BREAKING NEWS: Bomb Explosion Rocks Maiduguri Market, Scores Feared Dead

A bomb explosion has been reported at the busy Monday Market close to the Power Holding Company Nigeria (PHCN) building in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.



Bombed Scene

According to SaharaReporters, the bomb exploded at about 8:20 a.m. within the market premises, a usually crowded commercial centre.

Following the huge security presence at the scene, number of casualties could not be ascertained as at press time, but Emergency officials are said to be on their way to the explosion scene.

However, one of the state government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the blast and revealed that the number of casualties were very high.

The source also noted that security operatives were on ground, trying to rescue some of the victims as well as secure the area.

More to follow....

Nigerians attack Joseph Yobo’s wife on social media after Super Eagles World Cup exit

Nigerians on social media have let all hell loose of Adaeze Yobo, wife of Super Eagles skipper Joseph Yobo, following the team’s exit from the on-going World Cup in Brazil.

Nigeria was knocked out of the second round after suffering a defeat against France. Les Blues won by two goals to nil thanks to two late goals – the first from french midfielder Paul Pogba and an own goal from Joseph Yobo.

Shortly after the match, Nigerians took to social media to express their disappointment in some of the team’s players including Mikel Obi and the team’s captain Joseph Yobo, stating that they should not have not made Super Eagles coach Stephan Keshi‘s final selection.

Others have turned on Yobo’s wife, former beauty queen Adaeze, using her as a point of contact to get to her husband.

‘Let’s report Adaeze’s IG as spam that way we won’t see Yobo’s face for awhile‘, model @KingUcheUdoh wrote. Another user @sketch_aj wrote ‘I think you need leave your man he isn’t loyal‘.

On Instagram, people commented on Adaeze’s last photo upload with derogatory remarks like; ‘you are disgrace to your family and Nigeria entirely‘ – @nashawnhunt and ‘Rotfl…I actually didn’t notice yobo during this world cup competition until now..dude sealed d deal..@adaezeyobo no mind dem jare‘ – @juxsugar.

Her fans however supported her by fighting back at the ‘critics’. ‘Mad people!! What did yobo do? Is he the first to score an own goal? Besides France had scored their first goal. .so all you rude peeps that didn’t even watch the match should shut up and free adaeze!! Enyeama did well but at the end committed blunder!! Send them not @adaezeyobo‘, wrote @janeiyke.

Joseph Yobo made his 100th appearance for the Super Eagles against France

Nigerian Military Narrated How Abuja Blast Suspect Was Killed

Confirming the death of Abuja blast alleged bomber, the Nigerian military narrated how it happened.
 
Photo: Abuja blast scene
According to the statement officially released on Friday on the Defence Headquarters website, the suspect, who was taken to hospital after had been shot by the military while trying to escape from the scene, died in the hospital, Premium Times reports.
It was claimed that in the hospital the suspect kept shouting: "People will die! people will die!"
Speaking about the immediate action after the explosion, which has already claimed 24 lives, the military said:

"The soldiers pursued the fleeing suspects and shot at one who fell off the bike with his bag, while the rider escaped through the crowd. The bag recovered from the suspect was later confirmed to contain a package of IED and other accessories."

It was also added that another suspect nabbed at the scene was under interrogation. The statement added that 15 more suspects were later apprehended in the country capital after a raid that led to the recovery of weaponry.
It would be recalled that Abuja shopping mall Emab Plaza was rocked by a ghastly explosion this Wednesday. While police first stated that 21 people were killed in the attack, the Health Minister yesterday said that 24 victims died.
Shortly after the bombing it was made known that one suspect was shot and one arrested in connection with the case

Adaeze Yobo Becomes Africa Fashion Week 2014 Celebrity Ambassador

Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (2008), Adaeze Stephanie Yobo, has joined the echelon of world class super celebrities on the Africa Fashion Week Ambassadors List.
24 year old Adaeze achieved her childhood dream of becoming the most beautiful girl in Nigeria in 2008, at the age of 18, beating 29 other beautiful Nigerian women to the crown. She also represented Nigeria at Miss World 2008 in South Africa, making the top twenty list in Miss World Talent, and placed second in Miss World Sports.
Adaeze Yobo who is also a UN Ambassador for Peace, established her own charity during her reign as Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria. Known as the Adaeze Igwe Foundation, the foundation of which is most passionate, sought to create awareness and garner support for Sickle Cell Anaemia, Aids and Breast Cancer patients. The foundation also raises funds towards similar causes such as Malaria and Tuberculosis. Its mission was to “create and increase access and opportunities to Nigerian Youth and Communities for addressing their needs and challenges towards sustainable development.
Adaeze whose beauty and fashion sense is subject of many celebrity magazines and blog features, met and married Joseph Yobo in Jos, after a brief courtship, and in 2011, was ranked 92, in a list of 101 Sexiest Soccer Wives and Girlfriends, according to Bleacher Report. Adaze and Joseph Yobo are now parents to their first child, Joey, and live in Istanbul Turkey, where Joseph is furthering his football career.
In enlisting Adaeze as Celebrity Ambassador, Africa Fashion Week London, the biggest African inspired fashion event in the UK for three years running since 2011 and parent event to Africa Fashion Week Nigeria, which is also the biggest platform supporting up and coming fashion talents in Nigeria, is furthering its key objective of  inspiring the teeming youth talent all over the world, especially in Africa, by presenting celebrity offerings and success stories as benchmarks for positive youthful aspirations.
Speaking on the appointment, the founder of Africa Fashion Week London, Ronke Ademiluyi, says: “I am delighted to have Adaeze on our platform. Her beauty, achievements and strategic status makes her a miracle and a rare find. Millions of our youthful followers all over the world will be inspired by her”
Adaeze will be joining the ranks of other Celebrity Ambasadors on the AFWL platform such as Ghana Ex Beauty Queen Menaye Donkor, Congo DCR  Ex Beauty Queen, Supermodel and UN Ambassador for Peace, Noella Coursaris Musunka, Bassist and lead vocalist of the Noisettes British Band Shinghai Shoniwa,  Sky Tv Presenter, Lukwesa Burak and Ugandan Born Editor of the London Based New Africa Woman Magazine, Regina Jane Jere.
In her capacity as AFWL ambassador, Adaeze will be working closely with some of the world’s best celebrities of African Origin such as Yinka Shonibare, artist and Member of the British Empire (MBE) and director of the Tiwanis Art Gallery London, and Princess Fifi Ejindu, Nigerian Born, World Class Architect and Real Estate Entrepreneur and Life patron of Africa Fashion Week London. Together they will all gear efforts towards increasing and strengthening the pedestal for launching the careers of young African inspired fashion designers globally.

See What Michael Jackson Would Have Look Like Without Plastic Surgery At 50

There is no denying that Michael Jackson was one of the greatest talents to ever have lived. From winning 13 Grammys (eight of which he received in one night), to being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame not once but twice, and of course holding the record for the biggest selling album of all time for his EP Thriller, his career remains unrivalled.
But despite his success his life he was dogged by controversy regarding his appearance, including rumours of skin lightening (something he attributed to suffering from the skin condition vitiligo) and his increasing addiction to plastic surgery.Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson death, Michael Jackson surgery, Michael Jackson no surgery

Michael in his 20s
Few people know that Michael’s first foray into the world of plastic surgery was actually for medical rather than cosmetic reasons, when he broke his nose in 1979 after falling during a complex dance routine.
Still, by the time of his tragic death in 2009 at the age of just 50, it was clear that his addiction to plastic surgery was out of control, and his face bore little resemblance to the bright-eyed boy who’d sung his way into the world’s hearts over forty years earlier.
Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson death, Michael Jackson surgery, Michael Jackson no surgery

A fresh-faced Michael in the Jackson 5 years (far right)
So, what would Michael have looked like at the time of his death without surgery?
Well we believe it would have been something like the image above.

Why I Buried Ex-Customs Officer, Daughter Alive ─ Herbalist

A 64-year-old native doctor, Alhaji Olatunji Azeez who confessed to killing a retired customs officer, Angela Uzo Kerry and her adopted 10-year-old daughter, Obiagulum after selling the victim’s landed properties was yesterday paraded by the Lagos State Police Command.



L-R: The suspect, Alhaji Olatunji Azeez, Kerry and her daughter, Obiagulum

The suspect who led the Police to the building where he buried his victims committed the crime on May 10, 2014.

It was reported on Monday, June 23 that the decomposed bodies of the woman and her daughter were found in Azeez’s house in Ire Akari Crescent, Ajuwon Akute, Ogun State by operatives of the Lagos State Special Anti-Robbery Squad and the building was marked as a kidnapper’s den bythe police.

Azeez, an Oyo State indigene with three wives and five children, said he was forced to kill the customs officer and her daughter after she threatened to kill him over a sum of money.

He explained, “I have been a trado-medical doctor for about 30 years, but I knew Angela over five years ago. She initially came to me for protection from family attacks. One of her friends called Lizzy introduced her to me. The relationship began to grow, and she kept patronising me for one thing or the other.

“Then, about three years ago, she mentioned her barreness problem, adding that the daughter that was with her was adopted. I was shocked. But when she told me her age, I told her it was impossible to make her pregnant. But she insisted that prophets in the churches she went had assured her she would get pregnant.”

According to Punch Azeez later lied to the woman that she would get pregnant and collected N9m from her for the job.

Azeez added, “I did the normal concoction for her, but it didn’t work because of her age. But I collected the money because I knew if I did not, she would go to where they would collect it. After some months without result, she came to my place to complain. She then demanded a refund, but I told her that I could not repay it. She then began to threaten me. Within a month, I tried to repay N2.5m. On that fateful week, she came back for the remaining N6.5m.

“It was Saturday, May 17. She came with her daughter and insisted that she wanted her balance. She said as a retired customs officer, she could kill me if I didn’t pay back the money. Then I thought, I must kill this woman before she killed me. The hole at the back of my house was not built for killing. It was dug for drainage during rainfall.”

Azeez added that he went to the backyard, covered the hole with a white cloth that Angela normally saw in another shrine in his house.

He said, “After we talked, we moved with her daughter to the place. I said she should kneel down on the mat with her daughter. She did so and fell into the pit with her daughter. The operation was successful because no member of my family was around in the house.

I then began to cover the pit up with sand. I poured in roughly 50 buckets of sand. The following day, I got two bricklayers to cement the portion. But I had first taken out the belongings she brought.”

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, stated that the police had concluded their investigations on the case, adding that the native doctor was going to be charged to court for murder.

He said, “The woman and her daughter were reported missing on May 10 at the Oko Oba Police Division by the family.

“Azeez was eventually arrested through a tracking device installed on the victim’s Toyota Camry. Azeez, an herbalist, had hypnotized the woman for a long time. He had taken over N200m from her both in cash and property. We discovered he cleverly constructed a well in his house, lured the woman with her daughter into the room, and buried them alive.

“We were able to recover the decomposed bodies of the victims from the well. We also picked their property which was buried along with them. We have finished our investigations, and he will be charged to court for murder. We will leave the rest to be decided by the court.”

Gabon-Bound Plane Flying From Nigeria Goes Missing

A four-seater plane flying from Nigeria enroute Gabon via Cameroon has gone missing.

This was disclosed by Cameroon aviation sources on Tuesday, June 24.

The plane which had only an American pilot on board had taken off from Kano in the northern part of Nigeria at about 6pm on Monday en route Libreville in Gabon, where it was scheduled to arrive at 11pm, after a stopover in Douala, Cameroon.

PUNCH reports that the plane, owned by the US company Global Aviation, did not make it to Douala where it was supposed to stopover.

The last contact the plane had with the control tower took place in Mongo, which is a 2-hour flight from Cameroonian economic capital.

The search and rescue operations led by Cameroon's civil aviation authorities have so far not yielded any positive results.

See What Mercy Aigbe Says About Her Alleged Romance With Gov. Rotimi Amaechi

There were rumours about popular Nollywood actress Mercy Aigbe-Gentry having love affair with Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi.



Actress Mercy Aigbe-Gentry and her husband Lanre Gentry

In a recent interview with Encomium Yoruba movie actress and the mother of two refuted all the gossips about her close relationships with Gov. Rotimi Amaechi.

What’s the relationship between you and Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi?

I only know him to be Rivers State governor, and from his performances so far, he has proved himself to be very sensitive when it comes to the plight of his people. He has worked tirelessly to give them good roads, improved healthcare, etc. He has also alleviated poverty in the state. That much I know because I have family and friends who live in the state, and I hear from them regularly the way he governs the state. And how people sing his praises. Although, I have not had the privilege of meeting him in person, I have heard much about his achievements since he became the governor of the state.

But it was rumoured that you collected N5m from him to feature at the 2014 Children’s Day celebration in the state. What’s your reaction to that?

There is no iota of truth in it. I never at a point collected a kobo from him. I don’t even know him one-on-one. The rumour also has it that both of you are in a sizzling romance, that’s’ why you were invited to the May 27, 2014 celebration? It’s not just untrue but laughable.

But were you truly the only actress invited for the ceremony and did you actually attend?

I wasn’t the only one invited. What happened was that there was a book reading session organized by Best of Nollywood in conjunction with the Rivers State government, and celebrities were invited, among whom Alex Ekubo, Yomi Fash Lanso, Dayo Amusa, Olaitan Ogunbele and others. I was also invited but I was out of the country then. So, I couldn’t attend. I think it was the initiative of Rivers State government. I wasn’t the only actress invited for the programme. So, I don’t know what could have informed such rumour.

Boko Haram Fresh Attack Claims 40 In Chibok

Members of the radical Islamist sect- Boko Haram at the weekend killed no fewer than 40 people in an attacked launched on three villages of Chuha A, Chuha B, and Korongilim in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State.

According to vanguard newspaper, the assailants after carting away foodstuff and livestock, destroyed houses, shops and vehicles.  
A witness and a community youth leader, who gave his name as Yakubu Joshua, said the victims included teenagers while confirming the attack on Sunday.
“Some suspected Boko Haram terrorists invaded Chuha A, Chuha B and Korongilim villages of Chibok council of Borno State and killed over 40 persons" he said. “The terrorists injured many other villagers, burnt many houses and made away with our foodstuff. The attack, which commenced at 7a.m. yesterday lasted over five hours before military intervened. I and some other residents of Chibok had made several telephone calls to the military, unfortunately they (military) only started bombing the surrounding area of the attack after over 40 members of our community had been killed. The lifeless bodies of our people are still littered in the three villages as I speak, but our present fear is that many innocent villagers may be hit by the ongoing bombings by the military.”
Abba Aji Khalil, another resident, who is also the chairman of sector 5 of the local vigilante group in the state also confirmed the incident.
"My group is already in hot pursuit of the suspected terrorists. Our members in Chibok and neighbouring local government areas are already in hot pursuit of the suspected terrorists" he said.
The state Police Commissioner, Lawal Tanko, and his spokesman, Gideon Jubrin, could not be reached to get  confimation on the incident, but a senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk with journalist confirmed the attack.
Meanwhile, residents of Chibok community had been living perpetual fear following a letter that was allegedly sent by the sect detailing an impending attack.
It would be recalled that the sect members attacked Chibok on April 14, killed scores of people and abducted more than 200 female students from Government Girls Secondary School.
The girls, however, are yet to be rescued although international communities like U.K, France, Israel, Britain, US amongst others, whom volunteered to help the Nigerian government in bringing back the girls are yet to come up with a positive result.
The presidential fact-finding committee set up by Jonathan on the abduction of the girls, on Sunday, 22 June, 2014 submitted their report in Abuja, confirming that about 219 girls were still missing.

Meet Medusa, The World’s Longest Snake

A reticulated python has slithered into a place where few snakes have gone: Guinness World Records.
She’s named Medusa and the 25-foot-long, two-inch, 350-pounder has been confirmed as the longest snake ever in captivity in the Guinness World Records 2013 edition.
The 8 years old reptile is on display at The Edge Of Hell, a haunted attraction based in Kansas City. Mo., and spends her days helping to scare up business by scaring customers who are already afraid of snakes — not just gigantic ones.
Medusa’s handler Larry Edgar says, “We try to keep Medusa well-fed and slightly out of reach as there have been instances with Reticulated Pythons where they’ve had to cut people out of them!
“We never underestimate that she does always have the upper-hand.”
So far, Medusa does pretty well on a diet that includes rabbits, hogs and deer, served to her every two weeks.
Medusa inherits the title from the previous record holder, Fluffy, another Reticulated Python from Ohio’s Columbus Zoo, who measured in at 24 feet long.

Kano Bomber Finally Caught

The Kano State Police command has announced that they have apprehended Monday afternoon’s bomb blast at the Kano State School of Hygiene, BUK Road.

The Bomb blast killed eight people and injured about 12 other people and Mr. Aderenle Shinaba, Kano State Commissioner of Police revealed to journalist that soon the suspect’s motive would be revealed.

He said: “The suspect is in our custody, and the vehicle he used for the operation has also been towed to the police headquarters," Shinaba said.

“We will get to know the motive behind the attack, and who sent him on this deadly errand."

He also confirmed that the initial reported figure of eight casualties is right and 12 more have been hospitalized.