1 dies, many injured as farmers, herders clash (Nation)
One Dauda Kafinta reportedly died in a bloody clash between some farmers and herdsmen in Gululu village of Miga local government area in Jigawa state.
It was also gathered four others sustained injuries during the crisis on Friday morning.
Gululu village head, Malam Muhammad Sarkin -Dori said: “We woke up this morning with a provision shop got broken by suspected thieves in which some residents decided to follow the footpaths of the suspected thieves which led them to the nearby Fulani settlement where the violent clash occurred. Read more
Police parade 17 for various crimes (Tribune)
Sokoto Police command on Friday paraded no fewer than seventeen persons for various criminal offence.
Speaking while parading the suspects at the command headquarters, spokesperson of the command, DSP Ahmed Rufai, said the suspects were arrested for various offence which includes armed robbery, vandalism among others.
He said the suspects were arrested in different locations between December 22nd, 2024 and new year day. Read more
Fire razes 1-storey building In Lagos (Channels)
Fire has razed a one-storey building at Abike Suleiman Street in the Lekki area of Lagos State.
A statement by the Permanent Secretary Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the agency had received distress calls and immediately activated the State’s Emergency Response Plans and its Response Team from Lekki Base.
Upon arrival of the LASEMA Shark Response Team at the incident scene, it was discovered that a one-storey building was engulfed by fire. Read more
Police nab 27-year-old suspected burglar in Ogun (Punch)
The suspect allegedly entered the home of a female resident in the community through the window, damaged the iron security bars and struck her on the head with an iron rod.
The state police command spokesman, CSP Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Friday.
She said the suspect is known for using iron tools to break into homes to steal. Read more
‘Why would a father tell son not to give mother his password?’, Basketmouth’s estranged wife queries (Vanguard)
Estranged wife of comedian Basketmouth, Elsie Okpocha has shared some cryptic messages on social media that appear to be aimed at the comedian.
In her first Instagram story, Elsie questioned why someone would try to hinder another person’s happiness, writing, “How are you still trying to frustrate her efforts because she decided to be happy.”
In a follow-up post, she expressed concern over a father’s actions, specifically a father telling his 16-year-old son not to share his phone password with his mother. Read more
Tinubu to undertake state visit to Enugu, commission Mbah’s projects (Tribune)
President Bola Tinubu will undertake a state visit to Enugu State on Saturday during which he will commission some of the numerous projects executed by the Governor Peter Mbah administration.
This was made known in a statement issued on Friday by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia.
Onyia said, “The Enugu State Government is happy to announce the first state visit to the state by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Saturday, January 4, 2025. Read more
Police accidental discharge kills nursing mother in Ekiti (Sun)
A police officer has allegedly killed a young woman, Ifeoluwa Adekalu, in Ado-Ekiti, capital of Ekiti State.
The unfortunate incident happened at the Okeila Police Station in the capital city on Thursday, after the police officer said to be a personnel of the Special Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in the state command accidentally discharged the bullet from his gun which hit the woman, described as a nursing mother.
It was learnt that the unnamed officer, attached to another police station had paid a visit to the Okeila police post where he allegedly fired the bullet while celebrating the promotion of his colleague. Read more
Gov Sule sacks all commissioners, SSG (DailyTrust)
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has dissolved the state executive council comprising his commissioners and sacked Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barrister Muhammad Aliyu-Ubamdoma.
Weekend Trust reports that the decision was announced by the governor at a special emergency executive meeting in Government House, Lafia, on Friday, shortly after the departure of Vice President Kashim Shetima, who was in the state for a one-day working visit to inaugurate some projects in the state.
A top government official, who preferred anonymity, told our correspondent that although the exact reasons for the dissolution were not yet clear, he said the governor was known for restructuring the state’s administration. Read more
Zendaya recounts getting heatstroke on Dune: Part Two set due to “fear of peeing myself” (Deadline)
Zendaya had a dehydration-induced health scare on the set of Dune: Part Two due to the remote desert location of the sequel.
The Golden Globe winner revealed she suffered heatstroke while filming the Denis Villeneuve-helmed adaptation in Jordan, where the nearest bathroom was a “hike” away, so she opted not to drink water.
“It was very hot, and I remember thinking, ‘Oh, man, the bathrooms are so far away,’ because we had to hike to the locations. If you have to pee, you need at least 10 minutes to get out of the costumes,” she explained to W Magazine. Read more
Here’s how Rihanna responded to a troll who called her ‘forehead’ & demanded a new album in 2025 (Billboard)
New year, same Rihanna. Less than one day into 2025, the superstar has already punched in with one of her characteristic comebacks, shutting down a troll who demanded new music and called her a rude name on Instagram Wednesday (Jan. 1).
The exchange went down on Ri’s latest post, a video she filmed of herself celebrating with friends as the clock ticked down to midnight on New Year’s Eve. “Y’all, I didn’t drink all year,” she excitedly tells the camera in the clip.
“New Year, New Me,” the Fenty mogul captioned the post. Read more
Sienna Miller recalls “completely traumatic” experience at elite boarding school (Standard)
Sienna Miller has opened up about her “completely traumatic” experience of being sent to boarding school as a child following her parents’ divorce.
The actress, 42, was just eight years old when her father, American art dealer Edwin, and former model mother Josephine, split, and she was packed off to the prestigious Heathfield School in Ascot, which costs £42,489 a year.
The all-girls institution, boasting sprawling grounds and a swimming pool, has notable alumni such as model Amber Le Bon, socialite Daphne Guinness, and TV star Susannah Constantine. Read more
British Indie powerhouse relentless Records celebrates 25th anniversary, founder ‘‘Shabs’’ Jobanputra Plots US Expansion (Variety)
Over the last quarter of a century, Relentless Records has been one of the most reliable sources for breaking artists out of the United Kingdom. And now it’s heading across the Atlantic, as the label plans to celebrate its silver jubilee by setting up its first American office.
Relentless founder/president Shabir “Shabs” Jobanputra was not expecting the label to enjoy such longevity when he set it up, initially as a joint venture with Ministry of Sound, in order to release hip-hop, R&B and dance records on vinyl.
Bruce Springsteen reveals how he really feels about Jeremy Allen White playing him in new biopic (People)
Bruce Springsteen has some thoughts on Jeremy Allen White’s singing.
During an appearance on SiriusXM’s E Street Radio, the “Thunder Road” singer told SiriusXM host Jim Rotolo about White’s performance in the upcoming biopic Deliver Me from Nowhere – namely, his singing.
“He sings well. He sings very well,” Springsteen, 75, said. “You know, and Jeremy Strong and Odessa Young, you know, it’s a tremendous cast of people. They cast the film beautifully, so it’s very exciting.” Read more
Daniel Craig alludes to his parenting style with Rachel Weisz: “It’s killing them’’ (Hello!)
Daniel Craig keeps his personal life under wraps, but will every so often allude to what he’s like as a husband and a father away from the spotlight.
The 56-year-old English actor has been married to actress Rachel Weisz since 2011. They share a daughter, six-year-old Grace, who they raise in both London and the United States.
Daniel also shares a daughter named Ella with his first wife, Fiona Loudon, to whom he was married from 1992-94. Ella, 32, is also an actress, mostly working in theater, and is based in New York City. Read more
Biden blocks Japan’s Nippon Steel from buying US Steel (VOA)
President Joe Biden has made good on his months of public opposition to the proposed purchase of American company U.S. Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel, announcing Friday he is blocking the $14.9 billion takeover.
The acquisition would “place one of America’s largest steel producers under foreign control and create risk for our national security and our critical supply chains,” he said in a statement. He did not elaborate on how the deal would jeopardize national security.
The collapse of the proposed acquisition represents a victory for the United Steelworkers union. Based in Pennsylvania, an electorally crucial swing state, the union in March endorsed Biden, who at that time was still running for reelection. Read more
Forest, Aina open talks over new contract (Nation)
High-flying Premier League club Nottingham Forest have opened talks with representatives of defender Ola Aina on a new contract.
Ola Aina’s contract with Forest is up in the summer.
Lately, he has been linked to a transfer to Turkish champions Galatasaray.
In 2023, he joined Forest as a free agent from Italian club Torino. Read more
Nigerian winger Simon wins Nantes’ December Player Of The month (Leadership)
Nigerian winger Moses Simon has been voted Nantes’ Player or the Month for December.
The Nigeria international won 44 per cent of the votes to beat Douglas Augusto, Nicolas Cozza, and Matthis Abline to cling the award.
The talented winger scored once and provided one assist in two appearances for the Canaries in the month.
Simon also scored the winning goal in Nantes’ 1-0 victory over Stade Rennes. Read more
Sports fastest way to achieve stardom, alleviate poverty, says Adebayo (ThisDay)
The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has advised the youth to take to sports as it is one of the hidden but fastest ways to not only quickly get out of boredom but poverty.
Adebayo made the advice during his maiden annual Prince Adewole Adebayo Christmas Marathon held in Ondo weekend.
The event saw participation from athletes within and outside Nigeria, including some Kenyan athletes. Read more
Hamilton posts “powerful” Ferrari update on LinkedIn (RN365)
Lewis Hamilton has shared a professional update on business and employment-focused social media platform LinkedIn after his official switch to Ferrari.
The British driver, who left Mercedes after 12 seasons in Brackley, addressed “anyone considering their next move in 2025”, urging them to “embrace the change” of new challenges in an inspirational new position post, in which he tagged new employers Ferrari.
He had already updated other social media platforms, like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, with a photo of him karting with his now-infamous number 44 and a red helmet, and a red racing car emoji. Read more
Chelsea suffer major blow as Wesley Fofana could miss rest of the season (IrishIndependent)
Chelsea have suffered a major injury blow with defender Wesley Fofana potentially out for the rest of the season with a hamstring problem.
The French centre-back, who cost £70m when he signed from Leicester in the summer of 2022, has played just 32 of a possible 125 games for the Blues – working out at around £2m an appearance.
The 24-year-old had formed a strong partnership with Levi Colwill and had been a key factor in Enzo Maresca side’s push for a top-four finish. However, since Fofana limped off in the 3-0 win against Aston Villa last month, Chelsea have won just three of their last six league matches – including back-to-back defeats by Fulham and Ipswich. Read more
Man Utd’s fresh start turns sour on Ratcliffe’s watch (France24)
Manchester United fans began 2024 buoyed at the prospect of a new dawn but the winds of change at Old Trafford under Jim Ratcliffe have so far only hastened the demise of the English giants.
Twelve months on, United travel to bitter rivals Liverpool on Sunday fearing another humiliation on the back of four consecutive defeats that have left new manager Ruben Amorim stressing his side are in a Premier League relegation battle.
AFP Sports looks at what has gone wrong on and off the field since British billionaire Ratcliffe bought a $1.6 billion (£1.25 billion) minority stake in the club and took control of the club’s football operations. Read more