The United States has warned its citizens living in Nigeria that Islamist sect Boko Haram is planning attacks on the capital Abuja, including major hotels there.
"The U.S. Embassy has received information that Boko Haram may be planning attacks in Abuja, Nigeria, including against hotels frequently visited by Westerners," an emergency message on its website said.
Boko Haram has killed hundreds in gun and bomb attacks this year. Its strikes usually target police, authority figures and churches in the mostly Muslim north, although there have been a handful of deadly strikes in and around the capital.
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In 40+ years of traveling the world mainly for work, Nigeria is the only place I ever felt in fear of my life on a regular basis.
It is the most corrupt, evil, dangerous place on God green earth.
Guess Ill cancel my vacation to...naaahhh I cant even say it with a straight face...
State Departments tips on traveling to Nigeria
1. "Don't Go!"
There are many places in the world that I will never visit. I believe the saying is attributable to Oakland (California), but it is equally applicable to many countries in the world:
"There's no there there."
If you are an American living in Nigeria... Well I don't even know where to go with that....
Send in O Bomb A..
Like this is something new for Nigeria.
Send Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson there to take care of it.
I wouldn't wish those two on any nation, to inhumane.
That's a horrible thing to say. In the name of all that is Good, please say their name's Ebonically correct;
"REV. AL SHAPTON & JESSA JATSONS"
Spike Lee needs to make a film there.
Nigeria is the most radically run place in Africa next to Somalia.
Africa the dark Continent --
Could it be some Americans trying to cash in on the inheritance they were promised?
Why on earth would any sane person want to go there?
Work
Why would any sane person want to WORK there? If I recall, Phil you posted that you feared for your life on a "regular basis" while working there for what ever reason you justified it. I'm sorry, but I don't care how much money I am promised, I wouldn't work in such a country that has so much corruption, greed, and such little value placed on human life. Perhaps you can explain to the rest of us why you would jeopardize your life and subject your family to the stress of wondering if you are going to be alive from one day to the next and if they would ever get your body back if you were killed. I just don't get it, I guess it all has to do with money?
The oil/gas industry does some work there. If there's money to made, people will go.
So what you are saying Adam is that it does have to do with money, greed, corruption, thus forcing the cost of oil to the prices we see today while the people of the nation are not used leaving them in total poverty. Let them drill for it their self. Sell them the rigs, parts, and tools and let them do it their self. And buy the oil for fair price thus spawning economic growth, education, and healthcare in a nation where it seems to be needed the most. Perhaps the biggest reason the country is waring with its self, is because the life blood of the nation and its only helping the ones who know how to extort payments from the oil and gas industries and they use the courageous ones to keep the restlessness of those starving quelled by force. Yup makes sense.
CMcCrary - The Muslim North is not after the oil rigs, they are after the Christians. This can arguably be due to religion, or possibly, the Muslim leaders don't feel they are getting their cut of the bribes and using religion to force the issue.
Nigeria is corrupt by nature and plan. Engalnd left without a fight, provided they handle the resources back 50 years or so ago. Oil companies moved in in full force. They do not have the education or responsibility involved to drill, ship and refine their own oil. They tried, bombs and refineries are bad parteners.
The people after the oil, although misguided are not necessarily wrong. They are in the Delta region. Nigeria is the 5th largest producer of oil in the world, yet imports almost all the gasoline they use. For their vital resources, the people have few hospitals, horrible infrastructure, a laughable education system and work for peanuts. WE get it for 5-8 $/barrel, (EXXON, Shell, Chevron etc.), sell for over $100. The people making it stay corrupt is next door complaining about gas prices. The U.S,UK and allies do not want the corruption to stop. Bribing the top end in the billions, is better than spreading out the 100s of billions throughout the country, not to mention, we get the money and jobs for the shipping and refining.
Having said that, I have worked there, but doubt I would again. I did not like the constant realization that I am THEY.
Love the answer... and thank you.
The U.S. needs to be proactive towards its enemies.
from:msnbc.com
Syria says withdrawing some troops: Annan spokesman
Seeded on Thu Apr 5, 2012 11:08 AM EDT (msnbc.com)
— Filed under: world-news
Discuss this post
THINKINGOUTOFTHEBOXFOROURWORLD
"CHILDREN SEEKING WORLD PEACE" (Short Film Script)
Opening Scene;
We see the Outside of the United Nations Building next we see a man dressed in a suite carrying a brief case walking into the building he approaches the Desk of the Chairman of the United Nations, pulls out a very large manila envelope and hands it to the Chairman. The Chairman opens the envelope, reads the paper work and scratches his head, looks up at the Special Carrier with a bewildered look on his face and says; Wow this is an Extremely Unusual Request and it comes from very unusual sources this is a First for me.
Carrier
What do you mean unusual request, who sent the letter ?
Chairman
Did you notice the Post Marks on this letter ?
Carrier
Yes I did, and it also has so many different kinds of stamps on it from around the World.
I have never seen so many Stamps on one envelope in my life, so who is it from and what are they want ?
Chairman
It appears that they are following up on an idea that originated from a Film Script Writer in America who came up with an Idea of writing a short Film Script he Calls "Children Seeking World Peace" The writer posted it on line and some of the Country Leaders around the World liked the idea so that they implemented it.
Carrier
Implement what ?
Chairman
Every Country in the World picked two Young Students from one of their schools a boy and a girl to represent their Country and are asking for a "SPECIAL UNITED NATION'S MEETING" that will be attended by all of the Leaders in the World but this is the Catch.
The adults are not to speak at this meeting, only the Children will be allowed to speak at this Special meeting called "CHILDREN SEEKING WORLD PEACE"
Carrier
Wow, I see what you mean when you said an unusual request and that is comes from an unusual source you were right about that.
Chairman
There's more this request gets even more stranger they are requesting that we install a large garden area next to the United Nation Building before this meeting takes place that we don't plant anything in the garden area just leave it bare dirt, there are to be small signs placed every two feet next to the rows in this garden area with the names of each Country in the World next to each one of these signs there will also be a watering can containing water.
Carrier
Do you think that the Board will consider this bizarr & unusual request ?
Chairman
Yes I do after all these are the Children of the World, the next Generation seeking the opportunity for them to be part of the Peace Process from their Generation and we should give them the opportunity to do so.
Scene Two;
We see the inside of the United Nations building where many young children are standing paired off one boy and one girl facing all of the Adult Leaders from around the World these Children are from all walks of life all different nationalities and all dressed differently.
Every Girl is holding a small pot containing a different flower in it in one hand and a small shovel in their other hand.
Each Boy is holding a small pot containing a different kind of plant in one hand and a small shovel in his other hand.
(all of these flowers and plants are beautiful and very colorful)
Every Boy & Girl from their Country are wearing Name tags with their Countries names on the tags. The Children are just standing there in silence.
The inside of this building is silent at first then we hear whispers coming from the Adult Leaders, what is this all about, what do they want, this is strange.
Next we see a girl step forward from the row of children following behind her is another girl and a boy they are all three standing there for a minute and the room gets silent.
Then the boy speaks,
I have been chosen to speak on behalf of all of the Children in this room. We are standing here before all of you representing the Worlds Next Generation, Your Worlds Next Generation. We only have a few words to say to all of you here today.
All of us had several things that we wanted to say to all of you today but we all decided that words are not enough without all of Our WORLD LEADERS making a Solid Commitment to end all Wars in Our World Today ! ! !
So, we only have three words to say to all of you here today... " PLEASE JUST STOP"
(one of the girls standing next to this young boy translates this message in all languages)
The three young children stand there for a minute in silence then one of the two girls step forward she says, we only have one more request to ask from all of you in this building today, please follow us to the garden area located just outside this building.
(the other girl translates this request in all languages)
The other children in the building follow the three children exiting the building followed by the Adults.
Third Scene;
We see all of the children lined up still holding their flowers and plants in one hand and their shovels in their other hand they are paired off one boy and one girl standing along side of the garden rows facing their Countries signs that are placed in two foot sections of their Special Garden.
(we see all of the Adult Leaders standing around this garden in groups whispering to each other we can't make out what they are saying to each other but they have a confused look on their faces)
Next the same Girl that spoke earlier in the building is holding a flower in one hand and a small shovel in her other hand says, I would like all of the Adult Leaders from their Countries to stand in front of their Countries signs facing each of us. (translated by the girl standing next to this girl)
The Adult Leaders line up in front of their Countries garden signs facing these children then every child bends down at the same time and digs a small hole in the ground in their two foot section of this Special Garden. (each two foot garden section now has two small holes dug in them and everyone is silent)
Next we see the same girl that spoke earlier stand up after digging her hole in the garden she hands her Adult Counter Part Leader her Potted Flower and says, each one of these Flowers that all of us has brought here today Represent WORLD PEACE for Our Future.
she continues..
All of the Children Around the World requested this SPECIAL UNITED NATIONS MEETING to beg all of the Leaders of Our world to help us Plant our Flowers here today to end all Wars in our World Immediately and all of the Plants that the Boys brought here today represent Commitment To Do So.
(translated again by the girl standing next to her)
Next we see the Boy that spoke earlier at the meeting hand his Adult Counter Part his potted plant then the Girl that is speaking looks over at all of the other Children that are still standing next to their garden and she nodes her head.
Then, All of the Children say the words together, in their own languages in a loud & begging tone."PLEASE JUST STOP"
Next, We see all of the Children reach in their pockets, pull out a small bag and pour out a few of seeds into each of their Adult Counter Parts hands.
The Girl speaker then says,
we are giving all of you our seeds to take home with you so you can plant them in your gardens as a reminder of your Commitment all of you made here today to; END ALL WARS In Our World IMMEDIATELY..THESE SEEDS ALSO REPRESENT FORGIVENESS for without forgiveness there can be no PEACE, so please pass these seeds on to your transgressor so the Peace Process can begin. (translated by the girl standing next to her)
Last Scene
We see all of the Adult Leaders bent down next to the Children planting the Children's Flowers & Plants together in their "Special World Peace Garden" Located in Front Of the "UNITED NATIONS BUILDING"
Fade Out..
Written by, Michael V. Caldwell, Always Striving To Be Part Of The Solution, Using Respect & Common Sense As My Guidelines To Follow At All Times...
Respectfully,Thank all of You, for taking the time to read this IMPORTANT & Very Badly Needed message.
"DREAM BIG DO BIG"
________________________________________________________________________________________
"ROAD TO PEACE" (film short story)
Opening Scene: (filmed in black & white, silent film)
We see an old Soldier walking down a dirt road with a machine gun under his arm
and carrying his young son on his shoulders.
The young boy and his father are dressed in their combat clothing and the boy
also has a machine gun gun tucked under his arm, suddenly they stop.
(our camera pans to a person sitting on a large rock on the side of the road)
We see the back of this person only, the person is wearing a black hooded robe
with their hood raised up.
(we pan back to the old soldier and his son)
The old soldier places his son on the road then pushes him in the direction
of the hooded stranger.
The young boy walks cautiously up to the stranger with his gun drawn
upwards as he gets closer we notice the person is small in stature then the boy
points
the gun at the back of the strangers head.
The stranger turns around slowly then we see it is a young girl, the girl
is the same age as the boy.
The young girl places a daisy in the barrel of the boy's gun.
(at that instant our film changes to color and remains in color)
Next, we see they young boy standing there with a blank look on his face he
then drops the gun on the ground, the gun vanishes and where the gun was we see
three books there instead.
The boy picks up the books curiously, then turns and looks in the direction
where his father was with an astonishment look.
(we show a close-up on boys face then we pan our camera to the father)
The boy's father is now standing there dressed in a white shirt and slacks and
holding sets of plans tucked under his arm in the place of a gun.
(we pan back to boy and girl)
We see the boy standing there dressed in the same attire as his father, with
three books tucked under his arm in place of his gun staring at the girl that
is still sitting on the rock, the girl has long curly brown hair and is now
wearing white clothing, she also has three books sitting next to her.
Closing Scene:
We see the backs of all three of them walking down the road towards the setting
sun, the boy and the girl are holding hands both of them carrying three books
tucked under their arms.
The father has three sets of building plans tucked under his arm and is walking
with his head up high..
Fade Out End...Or Beginning Of A Brighter Badly Needed Future For Our World.
"JUST STOP" ... "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH"
"TIME FOR ALL OF MANKIND TO TAKE A STAND TOGETHER, SEEK COMMON GROUND (Our Children's Future Is Common Ground) FORGIVE & PUT OUR PETTY DIFFERENCES ASIDE FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND"
"TIME TO STOP DESTROYING EACH OTHER, TIME TO START BUILDING A BETTER WORLD THAT WE ALL SHARE TOGETHER"
"WE ALL STAND ON TWO LEGS..IT'S TIME TO STAND TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF OF MANKIND"
"MANKIND DOES HAVE A CHOICE"
"TIME TO BUILD A BETTER ROAD FOR OUR FUTURE For..OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE"
"TIME TO BUILD A ROAD TO WORLD PEACE"
I'm guessing most of the folks posting on Newsvine are not Hollywood producers, so please peddle your screenplay elsewhere.
I just woke up what'd i miss?
If not for the corruption and greed of those in power, Nigeria would be a shining example of a modern country in Africa. They have great mineral deposits to mine, oil, two car manufacturers and good agriculture. Like nearly all the other African countries, there is no leadership other than military dictators that kill each other off in coups just as fast as they can. Of course the Muslims will eventually cause such damage that nobody will be willing to go there and invest in the country. They should have a huge mining industry that would provide endless jobs for their people, but the country is mired in corruption and again none of the industrialized nations want to come in and develop them due to the instability of the government. Al, Jessie and Spike would end up with their heads on a stake if they showed up, or maybe kidnapped, raped and held for ransom. The middle class is moving out of Nigeria. The young professionals that could contribute to the growth of the nation are all getting out of the country. Teachers, Doctors, Engineers and Scientists would all be targets for the Muslims to assassinate if they stay. They cannot have anybody preaching that Islamic Law is not good everybody and the Muslims are not going to allow the people to be educated. Muslims want them ignorant, poor and afraid. That is how they maintain themselves as superior. Nigeria will be another failed African nation.
LET'S TAKE CARE OF OUR HOMEFRONT TROUBLES FIRST! Like the corrupt oil corporates, that's why we're over in these other countries protecting THEIR interests instead of spending research money on other energy sources & our sources here at home! Let's develop magnetically-driven energy, IT'S NON-POLLUTENT! Or are we, the 99% American People, so controlled by corporate political rule that we CAN'T get out from under this economic mess these corrupt corporates have made for us!
Vote STRAIGHT DEMOCRATIC, the life you save may be your OWN!!!
You mean the democratic party that believes whole heartedly that the government can do no wrong...yet is really quiet right now when the stories are coming out about our governments waste and corruption....oops
I don't understand how you can say we need to get out from under corporate rule, and then say vote straight Democrat in the same post. Are you that stupid? Can you really not see through the BS and see that both political parties have sold us out to the same people? There is a reason that Obama is sending our troops into Libya, Syria, and the African nations under the "direction of the UN". He is no different than Bush, they are all puppets, and the puppet masters don't change just because a you put a different letter beside the puppet's name.
Sorry, not ready for Socialism or Communism. We still live in the best country on earth & even with the burbs I perfer freedom over government control.
Why hasn't the US State Department issued a travel ban for the cesspool and petri-dish that is the African continent?
Travel at your own risk? Common sense? Use your brain?
What's that? An imminent attack by some radical Muslim dogs?? No way say it isn't so. Mohammed was a murderer and a fake prophet when will these people come to terms with that. There's no changing these mutts that's all there is to it
As with nearly every other story like this "received information that group X is planning an attack"= CIA armed group X and trained them to overthrow a government that won't play ball with the West.
They must be really ticked over recent actions that caused one of their best thought-out e-mail wire-fraud scams to fail, and private security forces (mercenaries) to raid one of their best operations centers, kill a bunch of their dirt-bags, and confiscate a lot of their equipment.
And we're ready to do it again.
It sounds dangerous there. I hope the prince that I sent all my money to is OK.
Zupercarm: I'm sure he's fine and you'll be very wealthy soon.
Attacks on foreigners? Not Nigeria, often regarded as a bigger tourist hot spot than the Bahamas! (sarcasm)
P.S. I compared Nigeria with another country that has a lot of black people so my remark can't possibly be taken as racist.
Again........Islamic terrorism.
Looks like Nigeria is going down that Islamic crap hole.
Thanks for all your derogatory comments about my beloved country. The torns in our flesh will soon be removed and we will become the toast of you all. Our weeping has endured the night,our morning of joy will soon dawn. Nigeria is a highly blessed country,but for God knows why,she has for long been in the miry clay. Be a friend today(time of our troubles) and we will love you more when we are washed clean very shortly. The little stain( satanic behavior of very few people among us) in our garment has made us all become a by-word, negative example, reproach,a plaque, among the committe of nations. It will not be like this for ever. A friend in need is friend in deed!!
I would love to see this headline:
US warns of possible attacks on Westerners in Nigeria. US arms all Westerners in Nigeria.
Implore some of you people to read some of the histories of these countries and the relationships over the last century. And don't read a book written by a western author. You grew up getting those drilled into you. See what you missed. There is a reason why we can travel to the majority of the free world (and I am not necessarily talking Nigeria here) and have persons considering us to be ignorant. Lets not give them the satisfaction. I went to Cameroon and that was during the strike also when Chad was engaged in Civil War. Regardless, I felt safer there than I would walking around a black urban ghetto in Chicago. That is true to the core. Know as much about our countries dealings and the cross-politics as they do and be familiar with the religion of the country you're traveling in.
Procol Harum, the old rock band, got their own country now? Cool. LOL In my whole life, the thought of travel or vacation never once included Nigeria. Honest, never. "Oh boy, guess I'll spend a couple weeks in a country with nasty weather, poor public services and diseases yet unknown by Western medicine!" Surrounded by poor folks who've watched the country get looted for resources and then left as a waste-land while the people got nothing. Boy, if Big Oil didn't do enough to alienate this whole country towards Westerners, it's a bet the mining industry iced that cake.
Nah, I'll pass, thanks. Next on The Price Is Right, a two-week all-expense paid vacation in NIGERIA!!! Say what? Er, I'll take the coffee table, Bob!
WOW. Any Westerner that NEEDS to be warned about possibly getting attacked while in Nigeria needs an IQ test.