TWO MEN STABBED TO DEATH FOR PROTECTING MUSLIM WOMEN FROM HARASSMENT

A 35-year-old suspect identified as Jeremy Joseph Christian of Portland has been arrested after he stabbed two men to death who tried to stop him from harassing two young women who appeared to be Muslims.

The stabbing incident happened aboard a Portland, Oregon, commuter train and the assailant (a convicted felon), was arrested soon after the attack, according to police sources

A senior researcher with the Southern Poverty Law Center, in a blog post, said Christian’s Facebook page showed he held “some racist and other extremist beliefs.”

The attack unfolded hours before the start of Ramadan, Islam’s holy month, when most of the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims observe a daily religious fast.

“It’s too early to say whether last night’s violence was an act of domestic terrorism or a federal hate crime,” Loren Cannon, special agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Oregon told a news conference on Saturday, adding the bureau had joined the investigation.

SUPER EAGLES AND RUSSIA STAR, SYVESTER IGBOUN,HIS CONGOLESS WIFE AND KIDS HOLIDAY IN SPAIN

Super Eagles and FC Ufa of Russia based football star Sylvester Igboun took his Congolese wife and his kids  for a one week holiday in Spain on Friday. More photos after the cut...

HIP=HOP PRODUCER, JERMAINE DUPRI AND BOW WOW RECIEVED "SPIRIT OF DETROIT AWARD" FOR INSPIRING YOUNG PEOPLE

American Hip-hop and R&B producer Jermaine Dupri and rapper Bow Wow have been awarded the ‘Spirit of Detroit Award’ for their community service and inspiring young people. According to Detroit News, they were presented with the awards on Friday morning by Detroit City Councilwoman Mary Sheffield who stated that the were recognize for their community service, their work in stressing the importance of education and inspire young people in the city to achieve greatness.

“Oftentimes we only see one side of hip hop or one side of the artist, but we don’t see the side where you’re giving back to the community,” Sheffield said.

Bow Wow wrote:

"First off want to say thank you to the city of Detroit and council member ms Sheffield for this wonderful acknowledgement with the spirit award. I never been the type to brag about what i do for children or the community because I'm not looking for recognition. Its amazing how the media writes all these stories but yet fail to realize just how much good i do. I FAILED to realize that my antics must stop. The girls me wilin etc... sometimes I forget there are still people who look up to me or i inspire. I lost track of that. When i got this award it reminded me to Get it together stay positive and lead by example. Thank you I'm truly honored by this. Want to make Shai and my mom proud. PERIOD! #SOSOSUMMER17

20-YEARS OLD GHANAIAN GIRL SET HER BOYFRIEND'S HOUSE ABLAZE

Priscilla Berfi, a 20-year-old Ghanaian girl has rendered her boyfriend homeless after she recently set his house at Deduako in the Oforikrom Constituency of the Ashanti Region ablaze for allegedly cheating on her.

Pulse Ghana reports that there were no casualties recorded but the fire destroyed several properties.

Narrating the shocking incident, the boyfriend, Kofi Adusei said he had ceased taking care of Priscilla, who is pregnant due to her bad attitude and lack of respect towards him.

He said Priscilla visited him on the night of the incident but they had a misunderstanding so he decided not to spend the night in the same room with her.

According to him, he left the room and went to sleep in another where a second girlfriend was waiting for him.

'While relaxing in the other room, I perceived smoke and so I thought she had taken some of my clothing out to burn them. I really wasn’t bothered, but later I heard shouts and calls that my room is on fire, we rushed to see the room in flames with Priscilla nowhere to be found,' he said.

After the incident, Kofi however, reported the issue to the police and the suspect has since been arrested by Kwame Nkrumah of Science and Technology (KNUST) District Police Command to help with further investigations.

LEGENDARY AMERICAN BASEBALL PLAYER AND POLITICIAN, JIM BUNNING DIES AT 85

Hall of Fame Pitcher Jim Bunning, who went on to serve in Congress has died at the age of 85. His death was confirmed by Jon Deuser, who served as chief of staff when Bunning was in the Senate. Deuser said he was notified about the death by Bunning's family.  In his prime, Bunning won 224 games in a 17-year major-league career and pitched the first perfect game in modern National League history.
He became the first pitcher after 1900 to throw no-hitters in both the American and National Leagues. He was also a Kentucky Republican and the only member of the Baseball Hall of Fame to serve in Congress. He served in both the House and Senate

CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE TO RECIEVE AN HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE FROM WILLIAM'S COLLEGE IN US

Acclaimed Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will receive an Honorary Doctorate Degree during the 228th Commencement Exercise at the Williams College in Massachusetts, US on the 4th of June.
Adichie who will also be the principal speaker at the Commencement Exercise will receive a Doctorate degree with U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins, as well as former Williams College provost and current president of Washington and Lee University Will Dudley, public health and environmental advocate Gina McCarthy and Gavin A. Schmidt, the director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

OVER 1530 AFRICAN MIGRANTS HAVE DIED IN MEDITERRANEAN SEA--UN MIGRATION AGENCY

The UN Migration Agency (IOM) said Friday that 1,530 African migrants and refugees have so far died while crossing the Mediterranean sea in 2017.

Speaking at the daily news briefing, Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, made the disclosure while giving the IOM report.

According to Dujarric,  60,521 migrants and refugees have entered Europe by sea this year, with over 80 percent arriving in Italy and the remainder divided between Greece, Cyprus and Spain.

‘This number does not include some 6,000 people who have been rescued over the past 72 hours,” said Dujarric.

‘In terms of fatalities, there have been 1,530 migrants and refugees who have died this year on this route, a figure that roughly matches those for 2016 for the same period, he added

'However, the IOM warned that the deadliest season is starting right now, said the spokesman.

AS RAMADAN STARTS, PLEASE REMEMBER PRES. BUHARI IN YOUR PRAYERS--BASHIR AHMED

Bashir Ahmad, the Personal Assistant to the president on New Media has urged all Muslims to remember President Buhari in prayers as the holy month of Ramadan begins

PLEASE RELEASE ME TO ATTEND MY WEDDING,ARRESTED OIL THIEF BEG NSCDC

A suspected oil thief, Ikechukwu Onyenze, who is currently in the custody of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Rivers State Command, has begged to be released so that he can attend his traditional wedding.

Onyenze, who spoke with newsmen in Port Harcourt, lamented that his absence at his marriage ceremony would negatively affect his person.

He added that he would appreciate a temporary freedom by the civil defence.

The suspect, who is a 35-year-old heavy duty vehicle mechanic from Abia State, told The Punch on Friday that the marriage ceremony was to hold on Saturday (today).

Denying that he was into oil theft, Onyenze said he was inside a petrol tanker before being arrested because the driver called him to come and carry out some repairs on the vehicle.

“It was a friend of mine who was driving the tanker. He called me that he had problem with the Civil Defence. He also said the vehicle was having break problem. So, it was when I came to help him that I was arrested. That’s how I know about this truck.

“As of the time of arrest, we were inside the truck, including the driver of the truck. I am a heavy duty mechanic. During the time of the arrest, the driver and the two conductors escaped.

“I am about to marry. My traditional marriage is on Saturday; this coming Saturday. My shop is at Obigbo; by Health Centre in Iriebe. If they (NSCDC) can permit me to go and be part of my marriage ceremony, I will be happy.

“I have left everything in the hand of God; He knows the best. I feel so bad that I will not be able to be present at my marriage ceremony. My advice to people is to avoid this kind of situation,” Onyenze said.

Speaking on the arrest of the suspect, the Rivers State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mohammed Haruna, described him as a notorious oil bunkerer, who once escaped from operatives of the corps.

Haruna also dismissed Onyenze’s plea to be freed so that he (suspect) would be able to attend his traditional marriage ceremony as a ploy to whip up sympathy.

“The man had been arrested before and he escaped. He is a notorious oil bunkerer. We were able to arrest him again. He escaped and went back to the crime of oil theft, but we have got hold of him. This time around, he will face the law.

“On his claim about marriage, it is false. We have not been able to verify his claim. He is just trying to whip up sympathy. Even the address he gave as a place he operates a shop is false. Our investigation is still ongoing and he would be charged to court at the end of investigation,” the state NSCDC commandant said.

FORMER MILITRY LEADER OF GOMBE AND EKITI STATE, MUHAMMED BAWA IS DEAD

Former Military Administrator in Gombe and Ekiti States, Col. Muhammad Inuwa Bawa has died. He died after a brief illness at the age of 60 yesterday May 26th. Born on April 6th 1957 in Yawuri, Kebbi State, late Colonel Bawa studied at Government Colleges in Keffi and Bida, then attended the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria after which he studied at the University of Madras, India.

Joining the Army, he was commissioned as second lieutenant in 1976, full lieutenant in 1980, captain in 1985 and major in 1990. Bawa was appointed the Administrator of Ekiti State after it was formed in October 1996 from part of Ondo State. After the death of General Sani Abacha, his successor General Abdulsalami Abubakar transferred him to Gombe State during the transition to democracy that was completed in May 1999.

As administrator of Gombe State, he initiated joint border patrols with neighboring Chad and Niger to reduce cross border banditry. He ran unsuccessfully as candidate for Governor of Kebbi state on the Action Congress (AC) platform in the April 2007 elections and on the platform of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011.

WOMAN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY SELLING HER FOUR CHILDREN OUT OF FIVE WITHOUT THE HUSBAND'S KNOWLEDGE

The police have arrested a housewife and detained her at Area M Command, Idimu for allegedly selling four out of her five children to different buyers as goods without the knowledge of her husband in Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the woman simply identified as Vicky was arrested following a petition by her husband to the Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Austines Akika.

Police sources said the suspect was selling the children one after the other and successfully sold four remaining a child.

It was learnt that she lied to her husband that she took the kids to their relation until the husband later discover she has sold them to some undisclosed buyers.

The secret came to the open recently after she sold the last child for N400,000 and her husband was tipped by their neighbour who knew about it.

Thus, the husband reported to the police and she was arrested and detained at the Command Cell.

She was said to have already confessed to the police while efforts were already being made to rescue the children and arrest the buyers.

However, P.M.EXPRESS investigations about how the woman has successful carried out the illegal sales without her husband knowing revealed that the husband, who rented an apartment in Idimu area of Alimosho local government, was working outside Lagos, where he stays during the week and only return home weekend or monthly.

It was gathered while the husband was away, the woman plotted to be selling those children and deceived her husband they were taken to their relations.

Our correspondent learnt that the husband on his own tried to locate the relations where the wife claimed she took those children to was fruitless.

This makes the man to be suspicious before it was finally exposed.

When our correspondent visited Area M Command, Idimu, the suspect was still detained at the cell.

However, the Area Commander, ACP Akika was not around to comment on the matter.

All efforts to speak with the suspect and for more details was unsuccessful as the police declined to disclose any information.

However, it was gathered at the Command that the police was unwilling to give any information pending the arrest of the buyers and conclusion of investigation.

SKOLOPAD LIES ON THE RED CARPET ALMOST NAKED AT SAMA 23

This is really serious... A south African dancer/performer is currently trending online after deciding to do what she's popularly known for. Skolopad gained herself instant popularity at a Music Awards this year by wearing a daring and risqué yellow dress which of course showed major parts of her body

Since then she’s revealed that her appearance has heaped a ton of pressure on her for future public appearances.

Now, the controversial lady was spotted with this dress as she posed in a sexy manner on the red carpet at an event this evening.

CHILDRENS'S DAY: E-MONEY FLAUNTS HIS KIDS (PHOTOS)

Children's Day: E-money Flaunts His Kids (Photos) by Airforce1(m): 1:50pm

Billionaire business man Emoney, despite his busy schedule took to instagram to celebrate his kids today been childrens day with the caption "Children are the world's most valuable resources and it's best hope for the future. Happy childrens day to all our children. It's your day, have fun and remain blessed". They are so adorable.. Wow Link https://www.instagram.com/p/BUmGCNHFbSc/ (Quote) (Report) 4 Likes (Like) (Share)

OSINBAJO MAKES 9 APPOINTMENT AS ACTING PRESIDENT

Acting President Osinbajo has approved the following appointments for some Federal Government Parastatals, Agencies and Commissions:



1. Alh. Ali Usman​​—Chairman, National Pension Commission ​​​​(subject to confirmation by the Senate).



2. Mr. Funso Doherty​—Director-General, National Pension Commission (subject to confirmation by the Senate).



3. Mr. Manase Benga​—Executive Commissioner, National Pension ​​​​Commission (subject to confirmation by the Senate).



4. Zaki Magawata​—Executive Commissioner, National Pension ​​​​Commission (subject to confirmation by the Senate).



5. Ben Oviosun​​—Executive Commissioner, National Pension ​​​​Commission (subject to confirmation by the Senate).



6. Nyerere Ayim​​—Executive Commissioner, National Pension ​​​​Commission (subject to confirmation by the Senate).



7. Dikko Aliyu AbdulRahman—Chairman, Governing Board of the Bank of Industry



8. Mr. Olukayode Pitan​—Managing Director, Bank of Industry



9. Mr. Emeka Nwakpa​—Chairman, Governing Board of the Consumer Protection Council 



With the exception of those that are subject to confirmation by the Senate, all other appointments take immediate effect.

FEMALE CORP MEMBER IN KOGI PAY SCHOOL FEES OF 30 PEOPLE

A serving corps member in Kogi State, Miss Oyebimpe Olofin, has paid the school fees of 30 students and distributed over 180 books, including writing materials to some schools in Lokoja.

The move was part of the activities lined up to mark this year’s Children Day celebration by Olofin under Omoloye Foundation. Olofin, while presenting the cash gifts, school uniforms and writing materials to the underprivileged students, noted that every child is a star with adequate investment.

She said, “It is important that as a good citizen of Nigeria, we should help make the child and their parent’s dream come true by ensuring that they are in school and not on the street.”

“While interacting with these children recently, I realised that some of them want to go to school. Every child is a star in their own way; it all depends on what you invest in them. If you give them something good, they will give something good in return.”
Olofin noted that the gifts would encourage the students to see education as the best way to achieve success in life, while calling on relevant stakeholders to help in the campaign to move children off the streets during school hours.


Meanwhile, the Principal of Muslim Community Secondary School, Lokoja, Yakubu Danladi, while lauding the initiative, said some of problems in the society could be traced to poor investment in education by government.

“Most of the children who are supposed to be in school are not in school because of many factors. Sincerely, if these issues are not nipped in the board, things will get out of hand,” he said.

APC LG PRIMARY: HOODLUMS ATTACK SENATOR AFIKUYOMI, REMOVE HIS CLOTHES

Violence erupted midway into the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to elect chairmanship candidates for the July 22 council polls in Lagos State on Saturday, ending the event abruptly.

Some aggrieved party supporters engaged one another in a free-for-all midway into the election, smashing ballot boxes over allegations of imposition of candidates at the election.

Scores of delegates and others present at the Teslim Balogun Stadium venue fled in different directions as a result of the fracas, even as some were injured.
The Chairman of the Elections Committee, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, was also attacked, with his top taken off by angry supporters who accused him of impartiality as he scampered to safety.

Security officials later forced him out the grip of the angry youths and whisked him away.
Trouble started when some party members in Surulere and Lagos Mainland openly protested against the names of candidates being read out by Afikuyomi for endorsement as consensus candidates.
They alleged that the party leadership was foisting candidates on them and said the decision of the leadership to approve consensus candidates in 18 councils was wrong.
The aggrieved members initially vented their anger through protests, but it later degenerated into fracas between supporters of selected candidates and those who opposed them.

A party faithful, Mr Wale Tokunbo, disclosed shortly before the violence broke out that the substitution of Mr Tajudeen Ajide for the Surulere Local Government Area Chairmanship for another candidate was unjust.
“The removal of Ajide’s name for the name of somebody we don’t know is not acceptable to us.
“If we talk about democracy, we should be able to practise it. This primary is a sham; we would resist it,” he said.

Another party faithful in Mainland Local Government who pleaded anonymity said that party members were surprised at the mention of Yaba Local Government as one of the areas with a consensus candidate at the primary.

He said there were aspirants contesting for the post in the area and that nobody knew of the consensus candidate until they got to the venue.
“What consensus candidates are they talking about? We are just knowing that Yaba is one of them now. This is wrong,” he said.
Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the party, Mr Henry Ajomale, had urged the delegates and other supporters not to be violent.

“I welcome you all to this election and I urge you all conduct yourselves in a peaceful manner.
“We have the information that some people are here to cause trouble. We shouldn’t allow them because they are saboteurs,“ he said.

The names of Mr Toba Oke (Ifako Ijaiye) and Mr Kamal Bashua (Lagos Island East) were among the few candidates out of the 57 endorsed at the primary before violence broke out.

POLICE OFFICERS ESCAPE DEATH AT THIRD MAINLAND CRASH

Two men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) attached to the Lagos State Police Command escapes death by the whiskers after a mainland bound Nigerian Custom Service car, Peugeot 406, rammed into a RRS vehicle on the Third Mainland Bridge today, Saturday, May 27, 2017.
An Eyewitness who narrated to Eyes Of Lagos said that the Customs car with the registration number CS 479 HQ, lost control and rammed into the stationary vehicle which had the officers in it at the time of impact.

The RRS diclosed that the Custom car, which was heading towards Oworoshoki had a burst tyre before losing control and ran into RRS vehicle park to check crime situation on the 3rd Mainland Bridge.

The RRS patrol vehicle, with the registration number, RRS 390 LA, is one of the 20 newly handed over Nissan Almera vehicle to the outfit to mark Lagos @50 commemoration.

During the accident, two RRS officers sustained various injuries while the Customs officer driving the other vehicle was also injured due to the collision.
The injured officers have been transferred to the Gbagada General Hospital, Gbagada, for medical care.
See another photo from the scene below.

UCHE OGBODO CLAPS BACK AT FANS WHO INSULT HER DRESS

Uche Ogbodo had a party to celebrate her birthday which was a week ago, and for the big day, the actress wore a short brown knit dress with a slit that extended all the way to her waist but was held together by strings. While followers wished her a happy birthday, a couple of them called her out on her dress and she fired back. See that after the cut..

DRAMA IN AKWA IBOM CHURCH AS PASTOR'S WIFE STORMS THE CHURCH TO ACCUSE HIM OF IMPREGNATING CHURCH MEMBER

Church service at the Kairos Rhema Embassy in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state took an unusual turn when the wife of the church's pastor disrupted service to inform congregants that her husband had been cheating on her with a church member and had even impregnated the woman.

When the pastor's wife, Idongesit Ese, came into the church premises, she was barred from entering the auditorium, reportedly because her husband, Pastor Nsikanabasi Ese, suspected she would try to pull such a stunt.

As soon as she got out of her car and tried to get into the church premises, a group of men, reportedly hired by her husband, attacked her and the newsmen present. Witnesses told Premium Times that they saw one of the thugs slap Mrs. Ese. But she remained defiant and was able to make her way into the church premises from where she told her story loudly for those within the church to hear her.

“I want every man and woman who has conscience in this church to ask my husband why he is doing this to me, why would he be sleeping with a young girl who came to seek counseling and prayers from him,” Mrs. Ese told church members.

“I caught my husband in a hotel having sex with Evelyn Etim. As I speak to you, Evelyn has given birth to a baby boy and she is living in Eket with my husband.”

Mrs Ese also accused her husband of domestic violence and showed them a photo of her with  bloodied face as proof, saying the reason for the assault was because she caught him in a hotel with the church member, Evelyn. 

She said: “I want members of the church to know why I haven’t been attending programmes. Many people have been calling me to inform me that my husband lied that I traveled out of the country."

People who claim to have spoken with Pastor Ese said the pastor was accusing the wife of having lied to him about her age and her level of education and has now filed for a divorce. Pastor Moses, who stood in as Pastor Ese’s father during the estranged couple's traditional marriage, said that he doesn't believe Pastor Ese was called by God.

Pastor Moses said:  “He didn’t give me any vital reason why he should divorce, he just said the woman is harsh. I don’t believe he is called by God. I have told him and his mother not to come to my house anymore."

Pastor Nsikanabasi Ese is the same pastor who knocked down a customs officer while trying to evade duties check some weeks back.

NEW PHOTOS MERCY JOHNSON AND HER KIDS AT THEIR SCHOOL ON OPEN DAY

In celebration of children's day, Mercy Johnson-Okojie shared photos of her and her kids at their school. The occasion was their open day and the dutiful mum can be seen in some of the photos assessing their books.

In the caption accompanying the photos, the actress said her kids have taught her the true meaning of sacrifice. She wrote:

"I am a mom,a proud mom cus my kids make me understand d word "Sacrifice" immeasurably. How else can I define cuteness??? Happy Children's day... #openday#happykids#Godisall#

mamapurity#nomakeup#"

BARCELONA VS ALVES: COPA DEL REY FINAL

The 2017 Copa del Rey Final is a football match scheduled for 27 May 2017 to decide the winner of the 2016–17 Copa del Rey , the 115th edition of Spain's primary football cup .
The match will be played between Barcelona and Alavés at the Vicente Calderón in Madrid.
The winners will qualify for the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League group stage, as well as face
Real Madrid in the 2017 Supercopa de España .
Background
Barcelona has previously played in 39 Copa del Rey finals, tied only with Real Madrid's 39, and has a record 28 victories. They are the reigning champions, having defeated Sevilla 2–0 after
extra time in the previous year's final at the
Vicente Calderón in Madrid . This is their fourth consecutive final, and they are seeking a third consecutive title, a feat previously accomplished by themselves in 1953 , and
Athletic Bilbao in 1916 and 1945 ; Real Madrid ( 1908 ) and Athletic ( 1933 ) hold the shared record of winning four consecutive finals.

Barcelona have set a date to announce who will replace Luis Enrique as manager.
The Catalan club missed out on winning La Liga on Sunday despite managing to win their final game of the season against Eibar 4-2. They needed Real Madrid to lose, but their great rivals beat Malaga 2-0.
Their season is not over however, with a Copa del Rey final against Alaves to be played next Saturday.
Once that is out of the way they will turn their attention to who will replace Enrique, with Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu confirming on Sunday he expects to make an announcement on the Monday after the final.
‘We thank Luis Enrique for the effort he has put in and the demands he placed on himself. The door is open. Now we have the Copa,’ Bartomeu said.
‘On May 29, we have a board meeting and we will announce the name of the new coach after.’
Current Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde is the favourite for the role with some reports suggesting the 53-year-old former Barca player has already agreed a two-year deal.
Bartomeu said of Valverde on Sunday: ‘He is a coach who is out of contract in the summer.’

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COMMERCIAL BUS DRIVER RAN INTO ANOTHER CAR IN ANNMBRA

It was a very bad news on Saturday, 26th May, 2017 as a commercial bus belonging to Globis Motors Limited ran into a Romchi Mass Transit Bus before crashing with a Nissan Sunny car along Awka – Ekwulobia road by St. Peter’s Junction, Agulu.

The men of the Agulu Central Vigilante who came about five minutes after the accident did wonderfully well by helping the bus driver to the hospital as well as controlling the traffic.

The owner and driver of the car (a medical doctor) however did not sustain any injury, but the driver of the Globis Motor Limited was heavily injured with one of his legs badly affected by the accident. But to the glory of God, all the passengers in the Globis bus came out unhurt.

U.S UNVEILS IT'S FIRST DIGITAL SPACE IN NIGERIA

U.S. Ambassador W. Stuart Symington (right) with Consul F. John Bray watching a demonstration of one of the tech gadgets at the new American Corner in Lagos on Friday.

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria Stuart Symington on Friday opened Nigeria’s first state-of-the art Priority American Space hosted at the Yaba offices of technology incubator, Co-Creation Hub (CC-Hub).

At the event attended by technology leaders, Ambassador Symington explained that the space, which is equipped with cutting-edge digital technology, is a center for Nigerians to develop innovative ideas, learn about the United States and its people, explore possible study at U.S. universities, enjoy U.S. cultural programs and also interact with U.S. exchange program alumni.

“At the Priority American Space in Lagos, we are investing in technology and programs to unleash the creativity of Nigeria’s burgeoning community of innovators. We are pleased to partner with Co-Creation Hub, a leading force for incubating social entrepreneurship and technological advancement,” Ambassador Symington said.

The Centre, now open to the members of the public, comprises a MakerSpace – a tech area designed to promote digital skill building; a workshop space equipped with the latest laptops and tablets for internet learning; a conversation space for small group meetings and research and a meeting space that supports innovation and creative collaboration.

With a rich array of programs and training, the Priority American Space which is the tenth of its sort in Africa, will promote ingenious ideas, critical thinking and reasoned discourse. Worldwide, there are 67 Priority American Spaces.

U.S. Ambassador W. Stuart Symington watching a demonstration of one of the tech gadgets at the new American Corner in Lagos.

U.S. Ambassador W. Stuart Symington (right) with CEO of Co-Creation Hub (CC-Hub) MBosun Tijani at the opening of the new American Corner in Lagos on Friday.

POLICE ARRESTED IPOB AND MASSOB MEMBERS IN EBONYI STATE

The Police in Ebonyi on Saturday confirmed the arrest of some members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in various parts of the state for alleged unlawful sensitisation programme. The command’s spokesman, DSP Jude Madu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that the arrested suspects also included members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). Madu said that the suspects were arrested for unlawfully sensitising the public to stay at home on May 30, in observance of the group anniversary:

They would be charged to court and the command would ensure that they are duly prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others. IPOB and MASSOB are illegal groups and did not get permission from the police to embark on such exercise which threatens the peace and security of the state. The command with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Mr Titus Lamorde, has commenced intensive sensitization of the populace to disregard the sit-at-home directive and go about their lawful businesses.

Madu warned members of the group not to carry out outlawed activities within the state before, during and after May 30, as the full weight of the law would be brought on any defaulter:

Any person or group found culpable would be arrested and duly prosecuted as the groups’ activities amount to mutiny or fighting a sitting and legally recognized government. IPOB and MASSOB are techniques developed by some individuals to gain public interest and recognition as the former is even a breakaway organ of the latter. These groups have not provided amenities or other forms of social security for the people they are directing to stay at home; it shows that their intentions are not sincere and must be rejected by all.

He advised the groups that not everybody was interested in issues concerning secession as people still remember the horrors of the civil war and other upheavals in the country after then. According to him, they should realise that most people are not interested in their preaching, therefore, they should not force anybody to be involved in their illegal and unlawful practices. Madu called on traditional rulers and town unions across the state to assist the police in sensitising the people and provide relevant information about the group’s activities:

The command has distributed various call contacts (numbers) to the public to report activities of these groups within this period, especially molestation, if they refuse heeding to the stay-at home order. Any gathering of two or more people propagating the IPOB/MASSOB messages or executing related activities should be promptly reported to the police for immediate actions.

A NAN Correspondent who visited the state police command reports that the arrested IPOB members were upbeat and chanting solidarity songs.