Manchester City are champions of the 2023/24 English Premier League season after defeating West Ham 3-1 at the Etihad on the campaign’s final day. 

The Citizen clinched the title after finishing just two points over Arsenal, who defeated Everton 2-1 at the Emirate Stadium.

The latest title triumph is Man City’s fourth consecutive title, a record-setting achievement for Pep Guardiola’s side.

It is also the club’s 10th EPL title and the sixth since Guardiola took over the team in 2016.

A Phil Foden brace and Rodri’s shot in second-half ensured Man City ended the season with 91 points over Arsenal’s accumulated total of 89.

The two teams’ performances took the title race to the season’s final day, and the Citizens executed their plans to perfection.

Arsenal had to come from a goal down against Everton, but their effort proved short of the indefatigable champions.

Idrissa Gueye put Everton ahead early in the first half after his freekick was deflected past David Raya by Declan Rice into the net. The Gunners struck back three minutes later when Takehiro Tomiyaso stroked the ball home after Martin Odegaard teed him up.

Kai Havertz completed the come-back for Mikel Arteta’s side with one of the final kicks of the game.

Elsewhere, Jurgen Klopp got a winning farewell in his final game at Anfield, thanks to a Liverpool 2-0 victory over ten-men Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Chelsea confirmed their return to European football next season with a 2-1 win over Bournemouth, while Manchester United will hope to win the FA Cup for a chance to play European football next season after finishing eighth in the league despite a 2-0 win at Brighton.

Luton join Burnley and Sheffield United to be relegated from the EPL following a 4-2 loss to Fulham at home.

RESULTS

• Arsenal 2-1 Everton
• Brentford 2-4 Newcastle United
• Brighton 0-2 Manchester United
• Burnley 1-2 Nott. Forest
• Chelsea 2-1 Bournemouth
• Crystal Palace 5-0 Aston Villa
• Liverpool 2-0 Wolves
• Luton 2-4 Fulham
• Manchester City 3-1 West Ham
• Sheffield Utd 0-3 Tottenham

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was also among those killed, along with seven others.

His death comes at a fraught moment in the Middle East, with war raging in Gaza.

The helicopter crashed weeks after Iran launched a drone-and-missile attack on Israel in response to a deadly strike on its diplomatic compound in Damascus.

Hardliner Raisi became president in a historically uncompetitive election in 2021. Previously the chief justice, he oversaw a period of intensified repression of dissent in a nation convulsed by youth-led protests against clerical rule.

Raisi was the second-most powerful person in the Islamic Republic’s political structure after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khomeini. The Iranian Constitution mandates that, in the case of the president’s death, the first vice president assumes office with the approval of the Supreme Leader.

Iran was thrown into uncertainty Sunday as search and rescue teams scoured a fog-shrouded mountain area after President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter went missing in what state media described as an “accident”.

Fears grew for the 63-year-old ultraconservative after contact was lost with the aircraft carrying him as well as Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and others in East Azerbaijan province, reports said.

The supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urged Iranians to “not worry” about the leadership of the Islamic republic, saying “there will be no disruption in the country’s work”.

“We hope that Almighty God will bring our dear president and his companions back in full health into the arms of the nation,” he said in a nationally televised address as Muslim faithful prayed for Raisi’s safe return. 

Expressions of concern and offers to help came from abroad, including Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Russia, and Turkey, as well as from the European Union which activated its rapid response mapping service to aid in the search effort.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani expressed gratitude for “governments and international organizations for their sympathy and offer of help in the search and rescue operations.”

State television first reported in the afternoon that “an accident happened to the helicopter carrying the president” in the Jolfa region.

“The harsh weather conditions and heavy fog have made it difficult for the rescue teams to reach the accident site,” said one broadcaster, as the massive search effort later continued into the night.

Iran’s Red Crescent chief Pirhossein Koolivand told state TV the area of the accident “has yet to be identified” and that the situation remained “difficult”. 

Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the helicopter “made a hard landing” in bad weather and that it was “difficult to establish communication” with the aircraft.

He urged people to get their information “only from state television”, and not listen to foreign media channels Iran deems hostile to the Islamic republic.

– Massive search effort –

Iran’s cabinet held an emergency meeting led by Vice President Mohammad Mokhber after the incident, IRNA reported.

Raisi’s convoy had included three helicopters, and the other two had “reached their destination safely”, said the Tasnim news agency.

More than 60 rescue teams using search dogs and drones were sent to the mountainous protected forest area of Dizmar near the town of Varzaghan, the IRNA news agency reported.

Air passengers travelling through Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja, can now use free Wi-Fi, Vanguard has gathered.

Special Assistant to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Tunde Moshood, on Sunday, confirmed the development.

Moshood also said plans were in progress to have free Wi-Fi services installed at other airports across the country, saying access to free internet services at the country’s airports conforms with Keyamo’s third agenda.

Moshood, in a chat with Vanguard, said: “Both local and international flyers can now enjoy free Wi-Fi in Lagos and Abuja, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and Murtala Muhammed International Airport (Terminal 1 & Terminal 2). Stay connected, surf the web and make your journey smoother.

“Look for the NCC Free Airport Wi-Fi, and get connected. Your life does not have to pause while at the airport. Use the Wi-Fi to enjoy all your latest music and download your favourite Netflix programmes.

“Other airports are presently on course. This actually complies with the agenda of the Minister, which is to improve infrastructures across all airports and the aviation industry as a whole.”

Recall that Keyamo had attributed the absence of airport Wi-Fi to bureaucratic hurdles between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, and the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, which he swiftly resolved by allocating Wi-Fi provision to NAMA.

Collaborating with the Ministry of Communication, Keyamo said he was ensuring imminent access to complimentary Wi-Fi at airports, with discussions underway with international firms for in-flight Wi-Fi.

He said the initiative aligned with global aviation standards, which is to enhance passenger connectivity during flights.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, has reacted after the Federal Government ignored the union’s ultimatum to reconstitute the governing councils of universities across the country and released a list of new members for 111 tertiary institutions.

Naija News reported that President Bola Tinubu had last week approved the appointments of 555 persons to serve as Pro-chancellors/Chairmen and members of the Governing Boards of 111 Federal Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.

An advertorial signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, showed the appointment of a chairperson and four members for each institution.

The advertorial stated that the Inaugural/Retreat for the Chairmen and Members of the Governing Councils of Tertiary Institutions will take place on Thursday, May 30th, and Friday, May 31st, 2024.

Notable among the members of the councils include the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, two prominent Nigerian lawyers and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wole Olanipekun and Yusuf Alli, former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Peter Okebukola, and labour activist, Issa Aremu.

Reacting to the development, the ASUU President, in an interview with PUNCH, said the Federal Government was expected to reinstate the ‘illegally’ dissolved governing councils and not to constitute new ones.

Osodeke also stated that the union’s demand was not limited to the dissolved governing councils of tertiary institutions, adding that the Federal Government should implement other ASUU requests.

He said, “It is not just about the governing council alone, it is just one of them. Secondly, we said they should reinstate the illegally dissolved governing council. We didn’t say they should constitute a new one. As far as we are concerned, they have not met any.”

No fewer than 386 people, mostly women and children, have been rescued by the Nigerian Army in Sambisa forest 10 years after their abduction.

The acting GOC 7 Division, Brig. Gen. AGL Haruna, made this known while speaking to newsmen at the outskirts of Sambisa forest in Konduga LGA after welcoming the troops that conducted the 10-day operation.

Haruna said that the operation tagged “Operation Desert Sanity 111” was to clear Sambisa forest of the remnants of all categories of terrorists, as well as provide some of them, eager to surrender as observed, the opportunity to do so.

“Our effort is to ensure that we clear remnants of terrorists in the Sambisa and give those willing to surrender the opportunity to surrender.

“With this operation, we envisage many of them will surrender as they have started.

“We also rescued some civilians; as of yesterday, we rescued 386 and I am sure the number will increase by today,” Haruna said.

The GOC, who addressed the troops on the message of the Chief of Army Staff, lauded their performance and professionalism exhibited during the operation and urged them to sustain the tempo.

Some of those rescued, who spoke, said they have been in captivity for the past 10 years.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that troops from 21 Special Armoured Brigade, 26 Task Force Brigade, and 199 Special Forces participated in the operation.

Eleven suspected pipeline vandals opposite the depot of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited at Apir, a suburb of Makurdi, Benue State capital, have been apprehended by the Anti-Vandal Unit of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Yakubu Ibrahim, the State Commandant of the corps, who disclosed this on Saturday, said that following an intelligence report, the command dispatched its team to the area opposite the NNPCL depot at Apir.

According to Ibrahim, the team discovered an illegal vandalization of an NNPCL pipeline, also known as the Yola line, at the location. 

Ibrahim explained that the eleven persons were apprehended at the crime site and would be taken for questioning and profiling. While describing the activities of the vandals as an “act of terrorism,” the commandant further explained that the destruction, which stretches over 10km, was an economic sabotage.

The commandant said, “This is my first time; I’ve never seen a thing like this before. It’s disheartening that these excavated pipelines, which may have cost so much, would be sold for a pittance, indicative that the well-being of the Nigerian people was never in their consideration.”

He expressed sadness over what he described as a conspiracy of silence by the residents and traditional rulers of the community near the scene of the incident and promised to investigate if they were found complicit.

He enjoined the people of the state to be more vigilant and more conscious of activities in their environment, stressing that the items recovered at the site were the vandals’ working equipment, with 16 cut pipelines.

Men of the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards, in late April 2024, arrested two pipeline vandals in Yakyor, Apir, a suburb of Makurdi. According to Joseph Har, the Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Security and Internal Affairs, the culprits were trailed and arrested at the weekend after they had sold the first batch of the loot for N400,000 and shared the money.

The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) apprehended Abdullahi Yahaya and Ibrahim Haruna within Kaduna metropolis on charges related to currency counterfeiting.

The commission disclosed that upon their arrest, a total sum of $81,700 all in fake $100 denomination, was found in their possession. 

A statement made available to newsmen in Kaduna at the weekend by the commission’s head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, stated that Haruna, upon interrogation, claimed that the counterfeit dollars were delivered to him some months ago for safe-keeping by one Babangida, said to be at large.

It further explained that Yahaya on his part claimed that he got to know that Haruna possessed fake dollars when one Kabiru, also said to be at large, connected him to Haruna for the purpose of collecting the fake dollars for delivery to a buyer who was waiting at an agreed location.

The commission also disclosed other items found in their possession as at the time of the arrest included a small quantity of colourless substance, suspected to be mercury, a chemical allegedly being used to aid the production of fake dollars.

According to the statement, the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has been commended for the professionalism and dedication it brings to the fight against corruption, economic and financial crimes.

It received the commendation when the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Kaduna State Branch paid a courtesy visit to the Kaduna Zonal Command of the EFCC.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the apprehension of a 70-year-old man named Adamu Mohammed by its operatives.

Mohammed was arrested at Mbulamel in the Biu Local Government Area of Borno State for allegedly dealing in illicit drugs.

The anti-narcotic agency also said that its operatives intercepted China and UK-bound consignments concealed in steel bolts and shea butter in Lagos and recovered 2,025 explosives in Niger, Kano and Sokoto states.

The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, in a statement issued on Sunday said that NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigations (DOGI), attached to a courier firm in Lagos on Wednesday intercepted two parcels containing cocaine and amphetamine concealed in steel bolts and shea butter.

Babafemi stated that while the cocaine weighing 587 grams was concealed in eight steel bolt screws going to China, the amphetamine consignment packed in vape pens and hidden in shea butter was going to the United Kingdom.

He further stated that NDLEA operatives also thwarted an attempt by one Emeka Nwadiaro, also known as Mega, to export 3.6kg of Loud, a strain of cannabis concealed in 36 water flasks to Dubai, UAE at a logistics company in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, on Thursday.

He said a follow-up operation led to the arrest of the owner of the consignment, Nwadiaro in Onitsha, Anambra state on the same day.

Babafemi also stated that while NDLEA operatives in Lagos intercepted a Mercedes Benz bus loaded with 840kg cannabis and arrested the driver, Samuel Henry, at Olojo in the Ojo Local Government Area of the state.

He said another suspect, Lawal Adam, was arrested along Otukpo Road, Aliade in Benue State on Friday with 75,000 pills of opioids including tramadol and exol-5.

Also, two suspects identified as Olisa Etisi, 32, and Jonathan Umeh, 25, were arrested along Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State following the discovery by NDLEA operatives of a big gas cylinder used to conceal six blocks of Loud, a strain of cannabis weighing 3.85kg.

He also said that on Thursday, 27-year-old Gaddafi Sani was arrested with 30 kilograms of cannabis, 2kg cannabis and 33.55grams of diazepam, along Abuja-Kaduna Road in Kaduna State.

Babafemi said in Yobe State, a consignment of 91.1kg opioids and 13kg cannabis going to Maiduguri, Borno State, was recovered from the hidden compartments of a petrol tanker along Potiskum-Damaturu Road by NDLEA operatives who also arrested the driver, Ismaila Ali.

The NDLEA spokesperson said, “No fewer than four suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure of 2,025 pieces of improvised explosive devices (IED) materials intercepted in a Toyota hummer bus marked AGL 905 XX by NDLEA officers along Agaie - Lapai Road, Niger State.

“While the duo of Abdulrauf Shitu Adeyemi, 46, and Asmiyu Rahim, 45, conveying the IED materials were arrested on the spot, follow-up operations led to the arrest of Husaini Abdullahi, 25, at Sokoto main market, Sokoto and Nazifi Abdullahi, 37, at Naibawa Motor Park, Kano on Friday 17th May.

“The Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has directed that all four suspects and the explosive materials be transferred to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.”

He noted that in another operation, 42-year-old Muhammad Lawal was arrested at Central Market Motor Park, Katsina State with 1,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection.

He said, “A total of 105kg cannabis was on Friday recovered from a house at Obola community, Owan West Local Government Area, Edo State and a suspect, Gloria Oris, was arrested when NDLEA officers raided the area.

“In Kwara State, two suspects: Abdulganiyu Karaman, 55, and Sunday Abel, 37, were on Saturday 18th May arrested with 83kg cannabis and tramadol at Boriya, Baruten LGA, and Offa respectively.”

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, arrived in Nigeria penultimate Friday to champion mental health for young people affected by conflicts and to promote the Invictus Games, which the prince founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick service members and veterans.

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, says it was “humbling” to find out through a genealogy test that she is partly Nigerian as she met with women in the West African nation penultimate Saturday. On her second day in Nigeria, according to AP News, she acknowledged Nigeria as “my country.”

The Duchess at an event on women in leadership co-hosted by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a Nigerian economist and head of the World Trade Organization (WTO). “It’s been eye-opening to be able to know more about my heritage.

Never in a million years would I understand it as much as I do now. “And what has been echoed so much in the past day is, ‘Oh, we are not so surprised when we found out you are Nigerian.

“It is a compliment to you because what they define as a Nigerian woman is brave, resilient, courageous, beautiful”. Meghan had announced on her podcast in October 2022 that she found out through DNA-based test that she was “43% Nigerian.”

Her first reaction after finding out was to tell her mother, she said at the event held in Abuja. “Being African-American, part of it is really not knowing so much about your lineage and background … and it was exciting for both of us,” she said.

Mo Abudu, program anchor and Chief Executive of EbonyLife Media Group, then asked the audience to suggest a Nigerian name for Meghan. “Ifeoma,” someone shouted from the excited crowd, a name from Nigeria’s Igbo tribe which means ‘a treasured thing.’

“Omowale”, another suggested, from the Yoruba tribe, which means ‘the child has come home.’ Meghan joined female leaders such as Okonjo-Iweala to discuss the importance of mentorship for young women and the career challenges women face in a country like Nigeria, where it is not common for women to be in top leadership and political positions.

Asked by the anchor about how she feels about becoming the first woman and first African to lead the WTO, Okonjo-Iweala said it was long overdue.

“When I will feel right is when we stop saying, ‘the first woman to do this … to do that’. I have very mixed feelings about being the first woman because I think women should have been there already.” She also spoke about mentors who have helped her career, including as Nigeria’s former finance minister.

One way to mentor young girls is by “returning home” to be closer to them, Meghan said, citing the case of Okonjo-Iweala as an example.

“You need to come back home, you need to, at least, be a familiar face for the next generation to say, ‘Oh she looks like me and I can be that’,” she added.

Earlier in the day, Meghan watched as Harry and his Invictus Games team lost to the Nigerian military’s team in a sitting volleyball game. It featured soldiers recovering from injuries sustained in the country’s fight against Islamic extremists and other armed gangs in the country’s conflict-battered north. After the match held at the Nigerian Armed Forces’ Mess in Abuja, Harry and Meghan were surrounded by players, their families and a group of women who gifted Meghan a Nigerian fabric.

“We are friends and family supporters of Harry and Meghan,” said Peace Adetoro, 57, a member of the group. “They are a beautiful couple and we love them so much. We support them 100%.” Nigeria’s fashion and dancing styles were in the spotlight during the visit.

The family of David Ukpo, who was taken to the United Kingdom by the former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, for a kidney transplant has cried out as they have not heard from their son David, following the conviction and sentencing of Ekweremadu.

The former deputy senate president and his wife, Beatrice, were sentenced on March 23, 2023, at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, United Kingdom.

Ekweremadu was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison, while his wife was sentenced to four years and six months in jail for organ trafficking.

Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice, and Obinna Obeta, a doctor who acted as the middleman, were alleged to have attempted to convince doctors at the Royal Free Hospital in London to perform an £80,000 transplant on 21-year-old David Ukpo, who was presented as the cousin of their daughter Sonia Ekweremadu.

Speaking with family members in their village in Ndioffia Ishieke of Ebonyi State, where David Ukpo hails from, they stated that they have not heard from their son since the incident broke out and they don’t know if their son is dead or alive.

The 46-year-old mother of David Ukpo, who gave her name as Mary Ukpo, stated that the last time she saw her son was in November 2021, when he visited the village and since then, she has not heard from him or seen him.

Speaking to our correspondent at the family compound in Ndioffia Ishieke village in Ebonyi State, she said, “I don’t know if my son is alive or not because I have not heard from him since 2022.

“The last time I saw him was in 2021 when he came to the village. I am begging anyone who knows where my son is to please grant me access to speak to him.

“We heard Ike Ekweremadu has been sentenced to prison, but until this very moment, we have not heard from our son. It’s been years now, and I don’t know if he is alive or dead. David is my son and first child. I just gave birth to another child in his absence, which makes it seven younger ones that are next to him.”

With tears, the stepmother of David, who gave her name as Ukpo Felicia, said since David’s departure, the father has been sick with his leg swollen.