Doctor laments as car disappears in Abuja market (Punch)
An Abuja-based medical doctor, Gabriel Adedoyin, has urged the police to help find his car following its disappearance from the Tako Market in the Federal Capital Territory.
The 25-year-old doctor and graphic artist told our correspondent that he was coming back from church when he parked at the entrance to the market so that he could purchase some items.
Adedoyin said when he was done, his red Totoya Corolla car with number plate BWR285TT was no longer where he parked it.
According to him, his laptop, tablet, €200 and other personal effects were inside the vehicle. Read more
FESTAC land allottees to take possession 30 years after (Guardian)
Following outrage over Sunday’s demolition of illegal structures in FESTAC Town, Lagos State, by officials of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), the public has been urged to show sympathy to the allottees rather than owners of demolished structures.
Some of the allottees have died without getting access to their land while people ripped them off by making money on their land for almost 30 years.
The Guardian learnt that the demolition, which started around 5.00a.m. and continued till around 3.00 p.m, affected about 12 churches and two mosques on 2nd Avenue, as well as automobile shops and workshops and markets.
Some leaders of the affected churches had queried the marking of their structures stressing that they had been there for long. For example, the leader of the Gate of Righteousness Evangelical International Church, Pastor Joshua Obong, claimed that he started his ministry in the community 18 years ago and wondered why his church was targeted for demolition. Read more
Tipper lorry drivers condemn alleged extortion by Lagos ministry officials (Punch)
Tipper lorry drivers from the Progressive Tipper Garage along the LASU-Ojo Road in the Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State have protested the alleged extortion and seizure of their vehicles by some officials of the state Ministry of Transportation.
PUNCH Metro gathered from the tipper lorry drivers that the ministry officials in charge of towing abandoned vehicles, were impounding their tipper lorries that were still in good conditions and taking them to the Vehicle Inspection Service office in Alausa, Ikeja.
One of the drivers, Sharafah Olabisi, told PUNCH Metro that his vehicle was towed away at midnight from where it was parked, adding that the engine and gear were damaged in the process.
He added that he paid N250,000 to recover the vehicle and spent N650,000 to repair the damaged parts. Read more
Lagos, Kano lead as INEC creates 56,872 new polling units (NewTelegraph)
Lagos and Kano states have been given the lion’s share in the newly created 56, 872 polling units by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). While Lagos was allocated 4, 861 polling units, Kano State was given 3, 148 polling units. Ekiti State, however, has the least with 250 polling units, followed by Bayelsa with 440 polling units.
The statistics further showed that the 19 Northern states and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have a total of 31, 196 polling units while the 17 Southern states were allocated 25, 676 polling units. The new polling units have brought the number of polling units in Nigeria to 176, 846. Read more
Encomiums as Adedoyin, composer of national pledge, goes home (Guardian)
It was encomiums galore for Professor Felicia Adebola Adeyoyin, the late composer of the national pledge, as eminent Nigerians gathered to pay tributes to the literary colossus.
Apart from her educational prowess, Adedoyin’s uncommon desire to impact on others, including the underprivileged, endeared her to the heart of many people.
The majority of those at the event said she lived an unforgettable life. President, Ladies Crusaders, Yaba Baptist Church, Chief Mrs. Awotokun, who spoke on behalf of the society, described the late Felicia as a staunch member and pillar of the society, who distinguished herself in so many ways. Read more
Police arrest 8 suspects for kidnapping, homicide in Kaduna (Vanguard)
The Police Command in Kaduna State, said its operatives have arrested eight suspects involved in criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, and culpable homicide.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige announced this at a press briefing on Wednesday in Kaduna.
He explained that the eight suspects were arrested in three separate incidents of kidnappings.
The police spokesman said that in one of the cases, the victim was killed and his body dumped into a well. Read more
Man plots fiancée’s murder over N14m, promises killer-herbalist N5m (Punch)
The police on Wednesday paraded 36 suspects, including a female, in connection with various crimes in different locations in the country.
The suspects were arrested for allegedly committing crimes ranging from armed robbery, homicide and kidnapping to rape, car theft and unlawful possession of arms among others.
Among those paraded was Christopher Akpan, 54, the alleged killer of a 45-year-old National Security and Civil Defence Corps officer, identified as Josephine Cynthia.
Mba said, “Akpan had promised to marry Josephine. In the course of the relationship, a lot of financial dealings took place and it is believed Josephine handed a large chunk of money to Akpan. Read more
Police confirm abduction of 2 Chinese in Taraba (Leadership)
Taraba State Police Command yesterday confirmed the abduction of two Chinese miners and killing of one person at Arufu village in Wukari local government area of Taraba State.
Two people, including a police officer, were reportedly killed on Monday night by gunmen who attacked a mining site at the Arufu village.
But the two abducted Chinese were said to be working on the mining site which is operated by H&H Mining Company.
The police public relation officer Taraba State Command DSP David Misar confirmed the kidnap incident, noting that the police is doing everything to rescue the Chinese.
“Reports from Arufu Community in Wukari LGA, indicate that, on the 14/06/2021 unidentified gunmen invaded Chinese mining site in Arufu area, kidnapped 2 Chinese Nationals killing one person in the process. Read more
Shenzhou-12: China launches first crew to new space station (BBC)
China has launched three astronauts into orbit to begin occupation of the country’s new space station.
The three men – Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo – are to spend three months aboard the Tianhe module some 380km (236 miles) above the Earth.
It will be China’s longest crewed space mission to date and the first in nearly five years.
On Thursday, their Shenzhou-12 capsule successfully took off atop its Long March 2F rocket. Read more
Hostage incidents at UK prisons saw staff attacked and inmates held at knife-point (Metro)
Shocking hostage incidents at British jails have included teachers being seized and a lifer holding a blade to another prisoner’s throat.
Victims were also attacked with weapons and in one case an inmate was tied up and placed underneath a bed, newly-released files show.
Details of 12 incidents over the past year have been released after a Freedom of Information Act request by Metro.co.uk.
In some instances, local prison staff had to call in national reinforcements as they spent hours trying to defuse siege and hostage situations. Read more
Biden and Putin praise Geneva summit talks but discord remains (BBC)
The presidents of the US and Russia have praised their talks in Geneva but have made little concrete progress at the first such meeting since 2018.
Disagreements were stated, said US President Joe Biden, but not in a hyperbolic way, and he said Russia did not want a new Cold War.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Mr Biden was an experienced statesman and the two “spoke the same language”.
The talks lasted around three hours, less time than was scheduled. Read more
NASA assembles £13.18b ‘megarocket’ Space Launch System ahead of moon launch in November (Metro)
NASA has put the finishing touches on its next-generation ‘megarocket’, the £13.18 billion Space Launch System (SLS), which will ferry astronauts to the moon and back in 2024.
Set for its first test launch in November of this year, SLS will propel the unmanned Orion capsule past the moon and back, as part of Nasa’s lunar Artemis missions.
Last week, Nasa engineers lowered the 212ft long core stage to rest between two booster rockets, the first time the rocket has been in its launch configuration since the project’s announcement in 2011.
The finished set-up, which required a specialised crane to lift the 85 ton core stage, now sits ready for launch in Nasa’s Florida spaceport’s iconic Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). Read more
Hong Kong police raid top pro-democracy paper, arrest 5 (BBC)
Hong Kong police arrested the editor-in-chief and four other executives of pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily on Thursday, on suspicion of violating the national security law.
Apple Daily is owned by media mogul Jimmy Lai, who was also arrested and jailed on a string of charges.
Apple Daily is known to be critical of Beijing’s leadership.
Dozens of prominent activists have been arrested since the national security law was introduced last year. Read more
Cardi B reveals she still hasn’t watched her Fast and Furious 9 scenes (Metro)
Cardi B is super excited to watch herself in action after filming her cameo in the highly-anticipated Fast and Furious 9 movie.
Tuesday saw a new featurette reveal that the WAP hitmaker plays a character named Leysa, who is described as a ‘woman with a connection to Dom’s past’.
Taking to Twitter after the clip dropped, the 28-year-old couldn’t hide her excitement as she told fans: ‘I can’t wait to watch Fast and furious 9. I haven’t seen my scenes yet!
‘That’s the best part about it thooo watching the movie then you see yourself coming in. I’m sooo proud of myself. GOD IS GOOD! Can I get a ALL THE TIME? !!!!’ Read more
Sergio Ramos: Spain defender set to leave Real Madrid after 16 years (BBC)
Sergio Ramos is set to leave Real Madrid after the club announced a “farewell” news conference for their long-serving captain on Thursday.
Ramos, 35, has won five La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues in a glittering Real career after joining from boyhood club Sevilla in 2005.
The centre-back made 671 appearances, scoring 101 goals.
The club say they will hold the news conference as an “institutional act of tribute and farewell”. Read more
Okagbare, Brume, Amusan others storm Lagos for Olympics trials (Punch)
Blessing Okagbare, Ese Bume and Tobi Amusan are among the overseas-based athletes who are at the Yaba College of Technology for the National Trials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.
The trials, which starts on Thursday (today), would be used to select athletes who would represent Nigeria at the Olympics, while those who are yet to meet the Olympics qualification standards also have the opportunity to do so at the event.
Our correspondent gathered that US-based Favour Ofili, Dotun Ogundeji, Sade Olatoye, Cici Onyekwere, Ashley Anumba and Annette Echikunwoke are also in Lagos.
Asides the overseas-based athletes, local athletes are also in Lagos for the trials.
Grace Nwokocha, the only home-based athlete who has qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, would feature in the 100m and 200m women’s events. Read more
England defender Harry Maguire declares himself fit for Scotland showdown (Metro)
Harry Maguire says he is fit and available for England’s Euro 2020 clash against Scotland on Friday after recovering from an ankle injury.
The 28-year-old hasn’t featured since sustaining ankle ligament damage while playing for Manchester United on May 9.
Although he returned to full England training last week, Maguire was left out of Gareth Southgate’s 23-man selection for Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Croatia.
Southgate will be looking to make it two wins from two on Friday
Southgate will be looking to make it two wins from two on Friday (Picture: Getty Images)
But the centre-back is targeting a return to action for the Three Lions in their second group stage match against Scotland at Wembley. Read more
Romain Grosjean: Frenchman’s Mercedes test drive postponed (BBC)
Romain Grosjean’s one-off return to Formula 1 following his fiery crash at last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix has been postponed.
The Frenchman, 35, had been scheduled to test for Mercedes at France’s Paul Ricard circuit next week.
Mercedes said on Wednesday that the test had been “postponed because of travel restrictions and quarantine requirements”.
The team said they were “committed” to the plan and working to reschedule it. Read more
Italy cruise into Euro 2020 last 16 as Wales close on knockouts (Guardian)
Italy became the first team to reach the knockout stage of Euro 2020 as midfielder Manuel Locatelli scored twice in a 3-0 win over Switzerland in Rome on Wednesday, while Wales moved to the brink of joining them by beating Turkey.
The Azzurri, now unbeaten in 29 matches and having won their last 10 games without conceding a goal, sit first in Group A and are guaranteed a top-two finish and last-16 berth.
“We played well, we wanted to win at all costs,” Italy coach Roberto Mancini told RAI.
“They started well, it was not easy to win a second game in five days.” Read more
Roger Federer ‘unhappy’ with Wimbledon warm-up defeat (Metro)
Roger Federer’s Wimbledon preparations suffered a blow on Wednesday as he was knocked out of a tune-up event in Halle – and he was bitterly disappointed with his performance.
Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam champion from Switzerland, was a second-round casualty in Germany, falling to Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime.
The 39-year-old led by a set before Auger-Aliassime – who was born on the same day as Federer, albeit 19 years later – clawed his way back into the tie before dominating the third set.It was the biggest age gap Federer – a 10-time winner of the Noventi Open – has faced in his 1,521 career matches but he suffered a first defeat in 33 matches in the first and second rounds at the grass-court event after an hour and 45 minutes. Read more