metro
Osun-Osogbo festival: Despite proven contamination, devotees drink from Osun river
In June 2022, TheCable published an investigation which revealed how mining activities in Ilesa communities in Osun state have polluted the water body at the popular Osun-Osogbo grove.
Ilesa, also known as Ijesha land, is renowned for large gold deposits and other minerals. Owing to the heightened mining activity, waste, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and chemicals are washed into the tributaries which end up in the Osun river.
On Friday, which marks the grand finale of the annual Osun-Osogbo festival, devotees of the Osun deity were spotted at the grove drinking from the contaminated river.
Many devotees who trooped out in their white attires and beads were seen fetching the water into different kegs while some washed their heads with it and others drank from it.
TheCable had earlier subjected a sample of the water to a test conducted by UNILAG Consult. It was found to contain 0.034 milligrams per litre (mg/L) of arsenic, 5.663 mg/L of aluminium, and 0.090 mg/L of lead. Other heavy metals found, according to the test result, include Barium (2.326), Lithium(0.004), Nickel(2.006), and Iron (3.197).
These heavy metals were found to be significantly above the limit prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
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Urban Alert, a civic-tech initiative leveraging technology to amplify the yearnings of the masses, told TheCable in June that a health crisis is inevitable if the over two million people living in more than 20 communities in Osun state continue to get exposed to the contaminated water.
“In fact, our data has shown that 100,000 people may be facing serious medical challenges before 2032 if the situation is not arrested and the proper remediation process does not begin,” Anthony Adejuwon, Urban Alert team lead, had said.
Following TheCable’s investigation into the pollution of the river, Abdullahi Binuyo, deputy chief of staff to Gboyega Oyetola, governor of Osun, said the state will carry out a clean-up of the sacred grove.
Binuyo said this while speaking on TheCable’s Twitter Space dedicated to the issue of illegal mining and pollution in the state.
LAST-MINUTE SENSITISATION
On the eve of the finale of the Osun-Osogbo festival, the state government advised tourists, devotees and visitors not to drink water from the river.
Rafiu Isamotu, the commissioner for health, said the water had been contaminated by the activities of artisanal miners and was not good for human consumption.
But Urban Alert criticised the state government for issuing the warning 24 hours before the grand finale.
Oluwatosin Olarewaju, communication officer of Urban Alert, said the response to the contamination of the river has been lukewarm and lacks the determination needed to address the issue of illegal and unregulated gold mining in the state.
“Despite vigorous engagements with the Federal Government, the Osun State Government and other stakeholders, nothing significant has been seen to have been done to avert the impact of the contamination, ” the statement reads in part.
“Having informed the Osun State Government and all appropriate organs of the Federal Government of the deleterious effect of the Osun River contamination, no serious step has been taken for the safety of the affected communities and the Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove which sits on the bank of the Osun River. It is, therefore, shocking to see the Osun State Government issuing an impromptu warning to tourists and traditionalists, warning them from drinking from the Osun River on the eve of the Osun Osogbo festival.”
Urban Alert said the response to the issue “is a clear indication that the safety of the people and access to safe water is not a priority”.
metro
BREAKING: Explosion rocks Rivers APC secretariat hours to LG election
BREAKING: Explosion rocks Rivers APC secretariat hours to LG election
Some persons suspected to be arsonists reportedly detonated explosives at the Rivers State secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday morning.
Newstrends reports that the APC is the principal opposition political party in Rivers State.
The state was preparing to hold its local government Saturday, October 5 when the explosion came creating tension.
However, just a few hours before the exercise, the secretariat of the APC located in Port Harcourt was reportedly attacked.
According to a Leadership report, video clips obtained online indicate that the incident, believed to involve dynamite, caused damage to the main gate and the security post of the APC secretariat, as well as a nearby building.
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Chief Tony Okocha, the chairman of the party’s caretaker committee, attributed the attack on the secretariat to supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Okocha in a brief message sent to journalists in the state, said: “At the wee hours of Saturday, pro-Fubara civilian soldiers detonated dynamites at our office.
“The second attempt to set it ablaze was foiled as the security at the gate quickly put out the fire.”
The APC had previously declared its intention to abstain from the local government elections scheduled for this Saturday throughout the state.
In a surprising turn of events, the ruling party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under the leadership of Hon. Chukwuemeka Aaron, also announced its decision to refrain from participating in the election.
BREAKING: Explosion rocks Rivers APC secretariat hours to LG election
metro
Updated: Internet fraudsters set colleague, girlfriend on fire over fraud proceeds
Internet fraudsters set colleague, girlfriend on fire over fraud proceeds
A 22-year-old man named Kwabena Osei and his 19-year-old girlfriend have been set ablaze by friends over GHS 190,000 allegedly made from internet fraud.
The incident occurred in Kasoa, Ghana.
According to a report by GhPage, Osei, an alleged member of a gang of internet fraudsters, was targeted after he refused to share the substantial spoils with his associates.
Friends of Osei had repeatedly confronted him, urging him to reconsider his decision to keep the money for himself. However, their appeals went unheeded, escalating tensions within the group.
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In a desperate act, Osei’s friends allegedly doused his residence with petrol and ignited the flames, resulting in the complete destruction of the property. Sadly, his girlfriend, identified as Princess, was present at the time and also succumbed to the fire.
Sources told GhPage that Princess was also involved in the fraudulent activities, allegedly serving as the voice of a supposed white lady to facilitate calls on behalf of Osei and his gang.
Updated: Internet fraudsters set colleague, girlfriend on fire over fraud proceeds
metro
Students count losses as flood wreaks havoc in UI hostels
Students count losses as flood wreaks havoc in UI hostels
Flood has reportedly wrecked havoc in some of the hostels at the University of Ibadan (UI).
Newstrends gathered that the affected hall of residence is Awo Hostel where about 16 rooms in the underground floor were completely submerged with students’ properties floating on water.
Documents, books, foodstuff and other valuable properties of the students were said to have been destroyed.
One of the affected students, who pleaded anonymity said: “This is the third time everywhere is getting flooded but the first time our rooms are getting flooded like this.
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“Peoples’ foodstuff,, documents and properties, especially those that went to exam and are not around were destroyed. Someone even left her laptop on the floor charging and she went out.”
Videos showed some of the students who are around in the hostel struggled to save some of their properties, many of which could be seen floating on the water inside their rooms.
The videos showed that the floods took over students’ rooms, toilets, kitchens and all the entrances to their hostel.
A female student could be heard lamenting that the flood took over her room, destroying everything she has including the ones in her cupboard, her bed, and that she has been unable to go out and buy what she wants to eat.
Effort to reach spokesperson of the institution for reaction proved abortive as call put to her phone was not going.
Students count losses as flood wrecks havoc in UI hostel
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