🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Arsenal to improve £70 million bid for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimarães
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
Arsenal is reportedly preparing to increase its offer for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimarães. According to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal will reopen club-to-club talks with Newcastle next week after an initial £70 million proposal was unsuccessful. Personal terms have reportedly been agreed with Guimarães, and Arsenal is expected to submit an improved bid to secure the Brazilian’s transfer. The deal's completion hinges on Newcastle United's decision regarding the sale and their valuation of the 28-year-old midfielder.
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The National Youth Service Corps NYSC, a mandatory one-year program for Nigerian graduates, is increasingly viewed with apprehension due to widespread insecurity across the country. Many prospective corps members, like Oluwakemisola, express fear of being posted to unsafe states and are planning to seek redeployment, even if it involves additional arrangements or payments. Some, such as Abayomi, have opted out of the scheme entirely, prioritizing personal safety over national service. Parents are also concerned, with many preferring their children serve closer to home. A recent poll among corps members indicated that 80% were influenced by fear of insecurity when deployed to their current states. Incidents of abductions, attacks, and disappearances involving corps members have been reported, highlighting the risks. For example, between 2013 and 2023, at least 80 corps members were abducted, with Rivers State accounting for half of these cases. An NYSC official noted that while redeployment was once for career or personal preferences, it is now primarily driven by the desire to avoid dangerous states, leading some to pay for favorable postings. Psychologists acknowledge the anxiety and emotional distress caused by the security situation but argue against canceling the scheme, emphasizing its role in national unity. However, security experts like Olalekan Jackson-Ojo suggest restricting corps members to their home states or regions as a practical reform, given the inability to
Must ReadGlobal pop star Shakira revealed her reasons for selecting Nigerian Afrobeats singer Burna Boy for the official 2026 FIFA World Cup anthem, "Dai Dai." In an interview on July 8, Shakira stated she sought a strong masculine voice to complement the song's Afrobeat-inspired sound, believing the World Cup embodies a significant male energy. She described the song as primarily rooted in Afrobeats, with additional Caribbean and R&B influences. Shakira, a Grammy-winning singer, mentioned her long-standing admiration for Burna Boy's music and her desire to collaborate with him. She recounted calling him for the collaboration, and despite a 20-day wait for his contribution, she remained hopeful. Shakira expressed satisfaction with Burna Boy's verse, stating it was "absolutely perfect" and that she couldn't imagine anyone else on the track. She admitted her determination to secure his participation. "Dai Dai" served as the official song for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Shakira and Burna Boy first performed the track at the tournament's opening ceremony on June 11, 2026, at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. They reunited for another performance during the first-ever FIFA World Cup final halftime show on July 19, 2026, at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where they were joined by Uganda's Ghetto Kids dance group. This collaboration marked Shakira's latest contribution to FIFA World Cup music, following her success with "Waka Waka This Time for Africa" for the 2010 tournament. Burna Boy's
The Nigeria Police Force has released a video detailing the dismantling of a kidnapping syndicate operating along the Federal Capital Territory–Nasarawa axis. Through "Operation Gbagalape," operatives of the Force Intelligence Department – Special Tactical Squad arrested suspected members, located their hideout, rescued victims, and recovered evidence. Assistant Commissioner of Police Godfrey Victor, Commander of the FID-STS, stated the operation followed a deadly attack on the Badalapé community on May 16, 2026, where kidnappers abducted residents and killed at least three people, including a pastor and a man named Elijah. Intelligence gathering, surveillance, and digital analysis led to the identification of gang members. Coordinated operations between June 24 and June 26 in Badalapé, Mararaba, and Abuja resulted in the arrest of two suspects, Buhari Adamu and Abubakar Saido. Further investigation revealed the gang's forest hideout and that victims were killed after one suspect accidentally shot himself. The police also traced proceeds of the kidnappings to the purchase of 14 cows and three sheep. Efforts to apprehend other fleeing members are ongoing.