Tyre repairer kidnaps son, demands N350,000 ransom

by Eniola Akinkuotu

The suspects

The State Security Service, Lagos State Command, has arrested a 48-year-old man, Samson Adebayo, for allegedly arranging the kidnap of his nine-year-old son, Emmanuel, and demanding a ransom of N350, 000.

According to the SSS, Adebayo had solicited the help of his girlfriend, Kehinde Alonge, to kidnap Emmanuel from his residence at 2, Solomon Street, Ilu-Nla, Aradagun, Badagry.

The director, SSS, Lagos State, Mr. Ben Achu-Olayi, said Adebayo reported the incident to security agents, pretending to be distraught.

He said, “On October 7, 2013, the command received a report from Adebayo Samson, who complained that his son was kidnapped on October 3.

“Consequently, the command swung into action with the aim of rescuing the victim and arresting the culprits. Preliminary investigations confirmed the kidnapping by Alonge, who had demanded a N350, 000 ransom.

“She demanded that the ransom be paid into a United Bank of Africa account 2050908899, belonging to one Taiwo Faloye. Unknown to the suspects, we had set up a flag on the account with the bank’s cooperation and were alerted when N230, 000 was remitted.”

He said Alonge was arrested when she went to withdraw the money from a UBA branch at Ilesha, Osun State, adding that during interrogation, Alonge, a hairdresser, fingered the victim’s father.

 He said, “Following Alonge’s confession, Adebayo was arrested. He confessed that he planned his son’s kidnap in order to extort money from some of his church members and sympathisers.”

 Achu-Olayi warned parents to avoid endangering the lives of their children for the sake of money.

 He said, “We have noticed that crimes of this nature are usually committed by parents or close relations and we are warning them that we will not tolerate such acts.”

The suspects, however, traded blame over the incident when our correspondent spoke with them.

Adebayo accused Alonge of coming up with the plan in order to raise N200, 000 for a beauty salon. Alonge however denied this.

She said, “I was in Ilesha when he (Adebayo) called me to come to Lagos that some people owed him money. He said the only way to collect the money from them was for me to come and take his son away, while he pretends that he had been kidnapped.

“I came to Lagos on October 4, 2013. I intended going to the school to pick the boy but Adebayo advised that I pick him from the house. Since the children knew me, I told the boy to follow me to get something outside, only to enter the next available vehicle to Ilesha, Osun State.

“His father even gave me N3,000 for transport. When we got to Ilesha, he sent another N3, 750 worth of recharge cards for his feeding. He even called his son on the telephone on daily basis.

“He was the one that asked me to demand N350, 000 but at the end of the bargain, he said I should accept N200,000. Since I had no bank account, I asked one of my relatives to give me his account details. But we were arrested at the point of withdrawal.”

Adebayo said, “I agreed to the plan because I was broke. I have been a vulcaniser for 20 years and I am poor. I have two kids and my wife is at a church, where she is being healed of paralysis.

“Kehinde was the one that brought up the idea that we should kidnap my son and I agreed because I needed the money too. My share would have been N100, 000 if we had succeeded.

“I feel so ashamed of myself because what I did was wrong. I hope the government forgives me and let me go home. I won’t do it again.”

LEFT BEHIND: A VISION OF HEAVEN’S ROLL-CALL.

I read an article in the Biblical Insight Magazine that really caught my attention, and I would love to share it. It’s all about a brethren that was left behind after the rapture had occurred and he witnessed all the indignation, torture and pains meted out on the remaining populace of earth, below is the story. Enjoy your read,

True to his word, God is doing all that is possible to ensure that as many as are willing to escape the great indignation that will follow rapture, are able to achieve their aim. Through His word as written in the Holy Scriptures, divine revelations and every other means possible, God is daily warning and reminding man, more than prophet Noah did in his days, of the urgent need to heed the warning of Christ with respect to His second coming. Going by the so many unbelievable things and priviledges, particularly, within the Christian community, it is obvious that God by virtue of His Fatherly magnanimity has already granted the request of the rich man in Luke 16:27-28. The said rich man having realized that hell is a no-go area for anyone, requested father Abraham to send Lazarus from the dead to his five brethren who were still alive then to preach repentance to them. He did not want his brethren to come to hell and experience the torment he was going through. Unfortunately, father Abraham could not help his case.

According to Luke 16:22-31, “And it came to pass the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died and was buried. And in hell, he lifted up his eyes being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, father Abraham have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receiveth thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted and thou art tormented. And besides all this, between us and you, there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from thence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou would send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, they have Moses and the Prophets,; let them hear them. And he said, nay father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

Three facts are quite obvious from the above reference. Once in hell, no request can be granted anymore. Secondly, there is a great demarcation separating those in Heaven from those in hell to avoid the exchange or transaction of any sort. Lastly, as long as a man is still alive, he has the opportunity to avoid going to hell. However it is my through belief that God has granted that very request of the dead rich man for the sake of those of us still living. Even though father Abraham made it clear that sending one from the dead back to life to testify of Christ would not make much difference, God, in His Fatherly gesture, has equally granted the request severally. That is why it is a common knowledge today that we hear of people who died and came back to life after a day or two, to testify to the truth. That is why a lot of people are being priviledged to have revelations, dreams and comings of the second coming of Christ. Many are daily having the revelation of rapture. Therefore, what you are about to read is a true story of a revelation of rapture by the author of this write-up. As you read may the Lord help your understanding and make you ready for the return of the Saviour.

Thus, on the 27^th day of October 2012, at about 4.28am, I suddenly woke up from a frightening revelation of rapture. In the revelation, it was obvious that rapture had taken place but so many Christians were left behind. Of those left behind, very many are fellow brethren that I know well. They are brethren who are supposed co-worker in the vineyard of the Lord. Then I saw a very long queue of Christians waiting to take the “666” mark on either their forehead or arms. Clearly, everyone left behind has only two options: either to join the queue and take the anti- Christ mark or suffer the cruel torture being meted out on those who refused to receive the mark of the beast. A particular brother, when I demanded to know his reason for wanting to take the mark, said he could not bear the punishment but would rather take the mark. Surprisingly, I noticed that some of the wicked task-masters helping the anti- Christ to afflict Christians who refused the mark were fellow brethren I know very well from two of the branches of the same church. Sadly, these fellows helping the evil one are, in real life, workers in the Church. It pained my heart that they were not only helping the anti- Christ but equally executing their assignment very willingly and happily. Then I sought to know why fellow workers in the house of God, whom I believed to be born again, should be assisting the anti- Christ to afflict their fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord: I was told that it meant that they (those brethren helping the anti- Christ) “are neck deep in sins and iniquities.” I was dumbfounded and could not believe what I was seeing at that moment.

However, while all the happenings were still on, I kept on hearing a particular statement. Any direction or place I went, I continue to hear the same statement. The statement is “it is urgent and delay is dangerous.” At first, I could not understand what it meant because, in that rapture had taken place. I felt since it has happened the warning was not necessary. I was still standing helplessly, brooding the fate of those left behind, seriously grieved in my spirit, when I woke up. Expectedly, I began to pray immediately. Then I decided to forward text messages about the revelation to some brethren and continued in prayer for about an hour. When I finished, I slept back. But to my least expectation, the revelation continued from where it stopped at first and lasted till around 7.45am. It was amazing. In this second part of the revelation I saw additional brethren whom I did not see at first and the torture being meted out to those who refuse the mark was becoming exceptionally unbearable. Surprisingly, I observed that the queue had doubled and stretched further, continuously increasing every second.

Consequently, when I saw the hopelessness on the faces of those left behind, was almost crying and screaming”that they should have allowed me to speak (testify) to them again before allowing rapture to take place.” Quickly, I was told that many had done that but they ignored the fact that “it is urgent and delay is dangerous.” Then I truly realized I could not help them at that point, just as father Abraham could not help the dead rich man. Suddenly, my attention was directed towards myself and I asked question: “Since the saints have been raptured why I didn’t go with them, what am I doing in the midst of those left behind?” I was told it was for two major reasons: Firstly, I was told I have an issue to settle with the Lord. Angrily, I asked what issue?, one of the evil taskmasters, a supposed worker in the church, brought out a piece of paper, which contained my full name and the very issue marked against me. Then I began to protest, saying “is it because of this minor thing.” I was told it might be minor to me but as long as I have not settled it with the Lord it is enough to hinder anyone from making Heaven. In other words, there are a lot of things which we might consider minor in our own eyes but of great consequence. For anyone to make heaven he or she must take everything, I mean everything to the Lord in prayer. The slightest sin, without God’s mercy, is potent enough to debar entrance into Heaven.

The scriptures in Luke 13:23-24 says, “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, strive to enter at the strait gate; for many I say unto you will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Now I know why Jesus made the above statement. He says “Strive to enter…” in essence; to enter heaven one must “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” To strive is to earnestly contend for. Thus to take certain things for granted is to tilt towards complacency. In Genesis 19: 17, 26 Lot’s and his family were warned not to look back at Sodom, but the wife was complacent and took the angelic warning lightly. She looked back but never lived to tell the story:  She ended up in destruction, having escaped the consuming fire of Sodom. What a tragedy! Like has been previously stated, complacency is one of the diseases of the end time, designed to lead astray. By His grace, as soon as I woke up, I had to quickly settle that very issue wit the Lord. For I do know it is a priviledge, opportunity and to Him am grateful.

Moreover, the second reason is for me to let all know, especially my fellow brethren and as many as are interested in making Heaven that “it is urgent and delay is dangerous.” I was instructed to see some of those I saw in the revelation.  This assignment I have already carried out immediately. Like I said earlier, at first I did not understand what the statement meant. That is why I kept on screaming, asking why people should go through this cruel torture. As if my protest was disturbing, suddenly one of the task masters came over and asked me if I wanted the mark. I bluntly said, “No Way!” the he said, “you will have to experience the pain of those left behind.” I was shocked to hear him say that and before I could utter a word, I saw another uglier and wicked demonic creature fast approaching me with a very long sharp sword to chop off one of my legs and I suddenly woke up. Then it dawned on me what they meant by “it is urgent and delay is dangerous.” it simply means it is urgent to get on the Lord’s side. Yes, it means it is dangerous not to be saved or born-again by now. Put differently, it means that rapture is imminent and it will be a tragedy to be left behind. Besides, I was made to understand that during the reign of the anti- Christ, after rapture, some fellow Christians who are left behind are the very ones that will be helping the beast to find those refusing the mark. Many supposed Christian parents, brothers and sisters will deny their children, relations and friends. They will help the evil one locate the hideouts of those left behind “believers” refusing the ‘666’ mark. Behold it is better to escape now  for one’s life. That is why Prophet Isaiah, in Isaiah 26:20 says, “come, my people enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.” To hide thyself is to be truly born-again. It is to be genuinely saved. It is to be ready for rapture so that when the great tribulation (indignation) comes you will not be around to experience the effect. In other words, anyone genuinely saved is already within his chambers and his doors shut about him.

Convincingly, I sincerely believe that rapture may take place in these very early hours of the third day. Remember, this very early hours are already in progress. Truly, it is urgent and delay, certainly, is dangerous. It is true no one knows the exact time and date of rapture, but one thing is obviously needful. Anyone hoping to see Jesus and live in His sight forever must be watching and praying daily. When heaven makes a final roll-call, only those who are truly ready, like the five wise virgins, shall be raptured. I pray that you will become rapturable by Gods grace. Again, from the revelation, I understand, in line with the dictates of the Bible that Church attendance, position of leadership, financial commitment, preaching and teaching in the Church, etc, are all good works, but all these do not guarantee a place in Heaven. Jesus expressly told us that “except a man be born-again”, he cannot make heaven, his name cannot be found in the book of life; meaning he is not rapturable.

Finally, my prayer for everyone reading this write-up is that the grace of God that makes one rapturable shall rest upon you from this very moment henceforth. God bless you, as you consciously retrace your steps back to Jesus, the only true savior of humanity.

Culled from: Biblical Insight. Vol 1. No.1a

Vice Admiral Akhigbe Dies Of Cancer At 68.

By Channels Television 

One-time Chief of General Staff and Vice President of Nigeria, Vice Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe, has died of cancer at the age of 68.

Akhigbe who was 68, battled cancer till Monday when he died in the United States.

Vice Admiral Akhigbe served as the Vice President of Nigeria during the General Abdusalam Abubakar-led military government from 1998 till the termination of military government in Nigeria, in 1999.

He had also previously served as military governor of Nigeria’s Ondo state from 1985 to 1986, and military governor of Lagos state from 1986 to 1988, after which he was appointed Chief of Naval Staff, the highest-ranking officer of the Nigerian Navy, and subsequently the Chief of General Staff, the highest ranking military officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Armed Forces.

Meanwhile, prominent Nigerian leaders have been commiserating with the Ahkigbe family over the death of the elder statesman.

The Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole described the death of Vice Admiral Akhigbe as a great loss to his home state and country.

He prayed to God to grant the soul of the departed Vice Admiral peaceful eternal rest in his bosom and grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

The Senate President, David Mark, on his part described the death of the former vice president, as a loss of a brother, confidant, friend and comrade-at-arms.

Senator Mark also notes that Vice Admiral Akhigbe was a fearless diligent officer.

NASDRA Tells Nigerians To Brace Up For Partial Solar Eclipse

By Channels Television 

Nigeria will experience a partial solar eclipse on Thursday the 3rd of November; an astronomical event that will have the earth thrown into temporal or partial darkness as the moon blocks the sun’s rays from reaching the earth.

Briefing journalists on what Nigerians should expect, the Director General of the Nigeria Space Research And Development Agency (NASDRA), Dr Sa’idu Mohammed said the eclipse will come in three phases; a partial eclipse at about 1.00 pm when the moon will touch the edge of the sun, the maximum eclipse shortly before 3.00pm when the moon is expected to be closest to the center and shortly after 4.00pm when the moon will leave the sun’s edge.

He however stated that there is no cause for alarm and Nigerians should not panic.

As seen from the Earth, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun.

This can happen only at new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth in an alignment referred to as syzygy.

In a total eclipse, the disk of the Sun is fully obscured by the Moon. In partial and annular eclipses only part of the Sun is obscured.

If the Moon were in a perfectly circular orbit, a little closer to the Earth, and in the same orbital plane, there would be total solar eclipses every single month.

However, the Moon’s orbit is inclined at more than 5 degrees to Earth’s orbit around the Sun so its shadow at new moon usually misses Earth.

Earth’s orbit is called the ecliptic plane as the Moon’s orbit must cross this plane in order for an eclipse to occur.

In addition, the Moon’s actual orbit is elliptical, often taking it far enough away from Earth that its apparent size is not large enough to block the Sun totally.

The orbital planes cross each year at a line of nodes resulting in at least two, and up to five, solar eclipses occurring each year; no more than two of which can be total eclipses.

However, total solar eclipses are rare at any particular location because totality exists only along a narrow path on Earth’s surface traced by the Moon’s shadow or umbra.

An eclipse is a natural phenomenon. Nevertheless, in some ancient and modern cultures, solar eclipses have been attributed to supernatural causes or regarded as bad omen. A total solar eclipse can be frightening to people who are unaware of its astronomical explanation, as the Sun seems to disappear during the day and the sky darkens in a matter of minutes.

Since looking directly at the Sun can lead to permanent eye damage or blindness, special eye protection or indirect viewing techniques are used when viewing a solar eclipse.

It is technically safe to view only the total phase of a total solar eclipse with the unaided eye and without protection, however this is a dangerous practice as most people are not trained to recognize the phases of an eclipse which can span over two hours while the total phase can only last up to 7.5 minutes for any one location.

Oscar Pistorius faces two further firearm charges

Remember the famed South African blade runner? Well, he's in the media again but in a bad light for a second time running. The South African athlete accused of murdering partner Reeva Steenkamp will have yet another alleged offence added to his existing woe. This most certainly is not good at all. The story goes thus,

Prosecutors in South Africa are to add two firearm charges to the indictment against Oscar Pistorius, who is due to be tried in March for murder and illegal possession of ammunition.

The athlete's lawyers received a letter advising them that the charges, would be added, Nathi Mncube, a spokesman for the national prosecuting authority, told Associated Press.

Mncube said the additional charges, believed to be related to recklessly firing guns in public, were not in the original indictment because they were alleged to have occurred in the Johannesburg region, a different court jurisdiction to the fatal shooting of Pistorius's partner, Reeva Steenkamp, in Pretoria, on 14 February.

Prosecutors had to seek permission from South Africa's new national director of public prosecutions to "centralise" all the charges, Mncube said, so they all could be heard in the same trial at the North Gauteng high court in Pretoria.

"The national director has indeed given them that authority and they will be added," he said. "They are not new charges, they were charges that already existed. They were just in a different jurisdiction."

Mncube declined to detail the charges, only saying there were two additional counts and they covered "the contravention of the firearm controls act".

Pistorius's spokeswoman, Anneliese Burgess, told AP that his family did not want to comment on the legal aspects of the case. His legal team did not immediately respond to phonecalls from AP.

The South African media has reported that Pistorius has twice shot a gun in a public place: one out of a moving car when he was driving with a former partner and another at a restaurant in Johannesburg when, he apparently accidentally fired a friend's gun under a table.

People who are believed to have been present during the two incidents were included in the prosecution's list of more than 100 witnesses when Pistorius was indicted in August.

The 26-year-old Olympic runner faces a life sentence with a minimum of 25 years in prison if he is convicted on the main charge of premeditated murder.

Pistorius denies murder and says he shot Steenkamp in self-defence through a toilet door with his licensed 9mm handgun, thinking mistakenly that she was a dangerous intruder in the couple's home. Prosecutors believe he intended to kill Steenkamp, possibly after a heated argument in the middle of the night.

Nigerian Prostitute Turned Gospel Singer, Maheeda Goes Completely Nude!

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

She said she's now a born again but her actions these days are way apart from her proclaimed faith.                                          

All in the name of seeking attention and cheap publicity, Maheeda has obviously since dumped Jesus for a nude-publicity tactics on social media.                           

Maheeda this time around, went totally out. She posted completely

 nude photos of herself while in the bath on her Instagram.

Captured Boko Haram Member Claims Sect has Nothing to do With Islam

Malam Bukar Modu, a detained Boko Haram member, said that the sect had nothing to do with Islam, as it was mainly involved in armed banditry, looting and killing of innocent people.

Modu, who was captured on Oct. 6 after the sect's early morning attack on Muslim worshipers in Damboa, Borno, said this in Maiduguri on Saturday.

He said, "We went on a mission to attack people in Damboa on Oct. 6, a few days to the last Sallah celebration.

"We shot many people but I was also shot in the leg during the operation; I later became unconscious. My people took me away at the end of the operation but they decided to dump me in a nearby bush because they thought I was dead.

"I regained my consciousness in the morning before I was apprehended by security agents, who provided food for me and took care of my bullet wounds".

Modu said that he was recruited into the sect by his cousin about a year ago.

"He used to keep his gun in our compound in Maiduguri. One day, he said that he was not comfortable with me being outside the sect because I knew all his secrets. He gave me two options: to either join the sect or be killed; so, I had no other option than to join the sect,'' he said.

Modu said that he was given an "express training’’ on the handling of AK 47 rifle as soon as he joined the sect.

"We were always given orders to attack individuals without questioning until we finally relocated to Marte in Marte Local Government Area of Borno during the middle of this year,'' he said.

Modu said that his group comprised about 150 militants, who took refuge in a nearby bush after the military invasion of Marte camp.

"Sometimes, I feel guilty of committing crimes against God but our commanders always tell us that it is God's work that we are doing". (NAN)

Tanker explosion kills six in Kaduna State

Six persons were killed on Friday night in a fire from a tanker explosion in Maraban Jos, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that FERMA had constructed a trailer park at the Maraban Jos axis of the Kaduna-Zaria expressway to reduce the high rate of fires caused by petrol tankers and accidents caused by articulated trucks parked along the road.

Alhaji Abdullahi Kwarau, the Chairman of Igabi Local Government Council, said that the accident, which occurred on Friday night, involved two fuel-laden tankers.

He appealed to the state government to expedite action on the construction of more trailer parks on major roads in the state to avoid a recurrence of such accidents.

Gov. Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State, who condoled with the families of those who died in the accident, urged drivers, particularly those of petrol tankers, to be extra vigilant while driving or parking their vehicles.

He assured the people that efforts were underway to ensure the timely completion of new trailer parks being constructed in Igabi, Kagarko and Birnin Gwari Local Government Areas.

Yero said that the state government was also collaborating with the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to ensure the speedy completion of ongoing road projects to forestall recurring accidents on the major roads. (NAN).

Campaign protesting Saudi ban on women drivers kicks off

I must say that whats happening to women in Saudi Arabia is not only funny but stupid (if i may add). Treating women as though they were less humans is not only inhumane but ungodly.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi activists said more than 60 women claimed to have answered their call on Saturday to get behind the wheel in a rare show of defiance against a ban on female driving in the ultraconservative kingdom.

Saudi professor and campaigner Aziza Youssef said the group has received 13 videos and another 50 phone messages from women showing or claiming they had driven. She said they have no way to verify the messages.

If the numbers are accurate, this year's campaign is the most successful effort yet by Saudi women demanding the right to drive. Youssef said they have not received any reports of arrests or women being ticketed by police.

A security official said that authorities did not arrest or fine any female drivers on Saturday. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

However, there have been a few roadblocks along the way.

Youssef said she and four other prominent women activists received phone calls this week from a top official with close links to Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, warning them not to drive on Saturday, the day the campaign set for women's driving.

She also said that "two suspicious cars" have been following her everywhere all day. "I don't know from which party they are from. They are not in a government car," she said.

Though no specific Saudi law bans women from driving, women are not issued licenses. They mostly rely on drivers or male relatives to move around.

Powerful clerics who hold far-reaching influence over the monarchy enforce the driving ban, warning that breaking it will spread "licentiousness." A prominent cleric caused a stir when he said last month that medical studies show that driving a car harms a woman's ovaries.

The kingdom's first major driving protest came in 1990 when some 50 women drove their cars. They were jailed for a day, had their passports confiscated and lost their jobs. In June 2011, about 40 women got behind the wheel in several cities in a protest sparked when a woman was arrested after posting a video of herself driving.

The atmosphere appeared more tolerant this year and state newspapers for the first time have run near daily commentary on the issue. Reforms made by the monarchy since the last 2011 driving campaign may have readied the deeply conservative nation for change. Changes include allowing women to sit on the national advisory council and a decision by King Abdullah to permit women to vote and run in municipal elections in 2015.

May Al Sawyan, a 32 year-old mother of two and an economic researcher, told The Associated Press that she drove from her home in Riyadh to the grocery store and back.

Like other female drivers defying the ban in Saudi Arabia, Al Sawyan said she has obtained a driver's license from abroad.

"I am very happy and proud that there was no reaction against me," she said. "There were some cars that drove by. They were surprised, but it was just a glance. It is fine ... They are not used to seeing women driving here."

In the run-up to the Oct. 26 driving campaign, Interior Ministry spokesman Mansour al-Turki warned that anyone disturbing public order would be dealt with forcefully. That same language was used in charges levied against a female driver in 2011.

Women have been posting videos almost daily of themselves driving since the campaign's website was launched in late September, enraging conservatives in the country who accused the government of not doing anything to stop them from flouting the ban. In one incident this month, two women were pulled over by police who made them sign a letter stating they would not drive or be in the car with a female driver. Their husbands were called to pick them up.

Ultraconservative clerics, angry that the government is not cracking down harder, protested earlier in the week against the online petition campaign, which claims to have more than 16,000 signatures. The account's website, oct26driving.org, and official English language YouTube account were hacked on Friday, according to activists.

The four-minute video uploaded Saturday of Al Sawyan showed her wearing sunglasses and her face was visible. Her hair was covered by the traditional black headscarf worn by Saudi women.

Al Sawyan said she was prepared for the risk of detention if caught. She said she was far enough from a police car that she was not spotted.

"I just took a small loop. I didn't drive for a long way, but it was fine. I went to the grocery store," she said.

Her husband and family waited at home and called her nervously when she arrived at the store to check on her, she said. She drove with a local female television reporter in the car. They were both without male relatives in the vehicle, which in itself defies the country's strict norms requiring women to have a male guardian in public.

Deputy editor-in-chief of the state-backed newspaper Saudi Gazette, Somayya Jabarti, said she envies her male co-workers who can jump in their cars and leave the office while she has to co-ordinate ahead of time for a driver or relative.

"The struggle is more that people should have the option to choose," she said. "The logo of this current driving campaign is that women's driving is a choice. "

Help!!! He's on fire!

Call this man a "Fireman!" and you won't be far from the truth. Is this man on fire or is that a stunt? Now am not so sure.

In this March 26, 2012 file photo, Tibetan exile Jamphel Yeshi screams as he runs engulfed in flames after setting himself on fire at a protest in New Delhi, India, against Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to India. Yeshi died two days later while hundreds of other activists were being held without charge before the president's arrival. Hu arrived in New Delhi for a summit with India, Russia, Brazil and South Africa. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup, File)

Source: The Associated Press2012

Colombian Mother Accused of Selling Her 12 Daughters' Virginity for $200 Each

Where is the world headed? This news made me grow goose bumps. This woman not only forces her daughters to prostitute but even kidnaps men for them. SMH! Unbelievable! read,

Fox News Latino

A Colombian mother of 14 is accused of selling the virginity of her 12 underage daughters for about $200 per child, according to RCN radio in Colombia.

Authorities say Margarita Zapata Moreno, 45, also continued to force several of her daughters to prostitute themselves to financially well off men in Bogota. 

Zapata denies the allegations and faces up to 25 years in prison, according to El Tiempo. At least some of the girls were under the age of 14 when they were forced to have sex, RCN said.

Authorities said Zapata was reported by one of her daughters, who is now 16 and has a child as a result of the alleged sexual abuse. 

The teen was reportedly upset that her mother wanted her to abort the child.

According to victim testimony, Zapata drugged her young daughters before forcing them to have sex with men she handpicked for her daughters.

"It's unnatural behavior that goes against the principles of being a mother, someone who is suppose to love and protect her children," Carlos Melendez, Commander of the Police Force of Bogota, told Univision.

Tito Cornelio Daza, 51, allegedly the baby's father, was also arrested.

Both Daza and Zapata face charges of abuse of a minor under 14 and the enforcement of prostitution.

Cameron resolve over spying dispute with US

France and Germany have called for talks with the United States by the end of the year to try to resolve a dispute over alleged US spying.

The move comes following a number of allegations against US intelligence agents including the bugging of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone.

Prime Minister David Cameron acknowledged the UK's "unique partnership" with the US regarding security but said: "I understand what others want to do and support that, as I think does President Obama".

By the BBC

Eaglets soar into final sixteen

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Nigeria's Golden Eaglets qualified for the Round of 16 at the ongoing Fifa Under-17 World Cup after defeating Iraq 5-0 in Dubai on Friday.

Goals from Musa Muhammed, Chidiebere Nwakali, Musa Yahaya and Chigozie Obasi sealed a big win for the Nigerians inside the Rashid Stadium.

Skipper of the Nigerian under-17s, Muhammed began the goal spree inside four minutes when he converted from the spot after Yahaya was upended in Iraq's area.

And within second, Muhammed assisted Nwakali with a tailored cross which the Shuttle Spots Academy defender put away from close range.

The West Africans did not hold back as they raced into a four-goal lead just before the break.

Golden Eaglets playmaker, Kelechi Iheanacho was in the thick of things as his pass evaded Taiwo Awoniyi but Yahaya made no mistake in planting home the third goal in the 17th minute.

Iraq head coach, Muwafaq Adlool introduced Yasir Ammar before the break but the Nigerians were in no mood to take their foot off the pedals.

Yahaya got his second goal of the afternoon on 41 minutes to give Nigeria a 4-0 lead at half time.

In the restart little incidents took place as the Iraqis tried to force their way back into the game with short passes down the middle.

Obasi, who replaced Nwakali, put the icing on the cake for Nigeria after spending just six minutes on the pitch with a thunderbolt-like finish from 25 yards on the stroke of time to seal a 5-0 win for the Eaglets.

Nigeria finished top of Group F on seven points, one ahead of Mexico in second place, and could face either Canada or Iran in the round of 16 in Al Ain City on October 29.

by George Akpayen 

Cholera killed over 80 in 7 states within 2 months •Lagos alerts public to preventive measure •FG worried over Plateau

Written by  Sade Oguntola and Muhammad Sabiu

OVER 100 persons are feared affected and 80 dead from  outbreak of cholera in Lagos, Oyo and six other states, following the outbreak of the disease in different parts of the country in recent times. 

Reports from different parts of the country indicated that the disease had been on the rise across the country in the last two months.

Earlier in July, five people had been reported dead after being infected by the disease in Ogun State.

After the incident, it reopened in Oyo, precisely in Egbeda Local Government Area of the state, last month, with eight people reported dead and 12 others hospitalised.

In Plateau State, nine people died of the disease, which also infected 86 others in Namu village, among the over 7,000 refugees who fled to the state from the Ombatse cult onslaught in Nasarawa State.

The disease also infected 536 people and killed 46 in Zamfara State recently.

It had earlier spread to Sokoto State, killing five people out of the nine infected by the disease in Tambuwal Local Government Area in October. The victims were all aged between 27 and 30.

This week, the disease returned to the South-West, specifically in Lagos, as it reportedly killed three people as of Wednesday.

Cholera, a highly contagious intestinal infection, is reportedly transmitted by water and food soiled by human waste. The disease leads to diarrhoea, dehydration and death, if untreated.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, at an emergency news conference at the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, confirmed the spread of the disease, saying the areas mostly affected were Ikate community, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, Badia area of Apapa Local Government, Ajeromi, Lagos Island, Oshodi-Isolo and Surulere local government areas.

He explained that surveillance and investigations carried out by the ministry had revealed that the suspected cases were contracted from food sources such as the African food salad popularly called “abasha” and well water.

He, however, urged members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspected case, dead or alive, to the nearest health facility and the Directorate of Disease Control in the state Ministry of Health.

Dr Idris said “cholera should be suspected in any person who develops diarrhoea with our without vomiting, weakness, restlessness, irritability, dry mucus membrane, low blood pressure, leg cramps, excessive loss of body fluids (dehydration or  dies from frequent stooling. Hence, adequate measures should be taken in order to reduce the risk of contracting the disease.”

Idris urged people to prepare oral rehydration solution (10-level teaspoonful of sugar and one-level teaspoonful of salt in two 35cl bottles) and administer to anyone suspected of being infected before the person is rushed to the hospital.

The commissioner gave phone lines: 08023169485 or 0802321333 as the numbers to call for assistance should any resident suspect a case of cholera anywhere.

Also, Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba, on Wednesday, said the state government had embarked on massive awareness campaign on the disease, just as it had evolved an inter-ministerial collaboration involving the ministries of Health, Environment and information and Lagos State Waste Management Agency on the problem.

With a health and environmental status assessment of prone communities said to be ongoing, Mr Ibirogba added that emergency preparedness and response (EPR) committees at local government and state levels had been sensitised on preparedness and response to cholera outbreak. 

Also, he said the state government had purchased and distributed to all health centres in local government areas of the state, drugs for the management of the disease. 

This was just as the Federal Government, on Thursday, expressed concern over the rising number of deaths arising from the cholera outbreak in Namu village in Qua’pan Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The Deputy Director, Disease and Control, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Moses Anefiong, expressed the concern during a joint assessment tour of the affected area.

“Inasmuch as government is doing all it can to provide potable water for its citizens, people, on their part, should maintain personal hygiene. 
“The Ministry of Health is worried that people are still dying of cholera disease today. 

“It is more worrisome as the number of causalities and infected persons are on the increase daily.

“As government is making efforts to provide potable water, people should not relegate the issue of personal hygiene to the background. 

“All they need to always do is simple hand washing before eating, after going to the toilet, and should also cover their foods against flies. 

“Above all, the issue of sanitation must also be taken seriously by the people. These are simple things, but very important,” he said.

Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, speaking through Mr Dan Nwomeh, his special assistant on media and communication, had directed the National Centre for Disease Control to swing into action in state affected by the disease.

While teams had been sent to the affected states to contain the outbreak, the minister said the conditions that often led to the outbreak of cholera were not really within the mandate of the Federal Ministry of Health, but that of the affected states and other federal agencies. 

He added, however, that “containing the outbreak is within our mandate and we are, therefore, working with the states and other federal agencies to contain the situation.”

Dr Oladimeji Olayinka, zonal coordinator, South West, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Ibadan, who said there was no vaccine that had been developed to work against cholera, added that the agency had sent oral rehydration salts (ORS) to states in the South-West, just as states in the zone had also purchased reasonable quantities of ORS as part of measures to mitigate the problem.

Dr Olayinka said prompt use of oral rehydration solution was important in cholera patients to replace lost body fluids and help the body to fight back before such a person gets treatment at the hospital.

The zonal coordinator, who said the agency had been investigating all reported cases of cholera in the zone, stated that “it is the massive loss of body fluids that kills people, especially in children. 

“The germ is a shy one. Once cholera sets in and you rehydrate to keep the person alive, it gets cured within hours.”

Dr Olayinka, however, linked cases of cholera in Abeokuta, Ogun State, to the massive construction works ongoing in the state, which, he said, had left many water pipes damaged, forcing people to depend solely on well water.

According to him, “a study found that most of the shallow wells that people rely on for water are contaminated by water spilling from sanitation tanks.”

He, therefore, urged people to be mindful of their source of water, as well as to treat their water before use.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State government has kicked off campaign against outbreak of  cholera epidemic in the state.

Disclosing this to the Nigerian Tribune in Port Harcourt, on Thursday, the Director of Public Health in the state Ministry of Health, Dr Akuro Okujagu, said a rapid response mechanism had been initiated, through which personnel of the ministry had started reaching out to all communities so as to sensitise them to the outbreak. 

According to Okujagu, a sensitisation programme had been set in motion, through the local government outreaches, to enlighten the people.

“Basically, the state government is prepared to forestall any outbreak in the state. We already have a rapid response team assembled. Our Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNO) statewide on LGA levels are set to roll out the sensitisation exercise. 

“What we will be telling our people, to the remote parts of the rural areas, is to start taking their hygiene more seriously now, especially when it has to do with their environment and the water they consume. 

“We shall also be telling them to report cases of diarrhoea and other related sicknesses so that actions could be taken timely,” Okujagu said.

The Federal Government has, however, presented drugs to victims of cholera epidemic in Zamfara.

Speaking after the presentation, the state Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Kabiru Janyau, said the drugs would be distributed across the 14 local government areas of the state.

Janyau maintained that since the day the outbreak of the disease was reported, his ministry had ensured the menace was reduced to a considerable proportion.

“The number of people that actually died was 46. It was as a result of the outbreak that the Federal Government deem it necessary to come to our aid,” he said.

Earlier, the state acting governor, Alhaji Sanusi Garba Rikiji, while receiving the drugs, thanked the Federal Government for the gesture, stressing that government would use the items judiciously.

He revealed that the state government was committed to the well-being of its citizens, adding that no stone would be left unturned to ensure that a healthy society was guaranteed.

Items donated were cholera anti-sera laboratory kits, two cartons of latex examination gloves and a carton of ringers’ solution.

Agency reports claimed Nigeria often suffered cholera epidemics during the rainy season, mentioning incidents of 2010 and 2011 in which over 2,000 people were killed.

Fossil find rocks the Cradle

BY SARAH WILD

Five hominid fossils found in Dmanisi, Georgia, could erase a number of African hominid species from the tree of human evolution and rule out Australopithecus sediba as a possible human ancestor.

A. sediba, found in the Cradle of Humankind in Gauteng in 2008, was heralded to much fanfare as the most likely candidate for a human ancestor, with its mixture of modern human and ape characteristics. However, the Dmanisi skulls – hailed by international and local palaeoscientists as "spectacular" – cast doubt on the prevailing story of human evolution.

"Skull 5", described by the international team of researchers in the journal Science on October 18, is the only complete adult skull of a human ancestor discovered for the Pleistocene period. This period, which ranges from about 1.8-million years ago until about 11 500 years ago, was when modern humans, Homo sapiens, evolved.

With its thick-toothed grin and small brain, Skull 5 offers researchers a complete reference point to measure variation in the other skulls found at the site, which they believe to have been from the same time and place, and its species, Homo erectus. H. erectus are the first known hominids to have the same upright body proportions as modern humans.

And what they found has the palaeo­science community in an uproar: hominid species had as much ­variation between individuals as modern humans do, and many of the unique species discovered in Africa – such as Homo habilis and Homo rudolfensis – are in fact part of the same species lineage.

Some of these species were present in Africa more than two million years ago and scientists had been trigger-happy in naming new species, according to the researchers.

The University of Zurich's Christoph Zollikofer, who worked on the Dmanisi fossils, told the Mail & Guardian: "There has been one key find in Ethiopia dated to about 2.3-million years ago. It is described as H. habilis … at the time, there was nothing to compare it with."

Skull 5 has led lead author David Lortkipanidze, from the Georgian National Museum, to argue that the "close morphological" similarities between Skull 5 and the Ethiopian hominid point to them being of the same species.

"This evidence speaks to a much earlier origin of the Homo genus and this is much before 1.9-million years," Zollikofer says, meaning that A. sediba, whose remains have been dated to 1.98-million years ago, was around at the same time as the Ethiopian H. erectus candidate and that A. sediba could not have been the precursor to a species that already existed. However, South African experts say that A. sediba was not analysed in the Dmanisi study, even though it is mentioned in the paper.

The idea that the number of hominid species is improbably large and that it is more likely that the specimens represent one species, is not new.

"Most of the fossils represent single fragmentary finds from multiple points in space and geological time of at least 500 000 years," Zollikofer says. "This ultimately makes it difficult to recognise variation among species in the African fossils as opposed to variation within species."

Director of the Institute of Human Evolution at Wits University Francis Thackeray has long argued that there were fewer species than palaeoscientists thought. "We're thrilled and excited by the [Dmanisi] discovery and the discussion of the possibility the H. Habilis and H. erectus [are] the same species," he says.

His work has focused on statistics, and in a paper published in the journal Antiquity earlier this year, he and co-author Eddie Odes write: "There is clearly a need for an approach whereby the degree of similarity between specimens can be ­reassessed in the context of a species definition which is applicable to hominid fossils."

Thackeray says: "My statistics show there is a high probability that [H. erectus and H. Habilis] both belong to the same species."

The institute's Professor Lee Berger, who discovered A. sediba, points out that there was no comparison between the Dmanisi fossils and A. sediba, although it is discussed in the analysis.

"They didn't include sediba, even though they had access to all the data … [and] the specimens have similar brain size and facial features.

"I'm disappointed that they didn't use all the available evidence … What it means is that we will have to replicate the study and understand the results with the entirety of the evidence, rather than just part of it … I think the inclusion of sediba would dramatically alter the conclusion."

Zollikofer declined to comment on whether his group would be comparing A. sediba with H. erectus georgicus, which is what the Dmanisi fossils have been called, saying that the issue had become fractious.

"Given the evidence that is available now, we have come to this specific conclusion [that A. sediba is not a human ancestor]," he says.

"Most of the fossils represent single fragmentary finds from multiple points in space and geological time of at least 500 000 years"Rock of ages: This well-preserved hominid skull from 1.8-million years ago was found in Dmanisi, Georgia, and offers new evidence that early humans were a single species.