Connect with us

NEWS

19 Drown In Kwara Boat Mishap

Published

on

No fewer than 19 children have been reportedly drowned in a boat mishap on Saturday in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara.

The boat, newsmen learnt, was conveying the victims across River Niger for a programme at a traditional wedding ceremony in a community in Niger.

The boat, conveying about 22 people mostly children, capsized while crossing the river. A source said that while two of the passengers were rescued, the 19 others drowned and died. According to him, all effort to rescue other passengers proved abortive.

“As at yesterday evening, four corpses have been recovered from the river.

“Effort would resume this morning again to ensure that others also are found.

“Both men of the Nigeria Police and the State Fire Service were there yesterday in the rescue mission.

“Unfortunately only two of them survived,” the source told newsmen on Sunday. Meanwhile, Alhaji Sulyman Aliyu, the Secretary of the Lafiagi Traditional Council, has confirmed the incident.

Aliyu told newsmen that the number of the victims could not be ascertained yet, noting that there was a conflict in the number.

“Definitely they are up to 12. The figure is between 12 and that 19 that you said ” he said.

The secretary also confirmed that four corpses were recovered on Saturday and that efforts to remove others would continue on Sunday.

The Public Relations Officer of the Kwara Police Command, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi, also confirmed the incident.

He told newsmen that the officers of the force and other security agencies had joined the local government council to recover the corpses.

He, however, said that the number of the passengers and the victims could not yet be ascertained as the recovery exercise was still ongoing.

BIG STORY

JUST IN: President Tinubu, Shettima, Governors, Other VIPs To Pay Toll At Airports

Published

on

As part of the Federal Government drive to boost its revenue, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has mandated that President Bola Tinubu, Vice President, Kashim Shettima, Governors and other dignitaries henceforth pay the required fees at tollgates whenever they use the nation’s airports.

The approval was made days after it was revealed that at least 82 percent of airport tollgate revenue is lost through non-paying Very Important Personalities (VIPs).

 

More to come…

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

How Content Creator Was Shot Dead On Set In Abuja Over N2,000

Published

on

A fast-rising Nigerian content creator, Chidike Emmanuel, has been murdered by gunmen in Mpape, Abuja.

It was gathered that the skit maker was among six persons attacked by the gunmen last Saturday in the federal capital territory.

According to The Cable, source familiar with the incident said that Emmanuel was killed at the location of a project he was supposed to feature in.

The insider disclosed that the gunmen initially demanded money in order to allow them to shoot at the location.

The content creator was said to have given the armed men N2,000. However, what transpired that led to the shooting of the cast members remains unknown.

It was gathered some of the cast members who ran for safety suffered injuries.

Some users close to Emmanuel took to X to mourn the deceased while demanding justice.

“Chidike Emmanuel Obinna I have known you since 2018 You are such a calm and kind soul You couldn’t attend my wedding because you were far away but you sent me your gift #Justiceforchidi,” Helen wrote.

On her part, Rakeli added: “Obinna Chidike Emmanuel, please don’t die please. Pick my calls, reply my chat and tell me all that I am hearing is a lie. Biko I am loosing my mind”.

Efforts to reach Josephine Adeh, the FCT police spokesperson, to comment on the matter have been abortive.

Calls and messages to Adeh’s phone have not been responded to, as of the time of this report.

The development comes a few weeks after Junior Pope passed away after a boat accident on the River Niger in Asaba, Delta state.

The actor and some crew members were heading to a movie location when the boat accident occurred.

His family disclosed that the actor’s final rites will be held on May 17.

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

Police Arrest Man ‘Strapped With Bomb’ Inside Bank In Plateau

Published

on

Security operatives have apprehended a man strapped with Person Borne Improvised Explosive Device (SPBIED) inside a bank in Plateau.

The individual was arrested at a bank in Dadin Kowa town, which is in Jos South LGA of the state, according to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency journal that focuses on the Lake Chad region. According to the article, the incident happened on May 13.

Makama was informed by intelligence sources that the individual intended to set off the explosives at the bank, but a vigilante officer noticed him and alerted the authorities.

According to the publication, an enraged mob encircled the suspect after he was captured and demanded that he be murdered.

Makama could not confirm if the suspect is connected to the fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The publication added that the suspect is in the custody of the police and currently undergoing investigation.

Nigeria has been battling insurgency for two decades, with suicide bombings, displacement of entire communities and kidnapping for ransom by the terrorists, recorded in that span.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said about 83 children, mostly girls, were used as human bombs in 2017 alone.

Continue Reading

Most Popular