Adebayo: Tinubu knows what to do if he wants kidnapping to end (DailyTrust)
Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 elections, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has condemned the recent upsurge in banditry and kidnapping in parts of the country, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Highlighting security as one of the primary responsibilities of government, Adebayo said the government had failed to protect citizens against the kidnappers.
Adebayo in a post on his official X handle @Pres_Adebayo, wondered why Nigerians continue to suffer in the hands of bandits and kidnappers. Read more
FG worries over increase in human interactions with fruit bats (Sun)
The Federal Ministry of health said on Friday that it is deeply concerned about the increasing human interactions with fruit bats which have proven to be major reservoirs for various diseases.
The government said the increasing interest of humans particularly people from Benue and neighbouring states portend a serious danger to the health of other Nigerians.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Development, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, alongside other stakeholders in the health sector raised the concerns in Abuja, on Friday, during a meeting of members of National One Health Steering Committee, which provides a leadership for the early prevention and resolution of the public health crisis using a One Health approach. Read more
Police nab notorious kidnapper terrorising Abuja (Tribune)
Amid the incessant kidnappings in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has confirmed the arrest of a suspected notorious kidnapper, Chinaza Philip, who had been terrorising the city and its neighbouring state.
The suspect, according to FCT Police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, was arrested on Thursday, January 18, 2024, by the Kaduna State Police Command.
He was handed over to the FCT on Friday for further investigation. Read more
Nasarawa police arrest 38 for protesting Supreme Court judgement (Punch)
No fewer than 30 aged women including widows and eight men of Nasarawa State origin were on Friday arrested by the police for allegedly protesting the outcome of the Supreme Court judgment which affirmed Governor Abdullahi Sule as winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state.
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, David Ombugadu, had dragged Sule of the All Progressives Congress to court, challenging his 2023 election victory.
The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal had on October 2 sacked the governor and declared Ombugadu as winner of the poll. Read more
Navy arrested wooden boat with over 800 kegs of fuel (Nation)
Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT have intercepted a wooden boat laden with over 800 jerricans of 30-litre capacity containing suspected stolen Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
The boat was arrested during a joint operation with operatives attached to the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry.
The Nation gathered that the boat was observed to have been sailing seaward 80 nautical miles from the shore and very close to the boundary between Nigeria and the Benin Republic, in the early hours of yesterday. Read more
Insecurity: Wike asks CP to establish additional police divisions in Gwagwalada (Leadership)
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has asked the Police Commissioner of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command to set up two additional Police Divisions in Gwagwalada Area Council to address security concerns in the region.
Wike issued this directive during a security town hall meeting with relevant stakeholders in Gwagwalada, focusing on finding lasting solutions to the security challenges affecting the federal capital.
The decision was prompted by the Chairman of the Council, Mr Abubakar Giri’s request for additional police divisions to enhance security, especially in border communities. Currently, the area council has only two police divisions, one each in Zuba and Gwagwalada. Read more
Apprehension as police frees prime suspect in Niger community bandits’ attack (Guardian)
Fear has gripped residents of Garam, a border community between Niger state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) following the release of a prime suspect, Abdullahi Bayero, who was linked to many deadly kidnap escapades in the community, by the police on Thursday
It was gathered that Bayero was nabbed by the Sabo-Wuse police division on Tuesday following the killing of one person and kidnapping of nine others by bandits that invaded Garam.
Our correspondent gathered that before the attack, Bayero, who sells provisions in a makeshift shop, had been giving information about likely kidnapped suspects in the community to the bandits before they struck last Tuesday. Read more
Nigerian ex-president sent to mediate Ethiopia-Somalia tensions (AfricaNews)
In a bid to prevent the escalating tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia from spiralling into a full-blown war, the African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) has deployed former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo for negotiation efforts.
The dangerous strain in relations between the two neighbouring countries emerged after the secessionist region of Somaliland signed an agreement with Ethiopia on January 1rst, granting the latter control over a maritime port and a military base on the Red Sea.
Last week, Somalia declared its readiness to go to war. Read more
Rita Ora includes family footage in her new music video as 60th birthday tribute to her mum (MusicNews)
Rita Ora has included old family footage in her latest music video as a birthday tribute to her mum.
The singer was born to psychiatrist Vera Bajraktari and her pub landlord dad Besnik Sahatçiu in the former Yugoslavia in 1990, and her new track ‘Shape of You’, featuring Keith Urban, comes with a promo filled with clips of the star in her youth which she created to mark her mother’s 60th.
She posted on X alongside a link to her new video: “HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM! We’ve been through everything together, you’ve always been such a beautiful inspiration in my life and in my music. Read more
Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler are reuniting for new film (Consequence)
Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler have reportedly reunited for a new, top secret film project.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, sources have confirmed that the two filmmakers — who first worked together on Coogler’s 2013 directorial debut, Fruitvale Station — are both attached to the project, which is based on an original idea by Coogler. The Black Panther director wrote the screenplay as well, and is set to serve as director and lead producer, along with producers Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian. Jordan will star.
The topic of the film is tightly under wraps. In fact, the team working on the project is being so secretive, executives and buyers were made to go in-person to the Beverly Hills offices of the filmmakers’ agency, WME, just to read the script and get details. So, most of the details have yet to become public, though what we do know is that the film will be a “genre” piece, with two sources claiming that there will be a “period element.”Additional meetings to discuss the film are set to happen this week. Read more
Paramedic couldn’t save dying boy 3 minutes away because shift was ending (Metro)
A rapid response paramedic based three minutes away from where a teenage boy lay dying was not dispatched due to an ‘end of shift policy’, an inquest heard.
Lucas Pollard, 14, was riding an electric dirt bike with another boy, 15, riding pillion when he crashed in the early hours of June 1 last year.
He had to wait an extra 15 minutes before an ambulance arrived at the scene in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. Read more
Alec Baldwin is charged, again, with involuntary manslaughter (NewYorkTimes)
A grand jury in New Mexico indicted Alec Baldwin on Friday on a charge of involuntary manslaughter, reviving the criminal case against him in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the film “Rust” more than two years ago when a gun he was rehearsing with went off.
The indictment, which came exactly one year after the first involuntary manslaughter case against him was announced, was the latest reversal of fortune for Mr. Baldwin. The local district attorney’s initial case fell apart and the initial charge against Mr. Baldwin was dismissed in April. But a new prosecution team, Kari T. Morrissey and Jason J. Lewis, decided to present the case to a grand jury, which indicted Mr. Baldwin on Friday.
In New Mexico, an involuntary manslaughter conviction on a charge like the one Mr. Baldwin faces can carry up to 18 months in prison. Read more
Kanye West’s daughter North proves she’s his twin with new diamond grill (HipHopDx)
Kanye West‘s eldest child North has continued to prove it’s “like father, like daughter” by showing off her own new teeth accessory.
On Wednesday (January 17), a photo of the 10-year-old was posted on the joint TikTok account that she shares with her mother Kim Kardashian showcasing her iced-out diamond grill.
“The things my daughter makes on my phone, haha,” Kardashian captioned the snap. Read more
Namibia’s president to undergo treatment after “cancerous cells” found (AlJazeera)
Namibian President Hage Geingob will start treatment for cancer after routine medical checkups led to the detection of “cancerous cells”, his office has said.
In a statement from the Namibian Presidency on Friday, it said that “as part of regular annual medical examinations” the 82-year-old leader had a colonoscopy and a gastroscopy on January 8, followed by a biopsy.
“The results revealed cancerous cells,” the statement said. Read more
Watch that got Arnold Scwarzenegger detained at Munich Airport sells for nearly $300K at charity auction (People)
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s luxury watch that got him detained at Munich airport on Wednesday has officially found a new home.
The actor and former California governor, 76, handed over the expensive Audemars Piguet watch to his longtime friend Klemens Hallmann at the Dinner & Auction for Environmental Protection on Thursday, held at the Stanglwirt in Kitzbühel, Austria.
PEOPLE has learned that Hallman, an entrepreneur and investor, purchased the watch for roughly 270,000 euros (about $294,000). Read more
AFCON: “Keep winning,” says Sports Minister following Super Eagles victory over Cote D’Ivoire (Vanguard)
Sen John Owan Enoh, the Minister of Sports Development, has congratulated the Super Eagles over their 1-0 victory against the Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire at the ongoing African Cup of Nations.
In a statement by the media office of the Minister on Friday, Owan-Enoh expressed his delight with the team’s performance.
“The victory against Cote d’Ivoire is commendable, and defeating the host nation is a good sign of the team’s exceptional capabilities. Read more
Sam Burns hits 61 to take 1-shot halfway lead (BelfastTelegraph)
Sam Burns shot a second round 61 as he took a one-shot halfway lead at The American Express tournament in California.
Burns’ career-low round leaves him on 17 under par, one shot ahead of fellow American Michael Kim with South Korea’s KH Lee and American amateur Nick Dunlap a further shot back.
A pair of eagles and seven birdies had put Burns in with a chance of breaking 60, but he could only par the last two holes. Read more
Stunning Bebe free-kick helps Cape Verde reach last 16 (BBC)
Bebe scored a 40-yard free-kick as Cape Verde beat Mozambique to become the first team to book their last-16 place at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Rayo Vallecano forward, once of Manchester United, smashed in a strike which keeper Ernan Siluane should have done better with.
Captain Ryan Mendes took advantage of a defensive mistake to double their lead. Read more
Chelsea star sick of the sight of international teammate who has performed superbly this season (HitC)
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez has praised one Premier League star for always turning up against the Blues.
It’s fair to say it’s been a tough season for Enzo Fernandez and Chelsea as the West London club are nowhere near where they would like to be this campaign under Mauricio Pochettino’s tutelage.
Fernandez joined Chelsea from SL Benfica in the previous January transfer window and is already on his third manager since he arrived at Stamford Bridge. Read more
Jose Mourinho “reaches verbal agreement” with new club just days after Roma sacking (Mirror)
Jose Mourinho has reached a verbal agreement to become the new manager of Al-Shabab, according to reports from Saudi Arabia.
Mourinho was sacked by Roma earlier this week, with the Giallorossi sat ninth in Serie A following a disappointing start to the season. During his time at Roma, Mourinho repeatedly spoke about the prospect of managing in the Saudi Pro League one day, having rejected the “biggest and craziest offer a coach has ever received” to remain at Roma.
“During the holidays, I received the biggest and craziest offer a coach has ever received in the history of football,” Mourinho said back in October. “And I turned it down. I did so because I’d given my word to my players, I’d given my word to the fans and I’d given my word to the club owner.” Read more
Jeff Henderson, Olympic long jump champion, transitions to coaching (NBC)
Jeff Henderson, part of a long line of U.S. gold medal-winning long jumpers, has transitioned into coaching in his native Arkansas.
Henderson, the 2016 Olympic champion, began a volunteer role at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in the last month, coaching long jumpers and triple jumpers.
“It’s something I’m just really good at doing, seeing what athletes are lacking the most and helping them get better,” the 34-year-old said. “For me, it’s easy to recognize what’s wrong with an athlete quickly.” Read more