Nation

THE STATES

Published

8 years ago

October 20, 2017

Borno
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it has arrested a 24-year-old tricylist, Isah Ma’azu for allegedly snatching 15 cell phones from housewives in Maiduguri. The Commandant of the Corps, Ibrahim Abdullahi disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri.
Abdullahi said that the suspect was apprehended by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and handed over to the Corps.
He said the suspect had swindled 15 cellphones and other valuable items from married women in the metropolis.
He explained that the suspect was disguising as an errand boy and going to the victims’ matrimonial homes under the pretext of delivering shopping or food items from their husbands.

FCT
The Acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu will speak at the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria’s maiden anti-corruption workshop scheduled for November.
A statement by ALGON last Tuesday in Abuja said that former Secretary-General of Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Rev. Fr. George Ehusani would also speak at the occasion.
The statement signed by the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of ALGON, Mr Odunayo Ategbero said that the workshop would hold from November 9 to November 10 at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre, Abuja. Ategbero said that Magu would take the anti-corruption awareness to the grassroots as he would speak to principal operators of the 774 local governments of the federation.

Kebbi
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says it has provided relief assistance to the recent Kebbi State flood victims. It could be recalled that about 100 households were affected by the flood in Dole-Kaina area of Dandi Local Government Area of the state sometime in September.
The Director-in-charge of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Paul Ohenmu who presented the relief materials to the victims in Birnin Kebbi last Tuesday, said the assistance was meant to alleviate their sufferings.
“This is just a token to alleviate your suffering; we know that it will not be enough to take care of the disaster, but just for you to know that the Federal Government sympathises with you,” Ohenmu said.

Kogi
The Kogi State Government has described as false, rumours that some unidentified men are infecting children with monkey pox virus in schools in the guise of vaccination.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Audu in a statement by his media aide, Mr Audu Haruna last Tuesday in Lokoja said that government had investigated the claim and found that it was untrue.
According to him, “the rumour is baseless and unfounded, as it is similar to the rumour that gripped Abia, Enugu and Imo a few days back.’’
“The only parts of Kogi where we have an ongoing vaccination exercise is in Yagba West, which will soon be extended to two contiguous wards in Yagba East Local Government Area.

Kwara
A Librarian in the Kwara State Library, Mr Yisa Eleshinnla has urged the State Government to restore the electronic library (e-library) in the library.
Eleshinnla told newsmen in Ilorin last Tuesday that the state e-library had been down for the past seven years and pleaded for its resuscitation. According to him, e-library is needed to enhance students’ performance in their academic fields of study, especially at this present computer age.
government has included the innovation project of the library in the state budget. He attributed the non-functioning of the e-library to mismanagement of facilities and equipment. “But, we have written a lot of memos to the government on this e-library project, but there has not been any positive response.
“E-library has to do with laptops, Internet and stable electricity, but they are all not working”, Yisa said.

Lagos
A creative expert, Temitope Olagbegi has identified too much concentration on politics and entertainment as major factors distracting youths from academic pursuit.
Olagbegi, the Creative Director, Sixth Sense, Lagos, in an interview with newsmen in Lagos said “it has negative impact on their intellectual development’’.
She spoke on the sidelines of the Guardian of Hope (GOH) Foundation Excellence Award for Medical and Surgery Emergency Workers of the Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja. According to her, the over-concentration is luring more youths to the “Get Rich Quick Syndrome’’, which most youths are now embracing in to the detriment of their integrity and diligence.

Nasarawa
A first class traditional ruler in Nasarawa State, Dr Ayuba Audu has advised parents against early marriage of their female children to enable them acquire quality education. Audu, the Zhe Migili of Migili nation, Nasarawa State gave the advice last Tuesday in an interview with newsmen in Jenkwe, Jenkwe Development Area of the state.
He appealed to parents and guardians to strive to provide high-quality education for their female wards for the overall development of the country. The Zhe Migili cited the example of Prof. Dinatu Iwala of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, who became the first female professor of the Migili people to buttress his position.

Niger
The Niger State Child Rights Protection Agency has announced the arrest of eight persons suspected of raping four girls in Minna. The Director-General of the Agency, Mrs Mairam Kolo, told journalists last Tuesday that the victims were teenagers hawking wares on the street.
She gave the names of the suspects as : Yahaya Yakuso (50) Yusuf Idris (35) Tukur Buhari ( 35) Mohammed Yusuf, (25) Musa Ibrahim (35) Nasir Abubakar (35) Isah Garba (29) and Ibrahim (30). According to her, the suspects were arrested following series of surveillance by the agency’s officials and tip off from other stakeholders that a gang of rapists were sexually abusing the girls.

Ogun
The Chancellor of Covenant University, Ota, Dr David Oyedepo has advised tertiary institutions to train thinkable leaders that would provide immediate solutions to the nation’s current challenges. He said that these leaders must “first turn themselves into critical thinkers to reproduce young scholars that will sustain that thinking culture.”
Oyedepo gave the advice at the 54th Meeting of Committee of Deans of Postgraduate Schools (CDPGS) in Nigerian Universities held in his institution last Tuesday.

Ondo
The 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Akure has debunked rumours of harmful vaccination being conducted by some people believed to be soldiers in Ondo State.
There was pandemonium in primary and secondary schools in the state which made parents and guardians to withdraw their children and wards, when rumours filtered in that harmful vaccination was being administered on children.
The Brigade’s Spokesperson, Major Ojo Adenegan said this in a statement issued last Tuesday in Akure.
”The attention of 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure has been drawn to the fake information making rounds in Ondo State that soldiers are administering poisonous vaccine on pupils and students of primary and secondary schools in the state,” Adenegan said.

Plateau
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Plateau State chapter has decried the lack of unity among Christians, and declared that the travails of the faithful would only worsen if the Church remained divided.
“The Church today is faced with a lot of problems, but the major one is lack of unity. The challenges are massive; we can only tackle them if we are united and speak with one voice,” Dr. Soja Bewarang, its Chairman, said on Tuesday.
Bewarang spoke at the 2017 Unity Service and Prayer, organised for Christians in the Central Senatorial Zone of the state, and held in Bokkos.
The service, an annual event held in the three senatorial zones of Plateau, is targeted at bringing all Christians together to encourage them to pray for peace, progress and tranquility.

Sokoto
The outgoing UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office for Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi States, Mohammed Muhuiddin says that there is over 50 per cent decrease in number of out-of-school children in Sokoto State. Muhuiddin made the disclosure last Tuesday at a reception organised in his honour by the Sokoto State Government after the completion of his tour of duty. He said that the number of out-of-school children in Sokoto State which he noted was the highest in the country, had dropped from 69 per cent in 2015 to 37 per cent in 2017.
“The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) for 2016 to 2017 showed that Sokoto State has made appreciable progress, resulting in over 50 per cent cut in the number of out-of-school children.
“It gladdens my heart, seeing the commitment shown by the political leadership and the technical teams set up by the government to work with UNICEF and partner with various sectors for the children of the state”, he said.

Nation

Kwara Community Residents Flee Over Persistent Bandits’ Attacks

Published

1 day ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

Residents of Omugo Community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have deserted their homes due to persistent bandit attacks.
The Tide’s source reports that the once lively community has turned into a ghost town with only a few domestic animals left.
Reports indicate that the recent bandits’ attack on the Omugo ECWA Church via Oro-Ago, led to the abduction of eight worshippers including the wife of the pastor in charge.
Three persons escaped out of the eight abductees with a N1billion ransom placed on the remaining victims in captivity. The community could only gather N1million which was rejected by the bandits.
Last week, the armed bandits invaded Oro-Ago community, killed one vigilante man identified as Baba Ibeji and injured his younger brother known as Ajere.
A Point of Sales, PoS, shop directly opposite the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Divisional office, was broken into by the bandits.
The gunmen also attacked the NSCDC office and sprayed bullets on the facility, though no casualty was recorded.
In earlier attacks on Oro-Ago environs, armed bandits ambushed a convoy between Oro-Ago and Oke-Ayan in Ilere district of Ifelodun Local Government Area and killed two local hunters on escort duty.
On Saturday, there was tension in Oro-Ago following a security alert that armed bandits were regrouping to launch fresh attacks on the community.
All security formations were, however, placed on ‘Red Alert’ to forestall the planned attack.

Nation

Acting Provost Dismisses Alleged Missing Equipment Claims at Rivers Health College

Published

2 days ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

The Acting Provost of the Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology, Dr. (Mrs.) Peace Chigozirim Amadi has refuted claims circulating in the media suggesting that laboratory equipment went missing from the college.

In a recent statement, Dr. Amadi described the reports—particularly those attributed to certain publications—as false and misleading. She emphasized that all laboratory equipment at the college remain intact.

“I am here to set the record straight. No laboratory equipment disappeared from my college. Nothing is missing,” Dr. Amadi said, challenging anyone with contrary claims to provide evidence, including the names of the equipment and their supposed locations.

She further noted that the college recently underwent an accreditation exercise, during which significant investments were made in laboratory equipment. According to Dr. Amadi, these items are fully accounted for, and the college maintains a robust security system to protect its assets.

“Everything is intact. Nothing disappeared. The information being circulated is false and should be discarded,” she reiterated.

Beyond addressing the allegations, Dr. Amadi also called on media practitioners to exercise professionalism and verify stories before publication. “I want to plead with journalists to always verify their stories. Junk journalism does not help anyone. No matter the information you receive, it is important to hear the other side before publishing,” she said.

While social media posts have occasionally raised concerns about various issues in the region’s health education sector, including extortion and examination malpractice at related institutions, there is no independent evidence from credible news sources confirming that equipment went missing from Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology.

The college, a public tertiary institution based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is accredited to offer a variety of health-related programs, including Nursing, Midwifery, Laboratory Technology, and Environmental Health. It has consistently emphasized integrity, safety, and transparency in its operations.

Dr. Amadi’s statement seeks to reassure the public, students, and stakeholders that the college remains secure, well-managed, and free from the alleged equipment losses, while urging journalists to prioritize accuracy in reporting.

Nation

HYPREP Reaffirms Commitment to Safe Water Supply In Ogoni

Published

1 week ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

As the world commemorates World Water Day, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has reaffirmed its commitment to providing potable water across Ogoni communities, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on the Ogoni Environment.

In a statement issued by its Project Coordinator, Nenibarini Zabbey, on March 22, 2026, HYPREP noted that this year’s theme, “Water and Gender,” alongside the campaign slogan, “Where Water Flows, Equity Grows,” underscores its resolve to extend potable water supply beyond oil-impacted communities to all Ogoni communities.

Zabbey emphasized that access to clean water is a fundamental human right, adding that HYPREP remains committed to ensuring inclusive and equitable water access across the region.

He disclosed that the agency has successfully provided potable water to over 43 communities in Ogoni, while ongoing Phase 3 water projects are expected to benefit an additional 17 communities. He also highlighted steady progress on windmill-powered water projects in less populated areas, particularly in Khana Local Government Area.

According to him, the K-Dere Water Project, which is over 99 percent complete, will be commissioned in the coming weeks, even as work continues on other water schemes across Ogoni.

Zabbey further noted that HYPREP’s interventions are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.

To ensure sustainability, he explained that the agency has adopted a joint management model involving host communities, the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, and the Rivers State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RSSTOWA). He added that Water Consumers’ Associations have been established in communities such as Nchia and Eleme, alongside training programmes conducted in collaboration with non-governmental organisations.

The Project Coordinator stressed the importance of community ownership and protection of water facilities, echoing the call by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, for residents to safeguard the infrastructure provided in their areas.

Zabbey expressed optimism that the ongoing efforts will significantly improve access to safe drinking water, reduce waterborne diseases, and enhance public health outcomes across Ogoni communities.