families of 'ISIS' schoolgirls make emotional pleas for them to come home

Relatives of Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and 15-year-old Amira Abase made the heartfelt pleas as the girls are feared to be headed to Syria to join the brutal terrorist group

 
Relatives of three missing schoolgirls who are believed to have fled to Syria to join Islamic State wept today as they issued heartfelt pleas for the youngsters to come home.
Police are urgently trying to trace Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and 15-year-old Amira Abase, who flew from Gatwick Airport to Istanbul in Turkey on Tuesday.
The girls, described as "straight A students" at Bethnal Green Academy school in east London, did not show any signs they were planning to travel to war-torn Syria, their families said as they gave emotional interviews at Scotland Yard's headquarters.
Renu Begum, 27, said she hopes her "baby" sister Shamima had travelled with the intention of bringing back another fellow pupil who went to Syria in December.
Amid fears the girls may have been recruited by jihadists online, Ms Begum said any attempt to prey on the "vulnerable" young girls was "cruel" and "evil".

Getty

Family Appeal: Renu Begum is the eldest sister of Shamima, and urged her to come home

"To convince young children, young girls who are highly intelligent... at that age, who are vulnerable, it's just wrong," she said.
"It's a really evil thing to do.
"You're breaking up entire families.
"They're preying on young innocent girls and it's not right."
Holding her missing sister's pyjamas, Ms Begum broke down in tears as she urged her to return home.

PA

Missing Girls: Kadiza Sultana, 16, Shamima Begum, 15 and Amira Abase, 15, were seen at Gatwick Airport, but it is feared they have travelled to Syria via Turkey

"Please come home," she said.
"Mum needs you more than anything in the world. You're our baby. We just want you home. We want you safe."
Ms Begum said their mother last saw Shamima get on a bus on Tuesday morning after she claimed she had extra classes at school, and there was "nothing unusual about her behaviour".
"She's a sensible girl," she said. "We're hoping she wouldn't do anything that would put her in any danger. It's left a big hole in the house.
"Her family love her more than anybody else in this world can.

Video loading

"If anyone is telling her they're going to love her more than us, they're wrong.

"She's a clever girl but she's only young and young minds can easily be swayed."
Shamima's relatives, including her two older sisters, posed for a photograph with Amira's father at New Scotland Yard in London as they appealed for the girls to come home.
Abase Hussen, 47, said his family had "not stopped crying" since the disappearance of his daughter Amira, who claimed she was going to a wedding on the day she went missing.
"She said 'daddy, I'm in a hurry'," he said.
"There was no sign to suspect her at all."

Laura Lean/PA

Mr Hussen clutched a teddy bear dressed in a Chelsea shirt with the words "number one mum" on its foot which Amira gave to her mother on Mother's Day.
He said his daughter sent a text on the morning of the day she went missing which said "dad the place is a little bit far. I pray my midday prayer and I get back".
"She didn't come home," he added. "We are depressed, and it's very stressful. The message we have for Amira is to get back home. We miss you. We cannot stop crying. Please think twice. Don't go to Syria.
"What she's doing is completely nonsense. Remember how we love you. Your sister and brother cannot stop crying."
Mr Hussen said his daughter had never spoken about an interest in jihad with him but "maybe with friends".
He added: "She doesn't dare discuss something like this with us.

"She knows what the answer would be."
Mr Hussen said his wife had a "broken heart".
"If anyone doesn't have hope, life would be miserable," he said. "We don't despair. We struggle. It's stressful. We hope, of course."
Reading a message to Kadiza, her older sister Halima Khanom said: "We want you to know that we all miss you and we love you.
"Everyone is hurting because we don't know if you are safe, especially mum. Find the courage in your heart to contact us and let us know how you are and if you are okay. That is all we ask."
Father of one of the 'ISIS' schoolgirls in emotional plea for her to return home

Muslims urged to attack UK shopping malls including Westfield in video from terror group al-Shabab

n the unverified video, the extremist Somali group asks what would happen if a terror attack happened in Oxford Street like the one in Kenya two years ago

Threat: A terror group has called on Muslims to attack Westfield mall in Stratford, among others

 

Video loading

Muslims have been urged to attack shopping malls in the UK and other western countries, in a video claiming to be from the Al-Qaida-linked terror group al-Shabab.

In the 76-minute clip the extremist group names the Westfield mall in Stratford as a specific potential target, along with the Mall of America in Minnesota and the West Edmonton Mall in Canada.
The narrator, his face wrapped in a black-and-white kaffiyeh-type scarf and wearing a camouflage jacket, spoke with a British accent and appeared to be of Somali origin.
He said: "What if such an attack were to occur in the Mall of America in Minnesota? Or the West Edmonton Mall in Canada? Or in London's Oxford Street?" the masked man said, then called for Britain's Westfield mall to be targeted.
The authenticity of the clip, which features footage from news reports, has yet to be verified.

MDM

Terror Attack: The Westgate Shopping Centre massacre took place in Nairobi, Kenya two years ago

During the video, released late Saturday, the extremist group again said its September 2013 attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, was in reprisal for Kenyan military involvement in Somalia. Sixty-seven people died in the attack.
Speaking on morning talks shows in the US, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, called the video "the new phase" of the global terrorist threat and said the US took such threats seriously.
"These groups are relying more and more on independent actors to become inspired, drawn to the cause and they'll attack on their own," Johnson said.
"I am very concerned about serious potential threats of independent actors here in the United States. We've seen this now in Europe, we've seen this in Canada."
The Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the Edmonton Mall both issued statements saying they have increased security since the warning.

AP

Attack Urged: A video urges Muslims to attack shopping malls in North America, Britain and other Western countries, specifically mentioning the Mall of America in Minnesota

In Kenya, the government dismissed the al-Shabab video.
"They're using propaganda to legitimize what cannot be legitimized. When you lead a group to go and attack a shopping mall and kill innocent shoppers that cannot be legitimized, those were not soldiers," Interior Ministry spokesman Mwenda Njoka said.
"Muslims also died in the Westgate attack.
"It's in our interest to ensure Somalia is stabilized because the instability affects us.
"The video is cheap propaganda trying to re-write history and to get more support from those support them."
Nairobi terrorist attacks: Live updates as Kenyan forces mount gun battle to end shopping mall crisis

Abia:56 Sacked Non-indigenes Drop Dead

They wore long faces, looking anything but hap­py. In fact, the map of hunger was etched on some of their faces. Dressed in black outfits to reflect their mood, they painted a pathetic pic­ture of frustration and helplessness. As they marched through the major roads of Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State, they sang songs of solidarity even as they displayed placards that conveyed their messages including the fact that about 56 of them are now dead without getting their entitlements.

Last week Thursday, some of the disengaged non-na­tive civil servants in Abia State again took to the streets to express their displeasure over the way and manner they were relieved of their positions by the state govern­ment and the way they are being treated afterwards.

Why they were sacked

The workers in the public service, numbering about 3,500, were sacked in 2011 by the Abia State government because they were not indigenes of the state. Interesting­ly, the disengaged workers are mainly from sister-Igbo states namely; Imo, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi.

Justifying the action of the state government, Gover­nor Theodore Orji had reportedly said: “If Abia is chas­ing other people away, we are only copying what others have done to us. It was a question of observing fairness and equity. When I have the opportunity to serve the Abia State people, I have no apologies to make to anybody. What I want to place on record is this: I wonder where people were when Abia-born people were being chased away from other civil services.”

However, following strident condemnation of the ac­tion, the state government announced the recall of the sacked workers. It was gathered that what the state gov­ernment did was merely to recall a handful of the disen­gaged workers. By so doing, the government effectively broke the ranks of the affected workers.

“The picture being painted is that the workers, who were sacked because they are not indigenes of Abia State, have been recalled by the government. The purported re­call was on the internet and reported by a section of the media. But the truth of the matter is that only a few of us were recalled. The purported recall was aimed at break­ing our ranks. So, you can meet somebody who will tell you that he or she was dismissed at that time but had been recalled by the state government as promised. Many people out there do not know the true situation of things because of the propaganda machinery of the state govern­ment. Instructively, some of those who were purportedly recalled are still not getting their entitlements. The public is being deceived by the state government. Many of the sacked workers no longer come out because of sickness and hunger,” volunteered one of the sacked workers.

Investigation revealed that the non-recall and non-payment of their entitlements has taken a grave toll on the affected workers. Many of them can longer play their natural role as breadwinners of their families even as their children have dropped out of school. When sickness comes, they only pray and expect divine healing because going seeking proper treatment is out of it. Because of hunger and sickness, about 56 of them have died as at October last year and still counting. And if there is any plan by the state government to actually recall or pay them their entitlements, there is nothing to show.

A civil rights activist, Comrade Chukwuemeka Mba, told Saturday Sun: “I was informed that about 56 of the sacked workers have died as at October last year. Some died out of frustration; some died of shock of losing their jobs, particularly in the manner it happened.”

Demonstration

On February 4, the sacked workers went to town in a peaceful manner to bring their plight to the knowledge of the people as well as appeal to the government to have a change of heart. They took off from Asa Triangle by Christ the King’s Church (CKC) and marched along Asa road through Jubilee road, passing through York to Ahia Ohuru and Ehi roads.

People trooped out to catch a glimpse of the protesters even as many were shocked at the development because of the propaganda in government media to the effect that all the sacked workers had been recalled.

However, the demonstration did not end without any incident. It was gathered that an attempt was made to disrupt the outing by people suspected to be agents of government.

According to Comrade Mba: “Some persons suspect­ed to be agents of the ruling clique attempted to halt the protest but were ignored by the protesters as they quietly marched along distributing fliers with the title: How long shall our plight continue. A young man also came, asking one the protesters some questions. I asked him if he was a journalist and he said that he was a State Security Service (SSS) officer.”

The protesters ended at CKC where they assembled to send a petition on their predicament to God in prayers. The prayer session was, indeed, a solemn exercise as they poured out their hearts in supplication. It was heart touch­ing seeing the men and women shedding tears openly.

Mba further said: “The disengagement of over 4000 workers from the Abia State workforce constitute not only violation of fundamental right, it is also fraught with many implications to any society where such injustice is allowed to stand. Hence people have a right and duty to protest wherever human right is violated.

“The purported recall of less than 10 per cent was in partial compliance with the advice of a judge at the Na­tional Industrial Court Enugu, in a stalled court proceed­ing on the issue. Over 3000 of the sacked workers are passing through the agony of the freak incident.”

One of the leaders of the protesters, Mr Ugochukwu Unogu, said that they were resolute in their demand for the workers’ recall. “We ask for total recall, not selective recall. We are really suffering in our father’s land,” he stated.

Commenting on the development, human rights activ­ist, Barrister Prince Ukaegbu called for the resolution of the matter without further delay even as he regrets that Igbo could be so badly treated in Igboland. His words: “Their plight requires immediate and unconditional res­olution. It is a tragedy that Igbo could do that to their brothers and sisters. In fact, all forms of injustice being meted out to Igbo must be stopped forthwith.”

Chelsea racism row: Ex-policeman sought over Paris incident 'apologises for his involvement'

Apology: One of the men wanted in connection with the Chelsea train incident has issued a statement

A former policeman who is one of three men sought in connection with an alleged racist incident involving Chelsea football fans on a Paris Metro train has apologised for his involvement.
But Richard Barklie, 50, insisted he is not a racist.
The ex-Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officer, from Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, is currently a director with a human rights organisation - the World Human Rights Forum - and has also worked supporting victims of the Troubles.
The Chelsea season ticket holder is one of the three men whose images were released by Scotland Yard as part of an investigation into a group of supporters who allegedly pushed a black man off the train and chanted a racist song in the French capital on Tuesday.
The incident happened ahead of Chelsea's Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, which ended 1-1.
Footage posted online showed the commuter - named in reports as Souleymane S - being pushed back on to the platform amid chants of "we're racist, we're racist and that's the way we like it".

Video loading

Watch next

Geoffrey Acheampong scores amazing goal from »

Watch Next

Tonight, Mr Barklie issued a statement through his lawyer in which he admitted involvement in an "incident" that resulted in Souleymane S being "unable to enter part of the train".
He said he had an account he wanted to provide to police that would explain the "context and circumstances".
Mr Barklie denied singing any racist songs; said he travelled to the game alone; insisted he did not know any of the other individuals captured on video footage of the incident; and said he has never been part of any "group or faction" of Chelsea fans.
The statement was issued by Belfast solicitor Kevin Winters.
"We act on behalf of Mr Barklie identified as one of the people sought by authorities investigating an incident on the Paris Metro on 16/2/15 ," it said.
"We contacted London Metropolitan Police today to advise that our client is happy to assist with inquiries.
"Pending formal engagement with police, our client is anxious to put on record his total abhorrence for racism and any activity associated with it."

PA

Statement Issued: Ex-RUC policeman Richard Barklie says he was on the train during the Metro incident but claims he isn't racist

"As someone who has spent years working with disadvantaged communities in Africa and India he can point to a CV in human rights work which undermines any suggestion he is racist," the statement continues.
"Today a senior official in the World Human Rights Forum confirmed their support for him.
"Mr Barklie is a Chelsea season ticket holder and has travelled to matches for over 20 years now without incident.
"He travelled alone to the Paris St Germain match and has no knowledge whatsoever of the identities of the other people depicted in recent YouTube video releases. He wants to stress that he was not and never has been part of any group or faction of Chelsea supporters.
"He did not participate in racist chanting and singing and condemns any behaviour supporting that.
"He accepts he was involved in an incident when a person now known to him as Souleymane S was unable to enter a part of the train.
"He has an account to give to police which will explain the context and circumstances as they prevailed at that particular time."

Guardian

Racism Row: The video appears to show Chelsea fans pushing a black man off a Paris Metro carriage

"In the meantime pending that, he wants to put on record his sincerest apologies for the trauma and stress suffered by Mr Souleymane," the statement continues.
"He readily acknowledges that any judgement on the integrity of his apology will be kept in abeyance pending the outworkings of the investigation.
"Given the extremely sensitive nature of the issues engaged we urge upon all media outlets to exercise as much restraint as possible when commenting on the case.
"We accept on behalf of our client that public interest demands nothing but total indignation and condemnation from all media reporting but such reporting ought not to persist at the expense of undermining Mr Barklie's right to a fair trial.
"Tonight London Met confirmed with us that arrangements were in hand to take the investigation to the next stage."
The WAVE Trauma Centre, which supports victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles, tonight said it had suspended a part-time worker pending further investigation into the Paris incident.
"As this matter is subject to an investigation by the Metropolitan Police it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage," said a spokesman for the charity.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the three men had now been identified and the force was liaising with the French authorities. None of the men sought by Scotland Yard have been arrested.

Getty

Victim Stunned: Souleymane S, the man who was denied access to a Metro train in Paris, says he was stunned by the incident

A police spokesman said the force cannot arrest people for offences which happen outside the UK but "a number of people" have now been spoken to in relation to the incident.
Five people have so far been suspended from Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground following investigations into the incident.
The club has reiterated its promise to ban for life anyone proved to have been involved in the altercation and is helping police in the UK and Paris.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said the club are "appalled" by the racial abuse, adding that owner Roman Abramovich is also "disgusted".
Meanwhile, police are seeking a gang of men, believed to be Chelsea fans, who were heard shouting racist chants at London St Pancras station on Wednesday evening.
A member of the public reported the men, who had travelled by train from Paris Gare du Nord, British Transport Police (BTP) said.
It is believed they were returning home after attending Chelsea's match with PSG.
Chelsea fans send anti-racism message in strong response to Paris Metro incident

ISIS threatens to take over Rome then throw homosexuals from 'Tower of Pizza'

The sick online threat was mocked by Twitter users, but taken seriously by security chiefs who deploy 4,800 troops to tourist traps

Leaning tower of 'Pizza': The threat from ISIS was mocked online

Sadistic Islamic State militants have threatened to take over Rome and throw "homosexuals from the Leaning Tower of Pizza".
A terrorist sympathiser on Twitter appeared to not know that the famous tower is in fact in the city of in Pisa, prompting internet users to mock their ignorance,
Another message posted on a Twitter account linked to the terror group, vowed to bring sharia law to Italy.
Twitter user Abu Abdullah Britani, who openly publicises ISIS activity, wrote: '#We_Are_Coming_O_Rome with slaughter'.

Monument: The extremists said they would throw homosexuals from the landmark

The message was soon followed by one that read: '#We_Are_Coming_O_Rome, we will conquer & establish the justice of #shariah. We will use your leaning tower of pizza to throw off homosexual'.
The threat was only days after masked jihadists warned of their intention to conquer the city in a video that showed the mass beheading of 21 Christians in Libya.
But the tweets prompted mocking responses rather than fear from Twitter users.
One user posted an image of Russell Crowe in movie Gladiator with the message "So you are coming to Rome, let me entertain you".

Another posted a cartoon of men dressed in armour and shields with the caption "Italian special units alerted to the threat of ISIS."
A number of others simply warned of perils in Rome, including travelling in rush-hour traffic and the risk of glass on the street.
However, Isis militants have killed gay men by throwing them from buildings in Syria and posted video of the executions online.

And the threat in the video of the beheadings is being taken seriously in Italy.
Italian security chiefs have approved putting 4,800 soldiers on the streets in sensitive sites, such as tourist and archaeological sites, to ward off terror strikes.
About 500 will be deployed in Rome where diplomatic residences, synagogues and Jewish schools are already guarded.

VIEW GALLERY

The troops are also expected to be deployed at tourist venues such as archaeological sites and monuments.

Meanwhile, the commander of Vatican City's 110-man Swiss Guard said his forces are ready to defend Pope Francis if ISIS attempt a strike .
Footage of the beheadings, said to have been in Libya, 220 miles south of Italy , showed Egyptian Christians dressed in jumpsuits marched along a beach held by an Isis fighter clad in black.
They are made to kneel before being forced to lie down and beheaded simultaneously.
The one of the executioners warned: "Today we are south of Rome. We will conquer Rome with Allah’s permission."

Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe to slaughter wild animals as food for his 91st birthday feast

The President of Zimbabwe is celebrating turning 91 by hosting a party worth £750,000 which members of the Zimbabwean public have been forced to help fund

 

Under fire: Mugabe has been criticised by animal rights activists

Animal rights groups reacted with outrage at plans to slaughter two elephants and a lion for Robert Mugabe’s birthday.
They will be killed to provide meat for the Zimbabwe President’s 91st birthday celebrations.
Animal Defenders International branded the decision “appalling” and “shocking”.
Mugabe is celebrating his birthday with a £750,000 party at Victoria Falls.
About 20,000 guests are expected at the event.
Workers up and down the country have been force to contribute to the feast.
Teachers each had £7 taken from their monthly pay.
It is just one of the celebrations planned for the notorious dictator who has ruled Zimbabwe for the past 35 years.

Video loading

Innocent Hamandishe, from Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party said: “We are going to ensure that the wonder of Zimbabwe celebrates his 91st birthday where one of the wonders of the world is."

But the ritual in his honour involving the slaughter of elephants at the party have drawn further fire.
Johnny Rodrigues, chairman of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, described the plan as “totally unethical.”
“I am totally disgusted by the news,” he said. “We claim to have the best conservationist policies in the world, but our president does not set a good example.
"How can he talk of anti-poaching when he is allowing this to happen?”
Tendai Musasa, who heads the Woodlands Conservancy in Victoria Falls, said he donated the elephants for slaughter because “it speaks volumes about how I hold the president in high esteem.”
Africa’s oldest leader and his wife, Grace, have been under EU sanctions since 2002.

Jasmine Tridevil: Triple-breasted dominatrix speaks for first time since revealing THIRD BOOB

The 21-year-old massage therapist said: "The reason I got a third breast is because I wanted to make my self unattractive towards men. I just did not want to be approached by men anymore."
 
Triple-breasted sensation Jasmine Tridevil has spoken for the first time since she stunned the world by revealing her third boob.
The wannabe pop star may be the first woman in the world to have an artificial third breast - or she may have pulled off one of the biggest hoaxes in Internet history.
She appeared in news outlets throughout the world in 2014 and claims the surgery changed her life.
But many commentators claim the third breast is a wearable prosthetic and she even reported a “3 breast prosthesis” stolen when her bags went missing at Tampa Airport in 2014.
Jasmine said: “I know my breasts are real and I do not care what anybody thinks

“Getting a third breast was not always my plan - I just had the idea two years ago.
“People always have something to say they will criticise it or will love it and ask for a picture.”
But the reactions are not always positive.
Jasmine added: “If I go to a park where there are children parents will give me dirty looks.
“But if I go to a bar it seems like everybody loves it.”
The aspiring pop-star claims the procedure cost £12,000 and took around an hour and a half to complete.
But she had a big problem in finding a surgeon who would perform the procedure.
She added: “There was one surgeon who hung up on me.
“I think that a lot of them thought I was prank calling them but I was serious they just did not take me seriously.
“There was another surgeon who told me I was crazy and said I should check myself into a mental hospital.”

Barcroft USA

Dominatrix: Jasmine Tridevil with some subservient men

She finally found a doctor who would perform the surgery but claims he made her sign a non-disclosure agreement meaning she can never reveal his name.
“The reason I got a third breast is because I wanted to make my self unattractive towards men, added the 21-year-old.
“Sexually I just did not want to be approached by men anymore.
“So I got a third breast to make myself unattractive but I still wanted to feel pretty.
“I can still wear provocative clothing and feel pretty myself.”

Video loading

The world’s media descended on the 21-year-old’s home in Tampa, Florida after the revelation but she refused to give any interviews.
“The world hates me I get nothing but negative comments, she added.
“They think I’m an attention whore and it’s true - I do love attention and I’m not ashamed of it because every entertainer is an attention whore whether they like to admit it or not.
“If they were not then they would not be famous.”
The dominatrix – who keeps male slaves and claims to have her name tattooed onto 11 men – has not spoken to her mother since the procedure.

VIEW GALLERY

She has had numerous calls to categorically prove once and for all that her three breasts are real – but as yet she has refused every offer.
“I could never consider doing a topless shoot - it’s against the way I was raised,” she added.
The viral sensation – who is cashing in on her new found fame with her self penned pop song – Born to Serve - wants to keep on shocking the world with her outrageous lifestyle.
Jasmine added: “I push the limits I do dangerous things.
“I never thought that I would ever change my body I was always happy with myself - I guess I just changed.”

Video loading

Bridegroom dies minutes before marriage introduction

Abuja - An Ebonyi State family have been left bereaved after a bridegroom passed away in an auto crash, minutes before he was due to be introduced to his bride's family.
The deceased, an indigene of Abia State, allegedly passed away only a few metres from his bride's homestead after the bus they were travelling in lost control and hit a wall.
The man is said to have been the only casualty in the tragedy.
According to a report by Sun News, while travelling to attend an introduction ceremony, the bus driver that was transporting the man and his family members attempted to avoid an elderly lady who was crossing the road. While veering to protect the senior citizen, the driver lost control of the vehicle and struck a wall as a result.
Also read: No luck for Port Harcourt church swindler
An eyewitness claims that the bride sustained only a glass cut during the crash.
The deceased was alleged to have been pronounced dead on arrival at the Presbyterian Joint Hospital in Uburu.

Read more at Sun News

34 Killed In New Attacks Near Chibok

No fewer than 34 persons were killed yesterday in three separate attacks on Borno communities in Chibok town by Boko Haram militants, a Chibok spokesman has said.
The militants raided the three villages, in Chibok Local Government area of Borno State, in a remote area near Sambisa Forest, where the Nigerian military forces claim to be carrying out an offensive against Boko Haram. An unidentified mother cries out during a demonstration to raise awareness of kidnapped school girls at a government school on Tuesday April 29, 2014, in Abuja, Nigeria. AP Photo/ Gbemiga Olamikan
Chibok spokesman Allen Manaseh told SaharaReporters that the insurgents attacked the communities yesterday at about 4pm.  Many people were still in the bush as he spoke with our reporter, he said, adding that some were said to have arrived in Chibok town.
"Gatamwarwa, Thliamakalama where a church was razed down and Tabang, all are Chibok villages,” he explained.  “All the communities are close to Askira town which was attacked two days ago. My worry is that the insurgents are roaming freely arôund this axis and unleashed [violence on] these communities.”
He further noted that the area was vulnerable to Boko Haram attacks due to its proximity to Sambisa forest, and that Boko Haram’s major training camp is about 20 kilometres from Chibok town, where over 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped in April 14 last year.
Bann'a Ibrahim, a resident of Chibok, disclosed that there is no military presence in the affected communities, except in Chibok town.
“Now we are afraid,” he said.  “Two days ago, the emir’s palace [was] burnt in Askira town.  I am planning to leave because we don't know their next plans.”
It is unclear how the army, which says it will defeat the militants in time for the March 28 presidential election, is deployed throughout Borno State.  An observer told our reporter the Boko Haram attacks on the Chibok communities suggests the military is currently doing sporadic air attacks in the hope of softening up the militants, meaning that civilians are exposed to Boko Haram on the ground, as well as to “not-so-friendly” fire.

Obanikoro Backs Down, Sends Warning Letter To SaharaReporters Instead

After failing for more than a week to carry out his threat of filing a lawsuit against SaharaReporters in New York, and against The Punch and Premium Times in Nigeria, Nigeria’s former Minister of State for Defense, Musiliu Obanikoro, seemed to have chickened out by having a New York-based law firm send a mere warning letter to SaharaReporters.
Musiliu Obanikoro A former senator, Mr. Obanikoro had been threatening legal action against SaharaReporters since the website first released, on February 5th, an audio recording in which he and other PDP officials are heard plotting to illegally manipulate the 2014 Ekiti State governorship election. The ex-Defense minister and his co-conspirators, including now Governor Ayo Fayose, are heard in turns berating Brigadier General A.A. Momoh and promising him promotions and other inducements for helping the PDP in its scheme to handicap APC members during the elections.
In the recording released by SaharaReporters, Mr. Obanikoro is heard stating that he was on “special assignment” from President Goodluck Jonathan to make sure the election was carried by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a statement he gave to The Breaking Times, a Nigeria news site linked to Mr. Obanikoro, Mr. Obanikoro falsely claimed that his lawyers had served SaharaReporters with court papers last week, and that SaharaReporters had 42 days to prepare its defense.
Instead, a New York law firm emailed a warning letter to SaharaReporters on February 19th asking SaharaReporters to “cease and desist from making false and disparaging statements about Sen. Obanikoro on the Internet.” Under US rules of legal proceedings, such a letter does not amount to a lawsuit itself.
Since SaharaReporters first released the audio recording, a third party consultancy firm, Guardian Consulting, has authenticated Mr. Obanikoro as the voice offering a bribe to Brigadier General A.A. Momoh. In addition to the secret recording, a sworn affidavit was signed by a whistleblower present during the meeting where Mr. Obanikoro illegally bribed the army officer and plotted to rig the Ekiti State elections in 2014.
The warning letter sent to SaharaReporters also substantiates that Mr. Obanikoro was present during the meeting where plans were made to illegally manipulate the Ekiti State elections even though claims the conversations were vague and only relates to how the conspirators would ensure security .
Mr. Obanikoro’s warning letter comes just as he awaits Senate confirmation of his nomination by President Jonathan to a ministerial post. Analysts and observers, however, argue that Senator Obanikoro is trying to give a false impression of legal action against SaharaReporters in order to ease through his confirmation hearings.
The law offices of Tacopina and Seigel sent the warning letter on behalf of Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro.  For days, Mr. Obanikoro and websites/social media outlets associated with him had made bones about Mr. Tacopina’s law firm as a firm that famously represented American baseball sensation Alex “A-Rod” Rodriguez in a case which he lost.

Jonathan In Abuja $500million Farmland Scandal

President goodluck Jonathan in Lagos

President Goodluck Jonathan is battling to explain all he knows about a $500 million farm which a non – governmental organisation (NGO) says belongs to him in alleged violation of the 1999 Constitution.
The Nation reported today that the farm was incorporated on December 30, 2011 barely seven months after Jonathan was sworn in as president for his current tenure which he wants Nigerians to renew.
The farm is about 94,04 hectares, located along the highway leading to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Purpose Driven Initiative (PDI), an NGO that appears to be the source of TheNation story, said in adverts in some papers last Friday : “ Let us talk about corruption. This is how the Nigerian government conducts business and fights corruption.
“A sitting President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, incorporated a company, Ebele Integrated Farms Limited in which he is a major shareholder on December 30, 2011.
“Ebele Integrated Farms Limited applied for and was granted 94.04 hectare plot of land, 1689 in Cadastral Zone EOS Aviation Village, Abuja on January 13, 2014.
“Under the Fifth Schedule Part 1( Code of Conduct for Public Officers) of the 1999 Constitution, Section 1, ‘a public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts with his duties and responsibilities.’
“Do we need any more evidence of how the Jonathan administration has been fighting or will fight corruption.”
Investigation revealed that crocodiles are some of the livestocks being reared at the aquatic farm.
A source said: “The farm house sits on a hill top overlooking the airport at the nation’s capital with rest chalets and presidential conference rooms.
“I think the farm may worth about $500m when completed. It is believed to being managed by some Israeli experts. As part of the plans, a helipad may be established on the farm, which may be solely export-oriented.”
The whistle-blowing group also alleged that the Minister of FCT, Mallam Bala Mohammed, has abused his office and violated the 1999 Constitution by incorporating Bird Trust Agro-Allied Limited on May 31, 2012.
“The company, Bird Trust Agro-Allied Limited then applied for and was given(by the same FCT that the major shareholder, Bala Mohammed, heads) a 40.4 hectares, plot 1683 in Cadastral Zone E05 of Aviation Village in Abuja on April 11, 2014,”the group said.
Rising in defence of the President and the minister, a pro- government coalition, New Generation Coalition, said Obasanjo enjoyed the same perks while in office.
It said: “Is it corruption? As a sitting President, Olusegun Obasanjo incorporated a company, Obasanjo Farms Nigeria Limited. Obasanjo Farms Nigeria Limited applied for and was granted a 100.12 hectares of land, Plot No.1 Cadastral Zone E09 Kuje, Abuja on June 27, 2005.
“The sitting Minister if FCT, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai(now APC chieftain) allocated the land and signed Certificate of Occupancy no. 17c2w-1b99z-9d15r-cb2au-34u3 certified to Obasanjo Farms Nigeria Limited on July 24. 2006.
“Just like Obasanjo Farms Nigeria Limited, Ebele Farms and Bird Trust Agro Limited are companies in which the sponsors engage in farming and other allied agriculture production and processes.
“Under the Fifth Schedule Part 1 Code of Conduct for Public Officers of the 1999 Constitution, Section 1 states that ‘a public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts with his duties and responsibilities.’
“Section 2 states that without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing paragraph …, nothing in this sub-paragraph shall prevent a public officer from engaging in farming.
“Is it corruption for a public officer to engage in farming as stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 with the view to making Nigeria self-reliant in food production?”
*Reported by The Nation

"I never cheated on Amber" Wiz Khalifa Tweets

"I never cheated on Amber" Wiz Khalifa Tweets

A very downcast Wiz Khalifa took to Twitter a few hours ago to proclaim he never cheated on Amber Rose as he fights her for more custody of their son, Sebastian, who turned 2 yesterday. This is contrary to reports that Amber caught him in bed with twin sisters Jas and Ness Rose last September. See more tweets after the cut...

 

A very downcast Wiz Khalifa took to Twitter a few hours ago to proclaim he never cheated on Amber Rose as he fights her for more custody of their son, Sebastian, who turned 2 yesterday. This is contrary to reports that Amber caught him in bed with twin sisters Jas and Ness Rose last September. See more tweets after the cut...

 

Photos: Beyonce, Jay Z, Paris Hilton attend Rihanna's surprise 27th birthday

Roc Nation threw Rihanna a star-studded surprise 27th birthday on Friday night and it was attended by a lot of celebs including Jay Z and Beyonce, Naomi Campbell, Paris Hilton and her sister, Nikki, Tyrese, Russell Simmons, Vin Diesel, Queen Latifah and more. See the photos after the cut...