Soldier kills self after killing Customs officer at Seme (DailyTrust)
A customs officer has been shot dead by a soldier at Seme border in Lagos State.
A witness told Daily Trust that the incident happened on Wednesday night.
The witness, who did not want to be quoted, said the incident took many by surprise.
“It’s possible that the soldier was under the influence of alcohol because no one expected him to behave in such a strange manner.”
Abdullahi Hussain, Public Relations Officer of Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, confirmed the incident, saying the soldier took his life after killing the customs officer. He said investigation is ongoing. Read more
3 Lagos LG traffic officers arrested for extorting motorists (Punch)
The Lagos State Task Force on Environment and Special Offences Unit has arrested three persons parading themselves as local government traffic officers and extorting motorists at Oshodi.
A statement by the agency’s Head, Public Affairs Unit, Femi Moliki, revealed that the suspects, who claimed to be officials of the Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Council were arrested on Wednesday on the orders of the Chairman of the task force, CSP Shola Jejeloye, after receiving complaints from some of the victims.
The statement read in part, “The suspects are Samuel Oyegbule, 52; Olayiwola Thomas, 53; and Kola Taiwo, 47.
“The suspects had on Tuesday extorted N25,000 from one of their victims for obstruction. Another victim equally alleged that he was extorted the same amount the previous day. Read more
Iyaloja moves to reconcile Alaba Rago Market traders (DailyTrust)
The Iyaloja General of Lagos State, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, has intervened in the leadership crisis at Alaba Rago, one of the major markets in the state.
At a meeting at the palace of the Oniba of Iba Kingdom, Oba Sulaimon Adesina, the iyaloja promised to create an all-inclusive caretaker committee as part of the reconciliation mission.
Daily Trust reports that leadership crises in the market have created factions and tension among the traders over the years.
The reconciliatory meeting had in attendance factions and leaders of the market, especially a large number of aggrieved Hausa traders.
Tinubu-Ojo, who is the daughter of a former Lagos Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said she was committed to bringing lasting peace in the market. Read more
Nigerians charged to be model light bearers of Christ kingdom (Guardian)
Former chaplain, Lagos State Church of The Light, Lagos, Rev Ayo Oyadotun, has charged Nigerians to be model light bearers of Christ Kingdom at all times.
He spoke during the 30th anniversary of the Light Bearers of the church as well as the 2021 annual harvest launch at the Wesley Cathedral Olowogbo Lagos.
According to him, for Nigeria to return to its lost glory it is very pertinent to return absolutely to God’s divine dictates, key absolutely to his dictates with love and transparent concern to the plight of others for him to heal the land and divinely bless it beyond their imagination at all times.”
In a statement signed by Public relations Officer of Archdiocese of Lagos Methodist Church Nigeria, Aramide Noibi, the chaplain said Christians are expected to be genuine divine light bearers in thoughts, words and deed to absolutely propagate His doctrine and win souls to expand his kingdom. Read more
UNILORIN student allegedly raped, found dead in room (Punch)
A 300-level student of the University of Ilorin, identified as Blessing Olajide, was allegedly raped and murdered in her room in the Tanke area of Ilorin, Kwara State.
Olajide, who until her death, was a student of the Agricultural Science Department, hailed from Oke-Opin in the Ekiti Local Government Area of the state.
While details of the incident were still sketchy as of the time of filling this report, The PUNCH gathered on Thursday that the deceased was murdered in her Tanke home on Tuesday.
The Director of Corporate Affairs, UNILORIN, Alhaji Kunle Akogun, said he had not been briefed about the incident when contacted by our correspondent on Thursday. Read more
Emefiele guarantees manufacturers steady supply of forex (ThisDay)
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, yesterday reiterated the bank’s commitment to ensuring steady availability of foreign exchange for manufacturers.
Emefiele also urged banks as well as Nigerians to strive to end environmental pollution and ensure sustenance of banking principles.
Speaking alongside the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, at an interactive session with a business team from the United Kingdom, Emefiele, however, explained that the fall in oil prices had affected the inflow of forex.
This, he said, informed the restriction of access to forex for the importation of goods that could be produced locally, in order to ensure judicious use of forex. Read more
NAPPS seeks review of child rights protection law (Guardian)
President of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Lagos Chapter, Mr. Olawale Amusa, has advocated immediate enforcement of child rights protection law.
Amusa said that the enforcement of the law would guarantee the right of children to qualitative education.
He made the call at the maiden edition of the NAPPS’ online Science Competition 2021, tagged “Grooming indigenous technologists through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)” in Lagos.
He noted that science and technology “have a role to play in some of the issue bedeviling the country today and adequate priorities must be given to research and development to thrive and this will allow speedy development in the country.” Read more
We can’t give you a new constitution, Senate tells Nigerians (DailyTrust)
The Senate, on Thursday, ruled out the possibility of giving Nigerians a new constitution despite a mass campaign for it.
Different stakeholders and groups, including Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, had called for a new constitution that will capture the agitations of many Nigerians, instead of amending the present 1999 constitution, which they said had outlived its usefulness.
They said the current 1999 constitution can not sufficiently address the socio-economic challenges currently pummeling the nation.
“There is a very simple solution to the growing insecurity in the country and that is a new constitution,” Afe Babalola, an erudite lawyer, had said. Read more
Ex-employee burgles ex-boss office, hides in water tank (Punch)
Men of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a 28-year-old former worker, Ola Adeoye, for allegedly burgling his former boss’ office and hiding in a water tank.
The suspect was a former staff member of Owoyemi Superstore located on Idiroko Road, Sango-Ota in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
Oyeyemi said the suspect was arrested following a distress call received at Sango-Ota divisional headquarters at about 1:45 am. Read more
France suspends military ties with Mali over coup (BBC)
France is halting joint military operations with Mali over last week’s coup in the West African country.
It said the suspension would continue until it received guarantees about a return to civilian rule in Mali.
French forces have been supporting troops from Mali, Chad, Mauritania, Niger, and Burkina Faso to fight militants in the Sahel region.
On 25 May Mali’s military strongman, Col Assimi Goïta, ousted the country’s civilian president and prime minister. Read more
Mission: Impossible 7 shuts down production after positive Covid-19 test (Metro)
Mission: Impossible 7 has shut down production following a positive Covid-19 test on set, with leading actor Tom Cruise among those self-isolating.
Production will shut down for 14 days to give cast and crew time to self-isolate.
A statement read: ‘We have temporarily halted production on Mission: Impossible 7 until June 14th, due to positive coronavirus test results during routine testing. We are following all safety protocols and will continue to monitor the situation.’
A source close to the production confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that at least one person on set tested positive. Read more
9 dead in Ghana gold mine collapse: police (Guardian)
Nine people died in a gold mine collapse in northern Ghana this week, police said Thursday as rescue operations continue.
Accidents in small-scale gold-mining, known locally as “galamsey”, are common in the West African nation and President Nana Akufo-Addo vowed a crackdown to curb its environmental damage.
The latest incident in the remote mining area of Gbane, Talensi district, in the Upper East region near the border with Burkina Faso happened late on Monday during a downpour, police said.
“We started with our rescue operation on Tuesday and by Thursday, we’ve been able to retrieve nine bodies,” police spokesman David Fianko-Okyere told AFP.
“We suspect three more bodies are trapped down there so we’re doing everything possible to get them dead or alive.” Read more
White House defends Dr Fauci over lab leak emails (BBC)
The White House has defended the president’s top coronavirus adviser, Dr Anthony Fauci, amid scrutiny of his recently released work emails.
Press secretary Jen Psaki said Dr Fauci had been an “undeniable asset” in the US response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr Fauci meanwhile told CNN an email exchange of his on the virus lab leak theory was being taken out of context.
There is no evidence Covid-19 came from a lab, though US President Joe Biden has ordered a review into the matter. Read more
John Boyega quits Netflix movie “Rebel Ridge” mid-filming due to ‘family reasons’ (Metro)
John Boyega has been forced to quit his Netflix movie, Rebel Ridge, due to ‘family reasons’.
The Star Wars actor was signed up to play the lead role in the thriller, which is being directed by Jeremy Saulnier.
Filming began on May 3 in Louisiana and John is believed to have already shot scenes. According to Deadline, producers are now searching for John’s replacement and are expected to have an actor confirmed in a matter of days.
A Netflix spokesperson told the publication: ‘Rebel Ridge is pausing temporarily as we look to re-cast John Boyega who needed to leave the project for family reasons. Read more
Hong Kong police out in force to prevent Tiananmen commemoration (AlJazeera)
Thousands of police were deployed in Hong Kong on Friday and the organiser of the territory’s now-banned annual vigil of China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown arrested, to prevent people from gathering for any kind of remembrance of the events of 1989.
Hong Kong usually holds a mass vigil to remember those killed when soldiers stormed the square, which was packed with protesters calling for democracy, but police have banned the events for the past two years blaming the coronavirus pandemic.
This year is the first to be held since China imposed national security legislation on Hong Kong that punishes anything Beijing deems subversion, secession, “terrorism” or collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison.
Police have not clarified whether commemorating the crackdown, which has been all but erased from history in the mainland, will breach the law, but in a statement late on Thursday said any gathering posed “considerable threats to the public health and lives” and warned that those taking part in “unauthorised assemblies” could face as many as five years in prison. Read more
Biden expands US investment ban on Chinese firms (BBC)
US President Joe Biden is set to ban Americans from investing in dozens of Chinese tech and defence firms with alleged military ties.
The new executive order will come into effect on 2 August, hitting 59 firms including communications giant Huawei. The list of firms will be updated on a rolling basis.
The move expands an order previously issued by ex-President Donald Trump.
Even before the official announcement, China suggested it would retaliate. Read more
Rohr eyes third win over Cameroon (Punch)
Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr will be aiming for his third win in four games against Cameroon on Friday despite being without some of his key players for the game, The PUNCH reports.
The Eagles will be without Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, Simy Nwankwo, Leon Balogun, Semi Ajayi, Tyronne Ebuehi, Zaidu Sanusi, Ola Aina, Kenneth Omeruo and Kevin Akpoguma.
The game, billed for the Wiener Neustadt stadium in Vienna, will see both fierce rivals clash for the first time in two years.
Rohr’s Eagles have faced Cameroon thrice and twice they were on the winning side, with the latest coming in the quarter-finals of the 2019 AFCON tournament, a 3-2 triumph. Read more
Arsenal submit £30m-plus offer for Norwich City star Emiliano Buendia (Metro)
Arsenal have submitted a £30million-plus offer for Norwich City star Emiliano Buendia, according to reports.
The Argentinian midfielder has emerged as one of Mikel Arteta’s key transfer targets this summer following another impressive campaign at Carrow Road.
The 24-year-old scored 15 goals and made 16 assists in 39 Championship appearances as Norwich stormed to the title to secure their return to the English top-flight at the first attempt.
Norwich are expected to lose star player Buendia this summer, with Arsenal and Aston Villa keen to secure his signature before next season. Read more
French Open: Roger Federer & Novak Djokovic through, Rafael Nadal plays later (BBC)
Swiss eighth seed Roger Federer regained his composure during a heated battle with Croatia’s Marin Cilic to reach the French Open third round.
Federer, 39, had some testy exchanges with the umpire on his way to a 6-2 2-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 win on the Paris clay.
Top seed Novak Djokovic produced a focused performance to reach the third round for a 16th consecutive year.
The 34-year-old Serb won 6-3 6-2 6-4 in his first career meeting with tricky Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas.
Djokovic will face Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis, ranked 93rd in the world, in the last 32. Read more
Trent Alexander-Arnold out of England’s Euro 2020 squad with thigh injury (Metro)
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been ruled out of England’s Euro 2020 campaign this summer after picking up a serious quad injury in the friendly against Austria on Wednesday night.
The Liverpool full-back tore a muscle late in the game in Middlesbrough as he played a long-ball unchallenged.
It is incredibly unlucky for the 22-year-old who now faces between four and six weeks out of action with the injury, according to the Athletic.
A statement from the England team read: ‘Trent Alexander-Arnold has been ruled out of UEFA EURO 2020. Read more
Liverpool: Alisson Becker set for contract talks on goalkeeper’s Anfield return (BBC)
Alisson has made 130 appearances for Liverpool and scored the first goal of his career against West Brom last month
Liverpool intend to open contract talks with goalkeeper Alisson Becker when he returns to the club after the summer.
The Brazil international is currently away preparing for the Copa America and is one of several players the club want to start negotiations with.
Alisson, 28, joined the Reds from Roma on a six-year-deal in 2018 for £66.8m.
That made him the world’s most expensive keeper at the time, and he has gone on to win the Champions League and Premier League. Read more
Emerson Palmieri insists he has no interest in Chelsea transfer talk (Metro)
Chelsea outcast Emerson Palmieri insists he could not care less about transfer talk at the moment as he solely focuses on this summer’s European Championships with Italy.
The 26-year-old is about to enter the last year of his contract at Stamford Bridge and after making just two Premier League appearances this season, he is expected to be sold over the summer.
The Brazilian-born Italy international is very highly thought of in his adopted homeland, making the Italian squad for Euro 2020 despite barely playing this campaign.The left-back has been linked with a return to Serie A, signing for Chelsea from Roma in January 2018, with champions Inter Milan most strongly linked with a move for him. Read more
