An explosion went off this morning near a convoy carrying Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, who is visiting the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Authority initially blamed Hamas for the explosion, which it said targeted Hamdallah's convoy.
Later on, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh spoke with Hamdallah and the two agreed that Israel and its collaborators are responsible. The Palestinian leaders also agreed that General Tawfiq Abu Naim, head of Gaza's Interior Ministry, will lead the investigation into the incident.
Hamdallah entered the Strip at 10 A.M. with Palestinian intelligence chief Majid Faraj for a visit that was planned five months ago. The purpose of the visit was to open a waste treatment plant that the Palestinian Authority helped finance.
According to reports, several people were lightly wounded in the incident. Gaza's Interior Ministry also spoke saying several suspects have been arrested and a manhunt is underway.
Less than 24 hours after United States Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson visited President Buhari at the Presidential villa in Abuja, on the final leg of his African tour, he has been sacked by President Donald Trump.
CIA Director Mike Pompeo will be replacing the former Exxon Mobil chief executive, as President Donald Trump also picked deputy CIA Director Gina Haspel to run the spy agency.
Announcing Rex Tillerson’s sack on Twitter, President Donald Trump wrote;
Mike Pompeo, Director of the CIA, will become our new Secretary of State. He will do a fantastic job! Thank you to Rex Tillerson for his service! Gina Haspel will become the new Director of the CIA, and the first woman so chosen. Congratulations to all!
The burial reception in honour of a 111-years-old woman in Boboroku community in Delta state, reportedly turned into a food fight and reportedly left a policeman identified as Imomoh dead.
Eyewitnesses claimed that the clash between youths of the community and a team of soldiers deployed to maintain peace at the event, occurred after the youths tried to disarm two soldiers, who had tried to restore orderliness in the area which became chaotic as foods and drinks were shared.
The late policeman, who resides in the community and reportedly tried to intervene during the rowdy session between the soldiers and the youths, was hit by a bullet which resulted in his death, another was reportedly shot on the leg as others sustained various degrees of injuries.
Vanguard also reported that the windscreen and windows of at least five cars, including one hilux belonging to the soldiers, were also destroyed by the youths who went berserk over the incident.
Paul Amodu who was present when the incident occurred, said;
“The soldiers were called in to restore calm after the youths in the community tried to hijack food meant for guests at the reception.
Vexed by the presence of the soldiers, the youths turned their anger on them, leading to fisticuffs amidst gunshots by the soldiers, during which Imomoh was said to have been hit by a bullet; he slumped and died.
The death of the policeman enraged the youths who went wild, attacking guests and destroying vehicles.
The soldiers had to apply minimum force in trying to defend themselves by shooting into the air to scare the rampaging youths, who were trying to disarm them leading to the shooting of one person in the leg.”
Eyewitnesses further claimed that seeing what had happened, the trigger-happy soldiers fled the scene of the incident.
Residents of Ijesha, Surulere area of Lagos, reportedly stumbled upon the corpse of a yet to be identified man this morning, who was thrown into the canal after killed.
Sources claimed the eyes of the deceased was plucked out, in the incident which seems to be carried out by a ritualist.
Few weeks ago, it was reported that a jilted man, Olorunwa Ogundare vented his anger on his estranged lover, Shade Taiwo by using a broken bottle to damage one of her eyes in Lagos, PM Express has reported.
The sad incident took place at Ipodo Street in Ikeja, Lagos where they resided. According to the report, the victim’s left eye was forcefully plucked out with the bottle, which had partially blinded her as doctors said she cannot see with the eye again.
Police sources said the victim and the suspect were lovers until recently when they had disagreement and Taiwo left Ogundare for another person. However, her decision did not go down well with Ogundare who had earlier vowed that he will deal with her. But the victim did not know he had planned to blind her.
On the day the incident happened, they had little disagreement and Ogundare did not waste time before he picked a bottle, broke it, stabbed her on the eye and drew it out. She was then taken to a hospital where it was confirmed that the eye was badly damaged.
The matter was reported to the police and Ogundare was later arrested and charged to court. He was charged before Ikeja Magistrates court for the alleged offence.
The suspect however pleaded not guilty. The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi granted him bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum. He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition.
Inspired by the need to alleviate the gnawing poverty and hunger in the streets of Lagos, a charity home, The Candlelight Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has set up a soup kitchen catering to the needy, homeless and the working poor within the Surulere area as a measure to mitigate the menace of hunger-related crimes in Lagos.
“We exist as an answer to the call of many Nigerians in poverty and hunger as even many who have jobs are still unable to eat,” says Uzoamaka Okeke, the executive director of the foundation.
The typical service day, by 11am, at No. 39, Oyekan Road, off Ogunlana Drive address; what you find are different set of people throng clamouring: “We are hungry! When will the food be ready?”
They murmur until the gate is thrown open for time to have their free meals.
A hall inside the fenced bungalow, filled with plastic chairs and tables arranged like a restaurant is the place where the hungry citizens have their stomach filled with a free meal, dished out on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Beneficiaries who trek from far places usually arrive at the foundation in weary, but leave with brighter countenances.
The crowd of jobless men and women who storm The Candlelight Foundation for free meals every Monday, Wednesday and Friday depict the despairing situation that pervades the city of Lagos.
“Hunger does not care whether you are jobless,” says Okeke, “once hunger hit you, you must find something to eat. Some of the working poor and disadvantaged individuals don’t know where their next meal will come from; this sometimes leads them to do some extreme things to survive.”
Laila with Uzoamaka Okeke, the executive director of Candlelight foundation
A society where hunger is rampant is usually prone to strife, she stresses.
Emphasizing the importance of regular meals, she notes:
“If you do not eat, you can hardly do anything, you cannot be productive because you are not able to focus on anything and you can hardly think straight.”
Okeke underscores the futility of striving to fulfil other needs on an empty stomach.
“That is why The Candlelight Foundation is planning a Walk Against Hunger in May,” she says.
With fact and figure, Okeke sketches a picture of a typical day at the charity home.
“We feed about 160 people or more each service day (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) within 30 minutes of our opening the door. Once it’s 11 am, don’t even allow us to open the gate fully, they push their way in.”
The benefactors are required to write their names and thereafter take their seats.
The starting menu was Jollof rice and fish. Over time, beans and garri were introduced into the menu and they are exploring options of swallow.
“Benefactors are not permitted to take the food away, they must eat it on the premises,” she states, “and, many people have told us how it has helped them so much.”
One of The Candlelight’s many plans is to operate a full-fledged homeless shelter, “where people who don’t have a house can come in and sleep, get up in the morning and go about their day, and come back in the night to sleep.”
Such arrangement excludes permanent residency, but includes free feeding, according to Okeke. Included in the plan, she says, is a vocational centre where “we will also provide adult education and rehabilitation centre.”
While the foundation solicits supports, both cash and kind, from donors, the founder presently sponsors it.
“Nigerians have a misconception that opening an NGO is an opportunity for money laundering. We hope that people will be able to look a bit deeper into our activity and understand our purpose. We have no political motives, neither are we set up for money laundering. We have no ulterior motive other than the desire to help these people, to change their mindset, to give them an opportunity to know that somebody still cares and that somebody is still interested in their future,” she articulates.
She unravelled other plans in the offing.
“We want to open a literacy centre and we are already in the process with the Ministry of education to get it permitted to run the Literacy Centre. That way, people can get to learn basic math, basic English, basic reading skills and something called civic education. That part is actually the most important for us because it’s the education of being patriotic or being a productive member of a society.”
Bus driver Frank Onochie is one of the regular beneficiaries since he became aware of the foundation two months ago. He says,
“My neighbours and my children told me about it. At first, I didn’t believe them about this free food.
“I didn’t believe until my daughter told me that the food is good. Giving them the benefit of doubt, I came, and seriously, I enjoyed the food. Since then, I have been coming here twice a week, especially when I am off duty. It is a relief to me because if I want to eat outside, I will spend close to N300. Now, I save the money and give it to my children to take to school.
“If we have this kind of thing in about four places, I think it will reduce hunger, poverty, and crime. When you are hungry and thinking of how to make money to eat, the situation is bleak if you have no job. But if you have a place to eat before nightfall, there is hope. This foundation has become our place of hope.”
The adult-film actress who claims she had an affair with Donald Trump before he became U.S. president has offered to return $130,000 that Trump’s personal lawyer paid her in what she said was hush money to remain silent about the alleged relationship.
Actress Stephanie Clifford, who uses the stage name Stormy Daniels, said the affair with Trump began in 2006 and lasted several months.
Clifford proposed on Monday that she be allowed to discuss her alleged affair with the president freely after repaying the money.
“This is an extremely fair offer,” her attorney, Michael Avenatti, said in an interview.“It accomplishes the goal of allowing the American people to decide who is telling the truth after hearing both sides.”
The alleged affair has become the latest distraction for Trump as he tries to advance his trade agenda and prepares for a proposed meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
As you know, Trump has denied he had an affair with Clifford.
Governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello met and commiserated with the family of the late Corporal Lazarus Mamman of Command Army Records, Lokoja, who was killed at Okene during rescue operation of a kidnapped victim on 27 February 2018
The governor described the slain soldier as a hero, who gave his life for his fellow man and the safety of his country. He made a presentation of Five Million Naira to the family.
His widow and parents were present as well as Commander Army Records, Major General Felix Agugo.
According to reports, Corporal Lazarus Mamman just got married few months ago.
A Nigerian couple showed their fun side after welcoming a set of beautiful twins recently.The new mother was so excited after the safe and peaceful delivery as she thanked God for blessing her and her husband with the double blessings. The babies and their mother are said to be in good health. Congratulations to the couple.
A 52-year-old man, Gabriel Olaniyan, was yesterday arraigned at an Ibadan Chief Magistrates’ Court in Oyo State for allegedly defiling a nine-year-old girl.
He was arraigned on a one-count charge of having carnal knowledge of the minor.
The prosecutor, Mrs. Folake Ewe, told the court that the accused, on March 1, about 5 pm, in Alapafon, Ibadan, did have carnal knowledge of the minor.
She said the offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 218 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol.II Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. N.A.J. Ogunbona, asked the accused why he defiled the minor, wondering whether it was for ritual or he wanted to marry her.
She asked what the accused used to entice the girl.
Olaniyan claimed it was a mistake, saying he used N10 biscuit to entice her.
The victim’s father, simply identified as Mr. Adeleke, told the court that her daughter was returning from a qu’ranic school when Olaniyan accosted and defiled her.
The chief magistrate condemned those fond of defiling minors, saying they allowed the devil to use them to destroy the society.
She urged parents and guardians to monitor their children and wards.
Ogunbona ordered that the accused be remanded in Agodi Prison pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, an eyewitness said the deceased, who went to Ayegbaju Market in the metropolis to buy pepper, was returning home when he was killed.
The vehicle was said to have lost control while on speed and skipped off the highway before ramming into the deceased.
The grey coloured SUV with registration number, Lagos JJJ 243 EF was said to have a middle age man, his wife and kid as occupants.
While the occupants were quickly ferried away to safety, an angry mob set the vehicle ablaze.
Another eyewitness, who knew the deceased, said he was preparing for his Junior Secondary School Certificate Examination before he met his untimely death.
“The vehicle was coming from Ogo-Oluwa area and rammed into the boy, killing him instantly,’’ she said.
Mr Rasaki Azeez, the father of the deceased and Deputy Chairman of NURTW at Fakunle Motor Park in Osogbo, said he could not believe his son was dead.
Azeez, who was devastated by the incident, said sympathisers came to call him at the park to retrieve the body of his son.
He said that the corpse had been deposited at the morgue of Ladoke Akintola University hospital, Osogbo.
Last week we also reported that there was confusion and chaos in Ikorodu area of Lagos after a BRT bus accidentally killed a student of the C&S primary school in Ogolonto/Majidun. The pupil whose head was smashed in the process of the crash died instantly on the spot.
It really sad and painful that a young student that left home for school that morning won’t return to parents again.
A man armed with a cutlass, suspected to be mentally-deranged, yesterday invaded St. John’s Anglican Primary School, Agodo, in Ogun Waterside Local Government of Ogun State and killed two pupils.
The victims are Mubarak Kalesowo and Sunday Obituyi.
There was pandemonium in the school, as pupils and teachers scampered for safety. Many fell and were injured.
The suspect, identified as Lekan Adebisi, came to the school from a nearby bush during break when the pupils were playing.
Sources said he fled the scene after the attack.
As the news of the attack spread, panic-stricken parents and guardians rushed to the school to withdraw their children and wards.
The police have now launched a manhunt for the suspect.
