The Nation Newspaper

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  • Fraud: Kano Emir disowns Instagram, Facebook, Twitter accounts

    The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has disowned social media accounts opened in his name.

    Sanusi said in a statement that on Friday in Kano that he never authorised any person or organisation to open Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or any other social media account nor post any message on his behalf.

    The traditional ruler spoke through his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Munir Sanusi.

    He explained that this should put to rest series of calls and enquiries to the office of the Emir on some purported malicious and fake social media accounts in the name of the monarch.

    Sanusi noted that the current development is coming after an earlier advertorial disclaiming a fake Facebook and Twitter accounts created in the name of his Highness.

    He lamenting that the fraudsters have remained unrelenting in their nefarious acts.

    “We have officially notified the administrators of the fake Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts requesting that the accounts be closed immediately in addition to detecting the identity of the culprits.

    “It is important to reiterate that the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has persistently stood for the unity of the nation regardless of its diversity.

    “He always emphasise the need for tolerance and respect for one another.”

    Sanusi assured that his principles as a traditional ruler and religious leader would be meticulously safeguarded and warned the fraudsters to desist forthwith or face the consequences of their action.

  • Fraud: Kano Emir disowns Instagram, Facebook, Twitter accounts

    Fraud: Kano Emir disowns Instagram, Facebook, Twitter accounts

    The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has disowned social media accounts opened in his name.

    Sanusi said in a statement that on Friday in Kano that he never authorised any person or organisation to open to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or any other social media account nor post any message on his behalf.

    The traditional ruler spoke through his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Munir Sanusi.

    He explained that this should put to rest series of calls and enquiries to the office of the Emir on some purported malicious and fake social media accounts in the name of the monarch.

    Sanusi noted that the current development is coming after an earlier advertorial disclaiming a fake Facebook and Twitter accounts created in the name of his Highness.

    He lamenting that the fraudsters have remained unrelenting in their nefarious acts.

    “We have officially notified the administrators of the fake Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts requesting that the accounts be closed immediately in addition to detecting the identity of the culprits.

    “It is important to reiterate that the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has persistently stood for the unity of the nation regardless of its diversity.

    “He always emphasise the need for tolerance and respect for one another.”

    Sanusi assured that his principles as a traditional ruler and religious leader would be meticulously safeguarded and warned the fraudsters to desist forthwith or face the consequences of their action. (NAN)

  • Beyonce named most valuable celebrity on social media

    Beyonce named most valuable celebrity on social media

    American music superstar Beyonce, has been named the most influential celebrity, with her Instagram posts worth One Million Dollars each, on a photo-sharing website by D’Marie Analytics.

    According to Time.com, using an algorithm that measures 56 metrics across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, the star’s value was determined.

    Those metrics did include the followers count, but they also encompassed reach, engagement, click-through, and action conversions.

    Frank Spadafora, Chief Executive of D’Marie, said Beyonce’s “limited” use of social media had boosted her earning power.

    “Her limited release of exclusive curated content causes such frenzy from her audience.”

    Beyonce’s popularity was evidenced earlier this year when she took to Instagram to announce she is expecting twins.

    The post attracted 6,335,571 ‘likes’ within eight hours and subsequently broke the record for the most-liked image on the website.

    Beyonce’s snap of her cradling her baby bump overtook the previous record of Selena Gomez.

    Gomez achieved 6.6 million ‘likes’ from her 116 million followers in response to a picture of her sipping from a Coca-Cola bottle.

    She has been named as the second-most influential celebrity on social media, with her posts estimated to be worth 775,000 Dollars each across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

    Despite this, Gomez recently admitted her “addiction” to Instagram made her feel awful.

     

  • Mother, son reunite through facebook after 33 years

    Mother, son reunite through facebook after 33 years

    A simple Facebook search reunited a mother and son who were separated without contact for 33 years, the pair said on Thursday.

    Vipavadee Thisorn, 54, and Parinya Thisorn, 36, met each other for the first time in three decades in an emotional encounter on Wednesday at Thailand’s southern city of Hat Yai.

    Their meeting came three days after Vipavadee searched for her son on Facebook and found him, after several previous unsuccessful attempts.

    “I tried searching his nickname ‘Oat’ and his full name many times and never found him,’’ Vipavadee said.

    Parinya just recently bought a smartphone and joined Facebook.

    Vipavadee, who separated from her husband, Parinya’s father, when he was 3-years-old, said she was too young at the time to take responsibility.

    She had tried to reconnect with her son over the years.

    “For the past few years, I kept seeing Parinya’s father, who died in 2011, in my vision, he would sit next to my bed when I was sleeping.

    “I think this is the sign that it is the right time to try to find my son again.

    “I started the conversation on Facebook with my son. He was not sure who I was at first and asked personal questions like his father’s name and my nickname.

    “Once we both realised we are mother and son, we both burst into tears,’’ Vipavadee said.

    Parinya, who travelled 1,700 kilometres from the northern city of Chiang Rai, asked his mother to live with him and his son.

    “I will never let her go again,’’ he said. (dpa/NAN)

  • Facebook seeks more Nigerian content online

    Facebook seeks more Nigerian content online

    THE Chief Product Officer of Facebook, Mr. Chris Cox, has urged Nigerian content creators to develop more content on the Internet.
    Cox gave the advice yesterday in Lagos at a news conference on the Social Media Week (SMW), Lagos 2017, which started yesterday. It will end on March 3.
    He said Nigeria was a hub for innovation and creativity because of its fast-growing mobile technology sector and its vibrant film and music industries.
    According to Cox, the world is moving to digital video with formats, such as virtual reality and live video broadcast, giving people new ways to tell their stories.
    “Stories matter; whether it is the stories of our lives or the story of Africa’s growth.
    “We want Nigeria’s storytellers – the musicians, the filmmakers and the novelists to take their stories to the rest of the world.
    “The explosion in mobile video and live video give people a new way to share their story and perspective with the globe and this is happening on Facebook,” he said.
    Cox said content creators like Femi Kuti were using Facebook to bring fans into their lives and extend their presence beyond the stage and recorded media.
    He said innovators like Afrinolly – the creative hub where technology was using virtual reality and 360 Degree Video to create exciting and compelling new storytelling formats – should be encouraged.
    “I am looking forward to hearing more about how Nigerian creative developers and entrepreneurs are using mobile technology, video and Facebook platforms to create inspiring applications and services for their customers and communities.
    “The level of innovation we see in this market is amazing. As Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria is an important market for us,” the product officer said.
    Cox is the most senior Facebook executive to visit Nigeria since Mark Zuckerberg visited Lagos in September 2016.
    He arrived in Nigeria on February 26 and visited New Afrika Shrine to see Femi Kuti, one of his musical heroes.
    SMW Lagos is a weeklong conference that provides ideas, trends, insights and inspiration to help people and businesses understand how to achieve more in a hyper-connected world.
    The event features a central stage for keynotes and panels, multiple rooms for workshops, master classes and presentations.
    During the conference, an area is also dedicated to co-working, networking and interactive installations.

  • Facebook tackles ‘fake news’ with journalism project

    Facebook tackles ‘fake news’ with journalism project

    Facebook has announced the creation of a Journalism Project aimed at fostering “a healthy news ecosystem” and curbing the spread of fake news.
    The move comes with the world’s leading social network under intense pressure for allowing misinformation to flourish and sometimes go viral, with some critics claiming fake news affected the US presidential election.
    While Facebook has dismissed claims that it is a “media company,” the social network said its new effort aims to boost credibility of information it circulates.
    “We know that our community values sharing and discussing ideas and news, and as a part of our service, we care a great deal about making sure that a healthy news ecosystem and journalism can thrive,” project director Fidji Simo said in a blog post.
    “That’s why today we’re announcing a new program to establish stronger ties between Facebook and the news industry.”
    Simo said the project will mean “collaborating with news organisations to develop products, learning from journalists about ways we can be a better partner, and working with publishers and educators on how we can equip people with the knowledge they need to be informed readers in the digital age.”
    One of the elements will involve development of “new storytelling formats” and other ways to help news partners.
    Part of this will include “hackathons” often used by Facebook, with developers from news organisations “to collaborate to identify opportunities and hack solutions.”
    A second element will include “training and tools for journalists” that will help them use live video and other ways to connect with audiences.
    The third element will be public education on “news literacy” and other efforts to help people determine news credibility.
    “We will work with third-party organizations on how to better understand and to promote news literacy both on and off our platform to help people in our community have the information they need to make decisions about which sources to trust,” Simo said.
    As part of this, Facebook will run public service ads in collaboration with the nonprofit News Literacy Project that will help people determine the veracity of news stories, and will work on research with Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism.
    Simo said Facebook would continue efforts announced last month to “disrupt the financial incentives” for websites that create fake news.
    “This problem is much bigger than any one platform, and it’s important for all of us to work together to minimize its reach,” she said.
    “This is just the beginning of our effort on that front – we have much more to do. The Facebook Journalism Project Page will serve as a hub for our efforts to promote and support journalism on Facebook.”

  • Chicago police arrest four over abuse video

    Chicago police arrest four over abuse video

    Four young men have been arrested in the Chicago over a video streamed online showing the assault of an 18-year-old man, a statement by the police said.

    Police announced the arrests after a video of the attack targeting the teenager with mental disabilities was streamed live on Facebook.

    The Chicago Police Superintendent, Eddie Johnson said that the “brazenness” of suspects’ actions in streaming the “brutal” attack on social media.

    In the video of the assault, two men and two women can be seen threatening, mistreating and swearing at the victim, who is tied up in a corner.

    “They cut part of his scalp and hair as well as his clothing with a knife. One of the attackers holds a leash tied around the victim’s neck.

    “Fuck Donald Trump, nigger, fuck white people,” one of the attackers says.

    According to the report, one of the suspects allegedly knew the victim.

    The police believed that the victim, who was afterwards found wandering on the street, had been held by the group for up to 24 hours.

    The police said that he is traumatised and being treated in hospital.

  • Man uses nude pictures to blackmail female victims

    Man uses nude pictures to blackmail female victims

    A 35 -year- old man, Michael Atanda, who has been extorting money from four ladies with threat to expose their nude pictures on the social media has been arrested in Lagos.

    Atanda, a computer science National Diploma holder of a popular computer school based in Ikeja, was arrested on Thursday by the surveillance Team of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command after about five days of baiting and monitoring.

    The Police in a press statement said the accused, ex – convict and father of three, had collected N121,000:00 from his four girlfriends with the threat but wanted the ladies to pay more or have their nude pictures leaked on social media.

    The suspect who bears Segun Bayo on facebook and a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile – Ife, reportedly said he usually adds several ladies on Facebook and after two weeks, he would start chatting with them.

    “The profile picture on my facebook account is that of a guy based in London, and so as part of my introductions to ladies, I tell them that, I am a Construction Engineer as well as that my parents and I are living in Europe” the suspect said.

    ” After sometime, I would lure them into sexual conversations during which, I persuaded them to send their nude pictures to me. They would send and I would send mine to them too.
    ” Before that I would pretend that I was seeking a serious relationship with them, and that very soon, I would be coming to Abuja on a business trip, during which I would see them.
    “I would again feign my seriousness by calling them with the aid of computer software that transforms my Nigerian line into an international line. Meanwhile, I would warn them that I was calling through a public phone booth.
    ” As soon as they have sent their nude pictures, I would come up with all manners of stories. And begin to extort and blackmail them. Through this means, I have collected over N121, 000:00 from my latest victims.
    ” I was jailed last year in a similar circumstance after fraudulently collected N700, 000:00 from a lady I met through a dating site. I was eventually bailed but the case is still pending in the court” he confessed .
    ” I have collected only 10,000:00 from Funmilola, Motunrayo, N6,000, Joy, N5,000 and Lizzy, N100,000:00” .
    Apart from Lizzy, who reported the incident but declined to press charges, three other suspects, who were discovered during investigations, acknowledged on phone calls they have been paying the suspect so that he doesn’t leak their nude photographs online.
    Though, investigators have reached out to more victims after checking the suspect’s facebook conversations with a number of ladies, all of them have reportedly refused to come forward, after confirming they were paying the suspect through his bank statement.
    Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Suprintendent Dolapo Badmos, said that the Police were carrying out a thorough investigation on the case to aid prosecution.
    The suspect has been transferred to SCID for further investigations.

  • Facebook redesigns Safety Centre to protect users

    Facebook redesigns Safety Centre to protect users

    The Chief Security Officer at Facebook, Mr Alex Stamos, says the company has redesigned its Safety Centre to enable people stay safe online.

    Stamos said in a statement on Friday in Lagos that the redesigned safety centre was the company’s approach to making the internet more secure for everyone.

    The statement said that keeping people and their information safe was a core part of helping the community to grow, connect and support each other.

    According to the statement, Facebook builds security protections to help keep people safe, even under non-ideal circumstances that security professionals often overlook, such as weak password usage or running out-of-date devices.

    It added that the company performed automated checks to help to detect suspicious logins so as to protect people’s accounts.

    It said that the company also shipped its own cryptography with their mobile app to make people more secure on those devices.

    The statement said that there was the need for consumer awareness about safety and security to protect their information and build their confidence while online.

    “Nigeria officially recognised National Cyber Security Awareness Month in October, underscoring the need to educate the public about how to protect themselves.

    “This focus on awareness is at the heart of Facebook’s newly redesigned Safety Centre, an engaging resource to help people to get the information they need about controlling their information and staying safe.

    “People come to Facebook to share important and personal moments in their lives. That is why we build our services and tools to help them to remain in control and protect their accounts.

    “We always have to consider the situations in which our technology will be used so that we can offer people the best security and safety for what they need,’’ it said.

    “The new Safety Centre walks people through Facebook-tools to control your experience as well as numerous tips and resources for safe and secure sharing.

    “The Safety Centre is available in over 50 languages; works well on mobile devices and includes step-by-step videos on a variety of popular safety topics.’’

    The statement said that Facebook worked with partners, including the International Centre for Leadership Development in Nigeria and Watoto Watch Network in Kenya to bring its safety resources to life and address local communities.

    “This update also brings the Bullying Prevention Hub to everyone on Facebook. The Hub is a resource for teens, parents and educators seeking guidance on how to prevent and address bullying.

    “Developed with the Yale Centre for Emotional Intelligence in 2013, Facebook now works with nearly 60 partners around the world to make the Bullying Prevention Hub more widely available.

    “For Facebook, making the world more open and connected also means keeping people and their information safe. Check out the new Facebook Safety Centre today,’’ it quoted Stamos as saying.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Facebook was founded in 2004, with a mission to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected.

    People use Facebook to stay connected with friends and family, to discover what is going on in the world and to share and express what matters to them.

    Facebook has 1.04 billion daily active users on average worldwide and 7.2 million daily visitors from Nigeria. (NAN)

  • MTN tests Facebook’s Voyager

    MTN tests Facebook’s Voyager

    The MTN Group yesterday  it is the first mobile operator in the world to use the open optical packet transport platform, known as Voyager, after joining the Telecom Infra Project (TIP) earlier this year.

    According to MTN: “The TIP initiative, which was launched in February 2016, is a global endeavour which brings together key stakeholders in the telecoms and technology space to collaborate on the development of new technologies and find fresh approaches to build and deploy telecom network infrastructure. The project aims to reduce costs and increase the speed of rolling out internet connectivity.”

    The organisation expressed delight about the development.

    Navi Naidoo, a group network technology officer at MTN, said in a stetement: “As MTN, we are excited about the possibility of bringing more than 19Tbps of connectivity to the community, using open optical networking technology. Open platforms move away from the vendors’ proprietary platforms which usually come at a huge cost.”