Police bust Pakistani kidnap gang in Lagos, rescue victim (DailyTrust)
The operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have apprehended two Pakistanis who allegedly specialise in kidnapping people for ransom in the state.
The command’s spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this via a statement on Thursday, March 6, 2025.
Hundeyin said the suspects were arrested after a distress call was received at the Ikeja Division of the Lagos State Police Command on Wednesday, March 5, about the kidnap of a 48-year-old Pakistani in the Ikeja area of the state. Read more
Bamise’s murder trial: Judge to rule on May 2 after final submissions (Guardian)
Justice Sherifat Sonaike of a Lagos High Court, sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), yesterday set May 2, for judgement, after parties adopted their final written submissions in the murder case of 22-year-old Oluwabamise Ayanwola.
At the adoption yesterday, the defence counsel, Mr Abayomi Omotubora, stated that the prosecutor had failed to place sufficient material evidence before the court to establish a case against the defendant.
Omotubora argued that, in the analysis of evidence from prosecution witnesses 1 to 9, their testimonies did not indicate the specific act by the defendant, Andrew Nice, which caused the death of the deceased. Read more
‘This injustice would not be sustained,’ Senator Natasha faults suspension (Channels)
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has described her suspension from the Red Chambers as “an injustice that will not be sustained”.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker was suspended for six months on Thursday after the Senate disciplinary committee found her guilty of breaching its rules in the wake of her sexual harassment allegations against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
But a furious Senator Natasha faulted her suspension. Read more
FG declares Simon Ekpa, 15 others as terrorism financiers (Nation)
The Federal Government has officially designated Simon Ekpa and 15 other individuals as terrorism financiers. The government also declared the Lakurawa Sect as a terrorist organization and a terrorism financier.
These actions were taken following their alleged involvement in funding and supporting terrorist activities.
The announcement came on Thursday, March 6, 2025, after the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NSC), an independent body led by the Attorney General, recommended the designation. The Chairman of the NSC subsequently directed the inclusion of Simon Ekpa Njoku and others on the Nigeria Sanctions List. Read more
NAF apologises for Ikeja Electric invasion, vows disciplinary action (Sun)
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has issued a formal apology to the management and staff of Ikeja Electric following an invasion of the company’s headquarters by troops attached to its Logistics Command in Lagos.
The apology was delivered during a joint press briefing held at Ikeja Electric’s office, where the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Adeniran Kolade Ademuwagun, condemned the attack and assured that those responsible would face disciplinary measures.
Describing the invasion as “unfortunate,” AVM Ademuwagun emphasised that the Nigerian Air Force remains committed to upholding discipline among its personnel and ensuring that officers operate under strict professional conduct. Read more
Lent: Solemn reminder of life’s transient nature – Tinubu (NewTelegraph)
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday extended his heartfelt wishes to all Christians in Nigeria and across the world as they commence the season of Lent, describing the period as a solemn reminder of life’s transient nature.
Tinubu said that beginning from Ash Wednesday, the 40-day period is a sacred time of fasting, prayer, and repentance, preparing believers for the joyous celebration of Easter.
“During Lent, Christians engage in earnest prayer, self-denial, almsgiving, and deep spiritual reflection. It is a solemn reminder of life’s transient nature, echoed in the Holy Scriptures: “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground since from it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:19) Read more
Marketers worry as 5-month fuel imports hit N6t (Punch)
Despite improved domestic refining capacity in Nigeria, major oil marketers have continued to import refined petroleum products, as they imported 6.38 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) and Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) in five months.
But independent marketers and retailers, through their various associations, kicked against the development, as the importation of these commodities gulped about N6tn, a development that further piled pressure on the country’s forex.
The dealers spoke under the aegis of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria. Read more
Rebel Wilson’s latest film ‘Bride Hard’ set to hit cinemas this summer (FilmNews)
Rebel Wilson’s latest film ‘Bride Hard’ is set to hit cinemas this summer. Billed as a high-octane twist on the traditional wedding comedy, the action-packed film, in which Rebel stars as a secret agent forced to battle mercenaries at a lavish destination wedding, will be released nationwide on 20 June, Magenta Light Studios has confirmed.
Directed by Simon West, 62, best known for ‘The Expendables 2’ and ‘Con Air’, the film sees Wilson, 44, reunite with her ‘Pitch Perfect’ co-star Anna Camp, 41.
The ensemble cast includes Anna Chlumsky, 43, known for ‘Inventing Anna’ and ‘Veep’, Oscar winner Da’Vine Joy Randolph, 37, from ‘The Holdovers’, Gigi Zumbado, Stephen Dorff, 50, of ‘True Detective’ and ‘The Righteous Gemstones’, and Justin Hartley, 47, from ‘Tracker’ and ‘This Is Us’. Read more
Diddy hit with another indictment as RICO case gets more complex (Allhiphop)
Legal troubles for Diddy just got worse, with another superseding indictment accusing him of money laundering and witness tampering.
Diddy is facing serious new charges Thursday (March 6) as federal prosecutors in Manhattan expanded their racketeering case against the Hip-Hop mogul – again.
In addition to being accused of threatening witnesses, drug dealing, kidnapping people at gunpoint and extortion, he faces new allegations of forced labor, as detailed in a superseding indictment filed on March 6, 2025. Read more
Syrian forces in deadly clashes with Assad-linked fighters in Latakia (AlJazeera)
Gunmen loyal to deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad have killed at least 15 security personnel in ambushes in the coastal province of Latakia, a security source told Al Jazeera.
The attacks took place on Thursday near the town of Jableh in the Latakia countryside, part of the coastal area which forms the heartland of the Alawite minority sect to which the al-Assad family belongs.
A Syrian security source told the Al Jazeera Arabic network that 15 security personnel were killed in “various armed ambushes”. Read more
SpaceX Starship breaks apart after launch in second failure in a row (CBS)
SpaceX launched its huge Starship rocket on the program’s eighth test flight Thursday, but a malfunction of some sort triggered multiple upper stage engine shutdowns and the vehicle failed to reach its planned sub-orbital altitude, breaking apart in a spectacular shower of debris.
It was the second failure in a row for a Starship upper stage, a vehicle critical to NASA’s plans to return astronauts to the moon in the next few years.
“During Starship’s ascent burn, the vehicle experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly and contact was lost. Our team immediately began coordination with safety officials to implement pre-planned contingency responses,” SpaceX said in a statement. Read more
Scientists crack how aspirin might stop cancers from spreading (BBC)
Scientists believe they have discovered how the cheap painkiller aspirin can stop cancers spreading.
In animal experiments they showed the drug enhanced the ability of the immune system to fight back.
The team at the University of Cambridge said it was an exciting and surprise discovery that could eventually lead to cancer patients being prescribed the drug – but not yet and people are advised against just taking the pills themselves. Read more
Iran seeks to access billions in frozen hard currency (DerSpiegel)
Iran is apparently seeking to access billions of US dollars. The money is currently deposited with a subsidiary of the Deutsche Börse, Germany’s stock exchange, and has been frozen there for years due to US sanctions.
DER SPIEGEL has learned that Tehran has apparently made initial attempts to secure at least a share of those assets, originally valued at just under $4.9 billion.
The securities of the Iranian central bank, Bank Markasi, are held by Clearstream in Luxembourg. Some of those securities are held through an Italian bank. Clearstream has frozen all accounts attributable to Bank Markasi. International security experts say that Tehran is in urgent need of hard currency for its military. Read more
Struggling Lobi Stars change home again, now to play in Enugu (Guardian)
Lobi Stars and Rangers International will now share the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium as their home ground.
Lobi Stars, who are struggling for survival this season, have, once again, changed their home ground, with the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, to host their home games beginning with this weekend’s tie against Ikorodu City.
Lobi Stars started the season at the Lafia Township Stadium before moving to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi.
The team, which are threatened by relegation to the lower league (NNL), recently lost their head coach, Daniel Amokachi, who resigned, citing some irreconcilable differences with management for his action. Read more
Finidi, Ogunmodede talk tough as 2025 NPFL title race intensifies (DailyTrust)
As the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title race reaches a critical stage, the managers of the top two teams are not backing down, with just 11 games left in the season.
Rivers United head coach, Finidi George, remains confident that his team can still challenge league leaders Remo Stars for the title, despite trailing by 11 points.
Finidi, a former Super Eagles star and coach, pointed to his team’s recent form as a reason for optimism. Rivers United have secured two wins, two draws, and one loss in their last five matches, showing signs of resilience and determination. Read more
FIFA ranking: Super Falcons maintain 36th spot, top Africa (Punch)
The latest FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking, released on 6 March 2025, sees Nigeria’s Super Falcons holding steady in 36th place globally, reinforcing their dominance as Africa’s top women’s football team.
On the continent, the Super Falcons are followed by South Africa’s Banyana Banyana (53rd), Morocco (61st), Zambia (62nd), and Ghana (66th).
During the review period, the Super Falcons secured commanding victories over Algeria, winning 2-0 and 4-1, but faced a 2-1 defeat to France’s Les Bleues. Despite these mixed results, the Super Falcons remain unchallenged in African women’s football. Read more
Stokes considered as England white-ball captain (BBC)
England would be “stupid” not to consider Ben Stokes as a white-ball captain, says director of men’s cricket Rob Key.
England are looking for new leaders of the one-day and T20 sides after Jos Buttler resigned following their early exit at the Champions Trophy.
Stokes, 33, has been Test captain since 2022 but has not played white-ball cricket for England since the 2023 50-over World Cup. Read more
FIFA reportedly considering expanding World Cup to 64 teams for centennial celebration in 2030 (CBS)
FIFA is reportedly considering the idea of a one-off, 64-team World Cup in 2030 to commemorate the centenary of the tournament, which would mark the second consecutive expansion of the tournament.
The idea was introduced towards the end of a recent FIFA meeting by Ignacio Alonso, a delegate from Uruguay who read a prepared speech in English, per The New York Times. While others in attendance at the virtual meeting were reportedly shocked by the proposal, FIFA president Gianni Infantino took an interest and said the idea should be studied in more detail.Alonso’s proposal is expected to be met with resistance, much as FIFA’s previous pitch of holding the World Cup every two years rather than its current timeline of every four years. A committee was formed to explore that idea but after a year, their work quietly came to a close. Read more