US begins flying missions to track abducted girls

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 The United States has begun  flying “manned” missions over Nigeria to track down more than 200 abducted schoolgirls as experts pored over a new video seeking clues to where they are being held, a report by AFP said.The missions, which commenced on Monday, involve the use of aircraft, including drones, to find the abducted teenage girls. “We have shared commercial satellite imagery with the Nigerians and are flying manned ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) assets over Nigeria with the government’s permission,” a senior administration official told AFP,  asking not to be named.
It was not immediately clear what kinds of aircraft were being deployed, nor where they had come from.
Also, a new video released by the Boko Haram group purportedly showing about 130 of the girls was being carefully studied by American experts in the hope it might yield vital clues as to where the girls are being held.
“Our intelligence experts are combing through every detail of the video for clues that might help ongoing efforts to secure the release of the girls,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.
“We have no reason to question its authenticity,” she added of the video.
Psaki recalled that the US policy was also “to deny kidnappers the benefits of their criminal acts, including ransoms or concessions.”

Brothers in court for stealing gold necklace

Two brothers, Jasper and Ibrahim Abu, have been arraigned before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing a gold necklace belonging to one Umar Ibrahim.

The brothers were also accused of duping Ibrahim of N300,000.

The gold necklace, which was valued at N185,000, was allegedly sold to one  Saadu Ibrahim, who was also arraigned along with the Abu brothers.

Jasper and Ibrahim were arraigned on two counts respectively, while Saadu was arraigned on one count.

The offence was alleged to have been committed on April 18, 2014 at Joke Ayo Street, AIT Road, Alagbado, Lagos.

The charges read in part, “That you, Jasper Abu  and  Ibrahim Abu and others at large on the April 18, 2014, at about 7.30am at Joke Ayo street, AIT Road Alagbado, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did demand and collect one gold chain necklace valued N185,000 with threat to the prejudice of one Umar Ibrahim and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 295(1) (2) (B) of the criminal code of Lagos state Nigeria 2011.”

Section 295(1) (2) (B) stipulates a prison term of not less than 21 years for the said offence.

The three accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The first two accused persons had their charges read to them in English language, while the third accused person had his charge interpreted to him in pidgin.

The magistrate, E. O. Ogunkanmi, after listening to the bail application from the defence counsel, U. V. Nwafor, admitted the three accused persons to bail in the sum of N100,000 each with two sureties in like sum, one of which must be a blood relation.

He said the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of tax payment to the government.

The matter was adjourned till June 4, for further hearing.

Dubbed from: www.punchng.com

Rapper Phyno reacts to photo of himself and Kcee talking closely

The pic above showing rapper Phyno and good friend Kcee talking closely at the MAMA nominees party in Lagos went viral yesterday. Fans went crazy with the photo saying that the two men were kissing but Phyno says its the camera angle.

C'mon, if they wanted to kiss, will it be in public? See another tweet after the cut...

Kelly Rowland stuns in yellow as she steps for the first time since getting married

Kelly Rowland looked stunning in a yellow Lanvin woven draped dress as she attended the American Ballet Theatre Spring Gala in New York last night, three days after she reportedly secretly married her manager/fiance Tim Witherspoon in a low-key wedding on Friday May 9th in Costa Rica, with guests including Beyonce, Solange and Michelle Willams.

She's so secretive...see her hiding her wedding ring....lol. Congrats to her!

GEJ seeks 6 months extension of emergency rule in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa

President Jonathan today May 13th sent a request to the National Assembly seeking an extention of the State of Emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states by six months.

In a media chat on May 4th, the president had hinted that there would be an extension of emergency rule in these states since peace has not been restored there.

Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states have witnessed high rates of attacks by Boko Haram and have been placed on emergency rule since May 1st 2013. The new proposed extention if implemented would elapse in November 2014, three months before the general election.

There has been some criticisms in some quarters against the extension. Some people believe the emergency rule earlier implemented had not reduced or stopped the killings in the states and so this new extension would still have no effect.

 

The National Assembly however has to debate on it before the President can enforce an extension.

Knocks for Patience as Michelle joins campaign for schoolgirls

United States First Lady, Michelle Obama, on Thursday warmed her way into the hearts of many Nigerians after she joined the raging online campaign for the freedom of the abducted female pupils of Government Girls' Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.
Michelle, in a message she penned on her Twitter page, offered words of encouragement to the parents and loved ones of the girls who have been kidnapped since April 14.
She also posted a picture of herself which had the inscription of the global trending hashtag, #BringBackOurGirls on the social network.
"Our prayers are with the missing Nigerian girls and their families. It's time to bring back our girls," the US First Lady tweeted.
But while Michelle received accolades for lending a voice to the #BringBackOurGirls movement, some angry Nigerians took a swipe at her Nigerian counterpart, Patience Jonathan.
According to them, while Michelle Obama joined the worldwide campaign for the safe return of the female pupils, Patience simply argued that no girls were missing.
Patience had on Monday stated, "So, we the Nigerian women are saying that no child is missing in Borno State. If any child is missing, let the governor (Kashim Shettima of Borno State) go and look for them. There is nothing we can do again."
Many online commentators who caught up with the picture posted by Michelle on Twitter lashed out at Patience for her failure to be sympathetic to the plight of the abducted pupils and their parents.
Political blogger, Kayode Ogundamisi, compared Michelle's response to the abduction and Patience's wailing on national television.
"Imagine if Patience Jonathan had just displayed a support to the 'bring back our girls' campaign as the First Lady of the United States is doing and not indulge in the charade of 'There is God ooo," Ogundamisi lamented on Twitter.
Another online commenter, Vima Olanrewaju, accused Patience of refusing to lend a voice to the plight of the mothers and relatives of the missing girls.
"It is not just about the poster Michelle Obama was carrying. It is more about lending a voice to the plight of helpless and armless people who are oppressed! Not that fake pretence of crocodile tears by Patience Jonathan on national television," Olanrewaju added in a tweet.
Political Blogger Japheth Omojuwa, who hailed Michelle as doing "what a First Lady with dignity and honour" should do, asked Patience to take a cue from her.
Also, a digital media consultant, Leke Alder, said Patience should have lent a voice to the ongoing calls aimed at regaining the freedom of the girls rather than acting out a "home video."
A respondent on lindaikeji.blogspot.com, Jaiyeola, said, "God bless Michelle! I hope they find those innocent girls soon. But how I wish Michelle could teach Patience how react to national issues without making a fool of herself and the whole nation… I saw the now popular "Na only you waka come" video and, I felt like crying. It's so sad."
Olumide Ayorinde, who expressed concern over the Nigerian First Lady's disposition towards the search for the missing girls asked on Twitter, "When will our President and his advisers learn? They are just insensitive and shallow. But Patience should have emulated her American counterpart."
Meanwhile, more global figures are lending a voice to the #BringBackOurGirls campaign and mounting pressure on the international community to secure the release of the abducted girls.
A former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Administrator at the United Nations Development Programme, Helen Clark, has said that she is looking forward to seeing the pupils reunite with their parents and loved ones.
"I'm strongly backing the bring back our girls campaign in support of the abducted Nigerian schoolgirls. I want to see the students reunited with their families and resuming their education," she wrote on Instagram.
As the United States Special Forces arrive in Nigeria to help in the rescue of the schoolgirls, the American Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, on Thursday renewed the White House commitment to ensuring their freedom.
In a message on the embassy's official Twitter page, a picture of Entwistle holding a poster with the #BringBackOurGirls inscription was posted on the social network.

"I wish to express my deepest sympathy to the parents of the abducted girls. The US has made a commitment to do what we can to support the Nigerian effort to bring back our girls," Entwistle was quoted as saying.