Michael Jackson’s Family Plans Music Academy In Lagos

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…Jermaine Visits Ayorinde, Lagos Information Commissioner

Jermaine Jackson, elder brother of the late music icon, Michael Jackson has disclosed that the family is planning to build the Jackson Academy Performing Art School in Lagos to raise up musical talents.

Jackson paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde on Friday in Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria and hinted of plan to site a academy to train up Nigerians and Africans in the area of music.
Jackson, who led a team on a tour of Nigeria to mark the Jackson Golden Jubilee in performance on stage, said there were lots of great talents in Nigeria that needed to be trained and given bright future.
“There are a lot of great talents here and we want to use our 50 years of experience in being in the business to teach the arts. We want to construct the Jackson Academy Performing Art School here.
“It will have a curriculum and also will teach music, directing, film, lightening, producing, dancing and so on. We want to get the talents here ready for the global market. I do believe that the drums and the beat started from here,” he said.
According to him, “we are going to give you nice compilation of songs that you know and I am just very honoured to be here because we have been kept away from you because of politics, and we are not interested in such politics because we are people who cared about people. We need to have a closer relationship with African-American and the rest of Africa because we have been separated for long and we can reach out to do other things.”

Jackson said civilization began in Africa and that “we have always been interested in knowing the beginning of civilization. We are bringing a team together of people who can produce a concert. It’s been 50 years for the Jacksons.”
“I like coming here because I have a lot of questions. I was in China and I learnt that the first dynasty that started in China came from Africa and I had a professor in China to tell me this. That made me very proud and the world needs to know this because in our history books in America because they don’t put this there.
“They don’t want us to know this but when you travel and you have the opportunity to see things for yourself, you will realize that the history books were written by someone else and it is there version and it is their interpretation of what happened which is usually not the truth,” he added.
Speaking, Ayorinde said the Jackson’s golden jubilee celebration coincided with the plan by the Lagos State Government to mark the 50th year anniversary of Lagos, saying that Lagos is now the oldest state in Nigeria as it had not been divided like others.
“Lagos State is the oldest State Nigeria now as it has been indivisible. Other states have had states created out of them. Lagos State being the most populated and prosperous in Nigeria, we thought it deserves celebration and we are starting a year long celebration from May 29.
“We welcome the idea that the golden tour of the Jackson in Africa starts fom Nigeria and Lagos. We encourage the organiser of the tour, that we will welcome collaboration from you. The Jackson at 50 and Lagos at 50, we welcome collaboration,” he said.
Ayorinde added that the Jackson’s tour also coincided with the International Jazz Day, which Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would be hosting on Saturday evening to showcase the world of Jazz to lovers of the music, while extending invitation to Jackson and his team.

Feature: As Whatsapp announces encryption by Josef Kafka

Whatsapp announces encryption

16 April 2016 by Josef Kafka

WhatsApp, one of the world’s most popular messaging services, has just announced end-to-end encryption in a move that is likely to enrage the FBI and further fan the flames of the web privacy debate.

The American government agency has recently become embroiled in a very public legal spat with Apple over the encryption on its phones. The #ApplevsFBI court case over the encryption on the San Bernadino shooter’s iPhone 5S ended recently when the FBI announced it had cracked the phone and no longer needed the company’s help. Yet the public debate about security and #privacy on the internet and your smartphone rages on. 

A political battle, not a legal one?

Many feel that the FBI simply did not need to go to court using a 200-year-old statute to try and force Apple to open the phone and that this is about a wider #cybersecurity issue. The FBI has campaigned for a TSA-style backdoor key to every major phone provider and internet server and this legal case was seen as a line in the sand. Apple did not budget. 

Now WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, has announced its own end-to-end encryption in the aftermath of the case. It could just be coincidence, but the timing is likely to incense theFBI, which is already smarting after pulling out of the public duel with one of the world’s biggest tech companies. 

Total message encryption

Chat, voice and file transfers will now boast full encryption, so virtually anybody around the world with a smartphone can now send chat and voice messages, as well as file transfers, without worrying about any government agencies or hackers intercepting the message. Whether this leads to another high profile court case, only time will tell. Of course the end user’s phone is still the weak point and it can easily be tampered with, but the actual messaging service itself should now be watertight and free from interference. 

So technically, even if the FBI does get its way in the end and insists on backdoor access to every smartphone, this will not be enough to prevent people evading their clutches. As WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, it’s hard to conceive that the world’s most popular social network hasn’t adopted, or is in the process of adopting, similar protective measures. 

WhatsApp has more than 1 billion users worldwide and is one of the biggest forces in instant messaging. It released a statement that said: "The idea is simple: when you send a message, the only person who can read it is the person or group chat that you send that message to. No one can see inside that message. Not cybercriminals. Not hackers. Not oppressive regimes. Not even us."

Companies taking the backdoor out the backdoor?

Companies locking themselves out of the messaging, file storage and other processes is becoming something of a trend and that is likely to continue in the wake of the FBI’s legal action with Apple. Apple itself is looking at building data centres and providing a totally secure iCloud, for which it simply does not have the keys. If the industry adopts this practice en masse then it will make the FBI’s job much more difficult, although it could create issues in other more tightly controlled countries and may even result in certain services being locked out altogether. 

North Korea and China are very different to theUSA, so Apple and WhatsApp’s policy could get a very different reception. 

It will be interesting to see what impact this encryption has, too. WhatsApp is largely seen as a consumer tool for friends and family to connect. This extra level of security, though, could tempt companies to use it for internal communications and Amnesty International highlighted that it could become much more useful for journalists in the field, as well as political activists, who rely on encrypted messaging to ensure that they are not at risk.

"Whatsapp's roll out of the Signal Protocol, providing end to end encryption for its one billion users worldwide, is a major boost for people's ability to express themselves and communicate without fear," Amnesty Internional said in a statement. "This is a huge victory for privacy and free speech, especially for activists and journalists who depend on strong and trustworthy communications to carry out their work without putting their lives at greater risk."

The FBI could use WhatsApp

Technically encrypted messaging could even be useful for FBI agents in the field, when more sophisticated forms of communication simply aren’t available. It’s unlikely that the agency will appreciate the irony, though, as this is another tech giant that has openly defied the call for transparency and access. 

Will we now face another lawsuit between the FBIand Facebook? Only time will tell, but watch this space as the political tension is certainly cranking up.

Josef Kafka

Culled from 1stDetective.Org 

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• privacy
• Security
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Herdsmen Terrorism: Nigeria Nation In Danger Of Anarchy

Herdsmen Terrorism: Nigeria Nation In Danger Of Anarchy-

By Fatai Ogunribido (EMN-News)

Nigerians in the United Kingdom have been urged to attend a one-day protest in denunciation of the on-going mass killing of innocent citizens by cattle rearers from the North of the country.The herdsmen have invaded farmlands across the nation causing mayhem by destroying crops and relating agricultural products.

Most disturbing is the dangerous arming of the herdsmen, many of who go about in their itinerary and cattle shepherding with AK-47 and various types of shotguns, and demonstrating desperate killer instincts to cajole farmers from both Middle belt and Southern part of Nigeria

Sources put the estimated number of slaughtered citizens across the nation at about one thousand since the beginning of the year with tens of thousands more displaced from their various homes by the armed gang of herdsmen forming killer gangs.

“The intention is to force their cattle to graze on various grasslands and where such grazing is being resisted or rebuffed because of the hazards on the land crops and other land products, the herdsmen shoot the farm owners in cold blood and kill them”, a farm owner in Enugu where about 50 residents were slaughtered last Monday said in an interview”.

According to the residents in the outskirt of Enugu in Eastern Nigeria, the herdsmen occasionally form bigger groups to carry out assaults on villages and communities. In one instance last Monday, about 100 herdsmen bombarded Ukpabi Nimbo community in the Uzo-Uwani area of Enugu State killing almost 40 residents of the community.

Despite prompt information passed to the security agents, it was claimed that the police refused to respond.

As a sympathy visit was on Tuesday paid to the community, by the General Officer Commanding, 82 Division, Enugu, Major General Attahiru Ibrahim, and the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, Nwodibo Ekechukwu, it emerged that a complaints was lodged about the lackadaisical approach of the security agents during the attack. The body of a man uncovered in the bush on Tuesday morning, was displayed after conveyed  in a police Toyota Hilux van to the venue, shown to the security heads. He was a victim of the herdsmen and butchered mercilessly. It was claimed that the corpse was that of a secondary school teacher, reportedly kidnapped abducted from his home and killed in the bush by the herdsmen. Deep market cuts were discovered all over his body.

A former Secretary to the Federal Government, Pa Olu Falae, was attacked for the second time in a year in April 9 this year. His  security guard was killed as his farm was raided by the assailants  in Ilado,  Ondo State. He was kidnapped few months ago by the herdsmen who requested for a big ransom. The kidnappers were later arrested by the security forces.

Herdsmen Terrorism:A terrorist herdsman wielding a big killer gun used against farmers

Few days ago, it was claimed by the security agents in Nigeria that among the 92 suspected herdsmen arrested on accusation of the criminal act, only six could be accounted for as about 86 were said to have escaped from the Police net.

As the Police were accused of incompetence, members of the public are accusing some stakeholders in the government of complicity with the escape of the arrested men being pre-planned.

According Rufus Adejaiye, a London based resident:” Many owners of the cattle are big men from the Northern part of the country who are able to arm the herdsmen because of the influence they wield within the government. Otherwise, how come no strong condemnation has emerged from the Presidency or from various information sections surrounding the presidency?

The herdsmen flash spots include Lagos State, Ondo State,  Agatuland in Benue State, Gareji village in Taraba State,. Abbi, Enugu State, Ossissa, in Ndokwa, Delta State  and many more across the nation In Adamawa State, it was reported that  60 people were killed recently while a police DPO was assassinated. The herdsmen killing spree extended to Demsare, Wunamokoh, Dikajam and Taboungo, all in Adamawa State,

The activities of the herdsmen have put the nation on the state of anarchy as the new wave of terror may endanger the general security of the nation. With the Fulani herdsmen taking laws into their hands and  killing innocent Nigerians so that their cattle would be feed, the nation has been put in a state of internal war and unless the government act precisely, the whole issue may snowball into major tribal war and civil disobedience.

In order to draw the attention of the World media to the carnage being the United Kingdom based Nigerians in the Diaspora are view the current trend of attack on farmers in various part of the nation, especially the Southern part of capable of inciting civil disobedience across the country.  The organisation has set aside May 3, 2016 as protest day. inviting international media to cover a major protest.

“Several gruesome acts of murder, rape and arson have been attributed to the Fulani herdsmen as retribution and revenge for their claim of encroachment on their grazing fields. Their latest act saw the murder of 80 men, women and children in Enugu last Monday”, the statement enunciated.

Adding: ”The Nigerian Government is yet to take any action to curb the hideous activities of the Fulani herdsmen and so far no official statement have been released regarding the alleged killings”, .
Spokesman for the organisers Mr Dare  Lasisi added

“Our cry is we want the World to listen to ordinary Nigerian and see their plight under this government. We cannot wait for FG to act before screaming to the whole world to rescue Nigerians”, he added.

The organisers  urges those coming dressed in black clothing in order to be in the true frame of appearance “To mourn our departed compatriots”.
The organisers are also reminding Nigerians that this isn’t APC VS PDP matter but an issue that concerns us all and a war against Fulani Killers Herdsmen.

The march is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 3rd May at 11 am – 1pm to commence from the Nigerian High Commission on Northumberland Avenue to the UK Parliament Building at Westminster, London.

Below, the herdmen boast about their power in the new Nigeria under Buhari presidency, speaking about how they will destroy Southerners

Buhari breaks silence, orders ‘herdsmen’ brought to justice

Buhari breaks silence, orders ‘herdsmen’ brought to justice

From Premium Times

Photo: Today.ng


President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to the recent upsurge in communal violence by suspected herdsmen, and has ordered the police and the military to “take all necessary action to stop the carnage”.

Mr. Buhari’s directive, Wednesday, followed the latest attack, on Monday, in Ukpabi Nimbo, a community in Enugu State, where dozens of people were reportedly killed by heavily armed herdsmen.

An earlier attack in Agatu, Benue State, in March, killed over 100 people, locals said.

Mr. Buhari has been accused of not responding firmly to the attacks that have spread to other states, and has been widely criticised for his silence.

The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said on Monday the government was working “silently” to end the carnage.

In a statement Wednesday, signed by presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, Mr. Buhari said stopping the violence was now a priority for his administration.

Read his full statement:

Following continuing reports of attacks by “herdsmen” on communities across the country, particularly Monday’s attack on Ukpabi Nimbo in Enugu State, President Muhammadu Buhari assures all Nigerians, once again, of his administration’s continued commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property in all parts of the country.




President Buhari unreservedly condemns the attack on Ukpabi Nimbo and other such acts of extreme violence against communities in other states of the Federation.

Acting on the president’s directive, the Inspector-General of Police and heads of the nation’s other security agencies are already taking urgent steps to fully investigate the attacks, apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

Ending the recent upsurge of attacks on communities by herdsmen reportedly armed with sophisticated weapons is now a priority on the Buhari Administration’s agenda for enhanced national security and the Armed Forces and Police have clear instructions to take all necessary action to stop the carnage.

In keeping with the President’s directive, the Inspector-General of Police, the General Officer Commanding the 82nd Division of the Nigerian Army and the Director of the Department of State Security in Enugu State have visited Ukpabi Nimbo to personally oversee investigations into the attack on the community and ongoing efforts to apprehend the culprits.

Meanwhile, President Buhari is scheduled to meet with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi later today to receive further briefing on the attack on Ukpabi Nimbo and discuss additional measures to forestall similar attacks and restore public confidence.

NIGERIANS IN THE UK TO HOLD PEACEFUL PROTEST MARCH AGAINST FULANI HERDSMEN KILLINGS

B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G News!!!

The London Westminster City Council today granted the Permission for Nigerians living in the UK to organize the a protest March against what they are labelling the Evil Fulani herdsmen

According to a statement released by the organisers of the march “This is an SOS to all who are concerned about making Nigeria a safe and better place. No going back.  Join us at global outreach LONDON PROTEST to stop the bloodthirsty cattle rearers ravaging the Nigeria”

Fulani herdsmen originally from the north of Nigeria have been involved in disputes with local people particularly in the East of the country over cattle grazing rights. Several gruesome acts of murder, rape and arson have been attributed to the Fulani herdsmen as retribution and revenge for their claim of encroachment on their grazing fields.  Their latest act saw the murder of 80 men, women and children in Enugu last Monday.

The Nigerian Government is yet to take any action to curb the hideous activities of the Fulani herdsmen and so far no official statement have been released regarding the alleged killings.

Spokesman for the organisers Jagunmolu Oluwadare Lasisi said “We cannot wait for FG to act before screaming to the whole world to rescue Nigerians”

Several International media organisations including the  BBC, CNN, BEN TV, Silverbid, AITV, AlJazeera, VOA, FoxTv, SkyTV and many other popular British media outfits are also ready to cover this protest in London on Tuesday May 3, 2016.

The March is aimed to seek urgent action from Nigerian government to protect her citizens. According to the statement key governnment figures in Britain,  Members of Parliament, Mayor of London as well as the UK Prime Minister are being acquainted with the oblectives of the peaceful protest with notifications. 

The organisers are urging participants to come dressed in black clothing

“To mourn our departed compatriots”.

The organisers are also reminding Nigerians that the London Protest is not about political party inclinations " not APC VS PDP matter but an issue that concerns us all and a war against Fulani Killers Herdsmen".

The march is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 3rd May at 11 am – 1pm to commence from the  Nigerian High Commission on Northumberland Avenue to the UK Parliament Building at Westminster, London.

Credit : BaronessJ.com

Good news for Nigeria: Oil prices seen rising as oversupply diminishes, $41 per barrel -World Bank Raises 2016 Oil Price Forecast, Revises Down Agriculture Price Projections

Special Report

 Oil prices seen rising as oversupply diminishes

 Good news for Nigeria: Oil prices seen rising as oversupply diminishes, $41 per barrel
-World Bank Raises 2016 Oil Price Forecast, Revises Down Agriculture Price Projections

 Lashley Oladigbolu a WorldBank OMBC Correspondent reports.

WASHINGTON, April 26, 2016 

Amid improving market sentiment and a weakening dollar, the World Bank is raising its 2016 forecast for crude oil prices to $41 per barrel from $37 per barrel in its latest Commodity Markets Outlook, as an oversupply in markets is expected to recede.

In the quarterly report from World Bank's Commodity Market Outlook released on 26th April, 2016 it was revealed that the crude oil market rebounded from a low of $25 per barrel in mid-January to $40 per barrel in April following production disruptions in Iraq and Nigeria and a decline in non-Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries production, mainly U.S. shale. A proposed production freeze by major producers failed to materialize at a meeting in mid-April.

Video: How Protesters Occupied National Assembly, Demanded Return of Purchased Cars, Corruption-Free Representations!

In their hundreds youths have laid seige to the National Assembly, Tuesday, demanding for the resignation of the the Senate President, Bukola Saraki. This paralysing activities at the Federal Parliament.

Protesting under the name, Occupy National Assembly, tagged #OccupyNass, protesters are presently infront of the Assembly, they are also asking the House to mend the identifird grey areas in the budget so as to be passed into law and end the suffering of Nigerians.
 In the build up to the gathering, one of the lead organisers, Dr Idris Ahmed of Citizens United for Peace and Stability (CUPS) remarked that ''from this historic day onwards, Nigeria will never be the same again. We shall reclaim our country back from the tyrants at NASS. God willing''.

Protesters gathering up in the early hours on Tuesday

The youths said to be made up of coalition of civil societies, also want Senators who have collected the N38m Jeep bought for them by the Bukola Saraki led Senate to Immediately return the cars or face a possible showdown from the Nigerian public.
They were said to have forced their way to the main entrance to the National Assembly, defying all entreaties from the security agents manning the outer gate to retreat.

For now it is difficult leaving or entering the Assembly because, the gate has been locked and the protesters are occupying the front gate.
Watch the video clip of the news story by a Ben Television Abuja Correspondent

''We shall conduct ourselves in a very peaceful manner'' said one of the protesters.
They are carrying different placards with various inscriptions and have vowed not to leave the gate until their demands ate meant. The #OccupyNass was scheduled to take place over threee days between April 26th - 29th, 2016.

Credit: www.TheStreetJournal.Org
www.BenTelevision.com

Over 40 Killed in Southern Nigeria by Normadic Fulani Cattle Rearers

Catholic church,11 houses burnt

 It’s a national issue, not ethnic —OKOROCHA 

Cattle owners, not herdsmen, should be questioned—OHANAEZE

 By Emeka Mamah, Clifford Ndujihe, Chidi Nkwopara & Chinenyeh Ozor NSUKKA—

About 40 persons have so far been reportedly killed by some Fulani herdsmen at Nimbo in Uzo- Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, sources told Vanguard at Nsukka Police Area Command, near the area yesterday. The incident took place barely 24 hours after stories filtered out that no fewer than 500 heavily-armed Fulani herdsmen sneaked into the community preparatory to launch an attack. About seven villages in Nimbo (Nimbo Ngwoko, Ugwuijoro, Ekwuru, Ebor, Enugu Nimbo, Umuome and Ugwuachara) were among the areas attacked. 

Ten residential houses and a church, Christ Holy Church International, aka Odozi Obodo, were also said to have been burnt by the herdsmen just as vehicles and motorcycles were destroed and domestic animals killed. A young man, whose name was yet to be ascertained, was burnt inside a commuter bus belonging to one Ejima, son of a prominent man popularly called ‘Are you there’ near the Christ Holy Church, Nimbo. A victim’s story Kingsley Ezugwu, former Councillor, Nimbo Ward 2, was one of the victims of the attack. 

How Spiritual Rebirth As A Nation Could Spring Nigeria Economy -Otunba Gani Adams

 25 April 2016, Lagos Nigeria.

By Femi Davies

Economy Downturn: We Need Spiritual Rebirth As A Nation, says Otunba Gani Adams

The Chief Promoter of Olokun Festival Foundation, Otunba Gani Adams, today at the annual 'Wealth Festival' held in Powerline, Agege,Lagos advised the Federal  Government to seek spiritual solution to the present economic woes.

According to Adams," Now is the time  to appreciate Aje, the deity commonly referred to wealth in Yoruba language, that is in charge of fortunes and prosperity. It is apparently the most sought- after in life and God, the Supreme being has created a kind of unique spiritual affinity between man and wealth.

Shameful looters pictures: See how Londoners looted water meant for Marathon runners!

The London Loot-athon: Outrage as dozens of people are filmed brazenly snatching bottles of water left for marathon runners 

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Children were seen stealing bottles of water from Londonmarathon runners.

The mob were pictured descending on tables laid out with liquid at the eight mile part of the race in Deptford, south-east London.

Eyewitnesses say a group of opportunistic thieves started stealing the bottles minutes after the front runners had passed through.

One man even brought a trolley with him to pile up crates of the water which should have been much needed refreshment for the athletes.

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The shocking scenes were caught on camera and show people stealing as much water as they could. The faces of some of the people photographed at the incident have been blurred due to concerns they are children

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Adults were joined by their children in taking some of the water from the station at Deptford

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This is the shocking moment people armed with shopping trolleys took trays of bottled water intended for London Marathon runners

The theft is understood to have taken place at 1:15pm in Deptford, south-east London. Groups of around 20 residents believed to be from the area were allegedly involved.

Hugh Brasher, Event Director for London Marathon Events Ltd, said: 'It's very disappointing to see water being stolen in this way from the official water stations for our runners.

'These water stations are staffed by volunteers and we are very grateful to them for their work on Race Day. 

'We always brief our volunteers not to get into altercations if this kind of thing happens. We'll investigate this further.' 

MailOnline has blurred the faces of any possible children in the photographs from the scenes in Deptford. 

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Source: DailyM Mail UK

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