@YasBeat

Scene of the incident A barber has taken his own life after setting himself ablaze on a road leading to Omole Estate, near Akiode Bus Stop, Lagos. He died while he was receiving treatment at a hospital. The barber had reportedly emerged on the road around 4:30pm on Wednesday holding a five-litre jerrycan of petrol. He subsequently poured the fuel on his body; struck a match and lit himself. Our correspondent learnt that a passerby, who was standing a few metres away from the scene, rushed to put out the fire. The young man, who was identified simply as Ahmed, was said to have died shortly after he was rescued from the scene around 5:00pm by officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Services. Before the arrival of the emergency officials and policemen from the Ojodu Division, it was gathered that a mild drama played out. “While a man used a piece of torn carton to fan the man, some passersby were busy taking his photograph,” an eyewitness, Dolapo Gabriel, told Saturday P...

Award-winning singer, Simi, is gradually writing her name in the sands of time as she keeps waxing stronger even more than those who were there before her in the music industry. The X3M music act has scored another feather by releasing a video of her song Aimasiko, featuring legend, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey. The video, also starring Simi’s band, The Banjos, wraps up the visuals to tracks off her album, Simisola. Shot and directed by Ani James of Aje Filmworks, Aimasiko highlights daily struggles in life as people search for solutions to their different problems while praying for God’s intervention.

The World Cup hit the pause button on Wednesday as the eight remaining teams geared up for the quarter-finals after England became the final side to qualify following a penalty shootout win against Colombia, the Economic Times reports. Neymar’s Brazil are the favourites to win a record-extending sixth World Cup at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on July 15 but France, Belgium and Uruguay are all in their side of the draw. Gareth Southgate’s England are the only former winners in the bottom half of the draw, along with host nation Russia, Croatia and Sweden. England’s victory against Colombia on Tuesday takes Gareth Southgate’s team into what looks like a winnable match against the Swedes, who edged out Switzerland 1-0 in the last 16. On a dramatic night in Moscow’s Spartak Stadium, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a key save from Carlos Bacca before Eric Dier’s spot-kick gave England their first-ever win on penalties at a World Cup at the fourth attempt – ending a jinx that has dog...

Two robbery suspects, Rotimi Adeyeye and Adeoye Bukola, have reportedly escaped from a cell of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Ondo State Police Command. It was gathered that the suspects allegedly broke into the house of one Samuel Arifalo in the Ijoka area of Akure, and robbed him of some valuables on April 30, 2018. A source said they were later arrested and handed over to men of the Special Anti-Cultism Squad in Akure, who kept them in custody for 16 days. They were said to have been arrested for cultism instead of robbery. The source said, “Some residents of the area informed the state Commissioner of Police about the matter and the commissioner directed that the suspects be transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad. “On Monday, the suspects escaped from police cell with handcuffs in their hands. Till now, the police have yet to get them.” The state Police Public Relations Officer, Femi Joseph, said the command had started investigation into the matter. ...

Following the release of the 2018 West African Secondary School Certificate Examination on Wednesday, experts have expressed worry over the decline in performance from 59.22 per cent in 2017 to 49.98 per cent credit passes and above this year. The council’s Head of National Office, Mr. Olu Adenipekun, had said the 49.98 per cent represented 786,016 out of 1,572,396 candidates who sat for the examination. He said, “858,424 other candidates obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language, but without Mathematics.” Reacting to the disclosure, experts blamed the decline in overall performance on the large number of scripts examiners had to mark, which, they argued, affected thoroughness. They also condemned what they called a rigid marking scheme that fails pupils’ innovative answers, while highlighting disinterest in learning due to get-rich-quick avenues like sports and entertainment. An English teacher in Lagos, who prefers to be identif...

The police in Osun State have arrested Mrs Folasade Olawale for alleged conspiracy, arson and murder of her three-year-old stepdaughter, Ikimoh Akeem. The suspect, who is the wife of the Alabudo of Abudo, a community in the Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State, was said to have set a building on fire while the victim was sleeping inside. The Commissioner of Police in Osun State, Mr Fimihan Adeoye, on Thursday said the suspect and two others conspired to set the building on fire, killing the girl in the process. He said some other persons, who were inside the building were also injured, adding that the monarch’s wife, together with one Waheed Oladosu and Sherif Tijani, allegedly set the building on fire. Adeoye said the 45-year-old monarch, Oba Morufudeen Olawale, reported the incident to the police and said jealousy was responsible for his wife’s action. He said, “The suspects on June 5, 2018, left Ede for Abudo, a village in the Egbedore Local Government Area, and...

  President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said the claims that being a Fulani, he must be encouraging the killings being perpetrated by armed herdsmen in parts of the country seemed to him that there was no limit to the evil in the minds of men. He wondered how anyone in their right minds would suggest that he, who emerged as President with substantial votes from the affected areas, would do any harm to the same people who voted for him. Buhari said this while receiving members of the Christian Association of Nigeria from the 19 northern states and Abuja at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The President said it was unfair for anybody to accuse his government of not doing anything to stop the killings. Buhari said, “When some (people), for clearly political purposes, attempt to suggest that this government is doing nothing about the killings, and that I, being Fulani, must be encouraging these satanic acts, it seems to me that there is no limit to the evil in the minds of me...

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has expressed his dismay that Africa failed to secure a place in the 2018 World Cup knock-out stages. All five African teams – Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia – exited this year’s competition in the group stages. “Of course,” Infantino replied when asked if he was saddened by Africa’s early exit. “The World Cup is for the whole world and the African teams were very, very close at the end. An Asian (team) made it – an African not – but I think they will be ready soon for the next one,” he told BBC Sport. Nigeria and Senegal both had hopes going into their final games but the Super Eagles missed out after conceding a late goal to Argentina while the Teranga Lions failed after losing narrowly to Colombia. Africa was the only continent represented at the finals that failed to make the Round of 16. It is the first time it has failed to reach the second round since 1982, when Cameroon went unbeaten and Algeria were den...

The University of Ibadan has written the management of Igbajo Polytechnic, Osun State, denying the certificates presented by embattled rector, Akinola Olaolu. The letter, addressed to the Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Olu Odeyemi, stated that Olaolu did not have a MSc and PhD in Economics from the university. PUNCH Metro had reported that there was a crisis at the Igbajo Polytechnic, a community-owned tertiary institution, over the alleged fraudulent PhD certificate of the rector. Olaolu reportedly came into the school in December 2015 as a deputy rector to the former rector, Tanimowo Oke. However, because he claimed to have a PhD in Economics from the UI, his arrival led to the exit of Oke, who had a master’s degree as of then. More than eight months after his arrival, he was reported to have refused to produce his purported PhD certificate, as he submitted only a notification of result to obtain the job. A former registrar at the polytechnic, B...

Tragedy struck in Umuozu Ugiri, in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State after a 26-year-old native doctor, Chinaka Adoezuwe, lost his life. It was gathered on Tuesday that the native doctor was shot dead by one of his customers, Chukwudi Ijezie, who he had prepared a bullet-proof charms for. A villager, Kingsley Ugochukwu, told our correspondent that Ijezie had gone to the man to prepare charms that would prevent bullets from penetrating his body. After preparing the charms, the native doctor was said to have told Ijezie to shoot him in order to test the efficacy of the charm. The native doctor reportedly wore the charms round his neck and when his customer shot at him, he died instantly. The villager said “The bullet penetrated his body, resulting in the instant death of the native doctor.” The police Public Relations officer, Andrew Enwerem, who confirmed the incident, said the suspect had been arrested. Enwerem said, “The suspect is in our custody; it...

A fleeing suspected armed robber has died in an accident involving the vehicle that he and other gang members snatched from a woman in Katsina State. It was gathered that the robber and his colleagues had on Wednesday stormed the house of the owner of the vehicle and took  the vehicle after robbing the woman of other valuables. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Muhammadu Wakili, who confirmed the incident said the corpse of the suspect was later found inside the vehicle where it was involved in a lone accident. The CP said,  “On Wednesday, a patrol team attached to the Sabon Gari Police Division received a distress call that armed robbers had attacked one Hajiya Aisha Abdullahi in her house at Sabuwar Unguwar Quarters, Katsina. They robbed her of one Toyota Highlander with number plate, AS 579 KTS. “The police team swung into action and while moving towards the scene of the robbery, the policemen sighted a vehicle with the said description at an acc...

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, on Wednesday in Abuja, warns that the 2019 general elections may not hold if the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State is rigged. He said the election must be free, fair and credible. Secondus spoke at the national secretariat of the party while playing host to the Forum of PDP Local Government Chairmen who had paid him a courtesy visit. He said the PDP would do everything within the law to win the 2019 presidential election to “save Nigerians from the All Progressives Congress-inflicted hardship.” He also charged members of the forum to work hard to reposition the party in their respective domains, just as he assured them that the party under his stewardship was committed to free, fair and credible polls. He said, “It is no longer business as usual at Wadata as the party has decentralised power to the grassroots to strengthen the party in readiness for the 2019 polls. “To guard against...

President Emmanuel Macron, on Tuesday night, made real his threat to visit the Afrika Shrine, Lagos, where he reunited with lovers of the afro culture. A ‘threat’ because that might be the way his plan to visit the centre built by Femi Kuti, scion of afro beat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, first seemed to Nigeria’s political establishment whose relationship with Fela was usually problematic.  He, however, got an ally in the Lagos State Government, which has not only worked closely with the Fela family but also been part of the promotion of the afro legacy. For the 40-year-old leader, there was the need to live his liberal destiny and fulfil a rite of nostalgia, having been a faithful of the Afrika Shrine when he worked at the French Embassy in Lagos some 17 years ago. That is why the Tuesday night party would never have ended until Macron had performed what can be regarded as a kind of ritual. After a warm reception led by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Femi and Fela’s daughter...

Mikel Obi played in Nigeria’s defeat to Argentina despite concerns over his father’s safety, the Guardian of UK reports. Mikel was told that his father had been kidnapped and would be killed if he reported anything – just hours before he led Nigeria into their final World Cup group phase tie against Argentina. The Nigeria captain received the shocking news as he travelled on the team bus to the stadium in St Petersburg last Tuesday. A family member called him and told him that he had to call the kidnappers on a designated number. When Mikel did so, he was ordered to pay a ransom. Mikel told the Guardian that he could not confide in anyone at the Nigerian Football Federation – partly because he did not want to be a distraction before the game. Pa Michael Obi was abducted on Makurdi-Enugu Road, South-East Nigeria, as he travelled to a funeral from Jos. The police in Nigeria were able to secure his release, but Mikel said his father was tortured during a week-...

The French President, Mr Emmanuel Macron, on Tuesday, at a press conference after his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, expressed his country’s readiness to assist African countries to overcome their security challenges. He, however, said France would not be the one to completely fix African problems. He said, “I think the main plan is an African plan and France is not the one to solve or fix African situations. “So, what we want to do is that we will intervene and make our presence in Africa and Sahel to fight against terrorism especially in Mali and in the region. “We will stay as long as it is requested by our friends, especially Mali. We discussed yesterday (Monday) about this issue. “But what is important to me is how the different African governments organise themselves to fight against terrorism and get rid of these people and especially Jihadism. That’s why I do promote the G5/Sahel Initiatives and I think as far as we are organised, Nigeria, ...

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said he believed that the Igbo had the right to the Presidency and promised to back Igbo Presidency at “the |right time.” He, however, solicited the support of the Igbo for his re-election bid in 2019, saying next year’s general elections would determine the future of the country. Buhari, who spoke in Owerri, the Imo State capital, during a “mega rally” by his party, All Progressives Congress, South-East Zone, said that the elections were “make or mar” for the Igbo. Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Buhari pleaded with Ndigbo to support his reelection ambition in 2019. “The 2019 election is not about political parties; it is about the Igbo nation. You need a paradigm shift; it will determine the future of this country,” the President said. The APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, said four years was not enough for Buhari to deliver on all his campaign promises. Ostensib...

A gang of robbers have met their Waterloo at Morogbo, in the Badagry area of Lagos State after they were caught for robbing a bank customer of N250,000. It was learnt that the suspects were beaten to a pulp by a mob on Friday before they were handed over to policemen from the Morogbo division. Our correspondent gathered that the men – Saka Ibrahim (25), Oni Kudaisi (35), Sodiq Dauda (28), and Taiwo Popoola (24) – waylaid their victim, who had just withdrawn the money from an Access Bank branch at Car Wash bus stop. The gunmen reportedly collected the money, shot into the air to scare residents and fled on two motorcycles they brought for the operation. Some community youths, including motorcycle riders, were said to have summoned courage and gave the hoodlums a chase. The gunmen were reportedly caught in the Ibiye area, where they had tried to mix with a crowd to escape detection. The bank customer, who identified himself only as Cletus, said the four-man ...

A driver, Amusat Ashiru, has been arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command for defiling his daughter. The 60-year-old was alleged to have raped his third daughter several times at their home on Efon Alaye Street, in the Akowonjo area of the state. It was gathered that the Oyo State indigene had had two children with his first wife before putting the victim’s mother in a family way. The child was said to have been living with her grandmother in Abeokuta, Ogun State, before the suspect brought her to Lagos in April. He was alleged to have sexually abused her until she ran away from home. The state Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, who paraded the suspect at the command headquarters on Tuesday, said the 12-year-old met a woman on the road and begged her for shelter. He said, “On June 24, 2018 around 9.40pm, the survivor begged a good Nigerian woman for a place to sleep. The woman asked her why she did not want to sleep in her family house and she told...

The Enugu State Police Command on Monday said it has rescued Pa Michael Obi, the father of Super Eagles Captain, Mikel Obi, from kidnappers. The state  Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, said this in a statement, adding that Pa Obi and his driver, John Ishaya, were abducted on Makurdi-Enugu Road on June 29. Mikel’s father, according to the police, was on his way from Jos, Plateau State, in a  grey colour Toyota Prado Sports Utility Vehicle with number plate, MUS 604CG, when he was kidnapped. The kidnappers were said to have demanded N10m as ransom from Obi’s family. The spokesman said around 2pm on Monday, operatives of the Ninth Mile Division of the command rescued Pa Obi and his driver in a forest in the Udi area of Enugu. Amaraizu said the rescue was preceded by a gun battle between the police and the kidnappers, who escaped after being overpowered by the security agents. Amaraizu said, “The Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, thr...

French leader Emmanuel Macron will on Tuesday visit the Afrika Shrine, a nightclub in Lagos founded by Nigerian music legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Macron will  become the first “real president” to enter the club synonymous with marijuana smoke, sexy backup dancers and protest music. And he is not a stranger to Nigeria. He trained as a senior civil servant at the French Embassy in Lagos in 2004, seven years after Fela died. Late Fela Anikulapo Kuti, afrobeat king The  Afrika Shrine located in the teeming Lagos district of Ikeja replaced Fela Kuti’s original club that burnt down in 1977, but for millions of fans it still represents the original Shrine built by the musical maverick. President Emmanuel Macron : First real President to visit the Shrine “The Shrine is a must-see place,” said Olivier Laouchez, the head of the TRACE media and entertainment group and organiser of the event Macron will attend, adding that Lagos is “Africa’s cultural capital”. The evening w...