Nigerians to mark 500 days since Boko Haram school girls abductions

The Bring Back Our Girls campaign said Tuesday it would stage a "Chibok Girls Ambassador March" in the capital Abuja on the 500-day anniversary of the kidnappings, followed by a candle-lit procession.

"Since 498 days that they have been missing... we failed them and they were taken and the best thing is for us to have rescued them that very day. And up until now, 498 days after, we still haven't done that," campaign spokeswoman Aisha Yesufu told AFP

Relatives of more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram said they would hold a youth march and candle-lit vigil on Thursday to mark 500 days since the abductions.

Boko Haram fighters stormed the Government Secondary School in the remote town of Chibok in Borno state on April 14 last year, seizing 276 girls who were preparing for end-of-year exams.

Fifty-seven escaped but nothing has been heard of the remaining 219 since May last year, when about 100 of them appeared in a Boko Haram video dressed in Muslim attire and reciting the Koran.

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has since said they have all converted to Islam and been "married off".

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8-yr-old girl says late father's friend raped her repeatedly

An eight-year-old girl boldly told police operatives attached to the Area 'B' Command, Apapa, Lagos, how a 54-year-old man who was friends with her late father, had raped her twice and warned her not to tell anyone or she would die.

The man identified simply as Ayela who lives around Ajegunle area of the state, arrested by the police after minor confessed to a neighbour how a man she called 'daddy' due to the closeness he had with her father, defiled her on two occasions.

According to the reports, the little girl said the man forcefully raped her on both occasions at his house located at Mission Street in the area, taking advantage of the girl while she was running errands for her grandmother after which she was rewarded with a sum of N50.

Ayela was exposed on his second rape session, after a suspecting woman questioned the little girl who was leaving the man's house suspiciously. She confessed to the woman and the crime was blown out in the open leading to the involvement of the police.

But during interrogation, the suspect blatantly denied ever raping the girl but admitted to have offered the girl money each time he saw her because of the relationship he had with her late father.

“How can I rape my late friend’s daughter? They live on Ayorinde Street, while I live at Mission Street.

Any time I see her passing by, I usually gave her money. Sometimes she comes to say hello. On this day, she just opened my door without knocking. I swear I did not rape her.”

But the girl interrupted him and affirmed he had defiled her.

“He is lying. He did it sometime ago. This is not the first time. It is the second time.”

SEE MORE HERE; SOURCE

Delegates celebrate Africa’s advancement in gender equality, women empowerment

 

The forum was intended to fast-track implementation of Africa’s Agenda 2063 which has as one of its goals, “full gender equality in all spheres of life”.

“We recognise the critical role of women and girls in society and embrace global commitments on the realisation of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment and call for the strengthening of the gender machinery through enhanced financial and technical support,” the delegates declared.

They also called on the men and boys of Africa to be equal partners in the realisation of gender equality and women’s empowerment, and reaffirm their commitments to the agenda of gender, and confirmed that the promotion of Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women would take centre stage in the implementation of the AU Agenda 2063 and the new Global Sustainable Development Goals.

Finally, they declared that as African Countries, “We recommit to continue to implement programmes, actions and activities that will realise and strengthen Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment throughout the continent.”

In his address, the Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mr John Alexander Ackon, who led the Ghanaian delegation, re-emphasised the government’s commitment to the promotion of gender sensitivity in the socio- economic development processes of the country.

Delegates at the end of a day’s conference in Kenya to celebrate Africa’s advancement in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment have come up with the African Countries Declaration and commitment to gender equality and empowerment to be presented to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) later this year. - See more at: http://graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/48363-delegates-celebrate-africa-s-advancement-in-gender-equality-women-empowerment.html#sthash.GeskTWnq.dpuf

Delegates at the end of a day’s conference in Kenya to celebrate Africa’s advancement in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment have come up with the African Countries Declaration and commitment to gender equality and empowerment to be presented to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) later this year. - See more at: http://graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/48363-delegates-celebrate-africa-s-advancement-in-gender-equality-women-empowerment.html#sthash.GeskTWnq.dpuf

MISSING CHILD

 

This little boy is missing. Any one with useful information about his whereabouts should please contact the nearest police station

UN chief remembers 23 killed in Boko Haram suicide bomb at Nigeria's UN offices, vows support

 

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with President Muhammadu Buhari Monday and promised solidarity in the new Nigerian leader's fight against insecurity, unemployment and corruption.

"I'm convinced that when you change Nigeria, you will also change Africa," Ban said after meeting Buhari, who has said unchecked corruption could destroy Africa's oil giant.
Ban paid tribute to 23 colleagues killed four years ago when a Boko Haram suicide car bomber smashed through the barrier and exploded into the reception area of the U.N. headquarters in Abuja on Aug. 26, 2011, killing 23 people. He also met with some of the 60 wounded who "suffered terrible injury and trauma," he said.
"The terrorists attacked the United Nations and destroyed the lives of many colleagues," said Ban. "But we have a mandate to build. To better the lives of people in need. To conquer hunger, disease and illiteracy. To promote respect for people's rights and freedoms."
The U.N. leader called for the unconditional release of 219 abducted schoolgirls held by Boko Haram for nearly 500 days and many other children abducted by the extremist group.
His visit comes as a regional army is preparing a long-delayed offensive against Nigeria's Islamic extremists. The 6-year-old uprising has killed 20,000 people, including more than 1,000 this year.
The Nigerian air force reported Monday that a helicopter was hit by extremists during an operation that destroyed two trailers believed to be carrying logistics support for the insurgents near Belel town on the border with Cameroon. A statement said the main rotor blade of the Mi-24V attack helicopter was hit but the pilot managed to fly it back to base.
Ban leaves Monday night for Paris to address a meeting of French ambassadors ahead of a December conference on a new climate agreement.

SOURCE; AP

Prophet beats wife to coma in Lagos

A certain man nick-named Prophet Emmanuel had been arrested by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) and handed over to the police at Surulere Police Station for allegedly beating his wife to coma, leaving her with a broken leg.
According to reports, Emmanuel had a misunderstanding with his wife.

At the time of his arrest, the DSVRT officials disclosed that the prophet had reportedly chained his son within the church premises at Berger area of the Lagos metropolis, adding that he claimed to possess healing powers and also had 32 other church members who came for spiritual/mental healing and were also in chains.
Speaking on the incident, the DSVRT Coordinator, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, described the incident as ridiculous and unlawful.
Vivour-Adeniyi said the state government would not condone domestic violence and urged the victims of sexual and gender-based violence to speak out.
“The government is ready to fight all such cases and ensure that justice is done,” she said.
“The prophet who lives at Close Unity Estate, Imodium, Berger, Lagos, beat his wife, Funke, and broke her leg. He also beat his two sons and chained one of the sons while one of them ran away from the house. He claims to be a prophet with healing powers,” the Coordinator added.
“All incidents took place in his church. There were 32 people in chains whom he claimed were being treated for mental illness”, he added.
Vivour-Adeniyi said information was received through the Lagos State distress call service and noted that the team would ensure justice in the matter.
However, there was a dramatic twist to the case yesterday when the senior police officer handling the case at Surulere Police Station said the man had been released based on the denial of the wife and his sons, who did not want their father to be jailed for domestic violence.
The officer, who didn’t want his name mentioned, said: “The woman came to us and denied being attacked. Of course there were evidences of scars, broken leg, which showed that she was truly attacked, but they all denied that. We ran into difficulties when the woman denied that she was beaten by her husband.
“She said she had an accident and even her children too denied being beaten. We saw some scars on some of them which showed that they were also flogged. But they all told us different stories and you know when the principal witnesses are denying that, we won’t have evidence in court to substantiate our case.
“There were about 32 other persons in chain, who he claimed are mentally ill. When people voluntarily go to a place and on the grounds that they are spiritually or mentally ill, what can we do?”

Suicide Bomber Kills 6, Leaves Dozens Injured In Damaturu

Officials report that not less than six people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack at a main bus station in Damaturu, Yobe state capital.

Abdullahi Bego, the director media and publicity, Yobe state, who confirmed the casualty figure, said those dead have been evacuated to mortuary. Bego said others, who were injured in the attack, are currently being attended to by health and emergency workers.
The attack which happened in the early hours of August 25 is said to have injured about 20 people.
According to witnesses, a young girl who wanted to enter the bus station was denied entry because she refused to be searched by the security guards at the entrance. Then she stepped out of the park.
Few minutes after, a private taxi drove out of the park and just as it came close to the girl, she detonated the explosives, leaving the people in the car killed.
Another source informed that there was a first bomb blast which was heard echoing in from Pompomari axis of the city. A male suicide bomber, who was said to be in his mid 20s, suddenly exploded on the street.
However, no one was affected, except himself. It was shortly after the alleged Pompomari bombing, that the incident occurred at the Damaturu motor park.
Security personnel have also succeeded in condoning the area.
The dreaded Boko Haram sect might be behind the bomb blast, though it has not been affirmed by the insurgents themselves.
READ ALSO: Boko Haram: Nigerian Army Re-Engages 2,500 Combatants
Yobe state has witnessed a great deal of violent attacks by the jihadists, especially in Damaturu, the capital. There have been series of bomb blasts in the state.
Barely four weeks ago, a powerful blast hit a crowded market in Damaturu, claiming many lives. The explosion on Sunday, July 26, killed at least 15 people, including a female suicide bomber who was aged just 10. Fifty people were severely injured, most of which were admitted at the Damaturu specialist hospital.
Meanwhile, just six day earlier, there was a suicide bombing at a checkpoint on a major highway connecting Damaturu with Borno state capital Maiduguri. Officials reported that eight people lost their lives from the explosion.
Police spokesman, Toyin Gbadegesin, told the press: “Eight people including the suicide bomber died, two security operatives were among the dead.”
The sad incident at the checkpoint came three days after a bomb was detonated at the Eid-al-Fitr prayer ground in Damaturu. Another female suicide bomber was fingered to be the perpetrator. A source at the scene said that the blast killed at least six security officials, while many others were injured.
However, the Nigerian army debunked all the speculations with a more precise account that confirmed the death of 50 people in two separate Damaturu explosions. The statement issued by Sani Usman, the army spokesman, read:
“This is to confirm that there were two suicide bomb explosions today at about 7:40 in Damaturu, Yobe, in which two female suicide bombers – one elderly woman and a ten year-old girl – detonated the devices.
“It occurred at screening areas for intending Muslim worshippers at Layin Gwange, Damaturu and at Phase1, in front of former state secretariat, Damaturu.”
While 43 people died in the first explosion, seven lives were lost in the second incident.
There are several other attacks by Boko Haram in Yobe state, making the north-eastern state, one of the most volatile in Nigeria.