Former Nigerian president Shehu Shagari dies (Guardian)
Former Nigerian president, Shehu Shagari, has died at the National Hospital, Abuja, after a brief illness, his grandson and the president of The National Youth Council of Nigeria, Bello Shagari said on Friday evening. He was 93. His death was also confirmed by the governor of his home state of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal. “I regret to announce the death of former President Shehu Shagari who just passed away at National Hospital Abuja,” Tambuwal tweeted. Read more
Shettima convenes emergency security meeting over Boko Haram (Guardian)
Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has convened an emergency security meeting to address incessant Boko Haram attacks in the state. Special Assistant to the governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mallam Isa Gusau, disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri yesterday. “The governor has summoned an emergency extraordinary security meeting to be attended by heads of security establishments, Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), hunters, traditional rulers, elders, senators, House of Representatives members and 28 members of the state House of Assembly,” he said. Read more
FG to mobilise additional security in Zamfara— Dambazau (Vanguard)
Abuja: The Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), has assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s readiness to deploy additional security resources to end the destruction of lives and property in Zamfara. Dambazau gave the assurance in a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Osaigbovo Ehisienmen on Thursday in Abuja. The minister said President Muhammandu Buhari had commiserated with the government and people of Zamfara, following attacks by suspected bandits, which claimed property and lives of innocent Nigerians. Read more
Navy warns politicians against dragging personnel into politics (Vanguard)
Chief of Naval Staff, CNS, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas has warned politicians against dragging naval personnel into politics. Fielding questions from journalists yesterday after commissioning the Remodelled headquarters, Nigerian Naval Ship(NNS Delta), Warri, Delta state, the CNS, who was represented by the Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval command,FOC, Rear Admiral,Suleiman Garba said the Navy will not hesitate to arrest any politician who drags any personnel into politics. He therefore charged Naval personnel and ratings to be apolitical,adding that as military men they should restrict themselves to their constitutional responsibilities. Read more
Eight PDP supporters die in auto crash on way to campaign rally (Nation)
No fewer than eight people were feared dead in a fatal accident involving supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party in Benue State yesterday. The accident occurred on Otukpo- Agatu Road in the state while the party supporters were travelling to Agatu for the flag-off of Abba Morro senatorial campaign for the 2019 elections. Abba Moro, a former Minister of Interior, is the PDP senatorial candidate for Benue South. The accident occurred at about 10 am. An eyewitness said the multiple accident occurred when the tyre of one of the buses conveying some PDP supporters burst and it veered off the road. Read more
Land dispute: Youths desert Anambra community, houses destroyed (Vanguard)
The sleepy town of Igbariam in Anambra East local government area of Anambra State has become a ghost community as youths of the area have run to neighbouring villages for fear of mass arrests by security operatives, who invaded the area following land dispute. No fewer than 16 persons, including an 84 year –old man, are still being detained in the federal capital, Abuja following arrests by people suspected to be members of police special squad. Over seven houses were torched by suspected hoodlums allegedly aided by some security operatives and among the houses torched was that of a permanent secretary in Anambra State, Dr. Edwin Emenike. Read more
Deadly blast hits tour bus in Egypt (BBC)
A roadside blast has killed four people – three Vietnamese tourists and a local tour guide – and injured 12 others on a bus near the Giza pyramids in Egypt, officials say. A bomb hidden beside a wall went off as the bus carrying 14 Vietnamese tourists was passing. Two people were critically wounded, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said. The bus hit the device after it went off its planned route without alerting security forces, Mr Madbouly added. All of the injured are Vietnamese tourists apart from the bus driver, who is Egyptian. Read more
Pennsylvania cop ends armed standoff with White Christmas rendition (BBC)
A successful police negotiator needs some key qualities. Calmness under pressure, a reassuring presence, and a knack for listening to name just a few. But it turns out that a decent singing voice can also come in handy. One Swat team negotiator in the US state of Pennsylvania brought an armed standoff to a close with his version of the festive classic White Christmas. But it is not clear whether the man surrendered due to the perfection or the sheer awfulness of the rendition. The nine-hour standoff began late on Christmas Day when a man in Chester County began behaving erratically and barricaded himself into his home. Read more
We’re looking to build team around Pogba, says Solskjaer (Guardian)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has no doubt Paul Pogba is a player Manchester United can build their team around. France midfielder Pogba’s performances came under intense scrutiny as his relationship with former manager Jose Mourinho seemingly deteriorated prior to the Portuguese’s exit 10 days ago. Mourinho was replaced by Solskjaer, who has taken interim charge until the end of the season and led United to successive wins over Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town, Pogba scoring twice against the latter on Wednesday. Read more
It’s time to resolve Hazard’s future at Chelsea, Sarri advises (Guardian)
Maurizio Sarri believes now is the time for Chelsea to decide on Eden Hazard’s future at the club amid continued speculation. Links with a move to Real Madrid for the Belgium international have persisted, with the winger recently refusing to be drawn on whether he would commit long term to Chelsea and extend a contract that expires at the end of next season. Hazard said he was “just focused on the pitch” after scoring twice in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Watford on Wednesday, the 27-year-old having now scored four goals in his last four games. Read more
Aubameyang is Premier League’s best striker, Guendouzi admits (Guardian)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been the best striker in the Premier League this season and is “perfect” to play with, according to his Arsenal team-mate Matteo Guendouzi. Aubameyang’s goal against Brighton and Hove Albion on Boxing Day took his tally for the season to 13, the most in the division. The Gabon international also has three assists to his name and Guendouzi, who has become a regular in his first campaign at Emirates Stadium, lavished praise on the former Borussia Dortmund talisman. Read more
Man arrested for robbery three weeks after winning N4m lottery (Punch)
The Bayelsa State Police Command has paraded two suspected armed robbers caught while trying to steal from bank customers during the Christmas celebrations in Yenagoa. One of the suspects was said to have won a jackpot of N4m from a popular football lottery firm about three weeks earlier, before he was arrested over his involvement in armed robbery. According to sources, the suspect was also a popular member of a cult in the area. The sources, who said they were surprised by the development, noted that they were expecting the young man to use the money he had won to start a business or trade. Read more
Policeman sues son for smashing television (Punch)
The son of one of Britain’s police and crime commissioners has been jailed after his father decided he had no choice but to press charges after he destroyed his TV during a drunken rampage. Sherinder Dhindsa picked up a £400 (about N184,000) LED smart TV in the bedroom of his parents’ house in Allestree, Derby, and threw it at a radiator, smashing it to pieces. His father, Hardyal Dhindsa, who became the PCC for Derbyshire in 2016, said he and his wife had no choice but to pursue a prosecution as it was the latest in a string of alcohol-fuelled incidents involving their son. Read more
Court remands guard for allegedly beating colleague to death (Punch)
A Lagos magistrate’s court sitting in Ebute Meta on Friday ordered that a security guard, Usman Abdulkareem, be remanded at the Ikoyi Prison for allegedly killing his colleague. The presiding magistrate, Mrs A. Kusanu, said the defendant would remain in prison custody pending the outcome of legal advice by the State Directorate of Public Prosecutions. Abdulkareem, who is being tried for murder, was alleged to have hit his colleague, Augustine Musa, whom he accused of gossiping about him. Read more