Return of Bandits: Gunmen terrorise Niger, Kaduna, Kogi, Bayelsa, Adamawa (Vanguard)
After what appears as a lull in their murderous activities during the general elections and cash crunch that hit the country, bandits and gunmen are back to their criminal acts.
Yesterday, they unleashed mayhem in at least five states, including Niger, Kaduna, Kogi, Adamawa and Bayelsa, killing scores of people and kidnapping no fewer than 34 people, including two police officers. They also carted away arms and ammunition.
Bandits kill 2 villagers, abduct 34, escape with arms in Niger. Read more
Day-old baby abandoned on Lagos road (Punch)
A day-old baby girl has been abandoned close to a church by the roadside in the Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that after the baby girl was abandoned by the roadside, a yet-to-be-identified resident who was on her way to a store in the area heard her crying helplessly by the road around 6.30 am.
The resident, upon moving closer to the crying baby, observed that she was wearing long sleeve baby clothes, a cap and was wrapped in flannel. Read more
Cleric lays curses on those who placed charm at mosque entrance (DailyTrust)
The Rector of the Markaz Arabic and Islamic Training Centre, Agege, Lagos, Sheikh Abeebullah Adam Al-Ilory, has cursed the individuals who allegedly placed a charm on his path to the central mosque.
Daily Trust reports that the Rector made this revelation on Saturday during the daily Ramadan lecture at the school premises.
Recall that the cleric had a near-death experience in February 2022 when he fell ill and was hospitalized. Read more
Election: Send your spokespersons on vacation, Soyinka tells Tinubu, Obi, others (Tribune)
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has urged the leading presidential candidates in the just-concluded election to send their spokespersons on vacation following the recent narratives hitting deep into the polity.
Speaking during an interview on Roadmap 2023, a Channels Television’s programme that highlights election issues and tracks personalities, Soyinka said Nigeria can still get its democratic concert if the country starts doing things right.
“I will say that there have been at least appearances, a level playing ground, and therefore which one of those instances where I think I believe that will must take the position that the process is not yet ended and until the final pronouncement is made as far as I’m concerned. Read more
NASS leadership tussle unsettles APC (Sun)
There were strong indications, yesterday, that the tussle for the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly has unsettled the All Progressives Congress (APC).
It was learnt that the ruling party has been divided by various interest groups lobbying for principal officers in the Senate and House of Representatives.
A highly placed member of the ruling party told Daily Sun that apart from the South West, there has been intense horse trading never seen in the last eight years within the party from candidates and supporters from the other five geo-political zones for the plum jobs in the National Assembly. Read more
Lagos hosts Rotary International positive peace activators training (Nation)
Lagos city is hosting over 44 Rotary positive peace activists drawn from 13 countries across West and Central Africa, under the auspices of Rotary International.
The three-day training, which began on April 1 at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos was organised through collaboration between Rotary International Headquarters in Evanston, US, Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP) with headquarters in Australia and Rotary District 9110 in Nigeria.
Past Rotary International Vice President Yinka Babalola said the programme was the most comprehensive training and educational programme hosted jointly by Rotary International and its strategic partner, the Institute for Economics and Peace. Read more
Buhari, Tinubu, Lawan, Sanwo-Olu, Uzodimma commiserate with Kalu over wife’s death (ThisDay)
President Muhammadu Buhari, the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Imo State counterpart, Hope Uzodimma, have sympathised with former Governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, over the death of his wife, Ifeoma Ada, who was 61 years. The deceased was survived by her husband and four children.
Kalu had announced the passing on to eternal glory of his first wife, Ifeoma, in a post on his official social media page, signed by him.
The former governor and Chief Whip of the Senate had said Ifeoma was a woman of virtue who was committed to the service of God and humanity. Read more
Nigeria misses malaria vaccine application window (Punch)
Nigeria has not applied for the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine, as the second application widow for the vaccine closed, The PUNCH has learnt.
The World Health Organisation, in 2021, recommended the widespread use of the RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) malaria vaccine among children in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions with moderate to high Plasmodium falciparum malaria transmission.
The vaccine acts against Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite globally, and the most prevalent in Africa.
Nigeria (31.3%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12.6%), the United Republic of Tanzania (4.1%), and Niger (3.9%) account for just over half of all malaria deaths worldwide. Read more
Court reinstates Plateau Speaker 18 months after impeachment (Guardian)
A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos has reinstated Abok Ayuba as Speaker of the state Assembly. Members of the assembly impeached Ayuba on October 28, 2021.
Dissatisfied with the process that led to the impeachment of Abok, two members of the House, Gwottson Fom, member representing Jos South Constituency, and Tyem Pirfa Jinfa, member representing Langtang North North Constituency, approached the court to seek redress.
They sought, among other things, a declaration that the sitting of the Plateau State House of Assembly on October 28, 2021, between 06:00 a.m. and 07.00 a.m. is un-parliamentary and in violation of the provision of Order 6 rule of the state Assembly rules, and, therefore, unlawful, null and void. Read more
Snoop Dogg pins The Miz with people’s elbow at WrestleMania 39 (HipHopDX)
Snoop Dogg has earned some heavy ring credentials after delivering The People’s Elbow to The Miz during WrestleMania 39.
On Sunday (April 2), the West Coast rap legend brought out Shane McMahon to go against The Miz at the annual WWE event. While trying to complete a wrestling move, McMahon injured his leg, which prompted Snoop to step in and finish The Miz off.
Once Tha Doggfather entered the ring, he immediately punched the wrestling superstar in the jaw which made him fall to the canvas. Read more
Leonardo DiCaprio testifies in trial of Fugees’ Pras Michel (BBC)
Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has testified in the trial of ex-Fugees rapper Pras Michel, who is accused of accepting money from a fugitive tycoon to influence US politicians.
Mr Michel, 50, allegedly received more than $100m (£80m) from Malaysian billionaire Jho Low.
He denies a slew of charges, including conspiracy and witness tampering.
Mr DiCaprio, 48, who is not accused of wrongdoing in the case, was asked to testify about his links to Mr Low. Read more
Gentle Giant co-founder Ray Shulman has died, aged 73 (NME)
Ray Shulman – a multi-instrumentalist best known for his work in the seminal prog-rock band Gentle Giant – has died at the age of 73.
His passing was confirmed on Saturday (April 1) by his brother and Gentle Giant bandmate Derek, who wrote in a statement on Facebook: “I am deeply saddened to announce that my younger brother and my best friend Ray Shulman passed away on March 30th at his home in London.”
According to Derek, the late Shulman “bravely battled a long illness” and died with family at his side. “At least I know he is now at peace,” he wrote, praising Ray as “such a kind and caring soul” who “really was a genius in so many ways”. Read more
Dwayne Johnson announces live-action remake of Moana (Standard)
Dwayne Johnson has announced that a live-action remake of Disney’s 2016 animated film Moana is in production.
The US actor said he was “deeply humbled” to make the announcement, saying that the story was “emblematic of our culture’s grace, mana and warrior strength”.
Moana follows the story of an adventurous teenager who sets sail on a daring mission to save her people, enlisting the help of the gregarious demi-god Maui, voiced by Johnson. Read more
‘‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’’ will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this May (EW)
Indiana Jones is returning to France.
Disney announced on Monday that ‘‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,’’ the latest adventure film starring Harrison Ford as the titular globe-trotting archaeologist, will make its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 18 before opening in theaters on June 30.
Dial of Destiny is the first Indiana Jones film not directed by Steven Spielberg, though Ford has made clear that the original filmmaker is still “deeply involved” as a producer. Read more
‘‘Extraction 2’’ teaser trailer: Chris Hemsworth fights in prison brawl (UPI)
Netflix is giving a glimpse of the new film Extraction 2.
The streaming service shared a teaser trailer for the action thriller Monday featuring Chris Hemsworth.
Extraction 2 is a sequel to the 2020 film Extraction. The movies are written and produced by Joe Russo (Avengers: Endgame) and star Hemsworth as Tyler Rake, an Australian black ops mercenary.
In the sequel, Rake (Hemsworth) is tasked with rescuing “the battered family of a ruthless Georgian gangster from the prison where they are being held.” Read more
Virginia teacher shot by 6-year-old student files $40m lawsuit (NYPost)
The Virginia teacher shot by a 6-year-old student filed a $40 million lawsuit on Monday, accusing school officials of repeatedly ignoring warnings that the disturbed youngster had a gun.
Abigail Zwerner, 25, filed the suit nearly three months after she was shot while teaching at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News by a first grader with “a history of random violence,” according to the lawsuit.
That history included “multiple reports that a firearm was on school property and likely in possession of a violent individual,” the suit said about the troubled youngster who was suspended for smashing Zwerner’s phone two days before the shooting. Read more
NPFL: IMC to probe Remo, Gombe incident (Punch)
Chairman of the Referees Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, Faith Irabor has hinted that the Interim Management Committee of the Nigeria Professional Football League will look further into the incident which forced the match-day 12 encounter between Remo Stars and Gombe United in Ikenne to be abandoned on Sunday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
“The match has been called off after the match officials refused to come out from the dressing room for the second half. Sources revealed that the referee was assaulted in the dressing room,” Gombe United shared on their official Twitter page on Sunday.
Host Remo Stars, however, said, “The match officials have decided not to come out of the tunnel for the second half with reasons best known to them. We can however confirm that there is law and order in place, with the fans enjoying good music and calm at the stadium.” Read more
Tottenham coach backs Harry Kane after Goodison Park ‘‘cheater’’ chants (ESPN)
Interim Tottenham Hotspur coach Cristian Stellini brushed aside chants from Everton fans calling Harry Kane a cheat after his dust-up with Abdoulaye Doucoure saw the Mali international sent off at Goodison Park.
Michael Keane’s late strike from distance cancelled out Kane’s penalty on 68 minutes in the 1-1 draw, but it was an incident 10 minutes earlier that drew the ire of the Merseyside faithful when the England captain fell to the ground following a swipe to the face from Doucoure.
Fans sang out that Kane was a “cheater,” but Stellini, overseeing his first match as Spurs coach since Antonio Conte left the club, said it was an obvious sending off for Doucoure. Read more
Jurgen Klopp says he is still Liverpool manager ‘‘because of the past, not this season’’ (BBC)
Jurgen Klopp has said he is still Liverpool manager “because of the past” rather than his team’s current form.
Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter were sacked on Sunday, meaning a record 12 Premier League managers have been dismissed this season.
Liverpool are in danger of their worst league finish under Klopp, whose team visit Chelsea on Tuesday, but his position is yet to come under scrutiny.
“If it was my first season it would be slightly different,” said the German. Read more
Chelsea: Bruno reflects on ‘‘difficult 24 hours’’ as Tuchel responds to decision to sack Potter (Football365)
Chelsea interim boss Bruno Saltor has reflected on a “difficult 24 hours” following Graham Potter’s departure from Stamford Bridge.
The former Brighton head coach was sacked on Sunday night after the London outfit dropped to 11th in the Premier League following a 2-0 loss at home to Aston Villa.
The decision to remove Potter was taken by Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart with the backing of Todd Boehly and co-owner Behdad Eghbali, the PA news agency understands. Read more
Endeavor’s UFC to merge with WWE in $21b all-stock deal (IrishTimes)
Ari Emanuel’s Endeavor Group has agreed to merge its Ultimate Fighting Championship with World Wrestling Entertainment, forming a new listed entity with an enterprise value of $21.4 billion (€19.6 billion).
Under the all-stock deal, Endeavor will own 51 percent of a new business that will house UFC and WWE, the companies announced on Monday. WWE shareholders will retain the remaining 49 per cent.
The deal, expected to close in the second half of this year, gives WWE an enterprise value of $9.3bn, including debt, and puts a value on UFC of $12.1 billion. Endeavor and WWE said they expected to deliver cost synergies of $50 million-$100 million. Read more
Norman has ‘‘goosebumps’’ thinking of LIV winner at Masters (France24)
Saudi-backed LIV Golf’s feud with the PGA Tour swiped the spotlight as practice began Monday for the 87th Masters with infamous Augusta National failure Greg Norman igniting the competitive fires.
Norman, LIV Golf’s chief executive officer, said he had “goosebumps” thinking one of 18 LIV players who qualified for the Masters would win the green jacket and be greeted by 17 colleagues at Sunday’s final hole.
“If one of our guys wins, no matter who it is, they are all going to be there on the 18th green and that just gives me goosebumps to think about,” Norman told NewsCorp. in a weekend interview. Read more