An accident claimed the life of a female prospective corps member who was going to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp at Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The deceased was among a group of 12 prospective corps members in a 14-seater bus involved in the accident.

The female corps member, whose name could not be ascertained at the time of filling this report, was said to have died from injuries sustained while her colleagues and other passengers sustained various degrees of injuries.

Source said the corps members boarded the bus in Enugu heading to the NYSC orientation camp located in Afikpo town for their three weeks oriental course when the bus lost control and rammed into a parked truck in the road.

They are believed to be prospective members of the 2024 Batch C Stream II set of corps members.

They were rescued by residents and security agencies from the mangled bus and rushed to the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS) for treatment.

Ebonyi state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Igwe Henry, confirmed the accident.

He, however, said he has no details of casualties as the victims were rescued before his officers got to the scene.

He said: ” At the time our men from Amasiri Unit Command got the information and got to the scene, the victims had been rescued.

“However, the crash occurred at about 14.00 hours. The route was Amasiri-Okiigwe which they call Amenu village in Okposi.

“Two vehicles were involved, one was a Toyota commercial bus, grey colour and the other was a Mercedes-Benz tipper (truck), a commercial Mercedes-Benz tipper, the regular Tipper that you see around,” he stated.

Ebonyi State Coordinator of NYSC, Foluke Oladeinde, said she was in a state of shock.

“I am not in the right frame of mind to talk now. I am in the hospital now. Yes the accident occurred but I can’t talk right now,” she said.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, on Thursday, destroyed fake, adulterated, and unregistered foods, drugs, and cosmetic products worth approximately N1,367,000,000 seized in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The products were destroyed at the Kuje dumpsite in the territory.

In a brief remark during the exercise, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, said the destruction exercise is a crucial and routine operation that the agency conducts across all zones of the federation.

Prof Adeyeye, who was represented by the Director in her office, Dr Festus Ukadike, stated: “We carry out these exercises at least once a year in each zone, depending on the volume of seizures made by the agency. The goal is to eliminate substandard, falsified, and expired NAFDAC-regulated products from the supply chain.

“In 2024, NAFDAC achieved remarkable progress, making substantial seizures that underscore our commitment to safeguarding public health. We carried out several destruction exercises across the zones, including Lagos, where products worth over N120bn of falsified, substandard, and unwholesome food products were destroyed.

“Our relentless pursuit of justice against health trafficking cartels has resulted in the seizure of over 6,000 bags of rebagged rice in the FCT alone. These deceitful cartels aim to exploit and harm the unsuspecting Nigerian populace for economic gain. NAFDAC has zero tolerance for such activities and has initiated a thorough investigation to ensure that all involved face appropriate sanctions.”

The DG noted that the products destroyed were seized during the agency’s operations in the FCT and surrounding areas, alongside items handed over by compliant companies and organisations.

The products included drugs such as psychoactive and controlled substances, antibiotics, antihypertensives, antimalarials, herbal snuff, and herbal remedies, including drugs seized from hawkers.

Others were food products, including cookies, vegetable oil, non-alcoholic beverages, and items from supermarkets with labels in foreign languages lacking English translations.

The cosmetics destroyed included creams, lotions, pomades, and skin-lightening products confiscated from spas and beauty centres. Other items included fake Izal, Jik, and medical devices.

Expired and unwholesome products voluntarily submitted for destruction by Non-Governmental Organisations and the Association of Community Pharmacy of Nigeria were also destroyed.

“The estimated street value of the products slated for destruction today is N1,367,000,000. NAFDAC has significantly ramped up its post-marketing surveillance and enforcement activities to counter the threats posed by counterfeit medicines and foods to national security.

“The agency is proactively engaging political, traditional, and faith-based leaders, as well as journalists and the general public, to galvanise support and commitment in the fight against substandard and falsified products,” she added.

The Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, commended NAFDAC for the destruction of the products and warned manufacturers, importers, and related parties that non-compliance with regulations would not be tolerated under the renewed hope agenda.

Okeke, represented by the FCT Coordinator of SON, Gamagira Mohammed, said: “The rules are there, the guidelines are there. If you are not sure, NAFDAC and SON are there to guide you on standards.

“I believe we will continue to strengthen our collaboration so that Nigeria can grow, and everybody will be healthy in the interest of the country.”

The Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, Salamatu Orakwelu, noted: “I commend NAFDAC for this step that you’ve been taking annually, and I assure you that as pharmacists, all measures will be taken to ensure compliance and to support your efforts.”

The Rivers State Police Command has paraded two pastors, Prophet Bassey Umoren (60) and Prophet Elijah Anietie (50), who were caught with fetish items, including caskets, monkey skulls, carved skeletons, and other spiritual materials, in their respective churches.

The duo, who were apprehended by youths of Rumunduru community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, are the founders of God’s Deliverance Apostolic Church and Power House of Glory International Gospel Church, both located along Eneka Road in Rumunduru.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this on Thursday while parading the suspects at the Rivers State Police Command Headquarters in Port Harcourt.

Iringe-Koko said, “This case, which has been trending on social media, involves two pastors reported by youths of Rumunduru community, led by their youth leader, Henry Worlu, on January 20, 2025, at about 9 am.

“The youths brought the suspects, Prophet Umoren Bassey and Prophet Elijah Anietie, both of Akwa Ibom State origin and handed them over to the police for discreet investigation.”

She listed the items recovered from their churches including several photographs—some of which were of children—small caskets, spiritual books, carved images, wooden skulls, crosses, and other ritual items.

The police spokesperson noted that investigations into the matter were ongoing to ascertain the full extent of their activities and possible victims.

Meanwhile, the youths of the Rumunduru community have been lauded for their vigilance in exposing the alleged activities of the suspects, which they claimed posed a spiritual and social threat to the community.

The Federal Government has approved N4bn for conditional cash transfers to vulnerable households in Nigeria.

During the launch of the 2025 Nigeria Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan at the United Nations House in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Yilwada, announced the interventions aimed at addressing the country’s deepening humanitarian crisis.

This initiative is expected to support at least 10 million displaced households, primarily targeting the most vulnerable members of society.

The cash transfer programme is set to commence in February and continue through April, focusing on alleviating the immediate needs of families affected by displacement, particularly in the Northeast.

Additionally, the government has approved N2bn in interest-free loans for farmers, specifically those in rural communities, to boost food production and self-sufficiency.

Professor Yilwada stated: “We are prioritising women, especially widows, pregnant women, and those with disabilities. The experiences of displaced women, particularly those facing pregnancy or disability, are especially challenging. We understand these vulnerabilities and will continue to support those who are most in need.

“The President has approved the Ministry’s plan to begin paying conditional cash transfers to 10 million displaced households between February and April. This initiative aims to support those most in need, particularly vulnerable families affected by displacement.”

He added: “Additionally, the government has allocated N2bn to provide interest-free loans to farmers in rural communities. These loans will range from N300,000 to N400,000 per household, helping farmers access necessary resources and linking them to market opportunities.

“Furthermore, a N4bn provision has been approved to support vulnerable groups through cash transfers, targeting families affected by natural disasters and other crises. These interventions are part of the government’s broader strategy to alleviate poverty and provide relief to those in urgent need.”

The Minister further emphasised the government’s commitment to addressing the needs of internally displaced persons, returnees, and affected communities across Nigeria.

The HNRP, Yilwada noted, was developed through extensive consultations and is designed to address the humanitarian challenges in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, and other conflict-affected regions.

“We are combining the efforts of humanitarian, developmental, and peacebuilding platforms to ensure long-term resilience and sustainable solutions for these communities,” he added.

Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has expressed support for the 50 per cent telecom tariff hike, urging telecommunications companies to enhance service delivery in line with the price increase.

This first hike in over a decade, aimed at reviving the telecom sector, was announced by the Nigerian Communications Commission on Monday and has continued to spark debates and controversies across the country.

Speaking to Arise TV on Thursday at the ongoing 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Edun described the tariff adjustment as essential for sustaining the sector amid rising operational costs and inflation.

“Inflation has increased, and it must be reflected in the business operations of telcos. While their prices are regulated, they cannot implement arbitrary tariffs. The rising cost of living must be considered, and I believe the 50 per cent tariff adjustment is just the starting point. It’s about compromise, timing, and sequencing these necessary changes.

“Tariff rates have remained unchanged despite mounting pressures from inflation, exchange rate fluctuations, and the significant investments needed to meet rising consumer demand.

“These financial challenges have placed substantial strain on operators, threatening the long-term sustainability of the telecom sector, which is a vital contributor to Nigeria’s digital economy,” he said.

Edun further emphasised the critical role of the telecommunications sector in Nigeria’s economy, calling it essential to the country’s infrastructure and business environment.

He added, “The government expects the tariff adjustment to result in better call termination, fewer dropped calls, and overall improved service quality.

“We want telcos operating efficiently, terminating calls seamlessly, and delivering high-quality services. At the same time, we want them to foster innovation, create jobs, and contribute to GDP.”

The finance minister assured Nigerians that the tariff adjustment would be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains balanced and fair for both consumers and operators.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering a thriving telecommunications sector that supports innovation, economic growth, and job creation.

Police operatives attached to the Ogun State Command have neutralised the kidnappers of Mrs. Odumosu, wife of retired Assistant-Inspector General, AIG Hakeem Odumosu, and rescued her unharmed.

Recall that on January 16, 2025, at approximately 9:45 pm, four masked gunmen forcibly abducted Mrs. Odumosu from her Lexus Jeep outside her residence in Arepo, Ogun State.

The abduction sparked an immediate response from the anti-kidnapping unit of the Ogun State Police Command, who commenced a thorough investigation and targeted pursuit of the kidnappers.

Meanwhile, a statement by Force headquarters said, ‘With the support of the Force Headquarters technical intelligence platforms, the Ogun State police operatives engaged in extensive surveillance of the creeks surrounding Arepo, gathering crucial information to track down the assailants.

“Their efforts culminated in a raid on January 23, 2025, at around 06:45 am.

“The intelligence-led operation took the police to a creek in the swampy area of Ikorodu where the kidnappers were reportedly planning their next attack.

“Upon arrival, the operatives encountered the kidnappers, who opened fire. In the ensuing confrontation, two of the gunmen were neutralized, while four others fled the scene, abandoning their operational weapons.

“The victim, Mrs Odumosu was rescued within the swampy creeks during the operation, unharmed.

“She is currently undergoing medical evaluation as a precautionary measure and has since been reunited with her family.

“The police also recovered 4 Ak-47 rifles, 3 locally made single barrel rifles, ammunition of various calibers, and the sum of N10,000,000 ransom previously demanded by the kidnappers, further ensuring that justice is served.

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has commended the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, and his operatives for their displayed gallantry in this successful operation.

“This operation exemplifies the dedication and resilience of our Police officers.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its mission to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes, providing safety and security to all citizens.”

FOLLOWING the report that fleeing bandits and terrorists from the North were heading to the South West, the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams; some security groups including the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC and the Hunters’ Association, yesterday, slammed governors of the region for not collaborating with them to secure the zone.

Recall that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State raised the alarm over the influx of fleeing bandits from the North-Central to Southern Nigeria, especially the South West.

S-West govs yet to respond to my request — Gani Adams

Speaking with Vanguard, Iba Adams, yesterday, disclosed that the South West governors are yet to respond to his requests to partner with the state security architectures to get rid of terrorists and bandits across the zone.

Adams, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, said Yoruba land will be too hot for terrorists and members of the ISWAP, adding that efforts are on to stop the spate of insecurity in Yorubaland.

While reacting to the various threats emanating from the influx of ISWAP and bandits in the South West, he said: “Apart from the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, there are still over 10 private security groups, known as the Southwest Security Stakeholders Group, SSSG, under my leadership and are ready to flush terrorists and bandits out of Yorubaland.

“We are ready to do the job and we are not going to relent until there is peace in our region.”

We need govs’ approval — OPC

The OPC in the Southwest said it was ready to participate in the fight against insecurity in the region, but could not do so without the governors’ approval and necessary backing.

The Deputy Coordinator of OPC in Ogun State, Alao Olusola, who spoke with Vanguard, said the OPC leadership has written letters to all governors in the region, seeking their permission to fight the insecurity in the zone, but none of them responded.

Olusola said: “OPC wrote letters to traditional rulers in the region on the same subject matter, but none of them responded to the letter.

“But as members of OPC, we are partnering with Police in our different areas to fight the insecurity in our areas.

“If the governments in the Southwest can give us go ahead, we are ready to flush out all criminal elements in the region.”

Ondo govt ignoring us — Hunters, OPC

Lamenting that the Ondo State government has not carried them along in their efforts to tackle insecurity.

An OPC member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: “It’s unfortunate that the Ondo State government has not deemed it fit to carry us along in their fight against insecurity.

“It will be in the interest of the state if we are carried along in the fight against insecurity across the states. It’s not only in this state, reports we get from across the states in the region are that the governors in the South West government don’t mind us. We are doing ours in the interest of humanity.”

Speaking with Vanguard, the South West Media Officer, Nigeria Forest Security Service, NFSS, formerly known as Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services, NHFSS, Bayo Adediran, said: “Some governors including Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State have been assisting our group via provision of operational vehicles, motorcycles and adequate recognition.

“I strongly believe that our Southwest governors will join hands with the department to flush out criminals in our forests.

“The Southwest Special Forest Force, SSFF, under the leadership of Ambassador Emmanuel Adedayo is a department in the NFSS, specially designed to combat evil perpetrators in our forests.

“We hope that our governors in the region would collaborate with us to tackle insecurity in the region. They cannot tackle this menace alone. We are closer to the grassroots.”

Osun govt not reaching out — OPC

On his part, the Coordinator of OPC in Osun State, Mr Adeyemi Aboderin, disclosed to Vanguard that the group is still waiting for the state government’s invitation.

Aboderin said: “We have received a standby order from the Aare Ona Kakanfo, Iba Gan Adams to be vigilant and collaborate with the state government to ensure proper security of forest and border towns in the region.

“However, here in Osun State, we are still waiting for the State Government to reach out to us on areas of collaboration to ensure the safety of lives and property in the state.

“We have 36,000 members spread across the 30 local government areas of the state and all of the units are ready to do the needful in contributing to the safety of the state. We are ready and would collaborate with the government whenever they reach out to us.”

Nigerians in diaspora have condemned the move by President Donald Trump to cancel citizens by birth as guaranteed in the American constitution, saying an executive order alone was not enough to amend a constitutional provision.

They argued that in the end, it would be up to the US courts and the Supreme Court to decide on the legality or otherwise of Trump’s move.

President Trump had signed an executive order on assumption of office, Monday, seeking to end the age-long citizenship by birth among many other orders that aimed to reverse the President Biden-policy era.

The executive order seeks to stop automatic U.S. citizenship for children born on American soil to parents who are in the country unlawfully or on temporary stay.

The Executive Order states that the federal government will no longer issue documents recognizing U.S. citizenship to children born to parents who are in the country unlawfully or temporarily. The order specifies that it will apply to children born in the U.S. after 30 days from the date of the order.

The order has drawn immediate legal suits with 22 Democratic states and some civil rights groups filing court actions to stop the implementation.

However, reacting to the development, Mr. Ralu Ajekwe, who resides in the USA, said though the move might have been contrived to protect the national interest, the key thing to be considered was the legality of the order.

“Is it in line with extant laws? Is an executive order enough to amend a constitutional issue? One thing I will tell you though is that a government exists to protect the national interest of the state, both in local and international relations.

”This means that it has to take a stand that aligns with its goals, values, and objectives. If Trump has banned citizenship by birth, the questions should be: What are his goals and objectives?; Does it align with the interests and values of the American people?

” Are Americans happy with the policy? Does it lead to the greatest happiness of the greatest numbers?. If all the above is yes, then he is doing the right thing.  Another thing I think we should look at is the legality of the policy,” he stated.

Speaking in the same vein, a diaspora Nigerian and a legal practitioner based in Canada, who declined to be named, dismissed the move, describing it simply as showmanship.

“There are two things with Trump: One is grandstanding or showmanship for his base or supporters and another is what would be legal. There is a limit to executive orders,” he said.

Citing a deviation from the 14th Amendment, he asserted that what Trump was trying to do was to introduce the concept of a parent’s temporary status or lack of permanent residency as qualification for US citizenship.

He stated that the US constitution used the wording: “All persons born… in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”  Can children of temporary residents not be subject to the jurisdiction of the US?

“There is an exception though. The children of people on the diplomatic mission are not usually citizens of the US (and Canada) due to their diplomatic immunity, privileges, conventions and practices.

“I think that executive order will be challenged. It will be up to the US courts or Supreme Court to determine. If the court determines against Trump, those who lost their citizenship while the policy is in force will regain their citizenship.

“Judiciary will have a final say and as such, there is no full details on that immigration policy till the legal challenges are decisively determined by the courts. Anything else would likely be posturing and grandstanding.

“Now, as to the illegal migrants or undocumented migrants, which is also mentioned in the order, the constitution did not say their children can not be citizens. The overarching phrase: All persons born may work in their favour as well.

“Come to think of it, most of the undocumented migrants are trying hard to be subject to the jurisdiction of the US through their action to or inaction to stay in the US albeit illegally. Most are pleading with the US to grant them a stay.  Can one safely argue that the undocumented migrants are not subject to the jurisdiction? He stated.

Peter Obiora, online editor at InvestAdvocate, who lives in the United States, said: “It cannot work that way except they change the constitution on that. The constitution supersedes any other executive order. So, before that can happen, it has to be changed in the constitution.

“There would be a barrage of lawsuits on this. He touted that idea the first time he came in and it was shot down, this time around, he’s back with it. But there’s no way Trump can stop birthright citizenship except through constitutional amendment.  I don’t see him actualising this until his tenure ends.”

Johnpaul Nwafidelie, who is resident in Canada, explained it was a way to control immigration into the United States.

He explained that Canada was also working on a similar policy action but was going through the parliament.

He advised Nigerians who want dual citizenship for their children to go through the right channel, given the current order in place.

“My point is that Nigerians took advantage of birthright citizenship while it lasted. So, now that it has changed, people should follow the current policy to get it if they so desire.

”It worked good for foreign nationals but is no longer working because it gives citizenship to the wrong people who shouldn’t have been allowed to stay in the country due to crime and terrorism.

“So, it’s a way they want to control the immigrants into the country. Like I always said, no door is shut, it’s just a change in process. So, whoever wants it should be patient enough to go through the right path and still get it,” he said.