80 killed, 200,000 people displaced, businesses ruined as Lokoja flood spreads – Newstrends
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80 killed, 200,000 people displaced, businesses ruined as Lokoja flood spreads

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2 years ago

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Over 80 people have been reported dead and billions of naira property destroyed by the flood ravaging Lokoja and neigbouring communities of Kogi State, as this has swept away many houses, farmlands and overtaken major roads including the busy Lokoja-Abuja highway.

The disaster has also led to the displacement of about 200,000 persons and destroyed businesses, schools and hospitals, according to a new report by the Leadership (newspaper), which it titles ‘After hell, it’s Lokoja’.

Many motorists caught up in the disaster have been stranded for more than five days, and more worrisome are truckers of perishable cash crops who are on the verge of losing hundreds of millions of naira as their goods are rotting away.

The floods have affected over nine local government areas in Kogi State, namely: Kogi-Koto, Lokoja, Igalamela-Odolu, Bassa, Idah, Ibaji, Omala, Ajaokuta, and Ofu, ravaging over 160 communities. The homes of Kogi House of Assembly members were not spared, either.

Local rescue teams have been working under tough conditions, combing through the wreckage and flood to evacuate the remains of their loved ones.

An elderly woman, Amina Shuaibu, was reported to have said she was living in a village close to Koton-karfi, but the flood destroyed her house and all our foodstuff.

When the flood started, she said she ran to a nearby community thinking she could manage her life there, but the flood came to chase her away.

She said, “Now, our condition is very critical. At the first time we moved to a high hill to settle down, but bandits started disturbing us and we ran to the present community, where we were given a house to stay. That was where we were when the flood came to pursue us out again. Now, we are up to ten managing a room.

“I used to farm fish and rice, but the water has destroyed everything for us. I am presently helpless and homeless.”

Scores of displaced persons were said to be in shelters camping outdoors in schools under harsh weather conditions, facing an uncertain future.

Many truckers were trapped in the traffic stretching to as far as 50 kilometres to Konton Karfe – Lokoja, with drivers transporting food seen helplessly disgruntled.

Security personnel including police, naval, and FRSC officials were completely overwhelmed controlling the traffic, with hundreds of articulated lorries, trailers, tanker drivers and other motorists all trying to beat the traffic.

The Abuja-Lokoja expressway is at the moment a nightmare for travellers as the road, which is the main gateway between the North and the South of Nigeria, now transformed into a notorious gridlock hub, especially for articulated trucks and other heavy duty vehicles transporting goods to the South and North and vice versa.

An articulated vehicle driver, Ismail Mohammed, said he had spent three days on the road and that ten of the cattle he was transporting to the South West had died.

One of the leaders of the IDP camp at Koton-Karfe, Muhammed Usman, said, “Over 48 communities were affected in Koton-Karfe. Since we became displaced, nobody. either the government or individuals have visited us or given us succour.”

Also, a trader, Ramat Ishak said her shop was submerged by flood.

She said, “My shop was submerged by the flood and I lost over N50,000. My shop is the only hope for our survival. I am helpless.”

A female victim, Saidu Rheina, lamented that their community farmlands were completely destroyed by the flood.

Narrating her ordeal, another female victim, Saadatu Aduma, said she woke up at night to see that her house was flooded. She said her family had fled to safety.

The Ohimegye of Igu-Kotonkarfe chiefdom in Kogi local government area, Alhaji Abdulrazak Isah Koto lamented that over 160 communities had been submerged by the flood.

He appealed to the government to assist the victims of the flood with farming inputs so that they could go back to the farm when the flood rescinds.

He said, “Sincerely I do not know how it got to this level. This year’s flood is worse than in 2021. In 2012 the floor did not cover the federal road like this year, but this time around, the impact cannot be described. The flood got to where it has never gotten to in the past.

“Since 2012, flooding has become a recurring menace in Kogi local government, Koton Karfe. If you look at the location of this place, most of the settlements you find here are at the river bank of rivers Niger and Benue.”

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TikTok removes 2.4 million videos by Nigerian users in Q4 2024

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4 hours ago

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March 31, 2025

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TikTok removes 2.4 million videos by Nigerian users in Q4 2024

Bytedance’s short video platform, TikTok, said it removed 2.4 million videos posted by Nigerian users in the fourth quarter of 2024 for violating its content policy.

According to the platform, Nigeria was among the top 50 countries where videos violating its policies emanated from in Q4.

However, the highest number of violations were recorded in the United States, which has the largest number of videos removed at 8.5 million.

ikTok disclosed this in its latest Community Guidelines Enforcement report, which indicated that a total of 153 million videos were removed globally in the period under review.

The company said the top 50 markets in terms of policy violations accounted for approximately 90% of all content removals for the quarter.  

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The removed content was said to have violated one or more of TikTok’s policies, which center around Integrity and Authenticity, Privacy and Security, Mental and Behavioural Health, Safety, and Civility, among others.

Accounts removal 

In the period under review, TikTok said it removed a total of 211.5 million accounts discovered to be either fake or owned by people suspected to be under 13 years of age.

  • Fake accounts constituted the largest number of deleted accounts for the period. According to the report, a total of 185.3 million fake accounts were removed.
  • In addition, 20.5 million accounts suspected to be owned by users under the age of 13 were removed, while 5.6 million accounts were removed for other reasons not stated.

“We remain vigilant in our efforts to detect external threats and safeguard the platform from fake accounts and engagement.  

“These threats persistently probe and attack our systems, leading to occasional fluctuations in the reported metrics within these areas.  

“In Q4 2024, we also updated the way we classify fake likes and followers removed over time, which contributed to some of the overall increases observed in these categories. 

“This update better reflects the scale of our existing work to promptly identify and remove any accounts, content, or activities that seek to artificially boost popularity on our platform,” the company stated in the report.

TikTok removes 2.4 million videos by Nigerian users in Q4 2024

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Two children killed, 20 injured in Gombe stampede – Police

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4 hours ago

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March 31, 2025

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Gombe State Police Command Spokesman, ASP Buhari Abdullahi

Two children killed, 20 injured in Gombe stampede – Police

The Police Force Gombe State Command has confirmed the death of two children following a stampede at the Gombe main Eid Ground.

The Command’s spokesperson, Buhari Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Gombe.

According to Abdullahi, the incident occurred at about 10:45 a.m. at the exit gate of the Eid Ground, immediately after the conclusion of Eid prayers.

“The stampede was caused by inadequate exit access, as a large crowd, primarily women and children, rushed to leave the venue.

“The situation, worsened by intense heat, led to the unfortunate incident,” he said.

He said that 22 individuals were affected and were immediately taken to hospitals for medical attention.

“Regrettably, two of the victims, a four-year-old boy, and six months old baby girl, were pronounced dead by doctors while receiving treatment,” Abdullahi added.

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He extended the command’s condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

“The police urge Eid Ground managers to ensure that all entrance and exit gates remain open to facilitate smooth movement, especially after prayers,” he advised.

In a related development, Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has condoled with the families of the deceased and those affected by the tragedy.

In a statement issued by his media aide on Sunday, the governor directed a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the stampede, with the aim of preventing future occurrences.

“The safety and well-being of our citizens remain a top priority. The state government is committed to learning from this incident and implementing corrective measures,” Yahaya said.

He also directed that all medical expenses for the injured victims be fully covered by the state government to ensure their recovery and well-being.

Two children killed, 20 injured in Gombe stampede – Police

(NAN)

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Wike’s achievements will translate into electoral success for APC in 2027, says Tinubu

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4 hours ago

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March 31, 2025

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike.jpg

Wike’s achievements will translate into electoral success for APC in 2027, says Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has praised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for his outstanding performance, expressing confidence that his achievements could translate into electoral success for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 FCT elections—despite Wike still being a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Tinubu made the remarks at the State House, Abuja, on Sunday during a traditional Sallah homage by a delegation of prominent FCT residents to mark Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

The President commended Wike’s leadership, noting that several infrastructure projects initiated under his administration, have significantly improved the lives of Abuja residents.

“I must thank the Honorable Minister of FCT. It’s worth it. It is nothing other than a privilege to be the landlord of every one of us in Abuja,” Tinubu said.

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He recalled a conversation where Wike requested exemption from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) to enable greater financial flexibility for FCT projects.

Tinubu humorously recounted his response:”I asked him, ‘Would that give me an opportunity for my party (APC) to win the election in FCT?’ If this thing goes too much in your favour, you will lose your job!’”

“Today, we are living in peace, and security is improving. The hunger is coming down. Food prices are lowering. Our people are looking for results, and Wike has delivered,” Tinubu added.

Tinubu noted that despite being from the South-South, Wike is successfully driving progress in the Northern-dominated FCT.

“Surprisingly, Nyesom Wike is not from the North. He’s not a Hausa man. Yet his ability to work in the centre of the North is yielding fruits. That is a great reflection of our diversity that we must use for prosperity.”

The President urged Nigerians to embrace unity, stating that, regardless of ethnic and religious differences, progress is only possible through collaboration and shared purpose.

Wike’s achievements will translate into electoral success for APC in 2027, says Tinubu

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