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Train Attack: ‘The Owner Of This Phone Has Just Been Killed’

Published

3 years ago

April 10, 2022

…Kwara TUC Chair’s Widow Narrates How Her Husband Died

The widow of the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Kwara State, Comrade Akinsola Akinwunmi, killed in last Monday’s Abuja-Kaduna train attack, managed to say a few words as tears flowed uncontrollably from her eyes.

Mrs. Modupe Akinwunmi Akinsola said her man was the best hubby as she believed he is resting in the bosom of the Lord.

According to her, she spoke to him on phone before the train attack only to call his phone later and a mortuary attendant picked the call and told her, her husband was dead.

Akinwunmi was not the only TUC official killed in the attack. Musa-Lawal Ozigi, Secretary General of the TUC, was another victim.

‘Nowhere is safe’
Confirming the death of the TUC officials, Quadri Olaleye, President of the union, said they were heading to Kaduna for an official assignment.

“Comrade Ozigi served in the capacity of General Secretary, Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association (CCESSA), an affiliate of TUC for almost two decades before he joined the Congress in 2012,” Olaleye said.

“Comrade Akinsola was a staff of Dangote Flour Mill under OLAM. They were both seasoned trade unionists.”

He called on governments at all levels, especially the Federal Government, to work towards securing the lives and property of Nigerians.

“As it stands, nowhere is safe now – we cannot travel by air, road is not safe and neither is the rail. Is Nigeria a failed state? It is unfortunate,” he said.

“The Congress condoles with the families and friends of our comrades and the good people of Kogi State for this irreparable loss.”

Sunday Vanguard gathered from one of the sympathizers, a member of the TUC, during a visit to the Akinwunmi family residence that he was hit by the stray bullets that were severally fired at the passengers by one of the bandits after the bomb attack.

“I spoke with him while inside the train some minutes earlier. He said he had left Abuja that he was inside the train on his way to Kaduna”, the widow told Sunday Vanguard.

“Moments later when I heard about the train attack, I immediately called him again, and his phone started ringing.

“I was initially happy expecting him to speak with me from the other end only for another voice to tell that he was a mortuary attendant, that the owner of the phone had died and that his body was with them.”

Meanwhile, Kwara State government has said that it would not leave the family alone in this trying period, and urged other stakeholders to rally round them.

Akinwunmi, in his forties, was a staff member of Dangote Group in Ilorin until the company was recently bought over and he was inaugurated as the TUC Chairman about two years ago.

Three children
Modupe, in her mid thirties, wept uncontrollably with her three children, two boys, one girl, as they sat on the sofa at their apartment at Ita-Elepa area of Ilorin on Wednesday as sympathizers thronged the place.

“I know that the almighty God has answered my prayers that wherever my husband is right now, he’s resting in the bosom of the Lord. My hubby was the best,” she said during the short interview with Sunday Vanguard.

Head of Service in Kwara State, Mrs. Modupe Susan Oluwole, who led a government delegation on a condolence visit, said the family will hear from Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on the support he would give to the family very soon and urged family and friends to provide immediate succor to the widow and children.

Oluwole said, “I want to join others in the call to Federal Government for better security in Nigeria. I know they are doing their best but God will help us to see the end of these crises in security.

“It is not easy for anybody, nobody is safe. It is not a question of I am safe, we are all in this together, so we must fight it together.

“I want to call on the family, especially those who will be here when all of us would have left, that they should provide succor to the immediate family. They should not leave this family alone.

“I know that His Excellency, the Governor of Kwara State, will recognize the role of labour and also recognize his own personal role as a labour leader.

“So, whatever it is that the governor can do to support, I am sure, we will convey the message by the grace of God. You will hear from us very soon.”

Good man
The late labour leader, from the aggregate of comments from stakeholders, including journalists, is generally seen as an exemplary good man, with kind heart and very generous too.

The Treasurer of TUC in Kwara State, Comrade Oyekale Rebecca Nike, said, “As you can see, I have not recovered from the shock of the news of his death.

We had lot of conversations few days before this rude shock came in.

“We had differences but we mended fences and moved on. Akinwumi was a friend and a boss.

“With this shock, I cannot describe what he was to me, but he was the Chairman and I am the Treasurer of the Trade Union Congress in Kwara. He was a very good man to me”

The PRO of the state TUC, Comrade Raheem Wasiu Oladimeji, on his part, said, “We shared a very cordial relationship, very close indeed. Akinsola Akinwunmi was a man of integrity, a dogged fighter and always stuck to his beliefs.

“He was a very generous personality, not because he was financially inclined; he had that spirit of giving, not only to his immediate family but also to all that came his way.

“He also demonstrated capacity, both intellectual and ability, to rally round any member in need not only TUC but also at his own local chapter at Dangote Group. “One of his latest significant impacts is the negotiation for the minimum wage payment in Kwara.

“I cannot imagine him, who warned and advised us whenever we traveled to Kaduna to be careful not to be kidnapped, now turned out a victim and killed. So sad!

“The load and responsibility he left behind are enormous especially at a time like this. I pray that God in His infinite mercies consoles the family and all dependants left behind.”

Governor AbdulRazaq earlier commiserated with the labour unions and the Akinwunmi family in a statement by Rafiu Ajakaye, his Chief Press Secretary.

The immediate past Chairman of the TUC in Kwara State, Comrade Kola Olumoh, in his own remark, said that he and the deceased were supposed to be part of the TUC executive meeting in Ilorin on Tuesday.

“The death was so shocking. Such a vibrant young man. We lost him. In fact, I am sad and really down. He’s a person with prospect”, Olumoh said.

“He’s come to know his rights and wrongs. We had issues before he came on board, you know, and he came to me and we resolved the matter. Since his inauguration, he’s been very diligent and resourceful”.

In another condolence message, a pro-democracy group, Kwara Must Change, sympathized with the state chapter of nTUC over loss of Akinwunmi.

The group also called for improved security, through overhaul of security architecture in the country.

In a statement by Kwara Must Change Convener, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the group said that the train attack was an unfortunate development that should not have been allowed to happen.

VANGUARD

Related Topics:Kwara TUC chairman Train Attack

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Four Places In The World Without Traffic Lights

Published

7 hours ago

August 29, 2025

Editor

In a world where traffic lights are an essential part of road management, a few countries and regions stand out for functioning without them. These places rely on alternative systems ranging from police officers and roundabouts to cultural driving habits to manage traffic. Here’s a closer look at the nations and areas where traffic lights are absent.

Bhutan

Bhutan is famously known as the only country in the world that operates entirely without traffic lights. Even in its capital city, Thimphu, which has witnessed growing traffic due to urbanisation, automated signals have never been adopted. Instead, traffic management is handled by police officers who stand at major intersections, directing vehicles with hand signals.

In 1995, when a set of traffic lights was briefly installed in Thimphu, public complaints led to their swift removal, as locals felt the system clashed with the country’s traditions and culture of cooperation. Bhutan’s reliance on human-directed traffic reflects both its small population and strong sense of civic responsibility.

Vatican City

Vatican City, the world’s smallest sovereign nation, also operates without any traffic lights. With an area of just 44 hectares and a population of around 800 people, the city-state does not require traffic signals to regulate movement. Roads inside the Vatican are short and few, and traffic is mostly managed by signage and the Vatican’s own police force. However, just outside the Vatican’s walls, in Rome, traffic lights are abundant, highlighting the contrast between the bustling Italian capital and the tranquil governance of the Holy See.

Niue

In the South Pacific, Niue, one of the world’s smallest island nations, also has no traffic lights. With a population of less than 2,000 people and very limited vehicle traffic, there is little need for automated signals. Roads are quiet, and driving is relaxed, with motorists often waving to one another as they pass.

The absence of traffic lights in Niue is less a necessity than a reflection of the island’s lifestyle, where community trust and minimal congestion make formal traffic control unnecessary.

Tekesi County, China

A unique example of urban planning without traffic lights can be found in Tekesi County, Xinjiang, China. The county town was designed based on the ancient Bagua (Eight Trigrams) symbol from Taoist philosophy. Its distinctive circular and radiating street layout relies on roundabouts to direct vehicles.

In 1996, authorities cancelled the installation of traffic lights in order to preserve the Bagua system, making Tekesi a rare modern settlement that manages traffic without signals. The design has since become both a cultural attraction and a point of pride for residents, who see it as a symbol of harmony and balance.

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Nigerian Student Wins ‘Top In World’ Cambridge IGCSE English Award

Published

7 hours ago

August 29, 2025

Editor

A Nigerian student, Kenechukwu Oluwanifemi Uba, has emerged the “Top in World” candidate in the November 2024 Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language (Speaking Endorsement).

Uba, a pupil of Caleb International College, Magodo, Lagos, received the Outstanding Cambridge Learners Award for her performance, which was recognised by Cambridge University Press & Assessment.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Spokesperson to the Proprietor and Founder, Caleb Group of Schools and University, Prof. Elvis Otobo, and made available to The PUNCH on Friday.

The certificate, signed by the Group Managing Director of International Education at Cambridge, Rod Smith, was presented during a ceremony organised by the British Council and Cambridge University Press & Assessment at the Civic Centre, Lagos.

Speaking on the achievement, the Proprietor/CEO of Caleb Group of Schools and University, Dr. Oladega Adebogun, said the recognition reflected the school’s values of integrity, perseverance and innovation.

“We are overjoyed by Kenechukwu’s outstanding performance.

“Her success embodies our core values of integrity, perseverance, and innovation. We invest heavily in cutting-edge teaching methods—from flipped classrooms to AI-driven language labs—so that every student can discover their potential and lead with confidence,” Adebogun said.

Uba expressed gratitude to her teachers, classmates and family, noting that preparing in the school’s language lab helped build her confidence.

“From the moment I joined Caleb, I felt inspired by teachers who challenged me to think deeply and by peers who encouraged me to persevere. Preparing for the speaking endorsement in our state-of-the-art lab sharpened my confidence. This recognition belongs to everyone—my mentors, my classmates, and my family,” she said.

Caleb International College described the award as proof of its commitment to raising globally competitive students through advanced learning facilities and strong character development programmes.

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Iran Has Executed At Least 841 People This Year — UN

Published

8 hours ago

August 29, 2025

Editor

At least 841 people have been executed in Iran since the start of the year, the UN said Friday, decrying “a systematic pattern of using the death penalty as a tool of state intimidation”.

The United Nations’ human rights office said there had been a “major increase in executions” by Tehran during the first half of 2025.

“Iranian authorities have executed at least 841 people since the beginning of the year,” spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva.

“The real situation might be different,” she added. “It might be worse, given the lack of transparency.”

In July alone, she said, Iran had executed at least 110 individuals — twice the number of people executed in July 2024.

“The high number of executions indicates a systematic pattern of using the death penalty as a tool of state intimidation, with disproportionate targeting of ethnic minorities and migrants,” Shamdasani added.

She cited the executions of Afghan nationals, and of Baluch, Kurdish, and Arab citizens.

In the first six months of the year, at least 289 people were executed for drug-related offences.

Shamdasani said the pattern witnessed across multiple countries showed that when their governments perceive threats to their grip on public order, they become increasingly repressive and less tolerant of dissent.

– Hangings before children –

The spokeswoman in particular criticised the staging of public executions in Iran. The rights office documented seven such cases since the beginning of the year — some reportedly in front of children.

“Public executions add an extra layer of outrage upon human dignity… not only on the dignity of the people concerned — the people who are executed — but also on all those who have to bear witness,” she said.

“The psychological trauma of bearing witness to somebody being hanged in public, particularly for children, is unacceptable.”

The UN human rights office said there were serious concerns over due process in capital punishment cases.

“What we are particularly worried about is that a lot of these death sentences are imposed based on vague laws,” the spokeswoman said, such as charges of enmity against God.

Shamdasani said that 11 individuals were currently facing “imminent execution” in Iran, including six charged with “armed rebellion” due to alleged membership of the exiled opposition People’s Mujahedeen Organization of Iran (MEK).

The other five had been sentenced to death over their participation in large-scale protests in 2022, she said. Iran’s supreme court last week confirmed the death sentence against workers’ rights activist Sharifeh Mohammadi, she added.

The UN rights office was urging Iran’s government “not to implement the death penalty against these and other individuals on death row”, Shamdasani said.

“The death penalty is incompatible with the right to life and irreconcilable with human dignity,” she added.

“It creates an unacceptable risk of executing innocent people. It should never be imposed for conduct that is protected under international human rights law.”

UN human rights chief Volker Turk is calling on Tehran to impose a moratorium on the application of capital punishment, as a step towards abolition.
AFP