Are social network discussions ever off limits?

An Islamic court in Nigeria has banned a human rights group from using Facebook and Twitter, to discuss the country’s first amputation for theft.
“We condemn the ruling and reject it. We think it is a violation of our freedom of expression,”  says Shehu Sani the Civil Rights Congress president.  

On air: Violence in Nigeria

Two questions appear to be at the centre of your discussions of the weekend’s shocking violence near Jos. They are: 1) Why is it happening? and 2) why isn’t more attention being paid to it? (Though Hillary has now commented.)We’ll ask both, as well as hear about our sister’s show Africa Have Your Say’s discussion on what now needs to be done to present such massacres happening again. Questions and comments welcome… and pls leave your number if you want to come on air. We won’t publish the number online.

WHYS at the Univ. of Miami

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When do you decide that a leader is not fit to govern?

After weeks of speculation over his health, Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua has broken his silence saying he’s ‘hopeful of a return soon’.

The President’s been missing, dead, brain-damaged and thriving – all in a matter of weeks.

With Nigeria’s image taking a battering in recent weeks, some are asking if this was the right time to go awol. That’s why Nigerians have been taking to the streets.

He’s says he’s recovering, the people aren’t as confident. So when do you decide when a leader’s time is up?

Who do you blame for the “syringe bomber” ?

His family contacted security agencies two months ago to raise concerns and his teachers say he was showing signs of extremism from a young age.

 He was even on a terrorism watch list.

So how did Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, the Nigerian man suspected of plotting to blow up a  plane from Amsterdam to Detroit get so close to fulfilling his goal?

Is it time for Africa to apologise over Slavery?

Stand up and admit your ancestors played a crucial part in the trade of 11 million human beings from Africa. This is what Nigeria’s Civil Rights Congress is suggesting.

Should witchcraft be an accepted part of society?

You may find some of the scenes in this video disturbing.
This video is all over the Indian media. Five women were paraded naked, beaten and forced to eat human excrement by villagers who accused them of being witches.
In Nigeria, hundreds of children have been killed after being branded witches. Village tradition? Poverty? Or should we just accept that in some communities, believing in witches is just the norm?

Is District 9 racist towards Nigerians?

“…The film clearly denigrated Nigeria’s image by portraying us as if we are cannibals, we are criminals… The name [of] our former president was clearly spelt out as the head of the criminal gang and our ladies shown like prostitutes sleeping with extra-terrestrial beings…”

On air: Is Islamic extremism Africa’s newest fear?

150 people were killed in Northern Nigeria after two days of violence. Residents in the state of Borno said that Islamic militants burnt a police station, a church and a customs office early yesterday.

The group, which calls itself Taliban, emerged in Nigeria in 2004. It has never been clear if it has proper links to the Taliban in Afghanistan but its leaders profess allegiance to and admiration of Osama bin Laden.