Security forces bust “insurgents camp” in Anambra, rescue priest, 2 others (Channels)
Joint Security Forces in Anambra State on Friday broke into “insurgent’s camp” at Ogbunka in Orumba South Local Government Area, rescuing three abducted persons including a reverend father unhurt.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra State, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the police-led Forward Operating Base (FOB) comprising military and paramilitary Services based in Aguata and supported by Police Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu also arrested three suspects in the well-coordinated operation.
He said that the security forces recovered nine vehicles, three pump action guns, stolen camouflage uniform, Biafra flag, several handsets, flash drives and SIM Cards that will aid comprehensive investigation and prosecution. Read more
FG suspends N-Power programme indefinitely (DailyTrust)
The Federal Government has suspended the N-Power programme indefinitely.
It said the decision was a result of some irregularities within the scheme, noting that an investigation has been launched into the utilization of funds since the program began.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, who made the announcement while featuring on a TVC news program on Saturday, claimed that some of the beneficiaries are not found in their place of assignments yet they expect monthly stipends. Read more
Biafra referendum: We are ready for dialogue – IPOB (Vanguard)
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Saturday said the organization is ready for dialogue on peaceful exit of Biafra from Nigeria through a UN supervised referendum.
The organization made this known in a statement signed by the groups spokesperson, Emma Powerful.
Disassociating the group from violence, Powerful noted that IPOB has never been associated with violence or criminality in all its years of rallies and protests.
In his words, Emma said: “IPOB stands for peace. We stand for dialogue, and we stand for discussions.” Read more
MohBad: We responded to police enquiry since September 28, says NDLEA (Nation)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it responded to an enquiry by the Lagos police on the alleged arrest and detention of the late artiste, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, aka MohBad, since September 28.
This followed media enquiries on the claim by the Lagos Police Command at a briefing on Friday 6th October 2023 that it was yet to get a response from the NDLEA on social media allegations bordering on alleged arrest and detention of the late artiste.
NDLEA’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Saturday said: “The Agency will like to state that indeed its response was sent and received by the police since Thursday 28th September 2023. Read more
Bolanle Raheem: Court gives judgement October 9 (Vanguard)
A Lagos High Court will on Monday deliver judgment in the case of a police officer, Darambi Vandi, charged with shooting dead a Lagos-based lawyer, Mrs Omobolanle Raheem, on Christmas Day.
The court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square gave the judgment date on July 13 after adoption of final written addresses by parties in the suit.
Vandi was arraigned on Jan. 16 on a count charge of murder but he pleaded not guilty.
The court granted accelerated hearing on the case. Read more
MOMAN commends FG’s plan on removal of VAT on diesel (Guardian)
Mr Clement Isong, the Chief Executive Officer of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), has commended the Federal Government’s decision to remove Value Added Tax (VAT) on diesel for a period of six months.
Mr Clement Isong, the Chief Executive Officer of MOMAN gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.
He said the move was a step towards reducing the effect of subsidy removal on the Nigerian economy. Read more
4 killed, 5 injured as bandits raid Kaduna community (DailyTrust)
Suspected bandits have invaded Anguwar Dandali in the Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State killing four people and injuring five.
Confirming the incident the village head of the area, Mallam Sunusi Yusuf told our correspondent that the suspected bandits arrived around 10.30 pm on Friday night and started shooting sporadically in the air.
He explained that the bandits had succeeded in shooting 9 people and abducted 5 before the arrival of security operatives who engaged them in a gun duel. Read more
Police arraign Ondo man for threatening to kill magistrate (Punch)
The Ondo State Police Command has arraigned a man, Paul Oyewole, before a Chief Magistrate Court in Ondo town for allegedly threatening to kill a magistrate, Mrs Mosunmola Ikujuni.
Oyewole was alleged to have threatened to kill the magistrate following a disagreement between the two parties.
To this end, he was arrested by the men of the state police command and thereafter charged to court. The defendant was arraigned before the court on a two-count charge. Read more
Sofia Coppola misses “Priscilla” NYFF event to be with her mum, Eleanor Coppola (EW)
Sofia Coppola skipped a New York Film Festival press conference for her new movie “Priscilla” to spend time with her 87-year-old mother, Eleanor Coppola.
Coppola, 52, wrote and directed the film, which chronicles the relationship between Priscilla (Cailee Spaeny) and Elvis Presley (Jacob Elordi). The director was set to attend a press conference at the NYFF with her stars on Friday, but producer Youree Henley read a written statement in her absence.
“I’m so proud to have our film at the New York Film Festival in my hometown,” Coppola said in the statement, according to PEOPLE. “There’s nothing more inspiring to me than seeing a film on a screen at Alice Tully Hall. When I saw The Power of the Dog here as the first film on a [theater] screen since the pandemic, it reminded me of the power of cinema and what we love about the communal experience.” Read more
Drake taking a break from music to focus on his health (HipHopDX)
Drake fans celebrating the release of his new album For All The Dogs now have one less reason to celebrate: the superstar appears to be on the verge of taking a break from making music.
In the early morning hours of the day of the album’s release, Friday (October 6), Drizzy revealed on his SiriusXM Radio show Table For One that he was unlikely to create new songs for the next year or so, in order to focus on his health.
“I probably won’t make music for a little bit,” he said. “I need to focus on my health first and foremost … I’ve been having the craziest problems for years with my stomach. I need to get right. Read more
Sudan citizens live on knife’s edge amid ongoing conflict (VOA)
While on a quest to solicit support for millions of Sudanese whose lives have been upended by war, a senior U.N. official Thursday warned that the people of Sudan are living on a knife’s edge and are at risk of falling off the cliff if the world does not step up to help them.
United Nations statistics show Sudan has become the world’s fastest-growing displacement crisis since two rival generals plunged the country into war nearly six months ago. Some 5.4 million people are either displaced within Sudan or in neighboring countries as refugees.
“That is an average of more than 30,000 a day, many fleeing with nothing but the clothes on their back,” said Clementine Nkweta-Salami, U.N. resident and humanitarian coordinator in Sudan. Read more
Video game “Home Sweet Home” getting film adaptation by Alexander Kiesl and Steffen Hacker (Variety)
Alexander Kiesl and Steffen Hacker have been tapped to direct a film adaptation of “Home Sweet Home”, a popular action-horror video game.
Casting is currently underway for the movie, titled “Home Sweet Home Rebirth.” Principal photography is set to begin in Bangkok, Thailand, this fall.
Described as a supernatural thriller, “Home Sweet Home Rebirth” follows James, a cop who is thrust into an alternate realm after he attempts to stop a local mall shooter. With the help of a mysterious figure, he races the clock to find and stop an evil occultist from opening the gates of hell. “Home Sweet Home”, developed by Thai-based Yggdrazil Group, has sold over 1 million copies worldwide and has garnered over 370 million views across various streamers on YouTube and Twitch. Read more
Talks after US fighter jet shoots down armed Turkish drone in Syria (BBC)
The top US and Turkish diplomats have spoken by phone after US forces in Syria shot down an armed Turkish drone.
Washington said the drone came too close to its ground forces in Syria, but Ankara merely said it was lost during operations.
During the call between the Nato allies, Hakan Fidan told the US Turkey would keep targeting Kurdish groups. Read more
Spike Lee suggests Oppenheimer epilogue, gives “Killers Of The Flower Moon’s” Lily Gladstone his Oscar vote (Deadline)
Oscar winner Spike Lee has shared some thoughts about two of the highest-profile movie titles of 2023, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Martin Scorsese’s upcoming “Killers of the Flower Moon”.
The Do the Right Thing filmmaker listed the two films when he was asked during a Washington Post interview what recent movies are inspiring him.
“That’s my guy,” Lee said of Scorsese, calling his latest, “Killers of the Flower Moon”, “a great film.” A Film Academy member, Lee singled out the performance of the movie’s breakout star, Lily Gladstone, who could become the first Native American actress to win a Lead Actress Oscar. Read more
US condemns Hamas “terrorism” as militants attack Israel (National)
The US has “unequivocally” condemned Hamas militants’ attack on Israel and said it “stands firmly” with the Israeli people.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was “at war” following the attacks that have killed at least 40 people and injured hundreds more after Hamas launched nearly 3,000 rockets in a matter of hours.
“There is never any justification for terrorism,” National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said. Read more
Ndidi nominated for Championship POTM award (Sun)
Super Eagles anchor-man, Wilfred Ndidi has been nominated for the PFA Championship Fans’ player of the month award for September, Soccernet.ng reports.
The versatile midfielder has found himself rejuvenated in a new role under the tutelage of the new boss, Enzo Maresca, and even scored in Leicester’s 4-1 win over Southampton, securing the man of the match award.
The 26-year-old featured in all of The Foxes’four game last month, helping his side to three wins in those four games. His in-form teammate, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was also nominated. Read more
International Friendly: Udeze backs Peseiro over invitation of 1 home-based player (Leadership)
Former Nigeria international Ifeanyi Udeze has said Jose Peseiro was right not to invite any home-based player for this month’s friendly games against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique in Portugal.
On Monday, Peseiro unveiled a 25-man squad for the doubleheader friendly games billed for October 13 and 16.
Enyimba goalkeeper Olorunleke Ojo is the only home-based player who was invited for the game. Read more
Tottenham go top of Premier League after hard-fought win over Luton (National)
Tottenham climbed to the top of the Premier League table as they recovered from Yves Bissouma’s dismissal to earn a 1-0 win against Luton Town on Saturday.
Spurs banked all three points despite playing the whole of the second half with 10 men.
Dutch defender Micky van de Ven scored the only goal of the game in the 52nd minute when he poked home a first-time shot after a cut back from James Maddison following a Spurs short corner move. Read more
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell among 8 drivers facing Qatar GP investigation (Express)
Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were both placed under investigation for track limits violations during the sprint shootout in Qatar on Saturday afternoon.
The seven-time world champion will roll off third place in Sunday’s race but was still disappointed after qualifying on Friday. Discussing his session with Sky Sports F1, he said: “Not massively satisfied. It’s just great for the team to be on the first two rows.
“Difficult at the beginning of the session, tricky conditions out there with the wind. Ultimately, a pretty average session for me. I’m going to give it everything and try and bag those points. It’s great we are ahead of the Ferraris which is key.” Read more
Juventus seeking €200m from investors after fresh losses (ESPN)
Juventus said on Friday it would ask shareholders for up to €200 million ($212m) of fresh capital as the Italian soccer club posted another yearly loss and predicted it would stay in the red this fiscal year.
The Serie A club, which has been controlled by the Agnelli family for a century, said parent company Exor would support the capital increase.
Juventus has already raised around €700 million from its shareholders over the past four years in two separate operations. Roughly two thirds of these cash calls were covered by Exor, the investment arm of the Agnelli family. Read more
Arsenal snatch feisty WSL draw at Manchester United after Cloe Lacasse nets last-gasp leveller (Standard)
Arsenal substitute Cloe Lacasse snatched a 2-2 draw away to Manchester United with a superb late strike in a hotly-contested Women’s Super League (WSL) game at Leigh Sports Village on Friday.
Tensions were running high as ex-United striker Alessia Russo returned to the ground where she made her name before joining Arsenal in the summer and it was the visitors who took the lead through Stina Blackstenius in the 14th minute.
United levelled through Leah Galton 13 minutes later and they looked headed for a win when debutant Melvine Malard scored five minutes after coming off the bench to give the home side a 2-1 lead. Read more