Midnight gunshots, burglars terrify Lagos community (Punch)
Residents of Abule Taylor community in the Abule Egba area of Lagos State have lamented incessant gunshots every midnight in the area.
The residents, who spoke to our correspondent, also decried the activities of burglars and miscreants who terrorised people in the community.
A resident, who identified himself simply as Biggie for security reasons, said he realised he was not the only one aware of the situation when he got a call from a neighbour while another shooting was going on.
He said, “A neighbour called my phone one midnight to alert me when he heard the gunshots. I told him that wasn’t the first time such was happening. It has been the case since a man in the neighbourhood was shot dead inside his house while wrestling with armed robbers.” Read more
Lagos: 11 women die from domestic violence in 20 months (Guardian)
Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency has revealed that 4860 domestic and sexual violence cases have been recorded this year, with 11 women dying from domestic violence incidents in 20 months.
The Executive Secretary of the agency, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, disclosed this, yesterday, at a two days training for Police prosecutors, state prosecutors and family support units in police stations in Lagos.
According to her, while five women have died from domestic violence this year, six women died last year. She said all the men involved are already being prosecuted and are in custody.
She said the training was put together to help prosecutors understand best practices in prosecuting sexual and gender-based violence cases. Read more
INEC, CAN, Sultan warn against violent campaigns (Punch)
As political parties begin campaigns for the 2023 poll on Wednesday (tomorrow), the Independent National Electoral Commission; Christian Association of Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, have given a stern warning to political parties to avoid violence during the exercise.
The development came amid rising insecurity in the country as politicians also step up efforts to protect themselves with the demand for bulletproof cars and security gadgets rising in recent months.
The Chairman of INEC, Mahmud Yakubu, said abusive and slanderous words could provoke violence during the campaigns.
Yakubu, who was represented by a National Commissioner, Festus Okoye, spoke at a workshop in Lagos on Monday. Read more
Kidnappers abduct 3 in suleja as female pastor others regain freedom (DailyTrust)
Suspected kidnappers have abducted two women and a man around Niger Motel in Jepap area of Suleja town, Niger State.
This happened a week after hoodlums abducted four people, including a female pastor in the town but were released on Tuesday following an undisclosed amount of ransom paid to the abductors.
Sources in the community told City & Crime that the kidnappers sneaked into the community around 1:00pm on Saturday and broke into a family house where they abducted a housewife and her 18-year-old daughter.
One of the residents revealed that the incident happened after a misunderstanding with a man recently, who allegedly threatened that “she should expect his reaction.
He said the bandits had also abducted another man before they fled. Read more
100 MSMEs to attend 2022 SMEDAN Fair (Leadership)
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), said no fewer than 100 Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs) are to participate at the 2022 Lagos MSMEs fair.
The director-general of SMEDAN, Mr Olawale Fasanya, made this known, in a statement to LEADERSHIP.
According to him, the event will afford exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their wares and enjoy business advisory services on how to upscale their businesses.
The fair is scheduled to hold in Ikeja, Lagos State from September 26 to September 30, 2022, with the theme ‘Competing for Market.’ Read more
2023 presidency: Yoruba elders split over Peter Obi, Tinubu (Vanguard)
Some Yoruba leaders were yesterday split over support for the presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter, Obi in the 2023 elections.
While the leader of the pan Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, threw their weight behind Mr Obi, the Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE,
Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG and leader of the Ilana Omo Oodua, IOO, Professor Banji Akintoye expressed divergent views. Read more
Osun tribunal adjourns sitting to Oct 4 (Nation)
The Osun 2022 governorship Election Tribunal hearing the petition of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and Governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke has adjourned sitting till October 4 for the three defendants to file response to pre-trial form.
Professor Kayode Olatoke, SAN led other 49 lawyers to represent Oyetola and All Progressives Congress (APC) while Professor Paul Ananaba, SAN represented first respondent, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Bamidele Abolarin for Senator Ademola Adeleke and Nathaniel Oke appeared for Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).
The Tribunal was chaired by Tertsea Aorga Kume while Benedict Amaugbe and Bashiru Rabi were member of the Tribunal panel.
Olatoke informed the court that they have filed response to pre-trial form on issued by Tribunal on Friday.
According to him: “We were served the form on Friday and we filed the response and serve all the respondents on Monday. We can go ahead with the hearing.” Read more
Davido back with Chioma after alleged split (Nation)
Afrobeat star Davido and his ex-fiancee, Chioma Avril Rowland appeared to have reconciled their differences after they were seen together at the weekend.
The 29-year-old singer proposed to Chioma but the engagement later went sour after news broke out that he fathered a fourth child with an American model and make-up artiste, Larissa London.
Over the weekend, Chioma broke the net when she stepped out in style for Davido’s concert rocking his new 30BG pendant worth millions.
The pendant had the inscription ‘002’, which hinted at her reconciliation with Davido. Read more
MC Casino thrills, electrifies Nigerians in Europe (Sun)
A Nigerian stand-up comedian, MC Casino, born with the name; Lawrence Osarenkhoe, whom many of his fans described as an all-around entertainer, is undoubtedly, making waves in the comic and entertainment industry.
MC Casino is a graduate of Agriculture from University of Benin, UNIBEN, where he specialized in fishery. But he veered off his course of study and settled for his first love. He cut his comic teeth while on campus.
Osarenkhoe explained that “the comedy profession is not less a career, against the thoughts of many who believe we are mere jokers, but we bring joy and rejoicing to the hearts of people.
His thought is scriptural, “a merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones,” Proverbs 17:22.
Like many comedians, who know their onions, MC Casino inspires joy in the hearts of his audience(s) through rib cracking jokes. Read more
Adeboye to hold first mega crusade in Bauchi (Punch)
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, will hold his first mega crusade in Bauchi State tagged: ‘Light Up Bauchi’.
The crusade, which is being organised by the RCCG and the Christian Association of Nigeria will be held from Tuesday, September 27 to Wednesday September 28, 2022 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi.
The Special Assistant to the RCCG General Overseer on Personnel, Pastor Julius Olalekan, while speaking with our correspondent in an interview at the venue of the planned crusade late Sunday evening, said preparations for the programme had reached an advanced stage.
Olalekan, who is also the Pastor in charge of Region 17 of Bauchi, Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Yobe and Taraba States of the North-East, described the crusade as a phenomenon because it is happening in a unique way.
He said: “The preparations are in top gear, everything is going on well. We’re already mounting up the stage, the lights and every arrangement is on the ground. Security is on the ground, arrangements for free flow of traffic is on the ground, the sanitation and fumigation of the venue to make it comfortable for people to make sure we have a hitch-free outing here. What we are doing now is to perfect the arrangements and ensure that everything goes on smoothly. Read more
Dimorphos: NASA flies spacecraft into asteroid in direct hit (BBC)
The American space agency’s Dart probe has smashed into an asteroid, destroying itself in the process.
The collision was intentional and designed to test whether space rocks that might threaten Earth could be nudged safely out of the way.
Dart’s camera returned an image per second, right up to the moment of impact with the target – a 160m-wide object called Dimorphos.
What had been a steady image stream cut out as the probe was obliterated. Read more
Rihanna fans convinced new music is finally coming after iconic Super Bowl announcement (Metro)
Rihanna sent us all into a spin when she confirmed that she is headlining next year’s Super Bowl Halftime show.
After intense speculation over who the guest performer is, with Taylor Swift’s name initially in the mix, the Work singer announced that she will be hitting the stage in Glendale, Arizona.
In typical form, the 34-year-old, who recently welcomed her first child with A$AP Rocky, simply posted a photo as she held an American football on Instagram.
Fans couldn’t get enough of the news and questioned whether this means we’ll finally get our hands on some new music and the elusive R9 album. Read more
T.D. Jakes’ daughter, Pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts, anointed to succeed her father (ChurchLeaders)
At the final Woman, Thou Art Loosed! conference, which concluded on September 24 in Atlanta, Bishop T.D. Jakes handed the reins of his successful women’s-empowerment ministry to his daughter, Pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts.
The 65-year-old Jakes called his daughter to the stage, saying she was “walking into her destiny.” He emphasized that he was anointing her not through DNA, birth order, favoritism, or nepotism. “If I did not know that the hand of the Lord was upon you, I would never do this,” he said.
As Jakes poured oil on his daughter’s head, he prayed that God would bless her with strength and power. She then collapsed and remained on the stage as her father told all the attendees he was declaring “a new season in your life.”
Through her Woman Evolve ministry and a book of the same title, Sarah Jakes Roberts encourages women to “break up” with their fears and “revolutionize your life.” She also co-pastors two branches of The Potter’s House church—one in Los Angeles and one in Denver—with her husband, Touré Roberts. Read more
Suede have already started writing “much more experimental” new album (NME)
Suede have already started working on a “much more experimental” new album, the band have revealed in a new interview.
The band released their latest album ‘Autofiction’ last week (September 23), their ninth record in their career so far.
Speaking to NME for the latest In Conversation video, Suede revealed they had already begun working on the follow-up. Asked if their latest record marks the start of a new era for the band, frontman Brett Anderson said: “I don’t know. The next record that we’re planning to write, and have already started, is much more experimental.
“I don’t really know if there’s an arc with [‘Autofiction’]. I’m not seeing it as a selection of albums. You just have to do it one at a time, really. I do think of those three records as [being] together, especially ‘Night Thoughts’ and ‘The Blue Hour’, but the next record will be completely different.” Read more
Dr. Dre tells Rihanna ”put the right people behind you” ahead of Super Bowl Halftime Show (MusicNews)
Dr. Dre has shared sage advice with Rihanna for her upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show, drawing on personal experience.
After the Work singer was announced as the headliner for 2023 sporting spectacular over the weekend, previous performer Dre divulged what he’d learnt from his experience at the event earlier this year.
Speaking to Ebro Darden on Apple Music 1 he said: “Oh, my god. Let me tell you something, man. I actually just got the news that Rihanna’s going to do it, and I’m a super fan of Rihanna. I can’t wait to see what she’s going to do.
“I just like her and what she does, and her get down, and how she approaches her artistry and the whole nine. It’s fantastic. She has the opportunity to really blow us away. I know we set the bar extremely high.” Read more
Alan Rickman’s diary reveals why he kept ”Harry Potter” role through hard times (People)
Excerpts from Alan Rickman’s diaries are giving insight into the late actor’s role as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter film series and why he decided to continue playing the character amid tough times and desires to quit.
In the diary entries, which were published online by The Guardian on Saturday, Rickman detailed that he wanted to leave the franchise in 2002, one month after the release of the second film: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
“Talking to [agent] Paul Lyon-Maris about HP exit, which he thinks will happen,” Rickman wrote in an entry dated Dec. 4, 2002. “But here we are in the project-collision area again. Reiterating no more HP. They don’t want to hear it.”
The actor decided to stay with the franchise, however, after he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer in 2005, ahead of filming for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the franchise’s fifth installment. Read more
Canada announces end to Covid border restrictions (RFI)
Canada will suspend Covid-19 border restrictions in October, the country’s public health agency said Monday.
The country will no longer enforce testing, quarantine, vaccination or mask rules for travelers wishing to enter Canada, the agency said in a statement.
“We are announcing that the Government of Canada will not renew the order in council that expires on September 30 and will therefore remove all COVID-19 and border requirements for all travelers entering Canada,” Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos said.
According to a statement from the Public Health Agency of Canada, the change was made because of “modeling that indicates that Canada has largely passed the peak of the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 fueled wave” and because of the country’s high vaccination and lower hospitalization rates. Read more
Super Eagles land in Oran, ready for ‘real’ battle with Algeria (Guardian)
The day for the Super Eagles’ real battle against the Fennecs of Algeria is here. Last week, Nigeria held Algeria’s home-based team to a 2-2 draw in a game originally meant for the Super Eagles B team.
The excuse for Nigeria’s inability to beat Algeria’s home-based team was that the Super Eagles just arrived in the North African country and were, therefore, not ready for the game. But after more than one week in Algeria, the Eagles are expected to be better prepared for the North Africans.
Yesterday, the Super Eagles arrived in Oran, the venue of today’s game, from Constantine, where they have been camped for the past week.
In the first game against Algeria, Alex Iwobi and Cyriel Dessers scored for Nigeria, but they are set for a bigger battle as today’s opponents are of higher pedigree.
The team will be without vice-captain, William Troost-Ekong and key defensive midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, who have been ruled out by injury; but their absence offers an opportunity for other players to lay claim to first-team positions. Team captain Ahmed Musa and forwards Henry Onyekuru and Samuel Chukwueze are the others knocked out by injuries.
The Super Eagles have lost their last two games against Algeria and will want to correct the impression in some quarters that the Desert Foxes are the superior team. Read more
Modric: ‘‘Croatia affected by Brozovic’s injury’’ (FootballItalia)
Real Madrid star Luka Modric admits Marcelo Brozovic’s injury ‘affected’ Croatia despite their 3-1 win over Austria yesterday.
The Inter midfielder limped off the pitch after just 18 minutes due to a suspected flexor injury which could keep him out of action for over a month.
Brozovic will be assessed by Croatia’s doctors today before returning to Inter where he will likely undergo further medical examinations.
“We had a good start, broke the deadlock but they scored the equaliser and Brozovic’s injury affected us,” Modric said after the game, as quoted by FCInter1908. Read more
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s World Cup hopes hit by Germany game omission (Guardian)
Gareth Southgate has cast doubt over Trent Alexander-Arnold’s World Cup hopes by leaving the defender out of England’s Nations League fixture against Germany on Monday night.
The Liverpool right-back is one of five players who have been omitted from the fixture as the competition’s rules mean Southgate must trim his 28-man squad down to 23 names on matchday. Jarrod Bowen, Fikayo Tomori, James Ward-Prowse and the suspended Jack Grealish have also been left out. Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been included and will hope to win his first cap when England play their final game before their World Cup opener against Iran on 21 November.
However, the absence of Alexander-Arnold has raised eyebrows and could mean England look increasingly likely to fly to Qatar without a player who is seen as one of the best in the world in his position. He was an unused substitute during last Friday’s 1-0 defeat to Italy and the fact that he will not feature again on Monday suggests he is running out of time to win Southgate over.
Alexander-Arnold, who has been a shaky presence in Liverpool’s defence this season, has rarely been at his best for England and has struggled to establish himself as one of Southgate’s regulars. The England manager has plenty of options in his position, with Kyle Walker, Reece James and Kieran Trippier all pressing for inclusion, and it appears that doubts over Alexander-Arnold’s defensive qualities are working against him. Read more
Slaven Bilic appointed Watford manager (Standard)
Watford have appointed Slaven Bilic as their new head coach after sacking Rob Edwards after just 10 Championship games in charge.
Former West Ham manager Bilic takes over at Vicarage Road on an 18-month contract and, subject to receiving a work permit, will be in charge of their next match away at Stoke on Sunday.
Edwards was only appointed by Watford in May but he has been dismissed with the Hornets 10th in the Championship and losing ground in the automatic promotion race.
Watford feel the last international break of the year gives them a chance to re-set and believe Bilic can galvanise the squad as they target a promotion push. Read more
Murray backs Federer as future Laver Cup captain (StraitsTimes)
Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray said he hopes Roger Federer will stay involved in tennis as he heads into retirement but suggested the Swiss great is so gifted that coaching other players might prove difficult.
Federer, 41, claimed 20 Grand Slam singles titles, ripped up the record books and is widely regarded as the best player ever to wield a racket.
Murray was part of Team Europe as Federer bade a tearful farewell to tennis on Friday having announced that the Laver Cup in London would be the last tournament of his 24-year career.
The Swiss great has hinted that he would like to play exhibition events but has been guarded about the chances of moving into coaching at some point in the future. Read more
Mathieu van der Poel: Cyclist pleads guilty to assaulting teenagers in Sydney (BBC)
Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel has pleaded guilty to assaulting two teenage girls in Sydney, Australia, the night before the men’s World Championship road race.
The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider was charged with two counts of common assault and fined 1,500 Australian dollars (£909) after a confrontation with the girls, aged 13 and 14.
His lawyer said he will appeal against the conviction but has been allowed to leave Australia after being handed back his passport.
Van der Poel, 27, alleged the teenagers “continuously” knocked on his hotel room door on Saturday night. Read more
Australia hands Canada its 1st loss at FIBA World Cup (CBC)
Host Australia handed Canada’s women’s basketball team its first loss at the FIBA World Cup on Monday.
Ezi Magbegor scored 16 points as the Aussies topped Canada 75-72.
Nirra Fields scored a game-high 17 points for Canada, while Bridget Carleton scored 16 and Kia Nurse chipped in with 11.
Kayla Alexander had four points and 11 rebounds for Canada, who led 57-51 after three quarters. Read more