Northern governors condemn attacks on Plateau communities (Guardian)
The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has condemned the recent attacks on five communities in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau, describing them as senseless.
The forum said killings threaten the unity and stability of the region.
The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya,in a statement issued in Gombe , expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incidents, which claimed several lives and left scores injured, mostly women and children. Read more
Police withdraw invite to Emir Sanusi II over procession violence (Leadership)
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has withdrawn its earlier invitation extended to the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, in connection with the unfortunate incident that occurred in Kano State during the Sallah celebration on March 30, 2025.
LEADERSHIP learnt that following advice from respected stakeholders and in line with the Inspector-general of Police’s commitment to ensuring that policing actions are not politicised or misinterpreted, the IGP has directed that the invitation to the monarch be withdrawn.
The invitation was initially issued to enable the Emir to provide his account of the events that led to the breakdown of law and order in the state. Read more
Lagos probes death of pregnant woman denied hospital care during labour (Punch)
The Lagos state government has launched an immediate and full-scale investigation into the tragic and avoidable death of Mrs. Folajimi, a pregnant woman who died in Lakowe, Ibeju-Lekki in the State, after being allegedly denied emergency care at a private healthcare facility due to her inability to pay an upfront deposit.
The incident, which has sparked public outrage, has exposed critical failures in emergency care delivery and potential breaches of medical ethics by both traditional birth attendants and the private hospital involved. The state government has vowed to ensure that everyone found culpable will face the full weight of the law.
Speaking on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, over the weekend, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and offered condolences to the bereaved family. Read more
‘Take-it-back’ Movement insists on protest (DailyTrust)
The ‘take-it-back’ movement has insisted on staging a nationwide protest today against the emergency rule in Rivers State as well as what it called human rights abuse and misuse of Cybercrime Act.
This is even as the Nigeria Police Force has warned the organisers to shelve their planned nationwide protest, describing the timing of the demonstration as ill-conceived and mischievous.
The Force noted that April 7, 2025 has been set aside by the Federal Government for maiden edition of National Police Day. Read more
Stray bullet kills man during Police raid in Lagos (Tribune)
A 32-year-old man, Zeyanu Muhammed, lost his life to a stray bullet during a Police raid in the Gengere area of Ketu, Lagos.
The incident occurred on Thursday around 3:50 pm when a tactical unit from the Area ‘H’ Command in Ogudu, led by ASP Friday Babeji, attempted to apprehend suspected armed robbers.
The police operation met stiff resistance from local hoodlums, who allegedly assisted the suspects in evading arrest. Amid the chaos, a gunshot was discharged, and a stray bullet hit Muhammed in the shoulder, killing him instantly. Read more
India-bound brothers arrested with cocaine at Lagos Airport (Channels)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested two brothers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, Lagos, with 5kgs cocaine concealed in walls of their suitcases while attempting to board a flight to India.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the arrest in a statement on Sunday.
He said the brothers – John Abugu, 43 and Kenneth Abugu, 31 – were nabbed at the Lagos airport on Thursday 3rd April 2025 following proactive processing of credible intelligence. Read more
Tinubu, South-West governors, Obasanjo mourn Olunloyo’s death (Sun)
President Bola Tinubu, South-West Governors’ Forum and former president, Olusegun Obasanjo have mourned the passing of the Second Republic Governor of old Oyo State, Dr Victor Olunloyo.
Tinubu extended sympathy to the Olunloyo family and all who knew and respected the late elder statesman and scholar.
President Tinubu emphasised Olunloyo’s academic and professional journey and his belief in education as a transformative tool for national development. Read more
Ikpeazu, Ugwuanyi, Shehu Sani, Omokri, others make ambassadors’ list (Vanguard)
Former governors of Abia and Enugu states, Okezie Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Senator Shehu Sani and ex-aide of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri,Reno Omokri, are among those nominated for ambassadorial appointment by the federal government.
Vanguard gathered that they were among those being screened by security agents, pending the release of the list.
Recall that the country’s ambassadors were recalled from their postings almost a year ago without replacement, fuelling concerns over what that would have on Nigeria’s diplomacy.
It was learned yesterday that the resume of those nominated had already been sent to relevant security agencies for background checks. Read more
US to revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders (AfricaNews)
The United States on Saturday said it would revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders, over its failure to accept the return of its repatriated citizens.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the African nation’s government of “taking advantage of the United States”.
“Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them,” he said. Read more
How the Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg got added to the White House Signal group chat (Guardian)
Donald Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz included a journalist in the Signal group chat about plans for US strikes in Yemen after he mistakenly saved his number months before under the contact of someone else he intended to add, according to three people briefed on the matter.
The mistake was one of several missteps that came to light in the White House’s internal investigation, which showed a series of compounding slips that started during the 2024 campaign and went unnoticed until Waltz created the group chat last month.
Trump briefly considered firing Waltz over the episode, more angered by the fact that Waltz had the number of Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor of the Atlantic – a magazine he despises – than the fact that the military operation discussion took place on an unclassified system such as Signal. Read more
Kevin Bacon reveals how his and Kyra Sedgwick’s 2 kids react to parents’ intense fame (Hello!)
While Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick’s two kids may be members of the entertainment industry themselves, just like their parents, that was never thrust upon them.
The couple, who have been married since 1988, have spent several decades in the spotlight, but as Kevin, 66, explains in a new interview, they were purposeful about shielding their kids from it.
Travis, 35, is a musician and composer who has scored several of his parents’ productions, while Sosie, 33, is an actress herself, in a relationship with fellow actor Scoot McNairy. Check out the entire family altogether below…
“When it came to promoting my own fame and taking my kids to premieres and making them watch my movies and showing them an article in the paper…we really didn’t do that,” Kevin recently said during an appearance on Mythical Kitchen’s Last Meals. Read more
Turner painting arrives in Margate for anniversary (BBC)
An oil sketch created by JMW Turner on Margate’s seafront is about to go on display in Kent town to mark 250 years since the artist’s birth.
Waves Breaking on a Lee Shore at Margate will be on show at Turner Contemporary from Tuesday on loan from Tate Britain until April 2026.
The Thanet gallery, built near the spot where the celebrated artist loved to paint the sea, was named after him when it opened in 2011. Read more
Katie Price pictured for first time on set of new “Jackie The Stripper” movie (DailyStar)
Katie Price has been pictured in character for her acting debut in new upcoming film “Jackie The Stripper”.
The reality TV star, 46, will be making her acting debut in the horror spoof title which is set to be released at the end of the year.
Katie’s character Lisa is the mentor of lead character Jackie, played by actress Charlotte Kirk, and guides her through the world of strippers/strip clubs. Read more
Recovering Pope makes surprise appearance, mingles with crowds at Vatican square (StraitsTimes)
Pope Francis made his first public appearance since being discharged from hospital two weeks ago after treatment for double pneumonia, entering St Peter’s Square at the Vatican in a wheelchair on April 6 to greet cheering crowds.
Pope Francis, 88, had been out of public view since March 23, when he had given a short greeting before leaving Rome’s Gemelli hospital after more than five weeks of treatment in the most serious health crisis of his 12-year papacy.
The Pope, in a previously unannounced move, came out to the square shortly before noon at the end of the celebration of a Mass for the Catholic Church’s Jubilee year. Read more
UK foreign secretary criticises Israel for denying 2 Labour MPs entry (Guardian)
The UK’s foreign secretary has criticised Israeli authorities for denying two Labour MPs entry into the country and deporting them.
Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed were rejected because they were suspected of planning to “document the activities of security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred,” according to a statement from the Israeli immigration ministry cited by Sky News and Politics UK.
Yang, who represents Earley and Woodley in Berkshire, and Mohamed, the MP for Sheffield Central, flew into Ben Gurion airport from Luton with their aides, according to reports. They said they were part of an MPs’ delegation coming to visit humanitarian aid projects and communities in the West Bank with UK charity partners. The pair were on their way back to the UK on Sunday, according to the chief secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones. Read more
Iwobi shines as Fulham end Liverpool’s 26-game unbeaten run (Leadership)
Liverpool slumped to just their second Premier League defeat this season as Fulham clinched a shock 3-2 win over the runaway leaders on Sunday.
Alex Iwobi produced a stellar performance, scoring one and assisting another to help Fulham came from behind to defeat Liverpool 3–2 at Craven Cottage.
Liverpool took the lead in the 14th minute through Alexis Mac Allister, who found the net with a screamer after being teed up by Ryan Gravenberch. Read more
Golf: Shaibu’s wife wins back-to-back BCG ladies tourney (Punch)
The wife of the immediate past Deputy Governor of Edo State, Maryann Philip-Shaibu during the weekend was crowned the Queen of the Green for the 2024/2025 season after winning the Benin Club Golf ladies tournament for a second consecutive year.
Mrs Philip-Shaibu is the first person in the history of Benin Club Golf section to have won back-to-back victory as the ladies overall match play champion of Benin Golf Club – 2023/2024 and 2024/2025.
The former deputy governor, Shaibu, reacting to his wife’s victory said, “In the game of life and on the greens, you continue to inspire and conquer with grace, determination, and excellence. Read more
Vinicius misses another penalty as Real Madrid shocked by Valencia (AlJazeera)
Vinicius Junior missed a penalty and Real Madrid conceded an injury-time goal in a stunning 2-1 home loss to Valencia as the defending champion stumbled in the LaLiga title race.
Hugo Duro came off Valencia’s bench and headed home the winner that silenced Santiago Bernabeu Stadium deep in stoppage time on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili saved Vinicius’s early penalty and moments later Mouctar Diakhaby headed the visitors in front in the 17th minute. Read more
Jalen Brunson returns from ankle sprain as Knicks beat Suns (ESPN)
Knicks star point guard Jalen Brunson returned Sunday after nearly a month-long injury absence, logging 15 points and six assists to help lift his team to a 112-98 victory over a desperate Phoenix Suns club.
It wasn’t Brunson’s prettiest showing. He got the ball knocked away from him a couple of times and finished just 3-for-9 from the field, with some of uncharacteristic misses on his jumpers. Still, the league leader in clutch points per minute hit a massive triple with just under two minutes left to extend the Knicks’ lead to 10 and essentially seal the contest.
“Could be better, could be worse. Definitely a lot of room for improvement on my end,” Brunson said, adding that he had never before missed this long a stretch of the season with an injury. Read more
Sinner regrets “unfair” doping ban as he prepares return to courts (RFI)
Jannik Sinner believes his three-month doping ban to be “unfair” as the world number one awaits his return to tennis in time to contest the French Open and put nearly a year of controversy behind him.
In February, Italian star Sinner agreed with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to accept the ban after twice testing positive for traces of clostebol in March last year.
WADA accepted that Sinner did not gain any competitive advantage from the banned substance, and that he bore no fault for an accidental contamination. Read more
Verstappen wins Japanese GP to close championship gap on Norris (JapanToday)
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen led from pole to checkered flag to win the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, his first victory of the 2025 season, with McLaren’s Lando Norris second.
The Dutch Red Bull driver crossed the finish line almost 1.5 seconds in front of Briton Norris, who held off his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri of Australia in third.
The win on a damp but drying track at Suzuka was Verstappen’s fourth straight victory in Japan and closed the gap on Norris at the top of the drivers’ championship to one point. Read more