PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 Roller engine kills steel company worker in Ogun An employee of KAM Steel Integrated Company, Yahaya Ibrahim, was confirmed dead after slipping under an engine roller at the company’s factory located along the Sagamu-Ogijo Expressway in Ogun State. The incident occurred around 4:50 am on Sunday when the deceased was working at the company’s plant. It was said that the victim was crushed to death by the roller despite the efforts of other staff members to save him. The public relations officer of the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, who confirmed the incident, said: “Our men on traffic inspection visited the scene when we received a distress call. It was an industrial accident. The body has been deposited at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital morgue in Sagamu.”

 NATO secretary general dodges questions about Biden's mental fitness NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg appeared to dodge questions about President Biden's mental fitness to lead NATO on a tumultuous world stage, telling Fox News on Sunday he refuses to become a part of domestic U.S. debate. "What I can say is that I just had, a couple of weeks ago, a good and productive meeting with President Biden in the Oval Office, and that we, this week, will make important decisions at the NATO summit in Washington on deterrence, defense, on Ukraine, and also to work more closely with our Asia-Pacific partners to address the threats and challenges posed by China," he told Fox News' Joey Jones. He continued: "Of course, all these decisions that will take place this week would not have been possible without U.S. leadership, so I look forward to an important summit in Washington this week." His appearance on "Fox & Friends Weekend" came as world le

 Oakland gas station owner sidelined after police allegedly take hours to respond to flash mob robbery The owner of an Oakland, California, gas station was sidelined by a flash mob robbery that saw dozens of criminals ransack the business on Friday, especially after police allegedly took hours to respond. "My aunts, my uncles, were talking about [how] the U.S. is the place to be, and then you turn out to this and see something like this happen, and it's scary. It just shouldn't be happening," Sam Mardaie, a Yemeni immigrant whose store was left with approximately $100,000 worth of damage, told Fox News on Sunday. "It's just unbelievable," he added. According to The New York Post, Mardaie estimated that anywhere between 80 and 100 people broke into the gas station last week after attending a nearby car sideshow, ripped shelves apart and stole everything they could grab — including $25,000 from the cash register. The report said the thieves were allegedly

 Jessica Springsteen, daughter of rock legend Bruce Springsteen, snubbed from Paris Olympics Jessica Springsteen, the equestrian daughter of legendary rock star Bruce Springsteen, is not going to be representing the United States again in this year’s Olympics despite doing so in Tokyo in 2021.  USA Equestrian revealed its jumping team for the Paris Olympics on Saturday afternoon, and Springsteen wasn’t on it.  Instead, veteran riders Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut and McLain Ward were in the three spots, with Karl Cook named as the team’s alternate.  Springsteen, 32, was with Kraut and Ward at the Toyko Olympics, helping them collect a silver medal to mark the fourth medal in the past five Olympics for the Americans in the event. Springsteen was riding her 12-year-old stallion named Don Juan van de Donkhoeve.  She was tracking to make the team this year, being named one of 10 on the U.S. Jumping Team’s short list for the Olympics in April. U.S. Equestrian said in a press release at the t

 Olympian Offiong Edem laments lack of recognition by Cross River Govt Five time Olympian, Offiong Edem has lamented that her home government, Cross River, has never recognized her Olympic successes. She also lamented that successive administrations in the state have not supported her efforts to boost table tennis in the state, despite her investments. She spoke with journalists on the sidelines of the 4th edition of a two-day mini-table tennis tournament for children from South South and South East regions of Nigeria organised by Offiong Edem Foundation. According to her, although she paid a visit to the state Deputy Governor, Peter Odey, to brief him about the mini tournament, the government has not recognized her accomplishments in the game of table tennis. Offiong said, “The commissioner for sports came yesterday during the opening ceremony to welcome the kids for the 4th edition but I am not happy that my state government has not noticed my efforts let alone support my training se

 Abia: LG chairman intervenes as protesting truck drivers block major road The local government Chairman of Obingwa LGA of Abia State, Eric Egwuibe, has paid the medical bills of a truck driver who was allegedly beaten and injured by members of a task force along Aba-Ikot Ekpene road. The payment of the medical bill, it was gathered, was to assuage the drivers who blocked one lane of the federal road for many hours, in protest over the alleged attack on their colleague by members of the task force. It was also gathered that the driver was injured when the task force operatives were trying to force the drivers to comply with the government-approved hours for movement of trucks on the road. The local government chairman who addressed the drivers at Lagu Onicha Ngwa, advised them to always apply peace and dialogue in presenting their complaints. Egwuibe, who admonished the truck drivers against resorting to protests or blocking the road, said that such actions result to loss of important

 Nollywood actor, Chinedu Ikedieze, wife welcome baby boy Popular Nollywood actor Chinedu Ikedieze, known as Aki, and his wife, Nneoma Nwaijah, have welcomed a baby boy. The actor made the announcement on Saturday night in a post on his Instagram page. Celebrating the arrival of his new baby, Chinedu shared a picture of himself and his wife, accompanied by another picture showing the baby’s foot. He wrote: “My wonderful people, please rejoice with us. My wife and I have welcomed a bouncing baby boy. To God Be The Glory.” Recall that the couple welcomed their first child in 2017, six years after their wedding in 2011.

 John Cena announces he will be retiring from WWE WWE legend John Cena has revealed when he will be retiring from in-ring competition. Appearing at WWE Money in the Bank in Toronto, Canada, the 16-time world champion announced that he will retire from the sport in 2025. Cena disclosed that the 2025 Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas would be his last. Donning a ‘John Cena Farewell Tour 2025’, the WWE legend said, “I’ve been in the WWE for over two decades and in that time, I’ve seen incredible waves of prosperity like we got right now. WWE is the hottest ticket in town, no doubt, but I have also seen true hardship, that’s when no one knows your name, nobody wants to be your friend and only the most dedicated and hardcore fans stand by your side.” He added that he wants to be involved when Raw moves to Netflix in January. Cena made his WWE debut in 2002. However, since 2018, he has adopted a more part-time role in the company to focus on his movie career.

 I took a break from Super Eagles – Ahmed Musa clears air on retirement Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has clarified rumours that he has stepped aside from international duty. Musa did not feature in any of Nigeria’s seven matches at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, where the team finished as runners-up. The ex-CSKA Moscow winger last started a game for the national team in 2021 during a World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde. He played 67 minutes in a 2-0 victory. His most recent appearance was a seven-minute cameo in a friendly game against Guinea in January. Musa has also been without a club since his contract with Turkish side Sivasspor was terminated in February. But speaking with reporters after a friendly match he organized, Musa explained: “I only took a little break from the national team. “But I didn’t exit the team.”.

 Suspected Armed Robbers Kill Woman In Ekiti There was panic in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital as gunmen suspected to be armed robbers shot dead a woman. The incident which has raised concerns among residents of the state’s capital occured along NTA Road, Ado Ekiti around 7 am on Saturday. The woman, whose identity is not yet ascertained, LEADERSHIP gathered, was killed by suspected armed robbers operating on motorcycle. A source close to the area said, “The gunmen who were riding on motorcycle made attempt to forcefully dispossess the woman of her bag while standing by the road. “The woman was said to have resisted the attempt and refused to surrender the her bag and others valuables to them. “She was shot by her assailants who fled the scene immediately”. People around scampered to safety while business owners and traders hurriedly closed their shops. Recall that no fewer than four persons were killed in Ado Ekiti about two weeks ago with the State Police Command making some arre

 Customs Oil & Gas FTZ Records Over N26B Revenue Collection in 6 Months The Nigeria Customs Service, Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Command has proudly announced a significant success in revenue collection, surpassing N26 billion for the first half of the year.  This was contained in a press statement signed by the command's Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Customs II, Paul Gimba, on 2 July 2024. According to the statement, the Command recorded its highest monthly revenue collection of N8,611,414,854.00 in May 2024, attributing it to effective operational strategies such as risk management and audit-based controls.  The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Usman Seriki, explained that the Command achieved a revenue collection of N26,511,904,374.00 for the first half of 2024, representing 50.23% of the revised annual target of N52,779,457,622.15.  He stressed that this remarkable performance marks a 276% increase compared to the same period last yea

 TROOPS THWART ISWAP TERRORISTS' ATTEMPT TO SABOTAGE ELECTRICITY INFRASTRUCTURE IN YOBE STATE  Troops of Nigerian Army deployed for counter terrorism operations in Yobe State, in collaboration with local hunters' group have thwarted an attempt by ISWAP/ Boko Haram terrorists to destroy high tension electric pylons near Kasesa Village at the outskirts of Damaturu town.  The troops, acting on credible intelligence, laid ambush for the terrorists and  intercepted  them while en route to the pylons in a suspicious vehicle. A fierce firefight ensued, as the troops engaged the terrorists, forcing them to abandon their vehicle and fled with gunshot wounds. Upon searching the vehicle, the troops discovered 8 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) with detonating cords, along with a trade test card belonging to one Emmanuel Adamu. The quick and decisive action of the troops and hunters prevented a potential catastrophe and safeguarded the electricity infrastructure in the region. The succe

 TROOPS NEUTRALIZE 11 ISWAP TERRORISTS IN SAMBISA FOREST, CAPTURE WEAPONS Troops of the Nigerian Army deployed for special clearance operation in Sambisa Forest, in a coordinated effort with a hybrid force conducted special clearance operations in an identified terrorists' enclave in Jongo Village within the notorious Sambisa Forest eliminating 11 ISWAP terrorists.   The troops targeting the terrorists enclave  made contact with the terrorists, engaging them in a fierce gun battle, which resulted in the elimination of the terrorists, while others to fled in disarray. The troops further conducted exploitation ahead of the enclave, leading to the capture of some arms. The arms include  99 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm on metal link, 19 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 3 AK-47 rifle magazines, two 36 Hand grenades, and 2 locally made guns. This successful operation showcases the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army in combating terrorism and securing in the region. The neutralization of ISWAP

 Samoa Agreement: No clause on LGBT, $150b for  Nigeria – Bagudu *FG releases details, insists pact won’t hurt Nigeria *Disregard fake news about agreement, govt tells clerics *Ex-British Diplomat: Reports linking deal to LGBT rights irresponsible The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, yesterday said there was no clause on $150 billion for Nigeria in Samoa Agreement. He said what Nigeria signed was the “Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Members States and members of the Organization of the Caribbean and Pacific States”. He denied that the agreement had anything to do with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) rights. He said Nigeria’s signing of the agreement was accompanied by a declaration clarifying its understanding of it. He said the agreement Nigeria entered into contained 103 foundational articles and 79 African region specific protocols. He said “none of the protocols offends our laws.” He said the agree

 Insecurity: Wike concludes plans to relocate Abuja mechanic village …warns committee against allocating shops to girlfriends, relations Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has concluded plans to relocate Abuja’s largest mechanic village, popularly called Apo Mechanic Village, to a permanent site, 25 years after the idea was first muted by the FCT Administration. This was as he dismissed speculations that the administration had given a deadline for occupiers of the mechanic village to move out or risk demolition, saying there was no such directive. He also warned officials against nepotism in the allocation of shops. The move would see thousands of auto technicians, spare parts dealers and other ancillary service providers being relocated from the current road corridor where they operate to a more expansive permanent site in the Wasa district, a 15-minute drive from their current location. Inaugurating a 19-member technical committee on the relocation of auto t

 Let’s learn from Kenyan experience – Peter Obi tasks political leaders The Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has tasked Nigerian political leaders to learn a lesson from the recent Kenyan experience. Obi made this call on Sunday via his official X handle while reacting to the recent rally against proposed tax hikes by Kenyan citizens. He lamented that Nigerian political leaders use public funds to pay media thugs to insult and abuse those who speak truth to power. He challenged Nigerian leaders to refrain from such habits and start making sacrifices for the greater good of the suffering masses “We, the Nigerian political leaders, should take a strong lesson from the recent Kenyan experience. When the Kenyan public realized that their government was not making sufficient sacrifices and prioritizing resources effectively, they spoke out, demanded change, “We resort to using public funds to pay media thugs to insult and abuse those who spea

 Many Countries ‘Turn A Blind Eye’ To RSF Crimes – Sudan's Al-Burhan Sudan Army Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has said “Many countries remain silent and turn a blind eye” to crimes allegedly committed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the country’s more-than-year-long civil war. Sudan has been gripped by war since April 2023, when fighting erupted between forces loyal to al-Burhan and the RSF led by his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Since the war broke out, tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions more have been displaced as a humanitarian crisis has deepened. Both sides have been accused of possibly committing war crimes by UN officials and rights groups. In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera in Port Sudan, al-Burhan said, “Many countries remain silent and turn a blind eye to the crimes being committed every day.” “Every day, the enemies are killing the Sudanese people, plundering their land, and raping their wives and daughters

 Bandits Kidnap 2 Journalists, Wives, Children In Kaduna Bandits in their large numbers, late Saturday night, stormed Danhonu community in the Millennium City of Chikun local government area of Kaduna State and abducted two journalists reporting for The Nation and Blueprint newspapers in the State. The reporters – Alhaji AbdulGafar Alabelewe and AbdulRaheem Aodu, respectively, were kidnapped alongside their wives and children. Our correspondent reports that Alhaji Alabelewe is the current chairman of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council. A family member of one of the victims, Taofeeq Olayemi, who confirmed the incident, said the bandits stormed the community at about 10:30pm on Saturday night and started shooting sporadically before carrying out kidnap. He said they kidnapped Alhaji Alabelewe, his wife and two of his children, while Alhaji Aodu and his wife were kidnapped, leaving behind their sick daughter. “Initially, they picked A

 Former NLC President kidnapped in Kaduna A former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Takai Shamang has been abducted in his hometown, Biniki, in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna state. Shamang, 78, was also a former President General of the National Union of Electricity and Gas Workers, now National Union of Electricity Employees between 1982 and 1989. Confirming the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), his daughter, Mrs Grace Abbin, said her 78-year-old father was abducted at his residence in Biniki, at about 8:00pm on Friday. Shamang is the President and Founder of Gantys Aid for Widows, Orphans and Needy Foundation, popularly known as GAWON Foundation.

 CAC extends deadline for PoS registration The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has extended the deadline for registration of all Point of Sale (PoS) Operators by additional sixty days to accommodate others who were not able to register due to technical glitches. Daily Trust reports that the commission had earlier given a deadline of 7th July 2024. However, in a post signed by Management on its X handle on Sunday, it stated that the deadline had been extended by two months. “The Corporate Affairs Commission wishes to notify Fintech Operators also known as Point of Sales (PoS) Operators that the initial deadline of 7th July 2024 given for the registration of sole Agents, Super Agents and Agents has been extended for a period of sixty days beginning from 7th July 2024 to the 5th September 2024. “This is to give sufficient time to Operators particularly those in remote areas who might have encountered network challenges to so register and continue with their businesses,” the management

 Police confirm killing of Woman in Ijebu Ode …as husband, community demand justice Olubukonla Adebanjo, a 35-year-old woman, was gruesomely murdered in the Iwesi area of Ijari, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, in the early hours of Saturday, June 29. Sources alleged that the victim went to buy food items and was attacked and macheted by unknown men until she passed away.  The victim’s husband, Olaoluwa Adebanjo, said he received a distress call from neighbours about the incident. According to him, upon arriving at the scene, he found his wife in a pool of blood. He said: “One of my neighbours called me and informed me of an urgent life-and-death issue. I tried calling my wife, but someone else answered; it was the woman she had gone to buy something from. She told me to come quickly because my wife was on the floor. When I arrived on our street, I found my wife dead on the ground with the police already at the scene. They were waiting for me to identify the corpse before they could take her to

 LASTMA impounds 9,370 vehicles for traffic offence …says call centre for launch soon The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) impounded 9,370 vehicles between January and June for alleged traffic violations. The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, confirmed this figure on Sunday, July 7, during a meeting with relevant stakeholders in the transportation industry. Bakare-Oki stated that 3,034 private vehicles were impounded, including 1,849 cars, 549 buses, and 636 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), among others. He said: “256 casualties were recorded during this period.” He urged motorists to obey all traffic rules and regulations and to respect traffic managers. “In the last six months, it has been a mix of good, bad, and ugly, but we have managed to overcome many challenges, particularly in training and retraining our personnel,” Bakare-Oki said. “We have successfully trained 2,000 of our staff, both internally and externally.” He said over 900 personnel were tr

 Nigerian rapist Oladipo Oshodi jailed 25 years in London A Nigerian man, Oladipo Oshodi has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for raping a woman, who later jumped from a window to reach safety. Oshodi, 48 was jailed on Friday, 5 July for violently assaulting and raping a woman after she managed to flee his Dagenham home. According to the Met Police, Oshodi, 48 of Dagenham appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, 5 July where he was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment for two counts of rape, administering a noxious substance, threats to kill, grievous bodily harm and controlling coercive behaviour. The police said Oshodi was arrested on 12 July, 2023 by detectives from the Met’s East Area Public Protection Unit and was remanded in custody throughout proceedings. He was convicted on 10 May this year of all counts. The Met Police report that on the evening of 11 July, 2023, Oshodi had made sexual advances toward a woman, who was known to him, at his home in the Mayesbrook are

 CAN, PFN lack focus, not formed to support Christians - Primate Ayodele Primate Ayodele, the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has accused the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) of lacking direction and being driven by self-interest. Primate Ayodele stated this while speaking with journalists on Saturday, 6th of July, 2024, at his Lagos church at an event to celebrate the 30th edition of his annual prophecy book titled Warnings To The Nations. The cleric added that he does not affiliate with CAN and PFN because they were created by individuals seeking recognition, rather than by divine guidance. He alleged that these organizations prioritize political favors over serving the Christian community, and their leaders are more concerned with personal enrichment than speaking truth to power. According to Primate Ayodele, the corruption in the organizations has led to a lack of respect from politicians and a failure

 46-year old suspected ritualist arrested in Kwara A 46-year-old suspected ritualist, Isiaka Adeniyi, has been arrested by the Kwara State police command after a failed attempt to allegedly use a 10-year-old boy Akeem Nurudeen for ritual purposes. The incident occurred at about 17;30hours at Abab Oke Foma area of the Ilorin metropolis according to the spokesperson of the command, Ejire Adeyemi Toun, in a statement in Ilorin on Sunday. “The Kwara State Police Command received a distress call of an attempted culpable homicide and the arrest of a suspected ritualist in the state. “According to information received from the police at C Division, on the 2nd of July 2024 at about 1800 hrs, a report was received from Onidoko Police Post indicating that at about 1730 hrs, an incident occurred in the Abab Oke-Foma area of Ilorin. “It was reported that a 10-year-old boy, Akeem Nurudeen, resident of Abab area Abayawo, Ilorin, was hawking pepper when he was lured into a room by a suspect identifie

 Liberian president slashes own salary by 40% Liberian President, Joseph Boakai, has announced a voluntary 40  per cent reduction in his salary. This was disclosed in a statement shared on the website of the Liberian Government on Saturday which said the move aligned with Boakai’s commitment to fiscal integrity and national financial security. This is coming days after some lawmakers arrived at the parliament in tricycles popularly known as ‘Keke’ in protest against the non-payment of funds for their vehicles by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. Boakai said the announcement reflects his determination to lead by example in strengthening government accountability and demonstrating solidarity with the citizens. The statement partly read, “In fulfillment of his commitment to fiscal integrity and national financial security, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.. has announced a voluntary 40% reduction in his salary. “According to the President, the announcement reflects his de

 Ten-man Uruguay kick Brazil out of Copa America A 10-man Uruguay kicked fumbling Brazil out of Copa America early Sunday, winning 4-2 on penalties to move into the semi-finals. The star-studded Brazil had been fumbling since the tournament began, churning out a disappointing draw against lowly Costa Rica before beating Paraguay 4-1 and churned out another disappointing 1-1 draw against Colombia. Brazil were expected to make amend against Uruguay, but they fumbled even when they had to play Uruguay down to 10 men from the 74th minute till extra time was over. The match had ended goalless after extra time and Uruguay triumph 4-2 on penalties against the Brazil, who are also struggling in their World Cup qualifying. Earlier in the 35th minute, Raphinha had time and space inside the box after picking up a neat pass, but his shot towards the middle of the goal was easily saved by Sergio Rochet. In the 74th minute the referee issued a straight red card to Nahitan Nandez, bring Uruguay to 10