A 77-year-old Nigerian Uber driver, Olatunji W. Bolaji, was shot and killed in a late-night ambush while attempting to pick up a passenger outside a hookah lounge in Philadelphia.

The fatal incident occurred just before 2 a.m. on Wednesday, April 15, outside Byblos Hookah Bar, according to CBS News.

Bolaji, who lived in Norristown, Pennsylvania, had arrived at the location to pick up a 22-year-old passenger when two men suddenly stepped out of a vehicle parked behind and opened fire, Philadelphia Chief Inspector Scott Small told reporters.

The suspects fired at least four shots, striking Bolaji in the head and injuring the passenger in the arm, leg, and stomach.

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Despite his injuries, Bolaji managed to drive away from the scene but crashed shortly after. Emergency responders performed life-saving procedures, but he was pronounced dead.

The passenger, whose name has not been released, is currently in critical condition and receiving treatment at a local hospital.

Investigators say there had been a physical altercation involving the passenger and the suspects shortly before the shooting.

“It appears that right before the shots were fired, there was some sort of physical altercation. It also appears that someone in that vehicle was targeted,” Chief Inspector Small said.

The suspects fled in a Jeep Grand Cherokee with Massachusetts license plates. As of the time of this report, they remain at large.

The Philadelphia Police Department is offering a $20,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest.

Bolaji is being remembered as a loving partner and father. A family friend told NBC10 Philadelphia that the family is heartbroken and demanding justice for the “senseless” killing.

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Uber has also responded to the incident:

“Our hearts break for the driver’s family and loved ones in the wake of this devastating loss. We’ve reached out to police to offer our support,” the company said in a statement.

The investigation is ongoing.

Leicester City have been relegated from the Premier League following a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool, marking a dramatic end to a turbulent campaign. The loss confirms the Foxes demotion to the Championship, joining Southampton as the second club to drop out of Englands top flight this season. It is a bitter blow for a club that, less than a decade ago, stunned the world by winning the Premier League title in 2016 and lifted the FA Cup just a few years later. Now, Leicester face their second relegation in three seasons, slipping into the label of a “yo-yo” club struggling to maintain top-flight consistency. The 202425 season has been one to forget for Leicester, marred by prolonged poor form and a lack of attacking threat. The team went more than 12 hours without scoring a home goal and secured just one win in their final 19 league fixtures, a run that sealed their fate long before the final whistle at Anfield. The season began under Steve Cooper, but the Welsh manager was dismissed after just 12 games. At the time of his departure, Leicester had not dropped into the relegation zone, winning two, drawing four, and losing six matches. Coopers exit made headlines not only for its timing but also due to a viral video showing Leicester players partying in a nightclub with signs referencing former boss Enzo Maresca, suggesting player discontent behind the scenes. Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy was brought in to steady the ship, but his appointment failed to spark a revival. Instead, Leicester tumbled into the relegation zone shortly after his arrival and remained there for nearly the entire second half of the campaign. Despite flashes of individual quality, the team lacked cohesion and resilience, ultimately paying the price for managerial upheaval and poor performances. The club now faces a critical summer as it prepares for life in the Championship, hoping to regroup and chart a path back to the Premier League.The post Leicester relegated from Premier League after disastrous season appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.

A civil society group, Save Democracy Vanguard (SDV), has appealed to the United Nations to intervene in the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

In a letter addressed to the United Nations Secretary-General and signed by Dr. Ali Mohammed Ali, Executive Director of SDV, the group described the situation in Rivers as a national emergency and accused the Federal Government of allowing the illegal suspension of democracy in Nigeria’s oil-rich state.

It warned that the country’s democracy is “on the red line” and could collapse if the international community fails to act now.

“This is no longer an internal matter. What we are witnessing in Nigeria, particularly in Rivers state, is a complete deviation from the democratic process. The international community must not look away while constitutional order is being dismantled with the silent backing of the federal authorities,” the letter partly reads.

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“A major Nigerian state has been handed over to the military in broad daylight. The installation of a sole administrator in place of elected officials and the removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara without due process amount to a civilian coup and should be treated as such.

“It is deeply troubling that while terrorists and bandits continue to sack communities and murder innocent citizens across several states without the declaration of emergency rule, the federal government chose to impose what is effectively military rule in Rivers over a political disagreement between two individuals.”

Rivers’ situation is a dangerous precedent

SDV described the actions in Rivers as setting a dangerous precedent that could destabilise the entire country if not addressed immediately.

“The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers is an assault on the will of the people. A state that voted for its leaders now finds itself under the grip of a single individual with no mandate. The sole administrator, Ibok-Eket Ibas, has sacked local government officials and heads of government institutions in the state and he’s ruling by decree. This is a tragedy for democracy in Africa’s most populous nation.”

The group noted that the crisis in Rivers has triggered widespread protests, particularly among women who have taken to the streets to demand the reinstatement of Governor Fubara and the restoration of democratic rule.

“Our mothers, sisters, and daughters in Rivers are leading peaceful demonstrations daily. They are crying out for justice, for democracy, and for the return of their elected governor. They are not only defending Fubara but defending the principle that power belongs to the people,” it added.

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On the economic front, the group said the ongoing crisis has crippled the state and discouraged investment.

“Businesses are shutting down. Workers are afraid. Contractors have fled. The state’s economy is at a standstill. No investor wants to operate in a state where the rule of law is suspended, and the constitution is optional.

“We are calling on the UN and all lovers of democracy to step in immediately. Nigeria’s democracy is bleeding; Rivers is the latest victim. If nothing is done, this Rivers experiment will spread to other states and the country may collapse into anarchy. The people have done their part—now, the international community must not fail them,” the group said.