Double Bomb Attack Hits Crowded Indian Market(Photo)

At least 21 people were killed and 43 others wounded as two bombs exploded in the centre of Baghdad, according to police officials.Police said the blasts went off on Saturday near car spare parts shops in Al Sinak during the morning rush.

One of them was triggered by a suicide bomber, the other was a planted explosive, an Interior Ministry official told the Reuters news agency.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL, also known as ISIS)claimed responsibility for the attack.

Baghdad has been on high alert since October 17, the start of Iraq's largest military operation in years to retake ISIL's stronghold of Mosul in the country's north.

ISIL took Mosul in 2014, and has launched several attacks in Baghdadin recent months.

The area that was targeted on Saturday is packed with wholesale markets and usually teeming with daily labourers unloading vans and wheeling carts around.

"Buhari Pity Us In 2017" - Nigerians Beg Buhari On Twitter (Photos)

As 2016 comes to an end Nigerians take to twitter to Beg President Buhari to have Mercy in 2017!!

Kindly Share This Post 
Thank You..

Odunlade Adekola Celebrates His 38th Birthday Today (Photos)

Popular Nollywood actor, singer, producer and Filmmaker Odunlade Adekola is celebrating his birthday today, Saturday, December 31st.The multi-talented actor was born on December 31st, 1978.

Odunlade Adekola's hugely popular movies include; Sunday Dagboru, Mufu Olosha, Alani Pamolekun, Opa Kan, Adebayo Aremu Abere.

Odunlade Adekola is from Ekiti State.

Happy Birthday.

Nearly 100 Journalists Killed Worldwide In 2016 - IFJ

Ninety-three journalists and media staff were killed around the world in the courseof their work in 2016, with Iraq and Afghanistan the deadliest countries,the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has said.

The IFJ said on Friday the number included those killed in targeted attacks, bomb blasts or caught in the cross-fire. A further 29 died in plane crashes in Colombia and Russia. 

Though the number is lower than previous years, the IFJ warned against complacency and continued impunity. Justice has been served for just four percent of journalists killed worldwide.

Countries with the highest numbers of media killings:



Iraq: 15
Afghanistan: 13
Mexico: 11
Yemen: 8
Guatemala 6
Syria: 6
India: 5
Pakistan: 5

Source: IFJ 

"Any decrease in violence against journalist and media personnel is always welcome but these figures... leave little room forcomfort and reinforce hopes forthe end of the security crisis in the media sector," IFJ president Philippe Leruth said in a statement.

"There cannot be impunity for these crimes."

Regionally the Middle East was deadliest with 30 killings, followed byAsia-Pacific with 28, Latin America with 24, Africa witheight and Europe with three, the watchdog said.

IFJ said it was aware that there many more journalists who haddisappeared through the course of the year."The numbers could be higher if itweren't for lack of credible information on these missing cases and for the self-censorship by journalists in some countries to avoid drawing the unwelcome attention of crime barons," added IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger.

"There is therefore urgency in pressing governments to investigate all forms of violence, including killings and disappearances in a speedy and credible manner to protect the physical integrity and professional independence of journalists."

Why I Joined Robbery Gang – 22-Year-Old Suspect Reveals....

A 22-year-old armed robbery suspect, Ahmed Akinade, has confessed that the irresistible spoils of robbery operations compared to what he previously made as a smuggler made him to join the underworld.

File Photo

In a confessional statement, he made shortly after he was arrested by the officerin charge of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Paiko Umar, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Ahmed said, “I don’t live with my parents.

I live in Agbara while my mother lives in Sango- Ota, Ogun State. My work was smuggling of rice and other things that could give us money. We call it ‘fayawo.’ I used to go home with N1,500 to N2,000 daily but when I joined a robbery gang, I started going home with over N5,000 to N10,000 after each operation.

‘’We used to go from house to house and there is no type of phone we have not stolen in many of our operations. Since I started robbery work I have never bought any phone with my money. I have robbed more than 10 times and we are a three-man gang namely myself, Taiye and Abbe who is at now large.

The second suspect, Taiwo Adebisi,19, an indigene of Ondo State, said, “I am a bricklayer and I stay at Morogbo with my parents. I was arrested on Tuesday at Morogbo. I did not know that Ahmed is an armed robber until he lured me into it due to hunger and poverty. I followed him to see whether I will get food to eat. This is my first time.

We were three but the third member Abbe ran away. I wish to make it clear that I was not a criminal until I met Ahmed who lured me into crime. With this New Testament Bible, I swear if I am released, I will not follow Ahmed to rob again. Tell police to give me a chance to live a new life.’’

According to the police, on December 13, 2016, at about 6: 30 a.m. one Holy Atasowie of 3 Olaiya Street, Agbara Bus Stop, Morogbo, Lagos, was walking along Morogbo Road going to work and he saw people running for their life and as he wanted to know what was happening he was surrounded by three men armed with cutlass who ordered him to surrender all he had on him.

They robbed him of his wallet containing N10,000, driver’s license, Diamond Bank ATM card, two company identity card and one Techno phone valued at N11,000, among others.

The victim’s cry attracted passers by who gave the robbers a hot chase and apprehended one of them identified as Ahmed Akinade. When Ahmed was brought to the police station, the victim who was at the station to lodge complaint identified him as one of the men that robbed him.

His arrest led to the arrest of Taiwo who confessed that there was the third person at large called Abbey.

Mercy Johnson Celebrates Daughter As She Turns 4 Today(Photo)

Nollywood actress and mother of 3, Mercy Johnson Okojie's daughter Purity is 4 years today.

The proud mum took to her Instagram to share the above photo and wrote:

Why Emmanuella May Never Make Her Hair - Mark Angel Reveals(Pics, Video)

The Mark Angel Comedy group has grown with Little Emmanuella doing exploits with her Uncle Mark.

What is the relationship between Uncle Mark and the little comedienne?How was she discovered? What is her worth now having won several awardsat home and abroad and was featured on CNN recently and has the most shared video on Youtube.Emmaneulla and Uncle Mark were NAIJ.com’s guests and they bare it allin this exclusive interview.Two awards in Australia, crowned the Princess of comedy and highest videoview on YouTubeIt's all God and we feel so excited.

What's special about Emmanuella

Emmanuella is talented and then she has grace. Those are the two things that I think is working for her.

Relationship between Mark Angel and Emmanuella

She is a distant cousin.

Emmanuella's talent discovery

I just found out that she could act andI started training her and now here we are.Living in same neighbourhoodYes, we live in this same house.

Parents’ reactions to her acting

They were happy. We didn’t even know that this was going to go big like this when we started. We liked what we were doing and we were doing it for the fun of it. After shooting the comic skits all we do then was to share it with our friends on Whatsapp and they will tell that was funny and that will be the end of it. But later I started to build social media handles to see how more people can view what we are doing. We found out that when people see Emmanuella their moods just change. We want her to affect more people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KJEFMMWiWI

Parents’ reaction now that she’s a superstar

Just the same way I feel. They are like wow this has gone big. It came as a surprise that we are going this big, when we noticed we told ourselves wehave to be serious about it so that we will not disappoint our viewers and followers. That is how we turned our hubby into something serious.

Emmanuella’s remuneration

It’s no longer family-family thing but now business. Emmanuella’s family and I realized that she is a minor now though a celebrity but she is going to grow up. So we need to save for her future. Together with her parents we have put things in place for her.Comedy and travelling effect on 

Emmanuella’s education

It’s affecting her. Before now she was attending a public school and when the stardom started setting in we have to move her to a private school. Even at the school because she is Emmanuella they gave her preferences such that if she said she is not ready to learn they will take it from her. When I learnt about this development I went mad. One day, I took it out on the principal for allowing her to have her ways. Despite the warning they still kept doing that so I changed her school. Despite telling them why I moved her to the school some teachers still give her special attention, it’s a battle. And when we travel outside the country we always look for a teacher even before our landing in that country. And since their curriculum is quite different from our own we go extra length to break it down to her. We always tell her foreign teachers to try to synchronise Nigerian school curriculum with theirs so we can get a balance. And the good thing is that she has learnt somethings her classmate has not learnt before.


New things learnt while abroad

There was a time she learnt something about aviation where they told her that at times the pilot does not see what is in front and they rely on map and she came home telling me that pilots do magic and they can go and hit someone.

Emmanuella’s real age

She is six.People says she is older than sixLooking at her now does she look older than six? Emmanuella looks big on screen like 12 years but when you see her live you know.

What class is Emmanuella

I am in primary two.

Emmanuella's hairstyle

She will make her hair sometime whenshe is older and can decide for herself.No earringsYes.No earring, low haircut, why Maybe religion by not only that, it’s in the family too. In our family we all cut our hair, both male and female and Emmanuella in particular doesn’t like it. If you try making her hair she can’t carry it for long as she will tell you it hurts her. There was a time we wantedto travel and I told her fans want her tomake her hair, she was like, if I make my hair now my fans will not recognize me again. You know her hair also has something to do with herbrand.

Emmanuella relationship with her age mates

Answering herself she said: “I feel happy but that does not mean I am special than them. Some kids also have talents and I have mine. Some said they want to be like me but I tell them be yourself and do anything you love to do from there God will use you to be a blessing to your family.

Emmanuella looks playful

Emmanuella is very playful and easily distracted.Grasping her linesThat is the magic. That is one part of Emmanuella that is a mystery. At times while on set, she might not wantto learn and might keep us waiting for hours. When you think all hope is lost she will come up and deliver her lines excellently well.

Poor camera quality

We are still working on improving our equipment every day. We change camera often as we are still in the testing period. By 2017, we will be coming up with a movie and we don’t want people saying it does not meet international standard. Also, we don’t want to be too serious with the comedy skit. We try to be as natural aspossible because if we try to polish it too well it might look fake and the message will be lost. But in the movie we are working on we want to be as professional as possible.

Emmanuella brought change to Mark Angel comedy skits

The aim is to create interesting contents and whatever it will take to create such contents we will do. I realized that people love what we create with Emmanuella as the country is hard so we put in more efforts. But people are telling me that Iam killing my career by promoting the Emmanuella brand. That is what people want to see and some people don’t understand that. They need to understand what you are out for, is it for fame or work? Do you want to touch people’s lives? However you achieve it as long as it is in line with the word of God just do it.

Source:https://www.google.com.ng/amp/s/entertainment.naij.com/amp/1078385-why-emmanuella-hair-mark-angel.html?client=ms-android-tecno

Photos: Governor Ambode, Wizkid, 2face & Other Celebrities At Olamide's #OLIC 3

The third edition of Olamide's Live in Concert happened last night at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos. Here are photos of top Nigerian celebrities and Special Guest, Lagos state governor Akinwunmi Ambode and wife enjoying the sold out show.

FG Plans Upgrade Of Airports’ Landing Systems

The Federal Government on Thursday said plans were underway to upgrade the Instrument Landing Systems at the country’s major airports to ensure that they are working better.
This is with a view to minimising the sort of flight disruptions that had featured every harmattan season in the country.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement announcing the suspension of President Muhammadu Buhari’s scheduled one-day working visit to Bauchi State.

Shehu attributed the trip’s postponement to what he called prevailing weather conditions in the country.

He quoted the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, as announcing the planned upgrade while reacting to the bad weather that forced Buhari to postpone the trip.

The presidential spokesman said, “Uncooperative weather which has been the bane of air travel in the current harmattan season, leading to the delay and cancellation of flights, reared its headin Abuja Airport this (Thursday) morning, preventing the take-off of the President’s plane for the trip to Bauchi.

“Technical information received from the weather station showed that visibility as at this (Thursday) morning was 600 meters, 200 metres short of the 800 metres minimally required for a safe aircraft take-off.“

According to the information available, the visibility was expected to drop to 300 metres before improving to permissible limit later in the day.

“The commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, Air Commodore Hassan Abubakar, said that the Presidential Aircraft was in perfect condition, the weather in Bauchi was alright, but that the problem was in Abuja.”

In cancelling the visit to the state, Shehu said the President expressed regret over the disruption caused by the bad weather.

He said Buhari, in a recorded audio and video message to the people of the state said he looked forward to the visit in the course of which he was to commission anAir Force medical facility and a number of other projects by the state government.

He said he also intended to thank the people for their relentless support in all his political undertakings.“We make our plans, God makes His own plans,” the President was quoted as saying.

Buhari thanked the government and people of Bauchi State and the Nigerian Air Force for the studious and elaborate preparations made to receive him, and assured them that he is going to visit the state at a more auspicious time.

Chinese Armed Police Undergo 'Devil Training' In Winter. Photos

Photos show armed police officers experiencing winter training in Henan province, China on Dec. 26, 2016. Soldiers from the Henan Armed Police Corps participated in a seven-day intensive"devil training" exercise to improve their combat ability.

My Dream Is To Retire At Barcelona - Andres Iniesta

Andres Iniesta has said his dream is to end his playing career at Barcelona.The midfielder, 32, has been part of the La Liga club for over 20 years since joining the youth academy, La Masia.

Since making his debut at 18, Iniesta has gone on to enjoy a successful career with Barca, winning eight league titles, four Copa del Reys, four Champions League crowns and the Club World Cup three times.

His current contract runs out in June 2018,but the club is expected to offer him to a new deal in the near future.“Let’s hope so!” he told the club’s official website when asked if he will retire in Catalunya. 

“That’s my dream and has been for a long time.

“When you start and everything is new, you never know what is going to happen but as things develop and become more important, you always have the hope of retiring here.

“I had the goal of being a success at Barca when I arrived and until I did that I was not satisfied.

“There were difficult moments when I was happy to play 10 minutes here rather than more time in another team, and that has allowed me to achieve other things.

“I don’t think about life after retirement, but I know that one way or another I will continue to be linked to football.

“Of course [I want to stay linked to Barca], but the future will decide. I am not in position to say I want to be one thing or another at the moment, but I would like to remain at Barca, let’s hope! However, at the moment that is something in the distance.”

Nigerian Big Boy Sprays Over N2 Million At A Wedding In Owerri....(Photos)

To some Nigerians, recession is just a WORD! Here's a viral video of Nigerian big boy, Escoba Emeka Smith, the CEO of Muccon Resources Nig Ltd, spraying over 2 million naira at his friend's wedding in Owerri, Imo State. 

Dangote Truck Crushes Second Republic Senator To Death (Photo)

A truck belonging to Dangote Group Plc, on Friday, crushed Mr. Mukhtar Abdulkarim, a Second Republic Senator, to death. Mr. Abdulkarim, along with his brother and driver, was traveling between Kano and Zamfara states on Friday when the truck rammed into his car, killing him instantly.

His brother, Mr. Buhari Abdulkarim, an architect, and his driver were injured in theaccident. Both are are said to be receiving medical attention at Uthman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto.

The late senator, an indigene of Talata Mafara, was born in Zurmi, Zamfara State. He was a civil servant, politician, educator,and active culture enthusiast. He was alsoa poet and novelist.

Some of his literary works include The Best of Those Days, Gone Beyond Redemption, The Poems of Reflection, The Politics Of Skyline, The Poems For The New Generation, The Books Of Poems For Inspiration, The Men Who Have Failed, Ayashe: Crying Over TheLost Glory, and Bagobiri For Sale And Other Poems.

Source; Sahara Reporters

EBSU Senate President Dies In An Auto Crash (Graphic Photos)

The president of the senate in Ebonyi State University SUG, Comr David Nwizi had reportedly died in a ghastly motor accident.

According to Jimmy Bigboy Swag, Comr.Nwizi died on Monday 26th December while on his way to Isieke town from Abakiliki, Ebonyi state.He further expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased and his colleagues in the university.

He said“I just received with great shock the news of the unfortunate and untimely death of the president of the Senate of Ebsu SUG. Comr David Nwizi whose death took place today in a ghastly motor accident on his way from Abakaliki town to Isieke.

“My condolence message goes to the incumbent SUG President Comrade Uguru Joseph, the entire members of the Senate, ebsu in general, all comrades who have had encounter with this young and humble fellow and of course the family.

“It is sad, but I pray that God Almighty who knows the end from the beginning will grant all who are saddened by his death the fortitude to bear this great loss and grant his soul eternal rest. Amen.

Meet Nunnsi Ojong, "Lagos in Motion" Actress of the Year 2016

Nunnsi Ojong is one of the most dedicated and fast rising young actresses in Nollywood.  And be ready to see more of her in 2017.She proved to be the most dedicated member of cast of "Lagos in Motion" documentary film.

She is very faithful, grateful and resourceful. Twice she has spent 100% more than her artiste's fees on flights from Calabar to Lagos to respond to short roles for her as a red carpet presenter and one of themillennials visiting Africa's largest megacity of Lagos in "Lagos in Motion".

See more on Nunnsi Ojong (@nunuojong) • Instagram photos and videos
https://www.instagram.com/nunuojong/

Christmas Is Nigeria's Worst Ever: CAN Sends Message of Hope To Christians

Pastor Samson Ayokunle of the Baptist Church and President of the Christian Association of Nigeria has described the 2016 Christmas season as the worst ever in Nigeria’s history, adding that the economic situation of the country is comparable only to that of a woman in labour pains.

In an interview with Premium Times, the CAN President said Nigerians should be courageous at Christmas.“In the bible, in Mathew Chapter One, we see how, after Mary was found pregnant, Joseph decided to trust in God. He decided not be vindictive, but leave everything to God.

“Let us leave the future of Nigeria to God. Let’s not try to be blaming one person after another", he said.

“Let those who have and are better off, take care of those who do not have. The poor will always be in our midst and it is God that gives power to get wealth. We have never had it this hard and tough, never in the history of Nigeria. Our naira has never been so devalued, since our independence.

Those who never felt the pain of economy before, are feeling it; you can’t get foreign exchange for those whose businesses are linked with foreign exchange.Even airlines are closing down. Television houses are not operating.

We had a radio in my church but because of the problem with foreign exchange, we shut it down. So things are really hard.

“God is not taking us to 2017 to punish us.Nigerians will believe that with prayers and with the right advice to our leaders, as well as humility and the fear of God, which breeds selflessness, then 2017 would be better”, he said.