June 12: We’re not aware of planned protest in Lagos – Police (Vanguard)
The Police Command in Lagos State says it is not aware of any planned protests by any group/groups on June 12 Democracy Day.
The command has also assured residents of safety during the June 12 celebrations.
The spokesman of the command, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said this in a statement on Friday.
The statement emanated from the meeting of Commissioner of police in Lagos, CP Hakeem Odumosu and senior officers in preparation for the democracy day anniversary.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that controversy trailed the planned nationwide protests called by some activists in the country over challenges in the nation. Read more
Disregard any sit-at-home order, directsLagos CP (ThisDay)
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has asked Lagosians to disregard any sit-at-home order by any group who intends to carry out a protest in the state in commemoration of the 2021 Democracy Day today as the command was not aware of any planned protest in the state.
The commissioner gave this directive yesterday, via a signed statement by the Command’s spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
CP Odumosu asked Lagosians to “disregard any sit-at-home order called by certain groups which is being circulated in the social media and go about their lawful businesses as the police and other security agencies have made necessary arrangements to maintain law and order across the state.”
In another development, the statement also revealed that the Commissioner of Police had formed special squads to go after traffic robbers who had been terrorising innocent members of the state, and rid the state of such “miscreants.” Read more
June 12, time to reflect, assess true democracy in Nigeria – Sanwo-Olu (Vanguard)
Lagos State Governor, Bababjide Sanwo-Olu, has said that June 12 serves as a time to reflect and ask how welll democracy has been served to the masses in Nigeria.
Sanwo-Olu, made the remarks on Friday, in his goodwill message to residents to commemorate 2021June 12, Democracy Day in the state.
The governor, however, urged public office holders to deliver dividends of democracy to the citizens, saying June 12 has provided an opportunity for him and his colleagues to re-echo their oath of office.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the ongoing constitutional reform should be a true representation and reflection of what Nigerians are agitating for. Read more
We’ve moved towards better Nigeria and greater democracy – Tinubu (Guardian)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has said that despite the challenges facing the country today, Nigeria has moved towards a better and greater democracy.
Tinubu made this known yesterday as he joined other Nigerians to celebrate this year’s Democracy Day.
The former Lagos State governor, in a statement, noted that the book of the life of the nation has many chapters already written and many more yet to be written.
He stated that one of the most profound and inspiring accounts that would be written of Nigerian history would be the chapter on how the country moved from the darkness of authoritarian military suppression into the light of democracy and the establishment of a popular government based on the sovereign will of the people. Read more
LASIEC confirms APC, PDP, APGA,11 other political parties for July 24 LG polls (Vanguard)
Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), on Friday, released list of 14 political parties that submitted nomination forms to contest in the July 24, 2021 Local Goverment elections in Lagos.
The exercise is scheduled to take place in 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs of the state
According to LASIEC Chairman, Retired Justice Ayotunde Philips, the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, collected nomination forms but did not submit.
The list of the political parties as arranged alphabetically, are: ACCORD, ACTION ALLI, ADP, AAC, APC, APGA, APM, BOOT, LABOUR, NRM, NNPP, PDP, SDP and YPP.
Recall that LASIEC had earlier in May, unveiled guidelines for the forthcoming local government elections. Read more
Immigration hands over mentally unstable returnee to family at Lagos airport (Sun)
Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos Command, has handed over a mentally unstable Nigerian, Adepoju Oluwatoyin Ruth, who arrived the country from Muscat in Oman aboard Egypt Air on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 to her sister Adepoju Olamide at the airport.
The returnee’s name was erroneously given as Olajide Oluwatoyin Ruth by Egypt Air, and could not be traced in the immigration system. But the command was able to sort out her real names from its system and contacted her father, a resident of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The father then directed her sister who is based in Ibadan, Oyo state to pick her up. On arrival at the airport, the Command interrogated her sister, Olamide to ascertain her identity, but it was learnt that the returnee immediately was incoherent in communication but immigration officers of the command were able to obtain the necessary information from her. Read more
Wike orders destruction of criminal hideouts in Rivers (Guardian)
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has ordered the destruction of all criminal hideouts in Ahoada, Elele, Eleme and Onne areas of the state.
The governor said criminals were already coming to terms with the reality that Rivers State was too hot for them to invade at will and attack targeted security posts and personnel.
Wike gave the directive in a state broadcast yesterday, disclosing that the state government had identified the hideouts, safe houses and secret places that provide both cover and comfort for the hoodlums to plan, execute and hide after their operations.
“This was the reason we ordered the destruction of all the shanties and makeshift structures located along Elele to Ahoada expanse of the East-West road to deny the criminals the opportunity to continue to undermine our security from these hideouts. Read more
How fiancé killed NSCDC officer for ritual, offered N5m to silence me –Herbalist (Punch)
A native doctor, Rafiu Afolabi, has narrated how Christopher Akpan, the fiancé of an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Josephine Onche, allegedly killed the woman for money ritual.
Afolabi, a 67-year-old man from Saki, Oyo State, said after killing Onche, Akpan offered him N5m to silence him but said he was only given N50,000.
Afolabi narrated the story after operatives of the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police Force recently arrested him and Akpan for alleged murder.
Onche’s family on December 20, 2019, declared the 45-year-old missing after going to the market to buy some items for her wedding. About 18 months later, her remains were found on May 27, 2021 in a shallow grave near Otukpo, Obi Local Government Area of Benue State. Read more
June 12: N’Delta group disassociates self from planned nationwide protest (Vanguard)
A Niger Delta group, Niger Delta Youth Congress, NDYC, Friday, disassociated self from planned protest on Saturday June 12 across the country by some groups as Nigerians commemorate 2021 Democracy Day.
This was contained in a statement signed by the National Coordinator, NDYC, Comrade Israel Uwejeyan, where it raised the alarm over plans by hoodlums to hijack protest across the country, especially in the Niger Delta region, to create chaos and civil unrest that could be bloody.
According to the statement, with information gathered there are planned moves to hijack the protest by miscreants who are sponsored by unscrupulous politicians who are bent to set the country on fire.
The group also expressed concern that innocent Nigerians are already apprehensive and talking in groups about the information flying around about bloody hijack of the protest, and urged secret officials to act swiftly on available information to prevent any possible breakdown of law and order. Read more
Teen who filmed George Floyd’s murder given journalism award (BBC)
A teenager who filmed the murder of George Floyd by a white police officer has been given a special journalism award by the Pulitzer Prize board.
Darnella Frazier, now 18, was awarded the citation for her courage, the Pulitzer committee said.
Her film spurred protests for racial justice around the world and was used as evidence in the trial that convicted police officer Derek Chauvin.
The Pulitzers are the most prestigious journalism awards in the US. Read more
No jab, no phone: Unvaccinated to have SIM cards blocked, Pakistan’s Punjab govt says (RT)
Punjab’s provincial government is turning to coercive measures to increase participation in its Covid-19 vaccination program, after unveiling plans to disable the SIM cards of people who decline to get jabbed.
The extreme decision was made during a meeting of high-ranking civil and military officials chaired by Punjab Health Minister Yasmin Rashid.
Rashid said that the policy would disable SIM cards belonging to those who fail to get vaccinated “beyond a certain time.”
“We are doing all we can to compel people to get vaccinated… The government cannot allow individuals, who do not want to get vaccinated, to risk lives of those who are already vaccinated,” the health minister told Pakistan’s Express Tribune. Read more
Multi-faith marches, vigils held in response to London attack (CBC)
A few thousand people marched in London, Ont., on Friday night in a multi-faith show of support and solidarity in response to a June 6 attack that killed four members of a Muslim family.
Starting at 7 pm ET, people began to gather near the site of the fatal hit and run in northwest London that killed four members of the Afzaal family.
From there, marchers began to walk together along a seven-kilometre route from the crash site on Hyde Park and South Carriage Roads to the London Muslim Mosque on Oxford Street. The march was to be followed by a moment of silence at 8:40 p.m., the same time as the attack on Sunday.
Madiha Salman, 44, her husband, Salman Afzaal, 46, their 15-year-old daughter, Yumna Afzaal, and Salman’s 74-year-old mother, Talat Afzaal, died after they were run down by a pickup truck June 6 while on one of their regular evening walks. The lone survivor is nine-year-old Fayez. Read more
Humpback whale gulps and spits out Cape Cod lobsterman (BBC)
A US lobsterman has been describing how he escaped being swallowed by a humpback whale.
Michael Packard says he was diving when he ended up in the marine giant’s mouth for about 30-40 seconds off Provincetown, Massachusetts.
The leviathan spat him out and Mr Packard was left with nothing more than a suspected dislocated knee.
Despite his wife’s pleas to get another job, he has no plans of giving up a 40-year career diving off Cape Cod. Read more
“Game Of Thrones”’ Jonathan Pryce awarded knighthood for services to drama and charity in Queen’s Birthday Honours (Metro)
Jonathan Pryce has been awarded a knighthood for his services to drama and charity.
The Game Of Thrones star has been recognised for his acting talents and charity work in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
The 74-year-old has said that the arts show ‘the importance of debate and tolerance’ as he received his honour.
In a statement, he explained: ‘That the UK continues to honour those that work in the arts acknowledges the great contribution artists make to the way we live our lives. Read more
Chinese rover and lander pose for portraits on Mars (CBC)
The dusty, rocky Martian surface and a Chinese rover and lander bearing small national flags were seen in photos released Friday that the rover took on the Red Planet.
The four pictures released by the China National Space Administration also show the upper stage of the Zhurong rover and the view from the rover before it rolled off its platform.
Zhurong placed a remote camera about 10 metres (33 feet) from the landing platform, then withdrew to take a group portrait, the CNSA said.
The landscape of Mars captured by Chinese rover Zhurong is seen in this image. (CNSA/Reuters)
China landed the Tianwen-1 spacecraft carrying the rover on Mars last month, after it spent about three months orbiting the Red Planet. China is the second country to land and operate a spacecraft on Mars, after the United States.
The orbiter and lander both display small Chinese flags and the lander has outlines of the mascots for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Read more
Rose Byrne to play New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern in movie based on Christchurch attack (Metro)
Australian actress Rose Byrne is set to portray New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in the upcoming film, They Are Us.
According to Deadline, the movie will tell the story of the harrowing week following two mass shootings at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2019, which left 51 people dead.
Several members of the mosques affected by the attack are said to have been consulted for the project which will be written and directed by Andrew Niccol.
New Zealander Niccol told the publication: ‘They Are Us is not so much about the attack but the response to the attack [and] how an unprecedented act of hate was overcome by an outpouring of love and support. Read more
French Open 2021: Novak Djokovic beats Rafael Nadal & faces Stefanos Tsitsipas in final (BBC)
Novak Djokovic ended Rafael Nadal’s reign at the French Open with a four-set win in a classic semi-final which will be ranked among the all-time great matches on the Roland Garros clay.
Serbian top seed Djokovic won 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 against Nadal, champion in each of the past four years.
Nadal, going for a record-extending 14th title, lost at Roland Garros for only the third time in 108 matches.
Djokovic, 34, must now recover to play Stefanos Tsitsipas in Sunday’s final.
The 22-year-old Greek reached his first Grand Slam final by beating German sixth seed Alexander Zverev in a five-set epic earlier on Friday. Read more
Ciro Immobile inspires impressive Italy in Turkey thrashing in Euro 2020 opener (Metro)
Italy made an impressive start to the postponed Euro 2020 as they beat Turkey 3-0 in the Group A opener.
An own goal from Merih Demiral gave Roberto Mancini’s side the lead early in the second half before Lazio striker Ciro Immobile put them in total control after 66 minutes.
Immobile had a hand in the third, laying the ball off to Napoli’s Lorenzo Insigne who delightfully curled home to wrap up a resounding first win.
Mancini – the former Manchester City manager – had promised his side would provide entertainment at this tournament and entertain they did. Read more
Ronaldo ‘more motivated than ever’ to retain Euro 2020 title with new group of Portugal stars (RT)
Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed his motivation to lift the European Championship trophy once again this summer, ahead of the multi-city tournament which is due to get underway in Rome later this evening.
Portugal get the defense of the title they won in France in 2016 underway against Hungary on Tuesday evening, and Ronaldo revealed that he is “as motivated or even more than in 2004 when I played my first European tournament” to Canal 11.
Like Les Bleus, Portugal were then on home soil and failed to deliver the trophy to their countrymen.
Despite boasting one of their best-ever generations containing a budding Ronaldo plus the likes of Luis Figo and Rui Costa, they were beaten in the final by an unfancied Greece in heartbreaking fashion. Read more
Canada’s Jacqueline Simoneau golden again at artistic swimming Super Final (CBC)
Canada grabbed another pair of medals at the artistic swimming World Series Super Final on Friday in Barcelona, Spain.
Jacqueline Simoneau won her second straight gold medal, taking top spot in the women’s free solo event, while the Canadian team matched Thursday’s technical bronze in its free swim on Friday.
Simoneau, of Saint-Laurent, Que., earned a season high-score in the free event at 92.1. Known for using music to engage the audience, the 24-year-old swam to a song written by Michael Berger of a Canadian Rock Opera.
American Anita Alvarez took silver with 88.1332 points while Spain’s Mireia Hernandez Luna rounded out the podium at 86.3668. Read more
Claressa Shields: Double Olympic boxing champion wins on MMA debut (BBC)
Former Olympic boxing champion Claressa Shields recovered from two early take-downs to win her debut professional mixed martial arts contest.
The American beat compatriot Brittney Elkin by a third-round technical knockout in the Professional Fighters League match in Atlantic City.
Shields, 26, showed composure and patience to defeat the more experienced fighter.
“I feel like I am dreaming, this is crazy!” she said after the win.
Shields won Olympic gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016, and is the only boxer in history, female or male, to hold all four major world titles in boxing – WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO – simultaneously in two weight classes. Read more
Chesson Hadley jumps to 2-stroke lead over Dustin Johnson at Palmetto Championship (CBC)
Chesson Hadley is off to his best start on the PGA Tour since 2016, shooting a 5-under 66 on Friday for a two-stroke lead over Dustin Johnson in the Palmetto Championship at Congaree.
Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., (73) was the top Canadian at 2 under and Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., (75) was even par. David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., (73) and Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., (73) both missed the weekend cut at 4-over par.
Hadley was at 11-under 131 at Congaree Golf Club, his lowest total through 36 holes since the The RSM Classic in 2016.The top-ranked Johnson, who opened his afternoon round five shots behind early starter Hadley, was tied for the lead through 17 holes. Read more