JUDGE REJECTS GUILTY PLEA FROM OKLAHOMA MAN WHO BEHEADED CO-WORKER AND FELLOW OKLAHOMA WOMAN

Relatives of an Oklahoma woman beheaded by a co-worker at a food processing plant in 2014 are outraged after the guilty plea from the "monster" was rejected by the presiding judge, Judge Lori Walkley.

 

Cleveland  County  District  Judge Lori Walkley refused Wednesday to accept the plea from Alton Nolen, who has said he wants the death penalty for his attack on Colleen Hufford at Vaughan Foods in Moore.

The judge ruled that Nolen is not mentally competent enough, and said he will go to the state mental hospital for more tests. Judge Walkley said the plea would have most likely been overturned on appeal.

TRADER ARRESTED FOR NAMING HIS PET DOG ‘BUHARI’

A 30-year-old trader has been arrested by the police in Ogun state for naming his pet dog ‘Buhari.’
The trader, Joe Fortemose Chinakwe, who resides at No 10, Omikunle Street, Sango-Ota, Ogun State, was reportedly arrested last weekend, after one of his neighbours of Northern extraction complained bitterly that he named his dog after his father, Alhaji Buhari. It was learnt that the complainant reported the case at Sango Police Station, last Saturday, after which the trader was arrested and detained. However, it was gathered that efforts by the police to recover the dog, which they intended using as evidence failed following a clever move by the suspect.
The said trader, who trades in female wears at a popular market in Sango, allegedly directed his friends secretly to kill the dog and possibly eat the meat in order to avoid being implicated. It was gathered that consistent appeals by his friends and relations for the police to grant him bail failed as the complainant and his kinsmen reportedly threatened to kill the trader if he was released on bail. Trader denied bail The case, however, took a different dimension two days later when Chinakwe’s relatives went to Sango police station to further plead for his bail only to be informed that the case file and the suspect have been transferred to Ogun State Police Command headquarters at Eleweran. A relation to the suspect, who simply identified himself as Chiedozie,  disclosed that his brother was being persecuted for no just cause and expressed fears that he may either be poisoned inside police cell or thrown into jail. Chiedozie said: “Chinakwe is a lover of dogs and he names them after things that tickle him. He bought this dog a year ago and named it Buhari.  Unfortunately, some Northerners, who dominate the vicinity where he resides misconstrued his intention and connived to take him up. The complainant then claimed it was derogatory because his father answers Buhari.” Police sources, however, told Vanguard that the actions of the suspect “were very provocative.” The source said: “he not only named the dog Buhari but boldly wrote it on the body of both sides of the dog and was seen parading the neighbourhood dominated by Northerners with it.” As at press time, relations to the suspect were still making frantic efforts to effect his bail while his accusers are insisting that he must be prosecuted. Police confirms arrest When contacted around 8pm yesterday, the acting Police spokesman in Ogun State, Abimbola Oyeyemi, ASP, said he was still trying to get the Divisional Police Officer in-charge of Sango for details. Oyeyemi later called, stating that: “I have made enquiries. The man bought a dog and inscribed Buhari on both sides of its body. One Mallam lodged a complaint and when our men got there, we found out that it was true. You know such thing can cause serious breach of the peace and ethnic or religious unrest. We are charging him to court for conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.” Continuing, he said: “He was arrested last Saturday and we are taking him to court later today (Tuesday) or tomorrow morning (today). You know an average Northerner will feel bad over such a thing. It can cause serious ethnic crisis or religious confrontation because when you are relegating such a name to a certain person, you are indirectly insulting him.” When asked about the whereabouts of the dog that will be used as evidence against the suspect, the police spokesman said: “The dog cannot follow anybody except the owner. We will use him as our evidence because he did not deny it.”
—News credit: Vanguard.

SNAKE FAECES (POOPS)

Snake Poop Photograph

Many people ask me - what does snake poop look like? The answer is that it's pretty hard to identify. Snakes are carnivores. They eat only meat, but specifically, they eat whole animals. Small snakes eat insects, then as snakes get a bit bigger, maybe small frogs, other snakes etc. and then larger snakes eat mammals. Mice and rats are common, but large snakes can eat big mammals, whole of course. The feces of carnivores tend to be somewhat mushy, because there's not a whole lot of plant fiber. This is also the case with snakes. Snake feces are usually pretty mushy, and smooth. Some snake poo does contain fur, of course, since they eat mammals, but still, the consistency is generally a bit mushy with smooth edges.

Also, snakes basically poop and pee at the same time out of one hole, the cloacae, so that also makes things a bit runny. Oftentimes snake poo has a white cap, or white stuff smeared throughout it. This is called a urea cap, or urea smear. You might think that snake droppings would be long and thin, since snakes are long and thin. However, this isn't the case - they are fatter than you might imagine.  When fresh, the snake poop is usually dark brown, but as it dries out, it turns more chalky in color. The bottom line is that it is fairly difficult to identify, in my opinion, at least if you don't already know what the droppings of other animals look like, which would allow you to rule out other critters. I know what the feces of over three hundred and forty different animals look like, so I could rule out a lot of the usual suspects first. For example, a lot of animals leave pellet turds - little round or oval balls. Snakes don't do this. They pass their waste fairly infrequently, just as they eat fairly infrequently. When they do go, it's a large, relatively thick, slimy mess.

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a long-term management strategy that uses a combination of techniques to reduce dangerous pests to tolerable levels with potentially lower costs for the individual and minimal effect on the environment. The principles of integrated pest management includes:

(a) Identify pests, their hosts and beneficial organisms before taking action.

(b) Establish monitoring guidelines for each pest species.

(c) Establish an action threshold for the pest.

(d) Evaluate and implement control tactics.

(e) Monitor, evaluate and document the results.

IPM can be applied when managing all kinds of pests, including insects, weeds, diseases and vertebrate pests, such as rats/mice ,snakes, squirrels and birds. It integrates prevention, cultural practices, mechanical and/or physical pest controls, biological pest controls to prevent and suppress pests. However, Chemical pest control should be a last resort measure as IPM deemphasizes chemical application unless its a last resort as mentioned earlier. This is because the goal of IPM is to reduce the adverse impacts of dangerous pest on human health, the environment and non-target organisms, while managing the dangerous pests effectively.
The Environmental Health practitioner is saddled with the huge responsibility of protecting and conserving the environment such that the environment would be safe for man, animals and indeed all other creatures on the planet while controlling the population of dangerous vertebrate and invertebrate animals including microbes. Hence, it would be a great disservice to deliberately exterminate innocent, non dangerous and friendly animals, birds, insects, marine dwelling creatures etc with the mere excuse of controlling pests in the environment. Such professional recklessness could definitely alter the ambience of the ecosystem. After all not all animals, birds and insects are dangerous to man.
Infact some creatures (insects,  birds etc) are very significant to man's healthful living in the environment. As such, Chemicals (especially liquid spray chemical formulations) kills both target and non target insects and small animals which is not in line with IPM principles.

The concept of Integrated Pest Management is not new and has been in use throughout the world. Applying IPM in urban environments, including home gardens, landscapes and golf courses, presents special challenges. Urban IPM, or pest management programs that incorporate reduced use of pesticides in private and commercial landscapes, golf courses and other urban landscape settings, is a rapidly expanding field that incorporates university and industry research.

VERTBRATE PEST MANAGENT

Vertebrate pests include animals with a backbone, such as rats/mice, snakes etc. In line with IPM principles, vertebrate pests is best managed using the following technics:

1. Exclusion:
Exclusion is the practice of keeping the pest out of or away from (farms, crops,  buildings, etc. Using barriers, such as fencing and durable materials, to plug entrances into buildings or prevent animals from accessing your premises, gardens, lawns or landscape plants, are examples of exclusion practices. Fences must be sized according to the type of pest to be excluded.To be effective, exclusion fences must be at least 6 feet tall. Some experts recommend the fence be 7 to 8-feet tall.

(2.) Good hygiene and Sanitation
This is especially important for areas like kitchens, residences and areas where animals are kept. Eliminate food and water sources. Store food and animal feeds, grain and seed in rodent-proof containers. Repair leaky pipes. Sanitation is very important for managing vertebrate pests in yards. Avoid leaving food remnants,  fruits and vegetables where they are accessible to pests. Cover your compost pile.

(3.) Trapping:
There are several types of kill traps and live traps available for most vertebrate pest species. It is essential to choose the proper trap and learn the correct way to use it. Live trapping and releasing the pest is neither acceptable nor legal. Individuals who release live-trapped animals are moving the pest problem and sometimes diseases like rabies, distemper or plague along with them. Live trapping followed by an approved method of euthanasia is recommended. When using live traps, do NOT relocate pest animals.

(4.) Repellent:
In agricultural application new growth on plants must be retreated, and animals may easily get used to the repellent and resist it.Repellants may be applied to valuable vegetation or can be used in areas where pests are known to frequent. They often don't work the way people expect them to work. Sunshine can break down the repellent, and sprinklers and rain can wash away the product.

(5.) Rodenticide Baits:
Baits such as seeds, grains and vegetation treated with rodenticides are used to control several types of vertebrate pests. Most baits must be applied in bait stations or underground within animal burrows to lessen the risk of killing of non-target species. Pesticide labels describe methods for applying the bait. Pesticides used include strychnine, zinc phosphide and various anticoagulants. Strychnine may only be applied underground.

(6.) Fumigants:
Smoke bombs and various types of internal combustion engines produce poison gases, including carbon monoxide, that can be used as fumigants. This is a very dangerous method that should be avoided by residential home owners.

To be effective, all burrow entrances must be blocked. When using smoke bombs, avoid areas near structures,  stacks, etc. Aluminum phosphide fumigants are available either as tablets or pellets. When applied in rodent burrows, they produce phosphine gas, which is deadly. Applied improperly, aluminum phosphide has resulted in numerous human deaths. To purchase, apply or supervise the use of this pesticide, applicator must be certified and duely trained by the Rivers State Ministry Of Environment. Residential home owners CAN NOT use these products at home.

WHAT IS INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT?

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a well managed pest control system that:

(1.) Eliminates or mitigates economic and health damage caused by pests;

(2.) Minimizes the use of pesticides and the risk to human health and the environment associated with pesticide applications;

(3.) Use integrated methods to successfully carry out pest infestation assessments, inspections, pest population monitoring, an evaluation of the need for pest control program, and one or more pest control methods, including sanitation, structural repairs, mechanical / living biological controls and indeed other non-chemical methods.

A well-defined Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a program that should be based on prevention, monitoring, and control which offers the opportunity to eliminate or drastically reduce the use of pesticides, and to minimize the toxicity of and exposure to any products which are used. IPM does this by utilizing a variety of methods and techniques, including cultural, biological and structural strategies to control a multitude of pest problems.

IPM is a term that is used loosely with many different definitions and methods of implementation. IPM can mean virtually anything the practitioner wants it to mean.Beware of chemical dependent programs masquerading as IPM.

Those who argue that IPM requires the ability to spray pesticides immediately after identifying a pest problem are not describing IPM. Conventional pest control tends to ignore the causes of pest infestations and instead rely on routine, scheduled pesticide applications. Pesticides are often temporary fixes. They get ineffective over time.

The Six IPM Program Essentials

(1.) Monitoring:
This includes regular site inspections and trapping to determine the types and infestation levels of pests at each site.

(2.) Record-Keeping:
A record-keeping system is essential to establish trends and patterns in pest outbreaks. Information recorded at every inspection or treatment should include pest identification, population size, distribution, recommendations for future prevention, and complete information on the treatment action.

(3.) Action Levels:
Pests are virtually never eradicated. An action level is the population size which requires remedial action for human health, economic, or aesthetic reasons.

(4) Prevention:
Preventive measures must be incorporated into the existing structures and designs for new structures. Prevention is and should be the primary means of pest control in an IPM program.

(5.) Tactics Criteria: 
Under IPM, chemicals should be used only as a last resort only, but when used, the least-toxic materials should be chosen, and applied to minimize exposure to humans and all non-target organisms.

(6.) Evaluation:
A regular evaluation program is essential to determine the success of the pest management strategies.

ADVANTAGES OF 
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)

There are many advantages in using the IPM pest management approach:

Maintaining a Balanced Ecosystem:
The Ecosystem comprises living and non-living components that are intricately linked as effects of one species within the system may affect other species (positively or negatively) due to the reliance on different trophic levels. Ideally, and in many cases this is true, functional redundancy is present within a system, and organisms can adapt as the ecosystem evolves and species composition changes at different trophic levels.
Using chemical controls can reduce pests, but may also reduce species of organisms that reduce pest species themselves within the ecosystem. By using an IPM approach, we aid in maintaining ecosystem stability while controlling pest problems.

 

 Examples of some preventative IPM techniques:

1.) Cultural Controls (i.e., changes that disturb the natural environment of the pest)
2.) Structural Modifications,
3.) Biological Controls (i.e., beneficial organisms),
4.) Physical Barriers,
5.) Use of Pheromones (i.e., natural insect scents),
6.) Pest-Resistant Varieties

Monitoring is an important component of the IPM strategy. Monitoring involves:
i.)  Regular checks of the area
ii.) Early detection and
iii.) Documentation of pests
iv.) Proper identification of pests
v.) Identification of the effects of biological control agents

Assessment is the process of determining the potential for pest populations to reach an economic threshold (i.e., depletes the value of the crop below an established bottom line) or an intolerable level. Keep records from previous years so you can refer back to them. Watching the weather patterns and historical data will give you a good idea when and if a pest problem may occur.

One also needs to determine the action needed in order to address the pest problem. If pests reach an economic threshold (farmers) or intolerable levels ( in homes), swift professional pest control action must be taken. When no other strategy would bring the pest population under a tolerance threshold, then the use of chemical pesticides is probably justified - if applied properly (i.e., according to label standards). 

At this point, use of chemical pestcides would be needful.  A professional decision-making toolbox will be an important component of the final measures taken in order to neutralize a pest problem. Use of the data portal will also be a critical component in final decisions as it will increase the accuracy of impact assessments of a pesticides based on geographical characteristics as well as the physical and chemical properties of the pesticide. You have now taken the necessary steps to assess your pest problem and the different possible solutions. 

When you are making your final decision for pesticide application, consider upcoming storm events, wind speed, and where you are in relation to water and what floodplain zone you are in (data portal). Also, make sure to use appropriate PPE and application rates and methods listed on the label. These tools will ultimately lead you to the appropriate pesticide for your pest situation.

WE TRIED THE LONELY ROAD, IT WAS NOT THE SAME–PETER SAYS P-SQUARE BACK TOGETHER

CLEBRITY GIST. 

Psqure back again

----------------------------------------------------There are indications that the rift between popular Nigerian R&B group, P-Square duo, has been resolved.

From the news of change in management to alleged unsettled family disputes which lingered for a long while, the duo went their separate ways and has been working independently.

Peter Okoye has, however, lamented that the road has been lonely and tough working solely.

On his Twitter handle @peterpsquare on Monday, Peter, in an open letter addressed to fans, hinted P-square is back for good.

He tweeted: “My dear fans, P-Square is back. Ours is a journey that started from our mother’s womb. It was a journey that started from Primary School, continued to St. Murumba College, to when we were in University in Abuja. It was a journey in which we shared childhood memories and grown-up dreams.

“We are back because brothers do not let each other wander in the dark alone. We are back because we have tried the lonely road and it was not the same.

“I want to take responsibility for what has happened and sincerely apologise to you our fans. For supporting us throughout this journey. We owed you so much more than what you have had to endure and I apologise for that.

“We are embarking now on a new journey with exciting new management (Jude Okoye), new music and new ideas.

“We cannot thank you enough for all your prayers and support throughout this difficult period.

“Maya Angelou once said that brotherhood is a condition that people have to work at. We will continue to work on that and you can be prepared to be blown away by this new phase of P-Square.

God bless you all and be assured that you have not seen anything yet,” he added.

Meanwhile, his twin, Paul, is yet to react to the new development.

-Daily post.