Compliment Message!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013.

The  Chairman, Managing Directors,  General and staff of BOKISSONTHRONE ENTERTAINMENT and publisher of Bokiss Blog  wish all readers a prosperous year in a growing Bokiss Blog Industry.  Readers will see many changes unfolding in our work on communications and promotion as the year progresses.

After all the events that caused you tears; here comes the new ones that will bring you cheer; Forget the past, the future is here; Let us welcome the happy New Year!

Sending you the warmest HUGS of the season… and wishing you the BEST of times.  Happy New Year!

So many ways to greet you Happy New Year, but I reserve the most special one to you.  I love you anytime of the year.  Happy New Year.

Each moment in a day has its own value. Morning brings HOPE, Afternoon brings FAITH, Evening brings LOVE, Night brings REST, Hope you will have all of them everyday. HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013.

 A New Year poem

“Looking back on the months gone by,
As a new year starts and an old one ends,
We contemplate what brought us joy,
And we think of our loved ones and our friends.

Recalling all the happy times,
Remembering how they enriched our lives,
We reflect upon who really counts,
As the fresh and bright new year arrives.

And when I/we ponder those who do,
I/we immediately think of you.

Thanks for being one of the reasons I’ll/We’ll have a Happy New Year!”

EDO TANKER FIRE: Widow of bus driver lamint!!!

BENIN CITY—MADAM Blessing Oghagbon, widow of late Mr Kingsley Oghagbon, who lost his life after a tanker loaded with petroleum product exploded last Tuesday, said yesterday, that she would not have lost the bread winner of the family, if the late husband had not suffered stomach upset which forced him back home, where the tragedy occurred.

Vanguard learnt that the driver of the tanker, which was coming from Ekiosa Market on the Murtala Muhammed Road, Benin City, lost control of the tanker apparently due to break failure, rammed into a side drain and exploded. The driver of the tanker was said to have escaped alive shortly after the incident. The tanker was completelyburnt .

The petroleum product flooded the  road where he acident occured and over 12 cars and four motorcycles that were parked by the road went up in flames. There was pandemonium at the point the tanker exploded, as people ran for their lives. Some residents abandoned their homes thinking it was a bomb. It was also learnt that a commercial motorcycle rider lost his life in the inferno. But an eyewitness told Vanguard how late Mr. Oghagbon lost his life and denied insinuations that a commercial motorcycle rider also lost his life.

The eyewitness, who identified herself as Esther, said: “I was standing by the road when I heard the explosion and there was fire everywhere. Fuel was now flowing inside the gutter and vehicles were burning. The commercial motorcyclist believed to have died did not die, he tried to start his Okada but it exploded. His leg was burnt though he  managed to escape alive.”

Sympathizers thronged the residence of the deceased Kingsley, when Vanguard visited. The deceased wife, Blessing, who was visibly wrecked as she recounted watching her husband die in pains, lamented that the deceased, who was a bus driver, left her with three children and cried that he would not have died, if he had gone straight to wash the bus.

“What can I say now? We were all sitting in the room when we heard people shouting outside that a tanker fell into a gutter and that there was fire everywhere. My husband just came back from Onitsha, Anambra State. He wanted to wash the bus but said he had  running stomach and decided to come back home first. So when we heard the noise, he ran out to take the bus to the car wash. He entered the bus and started it, the bus exploded. When I saw the explosion I started shouting, telling people that my husband was inside the bus that they should help me.

 

“I ran inside the house to look for my children and from there I returned to the moat area and was shouting, telling people that my husband was in the fire. But some people were saying he must have escaped to somewhere. Suddenly, we saw him burning and he fell inside the gutter. I feel very bad now because he just came back from work because he was having running stomach. He came to ease himself and to take the bus to the car wash before the incident. He just started the bus before it caught fire. How I am going to take care of three children? she cried.

One of the deceased neighbours who was devastated by the death, lamented that Kingsley died because he was trying to save the bus from being burnt. He said: “It is sad because the bus does not belong to him, so he did not want any thing to happen to it before the owner  ask him to pay. He died trying to save the bus. He should have remained alive and allow the bus to be destroyed. That is why I am really in pains. Poverty is a bad thing.”

The deceased cousin, Charles, lamented that if “he had known, he would have gone straight to the car wash. But you could see that the devil was at work. The tanker driver has escaped now, so we don’t even know who to run to. Who is going to take care of the three children? I don’t know how we are going to cope.”

How fire gutted Obasanjo’s Abeokuta mansion

ABEOKUTA — The   multi-million naira mansion of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, was, yesterday, gutted by fire with one person sustaining injury in an effort to put out fire.

One of the officials of the rescue team, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, identified as  Kunle Famakinwa sustained injury while joining his colleagues to put out the fire.

Obasanjo’s house in Abeokuta.

It was gathered that the fire, which started around 4:30p.m, 20 minutes after Obasanjo reportedly left the mansion for his family house at Ita-Eko, Abeokuta,  destroyed some documents and property.

 A resident of the mansion told Vanguard that, the inferno was caused by an electricity surge from one of the offices of the former president and destroyed some valuable documents.

Security agencies, including the rescue team and other personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and State Security Service battled for 30 minutes to put out the fire.

Two fire fighting trucks of the Ogun State Fire Service marked  OG 122 AO9 and OG 127 A09 arrived the scene one  hour after the fire had been put under control by officers of the NSCDC.

The development, however, forced the former president to return to the mansion to ascertain the level of damage.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the fire was put out, Obasanjo expressed appreciation to God, explaining that the fire did not affect the entire building.

He said: “You have seen that it is only the office of my secretary that is burnt. The house is almost intact.”

Singing in Yoruba language, the former president said: “Ile Obasanjo to jo ewa lobu kun, ile Obasanjo to jo ewa lobu kun, eyin Press ema wibe, ewa lobu kun”(which when translated means “fire that gutted Obasanjo’s house has only made it more beautiful, you pressmen sing along with me”).

From Slums to School Halls

Otto having a chat with slum kids at Makoko community

“As from today, my daughter’s life as a fish seller is over. For the very reason that I ended up a fish seller does not mean my daughter will do same. I want better things for her. It is a hard life that no one will want her child to be part of  but poverty said otherwise. Today, the Slum to School (S2S) project has given my daughter a new lease of life by giving her the opportunity to go to school on scholarship. I have always hoped that one day my kids will see the four  walls of a school and that prayer has been answered.”

Those were the words of mother of three, Mrs. Valeline Agbogbe, a fish seller at the Makoko community of  Lagos State. Used to the life of drudgery which has taken its toll on the once beautiful face, Agbogbe like every good mother truly wanted something better for her children especially her daughter, nine-year-old Georgette.

That wish came true recently when her daughter was among the 202 children that clinched a scholarship courtesy the Slum to School (S2S) Project, a social advocacy group.

The S2S is a social advocacy group created to change lives especially that of the less-privileged and orphaned kids. Under the leadership of the initiator, Mr. Orondaam Otto, the group recently enrolled about 202 school children in the Makoko community to school, at no extra cost to the parents and care givers.

Parents and care givers who thronged the Anglican Primary School, Makoko, were overwhelmed as their kids and wards were given school uniforms, bags, books and other educational materials.

The criteria for choosing the beneficiaries were primarily hinged on children between the age brackets of 3-14, who do not have parents, aunts or guardians into school. The selection process began from a memo to the community heads who jumped at the opportunity and passed the message round. The lucky beneficiaries were then chosen and enlightened.

THISDAY gathered at the end of the school session this year, out of the 320 children who had never gone to school before the scholarships opportunity came clocking, seven of them topped their class in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th positions.

Started as a Community Development Service (CDS), when he was still a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Otto, had in the last eight months canvassed help to enroll a total of 320 children in Makoko into three schools and this earned him the Lagos State Honours Award for the Most Outstanding Corps Member in 2011.

The recent enrollment of the 202 school children with complete educational support was the second phase of the project which started earlier this year with the enrollment of 118 orphans and vulnerable children as the first phase, still at the Makoko community.

However, the enrollment ceremony was heralded by the free medical missions tagged “Net A Child Project”, which was carried out in the Makoko community to propagate the malaria intervention project. Free treated nets were given to all the beneficiaries as well as other medical services by the Junior Achievement/ Chevron medical teams.

Giving reasons why he veered into this, Otto said he felt burdened when he saw potential future leaders roaming the streets. On investigation, he discovered the major needs in Makoko and that was all it took to turn the children who were more into fish mongering into students.

He threw himself into the project with the little cash in his pockets. But that was not a deterrent, as he was consumed with a burning passion and zeal. He first changed the mentality of the community and then proceeded to offer them scholarships.

With a few volunteers of like minds, the first phase was successful and so the need for the second phase was imminent. As the vision spread, the group which soon grew to over 500 young and passionate volunteers was able to partner with associations, groups and individuals with like passion.

With the Community Shield Awards by Generation Leaders, Future Awards Innovation in Education and the Nigerian Corporate Social Responsibility awards in his kitty, amongst others, Otto said education is the greatest legacy a nation can give to its youths, especially children.

According to him, “it creates thirst for better alternatives, improved choices and greater opportunities for a nation and her people, as well as reduces the twin burdens of poverty and diseases, and gives a stronger voice to society.”

However laudable education might seem, Otto lamented that there are still millions of unaccounted Nigerian children of school ages that are currently out of classrooms due to persistent psychosocial factors, economic challenges, cultural orientations and astounding defiance of guardians.

He noted that based on the need to cover the lacuna, the S2S project was designed with an innovative approach geared towards mobilising the efforts of government, private sector and other development agencies towards securing educational opportunities for children in disadvantaged families/communities.

Speaking on the recent enrollment he said support was gotten from the government and private individuals who donated money towards the project. He further disclosed that the group would soon expand its tentacles to other communities in the state and even beyond.

“We hope to extend to other communities across the country and our plan is not just to enroll but to see our beneficiaries through school.

“It has not been easy and we are aware it won’t be an easy task as we expand because most of us have spent our time, money, energy to ensure that we assist you in achieving a bright future.”

He however urged parents not to keep their children and wards away from school and to encourage them to do their homework. “As parents, we expect you to engage in meetings and discussions with teachers in order to help improve your child. The whole essence is not to come here to eat or drink but to ensure that as your children are given school kits, they stay in school.”

To ensure accountability and integrity in management of funds, Otto said no money is paid directly to any of the members rather the group is in a partnership with Bethsaida Child Support Agency. This he said this is to ensure that the donors pay through their account and from there to the various schools. “So, we do not have access to the money, and all those who have volunteered to be part of the project are not paid.

“So far, I have gotten over 500 volunteers and it gives me joy to see that we have other young people across the country who have agreed to dedicate their finances, time and energy, among others, to give a brighter future to the under-privileged ones.”

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Incubator Africa Limited, Alero Aiyida-Otobo, a development agency, described the initiative as a revolution that would brighten the future for the beneficiaries.

While harping on the importance of education, she said her organisation, under the education reform team, had adopted 20 of the children to train them through primary school.

According to her, the scholarship given to these kids would go a long way in charting their futures. “The scholarships are major events because it proffers the answers and solutions to help the-out-of school children.

“Nigeria has between 8-10 million out of school children, the highest number in the world. The government has been trying to deal with this issue but having a group of young persons, who on their own volunteered to raise funds and enroll these children in schools, is astounding.

“I think they deserve to be commended and honoured because this is a history- making event. I want to use this opportunity to encourage young people across Nigeria to emulate what S2S is doing so that this problem can be addressed.”

The Head of all Egun Balee, Yaba Local Council, Chief Francis Agoyon, while commending S2S for coming to their community to enlighten them as well as sponsor their children to school, harped on the need for education, adding that gone are the days when a child had no option than to engage in his parents trade.

He said, “Since he started with us eight months ago, he has done a marvelous work, which is a surprise to all of us because it has never happened since the existence of Makoko.

“Otto brought everybody together and told us that education is the first step to civilisation. He said if we want our children to become doctors, professors, teachers, we must allow them go to school.

“Before, our people did not see the need of education, but he taught us the benefits of education and why we must allow our children to go to school. We pray that God will empower him more and we also promise that we shall not disappoint him.”

For Mr. James Iroko, a government service worker, whose three kids were given scholarship, the help was a burden off his shoulders. Iroko who resides in the Makoko slum, one of the several found across the length and breadth of Lagos State, said education would give his children leverage to chart their future.

“I am very happy at the opportunity given to my kids. I have always wanted them to be successful in life but there was no money to send them to school with the meager money I earn. So I was overjoyed when the S2S project came to my aid.”

While some of the parents were eager to send their kids to school, some others were not enthusiastic. Iroko said some of the parents turned down the offer because the kids help their parents hawking.

To them, he advised that they should think of the future of their kids. “There is need to tell some of the parents the truth. Their kid’s future is paramount to any money they might get from hawking.

“In today’s world, education is important for every child. So, every parent should endeavour to educate their kids especially in this community that it has been given to us on a platter of gold,” he said. Chairman Alafia- Loju Co-operative Society of Makoko-Yaba Fire Wood Sellers, Chief Clement Wesenu Akweje, was filled with joy as five of his kids were given their school uniforms and other sundries.

He said, “This is the first time my children are going to school. I am overwhelmed because at last I can boast that my children are part of academic process. I would have loved to send my children to school but I don’t have money.

“I am a firewood seller and the money I make is not enough to cater for the family not to talk of sending the children to school. My job has been made easy by S2S. All I have to do now is to make sure they go to school.”

The Slum to School (S2S) project, a social advocacy group, recently gave a new lease of life to about 202 less-privileged and orphaned kids at the Makoko community, a slum in the Yaba district of Lagos State, with free admission into three schools

 

 

Comedy puts food on my table – Helen Paul

Helen Paul Bamisile is a stand-up comedienne, singer and actress of great repute. Her style is quirky and spontaneous, and her petite stature and voice range make her childlike. A co-presenter on Africa Magic Channel 114′s “JARA”, Helen broke out as a naughty comic character on a critically acclaimed radio programme known as “Wetin Dey” on Radio Continental, 102.3FM, Lagos.

She is known on the programme as “Tatafo”,  a witty kid who addresses and lampoons societal issues in a satirical manner. In this interview, she talks about her career, her love for children  and what she wants to be remembered for, when she bows out of the stage among other issues raised by FLORENCE AMAGIYA

What comes to your mind whenever  you set out to make people laugh?

For me, comedy is fun. It’s a way to let off stress and anxiety. And when I am on stage, I think about life, people, environment and all there is to think about. I would say all these thoughts of mine enable me to put smile on people’s face. Comedy is a job I enjoy doing and I get paid for it.

Did you take after your parents?

Well, my parents were not into the comedy business. Not even my siblings or any  member of my extended family. I am from a very strict and disciplined background and we all know that Nigerian parents are very strict people.

So how did comedy discover you?

I grew up in Nigeria and living in Nigeria is comical. Each time, I think about our country and all the happenings therein, it is enough to turn one into a comedian. I get inspired when I infused all these things  together. For  instance, if you visit Victoria Garden City (VGC) and Mushin, Lagos. You would notice that apart from being in two different areas, and lifestyles, life in Mushin which is seen as one of the ghetto areas in Lagos, is considered comical because of the funny happenings there.

Sometimes, you mimic the voice of a child while on stage?

I love children so much. I also enjoy listening and playing with them. I get a lot of inspiration from the Nigerian child. It gives me great joy being around children; they are open, innocent, easy to love and ready to learn. Moreover, my best movies are cartoons.

How has the journey been so far?

I started as a stand-up comedian, then I went for Jara audition and got the job. I’m co- hosting the programme with Uti Nwachukwu, the winner of BBA, 2010. Presently I am trying my hands on screen plays.

Tell us the role you played in the movie, A wish which premiered recently in the cinemas?

The role I played in “A Wish”  is a comical character, yet a serious one. Kemi was diagnosed of breast cancer. The story is how she was abandoned by her husband because of her sickness and how she struggled to travel to Lagos with her only child because she wanted help and she succeeded at the end.

Have you ever played a serious role in a movie?

Yes! I acted a serious role in Funke Akindele’s  “Return of Jenifer’ and I believe, it wasn’t a funny role. As a good actor, you should be able to interprete any role very well.  If you are known to typecasted, then something is wrong with your skills.

Do you put up funny characters when you are at home?

Comedy is my job; it puts food on my table. But it is not my life. At home, I am a disciplined person, but I am more or less a sanguine outside my home. I am a professional actress; I studied Creative Arts in the University and went further to obtain a Masters degree in it. But like I said, it is a profession. One should be seen differently in one’s home.

What are we expecting from you; do you have in mind to own Helen’s show?

Please expect so much by the grace of God, but at the moment, I do not have plans to have my own show. I am enjoying working for other people. Perhaps in future l may reconsider it.

You have a unique sense of dressing. Are you planning to become a designer?

I am not branching into designing at all, but I have a shop where I sell fabrics. It is called Matte , I sell fabrics for wedding gowns, Aso oke and others. I love fabrics and I sell all kinds of fabrics.

You had a baby more than a year ago, yet you look this fabulous. What’s the secret?

I had my baby more than a year ago and yes, I am yet to burn all the telltale signs of the pregnancy. My  tummy is still big, but perhaps I look this way because I am a careful person. Meanwhile, I think getting help from family after the birth of a child is very important and as it is, my mum is still around to help me out and I am forever grateful to her.

What’s your form of exercise and your fashion statement?

I dance a lot, that’s the only exercise I do. As for fashion statement, I am an actor, hence I can wear anything. But  the only thing, I cannot be caught wearing on stage is a napkin or what we call pampers

Your advice to would-be entertainers

Keep doing what you enjoy doing. Do not mind what anybody say to you or about you. Get mentors and the sky is the beginning. It is really difficult to get someone who would mentor you especially when you are about going into the business. I met someone who mentored me when I was about starting my own business and I am grateful to her.

What would you be remembered for?

I want to be remembered for having so many children who are not necessarily related to me. Children who are not my biological and adopted children, but they should be people I have affected their lives in one way or the other. I want to have wonderful children all over the world. I want my children to affect lives everywhere in the world.

Words that Most Liars Use

Odds are, you and your guy have a great relationship, and the only lies he tells are little fibs. But it's good to know how to spot the signs he could be telling a whopper. Lie detection expert Janine Driver, author of the new book, You Can't Lie to Me, fills us in on the words that give away a liar.

"Left"
Sure, sometimes 'left' is the only word you can use in a situation, but there's some kind of drama involved when he uses it in place of another word that will do (think: "I left the bar at six" vs. "I went home at six"). It could be due to his desire to "leave" the lie behind.

"Never"
The big thing to look out for is when he says "never" when "no" will do. It's a sign he's overcompensating. For example, if you ask, "Did you just look at that girl's butt?" and he says, "Never!"

"That"
Like never, it depends on how he uses it. If he puts "that" in front of a noun, like "that woman" or "that money," it's a subconscious attempt for him to distance himself from the word. This is a common trick of manipulators.

"Would"
If he skips "no" and goes straight to "I would never do something like that!" when talking about a past event, be wary. For example, "Are you still talking to your ex?" "I would never do that to you!" "Would never" suggests that he plans to do it in the future.

"Yes, ma'am"
If your guy is a Southern gentleman, then this doesn't apply. But if he suddenly says "ma'am" to you out of nowhere, be cautious. It's a sign that he feels like he's feeling stressed and knows he's in trouble.

"By the way…"
Liars use phrases like this to try to minimize what they say next-but usually it's what's most important to the story. Pay extra attention to what he says afterward.


"But"
Liars usually try to downplay what they say with this word, so pay attention when he says something like, "I know this is going to sound strange, but…" or "I know you think I'm lying, but…"

"Why would I do that?"
It's a favorite stalling line of liars, so they can buy a little time to work out what to say next. These phrases also fit the bill: "What kind of person do you think I am?", "Are you calling me a liar?", and "I knew this was going to happen to me!"

Young entrepreneurs must experience failure before success

Sunny Elem is a real estate consultant and the Managing Director, Nature Hero Limited – a network marketing firm.

What is the basic challenge of a prospective entrepreneur?

The first problem usually is funding because every great idea must have some kind of financial backup to put it to the marketplace. But in Nigeria we don’t have adequate access to funding for small scale or medium scale businesses. As an entrepreneur, borrowing money from friends and family sometimes may not be enough to meet your target in order to make it out there. Also this issue of not having good statistics in the country is a challenge to entrepreneurship. You know when you are planning for a business you would want to rely on statistics in order to do your research very well. But as it is now there seems to be no particular place you can go to get information to aid you in your planning and I faced that challenge too when I was starting.

In Nigeria, if you are starting newly, you don’t get the support of the government unlike what is obtainable around most economies of the world. In the United States where I have some businesses, their economy is based on small scale businesses and that is why they don’t play with them. They give them all manner of support to make sure they succeed. Basically these are the problems here. However, it is important to say that in Nigeria we have the market and we are very resilient people and we are hard working despite these confrontations. I’ve been an entrepreneur all my life and I started selling from the age of seven when I supply brooms to buyers at the train station close to where we reside then. So, I’ve come to realise that the easiest way to succeed is to work for yourself and not for somebody else or to make other people rich by using a better part of your life for them.

Some successful businessmen say the fundamental challenge of a prospective entrepreneur is the inability to come up with a sellable idea, but you just said it’s funding. Are you, in anyway, at variance with their views?

Basically I will say yes, and, no. We have what we call ‘the Achievement Cycle,’ and it starts with a dream or an idea. You have a dream and there are a whole of things you have in the picture. After dreaming it becomes a goal by the time you put it down and from there it gets to the next level, which is planning.

From this stage it goes to execution, and of course, idea comes first. But go out there on the street, we have millions of people with ideas and so many come here with their ideas or proposal seeking for somebody to help them to push it in the marketplace. So, I’m not saying that funding comes first because if you look at the cycle funding comes last, but eventually you will get to it. And when you get to it, you will understand that it is where you either become successful or not. So if you ask me, I will still say it’s funding because by the time you go through the cycle you will come to it.

What are your three key investment principles?

Knowledge is first. Is just like you want to go to Benin, but you don’t know how to get there. Then basically you cannot get there until you are knowledgeable enough on how to get to your destination. So, you must have the knowledge of the business you want to go into. Some people may say Mr. Elem is making money in network marketing and as result they will want to jump into the business. That is what a lot of people do and most times they get their fingers burnt in the process. Secondly is passion. Do things you love. Do things that when you wake up in the morning you will be excited to go to work. If your business is not like a job to you, then there is no need being in that business. So your business should be able to wake you up excited in the morning to go out there to make things happen. The third is resilience, you must be able to endure, persist and you must be able to say to yourself that you will not go back despite the daunting challenges.

Initially, when I started in business, I used to think that I’m at the middle of success and failure and that I had the option to choose between both. But after reading the biographies of successful business people and after my experience in business over the years, I come to realise that that my initial formula is wrong.

 The right formula is I am behind, followed by failure and trials then success at the end of it. So for me to get to success I must pass through failure and trials and there is no how I can jump trial and failure before I meet the great success. It is often times not possible. That is why when some young entrepreneurs come into business and first meet with failure and disappointment they will say, ‘hey, I think I’m driving on the wrong route,’ without knowing that they must pass through failure before getting to success.

Tell us about network marketing and why is the sector misunderstood by Nigerians?

This is an industry that is very well misunderstood and there is a whole lot of misconception about it. Some people confuse pyramid schemes with network marketing; they are two different things.

Pyramid is illegal and was designed from the beginning to rip people of their funds. You see many of them online and initially we saw people make money and this is because it has been designed that way so that the news of them making money will spread and a lot of people will join. But so many people have burnt their fingers in this business. However, in network marketing the reverse is the case. It is a business where you have all professionals and it is the only industry which stood the five great global recessions since inception in 1930. You can be involved in network marketing part time or full time. Nature Hero uses the platform of network marketing to distribute its products and this is because of the gains and returns which network marketing is celebrated for.

In this interview with Okechukwu Nnodim, Sunny Elem says young entrepreneurs must realise that failure usually comes before success in business.

Kidnappers Threatened To Rape Me If I Failed To Pay The Ransom

Actress Nkiru Sylvanus Family Paid N8 Million Ransom To Her Kidnappers Police Imo State Police commissioner, Mr Adisa Bolanta in a confirmation briefing on Friday said kidnapped actress Nkiru Sylvanus family members paid out the total of million naira ransom for her release

In a press briefing in Owerri Imo State yesterday, Bolanta said Nkiruk's family ignored police warnings never to negotiate or pay any ransom to her kidnappers.He further said Nkiru's family members bargained for her release without prior knowledge of the Imo State Police command.According to him, the total sum of N7 million had been returned to Nkiru's family members.

We gave them back the money, they ignored our warnings and continued secret negotiations with the kidnappers.“They even went behind us and paid N8 million to the kidnappers,” he said.

Having said all of the above, he reassured Imo State residents that the fleeing kidnappers would be caught.

Yes we've arrested some suspects in connection to this kidnap, and we'll catch all of them as soon as possible.

Am using this medium to reassure the excellent Imo people that police will not rest until all forms of crimes are wiped out from this state.

Blackburn Rovers Sack Manager after 57 Days

Henning Berg

Blackburn Rovers have sacked manager Henning Berg after just 57 days in charge at Ewood Park.

The 43-year-old former Rovers defender replaced Steve Kean on October 31 but the club have won just one of their 10 matches since his appointment, reports the BBC.

The Norwegian's final game was a 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough on Boxing Day, Blackburn's fifth loss in six outings.

The club are already talking to potential replacements and hope to make an announcement shortly.

Assistant manager Eric Black, coach Iain Brunskill and goalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms have also left Rovers, who are 17th in the Championship.

Berg, who won the Premier League title as a player with Blackburn in 1995, signed a three-year deal at Ewood Park.

His only previous managerial experience had been in his home country with Lyn Oslo and Lillestrom.

Kean's resignation at the end of September had followed months of protests from supporters aimed at the Scot and owners Venky's.

Despite the off-field turmoil, Rovers had started well in the second tier after suffering relegation from the Premier League in May - they were top of the table prior to Kean's final game in charge.

But Blackburn have struggled for points since Berg's arrival and have dropped into the bottom eight as a result of their poor form.

He failed to win a home match in his short stint at the helm, with a 4-1 victory at struggling Peterborough on 17 November their only success during Berg's reign.

A statement on Blackburn's official website said: "Blackburn Rovers has announced the departure of manager Henning Berg, assistant manager Eric Black, first-team coach Iain Brunskill and goalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms with immediate effect.

"This decision has been taken following a very disappointing sequence of results.

"The club thanks the four men for their efforts and wishes them every success for the future."