The Nation Newspaper

Tag: instagram

  • Funke Akindele celebrates four million Instagram followers

    Funke Akindele celebrates four million Instagram followers

    Popular Nollywood actress Funke Akindele has hit a milestone on Instagram as she got four million followers, making her the Most Followed Female Nigerian Celebrity on the social media platform.

    Celebrating her new high point, the producer of Jenifa’s Diary promised to reward her fans.

    She posted: “Wow!!!! 4M followers on Instagram!!! Thanks to all my followers. I really appreciate all my fans for their support and kind words. God bless you all. I will be giving out some lovely gifts to celebrate this. Watch this space…”

    And with this latest development, fans of Funke, whose pregnancy is still trending on the social media, has surpassed Genevieve and Tiwa Savage who have 3.2m and 3.8m followers on Instagram respectively.

  • Drop that phone and look up!

    Drop that phone and look up!

    One of the best things the 21st century did for us was the smartphone. As we were basking in the euphoria of being able to connect with people miles away with a wireless equipment, the smartphone came along with the social media by its side. With the smartphone, you have the world in your palms; you could do virtually everything and anything.

    You connect with millions of people simultaneously, check up vital information about anything and still have the ability to send Short Message Service (SMS) and make calls, all at the same time. The social media itself even seemed more magical and made impossibilities possible, businesses flourished, marriages were established, lost connections were restored, distance was no longer a barrier and we could literally “touch” the world.

    However, the “magical” smartphone and its “daughter” the social media has brought with it a whole lot of ills which seem really difficult to combat these days.

    Everywhere in Nigeria, youths are seen clinging passionately to their communication gadgets, some laughing, others having this business-like look on their faces, they all have one thing in common: They are networking, building strong and long lasting relationships that transcends any bias, be it religious, political, or ethnical. We all seem to be  busy looking down at our phones that we don’t look up to see the little beauties of life, we don’t admire beautiful flowers anymore, we hardly take note of lowly beggars reaching out to us on the streets, nor do we respond to “hellos” from  “familiar strangers”.

    We are becoming more concerned with Facebook “friends” than we are with the people we interact with face-to-face in our daily lives.

    When last did we make new friends just by saying hello and talking about random stuff till we felt a connection? Social media platforms have lent a voice to the voiceless but has destroyed the throats of those who had voices. We no longer talk to strangers in the bus while travelling or give people our undivided attention.

    Our family time, slumber parties, get-togethers and many more have been replaced by group chats, Skype, video conferencing, etc.

    Many live for Facebook and Instagram likes, everyone wants to be Facebook famous, very few people want to write a motivational book or start up a movement for inspiration and youth empowerment.

    This is a clarion call for the youths to stop the gadget madness. There’s more to life than that gadget!  The frivolous things of life would always come and go. Many social media platforms are dead and buried, but the important virtues of life will always stand strong. Friendship, loyalty, companionship, marriage would always be here and when you miss out on them, you’re missing out on the goodness of life.

  • Instagram users come for Yomi Fabiyi

    Instagram users come for Yomi Fabiyi

    Actor Yomi Fabiyi has being tagged the harbinger of bad news, by some of his followers on Instagram.

    The actor broke the news of the demise of Ayo, the first daughter of his fellow actress, Remi Oshodi when he wrote; “Rest in peace Ayo. May God grant your mum @therealremisurutu the strength to bear this loss. She did all she can, omg! Aunty Remi, please take heart.

    “Seeing your lifeless body now caused me more pain and it is because I value the friendship we shared. Journey well. In serious pain now.”

    Popular actress Remi Oshodi, known as Remi Surutu, was said to have lost her daughter to the cold hands of death Sunday.

    To some observers, posts from the actor are becoming worrisome as they feel most of them are usually related to the passing away of his colleagues. Some of his followers have taken to the actor’s Instagram page asking him to take down the picture of the deceased as well as the post.

    It will be recalled that the actor was one of the first people to announce the passing away of Moji Olaiya, and acted as the head of the burial planning committee.

    Among so many other comments, a fan by the name adu4 wrote, “@yomifabiyi why are you always so quick to post RIP on your page why? I’m sure u didn’t serve any purpose in the girl’s life when she was alive. Now she’s gone so quick to post rip like you always wait for someone to die ni? Using that to get popular Moji Olaiya too, you were the head of the burial committee.”

  • Desperate cheating husband begs Instagram to delete angry girlfriend’s confession

    Desperate cheating husband begs Instagram to delete angry girlfriend’s confession

    A married man is currently on his knees, pleading with a social media relationship page to take down his girlfriend’s post.

    From the girlfriend’s post on Instagram page, Break or Makeup, the girlfriend had taunted the wife of her married boyfriend, insisting that she was the man’s lover before he met and married the other woman.

    Stating that she was at their wedding, the irate girlfriend revealed that while other guests were busy praying for the success of the new marriage, she was actually cursing, asking the gods to ensure that the marriage hit the rocks in record time.

    Her prayers seem to have been answered, as the newly married man/her former lover soon retraced his way back to her after a fight with his new bride.

    The girlfriend said she did not only cook bitter leaf soup for the man, she also had sex with him.

    However, the man, who seems to have regretted his action, has invaded the relationship site, begging the administrators to put down his girlfriend’s post.

    He claims to still love his wife, but the administrators would have none of that, and went ahead to further post his plea.

    Meanwhile, the girlfriend has started another round of prayers, asking the gods to make her conceive so that even if the man refuses to marry her, she would at least be a ‘baby mama.’

    See her post

    And the cheating husband’s plea:

    This is the wife’s rejoinder to the girlfriend’s post:

  • Fans attack Tonto Dikeh for using frog to describe her marriage

    Fans attack Tonto Dikeh for using frog to describe her marriage

    Popular actress Tonto Wigo Charity Dikeh-Churchill, better known as Tonto Dikeh recently attracted the attacks of her fans on her Instagram page as she throws shades at her estranged husband using frogs in her description.

    Recall that Tonto Dikeh, who was dishing out marriage and relationship teaching through her Instagram page, broke up with her husband allegedly for domestic violence and other sundry issues a few months ago.

    She vividly compared tolerance in marriage and relationship to the level of tolerance of the frog when being exposed to varying degrees of heat in a pot of water.

    She said:

    “Put a frog into a vessel fill with water and start heating the water. As the temperature of the water begins to rise, the frog adjusts its body temperature accordingly. The frog keeps adjusting its body temperature with the increasing temperature of the water. Just when the water is about to reach boiling point, the frog cannot adjust anymore. At this point, the frog decides to jump out. 

    The frog tries to jump but it is unable to do so because it has lost all its strength in adjusting with the rising water temperature.

    Very soon the frog dies.
    What killed the frog?
    Think about it!
    I know many of us will say the boiling water. But the truth about what killed the frog was its own inability to decide when to jump out.
    We all need to adjust to people & situations, but we need to be sure when we need to adjust & when we need to move on. There are times when we need to face the situation and take appropriate actions.
    If we allow people to exploit us
    physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually or mentally they will continue to do so.
    Let us decide when to jump!
    Let’s jump while we still have the strength. Are you ready to #Jump

    In the reactions, some fans blamed her for embarrassing her husband in the media, urging her to apologise to him. She was reminded of how she praised God for using him to make her a better woman that she now claims to be.

    Another fan pleaded with her to make up with her husband, adding that her marriage has been a source of inspiration for many others. The fan stated: “I am not a I.G person, but I always comes up here to read your sweet and motivated messages you used to put up here. I referred so many women to your page including my own wife and my friends wife’s both black and white women. But you let me down and you let God down.”

    Generally, Tonto Dikeh was advised to make the conscious effort to make her marriage work once again as fans disapprove of her reactions and disengagement from her husband.

  • 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)

  • Undergraduate disguises as woman to dupe 33 men on instagram

    Undergraduate disguises as woman to dupe 33 men on instagram

    A 22-year-old man, Oluwole Israel Falope, has been arrested by Rapid Response Squad (RRS), operatives for allegedly duping over 33 men while pretending to be a woman on Instagram.

    Falope was arrested when a RRS decoy team that had been monitoring him, trailed him to a popular club in Ikeja last Thursday.

    The officers were reported to have monitored him and those he was interacting with at the club before arresting him and a colleague.

    It was gathered that the suspect celebrated his birthday at Hard & Rock in Lekki, Lagos, a week before his arrest. He was said to have lavished over half a million naira on foods and drinks.

    The suspect, a 100 level part-time student of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, (NIJ) Ogba, Lagos, was said to have told interrogators that he has been in the business for more than two years.

    The police said Falope’s activities on instagram were placed under probe when they received a complaint about an Instagram handle @blackberbiedoll allegedly used for criminal activities, which was traced to him.

    Apart from @blackberbiedoll, which he allegedly used for fraudulent activities, he also reportedly maintained @froshwhite007 and @froshwhite for the same purpose.

    The complainant told RRS that he got a friend request from @blackberbiedoll.

    He said: “Apparently, the picture on the account was that of a lady. The lady in question messaged me on BBM. Honestly, I thought I was chatting with a woman who claimed to be in Nigeria at the time.

    “She lied to me that her father was a Nigerian and her mum, a Kenyan, and so we got talking. At a point, she lied that she was building a beauty outfit in Ikota Shopping Mall and Victoria Garden City (VGC) and that she was in need of some money to complete the mall.

    “I had to transfer N1 million to her. Weeks later, I grew suspicious of the account name Olawole Israel Oluwaseun Falope. I ran a search on Google, and then discovered it was all scam. Immediately, I reported the incident to Instagram and that account was blocked and later suspended to prevent others from falling victim.”

    Another victim, who did not want his identity revealed, said he paid N100, 000 into Falope’s account to support his “bogus fashion outfit.”

    The suspect said since he started the fraudulent act about two years ago, he had duped no fewer than 33 men, adding that the least amount he received was N80,000.

    RRS quoted him as saying: “When I started, much as I pretended to be a lady on phone, some men on the other side didn’t believe me. I then downloaded an app on Google which transformed my voice into that of a lady whenever I am having conversation.

    “I got several pictures of Shayla, a pretty United States based lady on my profile. Since then, men have been disturbing me and calling to request for a date.

    “What I do is that I assess people based on their appearance on Instagram, add them and thereafter open up conversations with them before I start bringing up all manners of stories in order to dupe them.

    “At a point, I lied to most of them that I had an accident and I lost my Automated Teller Machine (ATM). I told them that I need some money. Some of them were generous enough to drop money into my account.

    “I also lied to them that I was putting up a boutique and salon at Ikota, VGC and Lekki, and that I need money to finish setting up.

    “I know I made a mistake downloading Shayla’s pictures and using them for fraudulent purposes. I am telling you the truth, those that I have collected money from can’t be more than 33.”

    The Nation learnt that the owner of the profile pictures the suspect used, @Shayla had complained to Instagram that some Nigerians were using her profile pictures to dope people.

    It was also gathered that the suspect claimed to be a friend of some celebrities.

    “I know all of them. I attend a lot of shows, I meet them, take photographs with them, even exchange numbers,” he said.

    The RRS confirmed that he was following many celebrities on instagram but it could not confirm if any of them fell prey to him, as many of his instagram chats with them got no response.

    RRS noted that Falope’s claim of being a half-caste, fashion designer, stylist, cosmetologist and model were all part his fraud to make people fall for him. He was never a trainee or a specialist in any of this, it said.

    “He didn’t deny this claim. He admitted bleaching his skin to escape the taunting of girls that he was a very ugly guy,” RRS said.

    Items recovered from the suspect included, an iphone 6, 1 Samsung Galaxy A5, an Apple tablet, hand and neck chains, some new notes and a handbag.

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), advised Nigerians to be careful on the internet because scammers are on the prowl worldwide.

    The suspect, she said, has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at Panti, Yaba, Lagos Mainland for further investigations.

  • ” How I duped 33 men on Instagram pretending to be a lady”

    ” How I duped 33 men on Instagram pretending to be a lady”

    A 22- year old suspect, Falope Oluwole, arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command, has disclosed that he duped over 33 men while pretending to be a lady on Instagram.
    Falope according to a statement by the Police was arrested when officials of the RRS decoy team, who had been monitoring him for some weeks, trailed him to a popular club in Ikeja City Mall on Thursday evening.
    The officers were reported to have monitored him, and those he was interacting with at the club before arresting him and a colleague late in the night.
    It was gathered that the suspect recently celebrated his birthday at Hard & Rock, Lekki, Lagos, week before his arrest, where he spent over half a million on foods and drinks.
    The suspect, a 100 level part time student of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos, who allegedly confessed committing the crime, said that he has been in the business for more than two years.
    The Police revealed that Falope’s activities on Instagram was placed under investigations when it received a complaint about an Instagram handle @blackberbiedoll, used for criminal activities, which was later traced to him.
    Apart from @blackberbiedoll, which he prominently used for fraudulent activities, he maintained @froshwhite007 and @froshwhite separately for same purpose.
    The complainant, Bernard stated that he got a friend request from @blackberbiedoll. “Apparently, the picture on the account was that of a lady. The lady in question messaged me on BBM. Honestly, I thought I was chatting with a woman who claimed to be in Nigeria at the time.
    “She lied to me that her father was a Nigerian and her mum, a Kenyan, and so we got talking. At a point, she lied that she was building a beauty outfit in Ikota Shopping Mall, VGC and that she was in need of some money to complete the mall”,Bernard added.
    He explained further, “I had to transfer N1million to her. Weeks later, I grew suspicious of the account name Olawole Israel Oluwaseun Falope. I ran a search on Google, and then discovered it was all scam.
    ” Immediately, I reported the incident to Instagram and that account was blocked and later suspended to prevent others from falling victim”.
    Another victim, who did not want his identity disclosed said he paid N100, 000 into her account to support her bogus fashion outfit.
    Admitting the allegation, the suspect noted that since he started the fraudulent act about two years ago, he had duped no fewer than 33 men pretending to be a lady on Instagram and that the least amount he received from any of them was N80,000.
    “When I started, much as I pretended to be a lady on phone, some men on the other side didn’t believe me. I then downloaded an app on Google which transformed my voice into that of a lady whenever I am having conversation.
    I got several pictures of Shayla, a pretty United States based lady on my profile. Since then, men have been disturbing me and calling to request for a date”, he stated.
    He said, “what I do is that I assess people based on their appearance on Instagram, add them and thereafter open up conversations with them before I start bringing up all manners of stories in order to dupe them.
    ” At a point, I lied to most of them that I had an accident and I lost my ATM. I told them that I need some money. Some of them were generous enough to drop money into my account”.
    “I lied to them that I was putting up a boutique and saloon at Ikota, VGC and Lekki, and that I need money to finish setting up.
    ” I know I made a mistake downloading Shayla’s pictures and used them for fraudulent purposes. I am telling you the truth, those that I have collected money from cant be more than 33”, he explained.
    Investigations revealed that the owner of the profile pictures the suspect used, @Shayla had complained to Instagram that some Nigerians were using her profile pictures to scam unsuspecting members of the public.
    It was also disclosed that the suspect claimed to be a friend of Toke Makinwa, Tonto Dike, Don jazzy, Peter Okoye, Toyin Aihmaku, Tee Y Mix, Oristsefemi, Timaya, Sean Tizzle, Dami Adenuga, Femi Otedola, Mike Adenuga jnr, Ramsey Noah e.t.c.
    “I know all of them. I attend a lot of shows, I meet them, take photographs with them, even exchange numbers. Like sister Toke Makinwa, Tonto Dike, Uncle Ramsey Noah, these are the kind of celebrities I look up to and I want to be like them”, he stated.
    But RRS investigators confirmed that he was following a lot of Nigerian celebrities on Instagram but they could not confirm if any of them fell prey to Falope’s antics, as many his Instagram chats with them got no response.
    They added that a Ghanian business man who Falope claimed to have met at a popular club in Nigeria rebuffed his request to engage him in a chat.
    They noted that Falope claims of being a halfcast, Fashion designer, stylist, cosmetologist, model were all part his fraud to make people fall for him. He was never a trainee or a specialist in any of this.
    Our source added that he is not an half cast as he claimed to be, rather he bleached his skin.
    “He didn’t deny this claim. He admitted bleaching his skin to escape the taunting of girls that he was a very ugly guy”, the source stated.
    Items recovered from the suspect included, an iphone 6, 1 Samsung Galaxy A5, an Apple tablet, hand and neck chains, some new notes and a handbag.
    Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Suprintendent Dolapo Badmos, warned Nigerains to be careful on the internet because scammers are on the prowl world wide.
    The suspect has been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigations.

  • Teebillz returns to Instagram, bonds with son in photo

    Teebillz returns to Instagram, bonds with son in photo

    After a bitter separation earlier in the year, there are indications that things are returning to normal between Tunji Balogun aka Teebillz and his family.

    On Sunday, Teebillz posted a picture on his Instagram page of him and Jamal, the son he and Tiwa Savage had together, sharing quality time in a pool.

    “A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body,” Teebillz wrote.

    Also, on Saturday, his first post since six months ago after the messy separation, Teebillz had posted inspirational quotes on his Instagram page. “”We must become the CHANGE we seek in others” – Mahatma Ghandi.

    “When you find your purpose and define your values in life, everything else is irrelevant” #DavidBillz @lanreolusola thanks for all the wisdom nuggets #BestLifeCoach”

    Many of his followers have wished him well while praying for his reunion with his wife.

    One of those who commented, abbeyluv91, wrote: “God bless you handsome Tunji…God jam jam…God bless TIWA…God keep blessing your home….I’m happy for you boss..you will never experience sadness again in life..!!! * insha allahu*

    Recently, a report indicated that Tiwa is also considering reuniting with her husband.

    “You can take my word for it that a reconciliation is in the offing between Tiwa and Teebillz,” an anonymous source was reportedly quoted.

    “She has told people close to her that she misses Tunji, and she wants him back in her life. Also, as their son, Jamal (Jam Jam) is growing older, Tiwa wants to ensure that he has a father figure around.”

    Also, while performing at the Three Thrones Concert at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, penultimate Sunday, Tiwa had paused to ask marital advice from singing couple, Tunde and Wunmi Obe (TWO).

    “You’ve been married for so long, and you’re also in the limelight; how have you managed to keep your relationship intact for all these years?” she asked.

    “There’s a lot of pressure on young couples and I’m very jealous of you.”