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Breaking: Women protest against return of armed Okuama youths (+ Photos)

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Breaking: Women protest against return of armed Okuama youths (+ Photos)

The women of Okoloba community in Bomadi local government area, weekend, protested against what they called the return of armed youths of Okuama in Ughelli South local government area, who they alleged were threatening the peace of the riverine area.

The placard carrying women, led by the chairlady of Okoloba community, Mrs Timipakebi Goodwin, and secretary, Mrs Mary Koibi, staged a peace protest on black attires along the coastal fringe of Okoloba community, chanting against violence and bloodbath, as well as sending an S.O.S. to the federal government to come to their aid.

Some inscriptions on the placards read: ‘We say No to violence’, ‘Enough of the killings on our land’, ‘Armed Okuama youths returning in a commando style’, ‘We say No to the return of armed youths of Okuama’, ‘Resettle Okuama people among their Ewu brothers in Ughelli South LGA’, ‘We mourn the killing of the 17 soldiers’ and among others.

The chairlady of Okoloba, Mrs Goodwin, speaking to newsmen with a written address that was made available to security apparatuses, which include the police, DSS, NSCDC, JTF as well as the acting chairman of Bomadi local government council, noted that the latest killing by the youths of Okuama showed that they could kill human beings at the slightest provocation.

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The women’s presentations as well as the written address read in part: “First, we the women of Okoloba community sympathize with the killing of 17 soldiers and officers of the Nigerian army on a peace and rescue mission to Okuama, following the kidnap of our son. We sincerely mourn their untimely death and pray for the repose of their souls. We also pray for their families.

“However, less than 24 hours after the exit of the troops from Okuama, fresh crisis erupted with another neighbouring community, culminating in the killing of one person while three other persons were seriously injured. The person who was killed and those sustaining machete wounds were alleged to have gone there to loot.

“The latest killing showed that the people of Okuama can kill a human at the slightest provocation; the sanctity of human life means nothing to them. It also shows that neighbouring Ijaw communities like Okoloba are not safe.

“So, resetting the people of Okuama in their present location, which is in-between communities in Bomadi local government area, is an attempt to encourage further communal clashes and bloodbath.

“Just last week, youths of Okuama community came out of the Mein-toruabubor creek, which leads to Ewu, on three speedboats and all of them on camouflage. They shot sporadically in the air before proceeding to OKuama. They moved to and fro the creek three times, and at every time they shot their guns in the air at the entrance of the creek.

“We are calling on the federal government to come to our aid, and the panacea to these incessant clashes and killings is for the government to relocate Okuama to Ewu clan in Ughelli South Local Government Area, where they truly and rightly belong.

Health

Gov Otti opens OSSAP-SDG-built multipurpose hospital in Abia

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Ania State Governor, Alex Otti (third left), SSA to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (second left), and others during the inauguration of multipurpose hospital

Gov Otti opens OSSAP-SDG-built multipurpose hospital in Abia

  • We’ll achieve SDGs by 2030, says Tinubu aide

Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has inaugurated a 100-Bed Mother and Child Centre, a multipurpose hospital built by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs) in Ugwunabo, Abia State.

The governor, speaking at the event on Wednesday, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for siting the hospital in Abia State.

Otti promised that the facility would be judiciously used, adding that the state was planning to establish a medical village that would put an end to people travelling abroad for medical issues.

He hailed Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, for her tireless efforts in achieving SDGs.

He pledged the support of Abians for the SDGs’ office and President Tinubu.

Princess Orelope-Adefulire thanked President Tinubu for his sterling leadership and commitment to working closely with sub-national governments to deliver key interventions and fast-track the achievement of the SDGs in Nigeria.

“I would like to most sincerely thank Governor Otti for his unwavering commitment to the socio-economic transformation of Abia State and our collective desire to achieve the SDGs in Nigeria,” she said.

According to her, the SDGs are a universal call to action to end poverty, safeguard the planet and ensure all people enjoy peace and prosperity by the year 2030.

She stressed that the SDGs could not be achieved with standalone policies and programmes.

“They must be carefully integrated into our medium and long-term national and sub-national development policies and plans.

“It is in recognition of this that we are supporting the 36 states and the FCT on SDG-based Development Planning.

“In line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, we are committed to prioritizing key interventions with multiplier effects on multi-dimensional poverty, such as basic healthcare, vocational skills development and education provisioning.

“With COVID-19 pandemic challenging our healthcare system, strategic interventions, such as the Mother and Child Centre, have become imperative.”

The SSA to the President explained that the 100-Bed Mother and Child Centre (MCC) is equipped with state-or-the-art facilities.

She said, “They include among others two operating theatres, recovery rooms; private and general wards, scanning room, consultation rooms and laboratory.

Others are ultra-scan machine, vacuum extractor delivery set, and an emergency cart with full complements. The MCC is directly linked to the achievement of SDG-3 on ‘Quality Health and Well-being for all’, as well as other cross-cutting SDGs.

“OSSAP-SDGs has worked tirelessly to construct and furnish this state-of-the-art facility as a strategic tool for healthcare service provisioning in the state.

“It is therefore expected that the state and local governments will make judicious use of the facilities in a sustainable way for the benefit of our mothers and children.

“Let me conclude by encouraging us to make this Mother and Child Centre a beacon of hope and a testament to our collective dedication to building healthier and more prosperous communities. May it serve as a reminder that by investing in maternal and child health, we invest in the very foundation of our society’s well-being. Together, let us continue to strive for excellence in healthcare delivery and create a future where every mother and child can thrive.

“I would like to reaffirm our commitment to the achievement of the SDGs by the year 2030. We will continue to prioritize interventions with potential impact on the lives of the poor and vulnerable members of our society so that no ‘Nigerian is left behind’.”

The OSSAP-SDGs also organised a sensitization and advocacy programme for major stakeholders in the state on the acceleration of the SDGs.

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Gunmen attack Abuja-bound bus in Kogi, abduct all passengers

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Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP William Ovye Aya

Gunmen attack Abuja-bound bus in Kogi, abduct all passengers

Gunmen have kidnapped several passengers traveling in a bus at Okene, Kogi State.

According to a viral post on X, the passengers were en route from Edo State to Abuja on Wednesday when they were attacked.

The bus, owned by Big Joe Motors, a transport company based in Benin, had its driver among the abducted. The Kogi Police Command confirmed the incident.

David Aiguobagbon, a manager at the Abuja branch of Big Joe Motors, told Premium Times on Thursday that he was unsure how many people were kidnapped since the bus, which has a capacity for 13 passengers, had some passengers who managed to escape.

“We do not use or have 18 passenger buses, we only have 13. According to what we heard, there were 13 people, and some of the passengers were able to escape.

“And we have reported it to the police station where the incident happened. But we don’t know the fact yet if it was 13 or 18.

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“Some of the passengers left their phones behind and we have not received any call from the kidnappers yet demanding any ransom,” he said.

Mr Aiguobagbon said one of the company’s managers has travelled to Kogi State in connection with the incident.

“One of our managers is already at the police station in Kogi State helping the police out. We have not heard from the driver yet. He has two phones, one was left behind and he was with the second one. We have been trying to reach him. Yesterday, his phone was still going but it was already switched off this morning.

“What we are begging is for the families of the people to exercise patience with us, we are working with the police and it will be successful. If any family has been contacted for ransom, they should please contact us,” he said.

Meanwhile, a X user, @Pn Stuff, has posted on his account that the kidnappers are demanding N30 million ransom.

“I just called the Abuja Big Joe secretary to confirm and she said it’s true and the kidnappers are asking for #30M.”

Gunmen attack Abuja-bound bus in Kogi, abduct all passengers

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How cultists disguised as friends to kill Ogun varsity final year student

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How cultists disguised as friends to kill Ogun varsity final year student

The ongoing examination at Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ogun State, was on Wednesday distrupted, when hoodlums, suspected to be cultists stormed the institution, dragged out a final-year student, Ahmed Ayinla Fabiyi, and killed him.

Fabiyi, a student of the History and Diplomatic Studies Department, was set to take his final paper and celebrate his birthday on the same day.

The incident, according to a reliable source, occured around 3pm, as the exam was about to commence.

It was gathered that the gang disguised as friends, ostensibly there to surprise Fabiyi for his birthday, and “carried” him out of the hall under this pretence.

Another source said, the men dragged him to a corner where they shot at him and hit him with a brick on the head. They waited to ensure that he was dead before leaving the scene.

The source said, “They (History and Diplomatic Studies students) were having their final paper when some boys suspected to be cultists stormed the examination venue and dragged him out.

“They kicked him, shot at him, and hit him with a brick on the head.

“It was when they realised he was lifeless that they left before the school security men came to pick him up to the school clinic, where he was confirmed dead.”

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Confirming the incident in a statement, the institution’s Students Union President, Bethel Olorunfunmi, said efforts to save the life of the victim by medical personnel proved abortive.

Olorunfunmi said, “It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of a tragic incident that occurred today. A fellow student was attacked on the school premises and, despite the best efforts of medical staff at the General Hospital, he sadly passed away. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the family and friends of the student during this difficult time.

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