Police arrest activist for beating wife to death in Rivers (Leadership)
Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested a human rights activist, Micheal Chidozie, for allegedly beating his 32-year-old wife and mother of three children, Mrs. Ufuoma Chidozie, to death on Tuesday.
The suspect is currently being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Port Harcourt, where he was being interrogated.
Some friends of the deceased alleged that Chidozie was in the habit of beating his wife daily without provocation. Read more
Chinese engineer kidnapped, Civil defence officer killed in Kogi (Tribune)
Some suspected kidnappers kidnapped a Chinese expatriate and killed an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Thursday morning in Obangede, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
It was gathered that the NSCDC officer who lost his life was part of the security detail assigned to protect the abducted Chinese road engineer.
As of now, the identities of both the abducted individual and the deceased officer could not be confirmed. Read more
Bandits attack Kaduna school, abduct scores of pupils (Channels)
Bandits have reportedly attacked a government primary school at Kuriga community of the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, abducting scores of pupils.
The community is located along the Kaduna Birnin-Gwari Road which has been terrorised by bandits for many years.
The police authorities and the Kaduna State government are yet to confirm the incident but a local source told Channels Television that the bandits invaded the school at 8:30 am on Thursday and took away many pupils including the head teacher. Read more
UTME: 260,000 sat for mock exam, says JAMB registrar Oloyede (Nation)
Over 260,000 candidates on Thursday, March 7, sat for this year’s Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Mock UTME) in 793 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across the country.
The Registrar/Chief Executive of JAMB, Prof Is-haq Oloyede, made this known after monitoring the mock exam in some centres in Abuja.
Oloyede, who expressed delight over the seamless conduct of the exercise nationwide, said the exam was to test the preparedness of JAMB for the main UTME which will commence on Friday, 19th April, 2024. Read more
FG to commence production of military hardwares in Ajaokuta as Steel, Defence Ministries set to sign MOU (Sun)
The Federal Government has taken steps to begin the production of military hardwares in the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, as the Ministries of Steel Development and Defence are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the implementation.
The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, and the Minister of State, Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle disclosed this after a meeting yesterday, at the Ministry of Defence, Abuja.
According to Prince Audu, the collaborations between both Ministries under his leadership and the Ministers of Defence will bring to fruition the vision of the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR geared at reviving the Ajaokuta Steel Complex for steel production for several purposes, including military hardwares. Read more
Passengers scamper for safety as fire break out at Lagos Airport (Leadership)
There was pandemonium at the E-Arrival Finger of the Muritala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, as fire broke out at the terminal.
The fire outbreak, LEADERSHIP gathered, led to power outage at the airport.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident caused panic among workers and passengers at the airport as travelers hastily left the place which was engulfed by smoke for the departure hall. Read more
Why other nations recruit Nigerian doctors, nurses — Pate (Channels)
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, says other nations recruit health workers who left Nigeria for greener pastures overseas because of the level of training the health workers received back in Nigeria.
Pate stated this on Thursday during a briefing organised by the Ministry of Information and National Orientation in Abuja.
“There is no country in the world today that has enough health workers for what it needs, that is why they are poaching from us. That is why the developed nations are recruiting our doctors because we train our doctors, our nurses, our health workers so well, that’s why they are being recruited,” the minister said. Read more
Free 300 kidnapped women in Borno, Reps ask security agencies (Vanguard)
The House of Representatives on Thursday called on security agencies to free 300 women kidnapped in Borno state while fetching firewood in the bush.
Moving a motion on matter of urgent public importance on the floor of the House, member representing Bama/Ngala/Kalabalge Federal Constituency of Borno State, Zainab Gimba described the abduction as worrisome like the April 2014 abduction of school girls in Chibok.
According to Gimba, this is the second largest abduction after the Chibok Girls adoption by Boko Haram in April 2014 and release of these women. Read more
NSCDC arrests 85-year-old suspected kidnapper in Kano (Punch)
Operatives of the Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps, Ungoggo Division, Kano State Command, have arrested suspected kidnapper, Ibrahim Usman, at Yar’adua quarters, Rimin Kebe, Ungoggo Local Government Area of the state.
This is contained in a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Abdullahi, a copy of which was made available to the PUNCH Online on Thursday.
“The 85-year-old suspect, Ibrahim Usman, abducted the victim, a three-year-old boy who is a child in the neighbourhood and attempted to hide him in his friend’s residence situated at the Hotoro bye-pass in Kano State. Read more
Michael Sheen in his element as NHS founder Nye Bevan say theatre critics (BBC)
Michael Sheen has been praised by critics for his performance as Nye Bevan, in a National Theatre production. Nye tells the story of the left-wing politician who was credited with being the founder of the modern day National Health Service.
The FT’s four-star review said Sheen delivered an “electrifying performance driven by a fantastic ensemble”.
It also praised the staging, noting the “canny set design of sliding hospital curtains to send scenes tumbling over one another as they do in dream”. Read more
Sexyy Red stumped by Plies’ response to her twerk video: ‘What dat mean?’ (Hiphopdx)
Sexyy Red has been left scratching her head by Plies‘ reaction to her latest twerk video.
The “SkeeYee” artist posted a clip on X (formerly Twitter) a few days ago showing her shaking her booty for the camera while wearing a black figure-hugging dress.
She encouraged her followers to flaunt their own twerking skills, writing in the caption: “Fck it twerk thread let’s go!” Though he didn’t oblige, Plies did respond to Sexyy’s video by writing: “Sexyy Red Know Sum!!!! [flushed face emoji] [smiling face with heart-eyes emojis] Look At Them Elbows!!! [winking face with tongue emojis].” Read more
The Gentlemen’s Kaya Scodelario talks Guy Ritchie’s “last-minute” changes to “everything” (DigitalSpy)
The Gentlemen’s Kaya Scodelario has opened up about director Guy Ritchie’s “last-minute” changes to “everything” on the show.
The Skins actress stars in the new eight-part Netflix series, a spin-off of the 2019 film of the same name, which is released today (March 7).
She plays drug baron Susie Glass, who oversees the criminal organisation on behalf of her father Bobby – played by Ray Winstone. Read more
Kung Fu Panda 4’s James Hong shares secret to his 70-year career: ‘I’m 95 and I’m still going’ (People)
In his seven decades of screen work, did James Hong ever imagine his name would be on the sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard? “Absolutely not,” he tells PEOPLE with a cackle.
“I walk there quite often and I [have said], ‘Gee, I wish I was here,’ ” says the Los Angeles-based star, 95.
But now Hong is honoured twice on the iconic sidewalk: with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and with his hands and feet immortalised in cement at the TCL Chinese Theatre. Read more
In Gaza, babies have no more nappies, milk, as Israeli bombing continues (AlJazeera)
On a cold night three weeks ago, Aida al-Baawi rushed from the makeshift tent she had made home to the town’s nearby Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital and, amid the ongoing war, gave birth to her daughter.
The birth was a struggle because of a shortage of medical staff to care for her and not enough anaesthesia to mask the pain of receiving stitches.
Her baby girl was born healthy, and a whole new struggle started for 29-year-old al-Baawi as she started searching endlessly for a necessity many mothers take for granted: nappies. Read more
Constance Marten tells manslaughter trial she ‘gave her baby the best any mother could’ (Mirror)
Constance Marten and partner Mark Gordon are on trial at the Old Bailey charged with the manslaughter of their baby Victoria who was found dead in a Lidl carrier bag
A mother accused of killing her own baby has told a court she “gave her baby the best any mother could” and did “nothing but show her love”.
Constance Marten has taken the stand today to give evidence in her own manslaughter trial. The 36 year old and partner Mark Gordon are charged with killing their baby Victoria after taking her to live in a tent, in a desperate bid to stop her being taken away by social services, the court has been told. Read more
Hamas envoys leave Cairo, with deadlocked hostage deal talks to resume next week (TimesOfIsrael)
A Hamas delegation left Cairo on Thursday, but will continue with Gaza truce talks until an agreement is reached with Israel, the terror group said in a statement, with a Hamas official blaming Israel for the lack of progress.
An official Egyptian source told the country’s Al-Qahera News state-affiliated TV channel that negotiations over a ceasefire in Gaza have reached an impasse over Hamas’s demand for a phased process culminating in an end to the war, but said talks will resume next week.
“Hamas’s delegation left Cairo this morning for consultation with the leadership of the movement, with negotiations and efforts continuing to stop the aggression, return the displaced, and bring in relief aid to our people,” the Hamas statement said. Read more
Judge says Don Henley “manipulated” prosecutors and dismisses case over Eagles’ ‘‘Hotel California’’ lyrics (NME)
A judge has dismissed the criminal case involving the handwritten lyrics to The Eagles‘ ‘Hotel California’ after concluding that Don Henley had “manipulated” prosecutors by withholding evidence.
Glenn Horowitz, Edward Kosinski and Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame curator Craig Inciardi were accused of attempting to sell handwritten notes and lyrics from the classic 1977 single, as well as its follow-up ‘Life In The Fast Lane’, back in 2022.
Officials estimated at the time that the documents were worth over $1million (£792,000) in total. Read more
African Games 2023: Uganda not afraid of Flying Eagles — Ochama (CompleteSports)
Uganda U-20 head coach Morley Ochama is upbeat on the chances of his charges claiming a famous victory against the Flying Eagles of Nigeria.
The African Games 2023 Group B fixture is slated for the Accra Sports Stadium on Thursday (today).
It will be a rematch of the recent Africa U-20 Cup of Nations clash between the Flying Eagles and Hippos which Nigeria won 1-0. Read more
Sailor Cole Brauer makes history as the first American woman to race solo around the world (NBC)
Aboard her 40-foot racing boat First Light, 29-year-old Cole Brauer just became the first American woman to race nonstop around the world by herself.
The New York native pulled into A Coruña, Spain, on Thursday after a treacherous 30,000-mile journey that took 130 days.
She thanked a cheering crowd of family and fans who had been waiting for her on-shore. Read more
Former AFCON winner wants Super Eagles coaching job: “I will do wonders with these boys” (Soccernet)
Former Nigeria international Sylvanus Okpala has expressed his readiness to be the next head coach of the Super Eagles, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, is yet to name a new head coach following the departure of the Portuguese tactician Jose Peseiro.
The former Sporting Lisbon manager guided the Super Eagles to a second-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Still, he left the role following the expiration of his contract. Read more
Christian Horner: Red Bull suspend complainant after investigation into Formula 1 team principal (SkySports)
Christian Horner’s complainant has been suspended following Red Bull’s investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour against the Formula 1 team principal, the PA news agency has reported.
Red Bull GmbH, the parent company of the F1 team, last week dismissed the allegations made against Horner by a female colleague after conducting an investigation led by a specialist barrister.
Horner has denied the allegations throughout the process. Read more
Brighton fans ‘stabbed by masked gang’ before Europa League match in Rome (Metro)
Two Brighton supporters have been stabbed ahead of their team’s match against Roma.
The supporters, aged 28 and 29, were hospitalised with knife wounds after the attack in Rome, Italy at around midnight on Wednesday.
Brighton and Hove Albion are set to play Roma in a Europa League match at Rome’s Olympic Stadium this evening. Read more
Indian Wells: Rafael Nadal withdraws 24 hours before first-round match with Milos Raonic (AfricaNews)
Rafael Nadal has pulled out of Indian Wells 24 hours before his first-round match with Milos Raonic on Friday.
Nadal, 37, made his long-awaited return at January’s Brisbane International, after almost a year out with injury.
However, the Spaniard sustained a hip injury at the tournament which ruled him out of the Australian Open. Read more
AFC Wimbledon player charged by FA for allegedly kicking balls at MK Dons fans (Standard)
AFC Wimbledon midfielder Harry Pell has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association for allegedly kicking balls into a crowd of MK Dons fans ahead of Saturday’s League Two fixture.
A stoppage-time winner from Wimbledon’s Ronan Curtis settled the clash between the bitter rivals at Cherry Red Records Stadium.
However, the hostilities seemingly started in the warm-up with footage on social media appearing to show Pell, who was an unused substitute in the 1-0 win, kicking balls into the stand which hosted the MK Dons’ travelling support. Read more