Pastor, two kids killed as Boko Haram Islamists open fire in church

 Suspected Boko Haram Islamists on Thursday opened fire in a church in Nigeria’s restive northeast, killing the pastor and his two children before setting fire to the building and fleeing, the military said.Boko Haram, which has said it is fighting to create an Islamic state in mainly Muslim northern Nigeria, has repeatedly attacked churches in its four-year insurgency.“Unknown gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists attacked” the church in Yobe state early on

Truck crushes 12 in Ogun

    Scene of the incident
No fewer than six people were feared dead, while six others were critically injured after a tipper driver rammed into roadside traders at old Ota Toll Gate in Ogun State.

 We learnt that the accident, which happened around 11am on Thursday, was caused by brake failure.

Eyewitnesses said the sand-filled tipper marked STOCKINGER STEYR and with number plate JJJ 551 XB, ran into the traders who were selling pepper, oil and bread among others.

An eyewitness said, “The incident happened around 11am. The tipper was coming from Lagos when it had a brake failure.

Boko Haram leader, Shekau resurfaces in new video…claims responsibility for Benisheik massacre

File photo of a street in Benisheik, the Borno State community where Boko Haram killed scores of people on September 17.

A video believed to have been released by the wanted leader of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, also known as Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, surfaced in Maiduguri on Wednesday.

In it, a man claiming to be Shekau, debunked earlier claims by the Nigerian military that he died from gunshot wounds on August 19, 2013.

The then JTF spokesman in Borno State, Lt Col Sagir Musa, had in a statement said, “Intelligence report

Why FG wants ASUU strike to continue

President Goodluck Jonathan and ASUU Chairman, Dr. Isa Faggae

Nigerian universities have been buffeted with agonising months of strikes for over a decade and until now, the story is pretty much the same. Government is still unwilling to give the education sector a shot in the arm.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has been on strike since June 30 and has engaged in a series of dialogue with the Federal Government over 11 times, albeit, inconclusively. This underscores the lukewarm posture of government towards the striking lecturers and from ASUU’s body language and utterances, it has made it abundantly clear to anyone who cares to listen that it is ready to continue the strike even if it takes years, insisting that its decision was adequately taken in a bid to revitalise Nigerian universities.

Venus topples Azarenka at Pan Pacific

       Venus Williams

Former world number one Venus Williams overpowered ailing top seed Victoria Azarenka 6-2 6-4 with ruthless efficiency to reach the last 16 of the Pan Pacific Open on Tuesday.

The seven-times grand slam champion showed glimpses of her gunslinging best under the Tokyo floodlights against a grimacing Azerenka, who spent much of the match bending over her racquet between points and tugging sharply on her purple top in frustration.

“I’ve sat through two US Open finals between her and Serena and you could tell from the first game she wasn’t herself,” Williams told reporters.

I’m no longer bothered by criticism – Rukky Sanda

    Rukky Sanda

Nollywood actress, Rukky Sanda, hits back at her critics in this encounter with JAYNE AUGOYE.

In less than three days, Rukky Sanda’s latest film, ‘Keeping My Man,’ will be premiered at The Wheatbaker Hotel in Lagos. Already the Nollywood producer cum actress is in high spirits.

Armed with a “catchy and unique storyline”, as she puts it, as well as a stellar cast led by Ramsey Noah, the Banking and Finance graduate of the Lagos State University boasts that it is her best work so far.

“It is an awesome movie. I dare say that the crew and the cast of the film did a very good job. I’m sure that many people will love it. There is a message for everybody. Ramsey is, no doubt, the best actor in Nigeria at present. I have a lot of respect for him. I have no regrets starring him in the movie,” she says, in an interview with our correspondent on Tuesday.

Okada man, housewife caught making love in bush

A mild drama played out in Orlu, ImoState, when a commercial motorcyclist, a father of two (names withheld), was caught pants down making love to a married woman in a lonely bush.While the 45-year-old housewife was making a case of rape against the randy motorcyclist, the 30-year-old man insisted that the woman was his concubine.Giving account of what transpired to the police, the woman said she engaged the motorcyclist at Orlu to take her to her matrimonial home at Obibi-Ochasi.She said when they got to a solitary area along the route, the man stopped ostensibly

These everyday chemicals could harm you!

Modern lifestyle is fraught with all sorts of hazards, beginning with the food we eat, the household products we use, and the environmental pollution that attends most of our activities.

Of utmost concern are the chemicals that have become a part of modern existence, what with the fact that virtually every manufactured product we use contains one chemical or the other!

Experts say when properly deployed, many chemicals can significantly contribute to the improvement of our quality of life, health and overall well-being. However, they warn, other chemicals are highly hazardous and can negatively affect our health and the environment when improperly managed.

Alleged suicide: I’m still seeing a doctor, says Tonto Dike

Charles MgboluIn a new and compelling video, controversial actress and singer Tonto Dike talks about some of the darkest moments of her life; the danger of depression and how it can kill.*TontoThe Interview comes weeks after information surfaced online that the actress was suffering from acute depression and had allegedly attempted suicide.Tonto has had a fairly

Floods wreak havoc in Ibadan, kill two

Submerged escort vehicle on the Ihama Road, Benin, Edo State after a down pour ...

The rain that fell for almost two days in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has claimed lives of two people and destroyed property.

The rain began on Sunday and continued till Monday night, sending panic through the flood-prone city. The Oluyole Local Government Area of the state was mostly affected by the downpour.

Flood wreaked havoc in the Arapaja area, opposite the Ibadan/Lagos Expressway

Originality will differentiate me from other artistes – Monica Ogah

 TWENTY-one year old Monica Ogah from Benue State who won the fourth edition of MTN Project Fame West Africa and thus joined the coveted Fame Alumni with Iyanya, Chidinma, and Mike Anyasodo is working tirelessly to make her name become a household one. In accordance with her recording contract with MTN Ultima Studios, Monica revealed that she had been in the studio working hard to finish her debut album. Here, in this chat with our reporter, she talks of what she’s been up to lately. Excerpts:

Blackface reacts to Tuface’s alledged wedding invitation

Against the backdrop of the recent interview where 2face alleged he had invited Blackface to his wedding,Blackface has reacted in an interview with Abuja based radio station Hotfm stating that 2face keeps avoiding him for reasons best known to him.He says

PDP: Reps exchange blows over rebel governors visit

   Reps in a free-for-all in Abuja ...on Tuesday

Fighting erupted in the House of Representatives on Tuesday when seven governors loyal to the New Peoples Democratic Party visited the House in Abuja.

A member of the House from Bayelsa State, Mr. Henry Ofongo, was punched and shoved repeatedly by his colleagues for daring to oppose the visit. His jacket was pulled off by some members.

Most of the members who crowded Ofongo, were from Kano State, including Mr. Aminu Suleiman, Mr. Baballe Murktar, Mr. Ali Madakaki and Mr. Ado Dogoa.

Mr. Dakuku Peterside and Andrew Uchendu, both from Rivers State, also shoved Ofongo, preventing him from moving close to the high table.

13 killed in US shooting rampage

A gun attack on Washington’s naval yard has left 13 people dead sparking a massive lockdown in the nation’s capital.

The violence started unfolding at 8.20am on Monday, when several shots were fired inside the southeast Washington facility.

Police spokesman Chris Kelly earlier described a suspect as an adult male, about 6 feet tall with a bald head and medium complexion, dressed in a black top and black jeans.

Two witnesses told Cable News Networks affiliate WJLA-TV that they heard a fire alarm go off in the building where they worked, then saw a man with a rifle down the hallway as they exited the building.

2-yr-old marriage dissolved over wife’s alcohol consumption

A Grade 1 Area Court sitting in Aso Pada, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, yesterday, dissolved a two-year-old marriage between Choji, 51, and Dinatu Chung, 39, due to the wife’s excessive alcohol consumption.The Presiding Judge, Mr. Albert Maga, dissolved the marriage after the two told the judge that they had yet to