to be the biggest yet, with the World Economic Forum saying that the “interest in the Nigeria meeting has been unprecedented.”

Nigeria will host heads of state and executives from companies including General Electric Co, (GE), Bharti Enterprises, the Dangote group, McKinsey & Company, Heineken, and Telkom Group, South Africa, among others.

MONICA LEWINSKY BREAKS SILENCE: THE PRESIDENT "TOOK ADVANTAGE" OF HER

Monica Lewinsky, am sure the name rings  a bell. This the lady former president Bill Clinton had an affair with while he was the president. This is the first time Monica is coming out openly to speak about the affair since 1999. Monica who is now 40 years old, wrote in Vanity Fair magazine that she deeply regrets her actions. See full details below.

RALLY FOR CHIBOK GIRLS CONTINUES IN NEW YORK

The Rallies for the missing girls continued in New York, Yesterday. According to Sahara Repeoters;

It was the third of several rallies aimed at drawing further attention to the missing female Nigerian students kdnapped in Borno State. Unlike previous gatherings on this issue, the Tuesday rally organized by the New York-based Nigeria Democratic Liberty Forum (NDLF) was held in front of the Nigerian consulate offices in mid-town New York.

The crowd of protesters that grew in number as time went by, carried signs that read, ‘Step up, or step down.’ It was a message aimed at Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, who many at the Tuesday gathering believe has been ineffective in freeing the kidnapped students. The actual number of mostly young female students varies, but it is believed that upwards of 270 may well be in the hands of the Boko Haram.

NIGERIA NAME 30 MAN SQUAD FOR BRAZIL WORLD CUP

The long awaited 30 players squad list has been revealed by Stephen Keshi ahead of the 2014 World Cup which starts June 12.

The African Giants will be making their fifth appearance at football's showpiece and have been drawn in the same group with Argentina, Iran and Bosnia.

There are four goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders and ten strikers. Continue below to see the full list...

GEJ ACCEPTS US INTERVENTION FOR CHIBOK GIRLS, INAUGURATES 30 MAN COMMITTEE ON CHIBOK ABDUCTION

The President, Goodluck Jonathan today accepted offer from the United States of America to help locate and rescue the abducted girls from the Government Girls Secondary School, chibok. According to the Statement issued this afternoon,

“The offer from President Barack Obama which was conveyed to President Jonathan by the United States Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry in a telephone conversation which began at 15.30 Hours today, includes the deployment of U.S. security personnel and assets to work with their Nigerian counterparts in the search and rescue operation.”

It added that Mr. Kerry assured President Jonathan of the full commitment of the United States to giving Nigeria the required support and assistance to save the abducted girls and bring the reign of terror unleashed on parts of the country by Boko Haram to an end.

UPDATE ON NYANYA SCHOOL ATTACK

The reported missing school bus from The Vine international school has been found and the two men responsible for the attack apprehended. The police swung into action to find the Toyota Hiabus with registration no XG 246 GWA.

The vehicle was recovered along Lafia Road in Nasarwa State. The Operatives also arrested two of the suspects connected with the robbery incident, namely: Victor Essien male, aged 40yrs and Ubong Bassey male, aged 49yrs. Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP MD Abubakar, CFR, NPM, mni, psc, while commending his men for a job well done, has reassured Nigerians of the enhanced state of security in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs, adding that the Nigeria Police are committed to the task of providing the citizens and participants at the World Economic Forum (WEF) world-class security services now and beyond. He enjoined citizens to remain vigilant and continue to support Security Forces in the task of securing the nation.

BOKO HARAM ABDUCTS MORE GIRLS FROM BORNO STATE

Members of the islamist sect boko haram stepped up their attacks by abducting eight more girls between the ages of 8-15 from Gwoza, in Borno state.

According to residents of Gwoza in Borno State, gunmen suspected to be members of the sect stormed the village on Sunday night and attacked homes taking money, foodstuffs, property and girls. It is reported that the sect currently controls that area.

BOKO HARAM ATTACKS GAMBORU NGALA TOWN, BORNO STATE, CAMEROON

The Boko Haram sect has attacked a village on the border between Nigeria and Cameroon, yessterday. The Gamboru Ngala town in Borno state was attacked during the weekly market which held every Monday,lives were lost during the insurgents raid.

Aside those killed and injured, properties worth millions of naira including dozens of vehicles were burnt at the weekly market which usually hold on Mondays.

The sect militants also burnt houses and killed those they found inside sat they chanted 'Allahu akbar’ and other war songs during the raid on the township, said a military source .
Continue reading..

NEWS FLASH: GUNMEN ATTACK SCHOOL IN NYANYA,ABUJA

Reports coming in from Nyanya , Abuja, reports that unknown gunmen have attacked a primary school at Nyanya the scene of the recent bomb attacks in Abuja.

The Private school, Divine Kiddies Academy, had already made their daily rounds of picking the kids from their homes and dropped them off at school when the Gunmen snatched the bus from the school premises. This happened Few minutes before 8am, No pupil or member of staff was hurt, according to eye witness.

“We do not know if they are members of Boko Haram or if they are robbers”, an official of the school said.

“The sad thing is that parents do not want to know if it’s Boko Haram or not. Many of them are coming to take away their children out of panic”.

Will bring more updates later...