BCNN5

Oil Pipeline in Nigeria Is Burning Up

2012-02-06T16:17:32Z

An Eni SpA oil pipeline ruptured and caught fire as a militant group claimed responsibility for an attack in the region, their first alleged assault in months as its purported leader awaits trial on terrorism charges in South Africa. ]]> The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta also threatened to attack South African interests in an email sent to journalists late Saturday night, as its alleged leader Henry Okah remains imprisoned there.

South African businesses "will pay a heavy price for the interference of (President) Jacob Zuma in the legitimate fight for justice in the Niger Delta, by its people," the statement read. "The South African president has reduced himself to the position of a hired thug."

South African businesses, like mobile phone carrier MTN Group Ltd. and others, have operations throughout Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation with more than 160 million people. While other MEND threats have failed to materialize in the past, Saturday's apparent attack could mean the militant group is willing to begin its assaults again.

The fire happened Saturday night near Brass River in Nigeria's Bayelsa state, home to the nation's President Goodluck Jonathan. Witnesses told a local environmental group they heard the blast from their homes.

In its email, the militant group known by the acronym MEND said it "attacked and destroyed" the pipeline run by a Nigerian subsidiary of Eni.

A Rome-based spokesman for Eni, speaking on condition of anonymity per company policy, acknowledged that either a fire or attack had happened on the pipeline, cutting about 4,000 barrels of crude oil production a day.

Lt. Col. Timothy Antigha, a spokesman for the military in the restive region, acknowledged "claims of a fire" on the pipeline, but said soldiers could not independently verify it.

The attack occurred in the oil-rich Niger Delta, where foreign firms have pumped oil out of the country for more than 50 years. Despite the billions of dollars flowing into Nigeria's government, many in the delta remain desperately poor, living in polluted waters without access to proper medical care, an education or work.

In 2006, militants from groups like MEND started a wave of attacks targeting foreign oil companies, including bombing their pipelines, kidnapping their workers and fighting with security forces. That violence ebbed in 2009 with a government-sponsored amnesty program promising ex-fighters monthly payments and job training. However, few in the delta have seen the promised benefits and scattered kidnappings and attacks continue.

MEND itself, once a powerful, media-friendly militant group in the region, has seen its influence wane over the last year. Its largest major confirmed attacks were a dual car bombing in Nigeria's capital Abuja on Oct. 1, 2010, that killed at least 12 people and the November 2010 kidnapping of seven expatriate workers from offshore oil rigs operated by London-based Afren PLC and Exxon Mobil Corp.

After the Abuja bombings, authorities in South Africa arrested Okah on terrorism charges. His trial there is scheduled to begin Oct. 1.

Okah has repeatedly denied being the leader of the militant group, though Nigeria's government has labeled him as a major arms importer to the region. South African prosecutors also have presented evidence in earlier hearings drawn from Okah's diaries and computer correspondence that they said bolstered accusations he masterminded the October bombings.

Source: The AP | JON GAMBRELL

Why Virginity Is Still Important in Africa

2012-02-06T16:16:47Z

VIRGINITY has been associated with purity, chastity, valor and Godliness, but over the years this precious virtue has been thrown to the dogs -- it is no longer valued.

Not long ago there were many young people who valued their purity and adhered to the principle of no sex before marriage but today one would be shocked at the age that people are engaging in sexual activities. With all the warning of the dangers of premarital sexual activity and the serious threat of HIV and Aids, there still a great number of unmarried teenagers having sex.

]]> Zimbabwe is currently among top listed countries in sub Saharan Africa having people living with HIV and Aids. The increase in sexual activity among the young generation is a pointer that the country could be heading for disaster if things like preserving virginity and upholding of culture are not revisited.

The church, which is supposed to be the leading institution that spreads the word of purity has been accused by some for failing to teach the young unmarried generation on the importance of upholding values such as virginity.

"The church has failed us as parents in trying to educate our children on the essence of purity.We feel the church must be able to touch such topics when children go for youth or other Christian unions but they are not. Instead they are encouraging fundraising projects and camps where our girls come back pregnant," fumed Mrs Madelina Nkomo from the city.

She said that a number of young girls were coming back from camp meetings pregnant and one can only wonder where the "shepherds" will be when the sheep go astray. She added that the church must encourage purity at the highest level which will see the number of infections of the deadly scourge going down significantly. If a child is taught to abstain from any sexual activity before they enter the institution of marriage, they are more likely to be free from the various sexually transmitted diseases.

Her sentiments were tightly backed by an old man with a rich background of culture and its values who said marriage before a church minister should be for virgins only.

Click here to read more

Source: Zimdiaspora | Robin Muchetu

Bible College Sponsored by Samaritan's Purse Bombed by Sudan's Air Force

2012-02-06T16:15:48Z

A Bible college in Sudan functioning under Franklin Graham's missionary ministry, Samaritan's Purse, was bombed Wednesday and the ministry alleges the attack was launched by the Sudanese air force.

]]> The Heiban Bible College in the Nuba Mountains in southern Sudan was hit by eight bombs in the afternoon local time, on the first day of school, as the campus was full of students, teachers, and teacher's families, the ministry said. No one was injured. Two of the bombs landed in the compound and destroyed two buildings. There were also grass fires inside and outside the campus, workers said. The full extent of damages is yet to be determined.

"We have been working for years in Sudan," Samaritan's Purse President Franklin Graham said in a Wednesday statement. "Today our Bible school in Heiban in the Nuba Mountains was bombed by the Sudanese Air Force. No one was killed or hurt, but buildings were destroyed. Please pray for the safety of believers, and that God would intervene."

Samaritan's Purse has been supporting Christians in the regions for over a decade, officials said. The ministry has helped build 168 churches in the area, with the assistance of ministry partner the Rev. Sami Dagher, and has been supporting the Bible college since it was founded in 2007. In 2010, Graham spoke at the graduation ceremony for the first class of 36 students.

The Christian Post did not manage to immediately reach Sudanese officials in the U.S. for comment on the allegation that the government launched the attacks.

Sudan is an embattled country that has seen armed conflict for the past half-century, since the end of colonial rule in 1956. During decades of brutal civil war many thousands of Christians lost their lives and hundreds of churches were intentionally destroyed, according to the Samaritan's Purse website. After decades of fighting for independence from the mostly-Muslim north, southern Sudan - which has a large Christian population - seceded on July 9, 2011. But tensions between the neighbors reportedly have been on the rise recently, only half a year since the secession.

Click here to read more.

SOURCE: Christian Post

Luiza Oleszczuk

Will It Take Another Approach to Stop Boko Haram in Nigeria?

2012-02-06T16:14:49Z

Nigerian terror sect Boko Haram, whose most recent attack killed 162 people in Kano, issued a statement explaining that its motive for initiating violence is "revenge."

The statement calls into question whether peacemaking efforts are misguided, and experts are now wondering if giving credence to Boko Haram's cries of persecution may help curb violence that has plagued Nigeria for more than two years.

]]> Boko Haram spokesman Abul Qaqa told reporters during a phone interview last week that the sect's earlier warnings should have been heeded to prevent the Jan. 21 massacre in Kano.

"(The) attacks and bombings of Kano city followed our warnings in the second week of December, 2011," Qaqa said. "We warned Kano stakeholders."

Qaqa referred to numerous warnings the group sent officials in the region asking for Boko Haram militiamen to be released from police custody.

"Unless urgent steps are taken, the group will launch endless and violent attacks on Kano and its environs because of arbitrary arrest and persecution of his members," wrote Imam Muhammad Abubakar Shekau, spiritual leader of Boko Haram, days before the fighting commenced.

Click here to read more

Source: Christian Post | Matthew Cortina

Nigeria In Need of More Christian Support

2012-02-06T16:12:51Z

As the eradication of Islamic extremism in Nigeria appears to lag, and the animosity between the Muslim population of the North and mostly southern Christian population fails to cease, many observers call for the Christian community to put a greater pressure on the Nigerian government.

]]> The international Christian community can do a lot to help, by pressuring the Nigerian government to take decisive action to prevent more of the religious violence, Regional Manager for Africa at International Christian Concern (ICC), Jonathan Racho, told The Christian Post recently. ICC is a watchdog group monitoring global Christian communities for instances of persecution.

"At this point Nigerian Christians need a lot of help," Racho said. "People from all over the world should put pressure on their governments so that their governments put pressure on the Nigerian government. The international community needs to push for change in Nigeria."

The Nigerian government needs to understand that it cannot continue to put the country in this kind of crisis; decisive action needs to be taken, he added. Racho's response mirrors that of critics who have been saying that the president and his government are not doing enough to prevent violence.

He emphasized that weeding out extremists is key to bringing back peace and stability.

Meanwhile, a celebrated Nigerian novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has called earlier this month on Nigeria's religious leaders to intervene.

Click here to read more.

SOURCE: Christian Post

Luiza Oleszczuk

Somali Insurgents Shut Down Red Cross Food Aid

2012-02-06T16:12:08Z

Somali insurgents have shut down food aid distribution by a major aid group because they say the organization is distributing spoiled food in the famine-hit south. ]]>

The al-Shabab militant group said late Monday that they were shutting down the Red Cross' operation permanently.

"Despite being offered unrivaled access to all the regions governed by the Mujahideen in South and Central Somalia, the International Committee of the Red Cross has repeatedly betrayed the trust conferred on it by the local population," said the statement from the al-Qaida-linked militia.

The militia said they conducted a "thorough inspection" of the aid group's warehouses and food depots and found that up to 70 percent of the food was "unfit for human consumption, posing a considerable health hazard and exposing the vulnerable recipients to acute illnesses."

A Red Cross spokeswoman said Tuesday that the organization did not have immediate comment.

The Red Cross previously said some trucks were stuck on bad roads for several weeks in the rainy season and the food aboard them was spoiled. That food - about 2,000 tons, according to al-Shabab - was publicly burned after the militia had taken photos of the moldy beans.

The Red Cross began distributing monthly rations to 1.1 million people in October and were midway through the second distribution when a convoy of trucks was stopped by al-Shabab in mid-December in Jowhar. Negotiations for their release took several weeks but were ultimately unsuccessful.

The Red Cross formally suspended operations in al-Shabab areas of southern Somalia on Jan. 12. They are the only agency bringing in food to those famine-hit areas on such a large scale.

The U.N. said more than 13 million people were in need of aid and 750,000 at risk of starvation at the height of the Somali famine. Those at risk of starvation have subsequently dropped to 250,000 after an influx of aid and after seasonal rains arrived, meaning crops could be planted.

SOURCE: KATHARINE HOURELD
Associated Press

Nelson Mandela's Sister Dies at 81

2012-02-06T16:11:49Z

South Africa sent condolences to Nelson Mandela on Monday following the death of his youngest sister and last surviving sibling out of 31 others.

Nokuthamba Mandela, 81, died Saturday, South African President Jacob Zuma said.

The cause of death was unclear.

]]> "On behalf of myself, the people and government of South Africa, I would like to convey our heartfelt condolences to Madiba and the entire Mandela family at this difficult time," Zuma said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to you in this time of sorrow."

The former president -- affectionately known by his clan name Madiba -- last appeared in public in the closing ceremonies of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

His sister's death came the same weekend he returned to Johannesburg while his home in Qunu undergoes repairs. Mandela, 93, has been living at the house in the Eastern Cape province since last year.

Despite his rare appearances following a respiratory infection, Mandela retains his popularity and is considered the founding father and hero of South Africa's democracy.

Under South Africa's apartheid regime, Mandela spent 27 years in prison after being convicted of sabotage and attempts to overthrow the government.

He was released in 1990 and became president in 1994.

SOURCE: CNN

Faith Karimi

Giants' and Patriots' Players say their Relationship With God is More Important than the Super Bowl

2012-02-06T16:10:09Z

THE GOSPEL LIGHT MINUTE

with Daniel Whyte III

The New York Giants and the New England Patriots will meet today in Indianapolis for Super Bowl 46. And for so many Americans, this is almost the biggest event of the year. But some of the men who play on the field will be quick to tell you that football -- even the Super Bowl -- is not the main thing in life.

Devin Thomas, a wide receiver for the New York Giants who was a decisive player in the NFC Championship Game that sent the Giants to the Super Bowl says, "Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and I put Him first. He's given me this opportunity to showcase on a large scale about the work He has done in my life."

]]>

Click the play button below to listen to this broadcast.

For more Gospel Light
Minute Broadcasts, click here.

Danny Woodhead, running back for the New England Patriots and two time Harlon Hill Trophy Winner, says "Without my relationship with Christ nothing else really matters. This is obviously the greatest situation to be in in football and in my athletic career but my faith comes first."

Prince A-mu-ka-ma-ra, cornerback for the New York Giants, says "My faith has helped me because I know it's an audience of one and that I'm just performing for Jesus."

Matthew Slater, wide receiver and special teams captain for the New England Patriots, says, "I'm a true believer that God is in control. You know, Romans 8:28 says that God is going to work everything together for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. So, you have to at the end of the day just trust the plan. And trust that we don't always know what the plan is but it's not up to us to know what the plan is. It's God's plan."

Hakeem Nix, wide receiver for the New York Giants and one time NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month, says "I'm all in. I'm all in with Christ ... He put me here to exalt Him and humble myself."

Deion Branch, wide receiver for the New England Patriots, two time Super Bowl Champion, and one-time Super Bowl MVP, says "Life is bigger than football. You can't do this forever. What I'm going to be is a God-fearing Christian."

This is the "Chief of Sinners," Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International. These six football players realize that there is more to life than football -- they realize that the most important thing in life is knowing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and following God's plan for their lives. Just like they gave their lives to Christ, may I encourage you to do the same. Here is how:

1. Accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God's law. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 7:20: "For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, and sinneth not." Romans 3:23 reads: "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." In fact, I am the chief of sinners, so don't think that you're alone.

2. Accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death..."

3. Accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." The Bible says in Revelation 21:8: "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

4. Accept the fact that you cannot do anything to save yourself! The Bible states in Ephesians 2: 8, 9: "For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast."

5. Accept the fact that God loves you more than you love yourself, and that He wants to save you from hell. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

6. With these facts in mind, please repent of your sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and pray and ask Him to come into your heart and save you this very moment. The Bible states in the book of Romans 10:9, 13: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

If you are willing to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, please pray with me the following simple prayer: Heavenly Father, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

Congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour!

Believe by faith. Share the faith. and Keep the faith! God Bless You!

Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in twenty-three foreign countries. He is the author of sixteen books. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry which publishes a monthly magazine called The Torch Leader. He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts, The Prayer Motivator Devotional and the Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, and the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor's degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, and a Master's degree in Religion from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica for twenty-five years. God has blessed their union with seven children. Find out more at www.danielwhyte3.com.

Rosa Parks -- A Woman Praised

2012-02-06T16:10:05Z

THE GOSPEL LIGHT MINUTE X

with Daniel Whyte III

Proverbs 31:30 states, "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall

be praised".

Rosa Parks was the first woman to lie in state in the Capitol rotunda of the United States of America. Mrs. Parks is the first black woman to be chosen to have a statue in Statutory Hall in Washington, D.C. And she is one of the very few women who has had not just one, not just two, but three funeral services. Why was this humble and quiet lady so praised at the end of her life?

]]>

Click the play button below to listen to this broadcast.

For more Gospel Light
Minute X Broadcasts, click here.

How did it all begin? Rosa Parks, who was known by all to be a Christian lady and a woman who had a "meek and quiet spirit", on a very memorable day in December of 1955, in the segregated city of Montgomery, Alabama, refused to give up her seat to a white man, when asked to get up. Many have said, "she sat down so that we all could stand up." She was not boisterous, she did not fuss and fight, but won that battle through the "content of her character" and through a Godly and quiet spirit.

After this incident, she lost her job and was persecuted. However, she never said a mumbling word. She never pitched a fit. She never sought the spotlight. And she never tried to profit from her fame. How could Rosa Parks do this? She did it because she knew the Lord, feared the Lord, and served the Lord. And this is why she will forever be "A Woman Praised."

Rosa Parks made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you want to know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour as well? Here's how:

2. Accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death..."

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Congratulations on accepting Jesus Christ as your Saviour! You have now accepted the same Jesus Christ that Rosa Parks professed, and you will live with Him forever.

Remember, friend, Believe by faith. Share the faith. and Keep the faith!

Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in twenty-three foreign countries. He is the author of sixteen books. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry which publishes a monthly magazine called The Torch Leader. He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts, The Prayer Motivator Devotional and the Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, and the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor's degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, and a Master's degree in Religion from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica for twenty-five years. God has blessed their union with seven children. Find out more at www.danielwhyte3.com.

Musical Selection

Song: "Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)"

Album: Until The Whole World Hears

Artist: Casting Crowns

Click here to buy this song >>>

How to Get the Most Out of Facebook's New Timeline Apps

2012-02-06T14:18:50Z

Facebook is expanding its virtual scrapbook feature, Timeline. Now, in addition to letting people see your current and past Facebook activities, you can show them what you're up to elsewhere on the Web.

]]> This is thanks to the new Timeline Apps feature, which allows a new set of apps to grab and post activity from other websites and services into your Facebook Timeline.

For example, if you install the Words With Friends app, all your Words With Friends account activity appears in Facebook.

As of this writing, 80 apps are available, but Facebook has promised to release even more. The apps already available include some big names, including Hulu, Yahoo! News, eBay, Zynga, Rotten Tomatoes and TripAdvisor. A full list is below.

To install Timeline apps, first you need to activate Timeline. Here's how to do that.

Then visit the Timeline Apps page to find apps you want to use. Each app has an install page that shows you what the app does and allows you to adjust its privacy settings.

Not all apps post to Timeline automatically. For some apps, you turn on the "post to Timeline" feature right from the app install page. Others require you to enable from within your Facebook Account Settings.

Click here to read more.

SOURCE: FOX News

Kim Komando

African Leaders Say Continent Ready to Lead World Growth

2012-01-30T10:22:16Z

Africa is at last ready to shake off the shackles of poverty and strife and to play a new role in the global economy as a powerful driver of growth, leaders declared Thursday.

Several members of the continent's newer generation of leaders came to the World Economic Forum in Davos, a summit of the world's business elite, to make their pitch for being taken seriously as emerging economies.

]]> While admitting that much remains to be done on the poorest continent to build the roads and power grids that support trade and industrialisation, and to educate young Africans, they argued that a corner had been turned.

Indeed, with Europe -- which once held Africa as a series of colonial possessions -- laid low by economic crisis, some argued that investment in Africa would be a powerful means to revive the broader global economy.

Introducing a panel of African leaders, former British prime minister Gordon Brown quoted a question he had once heard asked by former World Bank managing director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who was in the audience.

"Which is the one trillion dollar economy that had grown over the last 10 years faster than India, and was to grow in the next 10 years faster than Brazil?" he asked. "And the answer of course is sub-Saharan Africa."

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi was cautiously upbeat.

"We know we have grown faster over the past 10 years than has been the case traditionally. On that basis we believe that Africa can and will be the next growth pole of the global economy," he said.

"We believe that we are about where India was at the start of the 1990s. We are about the same size in terms of population, so we're talking about the next growth pole in the world. That's our ambition."

Some might scoff that Africa's underfunded education systems and run-down infrastructure will hold it back as the world returns to growth, but Guinea's President Alpha Conde argued the continent was ready to leap forward.

"This new Africa is represented by its youth and women, who are extremely dynamic," the 73-year-old said, urging his fellow leaders to unify economic development policy under the African Union and pan-continental ministries.

"We have another advantage -- there is an acceleration of history. So, if we push forward in education and master the new technologies, we'll achieve in two or three years what others managed 20 years."

Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete said that Africa, far from being a drag on global economic growth, had in fact been a victim of policy mistakes in the developed world and was watching the situation nervously.

"We are part of the global economy, so whatever is happening in other parts of the world definitely effects us. A few years ago we had the global economic financial crisis and we had a lot of reversals to our growth," he said.

"Now we have a lot of anxiety with the eurozone crisis. I hope it is fixed quickly. If it isn't, there are going to be many problems."

Development experts have long argued that Africa's economies have been undermined by unresponsive governments and political corruption, but in this area too the leaders argued that progress had been made.

"African democracy is now on course," Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga said, on the day his finance minister resigned after the International Criminal Court said he should stand trial over election violence in 2007-08.

"There are resistances and pockets of resistance here and there, but by and large I think a lot of progress has been made. And also the Arab Spring lesson is coming down south very fast," he said.

Summarising the debate, Brown -- who as British leader was known as a friend of Africa -- said: "The fastest growing continent in the world is determined to keep reforming, keep innovating, keep coordinating its responses better."

SOURCE: AFP

Dave Clark

North Nigerian Governors Declare War On Boko Haram

2012-01-30T10:21:29Z

GOVERNORS of the 19 Northern states yesterday, rose from a meeting at 2 a.m. with Vice President Namadi Sambo, vowing to put an end to activities of the Boko Haram sect.

The governors noted that after an intense brainstorming at the meeting which held at the Aguda House, residence of the VP in the Presidential Villa, it became clear that what the sect intends to do is to divide the country.

]]> To identify and crush the group, the governors said they have resolved to "go back to the old traditional way of gathering information and gathering intelligence by using people."

In attendance at the meeting of the 19 northern state governors with the Vice President were the Minister of Police Affairs, the Minister of Defence and the representative of National Security Adviser.

Speaking to journalists at the State House immediately after the five hours meeting, Niger State Governor and Chairman of the Northern governors forum, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, admitted that the federal government was dealing with a well-trained group of people who are not many by the understanding of the intelligence community but noted that 'they (Boko Haram) are well trained and their motive is really to disintegrate many parts of the country; even they don't recognise even the borders that we have.'

He said, 'We have discussed generally the terrorist activities of the so called Boko Haram, identified and try to define who they are and, fundamentally, what we discovered is that what they want is possible division of the country.

'We understand they do not recognise the constitution of Nigeria and so any attempt by anybody to either move to the south or to the north in the name of religion or in the name of regional sentiment is like making these people succeed without making any effort.

'Because their efforts like any terrorist is to create a situation where people will react by themselves so that they achieve their objective and that is why all of us, particularly the governors of 19 states of the north, agreed that each one of us must go beyond the normal duty to assure people of their safety and to do those things that would further create the confidence of the people so that they stay where they are and continue to do what they are doing.

Click here to read more.

SOURCE: All Africa

Can Nigeria's Christian President Goodluck Jonathan Put an End to the Religious Violence?

2012-01-30T10:20:38Z

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the south, has been facing increased pressure from those at home and abroad to put an end to the deadly violence and volatile animosity between the nation's Muslims in the north and Christians in the south. But critics claim the president may be ill-equipped to bring peace on his own.

]]> Nine months after being elected Nigeria's president in April 2011, Jonathan's popularity has plummeted. Already having to tackle brutal acts of violence in the north, where Muslim extremists are targeting the Christian community, the embattled leader has also faced massive protests over his decision to cancel oil subsidies, a problem of a different nature for those distressed by the religious violence.

Jonathan has faced criticism for not taking efficient steps to protect Christians regurlarly targeted in attacks by Islamist extremist group Boko Haram. In fact, the president incited something of a scandal recently when he publicly admitted that he is convinced there are Boko Haram sympathizers in his own government.

"Jonathan has come across as clueless when it comes to dealing with Boko Haram," journalist and commentator Tolu Ogunlesi told CNN recently. "No senior security officers have lost their jobs, nothing seems to have been done."

In September, Jonathan responded to critics during a speech, saying: "I don't need to be a lion ... I don't need to operate like the pharaoh of Egypt, I don't need to be an army general, but I can change this country without those traits."

Yet, since then, Jonathan has ramped up efforts to eradicate extremists. In a recent post on his Facebook page, the president suggested that he plans to get tougher with terrorists, writing: "a terrorist attack on one person is an attack on all of us."

On Thursday, Jonathan challenged Boko Haram members to come forward and state their demands as a basis for dialogue, BBC News reported. The day prior, Jonathan also sacked the chief of police and his six deputies amid calls for a shake-up in the security forces.

But will his efforts convince observers that he can lead a conflict-torn nation? Many experts remain skeptical.

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Source: Christian Post | Luiza Oleszczuk

WATCH: Senegal Leader says 'Nigeria Can Have Peace'

2012-01-30T10:19:49Z

As the violence in Nigeria escalates, the president of nearby Senegal is trying to help bring peace. ]]> President Abdoulaye Wade has offered to host a delegation of Muslims and Christians from northern Nigeria in Senegal. He said he wants them to see how the two faiths live together peacefully in his country.

CBN News got a firsthand account of the effort. CBN President Michael Little spoke with President Wade in Dakar.

"You're building a reputation or have built a reputation as a peacemaker. You've recently gotten involved in Nigeria, in a situation," Little said to Wade.

"I want these people of northern Nigeria to see how we are living harmoniously in African society," Wade told Little. "I will propose that and if they come here, we will try to adopt, to write a charter - a charter on the problem of tolerance."

Click here to read more

Source: CBN News | Steve Little and Tracy Winborn

J. Lee Grady says It's Time for the Church to Address the Abuse and Injustice Among Africa's Women and Girls

2012-01-30T10:19:11Z

After spending last week in the city of Masindi, Uganda, I traveled to Uganda's capital, Kampala, to address a women's conference. After my first session a woman named Florence grabbed me and began to tell her painful story.

]]> She had given birth to five girls during her marriage. But when her girls were small, her husband decided to leave Florence because she had not produced a son. He blamed her (I guess he didn't know a man's sperm determines the gender of a child) and he said she had shamed him by having only girls. He sold the family house, evicted his wife and daughters and gave them no money for food or school fees. Then he married again and started a new family. He got two boys and another daughter out of the deal.

Florence was not depressed when she shared her sad history. She wore a colorful African dress and had a bright smile on her face as she told me how Jesus had been faithful to care for her after she was abandoned. "I had to learn to pray," she told me. "But today my girls are blessed and my oldest just finished her university education."

Florence is fortunate. Not all Ugandan women have fared well after being abused, beaten, mutilated or abandoned. Up to 70 percent of women in Uganda have been sexually or physically abused, and the statistics are even higher in other African countries.

During our conference in Kampala, my host, Constance Birungi, asked the women to gather in small groups to discuss why Ugandan women struggle so much with fear. Here are some of the responses they shared with us:

"We are beaten by our husbands, and then we are told never to report the abuse to authorities"

"We are denied education--boys are schooled but girls are told to stay home and cook"

"We are expected to be quiet and obedient, and we must kneel in the presence of men"

"Many of our husbands live in adultery, or they marry second, third, or fourth wives and bring all the children into our homes"

"We are expected to produce many children, but we do not have the money to take care of them--and sometimes our husbands abandon us"

"We have been raped and sexually abused, so we feel inferior"

"Boys are favored over girls, so we have low self-esteem"

"When we see only male leaders in the church, we wonder if there is a place for us there"

"Some men manipulate the Word of God to tell us that we must submit to abuse and adultery."

Christianity is growing in Africa today, but the question remains how effectively the gospel is impacting the culture. The week I visited Kampala, more than 50,000 people were expected to jam the city's main sports stadium for a gospel concert sponsored by the country's largest Pentecostal church. It is easy to get a crowd here, and the preaching is passionate, but some church leaders I know told me privately that they are concerned that faith is often a mile wide and an inch deep. Shallow faith, they say, cannot transform society.

There are many social problems that are staring the African church in the face--poverty and corruption are the most obvious--but the shameful treatment of women is often ignored. In fact, it was only in 2010 that President Yoweri Museveni signed a law criminalizing domestic violence. And human rights organizations say it is not enforced.

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Source: Charisma News