240 Nigerians 'Missing' After Hajj Double Tragedy

After the double hajj tragedies that killed nearly a thousand people and left many more injured, Nigeria, which sent at least 76000 pilgrims at the expense of the state, has confirmed that 64 of those pilgrims lost their lives and at least another 240 were missing.

Nigeria's Vice President Highlights Deep Ethnic And Religious Divisions In Nigeria

Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria's vice-president, has brought to the fore the "deep ethnic and religious divisions" plaguing Nigeria. He was speaking at an interdenominational service held in Abuja on Sunday as part of the activities to celebrate Nigeria's 55th independence day celebrations which is officially on October 1st.

Nigeria's President Promises Trial Of Treasury Looters To Begin Soon...

President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has promised that the prosecution of those accused of looting the country's treasury will commence shortly. He made this statement at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly. Mr Buhari won the elections held in March on the back of his anti-corruption stance.

Controversial Nigerian Pastor Warns Nigerians To Beware Of Celebrity Pastors And Mega Churches

Femi Aribisala, who is described on premiumtimesng.com as "a scholar and international affairs expert...currently an iconoclastic church pastor in Lagos...also a syndicated essayist for a handful of publications in Nigeria," has singled out Nigeria's "celebrity pastors and megachurches" for some verbal drubbing. He was basically telling Nigerians that his megachurch-running brethren are false teachers, while he is the real deal; in other words, the difference between six and half a dozen, or a classic case of the kettle calling the pot black.

Nigeria's President Having A Pang Of Guilty Conscience?

President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has expressed sadness at the tragedies that befell pilgrims at the ongoing hajj in Saudi Arabia. First was a crane collapse which killed 107, then nearly two weeks later, a stampede which killed over 700. While expressing his grief, he commiserated with Nigerians who lost loved ones, including a journalist and a professor of Arabic and islamic studies.

Commercial Cyclist Brutally Rapes 11-Year-Old For Apparent Diabolical Reasons

A Nigerian commercial motorcyclist, popularly called 'okada', is currently in prison for brutally raping an 11-year-old girl who was supposed to be writing examinations at the time the crime was committed. The 54-year-old rapist was said to have assaulted the victim in his home where he lives with his pregnant wife and son (who happens to be the victim's classmate) both of whom were aware of of what he was doing. The girl suffered so much trauma she fainted from blood loss and had to be hospitalised for weeks and missed her exams as a consequence.

Former Presidential Candidate Released By Abductors After Ransom Paid

Nigeria's Olu Falae, a former presidential aspirant who was kidnapped on his birthday three days ago has finally been released following intensive negotiations between his family and those who took him hostage. The prayers of numerous sympathizers who besieged his home hours after his abduction did not secure his release, and the amount paid to his abductors will forever remain a closely guarded secret.

The dire security situation in Nigeria has simply overwhelmed the country's corrupt security agencies, and so it is hardly surprising that the people have turned to the supernatural for protection. Prayers are as effective as doing nothing to remedy the appalling security situation, and it is worse when one considers the fact that those who pray actually believe that the situation will improve. No country ensures the safety and security of its citizens by praying; they invest in, and build an efficient security outfit. We should have realized by now that our prayers are as effective as talking to ourselves. There is nobody anywhere listening to those prayers, and that is the very reason prayers always remain 'unanswered'. If we must pray, let us pray to our walls, after all they are said to have ears.

More Woes For Hajj Pilgrims As Stampede Kills Hundreds

At least 717 persons have died and another 863 injured in a second hajj tragedy in as many weeks. The cause this time around was a stampede similar to that which killed over 300 people in 2003, and is said to be the worst incidence during the hajj in 25 years. This latest tragedy continues to uncover the gaping inadequacies of the Saudi authorities in organising and ensuring participants' safety in a gathering of this magnitude.

Nigerian Cleric Urges Nigerians To Pray Against Corruption

A Nigerian cleric, Yomi Kasali, based in Lagos has urged Nigerians to dedicate a day to pray for the anti-corruption drive of president Buhari. He is the founder and senior pastor of Foundation of Truth Assembly, and included muslims in his call to pray corruption out of Nigeria as part of events to mark the tenth anniversary of his church/ministry. This call to prayers is in line with the culture of Nigerians to seek divine intervention for any and all problems.

Sympathizers Offer Prayers For The Release Of Kidnapped Former Presidential Aspirant

Chief Olu Falae, 77, a former presidential aspirant was kidnapped yesterday from his home in Akure, the Ondo state capital in south west Nigeria on what was ironically his birthday. He was allegedly kidnapped by Fulani herdsmen (cattle rearers) allegedly at the behest of another group who have made a ransom demand of 100 million Naira (nearly $500000).

Nigerian Lawyer Believes The Country's Foundation Is Satanic

About two weeks ago, a Nigerian lawyer, Femi Fani-Kayode, claimed that Frederick Lugard, and his wife, Flora Shaw, who amalgamated the Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria into present day Nigeria, were Satanists and thus gave the new country which came into being in 1914 a satanic foundation. This, in his opinion, is the reason Nigeria has "refused to develop."

Nigerian Prophet Calms Fears On Flood Threat

A Nigerian preacher, no doubt another aspiring private jet owner, turned divine meteorologist when he assured Nigerians that the flood warnings by the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, would be tackled by God. Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin, the self styled general overseer of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry, Warri, Delta state, all but arrogated to himself the title of Nigeria's saviour when he claimed that he had been endued with grace from God to stop any unpleasant event that may occur in Nigeria, and has asked the Nigerian public not to panic.

Nigerian Gay Activist Accuses Adeboye Of Being Corrupt And Greedy

Enoch Adeboye, whom I have written about here and here, has been accused of being greedy and corrupt by Bisi Alimi, a Nigerian gay rights activist who currently lives in exile in London. It will be recalled that in January 2014, former president Jonathan signed the anti-gay law, which the Nigerian legislature had passed in record time in May 2013, prescribing jail terms of up to 14 years for gay couples who get married, show affection in public, and for those who openly approve of homosexual relationships. Reuben Abati, the then presidential spokesperson cited the law as "being in line with the people's cultural and religious inclination," inadvertently advertising the crass hypocrisy of the Nigerian society.

Saudi King Pays Compensation To Crane Collapse Victims

The Saudi authorities have approved the sum of SR1million (about $266000) to the families of those who lost their loved ones when a crane collapsed on the grand mosque in Mecca killing 107 persons and leaving over 200 injured. The injured will get SR500000 each. Six Nigerians were among the dead, and the Saudi government has promised that two members of each of the deceased's families will get an all expense paid hajj next year.

Potential Hajj Related Air Tragedy Averted

Another hajj-related tragedy was avoided yesterday, this time in Nigeria, when the pilot of a chartered aircraft aborted a flight just before take-off after he discovered an engine problem. A crane had collapsed a few days ago and killed over a hundred persons in Saudi Arabia where the annual hajj pilgrimage is currently underway. The plane belongs to Max Air, a Nigerian charter airline owned by Dahiru Barau Mangal (a muslim naturally).

Nigerian Muslim President May Relocate Christian Chapel

About two weeks ago, the Nigerian media was abuzz with news that overzealous aides of president Buhari had closed down the Aso Rock Presidential Villa chapel on the president's alleged order. It took Yemi Osinbajo (above), a law professor and Nigeria's christian vice-president's intervention for the security officials to allow people into the chapel on that particular day. But recent news suggests the chapel may go under the hammer as it is close to the presidential bedroom and kitchen, a deliberate move by former president Obasanjo, a christian, who built the chapel during his tenure, for his convenience. The chapel's location is now an inconvenience for the incumbent, a muslim.

Nigerian Pastor Establishes Luxury Airline

Enoch Adeboye, whom I had previously written about, has formally started his luxury airline, Emmanuel Aviation, which originally came into being in 2009, after buying a new private jet just last May. This comes on the heels of reports that TB Joshua, whose illegal multistorey building collapsed last year killing over 100 persons, had owned a private jet since April of this year. Mr Adeboye joins another Nigerian pastor, the megalomaniac David Oyedepo who has at least four private jets and also runs a luxury airline, Dominion airlines.

New 3D Printed Sternum And Rib Cage For Cancer Survivor

This amazing story, and medical miracle, continues the giant strides in science. A man who had sarcoma of the chest wall, a type of cancer of the rib cage, is getting a brand new 3D printed titanium prosthesis of part of his chest wall which doctors removed as part of his treatment. Other prosthetic body parts can now be easily made using this technology.
As televangelists and pastors all across the world continue to fleece their congregation of their hard earned money with the promise of bogus miracles, science is inexorably making giant strides, and performing real and verifiable miracles. Religious nuts can continue to believe their bullshit, but I know a miracle when I see one; it is not achieved by praying to any deity or invisible being, it is achieved by painstaking hard work and research.

Kidnapped Nigerian Journalist Released Amidst Praises To God

Donu Kogbara who was kidnapped from her residence in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria, was on Friday dumped in one of the numerous creeks that dot Nigeria's oil rich Niger delta, by her kidnappers who forced a fisherman to take her to a place from which she could find her way home. She told reporters that her kidnappers were aggrieved youths who referred to Nigeria's insanely corrupt politicians as "official hoodlums."

Spiritual Angle Added To Electrocuted Nigerian Student's Death

On Spetember 8, a third year accountancy student, Oluchi Anekwe of the University of Lagos, Lagos state, Nigeria, was electrocuted when a live electric cable snapped from its pole and fell on her. She was in the company of her younger sister who also sustained injuries. Some reports had it that she was denied medical attention by staff at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, who demanded her student identity card before she could receive medical attention.

Over 100 Persons Dead As Crane Collapses On Mosque In Saudi Arabia

A huge crane collapsed on the grand mosque in islam's holiest city, Mecca, killing at least 107 with another 230 injured. This tragedy occurred at about 17:23 local time yesterday (14:23 GMT) while preparations were underway for the annual muslim hajj pilgrimage. I had previously written about the Nigerian government paying for government officials and citizens to go on these pilgrimages with scarce state funds, and later, about the president's decision to stop sending an official delegation to the hajj pilgrimage.

War On Islam, Not War On Terror

I am writing this for the 2977 persons killed on the day we should have declared war on islam and not on terror. It is in their honour we should fight this war. These people all left grieving families behind, families that will find it hard to forget the gruesome nature of their deaths. I cannot begin to imagine what the last few moments of these victims were like, but one thing I do know is that they all died because of 19 young men who believed that they would be rewarded with 72 virgins in eternal paradise.

Iranian Artist May Face Additional Jail Time For Shaking Her Male Lawyer's Hand

Last June I read about Atena Farghadani, an Iranian artist who is serving  a twelve years and nine months prison sentence for the satirical cartoons she drew, depicting officials of the Iranian government as goats and monkeys, to protest plans by the Iranian government to make voluntary sterilization illegal and to greatly limit access to contraception (a policy no different than the position of the catholic church). She is now being charged with 'illegitimate sexual relationship short of adultery' and 'indecent conduct' for shaking hands with her lawyer Mohammad Moghimi, who is also being charged.

Nigeria's President Finally Confirms The Fate Of The Chibok Girls

Nigeria's president Buhari, in an interview with the BBC Hausa service, has finally confirmed what I have written about here, and what the government could no longer hide: the Chibok girls have virtually no chance of being found. When he was asked about the location of the girls, he responded thus: "They (Boko Haram insurgents) have scattered them, and they (the girls) are being guarded at dispersed locations. Most of the girls are christians and were forced to embrace Islam. The sect’s cruel leaders have married some of the girls, obviously against their wish. Others have been left to practice their religion but their condition could hardly be ascertained."

Nigerian Army Captures Boko Haram's Drugs Supplier

The Nigerian army has continued to expose the Boko Haram terror outfit as just a bunch of thugs who use islam as an excuse to cause mayhem under the pretext of establishing an islamic theocracy in the country. An unspecified number of men, in possession of large quantities of cannabis, various illegal stimulants, and condoms destined for Boko Haram fighters, were captured in Yobe state, north-east Nigeria.

Adeboye's Dumbass Predictions

Enoch Adejare Adeboye is a very respected man around the world. He is the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, whose members call him "Daddy G.O." As is the custom during the countless new year 'crossover' services (held to usher in the new year) in Nigeria's ubiquitous places of worship, the heads of the megachurches usually reel out a list of predictions for the incoming year. Adeboye is no different, and he reeled out a bunch of bollocks, just like he did for last year.

Paedophilia Is Real In Nigeria

A 7 year old girl in Lagos has intimated the police about her father's habitual touching of her privates and how he also inserts his penis into her mouth. I had previously written about a pastor who defiled a 10 year old girl and blamed it on the devil, but this problem goes way beyond religion when one considers the fact that in the case of the 7-year-old above, the police refused to get involved citing it as a "family issue." The victim's elder brother had previously told their mother about how he had caught her playing with her privates, and there was also at least one occasion in which she had been seen pants down with a neighbour's 4 year old son.

Muslims Throw A Dozen Christians Overboard For Not Praying To Allah

I stumbled on this story during a twitter banter, with a muslim, about Africans fleeing their homeland into Europe, risking life and limb in the process. A dinghy carrying about a hundred African refugees across the Mediterranean had a puncture and began to sink. A Nigerian christian began fervent prayers for his life when he was told by some of the muslims on the same boat, some of whom also happened to be Nigerians, that all who were on the boat were only allowed to pray to Allah and that he would be thrown overboard if he didn't stop. He, along with eleven others, drowned as the muslims in the overcrowded boat threw them into the water amidst cries of "Allah is great!"

Family Celebrates A Miracle As Man Resurrects

A 70 year old retired civil servant (pictured above with his family) who had been certified dead in a private clinic in Benue state, Nigeria, was said to have resurrected after about 30 hours. His son had gone to the morgue to identify the corpse before it could be embalmed, when the 'miracle' occurred. The scared witnesses immediately took to their heels, but one of the attendants finally plucked up some courage and went to attend to the man who was immediately readmitted into the clinic.

Nigeria's President To Stop Sponsoring Pilgrims

After writing this, I decided to scour the web for more news about about the sponsorship of pilgrims by the Nigerian state. My pleasant surprise on seeing this report was short-lived after reading that the federal government was going to save $1m by not sending a government delegation! This means that the government not only subsidizes - or does it pay in full? - the journey to Mecca for ordinary citizens, it also sends delegates to represent the federal government.

Family Seeks Divine Intervention After Nigerian Columnist Is Kidnapped

Donu Kogabra, a Nigerian columnist and broadcaster who lives in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers state was kidnapped on August 30 just outside of her residence. Her family is yet to hear from the kidnappers and has decided to seek divine intervention.

Retired Nigerian Pastor Accused Of Child Trafficking

A 71 year old retired Nigerian pastor from Umuahia in Abia state was arrested yesterday along with his wife for allegedly stealing an 11-month old baby. The pastor has denied having any knowledge the baby was not legally adopted by his wife, whom the police has accused of purchasing the baby for the equivalent of $2480 from another woman who stole the baby from its mother.

Togolese Striker Rejects Transfer Move At The Last Minute Because He Needs A Sign From God

Emmanuel Adebayor, a Togolese footballer, who plays for Tottenham Hotspur in the English premier league has rejected a loan transfer move at the last minute saying he needed a sign from God. He stalled a move to Aston Villa, another premier league club after completing a medical and even posing for photographs with the club's shirt. It is understood that he even consulted his pastor, who may have been pivotal to his decision.

Nigeria's Misplaced Priorities

Abia – Male (130) Female (130)

Adamawa – Male (62) Female (62)

Akwa-Ibom – Male (123) Female (123)

Anambra – Male (139) Female (139)

Bauchi – Male (35) Female (35)

Bayelsa – Male (72) Female (72)

Benue – Male (111) Female (111)

Borno – Male (45) Female (45)

Cross-Rivers – Male (97) Female (97)

Delta – Male (131) Female (131)

Ebonyi – Male (112) Female (112)

Edo – Male (127) Female (127)

Ekiti – Male (119) Female (119)

Enugu – Male (134) Female (134)

Gombe – Male (58) Female (58)

Imo – Male (138) Female (138)

Jigawa – Male (44) Female (44)

Kaduna – Male (91) Female (91)

Kano – Male (67) Female (67)

Kastina – Male (60) Female (60)

Kebbi – Male (9) Female (20)

Kogi – Male (119) Female (119)

Kwara – Male (123) Female (123)

Lagos – Male (133) Female(133)

Nassarawa – Male (58) Female (58)

Niger – Male (93) Female (93)

Ogun – Male (131) Female (131)

Ondo – Male (126) Female (126)

Osun – Male (127) Female (127)

Oyo – Male (127) Female (127)

Plateau – Male (97) Female (97)

Rivers – Male (118) Female (118)

Sokoto – Male (9) Female (13)

Taraba – Male (3) Female (11)

Yobe – Male (20) Female (27)

Zamfara – Male (4) Female (2)

FCT Abuja – Male (90) Female (90)

Nigeria Sends 76000 Pilgrims To Mecca

I had recently written about some Nigerian state governments sending pilgrims to Jerusalem and Mecca and this brief report details how the Nigerian government has already flown 18909 pilgrims out of a total of 76000, to Mecca for the 2015 hajj. Of course no one knows exactly how much will be spent by the government on this venal venture, except those who will directly benefit from it. In the Nigerian spirit, the prices will be over inflated and huge profits made by government officials and their collaborators at the expense of the deprived Nigerian tax payer. Most of the participating states will be from the north where there is crippling poverty, hardly any decent primary schools and a paucity of basic healthcare services.