Lukaku, Hazard Help Belgium Thrash Scotland 4-0

World Cup semi-finalists Belgium capitalised on a series of Scotland mistakes with goals from Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard and a Michy Batshuayi double to thrash the hosts 4-0 in a friendly at Hampden on Friday.

Roberto Martinez’s men showed their class and no hangover from their exertions in finishing third in Russia to warm-up for their Nations League opener against Iceland on Monday.

However, the visitors were handed a series of gifts by a Scotland side that slumped to a fourth defeat in five games since manager Alex McLeish was appointed for a second spell in charge.

The contrasting fortunes of the two nations were summed up by Belgium playing to a crowd less than that which celebrated their return from Russia in July at a barely half-full Hampden.

Martinez named a strong side with six of those that started the World Cup semi-final defeat to France in the starting line-up.

But it took a gift from Aston Villa’s John McGinn to get the visitors going when the midfielder was caught in possession on the edge of his own box and Mousa Dembele and Thorgan Hazard teed up Lukaku for his 41st international goal.

Hazard smashed home Belgium’s second a minute into the second half, but again McLeish might have been disappointed to see goalkeeper Craig Gordon beaten at his near post.

A truer test of McLeish’s ability to qualify Scotland for a first major tournament in over 20 years will come when Albania are the visitors to Hampden on Monday in the Nations League.

However, vast improvements will need to be made in possession as Valencia striker Batshuayi scored twice in eight minutes before the hour mark after pouncing on slack passes by Charlie Mulgrew and Ryan Jack.

Scotland did at least force Thibaut Courtois into a couple of late saves through Ryan Fraser and Steven Naismith, but the Real Madrid goalkeeper ensured there wasn’t even to be a consolation for the home side.

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Final year student commits suicide over loss of lover

A final year student of Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education, Sagbama, Bayelsa State, identified simply as Prince, has committed suicide for losing his lover to another boy.
Prince, an indigene of Kaiama community, in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state was said to have taken a bottle of insecticide (sniper) to take his own life on Wednesday.

It was learnt that the sniper damaged his lungs and his intestines.
The deceased is said to have been buried in his hometown, Kaiama, the same day.

Reacting to his death, his close friend, Nanakumo Tony, said he was shocked at the incident, noting that he spoke with the deceased three days ago.

He said, “I still find it difficult to believe the news that Prince is dead. Both of us spoke three days ago. I even shook hands with him. In fact, this is a painful death.

“Prince, why do you choose this path? May God have Mercy on your soul. The said girl is also a final year student from the same school, who hails from Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa.”
The incident is coming two months after a student of Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Ayuba Daniel, also committed suicide by drinking the same substance, sniper.

Daniel was said to have committed suicide after he discovered that he had many carry-overs in his courses.

When contacted, the spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, said he was not aware of the incident yet.

He, however, promised to get back to our correspondent after contacting the Divisional Police Officer of Sagbama. But as of the time of filing this report, the police spokesman had yet to call back.

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Gunmen shoot Anambra Pastor in front of his Church

An unknown gunmen Thursday in the heart of Awka, shot the pastor of a new generation church, Pastor David Elijah Chidiebere in front of his Grace and Power Divine Prophetic Ministry Church along the state secretariat road in the Anambra State capital.

Incidentally, the church is located about 400 meters to the Secretariat Divisional Police Station and the incident happened at a time his church was packed full with worshippers and waiting for the Pastor to arrive for the day’s service.

It was not clear at press time if it was an assassination attempt, but it was gathered that the Pastor was trailed by the gunmen until he was about to alight from his car.

Immediately the worshippers heard the gunshots, there was pandemonium and people ran in different directions, not knowing that it was their Pastor who they were waiting for his arrival that was shot.

On realising that it was the Pastor, many people rushed to the scene, with some carrying him into another vehicle while others sobbed uncontrollably.

The middle aged pastor who was known for his very intriguing prophesies and healing miracle in Anambra State and beyond, was said to be the envy of some fellow pastors who felt that his miraculous activities had led to drop in the membership of their own churches.

It was gathered that the assailants demanded N5 million so as not to kill him, but he offered them N1 million which they declined and went ahead to shoot him.

After riddling his vehicle with bullets, left him in the pool of his blood and carted away an undisclosed sum in his possession,.

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Man arraigned over marathon sex which claim the life of 40 years old woman

A man, Kelvin Michael arraigned before a Magistrate court, sitting in Ota, for the death of his lover, Monsurat Idowu, after a series of marathon sex,

It was earlier reported that  the suspect who took the deceased to State Hospital, Ota, could not explain the circumstance of her death.

“The arrest of the suspect was as a result of complaint by one Benjamin Okereke of the State hospital Ota who reported that the suspect brought the deceased to the hospital dead, and since he cannot explain the circumstance that surrounded the death of the deceased, he decided to notify the Police,” he said.

Mr Oyeyemi said upon the report, the Divisional Police Officer of Onipanu Division, Sangobiyi Johnson, led his officers to the hospital where the man was promptly arrested.

“On interrogation, the suspect claimed to have met the deceased last month in a bus at Ketu, Lagos where they exchanged phone numbers, consequent upon which he invited her to the house of his friend in Ota where the deceased suddenly slumped and died shortly after they finished having sexual intercourse.”

He said the husband of the deceased, Idowu Lamidi, a commercia
The charge reads in part "That you Kelvin Michael on the 14th August, 2l driver who was quickly contacted, told the police that he left his wife in the house hale and hearty while going out for work, wondering what led to her untimely death.
018, at about 11:00pm at No. 21 Abebi area, Ota, Ogun State in the Ota Magisterial district did unlawfully cause the death of one Monsurat Idowu 'f' aged 40yrs by having a strenuous sexual intercourse with her.

The State counsel, Barrister Bale Neman said the offence is punishable under section 317 and section 325 of the criminal code law of Ogun State of Nigeria 2006.

The defendant counsel, D.G Albert, applied for the bail of the accused in liberal terms.

Kelvin was admitted to bail in sum of 500,000 with two sureties in like sum, the Chief Magistrate added that while one of the sureties must be a landed property owner within the jurisdiction of the court, both of them must depose to affidavit of means, present evidence of tax payment to the state government, the case was adjourned till October 19, 2018.

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Akpabio unleash what Saraki, Tambuwal, others plan against Buhari

Former Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has claimed the recent defections in the All Progressives Congress (APC), was an attempt to frustrate the efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Akpabio stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Roadmap 2019 on Monday evening.

Several top members of the APC, including Senate President Bukola Saraki and the governors of Benue, Kwara and Sokoto defected from the party recently.

Akpabio has now faulted their motives, insisting they had nothing to do with national interest.

“For me, I saw a situation where the ruling party was not only being distracted but the movements were capable of bringing down the government.

“We need to have Nigeria before we can have the election. These things are as a result of continuous conspiracies against government and all sorts of things.

“I don’t think that the movements that we saw from the APC to my then party were prompted by national interest, I think most of those things were based on the personal interest of individuals.

“I just assessed the situation and I said I needed to contribute my quota towards stabilising the situation; towards ensuring that people realise that it wasn’t all about a conspiracy to bring down a government but to conspire to resolve the security situation,” he said.

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Chelsea midfielder to leave Stamford Bridge

Chelsea midfielder, Danny Drinkwater, could return to his former club Leicester City in Janaury.

The Sun UK reports that Drinkwater could return to the King Power Stadium, after failing to establish himself at Stamford Bridge.

The 28-year-old cost Chelsea £35million when he joined from the Foxes last summer.

However, new manager, Maurizio Sarri, is willing to let him leave on a temporary basis.

Leicester had hoped to sign Drinkwater in the summer, when West Ham were also interested, but may face competition from Southampton in the next window.

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Seychelles vs Nigeria: 3 key Super Eagles players out of 2019 AFCON qualifier

Head coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, will be without the services of three key players, when he takes his team to Seychelles for a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Alex Iwobi, Ola Aina and Ekong will miss the crucial encounter because of injuries.

This was confirmed by the Eagles’ official Twitter handle on Monday night.

The update also revealed that Galatasaray forward, Henry Onyekuru, is the only player in camp at the moment.

“Just In: Iwobi, Aina and Ekong are out of Seychelles game due to injuries.

“Only Henry Onyekuru is in camp at the moment, we expect others early tomorrow,” the tweet read.

Nigeria take on Seychelles on September 8.

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