Police assure residents of adequate security as threat to attack Lagos causes panic (Vanguard)
Sequel to the threat by bandits to attack some states in Nigeria including Lagos, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Abiodun Alabi, has placed the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) of the Command on high alert.
In a statement signed by SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Command Spokesperson on Sunday, said CP Abiodun Alabi, disclose that the command is working closely with sister security agencies to ensure that no person or group of persons succeeds in destabilising the peace and serenity enjoyed by the good people of Lagos State.”
Allaying the fears of Lagosians the Commissioner assured that all human, material, and operational resources have been fully and optimally deployed across the length and breadth of the state, especially at border towns, towards ensuring there is absolutely no breach of the peace.”
Alabi noted that consequent to the carefully laid down security plans and strategies, all residents of Lagos State are urged to go about their lawful duties without panic or fear. Read more
NDLEA intercepts 2.7m Tramadol tabs, London, Dubai-bound drugs in Lagos (Sun)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA has intercepted over two million tablets of Tramadol 225mg at the Apapa port in Lagos worth more than N1.375 billion.
The Tramadol tablets weighing 1,650 kilograms was packed in 55 cartons of Tapentadol and Carisoprodol types of Tramadol was seized during examination of a container number SUDU 7538656 on Saturday July 30 following credible intelligence.
This comes on the heels of similar efforts by anti-narcotic officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja that thwarted bids by drug traffickers to export various psychoactive substances to London, UK and Dubai, UAE through the Lagos airport in the past week.
A statement by the Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi disclosed that at least five suspects have so far been arrested in connection to the attempts. Read more
Tension over alleged murder of woman in Chimamanda’s community (Nation)
Tension has heightened in Anambra community over the alleged gruesome murder of a woman in the hometown of renowned novelist Chimamanda Adichie.
The incident happened at Ogbunike, Oyi local government area on July 19.
The 40-year-old daughter of Abba, Njikoka local government area and mother of five, Mrs Nkiru Okoye, was said to have been killed without any cause.
Her husband, the family and the community are demanding justice over her death.
Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed the incident.
He said investigations had already commenced on the matter while some of his men had been deployed to the community to maintain law and order. Read more
Stop portraying police in bad light, IGP orders filmmakers (DailyTrust)
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Usman Baba, has cautioned film or skit makers who portray police officers in a bad light without applying and getting a permit letter for such portrayals to desist with immediate effect or face the full wrath of the law.
The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Baba pledged the commitment of the force to guarantee compliance with the law, adding that the FPRO had been directed to ensure prompt authorisation for all applications seeking usage of police items in movies.
He said such application would be granted in tandem with the extant laws and would portray good values, impress positively on the Nigerian public and be of value to the system. Read more
Lagos Assembly aspirant, Kome, sues INEC, PDP over removal of name as party’s candidate (Vanguard)
People Democratic Party, PDP, Lagos House of Assembly aspirant for Ikeja 1 Constituency, Dr John Okoro Kome, has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the party and one Abiodun Ezekiel Olufolarinwa, before Justice D.E. Osiagor of a Federal High Court, Lagos for removing his name as the winner of the election and the party’s candidate.
In an originating summon filed before the court by his counsel Don Akaegbu, against INEC, PDP, and Olufolarinwa as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively, Kome is challenging INEC and PDP for submitting the name of the 3rd as the winner of the election in which he (Kome) was the actual winner.
In an Affidavit in support of the originating Summon, Kome explained that having purchased the party’s nomination form, screened and cleared by the party, he contested in the election with the 3rd defendants as the only two contestants for the party.
“A day before the conduct of the primary election and on the day of the election, the 3rd Defendant being my only opponent and fellow contestant stepped down for me, leading to my emergence as the consensus candidate and winner of the primary election for Ikeja constituency 1, ” he stated. Read more
Land Grabbing: Elegushi family petitions Army over threat to life (Independent)
The Royal Family of Elegushi of Ikateland has petitioned the Nigerian Army over the threat to life and encroachment to its ancestral land by an Army Brigadier General.
Elegushi, in a petition by its lawyer MA Omotayo of Bandele Omotayo & co, stated that the family of Elegushi frowned at the attempt to use the personnel from the Army Signal, Apapa to unleash mayhem on its clients.
The lawyer made this known in a petition titled; “ Assault, Harassment, Intimidation, Threat To Snuff Out Life By Military Riffles And The Use Of Nigerian Army Weapons/Equipment To Unleash Terror And Wrestle Land At Itedo, Lagos State And Abuse Of Office By Brig Gen. YO Zubair Of Nigerian Army Signal Base, Apapa, Lagos State.”
The lawyer stressed that irrespective of the fact that he knows that there is judgement in favour of his client by the Lagos State High Court, where Brigadier General Y.O Subair’s Principal, Toluwaleke Megba and their family members known as Itedo community, declared trespassers on the land;” the said Brig Gen Zubair accompanied by some of his men attacked Chief Ogunyemi at his office along Admiralty Way, Lekki On July 16th 2022. Read more
Herbalist in Police net for raping client (Vanguard)
Men of Ogun State Police Command have arrested a herbalist, Samson Ogundele, a resident of Referefu area of Oja Odan in Yewa South local government area of the State, for having unlawful carnal knowledge of a young girl (name withheld) who came to his house on consultation.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the State, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Ogundele, a resident of Referefu area of Oja Odan in Yewa South local government area of the State, arrested following a report lodged at Oja Odan divisional headquarters by the victim.
She reported that “she is an hairdressing apprentice, and that a sum of one thousand naira got missing in their shop which made all the nine apprentices in the shop to consult the herbalist to know who stole the money amongst them”. Read more
Policeman killed as gunmen ambush patrol team in Bayelsa (DailyTrust)
Gunmen suspected to be cultists in the early hours of Saturday attacked a police patrol team at Banga camp across Swali bridge in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa state, killing one officer.
A source in the Swali community told Daily Trust that the hoodlums who took the security operatives unaware, engaged them in a shootout which lasted for a while.
According to the source, the attackers also detonated some explosive devices, which resulted in heavy smoke in the area.
It was also gathered that policemen on duty were able to repel the attack and chased the attackers into a nearby forest. Read more
Community leader hails Achievers Varsity for scholarship scheme (Nation)
A community leader in Owo, Owo local government area, Chief Solomon Adenegan, has commended management of the Achievers University, Owo, for providing scholarship for indigent residents in the community.
Chief Adenegan said the scholarship has helped many students in the community have access to quality education.
Adenegan, who spoke when he paid a thank- you visit to the institution, urged other private tertiary institutions to emulate Achievers University by introducing scholarships that would help indigent students.
Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Samuel Aje, said the Scholarship Scheme had widened access to university education in the country. Read more
2023: 24 hours after joining SDP, Abe emerges guber candidate in Rivers (Leadership)
Barely 24 hours after announcing his membership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), former senator representing Rivers South-East senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has emerged the party’s governorship candidate for the 2023 general election in Rivers State.
Also, a retired Permanent Secretary in the River State Civil Service, Dr. Patricia Ogbonna, emerged as the SDP deputy governorship candidate in the state.
Abe emerged after polling 30 votes during a substitution governorship primary of the SDP in Port Harcourt, which was supervised by an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Pastor Emmanuel Isong.
Also at the venue of the substitution primary election were representatives from the Department of State Service, (DSS) and the Nigeria Police. Read more
Debris from Chinese rocket falls back to Earth (BBC)
Chinese rocket debris has crashed to Earth over the Indian and Pacific oceans, US and Chinese officials say.
China’s space agency said most remains of the Long March 5 burnt in the atmosphere, identifying the Sulu Sea in the Pacific as the re-entry location.
Earlier, space experts had said the probability of the rocket landing in a populated area was extremely low.
The uncontrolled return of rocket’s core stage has raised questions about responsibility for space junk.
There have previously been calls by Nasa for the Chinese space agency to design rockets to disintegrate into smaller pieces upon re-entry, as is the international norm. Read more
Box Office: ‘DC League of Super-Pets’ unleashing $22m opening (Variety)
Even superheroes’ dogs open at the top of the box office.
The animated comedy “DC League of Super-Pets” looks to top domestic charts in its opening, projecting a debut of $22 million. The film earned $9.3 million from 4,314 theaters on opening day, a figure which includes $2.2 million in Thursday preview ticket sales.
That’s enough for the Warner Bros. release to claim the top spot at the box office, but it’s far from the strongest opening for an animated film this summer. Disney’s “Lightyear” drew in $50.2 million in its June opening — a total that was seen as underwhelming for the “Toy Story” spinoff, which carried a $200 million production budget. In July, Universal’s “Minions: The Rise of Gru” set a new bar for family film box office expectations in a world following COVID-19 lockdowns, earning a sizable $107 million three-day opening.
“Super-Pets” is coming in lower than both of those summer releases. The film cost $90 million to produce, so it will hope to continue drawing in family audiences before school’s back in session this fall. Read more
‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ releases new trailer for 40th anniversary IMAX screenings (Collider)
Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Steven Spielberg’s classic, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, is returning to theaters exclusively in IMAX where audiences can re-experience the magic in a way they never have before. The digitally remastered film will be re-released in IMAX on August 12 for a special one-week engagement.
In anticipation of the theatrical re-release of the classic film from the ’80s, IMAX has shared a new trailer that features the iconic Academy Award-winning music from John Williams. The trailer features some of the film’s signature moments such as Elliot (Henry Thomas) laying out Reeses Pieces for E.T. to follow him. The trailer continues with a montage of other iconic scenes in the film such as E.T.’s discovery by Elliot’s siblings, the Halloween scene, and the iconic line, “E.T. phone home.” The trailer concludes with the image of E.T. and Elliot flying in the night sky on a bicycle with their silhouettes against the moon. The iconic shot of the film has become so recognizable that it remains the logo for Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment production company.
Alongside the re-release of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial this summer, IMAX will also be re-issuing Spielberg’s Jaws, another iconic movie from the director’s filmography. Unlike E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jaws will also be available for audiences to re-experience in RealD 3D and will be released on September 2. Read more
Coleen Rooney ‘in talks for Wagatha Christie documentary’ after win (OK!)
Coleen Rooney is reportedly “in talks for a Wagatha Christie documentary” after winning the libel trial launched by Jamie Vardy’s wife Rebekah Vardy on Friday 29 July.
Rebekah, 40, launched legal action after Coleen, 36, claimed her fellow WAG’s Instagram account was linked to stories about her leaking to the press.
The seven day-long trial took place back in May and after a wait of over eight weeks, Mrs Justice Karen Steyn delivered her verdict on Friday 29 July – announcing that Rebekah had lost.
And now The Mirror reports that Coleen is in “advanced talks” to tell her story in a documentary series to be made by Lorton films. The film company previously made the documentary Rooney about her footballer husband Wayne Rooney. Read more
Kate Bush fans gather in red dresses for ‘The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever’ (Independent)
Hundreds of Kate Bush fans have gathered in Sydney to dance to the singer’s hit song “Wuthering Heights”, complete with red dresses similar to the one worn by Bush for the music video.
The annual event, named “The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever”, takes place on Bush’s birthday (30 July) in multiple locations, as appreciators of the singer get together to recreate the video for the 1978 hit.
Those dancing at Sydney Park are celebrating in person for the first time in two years, due to the Covid pandemic causing a hiatus.
This year’s proceedings can also take into account the public’s renewed appreciation for the singer and her work after “Running Up That Hill” featured in recent episodes of Stranger Things. Read more
OFF! share new single ‘War Above Los Angeles’, detail new album and North American tour (NME)
Hardcore punk supergroup OFF! – which features ex-members of Black Flag and Burning Brides – have announced their long-awaited third album, ‘Free LSD’, with the first single ready to stream right now.
Titled ‘War Above Los Angeles’, the new single carries a wild science-fiction narrative, and arrives with a music video written and directed by guitarist Dimitri Coats. According to a description for the clip, the narrative footage in it comes from an upcoming feature film, also titled Free LSD, which is set for release in 2023.
‘Free LSD’ will be released on September 30 via Fat Possum, and mark the band’s first full-length offering since 2014’s ‘Wasted Years’ album. In a press release, Coats said the album would serve as a soundtrack for its cinematic counterpart, with both the album and film “go[ing] hand in hand as an overall art project”. He explained: “Thinking of the album as a soundtrack to a weird sci-fi movie gave us permission to experiment.” Read more
Afghanistan: Taliban say 2 died in Kabul cricket game explosion (NewArab)
The Taliban on Saturday raised the casualty toll from a hand grenade explosion during a cricket game in Afghanistan’s capital of Kabul the previous day, saying two civilians at the stadium died from the blast.
No one has so far claimed responsibility for the explosion but the blame is likely to fall on militants from the so-called Islamic State (IS) group – the Taliban’s chief rivals since they took over the country a year ago as US and NATO forces pulled out of Afghanistan after 20 years of war.
Previously, 13 people were reported wounded in the Friday afternoon blast at the International Cricket Stadium in Kabul, where several hundred people had gathered to watch the match.
At the time, the Italian-run Emergency Hospital in Kabul had confirmed on Twitter that 12 of the wounded were hospitalised while one other patient was treated and discharged. Read more
Benzema, Asensio on target as Real Madrid down Juventus 2-0 in friendly (Guardian)
Karim Benzema converted an early penalty and Marco Asensio added a second-half insurance goal as Real Madrid beat Juventus 2-0 in a pre-season friendly at California’s Rose Bowl on Saturday.
With his eye on Real Madrid’s European Super Cup clash with Eintracht Frankfurt in 10 days, coach Carlo Ancelotti started the same lineup that beat Liverpool in the Champions League final in May.
They produced the first victory of Real Madrid’s United States tour, after a 1-0 loss to La Liga rivals Barcelona in Las Vegas and a 2-2 draw against Mexico’s Club America in San Francisco.
Spectators were still trickling into the stands when French star Benzema had a goal disallowed just eight seconds into the contest, Uruguay’s Federico Valverde’s through ball catching him offside. Read more
Protective mask gives Osimhen security – Napoli doctor (Punch)
Napoli doctor Roberto Ruggiero has revealed why Napoli forward Victor Osimhen still plays using a protective mask, seven months after recovering from a head injury.
The 23-year-old Nigeria international had sustained an eye socket injury during a Serie A match against Inter Milan in November 22, 2021, in which they lost 3-2 at San Siro.
The injury forced the player to undergo surgery and he was sidelined for three months which saw him miss out on representing the Super Eagles at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
He returned to action on January 17, 2022, as Napoli battled to defeat Bologna 2-0 away. During the fixture, he came on in the 71st minute wearing a protective mask. Read more
Okonkwo joins Alexandra from Arsenal (Nation)
Nigeria’s prospect Arthur Okonkwo has joined League Two side, Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Arsenal, the Premier League side have confirmed.
Born in London to Nigerian parents, he is eligible to represent the Super Eagles at the senior level even though he has played for England at U16, U17, and U18 levels.
“Arthur Okonkwo has joined League Two side, Crewe Alexandra, on a season-long loan,” Arsenal’s confirmation statement read on Friday.
“The 20-year-old goalkeeper joined our academy aged eight and has continually impressed throughout the age groups. Read more
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reacts to Christian Eriksen display vs Atletico Madrid (MEN)
Erik ten Hag has backed Christian Eriksen to provide Manchester United’s forwards with the ammunition to score goals this season.
Eriksen made an encouraging first outing for United during their pre-season defeat to Atletico Madrid in Oslo, playing the last 20 minutes of the 1-0 loss.
The Denmark international was a lively presence coming off the bench and he clipped in one driven cross that just evaded Marcus Rashford and Anthony Elanga.
He then delivered a corner that put a chance on a plate for Harry Maguire and tried a couple of through balls to get Rashford in behind the Atletico defence. Read more
Everton warn fans over pitch invasions after Dynamo Kyiv friendly (BBC)
Everton say they “will take a zero-tolerance approach to pitch encroachment” following their 3-0 pre-season win at home against Dynamo Kyiv.
Some younger fans were pictured on the pitch at Goodison Park after the match.
It follows a recent announcement that pitch invaders at Premier League and English Football League matches will receive an automatic club ban.
An Everton statement reminded fans “entering the field of play is a criminal offence”. Read more
Max Verstappen launches furious radio rant at Red Bull team after Hungary GP disaster (Express)
Max Verstappen screamed at Red Bull in a team radio meltdown after suffering issues in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix. The reigning champion shouted and swore over the microphone as mechanical failure stopped him from challenging for pole.
He demanded his team “fix” the issues with his car in an angry tirade despite his commanding position in the championship.
He said: “I have no power. No, for F*** sake. Nothing works. Try to fix this issue.” Verstappen locked up on his first flying lap in Q3 which only put him seventh fastest.
However, the Dutchman then complained of a lack of power moments before starting his final qualifying lap. It means he was unable to go faster and dropped down to tenth as everyone else improved. Read more
Unvaccinated Djokovic still hopes to play at US Open (USAToday)
Novak Djokovic is holding out hope that he’ll be able to compete at the U.S. Open despite not being vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The 21-time Grand Slam champion said Saturday on his social media accounts that he’s been training as if he’ll play at Flushing Meadows when the last major of the year begins Aug. 29.
“I am preparing as if I will be allowed to compete, while I await to hear if there is any room for me to travel to the US. Fingers crossed!” he wrote.
Although he’s been included in the U.S. Open entry list, the United States does not allow unvaccinated noncitizens to enter the country, which is why the Serb needed to sit out big events in Indian Wells, California, and Miami this season. Read more