The Kwara State Police Command on Friday said a cop, identified as Fayemi Kehinde, was injured while a mosque and some vehicles were damaged during a protest by angry students of the Kwara State University.
It said the protest followed a sting operation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in Malete, the host community of the university on Wednesday night.
Fifty persons, comprising 48 students of KWASU, were among the suspects paraded at the Ilorin zonal office of the EFCC for alleged cybercrime on Thursday.
During the crisis, the police station at Malete, in the Moro Local Government Area of the state was reportedly attacked by some students.
However, the Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, said a mosque and some vehicles were damaged by a gathering of students at Malete town
Olaiya, in a statement, on Friday said, “Reports indicate that the gatherings, which began at about 1600hrs, centered around grievances related to the recent raids on black-spots around the school’s premises by operatives of the NDLEA. Students living off campus expressed their dissent, and marched from various parts of the town to Okoru Junction close to Malete Police Division, carrying placards with various inscriptions such as, “Say No to NDLEA”.
“Efforts were made to engage with the students, persuading them to return to their respective hostels and maintain peace. In the process, they encountered a white Toyota Hilux vehicle with registration number Lagos AGL 574 HZ, occupied by four armed policemen from Ila-Orangun led by Inspector Ibrahim Ali and three others on an official assignment to Malete.
“They were mistaken for operatives of the NDLEA. Consequently, the students chased them to Malete Divisional Police Headquarters, where the students began to throw stones into the police station.
“Regrettably, this led to some damages to the rooftop of the mosque and the windscreen of vehicles parked in the station. The policemen fired tear gas canisters to disperse the violent crowd to prevent further damage at the police station.
“Additionally, one police officer, PC Fayemi Kehinde, sustained minor injuries as a result of the stones thrown at the police station. He was given first aid treatment at the hospital and discharged.”
As the economic crisis in Nigeria worsens, a popular actress, Toyin Abraham, has come under fire from frustrated Nigerians, who have been lambasting her for campaigning vigorously for President Bola Tinubu in the lead up to the 2023 elections.
Whenever the actress makes any post on social media, it is usually greeted with criticism and insults by her fans and followers.
Some netizens even went as far as posting flyers that read, ‘Rest in peace’ about the actress.”
Apparently overwhelmed by the negative reactions, Abraham stated that she was aware of the pain felt by the people. She wrote, “Unexplainable, but God will see us all through. It is people’s pain that is getting to me.”
In a similar vein, the actress blamed political opposition for the bad reviews on one of her movies titled, ‘Ijakumo, the Born-Again Stripper’.
At the time, she had said, “You all went to create a WhatsApp group because of ‘Ijakumo, the Born-Again Stripper’; please continue. You all will tell the world why choosing my own candidate is a crime, and yours isn’t.”
She later apologised for her outburst, and asked critics to share their opinions about the movie ‘with love’.
However, the strident criticisms have not abated.
Replying to one of her recent Instagram posts, one Nkem Diana wrote, “Asiwaju Baby. God will visit and judge you. You have not started crying.”
Pablo Floky said, “How far those things you said Baba disclosed to you, is it not time to execute them? Or is it when hunger kills all of us?”
Another Instagram, Eth, wrote, “You misled Nigerians to vote your ‘mumu’ party.”
Meanwhile, a follower, Ojays, was of the opinion that the followers were being unfair to the actress. He wrote, “All those bashing Toyin, please did she force anyone to vote for her choice? Did she point gun at you at the polling booth that you should vote for her candidate by force? Is she the only one who supported Tinubu, or you all just derive pleasure in coming for her. Please, let her breathe. Plus, how sure are you that your own candidate would have performed any better?”
Meanwhile, the actress had also stated that she was partnering with a brand— Smallyfares— to organise a weekly food bank event in Ikeja, Lagos State.
A reggae and dancehall artiste, Chinagorom Onuoha, popularly known as African China, has said that he and his fellow artistes who held sway in the early 2000s ‘pushed’ the music industry to where it is now.
Speaking in an interview with Saturday Beats, China said, “Collaboration is something we cannot rule out in the industry. But, things have changed, and I understand. However, I don’t like the fact that when younger artistes see the people that laid the foundation (of the industry), they don’t respect them.
“They don’t know what we went through. These days, it is easier to stream one’s songs on digital music platforms. Before, those sites were not accessible to Nigerians. Back then, we would go to cyber cafes to do things like that.
“Then, people were not paying attention. We were just trying to make them love Nigerian music. In those days, we were competing with mega American artistes such as 2pac Shakur, P Diddy, Jenifer Lopez, R Kelly, and Busta Rhymes. We were not even competing with fellow Nigerian artistes, because we were all united in trying to push the industry to where it is today.”
The ‘Mr President’ singer added that older artistes were not asking the young artistes for money, but respect.
He added, “We are not asking the young artistes to give us money, but to respect us, if not for our age, but at least for the sacrifices we made for the industry.”
A veteran actress and politician, Hilda Dokubo, has said that with the rate of insecurity and hunger in the country, Nigerians are being abused by the government.
She said, “When the essence of a thing is unknown, abuse is inevitable. And, that is exactly what we are going through right now. Nigerians are being abused. We are being compared with countries that do not have crude oil, forgetting that some other countries have oil, and their citizens are not paying as much as we are paying (for petrol and diesel). If the government had given us the quality of life enjoyed by those people they are comparing us with, it would have been okay. In those countries, children from birth to the age of six have access to free healthcare. They get quality education almost for nothing. They also have policies that work. People can speak freely without being called enemies. But, what do we have here? Is it safe?
“The level of insecurity in Nigeria is shameful. How do we work? What is the state of nightlife in the country? These politicians think their lives are easy, because they travel with 20 bodyguards and policemen. Why don’t they travel alone? They won’t do that, because they know that the country is unsafe.
“Everyone who does business that thrives at night, just like most entertainers, are not finding the situation funny.”
Nigerian singer, Eniola Akinbo, known professionally as Niyola, has pleaded with her fans to pray for her full recovery following a recent near-death experience.
Naija News reports that the singer made this known in a post on her Instagram page, alongside a photo of herself in a hospital.
Although Niyola didn’t reveal the cause of the incident, she disclosed that she suddenly found herself on the floor fighting for her life and regained consciousness after hearing a supernatural voice.
The singer pleaded with her fans and well-wishers to pray for her full recovery.
She wrote, “G R A T I T U D E Modupeoluwa. I just a near death experience and naturally it’s had me thinking about time, purpose and what truly matters. One minute I was fine and the next thing I was on the floor fighting for my life. All I remember after that is hearing a voice say “And you shall by no means get hurt”
“The rest of the story is too long to share but let me tell you, God is real and His words are true!!!!!!!! But for God, it could have been different. I am so thankful.
“If you’re still thinking there’s time to live outside of him, I beg you to rethink and give him your life now. The days are truly dark,and only Christ is the true light that can chase the shadows away. I have lost two people within the last two weeks, both under thirty so don’t think you’re too young and there’s time.
“I know your strength is waning, but you’ll be glad to know that it’s in your weakness God’s strength is made perfect. What you don’t know is you are a target because you carry destiny and the frustration is to distract you from what you carry.
“You can’t give up,you MUST WIN. I typically would put my thoughts in songs but I am not allowed to do any of that for now and I love you too much not to share.
“Believe that as soon as I can, and with your prayers this experience is birthing a whole new project by God’s Grace. I am much better now, but pls pray for my full recovery. The devil is a lieeeeee I go nowhere! I love you.”
A controversial artiste, Habeeb Okikiola, aka Portable, has taken an actress, Laide Bakare, to the cleaners on social media over a recent interview she granted and allegedly referred to him as a dirty boy.
In the interview on a podcast titled, Talk to B, Bakare, who was recently appointed by Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, as his Senior Special Adviser on entertainment, art, culture and tourism, had stated that Portable abused her on social media because of an earlier interview she had granted where she had stated that of her husband cheated on her, she would retaliate by also cheating on him. She said, “He commented on one of my posts, saying, “Pele iya olowo (sorry, rich woman). It turned out to be this werey olorin, Portable. The boy just started abusing me. The Internet just gives some people cheap opportunities. You can imagine one dirty boy from Sango talking anyhow..”
She added that Portable warned her that he did not want to see her with his wife, who is also an actress.
However, in his reaction, Portable claimed that Bakare was actually the one who reached out to him on Instagram. He said, “Laide Bakare, you sent me a direct message and asked me to send my WhatsApp number. I will post everything. I told you to meet my manager, that what did you want to discuss with me? You are calling me a dirty boy, but the day we met at a party, you were the one who hugged me; you hugged a dirty boy. You were asking me to come to your birthday party? You say I come from Sango, where does your family come from? You fell for me, and I will post all the messages you sent to me.”
Also, in a post acknowledging the well wishes from fans over her recent appointment in Osun State, Portable made an unprintable comment, inferring that Bakare was a promiscuous woman.
Responding to him, she wrote, “Omo ofo.com, oni ku re (useless child, you will not die well). I will not spare you for coming to my page to rant nonsense. It is your grandmother that is mad.”
Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, widely known as Igboho, has attributed his return to Nigeria to divine intervention.
The prominent freedom fighter made his way back to the country on Thursday, just in time for his mother’s funeral, which is set to take place in Saki, Oyo State.
His return has sparked significant attention, given his high-profile status as an advocate for Yoruba autonomy and his previous encounters with Nigerian security agencies.
Igboho, on Friday, revealed that he had faced threats to his life, alleging that President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) and military personnel to assassinate him at his residence.
Igboho, addressing his supporters in Oyo State in the Yoruba language, explained that his activism, specifically his vocal opposition to the killing of farmers by Fulani herders in the Southwest, was the reason behind the alleged assassination attempt.
He said: “Buhari sent his soldiers and DSS to arrest me in my house because I said Yorubas are not slaves to Fulanis, they can’t suppress us in our father’s land.
“Fulanis can’t stop our fathers and mothers from going to their farms. But, I’m back with the power of God and authority not that of man.”
Super Eagles of Nigeria have landed another goalkeeper option as the world football governing body, FIFA, approved the nationality switch of Arthur Okonkwo.
Arthur Okonkwo was born to Nigerian parents in London, England, on September 9, 2001. He developed his football career at Arsenal Academy from childhood.
The 22-year-old goalkeeper gained promotion to Arsenal’s senior team on July 1, 2021, but wasn’t able to establish himself at the club’s senior side.
Hence, Arthur Okonkwo was on loan at Crewe Alexandra between July 29, 2022, to January 15, 2023. He spent the second half of the 2022-2023 season on loan at Sturm Graz.
Since September 1, 2023, Okonkwo has been on loan at fourth-tier club, Wrexham AFC, and he is expected to return to Arsenal at the end of this season.
Since then, the English-born goalkeeper has made 26 appearances in all competitions for Wrexham, in which he kept 11 clean sheets.
Arthur Okonkwo has played for England under-15, under-16, under-17, and under-18 national teams. He has made a total of 11 appearances for all the aforementioned teams.
Now that FIFA has permitted Okonkwo to play for Nigeria, it is left to be seen whether the NFF will invite him to the national team anytime soon.
If that happens, the youngster will compete with Francis Uzoho and Stanley Nwabali for the starting shirt in the national team. Recall that Nwabali overtook Uzoho in the national team and was Super Eagles’ first choice goalkeeper throughout the 2023 AFCON.
The Forward Operating Base, FOB, of the Nigerian Navy in Badagry, Lagos State, has intercepted 15,540 litres of petrol stored in a building along the creeks.
The Commanding Officer of the FOB, Navy Capt. B A Amakiri, said naval operatives intercepted 518 ×30 Jerry cans on Thursday, at about 11:00 am, at Agbojetho-Akorin Beach along Badagry-Seme Road.
According to him, the navy acted after receiving an intelligence tip-off about the activities of some suspected smugglers within the area.
“The intelligence indicated that several jerry cans suspected to contain petrol were stored in a building within Agbojetho-Akorin Beach along Badagry-Seme Road.
“Consequently, the Base Quick Response Team proceeded to the beach general area for investigation and possible arrest and seizure.
“The team conducted a cordon and search operation in the area and discovered 518 x 30 litres jerry cans of the suspected products,” he said.
Amakiri explained that the quantity of the petrol product translates to about 15,540litres, valued at N9,479,400 at the current rate of about N610 per litre.
“The perpetrators absconded on getting information about the approach of the team.
“It is suspected that the perpetrators had the intention of smuggling the products out of Nigeria to the Benin Republic.
“The adjoining communities were also searched, but no other products or suspects were found,” he said.
Amakiri restated the commitment of his officers to continue making smuggling unattractive, adding that the economic saboteurs would be frustrated until smuggling was suppressed to the barest minimum.
Chelsea could shift attention to Victor Boniface as they continue their search for a new striker this summer.
The West London side have been linked with Boniface’s compatriot, Victor Osimhen.
Osimhen is expected to leave Serie A champions Napoli at the end of the current season despite signing a new contract last December.
Chelsea, who are desperate to sign a new striker following another underwhelming campaign, face competition from Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal for the 25-year-old.
According to BILD chief transfer expert, Christian Falk, the Blues are now keeping tabs on Boniface.
“Nicolas Jackson has not yet managed to solve the striker problem at Chelsea,” Falk told CaughtOffside.
“Someone else could do that in the future: Victor Boniface, [he] came from Saint-Gilloise in 2023 for €16m…Contract until 2028. Current market value €40m. Chelsea are tempting, but Bayer don’t want to sell him.”
Boniface, who is currently sidelined with an abductor injury has scored 16 goals and registered eight assists in 23 games in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen this season.
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Nigeria Defender, William Troost-Ekong says he would consider playing in the Saudi Arabia Professional Football League in future.
Troost-Ekong was named the Most Valuable Player, MVP, at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
The 30-year-old is said to have caught the eye of a number of clubs in the Saudi Arabian top-flight during the competition.
The centre-back is currently on the books of Greek Super League outfit, PAOK Salonica.
The former Watford player admitted he will be interested in playing in Saudi Arabia if he had the opportunity.
“I can’t tell you that now because it’s not right in front of me,” Troost-Ekong stated in an interview with CNN World Sports Amanda Davies.
“The Saudi League is something which is exciting, you saw quite a lot of the best players who were part of the AFCON have headed in that direction and are playing there.
“If that option is in front of me, then, I will have to study it a bit more and consider it.”
Asked if he would love to play alongside Portuguese superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo’, he said; “Who wouldn’t? One of the best players in the world. We’ll have to see what happens but I’m happy at PAOK.”
Youths affiliated with the Nigeria Civil Society Forum (NCSF) gathered in Abuja to participate in a solidarity rally expressing support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration.
Naija News reports that the youths gathered at the Unity Fountain in the Business District Centre of the Federal Capital City as early as 9 am, carrying placards and dressed in white T-shirts and face caps emblazoned with the bold inscription “Jagaban is working.”
Placards bearing the inscription “NLC Stop Faking To Be Fighting For Nigerians” were observed, reflecting sentiments regarding the planned two-day nationwide strike organized by the Nigerian Labour Congress.
According to the organizers of the solidarity rally, their decision to mobilize was prompted by the proliferation of inaccurate narratives regarding the state of affairs in the country.
They emphasized that Tinubu remains steadfast in implementing his programs and policies.
Speaking to journalists during the solidarity walk from Unity Fountain to the National Assembly gate in Abuja on Friday, the Convener of the group, Terrence Kuanum, said the planned nationwide protest by the NLC was an act of sabotage.
“What is happening is sabotage and we already anticipated this sabotage because few Nigerians were benefiting immensely from this subsidy regime and insecurity that was in this country.
“I am hungry, you are hungry but it is not by sabotaging the system or antagonising the system that we can resolve this issue. We can only resolve this issue as patriotic Nigerians who are concerned that we need to resolve this problem and the generation next to us doesn’t face it.”
While the Co-convener of the group, Sunday Attah, deemed it unnecessary to call for protests against a government in power for only eight months.
Attah further pointed out that despite the recession in the United Kingdom, there are no protests against the government.
His words, “We must understand the trajectory of how the NLC has operated over time. Remember in this same country, when fuel subsidy was removed they got up and claimed to be standing for Nigerians.
“They fought and said fuel subsidy should not be removed but after a series of meetings, which of course today they are saying didn’t yield any fruit, we know how these ‘colour’ paper exchanged hands and matters died on the ground.
“We are not going to allow the NLC to plunge Nigeria into anarchy. Calling for protest against an eight months old government is uncalled for. The president is doing all his best, he is not a magician, all that Nigerians need at the moment is to be patient with the president. When a woman gets pregnant it takes nine months for her to deliver and when the child is born it takes another one to two years for the child to walk.”
For those of who grew up watching a young and teen-aged Lindsay Lohan in the 1990s and 2000s, it is nostalgic and heartwarming to see the American actress comeback ten years after her struggle with alcoholism, DUI, personal relationship crisis with her family and love life.
Hence to see her return to rom coms last year with the Netflix movie Falling For Christmas, is a testament to the man’s resilience and capacity when given a second chance.The married actress it seems has a series of movies with Netflix scheduled for release this year, one -Irish Wish, scheduled to premiere March 15, on the streaming site.
Lohan stars alongside You series actor Ed Speleers and Alexander Vlahos as Maddie. Maddie is visiting Ireland for her friend Emma’s wedding who is marrying her dream guy Paul Kennedy (Vlahos). A wish on an ancient stone saw her wake up as the bride-to-be.
The film also stars the ever-gorgeous Jane Seymour and Ayesha Curry. Netizens could not express enough their excitement to see the 37-year-old actress glowing and back doing what she does best.
“Fantastic actress. She’s really going to get the comeback she truly deserves.” @vikar01
“I love it!!! From being a kid watching Lindsay play a kid, to being a teen watching her play a teen, to being an adult watching her play an adult. I’m so glad to see her back on our screens. Can’t beat this cheesy romance,” @melissajane9652.
“This is the looks she deserves. She looks stunning, healthy and incredibly beautiful. Love you Lindsay.” @mikechen1863
“Loving the 2000s-esque rom com vibes of this. I feel there’s a resurgence of that era in recent rom coms like Anyone But You, Your Place Or Mine and now Irish Wish,” @avadotexe.
“Lindsay always ends up in these movies either playing twins or two versions of a character or a plot line where something ‘switches’. It’s so funny and nice to see her doing films where she is celebrated and recognized. I always prefer her independent films and edgier roles but these wholesome movies are so classic for her and great for the comeback that is going on!” @bluelightvisions.
[Leadership]
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, said operatives of its Enugu Zonal Command, in collaboration with a Joint Task Force, JTF, arrested a total of 115 suspected currency racketeers along Owerri Road, Ogui, in Enugu State.
A statement by the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, on Thursday said the JTF, which comprised five teams from the Nigeria Police Force and three teams from the Nigeria Customs Service, arrested the culprits on Wednesday following credible intelligence.
He said that out of the 115 suspects arrested, 113 were males and two were females.
He further said the operatives swung into action when they got information about some bureau de change operators, currency speculators, and street hawkers operating illegal foreign exchange markets in the environment.
Oyewale mentioned the items recovered from the suspects to include N110, 700,000, $8,368, £145, €2,725, and 900 South African Rands.
Others are CFA 32,000, 100 Turkiya, and 500 Bank Mozambique currencies in different denominations.
A safe abandoned by one of the street hawkers was also recovered.
He said preliminary investigations showed that some of the suspects are foreigners from the Niger Republic.
He added that they would soon be charged in court at the end of investigations.