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Dowen student’s death a slap on Lagos govt, says Sanwo-Olu’s wife

Published

4 years ago

December 7, 2021

Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu

Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, the First Lady of Lagos State, has described the death of Sylvester Oromomi, a 12-year-old student of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, as a slap on the state government.

According to reports, Oromoni was beaten to death for refusing to join a cult group in school.

The death of the promising child has sparked outrage across the country, with the Lagos government closing down the school.

Speaking during an advocacy visit to some schools in furtherance of the ongoing 16 Days of activism against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, the First Lady described the incident as unfortunate, saying never again should it reoccur in the state.

“I am aware that the Lagos State Government is at the moment investigating the incident and honestly it is something we are not very happy about. It’s a big slap on the face of the education sector, the community, and Lagos State as a whole.

“It is a case that is being investigated and for the parents and everybody involved, honestly, we commiserate with them and send our condolences.

“As I said, the case is being investigated and I will not be able to say much on it at the moment,” Sanwo-Olu said.

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She said the advocacy visit to schools was aimed at catching the students young and enlightening them on the need to work against all forms of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.

“As we all know, the world is commemorating the 16 days of activism against SGBV. It commences on November 25 and it will end on December 10 which is Human Rights Day. The program is being championed globally by United Nations and our theme this year is “Orange The World: End Violence Against Women Now.”

“The advocacy is also being championed by the Nigeria Governors’ Wives Forum, NGOs and so many other private individuals and organizations to ensure that there is zero tolerance to gender-based violence all over Nigeria and Lagos in particular,” she said.

She explained that the visit to the respective schools was the third leg of the advocacy efforts, saying that a similar enlightenment program had been held for the community groups and religious leaders by her office.

“For the Office of the Lagos State First Lady, we decided that our advocacy is to do community sensitization at the grassroots level which we did on November 29 and then we followed it up with sensitization visit to our religious leaders in our communities. This is the third way of our advocacy, going into the schools.

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“We realized that it is good to catch them young and so when we plant this seed in the children, it will gradually germinate and it helps us to ensure that our students have the correct mindset and understand why these vices exist and what the law says about the vices in the country.

“I am happy with the response we are getting. The students are interested in knowing about Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and joining the train to stamp it out in our state. We have distributed some resource materials that will help the teachers, the students, and the parents Associations in the respective schools to know more and work against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in our communities,” she said.

The schools visited include Dolphin Senior High School and Dolphin Junior High School, Tapa, Lagos Island under Education District Three; as well as Aje Comprehensive Junior High School and Aje Comprehensive Senior High School, Sabo-Yaba, Lagos under Education District Four.

Daily Trust

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Gunmen Storm Gbugbu in Kwara, Residents Flee as Panic Spreads

Published

57 minutes ago

February 23, 2026

Trends Admin

Public Relations Officer, Kwara State Police Command, SP Adetoun Ejire‑Adeyemi

Gunmen Storm Gbugbu in Kwara, Residents Flee as Panic Spreads

Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State was thrown into panic on Sunday night after suspected gunmen launched a violent attack on Gbugbu community, firing indiscriminately and forcing residents to flee into bushes and nearby safe zones. The assault is the latest in a string of violent incidents deepening insecurity in Kwara and neighbouring areas.

According to witnesses, the gunmen stormed the town shortly after 8:00 p.m., opening fire and creating chaos. One resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “The bandits stormed the community immediately after Isa’i, shooting non-stop and throwing residents into panic. Everyone ran indoors or fled into the bush.” As of the time of reporting, there were no official confirmations of casualties or the number of abducted residents.

The attack has heightened fears in Edu, Patigi, Ifelodun, and Oyun local government areas, where residents have reported rising attacks by armed groups in recent weeks. Days earlier, similar raids were reported in Woro and Nuku communities in Kaiama LGA, resulting in the killing and abduction of several villagers.

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While the Kwara State Police spokesperson, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, was unavailable for comments, local sources said security forces were mobilized to pursue the attackers and secure the community. Reports also indicate that some families spent the night outdoors, fearing a repeat of the violence.

The spate of attacks comes as the Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, recently launched Joint Task Force Operation Savannah Shield to combat insecurity in Kwara and parts of Niger State. The operation aims to target terrorists, bandits, and criminal gangs responsible for kidnappings, armed raids, and killings in rural communities.

Community leaders and residents have called for urgent intervention by security agencies to rescue any abducted villagers, restore peace, and prevent further escalation of violence. Analysts warn that without sustained military and police engagement, armed attacks could spread further across the state, destabilizing vulnerable communities and hindering local development.

The incident in Gbugbu underscores the ongoing security challenges in Nigeria’s middle belt, where banditry and terrorism continue to disrupt livelihoods, schools, and local economies. Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant, cooperate with security forces, and report suspicious movements in their communities.

Gunmen Storm Gbugbu in Kwara, Residents Flee as Panic Spreads

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FG to Launch Monthly Revenue Transparency Dashboards to Improve Fiscal Accountability

Published

1 hour ago

February 23, 2026

Trends Admin

Dr. Doris Uzoka‑Anite, the Minister of State for Finance and FAAC Chairman

FG to Launch Monthly Revenue Transparency Dashboards to Improve Fiscal Accountability

The Federal Government (FG) has announced plans to launch monthly revenue transparency dashboards to enhance fiscal accountability and provide public visibility of government income and expenditure across the three tiers of government. The initiative was disclosed by Dr. Doris Uzoka‑Anite, the Minister of State for Finance and FAAC Chairman, during the recent Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting in Abuja.

Dr. Uzoka‑Anite explained that the dashboards are necessary due to expected increases in government revenue following recent structural reforms, including a Presidential Executive Order (EO) on oil and gas revenue and expanded tax collections under the new Tax Act. These reforms are expected to significantly boost FAAC distributable funds, improve revenue discipline, and reduce leakages in the management of oil proceeds and tax inflows.

The planned dashboards will provide monthly, real-time access to detailed data on government revenue, including oil and gas receipts, tax collections, and other federal revenue streams. Citizens, policymakers, and analysts will be able to monitor allocations, track inflows, and scrutinize expenditure, promoting transparency and accountability across federal, state, and local governments.

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Dr. Uzoka‑Anite urged all tiers of government to prioritize capital expenditure over recurrent spending, invest in sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, energy, and productive enterprises, and avoid unsustainable wage growth or consumption spikes. She also emphasized the importance of using incremental revenue inflows to reduce debt burdens, clear arrears responsibly, and fund growth-enhancing projects.

The minister highlighted that a portion of one-off payments from the EO on oil revenues could be retained in a Stabilisation Fund, released gradually to support macroeconomic stability and prevent excess liquidity from driving inflationary pressures. She further said that production-to-remittance reconciliation reporting and detailed reporting of incremental gains from tax reforms and EO-driven inflows would be implemented to improve fiscal monitoring.

“The revenue outlook is changing, and structural reforms are expected to materially strengthen Federation revenues,” Dr. Uzoka‑Anite told state finance commissioners. “Improved revenue performance requires improved fiscal coordination. A sudden liquidity injection across all tiers of government could create inflationary risks and reduce the real value of allocations. Structured mechanisms and phased disbursements are therefore critical to safeguard macroeconomic stability.”

The introduction of these monthly revenue dashboards aligns with the FG’s broader commitment to open data, fiscal transparency, and responsible revenue management, ensuring that rising inflows from oil, gas, and taxes are tracked, reconciled, and used efficiently to promote economic growth and stability across Nigeria.

FG to Launch Monthly Revenue Transparency Dashboards to Improve Fiscal Accountability

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Troops Repel Coordinated Attacks in Borno, Kill 25 Terrorists, Soldier Dies

Published

1 hour ago

February 23, 2026

Trends Admin

Nigerian military troop

Troops Repel Coordinated Attacks in Borno, Kill 25 Terrorists, Soldier Dies

Nigerian troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have killed 25 suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters, lost one soldier, and wounded several others while repelling coordinated terrorist attacks in Limankara and Kukawa, Borno State, military sources confirmed. The intense clashes, which erupted on the night of February 20, 2026, underscore the growing pressure on insurgent camps, logistics networks, and leadership in the region.

Lt. Col. Sani Uba, Media Information Officer of JTF OPHK, said that troops also conducted precision operations in Lamusheri Village, Gujba Local Government Area, a known terrorist hub and logistics base. Supported by air surveillance and intelligence gathering, troops destroyed defensive structures, neutralised 15 insurgents, and recovered or destroyed weapons, ammunition, and vehicles. Several militants fled with gunshot injuries.

Earlier, terrorists attempted to infiltrate the Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Limankara, but alert troops engaged them in a fierce firefight. Combined ground and air support forced the attackers to retreat, leaving behind casualties and abandoned equipment. No soldiers were injured during this engagement.

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In Kukawa, insurgents launched a multi-pronged assault using gun trucks, motorcycles, and foot soldiers, approaching from multiple axes. Troops mounted a determined defence, supported by air strikes, which destroyed a gun truck, five motorcycles, and neutralised ten additional fighters. Recovered items included rifles, loaded magazines, radios, stretchers, and shallow graves left by fleeing insurgents.

While one gallant soldier lost his life, others who sustained gunshot injuries are receiving treatment and are in stable condition, military sources said. Lt. Col. Uba commended the troops for their discipline, courage, and operational excellence, noting that the operations have significantly degraded the capacity of terrorist groups in the North-East.

The officer emphasized that sustained air-ground coordination continues to deny insurgents freedom of movement, disrupt logistics routes, and force them into chaotic withdrawals, enhancing the safety of local communities. Analysts say these operations reflect a growing reliance on intelligence-driven, technology-supported counter-terrorism strategies to dismantle insurgent networks in Borno State and the wider North-East region.