Viral video: Mob attacks Lagos policemen, labels them thieves (Punch)
Two mobile policemen were attacked and called thieves by angry youths suspected to be traders at the Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos State.
In a viral video online, some angry youths were seen assaulting the policemen and shouting ‘Ole! Ole!’ – thieves – on them.
One of the youths was seen attempting to hit a plank on the head of one of the police officers.
It was gathered that the incident happened on Friday morning when the Lagos task force when to search for piracy and substandard goods in the market. Read more
Lagos releases list of COVID-19 vaccination centres (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has released the list of 88 health facilities, including military and police hospitals, which have been selected to provide vaccination across the 20 Local Government Areas.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said vaccination can only be obtained at any of the 88 accredited facilities listed.
“Vaccination outside of these locations in Lagos State is highly prohibited and will attract heavy sanctions through our regulatory agencies,” he said.
The commissioner said the vaccination will be conducted in four phases. Read more
Confusion as oil vandals escape from NSCDC custody in Kogi (DailyTrust)
Some officials of the Kogi State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps( NSCDC) have been accused of aiding the escape of some suspects who were arrested for pipeline vandalism.
Daily Trust gathered that five suspects whose names were given as Hassan Sani, Auwal Mohamed, Mohamed Mustapha , Mudashiru Abubakar and Ibrahim Rabiu were arrested by the anti-vandals unit of the corps on Thursday.
The suspects were said to have been arrested while ferrying products siphoned from the Niger Delta region to the north.
When interrogated, they reportedly confessed that the products, which were in two trucks were illegally scooped from a pipeline at a forest in one of the oil-rich states. Read more
3 dead, 284 hospitalised after drinking from borehole near cemetery (Guardian)
At least three persons have died and 284 persons hospitalised as strange disease hit Kano city, Kano State Government said on Tuesday.
The disease has spread across the eight metropolitan councils and five more local government areas in the state.
Commissioner for Health Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa said preliminary investigation revealed that affected persons developed various “strange” symptoms after drinking water from a borehole sunk near cemetery. Read more
Nigeria’s Public debt stands at N32.9 trn- DMO (Vanguard)
Nigeria’s Total Public Debt as of December 31, 2020, stood at N32.915 Trillion. The figures include the Debt Stock of the Federal and State Governments, as well as, the Federal Capital Territory.
The Debt Management Office (DMO) released the data, this afternoon.
It said that “after Nigeria exited recession in 2017, the level of New Borrowing at the Federal Level as shown in the Annual Appropriation Acts, had been declining as part of the Government’s measures to moderate the rate of Growth in the Public Debt Stock in order to ensure debt sustainability. Read more
Covenant University lecturer allegedly rapes 17-year-old student (Tribune)
A 41-year-old lecturer of Covenant University (CU), Ota, Dr Stephen Ukenna, has been arrested by the Police in Ogun State, for allegedly raping a 17-year-old student of the school.
In a statement made available to the Tribune Online, on Tuesday, by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Ogun Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said that the lecturer was arrested last Thursday, following a complaint lodged by the parents of the victim at the Ota area command.
Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police in the statement reportedly said the victim informed her parents that the Ukenna forcefully had carnal knowledge of her in his office. Read more
NCAA grounds operations of Azman Air (DailyTrust)
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has grounded all the 737 aircraft in the fleet of Azman Air.
This is contrary to the earlier announcement by Azman Air that it has suspended its operations.
Daily Trust had earlier reported how the airline had taken to its Twitter handle to announce that it is suspending its operations due to safety audit by the NCAA.
But in a statement, NCAA Director-General, Capt. Musa Nuhu, said the airline’s operations “with immediate effect”. Read more
Despite video evidence, deputy speaker denies blocking petition from Nigerians in diaspora (Guardian)
Deputy speaker of the house of representatives, Idris Wase, has denied ruling that Nigerians living in the diaspora cannot submit a petition on issues affecting them back home.
“To set the records straight, let it be categorically stated that the crux of the encounter between the Deputy Speaker, presiding as Speaker, and Honorable Mark Gbillah was on the LEGAL IDENTITY (and flowing from that, the LOCUS) of the petitioners and not on the whether Nigerians in the diaspora have a right to petition the House or not,” Wase’s spokesman Umar Puma said in a statement.
“The House of Representatives belongs to all Nigerians and can be accessed by all Nigerians wherever they may reside. However, like other arms of Government, (such as Courts of Law), Petitioners must follow laid down rules and procedures in presenting their petitions to the House, otherwise, there would be lawlessness, disorder and chaos.” Read more
Senate reviews labour law to punish employers involved in modern slavery, child labour, discrimination (Vanguard)
Moves by the Senate to review the Labour Act to provide stiffer penalties for various offences ranging from modern slavery, child Labour to discrimination against women in the workplace, got a boost as a Bill to that effect scaled second reading.
The amendment to the Labour law seeks to introduce stiffer penalties to punish employers who deny female employees maternity protection and discriminate against women during employment to fill positions in underground work or mines.
The bill after scaling second reading was referred by the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan to the Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity for further legislative work. Read more
Mozambique insurgency: Militants beheading children, aid agency reports (BBC)
Aid agency Save the Children says Islamist militants are beheading children as young as 11 in Mozambique’s northern province of Cabo Delgado.
One mother told the agency she had had to watch as her 12-year-old son was killed in this way close to where she was hiding with her other children.
More than 2,500 people have been killed and 700,000 have fled their homes since an Islamist insurgency began in 2017.
The militants have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group. Read more
Zack Snyder’s Justice League hailed as ‘masterpiece’ as first reviews land (Metro)
Zack Snyder’s Justice League has been hailed as a ‘masterpiece’ in first reviews, with the four-hour marathon on its way this week. Following the release of the widely-criticised DC movie in 2017, which saw Joss Whedon brought in for reshoots after Snyder left the production due to personal reasons, fans began the #ReleaseTheSnyderCut campaign. Four years after the release of Justice League, it seems their determination has paid off, with many blown away by the new cut. Variety has dubbed it a ‘knockout’ and ‘more than a vindication of Snyder’s original vision,’ while critic Kevin McCarthy has gone a step further, describing it as a ‘masterpiece’. Read more
Stimulus check argument sparked Indiana quadruple murder, family says (NYPost)
An argument over a stimulus check led a 25-year-old man to shoot the mother of his child and kill four of her relatives at an Indianapolis home, according to reports.
A day before Malik Halfacre allegedly shot Jeanettrius Moore Saturday and gunned down her family — killing her young daughter, brother, mother and a cousin — the father of one of Moore’s children wanted half of her $1,400 stimulus check, relatives told WXIN.
“He wanted some of Jeanettrius’ tax money, stimulus money,” cousin Wendy Johnson told the station. “She said, No, you don’t deserve any of this. I work. I take care of our child. You don’t do anything.”
Moore offered Halfacre $450, telling him “take it or leave it,” Johnson recalled. Read more
Prince Philip: Duke of Edinburgh leaves hospital after a month (BBC)
The Duke of Edinburgh is said to be in good spirits after leaving hospital following a successful heart procedure.
Prince Philip, 99, was admitted to King Edward VII’s hospital in central London on 16 February after feeling unwell.
He later underwent a successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition at another London hospital – St Bartholomew’s.
The duke returned to Windsor Castle after the 28-night stay, his longest-ever in hospital. Read more
ISIS bride Shamima Begum ditches Islamic attire for Western garb (NYPost)
ISIS bride Shamima Begum has ditched her traditional Islamic garb for Western duds at her Syrian refugee camp – looking more like a British tourist in shades, a striped T-shirt and zip-up sweater.
The 21-year-old’s ensemble at the Al Roj camp was in stark contrast to the black niqab she wore when she was found in 2019, when she expressed her support for the terror group.
Begum is stuck in the detention camp after the UK’s Supreme Court unanimously turned down her request to come back to Britain.
She shook hands with The Telegraph on Sunday but politely declined to be interviewed, citing legal advice, though she agreed to be photographed. Read more
EU regulator ‘convinced’ AstraZeneca benefit outweighs risk (AlJazeera)
With coronavirus cases rising in many places, governments face the grimmest of dilemmas: push on with a vaccine that is known to save lives or suspend use of AstraZeneca over reports of dangerous blood clots in a few recipients, even as the European regulator said there was “no indication” the shot was responsible.
It has created a jagged divide across the globe, forcing politicians to assess the health risks of halting the shots at a time when many countries, especially in Europe, are already struggling to overcome logistical hurdles and vaccine hesitancy among their populations.
Sweden was the latest to join a swelling group of European Union nations choosing caution over speed, even as the head of the European Medicines Agency said the agency is “firmly convinced” that the benefits of the AstraZeneca shot outweigh the risks. Read more
Yaphet Kotto: James Bond villain and Alien actor dies at 81 (BBC)
Yaphet Kotto, best known for playing a villain in 1973 James Bond movie Live and Let Die, has died at the age of 81.
The actor also played a crew member in 1979 sci-fi movie Alien, and starred in US TV police drama Homicide: Life on the Street.
Kotto’s other credits included the 1980s action films The Running Man and Midnight Run.
He also received an Emmy nomination for playing former Ugandan President Idi Amin in the 1977 movie Raid on Entebbe. Read more
Africa must win World Cup soon, says new CAF boss Motsepe (Vanguard)
New Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe raised the bar Tuesday for national teams in the continent by insisting one of them must win the World Cup soon.
“An African team must win the World Cup in the near future,” said the 59-year-old South African billionaire at a press conference in Johannesburg.
Motsepe was elected unopposed last Friday to lead trouble-torn CAF after a two-year ban over “governance issues” prevented Malagasy Ahmad Ahmad seeking re-election for a second stint.
The mining magnate promised to quit after his four-year term if CAF “does not make real progress” under his leadership. Read more
Kamaru Usman fight to headline UFC’s full-capacity event (DailyTrust)
Kamaru Usman, Nigerian-American mixed martial arts (MMA) champion, will headline UFC’s 261st fight night set for Jacksonville Florida in the USA.
UFC 261 has been scheduled for 24 April and has three title fights, with the Nigerian Nightmare’s rematch against Jorge Masvidal for his welterweight title the biggest event of the night.
UFC President, Dana Whyte made the announcement on Tuesday in a video posted on the mixed martial arts body’s website, while the Mayor of Jacksonville Lenny Curry also gave a seal of approval for the event on Twitter.
“Dana White, governor Ron DeSantis and I will continue to demonstrate that Florida is poised to safely host signature sporting events watched globally. Welcome back to Jacksonville UFC. Let’s go,” Curry stated. Read more
Zlatan Ibrahimovic: AC Milan striker recalled by Sweden (BBC)
Sweden’s record goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been recalled to the national team five years after announcing his retirement.
The 39-year-old scored 62 goals in 116 internationals before quitting after the team’s Euro 2016 group-stage exit.
He opened the door to a return in a newspaper interview in November 2020 and Sweden coach Janne Andersson then flew to Milan to meet with the striker.
Ibrahimovic has 14 goals in 14 Serie A appearances for AC Milan this season. Read more
Irate Julius Randle restrained from referee after Knicks’ loss to Nets NY (Post)
The Knicks fought all the way to the buzzer against the juggernaut Nets. And after the buzzer.
All-Star Julius Randle needed to be repeatedly restrained from going after referee Scott Foster following the Knicks’ 117-112 loss to the Nets on Monday at Barclays Center.
Randle, who had been called for a traveling violation in the final seconds, had calmed down 40 minutes after the game.
“It was a conversation — it’s best I don’t comment on the situation,’’ Randle said. “There was a lot of frustration behind it for both sides. I’ll let it be in the past and move on to the next game.’’ Read more
Rui Patricio: Wolves keeper ‘going to be OK’ after head injury – Nuno Espirito Santo (BBC)
Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio will be reviewed on Tuesday after his head injury against Liverpool.
Patricio was taken off on a stretcher after a 15-minute delay following a collision with his captain Conor Coady near the end of Wolves’ 1-0 defeat.
BBC Sport understands Patricio was driven home by a physio and was chatty and relaxed when he left the stadium.
After the match, Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo said the Portuguese, 33, was “conscious” and “going to be OK”. Read more
Tiger Woods is back in the video game business (NYPost)
Tiger Woods is back in the game — digitally, at least.
Woods has signed a long-term partnership with the company behind the “PGA Tour 2K” video game series, returning the 15-time major champion to an industry he once dominated with EA Sports.
The deal was announced Tuesday, nearly a month after Woods suffered career-threatening leg injuries when he crashed an SUV on a steep road in the Los Angeles suburbs. Read more
COVID forces India-England T20 cricket matches in empty stadium (AlJazeera)
England’s remaining three Twenty20 (T20) international matches against India will be played behind closed doors because of a surge in coronavirus cases, according to authorities.
In a statement on Monday, India’s cricket board said the 110,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad – the main city in Gujarat state – would be empty for the games on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The series is so far level 1-1.“The decision was arrived at following detailed discussions with the state and local health authorities,” the statement by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said. Read more