Bandits have again killed about 30 people in Kabaro and Danmani villages in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

A witness, Mr Shuaibu Kabaro, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maru that the suspected gunmen attacked the two communities and the incident was immediately reported to the security agents.

He said three of the bandits were arrested by security agents following the prompt report of the incident to the security personnel.

Shuaibu said, the gunmen in turn went and mobilized more gangs and returned in multitudes to carry out the attack which left about 30 dead and many others injured in the two communities.

The Maru Local Government Council Chairman, Alhaji Salisu Dangulbi and the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Mohammed Shehu both confirmed the killings.

According to them, many of the villagers deserted their homes for fear of further attacks which now characterized the mode of operations of the gunmen.

With the presence of security personnel now in the area, many of the villagers had returned home, the two officials confirmed in separate interviews.

The PPRO further explained that units of mobile police working with the military and other security agents were immediately mobilised to the affected areas and that peace and normalcy have been restored.

The police spokesman said that the actual number of those killed was still being ascertained and until this is done, l cannot give you actual figure at the moment.

Source: NAN

The plenary of the Senate was disrupted on Wednesday when hoodlums invaded the Chamber and went away with the Mace.

This and more in the NANTV news highlights for today.

Source: NAN

Hoodlums that sensationally stole the Senate mace on Wednesday abandoned it under the flyover before the Abuja City Gate, the police said early today.

The police said they were informed by a passerby, who saw it and alerted them, leading to its recovery.

The police said they were still in pursuit of the mace thieves and would ensure that they are brought to justice.

While a discreet investigation into the incident is still ongoing to arrest and bring the perpetrators to justice, the Nigeria Police Force appreciates the spirited members of the public, most especially motorists within Abuja Metropolis for their support, cooperation and timely information during the rigorous stop and search operations for the recovery of the Mace, said Police superintendent, Aremu Adeniran, the deputy police PRO.

Adenirans statement mentioned the efforts by the police teams, prior to the recovery of the mace.

`IGP Ibrahim Idris immediately instituted a high-powered Police Investigation and Intelligence Team coordinated by the IGP Monitoring Unit of the Force and further directed a total lock-down of the Federal Capital Territory with intense surveillance patrol and thorough Stop and Search Operations at various Police check-points with a view to arresting perpetrators and possible recovery of the stolen Mace.

The Police teams engaged in massive raids of identified criminal spots/flashpoints, stop and search operations, visibility and confidence building patrols, intelligence gathering which forced the suspected miscreants to abandon the Mace at a point under the flyover before the City Gate, where a patriotic passer-by saw it and alerted the Police.

Source: NAN

The authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife today said Monica Osagie was the student involved in a sex-for-marks scandal, that has sorely questioned the morality of university dons, in the training of young Nigerians.

Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), said Monica Osetobe Osagie wasstudying for a Masters in Business Administration.

He also announced the suspension of Prof. Richard Akindele, the don involved in the salacious scandal.

Ogunbodedes action followed the submission of the interim report of the committee set up to investigate the allegation of sexual harassment revealed in audio recording.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a recorded audio conversation of the don demanding for sex to increase the marks of a female undergraduate had gone viral.

(Listen to the scandalous audio:

The committee observed that a prima facie case of inappropriate relationship with the female student had been established against Professor Richard I. Akindele.

The Vice Chancellor said that though the investigative committee invited both Akindele and Osagie, only Akindele appeared before the committee.

The report indicated that many other witnesses appeared before the committee and gave useful evidence.

The university is making efforts to ensure that Miss Osagie appears before the investigative committee so that it can hear her side of the case and promptly submit its final report, he said.

Explaining why the lecturer was yet to be sacked, the Vice Chancellor said that the provisions of the relevant statute of the university must be followed.

Under the provisions of the relevant statute of the university, an academic staff can only be dismissed from service or have his or her appointment terminated only when the matter on which consideration is being given has been investigated by a Joint Council and Senate Committee;

Also the staff has appeared before the committee with his or her counsel, if so desired.

This procedure is the minimum requirement of the law and regulations of the university.

It should therefore be noted that the suspension of Professor Richard I. Akindele is on the basis of the findings of the Investigative Committee that he is prima facie liable.

This decision will abide, pending the final determination of the case by the council of the University, the vice chancellor said.

Ogunbodede said that the university would continue to do everything legally and morally acceptable in pursuance of its avowed commitment to zero tolerance for sexual harassment, intimidation and, or coercion.

Source: NAN

Some Nigerians on Friday converged in front of the Nigerian High Commission in London, to rally in support of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The President is resetting the country on the part of growth and development, Mr. Stephen Kifordu, from Delta State who is the leader of the group, said on Friday.

He said there is no credible alternative to Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the 2019 election noting that the group represents the aspiration of many Nigerians who want progress for Nigeria.

Kifordu said Nigeria is attractive to investors because of Buharis fight against corruption in the country.

He claimed that the previous administration gave room for rot and corrupt activities.

We have a President in Nigeria that people can look at and trust that If I invest in Nigeria, my investment will not be stolen.

When we talk of security, he has done security in terms of Boko Haram and in terms of the Niger Delta, he said.

Explaining further how President Buhari is resetting the country, Kifordu said it is the primary role of the police and not the military to protect Nigerian citizens and President Buhari is enforcing this.

The Police is the number one organisation that takes care of our security. It is only when we are under attack that the military comes in.

In past years, we have seen the issue when the military jumps on board without paying regard to the police. Then suddenly when something happens in Nigeria, Mr President says deploy the police, people are saying dont deploy the police.

President Buhari is re-ordering up, he is resetting our country. He is bringing us back to the way things should be.

This support rally came exactly a day after a group of people bearing Biafran flags staged a protest in front of the Commonwealth House in Westminister, London.

The demonstration took place as President Buhari and other leaders of the Commonwealth nations meet on Thursday.

Some of the protesters were seen carrying banners bear inscriptions of Biafra while others are calling for a referendum.

President Buhari on Thursday attended the Executive Session of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in the United Kingdom.

The meeting, which held at the Lancaster House in London, was declared open by Queen Elizabeth II.

Source: NAN

Dozens of children cheer at the Baptist Nursery and Primary School compound in Bode-Ijaiye suburb of Abeokuta city, the capital of Ogun state, as their friends try to outpace each other on a 100-metre dash in a dusty field.

Ogun state inter-school football and track-and-field competitions are just around the corner, and teachers want to prepare the children physically and mentally for the task ahead.

Away from the laughter and shouts of encouragement on the field, four female cooks with aprons on top of traditional indigo-dyed adire gowns ladle porridge mixed with vegetables and fish into hundreds of stainless steel bowls with lids.

As the cooks ambled into a nearby classroom and began to place bowls on wooden desks, the 64 pupils remained quiet. After the dish was served, the students stood and began to sing Bless this food O Lord for Christ sake Amen. Then they sat down and began to eat.

I want to say a big thank you to the federal government of Nigeria and the Ogun state government for providing food for us, 10-year-old Ramon Samuel told Al Jazeera before opening the lid on his bowl.

Samuel and his classmates receive free meals every school day thanks to a national programme, which aims to provide nutritious meals to young schoolchildren in order to increase enrolment, help them stay in school, and reduce malnutrition, particularly among children from low-income families.

The Home Grown School Feeding initiative, a movement launched in 2003, is driven by national governments to improve the lives of schoolchildren and farmers alike. It is practised across the continent, including in Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Ethiopia, Namibia, Botswana, Ivory Coast, and South Africa.

The concept is not confined just to the continent as Brazil, Japan, and Italy have similar programmes aimed at keeping children fed while promoting local agriculture.

Though the scheme began in December 2016 in Nigeria, it is not entirely new here. Nigerias former President Olusegun Obasanjo launched a pilot programme in 13 states in September 2005, but after a few years, only southwestern Osun state maintained it.

The school programme operates in 20 out of Nigerias 36 states and has fed nearly seven million pupils in about 40,000 public schools, the programmes manager Abimbola Adesanmi told Al Jazeera. She said more than 68,800 jobs have also been created through the initiative.

The plan was reintroduced by President Muhammadu Buhari in December 2016 as part of his administrations multi-million dollar National Social Investment Programmes to address poverty, hunger and unemployment in Nigeria.

The school programme operates in 20 out of Nigerias 36 states and has fed nearly seven million pupils in about 40,000 public schools, the programmes manager Abimbola Adesanmi told Al Jazeera. She said more than 68,800 jobs have also been created through the initiative.

Adeleke Adewolu is the commissioner of special duties and inter-governmental affairs in Ogun state. He said the meals are not only nutritious but also serve as a social safety net for low-income households.

If children eat nutritious food it will enhance their learning ability and this will have a knock-on effect on their cognitive development and help to encourage enrolment and retention, Adewolu said.

The programme provides income for thousands of people, including farmers, cooks recruited from local communities, and those involved in the processing and transportation of food, he said.

In Ogun, the coordinating team collaborated with the ministries of education, health, agriculture, womens affairs and community development to divide farmers into cooperative groups and link them to about 3,000 cooks who were trained and deployed to more than 1,500 schools. Farmers received training in seed quality and fertilisers to grow enough food to meet demand.

The cooks who are responsible for procuring ingredients for the daily meals are given a budget of 70 naira ($0.23) per child each day. With help from the state government, they received 57,000 naira ($188) in loans to purchase water drums, pots, bowls, uniforms, and cooking utensils.

It gives me great joy to help in feeding the children in Baptist Primary School, said Omole Imoleayo, who left a career in banking to join the programme. We receive our payment without delays and I have more time for my family now.

Sourcing foods locally helps millions of small farmers who produce up to 90 percent of Nigerias food but are mired in grinding poverty.

This has created a well-structured market for the farmers since they now know how much to produce and when it is needed, said Tinuola Shopeju, Oguns programme manager.

Shopeju said the initiative is a perfect model for addressing food insecurity and improving local agricultural production in Nigeria, which imports about $20bn worth of food annually.

The menu differs daily and every state adopts its own meal schedule. In Ogun, schoolchildren get rice, stewed fish, and beans but also delicacies such as Ikokore a dish made from water yam.

Deworming
Nigerias programme also offers health services including deworming children in public primary schools across 17 states. Adesanmi said worms affect the health of schoolchildren, potentially causing anaemia, malnourishment, and the impairment of mental and physical development.

In the short term, children with worms may be too sick or tired to attend school or to concentrate. Basically, we do not want to feed worms, rather children, she said.

Teachers in Ogun say the programme is not only helping young students stay in school, but also attracting those from private schools. Ogunkola Adefunke Deborah, headteacher of Baptist Nursery and Primary School, said her pupils now come to classes regularly and are very punctual.

We have over 80 new pupils, most of them came from private schools, she said. Before you hardly see parents coming here, but now they come to ask us why their kids beg to be brought to school early and why they always return home with their pocket money.

Deborah shared an anecdote of a boy who refused to go home even when he was sick because he didnt want to miss a meal.

Rebecca Faronbi, 72, was devastated when her son died and left her with four grandchildren to take care of. Her three-year-old granddaughter now receives the free meals at school.

Until the feeding programme started I was struggling to feed the children. My granddaughter wakes me up before 7am and tells me she wants to go to school because she will get free food there, Faronbi said in the Yoruba language, which is widely spoken in southwestern Nigeria.

Rampant malnutrition
Research has shown that 42 percent of schoolchildren in Nigeria suffer malnutrition, and this has caused a high rate of absenteeism.

UNICEF estimates about 2.5 million Nigerian children under the age of five suffer from severe malnutrition each year, with about half a million children dying from it.

With a quality assurance tracking system known as #TrackWithUs, the programme handlers have urged Nigerians to visit nearby schools to check if meals meet the required standards and report any cooks who arent serving proper food.

Several cooks were fired in southern Cross River state last November for serving biscuits in lieu of meals.

The campaign has helped us track activities in schools and strengthened our existing monitoring and supervision mechanism, Adesanmi said. Since there is a reward and sanction system in place we have been able to name and shame cooks who do not comply with our standards.

A major barrier to the programmes success is the inability of state governments to scale up the meals to senior classes in elementary schools. The federal government caters to pupils from Grades 1 to 3, but with many states struggling to pay salaries, pupils in higher grades are not being fed.

Experts hope the government will not repeat the same mistakes made a decade ago when a combination of inadequate funding, poor logistics, and corruption crippled the scheme.

We need to promote community participation, community ownership, community implementation, community monitoring, strong institutional arrangements and multi-sector partnerships, Adesanmi said.

Source: NAN

Emmanuel Afonne

Amaju Pinnick, the President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has said that the Super Eagles stand the chance of pocketing $24 million if they play in the final of the 2018 World Cup.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Cup will hold from June 14 to July 15 in Russia.

Pinnick told newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday at a parley that the money was part of the agreement reached with the players to share 50-50, whatever would accrue to the country if they get to the final and lift the trophy.

I dont put players under pressure. Pressure can be put on them unconsciously because we are creating enabling environment for them.

If for example we dont have money to prepare them, they can now relax but now, we have given them everything upfront and now, they should deliver.

If today they get to the final, the World Cup money will be shared 50-50 between the team and the NFF.

Winning the final is 48 million dollars, it means the team will get 24 million dollars and the football house will take the remaining 24 million dollars, Pinnick said.

He also said that adequate preparation including grade A friendly matches have been secured with England and Czech Republic to ensure the team do well at the World Cup.

The NFF boss further said that the glass house had already secured $2.8 million to pay the players allowances and bonuses during the mundial.

We are ready to play against England on June 2 in London in an international friendly; we had a conclusive meeting with the English FA.

After the England match, we will play Czech Republic and from there we move to Russia. As it is, everything is going on very well.

For the World Cup, I dont think we have any problem, I am in touch with the technical committee. It is the desire of every Nigerian to see the Super Eagles do well at the World Cup.

We had a meeting with the team; we signed a contract with them and ready to pay them 20 per cent of eight million which is what accrued to us for qualifying for the World Cup.

At the end of the day it amounts to 2.8million dollars which will go to the players. The money is almost 100 per cent ready, Pinnick added.

Pinnick also explained that the football house met with some state governors who were ready to assist the NFF financially to achieve the countrys World Cup dream.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his support for the NFF and the Super Eagles, and assured that they would not let him down in Russia.

Source: NAN

Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong has agreed to pay $5 million in order to settle his looming federal fraud case stemming from his use of performance-enhancing drugs during the Tour de France, his lawyers confirmed Thursday.

The former superstar was due to face a trial next month over claims that he defrauded the US government when he doped while racing for his United States Postal Service-sponsored team.

Lance Armstrong today announced that he has settled the long-running False Claims Act case brought against him by former cyclist Floyd Landis and the U. S. Postal Service, a statement from Armstrong lawyer Elliot Peters said.

This ends all litigation against Armstrong related to his 2013 admission that during his career as a professional cyclist he had used performance enhancing substances.

The Washington Post reported Armstrong will also pay $1.65 million to cover the legal costs of former team-mate and whistleblower Landis.

The Postal Service and Landis had sought around $100 million in damages from Armstrong in the trial which was due to get under way on May 7.

I am glad to resolve this case and move forward with my life, Armstrong said in a statement.

I am particularly glad to have made peace with the Postal Service. While I believe that their lawsuit against me was without merit and unfair, I have since 2013 tried to take full responsibility for my mistakes, and make amends wherever possible.

I rode my heart out for the Postal cycling team, and was always especially proud to wear the red, white and blue eagle on my chest when competing in the Tour de France. Those memories are very real and mean a lot to me.

The fallen US cycling star had battled back from cancer to win cyclings most prestigious race, the Tour de France, a record seven consecutive times between 1999 and 2005.

Although rumours of drug use swirled around Armstrong throughout his career, he never failed a test.

However his reputation imploded when the United States Anti-Doping Agency wrapped up an investigation which concluded he had been at the heart of a sophisticated doping program throughout his career.

Armstrong later confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs and was banned from all competitions for life and stripped of his seven Tour titles

Source: NAN

Arsne Wenger has finally agreed to quit London club Arsenal at the end of this season after years of uncertainty.

The Frenchman will depart the club a year ahead of the expiration of the two year contract he signed last year despite many calling for his sack.

With the clubs performance in the Premier League becoming increasingly disappointing, this season marked the first time in 20 years that they failed to qualify for the Champions League.

Despite having one less competition to worry about they are currently sixth in the Premier League and look certain not to achieve a top four finish, hanging their only hopes on winning the Europa League.

I am grateful for having had the privilege to serve the club for so many memorable years, Wenger said. I managed the club with full commitment and integrity.

To all the Arsenal lovers, take care of the values of the club.

Wenger played supervised 1228 games and won 704 in his 22-year-reign as Arsenals manager, winning seven FA Cups and seven Community Shields.

He won three Premier League titles and also three times Premier League Manager of the Year.

Wenger also has World Manager of the Year in his kitty.

Meanwhile, Gary Neville has paid tribute to departing Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and urged supporters of all club to celebrate his reign in the clubs final five games of the season.

Neville was part of the Manchester United team which regularly battled with Wengers Arsenal during the 1990s and 2000s and has regularly commentated on his teams after becoming a pundit.

He said the Frenchmans 22-year reign should be remembered in fond terms, having led Arsenal to three of their 13 top-flight titles, an unbeaten league season in 2003/4 and seven FA Cup successes.

Arsene Wenger built the best teams that I played against in English Football.

The 98 team was Amazing.

The biggest compliment is that he played football that made us change the way we played against them.

He now deserves the most incredible send off from all in the coming weeks.

Source: NAN

Arsene Wengers decision to finally step aside as Arsenal manager after 22 years in charge has sparked fevered speculation over who the Gunners will turn to next to succeed the Frenchman.

Arsenal are struggling to qualify for next seasons Champions League with victory in the Europa League their only realistic route back into Europes premier club competition.

However, with one of the biggest budgets in world football and a squad boasting the talents of Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the Arsenal job remains highly sought after.

Here are five contenders to take over at the Emirates:

The inspirational captain of Arsenals Invincibles that went an entire league season unbeaten in 2003-04, Vieira is a symbol of the glory years under Wenger.

Vieira won three league titles and three FA Cups during his playing days at Arsenal but has taken his first steps in management with another of his former clubs, Manchester City.

The Frenchman took charge of Citys elite development squad for 18 months before joining New York City, part of a network of clubs around the world owned by the City Football Group.

He led NYCFC to the MLS playoffs in each of his two full seasons in charge but lost out in the Eastern Conference semi-finals on both occasions.

While popular with the fans, Vieiras lack of top-level managerial experience would pose a huge risk in Arsenals attempts to re-establish themselves as a Premier League contender.

Rodgers has restored his reputation in just under two years at Celtic with the Glasgow giants on the brink of sweeping a treble of domestic trophies under the Northern Irishman for a second consecutive season.

The 45-year-olds three-and-a-half year spell at Liverpool ended on a sour note in October 2015 but he came as close as anyone to ending their 28-year wait for a Premier League title in 2013-14.

Celtics major shareholder Dermot Desmond said on Friday he would not stand in Rodgers way.

I dont think you can put handcuffs on anybody if they want to go to a club as good as Arsenal, he said. It will be Brendans decision and Brendans decision only.

A World Cup winner, Loew has resisted the temptation to swap international football for the rigours of day-to-day club management and is under contract with the German federation until 2020.

Despite being one of the favourites for the job with the bookies, Loews chances are harmed by the fact he will lead Germany at the World Cup this summer.

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis conceded the club are likely to favour a quick appointment with an early end to the transfer window in August leaving just three weeks between the World Cup final in Moscow on July 15 and the closing of the window for Premier League clubs on August 9.

Source: NAN