Tears of joy as some of the Chibok girls reunite with parents

Tears flowed at the thanksgiving service

– Tears of joy flowed freely as the 21 Chibok girls were reunited with their parents 
– The girls recounted tales of horror at the thanksgiving service held at the presidential villa 
– Lai Mohammed the information and culture minister represented the government at the service

It was a day for tears of joy and emotion, when the 21 Chibok girls were reunited with their parents. The venue was the church at the presidential villa in Abuja on Sunday, October 16. It was a special church thanksgiving filled with emotions, which was organised by the Nigeria government for the schoolgirls who were released on Thursday, October 13. Lai Mohammed the information and culture minister who represented the Nigerian government was at the church during the service. Speaking about their experiences, Miss Gloria Dame, one of the released girls who spoke on behalf of her colleagues was so happy, she was jumping for joy, as she said: “We stayed for one month without food.” READ 

 “I narrowly escaped bomb blast in the forest. I never knew there would be a day like this. I will give thanks to God ,’’ she said, as she went on to plead with Nigerians to pray for the girls still in captivity.

One of the Chibok girl with her parents

Shiktra Kwali who delivered the sermon at the interdenominational service, urged the girls not to let the experience define them or stop them from achieving their dreams. Lai Mohammed during his speech, said that the reuniting of the girls, with their parents was the day, a lot of people have been waiting for. “It is day of joy,’’ he said.
Mr Yakubu Nkenke, the chairman of Chibok girls parents association said that the girls had eventually been identified by their parents. While, Mr Yaya Yarakawa, the chairman of Chibok local government, confirmed the positive identification of all the 21 girls and states that only those with sinister motives would doubt the authenticity of the girls.
He also expressed satisfaction with the role played by the government, saying: “I am travelling to Abuja with all the parents of the freed girls, all of us are here. 

“We are overwhelmed with joy that our girls have been found alive. I cannot talk more because we are approaching security check- points,” he said. Meanwhile, a Chibok woman wrote an emotional open letter to all those doubting the release of the girls saying in part: “I cannot put into words the pain I have been through since 2014 when I was informed of the news of the abduction of my daughter by Boko Haram terrorist. “I cried because I felt she alongside other girls who were taken from their school in Chibok would be killed immediately. I resigned myself to fate that I had lost a daughter all because I chose to send her to school.” 
More photos from the occasion below:

Justice Ademola says he was arrested for granting Dasuki bail.

In the early hours of Saturday, October 8, 2016, the Department of State Services (DSS) stormed the houses of some judges and arrested them.

Many Nigerians also condemned the action of the security agency, describing it as unconstitutional.

In the heat of all the condemnation, the DSS issued a statement accusing the judges of fraud and professional misconduct.

One of the judges in the eye of the storm, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, has alleged that he was arrested for granting bail to the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.

Justice Ademola also said the DSS was intimidating him because he ordered the release of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

He also alleged that he was told that one of the reasons he was arrested was because he allegedly used his position office to make his wife the head of civil service, through Senator Bola Tinubu.

According to Daily Post, the judge, in a letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mahmoud Mohammed, said “…Upon signing the document, they told me that I am under arrest and ordered me with guns still pointed at me to move outside. As I was going, they told me they were taking me to their office, Department of State Services (DSS) office, without showing any warrant of arrest.

“I obeyed them and about six o’clock in the morning, I was whisked away from my residence to the DSS office without any warrant of arrest or reason for my arrest.

“From the time of my arrival at the DSS office, at about 6:45am on 8/10/2016, I was not told what my crime was for over 24 hours till the evening of 9/10/2016.

“A DSS officiall finally informed me that my arrest were based on these three allegations; petition of Hon. Jenkins Duvie dated 4th of April 2016 to the National Judicial Council (NJC); granting bail to Col. Sambo Dasuki and the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu; and using my office to secure my wife’s appointment as the head of civil service, through Senator Bola Tinubu.”

Justice Ademola also alleged that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami masterminded his arrest.

Notorious Lagos Cultist "Sunday Terror" Killed After Gun Battle With Police Agents - Pix: A gang leader/cultist in Lagos popularly known as Sunday Terror was killed by policemen from the Denton police station Ebute Metta yesterday, January 25th during a shootout in Ondo street, Lagos. Sunday Terror, who is said to be a menace and responsible for a lot of atrocities in the area ranging from robbery and murder, led his men to a unleash violence on a house in Ondo street, when the police was called. He was killed during a shoot-out with policemen.

There was reportedly wild jubilation as the Special Anti-robbery squad came to collect his corpse from the police station. He had been on the watch list of the Area C Command in Surulere, Lagos for a while now.
Full story and comments on:http://www.gistmania.com/talk/topic,281904.0.html

Lenten Season

Lenten Prayer for Spiritual Renewal

Heavenly Father, look upon us and hear our prayers during this holy Season of Lent. By the good works You inspire, help us to discipline our body and to be renewed in spirit.
Without You we can do nothing. By Your Spirit help us to know what is right and to be eager in doing Your will. Teach us to find new life through penance. Keep us from sin, and help us live by Your commandment of love. God of love, bring us back to You. Send Your Spirit to make us strong in faith and active in good works. May our acts of penance bring us Your forgiveness, open our heart to Your love, and prepare us for the coming feast of the Resurrection of Christ Jesus.
Lord, during this Lenten Season, nourish Your children with Your Word of life and make them one with You in love and prayer.
Fill our heart with Your love and keep us faithful to the Gospel of Christ. Give Your children the grace to rise above their human weakness. Give us new life by Your Sacraments, especially the Mass.
Father, our source of life, We reach out with joy to grasp Your hand; let us walk more readily in Your ways. Guide us in Your gentle mercy, for left to ourselves we cannot do Your Will.
Father of love, source of all blessings, help Thy Children to pass from their old life of sin to the new life of grace. Prepare them for the glory of Your Kingdom. 

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and Reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, Forever and Ever. AMEN.

Pope insists: - Muslims must speak out against terrorism, violence,

Pope Francis prays with journalists on the papal flight en route to South Korea, August 14, 2014.

From the Vatican City, 
Nov 30, 2014 / 05:47 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- 
On his in-flight press conference returning from a three-day trip to Turkey, Pope Francis said that Muslim leaders around the world must speak out against violence and terrorism carried out in the name of Islam.

“I believe sincerely that it can’t be said that all Muslims are terrorists. You can’t say that. Just as you can’t say that all Christians are fundamentalists because we have them too, eh. In all religions, there are these little groups,” he said Nov. 30.

“I told the (Turkish) president that it would be nice if all the Muslim leaders, whether political leaders or religious leaders or academic leaders, say that clearly and condemn it, no?” he continued, explaining that “all of us need a worldwide condemnation, also from Muslims who have the identity who say ‘We aren’t that. The Quran isn’t that’.”

The Pope also offered a firm warning on the situation of Middle East Christians.

“Truly, I don’t want to use sweetened words. Christians are being chased out of the Middle East. Sometimes, as we have seen in Iraq, the area of Mosul, they have to go away and leave everything, or pay the tax which doesn’t do any good.”

Speaking of broader violence throughout the world, Pope Francis said he believes “that we are living through a third world war, a war in pieces, in chapters, everywhere.”

“Behind this, there are rivalries, political problems and economic problems, to save this system where the god of money and not the human person is at the center. And behind this, there are also commercial interests: arms trafficking is terrible; it is one of the strongest businesses of this time.”

He cautioned that while humanity has discovered the positive good of nuclear energy, it has also used this energy for destructive means.

Asked about his trip to Turkey, Pope Francis emphasized ecumenism. He spoke about the importance of dialogue based on shared experience.

The Holy Father voiced his conviction that Catholics are moving forward in their relationship with the Orthodox, who have both the sacraments and apostolic succession.

“Unity is a journey we must undertake together,” praying and working together, he said, also noting “ecumenism of the blood,” as both Catholic and Orthodox martyrs shed their blood for the Christian faith.

Division exists when the Church becomes self-referential rather than focusing outward, the Pope stated. But while there are still difficulties, “we must be respectful and not tire of engaging in dialogue, without insulting others, without dirtying ourselves, without gossiping.”

In addition, Pope Francis spoke about a particularly intense moment of prayer he had during the papal trip.

He explained that he came to Turkey “as a pilgrim, not as a tourist,” and “the main reason was the feast today to share it with Patriarch Bartholomew, a religious reason.”

“But then, when I went into the mosque, I couldn’t say, ‘No, now I’m a tourist.’ No, it was all religious,” he said. “I saw those marvels, also the Mufti explained the things well to me with so much meekness, with the Quran where it spoke of Mary and John the Baptist. And he explained it all to me and in that moment I felt the need to pray. And, I said to him, ‘Shall we pray?’ And he said, ‘Yes, yes.’ I prayed for Turkey, for peace, for the Mufti, for everyone, for myself because I need it. And, we truly prayed. And, I prayed especially for peace. Lord, let’s end wars. It was like that. It was a moment of sincere prayer.”

He also spoke about his visit with refugee children and said that he would like to go to Iraq.  

“For the moment it isn’t possible. It’s not that I don’t want to go, but if I went right now it would cause a quite serious problem for the authorities, for security. But, I would really like to and I want to,” he said.

Psquare's dad, Mr Okoye passed on yesterday

Psquare loses their father two years after the death of their mum

 

The Okoyes families are presently mourning the death of their father who passed away yesterday. A source close to the family exclusively revealed that the late Mr. Okoye  recently had a successful knee surgery and was about going for physiotherapy when he just fell. 

What a lost!. 

May his soul find eternal rest with GOD. (Amen). 

What is the appropriate means to dispose of an old Bible?

Holy Bible

There is no specifically mandated means of disposing of old Bibles. Some
Catholics follow a custom of disposing of religious articles that have been blessed either
by burying or burning them, but even that is not mandated by law. If
the Bible has been blessed you might choose to follow that custom. If
not, dispose of it as you would any other book. If it’s still in fair
condition, you might put it on a book donation table to benefit someone
else.