Former National and West African light-heavyweight champion, Segun ‘Success’ Olanrewaju, has died after collapsing during a boxing match in Ghana on Saturday.

Olanrewaju lost consciousness while facing Ghanaian boxer Jon Mbanugu at Fight Night 15 of the Ghana Professional Boxing League at Bukom Boxing Arena.

TheNigerian Online gathered that he was reportedly leading on points before the tragic incident occurred.

TheNigerian Online also observed him collapse in a video being shared on social media.

The boxing community has been thrown into mourning following his sudden death.

Olanrewaju, a respected figure in Nigerian boxing, previously held both National and West African light-heavyweight titles.

His contributions to the sport in Nigeria and across West Africa have been widely acknowledged, with colleagues and fans paying tribute to his legacy.

Peter Akinbo

Peter, who has been covering sports for TheNigerian for close to two years, focuses on combat sports reporting, special features and human angle stories

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The Ogun State Police Command says it has arrested no fewer than five hunters following the death of their colleague during a hunting expedition in the Ajinawo area of Yewa North Local Government Area of the state.

TheNigerian Metro learnt from a statement by the spokesperson for the command, Omolola Odutola, on Tuesday that the incident occurred on Sunday.

According to Odutola, the hunters had gone on a hunting expedition when one of them, Taiwo Bolugbe, was accidentally shot.

She narrated that at about 3 p.m. on the said date, Bolugbe had attempted to retrieve a hunted animal when his Dane gun slipped through his hands, accidentally discharged, and hit him on the neck.

The PPRO noted that five members of the hunting group were arrested in connection with the incident.

Odutola stated, “At about 4:30 p.m. on 23rd March 2025, the police received a report that a hunting trip had turned fatal when a hunter, Taiwo Bolugbe, ‘m’, was accidentally shot. Five hunters were arrested in connection with the incident.

“The group embarked on a hunting expedition in the area near Dangote Cement Company, Ibese. The accident occurred around 3 p.m. when the victim, Taiwo Bolugbe, attempted to retrieve a hunted animal.

“His Dane gun reportedly slipped from his shoulder, discharged accidentally, and fatally struck him in the neck and lower jaw. He succumbed to his injuries despite efforts by fellow hunters to save his life.”

She stressed that an investigation had commenced into the incident to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of the hunter and that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted.

“The hunters are in the custody of the State Criminal Investigation Department. The designated IPO team will conduct further investigation, and all their statements will be reviewed. If found culpable, they will be charged to court for prosecution.

“The police command urges the public to exercise caution while handling firearms, even in hunting activities, to prevent tragic incidents,” Odutola stressed.

TheNigerian Metro reported in October 2024 that a 20-year-old man, identified as Faisal Audu, was arrested by the command in connection with the alleged murder of a hunter named Saheed Awolesi in the Sagamu area of the state.

According to Odutola, Awolesi had reportedly gone night hunting around 9:00 p.m. on October 5, 2024, but did not return home.

Nollywood actress, Nkechi Nweje, has died after a brief illness.

Nweje’s death was confirmed on Saturday by movie producer, Stanley Ajemba, popularly known as Stanley Ontop, via his Instagram handle.

Ajemba paid tribute to Nweje, describing her as a vibrant actress and his best friend.

He recalled their last conversation was during the Queen’s saga, where she advised him to stop.

He wrote, “Nollywood in tears as we lost one of our vibrant Nollywood actresses, @nkechi.nweje, after a brief illness.

“Couldn’t post since morning because it was like a dream to me. Ezigbo Nwanyi Onitsha.

“Rest in peace, ma’am. My best friend, she always called me on the phone, advising me. The last time we spoke was during the Queenth saga. She said, ‘Ontop, stop.’ I’m still speechless.”

Another veteran Nollywood actress, Rita Edochie, shared a candlelight with a dark background via her Instagram on Friday with the caption, “This world is really not our home.”

One actor, Asa Ikuku, also took to his Instagram handle to announce the demise of the actress.

“Rest in peace mummy Nkwechi Nweje TV(Nwanyi Onisha) You are indeed a bllessing to us. But God knows the best. We will miss u so much great nollywood actress. rest on legend,” Ikuku wrote.

Nweje is survived by her husband, Dr. Azuibuike Nweje, and six children.

She was known for her compelling performances in Nollywood, particularly in motherly roles, and built a significant legacy in the industry.

George Foreman, the legendary two-time world heavyweight boxing champion and successful entrepreneur, has passed away at the age of 76.

His family announced that he died peacefully on March 21, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.

“With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr., who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025, surrounded by loved ones,” his family said in a statement posted on the boxer’s official Instagram page.

“We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers, and kindly ask for privacy as we honor the extraordinary life of a man we were blessed to call our own.”

Meteoric Rise to Boxing Greatness

Born in 1949 in Houston, Texas, Foreman overcame a challenging upbringing, finding direction through the Job Corps program, where he discovered boxing.

“At 13 years old, George was about 6-foot-2, 200 pounds and the terrorist in the neighbourhood,” his younger brother Roy told the BBC in 2024.

“And when you’re bigger and stronger and think you’re better than everyone else, you take things.”

Foreman’s athletic prowess became evident when he won a gold medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

At 19, he bulldozed his way to the super-heavyweight gold, waving an American flag in the ring just days after Tommie Smith and John Carlos made their historic Black Power salute.

Standing at 6-foot-4 (1.93m) and known as ‘Big George,’ he was an imposing figure in the heavyweight division.

His devastating power and agility saw him rise quickly through the professional ranks. In 1973, he captured the heavyweight title by annihilating Joe Frazier in just two rounds.

“Rumble in the Jungle”

By the time Foreman defended his title against Muhammad Ali in October 1974 in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), he was an unbeaten force with a 40-0 record.

Ali’s infamous ‘rope-a-dope’ strategy wore him down, and Foreman, exhausted, succumbed in the eighth round.

“I just couldn’t believe I’d lost the world title,” he later admitted.

“It was the most embarrassing moment of my life. It went from pride to pity. That’s devastating.”

Ali, the three-time heavyweight champion died earlier in 2016 at 74.

Spiritual Awakening and Return to the Ring

After a points loss to Jimmy Young in 1977, Foreman fell ill and experienced what he described as a divine revelation.

Convinced he had a higher calling, he retired at 28 and became an ordained minister.

A decade later, needing funds for his youth centre, Foreman announced an unlikely comeback.

Bald and heavier, he was dismissed as a sideshow, but he proved his critics wrong.

Over the next three years, he fought 21 times, mostly against lesser opponents, winning every bout—20 by knockout.

Historic Second Championship at 45

In 1991, Foreman challenged Evander Holyfield for the heavyweight title but lost on points.

Two years later, he suffered another decision loss to Tommy Morrison.

However, in November 1994, wearing the same shorts he had donned 20 years earlier against Ali, Foreman shocked the world.

Trailing badly, he knocked out Michael Moorer in the 10th round to reclaim the heavyweight championship at 45 years and 299 days old—making him the oldest heavyweight champion in history.

Though he was later stripped of his WBA and IBF titles for refusing to fight mandatory challengers, he remained the ‘lineal’ world champion.

He continued fighting until 1997, losing his final bout to Shannon Briggs at 48. Foreman retired with an astonishing 76-5 record, including 68 knockouts.

Life Beyond Boxing

Foreman successfully transitioned from sports icon to entrepreneur, most famously as the face of the George Foreman Grill, which sold over 100 million units worldwide.

His charm and affability in advertisements turned him into a household name beyond boxing.

A devoted preacher, he hosted the 1996 TV program Bad Dads, emphasizing the importance of fatherhood.

He was married four times and had 12 children.

His five sons were all named George Edward Foreman, a decision he explained as, “If one of us goes up, then we all go up together, and if one goes down, we all go down together!”

Legacy Cemented in Boxing History

Foreman’s impact on boxing and beyond remains indelible.

A two-time heavyweight champion, an Olympic gold medalist, a minister, an entrepreneur, and a loving family man—his life was one of triumph, redemption, and reinvention.

As the world mourns his passing, his legacy as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time remains firmly intact.

 

A yet-to-be-identified man has lost his life in a lone motorcycle accident at Ibafo along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State.

The spokesperson for the state Police Command, Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

Odutola said an officer from Ibafo Divisional Police reported the incident on Thursday.

According to Odutola, the accident occurred specifically at the NNPC Filling Station, Ibafo, situated along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“The crash involved a yellow Quic motorcycle, registration number unknown, and led to the immediate death of the rider, whose identity remains unknown.

“Preliminary investigations suggest the motorcyclist was travelling at high speed when he collided with a culvert near the fuel station.

“The collision caused the motorcycle to catch fire, resulting in it being completely burnt,” Odutola said.

The spokesperson said emergency responders, including officers from the Motor Traffic Police Unit, arrived swiftly to assess and manage the situation.

Odutola confirmed that the deceased’s body was transported to Real Divine Hospital Mortuary, Ibafo, while the burnt motorcycle was moved to the police station for further inspection by VIO.

She urged motorcyclists and all road users to obey speed limits and road safety regulations to avoid such tragic incidents.

“Investigations remain ongoing, and further updates will be shared with the public as deemed necessary,” she added.

NAN

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Barely 24 hours after surgery, the teenager shot on Monday by a landlord for jumping into his house to retrieve a ball during a game of football in his school field, Paul, has been pronounced dead by the medical team at the Specialist Hospital, Umuguma, Owerri.

Paul’s guardian, Mr Jonathan Odikanwa, a septuagenarian, told TheNigerian Metro that his ward passed away on Thursday afternoon.

TheNigerian Metro reported on Wednesday that Paul, 16 years old and a student of Urban Secondary School in the Area N, World Bank Housing area of Owerri had jumped over his school fence to retrieve a ball that entered the yet-to-be-identied landlord’s premises on Monday.

However, the property owner got offended and shot Paul in the waist, leaving him to battle for his life at the hospital.

Odikanwa had on Wednesday appealed to people to pray for the recovery of his ward as he was being wheeled into the theatre to find out where his bowel movements were impeded.

The distraught guardian wailed, “He has passed away. My son has passed away. The doctors just said they lost him. Even after the surgery yesterday (Wednesday), we had been hopeful that he would come around. My boy who had lived with me for over seven years had passed on”, he said in a pained voice.

According to him, the X-ray didn’t show the bullet in the body but doctors had to operate Paul when it was discovered that his bowel movements were impeded.

Though not a biological son of Odikanwa, Paul had lived with the Odikanwas for about eight years running from where he began schooling and was in JSS 1 at Urban Secondary School, Area N, World bank area of Owerri.

The Police Public Relations Officer for the Imo State Police Command, DSP Henry Okoye, confirmed the incident and the arrest of the landlord who shot the teenager.

The Police Command in Lagos State has confirmed that a suspected armed robber died in the hospital after being rescued from an attempted lynching.

The command’s spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this to newsmen on Monday in Lagos.

He stated that the incident occurred on Saturday at Akerele Junction in the Agege area of the state.

“On March 15, a distress call was received at Isokoko Division about a suspected armed robber who specialised in snatching mobile phones from commuters.

“The suspect was apprehended and beaten to a stupor by an angry mob, who were on the verge of lynching him,” Hundeyin said.

“Upon receiving the report, police teams were swiftly deployed to the scene. The mob fled upon sighting the police.

“The suspect, who had sustained severe injuries, was rescued and rushed to the hospital for treatment, where he later died,” the police spokesperson added.

He said that preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased and his accomplices, currently at large, allegedly stabbed a middle-aged woman and dispossessed her of her phone.

“The victim was immediately taken to the hospital, where she is currently receiving treatment.

“The hospital where she was admitted has been visited, and the victim has been examined and photographed,” Hundeyin stated.

He further confirmed that the deceased’s body had been moved to a public morgue by the Lagos State Health and Monitoring Unit.

According to him, efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal gang and those involved in the act of jungle justice.

Hundeyin assured that investigations into the case were in progress.

(NAN)

A 19-year-old woman has died following a dog attack at a flat in Bristol, police have confirmed.

The incident occurred around 19:00 GMT on Wednesday at a property on Cobhorn Drive, south Bristol, BBC reports on Thursday.

Two people, a man and a woman in their 20s, have been arrested on suspicion of offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act, including possession of a prohibited breed.

Officers sedated and seized the dog, which will be assessed by experts. While initial reports suggested it may be an XL Bully, police have stated that it is too early to confirm the breed.

A woman was jailed in 2017 after her dangerous dog savagely attacked 12 children in a UK park playground.

‘A Full Investigation Is Underway’

Insp Terry Murphy of Avon and Somerset Police expressed condolences to the victim’s family.

“Our thoughts, first and foremost, are with the family of the young woman who’s tragically died as a result of yesterday evening’s incident,” he said.

“A full investigation is now well underway to establish the full circumstances of the events that led to her death.”

He also assured residents that there will be an increased police presence in the area in the coming days.

‘Very Frightening’

Neighbours described a major emergency response at the scene.

Doreen Tovey, who lives on the street, said the incident was “very frightening.”

“I came out my house to see what all the commotion was,” she said.

“[There were] loads of police cars, riot van, ambulance across the road from me.”

Floral tributes have since been left at the scene.