Is Boko Haram's Shekau Really Dead?

When the news of the death of Sheikh Abubakar Shekau, leader of the Boko Haram sect, broke Monday, one of the questions on my lips as well as the lips of many Nigerians was ‘Are you sure he is dead?’...I was sceptical about the whole story...I'm still...



The doubt arose from claims and counter-claims regarding Shekau’s status and whereabouts in recent times as reports of cracks and division in the group came out. Early August, Shekau was reported to have been shot and deposed by members of the sect. A new leader, Abu Zamira Mohammed, who is the sect’s leader negotiating cease-fire agreement with the Federal Government, was appointed new leader by the group’s Shura Council.

A Security Consultant, Captain Umar Ali (Rtd) has disclosed the timeline used by the Joint Task Force (JTF) in concluding that the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, is killed. He has revealed this information at a Channels Television program. Confirming the possibility of the sect leader death, he still said that “there would be room of doubt” on the part of the people.

The JTF in Borno State, Operation Restore Order, reported that Abubakar Shekau might have died as a result of injuries sustained during a recent military onslaught on his group, but this hypothesis is yet do be tested. The verification process is the possible explanation for the time lag before the information was released, Captain Ali said.

He further explained that information is passed through the 'intelligence cycle' before it is released. Besides, the JTF used ‘social indicators’ to confirm their speculations.

“After the Sambisa attack, we saw a kind of withdrawal. We saw the terrorists’ attacks abating greatly. There was virtually a lull before Kano came up. And added to that, in camps that were raided, things were discovered that gave the impression that these people left here in a hurry. A lot of things were abandoned and they moved. Those they couldn’t go with, they burnt outrightly, themselves. So it’s possible that the leader was injured and they had to abandon ship. And they crossed over to Amitchide and tried to patch him up but he did not survive,” Captain explained the possible order of events.

Captain Ali also said the Borno mosque attack could have been retaliation for the loss.

He then said that the current situation poses opportunities for all the 'stakeholders' - the Boko Haram sect, law enforcement agencies and the government, and urged the government and security agencies to move from dynamic and military counter-terrorism strategies towards anti-terrorism ‘more democratic’ in nature. This process would involve awareness raising, information and the option of ‘judicial trial’ for captured terrorists.

Mr. Sagir Musa, the JTF spokesman on August 19, stated that Shekau has possibly “died of gunshot wound received in an encounter with the JTF troops in one of their camps at Sambisa Forest on 30 June 2013”.


Abubakar Shekau:

The $7 million bounty connection When the government of the United States of America, USA, through its Department of Justice Reward for Justice Programme, recently announced a $7 million bounty for the capture of Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, expectations were high that this could signal a quick end for the dreaded terrorist and his horde of followers, thus bringing to an to end the reign of terror which the extremist Islamist sect has unleashed on Nigeria and Nigerians.

Shekau was one of five individuals declared wanted by the US for spreading terrorism in West Africa. The belief is that most bounty hunters, including some members of the Boko Haram, will find the $7 million, which translates to about N1.12 billion, too irresistible to ignore and may go to any length to trace and expose Shekau’s hide-out. The amount was also expected to be tempting enough to all other criminal elements in Nigeria to stake everything they have got in search of the wanted Shekau.

The announcement, yesterday, credited to the military Joint Task Force, JTF, set up to flush out the Islamist terrorists in Northern Nigeria, that it has eventually located and killed the wily Shekau, is already being seen in some quarters as an indication that the bounty option or ploy has paid off. It may also come as a fitting and welcome climax to recent reports from JTF that it was winning the war against the terrorists and that it was only a matter of time before it would swoop on Shekau and his lieutenants.

Among the reports was Shekau narrow escape from arrest in Kano, when a joint security team stormed an apartment in the Naibawa Darnamawa area of the city, where he had for long been hiding. This was after one of his lieutenants was reported killed, while two other terrorists were apprehended by the JTF.

More remarkable was the reported killing of Shekau’s second in command, Momodu Bama, during an encounter between the Islamist sect and Nigerian troops. If true, the reported killing of Shekau will come as a welcome relief. to most Nigerians and indeed the international committee as he has been attributed as spreading a kind of terrorism similar to that of Osama Bin Laden, who was executed by US SEAL after years of manhunt.

The statement from JTF on the death of Shekau said: "Shekau was mortally wounded in the encounter and was sneaked into Amitchide, a border community in Cameroon for treatment from which he never recovered. It is believed that Shekau might have died between July 25 and August 3, 2013".


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Man Who Had Sex With Goat, Gets Banned From All Farms In United Kingdom

Robert Newman, 23, is banned from every single farm in the United Kingdom after sexually penetrating a goat, the London Evening Standard reported.

Newman admitted to the act, which took place on a Wiltshire farm in April, on Monday, according to the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald.

His sentencing is scheduled to take place Sept. 12. Until then, Newman  who has been released on bail is prohibited from being on any property where farm animals reside, according to SWNS. He also has to keep a curfew between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

PHOTOS/ VIDEO: Meet the black Rapunzel...woman with the longest dreadlock in the world!

                         

            

Asha Mandela, 50, has a lock on a world record that others might dread: The world's longest dreadlocks.

The 50-year-old Atlanta resident has earned the name "the Black Rapunzel" because she holds the Guinness World Record for "World's Longest Dreadlocks," which she has owned since 2008.

Her dreads were officially measured to be 19 feet, 6 inches long, but an unofficial measurement found one of the strands measured a whopping 55 feet, 7 inches.

 

Click below to watch video:

 

Mandela first started growing her lovely locks 25 years ago, after she moved from Trinidad-Tobago to New York and decided to have a more "natural" hairstyle.

“When I first started, it was more of a spiritual journey -- It wasn’t anything to do with a fad or style in fashion,” Mandela said according to the International Business Times. “After 25 years of growth, my hair has really become part of me and I feel that if I ever cut my hair I’d really be taking away my life.”

But greatness like this isn't easy: She washes the dreads once a week, using up to six bottles of shampoo at a time. Then it takes two days for the locks to dry -- and they weigh 25 pounds when wet.

She says the extra weight of her hair makes her doctors very concerned.


"The doctors seem to think I have a curvature of my spine and that it's the length and the weight of my hair that's making me curve," she said, according to the Mirror. "Some have said my neck has collapsed at the back and that I need to be careful because I could start having spasms in my spine and probably be paralyzed."

That problem is mitigated, she says, by the effect her locks have on the men in her life.

"My hair has never caused a problem with intimacy. I think it adds a little spice on top," she said.

A spokeswoman for Guinness World Records says the company retired the "World's Longest Dreadlocks" record in 2009, and will no longer be monitoring attempts at the feat.

"The reason for this is that it's impossible to measure the authenticity of the locks due to expert methods employed in the attachment of hair extensions or re-attachment of broken off dreadlocks," the spokeswoman told The Huffington Post. "Effectively, the dreadlock can become an extension and therefore impossible to adjudicate accurately."

 

 

 

 

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First international flight lands in Enugu Airport

ENUGU- FOUR days to the official commencement of international flights at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, billionaire businessman, Chief Arthur Eze, Tuesday, flew into Enugu airport from Senegal.The aircraft marked No 5MPZE, which landed at the modernised airport at about 3.20pm direct from Senegal, became the first international aircraft to touch down at the airport after it was upgraded.

President Goodluck Jonathan gave approval for the upgrading of the airport to an international status two years ago and laid the foundation for the construction of the international wing early this year.Although work on the project is still on going at the various sections of the airport, the Federal Ministry of Aviation has slated the official commencement of international flights from Enugu for Saturday with the Ethiopian airline billed to fly in and out of the coal city.Speaking to Journalists after the four-hour flight from Senegal to Enugu, amid jubilation by residents who thronged the airport to catch a glimpse of the first international flight, Prince Eze praised President Jonathan for living up to his promise, stressing that the upgrading of the airport would boost the economy of the South East.

“Look at me, I flew from Senegal to Enugu for four hours non-stop. I don’t need to go to Lagos or Abuja to catch direct flight again to Europe or Senegal. I can now go from my house to any place of choice. It is a good thing and I thank God for the development. The people of the South East will live to enjoy this because it will grow our economy,” he said.

He said that Ndigbo had been clamouring for an international airport from the military era up to the Olusegun Obasanjo administration all no avail until few years ago when Jonathan came on board and approved the airport and backed the project with resources.

“I am the first beneficiary of this beautiful airport, I am grateful to Jonathan. Jonathan has saved the life of Igbo people by reducing their suffering. Right now Igbo people who are noted for traveling overseas for businesses can do so from their zone. Jonathan has demonstrated that he is a wonderful human being and God will continue to bless him”, Eze said.He commended the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah for seeing to the realization of the airport.






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PHOTOS: Transgender Plastic Surgery addict left disabled and disfigured after more than 200 surgeries, speaks out about the dangers

A surgery addict who was left disabled and disfigured after almost 100 unregulated cosmetic procedures now wants to speak out about the dangers facing unsuspecting women desperate for a quick fix.

Monique Allen, who has had more than 200 hundred plastic surgeries, became obsessed with pumping liquid plastic into her body and estimates she has injected almost 12 litres during 75 backstreet ops.

Over the years Monique, 58, has had a staggering 23 nose jobs and nine breast augmentations - taking her to size 38FFF.




Addicted: Transgender plastic surgery addict Monique Allen is registered disabled and can't walk after destroying her body with an estimated 75 illegal backstreet operations







Silicon fan: The retired government worker estimates she has had up to 12 litres of dangerous silicon pumped into her body since she was in her early twenties



The retired government worker said: 'I went in at the deep end with cosmetic surgery and I've ruined the natural good looks I had - I wish I had never done it.


'I've probably had around 200 operations over the years, many of which I can't remember.


'More and more people are dying from illegal silicon injections - many of them young women. I want them to look at me and see the dangers.



'Now I struggle to walk and am registered disabled. I ignored the risks and now I have to live with the results.


'I have severe circulation problems caused by silicon migrating to different parts of my body. Some skin on my legs has died, which I have to cover over with make-up.'


And she admits that even though her surgery addiction has resulted in her extreme appearance, she still craves one more nose job.



Addicted to plastic surgery: Monique Allen tells her story





Just one more: She admits that even though her surgery addiction has resulted in her extreme appearance, she still craves one more nose job





Numerous operations: Over the years Monique, 58, has had a staggering 23 nose jobs and nine breast augmentations





Speaking out: After decades of reckless operations Monique wants to speak out about the dangers facing unsuspecting women desperate for a quick fix










Back in the day: Monique at 28 years old after her gender reassignment in 1982 in Los Angeles, California and (R) aged 37 in 1992




Transgender Monique had gender reassignment surgery aged 22 and soon after achieved the D-cup breasts she desired through surgery.


She next turned her sights on her nose, which has been an obsession over the years.


But after turning to silicon to enhance her curves, Monique became hooked and began seeking out treatment with unregulated doctors.


Twice-married Monique, who is now single, said: 'In my twenties and thirties as soon as I had a couple of hundred dollars I would head to Tijuana to have illegal silicon injections.


'The doctor would numb you then attach a funnel to whichever part of your body you wanted, then screw a vial of silicon on and pump it in.


'I was so reckless but I was obsessed with having more.





As she was: An old photograph of transgender plastic surgery addict Monique Allen at 19 years old as a man in 1974 in Los Angeles, California and at age 18 in 1973 (R)







Augmentation: Transgender Monique had gender reassignment surgery aged 22 and soon after achieved the D-cup breasts she desired through surgery





Splashing the cash: She says that when she had a couple of hundred dollars she would head to Tijuana to have illegal silicon injections


'Once I saw a dark cloud appear under the skin where the silicon was going in - but even that didn't phase me'.

Over the years Monique also had treatment from accredited celebrity doctors including Liberace's plastic surgeon's Dr Jack Startz.

And she was once operated on by infamous doctor John Reginald Brown aka Butcher Brown who was later jailed for manslaughter after one of his patients bled to death.


She said: 'I was completely addicted and unwilling to think of the risks. My family begged me to stop but all I cared about was having more.


'I've destroyed the good looks I had when I was younger. Even now I would like anther nose job but doctors turn me away, but I understand why.

'I've come to the realisation that I have a problem and I'm taking steps to address it.'



Self-destruction: 'My family begged me to stop but all I cared about was having more. I've destroyed the good looks I had when I was younger,' she says

Yet despite being ravaged by her addiction, Monique is celebrated on the LA party circuit where she performs her music as Glamorous Monique.

Monique, who holds the record for the longest serving transgender state employee in US history, said: 'I love to party and everyone knows who I am. I write and perform my own songs at clubs in Los Angeles and have a huge fan base.

'People know me as Glamorous Monique all over the world.'

Over the last few years Monique has spent more than £100,000 having silicon removed from her legs, bottom, cheeks and chin.

She said: 'Silicon was never meant to be put in the body in such large doses as is common now.

'I've heard of "pumping parties" where people go to have vast amounts of silicon injected into their bodies.

'I want young women to look at me before they think about getting unnecessary and dangerous cosmetic work done.

'A lot of this stems from low self-esteem, which is something I am now coming to terms with.'





Growing up: Monique as a 2 year old and aged 35 after her gender realignment in 1990 in Spain




Famous: Monique is celebrated on the LA party circuit where she performs her music as Glamorous Monique







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