Soldiers kill 20 cattle rustlers

At least 20 cattle rustlers were killed at the weekend in a military operation in Zasmfara State.  The soldiers also recovered 200, 10 AK 47 rifles ammunition.

The Commanding Officer, 223 Light Tank Battalion, Lt-Col Aliyu Adamu who disclosed that the rustlers’ den was also destroyed in Dansadau forest
“We have succeeded in our battle with cattle rustlers, 20 of them were gunned down. We are also able to recover live ammunition, 10 AK 47 and 1 AK 49 riffles from the bandits,” he said.
Other villages raided include Malele, Yarwutsiya, Babar doka, Ruwan Tofa and some neibouring villages.

Road Safety: We’re ready for ’ember’ months

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has concluded arrangements to ensure safety of the nation’s highway in preparation for the last four months of the year. The public relations officer of the commission, Bisi Kazeem stated this.

“Ember months are here again and we want to disabuse peoples’ minds that the months are months of mystery and myths,” he said.
“The months are neither dangerous months nor about sucking of human blood as it is believed in some quarters, but rather, in most of the periods we witness more upsurge in vehicular traffic.”
He further explained that the common increase during yuletide compared to other months was as a result of over-zealousness of people in order to maximise profits.
“You will find that commercial drivers will want to carry more passengers in order to maximise profit and by so doing, they drive dangerously without consideration for other road users,” he said.
“So, having observed this development nationwide, what we did first was to embark on sporadic enlightenment and public education to curb this ugly development by all our formations.”
Kazeem said the Commission had also started rallies and enlightenment campaigns at motor parks, mosques, churches, companies and other relevant areas to enlighten them on road safety during the coming yuletide season.

Ekiti: Fayose signs law against grazing

Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose said any herdsman caught grazing with arms or any weapon in Ekiti would be charged with terrorism.

This followed the signing into law, the anti-grazing bill, recently passed by the House of Assembly, which was read to the congregation of traditional chiefs and rulers in Ekiti by Speaker Kolawole Oluwawole, yesterday.
The chiefs had been invited by the governor for a meeting at the Government House in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
According to Oluwawole, the state government was working with council officials to allocate land for grazing to all local government authorities in the state.
He also gave the highlights of the anti-grazing law as: “Grazing activities must be from 700am to 6.00pm on daily basis; The government shall allot certain portion of land to each local government for grazing;
“Anyone caught grazing on portions of land or any farmland not allotted by government shall be apprehended and made to face the law; Any herdsman caught with firearms or any weapon whatsoever during grazing shall be charged with terrorism; Any cattle confiscated shall be taken to government cattle ranch at Erifun in Iworoko community.
“Agricultural officer shall estimate any farm products destroyed by the activities of any caught herdsman and the expenses of the estimate shall be borne by the culprit. Any herdsman who violates any of these rules shall be imprisoned for six months without option of fine.”
Governor Fayose, who signed the bill into law before the traditional chiefs and rulers, said the purpose of the meeting was to interface with the traditional chiefs on security issues, development of the state and anti-grazing law.
Fayose said he recognised the need for his government to work with the chiefs to give valuable information on activities of those plundering the state resources such as trees and farmlands.
“My government took the bill to the House after what happened in Oke-Ako some months ago. The House has passed the bill and I have to assent it, it becomes a law from today that if you do anything to the contrary, you will be punished. Any herdsman caught with firearms or any weapon while grazing in Ekiti will be charged with terrorism.
“I solicit your support for this administration to succeed. This is not about party politics and Ekiti should be our primary concern. I will continue to call you for this kind of meeting every three months to give accounts of governance,” the governor said.
“We want to involve stakeholders in the preparation of the budget, a bottom up approach, we want to maintain the lead of being ranked first as performing best in budget implementation as we did last year.”
The governor also gave room for an interactive session with the chiefs who used they opportunity to air their views.
The forum also gave room for the government to present achievements of the Fayose’s administration to the chiefs and also presented a run down of the federal allocation that came to the state treasury since last year, with an indication that the state was having developmental challenges due to the continuous reduction in allocation coming from the Federal Government.

Soldiers set to raid Niger villages to recover missing arms

There is palpable fear among the people of Kpaidna and four other villages in Bosso local government area of Niger state as men of the Nigerian military plan to revisit the communities in search of “missing arms.”

ThisDay learnt that the decision to embark on the trip was communicated to government officials last weekend.

The army according to the source told the Chief Security Adviser to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello that two rifles, a video camera and a walkie- talkie belonging to the military were still missing almost one month after the invasion of the villages.

Not less than 24 people including 11 soldiers were killed during the attack with scores wounded while 57 suspects were arrested and charged to court in connection with the incident.

After the crisis, 6 rifles and some other property belonging to army were recovered from the villages.  Two days later the police said they were able to recover two other rifles’ from various locations which we handed over to the army authorities’.

A meeting between government officials and representatives of the army could not resolve if soldiers should be allowed to return to the villages or not because of the possibility of a backlash.

The government officials tried to convince those of the military but the meeting reportedly broke up abruptly a situation that did not go down well with the government team, some of them elected politicians.

‘We tried to make them believe that a return to the villages has the likelihood of causing another clash but the soldiers did not agree with us’.

‘We even suggested that the Emir of Minna will use his village and district heads to comb the forests for the ‘ missing arms but this too did not go down well with the soldier’s’.

This Day gathered that the planned revisit to the villages by the soldiers had leaked to the villagers leading to those that had returned after the clash to start moving out.

The Emir of Minna, Dr Umar Farouq Bahago, in whose domain the incident happened on Monday embarked on a tour of the affected communities to allay their fears.

Why an African country has not won World Cup – John Barnes

Former England and Liverpool player, John Charles Bryan Barnes (MBE), believes that Nigeria and by extension, Africa has the talent that could win the World Cup.

But as much he would want this hope to become a reality, he points out that maladministration; lack of respect for players and the inability to develop the local league are the clogs in the wheel of their progress.
Speaking in Lagos during a recent visit to Nigeria, Barnes, from a Jamaican origin, who currently works as a commentator and pundit for ESPN and SuperSport, also spoke about Nigerian players, and the craze for the EPL.
How has it been as a pundit on Supersport?
I’ve been with Supersport now for up to six years. I started with the 2010 World Cup and things went well. At the end of it, they made me a proposal to do the Champions League which I accepted.
So I’ve been in the Champions League since 2011 and of course here we are now in 2016.
It’s been a fantastic experience because, not only do I go to South Africa often, where they have the Champions League studios, but I get to travel around Africa.  I have been to Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and many others, so it’s been quite an experience.
As a former footballer, how can you describe your punditry style?
Well, I try not to be too critical. I try to be constructive, but I think football has changed. We tend to blame managers for everything. The point I’m making is that we have to start putting pressure on players to perform and not the managers, because we can see managers getting fired often. I think if the players take responsibility for performances not just the manager, it will be good for the game.
What you criticise players for are for effort, commitment, desire and also humility because football is a team sport and that is what every player and super star players should know. I grew up in Jamaica and Jamaican style is very similar to Africa.
Were you affected by what pundits said during your playing days?
Not really, because when I played we didn’t have the constant scrutiny that we see today. We’ve got the premier league, Champions league and more. Football is changing daily.  Of course it was in the newspapers, but I didn’t pay too much attention to that because I think that the most important person for me then were the managers. They let you know how well you’re doing; they were your biggest influences, whereas now, managers aren’t your biggest influences.
The media, agents, fans influence players more than the managers, whereas when I played they may criticise or praise me, and even when they do I didn’t take it to heart because the manager will let you know how well you’re doing and that is why managers were much more influential on players and teams then than they are now. For me it’s a bad thing.
What do you think about Jose Mourinho?
He won the league the year before; he can’t be a bad coach three months later, which shows how powerful the players in the English Premier League have become.
As a former Liverpool player, what are your expectations for the club this season?
For me the measure of a team is how well you do in the league. Now with this, can Liverpool win the league? I believe Kloop is the right man for the job.
He is a very good manager, but you have to look at the quality of players,which is where we still need better quality. What you can ask any manager to do is to maximise the potentials of the team. So if Kloop maximises the potentials of Liverpool, yes Liverpool can win the league.
Any star player in the current Liverpool side?
I think it is Daniel Sturridge, but is he going to be fit enough to play the games, to score 30 goals this season? He already has injury problems. Can he consistently play well over 40 games to actually win the League? Now, everybody is talking about how Paul Pogba is going to be. It’s not Paul Pogba being great that Manchester United is going to win. I think that Paul Pogba is not our Lionel Messi or Ronaldo, why he got that money is because he’s going to be a great team-player, he’s great for the team, he’s got good energy, he’s not as individually brilliant as Ronaldo and Messi but he can be as valuable for the team, which is the most important thing.
Why are you still yet to coach an African team?
Well, first of all you need an opportunity. I coached Celtic for one year. I coached the Jamaican national team. And the Jamaican national team reminded me or gave me an insight as to what it would be like to coach an African team because Jamaicans are Africans.
Football wise, Africa is similar to the Caribbean. I didn’t continue my contract, but that showed me what you can do with black players who have got the right attitude, commitment, desire and ability.
Because African players have as much ability as Portugal, Italian, French, German players and physically they are stronger, faster, that is why Pele said he could see an African team winning the World Cup. What he didn’t take into consideration was the mentality and that is what I focused on with the Jamaican team.
How do you rate grassroots football in Nigeria and Africa?
It’s difficult to compare with Europe in developing grassroots football because Europe has the infrastructure and the money. The continent has the capacity and has an end product of young players coming up to play in leagues but funding is critical to help them develop.
In Nigeria, clubs do not readily pay players, so it is difficult to keep the players at home when they are young.
Nigeria is better than most African countries but the young players are often burdened by the need to feed their family and as such don’t have time for football. There are no infrastructures to help them develop, so I suppose you lose a lot of your young footballers at a young age because of poor funding of the league and poor players’ welfare.
What are your thoughts on Nigerian football?
The future is very bright because you have players and as long as you have the talent the future is bright.
What is left to be done is to change the players mentality and the infrastructure, which means that the harmony has to be right. I know a little bit about African football playing with the Hiroc in Jamaica.  The most important thing is to make the players feel good.
Before I went to Liverpool in 1983, I was with Watford and on a pre-season to China, I recall that the players, staff, chairman, the chief executive, the owners of the team were in the same plane.
They had to make the players feel good.
In Nigeria can we see the same situation, whereby the administrators of the higher ranking view the players as more important? That is what has to change because if you want the players to perform, you have to treat them properly.  I’m not just talking about financially, I’m talking about in terms of the way they feel about themselves.
 Now, if you look at all the top European players when they’re with their clubs, there’s a way they are treated. Does it happen when they come back to Nigeria?  Or does it happen when they go to Jamaica?
Predictions for the 2016/17 premier league season
In my opinion, Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea are my picks and that’s because of the managers and the players they have. I will say Manchester City first, Manchester United second and Chelsea third.
But I think the fourth spot is what everybody wants in terms of qualifying for the Champions League. The race would be between Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham. I think Leicester will also be among the top 10 maybe 9th or 10th. Everton will also be strong and are likely to be the in the top 6

Serena aims for another record at US Open

The US Open serves off in a matter of days and world number one women’s player, Serena Williams can’t put try hard to wish away the ghost of the 2015 edition where she proved near invinsibility until Roberta Vinci stopped her in the final.

No doubt, the pressure will again be on her as she tried to make up for last year’s failure.
Of course, this isn’t the first time in her tennis life that Williams had looked a little shaky, but now the uncertainty hit just as she seeked to confirm her place as the greatest in history. After winning this summer’s Wimbledon to put herself level with Steffi Graf’s record, the dominant figure of this generation has the opportunity at the US Open to become the first woman of the professional era to score 23 Grand Slam singles titles. But she is hardly going to be walking out into the Arthur Ashe Stadium wearing the cloak of invincibility (a Nike dress will have to suffice).
Not when she had won two matches since defeating Germany’s Angelique Kerber in the Wimbledon final. Missing from the North American WTA hard-court swing because of a shoulder injury, Williams compete at the Olympic tennis tournament, but she only made it through a couple of rounds before she was beaten by Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, producing a performance littered with double-faults.
186
Williams was guaranteed to tie Steffi Graf’s record for the most consecutive weeks spent as the world No.1
The result is that Williams, who had been the world No.1 since February 2013, had found her alpha status under threat from Kerber. But for Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, who defeated Kerber in the Cincinnati final, the German would be heading into the final Grand Slam of the year at the top of the standings, and Williams would have been bumped down to better, seeded second at her home slam.
Once you add the US Open fortnight to the tally, Williams will have spent 186 consecutive weeks as the No.1, which will equal Graf’s record. But it is by no means certain that she will leave New York on the top line of that list. Kerber could replace her, as could Spain’s Garbine Muguruza and Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska (though Kerber is much better placed, since she is only defending third-round points from last year).
For many, the ideal finish to the Grand Slam year would see Williams and Kerber meet in the final, as in that scenario they would be playing for the No.1 ranking as well as for the title. After their meetings in the Australian Open and Wimbledon finals – Kerber was the champion in Melbourne, while Williams triumped at the All England Club – this is starting to look like something that has been missing for so long at the top of the women’s game: a genuine rivalry.
You might say that Williams’ vulnerabilities have never been as exposed to the wider tennis world, and to the public, as they are right now. In part, that’s thanks to an all-access documentary, recently aired, that followed her last season as she attempted to become the first player since Graf in 1988 to accomplish the calendar-year Grand Slam.
Undefeated in Melbourne, Paris and London, she came unstuck against Vinci in one of the greatest upsets in tennis history, which left her “in a dark hole”. It’s a different landscape for Williams this season. After defeats in the Australian Open and Roland Garros finals this season, there had been some concern about when – or if – she would achieve parity with Graf on 22 majors.
That concern had evidently spread to Williams herself. After equalling Graf’s tally on Centre Court, she declared that “enjoying the moment” was the sole entry on her agenda, given that the pressure of chasing No.22 had proved so debilitating.
For the best, though, the pursuit of history is unending. The time to enjoy the moment is over, and Williams will once again be swinging for sporting immortality at Flushing Meadows. She will never again play at the US Open under the same weight of expectation and pressure as she did last summer, but questions persist, particularly in light of Rio.
And yet, all this doubt surrounding Williams could end up working to her benefit – it certainly did at Wimbledon.

Kogi gov attacked in Lokoja

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello was reportedly pelted with stones and sachets of pure water yesterday shortly after the Jumaat prayers held at the Central mosque Lokoja, the state capital.

The governor who had gone to the mosque for prayers to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the state holding today, was said to have been attacked by angry mob who allegedly complained of hunger and hard times now ravaging the state.
But in a reaction, the Special Adviser to the governor on media and strategy, Mr Abdulmalik Abdul denied any such incident, saying the governor successfully performed the Friday prayers and left the scene when some miscreants caused a stir.
He said the governor couldn’t have been attacked as he was passionately loved by the citizens of the state, adding that his political detractors who wanted to distract him from his good works orchestrated the lie.
However, reports said the governor had to be whisked away by his security details so as not to be physically assaulted by the irate mob who were chanting anti-government songs and using vulgar language against the governor.
It was further learnt that anti riot policemen had to be drafted to the scene to avoid further break down of law and order.
When contacted over the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Willy Aya denied any mob attack on the governor but confirmed that policemen were drafted to the scene to maintain law and order.

Man arrested in fatal stabbing of two nuns in Mississippi

A man has been arrested in the stabbing deaths of two nuns whose bodies were found in their home in rural Mississippi, authorities said.

Margaret Held and Paula Merrill, both nurse practitioners, failed to show up for work Thursday at a clinic in Lexington, where they served one of the state's poorest counties.

Clinic workers called police when the pair didn't arrive at the clinic, said Maureen Smith, a spokeswoman for the Catholic Diocese of Jackson.

When authorities arrived at their home in Durant, 13 miles away from the clinic, they saw evidence of a break-in and found their bodies, she said.

As investigators searched for answers, a blue Toyota Corolla used by the victims was found Thursday on an abandoned road less than a mile from their home. 

 Rodney Earl Sanders, 46, has been charged with two counts of capital murder in connection with the killings, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety said early Saturday.

"Sanders was developed as a person of interest early on in the investigation," said Lt. Col. Jimmy Jordan, director of MBI.

After an investigation that included the sheriff's department and the attorney general's office, "this heinous crime has been resolved," he said.

He did not provide additional information on the arrest.

Shortly after their bodies were found, authorities said the motive for the killings remained unclear, adding that calling it a "robbery would be premature."

How we planned to collect N2b ransom from Otedola

Ikechukwu Daniel, who is an alleged member of a kidnap gang that operates in the Southwest part of the country, has revealed how oil magnate and billionaire businessman, Chief Femi Otedola, escaped being kidnapped by his gang, while attending a ceremony in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

Daniel, 28, who was arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team, IRT, for allegedly masterminding the April 27, 2016, abduction of Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, Ogun State, told Saturday Sun that his gang had planned to kidnap Otedola.
Daniel, from Imo State, was born and raised in Kaduna State, said during an interview in Lagos State , that he and members of his gang were perfecting plans  to abduct the billionaire  businessman, before he was arrested.  He narrated that they missed him once when he attended a function at Ibadan Oyo State, due to heavy presence of security operatives, but they decided to take a little time and prepare properly for the operation.
According to him, there was someone working with Otedola who brought the idea to them and the person told them that the oil magnet was going to be in Ibadan. Acting on that tip off, they went there, but saw that there was heavy security presence around him.
“ So, I told my gang members that we must wait and plan very well before carrying out the operation.  I told them that the first thing I would do so as to ensure that the operation was successful, was to do spiritual sacrifice to the gods and ensure that I defeat spiritually before going for him.  You know a man like Otedola is powerful spiritually.
“ Then the next step was to ensure that we get army, DSS and police uniforms.  I realised without impersonation there was no way I would be able to go close to a man of such status.  While the last on our list was to ensure that we monitor his movements regularly through our contact that is close to him and we would strike on a day that he has very little security men around me.
“I would have achieved all this by November and if we succeed it will be my last job as I would demand, N2 billion and I am hopeful he will pay nothing less than N500million.”
Commenting on how they abducted 70-year-old Senator Anisulowo, who represented Ogun West Senatorial District, between 2003 and 2007, Daniel said she was abducted alongside her security on her way home from her farm  along Igbogila Road, in Yewa Local Government Area of Ogun State. Senator Iyabo who is also a former minister of State of Education, was released after 10 days in captivity following pressure by the police on members of the kidnap gang who were mainly Fulani natives.
Saturday Sun gathered during the week that IRT operatives who were acting on a directive of the acting IGP, Ibrahim Idris, arrested one Mohammed Babuga, who provided information that aided the IRT operatives in trailing Daniel, who is popularly known as, Ike to his hideout in Festac, Lagos State and apprehended him while negotiating a four million naira ransom from relatives of a victim who was in his gang’s custody.
Sources at the IRT, headed by CSP Abba Kyari, disclosed that Daniel, who was described as an I-tech expert was coaching Fulani kidnappers on how to use ICT to evade arrest.
During his interview, Daniel confessed that he joined the kidnap gang in 2014, after he was released from Oyo State Prison.  He explained that he was arrested in 2012 for hijacking a petroleum tanker truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and during his stay in prison he met one Mohammed Babuga, a Fulani who eventually led him into kidnapping.  He added that he usually does the gang’s negotiation whenever a victim has been kidnapped because he has the expertise in ensuring that the ransoms are collected successfully. Dainel further explained that after the Senator Iyabo was kidnapped he was the one who ensured that the woman was spared as her family refused to pay ransom for her release.
Daniel also disclosed during his interview that he made sure that he was always steps ahead of security operatives by ensuring that he is acquainted with strategies of the DSS and the police in tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes.  “  I have a friend who is into hacking and he helped me hacked into DSS and police websites and through that process I normally monitor their new tracking methods.  Before I was arrested I knew the police was looking for me but I believed in my knowledge of Nigeria security apparatus but it failed me”, he lameneted.
Mohammed Babuga, 32-year-old, his gang member, from Kebbi State,  who is married, has two children , confessed that he was first arrested in  2011  when he went for a robbery operation with Maman on the  Kaduna Road in Kwara State. “ I use to take them to the scene and they paid me N156, 000 in three operations. On the third operation, when I was taking them back to Ilorin, some vigilance group arrested us and took us to the police, where we were charged to court and I was remanded in prison.
While in prison custody, I met Daniel, but when I left prison, I joined a kidnap gang led by Boeyi, Bubah Bube and we kidnapped a Fulani man and we got N4million and I was given N700, 000. We did our second job at Rejob a boundary between Kebbi State and Niger, and we collected N2 million and I got N250, 000.  After that operation, I left Kebbi and relocated to Oyo State because there were no good roads and Boeyi, called me and said he wanted to join me and he has got an Ak47 rifle and one Abubakar, a herdsman also has a pump action gun.  We contributed money and we bought a Honda  Bullet car.  Boeyi brought a job which was to kidnap a man, but before we went for the job, Daniel came and joined us and we did four jobs together before I was arrested” .

Arsenal transfer news: Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez '99%' certain to join Gunners, says Arsène Wenger

Arsene Wenger is “99 per cent confident” that Arsenal will sign Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez for a combined £52m this weekend, as the club scramble to bring in reinforcements in the final days of the transfer window.
Arsenal have agreed deals with Valencia for German centre-back Mustafi, and with Deportivo La Coruna for Spanish striker Perez, costing £35m and £18m respectively.
After taking just one point from their first two Premier League games, Arsenal need reinforcements, especially up front and in defence. But this week they have finally confirmed deals for two players from La Liga.
“We are working on the deals,” said a confident Wenger at his press conference on Friday morning. “We are not close enough to announce today that they will sign for us, and will we sign anybody before the end of the transfer window? I am 99 per cent confident.”
Arsenal signed Granit Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach at the start of the transfer window but have had a frustrating time since then, missing out on top targets Jamie Vardy and Alexandre Lacazette.
Only now, with the third game of the Premier League season coming this weekend, have Arsenal completed their shopping and Wenger revealed it had been a difficult time to do business.
“It was a strange transfer market,” Wenger reflected. “I expected it to be easier than ever but it was more difficult than ever. Not a lot has happened.
"It looks like when you meet other clubs and you have an English passport, you hit these [big] prices which are very difficult to understand compared to the quality of the players. It looks like it will be frenetic for me in the last three days.
"Everybody has sat on their pounds until now. We know they will all splash out now. I expect the next three days to be very, very busy, so be on alert.”
Arsenal play Watford tomorrow afternoon and Wenger is still weighing up whether to bring Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud back in after their post-Euro 2016 break.
“Mesut is not far now, that is a decision I have to make in the next 24 hours,” Wenger said. “Giroud is still a little fraction behind physically.”

Arsenal transfer news: Gunners 'agree' Lucas Perez deal as Shkodran Mustafi told he can leave Valencia

Arsenal appear to have won the race to sign striker Lucas Perez from Deportivo La Coruna, fending off interest from fellow Premier League side Everton to land the 27-year-old forward.
According to reports in Spain, Arsene Wenger has finally got his hands on a striker after reportedly agreeing a £17m deal to sign the Spaniard from Deportivo. The Toffees were reported to have agreed personal terms with the striker, but the move has been put on hold after Arsenal moved to sign Lucas.
With Arsenal desperate to sign a new striker as well as a defender, Wenger appears to have sanctioned the move after seeing numerous bids fall for other transfer targets. Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy turned down Arsenal to sign a new contract with the reigning Premier League champions, while Arsenal failed to persuade both Napoli and Lyon into selling Alexandre Lacazette.
While many fans will be unaware of the Deportivo striker, Lucas does at least boast an impressive record in Spain. He has scored 18 goals in La Liga since joining Deportivo permanently from Greek side PAOK, and has also represented Rayo Vallecano during his career.
Arsenal are also being linked with a move for Manchester United defender Phil Jones, although the rivalry between Jose Mourinho and Wenger looks likely to end any chance of a deal this summer with the United manager determined not to sell directly to his old rival.
Arsenal do have other options to target, though one of those is believed to Jones and should Arsenal follow up interest in the England international, it is likely to be met with an immediate rejection. Wenger is reported to believe that Southampton’s Jose Fonte will join United by next Wednesday’s transfer deadline, paving the way for Jones to leave the club.
However, Mourinho’s fractious relationship with Wenger will lead to the Portuguese personally rejecting any offer from the north London club, and Jones has also been told that he is part of Mourinho’s plans even though he signed £30m Eric Bailly from Villarreal during the summer.
 Arsenal could yet find success in their long-winded pursuit of Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi though, with Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol claiming that the Germany international met with his agent and officials from the Spanish club to discuss a move to the Emirates. It’s claimed that Mustafi will be sold for less than his release clause, providing Arsenal make a large enough bid to strike a deal.
Solhekol adds that the north London club believe a £26m offer could persuade Valencia into selling.
 Arsenal are also monitoring Villarreal’s Mateo Musacchio and Roma’s Kostas Manolas, should they fail in their efforts to sign Mustafi. However, Arsenal’s scattergun approach has done little to convince fans that their transfer policy is adequate enough for a Premier League title-challenging side.

Children among 15 killed in Syria barrel bomb attack

A barrel bomb killed 11 children in one of two deadly attacks Thursday in the Syrian city of Aleppo, a monitoring group said.

At least 15 people died when the barrel bomb hit a rebel-held neighborhood in Aleppo, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The UK-based monitoring group said in addition to the children, four women were killed at Bab al-Nayrab neighborhood.

The Aleppo Media Center issued a lower number, saying 13 people were killed, including four children, in the Bab al-Nayrab neighborhood.

Amnesty International says barrel bombs are a common tactic of the Syrian regime. The strikes come amid Russia's agreement to a 48-hour ceasefire and the United Nations' emphasis on a need for one.

The group also reported eight people were killed Thursday, including two children, when rebels fired mortar rounds into regime-held areas in western Aleppo.

Dream Team keeper: Olympics earned me Eagles call-up

Dream Team goalkeeper, Emmanuel Daniel said his proficiency and superlative exhibits at the Rio Olympics earned him a call-up to the Super Eagles.
Daniel was among the pack that got Nigeria a bronze medal at the Olympics in Brazil, the only medal the country was able to win.
The Enugu Rangers goalie received a prompt invitation to the Super Eagles for the AFCON qualifier against Tanzania in Uyo next month.
“My invitation to the Super Eagles is a reward for what I did at the Olympics,” Daniel told Africanfootball.com.
“It’s a big honour to be considered for the Eagles and I hope to continue to work hard.”
Daniel was widely expected to lose his No.1 position in the Olympic team to the more experienced South Africa-based Daniel Akpeyi, but he rose to the challenge to be in goal for five of the six games Nigeria played in Brazil.
“I was very determined to prove myself especially with my big brother, Akpeyi also in the team,” he said.
“I was equal to the challenge and that was why I kept my place in the first team.”

Rio 2016 fallout: Senate probes Dalung, others

Less than one week after the end of the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil, where Nigeria won only a Bronze Medal in male soccer game, the Senate has revealed plans to probe the roles of the of Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung and the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), over the poor performance of the country’s contingent to the global event.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Joe Obinna Ogba made the disclosure during an interview with journalists in Abuja yesterday.
Ogba, who was part of the official delegation to Brazil, said a lot of factors ranging from poor funding to logistics, contributed to Nigeria’s abysmal performance at the Olympics Games, saying that the Senate will look into the circumstances when it resumes from recess next month. “My committee intends to invite the NOC to come and brief us on the Olympics. Apart from the late arrival of our athletes’ kits, you can see even our national anthem at the opening ceremony was the wrong one. So, all these, we are going to find out what happened when we resume,” Ogba said.
On the donation of $390,000 to the Dream Team VI by a Japanese plastic surgeon and football enthusiast, Dr. katsuya Takasu, the lawmaker said it was wrong of the team to receive the money because, its source was unknown.
“I do not think it was nice for our country to accept such money, given the happenings around world now. Money is good, but it’s not every money that comes your way that you collect.
So, I associate myself fully with the President of the Nigeria Football Federation,” he noted.
On the calls for the resignation of Minister Dalung, Ogba said such calls were alien to Nigerian culture, as only the President can hire and fire a minister.
He therefore enjoined Nigerians to plead with President Muhammadu Buhari to release adequate funds to the Ministry of Sports in order for it to fulfil its obligations.
So, I associate myself fully with the President of the Nigeria Football Federation,” he noted.
On the calls for the resignation of Minister Dalung, Ogba said such calls were alien to Nigerian culture as only the President can hire and fire a minister.
He therefore enjoined Nigerians to plead with President Muhammadu Buhari to release adequate funds to the Ministry of Sports in order for it to fulfil its obligations.

CAN blasts US Govt over Kerry’s visit

The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN), yesterday, came hard on the United States (US) Secretary of States, Mr. John Kerry over his visit to Nigeria, alleging that it was discriminatory, personal and divisive.

It alleged that the visit was aimed at “furthering Federal Government’s plan to continue to persecute the teeming population of Nigerian Christians.”
The body further noted that Kerry, during his visit to Nigeria, only visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III and met with the 19 northern governors with only three  Christians among them.
Similarly, at the Presidential Villa, where he was hosted by President Muhammadu Buhari, Kerry met with selected northern governors.
National President of CAN, Supo Ayokunle while speaking on the visit, lambasted Kerry’s lack of respect to the heterogeneous nature of Nigeria, having openly favoured northern Nigeria and Muslims to the detriment of the Christian community.
Ayokunle said the discriminatory  disposition of the US Secretary of State during the visit confirmed accusations that the President Barack Obama’s administration openly supported the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 general elections which produced the current leadership of the country.
While calling on Kerry to ‘stop interfering in Nigerian affairs’, the CAN president said the visit was a complete flop and exposed Kerry’s negligence of Nigeria’s unity in diversity ideology that has remained the bedrock of the country.
“Why did he meet with 19 northern governors, without meeting with southern governors? Is Nigeria made up of the north alone?”
Ayokunle said the visit sends a wrong message and appeared to affirm the allegation that Christians, under the Buhari administration are under a siege.
“Kerry’s action speaks volume, his body language were very divisive.
“If US Secretary of States came for official visit, it’s understandable, but we demand explanation why he was selective. Has the Sultan’s Palace become another State House? Was Kerry invited by the Sultan?
“We have 36 States in Nigeria; he only selected northern governors to meet. It was a visit to the North and not to Nigeria. It was surely a very divisive visit. With the visit to the North, Kerry heightened fears and tension among Christians in Nigeria; if they cannot bring us together, they should not interfere in our affairs.”
On the perennial killing of Christians in northern Nigeria, the CAN president said: “Have the DSS arrested the Muslim youths who burnt down a Catholic Church in Niger State because they were worshiping on Friday? What happened to the ECWA pastor who was killed in his farm in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State? What has happened concerning the Redeemed preacher who was murdered in Kubwa, Abuja?”
“Look at the recent case in Zamfara State  where Christians were burnt alive. What has happened? They will tell you, they are still investigating. Have they been arrested and charged to court? If the government cannot sit up and protect Christians, tolerance is going to break down; they should do the right thing, they should not provoke Christians. Have we ever seen this government bring anybody to book?”
The CAN president tasked President Buhari ‘to come out clean’, adding that, “a government that doesn’t listen is not for the people.”
Ayokunle alleged that while the DSS and the Police have been slow in arresting extremists killing Christians in the country, they have been fast persecuting Christians.

IPOB: Another faction emerges, sacks Kanu, tripob

The crisis rocking the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), took a new turn yesterday as another faction which goes by the name Reformed Indigenous People of Biafra (RE-IPOB) emerged.

Two days ago, The Rebranded Indigenous People of Biafra (TRIPOB) emerged and threatened to burn the Biafra flag publicly on October 1
Spokesman for the new group, Ikemba Biafra, disclosed that it has sacked the IPOB led by the detained Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, and the Chima Philip Effiong Osuji-led TRIPOB,  claiming that both groups no longer have the right to speak for Biafra.
It alleged that Kanu has lost touch with realities of Biafra while TRIPOB has nothing to offer.
While promising to disclose their leader on Monday, August 29, 2016, it advised all pro-Biafran agitators to remain peaceful. It also warned security agents to stop molesting Biafra activists.
“Both IPOB and TRIPOB have been sacked; they should no longer speak for the Biafran people. They are the same outfit and have nothing to offer Biafra,” the spokesman said. “We warn that if Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB  and the so-called TRIPOB  continue their antics, RE-IPOB will be forced to make public the sponsors of the two groups. RE-IPOB will not accede to the burning of the Biafran flag as the sacked TRIPOB planned. The Biafran flag is sacred to Biafrans.”
The statement added, however, that RE-IPOB is open to dialogue if the Nigerian government is sincere about ending the protracted agitations for an independent state of Biafra, and warned that the group would not tolerate any insincerity from the government.
“If the Federal Government is sincere in its dialogue with RE-IPOB, then the Biafran flag can be exchanged with the Nigerian flag in the presence of President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Security Adviser, Director of State Security and the Elders of Biafra. If the dialogue is fruitful; then a peace treaty and a ‘no victor no vanquished tree’ will be planted at Gakem where the first shot of the Nigerian Civil war started and at Amichi, Nnewi where the formal cessation of hostilities of the war began.”
Meanwhile, IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, said the group is intact, strong and determined to continue with the struggle for the restoration of state of Biafra.
In a statement yesterday, he said there was nothing like splinter groups, alleging that it was the Federal Government and its security agencies out to deceive the general public.
According to the statement: “The quite amusing effort by the security agents to create the impression, that their recent laughable creation called the Reformed IPOB, is a faction of the great, indefatigable IPOB, it is a confirmation that they have finally run into a cul de sac.
“They have clearly run out of ideas, they are at their wit’s end, their stubborn refusal to let our people go has landed them in a tight corner, their attempt to create a sponsored faction is proof, they don’t know what else to do. We will not dignify their latest attempt with a response.”
We merely join citizens of the world as they laugh their hearts out. With this misadventure, federal government and the security agents have even lost their would be convert.
“They failed in their attempt to use so called MEND and their own creation, Reformed Avengers to cause any spilt in the Niger Delta Struggle. Resorting to the same idea here, simply confirms that they are confused, frustrated and defeated”.
“We wonder what they will do next, as this latest antic will surely pop like a ballon. The power of truth has set the oppressors running helter-shelter. As all past leaders frantically troop to the Villa daily to deliver grave warnings privately, the oppressor defiantly refuses to do the needful. This last ditch effort to create a false impression of division amongst our ranks has already failed, like all other unintelligent antics before it”.

I’ll develop new cities –Obaseki

Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Godwin Obaseki,  has promised to decongest the high traffic in the city by opening up new towns through infrastructural development and establishment of industries that would give every community in the state a sense of belonging.
Speaking at the palace of the Okaevbo of Urhonigbe, HRH, Igie Amokhuo, Obaseki expressed his determination to re-open the dormant Urhonigbe Rubber plantation Estate and give more lands to the management of the Rubber Estate to enable them offer employment to the people of Orhionmwon, saying that the Certificate of Occupancy that has delayed the opening of the plantation, has already been signed by the governor of the state.
“I will make Urhonigbe a major city in Edo State by taking advantage of the existing infrastructure and attracting investment to the city”, Obaseki added, promising to complete the internal roads within the community in his determination  to turn remote areas into major towns.
He however expressed worry over the long neglect of the Urhonigbe community, saying that apart from the establishment of the plantation Estate in 1963 by Awolowo, Urhonigbe community has never witnessed any other government presence until the APC administration came on board.
In his comment, the traditional ruler of Urhonigbe, HRH, Igie Amokhuo, said it was important for political leaders to build trust with the people as it is the only way to establish lasting relationship.
He urged the candidate to work towards adopting the same attitude toward evolving a people-oriented development as the incumbent governor did.
“You must not stray away from the path already established by Oshiomhole. Before he came, they told us that it is not possible for anyone to bring development to Edo State because it is a civil servant state. But Oshiomhole came and succeeded in proving to us that development is possible in the state. “Because of that, he is as popular today ask he was from the beginning. You must also emulate him so that the trust we repose in you today will not be misplaced”, the monarch advised.

Nwosu to Mikel: Improve on your style of play

Ex international, Henry Nwosu said Dream Team captain, John Mikel Obi must abandon his defensive style of play if he truly wants to reach his full potentials as a player.

Nwosu advised the Super Eagles midfielder to play from the attacking line rather than playing as a defensive player.
Mikel was at his best mettle at the just concluded Rio Olympic Games, where he helped the Nigeria’s U-23 team claimed Bronze medal after beating Honduras 3-2 in the third place match on Saturday. His contributions in terms of passes and creating chances for his teammates to score were of the major highlights of Mikel’s outstanding display in Rio.
“I am really impressed with Mikel’s performance at the Rio Olympic Games where Nigeria finished third in the Men’s football of the event. He showed that he’s a player that can play from the attacking line not just for the national team but also for Chelsea,” Nwosu told soccernet.com.ng. “He must abandon his defensive style of play because it has limited his chances of showing what he’s made of as a player. Regardless of what he has achieved for Chelsea in the Premier League, I still believe that there is more to him than just shielding the defenders of possession of the ball.
“I saw Mikel in 2005 during the FIFA World Youth Championship and I said to myself that this is a great talent for Nigeria and another Henry Nwosu.”
But after that competition, he joined Chelsea and was not the same Mikel. He was no longer enterprising and advancing and I concluded that Mikel can’t be the No 10 player that we know,” he said.

Yobo signs for Kano Pillars

Former Super Eagles’ skipper, Joseph Yobo has signed for Kano Pillars as an LMC Ambassador and could make his debut at Sunshine Stars next week Wednesday.
Four-time champions’ Pillars, IfeanyiUbah, Akwa United and Wikki were all in the race to sign the former Nigeria skipper, Yobo, who won 101 caps with the Super Eagles.
Ex-Everton star, Yobo, who would be 36 next month, signed a deal with the League Management Company (LMC), which will see him feature in the domestic league as a way of promoting and adding value to the competition.
The central defender had previously played for Turkish giants; Fenerbache, Olympique Marseille in France, as well as Norwich City in the Premier League.

Kobe Bryant 'Kobe Day Is a Huge Honor' ... Speaks At City Hall

Kobe Bryant says it's a "huge blessing and a huge honor" to have 8/24 deemed "Kobe Bryant Day" in Los Angeles ... and gave a heartfelt speech to his friends, family and fans at L.A. City Hall.
"I never ever thought that this day would ever be possible," Bryant told the purple and gold wearing crowd.
The clip is great ... Kobe also addressed his 2 young daughters and told them it would be their responsibility to tell their soon-to-be-born little sister about why their dad has his own day.
"She's gonna have no idea I was actually okay at playing basketball."

Kabul university attack: 12 killed as gunmen open fire on campus

Twelve people were killed in an attack on a university in Kabul, the Afghan capital, a spokesman for the Chief of Kabul Police tells CNN. Two gunmen who were still on the site were killed Thursday morning in a police operation.

Seven students, three policemen and two security guards were killed in the attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul campus, Basir Mujahid, the spokesman said. Thirty students were injured in the attack, which no group has yet claimed responsibility for.

Around 750 students were on campus at the time, he added.

More trouble for Kwankwaso

As the police continued to lay siege to the Constituency Office of former governor of Kano state, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, over attempt to organise a mass wedding, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into his 2015 presidential election campaign fund.

Kwankwaso, the immediate past governor of Kano State came second after President Mohammadu  Buhari in the keenly contested primaries.
Towards the end of his tenure, some state government officials petitioned EFCC, alleging that Kwankwaso diverted local government allocations to fund his presidential campaign.
He was accused of using his influence as governor to direct each of the 44 councils in the state to contribute N70 million. The total amount which is about N3 billion was allegedly  used to find his failed presidential bid.
Investigating the petition, it was found that the money which was initially paid into the Joint Local Government Account was diverted to fund his presidential campaign.
Sources confirmed that the petitioners supplied vital documents on the alleged fund diversion which prompted the commission to begin investigation.  The investigation led to the invitation of former Secretary to the State Government,   Mr. Rabiu Suleiman Bichi and former State Accountant General, Mahmud.
It was believed that Mahmud  was recently sacked by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje because of frequent visit to EFCC.
Some local government chairmen connected with the campaign fund had been quizzed by the agency, as it was learnt that some were on administrative bail.
Efforts to speak to the former presidential aspirants yesterday proved abortive as his line was switched off. When contacted, his aide, Muhammed Inuwa picked his call, but when asked to comment, he laughed and dropped the call. Further attempts to speak to him were rebuffed as he refused to take any call made to his GSM line.
Kwankwaso’s fresh trouble arise when he planned to organise mass wedding for over 200 couples scheduled for last Saturday in his home in Kano, which the state government warned against.
Meanwhile, Police Service Commission has ordered a high-powered probe into the cancellation of a the event.
Although Kano police chief cited security concerns as reasons for the stoppage, the chairman of the Police Service Commission, Inspector General of Police, Mr Mike Okiro, assured he would probe claims by members of the Kwankwasiyya group claiming violation of their fundamental human rights.
A member of the House of Representatives, Mr Ali Madaki who presented the petition on behalf of members of the Kwankwasiyya group accused the police authorities of infringing on the rights of Senator Kwankwaso to discharge his responsibility to his constituents in Kano state.
Okiro promised to reach out to the inspector General of police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris, as well as the police authorities in Kano to ascertain the veracity of the claims of members of the kwankwasiyya group.
Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose condemned Tuesday’s invasion and sealing of Kwankwaso’s residence, reiterating his earlier warning that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its supporters have built dictatorship round President Muhammadu Buhari by not joining other Nigerians to condemn his undemocratic acts.
I will have to listen to the other parties and investigate the matter. I assure you that action will be taken within a reasonable time frame regarding the petition.”

Lagos police nab most wanted cult kingpin

Lagos State Police command has arrested most wanted cult leader in the state.

The suspect, Oriyomi Balogun (aka Small Jopron) was alleged to have killed many people in Lagos and Ogun states.
Small JP, as he is called in the underworld, allegedly ran a gang that killed for a fee.
The suspect was arrested by policemen from Alade Police Division at Petit Street in Shomolu area of Lagos.
Small JP who was paraded yesterday by the police at the state command headquarters, Ikeja said he only killed two persons.
According to him, “I am Small JP,  I am the leader of Eiye Fraternity in Lagos.  I have been wanted by the police, but, I am not as bad as they are painting me.  The police said that I have killed many people.  That is not true.  I only killed two persons but, I am not regretting it because, we were at war.  It was like a soldier killing his enemy.
“Eiye and Aiye are always fighting the battle of supremacy.  It is either one of us offended another person from another group. Well, we fought with dangerous weapons, so, somebody must die.  I have only killed two persons, but my men may have killed more.  The police should not put all the killings on my head.
“What I want the police to know is that some of my members were also killed during confrontations. For the two persons that I killed, I had atoned for my sins because, I have gone to the prisons for the offence.  I just think that I am being victimised because, I am not as bad as the police are claiming.”
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, who paraded the suspect, said: JP’s gang was responsible for many disturbances and deaths in the state.  The gang was responsible for setting ablaze a house at Shomolu where a 62-year-old woman was roasted six months ago.
“He is the most wanted cult leader in the state.  We have declared him wanted for crimes, ranging from armed robbery, kidnap and multiple cases of murder.  His gang held sway in Shomolu and Bariga areas of the state.  Through him, we are hoping to get other notorious cult members.”

Jennifer Lopez & Casper Smart It's Over

 

 
Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart are donzo ...
We're told J Lo pulled the plug on the relationship. Sources close to Casper are saying the breakup didn't happen, but our Lopez sources are clear ... the relationship is over.
J Lo, 47, and Casper, 29, started dating as far back as October 2011. It appeared as if they broke up in 2014 but our sources say they were never really apart ... and they were really spending time at her house when they were supposedly separated.
Things seemed alright a couple weeks ago when they hung out at her Vegas show ... where she gave ex Marc Anthony a shout-out.

Italy earthquake leaves 247 dead; rescuers race to find survivors

Saletta Italy, At least 247 people were killed after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck central Italy Wednesday, according to Italy's Civil Protection Department.

The powerful earthquake hit 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) southeast of Norcia at 3:36 a.m. (9:36 p.m. Tuesday ET).

Italy's Civil Protection agency said of the people killed in the quake, at least 53 of them were in the town of Amatrice, and at least 100 people were injured. Other fatalities were reported in the nearby towns of Accumoli and Arquata del Tronto.

More than 1,000 people have been displaced by the quake, and the Civil Protection agency said no residents were allowed to sleep in the devastated town of Amatrice Wednesday night.

A series of strong aftershocks have been felt since the initial quake, including a 4.7-magnitude tremor that struck a few miles east of Norcia early Thursday morning local time, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The death toll from the quake was expected to rise as rescue teams are continuing to work through the rubble, with regular aftershocks posing a continuing threat.

"Right now we feel terrible pain," Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said after touring some of the affected areas. "Italy is a family that has been hit and struck, but we are not going to be stopped."

Addressing the nation Wednesday, Renzi vowed to spare no effort in the critical window following the quake when lives could still be saved.

"In difficult times, Italy knows what to do," he said.

 

 

Four major sponsors of Ryan Lochte walked away from the disgraced U.S. swimmer.

Speedo, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Gentle Hair Removal and mattress maker Airweave all said they would be cutting ties with Lochte after the swimmer admitted to lying about being robbed at gunpoint while in Rio.

"While we have enjoyed a winning relationship with Ryan for over a decade and he has been an important member of the Speedo team, we cannot condone behavior that is counter to the values this brand has long stood for," Speedo said in its statement. "We appreciate his many achievements and hope he moves forward and learns from this experience."
Ralph Lauren said it had signed Lochte to an endorsement deal specifically for the 2016 Games and the company will not be renewing the contract. The company, which early Monday still had a photo of Lochte wearing an Olympic medal on its Twitter home page, has since taken that image down.
Likewise, Airweave -- which provided mattresses for Team USA in Rio -- said its agreement with Lochte was "in support of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games" and the company has decided to end the partnership.
But Lochte's photos were still all over the website of Gentle Hair Removal, which made Lochte a figurehead of their advertising campaigns since signing the athlete in April. Lochte appeared in a promotional video for Gentle Hair Removal, in which he said the service "was the best thing that's ever happened. I don't have to worry about shaving anymore."

Battle looming: Iraqi troops, militia inch towards ISIS-held Mosul

The Iraqi Army Humvees barreled across the Nineveh province moonscape toward the town of Qayyarah, the next front line in the military quest to dislodge ISIS from the sprawling city of Mosul.

ISIS tries to decrease the advancing soldiers' visibility by burning up oil tankers and flooding the air with smoke. But the troops pushed forward despite black apocalyptic skies, street after street of decimated buildings, torn electric cables whipping across the road, and hot searing winds.

El Chapo's son freed a week after kidnapping, sources say

Jesus Alfredo Guzman, the 29-year-old son of jailed Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, has been freed after he was kidnapped a week ago in Puerto Vallarta, three sources confirmed to CNN.

A high-ranking source inside the Mexican government confirmed he was freed, and a source close to the Guzman family said El Chapo's son, who was kidnapped along with five other people by seven armed men, is now in Sinaloa, Mexico.

Journalist Anabel Hernandez confirmed that according to sources inside the Guzman family, El Chapo's son was freed on Saturday.

DMX I'm Super Potent!!! Welcomes Baby #15

 
DMX has a challenge most parents would find daunting ... remembering the names of all of his kids, which now number 15.
The baker's dozen plus 2 was born Friday in NYC ... weighing in at 6 lbs, 10 oz.
His name -- Exodus Simmons. The mom is X's longtime GF, Desiree. It's her first child.
The rapper missed the delivery -- he was in Arizona when Exodus popped out. But he flew to NYC for the baby's first night in the world.
X tells us he's overjoyed, calling the baby a "blessing."
Lots of blessings.

The Lagos Properties Protection Law

Lagos  State Government moved to address a nagging problem in the state recently with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s signing into law of the Lagos State Properties Protection Bill on August 15. By this law, land grabbers known as Omo onile and their cohorts who are in the habit of forcefully entering and illegally occupying landed property in the state, should now be kept in check.
This law is long overdue, and many Lagosians are heaving a sigh of relief that it is here at last. The ubiquitous Omo onile have constituted themselves into a menace to people who have anything to do with landed property in the state and it is good that the state government is set to cut them to size.
We call on government to faithfully enforce the provisions of this law. It should not be handled like the Lagos Tenancy Law of 2011 enacted by the immediate past administration in the state. Up till now, there has hardly been any reported case of prosecution and conviction of offenders under the law, even though its provisions are widely infringed on.
It is this situation that gives the wrong impression about government’s real intentions and encourages the Omo onile and other social miscreants to continue oppressing owners, buyers and sellers of landed property in the state. Land grabbing and speculation has become a cultural thing with deep roots, spreading across diverse interest groups.
If the new law is to enjoy the much-needed cooperation for its successful implementation, there must be adequate sensitisation and stakeholders’ buy-in. There must be a three-way meeting point between government, investors and the land grabbers through the traditional channels. They all need to be enlightened on the benefits of the law to all the people involved and the long-term wellbeing of the state.
Whereas, the Land Use Act (1978) specifically vests all lands in the states in the respective state governments, in practice, this has hardly been the case. Families, lineages and powerful individuals often lay claim to landed properties and often use unorthodox means to advance their interests. It is this negative tendency that the law is out to correct.
Government too, it must be noted, has unwittingly helped the perpetuation of the Omo onile phenomenon through its many agencies which, instead of facilitating land acquisition and development, tend to stand in the way of genuine applicants who want to obtain certificates of occupancy (C of O), through delays and other sharp practices..
The state authorities, as part of the enabling environment for the operation of the new law, must correct this and other lapses that may dispose land users to the patronage of the traditional sources and the inevitable Omo onile.
The activities of these land grabbers have been known to drive away genuine investors who are not used to their devious methods, which include violence and threats to life. This new law, if well implemented, will improve the investment climate and ease of doing business in the state. At a time when government revenue from oil is dwindling, the coming into effect of this law cannot be over emphasised.
As part of the new law, a task force shall be established to enforce it. This is welcome and we expect the new enforcement unit to work with the already existing law enforcement agencies to ensure strict compliance. Government can also explore the option of recruiting amenable persons in the present Omo onile class into the new task force. There may be wisdom in this as they already know the terrain and its fault lines.
This could result in a win-win situation for all the stakeholders in the Lagos landed property enterprise. The threat of the Omo onile in Lagos is not to be taken lightly, given the deeply entrenched tradition and the failure of successive governments to address the problem. We urge the Ambode government to faithfully enforce this law to end the culture of impunity of the Omo onile on land matters in the state.
Ultimately, the success of the new law will depend on sustained public enlightenment and engagement of all relevant stakeholders. Government must consider all possible avenues of resistance to the new law and disabuse the minds of suspicious stakeholders of its genuine intentions and their long-term benefits.
If Lagos is to achieve its goal of becoming a megacity, laws such as the recently signed landed property law are needed and have to be strictly enforced.

Lassa fever: 32 quarantined in Delta after doctor’s death

FOLLOWING the death of a medical doctor from Lassa fever, 32 persons have been quarantined in Asaba, Delta State capital.

The late doctor’s hospital in Umuaji area and another private hospital where he was treated at Bonsaac area, all in Asaba, have been shut down and fumigated.
A medical practitioner resident in Asaba, who hailed from Anambra State, reportedly died at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State where he was referred to for the treatment of Lassa fever.
The victim was first admitted at the private hospital in Bonsaac area of the state capital, from where he was referred to NAUTH. His blood sample tested positive to Lassa fever at the Institute of Lassa Fever in Irrua, Edo State.
According to the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Azinge, those placed under surveillance included 11 persons from the immediate family of the deceased, 18 persons at the private hospital where the patient was first admitted and three others, who made contact with the deceased.
Azinge, in a statement, said two local government disease surveillance officers in Oshimili South and Oshimili North councils were part of the state response team, adding that the officers would be monitoring the temperature of those quarantined for the next 21 days.
He said the state Lassa Fever Response Team had been reactivated, adding that the sensitisation of health workers in the state was ongoing to have a high index of suspicion and take preventive measures when managing infectious cases.
“Awareness creation through various mass media, so the public can understand how the disease is transmitted and, therefore, take preventive measures to forestall its spread.
“In addition, outbreak prevention materials have been pre-positioned in high-risk disease outbreak councils.
“Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), non-contact thermometres and other items have been distributed to the disease surveillance and notification officers in the 25 councils by the Ministry of Health. The drug Rivabirin has been procured for immediate case management.”
“The Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Medical Association, Delta State, have been contacted and are collaborating with the health ministry. I want to use this medium to assure the public not to panic since the situation is under control,” Azinge said.

Boko Haram: Shekau ‘fatally wounded’ in air raid – Nigerian Army

The Nigerian Air Force has killed an undisclosed number of Boko Haram leaders during a raid on the Sambisa Forest hideout of the insurgents. The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement Tuesday that the leader of the group, ‘Abubakar Shekau’ was seriously wounded on the shoulders during the raid.
Usman listed the killed Boko Haram leaders to include Abubakar Mubi, Malam Nuhu and Malam Hamman.
He said that fighter pilots of the NAF carried out the raid on August 19,2016 when the insurgents were performing Friday rituals at Taye village, Gombale general area within Sambisa forest, Borno State.
However, Usman was silent on whether or not the affected Boko Haram leaders were among those on the 100 most wanted list of the group released by the military.
“In what one could describe as the most unprecedented and spectacular air raid, we have just confirmed that as a result of the interdiction efforts of the Nigerian Air Force, some key leaders of the Boko Haram terrorists have been killed while others were fatally wounded.
“The air interdiction took place last week Friday 19th August 2016, while the terrorists were performing Friday rituals at Taye village, Gombale general area within Sambisa forest, Borno State.
“Those Boko Haram terrorists commanders confirmed dead include Abubakar Mubi, Malam Nuhu and Malam Hamman, amongst others. While their leader, so called “Abubakar Shekau”, is believed to be fatally wounded on his shoulders. Several other terrorists were also wounded.” The statement read.

Economic hardship: Osinbajo begs Nigerians for patience

Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, pleaded for greater understanding and patience of Nigerians in the face of biting economic headship in the country.
President Muhammadu Buhari, he said, is aware of the economic hardship facing the people, and he feels “the pains that you feel, and has asked me to reassure you that a glorious dawn awaits. Osinbajo disclosed this in his goodwill message at the South West Conference of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan yesterday.
“We seek your continued trust and ask you all to join hands with the government as we tackle the challenges ahead. Change is not easy, but, we are not relenting until we achieve a better life for all Nigerians. The change that we advocate will be irrevocable when we are finally done,” he said.
Osinbajo, who was represented by Senator Babafemi Ojudu, admitted that  just a little over a year ago that the present administration came to power, majority of Nigerians are already fed up with the direction that the seemingly rudderless ship of the Nigerian state was headed.
He continued: “Nigerians who desired the needed change that we promised voted for our great party in their millions. That confidence reposed in us by millions of Nigerians is what we have come to renew.
“Since we have savoured the sweetness of that electoral victory, we cannot afford to betray the trust that paved the way to usher in change from the ineptness of the past. When we took over the reins of governance, we knew things were bad. What we did not realise, however, was just how bad they really were. Now we know better!
“We have since been working extremely hard to remedy the rot and malaise that pervaded our dear country. The current pains and suuferings that our people are feeling today are the results of yesterday’s mismanagement of the commonwealth of our great country.”
“Every day, as I travel round the country to meet our people, I see on their faces evidence of pains and trauma they are going through. I have heard the anguish and cries of our people in various town meetings that I have addressed. As you all may well know, the darkest part of the night is the period before the dawn. Nigeria’s dawn is about to break. We are determined to turn things around, so that, once more, our people will begin the real impact of government in their lives.
“Our plea to our people is for greater understanding and patience even as we forge ahead to continue the work of making the lives of all Nigerians better again. We seek your continued trust and ask you all to join hands with the government as we tackle and surmount the challenges ahead. Change is not easy, but we are not relenting until we achieve a better life for all Nigerians…”
The change that we advocate will be irrevocable when we are finally done.
“We just have to change from our old ways of doing things because things cannot be allowed to continue the way they were. Though things may appear difficult at the moment, it will not be long before Nigerians start deriving the full benefits of the current policies of government, which are designed to re-position the country and improve on the prevailing economic situation. Sector by sector, we have begun the process of introducing lasting and beneficial changes in the country. Already there are signs that things are turning around for the better.
“In the oil and gas industries for instance, many investors are showing tremendous interest in building petroleum refineries, in no distant time, the issues of fuel scarcity will become a thing of the past and we shall stop expending scarce foreign exchange on refined products. We are also appealing to the pipeline vandals and those that are carrying out acts of economic sabotage in the Niger Delta to desist or face the full wrath of the law.
“In the power sector, the gradual improvement in power supply that is being experienced around the country is the result of the efforts of the government. We are committed to the implementation of the health insurance scheme that our great party promised the people during the electioneering campaigns.
“The diversification of the Nigerian economy is an area that the government is paying close attention to. We must, as a country, begin to look beyond oil to other areas that will generate sustainable revenues for our country. To achieve this purpose, we have begun to invest heavily in the agricultural sector.
“It is our hope and aspiration that Nigeria will once again be able to achieve sustainability and self-reliance in food production to the benefit of our people and also for export. In order that the food we produce will be readily available to our people in all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, the government has revived the comatose railway systems to transport people and goods round the country.  The re-construction of the death traps that pass for highways across the country is also being given top priority by the government.
“The teeming population of youth and women, undoubtedly has continued to bear the brunt of the failed economic policies of the past. We are unwavering in our commitment to alleviate their sufferings through job creation, which has already begun in earnest.
“The education sector, in dire need of rejuvenation, has begun receiving the attentionof the government. The N500 billion social protection fund, which has been created by the government is geared to caring for our underprivileged and institutionalise our social security scheme.”