Remaining Kaduna Baptist School student regains freedom after two years in captivity (Sun)
The remaining student of the Bethel Baptist Secondary School, Kaduna, who was kidnapped along with 120 other students of the school when bandits attacked their school in July 2021 has finally regained his freedom.
Available facts revealed that no specific ransom was paid for the release of the boy whom many have forgotten after several attempts to secure his release failed.
Although there have been payments of huge ransoms running into several millions of naira that led to the release of his colleagues in batches. Read more
NLC,TUC announce plans for nationwide strike over Ajaero’s abduction (Guardian)
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have announced plans for a nationwide strike beginning on Wednesday, November 8, in response to the recent abduction and physical assault of their president, Joe Ajaero.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, when the Imo State Police Command, allegedly acting on the orders of the State Governor, abducted Ajaero from the NLC state council secretariat in Owerri, where he was waiting for colleagues to join him for a peaceful protest rally.
According to the labour unions, Ajaero was blindfolded, beaten to a pulp, brutalised, humiliated, and violated by the police personnel and taken to an unknown destination where he was subjected to more battering and torture as well as threatened with death before “help” came his way via the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who ordered his immediate release. Read more
Court orders arrest of bizman Ibeto over alleged N48.8b fraud (Leadership)
Justice Ismail Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on Friday ordered the arrest of the Chairman of Ibeto Energy Development Company, Cletus Ibeto, for allegedly refusing to appear in court for his fraud trial.
Justice Ijelu issued the bench warrant after a motion moved by the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), who informed him that the defendant had flagrantly failed and refused to appear in court, despite repeatedly hearing notice served on him.
The EFCC had charged the defendant alongside his companies, Ibeto Energy Development Company and Odoh Holdings Ltd, over an alleged N4.8 billion fraud. Read more
Navy busts crude theft on Lagos vandalised pipeline (Punch)
The Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft has discovered and halted the siphoning of petrol from an oil pipeline at Atlas Cove, Lagos belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
The Commander, NNS BEECROFT, Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday by the command’s spokesperson, Sub. Lt. Happiness Collins.
He said the activities of the fuel thieves were halted on Wednesday. Read more
Lagos PDP members meet, resolve to move party forward (Tribune)
The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said on Thursday it has resolved to move the party forward, notwithstanding the crisis that rocked it, leading to its worst defeat in the last general elections in the state.
The opposition PDP came up with this resolution at its member’s General Assembly on the initiative of the party leader in the state, Chief Olabode George, who is also the former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP.
The parley, which took place at the Ikoyi office of Chief George, was held to assure members and loyalists in the state that, despite the outcome of the general elections in the country, the party remained an indivisible entity. Read more
Catholic priest goes missing in Abuja (DailyTrust)
Rev. Fr. Samson Emokhidi, a priest of the Archdiocese of Abuja, has been declared missing.
According to a statement released by the Chancery, Samson was last seen leaving his residence at 8:45 pm on Sunday, October 1, 2023.
The statement signed by Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Fr Sam Tumba, said there had been no communication or sign of the priest since his disappearance. Read more
Army, DSS foil Boko Haram attack in Kano (Nation)
Joint troops of the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services (DSS) have successfully foiled an imminent attack on Kano by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
The planned attack was to take place in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu said this in a statement on Friday, November 3, in Abuja. Read more
Hajj tour operator slumps, dies (Vanguard)
The CEO of Hasha Travel and Tours, Alhaji Danlami Umar has died.
Umar, a member of the Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) slumped minutes before the commencement of the strategic meeting of AHUON with National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON which was held at the Hajj House Abuja yesterday.
The deceased was said to have been rushed to the hospital immediately but died before he got to the hospital. Read more
Megan Thee Stallion raps about mental health in new song “Cobra” (BBC)
Megan Thee Stallion has opened up about her mental health in her first solo song since Tory Lanez was jailed for shooting her.
In new release “Cobra”, the rapper says she hit “rock bottom” and cried every night after the 2020 shooting in which she was shot in the foot.
In August, Canadian rapper Tory was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The song is Megan’s first release as an independent artist after a legal dispute with former record label. Read more
UN says ‘horrible suffering’ in Sudan only growing as more people are displaced (France24)
“Six months and six million people forced to move, that’s an average of one million per month, it’s horrible suffering,” said Mamadou Dian Balde, the top regional official for the UN’s refugee agency (UNHCR).
The war between troops loyal to Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of General Mohamed Hamdane Daglo has left more than 9,000 dead since April, according to a UN report.
Of the nearly six million who have fled, 1.2 million have left the country, “very proud people who find themselves begging” and whose lives have been “totally disrupted,” the UN official said. Read more
Charlie Mackesy co-produces musical for children to perform in primary schools (BelfastTelegraph)
Author and illustrator Charlie Mackesy has co-produced a musical for schools adapted from the Oscar winning animated short film that is based on his book The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse.
Alongside writer and musician Charlotte Freud, Mackesy has helped to create the musical play, written to be performed by children in primary schools.
The 60-year-old has partnered with the National Literacy Trust, Penguin Random House UK and BBC Teach to bring out a collection of free educational resources that are based around the book. Read more
Offset and Quavo remember Takeoff on the 1st anniversary of his death (MusicNews)
Offset and Quavo have remembered Takeoff on the first anniversary of his death.
The rappers paid tribute to their Migos bandmate on Wednesday, marking one year since he was killed outside of a bowling alley in Houston, Texas.
“Can’t forget it won’t Forget It NEVER Forget it I Remember!” Quavo, 32, captioned a black and white photo of Takeoff.
Offset also took to Instagram to remember his late bandmate. Read more
Danny DeVito says Arnold Schwarzenegger should have done “Twins 2” instead of becoming governor (EW)
If Danny DeVito had his way, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s political career would be, well, terminated.
The actor joked about the career trajectory of his longtime friend and Twins costar — who was elected Governor of California in 2003 — in a new interview with GQ, telling the outlet that Schwarzenegger’s priorities were misaligned when he entered politics.
“Arnold [Schwarzenegger] and I want to work together. We missed “Twins 2”, because he became governor — which, he should have done “Twins 2” instead of becoming governor,” DeVito joked, before revealing that the pair have something else in the works. “Now we have a little thing going, a little project that we’ve been chatting about.” Read more
Hezbollah leader says Hamas Oct 7 assault was ‘‘100% Palestinian’’ (StraitsTimes)
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, speaking for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war erupted, said on Friday the operation launched by the Hamas militant group against Israel on Oct 7 was “100 percent Palestinian”.
A formidable military force backed by Iran, Hezbollah has been engaging Israeli forces along the Lebanon-Israel border in the deadliest escalation since it fought a war with Israel in 2006.
Mr Nasrallah, who appeared via video link on a giant screen in Beirut, thanked groups in Yemen and Iraq, part of what is known as the “axis of resistance”. It includes Shi’ite Muslim Iraqi militias that have been firing at US forces in Syria and Iraq, and Yemen’s Houthis, who have joined in the conflict by firing drones at Israel. Read more
Storm Ciarán: Death toll across Europe rises to 12 as “weather bomb” smashes into Italy (Standard)
Record-breaking rainfall has produced floods in a vast swathe of Tuscany as Storm Ciaran pushed into Italy on Friday, trapping residents in their homes, inundating hospitals and overturning cars.
At least five people were killed, bringing the storm’s death toll in western Europe to 12.
Italian Civil Protection authorities said nearly eight inches of rain fell in a three-hour period, from the city of Livorno on the coast to the inland valley of Mugello, and caused riverbanks to overflow. Read more
Boost for Super Eagles ahead 2026 World Cup qualifiers as Ajayi returns from injury (Guardian)
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have received a boost ahead of this month’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers after Semi Ajayi returned to training following an injury layoff.
The Super Eagles will begin the World Cup qualifiers with a home game against Lesotho on November 16 in Uyo.
They will travel to Rwanda to take on Zimbabwe on matchday two of the qualifiers on November 19. Read more
NPFL signs 5-year N1.8b deal with StarTimes (DailyTrust)
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and StarTimes have signed a five-year agreement to bring the local league back on television.
This contract was signed Thursday between the NPFL board and StarTimes in Abuja.
The first year of the deal which is the current season (2023/24) is N1.06bn after which N50m will be paid for a season till the 2027/2028 season. Read more
Liverpool FC winger Luis Diaz yet to decide whether to play this weekend as father remains missing (ITV)
Liverpool FC winger Luis Diaz is yet to decide whether or not to play in Sunday’s match against Luton.
Diaz’s father is still missing after he was kidnapped by a group recognised as terrorists by the Columbian government.
Both parents of the footballer were taken by armed men on motorcycles at a gas station in the small town of Barrancas, Columbia, on Saturday 28 October. Read more
Raphael Varane fit to face Fulham but Manchester United hit by fresh blow (Standard)
Manchester United have received good news and bad news on the fitness front ahead of facing Fulham.
Erik ten Hag was able to confirm Raphael Varane’s return from a fever for the weekend’s trip to the capital but Victor Lindelof is a doubt due to illness.
The Swedish defender will be assessed ahead of the squad travelling down south with this blow coming as just the latest injury issue to hit United. Read more
“Unbelievable” Victor Wembanyama pours in 38, leads Spurs past Suns (UPI)
NBA phenom Victor Wembanyama scored 38 points, including 10 over the final five minutes, and outdueled Kevin Durant, leading the San Antonio Spurs past the Phoenix Suns in Phoenix.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft also recorded 10 rebounds, two blocks and two assists in the 132-121 victory Thursday at the Footprint Center.
“He’s a multi-faceted player,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters. “He’ll pass to the open guy. He’s got confidence in himself. He made some plays that were unbelievable. That combination is pretty good.” Read more
Perez expects Verstappen support in P2 battle (RN365)
Sergio Perez believes he will have full support from Max Verstappen as he aims to end the Formula 1 season second in the Drivers’ Championship.
Perez currently sits 20 points ahead of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton having endured a difficult campaign with Red Bull.
Verstappen has already sealed his third F1 title and has dominated the current season, winning 16 races so far this year. Read more