Kenyan Pastor Accused of Ordering Followers to Starve to Death "to Meet Jesus". Autopsies Reveal Missing Organs in Victims

A disturbing discovery of mass graves near the coastal town of Malindi in Kenya has raised suspicions of forced organ harvesting. Autopsies on the corpses revealed missing organs, and some of the victims, including children, were found to have been strangled, beaten, or suffocated.

The majority of the bodies were believed to be followers of self-styled pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, who allegedly ordered them to starve to death to "meet Jesus." Police suspect that a trade in human organs involving several individuals has been well-coordinated.

Ezekiel Odero, a televangelist arrested in connection with the case, is alleged to have received "huge cash transactions" from Mackenzie's followers who sold their property at the cult leader's bidding. A total of 112 people have so far been confirmed dead, with search and rescue efforts ongoing. Mackenzie turned himself in on April 14 after police discovered the mass graves in the Shakahola forest, where he had been operating.

Prosecutors are seeking to hold Mackenzie for another 90 days until investigations are completed.
#newscast

Source: Vanguard

Ebonyi State Residents Hit by Hike in Transport Fare Due to Petrol Stations' Shutdown!

The Petrol Dealers Association of Nigeria, Ebonyi State branch, closed all of their petrol stations due to high taxation and fines imposed by the State Board of Internal Revenue office.

The shutdown caused an increase in transportation fares within and outside the state capital. Commercial motorcyclists, tricycle operators, and commercial buses raised their fares by 100% in response to the petrol stations' closure.

The association's chairman, Mr Silas Njaka, explained that trouble started when the Board requested members to begin paying Pay As You Earn Income Tax, which was resisted. He expressed regret that the state government imposed the tax despite opposition, while other South-Eastern states granted waivers to their members. The Board fined members who did not comply with the payment, and some were dragged to court, leading to the shutdown.

Njaka added that the tax was unconstitutional for those earning below N30,000, and most workers in their payroll earned less.

#newscast

Three Abducted Students of Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, Regain Freedom

In a glimmer of hope for the distraught families of the abducted female students of Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State, three of the remaining seven girls have been released from captivity. The young women, namely Elizabeth Ogechi Nwafor, Esther Sunday, and Aliya Abubakar, were reported to have arrived in the state on Monday afternoon.

Malam Salim Kaoje, the chairman of the forum of parents of the kidnap victims, confirmed the news, although he did not reveal any details about whether a ransom was paid for their release.

It has been a harrowing experience for the families of the victims since the attack on the school on June 17, 2021. 96 students were abducted, and the trauma of not knowing their whereabouts and safety has been agonizing. The news of the release of these three girls is a ray of hope for the other families still awaiting the return of their loved ones.

Source: Leadership

#newscast

Igbophobia is alive and well.

Just wondering how sending Igbos out of Lagos will improve the JAMB scores of Lagosians.

Innoson Vehicles Awards N3 Million Scholarship to 16-Year-Old Exceptional UTME Candidate

Ejikeme Joy, a 16-year-old student from Anglican Girls Secondary School in Nnewi, who emerged as the top-performing candidate in the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) with a score of 362, has been awarded a N3m scholarship by Innoson.

Innoson vehicles, a leading Nigerian automobile manufacturer, founded by Chief Dr Innocent Chukwuma OFR, recognized Ejikeme's academic excellence by awarding her a scholarship worth N3 Million. This scholarship will enable her to pursue her tertiary education without any financial constraints for the next five years.

Cornel Osigwe, Innoson’s head of corporate communications, said in a statement on Monday that the company is committed to social responsibility and will continue to support various initiatives such as scholarships, job creation, and community development.

Ejikeme's father works as an okada rider, and the scholarship will help alleviate the financial burden of her higher education. Innoson's generous contribution has demonstrated the company's dedication to promoting academic excellence and supporting the education of talented individuals regardless of their background.
#newscast

Source: Leadership

"I WILL PREFER TO BE IN THE SENATE TO REST": GOV UMAHI

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has announced that he has withdrawn from the race for the 10th Senate Presidency after being urged by the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, to step down in favor of Senator Godswill Akpabio.

Umahi revealed that he had a personal conversation with Tinubu, and the latter convinced him to withdraw his candidacy in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the South East zone.

Umahi claimed that he did not want to be a "clog in the wheel of Tinubu's progress," and that his withdrawal was in the best interest of the South East, which could no longer afford to remain in opposition. He also denied rumors of a South East senators' resolution to support former Abia Governor, Sen. Orji Kalu, for the position, insisting that he had more APC senators on his side.

In an interesting statement, Umahi professed that he would not lobby for a ministerial appointment in the incoming administration, but would instead leave the decision to "destiny, Tinubu, and the party." He added that while he would prefer to rest in the Senate, he would have no choice but to accept whatever God wills for him, even if it meant sacrificing his own ambitions for the sake of the APC and the President-elect.

“I will accept whatever God wills for me but as a person, I will prefer to be in the senate to rest," he said.
#newscast

Source: Vanguard

DRAKE REVEALS NIGERIAN ANCESTRY

Canadian rapper and Grammy award recipient Aubrey Graham, popularly known as Drake, recently disclosed that he may have Nigerian ancestry following the results of his father's DNA ancestry test.

The test provides information about genetic ethnicity that goes beyond what can be learned from relatives or historical documentation.

Drake posted on Instagram the ancestry results of his father, Dennis Graham, which revealed that he is mostly of Nigerian descent. In excitement, the rapper captioned the post, "This is my dad’s results does this mean I’m a Naija man finally?"

Drake is among several black people in the diaspora who have uncovered their Nigerian roots through DNA testing. Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, also discovered that she has 43 percent Nigerian ancestry, while American rapper Lil Wayne claims to have 53 percent Nigerian ancestry.

#newscast