Renowned Nigerian gospel artist Mercy Chinwo, together with her husband, Pastor Blessed, have extended educational grants to students at the University of Port Harcourt(Uniport).
During their much-anticipated “Overwhelming Victory Concert” held at the university, the couple made a surprise announcement. They revealed their decision to award scholarships to 50 students.
Addressing the audience, Mercy Chinwo and Pastor Blessed expressed their commitment to education by offering these one-year scholarships.
They dedicated this benevolent act to their son, affirming their support for the academic pursuits of the recipients. “In honor of our son, we are delighted to present these one-year educational grants to 50 students of the University of Port Harcourt,” they declared.
The philanthropic gesture has garnered a wave of supportive prayers for the couple.
Media
#WATCH!!!! Heartwarming moment when Mercy Chinwo and Husband storm University of Port Harcourt for their overwhelming Victory Concert .Donated 100% scholarships to 50 student ….
— Authentic voice (@Authenticvoice6) April 14, 2024
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Authentic voice pic.twitter.com/kLlV4wmUqU
No fewer than 15 federal government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), including the Presidency, and their associated agencies have allocated a staggering N8,997,097,623 billion to welfare packages out of the over N46 billion earmarked for vague “miscellaneous” expenses across board in the 2024 national budget, investigations by this Leadership newspaper has revealed.
These MDAs exploit this ambiguous budget line to allocate funds to non-viable causes while the country and its citizens, particularly those in the private sector, grapple with economic hardships.
The Budget Office of the Federation received the largest allocation for miscellaneous expenses, with a whopping N920,301,938,040 billion earmarked, taking advantage of cozy relations with a compromised National Assembly, which often colludes to inflate budget figures for clandestine agendas.
Notably, the Presidency alone allocated a sum of N1,574,940,619 billion in the 2024 budget. A breakdown of this allocation reveals allocations such as N673.17 million for welfare packages at the State House, N39.83 million for the Vice President’s office, N1.88 million for the State House Liaison Office in Lagos, N13.9 million for the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), and N104.54 million for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Other beneficiaries include the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) with N584.88 million, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) with N100.95 million, the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) with N95.84 million, the National Atomic Energy Commission with N30 million, the National Agriculture Land Development Agency with N15 million, and the National Council on Climate Change with N14.82 million.
In a disturbing trend, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, which responsible for the budget preparation process and its oversight agencies, allocated N371,589,777 million for staff welfare. However, details regarding how these funds will be utilized remain vague, with no specific breakdown of beneficiaries or expenditure.
Details of the total amount show that while the ministry’s headquarters would spend N185,637,214 million on welfare package, the Nigerian Institute and Social Research under its supervision would take N50 million for the same item, with the Centre for Management Development taking another N20 million. Also the National Bureau of Statistics under the ministry is also expected to take N115,952,563 million for the same welfare package for staff.
If that sounds strange, Federal Ministry of Finance and four agencies under its supervision have concluded plans to spend N655,125,689 million on welfare package that is different from salaries/wages, allowances, and other frivolous items, including the litany of repeated items on the budget list.
While the headquarters of the ministry budgeted N180 million for welfare packages, Debt Management Office will spend N15 million on welfare package for its few staff members that would draw a total of N845,131,167 million as salaries from the national budget.
In the same vein, the Office of the Accountant-general of the Federation budgeted N228,940,407 million as welfare for the same staff that would draw N3,732,858,625 billion from the federal budget.
After a deduction of N2,048,231,918 billion salaries for its very few staff, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has earmarked another N177,517,162 million as unexplainable welfare package.
The investigation also revealed that the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) joined the band wagon as its welfare package is worth N25,420,000 million, while National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission plans to spend N28,248,120 million on welfare packages. Curiously, Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc did not vote any amount for welfare.
The Ministry of Interior stands out with one of the largest allocations for miscellaneous and welfare packages, with a total of N2,290,896,818 billion approved, with an additional N561,298,825 million allocated to welfare expenses. The discretion afforded to MDA heads in spending these funds often leads to misappropriation and diversion.
A breakdown of the budgetary provisions showed that the Ministry of Interior, as the mother agency, will get N94,392, 582 for miscellaneous, while its welfare packages will gulp N35,172,505 million respectively. Under the ministry, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is apportioned N1,075, 259, 358 for miscellaneous and N390,330,443 for welfare packages.
According to the budget document, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps will spend N722,986,563 on miscellaneous, while welfare packages will gulp N60,500,000 million.
The sum of N121,060,932 million was earmarked for miscellaneous while N14,876, 290 million was apportioned to welfare for the Nigeria Correctional Service.
For the office of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), N17,614,457 million was allotted to miscellaneous and N9,842, 857 was earmarked for welfare packages.
Meanwhile, N259,582,926 million was set aside for miscellaneous, while N50, 576,730 million was allotted to welfare packages for the Federal Fire Service (FFS).
The Ministry of Steel Development has budgeted a total of N62.38 million as welfare in the 2024 Appropriation Act. A breakdown of the budgeted sum indicates that the Ministry of Steel Development headquarters has N30 million; the National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency budgeted N4.76 million; the National Metal Development Centre, N1.416 million; Metal Training Institute, N2.518 million; National Iron Ore Mining Project, however had no specific budget for welfare but had a miscellaneous budget of N8.52 million.
The others are Ajaokuta Steel Company, N2.16 million budgeted for welfare while the National Steel Council has N13 million budgeted for welfare.
The sister Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has a total budget of N126.37 million for welfare, with the bulk of N70 million budgeted by the ministry’s headquarters.
The agencies under the ministry include Geological Survey Agency of Nigeria, N3.06 million; Mining Cadastre Office, N22.60 million; Solid Mineral Development Fund, N5.708 million; and the Nigeria Mining & Geosciences Institute, N2.5 million.
The Federal Ministry of Tourism is not left out of including suspicious and frivolous items in the budget. N491, 466, 376 million was allocated for miscellaneous and welfare packages as first line charge. The ministry has a budget of N18, 867, 308, 651 for 2024.
The ubiquitous embezzlement is also exemplified by the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy and the agencies under its watch when they allocated N60, 886, 252 million to welfare packages out of the N590,977,343 million earmarked for miscellaneous expenses.
Similarly, the federal government further allocated a total of N251, 419, 160 for miscellaneous and welfare packages to the Ministry of Women Affairs and its agency, National Centre for Women Development.
In its latest budget allocation, the federal government allocated N355,065,055 million towards welfare packages for MDAs in education.
Details of the amount include that the mother ministry alone would get: N79,205,369 million; National Institute for Education Planning and Administration: N40,451,885 million; National Library of Nigeria, N23,500,000 million; Nomadic Education Commission, N500,000; NERDC: N36,514,584; National Business and Technical Education Board, N3,665,435 million.
Despite the current economic hardship facing Nigerians, the Federal Ministry of Sports Development has earmarked a whopping N3,156 billion in the 2024 appropriation act to take care of refreshment/meals, settlement of honorarium, welfare packages for the eggheads and other miscellaneous expenses.
That is apart from the N9,387,143 million to be spent on vague welfare packages. The amount is left for the supervising minister and permanent secretary to determine how it would be spent.
For the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, N2,638,634,610 billion is needed to augment welfare packages for the staff in the ministry’s headquarters and its agencies, Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP), National Productivity Centre (NPC), Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) and National Directorate of Employment (NDE), despite the billions of naira only voted for what is tagged miscellaneous.
On it’s part, the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation got N37.14 million allocated for welfare packages in the 2024 budget, while Ministry of Niger Delta allocated a substantial sum of N80,113,609 for the welfare packages that lack specifics.
The budget document that was obtained by LEADERSHIP revealed that the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation allocated N398 million for welfare packages alone in the 2024 fiscal year, while the Federal Minister of Justice and the agencies under it were allocated the sum of N180,151,316 million for welfare packages in the 2024 budget.
The sister Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare allocated N285, 582, 708 for welfare in the 2024 budget, while the Federal Ministry of Environment budgeted a total sum of N301,068,141 million or welfare packages in 2024.
Amidst persistent acute hunger faced by many Nigerians, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has earmarked a substantial sum of N327,430,823 million for welfare packages in the 2024 approved budget.
According to the budget document, the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja received a notable N95.5 million from the welfare package.
A further breakdown revealed the allocation of welfare funds across various agricultural bodies. The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) received N50 million, while the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science and the Nigeria Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research were allocated N20.149 million and N20.156 million respectively.
Other notable welfare allocations include N10.5 million for the National Agricultural Development Fund, N8.6 million for the National Root Crops Research Institute in Umudike and N5.5 million for the National Horticulture Research Institute in Ibadan.
The Lake Chad Research Institute in Maiduguri was granted N12.190 million, with smaller sums allocated to the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), N2 million, and the Institute of Freshwater Fish in New Bussa, N2.45 million, amongst others.
These allocations raise serious concerns about the misuse of public funds, especially in light of the prevailing economic challenges faced by Nigerians. Despite the urgent need for fiscal prudence and accountability, budget allocations continue to be marred by opacity and inefficiency, further eroding public trust in government institutions.
Many people believe that urgent measures must be taken to enhance transparency and accountability in budgetary processes, ensuring that public funds are utilized judiciously for the benefit of all citizens.
Without decisive action to curb corruption and mismanagement, Nigeria’s development aspirations will remain elusive, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and inequality.
NDLEA Intercepts N3.2 Million Counterfeit Cash, Arrests Pregnant Woman And Two Others In Abuja
AFOLABIThe National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) says it has intercepted a commercial bus conveying N3.2million counterfeit cash owned by an eight-month pregnant woman, Favour Peter, 24; Esther Adukwu, 27, and Ochigbo Michael, 39.
Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA Headquarters Abuja, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, said they were arrested at Jabi Park in Abuja in a follow-up operation on Tuesday, April 9, following the seizure of the fake naira notes in Lokoja, Kogi state.
Babafemi said this was as two suspects: Sani Mohammed, 43, and Christopher Eze, 64, were arrested in the Sabon Gari area of Kano on Tuesday 9th April with 900,000 pills of opioid recovered from them, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Owerri-Onitsha road.
He said NDLEA officers in collaboration with men of the Nigerian Navy Ship Lugard base, Lokoja intercepted 37-year-old Aliyu Lawal along Lokoja-Abuja road on Monday 8th April and recovered 620 blocks of cannabis weighing 310kg from him.
The NDLEA Spokesman added that 10 sacks of the same psychoactive substance weighing 98kg were seized along the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway by NDLEA operatives from Jama Obodo, 44, in a commercial bus coming from Ilesha, Osun state en route Taraba state on Wednesday 10th April.
He said in Cross River state, a 40-year-old widow and mother of two, Mrs. Theodora Ita was on Monday 8th April arrested at Bassey Edom, Calabar, by NDLEA operatives for producing and selling a lethal new psychoactive substance, NPS, locally called ‘Combine’.
He said “Combine” is a mixture of different strains of cannabis and opioids soaked in raw gin.
According to the statement, as at the time of her arrest, 18 litres of the dangerous substance in used paint drums were recovered from her.
Babafemi said in her statement, she claimed she started the illicit drug production and distribution in October 2023.
He said another suspect, Godwin Okon Samuel, 48, was apprehended at the Essit Ebum area of Calabar with 39.4kg of cannabis sativa on Tuesday 9th April.
He said Imo state on Friday 12th April intercepted a logistics truck with registration number JGB 403XB and recovered 230 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 119kg hidden under household items after a thorough search.
The statement reads: “At least 252 kilograms of cannabis were seized during a raid at Ijesa Isu forest, Ekiti state on Saturday 13th April while four suspects: Adamu Umar, 39; Abdullahi A Gimba, 27; Julius Uduakhomu, 28; and Micheal Sunday, 24, were nabbed loading 40kg of same substance to the engine compartment of a gas truck at Agho village, Owan East, Edo state. Two motorcycles used in conveying the consignment to where the gas truck heading to the North was parked, were also recovered.
“In Ogun state, a suspect, Ismaila Ogun was arrested on Friday 12th April with 79kg cannabis at Imeko, while 18-year-old Friday Abah was nabbed with 410kg of the same substance when NDLEA operatives raided Obatedo camp, Itaogbolu forest, Akure North LGA, Ondo state.
“With the same zeal, the various commands of the Agency across the country continued with the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign in the past week. Some of them include WADA sensitisation lecture for students and staff of Gboko Polytechnic, Gboko, Benue state; officers and men of 15 Engineering Field Regiment Nigerian Army, Topo, Badagry Lagos; meat butchers at Odo Eran abattoir, Osogbo, Osun state and WADA advocacy visit to Kogi state Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, among others.
“While commending the officers and men of the Kogi, Cross River, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Imo, Kano, and Edo Commands of the Agency for their outstanding feats in drug supply reduction, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded them and their counterparts in all the commands across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures, aimed at drug demand reduction.”
Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, has condemned the invasion of the Oyo state secretariat.
On Saturday, security officers arrested 16 gunmen suspected to be members of a group identified as Oodua nation agitators for invading the state secretariat at Agodi, Ibadan, Oyo.
The gunmen, who were dressed in military camouflage, were subdued with the arrival of security personnel.
The security personnel were able to arrest some of the gunmen while others took to their heels and were pursued into the nearby bushes and forest.
They were also said to have removed the Nigerian national flag in the secretariat and replaced it with their “Oodua nation flag”, before the intervention of the security personnel.
Reacting, Jare Ajayi, Afenifere spokesperson, in a statement, said those behind the incident did not act in the interest of Yoruba whom they claim to be representing.
Ajayi said President Bola Tinubu is taking steps to address the challenges facing the country.
“Yoruba is an important component of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And as is well-known, there cannot be a sovereign republic within an extant sovereign republic,” he said.
“But solutions to the shortcomings do not lie in violent divisions. Rather, what we should strive for is how the perceived wrongs in the country can be righted.
“Afenifere is of the strong view that President Bola Tinubu administration is taking steps to rejig Nigeria in a manner that would make the country become one that every citizen would be proud of soonest. Restructuring the country is a sure way of accelerating this.”
The group said when restructuring is effected and constituent entities are allowed to be in control of their own affairs, Nigeria will become beneficial to everyone.
“This is why we are relentless in our agitation for restructuring,” Ajayi added.
“How can a person or group of persons think that invading a State House of Assembly is tantamount to the creation of a Federal Republic? Genuine Yorubas normally think things through before they take actions, especially a fundamental action such as forming or declaring a nation. Yorubas don’t act that way.
“Rather, they apply wisdom and intellectualism in major steps they want to take. They apply tact. They demonstrate finesse and shun violence as much as possible. Examples of this attitude abound – going by their reactions to some major issues that occurred in the country in recent times.”
Bayer Leverkusen lifted the Bundesliga title for the first time in their 120-year history on Sunday, with a 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen.
The title win breaks Bayern Munich’s 11-year stranglehold on the German top flight.
Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen knew victory would secure the title with five games to spare, but there were no signs of nerves in a dominant performance.
A hat-trick from Florian Wirtz and goals from Victor Boniface and Granit Xhaka extended their unbeaten run to a stunning 43 games in all competitions.
Alonso looked ahead to Thursday’s Europa League trip to London to face West Ham, making seven changes to his starting XI and benching stars Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Alex Grimaldo, the latter for the first time in the league this season.
Piero Hincapie, Grimaldo’s replacement, had an early effort at goal saved but it would be the fit-again Boniface, making his first start since mid-December, who put the home side in front.
With 22 minutes gone, Jonas Hofmann was felled in the box by Bremen’s Julian Malatini, with the referee pointing to the spot after VAR urged him to view the contact again on the monitor.
Boniface stepped up and nervelessly slotted the penalty past a helpless Michael Zetterer to send the home fans into raptures.
Hofmann was almost the provider again shortly before half-time, his pass finding Amine Adli who fired against the crossbar.
Bremen started the second half strongly but their hopes of spoiling the party were snuffed out on the 60-minute mark, Boniface finding Xhaka who unleashed a long-range rocket before slapping his badge in front of the ecstatic home fans.
Wirtz, who came on at half-time for Adli, replicated Xhaka’s effort eight minutes later from almost the same spot on the pitch.
He added another with seven minutes remaining before sealing his hat-trick in the 90th minute as Leverkusen rid themselves of their nearly men tag in style.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it is investigating several celebrities involved in Naira abuse.
The anti-graft commission, in a statement on Sunday by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said it is aware of several old videos being uploaded on social media by citizens in the wake of the arrest, prosecution and sentencing of Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky, over naira abuse.
It added that the EFCC would always investigate and prosecute anyone involved in the abuse of the Naira, and going forward, new videos of such infractions will be investigated and prosecuted.
The EFCC added that at the moment, the commission is investigating several celebrities involved in naira abuse, and there would be no sacred cows.
The EFCC disclosed that its Special Task Force against Naira Abuse and Dollarization of the economy which commenced investigations in February 2024 is fully active.
“On the issue of the works of the Commission against Naira abuse, dollarization of the economy and the enforcement of all extant laws relating to them, the EFCC appreciates the avalanche of public awakening, support and involvement demonstrated so far. Increasingly, members of the public are drawing the attention of the Commission to video recording of abuse of the Naira by Nigerians from all walks of life. These gestures amply demonstrate rising consciousness of the public to the sanctity of our national currency and the need for collaborative engagement to sustain the tempo.
“To this end, the Commission will always investigate and prosecute anyone involved in the abuse of the Naira. Old videos being exhumed and flying around for the attention of the Commission are noted as the Commission is sensitive to the fact that its Special Task Force against Naira Abuse and Dollarization of the economy commenced operations on February 7, 2024. However, going forward, new videos of such infractions will be investigated and prosecuted.
“At the moment, the Commission is investigating several celebrities involved in Naira abuse. Many of them have made useful statements to the Commission and many more have been invited by investigators working on the matter. The EFCC will not relent in its no-sacred-cow mode of operations and the public should be wary of running afoul of laws against the crime,” the statement read.
Napoli’s slim chances of Champions League football were dealt another blow on Sunday after a 2-2 home draw in their Serie A match with struggling Frosinone.
Walid Cheddira’s first brace in Italy’s top flight earned a point for Frosinone in Naples.
It left ailing Italian champions Napoli in eighth, six points behind fifth-placed Roma, who can extend their advantage when they face Udinese later on Sunday.
Italian clubs’ strong performances in European football mean a top-five finish in Serie A is almost certain to gain a spot in the Champions League.
Napoli are increasingly unlikely to be among that group, and were booed off the pitch at a sparsely-populated Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Francesco Calzona’s side looked set for sixth place when Victor Osimhen diverted home Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s mishit shot in the 63rd minute.
Instead Cheddira, who had previously levelled Matteo Politano’s stunning early opener after the away side were gifted possession by Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret, headed home his second 10 minutes after Osimhen’s strike.
Frosinone stay just inside the bottom three and level on 27 points with 17th-placed Verona, who are outside the relegation zone on goal difference and face Atalanta on Monday.
Eusebio Di Francesco’s team deserved the draw from an eventful game in which Meret initially looked to be the hero after he saved Matias Soule’s penalty on the half-hour mark.
Frosinone have only won one league match since late November but successive draws with Genoa, fourth-placed Bologna and now Napoli have boosted their hopes of staying up.
Later Inter Milan host Cagliari at the San Siro, where a win will guarantee an opportunity to seal their 20th league title in the Milan derby on Monday week.
Inter are a whopping 14 points ahead of closest challengers AC Milan, who are at Sassuolo on Sunday.
Beating Cagliari will ensure the derby will be a chance for Inter to claim the Scudetto regardless of how Milan do in their match.
[Vanguard]
Exactly ten years ago, terror struck a school in northern Nigeria when heavily armed men, famous for killing, abduction and displacement of citizens, whisked away about 276 girls from their dormitories in Chibok area of Borno state.
Since that dreadful day on April 14, 2014, many schools across the country have been attacked and hundreds of students have been abducted, some held captive for a lengthy period of time.
It has been a decade since the Chibok abduction and at least 93 of the schoolgirls are still in captivity as of early 2023, according to the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).
While some of the girls escaped from their Boko Haram captors, a reasonable number of the girls who are still held as hostages have now been married off to their captors, and some have become mothers who were, over time, forced to adapt to life in the forest.
In the case of Yana Pogu, one of the Chibok girls rescued eight years after abduction, she was welcomed home with four children, including a set of twins.
In April 2023, Hauwa Maltha, one of the Chibok girls, was also rescued with pregnancy and a three-year-old child.
Education was not the only thing the Boko Haram insurgents snatched from the girls; their youthful exuberance was also taken away.
MORE THAN A DECADE OF ATTACKS BY BOKO HARAM
Abubakar Shekau, the man who led the Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east
Boko Haram started as an element of disdain for Western education and continued advocacy for its abolition in the north-east part of Nigeria in 2009.
The Boko Haram ideology grew in magnitude as more people joined the course and over time, it transformed into a group fixated on completely aborting western learning system.
The movement turned violent when the group started targeting men and women in different ways. While the men were the majority who died from the attacks and also got recruited into the terrorist group, women and children were abducted and also made up 80 percent of the displaced population.
The year 2014 and 2015 were regarded the deadliest years of violence by the insurgent group in Nigeria.
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), nearly 8,000 fatalities were recorded in 2014 and 9,000 in 2015. It was also the year the Chibok girls were kidnapped and 29 boys massacred in Federal Government College, Buni Yadi in Yobe state.
Boko Haram was declared the deadliest terror group worldwide and the government declared a state of emergency in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe – the three worst affected states in 2014.
According to UNDP, Boko Haram has caused over 34,000 deaths in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states from 2009 till 2020.
ABDUCTED GIRLS WHO BECAME SEXUAL PREYS
A screenshot from a video released by Boko Haram showing abducted Chibok girls in 2014
Since 2014, more than 15 schools have been attacked by Boko Haram terrorists and bandits across the country.
After the abduction in Chibok, more girls-only schools have been targeted, while more girls have also been abducted in mixed schools.
In February 2018, terrorists stormed Government Girls’ Science and Technical College (GGSTC) Dapchi in Yobe state and kidnapped 110 schoolgirls.
Two years later, the terrorists group reconvened at the Government Girls Science Secondary School in Jangebe, Zamfara state and took away 317 students. The majority of them were girls.
The following year did not give the students of Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Igabi LGA of Kaduna state, the full privileges of learning in their school. Gunmen invaded the institution in large numbers and took 23 girls and 16 schoolboys hostage for 58 days.
In May 2021, the trend crept into Tegina town as bandits whisked away over 150 pupils of Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School in Rafi LGA of Niger state.
Photos of the released students showed there were more girls among the abducted pupils. In April 2021, about 20 students – both male and female were kidnapped from Greenfield University in Kasarami village, Chikun LGA of Kaduna state.
In an attack on Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi state, over 100 students were abducted. When some of the students were released, the terrorists kept 11 girls in their camp as “wives”. Some of them also had children for their abductors whom they were forced to marry.
Another abduction that shook the country occurred recently on March 7, 2024. At least 137 students of Government Secondary School Kuriga in Chikun LGA of Kaduna were kidnapped by bandits who invaded the school.
The students, who were later rescued, comprised 78 females and 61 males. Although the Kaduna government said the students were 280 in total, Edward Buba, director of defence operations, argued that the figure of the kidnapped children was 137.
According to the 2020 UNDP assessment on the impact of conflict in the country, both boys and girls are targeted during attacks by terrorists, but majority of schoolgirls survive as they are targeted for abduction, while the boys are often killed.
While there are more abduction of schoolchildren across the country and about 1,119 abducted from 2014 to 2021 in the north, the abductions highlighted above indicate that more than 500 schoolgirls have been abducted in the past ten years.
Meanwhile, Save the Children International, in its 2022 report, said more than 1,680 schoolchildren have been kidnapped in Nigeria since 2014.
Some non-governmental organisations have reported that insecurity has caused a large percentage of schoolgirls in Nigeria to feel unsafe while going to school.
The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) said out of the over 18 million out-of-school children in Nigeria, 10 million are girls.
IMPACT OF ABDUCTION ON SCHOOL GIRLS
Released Jangebe school girls in Zamfara
According to a 2022 report by the Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL), a programme funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the UK, 70 percent of girls in Jigawa feel unsafe in their commute to school.
The report listed insecurity as one of the major causes of girls dropping out of school in Kaduna and Jigawa states.
An estimated 1.8 million women and girls have been displaced across camps in Nigeria. According to Osai Ojigho, director of Amnesty International Nigeria, insurgency has caused many women to suffer sexual abuses and human rights violations.
“As Boko Haram continue their relentless cycle of killings, abductions and looting, they are also subjecting women and girls to rape and other sexual violence during their attacks. These atrocities are war crimes,” Ojigho said.
2014 SAFE SCHOOL GOVERNMENT POLICY
liya, national coordinator, financing of safe school initiative, said funding has been made available for the implementation of the programme.
In May 2014, the federal government launched the Safe Safe Initiative in joint efforts with the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education .
The initiative was inaugurated after the Chibok girl’s abduction to provide safety in Nigerian schools.
In December 2019, former President Muhammad Buhari signed the safe school declaration ratification document with N144.8 billion safe school financing plan allocated in December 2022.
Implementation of the initiative stalled as only 528 schools have enrolled with the centre across the country.
Speaking during an interview recently, Halima Iliya, national coordinator, financing of safe school initiative, said funding has been made available for the implementation of the programme.
“We can not say there is no allocation at all for safe school; implementation started late last year. We have fundings available that are yet to be utilised,” Iliya said.
“It is ongoing and this agencies have resources for last year that they are still holding unto.
“Resources were not released timely at the point of the flag-off; that is why you may not feel the impact. The implementation commenced fully at the end of 2023.
“The government has provided the resources. N15 billion has been released to these implementing agencies. The implantation is ongoing.”
[TheCable]
The 15-year marriage between comedian Ayo Makun and his estranged wife Mabel has finally come to an irreversible end after years of trying to patch and thread it together. Both sides have declared in separate declarations that their marriage is finished.
Even while the messy marriage may have garnered attention on social media in the past and caused some controversy, other celebrities who have separated amicably and with great animosity and even open conflict can teach us something.
By making their declarations, Ay and Mabel have demonstrated that marriage is not a “do or die” situation with unintended consequences for the couple, their friends, and family.
While acknowledging their shortcomings in preserving the relationship, both parties refrained from assigning blame or changing their dirty laundry in front of the public. They said that it was in the best interests of their two beautiful girls that they chose peace over violence.
If there’s one thing that life has taught us, it’s that the promise of “forever together” is a fabrication. Mabel and Ay comprehended this memo thoroughly. There won’t be a protracted divorce mess, no backbiting, and maybe even no custody disputes.
Recall that AY acknowledged his marriage was about to fail in an Instagram post last Sunday.
Yes, he continued, “I have found myself doing things I am not proud of today without compromising my family.”
It is one thing to watch my 20-year relationship and marriage fall apart, but it is quite another for the people involved to know how to assign blame in an environment where most women are expected to constantly play the victim and come out on top.
“I can tell you for free that no one is completely innocent enough to cast stones. I love how lies about me in all these blogs travel faster than the truth. But my painful truth will eventually beat away all the lies.”
He claimed that his character and skills support the idea that he is past the point where he can entertain the public while dealing with intensely private family matters.
“They just might be too much concerning the individuals involved, not even when I have a grown-up daughter with access to social media. Her mental health needs to be protected from seeing things she can not be proud of online.
And the ex wife seems to have towed the same line of choosing peace over drama and even wishing her ex husband well.
Hear her: “I want to express my sincere gratitude for the supportive messages that I have received from everyone.
However, my silence should not be misunderstood and also the father of my children whom I have been with for some years deserves a certain level of respect and privacy from me and all the concerned parties. Most importantly because of our children whose mental health and general well being should be prioritized.
Many lies have been peddled against me and attacks orchestrated on the social media space but I will honour my kids with my silence and not address any of these lies.
Although my dreams of a lifelong marriage have taken a different direction now, I’m committed to moving forward with grace and resilience. I have faith in a brighter future for both myself and the children. Despite the rumors or opinions, I find comfort in the belief that all will be well.
While it’s unexpected for things to end this way, I quietly ask for guidance from my faith as I step into this new chapter of life. Also as we navigate this change,I ask for your help in creating an atmosphere of respect and understanding. This is a challenging period, and I ask for privacy and consideration as we (my ex-husband and I) find our own path forward.”
[OpinionNigeria]
Former England women’s player, Eniola Aluko, has become the first black woman to own a club in Italy.
Aluko has acquired a major stake in FC Como’s female team.
The 37-year-old confirmed this in a post on her X page, where revealed she is a part of a $100 million ownership group, known as Mercury 13, which acquired a majority stake.
Como Women was only established in 2020, and they use a 3,700-capacity stadium.
They currently play in the top flight of the Italian Serie A.
Eniola, who is the sister of former Super Eagles player Sone Aluko, was born in Lagos to Nigerian parents in 1987.
But she eventually naturalized to England and played for the Three Lionesses.
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Former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand, has identified the two fixtures that will cost Arsenal the Premier League title.
With seven matches left, the Gunners can go back to the top of the table with a win over Aston Villa on Sunday.
But Ferdinand believes that Mikel Arteta’s men will suffer two more defeats before the season’s end, which will eventually cost them the title in the process.
While predicting the run-in for TNT Sport, Ferdinand tipped Arsenal to lose 2-1 away at North London rivals Tottenham, before falling to another defeat against United at Old Trafford in the penultimate game of the campaign.
According to him, Erik ten Hag’s side will run out 3-2 winners against Arteta’s men.
The Lagos State Police Command said a 25-year-old suspected cultist has died from cult clashes in the Ajegunle part of Lagos.
The command’s spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, revealed this to newsmen on Saturday, adding that police had arrested two suspects in connection with the clashes.
Hundeyin explained that police received a distress call on Friday that suspected cultists of Nasamu and Iyalode Streets at Ajegunle were engaging themselves in a free-for-all.
According to him, the suspected cultists damaged six commercial vehicles at Boundary Roundabout, Ajegunle during the clashes.
“Based on the report, teams of policemen mobilised to the scene and dislodged the suspects, many of whom fled the scene.
“Police operatives, however, combed the area and arrested two of the hoodlums in their hideouts.
“One other suspect, a 25-year-old, who was seriously injured during the clash, was rescued and rushed to the hospital where he later died,’’ Hundeyin said.
He assured that normalcy had been restored to the affected areas while foot and vehicular patrols had been deployed to forestall any further threat to law and order.
Hundeyin said investigation was ongoing while efforts were on to arrest the fleeing cultists.
Two people have died while 13 others sustained various degrees of injuries in an accident at Ajede, after J4, on the Sagamu-Ijebu Ode expressway on Saturday.
The Spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, in Ogun, Mrs Florence Okpe, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Abeokuta.
Okpe explained that the accident occurred at about 12:10 pm and it involved a Toyota Hiace bus marked GUE 59 ZY and a truck with registration number BGT 94 LG.
According to her, the accident was caused by excessive speeding which caused the bus driver to ram into a stationary truck parked by the roadside.
“Fifteen people were involved in the crash – 10 men and five women and a total of 13 people sustained injuries while two persons died,” she said.
Okpe further stated that the injured victims were taken to Hope Hospital at J4 while the deceased were deposited at the Ijebu-Ode General Hospital Morgue.
Meanwhile, the Sector Commander, Anthony Uga cautioned motorists against wrong parking of vehicles on the highway.
Uga further warned motorists against overspeeding and advised them to always drive carefully.
Brazil and AC Milan legend KaKa’s ex-wife, Caroline Celico, has revealed that she divorced him because he was “too perfect” for her.
Kaka, 41, married his childhood sweetheart Celico in 2005 before they divorced in 2015, spending ten years in their marriage together.
The divorced couple had two children together, but Celico was not happy and has now revealed she felt something was missing.
“Kaka never betrayed me, he treated me well, he gave me a wonderful family, but I was not happy, something was missing,” she was quoted on The Sun.
“The problem was, he was too perfect for me,” Celico declared.
Celico, a Brazilian socialite, joined Kaka’s church after they married and later became an Evangelical pastor but quit in 2010.
The 36-year-old later married Eduardo Scarpa Julião in 2021 and the couple are now expecting their first child.
Kaka also found love again with partner Carolina Dias whom he started dating in 2017.
He had a decorated career which saw him win nine major trophies, including the World Cup with Brazil in Korea/Japan 2002 and the FiFA Confederations Cup in 2005 and 2009.
He also won Serie A and the Champions League with AC Milan, as well as La Liga with Real Madrid.
Kaka was also named FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d’Or both in 2007.