Nedu Echianu's Blog

Reports just coming in say the Delta state Commissioner for Higher Education, Dr Hope Eghagha has been kidnapped by gunmen. He was kidnapped Sunday morning near the state capital, Asaba, South South Nigeria. One of his body guards was said to have been killed during the incident, while the commissioner was taken unharmed to an unknown location.

As uncertainty over the health of First lady, Dame Patience Jonathan continues to rise without any statement from the Presidency, another case of "is it or is it not" has arisen as there are fears that the Bayelsa state Governor, Seriake Dickson might be hospitalised abroad. Here is how the Punch newspaper is reporting the story... 

Arnold Schwarzenegger has admitted that not only did he cheat on Maria Shriver (his ex wife) with the family's housekeeper while the two were married, but he also cheated when they were dating and living together — and this time the other woman was none other than Brigitte Nielsen! 

Details of the explosions reported today in Zaria, Kaduna state are getting clearer. Reports say the explosion was heard around Gaskiya layout, Tukur area of the city. Sources in Zaria informed Online news medium, Premium Times  that the explosion occurred at a house suspected to be used by insurgents who were planning to carry out an attack in the city today.

The Nigeria Army has arrested an immigration officer and a number of other officials for allegedly helping the Boko Haram carry out a number of attacks According to a BBC report, the military captured the immigration officer, who confessed to being an active member of the Islamist militant group. His confession led to the arrest of a number of other officials. According to Lt Colonel Sagir Musa, the immigration official was arrested last month while impersonating an army officer. "He confessed to being an active member of the Boko Haram terrorist sect," said Col Musa.       

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested one Abubakar Tijani Sheriff, whom it described as a bulk currency smuggler, as he attempted to smuggle $7million out of the country. The EFCC said in a statement today that Sheriff, 24, was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos en route Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as he boarded his flight.

A security source told SaharaReporters last night that over 40 suspected terrorists allegedly of the Boko Haram stock have surrendered themselves to Joint Task Force (JTF) in Mubi, Adamawa State. The town has been under a curfew, and a military house-to-house search since last week. The source further informed us that about 100 different types of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), sophisticated weapons and other pieces of evidence have been discovered in the ongoing military exercise. On how the suspected terrorists surrendered, the source said, “I cannot tell you and it’s purely intelligence operations that cannot be made public for security reasons, the most important issue is the military operation in search and counter terrorism here in Adamawa is recording success. And I told you, about the development.” The spokesperson of the police in Yola Muhammad Ibrahim did not return several calls put across to him on Thursday night. But he was quot

An ancient papyrus fragment which a Harvard scholar says contains the first recorded mention that Jesus may have had a wife is a fake, the Vatican said on Friday. "Substantial reasons would lead one to conclude that the papyrus is indeed a clumsy forgery," the Vatican's newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, said in an editorial by its editor, Gian Maria Vian. "In any case, it's a fake."

In these days of flamboyant Heads of state with long convoy of exquisite cars, Uruguay's President José Mujica is living a life different from the norm.   His life of humility lends hope to the saying that leadership is still all about service to the people not self.  President Mujica is getting world wide recognition and respect for donating 90 percent (not slashing ‘25%’) of his earnings to charitable causes. He has earned what most people would call an enviable reputation as the “poorest,” or the “most generous,” president in the world. His nickname, “el presidente mas pobre” translates to “poorest president”.

Latest report on the illness of Nigeria's First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan has taken a new twist as online news media, Sahara Reporters says she is battling Parkinson disease. The following is how they are reporting this rather shocking news...

News just coming in says the Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal has struck out the case of certificate against Governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, which was instituted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and its election flag bearer in the 2012 gubernatorial election, Major-General Charles Airhiavbere. The court struck out the case on the grounds that it is a pre-election matter, and that it is a matter for the High Court. (Culled from The Will)

This weird beast was reported to have been killed at Madonna University, Elele in Rivers State, Nigeria . I cant really explain what sort of creature this is, but all i can say is strange things are really happening these days.

Pop star, Madonna is certainly not a fan of  United States President, Barack Obama. In a performance Monday night in Washington DC, reports say she asked everyone in the audience to vote for President Obama because he is a “black  Muslim.” “Y’all better vote for f**king Obama, OK? For better or for  worse, all right?” she shouted from stage while sipping from a bottle of water  with a straw. “”We have a black Muslim in the White House! Now that’s some  amazing s**t.” Madonna, 54, also stripped down to her bra to reveal  “Obama” stenciled in big letters on her back, before promising (or warning?): “When Obama is in the White House for a second term I’ll take it all  off.” Madonna has however explained her remarks, saying she was not being offensive but just being ironic in her "endorsement" of President Obama. "Yes I know Obama is not a Muslim - though I know that plenty of people in this country think he is. And what if he were? The point I was

In the present world of size zero fashion industry and the craze among young girls and women to look trim at all times, 31 year old Mayra Rosales is way ahead of decent weight and size. Weighing 1,100 pounds, there are very few things Miss Rosales can do, but after falsely testifying to the murder of her two year old nephew by accidentally rolling on top of him while babysitting , it becomes obvious that Mayra Rosales from Texas, United states is either tired of life or prefers life in prison, where she will definitely shed some weight...lol.   Investigations into the murder she claimed responsibility for, revealed that the boy could only have died from a blow to the head, the reality that she was so big she couldn't move her arm, became her attorney's main argument for her defence. Meanwhile, a new documentary titled " TLC's Half-Ton Killer?" is set to reveal the astonishing true life story of this massive woman...more pictures of her after the cu

A woman in Jigawa state, North West Nigeria  is said to have delivered this mysterious creature with human head and the hoof of a goat. Reports say the unidentified woman is in a dilemna as this was the fourth time she is giving birth to unusual creatures. I am officially yet to verify this strange  development.

Men of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Yobe State have killed 35 suspected Boko Haram sect members and arrested about 60 others in Damaturu, the state capital. Two members of the JTF were injured in the operation, which began at about 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, with the gun battle apparently taking place in the Kandahar, Pawari and Pawari Cemetery areas of the city.  The violence lasted until the early hours of Monday, a spokesman said.  

Unbelievable story from Vanguard Newspaper...

This amateur shot was taken by another passenger on a train in New York, the young girl seemed "messed up" somehow and decides to take her shower on the train, she didn't go naked though...lol, take a look...

A powerful bomb has exploded at  St. John's Catholic Cathedral in Bauchi directly across from the Bauchi Township stadium killing several christian worshippers early this morning. The explosion reportedly occurred a few minutes after 9:00 AM Nigerian time during Sunday church service on Murtala Mohammed way in the Bayan Gari area of the township.  However, unconfirmed sources said al least 50 people died in the bombing.  Nigerian troops have cordoned off the area preventing journalists from reporting the attacks. Several dead and injured person were seen evacuated and placed along the streets around the scene of the attack. (Source: Sahara Reporters)

A Pakistani Cabinet minister on Saturday offered a $100,000 reward for the death of the person behind the anti-Islam video made in the United States that has angered Muslims around the world, drawing fresh criticism of the Pakistan government’s handling of the crisis. A day after violent protests paralyzed Pakistan’s largest cities, leaving 23 people dead and more than 200 injured, Railways Minister Ahmed Ghulam Bilour said he would personally finance a bounty aimed at the maker of the crude, low-budget video at the core of the controversy.

    The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar and the seven police officers who investigated the murder of late Cynthia Osokogu last month have received the National Orientation Agency’s Civic Responsibility Recognition   Award for their professionalism and efficiency in handling the case.

It was a wonderful feeling yesterday evening when i received a "Hello" on my facebook messenger from no other person than an accomplished media practitioner, Soni Irabor who has cut his teeth in this profession and one, most of us younger ones would look up to for inspiration and support in the media world. My glee on being acknowledged by Uncle Irabor quickly fizzled away as a demand of 1,500 Naira recharge card was made on me, by someone i suspect must be using his facebook account. Details of the communication that lasted barely five minutes or so, after the cut... 

I stumbled on this report on Yahoo Shine and thought you guys should see it... Witnesses described the 17-year-old boy as "shaking, growling, foaming at the mouth." According to police reports, Elijah Stai was at a McDonald's with his friend when he began to feel ill. Soon after, he "started to smash his head against the ground" and began acting "possessed," according to a witness. Two hours later, he had stopped breathing.

  Imo state Governor, South East Nigeria, Rochas Okorocha has denied reports in a National daily (The Nation) which stated that former Council Chairmen in the state who were sacked by his Administration last year have called for his probe, following the misappropriation of 57 billion Naira Council fund.   A statement released by the Governor's Senior special Assistant on media, Ebere Uzoukwu read thus...(the full text of the statement after the cut)

An Abuja High Court judge has told former Inspector General of Police, Sunday Ehindero, that he has a case to answer and should face prosecution for allegedly embezzling 16 million Naira (100,000 US Dollars) meant for the police, while he was in office. The judge, Mudashiru Oniyangi, dismissed an application filed by Mr. Ehindero seeking to quash the charges against him. The former police boss, in his application, had challenged the jurisdiction of the court. Mr. Ehindero is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, ICPC. The commission says Mr. Ehindero, and a Commissioner of Police in charge of Budget at the Force Headquarters, John Obaniyi, connived to embezzle the funds. While Mr. Ehindero has been retired from the police, Mr. Obaniyi has been suspended. Both men had filed separate notices of preliminary objection, challenging the jurisdiction of the court as well as the leave granted the ICPC to f

The chap in the Picture above was caught with Vultures which he intended to sell to the public as roasted chicken for his suya (barbeque) business in Port Harcourt. He was said to have been caught by Port Harcourt residents while trapping the unfortunate birds in Onne, Port Harcourt, The Rivers state Capital, South-South, Nigeria.

Officials at Arik Air, whose domestic flight operations across Nigeria were grounded earlier today, have claimed that the carrier was forced out of business for refusing to part with 5% of its corporate shares as Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, demanded. Today, the beleaguered airline circulated a text message accusing Ms. Oduah of vindictively fomenting crisis within the airline for denying her demand to receive a stake of 5% in Arik.  

These are really not the best of times for Nigerian International John Mikel Obi, following Chelsea's 2-2 home draw with Juventus on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions league, Mikel has encountered a lot of criticism for his not too impressive performance in the game. Former Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu was the first to hit out at the player describing his performance as not good enough, he even went a step further by saying that Ghanaian International Michael Essien was far better than Mikel and wondered why the technical crew of Chelsea decided on letting Essien go on loan to Madrid.  

After speculations on the suspension of CBN's proposed monetary policy,  it has now been confirmed that President Goodluck Jonathan has suspended the plan to introduce N5,000 currency note in Nigeria. A senior aide of President Jonathan disclosed the policy reversal to online news medium, Sahara reporters in a telephone conversation.

Linda is the woman in Charlyboy, he once admitted  this in a recent interview with an entertainment magazine. I now leave you to see the rest of the photos, cos am just speechless.

Online news medium, SaharaReporters reports that a team of doctors attending Nigeria’s ailing First Lady, Patience Jonathan, have ruled out the possibility of her joining President Goodluck Jonathan when he travels next week to New York City.  Mr. Jonathan is on his way to New York to attend this year’s session of the United Nations General Assembly. A presidency source told a correspondent of Sahara Reporters that the president and his wife had hoped to be in New York together in order to quell speculations that Mrs. Jonathan’s health condition had turned dire.

President Goodluck Jonathan has agreed to reverse his administration’s plan to introduce the 5000 naira note. The currency restructuring, announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, would have seen the unveiling of the N5000 note as the highest naira denomination while lower currencies were to be converted to coins. Weeks of public outrage criticizing the policy culminated in the Senate and the House of Representatives, approving separate resolutions on Tuesday, demanding that the plan be suspended. Mr. Jonathan met with the leadership of the two arms hours after the National Assembly sessions on Tuesday and assured that any “approval given in the regards can be reversed since it is the wish of the people,”  It remains unclear whether the president has issued a directive to that effect. (Source:Premium Times)

The new "Hold Me Back" video from Rick Ross shot in locations in Lagos has gone viral on the internet. The Prologue to the video is on the end of the two and a half year bitter war between Federal Forces and a breakaway South East region of Nigeria then known as Biafra.

Visitors using the restrooms on the 18th floor of an exclusive New York hotel may get a fantastic view through floor-to-ceiling windows, but in the process offer "free shows" for passers-by on the street. Take a look at the Pictures... 

Italian gossip magazine, Chi, yesterday, published about 50 nude pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton in a 26-page special edition which was in the newsstands on Monday. The pictures first came to light on Friday when the French edition of Closer magazine published several shots of the future queen topless. Take a look at a few of the Pictures, for those that are allergic to seeing naked women, you might aswell look away...lol

A 28-year old Nigerian actor, was on Monday sentenced to three-month imprisonment by a Karu Senior Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, Nigeria's Federal Capital City for having sexual intercourse with another man through the anus.   The convict, who resides at Gidan Mangoro, had pleaded guilty to having engaged in homosexual acts. “I am guilty of the charge against me. I  was under the influence of alcohol and I want the court to temper justice with mercy’’, he said.

    Libyans tried to rescue Ambassador Chris Stevens, cheering "God is great" and rushing him to a hospital after they discovered him still clinging to life inside the U.S. Consulate, according to witnesses and a new video that emerged Monday from last week's attack in the city of Benghazi. The group of Libyans had stumbled across Stevens' seemingly lifeless form inside a dark room and didn't know who he was, only that he was a foreigner, the man who shot the video and two other witnesses told The Associated Press.

Tennis enthusiasts in Nigeria will between November 10 and 12 have the rare opportunity of watching the Williams Sisters, Venus and Serena play an exhibition game in Lagos. This is authoritative, as Serena, the World No. 1 and her sister Venus, who is primed to get back to the number two spot, have accepted the offer to visit Nigeria to help inspire and motivate youths to pursue excellence and success in whatever they choose to do.

More facts have emerged from a Nigeria Army source regarding how top level Boko Haram commanders, including an operative believed to be the spokesman of the sect, Abu Qaqa, were either captured or killed in Kano today. The army source told online news medium, SaharaReporters that the incident took place at about 6:00a.m. at a checkpoint on Maiduguri Road in Kano where a combined team of Nigerian troops from the 3 Brigade Nigerian Army base and Directorate of State Security personnel intercepted the militants.  

Rats and "shocking" quantities of illegal and "potentially unsafe" meat have been sold to the public in east London, a BBC London undercover investigation has found. Secret filming in one of the capital's busiest food markets has revealed butchers and food stores prepared to sell large quantities of meat that break food safety laws. West African and environmental health officer sources told the BBC the Ridley Road Market, in Dalston, was a known hotbed of illicit meat activity, including sales of illegal "smokies", a delicacy made by charring sheep or goat with a blow torch.

In what appeared to be a significant victory by Nigerian security operatives against the Boko Haram militant group, top commanders of the sect were arrested on Sunday. Online news medium, Premium Times has just reported that Sources in the State Security Service, SSS, say Abu Qaqa, the sect’s spokesman and other top commanders were arrested when the Kano State Joint Task Force, JTF, carried out a sweeping raid on the sect’s hide-outs in Kano. The Kano JTF has confirmed the raid and the arrests but could not confirm the identity of the arrested Boko-Haram leaders.

A rather unfortunate report reaching me say a middle aged man was caught at Tipper garage near Gwarimpa in Abuja, Nigeria's Federal Capital city yesterday with a dead baby stuffed in a suitcase.  The man was said to have been arrested following a tip off…but another source said the conductor of the bus he entered asked him to bring his suitcase so it can be stored properly and the man vehemently refused.  The suspicious conductor asked him what was inside the suitcase and he refused to say. As the man tried to leave the bus, the conductor and others seized the suitcase from him and found the dead boy inside. Wonders indeed shall never end.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday in Abuja rewarded members of the Nigerian team to the 2012 Paralympics Games and the national under-20 women football team. At a reception held for both teams at the State House Banquet Hall, Mr. Jonathan announced the conferment of the Member of the Order of Niger (MON) on six 2012 Paralympic gold medallists.

After watching President Goodluck Jonathan reward the Nigeria Under-20 female team, the Falconets, who lost in the third place match at the just concluded FIFA Under-20 female world cup in Japan and the Paralympians from London 2012 , one time Super Eagles player, Moses Kpakor took to his facebook page where he made the following comment...

An Internet clip of an amateurish, virulently anti-Muslim film called Innocence of Muslims is being identified as one of the flash points behind the anti-U.S. demonstrations in the Middle East that led to the death of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others in Benghazi, Libya, earlier this week. As journalists work to uncover more details about the makers of the film, here’s what the Time Magazinehas found out about the cast of characters in the movie:

The Republic of Ireland edition of the Irish Daily Star has published photos of the Duchess of Cambridge sunbathing topless while on holiday in France. Editor Mike O'Kane said he treated Kate as he would any other celebrity. But the paper's joint owners - Northern and Shell and Independent News and Media - condemned the decision and said they had no prior knowledge of it.

The Italian gossip magazine Chi has said it plans to publish photographs of the Duchess of Cambridge sunbathing topless in a special issue next week. St James's Palace announced on Friday it was suing the publishers of French magazine Closer that has already printed the pictures of the duchess. The palace described the photographs as a "grotesque invasion of privacy". No UK titles have published the photos, and the Daily Mail said papers in London had been offered similar images.

Health they say is wealth and you wouldnt know what you ve got until you lose your health and incapacitated, thats when you will begin to appreciate the need to take care of your health. Now a new research has shown that having a highly demanding job, but little control over it, could be a deadly combination....Continue reading  

As part of the National Orientation Agency’s drive to promote positive value reorientation among public office holders, the Agency will soon confer its Citizens’ Responsibility Recognition Award on seven police officers for their dedication and professional competence displayed in their speedy unraveling of the circumstances surrounding the death of Cynthia Osokogu’s murder. The Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja said the prompt, tactful and excellent manner in which the officers have investigated the mater so far show the efficacy of the reforms being carried out by the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force within the ranks of the force.

Some parts of Jos were engulfed in confusion Friday afternoon after some Muslim youths took to the streets to protest an American film said to have portrayed Prophet Mohammed in bad light. What started as a peaceful protest by the placard carrying youths, turned to chaos and confusion when soldiers fired gun shots into the air, ostensibly to disperse the youths. There was confusion in the city centre as traders, students, and other people ran to areas considered safe.