Author: Ibrahim Abusadiq

Lagos State Police Command has arrested five suspects involved in a clash between area boys and scavengers at Oke-Odo Market.

The Command’s Spokesperson, DSP Bala Elkana, said in a statement on Sunday, that the clash was triggered by a misunderstanding when a scavenger reportedly pushed an area boy, who had goods on his head, by mistake.

Elkanah said: “On Aug. 18, at 10.00 a.m., one Alh. Adekunle Habib, of Ilepo market, reported at Oke Ode Police Station that there was a misunderstanding between a Hausa scavenger and an area boy from the Yoruba ethnic group.

“The area boy was carrying some goods on his head and was pushed by the Hausa boy in error and the goods fell down. Arguments ensued between the two which led to exchange of blows.

“Friends of the two joined the fight in solidarity and other miscreants took advantage of the moment to steal and loot.

“They blocked Lagos/Abeokuta Express way. What started as a fight between two miscreants almost snowballed into ethnic crisis, if not for the timely intervention of the police.

“Police teams from Oke-Odo Division were the initial responders. The command sent reinforcements from the Operations Department, Rapid Response Squad, Taskforce, Tactical Units and Police Mobile Force.

“Divisions within the area command equally sent reinforcements, the situation was brought under control and traffic was cleared.

“No death was recorded, but four persons sustained various degrees of injuries and are currently receiving medical attention.

“Five suspects namely, Kabiru Mohammed, Kabiru Adamu, Bashiru Mohammed, Saliu Madu and Yusuf Amuda, were arrested in connection with the breach of peace.” he said.

Elkana added that normalcy had been restored and patrols were ongoing in the affected areas, while the suspects would be charged to Court.

NAN

By Peter Okolie
The South East APC Young Progressives Forum has described the attack on former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu as shameful.

Ekweremadu claimed that members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) attacked him in Nuremberg, Germany on Aug. 17.

Mr Paschal Otimkpu, Chairman of the group who made this known in a statement to newsmen on Monday in Onitsha, also described the assault as “an embarrassment to the Igbo nation and Nigeria.

“It is also shamefully pathetic that an event, which was nobly put together by the Ndi-Igbo community which members make up the majority of Nigerians living in Germany, ended up in such a disgraceful manner.

“Obviously, this is not how to pay a man who has contributed his quota to the development of Igbo land and Nigeria at large.

“Most worrisome and inconceivable was that the attackers chose a great occasion for celebrating and showcasing our rich culture heritage` Iri-ji` –New Yam Festival — to exhibit such unbecoming conduct in the name of agitation.

“We urge our fellow youths of South-East extraction and every right thinking Nigerian to join in the condemnation.’’

The group noted that the country was currently going through challenges, including terrorism and kidnappings which required collective responsibility of all.

It, therefore, said that resorting to mob action and venting the spleen on leaders will rather create more problems and a vacuum that would leave Igbo and by extension, Nigerian leaders helpless.

“Irrespective of political difference, Sen. Ekweremadu is an outstanding and unpretentious Igbo leader, who deserves better treatment than he received,” the group said.(NAN)

Elozonam Ogbolu, a housemate in the ongoing BBNaija reality show, has won this week’s veto power of chance card.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the game of chance was held on Sunday night shortly after the eviction.

While still trying to shake off the Eviction shock, the ‘Pepper Dem Gang’ were asked to move into the Arena for the Veto Power Game of Chance.

The chance card offers the winner 100 Bet9ja coins up for grabs and the power to Save and Replace.

In alphabetical order, each housemate was asked to pick a number card from the magic hat. Cindy, Diane, Elozonam, Esther, Frodd, Gedoni, Jackye, Ike, Khafi went first.

Then Mercy, Mike, Omashola, Seyi, Sir Dee, Tacha and Venita also did theirs.

After that, one by one, the Housemates dipped their hands into 32 gooey filled buckets from which each brought out different items.

In the first attempt, no one was able to fetch the badge. On a second try, Elozonam got lucky and revealed the Veto Power badge.

For this, he became the winner of the Veto Power Game of Chance and has earned himself the power to Save and Replace any Housemate at the Nomination Task on Monday.

He has also won 100 Bet9ja coins and 10 Betja coins for each member of his team, ‘The Icons’.

NAN reports that on Sunday, Enkay of ‘The Icons’ and Joe from ‘Cruisetopia’ were evicted from the game.

NAN

Russian Daniil Medvedev survived cramps and tantrum where he cracked a racquet to clinch his first Masters 1000 title on Sunday with a 7-6 (3) 6-4 win over David Goffin in the final of the Cincinnati Masters.

Medvedev saved two breaks points while serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set before winning the next four, three of them with aces to close out his dogged Belgian opponent.

It was the second title of the year for Medvedev, who had lost on the past two Sundays, to Nick Kyrgios in Washington and Rafa Nadal in Montreal.

“It would be not a good feeling if I lost three finals in a row so it’s just a relief and I’m so happy,” he said in a courtside interview with ESPN after playing his 16th match in 20 days.

“I started feeling cramps at 5-3 (in the second set), first time in three weeks I started cramping, probably because of the nerves and it’s been 24 days in a row I played tennis.

“I started cramping quite hard, so last game, 15-40, I know if it’s going to be five-all I’m in a bad position.

“I made four serves that he didn’t return and three of them were aces. It’s just unbelievable,’’ he said.

The pressure perhaps showed in the final game when Medvedev hurled his racquet to the ground after losing a point, but the temper tantrum was short lived and he regrouped quickly to clinch his fifth title in two years.

Earlier, Goffin did well to force a first set tiebreak by holding serve, including winning a 29-rally point.

But the Belgian, without a victory since 2017, lost the tiebreak on a double-fault.

“He played unbelievable the last three weeks,” Goffin said.

“He’s super solid. He doesn’t miss. It’s like playing against a wall. That’s why everybody is struggling, because he’s so consistent, now with more confidence.”

Medvedev, who beat world number one Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals, plans a short rest before the U.S. Open starts in eight days.

“I need some days off, I’ve been playing tennis for so long in a row. I just need to stay in the bed for a few days watching the TV 24 hours a day.

“Hopefully I can regroup and get to the U.S. Open fresh,’’ he said.

By Obike Ukoh

Chief Whip of the Senate, Dr Orji Kalu, has described as unfounded, social media reports that he suspended his planned medical check-up to Germany because of what happened to Sen. Ike Ekweremadu.

Kalu disclosed this in a telephone interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

NAN recalls that the former deputy senate president was physically assaulted in Germany at the weekend by some members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Ekweremadu was invited as a speaker/special guest of honour at the 2nd Annual Igbo Cultural Festival in Nuremberg, Germany.

Kalu said that since the Senate commenced its recess, he has been in his country home, interacting with his constituents.

“I have been in my country home interacting with the people and settling disputes. The news that I suspended by planned medical check-up in Germany was not true.

“I was invited by Igbo group in Spain to attend their function, I could not go because of the interaction with my constituents.’’

Kalu had described the action of the IPOB members as uncivilised, unacceptable and barbaric.

The former Abia governor urged Igbo people to respect their leaders at all levels.

He noted that the only way the South-East zone can be prosperous was by embracing dialogue, peace and unity.

Kalu also urged the Embassy of Nigeria in Germany, the German Government and appropriate authorities to bring the perpetrators of the ugly incident to book.

He said: “After watching a viral video of the physical attack on former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweramadu, I was not only disappointed, but irritated and disturbed with the action of some members of IPOB.

“The assault on the senator is a slap on Igbo leaders regardless of age, party affiliation and religion.

“The perpetrators of the uncivilised act must face the wrath of the law.

“Sen. Ekweramadu is not only one of the Igbo leaders, but also a prominent Nigerian and as such should be accorded due respect by all and sundry at home and abroad.

“For the South-East to move forward, the people of the zone must embrace dialogue as a way of resolving pertinent issues and eschew violence.

Kalu appealed to Igbo people across the globe to be law-abiding and good ambassadors of Nigeria.

NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with national female basketball team, D’Tigress, for a highly impressive outing at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2019 in Dakar, Senegal, winning the hosts at the final by 60-55.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that victory for D’tigress meant that they also successfully defend the title they won two years ago after defeating Senegal 65-48 in Bamako in 2017.

President Buhari, in a statement by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja late Sunday night, congratulated the team for the remarkably synergized play.

The president observed that this had enabled them to outpace and outplay all the teams at the tournament to retain the title they won in 2017, further consolidating their position as African champions with four titles.

He commended the team for ”discipline, maturity and focus all through the tournament, and deliberateness in promoting the Nigerian flag and accompanying virtues of resilience, persistence and dogged pursuit until victory was achieved.”

President Buhari expressed appreciation to all the officials and technical hands that guided the team to win the African title, urging them to remain focused in deploying such energy and talent in subsequent global tournaments.

In a keenly-contested final match played on Sunday at the magnificent Dakar Arena which had as much as 15, 000 fans watching, the Nigeria women beat host Senegal 60-55 to win back-to-back continental titles.

NAN

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Katsina State, has confirmed the death of three corps members in a ghastly motor accident in Kankara Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

This was contained in a statement issued by the corps Public Relations Officer, Mr Alex Obemeata, on Sunday in Katsina.

“Sunday Aug. 18, 2019, is a sad day for the NYSC in Katsina State as three Corps Members lost their lives in a ghastly motor accident on their way to a Church programme in Funtua.

“The Corps Members numbering 12, were in one bus belonging to the National Association of Catholic Corps Members, Katsina.

“Three of them died on the spot,” Obemeata said.

The PRO added that the accident occurred when the state governor Aminu Masari, was passing by at Gobirawa, Kankara LGA on Sunday.

He said that the governor stopped over and ordered a vehicle in the convoy to rush the injured to the State’s General Hospital immediately, for treatment, while the corpses had been deposited at the mortuary.

He revealed that the State NYSC Coordinator, Alh Ahidjo Yahaya, was at the hospital in company of some senior members of staff, when the ambulance carrying the injured and the deceased arrived.

Though the spokesman did not disclose the identities of the deceased, he said Yahaya prayed for repose of their souls and also for God to give the families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

NAN