The inevitable happened on December 18, seven days before Christmas, amidst the mad rushing around that is synonymous with this time of the year. Parents going to pick their wards returning from school, shoppers jostling about for last minute bargains, travellers heading to the airport and other sundry movements on the road.

GIVEN that 2011 was an election year, Nigerians welcomed the year with high expectations. Seven days to the end of the year, 2011 no doubt, would remain indelible in the minds of Nigerians on account of series of events, especially political and security matters that kept the citizenry on their toes.

CALAMITY struck,Thursday night, in Udu Council Area of Delta State as fire razed the popular Udu Harbour market, destroying goods estimated at millions of naira.

I find contradictions not only in the ‘big things’ but in the small things of life as well. The other day she (my last daughter) was whistling. Some new skill she has acquired. When it registered, the first thing that came out of my mouth was “stop whistling!”

President of the Nigerian Weightlifting Federation, NWF, Chimdi Ejiogu has disclosed the reasons behind the federation’s loss of its slots at the just concluded World Weightlifting Championship held in Paris, France.

It is terrible what some men can do because of the inability to control themselves. Maybe, it shouldn’t be called a lack of control, but an intentional act done to spite their wives or the women in their lives.

Juliana is a resident of Epe area of Lagos. Her business is located at Balogun, Lagos Island where she specialises in baby wears. For the past 10 years, she has been having a good time doing this business until she is faced with the issue of paying extra money as transportation contrary to what she was used to in the previous years.

Shock and disbelief could best describe the expression on the face of Pa Reuben Idowu Olukoya on discovering that his grandson masterminded the robbery operation in his apartment last Sunday.

BARELY an hour after the militant Islamic sect, Boko Haram, attacked security operatives and detonated improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Damaturu, Yobe state, yesterday afternoon, Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, came under the attack of the sect as multiple bomb explosions rocked the city killing 16 people, while several others were injured.

The Joint Task Force set up to quell the Boko Haram menace rocking the Northern part of the country, in the early hours of yesterday, launched a successful operation on the sect’s operational stronghold in Damaturu, Yobe state, killing 59 of the sect members and destroying their armoury, Chief of army staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika said, Friday.

One of the most read sections on Vanguard Online in 2011, in terms of search, traffic, debates and comments, is the crime section. Vanguard Online presents our readers’ choice crime stories in 2011.

Public Relations Officer,PRO, of Lagos State University Student Union,LASUSU, Mr. Olateju Azeez, yesterday, denied reports that he urged fresh students to pay the new fee regime proposed by the Lagos State Government.

A 51-year-old Okada rider, Collins Oleka, has been charged before the Family Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, for allegedly harassing, sexually assaulting and having carnal knowledge of his daughters, aged 15 and 18 years old respectively.

Shareholders of Ecobank Nigeria Plc and Oceanic Bank International Limited, yesterday, approved their proposed merger, just as the merged banks will commence operation as one bank in the new year.

THE Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu yesterday nullified the election of Senator Andy Uba representing Anambra South senatorial zone and ordered that fresh election be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, within 90 days.