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Futbol

Are Reigning Champions Celtic Out Of SWPL Title Race?

With Celtic losing to Glasgow City on Friday, the SWPL title charge is starting to look like a three-horse race - with the reigning champions falling behind. That defeat left Elena Sadiku's side fourth, nine points off leaders Hibernian and also trailing Rangers by seven and City by six. So, are Celtic out of the reckoning with eight rounds of fixtures still to play? The tightness of the top three means the league leaders could change within one match day, but Celtic need at least a couple of weeks of teams dropping points to get back into the mix. Given Hibs, Rangers and City have lost just seven times between them all season, that is a tall order. With no fixtures this coming weekend because of the international break, it will be mid-April before reigning champions Celtic can resume the chase. That round of games on 13 April could be pivotal but, in truth, all games in the post-split period have that potential. Celtic travel to face Rangers, by which time Hibs will have hosted Hearts and Motherwell will have visited Glasgow City - all three live on the BBC. The SWPL is no stranger to dramatic finishes. The title has been decided on the final day in each of the two past campaigns, with Celtic triumphing on goal difference after scoring late to beat Hibs last season and City doing likewise at Ibrox the year before. "It's a big result," said Scotland captain Rachel Corsie of Glasgow City's Friday win over Celtic on the BBC's Behind the Goals podcast. "Celtic are nine points adrift. I was looking at it thinking I don't know if they can claw that back but everyone plays everyone so I'm going to say they're not out of it. "They're now under quite a bit of pressure. They're going to have to pick up a run." Glasgow City assistant head coach Leanne Crichton agrees, commenting: "From our perspective, I don't think they're out of it. There's too many points up for grabs." Celtic do have the opportunity to take points off the teams they currently need to peg back during the May run-in. Three of their final four games are against the current top three and the current top two - Hibs and Rangers - meet in Glasgow on the final day. The two other sides in the top six - Hearts and Motherwell - could also have a say in the destiny of the title by taking points in the final weeks of the season. Hearts have done just that in recent weeks against Rangers and Celtic. "There's still plenty twists of turns," added Corsie. And Crichton added: "Every game feels like a must-win anyway, there's so much pressure, we felt that on Friday. "Glasgow City go top on on Friday and then by Sunday you're back down to third. It's super exciting."

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News_Naija

Police Arrest Scavenger For Stabbing Late Musicians Grandson To Death

The Ondo State Police Command on Monday confirmed the arrest of one Machidu Abubakar, who allegedly killed Ogo Omoge, the grandson of the late popular musician, Comfort Omoge. Omoge was allegedly stabbed to death by Abubakar, who is said to be a scavenger, following an argument last Thursday at Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state. An argument between the duo had led to a free-for-all, after which the suspect brought out a dagger and cut the throat of the deceased. “There was a minor disagreement between Prince Omoge and the scavenger. What started as a small issue quickly spiralled out of control. “He was brutally killed, and the attacker fled the scene immediately afterwards. The victim was rushed to the hospital but was sadly pronounced dead by medical personnel,” a source said. The Police Public Relations Officer for the Ondo State Command, Mr Ayanlade Olayinka, confirmed the incident, saying the suspect had been arrested by the men of the command. He said, “Yes the incident occurred along the Ayeka/Igodan Igbokoda expressway (in Okitipupa LG). “After an accident, an argument ensued between both parties and Machidu Abubakar, who is now in custody, drew out a knife and stabbed Omoge to death. “Immediately he (the suspect) fled the scene to escape justice but after a manhunt, which lasted for nearly 24 hours, he was arrested and he is now in custody awaiting prosecution.”

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News_Naija

Lagos Truck Drivers Protest Sand Price Hike

Truck drivers and owners under the Ikorodu-Ketu Truck Owners and Drivers Association, Lagos State, staged a protest on Monday against the recent hike in the price of sharp sand by the Dredgers Association. The protest, held at the association’s operational base in Ikorodu, was triggered by a sharp price increase—from N126,000 to N178,500—for 30 tons of sharp sand, which the protesters described as unsustainable for their business. Chairman of the truck drivers’ association, Mr Sikiru Aderoju, said the price of sharp sand had been raised twice in the past two months, leaving drivers unable to operate profitably. “We are protesting the Dredgers Association’s indiscriminate increase in the price of sharp sand. Just two months ago, we agreed to a new price of N126,000 after an earlier increment. Now, they have added N52,000, bringing the price to N178,000. Our customers can no longer afford it, and they’ve stopped patronising us,” Aderoju said. Also speaking, truck owner Mr Oluwaseun Adelaja alleged that the constant price hikes appeared to be a deliberate attempt to push independent truck drivers out of the market. “As of July 2024, 30 tons of sharp sand cost N85,000. It rose to N110,000 in November and then N126,000 in January 2025. We accepted those increases, citing the rising costs of diesel, maintenance, and spare parts. But last week, it jumped again to N178,500, effective from April 14. Customers can’t cope,” he said. “We believe the dredgers are trying to dominate the market with their own trucks. Their pricing and rotation policies are affecting our access to customers.” A truck driver, Mr Sodiq Owolabi, also claimed he was assaulted during a previous protest. “I was trying to protect my boss when some thugs and security personnel working with the dredgers attacked me. They held me down, took me to their barracks, and beat me up,” he alleged. The protesters called on the Lagos State Government to intervene and compel the Dredgers Association to review the pricing in the interest of economic fairness and public affordability. Responding to the protest, the Chairman of the Dredgers Association in Ikorodu, Mr Tunde Adigun, said the price increases were a direct result of worsening economic conditions. “The truck drivers are our customers. I also own trucks. I bought my last one for ₦39 million; now, it costs ₦100 million. The cost of operations keeps rising. We used to pump sand from 100–200 meters offshore; now we go as far as four kilometres. That significantly increases expenses,” he explained. Mr Adigun said that each increment was preceded by meetings with tipper associations where agreements were reached. “Whenever we adjust prices, we meet with their executives and explain our challenges. We don’t just impose new prices. Five dredging sites have shut down because operations are no longer profitable. Even some of our Chinese partners have pulled out.” He also addressed the allegations of violence during protests. “The security officers were deployed to maintain order. The clash was not with truck drivers but with community members who insisted that tippers be allowed to operate. The security personnel intervened to restore peace,” he stated. On accusations of undermining tipper drivers by operating his own trucks, Adigun said: “I bought trucks after they stopped carrying sand from my site. I’m trying to sustain my business. Just as some truck drivers own dredging operations, I’m free to do the same.”

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News_Naija

Ogun Safety Agency Rescues 10 Trafficking Victims

The Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps, codenamed So-Safe Corps, has rescued 10 victims of suspected human trafficking who were found locked inside a three-bedroom apartment in Mowe, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state. According to a statement released on Monday by Assistant Commander Moruf Yusuf of the Corps’ Office of the Director of Information and Public Relations, the victims were lured from Ghana with false promises of employment but were instead held captive. The Corps Commander, Soji Ganzallo, said the operation was carried out following credible intelligence. “On April 19, 2025, operatives of the Corps received critical intelligence about the victims’ location. The Owode-Egba Zonal Command, led by Assistant Commander Rasaki Jimoh, was immediately mobilised,” Ganzallo said. He noted that on April 20, 2025, around 10 am, a joint operation involving the So-Safe Corps and the Nigeria Police Force, Redeemed Division, successfully stormed the building and rescued the victims. “The team also apprehended individuals believed to be involved in the criminal act,” he added. Among those rescued and detained were three females and seven males, including a Nigerian man who served as the building’s security guard. Those rescued and apprehended include Frank Adjei, 45 years old; Emmanuel Agyapong, 50 years old; Adam Zakari, 33 years old; Benjamin Etuah, 20 years old; Asamoah Kwaku, 53 years old; Yusuf Kasim, 27 years old; Ogunle Damola, 32 years old; Gift Dzakpasu, 21 years old; Susana Ampons, 35 years old; and Anita Otaibu. All ten individuals, he said, have been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, Redeemed Divisional Headquarters, for further investigation and possible prosecution.