Gist Arena

Ahmed Salkida, a Dubai-based Nigerian journalist who reportedly maintains communication with some leaders of the Islamist insurgent group Boko Haram, claimed today that the sect’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, is alive and well. Mr. Salkida denied reports asserting that Nigerian troops had killed the mercurial and fiendish Shekau, the speaker and voice in numerous videos released by Boko Haram. In a tweet earlier today, Mr. Salkida also dismissed media reports that the Nigerian government was negotiating with Boko Haram for the release of more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped in mid-April by Boko Haram militants in Chibok, Borno State. The reporter’s tweet also described as untrue reports that the International Red Cross (IRC) was working on a deal that would persuade Boko Haram to free the abducted Chibok schoolgirls in exchange for the release of detained Islamist in...

A 2 year old Chinese boy named Huang Zicheng had to have a chopstick removed from deep within his brain after he accidentally shoved it up his nose. The chopstick penetrated three inches into his brain and doctors who spent four hours carefully taking it out of the little boy's skull said if it had gone any further, it would have caused brain injury. Thankfully, the chopstick did not damage any major nerves and arteries and Huang expected to make a full recovery. Continue... Speaking about the incident, the father told a Chinese newspaper that he knew his child was in trouble when he screamed like he'd never screamed before  "I turned around and was shocked to find that the long stick had gone into his head from his nose.” The boy's parents rushed him to the hospital where the chopstick was removed

Tank sighted today in Mubi Boosted by recent successes in Konduga and Bazza, commanders of Nigeria’s armed troops in the northeast are drawing up an ambitious tactical plan for a new offensive aimed at recovering territory seized by Islamist insurgents in the last two months. Several military sources at Defense Headquarters in Abuja as well as field commanders told SaharaReporters that Nigerian troops have retaken Bazza, a town in Adamawa State earlier seized by militants. An earlier attempt by the army to recapture Bazza was repelled by Boko Haram insurgents. Lieutenant Colonel Adeboye Obasanjo, a son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was injured in that earlier battle when insurgents ambushed his platoon. One army source waxed confident, telling our correspondent that the days of Boko Haram occupying any significant territory in northeast Nigeria were numbered. “We will hit them from the air and from all sides on the ground,” said the officer. He added that th...

The Defence Headquarters has denied claims by Cameroonian military of being involved in the fight against Boko Haram in recent times, especially in Konduga Borno state where a major victory against the sect group was recorded. According to the Nigerian Defence, all fights against Boko Haram in Kondura and other border towns were carried out by Nigerian troops. The Cameroonian military had earlier in a statement  claimed  to have killed the man believed to be the impersonator of late leader of the sect group, Abubakar Shekau.

The police command in Akwa Ibom said it has detonated two Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, found in the male hostel of the University of Uyo, UNIUYO.  Confirming the incident in Uyo on Monday, the police spokesperson in the state, Etim Dickson, told journalists that the explosives were home-made.  Mr. Dickson, who said the IEDs were likely produced by science students of the university, said investigations had commenced on the matter. He assured the students on campus and parents not to entertain any fear about possible breakdown of law and order in the university community. He said, “The incident has been properly taken care of. We urge students and employees of the institution to go about their normal businesses.”  The IEDs were discovered by the campus security squad known as Operatives of Peace on Campus Initiative, PCI. The anti-bomb squad of the Nigeria Police had on arrival at the students’ hostel detonated the two improved explosive devices and...

A Nigerian military intelligence source has told SaharaReporters that the top Boko Haram figure killed in a recent operation was one Bashir Mohammed, leader of the Islamist sect’s Uye camp. Cameroonian authorities yesterday released a photo of a dead man they identified as Abubakar Shekau, the loquacious and attention-seeking leader of the terrorist group that has launched deadly strikes in Nigeria’s northeast zone as well as Cameroon. The Nigerian intelligence source told SaharaReporters that Nigerian soldiers, not Cameroonian troops, had killed Mr. Bashir last Friday in a fierce battle against Boko Haram insurgents in Konduga, Borno State. The late Mr. Bashir, who bore a striking resemblance to Abubakar Shekau and had appeared in a recent video, was killed as he led insurgents who were attempting to capture Konduga and then made a bid to seize Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, as well. Nigerian soldiers routed the Islamist militants in Konduga, killing hundreds of th...

We are following up on the situation of Ms Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo, the daughter of former Oyo State Deupty Governor, Victor Olunloyo, who was brutalised by her younger sister, Funke, the Special Adviser to the Oyo State governor on Education, and her her son, Fifehan, few days ago, and the reports we have shows that she is not in a very good state at the moment. The journalist cum social critic, according to an SOS message she sent to Pulse.ng, is currently on admission at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, where she is undergoing a Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI, scan meant to look into her brains to see if there is any damage from the bruises she got in the beating. She also stated that she would need to travel out of the country for a comprehensive medical treatment and the cost would be in the region of 450,000 dollars. Recall our earlier report where, in the cause of the assault, her 15-year-old nephew, had smashed her head with an heavy flower pot and we...

The first daughter of Orange Drugs chairman, Anthony Ezenna, Cynthia Uchenna Ezenna will marry her man Chukwueke Elurihuka Gboneme on  Saturday October 11th  at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Victoria Island, Lagos. See more pics of the couple below The had their traditional wedding on December 21st 2013...

South African minister, Jeff Radebe today Sept. 22nd, said that the death toll from the Synagogue building collapse has risen to 115. Radebe said this at an airforce base, North of Johannesburg in South Africa where 25 South Africans who were injured in the collapsed building were brought home in a military C-130 aircraft (pictured above) for treatment. He however maintained that 84 South Africans died in the tragedy. "We understand from our assessment team that the total number of people who have perished is now 115, but those are not all South Africans. South Africans are about 84 that have died" Jeff Radebe told reporters. The Nigerian Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, put the death toll from the collapse at 86. The South African minister also said that 26 injured South Africans were meant to return back home today but one of them decided to stay back at the Synagogue church. A 19-member medical team including specialist doctors, nurses and medical...

21 year old American Jasmine Tridevil, claimed she had plastic surgery to create a third breast to scare men away. And now she wants her own MTV reality show. The woman who is based in Tampa Florida, shares pictures on her Facebook page to 'show the struggles she faces because of her surgery.' She said her main reason for getting a third breast was because she didn't want to appear attractive to men. "I got the surgery because I wanted to turn off guys. I know it sounds crazy but I don’t want to date again ever. I still like to feel pretty. If I got a third breast implant most guys would think that’s weird and gross. But I can still feel pretty. I’m starting a reality show called  Jasmine’s Jugs  and my ultimate goal is to get it onto MTV. That’s my dream.”she wrote on FB Jasmine claims she's spent $20,000 on the procedure a few months ago, after struggling to find a doctor who would perform the operation.  “I called 50 doctors. It was really hard ...

After much persuasion, Boko Haram has agreed to release the abducted 219 Chibok girls if the Federal Government will simultaneously set free its 18 key commanders. The two parties have asked their representatives to go back to their leaders on the new swap deal proposal. Prior to the latest agreement at the talks in Abuja, which was witnessed by some officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC), Boko Haram had insisted on a piecemeal release of the girls, with priority given to 30 married Christians among them. The Federal Government also offered to release six of the 18 sect leaders in detention. The two sides maintained a parallel stand until they met again in Abuja at a session facilitated by the President, Civil Rights Congress (CRC),  Comrade Shehu Sani. The sect said if the government attempted to secure the girls by force, it might lead to fatalities. At the meeting, Boko Haram also maintained that it had the capacity to “engage the F...

  10 Boko Haram members surrendered to Nigerian troops yesterday September 21st at Kawuri in Borno state, a day after five members surrendered. Many weapons were recovered from the terrorists 

The controversial and outspoken daughter of the former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Victor Omololu-Olunloyo, Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo, who was last week brutally beaten up by her younger sister, Funke, (Read it HERE ) has come out to state that her sister has always been the black sheep of her family, dragging the family name in the mud as well as having a violent streak all her life. The no nonsense lady who is also a journalist, has been a thorn in the flesh of the Oyo State government, tasking them to live up to their responsibilities of providing social amenities for the society, taking on authorities and influential men of God like Pastor Enoch Adeboye and Bishop David Oyedepo, has taken time to narrate how her sister has been living a rebellious life right from childhood. Kemi, who does not hide what she feels, took to her website, www.hhnafrica.com , to narrate the genesis of the fight with her sister who is a Special Assistant on Education to the Oyo State gover...

Some armed robbers have been arrested after attacking a pastor of a pentecostal church in Abeokuta, Ogun State, shooting him on his mouth for daring to plead that his daughter should not be raped.   The gang members, include Sodiq Asimiyu (21), a.k.a. Nokia, Lekan a.k.a Goddey, Ayo a.k.a. AY, Seun Ojo a.k.a. Sepe, Kassim and   Sunday According to reports, the gang had blocked a car driven by the Reverend at about  5.50a.m  while on his way to church with his wife and daughter.   He was dispossessed of N150,000, a Samsung Galaxy tablet and HTC phone belonging to his daughter, among other items.   Not satisfied, one of the armed robbers, ordered the cleric’s daughter to move away from her parents into the church, with the intention to sexually abuse her.   The Reverend was said to have pleaded with them to spare his daughter since he had surrendered all they wanted to them. In anger, one of the gang members pulled the trigger and sh...

AGN President, Ibinabo Fiberisima says she will be finally getting married this December to her Igbo fiance. In an interview with City People magazine, the mother of 4 who refused to reveal the identity of her man, said she found love in the arms of her University of Ibadan schoolmate. "I know I am blossoming but that is what happens when you are in love. I have found my soulmate, my friend, my brother and that is why I am glowing. It's not that I suddenly found love, the love has been there and we have been best of friends since our school days at University of Ibadan and when we met again years after, we remained best of friends. His kids and mine have always been wondering how the both of us can be this close, almost like brother and sister. I think they planned it. They were like why don't you two just get married and we started thinking and after a while, we felt this is God telling us its time and that's it"  Ibinabo says she said yes without ...

There are quite a few people who believe  that late Dr Stella Adadevoh who died from the Ebola virus, should be posthumously recognized by the government as her singular act of stopping Sawyer from living the First Consultant Hospital saved many  Nigerians  from contracting the disease. But when this year's National Honors list was released last week Thursday, her name was not included. SSA to President Jonathan on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe explained why in a tweet...

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, says President Jonathan will be the one to determine if he would still like to run with his Vice, Namadi Sambo in the 2015 general elections. Metuh said this at a press conference yesterday September 21st in Abuja. He also said that President Jonathan is yet to respond to the decision the party members took on Thursday September 18th where he was adopted as the sole Presidential candidate of the PDP "The President is yet to communicate to the party or to the entire country because he is not only the President of the PDP, he is the President of Nigeria and I cannot inform you of decisions that have been taken in terms of what will happen because subjective opinions is not part of my job. I believed a lot of people are trying to speculate on Jonathan/Sambo ticket but why don’t we wait until when the President declares? But I must inform that part of the reasons the PDP has not mentioned that, is because it is...