Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Armed policemen averted an attempt by some youths to burn down Adamawa Broadcasting Corporation in Yola yesterday.
The mob stormed the station over a popular Hausa language entertainment programme.
In the programme entitled, “Taba Kidi Taba Karatu,” its producer, Alhaji Adamu Katakore interviewed a lady who identified herself simply as Hajiya.
She claimed to have contacts with three Holy prophets and that she was the mother of one of them.
General Manager of the ABC, Mr Ayuba Tumba, described the incident as unfortunate.
“We saw hell. The timely intervention of the police saved the station and its staff.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Ms Altine Daniel, confirmed the incident and called for calm, saying the police were investigating the matter.
Meanwhile, normal broadcasting has since resumed in the station.
Bauchi
A Bauchi High Court yesterday struck out a criminal case filed by the state government seeking an order to arrest Alhaji Ahmed Muazu, the former Governor.
Delivering judgment in Bauchi, Justice Kunesa Hamidu, said the ex-parte motion filed by the state government against Muazu lacked merit and therefore, struck out the case.
He said the grant of an order to arrest Muazu was a discretionary power, which ought to be exercised pending the determination of a substantive case before the court.
Hamidu said that in line with the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), to issue an order for the arrest of an accused could only be exercised when the court believed that the accused had absconded or will not obey court summons.
He observed that an affidavit of service tendered as exhibit before the court, which states that “all efforts made to serve Muazu proved abortive because his security and thugs refused to allow the bailiff to go near him,’’ was contrary to the CPC.
Ekiti
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr Adeniyi Olajide, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate for the Moba Constituency 1 by-election held on Wednesday in Ekiti State, as the winner.
Announcing the results in Otun-Ekiti, Moba Local Government Area of the state, the INEC Returning Officer, Mr David Arabambi, said Olajide polled 4,837 votes to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Mr Gboye Afilaka, who got 2,568 votes.
The Labour Party candidate, Mr Babatunde Yinka, had 239 votes.
The election took place in 49 polling units in five wards which had 25,753 registered voters.
The seat became vacant following the death of the former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Saliu Adeoti (ACN), on October 27 after a protracted illness.
FCT
The FCT Command of the NDLEA yesterday paraded a 20-year-old student of Delta State University who was caught with 498kg of Indian hemp.
The FCT NDLEA Commander, Mrs Omolade Omole, who paraded the suspect in Gwagwalada, said he was arrested on the Abuja-Lokoja road.
She said the suspect was conveying the drug in a 406 Peugeot car with a fake Federal Government registration number, FG 28D50.
Omole said the drug was being conveyed from Akure, Ondo State, to Maiduguri before it was intercepted in Abuja.
She said two 406 cars with fake Federal Government registration numbers were used in the trafficking, with one of them escaping.
“Immediately we intercepted the second 406 car, we sent intelligence report to our offices in Maduguri, Jos and Yobe.
“The first vehicle has also been intercepted in Maiduguri with 450 wraps of Indian hemp.
“Efforts are being made to ensure that the suspect in Maiduguri and the one at large in Abuja are arrested,” she said.
Kaduna
Fifteen out of the 17 governorship aspirants in the North-West zone have been screened by the People Democratic Party (PDP), an official said yesterday in Kaduna.
The party began the screening of governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly aspirants nationwide on Tuesday.
The national secretariat of the party had set up a five-member committee to conduct the exercise for all those contesting in the 2011 general elections on its platform.
Mr Baba Lawal, the PDP Zonal Secretary and Secretary of the Screening Committee, told newsmen at the end of the exercise in Kaduna that two aspirants did not appear before the committee.
Lawal said the exercise was scheduled to last for two days in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the party’s guidelines.
He gave the names of the governors of Zamfara and Kaduna states, Alhaji Mahmuda Shinkafi and Mr Patrick Yakowa, as well as Hajiya Mairo Habib as the early aspirants who kept to time.
Others who appeared before the committee were the governors of Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina and Jigawa, Alhaji Sa’idu Dakingari, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema and Alhaji Sule Lamido respectively.
Similarly, a former Minister of State for Information, Alhaji Ikra Bilbis, from Zamfara, is challenging the incumbent governor.
Besides, Alhaji Suleiman Hunkuyi and Alhaji Shu’aibu Mikati from Kaduna State as well as Alhaji Rabi’u Kwankwanso from Kano State honoured the invitation.
Other contenders from Kano State who were screened included Alhaji Bello Mohammed, Alhaji Adamu Suma’ila, retired Col. Habibu Shu’aibu and Alhaji Mohammed Kabir.
However, Rep. Faruk Lawal and Alhaji Yaro Farakwai from Kano and Kaduna states respectively could not make the screening for unknown reasons.
Lagos
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola, yesterday urged Lagosians to work hand-in-hand with the government to ensure the total eradication of polio in Nigeria.
Speaking in Lagos at a stakeholders Town Hall Meeting on the eradication of polio, Fashola said that the responsibility of immunising children should not rest solely on the shoulders of their mothers.
“Both parents should be concerned about taking their newborns to the nearest primary healthcare centre to have them vaccinated,” he said.
The governor urged parents to boil and filter water before drinking it and ensure that toilets and bathrooms are kept clean.
“It is a continuing agitation and the battle is not won until we kick polio out of Nigeria,” he said.
Plateau
The Federal Government has blamed the incessant crises in some parts of Nigeria on the proliferation of small arms.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Salamatu Suleiman said this at a sensitisation workshop on small arms in Jos, yesterday.
She said government was worried about the persistent ethnic and religions crises; hence it was taking steps to end the proliferation.
“It is sad that small quarrels that should be settled quietly snowball into violent dimensions simply because there are arms in circulation.
“Our community leaders and other stakeholders need to sensitise their wards on the dangers and negative effects of these small and light weapons they are holding and using,” she said.
Suleiman said it was to check the trend that the Federal Government, in 2008, endorsed the ECOWAS Convention on Control and Prevention of Small and Light Weapons (SALW).
”It is high time we rose to the challenge and take concrete and practical action to curb the menace of proliferation of SALW in Nigeria so as to bring about meaningful development,” she said.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Martins Uhomoihi, said that an estimated 630 million illegally acquired SALW were in circulation.
“The sectarian crises in Jos, the Niger Delta as well as the ‘boko haram’ attacks are results of these dangerous weapons,’’ he observed.
Sokoto
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Sokoto says intelligence officers have been deployed in the metropolis to carry out surveillance during the Christmas period.
Altai Amino Kofar-Soro, Sokoto State Commandant of the Corps, told newsmen in Sokoto yesterday that the measure was to enhance security in the state during the period.
Kofar-Soro said that NSCDC, alongside other security outfits, were working hard to sustain the peace in the state.
According to him, units commanders in the 23 local government areas of the state have been briefed on security methods to be adopted in their respective areas of jurisdictions.
“We are working like a family to ensure peaceful co-existence among the good people of Sokoto State,” he said.
Kofar-Soro called on the people to support the efforts of the security agencies by reporting any suspected character to the nearest security office for prompt action.
“We are battle ready to ensure peace, progress and political stability in our areas of assignment,” he said.
The commandant also solicited the support of stakeholders in promoting security situation in the state.
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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