Esie is the first museum in Nigeria established in 1945. The museum houses over 1,500 soap images; the largest in the world.

The Soap stone images were discovered in 1775 and it is believed that the images were there long before they were discovered in 1775.

In 1933, the images were brought to the limelight through a missionary, H.G Ramshaw.

According to oral history, the Elsie people were said to have migrated from the Old Oyo Empire and settled down at Oko Odo.

However, due to the lack of water there during the dry season, they sent Baragbon to help them find a better place and he came to Elsie – a thick forest at the time.

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Baragbon was the one who found the statues with a King in the middle. He went back to his people and gave them the report.

The King of the town followed him to the place and after seeing the stones, the King ran back. And for that reason, the Elsie people decided that future Kings do not visit the soap stone and it has been so till this day.

They consulted an oracle who told them that the stones used to be human beings in the past and it was God who turned them to soap stone images due to an act of disobedience. And till date, the Elsie people believe the soap stones are human beings.

However, archaeologists say the soap stones were carved although they don’t know who did it. They gave reasons like- the stones can’t talk like humans and that all the soap stones are in a seated position and that the hidden part of the stone images reveal the carver’s knife.
Source: PUNCH

Colombia’s chief of police said he and other officers had used exorcism and prayer to tackle crime and the country’s most powerful criminals, including drug cartel leader Pablo Escobar.

Sitting in his office surrounded by crucifixes, effigies of the Virgin Mary and other Catholic symbols, General Henry Sanabria told local media on Saturday that these religious practices had helped the police throughout the last 50 years of armed conflict in the South American country.

As examples, he recalled police operations in which Escobar (in 1993), FARC guerrilla leader Alfonso Cano (2011) and his military chief known as “Mono Jojoy” (2010) were killed.

“The existence of the devil is certain. I have seen him. I have felt him,” Sanabria said in an interview with Semana magazine, making the sign of the cross at every mention of the devil.

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Sanabria claimed criminals used witchcraft, and said in one operation a police officer had been able to kill one of them by “praying while shooting.”

His statements have sparked fierce debates on social media in Colombia, a secular country with Catholic traditions.

President Gustavo Petro did not express concern.

“We know the beliefs of the general, but we try to make sure that these beliefs do not affect the rules, it is as simple as that,” he said. “I think he has respected them, as far as we know.”

Previous statements by the police chief have also caused controversy.

Sanabria has spoken against abortion, which is legal in Colombia until the 24th week of pregnancy, and the use of condoms, which he has called an “abortive method.”

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Last October, he described Halloween as a “satanic” holiday and wrote a tweet about Women’s Day on March 8 that was accused of being sexist.

“A woman’s charm makes her husband happy and if she is reasonable, she makes it last. A discreet woman is a gift from the Lord,” he wrote.

AFP

Former Chief of General Staff in General Sani Abacha’s military junta, Lt-General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (retd) is dead.

His death was confirmed by Prince Oyesinmilola Diya. He said the former military administrator of Ogun State passed on to glory in the early hours of 26th March 2023.

Born on the 3rd of April, 1944, Diya was military Governor of Ogun State after the Buhari-Idiagbon coup of December 31st, 1983.

Diya joined the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna and fought during the Nigerian Civil War.

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He later attended the US Army School of Infantry, the Command and Staff College, Jaji (1980–1981) and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.

While serving in the military, Diya studied law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained an LLB degree, and then at the Nigerian Law School, where he was called to bar as Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

He held other top military posts like GOC, 82 Division and finally the Chief of General Staff (military Vice President) to Gen Sani Abacha

The statement read:

“On behalf of the entire Diya family home and abroad; We announce the passing on to Glory of our dear Husband,Father, Grandfather,brother, Lt- General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (Rtd) GCON, LLB, BL, PSC, FSS, mni.

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“Our dear Daddy passed onto glory in the early hours of 26th March 2023. Please keep us in your prayers as we mourn his demise in this period. Further announcements will be made public in due course.

“Barrister Prince Oyesinmilola Diya, on behalf of the family.”