ROBBED AT GUNPOINT!!

So 'penultimate' Sunday (that's how they write in Nigerian newspapers) my dear friend Singto and I got into a fix that I'm certain we'll never forget. A very severe 'Oh no had I known' situation which could have been avoided had  I succumbed to Twitter coverage of the 2012 MBGN pageant.
I was meant to go to a new spot for a quick 'meet-and-greet' over drinks with a fellow international journalist (we have to distinguish please so you don't conjure up a beer parlor) but the fellow canceled at the last minute. Considering that I'd already put on my MAC powder (I have a rule that once that powder touches my face, I dey comot house) I decided to call up Singto who lives just down the road from me. If she had known what was going to go down that night, she'ld have said, 'Abeg leave me make I sleep.'

We decided to roll out to the 'Mexibaneseptriate' restaurant, Bottles, since it was Cinco De Mayo (5th of May). You know as we are from 'the Abroad', we mark some random days like that just as an excuse to have a few beers and things.  Other friends came to meet up with us and we were gisting for about 3 hours. When the place cleared out and we started dozing off around 1 am, we decided to call it a night and head home. I still had a buzz that needed to be burnt off so as we drove past  the now reformed Pat's Bar on Ajose Adeogun, we decided to park. But then we hesitated. Let me tell you why.

So last week Monday both of us and another friend, Sookie, had been bored and needed to 'look around'. Lagos is quite boring and so there are days when you just have the urge to drive around just to see people doing something sha. So we said, we've never been to this legendary Pat's bar, 'where no decent girl wants to be seen' due to certain perceptions of the patrons. We got there and got in to some mild drama with the bouncer (that story will make for another blog entry)  for which we demanded to speak with the manager. The manager was nice and situation sorted after downloading the story and a few free drinks. So thinking about that situation led to the hesitation that made us change our minds. I wish we had just indulged our urge this one time and gone to say hello to our new friends at Pat's Bar.

We drove away from the Ajose Adeogun and then on to the link road towards Oniru Estate. Now on a normal day, I would turn right to save N120 on the toll gate and enjoy the 'scenic route'. But a voice in me said, 'you're having such a great night chatting away, why don't you turn right and take your time to get home'. That was the DEVIL's voice because he had his agents of darkness waiting.
As we turned right and had driven a little bit past City of David Church, I see a silver Toyota Corolla come from the back to over take us.That's when this drama began to unfold...

Adaure: Who are these mad people driving like this at night ehn?


Singto: When they go and have accident now they will know.


Adaure: Hmmmh...Why are they slowing down? Singto, these guys look like thieves sha 

One guy comes out of the car holding something large...

Singto: Shit, Dude that's a gun. Drive!!


Adaure: Oh Shit! Uh uh!! I ain't going down like this!

As the movie of my life began to flash by,  the first thing that came to my mind in that split second was  Lagos doctors are on strike and as such one could not afford to get shot. So I put the car in reverse sharpishly and stepped on my gas pedal and DROVE as commanded. All this in between shouting 'Oh Shit' and 'JESUS' (Lord forgive me). As I reached deep inside me to find my survival skills (lessons from all the action films I've watched), the guy with the gun kept running towards us and pointing the gun. Unfortunately, the drivers behind us were not sharp enough to sight what was about to go down and so stopped and blocked my getaway. Meanwhile Singto was screaming 'Drive Adaure, Drive!' and me I was replying 'I am driving, I am driving!' When we couldn't go back any further, I attempted to do a fast 3 point turn but the road was too narrow thanks to the stupid dividers they build on roads which serve no purpose considering the fact that the light poles they are supposed to hold are all non-funtioning. So my 3-point turn failed, the divider was too high and I was not in a JEEP (I am provoking over that). By this time the gun man was already at Singto's window tapping with the gun and I was scared as hell.

Gunman: Open your door! Open your door! I will shoot!


Adaure: (window down) Oga calm down, don't shoot! What do yo want?


Gunman: Bring your Chain! Bring your chain!


Adaure: But we don't have any chain or anything.


Gunman: Your phone!


Adaure: (flustered) My phone! Where is my phone? Um Um....I am looking for it. I can't see! It's dark!


Singto: Please calm down, Oga, let us find our phones. 

He proceeds to rub down my neck to confirm if i was lying about the chain.

Adaure: Oga wait let me put on the light for you 

I was meticulous in de-americanizing my speech and hysteria so he would not get any 'kidnapping' ideas. By this time the cars following had started trying to turn around.

Adaure: Oga my bag is in the back, let me bring it for you


Gunman: Oya bring your bag, come and open your boot.


Adaure: Take the bag, Singto bring your bag (Singto looks at me like, dude why are you offering him all our stuff, he just asked for the phone)


Gunman: (to Singto) You where is your bag? (to me) You bring the car key.


Adaure: If you like you can take the car, we can walk home (In my mind I was like this car that has been giving me problem, please take it o)

He takes the key and walks around and throws it on the floor. As he walks away, my head lamps beaming at what had just gone down and what fate we had just escaped, I could also just see my bag  (Channy-Nwa) with my wallet and all my bank cards and phones just walking away with him. I began to think if i had backed up my blackberry contacts because that would further compound my recovery from this ordeal. Singto had her wallet, checkbook,  cards, car and house keys and one phone (she was smart enough to take out the other phone) as well as other personal effects.

As I am too flustered to drive, Singto takes over the wheels and we drive back towards Four-Points where we'd last seen the Police Patrol. We find them one street off and tell them what had just happened. The reaction just showed me all that people have been writing about and saying about crime-fighting and the future war on terrorism that we will face in Nigeria. It made me miss the 2nd Amendment.

We turned around and headed for the Maroko Police Station, where there was another lady whose car had just been snatched. Not sure if it was by the same guys. The police there were helpful but already had their hands full with another robbery incident in the Jakande area with 'live fire', according to them. Within 20 minutes we had written a report and went home. I decided to log on to an online app I downloaded to lock the phone and track it, assuming it was still on and there it was, roving all over Victoria Island. We decide that we can't get punked like this and went back with this 'new data' to the police. My sister was at home keeping watch on the tracker and calling in the location of the robbers.

At this point, I refused to dwell on the inadequacies of the Nigerian police. It is not their fault. It is the leaders feeding fat on funds meant to equip the police stations with scanners, radios and the likes. These guys were using GSM to call DCO to pass the new location on. A good 2 minutes in between that chain. I was surprised though that the guys at the 'Maroko PD' actually indulged us and according to them went towards the various locations identified on the tracker. But that's always the story of the Nigeria Police, always 'trailing' behind. Sometimes you wonder if these guys don't watch TV to even get simple ideas like informing the guys at the Ikoyi or Onikan end to look out for cars fitting the description. Not that our case was special, but the fact that it appeared to be am 'Operation Night' by the robbery gangs should have indicated the need to be a little ahead. Then again had the Inspector General of Police not banned Police Road Blocks, perhaps that would have deterred these particular boys from such brazen robbery, just a few blocks away from a police station and a police patrol van down the road at the Four Points hotel.

Suffice to say we went back and forth with the Police patrol on the phone for 3 hours. At some point, the robbers were on Adeola Hopewell and Sanusi Fafunwa,  Eletu Ogabi, just casing, and then Saka Tinubu and Akin Adeshola for a while. Turns out they were dispossessing another guy (who's a friend of our friend) of his SUV right in front of The Porsche Center. According to the police, they did spot a car that fit the description of our robbers, but by the time they could turn (damn, those dividers again) the guys had zoomed off. In the space of a minute, on the tracker, they went from Akin Adeshola, to Awolowo Rd and ended on Ring Road in Obalende. That's the last we saw of them on the tracker.

The next morning, I tried to play Nancy Drew and see if the car had been abandoned and perhaps our personal effects dumped inside. I discovered that there had been about 4 to 6 Car jacking and armed robbery incidents between the Victoria Island and Lekki 1 Axis that had been reported in early hours of Sunday May 6th. About 3 cars parked at the Bar Beach Police station had been recovered. The lady we met at 'Maroko PD' also go her car back and apparently 2 robbers, apparently operating in Lagos, were shot and killed in Sango-Otta. Our robbers were lucky this night leaving us to wonder.

Normally, I would reign curses and abuses on them at this point, but I've decided against that because my curses will bring suffering to them and the cycle of poverty and desperation will only continue. Instead, I will pray for them and wish that when they sell those items, they'll use the funds to start up a business and earn a living. Wishful thinking, but it's a prayer worth saying because it will put them off the streets. As for myself and Singto, we thank God for our lives and not letting the robber shoot. I have to admit I have never been so scared in my life. This is the first time I'm ever getting robbed or witnessing such. All this week my stomach has been queasy with 'butterflies' and the whole thing has been playing in my head. You know, asking yourself what could have happened if this or that happened. Too much headache so I'll just thank GOD that we can even laugh about it and tell it like a story. As for the items lost, it's just stuff, EXPENSIVE stuff, but STUFF nonetheless, we can always get them back (after a few months of saving up) but life is IRREPLACEABLE.  AA

THIS IS HARDER THAN I THOUGHT...

Men! This attempt at making a blogging come-back thing is harder than I expected. Don't know how I did it back then with 2 jobs, over time and driving up and down Highway 1 or I-85. Now when I get back from work, I don't want to see another news article or breaking news alert. Remember when I would roll-over and watch CNN or Fox...none of that. I'm either jaded or there's an over load of bad news and evilness on the tube. All I want to do is sleep, watch Tinsel and run cheeky commentary on Twitter or play Angry Birds on my Ipad. Even on Friday nights. Kai! Old age is fast approaching, but damned that sucker if I go down like that. I am off to a 1 year old's birthday parry. :-)

TERRORISM WATCH: EXPLOSIONS ROCK KANO

This just breaking. Various news agencies are reporting several blasts in Kano. There are reports of casualties as pandemonium grips the commercial city this evening. Witnesses say the first was at the police headquarters and the second was at the passport office. Updates to follow...

Read More Here

BUSINESS DAY ANTI-OCCUPY FALOMO ARTICLE

(Photo credit: occupynigeriaprotest.blogspot.com)

A friend of mine sent me a link to an article in The Business Day Newspaper. Usually I make it a rule not to comment on articles if it would come out as being judgmental of the writer. However, this article 'When Louis Vuitton Met Hermes At Falomo' kind of had me irked a little bit that I had to comment. Unfortunately the website doesn't seem to allow for commenting so here's is my comment below.

With all due respect being wealthy or aspiring to be does not and should not equate to having political apathy. And it is not a CRIME (except where it is ill gotten) If these rich folks, many self employed, did not come out to join in, you will be the same to complain. They were able to get together to express their dissatisfaction in a language they understand and now they are getting castigated. Please spare me. I want to see the article that will speak about how for a change it wasn't only the poor on the streets asking for the change. Difference is just in the style. I understand that in our society the lines between those who benefit from the pillaging of the country and those who have made good on genuine hard work and good education have become fuzzy, but we need to STOP VILIFYING SUCCESS in this manner!!

Regards
Channel sunglass/ Gucci sneakers/ LV wearing occupier

Now I don't own a pair of Gucci sneakers , I just threw that in for the effect. Thanks to poetic license. Lol. I know a bunch of people who were livid about the article, including my friends who were out there because they were quite passionate about the issues but wanted a safe and near by place to participate in an event that was historically shaping the country. This article trivializes their efforts and the efforts of those others who were out there for hours marching from one end of Ikoyi to the other, even Occupying the NTA office in VI. I was out there a couple of times checking different locations for work, and what I came away with was totally different from what this writer has written. It may not have been a lot in some people's books but they get an 'A' for effort. What are your thoughts? Do you agree with the writer's position or he/she has a chip on the shoulders? Do you feel the Occupy Falomo was a 'picnic', a place to show off and 'oppress' or that what we saw just comes with the territory, package so to speak? Do you think it was a genuine contribtion or a side show for bored rich folks with cabin fever? Let's talk...

LET'S GET THINGS BACK TO NORMAL SHALL WE

Phew! And what a week that was. The little revolution that TRIED. A week when many Nigerians dared the government. We shall surely revisit that week. I bet there will be more interesting weeks ahead as we still have 40 months of Goodluck Jonathan's government. As we move on with life, I feel a sense of trepidation and wonder if the example of leadership shown this week is what we shall have to stomach the rest of those months. When I went to the ballot box in April 2011, I sure as hell did not get the memo that I was signing up for a promo: Vote 1 get 2 free, these being a Democracy, Cabal and Military rule. Perhaps this was just a fluke from panic at the sight of the crowds building at the protest points. Time will tell. Here's to the reset button on 2012 as the year only just started today for many of us.

SUBSIDY: ALL SET FOR STRIKE AS NIGERIA REPS ADVISE POLICY SUSPENSION

THE stage seemed set for today’s petrol prices strike as some protesters were seen in Abuja with blankets ready to camp out.

A senators’ last-minute effort to stave off the strike failed. Labour mapped out details of its action and the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) called on lawyers to join the strike.

Besides, the House of Representatives advised the Executive to roll back the prices. But the Presidency described the resolution as inciting.

Petrol now costs between N138 and N200 per litre, up from N65 before the New Year’s Eve’s sudden withdrawal of subsidy.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Acting Secretary General Owei Lakemfa issued a directive on the protest in Abuja.

He said: “The NLC and TUC have directed that Abuja residents converge on Berger Roundabout daily by 8.00am from Monday January 9. Please pass on information to others by means.”

Some would-be protesters arrived at the Eagle Square yesterday, carrying mattresses, blankets and tents – ready for the action.

The Lagos State council of the congress will begin its protest from the Labour House in Tejuosho.

NLC Deputy President Promise Adewusi said he was not aware of any official invitation to a meeting with senators.

Said Adewusi: “I am not aware of any formal invitation by the National Assembly. So, I will not attend a meeting without an invitation as that will be tantamount to gate crashing. We are not likely to go for any negotiation now without PMS pump price being firstly reverted to N65 per litre as that will amount to negotiating under duress. Nigerians have been fully mobilised by hunger, poverty, anger and angst and are primed for the start of the strike tomorrow. Like our President ordered, ‘no retreat, no surrender’.

NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) leaders shunned the Senate’s invitation for a meeting over the planned strike.

The Senator Wilson Ake-led Senate Committee on Labour and Productivity scheduled the meeting for 3p.m. yesterday. It was not to be.

A source said: “Members of the committee were actually at the Senate, expecting the labour leaders who did not turn up. After some time, the senators went to the Labour House to meet with the leaders but they were not there. Efforts to reach them on phone did not yield positive results as the phones were switched off.”

The Nation learnt that most of the labour leaders were in Lagos to perfect plans for today’s action when members of the Senate Committee on Labour and Productivity were waiting for them in Abuja.

Labour leaders could not also be reached for comments.

Senator Ake had in a statement expressed worry over the consequences of a nationwide industrial action proposed by labour, civil society organisations and professionals against the federal government’s removal of fuel subsidy.

He called for restraint, warning that an industrial action could be catastrophic.

Ake dismissed the notion that the government was deliberately punishing Nigerians, saying all parties should cooperate in the collective interest of the nation.”

The nationwide indefinite strike begins today.

In Lagos, officials of Labour and Civil Societies Coalition (LASCO) met to put finishing touches to their plan for the strike.

NLC Deputy President, Joe Ajaero said after the meeting that nothing has happened to change Labour’s position. The strike and protests will begin today, he stressed.

His words: “Nothing has happened to change our position, not even the House of Representatives session. The President’s speech was also empty; it did not address the issue. We are not intimidated. It is a challenge to the Nigerian people, not only Labour. Therefore, the strike begins tomorrow (today) as scheduled. If Government is ready to listen to the people, the president should invite us. We will meet with him.”

LASCO Secretary Abiodun Aremu named the co-ordinating centres for the peaceful street protests to include NLC Lagos Secretariat, Yaba, TUC Secretariat, Ikorodu Road, Textile Union House, Acme Road, Lagos State University, Ojo, and Agric Union House, Alaguntan, Iyana Ipaja.NLC is the central coordinating centre.

Protesters will converge on NLC office and set out from there for the street rally at 8am.

Read more from The Nation

For readers in Nigeria, how do you plan to 'survive' during this strike? The Power Holding Company has been on life supply due to 'epilepsy' since I was brought to Nigeria in the 80s. So yo can be rest assured that you shall not be enjoying your DSTV and DVDs without blowing off steam as your diesel/petrol back up goes down. Thank God for Indomie Noodles and egg...the SUBSIDY MEAL after 'cassava-garium and peanuts'...LOL. Anyways, we journalists don't strike so I am on my way to work.

SUBSIDY: MADAM FINANCE MINISTER SPEAKS TO AL-JAZEERA

Nigeria's Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala explains the controversial subsidy removal policy that has Nigerian up in arms.

Is her economics making sense to you? Your thoughts...

NEWS INSIDER: PUREFOY OUT, DUTHIERS IN, COVERS NIGERIA

(Photo Credit: vantagereportage.com)

It appears Vladamir Duthiers is now assigned to cover Nigeria and the West Africa region for CNN. He has been seen/heard on-air, reporting from Nigeria. If that's the case, he takes over from Christian Purefoy who did a fabulous job while on the beat for seven years. Here's Purefoy's tweet, confirming his exit.

(Photo Credit: Celebregion.com)

Vlad worked for CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360° and was among the first journalists to arrive in Haiti to cover the devastating January 2010 earthquake. For a month, Duthiers reported and translated for Anderson Cooper, whose coverage of the earthquake was nominated for an Emmy this year. He returned to Haiti 9 months later to independently report on an American missionary who had sexually abused street orphans for 10 years. That report aired on AC360° in December. Duthiers also worked on the show Amanpour. anchored by Emmy-award winning journalist Christiane Amanpour.

Before joining CNN, Duthiers spent 20 years in the investment management industry at AllianceBernstein Investments – a $400 billion asset management company. As managing director, Duthiers managed a $10 million budget and a global staff of 12. He traveled through 40 countries, meeting interesting people in interesting places: from the ruler of the United Arab Emirates to Kannushi Shinto priests in Kyoto and the Bouquinistes of Paris. Seeing the stories behind the places and people of his journeys sparked his decision to leave the world of finance for journalism.

For many, such an abrupt transformation seemed spontaneous at best and reckless at worst. But, ever since reading Thoreau’s Walden as a child, he had always been inspired by the words, “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.”Now, his passion is to find a unique vantage point to those stories and tell them well to a global audience.

Duthiers earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Rhode Island and an M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He also served in the U.S. Army with the Reserve Officer Training Corps. while attached to the 169th Military Police Company of the Rhode Island National Guard from 1988 to 1992.

He is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, South Asian Journalists Association and the Society of Professional Journalists. He speaks French, Haitian-Creole and is learning Mandarin Chinese. In his spare time, Duthiers is an amateur rock guitarist, pop-culture historian, and a student of several martial arts. He has written several screenplays and was the lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist in the Surrender Monkeys – a pub band that played to dozens of fans across Europe. (info culled from www.vantagereportage.com)

Welcome to Naija, Vlad!

More About Christian Purefoy

Purefoy was named to the position in early 2008 an was an integral part of CNN’s presence in Lagos, where he regularly reported stories of global relevance from within the region.

Purefoy served for three years as a producer, editor and cameraman on various assignments for CNN that included extensive work on Inside Africa, CNN’s weekly current affairs program that provides global viewers with an inside look at political, economic, social and cultural affairs and trends in Africa.

Before joining CNN full time, Purefoy was based in Lagos, Nigeria and worked as a freelance journalist writing for a variety of UK and US newspapers and publications including The Independent, The Daily Telegraph, The Times, San Francisco Chronicle and Newsweek.

He first joined up with CNN International in June 2002 as a producer at ‘Vivid Features’, an Africa-based production company, where he helped produce a number of CNN-commissioned projects. Purefoy is British and studied International Politics and International History at Keele University.

Goodluck Chris and Congrats on holding down the beat!

TERRORISM WATCH: BOKO HARAM CLAIMS MUBI ATTACK, SAY STATE OF EMERGENCY WON'T STOP THEM

The purported spokesman for Islamist group Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for separate attacks on a church in Gombe that killed six people and Christian mourners in Mubi that killed around 20 people.

The spokesman who goes by the name Abul Qaqa said the attacks were in response to an ultimatum he issued on Sunday giving Christians three days to leave the country’s mainly Muslim north.

Abul Qaqa, who has claimed to be speak on behalf of Boko Haram numerous times in the past made this statement to journalists in the northeastern city of Maiduguri by phone.

“We are responsible for the attacks in Mubi and Gombe...We are extending our frontiers to other places to show that the declaration of a state of emergency by the Nigerian government will not deter us…. We can really go to wherever we want to go. The attacks are part of our response to the ultimatum we gave to southerners to leave the north,” he said.

He called on the federal government to release all arrested Boko Haram members as a condition for attacks to stop.

Hmmh...na wa o! How about you stop killing innocent people and channel your grievances in a reasonable and civilized manner. By the way what has happened to Jomo Gbomo of MEND days.

.

SOUTH AFRICA: AFRICA'S OLDEST LIBERATION MOVEMENT, ANC CELEBRATES 100

This weekend, the African National Congress celebrates its 100th year. The party, which currently holds power in South Africa was founded on January 8th 1912 n Bloemfontein. First called the South African Native National Congress, the party was formed in response to injustice meted out to black South Africans by the minority white/Afrikaan population who were in power.

One of its most famous members, the elderly anti-apartheid icon and former president, Nelson Mandela, who is 93 years old, will not be able to attend the celebrations due to his frail condition.

In some oddly related news, the King of abaThembu, Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, has sent 60 cattle as contribution to the ANC celebration. This is in honor of his grandfather, who drove 115 cattle to Bloemfontein in 1912 when the ANC was formed.

Not sure if the driving of the cattle was done with an automobile back then, but I wonder why the King could not complete it to 100 at least, or is it safe to say recession is biting a bit.

Anyways Congrats ANC!! ( The Umbrella party that likes to tout itself as the largest party in Africa and it's fellow Broom brother of Nigeria better take note!)

Read more Here and Here

See also Photo Slide and FactBox

UNIFORM BRUTALITY: MAN KILLED IN MUSHIN, EX POLICE IG's NEPHEW

(Photo Credit: This Day)

Soldiers in the Joint military Security outfit, OP-MESSA shot dead Niyi Ehindero and injured three others in Mushin, Thursday. According to reports, Niyi is the nephew of former Inspector General of Police, Sunday Ehindero.

The incident took place at Bada Street, Idi-Oro, Mushin, Lagos, South West Nigeria around 4.30 pm when Ehindero came to the area to spend the holiday with his friend.

Eye witnesses said the deceased was inside a Highlander SUV, with registration number FF 605 ARD when he was gunned down by the team leader of the OP-MESSA, a 2nd lieutenant soldier.

The OP-MESSA officers came to the area in a vehicle marked 030 and were alleged to have immediately accosted the deceased and shot him dead without a brawl.

Ehindero, 37, who lived at 5, Ogungbade Street, Mende, Maryland was said to be a businessman who distributed in diesel and had been married for five years without a child.

A police source from the Alakara Police Station confirmed that the soldiers shot dead Ehindero and that the culprits escaped before arrest, saying that the deceased was in his SUV with his friend when the OP-MESSA officers stormed the area.

It was gathered that Ehindero’s friend ran into the house when he saw the OP-MESSA officers while the deceased waited.

An eye witness said the team leader of the OP-MESSA ordered Ehindero to get out of his SUV but opened fire on him almost immediately and he died on the spot.

According to This Day, the Nigerian Army has instituted a board on inquiry into the killing.

Read more HERE and HERE

Hmmmmhh!!! These trigger happy men-in-uniform have done it again. Does anyone remind them that that thing they are holding in their hand is not WATER GUN!! What ever happened to a simple 'stop-and-search' or 'show-me-your-particulars/id". These men really need to be trained on how to handle unarmed and non-threatening members of the public. It is not the same as when you are dealing with armed criminals.

I read stories like this a lot and hardly is there ever an outcome that gives justice to the victim. As these mumu men-in-uniform have basically killed 'OGA PIKIN', I hope this will be the case that will help bring an end to these extra judicial killings and uniform brutality that we have come to live with and bring justice to those who have been victims. Then and only then can we say that this young man has not died in vein. As a saying goes in Igbo, "Eburu apati ozu onye ozo n'agafe, odi k'ebu osisi/ukwu nku, tupu osi n'ulo mmadu aputa' (translation: When a coffin is carried past in a funeral procession, it appears to be a mere log of wood/bundle of firewood, until the day the coffin is carried out of ones house). May the soul of the departed and those before Rest in Peace!

Over to you Nigeria Police and Nigeria Army!

REST IN PEACE: TV JOURNALIST KEN WARD PASSES AWAY AT 44

It is with heavy heart that I write about the shocking death my former colleague, Ken Ward, whom I shadowed several times during my days at WTVD in Durham North Carolina.

Ken was a great guy and was super hilarious. He's one of the few that I had kept in touch with since I moved to Nigeria, even reuniting for drinks at one of the fairly recent NABJ conventions. Ken helped me immensely during my time at WTVD. From the very first day he walked in to the station, he was all smiles when he stepped up to the assignment desk to introduce himself. I always looked forward to going out into the field with him on reports because he never made it feel like work.

Ken was supposed to embark on a trip on Wednesday with his family to Tampa to begin a new job with ABC affiliate, after signing of from WSOC-TV Charlotte North Carolina on December 30. According to reports, he died that morning around 2.30am that day. The cause of death is still undetermined. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family....it is well!

Adieu Ken! Rest in Peace

Read more here

TERRORISM WATCH: BOKO HARAM GUNMAN AND POLICE BATTLE IN POTISKUM, YOBE

BREAKING NEWS!

Fierce gun battle is going on between Police and Boko Haram in Potiskum, Yobe State.

Potiskum is a local government area in the Northern state of Yobe where Boko Haram appears to have a strong presence. It is one of the local government areas where a state of emergency has been declared. This story is still developing...

SUBSIDY STRIKE: COURT TELLS LABOR THEY CAN'T GO ON STRIKE

(Photo Credit: AFP/ Getty Images)

An industrial court in Nigeria, Friday, gave authorities legal backing to break up any work interruption by labor groups. It ordered unions to halt a planned nationwide strike over spiraling gasoline prices due to the New Year's Day removal of subsidy. That action has seen the doubling of the cost of goods and services, including transportation, leaving many stranded and cash strapped in the countryside, where they went to celebrate the holiday.

The order by the National Industrial Court came as protests continue in several Nigerian cities over the removal of government-sponsored fuel subsidies. The nation’s House of Representatives will also meet on Sunday to address the concerns of the people despite the apparent unwillingness of Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan to balk to the pressure.

Gas prices rose from $1.70 per gallon (45 cents/ 65 Naira per liter) to at least $3.50 per gallon (94 cents/ 141 Naira per liter) since the subsidy ended Sunday. Keep in mind that Nigeria, is a nation of more than 160 million people where most live on less than $2 a day, as many international press and agencies never fail to add in every article and report.

The court order by Justice Babatunde Adejuwon came after the federal government filed as suit to stop the Nigeria Labor Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria from holding a planned strike Monday. Only government lawyers attended the hastily called court hearing in Nigeria’s capital Abuja.

“Economic activities within the country will be adversely affected, as will the health and safety of the citizenry, if the impending strike is allowed to hold,” Adejuwon wrote in his order.

The Nigeria Labor Congress issued a statement after the ruling dismissing the order. “There is no going back on next week’s protests and shutdown,” it said.

Meanwhile, Nigeria's federal police promised Friday to protect peaceful protesters ahead of a planned national strike but much could not be said of that promise when only a short distance away from police headquarters in the nation's capital Abuja a heavy presence of police, soldiers and other security agents — some carrying gas masks — blocked protesters from demonstrating in the national parade ground near federal offices.

Read more from the Associated Press in The Washington Post

TERRORISM WATCH: BOKO HARAM MAKES GOOD ON PROMISE, KILLS IGBOS

(credit: AFP)
So Boko Haram has killed 20 people at an Ibo Town Hall meeting in Mubi.

Police officials in Adamawa state confirmed that 20 people were killed and at least 15 injured when gunmen suspected to be members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect a group of southerners in a town hall meeting.

Speaking to the Associated Press, local police commissioner Ade T. Shinaba said the attack took place on Friday at noon in Mubi, Adamawa, where a group of Igbo traders had gathered for a town hall meeting before the start of business.

"We started hearing many gunshots through the windows," Okey Raymond, 48, who attended the meeting told the AP. "Everyone scampered for safety, but the gunmen chanted: 'God is great God is great' while shooting at us."

This comes after a Deeper Life church was attacked, Thursday in Gombe and 6 killed.

First it was bombing church and now it is bombing Igbo town hall meeting. Isn't this exactly how the civil war started? As they say in Igbo, do not pull a lions tail whether it is asleep or dead. How will security agencies react to this one? Tell us not to take it seriously...?

Read more at Channels TV and Voice of America

On a different note, I've been away for a funeral in my village in the East, so I missed out on blogging the subsidy protest of this week. We don't have electricity or decent phone network, talk less of internet there and we even had to mix our small petrol with palm oil since the subsidy saga (so that bit is an embellishment to make the story juicier). Oh well there's always next week when the strike starts, work permitting.

WHY DO NIGERIANS PREFER TO ENTERTAIN THEMSELVES THROUGH CRISIS?

One thing that's always baffled me about Nigerians is their ability to find humor in everything, even in the most morbid.

Some say it is a good trait and shows that Nigerians possess an unfettered resolve and resilience to absorb the shock of drastic policies, political and economic upheavals and even personal danger.

However, I am of the opinion that not everything should be turned into a joke where it can be helped. As much as it appears to be a strength, it is also a great weakness that I believe the powers that be are aware of and greatly exploit.

Below are some examples of the interesting interpretations of the fuel subsidy removal and its effects as shared on Black berry and various social media

Forget the motor bikes, this ram comes in handy. This will get you to your destination before the Lagos government notice and start imposing fee on the use of rams.

Exchanging brazillian/ Aunty Funmi hair extensions is also an option if you are looking for ways to internally generate revenue
A parody in the making, and the singer W4, didn't see this one coming. If you know him, kindly tell him to remix one for the masses.

Petrol is now highly expensive and thus can be stolen by family members, more so than domestic staff. One has to shine their eye and prevent the unforseen.
This one is one of those pictures where you would rather a belt to flog the person in the picture. A bottle of Hennessy is not equivalent to one liter of petrol (I would usually end at this point with an insult, but in the spirit of christmas i shall blame this one on the government)
If the rams can't hold up, import a camel.

So what are your thoughts on this idea of entertaining ourselves through crisis?

TERRORISM WATCH: MORE THREATS FROM BOKO HARAM

(Photo Credit: www.world-gazetteer.com)

Agence France Press is reporting today that Boko Haram through its purported spokesman, Abul Qaqa has issued an ultimatum to Christians in the north to leave within 3 days. They are also calling on their 'muslim brothers' to vacate the south as well because they have wind of reprisal attacks.

This they say is in response to the presence of the military in the areas now under the declared state of emergency.

Qaqa said the soldiers will only kill innocent muslims.

Read full article at AFP

Well, It's not like we didn't see this one coming. Should Southerners and Christians resident or indigenous to the North start migrating down South for safety? After all a word is enough for the wise and based on president, this is how the massacres leading up to the Nigerian Civil War started. In the same vein, is Nigeria about to have a refugee crisis if this terrorist group makes good on this new threat?

BONGA OIL SPILL: WORST IN 13 YEARS, UNDER REPORTED?

(Dead fish litter the shores of the Atlantic, near Orobiri Village, 12/31/11. Credit: Reuters/Akintunde Akinleye)

It appears we just won't get enough going into 2012.

During a routine operation on December 20, 2011, to transfer oil from the Bonga floating production, storage and offtake vessel to an oil tanker, less than 1.7 million gallons/40,00 barrels of oil leaked into the Atlantic Ocean off the southern coast of Nigeria, according to Shell.

Bonga field produces about 200,000 barrels of oil daily. That's 10% of Nigeria's monthly oil production, according to Reuters.

Shell says it has been working round the clock to contain and clean up the spill and has provided aerial access to journalists to see the spill foot print.

But there's some media speculation (because we have very strong juju radar detectors and know how these things usually turns out) the Bonga Oil spill, the largest in 13 years, might just be worse than reported....oh dear!

According satellite imaging, Sky Truth, the spill could have lost up to 2.4 million gallons. If this data is anything to go by, industry experts at PennEnergy say this discrepancy is likely due to the inconsistent thickness of the oil slick.

(Envisat ASAR image analyzed by SkyTruth (http://www.skytruth.org) - data courtesy European Space Agency)

After the initial containment and clean up effort, Shell estimates the remaining volume of leak as of December 25 to be less than 10,000 barrels.

But further up, towards the coastal line, where the Reuters crew visited, the villagers there are feeling the effects of an oil spill. I say an oil spill because according to the report, Shell says it's not their oil.

While villagers and environmentalists are saying the oil washing up the coast is from the Bonga accident, Shell says five ships were used to disperse and contain the spill and that should keep any oil from washing up the coast. Therefore it can't be their oil.

So who's the naughty oil spiller and sneaky environmental polluter keeping quiet and letting Shell take all the heat and how bad does it have to get before Nigerians get mad and scream bloody murder like the American did with the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico?

And as much as I hate to be the pessimist, should we just assume that Shell is going to get the kid-glove treatment on this one because the minister of petroleum is a former executive of the company? Hmmh....I just wonder. Too many questions arising as this saga unfolds.

Your thoughts...

Read more at Reuters and Sky Truth

FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVED

This is the announcement that greeted us in Nigeria on January 1, 2012....

PPPRA Announces Formal Removal of Subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)
Following extensive consultation with stakeholders across the nation, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) wishes to inform all stakeholders of the commencement of formal removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), in accordance with the powers conferred on the agency by the law establishing it, in compliance with Section 7 of PPPRA Act, 2004.

By this announcement, the downstream sub-sector of the petroleum industry is hereby deregulated for PMS. Service providers in the sector are now to procure products and sell same in accordance with the indicative benchmark price to be published forthnightly and posted on the PPPRA website.

Petroleum products marketers are to note that no one will be paid subsidy on PMS discharges after 1st January 2012.

Consumers are assured of adequate supply of quality products at prices that are competitive and non-exploitative and so there is no need for anyone to engage in panic buying or product hoarding.

The PPPRA in conjunction with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) will ensure that consumers are not taken advantage of in any form or in any way.

The DPR will ensure that the interest of the consumer in terms of quality of products is guaranteed at all times and in line with international best practice.

In the coming weeks, the PPPRA will engage stakeholders in further consultation to ensure the continuation of this exercise in a hitch-free manner.

Signed:
Reginald Stanley
Executive Secretary, PPPRA

New Year's day was supposed to be a day of joy and celebration, but all that was short lived for Nigerians. The fuel subsidy removal is in place, thus opening way to not just higher cost in the price of fuel at N141 but HIGHER EVERYTHING! Tomato, bread, pepper, garri, transportation, you name it, petrol is to all these things what blood is to the body.

I'm quite livid and not sure what to write but when people wake up on a day that's supposed to be celebratory and they are greeted with bad news, how do you expect them to react? With Jubilation and rose petals? Of course not! This same sentiment is being echoed every where.

Speaking for myself, it's bad enough that I generate my own power 80% percent of the day, generate water, get crappy accommodation at New York City price, pay this, pay that and then I get hit with double in the cost of filling up my gas tank. On top of all that, when I go to church now to pray to God to come down from heaven and deliver manna, I have to do it with one eye open, in case the parishioner next to me is a suicide bomber in disguise.

Sometimes when we speak of these things it doesn't start making sense until one starts number crunching.

All of this 2 week holiday (a working one for me), I have been going through a gallon of diesel at N4,000 a day because it's too damn hot and we kinda need entertainment while we sit at home to avoid the toll gate. I find myself now having to choose between the toll gate and the blind beggar when I consider putting my lose notes (lower denominations) to use.

On a normal day it costs me the same amount, N4000 to fill up my car. That should actually last me at least 3 days, but because we spend hours in traffic jams thanks to the lack of adequate road networks, that stuff burns out really fast. I have to make the choice between filling my tank for N8000 or filling my generator so I can have a restful night. I'm literarily burning my meager earnings. I wonder what the jobless and lower income earners would do.

The annoying part is that they keep saying the fuel subsidy is benefiting the rich! Are you serious? Like really serious? Do I look like 'the rich' with my jalopy car that I'm managing? I'm absolutely befuddled and being Nigerians we will still pay because we have to survive. When will we start LIVING? Let me rephrase that, when will THEY allow US to start LIVING?

It all just seems highly unfair and insensitive. I understand the need for the removal of subsidy and the fact that government needs to cut down. I would not be so groused if the basics were in order but the fact is that they are not. So why should I be punished for the ineptness of those in leadership to do the needful? Tomorrow they will come back and be singing 'vote for me' songs right? Well, let's keep watching and see where this goes or how long it will be sustained. One thing I know for sure is that when price goes up in hard times, when good times roll around, they somehow forget to bring price down. Meanwhile, I'm now definitely buying a bicycle...no toll, no petrol for short trips to the Palms/Shoprite for grocery. Please kindly avoid knocking me off!

(photo credit: indepthafrica.com)