Many feared dead as explosion wreaks havoc in Lagos (Guardian)
An explosion occurred last night at a gas shop on Inua Mohammed Street, off Asa Afariogun street, adjacent Faith City Hospital in Ajao Estate area of Lagos State, which killed several persons and consumed buildings and vehicles.
When The Guardian got to the scene at about 8:30 p.m. many of the injured victims were seen taken into the ambulances that just arrived. The police and firefighters were also at the scene while efforts were ongoing to extinguish the fire.
Eyewitnesses said the explosion might have been caused by a faulty cylinder. The number of casualties was yet to be ascertained as at press time. Read more
Lagos welder impregnates, procures abortion for teenager (Punch)
A welder, Femi Ogunshola, has been accused of impregnating and procuring abortion for a teenager in the Ipaja area of Lagos State.
The victim’s family told PUNCH Metro that after the 22-year-old suspect was arrested, the police released him without filing any charges against him.
The father, Sakiru Jimoh, who called for the re-arrest and prosecution of Ogunshola, said his 17-year-old daughter almost died.
He said, “My daughter started staying with me in January and I noticed the suspect and my daughter together. I warned my daughter and beat her and they stopped seeing each other. Read more
Lagos PDP, George fault closure of Third Mainland Bridge (Guardian)
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has said that the six months closure of Third Mainland Bridge for maintenance work will create serious economic and social havoc to residents.
George, in a telephone conversation with The Guardian, yesterday, decried the sufferings motorists and commuters were subjected to in the last two days since the repairs started.
He, therefore, urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his predecessor, the incumbent Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to ensure that one side of the bridge is opened and be temporarily converted to a dual carriageway for motorists while the repair work continues on the other side. Read more
Father, stepmother torture six-year-old Ogun girl with nails (Punch)
A six-year-old girl has been hospitalised after her father, Taiwo Onabanjo, and stepmother, Abimbola, allegedly tortured her with nails at their residence in Ijagba, in the Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that a concerned neighbour alerted a non-governmental organisation, Olanrewaju Omo-George Foundation, whose representative informed the Sagamu Police Division, which mobilised personnel to arrest the stepmother. Read more
Ondo 2020: Akeredolu picks Lucky Ayedatiwa as running mate (Vanguard)
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has picked a former representative of the state on the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Lucky Ayedatiwa, as his deputy.
Ayedatiwa is from oil-rich ilaje council area of the state.
He is expected to run with Akeredolu in the October 10 election if his name was not substituted before August 18, 2020 deadline by INEC. Read more
Medical directors fault Stella’s claim on COVID-19 cure (Guardian)
The Guild of Medical Directors has expressed shock over the trending video of Dr. Stella Immanuel, a medical doctor in the United States of America, who claimed that a combination of Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), Zinc and Zithromax could cure coronavirus.
In a statement yesterday signed by the president of the Guild, Prof. Olufemi Emmanuel Babalola, the medical directors said the video had been shared all over the country and led to many people justifiably asking the question of what doctors think about it.
Olufemi stated that it was important for people to understand it was just Immanuel’s personal opinion, which has no scientific backing and could simply be regarded as “unsubstantiated claims”. Read more
New cult member tortured to death during initiation (Punch)
A 32-year-old man, Nwali Kingsley, was on Tuesday remanded at a correctional facility by an Ebonyi State Magistrate’s Court for allegedly torturing one Nwafor Johnson to death during cult initiation.
The suspect and others at large, it was gathered, also tortured another victim, Chigbo Ugbala, with sticks and machetes during the act.
PUNCH Metro gathered that while Johnson died and was thrown into the river, Ugbala fled the initiation ground. Read more
Schools resume for only SS3 in Lagos, Ogun (Nation)
Though the Federal Ministry of Education has given go- ahead for resumption of JSS3 and SS3 classes in secondary schools, only SS3 classes will resume in Lagos, Ogun states.
While Lagos Education Commissioner, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo and Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Education, Mrs Ronke Soyombo confirmed resumption for only SS3 pupils, Ekiti Education Commissioner, Mr. Foluso Daramola said a decision would be taken about whether JSS3 classes would resume after a meeting with Governor Kayode Fayemi.
“I am just coming from a meeting at the Governor’s office on the issue. We will make a statement on it,” she said. Read more
NHS worker ‘lucky to be alive’ after racists deliberately drove car into him (Metro)
An NHS worker is ‘lucky to be alive’ after a car was deliberately driven into him in a racially-aggravated attack.
The 21-year-old man, who has not been named, suffered a broken leg, nose and cheekbone and will require plastic surgery to his face and leg, following the incident in Bristol last Wednesday.
Witnesses described how a car drove at the man as he walked home from work at Southmead Hospital at around 4.30pm. Read more
Mali: At least 22 killed in road accident (Aljazeera)
At least 22 people have been killed and 21 injured in southern Mali when a minibus collided with a dump truck.
The accident took place about 9am local time (09:00 GMT) on a national highway linking the town of Kangaba, near the border with Guinea, to Bancoumana further north, in the West African country on Tuesday.
“The reasons behind the accident are excessive speed and non-respect of road rules,” the transport ministry said in a statement. Read more
Coronavirus: Scaled back Hajj pilgrimage due to start in Saudi Arabia (BBC)
The annual Hajj pilgrimage usually performed by Muslims around the world begins on Wednesday, dramatically scaled back because of coronavirus.
Saudi Arabia has banned international visitors from making the journey to Mecca, to try to curb the pandemic.
Only citizens from other countries who are already resident in the kingdom will be allowed to attend this year. Read more
UK researchers will help Nasa look for alien life on Mars (Metro)
Rock and soil samples taken from Mars in the search for life on the Red Planet are to be selected by UK researchers.
Scientists at Imperial College London and the Natural History Museum will help the Nasa Perseverance rover select the Martian samples to be brought back to Earth, as it searches for evidence of ancient microbial life.
The mission to Mars is set to launch on Thursday. Jezero crater, the 28-mile (45km) wide destination of Perseverance, contains sediments of an ancient river delta, a location where evidence of past life could be preserved if it ever existed on the planet. Read more
Mick Jagger and Lorde urge politicians to get permission for campaign songs (BBC)
Mick Jagger, Lorde, Sia and Blondie are among the artists demanding that US politicians seek permission before playing their songs at rallies.
They’re among more than 50 acts who’ve signed an open letter calling for new rules on how their music is used.
The letter calls on Democrats and Republicans to “establish clear policies requiring campaigns to seek consent” from songwriters and artists. Read more
Football star lures disabled babysitter to his home, rapes her (Metro)
A former football star was found guilty of luring a disabled babysitter to his home and raping her at gunpoint.
Dana Stubblefield, a former San Francisco 49er, was convicted of rape by force, oral copulation by force and false imprisonment on Monday in San Jose, California. Prosecutors said Stubblefield, 49, used a gun during the horrific attack on the 31-year-old woman in April 2015. Read more
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan slams ‘virus death’ trolls (France24)
Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has threatened to unleash his legion of fans on online trolls wishing him death from the coronavirus, after earlier speaking out about the stigma suffered by patients.
Bachchan and his actor son Abhishek have been in a Mumbai hospital for over two weeks with COVID-19, while his actress daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai and granddaughter Aaradhya were discharged on Monday.
They are the highest-profile family to contract the virus in India, the world’s third most infected nation with almost 1.5 million cases. Read more
Confusion over Anambra FA leadership as NFF disowns elections (Guardian)
What is going on at the Anambra State Football Association (AnSFA)? That is the question many enthusiasts of the game are asking following the recent discordant vibes coming out of the South Eastern state.
Reports emerged on Monday that incumbent chairman of the Anambra Football Association, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah had been re-elected for another four-year term. But yesterday, the football governing body in the country, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), came out to say that it has not conducted any election into the state’s FA. Read more
Timo Werner explains why he’s ‘perfect’ for Chelsea (Metro)
Timo Werner has challenged himself to score more goals for Chelsea than he managed in his four-year spell with Leipzig and claims his lightning-quick pace makes him ‘perfect’ for the Premier League.
The 24-year-old striker had an outstanding campaign in front of goal for Leipzig, netting 34 times in 45 games for the Bundesliga outfit, and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp made no secret of his interest ahead of the summer transfer window.
However, the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic saw the Reds drop out of the race for Werner and Frank Lampard was in contact with the German on a near daily basis to convince him to join Chelsea. Read more
Murray & Burrage lose in mixed doubles (BBC)
Andy Murray’s preparations for the restart of the professional tour continued at the Battle of the Brits Team Tennis – but ended in a mixed doubles defeat with Jodie Burrage.
Former world number one Murray and Burrage were beaten 4-6 6-4 10-8 by Joe Salisbury and Emma Raducanu.
Salisbury and Raducanu’s win gave their British Bulldogs side a 18-8 lead over the Union Jacks at the end of day two. Read more
Wilfried Zaha’s former team-mate ‘baffled’ Arsenal opted for Nicolas Pepe (Metro)
Former Crystal Palace striker Glenn Murray says Wilfried Zaha would have been the ‘perfect fit’ for Arsenal and is ‘surprised’ they signed Nicolas Pepe over the Eagles winger.
The Gunners were reportedly interested in the 27-year-old last summer, but instead opted to shell out £72 million for Pepe from Ligue 1 side Lille. Arsenal’s record signing has struggled for consistency and is yet to acclimatise to the fast pace of the Premier League. Read more
Dembele, Lenglet and Griezmann return as Barca resume training (Guardian)
Barcelona welcomed back three injured French players, Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Griezmann and Clement Lenglet, as they resumed training ahead of their Champions League match against Napoli.
The club did not give any indication that the trio would be fit for the second-leg match against Napoli on August 8.
“The good news of the day was to see Lenglet and Griezmann doing individual work on the pitch,” said Barcelona on their website as the squad returned after a few days of rest following the end of La Liga. Read more
Chelsea’s Willian has offers from two Premier League clubs (Vanguard)
Willian has received concrete offers from five teams including two in the Premier League, according to the Chelsea winger’s agent.
Willian’s contract expires at the end of the season and the Brazil international has been unable to reach an agreement over an extension.
Arsenal are among the sides rumoured to be interested, with the player said to be keen to stay in London. Read more