PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

A  young British diplomat has been found murdered in the Lebanese capital Beirut after being strangled and reportedly sexually assaulted.  Rebecca Dykes, 30, from London, who had been working for the Department for International Development, was killed after leaving a bar with friends on Friday night. She had been out in the Gemmayzeh area of central Beirut for the leaving party of a colleague at the British embassy and had left just after midnight. She was abducted some time after and killed. Her body was found dumped on the Metn highway several miles away.  Police sources said the first autopsy revealed the cause of death as strangulation, however a second postmortem examination is to be carried out later.  They said they did not believe the attack to be politically motivated. One friend told pressmen: "It's horrific. We had no idea what happened to her until we got a call today to go to the police station to give statements.". Miss Dykes had been working...

        DR. ALEX I. EKWUEME FUNERAL PROGRAMME FRIDAY 19 JANUARY, 2018 LAGOS 1.) 2.00 PM: Memorial Service Cathedral Church of Christ Marina, Lagos. 2.) 5.00PM Evening of Tributes & Music Venue: The Landmark, Oniru SATURDAY 27 JANUARY, 2018 LONDON 5.00PM Memorial Service St Marylebone Parish Church London, W1 SUNDAY 28 JANUARY, 2018 ABUJA 1.) 6.00 PM Evening of Tributes Venue: International Conference Centre, Abuja. 2.) Depart London, circa 10.00pm Arriva Abuja, Monday 29 January, 2018 MONDAY 29 JANUARY, 2018 1.) ABUJA: 10.00 AM Federal Government Commendation Ceremonies Venue: Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport / Eagle Square TUESDAY 30 JANUARY, 2018 1.) 1.00 PM: Depart Abuja for Enugu 2.) ENUGU 4.00PM Service of Songs Venue: Cathedral Church of the Good Shepherd WEDNESDAY 31 JANUARY, 2018 1.) ENUGU: 10.00 AM S. E. Zone Commendation Ceremonies Venue: Okpara...

      Aides of President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor of Ogun State and Service Chiefs in surprise goodwill birthday visit to their Principal who turns 75 today in Statehouse on 17th Dec 2017. The 75th birthday of Buhari is low-key, necessitating  the cancellation of the special birthday parade to be mounted by the Brigade of Guards. The president’s family led by his wife, Aishat, and some presidential aides led by the president’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, planned a low-key birthday celebration for the president where they would present birthday cards to him. Former President Goodluck Jonathan, in his birthday congratulatory message to President Buhari, described him as a statesman who has earned a special place in history. “I prayed that  God Almighty that has kept you alive and healthy till now, will continue to protect and strengthen you as you lend your efforts towards the realization of our collective dreams for a greater and more prosperous nation,’’...

       Yesterday saturday  in Jaji Cantonement, Kaduna State, is the graduation ceremony of Junior Course 84 Graduation Ceremony at the prestigious Armed Forces Command and Staff College Nigeria, yesterday Saturday 16th December 2017 in which the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General TY Buratai is the Special Guest of Honour.More photos below.

       The team of the Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau, LASRAB, led by its Director-General, Mr. Biodun Onayele paid a working visit to the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, OOPL, Abeokuta, Ogun State.More photos below.

        Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have intensified the ongoing offensive on Boko Haram enclaves in the Islands around the Lake Chad region. The offensive which commenced about two weeks ago with coordinated air and artillery bombardments on Boko Haram enclaves while ground troops moved in to clear the areas, is yielding positive results, as several insurgents have been killed and 167 insu rgents who were fleeing from the offensive have been captured by troops. Troops also extricated and profiled 67 women and 173 children who revealed during profiling exercise that they are family members of insurgents who fled, following troops' offensive. Arrangement is ongoing to hand them over to IDP camp authorities after preliminary investigations are concluded. Meanwhile in the past two months, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have sustained ongoing precursor operations and have conducted long range fighting patrols and ambushes seeking out and clearing BHT hideouts...

       The Ogun State Government mass produced Ofada rice, is to be ready for sale to the public this Christmas season in all the Local Government and Local Council Development Areas of the state. The MITROS Ofada Rice, which is being grown, milled and bagged in the state, is aimed at ending scarcity and smuggling of commodity as well as make it available to the generality of the resident this Yuletide. Governor Ibikunle Amosun, who led some members of the state Executive Council on inspection tour of the production factory at Sawonjo, Iju Local Council Development Area in Ogun West Senatorial district of the state yesterday, expressed satisfaction at the volume of production on ground. He disclosed that two other production factories will be sited in Asero, Abeokuta, in Ogun Central Senatorial District and Ijebu North East in Ogun East Senatorial district. Urging residents of Sawonjo area to cooperate with the production team, Amosun assured of the good q...

        The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General TY Buratai paid and unscheduled visit to Nigerian Army Wounded in Action Soldiers from the north east on hospital admission at 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Kaduna on Friday 15th December 2017. He was conducted round the 4 Operation LAFIYA DOLE wards of the hospital by the Director, Major General Ikechukwu Bernard Okeke.  The COAS interacted and commiserated with each of the soldiers on admission as he went round from one bed to another. During the visit, he also gave further directives on the review of the patients conditions, expedited treatment and proper care. Lieutenant General TY Buratai has always made it a point of duty to visit troops recuperating in hospital whenever he visits any military location. The Chief of Army Staff was accompanied by some Principal Staff Officers and at the Army Headquarters and the Director Army Army Public Relations.More photos below.

        As the ‘EndSARS’ campaign continues to sweep across the nation, a 23-year-old man has recounted his horrifying encounter with operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Awkuzu, in Anambra State. It was learnt that some SARS operatives had been threatening the young man and because of this, his real name is concealed. It is, however, important to note that Amnesty International is solidly behind this young man in his quest for justice. For the purpose of this write up, he would be called Chijindu. Chijindu was arrested on February 13, 2017, in Anambra State, after he was accused of stealing a laptop. He was moved to Awkuzu SARS around 6:30pm that fateful day. He recalled that immediately he was dragged to SARS office, he was frisked and his money, N15,400, which was in his pocket, was confiscated. The policemen also allegedly collected his wristwatch, necklace and phone. He further recounted: “When the Admin officer saw me, he directed ...