Annular eclipse seen in Abuja, Kano on Thursday

Residents of Abuja woke up Thursday morning to a cloudy and heavily dark atmosphere following the prediction of annular eclipse in Nigeria.

Though it remains unclear whether other cities experienced the eclipse, DAILY POST captured images of the cloudy atmosphere that remained for almost two hours before the sun could be sighted.

Though Abuja residents went about with their normal activities, some said it was a good experience to have seen a cloudy weather as though it was about to rain.

According to one Mr James Okpala, ” I experienced annular eclipse years ago. Then I didn’t take it to be anything. Today, I see that nature is powerful, and with this, I have the need to be nature friendly. This is one powerful message that I got from this experience.”

An annular eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon are exactly in line, but the apparent size of the Moon is smaller than that of the Sun.

This will make the Sun appear as a very bright ring, surrounding the dark disk of the Moon, thereby causing partial or total darkness on the earth.

SOURCE: Dailypost

John Kerry’s Advise Nigeria On Handling Of Extremists

United States of America’s Secretary of State, John Kerry, made a two-day whistle-stop in Nigeria penultimate Monday and Tuesday. His itinerary included a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, Northern governors and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III. 

Many Northern governors who had eagerly looked forward to his visit were hoping he would unfold some goodies that could increase American investment, especially in agriculture and mining in their respective states, and some military and humanitarian assistance in the fight against the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency. But at a media briefing in Sokoto, Kerry chose to advise Nigeria not to use strong-arm tactics in dealing with Boko Haram and other extremist groups disturbing the peace and stability of the country. 

The AFP quoted him as saying: “In the wake of terrorist activity, some are tempted to crack down on anyone and everyone. But extremism can’t be defeated through repression or fear. Fear instilled through repression invites not confidence but contempt, it creates terrorists.” 

Many commentators descended on the top diplomat, accusing America of being up to its old diplomatic hypocrisy. They pointed out America’s adventures in terror-stricken Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Libya and other countries where America employed severe force in pursuit of Islamist terrorists, which culminated in the dethronement of several regimes and the death of Saddam Hussein, Muamar Gadhaffi, and Osama bin Laden. 

They pointed to America’s refusal to assist Nigeria when the Boko Haram insurgency went out of hand and they started acquiring territories for their “Islamic caliphate” and the bad international image that Amnesty International (AI) tried to portray of our country. AI seemed more interested in alleged violations of the human rights of the terrorists than the heinous crimes the latter were perpetrating. 

As much as we agree that America has not demonstrated genuine friendship with Nigeria since the Boko Haram phenomenon started in 2009, we still believe that Kerry’s message was useful. It is especially more so in the face of an established track record of harassment of civilian populations by our troops in areas where they are involved in military operations. When you treat every young man as a terrorist or extremist, it does not help the search for peace. 

It only worsens situations. The military must take more care to sift the wheat from chaff and ensure that innocent Nigerians are protected, not victimised. That way, they will be more willing to cooperate and abandon their sympathy for the enemies of the country. 

It is important for the armed forces and the local population in operational zones to work together. Our gallant forces are here to defend us and the nation, so it pays to cooperate with them.

SOURCE: Vanguardngr

Boko Haram ready for peace, will announce Chibok girls’ whereabouts in 24hours – Aisha Wakili

One of the trio declared wanted by the Nigerian Army for concealing information on the whereabouts of the Chibok girls, Aisha Alkali Wakil, has revealed that the Boko Haram terrorist group is now ready for peace.

According to her, the group may make a big announcement about the kidnapped Chibok school girls within the next 24 hours.

The lawyer with the National Human Rights Commission told the Nation that, “Since I came back, I have been on their neck.

“They have now agreed to come out and discuss with the government and bring back the girls.

“I am for the Chibok girls and all the captives. They are ready for peace. This is what they told me.

“I think they might post some information on YouTube within 24 hours,” Aisha stated.

This is coming barely one week after President Muhammadu Buhari said his government was ready to negotiate with genuine Boko Haram leaders to release the missing school girls.

SOURCE: Dailypostng

130 STILL MISSING IN CAMEROON AFTER CRACKDOWN, SAYS AMNESTY

One hundred thirty men and boys remain missing in Cameroon nearly two years after a government crackdown on suspected members of the Nigeria-based Boko Haram extremists, Amnesty International said Tuesday, calling on the government to provide answers.

Authorities on Dec. 27, 2014 arrested more than 200 people in Magdeme and Double villages in Cameroon's Far North region, Amnesty said. The arrests were part of a push by the government to combat Boko Haram. They came within days of Cameroon's first airstrikes against the Islamic extremists to dislodge about 1,000 fighters who had seized a military base and attacked several villages along the border with Nigeria, according to reports at the time.

More than 25 of the arrested men died in custody and 45 were transferred to a prison the next day, with three more dying due to dire conditions, Amnesty said. Nine civilians were killed, and 70 homes destroyed in the operations in the two villages by the military, it said.

"The country must stop using its fight against Boko Haram to justify its blatant violations of human rights,"said Alioune Tine, Amnesty's regional director for West and Central Africa.

The rights organization said it considers the 130 people victims of enforced disappearance, a crime under international law. The group called on Cameroon's government to reveal the locations of those arrested, launch an independent investigation into the disappearances and hold fair trials for those who may be responsible.

The rights group said it has noted 17 other cases of suspected enforced disappearance in Cameroon between June 2014 and June 2016.

Cameroon has joined neighboring countries, including Niger, Nigeria and Chad, in a multinational force to combat the seven-year Boko Haram insurgency that has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced some 2.6 million others in the region.

SOURCE: AP.org

Not knowing the history of your country or family is to lose memory – Obasanjo

Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, says it is unfortunate that history is no longer taught in schools, warning that people can lose their memory and even what they ate the previous night when they do not know the history of their country, family or locality.

Speaking as the special guest of honour at the launch of educational toys designed to teach Nigerian and by extension African history, the former president decried the poor level of awareness of the nation’s history and cultural heritage amongst Nigerians.

While expressing disappointment that many children do not know enough about their states of origin let alone the country, he called on Nigerians to imbibe cultural values and norms so as to promote the nation’s heritage.

Obasanjo said, “I have understood that history is no longer thought in school, which is unfortunate. Not knowing the history of your country, family or locality is to lose memory and if you lose your memory, you won’t remember even what you ate last night. You can see that it is a disaster.”

He then stressed that Nigerians must “go back to make our children know what matters about our country and ourselves so they can be inspired for tomorrow.”

SOURCE: DailypostNG

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a Fulani herdsman, identified as, Abubakar Usman, for allegedly killing his 65-year-old mother, Khadijat, and his brother’s wife, Ramatu Shagari, 35.

The 25-year old, who resides in Patigi area of the state, was paraded at the state police command’s headquaters in Ilorin, the state capital on Wednesday.

Usman, while speaking with Punch, however, regretted his action, saying he may have been charmed by his father.

According to Usman, “I am into cattle rearing. On that day when I woke up, I took N1,000 from my room and took my cows out for grazing.

“Suddenly, I discovered that the cattle were running away and I followed them. On getting back home, something came over me and I used a knife to stab my mother. I also stabbed my brother’s wife. I believe that my father charmed me. I do not have mental disorder.”
SOURCE: Dailypostng

Boko Haram violence taking “devastating toll” on children

Years of violence by Islamist Boko Haram militants have taken a “devastating toll” on children living in the Lake Chad basin, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday.

The insurgency displaced 1.4 million children in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger and left at least another one million trapped in areas that are hard to reach or under the control of Boko Haram, the agency said.

An estimated 475,000 children across Lake Chad are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year, up from 175,000 at the beginning of the year, according to the report.

“Humanitarian needs are outpacing the response,” warned UNICEF regional director for West and Central Africa Manuel Fontaine.

In north-eastern Nigeria alone, where Boko Haram has its strongholds, an estimated 20,000 children have been separated from their families.

About 38 children have been used to carry out suicide attacks in the Lake Chad basin so far this year, the UN said, bringing to 86 the number of children used as suicide bombers since 2014.

Earlier this week, the World Food Programme warned that the number of people who need food aid in north-eastern Nigeria has almost doubled to 4.5 million between March and August.

Boko Haram poses a steady threat to communities in the north-east of Nigeria and has also launched offensives in neighbouring Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

SOURCE: Premiumtimesng