Eyewitness claims student brought bomb in Abuja school explosion – Newstrends
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Eyewitness claims student brought bomb in Abuja school explosion

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Eyewitness claims student brought bomb in Abuja school explosion

An eyewitness has revealed that the explosion at Sani Uthman Islamiyya School in Kuchibuyi Village, Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was caused by an explosive device brought to the school by a student.

The tragic incident, which occurred on Monday, claimed two lives and left two others injured.

Our correspondent, who visited the scene on Tuesday, described the school as a three-classroom block constructed for nomadic education, popularly known as an Almajiri school.

Investigations revealed that the student responsible for bringing the explosive had arrived at the school from Katsina State just a day before the incident.

“The explosive detonated at the point the boy from Katsina was showing the object to another child in the school,” the eyewitness said.

The boy who was holding the explosive died instantly, while the second boy died later at the hospital.

The incident recorded two survivors-a little girl who is receiving treatment at the Kubwa General Hospital, and another boy who has been referred to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital.

Gory photos of the incident emerged on Tuesday, revealing the aftermath of the blast on the school.

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A Monday statement by the FCT Police Spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, had said the explosives were brought into the school premises by three men, contradicting eyewitness accounts.

Adeh had said a team of police operatives, including the Command’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team was mobilised to the scene after the incident.

She said, “The area was immediately cordoned off to protect residents and facilitate a thorough investigation.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that three men from Katsina had visited the owner of the Islamic school, Mallam Adamu Ashimu.

“The three visitors are suspected of having brought the explosive device with them.

“Tragically, two of the men died in the explosion while tampering with the improvised explosive device (IED), on the school Veranda, while the third man and a female trader sustained severe injuries and are currently receiving treatment under police guard.

“The FCT Bomb Squad has confirmed that it was an IED explosion, as remnants of the device have been recovered.”

The police spokesperson said the owner of the school has been taken into custody for questioning, and further findings would be communicated in due course.

The FCT Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, behaviour, or items that may resemble improvised explosive devices to the police.

Eyewitness claims student brought bomb in Abuja school explosion

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FG to take over 157 Almajiri schools from northern govs

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January 9, 2025

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FG to take over 157 Almajiri schools from northern govs

The Federal Government has announced plans to regain control of Almajiri schools that were originally established during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

These schools were handed over to the governors of the 19 Northern states but have since been neglected and abandoned.

The move was revealed by Idris Sani, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children (NCAOSC), during a signing event of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) in Yola, Adamawa State, on Wednesday.

Sani explained that the commission is working to rehabilitate the schools and restore their original purpose. He revealed that plans are underway to take over 157 Almajiri schools across the country. These schools, which were built under Jonathan’s administration, have remained largely unused after being abandoned by successive governments.

“I have directed my Chief of Staff to conclude arrangements for the takeover of 157 Almajiri schools in the country, built by former President Goodluck Jonathan, which were abandoned by successive administrations in the country,” Sani said. “We have also applied to the Federal Government to help us rehabilitate them for the take-off of normal academic activities in our quest to tackle the challenges of Almajiri and out-of-school children in the country.”

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Sani emphasized the importance of a collective effort in addressing the Almajiri and out-of-school children crisis. He also noted that the commission is collaborating with the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) to deploy staff to the rehabilitated schools due to the large number of schools involved.

In support of the initiative, Odinaka Chimbama, the National Coordinator of CSACEFA and Policy Advisor, affirmed the coalition’s commitment to aiding the commission in its mission to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. However, Chimbama also expressed concerns regarding the inadequate funding in the education sector. She called on both the federal and state governments to increase the education budget to meet UNESCO’s recommended benchmark of 15-20%.

“Any nation that wants to develop must invest in education, but unfortunately in Nigeria, even the little being budgeted to the sector is not accounted for or properly utilized,” Chimbama said.

She further stressed the need for greater transparency and accountability in the management of education funds. “Our work is to support government programs and policies, build the capacities of our members to hold the government accountable in education programs and policies, support the government in developing education policies, and ensure these policies are implemented,” she added.

This initiative is seen as a step toward addressing the ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s educational sector, particularly the crisis of out-of-school children.

 

FG to take over 157 Almajiri schools from northern govs

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Nigeria’s military drops to 39 in global rankings

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January 9, 2025

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Nigerian military Troops

Nigeria’s military drops to 39 in global rankings

Nigeria’s Armed Forces has dropped to 39th in the 2024 Global Firepower (GFP) rankings globally. This marks the third consecutive decline after being ranked 36th in 2023 and 35th in 2022.

145 countries were considered in the annual Global Firepower review.

On the African continent, the country also slipped from third to fourth place behind South Africa, Algeria and Egypt.

The poor ranking comes despite Nigeria’s recent acquisition of advanced fighter jets and military assets, as well as reported progress in combating terrorism within its borders.

The Global FirePower ranking utilizes 60 individual factors to determine a given nation’s power index score with categories ranging from quality of military units and financial standing to logistical capabilities and geography.

Nigeria’s Power Index (PwrIndx) score for 2024 was 0.5619, with a score of 0.0000 representing the pinnacle of military strength.

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Meanwhile, Egypt retained its position as Africa’s strongest military, followed by Algeria and South Africa.

US military retains top spot for 18 consecutive year

Globally, the United States maintained its dominance, ranking first for the 18th consecutive years. Other global powers such as Russia, China, India, and South Korea rounded out the top five.

Notable African nations, such as Ethiopia, Angola, Morocco, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, also appeared in the rankings, reflecting the countries’ diverse military landscape.

Some of the categories considered shows that Nigeria is at the bottom of the radar in terms of helicopter carrier fleet strength by country, tanker fleet strength by country, destroyer fleet strength by country, naval corvette fleet strength by country, submarine fleet strength, and reserve military strength, ranking 145 out of all the countries reviewed. It also ranked poorly in terms of crude oil consumption by country and natural gas consumption by country.

It, however, scored excellent in total available manpower, population fit-for-service, and paramilittary strength among others.

The drop in rankings raises questions about Nigeria’s defence capabilities and resource allocation amidst its ongoing security challenges.

 

Nigeria’s military drops to 39 in global rankings

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Catholic priest quits Christianity, joins traditional religion in Anambra

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January 9, 2025

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Ex-Catholic priest AEchezona Obiagbaosogu

Catholic priest quits Christianity, joins traditional religion in Anambra

A Catholic priest, Echezona Obiagbaosogu, has announced his resignation from the church to join African traditional religion.

Obiagbaosogu, a lecturer in African Traditional Religion at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, disclosed this after recently defending his PhD dissertation titled ‘Rainmaking and Control in Igbo African Medicine: A Case Study of Isieke in Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State,’ according to an interview published by Starconnect Media.

In his doctoral research, Obiagbaosogu looked into the ancient African practice of rainmaking.

According to his findings, rainmaking involves a combination of natural elements, spiritual communication, and what he describes as African science.

He argued that rainmakers, known as “debia ogwu” in Igbo culture, utilise herbs, roots, and hydroscopic stones to interact with the atmosphere and influence rainfall.

Obiagbaosogu explained that there were three distinct methods of rainmaking: the use of clay tripods and concoctions, coldrone structures with fermented herbs, and psycho-spiritual techniques that rely on the power of the human mind.

Speaking about his journey, Obiagbaosogu, who was a priest for 17 years, said his decision stemmed from a deep curiosity about African spirituality and the art of rainmaking.

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He described his transition as a quest to reconnect with the cultural values and spiritual practices that have been undermined by colonial influences.

“I have come to realise that my true calling is to serve my people through the ancient traditions of our ancestors. I was a Catholic priest for 17 years before resigning to embrace the traditional African religion. The topic of my research is ‘Rainmaking and Control in Igbo African Medicine: A case study of Isieke in Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State’.”

Obiagbaosogu shared that his upbringing played a significant role in shaping his beliefs, noting that his father, a Christian who still valued traditional medicinal practices, and his maternal grandfather, a traditionalist, inspired his appreciation for nature and indigenous knowledge.

He said these early influences sparked his interest in rainmaking, which became the focus of his academic research.

“Everything about this research stems from my curiosity about nature and God. The research reflects my curiosity about spirituality and the nature of God. As a priest, I had the opportunity to work in health sectors, and I understand what health is all about,” he said.

While still a seminary student, he stressed that he witnessed a family friend demonstrate rainmaking, an experience that set him on a path of academic and spiritual exploration.

“My research in rainmaking and control is rooted in finding the truth and understanding how native doctors contribute to preserving African values. I discovered that it is indeed a reality and done by dibia (native doctors). I am not turning my back on God, but rather, I am embracing the divine in a more meaningful and authentic way.”

During his research, Obiagbaosogu said he spent months studying with a renowned native doctor, learning the intricacies of rainmaking and its connection to Igbo spirituality.

He emphasised that traditional African practices should be viewed as science rather than superstition.

 

Catholic priest quits Christianity, joins traditional religion in Anambra

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