Four die in Lagos bank robbery

 

Lagos Police PRO, Ngozi Braide

Four persons, including a yet-to-be identified soldier, have been killed in a robbery attack on Skye Bank branch at Alaba Market, Lagos State.

The incident, which took place last Tuesday, was said to have occurred around 6pm, while money was being transferred from the branch, which serves as a cash point, to a major branch in the area.

An eyewitness , on the condition of anonymity, that the robbers arrived at the scene on a motorcycle.

He said, “There were two men on the bike and they both wore masks. The motorcycle rider, however did not wear mask.

Eaglets get N2m each, national honours

 

President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday announced a cash gift of N2m each for all the players of the nation’s Under-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, who won the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Soccer Championship on Friday in Abu Dhabi, United Emirates.

The players, their handlers and key members of the Nigerian Supporters’ Club, according to the President, will also be honoured with national honours during the next award ceremony.

Jonathan announced the rewards at a reception he held in honour of the players at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Spanish police arrest 25 Nigerians for ‘sex trafficking’

 

Spanish police say they have arrested 25 people in a sex-trafficking ring that brought women from Nigeria to work as prostitutes.

The women, allegedly lured with the promise of good jobs in Europe, were first flown to Mexico or Brazil, travelling on false identity documents.

From there, they were flown to Paris, then smuggled into Spain to work in the sex trade, police say.

Five women who were victims of the sex ring were freed in the raids.

Police found one member of the gang performing an abortion on one of the five women, reports the BBC.

Arrests were made across Spain – in Madrid, Toledo, Cantabria and Palma de Mallorca.

More than 100 vans concealing luxury goods were also seized.

Boy kidnapped in Abuja church freed for N1.5m

Chibuike

A-10-year old boy, Chibuike Ogbusu, who was abducted at St. Bartholomew Cathedral Church (Anglican Communion) Kubwa, Abuja last week, has been released.

The boy was released early Sunday morning by his abductors after collecting a N1.5 m ransom.

It was learnt that the kidnappers had asked a commercial motorcyclist to take Chibuike to his family house after collecting the ransom at Dei-Dei, a few minutes’ drive from Kubwa.

Chibuike had attended the Boys Brigade’s rehearsal at the church and was about going home when he was abducted and taken to an unknown destination.

We’ll qualify for World Cup —Mikel

Mikel Obi

Mikel Obi told MTNFootball.com Nigeria will qualify for the 2014 World Cup this weekend

Millions of Nigerians believe the Eagles have already booked a place in Brazil 2014 after the 2-1 win in Ethiopia. Do you share same with them?

 We are not yet there but almost. We still have a leg to play in Nigeria, so after that we can celebrate our ticket.

Do you see Ethiopia posing a threat to the Eagles World Cup ambition despite the first leg win?

They are a good side, no small teams in world football again, but we are the ones to make decisions. We are not looking for favours from anywhere. We have the ticket in our hands and we have our destiny in our hands, so we are not going to throw it away.

Ahly retain Champions League crown

 

Aboutrika

Egypt’s Al Ahly won an eighth African Champions League trophy when they beat Orlando Pirates of South Africa 2-0 in the second leg of the final in Cairo on Sunday.

Ahly, who clinched the trophy last year for a seventh time, won 3-1 on aggregate.

According to the BBC, there were reports of some clashes between hundreds of Ahly supporters and Egypt police before kick-off, with security for the match also under the spotlight.

Once the skirmishes were resolved it was the legendary Mohamed Aboutrika who opened the scoring in the 54th minute when he stabbed home from just outside the six-yard box.

Ahmed Abdul Zaher doubled the Ahly lead in the 78th minute when unmarked inside the box he shot past the Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa.

Philippine typhoon survivors beg for food

Dazed survivors of a super typhoon that swept through the central Philippines killing an estimated 10,000 people begged for help and scavenged for food, water and medicine on Monday, threatening to overwhelm military and rescue resources.

Eagles get ready for Ethiopia

Football | Super Eagles

Nigeria's preparation for the second leg of their Fifa 2014 World Cup qualifier against the Walia Antelopes of Ethiopia kicked off on Monday, as players invited for the game are expected to hit the Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel Camp in Calabar.
Chief coach Stephen Keshi has invited a 25 man squad that will prosecute the November 16 clash with Ethiopia, as well as the International friendly with the Azzurri of Italy two days later in London at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground.
Nigeria will hope to scale the last hurdle to qualify for it's fifth appearance at the football fiesta after making her debut at the 1994 Fifa World Cup hosted by the United States of America.
Team skipper, Vincent Enyeama, who has had a tremendous season at French Ligue 1 side SC Lille Metropole will lead the cast that includes the two goal hero from the first leg, Emmanuel Emenike of Fenerbache and John Mikel Obi of Chelsea FC.

Kenneth Omerou and Gabriel Reuben will make their return to the team after recovering from various injuries sustained. Omerou got injured at June's Confederation's Cup and underwent surgery in the summer.
However, he is back to the team after a sterling display for the Chelsea U21 team in their 3-3 draw with West Ham United's U21 team in the Youth Premier League in England.

Giroud Arsenal's best link player

Football | Barclays Premier League

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Olivier Giroud may not score 30 league goals in a season for Arsenal as Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie both did. He had an off-day in Arsenal's 1-0 loss on Sunday at Manchester United. But Giroud is proving to be Arsenal's best link player since Dennis Bergkamp and will be vital for France in World Cup playoffs this week and next.
Arsenal tops the Premier League and Champions League Group F in no small part because Giroud, like Bergkamp, lifts the play of the whole team and gives Arsenal options. When he struggles, so does Arsenal. With Giroud losing balls and misdirecting passes, Arsenal fell short against United at Old Trafford.

Bergkamp had more pure talent than Giroud. But like the Dutch star, Giroud picks out teammates with graceful flicks, holds the ball up front to give Arsenal's slick midfield time to push forward at speed and scores goals on his own. His 16 goals in 45 league games for the Gunners isn't great but he sets up almost as many as he scores. Whether dropping deep, drifting wide or staying in a more central position, Giroud is easy for teammates to find.