Buhari to Ambode: Your performance is satisfactory (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday; he gave the Lagos State governor, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode a pass mark for the audacious projects he has delivered to the people and congratulated him for his giant strides in the state. He said: “The Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has performed satisfactorily in delivering governance to the people of Lagos and we should all congratulate him for working for the good people of Lagos State.” He spoke at the Oshodi Interchange, where he had come to commission the project and flagged off the Bus Reform Initiative with 820 medium and large capacity buses at the Oshodi. Read more
Illegal miners provide weapons, money for bandits to make Zamfara ungovernable —Lai Mohammed (Punch)
The Federal Government on Wednesday revealed how illegal mining activities aggravated insecurity in Zamfara before its April 7 prohibition order and launch of special operations to stop bandits in the state. The Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed, who featured on a Nigeria Television Authority Programme, Good Morning Nigeria, said banditry, kidnapping, killing and cattle rustling were largely sponsored by illegal miners in the state. Speaking on the programme monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, the minister said the miners fueled instability in the state to pave way for their illegal activities. Read more
How to crush Boko Haram, bandits, by Buratai (Nation)
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has identified measures to end Boko Haram terrorism, armed banditry and kidnapping bedeviling Nigeria. Buratai, who reiterated the link between Boko Haram Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), identified combined holistic approach by the countries of the Lake Chad as the surest way to total defeat of both Boko Haram and ISWAP. The Army Chief stated these in Jaji Military Cantonment on Wednesday as he flagged-off the First Quarter COAS Conference and Combat Arms Training Week. Read more
NDLEA arrests man with 32 sacks of Indian hemp in Calabar (Punch)
The Cross River State Command of National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a 50-year-old man, Marshal De-Souza, for allegedly being in possession of 32 sacks of cannabis sativa in Calabar. The State Commander, Mrs Anthonia Edeh, disclosed this on Wednesday in a statement in Calabar. She said the suspect was arrested by the command’s motorised patrol team following intelligence report. Edeh said that the suspect concealed the drugs under black polythene to ward-off suspicion by law enforcement agents. Read more
Ondo Bank robbery: Court remands five suspects (Nation)
A chief magistrate court sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital on Wednesday remanded in police custody five persons for alleged involvement in the Idoani Bank robbery. Hoodlums on April 8, attacked a commercial bank in Idoani, Ose local government area killing seven persons including five bank officials, a police officer and Vice Principal of a secondary school who was a customer. They also carted away a substantial amount of money after using explosives to break the security doors to the banking rooms. Read more
10-year-old boy drowns while bathing in Kano (Punch)
A 10- year-old boy, Shuaibu Musa, has drowned while bathing in a pond called “Ramin Tasiu” at Sheika Road in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State. The spokesman of the Kano State Fire Service, Mr Saidu Mohammed, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Kano State that the incident happened on Tuesday afternoon when the deceased went to take his bath. “We received a distress call from one Malam Abdullahi Naguru at 03:15 p.m. that Musa’s body was found floating in the water. Read more
I’ll retrieve my mandate from you, Sen. Ohuabuwa tells Kalu (Nation)
The senator representing Abia North senatorial district, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, has vowed to retrieve his “stolen” mandate from a former Abia State governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Kalu winner of the poll in the February elections and the Commission had since issued Kalu with Certificate of Return. Ohuabunwa is a sitting senator who was elected on the platform of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) but Kalu contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Read more
Divorcee alleges sexual harassment, assault by IG’s squad (Punch)
A divorcee in Akwa Ibom State, Margaret Udoh, on Tuesday demanded justice for the alleged sexual harassment and physical assault on her by men of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team. Udoh, a senior nursing officer at the Ibesikpo Health Centre and pastor at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Idoro Road, called on the Nigerian Bar Association, Civil Liberty Organisation and other civil rights groups to ensure that the culprits were brought to book. Udoh alleged that about 20 officers of the unit invaded her residence on St. Christopher Avenue, Nung Uko, in the Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, in two pickup trucks on April 13, 2019. Read more
Man hires kidnappers to abduct parents (Nation)
Two persons, Akpos Jonny, aged 35 and Samson Oturu aged 31, have been arrested for planning to kidnap one Mr. Okundaye Austine and his wife. They were said to have plotted to carry out the operation at No 25, Akhigbe Street, Usen quarters, Egor local government area. Police sources said they were on the trail of a son of the victim, Kingsley, who allegedly hired the kidnappers to abduct his mother. Read more
Gunmen kills four people in bus attack (Punch)
Armed gunmen stopped a bus travelling in northern Burkina Faso and shot dead four passengers, local sources said Wednesday, with jihadists suspected of staging the attack. Passengers had their ID’s checked before the shooting took place, a local authority told AFP after the bus was intercepted in the village of Liki on Tuesday. “The four people killed were from the same ethnic community,” while the others were not harmed, the source said. Read more
Police release father of abducted five-day old baby in Kogi (Nation)
Tosin Ojuola, father of the five-day old child, abducted by two gunmen on April 11 at Ijagbe community in the Mopa-Muro Local Government area of Kogi State has been released by the police authorities. Ojuola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Wednesday that he was released at about 6:30 p.m. on April 23 after spending nine days in police custody. He said that the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Busari, ordered his release after interrogating him and two other suspects being detained in connection with the incident. Read more
Man sets neighbour’s car ablaze over his wife’s refusal to accept his sexual advances (Punch)
A 21-year-old carpenter, Nojeem, who allegedly set his neighbour’s car ablaze over his wife’s refusal to accept his sexual advance, on Wednesday appeared in an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’. The police charged Nojeem, who lives in Ayobo-Ipaja in Lagos State, with two counts of breach of peace and arson. The Prosecution Counsel, Sergeant Michael Unah, the defendant allegedly set a Mitsubishi GDI Space Wagon valued at N500,000, the property of one Mr Abubakar ablaze. Unah told the court that the defendant committed the offence on March 15, at 3 a.m. at Ayobo-Ipaja, a Lagos suburb. Read more
Telecoms operators blast NCAA over plan to demolish 7000 masts (Guardian)
Telecommunications operators have blasted the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over its threat to demolish about 7000 mast, largely owned by Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) service providers in the country. The operators declared that any site brought down illegally and without due consultation will not be rebuilt and the consequences will be felt by all. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), on Tuesday, issued a 30-day ultimatum to owners and operators of unlicensed masts and towers around airports nationwide to either comply with the rules or face demolition. Read more
Workers smoked at Notre-Dame cathedral, admits contractor (Guardian)
Workers renovating Notre-Dame flouted a ban on smoking at the monument, a contractor admitted on Wednesday, while denying any link with last week’s devastating blaze that ripped through the cathedral. “There were colleagues who from time to time broke the rules and we regret it,” a spokesman for scaffolding company Le Bras Freres told AFP, before adding: “in no way could a cigarette butt be the cause of the fire at Notre-Dame”. Spokesman Marc Eskenazi said some workers “had admitted in front of the police that they did smoke from time to time,” confirming a report in the satirical newspaper Le Canard Enchaine. Read more
Donald and Melania Trump ‘had fiery public row at Mar-a-Lago’ (Metro)
Donald and Melania Trump had an explosive public argument over dinner at his Mar-a-Lago country club resort, an eyewitness claims. The source told People magazine that the President and First Lady were dining at the club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on March 30 when tensions boiled over. They claimed: ‘Melania was upset and they had words with each other over something.’ The alleged altercation took place in the club’s public dining area, although it is unclear what caused the drama. Read more
China formally arrests ex-Interpol chief (Guardian)
China has formally arrested former Interpol chief Meng Hongwei on suspicion of accepting bribes, prosecutors announced Wednesday, as he faces possible corruption charges. In a remarkable fall from grace, Meng — who had also served as vice minister of public security — vanished last September during a visit to China from France, where Interpol is based and was later accused of accepting bribes. Prosecutors “decided to arrest Meng Hongwei on suspicion of accepting bribes,” the Supreme People’s Procuratorate said in a brief statement. Read more
Mother ‘battered son, 9, with meat tenderizer for failing to do his homework’ (Metro)
A mother battered her 9-year-old son with a meat tenderizer after he lied about doing his homework, police said. Martha Ciguenas, 44, allegedly hit her son in the twice with the spiked kitchen tool at their home in Miami-Dade, Florida on April 4. Police say the attack occurred after the boy ‘did not tell the defendant that he had additional homework, while he was out of school during spring break.’ Ciguenas then ‘became irate’ before throwing a water bottle and her cellphone at the boy, according to the arrest report obtained by the Sun Herald. Read more
WW2 bomb blown up in Germany after evacuation (BBC)
A 250kg (550lb) World War Two bomb caused damage in a German city when it exploded on Wednesday under controlled circumstances. It was discovered in the southern city of Regensburg during construction work. The bomb could not be transported or defused, experts found. So they instead evacuated some 4,500 people in a 1.5km (one mile) radius. Despite the planned explosion, nearby buildings were damaged in the blast, their windows shattering. Unexploded bombs from the war are not uncommon in Germany, which was heavily bombed by Britain and, later, the US. Read more
Girl, 12, killed herself ‘because boy at school kept taunting her about her weight’ (Metro)
A 12-year-old girl killed herself because a boy at school kept taunting her about her weight, the youngster’s mother claims. Brooklyn Marie Brehm’s mother Maranda Riboli said the youngster left a note after hanging herself in April 2017, saying she had taken her own life ‘because of this boy.’ Brooklyn’s alleged tormentor, who has not been named, is said to have ‘regularly and frequently fat-shamed’ the youngster and called her names at Elton Gregory Middle School in Redmond, Oregon. Read more
Michael Jackson’s former bodyguard planning tell all about superstar’s ‘true personal life’ (Metro)
Michael Jackson’s former bodyguard is planning to talk about his experience working for the superstar for 10 years, in a bid to reveal his ‘true personal life’. Following the release of Leaving Neverland, which saw allegations of child molestation resurface against the singer, Matt Fiddes claims he is one of the few who know the truth about Michael. Speaking out now, he claims he remained silent since working with Michael in a bid to protect the pop star’s much-yearned for privacy. Read more
Avengers: Endgame ‘satisfying’ and ‘glorious’, say critics (BBC)
Critics have been left dazzled by the latest Avengers film, describing it as “glorious”, “irresistible”, “intensely satisfying” and “masterful”. In his five-star review, The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw says the film delivers “a huge sugar rush of excitement”. Empire and the Telegraph both call the film “a victory lap”, while Screen Daily says it is “occasionally superb”. Avengers: Endgame is expected to break box office records when it arrives in cinemas later this week. Read more
Nigeria loses to Guinea in U17 Afcon semifinal (Guardian)
After a goalless regulation time at the semi-final of the U-17 African Cup of Nations against Guinea, the Golden Eaglets fell short in the penalty shootout. With tired legs and huge pressure on their young shoulders as the penalty went further, players from both teams took to the spot. They arrowed exquisite penalties beyond the reach of the goalkeepers until fullback Ogaga Oduko skied the 20th penalty of the shootout for Guinea to win 10-9. The junior Sylis were quick off the block trying to establish their dominance in the opening stages. It took a stretching save from Stephen Sunday to tip Algassime Bah’s long-range effort onto the crossbar in the 10th minute. Read more
NFF appoints Christian Chukwu as “Life Ambassador’’ (Punch)
Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has directed the immediate employment of Emeka Chukwu, the first son of ailing former Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu. This is just as the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick on Wednesday announced the appointment of the former coach as NFF Ambassador. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the appointments came simultaneously when the NFF boss in the company of Ugwuanyi and the Chairman of Otedola Foundation visited Chukwu in his Enugu State residence. Read more
Virgil van Dijk beats Raheem Sterling to win PFA Players’ Player of the Year (Metro)
Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk has beaten Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling to win PFA Players’ Player of the Year, according to reports. The Netherlands international was on a six-man shortlist which included Sterling, Sadio Mane, Eden Hazard, Sergio Aguero and Bernardo Silva. Van Dijk and Sterling were the two favourites from the six candidates after their impressive seasons at Liverpool and City. Read more
La Liga to be Real Madrid’s number one priority next season – Zidane (Guardian)
Zinedine Zidane said on Wednesday La Liga will be Real Madrid’s top priority next season after they were mathematically ruled out of the title race with five games left. Barcelona’s victory over Alaves confirmed that Madrid cannot be crowned champions given they sit 16 points behind the Catalans with only 15 still to play for. Despite incredible success in the Champions League, it means Madrid have now won the Spanish title only once in seven years while Barca is on the cusp of securing their fourth in the last five, and eighth in 11. Read more
Raheem Sterling gives reasons for picking Harry Kane over Virgil van Dijk for Player of the Year (Metro)
Raheem Sterling has gone against the grain and voted for his England teammate Harry Kane as the PFA Player of the Season this year. Sterling himself is a serious contender for the award, while Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk has also received plenty of votes from his fellow players. Kane is not seen as a likely recipient of the award as he has had his worst season in terms of Premier League goals since the 2013/14 season. However, the Man City winger is a firm fan of the Tottenham striker and has backed his outstanding contribution for club and country. Read more
Ribery ruled out of cup semi-final with muscle problem (Guardian)
Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery has pulled out of his side’s German Cup semi-final with Werder Bremen with a muscle problem, the Bundesliga club confirmed on Wednesday. Ribery, 36, decided at short notice not to travel to Bremen for Wednesday’s clash after complaining of “muscular problems”, the club announced on their website. The former French international is expected to end his 12-year Bayern career at the end of this season and is in line to add to his domestic haul of eight league titles and five German Cups before he leaves. Read more
Stuttering Rafael Nadal maintains remarkable record despite dropping first set in Barcelona since 2015 (Metro)
An out-of-sorts Rafael Nadal ensured he didn’t lose back-to-back matches on clay for the first time in his professional career, although he did drop a set to Leonardo Mayer in another concerning display. The 32-year-old had won his last 30 sets in Barcelona but surprisingly found himself a set down against the world No. 63 from Argentina, playing some flat tennis in the process. A loss on the dirt is rare enough for the so-called ‘King of Clay’ but he has never been beaten twice in a row on his favoured surface at tour-level, winning all 45 of his matches following defeat. Read more