Miyetti Allah to herdsmen: Defend yourselves against ethnic militia groups (Punch)
Barely 72 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari asked Fulani herdsmen in the South to ignore the call by northern elders asking them to return to the North, the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, the umbrella body for Fulani herdsmen in the country, has asked its members to defend themselves against any ethnic militia group in the country, saying herders should exercise their rights to free movement as Nigerians. The National Secretary of the group, Saleh Alhassan, in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents on Thursday, also said that governors in the southern part of the country would be held responsible if any of their members was attacked. Read more
FG no longer involved in El Zakzaky’s case – Presidency (Guardian)
The Presidency of Nigeria Friday said the case involving the leader of the Shiites, Ibrahim El Zakzaky, is no longer in the hands of the Federal Government. “As far as this country’s Ministry of Justice is concerned, the case involving El-Zakzaky is no longer in its domain,” President Muhammadu Buhari spokesman, Garba Shehu said in a statement on Friday. “The Federal Government no more has hands in the matter and to that extent, the government at the centre can be said to be clear of any alleged violations of court orders as being trumpeted every day,” he added. Read more
Presidency to Shi’ite Members: Stop unwarranted protests (Nation)
The Presidency has appealed to El-Zakzaky-led Shiite members to desist from needless violent, street protests and await the decision of the court in Kaduna where their leader is currently being tried. According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Friday, the issue of El-ZakZaky is before the court in Kaduna and his supporters should focus on his ongoing trial instead of causing daily damages, disruptions and public nuisance in Abuja. Read more
Killings: Police begin recruitment of 40,000 part-time constables August (Punch)
As part of measures to halt the spate of killings and kidnappings in the southern part of the country, the police authorities have concluded plan to scale up the numerical strength of the force by injecting 40,000 part-time constables into the system. As a result, the recruitment of the constables will begin in August, according to findings by Saturday PUNCH. The Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, who confirmed the development, explained that at least 50 persons would be recruited from each of the 774 local government areas in the country, adding that the recruitment exercise might kick off in August. Read more
Tambuwal warns against harassing, killing innocent Fulanis (Nation)
Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Friday cautioned local vigilantes against harrassment and killing of innocent Fulani over bandits attacks in the state. The governor gave the warning while commiserating with families of the 29 people killed by bandits in Kamitau, Malafaru and Ololi communities in Shinaka District of Goronyo Local Government Area. Tambuwal reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ending all forms of banditry across the state. Read more
South-West states plan death penalty, life sentence for kidnappers (Punch)
South-West governors and state assemblies have resolved to enact laws that will impose capital punishment or life sentence on kidnappers in the region. Officials of the state governments who spoke on the issue in separate interviews with Saturday PUNCH on Friday confirmed this. They spoke against the backdrop of rising insecurity in the region, especially the recent killing of Mrs Funke Olakunri, daughter of Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, by yet to be identified gunmen. Read more
Buhari decries abuse of technology for violence (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday noted that technology has been abused as a tool for instigating violence in the country, instead of its good intent. He spoke at the State House while receiving the Chairman and Board members of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN). He said, “Generally, technology has been enabler for good however in recent times, we are seeing this platform more and more being used to instigate violence and hate. Read more
Buhari approves recruitment of 5,000 personnel for NDLEA (Guardian)
The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Col. Muhammad Abdallah (retd), says President Muhammadu Buhari has approved recruitment of 5,000 personnel for the agency to boost its manpower. Abdallah made the disclosure on Friday at the Public Destruction of Drug Exhibits by Taraba Command of NDLEA in Jalingo. He said that the gesture would go a long way in improving operations of the agency on campaign against drug addiction in Nigeria. Read more
Obasanjo obsessed with National Conference, says Yari (Nation)
A former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari has faulted ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s call for a new National Conference to address the nation’s security challenges. He said Obasanjo has been obsessed with conferences since 2005 without any benefit to the nation. He said it was on record that the massacre of innocent citizens in Zaki Biam in Benue state and Odi in Bayelsa State was during the tenure of Obasanjo. Read more
Reschedule UTME for us, candidates disqualified by biometrics beg JAMB (Nation)
Some 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates affected by biometric verification glitches have appealed to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to re-conduct the examinations for them. JAMB used biometrics for the examinations that held between April 11- 17 with about 1.8 million registered candidates. The UTME is a computer-based standardized examination for prospective undergraduates to gain admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Read more
Group protests abandoned roads for 41 years (Guardian)
A group, under the auspices of Ndokwa/Ndoshimili Communities, yesterday, in Asaba, Delta State, staged a peaceful protest against their alleged continued marginalisation in roads and other infrastructures, especially an abandoned road project since 1978 and non-appointment of indigenes from the oil producing area into the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) since inception. Read more
Man gunned down over girlfriend rivalry in Anambra (Nation)
A 24-year old man, Chinedu Okoye, was on Friday killed by two men over disagreements on his girlfriend in Umuru village, Ogidi in the Idemili North local government area of Anambra State. The prime suspect, Dubem Okeke (28)was said to be interested in the girl, one Ifenyichukwu Kamsisichukwu, whom the deceased was also in love with. The Nation gathered Dubem, reportedly conspired with his accomplice, Okechukwu Okafor to eliminate the deceased. Read more
Iran seizes British tanker in Strait of Hormuz (BBC)
There will be “serious consequences” if Iran does not release a British-flagged tanker seized in the Gulf, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said. The Stena Impero’s owners say they have been unable to contact their vessel, which had 23 personnel on board and was “heading north towards Iran”. It was surrounded by four vessels and a helicopter, Mr Hunt said. Read more
Dangerous heatwave starts hitting US and Canada (BBC)
Extremely hot weather has started to hit most of the United States, with temperatures set to peak over the weekend, meteorologists say. The heatwave could affect about 200 million people in major cities like New York, Washington and Boston in the East Coast, and the Midwest region too. In some places, temperatures could be close to or exceed 100F (38C). Parts of Canada are also being hit. Read more
Benjamin Netanyahu becomes Israel’s longest-serving leader (BBC)
Benjamin Netanyahu has become Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, surpassing the record set by the country’s founding father. Mr Netanyahu has led for 4,876 – one day more than Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben Gurion. He secured his fifth term earlier this year but has called fresh elections after failing to form a government. Read more
Estonia ferry disaster: French court rejects compensation claim (BBC)
A Paris court has rejected a claim for compensation over the 1994 sinking of the Estonia ferry. More than 1,000 survivors and relatives of victims requested €40.8m (£36.6m; $45.8m) from the French agency that deemed the vessel seaworthy and the German shipbuilder. But the court said the claimants failed to prove “intentional fault”. Read more
Amazon deforestation: Brazil’s Bolsonaro dismisses data as ‘lies’ (BBC)
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has accused his own country’s national space institute of lying about the scale of deforestation in the Amazon. He said the institute was smearing Brazil’s reputation abroad by publishing data showing a dramatic increase in deforestation there. The far-right president said he wanted to meet with the head of the agency to discuss the issue. Read more
US citizen Ruslan Maratovich Asainov charged with IS terror offences (BBC)
A naturalised US citizen captured in Syria where he was allegedly a sniper for the Islamic State (IS) group has been charged by US federal prosecutors. Ruslan Maratovich Asainov is accused of providing material support to a terror group and training terrorists. Originally from Kazakhstan, he was captured by Kurdish-led forces and handed over to the FBI. Read more
Venice fines tourists: Germans punished for making coffee near bridge (BBC)
Police in Venice have fined two German tourists who were caught making coffee on the steps of the Rialto bridge. The backpackers, aged 32 and 35, were fined a total of €950 (£853) for preparing coffee on a travel cooker. They were also asked to leave the city. Venice has introduced a law on a series of public order offences – including picnicking at certain sites and not wearing a shirt in public spaces. Read more
Donald Trump vows to help get A$AP Rocky ‘home soon’ as rapper is held in Sweden (Metro)
President Donald Trump has assured fans of A$AP Rocky that he is doing everything in his power to get the rapper home from Sweden, where he is currently being held by police. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, he confirmed that he is speaking to Swedish authorities to try and get A$AP released after his wife Melania Trump asked him to step in. Read more
FG welcomes Eagles from AFCON 2019 (Punch)
The Federal Government on Friday lauded the bronze medal-winning effort of the Super Eagles, as a team led by the Secretary to the Federal Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, received the Nigeria delegation to the finals in Egypt, on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. A chartered Air Peace aircraft that flew the delegation from Egypt landed in Abuja at about 10.40am, led by the Nigeria Football Federation 1st vice president, Seyi Akinwunmi. Read more
Discordant beats from supporters clubs worrisome, says Awaziem (Guardian)
Super Eagles’ defender, Chidozie Awaziem feels the inability of the Nigerian supporters clubs to speak in one voice is damaging the efforts of the team at major competitions. Shortly after Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup, a major crack occurred in the Nigerian Football Supporters Club, leading to the emergence of a new group headed by Vincent Okumagba. Soon, two other groups also emerged from the breakaway group, bringing the number to four supporters clubs in Nigeria. Read more
D’Tigers set for Dominican friendlies (Punch)
D’Tigers head coach, Alex Nwora, has arrived San Domingo with a total of 15 players out of the 44 invited ahead of a two-legged international friendly against fellow World Cup-bound Dominican Republic on July 20 and 22 with some players expected to be dropped after the friendly. The team converged on Buffalo, USA for their first phase of camping for the World Cup, with the second phase set to begin on July 29 with invited NBA players expected to join up with the rest of the team on August 5. Read more
Algeria win Africa Cup of Nations (BBC)
Algeria won the Africa Cup of Nations for the second time as a freak early goal secured a 1-0 win against Senegal in the final in Cairo. Baghdad Bounedjah’s shot took a huge deflection off Salif Sane and looped over goalkeeper Alfred Gomes. Senegal, who have never won the competition, were awarded a penalty for handball in the second half but it was overturned after a VAR review. Read more
Frank Lampard says Chelsea must aim to win the Premier League in his first season as manager (Metro)
Frank Lampard is aware that he has a huge task on his hands as Chelsea manager, but insists that his side will be aiming to win the Premier League title this season. The Blues legend is taking charge of a top flight team for the first time after just one year at Derby amounting to his experience in management so far. Read more
Arsenal boss Unai Emery explains how he’ll get the best out of Mesut Ozil this season (Metro)
Unai Emery has a plan to get the best out of Mesut Ozil this season as it seems like the playmaker is going to stay at Arsenal for the foreseeable future. The Germany international has had an inconsistent time in recent seasons with the Gunners and was often a bit-part player under Emery in his first campaign as manager. He has had injury concerns with his back and knee, and has often struggled to win over fans at the Emirates. Read more
Angelique Kerber drops coach after Wimbledon shock (Guardian)
Angelique Kerber has split with her coach Rainer Schuttler two weeks after her shock early exit at Wimbledon, the three-time Grand Slam champion announced on Friday. “Moving forward, it’s never easy to change — especially when you work with great people like Rainer. But for now, we’ve decided that it’s the right time for a fresh start,” Kerber said on Twitter. “He has become a friend and I’m thankful for his hard work and dedication in the last months.” Read more
Tour de France 2019: Geraint Thomas loses time on leader Julian Alaphilippe (BBC)
Defending champion Geraint Thomas lost time to Tour de France leader Julian Alaphlippe after the Frenchman’s stunning time trial win on stage 13. Britain’s Thomas had set the fastest mark, only to see last man Alaphilippe finish 14 seconds quicker over the technical 27.2km course in Pau. Alaphilippe now leads Thomas by one minute 26 seconds heading into an important weekend in the Pyrenees. Read more
Joshua: My uncle predicted Ruiz’s defeat in 2014 (Punch)
Anthony Joshua’s uncle labelled Andy Ruiz Jr as an “upset king” five years ago. The British superstar has vowed to bounce back after he was dethroned by the 25-1 outsider in New York on June 1. Joshua’s defeat to the 19st Mexican-American came as one of the biggest shocks in boxing history.The Watford bruiser was decked four times before referee Mike Griffin eventually waved the fight off before the end of the seventh round. Read more