Nigeria News: Buratai urges Northern youths to shun terrorism, violence

Buratai urges Northern youths to shun terrorism, violence

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has urged Northern youths, particularly those in the North East, to shun terrorism and other violent acts and channel their energies to productive ventures.

Buratai made the appeal in Monguno, at the finals of the maiden Chief of Army Staff Football tournament between Ajeri FC of Monguno and River Side FC of Damasak.

River Side FC won the championship by a lone goal through a penalty in the first half.

He rather asked them to channel their energies toward acquiring education and skills through which they could realise their ambition.

Buratai promised that the Nigerian army would continue to provide opportunities for the youth to express themselves and showcase their God-given talents.

“To this end, I call on the youth of northern Borno and indeed the youth of the North East to shun and reject terrorism.

“The youth, who are the future leaders, should continue to cooperate with the authorities, army and indeed other security agencies by promptly reporting suspicious persons within their midst in order to ensure a more secured environment.

“I tell you right now, so many of them are on the run; the Boko Haram terrorists are on the run.

“I urge you to be very careful of any strange face or any of your colleagues or friends that have been misled to join them.

“As soon as they appear or come back, do not waste time, report them immediately to the nearest security agency.

“There is the need to consolidate on the already achieved security atmosphere,” the army chief said.

Buratai said that when he visited Monguno two years ago, the town was completely deserted due to attacks by the terrorists.

He, however, gave glory to the Almighty God for the return of peace to the town, necessitating the people’s to return to re-start their lives.

He said that the tournament confirmed the state of security in Northern Borno had improved.

“I want to say that this particularly achievement is made possible by each and every one of you here. I know it has not been easy as some of you are still in the IDP camps.

“Today’s occasion is symbolic; it is an indication that it is time for everyone to go back to his/her home.

“This game has shown the resilience of the youth and indeed the commitment of the people to go back to their homes and begin live again after the devastating experience with the Boko Haram terrorists.

“I want to say that their – terrorists- days are numbered Insha Allah.

“The end to this threat to lives and property is near,’’ he added.

According to him, the defeat of the terrorists is not a claim, but a reality.

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Celebrate Ngozi Rosalin Monu on Her birthday.Best swimmer

Ngozi Rosalin Monu (born 7 January 1981 in Lagos, Nigeria) is a Nigerian swimmer. Monu is the most prolific female swimmer from Nigeria. She focuses on the 50m & 100m freestyle event. She competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics and 2008 Summer Olympics. Uche Monu, her younger sister, is also a swimmer who represents Nigeria in the Backstroke and freestyle events.

2000 Summer Olympic Games

Monu competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics at the age of 19; it was her first olympic games. She was entered in the women's 50 metre freestyle. She won her heat with a time of 28.20s, but it was not enough to advance. She was ranked 57th out of a total of 92 swimmers.

2007 World Aquatics Championship

At the World Aquatics Championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monu participated in the 50m with a time of 28.89 ranked 83rd, 100m freestyle with a time of 1.01.88 ranked 84th. And also Anchored the Nigerian team in the 400m freestyle and medley relays.

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Celebrate Brigadier General Raji Alagbe Rasaki on His birthday

Brigadier General Raji Alagbe Rasaki (born January 7, 1947) is a retired Nigerian military officer who was military governor in turn of Ogun State, Ondo State and Lagos State between 1986 and 1991 during the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida.

Background

Raji Alagbe Rasaki was born on January 7, 1947 in Ibadan), He attended Nigerian Military School, Zaria for his secondary education and then the Nigerian Defence Academy where he was commissioned an officer in the Nigerian Army. He held many command and staff positions: he was Adjutant, Lagos Garrison Signal Regiment (1970–1971), Commanding Officer Second Signal Regiment, Commander Signal Support Brigade (1978–1979), Commander Army Signal Corps, Commander Army Headquarters Garrison & Signal Group.

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Prophecy:‘2018 Will Be Filled With Battles’ – TB Joshua

‘2018 Will Be Filled With Battles’ – TB Joshua

The founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations, Temitope Balogun Joshua, has declared that the new year will be a battle for survival.

In a video of the church’s service on December 31, 2017, posted on YouTube, the cleric said he was waiting for ‘divine directives’ before releasing revelations for 2018.

However, he said the year would be filled with battles.

“I am supposed to bring you the revelation of what you should expect next year,” Joshua said.

“I compiled everything but many of those things are things you know already – because the signs we are seeing now cannot be overcome just in a year.

“This coming year is a year you must be ready to fight the battle. It’s a battle year – a battle to survive. Think of your survival.

“It’s a year your children need to sit at your feet and learn from you. Share your experiences with them. It’s a parable. We are in a warfare where the serious-minded will be victorious.”

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Security News : 1,050 Boko Haram insurgents surrender, many flee

1,050 Boko Haram insurgents surrender, many flee

The Nigerian Army on Saturday said 1,050 insurgents had surrendered to troops in Lake Chad and Monguno general area of operations, as it also warned that many of them were on the run.

The army urged abutting communities to watch out for  the fleeing Boko Haram insurgents as their enclaves in Lake Chad region came under intense onslaught.

Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole, made the disclosure in a statement in Maiduguri.

Nwachukwu disclosed that 250 fighters of the Al Barnawi-led faction of the insurgents had surrendered to Nigerian Army, sequel to artillery and aerial bombardments by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole of their enclaves in Lake Chad basin.

He added that 700 insurgents also surrendered to troops at Monguno in an ongoing clearance operation.

Nwachukwu explained that Mamman Nur, another factional leader of the insurgents sustained fatal injuries and one of his wives killed in the operation, while many of the insurgents who escaped, surrendered to Niger Defence Forces.

The army spokesman noted that some of the insurgents fleeing from the ongoing offensive were senior and junior commanders of the Al Barnawi faction.

“The insurgents are attempting to melt into communities in and around Kano, Geidam and Gashua axis unnoticed. One of such fleeing commanders is Bana Bafui.

“Members of the general public, particularly in Kano, Geidam, Gashua, Hadejia and northern part of Jigawa State are therefore enjoined to be vigilant, watch out for strange faces in their communities and report same to security agencies.”

Nwachukwu called on the insurgents to surrender, adding that the Federal Government had provided a window through the Operation SAFE CORRIDOR to encourage the insurgents’ voluntary surrender.

He revealed that about 300 insurgents were currently undergoing de-radicalisation process for possible integration into the society.

“We call on Boko Haram insurgents to abandon the futile struggle; take advantage of the Safe Corridor programme and surrender to troops in any location nearest to them.

“We guarantee their safety and incorporation into the programme for de-radicalisation and rehabilitation.”

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Bassey Akpan Foot baller. Celebrate him on His birthday

Bassey Akpan (born January 6, 1984 in Eket, Akwa Ibom State) is a Nigerian footballer currently with Abia Warriors F.C. on loan from Bayelsa United.

Career

Akpan wears size 7½ or small 8 boot and loves jersey number 18. He has a Nigerian FA Cup bronze medal with the Sunshine Stars F.C. of Akure in 2002. On 3 August 2008 left Bayelsa United F.C. and move on loan to Heartland F.C., returning in September to Bayelsa.

He rejoined Heartland ahead of the 2010-11 season after Bayelsa was relegated. He signed for Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club in Vietnam on a one-year contract in October 2011.

He re-signed with Bayelsa ahead of the 2015 Nigeria season. After three games he joined Abia Warriors on loan for the rest of the season.

International Career

In 2001, he was in the Nigerian U-17 squad at the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship that took place in Trinidad & Tobago which lost in the final game to earn a well-deserved silver medal, earning Akpan the best goalkeeper award of the tournament.

He made his full senior debut on March 3, 2010 as a late substitute in the 5-2 win over Congo DR. He was also Nigeria's number one goalkeeper in the 2010 WAFU Nations Cup and won the Gold Medal

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Celebrate Max Pirkis UK Actor on His birthday.

Max Pirkis (born 6 January 1989) is an English actor. Appearing in two productions during the mid-2000s, Pirkis made his film debut in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) after the film crew recruited him at his school, Eton College.

In a critically praised performance, he won the Evening Standard British Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer and the Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor in an International Film. Two years later, Pirkis was cast in the BBC/HBO television series Rome as Gaius Octavian, a role he held until 2007.

Personal Life

Pirkis was born in London on 6 January 1989. His mother is a publisher, and he has a sister. After being educated at Eton College, Pirkis began attending St Catharine's College, Cambridge, where he read Theology. There, he was captain of the college's football team in 2009.

Career

Master and Commander

Pirkis started his acting in school plays while attending Eton, though he never took them seriously. Although unsure what he wanted to do with his life, Pirkis was cast for his first professional role in 2003, when he appeared in the successful film, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. 

The hire occurred after production staff visited Eton to hire boys for the ship's teenage crew. Pirkis attended a workshop and auditions as "a joke", ultimately securing the part of the 13-year-old, eventually one-armed midshipman Lord Blakeney of HMS Surprise. Director Peter Weir thought Pirkis "stood out very early on, but not to the extent that you see in the film. That was a complete surprise."According to Pirkis, he was at first "nervous" about acting with Russell Crowe, but changed his mind when he realised that Crowe was "a pretty normal guy."

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Breaking News :Delta: Violence, irregularities mar council polls

Delta: Violence, irregularities mar council polls

The 2018 Delta state local council elections, across the 25 council areas of the state, started out on Saturday on a violent note as unknown armed men set the State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) office in the Ughelli council Secretariat on fire.

The situation was not less volatile in other council areas, especially in the Delta Central District. There were reports of violent attacks, leaving more than two persons hospitalised in Ughelli.

There also reports of malpractices in the distribution of election materials, leading to mass resistance by voters in both Ughelli South and Udu council areas.

Although the take off of the exercise in Warri South and Uvwie council areas was relatively peaceful as DSIEC officials and party representatives were seen going about the distribution processes, the situation in many other parts of the state was opposite.

However, the chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) in Uvwie council area, Ufuoma Okenini, has raised the alarm over alleged intimidation and threat to the lives of members and supporters of his party by those he described as “thugs of the PDP”.

In Ughelli, as at about 8:30am, sources in Ughelli, the headquarters of Ughelli North council area of the state, said while the DSIEC, party representatives and security officers were distributing materials to various units, some armed men invaded the Secretariat, shooting sporadically and left the DSIEC office ablaze.

A source told the Nation that the atmosphere in the council Secretariat was tense as the attackers carried out their mission. Although there was no report of death, it was learned that many persons sustained various degrees of injuries.

“At about 8:30am this morning, while the security agencies were on ground waiting for election materials at the Ughelli secretariat, some armed men bust into the place , shooting very rapidly.

 “As we speak, the secretariat has been set ablaze while all on ground are looking for where to hide. Some comrades monitoring the election have run into the bush for hiding,” the source said.

In Udu council area, the exercise did not go peacefully as voters and officials of opposition parties refused to allow distribution of election materials after finding out that the returning officer allegedly ran away with the original result sheets.

The rancorous situation persisted until well after 11:20am when some persons, said to be officials of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), under the cover of  local vigilante men and policemen, pushed their way through the angry crowd, loaded the remaining materials and sped away.

In the neighbouring Ughelli South council area, election materials were still holed up in the Divisional Police Station at the council headquarters in Otu-Jeremi as at noon. The Nation gathered that voters and members of opposition parties, including the APC, had kept vigil around the police station after realising that sensitive materials, including result sheets, were missing from the available materials.

Things, however turned bloody in the early hours of the day when some armed vigilante men, allegedly working with the ruling party, attacked some members of the APC, shooting two, in an attempt to scare people away and make way for easy get away with remaining materials.

A chieftain of the APC in Otu-Jeremi, Ifeanyi Adjekota, called for a rescheduling of the election in the council area, noting that there was no way election would hold and be seen as free and fair any longer. He said trouble started when voters sensed foul play in materials brought, adding that the returning officer allegedly ran away with some sensitive materials.

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Celebrate Cobhams Asuquo on His birthday Akwa Ibom Nigerian Musician

       Cobhams Asuquo (Efik pronunciation: [ˈko̞bʱäms äsˈuːku:wo̞]) is a visually impaired Nigerian musician, producer, and songwriter. In 2005, Asuquo was signed on with Sony ATV London as a songwriter. After working as Head of Audio Productions at a local label, Questionmark Entertainment, he set up his own recording facility in 2006.

He is CEO/ Head of Productions of CAMP (Cobhams Asuquo Music Productions) which is currently representing himself, Bez Idakula and Stan Iyke. He was responsible for Aşa's highly acclaimed international album ASA and has been mentioned on many artists' sleeve credits as producer and writer.

Cobhams Asuquo likes to say that his music career started when as a child he used to puff his cheeks to play the 12-bar blues. Today, he is known for producing some of the finest artistes in Nigeria. Noteworthy among these artistes is the Nigerian soul-singing sensation, Asa, whose 2007 debut album became an international hit. In addition to producing the album, Cobhams wrote and co-wrote several of its hits songs. In 2005, Cobhams signed on to Sony ATV London as a songwriter.

After working as Head of Audio Productions at a local label, Questionmark Entertainment, he set up his own recording facility in 2006. He is CEO/ Head of Productions of CAMP (Cobhams Asuquo Music Productions), an all-encompassing entertainment company that discovers, nurtures and exposes great talents. Cobhams has won multiple local and international awards for his creative and entrepreneurial contributions to the Nigerian music industry.

WIPO had the pleasure of hosting on July 13, 2009 a performance by Nigerian musician, songwriter and producer Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo. He was recently featured on CNN's African Voices  for his contribution and impact on the African music industry.

Rising alternative soul artiste, Bez is the first of three artistes signed by Cobhams to the C.A.M.P record label, and Bez's debut album 'Super Sun' was highlighted on The Boston Globe's top ten list of best 'world music' albums of 2011. He has won several awards in the music and film scene in Africa and beyond. Cobhams talked about the advantages of being blind in an interview he had with the BBCNews Cobhams Also spoke at the TEDxEuston in 2012 where he talked about the gift of blindness.

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Celebrate Norman Mark Reedus born today.American Actor

Norman Mark Reedus (born January 6, 1969) is an American actor, television host and model. He stars in the AMC horrordrama series The Walking Dead and in the film The Boondock Saints. He has also acted in numerous films and television series, and modeled for various fashion designers (most recognizably Prada in the 1990s).

Early life

Reedus was born in Hollywood, Florida, the son of Marianne (née Yarber), a teacher, and Ira Norman Reedus. He is of English, Irish, Italian and Scottish descent. He attended Bethany college for a semester. He worked at a Harley-Davidson shop in Venice, California, and contributed artwork to various shows as a painter, photographer, sculptor and video artist.

 He first acted in the play Maps for Drowners at the Tiffany Theater on Sunset Boulevard. He was discovered at a party in Los Angeles, where someone asked him if he wanted to act in a play.

 Career

Film and television

Reedus played Jeremy in his film debut Mimic and Mac in Giovanni Rodriguez's Red Canyon.

 Reedus played Murphy MacManus in the 1999 film The Boondock Saints. He reprised the role in the 2009 sequel The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day. He guest-starred in Charmed as Nate, the boyfriend of Paige (Rose McGowan). Reedus starred in Hello Herman, which opened nationwide and on-demand on June 7, 2013. Reedus currently stars in the reality series Ride with Norman Reedus, which premiered in June 2016.

The Walking Dead

In 2010, Reedus began playing Daryl Dixon in the AMC television series The Walking Dead, a horror drama about a group of friends and family members who fight to survive in a violent apocalyptic world populated with flesh-eating zombies and the few surviving humans, some of whom are even more diabolical and dangerous than the zombies themselves.

The character was not originally in the comic book series of the same name, but was created specifically for Reedus after his audition for the character of Merle Dixon. The Walking Dead comic creator Robert Kirkman feels "absolutely blessed Reedus has honored the show with his presence, and the way he has come in and taken over that role and defined Daryl Dixon. A lot of Reedus's portrayal of the character in the first season inspired all the writers to do what we did with him in the second season.

We love writing him and end up doing cool stuff with him." The drama has evolved into the highest-rated in cable history, smashing all previous records. Reedus was nominated for a 2012 Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance.

Modeling, music videos and art

Reedus has modeled for Prada, Alessandro Dell'Acqua, Durban, Levi's, Lexus and Morgenthal Fredrics. In 2015, Reedus posed for a Cruelty Free International ad in support of ending cosmetic tests on animals.

In the mid-1990s, while working as a model, he appeared in the music videos for "Wicked As It Seems" by Keith Richards, "Violently Happy" by Björk, "Flat Top" by Goo Goo Dolls, "Cat's in the Cradle" covered by Ugly Kid Joe, "Strange Currencies" by R.E.M. and "Fake Plastic Trees" by Radiohead. In 1999 he appeared in the video for "Mean to Me" by Tonic. Since achieving fame as an actor, he has also appeared in the videos for "Judas" by Lady Gaga, "Sun Down" by Tricky (ft. Tirzah), "Gypsy Woman" by Hilary Duff and "No Cities to Love" by Sleater-Kinney.

He is also a painter, sculptor and photographer, who currently shows his artwork in galleries in New York City, Berlin and Frankfurt. He released a book of photography on October 31, 2013, called The Sun's Coming Up... Like A Big Bald Head, and in September 2014 announced a fan art compilation called Thanks For All The Niceness.

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Celebrate Ikechukwu Uche on His birthday.Foot ball lover

                                                     

Ikechukwu Uche (born 5 January 1984) is a Nigerian footballer who plays for Spanish club Gimnàstic de Tarragona as a striker.

Known for his acrobatic goal celebrations, he spent most of his professional career in Spain, having arrived in the country before the age of 20. He amassed La Liga totals of 194 games and 42 goals over the course of nine seasons, representing in the competition Recreativo, Getafe, Zaragoza, Villarreal, Granada and Málaga.

Uche appeared for Nigeria in two Africa Cup of Nations.

Early years

Born in Aba, Abia, Uche's career began in his country with Amanze United and Iwuanyanwu Nationale. Aged just 18, he moved to Racing de Ferrol in the Spanish second division, appearing in 24 games in his second season, which ended in relegation for the Galician team.

Uche then joined another club in the country's second level, Recreativo de Huelva, for a fee of US$300,000, and scored 12 goals in his first year, becoming the league's top scorer in the 2005–06 campaign at 20 in just 28 appearances (with five braces), as the Andalusians returned – as champions – to La Liga after a three-year absence.

In his first top flight season, Uche scored on eight occasions. Notably, he netted in three consecutive matches in November 2006 (with wins at Celta de Vigo and against CA Osasuna), helping Recre finish eight.

Uche joined Madrid's Getafe CF for 2007–08, mainly being used as a substitute. On 29 November 2008, also from the bench, he scored in a 3–1 home win over Real Madrid.

Zaragoza Real Zaragoza, recently returned to the top flight, agreed terms to sign Uche in July 2009, subject to medical. He was presented officially on the 22nd, and signed a four-year contract; in only his second match, a 1–4 loss at Sevilla FC, he suffered a severe knee injury, going on to miss seven months.

Uche recovered fully for Zaragoza's 2010–11 pre-season. However, he soon suffered another knee injury, being ruled out for another six months; his return to action took place on 19 February 2011 as he played 20 minutes in a 0–1 home loss against Atlético Madrid, hitting David de Gea's bar in the dying minutes of the game after an individual effort.

On 2 March 2011, Uche made his first start of the season, at home against Athletic Bilbao. On the 55th minute, he scored the final 2–1 for the Aragonese – his first goal since May 2009 – and cried profusely as he celebrated.

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Celebrate Brigadier-General John Atom Kpera,born today

                                                       Brigadier-General John Atom Kpera

Brigadier-General John Atom Kpera (born 3 January 1941) was the first Military Governor of Anambra State in Nigeria from March 1976 to July 1978, after it had been created from the old East Central State during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo. Later he was Military Governor of Benue State from January 1984 to August 1985 during the military regime of Major-General Muhammadu Buhari.

Background

John Atom Kpera was born on 3 January 1941 in Mbatierev, Gboko Local Government Area in what is now Benue State. He attended Katsina-Ala College, now Government College Katsina-Ala, (1956–1961) for his secondary education.

After joining the army he attended the Haile Selasie Military Academy, Ethiopia in 1962 for his Military Cadet Training, and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers in 1965. He held various command and staff appointments including Engineers Brigade Commander, Squadron Commander, Regimental Commander, and Commander, Corps of Engineers.

He played a role in Nigeria's first military coup on 15 January 1966, helping Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu in an attempt to overthrow the Northern Region government. The coup did not succeed in its aims, but led to Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi assuming power in the first Nigerian military government.

Military Governor

He was appointed Military Governor of Anambra State from March 1976 – July 1978, during the military regime of Olusegun Obasanjo. He then became Commandant of the Army School of Engineers Headquarters, followed by Director of Manpower, Nigerian Army Headquarters. On 4 January 1984 he was appointed Military Governor of Benue State, the first military leader born in the state to govern the State. 

He initiated a policy of forcing the people to clean their environment under the supervision of soldiers, a practice that was maintained by his successors.On his dismissal as governor, he said of the State treasury that he left it empty because he met it empty.

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