4 killed as hoodlums abduct 5 (Punch)
No fewer than four persons have allegedly been killed while one other was said to have escaped death as unknown persons reportedly abducted five men in Oke Irinja, Owode Yewa, Ogun State.
PUNCH Metro gathered on Sunday that the quartet of Adamu Saliu, 21; Aliu Babuga, 24; Dairu Salihu, 32; and Mohammed Abdulai, 35, were the victims of Saturday’s incident.
According to the information made exclusively available to our correspondent by a police source, the four herders were abducted in a bush in the community. Read more
NDLEA arrests insurgents’ drug supplier, intercepts 7.6 tons of illicit drugs (Channels)
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 42-year-old man said to be transporting thousands of concealed opioid pills to an insurgents’ enclave in the Banki area of Borno State.
The suspect was among the 24 people accused of trafficking drugs across the country, NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said in a statement on Sunday, saying the operations led to the seizure of over 7,609 kilograms of assorted illicit drugs in eight states.
Also arrested was a six-month-pregnant lady, a mother of three children, and three other women in major interdiction operations. Read more
UK minister, Kemi Badenoch, arrives Nigeria for 3-day visit (Tribune)
The UK Minister for Business and Trade, Kemi Badenoch, has arrived in Nigeria to begin a three-day visit to deepen the UK-Nigeria partnership
Following the former Foreign Secretary’s visit to Nigeria in August 2023, and last week’s UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Talks, Minister Badenoch’s visit will take forward ongoing efforts by both countries to boost the UK-Nigeria trade relationship and unlock new investment opportunities.
According to a statement from the British High Commission in Nigeria, while in the country, Minister Kemi Badenoch and the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Nigeria, Helen Grant will have meetings with the Federal Government of Nigeria, state governors, as well as British and Nigerian business leaders and investors. Read more
FG seeks compliance to EU standards to boost agro exports (ThisDay)
The acting Comptroller General, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, (NAQS), Dr. Godwin Audu, has said the agency is currently working to ensure adhere to the European Union (EU) requirements for exportation of products.
This comes as the service approved the promotion of over 100 officers to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Quarantine I (ASQ I).
Speaking at the maiden meeting with station and zonal coordinators in Abuja, Audu noted that the upliftment was long overdue having been confirmed, as part of efforts to boost the morale of workers. Read more
Lagos PFN: Bishop Adegbite congratulates Rev Kehinde (Nation)
Bishop STV Adegbite, the executive secretary of the Nigeria Council of Pilgrims Commission and chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, has extended congratulations to the newly elected PFN chairman, Rev Dr Toyin Kehinde.
In a telephone interview on Saturday, Bishop Adegbite expressed optimism that Rev Kehinde’s tenure would usher in spiritual rejuvenation across Lagos state.
He said: “The new PFN chairman is our friend and brother. I wish him a successful tenure. On behalf of all Christians in Lagos State, I wish to congratulate Rev Kehinde. What we are waiting for now is the ratification of his election, and it will be done eventually. Read more
Sanwo-Olu to flag-off N750m Lagos trader money for 15, 000 beneficiaries Feb 14 (Guardian)
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will flag-off a N750 million financial intervention scheme tagged ‘Lagos Market Trader Money’ for 15, 000 beneficiaries on Feb. 14.
Ms Abisola Olusanya, State Commissioner for Agriculture, said this during a sensitisation programme on hygiene for 500 market men and women from Ikeja and Oshodi Local Government Areas on Saturday at Lagos Fresh Food Hub, Idi-Oro, Mushin.
Olusanya said the flag-off exercise was an opportunity for the governor to demonstrate his love for the market men and women on Valentine’s day. Read more
Adeboye: Nigeria needs urgent spiritual help (Nation)
The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, yesterday visited Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, saying the challenges confronting the country were more than political.
He said the problems required spiritual solutions.
The revered spiritual leader said political leaders appeared to have tried their best, yet the problems persisted, “therefore, Nigeria needs the help of God and it needs the help urgently.” Read more
2 more LG chairs dump APC for NNPP in Kano (DailyTrust)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has lost two more local government chairmen to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The decampees include Ado Tambai Kwa, Chairman of Dawakin Tofa Local Council, the immediate constituency of acting National Chairman of APC, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Kwa dumped APC for NNPP along with his deputy, Garba Yahaya Labour, and other councillors from Ganduje’s home council Saturday evening in the same event where Mudassiru Aliyu, another member of APC and Chairman of Garun-Malam Local Government Council also cross carpeted to the NNPP. Read more
Adele defends Taylor Swift against backlash for attending NFL games to support her Super Bowl bound boyfriend Travis Kelce (DailyMail)
Adele has spoken out in support of Taylor Swift, after the pop star received hate from NFL fans for attending football games to support her boyfriend Travis Kelce.
Adele, 35, told those criticising Taylor, 34, to ‘get a f***ing life’ and declared that the singer made the games ‘more enjoyable to watch’.
Taylor has been dating Kansas City Chiefs star Travis, 34, since last September, and quickly became a pop culture phenomenon. Read more
Jennifer Lopez slammed for taking home £4m for Dubai concert amid anti-gay laws (Mirror)
Jennifer Lopez has faced a wave of criticism after performing at a hotel launch in Dubai on Saturday night, despite the United Arab Emirates’ strict laws against homosexuality.
The 54-year-old, who has long been an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, is believed to have been paid $5million (£3.9million) to appear as the guest of honour at the launch of the One&Only One Za’abeel hotel. The luxury hotel is located in the United Arab Emirates, where LGBTQ+ people face several legal challenges.
Homosexuality is illegal under Sharia law in the United Arab Emirates. In Dubai, under Article 177 of the Penal Code of Dubai, those taking part in consensual sodomy (anal sex) can face up to 10 years behind bars. Read more
CODA actor Daniel Durant performs Super Bowl national anthem in ASL with Reba McEntire singing (EW)
Daniel Durant played a critical role in this year’s Super Bowl pre-game festivities.
The CODA actor performed the national anthem in American Sign Language (ASL), alongside Grammy-winner Reba McEntire as she sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Sharing the news on Instagram, Durant wrote that he was “excited and honored” about the impending performance, and thanked the National Association of the Deaf and NFL for making it happen. Read more
‘‘Johnny English 4’’ is officially happening with Rowan Atkinson returning (DigitalSpy)
Johnny English is officially getting a fourth movie.
Rowan Atkinson’s hapless secret agent has currently appeared in three films: the 2003 original, 2011’s Johnny English Reborn, and 2018’s Johnny English Strikes Again. According to Screendaily, the fourth film will shoot in Malta and the UK this summer.
The plot is being kept under wraps for now, but Working Title Films will be producing it, as it did the first three.
While promoting the third film, Atkinson took part in a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) and stated that he didn’t think there would be any more entries in the series. Read more
‘Twisters’ 1st trailer spins through Super Bowl 2024 (NME)
The first trailer for ‘‘Twisters’’ premiered during the Super Bowl 2024 tonight (February 11), giving a first look at the upcoming sequel.
The new movie is a follow-up to 1996’s Twister, which followed meteorologist Jo Harding (played by Helen Hunt) as she chases storms – and throws herself and her family into danger.
Minari director Lee Isaac Chung has helmed the new sequel, ‘‘Twisters’’, which stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell. Read more
Ukraine intelligence ‘‘confirms’’ Russian forces using Starlink (AlJazeera)
Ukrainian intelligence said it has confirmed that Russian forces are using satellite internet service Starlink on the battlefield in occupied areas in the east of the country.
Releasing what it said on Sunday was proof, Ukraine’s military intelligence said it has confirmed earlier reports of the “systemic” use by Russian troops of terminals of Elon Musk’s satellite communications system.
Starlink systems have been vital for Ukraine‘s battlefield communications in Russia’s nearly two-year-old invasion as Kyiv has faced a larger and better-equipped military. The personal control of Starlink by the US billionaire, who has regularly repeated Kremlin talking points regarding the conflict, remains a concern for Kyiv and its allies. Read more
Stoltenberg criticises Trump’s NATO comments (AlJazeera)
Top Western officials have criticised former United States President Donald Trump after he suggested the US might not protect NATO allies who aren’t spending enough on defence from a potential Russian invasion.
“Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the US, and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a written statement.
“Any attack on NATO will be met with a united and forceful response,” he added.
On Saturday, at a political rally in South Carolina in the US, Trump, who is likely to be the Republican nominee in this year’s US presidential election, had said that as president, he warned NATO allies that he “would encourage” Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to countries that are “delinquent”. Read more
Coco Gauff reveals that tennis is not her top priority (Tennis365)
Coco Gauff has admitted that tennis is not the most important thing in her life.
Gauff would count her sport and career high on her list of priorities but there were things that trumped tennis for her.
Speaking ahead of the Qatar Open, Gauff said that it was important for her to use the platform she has been given to be a voice for marginalised communities and individuals within her community. Read more
Eagles clinch silver as Cote d’Ivoire win AFCON (Punch)
Two second-half goals from Franck Kessie and Sébastien Haller cancelled out William Troost-Ekong’s first-half opener as hosts Ivory Coast beat Nigeria 2-1 to win the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil on Sunday, The PUNCH reports.
After a disastrous group stage that almost saw the Elephants eliminated and only managed to qualify after picking the last best losers slot, with coach Jean-Louis Gasset sacked, it was all worth it for a night that will live long in the memory of Ivorians.
The victory means the Elephants have won the AFCON for the third time, having won it before in 1992 and 2015. Read more
Coulthard says Hamilton faces ‘‘one of his biggest challenges’’ (F1i)
Former Formula 1 driver turned commentator and analyst David Coulthard says that Lewis Hamilton faces possibly the biggest challenge of his career to date after deciding to leave Mercedes and join Ferrari in 2025.
Coulthard says that if Hamilton is to make a success of his decision, he must not underestimate the threat of the man who will be his team mate at Maranello – Charles Leclerc.
“Charles is a young, brilliantly fast race driver,” Coulthard told the latest Formula For Success podcast. “I think Charles is one of the quickest single-lap drivers out there.
“Charles is a young, brilliantly fast race driver. Yes, he doesn’t have the world championships and the experience of Lewis, but I think he’s a champion in waiting. That may well be where Lewis faces his greatest challenge.” Read more
Argentina eliminates Brazil from Olympic men’s soccer qualifying, ends 3-peat bid (NBC)
Brazil will not bid for an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic men’s soccer title in Paris after losing to Argentina in its last South American qualifier with one Olympic spot at stake.
Argentina won 1-0 on a Luciano Gondou goal in the 78th minute of a match in Caracas, Venezuela, on Sunday.
Argentina and either Paraguay or Venezuela will be South America’s two representatives in the 16-team Olympic men’s soccer tournament. Read more
Mikel Arteta “not surprised” by Arsenal domination in West Ham United rout (SportsMole)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was “not surprised” by the level of his side’s domination in their record-breaking 6-0 obliteration of West Ham United in Sunday’s London derby.
The Gunners recorded their largest-ever Premier League away win and joint-biggest victory on the road in league history at the London Stadium, where Bukayo Saka was on target twice alongside efforts from Declan Rice, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Leandro Trossard.
Prior to kickoff, a handful of notable players were absent from Arsenal’s team sheet, including Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus, Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu, while Jorginho was dropped to the bench due to a niggle of his own. Read more
Brown, Robinson have words during, after Celtics-Heat (ABC)
There was no love lost between Jaylen Brown and Duncan Robinson during Sunday’s Celtics- Heat showdown in Miami, and tensions didn’t cool much after Boston’s 110-106 win.
Midway through the fourth quarter, the two players got tangled up when Brown tried to collect a Derrick White pass on the perimeter. Robinson’s arm latched onto the Celtics All-Star, who then appeared to pull on it, sending the Heat sharpshooter into the stands.
Brown and Robinson exchanged words at the free throw line, and the former was assessed a flagrant foul 1. Read more