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 POLICE RAID 90 SUSPECTS ...RRS Extends Bike Patrol to Lekki, VGC Last night, operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in collaboration with Area A Command acting on intelligence, raided 90 suspects in Obalende, Adeniji and Lagos Island.   The exercise which started around mid – night witnessed the teams combing notorious spots in Obalende, Adeniji and Lagos Island. The exercise was aimed at reducing criminal activities in the areas.   The all-male suspects have been handed over to Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce).    Meanwhile, the Commander Rapid Response Squad (RRS), CSP Shola Jejeloye has directed the squad’s riders to extend their operations to Lekki, Jakande Roundabout and V.G.C.   The extension is to complement the agency’s vehicular patrol of the Lekki – Epe Expressway and to curb activities of miscreants harassing motorists in traffic on the highway. More photos below.

 Anti-Israel agitators are reportedly behind the release of larvae in a famous D.C. hotel to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to the nation's capital. Netanyahu traveled to D.C. to meet with lawmakers and deliver a joint session address to Congress on Wednesday. Anti-Israel agitators have gathered throughout the capital to protest his trip, targeting the Watergate Hotel where he is reportedly staying during the visit. A video filmed within the hotel shows maggots and crickets released in various common spaces, with one shot showing a table full of mealworms while the Israeli and American flags stood in the background. "Palestine protestors manufactured chaos at the Watergate Hotel last night so that Netanyahu, Israeli Mossad agents, and the Secret Service had no peace as they continue to terrorize our people," the Palestinian Youth Movement's DMV chapter posted on their social media, alongside the video. "There will be no rest before N...

 Abiodun Urges Youth To Embrace Dialogue, Shelve Protest Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has appealed to Nigerian youths to constructively engage the government in finding lasting solutions to Nigeria's problems rather than engaging in protests that could cause more harm to the country. Abiodun made the appeal when he met with the coalition of youth organizations in the state at the Governor's Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. The governor, who recalled the destruction of lives and properties occasioned by the EndSARS protests across the country in 2020, said protests could only aggravate issues without necessarily finding solutions to them. He said: "And yet again, there are calls for mass protests across the country, and the first thing that agitates one's mind is, is that the way to present our case to government? Is that the way to constructively and objectively engage with government by advertising and planning mass protests? Is there something behind those wh...

 Court Jails One for Currency Mutilation  in Uyo Justice M.A.Oyetenu of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has convicted  Etiusen Stephen for spraying Naira notes. He was arraigned on July 19, 2024 on a two- count charge bordering on naira abuse, an offence that contravenes the provisions of Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act. One of the charges reads: 'That you Etiusen Stephen Udo on or about 27th June 2024 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court did sell Forty Thousand Naira notes (N40,000) only to one Edidiong Usoro and thereby Committed an offence contrary to Section 21 (4) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 and punishable under Section 21 (1) of the same Act'.   When the charges were read to the defendant, he pleaded 'guilty' to both counts. In view of his plea, prosecution counsel Joshua Abolarin prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant accordingly and order a permanent forf...

 STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE  PRESIDENT TINUBU SIGNS DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ESTABLISHMENT BILLS President Bola Tinubu has signed into law bills to accelerate development across geo-political zones in the country. The President has assented to the North-West Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2024, and the South-East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2023. The North-West Development Commission is set up to facilitate the reconstruction of roads, houses, and business premises destroyed by multidimensional crisis, as well as tackle poverty, literacy level, ecological problems, and any other related environmental or development challenges in North-West states. In addition, the South-East Development Commission is established to ensure the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, houses, and other infrastructural damages suffered by the zone, as well as tackle ecological problems, and other related environmental or developmental challenges in South-East states...

 One Mevo Alex Sunday, 35 years (male) of No 1, Shillon Street, Ilupeju, Lagos has been apprehended by LNSC Officers on duty at Badagry Roundabout for impersonating an operative of the Agency. A statement issued by the Agency said upon investigation and interrogation of the suspect at the LNSA Command office at Badagry, Mevo alleged that the uniform found on him was sold to him around November last year by one unknown LNSA officer, Mr. Femi whom he met at Odi-Olowo LCDA Command.  He further claimed that the said Mr. Femi promised to help secure an employment with the Neighbourhood Corp after collecting the sum of N25, 000:00, adding that a week after payment, the Mr. Femi gave him a full uniform. Speaking on the development. the General Manager of LNSA, Prince (Dr.) Ifalade Oyekan warned members of the public to be wary of persons impersonating officer of the Agency, adding that the management has zero tolerance for the impersonation of its officers and operatives. “Mr. Govern...

 Tennessee gas station clerk arrested after it is revealed he stole a 1 million dollar winning lotto ticket from customer.  According to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department, 23-year-old Meer Patel has been arrested after he mislead a customer about a life-changing lottery ticket. Reports indicate the victim brought 2 tickets to the gas station and gave them to Patel to check. Video surveillance gathered after the fact shows Patel paying out a sum of money on the first ticket and throwing the 1 million dollar winner in the trash. After the victim left the store, video shows Patel dig the ticket out of the trash and celebrate after confirming it was indeed a winner. Patel then tried to claim the prize from the Tennessee Lottery. Lottery officials were instantly suspicious and launched an investigation which quickly uncovered Patel's deceit. The victim who never even knew he was a million dollar winner was then contacted and made aware of his life-changing windfall. His id...

 Kentucky mom facing charges after forcing her 10-year-old daughter to stay in dog cage for days at a time. Shelia Mann maintains her innocence and contends "it's all a misunderstanding". She stated she is in fact a victim after her daughter alleged extensive abuse to the investigators. During an interview with detectives, the 10-year-old girl claimed her mother Shelia Mann had forced her to stay in a dog cage for days at a time. During the interview she also disclosed that her mother had threatened to  take her life and had placed her hands around her throat obstructing her breathing and causing her throat to be injured for days after the incident. Mann is facing charges of unlawful imprisonment, strangulation and criminal abuse. The 10-year-old girl has been placed in the care of foster parents.

 Two people were killed and at least 13 injured Tuesday when an elevated walkway collapsed in a condemned Italian slum notorious for its links to organized criminal groups. The Italian Fire Brigade said a 29-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman were killed in the collapse at the Le Vele housing slum in the Neapolitan suburb of Scampia. More than 800 people were living as squatters in the apartment complex at the time, including 300 children, according to the fire brigade. All have been evacuated to tent camps set up by the country’s civil protection agency. The complex was made famous in Roberto Saviano’s “Gomorrah” book, film and television series, which detailed the exploits of the Camorra, a powerful Neapolitan mafia-like group. Several criminal groups tied to the Camorra operated out of the apartments and wings, many of which were protected behind heavy fencing and bullet-proof glass, according to local police who regularly raided the buildings. It was also notorious as a venue...

  As the Olympics nears, Paris puts 75,000 troops on the streets : A scrum of disappointed tourists stared, wistfully, through the maze of metal fences lining the River Seine. Ahead of them, Notre Dame cathedral and other Parisian treasures lay, tantalisingly, out of reach. “We don’t have a code,” said a woman from Mexico, watching others – armed with the requisite QR security code – pass, with an approving beep, through a police checkpoint. Further downstream, beside the Eiffel Tower, a weary couple trailing large suitcases performed a slow U-turn on a crowded pavement. “Closed. You’ll have to walk around,” a French gendarme had just told them, gesturing towards the south. As Paris prepares to unveil its unique Olympic opening ceremony – a river-based extravaganza that will see athletes on burnished barges being paraded through the heart of the French capital on Friday evening – the country’s police and armed forces are laying the finishing touches to an equally unprecedented secu...

 Palestinian residents of eastern neighbourhoods of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip fled their homes on Tuesday as Israeli tanks advanced deep into the area after Israel ordered the population to evacuate. The tanks pushed into the Khan Younis town of Bani Suhaila and several districts nearby were bombed for a second day, forcing tens of thousands of civilians to seek refuge elsewhere. Israel said its action -the latest in a series of major assaults in recent weeks in parts of Gaza where it had long since claimed to have rooted out Hamas - was intended to prevent the group's fighters from regrouping. Gaza health officials said Israeli military strikes since Monday killed at least 80 Palestinians in the Khan Younis area - adding to a death toll of more than 39,000 in nearly 10 months of warfare, according to Gaza authorities' figures. CEASEFIRE HOPES Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is in Washington this week, told families of hostages held in Gaza that a de...

 Tinubu Government Upholds Right to Protest While Ensuring Public Order, Says Information Minister Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said while the government of President Tinubu acknowledges the rights of every Nigerian to engage in protests, it is equally committed to ensuring that these activities do not disrupt public order or violate the rights of others. Idris, who stated this when he received the Charismatic Bishop Conference on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja on Wednesday, said the government is aware that some people would want to hijack the planned protest and unleash violence on innocent Nigerians. “You see, the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes in the freedom of everyone within the confines of the law to do what he thinks is right for him. Therefore, the President is not an opponent of protest of any kind but the President is an opponent of violence and anything that will negatively hamper the wellbeing of Nig...

 President Tinubu Receives Former Senate President, Anyim Pius President Bola Tinubu has received former Senate President, Pius Anyim, who recently decamped from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC. Senator Anyim was led to the Presidential Villa by the Governor of Imo State Hope Uzodimma, who chairs the Southeast Governors Forum and Progressive Governors Forum, alongside the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru. Senator Anyim who explained why he left his party for the APC, said there was a need to put all hands on deck to frontally confront the challenges facing the country. He said the country was passing through turbulent times and it was the duty of all patriots to ensure a peaceful atmosphere. Governor Uzodinma who also asked the youths to shelve their planned protest on August 1, described the former senate president as a big catch for  the ruling All Progressives congress. One more photo below. 

 Protests: It’s season of lies, don’t back down – Charly Boy tells Nigerian youths Popular singer and activist, Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa, better known as Charly Boy, has urged Nigerian youths not to back down on the planned nationwide protests against bad governance. Charly Boy said those in power should embrace scrutiny and protest, not suppress it, if they are confident in their integrity. He made this known in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, while dismissing a report asking Lagos residents to ignore the protest as the Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s government is already doing enough for them. However, Charly Boy countered the advice, saying they resort to silencing dissenting voices and avoiding accountability because they have secrets to hide. He said: “A Season of Lies, Wayo, Deceit, Propaganda and the more you Look……….. “If those in power are confident in their integrity, they should embrace scrutiny and protest, not suppress it. But when they resort to silencing dissen...

 Nigeria official uniforms for Paris 2024 Olympics revealed The Paris 2024 Olympics will be held from July 26 to August 11, 2024, in Paris, France. In anticipation of the grand event, countries around the world have unveiled their official uniforms, showcasing a blend of tradition, innovation, and national pride. Nigeria will be competing in 11 sports at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Here’s Nigeria’s unique design: More photos below.

 We Can’t Withdraw From Protest We Didn’t Organise — NLC The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has said it is not the organiser of the planned nationwide hunger protest slated for August 1. The union was responding to reports doing the rounds, that it had pulled out of a planned national protest organised by the youths. A statement on Wednesday, signed by the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, further advised the federal government and the sub-national governments to listen to the cries of the hungry Nigerian people, and address the economic crisis. The statement entitled “The Nigeria Labour Congress cannot withdraw from a protest that it did not organise,” partly read: “A news report of the withdrawal of the Nigeria Labour Congress from the widely discussed national protest has been brought to our attention. The Nigeria Labour Congress debunks such story as patently false. “The truth is that the Nigeria Labour Congress cannot withdraw from a protest that it did not organise. It is on...

 Protesters storm Abia ministry over alleged imposition of monarch on Obohia Ndoki Some indigenes of Obohia Ndoki in Ukwa East LGA of Abia State on Wednesday, stormed the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Umuahia, demanding recognition of Monday George as their traditional ruler. The indigenes who arrived at the ministry in protest by 8 am bearing placards, alleged that the Abia State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Uzor Nwachukwu and some senior officials of his ministry are favouring another interested party, Ugochukwu Ndubuisi for the royal stool. According to the Obohia Ndoki indigenes, Monday George who is from Umuokoraja is their Eze-elect but has been shut out by the Commissioner and his officials in preference for one Ugochukwu Ndubuisi from Umuokorota. The protesters who were led by Blessing Dike and George Mashal, alleged that some youths who were allegedly sponsored by enemies of peace, destroyed the palace of the im...

 Gatemen, drivers, apprentices can’t earn less than N70,000 – Akpabio Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said employers are now mandated to pay their staff a minimum wage of N70,000. He emphasised that even small-scale employers, including those in informal sectors like domestic work and tailoring must adhere to the minimum wage when hiring additional help.   Akpabio said this while passing the new minimum wage bill into law on the floor of the senate.  He said: “If you’re a tailor and you employ additional hands, you can’t pay the person below N70,000. If you have a housemaid, you cannot pay them below N70,000. If you hire a driver or a gateman, you cannot pay them below N70,000.”

 Amusan named Nigeria’s flag bearer for Paris 2024  Nigerian sprint hurdler, Tobi Amusan, has been named as Nigeria’s flag bearer for Friday’s opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This implies that Amusan becomes the first athlete from the athletics team to hold this honour in 20 years, following in the footsteps of Mary Onyali who was the flag bearer at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Amusan is the current world record holder in the 100 metres hurdles with a time of 12.12 seconds which she set at the 2022 women’s 100 metres hurdles semi-final in Eugene Oregon. She is the current Commonwealth and African champion in the 100m hurdles, as well as the meet record holder in those two competitions. She became the first ever Nigerian world champion and world record holder in an athletics event when she won the 2022 World Championships 100 m hurdles gold medal, setting the current world record of 12.12 seconds (+0.9 m/s) in the semi-final, followed up by a 12.06 seconds (...

 FG resumes trial of 300 terrorism suspects The federal government has resumed trial of persons 300 persons allegedly involved in terrorism and other heinous crimes against the state. Five reputable judges are expected to man the five courts, while chambers have been set up for speedy administration of justice on the ongoing trial. Head of Strategic Communications, National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National security Adviser (ONSA), Abu Michael, announced this in a statement on Wednesday, July 24. He said the trial was part of the federal government’s commitment to promoting social justice by entrenching transparent administrative system. Michael said the ongoing trial was also in line with the International Criminal Justice system, which was being administered by the Federal High Court of Nigeria with the Complex Casework Group (CCG) of the Office of the Antorney General of the Federation in collaboration with other critical stakeholders. He said: “The trial i...

 Ayra Starr makes US TV Debut on ‘The Tonight Show’ Grammy nominee, Ayra Starr, has thrilled audiences with her US TV debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. She performed songs from her sophomore album, “The Year I Turned 21”, including “Last Heartbreak Song” featuring Giveon and “Woman Commando” with Anitta and Coco Jones. With this appearance, Ayra Starr on Tuesday, July 23, joined an elite group of Nigerian artists who have performed on the iconic show, including Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Rema, Fireboy, and Asake. Watch video below.

 President Ruto appoints opposition ministers to his Cabinet amid political unrest Kenya’s President William Ruto on Wednesday appointed four members of the main opposition party as part of a new cabinet as protests continue to rock the East African nation. He announced the nominees in an address to the nation, which came weeks after he scrapped the previous cabinet as the protests, prompted by planned tax hikes, swelled. The opposition figures appointed to the new cabinet are allies of political veteran Raila Odinga, whom Ruto defeated in elections in 2022. John Mbadi Ngo’ongo will lead the finance ministry and James Opiyo Wandayi was named energy minister. However, the majority of the 20 appointees announced so far were members of the disbanded cabinet, and reports suggest this has angered some. The president on Wednesday lauded political parties for “their willingness to set aside partisan positions and interests in order to join a visionary partnership for the radical transform...

 TROOPS NEUTRALIZE 2 TERRORISTS IN AMBUSH OPERATION IN KADUNA, CAPTURE ARMS  Troops of the Nigerian Army deployed for counter terrorism operations in Kaduna State have successfully neutralized 2 terrorists and captured their arms in a swift and decisive ambush  operation conducted in the earlyhours of Wednesday 24 July 2024.  The troops responding to actionable intelligence, executed a well-coordinated ambush along the Tasha-Bwari Road, a vital link between Gurara town in Kachia  and Kagarko Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. During the operation, the troops engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, resulting in the neutralization of two terrorists, while others straggled away with gunshot wounds. The operation led to the recovery of arms and valuable intelligence, including an AK-47 rifle with a magazine containing 27 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 2 machetes, 2 mobile phones, and the sum of N80,000 only, along with other supplies. This successful opera...

 I am like a China phone; I can’t be silenced” – Rita Edochie vows as she blows hot at those telling her to act matured Nollywood actress Rita Edochie has addressed those telling her to mind her business with her nephew, Yul Edochie’s marital saga. In a lengthy post on her Instagram page, she prayed that those telling her such will have no one to fight for them when they need supporters.  She noted how people tell her to behave like a mother, act mature and more. Unfortunately for them, she doesn’t care what their opinion about her entails, as it isn’t her business. Rita made it clear that she loves everyone and doesn’t hate or discriminate; however, she dislikes evil and hates to see people being oppressed and intimidated. Edochie noted how she has been called several unprintable names because she stands for truth. However, she wouldn’t back down, as she compares herself to a China phone, which is always loud and vowed never to be silenced.

 Arewa Group Condemns Northern Lawmakers For Supporting Nnamdi Kanu’s Release The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has criticized federal lawmakers, particularly those from the North, for supporting the call to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The call for Kanu’s release has gained momentum with prominent Nigerians, including legislators, advocating for his freedom. In a statement issued by the CNG, the group labeled the support from northern lawmakers as treacherous and unpatriotic. The Coalition expressed dismay that northern representatives would back a move they see as an affront to the memory of those who died due to Kanu’s secessionist actions. “We are shocked that House of Representatives members, including those from Northern Nigeria, are supporting the release of a terrorist being held on charges before a court of competent jurisdiction,” Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, the National Coordinator of CNG said. The group stated ...

 Nigerian Actress Dakore Egbuson-Akande Threatens To Sue ‘Gistlovers’ Blog Over Alleged Romantic Relationship With Akpabio.  More photos below.