154 Feared Dead In Kebbi Boat Mishap

It was learnt that a heavily loaded boat heading to a village in Niger State from Kebbi in North-West capsized....

A total of 154 persons are still missing following Wednesday’s boat mishap in Kebbi State, relevant authorities said Wednesday.

It was learnt that a heavily loaded boat heading to a village in Niger State from Kebbi in North-West capsized.

There are fears that many of the victims would not be removed from the river alive considering the low pace of rescue efforts occasioned by poor equipment.

The incident occurred in Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State at about 10am.

Apart from the people onboard, the wooden boat was said to be carrying bags of sand for gold miners, motorcycles and other equipment as the locals were heading for a local market.

Sources said that while authorities were using out-dated equipment to bring out those trapped under the water, many local divers were using crude methods to search for the missing passengers including men, women and children.

The Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) in Yauri, Kebbi State, Mr Yusuf Birma, confirmed the incident adding that it was caused by overloading and weak boat.

He said that four people had been confirmed dead, 20 rescued alive while 156 people are still missing and that rescue operation was still ongoing.

“The boat is carrying 180 passengers with 30 Bajaj motorcycles. The victims were going to a market in Malele in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State from Kebbi and the incident happened just a few hours into their trip.

“We are still rescuing the victims and the mishap occurred as a result of overloading. The boat does not have the capacity to carry 180 passengers.156 people are still missing and they are believed to be underwater,” he said.

Rickety boats responsible 

Speaking further on the cause of the mishap, Birma said that most of the boats being used by locals across riverine states were old.

He said in the latest incident, the overloaded and old boat hit a log while sailing.

“The boat involved is a wooden boat which is old and very weak but these people will not listen when we speak to them to reduce the number of passengers they carry,” he said.

The chairman of Ngaski LGA, Abdullahi Buhari Warra, described the accident as fatal and pitiful.

He said five people including two women, two men and a girl have been buried.

According to him, those in the boat included artisanal gold miners, traders and some Nigerien nationals. He said more corpses were expected to be recovered today.

“As I am speaking to you now, there are many people in the river who are yet to be rescued…there is no hope of getting them alive,” he told one of our correspondents.

In fact, many people have died and nobody can precisely know their number.

“We are able to rescue only 22 people who have been rushed to the Warra General Hospital for medical attention.

“In fact, we went to the main river in Wara town where there were people crying when they came out of the water. Someone who came out of the boat said there were many small children who drowned because there was no one to rescue them.

“Someone people from Zamfara State told me that there were eight members of the same family and they all drowned,” he said.

He, however, said it was not the fault of the Kebbi authorities for overloading the ship and accused the people of refusing to wear life jackets.

“We are currently providing seven boats to the navy and other rescue workers to search for corpses and some survivors,” he said.

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency also confirmed the incident adding that it didn’t happen in their state.

It’s devastating – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari last night described the incident as devastating.

President Buhari, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, condoled the families of those affected by the tragedy.

The President extended his gratitude to all those involved in the rescue efforts and wished those injured from the accident quick recovery as the efforts to recover more survivors continued.

First responders evacuating dead bodies after a boat capsized yesterday in Kebbi

Recurrent mishaps

Daily Trust recalled that early this month, 30 people drowned when an overloaded boat capsized in central Niger State.

The boat ferrying local traders split into two after hitting a log during a storm as they were returning from a local market, according to emergency officials.

The incident happened in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

The Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency, Ahmed Inga, said the occupants of the boat were 100 passengers coming from Tija village of Munya Local Government Area of the state.

He said 65 people survived, 28 corpses recovered by local divers while seven people are still missing.

Man kills roommate, sells body parts for ritual in Bayelsa

 

A 34-year-old man, Okpegboro Avwerosuo, from Ughelli North Ugherue in Delta State has been arrested by Bayelsa State Police Command for allegedly butchering his roommate and putting his body into a sack bag before hiding it in the nearby bush.

The incident which was said to have happened over the weekend at Sagbama community, the headquarter of Sagbama Local Government Area was kept secret until the youths of the community discovered the decomposed body of the deceased in the bush on Monday.

Though the police authorities in Bayelsa State have confirmed the incident and the arrest of the suspect, the suspected killer has refused to disclose the identity of his late roommate.

Several people in the community claimed that the suspect might have killed his roommate for ritual purposes but found it difficult to move the butchered body due to the heavy presence of vigilant youths of the community.

The vigilant youths of the community who discovered the decomposed body of the deceased in the bush on Monday quickly alerted men of the Nigeria Police, Sagbama Division, a situation that led to the arrest of the suspect who was living in Sagbama Federated Community.

The police spokesman in Bayelsa State, SP Asinim Butswat, while confirming the incident, said: “The suspect is detained at SCID for further investigation.”

IPOB Hires New Firm To Pursue Cause In N300m Deal

The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has acquired the service of a new American lobbying firm to garner the support of the U.S. government for its secession bid.

A report by Premium Times said the one-year deal would cost Kanu and IPOB $750,000, which is over N300m at the current official exchange rate of N410 to $1.

The report said the deal was signed in February with Kanu’s signature for the service of BW Global Group (BWGG  LLC), co-owned by Jeffrey Birrel and Alan White, registered in Washington D.C.

It added that the agreement took effect from March 1, 2021, months after an earlier deal with a U.S.-based lobbying firm, Mercury Public Affairs LLC, expired.

“The details of the deals were sourced from the contractors’ registration statements and agreements filed at the Foreign Agents Registration Unit of the U.S Department of Justice.”

“The filings by BW Global Group (BWGG) after negotiations were concluded in February show that the firm was engaged by Mr Kanu to undertake “political activities” in the U.S. on behalf of IPOB.”

“The activities include engaging the U.S. government, Congress and the Department of State, (the equivalent of Foreign Affairs Ministries in Nigeria and other countries) and engaging policymakers on behalf of IPOB.”

“The registrant (BWGG) expects to advocate on behalf of IPOB within the US Government (including the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of State) and otherwise engage policymakers and opinion leaders.”

The agreement, signed on February 24, 2021, by Mr Kanu, another representative of IPOB, Rita Eze, and a co-owner of BWGG, Mr White.

“BWGG shall provide the IPOB with services relating to the promotion of human rights and democracy and shall otherwise act as an advocate for the indigenous people of Biafra,” the document reads in part.

It added that BWGG “may also undertake other similar services that might be referred to BWGG from the IPOB from time to time by mutual agreement.”

Minister of Youths and Sports kicks against call to scrap NYSC

Sunday Dare, Minister of Youths and Sports Development, has kicked against the bill seeking to scrap the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.

The bill sponsored by Awaji Abiante, a lawmaker from Rivers State had last week, passed through second reading at the green chamber.

The lawmaker seeks to use the bill to amend section 315 (1)(a) of the 1999 constitution.

Abiante said NYSC should be scrapped because the scheme has failed to address the essence of its establishment.

Also, there have been agitations from Nigerians, seeking to scrap NYSC due to insecurity across the country.

However, Dare in a post on his official Twitter page said NYSC is one of the greatest tools for National development for Nigerian youths.

He further stated that dynamic reforms and initiatives towards the current realities are ongoing, adding that the Buhari-led government is committed to sustaining the scheme.

He tweeted, ”The NYSC scheme remains one of the greatest tools for National development for our youth.

”The commitment of the government to sustaining the NYSC scheme remains. Dynamic Reforms and Initiatives towards current realities are ongoing. Nigeria will stand with her youth.”

Rosy Meurer reacts after Tonto Dikeh allegedly threw shades at Churchill

The new wife of Churchill Olakunle, Rosy Meurer has reacted to the post of Tonto Dikeh allegedly throwing shades at her ex-husband Churchill Olakunle.

Recall Tonto Dikeh took to her page to share a controversial post that was an indirect shade to her former husband.

Her post attracted several reactions from people and has also attracted a reaction from her rival and present wife of Churchill, Rosy.

Tonto Dikeh took to her page and wrote, “DEAR WOMAN/MAN IF an EX IS STILL YOUR TYPE, then you have FAILED…Wahalai ooo wrong

Dear Women/MEN, we Level Up not To Go back to Our Vomits. #GROWTH IS VERY NECESSARY IN ALL ACCEPT OF OUR LIFE
#BYALLMEANSGROW

Rosy has reacted to Tonto Dikeh’s shade. She wrote on her Instagram story,

“we dey recycle ourselves. Only few be tear rubber. I chop your own you chop another LIVE”.

Hisbah confiscates 8,400 bottles of beers in Kano

 

The Kano State Hisbah Board says it has confiscated 8,400 bottles of beer in Dawakin Kudu and Kura Local Government Areas (LGAs). The Commander­­-General of the board, Dr. Harun Ibn-Sina, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday in Kano.

According to the statement “the vehicle was coming from Zaria to Kano when Hisbah officials arrested the driver.
“Hisbah Board has prohibited the sale of beer in the state to avoid being intoxicated”, he said. The Commander-General also said that once investigation was concluded, the suspects would be charged to court.

”Tell us where recovered loots are”, Sultan of Sokoto tells FG

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III on Tuesday urged the Federal government to explain to Nigerians how much loots it had recovered and what they were being used for.

He spoke in Sokoto at the zonal dialogue with stakeholders on the National Ethics and Integrity Policy, organized by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission for the northwest zone.

The Sultan, represented by the Wazirin Sokoto, Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu, said keeping mute on the recovered loots would spell doom for the fight against corruption in the country.

“The government owes Nigerians an explanation, we want to know how much billions of naira was recovered from our past leaders. Where the monies are and what are they doing with them?

“This explanation is necessary considering the state of our education and other infrastructure like roads which need serious government attention,” he said.

He said the founders of the Sokoto Caliphate had written many books on corruption and how it could be addressed using Islamic ways.

The Sultan urged Nigerian leaders to obtain copies of those books in order to be guided in getting to tackling corruption.

Another Nollywood Actress Dies of Cancer

Popular Nollywood actress, Ify Onwuemene is dead. She died of cancer.

It was gathered that the actress, who died on Tuesday, had been battling endometrial cancer.

Her colleague in the film industry, Gloria Anozie-Young, broke the news of her death via her Facebook page. writing:
“With a deep sense of loss but total submission to God Almighty, we regret to announce that IFEY ONWUEMENE has gone to be with the Lord.

“IFEY ONWUEME was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. Her womb was removed, but she has been battling the ailment for many years now.
“In 2019, even after eight sessions of chemotherapy, the doctors told her she had reached stage 4. However, we are not sure if she was given the wrong diagnosis or being treated with the wrong chemo, because she still felt pains on her upper abdomen and her tummy bloated.

“Ify spent more than N10m, being helped with donations by her fellow actors and other Nigerians. A GoFundme account was opened for her, but it did not yield much. She had to go for draining every two weeks at a cost of N280,000, but only 3 litres of liquid can be removed at a time so that her heart is not affected.

“IFEY has finally gone to rest, today 25th May 2021. May her soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.”

IGP unveils Operation Restore Peace in South East, South South

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in-charge of South-East and South-South, Moses Jitoboh, has said President Muhammadu Buhari, concerned over the burning of police facilities and killing of its officers in the regions, has directed that necessary steps should be taken to stop the mayhem.

He stated this while addressing security stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State at the Police Headquarters, yesterday, in Uyo, the state capital.

Jitoboh said Operation Restore Peace was initiated to ensure that policeman would no longer be killed unjustly and police formations attacked and destroyed.

He said the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba Alkali, mandated him as the most senior officer in the South-South to be the theater commander of the Operation Restore Peace.

He said he visited Ikot Akpan, in Essien Udim Council of the state, which he described as ‘the hotbed of attacks on Police formations’, explaining that the internal security of the state would be reorganised and rejigged to function better and that community policing would be coordinated for effectiveness.

On officers’ welfare, he explained that the police authority was reviewing the welfare package for men of the Nigeria Police, like gratuity and pension and provision of facilities to enable policemen to work better.

Jitoboh, who is in charge of Research and Planning, Force Headquarters, added: “The IGP is reviewing the welfare of police officers, their gratuities and pensions. President Buhari has assured him that the implementation will take place soon.”

Earlier, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Amiengheme Andrew, lamented that no fewer than 23 officers have so far been killed within the period, saying 22 of them died during the attacks on police formations, while one died in an accident.

He stated that the criminal elements were part of the society and would wreak havoc if they were allowed to continue attacking police facilities.

“What has happened is very sad and disheartening, but my prayer is that we don’t lose more officers. I hope we will be able to come to a truce on how to resolve our challenges,” he added.

OPEN GRAZING: We’ll no longer tolerate attacks on herders, NEF warns

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has lamented alleged killing and attacks on northerners living in the south and other parts of the country.

It also said the forum will no longer fold its hands and allow the “unprovoked killings” to continue, especially with the issue of open grazing and ranching being considered by different governments.

 The group made the position known in a statement made available to Blueprint in Abuja Tuesday and signed by NEF’s Director, Publicity and Advocacy, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed.

The forum said many state governors were to blame for allowing attacks on helpless herders in their states, even as it said it was open to dialogue in ending insecurity in Nigeria.

The statement said:  “Northern Elders Forum (NEF) is convinced that it is time to respond to issues that threaten our collective security and the unity and integrity of the country. The Forum has held back on joining issues with persons and groups intent on provoking the type of crises that will escalate beyond control or mitigation by leaders, who are collectively showing definite signs that they are unwilling to steer the country away from the dangerous threats which are crippling it.

 “It is now clear that elected people sworn to protect the constitution and protect the unity and integrity of Nigeria have decided to surrender to deeply divisive or out rightly irredentist and secessionist tendencies and movements. In the South East, governors are yielding their political turf and mandates to secessionists, criminals and subversives, who think they can exterminate federal presence and northerners from the region and achieve dubious political goals related to 2023 or break away from the country.

 “In the South-west, elected leaders and pampered ethnic bullies are closing ranks to provide a front that apes the do-what-we-want-or-we-leave-the-country strategy of the marginalized leaders of the South East. Governors are building ethnic monsters and hiding behind them to whip up sentiments in a crude attempt to extract concessions no one is in a position to give or guarantee.

“The South-south is squeezed between fear and uncertainty and its leaders are gambling that they can benefit from further weakening the federal administration and the North if it rides along with the rest of the South.

“A plastic unity is being contrived to create the impression that the entire South is united behind shared grievances against the Presidency and Fulani herders and all northerners, who are cast as fair game in responding to all of President Buhari’s multiple failures. A desperate, but futile attempt is being made to split the North along lines that suit people who ignore its complexities and plurality when it is convenient to lump all Northerners and submit them to humiliation or attacks.

 “The NEF recognizes that most of these provocations feed from the widespread perception of a weak national leadership and a broken political process that has become captive of narrow political interests. For the record, the forum restates its support for a programmed transition that will eliminate open grazing and the establishment of productive, safe and sustainable options in managing our huge national asset in animal husbandry. 

 “This cannot be achieved with threats and harassment, but with commitment and collaboration involving all governments and stakeholders. It is in everyone’s interests to support an urgent national initiative that will engineer a safe and productive transition to the end of open grazing. In the meantime, the forum must warn those attacking and killing Fulani herders to stop. There are limits to every community’s tolerance, and the forum strongly advises that lines are respected in the manner we treat Nigerians, who are vulnerable wherever they live.”

 The elders added: “The forum has always supported initiatives that improve the quality of inputs into how Nigerians can address the limitations in the manner the country is operated. It is unfortunate that the current efforts of the National Assembly to amend the constitution enjoys little or no confidence among Nigerians that they will address the fundamental challenges which need to be comprehensively addressed, although this can be redressed if our elected representatives recognize the historic opportunities they have to move this country beyond its strangulating challenges.

 “The negative attitude of the Presidency towards engaging Nigerians to tap into ideas, grievances and goodwill of many citizens who mean well is ill-informed and, under our current circumstances, dangerous. So are postures that issue opportunistic ultimatums over convening national dialogue by the President. The forum supports a citizen-driven national dialogue and a campaign to get the government to accord its outcome the respect it deserves. The forum extends its hands to groups that genuinely believe that Nigerians should demand and design the type of country we want, and should not wait for people we elected to set the boundaries and conditions of our existence.

 “The forum restates that the North will not be cowed and stampeded into escorting political ambitions of politicians at the cost of its rights, security and dignity. It demands that President Buhari asserts the powers our constitution gives him to protect our territorial integrity and secure citizens, or accept that he is incapable of leading the nation through these unprecedented challenges. 

 “Attacks on lawful Fulani and other Northerners in the South must stop and those who have killed them must be brought to book. The nation needs to know that Northerners in many parts of the South now live in heightened fear as they are profiled and harassed by elements in host communities, who believe that there are no consequences for their actions.

“The forum demands an end to attacks on federal agents and facilities. Governors in the South must be unambiguous in their condemnation and resistance against these dangerous activities. They cannot continue to walk on both sides of the street. Northern governors should note that they are rapidly receding into irrelevance as desperate citizens’ chalk up their silence over multiple assaults in a country where they have equal rights to their security and dignity.  

 “If our country is to survive its current difficulties and build a better nation, President Buhari must improve his levels of competence, awareness that the nation is sliding into disaster and sensitivity to the frustrations of Nigerians. Other political leaders, who take advantage of the limitations of the President to light fires, should know that they will get burnt in them.

 “Overwhelming majority of Nigerians do not want war or an end to our union. We just want an end to insecurity, escalating cost of living and the hate and the fear which our leaders are triggering. The forum restates its readiness to engage any group of Nigerians in exploring productive paths to a better future. What it will not do is to watch as the North is damaged further by cynical southern politicians and adventurers who think the North is too weak to protect its own interests.”