Mayhem in Sagamu, blood-thirsty cultists engage in deadly clashes, residents live in fear (Punch)
The atmosphere in Sagamu town has been tense lately due to clashes by rival cult groups, causing residents to live in perpetual fear, Bankole Taiwo writes
The incessant cult clashes within Sagamu, the headquarters of Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State, with the attendant loss of lives is already becoming a source of worry and frustration to the residents of the town who felt that the government and the security forces have to be more decisive in curtailing this ugly incident
Between January and September, Sagamu has reportedly recorded at least four bloody cult clashes during which about 30 souls perished. Read more
MohBad was brought in dead — Lagos hospital breaks silence (Tribune)
Perez Medcare Hospital, Lagos, where late Nigerian rapper Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba a.k.a Mohbad, was taken to in his last moments, has broken the silence over his death.
Tribune online reports that Mohbad passed away on September 12 at the age of 27.
Following the death, there were unconfirmed reports that he was admitted at the hospital where he later gave up the ghost. Read more
Alleged Forgery: APC youth leader begs Atiku to discontinue US case against Tinubu (Leadership)
A youth leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hyde Kalu, has asked the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, to drop his case over the validity of President Bola Tinubu’s educational qualifications in the United States court.
The APC youth leader in Abia State said that the call becomes necessary “because the issue is already generating negative attention to Nigeria across the globe, and Atiku should save the country this embarrassment.”
Kalu, in a press statement sent to journalists on Monday, said that “it is quite unfortunate that the pride of Nigeria has been dragged to a point of ridicule in the comity of nations.” Read more
Eil-Ul-Maulid: FG declares public holiday (DailyTrust)
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, September 27, 2023 as public holiday in commemoration of Eil-ul- Maulid celebration.
The celebration signifies the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
In a statement which the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade, issued on his behalf, Minister of Interior, Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, congratulated Muslims for witnessing this year’s occasion. Read more
Proscription: Obey court order as progressives, RTEAN tells Sanwo-Olu (Vanguard)
The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) says continuous proscription of the union operations by the Lagos State Government in spite of a court order prohibiting such action leaves much to be desired.
The National President, RTEAN, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, made this remark while speaking to newsmen after a one-day peaceful protest by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Monday in Ikeja.
RTEAN is a trade union registered under the Trade Unions Act. Cap T 14 Laws of the Federation 2004, a Federal Enactment and affiliate of TUC. Read more
Lagos demolishes shanties on Blue Line rail corridor (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has intensified its efforts to rid some areas in the state of illegal structures and shanties as the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in furtherance to the directives of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday, supervised the demolition of shanties on the setbacks and rights of way of Lagos Blue Rail line corridor from Orile to Iyana Iba.
The commissioner was in company with the Chairman of the Special Intervention Team for the restoration of the Blue Line Right of Way, ACP Bayo Sulaiman; the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Gaji Omobolaji, and the counterpart in the Office of Drainage Services, Lekan Shodeinde. Read more
LSPWC Boss: Torrential rainfall still a challenge to our operations (ThisDay)
The Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) has once again lamented the disruption of its scheduled road maintenance and rehabilitation activities by the continuous heavy downpour being experienced in most parts of the state.
The General Manager of LSPWC, Lateef Somide, stated this yesterday while speaking on the on-going efforts of his agency to make Lagos roads motorable in spite of the rains.
According to him, the corporation has been significantly handicapped by the rainfall pattern being experienced in Lagos this year 2023 owing to the fact that road maintenance and rehabilitation operation can only be carried out efficiently under clement weather. Read more
Do not celebrate my 79th birthday, Ladoja tells loyalists (Guardian)
Former Governor of Oyo State and Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has instructed his loyalists and disciples not to celebrate his 79th birthday.
Yearly, Ladoja’s loyalists gather at his Ondo Street, Bodija residence every September 25 to eat, drink and be merry in celebration of the iconic figure.
But the former governor said the decision to call off merry-making this year was in deference to the mood of the country, with most Nigerians going through biting economic hardship and finding it difficult to feed themselves and their families. Read more
Military enrols 110,000 retired soldiers in Health Insurance Scheme (Nation)
No fewer than 110,000 retired officers of the Armed Forces have enrolled for the military free health insurance scheme.
The enrollees, who are beneficiaries of the scheme cut across all states.
The Managing Director of Military Health Management Limited (DHML), Rear Admiral Azeez Bello Afolayan (rtd), made this known during a one-day interactive meeting with military Veterans group at the DHML headquarters in Abuja. Read more
Bruce Willis’ wife says it’s “hard to know” if actor is aware of dementia condition (FilmNews)
Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming Willis has revealed she doesn’t know if the actor is aware of his condition.
The Die Hard star was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in February, and Emma appeared on NBC’s Today Show on Monday to give an update on his health.
When asked by co-host Hoda Kotb if Bruce understood what was happening to him, Emma replied: “It’s hard to know.” Read more
US, Kenya sign defense agreement ahead of Haiti security mission (VOA)
The United States and Kenya signed a defense agreement Monday aimed at strengthening counterterrorism efforts in East Africa and supporting Kenya’s efforts to take the lead in a security mission to Haiti.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Kenya’s Defense Minister Aden Duale signed the five-year agreement Monday in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
Austin said the United States is “grateful to Kenya for its leadership in tackling security challenges in the region and around the world” and thanked the country for its willingness to take the lead of a multinational security force to combat gang violence in Haiti. Read more
Joe Jonas spotted with brother Nick after he and Sophie Turner agree to temporarily keep kids in NYC (People)
Joe Jonas was seen out with his brother Nick Jonas on Monday amid the latest development in his divorce from Sophie Turner and their custody disagreement.
The brothers stepped out together in New York City on the same day in which Joe, 34, and Turner, 27, temporarily agreed to keep their daughters in New York through an interim consent order. The document, which was filed in New York and obtained by PEOPLE, shows that the estranged couple’s children must remain in the Southern and Eastern districts of New York, which includes New York City, the Hudson Valley, and Long Island. Read more
Why was the Libya flooding so deadly? (NBC)
A race to the roof was all that saved them from the deluge.
It was like being “in the middle of the sea with massive waves crashing around,” said high school teacher Ahmad al-Sharif, who scrambled to the top of his building with some neighbors as a wall of water swallowed up cars, homes and bodies.
In the darkness and faced with a wave of water so large it felt like a “tsunami appearing in front of you,” he recalled, neighbors were screaming as the deluge destroyed the city. Some were shouting “Save us! “Help us!” while others were saying the Shahada, the Islamic affirmation of faith, as the waves crashed over them and pulled them under. Read more
UK home secretary to warn of ‘‘unsustainable’’ crisis as illegal migration booms under Biden (NYPost)
The Biden administration’s apparently unbothered approach to the global migration crisis is “unsustainable,” British Home Secretary Suella Braverman plans to argue in meetings with officials from the departments of Justice and Homeland Security this week.
“Illegal migration and the unprecedented mass movement of people across the globe is placing unsustainable pressures on America, the UK and Europe,” Braverman said in a statement before traveling to the US Monday evening.
“If we fail to meet these challenges, then our political institutions risk losing their democratic legitimacy,” she added. Read more
‘‘The Wiz’’ with Wayne Brady sets Broadway opening date for April (Deadline)
The new revival of “The Wiz” will begin Broadway previews on March 29, 2024, at the Marquis Theatre, with an opening night set for Wednesday, April 17.
The musical will feature Wayne Brady in the title role. The Broadway dates and venue were announced today by producers Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Brian Anthony Moreland, Ambassador Theatre Group, Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker.
The limited engagement on Broadway follows a pre-Broadway national tour that launched in Baltimore yesterday with a sold-out show (and five standing ovations). Baltimore was the site of the musical’s original world premiere nearly 50 years ago. Read more
Erdogan meets Azerbaijan’s Aliyev as thousands flee Nagorno-Karabakh (AlJazeera)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has arrived for a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev as thousands of ethnic Armenians flee Nagorno-Karabakh after Baku defeated the breakaway region’s fighters in a military operation last week.
Erdogan is visiting Azerbaijan’s autonomous Nakhchivan exclave on Monday to discuss the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, according to the Turkish president’s office.
Erdogan’s government provided military support to Azerbaijan in 2020 when its forces wrestled back control of large parts of Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenian separatists. Read more
Orban gets two-match ban, fined €5k (Punch)
KAA Gent forward, Gift Orban, has been given a two-match ban for his red card against KAS Eupen in the Belgian topflight on Sunday.
The Super Eagles invitee was at the risk of missing multiple games for receiving a straight red for violent conduct but his punishment was lessened for being a first-time offender.
Orban received the first red card of his professional career as Gent came from behind to secure a 2-1 win over Eupen in a Belgian Pro League match at the Ghelamco Arene. He was sent off in the 45th minute for shoving Rune Paeshuyse in the neck during an off-the-ball incident, and the referee confirmed the red card after a review by VAR. Read more
Osimhen apologises to Napoli coach for outburst after being replaced against Bologna (Guardian)
Victor Osimhen has reportedly apologised to Napoli head coach Rudi Garcia following a spat on the touchlines during Sunday’s 0-0 draw away at Bologna.
Osimhen missed the chance to put Napoli ahead from the penalty spot before being replaced for Giovanni Simeone on 86 minutes.
A visibly frustrated Osimhen directed his anger towards Garcia as he made his way to the touchline. Read more
Jadon Sancho barred from Man Utd dining room by Erik ten Hag and forced to eat with kids (DailyStar)
Jadon Sancho’s Manchester United first-team exile reportedly extends beyond training – with the England international also banned from eating with the squad.
Sancho has been banished from the first-team squad by Erik ten Hag following a public row with his manager, which saw him accuse the Dutchman of lying over the reason for his omission from the squad that lost 3-1 against Arsenal. Ten Hag said in his post-match interview that Sancho had been left out from the game at the Emirates Stadium on September 3 due to poor training performances, something Sancho hit back at on social media.
The £73 million signing from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 criticised his manager in a Twitter post which has now been deleted. Sancho wrote: “Please don’t believe everything you read! I will not allow people to say things that are completely untrue. I have conducted myself in training very well this week. I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won’t go into. I have been a scapegoat for a long time which isn’t fair!” Read more
Megan Rapinoe: USA forward ends international career with win against South Africa (BBC)
Megan Rapinoe brought down the curtain on her international career as the USA beat South Africa 2-0 in Chicago.
Prior to the 2023 World Cup, the forward said she planned to retire when the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season ends.
Rapinoe, 38, made her USA debut in 2006 and won 203 caps, scoring 63 goals, and winning the World Cup in 2015 and 2019. Read more
Maddy Cusack’s death not suspicious as police release statement on Sheffield United player (Express)
Derbyshire Police have confirmed they are not treating Maddy Cusack’s death as suspicious after the footballer passed away last Wednesday. On Thursday morning, Sheffield United announced the tragic news that Cusack – a prominent member of their women’s team – had died at the age of 27. The Premier League club paid tribute to their player with a short memorial service before their match on Sunday against Newcastle.
Cusack made over 100 appearances for the Yorkshire outfit since joining in 2019 and was viewed as an ‘inspiration’, with tributes from her team-mates flooding in on social media. She had also worked as a marketing executive for the Premier League club since 2021 alongside her playing career. Read more
English cricket to get new regulator as ECB admit Andrew Gale still hasn’t paid his fine (Mirror)
Former Yorkshire coach Andrew Gale has still not paid his £6,000 fine to the ECB for his role in the Yorkshire racism scandal despite landing a new job in Australia.
Gale announced on social media that he has taken the job of head coach of the male performance pathway at Cricket Tasmania in Hobart, his first job in the game since he was sacked as head coach at Yorkshire in 2021.
Accused of using racist language and bullying, Gale failed to engage with the investigation and refused to defend himself at the hearing before being sanctioned along with several other former teammates. Read more