Slain soldiers burial: Tinubu insists on killers arrest as families demand justice (Punch)
President Bola Tinubu has insisted that the killers of 17 officers and men of the Nigerian Army in Delta State on March 14, 2024, must be arrested, as families demanded justice during the burial of the slain military personnel at the National Cemetery in Abuja on Wednesday.
In his address at the event, Tinubu declared that leaders in Delta State must fish out killers of the soldiers who were ambushed while on a peace mission in the Okuama community in Delta State.
This came as the President vowed that the killers would not go unpunished, as he conferred posthumous national honours on the slain officers. Read more
Dangote prioritising Nigerians’ welfare above profit, says Sanwo-Olu (Leadership)
The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) yesterday flagged off the distribution of 80,000 10kg bags of rice to the vulnerable in Lagos state.
President of Dangote Group and Chairman of the foundation, Aliko Dangote who spoke at the flag off in Alausa noted that the gesture is part of the over one million 10kg bags of rice that would be distributed to reach one million vulnerable people in the 774 local government areas of the country.
Dangote said the distribution of the 80,000 bags of 10kg rice is another demonstration of the foundation’s commitment to upholding the values of compassion and solidarity that are at the core of humanity. Read more
Despite NLC’s opposition, Abure re-elected as LP national chairman (Channels)
Despite the opposition of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Julius Abure has been re-elected as the National Chairman of Labour Party for a second term by a unanimous affirmation of delegates.
The Chairman of the National Convention and Deputy Governor of Abia State, Mr. Ikechukwu Emetu declared him the winner during the party’s national convention that held on Wednesday in Nnewi, Anambra State.
Abure has been having a running battle with the NLC leadership led by Joe Ajaero. Read more
Group urges Sanwo-Olu to tackle teenage marriage (Punch)
A non-governmental organisation, Do-nation, has urged the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu, to look into the issue of underage and teenage marriage that has reportedly characterised the Makoko area of the state.
The Lead Coordinator of the group, Shanu Tiwatope, in a statement on Wednesday, bemoaned the trend of young persons forced into teenage marriage in the Makoko slum.
The Federal Government had in 2021 called on Nigerians to protect the girl child and end child marriages and other forms of gender-based violence in the country. Read more
Police arrest 2,329 suspects for robbery, kidnap, cultism in Lagos (Vanguard)
Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, CP Adegoke Fakoade, yesterday, disclosed that 2,329 suspects were arrested for various offences ranging from robbery, cultism and kidnapping in 100 days in Lagos.
CP Fakoade made the disclosure at the Police Officers Mess in the Ikeja Government Reserved Area, GRA while briefing journalists on the command’s scorecard wsince he assumed office on December 14, 2023.
He also disclosed that 2,253 suspects had been prosecuted in the period under review, while several others were being processed for prosecution. Read more
IPI Nigeria seeks President’s help to free abducted journalist (Nation)
The Nigeria National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to facilitate the freedom for an abducted journalist, Segun Olatunji, from his captors.
Olatunji, the Editor of FirstNews, was whisked away from his home in Lagos by armed men in two unmarked vans on March 15.
It was learnt that the men, two of whom wore military camouflage, introduced themselves as officers of the Nigerian Army and forced Olatunji to go with them. Read more
Tears as slain military personnel buried in Abuja (DailyTrust)
There was a flow of tears from relatives as the bodies of the 17 soldiers and officers of the Nigerian Army, who were killed by irate youths at Okuama Community of Delta State on March 14, 2024 arrived in Abuja for burial.
Daily Trust had reported how the troops of 181 Amphibious Battalion, Bomadi, Delta State, were killed while on a peace mission to the Okuama community.
The incident occurred when the troops responded to a distress call after the communal crisis between the Okuama and Okoloba communities in Delta State. Read more
Osun to establish Mobile Court, says women pivotal to national growth (Independent)
Keying into an earlier approval by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum for the establishment of Mobile Courts in all states and the FCT, the Osun State Government has concluded plans to establish Mobile Courts in the state, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
This is for quick dispensation of matters relating to harmful practices and other social vices against Nigerian Women and Girls.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Women Affairs in Abuja. Read more
Academy promotes Bridgette Wilder to first chief people and culture officer (ScreenDaily)
Academy leadership have promoted Bridgette Wilder to become the first chief people and culture officer with a remit to build what the organisation called a people-centric culture.
Reporting to Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy Museum director and president Jacqueline Stewart, Wilder will focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, overseeing talent management, development and training, employee relations, compensation and benefits, HR systems and practices, and employee resource affinity groups.
The executive previously served as the Academy’s interim chief people and culture officer and the Academy Museum’s vice president of people and culture. Read more
SZA gives update on ‘‘Lana’’ album, promises “leaks and outtakes” from ‘‘SOS’’ (NME)
SZA has shared an update on her forthcoming deluxe album ‘‘Lana’’ after someone uploaded some of the tracks intended for it without permission.
The songs making up ‘Lana’ were originally intended for a deluxe edition of her 2022 album ‘SOS’, but the project took on a life of its own and will now be a separate release. It was first announced in September and was originally earmarked for a late 2023 release, with the singer revealing the cover art on the first anniversary of the Grammy-winning ‘SOS’. In December, she teased that she would go on an “intimate” tour in support of ‘Lana’ once it’s released..
Now, in a new X/Twitter post, SZA has addressed the leaks and how it altered her plans for the new project. Read more
Ethiopia’s biggest bank says it has recouped most of the cash lost during a system glitch (AfricaNews)
Ethiopia’s biggest bank says it has recouped nearly 80% of the cash it lost during what it says was a glitch in its system that allowed customers to take out more money than they had in their accounts.
Abe Sano, president of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, told reporters Tuesday that around $14 million was withdrawn or digitally transferred during the error. The value of the transactions ranged from 9 cents to $5,350, he said. The amount lost initially was reported as $40 million.
Nearly 15,000 people have voluntarily returned funds that were “taken illegally,” the bank said in a statement. But 567 individuals haven’t yet returned money that is not theirs. On Tuesday, the bank posted their names and account details online, in an apparent attempt to shame them into giving it back. Read more
4 killed in German motorway bus accident (RFI)
Four people were killed and around 35 injured when a bus overturned on a German motorway near Leipzig on Wednesday, police said.
The bus came off the A9 motorway in the morning between Wiedemar and the Schkeuditzer Kreuz junction.
Police had earlier announced the death of five people in the accident, but revised the toll in the evening.
One person initially reported dead is in a critical condition, police said in a press statement Wednesday evening. Read more
2 bodies pulled from the water after Baltimore bridge collapse (ITV)
Two bodies have been pulled from the River Patapsco after a container ship crashed into a bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse.
Divers have been searching the waters for six missing construction workers, who had been fixing potholes on the bridge when the boat struck on Tuesday at 1.30am.
Two men, 35-year-old Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes and 26-year-old Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera were found a red pickup truck in about 25 feet of water, Colonel Roland L. Butler Jr. said in a press conference.
Their families have been notified. Read more
Tyla’s freeing self-titled debut is a pulsating party (Uproxx)
With sizzling flair and a seductive strut, Tyla arrives on the Gunna and Skillibeng-assisted “Jump” from her debut album with a bold declaration. “They never had a pretty girl from Joburg,” she quips, saluting her hometown of Johannesburg, South Africa.
“See me now, and that’s what they prefer.” In just a year, Tyla went from a relatively unknown singer carving out her lane in amapiano to a Grammy winner with eyes on being a global pop star.
She achieved this without a proper introduction – a showcase that dropped the curtain on a captivating performance Tyla has been itching to debut for the world. Read more
Joe Lieberman, former vice presidential candidate, dies at 82 (BBC)
Former US Senator and vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman has died at 82.
The cause was complications from a fall, according to a family statement obtained by CBS News, The BBC’s US partner.
The centrist represented the state of Connecticut in the Senate for nearly a quarter of a century.
Mr Lieberman became the first Jewish person to join a major party US presidential ticket in 2000 when Al Gore selected him as his running mate. Read more
Super Eagles winger Moses Simon out of season with injury (Vanguard)
Super Eagles forward, Simon Moses, has been confirmed to be out for the remainder of the season after picking up an injury while on international duty.
French Ligue 1 side, Nantes, confirmed that the 28-year-old suffered a fractured fibula and will not be able to participate in any game for the next three months.
During the game against the Eagles, Moses collided with the opposition’s goalkeeper in the 33rd minute of the encounter and had to be taken off the pitch, consequently resulting in Cyril Dessers replacing him. Read more
Chelsea eye Martinez to replace Osimhen (Punch)
Premier League giants, Chelsea, have identified Inter Milan’s Ltauro Martinez as a possible alternative should they fail in their attempt to sign longtime target Victor Osimhen during the transfer window, PUNCH Sports Extra reports,
Osimhen has been on the Blues radar since last summer but Napoli managed to hold on to the Nigeria international.
December 2023, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis shared images of Osimhen signing a contract extension with the club until 2026 with a new release clause over £100m, in a huge transfer blow to Chelsea. Read more
Disgraced football boss facing 2.5-year jail term for over shocking World Cup kiss incident (Fox)
Spanish prosecutors are seeking two-and-a-half years jail for disgraced ex-football chief Luis Rubiales who is facing trial for kissing Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips against her will, court documents showed Wednesday.
Prosecutors also want Rubiales, who has been charged with sexual assault and coercion, to pay at least 50,000 euros ($83,000 AUD) in compensation to Hermoso, they wrote in a document sent to Spain’s Audiencia Nacional court, a copy of which was seen by AFP.
During the incident, which took place on August 20 after Spain beat England to win the Women’s World Cup final in Australia, Rubiales held Hermoso’s head in both hands and forcibly kissed her on the lips. Read more
Chelsea hold off Ajax to reach Champions League semi-finals (RTE)
Chelsea reached the Champions League semi-finals for the fifth time in their history after a 1-1 draw with Ajax at Stamford Bridge secured a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory.
The Blues entered the evening already 3-0 ahead from their first-leg victory in Amsterdam and further eased any tension when Mayra Ramirez netted her first Champions League goal to open the scoring after 33 minutes in west London.
It came after a nervy start for the hosts, who narrowly avoided conceding from a first-half mishap before Chasity Grant drew Ajax level with one of few chances after the break. Read more
McBride scores 29, Robinson returns from injury as Knicks rout reeling Raptors 145-101 (ESPN)
Miles McBride scored 29 points, Jalen Brunson had 26 and the Knicks never trailed in a 145-101 win over the slumping Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night, New York’s biggest margin of victory this season.
Precious Achiuwa had 19 points and 13 rebounds against his former team as the Knicks won for the seventh time in eight games, set a season-high for points and swept the four-game season series with Toronto.
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson played for the first time since suffering a left ankle injury in December that sidelined him for 50 games. The 7-footer had not played since he was injured in a Dec. 8 loss at Boston, later undergoing surgery. Read more
Starling Castillo squeezes out split decision win over Jesus Saracho (BoxingScene)
Junior welterweight Starling Castillo (19-1-1, 13 KOs) snatched a split decision win over Jesus Saracho (13-2-1, 11 KOs) Wednesday in a close co-main event on ProBox TV’s “Wednesday Night Fights” in Plant City, Florida.
Two of the ringside officials scored the fight in favor of Castillo (98-92 and 99-91), while one saw it for Saracho (96-94).
In the first round, Saracho landed a glancing right hook to open the action. Eventually, Castillo landed a good combination to the body with less than a minute remaining. Saracho was also granted a brief break to recover from an unintentional low blow to the hip. Read more