LASUTH loses 54-year-old nurse to COVID-19 (Punch)
The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja has lost a nurse, Mrs Adenike Bakare, to COVID-19, The PUNCH has learnt.
Bakare, who was an Assistant Director, Nursing Services, according to a source, died on Friday and was buried privately in Lagos the same day.
“No one is sure of her source of infection; LASUTH is not a designated treatment centre for COVID-19 but there have been admissions of COVID-19 patients in the hospital including her ward many times. But whether she got it at work or in the community, no one is sure,” the source said. Read more
Miracle-seeking Ghanaian woman disappears from Lagos hotel (Vanguard)
He paced from one end of the Ikotun market in Lagos, to the other, sweating profusely from the heat of the scourging sun. He looked searchingly at some faces and peered into vacant shops with suspicion. Some ladies ignored him, apparently thinking it was a lecherous gaze.
Thereafter, he walked down to a popular church within the vicinity, where he continued scanning through the crowd of worshippers that were going in and coming out of the church.
At a point, he became angry and scowled at the unsuspecting worshippers, mumbling. With his head bowed in dejection, he trudged through the street, heading back to where he came from.
Disappearance This has been a daily routine for 34-year-old John Wuni Laar, since December 2019. The man, a Ghanaian, and his younger brother, Shedrack, brought their ailing mother, Mrs Wuni Duwak-Susana, to a popular church in Lagos for healing, without bargaining for the outcome of what later played out. Their mother reportedly disappeared. Read more
LAWMA supervisor blasts MD in viral video over three-month unpaid salaries (Punch)
A supervisor with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority has lamented the lack of payment of workers’ salaries for three months.
The official, in an emotional video now trending on Instagram, slammed the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of LAWMA, Mr Ibrahim Odumboni, saying he had no compassion on the elderly women cleaning the roads. Read more
Controversy on burial place of 16-year-old tortured to death in church over N5,000 (Vanguard)
Palpable anxiety has gripped residents of Okegbodo, a suburb of Ikorodu in Lagos state following reports that a 16-year-old apprentice was tortured to death inside a popular Celestial Church in their community.
In fact, members of the community now restrict the movement of their children and diligently monitor every activity going on in and around them after they alleged that killers of the apprentice are freely walking the streets after they were unceremoniously released by the police who arrested them few hours after the murder was discovered. Read more
Many countries begged Nigeria for food during lockdown – FG (Punch)
The Federal Government has said many neighbouring countries asked Nigeria for food during the lockdown occasioned by coronavirus pandemic.
Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, made this known on Saturday during an Instagram Live Chat with City People Magazine.
The minister, who spoke on the COVID-19 Economic Sustainability Plan recently submitted by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), said the plan contains diverse measures to fortify the Nigerian economy against any shock brought by the pandemic. Read more
FG evacuates 269 stranded Nigerians from India (ThisDay)
The federal government has evacuated 269 Nigerians stranded in India.
The evacuees, who arrived at 2 am on Saturday after a few hours delay, were tested before departing India to ascertain their Covid-19 status.
Their results came back negative, but as soon as they arrived, they have been placed on compulsory 14 days self isolation.
The Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, tweeted this on Saturday on her verified tweeter handle. Read more
Shooting in the Villa: PDP alarmed, charges Buhari to speak out (Vanguard)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is alarmed by the reported shooting and security breaches within the precincts of the Presidential villa following a reported degenerated squabble among family members and officials of the Buhari Presidency.
Disclosing this in a statement signed by Kola Ologbondiyan, National Publicity Secretary, the party said it was deeply worried that the protracted spat between the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, and aides of President Muhammadu Buhari has now degenerated into violent combats, raids and free use of firearms within the Presidential villa. Read more
Jubilation as troops repel Boko Haram attack in Monguno (DailyTrust)
Residents of Monguno town could not hide their joy after military repelled an attempt by Boko Haram insurgents to wrecked havoc on the town on Saturday, sources said. According to a reliable source, residents came out to show appreciation after troops successfully repelled the attack. Boko Haram kills 69 people in Borno village Bandits kill another traditional ruler in Katsina “Everyone is happy now, there is celebration everywhere; the troops has done brilliantly today. There is relief now. “There was panick few hours ago but now we are fine and safe. The streets are filled with people celebrating the victory of the military over evil people,” a staff with an International Non-Governmental Organisation, INGO disclosed. Read more
London protests: Demonstrators clash with police (BBC)
Police were pelted with bottles during confrontations with demonstrators in London, where hundreds gathered despite warnings to avoid protests.
Groups gathered in the centre of the capital, claiming they were protecting statues from anti-racism activists.
Some anti-racism demonstrations have also taken place around the country, including in central London.
The Met Police has placed restrictions on several groups intending to protest, following violent scenes last weekend. Read more
Africa COVID-19 cases hit 222,000, death toll over 6,000 – WHO (Guardian)
The World Health Organisation (WHO), Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, says the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Africa is now over 222,000.
The UN’s health agency gave the update on its official twitter account @WHOAFRO on Saturday.
“There are over 222,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent – with more than 101,000 recoveries and 6, 000 deaths,’’ it stated.
WHO said that South Africa, Nigeria and Algeria had the highest reported cases on the continent. Read more
Australian sentenced to death in China for drug smuggling (BBC)
An Australian man has been sentenced to death in China for drug smuggling, the Australian government has confirmed.
The man was named in Australian media as Karm or Cam Gilespie.
He is believed to have been arrested at an airport in 2013 with 7.5kg (16 Ibs) of methamphetamine, also known as ice, in his luggage, the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reports.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was “deeply saddened to hear of the verdict”. Read more
Girl knifed best friend in the back after fearing she would steal boyfriend (Metro)
A teenager who was stabbed twice in the back by a jealous friend has shared graphic pictures of her wounds as a warning against knife crime. Eve Hewitson-Cross, 19, suffered a punctured lung during the attack, which took place in a park where she was waiting to meet friends in March last year. Her former best friend, who was 16 at the time and cannot be named for legal reasons, thought Eve wanted to steal her boyfriend. The girl narrowly avoided jail due to mental health issues and Covid-19’s effects on the legal system, according to the judge who sentenced her this week. Read more
World’s oldest cricketer, Raiji, dies at 100 (Punch)
Vasant Raiji, the world’s oldest first-class cricketer, died aged 100 in Mumbai on Saturday, his son-in-law Sudarsahan Nanavata told Indian media.
Raiji, a right-handed batsman, played nine first-class matches between 1938 and 1950, scoring 277 runs at an average of 23.08. He was also a cricket historian.
Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar and former Australia captain Steve Waugh visited Raiji at his Mumbai home on his 100th birthday on January 26.
“His warmth and passion for playing and watching Cricket was endearing,” Tendulkar wrote of his meeting with Raiji on Twitter following the announcement of the death. Read more
Churchill statue ‘may have to be put in museum’, says granddaughter (BBC)
A statue of Winston Churchill may have to be put in a museum to protect it if demonstrations continue, his granddaughter has said.
Emma Soames told the BBC the war-time prime minister was a “complex man” but he was considered a hero by millions.
She said she was “shocked” to see the monument in London’s Parliament Square boarded up, although she said she understood why this was necessary.
It came after protesters daubed “was a racist” on the statue last weekend. Read more
Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi confirms police will take no further action over rape allegation (Metro)
Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has confirmed that the police will take no further action after he was arrested on suspicion of rape last month. The 19-year-old winger was arrested on suspicion of rape on May 17 after a woman he invited to his home was taken to hospital. Hudson-Odoi was released on bail, while the investigation continued. The woman, who is understood to have met Hudson-Odoi online, called police and ambulance services and was taken to hospital after reporting that she had been raped. Read more
Ighalo, Rashford impress, Pogba, Bruno start in Man United friendlies (Punch)
Marcus Rashford returned, while Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes played in midfield together, as Manchester United played two friendlies against West Bromwich Albion on Friday.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer used his entire first-team squad in two separate training games against the Championship side at Old Trafford, losing 2-1 and then winning 3-1.
Pogba and Fernandes played in midfield together during the opening defeat, with Fernandes scoring a penalty and missing one, and United fans will have been encouraged to hear Rashford made his comeback from a back injury suffered in January, on the day Euro 2020 would have started, Skysports report. Read more
Zambia’s Daka ‘inspired’ by Haaland success (BBC)
Zambian striker Patson Daka has been ‘inspired’ by the success of his former Red Bull Salzburg team-mate Erling Haaland who is now at Borussia Dortmund, but Daka is enjoying ‘utilising the opportunity’ he now has at the Austrian club.
Daka, 21, has been in prolific form this season, scoring 22 goals from 24 games in Austria’s Bundesliga – a tally which includes three hat-tricks.
Haaland completed his move to Dortmund in December with Daka left to pick up the team’s mantle as the main marksman. Read more
Friendly: Norwich beat Tottenham 2-1 despite Kane’s return (Punch)
Harry Kane was among four players who returned to the Tottenham side for a friendly against Norwich – but they lost 2-1 to the Premier League’s basement club.
Kane was injured when the season was suspended due to coronavirus as well as Moussa Sissoko, Heung-Min Son and Steven Bergwijn – but they all played in the defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Kane has been out since New Year’s Day and was sorely missed as Spurs’ form nosedived before the pandemic, dropping seven points below fourth-placed Chelsea and four behind Manchester United, who they face on June 19 on their Premier League return, Sky Sports reports. Read more
Frank Lampard axes Michy Batshuayi from Chelsea friendly before Premier League restart (Metro)
Frank Lampard dropped Michy Batshuayi from Chelsea’s latest friendly as the striker edges closer to leaving the club, according to reports. The 26-year-old has started just one Premier League match all season and has fallen behind Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge. Batshuayi’s future at the club looks even more bleak as Chelsea are on the verge of completing a deal for RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner. According to The Athletic, Batshuayi has been on the fringes of Chelsea’s squad since the team returned to training last month and Lampard has used the Belgium international only sparingly during their preparation matches. Read more
Zidane tells Real Madrid to adopt World Cup mentality for La Liga finish (Vanguard)
Zinedine Zidane wants Real Madrid to treat their remaining 11 games in La Liga like a World Cup as they aim to overhaul Barcelona to win their second league title in eight years.
Real sit two points behind Barca and return after three months away against Eibar on Sunday, when they will play in their new training ground home at the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium.
La Liga is due to finish on July 19, meaning there will be fixtures every day while clubs will be in action almost every three days for five and a half weeks. Read more