Lagos: 4 killed in cult war (DailyTrust)
Four persons have been killed in two cult wars in the Ketu area of Lagos State.
A member of one of the gangs involved in the attacks, Sunday Tomoloju, has since been arrested.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Abiodun Alabi, confirmed the arrest, saying the cult war had been raging since February, 2022.
He said that on February 20, 2022, one Ayo Dada and two others were killed by a suspected rival cult gang at Ketu, Mile 12, Lagos, and that consequently one Sunday Tomoloju and other members of his cult group went on a reprisal mission. Read more
Arewa Community backs Lagos okada ban, seeks stricter border checks (Channels)
The Arewa community in Lagos has backed the state government’s ban on commercial motorcycles better known as Okada, asking security agencies to impose stricter border checks as a way of curbing the influx of foreigners.
In a communique issued by the association at the end of its Extraordinary General Meeting held in Lagos on Sunday, it said the move, which was taken last week, was not new.
“We resolved today unanimously that all our members must comply with the provisions of the laws of Lagos State. We are law-abiding and we will always continue to intimate all our members to continue to be law-abiding and operate only within the ambit of the law,” the group said in a statement signed by its Secretary-General Alhaji Musa Saleh.
“We support all measures taken by the Lagos State Government in its efforts towards protecting the life and properties of all Lagosians.” Read more
Lagos court jails 32-year-old environmental offender (Guardian)
Magistrate T. O. Fashina of a Lagos mobile court, Bolade, Oshodi, has sentenced a 32–year-old man, Abubakar Sanni, to three months imprisonment for environmental offences.
Sani was sentenced for posing under the guise of cart pushing, to vandalise and steal iron rods at Karim Kotun area of Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, who revealed this, yesterday, said: “The authority wants to make it clear that cart pushing remains outlawed in the state.
“The menace of cart pushers has led to the rise of indiscriminate waste disposal, coupled with the fact that criminal elements now hide under it to perpetuate their crimes.” Read more
Ex-convict returning from Brazilian prison arrested for importing cocaine (Punch)
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted 24 parcels of cocaine concealed in 12 tyres of lawnmowers imported into the country through the Port Harcourt International Airport.
The items were brought to Nigeria by a Brazilian returnee, Amaechi Okechukwu, who just finished serving his jail term for drug trafficking in Brazil.
A statement on Sunday by the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said the 45-year-old ex-convict from Idemili South LGA, Anambra State, was arrested at the Port Harcourt airport on Saturday, May 7, upon arrival from Brazil via Doha onboard a Qatar airline flight QR1433.
According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that Okechukwu, who was arrested and convicted in Brazil for drug offences, completed his jail sentence in March 2022, after which he decided to return to Nigeria with three new lawnmowers where he concealed 24 parcels of cocaine weighing 4.56kg. Read more
2023: I’m only one with capacity to unite Lagos PDP, rescue state from APC – Dosunmu (Independent)
Dr. Shamsudeen Ade Dosunmu, frontline Lagos State gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the flag bearer of the party in the 2011 governorship election in the State has said that he is the only gubernatorial aspirant who has the capacity to unite Lagos State PDP and rescue the state from the hold of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023.
Dosunmu who spoke yesterday on the occasion of his official declaration of his intention to contest the Lagos State governorship election said that the main reason he is in the race is to serve and save the state from profligacy, lack of accountability, general indiscipline, lack of respect for the right of others which the current government in the state epitomises.
When asked about the readiness of the party to unseat the ruling APC considering the disunity in the party which has worked against the party for many years in Lagos State, he said that he is the only aspirant who has the capacity to unite the party because he doesn’t belong to any faction.
He said, “My mission is to serve Lagosians by providing sustainable, reliable, efficient and high quality world-class infrastructural facilities that befit a megacity. I am committed to the restoration of the glory of Lagos as the pride of the nation. Read more
Police in Anambra confirm Okoye’s death (Guardian)
Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the death of a member representing Aguata II Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Okechukwu Okoye, who was abducted, last week, by unknown gunmen.
Spokesperson for the Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Tochukwu Ikenga, told newsmen, yesterday, that Okoye had been killed.
He said the lawmakers’ head was found along Nnobi road on Saturday, and that there is no suspect in custody yet. Recall that Okoye and his aide, Cyril Chiegboka, were kidnapped at Aguata and the Toyota Sienna car, they were driving was abandoned on the road.
Police later recovered the car, saying that they had deployed operatives to begin a manhunt and track the kidnappers. However, Okoye’s severed head was discovered at Chisco park in Amichi community, Anambra State. Read more
Nigerians react as Progress emerges winner of Nigerian Idol season 7 (Vanguard)
Nigerians are Reacting over the emergence of Progress as the winner of Nigerian Idol Season 7.
Progress was on Sunday declared the winner of the music competition by the show’s host, IK Osakioduwa.
The Nigerian singer and songwriter emerged as the winner of the show at the Grand Finale held in Lagos State after he peeped his colleague Zadok to the grand prize worth N100m.
According to the organisers of the show, the singer will walk away with 30 million naira, a brand new SUV, a recording deal and other exciting prices. Read more
1 killed as violence rocks PDP primaries in Bayelsa (ThisDay)
One person identified as a supporter of the PDP ,Michael Isaiah alias Tompolo, was shot dead in constituency 1 of Ogbia Local Government during the conduct of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) State House of Assembly primaries in the 24 constituencies of the State.
The incident, which occurred at about 4pm, was instigated during an argument over the authenticity of the delegate list to be used for voting between Hon Richard Ibegu and Jonathan Azibalamawal.
The constituency 1 seat ,which was previously occupied by Hon. Mieteme Obodo and now the Federal House of Representatives aspirant for primaries slated for tomorrow.
A former Commissioner of Information and strategy and leading aspirant for the Ogbia Federal Constituency ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Daniel Iworiso-Markson, condemned the killing of the young man. Read more
Falana, Utomi, others adopt Labour Party as third force (Punch)
The National Consultative Front on Sunday said it has adopted the Labour Party as the mega party for ‘3rd Force’ Stakeholders and Allies for next year’s elections.
The NCFront is the umbrella body of the ‘3rd Force’ Movement and Political Alternatives to the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party.
The adoption follows about 15 months of engagements which led to a reunion between the leadership of the Labour Movement and the hierarchy of the Labour Party; jointly led by President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba and the President of the Trade Union Congress, Quadri Olaleye.
According to a statement signed on Sunday by the Communications Executive of NCFront, Bilikis Bello, titled ‘At Last! Labour Party Emerges as ‘3rd Force’ Mega Party For 2023 Elections,’ the endorsement of the Labour Party by the ‘3rd Force’ Movement follows the success of recent meetings with separate political commissions of the NLC and the TUC with their allies such as the Femi Falana-led The Political Alternative Movement. Read more
Halsey accuses label of holding new single hostage over a fake ‘viral moment on TikTok’ (EW)
Halsey’s got new music she’s excited about but her fans may not get to hear it, at least in its entirety, anytime soon.
In a TikTok she posted Sunday morning, the singer claims she has a song that she loves and wants to release “ASAP” but “my record company is saying that I can’t release it unless they can fake a viral moment on TikTok.”
“Everything is marketing,” the post continues, with the unreleased song playing in the background, “And they are doing this to basically every artist these days.”
Noting that she just wants to “release music,” Halsey also pulls some receipts, adding that she’s been “in this industry eight years,” “sold over 165 million records,” and “deserves better.” Read more
Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers’ bows at no. 1 with year’s biggest 1st-week debut
(Variety)
Kendrick Lamar had the biggest debut of any album so far this year with “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers,” his first album in five years and his fourth to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
The truly long-awaited release came in hot with 295,500 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending May 19, according to Luminate via Billboard.
It’s the third straight week in which a new bar has been set for the best 2022 debut to date. Lamar claiming that record means Bad Bunny’s summer blockbuster, “Un Verano Sin Ti,” only had one week in which to hold the title; it debuted last week at No. 1 with 274,000 equivalent album units. The week before that, it was Future’s “I Never Liked You” premiering on top, with 222,000.
In the five years since he released 2017’s cultural shifter “Damn” (which spent four weeks atop the Billboard 200), Lamar became the first hip-hop artist to win the Pulitzer Prize, earned an Oscar nomination for his contribution to “Black Panther,” launched a media company, performed at the Super Bowl and announced his impending departure from the label TDE. Read more
Sam Neill says 20-year age difference with Jurassic Park costar Laura Dern ‘never occurred’ to him (People)
Laura Dern is reuniting with Sam Neill on the big screen nearly 30 years after first starring together in Jurassic Park.
The Academy Award winner, 55, told The Sunday Times that the nearly 20-year age difference between herself and Neill, 74, “felt completely appropriate” in the 1993 film, during which she was 23 and he was 42.
“I am 20 years older than Laura!” Neill said. “Which at the time was a completely appropriate age difference for a leading man and lady! It never occurred to me until I opened a magazine and there was an article called ‘Old Geezers and Gals.’ People like Harrison Ford and Sean Connery acting with much younger people. And there I was, on the list. I thought, ‘Come on. It can’t be true.’ “
“Well, it felt completely appropriate to fall in love with Sam Neill. And it was only now, when we returned in a moment of cultural awareness about the patriarchy, that I was, like, ‘Wow! We’re not the same age?'” Dern added. Read more
Box Office Milestone: ‘Doctor Strange 2’ soars past $800m globally (THR)
Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has raced past the $800 million mark at the global box office in a notable feat.
The Marvel and Disney tentpole finished Sunday with $803.2 million in worldwide ticket sales to rank as the No. 2 Hollywood film of the pandemic era behind Spider-Man: No Way Home ($1.89 billion) after passing up James Bond pic No Time to Die ($774.2 million) and The Batman ($768.5 million). The only other film to cross $700 million globally during the COVID era has been F9: The Fast Saga, although that film was released earlier in the pandemic than the others.
Doctor Strange 2 has grossed $342.1 million domestically and $461.1 million overseas to date. The movie has yet to receive a release date in China, while Disney isn’t presently releasing any of its films in Russia.
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness had no trouble staying atop the worldwide box office chart over the May 20-22 frame with a third-weekend haul of $31.6 million domestically, while new entry Downton Abbey: A New Era — which needs older adults — placed No. 2 with $16 million. Read more
Creator of ‘Star Wars’ Death Star, X-Wing dies at 90 (NYPost)
Colin Cantwell, the man who designed the spacecraft in the “Star Wars” films, has died. He was 90.
The Hollywood Reporter reported Sunday that Sierra Dall, Cantwell’s partner, confirmed that he died at his home in Colorado on Saturday.
Cantwell designed the prototypes for the X-wing Starfighter, TIE fighter and Death Star.
He also worked on films including “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and “WarGames.” Read more
African scientists baffled by monkeypox cases in Europe, US (VOA)
Scientists who have monitored numerous outbreaks of monkeypox in Africa say they are baffled by the disease’s recent spread in Europe and North America.
Cases of the smallpox-related disease have previously been seen only among people with links to central and West Africa. But in the past week, Britain, Spain, Portugal, Italy, U.S., Sweden and Canada all reported infections, mostly in young men who hadn’t previously traveled to Africa.
France, Germany, Belgium and Australia confirmed their first cases Friday.
“I’m stunned by this. Every day I wake up and there are more countries infected,” said Oyewale Tomori, a virologist who formerly headed the Nigerian Academy of Science and who sits on several World Health Organization advisory boards. Read more
Ukrainian tradition becomes symbol of resistance to Russia (IrishIndependent)
Ukrainians in Ireland held their own version of a colours day yesterday by displaying their traditional vibrantly embroidered shirts.
The Vyshyvanka gatherings in Dublin, Waterford, and Cork were an expression of their culture and identity – which have been suppressed in their native Ukraine in the past when under Soviet rule.
Different families and regions have their own stitching designs in much the same way that Scottish clans have their own tartan patterns.
“This is not just a garment embroidered with colourful threads. It is our rich tradition, our genetic code, reflecting our national strength and our ancestors’ experience,” said Nick Kozlov, of the Ukrainian Crisis Centre of Ireland, at the gathering at the GPO on Dublin’s O’Connell Street. Read more
History beckons as three Nigerian umpires listed to officiate in Wimbledon (Guardian)
For the first time in the history of Wimbledon, three Nigerian umpires have been selected to officiate in the Grand Slam tournament, which serves off on June 27 and ends on July 10, 2022 at the All England Tennis Club.
Rose Onoja, Kehinde Ijaola and Arinola Isa are the selected umpires to officiate at the Wimbledon.
Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) President, Dayo Akindoju, said the selected umpires are hard working and have officiated in some other Grand Slam tournaments.
“I am extremely happy that we have credible umpires to be invited to officiate in the Wimbledon and I believe they will do the Federation and country proud,” Akindoju told The Guardian, adding that the umpires would be involved as line judges. Read more
Flying Eagles keeper: Cech inspired me to WAFU glory (Sun)
WAFU Zone B U20 Championship winning goalkeeper, Nathaniel Nwosu has described former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech as his boyhood hero.
The young shot-stopper made this disclosure after helping the Ladan Bosso’s tutored side to a 3-1 victory over Young Squirrels of Benin Republic in the final of the WAFU U20 Championship played in Niamey on Friday.
An elated Nwosu said after the game: “Happy birthday Petr Cech, I’m happy you are adding another year on a day I’m winning a trophy.
“You have been my role model since age five and I’m dedicating this trophy to you. Happy birthday my hero” Read more
RB Leipzig bounces back from being a man down to win German Cup in penalties (SI)
Ten-man Leipzig came from a goal down in the German Cup final to beat Freiburg 4-2 on penalties for the club’s first trophy in its short history on Saturday.
Christopher Nkunku equalized in the 76th minutefor 1-1 in normal time, sending the game to extra time, then penalties, where Freiburg captain Christian Günter and Ermedin Demirovic both missed. Demirovic, who struck the post in extra time, crashed his effort off the crossbar.
“It fit with the way the game went,” Freiburg coach Christian Streich said.
Maximilian Eggestein fired Freiburg ahead in the 18th minute and Leipzig’s chances of a comeback were dented when Marcel Halstenberg was sent off for pulling back Lucas Höler when the Freiburg forward would have been through on goal. Read more
Australia’s Ellie Carpenter stretchered off with knee injury in Lyon’s Women’s Champions League final win over Barcelona (ABC)
Lyon women have regained their European crown, but the joy is bittersweet for Australia’s Ellie Carpenter after she suffered a potentially serious knee injury.
The full-back was substituted after 13 minutes of Lyon’s 3-1 win in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final after her knee gave way in open play.
A few minutes earlier she had hurt it while challenging Fridolina Rolfo.
She received her medal on crutches with her left leg in a brace, which ran all the way up to her thigh. Read more
Miami beat Boston for 2-1 NBA series lead (WA)
Bam Adebayo scored 31 points with 10 rebounds for the Miami Heat, who blew a 25-point, first-half lead and lost Jimmy Butler to a knee injury but held on to beat the Boston Celtics 109-103 in Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals.
Boston never led in the game, but erased almost all of the 62-37 deficit and came within one point, 93-92, with 2:40 to play on a 3-pointer from Jaylen Brown, who finished with 40 points.
Max Strus answered with a 3 and then Adebayo bounced off defender Al Horford and made a basket at the shot clock buzzer to give Miami a six-point cushion it held to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Game 4 is Monday night in Boston.
In a game that saw Butler and Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart leave with injuries – though both Celtics returned – Kyle Lowry came back from a four-game absence and scored 11 with six assists for the Heat. Read more
Sergiy Stakhovsky rips ATP sanction: Standing on side of invaders and murderers (TennisWorld)
Former world No. 31 Sergiy Stakhovsky said he was greatly disappointed with the ATP decision to strip Wimbledon of ranking points. Last month, Wimbledon imposed players bans on Russian and Belarusian players. The ATP said last month they do not support the Wimbledon decision and indicated Wimbledon could face sanction.
On Friday, the ATP announced the removal of ranking points from 2022 Wimbledon. Stakhovsky, who once famously upset Roger Federer at Wimbledon, suggested the ATP “stand on the side of invaders and murderers.”
“To say that I am disappointed in @atptour would be understatement. Never would expect that anyone can stand on the side of invaders and murderers… but it seems to me that even my fellow players feel sorry for invaders and collaborants from Russia and Belarus,” Stakhovsky tweeted.
“Players which in 85 days where not able to produce any clear message of condemnation of invasion into Ukraine. Shameful day in tennis.” Read more
Pereira leads PGA Championship; Woods withdraws after 79 (JapanToday)
Mito Pereira spent four hours soaring and sliding at Southern Hills in the cold and wind, calling it the biggest round of his life Saturday in the PGA Championship and one that gave him an idea of what to expect Sunday.
Pereira soared to a five-shot lead. He nearly lost it all in six holes. And when a third round as fickle as the wind finally ended, the 27-year-old from Chile stood on the cusp of fame.
He made three birdies over his last six holes, the final hole from just outside 25 feet that he called a bonus, giving him a 1-under 69 and a three-shot lead over Matt Fitzpatrick of England and Will Zalatoris.
“It’s by far the biggest tournament I play, the biggest round of golf. And tomorrow is going to be even bigger,” Pereira said. “Just try and keep it simple. Try to do the things I’ve been doing. Try to not even look at the people that’s around me.” Read more