Kuje invasion: ISWAP claims responsibility, frees Kaduna train attack masterminds (Punch)
Scores of gunmen believed to be terrorists on Tuesday night bombed the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abuja, which was being guarded by dozens of soldiers, Department of State operatives, police officers and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel.
During the attack which began around 10:22 pm, the terrorists released 600 inmates, including 15 deadly Boko Haram commanders who masterminded the March 28 attack on the Kaduna-Abuja train at Katari, Kaduna, in which eight persons were killed and over 68 passengers kidnapped.
The Islamic State West Africa Province claimed responsibility for the attack in a 30-second video which showed the gunmen setting ablaze vehicles parked in the facility.
The spokesman, Nigeria Correctional Service, Umar Abubakar, confirmed that an NSCDC officer, Insp. Illyasu Abraham, three terrorists and four inmates died in the incident. Read more
‘Why actress Funke Akindele was chosen as Lagos PDP deputy governorship candidate’ (DailyTrust)
Popular Nollywood actress Funke Akindele, popularly known as ‘Jenifa’, has finally been chosen as the running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Lagos.
She emerged as the deputy governorship candidate, beating five other nominees for the position.
Multiple sources close to the party’s governorship candidate in the state, Dr Abdul Azeez Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor and the leadership of the party in the state confirmed the development.
It was gathered that the running mate would be unveiled at an event to be held soon. Read more
FAAN to close domestic runway 18L/36R for repairs (Vanguard)
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has concluded an arrangement to complete the installation of CAT III Airfield Ground Lighting system on Runway 18L/36R at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.
Mrs Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, the Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, said in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos that the closure was part of efforts aimed at improving safety and efficiency of flight operations.
Hope-Ivbaze said that the project, which would commence effectively on Friday, was expected to last for 90 days.
She said that consequently, Runway 18L/36R would be closed to flight operations during this time. Read more
Why fuel scarcity will persist in Abuja, others – FG (Leadership)
The federal government has said the ongoing fuel scarcity will persist in Abuja and some major cities because marketers prefer to sell above the official pump price of N165 per litre.
The minister of state for petroleum resources, Tmipreye Sylva, who disclosed this to State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, noted that selling above the official pump price obtains in the hard-hit towns.
FEC also approved a total sum of N2.449 billion for projects in the Ministries of Petroleum Resources and Environment.
The minister of environment, Muhammed Abdullahi, who also briefed journalists after the meeting, said the Council awarded the contract for consultancy services and design of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration with an Integrated Contaminated Soil Management Centre at the sum of N449,250,040.50 (VAT inclusive). Read more
Air Force jets reportedly bombs Katsina community by mistake (Guardian)
There are fears that lives may have been lost and several others injured after jets belonging to the Nigeria Air Force (NAF), were reported to have bombed Kunkuna village, in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The incident reportedly took place at about 11:00 pm on Tuesday, shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari’s advance team convoy was attacked by terrorists along the Dutsinma -Yantumaki road, in the Dutsinma council area.
Dutsinma shares borders with Safana council area, and terrorists who operate in Dutsinma are often known to escape to Safana where the dreaded Zakka forest is located.
Zakka forest extends into Zamfara state, and there are reports that forests within these areas are terrorists’ enclaves. Read more
Business guide booklet will assist entrepreneurs – Lagos govt (Punch)
The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund has said the recently unveiled Business Entry Guides booklet will serve as a practical guide for start-ups and add value to entrepreneurs in poultry, fashion and recycling business.
A statement signed by LSETF and GIZ-SEDIN said the booklet would also provide important business regulations in a single document and accessible format.
It said during the unveiling, entrepreneurs in poultry, fashion and recycling businesses were trained on how to start and make progress in their businesses.
Director, Strategy, Funding and Stakeholder Management, LSETF, Ojei Sheila, said, “In line with this objective, GIZ SEDIN, a programme with the overall objective to improve the employment and income situation of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and LSETF, an MSMEs support and employment promotion agency of Lagos State, contracted FATE Foundation to gather, co-create and sensitise MSMEs in the state on important regulations affecting their business operations as well as other relevant information regarding entry, start-up costs, available funding options, business associations, cooperatives, and markets for products or services in select sectors as well as relevant information on support and opportunities for returning migrants and women entrepreneurs in Lagos State.’’ Read more
Kidnapped Catholic priests rescued in Edo (Punch)
The two Catholic priests, Rev Fr Udo Peter of St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Uromi and Rev Fr Philemon Oboh of St Joseph Retreat Centre Ugboha, who were kidnapped on Saturday night in Edo, have been rescued.
The clerics were rescued in the early hours of Wednesday and were brought to the Edo State Government House, where they were received by the Acting Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu.
According to the Chief Press Secretary of the Acting Governor, Musa Ebomhiana, the rescue operation was carried out by a joint security force, noting that the Governor was glad to receive the rescued clerics.
He noted that no ransom was paid and said Shaibu commended the security operatives for the swift response. Read more
Enang counsels APC leadership on Akwa Ibom chapter’s crisis (Nation)
A former presidential aide and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom State, Senator Ita Enang, has cautioned the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to avoid a repeat of what he called the Zamfara episode, which will prevent the party from having candidates in the 2023 general election.
Enang stated this in a letter, dated July 5, 2022, to the APC National Chairman, titled: Akwa Ibom APC’s Fruitless Primaries and ‘No Candidates’ Challenges: Electoral Act 2022, Our ‘Bigger than the Law’ Posturing and Not INEC is Our Problem.
The letter was copied to President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, APC presidential flag bearer Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Progressive Governors Forum Chairman and Kebbi State Governor Abubakar Bagudu, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), members of APC NWC and INEC Chairman.
Enang said Section 84 (1) stipulates that nomination congress shall be monitored by INEC, adding that the electoral body did not monitor the purported congresses that produced the candidates of the Stephen Ntukepo-led executive, and could not be obliged to file the products thereof. Read more
Boris Johnson remains defiant and refuses to quit despite Cabinet mutiny (Metro)
Boris Johnson remains ‘absolutely defiant’ and has no intention of resigning despite support for his leadership crumbling in Westminster.
The Prime Minister was in Number 10 on Thursday night, where a delegation of Cabinet ministers confronted him and told him his time was up.
Home Secretary Priti Patel was said to have been one of them, conveying to the PM the ‘overwhelming view’ of the parliamentary party.
She was joined by new Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis and Welsh Secretary Simon Hart. Read more
Cheer Star Jerry Harris sentenced to 12 years in federal prison in child pornography case (People)
Jerry Harris, who previously starred in the Netflix docuseries Cheer, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for child pornography charges.
Harris, 22, was handed the sentence on Wednesday, USA Today reports.
Harris appeared in court for the sentencing where his close friends and family spoke about his integrity and character, per TMZ.
After serving 12 years, Harris will complete eight years of a court-supervised release, Joseph D. Fitzpatrick, assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, told NBC News. Read more
Upside Down Pictures announced as new company from Stranger Things creators (BelfastTelegraph)
The brothers behind the hit Netflix series Stranger Things have formed a new production company with several new supernatural projects already in the pipeline.
Matt and Ross Duffer, who also executive produced the series, have formed the company to develop film and television projects as part of their overall deal with the streaming giant.
It is called Upside Down Pictures in reference to the infamous and sinister Upside Down realm in Stranger Things.
Sharing a sneak peek at upcoming projects, Netflix revealed that several live-action adaptations were in the works as well as a stage play set in the world of their popular show. Read more
The teen behind the ‘Gentleminions’ trend says the viral video was inspired by childhood nostalgia (NBC)
Bill Hirst knows people may get confused seeing young moviegoers walking around in suits to see “Minions: The Rise of Gru.”
But the teenager behind the “Gentleminions,” which has become the latest viral social media trend on TikTok, said the act was not meant to offend or confuse people. It was just something fun that he and his friends decided to do that unexpectedly blew up.
“I think the trend would’ve happened with or without me, but I think our TikTok made it more viral than it would’ve been,” Hirst, 18, said in an interview. “I think it was a really great promotion for the minions.”
Once thought of as the cringiest content on the internet, the Minions from the “Despicable Me” franchise have been reclaimed by Gen Z after videos like Hirst’s have spread across TikTok. As of Wednesday afternoon, his TikTok, which features him attending the film in suits with his friends, had amassed more than 36.6 million views and more than 8.7 million likes. Read more
Founding Nazareth guitarist Manny Charlton dead at 80 (LounderSound)
Nazareth founding guitarist Manny Charlton has died at the age of 80. The news was confirmed in a message to Classic Rock from Nazareth bassist Pete Agnew.
Charlton was born in Andalusia in southern Spain in 1941, but moved with his family to Scotland as a child. He joined the fledging Nazareth in 1968 alongside Agnew, vocalist Dan McCafferty and drummer Darrell Sweet. His appointment spurred the band to discard the strait-jacketed Top 40 mentality of the Scottish ballroom circuit and work on their own material.
“When Manny joined, he was the first guy to suggest writing songs of our own,” Agnew told Classic Rock. “We’d never even thought of it ’til then, because they employed you as a human jukebox. Then suddenly Zeppelin, Purple and Spooky Tooth started to appear, and a whole range of possibilities opened up.”
Charlton would go on to play on every Nazareth album from the band’s self-titled debut in 1971 until 1989’s Snakes ‘N’ Ladders, adding production duties for 1974’s Hair Of The Dog after Deep Purple’s Roger Glover had worked on the previous three albums. Read more
Nicki Minaj’s husband sentenced to probation after failing to register as sex offender (PageSix)
Nicki Minaj’s husband, Kenneth Petty, has been sentenced to three years probation and a year in home detention after failing to register as a sex offender in Los Angeles, multiple outlets report.
According to CBS News, Petty, 44, was sentenced on Wednesday after pleading guilty to the federal charge last year.
Per the US Attorney’s Office, he was also ordered to pay a $55,000 fine.
As Page Six previously reported, Petty was arrested in March 2020 after he was ordered to register as a sex offender in California in November 2019 and failed to do so. Read more
FBI, MI5 heads issue joint warning on China’s threat to Western security (ABC)
The heads of the FBI and MI5 have joined forces to warn that China poses the biggest long-term threat to the security of the US, the UK and their allies.
FBI director Christopher Wray reaffirmed longstanding concerns in denouncing economic espionage and hacking operations by China as well as the Chinese government’s efforts to stifle dissent abroad.
But his speech was notable because it took place at MI5’s London headquarters and alongside the British domestic intelligence agency’s director-general, Ken McCallum, in an intended show of Western solidarity.
“We consistently see that it’s the Chinese government that poses the biggest long-term threat to our economic and national security, and by ‘our,’ I mean both of our nations, along with our allies in Europe and elsewhere,” Mr Wray said.
Injured Oshoala ruled out of WAFCON (Punch)
Super Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala, has been ruled out of the ongoing 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, The PUNCH reports.
Oshoala suffered a Grade 2 medial ligament strain in the sixth minute of the Falcons’ 2-1 loss to Banyana Banyana on Monday and will be out for an initial five-week period.
According to a statement from the Communication Department of the Nigeria Football Federation, the 27-year-old will be out of action for two to three weeks, with another one or two weeks period for recovery.
The Barcelona Feminine forward is expected to fly out of Morocco on Thursday (today) after medics at her club advised that she returned to Spain. Read more
Jack Wilshere reveals he has left Danish club AGF after less than five months (DailyMail)
Jack Wilshere has left Danish club AGF after less than five months, admitting that it was ‘mutually agreed’ he would move on this summer and search for a new side.
Midfielder Wilshere, 30, joined the Danish Superliga outfit in February after enduring a career hit by several injury problems, but played just 14 league games.
He had been released by Bournemouth in 2021 at the end of his short-term contract, and went on to train with his former club Arsenal, as well as Como in Italy.
However, he is once again a free agent, and has penned a post to explain his exit. Read more
Euro 2022: England call on fans to keep bringing the noise after record crowd in opening win (ESPN)
Georgia Stanway called on England supporters to continue bringing “the noise” to “rattle” the opposition as they look to build on their 1-0 opening night win over Austria in the 2022 European Championships.
The match at Old Trafford was played out to a record crowd for a women’s Euros match, with 68,871 supporters cheering on England. Stanway was named Player of the Match for an impressive showing in the middle of the park, as Beth Mead scored England’s winner in the 16th minute to give Sarina Wiegman’s team a key victory to get their campaign off and running.
And post-match, Stanway called on England’s faithful to continue backing the team.
“We need that at every single game,” Stanway said. “Bring the noise. It can rattle opposition!” Read more
Elena Rybakina reveals her plan for Simona Halep match at Wimbledon (TennisWorld)
World No. 23 Elena Rybakina called Simona Halep “a great champion” and said she will try to focus on her game when she meets the Romanian at Wimbledon. On Wednesday, Rybakina recovered from a set down to beat Ajla Tomljanovic 4-6 6-2 6-2 and reach her maiden Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon.
In the semifinal, Rybakina is set to face Halep – who has won five matches in straight sets this fortnight. “It was a very tough match. I remember in Dubai I lost in the tiebreak, very close. At the US Open also, there I was a bit injured.
In the end I just know that I have to play till the end because she’s a great fighter. No matter the score, just keep focusing on my game, on my plan. Just be more stable and also confident in some moments,” Rybakina said of facing Halep, per the WTA website.
“The key, of course, is my serve, aggressive game. She’s a great champion. She’s moving really well, reading the game. I just try to do my best, focus on things which I can control: my serve, my shots, emotions. No matter what’s happening, just to stay calm, keep playing point by point.” Read more
Heat, Caleb Martin agree on 3-year, $20.4M deal (NBC)
Caleb Martin is coming off the best season of his career, and the Miami Heat are giving him three more years as a reward.
Martin agreed to a three-year contract on Wednesday, one that will start with the forward making $6.5 million this coming season and be worth $20.4 million over the full three years, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the Heat had not yet announced the signing of the deal.
Martin is coming off his third NBA season, his first in Miami, and set career bests in a slew of categories. He averaged 9.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 60 games with the Heat, shooting 51% from the floor. Read more
Rory McIlroy: Ian Poulter ‘wrong’ to take DP Tour to court over joining LIV Golf (NYPost)
Rory McIlroy has voiced his disapproval of Ian Poulter taking the DP World Tour to court.
McIlroy and Poulter are friends and have been Ryder Cup teammates, but the former disagrees with how the latter has gone about his business after Poulter sued the DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour) for the right to compete in the Scottish Open despite signing up to join Saudi-backed LIV Golf.
“I think at this stage, if you’ve gone over to play on another tour then go and play on that tour,” McIlroy told the BBC. “You’ve basically left all your peers behind to make more money, which is fine.
“But just stay over there. Don’t try to come back and play over here again. The whole cake-and-eat-it type of attitude is what the resentment stems from within the PGA Tour and DP World Tour membership. That’s the tricky part.” Read more
Halep reaches Wimbledon semis as revival continues (BBC)
Former champion Simona Halep’s revival continued as she reached the Wimbledon semi-finals with another rapid win over American Amanda Anisimova.
Romania’s Halep, seeded 16th, considered quitting last year because of injury but the 2019 champion is now one more win from another SW19 final.
Halep, 30, beat 20th seed Anisimova 6-2 6-4 in one hour and three minutes.
The two-time Grand Slam champion will play Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, who beat Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic.
“It’s great to be back in the semi-finals, I’m very emotional right now,” said Halep, who has won her past 12 matches at Wimbledon. Read more