If you have five minutes of joy, you will in return endure 10,000 hours of sorrow, says ex-cultist (Guardian)
In the last three months, cult activities leading to gruesome killings of rival cult members in Cross River State have been the order of the day, leaving residents worried of where the next attack would occur. The cult groups operating in the state ranged from KK Confraternity known as Clansmen; Axe-men, known as Edege; Bukanias; Eiye and Vikes, also known as Aro Bargars. Last month, Calabar metropolis was shaken by the cultists’ gang war when a 500-level student in Engineering department of Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), known as James Jay, was killed after writing his final exams. This was followed by reprisal attacks leading to the killing of over 20 people from both groups at different times. Read more
Police arrest 25 suspected cultists in Lagos (Punch)
Personnel of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested 25 suspected cultists in Ijora, Mushin and Bariga areas of the state and recovered firearms from them. It was learnt that the operatives of the Operation Crush from the Anti-Cultism Unit arrested one Olaitan Rilwan, 20, with an automatic pistol hidden in his bag. A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Bala Elkana, stated that the suspect confessed to being a member of the Aiye Confraternity. Read more
Nigeria’s leadership degenerating progressively, says Peter Obi (Punch)
The Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the February General Elections, Mr Peter Obi, has said leadership in the country is degenerating. Obi stated this on Sunday while addressing about 2,000 youths during the closing session of the 2019 Boot Camp, at the Government Technical Secondary School, Awka, Anambra State. He noted that good leadership was very important to the development and growth of every society. Read more
Okorocha fighting Ihedioha’s government with ill-gotten wealth, dep governor alleges (Guardian)
As disputations between Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha and his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha continue, Deputy Governor of the state, Gerald Irona, has accused the latter of using ill-gotten wealth to fight Ihedioha’s administration. Irona, who stated this at the weekend when management team of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Channel 12, led by Mrs. Franca Akenneye, visited him at Government House, Owerri, said the administration will however, not be deterred by distractions. Read more
Obiano, Ortom, workers hail Ngige’s re-appointment (Nation)
Anambra governor Willie Obiano and his Benue counterpart Samuel Ortom have congratulated Dr Chris Ngige on his re-appointment as the Minister of Labour and Employment. Mr Charles Akpan, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, in the labour ministry, said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja that the duo, in separate letters they personally signed, described Ngige’s return to his old turf as “a vote of confidence”. Read more
NYSC demobilises five IMSU corps members over fake certificates (Guardian)
The National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) has demobilised three suspected corps members with fake certificates at the orientation camp in Plateau State yesterday. NYSC State coordinator in Plateau State, Caroline W. Embu, said the suspects who are from the Imo State University (IMSU) were involved in fraudulent mobilisation process with fake statement of results. Read more
Don’t blame us for Navy’s illegal detention of 40 persons, NHRC tells Falana (Punch)
The National Human Rights Commission said on Sunday that an alleged attack on it by Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) over his claim of illegal detention of certain 40 persons by the Nigerian Navy was unwarranted. In a statement by the NHRC Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, Lambert Oparah, the commission said it was not to blame for the alleged illegal detention. Although, the statement condemned the alleged illegal detention, it said it was not its duty to enforce the court order for the detainees’ release. Read more
Council head sues for peace among Bodija market leaders (Punch)
Mrs. Romoke Opabunmi, the acting Head of Local Government Administration, Aare Latoosa Local Council Development Area, Ibadan, has appealed to the warring factions in the Bodija Market leadership tussle to embrace peace. This was contained in a statement issued by the council’s Head of Information Unit, Yetunde Oladepo-Fadipe and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Ibadan. Read more
25 escape death in Anambra auto crashes –FRSC (Punch)
No fewer than 25 passengers including four children on Sunday narrowly escaped death in two separate auto crashes that occurred in Awka and Onitsha, Anambra State. Mr Ayodele Kumapayi, State Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, who confirmed the incidents, told the News Agency of Nigeria that eight persons, however, sustained injuries. Kumapayi said the Onitsha accident involved two vehicles, a Toyota Lexus car with registration number ABH 178 RC and Toyota Corolla car with registration number FST 555 AJ. Read more
Police says none of its stations was burnt in Enugu (Nation)
The Police Command in Enugu State said no police station was burnt in the state as being speculated in the social media. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Ebere Amaraizu, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Sunday. Amaraizu, however, said that some hoodlums that pretended to come to report a matter in Ikirike Police Station, suddenly attacked the station located within Enugu South Local Government Area at about 8 a.m. Read more
Two vehicle ‘brainbox’ thieves apprehended in Lagos (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two suspects, who specialise in vandalising vehicles and stealing their Engine Control Units (popularly called brainboxes in Nigeria). The suspects, Sodiq Musa, 28, and Saidu Atiku, 34, were arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad at No. 27 Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, with three Toyota vehicle ECUs, while the third suspect, Ridwan Adamu, escaped with the fourth ECU. Read more
12 killed in attacks by cattle rustlers in Kenya (Punch)
At least 12 people, including three children, were killed in two attacks in northern Kenya at the weekend by cattle rustlers suspected to be from the Borana ethnic group, Kenyan police said Sunday. The attacks on two villages in Kenya’s Marsabit County near the border with Ethiopia were on cattle breeders from the Gabra ethnic group, long-time rivals of the Borana, police said in a statement. Read more
Rohingya crisis: Rallies mark two years of exile in Bangladesh (BBC)
Tens of thousands of Rohingya held demonstrations inside their refugee camps in Bangladesh on Sunday, two years after their exodus. Nearly 750,000 fled their native Rakhine state in Myanmar in August 2017 as a violent crackdown on the ethnic group surged. On Thursday, Bangladesh set up a voluntary return scheme – but not a single Rohingya decided to leave. Read more
Mum beaten unconscious after ex spotted her from car window (Metro)
A woman was beaten so badly by her ex-boyfriend who saw her by chance in the street that she needed screws and metal plates inserted into her face. Douglas Bell saw his former partner from a car in the street as she walked home with her two-year-old daughter. After knocking her unconscious Bell, 32, picked Gemma, 30, up off the ground, put her in his vehicle along with the child, and drove her three miles to his home. Read more
Sharks and rays to be given new international protections (BBC)
Countries have agreed to strengthen protections for 18 threatened species of sharks and rays, including those hunted for their meat and fins. The proposal was passed at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) on Sunday. The newly protected species include mako sharks, wedgefishes and guitarfishes. A demand for shark fin soup is one of the driving factors in the depleting numbers of sharks in the ocean. Read more
Kit Harington reunites with Game Of Thrones’ Richard Madden as Eternals character revealed (Metro)
After speculation mounted last week Kit Harington would be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s been confirmed he’s in the Eternals lineup. With the D23 expo over the weekend adding more juice to the upcoming fourth phase of the MCU, Kit’s role in the upcoming epic alongside his Game Of Thrones brother Richard Madden has been revealed. The actor has been cast as Dane Whitman, who in the comics is the superhero Black Knight. Read more
Angelina Jolie is now a YouTuber as she joins platform (Metro)
Angelina Jolie has joined YouTube in the latest celebrity to become a video star. Is she gunning for PewDiePie’s 100million subscribers? Not really, the 44-year-old actress has joined the platform to share some worthy pursuits she has outside of her Hollywood films. That and in a week she’s gained nearly 5,000, which is a tad behind Felix Kjellberg’s impressive following. Read more
Tokyo 2020: Nigeria’s women seek Olympic football return (BBC)
Nigeria women’s coach Thomas Dennerby has named 18 locally-based players in a 24-woman squad to face Algeria in their two-legged 2020 Olympic qualifier. The established six overseas players, including Asisat Oshoala, Ngozi Okobi, Ngozi Ebere, Rasheedat Ajibade, Francisca Ordega and Oshinachi Ohale are all included as the Super Falcons seek to return to the Games after missing the 2012 and 2016 editions. Read more
Joelinton gives Bruce first Newcastle win (BBC)
Club record signing Joelinton’s first goal in English football gave Newcastle United a surprise win at Tottenham – and Steve Bruce his first Premier League points as their manager. The Brazilian striker took advantage of sleepy Tottenham defending to control substitute Christian Atsu’s through pass beautifully before drilling past Hugo Lloris. Atsu, sent on after Allan Saint-Maximin had to go off with an early hamstring injury, provided the assist with his first significant contribution. Read more
Newcastle’s Steve Bruce hopes win against Tottenham ‘shuts people up’ (BBC)
Newcastle’s 1-0 win at Tottenham will “hopefully shut a few people up”, says manager Steve Bruce. Record signing Joelinton’s first-half goal was enough for the Magpies to earn their first league win of the season. Bruce, who replaced Rafael Benitez this summer, has been criticised by some fans since the start of the season. Read more
Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta praises ‘amazing’ Tammy Abraham after brace against Norwich (Metro)
Cesar Azpilicueta has showered Tammy Abraham with praise after the striker’s double secured a 3-2 win for Chelsea away to Norwich. Chelsea were without a win ahead of their trip to Carrow Road, but Frank Lampard will be hoping Saturday’s narrow victory marks a turning point for his side. Abraham returned to the starting XI after losing his place to Olivier Giroud and youngster repaid Lampard’s faith with a composed first-time finish past Tim Krul after only three minutes. Read more
AC Milan make poor start in Serie A with Udinese loss (Guardian)
AC Milan stumbled at the first hurdle with a 1-0 loss at Udinese in their opening game of the Serie A season on Sunday as the hosts’ new Brazilian signing Rodrigo Becao scored a second-half winner. AC Milan finished fifth last season, missing out on Champions League qualification, and have been banned from this season’s Europa League for financial fair play rules. Read more
Mbappe & Cavani injured in PSG victory (BBC)
Paris St-Germain lost Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani to injury as the French champions comfortably beat Toulouse. Cavani was forced off after 14 minutes, while Mbappe pulled up in the second half with a thigh problem. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting – Cavani’s replacement – broke the deadlock, before Mathieu Goncalves put through his own net. Read more
Sub Vitolo strikes as Atletico Madrid win again (Punch)
Atletico Madrid maintained their perfect start in La Liga with another 1-0 victory on Sunday, this time over Leganes as Vitolo came off the bench to score a second-half winner at Butarque. After beating Getafe last weekend by the same scoreline, Atletico have begun the season in familiar fashion, with efficiency trumping invention despite an ambitious set of summer signings. Read more
Mark Lawrenson admits he’s ‘worried’ about Adrian after Liverpool’s victory over Arsenal (Metro)
Mark Lawrenson has confessed he’s ‘worried’ about Adrian after a shaky start to the goalkeeper’s Liverpool career. While Adrian was Liverpool’s hero in the Super Cup after stepping in for the injured Alisson, he has struggled since, with the Reds yet to keep a clean sheet in the Premier League. After he was at fault for Danny Ings’ strike away at Southampton last weekend, the 32-year-old almost gifted Arsenal an opener on Saturday after rushing off his line and clearing poorly. Read more
Mihajlovic back in dugout for Bologna after 41 nights in hospital having cancer treatment (BBC)
Bologna manager Sinisa Mihajlovic made an emotional return to the dugout after being diagnosed with leukaemia just six weeks ago. The 50-year-old Serb oversaw a 1-1 draw in Bologna’s opening Serie A game of the season at Hellas Verona. Mihajlovic, who has vowed to “win this battle”, is having chemotherapy. He promised his players he would be with them for the first game and he made it after spending the last 41 nights in hospital. Read more
Andy Murray to face French player in Mallorca (Punch)
Former world number one Andy Murray will attempt to win the first singles match of his injury comeback on Monday against a teenage player who has scraped just $150 in career earnings. Murray has shunned the bright lights of the US Open in New York to play in a second-tier Challenger event in Mallorca at the tennis academy run by Rafael Nadal. Read more
Vuelta a Espana: Quintana wins stage two of La Vuelta as Roche gains red jersey (BBC)
Nairo Quintana laid down a marker for his credentials to win the Vuelta a Espana with victory on stage two of the race. Quintana held off the challenge of Ireland’s Nicolas Roche and Primoz Roglic to win by five seconds after 199.6km in the saddle. But Roche holds the leader’s red jersey by two seconds from Quintana. The Colombian is chasing a second success over the three-week race in Spain, having won in 2016. Read more
