Fulani herdsmen, kidnappers building camps in Edo forests – Oba of Benin

The Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II of Benin has raised the alarm that criminal elements, including bandits and herdsmen, are building camps in forests within his kingdom.

This came as no less than 20 farmers were shot dead on Tuesday when Boko Haram terrorists invaded farmlands at Ngamgam village of Damasak, headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State.

On the heels of these, gunmen yesterday kidnapped 28 travelers along Akure/Ikere-Ekiti highway in Ekiti State, Vanguard reports.

Criminal camps now in Edo forests—

Oba of Benin The Oba, who disclosed this when he met with Enigie (dukes) in his kingdom in Benin yesterday, urged them to be more vigilant in their communities.

He directed Enigie to nominate credible persons from their villages to be part of the Security Surveillance Team to be set up by Edo State Government.

The Oba said the government has resolved to set up the Security Surveillance Team to help identify criminals and their hideouts in the society. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Oba, Desmond Agbama, quoted the Oba as telling the Enigie that investigations had revealed that herdsmen and kidnappers, as well as other sets of criminals, have established camps in the forests in the various villages in Edo State, adding that there was need for the Enigie and the people to provide information that would help security agencies dislodge such criminal camps in the forest.

The Benin Monarch said those to be nominated by the Enigie would be thoroughly screened to ascertain their integrity and uprightness in carrying out the function and warned the Enigie not to usurp their powers once nominated.

Oba Ewuare II charged those to be nominated to do their work diligently and truthfully and report any criminal or person with questionable character to the Enigie who will in turn forward same to the relevant security agencies for necessary action.

The Oba of Benin said the Palace was pleased with the Enigie for their loyalty and dedication over the years and urged them to keep supporting the Palace in order for peace and progress not to elude the people, assuring that more good things awaited the people in the years ahead.

- PM NEWS

Spanish police find cocaine aboard Brazilian presidential plane headed for G20 summit

Spanish police officials have arrested a crew member of the Brazilian Air Force who carried three bags of cocaine on an advance military plane of Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s president.

Bolsonaro, who was headed for the G20 summit in Osaka, Tokyo, was scheduled to have a stopover in Lisbon.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Brazilian Air Force said in a statement the airman was arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking.

Spanish customs officers were reported to have discovered 37 packets of cocaine which weighed 39kg during a search of the aircraft while the plane was waiting to continue its journey to Tokyo.

“Obviously, given the quantity of the drug he was carrying, he didn’t buy it on the corner and bring it, right? He was working as a mule. A well-qualified mule, so to speak,” said Hamilton Mourão, Brazil’s vice president said.

In a statement released on his Twitter page, Bolsonaro said he has ordered immediate cooperation with Spanish police.

“I immediately ordered the defence minister to cooperate with Spanish police to establish the facts and cooperate with every stage of the investigation, and to launch an investigation by the military police,” he said.

“There are around 300,000 men and women in the armed forces who are trained to uphold the highest principles of ethics and morality. If the airman is found to have committed a crime, he will be tried and convicted according to the law.”

- THECABLE

PL NEWS : Liverpool sign new player

Liverpool have completed the signing of 17-year-old defender, Sepp van den Berg, from PEC Zwolle.

The UEFA Champions League holders made the announcement in a statement posted on the club’s official website on Thursday.

Van Den Berg joined the Anfield club for an initial fee of £1.3million.

The statement read: “I’ve seen what kind of players from the Academy grew into the first team here. It is unbelievable, especially when this kind of big club does that.

“It’s just an amazing feeling,” Van den Berg told Liverpool’s official website. “It is, for me, the biggest club in the world and it’s a dream come true. I am really excited.

“I’ve seen what kind of players from the Academy grew into the first team here. It is unbelievable, especially when this kind of big club does that.

“Of course, the trainer [Jürgen Klopp] is a great guy and one of the reasons they are successful – and also one of the reasons, I came here.

“I think this is the best place for me to grow and hopefully, play a lot of games here.”

- DAILY POST

Man bags 6 months imprisonment for stealing yoghurt

An Ejigbo magistrate court has sentenced one Morufu Wasiu to six months imprisonment for stealing yoghurt and other items in one Mr. Joseph Ejikeme’s house at 18, Church street, Ijegun, Lagos.

The prosecutor, Supol Kenneth Asibor (ASP) said the suspect and others who are still at large, jumped into the compound of Ejikeme at about 04:15pm on May 23, 2019, and stole Holladian yoghurt, pack of Pepsi, pack of Eva water, pack of Happy Hour juice, pack of Eva milk and other assorted juice of various makers all valued at N85,800.

According to Asibor, the suspect and his accomplice packed all the items inside a truck and took them away to an area called Dustbin, where the Hausas usually sell scraps at Pipeline, Ijegun.

He said: “immediately the Hausas saw them at that odd hours pushing the truck with goods inside, they knew it was stolen goods and they started taking the goods one after the other and started drinking, though it was a fasting period.

“This alerted the members of OPC in the area to what was going on and they arrested Morufu While others ran away at the sight of the OPC.

“The case was handed over to the police and the suspect was charged to court on a two count charge for burglary and stealing.

“It was discovered that the suspect has been in the habit of stealing through his confessional statements, and that he came all the way from Ogun state in Totowu area with others at large.”

The suspect, having pleaded guilty to the 2 count charges, was sentenced to a 6-month imprisonment by Magistrate T. O. Shomade, with option of N20,000 fine.

- DAILY POST

Tension as another building collapses in Lagos

A three-storey building at Iju area of Lagos State on Wednesday night collapsed, leaving many people trapped in the rubble.

The General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, told journalists that the building, which was under construction, collapsed at K Farm, Fagba, Off Iju Road, Lagos.

“It was a building under construction, and people occupying the building have been evacuated and the injured are responding to treatment.

“No mortalities recorded. All the key stakeholders that are important in managing disaster in Lagos are on ground.

“However the building will be pulled to ground zero for safety of the people living in the area.

“All the buildings adjacent or beside the collapsed building will be subjected to solid material testing, for your information,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

- DAILY POST

Pep Guardiola speaks on Neymar, Antoine Griezmann transfer

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted Neymar and Antoine Griezmann would be “welcome in any team” as they are linked with big summer transfers.

Griezmann is expected to make his long-awaited switch to Barcelona after confirming he will leave Atletico Madrid whilst Neymar is being tipped to follow him the Guardiola’s former club.

Guardiola was asked about the pair potentially heading to the Nou Camp at an event in Barcelona as he enjoys some downtime back in Spain before returning to Manchester for pre-season.

And he hailed both players, declaring they are the sort who would fit in with any line-up given their ability.

“It all depends on the idea you have in mind with the sporting director and the coach,” Guardiola told Marca.

“The good [players] are always welcome in any team.

“The two [Neymar and Griezmann] are very good.”

Pushed on his opinion on Neymar returning to Barcelona, Guardiola added: “I’m not going to say anything, it’s not my place.

“This is for Barcelona [to answer].

“I spent a lot of time at this club and I don’t want any opinions to be misinterpreted.”

Meanwhile, Guardiola remained tight-lipped on whether he would secure a move for Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodri.

The 22-year-old is expected to complete a £62.5m move to the Etihad.

“I have no idea,” Guardiola sated when asked about the deal.

“We will see. He’s a great player.”

- PM NEWS

Think about sex before commiting suicide – Actress Monalisa

Nollywood plus-size actress Monalisa Stephen has expressed her opinion on the quest to find a lasting solution to the increased rate of suicide among youths.

The curvy actress opined that depressed persons considering suicide would probably have a change of mind if they could think about food and sex.

She said: ”Are you depressed and want to Commit Suicide? Wait for a minute. just wait. Think About Food and Sex..omg they are sooo Sweet to just let go like that. No oooo…We Die Here oooo.”

However, some of the comments from her followers disagree with her opinion.

Eggid2000 wrote: ”Depression is not about food and sex …It’s a serious mental issue that requires serious treatment. Sex and food can’t solve it…some of the richest people in the world are the most depressed.”

qrin.n: ”Depression cannot be cured with food and sex.”

iammichaelkeys: ”Nope, not true.”

- PM NEWS

Nigerian immigrant dies in Japanese detention centre, after hunger strike

A Nigerian, yet-to-be-identified, has died in a Japanese immigration detention centre, an official said on Thursday, bringing to an end a hunger strike an activist group said was intended to protest against his being held for more than three years.

According to Reuters, his death was the 15th death since 2006 in a system widely criticised over medical standards, the monitoring of detainees and how guards respond to a medical emergency.

The man, in his 40s, died on Monday in the southern city of Nagasaki after he lost consciousness and was taken to hospital, said a detention centre official.

He did not give a cause of death.

RINK, a group supporting detainees at the centre, told Reuters the Nigerian had been on hunger strike to protest his lengthy detention.

Another 27 foreigners are on hunger strike at a detention centre in Ushiku, northeast of Tokyo, said a separate group supporting detainees at that facility.

Some of them have gone without food for 47 days, said Kimiko Tanaka, a spokeswoman for the group.

She said a 23-year-old Iranian man who sought asylum more than two years ago has lost weight and is using a wheelchair.

Two other men at Ushiku have been detained for five years, she said.

“The reality of a lengthy detention is nothing but a human rights violation,” Tanaka said.

An official at the national immigration agency confirmed there are hunger strikers at the Ushiku centre, but he did not say how many. Authorities are providing medical care and trying to persuade them to eat, he added.

Immigration is a contentious issue in Japan, where ethnic and cultural homogeneity are deeply rooted.

Japan held about 1,500 detainees as of June 2018, according to the latest public data, nearly half of them for more than six months.

Some 604 were asylum seekers whose applications were rejected, while the rest were held for various immigration infractions such as overstaying visas.

- PM NEWS