Maiduguri Chaos: Angry Youths Burn Down Senator Sheriff’s Campaign Headquarters

A few minutes after a suicide bomber struck in the capital of Borno State, Maiduguri, an angry mob set ablaze a building, reported to be the proposed campaign headquarters of an ex- Governor of the State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

Sen. Sheriff is seeking Senate re-election in Borno Central Senatorial District in the upcoming 2015 elections.

According to SaharaReporters, hundreds of youngsters stormed the building that once belonged to UTC Company, but believed to have been recently acquired by the ex- Governor to serve as the operational HQ for his forthcoming campaign to be returned as the Senator.

According to several eyewitnesses, the irate mob stormed the building chanting anti-Sheriff slogans and vowing to end the former governor’s political career in Borno State.

One of the sources disclosed that the youngsters were allegedly supported by the members of the ‘Civilian JTF’.

The mob has reportedly started trooping to the former UTC building shortly after a suicide bomber struck at the Kasuwan Jagwal area of Maiduguri. The rioting youths accused Sen. Sheriff of being the brain behind the initial violence that led to the widespread confrontation between Boko Haram militants and security agencies in July 2009.

It would be recalled that the officers of the Nigerian police force murdered Mohammed Yusuf, the then leader of the Boko Haram sect, after Nigerian soldiers captured him and handed him over for prosecution.

Many experts on Boko Haram believe that the extra-judicial execution of Mr. Yusuf helped spur a surge of terror attacks by members of the sect who saw in their erstwhile leader’s killing new justification for their argument that Western values are responsible for the reign of corruption, moral decadence and injustice in Nigeria.

Therefore, Boko Haram took root during the later stages of Sen. Sheriff’s governorship. The ex- Governor was notorious for his mindless looting of public funds and his forays abroad where he was often seen partying.
RELATED ARTICLE: Boko Haram Claims Responsibility For Maiduguri Bombing, Promises More
RELATED ARTICLE: BREAKING NEWS: Army Arrests Suspect Over Maiduguri Explosion, Confirms Scores Dead
RELATED ARTICLE: Breaking News: Many Feared Dead as Car Bomb Explodes in Maiduguri

BREAKING NEWS: Army Arrests Suspect Over Maiduguri Explosion, Confirms Scores Dead

The Nigerian Army said it has arrested one person over Tuesday’s bomb blast in Maiduguri, Borno State.

It did not provide details of the suspect. A statement signed by Mohammed Dole, the spokesperson of the Army’s 7 Division in Maiduguri, also described how the attack occurred. Mr. Dole said at about 2:13 p.m. on Tuesday, a Honda car laden with an Improvised Explosive Device, IED, exploded near Post Office area in Maiduguri.
“Members of the frustrated Boko Haram terrorists are suspected to be behind the bomb explosion,” Mr. Dole said.
The statement did not however reveal the exact number of casualties, but said,
“Scores of death and injuries were recorded and 10 vehicles and five tricycles are confirmed damaged and one suspect is arrested.”
Mr. Dole said the attack happened after a long period of relative peace in Maiduguri and its environs. It said with Tuesday’s attack, the 7 Division had stepped up measures to forestall future occurrence in the Borno capital.
“While investigation is ongoing, the General Officer Commanding, 7 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Junaid Bindawa warns that any individual or groups found to be behind these heinous and dastardly acts will be decisively dealt with,” the statement said.
Mr. Bindawa appealed to the residents of Maiduguri to remain calm and go about their normal businesses. He also urged them to be very vigilant and to report any suspicious person or vehicles to the nearest security agency. He assured of the military’s commitment to maintaining the relative peace in the city.
RELATED ARTICLE: MAIDUGURI BOMB: "They Targeted ME" - Sheriff Insists
RELATED ARTICLE: Boko Haram Claims Responsibility For Maiduguri Bombing, Promises More
RELATED ARTICLE: Five Injured In Gas Explosion In Warri, Delta State
RELATED ARTICLE: Maiduguri Chaos: Angry Youths Burn Down Senator Sheriff’s Campaign Headquarters
RELATED ARTICLE: Breaking News: Many Feared Dead as Car Bomb
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/56609.html

PHOTOS: P-Square, Phyno, Kayswitch, Others Spotted at May D’s Crazy Birthday Party

Popular Nigerian musician May D celebrated his birthday in style at Doll House, Lagos, on December 28, 2013, Saturday.

P-Square, Phyno, Kayswitch, YQ, and DJ Jimmy Jatt were among the celebrities who attended to greet the 'Ile Ijo' crooner.

Check out some of the photos leaked from this crazy party: 

• Become a fan on Facebook and us on twitter

Source: Linda Ikeji's Blog
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/55794.html

PHOTOS: Emotions of the African Continent in the Year 2013

See fourteen touching and emotional pictures which represent the most memorable moments for the African continent in the year 2013. 

The Super Eagles delighted Nigerian football fans by winning the African Cup of Nations, hosted by South Africa, in February. It was first time the Nigerian national side had played in a Nations Cup final since losing to Cameroon on penalties 13 years ago.

 

Three states in north-eastern Nigeria were put under emergency rule this year to allow the security forces to fight an Islamist insurgency. For the first time in four years, the Eid durbar in August was held in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state and the city which had been the base of the Boko Haram militant group.

 

Mr. Mandela's widow Graca Machel and his ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (L) were among some 4,500 family members and foreign dignitaries at the state funeral.

 

The world mourned the death of Nelson Mandela in December. The anti-apartheid fighter and South Africa's first democratically elected president was born in 1918 and grew up in the village of Qunu, pictured here, where he was buried on 15 December.

  

The capture in January of Mali’s central town of Konna by Islamist militants prompted France’s military intervention. With 4,500 French troops on the ground, the insurgents were quickly ousted from northern towns – to the delight of some residents unhappy about their imposition of strict Islamic law, which banned smoking.

 

Zimbabweans went to the polls twice this year – once in March in a referendum on a new constitution - and again in July in presidential elections, won by incumbent President Robert Mugabe. Many of his more fashion-conscious supporters have been seen sporting a new designer label emblazoned with his signature.

 

In neighbouring South Africa, bling was more in vogue with the fashionistas – who dressed up here for a fashion competition at the horse races in Durban.

 

Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo continued to be dominated by the rebellion led by M23 fighters – seen here training at a military training camp in May. But following a major offensive by the army and a newly deployed UN intervention force, the rebel movement admitted defeat in November.

 

In June, Senegal’s guard of honour prepared to welcome US President Barack Obama, who was on the first leg of his African tour and which also took in South Africa and Tanzania.

 

Two years since the al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabab was driven from Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, services and hobbies have been rejuvenating life in the city. Here a crowd watched young boxers train on Lido beach.

 

Kenya was hit by a terror attack in September when Islamist militants attacked the Westgate shopping centre on a busy Saturday, killing 67 people...

 

... the siege went on for four days and Kenyans of all faiths and political persuasions united in their response to the attack - and the hashtag #weareone began trending on Twitter.

 

Sudan witnessed deadly protests prompted by the removal of fuel subsidies. Here demonstrators used their phones to upload protest clips online to spread the word. Officials in October said more than 85 people were killed – though activists say the number was at least 200. Sudan's economy has been in trouble since South Sudan ceded in 2011, taking with it 75% of the oil reserves.

 

Sudan and South Sudan agreed to resume pumping oil in March after a bitter dispute over fees – but the situation in the South, one of the least developed regions of the world, unravelled in December in a dispute between the president and his former deputy – with overtones of an ethnic conflict, which left more 1,000 dead by the end of the year. 

Photo credit: AP, AFP, Reuters. 
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/55461.html

THROWBACK PHOTO: Bola Tinubu And Dele Momodu Looking Great In 1996

Bola Tinubu And Dele Momodu are both now major stake holders in Nigeria's politics and everyday life but this pic shows us a more quieter time in both their lives.
Here we see them both sharing an innocent amile in 1996 when both where in the UK

Become a fan on Facebook
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/55755.html

INCREDIBLE: WAEC Exam Cheaters Return Certificates After Christ Enlightened Them

At least 15 people have recently returned certificates issued to them by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). They explained this action by the fact they were cheating during the examination, and now as Born Again Christians, they could not live with “the sin.”

According to Saturday Sun, some of the people had approached WAEC through letters seeking restitution, after they had confessed how they dubiously acquired their certificates, when they wrote the examinations at various periods.

WAEC replied, stating that what they were expected to do was to return the certificates awarded in line with the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of the examinations. However, only few responded, including a holder of Teachers’ Grade 11 certificate.

It has been revealed that those who complied with the directive returned their certificates to various WAEC offices nationwide.

The council took their case to the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC), which has cancelled the returned 15 certificates at its 55th meeting in Lagos.

“The listed candidates, in their letters of restitution, confessed that they were involved in various forms of examination malpractices in various years as indicated against their numbers. They have returned the original certificates issued to them,” a statement by NEC said.

The returned certificates by the Born Again Christians were for both the May/June (school exam) and November/December (private candidate) West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

A breakdown of the year the examinations were taken revealed that the oldest dates back to June 1983 with certificate # SG 288999. The next is dated June 1990 (RS0680084c), June 1992 (NGSS 0994156), June 1995 (NGSS0265147) and December 1995 (NGSP 0169397), December 1996 (NGSP 0575264), December 2000 (NGWASSCP 038771), June 2001 (NGWASSCS 2451037).

Others are June 2002, two certificates with NGWASSCP 4100224 and NGWASSCS 3894794 were returned and cancelled, June 2003 (NGWASSCS 5009313), June 2006 two born again Christian returned certificates with NGWASSCP 7747466 and NGWASSCS 8423755, December 2008 (NGWASSCP 05790031) and June 2010 NGWASSCP 13327157.

There are several Verses in the Bible to support restitution, which conform to what the 15 Born Again Christians did by confessing their sins and sought restitution from WAEC.

In 1 John 1:9 says: “If we confess our sins, this is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.

While Numbers 5:6-7 says: “When a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking faith with the Lord, and that person realizes his guilt, he shall confess his sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong”.

The names and other details of the 15 confessed persons may not be disclosed, as WAEC officials said it would amount to violation of the rights of the individuals involved and that of commission’s ethics.

TRUE STORY: Actress, Mercy Johnson Talks About Her Poor Background Living In An Uncompleted Building With Lizards

Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson Okojie in an interview opens up about life before the fame, money and marriage.

She talks about how she once lived in an uncompleted building and how she was inspired to start acting after watching one of Genevieve Nnaji's movies.
Excerpt below
Sometimes when I cry in movies, it isn't the script that makes me cry. When I recall my humble beginning, I give thanks to God. When I remember how we moved into an uncompleted building and had to take cover whenever it rained because of the condition of the house; how my brother did a menial job as a bricklayer to earn a living and those days when we rolled over a stick to cover the windows up till the point when I started acting and raised money to cover the roof.
I recall those days we were living with lizards because the floor and the walls of the house were not plastered, or when I had scars as a result of my several falls.”                                                       

How she got into acting

 

“After my secondary school education, I failed the University Matriculation Examination (UME) and came back to Lagos to get a degree. While that was on, I watched Genevieve Nnaji in a movie entitled: Sharon Stone. I later approached a friend for assistance to feature in a movie. He said I had a great body and that I would make a good actress. He later took me to the National Theatre, but a role did not come until a year later, when I had my first lead role in a film entitled: The Maid.

 

The Maid was my starting point and it was quite challenging to play the lead role because it was my first movie. I was fidgeting when I saw the likes of Eucharia Anunobi, whom I regarded as a screen goddess during my secondary school days. I never thought I would make it with people like that. So, when I saw her, I was so excited and considered standing beside her as sacred. She actually realised that and later helped me by giving me the needed courage."

 

What has marriage changed about you?
Marriage has taught me lots of things and I’ve learnt a lot since I got married too. I know that if I had gotten married earlier, I wouldn’t have made most of the errors I made. It’s good to be married to somebody who is so organised; he brings you up the right way and reminds you of whom you’re supposed to be.

You seem to be enjoying marriage a lot.  You even once said that as soon as Purity (her daughter) clocks one, you would be going back to the labour room
My sister, marriage has been sweet for me because I have the best husband and daughter in the world. Being a married woman, I have learnt to tolerate things more. It has changed my perspective of life and the way I react to things.

But getting married and being an actress are two different things. How do you balance up?
When I’m not at location, I spend quality time with my family. And guess what? My husband has always been there for me and Purity. It’s obvious we are his priority. He’s a loving husband and father.

Your husband does not complain about those times when you are away?
He doesn’t; he understands the nature of my job. He’s the best thing that has happened to me. People usually say men are not reliable. In the case of my husband, he’s a blessing.

What was the point of attraction between you and Mr Okojie?
What attracted him to me was his fearless approach. You know sometimes, you meet some guys and they get intimidated about you, but not with him. The first time we were supposed to have a date, he said ‘Let’s go to my house so you can cook for me’ and in my mind, I was like “Seriously, this guy doesn’t know my name.” So, I said “My name is Mercy Johnson” and he said ‘Yes I know.
READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/55778.html