Williams and Solomon break the national record and triumph in the Jos cross country race

Kefas Williams and Blessing Sshambor Solomon, two runners from the Plateau State, have won the Jos Cross Country, the first-ever cross-country race in Nigeria sponsored by Nilayo Sports Management Limited.

Kefas finished first among men in 31 minutes, 38 seconds. He received a cash award of $300.

Stephen Joshua, who finished in second place, did it in 31 minutes, 28 seconds. He received N200,000.

Emmanuel Gyang, who finished in third position, did so in 32 minutes, 01 seconds. He received N100,000.

The men’s race was so fiercely fought that elite Nigerian athletes took first place through sixth place.
Paul James Pam (32:39:08), Solomon Nyango (33:19:69), James Gyang Gwon (33:25:93), Simon Markus (33:26:10), Nyango Gyang (33:31:49), and Iliya Pam (33:39:69) were among the pre-event favorites who ran 33 minutes or less.

Pam, led the field for four lapses out of five, only to be overtaken by Solomon in the fifth lap. The Plateau state athlete didn’t look back to cross the finish line at 38minutes 36:12 seconds. She got N300,000.

Pam, who finished at 38minutes 47:37 seconds blamed fatigue from road travel from Lagos as hindrance. She got N200,000.

In third place was Grace Dalum, who finished at 39minutes 10:91 second. She got cash prize of N100,000.

Winners from the 4th place to 10th positions all got cash prizes from the sponsors, Nilayo Sports Management Limited. A total N2million cash prizes was shared among the winners.

The Zonal Coordinator, North Central in the Sports Ministry, Mrs. Deborah Pitman represented the Honourable Minister of Sports at the event.

All the Elite runners that participated in the Jos Cross Country Championship together with the event’s Coordinator, Chief Tony Osheku, commended the Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Chief Bukola Olopade, for sponsoring the Jos Cross Country competition, which has opened the eyes of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, and indeed the Sports Ministry to host a championship that would benefit the fortunes of Nigeria long distance performances in international races.

‘Strange herdsmen have invaded our lands’ – Ondo Communities

Traditional leaders in Ondo State’s Ose Local Government Area have urged security organizations to increase security in the area’s villages due to an invasion of what they have dubbed “strange herdsmen”.

Eight people were killed in an attack on three towns last month, according to Adetunji Adeleye, commander of the Ondo Amotekun Corps, who claimed that several herders were driven to neighboring states after the attacks.

The traditional rulers, in a message to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, after a stakeholders meeting, said there was a spike in attacks on farmers, kidnapping, rape and the destruction of farmlands.

They said activities of the strange herdsmen have been hindering preparation for the new planting season

The traditional rulers of the region, including Olute of Ute, Oba Oluwole Akinrongbe, Olumoru of Imoru, Oba ‘Rotimi Obamuwagun, Arujale Ojima of Okeluse, Oba Oloyede Akinghare, and Odibiado of Ijagba, Oba Andrew Okioya, claimed that farmers who were supposed to mobilize for the new farming season had been driven from their farms by heavily armed miscreants.

The state administration and security agencies were urged by the royal fathers to act quickly to put an end to unjustified attacks on nearby towns, villages, and settlements.

“That the frequency, intensity, and scope of unjustified attacks on cities, villages, and communities in the southern Ose Local Government Area are extremely ominous and humiliating.

“These recurring/constant attacks typically leave in their aftermath huge destruction of lives, properties, fires, rapes of married women, teenagers, and minors, kidnapping, murder, etc.”