Nigerian military disorganized, under-equipped in battle against Boko Haram

Northern Nigeria (CNN)

  I didn't want to ask the question. I could already guess the pain behind the answer.

"Do you think your husband is dead?"

Her mouth twists, contorting her young face, tears welling in her already reddened eyes.

"I don't know... I pray to God to give him another chance," she finally manages to stutter.

Her sadness is heavy and blankets both of us.

She tells me she has three children, and they last saw their father four months ago when he went back to his army unit on the front line in Nigeria's battle with the radical Islamist extremist group Boko Haram.

Photos from the fire outbreak at Marina this morning

Another fire outbreak reported in Marina this morning. The fire started around 4am in one of the tall buildings at Eko/Berlin Market, around CBN building. Shops and other buildings have been engulfed by fire though the fire service is trying their best to put it out. Millions of Naira lost in property. This season of fire outbreaks, is it the weather? See more photos after the cut...

Dear Readers; how do you handle unreasonable friends?

From a reader...

I have had two friends stay with me on two different occasions and they stay for months (even though the initial plan is for them to get their own apartments after two to three months) and I have had to ask them to leave with reasons why they cannot keep staying with me when I sense they are not making plans to move out.

Photos from the Lagos state Gubernatorial debate today...

Lagos state governorship candidates gathered today at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja Lagos for a debate organized by the Diocese of Lagos West of the Anglican Church. The debate had in attendance 17 governorship candidates of various political parties. The candidates took turns to explain how they plan to improve the state if elected as Governor. More pics after the cut

Buhari & what he will do for Nigeria if he's voted on February 14

The Presidential Campaign train of the All Progressive’s Congress (APC) moved to Imo state on January 12, 2015. The campaign which has seen APC Presidential Candidate Muhammadu Buhari, along with other members of the party, visit states in Southern Nigeria - Port-Harcourt, Cross River, Imo, Delta, Bayelsa, have also visited the South-Eatern states of Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra, Enugu states respectively, continued on Monday with a rally in Owerri, the commercial city in Imo State.

The day however began in Abuja with an Inauguration Ceremony for the Campaign Council, during which Muhammadu Buhari requested that the crowd join him in observing a one-minute silence for victims of the recent attacks in Baga. He also enjoined his supporters to desist from any form of violence.