Terrorists release 3 train passengers (DailyTrust)
Three passengers of the Kaduna-bound train that was attacked in March have regained freedom.
They were freed 24 hours after terrorists released a disturbing video where the victims were seen being flogged.
Daily Trust confirmed that the released passengers, a female and two males, have reunited with their family members.
It is not clear if any ransom was paid before their release.
Commenting on their release, Kaduna-based Publisher, Tukur Mamu, said, “Yes three victims have been released, a female and two male. But remember I’m not part of the negotiation that led to their freedom.” Read more
2 Nigerians killed in nightclub shooting in Canada (Vanguard)
Two Nigerian men, Tosin Amos Arowoshegbe and Eze, lost their lives on Saturday following a shooting at a nightclub in the city of Vaughan, Ontario, north of Toronto in Canada.
York Regional Police detectives said officers responded to report of a shooting at ATL Lounge, a restaurant and nightclub in the early hours of Saturday.
According to The Paradise, the police said the shooters escaped the scene before they arrived and no descriptions of the suspects have been published.
“On Saturday, July 23, 2022, at approximately 3:30 a.m., York Regional Police responded to a night club in the area of Highway 7 and Keele Street for a report of a shooting,” Constable Maniva Armstrong said in a statement. Read more
FG shuts FGC Kwali over security threat (Channels)
The Federal Government has ordered the immediate closure of one of its colleges, the Federal Government College, Kwali located in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Mr Ben Goong, who is the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, announced this in a statement on Monday in the nation’s capital.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, gave the directive in the early hours of July 25 in a bid to prevent any attack on the school.
He said the closure became necessary following the security breach on Sheda and Lambata villages in the suburbs of Kwali Area Council. Read more
15 candidates lock horns with Sanwo-Olu in Lagos (Vanguard)
No fewer than 15 governorship candidates are bracing up to challenge reigning Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to the Lagos State governorship election in 2023.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC cleared 16 of the 18 political parties to contest for the governorship seat, in which Sanwo-Olu is seeking re-election.
According to the list of candidates published by the electoral commission, those going for the governorship include the ruling APC, Sanwo-Olu; PDP Mr. Olajide Abdulazeez Adeniran; Accord, Mr. Dickson Olaogun; AA, Mr. Balogun Abdurazaq; and African Action Congress, AAC, Mr. Olayiwola Olajide.
The rest are African Democratic Congress, ADC, Mr. Doherty Adesina; African Democratic Party, ADP, Mr. Bamidele Ishola; Allied Peoples Movement, APM, Kupoliyi Funmilayo; Labour Party, LP, Mr. Awamaridi Ifagbemi; NNPP, Mr. Jim-Kamal Olarewaju; National Rescue Movement, NRM, Mr. Braithwaite Akinwunmi; SDP, Mr. Uthman Olakunle; Young Progressive Party, YPP, Mr. Ajayi Adebayo. Read more
Lagos enhances ferry fleet with new engines acquisition (Independent)
The Lagos State government has upgraded its ferry fleet with new engine acquisition in its determination to boost Lagos Ferry Services (LAGFERRY) efficiency as a functional alternative to decongest road traffic and effectively address Okada menace.
Abdoulbaq Ladi Balogun, the Managing Director, LAGFERRY, while taking delivery of the new engines, expressed satisfaction and confidence that the new engines will ensure optimal performance of their boats and provide passengers with comfort, safety and commuting satisfaction.
“We want to commend the state Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, for his passionate commitment and consistent massive investment in water transportation as a viable alternative to decongest road traffic and most importantly, to bring to fruition, the functional Multi-Modal transportation system as envisaged in the iconic Strategic Transportation MasterPlan of the Lagos Development Blueprint. Passengers on our boats will continue to experience the safest, fastest and most comfortable time sailing to their various destinations”. Read more
Hypertensive man dies as bribe-chasing ‘LASTMAmen’ seize vehicle (Punch)
The family of a Bureau De Change operator, Modibo Usman, has been thrown into mourning after he died from shock following an encounter with two officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority in the Surulere area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Modibo, who was hypertensive, was being conveyed by his son, Mustapha, to the Foremost Radiology Consultant Hospital on Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, to obtain a test result for his daughter, Ummu, when he had the encounter with the officers.
Mustapha, while speaking to our correspondent on Sunday, said his father also had an appointment with his doctor at the Living Heart Hospital in the Lekki area of the state on the same day.
He said when the two officers stopped him for allegedly disobeying a traffic light, his father pleaded that he was on his way for a medical emergency but the officers ignored him. Read more
Isheri North Rotary Club promises to help underprivileged citizens (Guardian)
The Isheri North Rotary Club has reiterated its commitment to rendering help to the under-privileged citizens in the country through its several humanitarian projects and commitment.
The newly-inducted Second President of the club, Rotarian Olugbenga Babayemi, who stated this, at the weekend, during the fund-raising and investiture ceremony tagged: “The Role of Citizens in Leadership and Nation-building,” in Lagos, said that the club would continue to contribute its quota towards alleviating poverty and ensuring a good healthcare for the people.
He said: “Our commitment to polio eradication is intact and every Rotarian is committed to 100 per cent eradication of the disease globally.
“We want to solicit assistance in raising funds to undertake our projects for this year.
“Revamp and equip primary healthcare centre at Isheri to help the community of over 10,000 people have access to functional, low cost and free healthcare services.” He reiterated the club’s interest to partner with community leaders and the state government for its sustainability, saying that the projects require N5 million to be achieved. Read more
Police kill 2 bandits, recover AK-47 in Kaduna (Channels)
Police operatives in Kaduna State have killed two notorious bandits in Giwa Local Government Area.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Mohammed Jalige, the bandits were killed while they attempted to kidnap some rural farmers working on their farms at Timburku village of Galadimawa ward in Giwa Local Government Area on Saturday, July 23rd.
He said that the DPO of Kidandan Division received intelligence information that some armed bandits have kidnapped an unspecified number of farmers working on their farm at Timburku village, and immediately, a detachment of Police Operation Restore Peace were deployed to the area, who engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel.
The spokesman further noted that the superior fire power of the police operatives led to the killing of two of the bandits, while the victims were rescued unhurt. Read more
Appeal Court president loses another son (DailyTrust)
President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has lost another son.
Her second son, Prince Paeke Shapnaan Dongban, 38, died in his sleep in the early hours of Saturday.
A source confirmed this to Daily Trust, saying the judge’s family had been thrown into darkness.
The deceased, who studied Mathematics at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, was an official of the Federal Ministry of Transport in Lagos. Read more
Terrorists kill farmer, driver in Katsina (Vanguard)
A gang of suspected terrorists, in two separate attacks killed a farmer and bus driver in Jibia and Batagarawa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
According to reports, the farmer identified as Ibrahim Shehu was working on his farmland at Kore Village, Bakiya ward under Batagarawa LGA when the assailants attacked and killed him before taking away his Hajoue motorcycle with them.
One of the locals from the area, Marwan Zayanna who spoke to Vanguard said: “the marauding bandits came out in large numbers seeking for whom to kidnap when they found Ibrahim on his farm. Two among the assailants approached him while the others kept watch in case of a reprisal. Then one thing led to another. They shot him and took away his Hajoue motorcycle.”
Barely an hour after they killed Ibrahim on his farm at Kore village, the terrorists attacked a commercial coastal bus belonging to Katsina State Transport Authority (KSTA) and killed it’s driver identified as Nasir Yushau. Read more
Adele announces rescheduled Las Vegas shows (TheWrap)
Adele is heading back to Las Vegas.
On Monday, the British singer announced the rescheduled dates for her Las Vegas residency, which was postponed earlier this year indefinitely.
“Words can’t explain how ecstatic I am to finally be able to announce these rescheduled shows,” she wrote in a post on her official website. “I truly was heartbroken to have to cancel them.
“But after what feels like an eternity of figuring out logistics for the show that I really want to deliver, and knowing it can happen, I’m more excited than ever!” she continued. Read more
“Alienoid” Beats “Minions” as “Thor” crumbles at Korea box office (Variety)
New release titles “Alienoid” and “Minions: The Rise of Gru” dominated business at the South Korean box office over the weekend.
“Alienoid,” a sci-fi fantasy about the search for a legendary sword across different eras, opened on Wednesday and consistently, but narrowly, bested its animated rival.
“Alienoid” earned $5.19 million between Friday and Sunday for a 32% market share, having played on more than 1,800 screens. Over the five days from release it has amassed $7.37 million.
“Minions” earned $4.58 million between Friday and Sunday, for a 29% market share, having played on close to 1,400 screens. Its five-day cumulative is $6.29 million. Read more
Swedish House Mafia cancel shows due to poor ticket sales (NME)
Swedish House Mafia have cancelled a number of shows on their ‘Paradise Again’ tour due to poor ticket sales.
The Scandinavian dance trio of Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso released their long-awaited debut full-length ‘Paradise Again’ in April and announced a world tour in support.
The tour, which includes Alesso, Zhu, Vintage Culture, Grimes and Kaytranada in support, is set to kick off at the FTX Arena in Miami on July 29.
But now the trio have announced the cancellation of shows at the Amway Center in Orlando on July 31, Madison Square Garden on August 2, TD Garden in Boston on August 9, Washington, D.C.’s Verizon Arena on August 11, and Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on August 17. Read more
Macklemore reveals he relapsed over the pandemic, following near-fatal overdose (ET)
Throughout his long standing career in the music industry, Macklemore has been open about his struggles with addiction and the obstacles he faced on his path to sobriety.
Sprinkled throughout his discography, the “Thrift Shop” rapper has gotten candid about drug and alcohol abuse, relapsing, and relying on the addiction community for treatment. Now, Macklemore is opening up once again and sharing that during the first summer of the COVID-19 pandemic, he found himself back in the throes of addiction.
Sharing a video to TikTok, Macklemore wrote, “I relapsed during the first summer of Covid. Today I have 694 days clean.” The video revelation is set to his new song, “CHANT,” which features Australian singer Tones and I, released this past week on Friday, July 22.
In the song’s lyrics, Macklemore candidly raps, “I’m from the underground, anything above ground is a mountain/I’m done tryna impress anybody but the heavens where I’m headed/You don’t get to hold on me your flowers/I am in my zonе, eyes on the thronе.” Read more
Bob Rafelson, ‘Five Easy Pieces’ director and ‘The Monkees’ co-creator, has died (NPR)
Bob Rafelson, an influential figure in the New Hollywood era of the 1970s who was nominated for two Oscars for “Five Easy Pieces,” has died. He was 89.
Rafelson died at his home in Aspen Saturday night surrounded by his family, said his wife, Gabrielle Taurek Rafelson.
Rafelson was responsible for co-creating the fictional pop music group and television series “The Monkees” alongside the late Bert Schneider, which won him an Emmy for outstanding comedy series in 1967.
But he was perhaps best known for his work during the New Hollywood era, which saw a classical studio system giving way to a batch of rebellious young voices and fresh filmmaking styles, and helped usher in talents like Martin Scorsese, Brian De Palma, Francis Ford Coppola and Steven Spielberg. Read more
Aquaman Jason Momoa in ‘head-on crash with motorcycle in Los Angeles’ (Mirror)
Jason Momoa has reportedly been involved in a head-on crash with a motorcycle in Los Angeles.
The 42-year old actor’s Oldsmobile Muscle Car struck the bike on his side of the road on Sunday, according to TMZ.
Police told the American tabloid the incident occurred on Sunday whilst the actor was traveling on Old Topanga Canyon Road near the Calabasas area.
The biker, travelling from the opposite direction, is said to have made contact with Momoa’s vehicle on a bend as it crossed onto his side of the road. Read more
2 dead, 5 injured in Los Angeles park shooting
(NYPost)
Two people were killed and five others injured in a shooting at a Los Angeles park when gunfire erupted near a car show Sunday evening.
Four men and three women were rushed to area hospitals after bullets flew inside Peck Park in San Pedro just before 4 p.m. local time, the Los Angeles Fire Department said in an alert.
Two people — a man and a woman — died at the hospital, according to the LAFD.
At least three of the seven victims suffered gunshot wounds. Read more
Buhari congratulates ‘Golden Girl’ Amusan for winning world-record athletic gold (Guardian)
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Tobi Amusan for winning the women’s 100m hurdles gold for Nigeria at the World Athletics Championship 2022.
Tobi Amusan in the early hours of Monday broke the women’s 100m hurdles world record in the semi-finals at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Amusan took eight hundredths off American Keni Harrison‘s world record from 2016. Amusan’s previous personal best was 12.40, set in the first round on Saturday in Oregon (Sunday morning in Nigeria).
The message was conveyed by President Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina in a statement on Monday. Read more
NNL: JM Liberty cries for justice (Sun)
Nigeria National League (NNL) campaigner, JM Liberty FC of Makurdi has cried out to the chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Nigeria National League (NNL) and well meaning football stakeholders in the country demanding justice in their match against Adamawa United in Week 20 of the 2021/22 NNL season.
JM Liberty FC, in its petition to the Chief Operating Officer, NNL, Emmanuel Adesanya, claimed that Adamawa United inability to provide valid license in the said match played at Atiku Abubakar Stadium, Fufore in Adamawa State is enough reasons to upturn the result of the match in their favour.
The said match was originally fixed for Wednesday but was later rescheduled for Thursday morning by the NNL with the homers, Adamawa United winning by 2-1.
JM Liberty claimed that Adamawa United played the match with only 13 valid licenses presented at the match venue. “Adamawa United dressed 20 players for the match out of which 7 players did not have any licence” Read more
NFF congratulates joint-top scorer Ajibade (Punch)
General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mohammed Sanusi, has congratulated Super Falcons’ forward Rasheedat Ajibade for emerging joint top-scorer of the just-concluded Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.
While qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the Falcons failed to retain the title they won in Ghana in 2019 to claim their 10th WAFCON title.
Their misery was compounded after losing to Zambia in their bid to win a consolatory bronze medal without key players such as Ajibade, Halimatu Ayinde and captain Onome Ebi.
Despite missing out on the third-place defeat against Zambia after being shown a straight red card in the semi-final clash against Morocco, the Atletico Madrid star ended the 12th edition of WAFCON with three goals, the same number of goals as Moroccan captain Ghizlane Chebbak and South Africa’s Hilda Magaia. Read more
Marcus Rashford provides positive insight into Erik ten Hag’s demands of Man Utd forwards (Mirror)
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has given an insight on the “positive” demands Erik ten Hag has for his forwards at Old Trafford.
United are currently unbeaten from their four pre-season friendlies and have been scoring for fun so far this summer, with Ten Hag’s scoring 13 goals.
Of those 13, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Martial have both scored three goals each, with Rashford himself also adding two to the total as Ten Hag ’s early games so far seems to have given the club’s forwards a new lease of life and an air of confidence going into the upcoming campaign.
Speaking after United’s 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Saturday, where Rashford’s miss-hit shot crashed off Matty Cash before giving United a 2-0 lead, he has praised Ten Hag’s calls for positivity that has led to the newly-bled firepower up front. Read more
Robbie Fowler hits out at Darwin Nunez talk as long-term Liverpool point made (LiverpoolEcho)
Former Liverpool star Robbie Fowler has described any criticism of Darwin Nunez after the performances against Manchester United and Crystal Palace as ‘ludicrous’.
The Reds signed the Uruguay international for what could potentially become a club record fee earlier this summer and he’s settled into the squad well. However, with all eyes on the new boy, rival fans and critics didn’t hesitate to jump on his back after his first pre-season performances.
Nunez certainly silenced them after he scored four against RB Leipzig earlier this week. Fowler emphasised signings are brought in for the long-term, not just to hit the ground running in pre-season fixtures and has backed the 23-year-old to succeed at Liverpool.
“It was ludicrous to think that Nunez was being doubted after playing just a few minutes against Manchester United and Crystal Palace on the tour to Asia,” he wrote in his column for the Mirror. “He got a taste of what any big-money signing faces in football these days if they’re not scoring in every game – but it’s ridiculous. Read more
Casper Ruud comments on big comeback victory over Matteo Berrettini in Gstaad final (TennisWorld)
Casper Ruud said he felt he made proper changes after losing the first set and that was the key in his big comeback victory over Matteo Berrettini in the Gstaad final. Ruud, the top-seeded player in the Gstaad main draw, recovered from a set down to beat Berrettini 4-6 7-6 (4) 6-2 and win back-to-back Gstaad titles.
After losing the first set, Ruud faced two consecutive break points in the third game and also faced a breakpoint in the ninth game. However, Ruud was able to save those three break points and force a tie-break, in which he took an early 5-1 lead before realizing his second set point to send the match into a decider.
Berrettini’s game fell apart after failing to close out the final in two sets as Ruud broke the Italian twice in the third set to complete a three-set win.
“I changed [things] up a little bit in the third set especially, which helped,” Ruud said after the win, per the ATP website. Read more
We are not a disaster, says Carlos Sainz as he defends Ferrari’s strategy (StraitsTimes)
Carlos Sainz defended Ferrari’s French Grand Prix strategy on Sunday (July 24) after making a pit stop with just 10 laps remaining to finish fifth rather than pushing for a place on the podium.
The Spaniard went from 19th on the grid to third but had a five-second penalty hanging over him for an unsafe release from his first pit stop, and was also on tyres whose performance was likely to drop off.
There was some confusion and surprise from observers when Ferrari appeared to call him in just as he was overtaking Red Bull’s Sergio Perez for third place in a race led for the first 18 laps by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who crashed out.
“I think the team is doing a very good job on strategy this year,” Sainz told Sky Sports television. Read more