"Trust in Nigeria's Future"

"Trust in Nigeria's Future"
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Monday, 17 June 2013

PLACES TO VISIT IN ANAMBRA STATE: AGULU LAKE, OGBUNIKE CAVE,




ogbete main market with people
Anambra State (Light of the Nation). The land of Igbo Ukwu Art and The River Niger here we will visit the world famous Ogbunike Cave, The River Niger and Picnic on the banks of the Agulu Lake which houses alligators who can be called out mysteriously by the supervisor of the attraction.
ogbete main market with people















                                                                                                   AGULU LAKE 
The Lake is located along Awka road in Agulu, Aniocha Local Government Area of Anambra state, A potential tourist site, it is home to an estimated three hundred crocodiles and water turtles. Fishing is not allowed on the lake and the crocodiles, being sacred animals to the people, cannot be killed. Legend says that these crocodiles were instrumental in delivering the town from enemy soldiers during the Nigerian civil war. It is believed that these sacred crocodiles and turtles transformed themselves into beautiful ladies and lured the soldiers unawares into the lake where they disappeared without trace. At noon the crocodiles and the turtles appear at the banks of the lake to take in sunlight. Anambra state which is one of the states that has traditional attractions such as scared streams, lake, with potentials for investment and tourism development of which Agulu Lake is one. Agulu Lake is not a common lake; it traditionally inclined, and it has cultural landmarks. The lake is used for different spiritual rites performance for traditional worshipers and the water serves as a major source of medicine for different ailments. Interestingly, the traditional lake is also the source of Idemili River which serves different communities of Anambra. The Lake is characterized by sacred and cultural landmarks of attraction which is gradually being devastated by natural and human factors of flooding, soil and gully erosion as well as landslides effects due to poorly consolidated geological formations, weathering and pollution.
           

Tinubu Receives Shocker in Dubai as Adeyemi Asks Him 'Why Serve Buhari'?


Leader of the ACN and former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu got the shocker of his life after he was publicly humiliated by Kogi Senator and former President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Senator Smart Adeyemi who asked him at a party in Dubai why he would serve a man who truncated democracy! Tinubu was stunned at the effrontery of Adeyemi as was the audience. Tinubu, along with controversial former minister of the Federal Capital Teritorry, Nasir Elrufai, immediately left the hall after the incident apparently angered that Adeyemi put Tinubu on the spot.

A large number of the who is who in the Nigerian socio-political and economic strata had stormed the City of Dubai in the UAE for the society wedding of the son of oil mogul, Chief Jide Omokore, Tosin and his heartthrob, Faisal, daughter of Ambassador Azeez Musa.

There were no fewer than 20 senators on hand, including Senate spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Smart Adeyemi, Senators Magareth Okadigbo, Zainab Kure, Gbenga Ashafa, Olugbenga Onaolapo Obadara, Boluwaji Kunlere, Anthony Adeniyi, Clever Ikisikpo, Aisha Jummai Alhassan, Esther Nenadi Usman, Olubunmi Adetunmbi and a former member of the upper chamber, Senator Joseph Akaagerger.

Besides the heavy Senate representation, the crème de la crème of Lagos was also represented. The Asiwaju of Lagos, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu; a number of red cap chiefs, a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State, Mr. Dele Alake; and a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai were also at the wedding.

Governors in attendance included the Akwa-Ibom State helmsman, Chief Godswill Akpabio and his wife; Kogi State governor, Captain Idris Wada; a former Military Administrator of Oyo State, General David Jemibewon, former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmadu Alli; former governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris; Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Segun Aganga, among many others.

Something no one was prepared for, however, happened at the hall. As guests were getting seated, the lot fell on the Chairman of Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Smart Adeyemi, to welcome the dignitaries on behalf of the groom’s family. The Senator, a broadcaster, went on and on reeling out the long list of the high and mighty.

A drama was to play out between Senator Adeyemi and Senator Tinubu. Adeyemi, who since he left behind his camera and microphone, has imbibed the art of politicking just like the veterans, took Tinubu by surprise.

He started by recognising Tinubu as the landlord of Chief Jide Omokore in Lagos. He said Tinubu had shown himself as a good landlord at that and that he was proud of Tinubu’s political prowess. He stated that looking at Tinubu’s attainments so far, he should not be seen as Asiwaju of Lagos, but Asiwaju of the entire kaaro o ojiire (Yorubaland). Tinubu was elated, seeing a key opposition politician eulogise him to high heavens.

Sources at the gathering told Sunday Tribune that the former Lagos governor never knew he was in for a shocker from Adeyemi who after reeling out the ACN leader’s pedigree, put the question forward. Why would Tinubu be deploying his democratic credentials in service of undemocratic elements? The hall went into deep silence, but it was not a question and answer session. So, Tinubu could not offer a response. Many of the guests who had offered ceaseless claps as Senator Adeyemi reeled out Tinubu’s credentials were also shocked at the twist.

According to the Kogi senator, Tinubu should be seen as leading the charge towards democratisation of the country, rather than promoting those who have truncated democratic growth of the nation in the past.

Senator Adeyemi said that Since Tinubu should be seen as Asiwaju of the Yoruba race, he was inherently a democrat because the Yoruba were democrats. He added: As democrats, you cannot be seen to be aligned with a dictator.

Senator Adeyemi had said: “I admire Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He is the landlord of the groom’s father in Lagos. A good landlord he is and he has honoured his tenant here today. I looked at his accomplishments in politics and his political antecedents and I say that this man should not just be Asiwaju of Lagos but Asiwaju of the entire Kaaro o ojiire.
“Senator Tinubu sir, I am, however, shocked that someone of your pedigrees will be devoting his political acumen for the service of a non democrat. Someone who had truncated democracy in the past….”

“I want to assure you, Asiwaju, that there is a president in Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, who has fought more battles than any other Nigerian leader in the name of terrorism.
“In 2012, the budget for security was N900 billion; that money is enough to dualise all major roads in Nigeria. It is enough to equip our universities. If that money had entered some African countries, it would cripple the economy, but it was committed to security because of terrorism.

“Goodluck Jonathan can be likened to a pilot who took off and suddenly entered into turbulence. With patience and perseverance, he weathered the storm. Today, he has reached the cruising level and he is cruising towards 2015. I believe you should be with this president as a democrat and not with a dictator.”

The hall initially went into pin-drop silence, but then erupted in huge ovations for the Kogi senator. Tinubu felt the shocking twist to the senator’s prolonged eulogy. But it was not a question and answer session so he could not offer a response.

Afterwards, Tinubu and the former FCT Minister, el-Rufai, left the venue. They were said to have been apparently unhappy at the decision of Senator Smart to turn the venue to a political gathering.

To cap it all, Senator Adeyemi moved a motion and put the question as it is done in the Senate. He put the question, saying; “those in favour of the solemnisation of Tosin and Faisal here today, say ‘aye’…… and the ayes have it.”

It was not the first time Senator Adeyemi was lashing out at those he blamed for truncating Nigeria’s democracy in the past. During a debate on the remunerations for past presidents and Heads of State, Senator Adeyemi rose on the Senate floor to announce that Nigeria should place a ban on anyone who had truncated democracy in the past. He insisted that anyone who had been seen to act negatively against the growth of Nigeria’s democracy in the past should not be allowed as partakers in the current politics, adding that the punishment for such persons should be life ban from partisan politics.

Kardashians Break Social Media Silence to Welcome Kim's Baby Girl

The Kardashian Klan is finally opening up about their newest family member after the birth of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's baby girl on Saturday.
"I can not even begin 2describe the miracle that is now apart of our family. Mommy/baby are healthy &resting. We appreciate all of the love," Khloe Kardashian tweeted this afternoon.
"More info will come when the time is right! Thank you all for understanding! We love you dearly! Overwhelmed with love right now ?" she followed up.

20 killed in renewed Benin City cult war..


BY SIMON EBEGBULEM
BENIN CITY—NO fewer than 20 persons have been killed in the past four days in different parts of Benin City, following a renewed cult war between suspected members of  Eiye Confraternity and Black Axe.
Over 10 persons were said to have been arrested by the Edo State Police Command in connection with the incident.
It was gathered that some of the leaders of the groups are on the run following the collaboration of security agencies with the state government to hunt for the suspects.
Vanguard was informed that the latest face-off was triggered  last Thursday when members of one of the groups went to the home of one of the suspects currently on the run, whose father was said to belong to one of the warring groups to resolve some money related issues.
It was learnt that while they were settling the issue, the suspect went upstairs to fetch a pump action gun and shot a member of the rival cult group on the leg.
The victim was rushed to the hospital by his colleagues while the suspect fled. Consequently, colleagues of the victim mobilised  for reprisal attacks, visiting the homes of members of the rival  group.
It was learnt that the attack led to the killing of a colleague of the suspect who started the shooting at New Benin. As expected, the cult war escalated. There were killings in Idu Owena, after Ugbowo, Isihor, Ugbiyoko, Textile Mill Road, New Benin and Igbesanwa.
Vanguard was reliably informed that no fewer than 20 persons have been killed so far. As a result, night life in Benin City has been affected as people no longer relax in bars in the evenings due to fear of being attacked by the rampaging cultists.
Oshiomhole summons security meeting
Worried by the development, it was learnt that Governor Adams Oshiomhole convened an emergency security meeting last Friday, asking security operatives to fish out the killers. Vanguard learnt that about 10 persons have been arrested so far while efforts were on towards finding a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
The Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr Folounsho Adebanjo, who could not confirm the casualty figure, described the killings as unacceptable and vowed that the police would deal with the situation.
According to him, “we are not relaxing at all. We are in search of the leaders behind this. Some persons have been arrested while some are on the run. The killings will stop because our officers are all on the alert now. I can assure you that anybody arrested will be dealt with very seriously.
“All security agencies in the state are concerned. The governor is equally concerned, residents of the state are concerned. So we will not relent until we stop this madness. It is very sad that people no longer value human lives.”

FG approves N300m for capacity building for Nollywood


Abuja –  The Federal Government has approved N300 million out of the three billion naira intervention fund for capacity building to boost the Nigerian film industry.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by Mr Paul Nwabuikwu, Spokesman for the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
“Action on the three billion naira support promised the Nigerian film industry by President Goodluck Jonathan has formally commenced with the roll out of a N300 million capacity building fund.’’
The statement noted that the capacity building fund was the first of a series of initiatives planned under “Project Act Nollywood’’, adding that It was made up of two components.
According to the statement, the first component is a Training Fund of N150 million, dedicated to training and skills acquisition for Nollywood practitioners in all competencies along the entire value chain of the industry.
The statement said it include; scriptwriting, directing, production and production design, special effects, lighting, sound, HD techniques, acting, cinematography, make-up and editing, among others.
It said that the second component was the Capacity Development Fund which was also worth N150 million.
According to the statement, grants will be given to existing Nigerian-owned private institutes that offer training courses, programmes, and technical certification in the movie industry.
The statement said the fund might be used to upgrade existing facilities, procure equipment and develop internal capacity to offer a set of courses and training programmes that would address key skills gaps.
It said that institutes to benefit from the fund must have a prove of registration from Jan. 1, 2013, and be competent enough to train people according to global best practices.
The statement said that the intervention Project ACT Nollywood, would be managed by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and the Minister of Tourism, Chief Edem Duke.
Okonjo-Iweala in the statement said the establishment of the fund underscored government’s commitment to supporting Nollywood in recognition of its contributions to the economy.
“This is the first of the initiatives planned under Project Act Nollywood, and it shows that the president is keeping his word to the industry and to Nigerians.
“Nollywood deserves this support because it has added value to the economy by creating jobs and acting as an ambassador to the country.
“It is also projecting Nigeria to many parts of the world that hitherto, knew little or nothing about the country,” it quoted Okonjo-Iweala as saying.
It said that the overall objective of Project Act Nollywood was to support the industry in a sustainable way that practitioners could leverage on to improve their capacity and output in key areas.
“The fund is open for applications from July to December 2013. Courses commencing after Dec. 31st are eligible provided the application is received before Dec. 31 2013.’’
It said that guidelines for applications indicated that applicants must be Nigerians and industry practitioners among other requirements. (NAN)

Photos: Giant Snake Swallows Woman Alive In Durban, South Africa

snake eats woman alive in south africa
A South African Journalist, Linda Laina Nyatoro shared this scary picture on her Facebook page yesterday.
She said it happened very close to Durban North in South Africa.

According to her, the snake in the above picture swallowedwoman alive.
Though she didn’t provide further details but she said it’s true.
Wonders shall never end oh! This looks real to me, what do you think guys?

I Prefer Robbery To Prostitution ––Woman Arrested In Robbery

Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 28-year-old woman, Anita Ekechukwu, her brother, Sunday Ekechukwu; and three others -, Benedict Nwadike, Emmanuel Ochi, also known as General and George Emmanuel, aka Force Man - for armed robbery.

The suspects were arrested while robbing bureau de change operators of millions of naira. Narrating how the suspects operated, a source at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad said:

Anita Ekechukwu would pose as a customer and convince the bureau de change operator to enter a vehicle with her only to rob him.

“Anita would go to a bank and say she wanted to buy foreign currency knowing well that banks do not sell foreign currency to just anyone. The bankers would introduce her to a bureau de change operator and they would establish contact. Later, she will call them for a huge transaction in a vehicle.

“When the victim enters the vehicle, her colleagues would come in another vehicle, abduct the victim, rob him of his money at gunpoint and then throw him out of the vehicle.”

Anita, her brother and others were arrested while trying to rob one Sanusi of $80,000 (N12.8m).

The police source said the robbers operated around a bank in Lekki and had boarded their vehicle when policemen intercepted them.

He said, “They organised another operation. Already police were aware that the gang was about to operate around the area. The robbers had abducted their victim, when the police swooped on them and arrested them. The robbers then revealed the location of the others. The police recovered the money collected from the victim.”

While answering questions, Anita Ekechukwu said she took to robbery because of unemployment, adding that it was more honourable than prostitution. “I am a member of the gang but we do not operate with gun. I am from Owerri, in Imo State. I am unemployed but I live at Lekki with my elder brother, Sunday, who is a building contractor.

“I joined the gang because I could not secure any reasonable employment. I joined the gang this year and I was given the telephone number of a bureau de change operator. I told him I wanted to buy $30,000. The next day, he sent his brothers who brought the dollars. I then told the man that we were going to a bank where I would pay him the naira equivalent. On the way to the bank, we collected the money from the man and pushed him out of the vehicle.”

Another suspect, Ochi, who is about 24 years old, claimed he was a student of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State. He said his dream was to join the Nigeria Police but it was unclear if he would still be enlisted following his arrest.

He said, “My role in the gang is to push the victim out of our vehicle but I am always careful so that he will not fall and hit his head against a stone or hard object.

“I am a student of Olabisi Olabanjo University, Ogun State and I am in 300 level studying Crime Investigation. I intended to enlist in Nigeria Police Force when I graduate. I want to become a police detective.

On his hope of realising his life ambition to become police detective after graduation, now that he had been arrested he said, “It is God that will decide. If I regain my freedom I will stand a chance. Even if I am jailed, I may get state pardon. Everything depends on God.”

Sunday, 16 June 2013

Sign death warrants, Jonathan tells govs on Father’s Day

President Goodluck Jonathan (4th r) leading other fathers in the presentation of a special song during the 2013 Father's Day celebration at the Aso Villa Chapel Abuja on Sunday (16/6/13).
Ben Agande, Abuja.
President Goodluck Jonathan has called on state governors not to shy away from signing death sentences passed on convicted criminals saying that as leaders, their responsibilities include doing both the “sweet and the ugly part” a long as it is sanctioned by law.
In a message at the Villa Chapel to commemorate the Fathers’ day celebration, president Jonathan expressed worry that discipline which used to be the hallmark of the family is gradually being eroded because of negative influence of modernism.
President Goodluck Jonathan (4th r) leading other fathers in the presentation of a special song during the 2013 Father’s Day celebration at the Aso Villa Chapel Abuja on Sunday (16/6/13).
He said: “These days, because of modern life, discipline is almost gone. Discipline can be in various forms. In the states, it could be admonition. Magistrate can just admonish and allow him to go. From admonition to various forms of punishments, it could be imprisonment. The extreme is capital punishment.
“In the case of capital punishment, the state governors will sign (the death sentence). Even governors sometimes find it difficult to sign. I have been telling the governors that they must sign because that is the law. The work we are doing have a very sweet part and a very ugly part and we must perform both. No matter how painful it is, it is part of their responsibilities” the president said.
He president said fathers are expected to be role models where children will want to be like their fathers, saying that they must of fail to discipline their children when necessary.
“I want to urge all of us who are fathers to discipline our children. No matter what you do, even if you show love and provide the needs of the family, if you don’t discipline your children, it is not good. So for us as parents, it is important for us to let our children constantly know that it is good to take the right path. It is good for them to know that they must be upright” the president said.
Earlier in his sermon, The President of the Church of Christ in Nigeria, Rev. Soja Bewarang,  said if Nigeria must move forward, those working with the President must refrain from stealing public funds and must be honest.
“If this country must survive, all men working under the President must practise honesty and they must not steal. He (the President) cannot fight corruption when you are not supporting him. He may try, but he cannot be everywhere. You are his representatives , so you must practise honesty and you must not steal,” he said.
He asked Nigerians to pray for good fathers like Enoch; those who will walk with God like Noah; those who will feat and trust God like Joshua; and men of faith like Abraham.
The special service which had Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State as the special guest of honour was also attended by the President’s mother, Eunice; Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State; Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife; Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tony Anenih; members of the Federal Executive Council; new Controller-General of  Immigration, Mr. David Paradang; Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr. Ade Abolurin; and members of the National Assembly.
Others were the Ambassador of Ireland in Nigeria, Mr. Patrick Fhearghail; the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Uriel Palti; former House Leader, Tunde Akogun; Ndidi Elumelu; and Nollywood stars among others.

Kaduna man allegedly sedated & raped man who called him 'uncle'


You read some stories and all you can do is shake your head. According to this story from Nigerian Tribune, a Kaduna based successful business man named Alhaji Habu (pictured right in hospital after being stabbed) invited Kabiru (pictured left) to his home, where he proceeded to drug his tea and have sex with him. Kabiru claimed he was initially too weak to fight him off when Alhaji Habu penetrated him but eventually managed to gain enough strength to get the man he called 'uncle' off him, using a knife.

Meanwhile, Alhaji Habu is telling a different story. He claimed Kabiru came to his house and asked to spend the night, and in the middle of the night Kabiru tried to rob him and attacked with him a knife. The first explanation sounds more plausible. Read the full story after the cut...


From Nigerian Tribune
It is a sad story, a frightening betrayal of family trust. To many, it’s something that defies logic, because no one has ever seen a male dog, despite its high libido, doing such a thing with another male dog. For the fact a man was involved in it, and in a highly cosmopolitan city like Kaduna where all kinds of women abound who could have served that purpose for a fee, or even for free depending on how persuasive one could be, many are now disturbed. The thinking in many quarters is that, perhaps, the people of the biblical Sodom and Gomorrah are gradually reincarnating in the crocodile city.
For Hajiya Fati, it’s a sad tale to tell, but considering the degree of betrayal, she was prepared to go to any length to seek justice for her son who was allegedly sedated, sodomised and blackmailed by a businessman who hitherto was highly respected and revered by neighbours in the elitist Malali area of Kaduna metropolis.
Amid sobs, she prayed that such a thing would never happen again to any family, and hoped against hope that the dirty act would not be revealed to her ailing husband, the father of her son, Kabiru, who is now coping with the sad and painful experience he suffered in the hands of a close and trusted family friend – a man who had once played with him on his laps as a baby, but who would one day turn into a sex predator, forcefully gaining entry into his anal region after drugging him with a hot tea.
Narrating his ordeal, Kabiru, who appears to be in his early 30s, said he was invited by Alhaji Habu to his Malali house and was offered food to eat. After the meal, he vomited because he was not feeling well. According to him, his host offered him tea, which he drank and immediately, he fell asleep in the house, with no one around.
According to him, the tea, which he suspected was drugged, threw him into a state of illusion, but he felt it when Alhaji Habu allegedly penetrated him.
“He was already inside me and I tried to free myself, but my body was weak because of the tea. I gained a little strength and tried to push him aside, but he said he would give me whatever I wanted if I could cooperate. I saw a knife and rushed for it but he held my hand and slapped me, forcing me down. When I was able to grab the knife again, he held my hand, and in the struggle, I was wounded. I fought with the knife to free myself, screaming for help. It was late at night and when I was able to push the door and escaped, I screamed and some people came to help me. The police came from Malali Police Station and took us to the Garkuwa Hospital,” he recounted.
Kabiru said he had never involved in such abnormal sexual act, and expressed sadness that a person he called ‘uncle’ could do such a thing to him.
Hajiya Fati insisted there was no homosexual relationship between her son and one Alhaji Habu; but she maintained the suspect had been well known to the family since when Kabiru was a baby, and even married the sister of a close friend of hers.
“I was home sleeping, and around 2:00 a.m., the police came knocking. They said my son, Kabiru, had a fight with someone and that they were both in a hospital badly wounded. We rushed to the Garkuwa Hospital, and on sighting me, Kabiru said ‘Mama, look at what Alhaji Habu did to me’. I was terrified and dumbfounded because my son was in bad state, and something like water was dripping from his backside.
 “Immediately, Alhaji Habu, who was bandaged due to knife cuts on his body, also said ‘Hajiya, look at what Kabiru did to me.’ He said my son came to his house to use his guinea brocade (kaftan) for a wedding ceremony and decided to pass the night. He said that in the night, he felt somebody stabbing him with a knife, and was even calling Kabiru to come to his aid, not knowing that it was Kabiru that was stabbing him.
“I asked him why he didn’t call me to inform me that Kabiru would be passing the night in his house. I said that even if Kabiru stayed late in his house, he should have asked him to leave, since in such (an elitist) area, one could not get a taxi or commercial motorcyclists at late hours. But he said it was my son who came to his house, ate the food he had cooked and vomited, drank tea afterward and decided to sleep in the house, not knowing that he came to rob him.”
She said she could not tell Kabiru’s father the sad story because he is old and very ill; expressing the fear that such a story might worsen his already bad situation.
“All I want is justice to take its course. My son cannot be blackmailed. He (Alhaji Habu) has betrayed trust and I can never forget this sad incident. The religion of Islam is against this kind of thing; the heaven and the earth shake anytime this sin is committed. It is a very bad thing. I must fight for my fundamental human rights,” she said.
It was gathered that Habu’s wife has since deserted the family home, having suspected that her husband was involved in an inappropriate relationship.
At the hospital where Alhaji Habu was receiving treatment, he told reporters that Kabiru was in his house to rob him and succeeded in wounding him with a knife. The reporters were, however, prevented from having a detailed interview with the suspect, based on ‘orders from above’.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for the state police command, DSP Aminu Lawan, said he was aware of the incident but that investigations were still going on to unravel what actually took place during the encounter.

US Police begin manhunt for Nigerian’s killers



New York — The Police in New York have begun manhunt of two suspects connected with the gruesome stabbing to death of a Nigerian in Brownsville area of  Brooklyn, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
According to local media, the deceased, Uro Ama Orji, 54, and a cab driver in the area, was said to have been stabbed in the eye with an umbrella.
After he had been wounded, his vehicle crashed into two parked sport-utility vehicles at Lott Avenue and Boyland Street at about 5:30 p.m.
Orji, who resided in Queens, was taken to Brookdale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Following the development, a 5,000-dollar reward was offered for information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects.
The New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers offered a 3,000-dollar reward, while the group of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care offered another 2,000-dollars.
Police said they were looking for a man and woman who were passengers in the cab and seen running from the scene. A video showed the man getting out of the cab, opening the front door of the vehicle and stabbing Orji with an umbrella.
“It’s clearly on that video. You have a female and male, and the male runs, the young lady walking away, perhaps guilt got the best of her.
“This is a total outrage. This is just a guy trying to make a buck to probably feed himself and his family only to have his life taken for less than 10 dollars or maybe 20 dollars, which is close to the average fare one would pay for a local ride inside Brooklyn”, community advisor, Tony Herbert, said.
“It’s a very dangerous job, a very dangerous business,” Fernando Mateo, President of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers also said.
Community activists are asking a UPS driver who might have witnessed the incident to come forward.
Orji, a father of five children, came from Nigeria to U.S. 10 years ago to make a better living for his family.
His children, whose ages are from 13 to 22, arrived in U.S. from Nigeria in December.
“It’s still early, fresh. They are still in the denial stage,” said Orji’s brother, Agwu Ana Agwu.
His sister-in-law, Chinedum Agwu, said he was a good father who was just trying to make ends meet.
“He was a very dedicated, loving father. An innocent man who was just working hard to make sure his kids eat. Everything he was doing was to take care of his children.
“ It’s horrible. How do you do something like that? How do you wake up and have in your mind to go out and hurt somebody?” she said.

Ukrainian plane detained in Kano


Security agents have detained an Ukrainian cargo plane at the Kano International Airport for carrying suspected military hardware.
Vanguard gathered that investigation is ongoing on the owners and the destination of the cargo.
This is coming few weeks after weapons believed to belong to Hezbollah was uncovered in a building belonging to a Lebanese businessman in Kano. The items recovered from the building include; 40 air-to-surface missiles, 50 cluster bombs, 200 rocket-propel launcher, eight AK-47 rifles, 200 military hand grenades, uncountable number of live ammunition and certain military hard wares deployed to destroy Armoured Personnel Carriers, APC.
Details later. By Abdulsalam Muhammed

Obama Wishes Dads a Happy Father's Day

President Barack Obama is seen delivering his weekly address (White House video screen grab).
 President Barack Obama is seen delivering his weekly address (WhiteHouse video screen grab).
 
U.S. President Barack Obama says there is never a substitute for the love and support of a parent in a child's life.
 
In his weekly address Saturday, Obama paid tribute to the country's Father's Day observance by saying the most important job many American men will ever have is "being a dad."

The president said he wished he had a father who was around to help teach him "values like hard work," integrity and responsibility. He added that good parents must make frequent sacrifices and show "unconditional love" to help their kids grow into the people they were meant to be.

Americans will celebrate Father's Day Sunday.

In the weekly Republican address, U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee called for "a permanent solution to all student loan interest rates" before some automatically rise on July 1st.

Alexander, a former U.S. secretary of education, said "It's fairer to students and fairer to taxpayers" to allow the market to set interest rates, and that all student borrowers can benefit from the current low rates.

Watch President Obama's address: