Three Killed, Many Injured As Cult Boys Clash In Lagos

No fewer than three persons have been confirmed dead, while several others were injured in two separate clashes between rival cults in Lagos.

The two incidents occurred on Olorunfunmi Street, Oworonshoki; and Muri Ojora Street, Amukoko.

It was learnt that one Bayo Morebise, aged 37, was killed in the Oworonshoki clash, while 28-year-old Lekan Makinde and one other, identified as Area, were hacked to death in Amukoko.

In the Amukoko clash, which happened around 4pm on Sunday, it was gathered that one Emmanuel, said to be a member of a rival cult to Makinde’s gang, went into a coma and was taken to a hospital in the community.

A resident of Amukoko, who spoke with Punch on condition of anonymity for fear of attack, said many people were injured while scampering to safety.

He said, “It all started with a scuffle between two boys on the street, who belonged to rival cults. About 30 minutes after they were separated, members of the two factions – Eiye Confraternity and Aiye Confratenity – mobilised and started chasing one another with cutlasses. People fell and got injured while trying to run to safety.

“The chaos stopped after policemen from the Amukoko division arrived at the scene. Three persons were hacked. Two of them, Lekan (Makinde) and one boy called Area, died from the injuries they sustained. One other boy (Emmanuel) was rushed to a hospital for treatment. Around 10pm, they regrouped and clashed again.”

Another resident, who gave his name only as Tomi, told Punch that the peace of the community had been under threat as a result of clashes, calling on security agencies to go after the hoodlums.

“This community is volatile and hoodlums foment trouble at will. They are jobless and not ready to work. When responsible persons are engaged in the day, you will find them hanging around, smoking. It is when we are relaxing outside in the evening that they will start their trouble. The two deaths recorded on Saturday were just one of many atrocities they had perpetrated.

“Once these miscreants are arrested, they should be made to face the law to serve as a deterrent to others. Something has to be done to curb the attacks. Besides, these people live around children, who can easily be influenced negatively,” Tomi said.

In the Oworonshoki incident, which occurred on Saturday, it was learnt that operatives attached to the anti-crime patrol team of the Oworonshoki Police Station were mobilised to the scene after receiving a distress call.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed Morebise’s killing, saying the case was under investigation.

Source: Punch /olufamous

The U.S. Dropped an Average of 3 Bombs Per Hour Last Year

U.S. Bombed Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia in 2016

by F. Brinley Bruton

The Afghan war and the evolution of Obama 8:27

The U.S. dropped an average of 72 bombs every day — the equivalent of three an hour — in 2016, according to an analysis of American strikes around the world.
The report from the Council of Foreign Relations comes as Barack Obama finishes up his presidency — one that began with promises to withdraw from international conflicts.
According to the New York City-based think tank, 26,171 bombs were dropped on Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Pakistan during the year.
CFR warned that its estimates were "undoubtedly low, considering reliable data is only available for airstrikes in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Libya, and a single 'strike,' according to the Pentagon's definition, can involve multiple bombs or munitions."


Some 24,287 bombs were used in Iraq and Syria, where the U.S. is helping drive ISIS militants from swaths of both countries. In 2015, the U.S. dropped 22,110 bombs in Iraq and Syria, CFR reported.
Last year saw a sharp uptick in strikes in Afghanistan, with 1,337 compared with 947 in 2015, CFR found.
The study, which drew data from a variety of military and press sources, showed that three bombs were dropped on Pakistan during 2016, 14 in Somalia and 34 in Yemen.

A similar study looking at 2015 showed that 11 bombs were dropped in Pakistan during the year, 58 in Yemen and 18 in Somalia. The 2015 analysis did not include Libya.
When he was campaigning for president in 2008, Obama pledged that when he became commander-in-chief he would "set a new goal on day one: I will end [the Iraq] war."
Upon accepting the Democratic nomination that year, Obama again outlined priorities that would make the country safer, saying: "I will end this war in Iraq responsibly, and finish the fight against al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan."
However, ISIS later seized parts of Syria and Iraq — and the Taliban won back territory in Afghanistan as the number of NATO troops in the country dwindled.

Culled from NBC News

Why China withholds $20b concession loan to Nigeria - Chuka Odittah

Minister for Finance, Kemi Adeosun PHOTO: SUNDAY AGHAEZE/STATE HOUSE

Presidency official blames negative economic growth
Multiple negative growth recorded in the economy in 2016 has been identified as one of the reasons the Chinese government withheld a $20 billion concession loan earlier promised Nigeria upon due verification, The Guardian has learnt.
A top Presidency source privy to the development told The Guardian that the Federal Government had been hopeful that the Chinese government would release the loan last year, given the relationship between the two countries, but expressed disappointment that the money was withheld.
The action of China may well be an indication of the loss of confidence in Nigeria’s credit worthiness by the global financial community. Analysts have predicted that the current economic downturn would dent the country’s credit worthiness. The situation has increased the concern over Federal Government’s ability to borrow the $30billion for infrastructure development, which the National Assembly has refused to approve.

According to the source, government immediately swung into action after the President’s return from a visit to China as well as the follow-up visit of the Budget and National Planning Minister, Udo Udoma, to immediately fulfill the conditions for accessing the loan. “We were very hopeful that we would secure that loan and other levels of assistance from the Chinese government. This is not to say we have given up though. We had set up an inter-ministerial committee working closely with the Chinese government officials as well as the China Exim Bank experts. They may have their reasons, but we are determined to fulfill our end of the bargain, and the Federal Government has already appropriated large sums for payment of counterpart funds on key projects to enable us to commence work proper,” the source said.
In 2015, China had, at a summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Johannesburg, South Africa, pledged a $60 billion assistance to countries on the continent, including Nigeria, to develop and grow their infrastructure and human development capacities.
The move was not surprising as China had remained the continent’s top trade partner for six consecutive years.
The Chinese government said $35 billion had been set aside for concessionary loans, out of which about $10 billion was to go into the China -Africa Fund for Production Capacity. About $5 billion each was earmarked as non-interest grants for China-Africa Development Fund, and special loan schemes for the development of Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs) among qualified African countries. The funds were said to have been on ground for prompt disbursement.
The Federal Government had last year planned to raise a total of N2.2 trillion through external borrowings from China and other foreign finance institutions to fund the deficit in the 2016 budget, the implementation of which it said would continue till May 2017.
Unexpectedly, the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – which measures the market value of all final goods and services produced in a period, suffered a steady decline from quarter to quarter in 2016, sending negative signals to investors and lowering Nigeria’s credit worthiness in the international financial market.

In the first quarter (Q1) of 2016, the Nigerian economy contracted by -0.36%, followed by further contraction by -2.06% in Q2, even as the slide continued in Q3 to -2.24%. Hopeful that the concession loan and other categories of financial assistance from China would be approved early, President Muhammadu Buhari led a delegation to Beijing in April last year to make a strong case for the country.
This was, however, not to be, as the Chinese government was advised by its economic experts who visited Nigeria for physical assessments to exercise caution, citing the shrinking economy and falling value of the naira.
They also alluded to high risks in diverting the loan to projects not specified in the agreement and requested a direct monitoring of the projects, in addition to the need for full compilation of all current trade agreements between the two countries till date, The Guardian learnt.
A team of experts from China Exim Bank had also expressed fear of possible mismanagement of the funds and requested an overhaul of some of the priority areas presented by the Federal Government for closer study on their viability and sustainability.
The Chinese financial experts, it was further learnt, expressed reservations about some areas the Federal Government was keen on investing the loan, saying they did not fall in line with the FOCAC vision.
However, a ministry official, who pleaded anonymity, in a text massage response to The Guardian, said: “All appropriate loan prospecting options by the Federal Ministry of Finance are on course, and are undergoing normal process of negotiation,” without giving further details.
The National Assembly has refused to approve the $30 billion worth of loans until the executive provides details of what they are meant for, even as there are speculations that the refusal was more political than economic as the executive had opposed the provision for constituency projects in the budget.


Source: Guardian

ICPC stops university from exploiting students

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC),  yesterday said its intervention stopped the exploitation of students by the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

A statement by the commission’s spokesperson, Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa, said fresh undergraduates of the university who were allegedly exploited by the school authority to the tune of N4.76 million were refunded their money.

According to the statement, the refund is as a result of the intervention of the ICPC, following a petition by one of the students.

It noted that the student alleged that fresh undergraduates were made to pay an additional N5, 000 as fee for ICT training.

It said the student in his petition, told the commission that they had earlier paid N2,500 before they were asked to pay the additional N5,000.

It noted that upon receipt of the petition, the operatives of the commission swung into action, while investigations revealed that the students were levied twice for the same training.

“The commission, after bringing the issue to the attention of the management of the university, directed it to resolve it within a stipulated period.

“ Following that directive, the affected students were requested by the school to provide evidence of payment of the said N5, 000 to the college accountants to facilitate a refund.

It said random telephone calls from the affected students to the commission confirmed the refund.

Culled from Nation

Accidental discharge in Aso Rock, female staff hit on thigh, stomach, back- Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye

Accidental discharge from the weapon of one of the security operatives at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, has left a female staff injured.
The incident happened shortly after the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Administrative Reception.
The security agent, who one of the staff said was off duty, was attempting to empty the weapon when it went off and injured him and the woman.
The female worker, who was conveyed to the State House Medical Centre in Asokoro by one of her colleagues, was injured on her thigh, stomach and a part of her back.  She is said to be responding to treatment at the medical centre.
Meanwhile, the first FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the sum of N4.6 billion for the purchase of fire fighting equipment as well as the upgrading of fire stations.
Interior minister, Abdulrahman Dambazzau, who briefed newsmen, alongside the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said the last time equipment was procured for the service was sometimes in 1996.
“The equipment in the inventory today were procured between 1985 and 1996, and since then, there was no procurement. So, on assumption of duty, I went round their stations and I discovered, surprisingly, that there was a dearth of fire fighting equipment. And with our experiences on fire incidences all over the country, we discovered such a situation should no longer hold; and, therefore, we reflected that in the 2016 budget, with the aim of equipping the fire service and also improve its capacity. These include equipment, training and, off course, the welfare of personnel,” he said.
“So, this approved procurement is going to go a long way to provide the service with the necessary equipment. This is just a start; like I said, the last time it was procured was in 1996. We are also hoping that the 2017 budget will avail us the opportunity to procure more equipment for the Federal Fire Service and, of course, the fire training school. I have visited there and I’m making some efforts to also improve on the existing facilities,” he added.
Dambazzau said the ministry would partner other stakeholders, especially those in oil and gas sector to improve the capacity of personnel.
“In addition, we intend to partner an entity in reference to training in fire services, particularly, in oil and gas sector. And that way, we will be able to improve the capacity of the personnel to be able to carry out its services, knowing that the various ethnic states, too, have their individual fire services; and most of these fire incidents happen in most of those states, like Kano Kebbi and Lagos,” Dambazzau said.
The Interior Minister promised that government will, henceforth, enforce the fire code for public buildings.
“These are some of the measure we intend to take in the very near future to ensure that we reduces the lapses and prevent fire from happening,” he said.

Culled from Sun

After Janet Jackson gives birth aged 50, other stars who had babies later in life-Emma PietrasAlistair McGeorge

Some of the biggest names in showbiz waited to start a family, from Janet to Geri Horner and more

Janet Jackson welcomes her first child at 50

  

Janet Jackson has given birth to his first baby aged 50 with husband Wissam Al Mana .
The couple welcomed their son into the world this week to celebrate the New Year in style - and the singer isn't alone when it comes to starting a family a little later in life.
Her representative told People magazine in a statement: "Janet Jackson and husband Wissam Al Mana are thrilled to welcome their new son Eissa Al Mana into the world. Janet had a stress-free healthy delivery and is resting comfortably."

Read More

• Janet Jackson, 50, finally confirms pregnancy in revealing shoot: 'We thank God for our blessing'

And here's a look at more mums who have welcomed a family later in life...

Geri Horner, 44

Geri is over the moon (Photo: Rex)

It was something Spice Girl Geri really, really wanted but could hardly have imagined would ever really, really happen.
The chances that Ginger Spice would get pregnant at 44 was remote – some believe the odds are less than 5%.
But the girlband were full of surprises and, clearly, Geri, married to Formula One boss Christian Horner, 42, still is.
Mum to 10-year-old Bluebell, Geri hinted she had conceived naturally when she posted online a drawing and the words “God bless Mother Nature #mamaspice”.

Gwen Stefani , 44

(Photo: GC Images)

The No Doubt singer told her sons her baby-making days were over but Kingston, her eldest, wanted another sibling. Four weeks later Gwen was pregnant and gave birth to her third child, Apollo, with her now ex Gavin Rossdale in 2014 at the age of 44. The singer, now 47, joked: “He has a direct link to God.”

Helen Fielding , 48

(Photo: Getty)

Life has mirrored art for Bridget Jones’ author Helen. Just like her heroine, played by Renee Zellweger, inset, Helen became a mum in her 40s.
Helen, had her son Dashiell at 43 but was 48 when she gave birth to daughter Romy with her former partner, the American comedy writer Kevin Curran.
She said of becoming a mum: “I wish I’d known that the parent equipment would be more trouble than the baby. You’ve got the stroller, the car seat, the bottle warmer, the bottle steriliser, the nappy changing table, the electronic mobile that goes on top of the nappy changing table…
“Then when you actually get the baby you think I didn’t really need all these things! They come home from hospital and all you want is a couple of nappies and a cushion.”

Iman , 45

(Photo: London features)

The supermodel, now 61, had Alexandria, her first child with David Bowie, at 45. Fellow model Christie Brinkley let Iman hold her baby at a fashion shoot.
Iman said: “So, I say it took two blondes to get me pregnant: Christie and David. It is a miracle.”

Kelly Preston, 48

(Photo: Getty)

Actor John Travolta’s wife had her third child, Benjamin, six years ago at the age of 48. She admitted: “When I found out I was pregnant, I was floored. I’d snuck out of bed and then came back and woke Johnny up in bed. We both started crying. It was wonderful.”
Kelly, now 53, added: “It’s pretty amazing having a child at this age.”

Halle Berry , 47

(Photo: FilmMagic)

It seems no one was more surprised than the Hollywood star when she became a mum for the second time, aged 47, with son Maceo in 2013. She said: “They call it a geriatric pregnancy. I was, on my way, kinda premenopausal so to have this happen was a shock.” Halle was 41 when she had daughter Nahla.

Geena Davis , 48

(Photo: Getty)

The Thelma and Louise star was 48 when she welcomed twin boys Kian and Kaiis into the word in 2004, two years after giving birth to daughter Alizeh at the age of 46.
Speaking about having three close together, the 60 year old said: “It’s been really wonderful, but it was overwhelming.”

Cherie Blair , 45

(Photo: PA)

The former PM’s wife was 45 when she had Leo, her fourth child. She revealed in her autobiography her surprise baby was conceived during a trip to Balmoral. Cherie, now 62, said: “It is so long since we had our other three children that I had forgotten quite what an ordeal those last few hours of labour can be.”

Sharron Davies , 44

(Photo: FilmMagic)

The former Olympic swimmer went through four years of painful IVF and two miscarriages before giving birth to her third child Finley at the age of 44 in 2007. Sharron, now 53, said: “Being an older mum has its advantages. Whether you are having your first, second or third, you know what you want.”

Sian Williams , 44

(Photo: WireImage)

The Channel 5 newsreader was 26 when she gave birth to her first child and was 44 when she had her fourth in 2009.
The 51-year-old is mum to sons Joss, 24, Al, 22, with first husband Neale Hunt and has a son Seth, 10, and daughter Evie, six, with current husband Paul Woolwich.

Culled from UK Mirror

Heart of gold: Don Jazzy wants to expand the Mavin dynasty - Abisola Alawode

In a positive start to the New Year, top producer and Mavin Records CEO Don Jazzy recently announced his plans to increase the workforce of his music company.

Don Jazzy

He made this known while thanking fans for making 2016 worthwhile for him and his team.

See his full post below:

“As the year 2016 winds up, it is important for me to express my profound and esteemed gratitude to all the people that matter to the Supreme Mavin Dynasty all through the year. I will like to say a big thank you to all the Mavin fans both in Nigeria and globally for their love and support.

My appreciation would not be complete if I don’t thank our artists, producers and DJs for their relentless commitment and diligence in making the label a driving force in the music and entertainment scene, also I will like to thank the backend staff, crew and business leads for representing the business and the brand in a professional and ethical manner.

To our corporate partners thank you for believing in us by consistently doing business with The Supreme Mavin Dynasty, we appreciate you. To the Media platforms and personalities, I say a very big thank you to you for your undying support; we shall attain greater heights together in 2017.

On a final note, who is a Mavin? A Mavin is someone who has exceptional talent and skill in their field. As part of our 2016 goals, we decided to increase our workforce to 50, which we surpassed by a slight margin as we have a workforce of 55. As you all know, the Entertainment Business is not complete without those who are skilled in the Business, therefore we are seeking to expand our work-force to 120 team in 2017 considering our forthcoming projects.

Mavin records musicians

We are reviewing portfolios for Business executives, Client servicing professionals, Style and Image experts, Digital Data and VAS Management executives, Government Liaison officers, CSR enthusiasts, Creative and Visual Production nerds, Talent and Catalog Management professionals, Content Developers, Retail, Sales and Fashion, Licensing specialist, Touring and Logistics specialist, Social Media Analyst and International Representatives in Accra, Nairobi , Abidjan, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg, Douala , New York , London and Paris.

If you are Mavin and you have what it takes become part of a revolution in the Music and Entertainment industry, then send your CV with a detailed cover letter to info@mavinrecords.com for consideration.

Culled from Naij.com