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Friday, August 2, 2013

Kidnapper Caught Smuggling Baby In Traveller’s Bag

 
Pandemonium rent the air in in the early hours of Saturday morning at Bwari Park, Abuja, when a suspected kidnapper was apprehended trying to board a commercial bus with a stolen baby.

 The incident which stunned passengers of the bus soon attracted a large gathering of people comprising mostly drivers, park traders, motorists and commuters.

 City Pulse gathered that the little boy was reportedly abducted from a remote community in Abuja this moning by his abductor who made arrangement to travel with him neatly tucked into a black traveller’s bag.

The bubble however burst when the young man vehemently refused to let go of the bag when asked by the conductor. But as the noise of their argument began to attract other passengers, he eventually agreed.
As the bus conductor struggled to arrange the bag with others, he enquired from the man what the content of the was. According to him, the bag was unusually cold. That appeared strange to him since the suspect claimed that it didn’t contain frozen food.

The commotion also pricked the conscience of fellow passengers and a soldier who insisted on knowing the content of the bag.

When the suspected abductor realised his game was up, he tried to flee the park. He was however caught and overpowered by the mob who later forced the bus open.

Lo and behold, it contained the motionless body of a baby boy.
He was later handed over to the Police for further investigation

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Abia: When evidence marks the end of argument

THERE is a passage very common among the Ibeku people in the present-day Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State. It is a passage used to draw home a conviction over an issue in dispute.

It is put thus: “Lekwa onye ohii, lekwa ihe ozuru’’, grammatically interpreted as: “Behold the thief as well as his loot”, while in the literary term it connotes that evidence will surely mark the end of an argument or doubt over any issue. For some inexplicable reasons, many unscrupulous characters have sprouted within the past few years and assumed commentators on a catalogue of issues comprising both the serious and mundane with Abia in focus.

There has been a contraption of intellectually bankrupt pessimists who have wished that the stagnation that was Abia remained the lot of the state. Fortunately, Governor Theodore Orji, being conscious of history, has already chosen his part, while posterity will be his judge. Then their usual mantra was the swan-song of non-performance.

Notwithstanding all, Governor Orji left no one in doubt of his determination to turn around a state which administration he inherited when the state in all ramifications and rating was lying prostrate. His attempt at the inception of his government left no one in doubt that the man was in a hurry to transform his state. But little did he know that what he thought was a patriotic agenda would earn him umbrage and calculated sabotage from those who ran with the hare in the day, and at the same hunted with the hound.
However, with hindsight, the Governor had to take his political destiny into his own hands since “he that wears the shoe knows where it pinches”. Since then, Governor Orji has known no political peace as every arsenal at the disposal of his traducers have been deployed to tarnish and rubbish his efforts.
One thing though is that the Governor himself was not oblivious of the onslaught expected from these reactionary agents who would have given anything to remain as devourers of the people’s commonwealth.
It is then no surprise that for daring to leave a once prostrate state better than the comatose condition he met it, he has become the target of politically-instigated campaign of calumny. Nothing would placate the gladiators unless the treasury of the state is handed over to them. They engage the services of their Internet rats to publicly masturbate about morals and service delivery in their own understanding.

The Orji administration, within the period of its liberation from the stranglehold of now expired political buccaneers, has shown determination to turn around the fortunes of an ordinarily promising state which suffered initial still-birth owing to the incompetent political midwives. But thank God as Ochendo has been able to restore the years eaten by the locust. From education to agriculture and power. From security to health, commerce and industry, judiciary and infrastructure, the government has left its marks as depicted by the legacy projects to its credit.
Did it not take the withdrawal of the accreditation of the law programme of a neighboring state university headed by the immediate past president of ASUU for the people of Abia to appreciate that the commitment of their governor to elevate the standard of education in his state was beyond the rhetorics of a political campaign rally. If it was Abia State University that lost that accreditation,  hell would have known less fury than the government of Ochendo.

The taste of the pudding, they say, is in the eating. While others revel in dancing to the gallery, Abia operates with the Latin legal maxim: “res ipso loquitur”, meaning that the facts will always speak for themselves. And as we say in our local parlance, the self-glorifying story of “Dee John’s exploits in the war will only be believed when we see his military boots”. Apart from the tertiary institutions, there has been silent upgrade of facilities and infrastructure in the public schools in Abia courtesy of the present administration. The feats are only made known through the awards given to the state by policy makers and regulators in the sector.

Also, power has greatly improved in the entire state that residents in the state now enjoy steady electricity supply. In Abia today, people can predict the period and time of supply from energy source. The ripple effect is economically felt as small and medium scale enterprises rekindled the economy, ending crime.

Governor Orji came into office when no single industry in the state was operating. While  the privately-owned ones like International Equitable Association, Nigerian Breweries and Dubic Breweries had closed shop, government-owned industries, especially in the hospitality sector, were sold to the cronies of the then Lords of the Manor. That was how Abia Hotel Aba and Umuahia went on economic sabbatical.

That was also the case of Golden Guinea Breweries, Modern Ceramics, Ogwe Golden Chicken and Abia Rubber. Even state-owned corporations like Abia Marketing Company, Abia Newspaper Publishing Company became ghost corporations. Ochendo got some of the industries back to their tracks.

Today Dubic Breweries is back to the shelf with its products, Nigerian Breweries has returned to Abia while the reactivation of the both the Golden Chicken and Abia Rubber has long commenced.

Mr.  KINGSLEY EMEREUWA, a commentator  on national issues, wrote from Umuahia, Abia State.

VANGUARD

Monday, June 3, 2013

NIGERIA: 14 Years Imprisonment Approved For Same-Sex Marriage


The House of Representatives on Thursday approved 14 years imprisonment for persons who contracted same sex marriage in the country.

This was sequel to a clause-by-clause consideration of a Bill for an Act to prohibit marriage or union entered between persons of same sex, at the Committee of the Whole.

“Marriage or civil union entered between persons of same gender shall not be solemnised in any place of worship, either church or mosque or any place in Nigeria,” it said.

Introducing the bill, Rep. Albert Sam-Tsokwa ( PDP-Taraba) said that it sought to achieve a far reaching objective by outlawing same sex marriage and provide punishment for offenders.

It also set out a 10-year sentence for “any person who directly or indirectly makes public show of same-sex amorous relationships’’.


“Any persons or group of persons that administers, witnesses, screen and shields the solemnisation of same sex marriage in Nigeria on conviction, will be liable to 10 years imprisonment.’’

It would be recalled also that the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, had warned that his country would consider withholding aid from countries that did not recognise gay rights.

In Nov. 2011, the senate approved the bill that would make same-sex marriages punishable by up to 14 years for the couple and 10 for anyone abetting such unions.

The bill is expected to be sent to the Senate for concurrence. (NAN)http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/reps-approve-14-years-imprisonment-for-same-sex-marriage/

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G News! NASARAWA Police Massacre. 25 Missing Policemen Found Buried In Mass Grave.




**Death toll rise to 72.

The death toll of policemen killed by members of the Ombatse cult in Nasarawa State has risen to 72 following the discovery of the bodies of 25 policemen that had been hitherto declared missing in a mass grave in an unnamed village in the state.Earlier, in a joint briefing, security authorities had confirmed 57 operatives, comprising 47 policemen and 10 agents of the State Security Service (SSS), killed in the ambush that took place on May 7 when they were on a mission to a village in Nasarawa State.

Following the bloody attack, the 25 policemen were declared missing because their bodies could not be found to confirm if they were dead or alive coupled with the fact that their whereabouts was unknown.

The manhunt for the killers however yielded fruit yesterday as seven of them were said to have been arrested in Borno State while attempting to escape to Niger Republic.

A top police source who confirmed the discovery of the remains of the 25 policemen in a mass grave in an unnamed village said:
“By the time we found the missing policemen, their bodies were already decomposing in a mass grave in the village. It was a gory sight.”

He, however, promised that no efforts and resources would be spared by the police in ensuring that the perpetrators are fished out and prosecuted.

Monday, May 20, 2013

OUK Sermon in The House of Commons an Insult to Ndi Igbo


IGBO INFORMATION NETWORK ENUGU

THE ORJI UZOR KALU SERMON IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IS AN INSULT TO THE IGBO NATION. HE MUST BE CALLED TO ORDER TO STOP DISGRACING NDI IGBO.

The recent sermon of the former Governor of Abia
state Chief Orjl Uzor Kalu in the British House of
Commons may in the surface appear ennobling to
undiscerning and naive minds. It may have given him a
tinge of an Igbo fighter and defender.
But the truth however is that the unsolicited sermon
was a minus to Ndigbo. ln the first place, nobody told
Orji Kalu to go to the British House of Commons to go
and reduce Ndigbo to a beggarly and complaining
race. Ndigbo have not told anybody that they are not
capable of fighting their own course. His self-imposed
mission is therefore a very big insult to the Igbo nation.
Ndigbo have not asked and do not solicit pity from
anybody much less Britain.

If Orji Kalu has a deep sense of history, he would have
Known that if there is any quarter to complain about
Igbo position in Nigeria, it is not Britain for obvious
reasons. How can Orji Kalu expect Britain to
empathize with him over his embarrassing
vituperations? Did they do so in the past? Established
self interest is the mantra of colonial hegemonists and
Britain with all due respect was never comfortable with
groups that challenged its colonial policies of which the
Igbos and their nationalists were in the forefront.
Britain did not hate the Igbos or any other of its colonial
subjects, but it saw them (the Igbos) as a big challenge
to their colonial hegemony in Nigeria, thus their
uncharitable position against them during the Biafran
war.

Be that as it may and even as it is not yet Uhuru for
Ndigbo in Nigeria we should not oversimplify or
trivialize this marginalization mantra, Yes, we have the
least number of states and local Governments, the
least federal presence etc but that should not be used
as an alibi by self-appointed Igbo champions to create
siege mentality and self-pitying syndrome for great
and proud race as the Igbos race. We do not deserve
or need any pity from any quarters but insist without servility
justice and equity for all Nigerians. Such level playing
ground will check the activities of ethnic jingoist that
are even worse marginalisers of their own people.

People that had the opportunity to make a positive
difference in the lives of their own people but could not
do anything out of their own excessive greed, have no
moral justification to attack external marginalizers…

People that never respected the lives and dignity of
their own kins should not question external
adversaries. How did Orji Kalu re-position his own
Abia people for the eight good years he ruled them?
How did he affect their lives positively? While his private
business empire grew geometrically, the fortunes and
conditions of his own people diminished horribly. How
can Britain give him what he did not give his own
people for eight years? When the national confab of
2005 resolved to give Ndigbo an extra state to at least
give them a sense of fairness in Nigeria's geo-political
structure, was it not Orji Kalu and his ilks that joined
hands with adversaries of Ndigbo under the guise of
fighting third term to rob Ndigbo of that state? Are those
people he joined hands with at that time to rob Ndigbo of
that state ready to make Ndigbo get that state today.
Are they not demanding even more states from their
areas thereby making mockery of Igbo genuine
demand?

Yes, he may have contested for the Nigerian
Presidency sometime ago, but was he not among
those that betrayed Dr Alex Ekwueme in 1999 and
2003? What are we talking about? While Ndigbo will
continue to agitate for their fair share in Nigeria we
cannot tolerate anybody trivialising issues concerning
us. We are a proud and great race. Our forebears
fought for and got independence for Nigeria. We have
paid our dues for this country. Nigeria belongs to us
and others and we cannot leave it for anybody.
Britain, with all due respect to them, should work
towards ensuring justice and peace in Nigeria. They
should invest In Igboland and that is what we expect
Orji Kalu to tell them and not to make mockery of us in
London.

If Orji Kalu thinks he has scored a cheap goal with his
unsolicited crusade in the House of Commons, then he
is out of tune with the past, present and future. He has
not scored any goal, Nigeria must however give
Ndigbo their due and fair share of our national
patrimony.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Imo Civil Servants Strike Over Govt's Insensitivity To Their Welfare

Workers in Imo state have defied threats by the state government and shut down the secretariats to protest government insensitivity to their welfare.
Their grouses among other things are:

1. The government's refusal to pay workers in more than twenty parastatals, thereby rendering thousands of breadwinners insolvent.
2. Withholding promotion of workers and reversing promotions done by his predecessor
3. Refusing to pay some allowances- leave, overtime, etc.

A lot of confusion has enveloped the state workforce as some labour leaders are singing the same song as the state government.

Recall that a few days ago, the organized labour gave this same governor a controversial award of excellence. Talk of a state sitting on a keg of chaos.

South East/South SouthGovs Agree On Integration Of Old Eastern/Midwestern Region


Governors of South-South and South East states have condemned in strong terms the various acts of terrorism and their sponsors in parts of the country.

The Governors who gave this condemnation today in a communiqué after a closed door meeting in Asaba condemned the abominable behaviours and antics of some Nigerians and their evil collaborators.

“The South-South and South-East governors plead with all Nigerians to adopt dialogue and peaceful means to resolve issues affecting the country,” the Governors resolved, adding, “the governors also agreed to work together and ensure regional cooperation in stemming the spate of kidnapping, arson,
pipeline vandalisation as well as other nefarious activities in the regions to secure the regions and ensure that the regions remains a conducive environment to attract investments.”

While thanking Governor Uduaghan for been a good host, the Governors stated, “the South-South and South-East Governors agreed on economic and political integration of the old Eastern and
Midwestern regions now the South-South and South-East and pledged to strengthen cooperation across the board with particular focus on development of infrastructure linking the region, particularly federal roads.”

“The Governors also pledged to work together to ensure the development of all the ports in the region including the Abia Dry port and called on the Nigeria Port Authority to facilitate the achievements of
this objective,” the Governors said, reiterating that while they commended President Jonathan on the extensive rehabilitation and modernisation of the airports across the country, it was important for the Federal Government to establish cargo airports in Owerri and additional deep-sea ports in the regions
including Ibaka, Escravos, Agge and also called for the dredging of the Calabar port.

They also, agreed to revive agro-allied industries particularly in palm and rubber plantations to exploit the comparative advantage in agriculture in both regions, adding, “the Governors of the South-South and the South-East states called on the Federal Government to facilitate the
full implementation of the Free Trade Zones status amongst the states of the
region.”

The meeting which was attended by Governors Peter Obi of Anambra, Sulivan Chime of Enugu, Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Theodore Orji of Abia and Martin Elechi of Ebonyi States and their counterparts in South-South States; Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta (host Governor), Godswill
Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Liyel Imoke of Cross Rivers, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State while Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State was represented at the meeting by his Deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru. The
Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomole was conspicuously absent.

The Governors used the occasion to mourn the death of late Professor Chinua Achebe, adding that they sympathized with the people of South-East region and on the death of Professor Chinua Achebe.
They also condoled the Achebe family and acknowledged his legacy as a literary giant and international ambassador of the Nigerian culture.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

CANADA-NIGERIA INVESTMENT CONFERENCE 2013



About 13 governors, 12 ministers and over 40 chief executive officers from the Nigerian private sector will be in Toronto in May for the "Canada-Nigeria Investment" Conference with the theme: Canada-Nigeria synergy vision 20:20 20, which will be declared open by Nigeria's vice president Namadi Sambo on the 2nd of May 2013 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel Toronto.

Over four hundred participants will converge on Toronto to network and make room for business opportunities between Canada and Nigeria.

Nigeria's high commissioner, Ojo Maduekwe gave the information at a press conference in collaboration with the Canadian Council on Africa's chief executive officer, Lucien Bradet in Ottawa. This clip is the highlight of the press conference at the Nigeria High Commission.


Thursday, April 25, 2013

PHOTONEWS: Governor Orji, Sanusi Lamido, others at the Abia Youth Empowerment Seminar

 
Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia state welcoming Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Governor central bank, Nigeria to his office in Umuahia for the first annual Ochendo lecture series as part of activities to mark the Abia youth empowerment program for Umuahia North LGA in Umuahia
 

 Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia state receiving an award for his support to the party from the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisah Metu during the Abia youth empowerment program in Umuahia.
 Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia state presenting key of a Hummer bus to one of the beneficiaries of Abia state Youth Empowerment program Mr. Sonny Nwakodo, Chairman NURTW Abia state. Insert are (A) Gov. Orji presenting laptops to some Abia youth as part of the program. (B) Cross section of vehicles to be distributed to the beneficiaries of empowerment program.
L-R Chief Emeka Wogu, Labur Minister, Chief Adolph Wabara, Chairman of the lecture, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Governor central bank, Nigeria, Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia state and his wife Lady Mercy Orji during the first annual Ochendo lecture series as part of activities to mark the Abia youth empowerment program in Umuahia.

Monday, April 22, 2013

The Economics Of ShopRite In Abia

The recent foundation laying ceremony of the Abia Mall, at the old Garki area of Umuahia, has led to appreciable excitement among residents of the state; especially as Africa’s biggest retailer, ShopRite, is touted as one of the partners of the project.

The state government entered a strategic partnership with Pall Mall which involves a joint funding of the project to achieve its set objectives. In a recent interview, Governor Theodore Orji confirmed that the state government has paid its own part of the funding. “ShopRite is coming to Abia State,” he said. “We have completed everything, paid our own counterpart funding to them and it is left for them to come onboard.”
This development, according to analysts, is a major significant socio-economic gain for the hitherto under-developed state. In terms of direct and indirect employment, this project when completed stands to significantly depopulate the labour market in Abia State and convince hesitant investors to take the plunge.

Samuel Eke, a financial analyst, commends the state government for proactively engaging the retail giant and fast-tracking talks to get to this stage. “Last year, ShopRite announced that it would be investing N32 billion on property developments in Nigeria to overcome lack of infrastructure and capitalise on rising consumer spending,” he said. “Responsible state governments took note of this and began to put in place incentives to attract the retail giant.

For Abia, it is indeed a coup to have secured this partnership as apart from Enugu, the retail giant is not present in any other South-Eastern state in the country. I must commend Governor Theodore Orji for taking this step and ensuring that speed is of importance. If this tempo is sustained, we may see the mall commissioned soon. The benefits of this development to residents of Umuahia and indeed surrounding towns cannot be over-emphasised.”
ShopRite operates a policy of augmenting dependence on international suppliers by sourcing, promoting and procuring local products. In Abia, local industries thrive and have gained increased visibility in recent times. Some of the entrepreneurs are looking forward to possible partnerships with the retail giant.

Ndidi Achonu operates a small factory inside the Aba Leather Cluster zone where African-themed shoes and handbags are produced. “I relocated to Abia from China with my husband in 2009 to start this and I can sincerely say that there are no regrets,” she said. “Things were tough initially but I am gradually making an impact here and can now boast of seven employees. If ShopRite comes to this state, I will certainly explore ways of taking this business to the next level because I am confident that my products will make their shelves.”

A survey of 700 consumers conducted by Business Day Nigeria during October 2012 found that while price was still crucial to the Nigerian consumer, health considerations were becoming more important. 50% of respondents said that they read the labels of packaged food and beverage products before purchasing them. 39% said that they would like to see more nutritional information, including calorie counts, on restaurant menus.

In an era of more sophisticated Nigerian consumers, the development also comes as a relief to residents of Abia, a state notorious for counterfeiting of high-target brands. “For me, I consider this one of the state government’s recent economic initiatives that has really tricked down to the people,” said Ifeyinwa Obodo, a civil servant in the state. “To be able to go to a shop where you have the peace of mind that everything there is guaranteed and you have the luxury of options is a very welcome development. I urge the state government to hasten work on the site so that this can be opened soon. I thank Governor Theodore Orji for making this dream come true.”





Written byVincent Amolo

SOURCE: CHANNELS TV

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

PHOTONEWS: ABIA STATE GOVERNMENT - Commissioning of Some Completed Roads in Aba

 Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia state (3rd left) commissioning the newly completed Geometric Power Station Access road at Osisioma. With him from left are, Hon. Kingsley Mgbeahuru, commissioner for works, Sir Leo Okoye, M/D. Grandstar Construction Company and Sir Emeka Ananaba, deputy governor, Abia state (left).

 Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia state (2nd left) commissioning the newly completed Brass road in Aba. He is flanked on left by Hon. Kingsley Mgbeahuru, commissioner for works and Sir Emeka Ananaba, deputy governor, Abia state (right).
 Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia state (2nd left) commissioning the newly completed Milverton road in Aba. With him from left are Hon. Kingsley Mgbeahuru, commissioner for works and Sir Emeka Ananaba, deputy governor, Abia state.
 Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia state (centre) in a group photograph with members of House of Reps. Committee on Public Complaints, when the committee visited him in Umuahia recently.
Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia state (middle) with members of judicial panel of inquiry into the activities of Abia state Universal Basic Education Board, after their inauguration in Umuahia.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Islamic Group Rejects Amnesty For Boko Haram - PM News

Ahead of the inauguration of the committee on amnesty for Boko Haram members by President Goodluck Jonathan, an Islamic group, Muslims Against Terror, has warned that granting such amnesty would plunge the country into more security crises.

It further said it was disturbed that the president could fall for the perpetrators of insecurity in the country by deciding to grant amnesty to Boko Haram despite warnings from the group and other well-meaning Nigerians.

The group, in a statement signed by Brother Isa Ibrahim, recalled that it had early this year sent a message to President Jonathan warning that the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, must be made to face the Shariah judgement for his role in the killing of innocent Nigerians.
It said encouraging amnesty at every given opportunity could turn the country to another Rwanda which had been ravaged by war.

 “The so-called Northern Elders impressed it upon you to offer a so-called amnesty to this cult and you fell for it, Wallahi, you all are misled and can only be doing this for personal gain, to win elections and not for the peace and progress of Nigeria.
“You cannot do another wrong to attempt to repair the series of wrongs of Nigerian governance. A so-called amnesty for Boko Haram cult, JAMBS (Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis-Sudan) or any other terror group or affiliate is another dangerous wrong to compound a history of terrible wrongs and failures by your government and the governments before you that got us here in the first place,” the group warned President Jonathan, describing the mentality of throwing money at every problem to as solution to the problem as hopeless.
Reminding the president that he would be judged by his level of squandermania in the guise of fighting crime, the Muslims Against Terror noted that terrorism across the country was caused by the failure of governance.

The group warned further: “if you and the so-called northern elders continue such grave failure simply to win elections, by the grace of the Almighty, you will be surprised and shocked that, insha Allah, the people will rise against you this time, and no amount of money you pay for votes will allow any of you to remain in leadership, both as elected officials and as traditional leaders, because the blood of innocent Nigerians and your violation of the tenets of God as written in the Torah, the Bible and Quran, to mete out justice on the murderers of us masses, will bring your woe.”
Quoting various verses from the Bible and Quran to back their claim that whoever killed should himself be killed, the group said God’s message on justice for the oppressed was clear as this would help to discourage future perpetration of barbarism among men.
The group declared that the president could not just abandon the victims of the Boko Haram attacks simply because he wanted to gain political favour from the elites hoping also that such elites could help him win the next election.
“We have hunted Boko Haram. We put a reward on the head of Abubakar Shekau. Our brothers have died in the hunt for these cultists and our soldiers have died, innocent people have died.
“It is our right that justice must be meted upon these deviants according to Shariah.

“Boko Haram (members) themselves do not ask for amnesty, because they know that this is haram. So who is asking?” the group wondered, adding that it was sure those asking had a lot to hide just like the president trying to force the amnesty down the throats of the members who have rejected it.
“Who and what holy book gave them the right to shoot at and toss bombs at people playing cards? Is this the law of Shariah that people playing cards or drinking alcohol should be killed?
“Can they show us in Quran where it states that people giving immunization should be killed?” the group asked, warning that giving the terrorists any amnesty would constitute a disastrous precedence, where people believe they simply need to kill innocent people to get cash from the government.
It said that instead of amnesty, the government should consider a social welfare scheme for the people of the north because the entire area would hardly recover from the terrorist experience.

“Establish a social welfare, youth empowerment and employment system starting with the poorest northern extremes of Nigeria and spread this to the entire nation as is with social security in the United States, which cuts crime in these nations,” it said, warning that it would not forgive the president if the amnesty is granted. Amnesty To Boko Haram Is Double Haram.


''It wasn’t MEND, disgruntled ex-militants did it'' – Gov Dickson as 10 bodies of dead policemen where recovered

The body of ten policemen killed in an ambush on Saturday night in Bayelsa state have been recovered.
The bodies were recovered yesterday by the police who brought them to  the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa and refused access to the facility even to journalists milling around the area.
According to Punch Newspaper reports:
Twelve policemen on escort duty were murdered in the attack along the Azuzama waterways of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state which the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta had already claimed responsibility for.
The recovered bodies were brought to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, on Tuesday evening by policemen who barricaded the mortuary area of the hospital. The policemen kept journalists at bay and seized cameras of newsmen who attempted capturing the scene.
Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Kingsley Omire, was not at the scene to receive the bodies and there were speculations that the bodies had been dismembered with some of them burnt.
A statement by Governor Seriake Dickson said a combined team of security operatives recovered the 10 bodies along the creeks.
The statement, which was signed by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, also quoted Omire as saying that it took the combined efforts of men of the Joint Security Task Force to ensure the recovery of the corpses.
But some of the recovered bodies were reportedly burnt beyond recognition and mutilated by their killers.
The victims were also reportedly stripped of their uniforms and rifles after the attack.
After waiting for a long time at the Governmen Jetty in Yenagoa, some of the bereaved families were denied access to the bodies when they were finally brought ashore at 6:45pm.
Our correspondent observed that the jetty was protected by armed policemen, including the operatives of the state security outfit, codenamed Operation Door Akpo.
The owner of one of the boats used by the attacked policemen said the bodies were not recovered from the river but at a point in the creek where the bodies have been severely mutilated.
The Punch reports continues thus:
He said the bodies were not recovered from the river by divers but at a point in the creek where the gunmen mutilated them.
“That was why it took a long time to see their bodies,” he said.
He also insisted that the uniforms and rifles of the victims were taken away by the bandits.
He countered the statement of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kingsley Omire, that the victims were attacked after their boat developed a fault.
Omire had said that his men succumbed to attack when the boat in which they were travelling became faulty.
But the source who pleaded anonymity said the boat was in motion when the bandits launched the attack.
“The boat was moving at a slow pace because of the capacity of its engine when their occupants were attacked,” he said.
Dickson said on Tuesday that the recovery of the bodies was contrary to media reports that the killers went away with the bodies of the dead policemen.
He also debunked the claim by MEND that it was responsible for the attack.
“The recent development has put paid to the fact that the attack was carried out by a group of disgruntled ex-militants who have issues to settle among themselves, but have clearly overstepped their bounds by their action”, he said.
Restating his administration’s stance on zero tolerance for criminality, the governor assured the bereaved families and the entire people of the state that the security operatives would arrest the perpetrators.
He also told the families of the 12 policemen killed in the attack that their deaths would not be in vain as the government “is determined more than ever before to bring the perpetrators to book.”
MEND on Sunday claimed that its fighters killed the 12 policemen whose boat was ambushed in Azuzama on Saturday and that their deaths were to teach the security forces a lesson for scorning its warning.
The militant group had last week announced that it would resume attacks in the oil rich Niger Delta by Friday to avenge alleged collaboration between the Federal Government and South Africa to jail its former leader, Henry Okah.
Security agencies had dismissed the threat and said they were ready for MEND which tagged its promised resurgence of attacks, “Hurricane Exodus.”

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Brain Scans Might Predict Future Criminal Behaviour

 
A new study conducted by The Mind Research Network in Albuquerque, New Mexico, shows that neuro-imaging data can predict the likelihood of whether a criminal will reoffend following release from prison.

The paper, which is to be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, studied impulsive and antisocial behaviour and centred on the anterior cingulate cortex, a portion of the brain that deals with regulating behaviour and impulsivity.

The study demonstrated that inmates with relatively low anterior cingulate activity were twice more likely to reoffend than inmates with high-brain activity in this region.

“These findings have incredibly significant ramifications for the future of how our society deals with criminal justice and offenders,” said Dr. Kent Kiehl, who was senior author on the study and is director of mobile imaging at MRN and an associate professor of psychology at the University of New Mexico.

“Not only does this study give us a tool to predict which criminals may reoffend and which ones will not reoffend, it also provides a path forward for steering offenders into more effective targeted therapies to reduce the risk of future criminal activity.”

The study looked at 96 adult male criminal offenders aged 20-52 who volunteered to participate in research studies. This study population was followed over a period of up to four years after inmates were released from prison.

“These results point the way toward a promising method of neuro-prediction with great practical potential in the legal system,” said Dr. Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, Stillman Professor of Practical Ethics in the Philosophy Department and the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University, who collaborated on the study. “Much more work needs to be done, but this line of research could help to make our criminal justice system more effective.”

12 shocking facts about Nigeria


Some years ago, a brilliant lecturer of mine (now late) said something about Nigeria that I waved aside as an exaggerated expression of patriotism. He told my class then that he had travelled to many places in the world and had finally come to the conclusion that Nigeria is the most blessed nation on the planet. I knew Nigeria was blessed but I couldn’t understand how he could boldly claim that top position for Nigeria: yes we have oil, gas, landmass–in fact, abundant natural and human resources, but was that enough?

Fast-forward to September, 2011. By this time, my doubt had given rise to a burning desire to know the specific things that make us great as a nation–that make us the most blessed people on earth. I felt if I did find these specific facts, they would need to be shared with Nigerians and the world in spectacular ways. To achieve this aim, I discussed the idea with my friend, George Okewih, and our subsequent brainstorming led to the birth of The Green Heritage page on Facebook to promote our cultural and natural heritage to Nigerians and the world. It’s been eighteen months of rigorous research since, and now I am convinced that my late lecturer was right.

Here are some facts from our common heritage that should make you proud to be called a Nigerian:

1. Nigeria is home to seven percent (7%) of the total languages spoken on earth. Taraba state alone has more languages than 30 African countries. The importance of this fact is appreciated when one understands that language is the “soul of culture” (as Ngugi wa Thiongo famously said). It is language that births the proverbs, riddles, stories and other aspects of culture that give us identity. UNESCO puts forward that the world’s languages represents an extraordinary wealth of creativity. Linguistic diversity correlates with cultural diversity. This means Nigeria can look inwards and drive itself to become the greatest hub for cultural tourism on earth, and consequently empower its citizens tremendously in the process.

2. The Walls of Benin (800-1400AD), in present day Edo State, are the longest ancient earthworks in the world, and probably the largest man-made structure on earth. They enclose 6500 square kilometers of community lands that connected about 500 communities. At over 16000km long, it was thought to be twice the length of the Great Wall of China, until it was announced in 2012 (after five years of meticulous measurement by Chinese surveyors) that the Great Wall is about 21,000km long.

3. The Yoruba tribe has the highest rate of twin births in the world. Igbo-Ora, a little town in Oyo state, has been nicknamed Twin capital of the World because of its unusually high rate of twins that is put as high as 158 twins per 1000 births. In a video I watched last year on YouTube presented by Titi (a white lady who speaks Yoruba), and which was centred on twin births in Igbo-Ora, one of the locals boasted that every family in the town has at least one twin!

4. Sarki Muhammad Kanta The Great of Kebbi, was the only ruler who resisted control by Songhai, West Africa’s greatest empire at that time. He founded and ruled the Hausa city-state of Kebbi around 1600 A.D and built Surame its capital, a planned city which was almost impossible to penetrate during war. In fact UNESCO describes Surame as “one of the wonders of human history, creativity and ingenuity”, and probably the most massive stone-walled constructions in West Africa. He is listed in Robin Walker’s 50 Greatest Africans.

5. Africa’s oldest known boat is The Dufuna canoe which was discovered in Dufuna village, Yobe state, by a Fulani Herdsman in May 1987, while he dug a well. Various radio-carbon tests conducted in laboratories of reputable universities in Europe and America indicate that the canoe is over 8,000 years old, thus making it the oldest in Africa and 3rd oldest in the world. The discovery of the canoe has completely changed accepted theories of the history and sophistication of marine technology in Africa.

6. Sungbo’s Eredo, a 160 km rampart equipped with guard houses and moats, is reputed to be the largest single pre-colonial monument (or ancient fortification if you like) in Africa. It is located in present-day Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State and when it was built a millennium ago, it required more earth to be moved during construction than that used for building the Great Pyramid of Giza (one of the Seven Wonders of The Ancient World). The most astonishing thing is that Sungbo’s Eredo was the biggest city in the world (bigger than Rome and Cairo) during the Middle Ages when it was built!

7. Sarki Abdullah Burja of Kano (ruled 1438-1452 AD), the 18th ruler of Ancient Kano, created the first Golden Age in Northern Nigeria and ushered in a period of great prosperity. During his reign, Hausa became the biggest indigenous language spoken in Africa after Swahili. He is on the list of 50
Greatest Africans in Robin Walker’s wonderful book, “When We Ruled”.

8. The Jos Plateau Indigobird, a small reddish-brown bird, is found nowhere else on the planet but Plateau state, Nigeria.

9. The Anambra waxbill, a small bird of many beautiful colours, is found only in Southern Nigeria and nowhere else on earth.

10. The Niger Delta (which is the second largest delta on the planet), has the highest concentration of monotypic fish families in the world, and is
also home to sixty percent of Nigeria’s mangrove forests. You should know too that Nigeria’s mangrove forests are the largest in Africa and third largest on earth.

11. According to the World Resources Institute, Nigeria is home to 4,715 different types of plant species, and over 550 species of breeding birds and mammals, making it one of the most ecologically vibrant places of the planet.

12. Ile-Ife, in present day Osun State, was paved as early as 1000AD, with decorations that originated from Ancient America suggesting there might have been contact between the Yorubas and the Ancient Americans half a millenium before Columbus ‘discovered’ America.
Now, what if we tell you seventy-five other amazing facts about Nigeria that The Green Heritage has discovered over the past eighteen months? Would you not be thrilled to watch a movie that resurrects and projects, in stunning visuals, the historical, cultural and natural heritage of Nigeria? This is the idea behind the movie project titled, “The Green Heritage 3D: 87 Marvels From Nigeria”. And the ball has begun rolling. A teaser that demonstrates some of the advanced 3D modelling and animation that would be partly employed to recreate parts of our heritage and project it to the world, has been uploaded on our YouTube channel. With a talented team of young Nigerian writers, programmers, artists, architects and producers, all given visual life to a massive amount of research about and for Nigeria, you can rest assured that this might just be the most important movie of our generation, from Nigeria.

Samuel Okopi is the writer/director of The Green Heritage 3D: 87 Marvels
From Nigeria. He can be reached on 08066037453.

Watch the teaser on YouTube: www.youtube.com/TheGreenHeritage

Direct link to teaser: http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=plcp&v=UMzNjVE6aKU

Join The Green Heritage on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheGreenHeritage