Former Niger State Governor Kure Is Dead

The former governor of Niger state, Engineer Abdukadir Kure has died. Mr. Kure died in a German hospital where he was flown for treatment last week according to family sources. Mr. Kure died of complications arising from liver disease. He was the governor of niger state between 1999-2007.

The former governor of Niger state, Engineer Abdukadir Kure has died. Mr. Kure died in a German hospital where he was flown for treatment last week according to family sources.

Mr. Kure died of complications arising from liver disease. He was the governor of niger state between 1999-2007.

'I wouldn't be comfortable': Bisexual Amber Rose says she couldn't date a man who had sex with other men

She has made no secret of the fact that she herself has dated women, but Amber Rose draws the line when it comes to dating men who themselves are bisexual.

The 33-year-old revealed on her Loveline podcast that she 'wouldn't be comfortable' having sex with a guy who has sex with other men.

'I think it’s amazing when a guy is bisexual and he’s comfortable with it.But in my personal life, in my sex life, in who I choose to love, I just think that I would think about it too much,' Amber said.

The model and former stripper, who has a son with ex Whiz Khalifa, went on: 'It would bother me in a way. I wouldn’t be comfortable with it and I don’t know why.'

Together again! Disney costars Selena Gomez and David Henrie reunite in Selena's very first Instagram Story

Selena Gomez and David Henrie sure miss the magic of working together on Wizards of Waverly Place.

So this Saturday, the pair reunited to share some memories together on the 5 year anniversary of the Disney series's finale.

In Selena's very first Instagram story, the 24-year-old talked about how David helped her first start on Twitter and they mused about what their Wizards characters would be doing nowadays.

The series of clips show the Same Old Love singer and How I Met Your Mother actor resting in the comfort of someone's home.

The star looks lovely wearing an asymmetrical black top and hooped earrings while costar David relaxes in flannel and a cap.

'I'm ready to hang out!': Blac Chyna puts her curves on show to host 1Oak party in Las Vegas less than two months after giving birth

New moms need a night out to let loose, according to this reality star. 

Blac Chyna hosted an event at 1Oak Nightclub at the Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, getting the party started just after the stroke of midnight turned Saturday night into Sunday morning. 

'I’ve been carrying a baby for 10 months, so I’m ready to hang out,' the 28-year-old new mom told People magazine.

Chyna, who gave birth to baby girl Dream Kardashian with fiancé Rob Kardashian, 29, on November 10, let loose on her night out.

Her Snaps showed her caressing the face of a man that was definitely not her on-again, off-again, currently on-again lover Rob.

Stakeholder urges FG to build Nollywood City in 2017

Mr Ini Akpabio, the Group Managing Director, NANET Hotels and Suite, has advised the Federal Government to build a Nollywood City to boost entertainment industry in 2017.

Akpabio said in Lagos on Sunday that the gesture would reposition the Nollywood image of the country.

He decried a situation where Nigeria could not boast of one Nollywood village or city, where practitioners could assemble or meet to exhibit and showcase their talents to the world. “The National Theatre is a no go area for Nollywood practitioners as the money to access the facility is on the high side. “It is unfair for a nation like Nigeria not to have a Nollywood city in spite of the great talented practitioners/experts we are blessed with in this country. “Nigerian movies are widely recognised all over the world; therefore, government should provide the basic needs to boost the industry, “he said. According to him, it does not mean that the government will be the one to do everything; the government can go into partnership with other private investors. Akpabio said that some Nigerian movies had won international awards and recognitions, government needed to encourage them to do more. He explained that the only way government could encourage the actors was to provide incentives, create enabling environment and provide necessary infrastructure. Akpabio said that the Nollywood city would accommodate entertainers, actors and actresses, performers, comedians and creativity in general. “It will serve as an avenue for them to exhibit and showcase their talents. “It will also be a platform where their foreign counterparts will meet them to chat the course on the latest trend in entertainment industry, “he said. He expressed confidence that the industry would boost government revenues and create employment opportunity to millions of Nigeria. Akpabio said that countries like U.S, Indian, and other countries that have Bollywood and Hollywood cities were thriving in their entertainment sector. He said that Dubai just recently build their Bollywood city which in no time would be thriving in terms of entertainment. “If Nigeria can follow the same way, it will help to reposition and boost the nation’s entertainment industry and compete favourably with their foreign counterparts, ” Akpabio said.

Kerosene scarcity resurfaces in Kano

Kerosene scarcity has resurfaced in Kano and its environs, forcing consumers to resort to using coal and firewood for their daily cooking. The situation had deteriorated in the last one week, forcing residents who could afford, to buy the product at exorbitant prices.
NAN reports that the situation was compounded by non-availability of the commodity at most filling stations in the metropolis. Some of the retailers told NAN that for the past one week, no filling station in the metropolis sold the product. One of the sellers at Tarauni market, Malam Mohammed Aminu, said even those with old stock had jerked up the price by about 200 per cent due to its scarcity. A consumer, Malam Annas Abba-Dala, said a four litre gallon of kerosene now go for N1, 600 as against N800. Even today (Sunday) I bought a gallon of the product at N1, 600 as against N800,” he said. Another customer, Malam Garba Ahmad, said he had since switched to the use of charcoal until the situation improves. “With this recession and the current price of Kerosene, men with large families cannot afford to buy it. “So, people like us have to resort to the use of charcoal or firewood as an alternative though their prices has also increased slightly due to high demand.” A filling station attendant on Audu Bako way said, “the owner of this filling station stopped bringing the product when a litre was sold at N230”. Effort to contact the state Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Bashir Dan-Malam, failed as his mobile phone was switched off. NAN recalls that the last time Kano State experienced similar scarcity was in July 2016, when a four litre gallon of the commodity sold for N1,000 at the black market.

Boko Haram Militants Spring Surprise Attack On Nigeria Army Brigade In Yobe Killing 5 Soldiers

Boko Haram insurgents on Saturday evening attacked an Army Brigade in Buni Yadi, Yobe State. Confirming the attack, the spokesman of 27 Task Force Brigade, Lt. George Okupe in a text message said the attack was successfully repelled by the troops. He however could not disclose the casualty both on the side of the Army and Boko Haram. Lt. Okupe said, “Buni Yadi came under attack at about 0615pm…but things are under control. Casualty figure of BHTs yet to be confirmed, on locales, none for now likewise own forces. However, details will be relayed to you soon”.

Confirming the attack, the spokesman of 27 Task Force Brigade, Lt. George Okupe in a text message said the attack was successfully repelled by the troops.

He however could not disclose the casualty both on the side of the Army and Boko Haram.

Lt. Okupe said, “Buni Yadi came under attack at about 0615pm…but things are under control. Casualty figure of BHTs yet to be confirmed, on locales, none for now likewise own forces. However, details will be relayed to you soon”.

But a military source who spoke to our correspondent in confidence said it was a surprise attack by Boko Haram insurgents who Saturday night launched a daring attack on 27 Task Force Brigade of the Nigerian Army Buni Yadi killing five soldiers, including a captain.

The source also noted that the insurgents came from the eastern side of the brigade in large numbers and launched superior firepower on the military formation before they were repelled.

The source added that the Captain, name withheld is a medical doctor who has just been posted to Buni Yadi.

The casualty on the side of Boko Haram is yet to be disclosed, but another military source disclosed that the insurgents also suffered a heavy casualty in the attack as many dead bodies were seen scattered in the bush.

He maintained that troops are still in pursuit of some of the fleeing insurgents.

“Nobody had time to start counting the numbers of the bastards that were killed because we were busy pursuing the one that were running, but I must tell you that many of them were killed and their dead bodies scattered in the bush”, the source informed.

This is the first time the 27 Task Brigade has suffered a heavy attack from Boko Haram since its relocation from Damaturu to Buni Yadi in 2015.

Buni Yadi, the headquarters of Gujba Local Government, was taken over by the insurgents for almost a year before it was recaptured by the military in May 2015.

The attack on 27 Task Force Brigade is coming barely two weeks after the insurgents are said to be in disarray in the north east following their dislodgement from Camp Zero, the last strongest fortress of the insurgents in the Sambisa forest.

Queen Elizabeth II attends church after missing for 2 weeks due to cold

LONDON – Queen Elizabeth II has attended church near her rural Sandringham estate, after missing the previous two Sundays due to ill health.

The 90-year-old British monarch was applauded by well-wishers as she arrived by car at St. Mary Magdalene Church in eastern England. It was her first public appearance in several weeks.

The queen is a regular churchgoer, but missed the Christmas Day service for the first time in decades due to what Buckingham Palace said was a heavy cold.

She also did not attend on New Year’s Day as she continued to recover.

The queen — Britain’s longest-reigning monarch — has generally been in good health in recent years, although she has cut down on travel and public appearances as she enters her 10th decade.

EFCC Seizes N872m Houses From Ex-Minister, Son

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized four houses worth N872 million from a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Bala Mohammed, and his son, Shamsudeen Bala.

The ex-minister is also under investigation on alleged fictitious contracts of about N1billion, allocation of 12 choice plots worth billions of naira and 37 other commercial plots of land worth about N8 billion to his suspected front named Tariq Hammoud as well as the controversial N1 trillion Abuja land swap.

More than 16 companies linked with fictitious contracts awarded by Bala had been under surveillance and their owners grilled by EFCC, The Nation reports.

The anti-graft agency  quizzed Shamsudeen, Hammoud and top directors of the Federal Capital Territory administration, including that of Treasury, Ibrahim Bomoi; Land, Babayo Mainasara, and Abuja Geographical Information Service (AGIS), Ms Jamila Tangaza.

Tangaza, who had been in detention in the past one week, was battling for bail as at press time.

She has, however, been linked to N800 million questionable contracts to her personal firm apart from benefiting from plots of land from the ex-minister.

According to investigations, the ongoing probe of the ex-minister followed petitions against him, including complaints  pending since 2013.

It was gathered that following preliminary findings, EFCC obtained an interim forfeiture order to confiscate a N650 million house at 1 and 3, Mariam Mukhtar Street, Asokoro.

The same forfeiture order was secured to seize the ex-minister’s son three duplexes costing about N222 million in the Apo Area of Abuja.

A top source in EFCC, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are probing the immediate past Minister of FCT on many allegations against him, including award of N1 billion fictitious contracts; abuse of office by allocating 12 choice plots to his son and 37 other commercial plots worth about N8 billion to Hammoud, who is suspected to be his front; land swap, among others.

“Some of the petitions against Bala Mohammed had been pending since 2013. Initial findings showed that the ex-minister used fictitious companies to award contracts worth N1 billion in FCT. In one instance, a man with three companies was allowed to bid for one slot.

“About 16 companies used for fictitious contracts are under investigation because they did not supply items credited to them.

“We have also uncovered how Bala allocated plots of land to his friends, business partners. For examples, he allocated 12 plots of land to his son, Shamsudeen, and 37 commercial plots of land to his business front called Tariq Hammoud.

“Some of those quizzed so far confessed that Bala used unconventional methods in raking illicit funds and laundering same. Each time the ex-minister allocated a plot of land, he would find out the market value and ask you to pay half of the amount to him in cash.

“For instance if a plot of land was N2 billion, Bala would ask for N1 billion cash from the prospective buyer. He was smart in collecting cash.

“But the EFCC has traced allocation of 37 commercial plots to Hammoud and how N8billion was made from it. In fact, we saw a proposal by Tariq Hammoud to sell some of the plots.

“So far, our operatives have arrested, detained and quizzed Shamsudeen. He is presently on administrative bail. We have also interrogated Hammoud.”

Responding to a question, the source said: “Based on substantial findings, we approached the court to obtain an interim forfeiture order to seize a N650million from the ex-FCT Minister.

“What happened was that the former minister allocated some plots of land to Aso Savings and they bought the N650 million house for him at Nos. 1 and 3, Mariam Mukhtar Street, Asokoro District.

“The EFCC has confiscated three duplexes totalling N222million which were acquired by the ex-minister’s son.

“We invoked sections 28 and 34 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004 and Section 13(1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004 which empower the anti-graft agency to invoke Interim Assets Forfeiture Clause.

“Section 28 of the EFCC Act reads: ‘Where a person is arrested for an offence under this Act, the Commission shall immediately trace and attach all the assets and properties of the person acquired as a result of such economic or financial crime and shall thereafter cause to be obtained an interim attachment order from the Court.’”

On the fate of the ex-minister, the source said: “We are investigating him, we are yet to invite him for questioning. Certainly, we are closing in on him.”

The source added that  EFCC had grilled top directors of the FCT administration. “As for Ms Jamila Tangaza, we arrested and detained her because she was connected with the land scam and abuse of office.

“The ex-minister asked her to resign her appointment with BBC and appointed her as a Senior Special Assistant on Media and Information. But Bala allocated some plots of land to her to sell in order to acquire a mansion in Asokoro District too. Her house was allegedly worth N158million.

“Also, Jamila allegedly abused her office by awarding N800million contracts to her company which is called Songbird Multimedia.

“Her case was interesting. When she registered the company with the Corporate Affairs Commission, she used a fictitious name as the CEO of the company but she is the sole signatory to the company’s account and her phone number is the point of contact with the firm.

“We have sent her signature on CAC document and other specimen signatures collected from her to a forensic laboratory. Following a court order, we detained her in the past few days but as at Friday, she was pleading that we should grant her bail. We are looking into her request.”

The top source denied insinuations that the ex-BBC correspondent was handcuffed when she was taken to her office for a search.

The source added: “You can verify from her what transpired. From custody in EFCC, we went with her to her office to recover some documents. We used the EFCC bus but along the way, she begged us to park the bus away from the vicinity of AGIS where she is a director. She did not want her staff and others to notice that she was brought to the office by EFCC team.

“We obliged her request by parking outside AGIS. We also didn’t allow policemen in uniform to follow her to the office. We assigned plain-clothe operatives and even asked her if she wanted the only lady in our team to follow her so that Jamila can blend with the crowd in AGIS without anyone suspecting anything.

“She said all plain clothe operatives can follow her. We did not put her in handcuffs. This is the extent we went based on her request to protect her reputation and integrity. The story of Jamila being handcuffed was rubbish.”

Kate Henshaw joins Tope Tedela at Lagos premiere of new movie ‘King Invincible’

King Invincible tells the story of a Yoruba king named Taari, who is changing quickly into a wolf because of a curse placed on him.

A new movie by Femi Adisa, ‘King Invincible’, was premiered in Lagos on January 4, 2017.

Actress Kate Henshaw and Shafy Bello joined cast members Tope Tedela, Gabriel Afolayan, and Omowunmi Dada at Lekki IMAX Cinema where the screening happened.

Director and producer of the movie, Femi Adisa narrated at the event that bad weather and deadly reptiles threatened the shooting of the seemingly impossible project.

King Invincible tells the story of a Yoruba king named Taari, who is changing quickly into a wolf because of a curse placed on him.

The movie features Gabriel Afolayan, Tope Tedela, Omowunmi Dada, Toyin Alausa, Bimbo Manuel, Segun Dada among others.

Veteran Bollywood actor, Om Puri died of a heart attack

Veteran Indian actor, Om Puri passed on after suffering a heart attack at his residence in Mumbai early on Friday, January 6, 2017.

The actor was aged 66.

Om Puri made his acting debut in 1976 film Ghashiram Kotwal. He was a versatile actor that acted in Indian, Pakistani, British and Hollywood films. He was awarded an honorary OBE for his contribution to the British film industry in 2004.

Some of his popular movies include, East is East, The Hundred-Foot Journey which he acted in alongide Dame Helen Mirren, City of Joy, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Charlie Wilson’s War, Ardh Satya, Sadgati, Paar and Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro.

Puri is survived by his wife of 24 years, Nandita Puri and their son Ishaan.

NBA Star J.R. Smith Reveals His Wife Gave Birth Five Months Early: "Please Keep Us in Your Prayers

J.R. Smith and his wife, Jewel Harris, are opening up about a family matter.

The Cleveland Cavaliers athlete revealed in a video shared via Interrupted that Harris recently gave birth to their third child together, a daughter named Dakota, five months prematurely. 

"We've got very important news," Smith starts by addressing the camera in the emotional video.

Harris, on the verge of tears, then explains, "We decided to share with the world what's been going on with our family the past five days. We know a lot of you guys congratulated us on the expectancy of our little baby girl, but we had her five months early."

"She's 5-days-old today and her name is Dakota and she weighs one pound," she continues. 

"We know we're not the only family going through this, who has been through this, and who will ever go through it," Jewel explained. "That's why we decided to share what we're going through with you guys. Please keep us in your prayers and we'll do the same for everyone else."

The basketball player and his wife, who wed in August 2016, announced they were expecting in October. J.R. and Jewel also share two daughters together named Demiand Peyton.

Wishing the Smith-Harris family all the best during this difficult time. 

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Visit Beyonce and Jay Z for Blue Ivy's 5th Birthday After West Publicly Slammed Them

The power couples have reunited. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West visited Beyoncé and Jay Z at the musicians' home in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, on Friday, January 6, less than two months after West publicly slammed his friends

X17 reported that the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star and the "Fade" rapper went to celebrate Beyoncé and Jay Z's daughter Blue Ivy's 5th birthday. They didn't bring along their children, daughter North, 3, and son Saint, 13 months, with them, however.

Kardashian was photographed with an understated glam look in an oversize red-and-black plaid shirt, loose tan sweatpants and nude stiletto boots. Her husband of two years, meanwhile, opted for a dark gray hoodie, camouflage pants and black boots from his Yeezy collection.

The couples' meeting comes less than two months after West blasted Beyoncé, 35, and Jay Z, 47, in a lengthy concert rant in Sacramento. During the rant, he alleged that Queen Bey only agreed to perform at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards if she won Video of the Year for "Formation." 

West also called out Jay Z for not returning his phone calls after Kardashian's Paris robbery, saying, "Jay Z, call me, bruh. You still ain't called me. Jay Z, I know you got killers. Please don't send them at my head. Please call me. Talk to me like a man."

Days later, the Yeezy fashion designer was hospitalized at UCLA Medical Center's Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital for exhaustion. Sources previously told Us Weekly that West was stressed out about his massive Saint Pablo Tour, which he canceled in late November, and was struggling to cope with the aftermath of his wife's October robbery.

I intend to make money, win awards from The Three Wise Men — Opa Williams

Ace Nollywood movie producer, Opa Williams, is gunning for the skies with the premiere of his latest movie, The Three Wise Men, a comic movie which deals with serious issues of life. The talented movie-maker who premiered the movie late last year, says as a business man he hopes to make a lot of money and bag some awards to decorate his hall of fame as part of his gains from the movie. Speaking during an exclusive interview, Opa Williams hilariously told Potpourri what he expects to gain from filming The Three Wise Men. “Two things I want to clinch from the filming of this movie are awards and money”, he said hilariously.

As to what inspired the movie, title, and the cast, he had interesting responses. “We all think we are wise, but do you know if a decision you take is a wise one? So I just thought I should name the movie The Three Wise Men, because in life whatever situation you find yourself you must take a decision, be it good or bad.” According to him, RMD, Zack Orji and Victor Olaotan were just the best choice of cast for the roles they all played in the movie. “I was looking for people that can interpret roles, which is very key, not because they are popular, but because they are able to imbibe the role into themselves and later bring it out. I sat down and decided on RMD, Zack Orji and Victor Olaotan because they were the best for the roles. Another thing is that, whatever we do, we are in business, we know who sells, sometimes you bring in a star and they give you a wishy-washy movie and then it flops, but if you are able to get a good story, a good star, a good production value, and then you are up.”

For once, let’s applaud Buhari

The beginning of a new year such as now, offers a good opportunity for Nigerians as a people to take a second look at the previous year 2016 and its catalogue of negative events. Such a review will no doubt be helpful especially if it can draw attention to the way forward. In other words, to make 2017 a better year, we need to avoid a recurrence of the negative events of last year. Arriving at the solution to our problems may not be an easy task but we imagine that giving credit occasionally to whom it is due is a wise approach.

It is obviously superior to the current trend whereby everybody is a critic in a game in which only President Buhari is perceived to be at fault all the time. The recent crisis in Kaduna is probably a good example of an issue in which the President has been hastily blamed. Kaduna is a state with its own governor that was elected to run the day to day affairs of the state. According, Buhari should not be the first to intervene in a problem in one state within a country that has adopted federalism as its system of government For the better part of 2016, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in crisis. Many of the members would readily suggest that the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) has been behind it. There are indeed, those who would blame President Buhari for not dissuading his party members from it. Interestingly, the typical Nigerian politician is ungovernable. The President cannot even stop his own party members from destroying their own party let alone telling them to let the opposition be. In any case, it would be difficult to find a ruling party in a country like Nigeria which runs a zero-sum political system to encourage political opposition. Of course, it can’t happen in Nigeria where a ruling party in a state “wins” all the seats in a local election. If the truth must be said, a political party like the PDP is the architect of its fate. It is its members who are currently in factions that have prevented their party from making a mark even in a state like Ondo where it has been in power. Painfully they always do so for personal gains. Buhari or not, Nigeria is far from being ready for free and fair elections. The other day, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state was reported to have said that he knows those who will not succeed him. We have no proof that Amosun is a professional soothsayer just as we are unaware that as a person he has more than one vote. So, how else will he stop those he has decided will not succeed him in a future election? He would probably disallow a level playing ground for all aspirants and like Oshiomhole and Mimiko did during the last governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states respectively impose his preferred candidate. Put differently, it is hard to find a blameless politician in Nigeria. The alarm by Governor Wike of Rivers state on the posting of 28,000 security operatives to his state for just a re-run election makes a lot of sense but when compared to what his PDP federal might did in the same state in 2015, the alarm is not more than crocodile tears. The fight against corruption is an area where many citizens have hailed President Buhari but quite often, the applause is drowned by allegations of selective prosecution. In a nation that has for too long, been weighed down by excessive corrupt practices, many of those arrested would obviously attract sympathy by singing religious and ethnic tunes. As we argued elsewhere, it is logical that many of those called to question are now in the opposition. This is because being the ones who were in government yesterday; they are those who currently have explanations to make on what they did with public funds. It is thus irrational to describe their arrests as amounting to selective prosecution. It is worse to insinuate that they are not the only corrupt politicians in our midst because that cannot exonerate them; rather that draws attention to the need for many more people to be arrested. Again, to harp on the sting operation by the Department of State Services (DSS) on some judges underplays the disturbing issue of corruption in the judiciary-a distasteful act which many retired senior judges had for long been drawing attention to. Instead of praising an administration that evolved ample courage to deal headlong with the subject, the focus became the inelegance of the method employed.  We are unable to support that line of thought more so as the sting operation did not target every judge. It is only fair that Nigerians who claimed to have elected President Buhari as a man that can rid the nation of corruption should not also become hyper-critical about a result-oriented approach to the hydra-headed monster. If however people are unhappy about the state of our national economy, it is understandable. The steep rise in the cost of living alone is enough to sustain public frustration. While agreeing with the argument that the problems of today are the direct result of yesterday’s bad governance, we can hold no one else but the government of today which earlier promised to fix the problems. Until the economy is fixed, no sermon can convince people to applaud the President. But the premise of this article is that the government should be commended for whatever is well done while urging it to tackle other areas requiring attention. Today, the nation should be up-standing in praise of our President in the fight against insurgency particularly the capture of Sambisa forest. Before Buhari’s time,  Nigerians languished in the forest as huge sums of money appropriated for the fight against insurgency were allegedly diverted by different actors in the corridors of power. Cynics may doubt the feat at Sambisa but we prefer to commend our gallant forces seen by newsmen in Maiduguri the other day dismantling the official Boko Haram flag at Parisu, Camp Zairo, in Sambisa Forest. Bravo to our Commander in Chief!

God used a witch to save my life — Adeboye

GENERAL Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye recently revealed how God used a witch to stop him from eating kola nut which would have lead to his death if he did not stop the act.
Narrating his experience while delivering a sermon tiled: “God Loves Me” during the annual thanksgiving service and prophetic declaration at the church national headquarters, Throne of Grace parish in Ebute-Meta, Lagos, Pastor Adeboye attributed his continued survival to God’s faithfulness, and love, saying those whom God loves are more than conquerors. In his words: “I was telling my children that whenever we wanted to study at night while we were young, we used kola nut as our own coffee as we did not have money to buy coffee. We ate the kola nut to stay awake. “One day, the number one self confessed witch in our compound, called me and said: “Dejare, why won’t you stop eating kola nut? The witch warned me to desist from what can lead to my death. I think God spoke through the witch and I can say God loves me,” Adeboye stated. Continuing, the cleric said: “You are alive today not because you are clever, wise or know how to do it but simply because God loves you. There are lots of people who are in the prison who are free. I was at the Kirikiri Prison where I heard testimonies that brought tears to my eyes. Some of them said they were in prison but they are free men because they have Jesus; they were incarcerated but they are free. And there are people who are outside the prison who are prisoners. “It is because God loves you that you are able to conquer all that the devil threw at you last year. Left for the enemy you, will not be here today but because God loves you, you are more than conqueror,” Daddy G.O. said. Adeboye then admonished Christians that God expects those He loves to respond by honouring Him with their tithes and first fruits and love their neighours, noting that the greatest gift Christians can give their neighbours is introducing them to Christ. Also speaking, the Assistant General Overseer to G.O. on Administration and Personnel, Pastor Johnson Odesola, said it was high time government did something to ameliorate the incessant orgy of violence in southern Kaduna often leading to killing of innocent citizens and destruction of properties before it escalates to the type of Boko Haram problem the nation is nursing today. He said: “This was how the problem of Boko Haram started and the government felt it was a small thing until the sect became a thorn in the flesh of Nigerians.’’

Ivory Coast mutiny deal reached, says president, but unclear if unrest is over

President Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast says he has reached an agreement with soldiers who have mutinied.

He said he had taken into account their demands over pay and conditions and asked troops to return to barracks.

But some soldiers then besieged the defence minister in the city of Bouake, although they later let him leave.

The mutiny began there on Friday and spread to the commercial capital, Abidjan, where soldiers overtook the army headquarters.

They fired in the air as they took control of the base in the Abidjan's Plateau district.

In his statement late on Sunday, the president said: "I confirm that I have agreed to take into account the demands of the soldiers over bonuses and better working conditions."

• Ivory Coast profile

Defence Minister Alain-Richard Donwahi had travelled to Bouake, Ivory Coast's second city, to discuss the protesters' demands.

But a group of soldiers trapped Mr Donwahi in a local official's home in the city, demanding to know when they would be paid and how much.

Several hours later, they allowed him to leave. He and some other people who were with him went directly to the airport and left the city.

Earlier on Saturday, shooting was heard at the military base in Akouedo, on the eastern edge of Abidjan, which is home to parachute commandos that are considered loyal to Mr Ouattara.

Similar protests were also reported in the cities of Man, Daloa, Daoukro, Odienne and Korhogo.

The BBC's Alex Duval Smith in Ivory Coast says the mutiny has brought back memories of Ivory Coast's 10-year civil war, which ended in 2011.

Some of the mutineers were thought to be former rebels who joined the army after the conflict.

The rebels swept into Abidjan from Bouake in 2011, helping Mr Ouattara take power after his predecessor Laurent Gbagbo - now on trial at the International Criminal Court - refused to accept defeat in elections the previous year.

Fort Lauderdale airport shooting suspect charged

The man suspected of carrying out a deadly shooting at a Florida airport has been charged by prosecutors.

Esteban Santiago, 26, is accused of opening fire at Fort Lauderdale airport, killing five people and injuring six others.

He is charged with carrying out an act of violence at an international airport resulting in death, which carries a maximum punishment of execution.

Mr Santiago also faces lesser weapons charges.

The suspect, who is in custody, told agents he had planned the attack and bought a one-way ticket to Fort Lauderdale, according to court papers..

Authorities said they did not know why he chose this target and that terrorism had not been ruled out.

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"Today's charges represent the gravity of the situation and reflect the commitment of federal, state and local law enforcement personnel to continually protect the community and prosecute those who target our residents and visitors," US Attorney Wifredo Ferrer said.

Mr Santiago is said to have used a semi-automatic handgun that he apparently legally checked on a flight from Alaska.

Officials were also looking whether mental health problems played a role after it emerged that the suspect had been referred for a health assessment by the FBI.

Last November, Mr Santiago walked into an FBI office in Alaska in an agitated and incoherent state, the FBI and Anchorage police said.

He was carrying a loaded magazine but had left his handgun in his car, with his newborn child.

During the later mental health evaluation, he told the FBI he was hearing voices and believed he was being controlled by a US intelligence agency.

His gun was confiscated but the authorities found no wrongdoing, and it was returned in December. It is not clear if this is the same gun that he is accused of using in the attack at the airport baggage claim area.

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The victims

An official list of the victims has not been released but families and friends have confirmed some of the identities.

Olga Woltering: A Georgia resident originally from Ipswich in eastern England.

A devout Catholic in her 80s, she was named as a victim by her Atlanta church, the Catholic Church of the Transfiguration. It described her as a "joyful, loving, caring and committed" person.

"This is a horrible tragedy for everyone here at Transfiguration, especially because Olga was so loved," it said.

Ms Woltering, from Marietta near Atlanta, was in Florida on her way to join a cruise to celebrate her husband's 90th birthday. He was unharmed in the shooting.

Terry Andres: The 63-year-old from Virginia Beach, Virginia, was a volunteer fireman. He and his wife had flown to Fort Lauderdale for a Caribbean cruise. He was named as a victim by friend Jessica Winbauer.

She told AP news agency that the death had shocked the community.

Michael Oehme: The 57-year-old Iowa man was named by his sister, Elizabeth Oehme-Miller. He was supposed to go on a cruise with his wife, she said.

Mr Oehme was a land surveyor and owned his own business. His wife was in hospital with injuries from a gunshot wound to the shoulder.

Shirley Timmons: The 70-year old from Senecaville, Ohio, was travelling with her husband, Steve, to join the rest of the family for a cruise, according to her grandson Steve Reineccius.

Wile FM reported that her husband was shot in the head and underwent emergency surgery at a hospital in Fort Lauderdale, where he was in critical condition.

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Mr Santiago is a former member of the Puerto Rico and Alaska National Guard, according to the Pentagon.

He served in Iraq from April 2010 to February 2011, and ended his service in August 2016.

His aunt told a local newspaper he had "lost his mind" while serving in Iraq, and his brother said he had been receiving psychological treatment recently.

US media reported that he had received a general discharge from the Alaska National Guard for unsatisfactory performance.

Flying with firearms is legal in the US as long as the guns are kept in a locked, hard-sided container as checked baggage only, under rules of the Transport Security Administration (TSA). Ammunition is also allowed only in checked luggage.

The attack was the latest in a series of mass shootings in the US in recent years, carried out by people who had easy access to weapons under US gun laws.

Last year, in the worst shooting in recent US history, a man apparently inspired by so-called Islamic State killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.