metro
Third Mainland Bridge Crash: 10 Injured as LASEMA Averts Train Collision in Lagos
LAGOS — At least 10 passengers have been injured in a chain-reaction crash involving two commercial buses and a trailer on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, while emergency responders separately averted a possible train collision at Ilupeju Bypass.
The two incidents occurred on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, according to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
The bridge accident reportedly began when a commercial bus stopped to fix a faulty tyre. Another bus subsequently rammed into the stationary vehicle, triggering a chain reaction.
A trailer then crashed into the second bus before its driver reportedly fled the scene, leaving the injured passengers in need of emergency assistance.
LASEMA said its emergency response team arrived at the scene, administered first aid to the victims and evacuated them to a hospital for further treatment.
The damaged vehicles were subsequently cleared from the affected section of the bridge, allowing traffic to resume.
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The incident raised fresh concerns about road safety on the busy bridge, which connects Lagos Island with the mainland and carries heavy traffic daily.
In a separate incident at Ilupeju Bypass, emergency responders prevented a potential collision between a train and a commercial bus that had broken down on a railway track.
According to LASEMA, the bus became stranded on the track after developing a mechanical fault, creating a potentially dangerous situation for rail operations.
Emergency officials deployed a light tow truck to remove the vehicle from the railway line before a possible collision occurred.
The agency said its response team managed the situation and ensured that the stranded bus was removed from the track.
Following the incidents, LASEMA urged motorists to maintain their vehicles regularly and avoid stopping to carry out repairs on busy highways and bridges, warning that such actions could endanger passengers and other road users.
Motorists were also advised to exercise caution when their vehicles develop mechanical faults, particularly in locations where stopping could trigger secondary accidents.
The agency encouraged Lagos residents who require urgent assistance to contact its emergency hotlines on 767 or 112.
The incidents highlight the importance of vehicle maintenance, prompt emergency response and strict adherence to road and railway safety measures to prevent avoidable injuries and loss of life.
Third Mainland Bridge Crash: 10 Injured as LASEMA Averts Train Collision in Lagos
metro
Ebola Scare: NSCIA Directs Imams to Intensify Awareness in Friday Sermons
Ebola Scare: NSCIA Directs Imams to Intensify Awareness in Friday Sermons
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has urged chief imams, Islamic scholars and Muslim organisations across Nigeria to intensify public awareness of Ebola virus disease (EVD) following the confirmation of a case in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The council called on religious leaders to use Friday sermons, mosque gatherings and community engagements to educate worshippers about the disease, its symptoms, preventive measures and the importance of seeking prompt medical attention.
The advisory, dated Wednesday, October 21, 2026, was signed by the NSCIA Secretary-General, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, on behalf of the council, which is led by its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.
The council said religious institutions had an important role to play in preventing the spread of the infection by providing accurate information, encouraging early reporting of suspected cases and discouraging practices that could expose people to the virus.
It also urged state councils for Islamic affairs and Muslim organisations to mobilise their networks to ensure that public health information reaches communities across the country.
READ ALSO:
- ‘I Never Asked Them to Abandon Loved Ones’ — Obi Clarifies Diaspora Remarks
- FG Confirms Ebola Case in Abuja, Identifies 44 Contacts
- Breaking: Afenifere Leader Pa Fasoranti Dies at 100
The NSCIA warned that the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, responsible for the current outbreak, has no approved vaccine or specific curative treatment. However, it noted that early detection, prompt medical care and strict preventive measures could improve survival and help prevent further transmission.
The council advised Muslims who develop symptoms suggestive of Ebola to avoid congregational prayers and other public gatherings until they have received medical assessment.
It also cautioned against attempting to treat suspected cases at home or transporting potentially infected people without guidance from health authorities.
On burial practices, the NSCIA warned family members and ordinary burial attendants against washing or handling the bodies of suspected or confirmed Ebola victims. It said safe and dignified burials should be conducted by authorised health personnel in consultation with relevant Islamic authorities.
The council further encouraged regular handwashing, environmental cleanliness and avoidance of direct contact with the blood and other body fluids of people who may be infected.
It urged Nigerians to cooperate with contact-tracing teams and comply with official public health directives, while warning against rumours, unverified remedies and the stigmatisation of affected people and their families.
The NSCIA stressed that protecting human life and seeking medical care were consistent with Islamic teachings, urging religious leaders to communicate preventive advice responsibly without creating unnecessary panic.
The advisory followed the Federal Government’s confirmation on Tuesday, October 20, of an Ebola case in Abuja involving a woman who recently travelled to Nigeria after visiting Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said the patient was receiving medical care in isolation at a private hospital in the FCT.
Health authorities have identified 44 close contacts and commenced contact tracing to determine who may have been exposed to the infection. The contacts include healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and people linked to the patient’s travels.
The government, through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and other relevant agencies, has intensified surveillance and infection-prevention measures to contain the disease.
The NSCIA urged Nigerians to remain calm, vigilant and guided by verified information as health authorities continue their response.
The council called on imams, Islamic scholars and Muslim organisations to circulate its advisory widely and work with public health officials to protect communities from further transmission.
Ebola Scare: NSCIA Directs Imams to Intensify Awareness in Friday Sermons
metro
Jailbreak Saga: Guard Bagged 2.5 Years for Helping 10 Inmates Escape Through Toilet Hole
Jailbreak Saga: Guard Bagged 2.5 Years for Helping 10 Inmates Escape Through Toilet Hole
A former jail worker in New Orleans, Sterling Williams, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for his role in a daring jailbreak that saw ten inmates escape through a hole behind a toilet.
The shocking incident, which occurred in May 2025, left authorities red-faced after the fleeing inmates left behind a mocking note that simply read: “Too Easy.”
According to reports, Williams, who was entrusted with supervising the facility, compromised security protocols to facilitate the escape. Investigators revealed that the inmates managed to breach the wall behind a toilet fixture, crawling to freedom through the opening.
The jailbreak sparked a massive manhunt across the city, though all ten inmates were eventually recaptured. Williams’ sentencing brings a close to a case that exposed significant security lapses within the Orleans Parish facility.
Prosecutors argued that Williams abused his position of trust, endangering public safety. The court agreed, handing down the 30-month sentence this week.
The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office has since stated that stricter security measures and structural inspections have been implemented to prevent future breaches.
Jailbreak Saga: Guard Bagged 2.5 Years for Helping 10 Inmates Escape Through Toilet Hole
metro
Five Arraigned Over Kidnapping of 20 Prospective NYSC Members in Imo
Five Arraigned Over Kidnapping of 20 Prospective NYSC Members in Imo
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspects before the Imo State High Court over the kidnapping of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and four other individuals in two separate abduction cases that jolted the nation earlier this month.
The three prime suspects linked to the corps members’ abduction—Usman Aliyu (25), also known as Chonge; Babangida Aliyu (21); and Mohammed Ali (23), alias Smallie Pepper—were brought before the Oru Judicial Division of the High Court in Mgbidi on Tuesday. They face charges of conspiracy, hostage-taking, and unlawful possession of firearms. According to the charge sheet presented by the DSS, the trio and other suspects still at large allegedly abducted the prospective corps members on October 1, 2026, along the Owerri–Mgbidi–Onitsha Expressway. The victims were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when their vehicles were intercepted.
Prosecutors told the court that the defendants demanded a staggering ₦950 million ransom for the release of the 20 captives. It was further alleged that the suspects actually collected ₦48 million and an undisclosed amount in United States dollars before the victims regained their freedom. The DSS also accused the defendants of unlawfully possessing three AK-47 rifles, four magazines, a pistol, and 81 rounds of live ammunition. All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them. Following their plea, the trial judge, Justice Emeka Orafu, ordered that they be remanded at the DSS facility pending further proceedings. The case has been adjourned for hearing on various dates in late October.
In a related development, two other suspects—Aminu Haliru (27) and Tange Ibrahim (20), also known as Jijji—were arraigned in connection with the abduction of four individuals around Owerri and Mgbidi on October 4. The prosecution alleged that the pair and others at large collected ₦8 million for the release of those victims. They were also charged with illegal possession of an AK-47 rifle and a pump-action gun, with ₦1.8 million reportedly recovered from them.
The abduction of the 20 prospective corps members occurred in the early hours of October 1 along the busy Owerri-Onitsha road near Umunoha in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. The incident sparked widespread outrage and concern over the safety of young Nigerians travelling for national service. Following the abduction, security agencies launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation. The Imo State Police Command had disclosed that its operatives located the kidnappers’ hideout using drone surveillance but faced difficulties accessing the camp after discovering it had been planted with improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Additional equipment, including bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers, was subsequently deployed. The victims were eventually released on October 7, exactly one week after their abduction. They were subsequently taken to the DSS hospital in Owerri for medical attention and debriefing.
While security agencies maintained that the victims were rescued through a joint operation involving the DSS, military, and police, the circumstances of their release have remained a subject of controversy. Some parents of the rescued corps members had earlier told journalists that they paid millions of naira in ransom to secure their children’s freedom, contradicting the official rescue narrative. Reports indicated that some families paid between ₦3 million and ₦6 million, with payments allegedly made in Ibadan and subsequently converted to dollars for delivery in Imo State. The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) had called for transparency, questioning whether the victims were genuinely rescued by security forces or released after ransom negotiations. The Imo State Government, however, distanced itself from the ransom claims. The arraignment of the suspects marks a significant step in the investigation, as security agencies continue efforts to apprehend other members of the kidnapping gang who reportedly fled with gunshot wounds during the intelligence-led operations that led to the arrests in Port Harcourt and Aba between October 10 and 14.
Five Arraigned Over Kidnapping of 20 Prospective NYSC Members in Imo
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