N’Korea’s Kim says sanctions by UN will only speed nuclear proliferation

Head strong North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared that continuedsanctions on Pyongyang will only amount to increased “pace towards the ultimate completion of the state nuclear force”.

“The increased moves of the US and its vassal forces to impose sanctions and pressure on the DPRK will only increase our pace towards the ultimate completion of the state nuclear force,” a statement on North Korean state media said on Monday, using the acronym for the country’s official name, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Those comments were made moments after US and Chinese leaders agreed to “maximise the pressure” on Kim’s regime after the UN tried to curb Pyongyang’s sources of income by slamming the pariah nations with fresh sanctions.

24-hours ago, US ambassador to UN, Nikki Haley issued a stern warning to defiant North Korea stating that Pyongyang will be destroyed if it continues its “reckless behavior”.

Haley who made the comments after a UN Security Council meeting, also informed that the United States and its allies will defend themselves against any attack by North Korea.

She added that the UN Security Council has run out of options on containing North Korea’s nuclear programme – and the US may now turn to the Pentagon.

Amidst criticism, N’Army appears to reverse course, denies ‘declaring’ IPOB a terror group

Following widespread criticism and controversy over the decision of the Nigerian Army to designate the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) a terror group, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, on Monday, denied that the military ever made such a “declaration”.

Buratai attempted to make a distinction, stating that what the army did was to make a ‘pronouncement’ on IPOB which, according to him, was not “a declaration per se”.

He added that what the federal government was doing regarding the group was the right thing.

The army chief made this statement while speaking during the official launch of Operation Python Dance II in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State.

According to him, “You have to get it very clear. First of all, what the Defence Headquarters did was to make pronouncement. It wasn’t a declaration per se.

“But this has given room for the right step to be taken. I think the government is doing the right thing.

“It is not that we are overstepping our bounds. We are still within the limits. And I ensure you that what the military said was to set the ball rolling and to bring the awareness to the public that this is what this organization is all about. I’m happy that the government has done the right thing right now”.

Earlier, Buratai had during the the occasion of the Nigerian Army Chief of Army Staff, COAS, 2nd and 3rd Quarters Conference 2017, held in Abuja, stated that the army did not have the final say on the designation of IPOB as a terror group, while also dismissing claims that the army acted under political pressure from the government.

He noted that there were guidelines in the country’s Terrorism Act which conferred such powers exclusively on some relevant government agencies.

He said, “As regards the proscription, this is what I want to give: the federal government will take a final decision on that. There are guidelines as provided in the Terrorism Act and I am sure the relevant government agencies will take appropriate steps whether to arrest or whether to do any other actions and we will receive the appropriate directives from the authorities.

“You should understand the context by which the Nigerian Army is operating. Nigerian Army is part of the political consideration in the democratic system. It is part of the democratic process, it is a product of the democratic governance. So we are not receiving any pressure, we are giving what the constitution provided for us, constitutionally what our responsibilities are for us.

“So we are not under any pressure whatsoever. There are several provisions that give us those responsibilities and also to carry out such task as duly assigned by the government or by the constituted authority.

“Be rest assured that we don’t have any other role that is outside the constitution. Nigerian Army is part of the political consideration in the democratic system; it is part of the democratic process, it’s a product of the democratic governance”.

Recall that the army’s Director of Defence Information, Major General John Enenche, had stated that IPOB was a terrorist group following the reported clash between military personnel and IPOB members in Umuahia, Abia state.

According to Enenche, “After due professional analysis and recent developments, it has become expedient to notify the general public that the claim by IPOB actors that the organisation is non-violent is not true.

“Hence, the need to bring to public awareness the true and current state of IPOB.

“In this regard, some of their actions, clandestinely and actively, that have been terrorising the general public include:

“The formation of a Biafra Secret Service, claimed formation of Biafra National Guard, unauthorised blocking of public access roads and extortion of money from innocent civilians at illegal road blocks.

“Militant possession and use of weapons (stones, molotov cocktails, machetes and broken bottles, among others) on a military patrol on Sept. 10, 2017.

“Physical confrontation of troops by Nnamdi Kanu and other IPOB actors at a check point on Sept. 11, 2017 and also attempt to snatch their rifles.

“Attack by IPOB members on a military check point on Sept. 12, 2017, at Isialangwa, where one IPOB actor attempted to snatch a female soldier’s rifle.

“From the foregoing, the Armed Forces of Nigeria wish to confirm to the general public that IPOB from all intent, plan and purpose as analysed, is a militant terrorist organisation.”

Buratai’s comments are coming only few hours after the latest criticism of the army’s decision by the President of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki, who had condemned the designation of IPOB as a terror group, saying it was unconstitutional.

Saraki had also faulted the South-East governors for proscribing the activities of IPOB in the region.

NIGERIAN ACTRESS OMOTOLA HAS A GREAT BOND WITH FAMILY

The Ekeinde Family

Top actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde took to her Instagram page this morning to share photos of herself with some of her kids having facials.

The actress who recently made her big return back to Nollywood, captioned the photos;

“Phew! Not sure what’s going on here but when aunty mimi says it’s Facial mask day… we better not argue! #family #africanparents”

Wizkid Is As Fit As Fiddle And Here’s Proof

 Award winning Nigerian music star, Ayo Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid yesterday came out to reveal the bad condition of his health, as he cancelled some of his international shows.

Star boy Wizkid appears to have recovered from his undisclosed illness as the star was rehearsing at Fela Shrine,two days ago.

On the 4th of September, the star had fans worried when he posted a cryptic tweet about dying a legend.

He also revealed he had postponed his tour and dropped out of performing at the Made in America Festival in Philadelphia .

Unknown Gunmen Attack Bus, Kidnap 19 Passengers In River State

According to an online source Kidnappers struck again in Rivers State on Thursday, waylaying an 18-seater bus and abducting the 19 occupants of the vehicle, including the driver. It was gathered that the incident happened on Isiokpo-Elele Road in the Ikwerre Local Government Area, about 30 kilometres from Agip Junction in Port Harcourt, where the bus branded, Rivers Mass Transit Company, took off. Sources explained that the kidnappers, who were 10 in number and heavily armed, blocked the road and forced the bus to stop as soon as it (bus) approached them.
Thursday’s abduction would be the third time in one month that passengers would be waylaid on the road by hoodlums. It was also learnt that the victims, who were on their way to Owerri, the Imo State capital, were marched into the bush by their captors at about 8.30am.
A driver plying the route, Mr. Martins Aluziwe, said his bus was earlier attacked by the hoodlums, adding that he and the driver, whose bus was intercepted, loaded passengers into their vehicles almost at the same time at Agip and Whimpy junctions before moving out of the park at the same time. Aluziwe added that soldiers at a checkpoint close to the scene of the incident had moved into the bush to ensure the rescue of the abducted persons.
He said, “What happened was that we were going to Owerri this morning (Thursday). On getting to Omuagwa, I met the driver of the hijacked vehicle, who was also travelling to Owerri. When we got to the bridge by Isiokpo Junction, armed men attacked us.
“Because I was in the front, they only shot at my car; they could not stop me. The bullet did not hit anybody inside my vehicle, but the other bus  was attacked and everybody, including the driver, were taken into the bush.“Another driver informed me that soldiers had entered into the bush, but no information about the kidnapped victims yet. We are calling for more security personnel to rescue the people.”
When contacted, the state Public Relations Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident. He said 12 persons among the kidnap victims had been rescued.
He said, “It happened this morning (Thursady). Our men have rescued 12 persons. Efforts are on to get others rescued.” Omoni explained that security operatives were still combing the bush with a view to apprehending the hoodlums and rescuing the remaining passengers.