The Yemeni army commander leading the fight against militants in the south of the country has been killed in a suicide attack, officials told the BBC.
General Salem Ali Qatan was killed in the port city of Aden by a man wearing an explosives belt, reports said.
Yemen is battling militants linked to al-Qaeda who have taken control of parts of the south of the country.
The army has recently recaptured several strongholds in the restive southern province of Abyan.
One report citing witnesses said the attacker approached Gen. Qatan - Yemen's southern army commander - as he walked to his office, handed him a paper, shook his hand and then detonated the explosives.
However, another report quoting officials said the bomber threw himself at the general's vehicle which was in a three-car convoy.
At least four other people were reported to be wounded in the attack.
Gen. Qatan was appointed in March shortly after newly elected President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi took office.
Ali Mansur, a senior army commander and close aide to Gen. Qatan, described the general's death as "a huge loss for Yemen."

AGAIN, many worshippers died while an unspecified number of people were injured in Kaduna State on Sunday, when suicide bombers attacked three different churches in Kaduna metropolis and Zaria.

About 25 people were reported killed in the explosions, though the police, at press time, put the figure at 16.

Already, the Kaduna State government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on the state to stop reprisals in Kaduna South, where some Muslims were killed by armed Christian youths. A photojournalist with Daily Independent newspaper, Mr Nathaniel Jibrin was beaten up by the Christian youth who thought he was a Muslim. Jibrin was later rushed to hospital.

An eyewitness said the three suicide bombers drove to the gate of Christ The King Catholic Church on Yoruba Street in Sabo Gari area of Zaria at about 8.45 a.m., but they were stopped by a security man attached to the church.

"Sensing that their mission had been discovered by the security man, two of the bombers who attempted to escape were intercepted and set ablaze by the people around while the third bomber detonated the bomb, killing himself and the security man instantly,” one of the eyewitnesses recalled.

"But as the Sabon Gari area bomb blast was taking place, another one exploded at ECWA Church in Wusasa area of Zaria. The number of the dead could not be ascertained, but many were killed and scores injured.”

The attacks were coordinated within minutes as another explosion rocked the Shalom Church in Trikania area of Kaduna.

The development angered Christian youths in Gonin Gora village on the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway who barricaded the roads and killed innocent people mostly Muslims that were travelling to Abuja.

"The reprisals left many dead with several commercial motorcycles set ablaze in areas like High Cost, Ungwan Pama, Narayi, Ungwan Muazu, among other areas of the metropolis,"the eyewitness said.

At Trikania, Sabo Tasha, Narayi, Gonin Gora and other Christian-dominated suburbs, combat ready soldiers were patrolling while thick, dark smoke billowed into the sky. Many vehicles were set ablaze causing pandemonium and a heavy traffic snarl in the metropolis, as soldiers intensified stop and search of motorists.

Gunshots sporadically rent the air in some areas, many residents resorted to staying indoors, having returned from church services and business premises closed in a hurry.

"The bomb blast at the Shalom Church claimed some lives, including one of the soldiers on guard at the church, just as the photojournalist with the Daily Independent newspaper, Mr Jibrin was matcheted several times on the head by hoodlums who were said to have attacked and asked him what religion he professed while on his way to the scene of the blast.

Jibrin was rushed to the hospital by good Samaritans who found him lying unconscious on the ground."

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks so far. However, the PPRO in Kaduna State, DSP Aminu Lawan, said investigation had since commenced into the sad incident.

Meanwhile, the acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered a massive deployment of both conventional and riot police units to every nook and cranny of Kaduna State, including the highways.

This is just as the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of ‘A’ Department, DIG Suleiman D. Fakai, who is also the DIG coordinating police operations in the North-West, is already in Kaduna where he is personally coordinating police operations.

A statement in Abuja on Sunday night by the Deputy Force spokesman, CSP Frank Mba said that a total of 16 persons have so far been confirmed dead as a result of the explosions within the three churches.

According to him, a breakdown of this figure showed that nine persons, including the suspected suicide bomber died at Christ the King Catholic Church; three persons at ECWA Church and four persons at Shalom Church.

Expressing concern over the spate of attacks on churches in some parts of the country, the acting Inspector-General of Police, Abubakar has assured that the police were working in collaboration with other security agencies and will do everything humanly and operationally possible to bring the attacks to an end.

He appealed to residents in and around the affected areas to remain calm while efforts were being made by the government and security agencies to find a permanent solution. He noted that two wrongs can never make a right. He also appealed to citizens and opinion leaders to desist from making inciting or inflammatory statements capable of further aggravating the situation.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan received the news of Sunday’s bomb blasts that targeted some churches in Kaduna while worshipping in Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, in a special service to celebrate Fathers’ Day.

He, thereafter, confessed that while he was too sad by the incident to comment on it, he yielded to pressure from clergy men present at the service to say a few words on the matter.

"I was particularly thrilled by what was going on in the church when I got the information that while we were here, there were explosions in Kaduna and since I don't even know the casualty rate and what is happening I have been quite sad and I didn't even want to say something. But when your priest orders you, you must say something," he said.

The president expressed sadness over the incidents and regretted that rather than use their talents to positively impact on society, some people were applying them to hurt same society.

President Jonathan, who along with most of the officials had been specially attired in white dress for the service, said that his prayer had always been for God to stand by him and the country.

Drawing inspiration from some of the songs rendered during the service, he stated that if people realised the ephemeral nature of what they possessed in life, they would use it to change the society, adding, "whatever you have, you should use to change society".

Noting the enormity of the problems facing the country and the tendency for people to misunderstand him, President Jonathan vowed to do his best to solve the problems.

The memory verse for the service was taken from James 1;2-4 and the response, "God our security" from Psalm 91, while the first lesson was read by the First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, from Psalm 29:1-11.

The second reading which was taken from Ephesians 3:13-24 was read by the governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Seriake Dickson.

Former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, who delivered the sermon, "Sovereign fatherhood of God," blessed the president who he said would bring rare changes to Nigeria with his humility and service, and, therefore, encouraged him not be afraid of the troubles in the nation which he said would soon end.

While he stressed the need for solid family unit as a foundation for a solid nation which has the fear of God in the children raised with integrity, the former minister blamed the problem of the country on irresponsible fathers who lacked good leadership.

Gana observed that the prime role of the father in the family was to provide security and assurance and prayed that overwhelming situations such as the one that befell Job should not shake the confidence in God's ability.

Gana described God as a covenant keeper whose promises must come to pass even where there were delays and, therefore, advised reliance in God so that "we can ask him for anything and he will do it."

Reading from Isaiah 54, he assured that there shall be no fear or humiliation for those that trust in God in spite of the terror in the land, adding that he never knew that a Nigerian child could become a suicide bomber.

While also assuring that God would visit the country and stop the carnage and reproach, he called on the fathers to stand up against evil and condemn it, adding, "as fathers we need to rise and condemn evil" as God would not tolerate all those who engender insecurity.

Among those in the service were Chaplain of the Aso Rock Villa, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba; Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former governor of Bayelsa State; Minister of Police Affairs, Mr Caleb Olubolade; Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Health, Dr Onyebuchi Chukwu, senators Helen Esuene and Emmanuel Paulka.

THE Special Anti-Fraud Unit commissioned by the Inspector General of Police to investigate the $3 million bribery scandal rocking the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on the oil subsidy probe has written formally to MTN to provide it with the call log between Honourable Farouk Lawan and business mogul, Femi Otedola, wherein Lawan allegedly demanded for $3 million before the sum of $620,000 was given to him as part payment.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered authoritatively that the call log which the task force is expecting this week will enable it to analyse the content of the calls on which the demand for the money was made by Lawan.

Meanwhile, Lawan is expected to return the $620,000 collected by him and the secretary to the fuel subsidy regime probe panel, Boniface Emenalo, to the police today.

This was the condition under which he was released on bail on Saturday evening. The special task force chairman Commissioner of Police Ali Amodu granted him bail on the promise that the money will be returned today.

According to him, "we are law enforcement agents, we are not law breakers and we must abide by the law and since we have detained him for 48hrs....its natural we grant him bail".

The lawmaker was detained after he reported to the police on June 14, in response to allegation of receiving the said amount as bribe from Mr Otedola.

Otedola had claimed that Lawan demanded for the money to remove the names of his companies on the list of those indicted by the Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Regime set up by the House of Representatives.

The house had on Friday suspended the lawmaker, who had chaired the committee, to allow for proper investigation on the alleged bribery scam.

SMASHED limbs, broken heads and torn human flesh. It was yet another bloody Sunday yesterday.

Suicide bombers hit three churches – two in Zaria and one in Kaduna metropolis – during the “Fathers Day” services.

No fewer than 16 people were killed and over 50 others injured.

Kaduna youths staged a protest against insecurity in the North’s political capital.

Governor Patrick Yakowa imposed a 24-hour curfew.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who got the information on the suicide attacks while attending a church service at the Presidential Villa, said he was “saddened”.

The explosions occurred at ECWA Church, Wusasa and the Christ the King Catholic (CKC) Church on Yoruba Road, Sabon-Gari, Zaria.

The explosion in Kaduna took place near the Shallom Church of God in the Trikania neighbourhood.

An eyewitness at the CKC Church, Malam Bala Mati, said the suspected suicide bombers rammed into the church premises in a “Golf IV’’ car, defying orders by security officials at the gate to stop for a check.

He said he counted about 13 bodies after the explosion.

At Wusasa, another eyewitness, Mr Johnson Maki, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the bombers came in a Honda Accord (2008 model), hitting the security posts and knocking down a part of the church building.

Mr Lawal Umar, the Divisional Secretary of the Red Cross in Zaria, said no fewer than 30 persons were injured in the attack.

He said nine injured persons were taken to St. Luke’s Hospital, Wusasa. Nine others were ferried to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Shika,  Zaria.

Alhaji Umar Ibrahim-Rabagaddama, the Chairman, Interim Management Committee of Zaria Local Government Council, told NAN that one person died in the Wusasa explosion; 45 were inured.

The police confirmed 16 dead in the attacks. Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar deployed riot policemen to the nooks and cranny of Kaduna State. The team is led by Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Sulaiman Fakai.

A statement by police spokesman Frank Mba said, the first incident took place at about 8:35am at ECWA Church, Wusasa, Zaria; the second incident at about 8:45am at Christ the King Catholic Church, Sabo-Gari, Zaria and the third incident occurred at Shalom Church, Kakuri, Kaduna at about 9:30am.

“A total of 16 persons have so far been confirmed dead as a result of the explosions within the three churches.  A breakdown of this figure shows that nine persons, including the suspected suicide bomber died at Christ the King Catholic Church; three persons at ECWA Church; and four persons at Shalom Church.

“Some parts of the state recorded a momentary breakdown of law and order as angry youths took to the streets to protest the unfortunate attacks on the churches.  The Police and other security agencies have however restored normalcy in the affected areas,” the statement added.

A Nigerian Red Cross official said about 12 people were killed and 80 wounded.

Andronicus Adeyemo said 10 people were killed and no fewer than 29 wounded in the Zaria attack.

He said two people died and 51 were wounded in Kaduna. He said the Zaria attacks occurred about 10 minutes apart in various parts of the city.

At the second ECWA Church in Wusasa, the Minister in charge, Rev. Nathan Waziri, said the church lost three members to the explosion which was said to have been carried out by a man who allegedly dressed like a woman and driving a Honda Accord car.

Rev. Waziri recalled that the service was on when they heard the commotion outside. He said by the time they came out to see what was happening, the explosion had occurred.

Some members of the church questioned why a military check point before the church was dismantled on Saturday.

Sources in Zaria told our reporters that about 45 people were admitted in the hospital from the explosion in Wusasa. Of the lot,  25 had been treated and discharged. Those with severe injuries were taken to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital.

At the CKC Church in Sabon Gari, the source said about 12 people were reported dead in the explosion; many others were injured.

An eye witness, who pleaded not tobe named, said “At about 8.45am when the preaching was about to start, we heard an explosion which shattered the glasses in the church, injuring many people, including myself.

“When we heard the explosion, I rushed outside to find out what was happening because my brother was outside. I asked what was going on and was told that four men drove a red Toyota car to the church and tried to force their way into the premises, but they told tham that cars were not allowed to pack inside the premises.

“The driver of the car was arguing with them and before they knew what is happening, they saw smoke coming out of the engine of the car and before they could run, the car exploded and affected so many people.

“Four people died on the spot and two people among the security men were injured. One person was caught inside the church during the commotion trying to steal church money while another one was seen hiding behind the church and when he was interrogated, he could not defend himself and members of the church said they had never seen that face before in the church.”

At the Shalom Assembly in Kaduna, the casualty figure could not be immediately ascertained, but the Public Relations Officer of St. Gerard Catholic Hospital where most of the victims were rushed to was quoted as saying that seven burnt bodies were brought to the hospital. Over 40 others were injured.

A Daily Independent photographer, Nathaniel Jibrin, was said to have been attacked by irate youths while on his way to the scene of the explosion at Shalom Assembly. He is at the Intensive Unit of the St. Gerard Catholic Hospital.

A source at the Sharon Assembly said: “The bomber, who was stopped at the security check point at the church, pretended to be reversing the car and suddenly engaged the gear and accelerated, running into the check point, exploding in the process and killing a soldier who was part of the security.”

The sources said 13 injured people were taken to St Gerald Catholic Hospital for treatment, but another source said over 40 injured were taken for treatment at the hospital.

Hospital spokesman Sunday Ali said about 11 bodies have been deposited at the hospital.

His words: “From what we have here, 11 bodies had been deposited. We are presently treating 50 people with various kinds of injuries. And more are being brought in. I don’t know if the dead or wounded are from the bombed church or from reprisal attacks. Our work here is to treat them. I will not be surprised if more victims are brought in later. Please call me back after an hour.”

Lucy Bello, a member of the EWCA Goodnews Wusasa Zaria Church, said the explosion occurred at about 9 a.m., as she was walking into the building. A suicide bomber drove at high speed through a barricade at the church, she said.

Ms Bello, who had bruises from the blast, said she saw people on the ground; some dead and others seriously wounded.

Within minutes, another explosion occurred at the CKC Catholic Church in Zaria, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

And an hour and a half later, the Shalom Church in Kaduna, about an hour away, was bombed, agency officials said.

Christian youths in Zaria and Kaduna reacted violently, burning tyres and blocking roads.

The protesting youths said: “Enough is enough of the bombing of our churches. We will no longer tolerate these murderers. We have been pushed to the wall and we have no choice than to defend ourselves and our faith.

“Every Friday, they go to their mosques and even block roads to pray without any one attacking them. The Federal Government and the security agencies have failed us. No responsible government will tolerate this rubbish.

“Please go and write in your newspaper and tell the government and those who take delight in attacking us in our churches that we are equal to the task. What is going on is pure madness and we must stop it.

“From now on, we will no longer tolerate the bombing of our churches and the killing of Christians. If those who are in authority want this country to remain one, they must stand up against these attacks. We are tired of cheap talks without action. From now on, we are ready for them.

“We are ready for them. We know that they will bring security men out. But the question is, where were these security men when they attacked our churches and killed our people? “

The bombings are the latest in a string of violence directed at churches. A week ago, a car bomb killed five people during services at a church in Jos.

In a statement signed by his spokesman, Reuben Buhari, said the blasts in Zaria and Kaduna as “unfortunate” and urged residents to remain indoors to allow security agents carry out their assignment.

The statement reads: “His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, condemns in its entirety the unfortunate bombing of three churches in Wusasa in Zaria Local Government, Sabon Gari Local Government and Trikania, Chikun Local Government, Kaduna State.

“His Excellency, while regretting the unfortunate incident conveys his deepest condolences and sympathy to all those affected in the bombings. In view of the incidents and the need to have complete normalcy and to forestall further break down of law and order, the state government has imposed a 24 hours curfew in the whole state.

“The curfew hours start with immediate effect until further notice. Government regrets the inconveniences this drastic measure will cause to all and sundry. But the state government considers this to be necessary in order to avert further loss of lives and property in the state again. The State Government has directed the security agencies to enforce compliance.”

In a broadcast, the governor said: “We woke up this morning to the unfortunate blast in Zaria and Kaduna. As a result, 24 hours curfew has been imposed on the whole state. Keeping indoors allows the security agents to perform their duties effectively to fish out these criminals.

“ I want to assure you that Government would not tolerate the breakdown of law and order and disregard for the sanctity of human lives. Everything is being done to bring the situation to a stop by denying those bent on causing anarchy in the state the opportunity to celebrate their objectives.

“Government regrets this decisive decision, but it has been done in the interest of the state in order to avoid the loss of lives and property in the state again. There is no doubt it is going to cause some hardship but government has the responsibilities to ensure the safety of lives and property. Violence has never solved any problem. So, we should embrace dialogue and remain peaceful.”

It is preposterous but extensively true that many of us are held back from taking new steps, risks and even chase our loving passions by the fear of the unknown.

The uncertain nature of the unknown beams into us a catastrophic fear, something which has successfully become an obstacle in our lives.  Most of us have ceased to live years ago because we have been shadowed by the fear of the unknown.

Life without calculated and non-calculated risks is no life. Life without attempts and steps towards discovering new beginnings and opportunities is no life.  What is life if we cannot enjoy and make sense of our passions?

Most of us have ceased to live because all the main substances of our existence have been curtailed by the fear of the unknown. We are not taking new steps and risks because we are scared of what might happen-the unknown.

We are failing to chase our dreams, passions and live them because we are afraid that we may fail to achieve what we envisage-the fear of the unknown.

Over the years, we have refused to look at new things, new ideas and concepts, new directions and have not subjected ourselves to any substantial change. Despite the truth and light in the new opportunities that have come our way, we have failed to follow up because of the fear of the unknown.

We have shielded our existence with comfort. Discovery and exploration does not exist in our world. In spite of the vast world we find ourselves, we have developed strong comfort in our little corners. Strong comfort and content are clear indications of the fear of the unknown. We are scared to get out there and be part of the bigger world, grab the bigger opportunities and live the big life we wish.

Beauty expert and first class make up professional, Bunmi Oyeniyi will on June 30, 2012 launch her range of make-up line known as UNVEIL MUP.

The very beautiful Bunmi Oyeniyi, who is the Chief Executive  Officer of Unveil Studio Services and Unveil Make-Up Institute has taken delivery of Ideal beauty products for ladies who want to look more glowing, smashingly beautiful, stylish and classy.

Some of the exotic beauty products in the UNVEIL MUP line include:

    Smacker – these are lipsticks that comes in 40 different shades
    Glaze of Light – the lip gloss come in 13 shades
    Eye Silhouette – Eye Shadow in 52 shades
    Cheek Glow – the blushes comes in 13 shades
    Smog -  foundation comes in 5 shades
    Face Glow – Powders in 3 shades
    Lip Definer – the lip pencil comes in 12 colours
    Eye Intensifier – Inner eye rim pencil comes in 10 colours

The UNVEIL MUP is definitely a must have for all urbane, jet set and sophisticated ladies.

Bunmi Oyeniyi’s Unveil Studio Services is located at 31, Unity road, off Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos.

Here I was yesterday, trying to figure out the new name of the new movie which had Tonto Dike & Karen Igho in it. Thanks to you all, the puzzle is solved, the name of the movie is Blackberry Babes Season 2.

We watched and loved Blackberry Babes 1&2, then they brought Return of Blackberry babes which was even more popular, non - Nollywoood lovers and those in diaspora made an effort to watch it, and with this, I believe season 2 would be even more promising.

View photos of Tonto & Karen on set, click HERE and to watch a preview Return of Blackberry babes, click HERE.

  Life has always proved to be a paradox; when many millionaires are running from pillar to post asking God for even a child, many others term theirs unwanted and most often get rid of them by all means.

Such can be said to have been the case with a 19-year-old lady, Nsidibe Sunday Effiong, in Akwa Ibom State, who out of frustration strangled her 3-week-old baby and dumped her in a pit toilet.

Nsidibe, who hails from Ikot Abasi Idem Village in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, was arrested and paraded at the Ikot Akpan, Abia headquarters of the Akwa Ibom state police command recently for the crime which she admitted to during interrogation.

Narrating her story to Crime Features, Nsidibe who was paraded alongside other crime suspects by the police command lamented that she dropped out of school while she was in Junior Secondary School 3, (JSS3) when she was pregnant with her first baby.

She said her mother merely tolerated her. They faced untold hardship as the man who was responsible for her pregnancy had abandoned her and the baby and life became miserable for her when she got pregnant for another man less than one year after her first child.

According to her, what drove her into taking such a drastic action was when the young man who impregnated her the second time fled the community and it became extremely impossible for her to take care of the two babies all alone.

“I could not even pay for a room I rented and my mother was suffering so much to feed me and my first child. Before I even gave birth to the second one, the man who was responsible for the pregnancy, a barbing salon attendant, was nowhere to be found, and my mother threatened to throw me and the babies out of the house.

“When I gave birth to the second one, life became so difficult, that was why I decided that instead of punishing my mother, let me throw the baby away. So, I used towel to tie the baby’s neck and put her in the toilet,” she narrated.

Bishop Kola Onaolapo is the visionary of Superfest and the founder of Abundant Life Gospel Churches with headquarters in Agege, Lagos. He speaks with KEHINDE OYETIMI.

Excerpts:

How much of your childhood and growing up can you recollect?
I was born in Kwara State. I had my primary education in Kwara before moving to Zaria in 1968 to complete it. I came back to Kwara State for my secondary school. I got admission to School of Basic Studies of the Ahmadu Bello University in 1975. From there I did my university at the same university.

How would you describe the North where you lived to what you see today?
The North of those days is not so much different from the North of now. I won’t forget that as an undergraduate every Friday we were in fear of what would happen. It became more serious in the late 1970′s. I remember it was about ‘Ali must go’.

It was the first major riot that I witnessed. What precipitated Islamic fundamentalism was the issue of South/North. It was religious. It came to a time that every Friday whenever they were coming from the mosque, you couldn’t be sure. Everybody would be in fear. When we left the university, it became worse. When a problem begins and it is not put under control at the early stage, it gets to this stage.

If you had not become a preacher, what would you have done?
As a graduate of Chemistry, I was to teach. But the same time I was to teach, I was to get employment to NASCO group of companies in Jos. I was to work in the chemical segment of the household products. I didn’t work with them but I was to work with them. But in the midst of all preparations, I had my letter of employment to teach; NASCO was calling me for interview which I knew would have worked. My obsession was to work in an industrial based firm.

Right from my undergraduate days, I have been a preacher. Some people did not know whether I was a student or a pastor because I was involved with the Samaru Gospel Team which was started as a result of a yearly mission to ABU. It was a campus crusade. The university is a city on its own. The late Kehinde Aina was the first to invite me to where they were taking care of the converts of mission to ABU. Those converts were not students.

A fellowship was started for them; many of them were in the employ of the ABU. We were using the Assemblies of God Church in Samaru. It was an interdenominational fellowship. Sincerely that was where God trained me in pastoring and evangelism. A time came that I was like the evangelist of the church. We used to go on crusades. We were so obsessed with soul-winning.

As a student, I preached in so many crusades and I never knew that it was leading somewhere. After I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, I knew that a radical change had occurred in my life.

You claimed to have had an unusual visitation when Jesus visited you in your room. What really happened?
I didn’t leave the university with the vision to becoming a pastor. Some people predicted it but I didn’t take them serious. I had an ambition; I wanted to work in a chemical based industry. As a graduate, you would press many buttons that was why I was given a teaching appointment with the Plateau State government because I was based in Jos.

I thought the baptism in the Holy Spirit was the end but now I know that it was just the first phase in that encounter. I usually woke up around 3a.m to pray. After the prayer, I slept off again.

Then I heard a voice that ‘I will be calling you to preach the gospel.’ Exactly two weeks later, the same voice came asking me to fast and pray that God wanted to speak to me. I was not good at fasting. I thought I had to do several days and night which I had never done. I knew that if God told me to fast, he was going to give me the grace.

I started that prayer the following day and by 4p.m. I was trying to rest. I lay down to rest after a session of prayers. My eyes were opened but I was suspended. My door was open and I saw Jesus walk in. How did I know him? I just knew. I could not talk. Every movement was suspended. He walked as far as to my bed and took my hands in his. It was as though I was holding an electric wire because the shock was much.

The whole of my body was vibrating. He did not say a word, he just held my hand. I believe he was trying to pass the anointing into my life. I can’t remember how long. I could not scream. Then he left my hands and vanished. As he vanished, an audible voice came saying ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel.’

Immediately, I came back to my normal self, and then I knew God was calling me. If he had not visited me in that way, I might not have responded to divine call for full time ministry. My mind was not there at all.

Your church is one of the biggest in Agege where the Dana air crash occurred. Reports have it that many of the residents are living in the fear of being haunted by the dead, considering the mass deaths of the crash. What would be your reaction to this?

I have never heard that they are afraid of that. I heard a lot of calls from within and without. I told someone that God has exempted us. It is an unfortunate incident. For people to say that they are being haunted by the dead, I don’t understand. You see the bottom-line is for people to know God. If you are born again, ghosts won’t chase you. The incidence should draw people to God. It should be a stepping stone to new decisions. Death does not write application. The best is for people to surrender their lives to Jesus.

I have a lot of members living in that area and on Sunday we had a lot of testimonies after the incident. One of my deacons said that the incident happened about three buildings away from his house.

I have serious optimism about what God can do in this country. The greatest problem we have is corruption. As it is in the high, it is in the low. Many of our leaders travel out and see democracy and way of life. They come back and the best thing they can do is to steal money and still take them out. They are educated but education has not helped them. The average Nigerian does not fear God and so is not bothered about the destiny of the nation.

Manifest the greatness you have

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laAYWdY_EGU" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laAYWdY_EGU</a>

It seems actress Mercy Aigbe is in love with colours, she risked it all for her new photoshoot and it turned out great.


Ever since the Edo born began her career in the Yoruba movie industry, she has made more headlines than a lot of her older colleagues. She is said to have she single handedly produced the popular movie ‘OSAS OMOGE CAMPUS,’ which was directed by Muyiden S. Ayinde. OSAS was shot in Benin, Delta and Lagos.
The movie centres on a wierd local Benin girl who strives hard to be the best at everything she does. She got admitted into the university where she met a lady from a rich home who loves her so much despite her egocentric nature. They became best of friends and envy of all on campus. But not long after, things fell apart when they fell in love with the same guy.
She is also working on a yet to be released movie, ‘GUCCI GIRLS’ which she said will premiere in the UK this August.

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Jafaru Yakubu, the PDP secretary in Lere LGA of Kaduna State, who was to take in another woman today, was killed by his wife. She tells Weekly Trust that, contrary to what many people think, she didn’t kill her husband because he planned to marry a second wife.

A-35 year old teacher in Kero village, Garu district in Lere LGA of Kaduna state, Mrs Janet Yakubu said she used a machete in cutting her husband, which led to his eventual death, because he was fond of beating her. She said it had nothing to do with his plan to take in another woman.

Yakubu had concluded arrangement to marry a second wife today, but his wife, with whom he had no child, sent him to an early grave.

“I did not killed him because of our childlessness or because he was trying to take another wife. I used the machete I bought three weeks ago on him because he beat me up when he came back around 10pm of that Tuesday,” Janet told Weekly Trust in Kaduna.

She said penultimate Tuesday when her husband returned home “I was already asleep, I heard him talking on his top of his voice that I should wake up. Soon, he pounced on me and beat me up. I went outside our apartment and started crying.

“It was while I was outside that the devil asked me to use the machete I bought for my farm on him. I picked it and sneaked into his room even though there was no power supply that time, I stabbed him at different places,” she said.

After stabbing, she said she ran out and raised alarm that some strangers have attacked her and her husband. “After my action, fear enveloped me so I threw the machete into our soak-away; I ran out and shouted that some strangers have attacked us. So his family who are living around us came in.

“When they entered and saw the degree of the injuries he sustained, one of them pointed accusing finger at me. They took me to the police outpost and the policemen after interrogating me, followed me back to our house where they found the blood stained machete in the soak-away. It was at that point I confessed using it on him. My intention was not to kill him,” said Janet, who is a primary four teacher at the LEA primary school in Kero.

She said they have been together with her footballer turned politician for 16 years as husband and wife, adding that even though their 16 years marriage was not blessed with any child, her husband ignored all pressure from his family members to send her packing.

“Even though medical examinations have shown that our inability to bear a child was from my side, my husband kept going round to get healing for me. In fact, early this month he got herbs for me and he told me of his intention to get another wife. Please help me to apologise to the family of my late husband, what I did was a mistake and I had no intention to kill him,” she said tearfully.

While expressing regret over action, Janet who hailed from Malagum village in Kaura local government insisted that she bought the machete not for the purpose of eliminating her husband but for her farm use.

Weekly Trust gathered that her husband who had deep cuts on his head, chest and three other places died at the Saminaka General Hospital as result of excessive bleeding.

Spokesperson of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Aminu Lawan said when the family of her husband saw him with many deep cuts on his body, they held her responsible. He said during interrogation she confessed killing her husband.

Also speaking with Weekly Trust, Talata Yakubu, an elder brother to the deceased, said he was sleeping in his house around 3am when the late Jafaru knocked on his door asking him to come out.

“When I came out, he used a torch light to show me cuts on his head saying ‘see what my wife did to me.’ I saw five different cuts on his head,” Talata said.

Talata further told Weekly Trust that before the incident Janet had bought a new machete worth N500 from the market in Garu. He said when his wife asked her what she wanted to do with a machete Janet said she wants to use it at the farm.

Another relative of the deceased and former councillor of Garu ward Hon Anthony Chindo said “We were the ones that went to bring her after their wedding at Mallagum, in Zangon Kataf, Kaduna State. I remember that time when Jafaru married her she only had a primary school leaving certificate but he sponsored her up to NCE level. That time I was the councillor of Garu ward and I helped her to get a teaching job at a primary school.”

Weekly Trust spoke with Blessing Manchi Samson, whom the late Jafaru wanted to take as second wife. Blessing, who resides in Jengre, Bassa local government area of Plateau State, said “Janet has cheated me and the man’s family. We have concluded arrangement for our wedding. So when I heard the news, I was shocked. But I leave everything to God.”

Two men who were allegedly caught with a human skull by a vigilante group in Araromi community, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi state have been handed over to the men of the Nigerian Police.

It was reported that the two suspects who were identified as Muri and Joshua were caught when their neighbors began to suspect their sudden flashy life style. The neighbors had suspected that all was not well, and had to report to the community head to get them investigated.

The Community Head in turns, alerted the members of the Community vigilante to begin a thorough investigation into the activities of the two suspects, and report back accordingly.

The Vigilante members after two weeks got their targets when they caught the duo in a burial ground trying to exhume dead bodies. Their subsequent arrest led to a true confession as they disclosed that they were actually working for one Prophet Samuel who pays them N40,000.00 each for every human skull sold to him.

The suspects have since been handed over to the police and will soon be charged to court.

The state police spokesman, Ajayi Akansanmi confirmed the incident.

A teacher in Usi-Ekiti in Ido-Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State has hacked her husband to death.
It was gathered that the suspect, Mrs. Rafatu Agboola, killed her husband, Akeem Agboola, who was asleep with a machete and reported herself to the police in Usi-Ekiti immediately.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Sotonye Wakama, confirmed the incident.
He said the woman was brought to the police headquarters on Wednesday.



The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Victor Babayemi, said the police had begun an investigation into the case.

He said the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigation was concluded.
Our correspondent learnt that the husband was a physics teacher at a secondary school at Eda-Oniyo in Ilejemeje Local Government Area until his death at about 3 am on June 12.

A nurse in a hospital in the state, however, claimed that the lady had a mental problem.
When journalists visited the home of the couple, a four-bedroom apartment on Ayeoro Road in Usi, the house was found locked but the louver blades of the window to the husband’s bedroom were slightly open.
A peep into the bedroom showed that the mattress on the bed was soaked with blood and some blood was seen on the floor of the room, while a pungent smell had started coming out of the room.

Neigbhours of the couple said that the wife and the husband were quiet and easy going.
Colleagues of the suspect at the school stated that Rafatu was an easy going person.
They said that the marriage, which took place in 2009, was yet to be blessed with a child.

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“Corporal Emmanuel Okujo shot to kill me, even though my sister is pregnant for him and will have children for him, the law should run its full course.” With those words, Blessing Isanbor, 19, who is still writhing in pains at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja painted the picture of the kind of relationship that will exist between her and police corporal Emmanuel Okujo, who shot her on the cheek and hand on February 10, and eloped with her 17 year old younger sister, Patience, now pregnant for him.

Blessing has spent about three months in the hospital, with her cheekbones and some of her left fingers damaged after she was shot in her parents house in Bariga area of Lagos by Corporal Okujo. She would undergo plastic surgery to fix the bone and to give her a passable-looking-face, the cost of which her mother, a widow, Mrs. Ikuje Isanbor cannot afford.

China on Saturday underscored its super power status when it launched its most ambitious space mission to date, sending its first female astronaut, Liu Yang, to the final frontier and bidding to achieve the country’s first manual space docking.

Shenzhou-9 — China’s fourth manned space mission — launched at 6:37 pm (1037 GMT) from the remote Gobi desert in the nation’s northwest, state television pictures showed.



The crew were headed by Jing Haipeng, a veteran astronaut who has gone to space twice already. Liu Wang, who has been in the space programme for 14 years, is in charge of manual docking manoeuvres.

Liu Yang, 33, who has created a stir in the media and online for becoming China’s first woman to travel to space, will conduct aerospace medical experiments and other space tests.

At a pre-departure ceremony broadcast on state TV Wu Bangguo, chairman of the National People’s Congress, told them: “The country and the people are looking forward to your successful return.”

The mission will last 10 days, during which the crew will perform experiments and the manual space docking — a highly technical procedure that brings two vessels together in high speed orbit.

Successful completion of the rendezvous between the Shenzhou-9 (“Divine Vessel”) and the Tiangong-1 (“Heavenly Palace”) module already in orbit will take China a step closer to setting up its own space station in 2020.

The Asian powerhouse last year achieved a similar docking, but that mission in November was unmanned and the procedure was conducted remotely from Earth.

“The manual space rendezvous… is a huge test for astronauts’ ability to judge spatial position, eye-hand coordination and psychological abilities,” Jing told reporters ahead of the launch.

He added that the three would work well together after months of intense training that saw them rehearse the mission some 16 hours a day.

“One glance, one facial expression, one movement… we understand each other thoroughly,” he said.

The team have rehearsed the procedure more than 1,500 times in simulations, Wu Ping, spokeswoman for China’s manned space programme, told reporters.

But more than the upcoming challenge, it is the inclusion in the crew of Liu Yang — a trained pilot and major in the People’s Liberation Army who began astronaut training two years ago — that has captivated China’s people.

China sent its first person into space in 2003 and has since conducted several manned missions, the latest in 2008, but has never yet included a woman.

Liu’s mission will make China the third country after the Soviet Union and United States to send a woman into space using its own technology.

China sees its space programme as a symbol of its global stature, growing technical expertise, and the Communist Party’s success in turning around the fortunes of the once poverty-stricken nation.

An editorial in the state-run Global Times newspaper on Saturday said that China needed to “cement its strategic gains made during the years,” which called for “a stronger presence in outer space.”

“The three astronauts aboard Shenzhou-9 personify China’s long-term space aspirations,” it added.

A white paper released last December outlined China’s long-term ambitions to “conduct studies on the preliminary plan for a human lunar landing”.

The current programme aims to provide China with a space station in which a crew can live independently for several months, as at the old Russian Mir facility or the International Space Station.

A 39-year-old cook, Michael Bassey, has appeared before an Ogudu Chief Magistrates’ Court on a one-count charge of stealing kitchen utensils worth N450, 000 belonging to his boss.

The accused of Alafia Street, Shasha Akowonjo, Lagos, pleaded not guilty to the charge.



Prosecutor Kemi Adeniran told the court on Friday that the accused committed the offence on 6 June at Ogudu, Lagos.

“The complainant, Ferdinand Achom, left his house on that fateful day but on getting back home, he discovered that all his expensive kitchen utensils had been stolen.

“Also the accused went to his master’s room, stole some expensive shirts and took to his heels. He was later arrested by the agency that brought him to the house as a cook,’’ the prosecutor said.

She said that the offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Yetunde Aje-Afunwa, granted the bail to the accused in the sum of N10, 000 with a surety in the like sum.

She adjourned the case to July 9 for mention.

No fewer than 6.2 million girls are out of school in Nigeria, the Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike has said.

The minister made the statement at a one-day interactive meeting with stakeholders on girl-child education in Gusau, saying the figure represented 62 per cent of school age girls nationwide.



According to him, recent imbalance in enrolment figures of girls when compared to those of boys is about 10 per cent in the south and 40 per cent in the north of the country.

The minister said an estimated 10 million Nigerian children of primary school age were not enrolled in primary schools because of some challenges.

Such challenges include the lack of political commitment, poor planning and management as well as gender blind curriculum, he said.

Others are skewed female-male teacher ratio, segxwal harassment of girls, poverty and erroneous interpretation of religious teachings.

Wike said the fight against gender disparity should be the concern of all well-meaning Nigerians so that the country could attain the 2015 goal of Education For All.

He said the Federal Ministry of Education had continued to encourage partnership with states, local governments, international donor agencies and non-governmental organisations in efforts to remove hindrances to access to education.

The minister said the ministry had created more access to education for girls through the reduction of the gender gap, enhancement of the learning environment and establishment of culturally centered educational models.

The meeting was attended by the executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Modibbo Mohammed, as well as UBEC officials from Zamfara, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto states and traditional rulers.

Egypt began voting on Saturday in a divisive presidential runoff pitting ousted strongman Hosni Mubarak’s last premier against an Islamist, two days after the top court ordered parliament dissolved.

Some 50 million Egyptians are eligible to cast ballots in the two-day election, which sees Ahmed Shafiq vying for the top job against Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Mursi.

Long queues had already formed outside some voting stations before the polls opened at 8:00 am (0600 GMT), with police and army deployed outside, according to AFP reporters.

“I will vote for the one who will guarantee security and safety for our community,” said Makram, a Coptic Christian voter, from a polling station in the Shoubra neighbourhood.

Over in Manial, an island in the Nile, a crowd that included veiled and unveiled women waited to cast their ballots.

“I’m voting for Mursi because I don’t want Shafiq to win. I’m scared of Mursi but I’m more scared of Shafiq,” said Nagwan Gamal, 26, a teaching assistant.

The voting comes against the backdrop of two controversial court rulings on Thursday, allowing Shafiq’s candidacy to proceed despite his role in the old regime, and invalidating Egypt’s elected parliament.

The difficult choice of candidates has garnered support for the boycott movement, which was largely ignored in the first round, with celebrities and high-profile activists calling on Egyptians to abstain or void their ballot.

Others believed boycotting would waste a historic opportunity.

“Everyone should participate in the election. I don’t believe in boycotting,” said Diana Adel, 26, in Manial.

“I think it will be fair, and I do think it will be historic because we’re choosing a president ourselves,” she said.

The winner will be the first freely chosen president in Egypt’s history and will succeed Mubarak, who was forced from office by a popular revolt last year and turned power over to the military.

Activists said the court rulings were the final phase of a military coup that takes the democratic transition back to square one.

“Back to where you were,” read a huge red headline in the independent daily Al-Shorouk after the Supreme Constitutional Court said certain articles in the law governing parliamentary elections were invalid, annulling the Islamist-led house.

It also ruled unconstitutional the political isolation law, which sought to bar senior members of Mubarak’s regime and top members of his now-dissolved party from running for public office for 10 years.

 Tiger Woods wrested an even-par 70 from an unforgiving Olympic Club course on Friday to seize a share of the US Open second-round lead alongside Jim Furyk and David Toms.

On a day when the testing conditions saw names rise and fall on the leaderboard in the blink of an eye, with even 17-year-old amateur Beau Hossler briefly taking the solo lead, it was a trio of battle-tested veterans who topped the leaderboard on 139 — the one-under total making them the only players under par after two rounds.

Woods, of course, is a 14-time major champion, while Furyk won the 2003 US Open and Toms won the 2001 USPGA Championship.

Olympic’s Lake Course, with its small, sloping greens firming up minute by minute in the sunshine and crisp breezes of the afternoon, made Woods work for the share of the lead he regained after birdies at the 10th and 13th.

At the par-five 16th, he saved par from a bunker, where he popped out to about 15 feet despite an awkward stance.

At the par-five 17th, his approach rolled like a rocket through the green and down a steep bank at the back.

He spun his third shot up to about 10 feet and two-putted for par.

At 18 he was again in the fairway, but from there found the front greenside bunker. He blasted out and made his par-saving putt.

“That was not easy,” Woods said. “Just had to stay as patient as possible and I did a really good job of that today.”

Furyk made his way methodically around the 7,170-yard course to a one-under 69, while Toms posted a 70.

“I feel good about the score,” Furyk said. “I kept the ball in the fairway pretty well… I feel solid and in control so far.”

Furyk, who teed off on nine, rattled in a putt at the par-four seventh for the last of his three birdies on the day.

Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, winner of the US Open at nearby Pebble Beach two years ago, led the group sharing fourth place, two strokes back on one-over 141.

Playing alongside Furyk, McDowell moved as low as two-under but bogeyed three of his last four holes for a two-over 72.

“That’s what this golf course can do to you in a heartbeat,” McDowell said.

McDowell was joined at one-over by Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, the Volvo World Match Play Champion who carded a 69, American John Peterson (70) and overnight leader Michael Thompson, who surrendered his lead with a bogey and double-bogey at his third and fourth holes — the 11th and 12th — and finished with two double-bogeys in a 75.

McDowell, a fan of testing US Open conditions, said the course was fast, fair but certainly no fun.

“My day was as equally un-enjoyable as yesterday,” he said. “It’s just a brutal test of golf.”

Woods, seeking his first major title since he hobbled to a playoff victory at the 2008 US Open, sent a jolt of electricity around the course when he jumped to the top of the leaderboard with a birdie at the par-three third.

But he strung together three straight bogeys from the fifth, his approach at the sixth hanging up in dense rough on the lip of a bunker and leaving him an awkward shot out.

After finding a bunker at the 288-yard par-four seventh, Woods ended up three-putting for a costly bogey on a hole that should have offered a birdie chance.

“I knew that pin was dicey,” Woods said of the seventh. “The practice rounds I had run that putt by… and I still missed it on the low side and it ran out and I missed the second putt.”

Woods moved back to one-under after birdies at 10 and 13.

His mis-cues on the front nine had opened the door for Hossler, who followed a birdie at 18 with a rare birdie at the 520-yard, par-four first to move atop the leaderboard.

Whether it was the excitement of seeing his name up there or the sheer difficulty of the course, the California high school student promptly bogeyed the second, and added a double bogey at the fourth.

His three-over 73 gave him a share of ninth, all the more impressive given the elite names that were laid low by the Lake Course.

Four-time major champion Phil Mickelson did enough, a birdie at 18 giving him a 71 for seven-over 147.

Masters champion Bubba Watson had two birdies in the last four holes for a 71, but that left him at nine-over, one outside the cut line.

England’s Luke Donald, the world number one who topped both the US and European tour money lists last season, was headed home after following a first-round 79 with a 72 for an 11-over total of 151.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy carded a 73 for 150, finding the hillside course a world away from the rain-softened Congressional layout where he marched to a record-setting US Open triumph last year.