Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

NAPTIP Rescues Four Girls Trafficked From Akwa Ibom To Mali. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has successfully rescued four young girls who were trafficked from Akwa Ibom to Mali for sexual exploitation. This operation, carried out with the assistance of the Global Anti-human Trafficking Organisation (GAHTO), has reunited the girls with their families in Nigeria. Mr Emmanuel Awhen, the Uyo Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, shared details of the rescue mission in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday. Awhen explained that one of the girls managed to reach out…

Peter Obi Criticises Call For New Aircraft For Vice President Shettima. Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticised the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkareem Lawan, for suggesting the Federal Government purchase a new aircraft for Vice President Kashim Shettima. Lawan had claimed Shettima’s life was at risk due to faults with the current presidential aircraft used for official engagements, urging the government to take action following a recent incident in the United States. Responding to the Speaker’s remarks, Obi condemned the call as “insensitive” amidst Nigeria’s economic difficulties, suggesting that such concerns are…

Dwyane Wade Statue Sparks Fan Backlash A newly unveiled statue of former NBA star Dwyane Wade in Miami has received a mixed reaction online, with some fans questioning its resemblance to the Miami Heat icon. The bronze statue, which captures Wade shouting “this is my house” after a game-winning three-point shot against the Chicago Bulls in 2009, was unveiled on Sunday with Wade calling it “beautiful”. However, the statue’s likeness has come under fire, with critics suggesting that it bears more resemblance to actors Laurence Fishburne or Kelsey Grammer than to Wade himself. NBA Hall of Famer Paul Pierce…

Late Indian Billionaire ‘Ratan Tata’ Names Dog As Beneficiary Of £91 Million Estate. Indian business icon Ratan Tata, who passed away on 9 October 2024 at age 86, reportedly named his German shepherd, Tito, as a beneficiary of his £91 million estate. Known for his immense contributions in building the Tata Group into a global enterprise, Tata’s estate plan reveals his thoughtful attention to loved ones, loyal staff, and his cherished pet. Tata’s £91 million estate, equating to a will of Rs 10,000 crore, designates the Ratan Tata Endowment Foundation (RTEF) as the primary recipient. According to reports…

No Excuse For Liverpool Draw, Says Mikel Merino. Reflecting on Arsenal’s recent hard-fought draw with Liverpool, midfielder Mikel Merino expressed his pride in the team’s resilience and focus. Despite injuries impacting the squad, Merino emphasised that setbacks would not serve as an excuse for failing to secure the win. Instead, he highlighted the importance of improvement and maintaining a winner’s mindset. “Injuries are part of the game and they cannot be an excuse for results,” Merino said. “When you are a group of winners, you cannot make excuses—you have to think about the things you can improve. If you…

Top 5 Players With The Most Hat-Tricks In Football History. In football history, scoring a hat-trick stands as one of the most remarkable individual feats a player can achieve. Only a select few have consistently delivered this magic on the pitch, and here are the top five players who lead the way with the most hat-tricks across club and international football. 1. Cristiano Ronaldo Topping the list, Cristiano Ronaldo has an astounding 65 hat-tricks to his name. His journey spans clubs such as Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al-Nassr, as well as appearances for Portugal. Known for…

Concerns Mount As Israel Bans UN Palestinian Refugee Agency. Israel’s parliament has enacted legislation to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (Unrwa) from operating within Israel and Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem, effective within three months. This new law, which was passed with a strong majority, will halt the agency’s contact with Israeli officials, restrict its ability to operate across the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza, and remove the legal immunity of Unrwa staff in Israel. With the closure of Unrwa’s East Jerusalem headquarters, the agency’s critical work providing healthcare, education, and humanitarian aid to millions…

Puerto Ricans In Pennsylvania React Strongly To Trump Rally Insult. In the heart of North Philadelphia’s Fairhill neighbourhood, where Puerto Rican culture thrives through flags, music, and cuisine, a recent joke made during a Trump rally has ignited strong reactions. Comic Tony Hinchcliffe, performing at Donald Trump’s New York rally, referred to Puerto Rico as an “island of garbage,” a comment that has stirred anger among Philadelphia’s Puerto Rican community and raised questions about its potential impact on the upcoming election. The Puerto Rican community in Fairhill forms a significant part of Pennsylvania’s Latino population, which is actively courted…

Rodri Wins Men’s Ballon d’Or As Football’s Top Honour Returns To Midfield. Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri has been awarded the prestigious Men’s Ballon d’Or, marking the first time a City player has claimed the prize. The 28-year-old triumphed following a remarkable season, during which he lost only one game across club and country and played a pivotal role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory. In addition to his national success, Rodri enjoyed an outstanding season with Manchester City, where he helped secure the Premier League, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup titles. The award ceremony, held in…

FIFA Establishes Task Force on Player Welfare Led by Arsène Wenger. In a significant move to prioritise player welfare, FIFA has officially established a Task Force on Player Welfare. This initiative, following recent revisions to the FIFA Statutes in July, is aimed at promoting a global dialogue on the well-being of players across football. FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger, will lead the task force, which includes representatives from key football organisations such as member associations, confederations, FIFPRO, the European Club Association, and the World Leagues Association. The task force’s primary goal is to explore and recommend…

HURIWA Urges President Tinubu To Replace Bayo Onanuga As Presidential Spokesman. The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has called on President Bola Tinubu to consider replacing his Special Adviser on Strategy and Information, Bayo Onanuga. In a statement released on Saturday, HURIWA criticised Onanuga’s recent remarks, suggesting he lacks the qualities necessary for the role and accusing him of frequent “misinterpretation” in his statements. HURIWA’s concerns stem from Onanuga’s response to a recent *Guardian* article that highlighted Nigeria’s pressing socio-economic issues, including poverty and inflation. According to HURIWA, Onanuga misrepresented the article by suggesting it implied support for…

Hunter Found Dead In Ogun Forest, Police Launch Investigation. The Ogun State Police have begun an investigation following the death of a hunter identified as Femi, whose body was found with bullet wounds in the Ijebu Igbo forest. According to Omolola Odutola, the Ogun State Police spokesperson, Femi, a resident of Ofemodoko village, went hunting on Friday with a companion known as Taoreed, nicknamed “Kokoro.” When he failed to return home, his wife, Grace James, raised concerns with the village head, prompting a search party. Police reports indicate that on Saturday morning, local hunters and community members found Femi’s…