Police arrest two pastors over ESN attack on operatives (Punch)
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested two pastors in connection to the recent attacks on operatives in the South-East region.
The pastors are among 16 suspects arrested in a joint operation by operatives of the police, the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Air Force.
According to Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba, some of the suspects confessed to being members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Eastern Security Network. Read more
Police arrest 6 suspected robbers, cultists in Lagos, recover arms (Vanguard)
Operatives attached to Ikorodu Division of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested three suspected traffic robbers including their receiver who buys stolen items from them.
The suspects identified as: Lucky Isibor, Isah Mohammed, and Aminu Abdullahi were arrested by combined team of policemen and local Vigilante men on patrol at the Ikorodu roundabout while allegedly robbing innocent commuters and passers by in the area, on 26th March, 2021 at 11:30pm.
Some of the items recovered from them include eleven (11) phones, One Hundred and Thirty Nine Thousand (#139,000), BRT Cowry Card, black bag containing assorted charms and weeds suspected to be Indian hemp. During interrogation, it was discovered that Lucky Isibor doubles as a receiver to traffic robbers in the area.
In a related development, the same Operatives at Ikorodu Division at about 6.50pm, arrested one Emmanuel James, of No 27, Hassan Street, Rofo, Odongunyan, Ikorodu. Read more
Lagos cop shot man dead for questioning search –Source (Punch)
A resident of Ajiran in the Ajah area of Lagos State, Jelili Bakare, was shot dead by a police inspector, Jonathan Company, because he demanded to know why the policeman wanted to search him, Sunday PUNCH has learnt.
Bakare was reportedly relaxing at Quinox Lounge in Sangotedo, Ajah, on Tuesday, March 18, when Company who was on duty in the area shot him dead during an argument.
The trigger-happy cop was said to have been arrested by policemen at the Ogombo division and taken to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba. Read more
Lagos Assembly trains staff on capacity building in legislative duties (Guardian)
The Lagos State House of Assembly has organised a two-week workshop on capacity building in legislative duties for its senior officials.
The training which took place in Abuja was with the theme; “Capacity Building in the Legislature: A panacea For Sustaining Effective Performance in the Legislature”.
The Acting Clerk of the House, Mr Olalekan Onafeko, said in a statement that the senior officers, numbering up to 110, attended the workshop in two batches Read more
Sanwo-Olu: Nigeria’s democracy not complete without Tinubu (DailyTrust)
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu says Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has made immense contribution to the development of Nigeria.
In a statement to commemorate Tinubu’s 69th birthday, Sanwo-Olu said the country’s democracy cannot be complete without him.
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While describing Tinubu as a visionary leader and a rare mentor with exceptional abilities in various areas of human endeavours, he said the APC leader is a political pathfinder, nationalist and detribalised Nigerian, who has contributed in no small measure to the socio-political and economic growth of the state and Nigeria as a whole.
“The story of Nigeria’s democracy cannot be told without the name of the Jagaban Borgu written in gold. Thousands are today direct beneficiaries of his political benevolence,” Sanwo-Olu said. Read more
Committee recommends nomination fees waiver for PDP youths (Guardian)
The National Reconciliation and Strategy Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has recommended exemption of nomination fees for youth aspirants seeking elective positions.
The committee made the recommendation in a letter by its chairman and former Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, to the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus.
A copy of the committee’s letter was made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday.
The committee recommended that any PDP aspirant under the age of 35 contesting elective position should be exempted from the payment of nomination fees.
It also recommended immediate amendment of PDP constitution to that effect. Read more
Residents abandon their houses as kidnappers lay siege to Abuja community (DailyTrust)
Following incessant cases of kidnappings in Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), many residents have abandoned their homes.
Daily Trust had reported how kidnappers have carried out many attacks in the area in the past few weeks.
Residents of Anguwar Hausawa and Kekeshi communities have been the worst-hit.
Although the police and members of the vigilante group in the area had foiled three different kidnap attempts, in which two of the kidnappers were shot dead, the gunmen have been returning to the area. Read more
Kidnapping of RCCG members has made self-defense inevitable – CAN Youth Wing (Vanguard)
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Youth Wing, on Sunday, said the recent kidnapping of eight members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, in Kaduna state, has made self-defense by the people inevitable.
The RCCG church members were reportedly on their way to Kafanchan in Jema’a Local Government Area for evangelism when the armed kidnappers struck.
However, the Federal Government has come under attack for the seeming collapse of Nigeria’s security architecture and the delay in flushing out bandits and criminals terrorising citizens in parts of the country. Read more
Aba Bye-Election: I’m not going to court, Uzor Kalu’s brother accepts defeat (DailyTrust)
The Candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) in the Aba North/ Aba South Federal Constituency bye-election, Hon Mascot Uzor-Kalu, has accepted his loss.
While appreciating members of the party for making APC stronger in Abia, he accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of fighting for the election at all cost.
Mascot said although his party was not declared winner of the election, it secured a greater victory because “we chose life over blood shed and therefore won lives and lost the polls”.
This was contained in a letter to his supporters on a day after the election. Read more
Mike Sonko: How a jail-breaker became Nairobi’s governor (BBC)
In a dramatic fall from grace, the colourful former governor of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, is now facing numerous criminal charges including money-laundering and terrorism. So who is Mike Sonko and how did he rise to become one of Kenya’s most high-profile politicians?
Short presentational grey line
Known for his glitzy lifestyle, flashy clothes and expensive jewellery, Gidion Mbuvi Kioko earned the nickname Sonko – Swahili slang for a rich person – after publicly distributing cash to his supporters in Nairobi’s slums.
The name stuck.
Long before he entered politics and earned his nickname, he was imprisoned in the 1990s over a land fraud case. He managed to escape from jail by bribing his guards, before he was caught and sent back to prison. Read more
Multiple people injured, 1 killed in stabbing rampage at Canadian library (NYPost)
Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers are seen outside of the Lynn Valley Library after multiple stabbings occurred in North Vancouver, Canada.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers are seen outside of the Lynn Valley Library after multiple stabbings occurred in North Vancouver, Canada.The Canadian Press via AP
One person was killed and a half-dozen people hurt after a suspect went on a stabbing rampage at a Canadian library.
A suspect was in custody in connection with the lone wolf Saturday afternoon attack in North Vancouver, officials tweeted at 6 p.m.
Unhinged man fatally stabs woman, dog in California attack, cops say
The violence happened in and around the Lynn Valley library branch in the suburb, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Six people were taken to the hospital, emergency workers told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Their conditions were not immediately revealed. Read more
Global carriers forced to reroute ships to avoid massive Suez Canal traffic jam (RT)
Around a dozen tankers and container ships have been diverted from the Suez Canal as leading transport companies are looking for alternative routes to avoid the vital trade artery along Egypt that remains blocked.
Two container ships operated by French shipping and logistics giant CMA CGM Group changed course and were heading towards the Cape of Good Hope, the company revealed on Saturday. At the same time, the group is considering alternative maritime, rail, and air routes for cargo yet to be loaded, while at least 10 of its ships were still waiting to pass through the narrow but vital waterway.
At least 10 vessels, including oil tankers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, also changed course not to get stuck in the logjam in the Suez Canal, CNBC reported. According to MarineTraffic spokesman Georgios Hatzimanolis, Cheniere and Shell tankers were heading towards the Cape of Good Hope like some of the ships operated by CMA CGM Group. Read more
Makassar explosion: Worshippers wounded in Indonesian church bombing (BBC)
A suspected suicide bomb attack outside a Catholic church in the Indonesian city of Makassar has left at least 14 people wounded, police say.
Police said an explosion happened as two people tried to enter the church on Palm Sunday, the first day of Easter.
A destroyed motorbike and body parts were found at the scene and police said the two attackers had died.
Militant Islamists have attacked churches in the past but no group has yet said it was behind the bombing. Read more
“Bad Girls Club” star killed in Virginia Beach shooting (NYPost)
One of the stars of the reality show “Bad Girls Club” was killed in a Virginia Beach melee.
Deshayla “Shay” Harris, 29, of Norfolk, Virginia, was gunned down in a series of shootings that left eight people wounded and a suspected gunman dead.
Harris posted video of herself on Instagram hours before the shooting, which took place after 11:30 p.m. Friday in the Oceanfront section of the resort city.
“I’m only doing s**t that’s gonna make me elevate!” said her last post, alongside a clip of her in a T-shirt and shorts at what appears to be a bar. Comments wishing that she rest in peace were posted Saturday morning. Read more
Thousands of sexual abuse claims in UK schools reported to online campaign, leading to police investigation (RT)
London’s Metropolitan Police has announced it has opened investigations into alleged sexual abuse cases in British schools, after more than 5,800 incidents were reported to online platform Everyone’s Invited.
Officers have been reviewing anonymous testimonies posted on the website, which collected evidence about “misogyny, harassment, abuse and assault” in UK schools, to “establish” whether any of the victims could be “encouraged” to actually report the crime to law enforcement, the Met Police said in a statement on Friday.
The Met added that it had already received some reports on “specific offenses” currently under investigation. Officers also contacted certain schools named in some of the anonymous testimonies to offer support to potential victims. On Friday, the department held some “detailed” meetings on the issue. Read more
Channel Nine cyber attack disrupts live broadcasts in Australia (BBC)
A cyber attack has disrupted live broadcasts on Australia’s Channel Nine TV network, prompting concerns about the country’s vulnerability to hackers.
The broadcaster said it was unable to air several shows on Sunday, including Weekend Today.
Nine said it was investigating whether the hack was “criminal sabotage or the work of a foreign nation”.
Australia’s Parliament was also investigating a possible cyber attack in Canberra on Sunday. Read more
Miami Open: Johanna Konta beaten by Petra Kvitova in third round (BBC)
Britain’s Johanna Konta was overwhelmed by Czech ninth seed Petra Kvitova in the third round of the Miami Open.
Konta, seeded 17th, lost 6-1 6-2 in just 58 minutes to two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova.
Kvitova did not face a break point against British number one Konta, who won the Miami title in 2017.
She will face fifth seed Elina Svitolina for a place in the quarter-finals after the Ukrainian beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (7-1) 6-4. Read more
Dembele scores, Mbappe misses penalty as France beat Kazakhstan (Punch)
Ousmane Dembele scored the opening goal as holders France beat Kazakhstan 2-0 away on Sunday to claim the first victory in their campaign to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Sergei Maliy put through his own net for France’s second goal before half-time but Kylian Mbappe had a second-half penalty saved after coming off the bench.
It was a welcome result for the reigning world champions after they kicked off their campaign in qualifying Group D by drawing 1-1 at home to Ukraine last Wednesday.
“We said beforehand that it was all about getting the job done and it’s a positive result against a team who never gave up,” Paul Pogba, who returned to the starting line-up, told broadcaster TF1. Read more
Rodrigues strikes for Luxembourg in shock win at Ireland (Guardian)
The Republic of Ireland fell to a shock 1-0 defeat by minnows Luxembourg in their 2022 World Cup qualifier in Dublin on Saturday.
Dynamo Kiev midfielder Gerson Rodrigues condemned the Irish to their second defeat in as many Group A games with a superb long-range effort five minutes from the end.
Ireland sit bottom of the group on zero points, four behind leaders Serbia and Portugal who drew 2-2 in Belgrade.
Luxembourg meanwhile are a point behind the two leading teams after a rare World Cup qualifying victory for the tiny country. Read more
Russell Westbrook’s triple-double helps Washington Wizards beat Detroit Pistons (BBC)
Russell Westbrook made a triple-double to help the Washington Wizards beat the Detroit Pistons and end their three-game losing streak.
The 32-year-old registered 19 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists as Washington won 106-92.
Point guard Westbrook has made more triple-doubles than any other NBA player this season, with 15.
Elsewhere, Kawhi Leonard made a team-high 28 points as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 76ers are top of the Eastern Conference but they were beaten 122-112 by the Clippers. Read more
Frappart becomes first woman to referee men’s World Cup qualifier (Punch)
Stephanie Frappart became the first woman to referee a qualifying match for a men’s World Cup when she took charge of Saturday’s clash between the Netherlands and Latvia in Amsterdam.
France’s Frappart, 37, has been a trailblazer for women officials and in December was the first to referee a men’s Champions League match, between Juventus and Dynamo Kiev.
“Stephanie Frappart makes more history! Congratulations on becoming the first female to referee a men’s #WCQ (World Cup Qualifier),” tweeted FIFA. Read more
Facebook acts after Welsh footballers racially abused (Guardian)
Facebook has removed the Instagram accounts with which Welsh internationals Rabbi Matondo and Ben Cabango were racially abused following the 1-0 win over Mexico on Saturday.
Facebook owns Instagram and acted a few hours after Matondo had slammed the social media platform, accusing Instagram of doing nothing about racist abuse.The Stoke City winger and Swansea defender Cabango — both 20 — were sent abusive messages on Instagram. Read more