Gunmen kill 8, injure 3 in Imo community (Nation)
A devastating attack by unknown gunmen on Saturday evening left eight people dead in the Umuchoke Okwe community of the Onuimo Local Government Area (LGA) in Imo State.
The victims were attending a village meeting when the hoodlums stormed the location and opened fire, killing everyone in sight.
“It is true. Some gunmen attacked Umuchoke Okwe today and killed over eight people. They stormed a meeting involving the president-general of the community and some community heads and shot everyone,” a resident of the community said. Read more
#EndBadGovernanceinNigeria: Any gathering in Lagos unlawful – Police (Punch)
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, said the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria protest has been banned after President Bola Tinubu addressed aggrieved protesters.
Fayoade said this while addressing journalists on Sunday.
According to him, any gathering in the state is unlawful and illegal since the President has addressed protesters. Read more
Tinubu postpones FEC meeting, meets security chiefs amid nationwide protests (Leadership)
President Bola Tinubu is currently engaged in a closed-door meeting with the heads of security and paramilitary agencies at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The meeting, convened under the auspices of the National Security Council, followed the rescheduling of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting earlier slated for Monday.
Leading the security chiefs to the emergency meeting is the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, accompanied by the service chiefs and other top military and paramilitary chiefs. Read more
Alaba Market, BACCIMA explore export opportunities to boost regional trade (Sun)
The electronics section of Alaba International Market, a member of the Badagry Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BACCIMA), recently partnered with the chamber to host a workshop aimed at boosting regional trade.
The event, with theme, “Unlocking Regional Trade Opportunities, Navigating ETLS and AfCFTA for Export Growth,” aimed to equip attendees with knowledge on how to leverage the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for export expansion.
BACCIMA’s Director-General and representatives from key security agencies operating in the Seme Special Area Command, Immigration, Customs, NDLEA, Nigeria Shippers Council, ECOWAS Commission, and Port Health Services were in attendance. Read more
Protest moves to major streets in Osun on day 5 (DailyTrust)
The ongoing nationwide protest, which entered its fifth day on Monday, moved from the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park in Osogbo to some major streets across the town.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that protesters moved from the park at about 10.05 am to Igbonna Market, Aiyetoro Stadium and other locations before converging on Olaiya Bridge.
The situation led to gridlock of vehicular movements with motorists looking for alternative routes. Read more
Fubara signs Executive Order establishing Investment Agency in Rivers (Vanguard)
Poised to make a difference, the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has signed an Executive Order to give impetus to the establishment of an investment agency that will coordinate the barrage of enquiries and business interests expressed by investors who now consider the State as a destination of first choice.
Governor Fubara signed the Executive Order No. 002 of 2024 for the establishment of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency when it was presented to him by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dagogo Israel Iboroma, SAN, at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday.
The Governor explained that what he has just done is to give force to one of the recommendations in the report submitted to him by the committee that handled the organisation of the Rivers State Economic and Investment Summit in May. Read more
2 Kogi officials report to EFCC office in Abuja — Govt (Channels)
The Kogi State Government has confirmed that two of her officials are currently at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja.
A statement by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo was in response to a report that a Federal High Court ordered their arrest.
“Despite not receiving an official invitation, they decided to voluntarily report at the headquarters of the commission in Abuja. Read more
DSS arrests hunger protest leader in Abuja (Tribune)
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested Micheal Lenin, one of the leaders of the ongoing hunger protests in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Lenin was apprehended around 2 am on Monday at his residence in the Apo area of the FCT.
Damilare Adenola, Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, reported to Punch that Lenin’s house was raided by the DSS, and Lenin was allegedly assaulted during the arrest. Read more
Nicki Minaj accused of shading Ice Spice over Instagram comment (HipHopDx)
Nicki Minaj has been accused of throwing shade at Ice Spice by appearing to ignore a compliment on an Instagram post.
On the social media platform, Nicki posted a picture of herself from nearly 20 years ago before she rose to superstardom, captioning it: “17 years ago [ribbon emoji] Crimped my own hair [tick emoji] Did my own makeup [tick emoji] 2 padded bras to make my boobs look bigger [tick emoji] Barbz!!!!”
The throwback post was lapped up by fans and fellow artists alike, including Ice Spice who jumped into the comments section and left a smiling face with heart-eyes emoji. Read more
Adele pauses Munich concert to show Women’s 100m final at the 2024 Summer Olympics on screen (People)
Adele is keeping up with the 2024 Olympics — even when she’s performing!
The “Easy on Me” singer, 36, paused her concert in Munich on Saturday, Aug. 3, to tune into the women’s 100-meter final taking place in Paris.
According to a video posted on social media, Adele stopped her show to see who would take home the gold and share a few words of encouragement for the athletes. Read more
Mali to cut ties with Ukraine over alleged involvement in rebel attack (VOA)
Mali is immediately cutting diplomatic ties with Ukraine over comments by a spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (GUR) about fighting in its north that killed Malian soldiers and Wagner fighters in late July, it said Sunday.
Mali’s northern Tuareg rebels say they killed at least 84 Russian Wagner mercenaries and 47 Malian soldiers over days of fierce fighting in the north of the West African country in what appears to be Wagner’s heaviest defeat since it stepped in two years ago to help Mali’s military authorities fight insurgent groups.
GUR spokesperson Andriy Yusov has not confirmed Kyiv’s involvement in the fighting, but in comments published on public broadcaster Suspilne’s website on July 29, he said the Malian rebels had received the “necessary” information to conduct the attack. Read more
Victoria Beckham says she wouldn’t have “gone into fashion industry knowing what she does now’’ (Standard)
Victoria Beckham says she might have chosen a different career path if she had known what forging her own fashion house would really be like.
The former Spice Girl-turned-fashion designer, 50, admitted that she was “naïve and innocent” when first starting out and that she might not have had the “courage” to try her hand at it now.
Her words come after it was revealed in January that her once-floundering Victoria Beckham brand is finally turning turning a handsome profit 17 years after its launch. Read more
Chris Evans refused Ryan Reynolds’ offer of cue cards for his profane Deadpool & Wolverine speech (EW)
Chris Evans had almost no reservations about making a surprise cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine — and even fewer about spewing profanities in his shocking end-credits monologue.
The Marvel alum recently opened up about his decision to accept Ryan Reynolds’ invitation to reprise the role of Jonny Storm, from his days as Fantastic Four’s Human Torch.
“It was a couple years ago and I got a text from Ryan — we’re buddies,” Evans recalled in a new interview with PEOPLE. “He just said, ‘Listen, if you don’t like this idea, no worries whatsoever. But I have something that could really bring the house down and would let you play a character from your past.’” Read more
Neighbours announces first 3 cast for 40th anniversary tour (DigitalSpy)
Neighbours has unveiled the first three cast members who will be joining the soap’s special 40th anniversary tour, which will travel around the UK in early 2025.
Rebekah Elmaloglou, Tim Kano and Majella Davis will all hit the road next February as part of Neighbours – The 40th Anniversary Tour, which will feature “surprises, never before-heard stories, and all the inside scoop on what life is really like in Erinsborough”.
Elmaloglou has been a Ramsay Street fixture since 2013, when she joined the soap as Terese Willis. Read more
Army announces interim government after Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina flees (AlJazeera)
Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled the country following weeks of deadly demonstrations.
The removal of Hasina on Monday followed weeks of deadly protests and appears to have averted the threat of further bloodshed. The focus now moves to who will control the South Asian country.
In an address to the nation, army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that an interim government will now run Bangladesh and called for calm. Read more
Simon’s injury worries Nantes boss (Punch)
Nantes manager Antoine Kombouaré has expressed concerns over the fitness of Super Eagles forward Moses Simon ahead of the 2024/25 season after the Nigerian suffered an ankle injury in the club’s friendly game against Laval, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Simon scored the winning goal from the spot in the 60th minute as the Canaries secured a 2-1 win ahead of their next game against Lorient on Wednesday.
Though the Nigerian was in action for 90 minutes, the Nantes Tribune, quoting Kombouaré, confirmed that the 29-year-old suffered an ankle injury during the game. Read more
Paris Olympics: Wrestler Blessing Oborududu advances to semifinals (Leadership)
Nigeria’s Blessing Oborodudu has booked her place in the semi-finals of the women’s wrestling (68kg) event at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics.
The powerful Nigerian wrestler, who won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games, defeated Canada’s Linda Morais 8-2 in their quarterfinal match Monday afternoon to secure her place in the semifinals. Read more
Marc Guehi releases statement amid Newcastle and Liverpool transfer links after key decision (LiverpoolEcho)
Liverpool may hold no interest in Marc Guehi this summer but his next decision could have ramifications for Arne Slot’s squad. The Crystal Palace centre-back is being hotly tipped for a move to Newcastle United after impressing for England at Euro 2024.
His transfer would spark the search for a replacement at Selhurst Park, with Joe Gomez perhaps on the radar. The 27-year-old never got off the bench in Germany this summer as he watched Guehi start all but one match en route to the final.
All 15 of Gomez’s senior international appearances came under Gareth Southgate, who has now stepped down as Three Lions head coach. He meanwhile returns to Liverpool under the watch of a new boss following Jurgen Klopp’s own departure this summer. Read more
Mary Earps reveals key reason for joining PSG from Manchester United (Independent)
Mary Earps is hoping her summer move from Manchester United to Paris Saint-Germain will help her add more trophies to her collection.
The England goalkeeper admitted that it was a “tough decision” to bring an end to her five-year association with United, where she turned down a new contract to sign a two-year deal with the French club.
Despite winning the FA Cup, United finished fifth in the league last season 20 points behind champions Chelsea and three places below where they had finished the previous season. Read more
Simone Biles hits out at crowd after uncharacteristic error costs Olympic medal (Mirror)
American superstar Simone Biles appeared to ask questions of the Paris crowd after falling short of a medal in the balance beam final at the Olympic Games.
Biles attempted a difficult routine at the Bercy Arena as she looked to add to her medal tally. However, a fall from the beam proved her undoing and she couldn’t fully recover.
The difficulty of her efforts meant some hoped she might be able to sneak into the medals, but it wasn’t to be. Instead it was Alice D’Amato who claimed gold, with Rebeca Andrade – one of the favourites – only managing fourth, just ahead of Biles. Read more
Olympics gender row boxer Imane Khelif claims opponent “knew her well’’ (DailyMail)
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif has hit out at Italy’s Olympics boxing team for ‘trying to weaken her’ after revealing Paris 2024 opening round opponent Angela Carini knows her well from previous training camps.
Khelif and Taiwan boxer Lin Yu-ting have been at the centre of a ‘gender row’ controversy at the Olympics after both were given the green light to compete despite previously allegedly failing gender eligibility tests at last year’s world championships.
The issue was thrust into the Olympic limelight when Khelif forced Carini to quit in the opening round of their women’s welterweight bout in Paris last week. Read more
