2-year-old girl trafficked for N100k in Abuja rescued in Aba (Vanguard)
A two-year-old girl trafficked from Abuja to Aba for N100,000 has been rescued. Also, the search for her parents has been launched.
According to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking Persons, NAPTIP, on Friday, a suspect was arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS.
The statement read: “A two-year-old girl, renamed Chiamaka Favor (alias), who was trafficked from Abuja to Aba in February 2025, has been rescued by NAPTIP Abia Command on May 8, 2025. Read more
Police arrest apprentice, accomplice for diverting N250m building materials (Punch)
The Police Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, Lagos, has arrested an apprentice and his accomplice for allegedly stealing cement and other building materials worth over N250m from his employer to finance gambling activities.
This was disclosed in a statement by the PSFU spokesman, Ovie Ewhubare, on Saturday.
According to Ewhubare, the suspects, Ezekiel Taiwo and Rahman Airat, have been arraigned before the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, fraudulent conversion, embezzlement, and money laundering. Read more
South Africa rearrests Nigerian pastor acquitted of rape (Guardian)
A Nigerian televangelist recently acquitted of multiple rape charges has been rearrested on immigration offences, South African police said on Saturday.
Timothy Omotoso was released last month, eight years after he was jailed to be tried on charges of raping and sexually assaulting several young women from his church.
His acquittal drew anger across South Africa after the judge found that, while the pastor’s explanations appeared improbable, state prosecutors had mishandled the case against him. Read more
Atiku slams EFCC over detention of ex-lawmaker (Channels)
Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the detention of a former member of the House of Representatives, Muhammad Kazaure.
In a tweet on his official X handle, the Peoples Democratic Party’s elder statesman described Kazaure’s detention as a disregard for due process.
He said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has once again plunged headlong into its well-worn pattern of lawlessness, arresting and detaining citizens with brazen disregard for due process and without offering any justification for its actions.” Read more
Nigerian fans celebrate historic British TV series ‘Doctor Who’ episode set in Lagos (Leadership)
In a thrilling moment for Nigerian fans of the legendary British sci-fi series ‘Doctor Who’, the TARDIS is finally landing in Lagos.
For the first time in its 62-year history, the long-running show will feature an episode primarily set in Africa, and Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling commercial capital, is taking centre stage.
Among the most excited is Adesoji Kukoyi, a lifelong ‘Doctor Who’ fan who grew up glued to the screen in 1980s Nigeria. Read more
Enugu celebrates Jim Nwobodo at 85 (Nation)
Enugu Governor Peter Mbah, at the weekend, led other who-is-who in the State to celebrate elder statesman and former Governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo .
Speaking during the 85th birthday anniversary celebration event in honour of Nwobodo at his Amechi Awkunanaw, Enugu, country home on Friday evening, Mbah recalled the octogenarian’s outstanding service to Enugu State, old Anambra State, Nigeria and humanity in various capacities, describing him as an epitome of excellence.
“It will be difficult to find words that amply capture the true essence of what Dr. Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo represents. Your life is a living proof that the true value of existence is selfless service. Read more
Insecurity: Northern governors converge over terror attacks (Sun)
The Northern Governors’ Forum met on Saturday in Kaduna to address the incessant killings across the region.
The meeting was confirmed by Director-General, Press Affairs, Gombe Government House, Ismaila Misilli.
Misilli disclosed that the meeting was convened by the NGF Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammad Yahaya. Read more
Taylor Swift subpoenaed in Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni Legal Case (People)
Taylor Swift has been subpoenaed as a witness in Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s ongoing legal battle over behind-the-scenes conflict on their movie It Ends with Us.
A spokesperson for Swift, 35, emphasized the singer has had no close connection to the film other than her song “My Tears Ricochet” being used, and that the subpoena is to create “tabloid clickbait.”
“Taylor Swift never set foot on the set of this movie, she was not involved in any casting or creative decisions, she did not score the film, she never saw an edit or made any notes on the film, she did not even see It Ends With Us until weeks after its public release, and was traveling around the globe during 2023 and 2024 headlining the biggest tour in history,” a rep told PEOPLE. Read more
Former ‘teacher of the year’ learns fate after admitting to sex crimes with students (DailyMail)
A former award-winning California teacher has learned she will spend the next 30 years behind bars for sex crimes involving underage boys.
Jacqueline Ma, a 36-year-old former ‘Teacher of the Year’ at Lincoln Acres Elementary School in San Diego, pleaded guilty in February to sexually abusing two of her sixth-grade students, both under the age of 14.
She also admitted to a lewd act involving the second child, and another count of possessing material containing a minor engaged in or simulating sexual conduct. Read more
Beyoncé wraps 1st leg of ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour (USAToday)
Beyoncé kicked off her “Cowboy Carter” tour with five shows in Los Angeles.
Many celebrities attended the Los Angeles shows, including Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Tyler Perry and Gabrielle Union.
The tour includes nine cities across the U.S. and Europe, ending in Las Vegas.
Beyoncé has already made history with this tour, including playing the most dates at SoFi Stadium of any artist. Read more
Families of Hamas-held hostages tell of growing concern for their fate (BBC)
Families of Israeli hostages taken to Gaza in the 7 October attacks have expressed their increasing concern about the fates of loved ones, as doubts grow about how many are still alive.
One family said the hostages were at risk “every day” they continued to be held captive by Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week there was “uncertainty” over the condition of three of the 24 hostages previously believed to be alive. Read more
India fires new rounds of ballistic missiles, Pakistan says (Newsweek)
Pakistan’s army said India launched ballistic missiles that ultimately landed within Indian territory, as the announcement arrived during a national broadcast at 1:50 a.m. local time Saturday, and no further details were provided.
Newsweek reached out to the Indian embassy via email for comment late Friday night.
Tensions between India and Pakistan reached a boiling point last month after armed gunmen opened fire on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing 26 people. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack. Islamabad has denied responsibility. Read more
Soviet Kosmos 482 spacecraft crashes into an unknown site on Earth (NBC)
A Soviet spacecraft launched in 1972 on a failed mission to Venus is believed to have crashed back onto Earth early on Saturday morning.
The European Space Agency, which was monitoring the craft’s uncontrolled descent, said it was last spotted by radar over Germany. At at the time of its expected crash, radars could no longer detect the Kosmos 482, concluding that “it is most likely that the reentry has already occurred.”
No injuries or damage have been reported. Read more
Luton Town release former Super Eagles winger (Channels)
Luton Town have confirmed the release of former Nigeria international Victor Moses, reports Completesports.com.
Moses’ release comes after the Hatters relegation to the League One.
The 34-year-old joined Luton Town on a free transfer last September after severing ties with Russian club Spartak Moscow. Read more
Nuggets win in overtime to take lead over Thunder (BBC)
The Denver Nuggets pulled away in overtime to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven NBA play-off semi-final against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Thunder are the top seed in the Western Conference and were narrowly in front for most of the contest before hosts Denver claimed a 113-104 win.
There were no more than three points between the teams throughout the fourth quarter until the Thunder edged into a 102-99 lead inside the final two minutes. Read more
Ryan Blaney faces scrutiny of NASCAR insiders after Texas (Newsweek)
Ryan Blaney, who clinched the NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2023 and finished second in 2024, has come under the scrutiny of industry insiders, including Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr.
In 2025 so far, the Team Penske driver has suffered four race retirements. During the Dale Jr Download podcast, Earnhardt Jr. reacted to Blaney’s troublesome race at Texas Motor Speedway which saw him make a “dumb decision,” as the driver branded it, on one of the restarts. Earnhardt Jr. explained:
“Ryan Blaney choosing the second row on the inside instead of starting next to [Kyle] Larson late in the race. And he got out and said, ‘Yeah, I messed up.’ Read more
Max Verstappen set to apply for special racing licence after secret test – report (PlanetF1)
Fresh off his secret GT3 test, Red Bull driver and reigning F1 World Champion Max Verstappen is reportedly targeting his DMSB Permit Nordschleife.
This is as per a report from Auto Motor und Sport after Verstappen was spotted in GT3 action under the pseudonym ‘Franz Hermann’, with the above mentioned permit a requirement to compete in most races around the iconic Nürburgring Nordschleife, including the Nürburgring 24 Hours and NLS (Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie) events.
By this stage, it is no secret that the four-time F1 World Champion Verstappen lives for racing, though what he did try to keep a secret was this recent GT3 test at the wheel of the Ferrari 296, Verstappen having taken to the Nordschleife on May 9. Read more
Tiger Woods’ son Charlie fails to qualify for US Open for 2nd time (People)
Charlie Woods, the 16-year-old son of golf legend Tiger Woods, did not qualify for the upcoming US Open.
As his father visited the White House on Thursday, May 8, for the first time since going public with his relationship with Vanessa Trump, Charlie fell short in his second attempt at qualifying for the tournament, according to ESPN.
The 16-year-old golfer carded a 3-over-par 75 during Thursday’s qualifier at Wellington Golf Club in Florida. Per the outlets, Charlie was seven strokes shy of the final qualifying score, an improvement from his performance in last year’s US Junior Amateur, which he missed by 18 strokes. Read more