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Two Remaining Kidnapped Cocoa Farmers Regain Freedom, Suspects Arrested

The efforts of security agents, vigilantes, and community leaders have yielded results as the two remaining Cocoa farmers abducted from the Cocos Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) have regained freedom.

It was learnt that a combined security team’s coordinated approach helped secure the release of the remaining two farmers who were kidnapped during a visit to the CRIN in Ibadan on Saturday.

It was also learnt that police were able to secure the arrest of the three suspected kidnappers in connection with the incident, barely 24 hours after.

It was not clear if any ransom was paid for their release, but reports have it that their abductors made demands.

READ ALSO: Two Remaining Kidnapped Cocoa Farmers Regain Freedom, Suspects Arrested

However, the Chairman of the Oluyole Local Government, Akeem Olatunji, who actively assisted in the search, confirmed in a telephone conversation that all the victims have been released.

He added that their release was made possible through the concerted efforts of the combined team of the police, the Directorate of State Services, Western Security Network, code named Amotekun, and Oluyole local vigilance group.

He stated that the rescue team had handed over the victims to the police.

Olatunji added that the team was coordinated by the Security Adviser to the Oyo state governor, CP Fatai Owoseni (retd).

The local government boss thanked the team for their concerted efforts, even as he assured residents of the area of his willingness to always collaborate with the relevant security agencies.

Why McInnes thinks ‘huge underdogs’ Hearts will get stronger

Thomas Duncan

BBC Sport Scotland

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes believes his side “will get stronger” for the Scottish Premiership run-in after victory over Dundee ensured the leaders will go into the international break still top of the pile.

Oisin McEntee’s header secured victory and a fourth consecutive 1-0 home league win for McInnes’ side, while welcoming back captain Lawrence Shankland and key midfielder Cammy Devlin for the first time since January.

Celtic had moved four points closer to Hearts with those two players absent, with Rangers also narrowing the gap.

But having done enough to ensure they move into April leading the way McInnes believes returning players strengthen his hand for the final seven games.

“I actually think the belief that I’ve got in the team is even more than it’s ever been, because I know what’s coming behind it,” McInnes said.

“I know what’s coming back for Livingston.

“I’ve got [Tomas] Magnusson, [Harry] Milne and [Craig] Halkett back, and I should have [Stuart] Findlay and [Stephen] Kingsley back.

“I’ve got my captain back now for another couple of weeks training, I’ve got Cammy Devlin back, I’ve got Beni Baningime back. We will get stronger, and we’re going to need that strength.

“We’ve been tested of late but despite all that, we’re going to be top of the league in April.

Shankland enjoys impactful return

Before McEntee’s winner the biggest cheer of the day at Tynecastle was for Shankland coming on as a substitute in the 54th minute for Pierre Landry Kabore.

Despite missing six weeks, he is Hearts’ second-top scorer in the league this season with 11 and though he did not add to that against Dundee, his influence was clear.

He had more shots on goal than Kabore, and found the target more than Claudio Braga despite fewer minutes on the pitch.

He completed all seven of his passes into the final third and brought more composure to Hearts’ attack, allowing them to sustain pressure which eventually paid off.

Former Dundee striker Rory Loy pointed out on BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound Shankland’s return also brought more from Alexandros Kyziridis in the short time they were on together, with the Greek winger struggling a bit in his captain’s absence.

“In the 10-15 minutes they were on the park together, Kyziridis’ starting position was 10-15 yards higher up the pitch,” Loy said.

“He knows Shankland is going to win something. He set up the chance for Shankland when he turned and had the shot that was saved.

Lawrence Shankland's touch map against DundeeBBC Sport

Managers often like to play down the influence of individuals, preferring to focus on the team as a whole.

But after the game McInnes did the complete opposite when asked about Shankland.

“Part of it is the lift he gives everybody,” the Hearts head coach said.

“We all feel the same about Lawrence. Every Hearts supporter, all his team-mates, all the staff, we feel so much better when he’s there.

“He’s a huge influence on our team. He’s been a huge influence on things even when he’s been out, he’s been a proper captain.

McInnes sets set-piece target

What was also refreshing for the Hearts manager was the nature of their winning goal, with McEntee’s towering header coming from a lovely Marc Leonard free-kick.

Hearts and Rangers have led the way for set-piece goals in the Premiership this season.

However, the league leaders have been less effective in that area in the past six weeks or so, despite getting plenty of corners and free-kicks.

The recent absence of Findlay, who tops the charts for headed goals in the league, may be a factor, as well as Shankland.

McEntee has also been struggling with a shoulder injury, but at over 6ft tall, made a timely return to potency in the box, as he showed in the win away at Celtic December.

With most of his squad due back in time for the Livingston game on 5 April, McInnes is demanding a return to their old standards.

“We spoke yesterday at the team meeting about – can we be the best team at set-plays between now and the end of the season?

“We’re off to a good start. Delighted for Ross [Grant], my set-piece coach, because it’s not been easy when the finger is being pointed.

Hearts have scored 19 goals from set-pieces in the Scottish PremiershipBBC Sport

Related topics

  • Scottish Premiership
  • Scottish Football
  • Heart of Midlothian
  • Football

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Joe Kent speaks out against Iran war at prayer event after resigning

NewsFeed

Joe Kent says he resigned as director of the US National Counterterrorism Center over opposition to the war in Iran, telling an audience at a Washington prayer event that he couldn’t “send young men and women off to die on foreign battlefields” in “good conscience.”

NYSC Mourns Ogun Corps Member, Confirms Arrest Of Employee

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has mourned a female corps member who died in Abeokuta, Ogun State, from complications linked to an alleged abortion.

In a statement on Saturday, the NYSC Director of Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, confirmed that a staff member was under investigation in connection with the incident.

She said the agency was “deeply saddened by the loss of a Corps Member… under circumstances that are currently being investigated.”

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and pray for the peaceful repose of her soul,” the NYSC said.

READ ALSO: Ogun Police Arrest NYSC Official Over Death Of Female Corps Member

It added that “the matter is currently under investigation by relevant security agencies, and the individual concerned has been taken into custody.

“We wish to use this medium to reiterate that the NYSC maintains a strict code of conduct for its staff and corps members and will not condone any act of misconduct or abuse of office,” it added.

The NYSC said it is cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities to ensure that the truth is established and justice served.

It also urged the public to refrain from speculation and allow due process to take its course.

“In the meantime, management wishes to state, once again, that the welfare, safety, and dignity of our corps members remain paramount to the scheme,” the statement added.

Police Arrest NYSC Official

Meanwhile, the police authorities in Ogun State have arrested the Abeokuta South local government inspector of the NYSC in connection with the death of a female youth corps member.

The Command’s spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the suspect, identified as Abbas Olalekan, was taken in following the death of the lady on Tuesday.

“I can confirm to you that the man has been arrested and investigations are ongoing to unravel both the remote and immediate causes of the death,” he said.

Sources alleged that the LGI and the deceased were in a relationship, which eventually led to the pregnancy.

EU urges members to start storing winter gas as Iran war causes price surge

The European Union has urged member states to start early on meeting next winter’s gas storage targets after Iranian attacks on Gulf energy facilities caused prices to surge on global markets.

Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen sent a letter Saturday urging the bloc’s members to get to work “as early as possible” in the coming months to “mitigate pressure on prices and avoid [an] end-of-summer rush”, asking them to consider cutting their so-called filling target by 10 percentage points to 80 percent.

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The move came days after Iran attacked Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City complex, which provides about 20 percent of global supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The attack, which came amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, was in retaliation for an Israeli attack on the Iranian South Pars gasfield.

State-owned QatarEnergy said that Iran’s attack on Qatar, which has been targeted throughout the duration of the war, knocked out 17 percent of Doha’s export capacity and would affect exports for up to five years.

The slowdown will mainly harm Asian buyers, including China, Japan, and India, which buy some 80 percent of QatarEnergy’s LNG.

But Europe, which only sources around 9 percent of its LNG from Qatar, will nevertheless be exposed to increased competition, with tanker traffic leaving the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz throttled by the war.

Natural gas prices in the EU have risen by more than 30 percent since the start of the war on February 28, spiking after Israel’s attack on Iran’s critical South Pars gasfield and subsequent Iranian attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan.

Jorgensen said that the EU’s gas supply, which has mainly been furnished by the United States since the bloc weaned itself off Russian energy over the Ukraine war, remained “relatively protected at this stage”.

“But, as a net energy importer on global markets, the resulting high and volatile global prices may also impact the EU gas storage projections,” he cautioned.

Jorgensen warned that developments “threaten regional and global security”, urging member states to refill stores early over a longer period.

The EU requirement for member countries to maintain gas reserves at 90 percent of capacity to meet winter heating and power demand underpins the region’s energy security.

Having cut that target by 10 percent, the energy commissioner noted that, in case of “difficult conditions” and a commission assessment, the countries could deviate by up to 20 percent.