Author: Vincent Osuwo

The death toll from a landslide in southern Ethiopia has risen to at least 157, a local official announced on Tuesday, warning that the number could rise. The landslide happened around 10:00 a.m. (0700 GMT) on Monday, following heavy rainfall in a mountainous part of the South Ethiopia regional state. The last toll was 55. “The number of dead from the sudden landslide that happened in Geze-Gofa district of Gofa zone has passed 146,” a statement from the Gofa zone Communications Affairs Department said, quoting local official Habtamu Fetena. Habtamu mentioned that the bodies of 96 men and 50 women…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, arraigned a senior immigration officer, Gbenga Akomolafe, before the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday for allegedly trafficking eight kilogrammes of methamphetamine and 7.60 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa, also known as marijuana. Akomolafe, who is currently employed at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, was arraigned with Babatunde Olufemi, a Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria employee, Nwadozie Amaechi, and Nwosu Cyril. The defendants, who face nine counts of conspiracy, unlawful possession, importation, and dealing in forbidden narcotics, were arraigned before Justice Daniel Osiagor. While the other three members of the…

A 300-level Linguistics student of Adekunle Ajasin University, simply known as Emmanuel, was shot and killed on Sunday by yet-to-be identified gunmen in one of the private student hostels in Akungba Akoko. A student who spoke on the condition of anonymity disclosed to our correspondent that the deceased was shot in the room. “It happened last night; the victim was shot while on his bed, in his room,” he said. The Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Odunlami Ibukun, revealed that the police had been informed and were currently investigating the incident. He said, “It was reported to the police,…

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and Space X, has said he was “tricked” into granting permission for his child to undergo puberty blockers. Musk made the revelation in a live interview with psychologist Jordan Peterson on X on Monday. During the interviews, Peterson mentioned Musk’s decision to relocate SpaceX’s headquarters from California, citing the state’s new law, Assembly Bill 1955, which enables schools to keep a child’s sexual orientation or gender identity confidential from their parents. This decision came after California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law on Monday, July 15, 2024. When Peterson asked the owner…

No fewer than 55 people were killed in a landslide in a remote area of southern Ethiopia on Monday, local authorities said, warning that the death toll could rise. “More than 55 bodies have been found from the landslide,” a statement from the Gofa Zone Communications Affairs Department said, quoting local chief Dagmawi Zerihun, who warned “the death toll could yet increase.”. Dagmawi said the incident occurred at 10 a.m. (0700 GMT) after heavy rains in the remote region. He further stated that the hunt for survivors was “continuing vigorously.” The area has previously experienced such terrible incidents, with at…

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh, has called on residents and indigenes not to partake in the nationwide protest. Some groups and residents planned a nationwide demonstration on August 1 in reaction to the country’s economic crisis. However, when speaking with journalists in Abuja on Monday, the FCT CP asked citizens to avoid the protests. He noted that the police have made tremendous efforts to ensure security in the FCT and that the protest could imperil it. Igweh said, “I want to appeal specifically to the residents, indigenes, and everybody in the FCT. Please, lions, do not destroy their…

The Joint Committee of the House of Representatives, which is conducting a forensic inquiry into the difficulties facing the downstream and midstream petroleum industries, has begun looking into claims of the importation of contaminated Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as fuel, into the country.  The committee’s chairman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, announced this at the panel’s formal inauguration in Abuja on Monday. The investigation team will also examine reports of crude oil theft at local refineries, distribution disruptions, and favouritism in the pro forma invoice regime, among other issues. Briefing reporters at the event, Ugochinyere said, “The committee will conduct a legislative…

A court in the UAE has sentenced 57 Bangladeshis to severe prison terms for holding protest against their own government.  Three anonymous defendants were sentenced to life in prison for “inciting riots in several streets across the UAE on Friday,” while 53 others received 10-year sentences and one was sentenced to 11 years, according to the state-run Wam news agency. It referenced their court-appointed defence lawyer, who argued during Sunday’s trial that the gatherings had no criminal purpose and that the evidence was inadequate. Protests are practically outlawed in the UAE, where foreigners account for about 90% of the population.…

A gunman reportedly opening fire in a nursing home in Croatia on Monday, killing no fewer than five people, state media reported, in a rare instance of gun violence in the Balkan country. According to state television station HRT, an unidentified gunman started fire inside a nursing home in Daruvar, around 130 kilometres (80 miles) east of Zagreb. The gunshot killed at least five people and injured several others, according to HRT. According to the site, the alleged culprit escaped before being apprehended by authorities. Jutarnji List, a Croatian daily, described the alleged shooter as a “war veteran” who killed…

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Nigerian doctor and artist Fola David on his recent achievement of achieving a new Guinness World Record for the largest painting by an individual. According to reports, during his six-day attempt at the Onikan Stadium in Lagos, David shattered Ravi Soni of India’s previous record of 629.98 square metres and set a new record of 1000 square metres of art. In a post on his Instagram story on Sunday, Tinubu wrote, “Congratulations to Dr. Fola David for completing his attempt at making the world’s largest hand-drawing by an individual, ‘Unity in Diversity.’ “It is a…