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  The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a hoodlum identified simply as Gabriel, who had been threatening residents of the Ogbere area with abduction and assassination to extort money from them.  According to punch , the suspect was arrested on July 17, 2024, while attempting to withdraw money sent to him by one of the victims at a Point-of-Sale operator’s shop in the community. A police officer who was privy to the incident said that a resident, identified only as Helen Orube, reported to the Ogbere Police Division that she had received a call from an unknown person named Promise. The caller informed Orube that someone had paid him to abduct and kill her unless she transferred a specified amount of money to a particular account number “She received a call from a man who identified himself to her as Promise on July 13, 2024. The suspect told her on the phone that he had been paid to abduct and kidnap her. Orube became frightened after receiving the call,” the police office...

 PARKTOWN - Police in Gauteng arrested 48 illegal immigrants who are suspected to be involved in illegal mining during the Operation Vala Umgodi that was conducted in Crystal Park, Ekurhuleni District, on Monday, 22 July 2024. Four more suspects were arrested for crime that includes possession of illicit cigarettes. During the operation, police confiscated the tools that are utilised for illegal mining, comprising of: 14 x pendukas 15 x stampers 02 x shovels 20 x steel pots 02 x generator 01 x 9kg gas bottle 21 x 1,25 Chibuku 07 x motors 01 x torch 01 x axe 16 x chains 05 x spades 01 x jammer 03 x electrical cord 180 x steel balls Operation Vala Umgodi is expected to continue in various parts of Gauteng. End   Enquiries: Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo 071 608 5490. More photos below. 

 ‘It’s Self-Defeating Disparaging Dangote,’ Akinwumi Adesina Tells FG The President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, says Nigerian government will be the loser in the wake of criticism targeted at Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his refinery. He noted that such criticism would discourage foreign investors from coming to the country. There has been a disagreement between Dangote and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as well as Nigerian petroleum regulatory authorities over the alleged substandard quality of diesel produced by Dangote Refinery, among other issues. Adesina, who dismissed claims of Dangote’s monopoly of the country’s manufacturing sector, expressed shock at the controversy, saying it was creating bad waves for Nigeria globally. Adesina’s remarks are contained in a statement shared on X by business mogul Femi Otedola on Tuesday. The statement read in part, “Monopoly often exists where there are high barriers to entry or high cap...

  July 23, 2024 Wildfires near Canada’s Jasper National Park prompt evacuation; fleeing vehicles clog highways Multiple wildfires have flared up in the Canadian Rockies‘ largest national park, forcing visitors along with thousands of residents to evacuate and flee west over mountain roads through darkness, soot, and ash, following a government alert. Photos and videos shared on social media overnight Monday through Tuesday showed a midnight cavalcade of bumper-to-bumper cars and trucks, headlights on, red tail lights glowing, cars inching, stopping, starting, crawling through swirling tendrils of acrid smoke, all trying to get out of Jasper National Park and the Jasper townsite – home to 4,700 residents. The park – situated in the province of Alberta and about 370 km (192 miles) west of the provincial capital city of Edmonton – is popular among tourists and known for its campgrounds and extensive trail networks. “It’s wall-to-wall traffic,” said E...

 Keanu Reeves isn’t afraid of death. “I’m 59, so I’m thinking about death all the time,” the Matrix actor told BBC News in an interview published on Monday, July 22. “Hopefully it’s not crippling, but hopefully it’s sensitized [us] to an appreciation of the breath we have, and the relationships that we have the potential to have,” Reeves added. The star made the comments as he promotes his first novel, The Book of Elsewhere, coauthored by science fiction writer China Miéville. The story follows an immortal warrior who doesn’t understand why he can’t die. Reeves isn’t the only star contemplating their mortality. Sandra Bullock revealed recently that she wants to work with her Speed and The Lake House again before she dies. “Before I die, before I leave this planet, I do think that Keanu and I need to do something in front of the camera,” Bullock, 59, said during a joint interview with Reeves on the May 6 episode of the “50 MPH” podcast. “Are we, you know, in wheelchairs or with walk...

 Dangote Refinery Should Be Fully Supported, Not Vilified — Peter Obi Politician and former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential elections, Peter Obi, has thrown his weight behind the Dangote Refinery, advising the federal government to support the project rather than discourage it. In a series of tweets on his verified X page on Tuesday, Obi said the Dangote refinery is a purely economic issue, not political. He wrote, “Dangote Refinery Should Be Fully Supported, Not Vilified. “The recent conflicts between Dangote Industries and some government agencies are deeply troubling. This issue transcends political affiliations and personal grievances. It is fundamentally about Nigeria’s economy, future, and the well-being of its citizens. “Given Alhaji Dangote’s significant contributions to Nigeria, these disputes must be resolved swiftly. Government agencies should be directed to offer the necessary support for the seamless launch and operation of the Dango...

 No profits made from viral ‘Gwo Gwo Ngwo’ dance challenge — Brain Jotter Popular Nigerian comedian and skitmaker Chukwuebuka Amuzie, known as Brain Jotter, has addressed concerns about the potential exploitation of Mike Ejeagha’s 1983 hit “Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo,” which he sparked a viral dance challenge with. The 41-year-old song by the 93-year-old folklore legend has taken social media by storm, leading to questions about revenue distribution and copyright. In response, Brain Jotter clarified that he is not profiting from the viral trend. “For those who think we ripped him off or we’re making money from this whole thing, I understand your concerns and they are very valid. I appreciate the fact that you want him to get value for his hard work, which is very valid, and I want you to understand that you are doing something good,” Brain Jotter stated as he posted a video on Tuesday of his visit to the music legend. He explained, saying, “At the end of the day, no dime was made from this s...

 Kenyaa: Pro- and anti-government protesters clash as anti-tax demonstrations enters sixth week Kenya's police fired tear gas to prevent scuffles between groups of protesters and government supporters in the capital Nairobi on Tuesday, as youth-led demonstrations against alleged corruption and misgovernance dragged into their sixth week. For the first time since protests began on June 18, a group of government supporters, mostly on motorcycles, paraded through downtown Nairobi blowing whistles and plastic horns and carrying placards reading "We support the president" and "Enough is enough." Anti-government protesters chanted what has become their most defining mantra: "Ruto must go." Protests, which began in opposition to tax hikes and climaxed in the storming of parliament, have continued despite President William Ruto abandoning the $2.7 billion finance bill in June. At the time, he also fired almost all of his cabinet, although he retained many hold...

 Google is planning to keep third-party cookies in its Chrome browser, it said on Monday, after years of pledging to phase out the tiny packets of code meant to track users on the internet. The major reversal follows concerns from advertisers - the company's biggest source of income - saying the loss of cookies in the world's most popular browser will limit their ability to collect information for personalizing ads, making them dependent on Google's user databases. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority had also scrutinized Google's plan over concerns it would impede competition in digital advertising. "Instead of deprecating third-party cookies, we would introduce a new experience in Chrome that lets people make an informed choice that applies across their web browsing, and they'd be able to adjust that choice at any time," Anthony Chavez, vice president of the Google-backed Privacy Sandbox initiative, said in a blog post. Since 2019, the Alphabet...

 Former President Trump reacted to the news of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigning in the wake of the assassination attempt against him, telling Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview that "she never gave me proper protection." Cheatle resigned Tuesday morning amid pressure from Republican and Democrat lawmakers amid scrutiny over the massive security failure that led to the shooting at the Butler, Pa. Trump rally earlier this month.  Trump, during his rally, ever-so-slightly turned his head—narrowly missing the bullet shot by 20-year-old suspect Crooks’ AR-15-style rifle by just a quarter of an inch. The bullet hit him, instead, in his upper right ear. The bullet killed firefighter, father and husband Corey Comperatore as he protected his family from the shots, and severely injured two others.  "She never gave me proper protection, so I ended up having to take a bullet for democracy," Trump told Fox News Digital Tuesday after she resigned.  ...

  The director of the Secret Service in the United States has stepped down from her job following the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump that unleashed an outcry about how the agency tasked with protecting current and former presidents could fail in its core mission. Kimberly Cheatle has served as Secret Service director since August 2022. Cheatle announced her departure in an email she sent to staff.  She had been facing growing calls to resign and several investigations into how the shooter was able to get so close to the Republican presidential nominee at an outdoor campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

 Dangote Vs NMDPRA: No Investor Will Trust A Nation That Undermines Its Key Assets – Atiku Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has waded into the controversy between Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), saying no investor will trust a nation that undermines its key assets. The opposition leader in a post on his verified verified Facebook account posted that the 650,000 bpd refinery is essential for our energy needs and economic stability, saying it is essential to drive the nation’s economy. He said the ongoing impasse is capable of affecting foreign direct investment to the country. Recall that Aliko Dangote had earlier disclosed how a cabal was blocking his moves to import crude and how it has been difficult to get products. But the situation took a worse turn when the NMDPRA said the government was yet to license the Dangote refinery to begin operations, even casting aspersions at the quality of the product. At an i...

 Suspend NMDPRA boss over comment on Dangote Refinery – Reps tell Tinubu Nigeria’s House of Representatives has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed pending the conclusion of the investigation of his comments regarding the status of Dangote refined petroleum products. The call comes after the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Esosa Iyawe following the House’s address of the impasse between Dangote Refinery and the Authority. According to Iyawe, the fuel quality can impact engine hardware, thus ultra-low sulfur diesel is recommended for all types of companies, power plants, storage tanks, industrial facilities, fleets and heavy equipment, and even ships, as high Sulphur content in fuels, causes damage to engines and contributes to air pollution. The Edo lawmaker said sulphur dioxide also has dire environmental and health consequences, as it can dama...

 ‘My son is dead’: Elon Musk opens up about his transgender child The CEO of Tesla and Space X, Elon Musk, has said he was “tricked” into granting permission for his child to undergo puberty blockers. Musk made the disclosure in a live interview with psychologist Jordan Peterson on X on Monday. During the conversation, Peterson mentioned Musk’s decision to relocate SpaceX’s headquarters from California, citing the state’s new legislation, Assembly Bill 1955, which enables schools to keep a child’s sexual orientation or gender identity confidential from their parents. This move came after California Governor, Gavin Newsom, signed the bill into law on Monday, July 15, 2024. When Peterson asked the owner of X about his motivation for speaking out on this issue, Musk shared a personal experience involving his child, Xavier, who now identifies as transgender and goes by the name Vivian Jenna Wilson. Musk stated, “It’s evil. You’re taking kids who are far below the age of consent. “It’s ...

 Abia to offset N18bn salary arrears Abia State Government has reiterated its commitment to offset all outstanding salaries arrears owed to various tertiary institutions in the state by the immediate past government estimated at 18 billion naira. The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti. He revealed that the payments would commence in August with 1.5 billion Naira to be disbursed monthly over the next 12 months. Kanu said the government had taken decisive steps to address the longstanding issues of monthly salary payment of staff of Abia State University with the recent meeting where the governor met with the Vice Chancellor and members of the University’s Governing Council to discuss and resolve their financial concerns. The commissioner said the governor directed the Accountant General to ensure the immediate paymen...

 We were tortured, fed with dirty water, garri – Released corps members narrate ordeal Four corps members abductors in lfon, Ose council area of Ondo state, have narrated their four days ordeal in the kidnapper’s den. Recall that the corp members were kidnapped along the Ifon-Owo highway in the state, on their way from Enugu State, where they had undergone the mandatory orientation camp of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). During the attack, the driver of the vehicle and a female passenger were shot dead. The victims include Adewole Paul Oluwaseun, Oluwadara Feranmi, Andrew Patience, Oribamise Taiwo , and Ajayi Lekan. Narrating their ordeal to newsmen in Akure, the state capital, one of the corps members, a female, Patient Andrew, said that they were tortured and only fed with dirty water and gari. According to her ” We board a bus from Abia state to Onitsha, but our driver was not fast enough, one of the park drivers took us to where we board another bus going to Akure, we ...

 Protest: Obi write Onanuga demand N5bn, apology Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi has given Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to the President, 72 hours within which to pay N5bn as damages as well a public apology published in four national newspapers for defamation and libel or face legal action. Obi demanded that Mr. Onanuga, retract his wild allegation, linking him to the planned mass protest scheduled for August. Recall that the Presidential Spokesperson had on July 20, 2024, claimed in his X handle @aonanuga1956 that, “ Peter Ob’s supporters are the people planning mayhem in Nigeria and that Obi should be held responsible for anarchy.” Obi writing through his counsel, Chief Alex Ejesieme, SAN of the MADIBA Chambers, said that the allegation which was widely published in social and mainstream media and read by many within and outside the country, maligned his hard-earned reputation as a ma...

 MUSHIN MARKET TRADERS EMBARK ON CLEANUP As a result of last Sunday’s sanitation awareness effort at Alamutu Market, Idi-Oro, other markets around Mushin, especially those at United Amu Market, today, took it upon themselves to clean up their business premises. We urge other markets in the state to take a cue from traders at United Amu Market, and clean up their environment, ensuring they observe proper hygiene around their business facilities. Achieving a clean and livable city of our dreams requires everyone to play their own part, we cannot afford to watch the beauty of the state erode due to indiscriminate refuse dumping and nonchalant attitude. The environment is ours to cherish and preserve. Let’s keep Lagos clean. You would recall that some officials of the Lagos State Government, including the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, on Sunday, visited Alamutu Market, Idi-Oro, Mushin, for a community-based sanitation/ sensitisation exercise. More photos below....

 Nigerian Police Bust Mortuary Where AK-47 Rifles, Other Weapons Are Stored In Akwa Ibom The Commissioner of Police in the state, Waheed Ayilara, who made this known during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Ikot Akpabio, on Monday, said the discovery followed the arrest of a kidnapping syndicate. The Nigeria Police Force, Akwa Ibom State Command, has said that its operatives busted an armoury in a private mortuary located in the Ekeya of Okobo Local Government Area of the State.  The Commissioner of Police in the state, Waheed Ayilara, who made this known during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Ikot Akpabio, on Monday, said the discovery followed the arrest of a kidnapping syndicate. According to Ayilara, the syndicate was led by a wanted kidnapper, Ubong Effiong Archibong, also known as "Condiment," who is allegedly responsible for multiple kidnappings and murders in the state.  The police recovered various firearms and ammunition from the mo...

 Kings Worshipping Idols Are Herbalists, They Should Quit Their Throne — Oluwo Of Iwo The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, says any king who is worshipping idols is a herbalist and should be made to quit their throne. The Monarch shared this thought when he spoke at a reception organised for him in his palace by the Iwo community on Monday, July 22. He said some monarchs from South Western states have indicated their readiness to join a new association he is putting together for monarchs who do not worship idols.   A statement by Oluwo’s Chief Press Secretary, Alli Ibrahim, obtained in Osogbo said the royal father also noted that monarchs that would be part of the association are going to be those that trust only in the Almighty God and went on to caution idol worshippers to stay away from Yoruba land. “We are here today to correct the mistakes of the past and rewrite history, to challenge lies and lay a formidable foundation for truth to strive. One of the purposes...

 TROOPS BURST CRIMINAL SYNDICATE APPREHEND 10, RECOVER ARMS, AMMUNITION IN MULTIPLE OPERATIONS IN TARABA STATE The valiant troops of Headquarters 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/ Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) in conjunction with other security agencies have successfully dismantled a criminal syndicate, apprehended 10 Suspects and recovered an AK 47 rifle and 33 rounds of ammunition in multiple operations. The operations which were conducted with precision and professionalism, took place in the early hours of 22 July 2024 at Galeri and Kwondo Villages of Ardo-Kola and Bali Local Government Areas after a tip-off from a credible source. The swift and coordinated response of the 6 Brigade troops led to the successful arrest of 2 suspects, named Ali Ibrahim aka Yellow and Wetti Alhaji Ibrahim. Items recovered from the suspects include an AK 47 rifle and 3 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.  The suspects confessed to have worked with a known terrorist leader named Kadogo Fun who ...

 Senate okays N70,000 as new minimum wage The proposed N70, 000 as new minimum wage, has been approved by the Senate by expeditiously passing an executive bill forwarded for that purpose to it by President Bola Tinubu for third reading . The bill which also reduced the time of review of the minimum wage from five to three years , was given first , second and third readings sequentially in plenary on Tuesday. ACCORDING TO ANOTHER SOURCE: The Senate on Tuesday, July 23 passed the National Minimum Wage Act 2019 (Amendment Bill). The bill, which scaled first, second and third readings, just minutes after it was sent by President Bola Tinubu, was instantly passed by the upper chamber. In a unanimous vote after a clause consideration in the Committee of the Whole, the National Minimum Wage Bill scaled third reading and was passed . Earlier, Tinubu sent the National Minimum Wage Bill to the National Assembly and separately wrote the Senate and the House of Representatives requesting exped...

 Anti-corruption demonstrations break out in Uganda’s capital  Ugandan security forces on Tuesday arrested dozens of people who tried to walk to the parliament building to demonstrate against high-level corruption in protests that authorities say are unlawful. Police and the military deployed heavily in various parts of Kampala where small groups of protesters had gathered. Some campaigners were roughed up by police as they were forced into trucks. The police frequently use force to break up demonstrations by opposition leaders and others. The protests are organized by Ugandans who hope to emulate efforts by people in neighbouring Kenya, whose street action recently forced the president to dismiss almost his entire cabinet after widespread opposition to a contentious tax proposal, AP reported. Ugandans have been provoked by mounting allegations of corruption against the parliament speaker, Anita Among, who has rejected calls for her resignation. The anti-corruption campaign st...

Sharks off the coast of Brazil have tested positive for cocaine, scientists say. Marine biologists tested 13 Brazilian sharpnose sharks taken from the shores near Rio de Janeiro and found they tested for high levels of cocaine in their muscles and livers. The concentrations were as much as 100 times higher than previously reported for other aquatic creatures. The research, carried out by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, is the first to find the presence of cocaine in sharks. Experts believe the cocaine is making its way into the waters via illegal labs where the drug is manufactured or through excrement of drug users. Packs of cocaine lost or dumped by traffickers at sea could also be a source, though this is less likely, researchers say.

 Gov Uba Sani Makes Fresh Appointments In a bid to inject fresh energy into his administration with the aim of quickening the pace of governance, Governor Uba Sani has approved the following appointments: 1. Abdurrahman Yahya, Ph.D - Director General, Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA) 2. Rev. Emmanuel Ayokunle Adebayo - SSA Resident Communities  3. Hon. Gambo Ibrahim - SSA Inter-Governmental Matters  4. Ahmed Kabir Aliyu - SSA Special Duties  5. Ismail Dikko - SSA Urban and Regional Planning  6. Usman Ibrahim Tabari - Director (Operations), Kaduna Mining Development Ltd. All the appointments are with immediate effect.  BRIEF ON THE APPOINTEES:  (1) Abdurrahman Yahya, Ph.D, the new Director General of KASUPDA is a leading Building Engineer and consummate Administrator. He is currently the Secretary to the Kaduna South Local Government. He was previously the Secretary to the Kaduna South Local Government from July 2018 to Ju...

  On July 6th, Springfield, Illinois resident Sonya Massey called 911 to report she had an intruder inside of her home. She was very scared.  As Sangamon County deputies arrived on scene, they mistakenly shot 36-year-old Sonya Massey fatally.  Allegedly, the Sheriff's Department stated it was self-inflicted but the coroner deemed it not to be.  The body cam footage will be released shortly. There is a crowd of people outside of the NAACP awaiting the body cam footage release. The family recently viewed the footage.  According to multiple sources, as of today, Sangamon County deputy Sean Grayson has been arrested and charged with first degree murder in connection with the death of Sonya Massey. We are waiting for a press conference.  He will reportedly remain in custody overnight and appear for the first time in court tomorrow. This is a breaking story and we will have updates as they are sent to us.  Pictured below, to the left, the late Sonya Massey. ...

  US Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle rebuffed bipartisan calls to resign for security failures that allowed a would-be assassin to wound Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, and rankled lawmakers by refusing to provide details about the incident. The US House of Representatives Oversight Committee's Republican chair, James Comer, and top Democrat, Jamie Raskin — normally bitterly divided on most issues — each called on Cheatle to step down. "This committee is not known for its model of bipartisanship, and I think today we came together unanimously in our disappointment," Comer told Cheatle. "We don't have that confidence that you can lead." Raskin said Cheatle had "lost the confidence of Congress at a very urgent and tender moment in the history of the country, and we very quickly need to move beyond this." During more than 4-1/2 hours of often contentious proceedings, Cheatle called the July 13 shooting "the most significa...