Monthly Archives: June 2013

NOLLYWOOD: I’m No Longer Exposing My Breasts -Actress, Mercy Johnson

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Beautiful and talented actress, mercy Johnson in a recent interview talks about her career, motherhood and her future plans.

You were at OJB’s house to see him and donate money, now you are here to donate to the Boys Reform Home in Lagos. What’s the idea?

No idea, we are just promoting the ideals of Mercy Johnson Foundation. The idea is to identify the needs, evaluate and help in our own little way. All fingers are not equal; those in position to help should do so without hesitation. You will be hearing a lot about Mercy Johnson Foundation from now on. We have put our house in order and now ready to help those we can.

I strongly believe that as stars we should live beyond the euphoria of stardom and the moment. We will not always be here, what happens if you look back and realise you could do a lot to make the world better when you had the spotlight and you didn’t? I want to live beyond the moment.

Why the reform homes in Lagos?

I know I’m not glamorous to a lot of people, but we must know that if we do charitable things for publicity alone, we defeat the purpose. We need to find ways to reform young boys and girls otherwise they will make life uncomfortable for the children of the privileged. At this point, I must commend the government of Lagos State for making efforts at reforming the kids. We are looking at what we can do with the state to help make the future of these children better.

Motherhood seems to have changed you…

Yes, motherhood changes women. You begin to see yourself as a co-creator. You begin to see yourself as a protector. Few days ago, I was feeding Purity and she started dragging the bottle with me with the hot water in it. She pushed the bottle, I had to quickly push her away from the water and let it pour on my arm instead. That’s the kind of protection I am talking about. I think it will also make you feel more responsible for other children as well. You begin to see them as children of some other mothers. You have a sense of responsibility to want to protect them as well.

How are you coping with your husband and the baby?

There’s nothing like coping, he’s making my job easier. He dots on her. He carries her, feeds and does everything for her such that she misses him when he’s not around.  You won’t believe she sleeps on his chest every night. He understands whatever adjustment I need to make when it comes to the baby. He’s a loving father?

What about being a loving husband?

He’s the best thing that happened to me. People usually say men are not reliable, in the case of my husband he’s a blessing. It’s obvious we are his priority.

So, your step of faith is paying off?

Yes. I am not saying its perfect, but this is close to perfection. If this is what it feels to be married, I want to marry my husband again and again.

How come you took a break and still returned as number one in Nollywood?

There’s nothing like number one in Nollywood.  We are all doing our jobs; it’s just that some people are busier than others. I’m glad of what God has given me.

What should we expect from you career-wise?

I’m trying to be more selective with what I do. If the script is not good, I don’t want to do it. Our market is getting core aware and advanced as the day goes by.

How come you are not an ambassador of any brand yet?

We are having discussion with a couple of brands, when we agree with the terms, you will hear from us. However, I need to quickly point out that Mercy Johnson is a blend of youth and family brand. We just can’t stand and represent any brand.

If it’s not representing the youths, which is our major consistency or the family, we will not be favourably disposed to it. I can’t at this point be ‘hawking’ cleavages in the name of promoting brand.  Things have changed; this is the beginning of a new era for me.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Obama: U.S. Working To Protect Embassy In Cairo

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PRETORIA, South Africa — President Barack Obama says the United States is concerned about protests and political unrest in Egypt. He says the top priority is making sure the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and American consulates are safe.

Obama says the U.S. has been in direct contact with Egypt's government and is planning to ensure American outposts are protected during weekend protests.

Obama says the U.S. supports free speech and free assembly in Egypt. He's urging all parties to refrain from violence and urging Egypt's police and military to show restraint.

He says Egyptians are still finding their way with democracy and there's been difficulty focusing on core issues like jobs and the cost of living.

Tens of thousands of supporters and opponents of Egypt's president have been rallying. One American has been killed.

SOURCE: huffingtonpost

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Obamacare: Because Mom said so

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Advocacy groups from “Moms Rising” to AARP are working to reach the healthy, young adults who don’t think they need insurance — and their mothers who think they do. The groups plan to use everything from paid advertising — to guilt.

“We’re going for the heartstrings,” said Nicole Duritz, vice president of health and family education and outreach at AARP, which will be stepping up messaging later this summer as the Oct. 1 sign-up date nears.

(Also on POLITICO: McConnell to sports: Stay away from ACA)

Getting a critical mass of younger and healthier people to sign up along with older and sicker ones is critical to making the insurance markets work. The White House wants 7 million people enrolled in the exchanges by March, 2.7 million of them young adults.

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told reporters the messaging will include “creative ways” to reach out to young, healthy people who “may not get up every morning thinking about health insurance.”

“We know that for instance — and I take this very personally — that moms can be influential with that demographic group,” added Sebelius, who has two young adult sons of her own.

(QUIZ: Do you know Kathleen Sebelius?)

Breaking through isn’t easy. Younger adults have a high rate of uninsurance, and some research shows they are less likely to sign up for coverage than older adults, even when it’s subsidized by their job. They may not want to pony up for insurance when they’re paying off college loans, saving for a car, setting up their first home — particularly if they don’t expect to need coverage. Since the law was passed, people can stay on their parents’ health plan until age 26. But the advocates want them to age into another form of insurance, not into being uncovered.

Everyone working on the mom angle rushes to say that they are reaching out to dads, too. But they cite evidence that mothers are the primary health care decision makers and medical appointment-makers in the family, from the Band-Aid on the first scraped knee right up through those early years of not-quite all grown up.

“Our research shows the No. 1 most-effective messenger is their mother,” said Anne Filipic, a former Obama aide who is now president of Enroll America, a coalition working on public education and sign-up for the law. The group will reach out to moms in its campaign this summer and fall that includes volunteers going door-to-door in targeted communities.

(Also on POLITICO: How much will Obamacare cost?)

Other advocates pitching in on the enrollment drive, including Moms Rising, plan to use some paid media and lots of parent-focused blogging and social media. They also plan on injecting some insurance information into the mother-to-mother grapevine.

Young adults are also a prime focus of the anti-Obamacare messaging. The law’s opponents are emphasizing its high costs, “premium shock” and government-mandated health benefits that may be more than some people, particularly in this age bracket, want or need.

“When young people are struggling with a stagnant economy and finding it difficult to get an initial step on the career ladder, it’s asking a lot — even coming from a mother — to have a child pay $200, $300, even $500, for health insurance,” said Chris Jacobs, a health policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation. The penalty for going without, he noted, is just $95 in the first year.

Jacobs said parents should be more concerned that Obamacare hampers job creation for the younger generation.

Getting young adults to take a second look at insurance — which will be heavily subsidized — is among the top communication challenges for those who support the law. Talking to women with families fits logically into what the advocates hope will be a shift from fighting about the politics of Obamacare to looking at its concrete consumer benefits, Filipic said.
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Both the administration and state governments have reached out to professional sports leagues, which could help mobilize the young adult age bracket, especially the males. It’s not yet clear that the leagues will want to cozy up to anything as politicized as the president’s health law.

Pro sports could send a message about youth, strength, vigor and health — but athletes don’t have the same up-close-and-personal touch as parents.

President Barack Obama himself has hit the mom theme, using Mother’s Day to give one of his rare speeches focused on his health law. “Moms take care of us,” he said at the time. “Sick kids, aging parents, grumpy husbands.”

“It’s talking about the benefits, the protections,” said the AARP’s Duritz. A 26-year-old might not worry too much about being in a bike crash or getting appendicitis and being uninsured. But it might keep his mother up at night.

Moms Rising, which taps into social media and blogging with its health and wellness and health reform advocacy, is creating “Wellness Wonder Teams.” Women who sign up pledge to tell at least 10 other people about the law — and get a refrigerator magnet that says “Changing More Than Diapers.”

Moms Rising President Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner says the volunteers get a packet with information; resources; links; and ideas for Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest posts. The kit’s designed to be digestible and mom-friendly so that the women go out and say, “Hey, there are new insurance options for us and our families,” not, “Hey, we’re getting a death panel.”

She says the organization, which also advocated passage of the law a few years ago, is still testing possible messages to learn, for instance, whether a photo of a cracked-up motorcycle is a motivator or too scary.

Sebelius said that when she talked to some folks at the NFL, she found that even players needed a nudge to take up the league’s generous insurance coverage.

Who convinced them? Mom.

“The most influential person is the mother of the player who can often get the player to do things that a wife, a spouse, a girlfriend or the player himself doesn’t do,” she said. “It kind of confirmed my basic bias that moms still have a lot of influence, and we’re going to be trying to touch them up close and personal.”

Jennifer Haberkorn contributed to this report.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Egypt Prepares For Worst Ahead Of Sunday Protest

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CAIRO — As the streets once again fill with protesters eager to oust the president and Islamists determined to keep him in power, Egyptians are preparing for the worst: days or weeks of urban chaos that could turn their neighborhoods into battlegrounds.

Households already beset by power cuts, fuel shortages and rising prices are stocking up on goods in case the demonstrations drag on. Businesses near protest sites are closing until crowds subside. Fences, barricades and walls are going up near homes and key buildings. And local communities are organizing citizen patrols in case security breaks down.

For yet another time since President Mohammed Morsi took office last year, his palace in Cairo's upscale Heliopolis neighborhood is set to become the focus for popular frustration with his rule. Some protests outside the capital have already turned deadly, and weapons – including firearms – have been circulating more openly than in the past.

"We're worried like all Egyptians that a huge crowd will come, and it will get bloody," said Magdy Ezz, owner of a menswear shop across from the walled complex, a blend of Middle Eastern and neoclassical architecture. Besides ordinary roll-down storm shutters, storefronts on the street are sealed off with steel panels.

"We just hope it will be peaceful. But it could be a second revolution," he said. "If it lasts, we'll have to keep the store closed. But it's not like business has been booming here anyway, especially since the problems last year."

Last winter, the area saw some of Cairo's deadliest street violence since the 2011 uprising, with Islamists attacking a sit-in, anarchists throwing gasoline bombs, and police savagely beating protesters.

Morsi's opponents aim to bring out massive crowds starting Sunday, saying the country is fed up with Islamist misrule that has left the economy floundering and security in shambles. They say they have collected 15 million signatures – around 2 million more than the number of voters who elected Morsi – calling for him to step down, and they hope the turnout will push him to do just that.

Morsi's Islamist allies say they will defend the mandate of the country's first freely elected president, some with their "souls and blood" if necessary, while hard-liners have vowed to "smash" the protests.

On Friday, thousands of Morsi supporters launched a counterdemonstration, which some plan to continue as an open-ended sit-in at a mosque near the presidential palace – the endpoint of the main protest march two days later.

Both camps say they intend to be peaceful, but demonstrations could rapidly descend into violence – especially if the two sides meet. Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood group has said five of its members were killed in clashes with protesters in Nile Delta provinces over the past days. On Friday, two people were killed in clashes in the port city of Alexandria and at least five Brotherhood offices were torched, while the nation's highest religious authority, Al-Azhar, warned against "civil war."

At the Brotherhood's national headquarters in Cairo's Muqattam district, workers added a final layer of mortar to a brick wall topped with grating to reinforce the main gate. A bank on the corner was completely boarded up. Some fear protesters could descend on the neighborhood to attack the headquarters, as happened last spring when supporters and opponents of the president fought street battles that left 200 wounded.

"The police have to get this place secured. It's their job and I'm sure they will," said Hadi Saad, a designer who lives around the corner from the headquarters. "The demonstrations will be very big across the country, no matter if (Morsi) stays or goes, so we should be prepared here as well."

Other neighbors said they don't expect a repeat of violence in the area, a hill overlooking the rest of the city. Only a handful of police patrolled the neighborhood ahead of the weekend protests, corralling a 100-car queue to the main avenue's gas station.

Engineer Hasan Farag, also a neighbor, said residents were "hoping for the best." Some have begun to resent the Brotherhood's presence, however, and a petition to force the offices out has been circulating.

"The neighborhood is divided – some don't mind the headquarters being here, others do," Saad said.

Security has been redoubled at the presidential palace in Heliopolis. Walls set up last year still block some traffic access, and curved concrete slabs designed to prevent climbing now protect the main gates. Shipping containers also line much of the perimeter, and nearby apartment buildings have blocked off their parking lots and side streets with barbed wire. On Friday, authorities built a new wall of concrete blocks to surround the complex.

Peter Soliman, a communications student who lives in the neighborhood, said most residents don't know what to expect.

"Of course, parents are worried about their children going out to demonstrate by the palace, especially if the Brotherhood shows up," he said. "People fear things will turn bloody and divide the country."

Other Heliopolis residents and protest organizers say neighborhood watch groups are already being formed.

In the city center, concrete walls continue to block off the Interior Ministry and southern access routes to Tahrir Square, epicenter of the uprising that overthrew longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Protesters began gathering at the square ahead of the weekend, saying they plan to dig in for a protracted conflict.

The nearby Semiramis Hotel is taking no chances, even though Tahrir is expected to be a sideshow compared to Sunday's march to the palace. The site of repeated clashes between stone-throwing youths and riot police this past year, the luxury hotel has just finished fortifying itself with a spiked metal fence topped with razor-sharp blades.

To the south, in the leafy Garden City neighborhood – an area that has sometimes seen spillover violence from Tahrir – some residents were securing their homes.

Metalworker Sameh Haddad used an arc welder to put the final touches on an apartment building's new wrought iron gate before hurrying to other appointments. "For once, business has been great," he said.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Utah State Senator Proposes To Longtime Partner

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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — An openly gay Utah state senator didn't just give a speech at a party celebrating two Supreme Court victories for gay rights — he took to the stage to propose to his longtime boyfriend.

Democratic state Sen. Jim Dabakis popped the question to partner Stephen Justesen Wednesday at a rainbow flag-draped rally at Salt Lake City's Club Sound. The two met 26 years ago.

"Stephen, after all these years, will you marry me?" Dabakis said over the whoops of an approving crowd.

Dabakis, who took office earlier this year, is an art dealer and founding chair of the Utah Pride Center. In 2011, he became the first openly gay person to lead a state party in Utah.

Just hours after the high court on Wednesday struck down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage between a man and a woman, and cleared the way for same-sex unions in California, Dabakis stepped on stage at the celebration.

He opened by saying the gay marriage issue was "very deeply, deeply personal" for him, and introduced the crowd to "a wonderful man" he met nearly three decades ago.

That's when Dabakis pulled out a ring he said he'd purchased that day and put it on Justensen's finger.

Justesen told the crowd Dabakis had given him a different ring years ago that he still wears, but "this is super fantastic to have another one."

Dabakis told The Salt Lake Tribune the proposal was a spur-of-the-moment decision and a wedding date hasn't been set.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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NIGERIA: Man And Woman Forced To Have Sex In Public By Angry Mob In Anambra [VIDEO]

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Hi, i just want to bring this to your notice, the video might be a form of jungle justice which some people may not like to watch, but i just had to share it so you see some of the barbaric act going on here. The woman in the video is a cheating wife who allegedly was caught red handed with the man in the video, although the husband was not shown in the video, he happened to be very pissed and walked away to throw away her things from the house, and left the community people to treat the man and woman they way they pleased, i know without a video thier wont be any evidence of what am saying, but luckily i made a video of this act, which you can watch below. This happened in a community near my university which is Anambra State Uni, would be glad if you could share this story to your readers, thank you

I just watched the video too, it seems to be very true as what happened in the note is the same as described, but unfortunately have no comment on this

{youtube}FIGjjOTTeYU{/youtube}

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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Nigeria: Curbing Age Manipulation In The Civil Service

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Before the cancellation of permanent police checkpoints on the highways in Nigeria, a police sergeant who was promoted to the rank of an inspector in the Nigerian Police once bemoaned his hard luck when announcing his sudden but rightful elevation to his naïve, joyous wife. Since his wife could not immediately get the import of his promotion, the policeman had slowly but determinedly explained his predicament to the bemused woman who upon getting grip with the true picture of the whole situation started wailing and pleading with her husband to reject the promotion.

Yes, the promoted sergeant, who before his elevation was almost always on the highways on patrol during which motorists would be forced to give  cash to the patrol team, will now work in the police station as a boss, waiting for his  boys to return. As far as he is concerned, his promotion is nothing but demotion and less spending spree.
Like that policeman, most civil servants, who should wait eagerly for their retirement from service and have enough time to take proper care of themselves while they are still being paid pensions, see retirement day as an evil day; a day that haunts most of them so much that it sometimes results in their ill health and even sudden death before their actual retirement.

But what is responsible for this paradox? A civil servant, apart from specially considered cases , such as for university professors, is expected to disengage from the civil service upon the attainment of the age of 60 years or if he has served for a period of 35 years in the service. The importance of retiring early enough from service has been stated earlier, but most civil servants would prefer to work in the service until their last day on earth. One major reason for such attitude is that life in retirement in Nigeria is not too rosy; even those still working sometimes lobby to be posted to juicy offices to augment their salaries, while the unfortunate ones have to start tasting the bitter pills of retirement while still in service.

That explains why corruption is on the rise because nobody wants to leave office without accumulating sizeable wealth to take care of the vagaries of retirement days. Payment of pensions to retired civil servants in the country has not been regular and there have been cases of some pensioners being owed pension arrears for months, while death had been reported because of fatigue suffered by some pensioners who are made to wait indefinitely on queue for clearance. Again, the present contributory pension scheme has its worrisome side. It requires one to contribute over a long time for better pension pay and the issue ofpayment of the erstwhile bulk disengagement money, otherwise called gratuity, to civil servants is still hazy.
That explains why some civil servants would want to reduce their actual age so much so that even when they are 70 years old or more, their official age would simply remain at 45 years or less.

Can one beat the following age manipulation of some archetypal Nigerian public servants? One was born in 1972 but finished primary school in 1970; the other was a soldier during the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) and was born in 1960, while the brightest of them all had been a permanent secretary (PS) for 12 years and still had  15 years in service. As for the last example, the manipulation is simply nutty.  Was he just 8 years in service when he was made a PS, which is 35-(12+15)27=8years? How old was he when he joined service? Perhaps he was 2o years, and yet his first child is 45 years old, born two years after marriage.

A critical research into the ages of most civil servants would reveal such manipulation of age just to remain in service not only at the detriment of their health but at the expense of expected productivity and growth of the national economy. Such manipulations would not allow for fresh ideas towards the realisation of set goals in any establishment since the old staff who may not entertain progressive discussions on important issues had cut corners to remain on the job. It has been reported that some retired civil servants in one of the states in the country have formed an association through which they are challenging their retirement legally. These indeed are worrisome developments in the service.
Against this backdrop, therefore, measures should be put in place while recruiting civil servants, not only to ensure that their actual ages are ascertained at their point of entry, but to also checkmate future manipulation of the given ages while still in service
 
·       Johnson Ebigide, a journalist, writes from Asaba, Delta State .
        

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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NIGERIA: Yuguda Advocates Constitution Review for More Funds to States, LGs

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 The Governor of Bauchi State, Mallam  Isa Yuguda,  Thursday called for the review of the nation’s constitution such that would make more
funds available for the states and local governments from the federation account.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti  Thursday as a guest speaker at a programme organised by the National Coalition of Yoruba Youth Summit, Yuguda
also added that the provision of the constitution would also allow states to have  some measures of control over their resources, especially solid mineral resources currently on the exclusive list.

Represented by his Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Alhaji Mohammeed Adamu Lasisi in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, Yuguda
also called for the modification of the presidential system of government being practised in the country which is American model to suit the country’s purpose, saying the cost of governance was on the high side.

Yugudu, who spoke on “Nigerian Federalism: The journey so far and the way forward,” said the redefinition of the nation’s federalism would not only reduce the incessant conflicts in the country but also enhance a sense of belonging to the federating units and ensure an all-round developmental strides across the country thereby uplifting the living standard of the people.

He expressed confidence that only true federalism could resolve the problems confronting the nation and ensure the corporate existence of the country.

The National President of the group, Mr. Wale Ayeni, appealed to political leaders to engage youths in productive measures especially
as the nation prepares for another round of elections. He called on youths to avoid anybody that would want to use them for unproductive ventures.

Ayeni, who commended President Goodluck Jonathan for appointing a sizeable youths into his cabinet, said this was the first time that youths would be adequately represented in the federal cabinet.

According to him, “With the review of resource allocation through a review of the revenue allocation formula on the principle of equity,
the devolution of power should also follow. To this end, items on the exclusive and concurrent lists should be reviewed to the extent that the federal government would be left with the responsibilities on matters of defence, external affairs, currency, internal security and
immigration.

“Most of the items on the concurrent list like education, health, agriculture, environment, water, among other, could be devolved to the
states with the concomitant effect on the local government.” Also, the Senior Special Assistant on Youth and Student Matters to the President, Mr. Jude Imagwe, described the youths as the leaders of tomorrow and urged them to cooperate with security agents to ensure adequate security in the country.

He added: “It is only you that can tell us where Nigeria will be in the future. It is your responsibility to achieve a lasting peace and security in the country. We cannot live the issue of security to the security agents alone; we should cooperate with them to ensure lasting
peace.

“The elders have made mistakes of leadership; the younger generation looks up to us to offer them a better Nigeria

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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NIGERIA: Again, 37 Feared Killed in Renewed Plateau Crisis

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After a short respite, Plateau State  Thursday returned to its old bloody ways, as a fresh crisis in three villages of Balgan, Karkashi and Magama in Langtan South Local Government Area of the state claimed 37 persons.

The crisis, which was more of an attack, an eye witness alleged, had the Fulani-Jukun unleashing mayhem on the native Tarok tribe in the villages in the early hours of yesterday, leaving about 37 persons dead, including secondary school students, who are currently writing their National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations, and many others.

THISDAY gathered that houses and vehicles were also razed, even as residents fled the villages.

Confirming the incident on phone, the Chairman of Langtang South local government area of the state, Mr. Narman Darko, put the death figure at 32.

He gave the break down as follows: Magama, 23 persons; Bolgan, seven persons, and Karkishi, two persons. He added that over 100 houses were torched by the attackers.

According to him, he had informed the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crisis and they had moved-in their men to prevent further havoc, and urged the people of the villages to be security conscious and report any suspicious movement to the law enforcement agents.

Meanwhile, the Coordinator of Stephanus Foundation, a Jos-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Mark Lipdo, who confirmed the attack on phone, placed the casualty figure at “about 25, ,” adding that “although the total death toll may be more as some people are still missing.”
According to him, the attackers followed their victims with motorcycles as they tried to escape and shot them.

He said the victims at Magama were mostly children and the elderly.
It was also gathered that the Chairman,  Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN), Langtang council, Reverend Nandip Miri, lost his aged  father and brother among other relatives in the attack.

The Senator, representing Plateau Southern senatorial district, Victor Lar, appealed to the people to remain calm and report any suspicious movement to the security agents for necessary action.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Felicia Anslem, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said she was yet to get the full detail of what happened from the officers on ground,  promising that she would get back to us.

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Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
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NIGERIA: I Can’t Shoot Amaechi, Says Rivers CP

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Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, has said he cannot shoot the state Governor, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, should the governor lead a protest in the state.

Mbu was reacting to statements by the governor that he would lead a planned protest against the activities of the presidency and the state commissioner of police in the state.

Amaechi had dared the commissioner to shoot him if he (Mbu) wanted, as there was nowhere in the 1999 Constitution where people required to have the written permission of the police before going on a protest.

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, Mbu described Amaechi as his friend, brother and boss, adding that he had never called the governor a truant as reported in some national dailies.
“I have never called the governor a truant as reported by a certain newspaper. How can I call the governor that? That is insulting. Governor Amaechi is my friend; he is my brother and my boss. Yesterday, we spoke on phone for close to 30 minutes. I cannot shoot him. It is the press that is creating the problem between us to sell their papers. It is the press that is saying the governor will shoot me or I shoot him,” Mbu said.

The Police commissioner reaffirmed that the ban on public protest without a written permission from the police was still in force and insisted that the governor would need to obtain a permit before leading a protest in the state.

“Nobody is above the law in Nigeria and I know that Amaechi is not thinking towards that direction (leading a protest). He is the chief security officer of the state and I am his second-in-command. Anyway, until then, we will see,” Mbu said.

Mbu disagreed with the impression that there had been an increase in crime since he assumed office, stressing that while the state might have its peculiar security challenges, “our men are doing their best in combating crime in Rivers State.”

Presenting the score card of his achievement since he assumed duties in the state few months ago, Mbu said there had been a drastic reduction in crime rate.

He said the command had arrested a total of 52 suspected kidnappers in various parts of the state while nine others escaped arrest between February 5, and June 26, adding that about six kidnap victims were rescued from the hide-outs of suspected kidnappers.

He also said the state had recorded a total of 18 kidnap cases while the sum of N6.8 million ransom paid to suspected kidnappers by relatives of victims was recovered.
The command, he said, also recovered a total of 20 AK-47 rifles, 11 AK-49 rifles and two general purpose machine guns (GPMG) with chain bullets, as well as five pump-action guns and eight Dane guns from various criminal gangs in the state.

Also recovered, according to him, were four berretta pistols, 82 magazines, 1,450 AK-47 ammunition, 2,240 other ammunition, dynamites, gas cylinder and wielding pipes.

On his relationship with the former militant war-lord and the leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF), Ateke Tom, Mbu said Ateke was not a criminal but an ex-militant leader, who had been granted pardon by the federal government.
“Ateke is not a criminal. If he wants to meet with me maybe to give information on anything, I will be willing to meet with him. But any day they declare him an active militant, I will fight him,” Mbu said.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
ionyclaret@gmail.com
https://www.codewit.com
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