Nation
THE STATES
Borno
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has mourned the death of elder statesman, Alhaji Bukar Mandara, describing him as a true nationalist and philanthropist.
Mandara died after a protracted illness at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) last Sunday, and he was buried on Monday at the Gwange Cemetery in the Maiduguri metropolis.
Shettima, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Communications, expressed shock over Mandara’s death, saying he was a man who worked tirelessly for the interest of the less privileged. “I received the death of Mandara with a total shock, although as a Muslim we believe that death is a necessary end to all humans,’’ he said.
FCT
The Lagos State Christian Pilgrim Welfare Board has been adjudged the most outstanding state in the promotion of self-sponsorship of Christian pilgrimage in the 2012 exercise.
Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Mr John-Kennedy Opara, announced this at the joint conference of states pilgrims’ welfare boards and the commission in Abuja.
Rivers State was honoured for sponsoring the highest number of pilgrims; Borno State was recognised for its resilience in sponsorship of pilgrims in spite of daunting challenges while Benue was adjudged the most organised state.
Opara said that the honoured states had been consistent in their contributions to the smooth conduct of the 2012 exercise, and noted that the recognition was aimed at spurring the boards to work harder.
He said that the NCPC was committed to encouraging states welfare boards to organise intending pilgrims in a manner that appealed to requirements of both Nigerian and Israeli authorities.
In his address, the Chairman of the commission, Most Rev Nicholas Okoh, charged the secretaries and chairmen of the states boards to work hard in improving the spirituality of pilgrims in their respective states.
Gombe
The Pantami Magistrates’ Court in Gombe State has sen- tenced five persons to one month imprisonment each with an option to pay N1,000 fine each for breaking traffic law.
They are Abubakar Umar of Bakin Kura, Bauchi; Idriss Audu of Kabusa of FCT and Yohana Kalim of Tula Wange, Kaltungo local government area of Gombe. Others are Saidu Kabir and Mohammed Garba both of Tudun Wada Quarters, Gombe.
The convicts were sentenced based on their guilty plea and plea for leniency. Police prosecutor Sardauna Pukuma had told the court that the convicts were arrested on April 6, at about 8 p.m.
He alleged that the convicts drove different types of vehicles on the Gombe-Bauchi Federal Highway and disobeyed Police officers on stop and search, stating that the offence contravened the provisions of section 62 (J) of the Road Traffic Regulation (RTR).
Jigawa
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) last Tuesday, appealed to farmers in Jigawa State to ensure effective utilisation of facilities provided them by the fund to boost agricultural activities in the state.
The IFAD Country Programme Manager, Atsuko Tudo, made the call while presenting work bulls and other agricultural processing equipment to some farmers in Kiyawa local government area of the state.
IFAD had in March disbursed N180 million to 36 village areas to facilitate the implementation of its Community Based Agriculture and Rural Development Programme (CBARDP) in the state.
She said that the programme was designed to reduce poverty, provide means of livelihood and encourage agricultural activity and rural development.
Kaduna
Kaduna State branch of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) last Tuesday expressed concern over the lack of cooperation among workers in the health sector.
The chairman of the union in the state, Mr Emmanuel Wudiri, expressed the concern at a news conference in Kaduna to mark the union’s health week.
Wudiri said the situation had contributed to the series of failures in tackling the healthcare challenges in the country.
He stressed the need for synergy among health professionals to ensure effective and efficient health care services in the country.
Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso of Kano State has assured non- indigenes resident in the state of adequate security of their lives and property.
Kwankwaso gave the assurance when the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Gary Nnachi, paid him a courtesy call in Kano last Tuesday.
The state Commissioner for State Affairs, Alhaji Aminu Abdussalam, who received the Igbo leader on behalf of the governor, said the state government would continue to accord priority to security to ensure economic growth and development of the state.
Katsina
The Police Commissioner in Katsina State, Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji, has confirmed the attack of a police station at Ingawa local government area in Katsina State,
Magaji told newsmen in Katsina last Tuesday, that the intention of the gunmen, he described, as robbers, was to take away the police arms, and stated that one of the Improvised Explosive Devises (IEDs) fell on the roof of the police station and ignited the fire that destroyed the building.
“There is no casualty on the part of the police, but some of the suspects escaped with wounds and we have recovered five IEDs and three motorcycles. “We are pursuing them and we have alerted our neighbouring states and we are going to arrest them, God willing,’’ the commissioner said.
An eyewitness said that the incident occurred at about 9.30pm on Monday, adding that the gunmen, numbering about 10, invaded the police station and threw several IEDs at the building, one of which detonated.
Kebbi
The Secretary to Kebbi State Government, Alhaj Nurudeen Kangiwa, says the state government would partner with recognised professional security outfits to enhance security in the state.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Services Department, Alhaji Sani Sarki, Kangiwa gave the assurance when he received officials of the National Peace Corps and National Vigilante Groups in Birnin Kebbi last Tuesday.
He commended the security outfits for their decision to enhance peace and security and peaceful co-existence, adding “we commend your resolve that is centred on preventive measures on security.”
The National Commandant of the Peace Corps, Dr. Dickson Akoh, said the corps was recognised by the Federal Ministries of Education and Youth Development, while UNESCO and the UN had recognised its training methods.
Lagos
A downpour in Lagos last Tuesday caused flooding in some parts of the metropolis, resulting in traffic gridlock on several roads, which left many commuters stranded at bus stops for hours.
Some of the affected areas include Ajegunle in Ikorodu, Ikotun, Ikorodu Road, Alaka, Carter Bridge, Mushin , Ebute-Meta and Ile-epo along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
Some motorists and commuters said that the flood on some of the major roads resulted in some vehicles breaking down, which affected the free flow of traffic.
A civil servant, Mrs Mary Udoh, said she was stranded in the rain for hours because most of the commercial buses had parked for fear of getting damaged.
Governor Mu’azu Aliyu of Niger State has called on the Federal Government to increase the funding of the National Population Commission to enable it effectively discharge its duties.
Speaking in Minna at the workshop on the review and evaluation of the 2006 population and housing census, Aliyu noted that national planning and development have been frustrated by manipulation of census figures over the years in Nigeria.
According to the governor, the manipulation of census figures of the country’s population has made it impossible to get an accurate figure of the populace since 1963.
Aliyu said that many Nigerians see census only in terms of ‘sharing the cake’ based on the mono culture of ‘oil money’ instead of laying emphasis on ‘baking the cake’.
Ogun
An Abeokuta Chief Magistrates Court has remanded in Ibara Prison a 33-year-old security guard, Mulero Ogunleru, for allegedly beheading a mad woman.
The Police Prosecutor, A S P Paul Etusi, told the court that the accused committed the offence on January 28 at about 5 p.m. at Ishaga Orile in Abeokuta. He said that the accused unlawfully killed a woman by cutting off her head with a cutlass.
“ Ogunleru was sighted by several eye witnesses at the same spot where the madwoman was murdered earlier in the day. “ He was said to be playing with her”, Etusi said.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened Sections 316 and 319 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006. The accused, whose plea on the one-count charge of murder was not taken by the court, had no counsel.
Ondo
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State in Akure,last Tuesday, enjoined the judiciary to ensure speedy dispensation of justice, to restore the hope of the masses.
Mimiko during the opening of a three-day stakeholders’ workshop organised by the state judiciary, expressed concern over the delay in dispensation of cases in the country, adding that the workshop would reverse the situation in the state. According to Mimiko, the procedure, which is affidavit evidence based, will avert lengthy cross examination of witnesses as they will now rely only on adoption of his affidavit.
“With this, many of the civil cases in our various high courts will now be quickly dispensed with.
Sotoko
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 10, Sokoto, Alhaji Sule Mamman, said measures had been put in place to control the importation of arms.
Mamman said in Sokoto, last Tuesday, that officers were posted to border towns of Illelah, Sabon Birni, Isa, Gudu and Tangaza in Sokoto State.
He also said that some were deplored to Kamba, Kangiwa, Bagudu and Augie in Kebbi.
“They were briefed on security methods to be adopted to ensure the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the nefarious business.”
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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