Anyone Can Be At Risk

 Human Kidney

By Dr. Michael Etomi


This year’s World Kidney Day is March 14. This day serves to increase awareness of kidney disease which ordinarily is a silent condition that can lead to so much financial and psychological toll on the patient and the family. This article about facts about kidney disease comes timely this month

What are the Kidneys?

There are usually two kidneys, each about the size of a fist, and they are on either side of the spine at the lowest level of the rib cage.

What do the Kidneys do?
Think of your kidneys like a filter that keep some things in your body that you need and get rid of other things that you don’t.
1. Make Urine
2. Balances the chemicals in your body
3. Produces a form of Vitamin D for your bones
4. Produces hormones that regulate blood pressure, control calcium metabolism
5.  Stimulates red blood cell production

So overall, kidney function kind of looks like this:

 What is “Kidney Disease”?
1. Can be ‘Acute’ which is when the kidney function deteriorates suddenly (Acute Kidney Injury or “Acute Kidney Attack”).
2. Chronic Kidney Disease which basically means that there is a gradual decline of kidney function.

What causes Chronic Kidney Disease?
1. High Blood Pressure
2. Glomerulonephritis – inflammation of the glomeruli
3. Polycystic kidney disease (A genetic disorder where numerous cysts grow in the kidneys and can slowly replace much of the mass of the kidney).
4. Drugs and toxins including (but not limited to)
1. Large numbers of over-the-counter pain relievers
2. Cocaine
3. Heroin
4. AND…DIABETES

Risks for Kidney Disease
Anyone can develop kidney problems, but you are at higher risk if you:
- Have Diabetes
- Have high blood pressure
- Have a family members with kidney disease
- Are over 60 years old
Symptoms of Kidney Disease

Most kidney disease has no symptoms until the disease is far advanced so your best bet is regular checkup.
- A sick feeling in your stomach often
- A tired or dizzy feeling often
- Swelling in your feet, hands, or face
- Back pain
- Bloody, foamy, or dark-colored urine
- Unexplained high blood pressure
- A change in how often you urinate (more or less often)


Tests for Kidney Disease
Many kidney diseases often have no symptoms so ask your doctor about these tests.
- Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
o Tells your doctor how well your kidneys clean your blood
- Your doctor should test for “creatnine”. This can be put in a formula to get your estimated GFR.
o Normal GFR is between 90-130 but this drops as you get older.

- Check your urine for protein (albumin).
- High blood pressure can cause kidney disease.
o A normal blood pressure is less than 120 over  80 (120/80).
- Kidney Biopsy
o Your doctor looks at a tiny piece of your kidney tissue under a microscope.

- Tests that take pictures of your kidneys. For example:
o Ultrasound
o CT Scan
What are treatment options for kidney failure?
Kidney disease can sometimes lead to kidney failure (also called End-Stage Renal Disease).

To stay alive a patient needs one of these:
1. Dialysis: This is a way of cleaning wastes and extra fluid from the blood artificially.
- Hemodialysis: Needed three to four times a week and each treatment last around four hours. Hemodialysis patients must follow a restricted diet and must take a variety of medicines and vitamin supplements.
-Peritoneal Dialysis: A second way of cleaning wastes and extra fluid from the blood artificially. A permanent soft tube called a catheter is used to fill the abdomen with a cleansing liquid called dialysis solution.
2. Kidney Transplantation: A procedure that takes a healthy kidney from another person into the body. The new kidney takes over the work of the two failed kidneys. The donated kidney may come from a living donor, or someone who has just died.


Finally, Preventing Kidney Disease
Diabetes and high blood pressure must be controlled.
- Regular check-ups with your doctors
- Taking medications prescribed by your doctor
- Regular exercise
- Avoiding smoking
- Drinking alcohol in moderation
- Low fat diet

For more information contact the Nigerian Association of Nephrology (NAN) at nephrologynigeria@hotmail.com

Etomi, MD, MPH, FASN is a Vice President with Metrolina Nephrology Associates and Medical Director Home Dialysis in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. He is also the current President of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas.

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Brazil 2014: Keshi Threatens to Drop Mba

Super Eagles star, Sunday Mba

By Olawale Ajimotokan

Coach Stephen Keshi has threatened to stop selecting Africa Cup of Nations hero Sunday Mba for the national team duty unless the striker starts playing again in the local league.

Enugu Rangers and Warri Wolves are bitterly embroiled in claims over the rightful owner of the contract of the striker who was the match winner in the Africa Cup Nations final against Burkina Faso.

The Mba saga was one of the touch points at Tuesday’s parley between Keshi and the media when the Super Eagles camp opened ahead of the Brazil 2014 qualifying match against Kenya in Calabar on March 23.

Keshi, who on February 10 guided Nigeria to a third Africa Cup of Nations triumph in South Africa, said that he was worried that Mba was not playing in the local league because of the lack of compromise between Wolves and Rangers.

He warned he might consider dropping Mba from the team if there was no compromise, as his lack of playing time was of no benefit to the player or country.

“I am very worried because he (Mba) is not playing in the league right now due to his contract which is disputed by two clubs. At this point we have to consider Mba’s career because it he is important for the country. While the authority has stepped into the matter, I might decide to drop him if he is not playing given that this situation is not good for us,” Keshi warned.

The Nigerian premier league matches only resumed last week, well behind schedule, following the crisis that was escalated by the sack of the board of the league and the institution of an interim body late last year.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is expected to make a pronouncement on the Mba issue this week after studying the recommendation of a special panel it instituted to broach a settlement between Wolves and Rangers.

After studying the documents submitted by both clubs, the panel is understood to have resolved last week that Mba remains a player on the books of Wolves until the end of the 2013 season.

The panel, however, strongly felt that the wish of Mba to play for Rangers and not Wolves be respected and even said it was willing to grant the player a provisional clearance to play for the Flying Antelopes in the league and the continent if the both clubs failed to reach an amicable settlement.

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Microsoft Hope That Windows 8 Has Come To Stay For Good

A top Microsoft executive has claimed that Windows 8 is off to a solid start and that its sales will pick up in the coming months with the launch of new touchscreen devices and the implementation of new retail strategies from Microsoft. Windows 8, Microsoft’s premier product that generated immense hype before its official launch on October 26 last year, is yet to take the world of technology by storm. In terms of sales, however, Windows 8 has been pretty much neck and neck with its predecessor. By early January, Microsoft had sold more than 60 million units of its latest operating system. experts from Synapse Communications believe it is a record similar to the one pertaining to Windows 7 that was launched more than three and a half years back.

Tami Reller, chief financial officer of the Windows unit, said in an interview at the Microsoft campus near Seattle,”We’re only just getting started, there’s a lot yet to come.”

“Touch laptops and convertibles, we’re really just starting to see these and over the next couple of selling seasons we’ll have them across all form factors and all price ranges,” he further said.

Reller believed that the forthcoming Acer tablets and HP laptops could give the Apple iPad and Android devices a good run for their money and that the new products would help in meeting the rising demand for Windows 8. Reller viewed the limited supply of touch screen devices during Christmas as the reason why Windows 8 failed to find as many takers as it should have.

“At holiday there were certain devices that were limited in their volume.

We sold out of a lot of the most interesting things,” said Reller.

Tracking Growth of Surface Tablets

The Surface tablets were launched alongside Windows 8 and expert Windows developers from Synapse Communications feel incumbent upon itself to share their performance with its readers. Microsoft has been coy about revealing the number of Surface tablets that it has sold thus far. As per the findings of the research firm IDC, the quarterly sale of the tablets stands at 900,000, which seems like a diminutive figure when compared to the 23 millions units of the iPad that were sold by Apple during the same period.

That Windows tablets have the potential of appealing to their target audience was proved by the results of a survey conducted by Forrester Research. According to the survey, only 2% “information workers” were using a Windows tablet at work but 32% were keen on using one as their next work tablet, which means that the sale of Surface and Windows tablets could increase up to 200 million units.

Microsoft Draws Flak From Detractors

The results of a Reuters survey conducted in mid-December last year revealed that consumers preferred Apple and Android products over Surface tablets. Microsoft’ detractors believe that the company has not imparted enough training to sales people and that it has failed to apprise consumers of the new devices that run on Windows 8.

“I think we can do better and we’ll work with them (retailers) to do better,” said Reller. “That’s not a criticism of our retailers. But we are definitely going to do more at retail to make that experience better.”

Reller, however, was satisfied with Windows 8′s progress thus far.

“This is a solid start. But we are just getting started,” she said. “We have a lot of reasons to be optimistic.”

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Siasia has been asked to take charge of the country’s Olympic team.

Ex-Nigeria coach Samson Siasia has been asked to take charge of the country’s Olympic team.

Siasia was fired in October 2011 after he failed to qualify Nigeria to the 2012 Africa cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

He has since this dismissal not worked even though he has been linked with various coaching jobs, from India to Kenya.

“We have contacted Siasia for the vacant U23 job but he is yet to get back to us,” a top NFF official stated.

“He was on holidays in the US but we hear he is back so we will be expecting his response because we want to start early so as to avoid the pain of 2011.”

Siasia led Nigeria to the final of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, where they lost by the odd goal to a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina.

Austin Eguavoen resigned his post as coach of the Nigeria U23s after he failed to qualify the team for the All Africa Games and the London 2012 Olympics.

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Miss Insurance Pageant Holds Friday

Outgoing Miss Insurance, Miss Onyeka Adigwe

Nnamdi Duru
The 2013 Miss Insurance beauty pageant, a baby of the umbrella organisation for insurance professionals in the country, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), is billed to hold this Friday.

The high point in the contest is the crowning of a new Insurance Queen by the outgoing Miss Insurance, Miss Onyeka Adigwe of Goldlink Insurance Plc and the presentation of the star prize of a Kia Picanto car to the winner of the contest.

According to the Director General of the institute, Mr. Adesoji Adepegba, all the necessary things have been put in place to make the 2013 Miss Insurance Dance a memorable one.
He said this year’s edition promises a lot of excitement with the innovative ideas injected into the programme by the organisers, including a red-carpet reception for dignitaries and well dressed attendees and good music to be supplied by DJ Humility.

The annual beauty pageant, he said, comes from years of unbroken tradition and has continued to provide a platform for women empowerment in the insurance industry through social engineering.

Contestants for the coveted crown, who are usually young single ladies, are emboldened by the courage to participate in the pageant while developing the spirit of sportsmanship and tolerance engendered by the keen contest, he added.

Adepegba also commended sponsors of the programme including Unity Kapital Assurance Plc, which provided a star prize of a Kia Picanto Car as well as Standard Alliance Life Assurance Limited and African Alliance Insurance Plc that sponsored the prizes for the first and second runners up respectively.

Comparing the programme to other beauty contests the world over, Adepegba said: “Like many other pageants, the Miss Insurance Dance considers both beauty and brains in throwing up the eventual winner. However, unlike most modern pageants, the dance does not accommodate skimpy dressing. Contestants usually have four appearances; in their office wear, the sportswear, the traditional dress and the evening wear, respectively.”

“Music and dance constitute a major attraction during the event and this year’s edition is no exception as the renowned will be on hand.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Institute’s Activities Committee, Mr. Sakiru Oyefeso, has stressed that the programme has never witnessed any violence or protests, an affirmation of the fact that insurance men and women are honourable people.

He added that his committee always takes the pain to provide adequate security and the choice of its judges and challenged other pageant organisers to cue from the institute.

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AFCON Honeymoon Over, Home Eagles Warned

 Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi

By Duro Ikhazuagbe

Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, has warned the 23 home-based players who started training ahead of the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Kenya on March 23 in Calabar that the 2013 Africa Cup of Nation victory honeymoon was over.

The former Togo and Mali gaffer told the players who began training at the Practice Pitch of the Abuja National Stadium to forget about the triumph of the senior national team at the South Africa 2013 and concentrate on picking a ticket for the World Cup, coming up next year in Brazil.

Media Officer of the team, Ben Alaiya confirmed Tuesday that Keshi was out to prove that his victory at the Nations Cup was no fluke.

“Just as he said before the AFCON, Keshi told the new players in the squad that they can also become established players like the Godfrey Oboabona and Sunday Mba if they show enough readiness to break into the team.

“All the invited 23 home-based professionals, save for injured Kano Pillars central defender, Zango Umar.

“The training itself was intense, Spartan and very physical, with emphasis on quick and simple play. It lasted for about two hours with all the five coaches of the team playing their assigned roles,” said Alaiya.

The coaching crew have decided to replace injured Umar with First Bank of Lagos central defender, Festus Ajah.
Ajah is said to have impressed national team scouts in some of his club’s games and now has an opportunity to make an impression at the national team level.

Meanwhile, the Cross River State Government has appealed to soccer fans to turn out in large numbers to cheer the Super Eagles when they take on the Harambee Stars of Kenya in their World Cup qualifying match.
Cross River State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Patrick Ugbe, made the appeal Tuesday in an interview with NAN in Calabar, ahead of the match.

The commissioner said a large crowd would be important for the match because the Eagles would also showcase the Africa Cup of Nations that it brought back from South Africa in February.

“We want the supporters, Eagles fans and residents of Calabar, to prepare to come out to support the team -- the African Champions.

“They should not forget that the team is also bringing the trophy they won at the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa to Calabar.

“The trophy will be displayed at the stadium on match day, so they should come out en masse to be a part of the AFCON experience by witnessing the trophy in Calabar,” stressed Ugbe.

He said that the government was doing everything within its powers to ensure a successful hosting of the World Cup qualifier.

“We are preparing; we are doing the normal thing to ensure that the stadium is ready for the team. At the last friendly between the Golden Eaglets and the Diamond Zebras of Botswana, we used the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar to test run the facilities.

“We think we are ready to host the Super Eagles/Harambee Stars match on March 23. Everybody was impressed. The stadium is lush green; it is part of our culture to ensure that we maintain it regularly,’’ Ugbe said.

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Barcelona breezes past Milan in Champions League

It was supposed to be the end of an era, the end of a generation.Had it not been for a post, then perhaps the world would be looking at a different future. Football is nothing but fickle.The headline will be Barcelona's 4-0 annihilation of AC Milan, swatting aside the critics and doubters in the only way that this great team know how.Had the ball deflected off the post and spun the other way, the chilling inquest into Barcelona's fall of grace would have already begun.The biggest of games, the smallest of margins.

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Imo Assembly now set to impeach deputy governor over alleged N458million bribe

The Imo State House of Assembly has resolved to serve the state deputy governor, Jude Agbaso, a notice of impeachment over the allegation that he demanded and collected N458 million bribe from J-PROS Limited, a construction firm handling the rehabilitation of Sam Mbakwe Road in Owerri, the state capital.
In a statement this evening, House spokesperson, Acho Ihim, said the state lawmakers unanimously resolved at today’s plenary to serve Mr. Agbaso a notice of impeachment through the electronic and print media and posting of the notice on the walls of his official residence.
Mr. Ihim, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Information said Mr. Agbaso had gone underground since he was indicted for alleged corruption by the Assembly and therefore could not be personally served the notice.
The deputy governor has not been sighted in his office or official residence for a while, the lawmaker said.
There are suggestions that Governor Rochas Okorocha is behind the ordeal of his deputy.  But Mr. Agbaso himself has not explained whether the allegation against him was true or not.
The lawmakers said they would not bow to any “external forces” in the discharge of their constitutional duties.

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Fashola unveils purpose built JSC complex in honour of Late Justice Adetunji Adefarasin, appeals for end to strike of federal judicial workers

The Lagos State Judiciary on Tuesday recorded another first as Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) unveiled a purpose built building for the State’s Judicial Service Commission in Ikeja with an appeal for a quick end to the ongoing strike by Federal Judicial workers.

Officially commissioning the building which was named in honour of the second Chief Judge of the State, Justice Joseph Adetunji Adefarasin, the Governor said he was making the plea on behalf of litigants and people who seek justice in the courtrooms, noting that whatever issues may be at dispute, negotiation will make a way.

Governor Fashola who spoke before a gathering of senior members of the Bench including former Chief Judges, Magisrates, lawyers and the widow of the honouree, Mrs Hilda Adefarasin added that the strike does the country no good because it does not afford service to the people on whose behalf the elected representatives exercise the privilege to be in government.

According to the Governor, the building being unveiled says so many things about the commitment of the government of Lagos State’s support of a strong judiciary as a necessary and indispensable institution for the enthronement and defence of rights in a democracy.

He described the building as pioneering because it is the first purpose built building of its type for any State Judicial Commission, adding that it is coming on the heels of other firsts for the Lagos judiciary which includes the largest purpose built Court House in Nigeria, the JIC Taylor Court House, the 22 dedicated court rooms which is only one of many that are being built.

The Governor added that It has also come on the heels of an expressed and commendable commitment to public service by the decision now of Magistrates in the State to sit on Saturdays in demonstration of a commitment to the defence of the rights of citizens.

Governor Fashola expressed gratitude to many people for the successful completion of the project singling out the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Supo Sasore (SAN) who spearheaded the project and his predecessor, Mr Ade Ipaiye who ran with the baton to ensure that it was completed, the Permanent Secretary, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), the State House of Assembly and its Speaker, Rt Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji and Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Hon Sinai Agunbiade.

He also acknowledged the contributions of former Chief Judges of Lagos State during whose distinctive tenures the seed of the Judicial Service Commission was sown many years ago.

The Governor also praised the untiring efforts of the outgoing Executive Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission, Reverend Olubukola Balogun who was marking her last day in office, at steering the commission steadily on the course through three successive chief judges and also now midwiving the movement of the commission to what can be described as a very appropriate and befitting home.

Providing an insight into the proud Judicial heritage of Lagos, Governor Fashola said it is the oldest in the country dating back to the cession of the Lagos Government to the British Government in 1861 when it was known as Colony Province Judiciary.

He added that since then it has naturally served as a breeding ground for jurists of uncommon quality and sterling characters identifying one of them as late Justice Joseph Adetunji Adefarasin who became Chief Judge of Lagos in November 1974 following the death of the first Chief Judge of Lagos then, Hon JIC Taylor.

He reiterated that late Justice Joseph Adetunji Adefarasin who held office until 1985 like his predecessor was known for his high moral rectitude, his courage and his integrity on and off the bench.

“Under his watch as Chief Judge, the Lagos State Bench was reknown for his disciplined approach to work, dedication to duty and devotion to the best tradition of the bar and the bench which was a striking reflection of its head. Of him it was often said that he was completely beyond reproach”.

Earlier in her address, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon Justice Ayotunde Philips said the successful completion of the building goes further to show how the present administration not only appreciates the impact of the Judiciary to sustain democracy, but demonstrates boldly its commitment to a most effective, efficient and vibrant Judiciary that is adequately funded and equipped to meet the growing challenges and dynamism of modern society.

She solicited the continued support, cooperation and understanding of the Governor to achieve the Judiciary’s desired goal to attain the highest standard of judicial excellence thus placing her firmly within the 21st Century in terms of technological advancement.

The Governor later cut the tape while being assisted by Mama Hilda Adefarasin to unveil the Joseph Adetunji Adefarasin Building in Ikeja which provides an office complex for the Lagos State Judicial Service Commission and accommodates the Law Reform Commission.

Prominent among those who witnessed the event were the Pastor of the Guiding Light Assembly, Pastor Wale Adefarasin, Senator Muniru Muse, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN) and several dignitaries from the Bar and Bench.

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Multiple accidents kills three in Abuja

… 16 vehicles were involved in the accident caused by a truck … Traffic gridlock as impatient Nigerians block both sides of the highway

Not even hell had greater fury than the traffic situation within the Karu axis of the Nyanya – Maraba road which leads to Keffi, Nassarawa State.

16 vehicles driven mainly by civil servants, traders and other road users and some with passengers, were involved in a terrible accident less than one hour ago, leading to the death of three people while scores of others, who were wounded, have been rushed to the hospitals.

Eye witnesses told Daily Times that the accident was caused by a truck driver that lost control of his vehicle, hitting some cars that in turn smashed on others.

16 cars in all were involved.

But beyond the accident itself, impatient motorists, who could not endure the temporary halt of traffic as officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) made frantic efforts to clear the road, decided to follow the opposite side of the highway leading to total gridlock that may see some people sleep on the road till Wednesday morning.

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CULT WAR: Lagos Tightens Security At LASU

The Lagos State government has tightened security at the Lagos State University (LASU) following the recent clash between cult groups that resulted in the death of two students of the institution.

Students of the institution had been living in fear since 28 February when two members of one of the cult groups allegedly shot and killed a final year student of the institution, Damilola Olaniyan, a.k.a. Damoche.

Damoche, an upcoming musician and 400 level Banking and Finance student, was shot some metres away from the institution’s main gate along Iba Road by two unidentified gunmen, suspected to be cultists, who rode on a motorcycle.

Following the murder of the musician, there had been reprisal attacks around the school campus.

Shortly after his death, another LASU student, a part-time student, was murdered by some unidentified gunmen suspected to be members of Eiye Confraternity.

The murder, an alleged reprisal attack over Damoche’s death, took place at Abeokuta Street, Okokomaiko, a neighbouring community to LASU’s main campus.

In reaction to the incidents, the state House of Assembly had last week called on the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to tighten security at the institution.

In a Matter of Urgent Public Importance brought before the House by Sanai Agunbiade, representing Ikorodu Constituency 1, the House had warned that if urgent steps were not taken, the problem would escalate.

Briefing the House at its plenary yesterday evening, the Chairman, House Committee on Education, Wahab Alawiye-King, informed his colleagues that the executive arm had implemented the House’s resolution by deploying security operatives to the institution.

He said the school is now calm as the students are aware that they are being closely monitored once they are in the school premises. He denied insinuations that the school was shut down following the cult activities but said he had been in touch with its management and could confirm that the students are preparing for their examinations.  The House commended the state governor for confronting the security challenge in the institution.

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Farmer Jailed For Defiling Stepdaughter

A 40-year-old farmer, who mixed local gin (aka Akpetseshi) with coca cola and gave it to his 13-year-old stepdaughter to drink before defiling her, was on Friday sentenced to seven years imprisonment by an Accra circuit court.
Maxwell Kofi Etuah, charged with defilement, pleaded not guilty.
The court, presided over by Ms Sedina Agbemava, found him guilty after the trial and convicted him accordingly.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Johnson K. Anim, told the court that the complainant was Alex Benyah, the victim’s father. The victim’s mother is married to the convict and they all reside at New Aplaku, Accra.
Chief Inspector Anim said in October 2011, the victim travelled with the mother to their hometown. Later the victim returned to Accra alone because she had to attend school.
In the absence of her mother, prosecution said the convict took advantage and offered the victim Akpetseshi and coca cola to drink and she became intoxicated.

Chief Inspector Anim said the convict had s*x with the victim and she bled profusely. Etuah then asked the victim not to tell anyone else she would die.
According to prosecution, since then, Etuah had been touching and fondling the victim’s chest when nobody was in sight.
On January 2, last year, the victim’s mother travelled and the convict had s*x with the victim and, this time around, the victim developed an unbearable abdominal pain and, hence, could not walk.
Prosecution said the victim informed her father who led her to the police station to lodge a complaint.
The police issued a medical form to the victim for examination and treatment.
The medical form, endorsed by the Kasoa Government Hospital, confirmed that she had been defiled

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Bizarre graduation party at Kogi State University

Bizarre graduation party in Kogi State University

Graduands in Kogi state University are literally flogged, dragged on bare floor, and bathed with dirtiest and most stinking waste water – sometimes saved for the party – by schoolmates who are celebrating with them.
No harm intended, just fun. Yet mates are seen mobbing and bullying each other.
The celebrating victims have just finished their final exams in Kogi State University and mates are celebrating the feat in a bizarre style.

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Video Of Slain Foreign Hostages Released By Ansaru

Islamist group, Ansaru has released the video of the seven foreign hostages killed by the group, forcing the international community to mount pressure on Nigeria to accept the classification of Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, FTO.
Nigeria had in the past shunned pleas by Western countries led by United States of America, to accept the classification of Boko Haram as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, FTO, but recent events may mean Nigeria will have no choice than to accept the Isamist sect as an FTO.
Interior Minister, Comrade Abba Moro, however, said there were hopes that the hostages reportedly killed at the weekend, were still alive.
Meanwhile, the images of the slain hostages in a video released on YouTube showed some of the corpses of the seven hostages. According to the Associated Press, “the images matched the still images of hostages released by the group when they claimed the killings.”
Interior Minister, Abba Moro, told the BBC’s Hausa language radio service that “those nations said it was ‘likely’ that their citizens had died in the attack. We hope they’re alive.”

Despite the hopes raised by Moro, some of the European countries affected, namely Greece, Italy, Britain have confirmed the death of their nationals just as diplomats said on Sunday that the hostages had been killed.
The hostages, one each from Italy, Britain and Greece and four from Lebanon, were working for a Lebanese firm, Setraco.
In the video, a gunman stands on sand, holding a rifle near what appears to be dead bodies. A later shot in the video showed three male corpses, one of whom appeared to have been killed by a gunshot wound to the head from a high-powered weapon.
The video had no sound. An accompanying caption for the video in Arabic calls it: “The killing of seven Christian hostages in Nigeria.” A second caption in Arabic and English stated: “In the name of Allah Most Beneficent Most Merciful,” Reuters reported.
Ansaru fighters kidnapped the foreigners February 16, from a camp of the construction company, Setraco at Jama’are, a town 200 kilometres north of Bauchi, the capital of Bauchi State. In the attack, gunmen first assaulted a local prison and burned police trucks, authorities said. Then the attackers blew up a back fence at the construction company’s compound and took over, killing a guard in the process, witnesses and police said.
God help nigeria

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