Housewife fakes daughter’s Kidnap, demands N2M ransom (Vanguard)
A housewife, Fatima Bishir 22, is now in the Police net for faking the Kidnap of her five-year-old daughter in Katsina.
SP Gambo Isah, the katsina Police command spokesman (PPRO) disclosed this on Thursday while parading the suspect before newsmen in katsina.
He said the suspect also faked the Kidnap of her daughter to implicate the woman her husband is planning to re-marry.
According to him, on 5/07/2020 at 0800 hours, the suspect falsely reported at Mashi Police Division that her little daughter was missing and strongly suspected the ex-wife of her husband. Read more
Lagos COVID-19 cases may be 10 times higher, says health commissioner (ThisDay)
The Lagos State Government has stated that at least 130,000 residents may have already been infected with COVID-19 in the state.
It also said for every COVID-19 patient in its isolation centres, the government spends about N100,000 for those with mild symptoms, while those with severe cases may gulp between N500,000 to N1 million every day.
Stating these during a press briefing Thursday, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said for every one person that tests positive for COVID-19, there are potentially 10 other persons out there who are positive, but do not know.
He said: “Lagos presently has 13,543 confirmed cases of COVID-19. If you times that by 10, it gives you over 130,000 cases. This is the more reason everyone needs to follow all health protocols because the threat is still very much out there.
“The number of cases from the community total 9,066, but active community cases amount to 2,036, with 192 deaths in the state.” Read more
Sanwo-Olu congratulates Jakande at 91 (ThisDay)
The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has felicitated with a former governor of the state, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, as he attains 91 years of age.
Sanwo-Olu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, described Alhaji Jakande as an elder statesman worth celebrating for his exemplary life and his consistent commitment to public service.
The governor, who said that Jakande is one of the few Lagosians and Nigerian leaders who have contributed immensely to the growth and development of the state and the entire country by delivering dividends of democracy to the people, also described the former Minister of Works as an epitome of honesty, dedication and service, who used his elevated positions for the betterment of the people he served, especially during his tenure as governor of the state. Read more
Two dismissed police officers petition IGP, Afenifere, others (Nation)
Two dismissed police officers from Kwara state police command have petitioned the Inspector General of police (IGP) and the state police Commissioner Kayode Egbetokun alleging illegal dismissal from service.
They are asking the police high command to review their cases for probable prompt reinstatement.
In a jointly signed petition the aggrieved police officers also sent copies the petition to Assistant Inspector General Zone 8 Lokoja, Egbe Afenifere, Civil Liberties Organization, Okun Development Association. Read more
Troops of “Operation Sahel Sanity” arrest bandits, rescue kidnapped victims in N/W-DHQ (Guardian)
The Defence Headquarters says the troops of Operation Sahel Sanity have arrested 10 notorious bandits, rescued kidnapped victims and recovered rustled cows in the last few days within the North West theatre.
The Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Benard Onyeuko disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
Onyeuko said the troops had continued to record credible achievements in their quest to rid the North-West zone of banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping and other sundry criminalities. Read more
I didn’t say National Assembly members are beneficiaries of NDDC contracts – Akpabio (Vanguard)
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio has said that he never alleged that 60 per cent of contacts in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was awarded to lawmakers.
Akpabio made the clarification in a letter addressed to the House of Representatives and read by the Speaker, Rep. Femi Gbajabimila at the plenary on Thursday.
Gbajabimila on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Akpabio to publish the names of legislators and details of contracts awarded to them by the NDDC. Read more
Court remands foreign nationals, others for aiding terrorism, kidnapping (Nation)
The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has remanded three foreign nationals and six Nigerians for allegedly aiding and abetting kidnapping, sea piracy and terrorism.
The suspects and employees of Pilgrim Africa Limited were arrested by the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder following the allegations that they paid $200,000 to a gang of sea pirates, who abducted their colleagues.
The suspects, who were arraigned on three-count of conspiracy, and terrorism, reportedly conveyed the kidnap victims to Calabar in Cross River State when they were freed by their abductors. Read more
Tolulope’s sacrifice cannot be forgotten – Gov Bello (Tribune)
The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on Thursday, said the sacrifices of the Nigerian first female helicopter combat pilot, Late Tolulope Arotile, were so huge that the nation cannot forget.
Governor Bello was at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja on Thursday where the remains of the late Flying Officer, Arotile was laid to rest.
Bello said, Tolulope as a young female pilot who fought for the peace of the nation both on land and in the air and died in active service at 24 years of age remained huge inspiration for both men and women in the country and beyond. Read more
Funniest One Direction moment revealed as fans celebrate 10 year anniversary in style (Metro)
One Direction fans have named their funniest moment to celebrate the band’s 10-year anniversary.
Yes, just a short decade ago, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson were thrown together on X Factor, after initially auditioning as solo singers. They formed One Direction, belted out Torn at Simon Cowell’s home and have never looked back.
Over the last 10 years, they’ve blessed us with some absolute bangers – and solo bops on their hiatus – and even more funny moments. Read more
China-US row: Fugitive researcher ‘hiding in San Francisco consulate’ (BBC)
A Chinese scientist suspected of visa fraud and concealing ties to the military has fled to China’s consulate in San Francisco, the US says.
Prosecutors allege that the case is part of a Chinese programme to send undercover army scientists to the US.
On Wednesday the Trump administration ordered the closure of China’s mission in Houston, saying it was involved in stealing intellectual property.
China condemned moves against its scientists and consulates in the US. Read more
West African leaders on high-stakes mission to end Mali standoff (Aljazeera)
West African leaders have arrived in Bamako on a high-stakes mission aimed at defusing Mali’s weeks-long political crisis that has raised concerns of further instability in a country grappling with multiple crises, including an escalating conflict.
The visit on Thursday by the presidents of Ghana, Ivory Coast, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal comes days after a mediation mission by the West African regional bloc ECOWAS failed to break the deadlock.
The foreign leaders are expected to meet Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and key figures of the opposition coalition behind the protests, known as the June 5 Movement. Read more
South Africa cuts interest rates to soften virus impact (Guardian)
South Africa’s central bank on Thursday cut its key interest rate for the fifth time this year in a bid to breathe life into the coronavirus-stricken economy.
Along with other central banks around the world to aggressively lower borrowing costs in a bid to soften economic blow from COVID-19, the South African Reserve Bank cut its repurchase or “repo” rate by 0.25 percentage points to a record low of 3.5 percent.
Already this year, the bank had previously cut the rate by a total 2.75 percentage points to provide relief to indebted consumers as the negative effects from the coronavirus pandemic make themselves felt. Read more
The UN wants to see cash transfers go global to fight coronavirus (Aljazeera)
Introducing a temporary basic income for the world’s poorest people will not only give them the means to buy food and medicine, but could also help stop the spread of the coronavirus, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) stresses in a new report released on Thursday.
The report, Temporary Basic Income: Protecting Poor and Vulnerable People in Developing Countries, advocates for a time-bound and unconditional cash transfer to serve as a minimum income guarantee for 2.7 billion people living under or near the poverty line in 132 developing countries. Read more
Afghan teen who shot 2 Taliban who allegedly murdered her parents moved to ‘safer place’ (VOA)
An Afghan girl who shot and killed two Taliban fighters after they reportedly killed her parents in Taywara district of central Ghor province has been relocated to the provincial capital, Feroz Koh, for her safety, according to Afghan officials.
Qamar Gul, 15, said the incident occurred last week when a group of Taliban militants stormed her house and executed her parents for allegedly supporting the Afghan government. Fighting back against the Taliban, the young Gul grabbed her father’s AK-47 rifle and killed two of the Taliban fighters and injured another. Read more
Taylor Swift announces surprise lockdown album Folklore (BBC)
Taylor Swift has announced she is to release a “surprise” eighth studio album, called Folklore, at midnight.
The 16-track album was written and recorded in isolation during the Covid-19 lockdown, she said on social media.
“Most of the things I had planned this summer didn’t end up happening,” added Swift, who was set to headline Glastonbury’s Pyramid stage in June.
“But there is something I hadn’t planned on that DID happen,” she told fans, before revealing the new album. Read more
Arrests made in Liverpool, Leeds after fans gather to celebrate trophy lifts (Guardian)
A total of 13 arrests were made in Liverpool and Leeds as thousands of fans gathered outside stadiums on Wednesday night to celebrate their clubs’ title triumphs despite warnings to stay at home.
Merseyside Police introduced a 48-hour dispersal zone around Liverpool’s Anfield stadium during the club’s match against Chelsea.
Nine arrests were made as large numbers congregated outside the Kop end, where Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy after a 5-3 victory. Read more
South Africa FA hopes to engage with Mark Fish over posts (BBC)
The South African Football Association (Safa) insists that Thursday’s press release supporting Black Lives Matter was not a reaction to social media comments made by former international Mark Fish.
Safa’s communications manager Dominic Chimhavi emphasised the timing of the release was purely coincidental and that it had been working on the statement for a “few days”.
“We had already been working on the statement and it just happened that we released it at the same time the outcry over the tweets was gaining momentum,” he explained. Read more
Lebron James fired up over Lakers’ return (TMZ)
It’s been 135 days since we’ve seen the Purple & Gold in action thanks to the COVID-19 shutdown … and the King has been champing at the bit to return to work.
The Lakers have a scrimmage (yes, we’re this stoked about a game that doesn’t even matter) against the Dallas Mavericks at 7 PM … which is the first bit of action before the season returns July 30.
But, for LeBron?? This ain’t no scrimmage. Read more
Marc Marquez declared fit for Andalucia MotoGP after surgery on broken arm (BBC)
World champion Marc Marquez has been declared for this weekend’s Andalucia MotoGP – just two days after having surgery on a broken arm.
The 27-year-old Honda rider fractured his right humerus in a crash at Sunday’s MotoGP in Jerez.
He had surgery in Barcelona on Tuesday and passed a medical test after arriving back in Jerez on Thursday. Read more
Gary Neville slams Paul Pogba for handing West Ham a penalty against Man Utd (Metro)
Gary Neville dismissed Paul Pogba as ‘rubbish’ and ’embarrassing’ for his handball against West Ham on Wednesday night, which handed the lead from the penalty spot at Old Trafford.
The Manchester United midfielder put his hands up to protect his face from a long range Declan Rice shot and went down holding his face afterwards.
It appeared that he had indeed been hit in the face, but replays quickly showed that the Frenchman had raised both hands and deflected the ball away and was clearly in the penalty area when he did so. Read more
PSG battles St Etienne in Cup final as French football resumes (Vanguard)
Competitive French professional football is due to resume on Friday after an enforced break of more than four months.
And it’s with a big match – the final of the Coupe de France, originally scheduled for April 25, when the country was already weeks into a strict coronavirus lockdown.
Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, the undisputed behemoths of French football in recent years, take on St Etienne, who finished fourth-last when the league was wrapped up early due to the virus. Read more