195 held for ‘cultism, gangsterism’ in Lagos (Nation)
Operatives of the Lagos Police Command arrested 195 youths for alleged cult and gangster clashes in different parts of the state.
The suspects were arrested between March 20 and June 4 for alleged involvement in acts of terrorism, vandalism, street fighting or cult wars that left many dead, maimed.
Among them were nine men seen in a viral video sometime in May where they interrogated and killed a young man suspected to belong to a rival group at Odogunyan, Ikorodu. Read more
COVID-19 testing remain free, Lagos govt says (Tribune)
The Lagos State government has reiterated that COVID-19 testing for residents of the state was free of charge.
Mr Gbenga Omotoso, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy said this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.
”The state would like to reassure the general public that testing is still free at all the COVID-19 public testing laboratories for all Lagos residents.
”Residents are enjoined to take advantage of this service if they feel unwell or feel they have had close contact with an infected person,” Omotoso said. Read more
Midnight fire guts Ajao market in Lagos (Punch)
Fire has gutted the popular Ajao market in the Ajao area of Lagos State.
The PUNCH gathered that the incident started around 1am on Wednesday.
Although the cause of the fire incident was yet to be ascertained, our correspondent learnt that the inferno started around a shopping mall close to the market and had extended into the main Ajao market.
Properties worth millions of naira were said to have been destroyed as the fire had affected some adjoining buildings and made residents flee for safety. Read more
Housewife chops off husband’s manhood in Taraba (DailyTrust)
A 25-year-old housewife has allegedly chopped off her husband’s manhood at Tella town in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The housewife, identified as Halima, was said to have carried out the act on Tuesday while the husband, Aliyu Umar, was sleeping.
A younger brother of the victim, Shagari Umar, said a loud cry by Aliyu attracted the attention of family members who rushed to where the victim was sleeping and found him in a pool of blood. Read more
Buhari names Adesina, Seriki, Awoniyi, 39 others Ambassadors-nominees (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday requested the Senate to screen and confirm 41 non-career and one career ambassadors for appointment.
Buhari’s letter of request was read on the floor at plenary by the Senate President Ahmad Lawan.
Among the nominees ar: Debo Adesina (Oyo), Exco-Minister of State for Defence, Ademola Seriki (Lagos) and Mr. Dare Sunday Awoniyi (Kogi). Read more
After 6 months in prison, Kalu sponsors bill to amend criminal justice law (DailyTrust)
The Senate, on Wednesday, introduced a bill to amend the Administration of Criminal Justice (ACJ) Act 2015.
The bill, which was read for the first time, was sponsored by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North).
Kalu returns to Senate after release from prison Court orders release of Orji Uzor Kalu Kalu and others were, in December last year, convicted and sentenced for a N7.1bn fraud. He was released after over six months of incarceration at the Kuje Custodial Centre. Read more
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, wife test positive for COVID-19 (Vanguard)
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his wife, Edith Okowa, have both tested positive to COVID-19.
The Governor made the disclosure on his Facebook page on Wednesday morning.
He said: “My wife and I have tested positive for COVID-19. We are well and continuing with our isolation/medication. We thank you all for your continued prayers for us and our daughter.”
Recall that Okowa’s daughter reportedly tested positive to COVID-19 June 26. Read more
Woman slumps, dies as husband tests positive for COVID-19 (Nation)
A middle aged woman slumped and died in Ughelli, Ughelli North L.G.A, Delta after hearing her husband tested positive for coronavirus, The Nation has learnt.
The tragedy, which happened at Igho Salami Street, Uloho Avenue, threw neighbours into mourning.
Neighbours gathered in small groups discussing the matter in low tones, unwilling to talk about the incident to strangers. Read more
Ondo election: We will not register new voters- INEC (Guardian)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has suspended the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) ahead of the Oct. 10 governorship election in Ondo State.
Mr Rufus Akeju the state Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner disclosed this at a news conference in Akure on Wednesday.
Akeju said that INEC has also suspended the issuance of Permanent Voter’s Card (PVCs) until after the poll. Read more
One killed in Sudan as thousands rally for faster reform (AlJazeera)
One person has been killed and several others injured during largely peaceful demonstrations in Sudan, a government spokesman said, as tens of thousands of people took to the streets demanding faster reform and greater civilian rule in the country’s transition towards democracy.
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Sudanese cities on Tuesday despite a coronavirus lockdown to demand a transition towards democracy after the removal of longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir last year. Read more
Hong Kong police make first arrests under new Beijing-imposed security law (VOA)
Hong Kong police made their first arrests Wednesday under a new national security law imposed by China’s central government.
A man and a woman holding Hong Kong independence signs were arrested in two separate incidents hours after the new law took effect.
And at least 70 people who were part of a large protest group that had gathered in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay were arrested after riot police fired water cannon and pepper spray to break up the crowd. Police said the participants were charged with unlawful assembly to violation of the new national security law. Read more
NYC votes to shift $1b from policing to social services (AlJazeera)
New York City legislators early Wednesday voted to approve shifting one billion dollars from policing to education and social services in the coming year, acknowledging protesters’ demands to cut police spending – but falling short of what activists sought.
The vote came at an extraordinary moment when the nation’s biggest city is grappling with multibillion-dollar losses due to the coronavirus pandemic at the same time its leaders are under pressure to cut back on policing and invest more in community and social programmes. Read more
France suspends role in NATO naval mission over Turkish warship incident (France24)
France has informed NATO that it is suspending its involvement in a naval operation in the Mediterranean after the results of a probe into an incident between French and Turkish warships, an official at the Armed Forces ministry said on Wednesday.
The official said in a letter to NATO’s Secretary-General that France had made four demands to clarify the role of the Sea Guardian operation, including its cooperation with an EU mission that is enforcing a UN arms embargo to Libya.
Ties between NATO allies France and Turkey have soured in recent weeks over Libya, Northern Syria and drilling in the eastern Mediterranean. Read more
Boat carrying as many as 60 migrants sinks in Turkish lake (VOA)
Turkey’s interior minister says search and rescue teams have reached a boat they believe was carrying as many as 60 immigrants when it sank in a lake in the eastern part of the country.
Authorities had launched a search-and-rescue mission involving helicopters and boats after the vessel carrying migrants across Lake Van was reported missing on June 27.
Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told reporters Wednesday the rescue teams have recovered six bodies so far. Soylu said he had traveled to Lake Van to oversee the rescue operation, and that it was believed the boat was carrying between 55 and 60 migrants when it went down in stormy weather. Read more
Oscars voting body hits diversity target with 819 new members (BBC)
The latest batch of actors and film-makers to be invited to vote for the Oscars has been unveiled, exceeding the diversity target that was set for 2020.
After the #OscarsSoWhite movement of 2016, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences promised to double the number of female and BAME members.
Eva Longoria and Cynthia Erivo are among those who have been invited to join the organisation this year.
Of the 819 people invited, 45% are women and 36% are non-white. Read more
Doctor Who and Fawlty Towers star Louis Mahoney dies aged 81 (Metro)
Doctor Who and Faulty Towers actor Louis Mahoney has died at the age of 81. Mahoney, who was born in The Gambia and lived in Hampstead, London, was an anti-racist activist and campaigned for racial equality. He was also one of the first black actors to join the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1960s. His agents Waring and McKenna, confirmed the tragic news in a statement as they paid a moving tribute to the star. Read more
Osimhen lands in Italy to seal Napoli move (DailyTrust)
Victor Osimhen arrived in Italy yesterday alongside his agents to complete a move to Napoli from Lille. The Super Eagles striker was spotted in Italy by Italian Journalist, Gianluca Di Marzio and he is expected to undergo a medical test. According to reports, Osimhen has been offered a five-year contract, which is believed to be worth 85 million Euros. The 21-year-old has been linked with various top clubs in Europe, but he has decided to continue his development at Napoli. Read more
Salah targets long stay, more titles at Liverpool (Nation)
Liverpool Forward Mohamed Salah says he wants to remain with the Premier League Champions for a long time, as the team has developed a perfect understanding.
The Egypt international, who signed a new five-year deal in 2018, was the top scorer at the club this season with 17 Premier League goals, as they secured a 19th top-flight title with seven games to spare.
“I’m very happy; I can’t describe my feelings after we won the league after 30 years. I can see people’s joy and this is so important for all of us,” Salah told BeIN Sport. Read more
Liverpool will attack title next season, not defend it – Klopp (BBC)
Liverpool will attack rather than defend their title next season, says manager Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds sealed their first Premier League title – and first top-flight success since 1990 – last week with seven games of the season remaining.
Klopp, who joined Liverpool in 2015, said: “We will not defend the title next season; we’ll attack the next one. Read more
Arsenal tie down Saka to long-term deal (Guardian)
Arsenal tied down Bukayo Saka to a long-term contract on Wednesday, ending speculation over the highly-rated teenager’s future.
Saka, 18, has made a major impact in 33 appearances in a variety of positions this season and has been a regular since Mikel Arteta became Arsenal coach in December.
“Bukayo is a talented and intelligent young player,” said Arteta. Read more
Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 3 targeted for 19 December (Metro)
Tyson Fury’s rescheduled trilogy showdown with Deontay Wilder is being targeted for 19 December, according to Top Rank executive Brad Jacobs. Wilder and Fury were set to go to war for the final time this month in Las Vegas before the coronavirus pandemic forced most of the world to go into lockdown. Boxing has returned behind closed doors in America and will do the same in the UK this month, but it unclear when the world’s biggest fights will resume. Read more
Adebayor leaves Olimpia over corona fears (BBC)
Former Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor has had his contract at Paraguayan club Olimpia terminated by mutual consent.
The 36-year-old Togolese striker had played only twice for the Asuncion club since signing in February, and had not scored in the time before the global coronavirus pandemic shut down the league. His arrival had been greeted with hundreds of fans at the airport.
However he has spent much of lockdown at home in Togo and the club said that his return to Paraguay would pose significant health risks. Read more
