Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Mob Sets Bank On Fire in Abuja

What could have led a policeman to shoot a pregnant woman dead? That, is the mystery which the Federal Capital Territory Police Command was trying to unravel.


On Monday, tragedy broke out in Mpape, Abuja as stray bullet fired by a policeman guarding one of the banks (names withheld) in the area shot a pregnant woman dead.


The pregnant woman whose identity could not be immediately ascertained was passing by before the bullet fired by the trigger-happy policeman went off and sent her to her early grave.


An eyewitness said the policeman was trying to challenge a taxi driver who attempted to make a u-turn in front of the bank. The bullet he fired, apparently against the taxi driver, swerved and hit the passer by, stated the eyewitness.


The name of the officer could not be established and the real reason why he fired the shot.


However, the sound of the gun was said to have attracted people in the area who subsequently set the bank ablaze.


It was confirmed that employees of the bank escaped as the commotion raged while top officials of the bank who were later spotted by the Nigerian Tribune declined comment on the matter.


As at the time of filling this report, the area where the incident took place was deserted as passers-by feared possible arrest by the police.


The Police Commissioner in charge of FCT, John Haruna who later arrived the scene of the incident noted that the situation was under control.


He said the police would do everything possible to fish out the officer who committed the murder and ensure that he is brought to book.


Daily Champion




Nigerian president orders immediate evacuation of nationals in Egypt

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday directed National Security Adviser Andrew Azazi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Odein Ajumogobia to immediately evacuate Nigerians trapped at the Egyptian airport in Cairo.

President Jonathan who is currently in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the 16th session of the African Union (AU) General Assembly according to his spokesperson, Ima Niboro gave the directive Sunday night when he got the news of the plight of Nigerians in Egypt.

The Nigerian leader said both Azazi and Ajumogobia (who is also in Addis Ababa) must coordinate the mission and return the trapped Nigerians home to their families and loved ones.

About 200 Nigerian including students, businessmen, government officials, and others on medical visits are said to be stranded at Cairo's International Airport due to the turmoil in that country.

According to findings, they are said to have been at the airport for days with no access to call home as Egyptian authorities had blocked mobile services as well as access to internet.

While Egypt air flights to Europe, Arabian cities and others are still operating, same cannot be said of flights to African cities including Lagos, Kano, Accra, Nairobi and Entebbe.

Egypt has cancelled flights to African cities without any excuse thereby subjecting Nigerians to harsh conditions.

Egypthians have been in turmoil for nearly a week, with hundreds of thousands protesting the continued stay in office of President Hosni Mubarak.

He has been in power for 30 years and the protesters have insisted that he must go beforean end to the crisis in the country. 


People Daily


Related stories: Egypt,Israel, and Germany reject to give Nigerian militant Henry Okah treatment 




Monday, January 31, 2011

100 Nigerian Girls Trafficked Out Daily for Prostitution

Authorities in Nigeria should investigate and close down networks that traffic Nigerian women and girls to Côte d'Ivoire and Mali for forced prostitution, Human Rights Watch said yesterday.


The group also called for collaboration among regional leaders to improve border patrol efforts in combating trafficking in person.


In its 2010 end of the year review report, made available to LEADERSHIP in Lagos on Tuesday, the group said it traveled across the length and breath of Nigeria and interviewed over 30 Nigerian women believed to have been trafficked out for prostitution in neigbouring Cote d'Ivoire and Mali, but the victims managed to return back home.


Scores of similar cases involving Nigerian women and girls were documented by interviews with Ivorian officials, United Nations personnel, and Nigerian embassy staff. Most of the victims were either between the ages of 15 and 17 or had been minors when brought to Côte d'Ivoire and Mali.


Leadership


Related stories: Nigeria is the largest African source of trafficked women to Europe and Asia


Alarming increase of Nigerian girls trafficked to Italy


Thousands of trafficked girls found in Mali slave camps




Obafemi Martins Returns to England

Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins has joined Premier League side Birmingham City on a six month loan deal from Russian club Rubin Kazan.


The striker, who last played in England for Newcastle, will stay with Birmingham until the end of the season.


Martins became a father for the first time in December, and his desire to be close to his young family is said to be the major reason behind the move.


He joined Rubin Kazan from German club Wolfsburg at the start of the current campaign, but has yet to light up the Russian top division.


Leadership


Related stories: Obafemi Martins gets career back on track at Wolfsburg


 Video - Obafemi Martins talks about Eagles chances 




Friday, January 28, 2011

Video - Life on the Edge: Meet Lagos's Area Girls



Every big city has gangs of young people on the margins. In Lagos, Nigeria, it's the Area Boys, bands of children and teenagers who scratch a living from petty crime and the informal economy.


But when you're an Area Girl, life can be even tougher, especially in Lagos's teeming Ajegunle ghetto.


We follow one charismatic Area Girl, Onyinye, as she tries to make a life amid the Area Boys, learning about adolescent sexuality, ethics, and social responsibility.


Onyinye and her friends take us into the Area Girls' world of street runs, bottle fights and internet cafe dreams of breaking out into another world of schooling, modelling, family, or simply a decent wage.


BBC


Related stories: Nigeria opposition slams BBC over Lagos documentary


Video - Lagos running out of space


CNN does special on Lagos