Nigerian Army restates commitment to end insurgency, buries five soldiers (Guardian)
The Nigerian Army on Friday reiterated its commitment to end Boko Haram insurgency, restore peace and stability to the North-East. Maj-Gen. Olusegun Adeniyi, the incoming Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, stated this at the burial of five fallen heroes, at the Nigerian Army Cemetery, Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri. Adeniyi said that the military would not rest until it ensured total defeat of the insurgency and restoration of peace to the war tone region. Read more
Public servants not repaying housing loans, FG laments (Punch)
The Federal Government has expressed concern over the non-repayment of loans collected by some public servants under the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board scheme to provide houses for them. Dr Hannatu Fika, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the board, said this when she inspected some of the estates under the FGSHLB scheme in the Federal Capital Territory on Friday in Abuja. Read more
Rift between Oyegun, Oshiomhole not personal, says Oyegun’s aide (Nation)
Political Adviser to Chief John Odigie Oyegun, the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ray Murphy has said the disagreement between the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and his predecessor was just mere ideological differences and nothing personal. Murphy who spoke with newsmen on preparation for the final leg of the 80th birthday celebration of Chief Oyegun said the interest of the former APC Chairman was to see a united and peaceful party. Read more
JAMB cancels UTME result of another candidate (Nation)
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has cancelled the unified tertiary matriculation examination (UTME) result of Kingsley Unekwe for altering his score. The board said 18- year old Unekwe was caught inflating his original UTME score from 201 to 269. He becomes the fifth person whose UTME result has been withdrawn and cancelled by the board. Read more
AAUA student’s rape: Accused soldier remanded in prison (Punch)
A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Friday ordered for the remand in prison custody, of Sunday Awolola, a soldier who allegedly raped a student of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, two weeks ago. Awolola, a soldier attached to the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigeria Army, Akure, was alleged to have raped the student at a military checkpoint along the Ikare Akoko-Akungba Akoko road. Read more
Taraba killings: Lawyer donates to late policeman’s family (Nation)
A Benin based lawyer and Notary Public, Barr. Olayiwola Afolabi, has made cash donation to the family of late Sergeant Mark Ediale, one of the policemen killed by soldiers in Taraba State. Other policemen killed were Sergeant Dahiru Musa and Sergeant Usman Danzumi. Barr. Afolabi who presented the cash to the family through the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Danmallam Abubakar said he was sad when he heard of the killings. Read more
Kidnapped college provost regains freedom in Benue – Police (Guardian)
The Police Command in Benue on Friday said the kidnapped Provost of College of Education, Katsina-Ala, Mr Tsavwua Gborigyo, has regained freedom. The command’s Police Public Relations Office (PPRO) DSP. Ms Catherine Anene told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi that the provost reunited with his family late Thursday evening. NAN recalls that the provost was kidnapped at Ihugh in Vandiekya Local Government Area on his way from a burial ceremony on Aug. 9. Read more
Flood kills one, renders many homeless in Bauchi (Punch)
Floods have again killed one person and rendered several others homeless following a heavy downpour at Kari village in Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi State. Over 300 farmlands were also said to have been destroyed as a result of the downpour. The PUNCH reported that one person was killed while over 100 houses were destroyed last Monday at Dindima village in Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State, following flooding that swept through the area rendering many homeless. Read more
Ekiti begins public naming, shaming of sexual offenders (Guardian)
Ekiti State Government has commenced implementation of new measures aimed at curbing sexual violence, especially child defilement and rape in the state. Governor Kayode Fayemi said the state would regularly name and shame every person, who has been convicted for sexual crimes. Fayemi, in a tweet on his Twitter handle began the naming with one Rev. Asateru Gabriel, who is serving a five-year year jail term for sexually abusing a seven-year-old girl. Read more
China awards scholarships to 58 Nigerians (Punch)
The Chinese Government has awarded scholarships to 58 Nigerians among whom were 16 doctorate degree students, 39 masters’ degree and three undergraduates. The beneficiaries received their university admission notices from the Counselor, Embassy of China in Nigeria, Mr Li Xuda, in Abuja on Friday. Addressing the awardees during a pre-departure briefing, the Ambassador of China to Nigeria, Dr. Zhou Pingjian, encouraged them to work hard in fulfilling their dreams and to observe and learn what brought China to where it was today. Read more
Man dies after allegedly having sex with fiancée (Punch)
A 28-year-old man, Elijah Egbara, a native of Oshiegbe community in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State was found dead on his bed, morning, after having sex with his fiancée. The PUNCH gathered that the deceased and his fiancée went to bed after dinner the night before the incident, without any complaint of sickness or pain, by the former. Read more
Huawei allegations: Uganda denies spying on Bobi Wine (BBC)
Uganda has denied allegations it hacked into the encrypted communications of musician-turned-MP Bobi Wine. The Wall Street Journal alleges Ugandan officials worked with technicians from telecoms company Huawei to infiltrate the politician’s WhatsApp chat group, named Firebase crew after his band. It says authorities then “scuppered his plans to organise street rallies” and arrested Bobi Wine and his supporters. Read more
Pirates kidnap 17 seamen off Cameroon coast (Punch)
Nine Chinese and eight Ukrainian seamen were abducted on Thursday when two merchant vessels came under attack in Cameroonian waters, sources said on Friday. “Seventeen Chinese and Ukrainians were kidnapped… (of whom) nine (are) Chinese who were abducted on one of the ships,” an official in the port of Douala told AFP. A Cameroonian security official, likewise speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the account. Read more
Greenland: Trump warned that island cannot be bought from Denmark (BBC)
Greenland has said it is “not for sale” following reports that US President Donald Trump has spoken about buying the world’s biggest island. The president is said to have discussed the idea of purchasing Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, during dinners and meetings with advisers. But Greenland’s foreign ministry dismissed the idea, saying: “We’re open for business, not for sale.” Read more
Donald Trump blasts one of his own supporters for having a ‘serious weight problem’ (Metro)
Donald Trump accidentally insulted one of his own supporters for having a ‘serious weight problem’ during a campaign rally. The President of the United States mistook US Navy veteran Frank Dawson for a protester at a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire on Thursday night. Referring to Dawson in front of a huge crowd of supporters, Trump said: ‘That guy’s got a serious weight problem. Read more
Malta migrants: Sole survivor describes 11 days in dinghy (BBC)
“There were 15 of us on the boat and I am the only one alive,” says Mohammed Adam Oga from his hospital bed in Malta. The migrants had each paid a smuggler $700 (£575; €630) to make the journey from Libya to Europe in the scorching heat of the Central Mediterranean. Then their fuel ran out. Then their food. Then their water. He is the sole survivor, he says, of the passengers, including a pregnant woman, who attempted the arduous journey in one of the deadliest stretches of water in the world. Read more
‘Devil’ priest sexually assaulted young children while saying mass (Metro)
A ‘devil’ priest has been convicted of sexually assaulting two young girls and molesting them during morning mass. Urbano Vazquez, 47, remained emotionless as he was convicted of groping the 13-year-old girl in 2015 and kissing as well as groping a nine-year-old girl the year after. He targeted the youngsters while working at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart church in Columbia Heights, Washington DC. Read more
Turkish army pension fund to buy British Steel (BBC)
Turkey’s military pension fund has reached a tentative deal to buy British Steel out of insolvency. The Turkish Armed Forces Assistance Fund (known as Oyak) says it plans to take over British Steel, which employs 5,000 people, by the end of the year. British Steel owns the Scunthorpe steel works where 3,000 people work and it employs another 800 on Teesside. Read more
Mum terrorised by neighbour so badly she had a miscarriage (Metro)
A mum says she suffered a miscarriage after a ‘campaign of terror’ by a perverted neighbour who at one point burnt an effigy of her. Caroline Bawdon, 42, was tormented by her parents’ neighbour Stanislaw Johnson over a five-year period after moving into their home to care for them. She says the pensioner was friendly to begin with, but then turned on her all of a sudden, taunting her with bizarre insults and laughing in a sinister way whenever he saw her. Read more
Australia couple injured in ‘freak’ goanna attack on their dog (BBC)
An elderly couple has been attacked in Australia by a goanna (a large lizard), as they tried to stop it from savaging their dog, emergency officials say. The man, in his 70s, was said to have sustained significant injuries and was airlifted to hospital after the incident in north-eastern Queensland. The woman, in her 60s, was also taken to hospital with an injury to her foot. Read more
Google Play app store accused of anti-gay bias (BBC)
A popular gay social network has accused Google of discrimination after its app was removed from Google’s Play store several times without warning. Hornet said Google often employed moderators in Malaysia, where same-sex relationships are illegal, to vet apps. A rival gay dating app told the BBC that it had also been blocked globally by moderators based in the country. Read more
FIFA bans Samson Siasia for life (Guardian)
Federation of International Football Association Friday said it has banned former Nigerian coach Samson Siasia for life on “all football-related activities” over allegations of match fixing. FIFA also said Siasia, 51-year-old, has been fined CHF 50,000 ($51,051.66). FIFA said in a statement that the adjudicatory chamber of their independent Ethics Committee found that Siasia was “guilty of having accepted that he would receive bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics.” Read more
Pep Guardiola rates Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea’s Premier League title chances (Metro)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes Man United, Arsenal and Chelsea can all challenge for the Premier League title this season. City are bidding to win a third successive title and thrashed West Ham 5-0 in their opening fixture of the 2019-20 campaign last weekend. Guardiola’s side amassed 98 points last term but only clinched the title by one point ahead of the impressive Liverpool, who won the Champions League. Read more
Eriksen benched due to form not contract standoff – Pochettino (Punch)
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino says the uncertainty over Denmark star Christian Eriksen’s future is not the reason he started on the bench for their opening Premier League game last Sunday. The 27-year-old midfielder — who has been at Spurs since 2013 — has just a year left on his contract and attracted interest from Spain, where the transfer window remains open until September 2. Read more
Gareth Bale: Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane to ‘count on’ Wales forward (BBC)
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane says he will now “count on” forward Gareth Bale despite previously saying the Wales international could leave. Bale was expected to join Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning in July. Zidane said at the time his departure would be a “good thing for everyone” before the Real blocked the move. New signing Eden Hazard sustained a thigh injury in training on Friday and Bale may now be considered for their La Liga opener at Celta Vigo on Saturday. Read more
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard provides positive update on Callum Hudson-Odoi’s return from injury (Metro)
Callum Hudson-Odoi is set to return from his Achilles tendon injury in September, according to Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, who says the ‘injury looks good’. The England international has been out of action since he damaged the tendon in April in a Premier League match against Burnley. The 18-year-old was told he was likely to be out for six months but his recovery has been impressive and he now looks set to be back in action within five months. Read more
World Cup winner Nzonzi joins Galatasary on loan (Punch)
World Cup winner Steven Nzonzi has joined Galatasary on loan from Roma, the Italian club announced on Friday. Midfielder Nzonzi, 30, who played five times during France’s campaign in Russia in 2018, made 39 appearances for the Stadio Olimpico side last season. “As part of the agreement, Galatasaray have the option to make the transfer permanent — prior to the expiration of the loan — for a fixed fee of 16 million euros ($17 million),” Roma said. Read more
Alexis Sanchez: Manchester United forward will ‘come good’ this season – Solskjaer (BBC)
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has rubbished claims forward Alexis Sanchez has been training with the club’s reserves. Despite Sanchez, 30, struggling for form and fitness since arriving from Arsenal in January 2018, Solskjaer believes the Chilean will “come good”. “It’s these stories again that he’s been put in the reserves – of course he hasn’t,” Solskjaer said. Read more
David Alaba urges Bayern to sign more players (Punch)
David Alaba became the latest Bayern Munich star to urge the club to ramp up their activity in the transfer market, and also cast doubt upon his own future in comments to the Austrian news agency APA on Friday. Ahead of Bayern’s German league opener against Hertha Berlin on Friday, Austrian international Alaba said Bayern needed to sign “one or two” more players before the transfer window closes on September 2. Read more
‘It’s a different kind of ting now’ – Anthony Joshua sends warning to Andy Ruiz Jr. ahead of rematch (Metro)
Anthony Joshua has suggested he may have taken the threat of Andy Ruiz Jr. lightly the first time around but is fully motivated to reclaim his belts – particularly if the Mexican continues with his ‘smack talk’. The Brit was knocked down four times at Madison Square Garden by his unfancied opponent before the fight was stopped in the seventh round, and they will rematch in Saudi Arabia on 7 December. Read more
Brothers, 8 and 11, crowned World and European Scrabble champions (Metro)
Two brothers aged just eight and 11 have stunned their parents by being crowned World and European Champions at Scrabble. Joshua Moisey, 8, was the first Scrabble champ in the family after he won the title of Under-Eight Scrabble World Champion in January. His brother Reuben earned his own title last weekend when he won 12 of his 13 games, winning the European Youth Scrabble Championship at the age of just 11. Read more