NDLEA arrests dispatch riders, online vendors for drug distribution, trafficking (Guardian)
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have launched fresh raids on online drug traffickers and couriers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), during which a young lady, her boyfriend and eight others were arrested and assorted drugs recovered from them.
The first suspect, 28-year-old Ese Patrick who sells her illicit substances through her Instagram account; Ese’sOvenSecret, was tracked and arrested with some pieces of brownies ordered online by NDLEA’s undercover agents, on May 21, 2021, and delivered by herself and her boyfriend in a Mercedes Benz car.
A follow-up operation at her residence led to the seizure of 400 grams of Arizona weed, which she uses in baking the brownies.
Further investigation led to the arrest of one Iyama Patrick, with 450 grams of Arizona weed. He supplies Ese the cannabis she uses. Read more
Fire guts Lagos auto spare parts market (DailyTrust)
The popular auto spare parts market in Ladipo Lagos State was partially gutted by fire in the early hours of Sunday.
Daily Trust reports that a single storey building used for commercial purposes (selling of motor parts) was affected by the inferno.
The cause of the fire was not clear, but emergency officials were quick to quench the fire.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said the fire has been curtailed and damping down was ongoing at the time of filing this report. Read more
Gunmen kill businessman in Ibadan (Punch)
A businessman based in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Linus Owuamanam, has been shot dead by some yet-to-be-identified gunmen.
Our correspondent gathered on Sunday that Onwuamana was shot dead by the hoodlums around 8pm on Saturday.
The businessman was said to be driving a bus when the incident reportedly happened along the Mokola-Sango Road in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
After shooting Owuamanam, his assailants were said to have also stabbed him on the left side of his chest to make sure he did not survive the gruesome attack. Read more
Our struggles will continue – Osodeke, new ASUU president (Vanguard)
The newly-elected National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, has said the struggles of the union for better funding of the sector and treatment of his members will continue during his tenure.
Osodeke, who spoke in a telephone chat with our correspondent on Sunday after his election as the new leader of the union, said urgent steps must be taken to redeem the education sector in the country.
The Professor of Soil Science at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, was the immediate National Vice President of the union.
“We do things collectively in ASUU, so, it is not a one-man show, but Nigerians can be rest assured that we will not stop our agitation for a better funding of the sector and a better and more humane treatment of our members. Read more
2023: Allow electorate use ATM cards to vote, INEC told (Vanguard)
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been urged by the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, to adopt the use of Automated Teller Machine, ATM cards by electorates to vote in 2023.
The NSE at the weekend, also demanded voting should be done 100% electronic online, since all the ATM cards are connected to Bank Verification Number, BVN, having the electorate’s data.
This was part of the memoranda presented by the engineers during the Northwest zonal public hearing of the Senate Constitution Review Committee held in Kaduna.
It was presented by leader of the Kaduna team of the NSE, in the North West Zone and Chairman NSE Kaduna branch, Engr. Rachel Serumun Ugye, alongside Engr. Isa Emoabino, Engr. Abdul Audu and Engr. Abdul-Quadir Aliyu. Read more
NITDA warns Nigerians against IGVM ransomware (Leadership)
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called on Nigerians to be wary of IGVM, a file-encrypting ransomware infection that attempts to extort money from victims by requesting for ransom in the form of Bitcoin cryptocurrency in exchange for access to data.
Head, corporate affairs and external relations, NITDA, Mrs Hadiza Umar, who conveyed the public alert in a press statement made available to LEADERSHIP, said the crypto-virus spreads in different methods like web injectors, pirated software, spam emails, malicious software bundles, fake software updates, and deceiving online ads.
Umar said the primary task of IGVM ransomware virus was to check computer system for target file formats and encrypt them using a private RSA key.
“Once virus locks the files, it then runs several commands via CMD.exe to delete Volume Shadow Copies from your system and prevents the victims from restoring their file copies for free, using Windows tools,” she added. Read more
Army discharges 3,040 soldiers over hard drugs, murder, rape, cowardice in combat (Vanguard)
Authorities of the Nigerian Army have ordered the dismissal (discharge) of 3,040 soldiers from service for various offences including the use and possession of hard drugs, involvement in rape cases, going on AWOL and perpetrating Murder.
Many others were sent packing for chickening out during Battle while others engaged in forgery, drunkenness, disobedience to order’s, absence from duty/parade and failure to perform military duty.
Sources including those affected said some soldiers were discharged for insubordination, extortion, defilement, BVN issues, and conduct prejudicial to service discipline.
Furthermore, some soldiers were dismissed for conspiracy, ‘misfire,’ stealing, impersonation, attempted rape, assault, the unlawful release of prisoners and cheating. Read more
How Gulak was killed – Imo Police (Nation)
The Imo State Police Command has confirmed the death of Ahmad Gulak in Owerri, Imo State capital by armed bandits
This was made known by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bala Alkana, according to a release issued on Sunday.
He said at about 07:20hrs on Sunday morning, armed bandits intercepted and attacked a Toyota Camry cab carrying Gulak and two others who were on their way to Sam Mbakwe Airport to catch a flight.
Elkana noted that Gulak had left his room at Protea Hotel without informing the police nor sister security agencies in view of the fragile security situation in the South-East and Imo in particular. Read more
Gunmen bomb Immigration headquarters in Abia, kill officers (DailyTrust)
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Ubakala, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, has been attacked by gunmen suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The NIS headquarters in the state is located few distances away from a Police formation within Ubakala which was previously attacked by these hoodlums and resulted in the death of two Policemen.
Our correspondent gathered that they bombed the NIS building and opened fire on personnel of the Service, killing many officers in the process.
Daily Trust can authoritatively report that vehicles within the compound were also set on fire. Read more
Boris Johnson marries Carrie Symonds at Westminster Cathedral (BBC)
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has married his fiancee Carrie Symonds in a secretly-planned wedding at Westminster Cathedral.
The marriage took place in a “small ceremony” on Saturday afternoon, a Downing Street spokesman said.
The spokesman added that the couple would celebrate again with family and friends next summer, with their honeymoon also delayed until then.
The prime minister has already returned to work. Read more
2 dead and more than 20 wounded after mass shooting at Miami-area concert (NYPost)
Two people were killed and more than 20 wounded early Sunday in a mass shooting at a rap concert in the Miami area, police said.
Cops said three gunmen jumped out of an SUV and fired into the crowd with assault rifles and handguns in the suspected targeted shooting just after midnight at the El Mula Banquet Hall.
“I am at the scene of another targeted and cowardly act of gun violence, where over 20 victims were shot and 2 have sadly died,” according to a tweet from Miami-Dade Police Department Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez III.
Miami shooting dead body
A covered body is seen near the doors of the billiard club that was rented for a concert after three gunmen killed two people and injured at least 20 people overnight in the Hialeah area of Miami Dade county on May 30 2021. Read more
Sri Lanka to sue owners of burning ship that caused pollution crisis (France24)
Sri Lankan authorities Sunday said they will sue the owners of a Singapore-registered cargo carrier which has burned for 11 straight days off the island’s west coast and caused some of its worst-ever marine pollution.
Police said a criminal investigation was also launched into the blaze aboard the MV X-Press Pearl, which was carrying 25 tonnes of nitric acid and a huge amount of plastic raw materials.
The intense fire, still burning at the rear of the 186 metre (610 feet) vessel, has destroyed much of the cargo, some of which also fell into the Indian Ocean.
Tonnes of microplastic granules have inundated the South Asian nation’s famed beaches, forcing a fishing ban and sparking fears of ecological devastation. Read more
Jay-Z reveals how daughter Blue Ivy inspired him to learn how to swim (PageSix)
Jay-Z did not jump into fatherhood unprepared.
During a recent appearance on “The Shop: Uninterrupted,” the 51-year-old rapper explained how the birth of his first child, daughter Blue Ivy Carter, changed everything.
“I didn’t learn how to swim until Blue was born,” he responded when asked about being a father. “There goes everything you need to know. This is a metaphor for our relationship. If she ever fell in the water and I couldn’t get her, I couldn’t even fathom that thought. I gotta learn how to swim. That’s it. That was the beginning of our relationship.”
Blue Ivy, who is now 9 years old, is the eldest of Jay-Z’s three children with wife Beyoncé. The couple’s twins, daughter Rumi and son Sir, will turn 4 in June. Read more
Israeli opposition inch closer to deal to oust Netanyahu (BBC)
Israeli opposition parties have moved closer towards forming a government that would end the era of Benjamin Netanyahu, the country’s longest serving prime minister.
Centrist party leader Yair Lapid is reportedly close to reaching a coalition agreement with the ultra-nationalist leader Naftali Bennett.
Leaders from Mr Bennett’s party spoke in favour of the deal on Sunday.
Mr Lapid, 57, has until Wednesday to form a new coalition government. Read more
China censors Lady Gaga, LGBT references from ‘Friends’ reunion episode (France 24)
Chinese fans of the popular sitcom “Friends” were furious after censors cut guest stars Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Korean boyband BTS from the much-awaited reunion episode.
When the one-off special of the beloved 1990s sitcom was streamed on three Chinese video platforms, cameos by the celebrities who have all incurred the wrath of the ruling Communist Party were removed from all versions.
Lady Gaga was banned from touring China in 2016 after she met with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, who has been labelled as a separatist by Beijing.
Bieber has been blocked since 2014 when he posted a photo of himself at the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo that honours Japan’s war dead, including convicted war criminals from World War II. Read more
UN calls for investigation into Colombia protests deaths (BBC)
The UN’s human rights chief has called on Colombia to launch an independent inquiry into the deaths of anti-government protesters in the south-western city of Cali.
The city has been the epicentre of protests against President Ivan Duque and 14 people are reported to have died in recent days.
Michelle Bachelet said those responsible should be held accountable.
On Saturday, President Duque deployed troops in Cali to quell the unrest. Read more
N’Golo Kante responds to Ballon d’Or nomination call after Chelsea’s Champions League win (Metro)
N’Golo Kante has distanced himself from suggestions that he should be nominated for this year’s Ballon d’Or following Chelsea’s victory over Manchester City in the Champions League final.
Thomas Tuchel’s side triumphed in Porto as Kai Havertz’s first-half goal was enough to see of Pep Guardiola’s men at the Estadio do Dragao.
Kante, meanwhile, delivered another sublime display at the heart of Chelsea’s midfield and was named Man of the Match for his commanding performance.
The France international has been one of Chelsea’s key performers this season and he is now being tipped as an early contender to win the Ballon d’Or later this year. Read more
Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne fractures nose and eye socket (BBC)
Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne suffered a fractured nose and eye socket in the Champions League final defeat against Chelsea.
The 29-year-old was replaced in the 60th minute by Gabriel Jesus after a collision with Antonio Rudiger.
“I feel okay now. Still disappointed about yesterday obviously but we will be back,” he tweeted.
De Bruyne was named in the Belgium squad for Euro 2020, with his country’s first game on June 12 against Russia. Read more
Slade double helps Exeter demolish Newcastle (France24)
English champions Exeter Chiefs threw down the gauntlet to those hoping to depose them with their biggest win in the Premiership — a 74-3 thrashing of Newcastle Falcons on Sunday.
England centre Henry Slade bagged a pair of the 12 tries run in by rampant Chiefs as they equalled their best tally in the top flight.
They beat London Welsh 74-19 in 2015.
For Slade it was the ideal reaction to criticism he received for telling the Daily Telegraph earlier in the week that he would not have the coronavirus vaccination as he did not trust it. Read more
Moto3 rider Jason Dupasquier dies from injuries sustained in qualifying crash (BBC)
Swiss Moto3 rider Jason Dupasquier has died in hospital from injuries he sustained in a three-bike crash during Saturday’s qualifying session in Italy.
Dupasquier, 19, was struck by another bike after falling and slid along the track at the Mugello Circuit.
He was flown to a Florence hospital.
“Despite the best efforts of circuit medical staff and all those subsequently attending to the Swiss rider… Dupasquier has sadly succumbed to his injuries,” MotoGP said. Read more
Brilliant Bernal wins 2021 Giro d’Italia (France24)
Colombia’s Egan Bernal won the 2021 Giro d’Italia on Sunday, the Ineos Grenadiers leader given a hero’s welcome in front of Milan’s Duomo cathedral at the end of the 21st stage time-trial.
The 24-year-old Colombian won two individual stages and completed the 3,479km course 89 seconds ahead of Italy’s Damiano Caruso while Briton Simon Yates was third.
The last day 30.3km individual time-trial was won by Bernal’s teammate Filippo Ganna, who also won the opening day time-trial.
The Giro win marks a return to form for Bernal who flopped when the cards were stacked against him at the 2020 Tour de France. Read more
Lawrence Okoye wins discus at European Team Championships as GB finish third (BBC)
Lawrence Okoye won the discus event on his first international appearance for nine years as Great Britain finished third at the European Team Championships in Poland.
GB, who led after day one, had been well placed for overall victory but a failed handover in the final event, the men’s 4x400m relay, cost them.
They did not finish and remained on 174 points overall.
Italy’s win in the relay saw them take second on 179 behind Poland on 181.5.But it still gave GB their first top-three finish at the event since 2013. Read more