Benue killings: Our gory ordeal, by survivors (Vanguard)
As President Bola Tinubu visits Benue State today, survivors of last Friday’s deadly attacks at Yelewata in Guma Local Government Area of the state have recounted the anguish they suffered in the attack perpetrated by armed herdsmen, which resulted in the death of over 200 persons, mainly women and children.
Several houses were also set ablaze by the marauding herdsmen who left blood and sorrow in their trail.
This came as Benue State governor, Hyacinth Alia, yesterday rejected calls for self-defence by residents, asking communities to support the establishment of a more robust community policing system. Read more
Killings: ‘The Armed Forces are with you’, CDS assures Benue residents (Channels)
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has rallied stakeholders in Benue, calling for collaboration to stem the renewed spate of killings in the food-producing state.
“The Armed Forces are with you. We are pained about what’s happening. For me, it’s a personal thing. I don’t want to be the chief of defense of our Armed Forces when people are being killed. No,” General Musa said on Tuesday during a meeting with traditional rulers in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
“We have gone to Liberia, we’re going to Sierra Leone, we’ve gone to other countries, and have brought peace. Why not in our own country? Read more
Court sentences 44-year-old man to life imprisonment for defilement (Guardian)
Justice Abiola Soladoye of a Special Offences Court in Ikeja has sentenced Oto Edet, a 44-year-old resident of Lagos, to life imprisonment for defiling his nine-year-old neighbour.
The court found Edet guilty of the offence, ruling that the prosecution had successfully proven the charge of defilement beyond a reasonable doubt. Justice Soladoye described Edet’s actions as reprehensible and criticised his conduct as a neighbour.
The judge noted that the survivor’s testimony was clear and consistent, providing compelling evidence against the defendant. She praised the prosecution for presenting a solid case, including three witnesses and four exhibits supporting the charge. Read more
Benue: Killings must stop –Senate (Sun)
The Senate has expressed frustration over the continued loss of lives in Benue State, declaring that it is time for action as Nigerians are tired of condolence visits after recurrent attacks in the state and other parts of the country.
The upper chamber also disclosed that a delegation of senators would join President Bola Tinubu and other officials from the executive on a state visit to Benue State today to commiserate with victims of the latest round of killings.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has condemned the attacks. He said those responsible for the violence should be apprehended. Read more
Fresh trouble for PDP as INEC rejects NEC notice (DailyTrust)
There appears to be no end in sight to crisis plaguing the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the notice sent to it over the party’s100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for June 30.
A letter seen by Daily Trust on Tuesday, signed by Hajiya Hau’ru Aminu, who identified as the acting Secretary of INEC, communicated the commission’s decision, citing a violation of procedural guidelines.
Dated June 13 and addressed to the PDP national chairman, the letter referenced INEC/DEPM/PDP/286/iii and was titled: “RE: NOTICE OF 100TH NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY.” Read more
FG to evacuate stranded Nigerians from Israel, Iran (Leadership)
The Federal Government says it is finalising emergency evacuation plans for Nigerian citizens stranded in Israel and Iran, following a major escalation in hostilities between the two countries.
A statement released Tuesday night by Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the Nigerian embassies in Tel Aviv and Tehran have commenced efforts to reach affected Nigerians and coordinate their safe evacuation.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that following the escalation of the crisis between the State of Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Federal Government is finalising arrangements for the emergency evacuation of stranded Nigerians in both countries,” the statement read. Read more
Nigeria imports N1.2t crude as local output stumbles (Punch)
Despite being Africa’s largest crude oil producer, Nigeria imported crude oil worth N1.19tn in the first quarter of 2025 due to poor domestic supply to local refineries, The PUNCH reports.
The National Bureau of Statistics disclosed this in its latest Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics report for Q1 2025, which showed that the imported crude, classified as “Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude,” emerged as Nigeria’s third most imported product within the period under review.
The product accounted for 7.7 per cent of total imports, trailing only gas oil and motor spirit ordinary, which were valued at N1.83tn and N1.76tn, respectively. Read more
Food Network chef Anne Burrell dead at 55 (PageSix)
Food Network chef Anne Burrell has died. She was 55.
The TV personality was found unconscious around 7:50 a.m. at her Brooklyn, NY, home on Tuesday morning, a New York Police Department spokesperson told Page Six.
Emergency services promptly arrived at the scene and pronounced her dead. Read more
Yungblud is ready to leave his idols behind (NME)
It’s 9am, and west London’s Portobello Road feels deserted. It’s quite the serene, slow Tuesday morning setting for NME to meet Dominic Harrison – aka Yungblud – as we take shelter from the light drizzle inside members club Electric House. Greeting us with a warm hug, Harrison is his usual endearing self from the get-go. After our conversation, he’s going boxing, something that has recently become a staple of his daily life. But over the course of the hour, Harrison is calm, considered and gentle, as he sips on a flat white.
These are not adjectives you would typically associate with Yungblud. When the Doncaster star broke through with 2018 debut ‘21st Century Liability’ and 2020’s ‘Weird!’, the appeal was his gobby mouth. His punk-rock attitude. The pink socks, skirts and chameleonic hair colour. No one could pin down his megamix of pop, rap, rock and punk.
He has his critics – accusations that Yungblud is all an act, a privately educated individual cosplaying as the voice of the outsiders. Read more
Bruno Mars is dropping in on ‘Fortnite Festival’ to lead the upcoming season 9 (Uproxx)
Fortnite Festival moves fast: Sabrina Carpenter was named the “Icon” for the game’s Season 8 in April, but now we’re already onto the next one. The new season launches tomorrow (June 18), and today, it was announced that leading the charge this time will be Bruno Mars.
He follows in the footsteps of Carpenter, Hatsune Miku (Season 7), Snoop Dogg (Season 6), Karol G (Season 5), Metallica (Season 4), Billie Eilish (Season 3), Lady Gaga (Season 2), and The Weeknd (Season 1), as Variety notes.
The upcoming season will bring a number of new elements to the game, including a new Main Stage and in-game items like the Bruno-San Outfit, Bruno’s Collection Back Bling, Floating Notes Contrail, Bonde do Brunão Emote, Bonde do Brunão Jam Track, Key Charm Keytar, and Worldwide Bass. Read more
Indonesia issues highest alert as volcano erupts (BBC)
Lewotobi Laki-Laki began spewing volcanic materials on Tuesday
One of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes spewed a huge ash cloud more than 11 kilometres into the sky on Tuesday after officials issued the country’s highest alert.
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, erupted at 17:35 local time (10:35 BST), the country’s volcanology agency said, sending the vast cloud above the tourist island of Flores.
A 7km exclusion zone was in place around the crater of the 1,584m (one mile) high twin-peaked volcano. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. Read more
NAACP breaks 116-year tradition, won’t invite president to annual convention (UPI)
The NAACP says it will not invite US President Donald Trump to offer remarks at its annual convention next month in North Carolina in a break with longstanding tradition for the first time in its 116 year history.
The group said the sitting president is “attacking” democracy, civil rights and “believes more in the fascist playbook than in the U.S. Constitution.”
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, one of the nation’s leading and foremost civil rights groups, is slated to see its 116th annual national convention July 12-16 in Charlotte. Read more
Europe takes a big step toward banning Russian oil and gas as Ukraine war drags on (CNN)
The European Union is moving closer to banning all imports of Russian oil and natural gas more than three years after Moscow launched its unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, put forward a legislative proposal Tuesday to gradually ban purchases of Russian natural gas – whether supplied via pipeline or as liquefied natural gas (LNG) on tankers.
Under the plan, no new import contracts will be allowed from next year, while imports under existing short-term contracts for most EU member states will have to stop in a year’s time and purchases under long-term contracts will be outlawed by the end of 2027. Read more
Moses Simon set for Paris FC transfer (CompleteSports)
Super Eagles winger Moses Simon is set to join Ligue 1 club Paris FC from Nantes, Completesports.com reports.
Simon, according to hommedumatch.fr, will put pen to paper on a three-year contract with the newly promoted.
The Blues have offered to pay the former KAA Gent player around €300,000. Stephane Gilli’s side will part with €6.5m to secure his services. Read more
Kaduna Polo dedicates turf to Dawule Baba (Guardian)
It was not just another polo event. The just concluded Dawule Baba Memorial Polo Tournament was highlighted with the unveiling of Dawule Baba Polo Ground, which was a special sporting fiesta where polo enthusiasts savored the noble game and paid glowing tributes to the Nigerian legend.
President of Kaduna Polo Club, Mohammad Babangida, who led members of the board of trustees, Vice President, Gen Kapeh Kazir, and members of the management committee of the club to the unveiling arena, said the club is dedicating the main ground to the everlasting memory of the foremost Nigerian polo ambassador.
“His passion for polo, his sportsmanship, and his enduring legacy both on and off the field will be remembered with admiration and respect,” the Kaduna polo boss declared, before leading the DeeBee Polo team to win the inaugural Dawule Baba Memorial Cup. Read more
Sinner wins first match after French Open final defeat (Channels)
World number one Jannik Sinner rebounded from his agonising French Open final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz with a straight-sets win at the Halle Open on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old beat Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann 7-5, 6-3 on the Halle grass, just over a week after his five-hour and 29-minute loss to Alcaraz at Roland Garros.
Sinner broke in the final game of the first set and once more in the second to secure victory over the 138th-ranked Hanfmann. Read more
‘The abuse never stops’ – Lionesses to avoid social media (BBC)
England forward Alessia Russo says she prefers to stay off social media during major tournaments because of how “damaging” abuse can be.
The 26-year-old was speaking about the issue alongside her Lionesses teammates as they prepare for their European Championship defence in Switzerland next month.
Their comments come after British women’s tennis number one Katie Boulter spoke to BBC Sport about abuse and death threats she has received online, Read more
Jin Sasaki: My victory will not be a miracle or coincidence; it’s inevitable (BoxingScene)
It remains to be seen whether Jin Sasaki possesses or lacks the skills necessary to dethrone Brian Norman Jnr.
What is undeniable is the challenger’s beaming confidence.
That much was on display when the two met in person earlier this spring. Japan’s Sasaki, 19-1-1 (17 KOs), made a point to travel to Las Vegas, where Norman, 27-0 (21 KOs), smoked Derrieck Cuevas inside of three rounds to defend his WBO welterweight title at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. Read more