Metro

Incessant Rape: Group Calls For State Of Emergency On Sexual, Gender-based Violence

Published

6 years ago

June 5, 2020

A Bauchi based NGO, ‘Attal Sisters’ Helping Hands Foundation’ (ASHHF) has called for state of emergency on sexual and gender based violence against women.

Mrs Comfort Attal, the Executive Director of the organisation made the call on Friday while on a peaceful protest to the state Commissioner for Justice, Yakubu Bello.

According to Attal, the State Government should institute a motion in the House of Assembly to declare state of emergency on sexual and gender based violence.

She told the commissioner that since the outbreak of COVID-19, violence against women has increased with 50 per cent in the state.

Attal Sisters’ Helping Hands Foundation’ (ASHHF) members in a group photograph

“I’m devastated at the escalating reports of violence against women and girls in Bauchi State and Nigeria at large.

“Since the beginning of Covid-19 pandemic, the number of calls has increased on our hotline services.

“Violence against women has increased as high as 50 per cent in Bauchi state while in some states, service providers couldn’t assist victims as they were trapped at home with their abuser because of lack of access to phones or transportation.

“I am urging you to speak out on this issue on the floor of the House to push a motion to declare a state of emergency on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in the state and in Nigeria at large,” she urged.

The executive director stressed that rape was both an inhuman and degrading treatment against women and girls, adding that it was a disrespect to dignity and has lasting negative effect on victims.

“In the past one week, 16-year old girl was abducted and ganged raped in Bauchu state; Uwa was raped and killed in a Church in Benin; Tina was shot dead in Lagos; 13-year-old girl was raped by 11 men in Jigawa, Barakat was rapped and stabbed to death.

“Those are only few reported in the news, we need justice, we need a state of emergency declared today.

“On this note, there is need for the state and the federal government to declare a state of emergency and to pass the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.

More photos of Attal Sisters’ Helping Hands Foundation’ (ASHHF)

“will you lead in the fight?” the executive director asked.

In his reaction, Bello said that the state government would take measures to ensure that those found wanting would not go unpunished.

The commissioner, also the state Attorney General urged the organization to always collaborate with the police and keep the ministry of Justice apprised of latest happening of such violence case, especially those that had been reported to the police.

“I want to assure you that we are Attal Sisters’ Helping Hands Foundation conducting a peaceful protest on the need for Bauchi govt. to declare state of emergency on sexual and gender based violence in the state. leaving no stone unturned to ensure that we address this menace of girl-child vulnerable rights as regard to women violence,” the commissioner said.

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Metro

Edo Final-year Student Dies In Sign-out Motorcade Crash

Published

3 hours ago

December 10, 2025

Editor

A yet-to-be-identified final-year student of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, has lost his life in a road crash after he and some other students embarked on a motorcade parade to celebrate the completion of their final examinations.

It was learnt on Tuesday from a Facebook user, Inside Edo, that the accident occurred on Monday shortly after the students finished their final examination.

Inside Edo disclosed that the vehicle had attempted to overtake another before losing control and ramming into a truck.

The post read, “A tragic accident has occurred at Ujoelen, close to the primary school, resulting in the death of a newly graduated student of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.

“According to eyewitnesses, the crash happened during an attempted overtaking by one of the vehicles involved.

“The risky manoeuvre reportedly led to a loss of control, causing the fatal incident. Residents who were nearby rushed to the scene, but the victim could not be saved.”

Similarly, the News Agency of Nigeria reported that the students were said to have been driving recklessly before crashing into a stationary truck.

The deceased was said to be part of a convoy made up of fresh graduates of the university.

NAN reported, “He was reportedly part of a convoy of fresh graduates who took to the highway on Monday shortly after their signing-out activities.

“Witnesses said the group drove recklessly and failed to observe basic safety rules during the celebrations.

“The tragedy occurred when the deceased attempted to overtake a moving truck but collided with a stationary vehicle parked along the road.”

Efforts to get the reaction of the Edo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Cyril Mathew, proved abortive, as the official number available on the FRSC directory was not reachable at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, NAN reported that Mathew later confirmed the incident, adding that one person died while five others were injured in the crash.

“The students, after writing their last paper, took to the road in a convoy.

“In the process, one of them overtook another vehicle and rammed into a stationary truck,” NAN quoted Mathew as saying.

Metro

One Dies In Oyo Fire, Two Rescued

Published

3 hours ago

December 10, 2025

Editor

One person lost her life in a fire incident at Agbaakin Street, behind Testing Ground, Iwo Road, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Monday.

This was contained in a statement by the Chairman of the State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, in Ibadan, on Tuesday.

He said the fire resulted from a lighted charcoal cooking pot left unattended, which ignited nearby combustible materials.

Akinwande added that the firefighting operation was successfully carried out with the support of officers of the Federal Fire Service.

“The fire emergency was received at exactly 20:18 hours on Monday, December 8, 2025.

“On getting there, it was two rooms on the upper floor of a private residential building of 12 rooms engulfed by fire.

“One person (female) was recovered, while two persons (males) were rescued alive. The fire also affected only two rooms, and the whole building and other properties worth millions of naira were saved by the officers of the agency.

“The fire incident was a result of a lighted charcoal cooking pot left unattended, which ignited nearby combustible materials. The operation was jointly carried out with the Federal Fire Service, Ibadan Command,” he explained.

In a related development, a fire incident on Tuesday engulfed the Agric Business Development Agency at Total Garden in Ibadan.

A statement by the State Fire Service Chairman, Akinwande, said the agency received a telephone call through Mr Akinyinka reporting that fire had ravaged the place.

“The incident was reported at exactly 09:20hrs on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, through a telephone call by Mr Akinyinka (the General Manager, Oyo State Fire Services Agency) to the office, reporting a fire at the above-stated address.

“The officers, led by ACFS Oyeniyi Taofeek, swiftly mobilised and deployed to the scene. Upon arrival, it was discovered that electrical sparks from a solar inverter control board on the upper floor of the building resulted in the fire.

“The swift response and professional intervention of our officers prevented the situation from escalating into a fire disaster. The use of portable fire extinguishers was employed during the firefighting operation.

“No casualty was recorded, and properties worth millions of naira were saved by the fire service. The fire incident was a result of electrical sparks from the inverter system,” the statement read.

The chairman, therefore, advised the public to always use correct cables and other electrical materials for their installations.

Metro

Three Die, Several Injured In Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Crash

Published

5 hours ago

December 10, 2025

Editor

A fatal crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Tuesday claimed three lives and left several others seriously injured, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has said.

LASTMA, in a statement posted on its official X handle on Wednesday, said the accident occurred near the Secretariat, heading towards the Otedola Bridge.

According to the agency, three vehicles were involved in the collision.

“Three vehicles were involved in the collision, resulting in three fatalities and several serious injuries.

“LASAMBUS [Lagos State Ambulance Service] personnel are on the scene, providing medical attention to the injured victims,” it stated.

Emergency responders from LASAMBUS were on the scene administering medical care to the injured victims, while LASTMA officers and personnel of the Nigerian Police Force were also present, managing traffic and maintaining order.

Efforts, according to LASTMA, are underway to clear the crash site and restore normal traffic flow.

Motorists were advised to exercise caution when approaching the area.