NEWS REEL: SATURDAY MORNING HEADLINES.

BOKO HARAM BEHEADS THE PILOT OF THE MISSING MILITARY PLANE.

A new footage released by the dreaded Islamist sect, Boko Haram and obtained by AP, showed the beheading of a man believed to be one of the pilots of the Nigerian Air Force jet which went missing and later crashed earlier on September 11 after it left Yola, capital of Adamawa State, for a bombing campaign against the militants.

The video shows a man decked in a camouflage vest kneeling while an axe-wielding fighter stands menacingly next to him before eventually chopping off his head. Moments before the gruesome execution, the victim who spoke in English and identified himself as a wing commander in the Nigerian Air Force, revealed that they were undertaking a mission in the Kauri area of Borno State on September 11 when the plane suddenly crashed to the ground.


“We were shot down and our aircraft crashed. To this day I don’t know the whereabouts of my second pilot,” he said.

Abubakar Shekau, leader of the group who military forces claimed to have killed first in 2009, later 2013 and recently a few days ago, was also seen in the latest video, according to the AP, said the sect had downed about 10 military aircraft so far – a position the Nigerian soldiers openly disagreed with.

Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters has insisted Shekau is dead.

It said the video showing that the terrorist was alive could have been manipulated.


This claim was obtained from a statement the Defence Headquarters posted on its website on Friday, a day after Shekau released a video claiming that he was still alive. read more at Punchng.com

GUNMEN KILLS DOZEN IN JOZ
Renewed violence has erupted in four villages in the Bachit District of Riyom Local Government area of Plateau State as 12 persons were reportedly killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen and many houses including that of late Senator Gyang Dantong burnt.

The midnight raids which took place Thursday also saw one security personnel attached to the Special Task Force, STF killed.

A villager who did not want to be named said the four villages were attacked simultaneously at about 1am and hundreds of people displaced.

However, Majority Leader and Member representing Riyom Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Daniel Dem who confirmed the attack said nine people were killed in a simultaneous attack carried out by Fulani herdsmen who also burnt houses including that of late Sen. Gyang Dantong.

Dem added that rumours had been ongoing since last week about impending attacks on the communities but no one believed them because of series of meetings which had been held and the fragile peace which residents were enjoying for sometime now.

He said normalcy was restored as a result of intervention of the operatives of the Special Task Force, but called for adequate security measures in the affected communities to enable the villagers continue with normal activities.

Hon. Dem also called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist the victims with relief materials to cushion the effect of the attack.

Meanwhile, Spokesman of the Special Task Force, STF Captain Iweha Ikedichi could not be reached for comments.
EID CELEBRATION, ATIKU, DAVID MARK URGES NIGERIANS TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH EACH OTHER.

As Muslims celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Kabir, some prominent Nigerians have urged Nigerians to continue to promote peace and unity of the country.

Senate President David Mark urged Nigerians to embrace harmonious relationship with one another irrespective of their ethnic or religious affiliations.

Mark spoke in his goodwill message to Nigerians.

He said, “There is no problem too difficult for the nation to overcome if we unite and maintain the sanctity of our brotherhood.”

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar also felicitated with Nigerians, especially Muslims on the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

Atiku described the significance of the festival as a celebration of trust and love between God and man.

He said, “I rejoice with fellow Muslims across the country to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir festival.”

Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, urged Muslims not to relent in their prayers for the country in the face of its numerous challenges.

Oshiomhole described “obedience to Allah and uprightness as the true virtues” of believers.

His Ogun State counterpart, Ibikunle Amosun, urged Muslims to use the occasion of the celebration to pray for Nigeria’s peace.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Wakama, Amosun said the country could only develop in an atmosphere of peace.

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, also canvassed peace and unity among Nigerians.

Ajimobi called on them to imbibe the spirit of togetherness and peaceful co-existence so as to enhance the growth and development of the country.


His predecessor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, and the Ekiti State Governor-elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, urged peace among Nigerians.

My debut album tells my story — Olawale, ex-Project Fame winner 

Olawale Ojo,  winner, MTN’s project Fame West Africa season six, has released his debut album titled ‘Almost Famous’.
The versatile young artiste teamed up with Tiwa Savage, Skales, Lil’ Kesh and others to produce an exquisite album. According to him: “I’m really excited about my debut album because it shows all of me right now. It tells my story in music.”
Commenting on why he titled the album ‘Almost Famous,’ he said : “What happened actually was that when I did my very first photo shoot the shirt I was  putting on, ‘Almost Famous’ was inscribed on it.
It just resonated with me and we decided to name the album ‘Almost Famous’. I am not where I want to be, you understand?
It doesn’t mean that I am desperate. I am patient and hardworking and I am sure with the help of God, my management and everybody around me,  things will work out well.
The journey hasn’t been easy because a lot of people expect so much from me. People think since you were part of Project Fame you should just ‘blow’ like Wizkid or Davido. It’s a  process. I believe that in due time everything will work out as planned.”
 See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com

My colleagues now think I am a big man, – National honours awardee 



When he joined the Nigeria police force, his greatest ambition was to earn his salary as a low ranking police officer, raise a family and ensure that his children would go to school so that they would one day live a better and more rewarding life than their father.
But when President Goodluck Jonathan rewarded Corporal Solomon Dauda with a national honour of Member of the Order of Niger, (MON) last week, his world changed so dramatically that sometimes he has to pinch himself to be sure that he is not dreaming.

For residents of Abuja, Cpl Dauda’s performance while directing motorists at the some of the intersections around Jabi and Utako is not only entertaining but demonstrates the duty of a man who is not only content at what he is doing but satisfied with his job. It is this dexterity at doing his job that Cpl Dauda was nominated for the award of national honour of the Member of the Order of Niger.
In a speech after the conferment of the national honors on 313 Nigerians last week, President Jonathan specifically singled out Cpl Dauda for eulogy. He said: “For many of you in Abuja or who visit our Nation’s capital, you must have seen a hard working traffic warden who does his job with great dexterity, glee and happiness. As a traffic officer, he delights in entertaining commuters by graceful gyrations and gesticulations as he efficiently directs traffic. CPL Solomon Dauda carries on his job with evident pride and dignity!
Apart from being conferred with the national Honour, President Goodluck Jonathan directed that the police officer with two others, the head of presidential steward as well as an honest Taxi driver who returned 18million naira to a passenger that abandoned the money in his cab be given a house in the Federal Capital territory.
When Saturday Vanguard traced Cpl Solomon Dauda to his duty post at the Arab Contractors junction along Berger-Jabi express way earlier in the week, an elated Dauda still had his medal on his uniform, describing the day the president conferred the award on him as ‘my happiest day’.
According to him, when he joined the police force in 2003, he never contemplated that he would become the cynosure of national eye because of his dexterity at work. He said his aim was to do his job and from his earning take care of his family till he joins his ancestors. So after he left the police training college in Maiduguri, Borno state and was posted to the Federal Capital Territory, he looked forward to doing his best as a police man to curb crimes and bring criminals to book. But this changed when he was posted from General Duty beat after two years and sent to the Traffic section to control traffic flow especially when the traffic lights seize to function due to power failure.
In spattering English, Cpl Dauda explained to Saturday Vanguard ‘when I started the traffic control, I discovered that people were happy with what I was doing and this spurred me to give my best to the job. In a show of appreciation motorists sometimes give me money and this has helped in augmenting my salary”.
According to the police officer who is married with a daughter, the police force has given him recognition that he would not have gotten from any other profession and he is ready to encourage his children to also join the force if they indicate interest to join the force.
But his recognition by the nation and the subsequent reward that came with it has its own problems which he never anticipated. He told Saturday Vanguard that his colleagues now see him as a big man. On the positive side however, some of his colleagues who hitherto had lukewarm attitude to work have decided to increase their dedication with the hope that they too would be recognized one day.
“Some of my colleagues are happy and have decided to be more hard working. Some think that I am now a big man because the president said they should give me a house. Some have even said that why was I singled out for recognition and not other police men and officers. But it is the will of God. I have been doing this work (traffic Control) for only nine years. Some people have been here longer than me. But if you are happy doing what you are doing and people appreciate what you are doing, you will be motivated to do more” he said.
Even though he has been given national honour and a promise of a house in the FCT, Cpl Dauda said nothing will make him leave being on the road as traffic police.
“The happiest day of my life was when the president gave me the national Honour. I am a very happy man and I will never leave the road. This is where I feed myself and family from. When I pay my rent and my daughter’s school fees from my salary, I would be left with almost nothing. I don’t collect bribe but from the voluntary gift from members of the public in appreciation of my work, I get by. I will remain here doing what I know how to do best” he said.