Abdul's Blog: 01/20/18

Saturday, 20 January 2018

Gunmen Attack Afghan Hotel

At least four gunmen have launched an attack on Kabul’s Intercontinental Hotel. Special forces tried to repel the gunmen, interior ministry spokesman, Najib Danish, told the BBC.

An official at the Afghan spy agency said the gunmen were “shooting at guests.” The attack began at about 21:00 local time (16:30 GMT), Mr. Danish said.

There were no immediate details on the casualties.

‘We’ll deliver one of the world’s cleanest cities’ — Ambode tenders apology over refuse heaps

Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of Lagos state, says the resurgence of waste on major highways and streets in the state, will soon be a thing of the past.

In a statement by Habib Aruna, his chief press secretary, Ambode assured residents that the state government is on top of the situation.

Hebei China Fortune coach Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed he expects to sign Javier Mascherano this month, with the Barcelona defender anticipated to complete his move to the Chinese side within two weeks.

Mascherano has been linked with a switch to China since December, although there has not yet been any confirmation from either side of the deal.

After a seven-year hunt, police have arrested a Briton accused of stealing and smuggling cars from Britain into Uganda.

The Flying Squad Unit (FSU) arrested the suspect after he was tricked by Mr Eric Alema, a victim of his car deals, and Mr Alema’s friend who posed as a car buyer.

Mr Richardson Jack Arthur, who also possesses a Ugandan passport, shot into the limelight in 2011 when he stole and sold a UK-made car to Mr Alema at Ush120 million.

Everton midfielder James McCarthy suffered a double leg break during Everton’s 1-1 draw with West Brom.

McCarthy was stretchered off midway through the second half at Goodison Park after colliding with Baggies striker Salomon Rondon.

A monarch in Taraba State and 28 others were killed during the week in fresh attacks by Fulani herdsmen, The Nation reports.

The attacks, which took place between Tuesday and Wednesday, occurred while the dust was yet to settle on herdsmen attacks on some Benue communities early in the year, which resulted in the death of about 70 residents.

The newly-appointed Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mr. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, has said the best he could have done in his life is to serve President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria.

According to a statement on Saturday by the Deputy Director (Information), State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye, Abubakar spoke on Friday at a send-off organised for him by presidential aides and members of staff of State House at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

A graduate of petroleum engineering at Federal university of Uyo, Akwa Ibom state has reacted to picture of him and a lady circulating online which suggests that he got married to her two years ago. According to Kufre Samuel, the matter is a serious one which prompted to release a press statement. Read below;

The Nigerian Community in South Africa said on Saturday that a mob destroyed four shops and several houses belonging to their members at Krugersdorp, near Johannesburg.

Mr Cyril James, the Ward Chairman of the Nigerian Union in the area, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the telephone from Johannesburg, South Africa that the attacks began on Jan. 18.

Incoming Liberian president George Weah on Saturday sought to dispel accusations he is ill-prepared to take the reins of his fragile west African country, and said his priority would be maintaining peace.

Former international footballer Weah played a friendly match against the Liberian Armed Forces side, fronting his All Stars team of former national players and friends, two days before his inauguration.

Pope jumps from Popemobile to help officer when she fell off her horse (video)

Pope Francis stopped his motorcade and got out to help a police officer who fell from her horse as he passed on Thursday.

The pontiff had just finished celebrating mass in Iquique and was travelling in his motorcade when the officer's horse reared up violently as the vehicle approached and the officer who was on guard tumbled off. Francis descended from his popemobile and he stood by the woman until an ambulance arrived with a stretcher and took her away before he resumed his ride.

Ex-Governorship candidate drags student lover to court over N750k spent on her lailasnews

Senator Sulyman Makanjuola Ajadi, an ex-Governorship candidate who contested for Kwara State Governorship seat under the Alliance for Democracy (AD), dragged his lover, Haleemat Temitope Abdulazeez, a student of Kwara State University (KWASU), for defrauding him to the tune of N750k.

TheNationalPilot reports that in the motion ex-parte dated 31st August 2017, which Salman Jawondo, counsel to the ex-Governorship candidate approached the court with “The plaintiff/applicant’s claim against the defendant is for recovery of debt and/or liquidated money demanded.”

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) said on Saturday it would work for close coordination between the party and the government, declining to comment on a report its executive planned to force Jacob Zuma to step down as president.

Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco has insisted that Edin Dzeko still wants to give his all for the club despite rumours linking him to Chelsea.

The former Manchester City man has become one of the most potent strikers in Serie A since moving to the Giallorossi, smashing 39 goals in all competitions last year on his way to the Capocannoniere award.

Chelsea left-back Baba Rahman is set to join Schalke on loan, the German club’s sporting director Christian Heidel has confirmed.

Baba joined the Blues in 2015 but has endured a miserable spell at Stamford Bridge, making just 15 Premier League appearances for the club.

Arsenal have reportedly had a first offer of 50 million euros ($61.1 million) for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang rejected by his German club Borussia Dortmund, according to Kicker magazine on Saturday.

Aubameyang, last season’s top scorer in the German league with 31 goals, has been dropped by Dortmund for the last two games amid speculation he is chasing a move to the Premier League club.

It was double tragedy for a young man, Felix Ojirike who was brutally attacked by his neighbour as he lost his eye after the attack by one Chidera Eze who was accused of sleeping with Ojirike’s wife in Lagos.

The incident happened at Sanni Dauda Street in Ejigbo, Lagos where they resided.

A year ago, Gambians wept for joy as Yahya Jammeh went into exile, bringing the curtain down on a brutal 22-year rule.

Today, many say freedom of speech in this small west African state is a right they cherish under President Adama Barrow’s administration.

Four Americans and Canadians kidnapped at gunpoint in Kaduna State have regained their freedom.

A senior police officer said the victims were rescued around 7.30am on Saturday in fairly good conditions and had been handed over to American Embassy in Abuja for medical attention.

Alexis Sanchez has said goodbye to his Arsenal team-mates, after a dramatic late development in his transfer saga.

Sanchez was included in the Gunners’ squad to play Crystal Palace on Saturday, although the players believed Arsene Wenegr might start him from the bench.

The challenges faced by air travelers and airport users at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos gets worse daily as the airport shuttles continue to break down at an alarming rate.

The airport shuttles, which were deployed for passengers a few months ago have depleted to just one operational vehicle from its hitherto five buses when it was first introduced.

The Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Governors’ Forum, Rochas Okorocha, has said that the governors elected on the platform of the party, have unanimously agreed that President Muhammadu Buhari deserves a second term in office and have therefore asked him to declare to run in the next election.

Okorocha gave the hint while fielding questions from journalists at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, on his arrival from Abuja on Friday.

The National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) says it has developed six herbal products for the treatment of Ebola, malaria and other diseases.

Karniyus Gamaliel, NIPRD director-general, made this known while presenting the scorecard of his eight-year tenure (2009-2017) in Abuja on Friday.

Friends invoke spirit of Nigerian man who died 22 days after his wedding to revenge lailasnews

Friends, family and loved ones have invoked the spirit of Nigerian man, Emma Onyeaneche Onye, a.k.a Ana Eche na Aguleri, after he shockingly died today, just 22 days after his wedding.

Friends of the late Nigerian man, who took to social media to write tributes to him, asked the dead man from Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, to fight for himself and punish those who killed him just after his wedding.

Security operatives comprising of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Police and Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested illegal Nigerien citizens and other foreigners at Karu, Abuja following a tip-off on the subtle entry of aliens into the community. The men are currently in the custody of the security operatives as investigations begin to unravel their mission in the country.

According to multiple reports, some luxury vehicles belonging to former president Mugabe's wife, Grace Mugabe have been stopped from leaving Zimbabwe. Eyewitnesses familiar with what happened say Grace Mugabe's son, Russell Goreraza was detained trying to cross over the border with Grace Mugabe’s Rolls Royce, Range Rover and Porsche.

The Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, led northern governors to beg Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, not to resign from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum over herdsmen killings in the state.

It was the first move from governors in north since Fulani herdsmen killed 73 people in Benue.

According to media personnel from Omoku in Rivers state, Osiah Chinedu Ojukwu, another notorious criminal identified as Oluchi Excellent Mark Igwedibia popularly known as Obata Osu, has been declared wanted by security operatives in the state.

The suspect said to be very dangerous is reportedly the younger brother serial kidnapper and mass murderer Johnson Igwedibia a.k.a Don Wanny...

Mom shares horrific injuries her daughter sustained during a school trip, narrates how the teachers neglected her.

A Mom, Monica Jefferson took to her Facebook page to share photos of the horrific injuries her daughter sustained while on a school trip and also accused the teachers of neglecting her child. She wrote;

The Oyo State Government says it will appeal the judgment which declared unconstitutional and illegal the Commission of Inquiry recommending the elevation of some Ibadan high chiefs to Obas.

Justice Olajumoke Aiki of Oyo State High Court had on Friday declared the retired Justice Akintunde Boade’s Commission of Inquiry which reviewed the 1957 Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration and other Chieftaincies as unconstitutional and illegal.

A group of scientists is suggesting a reset for the puberty age or the age of adolescence, from 9-14 for girls and 12-16 for boys to 10-24 for all the genders.

The scientists made the suggestion after studying adolescent health for many years.

A woman in Zimbabwe who stole a phone of her neighbour’s late husband, and uploaded her picture as the display picture has been charged $100 after being caught.

Nobuhle Moyo who went to console the wife of her late neighbours household, ended up stealing the phone whilst parading as a sympathiser to the bereaved wife.

475 illegal migrants were intercepted by Libyan Coast patrols on Monday and Tuesday, the Media Office of Coast Guard has reported.

On Monday, a Coast Guard patrol intercepted 352 migrants (276 men, 65 women and 11 children) on three rubber boats in two separate operations off the country’s western shores.

Governor Kashim Shettima on Thursday, handed over the recently rescued Chibok girl Salomi Pogu alongside Jamila Adams with her 16 months old daughter to the National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno in his office in Abuja.

Johannesburg Metro Police Department on Wednesday, arrested a Nigerian man found in possession of a huge stash of fake money.

Michael Sun‚ MMC for Public Safety‚ said the suspect was arrested by the metro’s K9 unit and found with around R300‚000 in fake bank notes. Counterfeit notes in other currencies were also found.

Two Cameroonian soldiers, Elle Patrice and Ntimbane Foumane have been arrested after they were caught trying to smuggle illegal migrants into Equatorial Guinea via car booth.

The migrants who are from Cameroon, Mali and Burkina Faso were hidden inside a car booth before they were discovered.

Fatai Owoseni appointed new police commissioner for Benue State

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotum Idris, has appointed the former Lagos state commissioner of police, Fatai Owoseni, as the new commissioner of police, Benue state command.

Fire on Friday night gutted three duplexes on 34 Road, B Close of Gowon Estate, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Egbada, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAM) reports.

NAN also reports that there was no casualty recorded in the inferno.
An eyewitness, who spoke to NAN, said that the fire was first noticed at about 7.15pm in one of the duplexes before spreading to others.

The United States government on Saturday shut down, after members of the country Senate failed to reach an agreement on government spending and immigration.

Opposition Democrats in the Senate joined to block a bill that would have kept the government running for another four weeks in a late-night vote,