Ortom to FG: declare killer-herdsmen terrorists

Benue Governor Samuel Ortom has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare armed herdsmen killing innocent Benue rural dwellers as terrorists.

The Governor’s call followed repeated herdsmen’s attacks on Benue communities in the last few months.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Terver Akase, the Governor said the latest of such attacks occurred on Saturday night at Tse-Chembe community near Anyiin in Logo Local Government Area where the herders murdered seven persons and left many others badly injured.

Ortom condemned the killings and described the situation as unacceptable.

He said Benue has a law, which prohibits open grazing of livestock and stressed that only a terrorist group would deliberately choose to violate the legislation as herdsmen have done since the law was enacted in 2017.

Ortom stated that declaring the armed herders operating in Benue State as terrorists will end the wave of impunity and guarantee the rule of law.He called on residents, particularly those living in the affected areas to report any suspicious persons to security agencies.

The Governor commended officers and men of Operation Whirl Stroke for their prompt response to distress calls, particularly the last attack on Tse-Chembe.

He reassured his administration will not surrender the state to criminal elements, be they herdsmen or any other group.

Ortom said no amount of threats and attacks will stop the enforcement of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the State.

The Nation

Sudan scraps apostasy law and alcohol ban for non-Muslims

After more than 30 years of Islamist rule, Sudan has outlined wide-reaching reforms including allowing non-Muslims to drink alcohol, and scrapping the apostasy law and public flogging.

"We [will] drop all the laws violating the human rights in Sudan," Justice Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari said.

A raft of new laws were passed last week but this is the first public explanation of their contents.

Sudan has also banned female genital mutilation (FGM).

Under the new laws, women no longer need permission from a male relative to travel with their children.

The reforms come after long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was ousted last year following massive street protests.

The current government is an uneasy mixture of those groups which ousted Mr Bashir and his former allies in the military, who ultimately staged a coup against him.

BBC News

Sex workers demand Germany's brothels reopen

Prostitutes demonstrated in Hamburg's red light district late on Saturday evening demanding that Germany's brothels be allowed to reopen after months of closure to curb the spread of coronavirus.

With shops, restaurants and bars all open again in Germany, where prostitution is legal, sex workers say they are being singled out and deprived of their livelihoods despite not posing a greater health risk.

"The oldest profession needs your help," read a notice held up by one woman in a brothel window in the Herbertstrasse, which was flooded with red light after being dark since March.

Some protesters wore theatrical masks while one played folk songs on a violin in the street just around the corner from the Reeperbahn, famous for its nightlife.

The Association of Sex Workers, which organised the protest, says the continued closure of licensed premises is forcing some prostitutes onto the streets, which is illegal and a far more dangerous and unhygienic way of working.

It said brothels could easily incorporate pandemic safety measures adopted by other industries, including face masks, ventilating premises and recording visitors' contact details.

"Prostitution does not carry a greater risk of infection than other close-to-body services, like massages, cosmetics or even dancing or contact sports," the association said in a statement. "Hygiene is part of the business in prostitution.

Reuters

Nigeria: 11-year old dancer challenges ballet stereotypes

A recent video of 11-year-old Anthony Mmesoma Madu dancing in the rain went viral with the likes of Hollywood superstar Viola Davis and other celebrities sharing the video.

Anthony is one of the 12 students at the Leap of Dance Academy in Lagos.

The academy, founded in 2017, is the brainchild of Daniel Ajala Owoseni who has been been teaching ballet for free without a dance space.

BBC News

UFC 251: Nigeria Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman defeats Jorge Masvidal at 'Fight Island'

Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman retained his title with a unanimous decision victory over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251 in Abu Dhabi.

The emirate's Yas Island had been transformed into 'UFC Fight Island', a closed-off region where four UFC events are set to be held during July.

The first main event of the four-event run saw Nigerian Usman, 33, successfully defend his belt with a gritty display to earn scores of 50-45, 50-45, 49-46 from the three judges after five gruelling rounds.

Masvidal, who was drafted in to face Usman at just six days' notice after the Brazilian Gilbert Burns tested positive for Covid-19, ultimately couldn't find an answer to Usman's powerful wrestling game.

The 35-year-old American found a home for his strikes early on as he started the faster of the pair. He had a clear speed and accuracy advantage in the striking department and he stung the champion with multiple shots during the opening exchanges, while nullifying Usman's early takedown attempts.

But Usman exerted constant pressure on the challenger as he denied Masvidal the time and space to throw his strikes. Usman looked to use his clinch work to wear on Masvidal, with much of the second round spent against the cage in a lengthy and gruelling exchange. The legacy of the round was a nasty cut above Masvidal's right eye, courtesy of an accidental clash of heads.

A huge slam takedown from Usman was the biggest moment of the third round as the champion continued to smother Masvidal's striking.

That pattern repeated through the final two rounds as Usman shut down Masvidal, who had earned his shot at the title with a trio of stoppage victories over Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz in 2019.

Usman's victory improved his record to 17-1 and extended his winning streak to 16 fights in the UFC.

"Jorge is a tough guy and I give him credit for that," said Usman.

"They call him 'Gamebred' for a reason - he's always game to fight. I'm just a level better. I have more tools in the toolbox."

BBC News

30-year-old dies after attending 'COVID party' thinking virus was a 'hoax'

"I think I made a mistake. I thought this was a hoax, but it's not."

Those were the final words of a 30-year-old patient who died at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio this week after attending a so-called "COVID party," according to the hospital.

Dr. Jane Appleby, chief medical officer for Methodist Hospital and Methodist Children’s Hospital, said in a recorded statement that the unidentified patient told nurses about the party, which she said is hosted by someone diagnosed with COVID 19"The thought is people get together to see if the virus is real and if anyone gets infected," Appleby said.

Appleby said she shared the story not to scare people, but to make sure they understand that the virus can affect anyone.Bexar County, where San Antonio is located, currently has 18,602 confirmed cases, with an increase of 923 on Friday, according to the Department of Health.

The age range with the most cases were in people aged 20 to 29, making up 24%, and 30 to 39, making up 20%, according to the department.

ABC News

Govt approves Chinese firm to build N43b Ibadan dry port

After over 15 years of lacklustre approach, the Federal Government and other stakeholders have selected a firm to build the Ibadan Dry Port that will cost N43.24 billion.

A statement by the Head of Public Relations, Nigeria Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mrs Rakiya Zubairi on Saturday disclosed that the China Railway Construction Corporation Limited has emerged the preferred bidder for the construction of the 80,000 TEU capacity dry port on the basis of Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

Zubairu noted that the NSC would be the guarantor to the concession of the project.