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 Accident forced me from being a mechanic to farming – Physically-challenged farmer Olu Adeleye, aka Olu Mecho, shifted from mechanic to farmer following an arm amputation after a car accident. In an interview with ABIODUN NEJO, he reveals the daunting challenges of farming having lost a hand, the potential impact of support and the benefits of farming to Nigerians. Excerpts: Despite having one arm, you are engaged in farming. What gave you the impression that you could do it initially? Even before the accident that led to the amputation of my left arm, I was engaged in growing maize alongside active mechanic work. Initially, after the accident, I made a return to the mechanic job and engaged some people to work with me, but it didn’t work out. That was how I quit and opted for farming. I decided that instead of turning to begging in churches, ministries, markets and other places, I would rather engage in farming with the little I would be able to do with one arm. On the farm, I gr...

 FUNAAB students protest colleague’s death, poor healthcare The students of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, have protested the death of their colleague, Ifeoluwa Ayodele, and what they described as the poor healthcare services in the school’s medical centre, which they alleged triggered the student’s death. The deceased student, a 100-level student of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, who was allegedly suffering from asthma, was rushed to the health centre on Wednesday for treatment but died in the consulting room. While the circumstances surrounding Ayodele’s death are not ascertained, the angry students stormed the campus gate on Thursday in their numbers for a demonstration over the state of the university’s medical centre. According to a student, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the deceased’s treatment was delayed by the health officers on duty because he could not provide an identity card. The student said this was part of the reasons why th...

Nigeria’s public debt rose by N24.33tn in three months – DMO Nigeria’s total public debt has reached N121.67tn, increasing by N24.33tn or 24.99 per cent within three months, the Debt Management Office has announced. This new figure is from a total debt of N97.34tn (108.23bn) as of December 2023. The Debt Management Office disclosed the new figure in a press release on Thursday in Abuja. The Public Debt, comprise of Total Domestic and External Debts of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the thirty-six state governments, and the Federal Capital Territory. The report read, “Nigeria’s total public debt stood at N121.67 trillion (USD91.46 billion) as of March 31, 2024. The comparative figure for December 31, 2023, was N97.34 trillion (USD108.23 billion). Total Domestic Debt was N65.65 trillion (USD46.29 billion) while Total External Debt was N56.02 trillion (USD42.12 billion).” The increase is driven majorly by naira devaluation, as the total debt was reduced in dollar terms. The government...

 Heatwave: 15 Nigerians die in S’Arabia as death toll exceeds 1,000 National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has confirmed the death of 15 Nigerian pilgrims in the ongoing Hajj in Saudi Arabia, including a women leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State.   Those who passed away during the spiritual exercise, including a female pilgrim who committed suicide, are from Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara and Lagos states.     Death toll from this year’s Hajj has exceeded 1,000, an AFP tally disclosed yesterday. More than half of them are reportedly unregistered worshippers, who performed the pilgrimage under extreme heat in Saudi Arabia.   The new deaths included 58 from Egypt, according to an Arab diplomat, who provided a breakdown showing that of the 658 victims from that country, 630 were unregistered.   About 10 countries have reported 1,081 deaths at the pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, which Muslims with the means mus...

 Protesters Storm Kaduna Government House, Demand Ex-Gov El-Rufai’s Arrest For Alleged N423billion Fraud Some protesters have stormed the Government House, Kaduna State, to demand the probe and arrest of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past Governor of the State. The Kaduna State House of Assembly  had recommended the probe of former governor of the state, Nasir El-Rufai for abuse of office and money laundering. The recommendation was given by the ad hoc committee set up by the House of Assembly mandating the investigation of all finances, loans and contracts awarded under Nasir El-Rufai’s government. The chairman of the ad hoc committee, Henry Zacharia, had presented the report during plenary on Wednesday, stating that the majority of the loans obtained during El-Rufai's administration were not used for the purpose for which they were obtained, and that in some cases, due process was not followed in obtaining the loans. Receiving the report, Yusuf Liman, Speaker of the K...

 Police fire tear gas, water cannon at anti-tax protesters in Nairobi Riot police in Nairobi fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of demonstrators on Thursday as coordinated marches took place across Kenya against government plans to raise $2.7 billion in additional taxes. Late into the protest on Thursday, officers fired tear gas to disperse protesters who were marching on a road near State House, President William Ruto's office and official residence, Reuters reported. Earlier, police had sprayed people with purple-coloured water from water cannon, as they sought to clear protesters in Nairobi's central business district and blocked their path to parliament. The demonstration had appeared peaceful. The Kenya Red Cross said on X it had attended to 39 injured people from the protests, of whom eight were in a critical condition. Police Inspector General Japhet Koome said in a statement they would not allow anyone to disrupt parliament's proceedings, or occup...

  Travis Scott Arrested in Miami Beach for Intoxication and Trespassing The rapper, who was charged with trespassing and disorderly intoxication, later admitted he had been drinking alcohol and stated, “It’s Miami.”. ACCORDING TO ANOTHER SOURCE: Musician Travis Scott was arrested and booked into Miami-Dade County Jail early Thursday morning on charges of trespassing property after being given a warning and disorderly intoxication, county jail records show. Scott, whose legal name is Jacques Bermon Webster, a hip-hop artist with hits like "Sikko Mode" and "Fe!N," was arrested at 1:44 a.m. at the Miami Beach Marina and was booked into jail at 4:35 a.m., according to authorities and jail records. A $650 bond has been submitted for the 33-year-old, jail records show. Scott bonded out of jail at 8 a.m. Thursday, according to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County. The incident early Thursday began when Scott was on a charter boat and was involved...

 EFCC Arraigns One for Tearing its Investigation Letters   The Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on June 11, 2024  arraigned one Usman Mallam for allegedly tearing EFCC's official Investigation Activities’ letters and obstructing The Commission's investigation  before Justice TG Ringim  of the Federal High  Court sitting in Gombe, Gombe State.   Mallam, a desk officer in charge of responding to official correspondences   in the office of the Secretary to the State Government, (SSG) Gombe State,  was arraigned on a one - count charge of willful obstruction of investigation activities and tearing  official documents of the EFCC.    The  lone charge against Mallam reads "that you, Usman Mallam on or about 26th day of February 2024 at Gombe, Gombe State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court while the officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC were...

 STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES BAYO ONANUGA ON BIRTHDAY   President Bola Tinubu extends his warm congratulations to his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, on his birthday.   Mr. Onanuga is one of Nigeria's finest journalists with a string of accomplishments in the media and beyond to show for his efforts.    He was a prominent figure in the pro-democracy struggles in Nigeria and, at various times, had to endure indignities over his progressive beliefs and pursuits.    He co-founded TheNews Magazine and was the CEO and Editor-in-Chief of PM News. He also previously served as Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria.   President Tinubu commends the ace journalist over his bent for professional excellence and describes him as a dependable and resourceful adviser.   The President wishes Mr. Onanuga many more years in good health, as well as renewed strength in his service to the nation...

 Court nullifies Ondo’s 33 LCDAs An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, the state capital, on Thursday nullified the 33 Local Council Development Areas in the state. The court described the LCDAs, which were created by the immediate former governor of the state, late Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, as illegal and unlawful. In the judgment delivered by Justice A.O Adebusuoye, the court said it was illegal for a governor to sign a law outside the state, adding that the LG Creation Law 2023 signed by late Akeredolu in Ibadan, outside the state, was “unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.” After the LG Creation Law was passed by the state assembly, the late Akeredolu signed the bill into law in September 2023. Shortly after the law was signed, the list of names of the caretaker chairmen for the 33 LCDAs was sent to the House for screening and approval. After the screening, the court stopped the inauguration of the appointed caretaker chairmen of the LCDAs, preventing them from assuming off...

 How Bandits Killed Man Who Took N16m Ransom, 3 Bikes To Them For Being Rude Bandits have shot dead a 27-year-old man, identified as Abba, after he delivered a N16 million ransom and three motorcycles to them for the release of nine victims they abducted in Jere town in Kaduna State. City & Crime had reported that bandits invaded some houses at Unguwar Iya in Jere on April 16, 2024, abducted nine residents and demanded N30 million. A resident, Shuaibu Hussaini, confirmed the killing of Abba while speaking through telephone with our reporter on Wednesday. He said the incident happened last Saturday after the victim, who was behind the negotiation of the ransom, went to deliver N16 million and three motorcycles to the leader of the bandits at a location in the area. He said the bandits’ leader, after collecting the ransom and the bikes, tied the deceased with a rope and opened fire on him. “It was one of the victims who was among those released who said the bandits’ leader claime...

 PRESS RELEASE        20TH JUNE,2024 The Editors The Bauchi State Police Command is deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident in Nasaru Village on the 19th of June, 2024. It has come to our attention that an individual named Usman was involved in sharing information about a new religious movement known as the Fera Movement. Regrettably, this led to tensions and an altercation, resulting in his loss of life. The Commissioner of Police, CP Auwal Musa Muhammad, condemns the actions of the individuals involved and emphasizes the importance of upholding the law. The Bauchi State Police Command is committed to stepping up surveillance patrols to ensure the safety and security of all residents. The public must work hand in hand with law enforcement agencies and refrain from taking matters into their own hands. We urge the community to remain calm and carry out daily activities without fear of intimidation, as normalcy has been restored in the affected area. The Bauch...

 Court faults Bayero’s dethronement, sets aside new law reinstating Sanusi A federal high court in Kano has nullified all actions by the Kano state government repealing the Kano Emirates Council Law of 2019. In a ruling on Thursday, Muhammad Liman, the presiding judge, ordered parties in the matter to maintain the status quo. Liman held that the defendants were aware of an interim order previously granted by the court but ignored it and implemented the law. The judge said he would assume his coercive powers to enforce compliance with the court order.

 Lagos APC women leader dies after performing Hajj in Saudi 20 June 2024   The leader in the Lagos Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ramota Bankole, has been pronounced dead after performing her Hajj rites in Saudi Arabia. Bankole, who was Lagos APC former Welfare Secretary, was said to be among the pilgrims that dropped dead following excessive heat recorded in the holy land. The former politician death was confirmed on Thursday by the council chairmen of Epe Local Governments, Eredo and Ikosi-Ejirin Local Council Development Area (LCDA), amid ongoing search by friends and family members for missing hajj pilgrims in Saudi after death toll at the annual rituals, which were carried out in scorching heat, surged past 900. They described the demise of the Lagos APC for Executive member, who celebrated her 60th birthday last month, as a rude shock to them, considering her role within the party. Leading the trio, the Chairman Epe Local Government, Surah Animashaun, in...

 Death toll from Lagos cholera outbreak rises to 21     The Lagos state government says the death toll from the cholera outbreak in the state has risen to 21. On June 11, Akin Abayomi, Lagos commissioner for health, said five people died while about 60 residents were hospitalised as a result of a suspected cholera outbreak in some parts of the city. On Saturday, the commissioner confirmed the cholera outbreak and said there have been 350 suspected cases, out of which 17 have been confirmed cases, with 15 fatalities. Providing an update on Thursday after meeting with members of the Lagos State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC), Kemi Ogunyemi, special adviser to the Lagos governor on health, said the rise in cases was anticipated following the Eid-el Kabir celebration. According to NAN, she said the total number of suspected infections increased to 401, with Lagos Island, Kosofe, and Eti Osa recording the highest numbers of infections. Ogunyemi said suspecte...

 Drug war: Why we target assets of drug barons, traffickers – Marwa ...NDLEA, UNODC, stakeholders kick off weeklong activities to mark 2024 world drug day,  Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has justified the decision of the anti-narcotics body to go after the assets of drug barons and traffickers as part of ongoing offensive action against illicit drugs and cartels. Marwa explained the rationale behind the fresh drive of the Agency at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday 19th June 2024 to kick off week-long activities to celebrate the 2024 International Day Against Drugs and Illicit Trafficking, in conjunction with other stakeholders like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC. “Permit me to share with you that our offensive action against drug cartels and traffickers, launched in January 2021, has to date continued to yield the desired result with the arrests and prosecutions of sev...

 TROOPS APPREHEND TERRORIST MASTERMIND OF ATTACK ON VILLAGES IN TARABA In a successful operation conducted by the troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation WHIRL STROKE, (OPWS) a terrorist mastermind responsible for a deadly attack on Mararaban Azagawa Village has been captured. The troops acted swiftly following the attack on 16 June 2024, which resulted in the tragic loss of five lives and numerous  injuries. Responding to the report, the troops of 6 Brigade Sub-Sector 3A OPWS, stationed at the Forward Operating Base in Bali Local Government Area, launched a special operation to apprehend those behind the attack. Based on credible intelligence, the troops were able to arrest the ringleader, Hassan Ibrahim, also known as Godu, 39 years old. During the arrest, items such as a Dane Gun, cartridges and a motorcycle belonging to one of the victims were recovered from him. Hassan Ibrahim has admitted his involvement in the heinous act and has provided valuable informati...

 Two men on a fishing trip discovered and rescued 38 dogs in serious trouble. Brad Carlisle and Bob Gist met for what was supposed to be a relaxing and fun day of fishing. Instead they saw an unbelievable sight once out on Grenada Lake in Mississippi.  As they made their way around the lake looking for the perfect fishing spot they noticed what appeared to be a pack of dogs treading water a long way from the shore.  The dogs were part of a fox hunt but instead they had chased a deer into the water. When Carlisle and Gist found them they were a mile from shore and were completely lost. Gist said the way their heads were in the water there was no way they could see the shore. The two fishermen pulled their boat up to the pups and began loading them on. They loaded 27 dogs and returned them to shore before heading back out to rescue 11 more. The grateful fox hunters offered to pay them however the duo refused the cash and were just happy to help. I hate to think of the terri...

 Matthew McConaughey almost quit Hollywood during rom-com years, considered being wildlife guide Matthew McConaughey was not always sure his place was in Hollywood.  Back when the star was best known for his romantic comedies like "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" and "The Wedding Planner," he said he decided to take a break to rethink his career. "I’ve usually zigged when I felt like Hollywood wanted me to zag," the 54-year-old told "Twisters" star Glen Powell for an article in Interview magazine. "When I had my rom-com years, there was only so much bandwidth I could give to those, and those were some solid hits for me. But I wanted to try some other stuff. Of course, I wasn’t getting it, so I had to leave Hollywood for two years." McConaughey said the break was "scary," and he considered leaving acting altogether and starting over again in a completely different career. "I had long talks with my wife about needing to find ...

 Gunmen sought in Philadelphia after firing into crowd, wounding 16-year-old and 6 others A 16-year-old girl was among seven victims wounded in Philadelphia on Wednesday evening after gunmen opened fire on a crowd in what authorities believe was a targeted shooting. The shooters remained on the loose after gunfire erupted around 6:15 p.m. on the 2800 block of North Bambrey Street, Philadelphia police said. "They shot into this crowd intentionally and someone in the crowd may have been the intended target," Philadelphia Police Inspector Scott Small told reporters at the scene. The seven victims, ranging in age from 16 to 47, were all hospitalized and were in stable condition, FOX29 Philadelphia reported. Two females were each shot in their legs, while another female and two males were shot in their arms or legs. The 16-year-old victim suffered a graze wound to her abdomen, while an 18-year-old female suffered a gunshot wound to her back. Small said it appeared the shots were f...

 TWO MEN SLAMMED WITH MULTIPLE JAIL TERMS FOR CHILD STEALING, ILLEGAL DEALING IN CHILDREN By Chidinma Ikeanyionwu Two young men, Kingsley Chinedu Okeke, aged, 22 years old, and Chukwuemeka Nweke, aged, 27 years old, have been convicted and sentenced to multiple jail terms, by the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court of Anambra State, sitting in Awka. Kingsley Chinedu Okeke and Chukwuemeka Nweke were arraigned before the Court, sometime in 2023, on a-4 count charge to wit: Child Stealing, illegal dealing in children; fraudulently enticing away and habouring one year and two months old baby boy; forcefully isolating the child from the lawful possession of his parents; and infliction of physical injuries, punishable under the Criminal Code, Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991, the Child's Rights Law of Anambra State, 2004, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Laws of Anambra State, 2017 respectively. Delivering a lengthy judgment on the case, t...

 ABANDONED/RECOVERED VEHICLES AND A TRICYCLE The Anambra State Police Command today 20th June 2024 wishes to inform the members of the public especially *Ndi Anambra* of the following abandoned/recovered vehicles and a tricycle in the Command. They include:  *1. SUV SPOT AGF KIV JEEP (BLACK COLOUR) WITH REG NO: KJA 983 AQ*. *2. TOYOTA HIGHLANDER JEEP (WINE RED COLOUR) WITH REG. NO: APP 451 GG*. *3. TWO MITSUBISHI L-300 BUSES (BLUE COLOUR) *WITH REG. NO: ATN 980 ZK & LND 747 XK* *4. TOYOTA VENZA (RED COLOUR) WITH REG. NOS: GGE 539 JF*. *LEXUS RX350 (GRAY COLOUR) WITH REG. NOS: BDG 561 JD*. *6. TOYOTA VENZA (WHITE COLOUR) WITH REG NOS: AGL 936 NX*. *7. TOYOTA CAMRY (WHITE COLOUR) WITH REG NOS: KRD 189 JAC* *8. TRICYCLE (YELLOW COLOUR) WITHOUT REG. NUMBER* *9. TOYOTA RAV4 (BLACK COLOUR) WITH REG. NOS. MUS 77 DS* *10. MERCEDES BENZ 550 CLS (WHITE COLOUR) WITHOUT REG. NUMBER*  *11. BMW 650i (WHITE COLOUR) WITHOUT REG. NUMBER* Given the above, the Command invites anyone o...

 Nigeria drop to 38th, Argentina maintain top spot in FIFA rankings In the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday, Nigeria has fallen to the 38th position. The Super Eagles now have 1498.93 points, a decrease from their previous 1520.27 points. This drop marks a significant shift in the global football landscape, as Nigeria continues to face challenges on the international stage. Formerly ranked 30th, Nigeria’s decline follows its performance in the two matches after the African Cup of Nations, where they emerged as runners-up after losing 2-1 to the host nation. In their recent games, the Super Eagles played a 1-1 draw against Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and suffered a 2-1 defeat to Benin Republic in a match played in Ivory Coast. Nigeria’s hopes for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers remain doubtful, as the nation failed to secure victories in these crucial matches. Meanwhile, Argentina maintained its top position in the rankings, solidifying its status a...

 STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE  PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA VISITS PRESIDENT TINUBU IN JOHANNESBURG, UNDERSCORES NEED FOR STRONGER PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SOUTH AFRICA AND NIGERIA  President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in Johannesburg, South Africa, held a private meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa.  Before the closed meeting, which was held at Radisson Blu Hotel in Johannesburg, President Ramaphosa thanked President Tinubu for honouring the invitation to attend his inauguration for a second term in office. "Thank you so much for coming for the inauguration. I was very happy to see my brother at the ceremony," the South African President said.  President Tinubu noted that President Ramaphosa's inaugural speech captured most of the challenges faced by African countries and the need for more collaboration among leaders and citizens to provide solutions. "I really enjoyed your speech at the ceremony. I was delighted listening to you. We have lots of issues in common, and we need t...