Tension as 3 Okodu oil workers shot dead (Leadership)
Palpable fear has gripped the agrarian host community of the multi-billion Naira Okodu Oil Company Plc as three of its workers were killed by gunmen on Monday while working on their plantation in Benin City, Edo State.
The public relations officer of the company, Fidelis Olise, while confirming the incident on Tuesday, said that the killing was done by unknown person(s).
He stated that the company enjoys a cordial relationship with the communities in the area, noting that he could not say whether members of the host communities were involved in the attack or not. Read more
14 in police net over alleged cultism in Imo (Vanguard)
The Imo State Police Command on Tuesday said 14 suspected cultists were arrested over alleged cultism related activities in Imo.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Henry Okoye, disclosed this to newsmen in Owerri, during the parade of the suspects.
According to the Police, the breakthrough was made based on an intelligence led raid at their hideout located at Irete in Owerri West Council Area of Imo state. Read more
New Masquerade TV series’ Ovularia dies at 81 (Leadership)
Madam Elizabeth Evoeme, popularly known as Ovularia in the 80s TV sitcom, ‘The New Masquerade’, has passed on.
She was aged 82.
Ovularia’s demise came exactly four and a half years after she was rumoured to have been dead on November 5, 2019. Read more
Rivers APC to Assembly: Start impeachment process of Fubara now (Nation)
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has directed the state House of Assembly, led by Martin Amaewhule, to immediately commence the impeachment process of the state governor, Siminialayi Fubara.
The state caretaker committee (CTC) of the party led by Tony Okocha stated in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Tuesday, May 7.
The party has called for action following Governor Fubara’s recent remarks about President Tinubu’s intervention in the crisis in the state. Read more
Ekiti LGA boss goes spiritual, swears in advisers using Ògún idol (Channels)
Supervisors and advisers of Ikere-Ekiti Local Government Area in Ekiti state were sworn in with an ‘Ògún’ totem alongside the Holy Quran.
Ògún, often regarded as the “god of iron,” is one of the deities in African traditional religion.
The event happened at the Conference Hall of the office of the LGA chairman Olu Adamolekun on the 2nd of May. Read more
Cement price hike: Reps give Dangote, BUA, others 14 days to appear (DailyTrust)
Dangote Cement, BUA, IBETO and other stakeholders have been given a 14-day Ultimatum to appear before the House of Representatives Joint Committee to clear the air over the increase in cement price in the country.
This followed the failure of the companies and others to appear at its investigative hearing on Tuesday.
The joint committee, consisting of the House committees on solid minerals, Commerce, Industry and Special Duties, was set up by the House to ‘investigate the arbitrary increase in the price of cement In Nigeria by cement manufacturers’. Read more
Troops neutralise IPOB/ESN commander, 3 others in Imo (Vanguard)
Troops of the Joint Task Force Operation ‘UDO KA’, have neutralised four members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), including a commander of the group’s armed Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Imo.
Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, Spokesman for Task Force, said in a statement on Tuesday in Enugu that the troops, based on reliable intelligence, conducted special clearance operation on Monday in Udda, Ihittukwa and Orsumoghu communities in Orsu Local Government Area of the state.
According to him, the troops dominated and captured the notorious stronghold of the IPOB/ESN at Mother Valley in spite of attempt by the criminal elements to detonate Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) to stop the advancing troops. Read more
Niger to construct 54 schools, renovate 534 others (ThisDay)
The World Bank-assisted programme, Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project is to support the Niger state government in the construction of 54 new schools across the state.
The international organisation will also support the government to renovate 534 others a plan that is targeted at improving school enrolment and in some cases abolish the shift system.
In another development, the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Umaru Bago has charged Livestock and poultry farmers in the state to be committed and support the free vaccination of their animals being embarked upon by government to ensure their well-being and boost productivity. Read more
Cardi B switches into red-hot custom corset gown for 2024 Met Gala afterparty — and Offset attends! (People)
The night was still young for Cardi B, who headed to her own Met Gala afterparty following her show-stopping appearance on the carpet.
In the wee hours of the morning on Tuesday, May 7, the “Bodak Yellow” rapper, 31, threw a bash with Revolve and FWRD. Of course, there was an outfit change.
Cardi B stripped down to a custom-made, one-of-a-kind look by Revolve Atelier. It was made in collaboration with Revolve’s team, led by Alessandro Francalanci, as well as Anthony Kenny. Read more
Ukraine says Russian plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thwarted (CBS)
Ukrainian counterintelligence investigators have foiled a Russian plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top military and political figures, Ukraine’s state security service said Tuesday. Two colonels in the State Guard of Ukraine, which protects top officials, were detained on suspicion of enacting the plan drawn up by Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, a statement said.
The colonels were recruited before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to the statement.
It quoted the head of the State Security Service, Vasyl Maliuk, as saying the plot foresaw an attack before Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration for a fifth term on Tuesday. Maliuk said that he personally oversaw the top-secret operation to track the plot. Read more
White House announces new steps to curb anti-Semitism on campuses (UPI)
The White House announced on Tuesday that it will take additional steps to tackle anti-Semitism.
The Education Department’s Civil Rights Office issued new guidance to school districts and colleges on examples of anti-Semitism and other forms of hate and what could lead to an investigation by the department.
In November, the Education Department announced 51 colleges and school districts, were being investigated for discrimination based on shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, including five complaints alleging anti-Semitic harassment and two that alleged anti-Muslim harassment. Read more
Hugh Grant almost died in dangerous Four Weddings and a Funeral motorway scene, director says (Independent)
Hugh Grant almost died while filming Four Weddings and a Funeral, the film’s director has revealed.
Following fierce competition from other British stars, including Jim Broadbent and Alan Rickman, Grant was ultimately cast in the romantic comedy’s lead role of Charles, which was written by Richard Curtis.
However, very soon after filming started, disaster almost struck in a near-fatal incident involving Grant, then aged 34, and Charlotte Coleman, who played Charles’s best friend Scarlett. Read more
UNRWA warns of continued interruption of aid entry at Rafah crossing (GulfTimes)
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) warned Tuesday that the continued interruption of entry of aid and fuel supplies at the Rafah crossing will halt the critical humanitarian response across the Gaza Strip.
“The catastrophic hunger faced by people especially in northern Gaza will get much worse if these supply routes are interrupted,” UNRWA said on X.
On Tuesday morning, the Israeli forces occupied and took control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing in Gazas border with Egypt, preventing the movement of passengers, including the sick and wounded, and the entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip. Read more
At least 5 dead, dozens missing after a building under construction collapses in South Africa (NBC)
Rescue teams worked through the night searching for dozens of construction workers buried for more than 12 hours under the rubble of concrete after a multi-story apartment complex that was being built collapsed in a coastal city in South Africa.
Authorities said early Tuesday that the death toll had risen to five, while 49 workers remained buried in the mangled wreckage of the building, which collapsed on Monday afternoon. Authorities said a further 21 workers had been rescued from the rubble and taken to various hospitals, with at least 11 of them suffering severe injuries.
The collapse happened in the city of George, about 250 miles east of Cape Town on South Africa’s south coast. Read more
UN pushes Iran for ‘concrete’ cooperation on atomic programme (AlJazeera)
The head of the United Nations nuclear body has called on Iran to increase its efforts to make cooperation tangible and “concrete”.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi urged Tehran on Tuesday to adopt “concrete” measures to foster collaboration. The UN is seeking to re-establish oversight of Iran’s atomic activities but has met various setbacks over how to implement a deal struck last year.
However, officials on both sides suggested that there is some distance between their positions. Read more
Wawuena sparks Remo’s title chase with goal, assist (Punch)
Togolese striker Franck Mawuena scored the winning goal after providing the equaliser as Remo Stars came back from a goal down to beat Rivers United 2-1 in Ikenne on Monday to cut the gap on leaders Enugu Rangers to one point in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League game, The PUNCH reports.
It was Remo’s first win over the 2022 champions in the NPFL, while it has also boosted Daniel Ogunmodede’s side charge for a first NPFL title.
Former Remo Stars striker, Andy Okpe, who got on the wrong foot with his former coach after the first leg last year in Port Harcourt, continued in similar fashion on Monday by netting the opener for Rivers United from the spot 18 minutes into the game. Read more
Hull City sack manager Liam Rosenior after Tigers miss out on Championship play-offs (SkySports)
Hull City have sacked head coach Liam Rosenior, Sky Sports News understands.
The 39-year-old became the boss at the MKM Stadium in November 2022.
He recently signed a new three-year contract in December 2023, which would have kept him at the club until 2026.
Sky Sports News has contacted the club for comment. Read more
Paul Pogba set for career change as ex-Man Utd star battles 4-year doping ban (Mirror)
Former Manchester United star Paul Pogba has reportedly turned to acting while serving a four-year ban for doping.
The midfielder was hit with the ban back in February, having tested positive for a banned substance following a game for Juventus last August.
Pogba has appealed the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and maintains he did not intentionally take the substance. Read more
Paris 2024 summer Olympics: here is the journey of the Olympic flame (AfricaNews)
The Olympic flame will finally enter France when it reaches the seaport of Marseille, in the south of the country, on Wednesday.
After being lit by the sun’s rays on April 16 in ancient Olympia , the torch was transported across Greece before leaving Athens aboard a three-masted ship named Belem , heading for Marseille .
The Belem was first used in 1896, the same year the modern Olympic Games returned . It will be accompanied by more than 1,000 boats which will parade in the bay of Marseille, before arriving at the Old Port and docking on a pontoon resembling an athletics track. Read more
I had to choose between my brain and my fight – Hardy (BBC)
Former WBO featherweight champion Heather Hardy says her boxing career could be over after suffering “too much brain damage”.
Hardy is a veteran of combat sports, primarily competing in boxing prior to stepping into the world of mixed martial arts.
The 42-year-old has not fought since a unanimous points loss against undisputed featherweight champion Amanda Serrano in August. Read more
Rivers Hoopers win 2nd straight game, lead Sahara conference (Leadership)
The Basketball Africa League’s Sahara Conference continued at the Dakar Arena in Senegal on Sunday night with Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers defeating Rwanda’s Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) 86-82, which marked their first two consecutive wins in the league.
It was a game of will throughout, with both sides exchanging baskets down the stretch, but it was the Hoopers who were celebrating at the final whistle.
Will Perry set the tone finishing with 31 points, while Devine Eke added 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Hoopers, who are now the only undefeated team in the conference. Read more