Metro

Sustainable Development Cannot Be Achieved Where Gender Bias Thrive – Don

Published

5 years ago

March 9, 2020

A university don, Professor Ifufro Osamwonyi, yesterday, said the seventeen action points of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved in Nigeria without reducing gender inequality.

Prof. Osamwonyi of the Department of Banking and Finance, University of Benin, disclosed this in a keynote address on the occasion of this year’s International Women Day celebration organized by Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Business Women Group, Edo State chapter.

A cross section of NACCIMA Business Women Group, Benin Branch

Speaking on the theme : ‘Each for Equal’, Osamwonyi noted that gender bias has been seriously militating against the development of the country.

While noting that Nigerian politics is one of the areas in great need of gender-focused inclusion, the university don revealed that Nigeria has one of the lowest rates of female representation in parliament across Africa.

He said, “Nigeria is ranked 181st out of 193 countries.”

Osamwonyi, however, eulogised Nigerian women for their hardwork and entrepreneurship, stressing that they have contributed significantly to national advancement and are doing well in formal business with technological advancement and innovation.

On her part, Co-ordinator of NACCIMA Business Women Group, Edo State chapter, Pharmacist (Mrs) Aina Omo-Ojeonu, disclosed that the group was set up to facilitate women’s participation in commerce and governance as well as facilitate access to loans and business information for women.

“We are encouraging women especially from the grassroots to be up and doing. And that is why I mentioned better life for rural women because we intend to take our access to loan to the grassroots. We want to take it to our women farmers in the grassroots, to the MSME because we believe that it is women that mostly do all these things.

“When you look at the subsistence farmers, they are majorly women. If you look at the people selling pepper in the market, they are women.In commerce, women are doing well. In agric, women are there.”

She added that plans are on to facilitate trade amongst women in the chamber and within the ECOWAS region and the world at large.

Metro

Police Foil Robbery, Recover Weapons In Enugu

Published

6 hours ago

August 9, 2025

Editor

The Enugu Police command has foiled a robbery attempt, neutralised one suspect, and recovered firearms, ammunition, and other exhibits from the crime scene.

The Command’s spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed in a statement on Friday that the incident happened around 4:10 a.m. on Aug. 6 in Enugu.

Ndukwe stated that a distress call alerted the Independence Layout Police Division to a robbery in progress at Premier Layout, Enugu.

Responding swiftly, the Divisional Police Officer mobilised police operatives and members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group to the scene.

On sighting the operatives, the gang opened fire. The team returned fire, killing one suspect. Others escaped. The dead suspect’s identity is unknown.

A search of the area and the suspect’s body yielded a cut-to-size locally made single-barrel gun and one live cartridge.

Also recovered were a locally fabricated Beretta pistol, one live round of ammunition, and a Nokia torch-button phone belonging to the suspect.

Other items included two iPhones belonging to victims, a red-and-black torchlight, a small red bag, and ₦9,000 in ₦1,000 notes.

Ndukwe added that further investigations on Friday led to the recovery of a pump-action gun with four live cartridges.

The weapon was found abandoned near the scene and is believed to have been left by fleeing gang members.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, praised the operatives’ bravery and professionalism during the operation.

He reaffirmed the command’s determination to tackle violent crime and maintain public safety across Enugu State.

He urged residents to stay alert and share credible information to support proactive policing efforts in their communities.

Residents should report incidents to the nearest station, call 08032003702 or 08086671202, or contact the Command Centre via 112.

Metro

Courts Jail Six For Fraud, Order ₦2.8m Restitution To Victims

Published

7 hours ago

August 9, 2025

Editor

Justices H.H. Kereng and Abdulhamid Yakubu of the Gombe State High Courts 2 and 3, sitting in Gombe, have convicted and sentenced six men to various jail terms for fraud.

The convicts, Maigari Abba, Joseph Samuel Bulus, Kasheaure Joseph, Emmanuel Dilibe, Livite Ibrahim, and Awolowo Martins, were jailed on Wednesday, after being arraigned on separate one-count charges bordering on breach of trust, cheating, and impersonation by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

This is contained in a statement by the EFCC on Friday, noting the convicts’ arrest followed intelligence on their activities, after which they were apprehended and prosecuted.

One of the charges against Bulus reads,”That you, Joseph Samuel Bulus, sometimes between 2024 and 2025, at Gombe, Gombe State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, dishonestly impersonate one Peter Elis, by pretending to be a former Kings Guard in the UK, creating and operating fake Facebook and TikTok accounts and luring unsuspecting individuals to deliver money to you (mostly via gift cards) and in the process gained to your advantage the sum of $1,500 (One thousand Five Hundred Dollars) and thereby committed an offence contrary to 321 and punishable under Section 324 of the Penal Code Law.”

Upon arraignment, the defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges, prompting prosecution counsel S.E. Okemini and A.B. Kware to urge the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. Defence counsel, however, pleaded for leniency.

Justice Kereng sentenced Abba to six months in prison or a fine of ₦60,000, while Martins bagged six months or a fine of ₦50,000.

Justice Yakubu handed Bulus, Joseph, Dilibe, and Ibrahim 24 months’ imprisonment each, with an option of ₦50,000 fine.

The courts also ruled that the ₦2.8 million recovered during investigation, being proceeds of crime, should be used to restitute the victims.

It was stated that One laptop and five mobile phones seized at arrest were forfeited to the Federal Government.
(PUNCH)

Metro

Bandits Kill Pastor, Two Others In Fresh Plateau Attack

Published

8 hours ago

August 8, 2025

Editor

Bandits have again struck Suwa and Ding’ak villages in the Mushere chiefdom of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, and killed three persons, including a pastor.

It was learnt that the attack occurred between 1pm and 2pm on Friday, resulting in the deaths of three individuals.

The Chairman of Community Peace Observers in Bokkos, Kefas Mallai, confirmed the killings to The PUNCH in Jos on Friday night.

Mallai identified the victims as Pastor Gideon Katings of COCIN Suwa, Sunday Ringkang, and Meshach Bukata.

He added that one Michael Kamshak and several others sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at Cottage Hospital, Bokkos.

Mallai also confirmed that hundreds of residents had been displaced due to the attack.

Mallai said, “Between 1:00 hours and 2:00 today, Friday, 8th August 2025, Suwa and Ding’ak villages in Mushere chiefdom of Bokkos LGA were attacked by terrorists leading to the untimely death of three including Pst Gideon Katings of COCIN Suwa, Sunday Ringkang, and Meshach Bukata; while Michael Kamshak and others were injured and currently receiving treatment at Cottage Hospital Bokkos.

“Several residents in their hundreds have been displaced.”

Spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, was not readily available when contacted by our correspondent, as his phone indicated that it was switched off.

The killings on Friday is the latest in a series of violent attacks experienced in Bokkos and surrounding areas.

In recent times, the council area has faced heightened insecurity, with more than 20 villagers killed in separate attacks in the last month and properties destroyed.

The chairman of Bokkos LGA, Amalau Samuel Amalau, had called on security agencies to take decisive action against these militias, citing the need to protect innocent lives and prevent further displacement.

The state governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has equally condemned the attacks, describing them as “genocide” and “a coordinated attempt at land grabbing.”

The governor has vowed to work with security agencies to bring perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety of residents.