Wednesday
#EndSARS: Police confirm attack on station in Ebonyi
The Police Command in Ebonyi has confirmed Thursday’s attack on Uburu Police Station in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state by suspected hoodlums. The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi, Mr Philip Maku, said suspected hoodlums attacked some police officers on duty, after which they razed the station down. According to him, some of the police officers sustained several degrees of injuries while trying to manage the situation. Newsmen report that the burnt police station is located at the back of the house of the Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonaya Onu, in Uburu Community. The CP, however, condemned the attack and urged officers and men of the command to remain calm and continue to manage the situation professionally. Newsmen recall that some suspected hoodlums, under the guis...
S&P cuts Zambia to default after Eurobond payment missed
File Photo S&P Global Ratings Services cut its assessment of Zambia’s debt to selective default after it said it couldn’t meet payments and skipped a coupon on its Eurobonds last week. The ratings company didn’t wait for the 30-day grace period after the missed coupon payment to expire. This is the latest blow to Zambia, which is trying to convince bondholders to give it a six-month interest payment holiday while it drafts debt restructuring plans. S&P forecast that the nation will remain in default at least through the six months. “We view the nonpayment of debt service and the statement that the government will not make debt service payments as a default on its commercial debt obligations,” the company said in a statement Wednesday. Get more stories like this on Twitter You Deser...
Hollywood-backed Quibi to shutter six months after launch
Streaming service Quibi said on Wednesday it intends to wind down its operations and start a process to sell its assets, just six months after its launch. The announcement highlights the dominance that Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video, Disney+ and Apple TV+ hold over smaller streaming service providers, which struggle to keep up against their large content budgets and vast libraries of shows. “The world has changed dramatically since Quibi launched and our standalone business model is no longer viable,” founder Jeffrey Katzenberg said in a statement. Los Angeles-based Quibi offers entertainment and news in episodes of 10 minutes or less on mobile phones, initially promoted for on-the-go viewing. The service was priced at $5 a month with advertisements, or $8 a month without them. “Our failure...
#EndSARS: Enugu government exempts essential, emergency workers from curfew
The Enugu State Government has exempted health, essential, and emergency workers from the curfew imposed on the three Local Government Areas (LGAs) that make up Enugu metropolis. The state’s Commissioner for Information, Mr Chidi Aroh, gave the clarification in a statement on Thursday. Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Wednesday, imposed a 24-hour curfew on the three LGAs – Enugu East, Enugu North, and Enugu South, after the EndSARS protest turned violent. “Sequel to the earlier announcement on the imposition of a 24-hour curfew on Enugu metropolis, the government has approved that persons on essential services in the affected areas such as health care workers, the staff of water corporation, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), fire service, and State Emergency Management Agency had bee...
Governor Sanwo-Olu: I have been unable to speak with President Buhari
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, said he was yet to speak directly with President Muhammadu Buhari concerning the shooting of #EndSARS protesters in the State. Sanwo-Olu in an interview on Thursday said he called Buhari twice but he was at the Federal Executive Meeting, FEC, on Wednesday. The Governor stated that the Chief of Defense Staff called him on behalf of the President but did not disclose details of the phone call. He said, ”I have not spoken to president Muhammadu Buhari directly. I called the President twice but the first time he was not at the office. The second time he was at the FEC meeting. ”Although the Chief of Defense staff called me and acknowledge that the President received my message.” As of the time of filing this report, there have been calls for President ...
Abia governor imposes 24-hour curfew on Umuahia, Aba
File Photo The Abia State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on the two major cities of Umuahia and Aba, following the alleged killing of a police officer (name withheld) in Aba on Monday night. The Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi-Kalu, announced this in a statement made available to newsmen in Umuahia on Tuesday. Okiyi-Kalu stated that the curfew would take effect from 6pm on Tuesday, October 20. He stated that the deceased was allegedly murdered after a police patrol van was attacked by at least 30 hoodlums, who reportedly hijacked the EndSARS protest in Aba. He stated that the measure became necessary to forestall further breach of the peace and ensure the security of lives and property of law-abiding citizens in the state. He stated: “Last night, a contingent of police of...
Police rescue man almost lynched by mob for ‘raping’ 13-yr-old boy in Bauchi
The police in Bauchi State have arrested a man who allegedly raped his 13 year old boy. The suspect was also lynched but for the arrival of the police, a witness said. Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Mohammed Wakil, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists. Wakil, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) said the suspect, Yusuf Yakubu, 28, of Bayan Ganuwa Yalkubu Wanka area of Bauchi Metropolis, was arrested on Thursday September 23, 2020. The police spokesman said Yakubu was arrested following a report by one Usman Ahmed, 46, of Unguwan Doya Gombe road Bauchi at ‘A’ Divisional Headquarters Bauchi. The suspected homosexual had allegdly lured his victim, Salisu, 13, to his house situated at Bayan Ganuwa area where he forcefully had anal-sexual intercourse with the teenager. “O...
Fire razes electrical complex in Lokoja
About three days after a tanker accident sparked an explosion that claimed 30 lives in Lokoja, a fresh tragedy has struck the city. The biggest electrical trading complex in the city Peelinks went up in flames over night. The fire disaster which an eye witness blamed on suspected electrical malfunction started around 11 pm Friday night and continued till the early hours of Saturday. From a little spark in a section of the two story building the fire quickly spread to other parts of the complex and became uncontrollable. Goods worth millions of naira were lost in the unfortunate incident. The building is located on the popular Murtala Mohammed Way in the city and the State fire service office is less than two kilometres away. No help came from the service as it is said to lack equipment. Th...
Tiger Woods to defend Zozo Championship title next month
Getty Images Tiger Woods will defend his Zozo Championship title next month at Sherwood Country Club in California, the PGA Tour said on Wednesday. The 78-player tournament, which will be held from Oct. 22 to Oct.25, was relocated to California this year from Japan due to logistical issues caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. “It is disappointing that we will not be able to play in Japan this year, but Sherwood Country Club will be a great backdrop for what I know will be a great championship,” Woods said in a PGA Tour news release. Woods, who missed the cut at last week’s United States Open, enjoyed a wire-to-wire win at last year’s Zozo Championship in October to match Sam Snead’s record of 82 PGA Tour victories. Since his three-shot triumph over Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, Woods has competed ...
Brendan Rodgers happy with Kelechi Iheanacho, others despite losing to Arsenal
Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers says he’s impressed with the effort of Kelechi Iheanacho and other players who featured against Arsenal on Wednesday. Rodgers handed Iheanacho and other fringe players the opportunity to impress in Wednesday’s league cup clash against the Gunners at King Power Stadium, but the visitors proved to be too much for them. Leicester dominated the game in the first half, and Iheanacho had the best chance to put the Foxes ahead, but his effort was saved by Bernd Leno. Leicester City’s confidence was dealt a big blow in the second half when Christian Fuchs scored an own goal to put the visitors ahead. Leicester City continued to search for an equalizer, but it was Eddie Nketiah who scored the second for the Gunners. Rodgers said he’s proud of Iheanacho and other ...
California vows to ban sale of new petrol vehicles in 2035
US West Coast state to join 15 nations that have set similar goals in order to fight climate change. California plans to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered passenger cars and trucks starting in 2035 in a dramatic move to shift to electric vehicles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Governor Gavin Newsom has said. Newsom told a press conference on Wednesday that the most populous state in the United States was committing to a “firm goal” to phase out the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035 and was encouraging other states to take similar action. Newsom’s order labelled the elimination of gasoline-powered vehicles a “goal” and a “target” after his office said earlier that his order would require the sale of nothing but zero-emission passenger vehicles starting in 2035. The move...
PDP calls for articulate strategies to mitigate flood
File Photo The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged the governments at all levels to articulate strategies to mitigate the menace of flood and forestall such devastation in the future. The party made the call in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja on Wednesday. Ologbondiyan urged the Federal Government and other public-spirited groups and individuals to immediately come to the aid of the communities and victims of flood-ravaged parts of the country to alleviate their sufferings. He consoled the victims of the devastating flood, which ravaged communities, homes, businesses and farmlands in Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Anambra and other states in the country. “The PDP commiserates with the government and people of Kebbi state where no fewer t...
