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News_Naija

Police Rescue Newborn Baby, Arrest Traffickers In Akwa Ibom

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom said it has rescued a two-day-old baby and apprehended two traffickers who attempted to sell the baby for ₦800,000. The Police Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement released in Uyo on Monday. John said the operatives of the command intercepted a vehicle along Nsit Atai-Oron Road driven by a male and two female occupants with a newborn baby. She said the rescued baby had been taken to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Uyo for care and custody, pending the conclusion of the investigation. John said, “The Akwa Ibom State Police Command, in its effort to protect lives and property, has intercepted a suspected child trafficking syndicate. “Operatives of the command, while on patrol along the Nsit Atai-Oron Road, intercepted a Mazda vehicle with registration number YAB 454 AA. “The vehicle was driven by one Bethel Anyanwu, a male, and had two female occupants along with a two-day-old baby. “Upon interrogation, the occupants could not provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the infant. “Following a series of interrogations, one Nasikpo Sonia Labere, a female, and Inemesit Okin Akpan, a female, confessed to being sent from Port Harcourt, Rivers. ”(They were allegedly sent) by one Waazor Godwin, a female, and one Lilian Duru, a female, to collect the baby from one Miss Grace Inyang in Oron.” The police spokesperson said the investigation had revealed that one Alison Eduno facilitated the connection between the buyer and the seller. She added that the police apprehended the grandmother and the mother of the baby, identified as Grace Walter, 55 years old, and Blessing Walter, 20 years old, both residing in Oti Oron. According to her, they confessed to selling the baby for the sum of ₦800,000. The PPRO added that all the suspects were in police custody and would be arraigned in court after investigations had been concluded. NAN

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News_Naija

Truck Kills Four Easter Mountain Hikers In Gombe Crash

The Gombe State Police Command on Monday confirmed a fatal road accident in Billiri, Gombe State, in which no fewer than four people died and eight others were receiving treatment. The accident occurred on Easter Monday as Christians were returning from a mountain climb held to symbolise the meeting with Jesus Christ in Galilee. Confirming the crash to our correspondent, the police spokesperson, Buhari Abdullahi, said, “Four died — two males and two females. Eight victims were taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, and the General Hospital, Billiri, where they are recovering.” An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said, “As the people, mostly youths and children, were descending from the mountain, a truck loaded with grains heading towards Gombe ploughed into them, crushing many to death.” The incident sparked outrage, with youths setting the truck ablaze and storming the Divisional Police Headquarters, demanding the release of the driver. A combined team of security agencies has been deployed to prevent further escalation.

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Futbol

Wolves Midfielder Gomes Signs New Five-year Deal

Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes has signed a new five-year deal at Molineux. The Brazil international's new contract also includes the option of a further year. Gomes joined from boyhood club Flamengo in 2023 and has made 80 appearances for Wolves, including 31 this season. The 24-year-old has scored four goals this term with Wolves 17th in the Premier League, nine points above the relegation zone, before Tuesday's visit of West Ham. Head coach Vitor Pereira said: "I'm very happy because Joao is a team player. He gives every time 100%, in training, in the games, and he has the quality to help this team and this club to make the next step. "At the end of the game he's given everything for the team, defending, attacking, supporting the team-mates, and this is what we need in our team, this is the spirit we need at this club. We must come to Wolverhampton with this hunger, this spirit to help the team, help the club to grow up. "He's very important because he's a midfielder with physicality and the power to run for 90 minutes, and he's young. He has big potential and can be a top player."

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Futbol

A First Look At Baller League - Fast-paced & Full Of Flair

YouTuber Angry Ginge's Yanited are top of the table in Baller League UK after bossing teams managed by Arsenal's Invincibles and former Chelsea captain John Terry in the opening two matchdays. It's all part of the disruptive world of this new six-a-side tournament, where other managers include the likes of Ballon d'Or winner Luis Figo and rapper Dave. Baller League was set up in Germany by entrepreneur Felix Starck alongside footballers Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski, and has now come to the UK and US. KSI, who has 24.8 million YouTube subscribers, is president of the UK version. There are matches every Monday until 2 June on indoor football pitches at Copper Box Arena, London, with 12 teams competing. The top four teams will qualify for the play-offs in mid-June, with two semi-finals and a final to decide a champion. Players are paid £400 per match and the teams are made up of recently retired professionals, futsal players, free agents and released academy players, who all came through trials in London and Manchester. Played on short indoor pitches in 15-minute halves, with multiple dynamic rule-changes throughout, the format favours flair players, high-scoring and strong tackling. Each match is streamed live, with YouTuber Chunkz hosting a weekly show where celebrities and other stars from the world of football drop in. In matchday two, Tottenham Hotspur defender Kevin Danso was a pitchside co-commentator. Innovative rules make the game fast-moving and high-scoring. There are no corners - if the ball goes behind off the opposition three times, a penalty is awarded to the attacking team. Cue plenty of long shots in matchday two, aiming to either score or get the ball deflected behind. In the final three minutes of each half different rules are added, including a 3 vs 3 format, long-range goals scored from behind the offside line counting as double and goalkeepers being unable to use their hands. Under one of the rules, attacking players are given a 30-second limit before they have to shoot. Coaches can also throw in a white flag to challenge a refereeing decision. On the coaching side, Baller League have enlisted an impressive roll call of current and ex-professional footballers, as well as YouTubers and celebrities. Former Arsenal players Jens Lehmann, Freddie Ljungberg and Robert Pires, who all played in Arsene Wenger's 'Invincible' side of 2003-04, manage N5 FC – the name being a reference to North London. They're bottom of the table after losing their opening two matches - a 7-2 matchday one loss to Yanited and a 7-3 defeat by Deportrio, who are managed by Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards. Richards was every bit as animated on the touchline after that win as one might imagine. Former Chelsea and England captain Terry's 26ers are also down at the bottom of the table following two losses, as are Wembley Rangers, managed by Arsenal legend Ian Wright and Lioness Chloe Kelly. Meanwhile, Angry Ginge's Yanited are top of the table, having scored 14 goals across their first two matches in the tournament. Squads were assembled including former Premier League players, futsal players, free agents and released academy players. Manchester United academy graduate Josh Harrop plays for FC RTW, former Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe, who featured in Jurgen Klopp's first game at the club and was once Bournemouth's record signing, now represents Terry's 26ers. Newcastle academy graduate Michael Ndiweni was in the matchday squad when the Magpies faced Paris St-Germain at the Parc de Princes in the Champions League last season. He shone in matchday one for streetwear icon Clint's FC RTW, scoring twice and doing some impressive defensive work too. Kurtice Herbert was an academy player at Fulham and Chelsea. After picking up an injury to his knee, he took up futsal and plays for England six-a-side. Herbert was picked to play for Team VZN, who are managed by YouTubers Manny and Tobi Brown. Josh Rusoke, 23, played with the likes of Bukayo Saka at Arsenal's academy from the age of eight to 16. After being picked by MVPS United in the draft, he got two assists in his first game. Meanwhile, wildcard drafts mean managers can bring new players into their teams each week - this led to former Newcastle striker Nile Ranger, now at Kettering Town, stepping on to the pitch for Dave's Santan FC in matchday two. It all adds to a relentless tournament where players, managers and viewers can never rest.