AIT Staff, Abdullahi Ibrahim Dies In Accident With Pregnant Wife & 3 Children

How sad as journalist in Kogi State were jolted over the death of one of their own, Mr. Abdullahi Ibrahim, a reporter with the African Independent Television, (AIT).

Ibrahim died alongside his family members in a ghastly motor accident when he travelled to his hometown, Okaba, in Ankpa Local Council of Kogi State on Thursday.

He was preparing for the upcoming wedding of his daughter in December. The accident occurred between Ojodu and Ochadamu, along Ajaokuta- Ayingba high way. The reporter was driving his Peugeot 504 Saloon Car in company of his three children and his pregnant wife when the accident occurred.

According to an eyewitness, Ibrahim had a head-on collision with a Toyota hiace bus belonging to a popular transport company. “He was trying to overtake him on top speed while also negotiating a bend,” the witness said.He died on the spot with his three children and pregnant wife.

Ibrahim, who was in his late 50’s, had gone to the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) press centre in Lokoja to chat with his colleagues before he embarked on the journey.He had earlier narrated how a motorist brushed his car that Thursday morning after which he went to fix the car at a mechanic workshop before he embarked on the fatal journey.

His wife and children were seen at the press centre, where he bought snacks and drinks for them before going for the repairs of the car in preparation for the journey.He was even said to have distributed his daughter’s wedding cards to colleagues and friends on that fateful day.

Ibrahim, described as a crack reporter, had worked with several newspapers including the Sentinel, National Mirror, Royal Time. He was the publisher of The Trumpet before joining the AIT.

He was said to have lost his first wife and daughter about five years ago in mysterious circumstances.Reacting to the demise of the journalist, the Chairman of Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Friday Idachaba, expressed shock over the sudden death of the journalist and his family members.

Describing him as: “A very brilliant and hardworking journalist, who has carved a niche for himself “He condoled with his family members and prayed for the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Robert Mugabe sacked from ruling party Zanu-PF

The ruling party in Zimbabwe, Zanu-PF, has sacked the country’s long-time leader, Robert Mugabe.

After a meeting of party leaders held on Sunday, officials said ex-Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was fired by Mr. Mugabe two weeks ago, has been appointed leader of the party, the BBC reports.

It was the sacking of Mr. Mnangagwa that triggered last week’s takeover of power by the military, thus stopping Mr. Mugabe, 93, from installing his wife, Grace, as leader of Zanu-PF and then president.

Grace was also expelled from the Zanu-PF at Sunday’s meeting.

The Southern Africa Development COmmission, led by officials from South Africa, have been mediating between Mr. Mugabe and the military.

The meetings continue on Sunday and are expected to ensure a peaceful exit of Mr. Mugabe from Zimbabwe.

APGA’s Obiano wins Anambra governorship election

The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Willie Obiano, has won the Anambra governorship election.
Mr. Obiano won in all the 21 local government areas of the state with a total of about 234,071 votes.
He was followed by the candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Tony Nwoye.
Oseloka Obaze of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, emerged third while Osita Chidoka of United Progressives Party, UPP, came a distant fourth.
The APGA National Youth Leader, Chuks Nwoga, has described the election as being free and fair.
“It was a peaceful process even in the face of threats by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to boycott the election though there were few cases of violence. INEC did a good job, you can’t get a completely perfect process. In some places material didn’t come on time but the election is fair,” Mr. Nwoga said.
“People came out to vote even with this IPOB threats, there was no case of low turnout of voters, the election was ok. You don’t expect 100 per cent to come out but the turnout was impressive”, Mr. Nwoga said.
The UPP candidate, Mr. Chidoka, has already conceded defeat, saying he lost to superior financial power.
Anambra election went down in history as being the governorship election with the highest number of candidates, 37, in Nigeria’s electoral history.

BREAKING: Our victory belongs to Ndi Anambra – Obiano

Chukwudi Akasike

ANAMBRA State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has said that his victory at the just concluded governorship election does not belong to him or the All Progressives Grand Alliance, but to the people of the state.

The governor, who made this remark in an acceptance speech, which he personally signed, added that the victory belonged to farmers, commercial motorcycle riders and wheelbarrow pushers and others, who now believed that agriculture remained the future of the country.

Details soon.

Many Feared Dead In Lagos Railway Road Crashes

At least five people were killed in two separate crashes on the Kara axis of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Abattoir Area of Lagos State following two fatal crashes Thursday morning.

t least five people were killed in two separate crashes on the Kara axis of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Abattoir Area of Lagos State following two fatal crashes Thursday morning.

Witnesses said that at Kara, there was a fatal accident involving some vehicles and a truck. At the abattoir end of Lagos, a train derailed from the railway line and ran into people, injuring scores of roadside commuters and traders.

In an interview, the head of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Adesina Tiamiyu, confirmed the incidents.

At the accident on Kara Bridge after Berger on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, five persons died and 19 others were seriously injured in the early morning incident involving about 15 vehicles.

Hyginus Omeje, the Lagos State Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, who confirmed the accident, said three of the victims died on the spot while two later died in the hospital.

Mr. Omeje said the cause of the accident had not been ascertained but that efforts were on to rescue the injured victims as well as ease the traffic along the corridor.

“We received a call this morning that an accident occurred by the Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where about 16 vehicles were involved,” he said.

“Three people died on the spot while two later died at the hospital, the crash involved many vehicles, including buses, cars, and trucks."

“The number of people involved in the accident was 53. They are 40 men and 13 women."

“The injured people have been taken to the nearest hospital with the help of Lagos State Emergency Management.’’ 


More details later…

2018 World Cup: Nigeria could draw destructive nation like Brazil or Germany, France and Spain

World football governing body, FIFA, has unveiled the four Pots ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup draw billed for Friday, December 1 in Russia.

The pots were announced by FIFA on their official website on Thursday.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria were placed in Pot 4, including Serbia, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korea and Saudi Arabia which could see them land a possible tough nation.

According to the Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions, all the qualified Nations were allocated in the Pots based on the October 2017 edition of the FIFA world ranking. According to their ranking in descending order, hosts nation, Russia takes the top seeding spot.

Going by the Pots seen below, Nigeria will draw one team each from Pot 1, Pot 2 and Pot 3, which have stronger nations than Pot 4.

The Super Eagles might be drawn against stronger nations like champions Germany, Brazil, France, who are all in Pot 1 and in Pot 2 they could land England or Spain.

See the 2018 World Cup Pots below..

Pot 1: France, Belgium, Russia, Portugal, Poland, Brazil, Germany, Argentina.

Pot 2: Spain, Peru, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Croatia

Pot 3: Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Iran

Pot 4: Serbia, Australia, Nigeria, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korea, Saudi Arabia

ASUP commences nationwide indefinite strike today

- The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), has commenced a nationwide indefinite strike, today, November 13, 2017
- The union took the decision to go on strike as a result of the failure of the federal government to fulfill an earlier agreement
 - All academic activities would be suspended during the strike; and the union has scheduled another meeting with the government, for November 15 The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), has stated that as a result of the federal government’s failure to fulfill the outstanding agreement it made with the union, it would commence a total and indefinite strike, beginning on Monday, November 13.
According to Premium Times, the development was confirmed by Usman Dutse, the national president of the union.
NAIJ.com gathers that Dutse expressed dismay that the Ministry of Labour had still not developed the memorandum of understanding which it agreed to, during an October 16 meeting with the union. He stated:
 “We were told by the federal ministry of labour that a memorandum of understanding will be given, but we’ve not gotten one till date and that is why our members say there is no seriousness on the side of the government.” He further stated: “All academic activities will be suspended during the strike.

“Our union is constrained to lament that our sector is on the verge of collapse and needs all the emergency attention it urgently deserves.” Dutse stated that the union had scheduled another meeting with the federal government; to be held on Wednesday, November 15.
 Recall that NAIJ.com previously reported that the academic activities of polytechnics in the country would be temporarily interrupted as the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) announced its decision to embark on an indefinite strike with effect from Monday, November 13, 2017. The body arrived at the decision following a meeting of its National Executive Council which took place on Saturday, November 11, at the Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna state.

Kidnapped Unilorin student, made to drink blood, freed for not meeting requirement(photos)

Management of the University of Ilorin has advised students of the institution to be security conscious, saying that a male student of the institution, Omoniyi Olumide, was recently kidnapped by suspected ritualists and forced to drink blood from an unknown source before setting him free.
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The sub-dean student’s affairs of the institution, Dr Alex Akanmu, warned students against accepting or begging for a lift from strangers in order not to fall prey of suspected ritualists on the prowl.
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The subdean, who said that the incident occurred two weeks ago at GRA, Ilorin, added that the victim was offered a lift by unknown person who disguised as a good Samaritan after a commercial motorcycle he boarded dropped him off without taking him to his destination, “unknown to the victim that it was a plot against him.”
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Dr Akanmu also said that the victim on entering the vehicle said that he noticed that two other occupants in the car were unconscious and also suffered the same fate as he suddenly found himself in a ritualist den in Offa town in Kwara State.
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‘‘From the Offa branch, they transferred him to another branch of the ritualists in Ogbomoso, they said they have enough boys’’, he said.
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He said the victims were also rejected in Ogbomoso branch on the account that they needed girls and was asked to be set free since he did not suit the purpose for which he was kidnapped.
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‘‘But that is not the end of the story, they had his nail cut, asked him to drink his own urine and blood from unknown sources,’’ he said.
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Akanmu said the victim had been reunited with his family after the school management received a distress text message he sent and picked him from where he was dumped around 6 pm on Sunday.

Hero Who Shot and Stopped Texas Mass Shooter Was an NRA Instructor — And That's Not All He Did

On Sunday, a 26-year-old named Devin Kelley unloaded a rifle on a small, Texas church killing 26 people. Images quickly emerged of the shooter's Facebook profile, which displayed pictures of a rifle and even referred to it as a “bad b***h.”

New York Times article names Sutherland Springs shooter as Devin P. Kelley

Here's Kelly's Facebook Profile pic pic.twitter.com/xvdfIQ4mIo

— Hardhat Patriot (@Hardhat_Patriot) November 5, 2017


View image on Twitter

Many quickly blamed the National Rifle Association saying that they had “blood on their hands” in the same way they did after the Las Vegas massacre.


View image on Twitter




Willeford was a neighbor of the church and heard gunfire outside. He grabbed his AR-15 type rifle and went towards the shots in bare feet. With his shooting experience, Willeford was able to engage in gunfire with Kelley and place a bullet between the shooter's small gap in body armor, which ultimately led him to flee the scene to his vehicle.

Willeford then jumped into a stranger's truck and chased the shooter down. Kelley ultimately crashed his vehicle at high speed and then proceeded to shoot himself and commit suicide.

Willeford appeared on ABC in an interview to explain the experience and stated:

"I didn’t have any time, because I kept hearing the shots, one after another, at a time, very rapid shots, just pop, pop, pop. And I knew every one of those shots represented someone, that it was aimed at someone, that they just weren’t random shots, more than likely. I grabbed a handful of ammunition and started loading my magazine.

And I’m trying to survey the situation, not knowing what’s going on; and then I saw a man in a black tactical helmet with a dark-shaded helmet on, and obviously looked to me like it was a bulletproof vest. He had a pistol in his hand, and we exchanged gunfire.

And I was standing behind a pickup truck for cover, and we exchanged fire. He saw me, and I saw him, I’m like, it was surreal to me; it couldn’t be happening. I couldn’t believe it. I know I hit him. He got into his vehicle, and he fired another couple rounds through his side window. When the window dropped, I fired another round at him again.

We chased him down 539, and when we first started chasing him he was out of sight. And the man driving the truck, I found out later his name is Johnny; he was driving at a high rate of sped. We were trying to pass cars to catch up. We called 911 and we were talking to 911.

I was scared for me, and I was scared for every one of them; I was scared for my own family that lived just less than a block away.

I’m no hero; I am not. I think my God, my Lord, protected me and gave me the skills to do what needed to be done. And I just wish I could have got there faster."

CIA Document: Bin Laden Asked his Son Hamza to Move from Iran to Qatar

In one of the documents that the CIA released on Wednesday, slain al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden made it clear that the “Iranians are not to be trusted” despite evidence of strong ties between the terrorist group and Iran.


The document was released as part of 470,000 additional files found in May 2011 when US Navy SEALs burst into Bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and shot him dead.

The slain al-Qaeda chief’s son Hamza was in Iran when in September 2010, Osama bin Laden wrote a letter to his three sons, including Hamza, as well as one of his wives and grandchildren.  

Bin Laden made it clear that the “Iranians are not to be trusted” and he wanted his wife to “leave everything behind,” just in case some sort of tracking device was implanted within her possessions.  

He worried about Hamza’s security and suggested that he travel to Qatar, where he could lay low and study. 

After Hamza did not take his father’s advice, he made his way into Pakistan. But Bin Laden insisted that the terrorist group’s heir move to Qatar,

Bin Laden’s suspicions of Iran came despite one of the newly released documents showing al-Qaeda's links to Tehran.

The 19-page document recounts an offer by Iran to provide al-Qaeda with “money, arms” and “training in Hezbollah camps in Lebanon, in exchange for striking American interests in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf.” 

The very fact that Hamza and other senior figures appear to be able to live under Iranian protection or custody supports claims that Tehran and Bin Laden had a working relationship, analysts have said.

The Americas US citizen arrested in Zimbabwe, accused of insulting Mugabe

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Lawyers and a U.S. Embassy official say Zimbabwe police have arrested a United States citizen for allegedly insulting President Robert Mugabe on Twitter.

Embassy spokesman David McGuire tells The Associated Press that police picked up Martha O’Donovan on Friday.

O’Donovan’s lawyer, Obey Shava, says police have not yet charged her but they claim that “tweets emanating from her IT address are insulting to the president.”

The lawyer says O’Donovan has worked with local social media outlet Magamba TV, whose target audience is youth.

Mugabe last month appointed a minister for cybersecurity, a move criticized by activists as aimed at clamping down on social media users.

The group Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights says it has represented close to 200 people charged for allegedly insulting the president in recent years.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

U.S. bombers fly over Korean Peninsula before Trump visit

SEOUL, South Korea -- Two U.S. supersonic bombers flew over the Korean Peninsula for bombing exercises that are also a show of force against North Korea ahead of President Donald Trump's first official visit to Asia.

The U.S. Pacific Air Forces said in a statement that two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers flew from Guam, were joined by Japanese and South Korean fighter jets, and "conducted a sequenced bilateral mission in the vicinity of the Korean peninsula, Nov. 2 (Korea Standard Time)." The statement confirmed that the warplanes flew over South Korea.

The drills simulated attacks on land targets, but didn't involve live weapons, said the official, who did not want to be named, citing office rules.

https://www.cbsnews.com/videos/inside-north-koreas-missiles

North Korea's state media denounced the exercise as a "surprise nuclear strike drill" and says "gangster-like U.S. imperialists" are seeking to ignite a nuclear war.

The North Korean nuclear threat will likely overshadow Mr. Trump's trip to Asia, which starts Sunday in Japan and will include stops in South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

In recent months, North Korea has tested intercontinental ballistic missiles that could reach the U.S. mainland with further development and has conducted its most powerful nuclear test. It also flew powerful new midrange missiles over Japan and threatened to launch them toward Guam, the U.S. Pacific territory and military hub.

The United States has responded by sending its strategic assets to the region more frequently for patrols or drills. That has angered North Korea, whose foreign minister said in September the North had "every right" to take countermeasures, including shooting down the U.S. warplanes, though many experts doubt it has the actual intent or ability to do so.

Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency said Friday that the "U.S. imperialist warmongers" should not act rashly.

"The U.S. imperialists are making last-ditch efforts to check the dynamic advance of the DPRK by deploying their nuclear strategic assets in succession, but its army and people are never frightened at such moves," the report said, referring to North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

UN team meets Ohanaeze over South-east tensions

The United Nations has commended the Ohanaeze, apex Igbo socio-cultural group on the role it played in stemming the tide of agitations threatening Nigeria’s unity.

The UN said it was worried about developments in Nigeria, particularly in the South-east but however noted that it stood for a united Nigeria where human rights are respected and not trampled upon.
A report on Vanguard noted that UN Delegates led by Mohamed Ibn Chambas a special representative of Secretary General of UN, Antonio Guterres, on Thursday in Enugu met with the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by its President-General, Nnia Nwodo.

The meeting delved into issues of agitation for a Biafra republic and how to strengthen the unity of Nigeria.

Other chieftains of Ohanaeze at the meeting includes Deputy President-General and former deputy governor of Ebonyi State, Chigozie Ogbu; Enugu State President of Ohanaeze, Alex Ogbonnia among others, the report says.

“Few months ago, we were all getting a bit worried with events and developments in the South-east of Nigeria but thanks to their leadership (Ohanaeze) and their initiatives, they were able to bring together the chiefs and the political leaders and governors and respected persons of South-east and through this intervention, we now see that calm is restored and all are working to advance the one Nigeria agenda.

 “The Secretary General believes in this one Nigeria project because he had always said that a united peaceful Nigeria is not only for the people of Nigeria, but indeed for the people of West Africa and for all of Africa. We know the strength the people of South-east bring to Nigeria and to the sub region. There is hardly a single country in West Africa where you will not find enterprising persons from the South-East who are in their own rights economic ambassadors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 “So our simple message is to encourage the leaders, the elders of the South-east to continue to endeavour to seek ways in which they can work with all other parts of the federation and to strengthen the unity of this country and through a constructive approach to seek dialogue to redress whatever short coming there may be”, Mr. Chambas was quoted as saying.

Mr. Nwodo in his remark described the outcome of the meeting as a fruitful.

“On July 12, 2017, Ohanaeze wrote to the Secretary General of the United Nations about the security infrastructure in Nigeria, particularly as it affects to Ndigbo, which the UN on October 10 responded to the letter, indicating that it will send its representative for West Africa and the Sahel.

“We had very fruitful and frank discussions with Ambassador Chambas. He has assured us that the United Nations represents prevention of conflicts, represents promotion of development in a manner that improves quality of life and prevents resort to conflicts and protects human rights.”

Winner Mahrez absent from Caf's African Player of 2017 list

The Confederation of African Football has revealed its 30-man shortlists for the African Player of the Year and Africa-Based Player of the Year.

Gabon's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who won in 2015, features along with a host of Europe-based stars, such as Sadio Mane of Senegal who came third in 2016.

2016 winner Riyad Mahrez of Algeria is a notable absentee from the main list.

All but seven of the nominees play for European clubs, with Egypt's Essam El Hadary on the list at the age of 44.

The veteran goalkeeper plays his club football in Saudi Arabia for Al-Taawoun.

Mahrez, meanwhile, has largely failed to produce the quality of football that he displayed last year when playing a key role in driving Leicester to the Premier League's most unlikely title triumph.

Four players make both the best Africa Player and best Africa-Based Player shortlists.

They are Tunisia's Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly), South Africa's Percy Tau, Uganda goalkeeper Dennis Onyango (both Mamelodi Sundowns) and Zambia's Fackson Kapumbu (Zesco United).

The respective winners will be announced in the Ghanaian capital Accra on 4 January 2018.

Votes from a combination of head coaches and technical directors from national teams, as well as members of Caf's Technical and Development Committee and a panel of media experts will determine the winners.

African Player of the Year:

Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon & Porto), Karim El Ahmadi (Morocco & Feyenoord), Christian Atsu (Ghana & Newcastle), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Borussia Dortmund), Eric Bailly (Cote d'Ivoire & Manchester United), Cedric Bakambu (DR Congo & Villareal), Keita Balde (Senegal & Monaco), Christian Bassogog (Cameroon & Henan Jianye), Yves Bissouma (Mali & Lille), Khalid Boutaib (Morocco & Yeni Malatyaspor), Yacine Brahimi (Algeria & Porto), Essam El Hadary (Egypt & Al Taawoun), Junior Kabananga (DR Congo & Astana), Fackson Kapumbu (Zambia & Zesco), Naby Keita (Guinea & RB Leipzig), Ali Maaloul (Tunisia & Al Ahly), Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool), Moussa Marega (Mali & Porto), Victor Moses (Nigeria & Chelsea), Youssef Msakni (Tunisia & Al Duhail), Michael Olunga (Kenya & Girona), Fabrice Ondoa (Cameroon & Sevilla), Denis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns), Thomas Partey (Ghana & Atletico Madrid), Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool), Mbwana Samata (Tanzania & Genk), Jean Michel Seri (Cote d'Ivoire & Nice), Percy Tau (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso & Lyon), William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria & Bursaspor)

African Player of the Year - Based in Africa:

Nasr Eldin Ahmed (Sudan & Hilal Obeid), Junior Ajayi (Nigeria & Al Ahly), Karim Aouadhi (Tunisia & CS Sfaxien), Aristide Bance (Burkina Faso & Al Masry), Alkhaly Bangoura (Guinea & Etoile du Sahel), Achraf Bencharki (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club), Jeremy Brockie (New Zealand & Supersport), Fawzi Chaouchi (Algeria & MC Alger), Oussama Darfalou (Algeria & USM Alger), Muaid Ellafi (Libya & Ahly Tripoli), Tady Etekiama (DR Congo & AS Vita), Ahmed Fathi (Egypt & Al Ahly), Dean Furman (South Africa & Supersport United), Sylvain Gbohouo (Cote d'Ivoire & TP Mazembe), Tarek Hamed (Egypt & Zamalek), Fackson Kapumbu (Zambia & Zesco), Saber Khalifa (Tunisia & Club Africain), Taha Yassine Khenissi (Tunisia & Esperance), Ali Maaloul (Tunisia & Al Ahly), Ayman Majid (Morocco & FUS Rabat), Ben Malango (DR Congo & TP Mazembe), Aymen Mathlouthi (Tunisia & Etoile du Sahel), Mohamed Meftah (Algeria & USM Alger), Sabelo Ndzinisa (Swaziland & Mbabane Swallows), Denis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns), Mohamed Ounnajem (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club), Elsamani Saadeldin (Sudan & Al Merreikh), Saladin Said (Ethiopia & Saint George), Geoffrey Serunkuma (Uganda & KCCA), Percy Tau (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns).

Yemi Alade’s hit single, 'Johnny' becomes Most Viewed Nigerian Music Video on YouTube

Mama  Africa,  Yemi Alade has broken yet another record as her music video for smash hit single 'Johnny' has now surpassed P-Square‘s 'personally' to become the Nigerian video with most views.




Earlier in the year, she became the female African artist with the highest views on a video. However, P-Square’s “Personally” still held the no. 1 spot in the country.

Islamist Attacker Stabs Tunisia Policemen Near Parliament

File Photo: Islamist Rebels
A hardline Islamist stabbed two Tunisian policemen on Wednesday in front of parliament, gravely wounding one of them, the interior ministry said.



“A Salafist attacked two policemen with a knife. One was struck on the forehead and the other stabbed in the neck and is in intensive care,” ministry spokesman Yasser Mesbah said, adding that the assailant had been arrested