Nigerians In Diaspora Back Atiku’s Aspiration To Become President In 2019

Nigerians in diaspora have vowed to do all within their power to ensure that Atiku emerges as Nigeria’s president next year.



A group of Nigerians resident in Dallas, Texas has thrown their weight behind the presidential ambition of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar vowing to mobilize the American Black Congressional Caucus in his support, according to a report by The Nation.
The group under the aegis of Atiku Support Group said they believe that the former Vice President has what it takes to lead the country and more importantly, because of his resolve to ensure that Nigerians in the diaspora are allowed to vote during general elections in the country.

Chairman of the group, Sir Chris Onyeador said they will go all out to mobilize for the former Vice President, believing that when he becomes President, he will sign the law that will give them voting right.

He said “unfortunately, we in diaspora are not eligible to vote. But we will use our large membership number to mobilize support in Nigeria for him to win the presidency in 2019. We intend to solicit support for his campaign by seeking full endorsement from the members of the black congressional caucus.

“We hope that since he is the champion for extending voting rights to Nigerian citizens in the diaspora, he will have the political will to sign it into law when he takes office.

“We have followed his public and private speeches regarding how to govern Nigeria better for the country to achieve its potentials, both in human capital and sustainable economic development. We also reviewed his past superior performance as the vice president during the Obasanjo administration, where he assembled good economic team to tackle the dilapidated economy after the military handover. The country needs Atiku now.

“His pedigree is unquestionably impressive that he will use his massive world influence to bring about economic development in the country. He is educated, detribalized, understands the geopolitical structure of Nigeria, and by extension will resolve the current political and tribal pogrom which has consumed the entire country.

“Atiku has the vision to restructure the country within six months of taking office. We believe on his platform to provide infrastructure development, revamp our current dilapidated education system, invest aggressively in agriculture, and resolve the most lingering power problem.

“Atiku has been the only candidate who is advocating to restructure the country. Restructuring where power will be decentralized and reverted to the states and local governments. Each state would utilize their own resources and develop at their own pace. The federal government as is currently constituted has so many appendages spread over which prevents or slows growth.”

READ ALSO:Breaking news: Dbanj loses son

President Buhari To Travel Out Of Nigeria Again

The Presidency has disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari will on Saturday, jet out of Nigeria once again for an official assignment.



President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Abuja on Saturday for Nouakchott, Mauritania, to attend the 31st Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

The president in his capacity as the leader of the AU, will make introductory remarks and presentation on the theme of the year: “Winning the Fight against Corruption, A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation.”

Below is an official statement issued on Friday in Abuja by Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.

PRESIDENT BUHARI TO ATTEND AU SUMMIT IN MAURITANIA

President Muhammadu Buhari will, Saturday, embark on an official visit to Nouakchott, Mauritania to attend the 31st Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government from June 30 to July 2, 2018.

In his capacity as the leader of the AU theme of the year: “Winning the Fight against Corruption, A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation”, the President will make introductory remarks and presentation on the theme.

On the margins of the AU Summit, President Buhari and other African leaders will take part in an interactive session with President Emmanuel Macron of France on Financing AU-led Peace Support Operations authorized by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Dominant issues affecting the continent such as peace and security, HIV/AIDS, regional cooperation, climate change will engage the attention of the African leaders during the Summit.

The Nigerian leader will also hold series of high-level bilateral sessions on issues of shared common interests to the country, Africa and the world.

Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, his counterpart in Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, and other top government officials will be on the President’s entourage.

FEMI ADESINA
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
June 29, 2018.

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$321 Million Loot To Be Shared To All Nigerian Citizens Next Month

The Federal Government will begin drawing money from the $321m loot repatriated to Nigeria from Switzerland next month.



The fund, which was part of the money stolen by the late military dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha, will be used to fund the Social Investment Programme of the government.

The Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment, Mrs. Maryam Uwais, said this in Abuja on Thursday at a forum on asset recovery organised by the Swiss Embassy in collaboration with the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice.

Uwais, who was represented by the Manager, Legal, National Social Investment Office, Ms. Linda Ekeator, explained that one of the conditions for returning the Abacha loot was that the spending would be monitored by the World Bank.

She said the Federal Government and the World Bank subsequently signed an agreement to use the money to fund the Social Investment Programme, which would among other things, give money to the poorest and most vulnerable households.

Ekeator said, “The cash transfer office has been making transfers not from the Abacha loot but from some other sources. The World Bank funding will commence with the Abacha loot funding in July. The payments that have been going on before now have been through budgetary provisions.”

Responding to criticisms that the N5,000 given to poor households had not curbed poverty, she said it would take years before its effects could be felt because the programme only began in December 2016.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator, National Cash Transfer Project, Dr. Temitope Sinkaiye, said 18 states and some Internally Displaced Persons’ camps in Borno State had been receiving the cash transfers.

Sinkaiye, who was represented by Mr. Tukur Rumar, said apart from cash transfers, beneficiaries were also receiving training in social skills.

He said the states that had been benefitting from the programme included: Niger, Kogi, Ekiti, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Cross River, Bauchi, Jigawa, Gombe, Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Nasarawa and Anambra...

When asked why 18 states were not benefitting from the programme, he said the state governments had not yet put in place the appropriate platform through which to implement the programme.

In his remarks, the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Eric Mayoraz, said the possibility of stashing looted funds in Switzerland had become lower because the laws on secret banking had changed.

Mayoraz further stated that Nigeria and Switzerland had signed a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty which ensures maximum cooperation between the two nations.

He said, “The money of the Abacha family ($752m) that was in Switzerland was repatriated in 2005. The $321m that was repatriated last year was the money frozen by the Swiss Attorney-General but was not in Switzerland but mainly in other countries like Luxembourg.

“The Swiss legislation from the 1990s till date has fundamentally changed. The law in Switzerland does not allow banking secrecy any longer. It doesn’t exist anymore and all the banks and financial institutions owe it a duty to ask anyone with money where the money came from.

“That does not mean there is no illegal money in Switzerland but there is another instrument I signed with the ministers of justice and finance two years ago for mutual assistance.”

Also speaking for the United Kingdom government, the Head, Department for International Development in Nigeria, Mrs. Debbie Palmer, said the UK government would spend £600,000 (N282m) to monitor the use of government funds.

“In terms of further action, DFID is contributing toward the monitoring and evaluation of assets that are being recovered. We are already supporting third-party monitoring through Action Aid in Nigeria and we are contributing over £600,000 towards the monitoring of recovered assets through a new transparency and accountability project,” she said.

She noted that in just two months, Nigeria received $321m Abacha loot from Switzerland and $73m and called on the country not to squander the opportunity.

Palmer said reports had confirmed that Africa was losing $50bn to corruption every year, which was more than the amount the continent was receiving in aid yearly.
The DFID boss called on the National Assembly to quickly pass the Proceeds of Crime Bill, which would go a long way in curbing corruption if implemented.

Palmer added, “There are funds recovered domestically and in jurisdictions outside Nigeria. This means having appropriate legislative and institutional frameworks in place through the passing of the Proceeds of Crime bill is important. It is important that we lend our voices to that debate and ensure that piece of legislation moves forward.

“Today I would like to call on the relevant actors to take action and ensure that the legislation moves forward before the elections. That would be a major achievement in Nigeria’s fight against corruption.”

In her submission, Mrs. Ladidi Mohammed of the Asset Recovery and Management Unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice said the $73m Abacha loot recovered from the UK in January would be used in implementing the 2018 budget which was recently signed into law.

During the interactive session, Mohammed said nearly $1m belonging to the late former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, was stuck in the United States because the Bayelsa State Government had failed to meet some conditions put in place.

She said, “In December, we set a process for the repatriation of that $1m Alamieyesigha money. It is not up to $1m but over $900,000. It is due for repatriation. We have done everything humanly possible to get the state government to come forward.

“We have written letters, we have contacted the state attorney-general’s office; written the governor’s office and tried to get them on board because we want to use the Swiss model for the repatriation.

“The Americans asked us to present a project which the fund would be used for. We told the state government to present a project.

Unfortunately, until today, we have not received any response from the state government.”

READ ALSO: Breaking: Only 25% candidate scored above 200 in JAMB

BREAKING: ‘Only 25% Candidate Scored Above 200’- JAMB Reveals

The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, has said that 414,696 candidates, out of the 1,603,181 who sat for the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, scored above 200.



The figure, according to him, translates to 25. 09 per cent.
This is against the 465,025 (27.00 per cent) of the 1, 606, 374 who scored above 200 in 2017.

The JAMB boss, however, said that 558, 673 candidates scored above 190; 739,490 above 180 and 956, 937 above 170 marks.
He revealed this on Tuesday during the Policy Meeting held at the newly inaugurated Bola Babalakin Auditorium in Gbongan, Osun State.

The 2,400-capacity centre was built by the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Group of Companies, Dr Wale Babalakin.

At the programme attended by the state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, among many other top players in the education sector, Oloyede, however, warned that scores released by JAMB were not the cut-off marks.

According to him, they are the minimum marks required while the cut-off marks are arrived at from the cumulative consideration of candidates’ scores or grades.

He added on other regulations guiding the process, “Every candidate is required to accept or reject his/her admission before the process is said to be completed.

“Candidates can now protest their admission status should they feel they are not fairly treated.”

Speaking at the event, Adamu urged authorities of higher institutions to work with JAMB to sanitise admission process in the country.

READ ALSO: Don advises sickle cell patients to eat good food to replace lost cells

In Russia 2018: See What The Referee told Mikel About After The Match (This Will Shock You)

Mikel Obi Slams Corrupt Turkish Referee Cuneyt Cakir For Nigeria Exit From World Cup, Reveals What He Told Him After Match



Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi said last night Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakin accepted that the ball struck the hand of Argentina’s defender Marcus Rojo in the 82nd minute, but refused to award a penalty.

The penalty, if awarded and scored at a time the match was 1-1, could have wrapped up a second round ticket for the Eagles.

Speaking at the post match briefing in St Petersburg, Mikel said: “I asked the referee if he thought the ball struck Rojo’s hand and he said ‘yes;. The refeee told me that the ball came off Rojo’s head before it hit his hand.”

Mikel added: "I then asked Cakur why he didn’t award the penalty to Nigeria, he said: ‘ I don’t know.’ That was sad because we checked the match video in the dressing room and it was a clear penalty kick.

“When the ball touches your hand in the penalty box, it’s a penalty. No two ways about that. Maybe he didn’t want to give us the second penalty. It is sad we had to exit the competition this way.

The same referee was inconsistent. Twenty four hours earlier in the same circumstances, he gave a panelty to Iran against Portugal.

Yesterday’s match ended 2-1 in favour of Argentina."
Nigerians had looked forward hopefully that Eagles would get a draw to move to the second round.

However, the Eagles failed to defend well in the crucial moments of the game. They were on the defensive most of the second half.

Lionel Messi struck early before the Victor Moses equaliser in the 51st minute via a well taken penalty. Messi’s goal was fantastic. He collected a diagonal pass from Ever Banega with his thigh, dragging the ball into position before hitting it beyond the reach of Francis Uzoho.

It could have been a brace for Messi, but 19-year-old Nigerian goalkeeper Uzoho pushed the Argentine’s terrific free kick off the far post.

Wilfred Ndidi blazed a shot over the bar in the 71st minute as Nigeria looked to put an end to all doubt.

Odion Ighalo also had two glorious chances to put Nigeria ahead but The China-based striker fluffed them to the dismay of Nigerians.

Speaking about his future with the national team, Mikel said he would be most delighted to lead the boys going further into the future.

I’m happy playing with this bunch of players. I expect them to grow into a great side and I think this team would make a good imression in the next four years. They are good boys with bright future,” he said.’Of course, we did everything we could; we pushed and pushed to get the goal but it was to be.

“We want to thank all Nigerians for their support; and we have to keep going."

READ ALSO: President Buhari happy over Nigeria victory against Iceland

Michael Jackson's Dad Died at 89

Michael’s Jackson’s dad has died!



Joe Jackson — the patriarch of the Jackson family — has died, TMZ reports.

Family sources tell the online celebrity and entertainment news outlet that Joe passed away at 3:30 AM on Wednesday in Los Angeles.

Joe was hospitalised in June with terminal cancer. His family had been flocking to his bedside since. His wife, Katherine, had been at his bedside as were some of Joe’s children and grandchildren, TMZ reported.

“Joe had been battling health problems for some time now. He was hospitalised back in 2016 after coming down with a high fever. But, he bounced back not long after and was seen partying in Vegas.

“His health was also fragile after a stroke and three heart attacks back in 2015. Doctors implanted a pacemaker,” TMZ noted.
Joe may have been the most successful parent managing his children in the history of music. He, with a little help from Diana Ross, engineered the careers of The Jackson 5, and then Michael and Janet Jackson as solo artists.

The elder Jackson took a lot of heat from Michael and his siblings for abusing parenting and management practices, including physical brutality.

Joe agreed to it but, far from apologising, he said his methods made his kids successful and kept them out of jail.

Michael’s dad stood by him during his molestation trial. After Michael’s death, Joe was criticised for trying to make money off his son’s memory.

Joe had 10 kids with Katherine, his wife of more than 60 years. The two did not live together and had a strained relationship for the last years of his life, but they frequently interacted.

READ ALSO: 20,000 flee southern Syra as battle get tensed

Nigeria Dethrownes India As World's Poverty Capital

Nigeria has emerged as the country with the highest number of poor people in the world, overtaking India.



According to a report by the Brookings Institution, data from the World Poverty Clock show that Nigeria now has over 87 million people living in poverty.

The report adds that six Nigerians become poor every minute.
The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS had painted a worse picture in 2016 when it reported that no fewer than 112 million Nigerians live below the poverty line.

The report reads in part, “According to our projections, Nigeria has already overtaken India as the country with the largest number of extreme poor in early 2018, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo could soon take over the number two.

“At the end of May 2018, our trajectories suggest that Nigeria had about 87 million people in extreme poverty, compared with India’s 73 million.

“What is more, extreme poverty in Nigeria is growing by six people every minute, while poverty in India continues to fall.
“In fact, by the end of 2018 in Africa as a whole, there will probably be about 3.2 million more people living in extreme poverty than there are today.”

The World Poverty Clock is a tool to monitor progress against poverty globally and regionally. It provides real-time poverty data across countries.

Created by Vienna-based NGO, World Data Lab, in 2017, it is funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Each April and October, the World Poverty Clock data are updated to take into account new household surveys and new projections on country economic growth from the International Monetary Funds’ World Economic Outlook.

These form the basic building blocks for poverty trajectories computed for 188 countries and territories, developed and developing, across the world.

READ ALSO: UNIJOS awarded degrees to 18,348 graduating students

UNIJOS awarded Degrees To 18,348 Graduating Student

The University of Jos (UNIJOS) has awarded degrees to 18, 348 graduating students, out of which 165 graduated with Doctor of Philosophy Degrees (PhDs) and 33 others graduated with first class.

Prof. Sebastian Maimako, UniJos Vice-Chancellor, made the disclosure on Saturday at the 29th and 30th combined convocation of the university.

Maimako said said that in the bachelor’s degree category, 1,950 graduated with second upper division, 5,738 second class lower, 3,149 third class and 351 pass degree.

The VC said that 734 passed and qualified in medicine and pharmacy, 399 got Diplomas, 103 Postgraduate Diplomas, 2,906 masters degrees and 2,820 were backlog of those who could not be awarded degrees in the last convocation.

Three distinguished Nigerians were also awarded honourary doctorate degrees.

The are: His Royal Highness, John Mallo, Saf Butura, conferred with Doctor of Engineering (D. Engr.) , Sir Mike Okiro, former Inspector General of Police conferred with Doctor of of Law (LL.D) and Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Secretary, National Communication Commissions was conferred with Doctor of Science (D.Sc)

The vice-chancellor urged the graduating students to be good ambassadors of the university.

Maimako said that the university was committed to the development of the nation and the realisation of the national economic recovery of the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government.

“To this end we have embarked on an intensive staff development programme designed to create a pool of lecturers and allied staff whose pedigree would be regarded as globally distinctive.

“In the last two years, 363 staff of the University have been given approval to undergo various training programmes including 134 being sponsored for PhDs, 88 masters, 57 bachelor’s degrees 84 others for other certificates,” he said.

The VC said that there has been steady increase in students’ enrollment from 5,000 to 8000 and the students population has increased from 21,000 in 2008 to over 38,000 in 2018.

He commended the proprietor of the University, the Federal Government, for supporting the institution in all its endeavours and for discharging its role as proprietor with distinction.

Maimako, however, said that the university was being faced with acute infrastructural deficit and appealed to the Federal Government to come to the aid of the institution.

The University Chancellor, His Royal Majesty, David Olagbegi III, the Olowo of Owo Kingdom commended President Buhari for His exemplary leadership.

The Chancellor particularly commended the President’s for his unrelenting effort in ensuring peace in Nigeria.

“This has provided the needed conducive atmosphere for academic and social activities on the campus.

“I commend the efforts of the federal and state governments, different security agencies, religious and traditional leaders in achieving this feat," he said.

Prince Tony Momoh, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the University said that the council was synergising wity the management to move the university forward.

Momoh appealed to the President to assist the university in terms of infrastructure development and value addition to increase the carrying capacity of the institution.

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Breaking: MTN To Stop The Aquisition Of Visafone - NCC

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday halted moves by South African mobile giant MTN to acquire the only surviving Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operator, Visafone.



It said the acquisition cannot be done without a public inquiry to enable stakeholders determine the future of Visafone in the overall interest of the industry.

The regulator's stance followed a heated debate on the matter by representatives of major telecoms firms in the country who made presentations during the stakeholders meeting at the NCC headquarters in Abuja.

Present at the meeting were MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria Limited, Glo Mobile Nigeria, 9mobile Nigeria Limited and other operators.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, said the NCC as a regulatory body for the industry considered it imperative to hold the public inquiry to give room for active participation and deliberations that would facilitate informed decision on the issue.

He drew the attention of stakeholders to the enabling law which empowers NCC to take decision on the transfer of licence and resources, including the 800MHz Spectrum from Visafone Communications Limited to MTN Nigeria Communications Limited.

Prof. Danbatta said: "The Commission seeks your active participation in the deliberations that would lead to an informed decision consistent with our mandate to create an enabling environment for effective competition in the industry as well as to ensure the provision of qualitative and efficient telecommunications services throughout the country.

"As you may all be aware, the demand for spectrum has increased due to the emergence of disruptive innovations such as mobile broadband, web applications, cloud computing, Internet of Things (IOT) and the proliferation of smart devices among others.

"Consequently, in order to reap the benefits of effective utilisation of spectrum as well as improve operational efficiency and regulatory excellence, the Commission in accordance with its mandate as enshrined in the Nigerian Communications Act NCA 2003 embarked on re-planning of some of its Frequency bands
"Specifically in 2013 the commission re-planned the use of 800Mhz band to accommodate technology development in the telecom industry and new Frequency Assignments were conveyed to the operators according to their frequency holdings in the 800MHz band.

"Visafone is one of such incumbents on the spectrum that got 10MHz FDD Assignments. Subsequent to the re-planning of the band, Visafone wrote to the Commission requesting for transfer of its licence including the 800MHz spectrum to MTN."

However, during their presentations, the representatives of Airtel and 9mobile opposed the plan to transfer the licence of Visafone to MTN , insisting that MTN already had over 38 per cent of spectrum holding in the industry.

They argued that should the NCC concede to the transfer, the development would not only create a monopoly for MTN, but make competition difficult among industrial players while a lot of telecommunications companies would be permanently disadvantaged.

READ ALSO: Disputed politics on migrant are top threat to EU unity

Don Advises Sickle Cell Patients to Eat Good Food To Replace Lost Cells

PROFESSOR Obiageli Nnodu of the University of Abuja has advised sickle cell patients to eat good diet rich in fruits and vegetables to replace lost cells.

Nnodu, the Director, Centre of Excellence for Sickle Disease Research and Training in the university, said this on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Sickle cell anaemia is a genetic blood disease due to the presence of an abnormal form of haemoglobin, namely haemoglobin S.

Haemoglobin is the molecule in red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to the farthest areas of the body.
Sickle cell anaemia affects millions of people throughout the world. It is particularly common among people whose ancestors come from sub-Saharan Africa.

Nnodu said that eating the right diet with lots of water intake, would make the patients do well and the blood to flow well.
She emphasised that an adult with the disease should at least take three litres of water per day.

The professor also underscored the importance of people screening and knowing their genotype before marriage to avoid having children with the disease.

She added that the university had set up a screening centre for children under the age of five.

She further advised people with the disease not to hide, but come out to get help and be educated on how to manage it.

READ ALSO: 20,000 flee southern Syra as battle get tensed

20,000 Flee Southern Syra As Battle Get Tensed

Some 20,000 people have fled rebel-held areas east of the southern province of Daraa in less than a week due to intensified airstrikes and battles in the area.



Activists and a monitoring group said on Monday that the development began since June 19.

“More than 40 airstrikes have been launched since midnight on areas mainly held by rebels in the eastern countryside of Daraa province.

“Thus pushing more civilians to flee the area,” Rami Abdel Rahman, Head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told newsmen in Beirut.

UN mediator Staffan de Mistura, said against the backdrop of violence, he consulted with senior officials of several Middle Eastern and Western powers on arresting the situation.
He said the essence was also to revive peace talks in Geneva, but he did not give any hint of progress.

“Grave concerns were expressed at the ongoing military escalation in southwestern Syria and calls made for an immediate end to violence,’’ De Mistura said.

The meeting involved UK, France, Germany, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the U.S.

Activist Abu Omar al-Darawi, who is based in the eastern part of Daraa, said the strikes targeted Busr al-Harir, as government troops and their allies were trying to take over the village.

He added that civilians in the eastern part of Daraa were fleeing toward areas close to the Syrian-Jordanian border.

According to the Observatory, about 28 civilians have been killed since Tuesday when government forces and their allies intensified bombardment on Daraa’s eastern countryside.

The UN has warned that renewed hostilities could put 750,000 lives in rebel-held areas of Daraa province at risk.

Linda Tom of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Syria said the people who had been displaced, the majority from eastern Daraa, needed humanitarian assistance, particularly shelter.

In July 2017, parts of Daraa as well the neighbouring provinces of Quneitra and Sweida, fell under a “de-escalation zone” agreed by Russia, the US and Jordan.

The province, along with the city of Daraa, is divided between regime forces and rebel groups.

READ ALSO: See has Equador and Nigeria near agreement on visa travels

300 Cows Lost - Miyetti Allah Confirms Plateau Killings Were Retaliatory

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders' Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) says the raid by suspected herdsmen on three local governments in Plateau State were a retaliation of the loss of cows in recent times.



More than 100 people were killed on Saturday night when suspected herdsmen attacked many villages in Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Jos South local government areas of the state.

Commenting on the tragedy via a statement on Monday, Danladi Ciroma, Chairman, North-Central zone of the cattle breeders' association, said herdsmen in the state had lost "about 300 cows in the last few weeks".

"These attacks are retaliatory. As much as I don't support the killing of human being, the truth must be told that those who carried out the attacks must be on revenge mission," Ciroma said.

"There have been recent reports of cow rustling and destruction of farms between Berom farmers and Fulani herdsmen. The people carrying out these criminal activities are well-known to the communities but the communities are hiding them.

"Fulani herdsmen have lost about 300 cows in the last few weeks - 94 cows were rustled by armed Berom youth in Fan village, another 36 cows were killed by Berom youth. In addition to that, 174 cattle were rustled and the criminals disappeared with them to Mangu [Local Government].

"Since these cows were not found, no one should expect peace in the areas. Even soldiers that went after the criminals to recover the rustled cows were shot by the armed rustlers and eventually escaped with all the cows.

"The government of Governor Lalong has done a lot to restore peace, but the criminal elements hiding among their people are the ones frustrating these peace efforts."

He urged security agencies to be fair to all parties, saying they should neglect any report presented by the Fulani "because such report can lead to attacks and deaths if not properly handled".

"Criminals thrive a lot in Berom communities, but when the Fulani, who are always victims of their crime, react with attacks, they blame the government," he added.

READ MORE: African news on danakins36.com for the latest

Despirate Politicians Is Responsible for Plateau Killing - Buhari

President Buhari on Monday decried how desperate politicians have increasingly cheapened human life in their quest to establish a reign of instability and chaos in the country for political gains.


The President, who was reacting to recent clashes in Plateau, which left scores dead, said in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja, that those behind the killings hoped that it would give them an advantage in the coming elections.

He said:-

"We know that a number of geographical and economic factors are contributing to the longstanding herdsmen/farmers clashes. But we also know that politicians are taking advantage of the situation.

This is incredibly unfortunate. Nigerians affected by the herdsmen/ farmer clashes must always allow the due process of the law to take its course rather than taking matters into their own hands.''

The presidency quoted security information which indicated that about one hundred cattle were rustled by a community in Plateau State, and some herdsmen were killed in the process.

"The report also revealed that the state governor, Simon Lalong, had invited the aggrieved groups and pleaded against further action while the law enforcement agents looked into the matter. Less than 24 hours later, violence broke out.

It further stated that some local thugs then took advantage of the situation, turning it into an opportunity to extort the public, and to attack people from rival political parties.

There were reports of vehicles being stopped along the roads in the state, with people being dragged out of their cars and attacked if they stated that they supported certain politicians or political party.

On his way back to Jos after attending the APC Convention in Abuja, the state governor had to dismantle a number of illegal road blocks set up by these thugs.

There were also a number of dead bodies thugs had killed, lying along the road,'' the report added.

READ ALSO: Dbanj loses his son

BREAKING NEWS!! D’banj Loses Son

This is really heartbreaking… 😰😰😰

We can confirm that D’banj has suffered a sad loss, his son he named Daniel III with his wife Didi has died a year after he was born.

Daniel, according to various reports, drowned in a pool

Sad and trying time for Dbanj and his wife, Kilgrow as they lost their son, Daniel in a freak accident.F

Few minutes after we reported that Nigerian singer, D’banj who is currently on tour reportedly lost his son, he has confirmed that indeed his son is dead.

Bangkok Hosts India Film Industry's Biggest Annual Events

Thailand's capital has hosted the Indian film industry's biggest annual event, with awards given to top Bollywood actors and movies, and dazzling performances by Indian artists.



The International Indian Film Academy Awards has been held in cities around the world since its inception in 2000 to celebrate the Hindi-language film industry globally.

This year's three-day extravaganza, which ran Friday through Sunday in Bangkok, witnessed the star-studded presentation of awards to Bollywood's outstanding films and performers of 2017.

Past editions of the IIFA Awards were held in places including New York, Toronto, Johannesburg, Amsterdam, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai.

The highly acclaimed actress Rekha was among the participants this year.

 The 64-year-old star is known as Bollywood's timeless beauty and has acted in more than 180 films in a career spanning over 50 years.

RED ALSO: PDP presidential aspitant ask to pay N21 millions for normination form 

I Didn't Say Only Prostitutes and Homosexuals Makes It In Nollywood - Pascal Atuma

According to an interview originally published by The Cable, and obviously reused by other online media, Nigerian filmmaker, Pascal Atuma, said that he said only prostitutes and homosexuals make it in Nollywood.



He was quoted to have said that the ladies in Nollywood use what they have to get what they want while the men use their a*s to get what they want.

The industry fought back with the likes of actress Ruth Kadiri taking the lead by asking Atuma to stop generalizing or shut it if he has nothing to say.

We expect him to deny it and he has done exactly that. And from his explanation, this looks like another case of being misquoted.

Or shall we say Atuma spoke “off record” to people he should not have trusted?

Truly, he granted an interview to a journalist friend of his whom he had known for several years but he arrived at the venue with five of his colleagues from other media houses.

“The interview was centered mostly on football. After the interview, we all engaged in a light-hearted conversation about the changes in Nollywood.

“The conversation veered into how lots of producers and directors were taking advantage of young women in the industry, and at some point, I passionately berated some of them who have deliberately forced young women to compromise themselves for movie roles," Atuma said in the official statement.

He said he was as shocked as the rest of us who read the story that he called all successful women in Nollywood prostitutes, and their male counterparts homosexuals.

Coming at a time when many actors are complaining about how badly paid they were and how some of their colleagues' flaunting of affluence and fake life makes things more difficult, it was easy to believe.

But he explained he couldn't have spoken the way he was quoted to have spoken.

"Women have for eternity, been the pillars of our society. They are strong, fierce and resilient and the growth of our beloved Nollywood would not have been possible without women.

“As a father, brother and friend to women, I do not and would never take women for granted, and I also have no problems whatsoever with anyone’s sexual orientation.

“Since the story was published, I’ve had the chance to explain this to some of my colleagues who have reached out to me privately, and I would forever be grateful to them for seeking the truth."

He went on to apologized to everyone who felt offended by the story.

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