3,000 cult members on Friday, March 31, 2017, surrendered their weapons to the Rivers state Government. This is in accordance with the call by Governor Nyesom Wike to cultists to accept the government’s amnesty program. The exercise, which took place in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, saw members of the Deebam and Icelanders cult denounce their memberships. According to Punch, the chairman of the Committee on Amnesty, Kenneth Chinda adviced he youths not to go back to cultism. Chinda also said the weapons surrendered buy the cultists were ”five AK-47 rifles, one pump action, 17 Dane guns,…
Author: David Folami
Members of the Boko Haram sect has kidnapped about 22 women and girls in different raids in the North-East, reports say. There are unconfirmed speculations that those responsible for the kidnapping are members of Abu’s faction. You will recall that Al-Barnawi, the son of Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf, was made the leader of the sect by ISIS. According to Punch, they raided Pulka, a village near border with Cameroon and kidnapped 18 girls. In a second raid around Dumba village which is close to Lake Chad, the terrorists also kidnapped 4 women again. A source said “When the Boko…
Guus Hiddink says he turned down the opportunity to manage champions Leicester City following the dismissal of Claudio Ranieri and instead recommended Craig Shakespeare. The experienced former Chelsea and Netherlands coach was in the frame to replace Ranieri after the Italian was sacked just nine months after leading Leicester to a shock Premier League title. But the Dutchman, 70, told The Sunday Times: “To be strictly correct, I didn’t talk directly with Leicester. But you know how the line goes. ‘They think of you…’ “They asked not directly but indirectly, but I said no. If you have decided to sack…
Real Madrid, writes the Mirror, are determined to spend big in the summer — very big. And that, it reports, is bad news for both Manchester United and Chelsea. Madrid are “planning a full-scale attempt to sign David De Gea” and are ready to “break the bank” to land the United keeper. And links between the Bernabeu club and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard show no sign of weakening, with the Belgium international “a primary target”. But there is an element of good news for Chelsea, because Madrid’s interest in De Gea means they have moved their focus from the Premier League…
A chance for Everton to rubber stamp Champions League hopes instead saw them end with 3-1 defeat in the Merseyside derby. This was the latest example of the gulf and mental block that still exists for the Toffees in both derbies and away games against the top-six teams. An outnumbered and overwhelmed midfield left a trio of slow central defenders continually exposed as Liverpool easily exploited gaps in front of the Everton back line. While the importance of Seamus Coleman and Morgan Schneiderlin told in their absence, teammates flattered to deceive as an inexperienced and one-paced team once again failed…
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho admitted that Juan Mata, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones will be out for a long time due to injury. United were dealt another massive blow to their chances of finishing in the top four after a goalless draw against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. Without the injured trio, along with Paul Pogba (hamstring strain) and key striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic (suspended), the Portuguese coach saw the likes of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford fail to find a breakthrough. A home game against Everton in midweek will give United the opportunity to close the gap on fourth-placed…
Goalkeeper: Chelsea had a whole 79 minutes in which to turn around a 2-1 deficit at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday, but try as they might, they just couldn’t find a way through. Wayne Hennessey deserves more credit than most for this, with the keeper pulling off a string of top stops at key moments to deny Diego Costa, Nemanja Matic and Eden Hazard to name a few. “Chelsea batter his goal and he stands tall. And when he comes up short, some limb of his gets in the way,” Gabriele Marcotti says of Hennessey’s performance, with Paul Mariner…
Are Arsenal’s players giving everything for their manager? The evidence was mixed when Arsene Wenger’s side drew 2-2 with Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. For long periods of the game, Pep Guardiola’s visitors threatened to destroy the Gunners, but Wenger pointed to two equalizing goals as illustrations of his team’s character: “We have shown some mental strengths and that will help us back to our natural fluency.” That seems overly optimistic on Wenger’s part, and City will feel they let Arsenal escape with a point. The result suited neither team in the battle to secure a top-four…
The score line suggests Barcelona barely noted the absence of Lionel Messi against the second-lowest ranked team in the league but that was far from the truth as Luis Enrique’s side really had to scrap for the win at Granada, who made the most of their only real shooting opportunity to set up a nervy final 40 minutes. Barca came through this test mainly thanks to Luis Suarez, who produced one of his best ever overall displays in the three seasons he has been with the Blaugrana, while Paco Alcacer also deserves credit for a hard-working and clinical display after…
It isn’t going to be enough to change people’s minds. It isn’t going to be enough to put Arsenal back in the title race. It might not even be enough to put Arsenal back in contention for a top-four place. But Shkodran Mustafi’s equalising header might just ease the pressure a little on Arsene Wenger — at least until Wednesday, when the Gunners inexplicably lose at home to West Ham. This was the day that was supposed to offer either a final damning judgement on Wenger’s reign or a morale-boosting lifeline. In the end, the 2-2 draw with Manchester City…
Barcelona kept up the pressure on Real as they won 4-1 at struggling Granada. Luis Suarez put Barca — without Lionel Messi for this game due to a one-match suspension — in front in the 44th minute with a sublime lobbed finish. Granada sprung a surprise by levelling five minutes into the second half through Jeremie Boga, before fellow substitute Paco Alcacer restored the visitors’ lead in the 64th minute. The hosts were reduced to 10 men in the 82nd when Uche Agbo was sent off, and a minute later Ivan Rakitic’s shot went in off Mathieu Saunier, with Neymar…
Luis Enrique celebrated Neymar’s 100th goal for Barcelona by saying he hopes the Brazilian striker scores 900 more. Neymar fired home Barcelona’s fourth in their 4-1 win at Granada on Sunday and it earned him a personal milestone, becoming the third Brazilian to hit a century for the club. Rivaldo scored 130 and Evaristo 105 but if the coach has his way, Neymar will soon overtake them. “He has numbers [which show he is] a beast of a footballer. He’s one of the most unbalancing players in the world [for opposition defences] and his signing by this club was a…
Many celebrities have been bold enough to express their displeasure with the situation of things in Nigeria and one of the foremost and most vocal is Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa aka Charly Boy has again over what he describes as activities “bunch of irresponsible” lawmakers in the National Assembly. The eccentric star called on Nigerians to occupy the National Assembly soon adding that it is time that Nigerians took their pound of flesh for all their sufferings. The 65-year-old took to Instagram to share his thoughts on the issue, writing: “Pickin wey say him mama no go sleep, that pickin will…
On Sunday, April 2, 2017, Bally became the eighth housemate to be evicted from the Big Brother Naija TV show. TBoss, Debie-Rise, Bassey and Marvis had been up for possible eviction last week, and finally, Bassey got to go home. The housemates are now down to five, leaving Efe with four ladies, Bisola, TBoss, Debie-Rise and Marvis. Here’s how the housemates voted: Marvis – TBoss and Debie-Rise Bally – TBoss and Debie-Rise Debie-Rise – Marvis and Efe Efe – Debie-Rise and TBoss TBoss – Efe and Marvis Bisola – TBoss and Debie-Rise
The fracas involving MC Galaxy and Davido was definitely a thing has never been discussed. Back in 2015, it was reported that the HKN singer and his boys beat up the “Komolop Cholop” crooner at his residence. Although Davido later refuted the claims, saying that he had not been involved in the incident, MC Galaxy has never addressed the issue. However, the singer revealed to Sunday Scoop, that he could never be involved in a fight with Davido who he referred to as his “boy”. He said, “Davido is my boy and I cannot fight him. We are friends and…
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville reckons Arsenal’s trio of Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny and Theo Walcott failed to show up in their 2-2 draw against Manchester City. Leroy Sane scored in the fifth minute before Walcott leveled proceedings on 40 minutes. Sergio Aguero regained the lead for City two minutes later before Shkodran Mustafi secured a point with a second-half equaliser. Ozil was once again unconvincing in midfield, while Koscielny had to be substituted at half-time due to an injury. Goal-scorer Walcott was visibly upset when he made way for Olivier Giroud in the 68th minute. “Arsene Wenger has…
Liverpool forward Sadio Mane will find out on Monday whether he will play again this season after undergoing a scan on his injured knee on Sunday. The Senegal forward, who scored the opening goal in the 3-1 Anfield victory against neighbours Everton on Sunday, was forced out of the game early in the second half following a heavy challenge by Blues defender Leighton Baines. Baines appeared to catch Mane’s left foot in the challenge, prompting the Liverpool player to twist his knee as a result of the foul. Despite attempting to limp down the touchline after being substituted, Mane was…
Luke Shaw’s Manchester United future looks bleak after Jose Mourinho accused the left-back of being a “long way behind” his teammates. A fine start to last season was brought to an excruciating end by a double leg break, but the 2016-17 campaign has arguably been even more frustrating for the 21-year-old. Shaw has made just two United appearances in the last four months — despite overcoming niggles related to a long lay-off and being fit since mid-January — and been publicly criticised by Mourinho on several occasions. The England left-back’s last match came a month ago against Bournemouth when Press…
As part of the new amendments to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004, the House of Representatives wants 20 years jail term for convicts. The lawmakers believe that the current penalty for economic and financial crimes, which is two years imprisonment, is too “lenient.” According to Punch, which obtained the details of the new amendments, four consolidated bills before the House are seeking to further empower the EFCC to fight crime, insulate the anti-graft agency from interference by the Presidency and enhance its financial autonomy. One of the bills, sponsored by a member from Cross River State, Mr.…
The Presidency on Sunday, April 2, 2017, vowed not to relent in its fight against corruption despite the “vehement” opposition to its efforts. Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, said President Muhammadu Buhari won the 2015 presidential election partly because of his pledge to tackle corruption. He said that the President will not let down Nigerians in this regard. “The President is aware that this was one of the main reasons why Nigerians in their millions put their trust in him; the main reason they voted him into power in 2015,” he said.…