Gunshots as Okada riders resist arrest in Lekki (Punch)
Gunshots were heard in Lekki Phase 1 Gate, Lagos State as motorcycle (Okada) riders resisted the police from impounding their motorcycles.
In a viral video, people were seen running helter-skelter as sounds of gunshots were heard and weapons were thrown.
It was learnt that the incident created panic in the area.
Some of the eyewitnesses had alleged that there was a clash between the police and the Okada riders when the video surfaced online on Monday. Read more
Traffic Congestion: We need to do more to restore sanity in Apapa environs – Lagos govt admits (Vanguard)
Lagos State Government has expressed dissatisfaction over the current traffic congestion in Apapa and environs despite the introduction of an Electronic-call up system, saying, there was more to be done for sanity to be restored in the axis.
Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, made the remark on Tuesday, during the year 2021 ministerial press briefing as part of activities marking the second anniversary of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu in office, held in Alausa, Ikeja.
Oladeinde, however, said the only permanent solution to congestion in Apapa is to have other functional alternative ports in other parts of the state which the state government is already constructing in Lekki and Badagry Deep seaports.
However, as part of efforts to reduce traffic gridlock in the area caused by activities of the truck drivers, the state government said it has commenced talk with the leadership of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, on modalities to absorb oil tanker drivers into e-call up system. Read more
2,000 okadas impounded in Lagos in massive raid (PMNews)
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday disclosed that about 2,000 motorcycles, popularly known as okadas were impounded in Lagos within two days.
Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde disclosed this at a ministerial news conference to mark the second year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in office.
The commissioner lamented the lawlessness of okada riders in the state, saying that while 1,000 okadas were impounded on Sunday, another 1,000 were impounded on Monday.
He said the government would not go back on the enforcement on okada riders from plying strategic routes in Lagos. Read more
3 Policemen Dismissed For Extortion (Channels)
Three policemen in the Ogun State Command have been dismissed from service for extorting money forcefully from a traveller en route to Lagos from Abeokuta.
The culprits, Inspector Sunday John, Sgt Jimoh Asimiya, and Sgt Solomon Adedapo were said to have forcefully extorted one hundred and fifty-three thousand Naira (₦153,000) from the victim while he was traveling from Abeokuta to Lagos.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun in a statement issued said he “ordered the immediate arrest and detention of the officers involved” after being made aware of the incident on social media.
“The money was recovered from them and returned to the victim. They were subsequently arranged for departmental orderly room trial on a three-count charge of corrupt practices, discreditable conduct and disobedience to lawful order,” the statement read in part. Read more
Lagos police debunks attack on policemen by motorcycle operators (Guardian)
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, has described the rumoured attack by okada operators attack on police personnel in the Lekki area of Lagos State, as captured in a viral video, as false and mischievous.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement that the Command after carefully studying the video noticed that the originators of the video distorted the fact and raised a false alarm.
“This was in order to cause confusion and create fears in the minds of the general public for reasons best known to the originators or sponsors as the case may be.
“The command wishes to set the record straight that on Monday, April 26, at about 09:30 am, the Divisional Police Officer in Maroko, Lagos State, was informed that some okada riders were on a rampage by resisting the police from impounding their motorcycles at Lekki Phase 1 Gate. Read more
5 dead, 2 injured in Lagos-Ibadan expressway accident (PMNews)
No fewer than five persons died while two others sustained various degrees of injuries in a road crash involving four vehicles around Iperu on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
Mr Ahmed Umar, the Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday in Abeokuta.
Umar said that the accident which occurred at 8:45 a.m. was caused by dangerous driving and excessive speed which led to the loss of control.
He said that the vehicles involved in the crash included a Mack truck marked UWN 279 YT and an Iveco truck with registration number AAB 973 ZY.
Others are a tricycle marked PKA 438 UN and another tricycle with registration number LSD 566 QF. Read more
Surrender to criminals is not an option – Kaduna Govt (Vanguard)
The Kaduna State Government, KDSG, has reiterated that it would not reward criminals who kill citizens and destroy properties.
Muyiwa Adekeye, Special Adviser to the Governor (Media & Communication)said in a statement on Tuesday, that amidst the violence unleashed by criminal elements on the people of Kaduna State, some commentators have responded by blaming KDSG for asserting that the duty of the state is to uphold the law and not to reward hoodlums for violating the lives, property and liberties of citizens.
He said those pushing that kind of narrative were sharing a video clip of a 2014 interview in which Malam Nasir El-Rufai called on the government of President Goodluck Jonathan to use all options, including negotiation, to rescue the Chibok girls.
“The years since 2014 may have led some people to forget the denial and doubt that defined the FG’s response to the Chibok abductions, especially the initial refusal to acknowledge that it happened. Read more
Gunmen kill two soldiers at Ebonyi military checkpoint (Nation)
Gunmen on Monday night killed two soldiers at a military checkpoint located at Timber Junction area in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi state.
It was reliably gathered from a top security source that the incident took place at around 9 pm.
“The gunmen also carted away the riffles of the two dead soldiers,” the source added.
A source in the community, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said the gunmen arrived the checkpoint in a white bus and as the military men stopped them for a search, they opened fire on them. Read more
Insecurity: I’m In Aso Rock To Tell Buhari The Truth – Zulum (Tribune)
Miffed by the deteriorating insecurity in Borno and the rest of the Northeast, Governor Babagana Zulum, on Monday, stormed the presidential villa, Abuja to, according to him, tell President Muhammadu Buhari the truth.
Speaking to correspondents after the meeting, he bemoaned the latest terrorist attacks, which led to the death of many soldiers in the state.
Zulum declared that it was his responsibility to come and tell the president the truth about the situation in the region.
While noting that the situation was pathetic, Zulum emphasised the need for support to help the area get rid of insurgents. Read more
Michael Jackson: Court dismisses lawsuit from accuser Wade Robson (BBC)
Michael Jackson’s estate has succeeded again in having a lawsuit from one of the late pop star’s accusers dismissed.
A Los Angeles judge ruled on Monday that Wade Robson cannot sue Jackson’s businesses over the childhood sexual abuse he allegedly suffered.
Robson, whose accusations featured in the documentary Leaving Neverland, is expected to appeal the decision.
Last year, the same judge ruled against fellow accuser James Safechuck on similar grounds. Read more
Abducted Westerners killed in Burkina Faso (France24)
Two Spanish citizens and an Irish national who were abducted by gunmen in Burkina Faso have been killed, security sources in the country said Tuesday. Spain’s foreign ministry later confirmed that two Spanish nationals had been killed in an ambush in the east of the country.
The hostages were taken after an ambush on an anti-poaching patrol in eastern Burkina Faso on Monday.
The attackers were aboard two pick-up vehicles and a dozen motorbikes, according to security sources. The sources said the assailants made off with vehicles and various weapons after the attack.
Reporting from Madrid, FRANCE 24’s Henry De Laguerie said Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya confirmed that two of the bodies found in Burkina Faso were those of the missing Spanish journalists. Read more
India Covid-19: Delhi adds makeshift crematoriums as deaths climb (BBC)
Makeshift pyres are being built in crematoriums in India’s capital Delhi as the city runs out of space to cremate its dead.
Deaths have been steadily rising in India as a deadly second wave of Covid infections devastates the country, with 380 recorded in Delhi alone on Monday.
Medical oxygen, intensive care unit (ICU) beds and life-saving medicines are in short supply.
India has recorded more than a million Covid-19 cases in just a few days. Read more
Ex-Golden Dawn MEP arrested after EU lawmakers lift immunity {DW)
Greek delegate Ioannis Lagos has been arrested after fellow European Parliament lawmakers voted to waive his immunity. He was one of dozens convicted of running the far-right party Golden Dawn as a criminal organization.
Belgian police on Tuesday arrested Ioannis Lagos, a former leading member of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party, within hours of the European Parliament removing his legal protection, Greek police said.
Lagos is one of 39 people, including 13 former Golden Dawn lawmakers, who were sentenced to jail terms after they were found guilty in October of running the party as a criminal organization.
The European Parliament announced earlier that members had voted to waive his immunity from prosecution. Read more Read more
West Virginia to give young people $100 bond to get vaccine (BBC)
A US state says it will offer young people a $100 (£72) savings bond if they receive a Covid-19 vaccine.
West Virginia says it hopes the payment for those aged 16 to 35 will “motivate” them to get the jab.
“Our kids today probably don’t really realise just how important they are in shutting this thing down,” State Governor Jim Justice said on Monday.
West Virginia had been among the top US states for vaccination rates, but progress has slowed in recent weeks. Read more
Covid-19: AstraZeneca fears fuel vaccine scepticism in Ivory Coast (France24)
Nearly two months after the delivery of half a million Astrazeneca vaccines doses, the Ivorian authorities are struggling to draw people to vaccination centres amid fears over the jab’s safety and widespread misinformation. FRANCE 24’s Thaïs Brouck and Sam Bradpiece have this report.
Less than 0.5% of Ivory Coast’s population of 25 million has been vaccinated so far, making the prospect of the West African country attaining herd immunity a distant mirage.
The campaign has been hampered by the decision to suspend the AstraZeneca vaccine in a number of European countries due to blood clot fears. Read more
No sign of infection after test concert in Spain, researchers say (BBC)
Researchers in Spain have found “no sign” of higher levels of infection among people who took part in a large test concert last month.
Six people tested positive within 14 days of attending the gig in Barcelona, but the incidence was lower than that seen in the general population.
Around 5,000 music fans took part in the experiment after testing negative for Covid-19.
Revellers wore masks but did not have to socially distance. Read more
Tokyo Olympic host towns refuse to house athletes as Japan is struck by fourth Covid wave (Metro)
Japanese towns and cities have been forced to seriously reconsider plans to host Olympic teams due to the ongoing global pandemic.
The western town of Okuizumo spent more than $5million in order provide facilities for India’s hockey team, only to scrap the visit because of Covid-19.
‘We wanted to have one of the world’s top tier teams visit our town and show their skills to local children,’ town official Katsumi Nagase told AFP.
‘But that seems impossible now.’ Read more
Lille fightback sets up thrilling finale in ‘Super’ Ligue 1 title race (France24)
Turkey’s Burak Yilmaz scored twice and set up another as Lille staged a brilliant comeback to win 3-2 at title rivals Lyon on Sunday and reclaim top spot in the French league from reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain.
The away side trailed by two goals shortly before half-time, but Yilmaz inspired an unlikely fightback to send Lille one point clear of PSG with four matches remaining.
Monaco are just a point further back in third after Wissam Ben Yedder’s late goal grabbed a 1-0 win at Angers.
But Sunday night’s thriller looked to have all title hopes for fourth-placed Lyon, now six points off the pace. Read more
Euro 2020: Teams permitted to select 26-player squads (BBC)
Teams will be allowed to select a 26-player squad instead of the usual 23 at this summer’s European Championship.
The change has been implemented to lessen the load on players after a club season compressed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It will also help managers adapt if outbreaks occur during the tournament.
The decision, taken by Uefa’s national teams committee on Monday, will be subject to ratification but is not expected to meet any opposition. Read more
Julian Nagelsmann to replace Hansi Flick at Bayern Munich (DW)
Julian Nagelsmann has been named as the man to replace Hansi Flick as Bayern Munich coach.
With Hansi Flick pulling the plug on his outrageously successful tenure, Bayern Munich have appointed Julian Nagelsmann as his successor, after perusing a rather thin market of suitable coaches.
The Bundesliga’s record champions have repeatedly insisted they prefer German-speaking coaches and also seem keen to steer clear of anyone capable of causing even the slightest bit of controversy, meaning Nagelsmann was the outstanding candidate.
“FC Bayern have appointed Julian Nagelsmann as their new head coach. The Bavarian-born 33-year-old will move to Munich from RB Leipzig on 1 July 2021 ahead of the new season, signing a five-year-contract with the German record champions until 30 June 2026,” read the club statement. Read more
David Luiz returns to Arsenal training ahead of Villarreal semi-final clash (Metro)
Arsenal defender David Luiz is set to be fit for the side’s Europa League semi-final first leg clash against Villarreal after returning to training today.
The Brazilian is one of the few Arsenal players to have experience of the latter stages of the competition, which he won with Chelsea in 2013.
Luiz has missed the last five weeks of action after requiring minor knee surgery to clear up an issue. Read more
PSG’s star quality gives Guardiola sleepless nights (Guardian)
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has endured sleepless nights trying to dream up a way of combating Paris Saint-Germain stars Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg.
Guardiola knows Brazil forward Neymar and France striker Mbappe pose a serious threat to his hopes of leading City to their first Champions League final.
The dynamic duo tore apart Barcelona in the last 16 before inspiring a quarter-final victory over holders Bayern Munich.Guardiola has been trying to find a plan to subdue Neymar and Mbappe, but he conceded it has been such a difficult task that his sleep has been interrupted. Read more
