FEATURES
A Nigerian journalist, Jaafar Jaafar, has alleged that the Nigerian government paid through the nose to secure the release of abducted Kaduna pupils.
In a post on his X handle on Sunday, the journalist claimed that no lobbying, persuasion, flattery, charm or conning will convince the ruthlessly avaricious bandits to release hostages without payment of ransom.
DAILY POST earlier reported that Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani had announced the release of the over 100 Kuriga schoolchildren who were kidnapped by suspected bandits.
The Governor gave the news on Saturday night, confirming the freedom of the schoolchildren.
Although the abductors had demanded N1 billion as ransom as the only condition for their release, it was unclear if the children were rescued by security operatives or if ransom was paid.
However, Jaafar claimed that President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani’s choice of words after the “rescue” of the Kuriga schoolchildren, suggested that the government paid through the nose.
He said: “The reality is that no lobbying, persuasion, flattery, charm or conning will convince the ruthlessly avaricious bandits to release hostages without payment of ransom.
“From President Tinubu to Governor Uba Sani’s choice of words after the ‘rescue’ of the Kuriga schoolchildren, you know the government paid through the nose to simply rescue its image, held hostage by the worsening insecurity.
“Our leaders hardly bother taking proactive measures to stop these abductions. In hindsight, the money the government paid the bandits should have been used to resettle villages that were prone to attack.
“Government is more concerned about its image than the security of lives and property. Whenever you see a government in turbo action, its political image is concerned.”
The prices of rice, garri, and yam, popular staple foods in Nigeria, surged to 134.81 per cent, 109.16 per cent and 131.33 per cent, respectively, in February 2024 compared to last year.
This is according to the National Bureau of Statistics in its latest selected food price watch in February.
Accordingly, the report said 1kg of local rice increased by 134.81 per cent to N1,222.97 in February 2024 from N520.84 last year.
Similarly, the average price of garri increased to N723.45 in February 2024 from N345.88 in February 2023.
Also, the price of yam increased to N1009.56 in February 2024 from N436.41 in February 2023.
On a month-on-month basis, the prices of rice, Garri and yam rose by 19.69 per cent, 20.44 per cent and 11.93 per cent, respectively
In addition, NBS said the price of 500g of sliced bread increased by 89.48 per cent between February 2023 and February 2024.
The bereaved families and friends of some of the police officers who were ambushed and killed while investigating the disappearance of three colleagues by unknown persons in Delta State have demanded justice for their loved ones.
The spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, had disclosed the killing of the six police officers in a statement on Saturday and added that six other officers were missing, with five suspects arrested in connection with the killings.
Adejobi said the deceased officers include Inspector Abe Olubunmi, Inspector Friday Irorere, Sergeant Kuden Elisha, Sergeant Akpan Aniette, Sergeant Ayere Paul, and Sergeant Ejemito Friday.
Those declared missing include Inspector Onoja Daniel, Inspector Onogho Felix, Inspector Emmanuel Okoroafor, Inspector Joel Hamidu, Sergeant Moses Eduvie, and Sergeant Cyril Okorie.
While the deceased victims’ families shared their sorrow and lamentation on various Facebook accounts, which were seen by our correspondent on Sunday, other relatives as well as protesters faulted the NPF for not opening up on the incident for several weeks before revealing to the public and families the circumstances that led to the incident.
In a live video that lasted for about three minutes and 33 seconds and was shared by Osaretin Wiseman on March 7, 2024, relatives were seen crying as police officers took the remains of Friday Irorere, one of the slain officers, to what was suspected to be his home.
Women and children were seen in the video mourning and wailing as other police officers prepared the late officer’s coffin to be lowered into the grave.
Our correspondent also heard a man’s voice, who was suspected to be behind the recording, saying the officers would be missed by family and friends.
The voice said, “Goodbye, father. We will miss you. We will miss you so dearly. We will miss you forever. Even your colleagues are all crying.”
In another post shared by a Wiseman, he described the late Irorere as a father who had helped him out of the street.
“You’ve been like a father to me since I moved to this street five years ago. It’s difficult to say goodbye. I will forever miss you, dear gallant officer, Friday Irorere,” Wiseman wrote.
A Facebook user identified as Oyemwense Eze added in the comment section, “Rest in peace, Daddy.”
“Rest in peace, brother and friend,” Flourish Moses added.
Others, such as Aigburemwen Esther Chinyere, expressed their shock, saying, “So it is true that Papa Israel is gone? God, I can’t hold back my tears. I didn’t know that today was his burial. Nobody tells me, including my siblings. I should have been there. Chai e pain me.”
Meanwhile, the brother of Ayere Paul, another victim of the ambush, who goes by the Facebook name Ayereakhere Paul, wrote, “Rest on Blood. Almighty God will fight those who have a hand in your death, and you too should go after them till they find no peace in their lives and their generation. IJN Amen.”
A family friend identified as Charles Emonyon wrote, “This is so hard to accept, especially when it has to do with the younger folks, but that’s the way life is at times. My condolences to the family of Otono Ayera.”
“Your killer will never have peace in Jesus’ name; rest in peace, brother,” prayed Ehiosun Austin.
A Facebook user, Iyoha Michael, wrote, “May his soul and the souls of all the faithful who departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen. Rest on my brother.”
Abu Arun added, “Rest in peace, ever smiling face. May Almighty God give you ever-resting peace, wherever you are. Rest in peace, gallant officer.”
“Oh! This is so sad. Enter rest, grant unto him, oh God, and let perpetual light shine on him. May he rest in peace. Amen. My condolences, brother, and please take heart,” Miki Saint grieved.
Ejemito Samuel, the brother of the slain Ejemito Friday, wrote, “So painful that you left so soon, my dearest brother. Rest on till we meet and part no more.”
“This pain is too much to carry; nevertheless, rest well, brother,” Onome Frank added in the comment section, while Vincent Wilson wrote, “Rest on gallant till that beautiful resurrection morning; it’s well.”
Loveline Ezenne described Ejemito as a patriot who died while serving his country, saying, “I never knew you would leave so soon. My heart bleeds upon hearing the news of your demise. May God console your family and grant you peaceful rest, Amen. You died while fighting for your country.”
However, other Facebook users described the NPF as not being fair to the families and Nigerians for not revealing the incident immediately after it occurred.
Samuel Odoba wrote, “The police high command is a disgrace. The killings of these officers happened before the killings of soldiers, but the police authority attempted to conceal the killings. The level of ineptitude of the police high authority is staggering.”
Corroborating, Pico Sam, berated the NPF for not valuing the lives of its officers, saying, “This incident happened almost two months ago, but the police authorities, both Delta State Command and Force Headquarters, refused to give an account of what happened to their men and the way forward.
“Now, they have seen the way the military quickly organized a press conference with pictures of the fallen soldiers and gave an account of what happened to their men in the Okuama community, and the entire country is condemning the actions. This publication is coming too late, and the IGP should be reminded of something here.
“This is not fair to the policemen who died and their bodies decomposed by Fulani bandits in that failed operation in Ugheli, Delta State. I was told that most of the operatives that died in that operation were from IRT Abuja and died just like that without proper information to Nigerians and their families.”
The Osun State Police Command arrested six suspected cultist with 155 rounds of 9mm live ammunition.
The suspects were arrested at Ipetu-Ijesa, motor park, Oriade local government area of Osun state while attempting to board a public transport out of the town.
It was gathered that the suspects got to the park in groups and park operators suspected their move, hence, alerted police authority in the town.
Four cut to size locally made pistol were also found in their possession.
Osun police command spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola while confirming the arrest on Sunday, said the suspect confessed to being members of ‘eiye’ confraternity from Ilorin, Kwara state.
According to her, the suspects disclosed that they were heading to Delta State for cultism operation before they were caught.
Her words, “We recieved information that some hoodlums suspected to be the men of under world were sighted in Ipetu-Ijesa motor park. A police team moved to the motor park and apprehended the six suspects.
“Meanwhile four cut to size locally made pistols with 155 rounds of live 9mm ammunition were recovered from the suspect.
“The suspects confessed to be members of eiye confraternity from Ilorin town, Kwara state and heading to Delta state for cultism operation.”
Veteran Nollywood actor, Amaechi Muonagor, has died after a prolonged illness, at the age of 62.
This was disclosed by a social commentator, Morris Monye, via his X handle, on Sunday.
Muonagor was said to have suffered kidney failure and was on dialysis.
The sudden news of his demise comes just few days after a viral video where he solicited funds to help him have a Kidney transplant.
Monye wrote, “Deeply heartbroken by the news of Amaechi Muonagor’s passing.
“He was a talented Nollywood actor whose presence on our screens was truly masterful.
“We watched with concern as he battled health issues, offering whatever support we could to help him seek treatment in India. This tragic loss highlights the need for better healthcare in our country.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Muonagor, a native of Idemili, in Anambra, was born Aug. 20, 1962.
He was an actor and producer. In 2016, he was nominated for AMVCA 2017 Best Actor in a comedy.
In 1989, after his youth service, Muonagor started working for the News Agency of Nigeria. He left his job a few years later for an acting role in his first movie as Akunatakasi in Taboo 1, a Nigerian movie.
His death comes weeks after that of his famous colleague John Okafor, known as Mr Ibu
… how the soldiers were killed
FOR 10 days, the nation is understandably simmering over the butchery of 17 officers and personnel of the Nigerian Army, who journeyed on a peace mission to Okuama, an Urhobo community in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State, on March 14.
The subsequent discovery that the heartless killers beheaded some of the soldiers and mutilated the remains of others infuriated Nigerians the more.
Even more worrisome is the truth that the killers also collected the arms and ammunition of the Nigerian Army found in the possession of the assassinated soldiers, a development that no security agency would joke with until the weapons are found and retrieved.
Too many mysteries
But how did a communal misunderstanding between Okuama and Okoloba, an Ijaw community in Bomadi Local Government Area, Delta State, degenerate into the slaughter of soldiers, especially after the people of Okuama had received the soldiers in their territory, and served them kola nut?
What crime did the soldiers commit to warrant such jungle justice?
Having signed a peace accord brokered by the Delta state government, more than a month earlier, seemingly to forestall further killings, kidnap, and counter-kidnap by both communities, why did some Okuama youth waylay, and take hostage Mr. Anthony Aboh, an indigene of Okoloba, whose rescue attempt by soldiers resulted in the March 14 debacle?
However, if truth be told, were soldiers, job-wise, supposed to have embarked on peace talks with the people of Okuama, who are having a land dispute with Okoloba?
What were the compelling reasons for the military authorities authorizing such peace talks, headed by the Commanding Officer of the 181 Amphibious Battalion, Lt. Colonel A.H Ali, in a communal dispute between the two communities? Besides the lieutenant colonel were two majors, one captain, and others.
Who authorized the mission by the military officers? They could not have undertaken such a mission without authorization and planning.
Was the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, informed of the peace talks and what is the involvement of the police, whose duty it is in the first instance, to execute such a mission?
Why was it not the Police that went for the peace talks?
Did the Army notify the Governor of Delta State, the Chief Security Officer of the state, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, of the March 14 peace talks?
Why did the peace team consist only of military men? Where were the officials of the Department of State Services, DSS, traditional rulers of the area, and other stakeholders?
What of the state Committee on Peace and Conflict Resolution that earlier brokered the peace accord between the two feuding communities; the Chairman of Ughelli South Local Government Area, and the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of the area?
Why should the Army not track down those who killed their men rather than attack innocent women, and children of Okuama, who could not have been the ones that murdered the soldiers?
Why should soldiers embark on razing the community, a day after the 17 soldiers were killed, and continue knocking down the community days after, but in the same breath, remain indifferent to allegations of carrying out reprisal action against the fleeing Okuama natives?
The puzzles in this sad episode that has enveloped Delta State are many. But the truth is that there is more than meets the eye in the entire affair.
What is, however, palpable is that the two communities were at daggers drawn over land despite the peace accord put in place by the state government, leaders and youth of the communities fanned embers of discord by their actions.
Accusations, counter-accusations
Both communities had before now accused each other of engaging the services of Very Important Personalities, VIPs, and private armies to undermine the peace process.
For example, while Okoloba accused Okuama of hiring a militant leader and other mercenaries to kidnap and kill their indigenes, including the 17 military men on March 14, Okuama also pointed fingers at Okoloba, alleging that a VIP influenced the disquieting presence of soldiers in its land for the bungled consultation.
Curiously, a militant from one of the warring communities suspected to have participated in the killing of the soldiers, in a trending video, maintained that the use of soldiers to persecute the people of Okuama triggered the bloodbath.
Military didn’t come for peacekeeping – Militant leader
Daring the government to declare him wanted if it so wished, during the week, an unnamed militant, who communicated in Pidgin English, said the soldiers allowed some influential people to use them to repress the people of Okuama.
He claimed that the Okuama and Okoloba communities were indeed having a land dispute and connected Ijaw people who used the army to escort and carry out their crude oil business, betrayed their brothers.
He disclosed they used soldiers to ‘carry’ three people and slaughtered them, adding, “The day the soldiers were killed, they came to carry our community leaders, and the youth knew that once the community leaders were captured, they would be powerless.”
From his explanation, they killed the soldiers to stop them from taking away the community leaders and making the youths of Okuama ineffective.
“That is why the action took place but people say the soldiers came for peacekeeping. Point of correction – no army came for peacekeeping. They are fighting in support of somebody who ordered them to do so.
“This is my last video; my father is a retired army captain; he died last year, and I have lost over six of my friends and relatives in Nigeria.
“If you like, take the matter to the next level. If you like, make the Federal Government declare me wanted, I am proud of it. You people are saying show my face, if I show my face, what will you do to me,” he said.
Ogbodo traces crisis to oil bunkering
Meanwhile, a former Editor of the Guardian Newspaper, Mr. Abraham Ogbodo, who is of Urhobo nationality, corroborated the claim in an interview with a television station, saying the ambush and murder of the troops was not connected to the communal crisis between Okuama and Okoloba, but instead linked to illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta.
”It is not true that a misunderstanding between an Urhobo community and an Ijaw community could bring that level of crisis, that level of tragedy that we witnessed is not true.
“It’s not about communal crisis. What level of communal crisis? The combined population of those communities will be less than 2,000 human beings. Where will they get the capacity to wreak that level of havoc?
He queried: “What was compelling about a peace mission in that place that will require the strategic team to go for a tactical mission? So, it shows that there are so many things underlying that we are not talking about.
”If it was actually for a peace mission, would it not have been for those community leaders to be summoned to the base in Bomadi for discussions to be held?
“This was not done. Instead, the entire leadership of the battalion went to Bomadi and was exposed. And if a mission like that was being carried by the strategic team, why was there, not enough tactical cover that they were just gotten and taken out like that so cheaply?
“The Nigerian military? That is uncalled for. So, you will see that there are so many wrong things.
Ogbodo urged the military to grant access to the community for thorough investigations into the attack, adding, “I think that what the president has said about the investigation should be allowed to go full course. An investigation means that independent investigators have to get to the site, get to the scene, and let the investigation be done.”
Fabricated storylines – Major General Abudussalam, GOC
The General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army/Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force, South-South, Operation DELTA STATE, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, on Thursday, nevertheless, vowed that no amount of false narratives, arm-twisting, and blackmail would deter the Army from recovering its arms carted away by the criminals, who killed men and officers, and arrest all those involved in the act.
The Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Danjuma, in a statement, said the GOC stated this when the Managing Director (MD)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief (Dr.) Samuel Ogbuku paid him a condolence visit at the Division’s Headquarters in Port Harcourt Barracks. Rivers State.
He stated that no amount of propaganda, arm-twisting, blackmailing, intimidation, and false narratives would distract troops from staying on course to achieve their objectives.
Abdussalam asserted, “Troops will not rest until all those involved are tracked down to account for their deeds. The operation is being conducted in such a way that going forward, nobody would contemplate attacking men in uniform. False narratives being churned out, and propaganda peddled over this mindless criminality would not deter troops from fishing out the criminals.”
What transpired in Okuama
Beyond the blame game, what went awry as the people of Okuama at the outset received the Lieutenant Colonel and his team to the community.
Before the March 14 slaughter, the day earlier, Wednesday, March 13, a young man from Okoloba, Mr. Anthony Aboh, was taken hostage by armed youths in Okuama community. His brother, a former supervisory councilor, Bomadi local government council, immediately reported the matter to the 181 Amphibious Battalion of the military Joint Task Force, Bomadi.
Upon the report, the commander mobilized his men on a rescue mission to Okuama. The former councilor was also asked to join them on the mission.
Saturday Vanguard learned that when the military team arrived at Okuama, they asked for the community chairman who the community earlier said had gone to the farm. But after much insistence to see him, he surfaced and took the military men to the community hall.
Discussions to free the hostage were deadlocked, and the commander insisted the community chairman must go with them to Bomadi since they refused to produce the hostage, who they later found dead.
According to a survivor, who was one of the drivers of the speedboats hired by the military at the Gbaregolor community waterside, the community chairman refused to go with the soldiers. They forced him towards the waterfront to board their boat when rains of bullets started coming from all directions.
Before that incident, the driver said: “While waiting at the waterfront, an old woman in pure water attire came out of the community and stared at us, making some incantations, and went back to the community. Within a few minutes, an old man with similar attire came to the same spot, gazed at us, and performed the same way as the old woman.”
”Not long after this scenario, the commander and his men started coming to the shore with the community chairman. At that moment, I made ready to start my engine just like my colleagues, but the engines refused to start, and efforts made to start the engines were to no avail at this point, I realized that the problem had come when I saw the performance of the old woman and the man.
”As the bullets started coming, the soldiers tried to respond, but none of their guns answered, and immediately I dived into the river. But suddenly, one of the engines started, some soldiers jumped into it, and the driver sped out of the community and carried me from the river.
”I do not know what he did to start his engine. Two of the soldiers in the boat sustained severe bullet wounds and were taken to the Bomadi General Hospital. The information then was that the JTF commander and one other officer were held hostage”.
”The following day, soldiers were mobilized from Agbarho to Okuama to negotiate and secure the release of the commander and others reported to have been held hostage.”
According to an inside source, who partook in the reinforcement that led to the burning of houses at Okuama, and who was discussing the operation with his colleagues, the soldiers who were mobilized from Agbarho were deceived and killed.
”The remobilized soldiers from Agbarho led by the Lieutenant Colonial, upon reaching Okuama, told the community folk that they were coming for peace talk. They said the soldiers should drop their weapons if they came for peace talks.
”The commanding officer asked his men to drop their weapons, and as they did so, the community youths took the weapons away from all of them. Then, suddenly the youths descended on them by butchering them from all angles.”
Narrating how he was privy to this gruesome murder, the soldier said: “As we were burning houses in the community, somebody ran out of one of the houses on fire, and I threatened to shoot if he ran. He hesitated a while and surrendered. So, we interrogated him as to why he remained in the village while all the others had fled.”
”His reply was odd and awkward. He answered by saying, it could be the blood on his head. Then, when he was asked how many he had killed? He said 46 and at this moment, a colleague cocked his gun and wanted to shoot him in anger, but others calmed him down, telling him that he was a possible source of hidden information.
”We discovered six shrines in the community in the process of burning the houses, which are stained with blood. We also burned them but one of the shrines refused to burn. It was one Hausa soldier who did what he did to set it ablaze.
”The culprit, after his confessions, also led us to discover hidden corpses under the jetty at the community waterfront. He has already been flown to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja”.
Chronology of the Okuama/Okoloaba crisis
The inter-communal crisis between Okuama and Okoloba communities in Bomadi Local started like child’s play.
The brewing crisis between these neighbouring communities came to public notice when one of the communities, Okoloba, through the community chairman, Mr. Clement Koki, addressed a press conference at Bomadi, headquarters of Bomadi local government area, on December 20, 2023, alleging that neighbouring Okuama community invaded farmlands and fishing grounds belonging to Okoloba, as well as attacked and brutalized indigenes on several occasions without any provocation.
They also alleged that indigenes of Okuama trespassed their community by blasting dynamites indiscriminately and cutting off grasses in the name of catching fish thereby exposing the community shoreline to coastal erosion.
The community equally sent an open letter to the state government, drawing the attention of the governor, Rt Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to the brewing tension, urging the government to intervene and call the aggressor to order.
The people of the Okoloba community clashed with some youths on a speedboat, going towards Okuama, who they alleged were mercenaries moving weapons to the Okuama community around 2 am in January 2024, The Okoloba community chairman, Mr. Koki, who narrated the night incident, said: “On 28th January 2024, we had intelligence of an allegedly planned attack on our community with mercenaries coming with weapons from the Warri axis that same night, which prompted us to keep watch.”
”A speedboat came from that same direction, the Okuagbe direction of the river at around 2 am. We tried to stop them by beaming torchlights on the boat and waved to stop them, but they responded by firing at us. We pursued them with our boats and they moved in the opposite direction of our community, abandoned their boat, and fled. Arms and charms were inside the boat which we handed over to the Bomadi Police Division”.
But when contacted over the incident, a leader of Okuama, Prof. Ekpoko, alleged that the boys were not mercenaries as erroneously alleged and reported by the people of Okoloba.
He said: “We are not at any offensive but the people of Okoloba are”, stressing “they were coming back to their community from Okuagbe”.
In that incident, it was reported that about six of the said mercenaries met their Waterloo during a gun battle between the two groups, among whom was an Ijaw youth. In the following weeks, the youths who escaped with gunshots were posted on social media.
The Delta State Government, through the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Peace and Conflict Resolution, on February 6, 2024, called both parties to Government House, Asaba, where they discussed issues and at the end of the discussions, came up with a Peace Pact that was signed by the leadership of both parties.
On February 20, 2024, the people of the Okoloba community, again, raised the alarm in another press briefing at Bomadi, with an open letter to the governor, updating the public on current developments.
Mr. Koki, in this briefing, said the people of Okuama were conducting a stop-and-search operation on market boats, searching for indigenes of the Okoloba community in the boats with a vow to kill any if found. He also alleged that the harassment of fishermen and farmers of the Okoloba community was on the increase.
”They threatened the boat drivers with guns not to pass without stopping by their waterfront, where they searched for Okoloba Indigenes returning from the market.
, “On the following day, February 21, 2024, our women who were fishing at the Mein-toruabubor River were threatened with guns and chased back home. The Mein-toruabubor River belongs to the Okoloba community”, he said.
Other allegations in the open letter to the governor included efforts to scare away teachers posted to Okoloba, and forceful takeover of fishponds belonging to Okoloba Indigenes and others despite the Peace Pact signed by both parties in Asaba.
But in their reaction to the purported development, an indigene of Okuama spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that the allegations were fabricated and unfounded.
Ambush and killing
On the 5th of March, 2024, Mr. Pigha Zipamone of the Okoloba community disappeared from his mother’s farm and the community raised the alarm.
The community chairman, Mr. Koki, who once again addressed the press at Bomadi, when handing over the corpse of the slain youth to security men, said: “On 5th March 2024, Mr. Pigha Zipamone went to work in his mother’s farm and was kidnapped by Okuama bloodletting savages and mercenaries who have been laying ambush to attack us.
”He was taken to Okuama, beaten mercilessly with hands tied behind his back daily in the village square, and eventually killed on 8th March 2024. His lifeless body was thrown into River Forcados in the early hours of 9th March 2024″.
NAPTIP Warns Nigerians Against Use Of Fake Oil And Gas Jobs In Trafficking Citizens To Ghana, Other West African Countries
AFOLABIYoung Nigerians have been warned by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to be cautious of fraudulent oil and gas job offers in West African countries.
The agency disclosed that it uncovered a new ploy by some human traffickers exploiting coordinated global brand trademarks and offering unrealistic oil and gas job offers to traffic unsuspecting youths and other classes of people to neighbouring West African countries for various forms of exploitation.
A statement on Sunday by NAPTIP Communication Officer, Adekoye Vincent, said that the Director-General of NAPTIP, Prof Fatima Waziri–Azi, revealed the alarming trend at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja while discussing emerging trends in human trafficking for 2024.
Titled ‘Beware of Fake Oil and Gas Jobs in West African Countries... NAPTIPS Alerts Nigerians On New Tricks By Human Traffickers,’ the anti-human trafficking agency said it had redoubled its efforts recently through enhanced partnership, "collaboration, diligent prosecution, and extensive awareness campaigns aimed at bolstering its operations, resulting in a significant increase in convictions of human traffickers."
The statement quoted the NAPTIP DG as emphasising the need for comprehensive enlightenment strategies to equip Nigerians with timely and accurate information to reduce their vulnerability.
Waziri-Azi said, "As part of our comprehensive enlightenment strategies to equip Nigerians with timely and accurate information to reduce their vulnerability, we have received reports indicating that traffickers have adopted new tactics to lure unsuspecting victims, predominantly to Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, and other West African nations.
"Under the guise of lucrative employment opportunities in gold mining and oil companies, victims are enticed with promises of monthly incomes as high as Nine Hundred Dollars ($900.00), which, as always, are blatant lies."
"Victims are often instructed to bring up to Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N850,000) for documentation and other logistical expenses. Upon arrival at their destination, traffickers confiscate this money, along with the victims' phones and other personal belongings," the statement quoted her to have said.
"The targeted demographic includes male and female victims aged between 15 and 35 years old. They are typically trafficked through the waterways of Ode Jetty in Lagos en route to Benin Republic and other parts of the West African region. Some victims are also trafficked via land routes."
Waziri–Azi, however, reiterated her earlier appeal to Nigerians to exercise caution, ask questions, and seek a second opinion before accepting any tempting offers.
"Do not allow desperation to cloud your judgment," the statement said.
"NAPTIP remains committed to combating human trafficking and protecting the rights and dignity of all Nigerians. For further information or to report suspected cases of human trafficking, please contact: 07030000203 or 627 (Only on the MTN Network)."
Wunmi Aloba, the wife of the late singer Mohbad, was filled with emotion as she looked forward to her son Liam's upcoming first birthday in a few weeks.
Recall that the late Afrobeats singer passed away on September 12, at the age of 27.
His widowed wife, Wunmi took to social media to speak on how his absence has affected her.
Wunmi emphasised that no woman should go through the emotional turmoil that she had gone through.
She wrote: “No female deserves to go through this, haa, I don’t wish this pain on my enemy.
"Liam will clock in in a few weeks without dada, I miss my baby so much.”
NDLEA Launches Massive Raids In Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Others, Seizes 44,948kg Drugs, Arrests 4 Kingpins
AFOLABIOn Sunday, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced that its operatives had conducted extensive raids across Lagos, Edo, and Ondo states, resulting in the confiscation of over 44,948.1 kilograms (44.9 tonnes) of illicit drugs. Additionally, eight suspects were arrested, and 11 vehicles owned by the drug cartels were seized.
NDLEA said while a total of 7, 687.8kg of cannabis was destroyed in a warehouse in Ala forest, Akure, Ondo state with another 670kg evacuated, on Saturday 23rd March 2024, no less than 14,310.8625kg of same psychoactive substance was razed on 5.7 hectares of farms in Ohosu/Ugbogui forest, Ovia South West LGA, Edo State on Tuesday 19th March, where five suspects including 67-year-old Sunday Otulugbu; Agbayeogor Joshua, 39; Kelvin Ofuasia,45; Williams Peter, 37; and Kamaru Onimisi, 44, were arrested.
This was disclosed on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy.
Babafemi said the agency in another operation in Uzebba/Avbiosi forest on Thursday 21st March, over 6,500kg cannabis was destroyed on 2.6 hectares of farms where three suspects: Kabiru Idris, 36; Alaba Jimoh, 40; and Lekan Asobere, 35, were arrested.
He further added that in the same vein, 5,000kg of same substance was razed in a warehouse in Okpuje forest, Owan West LGA by NDLEA operatives with support from the military on Friday 22nd March.
According to the statement, a well-coordinated operation by the anti-narcotic agency in Lagos on Wednesday 20th March led to the seizure of 10,534 kilograms (10.534 tonnes) of Ghanaian Loud, a strain of cannabis in Ajah area of the state where 11 vehicles were seized from the drug cartel.
Babafemi mentioned the recovered vehicles to include: Iveco truck marked KRD 522 YE; Toyota sienna marked AAA 338 GL; Toyota sienna marked AAA 308 EP; Toyota sienna marked FKJ 381 JC; Nissan bus marked EKY 846 YG; Mercedes bus marked EPE 743 XT; an unmarked Iveco J5 bus; Toyota sienna marked LSD 744 GP; Toyota highlander SUV marked KTU 280 FN; Toyota sienna marked AAA 333 GH and Toyota sienna marked FKJ 208 HV.
Announcing further interceptions by the NDLEA, Babafemi said: “In another raid at Ago Palace way area of the state on Friday 22nd March, a suspect, Miracle Obi was arrested with 1,006 ampoules of pentazocine injection; 50 tablets of tramadol 225mg; 89 bottles of codeine syrup and 2,360 ampoules of Diazepam injection. Another suspect, Kareem Mustapha was earlier on Tuesday 19th March nabbed along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway with 25,000 pills of tramadol and 5,900 ampoules of pentazocine injection.
“While 58kg cannabis was recovered at Jagindi village, Kafanchan LGA, Kaduna State on Friday 22nd March, Abdulqadir Muhammad, 34, was arrested with 45 kilograms of same substance by NDLEA operatives along Kaduna- Zaria expressway.
“In Borno state, Salisu Yusuf, 20, was nabbed with 30kg Arizona, a strain of cannabis at Njimtilo checkpoint on Saturday 23rd March, while another suspect, Rabiu Husseini, 27, was arrested with 34kg cannabis along Gwagwalada/Abuja highway on his way from Lagos to Katsina state on Wednesday 21st March. The following day, 22nd March, NDLEA officers on patrol along Gashua-Baymari road, Busari LGA, Yobe state arrested Haladu Hassan with 160 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 50kg.”
He continued, “In Kano state, a syndicate dealing in cocaine and heroin was successfully dismantled with the arrest of 42-year-old Onyeka Uba at Sabon Gari area of Kano where 1.805 kilograms and 7grams of the illicit substances were recovered from him on Monday 18th March. Another suspect, Ubale Sani, 49, was also arrested with 51.5kg cannabis at Chiromawa area of Kano.
Operatives of a special operation unit of NDLEA also disrupted criminal activities of another cocaine syndicate in Abuja at the weekend with the arrest of three leaders of the group. While Nnajiofor Celestine Kenechukwu, 41, and Okoro Chigozie Christian, 35, were arrested on Friday, March 22, at Paint House Hotel, Umar Garba Benna Street, 21 Road, First Avenue, Gwarimpa Abuja with 718 grams of cocaine.
“A follow up operation at the residence of Okoro Chigozie at House 30, 69B Road 6th Avenue Gwarimpa, led to the recovery of 19 blocks of Arizona, a strain of cannabis weighing 9.823kg and monetary exhibits: N545,500 and $250, as well as property documents. Two vehicles: Toyota Camry 2007 marked BWR 94 BM and Toyota Camry 2012 marked RBC 154 BS were also recovered from them.
“Another follow up operation to the residence of Nnajiofor Celestine Kenechukwu at 49 Mercy Orjiakor street, Becky Estate 11, Karu, Nasarawa state on Saturday 23rd March also led to the recovery of various quantities of Arizona and methamphetamine while his girlfriend and accomplice, Ifemenam Oge was arrested.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended the officers and men of the Lagos, Edo, Ondo, Kano, Borno, Kaduna, and FCT Commands as well as the Special Operations unit of the Agency for their outstanding feats in the past week.
Marwa equally applauded their counterparts in all the commands across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures in schools, markets, motor parks, worship centres and work places.
The Nigerian Military has revealed details of how several students kidnapped by bandits in Kuriga, Kaduna State, were rescued in Zamfara State.
A statement on Sunday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said the military worked with local authorities and government agencies across the country in a search and rescue operation, leading to the rescue of the students.
Buba said the victims kidnapped on 7th March 2024, were rescued in the early hours of 24th March 2024.
The statement confirmed that the rescued hostages totalling 137, comprise of 76 females and 61 male.
It added that the rescued students would be conveyed and handed over to the Kaduna State Government for further action.
The statement reads: “It would be recalled that , on 7 March 2024, troops received information that terrorists had invaded LEA School Kuriga in Chikun LG of Kaduna State. During the incident unconfirmed number of pupils were abducted. Following the incident, the military committed to leaving no stone unturned until all the hostages were rescued.
“Accordingly, in the early hours of 24 March 2024, the military working with local authorities and government agencies across the country, in a coordinated search and rescue operation rescued the hostages. The hostages are same persons that were abducted from the school at Kuriga in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State.
“The rescued hostages totalling 137 comprise of 76 females and 61 male. They were rescued in Zamfara State and would be conveyed and handed over to the Kaduna State Government for further action.”
Buba added that troops rescued 16 pupils (Almajiris) with a woman taken hostage in Gada LGA of Sokoto State and the rescued persons have been handed over to the state government.
He vowed that the military would continue track down criminals including those responsible for the killing of soldiers in Delta State and bring them all to justice.
“Relatedly, it would be recalled that on 21 Mar 24, troops equally rescued 16 pupils (Almajiris) with a woman taken hostage in Gada LGA of Sokoto State. These hostages were handed over to the Sokoto State Government. These efforts demonstrate the armed forces resolve to finding other innocent hostages and track down the terrorists that perpetrated these crimes.
“These efforts would continue until other hostages are found and the terrorists arrested, tried, and brought to justice by Nigerian law. Troops are employing similar effort to trackdown the culprits responsible for the killings of 18 soldiers in Okuama Community in Delta State. Justice await the culprits, as they can not go unpunished,” the statement said.
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The mother of the Commanding Officer of the 181 Amphibious Battalion, late Lieutenant Colonel A.H Ali, who was tragically killed alongside two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers in Okuama, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State last week, has shared her awful experience following the latest event.
Naija News reports that the slain officers and soldiers were members of the battalion stationed in the Bomadi Local Government Area of the state.
They were, however, ambushed and murdered by some heavily armed terrorists in the state last week, a development that raised great concerns in the country.
When the family of the late Lieutenant Colonel Ali was visited by journalists on Sunday, his mother, Hassana Hassan, lamented that she has now lost four of her children in tragic situations.
According to the deceased’s mother, Ali was the main provider for the family.
Conversing with journalists in her living room, appearing lost in contemplation as she recalled past challenges, Hassan mentioned that mere words could not capture the depth of her emotions following the loss of her firstborn son, Ali.
“He is one of my favourite children. As the eldest, he didn’t want to see me angry. He had never done anything wrong to me. I know him to be very loyal, easygoing and truthful in his dealings.
“He often asked for permission, just to come and see me and go back to his place of work.
“I don’t know what to do. His death is bitter in my heart, but God knows the best. The last time he came to see me was just two weeks ago. He said he was sorry that he couldn’t secure permission to come and see me until that day. He brought me foodstuff and other things to use for the fasting period and returned back to work.
“When I was in the hospital, I requested some money from him to settle the medical bills, and he sent it to me. Unfortunately, before we were discharged from the hospital, his brother came and said my attention was needed and that Alhaji Ali wanted to see me. I left to see him and he broke the news to me.
“Honestly, it is devastating because he is now the fourth one I lost. I have nothing to say but God is watching. He was very good to me; I lacked nothing from him. I have nothing to tell them, but God is watching everyone; he will judge on the final day,” she told Daily Trust.
The bereaved mother recalls a tragic incident where Ali’s younger brother, who served as an officer in the Nigerian Army, lost his life to suspected bandits during an ambush in Katsina State a few years back while on duty.
“His brother, Captain Jamilu Ali Hassan, also paid the supreme price in 2019 in Katsina State. His colleagues told me that they were helpless, so they allowed him to be killed in a manner that no one would wish, even his enemy,” Hassan lamented.
She went on to describe how her daughter, who was married to a military man as well, tragically passed away with her husband and his brother in a car accident during the fasting period several years back.
The mother said: “They came here during fasting like this to greet us, but they were involved in an accident on their way back home. She had escaped, but in trying to rescue her husband and his brother, she was caught by the fire and that’s how she also died.”
Hassana further mentioned that her late husband, who peacefully passed away after retiring from active duty, was the fourth military personnel she had lost.
“I don’t know what to do. I am speechless. But if anybody has a hand in this, God is watching and he will judge accordingly,” she noted.
My Children Will Never Join The Military – Late Ali’s Wife Declares
When journalists visited the home of the deceased Lieutenant Colonel Ali, his wife and six children were also grieving heavily.
In her response to journalists, the late Lieutenant Colonel Ali’s wife, Hauwa, declared that none of her children would join the military.
Hauwa, who could only nod sadly as tears continued to stream down her face, told newsmen that she had been married to the late lieutenant colonel for 16 years and that they had four sons and two daughters.
Naija News understands that Hauwa’s mother had been the spouse of a once formidable military officer.
Surrounded by her two sons and a daughter, Hauwa tearfully said: “Words cannot describe him because he was everything to us. He was a man of his word, dedicated to both his family and work.
“Apart from his family, he sacrificed his life for Nigeria, and that’s the price he has paid. I pray that wherever he is God, would continue to be with him.
“His dedication to humanity is one thing I will always remember. No matter how he was, once he was called to work, he would make sure he fulfilled it.”
Asked if she would allow some of her children to join the military in future, she said, “I will not advise any of his children to be in the military. Their father has already sacrificed his life for the country.
“We know that death is inevitable. As Muslims, we have to die at some point in time, but I am really shattered by the way my husband was killed. He called me that very day and told me that he was going on a peace mission. I never knew that it was the last time we would speak.
“Nobody could call to tell me the news until Saturday. I was called from the State House.”
At least sixteen politicians have indicated interest in participating in the party primaries to pick up the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State.
Naija News reports the APC has set April 25, 2024 for the conduct of its governorship primary election in the state. The sale of nominations, expression of interest and delegate forms for contestants will begin on April 3 and end on April 10.
Similarly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the 2024 Ondo State governorship election for November 16.
As the ruling party in the state, APC would be hoping to retain the seat, while other political parties would also be hoping to unseat the ruling party.
According to INEC, party primaries in the Ondo State governorship election will start in the next two weeks on 6 April and end on 27 April. The electoral umpire has also confirmed that 16 of 19 registered political parties have indicated interest in contesting the 16 November governorship election in the state.
The aspirants who have indicated interest in the APC ticket are:
1. Mayowa Akinfolarin – Former member of the House of Representatives
2. Oladunni Odu – Former Secretary to the State Government (SSG)
3. Lucky Aiyedatiwa – Incumbent Ondo governor
4. Gbenga Edema – Former Chairman of the Ondo State Oil-producing Areas Development Commission and former member who represented the State on the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)
5. Brig. Gen. Olamide Ohunyeye (retd) – Retired Director of Finance at the Nigerian Defence Academy
6. Jimoh Ibrahim – Business mogul and incumbent Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District
7. Wale Akinterinwa – Former Ondo Commissioner for Finance
8. Isaac Kekemeke – APC National Vice Chairman (South-West)
9. Prof. Francis Faduyile – Former Special Adviser to the late Governor Akeredolu on Health
10. Chief Olusola Oke – Two-time governorship candidate in the state (2012 and 2016)
11. Dr Paul Akintelure
12. Sola Ebisemi – Former Commissioner for the Environment in the state
13. Ifeoluwa Oyedele – Executive Director (Engineering and Technical Services) at Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited
14. Adedayo Faduyile – Former President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA)
15. Olusola Iji
16. Jimi Odimayo
17. Matthew Oyerinmade
18. Funmilayo Adekojo
How Hospital’s Negligence Led To The Death Of My First-Class Graduate Daughter – Rivers Man Shares His Story
AFOLABISampson Sekidika, the father of 24-year-old Rebekah Sekidika, a first-class graduate of Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, Edo State, has talked abiut her tragic death.
He shares with DENNIS NAKU the story of how his daughter passed away during a medical procedure at a hospital in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and his relentless quest for justice for the deceased.
How old was your daughter when she passed away and what school did she attend?
My name is Sampson Sekidika. I hail from Okrika in the Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State. I work with Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas as a lead process engineer in the expansion coordination department at the head office here in Port Harcourt. I am the father of the late Rebekah Tamunotorukubu Sekidika. She was 24 years old and graduated from Benson Idahosa University, Benin City in Edo State, where she studied Microbiology and made first-class.
What led to her death?
Before February 2, 2024, my daughter had a series of clinical visits to Paragon Clinics and Imaging Diagnosis located at No. 96 Stadium Road. Paragon Clinics and Imaging Diagnosis is a retainer-ship hospital used by the NLNG. So the NLNG recommended that we use that clinic because they have been qualified to attend to their staff and families. That is why we used that place. It is part of their HMO. So what was my daughter’s complaint? She had some clinical visits and tests she did with them and since November last year (2023) she had not seen her period for nearly three months so she needed to know why. So they carried out a series of tests, including pregnancy and everything came out negative. But they decided that she should see a specialist, more like closing that part of the whole investigation.
She got the call on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, to see a specialist which she did a day before. So they said they were going to do a hysteroscopy on her, which is supposedly a simple procedure that involves using a probe with a light bulb at the end to be inserted through her private parts to see what was causing the obstruction or whatever it was, and they would be seeing it on a monitor at the same time. So that was why they did that. I didn’t know before then that she was going to be given any form of anaesthesia, spinal anaesthesia for that matter for a simple procedure. They said they just wanted her not to feel any pain.
On February 2, 2024, the doctor said she should come between 12 noon and 1pm. So I drove her and her mom to the clinic and around 12.30pm I left to attend to some other things. From what we know about hysteroscopy, the procedure takes between 15 and 30 minutes depending on the doctor handling it. So by 3.10pm I called my wife and asked why they hadn’t called me. She said the doctor had not come out. I now said if by 4pm nothing happened I would come and pick them. My daughter was having an online class at the university by 4.30pm. She had the last online classes and closed her laptop.
What happened next?
By 4.30pm, my daughter walked into the theatre; she was not sick; she was hale and hearty. She had no issues at all; she was very strong. By 5pm it was expected my daughter would have been out of the theatre but was not out. Around 5.10pm, I had already arrived at the clinic. So I went upstairs to stay with my wife. I asked her what was going on. She said they were still in the theatre. I now went to the reception area to sit. Around 5.30pm, my wife came rushing to me saying that something was not right; she heard them in the theatre shouting ‘Rebekah wake up, wake up, wake up’. Then we saw nurses running up and down.
Then it was nearly 6.20pm we saw them rolling up oxygen bottles from downstairs through the elevator. I was wondering what was going on and each time we saw the matron, we asked what was going on with our daughter, she would say our daughter would be fine. That was what she said until around 7pm when two doctors came to the reception area where I was seated. They said they did everything they could but lost our daughter. I don’t know the unusual calmness that came over me. It was just like a dream and I needed someone to wake me up from that bad dream. When I got into the theatre, what I saw was terrifying. I saw my daughter in a pool of blood. My wife rushed into the theatre and shouted, ‘God! God! You people have killed my daughter’. She was shouting and crying all over the place. The doctors and nurses all disappeared from the third floor. We didn’t see anyone.
My wife then called our sons to inform them of what had happened. They were crying. While our last born was crying, his flatmate heard it and called his father here in Port Harcourt who happens to be my colleague, Isaac Chu, who immediately drove down with his wife to the hospital to see us. We went to the reception and luckily we saw a nurse, who took us to see the doctors, who were in a room downstairs. By then, Rebekah’s younger sister, and two of my wife’s sisters with their husbands had arrived. This was around 10pm. So you can imagine that from 7pm to 10pm none of them came to even console us.
When we entered the room where they were, the doctor and the anaesthesia specialist were seated. Isaac Chu now asked the doctor to tell us what happened. He now started the story by saying they had prepared her for the procedure and he pointed at the specialist who gave her the spinal anaesthesia. I asked him why the heavy spinal anaesthesia. He now said that 30 minutes into the procedure they lost her, adding that about 10 minutes into the procedure, my daughter said she couldn’t breathe. Shortly after, she said she wanted to throw up and they brought something for her to throw up into, and what they saw was blood. At that time blood had already filled her lungs.
So apparently something happened when he was doing the procedure. It was later discovered that the anaesthesia specialist ruptured a vessel inside of her when he inserted the probe. The anaesthesia was on one hand killing her and the blood vessel they ruptured caused her to bleed inside and it went into her lungs. The doctor now said when Rebekah vomited blood the second time, he was confused about what to do because he had never seen such a thing before. That was when they stopped the procedure and tried to take over her respiratory system by which time she was already lifeless. At that point, Isaac Chu took me outside and asked me to call my sister, who is a consultant physician, and her husband is a consultant surgeon.
What happened after you called your sister?
My sister and her husband came past midnight, went upstairs, and saw my daughter. Immediately she broke down and her husband took her away. They came downstairs, saw the doctor, and started asking him questions. One of the things she asked was, ‘If you’re carrying out a procedure like this and you notice a vessel rupture or vascular rupture, what are you supposed to do to salvage the situation?’ He (doctor) said he didn’t know, and he was confused when she started vomiting blood. So she was just killed by negligence and incompetence. Then my sister asked the anaesthesiologist what his qualifications were. He said a diploma. So, he too wasn’t a consultant. My sister and her husband now asked for the death certificate. They said she died of pulmonary embolism/vascular rupture. Pulmonary embolism is when you see blood clotting in the lungs. Vascular rupture! Who ruptured the vessel? It was their procedure. So it was purely an act of negligence and incompetence that killed my daughter.
Did the hospital make any attempt to pacify your family?
Early on Saturday, we took her corpse and deposited it in the Military Hospital mortuary. Throughout Sunday and Monday, I didn’t get a call from anybody, if not for anything but to say we are sorry for what happened and this and that. So they completely ignored me and my family. At that point we were confused. What emboldens them or gives them this impunity I don’t know. It is very bad behaviour. So I got a call from my boss to go to the police since it is a state matter.
So, I reported the case to the state homicide department on Monday and raised a petition, got it approved, and raised a letter, which was addressed to Paragon Clinics and the NLNG. The one to Paragon and Imaging they gave them till February 8. They asked the administrator to come with the two doctors involved in the procedure so that they could take their statements. Paragon did not honour the invitation. That Thursday, February 8, 2024, my daughter was supposed to travel to the United Kingdom. On February 12, the police wrote a reminder to Paragon Clinic to produce the people by Wednesday, February 14, but they did not show up.
They (police) went and obtained a warrant of arrest, did all the paperwork, and stormed the hospital on Thursday. They picked the administrator, and the radiologist and the head of the cleaners accompanied their madam to the Deputy Commissioner of Police office at the state CID. I was called to listen to what the hospital administrator had to say. They asked her why she shunned the repeated invitations.
What was her response?
She said when they received the first letter on February 6, the tone of the letter was that somebody was killed in their clinic and that they should produce the two doctors, that she was afraid. So she took the letter and gave it to the legal people, who instead of producing the people involved took the letter to Human Rights International in Abuja. I don’t know what they presented before the human rights body. They obtained a court injunction there for the police not to investigate, arrest, or prosecute them on this matter. So the Deputy Commissioner of Police was confused and asked, ‘Was the injunction to protect the parents of the deceased or to protect yourself?’ The DCP was very furious. He now asked one more question: did you serve the police this injunction? She said she gave it to one of their administrative staff members who said he did not serve the police.
The DCP told the Investigating Police Officer to keep her in custody until the doctors involved in the procedure were produced. The following day, the hospital came with more than eight lawyers; the husband of the administrator flew into Port Harcourt: the Nigerian Medical Association got involved and produced the doctors, the nurse, the matron, and the administrator. So they knew what they were doing. Why did they kill my daughter? Why did they experiment with my daughter? What have they done with her? Up till today, I don’t know.
What happened after that interrogation, which you witnessed?
I heard all of them speak but I didn’t say anything. In the end, the DCP said they should take their statements and we should all go. So we put our heads together and talked about the autopsy. Finally, Paragon Clinics produced their pathologist, and I produced my own. My pathologist stood for my family and the police. Then the NMA produced its pathologist, and my company, the NLNG, produced its pathologist. My sister, who is a medical doctor, was an observer. So there were five people for the autopsy. My sister witnessed everything and signed off on behalf of the family.
When did they say the autopsy result will be out?
About three to four weeks. They performed the autopsy on February 22. The following day I applied to the police to release her corpse for burial. So they granted my application a week after we had about eight days or so to prepare for the burial.
Has she been buried and where?
Yes, she was buried on March 2 at a private section of the Port Harcourt Cemetery.
Are you satisfied with the police investigation of the incident so far?
Yes, I’m satisfied with what they are doing so far, you know, getting all the proper documentation from them, investigating and calling all the parties, and meeting with them. There is no foul play so far to be honest with you. I’m okay with the way it is going. If I were not impressed with the way it is going, I would have raised the alarm and even informed you to see what is happening.
It was reported by a blog that your daughter went to the hospital for liposuction and died in the process. How would you react to that?
Oh my God, it is unfortunate! A lot of people called me and reported what they read. I said well it’s an Instagram report. There will be lots of wrong narratives out there because these people probably are spreading propaganda through their machinery. So when you see something like that you report that page, you tell them, say what you know that that wasn’t what she went for. So I don’t know how we can get to the root of that issue or the people behind it and know who they are. But I learned that if one reports to Instagram there is a way Instagram will either close them or investigate or that if you inform the police, the police can find out who they are and pick them up and ask why they didn’t investigate before spreading false information and false narrative and diverting people’s attention. That is very unfortunate but that is the country we find ourselves in. There will be lots of false narratives that will be put out there just to divert peoples’ attention.
What is liposuction? How can she go for that kind of thing? The doctors are not there? Haven’t they given their statements? Their statements are with the police. Did they not say it before the police that she went there for a diagnosis hysteroscopy? So what are they talking about? Do they even do liposuction in that clinic? They don’t. So that is unfortunate and I don’t blame them because you know people should close their eyes and swap positions for a moment.
Has the hospital or the doctors reached you yet after the burial?
They have not. It is like I’m their enemy. They were looking at me with scorn that day, very arrogant people, after killing my daughter they are acting as if I can’t do anything to them. Anyway, we will see how it goes by the grace of God.
Hospital, NMA’s reactions
When our correspondent visited the Paragon Clinic and Imaging located on Ken Saro-Wiwa Road, Port Harcourt, a front desk officer, who simply gave his name as Chima, said he was aware of the incident, but that the manager was not in the office.
Asked if there was any other official who could speak on the matter, Chima asked our correspondent to channel any inquiry to the state chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association.
“Okay as regards the issue of Rebekah, currently our manager is not around. But you can channel all your inquiries to the NMA chairman, Rivers State chapter. That is it for now,” he said.
The state NMA Chairman, Dr Ebi Robinson, said the matter was under police investigation.
He stated that a coroner’s inquest was ongoing on the case and that the NMA would take the matter up from there when the result was out.
Robinson said, “The matter is under police investigation and a coroner inquest is already in progress.
“So, we are awaiting the conclusion of the coroner’s inquest and then we will take it up from there. The death of that young lady is quite regrettable.
“Our sincere condolences to the family. The NMA’s position is to make sure that the matter comes to a closure conclusively in a manner that will be acceptable to all involved and all concerned.”
A 300-level student of Federal University Gashua (FUGA) in Yobe has died after a hostel fire outbreak.
Mohammed Goje, executive secretary of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed the incident on Saturday.
Channels reports that the fire, which started around 1 pm, ripped through 29 rooms housing 301 students.
A 300-level student has been confirmed dead while several others who fled the hostel sustained injuries.
Students who required medical attention have been treated at the Gashua Specialist Hospital.
A video from the scene showed Maimuna Wazir, the university’s vice-chancellor, consoling students who escaped the fire.
Campus sources have attributed the incident to a cooking gas explosion.
But Abubakar Mamudo, the university registrar, said the cause of the fire is still being investigated.
In a statement, Mamudo said Maimuna Wazir, the university’s vice-chancellor, has temporarily suspended academic activities.
“A female hostel of the Federal University Gashua, Yobe State was gutted by fire on Saturday, 23rd March 2024 destroying a complete block of 29 rooms accommodating about 301 students,” the register was quoted as saying.
“A 300-hundred-level student of the Geography Department by the name of Shamsiya Murtala was confirmed dead in the inferno.
“Three other students who sustained injuries were treated and discharged from the general hospital, Gashua.
“The vice-chancellor and chairman of the senate has directed for the immediate closure of the university due to escalating students’ unrest on campus”.
This FUGA tragedy comes one month after a fire similarly ravaged a female hostel at Yobe State University in Damaturu.
