Dealing with cultism in Ilasamaja community (Guardian)
The rate of cultism among youths in Ilasamaja, a community in Lagos has increased drastically lately, as some parents are allegedly aiding their children in this nefarious act. The one question that is on most residents’ lips is “why are they joining even though they know their life span will be cut short?
Most of them often end up being shot dead or butchered, while those that escaped or managed to live are left with liver injury, either blinded or crippled, yet they never learn their lessons, as more are still joining.
On Sunday, December 15, 2019 hell was let loose when a cult gang later discovered as Supreme Eiye Confraternity (Airlords) killed two members of their rival cult group, the Aiye Confraternity (Black Axe). Read more
Police exhume remains of LASU undergrad (Punch)
The corpse of a Lagos State University student, Favour Daley-Oladele, murdered by her lover, Owolabi Adeeko and a pastor, Segun Philip, in Ikoyi-Ile, Osun State, was on Saturday exhumed by homicide detectives from the state police command.
The state Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, who led the team that exhumed the corpse, said the move would enable the police to conclude investigation into the case.
While responding to questions from newsmen, Philip, said he killed the deceased to experiment what he read in ‘Seven Book of Moses.’
Philip, who was led around the scene of the crime alongside other two suspects, Adeeko, and his mother, said it was his first time of killing human being. Read more
NERC denies increase in electricity tariff as consumer groups kick (Guardian)
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says no tariff increase has been approved by the commission yet.
Mr Usman Arabi, General Manager, Public Affairs (NERC) made the clarification in a statement issued on the agency’s website, obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday.
Arabi said :” The attention of the NERC has been drawn to the publication in several electronic and print media that end-user electricity tariffs have been increased following the approval of the minor review (2016 – 2018) of the 2015 Multi Year Tariff Order on Aug. 21, 2019. Read more
Kano: Hisbah officials arrest 50 suspected homosexuals (NewTelegraph)
Hisbah officials in Kano have busted a commemoration party allegedly organised by homosexuals.
The Sharia Law enforcement operatives invaded a compound located at Sabuwar-Gandu quarters in Kano metropolis, where the suspected homosexuals were apprehended, prior to the commencement of the planned event.
Our Correspondent learnt that the organisers of the party were new grandaunts who planned the grove to commemorate their graduation from a tertiary institution. Each of them was said to have invited their same sex partners to the event. Read more
Why Jos has lowest temperature of 6.7 degree Celsius- NCRS (DailyTrust)
The chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong Jet streams; rapidly moving air that moves at the upper level of the atmosphere, northeast trade wind otherwise referred to as harmattan and coupled with the altitude of Jos, the Plateau State capital has made the city the coldest in the country with temperatures as low as 6.7 degree Celsius, the National Centre for Remote Sensing stated on Friday. Temperatures in Jos and parts of the north and central parts of Plateau State dropped to 9 degree Celsius on New Year’s Day and has continued to drop in the early hours of Friday morning, sparking heightened lamentations from residents across the state.
“Water from the taps are extremely cold, we have to warm it before drinking. Sachet water, when bought from vendors is cold and you would have thought they were refrigerated,” said Ibrahim Pam, a Civil Servant in the state. Read more
Al-Shabab militants attack Kenya and US military base (BBC)
The Islamist militant group al-Shabab has attacked a military base used by Kenyan and US forces in the popular Kenyan coastal region of Lamu.
Witnesses reported hearing gunfire and seeing plumes of black smoke emerge from Camp Simba on Manda Island.
Kenya’s military said the insurgents had been driven out of the base, but the US Africa Command said the security situation remained “fluid”.
Al-Shabab is linked to al-Qaeda and is headquartered in neighbouring Somalia. Read more
Iraq votes to expel all US and UK forces as tensions escalate (Metro)
Iraq’s parliament has voted in favour of a resolution calling for an end to foreign military presence in the country. Foreign forces should also be banned from using Iraqi land, airspace or water for any reason, the parliament in Baghdad said. They are calling on the country’s government to end the agreement by which the US could send forces to Iraq more than four years ago, to fight against Isis. It comes after Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US drone attack nearBaghdad Airport. The majority of about 180 legislators present in Parliament voted in favor of the resolution, which is not binding. Read more
China pneumonia: Sars ruled out as dozens fall ill in Wuhan (BBC)
A mysterious viral pneumonia that has infected dozens in central China is not Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars), health chiefs have said.
They also discounted bird flu and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, and said investigations were continuing.
A total of 59 cases have been reported in the city of Wuhan, seven of which are considered critical. Read more
Six dead and 11 injured as car ploughs into tourists in Italy (Metro)
Six people were killed and 11 injured when a car ploughed into a group of young German tourists in northern Italy. The deadly crash occurred in Luttach, also known as Lutago, near Bolzano in the Alto Adige region, shortly after 1am. It came as the Germans were gathering to board their bus. The regional president of Alto Adige, Arno Kompatscher, said: ‘The new year begins with a terrible tragedy. We are left stunned.’ Read more
‘Iran hacks US government website’ warning ‘this is just the beginning’ (Metro)
A US government website has been targeted by hackers claiming to be from Iran. The website for the Federal Depository Library Program, fdlp.gov, showed a picture of Donald Trump being punched in the face, along with a message from ‘the Islamic Republic of Iran’. Below the President’s bleeding face were the words ‘Hacked by Iran Cyber Security Group Hackers’ and ‘this is only a small part of Iran’s cyber ability’. The chilling warning said ‘martyrdom was (Suleimani’s)… reward for years of implacable efforts’. Read more
Stars gather in Hollywood for Golden Globes (BBC)
The 77th Golden Globe Awards take place in Los Angeles, California on Sunday evening.
The awards, which celebrate excellence in film and television, are dished out on behalf of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) – who’ll be hoping to set the agenda once again ahead of next month’s Oscars (they usually aren’t far wrong).
And despite it being #DryJanuary for some, many Tinseltown stars have traditionally been known to enjoy a drink or three on the night, making for interesting viewing.
But if you don’t have an invitation (or even a tuxedo) then don’t worry, as we’re about to tell you what you need to know. Read more
Suleiman eyes clean sheet against Lobi (Punch)
Sunshine Stars goalkeeper, Soliu Suleiman, is targeting his fourth clean sheet of the season when the Akure Gunners face second-placed Lobi Stars in a match day 12 league fixture at the Aper Aku Stadium.
Hosts Lobi Stars will be hoping to return to winning was as soon as possible after they fell by a lone goal to Akwa United in their last league fixture a week ago.
Sunshine Stars failed to beat Dakada FC in their last game which ended 1-1 and having moved past the disappointment of the result, Suleman has set his sights on getting a clean sheet against Lobi away from home.
“I wanted clean sheet (against Dakada). Now, I have three clean sheets when I ought to have had six or seven. Read more
Australia fires: Ashleigh Barty to donate Brisbane prize money to relief fund (BBC)
Australian world number one Ashleigh Barty will donate all of her prize money from the Brisbane International to the bushfire relief fund.
The event offers a pot of 1,434,900 Australian dollars (£763,300).
“There are a lot of bigger things going on in Australia right now that we need to take care of,” Barty said.
Five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova says she plans to donate an initial A$25,000 and asked men’s world number two Novak Djokovic to match it. Read more
Man Utd make contact with Wolves duo Raul Jimenez and Ruben Neves over double January transfer deal (Metro)
Manchester United have made contact with Raul Jimenez and Ruben Neves as they eye a double January transfer deal for the Wolves duo. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is expected to welcome one or two new signings to Old Trafford this month, with Ed Woodward ready to back the inexperienced manager despite United’s struggles this term. After a dismal start to the 2019-20 campaign, Manchester United appeared to be turning a corner last month, only to lose to bottom-placed Watford and rivals Arsenal over the festive period. United are keen to sign Raul Jimenez from Wolves (Picture: Getty) The Red Devils are currently fifth in the Premier League – five points below fourth-placed Chelsea – and Woodward is ready to splash the cash to boost United’s top-four hopes. Read more
Tournament of Champions: Xander Schauffele leads Justin Thomas by a shot (BBC)
Xander Schauffele will take a one-stroke lead over fellow American Justin Thomas into Sunday’s final round of the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.
In strong winds, the defending champion and overnight leader shot a two-under-par 71 to sit on 11 under.
His nearest challenger Thomas carded a 67, with Gary Woodland in third on eight under after his 69.
American Patrick Reed and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann both went round in 73 to fall back to seven under. Read more
Ghana FA: Why we sacked our coaches (Nation)
THE Ghana FA says it took the decision to remove all of its national team coaches with the Black Stars’ fixture schedule in mind.
Ghana’s Football Association (GFA) says it removed all its national team coaches, at all levels of the game, “in line with the vision” of the GFA’s new administration and is now “evaluating the situation.”
The GFA has been under new leadership since October, following a year under the control of a normalisation committee.
The announcement confirmed the departure of Kwesi Appiah as Black Stars’ coach, but the GFA say his contract had already come to an end. Read more
Liverpool new-boy Takumi Minamino smashes Japanese TV gameshow volley record (Metro)
New Liverpool signing Takumi Minamino gave Liverpool fans an exciting taste of what they can expect as he set a new ‘Volley Shot Challenge’ record on a Japanese TV gameshow. The 24-year-old swapped Red Bull Salzburg for Anfield this month, with Liverpool securing a bargain £7.25million deal – and he is in contention to make his debut in Sunday’s FA Cup clash with Merseyside rivals Everton. Minamino impressed in both his appearances against Liverpool in the Champions League, but his outing on Honoo-no Taiiku-kai TV has really got fans talking. The gameshow sees professional sports men and women take on challenges, often against the public, with the likes of Ronda Rousey, Lionel Messi and Neymar all appearing on the show. Read more
Zlatan Ibrahimovic statue sawn off at ankles and toppled in Malmo (BBC)
Vandals have toppled a statue of former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic by sawing it off at the ankles.
The statue, which is outside Malmo’s stadium in Sweden, previously had its nose cut off after Ibrahimovic invested in a rival club in December.
The damage was discovered at 3.30am local time on Sunday, and there was graffiti reading “take away”, written in Swedish, next to the statue.
Ibrahimovic, 38, made his professional debut for Malmo 20 years ago. Read more
Anthony Joshua is not opposed to letting one of his belts go (Metro)
Anthony Joshua is unconcerned by the prospect of having to give up one of his world heavyweight title belts, insisting he’ll just get it back again. AJ’s comprehensive victory over Andy Ruiz in their rematch in December saw him regain the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight straps. While his impressive collection of gold looks great, it is a headache for his promoter and matchmaker, Eddie Hearn, with the IBF and WBO both enforcing mandatories already on the Brit. The IBF want Joshua to take on Kubrat Pulev next, while the WBO have declared he should fight Oleksandr Usyk meaning he could be stripped of a belt for any mandatory he doesn’t fulfill. Read more
Martin gives Derby shock win at Crystal Palace (BBC)
Chris Martin’s close-range strike gave Derby County a shock FA Cup third-round win at Premier League Crystal Palace.
Rams striker Martin scored the only goal for the Championship side just after the half-hour at Selhurst Park.
Palace had captain Luka Milivojevic sent off after referee Michael Oliver consulted a pitchside monitor following a video assistant referee (VAR) check.
Milivojevic had originally been shown a yellow card after a tussle with Derby’s Tom Huddlestone. Read more
Etebo’s move from Stoke City not completed (Nation)
Getafe boss Jose Bordalas admitted there could be last-minute setbacks as they look to complete the transfer of Oghenekaro Etebo from Stoke City.
Both clubs are reportedly in talks over the signing of the Nigeria international on a loan until the end of the season with an option to make the deal permanent.
Ahead of Saturday’s La Liga fixture against Real Madrid, Bordalas conceded Etebo’s return to Spain is imminent but not confirmed yet.
“The arrival of Etebo is not 100% closed. There can always be last-minute setbacks and that is why I prefer to be cautious,” Bordalas told the media. Read more