Lagos-Ibadan Expressway closure: You need to observe diversion signs, FRSC tells motorists (Punch)
The Lagos State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps has said that no motorist will suffer during the rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, if lane discipline and road diversion signs are observed. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the construction company, Julius Berger, had announced the closure of a portion of the road to allow for reconstruction which began on Monday (today). Ms Bisi Sonusi, the FRSC Acting Sector Public Education Officer, told NAN on Monday that the command, in partnership with other traffic control agencies, had taken measures to mitigate motorists’ hardship along the affected corridor. Read more
EFCC arrests another Nigerian on FBI wanted list (Guardian)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said its collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has led to the arrest of a female suspect cyber fraudster in Edo State. Although EFCC did not disclose the name of the female suspect but said she worked in collaboration with a foreign counterpart in a massive fraud in the United States. Head of EFCC Benin Zonal Office Muhtar Bello, said the female suspect was involved in obtaining and stealing people’s identification information which she forwards to her American collaborators. Read more
With Bello as Kogi APC gov candidate, election is a walkover for us —PDP (Punch)
Kogi State People’s Democratic Party has said that the decision of delegates of the All Progressives Congress to elect incumbent Governor Yahaya Bello as the party’s flag bearer for the November 16 governorship election would make it easy for them to win. Reacting to Bello’s emergence, the PDP, through its spokesman, Bode Ogunmola, said the choice of Bello “despite his poor performance” would ensure an easy win for the party. Read more
Three soldiers killed, eight wounded in Borno (Nation)
The Army has confirmed the killing of three soldiers and injuring of eight others when troops encountered Boko Haram terrorists on Monguno-Mairari-Gajiram axis in Borno State. Its spokesman, Col. Sagir Musa, said the Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai and other top military officers have visited the area and commiserated with troops. Read more
South-West to engage vigilantes to fight insecurity —Akeredolu (Punch)
The chairman of the South-West Governors Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, on Monday, disclosed that all the Southwest governors have agreed to engage the services of local vigilante groups to tackle insecurity in the zone. Akeredolu represented by his deputy, Agboola Ajayi at the South-West geopolitical zone security summit convened by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, said that the use of vigilantes was a fallout of the recent security summit held in Ibadan, Oyo state. Read more
NDLEA arrests 49 suspects, seizes 30kg of cannabis (Guardian)
The FCT Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 49 suspected drug peddlers and seized 30 kilograms of psychotropic substance and hard drugs in August. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command, Mr Peter Adegbe, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja. Adegbe said other drugs that were seized included Tramadol, Codeine and large quantities of rubber solution (used for patching tyres). Read more
Benue varsity shut as students protest new CGPA grading (Punch)
The authorities of Benue State University on Monday shut the institution and asked students to vacate the campus latest 4:00 p.m. In a statement issued by the Registrar of the University, Dr Mfaga Modom, the university said that the closure was necessary to avoid breakdown of law and order in and around the campus. The closure followed the protest embarked on by the students against the five Point Grading System. Read more
Community blocks Government House over leadership crisis in Anambra (Nation)
There was tension on Monday at the Government House in Awka, Anambra state when the people of Ezinator Community in Awka South local government area blocked the gate of over town union crisis. They alleged that some people in their area who claimed to be close to the State Government had postponed the town union election three times, adding that the situation had become embarrassing and worrisome to them. Read more
NSDC inaugurates 40 Agro rangers to combat rustling, farmer/harders clashes in Plateau (Guardian)
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Plateau has inaugurated 40 agro rangers as part of its efforts to combat cattle rustling, farmer/herders clashes and banditry among other crimes the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agro rangers are specialised forces of the Corps detailed to protect agro allied investments of Nigerians and foreigners in the country. Read more
Hajj 2019: 23, 611 pilgrims back home —NAHCON (Punch)
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, says 23, 611 pilgrims have been transported back to Nigeria in 44 flights. According to its command and control Centre in Makkah monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, the latest returnees were 427 pilgrims from Sokoto State aboard Flynas flight XY7476. Read more
Hell’s Gate: Six bodies found after tour group swept away by flood (BBC)
Six bodies have been recovered after a tour group was swept away by a flash flood in a Kenyan national park. The incident at Hell’s Gate National Park on Sunday involved five Kenyan nationals, a local tour guide and a “foreigner”, officials said. One tourist is still missing and a search and rescue operation is continuing. Read more
Ivorien police arrest 12 for desecrating DJ Arafat’s tomb (Punch)
Ivorien police have detained 12 people as part of a probe into the desecration of DJ Arafat’s tomb after fans opened the music star’s coffin to take photos of him hours after his burial, officials said Monday. The incident took place Saturday following an overnight funeral concert at Abidjan’s main stadium, where tens of thousands paid tribute to the singer who died aged 33 in a motorbike crash last month. Read more
Presidential campaigns start in Tunisia after Essebsi death (Guardian)
Campaigning for Tunisia’s presidential elections opened Monday with 26 candidates vying to replace late leader Beji Caid Essebsi in a vote seen as vital to defending democratic gains in the cradle of the Arab Spring. Seven million Tunisians are expected to head to the ballot box in the September 15 poll, which was brought forward from November following Essebsi’s death in July. Read more
Brexit: Election discussions in No 10 amid Brexit battle (BBC)
Boris Johnson is considering seeking an early general election if MPs wanting to block a no-deal Brexit defeat the government this week. The BBC understands “live discussions” are going on in No 10 about asking Parliament to approve a snap poll. Political editor Laura Kuenssberg said it could happen as soon as Wednesday but no final decision had been taken. Read more
Kazakhstan president moves to allow peaceful protests (Guardian)
Kazakhstan’s president on Monday called for an easing of restrictions on peaceful demonstrations, three months after thousands were detained at opposition protests in the authoritarian country. Kazakh citizens currently need to obtain official permission to hold demonstrations, a legal stipulation that rights groups say gives authorities a veto on the constitutional right to free assembly. Read more
Israel lifts Gaza fuel restriction after calm returns (Guardian)
Israel has lifted a restriction on fuel delivered to Gaza for electricity, a defence official said Monday, a week after cutting the flow by half over a series of violent incidents. Israeli defence ministry unit COGAT announced on August 26 it was halving the amount of fuel allowed into Gaza from its territory after three rockets were fired at the Jewish state the day before. Israel responded with airstrikes against the Gaza Strip’s ruling Hamas movement. Read more
Ku Klux Klan donation account suspended by PayPal (BBC)
PayPal suspended an account used to raise funds by one of the US’s largest white supremacist groups six days after it was first flagged by an anti-bigotry campaigner. The Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan had promoted the account via a donation page on its website. PayPal acted on Friday after others picked up on the issue and urged it to block the recipient. Read more
Romance scammer pretended to be Liverpool star’s brother to trick women out of £24,000 (Metro)
A serial fraudster who conned a woman into believing he was the brother of Liverpool footballer Sadio Mane, before persuading her to part with huge sums of cash, has been jailed. Ex-footballer Ivan Nkazi of Lee Park Avenue in Belle Vale, Liverpool, was jailed for three years on Friday following a £24,000 con, hoodwinking prospective dates and persuading them to part with huge sums of money. Read more
Joana Sainz Garcia: Spanish performer killed by exploding pyrotechnic (BBC)
A Spanish dancer died after being hit by an exploding pyrotechnic during a live performance at a concert. Joana Sainz Garcia, 30, was performing with the Super Hollywood Orchestra group at a venue near Madrid when the incident happened. A stage pyrotechnic device exploded near the singer, knocking her unconscious, at about 02:00 local time (00:00 GMT) on Sunday. Read more
Game of Thrones fans think Arya Stark might have actually died in season 6 (Metro)
It may have finished more than three months ago, but fans of Game of Thrones are still trying to untangle the show’s controversial final season. In the wake of criticism of the show’s writing (we all know about THAT fan petition), many fans have sought to justify the out of character decisions that were written off as poor writing. Read more
Jorja Smith admits she’s written Bond theme tune amid Stormzy and Maya Jama fall out (Metro)
Jorja Smith has admitted she’s written a Bond song and would ‘love to’ sing the theme tune on an upcoming film. Speaking on The Official Big Top 40, Jorja Smith shared how getting to write and sing the song for an upcoming Bond film would be a dream come true. ‘That’s a dream. Yeah I’d love to write a Bond song. I really do. I kind of wrote one, like a pretend one, but I do really want to write one, I’d love to,’ she said. ‘I like writing cinematic things. Things for films. I always imagine movies in my head sometimes when I’m writing songs.’ Read more
Seydou Doumbia: Ivorian returns to Switzerland with Sion (BBC)
Ivory Coast striker Seydou Doumbia has joined his tenth overseas club since as he returned to the Swiss Super League with FC Sion. The 31-year-old was a free agent after leaving Spanish side Girona this summer and signs a one-year contract with Sion. “I look forward to seeing him in action for FC Sion jersey. He has long been a dreaded opponent and he is now one of ours,” club president Christian Constantin told the club website. Read more
Nicolas Pepe impressed Jose Mourinho during visits to Lille following Manchester United exit (Metro)
Jose Mourinho has heaped praise on Nicolas Pepe, but urged Unai Emery to play to the forward’s strengths. Pepe started alongside Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the first time in the 2-2 draw against Tottenham, grabbing his first assist for his side. Mourinho watched Pepe in action several times last season after losing his job at Manchester United and explained the 24-year-old’s best position. Read more
Pogba misses training for France Euro 2020 qualifiers (Punch)
Manchester United’s Paul Pogba will miss Monday’s French team training session for their upcoming Euro-2020 qualifiers, coach Didier Deschamps said Monday. Pogba “has an ankle problem” following United’s 1-1 draw at Southampton on Saturday. “He is having tests in Manchester and I am waiting for the results,” Deschamps said at the French training centre. Read more
Romelu Lukaku: Ex-Man Utd striker says ‘we are going backwards’ on racist abuse (BBC)
Striker Romelu Lukaku says “we are going backwards” on racism after he was racially abused by Cagliari fans while playing for Inter Milan on Sunday. It follows incidents where Manchester United’s Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford, and Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham were abused on social media. “As players we need to unify and make a statement on this matter,” Lukaku said. Read more
Sevilla sign Hernandez from West Ham (Punch)
Mexican striker Javier Hernandez has joined Sevilla from West Ham on a three-year deal, the Spanish club announced on Monday. “Sevilla FC and West Ham United have reached an agreement for the transfer of Javier Hernandez, known as ‘Chicharito’,” Sevilla wrote in a statement. “The striker has signed a three-year contract.” Read more
Matteo Darmian: Manchester United defender joins Parma on four-year deal (BBC)
Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian has joined Italian Serie A side Parma on a four-year deal. The 29-year-old was signed by former Old Trafford boss Louis van Gaal from Italian side Torino for a reported fee of £12.7m in July 2015. The Italy international went on to make 92 appearances for the club, helping them to the FA Cup in his first season. Read more
Frankfurt’s Rebic joins AC Milan in switch with Silva (Punch)
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Croatian forward Ante Rebic is on his way to AC Milan on a two-year loan in a swap with Portugal’s Andre Silva, the Bundesliga club confirmed on Monday. “The two clubs have reached an agreement and if all goes well Andre Silva will be wearing the (Frankfurt) eagle on his shirt while Rebic will be in Milan,” said Frankfurt sporting director Fredi Bobic, adding that the deal is subject to medicals for both players. Read more
Saeid Mollaei: Iranian judoka fears for safety after refusing to quit World Championships (BBC)
Iran’s Saeid Mollaei says he fears for his and his family’s safety after ignoring calls from Iranian authorities to pull out of the World Judo Championships in Japan. Mollaei said he was told to withdraw from his match against Russia’s Olympic champion Khasan Khalmurzaev to avoid the prospect of facing Israel’s Sagi Muki later in the tournament. Iranian athletes are prohibited from competing in any sport against Israel. Read more