Author: Ayobami Owolabi

A military-grade grenade exploded near Idi-Araba in Lagos State’s Mushin neighbourhood, resulting in the death of an unidentified scavenger and injuries to three others. The explosion took place on Thursday, when a group of scavengers at a metal scrap yard attempted to dismantle a grenade they had in their possession. The grenade unexpectedly detonated, killing one scavenger instantly and leaving three others with severe injuries. A local resident, Akin Olawale, told PUNCH on Friday that the explosion caused panic among the community. “A sound of explosion was heard around past 12 pm and the police were immediately contacted because no…

Taraba State security officials have freed Gil Itamar, an Israeli national who was kidnapped by armed criminals in Atim Community on the Takum/Chanchangi Road. The rescue mission, led by the Taraba State Police Command alongside military forces and local hunters, saw a fierce exchange of gunfire with the kidnappers, causing them to flee and leave the captive behind. James Lashen, Taraba State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, disclosed the victim’s successful rescue in a statement released on Friday. “On April 3, 2025, at about 10:30hrs, we received a distress call from one Alhaji Saidu, a staff of SCC company in…

Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar, renowned for his patriotic roles in Hindi cinema, has passed away at the age of 87. Fondly called “Bharat” Kumar — a name inspired by an ancient Sanskrit term for India — his death sparked a wave of tributes across the country. He died on Friday in Mumbai due to heart-related issues. A long-time member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Kumar was celebrated for blending strong patriotic messages into his films, often portraying characters that championed national unity. He also directed several of his projects, leaving a lasting impact on Indian cinema. Prime…

Nigerian chess master Tunde Onakoya delivered the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2025 United Nations Games in New York on Wednesday. On Thursday, the 30-year-old chess champion posted about his experience on Instagram. The founder of Chess-In-Slums expressed humility and thanks in the post for the opportunity to talk alongside sporting luminaries such as Manny Pacquiao and Giorgio Chiellini. Onakoya also highlighted how chess serves as a universal language, uniting people across borders, races, classes, and disabilities. “Yesterday, I had the rare and humbling honor of delivering a Keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2025…

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, revealed that three foreigners were taken into custody for allegedly engaging in unlawful mining activities in Rafin Gabas, within Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. A statement issued on Thursday by Segun Tomori, the minister’s special assistant on media, indicated that the ministry’s mining marshals had shut down the illegal mining site, which was allegedly being safeguarded by some compromised security officials. The statement quoted Alake as calling the operation a significant victory in the battle against illegal mining in the country, adding that measures are underway to apprehend other fleeing…

Renowned socialite and businessman, Pascal Okechukwu, better known as Cubana Chiefpriest, has made his way back to Lagos with his family after an extravagant birthday celebration. Previously, Cubana Chiefpriest had shared a video of his lavish birthday party in Owerri, where he celebrated in grand style at his country home. In the video, he revealed that he flew his family from Abuja to Owerri in a private jet for the event. The footage also featured him performing his new track, More Money, from his debut album, CP No Small. After the grand celebration in Imo state, Cubana Chiefpriest posted another…

Nigerian rapper Tochukwu Ojogwu, widely known as Odumodublvck, has explained the reason behind his diss of President Bola Tinubu in his track, ‘Vex.’ The singer revealed on Thursday that his diss of President Bola Tinubu stemmed from his loyalty to the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi. He shared that the diss track led to significant backlash and called on Peter Obi to support his album, The Machine Is Coming, in an effort to restore their friendship. On his X handle, he wrote, “Peter Obi, I even dissed Tinubu for you. Now, because of you, the people are spitting…

The Ogun State Police Command conducted a two-hour security check at the Sagamu interchange on Wednesday following reports of an armed robbery and murder along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The assessment of the area by Commissioner of Police Lanre Ogunlowo reportedly uncovered illegal trading activities and the presence of touts. A criminal hideout was allegedly found in the surrounding bush, where three suspects were apprehended. This was revealed by the command’s spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola, in a statement on Wednesday. Odutola stated that this action was taken in response to increasing concerns over security in the area, including reports on social…

Controversial singer Portable has categorized his fellow artist Zlatan as an up-and-coming talent. During a recent interview on Echo Room, Portable suggested that Zlatan has not yet gained prominence and that his music style doesn’t connect with wealthy individuals. Portable also shared a conversation with a car dealer, who reportedly claimed that Zlatan was leveraging his name for attention. The dealer reportedly mentioned that Zlatan’s music wasn’t popular among wealthy individuals and advised Portable against engaging with him. Portable criticised Zlatan’s music, doubting whether his songs could be classified as “real music.” He said, “Zlatan is an up-and-coming artist. There…

The Lagos State Police Command has identified and sealed off an unlawful facility used for training individuals in internet fraud, known as a “Yahoo School,” in the Iju area of Lagos. The command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, confirming the arrest of four principal suspects and six trainees. According to PUNCH Metro among those apprehended was a 12-year-old boy, Minachi Udochukwu, raising concerns about the involvement of minors in cybercrime activities. Hundeyin stated that initial investigations showed the suspects lured their trainees from Anambra State, engaged them in internet fraud, and seized their proceeds. “During…