Students protest, burn provost’s residence in Kebbi over extortion

Students at the College of Health Sciences and Technology in Jega, Kebbi State, have set fire to the residence of the institution’s provost, Haruna Saidu-Sauwa, over allegations of extortion.

The students accused the college management of demanding N23 million in fees.

During the protest, the provost’s vehicle was also vandalised. The unrest reportedly stemmed from claims that the administration imposed an additional charge of N65,000 on top of the N30,000 already paid by students as part of their index registration fees.

The charges were related to a newly introduced Public Health programme, which had been merged with the Environmental Health department.

The students, alleging extortion, reacted by attacking property, including the provost’s residence. Some staff members reportedly fled before security forces arrived to restore calm.

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In response, the provost, Haruna Saidu-Sauwa, denied the accusations, describing them as “fictitious and baseless”. He stated that all payments were made into a Treasury Single Account, which he could not access, and accused the media of spreading misinformation to undermine the institution.

“We are grateful no one was harmed. The authorities are working to identify those responsible for the protest,” Saidu-Sauwa said, adding that investigations into the matter were ongoing.

The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed that the situation had been brought under control, with no casualties reported. Further details are expected once local police conclude their investigation.

The incident has raised concerns about the ethical practices of the college, known for training healthcare professionals, as it faces increasing scrutiny.

Students protest, burn provost’s residence in Kebbi over extortion

Oyan Dam: Prepare to relocate, Lagos govt tells residents

The Lagos State Government has asked residents and property owners along the Ogun River banks to prepare for possible relocation to higher grounds.

This comes as the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) begins a staggered release of water from the Oyan Dam.

The Oyan Dam, located in Abeokuta, Ogun State, spans 4,000 hectares and has a catchment area of 9,000 square kilometers.

Speaking to journalists in Ikeja, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, said the water release is crucial for maintaining the dam’s integrity and mitigating its socio-economic impact on Lagos State.

Wahab explained that the dam’s operations are guided by real-time hydrological data, rainfall predictions from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and flood outlooks from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA). These sources inform water release decisions, balancing flood control with dam integrity.

The commissioner acknowledged concerns about the potential impact of the water release on surrounding communities, especially those along the Ogun River channels that extend into Lagos.

Wahab added that a detailed report from OORBDA shows that, as of October 12, 2024, the total water released this year stands at 1,484.2 million cubic meters (mcm), below the annual average flow volume of 1,770 mcm.

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While rainfall across the Oyan River catchment has been significant, totaling 984.1 mm this year, Wahab noted that this figure remains lower than last year’s 1,540.8 mm and is within safe operational levels.

He also outlined the dam’s capacity to manage water release. Equipped with four radial gates, the dam can discharge up to 2,271 cubic meters per second (m³/s) during peak periods. Currently, only two gates are open at 12 percent capacity each, with a controlled release rate of 208 m³/s.

According to Wahab, 62.1 percent of the dam’s flood control capacity remains intact, ensuring that no excess water is released beyond safe limits. This outcome is the result of close collaboration between the State and OORBDA.

The commissioner also recognized the challenges faced by residents in affected communities, such as Kara, Mile 12, Agiliti, Ikosi Ketu, Owode, Ajegunle, and Odo-Ogun.

He further explained that these tributaries, combined with rain-induced runoff, play a significant role in the region’s flood dynamics.

“While the flooding experienced in these areas has often been attributed solely to water released from the Oyan Dam, this is not entirely the case; In reality, the downstream section of the Ogun River is influenced by a complex network of over 52 tributaries, all of which converge and contribute to rising water levels in the affected areas,” Wahab stated, according to a statement by Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Kunle Adeshina.

To address flooding effectively, Wahab underscored the state’s commitment to maintaining a longstanding partnership with OORBDA. This collaboration facilitates the systematic and controlled release of water from the Oyan Dam, thereby helping to protect downstream communities from severe flooding.

Oyan Dam: Prepare to relocate, Lagos govt tells residents

We ate leaves, drank filthy water to survive, say ex-corps members

AKWA Ibom State graduates kidnapped last year in Zamfara State, during a trip to commence their National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, duty in Sokoto State, have appealed to both Federal and their state governments to provide them employment to assist their gradual healing from the trauma.

Eight of the corps members who left Uyo, Akwa Ibom capital, heading to Sokoto NYSC Orientation Camp were abducted August 17, of last year along with their bus driver in an ambush on the Zamfara highway.
The victims who endured untold torture in the kidnappers’ den were freed in batches with Solomon Daniel being last to be released after being held for a year.

Sharing their experiences in Uyo, yesterday, some of the victims complained of suffering severe health challenges and post-traumatic pains since passing through the harrowing experience.

Solomon Daniel said he was held longer than the rest after the abductors separated him from his colleagues for refusing to yield to payment of ransom as his widow’s mother could not afford the demanded ransom.

Held August 17, 2023, and freed August 22, 2024, Daniel recounted, “I went through a lot. I chewed leaves to survive and drank extremely dirty water.

“I was tortured daily from morning till evening. I could not defecate or urinate for three months. I thought I was going to die.”

Considered the ‘most stubborn’ by the abductors, Daniel narrated he was transported on a motorcycle from Zamfara to Kaduna State through bush paths and was for several months guarded by over 10 armed men before he got rescued by security operatives.

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Victoria Bassey, another of the victims said: “I never believed I would survive such terrible conditions. Even during our menstrual periods, we couldn’t bath. We drank flood water to stay alive.”

Etim Bassey, another victim said the kidnappers posed as uniformed military men manning a supposed check point where they were abducted.

“Our bus was intercepted at a bad spot in Zamfara we mistook for a checkpoint. The area was blocked with logs of wood and manned by armed men in military uniforms, who ordered us into the forest,” he stated.

In their gratitude to stakeholders whose effort made their rescue possible, the former corps members appealed for gainful employment and other forms of assistance the state and federal governments could accord them to help heal.

They thanked President Bola Tinubu, Director-General of NYSC, Gen Yusha’u Ahmed, Governor Umo Eno of the state, security operatives, and other well-meaning Nigerians for role in securing their freedom.

Matthew Koffi Okono, Founder and President, Open Forum Care for Humanity Foundation, the NGO which mobilised them to share their experiences lent voice to their call for job opportunities, urging the government to assist in easing their ‘post-traumatic experience.’

Okono then advocated reforms of the NYSC scheme, stating, “The Federal Government should look into making the NYSC scheme more pro-development and safer, to add more value to nation-building.”

We ate leaves, drank filthy water to survive, say ex-corps members