Metro

Niger Boat Mishap: 20 More Bodies Recovered As Victims’ Families Share Grief

Published

11 months ago

October 4, 2024

Twenty additional bodies were recovered on Thursday from the site of a tragic boat accident that occurred on Tuesday in Niger State.

The wooden boat, carrying approximately 300 passengers from Kwara State to an event in Niger State, capsized at Gbajibo in Mokwa Local Government Area.

Local divers, along with officials from the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), have been conducting the recovery operation.

The Director-General of NSEMA, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed that the total number of recovered bodies has now reached 36, with 16 bodies — 14 males and 2 females — having been retrieved and buried on Wednesday. An additional 20 bodies were recovered on Thursday.

Baba-Arah stated that the search and rescue mission is ongoing, as more passengers remain unaccounted for.

Many of the victims hailed from Kwara State, particularly from Kaiama Local Government Area. Community members and relatives shared the emotional toll of the disaster.

Mahmud Gbajibo, a resident of the Gbajibo community, recounted the loss of seven family members.

“I lost two married nieces, three nephews, and two younger brothers who came for a naming ceremony,” he said.

“We had to bury them on the Niger State side to avoid chaos back home in Kwara.

“Our women were devastated, running around in grief. The entire community has been paralyzed by this tragedy — no shops are open, and no one is cooking.”

Gbajibo also revealed that the community had requested motorcycles to prevent future tragedies.

“Many victims would not have taken the boat if we had motorcycles. We need better transportation to avoid overloading boats,” he stated.

Haron Yohana, who lost five family members, shared his grief. “I lost my father, brother, and three nieces. I said goodbye to them, not knowing it was the last time. The tragedy happened in the night, unnoticed until another boat passed through the area.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed his condolences to the people of Niger State and the families of the victims.

In a statement from his special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President prayed for the souls of the deceased and called for an investigation into the frequency of boat accidents in the region.

Metro

My Husband Fought, Abandoned Me Cos’ I’m Barren, Woman Tells Court

Published

4 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

A woman, Wasilat Saka, has pleaded with a Grade 1 Area Court in Kubwa, Abuja (Federal Capital Territory), to dissolve her marriage to her husband, Tajudeen Jimoh, over alleged abandonment and conflicting faith beliefs.

Wasilat told the court that she got married to Jimoh under Islamic Law on July 30, 2022, adding that their marriage did not produce any children.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she alleged that Jimoh, who claimed to be a Muslim, abandoned her for months shortly after they got married while refusing to perform necessary Islamic rites.

“My husband does not observe the five daily prayers and the Ramadan fast.

“We always quarrel and fight for these reasons.

“I beg the court to grant my request of divorce,” Wasilat said.

Jimoh was absent in court despite being served with the hearing notice.

The judge, Ibrahim Rufai, adjourned the case.

Metro

Our First Child Beat Me Blue And Black After My Wife Turned Them Against Me —Man

Published

4 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

…That was the easiest way I made him pay their fees —Wife

Grade A Customary Court, Court 2, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has given judgment on a divorce suit brought before it by a man, Tajudeen, who dragged his wife, Kafayat, to court, accusing her of showing him no love or affection.

He added that she was troublesome and violent and that she refused to let him have peace of mind.

Tajudeen stated that Kafayat was defiant and never listened to him nor took instruction from him.

The plaintiff explained that the defendant was brutal and always sought every opportunity to fight and hurt him with any dangerous object within her reach.

He added that she refused that he give their children proper training, and that she turned them against him.

According to him, the eldest of their children beat him till he was almost unconscious in the presence of his wife and she saw nothing bad in it.

Tajudeen explained that Kafayat constantly came to his office to fight and disgrace him.

The plaintiff stated that he was fed up with his wife’s unruly behaviour and thus pleaded for divorce.

Kafayat refused that their union be dissolved, stating that she and her husband jointly built their house.

The defendant did not deny being defiant and in the habit of fighting her husband even in his office.

According to her, that was the only way she made her husband commit to his responsibilities in the home and, more importantly, pay their children’s school fees.

Tajudeen, in his evidence, said, “My wife and I got married under Islamic Law and I paid her bride price.

“My marriage to my wife is void of love and care. She made our home a hell to live in.

“I no longer have a say in our home because my wife is rebellious. She never listens to me nor takes orders from me. She would turn every argument between us into a fight.

“Kafayat being a violent person always hits me with dangerous objects within her reach. The scars on my body tell the story.

“Much worse is the fact that my wife refused that I train our children and always instigates them against me.

“The strain in the relationship between our children and me led to our eldest child beating me till I almost fainted.

“My wife was present at the scene and she neither restrained our son nor rebuked him.

“My wife is still not satisfied and would come to my office to fight and disgrace me.

“My lord, I have had enough of my wife and children’s waywardness and cannot take it any longer.

“I pray this honourable court to end our marriage and grant me custody of our children so that I can give them proper training.

“I also request an order restricting her from coming to my office to fight me.”

Kafayat in her response said: “What my husband said is not totally true.

“We met in 1997 and he impregnated me.

“I started living with him although no marital rites were carried out on my behalf. He in addition did not pay my bride price.

“My lord, I do not agree to divorce because we both contributed towards building the house we are living in.

“It is true that I fight him even in his office. I discovered that was the only way I could force him to be committed to his responsibilities in the home and especially paying our children’s school fees.”

Ruling, the court president, Mrs. O. E. Owoseni, said there was no marriage to be dissolved since no customary marriage was held and no bride price was paid.

Metro

My Wife Harasses, Slaps Me All The Time —Husband

Published

4 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

…He’s a liar —Wife

A businessman, Raphel Chima, has dragged his wife, Joy, before a customary court in Jikwoyi, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), because she always beat him.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Raphael made the allegation in a divorce petition he filed against Joy before the court.Newspaper-inspired merchandise

“My wife physically abuses and harasses me.

“She slaps me at the slightest chance. She abuses me mentally,” he said.

He also told the court that his wife was disrespectful to his parents.

The petitioner told the court that his wife had long abandoned their only child and that he had been the one caring for him.

He prayed the court to dissolve the marriage between him and his wife and grant him custody of their child.

The respondent, Joy, denied the allegations.

The presiding judge, Dada Oluwaseyi, advised the couple to explore reconciliation.

He then adjourned the case.