Plateau: Killers of Bokkos, Barkin Ladi villagers on cleansing agenda – Jang (DailyTrust)
A former Plateau State Governor, Jonah David Jang, has said the perpetrators of the recent killings in the villages of Bokkos and Barkin Ladi local government areas of the state were on a cleansing agenda aiming to take away the people’s heritage.
According to the governor, the attacks were being carried out to achieve surreptitious objectives.
The former governor, while offering condolences to the victims of the incident, described the attacks as incessant and unnecessary, claiming hundreds of innocent villagers’ lives and properties. Read more
Again, vandals destroy TCN towers with explosives, kill 1 NSCDC personnel (Leadership)
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has said that three of its towers along the Maiduguri–Damaturu transmission line were destroyed with explosives on Thursday, killing a personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The TCN general manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, made this known in a statement on Friday.
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria TCN hereby confirms the destruction of three of its towers along the Maiduguri – Damaturu Transmission Line with explosives yesterday 28th December 2023,” Mbah said. Read more
Child Marriage: Bayelsa summons 4-year-old girl’s parents, 54 years old groom (Guardian)
The Bayelsa Government has invited parents of a four-year-old girl and the 54-year-old man allegedly involved in a marriage in Akeddei community in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the government’s intervention is coming on the heels of media reports of a Dec. 26 marriage between the ‘‘bride’’ and a 54 years old.
The Bayelsa Government’s reaction is contained in a statement provided to NAN in Yenagoa on Saturday. Read more
Kidnapping: Police rescue couple in Kaduna (Vanguard)
The Police Command in Kaduna, says it has foiled a kidnap attempt of a man and his wife in Rigasa area of Igabi Local Government Area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Saturday in Kaduna.
He said that operatives of the command rescued the couple at about 2:05 a.m. on Saturday.
Hassan said the operatives on patrol foiled the kidnap attempt between Train Station to Mando Junction and Mahuta village of Igabi. Read more
Navy arrests 3 stowaways in Lagos (Punch)
The Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft, has on Wednesday, arrested three stowaways onboard a tanker vessel Front Altiers bound for Europe at Lagos roadstead.
The Commander, NNS Beecroft and Maritime Component Commander of Operation Awatse, Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, disclosed this in a statement signed by the NNS Beecroft base Information Officer, Sub-Lieutenant H. A. Collins, on Friday.
The suspects include Ebuka Daniel, 29 years old, from Enugu State; Samuel Abraham, 32 years old, from Edo State, and Christian Happy, 32 years old, from Delta State. Read more
4m Lagos residents will be out of poverty by 2027 – Commissioner, Ajigbotafe (Vanguard)
Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe has said the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration has mapped out plans to take at least four million residents out of poverty by the year 2027.
Ajigbotafe stressed that wealth creation, employment opportunities, and human capacity development are the major foundations upon which sustainable development can be achieved.
Recall that the number of Nigerians living in poverty stood at over 133 million, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced in its “Nigeria Multidimensional Poverty Index’ released in November 2022.
Akeredolu: Nigeria has lost a great man – First Lady (Nation)
Nigerian First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu on Saturday, December 30, said with the death of former governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Nigeria has lost a great man.
She noted that Akeredolu was a great man and would be solidly missed.
Speaking while paying condolence visit to Ibadan residence of the deceased, Mrs. Tinubu stated that Akeredolu has done his best, describing him as a great man loved by her family, her husband and many Nigerians. Read more
Engage govt on legitimate grievances, Speaker Abbas urges Igbo leaders (Tribune)
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, on Friday, urged Igbo leaders in the South-East geopolitical zone to engage the government in addressing the legitimate grievances of their people.
Speaker Abbas, who gave the charge during the launch of the Peace in the South East Project (PISE-P) assured that special care has been taken to ensure a balance in the distribution of infrastructure projects across the six geopolitical zones in the 2024 Appropriation bill to be passed by the National Assembly.
While acknowledging South-East’s economic strengths, he however lamented that the unabated agitations in the zone had caused the region colossal losses. Read more
Paula Abdul sues American Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe for alleged “sexual assault’’ (OK!)
Paula Abdul has sued American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe for alleged ‘sexual assault’, in a lawsuit that was filed on Friday.
Paula has claimed that her former So You Think You Can Dance co-judge had sexually assaulted her on numerous occasions. She also claimed he “verbally insulated and belittled” her, as reported in documents obtained by The Blast.
OK! has contacted Paula Abdul and Nigel Lythgoe’s representatives for comment. Read more
From Hatred to Love: Christmas reflections of a Muslim convert to Catholicism (CNA)
Christmas is a time of reconciliation. God himself chose to become a man, coming into the world to save fallen humanity and reconcile it with himself. Christmas represents a dramatic break with conventional patterns and changes paradigms. Such is also the case of Zubair Simonson, a former Muslim who converted to Catholicism and shared his story recently with the National Catholic Register, CNA’s sister news partner.
“Hatred consumes. The loathing of a perceived enemy can be so consuming that one would rather see that enemy harmed than see a so-called ‘friend’ be saved,” Simonson noted, recalling his childhood, deeply affected by an upbringing that taught him to viscerally hate the Jews.
Simonson grew up in the United States, a long way from the Holy Land. However, from a very young age he was introduced to a narrative of “oppressors” and “oppressed,” of a people who were entirely to blame and a people who never did anything reprehensible. “I’d heard it reinforced, time and again, at the mosque. I’d heard it reinforced, time and again, in the homes of family and friends,” he recalled. Read more
Burundi’s President calls for stoning of gay couples amid global LGBTQ+ rights debate (AfricaNews)
Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye recently launched a virulent tirade against same-sex marriage, denouncing it as an “abominable practice” and advocating for the stoning of gay couples, citing religious reasons.
The President, known for his conservative Christian views, previously called for homosexuals to be “banished” and treated as outcasts. He criticized Western countries opposing LGBTQ+ rights and defiantly rejected aid from those advocating such practices, urging individuals embracing those beliefs to stay abroad.
This strong stance is in line with the conservative Christian values prevalent in the Great Lakes country, where same-sex relations are punishable by imprisonment. Read more
Godzilla Minus One producer offers update on next Godzilla movie (DigitalSpy)
The producer of Godzilla Minus One has shared an update on the next film in the series.
The Japanese film franchise has been going for decades, with over 30 live-action instalments since the 1950s, so another movie was almost inevitable. However, given Minus One’s increased attention in the West and subsequent financial success, there’s a lot more interest in the next entry than usual.
Speaking to the Japanese branch of GQ, producer Minami Ichikawa stated that film studio Toho isn’t going to rush a follow-up out just to capitalise on the success. Read more
Leona Lewis made OBE in New Year Honours list for services to charity and music (BelfastTelegraph)
Leona Lewis has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year Honours list, honoured for services to music and to charity.
The British singer-songwriter won the third series of The X Factor in 2006 and went on to achieve success with singles including “Bleeding Love”, “Run” and “Better In Time”.
Lewis grew up in Islington and, after being recognised for her vocal ability on talent contest The X Factor, became a seven-time Brit award nominee and was nominated three times for a Grammy award. Read more
OJ Simpson was original choice to play The Terminator (FilmNews)
OJ Simpson was originally cast as The Terminator.
The ex-NFL star-turned actor, who had roles in films including The Naked Gun film trilogy, was set to play the cyborg in James Cameron’s 1984 sci-fi classic, according to Arnold Schwarzenegger, 76, who landed the role.
Arnie told the ‘‘Smartless’’ podcast about how he had originally been cast as rebel soldier Kyle Reese instead of The Terminator: “I think OJ Simpson was cast, not yet a contract signed, but was cast already to play The Terminator.
“So Cameron was trying to talk me into playing the Terminator and I said, ‘Nah, I want to play Reese.’ Read more
Flooded tunnels force cancelation of Eurostar trains linking UK to Europe (CNN)
Flooded railway tunnels forced the cancellation of all services on Saturday linking Britain to Europe, operator Eurostar said.
Travellers hoping to journey from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam for New Year were dealt a blow after Eurostar announced in a social media post the cancellation of services due to “part of the track being temporarily closed near London.”
The track was closed due to the flooding of railway tunnels near the Ebbsfleet International station in Kent, southern England. Read more
Osimhen sparks wild Chelsea transfer frenzy on social media (Leadership)
Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, has alerted Chelsea fans to the chances of him joining the London club next year just days after signing a fresh contract extension at Napoli.
Osimhen was announced as having extended his deal in Italy last week, putting a temporary end to speculation over his future.
However, with the agreement only adding a further year to his stay at Napoli – now until 2026 – many have raised the prospect of it simply being a ploy to raise more money. Osimhen’s future has been in the air for much of this season after failing to see eye to eye over a new contract initially as well as becoming annoyed by a social media post that mocked him posted by a club account. Read more
FG reiterates support for Super Eagles’ quest to lift 4th AFCON title (Guardian)
The Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Owan Enoh, has reiterated the support of the Federal Government for Super Eagles in their quest to win a fourth AFCON title in Cote D’Ivoire in January 2024.
The minister said this while addressing reporters at Tunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin, on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the re-assurance is coming on the heels of the release of a 25-man list by Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, on Friday to prosecute the much anticipated tournament. Read more
Brazil pays tribute to legend Pelé a year after his death (ESPN)
Brazilians paid several tributes to legend Pelé on Friday, one year after the three-time World Cup winner’s death at age 82 due to a colon cancer.
A ceremony held at Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer, one of the South American nation’s most famous postcard locations, featured a projection of a Brazil shirt with Pelé’s name and No. 10 on the statue and a message from Pope Francis — Pelé was a devout Catholic throughout his life.
“Pelé, as Mr. Edson Arantes do Nascimento became globally known, was undoubtedly an athlete who showed in his life all positive traits of a sportsman. The memory of ‘the King of Soccer’ remains indelible in the minds of many, and it stimulates new generations to seek in sport a means to strengthen the bonds of unity among us,” the pontiff said in a letter as a local orchestra played. Read more
Roberto Martinez defends Bruno Fernandes from Manchester United critics (MEN)
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez believes Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes’ frustrations come from a place of care as he praised the Reds’ midfielder.
Fernandes was named United captain in the summer after Erik ten Hag chose to strip Harry Maguire of the armband. While there was no doubting the 29-year-old was the obvious choice to replace Maguire, reservations were made as to his attitude.
The attacking midfielder has been accused of moaning on the pitch and he was slammed by critics earlier this month when he received his fifth yellow card and a one-match ban prior to Liverpool because of an unnecessary argument with the referee. However Martinez, who coaches Fernandes at international level, has no qualms with the United man. Read more
Dominic Thiem’s Brisbane International victory interrupted by venomous snake on court (BBC)
A highly venomous snake interrupted play during Dominic Thiem’s victory against James McCabe at the Brisbane International qualifying event.
Former US Open champion Thiem was a set down to Australian McCabe when the snake was spotted near the courtside electrical wires.
A 40-minute break in play followed while the reptile was safely removed by a professional snake catcher.
“I really love animals, especially exotic ones,” Thiem said afterwards. Read more
Gil de Ferran, Indianapolis 500 winner and Brazilian icon, dead at 56 (NYPost)
Gil de Ferran, the 2003 Indianapolis 500 winner and holder of the closed-course land speed record, died Friday while racing with his son at The Concourse Club in Florida, multiple former colleagues confirmed to The Associated Press.
He was 56.
Fellow Brazilian driver Tony Kanaan said de Ferran was with his son, Luke, at the private course in Opa-Locka, Florida, when he pulled over and said he wasn’t feeling well. Kanaan said de Ferran apparently suffered a heart attack and could not be revived. Read more