How bandits kidnapped Kaduna primary school pupils — Teacher (Leadership)
Sani Abdullahi, one of the teachers of the Government Secondary School Kuriga in Chikun local government area of Kaduna State, where pupils were kidnapped by bandits on Thursday morning, has provided graphical details of how the assailants invaded the joint secondary and primary school and whisked away about 280 pupils and teachers.
Abdullahi narrated the incident when the State governor, Senator Uba Sani, led senior government officials and security top brass to the scene of the kidnapping on Thursday evening.
According to the teacher: “I resumed to the school today at exactly 7:47am. I entered the Acting Principal’s office and signed. All of a sudden, the Acting Principal asked me to look at my back and when I turned, we discovered that bandits had surrounded the school premises. Read more
Abduction: Gov Sani visits community, vows safe return of children (Channels)
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has visited the Kuriga community in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state where bandits kidnapped scores of primary and secondary school students on Thursday morning.
During the visit, Governor Sani assured them of the safe and timely return of the kidnapped children, stating that security agencies are working round the clock to ensure their release.
“With pain in my heart, I visited Kuriga, Chikun Local Government, where bandits kidnapped primary and secondary school pupils and students, to commiserate with members of the community and assure them that all steps are been taken to ensure the safe return of the pupils and students,” he wrote on his X account. Read more
Bus drivers lament as NSCDC evicts motorists from garage (Punch)
Some commercial drivers at the Ikeja under bridge garage of Lagos State have lamented what they described as the sudden exit given by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for them to exit the area.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the incident occurred at about 3:00 p.m. on Thursday.
Our correspondent, who visited the area, observed some government agents and armed men pursuing the drivers out of the garage.
It was also observed that the traders selling their goods by the park had moved. Read more
Tinubu suspends REA boss, Ahmad, 3 others over N1.2b fraud (Nation)
President Bola Tinubu has suspended the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad with three other executive directors of the agency.
He also appointed a new team of five persons in the management of the REA, with Abba Abubakar Aliyu as Managing Director and CEO.
In a statement on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu said his action followed findings of an investigation into an alleged ₦1.2 billion fraud in the financial dealings of the agency. Read more
Emefiele: Documents used to pay election observers $6.2m forged — Forensic Analyst (Tribune)
The trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, continued on Thursday before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja as a forensic analyst confirmed that the documents used to request the payment of $6.2million for foreign election observers were forged.
The witness, Bamaiyi Meriga, called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), informed the court that following forensic analysis of the disputed documents, he discovered that there was clear evidence of forgery of signature, and the seal of execution were different from the original.
He also confirmed that the signatures were not those of former President Muhammad Buhari and ex-Secretary General of the Federation, Boss Mustapha. Read more
Pilots survive as Air Force suffers mishap in Kaduna (DailyTrust)
Two pilots of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) suffered mishap while returning from a routine training flight, on Thursday.
According to Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, the accident occurred at about 3.5 nautical miles from Kaduna Military Airfield.
He said the Super Mushshak trainer aircraft was involved in a minor mishap at about 2.35 pm on Thursday. Read more
Otti’s wife fulfils promise to Correctional centre (Sun)
Wife of Abia governor, Mrs Chidinma Otti, on Wednesday, returned to the Aba medium security correctional centre with gifts in fulfilment of a promise she made during an earlier visit, last month.
During the visit, the first by a wife of a sitting governor since the creation of the state, Mrs Otti, had assured the inmates of assistance towards solving some pressing needs, which she made good the second time she was there.
Speaking to the inmates and their handlers, the Abia first lady, accompanied by her husband’s special assistance on women development and poverty reduction, Mrs Ifeoma Thomas, expressed joy that she was able to procure some of their requests including industrial sewing machines, power generators, hair salon equipment, washing machines, among others, which were made available to the centre. Read more
FG begins construction of 700km Lagos-Calabar coastal road (Leadership)
The Federal Government has commenced the construction of the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and maintenance of critical bridges in Lagos.
Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, during the official handover of the first phase of the project said the government would not allow variation arising from delays or slow pace of work once mobilisation had been done.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway runs across nine states with two spurs leading to the Northern States. Read more
Ariana Grande teases ‘’Bad Girl Anthem’’ track on her new album is a reimagining of a ’90s R&B hit (People)
Ariana Grande was less than pleased that a song of hers circulated online illegally, but her fans’ response to it ultimately influenced her newest album.
The pop star, 30, recently put fans on blast as she discussed the leaking of her song, “Fantasize,” on the Zach Sang Show, and warned that she’d see the perpetrators “in jail, literally.” Ironically enough, the love her fans showed for the pop track, though, ended up affecting the track list of her forthcoming album, Eternal Sunshine.
Among the 13 tracks on her seventh studio album — her first in nearly three and a half years, since 2020’s Positions — is a song called “the boy is mine,” which Grande confirmed is related to the 1998 track of the same name by Brandy and Monica. Read more
Nicki Minaj challenges husband to rap her lyrics during Barbz Trivia (HipHopDx)
Nicki Minaj’s husband has cemented his credentials as a Barb after rapping her lyrics during an endearing livestream.
The couple appeared together on Instagram Live on Wednesday (March 7) where Nicki put Kenneth “Zoo” Petty‘s knowledge of her music to the test by challenging him to recite some of her rhymes.
“You say you the biggest Barb so now you gotta finish the lyric,” she said before spitting a few lines from her Pink Friday 2 track “Pink Birthday”: “Lowkey ‘cuz we just that ill now, ain’t never had a…” Read more
3 men arrested for sneaking Taylor Swift fans into Singapore Eras Tour concert (Variety)
Three men have been arrested, two of whom have been charged, for sneaking people into Taylor Swift’s performance in Singapore on Monday.
A man named Yang Chenguang reportedly distracted security by chatting them up while Li Xiao Wei held a turnstile to let the three people into Singapore Sports Hub, reports BBC. Both have been charged with cheating. The third man arrested in connection with the incident has not been charged. Singapore police posted a statement about the event, claiming that four fans—two men and two women—are currently under investigation for criminal trespass.
Singapore has strict rules about cheating, which can result in a three-year prison sentence, a fine or both. One of the fans who snuck in was identified as Chinese influencer Yang Junhao, who claims to have unknowingly received counterfeit tickets. Read more
US singer Steve Lawrence dies aged 88 (IrishIndependent)
Steve Lawrence, a US singer who enjoyed many hits as a solo act and with his wife Eydie Gorme, has died.
The 88-year-old, whose singles included Go Away Little Girl, died from complications due to Alzheimer’s disease, said Susan DuBow, a spokesperson for the family.
Lawrence and Gorme — or Steve & Eydie — were known for their frequent appearances on talk shows, in nightclubs and on the stages of Las Vegas. Read more
Jack Black releases full-length cover of “Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears (THR)
Skadoosh! One week after Jack Black and Kyle Gass’ 20-second clip where they animatedly performed “Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears went viral on multiple platforms, the duo — known together as Tenacious D — have put out a longer recording of the song.
Dropped on Black’s social media accounts, the minute-and-a-half-long track is accompanied by a music video that was shot at the film’s premiere in Los Angeles.
In the video, Black wears a black and white panda-inspired suit, dances and does karate moves with various members of the Kung Fu Panda cast and crew, including Awkwafina, Bryan Cranston, James Hong, Ke Huy Quan, along with his friend Gass. Kung Fu Panda star Po also makes several appearances. Black, of course, puts his own hard rock spin on the song, a vocal style he came to be known for after his breakout performance in School of Rock. Read more
North Korea conducts artillery firing drills in likely response to South Korea-US military training (ABC)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised artillery firing drills aimed at boosting combat readiness, state media reported Friday, days after his country vowed to take corresponding military steps against the ongoing South Korea-U.S military training that it regards as an invasion rehearsal.
Thursday’s drills involved frontline artillery units, whose weapons place Seoul, the South Korean capital, in their striking range, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said.
Kim said artillery units must “take the initiative with merciless and rapid strikes at the moment of their entry into an actual war,” KCNA said. Read more
Date set for delayed presidential election in Senegal (LBC)
The Senegalese government has set March 24 as the new date for the country’s delayed presidential election.
President Macky Sall, who should be coming to the end of his second and final period in office, said in early February that he was postponing an election for 10 months, just weeks before it was set to take place on February 25.
But Senegal’s highest election authority, the Constitutional Council, rejected that move and ordered the government to set a new election date as soon as possible. Read more
I can never say no to Nigeria — Enyeama (Vanguard)
Former Nigeria goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has admitted he would love to return to the national team set-up if offered the chance.
Enyeama is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever goalkeepers to have represented the country.
The 41-year-old made 101 appearances for the Super Eagles before his controversial retirement in 2015 after a clash with former head coach, Sunday Oliseh. Read more
Venus Williams loses at Indian Wells in her 1st match since the US Open. Naomi Osaka advances (USAToday)
Venus Williams played a match on tour for the first time in about six months on Thursday, and the 43-year-old owner of seven Grand Slam titles gave away the lead and the last 10 games in a 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 loss to qualifier Nao Hibino at the BNP Paribas Open.
Williams hadn’t competed anywhere since a first-round exit at the U.S. Open on Aug. 29. That 6-1, 6-1 defeat against Greet Minnen was the American’s most lopsided loss in 100 career matches at the major tournament she won in 2000 and 2001.
When Thursday’s defeat ended with Williams getting broken for the seventh time in 12 service games, she walked to the net to congratulate Hibino, then left the court with a smile and a wave as much of the sparse crowd stood to applaud. Read more
Francis Ngannou says he’s underdog against Anthony Joshua (Vanguard)
Francis Ngannou continued with the mind games ahead of Friday’s fight with Anthony Joshua, saying he’s an underdog to the Nigerian Briton.
Just his second professional boxing tie, Ngannou dragged Fury the whole ten (10) rounds in his first fight and even managed a knockdown. The pendulum, however, swung in Fury’s favour way that time.
Even with that feat the Cameroonian still feels he’s inferior to Joshua who’s had an inconsistent run in recent times. Read more
Jurgen Klopp delivers Ibrahima Konate update after Sparta Prague triumph (SportsMole)
Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate will be sent for further assessment after coming off injured in the Reds’ 5-1 Europa League last-16 first-leg success over Sparta Prague on Thursday evening.
With Virgil van Dijk enjoying a well-earned rest, Konate and Jarell Quansah formed the central barrier in front of Caoimhin Kelleher at epet Arena, where Liverpool’s defence repeatedly came under the cosh in the first half.
The Reds’ rearguard remained unbroken at the half-time break, but just a few minutes after the restart, Konate went down and could not continue, being replaced by Van Dijk for the remainder of the match. Read more
Barbra Banda acquired by Orlando Pride for second-highest transfer fee in women’s soccer (NBC)
The Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League have acquired Zambian forward Barbra Banda for a club-record transfer fee.
Banda signed a four-year deal with the Pride, who paid $740,000 to Chinese Women’s Super League club Shanghai Shengli FC, the team said Thursday night.
It is the second-highest transfer fee in women’s soccer, after NWSL expansion team Bay FC paid Real Madrid $788,000 for Zambia forward Racheal Kundananji last month. Read more
Tom Loeffler explains Serhii Bohachuk’s journey to Sebastian Fundora fight (BoxingScene)
Serhii Bohachuk has had quite the journey to make it to his title fight.
Bohachuk faces Sebastian Fundora for the vacant WBC middleweight title on the Keith Thurman-Tim Tszyu pay-per-view undercard on March 30.
Bohachuk, 28, almost didn’t get this shot. Not because of politics in the ring, but because of those outside of it. Bohachuk was in his home country of Ukraine when the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out. People were dying on a daily basis, and life was no longer the same. The word “conflict” is often used in newspaper accounts and on television broadcasts, but it undersells the severity of what is occurring on the ground in Ukraine. Read more