Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Despite the public holiday declared by the Adamawa
State Governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako (retd.), the seven-man panel set up by the outgoing Acting Chief Judge, Justice Ambrose Mammadi, began sitting in Yola last Monday.
Though the public holiday was to cover Monday and Tuesday but members of the panel commenced sitting at the popular Hotel J&J Holiday Villa in Yola, the state capital, amid tight security provided by both land and air troops.
When the governor announced the public holiday on Sunday, he said the period would be devoted to prayers by the citizens and civil servants in view of the insecurity in the state but many had believed the move was to stave off the impeachment process against him.
Mammadi had last Friday set up the panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the governor and his deputy, Mr. James Ngilari. The acting CJ set up the investigative panel as requested by the Adamawa State House of Assembly.
Bauchi
Troops have taken the battle to Boko Haram insurgents,
destroying their bases in Balmo Forest, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said yesterday. Balmo is on the fringes of Sambisa Forest where over 200 Chibok girls are believed to be in captivity.
The military also confirmed that 44 insurgents were killed in encounters with troops in Kerenoa. The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, in a statement in Abuja, said the encounters between troops and the insurgents occurred at the weekend.
The statement said: “Troops have cleared and taken over Balmo Forest in a military operation that lasted throughout the weekend. Prior to the operation, Balmo Forest, stretching from Bauchi through Jigawa states, with links to the fringes of Sambisa Forest, was used by terrorists as bases and hideouts for launching attacks.
“Terrorists and armed gangs operating in the forests were completely routed out while some were captured during the operation. Among those captured were two foreigners who are suspected to be mercenaries. Also captured are several weapons and equipment, including power generating sets, communication equipment, vehicles, motorcycles, foodstuff and kitchen utensils.” It added.
Benue
Primary school teachers in Benue State, last Monday,
resumed classes after nine months of strike.
Our source who went round some public primary schools in the capital city of Makurdi also learnt that pupils abandoned classes. Teachers who resumed work sat in groups to share their experiences during the prolonged strike.
Speaking on their resumption, the head teachers of the visited schools, Mrs Esther Zaaya, Rebecca Yugh and Laadi Ngbegha respectively expressed optimism that the pupils might turn up before the week runs out.
The chairman of Parents/Teachers Association (PTA), CAC Nursery/Primary School, Wadata, Samson Oga, said he and other members had been going around to sensitise parents to ensure that their children/wards returned to school.
Gombe
Nigerian police recently uncovered a plot to bomb a
secondary school in the restive northeastern city of Gombe by defusing a car laden with explosives that had been abandoned there, a spokesman said.
Police bomb experts found 12 improvised explosives concealed in a car that was abandoned on the premises of the state-run Pilot Secondary School, following a tip-off, Fwaje Attajiri told newsmen.”Our ordnance experts discovered 12 IEDs (improvised explosive devices) in the trunk of the car left in the vicinity of the school after we were alerted,” he said.
“The explosives had the capacity of causing maximum damage and would have caused huge casualty had they detonated in the school with a high student population,” he said.
Attajiri said an investigation had been launched to establish who was behind the foiled attack, refusing to say if Boko Haram Islamists can be blamed.Boko Haram, which means Western education is forbidden in local Hausa, has carried out deadly attacks on schools in the volatile northeast as part of a five-year insurgency aimed at establishing an Islamic state in the north.
Kaduna
Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Nuhu Bajoga, has said
no opposition party, including, the All Progressives Congress (APC), can win governorship and other elections in the state in 2015, saying the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will sweep all elections in the state in 2015.
The deputy governor., who stated this at the weekend in Kwoi, Jaba Local Government Area of the state, during the party’s stakeholders’ meeting, said no opposition could challenge the PDP in the state.
He said despite moves by the new opposition party to obstruct the growing influence of the PDP, the ruling party had strategised on the modalities to counter the opposition.
He pointed out that the feat recorded by PDP since the return of democracy would be repeated because the party had remained the same since it was formed about 16 years ago.
Oyo
At least six persons, including a pregnant woman, were
crushed to death in an auto crash that occurred at Agbala junction area of Ibadan in Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State, recently.
Three vehicles were said to be involved in the accident that occurred some minutes past 7am.Although, the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, confirmed that three people, including a woman died, eyewitnesses said there were six casualties. There were also four people, including a child, who were seriously injured.
The accident happened on the ever-busy Ife Ibadan Road when a commercial car, with number plate, YNF 963 AA, reportedly crossed the road unexpectedly while the on coming vehicles ran into it.Confirming the accident, Mr. Abiodun Akinlade, the Egbeda Unit Commander of the FRSC said:
“The accident happened around 7:30 am on Ife Ibadan road at Agbala junction. It involved three vehicles, including Nissan Micra with number plate.
Osun
Some traditional rulers from Osun State have given
reasons why Oduduwa State must be listed among the 19 states recommended by the National Conference for creation by the Federal Government.
The proposed states listed by the conference to be created are Aba, from the present Abia State, Katagum from Bauchi State, Ijebu from Ogun State, Amana from former Sardauna Province, Apa from Benue State, Anioma State from Delta State, Savannah from Borno, Etiti from South-East, Njaba/Anim from Anambra and Imo States, Gurara from Kaduna, Ghari from Kano State, Adada, New Oyo from Oyo State, Orachi from Rivers State, Ogoja from Cross River State and Kanji from Kebbi and Niger States.
But the traditional rulers, in their memo to the leadership of the conference, said it would amount to injustice if states were created in the country without acceding to their demand.
Ondo
Academic and commercial activities at Rufus
Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) and the entire Owo town were halted following a protest by students of the institution over hike in school fees.
It was gathered that the students resolved to protest the conditions attached to writing exams and the recent unified test introduced by the management of the institution, after a students’ union stakeholders meeting held last Sunday.
Following the new fees introduced by the management, full time students, who are natives are expected to pay over N60,000, non-natives are to pay over 70,000, while newly admitted students are expected to pay over 90,000.
It was learnt that the management had directed that the students should commence a unified test effective from yesterday with the condition that only students who had paid their school fees would be allowed to write the test.
The development, however, provoked the students, who took to the streets yesterday morning, blocking the institution’s gate and preventing lecturers and other members of staff from gaining entry into the school premises.
Sokoto
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad
Abubakar III, said politicians were the main problem of Nigeria, stressing that the rising violence in the country had been caused by the undue struggle by politicians to position themselves ahead of the 2015 elections.
Speaking during a chat with reporters at a Ramadan dinner held in his palace in Sokoto Sunday night, the monarch maintained that the rising wave of violence and wanton killing of innocent citizens was geared towards the 2015 elections.
He pointed out that the incessant killing of innocent citizens was all politics, saying politicians were behind the myriad of problems ravaging the country.
“We are shedding too much blood of innocent Nigerians and God will not be pleased with us when we keep on shedding innocent blood because their cries mean a lot,” he said.
He said Nigerians must put aside their religion and ethnicity and come together to tackle the problems of the country.
Executive Secretary, National Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Mr Kennedy Opara (left), presenting a gift to Governor Saidu Dakiingari of Kebbi State, last Monday. Photo: NAN
The Head of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Port Harcourt’s College of Health Sciences, Prof Gabriel Sunday Oladipo, has underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to develop a comprehensive forensic science infrastructure, warning that the nation’s ability to investigate and solve crime is being hampered by lack of scientific data and systems.
In his inaugural lecture titled, “Man: Fearfully Different, Wonderfully Made,” delivered as part of the 207th Inaugural Lecture Series of the university, Prof Oladipo highlighted that while no two individuals are exactly the same, the country currently lacks the robust systems needed to collect and manage biological and anthropometric data that could support criminal investigations.
He explained that the natural variations among humans — from fingerprints to physical measurements — form the foundation of personal identification in forensic work. These biological differences, he said, are essential for distinguishing one person from another, especially in the context of criminal investigations where clarity of identity can mean the difference between justice and impunity. Without this scientific foundation, he argued, law enforcement agencies lack a critical tool in the fight against crime.
Experts have noted that Nigeria’s forensic science capacity has historically lagged behind needs, with only a few forensic facilities available and many law enforcement agencies struggling to access or use scientific evidence effectively. One review of the state of forensic investigation in Nigeria found that outdated facilities and limited adoption of modern forensic methods have left many cases unsolved or poorly investigated, even as crime rates rise across the country.
In Lagos, efforts to improve forensic capabilities have focused on DNA analysis, with the Lagos State DNA Forensic Centre — the first of its kind in West Africa — providing critical support for criminal investigations and helping to identify human remains, link related cases, and assist with paternity testing. However, such initiatives are yet to be replicated at a national scale, leaving many regions without access to these vital scientific tools.
Prof Oladipo’s lecture went beyond academic theory to propose concrete actions. He called for the establishment of a National Institute of Forensic Science responsible for creating and managing a nationwide anthropometric and forensic data bank. This repository, he stressed, would significantly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to track crime, assist law enforcement agencies, and improve the administration of justice by providing reliable scientific evidence for investigative and legal processes.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening research and training in forensic science. Many Nigerian universities currently lack the funding and infrastructure to offer complete undergraduate or postgraduate programs in areas such as forensic anthropology, DNA analysis, and crime scene investigation, a gap that forces aspiring experts to rely on collaborations with institutions abroad. By fostering a research-friendly environment and securing greater support from both government and private sectors, Nigerian institutions could produce homegrown experts capable of advancing forensic science in the country.
Awareness of forensic science’s role in criminal justice remains low among the general public and even among some security professionals. Studies have shown that a significant portion of Nigerians are unfamiliar with basic forensic concepts or the existence of tools such as DNA profiling and national forensic databases — tools that are common features of criminal justice systems in countries like South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Prof Oladipo also urged regular training and retraining programs to keep forensic practitioners updated with evolving scientific methods. According to him, continuous professional development is critical in a field where technological advances — from biometric databases to digital forensic tools — are transforming how crimes are investigated and solved.
The lecture was attended by academics, students, and professionals drawn to the intersection of science, identity, and justice, all of whom heard the professor make a compelling case for scientific innovation and institutional reform as central to Nigeria’s effort to contain crime and strengthen its justice system.
The event not only showcased Prof Oladipo’s expertise in human anatomy and forensic psychology but also positioned forensic science as a strategic national priority — one that could bring clarity to investigations, support victims and their families, and ultimately enhance public safety across Nigeria.
The University of Port Harcourt Women Association (UPWA) on Thursday staged a vibrant and memorable edition of its Annual Inter-House Sports Competition at the University of Port Harcourt Sports Village, drawing an impressive turnout of pupils, parents, staff and invited guests.
The event, organised by the UPWA International Group of Schools, brought together children from the pre-nursery, nursery and secondary sections in a colourful celebration of youth athleticism, discipline and teamwork. The arena came alive with cheers and excitement as pupils, clad in their various house colours, marched in a ceremonial parade before proceeding to compete in a wide range of track and field events, relays, novelty races and other team-based activities designed to promote physical fitness and healthy competition.
Declaring the competition open, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, commended UPWA for sustaining a tradition that continues to nurture young talents beyond the classroom. He noted that sports remain a critical component of holistic education, helping to build resilience, confidence, leadership skills and social interaction among children.
In her remarks, the President of UPWA, Professor Udeme Georgewill, expressed appreciation to parents, teachers and members of the organising committee for their dedication and sacrifice in ensuring the success of the programme despite prevailing economic challenges. She described the event as a reflection of unity and collective effort within the school community.
“This is the first time White House is emerging overall winner, and that shows remarkable improvement and great sportsmanship,” she said. “We all had fun. It is not easy putting an event like this together considering the economic situation, but we are grateful to the parents for being part of this journey. The excitement everywhere is truly heartwarming.”
The competition featured spirited participation from the various houses, including Purple House, San Chicago Red House and White House, with pupils demonstrating strength, speed, coordination and teamwork. Parents and supporters filled the stands, cheering enthusiastically and adding colour to the spectacle, while teachers ensured orderliness and safety throughout the proceedings.
Professor Georgewill emphasized that the true essence of sports lies not merely in winning trophies but in participation and personal growth. “Sports is not just about winning. It is an avenue for growth, discipline and opportunity. The fact that a child is able to participate is already a win. Losing this year does not mean you cannot win next year. Keep trying,” she encouraged, urging pupils to see both victory and defeat as stepping stones to greater achievements.
She further observed that while there are many competing interests in the Nigerian sports sector, consistent grassroots investment remains essential for discovering and nurturing future champions.
The colourful ceremony culminated in medal presentations, trophy awards and group photographs, with UPWA executives, including Vice President I, Professor Adedamola Onyeaso, joining the participating teams to celebrate the day’s achievements.
The annual inter-house sports competition continues to stand as one of UPWA’s flagship events, reinforcing its commitment to balanced education, character formation and the promotion of healthy lifestyles among its pupils.
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