Nation
THE STATES
Ekiti
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State said that
the vacuum left by his late deputy, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka, had remained unfilled.
Fayemi made the remark at the first year remembrance service held in memory of the former state deputy governor at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Ado-Ekiti.
He said that he and the entire state would continue to miss the selfless services as well as robust contributions she used to render while alive.
Fayemi promised to stand by the pledge he made during the deceased’s funeral a year ago not to abandon her parents, children and other members of her immediate family.
FCT
A group, Women Arise, has called on authorities to
arrest what it described as targeted ritual killings and kidnapping of women in the South West.
The group said in a statement in Abuja signed by its President, Dr Okei Joe-Odumakin, that it was disturbing that victims of latest incidents were mostly women.
“While we are yet to recover from the rude blow we got from the Ejigbo pepper torture, sodomy and murder case in Lagos State, a new outbreak of this bestiality around the South West is quite disturbing.
“At Soka in Ibadan, the kidnappers’ den of horror was discovered where several people had been held hostage.
Kaduna
Bishop Mathew Ndagoso, the Catholic Bishop of
Kaduna Ecclesiastical Province, has called on the Federal Government to be proactive on security matters to guard against attacks and reprisal attacks.
Ndagoso made the call in Kafanchan during a condolence visit by the province to displaced persons in Bondon District, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
It would be recalled that over 100 persons were killed and several others displaced on March 13 when gunmen attacked three villages in Bondon District, Kaura LGA of Kaduna State.
The bishop said that attacks and reprisal attacks in some parts of the country required preventive measures to forestall re-occurrence.
Kwara
The Kwara State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Tunji Moronfoye, has advised beneficiaries of agriculture loans to manage the funds properly and wisely.
Moronfoye gave then advice in a statement signed by the Press Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Olupinla Ayobola.
The statement quoted the commissioner as describing the loans as part of agriculture policy initiated to boost food production in the state by former governor Bukola Saraki.
It said that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed disbursed the loans to members of the farmer associations in the state to empower them to make the state a hub for agriculture.
Lagos
The South-West Zone of National Agency for the Pro
hibition of Traffic in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP) says it rescued 72 victims between January and March, 2014.
Its Commander, Mr Joseph Famakin, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos recently.
He said that 62 of the victims were women, while 10 were young boys.
The zonal office comprises Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti.
Famakin said that five persons arrested for human trafficking were convicted within the same period, explaining that three were convicted in Lagos and two in Oshogbo.
Nasarawa
An Upper Area Court in Mararaba, Nasarawa State,
has adjourned hearing to May 14 in a case of assault preferred against Pastor’s John Ogbuche and Emmanuel Ikpa.
Ogbuche, 42, and Ikpa, 31, are senior and assistant pastors, respectively of Ado Christian Centre, Karu, Nasarawa State, and both live in the same Karu.
Ikpa told the court that on January 22, 2012 at about 1 p.m. he was with an iron bender called Benjamin, whom he invited to do a job for him in his house.
He told court that about 4 p.m. he saw the complainant with some policemen from New Nyanya Police Station whom came to arrest him in his house.
Ikpa told court that when he reached the police station he was told to write a statement that the first accused and himself conspired and assaulted the complainant.
Osun
Senator Iyiola Omisore has emerged the flag bearer
of the PDP for the Aug. 9 governorship election in Osun.
The Chairman of the Gubernatorial Primary Organising Committee, Alhaji Adamu Aliero, announced the result after the collation of the delegates’ votes.
Aliero said Omisore polled 1,128 votes to beat Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, who polled 35 votes and Mr Wole Oke, who got five votes.
Sen. Adetunji Adeleke, a former governor of the state, had on Friday withdrawn from the contest.
Aliero said that 18 void votes were recorded in the election.
Plateau
The Executive Director, National Veterinary Research
Institute (NVRI), Vom, Dr Ahmed Mohammed, has called on ECOWAS member states to establish grazing reserves as a solution to the current clashes between herdsmen and farmers.
Mohammed, a veterinary expert, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Jos recently.
According to him, there is a “massive’’ influx of foreign herdsmen into Nigeria due to the country’s porous borders, leading to the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers.
He said that Nigeria’s 16 to 17 million cows could only get the required respite, if ECOWAS commission intervened and prevailed on some members of the sub-regional organisation — Mauritania, Chad, Niger, Burkina-Faso, Ghana and Mali — to also establish grazing reserves.
Sokoto
Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State has do
nated 606 motorcycles to police constables from the state who have recently passed out from the various police colleges across the country.
Our correspondent reports that Wamakko presented the motorcycles to the beneficiaries in Sokoto.
He also donated N10, 000 to each of the 606 constables, saying,” it is an assistance to enhance their duties.”
Wamakko urged the beneficiaries to demonstrate a high sense of moral and ethical conduct in the discharge of their duties.
Taraba
Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State has extolled
the outstanding qualities of Mr Dennis Nev, a retired Permanent Secretary, Taraba Government House Administration.
Suntai made the remarks in Jalingo when he spoke as special guest of honour at a thanksgiving service and launch of a biography entitled: “The Man Dennis Orkuma Nev’’, written by Mr Justin Tyopuusu and Mr Richard Iormua.
The governor described the retired permanent secretary as a fine gentleman with unique qualities that were not common to come by in the society.
Represented by Mr Gideon Kataps, Suntai urged upcoming civil servants to emulate Nev’s qualities for a better society.
Yobe
The Deputy Governor of Yobe State, Alhaji Abubakar
Ali, has described as “callous and unfortunate’’ the violent attack on the people of Buni Gari in the state by unknown gunmen.
Ali made the remark when he led a state delegation to condole with the survivors of the last Saturday’s attack, which claimed lives and property.
“This is an unfortunate and merciless attack meted on innocent citizens without any sense of reasoning,” he said.
Ali lamented that the state had lost so many lives and properties to insurgency.
Zamfara
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Zamfara State
Chapter, has distributed 100 mosquito nets to 100 families in Tsunami quarters of Gusau to prevent the spread of malaria.
NMA Chairman in the state, Dr Sunday Onazi,said the gesture was part of activities to mark this year’s World Health Day in the state.
He explained that since the focus of the day was on measures to prevent the spread of vector borne diseases, the NMA selected Tsunami quarters because it was under threat of mosquitoes.
He said that the area was flooded during the last rainy season and is suspected to be one of the high breeding areas for mosquitoes in the state capital.
From Left: Executive Secretary, African Capacity Building Foundatin (ACBF), Prof. Emmanuel Nnadozie, Communications Consultant to ACBF, Mr Paul Okolo, Executive Director, Editorial Operations, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Isaac Ighure, Managing Editor, Mr Lawal Ado during Prof. Nnadozie’s visit to NAN headquarters in Abuja on Friday. 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.
