Gist Arena

Two Imams and five other members of the Muslim community in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, were in the wee hours of yesterday, arrested by soldiers over alleged suspected bombs. According to the former Abia State Amirul-haj and deputy chairman of the Muslim community in Aba, Alhaji Musa Iheakaram, the soldiers, who he said, came in seven Hilux vans stormed the Aba Central Mosque on Mosque Street at about 2.00 am in search of bombs alleged to have been brought into the mosque. Iheakaram said the invading soldiers after searching the mosque, arrested the Chief  Imam, Alhaji Idris Bashir; his deputy, Mallam Bello  Maija-a and a Youth Corps member serving in a school at the Mosque. The soldiers, who came from yet-to-be-identified army barracks, Iheakaram stated, also raided the onions market at Uratta, a suburb of Aba, and after searching, picked up its chairman and the Secretary, Alhaji Ibrahim Bargi and Alhaji Sanni Jos respectively as well as Alhaji Inuwa Issa,...

Nollywood actress Moji Olaiya finally opens up about her conversion from Christianity to Islam which she did about a year ago. Speaking with Encomium magazine, she said no man influenced her decision to convert... and explained why she did it. "Honestly, Islam is a peaceful religion. The aspect I love most is that you don't need any pastor to get closer to God. You don't really need anybody to pray for you. You can always pray on your own and Almighty Allah will answer your prayer without any intermediary. I have been doing that since I became a Muslim and it has always worked for me. " she said. Continue... The actress says she was born by a Muslim mother who was an Alhaja but she later married a Christian man and converted to Christianity. She dispelled claims by some people that it was a man that influenced her conversion back to Islam... "That is the problem I have with people. When you say you are doing something, they believe a man mus...

Ms Sahhara shared these new photos of herself and a video on her facebook page to announce she'll be representing Nigeria at the Super Sireyna of Eat Bulaga competition, a transgender pageant  holding in the Philippines. Ms Sahhara says if she wins, her legacy would be to campaign for the acceptance of transgenders "I will do all my best to teach people more about transgender issues, who we are and where we come from because there is this huge misconception around the issues that surrounds transgender people. We are not to be afraid of. We are not immoral. We are human beings, we have blood running in our vein and we pray you give us the chance and understanding and love that you give your fellow human beings because we are one of you" she said. Continue... On who her role model is, she said "I think my role model is my mum. My mum is a single parent and she brought myself and my younger sister up. She gave us the best education. My mum is very int...

A man who described himself as a teacher/scholar inside the Boko Haram camp today July 8th spoke anonymously with Tobi Oladipo of BBC World radio service where he stated that it's only the release of their imprisoned members by the Federal Government that can make them release the over 200 Chibok girls they abducted on  April 14th  at the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok.  "Yes we want the Nigerian government to release our members. As our leader Abubakar Shekau promised to the media, if today the government releases our members,  tomorrow  or the next day we promise you can see all of them (the girls) sure. We would release them tomorrow  or the next day." he told BBC World Radio. Continue... Seaking further, the man said the abducted girls are in good condition and are well catered for "I am telling you a fact, they are in a state of amnesty. They don't have a problem. Some of them have belief in Islam, some of them say they w...

The Nigerian Air Force has rolled out security tips to the public and Air Force schools on detection and actions to be taken in case of suspicious objects or Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs. The out-going Director of Air Force Information and Public Relations, Yusuf Anas, an Air Commodore, told journalists that a pamphlet released would guide the public on how to be security conscious. On what to do when suspicious objects/improvised explosive devices are sighted, the pamphlet advised: - Remain calm; move away from suspicious objects; be wary of crowd, unattended vehicles and damaged building; do not attempt moving/touching any suspicious object from its position; - Report such immediately by any fastest means possible by calling 112 Emergency Line, nearest police station or contact any security officer.’’ During bomb explosions, the pamphlet advised on the following: - Avoid panic; crawl under a study table or a solid object if things are falling and rema...

A newlywed husband divorced his wife before they could even consummate their marriage after her ex sent him compromising photos of her. The couple had been wed only hours when the groom was passed a memory stick containing the pictures hidden in a bouquet of flowers. A note told him to look at the contents of the device and, when he did, he found the photographs of his new wife, laid bare and in intimate circumstances. Muslim cleric Sheikh Ghazi Bin Abdul Aziz al-Shammari told Kuwaiti television news that the groom decided on the spot that his hours-old marriage was over, the website Sabq reported. 'The groom came to see me the next day and he was under strong emotional trauma,' said the cleric. 'It was truly the shock of his life and he could not bear the scandal.' Sheikh al-Shammari said the bride's former lover had days earlier tried to blackmail her into staying with him, threating to reveal their relationship if she refused. She told him to g...

Truly, wonders shall never end. When  s ource first heard about this story, it was hard to believe not until we got a confirmation. Gospel comedian, Edobor Charles [aka Edo Charles] is currently in court with his wife, Vera Adiche, who is from Ibusa in Delta State, over some messy marital issues. The couple who tied the knots at Redeemed Christian Church of God, Victoria Island, Lagos, on November 27, 2010, lived together for only 6 days before calling it quits!  And as would be expected, allegations and counter allegations have been emanating from both camps. While the woman accused the man of neglect and also not supporting her music career, the man is alleging that she is an adulterer. Specifically, he accused her of sleeping with her boss, Anesi Igharue, leader of the popular Sharp Band. Sources who have been following their divorce mess alleged that Vera is currently pregnant for Mr. Anesi and that he has rented a flat for her in Jaka...

Not actual image KANO  (AFP) – Nigerian police on Monday uncovered a plot to bomb a secondary school in the restive northeastern city of Gombe by defusing a car laden with explosives that had been abandoned there, a spokesman said. Police bomb experts found 12 improvised explosives concealed in a car that was abandoned on the premises of the state-run Pilot secondary school, following a tip-off, Fwaje Attajiri told AFP. “Our ordnance experts discovered 12 IEDs (improvised explosive devices) in the trunk of the car left in the vicinity of the school after we were alerted,” he said. “The explosives had the capacity of causing maximum damage and would have caused huge casualty had they detonated in the school with a high student population,” he said. Attajiri said an investigation had been launched to establish who was behind the foiled attack, refusing to say if Boko Haram Islamists can be blamed. Boko Haram, which means Western education is forbidden in loc...

I BADAN  — At least six persons, including a pregnant woman, were crushed to death in an auto crash that occurred at Agbala junction area of Ibadan in Egbeda Local Government area of Oyo State, yesterday. Three vehicles were said to be involved in the accident that occurred some minutes past 7am. Although, the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, confirmed that three people, including a woman died, eyewitnesses said there were six casualties. There were also four people, including a child, who were seriously injured. Vanguard  gathered that the accident happened on the ever-busy Ife‑Ibadan Road when a commercial car, with number plate, YNF 963 AA, reportedly crossed the road unexpectedly while the on‑coming vehicles ran into it. Confirming the accident, Mr. Abiodun Akinlade, the Egbeda Unit Commander of the FRSC said: “The accident happened around 7:30 am on Ife‑Ibadan road at Agbala junction. It involved three vehicles, including Nissan Micra with number plate YN...

LAGOS — Operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FSARS, Adeniji-Adele, Lagos, have arrested six suspected members of a notorious robbery gang that specialised in snatching vehicles from their owners at gunpoint in different parts of the country.  Also arrested was a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Odeyemi Itunu, who allegedly owned one of the guns recovered from the suspects. Recovered from the suspects were 17 stolen vehicles, including three single-barrel pistols and a cache of ammunition of different calibre. Paraded alongside other suspects yesterday, the APC chieftain, Itunu claimed to be a personal assistant to Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State. He admitted to have given the gun to one of the suspects identified as Omoniyi Ajewole whom he said was his political thug. But he stated emphatically that he never gave him the gun to rob with, but to protect him. Ajewole escorts me with gun According to him, “I have never participated...

A LASTMA official by the name Asorona stopped a car he claimed had violated traffic rules, removed the man from the car and allegedly assaulted him around 7.30 am this morning in front of BRT yard at Ketu bus stop. He and his colleagues also seized the man's car. And before anyone knew what was happening, the young man fell down on the road into convulsion, shaking, according to eye witnesses, like an epileptic patient. As the LASTMA official tried to leave the scene, he was surrounded by passersby who insisted he must stay there to see what happens to the man. See more photos after the cut...

Chified posted this message on her Facebook page. On another note, she writes damn well!!

The Nigerian military released a statement on their  website  today saying that they have cleared and taken over terrorists bases in Borno state and also captured mercenaries. Read the statement below T roops have cleared and taken over Balmo forest in a military operation that lasted throughout the weekend.  Prior to the operation, Balmo forest stretching from Bauchi through Jigawa States with links to the fringes of Sambisa forest was used by terrorists as bases and hideouts for launching attacks. Terrorists and armed gangs operating in the forests were completely rooted out while some were captured during the operation.  Among those captured were two foreigners who are suspected to be mercenaries. Also captured are several weapons and equipment including power generating sets, communication equipment, vehicles, motorcycles, foodstuff and kitchen utensils. (See the items from the terrorists' den after the cut) In another development, over 44 terrorist...

They escaped last week and they've already been recaptured? Makes no sense to me but according to new reports, 45 out of the 63 women and children who reportedly escaped from Boko Haram men on Saturday July 5th have been re-abducted by the sect men. Vanguard reports that a member of the Chibok Vigilante Group, Abbas Gaya in a telephone interview confirmed the recapturing of the women who fled the Boko Haram camp when the men attacked a military base at Damboa village in Borno state “It is very unfortunate and shocking to tell you today (yesterday) that 45 of the 63 escaped women and children were kidnapped again  on Sunday  night, leaving only 18 that ran into this forests.” he said