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Milo Basketball Championship Central Conference Ends in Ilorin As Benue, FCT Win
Akpur College, Gboko, Benue State and Government Secondary School, Karu, FCT have emerged champions in the girls and boys categories respectively at the Central Conference of the 22nd Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship.
In the girls category, Akpur College, Gboko, Benue State defeated their Queen Amina College, Sabon-Tasha, Kaduna State counterparts 35 to 31 to emerge champions while the boys from Government Secondary School, Karu, FCT outclassed their Father O’Conel Science College, Minna, Niger State opponents 34 to 23 in a thrilling encounter.
Speaking on this 2nd of the four series Conferences, Category Manager for Beverages, Nestlé Nigeria, Mr. Olutayo Olatunji said, “At MILO, we believe that through participation in sports, children learn grit and imbibe values that help them on their journey to success in life. We are therefore committed to the MILO Secondary Schools Basketball Championship in Nigeria. We are delighted that we are able to return the Championship after a break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic”.
“Let me use this opportunity to reiterate our commitment to developing talents, enforcing healthier lifestyle, and instilling values and lessons for success in life through this Championship. The MILO Secondary Schools Basketball Championship will continue to provide the opportunities for developing qualities including leadership skills, ability to work in a team, perseverance, courage, selfbelief, and respect in these young ones who participate. We are grateful to our partners – the Nigeria Schools Sports Federation (NSSF) and the National Collegiate Sports Foundation (NCSF) for their support over the last 22 editions”.
The Chairman of the Kwara State sports council Bolakale Adisa Mogaji, who was special guest at the Conference finale said “I am a beneficiary of MILO sports development in Nigeria myself. I participated in the now rested MILO Squash Championship in Lagos many years ago. MILO Secondary Schools Basketball Championship is a very good development for all basketball players. As these students have gathered from different states for a bigger competition, they will be encouraged to take the sport more seriously and enjoy all the benefits of playing and participating. We thank MILO for continuing to be a pillar of spots in Nigeria.”
The Central Conference was hosted at the Ilorin Township Stadium in the Kwara
State capital from the 14th to 20th of May 2022. The States that make up this Conference are Niger, Nasarawa, Plateau and host Kwara. Others are Benue, Kebbi, Kaduna, Sokoto and the F.C.T (Abuja). The Champions in both the male and female categories of this Conference will compete with winners from the Savanna Conference held in Kano from the 7th to 13th of May as well as the other two future Conferences – Equatorial Conference, Enugu: 21st – 27th May and Western Conferences, Ibadan: 28th May – 3rd June in the national final at the indoor sports hall of the national stadium in Surulere, Lagos from June 25 to July 01, 2022.
For over 2 decades, MILO has emphasised the importance of grit to teach schoolchildren vital life values such as determination, tenacity, endurance, perseverance, teamwork and self-confidence, using the Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship as a platform.
Nestlé will continue to support grassroot sports development in Nigeria in line with its purpose of unlocking the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone today and for generations to come.
The next Conference of the 22nd Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship – Equatorial Conference – will take place in Enugu from 21st – 27th May 2022.
Gunmen, on Monday, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, killed seven persons.
Reports said that out of the seven persons killed, two are unarmed civilians who were in a compound planning a burial scheduled for January 2, while the others were security operatives.
A viral video being circulated on social media showed two bodies of the victims, said to be members of the Anambra State Vigilante Group (AVG).
The Police command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident, said the Commissioner of Police (CP), Nnaghe Obono Itam, has ordered immediate manhunt of the assailants.
He said the incident happened at about 11.20am, adding that the attack resulted in the death of seven persons, two of them unarmed passers-by.
He said: “The Joint Security Team rescued one of the victims, who is currently responding to treatment at a hospital.
“The CP, while on an on-the-spot assessment visit to the scene, interviewed some eye witnesses of the incident. Information also had it that the armed men started shooting sporadically at a venue where preparations were going on for a burial ceremony slated for 2nd of January, 2025.
“Also, while escaping the scene, the armed men shot at two security operatives at a security Observation Post close to the Local Government Headquarters by the Express Road.”
Ikenga said the CP has extended his condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives, especially the good people of Ihiala over the tragic incident.
He further assured that the perpetrators would be hunted down.
Some officers attached to the Ogun State Police Command have been arrested for allegedly demanding money from the family of a missing girl before taking action on the case.
The Public Relations Officer for the Nigeria Police Force, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a post on X on Saturday.
Adejobi stated that they were being detained pending disciplinary action.
His post partly read: “Otta missing girl: The policemen who demanded money before they could attend to the case have been arrested and are now in detention for disciplinary action.
Adejobi further reaffirmed the command’s commitment to locating the missing girl, assuring the public that she would be found soon.
“The Ogun State Police Command has been on the case. The girl will be found as soon as possible. We also urge the family of the victim to cooperate with the police,” he added.
Adejobi had earlier warned officers against using the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun’s name to perpetuate fraud, advising the public to report such cases.
The Joint Task Force North West, under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, has addressed concerns about a recent military airstrike in Silame Local Government Area of Sokoto State, clarifying that the operation targeted terrorist elements, not civilian structures.
Coordinator of the Joint Media Coordination Centre, Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, said all operations of the Task Force were guided by extensive intelligence and reconnaissance efforts.
He said these measures were designed to ensure precision and protect civilian lives, especially in actions against groups like the Lakurawa terrorist organization.
The Task Force called on the public to rely on verified information to avoid misinformation and unnecessary panic.
Abdullahi cautioned against disinformation campaigns by terrorist groups, which aim to discredit military successes and sow doubt in the ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry.
According to the military, the areas targeted near Gidan Sama and Rumtuwa were confirmed to be associated with the Lakurawa group, reinforcing the justification for the strikes.
The Joint Task Force, therefore, reiterated its commitment to safeguarding civilians while pursuing decisive action against threats to national security.
