*”We only wanted to kidnap, rape his wife”, abductors of Kaduna man confess(Tribune)*Oseni declares for Lagos Assembly, promises purposeful representation(Independent)
“We only wanted to kidnap, rape his wife”, abductors of Kaduna man confess(Tribune)
Two suspected kidnappers, Abdurahman Lolo and Muhammed Sanni, have opened up to the police that they had attempted to kidnap and rape a trader in the Bandoko community in Kaduna State but they changed their mind by abducting her husband for a ransom payment.
The suspects were arrested by the operatives of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) led by DCP Olatuniji Disu, after residents of Bandoko sent a distress call to the Operation Puff Adder.
The police said: “At about 11.30 pm on the 29th of April 2022, some bandits attacked a house in Bandoko for the purpose of kidnapping a woman and gang-rape her all night. The woman who sells ‘fura-denunu’ within the area had been monitored by the suspects before the attack.”
The police added that: “Upon breaking into the room of the woman, they found her with her husband. At this point, they changed their plan from kidnapping and rape to kidnapping for ransom. The invaders demanded the key to the motorcycle of the 35-year-old husband, Jibril Saidu.Read more
Murder of Deborah: Archbishop Martins wants perpetrators punished (Vanguard)
The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins has condemned in very strong terms the stoning and killing of Miss Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State by a mob of overzealous students for alleged blasphemy.
He also charged the law enforcement agencies to quickly swing into action to investigate the matter to identify the culprits and bring them to justice according to the Nigerian criminal law.
He said that the alleged killing of young Deborah Yakubu, a female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education is appalling, provocative, and inhuman.
Such acts, if not checked forthwith, he warned, are capable of further exacerbating religious tension, thereby causing disaffection amongst the peace-loving people of Nigeria.Read more
Deborah: A deep wound in the soul of our country — Pat Utomi (Vanguard)
Professor Patrick Utomi has condemned the killing of Deborah Samuel, a student of a college in Sokoto State over alleged blasphemy, describing the incident as “a deep wound in the soul of our country”
Deborah was killed in a mob action on the School premises after she was accused of insulting the prophet Muhammad (SAW) during a hot argument with her colleagues during school hours.
Pat Utomi, in a statement he personally signed and Titled, “A TIME TO LEAD”, blamed the current insecurity bedevilling the country on a lack of worthy leadership. He noted that Nigeria is truly at a crossroads and anyone who fails to take a stand is not worthy of the people.
He said, “The incidents in Sokoto in the last two days have opened a deep wound in the Soul of our country. The only thing that can heal this deep gash now is leadership and truth, like the sore in the saying by the founder of the caliphate Uthman Dan Fodio,. Only truth can heal this one. This is open sore Conscience. The blood of innocents is crying to God for Justice”.Read more
Oseni declares for Lagos Assembly, promises purposeful representation (Independent)
Oseni Olajide, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has formally declared his interest to contest the Alimosho constituency 2 seat at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Speaking with Journalists on Saturday, Oseni said that his desire to contribute his quota to the development of his constituency and uplifting the living standard of the people inspired his decision to run.
He assured his constituency of purposeful representation, stressing that if he was elected he would provide solutions to the myriad of challenges facing his constituency.
Oseni, who was a candidate for the Lagos House of Assembly in the 2019 general elections, lamented that successive leaders have failed his constituency in the last two decades, promising to continue with his empowerment programmes in his constituency aimed at tackling poverty and unemployment if elected.Read more
Blasphemy: 1 killed, many injured as protesters go berserk in Sokoto(DailyTrust)
At least one person was killed and many others injured Saturday as police quelled violence that erupted after a mob seized a protest in Sokoto in demand for release of suspects arrested in connection with the lynching of a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto, Deborah Samuel over blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad.
Some youths took to the major streets of Sokoto metropolis Saturday morning demanding the release of the two suspects arrested by the police in connection with the killing of the sophomore.
Deborah was killed by fellow students on Thursday over the alleged blasphemy.
The protest, which was initially peaceful, started at the Zabirah Mall roundabout around 9am, and the protesters who were few in number at the time were armed with placards with different inscriptions.
Some of the placards read “Release our Muslim Brothers”, “Muslims Are not Terrorists”, among others.Read more
Fresh Bliss enlists Magnito for new single “Me & My Guys”(Leadership)
Super hype man Ovwata Ochuko, popularly known as FreshBliss, has teamed up with Nigerian rap star Magnito, to drop a new single,”Me & My Guys”
FreshBliss has steadily gone beyond the four walls of the club, and has found his way into the proper music scene,and sharing the same platform with Artists.
“Me & My Guys” is an uptempo tune that is guaranteed to get people of all ages in the mood to get up and party – with its infectious beat, enchanting melody and sing along hook, all fusing together to create the ultimate banger.
The feel good song sees FreshBliss and Magnito in a celebratory and party mood,as they bask in the joy of having friends who are ‘ballers’ and big spenders.Read more
Edo Police orders investigation into Auchi mob action(ThisDay)
The Edo State Police Command has ordered a thorough investigation into the barbaric and dehumanising act of jungle justice meted on an alleged suspect by some irate youths in Auchi, headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abutu Yaro gave the directive in a statement the command’s spokesman, Kintongs Bello issued yesterday, frowning at the jungle justice while reacting to the ugly incident.
The suspect, according to Investigation, was accused of theft and subsequently set ablaze by the mob, who arrested the victim as members of the vigilante group in the locality.
The statement said the police commissioner frowned at the action of the vigilantes, who instead of taking the suspect to the police for proper investigation and prosecution, aided the irate mob to burn the suspect to death for allegedly stealing without any recourse to the law.Read more
Man arrested for filming pastor’s house, church with drone without permission(Guardian)
Police in Enugu State at the weekend arrested a suspected spying drone pilot for allegedly filming a cleric’s home in Alor Unor, Nsukka Local Government Area of the state.
The suspect, Michael Ali, from Aguibeje in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, claimed he was filming the cleric’s home for a documentary, adding that he was working on the Nsukka landscape.
He said he decided to stay in the bush to control his drone, because he was learning how to fly it, explaining that it was a mistake to have focused his equipment on the cleric’s home and church building.
Pastor Chikammadu Eze, who is the General Overseer of Highway to Grace Assembly, however, said he was shocked to see a drone flying around his compound and above his church building. Read more
NDLEA seizes 203,879 Tramadol tabs in raids(Nation)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized 203, 879 tablets of various pharmaceutical opioids and illicit substances in raids across Abia, Kaduna, Yobe and Kogi States.
It also said it foiled fresh bids by drug cartels to export Tramadol, Ecstasy MDMA and Cannabis to Milan, Italy and Dubai, United Arab Emirates through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos.
Its spokesman, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, also said five members of a syndicate, which conducts fake recruitment into security agencies, were arrested in coordinated operations in Zamfara, Kebbi and Bauchi States.
Babafemi said at the Lagos airport, a female passenger, Odia Emiliana Efe was arrested on Monday 9th May while trying to board a Royal Air Maroc flight from Lagos via Casablanca to Milan, Italy with 1000 tablets of Tramadol 200mg concealed in food items.Read more
Asaba agog as Flavour, others dazzle at TuruUgoLota show(Sun)
The TuruUgoLota Progress Tour concert held recently at Shoprite, Asaba, Delta State surpassed the expectations of fun seekers as Afropop star, Flavour Nabania and other artistes thrilled to no end.
Indeed, Life beer consumers and lovers of highlife music had an unforgettable experience at the show, as they revelled in the electrifying performances provided by Flavour, Queen Theresa Onuorah, Franky DJ POP, Jerico and others.
The audience was also thrilled to see a talent hunt competition. Out of the 10 contestants, Young Incredible, POPE and Whispa emerged winners and smiled home with N500,000, N300,000 and N200,000 respectively.
Speaking, Senior Brand Manager, Life Continental Lager Beer, Aishat Anaekwe, said, “Life continental lager beer has grown to be a dominant beer brand in Nigeria while maintaining a unique cultural identity that resonates with its consumers. The brand has always been very close to its roots and its people. With this TuruUgoLota Progress Tour Concert, we have taken steps to further deepen this connection. We realise how much it means for the people of Enugu to be able to celebrate with friends and family, and we wanted to be part of that experience for our loyal consumers.” Read more
50 Cent admits he’d rather be charged with murder than indicted in a RICO case(HipHopDX)
Like the majority of the rap community, 50 Cent is fully aware of Young Thug and Gunna’s current predicament. The two rappers were arrested in Fulton County, Georgia last week as part of a sweeping 56-count indictment that includes charges of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, murder, armed robbery and criminal gang activity.
Both remain behind bars at Fulton County Jail after a judge denied bond, calling Young Thug “a flight risk.” On Thursday (May 12), 50 Cent seized the opportunity to remind his 28 million Instagram followers he’s “not gang gang” and he does “not gang bang,” something he’s said numerous times in the past. Not only did he rap about it in the 2018 single “Get The Strap” alongside 6ix9ine, Casanova and Uncle Murda, he also made a reference to the phrase in an old interview.
On Friday (May 13), legendary Hip Hop producer Pete Rock shared the resurfaced clip to his Instagram account in which 50 Cent explains why he’d rather face homicide charges over a RICO charge any day.
“I don’t like RICO,” he says. “I don’t like conspiracy. Give me a homicide right now. I’ll take a homicide right now […] Those [RICO] laws were designed for you not to escape them.” Read more
Tom Cruise ‘Banned Top Gun: Maverick crew from drinking alcohol on strict film set'(DailyMail)
Tom Cruise reportedly banned the Top Gun: Maverick crew from indulging in a few bevvies, despite it being perfectly acceptable to ‘go drinking’ on most sets.
The actor, 59, is said to have kept a strict order behind the scenes on the blockbuster, and staff have even claimed they were told to keep partying ‘to a minimum’.
A source told The Mirror: ‘On most sets, the cast and crew socialise and go drinking but on Top Gun, they were told to keep partying to a minimum.’
Starring man Miles Teller, 35, even admitted: ‘There were days after a tough shoot I could have really used a couple of beers… but you just don’t want to be flying at those speeds hungover.’
He went on to confess that after he made an exception only once while attending a wedding, he endured a ‘rough’ following day at work.Read more
Filmmaker: Iran film industry workers’ houses and offices raided, some arrested(AlArabiya)
An award-winning Iranian filmmaker said authorities raided the offices and homes of several filmmakers and other industry professionals and arrested some of them.
Mohammad Rasoulof said in a statement signed by dozens of movie industry professionals on his Instagram account late Saturday that security forces made some arrests and confiscated film production equipment during raids conducted in recent days. The statement condemned the actions and called them “illegal.”
In a separate Instagram post, Rasoulof identified two of the detained filmmakers as Firouzeh Khosravani and Mina Keshavarz. Rasoulof was not targeted in the recent raids.
Iranian media and authorities have not commented on the raids and no additional details were immediately available. Authorities in Iran occasionally arrest activists in cultural fields over alleged security violations.
Rasoulof won the Berlin Film Festival’s top prize in 2020 for his film “There Is No Evil.” It tells four stories loosely connected to the themes of the death penalty in Iran and personal freedoms under tyranny.Read more
Judas Priest confirms K.K. Downing will join band for Rock Hall induction(NME)
Judas Priest have confirmed that their former guitarist K.K. Downing will join them at their 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction this November.
The influential English heavy metal band will accept the Award for Musical Excellence at this year’s ceremony. The award was first established in 2000 as the “Sideman” category; it became the Award for Musical Excellence 10 years later.
Rock Hall inductions often include former members of the bands being celebrated. Judas Priest’s commemoration will be no different, as bassist Ian Hill has confirmed that Downing, who left the band in 2011 citing differences with the band and management, will participate.
“The rule as I understand it, is whoever has been with the band for 20 years,” Hill told Metal Hammer. “Richie [Faulkner, Downing’s replacement] is sadly not being inducted, but really deserves to be as he’s been the driving force in the band for nearly 12 years now.”
“Obviously, Ken [Downing] will be there,” Hill added. “[Drummer] Les Binks was with us all those years, as was Scott [Travis, another former drummer], so he’ll be part of the induction, too.”
He also acknowledged former Judas Priest drummers such as Dave Holland, who “was in the band for a long time,” he said.Read more
Jarvis Cocker says modern pop music has been ‘hijacked’ by advertisers(MusicNews)
Jarvis Cocker says modern pop music is bad because the industry has been “hijacked” by people more interested in advertising than songs.
The Pulp legend – who has penned a new book ‘Good Pop, Bad Pop’ about his early upbringing and relationship with music – has reflected on the contemporary scene and the way the industry has changed over the years.
Appearing on the ‘Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster’ podcast, he said: “Pop kind of has been hijacked by evil people. Advertising people, politicians, you know?
“The pop that I think is ‘good pop’ – and this is where I sound like some kind of old bloke going on, ‘Oh back in the olden days…’ But the pop music that was around when I was a kid – and people were really into it. Kids would come to school with a radio to listen to the chart rundown, the midweek thing, stuff like that.Read more
Rachel Riley says ‘attacks’ on JK Rowling’s trans views stem from her defence of Jews ‘against Jeremy Corbyn’(Independent)
Rachel Riley has said that criticism of JK Rowling’s views on trans rights stems from her speaking out “against Jeremy Corbyn and antisemitism”.
The Countdown whiz, who has appeared on the show since 2009, was asked about the backlash Rowling has received during a new interview.
The Harry Potter author has been widely criticised in recent years for her controversial comments about transgender rights, which began in June 2020 when she called out the gender-inclusive term “people who menstruate”.
“I’m sure there used to be a word for those people,” she wrote, adding: “Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
While there was a contingent of Twitter users who supported Rowling for her tweet, there were plenty – including numerous celebrities – who criticised her comment as “anti-trans” and “transphobic”, arguing that transgender, non-binary and non-gender conforming people can also menstruate.Read more
Midsomer Murders documentary special to feature EastEnders and The Witcher stars celebrating 25 years of show(DigitalSpy)
EastEnders and The Witcher stars are set to feature in an upcoming documentary special to celebrate iconic British series Midsomer Murders reaching its 25th anniversary.
The long-running crime drama series, which is based on the Chief Inspector Barnaby novels by Caroline Graham, first launched on ITV in 1997 and has been a mainstay of the schedules ever since.
It has been announced by ITV that Midsomer Murders – 25 Years of Mayhem will celebrate the show reaching such a significant milestone by uniting former main star John Nettles with current lead actor Neil Dudgeon.
Nettles played DCI Tom Barnaby between 1997 and 2011, with the actor then deciding to retire from his role as the Midsomer Constabulary detective.
Dudgeon soon took over as DCI John Barnaby, Tom’s younger cousin, and has continued to solve the constant string of gruesome murders that take place in the fictional countryside county of Midsomer.Read more
MFM,Kano Pillars in relegation battle(Leadership)
Some seasons ago, it would have been almost impossible to find a giant of the Nigerian Professional Football League like Kano Pillars, swimming in relegation waters.
But the story is different for Kano Pillars this season, as a poor run of form and playing their home matches away from home has not helped their cause.
For MFM,the hope of escaping relegation in the ongoing 2022 League season suffered a massive blow after the club were heavily sanctioned by the League Management Company, LMC, last week.
Following the impasse that engulfed the NPFL matchday 26 clash with visiting Enugu Rangers over the weekend in Lagos. Read more
Eric Dier lauds Antonio Conte for improving Tottenham mentality to earn Burnley win(Standard)
Antonio Conte has been instrumental in turning around Tottenham’s mentality to earn Sunday’s edgy 1-0 win over Burnley, says Eric Dier.
The defender helped keep a vital clean sheet as a Spurs side not at their best jumped Arsenal to claim fourth place ahead of the Gunners’ trip to Newcastle on Monday.
For Dier, the victory was in stark contrast to Tottenham’s defeat at Turf Moor earlier in the season which also came after a major win for his team.
“He is right,” Dier told reporters when asked about Conte’s claim that Spurs’ mentality has improved.Read more
Manchester City held at West Ham after Riyad Mahrez fails from penalty spot (Guardian)
Just when it seemed the title race was done and dusted, along came Jarrod Bowen and Lukasz Fabianski. Two goals from the West Ham forward – his 17th and 18th of the season – and heroics from their goalkeeper to deny Riyad Mahrez’s late penalty means Manchester City must now beat Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa next weekend to be certain of retaining their crown.
Yet if Liverpool’s hopes of an unprecedented quadruple remain alive, Pep Guardiola must be grateful for their second half comeback through Jack Grealish and an own goal from Vladimir Coufal. In the end, City’s patched up side could even have ended up as winners on a topsy turvy afternoon that saw West Ham supporters pay tribute to captain Mark Noble for the best part of two decades’ service.
As well as a pre-match montage narrated by Danny Dyer in dedication to “Mr West Ham” and an enormous West Ham shirt cake emblazoned with the number 16 that was served in the pressroom beforehand, no expense had been spared for Noble’s big day. The 35-year-old born just down the road in Canning Town was given a standing ovation before kick off having also written a letter of appreciation in which admitted had “lived his dream” since making his first appearance under Alan Pardew in 2004.
After their emphatic 4-0 win at Norwich last week, this was also another opportunity to consign the disappointment of the Europa League semi final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt and keep alive their chances of qualifying for the same competition again next season. David Moyes restored Tomas Soucek to his midfield while Guardiola was thankful to have Fernandinho and Aymeric Laporte available after both limped out of Wednesday’s 5-1 win at Wolves.Read more
Iga Swiatek sweeps to 5th straight WTA Tour title in Rome (Tennis365)
World No 1 Iga Swiatek dominated Ons Jabeur on her way to a 6-2, 6-2 victory that kept her unbeaten in WTA 1000 events this season.
The 20-year-old top woman ensured that her unbeaten run now stretches through five tournaments and 28 Matches.
Swiatek started strongly, no doubt looking to peg back the dangerous Jabeur after her marathon semi-final.
Jabeur seemed a step off the pace and Swiatek held serve easily either side of an opening break to surge to a 3-0 lead in the first set. Read more
Wolff suggests Barcelona could be turning point for Hamilton and Mercedes (Formula1News)
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has not ruled out the possibility that the team may decide to run wider side pods in a bid to try and improve their fortunes, but he would like to make the “zeropods” work.
The new technical regulations have cultivated lots of different concepts from the teams, and one of the most surprising was that of Mercedes when they showed up to the second pre-season test in Bahrain with virtually no side pods on the car.
It necessitated a different cooling philosophy and left the floor of the car mostly exposed, leaving it vulnerable to extrusion of airflow, which does not help the “porpoising” phenomenon.
Indeed, the Silver Arrows have found themselves in a midfield battle more often than they have been fighting Ferrari and Red Bull for podiums, but it seemed as though they had a better comprehension of how to make their car work at last weekend’s Miami Grand Prix. Read more
Justin Rose ‘very motivated’ by PGA Championship challenge at Southern Hills(Sky)
Justin Rose is adamant he retains the drive and ambition to get his career back on an upward trajectory as he prepares for this week’s US PGA Championship at Southern Hills, live on Sky Sports Golf.
Rose won the US Open in 2013 and Olympic gold in Rio three years later, but has not tasted victory since February 2019 and missed the cut in the Masters for just the second time in his career last month following two rounds of 76.
Such results have seen the former world No 1 sitting outside the top 50 for the first time in more than a decade, yet Rose is relishing the challenge as he looks to win more of the game’s biggest titles.
“I feel like it’s a valuable little reset I have,” Rose told the PA news agency. “I’ve always tried to pride myself on how I play in majors and that’s obviously the goal right now. Read more
Chelsea becomes first team to lose three consecutive FA Cup finals(Vanguard)
Chelsea became the first team to lose three consecutive FA Cup finals after Saturday’s loss to Liverpool at Wembley.
Konstantinos Tsimikas converted the deciding penalty to win it 6-5 for Liverpool to keep their quadruple hopes alive.
The loss now means that while it was their second cup final loss of the season to the same Liverpool, they have now lost the last three FA Cup finals they have played.
They lost in 2020 to Arsenal; in 2021 to Leicester and now in 2022 to Liverpool – a record no other club has managed to set in the competition. Read more