Kogi Governor's Broken Leg Fixed

The Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada, who survived a road accident on Friday with a broken thigh bone, is responding to treatment in an Abuja hospital, his doctor has said.

Felix Ogedegbe, the Medical Director of Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja, where Mr. Wada is receiving treatment, said the governor’s fractured thigh bone, femur, has been fixed.

Mr. Ogedegbe, an Orthopaedic Surgeon, said on Saturday, while addressing journalists that the Kogi governor did not suffer any life threatening injuries and may not be referred to a hospital abroad.

Nollywood's Mercy Johnson gives birth to baby girl

Mercy Johnson Okojie gave birth to a baby girl in a hospital in the USA. Mother and daughter are said to be doing great. Big congrats to Mercy and her beau.

New Video: Banky W - "Yes/No"

Actress Moyo Lawal in Ghastly Accident

Nollywood actress, Moyo Lawal, survived a ghastly accident on Thursday (December 27, 2012), while returning home from a shoot in Festac, Lagos. According to the actress, a truck rammed into the back of her car, while she was in traffic at Mile 12. The impact damaged her car seriously, and caused her to black out.

Fortunately, the actress did not sustain any serious injuries in the accident.

Gunmen hit Adamawa police station, prison

At least 20 persons were reportedly killed on Friday when unknown gunmen hit Maiha, Adamawa State.

The Divisional Police Station, the prison, the Customs area office and the presidential lodge located in the area were completely razed. Several inmates were also set free by the gunmen.

The gunmen, according to eyewitnesses, stormed the town at about 3am with heavy artillery. They said the gunmen overran the police station, carted away arms and ammunition, then proceeded to the prisons where the inmates were reportedly set free.

The Police public Relation Officer, Mohammed Ibrahim (DSP), who confirmed the incident, said the police were in Maiha to assess the situation.

Two Nigerian men arrested with Cocaine concealed in Dudu-Osun soap

Luck ran out of 42 year old, Olawale Akanla as men of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested him why trying to smuggle 630g of cocaine hidden in six tablets of soap to the UK. The suspect Olawale Akanle was about to board an Arik Air flight to London when he was apprehended by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

Another suspect, Nicholas Ezika, who ingested about 62 wraps of methamphetamine weighing 1.130kg, was similarly arrested at the airport. He was en-route to Malaysia via Egypt Airline flight. Thought Malaysia has a death sentence for anyone found smuggling drugs or am I wrong?

Azazi is laid to rest

Late National Security Adviser (NSA), General Andrew Azazi was buried on Saturday at Heroes Park in Yenogua, Bayelsa State with President Goodluck Jonathan, governors and other dignitaries paying tributes to him.

The burial was preceded by a service led by Bishop of Bomadi Vicariate His Lordship, Most Revd Hyacinth Egbeboh. During the service Mrs. Akpolade Okora-Azazi read the first lesson and  Owoye  Azazi read the second lesson.

The Corpse of the late military Officer was conveyed to the grave side  by a Naval Ambulance at about 3.30 pm  and finally lifted into the marble grave by a team of military Officers after  observing the last salute and military honours of gun shots.

The Wife, Alero, the children and other family members performed the dust-to-dust rites. May his soul rest in peace.

Covenant University expels 200 students for not attending church service

Covenant University at it again. This time about 200 students may have been expelled by the authorities of the University for what was described as “disregard of paramount core values.”  Frustrated and angered by the development, some of the affected students who gave account of what happened battled emotions while narrating their situations to Saturday Vanguard recently. They however pleaded with the school authorities to tamper justice with mercy in order to save their future.

Saturday Vanguard investigation revealed that out of the figure, about 126 were expelled for not attending the ‘departure service’, meant to sign off from the school after the end of the Semester and Matriculation of students on November 30.  Five other students were thrown out for smoking while unconfirmed source said additional 60 got the same fate for violating other rules bordering on the University’s core values. A few others were given four weeks suspension for failure to sign the head count that was conducted a couple of weeks earlier.

A letter of expulsion signed by the Registrar, Ntia Ubong, a copy which was made available to Saturday Vanguard stated that the affected students contravened Chapter 1, section 30, page 40 of the 2010-2014 Student Handbook. We gathered that the massive expulsion was predicated on the anger of the Chancellor, Bishop David Oyedepo who was said to have been infuriated after seeing students loitering around when they were supposed to be at the Chapel for the Departure Service. Continue to read more.

Canada reduces waiting time for visa applicants

Good news! The Canadian High Commission has reduced the waiting period for visa applicants from 60 days to 10 days.

A source at the High Commission told News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, yesterday in Abuja that the country was now opening up and accommodating more visitors and travellers from across the globe. “Because of this, a lot of Nigerians are sending their children to study in Canada and this has led to a backlog in the number of visa applications.

“This informed the mission’s decision to reduce the waiting period from 60 days to 10 days,” the source added.

Diplomatic sources the Canadian government took the decision, following persistent complaints by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, and leadership of the National Assembly.

ACN Chief Adegbonmire Dies At 77

A chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Ondo State, Chief Wunmi Adegbonmire is dead. He died at the age of 77 Frirday in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

The Asiwaju of Akureland reportedly died at about 3:00 am yesterday just two days after his wife Solape celebrated her 75th birthday. May his soul rest in peace.

Worry In Enugu As Governor Sullivan Chime Stays Over 100 Days In Hospital

Palpable fear and anxiety returned to Enugu State this yuletide over the continuous absence of Governor Sullivan Chime from office.

It was gathered that the Governor’s supporters are currently wrapped in fears over the threat that the State House of Assembly may impeach him in January next year if he fails to return to the country by or before December ending.

The State House of Assembly has been at the receiving end of hardcore criticism by members of the public for failing to take necessary action over the Governor’s long absence from office which entered its 100 days yesterday.

A close insider who craved anonymity said: “We have been silent over this matter since the past three months and we cannot continue like this in January next year.”

Kogi Governor seriously injured in crash, ADC dies

Governor Idris Wada of kogi state was on Friday involved in a ghastly motor accident along Ajaokuta-Lokoja road on his way to Lokoja, the state capital, after attending the annual Igala education summit held at the Kogi State University, Anyigba.

Eyewitness inform that the governor’s convoy, which was on high speed in order to meet up with another assignment in Lokoja on getting to Emi-Woro village in Ajaokuta local government area of the state, about 12 kilometer to the state capital when one of the tyres of the staff jeep suddenly bust off, causing it to somersault three times and multiple crashes by all the vehicles in the convoy.

"In the process the jeep driver lost control and ended up in a ditch leading to the death of the governor Aide-de-camp [ADC], Idris Mohammed, an Assistant Superintendent of Police [ASP] who died on the spot."
Other members of the governor’s aides who were on the convoy immediately rushed the governor to the state specialist hospital where the governor was taken into the emergency care unit for treatment.

Watch the trailer of Shirley Frimpong-Manso's "Contract"

Two-Month old baby stolen in Kano on Christmas Eve

Sun News reported that a baby boy was stolen from his mother by a strange woman at the Mohammadu Abubakar Rimi Market in the state capital.

The father of the baby said that his wife, Amarachi Ufondu was plaiting the hair of another woman in the evening of Monday 24th December 2012. He gave the name of his missing son as Somtochukwu Favour Ufondu, saying he was just two months and two days old when he was stolen.

Here are some excerpts of the circumstances that led to the disappearance of the baby explained by the father, Ikechukwu Ufondu.

Brandy Norwood gets engaged

Brandy and her boyfriend, music executive Ryan Press got engaged on Christmas day. Ryan proposed to Brandy on one knee right in front of her parents in her family home while they were opening Christmas presents. How sweet!

New Video: Goldie Ft AY - Skibobo

4 nabbed over alleged attempt to bomb Enugu airport

An attempt by four persons to blow up the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu with explosives was yesterday foiled by operatives of the Explosive Ordinance Department, EOD, of Enugu State Police Command.

The suspects, whose identifies had been kept secret for security reasons, were apprehended while driving to the airport at about 8.30am yesterday.

The four suspects, including the driver of their vehicle with registration number including KJA 359 AP, were heading to the airport when the EOD operatives halted them.

Total, French Embassy offer scholarships to Nigerians

Total Plc and the Embassy of France in Nigeria have initiated a joint scholarship scheme to sponsor the training of five Nigerians abroad every year.

A statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by the Manager (External Communication) of Total, Mr. Charles Ebereonwu, said the scheme was part of the company’s efforts to contribute to the development of the country’s education sector.

It noted that the Joint Scholarship Scheme (‘TQJS’) titled:“Total E &P Nigeria Ltd. (TEPNG) /Quai d’ Orsay’’ would take effect from the 2012/2013 academic session.

The statement said the pilot stage of the scheme had commenced this year with one candidate sponsored to study international law in France. Great stuff!

Lagos explosion: One killed, 15 injured

The National Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday said one person died and 15 others were injured in a fireworks-induced explosion at a warehouse in Jankara market in Lagos. It said the main victim was burnt beyond recognition.

The agency gave an update in a statement in Abuja by its Head of Public Relations Division, Alhaji Yushau Shuaib.

The statement said: “The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed a powerful explosion that occurred this morning in Lagos from a building suspected to be loaded with ‘knockouts’ brands of fireworks that are usually used during festive periods.

Emir of Dukku dies at 91

The Emir of Dukku, Alhaji Abdulkadir Rasheed,is dead. He died on Monday night at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Gombe, following a protracted illness.

He was buried on Tuesday in Dukku, Gombe State. He was survived by three wives, 53 children and many grand children. May his soul rest in peace.

Nigerian arrested with cocaine on Christmas Day

Madueke Chukwuemeka Patrick had thought that security will be slack at Nigerian borders on Christmas day and could smuggle 1.620 kilogrammes of high grade cocaine into the country. But he was mistaken as he was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, southwest Nigeria with the drug concealed in his shorts.


The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, said today that the suspect was apprehended on Tuesday during inward screening of passengers on an Emirate flight at 3.26 p.m. He was returning from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

NDLEA Commander at the airport, Mr Hamza Umar was quoted as saying: “During inward screening of Emirate passengers, Madueke Chukwuemeka was found to have hidden 16 parcels of cocaine in his inner wear. The cocaine weighing 1.620kg was carefully sewed on the shorts he wore on arrival. The case is under investigation.”

The suspect who has lived in Brazil with his wife and three children since 2007 hails from Orukwu village in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, NDLEA said.

AY apologises for tweet on Wife’s car gift

Popular comedian, Ayo Makun aka AY, has apologised for tweeting about the car gift he gave his wife recently. AY had on Monday tweeted a message to his wife, Mabel, saying he bought her an Acura ZDX car worth N10 million as a Christmas gift.

“Wifey this is my anniversary/Xmas gift to U, 4 being a friend, Sister, wife & Mother. I love u,” he wrote.

He also attached two shots of the car and his wife to the tweet.

The tweet did not apparently go down well with some of his followers, who perceived it as a “show-off.”

On Tuesday, he responded thus, “Sorry 4 tweeting about d car I BOUGHT 4 my wife. Never knew sharing my excitement was going to be perceived as show-off/ complex problem.” But seriously why would people feel bad about the tweet, he's just appreciating his wife.

Six killed at Christmas Church Service

Gunmen attacked a church in northern Nigeria during a midnight mass on Christmas Eve, killing six people including the pastor, before setting the building ablaze, residents and police said. 

"A group of gunmen came into the village at midnight and went straight to the church," said Usman Mansir, a resident of Peri village near Potiskum, the economic capital of Yobe state. "They opened fire on them, killing the pastor and five worshippers. They then set fire to the church," he added, specifying that a branch of the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) was targeted.

A senior police official in Yobe confirmed the details, but declined to be named. Yobe police chief Sanusi Rufa’i said "this is a security issue" and refused to comment further.

Meet Nigeria’s new terror group, ANSARU

First, it was Boko Haram’s terrorism, now another terror group has emerged. Its abbreviated name is Ansaru. And its full name is Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi Biladis Sudan.

Photographs here from a video released by the group on Xmas eve, shows unidentified armed members of the group posing in an undisclosed place in November 2012.

The group on December 23, 2012 claimed the recent kidnapping of a French citizen in northern Nigeria, citing France’s push for military intervention in Mali as a justification.

Ansaru “announces to the world, especially the French government, that it was responsible for the abduction of engineer Francis Colump, 63, working for the French company Vergnet,” said a statement emailed to journalists.

Lagos State Government completes the Lekki-Ikoyi suspension bridge

Nigeria’s Lagos State Government has completed the Lekki-Ikoyi suspension bridge which cost about N29 billion, almost $184.6million. Good stuff! 

Video: Chris Brown performs with Wizkid

Lagos State Government demolishes N100m Church

There was uproar at Afero village on Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, as officials of the Lagos State Government demolished a sprawling church, the Pure Fire Miracles Ministries International (PFMI) in a controversial manner.

Lagos Task Force men, accompanied by officials from the Ministry for Physical Planning and Urban Development (MPPUD), stormed the church to enforce an eviction ordered by the government.
The ministry demolished the building over allegation that there was no approval for the construction of the building

The church structures, which officials of the church said had gulped over N100 million, were erected on a 10-acre land and comprised six auditoriums, offices, residential buildings and buildings for other uses.

The church was having its annual convention with worshippers from 12 foreign countries in attendant. The more than 10,000 worshippers that included old and pregnant women, children and men, were said to a have been at a loss on why the building was demolished when the church was holding its convention. Wow!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

I wanna wish my family, friends and all my numerous readers a peaceful and a very Merry Christmas!!!

Love you all*kisses*

Nigerian kidnappers called Us Bad Market - Koreans

The four Koreans and a Nigerian kidnapped in Bayelsa State by eight gunmen said on Saturday that their assailants fed them with noodles, tea and banana while in captivity. The victims, who were released on Friday night after spending five days in the kidnappers’ den located in a mangrove, said the captors set them free after branding them “bad market.”

Jong Ken, Hi Kim, Doo Lee, Joon Chae and a Nigerian, Austin Giwa, who are employees of the Hyundai Fabrication Company at Okpoama, Brass Local Government Area, were whisked away by gunmen who raided the firm on December 17.

“They told us that we were bad market and allowed us to go,” Giwa told PUNCH Metro.

Video Premiere: Iyanya - Flavour

United States Lawmakers rally for Nigerian student living illegally

His journey started in Nigeria, a taunted teenager with large tumours on his face, driven into deep despair.
Eleven years later, Victor Chukwueke has undergone numerous surgeries, and is a step closer to achieving his dream of becoming a doctor.

In a rare act, the United States Congress passed a private bill last week granting Chukwueke permanent residency after years of him living in Michigan on an expired visa. The bill is awaiting President Barack Obama's signature.

"The day Congress passed the bill was one of the happiest days of my life," said Chukwueke, who left Nigeria as a teen in 2001 to get treatment for the tumours.

Half-naked women protest in Ogun

Last Saturday, there was a drama at Sonde Apon, a rural community in Ifo Local Government Area, Ogun State, as elder women staged a protest over the invasion of their community by hoodlums who are suspected to have been sent by land speculators from a nearby community. The invaders, numbering 20, were said to have stormed the community and unleashed terror on the residents.

As it was learnt, the attackers stormed the community at about 11.30am, when many of the residents had already gone to work. The half-naked aggrieved women sang sorrowful songs and expressed disgust over the attack, describing it as one of the worst things that had happened to them, noting that it was the third time in last three years.

New Video: Asa - BA MI DELE

Squeezing Breasts helps stop the growth of Cancerous Cells

A new study has indicated that squeezing of breasts may help fight breast cancer.

Gautham Venugopalan, a leader of the research team at the University of California in Berkeley that did a study on malignant breast cells confirms it. Their scientific research showed that if you apply physical pressure to the malignant breast cells they start to grow back normally.

“When we lift weights our muscles get bigger. The force of gravity is essential to keeping our bones strong. Here we show that physical force can play a role in the growth – and reversion – of cancer cells.”
said Gautham Venugopalan trying to explaining the the process of the experiment.

“Malignant cells have not completely forgotten how to be healthy; they just need the right cues to guide them back to a healthy growth pattern.” “People have known for centuries that physical force can influence our bodies,” now they finally have the scientific evidence. Errrr, so does it mean...???

AIG Mukhtar Ibrahim passes on

The Nigeria Police has announced the death of Assistant Inspector General Muktari Ibrahim, of the Zone 6 headquarters in calabar. He was aged 55. He was buried in Kano, his hometown yesterday, according to Islamic rites.

He died after a brief illness at the University Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River State at about 11am of 22nd December, 2012.

Patience Jonathan lights Nigeria’s Christmas Tree

The Wife of Nigeria’s President, Dame Patience Jonathan, has urged for peace, unity and love during the Christmas season.

Mrs. Jonathan said this in Abuja on Saturday at the first-ever lighting of the Nigerian National Christmas Tree, tagged “Let there be light”. “We are witnessing the making of history. Its significance will best be appreciated when we take into account the fact that Christmas is a season of peace, love and hope.

“I urge you all to rededicate yourselves to the pursuit of unity, love, peace and our common goal,’’ she said. Merry Christmas! 

New Video: Addiction Ft Brymo - Down Low

In the spirit of Christmas, Pope Benedict XVI pardons jailed butler

Pope Benedict XVI has granted a Christmas pardon to his former butler, who was convicted and jailed in the VatiLeaks scandal. The Pope visited Paolo Gabriele in the Vatican police barracks to tell him personally of the pardon, the Vatican said.

Gabriele, a 46-year-old father of three, was subsequently freed and has returned to his family, Sky News reports.

The Holy See said it “intends to offer him the possibility to serenely restart his life together with his family,” but added the man would no longer live or work at the Vatican. The Vatican spokesman described the Pontiff’s meeting with his former butler as “intense” and “personal.”

Wanted Nigerian ex-governor flees to USA

Abubakar Audu, former governor of Nigeria’s central state of Kogi, declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrived the United States, according to a report by African Examiner. The online news portal said Audu has arrived his rich neighborhood home in Potomac in
the state of Maryland, USA. He was said to have arrived Wednesday, via London.

The multi-million dollars home where the ex-governor has now moved to is located at 12301 Glen Road, Potomac, Maryland, 20854 USA.

He was declared wanted by the EFCC on Wednesday in connection with a protracted case of N4billion theft while he was the governor of the state between 1999 and 2003. Despite the case, Audu ran for the governorship seat on the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria last year December , but lost to Idris Wada of the PDP.
The commission had said that the former governor fled when the its officials stormed his 32 Suleiman Barau Street, Aso Villa, Asokoro Abuja residence to arrest him in the early hours of Tuesday December 11.

African Examiner claimed Mr Audu owns three expensive houses in rich neighbourhood in Washington DC, Maryland and Connecticut.

US, UK warns citizens against trips to Nigeria

This doesn't look good! The United States Government has warned its citizens against travelling to Nigeria, particularly during the holiday season, saying they could be kidnapped, robbed or attacked by gunmen. The U.S. Department of States in a warning message to Americans recommended against trip to Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Yobe, Kaduna, Bauchi, Borno, and Kano states.

“Based on safety and security risk assessments, the Embassy has placed further restrictions for travel by U.S. officials to all northern Nigerian states (in addition to those listed above),” the message said.
The U.S. said its officials must receive advance clearance by the U.S. Mission for travel in the above states as being mission-essential. “U.S. citizens should be aware that, in light of the continuing violence, extremists may expand their operations beyond northern Nigeria to the country’s middle and southern states. This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning for Nigeria dated June 21, 2012,” the government said.

Nigerian man excretes 90 wraps of Cocaine in two weeks

A suspected drug trafficker recently excreted 90 wraps of a substance believed to be cocaine in 14 days. The suspect, Peter Onyeagba, 40, allegedly tested positive for drug ingestion after his arrest at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos during an inward screening of passengers on a Kenyan Airways flight. He was arrested by officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

NDLEA Airport Commander, Hamza Umar, confirmed the arrest. He said, “Onyeagba is the longest observed drug suspect since January 2012.

He began excretion the day he was arrested and took two weeks to complete observation. Some others conclude the evacuation of ingested drugs in three days, while a majority last for a week. This is the longest observed case since January.”

"Remain male with no manhood or become female", Bauchi boy's dilemma

After having his manhood amputated by a neighbour, 12-year-old Ayuba Halilu and his parents have to choose between two options: allow Ayuba to remain a male without manhood or undergo sex change to become female.

The story of 12-year-old Ayuba Halilu of Mararraban Liman Katagum village in Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State is a pathetic one. Being the easy going boy his fellow villagers say he is, he agreed to accompany his neighbour Tukur Iliyasu to a nearby bush to fetch firewood.

Unknown to young Ayuba, Tukur had a sinister plan.

Suicide bombers hit telecom facilities in Kano

Suicide bombers on Saturday attacked telecom facilities in the commercial city of Kano. Report says a suicide bomber drove an explosion-laden car into the Airtel offices in Mallam Kato Square in Kano and detonated it early on Saturday.

The report added that the Improvised Explosive Device also exploded at an MTN phone switch centre in Mai Mailari area of the city. The number of victims has not been ascertained at the time of this report, but an unconfirmed report says four people were killed in the blasts.

The spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency, Yushau Shuaibu, confirmed the separate attacks in a text message. “NEMA has confirmed attacks on Telcom masts belonging to Airtel and MTN at Old Parade Ground and Malali Road respectively in Kano Municipality today.”

He said security had been tightened in the affected areas.

Imo State declares 2 Weeks public holiday for Civil Servants

The governor of Imo state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha yesterday at Owerri, the Imo state capital gave civil servants in Imo state two weeks public holiday for their Xmas break. According to the statement, the holiday started yesterday and end on the 7th Jan 2013.

He also gave them bags of rice and some monetary gift to take home for their enjoyment. Some of the workers were seen singing and jubilating

New Video: 9ice - 3310

Directed by Moe Musa, 9ice returns with a very chic video for his single, “3310″ off his “Bashorun Gaa” album.

The World ends today: Mayan prophecy/Scientists foretell things that could happen

They say it won't happen, at least not on Friday, but in the event the Mayan prophecy of the end of the world is right, scientists have foretold a raft of bloody and catastrophic fates for us all. Dark comets, famine, super-volcanoes, catastrophic climate change, and a plague of cancers are just some of the ends that could fulfil the prophecy.

Astrophysicist Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell, who discovered pulsars, believes the most likely disaster that could pencil Doomsday into Friday's diary is a black comet. Professor Bell Burnell believes if the world as we know it is to end on December 21 it would have to be a dark comet that strikes.

Dark comets have little of the ice and snow that most comets have, and a lot more dust which makes it much more difficult to spot them as they speed through Space. 'Comets normally are big, dusty snowballs. A dark comet has not much snow and a lot of dust. They are much harder to get a handle on,' she said. Well, in case it doesn't happen, today is the opening of Don Jazzy's night club so make your way there.

Woman agrees to marry her twin sister's killer

Victor Cingolani, right, was convicted of killing Johana Casas, left, in 2010

An Argentine woman has sparked outrage by agreeing to marry her twin sister’s killer. Edith Casas, 22, is due to wed Victor Cingolani tomorrow close to the jail where he is serving 13 years for the murder of model Johana Casas. Johana was shot dead days before her 20th birthday in August 2010 in the southern Argentine city of Pico Truncado, 1,200 miles south of the capital Buenos Aires. Cingolani, an ex-boyfriend, was convicted of murder in June.

Mum finds SEVEN deadly vipers in her three-year-old son's wardrobe

A three-year-old boy had a lucky escape after his mother found a box of seven deadly snakes in his wardrobe. Kyle  had found the snake eggs in his garden in Townsville in Queensland, Australia and was given a takeaway container to put them in.

Several weeks later his mother Donna Sim was shocked when she opened the bedroom wardrobe to discover the box full of recently hatched eastern brown snakes – the world’s second deadliest. Ms Sim said she had given Kyle the takeaway container when he found the eggs but had not thought more of it until she found the snakes in her son’s bedroom.

‘I was pretty shocked, particularly because I don't like snakes,’ she told the Townsville Bulletin. The family took the snakes to a local sanctuary where they were released back into the wild. He's extremely lucky his mother found them on time. 

Nkiru Sylvanus and Kenneth Okolie released

Nkiru Sylvanus and ex Mr Nigeria Kenneth Okolie have been freed by their kidnappers in Owerri. The kidnappers tied their eyes and dropped them off at an unknown location where they were able to call friends to come pick them up.

Fire reported at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

An electrical fire was on Thursday morning reported at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

An eyewitness said the fire emanated from some cables, which apparently melted under heat.This led to a blackout in the airport terminal while fire fighters deployed swiftly in the affected area to quench the inferno.

The fire fighters were able to put the situation under control while securitymen erected a metal barricade around the site.

In a separate incident, a cargo plane blew off the roof of a parking lot at the airport on Wednesday night, causing damage to some cars.

The extent of damage has yet to be ascertained.

Akwa Ibom to shut down illegal schools

The Akwa Ibom government on Thursday in Uyo warned that it would shut all illegal schools in the state. At a media forum, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Eunice Thomas, said the ministry would commence visitations to schools to authenticate their certificates of registration.

“Any school that did not meet government’s approved standard will be closed down,’’ she warned.

Thomas said the government had received a consignment of books worth N16.2 million for its free and compulsory education programme. She said it was illegal for some private schools, which had approval to operate nursery classes to extend their programmes to cover to primary and secondary schools.