Lagos fire service boss, six others kidnapped (Guardian)
Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Rasaki Musibau and seven others have been kidnapped by gunmen along Itoikin-Epe road in Ikosi-Ejirin Local Council Development Area, LCDA in the state. At the time of filing this report on Sunday, the identity of the seven others abducted by the gunmen yesterday within the axis was still unknown. It was gathered that the kidnappers stormed the bridge at about 8.pm and stopped vehicles conveying the victims at Iwoye Bridge; they ordered them to alight from their vehicles and whisked them away to an unknown destination. Read more
Kidnappers of Bayelsa council chairman’s dad entered through an unsecured window —Police (Punch)
The Police Command in Bayelsa has narrated how Mr. Wellington Magbisa, father of the chairman of Sagbama Local Government Area of the state, was kidnapped. According to the Police, “Five men came in through an unprotected window, captured Mr. Magbisa, and escaped through the waterways,” he said. The Police said this while confirming the kidnap of Mr. Wellington Magbisa, father of the chairman of Sagbama Local Government Area of the state, by gunmen. Read more
Ambode performs pre-launch of $50m factory in Lekki Free Zone (Nation)
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Sunday performed the pre-launch of a $50 million manufacturing plant in the Lekki Free Zone, and expressed his optimism that the facility would go a long way to create more jobs. The governor speaking at the pre-launch of the factory belonging to Longrich, a Chinese firm, said that the facility would also boost the nation’s foreign exchange earnings. He said that the facility was another success story of the efforts of the government in attracting investment and an eloquent confirmation of the strategic importance of the free trade zone to the state’s economy. Read more
Rainstorm destroys over 500 houses in Ondo (Punch)
Residents of Ikare Akoko, Ugbe Akoko and Supare Akoko in Akoko North-East and Akoko South West Local Government Areas of Ondo State have called on the state government to assist them following the destruction of their houses by rainstorm. The rainstorm, which occurred in two different days last week, was said to have destroyed over 500 structures, including residential buildings, shops, schools, and churches, among others. It was gathered that many of the victims have been rendered homeless in the affected communities, while properties destroyed were worth millions of naira. Read more
2019 UTME slips: JAMB urges candidates to adhere strictly to printing order (Nation)
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has urged candidates for the 2019 UTME to adhere strictly to the printing order of their examination slips, to avoid unnecessary issues. This is contained in the board’s weekly bulletin tagged ‘JAMBULLETIN’, by the Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, and issued in Lagos. According to the bulletin, printing of the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) notification slip is on-going, as the board has since made it ready for all candidates who registered for the examination. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that over 1.8 million candidates registered for the examination which has been scheduled to commence on Thursday, April 11. Read more
Make a woman Speaker of 9th House of Reps, group pleads (Punch)
A civil rights group, Proactive Gender Initiatives, has said a female should be made a Speaker in the 9th House of Representatives. The National Coordinator of PGI, Ms. Esther Uzoma, said on Sunday in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja that it would be a huge boost to all Nigerian women. NAN reports that the 9th Assembly would be inaugurated on June 9 as soon as President Muhammadu Buhari issues a proclamation letter to that effect. Already, intense lobbying has commenced at the Senate and the House of Representatives over who becomes the Senate president and Speaker of the lower House, among other positions. Read more
Police arrest father, son who raped, impregnated 13-year-old girl (Nation)
A 44-year-old man, Kabiru Oke and his son, Farouq, 19, have been arrested by the police in Lagos for alleged serial rape and impregnating a teenager (names withheld). The incident happened at their 1, Olatikupo Street, Egbeda residence for about four months while the 13-year-old victim lived with her aunt, the man’s wife. It was gathered that the girl had reported Oke’s sexual abuse on several occasions to his wife but she always shut her up and their son joined in the act when he caught his father raping the victim. Unable to withstand the defilement, the girl, it was gathered, fled to her mother’s place in Ogun State in January where she was enrolled and school and her teacher discovered she was pregnant. Read more
FG to inaugurate health insurance for Lassa fever patients (Punch)
The Federal Government is introducing a funding mechanism to cater for patients with confirmed cases of Lassa fever in the country, the Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, has said. Ihekweazu said this on Sunday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja. He explained that the aim of the healthcare fund was to ensure that money does not become a hindrance for patients in accessing Lassa fever treatment. “We are making plans through the Basic Primary Healthcare Provision Fund, the new funding instituted by the federal government, to cover the cost of treatment of confirmed cases of Lassa fever patients. Read more
Libya crisis: Fighting near Tripoli leaves 21 dead (BBC)
Libya’s UN-backed government says 21 people have been killed and 27 wounded in fighting near the capital, Tripoli. Earlier the UN appealed for a two-hour truce so casualties and civilians could be evacuated, but fighting continued. Rebel forces under Gen Khalifa Haftar have advanced from the east with the aim of taking Tripoli. Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj has accused him of attempting a coup and says rebels will be met with force. Among the dead was a Red Crescent doctor killed on Saturday. Gen Haftar’s forces said they had lost 14 fighters. Read more
Trump chief of staff vows tax returns will ‘never’ be released (BBC)
One of US President Donald Trump’s top aides has said that opposition Democrats will “never” see his tax returns. White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said the call for the records to be released was a “political stunt”. On Wednesday a Congressional tax committee submitted a request for six years of the president’s returns from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Unlike previous presidents, Mr Trump has refused to publish his tax details. Read more
Ghosn: Bail conditions revealed by lawyer (BBC)
The lawyer for former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn has revealed the terms his client had to meet to secure his initial release from custody on bail. Conditions the 65-year-old had faced included using a sole computer, in his lawyer’s office, and one mobile phone. A 24-hour surveillance camera also had to be installed at the entrance of his court-approved permanent residence. Mr Ghosn was re-arrested in Tokyo last week, pending trial over claims of financial misconduct. He has been detained over suspicions that he tried to enrich himself at the carmaker’s expense. Read more
Saudi kills two suspects after attack in Shiite region (Guardian)
Two suspects armed with explosives were killed and two others arrested after they attacked a security checkpoint in a Shiite stronghold in eastern Saudi Arabia, local media reported Sunday. The attack occurred in Abu Hadriyah, a highway linking the kingdom’s oil-rich Eastern Province to Bahrain and Kuwait, as the assailants tried to flee the country, Al-Arabiya television and other local media said. Three of the four men were wanted “terrorists” from the Shiite-majority Qatif region, the reports added without specifying when the attack occurred. Read more
Sudan: Protesters at army HQ keep pressure on Bashir (BBC)
Thousands of demonstrators are spending a second night camped outside Sudan’s army headquarters, demanding that President Omar al-Bashir step down. They appear to be hoping for an internal coup, pleading with the army command to remove Mr Bashir and open the way for a transitional government. It is the biggest protest against Mr Bashir since unrest began in December. Mr Bashir has refused to leave, saying opponents should seek power through elections. The army has not intervened. Read more
Irish ISIS bride says she ‘made a mistake’ and begs to return home (Metro)
A former Irish soldier who went to live in Islamic State-controlled Syria has reportedly denied fighting for the jihadist militants. Lisa Smith, a 37-year-old originally from Co Louth, is currently living in a refugee camp in Syria. In an interview with The Mail On Sunday, she spoke of her desire to return to Ireland with her two-year-old daughter, whom she claims was born to a British father while living in IS territory. Read more
US tourist and safari guide freed after kidnap in Uganda (BBC)
A US tourist and her guide have been rescued after they were kidnapped at gunpoint while on safari in Uganda. Kimberly Endicott, 35, and Jean-Paul Mirenge were set upon as they drove through the Queen Elizabeth National Park on the evening of 2 April. Ugandan Police said then that kidnappers used one of their phones to demand a ransom of $500,000 (£383,435). Officials have now said the pair are “unharmed, in good health and in the safe hands of the joint security team”. Read more
Jagielka earns Everton win over Arsenal (BBC)
Everton boss Marco Silva said his side’s improved form is down to confidence following their impressive victory over Arsenal at Goodison Park. Phil Jagielka, who was called into the starting XI as a replacement for Michael Keane shortly before kick-off, poked home the only goal of the game following Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header from Lucas Digne’s early long throw. “I’m really, really happy. We deserved the three points,” Silva told BBC Sport. “The chances we created, we should score more goals. It is a fantastic win and one more clean sheet. That’s the spirit I like – the desire to win every challenge. Read more
Deeney joy as ‘special’ Watford reach FA Cup final (Guardian)
Watford captain Troy Deeney hailed his side’s “special” comeback as they reached the FA Cup final for the first time since 1984 with a dramatic 3-2 win over Wolves on Sunday. Javi Gracia’s side were 11 minutes from bowing out at the semi-final stage after Wolves raced into a two-goal lead at Wembley. But substitute Gerard Deulofeu gave Watford a lifeline with a superb strike, setting the stage for Deeney to win a penalty deep into stoppage-time when he was tripped by Leander Dendoncker. Read more
Choupo-Moting costs PSG early title (BBC)
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was guilty of arguably the worst miss in the history of football as Paris St-Germain squandered the chance to wrap up the Ligue 1 title against Strasbourg. Christopher Nkunku’s shot was going in until former Stoke forward Choupo-Moting needlessly got a touch on the line and stabbed it on to the post. PSG led through Choupo-Moting but Nuno da Costa levelled and Anthony Goncalves put the visitors ahead from 20 yards. Read more
Inter Milan held by Atalanta as Juve await coronation (Guardian)
Inter Milan were held to a goalless draw by Champions League rivals Atalanta on Sunday before Napoli host Genoa in a game which could hand champions Juventus an eighth consecutive league title. Atalanta — without suspended star striker Duvan Zapata — missed the chance to move fourth and into the Champions League berths at the expense of AC Milan who fell 2-1 at Juventus on Saturday. Inter are third on 57 points — a massive 27 points behind Juventus — with Milan five points adrift of their city rivals. Read more
Keys downs Wozniacki to claim Charleston crown (Punch)
Madison Keys claimed the first clay court title of her career on Sunday with a straight sets defeat of Caroline Wozniacki in the final of the Charleston Open. World number 18 Keys, who had not reached a WTA final since her defeat to Sloane Stephens at the US Open in 2017, took 1hr 46 min to complete a 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 win over Danish fifth seed Wozniacki. It marked the fourth title of Keys career and her first since winning at Stanford in 2017. Her win also completed a superb week in South Carolina, where she defeated three Grand Slam champions — Jelena Ostapenko, Stephens and Wozniacki — to take the title. Read more