Tyson Fury suffered a split-decision points defeat on a dramatic night in Saudi Arabia as Oleksandr Usyk became boxing’s first four-belt undisputed heavyweight champion.

On a grand stage and on a legacy-defining night, Briton Fury began well but was given a standing 10 count and saved by the bell after an Usyk onslaught in the ninth round.

In a tense wait for the scorecards to be read out, Fury appeared convinced of victory before a stony-faced Usyk broke down in tears when he was confirmed as the winner.

The scorecards read 115-112 and 114-113 for the Ukrainian, with a third judge scoring it 114-113 to Fury.

The renowned pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organization, Afenifere, has said there is an urgent need by the Federal Government and security agencies to be more innovative and decisive.

Afenifere stated this in a statement on Saturday while reacting to the recent reports of banditry and kidnapping in Ogun, Edo, Ekiti, Oyo, Kogi, Zamfara, and Niger States.

The statement issued by Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, urged President Bola Tinubu to take proactive actions towards tackling the ravaging security issues.

Recall that on Monday, May 13, about eight cocoa farmers were kidnapped at Marindoti Cocoa Farmers’ Settlement in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State.

Three students of Millicent Secondary School in the same area on their way to write their Senior Secondary School Examination, were also kidnapped on the same day.

There have been other incidents of kidnapping and other criminal activities across the country recently.

Reacting, Afenifere said that there is the urgent need to dig deep into the roots of the menace and to be decisive in applying the necessary measures.

Part of the statement reads, “The starting point is to probe into the motivation for kidnapping and related banditry. Three identified motives are economic, ideology and politics. Each of these has sub-strata and sometimes interlopers.

“For instance, the economic factor of banditry could have a territorial claim as an underpinning. It can also be as a result of some interests wanting to assert political superiority.

“These are relatively easier to deal with if the authorities and the people in the given area are committed to dealing with it.

“The other aspect is one based on ideology. Most of the time such an ideology is religious or faith-based. In a situation where a given person is brainwashed to believe that only those who share the same ideology with them are qualified to live freely, the authorities and the society have a lot of work to do.

“As stated, sometimes the line between economic, ideological and political reasons for terrorism or kidnapping gets blurred. While the reason may sometimes not be so clear-cut, the means of subduing the menace can be handy if the authorities are desirous of putting an end to the menace”.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the last election, Peter Obi, has paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Nollywood actor, Junior Pope.

The former Anambra State governor also signed the condolence register.

Nollywood actor and former spokesperson of the Labour Party presidential campaign council, Kenneth Okonkwo, shared pictures and videos from the visit on his Instagram page ON Saturday afternoon.

He captioned the pictures and videos: ” HE Peter Obi arrived at the residence of John Paul Odonwodo Junior Pope, to pay his condolences to his family over the sad, and untimely departure of their child, brother, husband and father. He consoled his mother, Mrs Maria Odonwodo, the widow, Jennifer, and his children.”

Recall that Junior Pope died on April 10, 2024, alongside three others after their boat capsized on the Anam River in Anambra State while returning from a film location.

He was laid to rest at his hometown, Ukehe in Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State, on Friday.