A fan of English football club, Arsenal, has been shot dead by a security guard while celebrating the team’s victory over Manchester United, in Uganda.

Another fan was injured as the guard opened fire on a large crowd of jubilant supporters at a restaurant in Lukaya town in central Uganda, about 100km (62 miles) from the capital Kampala.

It happened towards the end of the match, which Arsenal won 2-0.

A local journalist told the BBC that the building’s manager was angered by the noise that the jubilant supporters were making and asked the guard to intervene.

However, the fans did not heed a warning to quiet down.

Witnesses told the journalist, Farish Magembe, that the owner switched off the power in the restaurant, angering the fans, who responded by making even more noise.

It was then that the guard allegedly opened fire, firing several shots.

The victim, identified as 30-year-old John Ssenyonga, died at the scene.

Another long-term Arsenal fan, Lawrence Mugejera, was taken to hospital for treatment.

Both the guard and the manager of the building are on the run after the incident, with the police looking for them.

The regional police spokesman, Twaha Kasirye, was quoted by the Daily Monitor newspaper as saying that they had recovered a gun at the scene.

“We condemn the incident and we ask anyone with information that can help the police to bring the suspect to book to speak up,” he said.

He also urged fans to control their excitement.

The Federal Government has begun payment of pensions and other entitlements to retired military personnel, including three months’ arrears.

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, Henshaw Ogubike.

PUNCH Online reports that retired military personnel halted activities at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja on Thursday to protest their unpaid entitlements.

The retirees expressed frustration over the Federal Government’s failure to pay the promised 20% to 28% salary increment from January to November 2024.

Their demands included overdue payments for palliatives from October 2023 to November 2024, an additional N32,000 added to their pensions, bulk payment of the Security Debarment Allowance, and the refund of pension deductions made from the salaries of medically boarded soldiers.

However, Matawalle said that the government has begun payment of military salary increases, and the military personnel have already started receiving alerts for the payment.

“President Bola Tinubu released funds for the payment of pension and other entitlements owed to retired military personnel on Thursday,” the statement said.

He commended the President for his unwavering commitment to the welfare of both serving and retired military personnel, emphasising that the payment of pension arrears owed to retirees would continue to receive critical attention.

The minister said that the initiative reflected the President’s dedication to enhancing the living standards of those who have served the nation.

Mayawalle also acknowledged the efforts and support of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, who was very committed to actualising the payments.

He urged the Nigerian military to remain steadfast in their duties while reassuring them that the President was fully committed to boosting their morale and providing the necessary support to combat insecurity in Nigeria.

“In spite of initial setbacks, be rest assured that Mr President will do everything within his power to uplift our military forces as they confront the challenges of insecurity,” he said.

He expressed gratitude to the President for his decisive action and reiterated the vital role played by both retired and serving military personnel in ensuring the nation’s security and their significant contributions in combating insurgency.

He assured the Nigerian Armed Forces officers and personnel of the President’s unwavering resolve to eradicate insecurity in Nigeria, bolstered by the readiness and resilience of the military.

NAN

Tragedy struck late Thursday night as a fatal motor accident claimed the lives of five people in the General Gas Area of Akobo, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Reports indicate that the collision involved a commercial Nissan Micra carrying five passengers and a long truck.

The identities of the driver and passengers involved in the crash are yet to be confirmed.

Details surrounding the circumstances of the incident remain unclear as of the time of this report. Further updates are expected.

A 28-year-old bank official, Adewumi Bolaji Gabriel, has been arrested by the Katsina State Police Command for the alleged theft of N18 million from a customer through an ATM.

The suspect, an Assistant Operations Officer at a New Generation bank, is accused of conspiring with a friend, David Mesioye, to carry out the theft.

The spokesperson of the command, ASP Abubakar Aliyu, confirmed the arrest during a briefing at the Police Headquarters in Katsina on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.

The arrest came after a complaint was filed by the victim, Okojie Herbert, who reported the theft to the authorities.

“Following the receipt of a complaint from one Okojie Hubert Erayomon,  m, an Assistant Head of Operation at Bank Daura Branch, on a suspected case of fraud against one Adewumi Bolaji Gabriel, m, age 28, of Daura LGA, the Head of ATM at Bank Daura branch, Daura LGA, Katsina,” the PPRO stated.

"The suspect criminally conspired with a friend, one David Mesioye, a staff member of  Bank Kafur Branch, now at large, to steal the sum of eighteen million one hundred and sixty-four thousand naira (₦18,164,000.00) from customer’s bank account.

"The suspect, Head of ATM, who was responsible for managing the bank’s ATM operations at the branch, conspired with his friend to steal the sum of N18 million from the bank. The suspects used their expertise in the bank’s operations to carry out the theft, which was discovered during an audit.

“In the course of the investigation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the offence as the following exhibits were recovered from the suspect: the sum of N10,180,000.00k from his different bank accounts. Physical cash of N366,900  and other valuables’’.

“The suspect will be charged in court upon completion of the investigation."

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has reiterated that the Islamic religion is not against the education of the girl-child.

Speaking at the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project in Bauchi, organized by the Ministry of Education with World Bank support, the Sultan called for a shift in social and cultural norms that hinder girls' education, particularly in the northeastern region.

Themed “Overcoming Social and Cultural Norms on Girl Education in the North East Zone: Roles of Traditional and Religious Leaders,” the event highlighted barriers to girl-child education.

“Islam is not against the education of the girl-child,” the Sultan stated. “The key is educating people about its importance. Educating girls equips them to better society, care for themselves, their families, and their communities, regardless of ethno-religious differences.”

The Sultan also called on northern governors to prioritize funding for education to address the issue. He noted observing children hawking during school hours and stressed the importance of ensuring all children have access to formal education.

A notorious fraudster, Bishir Abdullahi, has been arrested by the Katsina State Police Command after he was caught with 14 stolen Automated Teller Machine (ATM) debit cards and accused of defrauding his victims of over N2.7 million.

The arrest, made by an alert police officer at a  Bank branch in Tudun Katsira area of Katsina, unveiled a sophisticated scheme of ATM card swapping and fraudulent withdrawals targeting unsuspecting bank customers across the State.

The spokesperson of the command, Sadiq Abubakar, paraded the suspect alongside others arrested for various crimes at the police headquarters on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.

According to the PPRO, the 37-year-old suspect had used the stolen ATM cards to withdraw amounts ranging from N49,000 to N900,000 from victims’ bank accounts.

Preliminary investigations linked him to multiple incidents, with a total of N2.7 million stolen.

The House of Representatives member for Oredo Constituency of Edo State, Esosa Iyawe, has said his defection from the Labour Party (LP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was in line with his political interests.

Iyawe and three other House members of the LP defected to the ruling APC citing leadership crisis.

Esosa Iyawe pointed out that he was uncomfortable with the Labour Party’s leadership crisis and numerous court cases against its leadership.

In a statement on Thursday, the first-time lawmaker in the 10th House of Representatives since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, stated that his defection was after consulting with family and constituent members.

“I am writing to formally tender my resignation as a member of Labour Party (LP), effective immediately. This decision was reached after careful consideration of my personal convictions and the alignment of my values with the political landscape today.

“My decision to resign from LP is as a result of the party’s inability to declare who should emerge as the legitimate Caretaker Committee from the National to State levels. More so, due the incessant tussle rocking the leadership of the party and the numerous perpetual Court cases against the Leadership of the party; myself and my supporters are in a state of confusion as to the Party’s stability in leadership.

“With regards to my right to freedom of association as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended); I hereby wish to notify you of my defection from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC) whose ideas align with my political aspirations and ideology. This is after due consultations with my family and supporters,” Iyawe said.

He, however, thanked LP for giving him the platform. He commended the party’s contribution to the nation’s democracy.

“I hereby re-emphasize my resolve to continue my service and representation to my people as this decision will certainly improve my past performance at all levels.

“I thank the leadership and fellow members of Labour Party (LP) for the support, collaboration, and opportunities provided to me during my membership. I leave with gratitude and respect for the party’s efforts and contributions to our democracy,” Iyawe added.

The Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) is trying to recover N4 trillion debts from debtors, Managing Director Gbenga Alade said yesterday.

He said the company has successfully recovered N2 trillion from debtors, who put up stiff resistance to offset their debts.

Alade, who spoke with reporters in Lagos, lamented that those who owe are eminent Nigerians, politicians, public officers, captains of industry and other celebrities.

He said that many debtors live in opulence and flaunt their ill-gotten wealth, adding that they also abuse the currency by spraying money at social events.

Alade thanked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for cooperating with the company in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities.