News

Bauchi Community Leader Lauds NGO On Reduction Of R*pe Cases

Published

3 years ago

July 22, 2023

Mr. Abdullahi Mahmood, Community Leader of Kuletu in Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi state, has commended a non-governmental organisation ‘Mennonite Economic Development Associates’ (MEDA) for playing a significant roles in the reduction of r*pe cases in the community.

Mahmood made the commendation in Bauchi on Saturday during the graduation ceremony of some boys and girls trained by the organisation across seven Local Government Areas of Bauchi state.

According to him, hitherto the coming of the NGO into his community, cases of r*pe were on the high side due to lack of sensitisation and training of the boys and girls as executed by the organization.

He explained that their children were trained by MEDA in collaboration with other Bauchi based NGOs like the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Fahimta Women and Youth Development Initiative (FAWOYDI) and Child is Gold Foundation (CIGF) as implementation partners.

The Community Leader added that the programme was also designed to reduce the rate of out-of-school children, street hawking, early or forced marriages, drug abuse by empowering the adolescents with basic life skills and financial inclusion services.

“Before they came, there was news that was fabricated in order to stop the programme in my community. As a teacher, I thought about it and when they phoned me, I promised them that they would get 30 girls in my community to train.

“Some of the false news they were spreading about this programme is that they will indoctrinate our daughters and sisters not to get married until they are over 18 years and that s*x is good, marriage is bad.

“When they finally came to my own community, I personally attended the lectures and realised that all these news against them is not true.

“What they are teaching our children is contrary to what we were told earlier. I had to convince all the Imams of mosques in my area.

“On the issue of hawking, they trained our daughters that if you must hawk, you don’t go into the rooms of boys as you could be r*ped.

“Initially, cases of r*pe were so rampant but now, if there is any case of r*pe, the girls feel confident to approach me directly as their Sarki and explains what has happened which I do take action immediately by inviting the police, taking the victim to the hospital for treating and prosecuting the culprit.

“This is made possible by the kind of training received from MEDA which has made them to know more about their rights. They now know how to invest, they know the value of education unlike before when we were completely living in darkness.

“At the end of the training, in my area now, almost all the girls that dropped out or left schools went back to school,” he said.

Mahmood, who thanked God for the coming of the programme to his community, prayed that it would be extended to other localities that have not benefited and the state in general.

Also speaking, Mrs Dinah Istifanus, the Executive Director, FAWOYDI, one of the implementation partners, said no fewer than 1,198 youths comprising of 948 girls and 250 boys in 37 communities across Seven LGAs of Bauchi State have been trained within the past seven years in various skills acquisition programmes.

She listed the seven LGAs to include; Bauchi, Dass, Gamawa, Jama’are, Katagum, Toro and Warji LGAs, saying the programme is about looking critically on what girls in particular could encounter in their lives and how to help them overcome it.

“This is a programme that is being supported by MEDA and is all about supporting the girls, boys within the age of 11 to 18 on the life skills to run their lives without hitches.

“The programme is all about what are the possible challenges that girls would likely encounter in their lives especially, in the area of education, sociocultural norms and financial support that they need.

“Looking at the economic situation of the country, how can they sustain themselves in this kind of situation,” she said.

News

Migration Agency Warns Migrants Against Irregular Travel Routes

Published

2 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Giving is Healing Foundation, has sensitised residents of Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on the dangers of irregular migration and the need to embrace legal travel procedures.

Speaking during a sensitisation programme held at Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association in Ayobo, the founder of Giving is Healing Foundation, Mr. Gbolahan Ayediran, warned intending migrants against using illegal travel routes.

Ayediran said many Nigerians desire to migrate abroad in search of better opportunities but often ignore proper procedures, thereby exposing themselves to several dangers.

“Lots of people want to migrate and most of them do it in the wrong direction. The reason for the programme is for us to advise people on how they can migrate in the right way. As much as migration is their right, they should do it correctly,” he said.

He advised intending travellers to obtain the necessary travel documents before embarking on any journey, noting that such documents include international passports, visas, flight tickets and yellow cards, depending on the destination country.

According to him, migrants should also gather adequate information about their destination countries to enable them make informed decisions before travelling.

Ayediran further highlighted some of the dangers associated with irregular migration, including abuse, exploitation, discrimination and forced labour.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association, Elder Mathews Amusan, commended the organisers for enlightening members of the community on safe migration practices.

He urged residents planning to travel abroad to always follow legal migration procedures to avoid falling victim to human trafficking and other migration-related challenges.

One of the participants, Mr. Kolawole Adenoko, said the programme enlightened him on the dangers of irregular migration and the importance of travelling through the proper channels.

He added that he would also educate his relatives and friends on the risks associated with illegal migration.

News

Shatta Wale Bailed Burna Boy From Ghana Prison After Arrest For Smoking Weed – Captan

Published

5 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

Ghanian singer, Captan, has claimed that his former record label boss, Shatta Wale, once bailed Nigerian singer Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana after he was allegedly arrested for smoking weed.

Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Captan claimed that Shatta Wale sent him and others to free Burna Boy from police custody.

He also claimed that Shatta Wale and his group once accommodated Burna Boy when he was being hunted by some dangerous men.

Captan said, “I once bailed Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana when he was arrested for smoking weed. Shatta Wale sent me and some guys to go and free him from police custody.

“There was a time we also accommodated him when some people were after his life. We helped him settle the case.”

He added that he and Burna Boy are no longer in good terms after the Nigerian artist’s fallout with his mentor, Shatta Wale.

He, however, said he and Shatta Wale are open to reconciling with Burna Boy if he asks for it.

Watch the video here

News

Children’s Day: Chaos At Ogbe Stadium As Dozens Faint

Published

21 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

Chaos erupted on Wednesday during the Children’s Day celebration as dozens of students reportedly collapsed following a stampede triggered by the use of pepper spray.

The event,
organised by the Edo State Ministry of Education at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was disrupted after some male students of Ihogbe College allegedly made uncompromising advances towards female students at the venue.
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‎ A parent who identified himself as Oboh Emmanuel said, “the behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students.”
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‎Oboh said the affected students later regrouped and attacked the bouncers, leading to a confrontation within the crowded arena.

READ ALSO:Children’s Day: Edo Commits To Child Protection
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It was gathered that in the ensuing confusion, the bouncers were reported to have deployed pepper spray in an area occupied by a large number of students.
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‎Several students, particularly female students, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others sustained injuries after being stepped on during the ensuing melee.
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‎The panic was said to have spread across the stadium as students, teachers and parents scampered for safety.
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‎Many of the affected students were reportedly rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.

Reacting to the incident, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr Patrick Ebojele, said the security personnel that fired the tear gas had been detained.

He said all the students, except two, that were rushed to the hospital have been discharged.

Ebojele stated that doctors wanted to observe the students till tomorrow before allowing them to go home.

“The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained.

“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoyed their day.”
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