92 suspected cultists nabbed, as police foil robbery attacks in Lagos (DailyTrust)
The Lagos State Police Command yesterday said it has arrested 92 suspected members of various secret cult groups. The police alleged the suspects were behind the series of attacks in the metropolis since the lockdown started a fortnight ago.
The police also announced that acting on credible information, operatives from the Ikorodu police station, supported by detectives from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), yesterday arrested two armed robbery suspects, Toheeb Sanusi, 21, and Adewale Adeshina, 24, at the Benson area of Ikorodu. Read more
Lagos discharges five patients (Nation)
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday announced the recovery and discharge of five more COVID-19 patients.
This brings to 55 the number of patients discharged from the isolation centres in the state.
The news on the discharge of the Lagos patients was followed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmation of five new cases in three states of Lagos and Kwara (two each) and one in Katsina. Read more
Lockdown: Two teenagers allegedly drowned in community beach (Vanguard)
Two male teenagers: Dare, 16, and Fawas, 15, both residents of Epelemeje Orofun community in Akodo area of Ibeju-Lekki in Lagos State, were alleged to have drowned while swimming in the community beach during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, stated this on Sunday in a statement he released to journalists.
Elkana also said that some members of the community reported the matter through a distress call to the Ibeju-Lekki Divisional Police Station on Saturday. Read more
Ogun police arrest 150 suspected cultists over Ifo/Ota crisis (Guardian)
The police in Ogun have arrested no fewer than 150 suspects following supremacy clashes between rival cult groups in Ifo and Sango- Ota axis of the state.
The Ogun Commissioner of Police, Kenneth Ebrimson, stated this on Sunday at the Ifo Divisional Police Station where he paraded the suspects.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the high point of the crisis occurred on April 4, as many residents fled for their lives and others lost possessions in the mayhem. Read more
23 returnees isolated at border (Nation)
A new batch of 23 Nigerian returnees from Togo Republic arrived at the Seme Border Post in Lagos State on Sunday.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the 23 Nigerians came from different parts of the world and were airlifted into Lome by Ethiopian Airlines over two weeks ago.
An official of Port Health Services (PHS) in Seme, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that one of the 24 returnees that tested positive to COVID-19 was held by Togolese authorities. Read more
Clerics inspire hope at indoor Easter (Guardian)
After a turbulent weekend, which saw hoodlums go on rampage across some locations in Ogun and Lagos states, there was calm yesterday as the unusual Easter celebration came on full stream.
Just as it was a week earlier during the observance of Palm Sunday, Most Christian faithful returned to their various gadgets: phones, television, laptops and radios to observe a service once never envisaged but now the norm in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Read more
Don’t politicise efforts to tackle COVID-19 – IBB (Vanguard)
Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has called on all Nigerians not to politicize the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic but to join hands together to win the battle ravaging the World.
In his Easter message to Christians across the country, General Babangida said this is not the time for “play game” but a concerted effort by all to wage a total war against the killer disease.
“It is time for synergy between Federal Government efforts and that of states where the majority of citizens live with attendant implications for flattening the curve, increasing testing capacity and reduce the pains and we have the lesson and experiences of China, Taiwan and other countries to benefit from. Read more
‘NIPOST bank coming soon’ (Nation)
The new Postmaster General of the Federation, Dr. Bayo Adewusi, has said Nigerian Post Office (NIPOST) bank will soon be established.
Adewusi disclosed this while featuring on a call-in political programme, ‘Southwest Political Circuit’, on Ibadan-based Fresh F. M. radio at the weekend.
Adewusi, who was appointed as the chief executive officer of NIPOST three months ago, said the organisation is in the process of being unbundled, adding that three companies have been registered to carry out specific services under NIPOST mandate. Read more
Reorder N37b renovation vote as COVID-19 palliative, SERAP tells National Assembly (Guardian)
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the National Assembly to give the N37 billion renovation fund to states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the poor and vulnerable persons.
It made the appeal in letter to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, while commending the steps and contributions already made by the legislature towards fighting the scourge in the country.
In a letter dated April 11, 2020 and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, Read more
AU appoints Iweala, Kaberuka, 2 others to mobilise int’l economic aid (DailyTrust)
Chairperson, African Union, Cyril Ramaphosa, has appointed former Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and former Rwandan Finance Minister Donald Kaberuka as Special Envoys of the AU to mobilise international support for Africa’s efforts towards addressing the economic challenges facing African countries owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also appointed in similar capacity are Mr Tidjane Thiam and Mr Trevor Manuel. Ramaphosa said the envoys, who brought with them a wealth of experience and enjoyed longstanding relationships in the international financial community, would solicit rapid and concrete support as pledged by the G20, the European Union and other international financial institutions. Read more
Fully-naked woman tries to book flight at New Orleans airport (NYPost)
A woman was arrested after trying to book a flight at New Orleans airport — fully naked — and then refusing to leave.
Mariel Vergara, 27, allegedly strolled up to the Spirit Airlines counter at Louis Armstrong International Airport Friday night without a stitch of clothing, Nola.com reported.
Airline officials told her she wouldn’t be able to travel in her current getup — or lack thereof — and asked her to leave, but she refused, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Read more
Deadly tornadoes batter southern US states (BBC)
At least six people have died after storms triggered tornadoes and flooding across several southern US states.
Tornadoes touched down in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi.
On Sunday, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agenda confirmed deaths across three counties.
In Louisiana, a number of homes were destroyed in the city of Monroe, with the city’s official social media account initially reporting only minor injuries. Read more
Girl, 16, dies after falling from eighth-floor balcony (Metro)
A teenage girl has died after falling from the eighth floor of an apartment block on Easter Sunday. Officers were called to a road in Lewisham, south-east London, shortly after 2pm following reports that a person had fallen from a height. An air ambulance landed in a nearby Sports Direct car park, while paramedics, the fire service and police rushed to the scene. However, the 16-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene just over an hour later at 3.26pm. Read more
Apollo 13: Enhanced images reveal life on stricken spacecraft (BBC)
Image enhancement techniques have been used to reveal life aboard Nasa’s stricken Apollo 13 spacecraft in unprecedented detail.
Fifty years ago, the craft suffered an explosion that jeopardised the lives of the three astronauts aboard.
Unsurprisingly, given they were locked in a fight for survival, relatively few onboard images were taken.
But imaging specialist Andy Saunders created sharp stills from low-quality 16mm film shot by the crew. Read more
New Zealand preparing to end lockdown after success in coronavirus battle (Metro)
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the country is ‘turning a corner’ in the battle against coronavirus after recording the lowest number of new cases in three weeks. She praised residents for mounting a ‘wall of defence’ which is ‘breaking the chain of transmission’ following the swift implementation of lockdown measures.
The country has recorded 992 confirmed cases of Covid-19 with just one death so far. Health officials said there were 29 new cases on Thursday, the fourth successive daily drop since 89 were recorded on Sunday and the latest sign of a flattening of the curve. Read more
Japan rushes to house thousands of homeless people (BBC)
Japanese authorities are rushing to house thousands of homeless people following the closure of internet cafes in several major cities.
The cafes have become a common destination for those without secure housing.
They’re often open around the clock and many feature private booths, showers and entertainment, including games.
But the businesses have been ordered to close their doors to help contain the spread of coronavirus. Read more
Tom Hanks hosts ‘SNL’ from home in show’s first remote episode (PageSix)
“Saturday Night Live” emerged from the pandemic quarantine ashes with a fresh, if unconventional, episode Saturday night — including a cold opening “Zoom” montage with cast members phoning it in from their own kitchens and living rooms.
“It’s Saturday Night Live … At Home!” the announcer shouted before introducing, as the evening’s host, actor and recently recovered COVID-19 patient Tom Hanks.
“Hey, all you cool cats and kittens!” Hanks joked from his kitchen, channeling animal activist Carole Baskin from Netflix’s smash “Tiger King” docu-series. Read more
Ighalo tips Osimhen for the top (Nation)
Odion Ighalo has tipped his fellow Nigerian Victor Osimhen for the top, as the Lille forward has again been linked with Manchester United.
Osimhen has enjoyed a fine first season at Lille in Ligue 1, scoring 18 goals in 38 appearances as he’s helped the French side cover for the absence of their former star Nicolas Pepe, who left for Arsenal last summer.
Those goals have seen the 21-year-old linked with several moves across Europe, with United among those said to be interested in Ighalo’s international teammate. Read more
Harry Kane ‘open’ to Manchester United move as Spurs demand £200m (Metro)
Tottenham star Harry Kane has opened the door to a move to Manchester United after Spurs demanded a world record £200million fee for the England skipper.
Kane has been considering his future at the club since Mauricio Pochettino’s departure in 2019 and he dropped the biggest hint yet in March that he could leave Spurs when he refused to commit his future to the club. United are long-term admirers of Kane and are one of the few clubs in world football that could finance a move for the 26-year-old. Read more
Amuneke delighted with Osimhen and Chukwueze’s progression (DailyTrust)
Emmanuel Amuneke has voiced his gladness seeing Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze and Lille’s Victor Osimhen become ‘household names’ for Nigeria and their respective European clubs. Both players contributed a great deal as Nigeria U17 won the 2015 FIFA World Cup staged in Chile.
While Osimhen won the Golden Boot and Silver Ball, Chukwueze walked away with the Bronze Boot. Since then, the youngsters have been key figures for their European teams as well as the country’s senior national team – helping them place third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. Read more
Sir Stirling Moss: ‘A true icon’ – tributes paid to ‘larger-than-life’ legend (BBC)
Sir Stirling Moss has been praised as a “true icon and legend” who lived an “incredible life”.
The world of motor racing has paid tribute following his death aged 90.
Moss is widely regarded as one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time, even though he did not win the World Championship.
“I think it’s important that we celebrate his incredible life and the great man he was,” six-time champion Lewis Hamilton wrote on Instagram. Read more
Cristiano Ronaldo’s secret training sessions during coronavirus lockdown slammed by Lazio chief (Metro)
Cristiano Ronaldo has been criticised after he was pictured training at a football stadium in Madeira during the coronavirus lockdown last week, with one Lazio chief claiming it shows blatant favouritism. Lazio and Juventus are separated by just one point in the Serie A title race, but while Simone Inzaghi’s players have been forced to stay indoors back in Italy, Ronaldo – who flew back to his hometown – was put through his paces at the Madeira national stadium. Read more
Taiwan-based baseball league plays first game after coronavirus (NYPost)
The Chinese Professional Baseball League became the first league to play regular-season baseball in 2020 on Sunday.
The Taiwan-based league was scheduled to begin March 14, but it moved the opener to April 11 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Rain on Saturday pushed Opening Day to Sunday.
The game was played without fans in the stands. There were, however, some strategically placed robot fans, including some that beat drums to add an aura of atmosphere to the game. Read more
Barca Academy boss picks sports development, peace as tools for world unity (Guardian)
Nigerians joined the world last week to celebrate the United Nations’ International Day of Sports for Development and Peace, which #BeActive campaign is aimed at helping in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the event in Lagos, many stakeholders commended the proactive and smart approach of various sports associations and bodies across the world to tame the recent global health challenge, while calling on individuals, organisations and government to look inward, drive innovation, create enabling and supporting technological environment that will ginger effective development and endurable peace, believe to be the bond of love and unity of the entire human community. Read more