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  • Cross River Introduces “Jesus Carnival” into State Tourism Calendar

    Cross River Introduces “Jesus Carnival” into State Tourism Calendar

    The Cross River State Government has officially introduced a new annual event into its tourism calendar. The event, titled “Carnival Parade of Thanksgiving and Festival of Praise” — popularly known as the “Jesus Carnival” — will be held every Easter season.

    The maiden edition took place on Easter Monday in the state capital, Calabar, and was flagged off by the Governor, Apostle Senator Bassey Edet Otu, alongside his wife, Bishop Eyoawan Bassey Otu. The colorful and spiritually charged event, marked by splendor and cultural flair, is a spiritual offshoot of the globally celebrated Carnival Calabar, traditionally held every December.

    Organizers explained that the Jesus Carnival is designed as a moment of collective gratitude to God for the success of Carnival Calabar and the continued progress of the state. It blends faith, culture, and thanksgiving into a unique Christian celebration during the Easter season.

    Speaking at the event, Governor Otu declared: “Jesus Christ has taken Cross River State to unimaginable heights within two years of this administration. From inception, I declared this a Godly state, and Jesus the true Governor. Easter Monday has now been set aside to celebrate Jesus and to say, ‘Father, thank You for how far You’ve brought us.’ The story of Cross River State is changing for the better. I’m grateful to all the men and women of God who have continually kept the state in their prayers.”

    Read Also: Hisbah dismantles ‘Holy Site’ where pilgrims trooped to drink mud water following claims the ground bore Prophet’s footprint in Kano (video)

    He called on more Christians to join the effort to pray for Cross River, emphasizing that “no investment in the things of God is ever wasted.” The Governor also thanked the large contingent of clergy who led their congregations in participating in the event.

    The parade route covered several strategic locations across Calabar Municipality and Calabar South, including Millennium Park, Watt Market, Nelson Mandela Street, Target Street, and the Mary Slessor Roundabout, before returning to the main carnival corridor. Prayers were offered at various roundabouts along the way, adding a spiritual dimension to the march.

    Governor Otu and his wife danced and sang alongside thousands of Christian faithful, with gospel music echoing through the streets in a jubilant expression of faith.

    Bishop Mrs. Eyoawan Otu, speaking before the flag-off, said the vision for the Easter event was inspired by a desire to dedicate a significant part of the tourism calendar to Jesus Christ.

    “While Carnival Calabar is a secular celebration, this is a spiritual festival — one created to honor Christ for His sacrifice and celebrate our faith as a people,” she explained.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Event Management, Mr. Effiong Ekpenyong, described the Jesus Carnival as the brainchild of the First Lady, crediting her prayerful support for much of the administration’s success. He coordinated the parade’s logistics and highlighted its significance as a new attraction in the state’s growing tourism offerings.

    “With this spiritually uplifting addition to its tourism calendar, Cross River State has reaffirmed its identity as a place where culture and faith intersect—making Easter not just a religious observance, but a state-wide celebration of divine gratitude and praise,” he concluded.

    The celebration culminated with live gospel music performances, headlined by internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, and producer, Cobhams Asuquo, whose electrifying performance left the crowd in awe.

    Prayers were led by prominent religious leaders, including the State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. (Dr.) Takis Etim Caiafas; Bishop Josef Bassey; Bishop Emma Isong; Bishop Bassey E. Edem; Apostle Frank Umoh, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Affairs; and several others across various Christian denominations.

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  • Hisbah dismantles ‘Holy Site’ where pilgrims trooped to drink mud water following claims the ground bore Prophet’s footprint in Kano (video)

    The Kano State Hisbah Board has dismantled a makeshift pilgrimage site where pilgrims trooped to drink mud water following unverified claims that the location bore the footprint of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

    The site, located around the Dakata Industrial Area, was cleared for railway development recently. However, it attracted public attention after a muddy imprint was spotted on the ground, coupled with water seeping from the site. 

    Some Muslim faithful believed it was the Prophet’s footprint, and hundreds of people trooped to the site to drink, bathe, and collect the water, believing it possessed divine healing powers. 

    Reacting to the development, the Deputy Commander of the Kano moral police, Muhahideen Aminudeen, said the board swiftly intervened after receiving reports of the growing activities at the site. 

    He described the claims as fabricated and dangerous, especially given the absence of any religious or historical basis. 

    “Some mischief makers circulated this bogus story that the place is a holy site where the Prophet set foot,” he said. 

    “Unfortunately, many people who lack sound knowledge of Islam were misled. We deployed officers to the scene to educate the people and dismantle the site to prevent further harm.” 

    Aminudeen emphasised that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) never visited Africa during his lifetime, let alone Kano. 

    He urged the public to seek authentic Islamic knowledge to avoid falling prey to such deceptive claims. 

    “This kind of misinformation can lead people astray and even pose health risks,” he added. “We call on parents to ensure their children are properly educated in Islamic teachings.” 

    He also cautioned residents against consuming the water from the site, warning that it could be contaminated due to the area’s proximity to industrial activities. 

    The board said it was investigating the origin of the false claim.

     

    See video below.

     

     

     

    Source: Linda Ikeji

  • Nigerian Army Personnel Instead Of Engaging Terrorists Group, Extort Money From Farmers, Motorists — Kwara Communities Cry Out

     

    Residents of several border communities in the Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State have accused the Nigerian Army personnel deployed to the region of extortion, negligence, and failing to confront the growing threat of terrorism in the area.

     

    Multiple residents who spoke with SaharaReporters lamented that while armed groups continue to terrorise their villages, soldiers stationed there appear more interested in making money through illegal checkpoints than protecting lives.

     

    “They fired so many times, they appear to have presence in most of our communities now,” one community source told SaharaReporters, referring to the latest attack. “Communities like Nanoru, Tumbuyan, and Gwanara are no longer safe. My advice for my people is to remain vigilant henceforth.”

     

    In a shocking twist, locals are now calling for the withdrawal of military forces from their area, claiming the soldiers have become more of a liability than a line of defence.

     

    “We urge that the soldiers deployed to our communities for protection be returned to their barracks,” the source continued.

     

    “Let the government provide our local vigilante with sufficient firearms to empower them, because the soldiers are just here doing nothing.”

     

    A custom personnel who is also a resident of one of the affected communities told SaharaReporters that even though he wears the uniform, he is deeply disturbed by the conduct of the soldiers stationed in the area.

     

    “What is happening is that the soldiers deployed to our communities are not fulfilling their duties properly,” he said. “The group that attacked last night wore soldier uniforms, and there were soldiers at every checkpoint they passed. Some locals even reported seeing these groups dressed in military uniforms travelling back to Ilorin after the attack, mistakenly believing they were real soldiers.”

     

    He questioned how the supposed soldiers on duty could not identify impostors wearing their uniforms.

     

    “My concern is, how come the soldiers deployed could not recognise them?” he asked.

     

    The soldier also recounted his personal experience with extortion by his fellow troops.

     

    “If you visit Chikanda, you will notice that soldiers are present everywhere, stopping innocent farmers and extorting money from them. They will never go after these terrorists. They will not go to Koronji, the area they were deployed to secure.”

     

    “Every night, you will find them parked in the premises of a secondary school in Chikanda with their Hilux van, stopping individuals and asking them to open their car boots. That is not their job. They are doing this to extort people and make money for themselves. They are not fighting the terrorists; they were deployed to our communities to fight. It is like they are here to make money.”

     

    He revealed that he was also targeted for extortion, but pushed back.

     

    “I was stopped for the same reasons. They wanted to extort me too. I informed them that I am also a uniformed officer. I confronted them about their improper behaviour.”

     

    He said the situation would be better if the soldiers were removed entirely.

     

    “It is even better if these soldiers are not here, because without them, we would have been more vigilant as community people. But their presence is not helping us. They are only extorting us.”

     

    “The government should train our local vigilantes and give them sufficient firearms. They will perform better than these soldiers.”

     

    The military insider added that no soldiers are currently deployed to Koronji, a known hideout of the terrorist group operating in the area.

     

    “Currently, as I am speaking to you, in Koronji, the hideout of the terrorists, no soldiers are deployed there. They are only in the main town extorting money from farmers and motorists. Instead, it is only the local vigilantes providing protection.” 

    Source: Sahara Reporters

  • The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2 Stirred My Memory of Glenn’s Brutal Death in The Walking Dead

    I have always felt drawn to stories, including movies, TV shows, and games, set in a post-apocalyptic world infested with the undead. That’s why AMC’s The Walking Dead was one of the first TV shows I never missed when I was in high school. I caught up to the latest events by the time Season 6 started airing in my country, and teenage me wasn’t ready for the harrowing death of my beloved character in The Walking Dead franchise.

    Heavy Spoiler Warning:

    This article contains massive spoilers about a main character’s death in The Last of Us Part 2 and The Walking Dead. Therefore, proceed with caution and we highly recommend you to experience both series first to avoid ruining your intended experience.

    Of course, I’m talking about the shocking and brutal death of Glenn Rhee, one of the iconic faces of The Walking Dead franchise, at the hands of Negan. It’s been more than a decade since Negan used Lucille, the baseball bat wrapped with barbed wire, and bludgeoned Glenn to death. Watching a character you have grown attached to over a long time, meet such a bone-chilling end was one of the literal heartbreaking moments of my life.

    Maybe I need to stop getting attached to fictional characters, but witnessing Glenn get bashed to death kind of prepared me for the worst outcomes for my favorite characters in the future. Years later, I played The Last of Us Part II video game (review), in which Joel, another one of my most cherished main characters, met a similar harrowing end in the story. Even though Glenn prepared me for a situation like this, watching Joel’s life end shattered my heart into pieces.

    Image Credit: AMC and HBO (via X/@WalkingDead_AMC and Warner Bros Discovery Pressroom, Liane Hentscher/HBO)

    Now, the moment I’ve been dreading has finally been adapted in the second episode of The Last of Us Season 2. The showrunners have slightly altered how they portray Joel’s demise in The Last of Us, but it’s still as gut-wrenching. While Joel’s death in the game was brutal, some of the moments were off-screen, and it lasted for a short period. On the other hand, the live-action TV show doesn’t shy away from showcasing Abby‘s brutality against Joel.

    In line with The Walking Dead, where Negan smashed Glenn’s head into a pulp, TLOU portrays Abby bashing Joel on his injured leg and then his head with a golf club. The creators even changed the scene to Abby killing Joel by piercing the jagged end of the shattered golf club into his neck, just as one would take down an infected. Undoubtedly, both these sequences will be remembered as one of the most traumatic deaths in television history.

    Be it Abby‘s ruthlessness or Joel succumbing to his death, I truly felt the gravity of the situation here, same as I felt when watching Glenn die back then. This was possible because the showrunners remained faithful to their respective source material and depicted it excellently on screen for the TV show audience.

    Not only did Joel’s death in The Last of Us TV series mirror Glenn’s death in The Walking Dead, but their killers, Abby and Negan, respectively, also go on to redeem themselves in the story later on. That is the beauty and bitterness of the stories taking place in post-apocalyptic worlds. In an interview with Variety, Neil Druckmann also discussed the brutality of Joel’s death and how he couldn’t spare the TV show audience:

    We don’t actually hold back in the game. I think there’s just something in the live action adaptation that makes it more brutal. We talked a lot about this throughout the season. There’s other instances where we have to make certain adjustments because of that. But it’s also important just to see the brutality. You’ve played the game, and you know how important everyone’s mindset about what happened to Joel is going forward and the choices that they make. Therefore, we couldn’t spare the audience either, because we need them in that same mindset.

    Glenn (played by Steven Yeun) got his revenge against Negan (played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan) in another popular animated show, Invincible, where Invincible beats Conquest to a pulp, which was celebrated by The Walking Dead fans recently. However, TLOU leans on the other side, where it’s about redemption and mercy.

    Without a doubt, Joel and Glenn’s deaths are my top two character deaths that left me emotionally devastated. In case you have seen both of these shows, let us know your thoughts about their deaths in the comments below.

    Ajith Kumar

    An entertainment writer with a passion for analyzing and sharing insights on movies, shows, and anime.


    Source: Beebom

  • You’ll Soon Be Able to Shop Through ChatGPT!

    OpenAI is teaming up with Shopify to bring e-commerce directly into ChatGPT. This new feature will let users browse, ask about, and buy products—all without leaving the chat. It’s a big step that turns ChatGPT from a helpful assistant into a full shopping tool.

    ChatGPT and Shopify Bring Shopping to Chat

    Image Credit: Shiftdelete

    The system is already in place behind the scenes. Developers have found new code in OpenAI’s website that shows this feature is nearly ready. Some of the code even includes links that go straight to Shopify checkout pages. That means users will be able to make purchases directly, right from within a conversation.

    Once the feature is live, you won’t need to jump between websites to shop. You’ll be able to search for items, read product details, and complete a purchase—everything inside the chat window. This makes shopping faster and more convenient.

    Shopify’s large network of sellers will also be part of this system. That means a wide variety of products will be available. It opens the door for small and large businesses to reach users through ChatGPT in a new way.

    The fact that this feature is in the production environment suggests it will launch soon. And it’s not just OpenAI making moves in this space. Other tech companies are doing something similar.

    Microsoft recently launched its “Copilot Merchant Program,” which also adds shopping features to its AI tools. Another AI platform, Perplexity, rolled out its “Buy with Pro” option last year. The trend is clear: AI is becoming a new way to shop.

    This change could improve how people interact with online stores. Instead of typing search terms into a website, users can simply ask the AI what they’re looking for. The AI can then show options, answer questions, and help complete the purchase.

    For Shopify, this is a chance to give merchants more visibility. For OpenAI, it’s a big upgrade to what ChatGPT can do.

    The future of shopping may be just a chat away. What do you think about this change? Would you buy something straight from a chatbot? Let us know in the comments.

    Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.Follow Gizchina.com on Google News for news and updates in the technology sector.

    Source: Giz China

  • US tech company Mechanize to replace all human labor using artificial intelligence

    US tech company, Mechanize, a startup focused on developing virtual work environments, benchmarks, and training data, aims to replace all human labor using artificial intelligence.

    The venture’s initial goal, according to its founder Tamay Besiroglu, is to automate professional and administrative functions rather than manual duties, with a focus on the enormous $60 trillion global salary pool.

    Despite the fact that some economists predict augmentation rather than obsolescence, this ambitious ambition caused a great deal of pushback and reflects larger public anxiety about possible job displacement from automated intelligence.

    READ ALSO: Using AI, Google suspend 39m advert accounts over alleged fraud

     “Mechanize will build virtual work environments, benchmarks, and training data to enable the full automation of all work,” Besiroglu wrote in a post on X.

    In its X announcement, the corporation itself went one step farther and promised complete economic automation of its internal operations moving forward.

    “We will achieve this by creating simulated environments and evaluations that capture the full scope of what people do at their jobs,” Mechanize said. “This includes using a computer, completing long-horizon tasks that lack clear criteria for success, coordinating with others, and reprioritizing in the face of obstacles and interruptions.”

    Source: Ripples Nigeria

  • Burnley pay Manchester United due to promotion

    Ruben Amorim is preparing to oversee a crucial summer rebuild at Manchester United following another underwhelming campaign.

    With several players expected to leave Old Trafford in the coming months, the Portuguese boss will also be looking to explore creative financial boosts as he reshapes the squad.

    Recent developments around United’s loan and sell-on arrangements have become increasingly important, with several former academy graduates thriving elsewhere.

    Meanwhile, young talents like Harry Amass are drawing interest for summer loans, and others could be evaluated for reintegration or sold with profit-generating clauses.

    Now, another forgotten name has brought good news to United’s financial books—this time thanks to a key promotion clause.

    Former Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri has helped Burnley secure an immediate return to the Premier League after their 2-1 win over Sheffield United at Turf Moor.

    The 22-year-old, who spent six years at Old Trafford before being sold last summer, played the full 90 minutes and won the decisive penalty that sealed promotion.

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    Hannibal Mejbri has made 36 appearances this season under Scott Parker and played a valuable role in the club’s second-place finish, ensuring they cannot be overtaken with two games remaining.

    According to the Manchester Evening News, United inserted a series of clever clauses in the £5.4m transfer that could ultimately rise to £9.4m.

    A buy-back option and a matching rights clause give United the chance to re-sign the Tunisian international if another club makes a move for him.

    However, the most immediate benefit comes from a six-figure bonus linked to Burnley’s promotion—believed to be part of the £4 million add-ons within the original deal.

    Simon Stone confirmed the news via social media, stating that United would “benefit from six-figure sum” due to this clause.

    In addition to that, a 50% sell-on clause—albeit one that decreases over time—means United could still profit handsomely if Burnley eventually sells the player elsewhere.

    Whether Hannibal Mejbri returns to Old Trafford or not, United’s decision to structure a deal with multiple safety nets may prove vital as Amorim eyes fresh additions ahead of the 2025/26 season.

    CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CENTRE DEVILS WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!

    Source: Centred Devils

  • GOC 8 Division Rewards Spelling Bee Competitors With Scholarships

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division, Major General Ibikunle Ajose, has lauded the power of education and unity during a spelling bee competition held at Giginya Barracks, Sokoto, as part of the 25th priestly ordination silver jubilee celebration of Reverend Father Patrick Odira Orji of the Roman Catholic Church in the cantonment.

    To underscore the importance attached to education, the GOC granted all the competitors scholarships and hailed the competition as crucial to national development.

    The spelling bee was unique in its inclusive approach that brought together children from across the Barrack community, regardless of religion or ethnicity.

    Both Muslim and Christian families participated in the event, reflecting the spirit of unity and coexistence that the Nigerian Army promotes within its ranks and host communities.

    Speaking at the event, Ajose who is also the Commander Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA, praised the high standard of performance displayed by the children, describing it as a testament to the quality and potential within the barracks community.

    “The standard was very impressive, and I believe this is the way forward,” the GOC stated.

    “We must continue to tell our children that the sky’s the limit once they put their minds to it.

    “In the barracks, we are one family. Nigeria as a whole should embrace that spirit regardless of tribe, religion, or gender, we all work towards one goal: peace and unity.”

    In a further demonstration of his commitment to education and child development, the GOC personally sponsored the educational needs of the participant.

    This generous gesture included the payment of school fees, provision of school uniforms, school bags, sandals, wristwatches, personal clothing and cash prizes.

    The initiative not only encouraged academic excellence but also reinforced the military’s role in promoting social cohesion and nation-building beyond the battlefield.

    In his welcome address Rev Father PO Orji said the competition is not about winning but celebrating the joy of learning and the great fun ideas that literature holds.

    He acknowledged the participants commitment to excellence, stating that their courage and passion for learning is what makes the event meaningful.

    “Whether today brings victory or valuable lesson, remember that each word spelt today is a step towards growth”

    Orji expressed his gratitude to God for springing his life to witness this moment and the GOC for being for his support.

    The spelling bee ended with John Terse Orfega as first position, Jennifer Ashezi Sunday second position while Ajeh Gertrude and Fatima Muntaka emerged third position.

    GOC 8 Division Rewards Spelling Bee Competitors With Scholarships is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

    Source: The Whistler