Metro

Benue: Otukpo Residents Drink From Mud As Water Scarcity Worsens

Published

3 months ago

March 26, 2025

The water crisis in Otukpo, Benue State, has reached an alarming level, forcing residents to drink from muddy pools and unsafe sources.

DAILY POST observed that as the dry season intensifies, wells and streams have dried up, leaving thousands without access to clean drinking water.

For decades, Otukpo, the heart of Idoma land in Benue State, has battled water crisis.

What was once a thriving town with access to clean water has slowly deteriorated into a place where survival depends on luck, improvisation and sheer resilience.

During the dry season, the situation worsens, turning an already dire problem into a full-blown humanitarian crisis.

At the centre of this crisis is the long-abandoned Otobi Water Works, a facility that was once the lifeline of Otukpo but has remained non-functional for ages.

As a result, residents, both in urban and rural areas, have been left with no choice but to drink from muddy ponds, shallow wells and contaminated streams.

The consequences have been devastating.

Cases of cholera, typhoid and river blindness have been on the rise as people are forced to consume water from unhealthy sources.

Women and children, in particular, bear the brunt of this struggle.

Every morning, before the sun rises they embark on long treks from Otukpo town to neighbouring Ohimini LGA in search of water, often competing with animals for access to stagnant pools.

Several factors have contributed to the water crisis in Otukpo.

One of the biggest challenges unique to Otukpo is its soil texture, which makes it nearly impossible to drill boreholes.

Unlike other areas where underground water sources can be tapped, Otukpo’s terrain consists of hard, rocky soil that prevents water from accumulating beneath the surface.

However, the most glaring is the collapse of water infrastructure. The Otobi Water Works, which was designed to supply potable water to the town, has suffered years of neglect due to government inaction, lack of maintenance, and mismanagement of funds.

Also, this has been attributed to climate change and deforestation, which has worsened the situation.

The reduction in rainfall and increased environmental degradation have led to the drying up of natural water sources.

Many rivers that once provided water to residents have shrunk to mere trickles during the dry season.

A resident of Obaganya, Agbo John, told our reporter that another major issue is population growth and urbanization.

Accordign to him, “As Otukpo expands, the demand for water has far outstripped supply. Yet, no significant investments have been made to upgrade or expand water infrastructure to meet the town’s growing needs.

“Worsening the problem is pollution. Many of the water sources available to us here are contaminated by human and animal waste, making them breeding grounds for deadly bacteria and parasites.

“In some communities, such as Edikwu, Entina, Igbanonmaje, EiUpi, people fetch water from streams used for laundry, bathing and even waste disposal.”

One of the worst-hit areas is Asa community, where people now rely on the muddy remains of the Ukplo River for survival.

Faced with these harsh realities, some residents have taken matters into their own hands. One such effort is the drilling of the Ukplo River, a desperate move by citizens seeking an alternative water source.

Honourable Angbo Kennedy, a lawmaker representing Otukpo Akpa at the Benue State House of Assembly, recently made a generous donation towards the project, a gesture that has been met with deep gratitude by the Asa Community.

Amid the crisis, some individuals and organizations have stepped in to provide temporary relief.

Ace philanthropist, Mohammed Odeh Adah, Ochacho’, has been supplying water to residents through his private initiatives.

His intervention has helped many families access clean drinking water, but the demand far outweighs the supply.

“Every time Ochacho’s water trucks come, there’s a rush and sometimes, not everyone gets enough,” said Emmanuel Obotu, a resident from Otukpo Township.

“We appreciate his effort, but this is a town of thousands, and one person’s kindness cannot solve an age-long crisis,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Benue State government has acknowledged the crisis and recently announced plans to revamp the Otobi Water Works.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Hon Ugwu Ameh Odoh, promised to restore the facility and improve water supply in the area.

He said, “The council also directed the Ministry of Water Resources, Environment, and Climate Change to invite CGC to commence the rehabilitation of the facility and restore water supply in Otobi, Otukpo and their environs.”
(DAILY POST)

Metro

NAPTIP Declares Speed Darlington Wanted For Tape, Cyberbullying

Published

8 hours ago

June 27, 2025

Editor

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has declared Nigerian entertainer, Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, wanted in connection with alleged offences including rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.

NAPTIP made this known via its official Instagram handle @officialnaptip on Friday afternoon.

It read, “WANTED BY NAPTIP. Darlington Okoye, aka Speed Darlington, is wanted in connection with alleged offences including rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.

“Anyone with credible information on his whereabouts is urged to contact NAPTIP immediately. Call: 07030000203, info@naptip.gov.ng.”

The notice comes a month after Okoye failed to honour the agency’s invitation for questioning over his claim of having sex with a 15-year-old girl during a live Instagram video.

NAPTIP had summoned Okoye over his statement in a now-viral Instagram video.

A letter, signed by the agency’s Head of Cybercrime Response Team, Ngamaraju Mangzha, was addressed to Okoye on May 28, 2025.

It asked the singer to appear at its Abuja head office at 09:00 a.m. on May 30, 2025.

However, our correspondent who visited the agency’s headquarters at the time confirmed that the singer did not show up at NAPTIP’s Wuse Zone 5 office.

Later, NAPTIP said it received an official response from Okoye, who claimed he could not visit. He insisted on appearing on June 26.

In his response, Okoye said, “Hello, I will not be able to come in today. This is very sudden and urgent for me. I already have commitments and responsibilities.

“I suggest you reschedule for next month, June 26. I will be in Abuja that day.”

It was observed at NAPTIP’s headquarters on June 26, observed that the singer failed to appear.

NAPTIP replied in a letter signed by its Director of Information and Communications Technology & Coordinator, Cybercrime Response Team, Hakeem Lawal.

Lawal wrote, “The Agency wishes to state that the invitation was sent to you on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, giving you sufficient time to prepare and appear as indicated.

“Moreover, the issue at hand is of urgent National importance and requires an urgent response.”

He continued, “As such, NAPTIP will not be able to work with your schedule as stated in your response.

“However, you are further given till Monday, June 2, 2025, at 1:00 pm, to appear in person at the NAPTIP’s Headquarters: 2028, Dalaba Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, FCT, Abuja, for the interview.”

Lawal added, “Please, as stated in our earlier correspondence, your cooperation is very critical in this matter.”

However, The PUNCH observed that Okoye did not appear for questioning that Monday.

The singer sparked outrage on Children’s Day after a livestream where he claimed he had once slept with a 15-year-old virgin. The clip quickly went viral, triggering widespread outrage from viewers and women’s-rights groups who accused him of confessing to statutory rape.

Within 24 hours, the backlash drew official attention as the Lagos State government reported the matter to NAPTIP, which summoned Okoye for questioning.

The summon letter read, “We write to formally invite you to appear before the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons in respect of certain video materials recently circulated online, including but not limited to a particular Instagram video wherein you allegedly made statements admitting to having engaged in sexual acts with an underage girl.”

It continued, “Additional archived videos, now in circulation, similarly contain admissions and degrading commentary concerning minors. These actions, if substantiated, constitute offences under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015, Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.”

The letter further stated, “⁠You are hereby invited to appear in person for an interview as regards the alleged actions on Friday, May 30, 2025, by 9 a.m. at the NAPTIP Headquarters: 2028 Dalaba Crescent, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, FCT.”

It added, “Kindly bring along any legal representation or documents you may consider relevant. Please be informed that your cooperation is critical to ensuring a fair and thorough inquiry into the matter.”

NAPTIP warned, “Failure to honour this invitation may result in further legal action.”

Isaac Fayose, brother of former Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose, also told journalists that the girl mentioned in the video intends to file a formal complaint with the police.

Facing mounting pressure, Speed Darlington released follow-up posts insisting the “confession” was a publicity stunt to promote new music, saying bluntly, “I need controversy to eat.”

In another post, he labelled the video “a prank.” Yet the about-face did little to calm critics, many of whom argued that joking about child sexual abuse is itself harmful.

An official who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity said legal actions appear probable as the singer has missed two appointments. The official also stated that while NAPTIP is still weighing its options, it will not accept Okoye’s proposed June 26 date.

“He has responded on two occasions, giving reasons for not coming. We will not work with his timing; we will soon come out with our position on this. No one is free in the eyes of the law,” the official said.

Another official explained, “NAPTIP wrote to him, inviting him. First time, he replied that we should give him till June 26. He wrote to us, ‘Look, I cannot come because of this and that.’ The agency wrote back again to him that this issue is a matter of national importance that requires urgency.”

The Official continued, “The Agency will not work with your schedule. He replied again that he will insist on sticking to that date. Now, the agency is studying the situation.

“When we are making a decision like that, we usually consult with the relevant departments. And taking into consideration the legal implications of our action.

“Don’t forget, even if we say we are taking him to court, they’ve been on strike, they just called it off. So, we are considering our options. But the management is reviewing his response so that we can take a very informed decision.”

When asked if measures were in place to prevent Okoye from fleeing the country, NAPTIP’s Chief Press Officer, Mr Vincent Adekoye, said the agency is “working with all sister agencies” to ensure his appearance in Abuja.

“NAPTIP is a proactive agency. We have activated the necessary partnership on this. We are collaborating with sister law enforcement agencies.

“NAPTIP is exploring all elements to ensure that he comes to answer for what he said. We are not taking chances. We are working with all state and non-state actors on this matter,” Adekoye stated.

In an earlier interview, Adekoye said NAPTIP’s Director-General, Binta Bello, was deeply concerned about Okoye’s claims.

“We are concerned. Our DG is seriously concerned. She’s monitoring the situation by the hour. Why? It’s an issue that borders on a minor, the human rights of the minor, and sexual abuse. Anything could have happened to that girl.

“He was not under duress. It was an admission. Look at what he released yesterday: a video saying that if he had known that this 15-year-old would generate this, he would have gone for a 12-year-old,” he explained.
(PUNCH)

Metro

14 Chinese Jailed For Cyberterrorism, Internet Fraud In Lagos

Published

8 hours ago

June 27, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday sentenced 14 Chinese nationals to one year imprisonment each for cyberterrorism and internet fraud.

Justice Daniel Osiagor delivered the judgment after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission informed the court that the convicts had entered a plea bargain agreement with the prosecution.

EFCC counsel, Spiff Owede and Temitope Banjo, urged the court to adopt the agreement, and the convicts subsequently changed their initial “not guilty” pleas to “guilty.”

The convicted are: Su Zong Gen, Li Zhong Chang, Chen Gui Ping, Li Xiang Long, San Feng Zhang, Jia Yang, Jia Zhi Hao, Liu Chuang, Yu Hai Ging, Zhao Xiao Liang, Dai Li, Tao Kun, Mao Bu Yi, and Zhao Zi Cheng.

They were arrested on December 19, 2024, during a sting operation in Lagos codenamed “Eagle Flush Operation,” which led to the apprehension of 792 suspected members of a cybercrime syndicate involved in cryptocurrency investment and romance scams.

Each of the convicts was charged separately with offences bordering on cyberterrorism and internet fraud.

EFCC, told the court that Su Zong Gen, sometime in December 2024 in Lagos, willfully caused to be accessed computer system for the purpose of destabilizing and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria.

According to the prosecutor the offences committed contravend Section 18 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024).

Following their guilty pleas, the prosecution asked the court to convict them accordingly.

But the defence counsel, Segun Bello, did not oppose the request.

Justice Osiagor sentenced each defendant to one year in prison with an option of a N1m, fine.

The court further ordered that all items recovered from the convicts be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Upon completion of their jail terms, the judge directed the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service to ensure their deportation to China within seven days.

Metro

Flood Sweeps Off 7-yr-old Boy, Properties In Niger

Published

12 hours ago

June 27, 2025

Editor

Less than one month after the devastating Mokwa flood that claimed over 200 lives and damaged valuables, another flood has occurred in Bida, headquarters of Bida Local Government Area of Niger state.

Also, this is less than two weeks after buildings, bridges and culverts were swept off in same town.

The latest flood occurred after a downpour that lasted for three hours in the morning on Thursday morning.

Seven-year-old Mohammed Mohammed of Nasarafu ward, who was sent to a neighbourhood immediately after the rain, was swept off by flood.

Efforts by passers by and neighbours to rescue him proved abortive, as nobody could risk jumping into the flood.

His father, Mohammed Usman, told newsmen that his son’s body was yet to be recovered.

He said: “The incident is an act of God. But my pain is that up to this moment, my son’s corpse is yet to be found.

“Immediately the rain stopped, the entire community embarked on a search-and-rescue mission, but unfortunately, we are yet to get the corpse,” Malam Usman lamented.

Recall that on Saturday 14th June, a similar flood occurred in Bida. It led to the collapse of some buildings, a bridge, culvert and some business premises.

Contacted, the spokesperson of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, NSEMA, Hussaini Ibrahim, confirmed the incident, but did not give details.

He said: “The Agency is presently conducting an assessment of the incident. After the findings, the state government will respond accordingly.”