Flooding: Gangaria Seeks Federal Intervention as Over 2,000 Osogbo Households Are Displaced

OSOGBO — The lawmaker representing Irepodun/Orolu/Olorunda/Osogbo Federal Constituency, Osun State, Adewale Morufu Adebayo Gangaria, has called for urgent federal intervention to address recurring flooding and storm-related disasters that have devastated communities across his constituency.

Gangaria presented a Motion of Urgent Public Importance before the House of Representatives on Wednesday, October 14, drawing attention to the plight of residents affected by flooding, windstorms and thunderstorms, particularly in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

According to a statement from his media team, the disasters have affected more than 45 communities, causing extensive damage to residential buildings, markets, schools, hospitals, places of worship, farms, hotels and other critical infrastructure.

The statement reported that more than 800 buildings had been destroyed, while over 2,000 households were displaced, leaving many residents struggling to find shelter following the destruction of their homes and sources of livelihood.

Among the affected communities identified by the lawmaker are Olude, Ita-Olookan, Irepodun Zone 9, Osaara, Owode Ilesha Garage, Ibuaje Town, Aberensise, Surulere, Ajangbooro, Oke Odo, Irewole, Ile Aanu, Orelope, Odofin, Omigade, Aroko, Baruwa, Ibu-Amon and Ijetu Ayepe.

Gangaria expressed concern over the hardship facing residents whose properties and livelihoods had been damaged, stressing the need for a coordinated response to the humanitarian crisis and the environmental factors contributing to the recurring disasters.

As part of the proposed intervention, the lawmaker urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to provide immediate relief assistance to affected communities.

He also called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to urgently distribute relief materials to victims to ease their suffering and support households displaced by the disaster.

The lawmaker further urged the South-West Development Commission to mobilise resources towards the rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, including residential buildings, schools, hospitals, markets and access roads.

He said addressing the immediate needs of affected residents must go hand in hand with rebuilding essential facilities and restoring normal economic and social activities in the affected communities.

Gangaria also called on the Ecological Fund Office to implement practical measures to tackle the underlying causes of flooding and reduce the likelihood of future occurrences.

As part of efforts to improve water flow and reduce flood risks, he urged the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to undertake necessary dredging and expansion of the Osun River channel, including the removal of obstructions that could impede water movement.

The lawmaker also called on the relevant federal ministry responsible for mining to address mining activities along riverbanks that may contribute to environmental hazards and expose nearby communities to further risks.

To ensure that the proposed interventions translate into concrete action, Gangaria urged the House to mandate its Committee on Legislative Compliance to monitor the implementation of the resolutions and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

The proposed measures seek to combine immediate humanitarian assistance with longer-term environmental interventions aimed at protecting lives, restoring damaged infrastructure and reducing the vulnerability of communities to recurring floods.

Flooding and severe storms can disrupt transportation, damage public infrastructure, destroy agricultural produce and undermine the livelihoods of residents, particularly where homes and businesses are affected. The scale of the destruction reported in the constituency has therefore raised concerns about the need for timely relief and sustainable flood-management measures.

The motion represents an effort to bring the concerns of affected constituents before the National Assembly and press relevant federal agencies to respond to their needs.

However, the effectiveness of the proposed intervention will depend on the implementation of any resolutions adopted by the House and the timely mobilisation of resources by the relevant agencies.

For residents of the affected communities, immediate priorities include access to emergency relief, safe shelter, the restoration of essential services and the rehabilitation of damaged properties and infrastructure.

Long-term measures to improve drainage, manage waterways, address environmental degradation and strengthen disaster preparedness will also be important in reducing the risk of similar incidents.

The lawmaker’s intervention has placed the reported flood disaster in Osogbo and neighbouring communities before the House of Representatives, with a call for coordinated action to address both the immediate suffering of victims and the environmental challenges associated with recurring flooding.

Flooding: Gangaria Seeks Federal Intervention as Over 2,000 Osogbo Households Are Displaced

Borno Woman Jailed Two Years for Sexual Exploitation of 16-Year-Old Girl

A Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri has sentenced a 37-year-old woman, Fatima Sanda, to two years’ imprisonment for procuring a 16-year-old girl for sexual exploitation.

The court also ordered Sanda to pay ₦500,000 in compensation to the victim after convicting her of an offence under Nigeria’s anti-trafficking law.

The conviction was secured by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Monday, October 12, 2026, according to reports published by Punch Metro and other Nigerian media outlets.

In a statement shared on its official Facebook page, NAPTIP said the judgment was delivered at Court 10 of the Borno State High Court in Maiduguri, presided over by Justice Aisha M. Ndume.

The agency said Sanda was convicted of procuring a 16-year-old girl and subjecting her to sexual exploitation by other people.

The offence contravenes Section 16(1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, as amended.

Following the conviction, the court sentenced Sanda to two years in prison and ordered her to pay ₦500,000 in compensation to the victim.

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The publicly available reports did not disclose further details about how the teenager was recruited, the identities of the other people involved or the circumstances surrounding the exploitation.

The judgment comes amid continued efforts by law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute cases involving the sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

In a related case in Niger State, a 27-year-old man, Hussaini Suleiman, was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for raping an eight-year-old girl at his residence behind the Prison Quarters in Minna.

The Niger State High Court, presided over by Justice Binta Bawa, convicted Suleiman after he pleaded guilty to the offence.

According to NAPTIP, the case was referred to its Niger State Command by the state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on April 16, 2026, following a report of the rape of the child.

The agency said Suleiman admitted committing the offence during the investigation and was arraigned before Court 8 of the Niger State High Court on September 10, 2026. He was subsequently sentenced to seven years in prison.

The conviction was reported on September 11, approximately one month before the Borno judgment was announced.

Although the two cases involved different offences and circumstances, both resulted in prison sentences following court proceedings.

The cases also highlight the importance of reporting suspected child sexual abuse, conducting thorough investigations and ensuring that cases are prosecuted before the appropriate courts.

NAPTIP is the federal agency responsible for coordinating Nigeria’s efforts to prevent and combat human trafficking, including the exploitation of vulnerable people. Its work includes investigating trafficking-related offences and prosecuting suspects under applicable legislation.

The Borno judgment combines a custodial sentence with a compensation order for the victim. However, no further information was available in the published reports on whether the compensation had been paid.

Protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation requires effective law enforcement, access to justice and measures that safeguard victims’ privacy and dignity throughout investigations and court proceedings.

Borno Woman Jailed Two Years for Sexual Exploitation of 16-Year-Old Girl