It has been a long time since I posted anything on the blog. Some I wrote and then delete, most of it still in draft form.
I've been busy too (not really). Meeting with some people, making new friends. Spoke to some people from the other states in Nigeria and some from back home. I was online with a prominent photographer from Malaysia, Saiful Nang of Candidsyndrome (www.candidsyndrome.com). We met way back in 2004 and now a big man in the industry. With some friends, they ran an orphanage back in Malaysia as a way of giving back to society that has given him so much. Other than that, I went to the National Stadium at Surulere and Lekki Market checking out some merchandise there. We took the motorboat out to Tarkwa Bay last week and had great time there, playing by the beach with the children...ahhh the children.
Children. How something so small can give you so much....trouble (in a nice way). Life changes when they came into my life. The first one was about 2.4 kilo and the second one was even smaller, at 2.2 . Ohhh...how they turn my life and of course all parents out there inside out, upside down and every other way around. Oh yes they did. Everyhting was about them. I mean everything....
So when the news about the plight of parents whom children were abducted by the Boko Haram (BH) in Chibok, Borno state..I could feel their anguish.
All in all, it had been over a year. Most papers would report on daily basis on any news regarding the girls. From the commitment of the new President elect, the statements made by the National Security Advisor, past and present governors to the various group and agencies local and international included. All giving assurance, bringing hope and some very direct to the point condemning the authorities, but in a very proper way..Queen's English, no less!
The Guardian newspaper ran the numbers every day to remind others especially the government (incoming and outgoing) of the missing girls.
Just imagine, over 276 girls were abducted in the middle of the night from a Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno state. The girls were at the school sitting for the West Afrcian School Certificate examination, resting for the day when suddenly were woken up and taken away by the terror group. Of the 276, some 59 escaped but the rest remained unknown. Help came but it was too late. By then, some speculated they were brought to BH's stronghold within Sambisa Forest or even crossed over to Chad or maybe Cameroon. Only Allah knows.
First and foremost, it was one of the reason I had second thoughts about coming to Nigeria. Madam had travelled here a few times already and when she drop the bomb one night...I told her that she must be out of her mind. But here we are, already more that 100 days in Nigeria..all is well.
Back to the atrocities by the terror group, it was during the Friday khutbah (sermon) at the mosque/masjid by Imam Sulaiman Ibrahim that I got know how bad the situation is. I mean really bad. The Imam gave such a khutbah that if he was an army officer...he would have a battalion of men and women who would give all to get rid of this group. My blood boiled when he gave the account of his friends and some member of the congregation.
Back to the girls from Chibok, that episode were not the last one apparently. There were cases of abduction that went unreported as the locations were too remote. The army moved in to destroy the makeshift base of the group but as it were with cowards, they retaliated by destroying village and displacing the Nigerians in the process. Defenceless people. Poor people. The ones who have little to begin with.
A ray of hope emerged today in the newspaper. All over were the news about the military stormed the teror's group stronghold in Sambisa Forest yesterday. Four camps in total. There were reports of women and girls rescued in the military operation. Accurate intel made it possible according to BBC News. Unfortunately, the girls were not the one from Chibok as reported by This Day.
It makes you wonder, the number of women and girls abducted by them. Thousand unreported. Amnesty International estimates about 2000 of them these pass 18 months. Their location? Unknown.
However, The Guardian reported that the military will provide more details about the women and girls rescued. Screening will be done and duly informed when all is readily available. I trust the papers here..they have very long leach on reporting the news to the masses. They might contradict one another, but the general direction can be observed. But like every parents in Nigeria and all over the world would pray that some of the girls were the ones from Chibok. From there, the military would be able to trace the remainder of the girls and the camps of the BH. We continue to hope, that the parents nightmare would end soon.
As for me and my family, we came here looking for greener pasture (got conned by Madam, actually)..we embrace Nigeria wholeheartedly. I accept it shortcomings and as long as its leaders and people in unison propelling the country forward, inch by inch...it is progress. It would be shameful to see this great nation, with its abundance in natural resources and manpower go to waste. Please, read and reread your national anthem. Understand them.
Most of the national anthem around the world either would pray for the safety of the country and reigning sovereign or some were too long to make any sense out of it. To glorify but confusing at times that I bet not all can sing their national anthem..but you, my fellow Nigerians...like what you are..straight to the point as usual....It is a BLOODY call to serve your country. Serve for the greater good.
Before my posting get out of hand...I better stop now. But attached is the video of the khutbah (sermon) by the Imam.
Naija, Nigeria ti ti lai lai (forever)
p/s: If you can't play the video..so sorry, will find a way to solve this issue
I've been busy too (not really). Meeting with some people, making new friends. Spoke to some people from the other states in Nigeria and some from back home. I was online with a prominent photographer from Malaysia, Saiful Nang of Candidsyndrome (www.candidsyndrome.com). We met way back in 2004 and now a big man in the industry. With some friends, they ran an orphanage back in Malaysia as a way of giving back to society that has given him so much. Other than that, I went to the National Stadium at Surulere and Lekki Market checking out some merchandise there. We took the motorboat out to Tarkwa Bay last week and had great time there, playing by the beach with the children...ahhh the children.
 |
| Tarkwa bay beach in Lagos |
Children. How something so small can give you so much....trouble (in a nice way). Life changes when they came into my life. The first one was about 2.4 kilo and the second one was even smaller, at 2.2 . Ohhh...how they turn my life and of course all parents out there inside out, upside down and every other way around. Oh yes they did. Everyhting was about them. I mean everything....
So when the news about the plight of parents whom children were abducted by the Boko Haram (BH) in Chibok, Borno state..I could feel their anguish.
All in all, it had been over a year. Most papers would report on daily basis on any news regarding the girls. From the commitment of the new President elect, the statements made by the National Security Advisor, past and present governors to the various group and agencies local and international included. All giving assurance, bringing hope and some very direct to the point condemning the authorities, but in a very proper way..Queen's English, no less!
The Guardian newspaper ran the numbers every day to remind others especially the government (incoming and outgoing) of the missing girls.
 |
| The Guardian and This Day newspaper |
 |
| A pageful just about the girls and related news |
Just imagine, over 276 girls were abducted in the middle of the night from a Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno state. The girls were at the school sitting for the West Afrcian School Certificate examination, resting for the day when suddenly were woken up and taken away by the terror group. Of the 276, some 59 escaped but the rest remained unknown. Help came but it was too late. By then, some speculated they were brought to BH's stronghold within Sambisa Forest or even crossed over to Chad or maybe Cameroon. Only Allah knows.
 |
| The picture of the said girls in hijab (pic by The Telegraph) |
First and foremost, it was one of the reason I had second thoughts about coming to Nigeria. Madam had travelled here a few times already and when she drop the bomb one night...I told her that she must be out of her mind. But here we are, already more that 100 days in Nigeria..all is well.
Back to the atrocities by the terror group, it was during the Friday khutbah (sermon) at the mosque/masjid by Imam Sulaiman Ibrahim that I got know how bad the situation is. I mean really bad. The Imam gave such a khutbah that if he was an army officer...he would have a battalion of men and women who would give all to get rid of this group. My blood boiled when he gave the account of his friends and some member of the congregation.
 |
| Imam Sulaiman Ibrahim |
Imam Sulaiman hails from the northern state of Kano and he is a Hausa. He would first speak in Arabic and then in English. Without text, all from his heart. With his hand gestures of slashing, slaughtering and shooting and at times he do get carried away with some "bang! bang! bang!"..but no one was laughing. He spoke how in the middle of night, the whole village was gathered in a clearing by the group claiming they want to impart the knowledge about the their version of Islam to the non-believers. Instead, they opened fire, slaughter the woman, children even the elderly.
Some of the children they abducted were brainwashed to become human bombs and there were report about them using the girls to detonate themselves in public places in Borno. The imam said "these are small children 8 to 10 years old.. already had miserable life because their parents were murdered by their captors...they say to them that they (the children) will go to heaven. What insanity is this?" Imam Sulaian continued "they ARE the ahlul jannah (members of paradise)...they will be the first to enter before me and any of you here can enter!"
I only see heads hung low and some shaking in disbelief. His du'a afterward was so heartfelt that the whole masjid resounded with "Aamiin (O Allah, respond to what we have said/requested).
Back to the girls from Chibok, that episode were not the last one apparently. There were cases of abduction that went unreported as the locations were too remote. The army moved in to destroy the makeshift base of the group but as it were with cowards, they retaliated by destroying village and displacing the Nigerians in the process. Defenceless people. Poor people. The ones who have little to begin with.
 |
| At the roundabout near Falomo Bridge |
 |
| The names of the missing girls of Chibok |
 |
| read the article..I urge you. It does make perfect sense. |
 |
| day 380, yesterday..29th April 2015 |
A ray of hope emerged today in the newspaper. All over were the news about the military stormed the teror's group stronghold in Sambisa Forest yesterday. Four camps in total. There were reports of women and girls rescued in the military operation. Accurate intel made it possible according to BBC News. Unfortunately, the girls were not the one from Chibok as reported by This Day.
It makes you wonder, the number of women and girls abducted by them. Thousand unreported. Amnesty International estimates about 2000 of them these pass 18 months. Their location? Unknown.
 |
| similar report from The Guardian |
However, The Guardian reported that the military will provide more details about the women and girls rescued. Screening will be done and duly informed when all is readily available. I trust the papers here..they have very long leach on reporting the news to the masses. They might contradict one another, but the general direction can be observed. But like every parents in Nigeria and all over the world would pray that some of the girls were the ones from Chibok. From there, the military would be able to trace the remainder of the girls and the camps of the BH. We continue to hope, that the parents nightmare would end soon.
As for me and my family, we came here looking for greener pasture (got conned by Madam, actually)..we embrace Nigeria wholeheartedly. I accept it shortcomings and as long as its leaders and people in unison propelling the country forward, inch by inch...it is progress. It would be shameful to see this great nation, with its abundance in natural resources and manpower go to waste. Please, read and reread your national anthem. Understand them.
- Arise, O compatriots,
- Nigeria's call obey
- To serve our Fatherland
- With love and strength and faith.
- The labour of our heroes past
- Shall never be in vain,
- To serve with heart and might
- One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity.
- O God of all creation
- Direct our noble cause
- Guide our leaders right
- Help our youth the truth to know
- In love and honesty to grow
- And living just and true
- Great lofty heights attain
- To build a nation where peace
- And justice shall reign.
Most of the national anthem around the world either would pray for the safety of the country and reigning sovereign or some were too long to make any sense out of it. To glorify but confusing at times that I bet not all can sing their national anthem..but you, my fellow Nigerians...like what you are..straight to the point as usual....It is a BLOODY call to serve your country. Serve for the greater good.
Before my posting get out of hand...I better stop now. But attached is the video of the khutbah (sermon) by the Imam.
Naija, Nigeria ti ti lai lai (forever)
p/s: If you can't play the video..so sorry, will find a way to solve this issue
Thanks for sharing, nice post! Post really provice useful information!
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