Girl with Rare Giant Head Syndrome

18-month-old Roona Begum, has hydrocephalus

A young girl suffering from a rare condition that has caused her head to swell to more than twice its normal size will receive free treatment at a top private hospital in India.

The offer was made by Fortis Healthcare Group after photos of 18-month-old Roona Begum, who has hydrocephalus, were published in  international media outlets last week, reports Sky News. It is hoped Roona will now receive the life-saving treatment her parents are unable to afford.

Leading Indian neurosurgeon Sandeep Vaishya, the head of neurosurgery at a Fortis hospital near Mumbai, said: "We will have to do an MRI to check the condition of her brain ... I am hopeful that we will be able to carry out a surgery and relieve the pressure on the poor child's brain".

Army GOC Task troops on weapon handling

Yeah thatz me shooting an FN Rifle during the exercise.  By Chiemelie Ezeobi The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division Nigerian Army, Mag Gen Abel Obi Umahi has challenged officers and men of the Division to improve on their weapon handling and marksmanship in order to avoid wasting ammunition during operations. The GOC who spoke to newsmen during the ongoing range classification exercise for officers and men of the division at the Ajilete-Owode in Ogun state reiterated that the exercise was significant considering the security challenges in the country at the moment.

Navy Inaugurates 2013 Promotion Examination Board for Senior Officers

Chiemelie Ezeobi

The Nigerian Navy (NN), has inaugurated the 2013 Command Appointment and Promotion Examination (CAPEX) board for 146 qualified senior officers of the rank of lieutenant commanders.

According to the board Chairman, Commodore Mufutau Adeoye, the CAPEX which would see the lieutenant commanders attain the rank of commanders, was often held to ascertain the needed quality of officers for deployment to hold positions of commands and units.

Adeoye who also doubles as the Chief Staff Officer (CSO) of the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Apapa, under the leadership of the Flag Officer Commanding, Rear Admiral Azubuike Ajuonu, said the exam would end on May 10.

EXCLUSIVE: Community Beats Traditional Ruler, Burn Wife, Palace

The burnt house and cars

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

The Adodo community in Ogun State yesterday declared its traditional ruler, the Olofin of Adodo, Oba Lateef Akanni, persona non grata, beating him up and burning the palace with his wife and kids locked up indoors.

It was gathered that the victims would have been roasted to death save for the quick response of the Commanding Officer, 192 Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Ahmed, who stormed the palace with a retinue of soldiers and rescued the woman and her kids.

Asides beating the traditional ruler and setting the palace ablaze, the community also burnt about three cars that was in the compound as well as vandalised the entire property. It was also gathered that the grouse of the community against Akanni boiled down to his alleged draconian attitude incessantly meted out to the residents especially by his followers and aides.

2 Feared Dead, 30 Injured as Explosions hit Boston Marathon

Two people have been killed and at least 23 injured in two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The annual Boston Marathon attracts a large field of runners and hundreds of thousands of spectators. Second biggest single-day sporting event in the US behind the Super Bowl, in terms of media coverage Organised by the Boston Athletic Association, the course is 26.2 miles.

This year there were 28,000 runners, representing athletes from every US state and more than 90 countries. More than 500,000 spectators line the course every year $806,000 (£527,000) in prize money offered in 2013

EXCLUSIVE: Palace Hand Reveals How OKonjo-Iweala's Mum was Kidnapped

Pix caption: Ngozi OKonjo-Iweala and the mum who was kidnapped

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

Four months after Professor Kamene Okonjo, the mother of the Coordinating Minister of Finance and Economy, Ngozi OKonjo-Iweala, was kidnapped in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, the palace hand; Chiejine Onochie, yesterday regaled journalists how they hatched the plot.

Although he claimed he was not involved in the crime, he said he only gave the kidnappers the necessary information needed for the kidnap, adding that although the kidnappers collected N13million as ransom, he was not given any.

His disclosure negates previous claims by the Delta State Government and the state police that the octogenarian was released without ransom. The suspects maintained that they only released the victim when the N13million ransom was paid.

21-member Committee for Jonathan’s Second Term Bid

Notwithstanding President Goodluck Jonathan's repeated promises that he would not take a decision on whether or not he would seek a second term in office until 2014, some stakeholders in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ministers are proceeding with behind-the-scenes preparations to make the president contest for the office again.

THISDAY gathered at the weekend that the president's aides and associates have set up a 21-member committee to advise Jonathan on the viability of his entry into the presidential contest in 2015.

It was not certain if the president was behind the idea, but THISDAY learnt that the sponsors of the committee might have got his support for the venture.

Sanusi Advocates Drug Test for Political Office Seekers

CBN Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has advocated for a drug test for all those seeking elective political office in the country.

“Anyone who wants to contest for political office or seeking political appointment should be asked to go for drug test, because if you are into drugs, you will not have the opportunity to be appointed to  any position of authority in this country,” he said.

Speaking in Kano Saturday at the State Government House during the inauguration of a three-day anti-substance abuse awareness campaign and Train-the-Trainers workshop, the CBN governor also blamed the elites for the prevailing moral decadence in the society.

FA Cup: Man City Book Final Ticket

Manchester City's Roberto Mancini

Manchester City will meet Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup final on 11 May after ending Chelsea's quest for a fifth triumph in seven attempts. City opened broke the deadlock in the 35th minute through Samir Nasri, the French midfielder scoring from close range after Yaya Toure's surging run.

Aguero's 47th-minute header made it 2-0 before holders Chelsea hit back in a pulsating semi-final. Demba Ba's 66th-minute shot on the turn gave Chelsea hope but City hung on. Roberto Mancini's City will start next month's final favourites to win the competition for the second time in three seasons after surviving a late Chelsea fightback.

Suspect Lures, Kidnaps Uncle

The suspect; Tony Anene

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

The alarming spate of kidnapping especially those instigated by insiders, was again brought to the fore weekend, when the Nigerian Army (NA) arrested one Tony Anene, who connived with two others who are currently at large, to kidnap his uncle, Mr. Dominic Nwaezeapu.

Pretending to be Mr. Augustine Ehikioya, the Economic Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan,  the suspect had on April 9, called and lured the victim out of the house and then kidnapped him in company of his accomplices.

Based on his insider status, Anene who was fully aware of the victim's long standing relationship with Ehikioya, capitalised on it and convinced the victim to come for a meeting where the land squabble would be settled amicably. 

Dele Momodu: The Monetisation of Fresh Air

Fellow Nigerians, please permit me to thank all those who responded to my last letter. Your comments convinced me that most of you truly care about our dear country. Even those who make it their lucrative trade to abuse me every week must be saluted for finding the time to read my column religiously as well as the bountiful energy to disparage my genuine effort at advising our leaders on how to make Nigeria better.

It is our collective duty and responsibility to help our government to govern right. When our country is a better place to live in, all of us would thrive and have a place to be proud of, including those who did not lift a finger up to help in the process. I do not claim to have all the solutions just as I don’t pontificate like cardinals would do. Unlike many Nigerians who travel to different places and studiously forget what they saw and the things we can copy and replicate in our nation, every trip I make is a torture to my soul and body.

SIMON KOLAWOLE: Amnesty: The Debate We Badly Need

Simon Kolawole Live!: Email: simon.kolawole@thisdaylive.com

History, dare I say, has perfected a way of repeating itself. It’s either we don’t pay attention to it or our memories are pretty too brief. In 2009, when President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua offered amnesty to Niger Delta militants, the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) flatly rejected it. They wrote an open letter to Yar’Adua which partly read: “The civilised world expected your apology to the hundreds of the displaced and relatives of dead civilians caused by the indiscriminate aerial bombing targeted at innocent impoverished communities from cowardly armed forces meant to instil fear.” A few days later, MEND bombed Agip and Chevron facilities to drive home their point. Nevertheless, Yar’Adua went with his convictions. The rest, as they say, is history.

Cue 2013. President Goodluck Jonathan is exploring the possibility of amnesty for Boko Haram militants who have been unleashing terror on Nigerians in unprecedented proportions. Although Jonathan’s amnesty offer is not yet on the table, the group has rejected it in advance. Its leader, Abubakar Shekau, said: “The Nigerian government is talking about granting us amnesty. What wrong have we done? On the contrary, it is we that should grant you pardon.” He said it was the government that had been committing atrocities against Muslims, in what clearly stands the fact on its head. In my records, Boko Haram has killed uncountable number of Muslims – in addition to their soft target, Christians.

Ribadu Appeals to Boko Haram to Accept Amnesty

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu

Former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) presidential candidate, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Saturday appealed to the Boko Haram sect to accept amnesty from the Federal Government. Ribadu explained that dialoguing with those involved in the dreadful acts would bring the desired hope of stopping the carnage.

The former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman spoke while fielding questions from newsmen in Ikenne, Ogun State, during a visit to the Awolowo family, saying the Federal Government should not deter in its peace moves, despite foreseen stumbling blocks.

Armed Robbers Kill NNPC GMD’s Brother

NNPC GMD

The spate of insecurity ravaging the north has continued with yet another attack on Mr Yohanna Yakubu , 47, the younger brother of the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),  Mr. Andrew La'ah Yakubu. The younger Yakubu was murdered yesterday by suspected armed robbers in Idon village, Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, about 110 kilometres away from the state capital, Kaduna.

River Tragedy: Body of Ikoyi Golf Club Manager Recovered

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

Hours after a Toyota Hilux van plunged into the Majidun River in Ikorodu, Lagos State, killing four persons believed to be inside it, including the manager of the elite Ikoyi Golf Club, Lagos, Mr. Kolawole Ahmed, in the wee hours of Saturday, the rescue team yesterday recovered Ahmed's body.

The rescue team comprised personnel of the Nigerian Navy (NN), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the state police command who were assisted by local divers.