Fans swarm Troost-Ekong in Lagos meet frenzy

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of fans in Lagos on Friday evening, as he hosted a meet and greet ahead of the second edition of his foundation’s charity match, scheduled for Sunday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The event, held at the Puma store in Palms Mall, Lekki, offered fans a rare opportunity to interact with the Nigeria international in an informal setting, just days before the highly anticipated #PlayForPurpose fixture.

Supporters of all ages gathered in large numbers, many arriving hours early to get a chance to take photographs, receive autographs and share personal moments with the player.

The meet and greet also served as a show of appreciation to Puma, one of the lead sponsors of the charity initiative

Speaking exclusively to PUNCH Sports Extra shortly after the event, Troost-Ekong said the occasion held deep personal and professional significance.

“This meet and greet was great,” he said.

“It was a way to pay homage to fans and also one of our biggest partners, Puma, who’ve been supporting us for two events now. It’s not been easy. They believed in us even before we had the proof of concept done.hey asked me to come down and I did that with all pleasure. I feel part of the Puma family now. I brought my children, brought my family, and I’m looking forward to seeing them there in the stadium with us this Sunday as well.”

Reflecting on the broader sponsorship landscape and the logistical effort behind the initiative, the former Watford and Udinese defender praised his team for their dedication and the sponsors for their early belief in the project.

“Sponsorship has been good. It’s been a lot of work. I have to say thank you also to the BFA staff and everyone who’s been working on this since January. It’s been six months for us to get here.

“I know people only found out about this event maybe two months ago, maybe six weeks ago, but we’ve been working on this for a long time. It’s not been easy. The most difficult thing is to get people to believe in what we’re doing even before all the names come out.

“This part is easy because now you see what we’re doing and everyone wants to be involved, I’m getting messages from all kinds of people saying, ‘I want to play’, messages from brands saying they want to be involved.

“But a few months ago, when you said you were bringing this to Lagos at this moment in time, you had to get people to believe in it. Now everyone sees what we can do, and we can continue to do that in the years to come,” he said.

Sunday’s charity match will feature an all-star cast of sports and entertainment personalities, including boxing world champion Anthony Joshua, Super Eagles forwards Victor Osimhen and Odion Ighalo, former internationals Obafemi Martins and Vincent Enyeama, as well as popular musicians Flavour, Falz and ODUMODUBLVCK.

The first edition, held last year in Uyo, was widely praised for its community outreach and carnival-like atmosphere.

The Lagos edition is expected to draw an even larger audience, with proceeds supporting the foundation’s efforts to empower underprivileged children through football.

Anambra CP seeks community cooperation to nab Oko attack hoodlums

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has visited the scene of a gunmen attack in Oko Community, near the Federal Polytechnic, Oko in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Recall that some yet-to-identified assailants on Thursday attacked the Oko community, killing no fewer than four persons suspected to be students and injuring about seven others.

The hoodlums also kidnapped two other persons, thereby causing panic in and around the institution.

The hoodlums were said to arrive the area and started shooting unprovoked in an incident that was later attributed to be cult-related by the police authorities.

Recall that some yet-to-identified assailants on Thursday attacked the Oko community, killing no fewer than four persons suspected to be students and injuring about seven others.

The hoodlums also kidnapped two other persons, thereby causing panic in and around the institution.

The hoodlums were said to arrive the area and started shooting unprovoked in an incident that was later attributed to be cult-related by the police authorities.

So This Happened (EP 311) Another Massacre in Benue Massacre Which Leaves Communities in Mourning

During Orutugu’s visit, he interacted with the hospital’s management where some of the victims are receiving treatment and offered support for their treatment.

In a press statement released on Saturday, the Spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the CP has stepped up reinforcement team in the area, especially within the hostels and school environment.

Ikenga said the CP met with the Orumba North Local Government Chairman, Casmir Nwafor, with some stakeholders in attendance, including the leadership of Oko Polytechnic Students Union, who pledged to collaborate with the police and other security agencies.Ikenga said, “The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, on June 20, 2025, led a high-powered investigation team comprising operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Tactical Teams and Operations Department of the Command on a spot assessment at the crime scene in Oko, Orumba North Local Government where two people were murdered and two others abducted

“Two individuals, including a lady, are also receiving treatment in the hospital. During the visit, the CP interacted with the local government chairman and some stakeholders in the area and sought greater cooperation among residents/community members, as well as students in exposing the criminals in the area.

“In their response, the Orumba North Local Government Chairman, Casmir Nwafor, with some stakeholders in attendance, including the leadership of Oko Polytechnic Students Union, pledged to collaborate with the Police and other security agencies, indicating a willingness to share information and provide intelligence and insights to help identify and apprehend perpetrators.

“The stakeholders also pledged to support investigations and assist the police in gathering evidence and piecing together the events surrounding the incident as well as work together to implement security measures and prevent future incidents.”

According to him, the CP assured of a holistic approach in addressing the incident by prioritising both investigation and commitment to victims’ support.

“After the engagement, the CP, thereafter visited the hospital where some of the victims were receiving treatment, interacted with the Management of the facility and offered support for the treatment of the survivors.

“Also, while patrolling the area the CP directed immediate security reinforcement aimed at stepping up security surveillance/measures, especially securing areas with high concentration of people, such as hostels and schools, to minimise risks and ensure public safety.“The Command remains committed to exploring strategies to improve safety and nip to the bud any untoward or similar incident from recurring,” the statement added.

Tinubu to champion integration at W’Africa economic summit

president Bola Tinubu will on Saturday, June 21, 2025, (today) attend the West Africa Economic Summit at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.

The Economic Summit, which enters its second and final day on Saturday, precedes the 67th Ordinary Summit of the Economic Community of West African States, scheduled at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, on Sunday, June 22, 2025.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed this in a statement he signed Saturday titled ‘President Tinubu To Advance Economic Integration At The West Africa Economic Summit’.

“An initiative of President Tinubu in his capacity as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, WAES is the first of its kind and is convened to deepen regional economic integration. Its strong focus is on enhancing trade and investment cooperation across the subregion,” said Onanuga.

President Tinubu had extended invitations to the Member States of the Alliance of Sahelian States and Mauritania to “demonstrate his commitment to inclusive dialogue and regional cooperation,” the statement read.

Presidents of Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, The Gambia, Benin, Togo, and Guinea-Bissau have confirmed their participation at the Economic Summit, which is expected to “yield concrete outcomes and deliverables to fast-track West Africa’s integration agenda as a critical foundation for sustainable peace, security, and prosperity in the region,” it added.

Those attending the summit are Ministers of Finance, Trade, Infrastructure, and Foreign Affairs from the ECOWAS Member States, as well as representatives from regional economic bodies such as the West African Monetary Agency, West African Monetary Institute, ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, the West African Economic and Monetary Union, and the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat.

Private sector leaders, development partners, and policy experts are also participating.

Ahead of the Summit, the President dispatched a team of Special Envoys to deliver formal invitations to Heads of State and Government across the region.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, led the delegation, which included the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Sola Enikanolaiye.

Heineken withdraws staff as armed rebels seize facilities in Eastern DR Congo

Heineken has lost operational control and withdrawn its staff from facilities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), CNN on Saturday quoted that the Dutch brewer announced on Friday.

In March, the company had suspended operations in three eastern cities, citing safety concerns after breweries were damaged and depots raided during clashes between government forces and rebels.

On Friday, Heineken said the situation had worsened. Armed groups have taken control of its sites in Bukavu and Goma—eastern Congo’s largest cities—as well as surrounding areas.

“The conditions required to operate responsibly and safely are no longer present and as of 12th June 2025, we have lost operational control,” it said in a statement.

PUNCH Online reported on Wednesday, Congo, Rwanda, and the United States said their technical teams had initialed a draft peace agreement, which is expected to be signed next week.

Heineken’s local unit, Bralima, continues to operate in parts of the country not affected by the fighting. The company said it is monitoring developments closely.

Heineken owns four breweries in the DRC, producing its namesake beer along with local brands such as Primus. It previously said its Bukavu facilities employed about 1,000 people directly and indirectly.

“Our top priority is the safety and wellbeing of our employees,” Friday’s statement read.

Reuters also reported, “We have withdrawn all remaining staff from these sites and we have continued to support them financially.”

Nearly 14 per cent of Heineken’s total revenue comes from its Middle East and Africa operations, with Congo—home to over 100 million people—a significant market.

Before the suspension, operations in Goma, Bukavu, and Uvira represented roughly one-third of Heineken’s business in the country.

Conflict in eastern Congo has intensified in 2025, with the M23 rebel group making major territorial gains, sparking fears of broader regional instability.

Congo accuses Rwanda of backing M23 with troops and weapons—allegations Rwanda has consistently denied.

Uphold professionalism, protect democracy, Naval chief tells personnel

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, has charged personnel of the Nigerian Navy to remain professional in the discharge of their duties and remain committed to protecting the nation’s democracy.

Ogalla, represented by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Admiralty Integrated Farms Limited, Rear Adm. Julius Nwagu, gave the charge at the 2025 Second Quarter Route March on Saturday in Abuja.

He said the route march was organised as a show of force to prepare personnel to be mentally and physically fit.

According to him, it is aimed at developing personnel physical and mental alertness to meet the dynamics of contemporary security operations as well as fostering esprit de corps and providing an avenue for relaxation.

“I enjoin you to be more professional in the conduct of your duties and day activities.

“Furthermore, I encourage you not to engage in any act of misdemeanor or take laws into your hands that could bring the service into disrepute in the course of your duty.

“Furthermore, I charge you all to show dedication to duty and unflinching support to our democracy and constituted authority,” he said.Ogalla pledged his commitment to continue to support the personnel by providing all the required needs to function optimally in the area of their responsibilities.

He said the Nigerian Navy was also a major contributor to the Gulf of Guinea maritime security arrangement, as well as a major participant in internal security duties all over the country.

This, he said, made it imperative for them to be mentally and physically fit at all times.

“Thus, the exercise and physical training remain the bedrocks of naval personnel’s daily mental and physical readiness for sea show and ashore duties. It is pertinent to state that the commitment of the Nigerian Navy towards enhancing mental and physical fitness has yielded dividends.

“This has been witnessed with the sterling contributions of the Nigerian Navy to national security, peace and prosperity. It is in recognition of this fact and the desire of the service to keep the personnel physically fit that the route march, amongst other physical fitness exercises, is sustained in the Navy schedule of events.

“As you are aware, the Nigerian Navy has just concluded Operation Obangame Express. “The exercise was aimed at partnering with regional and global maritime stakeholders on the security of maritime domain awareness of littoral states within the African continent,” he added.

Gunmen kill ex-PDP chair in Benue.

Gunmen have killed the former Peoples Democratic Party chairman of Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State, Aondoakaa Yaiyol.

Yaiyol before he was killed Friday night was the Commander of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services in the local government.

It was gathered that the deceased lost his wife last year in the same circumstance and his house burnt.

The PDP state publicity secretary, Tim Nyior confirmed the assassination of Yaiyol in a telephone call on Saturday.

Nyior said, “It’s true that the man was once PDP chairman in Tarka LGA before his current position as commander of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services in Tarka.

“Unfortunately, his wife was killed just last year,” he said.

Also confirming the incident on Saturday, the Special Adviser to governor Hyacinth Alia on Security and Internal Affairs, Chief Joseph Har described it as an ‘assasination’.

Har said, “It was an assassination of commander of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services NHFSS, Aondoakaa Yaiyol

“They came on a bike and shot him at close quarters and fled.

“After they shot the guy, they fired sporadically to scare others and then fled on a bike and they were shielded by two cars also firing sporadically to scare away people.

“Sketchy investigation shows that a criminal that attacked and killed the deceased wife and burnt the house was sent to prison. On his return both of them were chasing each other until this happened.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet confirmed the report and said that police were on the trail of the suspect.

“The incident is confirmed, immediately police in Tarka received the report, a team of officers was detailed to arrest him and they trailed him to his hideout but escaped before officers could reach there.

Edet assured that the suspect would soon be apprehended.

Wike promises pay rise after band sings in Chinese at road unveiling

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday left many Nigerians amused after he publicly promised to increase the wages of his official music band during a project commissioning in Abuja.

Wike made the announcement while commissioning the newly completed collector road from Mabushi to the Judges’ Quarters in Katampe, a project executed by a Chinese construction firm.

Midway into the event, the band’s lead singer entertained the crowd with a hilarious twist, mimicking a song in what appeared to be ‘Chinese’, in a nod to the nationality of the contractors.

Impressed by their performance, the Minister announced that he would increase their wages.

“Now that my band can sing in Chinese language, I’ll now increase their fees,” the minister said, drawing laughter and applause from the crowd.

Shortly after his statement, the band broke into another tune, chanting, “Agreement is agreement,” repeatedly calling Wike’s name before ending with the phrase “Chi hu chan.”

LASTMA accused of covering up N70m excavator theft at Lagos yard

The management of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has come under fire over an alleged attempt to cover up the theft of an impounded excavator worth about N70m by two members of staff.

PUNCH Metro gathered from insiders on Thursday that the incident, which occurred on June 10, has thrown the agency into confusion, with several staff members accusing top management of shielding one of the suspects involved.

According to insiders, who pleaded anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the case, the missing excavator had been parked at LASTMA’s headquarters for over a decade after it was reportedly impounded.

However, the incident came to light after workers resumed work following the Sallah holiday and noticed the equipment was gone.

That excavator was impounded over 10 years ago,” a source familiar with the matter told PUNCH Metro on the condition of anonymity.

The source added, “Such vehicles are only removed after proper documentation and approval. But when we returned from the Sallah break, we noticed it was no longer there.”

The source explained that preliminary findings indicated that a PSP (Private Sector Participant) operator, who owns a tow truck, presented a signed document at the agency’s gate and was granted access to remove the excavator from the premises.

Nigeria chase gold at African Military Boxing Champs

Nigeria’s Armed Forces are chasing their first gold medal at the 6th African Military Boxing Championship in Rabat, Morocco, after securing four bronze medals with two fighters still in contention for the ultimate prize.

The Nigerian contingent, led by coach Aweda Kehinde, a former Olympian who represented the country at the Atlanta, Georgia, 1996 Games and currently serves as the Nigeria Army boxing coach, has delivered impressive performances at the championship that began on June 14th and will end on Sunday, the 22nd.

Team Nigeria’s medal haul currently stands at four bronze medals, with the potential for more precious metal as two boxers remain in the competition’s latter stages.

Rilwan Lawal of the Nigeria Army has reached the final and stands on the brink of delivering the country’s first gold medal at the tournament. The army boxer’s journey to the final represents the pinnacle of Nigeria’s campaign in Morocco.

Gbadamosi Quadri, also from the Nigerian Army, is currently competing in the semi-final stage, offering another route to a potential gold medal for the Nigerian team.

The bronze medal winners have already guaranteed Nigeria a respectable showing at the continental championship. Balogun Emmanuel Adeola of the Air Force settled for bronze after what would have been a hard-fought campaign in his weight category.Samson Kazeem of the Nigerian Army also claimed bronze, adding to the Army’s impressive medal tally at the championship. Ambrose Godwin, another Nigerian Army representative, secured bronze in his division.

Akeem Adebamiji of the Nigerian Navy claimed bronze, ensuring all three branches of Nigeria’s Armed Forces contributed to the medal haul and demonstrating the breadth of boxing talent across the military services.

The championship has seen mixed fortunes for some Nigerian fighters. Qoyum Qozeem of the Nigerian Army was eliminated in the quarter-final stage, whilst Balogun Al-Ameen Olamide of the Air Force also exited the competition at the same stage.

The tournament in Rabat represents a significant opportunity for Nigeria’s military boxers to showcase their talents on the continental stage. Coach Kehinde’s experience as a former Olympian has proven invaluable in preparing the team for the rigours of international competition.

The championship in Morocco continues to provide thrilling boxing action, with Nigeria’s representatives proving they can compete with the best military boxers across the African continent.

As the tournament reaches its climax, all eyes will be on Lawal’s final bout and Quadri’s semi-final encounter, with the potential to transform Nigeria’s good showing into an excellent one with the addition of gold medal success.

Labubu: How China’s monster dolls are winning global hearts

Small, fuzzy and baring sharp teeth, Chinese toymaker Pop Mart’s Labubu monster dolls have taken over the world, drawing excited crowds at international stores and adorning the handbags of celebrities such as Rihanna and Cher.

Beijing-based Pop Mart is part of a rising tide of Chinese cultural exports gaining traction abroad, furry ambassadors of a “cool” China even in places associated more with negative public opinion of Beijing such as Europe and North America.

Labubus, which typically sell for around $40, are released in limited quantities and sold in “blind boxes”, meaning buyers don’t know the exact model they will receive.

The dolls are “a bit quirky and ugly and very inclusive, so people can relate”, interior designer Lucy Shitova told AFP at a Pop Mart store in London, where in-person sales of Labubus have been suspended over fears that fans could turn violent in their quest for the toys.

“Now everything goes viral… because of social media. And yes, it’s cool. It’s different.”

While neighbouring East Asian countries South Korea and Japan are globally recognised for their high-end fashion, cinema and pop songs, China’s heavily censored film and music industry have struggled to attract international audiences, and the country’s best-known clothing exporter is fast-fashion website Shein.

There have been few success stories of Chinese companies selling upmarket goods under their own brands, faced with stereotypes of cheap and low-quality products.

“It has been hard for the world’s consumers to perceive China as a brand-creating nation,” the University of Maryland’s Fan Yang told AFP.

Pop Mart has bucked the trend, spawning copycats dubbed by social media users as “lafufus” and detailed YouTube videos on how to verify a doll’s authenticity.

Brands such as designer womenswear label Shushu/Tong, Shanghai-based Marchen and Beijing-based handbag maker Songmont have also gained recognition abroad over the past few years.

“It might just be a matter of time before even more Chinese brands become globally recognisable,” Yang said.

– TikTok effect –

Through viral exports like Labubu, China is “undergoing a soft-power shift where its products and image are increasingly cool among young Westerners,” said Allison Malmsten, an analyst at China-based Daxue Consulting.

Malmsten said she believed social media could boost China’s global image “similar to that of Japan in the 80s to 2010s with Pokemon and Nintendo”.

Video app TikTok — designed by China’s ByteDance — paved the way for Labubu’s ascent when it became the first Chinese-branded product to be indispensable for young people internationally.

Joshua Kurlantzick from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) told AFP that “TikTok probably played a role in changing consumers’ minds about China”.

TikTok, which is officially blocked within China but still accessible with VPN software, has over one billion users, including what the company says is nearly half of the US population.

The app has become a focus of national security fears in the United States, with a proposed ban seeing American TikTok users flock to another Chinese app, Rednote, where they were welcomed as digital “refugees”.

A conduit for Chinese social media memes and fashion trends, TikTok hosts over 1.7 million videos about Labubu.

Labubumania –

Cultural exports can “improve the image of China as a place that has companies that can produce globally attractive goods or services”, CFR’s Kurlantzick told AFP.

Labubus, which typically sell for around $40, are released in limited quantities and sold in “blind boxes”, meaning buyers don’t know the exact model they will receive.

“Now everything goes viral… because of social media. And yes, it’s cool. It’s different.”

There have been few success stories of Chinese companies selling upmarket goods under their own brands, faced with stereotypes of cheap and low-quality products.

“It has been hard for the world’s consumers to perceive China as a brand-creating nation,” the University of Maryland’s Fan Yang told AFP.

Pop Mart has bucked the trend, spawning copycats dubbed by social media users as “lafufus” and detailed YouTube videos on how to verify a doll’s authenticity.

Brands such as designer womenswear label Shushu/Tong, Shanghai-based Marchen and Beijing-based handbag maker Songmont have also gained recognition abroad over the past few years.

“It might just be a matter of time before even more Chinese brands become globally recognisable,” Yang said.

– TikTok effect –

Malmsten said she believed social media could boost China’s global image “similar to that of Japan in the 80s to 2010s with Pokemon and Nintendo”.

Video app TikTok — designed by China’s ByteDance — paved the way for Labubu’s ascent when it became the first Chinese-branded product to be indispensable for young people internationally.

Joshua Kurlantzick from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) told AFP that “TikTok probably played a role in changing consumers’ minds about China”.

TikTok, which is officially blocked within China but still accessible with VPN software, has over one billion users, including what the company says is nearly half of the US population.

A conduit for Chinese social media memes and fashion trends, TikTok hosts over 1.7 million videos about Labubu.

Labubumania –

Cultural exports can “improve the image of China as a place that has companies that can produce globally attractive goods or services”, CFR’s Kurlantzick told AFP.

“I don’t know how much, if at all, this impacts images of China’s state or government,” he said, pointing to how South Korea’s undeniable soft power has not translated into similar levels of political might.

While plush toys alone might not translate into actual power, the United States’ chaotic global image under the Trump presidency could benefit perceptions of China, the University of Maryland’s Yang said.

“The connection many make between the seeming decline of US soft power and the potential rise in China’s global image may reflect how deeply intertwined the two countries are in the minds of people whose lives are impacted by both simultaneously,” she told AFP.

At the very least, Labubu’s charms appear to be promoting interest in China among the younger generation.

“It’s like a virus. Everyone just wants it,” Kazakhstani mother-of-three Anelya Batalova told AFP at Pop Mart’s theme park in Beijing.

Qatari Maryam Hammadi, 11, posed for photos in front of a giant Labubu statue.

“In our country, they love Labubu,” she said.

“So, when they realise that the origin of Labubu is in China, they’d like to come to see the different types of Labubu in China.”

AFP