News & Announcements

Olona Joseph Oluwapelumi, a 300-level student at the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA, in Ondo state, is said to have killed himself due to purported depression and financial difficulties.

Olona is rumored to have killed himself in his off-campus cabin in the state capital’s Aule neighborhood.

According to reports, the industrial design department student hanged himself.

Yesterday morning, when his friends came over, they found that his room was locked. After making several calls and getting no answer, they found that the door had been shattered.

They later discovered his hanging body after they gained entrance to the room.

The buckets he used to assist the act were reportedly found in the room.

His friends reportedly disclosed to newsmen that the deceased’s Facebook page had posts about suicidal ideas.

They also mentioned that he asked for financial assistance in several of his posts in order to run his business.

But the Student Union leadership issued a statement on Saturday, January 21, 2023, that read in part: “It is with profound grief and heavy hearts that we notify you of the loss of our colleague and friend, Olona Joseph Oluwapelumi, popularly known as Tart Angle.

“According to the report, His death was confirmed in the early hour of Saturday 21 st of January 2023. The deceased, identified as Olona Joseph a 300 level student from the department of Industrial Design was reported to have committed suicide by hanging himself in the early hour of today.

“I know we are all saddened by his death and we’re sending our condolences to his family and friends

“Death can be difficult for us to understand, especially when it is sudden. Many of us may be confronted with a variety of emotions. which might include shock, sadness. and confusion.

“We want to assure you that we, the Students Union, care about you and the feelings you may be experiencing.

Funmi Odunlami, the state police image maker, verified the student’s death and stated that the incident had been reported to the police.

Odunlami stated ” His body had been taken to the morgue and investigation has started to unravel the reasons behind his action, but it was a case of suicide.”

The university authority was yet to make an official statement as at last night

A total of 19 people have been confirmed dead, while 286 others are seeking medical care in various neighborhoods and hospitals.

Dr. Janet Ekpenyong, the State Commissioner for Health, reported that RDT results over the weekend confirmed 286 cases.

The processes have been set up to completely contain the outbreak, according to Janet, who asked the populace to refrain from self-medication.

Research found that in addition to the health commissioner, a team involving the WHO and the Primary Health Care Agency had been sent to the area.

Out of the 89 communities that make up Obubra LGA, it was discovered that 51 of them were impacted.

Also added that, out of the 19 persons who gave up the ghost as a result of the outbreak, 18 died in the different communities while one died in the hospital as a result of late arrival. 

At the Upper Iweka, by Obodoukwu junction, of the Onitsha-Owerri Road, Anambra State, a trailer pulling a 40-ft fully filled container has fallen.

The trailer was moving toward Onitsha’s major market while carrying auto parts.

The collision involving the trailer and two tricycles resulted in the death of one victim, a female. It happened late on Thursday.

According to an eyewitness, the trailer’s driver lost control while navigating road’s potholes, rammed into a tricycle at the front, and the container it was carrying fell off and landed on another tricycle that was picking up passengers by the side of the road, instantly killing a woman who was already seated inside.

The source said, “As the driver of the trailer was navigating through the potholes, he lost control of the vehicle and hit a tricycle in his front, and the container it was carrying fell off from it and landed on another tricycle loading passengers by the roadside.

“Three persons were already seated inside the tricycle, while two others immediately escaped, the woman could not as the container fell on her and killed her instantly. It took a lot of rescue efforts before the body was removed from under the container.”

Due to the incident, traffic in the surrounding region became very congested as commuters and drivers struggled to use the remaining section of the route.

On Friday evening, despite the area being completely gridlocked, the contents of the container were still being loaded onto another truck that was stopped in front.

Jibrin Isah, the senator who represents Kogi East in the National Assembly, hailed his recent campaign visit of the three Local Government Areas in Ankpa Federal Constituency in advance of the senatorial election on February 25 as a big success.

He claimed that the people in the federal constituency was so ecstatic that they had vowed to support him and the other APC candidates in the 2019 general elections with a resounding majority.

“Echocho’s achievements are all over in the public domain, and the people of Kogi East are prepared to say thank you Echocho on the 25th of February 2023.”

However, he characterized as a diversion some of the false material spread on social media by his opponents, who were having a difficult time persuading those who had experienced the true benefits of democracy firsthand.

In response to a social media hoax article headlined “Senator Jibrin Isah A. K. A. Echocho Disgraced in Ankpa Local Government,” he stated that he is too busy to be sidetracked now that the people of Kogi East are acknowledging his accomplishments.

“While we find the subject story to be amusing, we feel obligated to comment to prevent the reading public from being deceived, according to a statement from his campaign council signed by Ojoachene Christian, Deputy Director of Protocol, Kogi APC campaign Council.

“Senator Jibrin Isah undertook a tour of the 3 Local Government Areas in Ankpa Federal Constituency in the company of the Deptuty Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Chief Edward Onoja, the Deputy Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, who is also the Director general of the Campaign council for Kogi East, the respective Local Government Executive Chairmen and Party Chairmen, as well as various other stakeholders.

“Omala was the first port of call on Tuesday, followed by Olamaboro on Wednesday, and Ankpa on Thursday.

The people in the three Local Government Areas were gushing with praise for Echocho’s significant accomplishments, which included proposing bills and motions, building infrastructure, and launching numerous empowerment initiatives.

“With specific reference to Ankpa Local Government Area, when the programme ended, Echocho headed to his vehicle after exchanging pleasantries with the very excited audience. When he sat down in his vehicle, he noticed that a young man was trying to reach out to him but was blocked, and had no choice than to hit Echocho’s vehicle for attention.

Echocho made the decision to exit the car and speak to the boy, but he was also being stopped. Echocho inquired about the young man’s identity because he was definitely seeking assistance. Since then, the senator has committed to helping the young man.

The incident had nothing to do with the false material that the author—who is best characterized as a skilled fiction writer—was disseminating.

“We have traced the said article to Victor Alewo Adoji and his co-dreamers. Adoji is drowning and looking for whatever he can hold on to whip public sentiments. We try as much as possible to ignore him, but silence may not be golden all the times.

“On the issue of Parliatives for flood victims in Ibaji, Idah, Bassa, Igalamela Odolu, Omala, and Ofu Local Government Areas, Echocho provided thousands of food items worth hundreds of thousands of Naira to the affected Local Government Areas, with cash backing of N1m each.

“Thereafter, he facilitated provision of various relief materials worth over N100m through NEMA to the affected Local Government Areas. All these are verifiable at the respective Local Government Areas .

On the  issue of use and dump , “Echocho has built many people in Kogi East, right back in his days in the banking industry, to his various interventions in Kogi East as the Senator representing the district.

“With regards to who succeeds His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, it is equally misleading to say Echocho has adopted His Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Kogi State. Echocho is prepared to work for whoever emerges as the Party’s flag bearer in the upcoming Primary election.

“We strongly advise Victor Adoji to stop ridiculing himself in the public space by manufacturing stories to suit his purpose , and mislead the reading public.

“Adoji should go and market himself to the electorate. But he seem to have nothing to offer, and has been openly rejected by his party, while trying unsuccessfully to penetrate the APC through his Woman friend.

“While Victor is busy entertaining himself on the social media, Echocho is busy visiting the electorate, informing them on his plans for them in his second tenure, God willing.”

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom claimed that if he had not joined the PDP, he would have been in charge of Peter Obi’s campaign for president of the Labour Party, LP.

Ortom stated that, despite being a PDP member, he favoured Obi while addressing at a forum.

The Benue governor said that although Obi, like other people, was not flawless, he possessed traits that Nigeria needed in a leader at this time in her history.

He added that if efforts to reach an understanding with the G-5 governors were unsuccessful, the national leadership of his party, led by Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, should bear all responsibility.

In an interview, Ortom said that while Obi is not flawless, like most people, he nevertheless bears the traits of the kind of leader Nigeria needs at this time in her history.

He also complimented President Olusegun Obasanjo for supporting Peter Obi in the difficult job of now leading Nigeria.

He said, “So, here is someone that is looking ahead and wants the best for our country, Nigeria. Today, he has recommended Peter Obi.

“Honestly, if I were not in PDP, I would have been the one at the forefront of carrying Peter Obi’s bag and campaigning for him because he is the best material so far.

“He is what this country needs to get things right. Somebody with clean records. That is not to be questioned, though nobody is perfect. Nobody is God, no human being is God. But here is somebody who has distinguished himself.

“So, if I were to offer advice on the best material for president, I would tell you that it is Peter Obi. But it is Obasanjo, a great patriot.

“He made some mistakes, especially on the issue of the third term that came, otherwise, nobody should contest the integrity and patriotism, forthrightness, and also the zeal to see a greater Nigeria more than President Obasanjo.”

Chris Ohizu, the sole administrator of Imo State’s Ideato North Local Government Area, and two other people were taken kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Friday.

According to a source, when the gunmen barged into the local council leader’s home in Imoko, Arondizuogu, they shot him in the leg.

It was reported that after taking him and the other two, his home was later set on fire.

“The house of Ideato North SOLAD was burnt down and he was kidnapped with bullet wound on his leg as I heard.

“I have been making this report since last year and early this year till now no single presence of the police anywhere in Arondizuogu and no single arrest. We are now at the mercy of God.

“I may not post anything about this my town here again because the ones done have not received any attention. Watch how house built with hard earned money with properties were razed down”, the source lamented.

Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the spokesman for the Coalition of United Political Parties, had his home burned down by gunmen at Akokwa in the same Ideato North less than a week prior.

As of the time this report was filed, the state’s police had not yet responded.

Six students from the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) Primary School Alwaza in the Doma Local Government Area were allegedly kidnapped on Friday, according to the police in Nasarawa State.

DSP Ramhan Nansel, a spokesman for the Police Command, confirmed the incident to reporters in Lafia.

According to Nansel, a preliminary investigation showed that the children, who were between the ages of seven and eight, were kidnapped at around 7:15 a.m. while en route to school.

A joint security force made up of the police, military, and vigilantes had also been dispatched to the area for the purpose of conducting a search and rescue operation, he added.

“We are on the trail of the abductors and the Commissioner of Police Maiyaki Muhammed-Baba, has also visited the scene for on-the-spot assessment,” he stated.

According to Nansel, the police met with the victims’ parents and the school administration.

Hence, he urged the public to provide the police with any information that could result in the victims’ rescue and the suspects’ arrest.

The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has tackled the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his opposition to the positions he canvassed in his State of the Nation address on Sunday.

Recall that Bakare was confronted over the address by the media team of the former governor of Lagos State.

Femi Fani-Kayode and Festus Keyamo were among those who spoke.
The fact that Bakare failed to record a single vote during the APC primaries, which Tinubu won by more than 1,300 votes, was one of the main causes of criticism.

However Bakare responded to the criticism on Tuesday, writing:

“Why are they then giving any thought to what I said? May be their alleged ‘paper weight’ is too heavy for them to carry.

“There are some defeats more triumphant than victories. One of the Special Advisers that I thought had some semblance of nobility had to utter outright lies and falsehoods to satisfy his paymaster.

“He said that I did a video asking members of our church to vote for their candidate and then turn around to ask them not to vote for him.

“Unfortunately, there is no such video containing such falsehood. The abridged video these people are sending around is from a message preached here (Citadel Global Community Church) in 2020 with the title: ‘An idle man’s brain is the devil’s workshop.’ I made it clear in the video that I did not endorse their candidate’s lifestyle, business or type of politics.

“In the said video, I never asked our members to vote or not vote for their candidate or any other candidate. By the way, our members are not zombies. They, by the grace of God, have their own minds and will decide who to vote for on Election Day. As for those whose stock in trade is lying against others and fabricating stories that are not true about them, our strong consolation is that their DNA and the final destination are spelt out in the Bible. See Psalm 58:3-8. ‘The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies…’

“Rest assured, I will take the vicious attacks of these political merchants in my stride, because I know that according to Voltaire: ‘Many are destined to reason wrongly, others not to reason at all and some to persecute those who do reason.’”

According to reports, at least 25 people have died as a result of a diphtheria infection epidemic in Kano State since last Friday.

It was discovered that the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano are managing an epidemic of the infant killer disease, which was first identified in the state in late 2022.

Diphtheria infection is a dangerous infection of the nose and throat, according to medical professionals, and it is easily avoidable by immunizations.

Experts say that a sore throat, hoarseness, swollen glands (enlarged lymph nodes) in the neck, trouble breathing or quick breathing, nasal discharge, fever, and fatigue are some of the indications and symptoms of diphtheria.

According to information obtained by The PUNCH, the disease, which is thought to be contagious, was originally identified in the state’s Ungogo Local Government Area.

According to the state ministry of health’s records, at least 58 probable instances of the disease were recorded during the outbreak, six of them were admitted, and 25 patients had already passed away as of January 13, 2023.

The National Center for Disease Control, according to sources, sent medical personnel to the state last week due to the severity of the outbreak.

Doctors without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières,  has already created a case management center at the Murtala Muhammed Hospital and has been supplying necessary medications.

The state emergency preparedness committee convened on Thursday morning to discuss the outbreak, according to Dr. Aminu Tsanyawa, the state commissioner for health, who confirmed the outbreak to press on Thursday.

He claimed that the State Rapid Response team had been revived and that an index action plan had been implemented to stop the spread of diphtheria.

“Right now we have presented a budget for this to the government and it has been approved,” the commissioner emphasised.

He said that the state’s difficult-to-reach areas were to blame for the low rate of routine immunization, which accelerated the disease’s spread.

However, he pointed out that the state is stepping up its routine immunization program.

Mr. Kefas Ishaya, the catechist at St. Monica Catholic Church, Ikulu-Pari, in the Chawai Chiefdom of Kauru Local Government, Kaduna State, was kidnapped by gunmen on Thursday.

The attackers chose the catechist instead of his boss, Rev. Fr. Joseph Shekari, who was not home at the time of the incident, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

Shekari, who had been kidnapped in a similar manner in February 2022, had left the community and was not available for a second experience in captivity.

On Sunday, the church performed its annual Thanksgiving Service, and its members believe the abductors were after the money after successfully hauling away what was generated in February 2022.

The kidnappers arrived “about 9.30 p.m,” according to Mr. Sunday Bage, the chairman of the parish’s Ikulu Zone.

He told NAN in phone, “Thank God Father (Reverend) travelled. They didn’t get him, but they picked our Catechist. They dragged the Catechist to the bush. They took him with his phone. We have been calling the line but it keeps ringing out.”

The gunmen, he claimed, were numerous and fired randomly as they moved through the church, the school, and the priest’s home in pursuit of the Rev Father.

According to neighbors who spoke with NAN, the gunmen scaled the fence and entered the priest’s home.

It was said that they used stones and firearms to smash the front door of the property.

A woman who was obviously terrified told NAN, “Immediately they broke into the house, they searched and ransacked everywhere. They checked under the beds, wardrobes, bathrooms and kitchen.

“They even checked the ceiling, but Father had travelled. So, they did not get him. In anger, they took our Catechist. As we speak, he is with them in the bush.

“It is a very sad situation. This is devastating. They dragged Catechist on the ground like a dog.”

She recalled that Fr. Shekari had recently been kidnapped and released after “a huge ransom” had been paid.

“They returned to get him. Thankfully, he was outside. For us, this is a very dark time, she remarked.

She recalled that Fr. Shekari had recently been kidnapped and released after “a huge ransom” had been paid.

“They returned to get him. Thankfully, he was outside. For us, this is a very dark time, he remarked.

Gunmen abducted Shekari in February 2022. His cook, Sati Musa, was killed by the shooters in the February attack while attempting to defend his master.

When discussing the February incident, a church elder named Yohanna Madaki observed that the kidnappers reportedly had their sights set on the more than N2 million made from the annual Thanksgiving service that same day.

The cook who was killed attended the Government Secondary School, Kizakoro, and the money was taken along with him.

On Sunday, January 16, the parish held its annual Thanksgiving service. On Thursday, January 19, the kidnappers struck.