Two American missionaries murdered & dumped in bushes outside a church in Jamaica

Two U.S. missionaries Randy Hentzel and Harold Nichols, were found slain on April 30 in Kingston, Jamaica - a rural area m that has long struggled with high rates of violent crime.

The battered bodies of the missionaries, who lived and worked in Jamaica for a Pennsylvania-based religious organization called Teams for Medical Missions, were found in separate areas of St. Mary parish.

The two men and their families did evangelism, Bible ministry and built homes for the less privileged. They were reportedly murdered on their way to check on the foundation of a house they were building for an impoverished family.

There have been no arrests made in connection to the case so far and the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica said officials were in touch with the victims' families and the ambassador had contacted the leadership of the island's security establishment.

Arsenal and Super Falcons player Asisat Oshoala: I want to be an inspiration to others

Only 21, and already an idol herself for younger generations of female football players in Africa. Arsenal ladies and Super Falcons attacker Asisat Oshoala spoke to FIFA explaining how she developed from playing six-a-side football with boys in Ikorodu to donning the jersey of Liverpool football club and then Arsenal Football club. Excerpts after the cut....

 

 

“When I was in school I used to play football with boys,” Oshoala told FIFA.com. “I was in this six-a-side team. The boys always used to say to me: 'Don’t go to the front, just stay at the back. Just kick the balls out. You can’t score goals. You can’t dribble past defenders.'

"And then the day came where we made it to a final. I dribbled two or three players and scored a goal. 1-0. End of the game. I remember saying to them, 'Look at that. You don’t believe in me but look at what I can do.”

 “When you have this determination, and people see this determination in you, eventually they have no choice but to give you the support you need to get you where you want to go,” explained the Arsenal Ladies player.

“I didn’t think I was even going to get to pass the ball at the U-20 (Japan u-20 Female World cup tournament) because I was so young,” said the midfielder. “I thought I was just making up the numbers.” 

Oshoala came on as a substitute in the 76th minute of Nigeria’s opener against Korea Republic. Her performance for those final 14 minutes was so impressive that she started every subsequent match at the tournament, helping Nigeria get to the semi-finals.

“Then and there I learnt that when given an opportunity, you give it your best,” she said. “You might not see them, but someone is always watching. It was a great lesson for me. It’s something I’ve carried from Japan into every match I play now.” 

“Canada was a massive one for me,” she said. “I wanted to do better. I wanted people to come not only watch my team, but I wanted them to come watch the girl who is determined, the girl who is always ready to give her best.”

Perhaps one of the most important moments took place against England in their final group stage game of Canada 2014. Locked at 1-1, England’s Bethany Mead missed a penalty in the 53rd minute. Just six minutes later, Oshoala was brought down in the box and given the same chance to snatch the lead. 

“It was a crucial penalty for the team,” she said. “We had to score. We had to win the game to qualify for the next round. It wasn’t planned that I take it. We had a penalty taker, but I could see that she was scared. I walked up to her and said, 'I’ll take it for you.'

"I wanted the challenge, I remember thinking, ‘I’m the old player in the team, I’m the one that played at the previous U-20, I should be able to step up and do it for my team.”

 “The Women’s World Cup was something completely different," Oshoala recalled. "I’d never experienced playing for such big crowds. I remember having to reprimand myself a few times.

"I kept having to remind myself to not go onto the pitch and just start looking at my idols and not play football. I kept refocusing on this thought, ‘I’m going to go there and play the game I have inside me.'”

“I want to be an inspiration to others,” she said. “So whenever I’m given the opportunity to represent my country I have to give my best.” She told FIFA.com

Osinbajo shares his journey to becoming Nigeria's Vice President

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Saturday April 30th, shared the journey that led him to become the Vice President of Nigeria. Speaking at the Platform Abuja, Osinbajo narrated how his drive for integrity and forthrightness led him and some others to form a group of concerned professionals that will speak against corruption. According to Vanguard, Osinbajo also narrated his clash with the Abacha government and how providence brought him and Buhari together as running mates

“Permit me to begin (the speech) with a story about myself. All my adult life, I have always believed that our country was performing far below its potentialities, in practically every aspect of life. In governance, corruption was always so outrageous that it made the majority poor and development almost impossible. Law and order was always a problem, usually no consequence for wrong-doing. Doing business and even our daily existence have always been difficult, no power, no fuel. Getting anything done in government establishments, a nightmare of delay and extortion. So as a conscious decision, I joined various pressure groups. From human rights groups to good governance advocacy groups. In 1995, I co- founded an organization called Integrity, an anti-corruption organization. I joined various think tanks and professional groups, including the Concerned Professionals. Under the Abacha regime we Concerned Professionals, one day gathered at Yaba Bus-stop and some were thoroughly beaten by Police and the Army. From that day on, people disappeared and did not show up again. I served as a two-term Attorney- General in Lagos State and pushed reforms in governance and the justice sector, I believed and continued to believe that the Nigerian people deserve better lives. In December 2014, the unexpected happened; I was nominated as Vice Presidential candidate to then General Muhammadu Buhari.”

Osinbajo recalled that he was still a young man when Buhari became head of State

“As a young university lecturer, then I was impressed by his, President Buhari’s single-minded fight against corruption and indiscipline. There was a serious war against indiscipline. For the first time, government held corrupt officers accountable. 30 years later, providence brought us together. A retired general now and a Professor of Law. We both believed that our country needed to change. We argued about how and what needed to be done. We reached consensus on many of the major issues. Certainly our country need a different set of values; a new way of doing business; an economy that is able to give opportunity to young people to work in their chosen professions and to build strong and profitable businesses. We knew that we had to provide social protection for the poorest and the most vulnerable. We recognised that innovation and change will be key, and that we must implement and not just talk about diversification of our economy. So we led our party’s campaign on that single, simple, but profound word, CHANGE! Nearly a year on- there are many problems and many have asked where is the change? Is this the change we voted for? Even some fifth columnists in our midst have suggested bring back corruption! “But let me just say here for the records that the government of Muhammadu Buhari is completely and irrevocably committed to change".

EFCC arrests Adamawa Chief of Staff over N2.88billion

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested the Chief of Staff to Gov.Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla, Abdurrahman Abba Jimeta, over his alleged involvement in N2.88 billion scam.

According to Leadership Newspapers, Jimeta who also served as chief of staff to former Governor Murtala Nyako, used his position to get some contracts and divert some of the state funds.

He is being investigated for his alleged involvement in a scam amounting to over N2.88 billion for the renovation of Yola International Hotel that was awarded during Murtala Nyako’s administration.

The contract for the project had been reviewed almost three times while payment were categorized into nine installments where the government then paid up to N2.664 billion leaving a balance of N204 million.

The EFCC operatives upon arrival in the state, sealed off some properties belonging to Jimeta located along Karewa road opposite Bekaji housing estate.

FG condemns calls by some Southeastern groups for herdsmen to vacate Igboland

The Federal Government has condemned calls from some South-East groups for herdsmen to leave their region following alleged attacks carried out by herdsmen in the region. Speaking to newsmen in Ebonyi yesterday May 1st, the Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, said

“This situation is not pleasing to anybody but the Federal Government is desirous to achieve a peaceful, strong and united nation.
The government appeals to south-easterners especially youths, not to take laws into their hands as a result of the development. The people should exercise patience, as the president has categorically condemned the herdsmen’s actions and directed that no effort should be spared in checking the situation. The Ibos are known globally to be peace loving and abhorrers of violence, as I enjoin them to maintain such virtue” he said

Two Boko haram suicide bombers blow themselves up in Cameroon

Cameroonian investigative journalist, Bisong Etahoben, shared the information on his twitter handle.

20 herdsmen, 83 cows killed in Nasarawa State in suspected reprisal attacks

20 herdsmen and 83 cows were reportedly killed in Adayi and Loko areas of Nasarawa LGA of Nasarawa State by gunmen suspected to be from Benue and Nasarawa states, over the weekend

Confirming the attack, the state police spokesman, ASP Ismaila Numa, said he could not verify the identity of the attackers, adding that the police only received the report and have commenced investigation.

The Fulani leader of Adayi area, Mallam Bideri Ahmadu, said the killing of the cows was carried out by people suspected to be Agatu gunmen. The traditional ruler of Loko, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Sabo, also blamed Agatu youths in the killing of 20 men in the attack. According to him, the gunmen crossed over from Benue at about 10:30 am on Saturday and started shooting sporadically, killing many people and cows.

"Upon realising they could not achieve their aim, the Agatu youths opened fire on the cows, killing many people and 83 cows instantly while others who sustained bullet wounds are lying in the bush," he said.

The paramount ruler of the area, Mai Loko, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Sabo told newsmen that  over 20 men, women and children were killed in frequent attacks on Fulani people by Agatu youths.

Source: Daily Trust