Lagos impounds 81 motorcycles on restricted routes (Guardian)
Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit popularly called ‘Task Force,’ yesterday, impounded 81 motorcycles for plying restricted routes in the state.
The 81 motorcycles were impounded at Jakande Estate, Isolo, for endangering the lives of other road users. The chairman, Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit, CSP Shola Jejeloye, who led the operation, stated that the seizure was in line with enforcement of the Lagos State Traffic Law and to halt the flagrant abuse of traffic laws by the motorcyclists.
He noted that government was concerned about the recklessness of motorcyclists on restricted routes, and therefore became necessary to help the motorcyclists by saving their own lives and those of other road users.
He pointed out that the government would not allow motorcyclists to create chaos for other road users on prohibited routes, adding that it had become crucial for the government to prevent an increase in the trend of crime perpetrated by motorcyclists in the metropolis, particularly in prohibited routes. Read more
Unease over N10b Lagos airport, 4 others’ automation (DailyTrust)
The recent approval of N10 billion for the automation of five major airports in Nigeria has generated concerns among industry operators who felt it was unnecessary in the face of a planned concession of the facilities.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had on March 30 approved the contract for provision of Airport Management Solutions for Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu International Airports which are also slated for concession.
The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika had defended the proposed concessioning which he noted was not tantamount to sale of the Airports.
On the automation, Sirika had also said the contract awarded to Arlington Security Nigeria Limited with a 12 months delivery period would be useful.
“This allows flexible sharing of resources for check-in and boarding, such as servers, work stations, associated peripherals between airlines and handling agencies present at the airport,” he said. Read more
EFCC Arrests 14 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Lagos (Channels)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday said it has arrested 14 suspected internet fraudsters in Lagos.
This was contained in a statement signed by the commission’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren.
According to the statement, the suspects are: Abiodun Gbolahan Seidu, Joseph Aganaga Ndubuisi, Sodimu Olawale Sikirudeen, Ohaekim Christopher, Ambali Oluwaseyi Rahman, Chibuzor Ebubedike, Salvador Abduljabar and Omohogbo Donald Ede.
Others are: Thomas Obire Tobiloba, Olatunbosun Adeniyi Abiodun, Olugbemi Oluwatomigbeleke Eniola, Sanni Azeez Olayinka, Joseph Afenikhena Osaoman and Hamed Olayinka Olanrewaju. Read more
Tackling sexual, domestic violence across Lagos LGAs (ThisDay)
Rebecca Ejifoma reports that the International Visitors Leadership Programme Alumni Association recently organised sensitisation campaigns in Ejigbo and Somolu Local Government Areas of Lagos for students, parents, and guardians on achieving a rape, child molestation and domestic violence-free community
Each day, the traditional newspapers and the social media are inaundated with tales of sexual and domestic violence. Although these vices seem to be on the increase, nothing brought it further home that the revelation by the then Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, that the police recorded 717 rape cases in five months (between January and May of 2020).
As alarming as the figures are, that is the reality the society lives in. Meanwhile, it’s imperative to note that these figures might be more as it only accounts for those reported cases. Also, the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown exacerbated sexual violence in Nigeria. Unfortunately, incidents of rape and other sexual crimes have multiplied across the geopolitical zones as rape cases abound daily with many unreported because of stigimitisation and sometimes, intimidation. Read more
I was promised N500,000 to drive murdered victims car teenage suspect (Punch)
A teenage robbery and murder suspect, Mighty Omini, has disclosed that he was promised N500,000 to drive away the car of a woman, who was raped and murdered in Calabar, Cross River State a week ago.
He made the disclosure on Tuesday in Calabar while being paraded alongside his suspected accomplice, Godwin Nyenine, as well as 28 other suspects arrested for various offences such as rape, drug peddling, cultism and child trafficking, among others.
Two other masterminds of the rape and murder of the woman, identified simply as Mrs Doris, were said to be at large.
Doris was allegedly raped and murdered by a four-man gang on April 13 in her home at the State Housing Estate in Calabar. Read more
Govs unanimous on killing of all bandits, terrorists – El-Rufai (DailyTrust)
The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasiru El-Rufai, has said that governors in the 36 states are unanimous on the need to kill all bandits and other criminals taking shelter in the forests.
El-Rufai said all terrorists and bandits should be killed as the only way of ensuring security in troubled parts of the country.
He said this in Abuja yesterday at a high-level dialogue on ‘Financing Safe Schools: Creating Safe Learning Communities’ organised by the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.
Speaking at the event, Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Dr Kayode Fayemi, identified the roots of the country’s security predicament as its high unemployment rate. Read more
Police rescue 26 victims of street begging in Benin City (Guardian)
The Edo State Police Command has rescued 26 victims that were trafficked from other states to Benin City as beggars The police said the victims were six women, 19 children and one teenager, adding that they were rescued in conjunction with a vigilante group.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Kontongs Bello, in a statement made available to The Guardian, said the victims were rescued on April 15.
He said the women and children were believed to have been trafficked from Ebonyi, Imo, Abia, Anambra and Akwa Ibom states to Evbuotubu in Ekenwan road axis of Benin City.
The women, according to police spokesman, confessed that they were lured from their various home states by a woman named simply Jennifer, also called Ezine, to Benin City in the guise of getting financial aid from the state government. Read more
Amotekun frees Ekiti monarch, arrests kidnap kingpin (Punch)
The Obadu of Ilemeso Ekiti in the Oye Local Government area of Ekiti State, Oba David Oyewumi, who was kidnapped in his palace on Thursday, has regained freedom.
A source, who said the monarch had been taken for medical attention, said, “Kabiyesi has been released. We are happy about this, but I do not know whether any ransom was paid or not.”
Recall that the traditional ruler was kidnapped by six gunmen, while a family source on Monday said the abductors demanded N20m ransom. Read more
Fuel queues persist in Abuja despite NNPC’s intervention (ThisDay)
Despite the intervention of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to halt the strike by tanker drivers, the chaos occasioned by the return of fuel queues in Abuja worsened yesterday as many filling stations experienced long queues, causing anguish and heavy traffic on streets in Abuja and its environs.
The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, had on Monday told journalists that the fuel queues would soon disappear after brokering a deal with the petrol tanker drivers.
Kyari also yesterday told journalists after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, that there was nothing to worry about over the fuel queues, as the situation would soon normalise. Read more
George Floyd: Jury finds Derek Chauvin guilty of murder (BBC)
A US jury has found a former police officer guilty of murder over the death of African-American George Floyd on a Minneapolis street last year.
Derek Chauvin, 45, was filmed kneeling on Mr Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes during his arrest last May.
The widely watched footage sparked worldwide protests against racism and excessive use of force by police.
Chauvin was found guilty on three charges: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. Read more
South Korea muscles in on global arms trade (AlJazeera)
South Korea celebrated its entry into the “elite group of fighter jet producers” this month, unveiling its domestically-developed KF-21 Boramae in a blaze of lights and pop music and a glowing endorsement from President Moon Jae-in.
Moon lauded the technology, economic benefits, military capabilities, and national prestige the development of the plane represented, a perspective largely shared in most reporting of the multibillion-dollar project to develop a multi-role fighter jet.
Lost in the fanfare was any criticism of an arms industry known for runaway budgets and a weapons trade contributing to destabilising regions or states in conflict. Questions also surround the contribution a regional arms race may have on South Korea’s national security. Read more
Netflix: Shares plunge as subscribers switch off (BBC)
Video-streaming giant Netflix has reported a slowdown in subscriber growth, sending its shares tumbling.
About 3.98 million people signed up for Netflix between January and March, well short of the projected 6 million.
The company said a lack of new shows may have contributed to the fall, adding that it expected this to recover as sequels to hit shows are released.
Netflix shares fell 11% in after-hours trading to $489.28, wiping $25bn off the company’s market capitalization. Read more
Woman forced to sell home because she can see neighbour showering while she eats (Metro)
The owner of a dream home says she is being forced to sell up over privacy concerns from a neighbouring property. Pauline Boyd purchased Greylag in Rossburn Lane, Blair Drummond, three and a half years ago to give her and her partner a base to see their family and to grab a slice of rural life. However, Ms Boyd claims that peace was to be ruined when another house was built close to her own, including a garage which looks directly into her own kitchen and living area. Read more
India Covid-19 second wave: Shortage of oxygen, beds and even cremation slots (BBC)
Rajeshwari Devi, 58, died on Sunday after waiting for two days to get uninterrupted oxygen, an ambulance and a bed in a Covid-19 hospital.
She kept waiting and gasping but it was too late by the time help arrived. She was taken to a hospital emergency room on 16 April after her oxygen saturation level dropped. Her CT scan showed that she had developed chronic pneumonia.
But without her Covid report the hospital refused to admit her. She spent around 36 hours in the emergency room on oxygen support in the northern Indian district of Robertsganj. The staff there told her family they were running out of oxygen and she needed to be moved to a bigger hospital but there was no ambulance or any promise of a bed. Read more
Marvel releases epic trailer for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Metro)
Simu Liu is kicking absolute butt in Marvel’s first trailer for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings after it dropped on the star’s birthday seemingly out of nowhere. Liu takes centre stage as Shang-Chi in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first Asian-led superhero movie and the first peek at his moves did not disappoint fans who are now more than fired up for his foray into the MCU. He’s joined by Tony Leung as Wenwu/the Mandarin while Awkwafina will also be starring as Katy, showing off her trademark spark in the short teaser this week as wider audiences were introduced to this comic book hero. Read more
George Floyd: The murder that drove America to the brink (BBC)
People here waited anxiously for weeks and months, first, as the trial unfolded, and then during the final, nerve-wracking hours, while the jury deliberated. The stakes of the trial were extraordinarily high, and people are relieved, and also trying to process the tumultuous events.
It is a landmark case for police violence against black people, and the verdict marks a significant victory for the activists who have pushed for policing reform: Derek Chauvin was convicted of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of George Floyd.
The jury’s decision means police will now be under increased scrutiny, say legal experts, and are more likely to be prosecuted, and convicted, for wrongdoing. Read more
Simon Yates takes Tour of the Alps lead after stage two win (BBC)
Britain’s Simon Yates has taken the overall lead of the Tour of the Alps following an impressive victory on stage two.
Yates, 28, of Team Bike Exchange, left behind his rivals after launching a devastating attack with 24km remaining.
He now leads Ineos Grenadiers’ Pavel Sivakov in the general classification by 41 seconds.
“They weren’t easy to get rid of – it was a very tough climb,” said Yates. Read more
Bayern’s Alaba to join Real Madrid next season (Punch)
Austria defender David Alaba will join Real Madrid at the end of the season on a free transfer when his Bayern Munich contract expires, according to reports on Tuesday.
Sky claim the 28-year-old, who has won the Champions League twice with Bayern, will sign a five-year deal with Real after spending 13 years in Munich.
Alaba played in Tuesday’s 2-0 home win against Leverkusen which leaves Bayern 10 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga. Read more
Ed Woodward resigns as chairman of Manchester United over European Super League (Metro)
Manchester United executive-vice chairman Ed Woodward has resigned from his position at the club following the backlash over the controversial European Super League. The 49-year-old former banker replaced CEO David Gill as chairman of the Red Devils back in 2012 and has faced enormous criticism during his reign at Old Trafford, having failed to win the Premier League in that time. While Woodward has long had a delicate relationship with supporters over his stewardship of the club, it is his decision to sign Manchester United up to the Super League which has proved to be his final undoing. Read more
Irving bounces back as Nets down Pelicans (France24)
Kyrie Irving scored 32 points as the Brooklyn Nets shrugged off the injury absence of Kevin Durant to down the New Orleans Pelicans 134-129 on Tuesday.
An impressive all-round offensive display helped Brooklyn to a win which saw them close to within half a game of the Philadelphia 76ers at the top of the Eastern Conference.
With Durant suffering from a thigh contusion and James Harden still missing with a hamstring strain, it was left to the Nets’ supporting cast to back up Irving.
Joe Harris finished with 24 points and Landry Shamet added 18 while Blake Griffin delivered 16 points from the bench. Bruce Brown added a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Read more
European Super League: All six Premier League teams withdraw from competition (BBC)
All six Premier League teams involved in the European Super League have formally withdrawn from the competition.
Manchester City were the first club to pull out after Chelsea had signalled their intent to do so by preparing documentation to withdraw.
The other four sides – Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham – have all now followed suit
The 12-team Super League was announced on Sunday to widespread condemnation. Read more
Man Utd, Juventus stock falls as Super League collapses (Guardian)
Share prices of Manchester United and Juventus fell on Tuesday as the proposed European Super League was threatened following a furious backlash from fans.
On Wall Street, Manchester United dropped 6.0 percent, reversing most of Monday’s gain of nearly seven percent.
And in Milan, Juventus lost 4.2 percent after ending the previous day at its highest level since September 2020.“Juventus and Manchester United shares have both come under pressure after the gains of yesterday, as it becomes apparent that even within the various Premier League clubs support amongst the players appears lukewarm at best,” Michael Hewson of CMC Markets UK said. Read more