Gist Arena

Ahmad Salkida Salkida, a journalist who facilitated the aborted negotiations between the Nigerian government and Boko Haram, reportedly told President Goodluck Jonathan before the deadlock that force could not bring the abducted girls back alive from the sect’s den. A competent source in the know of what transpired between the Presidency and Salkida told SaharaReporters that the journalist was blunt when he tabled his case before the government. The source who was privy to Salkida’s meeting in Aso Rock last week said Salkida had already expressed doubts before he sneaked into the country after the Nigerian government sought his intervention that the government might not play its role but was pressurized by several interests wanting an ending to the bloodshed.  The source said, “From the beginning, Salkida never wanted to come because of previous experience but after consultations he made up his mind and gave conditions which the government complied, of nothing will ha...

Kala-Balge Villagers Allegedly Holding 40 Soldiers Caught In Boko Haram Raid As Prisoners: ENDS has received exclusive, distressing information that the villagers of Kala-Balge in Borno state, caught over 40 suspected soldiers of the Nigerian army and have held them prisoner since the defensive two weeks ago where they successfully thwarted a Boko Haram invasion and killed over 200 terrorists. Since we were alerted to this highly incriminating story, 4 days ago, ENDS has conducted several investigations and sourced more evidence supporting this allegation. We have sourced information from several townsmen who alleged that they have in their custody, over 40 soldiers of the Nigerian army and the Nigerian government is aware of this and pleading for their release secretly... The villagers of Kala-Balge are sworn to secrecy and this has limited the out-flow of this information. The unity of purpose and strength of resistance of the Kala-Balge people against Boko Haram can be recollect...

Embattled President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ibinabo Fiberisima has refuted claims that she is an ex-convict. Her worse critic in recent times, actress Clarion Chukwurah had said in an interview with Punch that Ibinabo was an ex-convict and therefore not fit to lead the Actors' Guild. Ibinabo in an exclusive interview with TheNetng refuted the claims but however acknowledged she was imprisoned for 39 days "No, I am not an ex-convict…I was charged. I am in court and I am appealing"  she said  She also explained why she wrote an open letter to Clarion Chukwura. Continue to see that... In a telephone interview with Encomium magazine, Ibinabo said it became necessary for her to respond to all the allegations Clarion Chukwurah has leveled against her on social and mainstream media. Ibinabo says she doesn't know if Clarion has seen the letter but at this time, she is more focused on her job. The actress says anyone who holds any grievance against her should see...

Delegates at the ongoing National Conference yesterday May 27th voted unanimously for churches & mosques to pay taxes. The delegates arrived at the decision after deliberating on recommendations made by the Committee on Religion. A delegate representing Civil Organizations, Mallam Naseer Kura, during the deliberation observed that most religious leaders in Nigeria are now making a lot of money from their organizations and so should be taxed accordingly. Supporting his arguement, Isaac Ighure a delegate representing the Nigeria Guild of Editors, in his submission said most religious leaders had so much money now to buy jets while their followers are living in abject poverty and asked that they should be made to pay taxes. "Some people buy private jets when people in their churches are suffering and living in abject poverty, they should be made to pay taxes,” he said.  The recommendations to pay tax will be submitted to the National Assem...

Rapper Rick Ross, who is worth roughly about $30million, shared a pic on his instagram page yesterday showing his new chin tattoo...he tattooed the phrase 'Rich Forever' on his face... He's being massively criticized for it with one fan writing  "He's not rich enough that he doesn't have to worry about money for the rest of his life. The way he spends it he may be broke soon...the life of a rapper is short lived"  but I guess it's a good thing, the tat will remind him for a long time to spend money wisely so he can live up to the phrase on his face. I'm sure he wouldn't want to one day change it to 'Used to be rich!"

Peter Okoye yesterday shared a pic of himself showing his new look - he's s shaved his hair (pic on the right). Now compare that to him with hair...which look do you prefer?

You’ve all heard Tiwa Savage’s sensational track, Wanted, featured on the Once upon a Time album. Now the Mavin first lady is set to stun you further with a spanking new video released under 323 entertainment.The racy video directed by Moe Musa is guaranteed to put your imagination and senses into a tailspin.  The songstress who has adopted a ‘take no hostages’ approach to her music has continued to wow fans with various hit tracks and collaborations.  Tiwa Savage has definitely outdone herself this time in what is perhaps her most audacious video yet. Her lyrics “There’s nothing you can do, that’s why I stay wanted” proclaim she’s the best in the game and her sensual moves and avant-garde outfits convince us. 

Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano’s determination to rid the state of criminals has yielded result, as a suspected kidnap gang leader, Okechukwu Nnaegbo, has been nabbed aboard a South African Airways flight at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. Nnaegbo, who has confessed to being the shadowy figure behind the recent high-profile kidnap cases in the state, was on his way to South Africa to evade the onslaught against criminals, when a team of detectives from the Special Anti-robbery Squad in Anambra, in collaboration with their Lagos State counterparts, pounced on him inside the aircraft. Nnaegbo, who hails from Nri in Anaocha Local Government, is believed to be the leader of a gang of armed robbers and kidnappers, who made life miserable for Ndi Anambra until the recent launch of “Operation Kpochapu”, a special anti-crime task force, by the Obiano administration. Commissioner of Police Usman A. Gwary said the suspect was aboard the Johannesburg-bound p...

The authenticity of this story is yet to be known, if the escaped girl is actually one of the Chibok girls or one of the girls that were kidnapped by the sect some time ago, in one of their attacks on the northern villages. According to  TheCable  Report, National chairman of the Kibaku Area Development Association, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, confirmed the news to TheCable, but refused to reveal the identity of the girl, saying it could re-endanger her life. “The girl is currently at a location I cannot disclose,  ” he said. “But I can assure you that she is safe.” Pogu further revealed that four other girls escaped last week, but they were shielded from the media in the interest of their safety. TheCable’s standby source in Chibok confirmed the news, saying: “It is true. I have just confirmed that one girl escaped.”  The revelation that five girls in all have escaped in the past week adds a new slant to discussions around the abduction, which have recently centred o...

President Olusegun Obasanjo is not happy with the way Boko Haram is killing innocent Nigerians everyday and he has openly declared that the government of President Jonathan is overwhelmed by the terrorists. Consequently, the former Nigerian President has decided to intervene in order to bring back our girls from the den of the deadly sect. A credible source told AFP that Obasanjo met with people close to Boko Haram in a move to secure the release of over 200 girls kidnapped in Chibok, Borno State, on April 14. The meeting took place at Obasanjo’s farm in Ogun State, Southern Nigeria, and was attended by relatives of very senior Boko Haram leaders as well as intermediaries. “The meeting was focused on how to free the girls through negotiation,” said the source who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the top secret meeting. Reports of the talks emerged as Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, said the girls had been located...

Chai...make una leave my husband alone o! President Goodluck Jonathan's wife, Patience, on Tuesday warned that Nigerians should desist from abusing her husband because God Himself made him the President. “It is bad to abuse our country and the President because God has made him the head. Let me thank the children that gave me a letter to give Boko Haram. Well, I have received your letter, but I am not the one to give it to Boko Haram because I don’t know Boko Haram and I have never seen Boko Haram. But I will give it to the NSS or the Chief of Defence Staff who will submit your letter accordingly.  “To my children, thank you for your letter. Thank you for your deliberation. I have received what you gave to me. I will make sure I pass it to the President because it is addressed to him and the other one is addressed to Boko Haram. That is why the two are different.” Patience gave the advice while addressing children at an event she organised to mark the 2014 Children...

The Sudanese Christian woman, Meriam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag, who was sentenced to death by hanging on May 15th for committing  Apostasy , (renouncing ones faith or religion), has given birth to a baby girl in prison. Her husband, Daniel Wani made this known today when he spoke with AFP. Meriam was heavily pregnant when she was sentenced and taken to the women’s prison in Khartoum’s twin city of Omdurman. According to BBC, she would be allowed to nurse her new baby for two years before the execution is carried out. Meriam's 2year old son is also in the prison with her