The true story of Charlie Charlie, the ‘demonic’ teen game overtaking the Internet

If you are one of those crotchety people who believe the kids these days are somehow less inspired than generations before, then I come bearing new evidence: Even their superstitions are lamer than ours!

“Charlie Charlie,” a game/Internet urban legend of sudden and inexplicable popularity, surged to the top of the global social media charts this weekend after kicking around on the Spanish-language Internet for much of eternity. As of this writing, #CharlieCharlieChallenge has been tweeted more than 1.6 million times. More people are Googling “Charlie Charlie” than virtually any other news event.

How do you play Charlie Charlie?

Simple! You could, if you wanted, even do it at your desk.

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Step 1: Open your Vine and get the camera rolling. (If you don’t have Vine, you ARE too old for this.)
Step 2: Draw an X on a piece of paper.
Step 3: Label two of the resulting quadrants “no,” and the other two “yes.”
Step 4: Place two overlapping pencils on each axis of your grid, crossing them in the middle.
Step 5: Say “Charlie, Charlie, are you there?” and ask a question. (i.e., “is one of my friends going to die soon,” “will I go to prom next May.” )
Step 6: Scream, probably.

Where did this come from?

While it’s hard to pin down an exact country of origin, Charlie Charlie (also spelled Charly Charly) has a long history as a schoolyard game in the Spanish-speaking world. According to one seven-year-old Yahoo! Respuestas thread — that’s Yahoo Answers to you — kids have played a version of the “classic game” in Spain for generations.

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Traditionally, this version with the crossed pencils was called the “Juego de la Lapicera” — a term that still turns up lots of creepy stuff on Google — and “Charlie Charlie” was a distinct game, played with colored pencils. At some point in their Internet and playground travels, the two games seem to have merged. In either case, both have always had demonic or supernatural connotations; one site calls Lapicera “the poor man’s Ouija board.”

Why is it popular again right now?

It’s always hard to say exactly why these things trend, but the latest bubble seems to have begun in late April in the Dominican province of Hato Mayor, when a local TV news station broadcast a very alarmist (and unintentionally funny) report about the “Satanic” game overtaking local schools. From there, social media users in the Dominican Republic began tweeting, Instagramming and Vining about the game; by mid-May, the phrase “Charlie Charlie” was trending on Dominican Twitter, an easy jump away from the rest of Spanish-language Web.

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Meanwhile, over the weekend, a 17-year-old girl in central Georgia Instagrammed her game and slapped it with the hashtag #CharlieCharlieChallenge. That hashtag was, apparently, all the kids needed: It’s been tweeted 1.6 million times since then.

Who is Charlie, anyway?

Per various corners of the Spanish-speaking Internet: a child who committed suicide, the victim of a fatal car accident, or a pagan Mexican deity who now convenes with the Christian devil. The Mexican deity bit, at least, is demonstrably untrue.

“There’s no demon called ‘Charlie’ in Mexico,” said Maria Elena Navez of BBC Mundo.

Is this as dangerous as some of the other viral teen challenges going around?

Given that no one’s setting themselves on fire, inhaling a caustic substance or deforming their lips, Charlie Charlie looks … pretty harmless.

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That said, according to popular legend, Charlie haunts players who fail to say goodbye before they close out of the game. And there are, predictably, a whole lot of people who don’t love the kids-summoning-demons thing.

Why should I care? (Should I even care?!)

I mean, you should definitely care if you’re seeking supernatural answers to your life questions. (Excepting questions about love, death and money, which — per certain versions of the legend — Charlie will not answer.)

Even if that doesn’t exactly describe you, though, Charlie makes a killer case study in virality and how things move in and out of languages and cultures online. You’ll notice, for instance, a lot of players and reporters talking about the game as if it were new, when it’s actually — and more interestingly, I think — an old game that has just recently crossed the language divide.

This is also, pretty notably, yet another example of the power of the teenage Internet. Write off their little games as silly, sure — but we never trended “Bloody Mary” or “Ouija board.”

Lagos state government say defaulters of nationwide curfew could pay as much as N500,000 fine - Crossover services

 

The Lagos state government has warned that residents of the state who attend Crossover services on December 31 and in the process violate the 12am to 4am curfew will be charged to court and made to pay a fine ranging from N20,000 to N500,000.

 

The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, stated this in an interview with Punch on  Wednesday, December 30.

 

“If you flout any of these rules, you can be fined. You will be taken to court and the magistrate will decide on the sanction. The fine can be between N20,000 and N500,000. It depends on the magistrate’s discretion.

But it is not just about punishing people. People are being advised to take responsibility. The regulations were rolled out as an advisory and people have been obeying while people who have disobeyed have faced the consequences.”he said

The commissioner, however, expressed optimism that religious leaders in the state would comply with the directive of the government on the crossover services.

 

 “With what we have been seeing, I don’t think churches will flout the protocols. CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria) is in agreement with the government. Covid cases are going up and everybody is worried. Some of the giant churches have also announced that they won’t be holding physical crossover services.

The Lagos State government has also told them that there is a curfew by midnight to 4am imposed by the Federal Government. Many of the churches have been adjusting their programs. Churches are well-organized and we believe they will comply.”he said

Nevertheless, the Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, said the commission would be working with men of the Lagos State Police Command to enforce all restrictions announced by the government, especially during the New Year period.

The Reasons why cambodian hair is the best bone straight hair

Best Bone Straight -Cambodian

 Are you looking for the best bone straight hair on the market? I mean hair that is straight just the way you want it to be. Then we advise you to go get Cambodian Hair.

Cambodian hair is hair collected from Cambodian donors. This hair type comes in three main textures, namely straight, wavy, and curly. Which is ethically collected from human donors.

 

Cambodian straight hair is the best bone straight hair you can get, plus it comes as raw hair, which means it is 100% unprocessed hair. This hair type is the best you can get on the market.

 

Moreso, raw Cambodian straight hair extensions feel like your natural hair because it is raw hair, they are easier to blend with your actual hair since it is slightly coarse in texture and the most coarse of all hair types.

Below are features of Cambodian extension that makes it the best Bone Straight hair

Texture

While another straight hair type like Vietnamese hair is well-known for its softness, Cambodian hair is special for its straightness and smoothness. It is a popular option for many women because its texture blends well with almost all hair types. Also, it doesn’t tangle and that’s less time you have to spend brushing or combing. Equally, it withstands more heat than most straight hair types. 

Natural Colour

Raw Cambodian Straight hair has a genuine natural colour in particular unlike other straight hair types. Most donor’s hair comes in milder shades of black and not deep jet black. Vendors call this natural colour – Colour 1b or off black. A softer shade of black, however, is called colour 2.

 Colouring and Bleaching

This hair type is the best when it comes to colouring and bleaching. it takes to bleaching and/or colouring very well but, however, we strongly advised that it should be done by a professional, using good quality colouring materials.

Moreover, this straight hair is from another human being so it feels just like yours and if treated with a good amount of care it will increase its longevity. However, since this hair has been cut from its donor, it is already missing the vital nutrients it would normally have if it were still attached to them, therefore additional care will be needed.

Hair Smell

All raw hair is supposed to have a clean natural smell when you receive it since it’s from another human being just like you. It doesn’t have the machine-made synthetic smell that most other hair types on the market smell like.

Healthy Cuticles

Raw Cambodian straight hair is collected from a hair donor and it has never been processed or chemically treated. Its cuticles are usually intact and naturally aligned in the same direction which reduces the risk of matting and tangling.

Less Grey Hair

Most Cambodian women give their hair special treatments that can keep hair strong and healthy. These treatments come with no chemical products. Equally, they live on a good diet that is good for their hair. In particular, Cambodian women adorn their hair with natural shampoos and conditioners such as coconut and palm oil.

We hope this information was helpful? Let us know in the comment section.

Resumption #EndSARS protests in Nigeria

 Protests against a controversial police unit have seen tens of thousands take to the streets over the past two weeks.

Tens of thousands in Nigeria have been demonstrating for two weeks now against the now-disbanded police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), that rights groups had for years accused of extortion, harassment, torture and murders.

Citizens in the West African nation have also started a social media campaign using the hashtag #EndSARS to register their anger, which now extends beyond SARS to include deep-rooted social grievances.

On Wednesday, unrest spread in Lagos, a day after witnesses and rights groups said army soldiers opened fire on a crowd of peaceful protesters defying a curfew during demonstrations against police brutality in Nigeria’s largest city.

According to Amnesty International, Nigerian police and army killed at least 12 peaceful protesters on October 20.

Here is a timeline of how the events have unfolded:

October 3

Protests are sparked by a viral video allegedly showing SARS officers killing a young man in the southern Delta state.

Authorities claim the video was fake and arrested the man who made it, provoking even more anger.

Nigerians take to social media as the hashtag #EndSARS tops the global trends on Twitter, supported by world-famous Afrobeat pop stars such as Davido and Wizkid.

October 8

Demonstrations across Nigeria start in major cities protesting against the death of the young man killed on October 3.

Hundreds of youths gather in central Lagos, holding banners reading “respect for human rights” and “a more equal society”.

In the capital, Abuja, dozens of protesters demonstrate with police forces using tear gas to disperse protesters, as per witness accounts.

October 11

Nigeria’s police chief announces the dissolution of SARS after days of widespread demonstrations against police brutalities.

Muhammed Adamu, inspector general of police, says the unit will be abolished “with immediate effect”, a decision made “in response to the yearnings of the Nigerian people”.

All SARS officers, he says, will be redeployed to other police commands, formations and units.

Nevertheless, demonstrators pledge to keep up their campaign seeking justice for victims of police brutality and an overhaul of the security apparatus.

October 15

As protests intensify, the Nigerian army releases a statement warning “all subversive elements and troublemakers” and says it “remains highly committed to defend the country and her democracy at all cost”.

The Nigerian army adds it “is ready to fully support the civil authority in whatever capacity to maintain law and order and deal with any situation decisively”.

October 20

On Tuesday, Nigeria’s security forces are accused of shooting dead demonstrators according to several witnesses, as authorities imposed a curfew while promising an investigation.

Amnesty International says it has received “credible but disturbing evidence of excessive use of force occasioning deaths of protesters at Lekki toll gate in Lagos”, adding that it was investigating the killings.

At least 12 people were killed, the group claims, adding the death toll was likely to be higher.

The Human Rights Watch also confirmed security forces shooting at protesters calling it a “shooting spree”.

October 21

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari assures justice for victims of brutality, and that the police reforms demanded by the demonstrators were gathering pace.

The United Nations condemns the use of “excessive and disproportionate” force by Nigerian security forces against peaceful protesters.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet urges “Nigerian authorities to take urgent steps to deal decisively with the underlying problem of persistent violations committed by the security forces”.

Meanwhile, Governor Babjide Sanwo-Olu, in an interview with local media reveals the chief of defence staff and chief of army staff called on Wednesday that if required the military, “they will deploy them”.

The African Union Commission chairman strongly condemns deadly violence in Nigeria’s biggest city Lagos and calls on all parties to “privilege dialogue”.

Moussa Faki Mahamat “strongly condemns the violence that erupted on 20 October 2020 during protests in Lagos, Nigeria that has resulted in multiple deaths and injuries”, his office says in a statement.

Again, EFCC arrests and parades 18 suspected 'Yahoo Boys' in Cross River State

Operatives of the special task force of the Uyo Zonal Office of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday June 20, 2019, made a harvest of eleven suspected internet fraudsters, popularly known as 'Yahoo Boys' in an apartment on Parliamentary Extension, Akai Efa, Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

 

The all male suspects are: Endurance Ahunwan (28), Nohuwan Frank (26), Dominic Chidiebere (28), Idehe Efosa (17), Patrick Edos (27), Samuel Ukiwe (21) and Michael Edward 25. Others are: Destiny Efe (17), Hope Yusuf (19), Harrison Esi (17) and Igbinigun Osamudia (17).

 

Seventeen-year-old Esi was found hiding in the roof of the apartment along with some of their tools of operation. According to him, their leader, Ahunwan instructed him to conceal himself and the gadgets in the roof in order to prevent his arrest and confiscation of the tools.

 

"Our leader ordered me to hide in the ceiling with the gadgets so that I will not be nabbed also," Esi said.

 

Upon arrest, Ahunwan the prime suspect, confessed that he recruited the team, saying they were paying back Europeans for stealing from their forefathers. He also alleged that the parents of the arrested accomplices gave their consent and pleaded with him to help their children secure a means of livelihood.

 

Items recovered from the suspected fraudsters include: 10 laptops, eight internet modems, several sophisticated telephone handsets, including one iphone, technical devices and scam emails. Similarly, seven suspected internet fraudsters were on Friday, June 21, 2019 arrested by officers of the Kaduna Zonal Office of the Commission.

 

The suspects, whose age ranged between 20 and 33 years were apprehended around 5a.m in an apartment along Ihejirika Close, Becky, Karu, Nasarawa State. They include: Peter Olu Tsetimi, Ogunbiyi Adekunle A, Emuze Omosigho Emmanuel and Isaac Daro Obozokhai.

Others are: Samuel Nana-Kofi Eruese, Edward Yusuf and Peace Manayin (female).

 

The suspected internet fraudsters held sway around Mararaba, Nyanya and Karu axis of Nasarawa State and Federal Capital Territory, FCT. One of the suspects poses as an engineer with Exxon Mobil, the others also use false identities to defraud unsuspecting people within and outside Nigeria.

 

Items recovered from them include expensive watches and necklaces, expensive phones, tablets, laptops and several fraudulent documents. All the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

EFCC arrests 54 suspected internet fraudsters in Ogun State and Osogbo (Photos)

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, has arrested 27 suspected fraudsters for offences bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences, forgery and possession of fraudulent documents.

The suspects are: Joshua Awoyemi, Sadiq Adeola, Olusoga Sadiq, Olalekan Savage, Arinze Princewill, Ojelabi Adewale, Ibrahim Habib, Wusu Damilare, Kadejo Sola, Osho Omotolani, Adeosun Adeyemi, Sobiye Oluwafemi and Temitope Opaogun.

 

Others are: Ademuyiwa Korede, Shotayo Ahmed, Azeez Sodiq, Iyedudu Benjamin, Ayeleso Joseph, Akintayo Toluwalope, Ale Olugbenga Abraham, Ogunlami Adetokunbo, Adebanjo Ayodeji, Ayodeji Yemi, Idris Ayandiran, Shittu Sadiq, Alayo Odunayo and Ayinde Olawale.

The suspects were arrested on Thursday, June 13 and Friday, June 14, 2019 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, following intelligence reports received by the Commission. Items recovered from the suspects include seven cars, 25 phones and 10 laptops.

Similarly, operatives of the commission on Thursday, June 20, 2019 swept on hideouts of suspected internet fraudsters in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, and smoked out 27 suspects among whom were four ladies suspected to be their girlfriends.

Officials of the Commission have embarked on weeks of surveillance, working on series of intelligence gathered on the activities of suspected ‘Yahoo Boys’ in locations across the city. The intelligence was found to be substantially credible, leading to the sting operation on Thursday.

Among the arrested suspects are Adeleke Peter, Babalola Abiodun, Aduroja Temitope, Abdulazeez Razak, Adesina Adewale, Osayintoba Dare, Adebowale Fadairo, Abdulazeez Abdullahi, Akinseye Samuel and Osanyintoba Femi.

 

Others include: Austin Onyekachukwu, Oluwaseun Adesina, Ibosiola Olamilekan, Ayoola Lekan, Abdullahi Owopade, Olatunbosun Kolawole, Saheed Adebola, Osanyintoba Pelumi, Ayo Bello, Samuel Emmanuel, Olalekan Oladele, Solomon Mattew, Oyelude Opeyemi, Quadri Olatunji, Ibrahim Alao, Tunde Bello and Fatolu Temitope.

Eight exotic cars including two Lexus and six Toyota brands, as well as many costly phones and laptops, were among the items recovered in the course of the operation.

The suspects, who variously claimed to be graduates, students, computer engineers and businessmen, are currently undergoing interrogation to ascertain their level of involvement in the alleged act.