The Nigeria Police Force reports about a possible attack on the Abuja transport sector, orders to tighten safety measures in motor parks.

Burnt-out buses after an attack at a bus station packed with morning commuters in Nyanya, Abuja, April 14, 2014.
The Nigeria Police claims that there are reasonable grounds to believe that terrorists are preparing series of deadly attacks on the Abuja transport service. The attacks are alleged to be carried out through suicide bombings, or through the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) concealed in luggage, bags, cans, and other receptacles.

Due to this, Abuja residents were asked to stay calm, vigilant and report any suspicious persons, objects, movements or activities to the Security Forces without delay. The Police High Command ordered FCT Commissioner of Police and other CPs in adjoining States to strengthen security measures at major parks around Abuja and its enviro

A Blooming Flower In Rain Of Colours

Augustina Chinelo Obi, is an undergraduate of Fine & Applied Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She is one of Nigeria’s upcoming talented female artists with great sense of creative artistic imagination, expected to make waves in the field of Fine Arts in the nearest future. In this brief interview with Mudiaga Adjekpagbon, she bares her mind about her artistic background and the potentials of Nigerian male and female artists.
What made you to choose to study fine art?
I chose to study Fine and Applied Arts because among other things, it is something I discovered I had a flair for, naturally.
Since when have you been drawing?
I cannot say that, just the way I cannot say when I began to walk. I think the person in the best position to answer that is my mother.
Did your parents support or oppose your desire to study Fine Art?
My parents supported me and they have always respected that dream in me. My father has this philosophy, ‘you can be anything you want to be, but you should be exceptional at it.’ He is my greatest critic; he watches me draw and sometimes asks, ‘why is it like this? Won’t it be better this way?’
You are a female painter, how many other female painters do you know in Nigeria?
Thank you for that question. There are a lot of female artists on the rise in Nigeria and even those who are renowned. Artists in Nigeria like Ngozi Akande, Nkechi Nwosu-Igbo, Zizi Cardow and many others are inspirations to upcoming Nigerian female artists.
Why are female painters not organising arts exhibition in Nigeria like their male counterparts?
There have been exhibitions by Nigerian painters and there are bodies like the Female Artists Association of Nigeria that organize exhibitions by female artists.
There are also no traces of female sculptors in Nigeria; men are more known as sculptors such as  Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya. Why is it so?
I beg to disagree with you in that regard. There are female sculptors in Nigeria, though it is the least treaded path. Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya is one of the founding fathers of contemporary Nigerian art. Ladi Kwali was one of the founding mothers. There are also upcoming female sculptors like Abutu Ene Mary, an exceptional artist.
Are male painters more talented than female painters in Nigeria?
No, I do not think so.
What do you hope to do after you finish your studies, would you open a studio or branch into any other area of human endeavour to make a living?
I am an artist and always will be. I could branch into the field of education, administration or any other area of human endeavour but then I would always practice as an artist.
Do you think Nigerian Fine Artists are rated high in the world?
Yes, I think so. Artists are always rated high in the world. I think an exceptional Nigerian Fine Artist would always be rated high anywhere.
Are you now engaged to any man, and is he encouraging you on your studies of Fine Art? No, I’m not.

Guard Kills Babcock Varsity Female Student In Hotel Folakemi Ibrahim,

A  hotel security guard, Azeez Ibrahim, has shot dead a female undergraduate of Babcock University, Busayo Ogunkoya, during a birthday party in a hotel in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
It was a case of confusion as 22 year old Busayo got killed by the gunshot from Azeez who happened to be a guard at Mambillah Hotel where the deceased and some her friends went to have a time-out 2 Saturdays  ago. According to Punch, the female undergraduate was at the party of her boyfriend’s friend before she got killed by the guard.
 
Although reports said he was drunk at the moment of the incident, Azeez revealed that he seized the gun from robbers, and it was in the process of checking it out that he mishandled the gun and fired a bullet which hit the young undergraduate.
However, Policemen from the Owutu Division arrived the scene on time to arrest the guard, the assistant manager of the hotel and the victim’s boyfriend as it was later revealed that the victim did not even know the person having a party but only followed his boyfriend there. The 22 year old was confirmed dead at a nearby private hospital where she was quickly rushed to after she was shot.

Man Nabbed With Explosive Materials At OAU (PHOTOS) Nkem Ikeke

A man, identified as Adedayo Rasaki Daniel, was reportedly caught on Sunday with explosive substances around one of the hostels at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Adedayo Rasaki Daniel, the suspected bomber
The man who claimed to be mad was caught with petrol, wires, stove, and newspapers at about 12noon by students of the institution.
Daily Times reports that an eyewitness named Baba T disclosed that the suspect was caught as he attempted to break into one of the rooms in Awo Annex.

The suspected bomber
Another eyewitness, Abbey, said the few students on campus are those doing their project, making it easy to spot any strange face. So when they saw Adedayo, they confronted and asked him questions which he couldn’t answer. When they searched his bag, they found explosive materials inside.

Nasarawa Impeachment: Gov Al-Makura Seeks Jonathan's Intervention

The embattled Nasarawa State governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura reportedly left for Abuja yesterday to seek President Jonathan’s help over the impeachment notice served him by state Assembly.

Gov. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura
According to informed sources, a high-powered delegation of traditional rulers and other respected stakeholders in the state are expected to join Al-Makura in Abuja today so as to seek audience with President Jonathan for his intervention in the matter.
Leadership reports that, Al-Makura before leaving the state capital at about 4p.m. had held series of meetings with his aides and party officials intent upon seeing how the impeachment impasse can be surmounted.
Notable traditional rulers in the state were said to have converged at the guest house of the Emir of Lafia, Alhaji Isa Mustapha Agwai l, with a view to seeking their intervention on the impending impeachment of the governor.
Yesterday, the clerk of the state Assembly, Mr. Ego Maikeffi, said Gov. Al-Makura had not yet been served the impeachment notice as he’d been denied access into the Government House on several occasions. He said that the Assembly would use alternative means like the media to ensure that Gov. Almakura was dully served with the impeachment notice.
Reports surfaced on Mnday, July 14, that Nasarawa State House of Assembly had commenced impeachment proceedings against Gov. Al-Makura, directing Mr. Maikeffi to serve him with the impeachment notice which was signed by 20 of the 24 lawmakers in the state during a sitting presided over by the Speaker, Musa Mohammed (PDP-Nasarawa Central).
The governor who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been accused of misconduct and misappropriation of funds.

Boko Haram Heads South, More Security Experts Warn Clement Ejiofor

Reuters Chief Correspondent on Nigeria, Tim Cocks, analyzes current tendencies in Boko Haram’s activities and tries to predict future movements of the Nigerian terrorist group.
In his article In Nigeria, Boko Haram-style violence radiates southwards, the author notes how, until the often deadly and devastating attacks affected mostly the northeastern region of Nigeria, residents of the "more prosperous south" reacted with just "a shrug of the shoulders".
However, the feeling of relative security is quickly fading, replaced by anxiety, as Boko Haram and other violent groups inspired by it "are radiating attacks from their northeastern heartlands" across Nigeria, Reuters correspondent says.
A pattern can be identified in the growing number of attacks allegedly committed by Boko Haram, while the sect periodically claims responsibility for some of them via videos, the information cannot be verified at times.

Rapper Andre Johnson Who Cut Off His Penis Opens Up On The Incident Clement Ejiofor

American rapper who in April severed his penis and jumped from the second level of the building opens up on the incident. 

Photo: Andre Johnson
The badly injured Andre Johnson was rushed to the hospital, however the doctors did not manage to reattach the cut-off part back to his body.
While some said that the 40-year-old was under drugs that night, the others alleged he had "mental issues".
In a recent interview with E! Johnson explained he was aware of everything he was doing on the fateful day:
"Yes, I was using drugs that night, but I was in complete control. I cut it off because that was the root of all my problems. My solution to the problem was the realization that sex is for mortals, and I am a god… Those kinds of activities got me into trouble, and I came here to be a god."
The musician did not want to speak with the media on the issue in order not to be tagged "crazy". Johnson disclosed  however he had started visiting a psychologist after the incident but was deemed fine.
Unwilling to kill himself, the rapper was happy with waking up at the hospital:
"That was just my response to the demons. They were doing their best to get to me, but being alive solidified my thoughts. …I’m alive, penis or no penis."

Escaped Boy Recounts His Terrible Ordeal In Sambisa Forest Nkem Ikeke

Abu, a 10-year-old boy who escaped from Boko Haram captivity has recounted his ordeal in the hands of the dreaded sect.

He was 9-years-old when he was kidnapped by the terrorists from the street in Maiduguri, Borno state.

Before his kidnap, Abu spent his days collecting alms on the streets of Maiduguri, where he was sent by his father to live under the care of a teacher and learn to recite the Koran.

His kidnappers took him to an empty house where he was drugged for a few days and later trafficked with others through a ring of adults into the hands of Boko Haram, Daily Trust reports.

Recalling what happened, Abu said they entered a a village after a very long journey and then a pick-up vehicle came with men with big guns and military jackets and they were told to get in. After another long journey, they got to the camp where he saw many other people, men, women and young boys, some younger than him and there were a lot of tents scattered all over which had people sleeping in them.

Related: ABDUCTED GIRLS: Escaped Chibok Girl Narrates How She & Others Manage To Escape Boko Haram’s Den

Abu was taken to Borno’s Sambisa forest where he was forced into slave labour for year.

ADAMAWA SAGA: Security Agents On The Trail Of Ex-Governor Nyako Bamidele Olowosagba

Reports emanating from the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, suggest that security agents stormed the Asokoro, Abuja residence of impeached Governor of Adamawa state, Murtal Nyako, to effect his arrest few hours after he was sacked by members of the state House of Assembly.
However, it was gathered that Nyako, whose security aides were withdrawn at about 1pm shortly after his impeachment, was said to be absent at his Abuja residence when the security operatives arrived to arrest him.
According to Abusidiqu.com, a source close to the governor informed that: “Some plain-clothe security agents came to look for Nyako but he had left his Asokoro residence.
“These agents were looking so desperate to effect his arrest in connection with a letter he wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan on the security situation in the North, especially Northeast.
“The plot is to arrest him and arraign him for sedition.”

* Ex-Governor Murtala Nyako
When the source was reportedly asked about the governor’s whereabouts, he said: “Only God and his family could tell now.
“We even learnt that if they cannot locate him, they might declare him wanted. Nyako is a military man; he would only insist on due legal process, even if he has to face trial.”

APC's Tribute To Murtala Nyako Clement Ejiofor

The APC took to Facebook to post a tribute to Governor of Admawa State, Murtala Nyako, who was impeached today, July 15. 
Read the whole statement below:

You are human though, courageous. You’ve had your share of what it takes to retire from Uniform to Agabda in the name of service to your nation. With total commitment from your side, you dined with the devil with your bare hands instead of using a long spoon.

You went apart with others and you refused to play the game according to their long existing rules, (you should have used the people’s resources to buy the Legislators to decamped with you). You did well for not promoting such anti democratic practices. 

Despite your political shortcomings, it is important for us to learn some good lessons from your moment of courage and patriotism, it was you that prompted us that the State of Emergency was a motive against the 3 States that belongs to opposition. It was you that gathered all evidence that proved to us that Federal Government is not living up to expectations, as such the President is culpable on the ongoing Genocide in the North. No any other Governor stood against all odds to eulogize Late Gen. Shuwa and questioned the circumstance surrounding his death. It is no doubt that the Nigerian Military were seen in so many videos behaving like the insurgents, such act left the while world asking questions that nobody provide the answers, not even the President.

I stand by you not as a politician but, as a voice to the oppressed citizens of the Northern Nigeria. I applaud your decision not to bow down to the President and not withdraw your allegations. You have proved to us that you are a product of the old Generation of Uniform men. As for the corruption charges against you, let it prick your conscience that to serve in a corrupt system like ours, you better decline. Therefore, the whole world knows that they are not better than you. In fact, they are cowards that will never lend their voices to the insecurity crisis even if the blood of innocent citizen will flood their homes.

STAY WELL AND LETS SEE WHAT NEXT!

FRAUD IN ISOPADEC …MD BEGS BOARD MEMBERS, PROMISES TO REFUND 250M

  By Destiny Ugorji

As residents of Oil Producing Communities in Imo State groan under deep-rooted poverty and underdevelopment, massive fraud has been uncovered in the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Community-ISOPADEC, a Commission established to enhance development of Oil producing Communities in the State.
Last Tuesday, there was a melee in the Commission, the cause of which, despite frantic efforts to suppress the story, has since been discovered to be a three year reign of graft and embezzlement of Board Members' salary by the Commission’s Managing Director, Dr. Henry Okafor.
Information emanating from the Office of the Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Imo State, Mr. Chike Okafor reveals that the sum of eight hundred thousand Naira (N800,000.00) had been approved and disbursed as monthly salary for each ISOPADEC Commissioner.
However, Dr. Henry Okafor, acting in consort with Ecobank Plc, Obinze branch, Owerri, had been short-changing and under-paying his fellow (ISOPADEC) Commissioners by between 400 and 500 thousand monthly, since 2011; depending on whether he paid them 300,000 or sometimes, 400,000 Naira.
Trouble first started when the Commissioners, acting on a tip-off from enlightened sources in Ecobank (who had become aggrieved by the Commission's decision to move a great proportion of the Commission's multi-million Naira account from Ecobank to a competitor bank), besieged Mr. Okafor's 4th Floor Office at ISOPADEC, Port Harcourt road, Owerri, to demand an explanation for the three year graft.
Impeccable sources told The Agenda that the Commissioners nearly came to blows with the MD, only to be calmed when Mr. Okafor offered to work out a refund plan.
It is unclear how the MD proposes to refund the monies (estimated to be in the region of N180m-250m) at the rate of N500,000.00 per month, over a period of three years; for 10- 15 Commissioners.
However, it is believed that Mr. Okafor has been helping himself to monies earmarked for developmental projects in the host (Oil) communities of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta LGAs of the State.
The Agenda investigations at the Commission reveal an abysmally poor level of implementation of the Commission's over N3bn Annual Budget throughout the period under Mr. Henry Okafor, a situation that formed the theme of dispute between Charly Boy Oputa and the Imo State Government, which matter came to a head during a Requiem Mass held in Oguta in honour of the late icon of the judiciary, Chukwudifu Oputa (JSC).
Charly Boy was reported to have told the Governor to channel the N5m which the Government sought to donate towards Oputa's burial, to the electrification of Oguta Community and Local Government Area at large.
The Agenda gathered that Oguta LGA has been in darkness for at least thirty six (36) months running, despite claims by Mr. Okafor's ISOPADEC that it pays the electricity bills of the residents of the local (Oil communities).
At the Requiem Mass proper, events took a turn for the worse when Charly Boy, incensed by the disgraceful lack of development in the LGA, forcefully grabbed the microphone from the governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, forbidding him (the governor) from speaking at his father's (Justice Oputa's) burial.
The governor, embarrassed beyond belief, quickly scurried away and out of the venue: his entourage following. It is feared that these failings by ISOPADEC to develop the oil producing communities in line with the Charter which set it up, might have irreversibly damaged the Government's relationship with Oguta people, a relationship (or the lack thereof) whose fragility has remained the governor's biggest source of political worry since his fortuitous ascension to power.
Thoroughly ruffled by the foregoing, Henry Okafor, still nursing illusions of a shot at the House of Representatives in 2015 under the umbrella of APC, has begun a methodical assembly of a private army of thugs and miscreants, in readiness for any eventuality as electioneering draws nearer.
These thugs, numbering in dozens are said to have a temporary training base in the Commission's N500m new ultra-modern Corporate Headquarters, off PH road, in New Owerri.
The thugs, said to be drawn from a retinue of fugitives on the run from the Police and Law Enforcement officials for sundry crimes, including kidnapping, arson, robbery, strife and murder usually freely mingle with visitors and normal folks by day, during which they engage in menial jobs, and running errands; only to congregate at night for their abhorrent, nefarious pre-occupations involving trade in hard, illicit drugs and banned substances; whore-mongering, strong-arm intimidation and rehearsals in criminal insurrections.
More worrisome is the fact that Nigeria is presently besieged by anarchical terrorists, with a cache of unexploded bombs and IEDs discovered in a pentecostal church premises in World Bank neighbourhood, Owerri in June this year. It is feared that the shape of things to come is even right now emerging.
Last Monday,(July 7, 2014), the thugs allegedly burgled a locker in an office on the last floor of the Commission's headquarters and carted away a huge sum of money, which informed sources advise, might be as much as N380,000.00; a matter which is presently a subject of Police investigation.
When contacted by The Agenda for comments on the security breach at the Commission, some of the personnel of the private security outfit charged with securing ISOPADEC (Greenhorn) which Directors are said to enjoy a very good relationship with Mr. Okafor vowed that they will only pick up the mantle of security at the Commission when the thugs are disbanded.
Meanwhile, the thugs have sworn to stay put, pending when Mr. Okafor issues them fresh instructions; or pays them off: whichever comes first.
As this saga unfolds, the multi-million Naira ISOPADEC edifice continues to play its multiple roles: at once, a day-time office; at others: a makeshift brothel; and a militia training ground, depending on the mood of its unwelcome occupants.
All efforts to reach the Managing Director, Dr. Henry Okafor proved abortive, as calls put across to his mobile line were not answered, while SMS sent was ignored.
Reacting to the development, a member of the present ISOPADEC Board who spoke to The Agenda on the grounds of anonymity described it as unfortunate, regretting that the aim of establishing the Commission is defeated.
He however called for what he described as a total sanitization of the Commission, before it could be returned to track.

Atiku Reacts To Governor Nyako's Impeachment Nkem Ikeke

Following the impeachment Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led federal government against excessive use of power.

Atiku Abubakar
In a statement by his media office in Abuja, Atiku said impeaching elected public office holders to settle scores would only build tension in the country.
He explained that the excessive use of power is not good for decent democratic practice, saying triumphalism in the suppression of opponents is a bad omen for democracy.
According to PM report, Atiku decried the use of impeachment to settle scores by the PDP-led federal government, saying the the frequency with which elected officials were being removed from office by impeachment would destroy the whole purpose of inserting the impeachment clause in the Constitution, adding that it could not have been the intention of the framers of the 1999 Constitution.
He said the impeachment clause in the constitution was not put there to provide ammo to anybody to harass and humiliate opponents or force them out of office.

Nyako Reacts To His Removal As Governor Of Adamawa Bamidele Olowosagba

Less than 24 hours after Governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, was impeached by the state’s House of Assembly, the ex-governor has spoken on his removal.
Speaking through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Ahmad Sajoh, on Tuesday, 15 July, 2014, Nyako said he had accepted his fate but asked his traducers to be mindful of God’s judgment.
It could be recalled that the former governor was removed from his post after the Adamawa lawmakers deliberated on a report submitted by an investigative panel that probed allegations of financial misconducts against him.
The committee submitted its report to the House on Monday, 14 July, 2014.
It was gathered that seventeen of the 25 members of the Assembly adopted the report of the panel after Speaker Umaru Fintiri read the report on the floor of the House.
According to reports, the panel found the governor guilty of all the 16 allegations of gross misconduct leveled against him by the House.
According to the statement released by Nyako’s spokesman moments after the state lawmakers pushed him out of power, the governor stated: “Praise be to Allah, we accept what has happened. This is the judgment of man; we should all remember that there is God’s judgment in the hereafter.