Al Jazeera Journalists Now Released

Two Al-Jazeera television journalists who had been detained by the Nigerian military since March 24 have been freed, the Qatar-based broadcaster said in a statement on Sunday.

It said Ahmed Idris and Ali Mustafa had been allowed to leave the Maiduguri hotel where they were detained, and return to the network`s Abuja office, reported AFP.

"We're pleased for Ahmed and Ali that their ordeal is over," said Salah Negm, director of news for Al-Jazeera English.

"They're looking forward to spending some time with their families and loved ones. I know that both of them want to thank everyone that helped secure their release, including NGOs, politicians and fellow journalists," Negm added.

There were no further details on the conditions of their release.

The pair, both Nigerians, were detained in the northeast where troops were battling Boko Haram militants.

Nigerian defence spokesman Chris Olukolade had said they were "found to have been loitering around areas where military operations are ongoing in the North-east and have been restrained in Maiduguri".

But Al-Jazeera said they were taken from their hotel room after having "finished filming a story on the military with their cooperation", and that their camera equipment was confiscated.

Nigeria's military has had tense relations with the media, particularly overseas organisations, frequently accusing them of misrepresenting the conflict.

The journalists also had their phones confiscated and had not been allowed to contact the outside world.

Reporter Idris joined Al-Jazeera in 2010 and has 30 years' experience in broadcasting. Cameraman Mustafa has been with the network since 2011.

SOURCE: THISDAY

South West NEMA records 8,046 disasters in two months

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has rescued over 8,000 disaster victims mostly from fire and windstorm disasters in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States in the first two months of the 2015.
Spokesman for agency in South-West Ibrahim Farinloye disclosed that 8,046 persons were affected in seven major different incidents with Lagos State having 1,064 persons, while Iwaya communities recorded 652 persons.
In Ogun State, Farinloye said, Igbo Aje Market, Ilaro of Yewa South of the State had 306 traders affected by a market fire outbreak that occurred on January 27, 2015.
Continuing, he said about 6,670 persons were also affected in four different incidents of wind and rainstorm disasters that occurred in six communities of Afijio Local Government Area; Lagbondoke and Agunpopo communities of Atiba LGA; Irewole and Isokan communities in Oyo West LGA and Oko town in Surulere LGA all of Oyo state noting that all the incidents occurred between February 9 and 10, 2015 stressing that the assessment of extent of damages showed that two persons were injured in Irewole Community of Oyo West LGA while 1,000 houses and 251 shops were affected in all the three states. Farinloye noted that NEMA has delivered relief materials to victims of fire disasters at Iwaya Community in Yaba LCDA of Lagos through the state government, stressing that the food and non-food relief materials such as 300 bags of cement, 400 bundles of roofing sheets, 500 pieces of wax prints as women wears, 200 pieces of Guinea Brocade as men wears, 100 pieces of Children wears, 100 bags of garri, 40 cartons of 3 in 1 tea, 60 packets of zinc nails, 60 bags of 3” inches nails, 150 bags of rice, 500 pieces of blankets, 500 pieces of mosquitoes treated net and other assorted consumables were handed over to Lagos State Emergency Management Agency for distribution to the Iwaya community fire Disaster victims in conjunction with the respective Local Government and community authorities.


SOURCE: DAILY INDEPENDENT

Bobbi Kristina’s Organs Are Reportedly Failing

Bobbi Kristina‘s health is reportedly getting worse and new reports claim her major organs are now shutting down. A “reliable” family source says even though Bobby Brown is refusing to withdraw life support, Bobbi is still slowly dying.

“Bobbi Kristina’s organs are shutting down and reliable family sources say at this point it doesn’t matter if Bobby Brown withdraws life support … she’s dying.” 

VALENTING DAY!!!CANADIAN MAN AND AMERICAN WOMAN CHARGED OVER FOILED MASS SHOOTING PLOT- MINISTER

Gathering of  "murderous misfits" planned a massacre on Valentine's Day in Atlantic Canada's largest regional shopping mall but the alleged plot was foiled by police after an anonymous tipoff, the justice minister said on Saturday.

Police charged two people with conspiracy to commit murder and released a third suspect in the alleged plot to shoot as many people as possible in the Halifax Shopping Centre. A fourth man linked to the plot was found dead in a house in Halifax, police said.

"Based on what we know so far, it would have been devastating, mass casualties would have been a real possibility," Justice Minister Peter MacKay told reporters.

"The attack does not appear to have been culturally motivated, therefore not linked to terrorism," he said.

In a sign of heightened tensions, streets around the mall were closed on Saturday evening as police blocked the entrances after reports of an active shooter.

That incident was related to "kids with slingshots" and seven youths were in custody, police said.

MacKay said a 19-year-old Canadian man and a 23-year-old American woman, believed to have been in contact online, allegedly planned a shooting at a public venue.

Police said on Friday they obtained information that suggested the two had access to firearms and intended to kill people, and then themselves.

"This appeared to be a group of murderous misfits that were coming here, or living here, and were planning to wreak havoc and mayhem on our community," MacKay said on Saturday.

"To be clear, all suspects are either dead or in custody," he said.

Police said Lindsay Kantha Souvannarath, 23, and Randall Steven Shepherd, 20, are due to appear in court on Tuesday.

The two were arrested at Halifax airport after Souvannarath arrived from Illinois and was met by Shepherd, said police, who are investigating the death of the 19-year-old man.

"There were three long-barrelled rifles seized during the investigation and all three were seized at the residence...where the 19-year-old was found deceased," Nova Scotia RCMP Commanding Officer Brian Brennan told reporters.

Canadian media identified him as James Gamble and several reported he had shot himself. Police declined to confirm those details.

CBC News said a blog linked to Gamble featured "dark images of death, shootings" as well as security footage from the 1999 Columbine high school massacre in Colorado.

On Friday, Brennan said the alleged attackers were "a group of individuals that had some beliefs and were willing to carry out violent acts against citizens".

Extra security measures have been taken at the shopping mall, police said. The plot was foiled after "a single Crimestoppers tip...that originated in Canada," Brennan said.

SOURCE: REUTERS AND THE GUARDAIN