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Suicide bomber kills 5 in Nigerian church service blast

POTISKUM, Nigeria -- A woman suicide bomber blew up in the midst of a crowded evangelical Christian church service in northeast Nigeria on Sunday and killed at least five people, witnesses said.

It is the latest bombing in a string of attacks blamed on Islamic extremist group Boko Haram that's killed some 200 people in the past week.

Nearly 100 men and boys praying in mosques were gunned down on Wednesday, and a local official said Sunday that 21 more bodies have been recovered from burnt-out houses since then.

On Friday, the military said six women suicide bombers caused explosions that killed scores of people including a soldier at Zabamari Muna village outside Maiduguri, the biggest city in northeast Nigeria and the birthplace of Boko Haram.

Police Sunday rushed to the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Potiskum, the largest city in northeastern Yobe state. Wailing women and stunned men wandered around the wreckage of smashed bricks and twisted zinc sheets blown off the church roof. One congregant said the blast came from a woman in the congregation. She was too scared to give her name.

An Associated Press reporter counted five bodies from the blast in the morgue of the local hospital, where a wounded woman was being treated.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday condemned the latest attacks as barbaric and said they underline the need for an expanded multinational army to crush the extremists.

Buhari won a bitterly contested election in part by promising to crush Boko Haram, reports CBS News correspondent Debora Patta. But since his inauguration at the end of May the militant group has stepped up its campaign of violence steadily eroding victories claimed by the Nigerian military and other regional armies.

Boko Haram took control of a large swath of northeast Nigeria last year and declared an Islamic caliphate. As it stepped up cross-border attacks, Nigeria and its neighbors deployed a multinational army that this year drove them out. But attacks are increasing as Boko Haram apparently responds to an Islamic State group directive to intensify violence during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

At least 13,000 people have died in the 6-year-old Islamic uprising that has driven 1.5 million people from their homes.

2015 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/suicide-bomber-kills-5-in-nigerian-church-service-blast/

On the front line of climate change: Five cities battling floods, heat and storms

Part of complete coverage on

By Mairi Mackay, George Webster and Teo Kermeliotis

updated 9:29 AM EDT, Fri June 15, 2012

Lagos:

Engulfed by floods

In July 2011, torrential rainfall and flooding devastated Lagos. Floodwater turned roads into rivers, burst sewers and destroyed homes. At least 20 people were killed, hundreds displaced and the city's economy was crippled.

City stats

Source: World Bank and CDP Cities

Sea-level rising

Projection based on future scenario of rapid, fossil-fuel intensive economic growth.

Source: UNIDO

Rising water threatens to submerge Lagos

Nigeria 's commercial capital, with its vast coastline, low-lying topography and dense population is particularly vulnerable to flooding from rising sea levels, more intense rainfall and increasing storms.

Impact on slum dwellers

For the two thirds of Lagos's population that live in the city's slums, floods are a fact of life, just like a lack of clean running water.

When it floods, foul water containing sewage runs into slum homes, sometimes reaching waist height. Slum dwellers say they repeatedly visit health centers because of sickness after floods, spending scant money on healthcare. A huge proportion say floods deny them job opportunities or affect their livelihoods.

A taxing population explosion

Lagos one of Africa's most-populous cities, is a sprawling, chaotic metropolis of close to 12 million inhabitants, which is growing rapidly.

Lagos raises awareness, battles to adapt

It has a huge population and, according to city officials, accounts for 65% of Nigeria 's commercial and industrial activities, yet Lagos's GDP lags behind many other more developed cities. Beset by a ballooning population, vast slums and a lack of infrastructure, authorities are taking some steps to reduce the sprawling city's vulnerability. Yet, it is often the case that the city's inhabitants have to solve their own problems.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/14/world/africa/lagos-climate-change-c40/

Jidenna Responds To Nigerians Who Were Insulted By 'Light-Skinned' Comment

Nigerian-American rapper Jidenna has responded to the backlash from Nigerians following comments he made in a July 10 interview with Vlad TV. The rapper told interviewers that as a light-skinned Igbo man, he is often the target of armed-robbers in the country where people perceive him as wealthy.

He said: "Our family was light. Therefore when we go to our village, and when I actually buried my father, I had to bring a lot of AK47s, I had to employ military commandos Because when youre light skinned, youre a heavier target for being kidnapped Because youre seen as more valuable. Youre seen as white, therefore you have money. Youre American, therefore you have more money. If you have more money youre easy to kidnap, and if youre easy to kidnap were going to get you.So for me being light-skinned in Nigeria , in our family, it was difficult."

His comments drew criticism from Nigerians online, who complained that his observations painted the West African country in an unflattering and untrue light as violent, dangerous, and money-obsessed.

Twitteruser @LOSGIDDYwrote, "Such misinformation and diaspora ignorance. Suddenly I don't like this jidenna lad..."

On July 15 Jidenna posted an open letterto Nigerians, responding to the backlash.

"I am, always have been, and always will be proud of my Nigerian heritage," the letter began.

The rapper went on to add that he has often spoken highly of Nigerian culture and achievements, saying: "Contrary to popular belief, this interview was not the first in which I mentioned Nigeria. In fact, Im frequently bragging about how Nigerians attend the worlds most prestigious institutions, and how we are known to produce world class doctors, entrepreneurs, innovators, lawyers, engineers, professors, athletes and artists."

In response to criticism over his use of the term "light-skinned" the rapper added, "My comments about skin tone were related to the notion of perceived wealth and value, not my personal beliefs. My point was never to imply that biracial or 'light-skinned' people are the only ones or the most targeted group of people kidnapped, or that I myself was wealthy at the time. Rather than focus on my perceived value, let us continue to focus on the value of Nigeria ."

Jidenna is best known for his collaboration with Janelle Monae on the single 'Yoga', and his current hit single 'Classic Man.'

Also on HuffPost:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jidenna-responds-to-nigerians-who-were-insulted-by-light-skinned-comment_55a95616e4b0caf721b2c626

'Fear of Buhari': Nigeria's rich lying low amid graft crackdown

ByAfp

Published: 20:10 GMT, 22 October 2015 | Updated: 20:11 GMT, 22 October 2015

Business is slow at the moment for Benedict Okafor, who sells luxury cars from a lot near the port in Nigeria's financial capital, Lagos.

In the capital, Abuja, 535 kilometres (333 miles) away, the property market seems to be in a rut, with the habitual buyers -- the monied elite -- staying away.

"I normally sold five cars every month before" President Muhammadu Buhari came to power, said Okafor. "But in the past four months I have sold only one Toyota car.

The anti-corruption stance of recently elected Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, pictured in Paris on September 16, 2015, has the nation's rich and powerful keeping a lower profile to avoid attention Bertrand Guay (AFP/File)

"I guess rich people are scared."

Jide Agboola, a real estate agent in Abuja, also attributed the current slump in conspicuous consumption to fear: "The fear of Buhari."

It's not hard to see why, when Buhari's promised crusade against high-level corruption has already snared a series of household names.

Senate leader Bukola Saraki -- Nigeria's third-most senior politician after Buhari and his vice-president Yemi Osinbajo -- is facing charges of false declaration of assets.

Godswill Akpabio, the former governor of coastal Akwa Ibom state, was hauled in for questioning over claims he had stolen 108 billion naira ($540 million, 475 million euros) while in office.

Sule Lamido, the governor of Jigawa state in the north, and Gabriel Suswam, who was governor of Benue state until earlier this year, are also fighting accusations of graft.

At the same time, former oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, was arrested in London as part of a British investigation into suspected bribery and money laundering.

- Stopping the rot -

Buhari's arrival in May appears to have given fresh bite to the fight against corruption, which has plagued Nigeria over decades of military rule then civilian administration.

Cases involving top officials that were long thought to have been shelved have been revived, as he seeks to fulfil his election promises of stopping the rot in the system.

"As soon as he (Buhari) came to power, without any direct instruction from him, the anti-graft agencies went into a frenzy, dusting down cases of corruption against some past officials which have been long dead in order to convince Nigerians that they are working," Debo Adeniran, head of the pressure group Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, told AFP.

The move was predictable for many: Buhari's previous time in power as the head of a military regime in the 1980s was characterised by his so-called "War Against Indiscipline".

"Everybody remembers Buhari's antecedents when he was a military dictator," said Bukola Daniel, a Lagos-based political scientist.

"He was a no-nonsense military ruler. The fear of Buhari is now all-pervading and everybody is careful not to be caught in a corruption web."

- Witch-hunt? -

Nigeria's main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), however, is crying double standards.

They point out that the former governors of Lagos and Rivers states, Babatunde Fashola and Rotimi Amaechi, have both been accused of graft but are still in line for ministerial posts.

Instead, the PDP described the anti-corruption drive as a "witch-hunt" against its members and other "perceived political opponents" of Buhari's All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

Party spokesman Olisa Metuh denounced what he described as "the relentless victimisation of our key members".

The APC dismissed the claim as a "worn-out argument".

Certainly, Alison-Madueke's arrest in particular has underlined to Nigeria's elite that it's no longer business as usual -- even if Abuja has denied any direct involvement.

But Adeniran and others said Buhari needed to go further to avoid accusations of posturing.

Clement Nwankwo, head of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, a pro-democracy group, said securing convictions would prove the situation was not just "rhetoric".

"The challenge to corruption has to be systematic. That I have not seen," he said.

"We also cannot fight corruption with the judiciary we have today," he added, explaining the courts were ill-equipped to deal with corruption cases.

- 'A few more Buharis' -

For now, there is a sense that rich and powerful Nigerians -- so long accustomed to impunity -- are on their best behaviour.

How long it will last is unclear but social commentator and university lecturer Samson Olatunde Oduleye said Buhari's influence could be decisive.

"If we have a few more Buharis and emphasis shifts to the root of the problem -- the society -- inroads can be made into a sustainable assault on the malaise," he said.

"The most effective, non-legal check on corruption is the moral tone of society: societal values.

"There are things you will not contemplate doing even when there is no-one around to restrain you."

British bribery charges against former oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, pictured at an OPEC gathering on June 14, 2012, in Vienna, have contributed to a sense of unease among powerful elites in corruption-plagued Nigeria Dieter Nagl (AFP/File)

Nigeria's opposition has cried foul amid the anti-corruption drive, saying it has been targeted while such power brokers as then-Lagos governor Babatunde Fashola (R), with now-president Muhammadu Buhari on January 30, 2015, have escaped scrutiny Pius Utomi Ekpei (AFP/File)

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-3285299/Fear-Buhari-Nigerias-rich-lying-low-amid-graft-crackdown.html

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http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/nigeria-senate-names-20-nominees-presidents-cabinet-34277376

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Up until five years back, I was a struggling entrepreneur. I can't tell you how many offices in this Lagos I sat in for hours waiting to see folks who could support my business...but most times, I never passed the reception area. But the blogger never gave up and I never quit believing and here I am today.

You too can be this..you can be better than this. No fantasy is too big, no dream is too little, no mountain is too high...it's all in your mind. It is all up to you. Then the sky is your starting point, if you believe in your God who is guiding you, in you.

Please quit waiting around for a man to give to you...to place food on your table and put clothes on your back. The blogger assure you, you can do it for yourself. Begin thinking large, believe in yourself, be creative and begin working. Understand your fantasies are valid...and nobody will make your dreams come true except you. Find what you are excellent at. Find something that you are enthusiastic about. Work at it. Be consistent. Be patient. Begin young. Even when you're old, it's too early!

I have been hustling since I left secondary school..began modeling before I entered university in 1998. Was running a modeling agency while the blogger was a pupil and made it a full time business after I left university. The blogger never doubted because I was determined that I'd succeed one day. And please don't think this happened over night. The blogger've been blogging since 2006... November this year is likely to ensure it is exactly 9 years. Hard work, uniformity and God brought the student here today.

Regrettably, lots of our young girls are not patient and some are idle, they need it quick and speedy but it doesn't work like that. Success takes time - takes hard work - takes fire - takes consistency - but more than anything else, it takes the Grace of God.

The blogger was a 30 year old broke woman and God and begged on my birthday, an extremely unhappy and depressed me turned to him. The blogger told Him when are you going to fulfill Your promise you assured me? Am the student not Your child? Have the student not lived according to Your teachings? When will I be blessed by You? Please God help the student...and with tears in my eyes, I begged Him. I wept and I begged and I begged and I begged. A couple of months later my life transformed. Never underestimate the power of prayer as well as God's love for you.

And never cease working. Listen, I make enough cash to hire so many people to work on this particular website while I go do other things and appreciate myself...but I really don't do that. The student'm up while before some of you awaken, some of you are sleeping, and blogging. The student don't take this for granted. Myself know to keep on top, I need to continuously work and nobody will be as dedicated as I am because this isn't their own thing. It's mine and I have to keep feeding it. So I am always here!

Young ladies, myself promise you...you also can do this. You do not desire to spread your legs for any bladdy man - Because of how much? N200k? That is how much my shoes cost - Why should you give your body up for that? Your holy body? God's temple? N200k you can make in a week or in a day if you pursue your dreams and still have your dignity complete? You think people don't see that you're messing around with all dem old married men and talking about it? Think women, think! When next a man propositions you...tell him to get lost, that you'll get yours yourself! Abi, aren't you a girl? You are aware of the things that they say about women? "A woman is just like a tea bag, you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.". You are so powerful, you do not even understand!

In addition, in case you'd like God to bless you, you need to possess a heart that is clean. All these backbiting, loathing on others, attempting to bring folks down with hateful words/activities etc - God doesn't enjoy awful. He has over 6 billion people to look after and you believe if your heart is not beautiful, he will pay extra attention to you personally? Wish folks well, help individuals when you're able to. Be good to others. But more than anything else be good to yourself. Believe in yourself. It is quite simple to give in to feelings of self-doubt and back down when things get tough, but you have to understand that God won't provide you anything you can't handle.

The student affirm to you personally, you are underestimating yourself. In case you know the power which you have inside. Knowing the things that you are capable of. Knowing how far you can go...how high you can reach but you're holding yourself back because you are afraid of failing, as you don't think you've it in you. If just you are aware that you simply are stronger than you think. You are really so strong, you don't even know it. Myself'm not more special than you're. Myself really don't have two heads. We serve exactly the same God. Why can not you succeed? Think ladies, believe.

Like Barack Obama's sister said, poverty isn't an alibi! The student used to sell/market beer at Sheraton hotel, Lagos a day when I was in university for N1,000. The blogger lived on' in UNILAG puff puff' and garri for weeks and I was supposedly a top model but nobody knew what I was going through.

Trust the student, I understood poverty. Did you understand the student lived for 15 years in Idi oro, Mushin? Up until when the blogger was 25? Did you live in Mushin? Eh, so what is your reason? The blogger can't even say some things here for the solitude of my family because I never doubted myself, but here I am today and I never let all the doubters to distract me. The student was centered. The student was ascertained. The student worked hard and I knew the God I functioned will not let me down. The road was sometimes very frustrating, long and painful but look at me now. God did it because he saw that the student was not unwilling!

"Because I'm a woman, I must make unusual efforts to triumph. If God fail, no one will say, "the woman doesn't have what it requires." The same God will say, "Women don't have what it requires."

Please believe in yourself and watch God use you to set as an example for others.

May all your wishes come true!

Kisses.

Oh by the way (addressing the argument Women read online this weekend) I do not do anything else. The woman blog from 4am till midnight, where do I've time to do anything else? When God wants to bless you, he'll bless you...even in the event you are selling toothpick.

Cheers!

Melinda Ikeji Famous Nigerian OAP

Entrepreneur and contentious writer are one of the various talents that best describe the Nigerian blogger. Produced September 19th, in 1980, Linda Ikeji continues to make waves in media with modern strategy directed at exploring the latest business trends, expressing the truth, and connecting with her audience and her no nonsense attitude. Having been recognized as a true power to contend with, the well-known publisher has recently focused on the development of lifestyle site and her fashion.

Linda was born and raised in South Eastern Nigeria in the town of Imo State within a strong catholic dwelling. She attended the University of Lagos where she pursued her studies in English.

With her fearless approach and openness to inform the people of a wide variety of fads from fashion and healthful living to personal occasions and shocking news stories, Linda Ikeji has eventually become a celebrated blogger. Her platforms extend from her regular blog to social media providing upgrades on real life events with a strong fire for governmental issues. The blogger has been described as focusing on remarkable reports and issuing publications that have got her in hot water.

It was in 2006 that her blogging career soon gained incredible interest and began. The honest and no nonsense style of writing often cause controversy and dramatic publications. This consists of content Funke Akindele, issued about famous celebs Richard Mofe Damijo, and Djimon Honsou who expressed dissatisfaction and defamation in the time.

You cannot keep a great thing down, while the blog was shut down in October 2014, and soon the writer was up and running an only 2 days after. An internet representative, who expressed concerned at policy violations explained the reason behind the downtime. This included the nature of the content printed that could prove dangerous for its so called casualties.

The former model was honoured in 2013 at NBA ceremony or the Nigeria Blog Award. It was here that she received recognition as being the greatest entertainment site.

Former model and the accomplished writer is followed by thousands of supporters on social media. She remains shocking real life stories with headlines and graphical posts and updated on the hottest fashion trends, but in addition government policies. With an impressive following, Ikeji has established the she is a force to contend with in the media industry.