STAR NEWS NAIJA

 A prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State, Benedict Akika has reportedly been kidnapped, on Wednesday night. He was said to have been kidnapped at his Olorunda residence in the Lagelu Local Government Area of the state. Investigations by The PUNCH revealed that the gunmen, who were armed to the teeth, invaded his residence and threatened to shoot any of the occupants that might put up resistance. A family source, who did not want his name in the print, said the victim was relaxing with his family when the gunmen stormed his residence. The source said, “There was a sporadic gunshot which was aimed at scaring the residents and passersby. “He was later whisked away on Wednesday night to an unknown destination.” He said. Another source said, “He was kidnapped last night. And this is a man that empowered some widows and the less privileged with work tools worth millions of naira at his Olorunda residence a few weeks ago.” As of press time, the state Police Publ...

 Four people were killed and several others injured in a shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, Wednesday. USA Today reports that the victims include two students and two teachers, identified as Mason Schermerhorn, 14, Christian Angulo, 14, Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53. Colt Gray, 14, a student at the school, was arrested and charged with murder. Authorities confirmed that Gray will be prosecuted as an adult. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation reported that the suspect used an AR-style rifle, and an investigation is ongoing to determine how the weapon was obtained and brought into the school. Nine individuals, including eight students and one teacher, were hospitalised with injuries that were not life-threatening, GBI Director Chris Hosey said The shooting prompted a lockdown of schools across Barrow County as a precaution. Community reacts Barrow County Sheriff, Jud Smith, emphasised the gravity of the situation, calling it “an evil thing.” “This...

 The Executive Vice President of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (Downstream), Adedapo Segun, has emphasised the need for a perfectly competitive market to ensure stable fuel prices and supply in Nigeria. He expressed concern that the current pump price does not accurately reflect prevailing market conditions. Segun made this statement during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Thursday. “The pump price today is not market reflective. NNPCL is the sole importer of PMS in the country, which is abnormal. We should be moving towards a situation where the free market determines prices,” he said, stressing that market forces, rather than any single entity, should dictate fuel prices. Segun clarified that NNPCL’s role as the sole importer of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) was not a deliberate choice by the company but a response to market Let me put it in the proper context. NNPCL is not a regulator. We didn’t choose to be the sole importer. We don’t determine ...

 The Lagos State Government, through its Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, has selected 50 local chefs to participate in the maiden edition of its Eko Flavours Competition. The Eko Flavours Project is a culinary platform for food vendors and chefs to showcase their talents and interact with food enthusiasts, starting with the shopping process at an organised market. The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abiola Olusanya, said at a news conference on Thursday in Ikeja that over 150 applications were submitted for the competition. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that out of the over 150 applications submitted, 70 made the cut, but 50 were selected based on the one-minute video submitted. “We want to build a culture of eating healthy and to see how best we can maintain a good diet. The contest is designed to be a culinary platform for food vendors and chefs to showcase their talents and interact with food enthusiasts. “The Eko Flavours Project is a transformativ...

 Victor Osimhen has reportedly agreed to join Chelsea on a €350,000 weekly pay, taking a major step closer to realising his dream Premier League move. This is €150,000 short of the €500,000 per week initially demanded by the Napoli striker, who had to settle for the sum, with the summer transfer window closing in the next 48 hours. This is a confirmation of earlier reports in Italy, which suggested that the protracted transfer talks between Chelsea and Napoli were nearing their conclusion, with Napoli reportedly accepting the London club’s offer to sign the Nigerian striker. Meanwhile, Al Ahli have taken their desperation to sign Osimhen to another dimension on Thursday, with Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reporting that the management of the Saudi Pro League giants were set to travel to Italy to facilitate the transfer of the Napoli striker Chelsea are likely to add a new striker to their ranks one way or another at this stage, which will be one of Osimhen, Jhon Duran, and ...

 The National Youth Service Corps has said polytechnic graduates or holders of the Higher National Diploma without evidence of undertaking the mandatory 12-month industrial training will not be registered at the NYSC orientation camp to participate in the national youth service. The acting Director of Press and Public Relations, NYSC, Mrs Caroline Lembu, who spoke to The PUNCH on Thursday, explained that a certificate of industrial training is one of the requirements for polytechnic graduates to participate in the one-year national youth service. The NYSC had recently introduced a new policy, requiring graduates of polytechnics and monotechnics to present an IT certification, as part of requirements for the national service, particularly for participation in the camp activities. The NYSC Coordinator in Lagos State, Mrs Yetunde Baderinwa, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, on August 3, 2024, where she explained that the corps members “must undergo t...