More outrage over escalating insecurity in Benue (Sun)
As wild condemnation, anger and uproar continue to trail the wanton killings in Benue State, President Bola Tinubu has put off his planned visit to Kaduna State to instead travel to the North Central state tomorrow.
According to a statement by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the visit is to provide the president a firsthand assessment of the persistent violence that has claimed numerous lives and caused widespread destruction. Read more
Benue killings: David Mark warns of self-defence as Tinubu visits (DailyTrust)
Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, yesterday warned that residents of Benue State might be forced to defend themselves following the escalation of killings in the state.
Mark, according to a statement by his media aide, Paul Mumeh, said the failure of authorities to address the security crisis could force residents to resort to self-help.
He described the killings, and the destruction of homes and livelihoods across the state as โsenseless, tragic and unacceptable.โ Read more
IGP promises to end Benue violence after Tinubuโs order (Channels)
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has conveyed the Federal Governmentโs commitment to contain the killings in Benue State and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Several people were killed over the weekend at Yelewata in Benue State following a vicious attack on the border town by suspected herdsmen.
Following the incident, President Bola Tinubu directed security chiefs to implement his earlier directive to bring lasting peace and security to the state. Read more
ACF urges FG to prevent further attacks in Benue (Guardian)
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has called on the Federal Government to muster all security apparatus to prevent further violence and killings in Benue State.
The ACF said it is greatly disturbed by yet another tragic episode of violence, leading to the gruesome death of scores of persons, and injuries to many, including women, children and the elderly, in Yelwata community, Benue State.
In a statement, the spokesman of the forum, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, on Monday, consoled with members of the community, the government and people of Benue State, and indeed Nigeria as a whole. Read more
Another flood in Niger submerges bridge, sweeps off culvert (Vanguard)
Barely few weeks after the devastating Mokwa flood in Niger State, another flood has occurred in Bida, capital of Bida Local Government Area of the state, where 11 houses were submerged, property lost, bridge and culvert also swept away. However, no life was lost.
The incident happened on Saturday with the torrential rain lasting about five hours from 3am to 8am.
Areas greatly affected include Kodogi/Nasarafatu road, Bida; Federal Polytechnic and G.R.A road, Bida.
The state government led by the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Mohammed Kolo has led a delegation for an on-the-spot assessment. Read more
Nigerian arrested with N1.8b drugs in India risks 20-year jail (Punch)
A 25-year-old Nigerian woman, Ifeoluwa Akinwunmi, risks up to 20 years jail in India after she was allegedly caught in possession of drugs worth over N1.8bn.
Akinwunmi, reportedly a hairstylist and nail artist, was arrested last Tuesday by operatives of the Anti-Narcotics Wing of the Central Crime Branch in Bengaluru.
She was apprehended at the Tarahunase village, along Rajanukunte Main Road, after arriving from Delhi with a suspicious bag. Read more
FG unveils registration portal for 2025 National Youth Confab (Leadership)
The federal government has formally launched the 2025 National Youth Conference registration portal, also known as Youth Confab 2025.
The unveiling was announced by the minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, in Abuja on Monday.
Olawande emphasised that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the conference will be youth-led, inclusive, and non-partisan, aiming to bring together young Nigerians from every ward, community, state, and diaspora to unite and co-create the future of the nation. Read more
โHow to Train Your Dragonโ rises to franchise-best $84m+ box office opening, eyes $40m+ 2nd weekend (Deadline)
Universalโs live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon has lifted to an $84.6 million opening after a better-than-expected Fatherโs Day Sunday of $22.7M (versus $21.7M). Thatโs a -14% hold from Saturday. The DreamWorks Animation movieโs teeth will remain in the No. 1 spot this coming weekend with $40M+ despite the arrival of Sonyโs 28 Years Later ($30M+) and Disney/Pixarโs Elio ($20M+).
Global on the latter Dean DeBlois-directed How to Train Your Dragon is at $197.6M after $113M overseas this frame.
A24โs Celine Song-directed romcom Materialists is about $700,000 short of its Sunday projection with $11.3M after a $2.4M Sunday, off 37% off from Saturday. Materialists remains the third biggest opening for A24 after Civil War ($25.5M) and Hereditary ($13.5M), and ahead of last fallโs Heretic ($10.8M). Read more
Kenya’s deputy police chief steps aside amid probe into blogger’s death (AfricaNews)
Kenya’s deputy police chief stepped aside on Monday as investigations into the death of a blogger while in custody continue.
The death of Albert Ojwang, who was accused of defaming Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat, sparked days of protests in Nairobi. Several demonstrators were injured and property destroyed.
Lagat said on Monday that he was stepping aside โin view of the ongoing investigationsโ into the death of Ojwang. He failed to acknowledge that he was the complainant. Read more
Bombshell report reveals cause of Dominican Republic roof collapse that killed 236 (NYPost)
The owners of the doomed Jet Set nightclub in the Dominican Republic, where 236 people were buried alive earlier this year, ignored obvious warning signs and building safety laws, leading to the catastrophic collapse, a bombshell new government report reveals.
Sibling club owners Antonio and Maribel Espaillat, who were arrested last week, overloaded the buildingโs roof, made structural changes without permits and refused to call off the ill-fated April 8 bash despite obvious signs of danger hours earlier, the report said, according to Dominican Today.
โThe defendant Maribel Espaillat, aware of a falling debris incident hours before the collapse and in response to a request to suspend the activity, refused to do so, citing the absence of the defendant Antonio Espaillat Lรณpez and the impossibility of stopping the party, prioritizing economic gain over the safety and lives of people,โ the Public Ministry document said. Read more
Brad Pitt would make another movie with Tom Cruise but is ‘not gonna hang my ass off airplanesโ (EW)
Don’t count out seeing Louis and Lestat back together again. They just might not have long hair and puffy shirts.
Brad Pitt is open to making another movie with Tom Cruise, his costar in 1994’s Interview with the Vampire, although there’s a stipulation.
“I’m not gonna hang my ass off airplanes or s— like that,” Pitt told E! News at the recent F1 premiere in Mexico City, “so when he does something again that’s on the ground.โ Read more
Tyler Perry’s ‘Straw’ continues his unfortunate 5-movie streak (Movieweb)
Tyler Perry’s latest Netflix release, Straw, hit the streamer on June 6, 2025, and tells the story of a struggling single mother whose life spirals into chaos after a series of misfortunes. What begins as an everyday fight for survival becomes a nerve-racking ordeal when she finds herself at the center of a deeply disturbing situation, one that leads to isolation, misunderstanding, and, eventually, suspicion from those around her. The film is emotionally charged and thematically ambitious, yet Straw has failed to impress the critics.
The film currently holds a disappointing 47% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, continuing a troubling pattern in Perry’s directorial filmography. Since 2024’s Mea Culpa, every one of Perry’s last five movies has earned a “rotten” score from critics. However, despite the critical rejection, the director’s films continue to receive much higher audience scores, including Straw, which has a 73% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Read more
G7 leaders push Trump on trade as talks continue (AlJazeera)
World leaders assembled at this weekโs Group of Seven summit in Canada will try to push United States President Donald Trump to back away from his punishing trade war, which experts say poses a risk to global economic stability.
Most countries represented at the G7 are already subject to Trumpโs 10 percent baseline tariff with threats of more to come. European countries and Japan face additional levies on cars and steel and aluminium. The G7 consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the US.
Arriving for a meeting with the host, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump said trade would be the โprimary focusโ of the summit, which began on Sunday and runs until Tuesday. Read more
Womenโs Africa Cup of Nations: Ajibade sends veiled warning to NFF (Sun)
Super Falcons captain, Rasheedat Ajibade has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to ensure the team receives full backing as they prepare for next yearโs Womenโs Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigeria will begin its quest for a record-extending 10th WAFCON title on July 6, 2025, with an opening Group B match against Tunisia at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.
The team will also face Algeria and Botswana in what is expected to be a competitive group phase. Read more
Cricket: Kwibuka tourney, a good test for WโCup qualifiers โ Oyede (DailyTrust)
Leke Oyede, Head Coach of Nigeriaโs Women Senior Cricket team, says the just concluded Kwibuka Womenโs T20 Cricket tournament is a good test ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria finished fifth out of nine countries in the tournament in Kigali, however, Oyede said that the position was immaterial as compared to lessons gained by the squad.
In the week-long tournament, Nigeria defeated the defending champions and the highest ranked team, Uganda, in a nail-biting encounter by 5 runs in the group stage. Read more
Hosting continental tourney will expose athletes, create opportunities for laurels, says NFF (Guardian)
Apart from showcasing the countryโs capacity to host international championships, the President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation (NFF), Adeyinka Samuel, believes that hosting the forthcoming African Senior Fencing Championships will open more opportunities for Nigerian athletes to showcase their skills and win medals at the highest level in the continent as well as offer the points they need to stake their claims to Olympic tickets.
Nigeria will host the 23rd African Fencing Championships at Charterhouse Lagos from June 25 to 29 and the NFF is confident that the competition will provide the nation an opportunity to end its long-standing medal drought at the continental event.
With a promising lineup of athletes, the Federation believes this yearโs tournament could mark a turning point for Nigerian fencing. Read more
J.J. Spaun wins US Open with monster 64-foot putt (Sportsmole)
J.J Spaun holed a 64-foot putt on the final hole to win the US Open at a rain-soaked Oakmont.
In one of the most chaotic days of final-round major gold in recent memory, there was a time when each of the field were over-par and five players shared the lead.
An incessant downpour which brought about a 90-minute delay and partially flooded one of the toughest courses in the world did not help matters, nor did the players playing the final two hours in the rain. Read more
Emma Raducanuโs injury setback could hand her an instant rankings blow (Tennis365)
Emma Raducanu is a low moment
Emma Raducanu took over from Katie Boulter as British No 1 when the rankings were updated on Monday, but she could lose that position in double quick time.
Raducanuโs run to the quarter-finals of the WTA 500 tournament at the Queenโs Club was enough to see her leap above Boulter in the WTA Rankings and end her two-year run as British No 1.Yet Raducanuโs reign as the top-ranked female player in her country could be short-lived, with Boulter having a chance to reclaim that No 1 ranking this week. Read more