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ECOWAS @50: 11 Countries Arrive Abuja for African Wrestling Championship
ECOWAS @50: 11 Countries Arrive Abuja for African Wrestling Championship
By: Michael Mike
Eleven member states of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are in Abuja for the 13th edition of the Subregion’s African Wrestling Tournament which begins on Thursday, 8th March 2025, to 10th Saturday March 2025.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the Director of the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre (EYSDC), Francis Chucks Njoaguani, said the tournament is part of activities to mark ECIWAS 50th anniversary.
Njoaguani, who is also the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Burkina Faso, said among the 12 current members of the ECOWAS, only Cape Verde failed to show interest in the tournament.
He said: “We have two categories of competition. Member states will compete against one another, first in a round robin elimination series. We’ll do eliminations until we achieve semi-finalists, four semi-finalists.
“On Friday, we will come back to the same field at the Velodrome, and we do individual weight categories. All wrestlers would fight amongst themselves in the same weight categories. So if you have 11 countries that present wrestlers in the 65 category, for instance, they will fight round robin amongst themselves, eliminate each other until we have the four semi-finalists for each of the five weight categories.
“These weight categories include 65 kilograms, which we have dedicated to just the female wrestlers. 65 kilograms and 75 kilograms, those two smaller weight categories, will be for the ladies, and then 85 kilograms, 100 kilograms and 120 kilograms will be for the male categories,” he said.
He added that all the semi-final matches, third place matches, and the final matches to determine gold, silver and bronze medalists for this year’s tournament, would take place on the final day.
He further disclosed that the winner in the team sports would earn $10,000 while the second and third positions would go home with $6000 and $3000 respectively.
He however said: “For each of the individual weight categories, there are also prices. So for the first position of each category, you get $2500, for the second position, you get $1500 and for the third position, you get $1000.
“There will be medals for all the winning athletes, and there will also be certificates of participation for all the athletes and the delegations.
The deputy director at the National Sports Commission, Ikana Mbora assured of the Nigerian government’s support for the tournament, expressing the country’s readiness to host an unforgettable event.
ECOWAS @50: 11 Countries Arrive Abuja for African Wrestling Championship
Security forces neutralise two notorious bandits in Benue clearance operation
By: Zagazola Makama
Security forced have neutralised two suspected notorious bandits during a clearance operation in Ukum Local Government Area of the state.
Sources told Zagazola that the operation followed credible intelligence received on Tuesday at about 1:00 p.m.
The report indicated that a criminal gang led by one Senen Hemen, also known as Orpa, was sighted along the pipeline axis between Gbeji and Igbongom communities in Ukum.
According to the sources, security forces were promptly mobilised to the location, where the gang engaged the operatives in a gun duel.
During the exchange, Hemen and another gang member identified as Mzungweve Ichur, both from Igbongom, were shot dead, while others fled the scene with gunshot injuries.
The sources confirmed that the corpses of the two suspects had been recovered and deposited at a private mortuary in Gbeji, while a manhunt had been launched in the surrounding bushes to track the fleeing accomplices.
The sources assured residents that the operation was part of ongoing efforts to rid Ukum and adjoining areas of violent criminal gangs.
Security forces neutralise two notorious bandits in Benue clearance operation
Gunmen abduct worshipper in Oyo community
By: Zagazola Makama
Gunmen have abducted a worshipper from a mosque in Gbonkan Village, Ipapo, Itesiwaju Local Government Area.
Sources said that the victim, identified as Amadu Usman, was kidnapped on Monday night while praying at the mosque alongside his elder brother, Adamu Usman.
The sources said seven armed men invaded the mosque at about 9 p.m. and whisked the victim away to an unknown destination.
The sources said that a joint team of security forces, Amotekun Corps, vigilantes and local hunters had since launched a search-and-rescue operation, combing surrounding bushes to track down the suspects and rescue the victim.
Gunmen abduct worshipper in Oyo community
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA repel bandit attack in Malumfashi, Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA, in collaboration with the Police, Community Watch Corps and local vigilantes, have repelled a bandit attack in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Sources said that the incident happened on Tuesday evening when armed bandits launched an attack on a hunters’ camp in Naalma village.
According to the sources, the troops and other security operatives responded swiftly to a distress call and engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle, forcing them to withdraw.
“During the operation, Usman Lawal, 35, the Commander of the Hunters’ group, sustained fatal injuries. One of the bandits was neutralised while the rifle earlier seized from the hunters’ commander was recovered.
“Other fleeing bandits are suspected to have escaped with gunshot wounds. Troops are currently conducting cordon-and-search operations within the area,”said the sources.
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA repel bandit attack in Malumfashi, Katsina
Security forces neutralise two notorious bandits in Benue clearance operation
Gunmen abduct worshipper in Oyo community
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA repel bandit attack in Malumfashi, Katsina
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