Over 100 feared dead in fresh Benue attack (DailyTrust)
No fewer than 100 people are feared dead following an attack by armed invaders on Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The took place in the early hours of Saturday.
Our correspondent reports that in a separate incident, two soldiers were killed in Daudu, another rural town in Guma LGA.
The latest attack marks the third assault on Yelewata in one week, a rural town, located on the Benue – Nasarawa border while Daudu lies about 20 minutes’ drive from Makurdi, the state capital. Read more
Canada returnee sentenced to jail for assaulting KAI official in Lagos (Guardian)
A Magistrate court sitting in Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos, on Friday, sentenced a 52-year-old Canada returnee, Mr Morufudeen Idowu, to three months imprisonment for crossing the Ojota Expressway, resisting arrest and assaulting a KAI officer in the process.
In a statement on Friday spokesperson for the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Kunle Adeshina, said Idowu pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him, and was subsequently convicted for the offenses before he was sentenced.
Speaking in reaction to the conviction, the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, warned that the state will not tolerate any attack or acts of aggression towards any of its operatives on lawful duty. Read more
Nigeria’s democracy at risk without urgent reforms — Jega (Tribune)
Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has said that despite nearly three decades of uninterrupted civilian rule, Nigeria’s democracy remains dangerously underdeveloped.
This was just as he lamented that, “Institutions that work, leaders who serve, and a citizenry that trusts—we are stuck in a vicious cycle where those elected to protect democracy become its greatest threat.”
According to Jega, removing immunity is only the beginning. To build a democracy where power truly serves the people, the country must fix the broken judiciary. Read more
Be ready to fight terrorism, insurgency – Army chief charges recruits (Punch)
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede has charged new recruits of the Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, in Kaduna State, to remain prepared to fight terrorism and insurgency in the country.
The Chief of Army Staff emphasized the importance of upholding the Nigerian Army’s core values.
Speaking at the Passing Out Parade of the 6,195 of the 88 Regular Recruits Intake on Saturday, Oluyede emphasized the importance of courage, professionalism, and resilience in the face of adversity. Read more
3-day prayer to wade off death scare, not food security, agric ministry clarifies (Leadership)
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, on Saturday, clarified that the scheduled prayer sessions announced to hold within the ministry were purely internal initiatives to address apprehension over incessant death of workers, and not an official policy direction on food security or agricultural strategy.
In a statement signed by the Ministry’s Assistant Information Officer, Ezeaja Ikemefuna, he said the ministry responded to public outrage following the online circulation of a viral internal circular from its Human Resource Management Department.
LEADERSHIP reports that the internal circular dated June 11, 2025, and signed by Mrs. Adedayo Modupe O., Director of Human Resource Management, clearly directed all directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, value chain desk officers and staff of the ministry to attend the prayer sessions scheduled to hold at the ministry headquarters in Abuja on June 16t 23 and 30, 2025, respectively, for assist government’s drive to achieve food security. Read more
NiMet predicts 3-day rain, thunderstorms from Saturday (Channels)
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, in its weather outlook released on Friday in Abuja, has predicted early morning thunderstorms accompanied by rain starting from Saturday to Monday across Nigeria.
Early morning thunderstorms are expected over parts of Taraba, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Adamawa states in the northern region.
Thunderstorms with rain are anticipated over parts of Kebbi, Taraba, Zamfara, Borno, Kaduna, Sokoto, Gombe, and Bauchi states later in the day. Read more
Parents supported my career after car accident in 2021 – Victony (Nation)
Afrobeats singer Victony has opened up on how a life-altering car accident in 2021 not only changed his perspective but also that of his parents.
In an interview on Behind the Prestige podcast, Victony said his parents initially had reservations about his music career, encouraging him to focus on education and pursue engineering instead.
However, the massive public support he received after the accident made them realise the impact his music had on people. Read more
Bridgerton’s Genevieve Chenneour breaks her silence on ‘life-changing’ London robbery (People)
Bridgerton actress Genevieve Chenneour is speaking out months after her phone was stolen and her life was threatened in a London coffee shop.
Chenneour was in a Joe & the Juice in London in February when her phone was stolen off the table behind her and she pursued the robber to get it back, according to footage obtained by BBC.
The 27-year-old actress, who played Clara Livingston in season 3 of the hit Netflix series, said that the altercation became a matter of “life and death” in her mind during a June 12 interview on ITV’s This Morning. Read more
Hayley Williams takes aim at Christian music industry amidst Michael Tait sexual assault controversy (RollingStone)
Paramore’s Hayley Williams has slammed the Christian music industry following a string of allegations against singer Michael Tait.
Williams took to Instagram Stories to address the allegations made against the former Newsboys and DC Talk frontman, writing: “I hope the CCM industry crumbles. And fuck all of you who knew and didn’t do a damn thing.”
While slamming the industry, Williams also sympathised with Tait, saying he has spent decades in the limelight denying his sexual identity and “needing gay-affirming support.” Read more
Pope Leo XIV: ‘The gravest form of poverty is not to know God’ (CNA)
Pope Leo XIV stated that “the gravest poverty is not to know God” and that having him accompany us on the journey of life puts material wealth into perspective, because “we discover the real treasure that we need.”
“Wealth often disappoints and can lead to tragic situations of poverty — above all the poverty born of the failure to recognize our need for God and of the attempt to live without him,” the pontiff noted.
The Holy Father made these observations in his message, released June 13 by the Vatican press office, for the ninth World Day of the Poor, which will be held on Sunday, Nov. 16. Read more
Putin’s Recruits: The young Africans fighting for Russia in Ukraine (France24)
Nicknamed the “Black Wagners”, hundreds of African men have been recruited by the Russian army to fight against Ukraine. Lured by promises of high wages, jobs or even Russian passports, some have voluntarily opted to join Russian President Vladimir Putin’s army. But for others, things are far more complicated: dozens have been manipulated and forcibly recruited. Lucile Chaussoy, Marc Kouho and Saloum Sané investigate.
Many of the Africans recruited by Russia are sent to fight without proper training. Some have been killed, while others have been taken prisoner and are stuck on the front line between Russia and Ukraine, begging their countries to repatriate them. Read more
Marina Abramović’s ‘Rhythm 0’ and Yoko Ono’s ‘Cut Piece’: art from the confrontation of violence (FarOut)
What would a man do if they went unchecked? Or, maybe, more honestly and specifically, what would men do if they were unchecked? In a room with free rein, a woman in the centre unable to move or speak or mete out any consequences, what would happen? Marina Abramović found out and never recovered.
In 1974, the performance artist did a piece that she never truly came back from. Rhythm 0 was an experiment in trust, in a way, but also a piece that confronted people’s desire to break it. Abramović stood in a room in a gallery in Naples. In front of her on a table, there was a selection of props: a rose, a feather, a gun and a bullet, scissors, wine, grapes, nails, perfume, a scalpel and more. Some could inflict pleasure, some could inflict pain; the choice would be up to her audience.
Everything was up to her audience, or her participants. She simply stood there and let anyone do anything. Read more
Final ‘Squid Game’ trailer promises to “put an end to it” (HollywoodReporter)
Netflix is making sure that people know the final season of Squid Game is imminent.
Two weeks after releasing a trailer for the coming season at its Tudum fan event, the streamer followed up Friday with a second trailer. The third and final season of the Korean hit — Netflix’s most watched series to date, regardless of language — is due to premiere June 27.
The new trailer takes a somewhat more somber tone than the previous one, with quieter music and a voiceover from Jang Geum-ja/Player 149 (portrayed by Kang Ae-shim), who’s speaking to series protagonist Seong Gi-Hun (Lee Jung-jae): “Are you blaming yourself for everything that happened? No matter how you look at it, life is just unfair. Bad people do bad things, but they blame others and go on to live in peace. Good people, on the other hand, beat themselves up about the smallest things. Read more
Nigeria’s Ogazi breaks 26-year record to win 400m NCAA title (Guardian)
Nigeria’s Samuel Ogazi on Friday broke a 26-year-old record to win the men’s 400-meter national title on the third day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Ogazi became the first Nigerian athlete since 1999 to win a 400m NCAA title by emerging as the only runner in the event final to clock a sub-45 time as he finished with 44.84 seconds.
The first runner+up, William Jones of Southern Cal, finished with a time of 45.53 seconds. Jordan Pierre of Arkansas-Pine Bluff (45.75), DeSean Boyce of Texas Tech (45.78) and Joseph Taylor of Duke (45.83) rounded out the top five. Read more
Lookman nominated for Atalanta’s player of the season (Leadership)
Ademola Lookman is in the running for Atalanta’s Goal of the Season award.
Lookman had two goals nominated for the individual accolade.
The Nigeria international’s superb strike in Atalanta’s 3-2 loss to Real Madrid was the first on the list.
The 27-year-old also earned nomination for his sublime finish in La Dea’s 5-0 trouncing of Empoli at the Gewiss Stadium. Read more
Inter Milan star stranded in Iran after Israel attacks ahead of Club World Cup opener (Metro)
Inter Milan striker Medhi Taremi has been left stranded in Iran following attacks from Israel in Tehran.
Taremi, 32, is part of the Inter squad taking part in the Club World Cup in the USA over the next month with their first match taking place on Wednesday against Mexican side Monterrey.
Taremi returned to his homeland to accept Iran’s Footballer of the Year award and was planning to fly straight out to Los Angeles to link up with his teammates. Read more
Lewis Hamilton given Ferrari silence order after mysterious SF-25 discovery (PlanetF1)
Lewis Hamilton said Ferrari found an issue on both SF-25s after the Spanish GP which “massively” hampered he and Charles Leclerc.
However, acknowledging that discovery ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix was as far as Hamilton could go, as he revealed that he and Leclerc were under Ferrari instruction to stay tight-lipped on the matter.
Lewis Hamilton honours Ferrari silence request on mystery issue
Crossing the line P7 in Barcelona after being overtaken by Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg in the closing stages, Hamilton bluntly branded the event “the worst race I’ve had, balance-wise.” Read more
Auger-Aliassime ends German teen Engel’s historic run at Stuttgart Open (CBC)
A day after Justin Engel became the youngest tennis player in 40 years to reach a men’s tour quarterfinal on grass, his run at the Stuttgart Open ended with a loss to Felix Auger-Aliassime on Friday.
The 17-year-old German gave former U.S. Open semifinalist Auger-Aliassime a tough fight in the first set before the Canadian took a 7-6 (3), 6-3 win.
Auger-Aliassime next plays second-seeded Taylor Fritz in the semifinals. The Canadian’s victory keeps up a record of reaching the semifinals all three times he’s played in Stuttgart. He was runner-up in 2019 and 2021. Read more