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 Following the success of an operation to rid Edo and Ekiti State of cultists, Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, has pledged to deploy crack units to address similar crimes in three other states. Speaking at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, he cited Benue, Kogi and Rivers States as problematic states in terms of crime and promised to massively deploy personnel to the states in 48 hours as of Tuesday evening.

The 25-year-old Shake It Off singer is the youngest woman to make it onto the prestigious annual list By our mid-twenties most of us are happy if we manage to get our first job, move out of our childhood home and invest in a proper winter coat. (Maybe.) But Taylor Swift, who hit the quarter century mark on her last birthday, has bagged herself a place on Forbes' 100 most powerful women list . The 25-year-old Shake It Off singer is the youngest person to be included on the prestigious annual ranking, joining the likes of Angela Merkel, the Queen and Hillary Clinton. Swift is 64th in a list that includes heads of state, politicians, CEOs, entrepreneurs, activists and fellow entertainers.

The ESPN FC panel answer your tweets, including whether or not FC Barcelona's attacking trio could serve as the three Ballon d'Or finalists this year. Barcelona forward Luis Suarez once again credited Liverpool and their manager Brendan Rodgers for his development as a player, according to a recent interview. "Your game changes all the time. If you are not learning every day in training, you are going

Amnesty said the alleged crimes were apparently sanctioned by Hamas officials Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip committed serious human rights abuses including abductions, torture and extra-judicial killings of Palestinian civilians in 2014, a new report says. Most of the victims were accused of collaborating with Israel, Amnesty International investigators found. The report said no-one has been brought to account for the abuses, suggesting they were officially sanctioned.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu Hearing in the N150 billion libel suit filed against DAAR Communications by the APC National Leader, Chief Bola Tinubu, has been fixed for May 27. Chief Raymond Dokpesi, the Chairman of the broadcast outfit, is one of the witnesses to testify at the resumed hearing of the suit. Others listed to testify against Tinubu are Namure Edoimioya, Chief Medan Tenke, Ajibola Adewusi, Olumide Idowu, Chief Stanley Odidi, Engr. Nwabueze and Dr Stanley Bassey.

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday vowed not to partake in any action that could result in Nigeria's disintegration and advised the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari to impact positively on the lives of Nigerians, in order to reckon with the contributions of all citizens. Speaking when he received members of the Universal Peace Foundation who conferred on him an award of Peace-Loving Global Citizen in Aso Rock, Abuja, Jonathan said the predictions that Nigeria would disintegrate in 2015 would have unfolded into reality if he had not conceded defeat in the March 28 presidential poll.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says his Premier League winning players have not been given the credit they deserve and took time to make fun of the teams that finished below them on Tuesday. Jose Mourinho The 52-year-old Portuguese — whose side finished the season eight points clear of 2014 champions Manchester City — used the end of season Chelsea dinner to use a convoluted story to poke fun at City, Arsenal, who finished third, and fourth-placed Manchester United. To a backdrop of a graphic showing a pitch with two goals he addressed first of all Louis van Gaal-managed United — the ‘plain red shirted team’ — saying they would have preferred to play without goals.

 ‎A Civil Society Organisation, the Incorporated Trustees of Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative, has ‎asked the Federal Court in Abuja to stop the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, from administering oath on the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari on May 29. ‎The group, in an originating summons that was filed by its lawyer, Mr. Philip Ekpo, insisted that Buhari is not legally fit to take over as the President of Nigeria. •Buhari: Decked out The plaintiff argued that Buhari did not meet the qualification enshrined in the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act, and ought not have contested the April 11, 2015, presidential election.

Arsenal forward, Alexis Sanchez was named Player of the Year at the inaugural Facebook Football Awards. Alexis Sanchez and Arsene Wenger Win at Facebook Football Award. Image: Getty. The award winners were announced live on BT Sport 1 and streamed via Facebook on Tuesday night, as Tottenham forward Harry Kane emerged Young Player of the Year. Sanchez received his award from fellow team-mate, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain. The striker, who scored 16 goals in 34 matches in his first season as a Gunner, thanked Facebook fans.

Swiss police on Wednesday raided a Zurich hotel to detain six top football officials as part of a US investigation into tens of millions of dollars of bribes, Swiss authorities and media reports said. All six could be extradited to the United States and the shock arrests come only two days before FIFA president Sepp Blatter seeks reelection as head of football’s world governing body in a campaign overshadowed by scandal.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) will be formally dissolved today ahead of Friday’s swearing in of president-elect Muhammadu Buhari who will form his own cabinet after he assumes power. The session will be presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan. He is expected to present a speech highlighting his achievements since he was sworn in as president on May 29, 2011.

Authorities in Burkina Faso began exhuming the remains of former president Thomas Sankara on Monday in a bid to establish responsibility for a murder that has dogged the West African country since 1987. Sankara’s relatives have for years pressed for the remains to be tested, saying they suspect it may not be that of the former president, who died in a coup that brought his former ally Blaise Compaore to power.

Asari-Dokubo The leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force, NDVF, Alhaji Asari Dokubo was Monday berated ‎over his utterances against the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari and the country in general. The President of the National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agittators(NCNDE-A), ‘General’ Israel Akpodoro, expressed worry over the incessant attacks and vituperations from Dokubo on national issues saying, those threats issued by him were “empty, bear-footed and treasonable”.

The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has emerged as the new Chairman of the South South Governors Forum following a meeting which is recorded as the first to be held shortly after the unveiling of the Calabar International Convention Center. The governors of the BRACED Commission unanimously endorsed the Edo State Governor following his wealth of experience which other South South state governors believe can be beneficial to the region.

China hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the building of two lighthouses in the disputed South China Sea, state media said on Tuesday, a move that is likely to escalate tensions in a region already jittery about Beijing's maritime ambitions. China's Ministry of Transport hosted the ceremony for the construction of two multi-functional lighthouses on Huayang Reef and Chigua Reef on the disputed Spratly islands, state news agency Xinhua said, defying calls from the United States and the Philippines for a freeze on such activity.

* Militants attacked two police patrols in rural areas * Al Shabaab say killed 25 officers, police deny * Kenyan president under pressure, tourism devastated (Adds details, police comment on no deaths)  Islamist militants from Somalia attacked two police patrols in neighbouring Kenya on Tuesday, triggering a gun battle in a rural area hit by a string of cross-border raids, both sides said. Somalia's al Shabaab fighters said they had killed 25 Kenyan officers, an account contradicted by the police force that said one of its men had died and four had been wounded.

Just yesterday, Lewis Hamilton was linked to Gigi Hadid, with the two looking cosier than a knitted jumper down at the racing track during the Monaco Grand Prix. driver.Kendall Jenner and Lewis Hamilton are now being romantically linked. Copyright [Rex/Olycom SPA/Getty/Paul Gilh … Alas, the course of rumoured love never did run smooth, with reports today claiming that Kris Jenner is actually pushing for Kendall Jenner to strike up something of a romance with the Formula 1 He's got a fast car, she wants a ticket to anywhere.*

Mohammed Haliru Bello, former minister of defence, Monday night emerged the acting chairman of the board of trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Bello’s nomination was made at the BoT meeting which held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The BoT had opted for another nomination as President Goodluck Jonathan had declined the opportunity to take the offer of the BoT chairman.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo yesterday said that cabinet members who have served with President Goodluck Jonathan were ready to answer questions from the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari regarding handover notes. The handover notes were presented to transition committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) headed by Alhaji Ahmed Joda. Speaking at the ceremony, Sambo said the report comprises the activities of the Federal Government between 2011 and 2015.

Enveloping in a plastic wrap is a cosmetic procedure used from many people today. It creates the greenhouse effect. It boosts the blood circulation and the function of sweat glands, removes toxins and harmful substances. The people are enveloping their body in plastic wrap or a household used foil for losing weight, detoxification of the body and improving the skin’s quality.

If you don’t like the way you look like, there could be many reasons why you couldn’t keep the perfect physique. Some people can eat whatever they want for the whole life and they are still looking and feeling great. Anyway, there are people who are fighting continual battle between being overweight and being fit. This can be caused from the bad habits and lifestyle you have implemented over the past years. Now you will read about five habits you may or may not having, however you should be aware of them and see if you are affected directly by any of them.

Nyesom Wike, the governor-elect of Rivers state, has stated that he will probe the administration of Rotimi Amaechi after being sworn in as the chief executive of the state. Nyesom Wike, the governor-elect of Rivers state The Punch reports that the governor-elect made the statement while receiving the interim report of the transition committee in Port Harcourt on May 25, Monday. Wike announced that his administration would carry out a forensic audit of all government accounts. He explained that the measure would enable him to recover funds that might have allegedly been stolen by top officials of the outgoing administration.

Footage shows aftermath of twister that hit Ciudad Acunaon on the US-Mexico border, killing at least 13 people Studying a new language doesn’t have to mean stepping back into the classroom. Babbel offers 13 language courses that can be studied online and on the go. Sponsored by Babbel A tornado raged through a city on the US-Mexico border on Monday, destroying homes, throwing cars into the sky and ripping an infant away from its mother. At least 13 people were killed, authorities said.

OPEN GALLERY 1Several Kenyan police officers have been killed in an attack by suspected Somali militants Several Kenyan police officers have been killed in an attack by suspected Somali militants in north-eastern Garissa county, where 148 students were massacred last month, local media reported. Police spokesman George Kimoti confirmed there had been an attack in the Garissa region last night but declined to give more details.

Workers in Osun state have embarked on an indefinite strike over the failure if Governor Rauf Aregbesola to pay their salaries for the past seven months.  Osun Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Adekomi Jacob gave notice of the strike on Monday. He said, ''The strike will commence from May 26 until when the demands of the unions and workers are met''.

Ever controversial Dencia is on a press tour to promote her new single “African Energy“. The Cameroonian pop musician made a pit stop in Lagos where she hosted a media event. Dencia told the members all about her new projects and took time out to take selfies as well! Check out photos.

Stephen Keshi Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, has rejected talk of a rift with Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi. The 28-year-old Mikel, Monaco defender, Elderson Echiejile and AFCON 2013 top scorer, Emmanuel Emenike were some of Nigeria’s top players left out of the squad for next month's 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad.

Four Barcelona players topped the list of the best 11 La Liga footballers in the 2014-15 season, as chosen by the editors of the Union of European Football Associations website. The Catalan team, which won the title, decorated the all-star squad with Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, defenders Dani Alves and Gerard Pique, and Argentine striker Lionel Messi, reports Efe.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said managing the Nigerian economy under the present administration might not be perfect but the government made good efforts to improve the lives of Nigerians. She spoke in Abuja, Sunday night, at a reception organised in her honour by Ndi-Igbo Youth Organisation in partnership with Voice of All Arewa Youth, in Abuja. *Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala The minister, who also received a certificate for meritorious service, said she will never regret serving the country under President Goodluck Jonathan despite the criticisms and attacks she has been receiving because, the lives of Nigerians, especially youths and women improved significantly under the Jonathan administration.

FIFA will lack credibility as long as Sepp Blatter remains president, according to European Football Association boss Michel Platini. Blatter is seeking to extend his 17-year tenure by winning a fifth term in office in the upcoming presidential elections. UEFA president Platini insists that he has no personal issue with Blatter but nonetheless believes that the Swiss should stand down for FIFA’s sake and the good of the game.

If Banky W’s  instagram  is anything to go by, Nigerian OAP Toolz got engaged to her long time boyfriend, Tunde Demuren.

Carlo Ancelotti Real Madrid fired their coach Carlo Ancelotti monday, club President, Florentino Perez, said, making the popular Italian pay for a disappointing season without a major trophy. "The board of directors has taken the decision this afternoon to relieve Carlo Ancelotti of his duties as coach of Real Madrid," Perez told a news conference at the club's Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

Following his failure to honour the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the anti-graft agency has disclosed that it will, any moment from now, declare former Borno  State governor Ali Modu Sheriff wanted over alleged misappropriation, embezzlement of funds and abuse of office while he was governor of the state between 2003 and 2011. The Commission’s spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this yesterday during a press conference in Abuja.

The terrorist who is also an Amir by status and believed to be of foreign descent, is among about 30 terrorist fighters who died in the encounter while many others fled with wounds. Thousands of Euro currency was found on the body of a terrorist commander after troops successfully repelled a terrorist on Mafa towards the border. The terrorist who is also an Amir by status and believed to be of foreign descent, is among about 30 terrorist fighters who died in the encounter while many others fled with wounds.

At a recent policy summit put together by the incoming government, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the vice president elect alleged that the outgoing Jonathan administration owes $60bn in local and foreign debts, while 110million are living on poverty. The Coordinating Minister for the Economy (CME) and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo, has however refuted the claims that the outgoing administration under President Goodluck Jonathan accumulated a debt of $60 billion.

Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, have reportedly agreed to call off their strike action over unpaid subsidy claims and commence lifting of petroleum products nationwide in the next six hours. The oil marketers agreed to call off their strike at a meeting with the Chairman, Senate committee on petroleum resources, Magnus Abe, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, ‎ Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, MD of NNPC Joseph Dawha and other stakeholders in the oil and gas sector in Abuja today May 25th.

SEVERE SHORTAGE: MTN said it needed a “significant quantity of diesel in the very near future to prevent a shutdown of services across Nigeria”. – Reuters  Nigeria’s biggest mobile phone operator MTN has warned that its network faces shutdown due to fuel shortages that have crippled the nation. The company, the biggest subsidiary of the South Africa-based MTN Group, said it needed a “significant quantity of diesel in the very near future to prevent a shutdown of services across Nigeria”.

Manchester United have confirmed that Radamel Falcao will be leaving the club. The Colombian scored four goals in 29 appearances after joining on a season-long loan from Monaco. Van Gaal: “Falcao is a top professional & a good human being. On behalf of everyone at #mufc, I would like to wish him well for the future.”

Champions Chelsea lifted the Premier League trophy after beating Sunderland 3-1. Steven Fletcher put the visitors ahead in the 26th minute – his first goal in 26 games, before Diego Costa (who came in for Didier Drogba, who had to be chaired off the pitch by most of his team-mates) levelled with a 37th-minute penalty, getting his 20th goal of the season. Loic Remy scored the second on 70 minutes, with the assist going to Eden Hazard, and the French striker added the third in the dying minutes.

The current fuel scarcity, which started like the normal low-fuel circulation, occasionally witnessed by Nigerians, is biting harder by the day. The situation, which fluctuated a few times between mid-March, when the country was preparing for the presidential and the gubernatorial polls, has gone from bad to worse. While the Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as Petrol now sells for N200 or N300 in some states, residents in others states pay as high as N500.

NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday in Lagos, threatened to direct workers to stay at home should the current fuel scarcity get prolonged. NLC, in a statement by the Joe Ajaero-led faction of Congress, lamented that with petroleum products’ prices as high as N350 per litre, claims and counter-claims between Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and marketers over so-called N159 billion subsidy payments and all state actors looking indifferent, Nigeria was the only country on earth which unacceptably and criminally denied its citizens basic sources of energy, fuel and electricity.

Three years after Nigerians grudgingly submitted to the federal government's conditions for removing fuel subsidy, government-controlled prices for petroleum products continue to impede the effective implementation of subsidy reforms. Local refineries in Nigeria are either comatose or perform below refining capacity. The practice of adopting uniform benchmark pump prices and reimbursing marketers for their transportation expenses has infamously stifled productivity,

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo Former President Olusegun Obasanjo fired a fresh salvo the way of President Goodluck Jonathan, on Sunday, when he looked back at the last eight years and returned with a verdict: The country had been poorly managed under Jonathan. Obasanjo said this when the Iyalode of Yoruba land, Chief Alaba Lawson, led a delegation of South-West women leaders on a visit to his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta.

Players such as Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and Diego Forlan have won the European Golden Shoe in the past few seasons, with Luis Suarez and Cristiano Ronaldo as the latest winners of the award following their 31 goals in 2013-14. The weightings are determined by the league's ranking on the Uefa coefficients. Goals scored in the top five leagues are multiplied by a factor of two, and goals scored in the leagues ranked six to 21 are multiplied by 1.5. Goals in all other leagues are worth one single point.

Didier Drogba Didier Drogba announced on Sunday that the Premier League game against Sunderland would be his last as a Chelsea player. However, Drogba has no plans to retire from football just yet and will leave Stamford Bridge to pursue his playing career. The 37-year-old striker returned to the club last summer on a one-year deal and helped win a fourth Premier League title.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote Dangote Cement Plc says it will inaugurate its 2.5 million tonnes per annum cement plant in Ethiopia on Thursday as the company inches towards the mark of 40 mtpa global production capacity before the end of 2015. Located in Mugher District, the cement plant is said to be the single largest investment by an African in that country and the fifth offshore cement plant of the company to be rolled out in the last one year in Africa, coming after Senegal, Cameroon, South Africa and Zambia.

A formal request for extradition from the Embassy of the United States of America triggered the siege laid by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Buruji Kashamu's house in Lagos, Saturday, the anti-drug agency has said. According to the NDLEA, Mr. Kashamu's house arrest was to pave the way for his arraignment before the Federal High Court on Monday.

Youth in Kano burnt down a sharia court scheduled to hear a case of blasphemy against ​the​ prophet of Islam. The court, situated at Rijiyar Lemo, was razed down before the man alleged to have blasphemed the prophet was brought in. The youth also took to the streets protesting an alleged blasphemous comment by the leader of a sect, Tijjaniyya, Abdul Nyass.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has said he expects forward Raheem Sterling to stay at the club for the remainder of the two years on his contract. Liverpool cancelled a meeting with Sterling on Friday because of comments attributed to the player's agent. Aidy Ward reportedly said the England forward, 20, will not sign a new deal even if offered "£900,000 a week".

Jonathan Head has been investigating Thailand's human trafficking trade for six months As the trade in human beings becomes more and more profitable, the BBC's Jonathan Head discovers that entire communities in Thailand are helping the traffickers. Earlier this month, I accompanied a group of Thai volunteers through the steamy mangrove forest of an island on the Andaman coast. They were following up hazy reports of unmarked graves on the island; it was known to have been used by traffickers to hold large groups of migrants while they waited for transport south towards the Malaysian border.