PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 American rapper Julio Foolio shot dead while celebrating birthday Rising American rapper Charles Jones, popularly known as Julio Foolio, has been shot dead. According to local outlet News 4 Jax, the hip-hop star was shot and killed in Tampa, Florida, early Sunday morning. At the time of his death, he was celebrating his 26th birthday. In a press release, the Tampa Police confirmed that they responded to a 911 call regarding a shooting at the hotel at 4:40 am. Tampa Police Public Information Officer Jonee’ Lewis stated that one person died in the incident, while three other people are being treated for their injuries at an undisclosed hospital. “The victim in this morning’s shooting is believed to be Charles Jones. Positive identification is pending confirmation from the Medical Examiner’s Office,” Lewis added.

 Nasarawa palace: Kano governor issues quit notice to Bayero …approves N99.9 million for renovation of palace where Bayero resides Kano state governor, Abba Yusuf, has served dethroned emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero, a quit notice to immediately vacate the Nasarawa palace where he is currently staying. The governor said he wanted to demolish the dilapidated parts of the property for reconstruction and renovation. The state government on Sunday, June 23, expressed dismay that Bayero was still “squatting” at the Nasarawa palace, saying it was not safe for him to continue to live there. Governor Yusuf on Saturday approved the sum of N99.9 million for the immediate reconstruction and renovation of the Nasarawa palace, saying the deposed emir should quit immediately, for his safety and avoidance of embarrassment. The approval was made during the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting in Government House chaired by the governor on Saturday. “The approved sum of N99,928,541.63 is for reconstructio

 Katsina: Vengeance Seeking Bandits Kill Residents, Burn Houses, Cars In 4-Hour Operation Bandits, in their numbers, ransacked Maidabino, the third largest town in Danmusa local government area of Katsina state, where they killed about nine people and abducted  50 others, mostly women and children. A resident, who confided in our reporter, said the attackers operated for several hours unchallenged due to their large number. He said over 10 houses, 15 shops and at least nine vehicles were burnt down by the marauding terrorists who were in the town since 10pm on Saturday till about 2.30am on Sunday. “What happened was that some traders who were returning from Yantumaki market on Friday, about 30 vehicles, who were going in a convoy with a military escort, had to return and pass the night in Danmusa, because they could not proceed to Maidabino as they encountered bandits along the way. “In the encounter, some bandits were killed by the military escort. Unfortunately, the bandits mobilized

 Over 1,000 pilgrims died in this year's Hajj pilgrimage - Saudi Arabia More than 1,000 people died during this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia as the faithful faced extreme high temperatures at Islamic holy sites in the desert kingdom, officials said Sunday.  More than half of the fatalities were people from Egypt, according to two officials in Cairo. Egypt revoked the licenses of 16 travel agencies that helped unauthorised pilgrims travel to Saudi Arabia, authorities said, AP reported.  The Egyptian government announced the death of 31 authorised pilgrims due to chronic diseases during this year's Hajj, but didn't offer an official tally for other pilgrims.  However, a Cabinet official said that at least 630 other Egyptians died during the pilgrimage, with most reported at the Emergency Complex in Mecca's Al-Muaisem neighbourhood. Confirming the tally, an Egyptian diplomat said most of the dead have been buried in Saudi Arabia.  Saudi authorities cracked do

 N90bn Hajj Subsidy: Niger Gov Accuses NAHCON Of Mismanagement, Asks FG To Scrap Commission Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of of Niger State has called for the scrapping of the National Hajj of Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) due to its conduct of the 2024 hajj. Bago in a viral video expressed disappointment in some services the commission rendered The governor’s disappointment stemmed from the inadequate space given to Tent A pilgrims from Nigeria, which included some state governors who came for the pilgrimage as well as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas. While the services rendered to the personalities were from private tour operators, the governor described the 2024 hajj as a failure. But Jalal Arabi, Chairman of NAHCON, described the exercise as successful, saying the agency was able to avoid issues of lack of tents and feeding in Muna as against last year that Nigerian pilgrims were made to sleep under bridges. “We have failed and continue to fail. NAHCON i

 Dangote Accuses IOCs of Plot to Sink His Refinery  In a tale that reads like a high-stakes thriller, the Vice President of Dangote Group, Devakumar Edwin, has sounded the alarm on a sinister plot orchestrated by International Oil Companies (IOCs) to sabotage the monumental refinery project.  This unfolding drama, steeped in intrigue and economic warfare, threatens not just a corporate venture but the very future of Nigeria’s economic sovereignty and public health. Amid the clamor of Nigeria’s bustling oil sector, a dark conspiracy has come to light. Aliko Dangote’s state-of-the-art refinery stands on the brink of a precipice, besieged by International Oil Companies intent on seeing it fail.  The implications of this are profound, with the potential to undermine Nigeria’s quest for industrial independence and leave its citizens grappling with the fallout. Crude Conspiracy: IOCs vs. Dangote Refinery Devakumar Edwin, the Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited (DIL),

 After Hajj Deaths, Egypt Suspends Companies That Took Pilgrims to Mecca The action against 16 tour companies came as governments look into whether many travelers were not properly registered to make the journey into the desert. ACCORDING TO ANOTHER SOURCE: The hajj has been the site of several tragedies, including a stampede in 2015 that killed more than 2,200 people. In recent years, with rising temperatures, many pilgrims have also succumbed to heat stress. The Saudi government has said that during this year’s hajj, more than 1.8 million Muslims traveled to Mecca, 1.6 million of them from outside Saudi Arabia. At least 450 people have died during this year’s pilgrimage, in which travelers endured maximum temperatures that ranged from 108 degrees to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (42 to 49 degrees Celsius). But the actual number of fatalities is expected to climb as governments get more accurate tallies of the deaths. (Egypt, for one, has officially acknowledged only 31 deaths.) In announcin

 Texas woman facing possible hate crime charges after her racist tirade ends with her trying to drown a 3-year-old girl. 42-year-old Elizibeth Wolf is being charged with attempted capital murder, injury to a child and public intoxication after an appalling incident that occurred on May 19th.  The disturbing series of events went down at a Euless, Texas apartment complex. An unidentified woman of middle eastern ethnicity was enjoying time by the pool with her 2 children. A highly intoxicated Wolf began hurling racial slurs at the children and mother. The woman and her children did their best to ignore the racist tirade however Wolf would not let it go.  At some point she grabbed the 6-year-old boy who pulled away from her. When he did he suffered a deep scratch to his body. While his mother was attending to his wound Wolf suddenly grabbed the 3-year-old daughter and pulled her into the deep end of the pool and began forcing her under water.   Fortunately bystanders intervened and helped

 Kearney, Missouri woman who shot husband that she alleged abused her is being charged with second degree homicide. Officers in Clay County, MO received a 911 call from a woman who said she had shot her husband. When police arrived to home on the 16200 block of Kountry Ridge Drive they discovered 50-year-old Ricky Allen deceased from a gunshot wound to the chest. Life saving measures were attempted however Allen was declared deceased on scene. 48-year-old Melissa Hoffner-Allen was interveiwed by police on scene and alleged her husband had become angry and abusive towards her. She claimed he had his hands around her neck tightly and wouldn't let go. She stated that she broke free and ran upstairs and grabbed the weapon. She said once she had her weapon Ricky repeatedly yelled for her to use it on him. Eventually she fired the weapon and the round struck Ricky Allen in the chest taking his life.  There was evidence some kind of incident had occurred with broken drywall in the home be

 ALAKE PRESENTS GOLD BARS TO PRESIDENT TINUBU, SAYS SECTOR WILL BOOST NAIRA VALUE Solid Minerals Development Minister, Dr. Dele Alake has commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting reforms in the solid minerals sector, assuring that the National Gold Purchase programme will increase the country’s reserve and boost the naira’s value. Presenting the latest gold bar sourced from artisanal and small gold miners and refined by an agency of the Ministry, the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), to meet the London Bullion Market Association Good Delivery Standard recently, Alake said the refined gold would be sold to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to bolster foreign reserves. Explaining to President Tinubu the significance of the event, Alake said it marked the first commercial transaction under the National Gold Purchase Program (NGPP), the centralised offtake scheme supported by a decentralised aggregation and production network of artisanal and small-scale miners and cooperatives

 AKK Gas Pipeline Project; Boosting Economic Benefits for Nigeria Abdullahi Musa (abdullahimusa849@yahoo.com)   The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project is nearing completion, with significant economic benefits expected for Nigeria. The AKK gas pipeline is a 40-inch, 614-kilometer linear pipeline system running from Ajaokuta to Kano. It includes associated intermediate and terminal gas facilities, as well as all other related equipment necessary for transporting natural gas to off-takers at Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) aims to expand the existing gas pipeline network within Nigeria in response to the increasing demand for power and the need for gas-based industries. A site inspection tour was conducted by an inter-ministerial team, which included Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation; Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Ekperikpe Ekpo, the Minister o

 Philadelphia police officer on life support after traffic stop shooting: 'Fighting for his life' A Philadelphia police officer is "fighting for his life" after he was shot in the neck during a traffic stop on Saturday evening, city officials said. The 31-year-old officer, who is a husband and father, is on life support at Temple University Hospital, Mayor Cherelle Parker told reporters outside the facility. "As your mayor, it is not lost on me that on today a husband, a father and the son met his partner and went to work to do a job that he's been doing for about six and a half years," Parker said. "He didn't expect that he would be in a fight for his life right now." Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said the officer and his partner had conducted a traffic stop around 8 p.m. in the Kensington neighborhood. The vehicle had four people inside, and the officers saw a holster while inspecting the car. One man fled and fired three

 Jacob Fatu makes explosive WWE debut to help The Bloodline The Bloodline grew once more on Friday as Jacob Fatu made an explosive debut on SmackDown. Cody Rhodes was set for a match against Solo Sikoa to end "Friday Night SmackDown," but Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa interfered in the match and began a three-on-one assault on the WWE undisputed champion. Randy Orton and Kevin Owens came down to even the odds and forced Tonga and Loa out of the ring. Rhodes, Orton and Owens set their sights on Sikoa, who was on the ground sitting near the corner of the ring. Sikoa’s demeanor turned from nervous to maniacal. That’s when Fatu came out of nowhere and helped Sikoa. Fatu super-kicked Orton and Rhodes. He then got one from Owens, but it didn’t seem to affect him at all. Fatu continued his onslaught outside of the ring. He ended with a splash onto Rhodes through the announcers' table. He then joined Sikoa, Tonga and Loa in the ring to celebrate. It appeared to leave the other Bloodli

 Taylor Swift Eras Tour brings together Tom Cruise, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis in star-studded crowd Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour really is bringing the people together, including some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Tom Cruise was spotted by fans in the VIP tent at Swift’s second London stop on Saturday night, singing and dancing along to her hit "Shake It Off." One fan even showed video of herself on TikTok sharing friendship bracelets, a hallmark of the Swift fan experience, with the "Mission: Impossible" star. Another clip shared on X captured not only Cruise, but Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, and "Barbie" director Greta Gerwig all bopping along to the music. Other stars in the crowd included Liam Hemsworth, Rachel Zegler and "Fifty Shades of Grey" star Jamie Dornan, according to fan videos. Also in attendance was Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce, happily vibing to her music. His brother Jason Kelce and sister-in-law Kylie Kelce were there as w

 Atlanta police release bodycam video of judge's arrest after she allegedly pushed officer Atlanta police have released bodycam footage showing the arrest of Douglas County Probate Judge Christina Peterson after she allegedly struck an officer outside a nightclub on Thursday. The Atlanta police officer was working an approved extra job at the Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge when he heard a commotion around 3:18 a.m. and went to investigate, the department said.  The officer found security escorting a woman out of the venue and tried to de-escalate the situation when a woman, later identified as 38-year-old Peterson, "rushed toward the commotion and immediately started screaming at the security guard and the officer," according to police. Peterson is seen on the officer’s body camera pushing the officer in the chest and yelling, "Let her f---ing go." Police said Peterson "kept swiping his hands away as he attempted to assist the female being escorted out&q

 " I took my car for servicing and saw what I consider as worthy of more urgent attention than my car. When I got to the mechanic's workshop located at Etta Agbor layout in Calabar, I noticed that one of the mechanics cuddled a very tender baby on his way to the workshop. As soon as I saw that unusual sight, I felt that the baby's mom or someone else would join him to either take the baby back home or nurse her while he attends to work. But that wasn't the case. I noticed that the baby was still at the workshop when I went back there to pick my car, after several hours. She looked frail and uncomfortable. Meanwhile, her Dad was eating groundnut and chatting loudly with other mechanics at the workshop. I felt empathy for the baby and told her that she would be a great child. My statement was a prayer.  Her Dad and other mechanics heard me and answered "amen" on her behalf. When I asked the mechanic about the whereabouts of his wife, he said "she don run g

 We have been through a lot” – Shade Okoya opens up on her relationship with Rasaq Okoya and role in Eleganza Beautiful mother of four Shade Okoya has opened up about her relationship with her billionaire industrialist husband, Are Rasaq Okoya. During a discussion with Channels Television host, Anne Nwaghodoh, Shade Okoya spoke about how much she loves, adores and respects her husband. She spoke highly of the man and showered him with heartfelt prayers. Shade called Okoya her backbone and spoke about how she will never do anything that will tarnish her husband’s name. She spoke on the trust they share and how her generations including her children are forever grateful to him. While speaking about her love for social events and getting glammed up, Shade Okoya noted that she works in the Eleganza industry from Monday to Friday and stopped her Saturday shifts to give time for social activities. She spoke highly of the Eleganza industry and how it became a household choice.

 Nigerian-born boxer kïlled by ‘multiple gvnshots from neighbour’ in US Isaiah Oludayo Olugbemi, a Nigerian-born aspiring professional boxer, has passed away in Maryland, USA, after being shot multiple times, local authorities confirmed. Olugbemi was discovered with gunshot wounds in the vicinity of Meadowmist Way and Stehlik Drive and was pronounced dead upon arrival at Shock Trauma in Baltimore. The 27-year-old who had been training at a gym in Anne Arundel County with ambitions of turning professional by year-end, had shown remarkable progress, winning the national Golden Gloves Championship in just three years, according to his gym owner Christen Jeter, who described the loss as devastating.

 LIST OF COMMISSIONERS IN BAYELSA STATE.  1) Biriyai Dambo, SAN - Ministry of Justice/ Attorney General  2) Maxwell Ebibai - Ministry of Finance  3) ESV Moses Teibowei - Ministry of Works and Infrastructure  4) Hon (Mrs) Koku Ebiuwou Obiyai - Ministry of Information, Orientation and Strategy  5) Hon. Dr. Emelah Gentle - Ministry of Education  6) George Flint - Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning  7) Engr. Komuko Akari Kharin - Ministry of Power  8) Barr. Perepuighe Biewari - Ministry of Lands and Survey  9) Brodrick Preye - Ministry of Transport  10) Dr. Ebieri Jones - Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment  11) Barr. Peter Afagha - Ministry of Mineral Resources  12) Mrs. Elizabeth Bidei - Ministry of Women Affairs  13) Hon. Michael Magbisa - Ministry of Special Duties (West) 14) Hon. Daniel Igali - Ministry of Sports Development  15) Hon. Alfred Belmote Watson - Ministry of Community Development  16) Chief Thompson Amule - Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs 

 Nigerian man stops journey to daughter’s graduation party to save 9 people from burning car A Nigerian man turns heads on social media as he stops his vehicle on his way to his daughter‘s university graduation to rescue 9 people from a burning car. This was revealed in a post made available on TikTok. It was alleged that the man was on his way to the graduation party of his daughter when he noticed a burning car with people in it. Immediately, he instructed his driver to stop, and he began to find ways to save the lives of these people. While many were unwilling to help, the man revealed that he mustered the courage and was willing to give his all to save the people. Eventually, he was able to break the window of the vehicle and, with the help of a few persons, saved 9 passengers. 

 Customs WMC Embarks on Environmental Friendly Exercise The Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, has launched an environmental exercise within the command to promote sustainability and protect the local ecosystem. The exercise focused on cleaning, planting and preserving the Command’s immediate surroundings, demonstrating their commitment to sustainable practices. The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Paul Bamisaiye, on Friday, 21 June 2024, led his officers and men to plant flowers and plants to beautify and make the command environmentally friendly.  Speaking on his motivation, the CAC stated, "When you love the scent of the flower, you are at peace with nature. So we're being environmentally friendly, and every Saturday, we also do environmental sanitation to keep our environment tidy." The Customs Area Controller, who enjoys farming, acknowledged that the exercise is also borne out of the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi's work-life b

 Burna Boy Paid For Selected Patients, Says UPTH Music star Burna Boy paid the medical bills for selected patients during a recent visit to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), the hospital management has said. The hospital dismissed claims that Burna Boy settled the bills of all patients at the facility, saying some patients received cash gifts or donations. “We commend Burna Boy’s kindness in financially assisting select patients in our hospital to offset their bills during his visit on 11 June,” UPTH’s spokesperson, Elabha Meni, said on Friday. “However, contrary to reports stating that all patient’s bills in UPTH were paid during the visit, only selected patients received cash gifts or donations. “The hospital did not receive direct payments from the musician and his team on behalf of patients to support this worthy course of reducing healthcare costs,” Meni clarified. Meni commended the musician’s charitable act in helping those in need.

 Four hospitals abroad rejected my husband, Mr Ibu’s wife opens up on his death Stella Maris, wife of late comic actor John Okafor popularly known as Mr Ibu was visibly overwhelmed with emotion Monday, when she attended a joint night of tribute in honour of her late husband alongside two other legendary actors, Amaechi Muonagor and Zulu Adigwe. The actors died between March and April this year. While Mr Ibu passed away on March 2, after battling with a protracted illness, Amaechi Muonagor died two weeks later, on March 24, after suffering from kidney disease, diabetes, and stroke. Similarly, Zulu Adigwe died on the 23rd of April. The joint night of tribute was organized by the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, and held in four cities across the country, including Abuja, Lagos, Asaba, and Enugu. Mr Ibu’s widow, Stella Maris who attended the night of tribute alongside his three kids reminisced on how she lost her beloved husband to the pangs of death. “I am feeling so sad that I am not with

 Anambra Education Commissioner Visits Collapsed Centenary Building At DMGS By Obiageli Nwankwo The Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, has visited the site of the collapsed Centenary building at Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS), Onitsha. During her visit, Prof. Chuma-Udeh expressed deep grief over the colossal damage caused by the collapse. She interacted with members of the Nigeria Society of Building Engineers, who were also present to inspect the site and assess the extent of the damage. Identifying the precise cause of the collapse remains challenging at this stage. The engineers indicated the need to liaise with the contractor responsible for the project to gather more information that could provide clues to the cause of the disaster. Investigations are ongoing to determine what led to the failure of this multi-million naira project, which was undertaken by the alumni of Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha. * Nwankwo is of the Ministry of I

 Senator Orji Kalu calls for N90,000 minimum wage amid economic assessments Senator Orji Kalu, representing Abia North, has proposed a significant increase in the minimum wage to N90,000 amidst his assessment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, acknowledging successes in certain economic policies while highlighting concerns over hunger among citizens. In an interview with Channels Television, Kalu provided a nuanced evaluation of Tinubu’s presidency, praising achievements in economic and monetary policies while criticizing deficiencies in fiscal policies, particularly regarding food security. “I’m sure the president has done well in some areas and he also needs to improve in many other areas. I’m a very practical person, I fear nobody and I support the truth,” Kalu asserted. He specifically praised Tinubu’s achievements in economic and monetary policies but highlighted deficiencies in fiscal policies, particularly regarding food security. “President Tinubu has done so well in so

 Italy Praises Dubai Police’s Efforts in Combating Organised Crime Italy’s Chief of Police and General Director of Public Security, Perfect Vittorio Pisani, welcomed His Excellency Lieutenant General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, and his accompanying delegation to the Ministry of Interior in Rome. The meeting , which was attended by Prefect Raffaele Grassi, Deputy Chief of Police and Central Director of Criminal Police; Prefect Annunziato Vardè, Director of Planning and coordination office of Police Forces; and Colonel Tariq Sultan Al Suwaidi, Director of the Wanted Department at the General Department of Criminal Investigation at Dubai Police, aimed to strengthen cooperation in policing, security, and combating organised crime. Discussions focused on areas of mutual interest, including strategies to combat organised and transnational crime, drug trafficking, and money laundering using cryptocurrencies. Lieutenant General Al Marri emphasised the UAE'

 A detective with Scottsdale, AZ Police lost his life while unloading weapons after the execution of a warrant. Detective Ryan So was working to unload weapons with other officers in the special Assignment Unit on June 14th. As Detective So removed a bag from a vehicle, a rifle fell out of the bag and discharged when it hit the ground. The round struck Detective So and other officer's in scene began life saving measures immediately.  He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injury. There is no report on whether the weapon was confiscated during the warrant or one of the department's weapons. It is also not clear who was responsible for making sure the guns were safe to transport and handle. They have not released where Detective Ryan So's injury occurred.  Ryan So was a 9 year veteran of the Scottsdale Pd whose untimely passing leaves behind a wife and three daughters. His family is in our thoughts during this difficult time.

 Boy, 12, dies at California's Wild Rivers water park in 'medical incident', police say A 12-year-old boy died at a California water park on Saturday afternoon after experiencing a "medical-related incident." According to the Irvine Police Department, authorities and local fire officials responded to Wild Rivers water park in Irvine, California on Saturday afternoon. Law enforcement said that they were called out for reports that a child needed medical aid.  Paramedics brought the child to the hospital, where they later died, police said. A Wild Water's spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital that the 12-year-old boy "experienced a non-water, but medical related incident" at the park. "We are deeply saddened to share that an incident occurred today at Wild Rivers. A 12-year-old boy experienced a non-water, but medical related incident outside one of our pools," they said.  "Despite the swift response from our team and emergency serv

 Charles Spencer's estranged wife breaks her silence after divorce filing, says she's still 'processing' it all Earl Charles Spencer's estranged wife, Karen Spencer, has broken her silence after her husband of 13 years publicly announced their split.  On Friday, Karen – a social entrepreneur and founder and CEO of Whole Child International – took to Instagram to thank those who have reached out offering their love and support amid her impending divorce.  "Just wanted to say that I have been overwhelmed by the messages of love and support," Karen wrote, alongside a series of photos featuring the summer solstice. "Thank you, it has really meant a lot to me. I’m just processing at the moment. Will come back to you soon. Thought I’d share a few pics from last night's summer solstice gathering." Earlier this month, the younger brother of the late Princess Diana announced the split to The Mail. "It is immensely sad," the British aristocra