40 Die in Bombing of ThisDay office in Abuja and Kaduna

40 Die in Bombing of Nigeria’s Thisday Offices Nigeria’s emergency agencies and medics are still counting the dead in the suicide bombing of the Abuja office of Leaders and Company, publishers of ThisDay Newspapers at about 11 a.m. today. Another blast also occurred at about noon at the Kaduna State offices of ThisDay and other newspaper outfits. Death toll arising from the two attacks is said to be higher than 40 and still counting, said emergency and rescue officials. The blasts are suspected to have been carried out by the Boko Haram, a terrorist group in Nigeria. In Abuja, a loud explosion reverberated around the Nigerian capital when a bomb laden vehicle rammed through the back entrance into the printing press section of the office complex, exploding and destroying everything within the press section. Adjoining buildings around the expansive premises were equally affected by the blast. Following a recent threat by the dreaded Boko Haram sect to attack media houses over the negative publications the sect had been receiving, Management of ThisDay had barred staff and visitors alike from accessing the office complex from the main entrance and had resorted to the use of the back entrance. The bomb laden vehicle, whose driver is yet to be identified, was said to have driven fast through a Mechanic workshop close to the back entrance and knocked down the securely locked gates and forcefully gained entrance before ramming into the printing press section where the bomb exploded. Burnt and smoking flesh belonging to apprentices working at the Mechanic workshop were being collected by officials of Civil Defence and Security Corps, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA and other security officials at the time our correspondent visited the scene of the blast. The United States of America Embassy recently attracted knocks from the Federal Government over series of warnings to it’s nationals to avoid Abuja hotels which their intelligence reports indicated would be attacked by the terrorist group. Security and medical personnel at work at the blast site refused to release any figure of casualties saying they have to complete their assignment to ascertain the level of casualties recorded in the blast. AFP quoting emergency officials, said at least six persons, have died from the blasts in Abuja and Kaduna. A local emergency management spokesman in Kaduna confirmed at least three dead there, while a rescue official said at least the same number were killed in the Abuja explosion. In Kaduna, an office block housing Thisday, The Sun and The Moment Newspapers at Ahmadu Bello Way, by Bayajida Street, Kaduna in Kaduna state, northwest Nigeria was bombed at about 12.05pm. The Northern Bureau Chief of The Sun Newspaper, Ismail Omipidan confirmed the bombing, adding that the zonal offices of the three newspapers were affected but no journalist lost his life or was injured. Similarly, the Northern Bureau Chief of The Moment Newspaper, Garba Mohammed confirmed the incident. However, a member of Red Cross Society at the scene confirmed that his group rescued three persons from the area and they were rushed to the hospital almost at the point of death. State Emergency Agency Public Relations Officer, Zakare Mohammed said they had taken several people to Barao Dikko General Hospital, Yusuf Damso General Hospital and another hospital in Kaduna for treatment. Meanwhile, the area has been cordoned off by security agents comprising armed soldiers and policemen. Rescue operation was ongoing as at press time. Boko Haram militants also last night raided the Nigerian northeastern town of Bajoga in Gombe state, attacking the police station. The casualty figures were sketchy up till this morning. Witnesses said the militants attacked the station with bombs. A nearby bank was said to have been robbed.

7 Fans Die Celebrating Chelsea’s Victory In Ojota

Seven Chelsea fans in Lagos were burnt to death on Tuesday in a fatal auto crash at Ojota shortly after the Chelsea's remarkable victory over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semi-final cracker. The fans in a jubilant mood had already moved out of the Ojota motor garage to celebrate Chelsea's victory when a bus carrying about 11 persons suddenly somersaulted while on top speed and immediately went aflame. The passengers in the bus could not escape from the burning vehicle as they were burnt beyond recognition. According to an eye witness, passers by couldn't move near the bus, owing to the heat generated by the flames. The people at the arena, though helpless managed to pull out four of the passengers who were still alive and later took them to hospital. A man who identified himself simply as Kasim alleged that the passengers inside the bus were celebrating Chelsea's victory before the ugly incident. He said those in the mini- bus attempted to escape but were trapped. Kasim said, at least, seven persons were burnt to death. Kasim alleged that the driver was on top speed when the accident occurred. He also said fire balls and smoke filled the air as the vehicle and some of the unfortunate passengers smothered in the flame. A driver, who identified himself as Amadi, alleged that what worsened the plight of the burnt vehicle was unavailability of water to put out the fire. Amadi said that sympathizers used fire extinguishers to douse the flame, but to no avail. The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Jaiyeoba Joseph, a Superintendent of Police, while confirming the story to Daily Sunsports in his office, said the vehicle was coming from Ojota moving towards Maryland Bridge when it somersaulted. Joseph said the incident occurred about 11 pm. He said only two persons died. He also said the driver and conductor of the vehicle escaped from the scene and gave the registration number of the bus as XP 256 KRD. He further said policemen attached to the Rapid Respond Squad were later at the scene of the accident. “I was told about the accident. The bus somersaulted and caught fire. I can only confirm that two persons died in the accident. The driver and conductor of the bus escaped,” he said . Meanwhile, in another development, tragedy struck at Shasha area, in Lagos on Tuesday when a man was stabbed to death over Chelsea versus Barcelona FC football match. The deceased was identified as John Idoko, 23. Daily Sunsports gathered that Idoko and other youths were watching the football match at a viewing centre- cum-bar at Sikiru Bus stop, Boundary Road, Shasha when the fight broke out between the fans of the two clubs. A man, who identified himself as Kayode Olumide, alleged that the fans attacked their rivals with fists, broken bottles and woods at about 10 pm. Many of the fans were injured. Olumide also disclosed that it was Chelsea fans that first abused Barcelona fans. At a point, the rival fans could not tolerate the insult. Fight broke out and people in the area scampered for safety. Olumide disclosed that the fans damaged several items. The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Jaiyeoba Joseph, a Superintendent of Police said the killer (s) remained unknown but detectives were still trailing them. Joseph said the fans also destroyed several items at the bar. He said it was a makeshift bar which could best be described as a tent. The police spokesman also said Idoko was from Benue. State. Source:Daily Sun

FG begins disbursement of $200m entertainment fund

The Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM) has started disbursing the $200 million fund pledged by Goodluck Jonathan to the Nigerian entertainment industry. Speaking at a press briefing in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Lagos, NEXIM Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Roberts Orya, said the partnership signified the flag-off of NEXIM's support for film production which was promised in 2011 by the Federal Government to help grow capacity in the entertainment industry. The first beneficiary of the fund, named NEXIM Creative Arts and Entertainment Facility, is Black Ivory Communication. Black Ivory communication will be using the funds given to them to finance a film titled 'Doctor Bello'. Orya said the fund has been opened for access to anybody interested in investing in the Nigerian entertainment industry. "The Nigerian creative arts and entertainment industry has done creditably well in the socio-economic development of the nation. The industry has, by recent estimates, created over one million jobs directly and indirectly, and generated a minimum of $500million in revenue annually. The industry is also widely adjudged as the most prolific in the world, producing over 2,500 films yearly in the past three years," he said. He added that the movie, 'Dr Bello' had a compelling story line that promises a good return on investment for the bank and the producers. The CEO of Black Ivory Communication, Tony Abulu, said that 'Dr. Bello' is set to take the movie industry to the next level. "With what we are witnessing today, I can assure you that Nollywood is about to fly. We cannot continue to depend on our oil revenue. We have to begin to make products ourselves and we have to begin to package it for the international market, and those stories must be of international standard," Abulu said. Source:Daily Times

Hen gives birth to chick without egg

Odd World! A Sri Lanka hen has given birth to a chick without an egg,in a new twist on the age-old questions of whether the chicken or the egg came first. Instead of passing out of the hen's body and being incubated outside, the egg was incubated in the hen for 21 days and then hatched inside the hen. The chick is fully formed and healthy,although the mother has died.The government veterinary officer in the area said he had never seen anything like it before. PR Yapa, the chief veterinary officer of Welimada where it took place, examined the hen's carcass. He found that the fertilised egg had developed within the hen's reproductive system,but stayed inside the hen's body until it hatched. A post mortem conducted on the hen's body concluded that it died of internal wounds. The BBC's charles Haviland in Colombo says that the story has made head-lines in Sri Lanka, with the Sri Lanka Daily Mirror's concluding: "The chicken came first not the egg" Source: Daily Sun

20 month old baby defiled in Nursery School.

What is this world turning into? Why would any reasonable being force himself on a little baby.This is absolute madness!

Detectives at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, Yaba, Lagos, are currently trying to arrest the culprit behind the alleged raping of a 20-month old enrolled in a nursery at Egbeda, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

The proprietor of the school has been arrested in connection with the incident.
A doctor’s report confirming penetration of the girl’s private part has been submitted to the police by parents of the victim to aid their investigation.

A close examination of the girl’s private part, as shown in a picture taken by the parents, revealed blood in it, suggesting that she must have been violated. But what is not clear is who actually carried out the dastardly act.

According to the parents of the victim, the girl was violated inside the school before the close of work on 16 February, 2012.

According to the victim’s mother, “I took my child to the school that fateful day and at the close of school, I went there to pick her but I noticed that she was walking awkwardly. I drew her teacher’s attention to this and she assured me that there was nothing wrong. My little girl was constantly pointing to her vagina. So, I lifted up her uniform and discovered that her pants had been removed. I also examined her vagina and discovered blood there.

“When I demanded explanation, her teacher told me that she also observed blood coming out of her vagina and that she removed her pant and washed it. I learnt that they took my child to the school nurse who, after a close examination, explained that the child must have contracted a disease in the toilet and that there was nothing to worry about.

“The matter was reported to the school proprietor, Mr. Uzoigwe and his wife, Mrs. Uzoigwe who also attributed the child’s condition to an infection from the toilet.

“I was shocked by this discovery and I phoned my husband, a naval personnel. On his arrival, we took the girl to Estate Clinic where she was examined by a doctor who confirmed that the girl had been violated. He referred us to the General Hospital, Igando. There, the doctor who examined her also confirmed that the girl had been violated. He advised us to go for AIDS test.

“After these confirmations we reported the matter to the police at Mosalasi and the proprietor and his wife were arrested. Also arrested were the class teacher, head teacher, cleaner and the gateman. They were asked to write a statement on what they knew about the incident. They were released on the second day after being granted bail.”

After investigation by policemen at Mosalasi Station, the matter was transferred to the SCID, Panti where the accused persons were also made to say all they knew about the incident.

A police source at the SCID revealed that the police had forwarded the case file of the incident to the Director of Public Prosecution for advice.

Attempt by PM.N.EWS to confirm this at the DPP’s office at Alausa was unsuccessful as an official there refused to confirm whether or not they had received the case file.

When contacted on phone, the wife of the proprietor of the school, Mrs. Uzoigwe denied that the girl was raped in the school.

“God forbid. None of my staff raped any girl. The matter is now with the police at the SCID. If you want any information, you can contact the SCID. I have made a statement to the police and that is all I can say for the time being. If you want any information, contact the police. Everything you want to know about the matter is with them,” she told P.M.NEWS.

A doctor at the Estate Clinic, Egbeda, who examined the little girl, confirmed that he saw blood in her private part when he examined her, adding that he had forwarded his report to the SCID for further investigation.

The general investigating officer at the SCID, Panti, described the situation as pathetic.

He assured that the police will get to the root of the matter.

Source: pmnews.com