Brad Pitt Prankster Faces Assault Charge

The Ukrainian TV personality who struck actor Brad Pitt in the face at a Los Angeles movie premiere will be charged with battery and assault. Vitalii Sediuk, 25, faces four counts, including unlawful activity and interference at a theatrical event, said the city prosecutor's office on Friday. Pitt, who was on the red carpet for his partner Angelina Jolie's new film Maleficent, has obtained an emergency protective order against Sediuk. The prankster, who leapt over a fence to hit the actor, was being held in police custody, pending payment of $20,000 (£12,000) bail. Pitt, 50, was unhurt after being struck. Sediuk has become infamous for crashing celebrity red carpets and events, most recently breaching a red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival in France to try to climb under actress America Ferrera's dress as she posed for photographs, before he was ousted by security. In previous exploits, Sediuk has hugged actor Leonardo DiCaprio around the crotch at a Santa Barbara Film Festival event; stormed the stage during singer Adele's Grammy acceptance speech, and was slapped by Will Smith after kissing the actor at a Moscow premiere. Maleficent is Disney's new live action spin on Sleeping Beauty and stars Jolie and the couple's daughter Vivienne.

Boko Haram runs out of food supply

There are indications that the need to feed the over 200 students of Government Secondary School, Chibok, abducted by Boko Haram insurgents on April 14 has put pressure on the Islamic terrorist group to steal food items and loot communities close to Sambisa Forest in the North East. Saturday PUNCH investigations revealed that the violent Islamic sect had in the past week stepped up the looting of villages, markets and food stores in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states for food items including grains and bread. Residents of these communities told Saturday PUNCH that the rate at which the insurgents stole their foodstuffs was unprecedented, noting that the pressure to feed the abducted girls might have contributed to the desperation of the insurgents to steal and kill the villagers in the process. One of the villagers, Bukar Umar, who resides in Kamuyya village in Borno State, told one of our correspondents that though it was normal for the insurgents to ask communities to contribute money towards “God’s work,’’ they were usually satisfied when communities raised money for them. He, however, said the insurgents in recent times had stepped up their activities by invading their communities and carting away food items. With the pressure on Nigerian soldiers to clamp down on the Islamic sect, it was learnt that the insurgents no longer felt safe to go to markets to buy food items for fear of being arrested. Some of the insurgents recently met their waterloo in Madagali, Adamawa State, where they were given up by a local food vendor from whom they had planned to buy foodstuffs. Consequently, members of a vigilance group pounced on them and killed over 70 of them while seven others were reportedly handed over to the police. The vigilantes acted after they were tipped by the local food vendor that the insurgents were coming to get food before going for a major operation in a   neighbouring village. A Madagali resident, who did not want his name mentioned, had said, “The vigilance group mobilised, laid ambush and waited patiently for the insurgents. “As soon as the insurgents, numbering over 100, showed up in the village to pick up their favourite meals, the vigilantes attacked them, killing most of them in a hail of bullets.” Security personnel, during the week, also repelled attacks by the terrorists on Kubla, a border town between Adamawa and Borno states. A security source said, “The heavily armed terrorists arrived in Kubla and started burning houses and stealing foodstuff, until a contingent of the military was mobilised to confront them. “The soldiers engaged the militants in a fierce exchange of gunfire to repel them,” the source said. The source, who did not disclose his name because he was not authorised to provide details of the attacks, added that the insurgent had set to extend their stealing spree to Taraba State. Residents of Limankara, Kamuyya, Kirenowa, Kimba and Makor communities in Borno State said the insurgents usually carte away food items and livestock after killing people in their areas in recent attacks. In Limankara, a Borno border village with Adamawa State, the insurgents who killed many persons and carted away property worth several millions of Naira were said to have particularly gone for the available food items in the village. In Kamuyya village, a resident, Bukar Umar, said over 20 insurgents, who must have emerged from the bush, stormed the Kamuyya weekly market when traders were conducting their businesses and opened fire into the crowd before setting shops and vehicles on fire. According to him, the hoodlums were well armed with sophisticated weapons, and after raiding the area, they went to the major market and shot sporadically and indiscriminately into the crowd, killing 20 persons on the spot and burning most of the shops in the market. He said the attack lasted for over two hours last Sunday. “The invaders had a field day wreaking havoc on us. They snatched several vehicles and loaded them with bags of assorted foodstuff, before fleeing the area.” In Kirenowa town, where 20 persons were killed last week Thursday by the insurgents, they were said to have ransacked the town for food items, which they subsequently packed away in stolen vehicles. The insurgents on Sunday intercepted a vehicle loaded with bread, killed the four occupants and drove the vehicles towards Sambisa Forest. The vehicle, which was on its way to Polka from Gwoza, was attacked at Waraba village. Some of those who spoke to our correspondents appealed to both the state and the Federal Government to immediately come to their rescue by giving them food and rebuilding their burnt houses. One of them, Modu Kaka, said: “It has been difficult for our people to feed because our food items have been carted away and we are left with little to share among ourselves. “To even get another supply is a problem, if you get that, you are only inviting them to come back and that makes it necessary for security personnel to be deployed here.” The village District Head of Limankara, Alhaji AbdulKareem Wahab, claimed that 1,750 bags of assorted grains were loaded in seven stolen vehicles that were taken away by the insurgents during the week. He said, “The invaders had a field day wreaking havoc on us. They snatched several vehicles and loaded them with bags of assorted foodstuffs, before fleeing our area.” Also in Kirenowa town, residents said scores of armed insurgents invaded the area around 12noon, shooting everyone at sight and setting houses, shops and vehicles on fire. A resident of the area, Mallam Goni Bukar, said, “The militants, armed with sophisticated weapons, raided the area and proceeded to the major market and began sporadic shootings into the direction of crowd, killing 20 people on the spot and burning most houses and shops in the town. “They snatched several vehicles and loaded them with bags of assorted foodstuffs and fled. They destroyed everything we have, carted away our food and burnt down the remaining ones.” It was also gathered that after wreaking havoc in Marte, the hoodlums invaded nearby Kimba and Makor villages, where five people were killed in each of the villages. Bukar added, “After the carnage in our area, the militants proceeded to the two neighbouring villages and killed 10 persons, even as they set ablaze several houses and vehicles. They equally carted away their food items.” In a recent attack on Shawa, a neighbouring Chibok community, the terrorists stole food, after killing no fewer than 10 people. In another attack on Alagarno village, Borno State, the gunmen also stole food and razed their victims’ homes. One of the residents who spoke with journalists, Mallam Umaru Saina, said, “They destroyed everything we had and burnt down our remaining food after stealing what they needed. What is most painful is that they did not spare our kids. They killed children and women.” Apagu Maidaga also said Alagarno residents hid in the bush and watched while the extremists set ablaze their homes of thatch-roofed mud huts. The British newspaper, The Mail, had last Sunday reported that Nigerian journalist, Ahmad Salkida, who is trusted by both the Federal Government and the Boko Haram leader as a mediator, visited the camp where the abducted schoolgirls were being kept. Sakilda was quoted as claiming to have seen the abducted schoolgirls being “well fed and adequately sheltered.” Saturday PUNCH gathered during the week that the insurgents resorted to stealing following the shortage of food to feed themselves and their hostages. It was also learnt that the thirst for more loot prompted the terrorists to invade Kamuyya village in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State last Sunday. The recent activities of the sect have left the communities attacked further impoverished and many found it difficult to feed as their food items have been carted away. It was also learnt that the violent sect had begun to pile up food items in preparation for a long drawn battle with the military, especially as the United States, United Kingdom, France, Israel and other foreign collaborators are assisting the Federal Government to ensure the safe return of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls. With the allied forces believed to be on the ground to help the Nigerian military rescue the girls, it was learnt that the insurgents did not want to be caught unawares by running out of strategic resources, especially food. Saturday PUNCH further learnt that this development also contributed to the latest strategy of carting away food from communities, and the rustling up of the residents’ cattle in the last one week. In recent publications, some residents of the communities close to Sambisa Forest told journalists in Maiduguri that the insurgents had visited their towns recently asking for money to execute “God’s work.” The villagers were only able to raise N70, 000. The insurgents left with the money but with a message that they would come back for the balance. They threatened to come back for the balance at a stipulated time or they would kill the villagers. One of the villagers, Bukar Umar, said the villagers took the threat with levity. They thought it was “madness gone too far.” He said, “Actually when they issued the threat, we took it lightly as we were all relaxed and nobody bothered to make any extra effort to raise the amount they requested. May be that was what caused this bloody attack because we were unable to meet their demand.” Speaking on the growing raid of the insurgents for food, a military source said, “The military is aware of this and knows that the insurgents are doing this for a strategy but it is inevitable that we have to confront them if the schoolgirls and other girls and women they have abducted are not released.” He said, “They should continue to pile up food items as much as they can but wars and battles have different complexities and when we get to that stage we will definitely know which strategy to deploy.’’ Unconfirmed reports had indicated that certain helicopters used to drop food items and other needs in the Sambisa stronghold of the Boko Haram group. Security experts said the growing focus on the Sambisa forest must have disrupted the routine of the helicopters, thus putting pressure on the group’s supply chain and fueling more attacks on villagers in the North-East.

I have my list in my head- Keshi

Coach Stephen Keshi has  said that he has an idea of the players who will make the final 23 man list that Nigeria will be parading at the World Cup in Brazil. WORRIED — Keshi He however insisted that he will still wait till the last minute before making it public. Speaking after the team had their first training at the Philadelphia Eagles Stadium in Philadelphia, Keshi said he was thrilled by the level of tactical and technical depth displayed by the  players but noted there was need to be cautious. “Yes, I have an idea of those who will go with us to Brazil but we will still wait till the last minute before we announce the list”, he was quoted as saying by Team’s Media Officer Ben Alaiya. Keshi said he was delaying naming the list so as to have a second look at those who are not measuring up. Asked when is the last minute for him to make public his list, Keshi responded   “June 2 is the date we are looking at”.

Mikel plays negative football — Nwosu

1980 African Nations Cup winner, Henry Nwosu in this interview with JOHN EGBOKHAN says that Super Eagles midfielder John Mikel Obi must change his playing style at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Nigeria’s midfielder John Obi Mike What are your expectations from the African champions in Brazil? Do you see them doing better than they did in their previous appearances? I do not belong to the category of people who are already saying that the team will get to the semifinal. I am a great believer in the Super Eagles ability to excel in any international tournament but I strongly believe that before we can begin to run, we must first crawl, not to talk of flying into the semifinal just like that. I am patriotic but it is important to put things into context and not start counting your chicks before they are hatched. Even if we are so good, we cannot say for now that we are getting through or not to the quarterfinal round. But I see us doing well if the players show enough passion and discipline on the pitch.   Who in your consideration are the players who you feel will make the difference for us in Brazil? The team is essentially a good and strong one. The players have shown that they can hold their own amongst their peers in the world. Like I said earlier, team is going to be vital for our success in Brazil but when you want to single out some players who can make the difference for us at the World Cup, then you cannot overlook Emmanuel Emenike, who I dare say will shine in Brazil. Emenike will do very well for us, likewise Osaze Odemwingie. I also believe that Ogenyi Onazi will do very well for us. I also believe that Obinna Nsofor, if chosen by Coach Stephen Keshi, will do very well for us because he is strong, aggressive and determined.   Surprisingly, you did not mention Mikel Obi as one of the players who can make the difference for us. I did not mention Mikel’s name because the Chelsea player does not believe a midfielder can score goals. He is not adventurous and only adventurous and daring players can make the difference for their teams at the World Cup. Mikel likes making square passes and that cannot do us any good in Brazil. Mikel must stop his backward movement in Brazil or else, we will suffer from his actions. He plays negative football. He must change in Brazil. The era of playing backward has stopped and I am surprised that he has not changed. The players I mentioned earlier are those who can win games for us at the World Cup and Mikel, unfortunately, does not fall into that category, unless he changes now. It is always unfortunate that instead of attacking and creating chances for his teammates to score, Mikel is always giving square passes. Even if that is the pattern used by his club, when he comes to Nigeria, he must change to suit our style and quest for glory.   There is a general agreement that we are taking good goalkeepers to the World Cup, except that there are concerns surrounding the suitability of Chigozie Agbim for the tournament. Do you see Daniel Akpeyi beating Agbim to the final third choice? Generally, Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide are good goalkeepers who have earned their way to the World Cup. I do not have any fear concerning both players. Between Agbim and Akpeyi, I do not have a preference but I know the coaches will select the better one from the pair.   With about 12 days to the start of the World Cup, the talk in Nigeria has been about our match against Argentina on June 25. The focus is on Lionel Messi as people talk less of the first match against Iran on June 16 and the following one against Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 21. How dangerous can this be to our World Cup aspirations? Honestly, I am taken aback with this our over-concentration on the match against Argentina. They are not the only ones we will play in Brazil. We know Argentina as we have played them thrice at the World Cup, so they are no strangers to us. They are our perennial opponents at the World Cup and even though they have beaten us three times, they did not get the victories on a platter of gold. I am more concerned about Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran because they are the unknown teams and we we must be very careful with them. Unknown teams come with the surprise factor and such surprises can shock teams who take things for granted.   How do we prepare and approach our matches against Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina? We must be very conscious of our defence because any silly mistake can be costly. In as much as we must be conscious of our defence, we must be an attacking team. World Cup is about goals and only teams who score goals get to win laurels.   What kind of World Cup do you see us having in Brazil? World Cup is the greatest show on earth. It is where all players want to be and I hope that our boys make us proud. Even if they do not go far, I hope they will do well for themselves and the country..Speaking after the team had their first training at the Philadelphia Eagles Stadium in Philadelphia, Keshi said he was thrilled by the level of tactical and technical depth displayed by the  players but noted there was need to be cautious. “Yes, I have an idea of those who will go with us to Brazil but we will still wait till the last minute before we announce the list”, he was quoted as saying by Team’s Media Officer Ben Alaiya. Keshi said he was delaying naming the list so as to have a second look at those who are not measuring up. Asked when is the last minute for him to make public his list, Keshi responded   “June 2 is the date we arelooking at”

World Cup city gripped by dengue fever

The Brazilian city where Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Nigeria’s John Mikel Obi will train for the World Cup is in the grip of a crippling dengue fever epidemic. Workers in Campinas have embarked on a huge operation to eradicate mosquitos, which spread the disease, before the Portuguese and Nigerian teams arrive. Some 32,384 people have been infected by dengue this year in the southeastern city about one hour from Sao Paulo. At least three people have died. “It’s a record epidemic. It’s bigger than the 11,500 cases registered in all of 2007,” said Andrea Von Zuben, who coordinates the Campinas dengue control program. Dengue is a viral infection carried by the aedes aegypti mosquito. The fever is like chronic influenza with severe headaches, muscle and joint pain, vomiting and a rash. Severe cases can be deadly. Three people have died of dengue this year in Campinas, women aged 27, 69 and 81. Three other deaths are being investigated to see if they were caused by the disease. There is no cure for dengue, so prevention is the best medicine. The World Health Organization recommends people in infected areas prevent mosquito bites with window screens, insect repellant and mosquito coils. It also suggests covering up exposed skin — advice that may cramp Portuguese captain Ronaldo’s bare-chested style, a topic of much commentary after his pectoral-flexing goal celebration at this year’s Champions League final. Brazil has been hit harder by dengue than any other country so far this century, with seven million cases reported between 2000 and 2013. Von Zuben said the Campinas outbreak was being driven by a heatwave at the beginning of the year, the prevalence of a particularly virulent dengue strain and poor sanitation that leaves pools of standing water where mosquitos breed. But she said the areas where the Nigerian and Portuguese squads will be are a mosquito-control priority for health officials. “We put larvicides and anti-mosquito poisons at the airport, in the training centers and in the hotels, so the teams will run a much smaller risk than the local population,” she told AFP. - Team doctors ‘concerned’ - The authorities have been in touch with the teams’ doctors, who were “concerned,” Von Zuben said. She said her staff had recommended insect repellant. “We’ve been guaranteed that the situation has been identified and is under control. There shouldn’t be any reason for alarm,” said the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). In early May, when Portuguese coach Paulo Bento visited the training center, city officials told him three mosquito-control operations would be carried out before the team arrives on June 11. The army has helped sanitation workers clean up 83,000 tonnes of rubbish and dozens of buildings have been sealed off and sprayed. Campinas is not the only city facing the dengue threat. Medical journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases recently said World Cup host cities Natal, Fortaleza and Recife in the northeast were also at risk. Of course, infectious diseases are a two-way street. Campinas has also launched a program to give citizens free vaccinations before World Cup fans descend on the city from Africa and Europe, where “polio and measles are still persistent,” it said. Priority will be given to taxi and bus drivers, employees at restaurants and tourist attractions, and the staff of six major hotels.

Patience Ozokwor’s midnight drama

Call it a midnight drama on AMAA stage, you may not be wrong. Patience Ozokwor,  popularly known as Mama G, thought she was on a movie set last Saturday as she graced the just concluded 10th edition of the AMAAs. Mid way into the awards night, Patience did the unexpected. While one-time MTN Project Fame reality show winner, Timi Dakolo was performing his celebrative song, “Great Nation”, Ozokwor like every other guest that thronged the main auditorium of the newly refurbished Gabriel Okara’s Cultural Centre, Yenagoa venue of the glamorous event was moved with the lyrics of the song. Suddenly, out of excitement, the Iron Lady of Nollywood climbed the stage and kissed  Dakolo’s hand to the bewilderment of the cheering crowd. She did the same thing when  comedian Funny Bone performed on stage. But it was Peace Aniyam-Osigwe’s glowing tribute to the late Amaka Igwe who was a member of AMAA Jury till her death that Ozokwor showed how emotional she could be. Unable to control her emotions, the no-nonsense actress who stormed the event venue with her last son, cried profusely like a baby, leaving everyone wondering whether AMAA stage has turned into another movie set. In a twinkle of an eye, Ozokwor was up and about, as if nothing happened. She won the Best supporting Actress award which she dedicated to her late husband.

Producers, directors threaten to ban actress for exposing them

Fast rising actress, Ebele Anna-Patrick who recently exposed the rot  in the Asaba sector of Nollywood, where desperate actresses not only pay money to get roles in movies but also, sleep around with producers  and directors just to hit the top is currently  under heavy attack by the industry players. Aggrieved by her outburst in a recent interview which she granted to HVP, producers as well as directors are said to be spitting fire and brimstone, threatening  to ban the embattled actress  for daring to expose the rot in the industry. At one of the meetings, where the actress was summoned  by the industry players, Ebele, it was learnt,  exonerated members of Directors Guild of Nigeria,DGN,as well as Film and Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria,FVPMAN,saying that, she was not referring to them . “I wasn’t referring to DGN members or members of other registered associations in Asaba”, she said, adding “Just like we know in every gathering there must be a Judas and that’s why it’s pertinent that actors should endeavour to work with verified movie practitioners. While working in Asaba, I have come in contact with a lot of sincere producers and directors who dare not compromise on the standard they have set for themselves. In fact, my mentor, Nonso Ekene Okonkwo has always stressed the need for up and coming actors to strive to work with recognised guild members.”

Man beats son to death for stealing N1,000.

Shock and disbelief could best describe the expression on the faces of residents of Omitola street in Agege area of Lagos, when Saturday Vanguard visited Thursday , to ascertain the circumstance that led to the death of a 12-year-old boy. The guardians of the boy allegedly beat him to death just as a man in Oregun, Ikeja, was also alleged to have beaten the son to death for stealing N1,000. The 12-year old boy who was identified as Onyedikachi Mbanozo, was reportedly brought from the village by Mr and Mrs Paul Obiefule, last year, with a promise to send him to school. The couple reportedly kept to their promise by enrolling him in Holy Trinity Primary School, Agege,where he started from primary one.Information gathered from residents revealed that Mbanozo was allegedly often beaten at the slightest provocation by his guardians. He was said to have told some residents that he would leave for the village when he finished his primary school education. He never lived to see his dream come true. Life was snuffed out of him Tuesday,after one of the routine batterings. Ironically , he died on a day children all over the world were being celebrated. He was hungry and sought to eat at about 1pm. It was to be his first meal of the day. His guardians allegedly pounced on him in the process of which he slumped and died. Residents told Saturday Vanguard during the visit that when the couple discovered that Mbanozo was dead, they hid his corpse under the bed. Sensing danger that all was not well , curious neighbours were said to have asked after Mbanozo. A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity told Saturday Vanguard that: “At first , the woman told us that the boy fainted and was rushed to the hospital. Later she said he had been discharged and was inside. When we insisted on seeing him , they said he was sleeping. Some people suspected all was not well with the boy when the the couple still insisted that the boy was still sleeping the following day. It was when we insisted on seeing the boy that she opened up, disclosing that Mbanozo was dead and that her husband had gone to get a car that would take the corpse to the village. While we were waiting for her husband to return, he called his wife on the phone and told her to pack her things out of their apartment and leave with their three children. We stopped her from packing and followed her to a beer parlour where her husband was waiting for her and contacted the police. Confirming the arrest, spokes person for the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide said:“ At about 2.30pm on Tuesday, the Divisional Police Officer in-charge of Pen- Cinema Division , while on patrol with his policemen, received an anonymous  call that a man by name Paul Obiefule ‘m’ of No.22, Omitola Street, Agege Lagos and his wife had beaten a boy living with them named Onyedikachi Mbanozo ‘m’ aged 12years to death. On receipt of the information police patrol vehicles moved to the scene and brought the suspects and the deceased to the station for a detailed investigation. Case is currently under investigation at Pen Cinema Division’ In a similar incident on Monday at about 4 am, one Bright whose surname was unknown and who resided at No. 6 Olarewaju Street, Oregun, Ikeja was allegedly hit with iron belt by his father for stealing N1,000. The boy was rushed to Divine Private Hospital on Lawal Street Oregun where he was confirmed dead. The body has been deposited at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital mortuary where autopsy would be carried out.

Nigeria will be great if leaders like Sultan will tell the truth – CAN

CHRISTIANS under the aegis of TEKAN/ECWA, weekend, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to ignore a statement credited to the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, alleging marginalisation of Muslims in the country and that Nigeria will be great only if leaders like the Sultan will tell the truth. The Sultan was reported as saying during a national prayer session organised by the NSCIA where eminent Islamic scholars gathered to pray for peace and security in the nation that if the government can address injustice against Muslims, the seemingly intractable security challenges will be surmounted, adding that Muslims are not happy, but willing to support the government in its efforts towards peace and stability. Reacting to the statement, the National Head of TEKAN/ECWA bloc of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. (Dr.) Emmanuel Dziggau argued that if the head of NSCIA was serious, he should identify those marginalizing Muslims in the country. The Christian group also described the Sultan’s claim of marginalization which was widely reported, as inciting. They explained that a close look at the statement could be interpreted to mean that unless the perceived injustices against Muslims are addressed there will be no end to the current insecurity in the country. “We are yet to overcome similar statements by an eminent Muslim politician who vowed to make the nation ungovernable if he was not pronounced winner of the 2011 presidential election. When the CAN leadership called for his arrest for making such inflammatory statement many Muslims accused him of heating up the polity, but today Nigerians know those who are heating up the polity,” the statement added. The Christian group therefore warned traditional, religious and political leaders in the North against such inciting statements capable of motivating uninformed Muslim fundamentalists into killing innocent adherents of other faiths in the name of fighting perceived injustices. “We therefore call on the Federal Government to call the revered Islamic leader to order before another Islamic group will begin another round of terrorist attacks on innocent Nigerians perceived to be marginalizing Muslims as the Sultan had claimed,” TEKAN/ECWA pleaded. It maintained that the Christian community in the North in particular and other parts of the country which has been at the receiving end of several untold injustices in the country is, however, happy that the recent adoption of over 275 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok has loosed many tongues who had hitherto remained silent. “Over the years, Christians in the North had cried themselves hoax over discriminatory laws which had made it impossible for them to practice their religion without let in accordance with the tenets of the 1999 Constitution. As a deliberate matter of policy most core northern governments have refused to sign Certificates of Occupancy, C of O, for Christian organisations to build churches. “It is also a well known fact that governments in the region have also deliberately discriminated against Christians in appointments into government service for the simple reason that nobody will speak on their behalf. There are several cases of elected Christian politicians who were suspended on some flimsy excuses and who have not been reinstated despite numerous pleas for justice. “It is only the truth that will save this nation from the present morass that we have inadvertently found ourselves. For far too long we have pretended and lied to ourselves. We must therefore take advantage of the Chibok schoolgirls to tell ourselves so home truth for a proper and true healing process,” the statement said. Continuing, Dr. Dziggau said: “Nigeria and the international community must appreciate the leadership of CAN for his unwavering efforts to restrain Christian youth from retaliating numerous unprovoked attacks, institutionalised marginalisations of Christians in the hands of political, religious and traditional leaders. “Our appeal to His Eminence, the Sultan, is for him to ensure that truth is being told at all times even of it hurts, rather than deceiving the whole world with this story of marginalisation of Muslims. Nigeria will be great only if leaders like the Sultan will tell the truth at all times and in all situations because if there is any seemingly marginalisation of Muslims, it’s the traditional, political and religious leaders of Northern extration who have pauperised and marginalised their followers that have led to the current mass poverty in the region.

Uzoenyi and Ramon azeez shines in training

The 2014 African Nations Championship Most Valuable Player, Ejike Uzoenyi, alongside Almeria midfielder   Ramon Azeez and Belgium-based Michael Uchebo were impressive during the Super Eagles training on Tuesday ahead of the friendly game against Scotland on Wednesday (today). Coach Stephen Keshi will certainly be in good mood as the team’s more established players also gave a good account of themselves at the Craven Cottage training pitch under chilly conditions, as the fight for the 2014 World Cup places intensified. Forward Nnamdi Oduamadi, who missed the first training session of the team, arrived in camp after lunch time yesterday after a visa mix-up but France-based Sunday Mba, remained the only player yet to join the team in London. There are doubts over the ability of the midfielder, who scored the winner to hand the Eagles a third Africa Cup of Nations title last year, to arrive in time for the match against the Scots. Meanwhile, players have hailed the training session, which lasted over two hours. “You don’t play the World Cup every year and time,” goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama said. Defender Azubuike Egwuekwe said, “The training was tough and good.” Keshi said the players needed the session to get them ready for the task of playing against the best teams at the World Cup in Brazil.

Delegates vote to tax churches, mosques

DELEGATES at the on- going National Conference yesterday voted to enlist churches, mosques and religious organizations into the tax net The delegates in their deliberation on the report of the committee on religion also voted that federal and state governments should stop the sponsorship of Islamic and Christian pilgrimages. However, a move to scrap Islamic and Christian pilgrims boards sharply split the delegates yesterday leading to an uproar and forcing the conference leadership to move the vote on the issue to today. The decision to make religious bodies pay taxes came up when a delegate representing Civil Organisations, Mallam Naseer Kura in his contribution to the debate on the report observed that religious leaders were making much money and should be taxed. Also in his contribution, a delegate representing the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Isaac Ighure frowned at the situation where according to him pastors and heads of churches make too much money with some of them owning private jets. “Some people buy private jets when people in their churches are suffering and living in abject poverty, they should be made to pay taxes,” he submitted. At the resumed session after break, the issue of payment of tax by the churches, Mosques and other religious bodies came up and delegates unanimously voted for it and it carried that if the recommendations of the Conference sails through at the end of the exercise when presented before the National Assembly for ratification, leaders of religious bodies will now be subjected to paying of tax like other Nigerians, business men, government organisations and enterprises. Reject Fridays as work-free days Delegates however rejected setting aside Fridays as free working days when the matter came up for voting. There was however a very storming session yesterday and near a free for when the issue scrapping Pilgrims Welfare Boards came as a follow up to the decision that governments should no longer sponsor pilgrimages to the Holy Lands, just as shouts of no enveloped the hall, forcing the presiding officer and Conference Deputy Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi to abruptly adjourn the meeting till today where the issue would be voted on. A delegate representing Kogi State, Chief Olusola Akanmode had moved a motion that since the house had agreed that no government should sponsor pilgrimages and as a rider, all Pilgrims boards should be wrapped and he was seconded by a delegate representing Edo State, Chief Charles Edosomwan, SAN. Soon after the motion was moved and seconded, there was a counter motion by a delegate representing the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Charles Ibiang and supported by Senator Saidu Dansadau with explanations that the boards must remain as they travel to Mecca to make arrangements for accommodation, transportation and other welfare for the pilgrims. Following two motions on ground, Prof. Akinyemi then called for a voice vote in which the nays prevailed. Trouble then started when former Minister of Defence, Dr. Haliru Bello Mohammed called for division of the house since according to him, there was no consensus, but his suggestion was greeted by shouting by other delegates thereby creating a rowdy session with shouts from delegates that we will not agree, learn to accept defeat, we voted here that churches should pay tax and we all agreed, even as some delegates shouted and told Akinyemi not to be intimidated by any body. Following the rowdy session and some minutes to the close of session, Prof Akinyemi tried to Control the Delegates, saying that with the ensuing atmosphere, no serious business could take place and called on a delegate on the platform of Elder statesmen category, Erelu Olusola Obada and seconded by Aisha Aliyu and the session ended with delegates expressing comments of disappointment. They will reconvene today to vote on whether the Pilgrims Boards should remain or be abolished. The religion Committee had recommended  that  the Federal government and state governments must not adopt any religion as state religion. The  Religion Committee which has Bishop Felix Ajakaiye and Alhaji Nurudeen Lemu as Co- Chairmen, along side 19 other members  also listed areas of discrimination to indigenes in States like granting if land for places of worship and cemeteries; opportunities to education; employment, promotion and admission; pilgrimage sponsorship, among others. Religion  Report Earlier, a delegate,  Prof. Yusuf Turaki had blamed both Northern political and religious leaders for allowing Boko Haram insurgents to fester in the region. “Mr. Chairman, the question I have to ask is, why have the Northern Muslim Umma, the traditional rulers and the political class allowed Boko Haram to grow from insignificant religious movement into a militant religious force that has overwhelmed them?” Turaki, who spoke while making his contribution to the debate on the report of the conference Committee on Religion at the plenary on Tuesday, warned that Northern Nigeria is at the brinks of collapse and ruin solely on account of religious extremism, militancy, fanaticism and bigotry. Also contributing, a delegate from Benue State, Senator Jack Tilley-Gyado, suggested that delegates should observe a three-day fast to seek the face of God concerning many sins being committed by those in authority, including past leaders some of whom he said were part of the ongoing conference. According to him, people have hidden under the guise of religion to commit atrocious crimes against innocent Nigerians and called on the people to go back to God, saying these sins have brought Nigeria to where it is today. “Please don’t serve lunch for three days. We will achieve peace and those who are overweight will lose weight. We should go back and create the middle class. I know that no human beings can equal the Holly Books. But we are not reading them, we are not practicing them”.

How I escaped Jos blasts – Onazi

Ogenyi Onazi says he feels fortunate to be alive after he narrowly avoided last week’s bombings in the city of Jos. The blasts at a crowded bus terminal and market killed at least 118 people. Onazi, 21, who was born in Jos, had just left the popular Jos Main Market last Tuesday, when the first blast rocked the area. The midfielder, who plays for Italian Serie A side Lazio, said: “I am very, very lucky, just by the grace of God.” Onazi is now with the Super Eagles squad in London as they prepare for today’s friendly against Scotland and he says he has been struggling to erase the memories of that dark day. Recounting his lucky escape, he told BBC Sport: “It was just like an ordinary day. Happy faces and friendly warmth that makes you feel happy to be back home. “We had gone to the railway market to get something. I think it was 15 minutes later when we heard the loud blast from the place. And suddenly, people were just running. “There was chaos and pandemonium. There was smoke, I was confused, lost and just wondered what had happened. I had no idea what was going on and it was scary. “All my life I have never heard a bang or boom like that.” The second blast killed some of the rescue workers who had rushed to the scene, which was obscured by billows of black smoke. A week later, far away from the city where his parents are based and preparing for his first World Cup with the Super Eagles, Onazi insists the unrest back home has made it difficult to focus on football. “Some will say I should be happy to be alive but I just feel concerned about the security challenges in Jos and Nigeria as a country,” he said. “I was born and bred in a peaceful Jos. I may be fortunate enough to live outside the place right now, but I still have my family and friends who live in the city. “I always get worried when there are reports of terrible incidents there on a regular basis. It’s sad and depressing to live with this. “Personally, I think there is a need for a holistic approach to solving this problem once and for all. “Innocent people are dying and the government seriously needs to step up security across the country.” Another blast happened in Jos days after that incident, in an explosion that targeted football fans watching the European Champions League final, the authorities said. At least three people died and three others were injured in the blast, according to Chris Olakpe, the commissioner of police for Plateau state.

Okocha joins Eagles!

The Nigerian national team the Super Eagles, kicked off in earnest their preparations for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with a first training session at Fulham FC Mortspur Park training centre. The players who looked quite cool in their new kit with a sponsored logo at the front of green top and black shorts, were watched by former Nigerian world cup skipper Austin JJ Okocha. The former Bolton Wanderers of England captain Okocha who was accompanied by his elder brother and former Super Eagle Emmanuel. said he was there in a private capacity but the players looked boosted by his presence. They shook hands and joked with him before training started. When asked by this reporter if he was having itchy feet and want to be at the world cup JJ replied “no way, how many world cups will one person play in”? Big Boss Stephen Keshi stood apart watching and bellowing instructions and encouragements to the players as the players were taken through their paces in drills led by Daniel Amokachi. The players look very fit but most clearly is that they are very focused. Absolutely determined to do themselves justice before the final squad is announced. Returnees Osaze Odemwegie and Joseph Yobo looked properly at home, heavily involved in the banter before the proper work started. The Stoke City striker looked in good shape when the team broke out to an 11-a-side set up. One slalom run and strike reminded anyone in doubt that his qualities are still there. The talent of the man has never been an issue. After the exercise drills and work out the team broke out into a full match scenario. Oboabona and Omeruo resumed their partnership in central defence for one side while Egwuekwe partnered Yobo for the other side. Ramon Azeez of Almeria looked very sharp and seemed very comfortable in his surrounding among the African champions. One turn in the centre-circle saw him lose three defenders and release Obinna Nsofor wide right. Brilliant. At the end, Stephen Keshi felt “very satisfied on the work out seeing it is our first training session, the players have rested after a long season and they will get sharper” Earlier in the day the team had been invited by the Nigerian High Commissioner to Britain for lunch.

Banky W to become Ciroc Vodka ambassador

It seems this year is going to end well for this music dude, as indications  have emerged that Nigerian R&B artist Olubankole Wellington popularly known as Banky W is actually preparing to become Ciroc Vodka ambassador. The singer who is already an MTN ambassador, might have stylishly announced his new deal with Ciroc Vodka worth millions of dollars. If the deal sails through, Banky will be joining the likes of P.diddy, Rick Ross, DJ Khalid, French Montana, Olamide and others who have already become faces of the liquor drink. Banky broke the news when he posted on Instagram; “Taking a #SamsungSelfie, while signing my @MTNNG contract, while sipping on Ciroc. #NaGod #ThankYouJesus #Grateful #andWeAintDoneYet#j

Lightning kills pregnant woman, man in Benue

A pregnant women (names withheld) and a middle aged man, identified as Barber, were, yesterday, killed by lightning during a downpour in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State. Vanguard gathered from eyewitnesses that the deceased persons were both operating a business premises at a popular hotel on Gboko West area of the town when they met their untimely death. According to an eyewitness, the victims had close shop for the day and where locking up their business premises at 7p.m. when they were simultaneously struck. According to one Mr. Haanya Aondoakaa, who claimed he witnessed the incident, “when the rain started we were all happy because we have had scarcity of rains this year, but the thunder and lightning that accompanied the rain scared everyone. “It was not quite long after the rain started that we heard loud screams and wailing which compelled people to scamper for safety. “In the mist of that confusion, we discovered that the two victims were struck to death by the lightning. “It was a sorry sight. But we managed to render assistance by taking them to a hospital for medical attention, which was however too late in coming because they were already dead.” When contacted, the chairman of Gboko Local Government Area, Mr. Nahan Zenda confirmed the incident, he added that the council reported the incident to the police, and officers were quickly deployed men to the area.

US troops deploy to Chad in hunt for Nigerian girls

The United States has deployed a drone and 80 troops to Chad to help with regional efforts to rescue more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped in neighboring Nigeria, officials said Wednesday. “These personnel will support the operation of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft for missions over northern Nigeria and the surrounding area,” President Barack Obama said in a letter to Congress. “The force will remain in Chad until its support in resolving the kidnapping situation is no longer required,” he said, without mentioning the type of aircraft deployed. A US defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP the troops will oversee at least one unarmed surveillance drone to try to track those who kidnapped the Nigerian schoolgirls. Last month, Islamist militants from the Boko Haram extremist group seized more than 200 Nigerian girls from school dormitories in the northeastern community of Chibok, near border with Chad. Nigerian and international authorities were slow to react but, after concerned citizens launched social media campaign and the group threatened to sell the girls into slavery, offers of help have multiplied. France also has forces in Chad, and Britain and the United States have sent small teams of specialists to Nigeria to assist President Goodluck Jonathan’s government in the search for the girls. Washington recently began surveillance drone flights over northeastern Nigeria to try to track down the location of the kidnapped girls. Meanwhile, the violence has continued, with attacks on villages attributed to Boko Haram leaving scores dead and a bomb attack on the Nigerian city of Jos killing at least 118 people Tuesday.

Kaita scores first goal for Enyimba

Sani Kaita has scored his first goal for his new club, Enyimba, on Sunday in the 1-0 Week 13 win in the Nigeria Professional Football League match against Kaduna United at the Aba Township Stadium. The former Super Eagles midfielder, who joined Enyimba from Olympiakos Nicosia in April on loan, scored the match’s only goal in the 35th minute in his third appearance for the club. Also, Gbolahan Salami got his fifth goal of the season for Warri Wolves in their 1-0 home win against Heartland at the Warri Township Stadium on Sunday. The forward, who has featured in all his side’s league matches this season, scored in the 50th minute to ensure the points for the Warri based club. Senegalese defender, Pierre Coly, also scored a goal for Rangers in Enugu in their Sunday’s 2-0 win over Crown. The Senegalese nodded in his first goal for the club in the sixth minute off a cross from one of his teammates before Osaigona Ighodaro ensured the points in the 76th minute off a tap in. On Saturday, Sharks and Sunshine Stars had engaged in a six-goal thriller at the Akure Stadium when they played 3-3 in a match that saw the return of Gbenga Ogunbote to his former club. Kano Pillars also put up a chase to the title they had won last season with a 2-0 home win over Nasarawa United. The champions had won their last match on the road 3-2 at Gombe United on Wednesday. In other matches played at the weekend, Giwa beat Gombe United 1-0, Nembe City defeated El Kanemi Warriors 1-0, Abia Warriors also beat Lobi Stars 2-1, while Dolphins beat Akwa United 1-0. FC Taraba completed the home win with a 2-1 victory over Bayelsa United.

EFCC arrests Buhari’s son for N20m scam

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested Mr. Mohammed Buhari, an adopted son of a former Head of State, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, for an alleged N20m scam. A source at the EFCC said that the young Buhari obtained the said N20m from one Mrs. Nwokocha Florence to invest in an oil and gas business with a promise to make mouthwatering returns to the lady. It was gathered that the adopted son of the former Head of State and presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change in the 2011 elections also promised to pay the lady 30 per cent annual interest on the N20m. It was gathered that the relationship between the two turned sour when Buhari reneged on the agreement to pay the 30 per cent annual interest on the N20m to the investor said to have been introduced to him by his accounts officer at ECO Bank. It was leant that once the money was transferred, Buhari cleaned out the account but never paid any interest to the woman. The EFCC source said that Buhari claimed that he had some problems which emanated from his lost of the bank’s guarantee which he secured from a new generation bank. He was said to have explained that the guarantee was cancelled because the bank felt that the branch from which he secured it lacked the competence to give it. Investigation revealed that Buhari was still being held by the operatives investigating the case at the Lagos office of the EFCC as of the time of filing this report When our correspondent contacted the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, he confirmed the arrest but would not give any further details. He said, “It is true but I don’t have the details.”

Scores feared dead in Kano explosion

A blast hit Kano on Sunday, in a street with many bars and night spots. Scores were feared dead in the explosion which witnesses quoted by the AFP news agency said was caused by a suspected car bomb. The blast took place in an area mostly inhabited by Christians from southern Nigeria, the Reuters news agency reports. The militant Islamist group Boko Haram has carried out attacks in Kano State. Witnesses quoted by AFP said that the blast could be heard from several miles away and happened on a busy road lined with bars in the predominantly Christian area of Sabon Gari. The blast comes as the Nigerian authorities continue the search for more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram. Kano police spokesman, Musa Majiya, said it was too early to say if the blast in the Sabon Gari or “foreign quarter” of the North’s biggest city had caused any casualties. But witness Abdul Dafar, who lives a block away, told Reuters he saw at least four dead bodies after the explosion. “I heard a loud blast. And there was a lot of smoke. Soldiers came in to cordon off the place and ambulances were rushing people to hospital,” he said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but blame is likely to fall on Boko Haram, whose struggle against the Nigerian state has killed at least 12,000 in the last five years. The militants also operate in neighbouring Niger, Cameroon and Chad, and President Goodluck Jonathan described them as West Africa’s Al-Qaeda on Saturday in Paris, where regional leaders met France’s President Francois Hollande to discuss how to tackle the growing threat posed by the group. The Islamists grabbed world headlines with abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls a month ago from a remote village in the North-East. Britain, the United States and France have pledged to help rescue them. Boko Haram has frequently attacked Sabon Gari, whose liquor stores are also a cause of friction with Kano’s Islamic police.

No big deal in directors sleeping with actresses — Aniedi Noba

Aniedi Awah Noba isn’t a name that would cause a stir because it is a face that works behind the cameras. But the man, like most directors are the ones who pull the strings and oftentimes dictate the tunes to which the actors must dance. For Aniedi, he doesn’t believe the sexual harassment issue is a big deal. To him, it is a question of two adults, meeting up and making up their minds to make out. “If a director is a man and the actress is a woman and they find themselves attracted to each other, they’re permitted to do anything because they are adults. Where it becomes bad is when one person puts a gun on the other person’s head and make unhealthy demands through some blackmail. Sexual issues are not things you can really predict because they are human related. Anybody can sleep with anybody anywhere in the world as far as it’s an agreeable venture. So if I’m a director and I see an actress and I say I want to sleep with you and the actress agrees I don’t see anything wrong with that. Where it becomes bad is when I say I will not give you a job until I sleep with you. Now, we over-flog this issue of directors sleeping with actresses. A man will meet a woman anywhere, any day and they will sleep with each other. Let anybody sleep with anybody they want, life goes on. Let’s just do the work” he asserted.

Fayose has changed for the worse – Oni

FORMER Governor of Ekiti State, Engineer Segun Oni, took a swipe at the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate, Mr Ayo Fayose, over the latter’s claim that he is now a changed man. In an interview with Vanguard, Oni said he is opposing the candidacy of Mr Fayose because the candidate had changed for the worse. Oni said: “He (Fayose) claims to have changed. When you know his sponsors and how he ‘won’ the PDP primaries and those sponsoring him, you will know that he has changed for the worse.” Explaining why he left the PDP, he continued: “As far as the PDP is concerned, I did everything I could do to give the party a chance to pick a candidate that we can work with, that we can be proud of, that we can show to generations that are coming behind, as someone that we can recommend as role model for them. When the PDP decided what its own options would be, we had no alternative but to make up our mind, rigidly, to toe the path that we have now chosen.” Fayemi has improved education sector — KFCO THE Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation has commended Governor Kayode Fayemi for giving the education sector a boost. Apparently reacting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Ayo Fayose’s criticism of Fayemi’s education policy, where he said Fayemi has taken education to the lowest ebb. In a statement by its Spokesman, Mr Dimeji Daniels, KFCO said the people of the state have been reaping from the fruit of the education policy planted by Fayemi’s administration to the fullest. It described the administration’s relationship with teachers as encouraging and productive in the history of the state. The statement said Fayemi had in 2011 reversed the scrapping of the office of Tutor-General carried out by a previous PDP administration in the state by appointing three tutors-general to superintend over the three senatorial districts in the state The three were later promoted to the position of permanent secretaries in 2013. Daniels said contrary to Fayose’s claims that Fayemi had not been fair to teachers, the present administration had done more for teachers than in all the years from 1996 when the state was created till 2010 when Dr. Kayode Fayemi took over the mantle of leadership He added that the salary package of teachers in the state has tripled as against the Fayose era when there was no increase in salaries for almost four years.

Beware! Pregnancy after 35 years may put you at risk

Pregnancy in the body is a traumatic event especially if the body is aging. According to medical experts, there are certain problems more apt to occur when childbearing is delayed. Achieving pregnancy may be more difficult for many reasons. Due to aging, which can affect a woman’s eggs, pregnancy after 35 carries a higher risk of having a baby with genetic abnormalities. The biggest obstacle for women age 35 or older may be getting pregnant in the first place. Fertility rates begin to decline gradually at age 30, more so at 35, and markedly at age 40. Even with fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization, women have more difficulty getting pregnant as they age. Women also have more trouble staying pregnant as they get older: The rates of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy go up substantially with age. Even after you get pregnant, age continues to have an effect. The older you are when you get pregnant, the more likely you are to have a chronic disease, such as high blood pressure or diabetes that may be undiagnosed and can affect your pregnancy. First-time pregnancy after age 35 may have normal pregnancies, but research indicates that these women are at increased risk of having a cesarean delivery, when the newborn is delivered through a surgical incision in the mother’s abdomen, delivery complications, including excessive bleeding during labour, prolonged labour (lasting more than 20 hours), labour that does not advance and an infant with a genetic disorder, such as Down syndrome Studies have also shown that high blood pressure, diabetes and problems with the placenta are a few conditions that are more likely to develop in older women during pregnancy. During this period, medical experts advised that regular prenatal care is essential so that such conditions can be detected early, monitored and treated if necessary. Older women are also more likely to enter a pregnancy with a pre-existing medical condition or may be on medications that could pose a problem for the pregnancy or the fetus. To ensure a good outcome for both mother and baby, discuss any medical problems you have with an obstetrician before becoming pregnant. However, becoming, pregnant and having a baby is a huge adjustment for all first-time parents, but this especially seems to take older women by surprise.

Ten feared dead, scores injured in petrol explosion

ABOUT ten persons were feared dead in the early hours of yesterday in a petrol fire explosion at a creek close to the NNPC jetty in Okrika, headquarters of Okrika local government area in Rivers state. Chairman of the local government, Mr Tamuno Williams who spoke to newsmen  said scores of persons were also rushed to  undisclosed hospitals for various degree of burns. He further blamed the  ugly development on illegal siphoning of crude oil from NNPC facilities in the area by illegal oil bunkers. Continuing, the Chairman of the council, Mr Williams said it would be difficult to tie a figure to the number of casualties because of the terrain. While appealing to the NNPC to protect its facilities in the area from attack by vandals the Chairman  said the government had continued to put measures in place to discourage acts of illegal bunkering in the area. “The number of casualties cannot be properly ascertained for now due to the nature of the terrain where the incident happened and the level of security within and around the NNPC Jetty. “The fire incident is as a result of oil thieves who were siphoning oil from NNPC pipelines”. “I am speaking from the gate of the NNPC and I have been advised to come on Monday when the officials of the NNPC who are in-charge here will be on ground. The number of casualties cannot be properly ascertained as I speak due to the nature of the terrain, within and around the jetty”. “Those who survived were said to have  been severely burnt. A lot of things are shrouded in secrecy. We have seen the fire but the NNPC have not given us permission to go in and verify the enormity of the damage. The security there is intensive, yet no NNPC staff wants to speak with us.” “Since they are not ready to go, we chose to go there ourselves. There are, indeed, casualties but the number of casualties we cannot really confirm. We have been to the creek and we saw the pipelines connections.” “From what we saw, there is negligence on the part of the NNPC in the maintenance of their equipment. There equipment and pipes are in a state of disrepair. NNPC should take time to invest in the maintenance of their equipment.”, the local government chairman regretted. Community sources said the incident happened at about 1am yesterday.  The sources who also blamed some officials of the NNPC for the ugly incident said some persons had allegedly come to lift crude from the facility, adding that as soon as they left some youths also allegedly went in fly boats to help themselves. Vanguard gathered that the crude burst into flames killing some persons because  of an alleged spark on an engine in one of the flyboats used by the oil thieves. ” The engine of the fly boat was not covered so there was a spark that resulted in the fire. You know crude is highly inflammable”,  a source said. The sources said some persons  may have been burnt to death in the sea, adding that government should investigate staff of NNPC and security men deployed to protect oil facilities in the area. When contacted, the state Police command confirmed the fire incident, saying that it could have been cursed by the activities of oil thieves. No official of NNPC in the media department at the Port Harcourt refinery was ready to comment on the development when contacted via mobile phone.

Communities fault MFM over blockage of road

Residents of Magada and Makogi communities in Ogun State have faulted the decision by the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries to close an access road that connects the communities with the expressway. The road passes through MFM Prayer City on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The residents, who wondered why the church took the decision, told PUNCH Metro that using an alternative route was stressful and took much time. One of them, Kodir Abiodun, explained that it had been taking him much time and effort to get to his home at Makogi. He urged the management of the church to open the road. “I don’t know why they blocked that road. A two-minute walk to my home has now become 10 minutes. In fact, some of the MFM members could not attend last Sunday’s service because other roads to the church and the expressway were waterlogged and slippery,” Abiodun said. Our correspondent, who visited the place on Tuesday, observed that a fence had been erected to bar entry and exit to Makogi from the area. Pasted on the fence were placards with inscriptions such as, “Sunday, May, 2004, no vehicle could move out of Makogi and Magada, all the roads were slippery. The only good road was walled; If you live in this community, please speak out.” PUNCH Metro also noticed that Magada road, which is an alternative route, has potholes apart from being slippery. Another resident and a commercial motorcylist, Mr. Issa Kehinde, implored MFM to reopen the road. He told our correspondent that the church owned the passage. One of the Community Development Association chairmen in Magada, Mr. Koleoso Olarewaju, told PUNCH Metro on the telephone that landlords in the community condemned MFM’s decision. “The case has been reported at the Ibafo Police Station and the police have promised to look into the matter. The road should be reopened,” Olarewaju said. When our correspondent sought the comment of the ministry on the closure, the assembly pastor, identified simply as Pastor Irabor, said that he had no comment. “I have no comment, go to the security department. God bless you,” Irabor said. Our correspondent was not given audience at the security department either. However, an official of the church, who pleaded anonymity because he was not permitted to speak on the matter, confided in our correspondent that the road was barricaded to avert any attack on the church. “Boko Haram insurgents wrote to us threatening to attack our church. I think the blockage is for security purpose,” he said. He added that the road was barricaded because of the activities of motorcyclists, which were said to have been disturbing services in the prayer city.

APC rejects conversion of Chibok girls to Islam

The All Progressives Congress has condemned the reported conversion to Islam of the Christians among the over 200 schoolgirls who were abducted by the Boko Haram terror group four weeks ago. The party described the development as totally unacceptable and unconstitutional. This is even as it has postponed its planned National Executive Council meeting earlier scheduled for Tuesday. According to a statement by the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, in Abuja Tuesday, the party held an emergency meeting to deliberate on the Boko Haram issue. The APC described the action of the girls’ abductors in forcing them to make statements against their personal convictions as utterly barbaric. It reminded the abductors that Nigeria is a secular state and that the country’s constitution recognises the rights of the citizens to any religion of their choice. “This whole abduction saga has hit at the very soul of our nation. But just when we felt we had all witnessed the worst atrocity by the primitive and brutal group called Boko Haram, we are confronted with a totally repulsive scene of teenage girls, literally with guns to their heads, being forced to say they have converted to Islam. “This is appalling, distasteful and unacceptable under any circumstance and we condemn it with all the strength we can muster,’’ the APC said. The party urged the government to critically study the latest video by Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau to see what other measures can be added to the ongoing international efforts to find and rescue the girls. ‘’We have consistently said some form of negotiation cannot and should not be ruled out to pry our nation from the grip of these terrorists and ensure the safety and security of our citizens. ‘’In this regard, we consider as prudent the government’s reaction that ‘all options are on the table’ to safely reunite our girls with their families,’’ it said. Our correspondent learnt that the meeting, which was earlier meant to deliberate on party issues, was converted to an emergency meeting to discuss the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction considering the mood of the nation. A party source confided in our correspondent, “We cannot be playing politics at this time, considering the mood of the nation. We had to devote today’s meeting to the Chibok abduction.” Meanwhile, the Al-Habibiya Islamic Society has condemned the abduction of the schoolgirls. The group’s Chief Missionary, Sheikh Imam Adeyemi, said in Abuja on Tuesday, that the war against the murderous Boko Haram sect was one that should unite Nigerians irrespective of ethnic, religious or political persuasions. According to him, many members of the group have been fasting from the day of the abductions without caring whether the girls are Christians or Muslims because they are Nigerians and most importantly, they are human beings. He said, “In Chibok, from what we have gathered, families have amongst them Muslims and Christians, in some case, born of same parents. From the list of some of the schoolgirls, Christians bear Muslim names. “We even read that the Amirah of that school that is spiritual leader of Muslim students, was one of those abducted by Boko Haram. “In our holy Quran (Q17 v 70) that true Muslims refer to, Allah said he has dignified all human creatures, no matter their religion or social status and by this, it is mandatory on all true Muslims to respect all humans.”

77 girls now identified in Boko Haram video

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Bring back our Uche, Kalu begs Keshi

Out of favour  Eagles’ striker Ikechukwu Uche yesterday received a tremendous boost as former Abia state governor Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu made a passionate plea for his inclusion in Stephen Keshi’s  squad. Kalu, who spoke from London through his Special Adviser Kunle Oyewumi said,”as a passionate football fan, I appeal to my good friend Keshi, to have a change of mind and include Uche in his World Cup team.The boy should be forgiven since he is now remorseful.” The ex-governor praised the Eagles manager for recalling the duo of Joseph Yobo and Osaze Odemwingie,and prayed that Uche would also get a reprieve. “Football is a competitive game,we should not allow personal interest to override national aspirations. I salute Keshi for bringing back Yobo and Osaze. I wish he could extend same to Uche,” Kalu added. Uche has been in  splendid season for Villarreal and many fans are shocked that he was unable to get Keshi’s nod. The young man whose exclusion was blamed on tactical flaws says there is no love lost between him and the Big Boss. Another World Cup miss will be an evergreen pain for Uche whose last game for the Eagles was in February 2013.He had also missed the South Africa 2010 Mundial after leading the goals chart in the qualifiers due to injury. Elder brother Kalu made up for the miss as he scored two goals for the country,leaving something for family and country to keep.

Fayose relocates campaign office to hotel

Spotless Hotel owned by the PDP governorship candidate, Ayodele Fayose is experiencing a new lease of life. The hotel which in the days of the governorship of Mr. Fayose between 2003 and 2005 enjoyed high patronage from the state government and political allies of the former governor went into near disuse following the removal of Fayose from office. Until now it had been under lock and key. But with the election approaching, the hotel is now a beehive of activities as Fayose has practically relocated his campaign office to the hotel. The hotel has become the campaign’s Situation Room as party executives and supporters daily converge there to strategise on the next line of action. When Vanguard visited the hotel situated along Onigari GRA, in Ado-Ekiti, party members were gathered in different clusters strategizing.

Archbishop queries Buhari’s outburst on Boko Haram

The Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna, has described the recent outburst of General Muhammadu Buhari on the abduction of students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, by Islamic fundamentalists, Boko Haram, as “completely belated”. Archbishop Obinna made his feelings known while preaching the sermon during the dedication of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Emekuku, Owerri North local council area of Imo State. It was the considered opinion of the fiery Catholic cleric that the former military ruler possibly reacted because well meaning people of the world, including the leadership of Organization of Islamic Countries, OIC, have risen in condemnation of the dastardly acts of the insurgents. He queried why Buhari wasted so much time before condemning the sordid activities of the Islamic fundamentalists and wondered if his current comment would not be safely linked with his touted aspiration in the forthcoming general elections. Obinna pleaded with the citizenry to vote wisely during the 2015 general elections, as well as avoid the dreaded sect like a plague. Taking a hard look at the education sector, Archbishop Obinna commended the immediate past governors of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, for moving schools in his state to enviable heights. “In just two years of concentrating efforts in education, Anambra is now ahead of Imo in the sector. Obi recognized the efforts of the church and assisted it immensely”, Obinna said. The Archbishop also recalled that “Anambra people are greater than us in wealth and riches and now, they have overtaken Imo in education”. He equally used the event to announce that the Archdiocese remains committed to the establishment of a Catholic University in Imo State and urged the laity to not only get prepared for the take off of the institution but also make contributions towards its actualization.

APC/PDP clash claims one in Kano

A bloody clash between supporters of All Progressive Congress and rival Peoples Democratic Party Sunday in Kano claimed the life of middle age man that left scores injured. The victim was identified as Bello Shehu of Kofar Mata quarters which eye witness says was slaughtered during the chaos. Eyewitness who preferred anonymity told Vanguard that hell was let loose when people suspected to be sympathizers of PDP invaded a political rally organized by APC ahead May 17 council poll at Kabara quarters in the municipality. The account stated that the ensuing violence left so many supporters from either side with various degree of injuries. The eyewitness said that the timely response by the police thwarted its spread to other part of the volatile city, pointing out that ” the situation was brought under control as the dead and the injured were taken to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital. ” Although, officials from both parties were not available for comments as at press time but the police in Kano confirmed the story. The police image maker in the city, ASP Magaji Musa Majia revealed that ” We have extended our dragnet to apprehend the perpetrators of the dastardly act.” ASP Majia disclosed that “The corpse of one Bello Shehu who was stabbed to death by yet to be identified persons during the fracas have been released to his family for burial. ” He revealed that the force convened a meeting of stakeholders where it was impressed on them to conduct themselves within the dictate of electoral act to ensure peaceful council poll. ASP Majia warned that the police would move against anyone found culpable of endangering the peace in the state. He revealed the preparedness of the police to ensure a hitch free local government election coming up weekend.

Read how Boko Haram collected $3million from osama bin laden

The violent sect, Boko Haram and other groups in northern Nigeria received $3m from Osama bin Laden in 2002, according to a report by some United States intelligence analysts. Bin Laden was said to have dispatched an aide to Nigeria to hand out the seed money in naira to a wide array of Salafist political organisations that shared al Qaeda’s goal of imposing Islamic rule. According to  a report in a United States-based newspaper, The Daily Beast, the Al-Qaeda founder helped provide Boko Haram’s seed money. Boko Haram was founded by Mohammed Yusuf in 2002. Yusuf was killed in police custody in 2009. The Daily Beast reported on Sunday  that officially, the U.S. intelligence community believed that the sect had only tangential links to al Qaeda’s North African affiliate, and that reports of bin Laden backing the Nigerian outfit were off-base, but many analysts have believed that the ties between Boko Haram and al Qaeda global leadership go much deeper—and are about more than a little seed money. “There were channels between bin laden and Boko Haram leadership,” one senior U.S. intelligence offical told The Daily Beast, adding that “He gave some strategic direction at times.” A comprehensive report on Boko Haram published by the International Crisis Group, also confirmed that  Boko Haram’s early leader, Mohammed Yusuf, received some seed money from a disciple of Osama bin Laden named Mohammed Ali in 2002. The report added that bin Laden got to know Ali in the 1990s when he was based in Sudan, adding that after Ali travelled with bin Laden to Afghanistan, he was provided with $3m in Nigerian currency in 2002 and sent to the north of the country to fund a wide array of Salafist political organisations to help spread al-Qaeda’s ideology. Ali then became involved in the Nigeria’s Muslim insurgency but was eventually killed.

Abducted schoolgirls: Stop blaming Shettima, APC tells Jonathan

The All Progressives Congress on Sunday asked President Goodluck Jonathan to stop blaming Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State for the abduction of over 200 girls from the  Government Secondary School, Chibok on April 14. Speaking during a news  conference in Lagos, the Interim National Chairman of  the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, said Jonathan  must take full responsibility for the safety  of lives and property in the country, especially in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, where there is an emergency rule. But the Peoples Democratic Party  berated APC chiefs , saying they were  still playing politics with the nation’s security problems when other  Nigerians had  displayed a great “show of solidarity” in support of efforts to   rescue  the    schoolgirls. Akande however  said the Jonathan administration had  been found wanting in its handling of the abduction  saga and the continued killings and maiming of Nigerians by Boko Haram insurgents. He said, “Today(Sunday), we call on President Jonathan to earn his epaulette as the Commander-in-Chief and stop passing the buck. We remind him that as the Chief Security Officer of the nation, he cannot and must not pass the buck. “We remind him that having imposed   emergency  rule  on Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, he has assumed full responsibility for the security of lives and property in those states, and that it is disingenuous of him to point accusing fingers at the governors of those states, who cannot even move around their states freely without clearance. “Even without the Boko Haram crisis, the nation ran itself as if on auto-pilot. The Jonathan administration did little and depended on the ingenuity of the Nigerian people to fend for themselves and cover up governmental shortcomings. “However, a crisis has come which no amount of private ingenuity can resolve. Only government can answer this call. The time has come for strategy and action. The time has come but government has been found sorely wanting.” According to the APC Interim National  chairman, Nigeria has degenerated to the level of suffering more violence and destruction than countries that are  formally at war. He said the nation was in dire need of a bold, coherent, sincere and focused leadership. Akande condemned Jonathan for making his first official response to the abduction of the girls 19 days after it occurred. He said his   administration was in denial, believing the girls were not kidnapped and that the whole abduction story was choreographed to embarrass him  and dim his chances for re-election in 2015. Akande  also condemned  the  President’s wife, Patience for summoning and interrogating  state officials. Describing her actions as  unconstitutional, he said it was unfortunate that the PDP  kept quiet, while the world showed concern for the abducted girls. He also renewed APC’s  call on the National Assembly to probe  how the huge allocations for security in the recent years had  been spent, and find out whether soldiers were properly equipped. Akande ?  presented the party’s suggestions on how   insurgency  in the country could be halted. The APC, according to him, wants the  Federal Government  to  develop and publish a counter-terrorism strategy; build a new intelligence gathering infrastructure; improve  intelligence and   contingency planning; and pursue and align military with political (negotiated) solutions. Others are   a de-radicalisation of the North; regionalising response to   insurgency; employing effective information management and strategic communication,   an economic development plan for the North; and involvement of  civilian peace-building organisations. But the PDP, in a statement on Sunday  by its  National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, condemned   some APC members for “seeking political capital out of the pains of the missing schoolgirls.” It said,   “ It is troubling that at a time when all people of goodwill and good sense now speak unequivocally against terrorism in our land, some in the APC still persists in seeking political capital out of the pains of the missing schoolgirls or other incidents of terrorism. “This is not only shameful but disgusting, disgraceful and distasteful. It is this gloating that has made many doubt the sincerity of the APC in the fight against terrorism in our country.” The PDP  added  that its  members   believed  that the interest of the nation was more paramount and that   the welfare of Nigerians remained non-negotiable. “Nigeria is bigger than any person or group of persons. We shall therefore not relent but continue to guard our unity and ensure that our determination to live in peace as one people under God is not undermined in anyway whatsoever,” it added. The PDP however  saluted Nigerians for what it termed their exceptional show of solidarity in support of efforts to ensure the rescue of the abducted  girls. It said the cry of Nigerians over the past few weeks had  inspired a global response that would help to number the days of the terrorists. According to the ruling party, Nigerians have not only demonstrated “our oneness but also our boldness and determination to surge forward as a people to rescue our land from those who aim to cow us and impose a reign of terror on our nation.” The statement reads in part, “It is clear that once we continue to show such unity and solidarity in all our affairs, our nation will emerge stronger and ultimately take its rightful place among the comity of nations. “We note with joy, the change of attitude on the part of some opposition leaders whose recent statements indicate that they have realised the harm their past posture and utterances caused the nation.”

Breaking News: Another Bridge Blown Up By Boko Haram

Suspected members of Islamist terror group, Boko Haram, yesterday blew up another bridge that links Borno and Adamawa States, according to a Nigerian military source as well as residents in the area. A picture taken from a video distributed to journalists in recent days through intermediaries and obtained by AFP on March 5, 2013 reportedly shows Abubakar Shekau (center), the suspected leader of Islamist extremist group, flanked by six armed and hooded The sources said members of the insurgent sect have continued their rampage in isolated towns in the northeast. Yesterday, Boko Haram militants also attacked residents of Limankara community in Gwoza local government area of Borno State, burning more than 300 houses. Limankara is in the southern part of Borno State, about 147 kilometers from Maiduguri. A source in the town said the residence of the district head of Limankara was one of the homes burnt down by the rampaging insurgents. The district head is the father of the Borno State Commissioner of Trade and Commerce. One resident, Titus Musa, said the insurgents took away his car. He added that they also hauled away "over three thousands bags of foodstuffs and 10 vehicles." Another source in the community said the Boko Haram members torched a church belonging to the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN). "We are helpless," one of the residents said. "We don't deserve this. Let the government do something fast about these demons before they finish [off] our generations." Last Monday, Boko Haram insurgents abducted eight teenagers from Waranbe community. Our military source said the insurgents had taken over the town of Gworza and its surrounding areas.

Kidnapped Schoolgirls 'In At Least Four Groups'

US first lady Michelle Obama is to speak out against the kidnappings later today when she gives the weekly presidential address instead of her husband, the White House has said. Earlier this week, she expressed solidarity with the kidnap victims, tweeting a photograph of herself holding a placard bearing the slogan #BringBackOurGirls.Advanced eavesdropping equipment is being used to scan a forest where the girls are thought to be, Sky News understands. Intelligence sources have told Sky News they believe they know where some of the schoolgirls kidnapped in Nigeria are. The sources believe they have been split into at least four different groups, complicating the search to find the girls almost four weeks after they were taken by militants from Boko Haram. British and American officials are using advanced eavesdropping equipment to scan the Sambisa forest where the schoolgirls are thought to be, Sky News understands. ky's Special Correspondent Alex Crawford, who is in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, said if the intelligence is true it would be "much more difficult to mount simultaneous raids" to rescue them. "The whole thing is fraught with danger," she added. It has been claimed Nigerian security forces failed to respond to warnings about Boko Haram's planned abduction of the 276 girls from a boarding school in Chibok in the northern Borno state on April 14. Amnesty International said it had verified reports from several credible sources who claimed the military was aware of the impending attack close to four hours before it took place. The Nigerian government has rejected the findings as "unfounded". The leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, has threatened to sell the girls "on the market", amid reports some have already been trafficked to neighbouring Chad and Cameroon But Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said he believes the girls are still in the country. A British team of experts sent to "advise and support" the rescue operation touched down in Abuja earlier on Friday. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office says Britain's aim is not only to find the girls but to eradicate Boko Haram.Prime Minister David Cameron has told Sky News the abduction is "a ghastly situation, an act of pure evil". The Islamist militant group's five-year insurgency has left at least 1,500 dead this year alone. Its name is said to figuratively mean "Western education is forbidden".

UK sport paper talk today

LONDON EVENING STANDARD Inter Milan director Piero Ausilio has confirmed the club will sign Fernando Torres this summer if the Chelsea striker "has the desire" to play at the San Siro. Arsene Wenger insists there will be no public confirmation on his Arsenal future until after the FA Cup Final. Clint Hill hopes promotion to the Premier League will convince Harry Redknapp to stay on as manager at Queens Park Rangers. MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS Sir Bobby Charlton is certain Manchester United will finish above their bitter rivals City next year. Pablo Zabaleta has urged City fans to roar their team to Premier League title glory when they face West Ham on Sunday. United legends Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Gary and Phil Neville have announced they will face Salford City on August 7 at the AJ Bell Stadium - and there may be some more special guest players. LIVERPOOL ECHO Everton defender John Stones must be given time to mature instead of being pitched into the pressure cooker of England's World Cup squad, insists Sylvain Distin. City leaders are to force the sale of up to 25 properties and sites in Anfield as part of their long-running plans to regenerate the area. Brendan Rodgers has thrown his support behind the Football Association's controversial plans to create a new tier within the Football League to accommodate Premier League B teams. Everton boss Roberto Martinez is backing controversial Football Association proposals to create a new league to accommodate Premier League B teams. THE JOURNAL Newcastle United are set for talks with Luuk de Jong's agent next week as they mull over a deal for the Holland striker. SUNDERLAND ECHO Gus Poyet has begun his clear-out at Sunderland, with Andrea Dossena having already left the club. Gus Poyet will ring the changes for the final game of the season after insisting Sunderland's supporting cast deserve an opportunity. BIRMINGHAM MAIL Paul Lambert believes Jack Grealish has a bright future at Aston Villa - provided the teenager can keep his feet on the ground. Birmingham City are eyeing up Jonathan Grounds for a summer Bosman move. EXPRESS & STAR Ben Foster today insisted Albion have no special treatment in store for Peter Odemwingie on Sunday despite hinting the striker's stinging criticism upset the Baggies squad. Fabian Delph today insisted it was mission accomplished for Villa after they stayed in the Premier League. Wolves boss Kenny Jackett today gave the biggest hint that Richard Stearman and Dave Edwards will be part of his Premier League promotion push when he challenged them to be the new 'mentors'. THE SENTINEL Peter Coates says Stoke City are "broadly in support" of radical changes to the way football is structured proposed by the FA, including the introduction of B teams into the lower leagues. NEWHAM RECORDER Sam Allardyce says he spoke to West Ham owner David Sullivan on Thursday and received "no indication" of his job being under threat. FULHAM CHRONICLE Fulham are considering a move for Bournemouth defender Steve Cook. SOUTH WALES EVENING POST Neil Taylor is to discuss his Swansea City future with Garry Monk after admitting he is hungry to play first-team football. THE PINK UN Norwich City boss Neil Adams insists the Canaries' squad were good enough to stay in the Premier League but he will never regret accepting the offer of trying to pull them to safety. THE DAILY ECHO Liverpool will reportedly test the Saints board's resolve to keep hold of their best players by tabling a bid for Adam Lallana. HULL DAILY MAIL Robert Koren is preparing to bid an emotional farewell to the KC Stadium on Sunday as Hull City's Premier League season ends with the visit of Everton. YORKSHIRE EVENING POST Leeds United are taking the unprecedented step of temporarily closing their training ground at Thorp Arch as part of attempts by new owner Massimo Cellino to cut the club's costs. DERBY TELEGRAPH Steve McClaren says Derby County are in the driving seat in their Championship play-off showdown with Brighton & Hove Albion but warns that the tie is not over yet. LEICESTER MERCURY Gary Taylor-Fletcher has signed a new contract with Leicester City. LANCASHIRE TELEGRAPH Tommy Spurr believes Blackburn Rovers' storming end to the season should give the fans who have taken him to their hearts real hope of a promotion-winning campaign. WIGAN EVENING POST Jordi Gomez says Wigan Athletic are champing at the bit to end the campaign with play-off glory. BLACKPOOL GAZETTE Blackpool have been knocked back in their attempts to speak to Dundee United boss Jackie McNamara. THE STAR Wednesday target Matty Fryatt is committed to Hull City at least for the time being after being promised a place in the FA Cup final as well as a contract offer. Livingston could be forced to sell Sheffield United target Marc McNulty this summer to help balance the books at Almondvale Stadium. DONCASTER FREE PRESS Rovers' out of contract players have begun to hear whether or not they will be offered a new deal. THE ARGUS Albion boss Oscar Garcia has urged his players to re-write Championship history in the play-offs by overturning a first leg deficit at home against Derby County. EVENING TIMES Neil Lennon today demanded his Celtic stars finish the season on a massive high - by smashing through the 100-goal barrier in their final game. The Rangers board was today urged to start talks with fans who plan to withhold season ticket money from the club. THE SCOTSMAN Two Rangers fans groups have announced that they will not be purchasing season tickets in a further blow the current Ibrox board.

West ham boss- ": Let's spoil City's party"

Sam Allardyce says West Ham will give everything to upset Manchester City on Sunday and deliver the title to "neutrals' choice" Liverpool. Allardyce and his players are now all that stand between City and a second Premier League in three years, and a point at the Etihad will be good enough barring a 13-goal victory for Liverpool over Newcastle. The omens are good for Manuel Pellegrini's side - in three previous meetings with West Ham this season they have won three times and scored 12 goals - but Allardyce has a personal motive for spoiling City's title party. He said: "From a neutral's point of view I think everybody would like to see Liverpool win it, and from a personal point of view I'd like to see Steven Gerrard win it. "It's the last thing for him which he hasn't quite achieved at Liverpool. He's been a one club man all his life. Obviously they've let it slip out of their hands. They had it to take, but they've now left it in the hands of Manchester City. "We all know Man City in full cry are very difficult to play against. We've got to go out there and give a fantastic performance to stop them trying to grasp the title on that day. "Of course that will be hugely difficult - this is the best team at home in the league. They've only lost once, against Chelsea, their goal record is fantastic and they've got great, great players. "So every player on top of his form, every player can go out and give everything they've got from the basis we're already in the Premier League next season. "Let's try and spoil Manchester City's party." West Ham will have to contend with the threat of Sergio Aguero who returns from injury. The Argentina international missed the midweek victory over Aston Villa after suffering a groin strain during the first half of last weekend's 3-2 win at Everton. Aguero, City's top scorer this season with 28 goals, was also rated doubtful for the visit of the Hammers to the Etihad Stadium but Pellegrini has revealed he will have a fully fit squad at his disposal. "The whole squad is fit," said Pellegrini, whose side need only a draw to secure the Premier League crown. "It is very important. If you have your whole squad you can choose between all your players - that is the most important thing for a manager." Pellegrini has attempted to play down the importance of the game as City look to pip Liverpool to the title. He said: "It is a very important weekend because it is the last game - it is the work from the whole year - but also it is a normal game because I think the best way to do it is to repeat what we did the whole season so far here. "I think it is very important for the manager to be calm, to try to repeat what we did the whole year preparing for the games here at home. "It is one game more that we must play here and we must prepare in the same way." The 60-year-old Chilean, whose side are two points clear of the Reds, insists he will be able to control his nerves on Sunday. He said: "After so many years I think it is very important to control your emotions because when you have to take decisions under emotion, normally you will do it in the wrong way." Pellegrini also insists he has no interest in playing for a draw against West Ham. "Every team must play every game to win," he said. "It doesn't matter in which conditions they are playing, every team must want to win.

Even Al-Qaida Opposes Nigerian Schoolgirls' Abductions by Boko Haram

Even al-Quaeda, a global militant Islamist orgamization, has disowned the latest act carried by the Nigerian terrorist sect Boko Haram - the abduction of the almost 300 young female students from their school in Borno State. The case of the missing Chibok town girls has been a subject of growing world concern since April 14, when Boko Haram invaded the town and took some 270 girls with them. Although some of the girls have reportedly escaped the captivity, over 200 still remain in the sect's hands. Observers say that various Islamic and jihad groups are distancing themselves from Boko Haram, with even hard-line militants praying that God would reach out to the kidnappers and "hold them steady to the path" of Islam. Experts claim the reaction is evidence that Islamic terrorist groups are not a united front any more. "The violence most of the African rebel groups practice makes Al Qaeda look like a bunch of schoolgirls," said Bronwyn Bruton, an Africa scholar at the Atlantic Council in Washington, the New York Times reports. "And Al Qaeda at this point is a brand - and pretty much only a brand - so you have to ask yourself how they are going to deal with the people who are doing things so hideous even the leaders of Al Qaeda are unwilling to condone them." "Such news is spread to taint the image of the Mujahedeen," said one post on a website used by Islamic militants, the Times reports. What little reaction there has been on jihadi internet forums to the Nigerian schoolchildren story has been a mixture of bafflement and irritation. "Why doesn't al-Qaeda intervene to order Boko Haram to release them?" says one. "It is a plot to discredit Islam," suggests another. There has not even been a public reaction from Boko Haram's nearest branch, in the Sahara, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Al-Qaida has been encouraging supporters to avoid attacks on those they deem as innocent civilians in a PR move in order to not alienate its base. Boko Haram's actions have become an embarrassment to people who might otherwise have supported their fight against the Nigerian authorities. Al-Qaeda's leaders have learned from their mistakes over time. In Iraq in 2006, they saw how jihadist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's constant beheadings were alienating the local population and told him to stop. They also told al-Qaeda's Iraq branch to stop blowing up Shia mosques, as this too was adding to their unpopularity. In Syria this year al-Qaeda formally disowned the jihadist group ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) - again because of its excessive brutality. In Yemen this year al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) was quick to distance itself from the embarrassing sight - caught on CCTV and posted online by the government - of one of its fighters casually tossing a grenade into a group of terrified medics at a hospital it was raiding. It did not deny that it carried out the raid but said the man who threw the grenade was exceeding his orders and had been duly punished. In other words, al-Qaeda's wiser heads are not insensitive to bad publicity when they can see it is costing them sympathy amongst potential supporters. It is clear then, that unless - and this is extremely unlikely - this is a macabre plan ordered by al-Qaeda's leaders that has backfired spectacularly, Boko Haram are acting independently and following their own local agenda. All this prompts the question of what links, if any, there are between Boko Haram in Nigeria and its al-Qaeda allies. Whatever links there have been in the past between Boko Haram and al-Qaeda's various franchises, the Nigerian group's latest actions have attracted such unanimous international condemnation that few will want to be publicly associated with them for quite some time. Scholars say, Boko Haram now also represents a growing challenge to al-Qaeda as it seeks to cultivate more such affiliates among loosely Muslim or Islamist insurgencies across Africa, almost all of them far more brutally violent than even the acolytes of bin Laden can accept.