Price of machetes drops after elections
ABUJA (Reuters) - The price of machetes has halved in parts of Nigeria since the end of general elections in April because demand from thugs sponsored by politicians has subsided, the state-owned News Agency of Nigeria reported.
NAN surveyed prices in the northeastern state of Gombe and found that a good quality machete was now selling for 400 naira ($3) compared with 800 naira before the elections, which were marred by politically motivated violence in many states.
"A price survey on machetes, which served as a popular weapon among political thugs in the state, indicated ... a drop in the price of the implement," NAN reported over the weekend.
Machetes are primarily used as a tool for farming in Nigeria but they are also popular among political gangsters.
"Before the conduct of the general elections, I was selling a minimum of seven machetes daily but can hardly sell one a day now," said Usman Masi, a trader quoted by NAN.
Africa's most populous country returned to civilian rule in 1999 after three decades of almost continuous army rule but violence remains a feature of politics, especially during the build-up to elections.
European election monitors estimated that at least 200 people were killed in politically motivated violence during months of campaigning ahead of the April polls.
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Man flies 5,600 km for wedding - a year early
LONDON (AFP) - A man flew all the way from Canada to Britain for a friend's wedding -- then realised he was a year too early, the self-confessed "berk" told BBC radio Tuesday.
David Best sent friend David Barclay an email at the start of 2007 which mentioned his wedding date of July 6.
Despite receiving no invitation, and thinking it was a bit odd to have a wedding on a Friday, expat teacher Barclay nonetheless booked his flights and jetted the 5,600 kilometres from Toronto to Cardiff, in Wales.
"I booked my ticket, paid 500 pounds (1,000 dollars, 750 euros) to fly into Cardiff, got the old suit cleaned, the goatee trimmed, the head shaved -- I was going to be the belle of the ball," Barclay said.
"I called his mum to find his number and then I called him up and I said, 'When and where is this wedding? It's in a couple of days and I'd just like to know where I'm going.'
"He said to me, 'Mate, it's not this year, it's next year. 2008 not 2007'."
Only then did a whole list of other strange occurrences start to make any sense.
"I called his mum up and she didn't mention it at all. I didn't get an invitation, it was just on an email and I mentioned it to a friend we're both friends with and he didn't know what I was talking about," Barclay said.
"All these things came together and I thought, 'Oh no, you berk.' I'm a year early and my mates are loving it, aren't they?
"At least it has assured me a mention in the speech next year, I reckon. Same time next year -- I'll be there."
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A Romanian prison inmate’s legal action against God has gone belly up because prosecutors couldn't find God’s address. Pavel Mircea, who is serving a 20-year sentence for murder, launched legal action against God two years ago. In his claim he stated: "God and I closed a contract when I was baptized and God did not respect his part of the deal. He was supposed to protect me from all evils and instead he gave me to Satan who encouraged me to kill." A prosecutor said: "We could not find God’s address. He has no home address."
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