150 feared dead in River Niger tragedy

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One hundred and fifty persons were feared dead on Friday following a boat mishap in River Niger, close to Malilli village in the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

The accident happened at about 2 pm. While 42 bodies were recovered and confirmed dead, over 100 others are reportedly missing.

As at 10:30pm, no there was no survivor. Divers were still at the river looking for more victims.

The Public Relation Officer of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Ibrahim Hussaini, told our correspondent via the telephone that the incident occurred as the traders were returning from Malili village to their village, Tunga Illo, which is across the River Niger.

He said, “The boat was believed to have carried over 150 passengers, mostly traders when it capsized mid way into its journey, resulting in the drowning of 42 passengers, while 100 others are missing.

“Swimmers from Malili village swung into action immediately after they heard about the mishap, retrieving 42 corpses from the river, while efforts are being made to rescue possible survivors along the bank of the river or the corpses of those that drown.

“At the moment, search and rescue is ongoing on the river, I will make the detail of the incident known soon.”

Nigerian arraigned in US for aiding al-Qaeda

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A Nigerian terror suspect accused of trying to help al-Qaeda in Yemen appear before a United States federal courtroom on Friday.

Lawal Babafemi was accused of training with members of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and using his English skills to help publish the terrorist magazine “Inspire.”

Judge John Gleason ordered Babafemi, also known as “Ayatollah Mustafa,” held without bail. No plea was entered, reports NBCnewyork.com.

Prosecutors said Babafemi is married with children in Nigeria and helped al-Qaeda attempt to recruit people who speak English to engage in acts of terror against Americans.

The FBI said Anwar al-Awlaki, the American cleric who became the al-Qeada commander in the Arabian Peninsula and was killed in a US drone strike, personally directed $9,000 be paid to Babafemi to assist in his recruitment efforts.

Sitting silently at a defense table, Babafemi wore a blue and white striped polo shirt as he listened to the hearing without the help of a translator.

His attorney did not object to his being held without bail, but told the judge Babafemi suffers from high blood pressure and asked that he receive medication when he gets to the Metropolitan Detention Center.

Investigators said Babafemi was active with al-Qaeda operatives from 2010 to 2011 until he was arrested for crimes in Nigeria. He was then turned over to FBI agents to be prosecuted for his alleged terrorist activity.

“The defendant threw his efforts behind al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s media, recruitment, and weapons training campaigns in an effort to strengthen the terrorist group’s grip on the region and extend its reach throughout the world,” US Attorney Loretta Lynch said in a statement.

His transfer to the United States comes amid increasing concerns about the growing footprint of al-Qaeda affiliated organizations in Africa.

Al-Qaeda in Yemen has tried to use an underwear bomb on an airliner heading to Detroit and has hidden explosives in printers to try to bomb cargo planes.

Al Shabaab — a Somali-based group linked to al-Qaeda — is believed to be behind the recent mall attack in Kenya.

Culled from The Punch Nigeria...

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Simply Cheska...

DSS, Army arrest Mike Ozekhome’s kidnapper...

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A combined security team drawn from the Nigerian Army and Department of Security Service, DSS, have arrested Kelvin Prosper Oniarah, who allegedly kidnapped the Human Rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, along Auchi–Benin road late last month. 

Spokesperson for DSS, Marilyn Ogar said Oniarah who was arrested Wednesday was a notorious terrorist, kidnap kingpin and armed robber and has been on the wanted list of security agencies.

Ogar said Kelvin Oniarah who is also known as Kelvin Ibruvwe was responsible for the kidnap of and killing of Dr. Chudi Nwike a former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, while in captivity;

According to the statmentj “on 25th September, 2013, a combined security team of the Nigerian Army and DSS operatives arrested Kelvin Prosper Oniarah, a notorious terrorist, kidnap kingpin and armed robber, who has been on the wanted list of security agencies.

“Kelvin ONIARAH who is also known as Kelvin IBRUVWE masterminded the kidnap of Mike OZEKHOME (SAN) on 24th August, 2013, along Auchi–Benin road.

“He is also responsible for the following kidnaps, Judge of the Edo State Judiciary, and a top female official of the Federal Inland Revenue Service,FIRS.

She said “Chudi Nwike, Dr. a former Deputy Governor of Anambra State, who was killed by Kelvin while in captivity; and several members of the NYSC and security agents.

“He also masterminded various attacks against security personnel, carried out several armed robberies and kidnap operations in Delta, Edo, Rivers and Anambra States.

“Oniarah maintained operational bases and detention camps in Warri and Kokori Community in Delta State, Ugbokolo Community in Benue State, Benin City in Edo State, and Aba in Abia State.

“It would also be recalled that on 18th September, 2013, Kelvin Oniarah issued a 60 day ultimatum from his base in Kokori, Delta State, to the Federal Government and threatened to wreak havoc on innocent Nigerian citizens.

“Kelvin Oniarah has been taken into custody and investigation of his notorious activities has commenced.”

Culled from The Vanguard Nigeria...

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Simply Cheska...

Woman who looked like 'White Widow' sprayed machine gun bullets at me during Kenyan mall massacre, says shop worker...

Involved? Samantha Lewthwaite, of Aylesbury, is seen in a newly-released photo from her school days...

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A shop worker says a woman resembling ‘white widow’ Samantha Lewthwaite sprayed her with machine-gun bullets during the Kenyan mall massacre.

As the four-day siege drew to a close last night, a witness said an AK-47-wielding ‘pale-skinned woman’ with long dark hair – the same as British Muslim convert Lewthwaite – locked eyes with her as she cowered beneath a box before opening fire from a balcony.

Amazingly, the woman, who gave her name only as Caroline, escaped unharmed as Islamists stormed the Westgate shopping centre. 

She said: ‘She was high up but not far from me, close enough that I saw her looking along the floor where I was until she saw me.

‘She stopped and aimed at me and then opened fire. All of the  bullets did not hit me, I don’t know how that happened.

‘She stopped firing at me for a moment and looked away and I jumped up and ran around a corner and that’s how I escaped.

‘She had pale skin and long black hair, and was wearing a baggy black top. I can’t remember very much, but I remember she had pale skin.’

A senior Kenyan anti-terror officer last night revealed that police had received many witness accounts of a female attacker resembling the widow of 7/7 bomber Jermaine Lindsay. 

He added: ‘We believe that she was involved in the attack. We cannot doubt the eyewitnesses who say they saw her commanding the attackers.’

Mother: Relatives of Samantha Lewthwaite, from Buckinghamshire, in the UK maintained a wall of silence...

The vivid description of a female jihadist comes as Kenya president Uhuru Kenyatta last night confirmed he had received intelligence reports suggesting a British woman was involved.

Kenya foreign minister Amina Mohamed added: ‘The Briton was a woman... who has done this many times before.’

Yesterday, a Twitter account purporting to belong to militant group Al Shabaab also claimed that Lewthwaite had ‘commanded’ the attack.

A post said: ‘We have received permission to disclose the involvement of Samantha Lewthwaite aka sherafiyah [her Islamic name], she successfully overseered [sic] the mission.’

British security officials say they have yet to receive confirmation from the Kenyan authorities of Lewthwaite’s role in the attack, but they would not be ‘entirely surprised’ if she is involved.

It emerged yesterday that Lewthwaite’s grandmother, 85-year-old Ellen Allen, was rushed to hospital in Banbridge, Northern Ireland after collapsing from the stress of her granddaughter’s notoriety.

Is caffeine making teenagers stupid? Coffee, cola and energy drinks could 'slow brain development'...

Caffeine consumption in drinks such as cola and coffee plus energy drinks could slow down brain development in teenagers, Swiss scientists said...

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Teenagers who drink too much caffeine could be affecting their brain development, Swiss scientists have warned. 

Children and young adults guzzling the equivalent of three cups of coffee - three cans of energy drink or approximately one large bottle of cola - could be unconsciously reducing the amount of deep sleep they enjoy and slowing their brain development.

Humans and other mammals display particularly intensive sleeping patterns during puberty and their brains mature fastest at this time.

However, scientists exploring the effects of caffeine on rats found the maturing processes in the rodents' brains were delayed.

The study was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) which is concerned that children and young adults' caffeine consumption has soared by over 70 per cent during the past 30 years.

The foundation said children's exposure to caffeine will only grow as the drinks industry is posting its its fastest-growing sales in the segment of caffeine-laden energy drinks, causing some scientists to worry about possible health risks caused in young coffee-addicts and soft drink fans.

Researchers at the University Children’s Hospital Zurich, found that in pubescent rats, caffeine intake equating to three to four cups of coffee per day in humans results in reduced deep sleep and a delayed brain development.

In rats and humans, the duration and intensity of deep sleep as well as the number of synapses or connections in the brain increase during childhood, reaching their highest level during puberty and dropping again in adult age.

Reto Huber, who led the research, said: 'The brain of children is extremely plastic due to the many connections' and when the brain begins to mature during puberty, a large number of these connections are lost.

'This optimisation presumably occurs during deep sleep. Key synapses extend, others are reduced; this makes the network more efficient and the brain more powerful,' he said.

The scientists administered moderate quantities of caffeine to 30-day-old rats over five days and measured the electrical current generated by their brains.

'Over three days, I miscarried eight times. I cradled each of them as they died in my arms': Octomum Mandy Allwood relives the hell of losing her babies in the week they would have turned 17...

Mandy Allwood who was the first 'Octomum' but sadly lost all of her eight babies talks about her painful life after losing her children...

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This week, Mandy Allwood - the original 'Octomum' - will mark 17 years since her octuplets passed away in her arms.

In September 1996, she gave birth to  six boys and two girls - just 24 weeks into her pregnancy.

Within hours of being born, each had died.

The years that followed have seen Mrs Allwood descend into depression, suicide attempts and alcohol addiction.

Now, as she marks the week her children  Kypros, Adam, Martyn, Cassius, Nelson, Donald, Kitali and Layne would have celebrated their 17th birthday, Mrs Allwood has said she still relives the death of each of her children, who were born - and died - over the course of three days.

In an interview with the Sunday People, Mrs Allwood said she has tried to kill herself twice, and still battles an alcohol addiction, and speaks out against the accusations she 'cashed in' on the tragedy.

She said: 'Over three days and nights I miscarried eight times.

'I cradled each of them for two-and-a-half hours as they died in my arms. It was horrible. Truly horrible.'

She said she prayed to God when she felt the last of her children being born that at least one of them would live, only for her eighth child to die too.

The children are all buried in West Norwood Cemetery, South London.

She said her grief was worsened by the media attention her pregnancy attracted.

In September 1996, Mrs Allwood gave birth to six boys and two girls - just 24 weeks into her pregnancy. Within hours of being born, each had died

The years that followed have seen Mrs Allwood descend into depression, suicide attempts and alcohol addiction...

Herbalists accused of gang-raping housewife remanded...

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A Magistrate Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered that two herbalists accused of defrauding their client and raping her be remanded in prison.

Magistrate Olusola Aluko gave the order because of the refusal of the suspects to appear in court for 12 times without any genuine reason.

The herbalists – Musa Sule, 32, Dauda Rasaq, 40, and one Femi Akomolafe who is at large – were accused of gang-raping the victim when she visited their shrine at the Sabo area of Osogbo to find spiritual solution to her problem of miscarriage.

The herbalists were accused of defrauding their patient of N29.5m, being the amount collected from her to solve her problem.

The victim was said to have been raped when she also complained to them that she still suffered another miscarriage despite the huge money she paid and assurances given her.

The prosecutor, Joshua Oladoye, told the court that the accused committed offences contrary to Sections 8 (a), 1 (2) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2006.

The accused persons were said to have been arraigned before a court and were admitted to bail after pleading not guilty but they refused to appear before the court afterwards.

When they finally appeared, another charge was added to the initial offences.

Kenya: Corpses of Ghanaian poet, 67 others recovered...

British High Commissioner to Kenya, Christian Turner, donating blood to victims of the Westgate Mall terror attack in Nairobi (2); Soldiers in front of the mall (3); An injured soldier receiving treatment ... on Sunday...

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Nine more bodies have been discovered inside the Westgate shopping centre, raising the death toll to 68, as Kenyan officials vowed that the siege would “end tonight.”

A major assault is ongoing against Al-Shabaab gunmen in an attempt to end a siege in a shopping centre in Nairobi, Kenyan officials have said.

Up to 15 terrorists remain inside the centre, holding an unknown number of hostages. At least 49 people are still missing.

Ghanaian poet and diplomat Kofi Awoonor is among the 68 killed during the attack on Westgate Mall. He died on Saturday, aged 78, from injuries sustained in the attack on Westgate Mall, Nairobi, Telegraph UK reports.

The Ghanaian government confirmed Awoonor’s death early Sunday morning. Awoonor’s son had been shot in the shoulder during the attack, for which Somali militant group Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility, and was treated and discharged from hospital late on Saturday.

Awoonor was in Nairobi to speak at the Storymoja Hay Festival, a four-day celebration of writing, thinking and storytelling. Along with Ghanaian poets Nii Parkes and Kwame Dawes, he was due to perform on Saturday evening as part of a showcase of award-winning poetry from both sides of Africa.

Gunshots and explosions were heard in and around the Westgate shopping centre and soldiers were seen moving into the building. Helicopters hovered overhead.

Police conceded that the death toll could be “much, much higher”, after reports from inside of multiple bodies.

The attack began when gunmen from the Islamist Shabaab group burst into the upmarket mall yesterday afternoon armed with guns and grenades. Unconfirmed reports suggest women as well as men took part in the attack.

Some of those killed were reportedly executed after failing to recite a Muslim prayer at gunpoint. Others were shot at the entrance to the mall as they tried to escape.

The Kenyan Red Cross estimate at least 200 people have been injured. The group have set up a webpage for anyone worried friends or relatives might be caught up in incident.

A Foreign Office spokesman said three Britons were among those killed and warned the number is likely to rise.

Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the “despicable attack,” saying it was an act of “appalling brutality.”

“Because the situation is ongoing, we should prepare ourselves for further bad news,” he added.

More than 1,000 people have so far been evacuated from the shopping centre but an unknown number remain inside.

Security forces have taken control of the upper and lower levels of the building, and an army spokesman told Sky News they were trying to secure the second floor where the terrorists may be hiding.

Other reports suggested the attackers are holed up in a toilet block next to a supermarket on the ground floor of the complex.

Two Canadians are confirmed to have been killed in the attack, while two French citizens and a Dutch woman are also among the dead.

The Somalia-based Shabaab militant group claimed responsibility and warned of further attacks.

President Kenyatta said one of his nephews and his nephew’s fiancee were among the 68 people confirmed killed.

“They shall not get away with their despicable and beastly acts,” the President said in an emotional speech to the nation. “We will punish the masterminds swiftly and indeed very painfully.”

Culled from The Punch Nigeria...

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Simply Cheska...