Metro

Flood: We’re Facing Humanitarian Crisis, Bayelsa Govt Cries Out

Published

3 years ago

October 15, 2022

The Bayelsa State Government has expressed concern that the impact of the rampaging flood might result in a humanitarian crisis.

The Commissioner for Environment and chairman of the state’s Task Force on Flood Mitigation and Management, Mr. Iselema Gbaranbiri, raised the concern on Saturday while giving an update on the committee’s activities.

He said the flood in the state has totally or partially submerged no fewer than 300 communities and villages.

Gbaranbiri also disclosed that about 700,000 persons have been displaced or affected by the flood.

He said virtually all the communities and streets in Yenagoa Local Government Area have also been submerged or partially flooded.

Communities in five other local government areas, namely Sagbama, Ekeremor, Ogbia, Kolokuma/Opokuma, and Southern Ijaw were equally seriously affected by the flood.

The Environment Commissioner said there had been reported cases of corpses being washed up at the cemetery in Asokoro, raising concerns of an impending health crisis.

He, however, assured that the government would do its best to bring relief to the flood victims as the committee was working round the clock to address the challenge of the current crisis.

On Friday, Governor Diri restated his proposal for a post-flood management roundtable between worst-hit states and the federal government.

The Bayelsa governor said such discourse had become necessary due to the infrastructure damage and the amount of state resources deployed in tackling the flood menace.

He spoke as he continued his on-the-spot assessment tour to Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and other Yenagoa Local Government Area communities.

Areas visited included the Amassoma road leading to the Niger Delta University (NDU), which has been cut off at three points along the road and left commuters stranded.

Governor Diri said the unfortunate incident would prevent the resumption of lectures at the university now that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called off its eight-month-old strike.

While lamenting the huge cost of fixing the damaged roads by his government, Diri stressed that individual losses of property and deaths would be minimal if a permanent solution was immediately adopted.

His words: “I have already thought out a line of action. Post-flood mitigation is very important to us at this time. The post-flood period will be about our destroyed infrastructure, particularly roads.

“On Thursday, we saw the road leading to Sagbama from Ekeremor had been badly damaged by the flood. Now, the road from Yenagoa to Amassoma, where you have the Niger Delta University, has collapsed in three areas. So, even with the ASUU calling off its strike, the university cannot resume. That is what I have been talking about the peculiarity of Bayelsa State and our Niger Delta environment.

“It will cost the state billions of naira before those roads would be repaired. Also, there are individual losses in terms of houses that have collapsed as a result of the flood and the deaths we have witnessed.

“In the post-flood management, the federal government has to sit with the states to look for a lasting and permanent solution. One of such solutions is the construction of a dam so when water is released from wherever, we should be able to contain it in Nigeria.”

The governor equally inspected the state-owned airport and expressed delight that despite the magnitude of the flood, the airport was not submerged, contrary to speculations by opposition elements.

He also visited the School of Nursing and Basic Midwifery in Tombia, Alamieyeseigha Road, Opolo, the Oxbow Lake Pavilion, and the State Assembly Quarters, Azikoro.

Metro

Court Orders Exhumation, Autopsy Of Afriland Towers Fire Victims

Published

9 hours ago

October 15, 2025

Editor

A Yaba Chief Magistrate Court has ordered Femi Falana Chambers to seek the exhumation and autopsy of 10 victims of the Afriland Towers fire incident, which occurred on September 16, 2025, in Lagos.

Senior Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji gave the directive on Tuesday after learning that some of the victims had already been buried.

“The petitioner should write to the Lagos State Government for the exhumation of the dead victims and carry out an autopsy,” Magistrate Adetunji said.

The directive followed a letter from Femi Falana Chambers dated September 29, 2025, addressed to the Chief Coroner of Lagos State, Justice Mojisola Dada.

Mr Femi Falana (SAN), through his chambers, petitioned the Lagos State Judiciary, seeking a coroner’s inquest to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and ensure accountability.

During the preliminary proceedings, Magistrate Adetunji directed all parties present to submit the necessary applications before the next sitting.

The court also summoned the United Bank for Africa, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Fire Service, Afriland Towers, United Capital, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Safety Commission, and other interested parties.

Adetunji further ordered the petitioner to liaise with the families of the deceased to determine those willing to have their relatives exhumed for autopsy.

She also called for eyewitnesses to come forward and provide evidence on the incident.

Yahaya Atata, a lawyer from Falana’s chambers, told the court that the day’s proceedings were meant to engage all interested parties and outline the modalities for the coroner’s inquest.

However, the magistrate noted that the lawyers were not fully prepared and stressed that the inquest could only proceed after all necessary documents and applications had been filed.

A lawyer representing one of the deceased, A. O. Mema, informed the court that his client, Peter Ifaranmaye, a manager at the Federal Inland Revenue Service, had already been buried.

Following the information, Magistrate Adetunji insisted that an autopsy was essential.

“Autopsy is fundamental. We cannot just hold an inquest; there must be an autopsy to know exactly what happened,” she said.

The court adjourned the matter till November 26, 2025, for further proceedings.

The fire incident had broken out at the Afriland Towers, a commercial complex on Broad Street, Lagos Island, on September 16, 2025, killing at least 10 people and injuring several others.

Eyewitnesses said the blaze started in the early hours of the morning and quickly spread through multiple floors before emergency services could contain it.

Metro

Soldiers Dislodge Terrorists From Taraba Hideouts, Recover Weapons

Published

9 hours ago

October 15, 2025

Editor

Troops of the 6 Brigade, Nigerian Army/Sector 3, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have recorded another major success in the ongoing clearance operations tagged Operation Lafiya Nakowa, aimed at flushing out terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements from Taraba State.

According to a statement made available on Wednesday by Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, “On 14 October 2025, troops deployed at Tapga Ngasawa village under Dampar District of Ibi Local Government Area received credible intelligence on the hideouts of suspected terrorists operating around Badekoshi, Fajul, Kurmi, and Dampar villages in Ibi LGA. Acting swiftly on the information, the troops conducted a series of clearance operations in the identified areas.”

The statement added that “during the operation at Badekoshi, troops made contact with the terrorists, forcing them to flee towards Fajul village close to the forest.

“The gallant troops pursued the fleeing criminals with superior firepower, compelling them to abandon their positions and escape deeper into the forest.”

Muhammad stated that a thorough exploitation of the area led to the recovery of the following items: “One (1) AK-47 rifle, One (1) AK-47 magazine, One (1) round of 7.62mm special ammunition, Five (5) rounds of blank ammunition, Two (2) fragmental jackets, Two (2) military camouflage uniforms, and One (1) Jincheng motorcycle suspected to have been stolen during a previous attack at Tapga village.”

The Commander, 6 Brigade NA/Sector 3 OPWS, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, commended the troops “for their professionalism and resilience,” while urging them “to sustain the ongoing momentum until all criminal elements are completely wiped out from Taraba State.”

“The Nigerian Army remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all law-abiding citizens and will continue to work with other security agencies and local communities to achieve lasting peace in the State,” the statement added.

The Brigade had earlier, on October 1, 2025, successfully foiled a terrorist attack and neutralised two suspected terrorists in Taraba.

“Acting on credible intelligence, troops on October 1, 2025, advanced to Tor-Ikyeghgba village, where bandits were reported to be converging. On arrival at the general area, the troops made contact with the terrorists along the powerline axis and immediately engaged them with superior firepower, resulting in the neutralisation of two,” the statement said.

Metro

105 Drug Dealers Arrested In Police Raids

Published

10 hours ago

October 15, 2025

Editor

In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, Jigawa State Police Command arrested no fewer than 105 suspects during simultaneous raids across the state.

The arrests were confirmed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Shi’isu Adam, while addressing journalists on Tuesday at the command’s headquarters in Dutse, the state capital.

Adam revealed that in recent raids, officers of the command searched every nook and cranny of Jigawa to root out illegal drug activities. “Our men left no stone unturned,” he said, emphasising the determination to rid the state of the drug menace.

According to him, the raids led to the recovery of over 5,000 illicit drugs and intoxicating substances, including cannabis and various hard drugs.

Moreover, the police spokesperson provided a detailed list of the substances seized, highlighting the scale of the operation.

Among the recovered items were 2,541 units of Exol and 1,146 units of D-5, both commonly abused drugs in the region.

Also confiscated were 270 packets of Tramadol and over a thousand wraps of cannabis, including one block.

Other seized substances included 269 units of Diaxer, 153 Pregabalin capsules, and 82 units of Farin Malam.

The police also nabbed various other illicit drugs such as Diazepam, Vegakris, and Calidon’s.

However, Adam disclosed that cash amounting to N92,460 was recovered from the suspects, alongside other substances like rubber solution, suck and die, and Dry Gin. “This bust sends a strong message to those involved in drug dealing,” he said.

The police spokesman urged the public to cooperate with law enforcement by reporting suspicious activities. “Our fight against narcotics is ongoing, and we need everyone on board,” SP Adam added.