Woman arrested for using children as beggars in Lagos (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a woman popularly known as Mama Ajayi, for allegedly using children to beg for alms in the Chisco area of Lekki, Lagos.
This is just as a hotel attendant was arrested, following a complaint by a guest that he sneaked into her hotel room at night to assault her sexually.
Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, CP Hakeem Odumosu, who paraded some suspects arrested within the month of April, at the command headquarters, Ikeja, disclosed that Mama Ajayi was arrested alongside one Segun Ajayi.
He explained that “ It is a case of child trafficking and abuse reported via written petition by Auntlanda’s Bethel Foundation located at 17 Jide Agbalaya street, Chevy View Estate, Lekki Lagos against Mama Ajayi ‘f’ of Chisco area, Lekki Lagos. Read more
Woman collapses in church while fasting, dies in Lagos hospital
(Punch)
The family of a woman, Joy Owoyele, is in grief after she died during a 14-day fasting in the Isheri Olofin area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Owoyele had sought spiritual help regarding her matrimonial challenges at the Christ Apostolic Church, Ori-Oke Gbogunmi, aka Ajanpelenbe Mountain, located on Pipeline Road, Isheri Olofin.
She was said to have been placed on 14-day fasting and prayer, but on the 10th day, things took a tragic turn as she suddenly collapsed after the morning prayers inside the church. Read more
Girls education key to progressive society, Sanwo-Olu (Vanguard)
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed his administration’s commitment to quality education and promotion of equal opportunities for the girl child.
Sanwo-Olu, speaking after a close-door meeting with the United Kingdom (UK) Minister for Africa, Mr. James Duddridge; Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Nigeria and Special Envoy for Girls Education, Helen Grant and British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Ben Llewellyn-Jones, at Lagos House, Ikeja on Thursday evening, said giving quality education to girls is critical to having a progressive society with shared prosperity.
The governor said the meeting was “in furtherance of previous engagements on the UK’s partnership with Lagos in areas of mutual interests, especially on the future cities project, optimising the state’s waterways and promoting education for the girl child.” Read more
My abductors got N600,000 ransom, gave me N500 and requested prayers – Oyo farmer (Punch)
A farmer in Ayete in the Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State, Oluwafemi Oyedepo, has recounted his nasty experience in kidnappers’ den where he spent four days.
City Round learnt that Oyedepo and his two partners were travelling to a farm around Felele village last Friday when some gunmen ambushed their van in the Konko area, Ibarapa.
His partners were said to have escaped but Oyedepo was not lucky as the abductors caught up with him and took him into the forest. Read more
Boko Haram: Victims recount ISWAP’s 5-day reign of terror in Geidam (DailyTrust)
Residents of Geidam now live in fear following the five-day occupation of their town by Boko Haram insurgents. The terrorists had attacked the town located in northern part of Yobe State four times this year alone.
Even though the general impression is that Boko Haram fighters loyal to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) rarely attack the civilian population as they always target security operatives and formations, some people in Geidam will not forget what happened to them recently.
Katsina police arrest man over 273 stolen handsets
Presidency: Mbaka distressed because Buhari denied him contracts
Before the insurgents left Geidam on Tuesday, April 27, many lives were lost and property worth millions of destroyed. At least 11 people were killed by a mortar bomb that fell in two houses. It is still not certain who fired the lethal weapon.
Two teachers were shot dead by the terrorists at the Government Technical School, Geidam, and another teacher at a house in the town. Read more
Novarick celebrates team productivity on Workers’ Day 2021 (Vanguard)
To show support and encourage team building, the management of Novarick Homes and Properties showered praises on the entire staff as they celebrate this year’s International Workers’ Day. It was another unique opportunity to take stock of past achievements and contributions towards increased productivity.
It was fun galore as the team of young professionals took turns to recount their successes and experiences over the years, since joining the fast-growing real estate firm.
During a chat with the Chief Executive Officer, Novarick Homes, Noah Ibrahim commended his team for their patience, understandingand support especially after the 2020 global lockdown. He said “though there are different challenges in our nation, I believe with effective team work,we will build the future of our dreams.” Read more
Notorious bandit leader who masterminded Kankara abduction killed (Punch)
Notorious bandit leader Auwalun Daudawa who led his gang to abduct over 300 students of Government Science Secondary School Kankara, Katsina State last December has been killed.
The Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs in Zamfara State, Abubakar Dauran, confirmed his death, according to Channels Television.
Daudawa had laid down his arms and accepted Governor Bello Matawalle’s peace initiative in February 2021 but a few days ago, he went back into the trenches to continue his banditry. Read more
Benin Bronzes: Germany to return looted artefacts to Nigeria (BBC)
Germany has agreed to return to Nigeria priceless artefacts that were stolen during the colonisation of Africa.
British troops looted thousands of artworks known as the Benin Bronzes from the Kingdom of Benin, in present-day Nigeria, in 1897.
Following auctions, some of the bronzes ended up in museums and private collections across Europe.
They hold deep cultural significance, and there is growing international pressure to give them back. Read more
Game of Thrones actress sues Marilyn Manson alleging abuse (BBC)
Game of Thrones actress Esmé Bianco has sued singer Marilyn Manson, alleging sexual assault and battery.
The lawsuit claims Mr Manson coerced the British actress with “drugs, force, and threats of force”.
The plaintiff also alleges the singer and his manager broke trafficking laws by luring her from London to the US with empty promises of work.
The artist has rejected multiple allegations of abuse against him as “horrible distortions of reality”. Read more
Noel Clarke ‘deeply sorry’ and seeking ‘professional help’ but denies sex harassment claims (Metro)
Noel Clarke is ‘deeply sorry’ for some of his actions – but denies allegations of sexual misconduct. The Viewpoint actor has been accused of sexual harassment and bullying by 20 women, in a Guardian report. In a fresh statement, the 45-year-old said he will be ‘seeking professional help’ to ‘educate’ himself. ‘I vehemently deny any sexual misconduct or criminal wrongdoing,’ the message, given to PA, read. Read more
India Covid-19: Vaccination for over-18s to start amid shortages (BBC)
India is due to begin vaccinating all adults over the age of 18 amid a deadly second wave of infections.
But a number of states say they won’t be able to provide the jabs because they don’t have enough doses.
India’s vaccination drive is in a crisis at a time when the country’s healthcare system is overwhelmed with more than 300,000 cases and over 3,000 deaths being reported daily. Read more
Lupita Nyong’o says Black Panther 2 will honour Chadwick Boseman (Metro)
Lupita Nyong’o says Black Panther 2 will honour Chadwick Boseman after he died in August last year following a battle with cancer. Chadwick has been handed a number of posthumous awards this year for his performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom after he suffered with colon cancer in private for four years. And Lupita, 38, admits it will be a struggle to go to work on Black Panther 2 without Chadwick after he starred in the first film. During an interview with Yahoo! Entertainment while promoting her YouTube original series Super Sema, she said: ‘People will ask me, “Are you excited to go back?” Excitement isn’t the word. Read more
US to ban travelers from India, as subcontinent grapples with Covid surge (RT)
The Biden administration will impose new travel restrictions on India, amid a wave of coronavirus cases and deaths. Nearly half the world’s population is now banned from entering the US.
“On the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Administration will restrict travel from India starting immediately,” Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement on Friday. “The policy will be implemented in light of extraordinarily high Covid-19 caseloads and multiple variants circulating in the [sic] India.”
The policy will take effect on Tuesday, and will not affect US citizens or lawful residents traveling from India. Read more
Bronze Age treasure found in Swedish forest by mapmaker (BBC)
A man surveying a forest for his orienteering club in western Sweden stumbled on a trove of Bronze Age treasure reckoned to be some 2,500 years old.
It includes about 50 items, such as necklaces, bracelets and clothing pins.
The cartographer, Thomas Karlsson, said “I first thought it might be a lamp, but when I looked closer I saw that it was old jewellery”.
Swedish archaeologists say it is very rare to find such a hoard in a forest. Read more
Confed Cup: Enyimba not taking Pyramids clash lightly (Punch)
Enyimba forward, Dayo Ojo, says they will apply a serious approach when they battle Pyramids FC in the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Two-time African champions Enyimba were drawn against the Egyptians during a draw ceremony conducted by CAF’s Director of Competitions, Samson Adamu, and Ivoirian legend Abdoulaye Traore in Cairo.
The first leg tie of their last eight clash comes up May 16 in Egypt, with the reverse fixture billed for May 23 in Aba.
Reacting to the draw in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Ojo, 26, said, “There are no small teams in football, we saw what happened in our last game against (Orlando) Pirates. It was not an easy game but we thank God we scale through. Read more
Mega £150m Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury site deal set to be confirmed, despite Bob Arum’s shock claim (Metro)
Tyson Fury’s eagerly anticipated heavyweight showdown with Anthony Joshua is set to move a step closer towards being confirmed, with a site deal worth a staggering $150 million likely to be rubber-stamped this weekend. The Gypsy King’s veteran promoter, Bob Arum, had piled the pressure on his Matchroom rival Eddie Hearn earlier this week, warning that any further delay could put the fight in jeopardy and force Fury to consider locking horns with Deontay Wilder for a third time, instead. Arum went a step further on Thursday night, claiming the all-British contest was ‘dead in the water’ and that Fury had been left ‘fuming’ by the constant delays. Read more
Champions League hopefuls Leicester held by 10-man Southampton (BBC)
Southampton held Leicester to a draw despite playing more than 80 minutes with 10 men to frustrate the Foxes in their push to clinch a top-four finish.
Jannick Vestergaard was controversially sent off after just 10 minutes when his tackle on Jamie Vardy was deemed to have denied the Leicester striker a goal-scoring opportunity.
Vestergaard, on the edge of his box and the last defender, got the ball with a lunging tackle but referee Robert Jones deemed his follow-through on to Vardy’s ankle had prevented the striker running in on goal.
That decision set the game’s pattern, Leicester probing while Southampton defended deep, but it was the Saints who took the lead in the 61st minute. Read more
Extra-time winner takes Nagelsmann’s Leipzig into German Cup final (BBC)
Substitute Emil Forsberg scored a dramatic late extra-time winner against Werder Bremen in to send RB Leipzig through to the German Cup final.
Forsberg’s 121st-minute volley gave Leipzig the 2-1 win after both teams had failed to score in normal time.
Hwang Hee-chan put Leipzig ahead after 93 minutes before Bremen levelled through Leonardo Bittencourt at the end of the first period of extra time.
Borussia Dortmund host second-tier side Holstein Kiel in the other semi-final. Read more
Man Utd receive huge boost as Edinson Cavani performs major U-turn (Metro)
Edinson Cavani has decided against leaving Manchester United this summer and will instead remain at Old Trafford next season, reports claim. Cavani had appeared set on ending his time in English football and returning to his native Argentina, with Boca Juniors reportedly keen to sign him. But, despite his doubts, he has now been persuaded to stick around and will stay for at least another season, according to ESPN. Read more
Leicester Tigers 33-24 Ulster: Stunning second half Leicester fightback sinks Ulster (BBC)
Ulster head coach Dan McFarland has admitted it will take his side some time to recover from their Challenge Cup semi-final defeat by Leicester.
The province led by 11 points at the break but the Tigers stormed back in the second half to secure a 33-24 win.
Quickfire tries from Jasper Wiese and Ellis Genge saw the hosts turn the game around by the 60-minute mark before Guy Porter’s late score sealed the win.
They will now face either Bath or Montpellier in the final on 21 May.”You don’t move on from this quickly. That was a chance to be in a European final,” said McFarland. Read more