Metro

Alleged Poisoning: Osun APC Advises Adeleke To Stop Free School Feeding Programme

Published

2 years ago

December 12, 2023

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, on Tuesday, advised Gov. Ademola Adeleke to halt the free school feeding programme recently initiated by his administration in the state.

The call followed the recent incident of alleged food poisoning of 18 primary school pupils of St. James Primary School in Osogbo.

Recall that 18 pupils allegedly became ill after eating their free O-Meal diet, on Monday, and were rushed to an undisclosed hospital where they were all treated and later discharged.

Reacting to the reported incident, the APC Chairman, Mr Sooko Lawal, in a statement on Tuesday in Osogbo, said that the episode was another indices of lackadaisical leadership in the state.

The statement by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Mr Kola Olabisi, and made available to newsmen, quoted Lawal as describing the incident as an embarrassment to the citizenry and a gauge of the unpreparedness of the “handlers”.

”The humanity in me became uncomfortable when one of victim’s mother gave account of her child coming back from school with an offensive odour similar to a rotten egg.

“If these allegationas are true, then Gov. Adeleke must have a clear conversation with his creator. How would the food vendors be dedicated when they are paid peanuts and are not supplied with the right food supplies? ” Lawal said.

He said that stakeholders should rise up to condemn the laissez faire approach to governance which was partly manifested with the suspected poisoning of 18 primary school pupils .

Meanwhile, the Osun Government has ordered full investigation into the alleged food poisoning of in St. James Primary School (B), Owoope in Osogbo.

This is contained in a statement by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr Kolapo Alimi, and made availaible to newsmen in Osogbo.

The statement explained that Gov. Ademola Adeleke ordered the action and had directed the stoppage of free meals to pupils.

It stated that the affected cooks in the school and their planning officer for the programme had been summoned to a meeting on Tuesday.

“The governor has directed enforcement of food standard as well as the auditing of O-Meal structure to prevent future occurrence, ” the commissioner said.

According to the statement, the state government has settled all medical bills of affected students after they were discharged from hospital.

Also, the Chairman of Local Government Education Authority, Mr Nathaniel Ojetola, said that 18 students were treated and discharged.

”The total student population of the school is 200 while only 103 were within the population receiving food from the O-Meal programme .

”Also, a government delegation is visiting families of the affected students,” the statement said.

Metro

BREAKING: Bodies Of 8 Missing Policemen Recovered In Benue

Published

18 hours ago

September 22, 2025

Editor

Lifeless bodies of the eight policemen who were declared missing after a deadly attack on security operatives at Agu Centre, on the border of Katsina-Ala and Ukum LGAs of Benue State, have been recovered.

Dr Justin Shaku, Chairman of Katsina-Ala LGA disclosed this to reporters in Makurdi on Monday.

According to him, “this brings the number of officers killed to 11 (10 policemen and one BSCPG)”.

The unfortunate incident occurred on Friday, when a team of security operatives came under the attack of armed invaders.

Three personnel were immediately confirmed dead while eight others were declared missing.

Metro

Police Arrest Three Kidnappers Over ₦6.9m Ransom, Victim’s Murder

Published

18 hours ago

September 22, 2025

Editor

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested three suspected kidnappers who allegedly killed one of their victims after collecting N6.9 million ransom.

The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed this in a statement issued on Monday.

Iringe-Koko identified the suspects as Hassan Mohammed (20) of Wandigah Town, Mandagali, Borno State; Bello Abubakar (25) of Roundabout Maura, Sokoto State; and Yusuf Ahmed (23) of Hazari LGA, Bauchi State.

She said the arrests followed an investigation into the abduction of Humphrey Wagbara of Igwuruta-Atali.

According to the PPRO, the suspects also kidnapped one Mercy Chinyere on September 12, 2025, at the same location, where they also collected a ransom of N3,500,000 before releasing her.

The statement read, “On 26th August, 2025, the Rivers State Police Command received a distressing report, suggesting the kidnapping of one Humphrey Wagbara, m of Igwuruta-Atali.

“Operatives of the Command attached to the Anti-Cultism Unit (ACU), Emohua Annexe, acting on this information and in a daring and coordinated operation on 19th September, 2025, at about 0200hrs arrested three suspects at different locations in Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre Local Government Areas of the State in connection with the kidnapping of the victim.”

Iringe-Koko said during interrogation, the suspects voluntarily confessed to their involvement in multiple kidnappings in the State.

Among their past kidnappings are those of Onwuli Jude and Nwabueze Nchekwube on September 24, 2025, at School Road, Igwuruta-Atali, where they collected a ransom of N6,900,000 before killing the victim.

“Exhibits recovered from the suspects include one G-3 rifle with Breech Number 10398, one magazine, one Itel phone belonging to Humphrey Wagbara, a kidnapped victim, three short daggers, one jack knife and one stainless short knife,” Rivers police imagemaker said.

Iringe-Koko added that the suspects and exhibits remain in police custody while detectives track other fleeing members of the syndicate and search for additional weapons.

The Command said it arrested a 48-year-old man, Emmanuel George, for allegedly defiling a 12-year-old girl (name withheld) in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

According to Iringe-Koko, George committed the offence on September 6, 2025, after luring the minor while she was sent on an errand by her aunt.