Metro

Niger Boat Mishap: 92 Rescued, 191 Corpses Recovered

Published

9 months ago

October 9, 2024

More revelation has emerged on the boat accident involving 285 Gwajibo Mudi community indigenes in Kwara State on the River Niger.

According to a member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Ahmed Saidu Baba, (Banni/Gwanara/Adena) at the plenary on Tuesday, 92 victims were rescued, while 191 corpses that perished in the incident were recovered.

Ahmed, who presented a matter of general public importance on the devastating incident, disclosed that “the wooden boat, with 285 persons on board consisting of 283 natives of Gwajibo Mudi in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara state left the shores of the riverine community enroute the neighbouring Gwajibo community in Niger State to attend the annual Maolud Nabbiy but capsized in the middle of the River Niger at a location withing the territory of Niger State shortly before arriving its destination.”

Ahmed stated that the avoidable accident apparently happened as a result of overloading as findings revealed that the wooden boat with a capacity for 200 passengers only was loaded with 285 on the ill-fated journey.

The lawmaker said, “at the conclusion of rescue operations, only 92 victims had been rescued alive, while 191 corpses, who are all indigenes of Gwajibo Mudi in Kaima local government area of Kwara State were recovered.”

He expressed concern that the unfortunate incident had left many families and households in Gwajibo Mudi Community devastated, while the Kaima Local Government and indeed the entire Kwarans are in a state of mourning.

Ahmed concluded the passengers also ignored the necessary safety measures such as the use of life jackets.

In a resolution, the House urged the State Emergency Management Agency to liaise with the National Emergency Management Agency to provide the survivors and families of the victims with relief materials to cushion the effect of the disaster on the Gwajibo Mudi community.

The legislative arm also urged the Ministry of Works and Transport to liaise with the National Inland Waterways Authority on the need for the agency to deploy its staff to all loading points on the Nigerian Waterways with a view to regulating operations and enforcing precautionary guidelines on water transport operations.

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Metro

Three-storey Building Collapses On Lagos Island, Many Injured

Published

24 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

A three-storey building has collapsed on Lagos Island, injuring some occupants.

The building is located on Asesi Lane around the Adeniji Adele Road.

According to Lagos State Information Commissioner Gbenga Omotoso, “Four persons have been rescued from the rubble. They have been taken to hospital.”

Emergency responders from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), among others, have since gotten to the incident scene.

Details later…

Metro

NDLEA Arrests Warri Chief, Ayirimi Emami’s Brother For Alleged Drug Smuggling

Published

2 days ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

… Group lauds agency

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Emami Ajetsibogho, younger brother to Warri Chief, Ayirimi Emami, for allegedly smuggling drugs worth billions of naira into the country.

It was gathered that the suspect was arrested by the agency’s strike force at Apapa in Lagos State Command following a tip-of.

Reacting to the arrest in a statement, rights activist and president, Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, Comrade Austin Ozobo, commended the agency and in particular Commandant-General of the NDLEA, Maj. Gen. Buba Marwa for fighting against drug illicit drugs

Ozobo said, “The arrest of Chief Emami’s brother is a milestone, laudable achievement in the fight against drug trafficking in this country.

“I want to commend NDLEA who were able to get the lead information to apprehend this criminal suspect.”

He added: “As Ijaw people, we are happy that God is vindicating us. The Itsekiris are hell bent to kill the Ijaw people to grab their lands.”

He recalled how a British Soldier from the Itsekiri extraction was recently arrested for smuggling guns into Warri to kill innocent people, especially Ijaw and to cause a crisis in Warri, adding, “God exposed him and DSS arrested the British Soldier and thwarted his evil intentions.”

He noted that another Itsekiri person has been caught allegedly trafficking drugs into the Country. “Who knows whether it was to drug miscreants to kill Ijaw people and burn villages? Ozobo asked.

“Ayiri particularly who has been making all kinds of unprintable statements against Ijaw people, we are surprised that his younger brother is a drug baron. Ayiri should be ashamed of himself.

“This shows that Ayiri Emami’s family is not a reputable family, by wanting to bribe NDLEA with a whopping sum of Two hundred million (N200m) to get his brother released. We thought Ayiri had a reputation, but it is shameful.”

Comrade Ozobo, therefore, urged the NDLEA to investigate the matter thoroughly and prosecute the suspect in line with stipulated laws to serve as a deterrent to others.

“I am calling on the NDLEA to investigate properly and bring to book anyone connected to this crime. If Ayiri is connected, he should be brought to book. Anyone connected connected should be brought to book,” he said.

Metro

Ekiti Court Remands Man Over Alleged Threat To Life

Published

2 days ago

July 2, 2025

Editor

An Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Court, Ado Ekiti District, has ordered the remand of a 31-year-old man, Caleb Ajobor, at the correctional custody in Ado Ekiti over alleged assault and threat to life.

The defendant was accused of conducting himself in a way that constituted a threat to the life of a woman, one Omotayo Olowolagba, at the Ekute area of Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Akinwale Oriyomi, told the court on Wednesday that “the defendant on June 29, 2025, at about 10am at Ekute Quarters, Ado Ekiti, did assault and threaten the life of Olowolagba Omotayo.

“The defendant did hit the chest of the female victim and conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace in society.

“The offence committed is punishable under sections 185, 46, 181(d) laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria 2021,” the prosecutor stated.

Oriyomi pleaded with the court to order the remand of the defendant in the correctional centre.

Counsel to the defendant, Adunni Olanipekun, however, urged the court to grant his client bail, assuring that he would not jump bail.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, refused the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the correctional centre.

Adeosun adjourned the matter till July 11 for hearing.