Pastor, 2 others arrested for trafficking 12 children (DailyTrust)
The operatives of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have apprehended a Pastor Simon Kado, and two others for allegedly trafficking 12 children from Nasarawa State.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, who paraded the suspects in Abuja, said they were arrested by the operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS 74), on Friday.
He said the operatives intercepted one Muhammad Isah of Kafanchan, Kaduna State in a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number APP 489 XE, conveying the 12 children, comprising four males and eight females. Read more
2 die, 2 others injured in lone accident on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway (Guardian)
Two persons died while two others sustained injuries in a lone accident at Iyana-Ilogbo on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway on Friday.
Mr Anthony Uga, Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Ogun confirmed on Saturday that there were three males and a female in the Mitsubishi SUV involved in the accident.
He said two of the male occupants of the vehicle died while a male and the only female in it sustained various degrees of injuries. Read more
Harmattan: Lagos launches fire awareness campaign (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, in partnership with the Lagos State Safety Commission, has launched a comprehensive fire safety awareness campaign as part of proactive measures to address the alarming rate of fire incidents in public areas, particularly during the harmattan period.
The campaign, commencing at the Oko Baba Sawmill in Ebute Meta, then proceeded to the Amu Timber Plank Market in Mushin, culminating at the Oke-Afa Plank and Building Materials Market in Isolo.
Led by Olugbenga Oyerinde, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, alongside Mr. Lanre Mojola, the Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, and Margaret Adeseye, Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the campaign aimed to educate traders on the importance of fire safety measures.
Addressing the traders, Adeseye stressed the need for vigilance and adherence to safety protocols to mitigate the risk of fire outbreaks, particularly during the ongoing Harmattan season. Read more
Nigerian pensioners threaten to protest naked over rising cost of living (Channels)
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners says its members will take to the streets naked, if the welfare of pensioners in the country does not improve significantly any time soon.
The National President of the union, Godwin Abumusi, told journalists at a news briefing in Abuja on Friday that his union will take the action to draw the attention of the world to the plight of pensioners.
“I am going to lead Nigerian pensioners naked,” he said. “I mean, when we are going to protest, we are going to go naked on the street, so that the world will see the pensioners in Nigeria are demonstrating naked.
“If they like, they will arrest us and say, ‘Why did you go naked on the streets?’. Read more
LAWMA Academy reaches 4,258 pupils landmark (Tribune)
Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has sensitised over 4,258 pupils of various public schools across the state through its academy since its school enlightenment/advocacy programme began last month.
LAWMA’s Managing Director/CEO, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, made this known in a signed statement, following the visitation of the school advocacy team to schools at Eti-Osa.
Gbadegesin, who was represented by the Director, LAWMA Academy, Training and Development, Mrs Bola Adewunmi, noted that the initiative was aimed at imparting waste management education in children for environmental sustainability. Read more
AFCON: Tears as remains of corps member who died watching S’Africa vs Nigeria leave for burial (Nation)
The body of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), member who died while watching the AFCON match between Nigeria and South Africa, Peter Yunana, has been moved out of Yola, Adamawa State, on Saturday amid emotions by his colleagues and students of the school where he was undergoing primary assignment.
His body is due for burial on Sunday in Makarfi, Kaduna State.
Yunana was one of at least five Nigerians who died on Wednesday due to tension during the penalty shootout at the semifinal match. Read more
NANS begs NLC, TUC to shelve planned strike (Punch)
The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress to suspend their proposed strike in the interest of the nation.
NANS National President, Mr Pedro Obi, made the appeal at a news conference in Abeokuta on Saturday.
The NLC and TUC had on February 8 issued a 14-day nationwide strike notice to the government over the failure to implement the agreements reached on October 2, following the removal of the fuel subsidy. Read more
Theft of farm produce spreads across Nigeria (Leadership)
Food insecurity in Nigeria could get significantly worse as criminal elements now engage in large-scale theft of farm produce just days, and sometimes hours, before farm owners come to harvest their crops.
The scale of theft is different across states of the country. While farmers in southern states have to deal with petty thieves, the desperation, hunger and insecurity in the north create the atmosphere for large-scale criminality.
LEADERSHIP Weekend was able to gather reports of theft and criminal activities on privately owned farms from at least 15 states across the regions of the country, some of which appear in this report.
This is just as the World Bank has warned of increased food insecurity in seven states in the Northwest and Northeast regions of the country, blaming insecurity, armed conflicts and the reduced standards of living.
The states that the World Bank named as being under threat of severe food crisis include Borno, Adamawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Yobe, Sokoto, and Zamfara. Read more
Sofía Vergara and Joe Manganiello finalise their divorce 7 months after initial filing (People)
Sofía Vergara and Joe Manganiello have reached an agreement to finalize their divorce.
According to a filing obtained by PEOPLE on Friday, the divorce case is proceeding as an uncontested action, meaning both parties appeared and “entered into a written agreement regarding their property and their marriage … which is being or has been submitted to the court.”
Manganiello, 47, asked the court to terminate spousal support for both parties and attorney fees will be ordered as set forth in the proposed judgement, per the docs. Read more
Pink stops Australian concert as woman goes into labour in the middle of her set (Mirror)
Pink brought her stadium show to a halt as she noticed a woman going into labour in the mosh pit of the venue.
The ‘‘So What’’ singer was performing at her first show in Sydney, Australia for the first time in six years. As she sang ‘‘Our Song’’, she was alerted as the crowd waved their hands to get attention that the woman was going to give birth.
A medic ended up wheeling the expectant mother out of the pit in a wheelchair. But the mother-to-be seemed to be in good spirits as she waved to the crowd as she left. Read more
Palestinians fear time is running out in ‘last stop’ Rafah as Israel orders evacuation ahead of ground assault (NBC)
Palestinians in Rafah, the packed city on Gaza’s southern border, were terrified Friday of an impending Israeli ground assault — which the United States and aid groups have warned risks “disaster.”
More than half of the enclave’s 2.3 million people have sought shelter in Rafah, crowding tents in refugee camps stalked by growing hunger, disease and more recently fear that there will be nowhere to escape if troops enter the city.
Washington said it could not support such an operation without proper planning, world leaders voiced growing alarm, and aid officials warned of a “bloodbath.” Read more
Jamiroquai star Derrick McIntyre dies in car crash as family share touching tribute (DailyRecord)
Jamiroquai bassist Derrick McIntyre has passed away after being involved in a car crash as his family have shared a heartbreaking tribute.
The 66-year-old musician’s family and Hertfordshire police have confirmed the tragic news, with his fellow bandmate Jay Kay saying he was ‘a joy to work with’.
As well as playing bass on Jamiroquai’s hit album Dynamite, he also lent his musical talent to the likes of Will Young, Emeli Sande and Beverly Knight. Read more
Talk to Me wins big at Australian Academy Awards, Margot Robbie honored as Trailblazer (THR)
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) handed out its 2024 awards on Saturday, and Talk to Me won big, including for best film and best director, while Margot Robbie was honored with the Trailblazer Award.
Barbie, Oppenheimer and The Bear were among the Hollywood honorees, with big Australian winners including the likes of The Newsreader, Deadloch and The New Boy.
“Talk to Me is the biggest winner of the night, adding a further three awards to its collection and taking its total wins to eight, following the AACTA Industry Awards earlier in the week,” the Australian Academy noted. The honors include the one for best direction in film for sibling-YouTubers-turned-directors Danny and Michael Philippou. Read more
Rocky star Carl Weathers cause of death revealed as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (Standard)
Actor Carl Weathers, who is best known for playing Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise, is reported to have died from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
His death certificate on Friday revealed, for the first time, that it was the heart condition that led to the star passing at the age of 76 on February 1.
The Blast reported that he died in the early hours from the disease at his house in Venice, California. Read more
2 dead after small plane attempts emergency landing on Florida highway (GulfToday)
Two people have died after a small plane attempted to make an emergency landing on Interstate 75 in southwest Florida on Friday afternoon, colliding with a vehicle and bringing traffic to a halt as a massive plume of black smoke rose into the air.
The crash landing happened near the Pine Ridge Road exit in Collier County, just north of where the interstate heads east toward Fort Lauderdale along what is known as Alligator Alley. Brianna Walker saw the wing of the plane drag the car in front of hers and slam into the wall. “It’s seconds that separated us from the car in front of us,” she said. “The wing pulverized this one car.”
Walker and her friend spotted the plane moments before it hit the highway, allowing her friend to pull over before the crash. “The plane was over our heads by inches,” she said. “It took a hard right and skid across the highway.” Read more
D’Tigress qualify for Paris 2024 Olympics (DailyTrust)
Nigeria’s female national basketball team D’Tigress have qualified for the basketball event of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
D’Tigress achieved the feat, having defeated Senegal, 72-65 in their first game and Senegal losing to Belgium 66-92 at the ongoing FIBA Olympic Qualifying Games in Belgium.
Nigeria had lost 109-44 to FIBA 2022 World Champions, U.S.A, but despite this loss, D’Tigress already with their opening game victory, booked their place in Paris. Read more
AFCON Final: I won’t stop taking penalties, Ola Aina vows (Nation)
Super Eagles wing-back Ola Aina has said he would love to take another penalty for Nigeria if given the opportunity after his miss against South Africa on Wednesday.
Aina spoke ahead of Nigeria’s AFCON final with Ivory Coast on Sunday.
Aina, who has been an important player in Jose Peseiro’s side at the tournament, missed his penalty kick during Nigeria’s AFCON semi-final win over South Africa. Read more
Haaland double sinks Everton as Man City go top (France24)
Erling Haaland scored for the first time since November as the Manchester City striker’s double fired the champions to the top of the Premier League with a gritty 2-0 win against Everton on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola’s side were well below their best as they laboured to break down stubborn Everton at a nervous Etihad Stadium.
But Haaland struck twice late in the second half to get back on the scoresheet for the first time since returning from an absence of nearly two months due to a foot injury. Read more
Spain to host NFL game at Real Madrid stadium in 2025 (ESPN)
The NFL is headed to Spain in 2025 for the first regular-season game ever in that country.
The league announced Friday at the site of the Super Bowl that its international slate of games for the 2025 season will feature a game at Real Madrid’s iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
“We could not be more excited to bring the best of the NFL, the best of our teams and star players to the more than 13 million passionate fans in Spain and partner with one of the greatest global soccer clubs in Real Madrid in a truly world-class and innovative stadium,” said Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s head of international affairs. Read more
Kasatkina overcomes Haddad Maia to reach Abu Dhabi final (StraitsTimes)
Seventh seed Daria Kasatkina shook off a mid-match blip to move into her second final of the season with a 6-3 4-6 7-6(2) win over Beatriz Haddad Maia in an absorbing contest at the Abu Dhabi Open on Saturday.
Kasatkina, who is seeking her first title of the year, next faces Kazakh top seed Elena Rybakina or Russian eighth seed Liudmila Samsonova, who meet in the other semi-final later on Stadium Court.
“Beatriz is a huge fighter, one of the biggest on tour. Her level of giving everything on court is just incredible. She was not giving me anything for free. I had to earn this by myself,” Kasatkina said after an 83-minute final set. Read more
Caelan Doris excited by new-look Ireland ahead of Italy clash (RTE)
Skipper Caelan Doris says he’s excited about a new-look Ireland team and wants to “back up” the opening Guinness Six Nations win over France.
Andy Farrell made six changes to his starting XV and added five new faces to the bench for tomorrow’s Aviva Stadium clash with Italy (3pm).
Squad captain Peter O’Mahony, Tadhg Furlong and Bundee Aki were not considered due to injuries picked up in the 38-17 win over Les Bleus, while scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park starts on the bench with Craig Casey preferred. Read more