The Federal government has given a condition to lift its indefinite suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, disclosed this during a meeting with foreign envoys in Abuja today June 7. According to Onyeama, the micro-blogging site will be restored in Nigeria only if the platform can be used “responsibly”.

Onyeama said although there is no definite timeline for when it will be restored, the micro-blogging site was suspended so as to stop it from being used as a platform for destabilisation and facilitation of criminality

“The condition would be responsible use of the social media and that really has to be it.

We are not saying that Twitter is threatening the country or any such thing. Why we have taken this measure is to stop them to be used as platforms for destabilisation and facilitation of criminality or encouragement of criminalities” he said

At the meeting held in Abuja were the envoys of the US, UK, Canada and the European Union, all of whom had condemned the “indefinite” suspension of Twitter in Nigeria.

Onyeama told newsmen after the meeting that the meeting was called for because the Federal government takes the comments of the envoys “very seriously”, hence the decision to discuss the matter with them in the “usual friendly way.” The Minister added that the Buhari administration has to keep an eye on its “main objective and legacy” which, according to him, is the security of lives and property.

“We want to use social media for good. Differences of opinion is not a problem; everybody will not think alike.

But lives matter; Nigerian lives matter and we have to do everything we can to preserve Nigerian lives. And when we feel our goals are threatened, actions need to be taken.”he said

By Jide N.

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has announced the immediate suspension of tinted vehicle windscreens in Nigeria.

The IGP announced this on Monday during a meeting with senior police officers including DIGs and Commissioners from across the states.

While making the announcement, he reiterated that roadblocks remain prohibited in the country and warned that heads of commands must enforce it and key into the road patrol strategy as an alternative to roadblocks.

Details Later….

By Jide N.

The Islamic State West Africa Province has confirmed that Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau is dead. 

In an audio recording obtained by news agencies, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) said Shekau died detonating explosives on himself after a battle between the two groups.

A voice said to be that of ISWAP leader Abu Musab al-Barnawi, was heard saying that Shekau “killed himself instantly by detonating an explosive” after being hunted down and offered a chance to repent and join the ISIS-linked group. 

He added that “Shekau preferred to be humiliated in the afterlife than getting humiliated on earth.”

The audio statement is ISWAP’s first confirmation that its arch rival in the Lake Chad region has been killed. It is also speculated to be an end of a violent rivalry between the two groups, enabling Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) to absorb Boko Haram fighters and consolidate its hold on territory in northeastern Nigeria. 

ISWAP was previously part of Boko Haram before its split five years ago, pledging allegiance to Islamic State. The schism was caused by religious ideological disagreements over the killing of civilians by Boko Haram, to which ISWAP objected. 

By Jide N.

• The Department of State Services (DSS) has summoned Father Mbaka.

TM reports that the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have summoned the Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry Enugu, Father Ejike Mbaka, to Abuja for questioning.

It was gathered that the operatives visited the church in Enugu State to drop the letter of invitation. However, they didn’t meet the cleric at the church premises.

Details of why the DSS summoned Father Mbaka were not stated in the letter.

TM, however, learnt that it might not be unconnected with Mbaka’s criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in recent times.

Father Mbaka has attracted attention lately with his criticism of the current administration when he said God had rejected President Buhari and unhappy with his leadership.

Meanwhile, Father Mbaka, while reacting to the summon via a video, said, “I got a call that the DSS people from Abuja came here (Enugu) with a letter of invitation to Abuja. Over what? What I cannot understand is that the mother church in Nigeria should be “cowed down” to lilliputian.

“The church is a lion and lamb. The bible says if the foundation is destroyed, what can the righteous do. Every priest is a prophet and a king.

“We must protect the sheep. In this time, when killings are every day story, when there is hunger everywhere, people do not have hope again. The only hope I have is God. Anybody who will stop people from worshipping here will regret it.”

The cleric added, “I am the servant here. They don’t understand history. I spoke against Abacha. I went to Minna to tell Babangida what was wrong in his time. I spoke to Obasanjo face to face. I perform under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I ministered to the late President Yaradua. I am being used by a higher being called the Holy Spirit.

“If they are attacking me here and there, no wahala (no problem). The Bible says if God is for us, who can be against us? Only God can be God. I heard the security people did not accept the letter.

“They asked them to come on Monday to give me the letter. If they know the anointing here is too hot for them, let them change. I will not keep quiet,” Father Mbaka stated.

By Jide N.

Twitter has deleted a tweet by the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, for violating its rules.

In the tweets which he made on June 2, Kanu had threatened government officials and said “any army they send to #Biafraland will die there. None will return alive even if it means sacrificing my people”.

The removal of Kanu,’s tweet comes after the Federal government chided the micro-blogging site of deleting President Buhari’s tweet making reference to the civil war while leaving tweets of Nnamdi Kanu inciting violence to government institutions.

By Jide N.

The TB Joshua Ministries has confirmed the passing of the clergyman.

In a statement released on social media, the church revealed the last words of the clergyman before he died. The statement reads;

”PROPHET TB JOSHUA – JUNE 12th 1963 to JUNE 5th 2021

“Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” – Amos 3:7

On Saturday 5th June 2021, Prophet TB Joshua spoke during the Emmanuel TV Partners Meeting: “Time for everything – time to come here for prayer and time to return home after the service.”

God has taken His servant Prophet TB Joshua home – as it should be by divine will. His last moments on earth were spent in the service of God. This is what he was born for, lived for and died for.

As Prophet TB Joshua says, “The greatest way to use life is to spend it on something that will outlive it”.

Prophet TB Joshua leaves a legacy of service and sacrifice to God’s Kingdom that is living for generations yet unborn.

The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations and Emmanuel TV Family appreciate your love, prayers and concern at this time and request a time of privacy for the family.

Here are Prophet TB Joshua’s last words: “Watch and pray.”

One life for Christ is all we have; one life for Christ is so dear.”

By Jide N.

Facebook has joined Twitter in banning President Buhari’s controversial civil war statement.

Earlier today, June 4, the Federal Government announced that Twitter has been suspended in Nigeria. This comes days after Twitter deleted the president’s controversial statement and the video where he made the statement.

The banned statement made by Buhari reads: “Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand.”

Now, Facebook has followed suit. Facebook said it deleted Buhari’s statement because it violates its standards and is capable of inciting violence.

Unlike Twitter where the specific tweet was deleted while the rest of the thread with President Buhari’s speech was allowed to remain on the platform, Facebook removed President Buhari’s entire message.

Giving reason for deleting the statement, Facebook said: “In line with our global policies, we have removed a post from President Buhari’s Facebook page for violating our community standards against inciting violence.

“We remove any content from individual or organisation that violates our policies on facebook.”

By Kingsley U.

Enugu-based Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, who is the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministries Enugu Nigeria (AMEN), has been banned by the  Catholic church from commenting on partisan politics.

The Catholic bishop of Enugu Diocese Callistus Onaga in a letter dated June 3, 2021, disclosed the ban to  Fr. Mbaka and also converted his adoration ministry to chaplaincy.

The letter also explains that Mbaka still leads the chaplaincy but the bishop (Onaga) can appoint any ministerial officer “to assist the chaplains to oversee the pastoral activities of the ministry.”
. 

The ban is coming after the controversy surrounding the recent disappearance and appearance of Fr. Mbaka which also led to the shutdown of his Adoration Ministry after he had asked President Muhammadu Buhari to resign or be impeached.

See the letter below. 

By Lucky B.

Former presidential aspirant, Adamu Garba has alleged that Twitter is an “online machine” of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and that the social media platform supports the secessionist group more than it supports the Federal government.

Adamu said this while reacting to the decision of the Federal government to suspend the operation of Twitter in Nigeria.

In an interview with Channels TV on Friday evening, June 4, Garba, who in October 2020 sued the social media platform for ”supporting” the #ENDSARS protest, said the Federal government’s decision is a welcomed development.

“Yes, I’m happy. Seriously. It is clearly showing that actions cannot just happen without consequences.

Twitter, if you studied their move for the last two years, they have been more of an anti-Nigerian force, for the destruction of Nigeria than actually a platform that’s supposed to advocate for freedom of expression of Nigeria.

“Because if you look at what happened with the removal of some of the tweets of the president, I can’t see very strong or vile word than that of Nnamdi Kanu that was left to still be available on Twitter.

“We have a very serious crisis in the south-east, where these guys are destroying fundamental institutions of Nigerian democracy, INEC offices, police institutions and courts.

“They are killing people on the streets, destroying people’s properties, and then Twitter is behind them.

“I think Twitter is like a kind of IPOB online machine because what they do more is to support IPOB much more than the government. IPOB, everyone knows, they are anti-Nigeria. Their target is to destroy Nigeria.”

By Jide N.

The Federal government has announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria.

Below is a statement released from the office of the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, announcing the suspension;

”The Federal Government has suspended, indefinitely, the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, citing the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.

The Minister said the Federal Government has also directed the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria.”

This suspension comes days after the platform deleted tweets from President Buhari’s handle.

By Jide N.

A secret meeting organized by the members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in a private school in Okutukutu axis of Yenagoa, the state capital have been stopped by Personnel of Operation Puff Adder of the Bayelsa State Police Command. 

The security operatives also arrested 10 persons attending the meeting which is alleged to be part of a plan to allegedly unleash mayhem on some parts of Bayelsa State.

A book titled “The Chain of One Nigeria Broken (The story of our journey to Freedom)” was also recovered from the suspects during the raid on the meeting by security operatives on Tuesday afternoon June 1. 

An eyewitness told Daily Trust that a legal practitioner and the headmaster of the school were among the ten persons arrested.

 “The suspects were arrested by a team of Operation Puff Adder when plain-clothed policemen and uniformed ones stormed the area.

“Many residents started moving into their homes to avoid being caught on the wrong side of the law. They proceeded to the school and we were shocked when they brought out people in handcuffs. We thought the school was empty.” 

In what seems to be a confirmation of the arrest, Bayelsa police spokesperson, Asinim Butswat warned members of the public in the State to stay clear from any form of association with the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (lPOB).

Butswat also disclosed that intelligence available to the Command indicates that some misguided elements are planning to set-up IPOB cells in the State, hinting that Police Operatives are on their trail and monitoring their activities.

He said; 

“The Command will deal decisively with any person or group of persons that attempt to disrupt the prevailing and peaceful security situation in the State.

“The Bayelsa State Police Command hereby, appeals to the good people of Bayelsa State to go about their lawful and legitimate businesses, as the security agencies are on ground to ensure that peace and order is maintained in the State”

By Jide N.

Game of Thrones star, Sophie Turner, who is married to Joe Jonas, has hinted in a new post that she’s not straight.

To usher in Pride Month, she wrote on her Instagram Stories: “It’s muthafu**in #pirde month babaayyyyy.

Then she hinted that she is not straight by writing: “Time isn’t straight and neither am i.”

She also wrote: “Bi Pride” and “Move, I’m gay.”

Sophie married Joe Jonas in May 2019. They welcomed a daughter named Willa in July 2020.

Of late, a number of celebrities have been coming out as gay, lesbian, trans and non-binary, including Colton Underwood, Kehlani, JoJo Siwa, Elliot Page and Demi Lovato

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has appealed to young Nigerians to stop the trend of renouncing their citizenship in pursuit of greener pasture. According to him, it is worrisome and counterproductive.

The Minister expressed his concerns when he spoke at the Ministerial Alignment Meeting of the Presidential Task Force on Deliverables for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of Government.

Represented at the meeting by the  Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Shuaib Belgore., the Minister said the Federal government would put up a mechanism in place that would keep young Nigerians busy in productive activities.

He appealed to the youths to stop renouncing their citizenship.

Aregbesola said a committee would be set up in the Ministry with stakeholders to oversee the operations and implementation of the deliverables.

He announced that the committee would be chaired by the Director, Planning Research and Statistics (PRS) in the Ministry, Mr. Kabiru Ayuba, with representatives of the four Services under the Ministry and other relevant officers.

By Kingsley U.

A soldier attached to 243 Recce Battalion Ibereko, Badagry, LCP Mahmud Sulaiman, committed suicide by shooting himself dead after he shot dead a customs officer at the Oloko checkpoint, Gbaji on Badagry-Seme expressway on Wednesday, June 2.

According to reports, the soldier accidentally shot the Customs officer when his own team leader tried to retrieve a gun from him after he noticed Sulaiman was acting strange.

“In the process of retrieving the cocked weapon from him, which he resisted, he accidentally fired a shot and the stray bullet hit one Inspector of Custom, C.N Walter. The customs officer, who was attached to Seme Border Area Command, was rushed to Badagry General Hospital for treatment.

But unfortunately, the customs officer died at about 6:40 a.m. on Thursday in the hospital. Subsequently, Sulaiman also shot himself and died on the spot”an eyewitness said

Sulaiman, who was recently redeployed to the Ibereko Battalion from the Theater of Operation in the North-East, had been behaving abnormally since assumption of duty in Badagry.

“He always cock his AK 47 rifle fully loaded with ammunition, an action that made his Team Leader to report the matter to the Commanding Officer of 243 Recce Battalion, Col. Nicholas Rume, where he was serving.

“The commanding officer immediately ordered for the retrieval of the weapon from him” an officer said

While confirming the incident, the Customs Public Relations Officer in Seme border, Abdulahi Hussiain, said the situation has been brought under control.

By Jide N.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State has called for the resignation of the governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, over the state of insecurity in the state.

Speaking at a press conference in Owerri, the state capital, on Thursday, June 3, the PDP chairman in the state, Charles Ugwu, said that the crisis in the state has shown that the governor had no answer to the spate of killings in the state.

Ugwu said that the All Progressives Congress-led government lacked the capacity to guarantee the safety and security of lives and properties of the people of the state.

“Governor Hope Uzodimma in his capacity and responsibility as the Chief Security Officer of the state has failed to protect the lives and property of Imo State. This has become necessary in view of the evident lack of capacity of the All Progressives Congress in Imo State to guarantee the safety of the people of the state,” he said.

The PDP chairman said that the opposition party was alarmed at the continued escalation of the militarisation of the state and mass arrest and alleged killing of the youths of the state.

“Our party finds it too worrisome that innocent civilians are mowed down daily, security personnel are wantonly killed, arson, murder, and carnage have become the lot of the hitherto most peaceful state in Nigeria. The climax is the gruesome murder of Hon Ahmed Gulak, the former aide to the then president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and a former member of the PDP.

The PDP, Imo State, wishes to use this medium to solemnly extend our heartfelt condolences to all those who have fallen to the senseless and avoidable carnage going on in the state.”Ugwu said

Ugwu called for a holistic investigation into the killing of a former presidential aide, Mr. Ahmed Gulak, in the state, on Sunday morning, May 30.

By Terry W.

Hours after it was reported that the House of Representatives have received a proposal which suggested United African Republic or United Alkebulan Republic as Nigeria’s new name, it has become one of the trending topics on social media. 

Adeleye Jokotoye, a tax consultant submitted the proposal to the committee at the South West Zonal Public Hearing in Lagos on Wednesday, June 2, 2021.

He said Nigeria’s current name was an imposition of its past colonial masters and should be changed to reflect a new beginning physically and psychologically. 

His proposal read; 

First and foremost, I want to recommend a name change from Nigeria to the United Africans Republic (UAR).

The significance of name change cannot be overemphasised. Even God our father, in the Holy books, changed names of prophets e.g. Saul to Paul, Jacob to Israel, etc. The reason for name change is to physically and psychologically reflect a new beginning.

Thus, at this crossroads in our history, it is mandatory that we change our name to reflect a new beginning which will be ushered in with a new constitution. The word ‘Africa’ is a Greek word meaning ‘Without Cold’. Africa was originally called ‘Alkebulan’, meaning ‘Mother of Mankind’ (Garden of Eden).

Alkebulan is the oldest and the only word of indigenous origin used by Moors, Nubians and Ethiopians. So, if we like, we can go a step further and name our nation, United Alkebulan Republic (meaning ‘United Mother of Mankind Republic).

The new constitution should also give room for continuous review as and when due, and future referendum if required also want to suggest the following.

The constitution should provide for a council for each of these offices where six members from each geo-political zone will be represented to take collective unanimous decisions for the office, instead of one man holding all the powers of the office.

These council members will attain the position by seniority and numbers of years in service, and they will each need a department in the service as well as being council members.

Nigerians have now taken to social media to to express their opinions concerning the proposal. See some below; 

By Terry W.

An airplane got stuck in the mud in Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, while trying to take off.

The Ethiopian Airlines flight skidded off the runway and ran into a muddy area where it got stuck.

Footage from the scene shows airport workers trying to get the plane out of the mud.

Thankfully, no fatalities or injuries were recorded.

According to reports, authorities are investigating what led to the incident.

Watch the video below.

Airplane gets stuck in mud after skidding off runway in Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos (video)

An airplane got stuck in the mud in Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, while trying to take off. pic.twitter.com/yOGIGdggvo

— GoldMyne (@GoldmyneTV) June 3, 2021

By Kingsley U.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council OYC has petitioned the International Criminal Court (ICC), the United Kingdom and United States of America USA over the tweet posted by President Buhari making reference to the civil war.

In a statement signed by the National President of OYC, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the group alleged the President’s tweet was another subtle plan for an attack against Ndigbo. Nnabuike said the President via his tweet had” prepared the ground for another attack on Ndigbo by security forces.”

Nnabuike added that the President had pushed Ndigbo to the wall enough for them to react.

Part of the petition sent to the foreign government’s reads

“We write to alert the international community on another planned attack against Ndigbo.

This is sadly coming few days after Ndigbo held a memorial in honour of over 5 million lives wasted, including children, during the civil war.

We are more concerned that this is coming from the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It is quite sad that while the same Buhari presidency is busy romancing with Boko Haram and other bandits in the North, it has in another stroke threatened massacre of Ndigbo simply for agitating to have their own country.

We are, therefore, alerting the United Nations, the United States of America, the International Criminal Court, ICC, UK, and other international organizations of this looming attack in Igboland, as Mr. President has given the security agencies license to wipe our people out as can be deduced from his recent statement.

Already, several innocent Igbo youths have been murdered by security forces under the watch of Buhari, under the guise of hunting ESN, yet his Government is still looking for more blood.

It is thus imperative that we send this SOS message to the international community as Buhari’s hatred for Ndigbo has now reached extreme level” 

By Jide N.