Four feared killed as cultists turn Lagos communities to battlefields (Punch)
There is palpable fear in Oworonshoki and Gbagada areas of Lagos State during the week as fresh violent clashes broke out in the neighbourhoods between two rival cult groups – Eiye and Aye confraternities. It was learnt that the renewed hostilities began last Sunday evening and lingered until Wednesday, claiming four lives. A trader at Fogo Junction, Iyana Owonroshoki, identified only as Iya Igbo, was said to be one of the victims. She was reportedly hacked to death by cult members who exploited the fights to rob innocent people. Read more
Corruption will be tackled in the judiciary, says acting CJ Tsoho (Nation)
The newly sworn-in Acting Chief Judge (CJ) of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has expressed his views on how anti-graft war in the judiciary can be a success. Tsoho spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)after he was sworn in as acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad, in Abuja. There have been reports about corruption allegation rocking the country’s judicial system. Read more
FG petitions South African authorities over attack on ex-BBA housemate, Tayo Faniran (Punch)
Following an attack by two South African policemen on a former Big Brother Africa housemate, Mr Tayo Faniran, the Consular-General of Nigerian High Commission in Johannesburg, Mr Godwin Adama, has petitioned the South African authorities. The Nigerian Mission is pressing for a case against the brutality of the policemen who were seen in a viral video forcefully putting handcuffs on their victim. The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa said in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, that the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, the agency in South Africa which deals with cases involving police officers, has commenced work on the petition. Read more
Nigeria’s bad image scaring investors, says ministerial nominee (Nation)
Dr Isa Pantami, a ministerial nominee has said that many investors are scared of investing in the country’s IT sector because the nation’s image has been badly portrayed, especially in the media. The nominee, who is currently the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) said this while responding to questions from lawmakers during his screening at the National Assembly on Friday in Abuja. Pantami was nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari along other 42 nominees that will constitute the federal cabinet. Read more
Kaduna to integrate Almajiri schools into formal education —Commissioner (Punch)
Alhaji Shehu Muhammad-Makarfi, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Education has said that the state government will integrate Almajiri schools into the state’s formal education system. He made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria while inspecting 2018/2019 Common Entrance Examination in Zaria zone on Saturday. NAN reports that the commissioner visited Barewa College, Science Secondary School, Kufena and Alhudahuda College, Zaria. Read more
Air Peace pilot breaks silence on burst tyre incident (Nation)
Four days after an Air Peace Boeing 737- 300 made emergency landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Pilot – in – Command of the flight, Captain Simisola Ajibola on Saturday broke silence on the matter debunking claims that she landed the airplane without tyres. Speaking in an interview with The Nation, in Lagos, Ajibola said the tyre of the aircraft only pulled off after the nose wheel of the aircraft collapsed following hard landing. Read more
Downpour submerges vehicles, halts commercial activities in Owerri (Punch)
Downpour in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Friday submerged vehicles and halted commercial activities. The downpour which lasted over two hours unsettled activities in the metropolis as many traders scampered for safety. Areas affected by the flood were Bank road, Mbari, Douglas, Akwakuma, Orji, Control post and Item street. Read more
Poverty, unemployment causes of Boko Haram insurgency – Gov. Zulum (Guardian)
Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has identified poverty and unemployment as major causes of Boko Haram insurgency in the state. Zulum stated this during the inauguration of a micro credit facility and cash disbursement to petty traders, perishable sellers and retailers at Custom Market, Maiduguri, on Saturday. He said that poverty and unemployment were the main causes of the insurgency and security challenges facing the state. Read more
Oluwo writes open letter to Buhari over insecurity (Nation)
The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, Telu I, has written an open letter to President Mohammad Buhari over security challenges facing the nation. In the letter released to the press, the first class monarch said he was compelled to write Mr. President because of the fragile moment and a threat to the nation’s peace and unity. Read more
Police recovers 500 animals from bandits (Guardian)
The Police Command in Katsina State said on Saturday that it had recovered 500 animals from bandits in Safana Local Government Area of the state. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), SP Gambo Isah, and made available to newsmen on Saturday in Katsina. “A group of bandits numbering 200 on motorcycles with dangerous weapons invaded and attacked residents of both Sabon-Garin-Baure and Baure communities simultaneously two days ago. Read more
We’re not intimidated by threat to relocate FUTO- Host communities (Nation)
Host communities of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), have described the recent claim of hostility against the institution by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono, as a ploy to blackmail and intimidate the communities to abandon the ownership of their lands and legitimate demands. The Federal Government had on Friday, threatened to relocate FUTO over encroachment of the University’s land by the host communities, which it said will no longer be tolerated. Read more
Sudan to charge eight military officers over deadly crackdown (BBC)
Eight senior military officers are to be charged in Sudan with crimes against humanity over their alleged part in the killing of protesters on 3 June. Government prosecutors announced the charges after investigating the massacre, when at least 87 people died in the capital, Khartoum. Opposition activists say the number of deaths was closer to 130. The prosecutors’ findings did not satisfy some opposition activists, and there are reports of new protests. Read more
State funeral for Tunisia’s Essebsi as new polls loom (Punch)
French President Emmanuel Macron and other foreign leaders attended Friday the funeral of Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi as the North African nation gears up for snap elections as early as September to defend the democratic gains of the Arab Spring. Essebsi, the country’s first head of state elected in nationwide polls, died Thursday at the age of 92, triggering fears of political unrest in a country seen as a rare success story following the Arab Spring uprisings. Read more
14 killed in jihadist attack in Burkina Faso (Guardian)
Armed men described as jihadists raided a village in Burkina Faso’s restive north, killing 14 people, plundering and burning shops and motorbikes, local and security sources said Saturday. The raid took place on the night of Thursday to Friday with “around 20 individuals attacking the village of Diblou and killing 14 people,” a security source said. “The terrorists burnt shops and motorcycles. Almost the entire market was looted,” a local resident said. Read more
HK police fire tear gas at unauthorised protest (BBC)
Hong Kong police have fired tear gas at an unauthorised protest held by tens of thousands of people to condemn an attack by armed masked men last week. As a small group of protesters refused to disperse in the northern district of Yuen Long, police fired rubber bullets. The demonstration took place where pro-democracy protesters had been attacked by suspected triad gang members. Read more
Ten soldiers killed in two separate incidents in Pakistan (Guardian)
Ten Pakistani soldiers were killed by militants Saturday in two separate incidents in the country’s northwestern and southwestern provinces, the military said. Six soldiers patrolling near the Afghan border were killed in North Waziristan district when militants opened fire from the Afghan side, according to the military. Separately, the army said four paramilitary troops were killed in the southwestern province of Balochistan during an operation against militants. Read more
Russia protests: Police arrest hundreds at Moscow rally (BBC)
Police in the Russian capital Moscow have detained some 300 people at an unauthorised protest against the exclusion of many opposition candidates from forthcoming local elections. Protesters were dragged away from the city hall while others were corralled into nearby streets. Some of the barred prospective candidates were detained earlier as police carried out searches. Read more
Israeli Arab parties unite for September election (Guardian)
Leading Israeli-Arab parties said on Saturday they had formed an alliance to fight in September’s general election, the latest merger of smaller parties seeking to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Lawmaker Ayman Odeh, whose mainly-Arab Hadash party is already in alliance with Arab Taal, said they had been joined by the Raam party and would run under the name of the Joint List, as they did in the 2015 election. Read more
Romania police chief sacked after teen ‘killed by kidnapper’ (BBC)
Romania’s interior minister has fired the chief of police after the murder of a teenage girl whose repeated emergency calls went unheeded for hours. The 15-year-old was abducted on Wednesday, but managed to make three calls and give officers details about where she was being held. Her family say officers did not take her calls seriously, while police say they had difficulty tracing her them. The girl is thought to have died at the hands of her captor. Read more
Two US teenagers arrested over killing of Italian police officer (Guardian)
Two US teenagers appeared at a court hearing in Rome on Saturday after being arrested over the murder of an Italian police officer whose death has sparked a national outcry. Officer Mario Rega Cerciello died after being stabbed eight times as he and a colleague tried to arrest two men following a complaint about theft. Cerciello, 35, had only recently returned from his honeymoon. Read more
Police find ‘Frankenstein’ human with woman’s head sewn onto male body (Metro)
The FBI say they were sickened to find a ‘Frankenstein monster’, after discovering a woman’s head had been sewn onto a male torso. The agents made the gruesome discovery during a raid on a body donation centre. The body was reportedly found hanging from a wall in the Biological Resource Centre, in Arizona, US. Read more
FIFA U-20 Female W/Cup: Obaseki assures Edo is prepared to host world (Nation)
Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has said that the state is ready to host the world as the international football governing body, FIFA, commences tour of facilities in Nigeria’s bid to host the 2020 Under-20 female soccer fiesta. According to Obaseki, “We are delighted at the endorsements of our facilities by the visiting FIFA delegation led by FIFA Consultant, Mainasarawa Illo. “Edo State is the heartbeat of Nigeria, we made our mark in sports several decades ago and we are setting the stage to bring back those glorious years of leading in all sporting activities, with our huge investment in the sector.” Read more
Nicolas Pepe: Arsenal agree £72m deal for Lille winger (BBC)
Arsenal have reached an agreement with French club Lille to sign Ivory Coast winger Nicolas Pepe in a deal worth 80m euros (£72m). The Gunners will pay for the 24-year-old via a series of instalments that suit their restricted budget for this summer. An agreement between Arsenal and Pepe’s representatives still needs to be finalised. But the transfer is expected to be completed in the next 24 to 48 hours. Read more
Inter edge Neymar-less PSG on penalties (Guardian)
Portuguese midfielder Joao Mario scored the final spot-kick as Inter Milan beat Neymar-less Paris Saint-Germain on penalties in Macau on Saturday. With their want-away Brazilian superstar left out of the trip to the former Portuguese colony, PSG were seconds from victory before Samuele Longo’s injury-time equaliser made it 1-1. Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic saved from Adil Aouchiche and then Arthur Zagre before Mario stepped up to slot the winner for Inter, who edged the penalties 6-5. Read more
Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku drops cryptic transfer hint (Metro)
Romelu Lukaku teased Manchester United fans by posting a picture alongside his agent Federico Pastorello with the caption ‘soon to be continued’. The Belgium international’s future has been the subject of intense speculation all summer with Inter and Juventus vying for his services. Lukaku fell down the pecking order at Old Trafford last season once Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replace Jose Mourinho and has played no part in United’s pre-season campaign. Read more
Vermaelen signs for Japanese side Vissel Kobe (Guardian)
Belgian international defender Thomas Vermaelen has become the latest high profile player to move to Vissel Kobe, the Japanese club announced on Saturday. The 33-year-old, whose contract with Barcelona has now expired, will team up with David Silva, Lucas Podolski and his former Barca captain Andres Iniesta. Vermaelen, who is reported to have turned down an offer to join Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht, passed his medical and visited the club’s training complex. Read more
Lazio boss accepts Sergej Milinkovic-Savic exit as Manchester United close in on £90m transfer (Metro)
Lazio manager Simone Inzaghi wants Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to stay but accepts his side may be forced to sell, with Manchester United closing in on a £90million transfer. Reports in Italy claim the Serbia international is on the verge of a move to Old Trafford, with only add-ons left to be agreed between the two clubs. And Inzaghi confessed Lazio may be forced to sell the 24-year-old midfielder – who is thought to be a direct replacement for Paul Pogba – in another sign that he’s on his way to the Premier League. Read more
Lewis Hamilton on German GP pole as both Ferraris break down (BBC)
Lewis Hamilton beat Max Verstappen to pole position at the German Grand Prix as the Ferraris hit technical problems. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc looked favourite for pole but was unable to take part in the top-10 shootout. And team-mate Sebastian Vettel will start last after a turbo problem meant he failed to set a time and will start last on the grid for Sunday’s race. Read more
Shayna Jack: Australian swimmer tests positive for banned substance (BBC)
Australian swimmer Shayna Jack tested positive for a banned substance before the World Aquatics Championships, Swimming Australia has said. Jack, 20, who withdrew from the championships on 14 July, says she “did not take the substance knowingly”. The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority found an adverse result in an out-of-competition test on 26 June. Read more
Tour de France 2019: Egan Bernal set to win from Geraint Thomas (BBC)
Egan Bernal is poised to become the first Colombian to win the Tour de France after finishing Saturday’s penultimate stage in the yellow jersey. Race tradition dictates that the race leader is not challenged on Sunday’s final stage to Paris. Bernal, 22, will become the youngest Tour winner for 110 years, with Ineos team-mate Geraint Thomas in second. Dutchman Steven Kruijswijk moved up to third as Julian Alaphilippe faded on an Alpine stage won by Vincenzo Nibali. Read more