Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has welcomed the birth of a Prince with his queen, Ashley Folashade.

The information was made available on the X platform of the Osun monarch on Tuesday.

Sharing the news, Oba Ogunwusi wrote, “To God be the glory great things he has done. Hearty congratulations to the entire House of Oduduwa and Olori Folashade.

“Who today birthed a Prince from the mother side of Ooni Adagba Royal Compound of Lafogido Ruling House and father side of Ooni Agbedegbede Royal Compound of Giesi Ruling house combined to the Royal throne of Oduduwa.

“Mother and child are doing well to the glory of God Almighty and in line with the spirits of our ancestors.”

Ooni’s queen, Olori Naomi gave birth to a son named Prince Tadenikawo before they were separated.

Also, the Ooni’s other wives gave birth to children with Olori Tobi Philips giving birth to twins in March 16, 2024.

Oyo State Police Command on Tuesday arraigned a 39-year-old man, Ganiyu Abiola, over alleged defamation of the character of a police officer through Facebook and WhatsApp.

Abiola, whose address was not provided, is facing a two-count charge of defamation and breach of peace before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, Insp Sikiru Opaleye, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on May 12 at 6.00 p.m. at the Egbeda area of Ibadan.

Opaleye said that the defendant, through his Facebook and WhatsApp accounts, alleged that Insp Folasade Adeoye aided someone to commit fraud.

He said that the defendant knew that the information was false.

Opaleye said that the defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by spreading false information about Adeoye.

The prosecutor said that the alleged offences contravened Section 249 (d) and 375 of the Criminal Law of Oyo State, 2000.

Section 249 (d) of the law provides for one-year jail term for defamation of character, while Section 375 provides for a month in prison for breach of peace.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Ogunkanmi directed that one of the sureties must belong to a human rights association.

She ordered that the other surety must provide evidence of three years’ tax payment.

She adjourned the case until November 19 for mention.

Five children including three aged 12 have been arrested in the United Kingdom on suspicion of killing an 80-year-old man following a “serious” assault at a park.

Leicestershire Police on Tuesday said it had launched a murder investigation after the elderly man died in hospital from injuries sustained on Sunday evening.

Officers have arrested five people, a boy and a girl, aged 14, and one boy and two girls, aged 12, on suspicion of murder.

According to the police, the assault happened close to the park entrance, and a group of young people fled the scene before emergency services arrived.

Police wish to speak with anyone who was in the park or the surrounding area at the time of the attack.

A Senior Investigating Officer, Inspector Emma Matts, said, “Sadly, following the death of the victim last night, this has now become a murder investigation. Officers are continuing to work at speed to establish the details of the attack, and we have made a number of arrests as we continue to understand what has happened.

“A scene preservation will remain in place at the park while our investigation progresses. Local officers are also in the area carrying out re-assurance patrols and can speak with anyone in the local community who has concerns.”

Leicestershire Police had said in a statement that it would make a voluntary referral to the Independent Office of Police Conduct because the force had prior contact with the victim.

No fewer than 129 were feared killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo during an attempted prison break.

Congolese Interior Minister, Jacquemain Shabani, who made this known via his X handle on Tuesday, said authorities shot dead 24 inmates of the Makala prison in the capital Kinshasa, while dozens of others were suffocated or trampled to death.

Shabani said some female prisoners were raped during the chaos on Monday night, adding that at least 59 people were also injured.

According to him, the number of victims is preliminary, stressing that the police and army were able to bring the situation under control.

The minister added that the property damage was considerable. Administrative buildings, the infirmary, and the food depot had been completely burnt down.

Prison breaks are said to be a frequent occurrence in the conflict-torn Central African country, where hundreds of inmates often manage to escape together.

President Bola Tinubu and his Chinese counterpart, Prime Minister Xi Jinping are currently engaged in bilateral meeting in Beijing, China.

The meeting is part of the China-Africa Collaboration Summit expected to attract more foreign direct investment to Nigeria.

Among those attending the meeting are prominent officials of the Chinese government’s economic team, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum led by its Chairman, Governor Abdulrazak Abdulrahman of Kwara State, and Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani.

Others in attendance are members of the economic team of President Tinubu’s administration and other cabinet members.

The Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, had last week informed journalists at the State House, Abuja, that one of the reasons for the official visit would be the interaction between both leaders on behalf of their countries.

He had stated, “Mr. President will also meet with his Chinese counterpart in the person of President Xi Jinping, where several MOUs will be signed.

“The MOUs will involve agreements in deepening cooperation, in green economy, in agriculture, in satellite technology development, in media enterprise development and promotion, as well as blue economic development and national planning cooperation.

“This is going to be part of a broader engagement where the two heads of state will discuss matters of mutual interest across, not just the economy, but also on issues of national, regional and international security.”

The meeting also comes amidst recent reports of seizure by a Chinese company of some aircrafts belonging to the Nigerian government.

Afrobeats singer, Fireboy DML has announced that he’s working on a joint extended play with his colleague, Lojay.

He made this known during an interview with The Beat 99.9 FM, Lagos.

“I’m working on a joint EP with Lojay. We have a very great relationship in the studio,” he said.

Fireboy, who recently released his eponymous fourth studio album, ‘Adedomala’, relished working with veteran singer Lagbaja on the song ‘Back N Forth’.

“Lagbaja is the most meticulous artiste I ever worked with. I wished he had taken his mask off but he wore it all through our time in the studio. I learnt a lot from him during the session,” he said.

Inter Miami striker, Luis Suarez, has announced his retirement from the Uruguay national team.

Suarez disclosed this in a news conference Monday, saying he will step away from international duty after his team’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Paraguay on Friday.

The former Liverpool and Barcelona forward departs as Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer with 69 goals in 142 games across 17 years.

“There is no better pride in oneself than knowing when the right moment to retire is, and luckily I am confident that I am retiring from the national team because I want to take a step aside.

“I am 37 years old and I know that it is very difficult to get to the next World Cup. It comforts me a lot that I can retire and not for my injuries to retire me, or to stop being called up,” an emotional Suarez said.

Suarez made his senior debut for Uruguay in February, 2007, in a 3-1 victory against Colombia.

Over 40 shops have been completely razed to the ground, at a popular market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Though no life was lost, the incident which happened at the popular Oranyan market, herbal section, in the Ibadan North East Local Government Area of the state, on Saturday, destroyed multimillion naira property and herbs.

On Monday, the shop owners were seeing in a different group, gnashing their teeth over the unfortunate incident.

Nobody could speak on what led to the inferno.

Some of the victims, Fatimoh Adebimpe (the market youth leader); Kafaya Lucky and Kehinde Moronfade lamented that the cause of the fire incident was still unknown as no single food vendor was in the market.

The youth leader, Adebimpe, who said she had been in the market since 1979 lamented, “We normally resume here around 7.00 am and close by 7.00 pm as well. Whenever they ring the bell or you hear the sound of the bell in the evening, you must take your leave. So, some of us were already at our different homes when those leaving close to the market started calling us around 10.0pm that the market was on fire.

What could have caused this? We are not connected to the national grid, because it’s a taboo. We are not using electricity. Nobody is selling food here. So, we are still in total confusion.

“I cannot say this is what I lost in that fire. I just bought some things like full tiger skin; and many other things that I may not want in the paper.

“Though, the local government officials who control this area were here this morning (Monday), and they promised to do something. We are hopeful.”

Another victim, Lucky, said, “I have a lot of money in the shop. The reason why we always keep money there is because of hunters who normally bring different animals for us.

“If you are unable to pay immediately, they may take it to another person. Forget whether he is your customer. So, you must always have money with you. That’s why we are keeping money in the shops.”

Moronfade said, “I just got a loan on Friday, and this disaster happened the next day. It’s so pathetic. No traces of burning or cooking in the market. Honestly, I’m devastated.”

Confirming the incident to the correspondent in Ibadan, the General Manager of the state Fire Services, Yemi Akinyinka, said the Fire Services Headquarters received a fire emergency call at exactly 23:25hrs on the incident.

He said, “The incident affected 20 prefabricated shops out of multiple adjourning rows of shops.

“The property worth millions of naira was affected, while property worth billions of naira was saved, but no life was lost. Our personnel returned back to the station at exactly 3:36hrs.”

A deal that was to return hostages after the discovery of the bodies of six hostages in the Gaza Strip.

The major strike led by Israel’s trade union umbrella organisation Histadrut began in protest against the government’s failure to end the conflict.

In many cities, kindergartens, banks and government offices remained closed.

Public transport was also affected, and there were disruptions and delays to air traffic at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv.

Many cities and communities joined the protest, while others refused to, as they were more closely aligned with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing religious government.

The government supporters slammed the protest movement, saying it played into the hands of Hamas and encouraged it to maintain a tough negotiating position.

Later, a labour court ordered an early end to the strike on the grounds that it was politically motivated.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Sunday that troops had recovered the bodies of six hostages from a tunnel in Gaza.

The four men and two women were kidnapped during the Hamas-led terrorist attack on October 7, the IDF said.

The Israeli Health Ministry said the hostages were shot at close range some 48 to 72 hours before the autopsy of the bodies.

But a Hamas spokesman said the hostages had been killed by an Israeli bombardment.

A spokesperson for the German Foreign Office called the murder of six other Hamas hostages almost unbearable after it emerged that one of them was a person with a German family.

When asked, the ministry said the person concerned was not a German citizen, but their family had a connection to Germany.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz vowed a harsh response following the hostage deaths.

“The terrorist organisation Hamas has brutally executed six hostages in order to sow fear and attempt to divide Israeli society.

“Israel will respond with full force to this shameful crime. Hamas is responsible and will pay the full price,’’ Mr Katz said in a post on X.

According to reports, airport operations disrupted air traffic at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, which was disrupted and delayed. However, the airport authority had said operations would go according to plan.

Gunmen have reportedly killed Samson Omoarebokhae, a senior special assistant to the speaker of the Edo House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku.

Ivy Adodo-Ebojele, the speaker’s spokesperson, disclosed this on Monday in Benin.

Ms Adodo-Ebojele said Mr Omoarebokhae was killed on August 31 while on his way to Uhumora from Ozalla in Owan West LGA.

She said when the speaker got wind of the incident, he immediately dispatched a delegation on a condolence visit to the family of the deceased.

Ms Adodo-Ebojele noted that the chief of staff to the speaker, Odion Iruobe, who led the delegation, described his death as a great loss.

She said the chief of staff urged the bereaved family to draw strength from God’s promises of not leaving those mourning comfortless.

According to her, the deceased was one of the speaker’s trusted aides.

“Though it is a painful situation, we pray to God in His infinite power to give the family a reason to smile again. We pray to God to repose the soul of the deceased and give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” she said.

Responding on behalf of the family, Elijah Omoarebokhai, a brother to the deceased, expressed the family’s appreciation to the speaker for sending the delegation to share with them in their period of grief.

Russia unleashed a powerful wave of drone and missile attacks on Ukraine, targeting Kiev, Sumy and Kharkiv, officials said on Monday morning.

Two people were injured in the capital Kiev, and the attacks caused damage in several neighbourhoods, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram.

Several fires broke out in western Kiev, damaging houses and vehicles. The windows in a metro station were broken, though the metro is still operating, Klitschko wrote.

Kiev’s military administration said the Russian army sent cruise missiles and drones to attack Kiev, firing the cruise missiles from Saratov, in the Russian Volga region.

The Ukrainian air defense said it shot down some 10 cruise missiles and drones over Kiev.

The military estimates that in all, nine ballistic missiles, 13 cruise missiles and 20 drones were shot down nationwide.

Sumy, on the border with Russia, suffered worse damage than Kiev, with officials saying 18 were injured in Russian missile attacks, including six children.

Five tower blocks and an educational establishment were destroyed, the police said.

Sumy is located opposite the Russian region of Kursk, where Ukrainian troops had advanced during their counteroffensive at the beginning of August.

There were also reports of shelling in other regions in Ukraine, with Kharkiv, near the border, also suffering further attacks.

A woman was injured by a drone strike during the night, Governor Oleh Synegubov said.

Meanwhile the city’s industrial district came under fire in the early hours of the morning. A residential building and three other buildings in a garden area were burnt down, he said.

Nigerian artiste Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has donated N105 million to a Christ Embassy church in Benin, Edo state, that once helped his mother start a shop.

The donation is a gesture of gratitude from the artist, acknowledging the church’s support for his family during a challenging period when he lost his father at the age of eight.

The gesture was made by the singer at a service he attended on Sunday, September 1, and was captured in a video that has since gone viral online.

The “OZEBA” crooner pledged N40 million to the infrastructure of the church, N20 million to Rhapsody of Realities, N25 million to the infrastructure of the teen church, and N20 million to widows in the church.

He said, “I’m not here to give myself any accolades or glory. I’m here to give God the glory. I feel like it is important to give back because the church has embraced and prayed for me, and has kept me very consistent with my spirit.

“Firstly, I want to give a pledge of N40 million to the infrastructure of the church. I want to pledge N20 million to Rhapsody of Realities, and, since I came from the teen church, I also want to pledge N25 million to the infrastructure of the teen church.

“I’m pledging N20 million to widows in the church today.”

He added, “When I was eight years old, when I lost my dad, we felt very lost and abandoned. All that we had was taken from us, and we felt very alone. I remember at the time Pastor Joy and Pastor Thomas, the pastors of this church, opened a shop for my mum, and that was how she managed to take care of us.”

The Afrobeats sensation started his homecoming tour in Benin on Friday. He sold out the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium with amazing performances from Don Jazzy, Odumodu Blvck, Shallipopi, and several others.

He also paid homage to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, at his palace and received a royal plaque from him.

Operatives of the Jigawa State Police Command have rescued a suspected motorcycle thief from an irate mob in Kazaure Local Government Area of the state.

The spokesperson of the command, DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, September 1, 2024, said the suspect, Ibrahim Sadik, from Kano State, stole a motorcycle at the market while people were praying.

“On 30/08/2024 at about 2000hrs, information from a reliable source disclosed that a suspected motorcycle thief was apprehended at Sha’iskawa Quarters in Kazaure LGA. Unfortunately, an irate mob, reported to have broken the law, beating the suspect in the process,” the statement read.

“The Divisional Police Officer of Kazaure led the police team that responded quickly to the scene of crime after receiving the report, and they were able to save the suspect who had minor wounds. The victim was taken to the hospital immediately. Later, he was treated and discharged.

“On interrogation at Kazaure Division, the suspect identified himself as one Ibrahim Sadik ‘m’ age 25yrs of Dakata Quarters, Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

“He further revealed that, he arrived at Kazaure town on market day with the intention of stealing motorcycle.

“He was fortunate to have made the theft of one red motorcycle during the day while people were praying. As a result, he lost his luck and became trapped.

“All the suspects were charged to court for prosecution.”

The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested a suspected drug dealer and recovered 15 bags of dry leaves believed to be Indian hemp.

The spokesperson of the command, DSP Ramhan Nansel, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, September 1, 2024, said that one operational vehicle was also recovered from the suspect, Saturday Gabriel.

The Nasarawa state Police command in its relentless drive to tame the excesses of criminals have on 31/8/2024 at about 1300hrs arrested one Saturday Gabriel ‘M’ 43yrs of Edo state while one other escaped; consequently, a Toyota Camry with registration number: Lagos KSF 843 FN and fifteen (15) bags of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp were recovered from the suspect as an exhibit,” the statement read.

“The arrest was based on a tip-off that a Toyota Camry with two occupants was sighted heading to Nasarawa Toto axis and reasonably suspected to be carrying criminals.

“Acting based on the strength of the information, police personnel attached to Toto Division were strategically deployed to be on the lookout for the suspects.

“Consequently, the vehicle was intercepted at the Gadabuke area of Toto LGA, Nasarawa state where the suspect was arrested and the exhibits were recovered.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Shehu Nadada, has directed the Divisional Police officer to transfer the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Lafia for onward handing over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation and prosecution.”

American actor of Nigerian heritage, Obi Ndefo has died at the age of 51 years after losing both legs in a hit-and-run crash.

The cause of the actor’s death is unknown, but his sister and co-stars confirmed his passing on social media.

‘Heartbroken at the loss of my younger brother and knowing he’s finally at peace,’ his sister Nkem Ndefo wrote on Facebook.

Ndefo, who is a graduate of Yale, appeared in Dawson’s Creek between 1998 and 2002, where he played Katie Holmes’ character’s brother-in-law Bodie Wells. He additionally starred in Stargate SG-1 between 2000 and 2005.

The actor, who was born in Los Angeles to Nigerian parents has also featured in episodes of The West Wing, NYPD Blue, Crossing Jordan, and The District.

Actor Obi Ndefo d!es at 51, years after losing both legs in hit-and-run�crash

Mary-Margaret Humes, who played Dawson’s mom Gale Leery on the show, dedicated an Instagram post to Ndefo.

‘These words don’t come easy,’ she said. ‘It’s hard for me to conceive that you have left us, my dear friend. You always were and always will be a bright shining light. What an example of pure unfiltered love and tenacity you set as you faced life’s challenges of recent.

‘I will cherish all of our messages of love and support to each other over the past few years. Rest in peace sweet warrior.’

Obi’s death comes after he lost both of his legs after being hit by a car on Aug. 17, 2019.

The actor had been packing up groceries in his parked car after visiting a supermarket in L.A. when an SUV veered out of its lane and crashed into him, severing his right leg and leaving his left leg severely injured and attached only by his skin, per the Los Angeles Times. Obi ended up having his left leg amputated.

Speaking about life after the incident, Obi told the Los Angeles Times, “How do you know how you would handle this? … And anyway, what’s the alternative? … This is just so horrendous what happened to me, why would I compound this by feeling bad about it?”

“… There is no other choice for me. So there’s a sort of rigour to me, and I think, ‘OK my legs are severed. I don’t know how to do this, but I know how to do this.’ ”

Bill Gates, the Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has said that Nigeria has the second highest rate of food insecurity in the world.

He added that arable lands have disappeared due to climate change. As a result, prices of food have skyrocketed.

Speaking in an interview with Lara Adejoro, Gates said: “Nigeria today has the second highest rate of food insecurity on earth, and climate change is only accelerating the problem.

“Arable land has disappeared. Pests have wiped out harvests. And prices for staple foods have soared.

“Climate-related losses on many African farms are more than double those seen globally. The poorest farmers are the ones hit hardest, having to cope with more droughts, pests, and diseases, which in turn exacerbate food shortages, and push up food prices.”

He added: “By 2050, climate change will condemn nearly 40 million more children to stunting—in addition to the 400 million children who already aren’t getting enough nutrients.”

He said his foundation has been working with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation to better understand the climate-induced hunger crisis.

“The good news is that the pace of innovation is accelerating just as quickly as climate change,” he said. “Our vision is an agricultural transformation led by smallholder farmers, who have the knowledge, tools, and technologies to improve their livelihoods.”

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents looted and set ablaze shops and houses in Mafa village in Tarmuwa Local Government Area of Yobe.

DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, the Yobe police command spokesman, made this known to journalists in Damaturu on Monday.

”We are yet to ascertain the number of lives lost in the incident, which occurred at about 4 p.m. on Sunday in the remote village.

”The incident was reported to the Tarmuwa Divisional Police Station by Babagana Goni and Bako Ibrahim, both residents of Mafa.

”Suspected Boko Haram terrorists armed with rifles and RPGs attacked Mafa ward on more than 50 motorcycles and set ablaze many shops and houses.

“The terrorists also killed many people, but we are yet to ascertain the actual number of the casualties,” the spokesman said.

He said that the gunmen also dropped some fliers with Arabic inscriptions.

On Friday, terrorists also attacked a private school in neighbouring Geidam, killing three students and injuring one.

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has directed its members to resume work on Monday ( today) following a seven-day nationwide warning strike embarked upon by its members over the abduction of their colleague, Dr Ganiyat Popoola.

Popoola was kidnapped eight months ago.

NARD, however, said it would review the Federal Government’s commitment to resolving its demand in the next three weeks.

NARD began a seven-day warning strike last Monday to press for the rescue of Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna.

She was abducted on December 27, 2023, along with her husband and nephew.

While her husband was released in March, Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.

The Federal Government, on Thursday, said it would invoke the ‘no work, no pay’ policy for the striking resident doctors.

But the doctors said they were unmoved by the threat.

Speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, the NARD President, Dr Dele Abdullahi, said, “We are suspending the strike now. We will be meeting to review the progress the government has made in the next three weeks.

“We are resuming on Monday, September 2, 2024, at 8 am. The engagement of the government has been a little bit better. But, we are hopeful that they will sustain this current line of action.”

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has called for the swift investigation of the Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) scam.

Falana made this call during Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme, saying there is no better time to probe petrol scam than now.

“It is high time the importation scam was investigated. I am not talking of the joke that is going on in the National Assembly. The media must help civil society organisations to expose the fraud,” he said.

There have been reports that a $6 billion debt the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) owes petrol suppliers has worsened petrol scarcity in Nigeria.

The NNPCL on Sunday finally admitted the company’s significant debt to petrol suppliers, saying it posed a threat to the sustainability of fuel supply.

“Once the government begins to speak about affordability and sustainability in response to growing queues at filling stations, there are problems,” Falana stated.

According to the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, there is no full disclosure on the part of the government on subsidy on petrol, adding that Nigeria can’t spend “$2.9bn to fix the refineries” yet the dates for the resumption of production at the refineries have been constantly shifted.

The legal luminary threatened to sue those responsible for the fixing of state-owned refineries should they announce another postponement.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, had said the landing cost per litre of petrol has made it impossible for petrol marketers to import the essential commodity as was done by the NNPCL.