#BREAKING NEWS: Bomb Blast rocks Yola market, many feared dead

A bomb blast suspected to be from a suicide bomber has occurred in Yola, the capital city of Adamawa state, in north east Nigeria.
A resident of the town, Salihu Aliyu, told PREMIUM TIMES that the blast happened in front of the Jimeta main market at about 7:45pm.
“We just finished observing the Maghrib prayer when we heard a loud blast in the direction of the market,” he said.
He said the casualty figure is likely to be high because the explosion occurred as many traders closed their shops, and started rushing home.
“You know many traders also come out of the market and display their wares outside the main market to also observe the night market,” he said. “There was even traffic gridlock in the area with many Keke Napep operators jostling for passengers when the bomb exploded.”
One witness said at least 10 people were killed and about 30 injured.

SENATE APPROVES LIFE SENTENCE FOR RAPE, UNDERAGE SEX

The Senate on Wednesday passed the Sexual Offences Bill, 2015 which prescribes life imprisonment for rapists and those who have sexual intercourse with children under 11 years.
The passage of the bill followed the report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Chaired by Umaru Dahiru (APC Sokoto-South).
Presenting the report, Mr. Dahiru said the passage of the bill would give legal backing for the prosecution of sexual offenders.
He said if approved, rapists and those who sexually abuse children would bag life imprisonment while other sexual offenders would also be sentenced to serve various prison terms.
The President of the Senate, David Mark, expressed delight on the efforts of the committee to evolve a stronger law against sexual violations, “I want to particularly thank and congratulate Chris Anyanwu, the sponsor of the Bill for the passage for initiating the process of this amendment,’’ Mark said.
Speaking to journalists after plenary, Ms. Anyanwu (PDP Imo East) said the passage of the bill was a parting gift from her to the public.
“It is indeed a fulfilment of my mission in the Upper Chamber,” she said.
She listed some of the sexual offences captured by the bill to include gang rape, lacing drinks with drugs with intent to sexually abuse, deliberately infecting partner with HIV and other diseases.

WORKERS SHUT DOWN AIT, RAYPOWER OVER 17 MONTHS UNPAID SALARIES

Scores of workers of Daar Communications Plc, operator of African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower FM Radio, on Wednesday shut down all broadcasting activities at the Benin studio in protest over unpaid salaries.
The protesting workers were said to have blocked the main entrance to the station located along the Benin/Lagos bypass.
A detachment of anti-riot policemen were however called by the management of the station to forestall any break down of law.
It was gathered that the protesting workers put at 50 of AIT and Ray Power, were owed salaries spanning between 12 and 17 months.
One of the protesting workers who did not want his name in print for personal reasons, said newly employed staff of AIT were being owed 12 months while old staff were yet to be paid salaries between 13 months and staff of the Raypower FM, the Radio arm of the broadcast outfit were owed 17 months.
“The stations generate millions of naira on a daily basis, so there is no reason why we should not be paid our salaries. They have no excuse not to pay us our money. It is share wickedness and man’s inhumanity to his fellow man. We have families to care for and children to pay their school fees. Many of our children have stopped going to school. But their own attend schools abroad.

President – Elect. Buhari meets with some of his old Sec. School classmates

Buhari yesterday May 20th 2015 received some of his old classmates from Katsina Middle School. They all gained admission into the secondary school in 1953.

Buhari visits home state Katsina, pays Emir courtesy visit

President elect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari paid a visit to his home state, Katsina yesterday May 19th. He was given a rousing welcome by his kinsmen. He later paid a visit to the Emir of Katsina, Alh Abdulmumini Kabiru Usman CFR.

Chibok girls now living in Bunkers – Says Borno State Governor

The Governor of Borno state, Kashim Shettima says there are indications that the missing Chibok girls might be living in Bunkers in Sambisa Forest with Boko Haram members. He called on the military to liberate the girls as they carry out their operations in the forest. The Governor gave the indication in a paper he wrote and was presented by the Secretary, Borno Elders Forum, Dr Bulama Mala at a two-day post election conference on security and governance, organized  the GubioSavanna Centre, a Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, in Abuja yesterday May 19th.

Manny Pacquaio faces fines, suspension for not reporting shoulder injury

Above is a photo of Manny Pacquaio some days after fighting and losing to Mayweather. His hand is in a sling as he prepares to undergo surgery on his torn rotator cuff. The US boxing commission is angry with him for not disclosing that he had a shoulder injury before the fight. They say he was dishonest, and he now faces a potential lawsuit from the commission. They say he also committed perjury when he signed the pre-fight questionnaire without revealing he was hurt.

Four men who beat Afghan woman to death sentenced to death

Remember the Afghan woman, Farkhunda, who was beaten to death by a brutal mob after being falsely accused of burning a Koran? An Afghan court this morning Wednesday May 6th convicted and sentenced four men to death for their role in her death.

The sentences were part of a trial of 49 suspects, including 19 police officers, over the March 19 killing of 27-year-old woman named Farkhunda who was beaten to death in a frenzied attack sparked by a bogus accusation that she had burned a copy of the Quran.

The trial, which began Saturday, only involved two full days of court proceedings — an unusual swiftness in the slow-moving Afghan judicial system. It was broadcast live on national television, reflecting huge public interest in the case.

A judge handed down the four death sentences at Afghanistan's Primary Court in Kabul on Wednesday. He also sentenced eight of the defendants to 16 years in prison and dropped charges against 18. The remaining suspects are to be sentenced on Sunday.

Eight more Nigerians to face execution in Indonesia

Eight more Nigerians are reportedly waiting to be executed in Indonesia. This is according to the United Nigerians in Diaspora.

The group at a press conference in Lagos yesterday May 5th, gave the names of Nigerians waiting to be executed as Michael Titus Igwe, Kingsley Okonkwo, Uchenna Onyewuru, Eugene Ape, Hunphery Ejike, Obinna Nwajiagu, Benjamin Onuoha and Ikenna Abanukwu.

Chairman of the group, Mr Pascal Okolie while briefing newsmen, said Nigerians should rally round with other world leaders to stop the expected executions.

"Considering that the next batch of execution will take place in no distant time in Indonesia, we urge the good people of Nigeria and our government to rise up with the entire world to stop further executions of Nigerians. Enough of the killings. Nigeria should leverage on the strong bilateral relationship it has with Indonesia and negotiate to stop the execution of the eight waiting to be killed. In as much as we totally condemn drug trafficking and wish to sensitize intending traffickers on the consequences that awaits offenders, we also condemn capital punishment especially since it has not been able to quell the issue of drug trafficking in Indonesia.” he said

Floyd Mayweather Jr agrees to Manny Pacquiao Rematch

Floyd Mayweather has said he is willing to grant Manny Pacquiao a rematch following the Filipino boxer's disclosure that a shoulder injury hampered his performance in last weekend's world title showdown, ESPN reported on Tuesday.

ESPN said that Mayweather told journalist Stephen A Smith in a text message that he was ready to don gloves once again, after Pacquiao recovers from surgery to repair a rotator cuff.

"I will fight him in a year after his surgery," Mayweather said in the text message, according to ESPN.

Mayweather's apparent readiness to step into the ring with Pacquiao once more appears to contradict remarks he made in the aftermath of his victory in Las Vegas on Saturday, when he insisted he planned to retire after one more fight in September.

"My last fight is in September, and then it's time for me to hang it up," said Mayweather after his unanimous decision victory.