15 #EndSARS protesters still detained in Lagos prisons three years after – Amnesty (Punch)
Amnesty International said a total of fifteen protesters arrested during the #EndSARS protest of 2020 are still being arbitrarily detained three years later.
The international organisation on Friday said in a statement on its website that the majority of the protesters are in Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre and Ikoyi Medium Security Correctional Centre in Lagos without trial.
The organisation also accused the authorities of filing trumped-up charges including theft, arson, possession of unlawful firearms, and murder against many of the protesters. Read more
19 persons sentenced in Lagos for indiscriminate dumping of refuse (Guardian)
Nineteen persons were sentenced to carry out community service at Oshodi for indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
This was revealed by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) on their X on Friday.
According to LAWMA, the offenders were sentenced on Thursday 19 October, 2023 by a Magistrate’s Court in Oshodi for dumping waste at unauthorised locations. Read more
Nigerian Army begins exercise “Vulcan Glow IX” in Kachia (Sun)
In continuation of the Nigerian Army training activities for the year 2023, the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery (NACA) has begun a field training exercise nicknamed “EX VULCAN GLOW IX” from Friday, October 20 – Friday, November 2 2023 at the Military Training Range Kachia, Kaduna State.
The Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery is a combat support corps that provides heavy firepower support to the friendly forces at the forward edge battle area against the enemy.
Assistant Director Army Public Relations, Captain Adekunle Adeyemi, in a statement on behalf of the Commander Corps of Artillery, Major General Markus Kangye alerted that during the exercise, “there would be a mass movement of troops, military weapons, and equipment as well as the sound of gun shots’. Read more
Alleged missing intestine: Coroner inquest begins in Lagos (Vanguard)
The Coroner’s inquest into the death of Adebola Akin-Bright, the 12-year-old boy whose small intestine reportedly went missing, started on Friday at an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrate court sitting in Lagos.
Akin-Bright died on Sept. 9 following a corrective surgery done at LASUTH.
The Coroner Inquest is presided over by His Honour Mrs Bola Folarin-Williams, the District Coroner. Read more
Nigeria heightens surveillance as France records bed bug outbreak (Tribune)
Nigeria has heightened surveillance at all points of entry, following the outbreak of bed bug infestation in France and other parts of Europe.
A statement signed by the Director of Media and Public Relations, Patricia Deworitshe, stated that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate disclosed that the Ministry remains committed to ensuring that appropriate public measures and responses are put in place to contain the bed bug infestation nationwide.
“He revealed that the Ministry has developed a draft sheet, which will be in circulation soon to strengthen awareness and health education on the control of bed bugs. Read more
Container crushes woman to death in Anambra (DailyTrust)
An unidentified woman has been crushed to death by a container which fell from a trailer at the ever-busy Eze-Iweka area near Upper Iweka Bus Stop, along the Onitsha-Owerri Road.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred on Thursday when goods were being offloaded from the truck, which was parked by the roadside.
It was gathered that the container fell and crashed on the woman standing by the roadside. Read more
Niger Delta ex-militant leaders warn Gumi over anti-Wike comments (Nation)
Ex-Niger Delta militant leaders have described as “provocative, reprehensible, and despicable” the recent statements by Sheikh Ahmad Gumi against the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The Islamic cleric had in a video sermon posted on his official Facebook page, labeled Nyesom Wike as “Satan” for receiving the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria in his office.
The cleric in the sermon also asserted that President Bola Tinubu would be stopped from serving for eight years. Read more
Presidential system is not working for Nigeria – Lawyer (Channels)
The legal practitioner suggests that Nigeria should consider reverting to a parliamentary system.
Legal practitioner, John Matthew, suggests that Nigeria should consider reverting to a parliamentary system.
A legal practitioner, Mr John Matthew, has stated that the presidential system of government is not working for Nigeria.
Speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast show, Sunrise Daily, on Friday, Matthew said, “In my view, the presidential system in practice and my honest assessment, they are not working well for us.”
The legal practitioner suggested that Nigeria should consider reverting to a parliamentary system. Read more
Britney Spears breaks silence on 2003 fling with Colin Farrell (Standard)
Britney Spears has addressed her short-lived romance with Colin Farrell in her upcoming memoir, The Woman In Me, likening it to a “street fight”.
The 41-year-old met the Irish actor, 47, through a “club promoter friend” before visiting him on the set of his 2003 movie S.W.A.T. after her split from Justin Timberlake.
In an excerpt obtained by TIME, Spears described their “passionate” fling to a “street fight”, writing that they were “all over each other”. Read more
4 dead in stampede before public holiday celebrations in Kenya (AfricaNews)
Four women died in a late-night stampede on Friday outside a stadium in Kericho, western Kenya, where President William Ruto presided over “Heroes’ Day” celebrations a few hours later, police said.
The incident occurred at around 03:00 local time (00:00 GMT) when a woman selling tea outside the Kericho Green Stadium accidentally spilled some on a fire, causing a stampede as a large crowd waited to enter the stadium for the festivities scheduled for the morning.
“Several people (…) were injured and taken to the Kericho County referral hospital (…) In the said hospital, four unidentified women were confirmed dead”, said a police report consulted by AFP. Read more
Pink cancels concerts due to respiratory infection (Fox)
Pink canceled more tour dates Thursday after being diagnosed with a respiratory infection.
The “Raise Your Glass” singer apologized to her fans for having to postpone Vancouver shows in a lengthy post shared on Instagram.
“I am deeply sorry to share that I have a respiratory infection and my doctor has advised that I am unable to perform at the Vancouver shows on Friday and Saturday,” Pink wrote online. Read more
Amid continued airstrikes, Israel says it has no plan for Gaza after destroying Hamas (PBS)
Israel bombarded the Gaza Strip early Friday, hitting areas where Palestinians had been told to seek safety, and it began evacuating a sizable Israeli town near the border with Lebanon, the latest sign of a potential ground invasion of Gaza that could trigger regional turmoil.
Amid the fighting, Israel’s defense minister said the country did not have plans to maintain control over civilians in Gaza after its war against the Hamas militant group. Read more
Supporters, civil society want withdrawal of arrest order for Chad’s opposition leader (VOA)
Rights groups and the political opposition in Chad have been organizing protests and issuing statements ahead of Friday’s first anniversary of a crackdown that killed 128 people and injured more than 500 who were demanding an end to military rule.
Mahamat El Mahdi Abderrahmane, president of the nongovernmental group Collective Action of Youths for Peace, Development and the Emergence of Chad, said he was requesting an immediate withdrawal of an international arrest warrant that the Transitional Military Council issued for exiled pro-democracy opposition leader Succes Masra.
Abderrahmane said the decision to arrest Masra was very unpopular and indicated that military President Mahamat Idriss Deby neither respects his promises nor resolutions of the October 2022 Inclusive and Sovereign National Dialogue. Read more
Canada pulls 41 diplomats from India amid row over separatist’s killing (AlJazeera)
Canada has pulled 41 diplomats out of India in the latest escalation of a bitter dispute over the killing of a Sikh separatist in Vancouver.
The Canadian government made the decision to recall its diplomats after the Indian government said it would revoke their diplomatic immunity, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Wednesday.
Joly said India’s threat to revoke their diplomatic immunity was “unprecedented” and violated international law. Read more
Ex-CAR militia leader freed by ICC after all charges dropped (France24)
The International Criminal Court said Thursday it had released Maxime Mokom, a former militia leader in the Central African Republic (CAR), shelving its war crimes case against him after the prosecutor dropped all charges.
Prosecutor Karim Khan said his office had concluded there were “no longer any reasonable prospects of conviction at trial even if the charges were confirmed”. Mokom was released from custody on Tuesday, the ICC said later in a statement.
He had faced charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity over alleged atrocities committed against Muslim civilians in the CAR, a former French colony, by his self-proclaimed self-defence militias in 2013 and 2014. Read more
Reds join Chelsea, Arsenal in Osimhen race (Punch)
Premier League giants Liverpool have joined the transfer race for Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, as they sent scouts to watch the Napoli man during the international period, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Osimhen was linked with a move away from Naples in the summer after he enjoyed an impressive 2022/23 campaign with the Italian side.
The Nigeria international netted 26 goals in 32 league appearances to lead Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years. Read more
Nigeria goalkeeper Uzoho apologises for response to critics (Guardian)
Francis Uzoho has apologised for his reaction to criticisms that trailed his performance in Nigeria’s friendly games against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique.
Uzoho came under serious criticism for his poor displays in the doubleheader international friendly games.
The highlight of his poor performance was in the game against Saudi Arabia where he parried a free-kick into his own net. Read more
Messi should have own Ballon d’Or category, says Guardiola (France24)
Pep Guardiola says Lionel Messi should have his own category at the Ballon d’Or after he was asked whether the World Cup winner or Erling Haaland should win this year’s award.
Messi, who recently left Paris Saint-Germain for Inter Miami, is favourite to win the award for a record-extending eighth time after leading Argentina to World Cup glory last year.
Haaland could be his main rival for the prize after scoring 52 goals in 53 games to help Manchester City win the treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup last season. Read more
Saudi Arabia also interested in hosting Women’s World Cup says team director (IrishExaminer)
The technical director of the Saudi Arabian women’s team has expressed a desire to host the Women’s World Cup in the country in 2035.
The Middle Eastern kingdom has already lodged a formal bid to host the 2034 men’s World Cup, and Monika Staab hopes Saudi ambitions can also extend to hosting the women’s event the year after.
“I believe it’s a bright future (for the women’s and girls’ game in Saudi Arabia),” she said at the Leaders Week conference at Twickenham. Read more
Jack Catterall confident of ending Jorge Linares’ winning streak against British fighters (BBC)
Jack Catterall said opponent Jorge Linares “has had his time in the sun” as he looks to end the Venezuelan’s unbeaten streak against British fighters.
Light-welterweight Catterall, 30, will face Linares, 38, at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena on Saturday.
Three-weight champion Linares is on a three-fight losing streak but has beaten all five Britons he has faced.
“When I was given the name Linares it kicked me into action,” Catterall said. Read more
Taylor Fritz loses to local wild-card Shintaro Mochizuki in 3 sets at the Japan Open (USAToday)
Taylor Fritz was eliminated from the Japan Open on Thursday after losing to Japanese wild-card Shintaro Mochizuki 0-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2) in the second round.
The 20-year-old Mochizuki, ranked 215th in the world, trailed 5-2 in the third set before forcing the deciding tiebreaker. It was his first win over a top-10 player.
“I don’t really know what is happening right now,” said Mochizuki, who advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time. “I lost the first set so easy, so quick. Everyone knows he is a great player but I kept fighting and that is all I could do. I am so happy. I don’t know how, but I won the match.” Read more