Welcome to Solomon Ike's blog

President Buhari pictured at the opening of the 48th ordinary session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja earlier today. Earlier on, he received the Transitional President of Burkina Faso, Michel Kafando in Statehouse. Continue to see more photos

Six people including five female suicide bombers aged between 9 and 13, lost their lives during an attack in Maiduguri, Borno state earlier today. According to reports, the five girls who had bombs strapped on them were travelling in a group when they approached civilian vigilantes helping the Nigerian military fight Boko Haram.  "Two of the girls detonated their explosives instantly and the rest fled the scene," Muhammad Kanar from the Nigeria Emergency Management Agency told the BBC Hausa service. The other three blew themselves up as they were being chased by security forces. One other person was killed and four wounded in the incident.

Shiite members in Niger state staged a protest today. More photos after the cut...

According to Collin Udoh, players of Premier League club FC Taraba spent Monday night outside the Government House to demand payment of 11 month wages. This is not the first time the players has resorted to stringent measures to make their demands. On Friday, December 4, the players closed the gate of the Government House. They were seen carrying placards that reads: "We are dying, give us our 12 months salaries"

Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has appointed Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw as his Special Adviser, Liaison, Lagos. He also approved the appointment of Senator Florence Ita Giwa as the Chairman of the Cross River Ports Authority. Congrats to them.

The Enugu State command says it has arrested three notorious kidnappers at their various hideouts in Lagos and 9th mile, Enugu state. The suspects on November 21, abducted a victim now deceased, identified as Ekene Okonkwo (decomposed body pictured after the cut) from Affa in udi Local LGA from Affa road on his way home from a traditional marriage in his vehicle.   

HOLIDAYS, especially Christmas holiday, can be a great time for parents to bond with their children and for families to bond, particularly with extended family members that you haven’t seen in a long while. It is also a time to let your own inner child come out to play.

A much lower proposal of 150,000 Naira per player of the victorious Golden Eaglets has been tabled by the sports ministry after a proposal of 750,000 Naira-a-player was rejected by the country’s Presidency as “too much”. It has already been reported that the federal government has rejected an initial proposal by the sports ministry to reward the Eaglets after they won a fifth FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile last month. This week the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has warned that next year will be rough for the country because of the poor economy and has moved to cut back drastically on government spendings. It would therefore be seen as double standards if the government now splashes a fortune on the schoolboy stars. “The proposal has been reviewed after the first rejection. We wait for the green light from the presidency on the date for the reception and the reward,” a sports ministry official disclosed.