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THE STATES
Adamawa
Following last Friday’s attack in Ganye in Adamawa, State which led to the death of 25 persons, the police in the state have tightened security in Yola, the state capital.
Investigations in Yola revealed that various check points have emerged on major streets of the state capital leading to traffic gridlock.
When contacted on the development, the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mohammed Ibrahim, said the measure was a proactive one.
Ibrahim said, “You saw what happened in Ganye; we don’t want to take any chances. “We need the public support and understanding to ensure security of lives and properties.” He appealed for understanding from the public. fewer than nine out of the 21 local government areas of the state had been attacked within the past one year.
Ekiti
The Ekiti State Traffic Management Agency (EKSTMA) has pledged to tackle road accidents and congestion in the state.
The General Manager of the agency, Mr Charles Fasubaa, said in Ado-Ekiti on Monday that his organisation would restore sanity to the roads.
Fasubaa urged reckless motorists and owners of rickety vehicles to stay away from roads in the state.
He said 300 officers of the agency had been provided with kits by the state government during the inauguration of the agency.
“We are determined to curb cases of avoidable accidents on roads within the state and one can only urge drivers to comply with traffic rules and have regard for human lives,” he said.
The general manager warned residents against bribing staff of the agency, saying any officer caught would be arrested and prosecuted.
FCTT
The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “for serving the course of justice in the ‘APC’ controversy’’.
CNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Osita Okechukwu, gave the commendation last Tuesday in a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja.
“The CNPP salutes the INEC for defending the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by rejecting the registration of the African People’s Congress for irregularities in their application.
“We have always known that African People’s Congress was born out of mischief to sustain the one party state foisted on the people. “As of February 28 when their lawyer, Legal World Chamber, wrote to INEC, the sponsors of the legal team and the protem Chairman of African People’s Congress were bona fide members of PDP,” he said.
Okechukwu said that it could have been a paradox for INEC after de-registering more grounded political parties to go ahead to register “mischief makers and opportunists”.
It would be recalled that three political associations, All Progressives Congress, African People’s Congress and All Patriotic Citizens are claiming the acronym ‘APC‘.
Jigawa
The Birniwa Local Government Council in Jigawa State last Monday, distributed clothing materials worth N700,000 to watchmen and messengers to enhance their operations.
The Director of Personnel Management of the council, Alhaji Zubairu Danfaruwa, said in Birniwa that other items given to the guards include rain boots, umbrella, torchlights and caps.
Danfaruwa said 240 bundles of the materials were shared to 38 watchmen and 25 messengers
The director urged them to reciprocate the council’s effort through hard work and dedication to their responsibilities.
The Head of the Guards, Malam Kura Kadai, thanked the council for the gesture and assured that the affected workers would discharge their duties according to the laid down rules of the council.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government is to embark on land administration reform to improve its internally generated revenue, an official said last Tuesday.
The Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Country Planning, Alhaji Sani Aminu said in Kaduna that the reform would help in reinvigorating economic activities in the state.
Aminu said under the reform, land in the 23 local government areas would be fully utilised.
“A greater part of the land mass was under utilised due to ineffective policies. “Only three per cent of land in Nigeria is fully utilised. A lot of people do not have access to land, which is one of the major bottlenecks to land value and utilisation,” he said. He said that the absence of planning in the utilisation of land resources in the country had resulted to low economic value for land.
Kano
Operatives of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) last Monday, conducted a house-to-house search in some areas of Kano metropolis. The areas included the Yankaba and Eastern bye-pass roads.
Residents of the areas said that the search started very early in the morning.
A resident, Malam Yuhuza Rabiu, said “the military people moved in very early in the morning. They caught us unawares and we could not move out to our places of work”.
Most travellers coming into the city from the Jigawa, Bauchi and Maiduguri axis were affected by the early morning search as the road was blocked, disallowing movement in and out of the affected areas.
The JTF Spokesman, Cpt. Ikedichi Iweha, could not be reached on the situation as his telephone failed to connect when our correspondent placed several calls to the line.
Kwara
The Chairman, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Mrs Basirat Babalola, has commended principals of secondary schools in the area over the academic achievements of their students.
Babalola gave the commendation while presenting gifts to students who excelled in the 2013 LEAH Reading competition. LEAH Reading Competition is the pet project of the wife of the state’s governor, Mrs Omolewa Hamed.
The chairman, who was represented by the council’s vice-chairman, Mr Abdulazeez Yakub, commended the award-winning students and their principals for the feat.
“Without mincing words, we are indeed happy for doing the council proud and being good ambassadors of the community. “With these achievements, there is an assurance that the future of our children is bright and we are bold to say that their academic performance has improved tremendously, “he said.
The Local Government Education Secretary, Mr Lanre Balogun, said the students were a pride to their schools, their parents and the entire Kwara South District.
Nasarawa
The Police Command in Nasarawa State last Monday in Lafia, paraded two suspects for alleged kidnapping of a minor at Mararaba in the Karu Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Abayomi Akeremale, who paraded the suspects, said that the abductors were part of a five-man gang who robbed one Mr Nkereuwem Thompson, a civil servant.
Akeremale explained that apart from kidnapping, the suspects also robbed their victim and his family of their belonging, including cars, laptop, mobile phones and N150,000, at gun point.
The police commissioner said that the suspects demanded N10 million as ransom for the release of the kidnapped minor, adding that the mother of the minor pleaded with the suspects to spare her child for all their property but that they ignored her overture and took the boy to an unknown destination.
Akeremale said the police swung into action by setting up a search party immediately the case was reported at the Mararaba Police Station.
Ogun
The Ogun Police Command last Monday said it arrested a 40-year-old man for allegedly initiating the rape of his two sisters in Ijebu-Ososa area of the state.
The command’s spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, told newsmen in Abeokuta that the suspect was arrested with two other persons.
“The two other persons arrested with the 40-year-old man are those who eventually raped and robbed the two sisters aged 16 and 18. “He gave the two suspects N80,000 to harass, molest and threaten his two younger sisters who had disagreed with him over the sharing formula of their late parents’ inheritance. “You can speak with him as he had already confessed to the crime; so it’s a very straight forward case and we are charging three of them to court tomorrow,’’ he said.
Speaking with newsmen, the victims’ brother said it was true that he hired two persons to threaten his two sisters over their parents’ inheritance.
“I just asked them (the two other suspects) to threaten my sisters so that they can leave the properties to me; I never paid them to rape my sisters as they had done, ‘’ he said.
Osun
The Osun State government has announced the appointment of Prof. Adekunle Okesina, as the new Vice Chancellor of the state-owned University of Osun.
The appointment was contained in a statement signed by Mr Sunday Akere, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, and made available to newsmen in Osogbo, Monday.
The statement said the appointment of Okesina, who was the pioneer Deputy Vice Chancellor of the university, took immediate effect, as Prof. Sola Akinrinde, the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the university, vacated the seat in July 20I2.
No fewer than 13 professors had applied to succeed Akinrinde. Among them were Prof. Siyan Oyeweso, the former Provost of the College of Humanities of the university.
External candidates who also showed interest, included Prof. Mojeed Alabi, Political Science Department, University of Ilorin, and Prof. Olu Odeyemi, Department of Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.
Oyo
A group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has appealed to the Boko Haram sect to release its French hostage and her four children in the light of Islamic teachings.
MURIC Director, Prof. Is-haq Akintola, made the appeal on Monday in Ibadan.
The group referred the sect and others connected with the kidnap to Islam’s prescribed treatment of women and children at peace and war.
A French family of seven- Tanguy Moulin-Fournier, his wife, four children and brother- was seized by the Boko Haram on February 19. The family members were seized while holidaying in a region around Cameroun’s Waza National Park.
Meanwhile, a Muslim group in Oyo State, Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Organisation, has condemned the reported infiltration of the Boko Haram sect into a part of Lagos.
The National President of the group, Mr Abdulquadir AbdulRafi, told newsmen in Ibadan that the reported discovery of the sect’s hideout in Lagos called for concerted efforts by all Nigerians to check the trend.
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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