
Eight victims of Thursday night’s attack on Mbwelle village in Bokkos Local Government Area were buried Friday in a mass funeral. The victims were killed around 11 pm when gunmen invaded the community and opened fire indiscriminately for close to an hour. Most of those killed were members of the same family. Those laid to rest were Elder Iliya Mangut Dakus, Mr Luck Titus Dakus, Mr Habila Istifanu Dakus, Mr Hassan Istifanus Dakus, Mrs Hassan Moses Dakus, Biggie Lucky Dakus, Sunday Gideon Dakus and Mr Innocent Barnabas Makwin. Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, who conducted the burial ceremony, addressed mourners at the graveside. Chairman of the Community Peace Observers in Bokkos LGA, Kefas Mallai, had earlier said the assault created tension in the community. Youth Leader of Bokkos, Christopher Luka, described the killings as “a sad and devastating assault on the people of Bokkos and Plateau State as a whole.” The burial took place amid ongoing security operations in the state. Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE on Thursday neutralised ten terrorists in Wase and Kanam LGAs and recovered arms and logistics supplies. Efforts to get a reaction from the Plateau State Police Command on the Mbwelle attack were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.

Beşiktaş is reportedly preparing a move for Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Tolu Arokodare, according to PUNCH Sports Extra. The Turkish giants are monitoring the 25-year-old as they plan to strengthen their attack for the new season, as reported by Turkish outlet SporX. Arokodare, who joined Wolves in a €26m transfer from KRC Genk, is tied to the Premier League club until June 2029 but is believed to be open to a move due to Wolves' current struggles at the bottom of the Premier League table. SporX stated that Arokodare is open to offers and wants to join a team competing in European competitions and challenging at the top of their league. Beşiktaş is also reportedly planning a tactical system that could see Arokodare feature alongside South Korean striker Hyeon-gyu Oh. The Turkish side is said to be inspired by the success of Nigerian forwards like Paul Onuachu and Victor Osimhen in the Super Lig. Beşiktaş management plans to take action for Arokodare, who they believe could be successful in the Super Lig like his Nigerian compatriots.

The Premier League enters a decisive phase this weekend, with key matches impacting the title race, European places, and the relegation battle. Arsenal, currently leading, host Bournemouth on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Brentford face Everton at 3:00 p.m., followed by Liverpool welcoming Fulham to Anfield at 5:30 p.m. Sunday’s action includes Nottingham Forest against Aston Villa at 2:00 p.m., and Sunderland hosting Spurs at the same time. The headline fixture on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. sees Chelsea face Man City. The round concludes on Monday at 8:00 p.m. as Man United host Leeds. All matches can be caught live on SuperSport on DStv and GOtv.

Former striker Cillian Sheridan has backed Kelechi Iheanacho to play a decisive role in Celtic’s Scottish Premiership title pursuit, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. Iheanacho, who had an encouraging start in Scotland, faced disruptions due to injury and the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. He recently scored the winning goal in Celtic’s 2-1 victory over Dundee FC. Speaking on the BBC Scottish Football Podcast, Sheridan highlighted Iheanacho’s composure and confidence in front of goal as vital for Celtic in closing the gap at the top of the table. He noted that Iheanacho’s ability to convert chances and remain calm in decisive moments sets him apart in a tight title race involving rivals Rangers and Heart of Midlothian. Sheridan stated, “I think if Iheanacho can be fit and stay in the team, I think he could be a big difference. He seems to be the one that will take chances and convert them and just looks a little bit calmer in front of goal.” He added that Iheanacho’s confidence will be crucial for Celtic, Hearts, and Rangers. Sheridan also pointed to a shift in momentum towards Celtic, who are only three points behind the summit. He argued that this gap would typically signify a strong title challenge. He emphasized the unpredictable nature of the title race, noting that the situation could change rapidly with each round of fixtures. Iheanacho aims to maintain his resurgence as Celtic seeks to defend their league crown.

Sevilla is set to host Atletico Madrid in a high-stakes LaLiga match featuring three Super Eagles forwards: Chidera Ejuke and Akor Adams for Sevilla, and Ademola Lookman for Atletico. Sevilla, currently 17th in the table and two points above the relegation zone after three consecutive defeats, faces immense pressure. Striker Akor Adams, despite leading Sevilla with seven league goals, has faced criticism for missed chances. His teammate Ejuke is also expected to contribute offensively as Sevilla battles to avoid relegation. Adams acknowledged the need for more clinical finishing. In contrast, Lookman arrives in strong form after an influential performance in the UEFA Champions League, becoming a key figure in Atletico’s push at the top of LaLiga. Lookman stated his focus is on helping the team. Atletico has dominated recent encounters, winning seven of their last eight matches against Sevilla. Sevilla head coach Luis García noted the difficulty of preparing his side with limited time, emphasizing the need for effort and character from his players. The match at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán holds significant weight for both teams, with Atletico chasing domestic success and Sevilla fighting for survival.