DR Congo Army Plane Crashes, 12 Dead

A military cargo plane crashed in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa on Saturday, killing its 12 crew members, the defence minister said.

"I confirm that a military aircraft crashed this morning," said Defence Minister Crispin Atama Tabe. "All 12 members of the crew died."

The Antonov transport plane had just taken off and had "several dozen people" on board, an airport source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The plane went down in Nsele, about 100 kilometres to the east of Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the source said.

The Presidency Releases Buhari’s 57 Achievements

SECURITY & RELATED MATTERS

1. Release of 106 Chibok girls, as well as over 16,000 persons in Boko Haram captivity.

2. Tackling insurgency, decimation of Boko Haram in the North East.

3. Recovering 14 local governments and territories previously under Boko Haram control in the North East, rebuilding lives of citizens there; about one million displaced persons in the NE have returned to their communities in two years of this administration.

4. Curbing the incidence of kidnap across the country. (Arrest of kidnap kingpins and dismantling of kidnap cells across the country)


5. Restoring morale of the Nigerian military; re-organizing and better equipping the Nigerian Armed Forces.

6. Purchase of 12 Super-Tucano aircrafts worth $600 million to aid the Nigerian military’s current operations in the North East.

7. Ensuring continued peace in the Niger Delta through consistent funding of the FG amnesty programme for ex-militants.

8. Introduction of an improved mechanism for distribution of aid to IDPs in the North East through the establishment of the Special Intervention Programme of the Federal Government. (Door-to-door strategy)

ECONOMY

9. Implementing the National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) to aid economic recovery, taking the country out of her worst recession in 29 years, despite fall in oil prices.

10. N1.2 trillion expended on capital/infrastructure projects nationwide, a milestone in the nation’s history.

11. Effective implementation of the Treasury Single Account, and increasing government revenue by over N3 trillion as well as entrenching transparency and accountability.

12. Implementation of the Bank Verification Number (BVN), thus tackling corruption by plugging loopholes for siphoning of public fund and tracking of illicit funds through multiple accounts

13. Ease of doing business: the Federal Government signed into law two bills from the National Assembly (Acts are the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act, 2017 (otherwise known as Collateral Registry Act) and the Credit Reporting Act, 2017) which has facilitated access to more affordable credit for Nigerians, fast tracked budget submissions and promotes Made-in-Nigeria products.

14. Establishment of the Presidential Quarterly Business Forum to enhance interaction and private sector participation in the development of the economy.

15. Institutionalizing E-governance setting the foundation for the creation of a truly digital economy.

16. Creation of opportunities for youths to leverage innovation in technology through the introduction of the Aso Villa Demo Day (AVDD) through which over N700 million has been disbursed to young entrepreneurs.  

17. The revitalization of the Made-in-Nigeria campaign. (Emphasis on consumption of local products gain grounds)

18. Implementing reforms in the civil service which has led to the elimination of over 30,000 ghost workers, thereby saving the country billions of naira monthly.

19. Massive investments in agriculture, e.g, Anchors Borrowers Programme to improve local produce, improving fertiliser distribution and access across states through the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative.

20. Reduction in rice imports as a result of government’s policies that has encouraged massive rice production across Nigeria.

21. Improving transport infrastructure (rail and road); construction work ongoing on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, renovation of Abuja International Airport runway, completion of Abuja – Kaduna Railway among others.

22.    Social Investment Programmes (SIP): N-Power Volunteer Scheme creating jobs for over 200,000 (and still counting) unemployed graduates in all the 36 states and the FCT.

23.    SIP: Ongoing Government Enterprise and Empowerment (GEEP) Scheme; commenced in November 2016 in collaboration with the Bank of Industry, where soft loans ranging from N10, 000 to N100, 000 have been given to over 189,000 market women and traders across different states.

24.    SIP: Home Grown School Feeding Programme, where almost three million schoolchildren have been fed, while tens of thousands of cooks have been engaged in their respective states.

25.    SIP: Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme, under which about 25,000 less privileged Nigerians so far are now being funded with the monthly N5,000 stipend in 9 pilot States (Bauchi, Borno, Cross Rivers, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Osun and Oyo). More beneficiaries are expected to be added in more states.

26.    The establishment of MSMEs Clinics, a small Business support programme to support entrepreneurs and small businesses in different states.

27. Establishment of One-Stop-Shops to support policies on Ease of Doing Business.

28. The take-off of the 2nd Niger Bridge.

29. Phasing out subsidy for petroleum products, elimination of fuel scarcity and queues in petrol stations.

30.  Implementation of the FG Niger Delta new vision, a comprehensive road map to improve livelihood and social infrastructure.

31.    Improved power generation nationwide adding $500million to Nigeria’s sovereign wealth fund and about $87million to its excess crude account.

32.    The creation of the N30billion Solid Minerals Development Fund.

33.    Encouraging the patronage of local contents and increasing export in agriculture.

34. Signing of Executive Order 001 which is the promotion of transparency and efficiency in the business environment - to ensure that public servants offer prompt service in a predictable and transparent manner, and sanction undue delays.

35. Signing of Executive Order 002 which is on prompt submission of annual budgetary estimates by all statutory and non-statutory agencies of the Federal Government including incorporated companies wholly owned by FG.

36.  Bailout of cash crunch states; about N689 billion to 27 states of the federation to pay salaries in 2015.

37. Complete refund of Paris loan deductions to states (unprecedented).

38. Implementing the 2011 UNEP report for the ongoing Ogoni clean-up process after decades of oil spills and pollution.

39. Modification of the tax system so that it is more efficient.

40. Reforms in the airports (reconstruction of the Abuja airport runway and ongoing work at the Lagos airport).

41. Reforms at the nation’s seaports (Issues with cargo clearance at the ports addressed)
42. Improved duration (under 48 hours) for visa approval especially for investors.

43. Resuscitation of the nation’s refineries which are now working at 50 percent capacity for the first time in over a decade.

44. Eleven of the dead 33 fertilizer plants have been resuscitated while four others are to be revived shortly and this has profound impact on the ongoing revolution in the agricultural sector.

45. For the first time in more than 45 years, the Mambila Power Plant is set to take off with the allocation of $5.6billion for its realization and an expected 3,050 MW output upon completion.

46. Increasing external reserves to a 13 month high of $33 billion from $29.13 billion which has surpassed the ERGPs target of $30.56 billion despite global low oil prices and production challenges.

47. Cancellation of the Joint Venture cash calls with oil multinational companies operating in Nigeria (For the first time in the history of the industry) which has led to savings of billions of dollars lost to fictitious contract payments.

48. Release of N2 billion take off grant for the Maritime University as part of measures to address agitations in the Niger Delta region.

49. The new development bank of Nigeria (DBN) is finally taking off with initial funding of $1.3billion (provided by the World Bank, German Development Bank, African Development Bank, Agence Francaise De Development) to provide medium and long term loans to MSMEs.



ANTI – GRAFT WAR.

50.    Improving Nigeria’s international image and regional cooperation with neighbouring countries in fighting insurgency.

51.    Anti-corruption war: Prosecuting alleged corrupt public officers and recovering billions of naira of stolen public funds; the successful establishment of the whistle-blower policy.

52. Signing of Executive Order 004 – Voluntary Income Asset Declaration Scheme (VAIDS). This aims to increase tax awareness and compliance, and reduce incidence of tax evasion.

53. Signing of agreements with a number of nations to provide Automatic Exchange of Information.

54. Signing of the Extradition Treaty between Nigeria and United Arab Emirates (UAE) toward strengthening Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign.
55. Establishment of PACAC – a think-tank that has provided leadership, direction and also built capacity of personnel in the fight against corruption.

OTHERS

56. Eradication of polio disease in the country.

57. The introduction of the One Primary Health Centre per ward programme of the Federal Government.

Kim Kardashian Finally Confirms Surrogate Baby

Kim Kardashian has shared a teaser for the 14th season of Keeping Up With The Kardashians which sees her confirm she hired of a surrogate.

For months it has been claimed that Kim hired a surrogate who is pregnant with her baby. The woman, who has reportedly been put up in style in LA by Kim and Kanye, is allegedly due in January. This will be a third child for Kim and Kanye who already have Saint, aged one, and North, aged four.

At the very end of the video, Kim is shown FaceTiming with sister Khloe as she queries: 'What happens every time I say "guess what?"'

The 33-year-old younger sibling replies: 'You're either pregnant or a person is pregnant.' Then Kim jubilantly declares: 'We're having a baby!'

Barack Obama Admits He Cried After Dropping Malia Off At Harvard

President Barack Obama has admitted to pulling a classic dad move, crying while dropping daughter Malia off on her first day at Harvard University. He recalled the experience in a speech at the Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children in Delaware this week.

"For those of us who have daughters, it just happens fast," he told the audience. "I dropped off Malia at college, and I was saying to Joe and Jill [Biden] that it was a little bit like open-heart surgery."

Obama said he was able to hold it together in front of Malia, but lost it once he and wife Michelle left campus.


"I was proud that I did not cry in front of her," Obama said, "but on the way back, the secret service was looking straight ahead pretending they weren't hearing me as I sniffled and blew my nose. It was rough."

Malia Obama started her first year at Harvard in August after deferring her enrollment for a year. The former first couple were seen on campus as they helped their 19-year-old daughter move in.

Obama's speech this week was one of the few public appearances he's made since leaving office.

Chinese Police Order Muslims To Hand In Copies Of Koran & Prayer Mats Or Face 'Harsh Punishment'

Chinese authorities are reportedly stepping up their campaign against Muslims in the north-western region of Xinjiang.

According to sources in the region, officials have been warning neighbourhoods and mosques that ethnic minority Muslim families are being forced to hand in religious items including the Koran and prayer mats.

They face severe punishment if they are discovered.


According to Radio Free Asia, reports have emerged from Kashgar, Hotan and other regions of similar practices starting last week.

The spokesman for the exile World Uyghur Congress group, Dilxat Raxit said they received a notification saying that every single ethnic Uyghur must hand in any Islam-related items from their own home.

Copies of the Koran and related items must be handed into the government authorities, and there will be notices being broadcast via WeChat, China's most popular social media app.

According to local officials, Xinjiang authorities earlier this year, began removing all Korans published more than five years ago due to extremist content.

The Korans were taken as part of the 'Three Illegals and One Item' campaign that was underway in Xinjiang, which is against 'illegal' religious items owned by mostly Muslim Uyghurs.

This operation bans 'illegal' publicity, religious activities, religious teaching, and items believed to be tools of terrorism including flammable objects, and knives.

Obasanjo Admits Buhari's Administration Has Been Slow, Also Speaks On Biafra

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticised the slow pace at which the present administration of Muhammadu Buhari is taking to fulfill its promises to Nigerians.

The former president said this in an interview with African Arguments magazine, and stressed that President Buhari had not done enough for Nigerians especially in employment creation for the youth.

”All youth in Nigeria have legitimate reasons to feel frustrated and angry. Buhari has made some announcements. He has tried to keep on going in the area of agribusiness, but not enough. It is not yet enough to prepare the ground for uninhibited growth of the economy, which we need,” Mr. Obasanjo said.

He said the president can do more to empower the youth and advised that if youth empowerment, skill acquisition, youth employment, and education are provided, “the ticking bomb of possible youth explosion out of restiveness and anger will subside.”


Mr. Obasanjo also criticised those agitating for the sovereign state of Biafra, saying ”they do not know why they are doing so.”

“The protesters don’t even know what the struggle is all about, but if it gives them false hope, why not hang onto it? Let the elders handle it or ignore it until it loses momentum,” he said.

Mr. Obasanjo said there are many elders in every community who are still respected, “after all, they’re their (youth’s) fathers and mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers, and can still be used effectively.”

Speaking about federalism, Mr. Obasanjo said he ”does not not believe in it” and that those talking about devolution of powers and true federalism ”don’t know what they are talking about.”

He said, “I don’t believe in true federalism. What is true federalism? Why are they not accountable? What powers do they not have?”

The former president claimed some state governors are ”more powerful than President Muhammad Buhari or any other Nigerian President.”

“If anybody tells you they want devolution or true federalism, he doesn’t know what he is talking about. The fact anybody talks about it doesn’t mean it’s right,” he said.

He also spoke on reports that he had just N20,000 in his account before he became president in 1999, yet went on to become one of the richest Nigerians alive.

He said ”he was already a wealthy man before he became president and that even then he had the largest poultry farm in Africa then.”

Mr. Obasanjo has been on tour to promote his new book, Making Africa Work, which he describes as “a guide to improving Africa’s capacity for economic growth and job creation.”

INEC Fixes Feb. 16, 2019 For Presidential Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday, February 16, 2019 for the presidential and National Assembly elections.

The electoral body made the announcement via its official Twitter handle, stating that the election is exactly 505 days away from yesterday.

All Nigerian Teachers To Undergo Mandatory Computer-Based Test – TRCN

The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, TRCN, met in Enugu State on Thursday to review ways of improving the registration and training of teachers in the South-east.

Part of its resolution was a mandatory computer-based for all teachers before they are registered, an official said.

In a statement issued by the Registrar and Chief Executive of the Council, Josiah Ajiboye, the council expressed concerns over the decline of quality in teachers across the country.



“We have brought stakeholders and chairpersons of the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB and those of the Post-Primary Education Board, PPEB, as well as a coalition of education actors at the tertiary level because we are interested in making teaching one of the best professions in the country,’’ the statement said.

“We had an interaction on the layout of the TRCN, taking into consideration areas where we are making progress and areas we are facing challenges and how we could join hands to move the teaching profession forward in the country,” the statement added.

Mr. Ajiboye, in the statement, noted that there is a rot in the educational system and that his administration is determined to bring back standard into the system.

Donald Trump’s Health Secretary Resigns

Tom Price, President Donald Trump’s secretary of Health and Human Services, resigned after taking private and military jets at taxpayer expense while heading one of the U.S.’s largest government agencies.

Trump intends to designate Don J. Wright of Virginia to serve as acting secretary, effective at 11:59 p.m. on Friday. He currently serves as deputy assistant secretary for health.

Price, 62, quit after it was revealed by Politico that he took more than two dozen private flights at taxpayer expense as well as trips to Europe, Africa and Asia on military aircraft.

The HHS department’s Office of Inspector General launched an investigation, as did Congress. Price is the first cabinet secretary to leave the administration, though Trump’s volatile White House has already seen the departure of several top staffers.

Uber Loses Licence To Operate In London

Uber has been stripped of its London licence in a surprise move that has triggered an outcry from drivers at the ride-hailing company and Conservative politicians.

The firm’s application for a new licence in London was rejected on the basis that the company is not a “fit and proper” private car hire operator.

Uber said it planned to challenge the ruling by London’s transport authority in the courts immediately. This means Uber cars will not disappear from the streets immediately and will continue to operate for its 3.5 million users in the capital until the firm has exhausted the appeals process – which could take months. The current licence expires on 30 September but Uber has 21 days to appeal and can continue to operate until that process expires.

The decision by Transport for London was backed by London mayor Sadiq Khan, employment rights campaigners, and the trade body for the capital’s black cab drivers.

Kebbi Government Confirms 656 Cases Of Measles

The Kebbi State Government on Friday said it had recorded 656 suspected cases of measles in 21 local government areas of the state.

The Executive Secretary, State Primary Health Care and Development Agency, Mannir Jega, who described the figure as alarming, said it was largely due to refusal of residents to go for routine immunisation.

The executive secretary said at a news briefing in Birnin Kebbi, that the state had recorded poor coverage due to low turnout for routine immunizations in previous campaigns in 2016.

Cholera Outbreak In Borno: 44 Dead So Far, 2000 Cases Recorded

The number of persons that have been killed by a fresh cholera outbreak in Borno State has risen to 44. Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Haruna Mshelia, who made the disclosure on Friday while addressing journalists, said that to combat the disease and prevent future outbreak, vaccination would immediately commence in the four local government areas worst affected.

He said that the vaccination was to ensure the disease did not spread to other areas of the state after nearly 2,000 cases were reported in the last two weeks. The early record of hose who died was put at 23.

18-Year-Old College Student Explains How She Narrowly Escaped From Kidnappers Den

After 11 days in kidnappers’ den, 18-year-old Mary Olaniyan, a student of the Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, has a lot to be thankful for.

According her, if not for divine intervention, she might have become a human to be carved up as body parts for ritual killers.

The young lady narrated her miraculous escape from a forest she found herself after she became unconscious in a cab she boarded in front of the school gate on September 1, 2017.

The year one student, who lives outside the campus, said after finishing lectures on campus that day, she was heading home when she boarded the kidnappers’ vehicle at about 6.30pm outside the main gate of the college along the Ondo-Ore highway.


According to her, four men were already seated in the vehicle painted in Ondo State taxi colours.

Olaniyan said, “I boarded the taxi alongside a lady at the same location and two other men. The two of the men were going to Yaba in Ondo town.

“As soon as I boarded the vehicle I became unconscious and by the time I regained my consciousness, I found myself in a building located inside a thick forest. I didn’t know the exact town where the forest is located but it is a very thick forest.

“I discovered that there were two guys and three ladies that had already been kidnapped and kept inside the building in the forest. The three men that kidnapped us were there  too.”

Her 11 days in the forest was an experience she said she could only describe as hell.

Looking conspicuously emaciated and frail, Olaniyan, is still shaken, days after her escape.

She shed tears as she narrated that she drank only water for the 11 days she spent in the captivity.

“The men did not give us food for the time we were there, they were giving us only water,” she said.

Olaniyan did not describe her abductors as mere kidnappers who kidnap for ransom.

She explained that it became clear that they dealt in human parts.

She narrated that they killed their victims and sold their body parts to “big men” customers many of whom she saw visiting the camp in expensive cars.

 “I saw strange men coming in big vehicles to collect some things in cellophane bags. I knew it had to be human flesh,” she said.

On how she escaped from the hands of her captors, Olaniyan described her freedom as divine, saying she escaped while they (captors) were quarrelling with one another. She said she used the opportunity of the fight of her abductors to escape, alongside other victims, into the bush.

“Fight broke out among the kidnappers over money. The money was given to them by one of their customers, who came and left with something they put in a cellophane bag too.

“They did not watch us as they fought. That was when we used the opportunity to run out of the building in the forest.” Olaniyan stated.

She said she trekked for three days in the forest until she got to Ile-Oluji-Ipetu Ijesa Road, where she met a lady on the road and asked for directions to Ondo town.

Olaniyan was then told that she was close to Ile-Oluji. Soon after trekking along the road, she explained that she got to Igbo Oja village near Ondo where she made efforts to reach her mother on the mobile phone she begged to use from a resident.

Since the abduction of Olaniyan, two other students of the college – Blessing Oladepo and Mary Oluwasemilore – have been declared missing after they were suspected to have been kidnapped.

 A  few days ago, some of the kidnappers,who were arrested by the men of the Ondo State Police Command, confessed to be behind abduction of the female students of the institution.

However, Olaniyan in her own case was lucky to have escaped from the den of the hoodlums following what she described as a divine intervention.

The Public Relations Officer of the Adeyemi College of Education, Mrs. Seto Olatuyi, said Olaniyan is a 100-level student in the History Department of the institution and school authorities declared her missing when her friends could not locate her.

Reacting to the development, the Provost of the College, Prof. Olukoya Ogen, expressed gratitude for Olaniran’s safe return and warned the students to always be vigilant in their movements.

As of the time of filing this report, Olaniyan was still receiving treatment at a hospital.

Punch

Entire Philippine City Police Force Fired Over Killings

An entire city police force in the Philippines has been fired in metropolitan Manila after some of its members were suspected in the gruesome killings of three teenagers and others were seen on surveillance cameras robbing a house.

The 1,200-strong Caloocan city police force will be relieved in batches and replaced, said metropolitan Manila police chief Oscar Albayalde.

The officers will undergo 45 days of retraining, after which those facing no charges can be reassigned to other stations.

The Department of Justice has started an investigation based on a murder and torture complaint against four Caloocan policemen allegedly linked to the killing of 17-year-old student Kian Delos Santos during an anti-drug raid last month.


The parents of two other teenagers - 19-year-old Carl Angelo Arnaiz and 14-year-old Reynaldo de Guzman - have also filed murder, torture and planting of evidence complaints against two Caloocan policemen.

Lagos Couple Torture Child With Hot Iron

A guardian, Mr. ThankGod Madubuchi, and his wife, Juliet, have been arrested by policemen from the Ilupeju division, for allegedly torturing a 10-year-old girl, Chinansa, with a hot iron.

Punch Metro learnt that Chinansa was ThankGod’s niece and she had been living with his family at their house on Anjorin Street, Mushin, Lagos State, for some time.

ThankGod and his wife were alleged to have always assaulted the victim over minor offences, as appeals from neighbours fell on deaf ears.

However, matter came to a head on Tuesday, September 5, when the couple used a hot iron to torture the victim.


She was reportedly accused of licking powdered chocolate beverage (tea) without permission.

The couple were said to have locked her up in the house, which drew the attention of residents who alerted officials of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team.

An official of the agency told a Punch correspondent that neighbours attested to the regular abuse of Chinansa.

He said, “The abuse had been going on for a long time. We were informed that in the past, the man’s wife used razor blades to cut her in different parts of the body because she mistakenly tore her (Juliet) clothes. The neighbours didn’t raise the alarm that time because they thought the couple would change until the one that happened on that Tuesday.

“The girl was accused of licking powdered beverage without permission and the man used a hot iron to torture her. He then locked her up in the house without taking her to a hospital. Residents, who feared for the girl’s life, alerted the DSVRT.”

Punch Metro learnt that policemen from the Ilupeju division arrested the couple as two officials of the DSVRT and an officer of the Child Protection Unit rescued the victim from the house.

The couple were arraigned  before a family court at the Ogba Chief Magistrate’s Court on counts bordering on child abuse.

The defendants, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, were granted bail by the Chief Magistrate, T. Akanbi.

While Juliet was granted bail on self recognition because  she was nursing a  six-month-old baby, the husband was granted bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties each in like sum.

A DSVRT survivor advocate, Mrs. Tumininu Oni, appeared in court with the Investigating Police Officer, Inspector Roseline Ilekhue, who was represented by one Inspector James.

The case was adjourned till September 20, 2017.

Anambra Governorship Election: Police To Deploy 21,084 Personnel

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris, has said the force would deploy 21,084 policemen to Anambra for the Nov. 28 governorship election.

Idris made the disclosure at the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room Dialogue session in Abuja.

He said that 17,320 policemen would be deployed to the 4,330 polling units across the state while 280 of them would be deployed to the collation centres.

The inspector-general said 2,484 of the security agents would be deployed to 414 major streets in the state throughout the election period.


He said that the Force Headquarters would provide additional 300 vehicles to the 80 operational vehicles in the Police Command in Anambra.

Idris said that additional police mobile force units had also been deployed to Anambra and other states in the South-East and South-South for the governorship election.

The IGP explained that the deployment was to ensure that criminal elements were removed from the states before the election.

The Weeknd & Selena Gomez Move In Together

The Weeknd and his girlfriend Selena Gomez have reportedly moved in together. The Starboy hitmaker and the 25-year-old singer, who started dating in January, have decided to take their relationship to the next step as it is believed they are living in a lavish apartment in New York City’s Greenwich Village together.

'They are living in a low-rise luxury building in the heart of the Village. Selena is definitely immersing herself into the nitty gritty of New York,' a source told Entertainment Tonight.

It is believed the duo’s home boasts almost 12 foot high ceilings. There are Juliette glass balconies and English kitchens.


The insider explained: 'Best of all, the master bath is outfitted with his and her vanities, a steam shower and Kohler cast-iron bathtub.'

It is speculated that the Kill Em With Kindness musician’s accommodation costs approximately $16,000 a month to rent.

Imo State Youths Set Monarch’s Home Ablaze

Youths numbering over 200 today set ablaze the palace of the traditional ruler of Obollo Autonomous community in the Isiala Mbano Local Government of Imo state, Eze Edwin Mbaeyi.

A source in the community, who simply identified himself as Collins told Punch that the palace was burnt over the refusal of the monarch to coronate one Chief Chijioke Njokuocha as the traditional prime minister of the community after the death of his father, Chief Samuel Njokuocha.

According to the source, the monarch’s preference for one Chief Jasper Nwachukwu angered the youths who had gathered to witness the coronation of Chief Njkuocha.


The youths took laws into their hands when the event failed to hold.

He said, “Our traditional ruler has insisted on making Chief Jasper Nwachukwu our traditional Prime Minister as against the rightful owner. The position of the prime minister in our community is hereditary.

“After the death of our prime minister, Chief Samuel Njokuocha, our custom, and tradition demand that his first son, Chijioku Njokuocha, should be coronated.

This issue started since 2016 and our traditional ruler has remained adamant and wants to go against the culture and tradition of our people. Even the office of the governor on conflict resolution had mandated him to coronate the rightful person but he vehemently refused.

After much persuasions, he agreed to do the coronation today (Tuesday) after he had boycotted it one month ago. To the chagrin of the people who had gathered with much excitement to witness the ceremony he declined. The youths were embittered. They had no other option than to set the palace ablaze after the monarch had fled “.

Apple Unveils iPhone 8 & £1,000 iPhone X With All-Screen Display, Wireless Charging

Apple has unveiled the £1,000 iPhone X, the latest generation of its flagship device. The all-glass device has an edge-to-edge display and no home button. It unlocks using facial recognition software and features wireless charging.

Tim Cook also launched the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, two new phones that have 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screens. Like the iPhone X, the devices also have an all-glass design and can be charged wirelessly.

In addition to the phones, Apple announced a third generation of its Watch and a 4K Apple TV.

A 28-Year-Old Female Named White House Communications Director

28-year-old interim White House Communications Director Hope Hicks will serve in the role on a permanent basis.

The longtime Trump aide is the fourth person to fill the position, replacing Anthony Scaramucci, who was fired in July after just 10 days on the job.

Ms Hicks has served as President Donald Trump's strategic communications director and campaign press secretary.

The ex-Trump Organization employee is one of his most trusted aides.

The former Ralph Lauren fashion model's permanent appointment comes after a summer of staff shake-ups at the White House.

Plateau, Bauchi, Benue & Gombe To Be In Total Blackout As Fire Guts Jos Transmission Station

Fire has gutted the Jos transmission station through which electricity is being distributed to the fours states; Plateau, Bauchi, Benue and Gombe, served by the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC).

The fire which started around 5pm this evening, razed down the facility, a transformer 150MVA 300/132 KV, located along Zaria Road, Jos.

“What it means is that the four states served by JEDC will be in total darkness until the transformer is restored; it is such a sad situation,” Friday Elijah, JEDC direction of communication said.

Mel B Is Seen In Public For The First Time With Married Beverly Hills Cop

She's in the throws of very public divorce proceedings with Stephen Belafonte. But Spice Girl Melanie B looked to be having a lovely time, court case be damned, in a photo of her having lunch with her rumoured policeman fling Ryan Lawrence.

The cop, 32, is married; and the snap, which proves incriminating, was captured by Mel's daughter, Phoenix, no less

Hostage negotiator Ryan has reportedly been staying at Mel's LA home five nights a week, despite his wife being left at home not knowing what's going on.


He and Mel have not been seen out and about together before now, with the romance purely conjecture; and although the 'affair' is still not confirmed, Phoenix's photo has certainly fueled the rumour fires.

The 18-year-old posted the photo to Snapchat from across the dinner table, as the 'couple' enjoyed sandwiches together.

While Ryan is aware Phoenix is taking the snap, seen to be staring right into the lens of the camera, Mel seems preoccupied with other things, busy talking on her own phone.

The image looks to have been taken weeks ago, with Mel's hair notably styled in long waves, before she cut it recently into a shorter cropped 'do.

Sources have claimed that Mel and Ryan have been romantically involved since May, after becoming acquainted when another police officer introduced them.

Britain Faces Its Own Hurricane Scare

Britain is due to be hit by the tail-end of up to three hurricanes or tropical storms in the next two months, said AccuWeather, one of the world's biggest weather forecasters.

Hurricane Irma is hammering Florida today after devastating Caribbean islands, leaving at least three people dead as the storm slams into Key West.

The Met Office said Britain won't be battered by weather as severe as that which is slamming the US and Caribbean, but could face winds of up to 70mph this week.

Forecaster Helen Roberts told MailOnline: 'We have often got the remnants of hurricanes coming across the Atlantic to the UK.

'But when they reach us they are very different beasts.'

But Britain is still more at risk this autumn – with this forecast to be the worst hurricane season for seven years, the US Government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said.

Photos: Robbers Stab Bike Man To Death In Sapele

A motorcyclist has been stabbed to death by suspected armed robbers in Amukpe, Sapele, Delta state. According to reports, the armed robbers stabbed him several times while struggling with them not to lose his motor bike. 

Leonardo DiCaprio Spotted Tightly Holding Hands With Ex-girlfriend Toni Garrn

Leonardo DiCaprio held on to old flames until he noticed he's been spotted by the paps.

Leo was seen leaving 1 Oak in NYC over the weekend tightly holding hands with ex-gf and Victoria's Secret model Toni Garrn.

He arrived at a club earlier with a couple other gal pals, but left with Toni and a bodyguard.

The two quickly separated once they saw their pic being taken but got back together later. Leo and Toni dated in 2013.

Nigeria Customs Impounds 1,100 Pump Action Rifles

Operatives of the Nigerian Custom Service, Tin-Can Island Command have impounded 1,100 pump action rifles again.

This bring to a total of about 2110 pump action rifles impounded in Lagos alone in the last seven months.

Manchester Man Who Told Dog To Bite Muslims Because They Kill People Is Jailed

A man who set his dog on a two Muslims shouting 'they kill people' has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Jakub Wendland used his cross-breed bull terrier dog to target a man coming out of a mosque and a short time later set it on a woman: "Go on, bite her. They kill people, bite her!"

The 32-year-old, a driver living in Rochdale, then spat in the faces of two police officers as they arrested him following the attacks in Manchester.

The incident came a month after the terror bombing at Manchester Arena during a time police reported a large spike in anti-Muslim hate crime.

China Bans Children From Attending Church Services

Authorities in China have tightened their grip on the country's churches by ordering that children are to be banned from joining religious groups.

The ban also prohibits children from attending religious sermons and other activities in several provinces across the country.

Control on the country's churches began several years ago when places of worship were ordered to remove crosses from their buildings in Zhejiang province

Earlier this month, over one hundred churches in Wenzhou, China's Zhejiang province reportedly received a notice from government officials informing them that young people will be banned from entering churches, according to a report.


Minors are also reportedly banned from participating in religious activities.

Members of the church were told not to participate in religious activities and churches were not allowed to organise a youth summer camp.

Kendall Jenner Finally Breaks Silence On Pepsi Advert Disaster

Kendall Jenner has addressed the Pepsi advert controversy for the first time since it caused a major uproar back in May.

Pepsi eventually had to pull the ad while admitting that it "missed the mark" with the protest themed advert, which saw the model, 21, appearing to calm a protest by handing a police officer a can of the famous cola.

Five months later, in scenes filmed for Keeping Up With The Kardashians, the reality beauty - who was said to be "mortified" at the time - is seen speaking about the embarrassing campaign.

In the trailer for the upcoming series of the E! show, she is sat on a bed with sister Kim. “It feels like my life is over,” she tells her older sibling.


Kim replies, "You made a mistake." While Kendall had kept silent on it, mum-of-two Kim opened up about the ad last month in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

"We're not perfect, but you see these things in the media, like Kendall and her Pepsi ad, where I see her at home crying.

"But in the media she looks another way because she's not addressing it."

While Kendall added: "I'm the most private one. If there's a moment I don't want anyone to hear, I talk to myself or talk to someone in another room."

Kim then revealed that she encouraged Kendall to address it publicly.

"I'm just like, 'This is wrong. You need to speak up'. [Kendall] was like, 'I don't ever want to show that footage of me crying.'"

"She was trying to not make excuses or be dramatic, but that was what she was going through at the time."

After the ad was pulled less than 24 hours after it was released, a spokesperson for the drinks giant said: "Pepsi was trying to project a global a message of unity, peace and understanding.

"Clearly, we missed the mark, and we apologise. We did not intend to make light of any serious issue.

"We are pulling the content and halting any further rollout. We also apologise for putting Kendall Jenner in this position."

Photo: First Nudist Park Opens In Paris

Paris has opened its very first nudist park. A small path leads to the semi-secluded clearing near a bird reserve in the Bois de Vincennes park, where about 10 naturists were enjoying a sunny afternoon on the grass.

Nudists have long demanded to have their own green spot in the French capital.

The mayor's office said the creation of a nudist area, though still in an experimental stage, is "part of an open-minded vision for the use of Parisian public spaces".

A sign warns park-goers of the nudist section in Bois de Vincennes.

Taylor Swift Plays Bridesmaid At Best Friend's Wedding

Taylor Swift was seen at her best friend Abigail Anderson's wedding on Saturday. That's the same Abigail who she went to high school with and wrote the 2009 hit, Fifteen, about.

The 27-year-old looked stunning in a halter maroon gown with an A-line bottom as she tended to her pretty blonde friend at the splashy nuptials in Martha's Vineyard, a Massachusetts island that sits in the Atlantic Ocean just south of Cape Cod.

The pop star - who just released her revenge song Look What You Made Me Do earlier this week - seemed to keep her head down as she stayed behind the bride while they walked into a church.

Taylor wore her medium-length blonde hair down and in soft curls. She also had long bangs and matched her wine-colored lip to match her floor-length dress and had on flattering dark eye makeup.

Novak Djokovic Becomes Dad For The 2nd Time

Novak Djokovic and his wife Jelena have become parents of a baby girl. Jelena gave birth on Saturday evening and their second child will be named Tara.

The couple have a two-year-old son before now.

Angelina Jolie Has Spoken For The First Time Of Emotional Toll Of Her Split With Brad Pitt

The Hollywood star, 42, says the break-up last year was made worse by health problems including a double mastectomy and Bell’s Palsy on her face.

She said: “Sometimes it appears I’m pulling it all together but really I’m just trying to get through my days. Emotionally it’s been a very difficult year. “I don’t enjoy being single. It’s not something I wanted. There’s nothing nice about it. It’s just hard.”

It comes hot on the heels of reports that Brad and his ex Jennifer Aniston are patching things up, with the Inglorious Basterds star said to have done some serious thinking which has led him to reach out and say sorry to Jen, 48, for the way he behaved during their marriage.

Teacher Arrested For 'Sending N*ked Pictures To Students On Snapchat'

A teacher has been arrested for allegedly sending naked pictures of herself to a bunch of child students. Tracy Miller, 27, shared the sordid snaps with up to five of her pupils through the photo app Snapchat, reports say.

Bosses at Logan High School in West Virginia started investigating after rumours over the pervy behaviour were doing the rounds in the corridors for over several months.

They made a breakthrough when a student came forward and said he had a saucy photo of a teacher that had been sent to his phone.


And when they identified the naked person in the image they contacted police who made the arrest.
Logan County Sheriff deputies said Miller admitted to sharing the saucy snaps with up to five students – but couldn’t remember how many images she had sent out.

Bosses at Logan County School said: "We are dealing with the situation by following county policy governing Employee Code of Conduct.

“The teacher in question has been suspended at this time."
Miller was arrested on Friday on three counts of distribution of obscene matter to minors. She has already been arraigned on the charges and released on bond.

Deputies say they are trying to track down any more students who may have been sent the sordid snaps.

Gulder Ultimate Search 3 winner, reportedly shot dead

The winner of the 2006 Gulder Ultimate Search, Hector Joberteh, has been killed in Lagos. According to report, Hector had gone out, earlier Saturday morning to pick a relative from the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos State.

It was suggested that his assailants had trailed him from the airport to his home, where he was eventually killed.

Eyewitnesses report that two men had forcibly gained entrance into the compound where Hector lived and questioned a few residents for his Hector’s whereabouts, after which upon sighting him, opened fire.


Hector’s father was also said to have been shot in the hand and is currently recuperating in the hospital.

Coleen Rooney 'Hides Out' At Her Mum's House With Children As She 'Considers £70m Divorce'

Pregnant Coleen Rooney is believed to be hiding out at her mother's house as she considers divorcing disgraced husband Wayne.

The mum-of-three's white Range Rover was seen parked outside her parent's Huyton pad - which is around 40 minutes away from her Cheshire family home, where Wayne is holed up.

Yesterday, Coleen's dad was seen playing with the couple's three children after the WAG was thought to have screamed at her husband after he partied with a single mum and ended up arrested in her car.

Coleen’s fury is said to be “off the scale” after Rooney’s wild night with a party girl that led to his arrest for drink driving - and The Sun reports she is considering severing their nine-year marriage.

Shattered Coleen has put up with years of heartbreaking betrayals by Wayne.

In 2010, he slept with former £1,000-a-night call girls Jenny Thompson and Helen Wood when Coleen was expecting.

He also reportedly tried to bed BA worker Rebecca Haynes during his boozy stag jaunt in Ibiza.

Six years earlier in 2004 the Sunday Mirror revealed he paid £140 to romp with prostitute Charlotte Glover, then 21 – and left her with a signed autograph as a souvenir.

A month later he had sex with prostitute Gina McCarrick, 37, at a brothel in Liverpool, which he visited 10 times.

He was also caught entering a £45-a-time brothel where he had sex with a 48-year-old gran known as the “Auld Slapper”. She was said to have worn a rubber catsuit.

Even when he’s not chasing women he struggles to stay out of trouble. In 2015 he was caught on camera getting knocked clean out while boxing in his kitchen with his soccer star mate Phil Bardsley.