About 96 high tension poles belonging to Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) were destroyed by heavy wind, during the downpour that occurred on Tuesday evening in Port Harcourt.

As a result of the damaged poles with other associated materials such as 150mm aluminum conductor spanning over 32,000 metres, several cross arms, among others were also destroyed.

A cross section of Port Harcourt metropolis has been thrown into darkness.

In the wake of the loss, five 33kv and four 11kv feeders namely; Borikiri 33kv, Rainbow 33kv, Choba 33kv, Rumuolumeni 33kv and UST 33kv were affected.

Others affected are 11kv in Rumuomoi, Federal, Wokoma and Water lines.

The Chief Executive officer of PHED, Mr Jay McCoskey, reacting to the natural disaster that culminated to the loss of supply to the affected areas, appealed to the residents to exercise patience while the damaged poles are being replaced.

He assured the residents that the management would do everything possible to ensure early restoration of power supply.

“It is regrettable that PHED is facing such a loss at this moment due to natural disaster, but I can guarantee that supply will be restored to the affected areas because we have started sourcing for the materials to replace the damaged poles and other accessories,”  McCoskey said.

Thunderstorm Kills One In Port Harcourt

The rainstorm came a day after a heavy rain with thunderstorm in Port-Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State,  brought down at least two masts, destroying bill boards and some roofs in Ikoku Mile 1 community.

A 16-year-old girl, who was said to be with her mother, was killed.

While two others, including the coach of the Community Football team were left with broken skulls and are currently battling for survival at the hospital.

The former Chelsea and England midfielder, Frank Lampard, has retired from professional football after 21 years in the game.

The 38-year-old, who spent 2016 with New York City in Major League Soccer in the US, announced his decision on social media on Thursday.

Lampard made more than 600 appearances for Chelsea and won 106 caps for the Three Lions.

He scored more than 300 career goals with 211 of them for Chelsea during a 13-year spell that saw him become the club’s record scorer.

According to his retirement statement, He said: “While I have received a number of exciting offers to continue playing, at 38, I feel now is the time to begin the next chapter in my life.

“I’m grateful to the Football Association (FA), for the opportunity to study for my coaching qualifications and I look forward to pursuing the off-field opportunities that this decision opens.”

The Osun State Police has arrested a 62-year-old man for stealing the sum of 130,000 Naira under the pretense of selling a motorcycle.

The sexagenarian, known as Johnson Oyelade who has been dragged before an Osogbo magistrate court on Thursday was arraigned on a three-count charge of stealing and pretense.

The prosecutor, Mr Ajayi Sunday said “Johnson Oyelade and others at large on 20th January 2017 at about 1PM at Moje Junction, Abaku area, Osogbo did conspire together to commit felony to wit stealing.

“Johnson and others now at large on the same date, time and place did obtain the sum of N130,000 from one Ayuba Garba with pretense of selling a Bajaj motorcycle.

“So also, Johnson Oyelade and others now at large on same date, place and time did steal the sum of N130,000 property of one Ayuba Garba.”‎

Mr Ajayi said that the offences committed by Johnson is punishable under Section 516, 419 and 390(9) of the criminal code cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun-State of Nigeria 2003.

The counsel to the accused person, Mr Mufutau said “I humbly pray your worship to admit the accuse on bail; I assure this honorable court that the accuse won’t jump bail if bail is granted and he has people of means to stand his bail”.

The Magistrate, Mrs Olowolagba granted bail to the accused in the sum of N200,000 and adjourned the case till March 13, 2017 for mention.

Two hundred of the Nigerian Air Force personnel sent for peace keeping in Banjul, The Gambia, are back home, after what they called a successful campaign in the country.

The officers and men who arrived at about 6:30 on Thursday evening, were brought in an Air Force plane.

The troops were part of the ECOWAS military force sent to restore democracy in The Gambia.

Former President Yayah Jameh had refused to step down after losing an election to current President Adama Barrow.

The officers and airmen were received by Air Vice Marshal, James Gbum at the Air Force wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

ECOWAS decided to engage its military after the mediating team led by Nigerian leader, Muhammadu Buhari, could not convince President Jammeh to relinquish power to then president-elect of Gambia, Adama Barrow.

Mr Jammeh had earlier said he would accept the result of the election but changed his mind few days later, insisting that another election should be held.

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mr Mohammed Dan-Ali, explained that ECOWAS decided in a meeting to use its standby force in upholding the result of the presidential election held in December 2016, which produced Mr Adama Barrow as winner.

The Minister added that in line with the ECOWAS directive, the Nigerian military would deploy its assets to protect the people of The Gambia and maintain regional peace and security.

The mission was accomplished when Mr Adama Barrow was successfully sworn-in as President in neighbouring Senegal with Jammeh left with no other option than to leave few days after.

This paved the way for the return of Barrow as President, but the ECOWAS troops had to remain in the country ahead of the arrival of the elected President Adama Barrow.

ECOWAS said that it was retaining troops from Nigeria, Senegal and Ghana to secure the city for the next six days ahead of President Adama Barrow’s return.

Just when we thought Beyoncécouldn't top herself.

Earlier today, the music superstar took to Instagram with one incredible announcement—she's pregnant... with twins! "We are incredibly grateful that our family will be growing by two, and we thank you for your well wishes. - The Carters," the caption, alongside an artistic photo of a lingerie-clad Queen Bey cradling her baby bump, read in part.

Within seconds, the Beyhive erupted with excitement, and surprise to absolutely no one on planet Earth, the likes and comments came rolling in. So fast in fact, that less than eight hours after sharing the incredible news, Bey broke the record for the most liked Instagram snapshot of all time. 

She edged out Selena Gomez for the title, as more than 6.6 million people have liked Bey's photo and nearly 345,000 have shared their well wishes in the comment section. 

So far queen bey is the talk of the hour with her soon to be born adorables, leaving Selena runner up for the most liked photo on social media. It's a win win for the queen. 

Popular On air Personel and Content Writter Ezinwa Sandra Ify Has Decided to stand up to her feet to support the Protest which is being pulled by legendary 2baba, in a peice of article shared on her social media platform she express her take on this protest.

 

Abuja - The Department of State Services (DSS) has cautioned the general overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman, to watch his tongue because of the importance attached to his messages by his followers.

The caution the DSS gave Suleman is sequel to his alleged sermon asking his followers to kill any herdsmen found within his church premises.

The sermon caught the attention of DSS operatives who tried to apprehend the cleric in Ekiti state before they were stopped by Governor Ayo Fayose on January 25.

The service then invited Suleman to its office in Abuja for interrogation on Monday January 31, over the issue, where it told the cleric to stop granting interviews.

The secret service has asked the cleric to stop granting interviews.

A security source at the DSS who does not want to be named, told the Punch that Suleman was equally told by security operatives to know that his followership cut across Christianity and Islam and should therefore mind the way he speaks.

The source said: "We asked him why he made such a provocative statement and he defended himself.

“He (Suleman) said he made the statement based on available information that some herdsmen were planning to attack him and that he merely asked his church members to defend him and the church property.

“While we didn’t argue with him, we asked him to note that his followership cuts across the two dominant religions, which are Christianity and Islam.

“We also asked him to note that the Federal Government was doing its best to curtail the activities of the herdsmen and also fight crime generally.

“He said he knew, but added that the government needed to do much more and that he was not out to cause religious crisis but was merely expressing his anger at the refusal of government to take actions that he said could reasonably convince Nigerians that it (the government) is not partial.”

The source also disclosed that both parties have agreed not to speak with the media on the outcome of the interrogation.