School children kidnapped in Ekiti, gov vows to rescue pupils (Punch)
Some school children have been kidnapped in Ekiti by unknown gunmen.
The gunmen reportedly abducted six pupils and three teachers of a private school and their bus driver while they were returning from Eporo-Ekiti on Monday night.
According to a post by Ekititrends on its X account on Tuesday, the incident involved students from Apostolic Faith School, Ekiti. Read more
Insecurity: ‘Step aside if the shoes are too big for you,’ Atiku knocks Tinubu (DailyTrust)
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has berated President Bola Tinubu over his failure to resolve the security crisis in the country.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, was reacting to the recent surge in the kidnapping and killing of unsuspecting citizens across the nation.
He recalled the killing of a nursing mother and her mum in the FCT and the murder of two monarchs in Ekiti State on Monday. Read more
Ogun Assembly ratifies Oluomo’s impeachment, swears in new speaker (Channels)
The Ogun State House of Assembly on Tuesday has ratified the impeachment of a former speaker of the house, Olakunle Oluomo, with all 22 members present at plenary voted in support of the impeachment.
At the plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Bolanle Ajayi (APC-Yewa South), Musefiu Lamidi (APC-Ado Odo Ota 11), read the report of the committee set up by the House on Monday to investigate the allegations levelled against the former speaker.
Lamidi noted that the committee made it clear to the former speaker that the committee was not on a witch-hunting mission but for a fair hearing on allegations levelled against him. Read more
Yahaya Bello: Kogi governor denies creating ‘office of immediate past governor’ (Guardian)
The Kogi State Government has dismíssed as fake news an online report that Governor Usman Ododo created an office for his predecessor, Yahaya Bello.
Governor Ododo’s spokesperson, Oladele John Nihi in a statement, on Tuesday, debunked the news making the rounds on some social media platforms.
Nihi said such a claim is a concoction of mischief makers and urged the public to fact-check before spreading such information. Read more
NANS decries Egyptian police maltreatment of Nigerian students (Vanguard)
The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has frowned at the unlawful raids on Nigerian students and their subsequent detention by the police in Egypt, a North African country.
In a statement by the National President, Comrade Lucky Emonefe, the student body also called for the immediate intervention of the federal government in the matter, adding that all government agencies saddled with the protection of the rights of Nigerians in the Diaspora should wake up to their responsibilities.
“The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) condemns in its entirety the unlawful raids on Nigerian students in Egypt and demands the immediate release of all Nigerian students who have been unjustly detained by the Egyptian police. Read more
Ifon/Ilobu crisis: Any monarch found fanning embers of violence will be removed — Gov Adeleke (Tribune)
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has threatened to remove from office any traditional ruler found to be fanning embers of violence around Ifon and Ilobu communities of the state.
The governor, who made this known in a statement in Osogbo by his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, for breaching peace in the area, affirmed that they would not go scot free.
He said, “Requisite intelligence is being gathered on the extent of culpability of prominent leaders from the two areas. Read more
Adamawa student commits suicide after boyfriend broke up (Punch)
A 24-year-old student of Mass Communication at Federal Polytechnic Mubi in Adamawa State, Jemima Shetima-Balami, has allegedly committed suicide after her boyfriend ended their relationship.
She was said to be a second-year National Diploma student in industrial attachment with Adamawa State Television, Yola.
The PUNCH learnt that she drank a substance suspected to be rat poison after her boyfriend, reportedly believed to be a lecturer (name withheld) at Modibbo Adama University, broke up with her. Read more
Zamfara declares state of emergency in health sector (Sun)
Governor Dauda Lawal has declared a state of emergency in the health sector of Zamfara with a commitment to revamping the state’s healthcare system.
“In a state-wide radio and television broadcast on Tuesday, the Governor lamented what he described as disturbing conditions of the hospitals across Zamfara.
A statement by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said that the declaration came after Lawal’s unscheduled visit to the Gusau General Hospital.
According to him, the hospitals need urgent intervention due to the poor state of facilities, equipment and workers following which a state of emergency was declared in the sector. Read more
DJ Slick Rick found ‘decapitated’ inside his home after surviving shooting 10 years ago (Metro)
A DJ was found decapitated in his home a decade after surviving a shooting, according to his brother.
Rick Buchanan, also known as ‘Slick Rick’, was discovered by his brother John Buchanan on January 24.
A neighbour had reportedly called his brother after noticing the door to Rick’s Memphis, Tennessee, home was ajar. Read more
12 sentenced to life imprisonment for lynching Ghana soldier (AfricaNews)
A Ghanaian court has sentenced 12 people to life imprisonment for the murder of army officer Major Maxwell Mahama seven years ago.
The High Court in Accra found them guilty of murder, conspiracy, and abetment in the lynching that took place in Denkyira Obuasi in May 2017.
Among the convicted is a local politician accused of inciting the community to attack the soldier while he was jogging. Two suspects were acquitted. Read more
ICC accuses Sudan and rebels of Darfur war crimes (AlJazeera)
Sudan’s army and its rival paramilitary force are committing war crimes in Darfur, the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) chief prosecutor has said.
Karim Khan launched a war crimes investigation into the renewed conflict in July. On Monday, he reported to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that he had “grounds to believe” crimes established under the Rome Statute are being committed in the restive western region.
The situation in Darfur is “dire by any metric”, he told the UNSC.
The Rome Statute established the ICC in 2002 to investigate the world’s worst atrocities, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and crimes of aggression. Read more
Megan Thee Stallion slammed by murder victim’s family over ‘Megan’s Law’ lyric (HipHopDx)
Megan Thee Stallion has been called out by the family of Megan Kanka over a lyric on her latest single “Hiss.”
The Houston rapper dropped the venomous song on Friday (January 26), sparking a war of words with Nicki Minaj over an apparent shot at the Young Money hitmaker.
“These hoes don’t be mad at Megan, these hoes mad at Megan’s Law/ I don’t really know what the problem is, but I guarantee y’all don’t want me to start,” she raps on the song. Read more
X restores Taylor Swift search function after sexually explicit deep fakes went viral (NBC)
Taylor Swift’s name was searchable on X as of Tuesday morning, after it was blocked over the weekend on the platform due to non consensual sexually explicit deep fakes of the singer.
A search for the pop sensation on X early Tuesday pulled up results as normal, with a flurry of tweets, most about her appearance at Sunday’s NFL game supporting the Kansas City Chiefs.
Since Saturday, Swift’s name could not be searched on X. Instead, the platform returned with the message “Something went wrong. Try reloading.” Read more
Israeli special forces dressed as doctors and nurses kill 3 after storming hospital (Mirror)
Israeli special forces dressed as doctors and nurses have stormed a Palestinian hospital, killing three militant suspects.
One of the armed undercover operatives was even carrying a wheelchair in the raid which involved around a dozen elite soldiers, some wearing masks. The raid on a Jenin hospital in the West Bank happened as fighting rages across Gaza and violence threatens to explode in the wider region.
Stunning camera footage shows the mission unfolding as commandos enter the hospital brandishing assault rifles, having broken in using disguises. The real-life drama mirrors the hit Israeli Netflix series Fauda, in which undercover commandos enter the occupied Palestinian territory, in one scene raiding a hospital as they hunt for a wanted terrorist. Middle Eastern countries and Western governments are awaiting a US revenge attack after three American soldiers were killed at the weekend by Iranian proxy fighters. Read more
At least 10 killed in overnight attack by Baloch rebels in Pakistan (AlJazeera)
At least six fighters and four security officials have been killed in an overnight attack in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province. Jan Achakzai, the provincial information minister, on Tuesday said the attackers, belonging to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), targeted military and security installations with guns and rockets in the city of Mach, 65km (40 miles) south of Balochistan’s capital, Quetta.
As they faced resistance, the attackers moved to “less secure” areas, focusing their assault on the Mach police station, an official told Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity since he was not authorised to speak with the media. Read more
AFCON: Peseiro warns Eagles against complacency (Leadership)
Super Eagles head coach, José Peseiro, has warned his players to keep level heads and manage the euphoria of their quarter-final qualification, as they countenance a potentially-tough quarterfinal clash with Angola’s Palancas Negras on Friday.
The Portuguese gaffer told thenff.com on Monday that he has continued to sing it to the players that the team is yet to win anything, and that full consciousness and concentration must be activated ahead of the evening encounter at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny.
“I am telling them that we are only in the last-8, that we still have some way to go, and that the farther we go, the tougher the opposition becomes. We have played four matches and won three, so we must keep level heads as we go forward. Read more
NPFL Youth League kicks off Feb 1 at 5 centres (DailyTrust)
Arrangements have been concluded for the kickoff of the zonal qualifiers of this year’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Youth League on February 1 at five designated centres.
Chairman of the NPFL Youth League Committee, Pastor Emeka Inyama, disclosed that the start of the tournament will be preceded by the screening exercise on January 31 to ensure proper documentation of players.
The 20 NPFL Clubs have been zoned on a regional basis for preliminary qualifying matches in five centres. Read more
Manchester United say Marcus Rashford ‘disciplinary matter closed’ (BBC)
Manchester United say forward Marcus Rashford “has taken responsibility for his actions” after reports he was seen in nightspots in Northern Ireland on Wednesday and Thursday evening.
The England international missed training at United on Friday after reporting ill and did not feature in Sunday’s 4-2 FA Cup win over Newport.
A United statement read: “This has been dealt with as an internal disciplinary matter, which is now closed.” Read more
Nikki and Brie Garcia ‘shocked and disheartened’ by WWE sexual assault and trafficking claims (People)
Nikki and Brie Garcia are getting candid about the recent allegations against WWE.
The sisters, who were previously a part of the WWE under the stage name The Bella Twins and left the company last year, shared a joint statement on their respective Instagram accounts about the recent allegations of sexual assault against the company, along with its co-founder Vince McMahon and WWE executive John Laurinaitis, by a former employee.
“We are shocked and disheartened with the recent allegations against members of the WWE,” the Garcia twins said Monday in their Instagram post. “It has been a lot to process since we found out this past week, just as you all did” Read more
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka to renew their fight for WTA world No 1 ranking in Qatar (Tennis365)
The fight for top spot in the WTA Rankings will resume at the first WTA 1000 event of the season in February with Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka once again going head-to-head.
With Sabalenka successfully defending her Australian Open title and Swiatek losing in the third round, the Pole’s lead at the top has been trimmed to 865 points.
Both players will next be in action at the Qatar Open, which runs from February 12-25 in Doha. Read more
US figure skaters to receive 2022 Olympic team gold after Valieva disqualified (Guardian)
Members of the US Olympic figure skating team learned late Monday they will receive gold medals now that Russian skater Kamila Valieva has been disqualified for doping at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.
The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee received word that the IOC would award the gold to the US for the team competition, which was thrown into turmoil after Valieva’s positive test from six weeks before the competition was revealed.
The Associated Press obtained a copy of an email sent from the IOC to the USOPC saying it “is now in position to award the medals in accordance with the ranking, which has to be established by the International Skating Union” – the federation in charge of running the event at the Olympics. Read more