Metro

Osun Labourers Drown Retrieving Fetcher In Well

Published

1 year ago

June 6, 2024

Two men, whose identities could not be immediately confirmed, working at a construction site in Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Thursday, were brought out dead from a well after they drowned while attempting to retrieve a bucket being used to fetch water.

It was learnt that the incident happened around 1:09 pm at a construction site located opposite Ilesa Motor Park along the Ife-Ilesa expressway in Ile-Ife.

Two sources near the scene of the incident, who preferred anonymity to avoid being targeted, while speaking at different times, said the fetcher that the two labourers were used to fetch water dropped inside the well.

They said one of the two men had entered the well in an attempt to retrieve the fetcher but did not come out.

The sources further said the second labourer, having sensed that his partner was drowned, who also entered into the well to rescue him, also got stuck inside, leading to tension as people present were said to have contacted operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as well as officials of Federal Fire Services for assistance.

When contacted, the spokesperson of NSCDC, Osun State Command, Kehinde Adeleke, told The PUNCH that operatives of the Corps and men of Federal Fire Service retrieved the corpses of the labourers from the well.

Adeleke further said, “A tragic incident happened today Thursday 6th June 2024 Opposite Ilesa Motor Park along Ife-Ilesa road, Ile-Ife around 1309hours. Two middle-aged men from Iwo were engaged as workmen on a building project opposite Ilesa Motor Park, Ile-Ife.

“The unfortunate incident happened when the two workmen were fetching water from a deep well and the fetcher accidentally fell into the well.

“According to eyewitness accounts, one of the workmen, in an attempt to retrieve the fetcher,
entered the well, but unfortunately, he got trapped and drowned.

“An attempt at rescue made by the second workman got him drowned inside the deep well also. Corpses of the two men were retrieved through the joint efforts of NSCDC and Federal Fire Service operatives.”

Metro

JUST IN: Ex-soldiers Resume Protest Over Unpaid Benefits

Published

3 hours ago

September 4, 2025

Editor

A group of discharged Nigerian soldiers on Thursday resumed protests in Abuja, demanding the payment of their entitlements.

The ex-soldiers called off their protest on August 4, after a meeting with officials of the Ministries of Defence and Finance, who assured them that their outstanding entitlements would be paid by August 10.

The ex-servicemen, who converged on the Ministry of Finance headquarters in the nation’s capital, accused the authorities of neglect and failure to honour promises made after their meeting last month.

One of the protesters, identified as Mama G, said they were forced to return to the streets after previous assurances yielded no results.

“We are here because the promises made to us were never fulfilled. We had no choice but to return to the streets. This time around, the protest will be massive”, Mama G said.

This is not the first time the group has demonstrated. In recent years, retired soldiers have repeatedly taken to the streets in Abuja and other cities over what they describe as unfair treatment and neglect.

The Ministry of Defence, Defence Headquarters and Military Pension Board have yet to issue an official response as of the time of filing this report.

Details later…

Metro

20-year-old Mother Buries Newborn Alive

Published

17 hours ago

September 3, 2025

Editor

Kebbi State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old mother, Maryam Atiku, for allegedly attempting to kill her newborn baby girl by burying her alive in Kamba, Dandi Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

According to a police statement, made available to newsmen on Wednesday by the command spokesman, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, “the incident occurred on June 25, 2025, when Maryam allegedly tied the baby’s neck with wrappers, covered her mouth, and buried her in a shallow grave at Malam Yaro bush.

“The following day, June 26, a farmer, Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad, while working on his farm near the area, discovered a patch of disturbed soil resembling a fresh grave.

“He raised an alarm and, with the help of nearby residents, exhumed the baby, who was found alive. The infant was rushed to General Hospital, Kamba, where doctors confirmed her condition as stable after receiving medical attention”

The statement said police detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department promptly arrested Maryam, who confessed to the crime during interrogation.

“Commissioner of Police, CP Bello Sani, described the act as “inhuman and unacceptable,” reiterating the Command’s zero tolerance for child abuse, exploitation, and gender-based violence.

”He urged parents, guardians, and community leaders to protect children under their care and not compromise their future due to poverty or other pressures.

“The Police Commissioner commended the wife of the Kebbi State Governor, Hajiya Zainab Nasir Idris, for supporting the welfare of the rescued baby and praised Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad for his timely intervention.

“The suspect will be arraigned in court, where she will face prosecution aimed at serving as a deterrent to others.”

Metro

Fresh Boat Accident Kills 29 In Niger

Published

17 hours ago

September 3, 2025

Editor

29 persons have been confirmed dead in a boat accident that occurred on Tuesday in Niger State.

The incident happened in a community called Gausawa in Borgu LGA. at about 11:30am.

The boat was loaded with 90 people including women and children who were going for a condolence visit in another community.

The cause of the accident was attributed to overloading and collision with a tree stomp, according to The PUNCH.

It was learnt that the passengers were not wearing any life jacket when the boat accident occurred.

An anonymous source in the ministry of transport disclosed that the boat passengers were not wearing life jacket, pointing out that if they were wearing life jackets more people would have been rescued.

“The passengers were obviously not wearing life jackets, because if they had been, more, if not all of them would have survived the accident.

“Borgu is very far and a lot of these passengers do not like to wear the life jackets for reasons best known to them,” the source said.

As at the time of filing this report, 29 corpses had been recovered with 50 persons rescued alive while two people are said to be still missing.

The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba-Arah confirmed the accident saying search and recue operation was still ongoing.

He said, “NSEMA has received a report of boat mishap incident at a community called Gausawa in Malale area/ward of Borgu LGA.

“According to our desk officer who led the search and rescue operations, the boat took off from a community called Tugan Sule in Shagunu ward with 90 people on board which includes women and children on the boat heading to Dugga for a condolence visit”

NSEMA DG added that, “The incident happened yesterday, 2nd September 2025 at about 11:30am and the cause was attributed to overloading and collision with a tree stomp.

“As at the time of filling this report 29 dead bodies have been recovered with 50 persons rescued alive while 2 people are still missing.

“Search and rescue operations are still on going for possible recovery of missing persons.”

This is the second boat accident in Niger State in 2025.

The first one happened in July and was attributed to tree stomp.

The National Inland Waterway Agency had distributed life jackets in Mokwa after the flood incident which killed over 200 people.