A total number of 42 persons have died while 150 were rescued alive from the boat mishap that occurred in the Mokwa Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State.

This is according to an update from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Friday night.

Following the information received from the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) on the unfortunate incident, NEMA Minna operations office SAR Team with key stakeholders including NSEMA and the Federal Fire Service visited the scene for an on the spot assessment. 

“About 300 passengers were onboard the boat from Gbajibo community in Mokwa LGA of Niger State to Gbajibo community in Kaiama LGA of Kwara State,” NEMA wrote in a post it shared on its official X account. 

“The passengers were returning from Maulud celebration when the boat capsized due to overloading at about 8:30 pm on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

“Local divers and community volunteers in addition to critical stakeholders carried out search and rescue operation.

“150 persons were rescued alive, 42 corpses comprising two females, 39 males and one child have been recovered so far.”

According to NEMA, the dead have been buried according to Islamic rites while the search and recovery operation continues.

On Wednesday, armed assailants abducted and murdered Bako Bala, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress for Suru Local Government Area in Kebbi State.

A post from the official Facebook page of the Kebbi State governor’s Special Adviser on Television and Radio, Zaidu Bala, indicated that the gunmen seized him in his hometown, shooting him in the process and leaving him in a pool of blood.

Bala further stated that the APC chair from Suru Local Government was taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Birnin Kebbi, but tragically succumbed to his injuries from the shooting on Wednesday.

In another incident, it was reported that bandits raided Matseri village in the Bunza Local Government Area of the state and abducted one individual.

An individual from the village told PUNCH Online that a young man, currently undergoing treatment at the Federal Medical Centre in Birnin Kebbi, sustained gunshot wounds during the incident.

BREAKING: Bandits Attack Katsina Mosque, Disrupt Jumat Prayers in Latest Violent Outrage

At the same time, attempts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer for the state, Nafiu Abubakar, were unsuccessful as he did not answer his phone or reply to a text message sent prior to the submission of this report.

Kebbi State, located in the North West region of the country, is presently grappling with security challenges, particularly those related to banditry.

The PUNCH

Residents of some communities in Edo State have started relocating over the risks of a potential flood disaster.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) disclosed this in a post it shared on its official X account on Friday morning.

“Residents of Obadudu, Ukpeko Uzanu and the surrounding communities in Etsako East Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State are relocating due to rising water levels and increased rainfall,” NEMA wrote.

“This move follows recent assessments by officials from NEMA Edo, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Etsako East Local Government on the potential flood risks in the region.”

Security forces in Rivers State thwarted an attempt on Friday by individuals clad in police uniforms to seize control of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission’s office.

The event is said to have taken place at approximately 1 a.m. on Friday.

Sources indicate that the criminals tried to breach the gates and secure room of the commission to steal important electoral materials intended for the local government election scheduled for Saturday in the state.

A source who witnessed the incident but was not authorised to speak on the matter said, “The move was botched when vigilant security officials alerted principal officers of the commission and relevant government authorities, who immediately informed Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the development.”

The source indicated that the governor headed a group comprising government officials, lawmakers from both the National Assembly and State House of Assembly, prominent political figures, and other leaders to the location.

While addressing reporters outside the RSIEC Office on Aba Road in Port Harcourt, Fubara denounced the incident and praised the security personnel for their vigilance.

Another Government House source said, “The governor said local government election was the internal affairs of states, and advised those trying to truncate the process and cause anarchy in the state to allow the federation unit conduct its affairs without interference.”

At the same time, our reporter has learned that several government officials, stakeholders, and supporters are currently maintaining a watch at the facility.

Attempts to contact the state Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, were unsuccessful, as her phone could not be reached.

As of Friday morning when this report was filed, she had not responded to a text message sent by our reporter.

The PUNCH

The Federal High Court has made an order restraining the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, popularly known as VIO, from impounding, confiscating, or imposing fines on any motorist.

The Federal High Court, while delivering judgement in a suit filed by human rights activist and public interest attorney, Abubakar Marshal, through Justice N.E. Maha, agreed with the Applicant that there is no law empowering the Respondents to stop, impound, confiscate, seize, or impose fines on motorists.

While delivering judgment in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023, Marshal Abubakar vs the Directorate of Road Traffic Services & 4 others, the court in its judgement delivered on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, made a declaration that the 1st (Directorate of Road Traffic Services) to 4th Respondents under the control of the 5th Respondent (Minister of the Federal Capital Territory) are not empowered by any law or statute to stop, impound, confiscate the vehicles of motorists, and/or impose fines on motorists.

The court made an order restraining the 1st to 4th Respondents, either through their agents, servants, and/or assigns, from impounding, confiscating the vehicles of motorists, and/or imposing fines on any motorist, as doing so is wrongful, oppressive, and unlawful by themselves.

The court also made an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Respondents, whether by themselves, agents, privies, allies, or anybody acting on behalf of the 1st Respondent, from further violating the rights of Nigerians to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence, and the right to own property without lawful justification.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji has said that the Ekiti State Government is committed to revitalising the farm settlement system.

Oyebanji said this in a post on Thursday morning following his visit to young farmers across three areas in Ekiti State.

“I visited our young farmers across three agricultural clusters, Eporo-Emure, Ikere and Aramoko-Erio as part of our commitment to revitalising the farm settlement system in Ekiti, reminiscent of the days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo,” he wrote on his official X account. 

“During the visit, I personally interacted with the young farmers and addressed their needs. It was important for me to hear directly from them and ensure that their requirements were promptly attended to.”

Oyebanji said nearly 1,000 youths are actively involved in the “Bring Back Youth into Agriculture” initiative under the EKSG-YSJ partnership. 

He said the goal of his administration is to empower the youth with the tools and support they need to succeed in agribusiness and use agriculture to drive industrialization. 

“To support this initiative, we are taking bold steps, including providing land for the participants, clearing of the land, providing seedlings and agricultural extension services as well as offering secure living arrangements and modern dormitories at these farm settlements,” he said. 

“Construction on these dormitories will begin in the next three weeks to create a comfortable environment for our young farmers to thrive.”

Oyebanji said that Ekiti is blessed with fertile land and it is high time the people of the state made the most of it. 

He believes that by investing in agriculture, the state is not only securing its food future but also providing sustainable opportunities for its youths. 

“This is just the beginning of a new era in our agribusiness journey and I encourage more local governments to join in this initiative,” he added. 

“Together, we will create a prosperous future through the power of agriculture, the governor concluded.