The Defender

Police operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FSARS, in Maiduguri have rescued four- year old son of the Borno All Progressives Congress, APC Chairman, kidnapped on Wednesday afternoon. A crack team, led by FSARS Commander in Borno State, Chief Superintendent of Police, Ibrahim Mohammed, traced the boy and his abductor to one Albarka Hotel in Maiduguri, where the boy was rescued, and the abductor arrested. The boy, Kashim, named after Borno State Governor, was kidnapped from his Maiduguri Capital School by Fatima Mohammed, who happens to be a relation of the boy's mother. Police sources said that the woman was nine months pregnant while she was carrying out the dastardly act. She was said to have in the process, delivered a baby boy in the presence of the abducted boy in the hotel room when she was arrested. Fatima's two male accomplices were said to have been waiting in Kano to collect 20 million Naira ransom money demanded, when they were also ...

World heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has described a return to London’s Wembley stadium for the latest defence of his title belts in front of a home crowd on Saturday as "a blessing". The 28-year-old will put his world boxing association, WBA, international boxing federation IBF and world boxing organization WBO, titles on the line against Russia’s Alexander Povetkin. The fight promises to be Joshua’s toughest bout since his thrilling stoppage of former champion Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley in April last year. Joshua comes into Saturday’s contest having won all 21 of his professional bouts, although his last fight, against New Zealand's Joseph Parker in Cardiff in March, saw him go the distance for the first time as a pro before he secured a unanimous points decision. Povetkin, served notice of his punching power on the undercard of that bout, with a sickening knockout of Britain’s David Price. Joshua admits that Povetkin was one of the toug...

Nigeria’s minister of youth and sports development, Solomon Dalung has again reiterated his commitment to pay more attention to other sports other than football. He emphasized the need for more robust public private partnership in developing the sports sector when president of the Africa volleyball confederation Emir-El Wani paid him a courtesy visit. El Wani was in company of the Nigeria volleyball federation president, musa nimrod to present the trophy won by the u-19 team at the 4th African youth games in Algiers. El Wani said Nigeria has huge potentials to be among the best volleyball nations in the world, if its potentials are well harnessed. Nigeria’s under 18 team to the 4th Africa youth games won the gold medal in the boys event against the odds.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially recognised Amaju Pinnick as the Authentic President of the Nigeria Football Federation. His Executive is also the approved Board for the Country.In a tweet by Laolu Akande, the Special Adviser Media to the Nigeria’s Vice President, he said the Firm Position has already been conveyed to FIFA officially before Monday’s Deadline given by FIFA.  Laolu Akande said that the Government will also continue to work with all relevant Stakeholders involved to resolve the dispute in a timely manner. He added that the Federal Government is upholding NFF Treaty obligations to FIFA. The Federal Government’s Letter was dispatched on Saturday to FIFA Headquarters in Zurich, detailing the Agreement reached between both Bodies, making it Imperative on FIFA Chieftains to drop the proposed sanctions on Nigeria.