several bandits die in Kaduna battle , NAF officers,

 

Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Sector 271 personnel and scores of bandits died on Saturday in Kaduna.

The battle occurred at Ungwan Laya near Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.

In a statement, NAF Director of Information, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, said troops were able to foil an ambush.

Daramola noted that officers who sustained varying degrees of injuries are receiving treatment.

Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Vice Marshal Oladayo Amao, has condoled with the family of the fallen heroes.

The CAS has also visited the injured personnel at the hospital.

He urged troops to remain resolute and continue to work with other security agencies to rid the Northwest of all criminal elements.

The Kaduna government confirmed that NAF conducted armed reconnaissance in Birnin Gwari and Giwa local government areas.

The locations were Gajere, Sabon-Kuyello, Ungwan Farinbatu, Sabuwa, Kutemeshi, Dogon-Mu’azu, Dogon-Dawa, Kidandan, Sabon-Birni, Galadimawa, Rikau, Yadi, Kuduru, Nacibi, Farin-Ruwa and adjoining settlements.

Commissioner for Internal Security, Samuel Aruwan, in a statement said bandits detected with herds of cattle at Galadimawa South were eliminated.

“Similarly, bandits were sighted at Nacibi fleeing southwards on motorcycles; they were engaged accordingly and neutralized.

“A group of huts observed to be active with bandits was engaged with rockets”, the official added.

Ighalo nets first Al Shabab goal against Ahmed Musa’s former club

 

Odion Ighalo scored his first goal for Saudi Arabian club, Al Shabab, during Saturday’s 4-0 win over Al Nassr.

The 31-year-old who joined the club after his loan spell at Manchester United, failed to find the back of the net on his debut against Al Raed.

However, he stroked the ball past goalkeeper Bradley Jones in the 90th minute, after replacing Fabio Martins.

Ever Banega and Cristian Guanca (twice) had already put Shabab in control of the game with three goals.

The result saw the White Lions extend their winning streak to four at the King Saud University Stadium.

Moroccan forward Abderrazak Hamdallah was presented with a chance to reduce the deficit, but his penalty kick was saved by Zaid Al Bawardi.

Al Shaba stay top of the Saudi Pro League table with 38 points from 18 outings so far in the 2020-21 campaign, four points clear of closest challengers Al Ahli.

Nigerian government making its citizens bleed – Toke Makinwa

 

Popular media personality, Toke Makinwa, has condemned the arrest of Mr Macaroni and other End SARS protesters by the Nigeria police on Saturday at the Lekki toll gate.

Macaroni was arrested alongside some protesters at the Lekki toll gate on Saturday morning.

Makinwa, reacting, accused the Nigerian government of constantly looking for how to make its citizens bleed.

The fashion enthusiast insisted that the Nigeria Police were arresting peaceful protesters who voted Lagos State Governor, Babajide-Sanwo-Olu, in office.

On her Twitter page, Makinwa wrote: “A government constantly looking for how to make its citizens bleed, bad governance, police brutality, poverty, extortion, lack of Jobs, failed educational system, and the list is endless, what is our offense? #EndSARS #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria #Lekkitollgate.”

“Nigeria can really really really test you, Lagos state government you need the youth, @jidesanwoolu police arresting peaceful protesters that voted you in to office is a low blow, it is an abuse of our fundamental right to peacefully protest #EndSARS #Lekkitollgat.”

“A couple of days ago Obalende was on fire, who did you arrest? Where was the police???? This is so tiring, our tired is tired. #Freetheprotesters #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutality.”

 

BBNaija clear air on audition for season 6

 Organisers of the Big Brother Naija, BBNaija reality TV show have denied reports that auditioning for the next edition of the show has begun.

MultiChoice Nigeria (DSTV) in a statement on its verified Twitter handle on Saturday, advised Nigerians to ignore ongoing calls for auditions for BBNaija season 6.

The tweet reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a call for auditions for Big Brother Naija, BBNaija season 6.

“Please note that this report is false and members of the public are called to ignore this misleading information.”

They revealed that detailed information would be made public through credible platforms and official social media handles at the appointed time.

“We have not announced the next edition of BBNaija. As always, we will keep our customers and fans of the show notified through our official social media handles and other credible news platforms,” it said.

Shame on Nigeria – RMD slams Buhari govt

 

Veteran Nollywood actor, Richard Mofe-Damijo, RMD, has described the arrest of Mr Macaroni and End SARs protesters as a shame.

 had reported earlier that police operatives deployed to Lekki toll gate had arrested some protesters including Nigerian Instagram comedian, Debo Adebayo, popularly known as Mr Macaroni.

The protest was instigated after Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the End SARS granted the Lekki Concession Company, LCC, permission to reopen the Lekki toll gate.

The toll gate was closed after the October 2020 incident that led to the killings of some End SARS protesters.

RMD in a post on his Instagram page on Saturday, said there is a huge problem in Nigeria if the government fails to recognise the right of citizens to protest in a democratic nation.

His post read: “I will not dignify the police by reposting the video meant to dehumanise and rubbish @mrmacaroni1 and other protesters, no I would not.

“I will not celebrate the brokenness of our society or the misplaced priorities of this government. The shame of our country is too damaging.”

The actor while calling for an end to bad governance in Nigeria warned that no matter how the government tries to justify its action, you cannot ‘Outlaw peaceful protesters’

“You cannot CANNOT OUTLAW PEACEFUL PROTESTS NO MATTER HOW YOU TRY TO SPIN IT!!!

“There is a reason it’s called a democracy and if you don’t understand that reason, then we have a huge problem,” his post read.

Brendan Rodgers explains why Liverpool lost against Leicester City

 

Leicester City boss, Brendan Rodgers, has explained that the Foxes defeated Liverpool 3-1 in the Premier League on Saturday because he changed the shape of his team after getting the equalizer against the Reds in the second half.

Rodgers said that Leicester reinforced after the break and attacked Liverpool more as goals from James Maddison, Jamie Vardy and Harvey Barnes gave the host all three points against Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Mohamed Salah’s strike was not enough to give Liverpool a point against Leicester at the King Power Stadium.

“We obviously had to withstand pressure early on,” Rodgers told LCFC TV.

“We were a little bit passive in the game, I thought. We did not defend strongly enough, but we still had chances.
“We still showed the quality that we can play when we broke through their pressure.

“We reinforced that at half-time, that we needed to attack the game more. From a defensive perspective, we did not have that aggression because if you stand off Liverpool, they are the Premier League champions, and they will really hurt you.

“We had a great reaction to going behind. That, a year ago, might have disappointed us, but we kept going.

“We got the equalizer, and then we changed the shape of the team to try and win the game, and we came out on the other side of a fantastic performance and win.”

Ohanaeze crisis – Umahi-led reconciliation ends in deadlock

 

An attempt by the Chairman of the Southeast Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi to reconcile both factions of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has ended in a stalemate.

 learnt that the meeting, which held at Imo State Government Lodge also had in attendance Gov. Hope Uzodinma of the State.

A source hinted that the Chidi Ibeh-led Ohanaeze was invited by the governors with the hope of prevailing on them to back down for the Amb. George Obiozor-led Ohanaeze.

The source, however, said Ibeh and his team refused to step down, insisting that they remained the authentic Ohanaeze national executive members.

Also at the meeting were Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Obiozor, Chief Gari Igariwey, among others.

More to come…