The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria

  • Traditional ruler killed in Lagos

    A traditional ruler in Abule-Ado, Amuwo-Odofin Local government area of Lagos, Chief Muritala Akogun, has been killed by some hoodlums.

    Chief Akogun died on Monday from the injury he suffered from the attacks by the thugs.

    The Nation learnt that the late traditional ruler was attacked on Saturday and suffered deep machete cuts on his head, hands, and face.

    Another resident who was severely injured in the fracas is said to still be receiving treatment at a hospital.

    The late traditional ruler was recently installed as the Akogun of Ado kingdom.

    He was said to have attempted to prevent some hoodlums who invaded the community from wreaking havoc, last Saturday before he was attacked.

    The Nation learnt that the hoodlums came to avenge the beating of their colleague by some members of the community.

    An eyewitness said a fire razed some shanties in Abule-Ado last Friday. While owners of the affected shanties were trying to salvage their property, some miscreants, hijacked the situation and stole some of the property.

    One of them was said to have been caught with a television set, which he was taking to his end.

    Some of the residents, who were miffed by his action, reportedly beat him and collected the stolen television set from him.

    But the hoodlum escaped and went to mobilise his members who invaded the community.

    The late Akogun, who was at a naming at Shibiri, was said to have left the function for Abule-Ado, when informed of the incident.

    He was said to have also put a call to one Lawal, said to be influential among the hoodlums.

    According to the Otun of Ado, Afeez Olorunkemi, “the incident happened while Chief Akogun was pleading with Akeem Lawal to call his boys to order. He stood in front of Ado youth office when we sighted the hoodlums approaching. Since Lawal, their coordinator had assured us that there was no cause for alarm; we stayed back, unknown to us that they had a sinister motive. They got so close to us and started attacking us.

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    “When they launched their attack, Lawal simply walked straight to his vehicle and drove off without cautioning his boys.

    “Another person, Prince Fasiu was attacked inside the toilet where he ran into for safety. Fasiu was hiding under the washing hand basin when one of the hoodlums attacked him and another victim. They were stabbed and macheted on different parts of their bodies.

    “Chief Akogun and Prince Fasiu were later rushed to a private hospital. Unfortunately, Chief Akogun died in the early hours of yesterday, (Monday) as a result of the severe injuries he sustained, while doctors are still battling to save Fasiu”.

    The Nation learnt some people have been arrested and transferred from Trade Fair Police Division to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, (SCIID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos Mainland.

  • Ondo pastor dies at member’s funeral

    A Pastor of the Mount Zion Church in the Oke-Aro area of Ondo State, Femi Olorunsoromidayo, has reportedly died while conducting a funeral service for the burial of a late member of the church.

    It was learnt that the deceased pastor, aged 42, was the founder of Divine Mount Zion Gospel Ministry.

    The pastor was said to have suddenly fallen ill and died during the burial service of a 78-year-old church member, Mr. Samuel Rotimi, at Erusu in Akoko North West Local Government Area, after receiving the corpse of the deceased from Akure for a funeral service.

    A source said that the late Rotimi had, before his death, instructed the cleric to ensure that he was buried at his residence in Akure, anytime he died as against his home town, Erusu-Akoko.

    But after Rotimi’s death, the pastor reportedly acted against the wish of the deceased, an action which was said to have been supported by the deceased church members’ immediate family.

    Also, the head of the deceased family at Erusu-Akoko was said to have instructed the pastor to move the burial plans to Erusu against the instructions left by Rotimi before his death.

    A source said: “Since the late pastor, including his immediate family, had limited authority over the burial plans, he arranged for an ambulance which took the corpse to Erusu Akoko, alongside his family members and some church members.

    “While the pastor was conducting the burial service at the cemetery, he started feeling uncomfortable after which he became unconscious before he was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in the Akoko area, where he was confirmed dead.”

    It was learnt that the ambulance which conveyed the remains of the late church member to his home town in Erusu for burial, was also used to convey the corpse of the pastor back to Akure.

    The development was said to have created confusion within the church and among family members of the late cleric.

  • Abraham may finally dump Nigeria for England

    Chelsea hotshot Tammy Abraham looks set to reject Nigeria and commit his future to England – if the striker gets called up for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers.

    Gareth Southgate has been monitoring the in-form Blues star, 21, in a bid to ensure the Three Lions don’t lose the hot prospect.

    Abraham’s dad is close friends with the president of the Nigeria Football Federation and he could yet choose the African nation.

    However, it is now believed Abraham will put all speculation to bed and commit to England should he get the call from Southgate.

    Read Also: International future: Thursday is D-Day for Tammy Abraham

    England take on Czech Republic and Bulgaria in their Euro 2020 qualifiers later this month.

    And Southgate will name his squad Thursday – with Abraham widely tipped for a call-up.

    Abraham has been capped twice by England – both under Southgate. But both matches were friendlies, against Germany and Brazil in 2017.

    Southgate even sent his No2 Steve Holland to watch Chelsea lose 1-0 to Valencia in the Champions League – with explicit orders to keep tabs on Abraham.

    Abraham has scored seven Premier League goals this season – including a stunning hat-trick against Wolves and two apiece against Sheffield United and Norwich.

  • Ofili, Okon-Georgace fail to make final in 400m

    Nigeria’s duo of Favour Ofili and Patience Okon-George may have run their last race in the women’s 400m, after the Nigeria quarter-millers missed out from the final of the event at the ongoing IAAF 2019 World Championships holding in Doha, Qatar.

    The duo ran fastest time in the heat events with Ofili running her personal best to berth in semi-final but their efforts were not enough yesterday as they finished below the fastest time to miss out from the final round.

    In heat one, Okon-George ran 51.89secs to finish sixth, while Ofili ran 52.58secs to finish in same position like Okon-George in heat three to exit the event.

    Jamaican Stephenie Ann McPherson had gone out a little too hard heat three of the semi-final, but that was not the case as she built a big lead through the first 250m. She also had enough in the tank to carry her position through to the line and win in 50.70secs.

    Read Also: IAAF 2019 World Championships: Oduduru: I’m frustrated with AFN

    Poland’s Justyna Swiety-Ersetic also ran well through the final 50m to grab second in 50.96. She looks on in disbelief as that is confirmed up on the scoreboard.

    The US champion, Shakima Wimbley, was in the running until 300m, at which point she stopped with what looked like an injury, although she was able to jog through to the line. Her official clocking is 1:13.

    The 2016 Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo of Bahamas eases through the gears to win the second 400m semi in 49.66. Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson had started quickest, but the tall Bahamian easily reeled her in round the second bend before striding away for a very impressive win.

  • AHEAD FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP: Eaglets to depart for Brazil training tour October 8

    The national U-17 side, Golden Eaglets, are expected to leave the country on 8th October for Sao Paolo, Brazil for the final build up to the FIFA U17 World Cup billed for South American nation.

    This much was disclosed  by the team’s head coach, Manu Garba through the team’s media officer, Francis Achi who explained that 30 players would  make the trip to Brazil before the final 21-man list  is selected.

    Garba was quoted as saying  that the closed camping in Sao Paulo will afford the technical crew the chance to fully access all the 30 players before a decision is made on the 21 that will don Nigeria colours in Brazil.

    Read Also: CAF Champions League: Enyimba’s Abd’Allah takes lessons after exit

    The coach, according to Achi,  commended the UEFA/CAF tournament in Turkey and stressed that the three games they played have enabled them to notice errors that must be corrected before the start of the World Cup.

    “It was a very good exposure for the boys especially after the last AFCON played in April,” Garba said.

    “Since April the team has not played any international  match and they met very stiff competition from almost all the teams that  took part in the tournament  in Turkey.”

  • Zenith Bank Basketball League: Air Warriors, Customs in early lead

    Air Warriors Women team continued from where they finished at the Abuja Zone of this year’s Zenith Bank Basketball League as they whipped Adamawa Super Flames in the four quarters to lead the Savannah Conference.

    The Air Warriors coached by Samson Sotiminu drubbed the Adamawa Babes 25-3, 49-14, 68-21 and 80-24 to establish the lead at the Conference.

    “Our goal is to go all out and clinch the title for the first time. We are prepared but we know it is not going to be easy but we are prepared for it,” Sotiminu said after the victory.

    Read Also: IAAF 2019 World Championships: Oduduru: I’m frustrated with AFN

    Also through yesterday are the Nigeria Customs ladies who narrowly defeated Plateau Rocks 53-49 and Blackgold Queens who defeated a sloppy Nigeria Army side 73-60.

    Meanwhile, the League continues on Wednesday with Plateau Rocks playing Adamawa Flames while Blackgold Queens take on Air Warriors.

    The other two matches are between Kaduna Angels and Nigeria Customs while Nigeria Army slug it out with Taraba Hurricanes in the last match of the day.

  • Olayinka leads Slavia Prague against Dortmund

    Super Eagles new boy, Peter Olayinka, will be looking  forward  to  a good outing yet again as  Slavia Prague continue their good start in the UEFA  Champions League tonight as they welcome German giants, Borussia Dortmund, at the Sinobo Stadium.

    The Czech side came within a whisker of earning three points at Inter Milan, taking the lead through Peter Olayinka before Nicolo Barella rescued a point for Inter in stoppage time.

    Slavia are unbeaten in the league after 11 games, winning 9 of them with Olayinka scoring the only goal in their last match against Mlada Boleslav.

    Read Also: Meet Olayinka, Eagles’ new invitee

    Olayinka, 23, has scored four goals in 10 games for the Czech champions this season.

    The Champions league this evening will also see as Lille’s red-hot Victor Osimhen battle English giants Chelsea at home at the Stade Pierre Mauroy.

    Lille would hope Victor  Osimhen is in fine form to help them get over the 3-0 away loss to Ajax on Matchday 1.

    In Belgium, Paul Onuachu and Stephen Odey would hope to get some playing time against Italian side Napoli.

    Onuachu was on for just five minutes in Genk’s 2-6 humiliating defeat to Salzburg in Austria two weeks ago while Stephen Odey was not dressed for the game.

  • Makinde: I won’t interfere in Ibadan chieftaincy system

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has promised not to interfere in the Ibadan traditional chieftaincy system.

    The governor spoke during the 86th birthday anniversary and chieftaincy celebration of Mrs. Theresa Oyekanmi, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.

    Oyekanmi was recently installed as the 14th Iyalode of Ibadan land after the death of Alhaja Aminat Abiodun.

    Makinde, who was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mrs. Funmi Orisadeyi, said: “As your son, I am reassuring you of my support for the progress of Ibadan. Let me re-state that I will not interfere in the Ibadan traditional chieftaincy system.”

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    The governor solicited the support of traditional institutions for his administration in transforming the state, and congratulated Chief Oyekanmi.

    The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, prayed that his reign and that of the Iyalode would last and bring growth to Ibadan land.

    The event was attended by prominent sons and daughters of Ibadan.

    Among those present were Oba Lekan Balogun, Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land; Chief Lekan Alabi, Agbaakin of Ibadan land; and Chief Sarafadeen Alli, a former secretary to  the state government.

  • Ndume: repair Borno’s bad roads

    Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) has urged the Federal Government to rehabilitate major roads in Borno State.

    Ndume addressed reporters after meeting with the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, with lawmakers from the state.

    The lawmaker said the intervention would remove the harrowing experience commuters face as a result of poor roads.

    He said work on Biu-Gombe, Biu-Maiduguri, Biu-Damaturu, Biu-Gombi, Bama-Gwoza-Mubi, Gwoza-Damboa-Buni Yadi, captured in previous budgets and awarded, had not taken off fully.

    Ndume said no serious work was done on the roads, adding that a journey that should take one and half hours often took more than six hours.

    He said: “I and other lawmakers from the state met the minister of Works to intimate him of our experiences. We came to beg the minister to intervene to take the hardship away from the people; we hope serious work would begin on those roads.

    “There is only one connecting road that is motorable. From Maiduguri to Biu is 186 kilometres drive, which is about one and half hours, but because of the insurgency, the road is completely closed. Travelling that road now takes six hours.

    Read Also: Be patient over bad roads, Sanwo-Olu appeals 

    “The sad story is that the road from Biu to Buni Yadi is so bad. The road leads to Sambisa forest and if anyone should travel there, the person has to slow down and you know what that means. The only road we started using since last week is Biu-Potiskum-Damaturu road.

    “So Maiduguri is locked. The only exit is through Borno South and that is not good considering the traffic in that axis.”

    Ndume urged the Federal Government to prioritise road work to ease the pains of a people ‘who are already devastated by insurgency’.

  • Kogi 2019: PDP seeks redeployment of REC, police chief

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State has called for the transfer of the Commissioner of Police Hakeem Busari, and Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Prof. James Apam.

    PDP made the resolution in Lokoja Local Government after its stakeholders meeting yesterday.

    The party said removing Busari and Apam would guarantee fairness, equity and justice.

    Read Also: Kogi 2019: INEC expresses worry over possible violence

    Signed by the party Chairman in Lokoja, Abubakar Idris, the communiqué warned against deploying Dr. Amina Zakari, national commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to oversee the election.

    The party, however, passed a vote of confidence in the Nigerian Army (Records) Command and the DSS in Lokoja, saying they had lived up to their billing in the conduct of elections in the state.

    It restated its commitment to ensure victory for the party and its candidate, Musa Wada, and called on members to work for him.