Woman accuses police of demanding N200,000 after releasing missing child to impostor (Punch)
A grieving mother, Joy Iheanacho, has accused policemen attached to the Juvenile Welfare Centre at the Alakara Police Division, Lagos State, of demanding N200,000 from her to track the impostor they allegedly released her missing child to after demanding proof that she is the mother.
PUNCH Metro gathered from footage reposted on social media by @segalink that Joy’s son was returning from school when he suddenly went missing four years ago.
While efforts were on to locate the whereabouts of the child, Joy said she was able to track down the location of her son through a Facebook post.
The post read, “Found Child by name Chibuike Ogbonna, Male 9yrs old, fair in complexion, speaks English and Igbo lang, hails from Agba in Oboama, Ohaji LGA of Imo State, he is presently in Ojo Division, Lagos State Police Command, grateful assist and repost so that if any of his family members can be trace they can call this number. 08031939075. Thank you.” Read more
Cattle Rearing: Lagos butchers seek 50,000 hectares of land for ranching (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Butchers Association has requested the provision of about 50, hectares of land from the Lagos State Government for ranching and rearing herds of cattle in the state.
Meantime, Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms Absiola Olusanya, at a Stakeholders’ Engagement on the Red Meat Value Chain held in Alausa, Ikeja, at the weekend, disclosed that well over 1.8 million herds of cattle and over 1.4 million herds of sheep and goats, respectively, are been consumed in Lagos on an annual basis.
Olusanya, called on the private sector to partner with it to establish feedlots in the state for cattle rearing and fattening in furtherance of its reforms and sanitization of the red meat value chain, stressing that partnership becomes necessary as it would ensure better production and supply of cattle for consumption in the state. Read more
Lagos seals 11 event centres, nightclubs (Punch)
The Lagos State government has sealed no fewer than 11 facilities, including event centres, lounge and nightclubs among others for contravening COVID-19 order and directives.
The Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr Lanre Mojola, in a statement on Sunday said the affected event centres had informed the agency of their intention to organise parties and events, but the number of people met by officials of the agency was more than what they got approval for.
“Those facilities were sealed for non-compliance with COVID-19 regulations of the federal and state government,” Mojola said. Read more
Police swoop on suspected deadly cultists, robbers in Lekki, Ikorodu, arrest 56 (Guardian)
Operatives of Lagos State Police Command attached to Elemoro Division have arrested suspected cultists at Imalete Alafia, Ibeju Lekki.
The suspects are Joshua Ubokuho, Emmanuel Yusuf, and Adewale Hammed.
According to Lagos State police spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, 50 suspected armed robbers and cultists were nabbed at Imota, Igbokuta, Adamo and Emure in Ikorodu area of the state during a sting operation carried out by the Commissioner of Police Strike Force between Friday March 5 and Sunday March 7, 2021. Read more
Rice farmers in Kebbi producing 4m tonnes annually – RIFAN (Vanguard)
The Chairman, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in Kebbi, Alhaji Muhammed Sahabi-Augie on Sunday said the total rice output produced annually in the state has reached over four million tonnes.
Sahabi-Augie told some students on excursion at the Zauro Rice Pyramid near Birnin Kebbi, that the rise in production was as a result of massive support of the Federal Government and the state Governor, Atiku Bagudu.
He noted that before the intervention, the highest rice output was 700 metric tonnes.
The chairman said that the Anchor Borrower Programme (ABP) has greatly helped farmers in the state and across the country. Read more
3 killed in Abuja, Onitsha crashes (DailyTrust)
Two persons died while three others sustained injuries in a multiple car crash yesterday at Gada-Biyu on the Abuja-Lokoja Road.
A witness said the accident happened around 7am after a DAF trailer from the Gwagwalada axis lost control and ramming into six vehicles with another trailer rammed into the vehicles few seconds later.
When contacted, the acting Yangoji Unit Commander of the Federal road Safety Corps (FRSC), ACC Jimoh Iliyasu, confirmed the accident, saying 24 people were involved among who two died and three were injured.
ACC Iliyasu who attributed the accident to break failure, also decried indiscriminate parking of trailers, and added that his unit would meet heavy duty truck drivers in the area to find a solution to the problem. Read more
Buhari, Gbajabiamila, Tinubu, others hail Osinbajo at 64 (Punch)
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju BolaTinubu, have congratulated the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on his 64th birthday which comes up today (Monday).
Buhari in his message on Sunday described Osinbajo as a reliable deputy.
The President’s message was contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, titled, ‘President Buhari celebrates Vice President Osinbajo at 64, describes him as a reliable and dedicated deputy.” Read more
Jubilation as herdsmen warlord, Wakili, is arrested in Oyo (Guardian)
A joint team of Ibarapa security operatives, including the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), members of vigilance group and other groups, yesterday, arrested the notorious warlord terrorising Ibarapa Zone of Oyo State, Iskilu Wakili.
The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, who disclosed this to The Guardian, lauded the joint efforts of all the security operatives in Ibarapa on the arrest of Wakili.
The Guardian gathered that the joint team of Ibarapa security operatives, arrested Wakili and three others after several attempts culminating in a gun fire exchange. Read more
Women’s Day: NLC kicks against gender-based violence in work places (Vanguard)
The Nigeria Labour congress (NLC) has urged the Federal Government to domesticate the ILO Convention 190 (C190) to discourage Gender-Based Violence and Harassment (GBVH) in workplaces.
The Head of Department, Women and Youth, NLC, Mrs Rita Goyit, made the appeal at a virtual workshop for Labour journalists on Sunday.
Goyit expressed concern that Nigeria had not ratified or domesticated the convention, two years after the C190 was adopted in Geneva, Switzerland.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop supported by Solidarity Centre AFL-CIO, a non-profit organisation, is part of activities by the NLC to observe the 2021 International Women’s Day. Read more
Meghan Markle says royal family had ‘concerns’ over son’s skin colour (PageSix)
Meghan Markle revealed Sunday night that members of the royal family discussed with Prince Harry how dark their son’s skin might be.
“There were also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he was born,” Markle said in her tell-all Oprah interview.
She claimed “several” royal family members had conversations with Harry about the potential color of Archie’s skin.
Asked about the conversation later in the interview, Harry refused to elaborate much more. Read more
Afghanistan conflict: US warns of new Taliban ‘spring offensive’ (BBC)
The Taliban could make rapid military gains across Afghanistan when American and Nato troops pull out, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has warned.
Under a deal between the Taliban and the previous Trump administration, all remaining US forces are due to leave the country by the end of next month.
But in a letter to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Mr Blinken has warned of a possible new “spring offensive”.
US soldiers invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to remove the Taliban from power. Read more
Swiss narrowly back proposal to ban face coverings in public (NYPost)
Swiss voters narrowly approved on Sunday a proposal to ban face coverings, both the niqabs and burqas worn by a few Muslim women in the country and the ski masks and bandannas used by protesters.
The measure will outlaw covering one’s face in public places like restaurants, sports stadiums, public transport or simply walking in the street. It foresees exceptions at religious sites and for security or health reasons, such as face masks people are wearing now to protect against COVID-19, as well as for traditional Carnival celebrations. Authorities have two years to draw up detailed legislation.
Two Swiss cantons, or states, Ticino and St. Gallen, already have similar legislation that foresees fines for transgressions. National legislation will put Switzerland in line with countries such as Belgium and France that have already enacted similar measures. Read more
Ivory Coast election: Opposition, ruling parties claim victory (DW)
The Ivory Coast’s ruling party and main opposition both claimed victory Sunday in the nation’s legislative elections.
“We have achieved our goal of securing around 60% of the seats,” said Adama Bictogo, executive director of the ruling RHDP party.
Earlier on Sunday, the center-right Ivory Coast Democratic Party (PDCI), said it won “around 128 seats with our allies.” That would be just enough to secure a majority of the 255 seats.
The conflicting claims of victory came after the country’s international electoral commission released early provisional results, but no official results have been announced. Read more
Huge explosions rock Equatorial Guinea’s main city (BBC)
At least 15 people have died and hundreds more have been injured in a series of explosions in Equatorial Guinea, the health ministry says.
Some 500 people were injured following the blasts, which happened near a military barracks in the main city of Bata on Sunday.
The blasts were caused by “negligence” relating to the storage of dynamite at the barracks, the president said.
Images on social media showed huge plumes of smoke and widespread damage. Read more
“Fast and Furious 9” delayed again as Vin Diesel confirms new release date (Metro)
The Fast and Furious 9 release date has been pushed back once more, with the flick given the green light for a June premiere. F9 – which stars Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Ludacris and Tyrese – was due to be in cinemas on May 28, after a string of hold-ups due to the coronavirus pandemic. Film bosses have now confirmed that the latest film in the action franchise will be in cinemas on June 25, and we’ve already got our seatbelts on. Vin, who stars as Dominic Toretto, shared the announcement on his own Instagram page, posting a video of a car escaping an explosion with fans. Read more
China says manufacturing ‘greatness’ still 30 years away (BBC)
China is at least 30 years away from becoming a manufacturing nation of “great power”, a government advisor told party delegates on Sunday.
Many observers already see China as the “world’s factory” given that more than a third of global output from cars to phones comes from there.
But China’s leaders are concerned about its heavy dependence on the US for high-tech products like semiconductors.
“Basic capabilities are still weak” Miao Wei warned on Sunday. Read more
Tallen calls on corporate Nigeria to support women football (Guardian)
Women Affairs Minister, Pauline Tallen, has called on Corporate Nigeria to support the country’s women football, saying the task of empowering the girl/child belongs to everybody.
Speaking when officials of Nigerian Women Football League (NWFL) led by its chairperson, Aisha Falode, and its Chief Operating Officer, Dupe Shabi, visited her Abuja office on Friday, Tallen urged patriotic Nigerians and corporate bodies to help grow the league, which she noted has produced great players for the country.
She assured the NWFL of her continued support, pledging to lead its campaign for sponsorship and a level-playing ground for the development of women football. Read more
Solskjaer rules out title chase as derby victory ends Man City’s winning run (BBC)
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United are not thinking about chasing down Manchester City despite bringing the Premier League leaders’ sequence of 21 successive victories to a crashing halt with an impressive derby victory at Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side still have what looks to be an unassailable 11-point lead at the top of the table, but the manner in which United subdued a previously unstoppable City and enhanced their own top-four chances will be a huge confidence boost to Solskjaer and his players.
United, who have now gone 22 league away games unbeaten – including 14 wins – stunned City with a fast start and were ahead after a penalty was awarded inside the first 30 seconds when Gabriel Jesus fouled the impressive Antony Martial.
Bruno Fernandes scored from the spot despite City keeper Ederson getting a strong hand on the ball, then United fashioned the win with a mixture of solid defence and constant menace on the break. Read more
Laporta returns to Camp Nou as Barcelona president (Punch)
Joan Laporta is once again FC Barcelona President, after beating both Victor Font and Toni Freixa in Sunday’s Presidential elections.
Laporta’s triumph was announced in a tweet by the Catalan club:
“2021 ELECTION. Joan Laporta, new president of FC Barcelona”
In an election that saw 55,676 voters, according to the club’s official website, Laporta secured 29,830 votes (57.63%). Font placed second with 16,484 votes (31.84), while Freixa managed 4,724 (9.13%). Read more
Bryson DeChambeau’s statement win came with telling Tiger Woods text (NYPost)
Bryson DeChambeau gave the fans what they wanted Saturday.
On Sunday, he gave himself what he wanted: a cherished victory at the tournament named after one of his boyhood idols, Arnold Palmer.
In chilly, windy, tricky weather conditions at Bay Hill for the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the 27-year-old DeChambeau edged out 47-year-old Englishman Lee Westwood by one shot in what became a stirring back nine of match play.
DeChambeau shot one of only three sub-par rounds among the 72 players on Sunday — a final-round 1-under 71 — and finished 11-under par to Westwood’s 10-under. Read more
Bale and Kane doubles inspire Spurs to comfortable win over Palace (BBC)
Gareth Bale and Harry Kane both scored twice to inspire Tottenham to a third consecutive Premier League win at the expense of Crystal Palace.
On-loan Real Madrid forward Bale had Kane to thank for both of his goals, opening the scoring with a tap-in from Kane’s cross and heading in a superb second from another assist from the England forward.
In between, Christian Benteke had drawn Palace level with their first effort on target with a fine header from Luka Milivojevic’s cross.
However, while the returning Wilfried Zaha hit the post for Roy Hodgson’s side after being introduced as a substitute they were unable to cope with the firepower at the hosts’ disposal. Read more
Bayern Munich show Borussia Dortmund why they’re still top dog (DW)
The Bundesliga weekend was dominated by the Klassiker between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Erling Haaland had raised Dortmund’s hopes of a rare win in Bavaria, but Bayern and Robert Lewandowski had other plans.
What happened in Der Klassiker?
A lot. But ultimately Bayern Munich were victorious again, this time by a 4-2 margin, in a fixture that’s now seen them score 19 in their last four home games against Borussia Dortmund. Bayern really have a hold over their Klassiker rivals.
It all started so well for the visitors. Two splendid goals by Erling Haaland saw Dortmund race into a two-goal lead inside nine minutes. But Dortmund’s two-goal cushion was eroded by Robert Lewandowski, who scored two before half time to drag Bayern level at the break.Dortmund, who were already without the injured Jadon Sancho, were then dealth a bitter blow when Haaland limped off injured himself. They were powerless to stop Bayern as Leon Goretzka grabbed the crucial third before Lewandowski pounced to slam home his hat-trick goal and put Dortmund back in their place. Read more