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 How assailant killed mother of four in Sokoto hotel – Police The Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed the murder of a middle aged woman in a hotel within the Sokoto metropolis. The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ahmed Rufai, told our correspondent on the phone on Friday that the deceased was found dead with her throat slit in the toilet of the hotel room. He said the police had commenced investigation and had gathered useful information  from documents the suspect left in the hotel room.  “We have commenced investigation into the incident, as we are able to gather some useful information from documents the allegedly killer left in the room and his information at the reception. “We will update the press on our investigation as it goes on but for now, we are on it” he added However, sources close to the deceased said the victim was a divorced mother of four  who occasionally visited the hotel which served as a location for commercial sex workers.

 Five Benue lawmakers narrowly escape death following herdsmen attack Five members of the Benue State House of Assembly had a close call with death on Thursday night as they narrowly escaped an attack by suspected armed herdsmen in Tyo-Mu community, Gwer Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. The lawmakers encountered the armed herdsmen while en route from Katsina-Ala LGA to attend a public hearing on a bill for the establishment of Benue State Civil Protection Guards. According to a statement released in Makurdi by the Chairman of the State Assembly Committee on Information and Orientation, Elias Audu, the lawmakers’ convoy was ambushed by the armed men around 10 pm. The assailants, who had laid siege to Tyo-Mu and Mbakera communities for several hours, opened fire on the lawmakers’ convoy. Elias Audu condemned the attack, labeling it as unwarranted. He called on security agencies to apprehend the attackers and ensure that they face justice for their actions. The statement read...

 I could say a few things that could destroy Soyinka – Baba-Ahmed Former Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Yusuf Baba-Ahmed, has hit back at Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, over his comment that Peter Obi, LP’s presidential candidate, was unfit to lead the country. Baba-Ahmed said that he could say a few things to Soyinka that could destroy him for good but he wouldn’t say that. According to him, intellect doesn’t give Soyinka the right to insult anybody. Recall that Soyinka had said that Obi’s failure to reign on his supporters attacking others with opposing views online was a pointer that he is unfit to lead a country like Nigeria. The literary icon also accused Obi of encouraging ‘Obidients’ to attack him and others with opposing views online. However, while responding to Soyinka’s comment, Friday, on Arise Television, Baba-Ahmed said what Soyinka was doing was an attempted distraction, adding that he wouldn’t not join issues with him. “The learned elder st...

 Soyinka: I hope Obi doesn’t vie for presidency in 2027… he’s unfit to lead Nigeria     Wole Soyinka, the Nobel laureate, says Peter Obi is “unfit” to lead Nigeria. Obi was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election and polled third behind Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In an interview with Noble Eyisi, a digital creator, Soyinka said he hopes that the former Anambra governor does not vie for the presidency in the 2027 election.  Soyinka alleged that Obi has encouraged the vitriol aimed his way from his supporters — who are called ‘Obidients’. “I hope for the sake of the nation that he doesn’t express interest in the next election because for me as a leader, if there was any proof that he was unfit to lead that country, it’s in the conduct which he encouraged among his followers,” Soyinka said.  “I know for a fact that he was in control of those forces.” T...

 Lagos Court Jails Man Four Years For Defrauding British Airways N35.6m Justice O.O.Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, May 23, 2024, convicted and sentenced one Idris Bakare to four years imprisonmemt  for defrauding British Airways the sum of N35.6million. He was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a four-count charge bordering on stealing to the tune of N35, 672, 845.00 (Thirty Five Million, Six Hundred and Seventy-two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Forty-five Naira). The offence is contrary to Section 280(2) and punishable under section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015. One of the counts reads: “Idris Bakare Adeyemi, Dauda Adegboyega and Zuraai Gold Ventures, between 23rd October, 2019 and 31st December, 2019 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of of this Honourable Court, dishonestly converted to your use the total sum of N35,672, 845.00 (Thirty-five Million, Six ...

 STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE  PRESIDENT TINUBU RECEIVES LEADERS OF THOUGHT, SAYS EFFECTIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION CRITICAL TO NIGERIA'S DEVELOPMENT President Bola Tinubu has called for a more effective local government system that fosters community development and delivers the essentials of governance within a strengthened federal structure. Speaking when he received a delegation of the Yoruba Leaders of Thought at the State House on Friday, President Tinubu emphasized that governance must be transformative and must address the critical needs of citizens. He said the past 12 months have been fulfilling for his administration despite the presence of some challenges that are being addressed frontally.    "It has been challenging. It has been fulfilling as well. We took over, and we have stopped the bleeding. I can say categorically now that Nigeria is no longer bleeding. And it will not bleed to death, but rather will now move to prosperity. That is the promise ...

 Boat Driver Who Carried Late Junior Pope, Other Actors Not Certified –NSIB The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) on Friday released preliminary report on the boat accident involving some Nollywood actors which occurred in Anambra, declaring that the boat driver was not certified. The NSIB disclosed this on Friday while briefing newsmen on the release of four final and preliminary reports by the bureau. Presented by the Director General, Capt. Alex Badeh Jn were two Aviation incident final reports, one aviation incident preliminary report, and a marine accident preliminary report, along with 20 safety recommendations. The boat accident occured in Anam River in Anambra State on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. It was conveying 12 actors and crew members before it crashed resulting in loss of five passengers including popular Nollywood actor, Mr. Paul Odonwodo, popularly known as Junior Pope. Others who died in the incident were Ms. Abigail Frederick, Mr. Precious Oforum, and Mr....

 HRM King Charles III hosts Cuppy Otedola at Buckingham Palace His Majesty King Charles III shares a joke with Cuppy. He hosts a star-studded King’s Trust International reception at Buckingham Palace. Cuppy Otedola, an Ambassador of The King’s Trust International, meets with His Majesty King Charles III, at Buckingham Palace.  Cuppy is amongst a few to be invited to join the 2024 Prince’s Trust Award winners at a very special reception with His Majesty The King, at Buckingham Palace. More photos below. 

 Tribunal upholds Uzodinma’s election as Imo governor The Imo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on Friday upheld the election of Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as Imo State governor. The tribunal, which gave its ruling in Abuja, also dismissed the petition of the Labour Party, LP, and its governorship candidate, Athan Achonu. In a unanimous decision delivered by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, the three-man panel of the tribunal held that Uzodimma’s election as Imo State governor complied substantially with the provisions of the Electoral Act. The tribunal further held that the Labour Party in its petition failed to prove the allegation of over-voting and non-compliance to the Electoral Act.

  Two Americans and One Haitian Missionary Murdered in Port au Prince. Three missionaries were killed in Port Au Prince overnight.  On the evening of Thursday, May 23, two American missionaries from Missions in Haiti, Davy and Natalie Lloyd, and the organization's Haitian Head of Staff Jude Montis, were killed in a gang attack on the Missions In Hope compound in the Bon Repos neighborhood of Greater Port-au-Prince.   A public Facebook post by the ministry while the incident was in progress indicated the missionaries were ambushed by a gang as they left a church meeting. They were taken to a house on their compound, which the gang looted. At some point, a second gang arrived, ostensibly to help the missionaries. Gunfire broke out, and a gang member was killed. Specific circumstances are unclear, but the CEs and staff member were subsequently killed as one of the gangs went into “full attack mode,” according to the post: Concilium President Scott Brawner was quoted in ...

2 arrested for allegedly plotting knife attack at German synagogue German authorities said Friday that they have arrested two men suspected of plotting a knife attack on worshipers at a synagogue in the southwestern city of Heidelberg. The suspects, who are 24 and 18 years old, were detained during separate police operations in the state of Baden-Wuerttember earlier this month, German news agency dpa reported, citing state prosecutors and police. The pair discussed "the killing of one or more visitors in the attack on the synagogue followed by death as martyrs, whereby the two persons wanted to be shot to death by police," authorities said in a joint statement. The pair could face charges including conspiracy to commit murder. Police uncovered the plot when they searched the home of the older suspect on May 3. During the search, a police officer shot and injured the suspect after he had grabbed a knife. Evidence seized during the search included an exchange of online messages...

 ANAMBRA POLICE RECORD YET ANOTHER BREAKTHROUGH, ARREST TWO SUSPECTED SECESSIONIST, RECOVER ONE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED & SEVENTY LIVE CARTRIDGES AND A STOLEN VEHICLE The Command Operatives leveraging on the Practical Intelligence and tactical led operations by *CP Nnaghe Obono Itam*,  acted on the information provided and recorded yet another breakthrough as Police Operatives intercepted a shuttle bus, and recovered two 50KG bags containing four cartons of one hundred and seventy pieces live cartridges.  The Operatives laid ambush on the receipt of Information along Portharcourt Road Fegge, Onitsha, the convener on sighting the Police took to his heels before the driver was arrested. The driver is currently undergoing interrogation to guide the investigation.  Also, police on 23/5/2024 along Creek Road, Fegge arrested one Mr Kingsley Orji of Okwudo village, Mgbidi, Imo State, and recovered a stolen Lexus RX350 with Reg nos: YAB 912 HR. The vehicle was reported to h...

  TROOPS APPREHEND NIGERIAN SYNDICATE SUPPLYING FUEL TO AMBAZONIA REBELS FOR TERRORISM ACTIVITIES IN TARABA STATE   In a significant covert operation driven by actionable intelligence and extensive surveillance, troops of Nigerian Army deployed for Counter-terrorism operations along the Nigeria-Cameroon Border in Taraba State have successfully intercepted and apprehended 8 members of a syndicate that specializes in smuggling fuel from Nigeria to the Ambazonian rebels in the Republic of Cameroon to facilitate terrorists' activities. The sting operation took place on Friday  24 May 2024  along the Abong-Kurmi Baissa Road in Taraba State,  between Nigeria and Cameroon border. The suspects, identified as  Jafaru Adamu (32 years), Auwal Haruna (34 years), Umar Dahiru, Mubarak Abdullahi (20 years), Saidu Musa (26 years), Bashiru Ibrahim (18 years), Danlami Yahuaza (19 years), and Abubakar Abdullahi (19 years), were caught enroute the border with large quantity of...

 Singer Kelly Rowland defends clash with security guard on red carpet: 'I stood my ground' Kelly Rowland is sticking up for herself after making headlines for going off on a security guard at the Cannes Film Festival. "The woman knows what happened, I know what happened," Rowland told The Associated Press at the amfAR Gala on Thursday.  "I have a boundary and I stand by those boundaries and that is it." The former Destiny's Child member made waves while attending the premiere of "Marcello Mio" at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday, when she appeared to yell at a security guard while walking the red carpet.  In a series of photos, Rowland is seen posing and waving to fans while on the carpet. However, as she made her way up the stairs with the help of a female security guard, things took a turn. According to the Daily Mail, the singer and actress became agitated after the security guard became too "aggressive" toward her.  "The p...

 The Bank of Zambia has expressed concern over the continued participation of members of the public in fraudulent financial schemes worries Bank of Zambia BOZ Assistant Director Communications Besnat Mwanza says the schemes typically promote investment options that promise abnormally high returns. READ PRESS RELEASE BELOW: Bank of Zambia PRESS STATEMENT WARNING AGAINST MONEY CIRCULATION SCHEMES The Bank of Zambia has observed, with concern, the continued participation of members of the public in fraudulent financial schemes. The schemes typically promote investment options. that promise abnormally high returns. Countless citizens continue to lose their hard-earned money to such schemes. The Rank reiterates that any person who conducts or participates in a money circulation scheme or issues a notice, circular, prospectus, proposal or other document inviting the public to subscribe to a money circulation scheme commits an offence. Promoting such schemes contravenes, among others, Sec...

 Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock has died. He was best known for Super Size Me, an inventive 2004 documentary about the fast food industry for which he consumed only McDonald’s fast food for a month. The film was a massive success and would earn more than $20 million in the global box office.  Spurlock died Thursday, May 23, in New York of complications from cancer, according to a statement sent by David Magdael, a publicist. He was 53 years old.  Spurlock’s brother, Craig, was quoted in the statement. “It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” he said. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas, and generosity. The world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him.” Spurlock would produce and direct nearly 70 film and TV shows, all of them documentaries. They included Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?, about the U.S. war in Afghanistan and The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, a meta movie about marketing a ...

 RELEASE OF FATHER BASIL GBUZUO AND PROFESSOR SYDNEY ONYEAGU: CP ITAM ACTIVATES ONSLAUGHT OPERATION ON THE KIDNAPPERS. The Commissioner of Police CP Nnaghe Obono Itam has today 24/5/2024 activated onslaught Operations on the abductors of Fr. Basil Gbuzuo and Prof. Sydney Onyeagu of Unizik after their release unhurt by the kidnappers.  The CP assures that the Command is in high spirit and already leveraging on  information in this regard especially to frustrate criminal intentions of nonstate actors and reduce crime to the barest minimum in the State.  SP Tochukwu Ikenga Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Command. Awka. 24th May 2024.

 TROOPS CONDUCT ANTI-KIDNAP OPERATIONS, ARREST SUSPECTED  INFORMANTS, NOTORIOUS KIDNAPPER IN ABUJA, OYO In a recent Anti-Kidnap operations based on credible intelligence, troops of the Nigerian Army deployed for internal security duties made significant strides in combating Kidnap activities in the Federal Capital Territory and Oyo State.  In the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, troops on  Thursday 23 May 2024, raided a suspected kidnappers' hideout in Ajegunle Mpape, targeting a notorious informant known for harbouring kidnappers. During the operation, the troops apprehended an informant  suspect named  Ashiru Mohammed with two female accomplices, Raham Abubakar and Sadiya Mohammed. The suspects were found in possession of one Beretta pistol, one pistol magazine and 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition. The troops also recovered five ATM cards from different banks, two mobile phones  and suspected  illicit drugs. The suspects are curre...

 Why I reinstated Lamido Sanusi as Kano Emir – Governor The Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, stated that his decision to reinstate the deposed Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, was driven by a commitment fulfilled to the people of the state. He added that it was also part of his campaign commitment to residents of the state. On Thursday, Mr Yusuf signed a bill repealing the State Emirate Council Law 2019, which had established five emirate councils. This move effectively dissolved the four additional emirates created by the previous administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, along with the removal of all five emirs. The bill was swiftly passed by the state House of Assembly on the same day it was signed by the governor. Speaking at the Government House during the signing, Governor Yusuf emphasized that the new law mandated the reinstatement of Mr Lamido as Emir of Kano, aligning with his campaign pledge to the state’s residents. “The law provided an opportunity for reinstat...

 Americans arrested in Turks and Caicos bunk, pray together while awaiting sentencings: 'A big family' Three of five Americans arrested and detained in Turks and Caicos since February for having stray ammunition in their luggage are bunking together as they await their fate on the islands. Bryan Hagerich, 39, of Pennsylvania, Ryan Watson, 40, of Oklahoma, and Sharitta Grier, 45, of Florida have become unlikely friends — even a kind of family — after finding themselves stuck on the islands over what each of them described as a mistake.  "We're all a support system for one another. You know, it's a big family," Watson told Fox News Digital in a Thursday interview alongside Hagerich and Grier. Watson later described their trio as being "like two brothers and a sister." Tyler Wenrich, 31, of Virginia, and Michael Lee Evans, 72, of Texas, were also arrested for having bullets in their bags. The five Americans, all arrested since February, each face a mini...

 Nurse convicted of murdering 7 babies at hospital neonatal unit loses bid to appeal A British neonatal nurse who was convicted of murdering seven babies and the attempted murder of six others has lost her bid to appeal. Lucy Letby, 34, had asked for permission to challenge the verdict after she was convicted and sentenced to life in prison last year.  A three-judge panel of Britain's Court of Appeal heard the case in April and released its decision on Friday. "Having heard her application, we have decided to refuse leave to appeal on all grounds and refuse all associated applications,″ Judge Victoria Sharp said. "A full judgment will be handed down in due course." A jury at Manchester Crown Court had found her guilty of the crimes, which took place between June 2015 and June 2016 at the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital in northwestern England. Most defendants in British court cases don't have an automatic right to appeal. They must seek permissi...

 Hungary PM Orbán declares intent to opt out of NATO efforts to support Ukraine Hungary will seek to opt out of any NATO operations aimed at supporting Ukraine, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Friday, suggesting that the military alliance and the European Union were moving toward a more direct conflict with Russia. Orbán told state radio that Hungary opposes a plan NATO is weighing to provide more predictable military support to Ukraine in coming years to repel Moscow's full-scale invasion, as better armed Russian troops assert control on the battlefield. "We do not approve of this, nor do we want to participate in financial or arms support (for Ukraine), even within the framework of NATO," Orbán said, adding that Hungary has taken a position as a "nonparticipant" in any potential NATO operations to assist Kyiv. "We've got to redefine our position within the military alliance, and our lawyers and officers are working on ... how Hungary can exist as a N...

 Court Jails Man for Spraying Naira Notes in Benin City Justice C.A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City has convicted and sentenced one Osazee Kenneth Imagbenikaro to jail for spraying naira notes. Imagbenikaro was convicted on a two count charge for offence bordering on spraying naira notes on Thursday May 16, 2024 contrary to Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Establishment ) Act 2007 and punishable under Section 21 (1) of the same Act. One of the counts reads: That you Osazee Kenneth Imagbenikoro (m) on or about the 28th day of April 2023 at Ogida Police Barracks, Benin City,  Edo State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did spray N100 notes at a funeral ceremony and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 (3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Establishment ) Act 2007 and punishable under Section 21 (1) of the same Act. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him in court. Based on his plea, pros...

 EFCC Arrests 46 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Awka Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have arrested Forty-six (46) suspected internet fraudsters, in Awka metropolis, Anambra State.   The suspects were arrested during a sting operation, in the early hours of Friday, May 24, 2024 following credible intelligence linking them to cybercrimes activities in the State.   Items recovered from them include mobile phones, six laptops and six exotic cars.   The suspects are currently tendering confessional statements and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

 State Department re-issues dire 'Do Not Travel' warning for Venezuela The State Department is again warning Americans not to travel to Venezuela due to high levels of crime and civil unrest under the socialist dictatorship of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.  The department has re-issued a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" travel advisory, its most serious warning. "Do not travel to Venezuela due to crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws," the notice on the State Department’s website reads. "Reconsider travel due to wrongful detentions, terrorism, and poor health infrastructure." "Violent crimes, such as homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking, are common in Venezuela," the notice reads. The State Department says there is a "high risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals in Venezuela" and that security forces have detained U.S. citizens for up to five years, with the country not g...